Final gubernatorial debate before Election Day, long-shot challengers seek to unseat Hirono, Gabbard, coral researcher Gates dies, vacation rentals, rape kits, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Screenshot: gubernatorial debate highlights. KITV.

Gubernatorial debate highlights. KITV.

Republican state Rep. Andria Tupola pledged to do more to cope with Hawaii’s crime problem if she is elected governor, while Gov. David Ige used a televised hourlong debate Monday night to stress his record of accomplishment in areas such as building housing and coping with homelessness. Star-Advertiser.

Ige, Tupola Spar In Final Debate Before Election Day. The candidates field questions about housing, sea level rise, President Trump and their own running mates for lieutenant governor. Civil Beat.

Here’s how the gubernatorial candidates stand on some of the biggest issues facing Hawaii. Hawaii News Now.

Gov. David Ige has spent nearly $359,000 on his general election campaign against Republican Andria Tupola so far, and has spent more than $2.88 million on his overall re-election effort, according to his latest report with the state Campaign Spending Commission. Star-Advertiser.

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U.S. Sen. Mazie Hirono explains fiery dialogue while Congressional challenger seeks change. Republican challenger and political newcomer Ron Curtis wants a less divisive Washington and even avoids directly criticizing Hirono. Hawaii News Now.

Coffee with a Candidate: Republican candidate for U.S. Senate Ron Curtis. Curtis describes himself as a common sense, moderate, reform Republican. Hawaii News Now.

A Vegas Crooner Faces Long Odds In Quest To Unseat Tulsi Gabbard. Maui Republican Brian Evans switched parties to run against the congresswoman. He says she’s more interested in running for president than serving her district. Civil Beat.

The price of paradise: Hawaii ranks highest in the nation for utility costs. Hawaii News Now.

This week Germany technology takes the spotlight at the University of Hawaii. Denis Salle of the honorary General Counsel is a spark plug behind a conference taking place tomorrow. He has brought together green energy experts from Germany to share their experience and to see how they can help Hawaii reach its energy goals by 2045. Hawaii Public Radio.

RIP Ruth Gates: The World Loses A Top Coral Scientist And ‘Indomitable Spirit’. The University of Hawaii researcher was working on creative ways to preserve the ocean’s dwindling reefs in the face of climate change. She never lost hope. Civil Beat.

Researcher was leading advocate for protecting corals. Ruth Gates, the University of Hawaii-Manoa marine biologist who was a prominent voice in the fight to save the world’s coral reefs, died Thursday following a bout with brain cancer. Star-Advertiser.

Critical shortage of doctors prompting range of solutions. The neighbor islands and parts of rural Oahu are suffering a critical doctor shortage. Whether it's older doctors retiring sooner, or young doctors driven out of Hawaii by high costs or lured by mainland incentives, it's been an uphill battle finding a cure for a physician workforce that's way too small. KHON2.

Hawaii Biotech is going to receive 38 million dollars in federal funding in order to develop a drug to treat anthrax. The money is coming from the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases to begin pre-clinical studies of a drug for the treatment. KITV.

Hawaii Biotech received a five-year $38.5 million contract from the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases to develop an anti-toxin drug for anthrax in humans on Monday. Pacific Business News.

Oahu

Mayor Kirk Caldwell on Wednesday will try for a third time to obtain from the Honolulu Planning Commission a favorable recommendation for a draft omnibus bill addressing all things related to short-term vacation rentals, this time with a version that places more stringent limits on the number of bed-and-breakfast establishments and transient vacation units that would be allowed. Star-Advertiser.

Borrowing costs for rail have increased by $42 million, a report states. The cost of borrowing money to finance the Honolulu rail project is climbing despite the injection of nearly $1.2 billion in additional cash from last year’s controversial statewide hotel room tax increase, according to new financial data for the project. Star-Advertiser.

USS Arizona Memorial to be closed on Dec. 7. Survivors of the 1941 Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor will not be allowed to visit the USS Arizona Memorial this Dec. 7 due to its dock repair project. Star-Advertiser.

USS Arizona Memorial dock expected to be completed by March 2019. The National Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day on December 7th, will have long passed. KITV.

State House District 40 includes Ewa, Ewa Beach, Ewa Gentry and Iroquois Point in West O’ahu.  Incumbent, Bob McDermott, is one of 4 Republicans in the 51-member House of Representatives. Hawaii Public Radio.

Exclusive behind the scenes look inside HPD's 911 call center. The Honolulu Police Department's Communications Division is the largest Public Safety Answering Point in the state. KHON2.

Lawmakers, state agencies host reverse job fair for persons with developmental disabilities. State Legislators and government agencies will host the "Empowering All Abilities" Job Fair on Oct. 30 at the State Capitol, a reverse job fair for persons with developmental disabilities. KHON2.


Hawaii Island

Mayor Harry Kim announced Monday that the Leilani Estates checkpoint will remain active for at least another month. The checkpoint, which prevents anyone but authorized residents access to Leilani Estates, was scheduled to be removed by the end of October, but will instead continue to operate until the end of November. Tribune-Herald.

Under pressure, Hawaii County officials look to grant lava access. A checkpoint blocking public access to Leilani Estates will remain in place for at least another month while officials search for ways to give visitors a safe and legal way to see the lava field and 300-foot cinder cone left behind from Kilauea Volcano’s most active hot spot, Mayor Harry Kim told the Honolulu Star- Advertiser on Monday. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii County, the birthplace of an actress’ initiative devoted to DNA testing of rape kits, is getting a federal grant to bring in experts to clear out its rape kit backlog. West Hawaii Today.

The state is giving the green light to the last of eight dispensaries to begin growing pakalolo. Lau Ola, run by Big Island farmer Richard Ha, received approval from the Health Department, more than a year after medical marijuana sales started on Maui and Oahu. Star-Advertiser.

Kealakehe Intermediate School’s Mathieu Williams named Hawaii Teacher of the Year. The seven-year educator was named the Hawaii State Teacher of the Year Saturday night in Honolulu for his innovative teaching style that demands passion, curiosity and community building from his students. West Hawaii Today.

Maui

Farming convention Upcountry digs into improved soil health. Speakers emphasize strengthening the soil through natural means. Maui News.

Safeway will celebrate the re-grand opening of its newly remodeled store in Lahaina Cannery Mall on Wednesday, Oct. 31. Maui Now.

Maui Health System has appointed Kerry Pitcher the new Administrator of Kula Hospital and Lanai Community Hospital. Maui Now.

Kauai

County Council candidate: Shaylene Iseri. Making Kauai a better place to live and work is why Anahola resident Shaylene Iseri is once again running for Kauai County Council. Garden Island.

Treatment Healing Center moving along. Life’s Choices coordinator Theresa Koki, Mayor Bernard Carvalho Jr. and several county dignitaries visited the site recently to watch the Adolescent Treatment and Healing Center receive its concrete pour for the facility’s foundation. Garden Island.

Farms and farmers may get government help, doctor shortage looms, residents buy sex online, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Hawaii farmers market ©2018 All Hawaii News

More than 45,000 acres on Oahu should be designated as important agricultural lands and required to stay that way in perpetuity under a new plan submitted by Mayor Kirk Caldwell to the Honolulu City Council. Star-Advertiser.

Lawmakers seek federal aid to help local farmers in wake of natural disasters. Hawaii’s congressional delegation is urging the U.S. Department of Agriculture to provide financial assistance to Hawaii farmers affected by the Kilauea Volcano eruption on Hawaii island, flooding from heavy rains in April and Hurricane/Tropical Storm Lane last month. Star-Advertiser.

The Hawaii Congressional Delegation is urging the U.S. Department of Agriculture to provide direct assistance to Hawaii farmers affected by recent natural disasters. Big Island Video News.

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Hawaii facing doctor shortage. Hawaii lost 51 full-time doctors from 2017 to 2018, the first loss since 2014 when 92 left the workforce, according to the latest physician workforce survey by the University of Hawaii. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii’s Mental Health Care Crisis. The lack of psychiatrists is a particular problem for people who rely on the state’s public health insurance for low-income residents. Civil Beat.

Hawaii residents dominate in buying sex online, study says. A new study that shines a light on a hidden corner of Hawaii’s illicit sex trade estimates that 1 in 11 adult males here buys sex online. Star-Advertiser.

The state Department of Transportation says pedestrian fatalities have increased by 84 percent from the same time last year. Associated Press.

The state’s film industry is on pace for a record year. Film and television production in Hawaii could generate in excess of $400 million this year, topping the record mark set in 2010. Star-Advertiser.

UH Wants $600 Million In 2019 To Modernize Its Crumbling Campuses. And that’s just the beginning. The university has a six-year, $1.6 billion plan in the works. Civil Beat.

St. Francis Medical Center Tries To Stop $80M Settlement For Abuse Victims. The center employed the psychiatrist accused of sexually abusing dozens of students at Kamehameha Schools, which reached the settlement with victims. Civil Beat.

Are Hawaii Residents Experiencing Disaster Fatigue? It has been a stressful year for residents of Hawaii. Hawaii Public Radio.

Hawaiian Airlines announced late Thursday night that it will be the only carrier to offer nonstop flights between Honolulu and Boston when it begins the service in April. Star-Advertiser.

Oahu

The board of the Honolulu Authority for Rapid Transportation is nearing a pivotal decision on whether to solicit new partners in the development, operation and maintenance of the city’s 20-mile rail line, a proposal that could eventually involve billions of taxpayer dollars. Star-Advertiser.

The owner of Hawaiian Memorial Park has filed a new draft environmental impact study in a bid to add 30,000 more burial sites to the Kaneohe cemetery nearly a decade after a similar effort was rejected by a state commission. Star-Advertiser.

Estate formerly owned by King Kamehameha III up for auction. The four-bedroom, three-bathroom house sits on two acres of land off Nuuanu Pali Drive. KHON2.

UH Manoa gets $1M for microbe research in Waimea Valley. With $1 million from the W.M. Keck Foundation, which funds pioneering research, the UH faculty members will map the microbial communities that underpin the valley’s varied ecosystems and explore how they function. Star-Advertiser.

University of Hawaii Manoa professor H. Annamalai is leading a project to improve weather forecasts for US-affiliated Pacific Islands like the state of Hawaii. Maui Now.

Hundreds of volunteers helped Malama the Aina at a cleanup Sunday morning at Ala Moana Beach Park. Volunteers removed trash, plastics, and other debris from the beach and park areas and enjoyed music, snacks, and giveaways.  KITV.

Launch of Hawaii Five-0, Magnum P.I. celebrated by adoring fans in Waikiki. Hawaii News Now.

Hawaii Island

The National Park Service has produced a new map prior to the reopening of Hawaii Volcanoes National Park on National Public Lands Day on September 22. Big Island Video News.

With Hawaii Volcanoes National Park on track to reopen later this month, Volcano businesses are cautiously optimistic about a return to pre-eruption visitors. Tribune-Herald.

The recent purchase of the “Great Crack Property” in Ka'u by the National Park Service concludes a plan 50 years in the making. Tribune-Herald.

Some vacation rental condos, by a quirk of zoning, are being swept up into a vacation rental bill while those just across Alii Drive are not, an issue that has a crowd ready to speak out at the Leeward Planning Commission meeting. West Hawaii Today.

Roadblocks to relicensing push some drivers to illegal behavior. A bureaucratic barrier, a lack of adequate state statutes and the sluggish pace at which county Departments of Motor Vehicles process road tests have created a glitch in the driver’s re-licensing process that’s incentivizing thousands of Hawaii residents to break the law every year. West Hawaii Today.

Maui

Maui County will float a $109 million general obligation bond to refund outstanding bonds and loans and to refund the county general fund about $45 million for money already spent on new projects, according to an announcement. Maui News.

Mayor Alan Arakawa announced that three major bond rating agencies awarded Maui County the highest bond ratings in the state last week. Maui Now.

The state Campaign Spending Commission levied a $2,700 fine Wednesday on Maui County Council Member Alika Atay, his campaign and its treasurer for violating Hawaii campaign finance laws, commission General Counsel Gary Kam reported. Maui News.

One in 10 Maui County residents lives below the poverty line, which is lower than the national poverty rate of 12.3 percent for 2017, according to data released Thursday by the U.S. Census Bureau. Maui News.

Kauai

Controversial sister city? Last Monday, Sara Duterte, the mayor of Davao, a city on Mindanao Island in the Philippines, was on Kauai signing a sister-city partnership with Mayor Bernard Carvalho Jr. She’s the daughter of Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte, whose administration has been criticized by Amnesty International and other groups for committing multiple human rights violations. Garden Island.

Shearwaters in the skies. Lights will go on this week for Friday night football on Kauai, marking the season’s first football game within the endangered Newell’s shearwater fledgling season. Garden Island.

Too many tourists, not enough doctors; lawsuit over abortion choices; Honolulu police chief drama drags on; Hawaii County hiring questioned; black band coral disease resurfaces, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Honolulu Spam Jam © 2017 All Hawaii News

Too many tourists? Sustainability was the theme of this week’s “global summit” put together by the Hawaii Tourism Authority. Hawaii Public Radio.

Hawaii anti-abortion pregnancy centers went to court to argue that a new law violates their right to free speech and religion. Associated Press.

Hawaii’s doctor shortage is worsening, except on the island of Kauai, according to the most recent data by the University of Hawaii Physician Workforce Assessment. Star-Advertiser.

Oahu

The Honolulu Police Commission is expected to whittle its list of police chief candidates down to a handful when it meets Thursday. Star-Advertiser.

Morale a major problem at embattled police department, some say. Star-Advertiser.

Commentary: It rankled when former police Chief Louis Kealoha, facing a federal corruption investigation for allegedly involving the department in a family legal dispute, was paid $250,000 by the Police Commission to go away. It stings even worse to see that while the taxpayer money went away, Kealoha really didn’t. Star-Advertiser.

Sgt. Kim Buffett, one of the high-profile faces of the Honolulu Police Department as the head of CrimeStoppers, will retire at the end of the month after 29 years and 10 months on the job and take her experience dealing with criminals, cops and journalists to Hawaiian Airlines as Hawaiian’s new head of guest services operations. Star-Advertiser.

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Ten years and $1 billion. That’s what it likely will take to replace the state’s aging Mayor Wright Homes low-income public housing complex in Kalihi with seven times as many rental apartments in a new high-rise community for residents earning a broad range of incomes. Star-Advertiser.

The trick, says Sharon Schneider, is to keep Kaimuki “cool and funky, but not scruffy.” So some merchants are sprucing up the storefronts along the community’s Waialae Avenue business district — in some cases, beautifying those strips of land between sidewalks and curbs that belong to the city. Civil Beat.

Could permits to park on the street help curb trespassers entering the Haiku Stairs trail, also known as the Stairway to Heaven? KHON2.

Kiewit Construction has won the bid contract for the first construction phase of Honolulu Harbor’s Kapalama Container Terminal. Pacific Business News.

Oahu is booming with murals, but two recent disputes have highlighted the legal issues and bad feelings that can arise when building owners that originally allowed artwork later decide to do something different with their property. Star-Advertiser.

Aiea Intermediate will be closed Monday, Sept. 25, due to a power outage. KHON2.

Hawaii Island

‘POI’ creates sticky situation for HR: Merit Appeals Board to take up critical audit. For some county job seekers, the word “POI” — short for “person of interest” — represents their worst fears come true. The acronym on a request-to-fill form means there’s already a preferred candidate for the job, even before the position is advertised in an open recruitment. West Hawaii Today.

A recent federal court ruling allows criminal defendants who have not been proven guilty to appear in court without shackles, saying the restraints go against their constitutional rights. West Hawaii Today.

The state has fined a businessman who claims to have pioneered commercial sales of the bitter fruit noni, after he bulldozed a road to harvest a noni orchard planted illicitly on state land while claiming to own the property under authority of a nonexistent federal court. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii County Mayor Harry Kim plans to sign a bill passed by the County Council that would ban the use of polystyrene foam food containers on the island in two years. Star-Advertiser.

Fewer Hawaii Island public school students met grade-level standards on state tests last year than their counterparts statewide, according to new data from Hawaii’s Strive HI Performance System. Tribune-Herald.

The Merrie Monarch Festival is close to finding solutions for housing hula halau displaced after Mayor Harry Kim informed the festival the troupes would no longer be allowed to sleep in county gyms. Tribune-Herald.

The friends and family of Peter Boy Kema got some closure on the Big Island this weekend. Hawaii News Now.

Maui

A little over 200 snails from a dozen sites in West Maui, Upcountry, Kihei and Hana are being tested for rat lungworm disease in an attempt to track and combat the mollusks that caused an unparalleled outbreak on the island earlier this year. Maui News.

About 200 snails on Maui Island are being tested for rat lungworm disease in an attempt to track the mollusks that caused an unparalleled outbreak on the island this year. Associated Press.

Baldwin Beach – ‘back to its natural state’ With homeless camp gone, beach is available for parkgoers — but work is still needed. Maui News.

NOAA Fisheries announced it had released the 1,000th sea turtle (honu) that was rescued and rehabilitated in Hawai‘i at Tavares Beach on Maui’s North Shore. Maui Now.

Federal fisheries officials released the 1,000th sea turtle rehabilitated in the Hawaiian Islands, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Maui News.

The Department of Land and Natural Resources, Division of Forestry and Wildlife will have application forms for the 2018 Lanai axis deer hunting season available at all DOFAW offices statewide beginning Monday, Oct. 2. Maui Now.

U.S. Sen. Brian Schatz will be the keynote speaker at the 11th annual Hui Holomua Business Fest, which will take place Oct. 11 at the King Kamehameha Golf Club in Waikapu, the Maui Native Hawaiian Chamber of Commerce announced Tuesday. Maui News.

Kauai

Black band disease is once again spreading through some corals around Kauai, according to Hanalei researcher Terry Lilley. Garden Island.

Retail Shops On Hawaii Farmland: Kauai Dispute Could Set A Precedent. A company points to a 2012 state law as it sues for the right to sell its coffee beans and cigars on agricultural land. Civil Beat.

Proposed changes to commercial marine license fees will be explained by the Department of Land and Natural Resources in public hearing meetings set for Oct. 5 and Oct. 10 on Kauai. Garden Island.

Crime statewide lowest since 1975. Rape rises on Kauai; unclear if due to reporting change or actual increase. Garden Island.

The Deadliest Beach On Kauai Might Surprise You. A researcher analyzed drownings over 42 years. The beach with the most fatalities isn’t considered the most hazardous. Civil Beat.

VP Pence visits Hawaii, Hanabusa downplays Korea fear, big raise mulled for teachers, half of Big Island buses broken down, private sponsorship of Oahu city parks proposed, record high carbon dioxide measured, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Pence in Hawaii, courtesy KHON2

Vice President Mike Pence and his family late Sunday evening arrived on Oahu, where he will spend most of his short visit with military personnel. KHON2.

Vice President Mike Pence is on Oahu for a short visit before going back to Washington, D.C., concluding his 10-day, four-nation tour of the Asia-Pacific region. Hawaii News Now.

Vice President Mike Pence is making a shortened visit to Hawaii today before heading back to Washington, D.C., ahead of a busy week for President Donald Trump. Star-Advertiser.

Vice President Mike Pence's office said he would depart Hawaii on Monday afternoon after meeting with U.S. Pacific Command leaders and troops stationed in Honolulu. Plans for a Tuesday visit to the USS Arizona in Pearl Harbor have been postponed, Pence's office said. Associated Press.

Video: VP Mike Pence Arrives in Honolulu. Civil Beat.

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The fears of a ballistic missile strike on Hawaii from North Korea are overblown, according to U.S. Rep. Colleen Hanabusa, speaking at a town hall in Honolulu Saturday. Civil Beat.

3 judges to hear appeal of Hawaii ruling blocking travel ban. Associated Press.

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Hawaii public school teachers would see multiyear pay raises totaling nearly 14 percent under a tentative four-year contract deal reached with the state. Star-Advertiser.

A crucial vote for thousands of Hawaii's public school teachers is coming up this week. They'll have a chance to learn more about a tentative contract agreement during statewide meetings that start on Monday. Hawaii News Now.

After nine months of negotiating, beginning public school teachers across Hawaii could see their salaries jump by nearly $10,000. For the first time by the end of the contract, beginning teachers in Hawaii will be making over $50,000 a year. KITV.

Tentative agreement goes to teachers to ratify. KHON2.

Corey Rosenlee, president of the 13,500-Member Hawaii State Teachers Association, announced that the HSTA Board is recommending a tentative agreement for four-year contract. Maui Now.

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Tom Gorak, Gov. David Ige’s controversial nominee to the state agency that regulates Hawaii’s utilities was dealt a preliminary setback Friday when he was narrowly rejected by a Senate committee. Star-Advertiser.

A state Senate committee recommended Friday to the full Senate to reject Gov. David Ige’s nomination of current Hawaii Public Utilities Commission commissioner Thomas Gorak. Pacific Business News.

A state House-Senate conference committee has recommended final passage of a bill that would budget $250,000 in state money to help fund a physician student loan repayment program for doctors who practice in underserved areas in Hawaii. Maui News.
http://www.mauinews.com/news/local-news/2017/04/funding-for-student-loan-repayment-program-advances-in-state-legislature/

Atmospheric carbon dioxide measurements from Mauna Loa Observatory last week topped 410 parts per million for the first time in modern history. Star-Advertiser.

More than 600 students joined activists at the state Capitol rotunda Thursday in support of a bill that sets a goal of having all ground transportation in Hawaii run on renewable fuel by 2045. Star-Advertiser.

Lawmakers tussle with bill to fight painkiller addiction. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii lawmakers are still considering several bills designed to make life easier for condominium owners and stem complaints about the boards that oversee their buildings, but some owners say the legislation doesn’t go far enough. Civil Beat.

The state’s Senate Judiciary and Labor Committee advanced a resolution Tuesday calling for a national constitutional convention to claw back the U.S. Supreme Court’s controversial Citizens United decision, which has increased the influence of corporate money in political campaigns. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii, last year ranked the healthiest state in the nation, has scored below average in a report measuring public health preparedness — or the ability to respond to natural disasters, disease outbreaks and other public health crises. Star-Advertiser.

As state health officials try to balance public education with preventing panic, some critics believe the state should have addressed rat lungworm disease more vigorously earlier. Civil Beat.

Commentary: Ige’s administration lacks needed victories. Star-Advertiser.

Oahu

A bill that would allow private sponsorship of city parks and other facilities is drawing the ire of the Outdoor Circle and others worried that it would clear the way for billboards and other outdoor advertising despite the strong insistence by the bill’s author that that won’t happen. Star-Advertiser.

Honolulu Commission votes down Haleiwa house lots plan. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii Island

The wheels on the bus aren’t going round and round for almost half the Hele-On fleet. West Hawaii Today.

Hawaii Electric Light Co. and its parent companies, Hawaiian Electric Co. and Hawaiian Electric Industries, are asking a judge to dismiss a federal antitrust lawsuit against them by Hu Honua Bioenergy and compel arbitration of all claims. Tribune-Herald.

Hawaii County’s 2017-18 spending plan was hit with a double whammy Thursday, when a legislative conference committee deadlocked on the county share of the hotel tax and firefighters were awarded a more than 2 percent pay increase. West Hawaii Today.

Invasive spittlebug attacks Kona grazing land. Tribune-Herald.

The Ka‘u Community Development Plan is nearing completion. Tribune-Herald.

Not cleared for takeoff: DLNR confusion puts model flying club in holding pattern. West Hawaii Today.

Maui

Maui surrounded by history. A team of divers is documenting state’s underwater wreckage. Maui News.

Signs have been posted warning people against trespassing near a crop of sunflowers on Maui that is being grown as part of an experiment to produce biofuel. A growing number of visitors have been attracted to the yellow flowers that started blooming weeks ago. Associated Press.

Kauai

The Kauai Police Department is requesting nearly $900,000 from the County Council to lease 15 marked patrol Ford Explorers. Garden Island.

The gigantic pension plan that serves Los Angeles County government employees is putting up for sale the St. Regis Princeville Resort and Makai Golf Club in Princeville, which have been part of the fund’s assets since 2005. The decision has major financial and other ramifications for Kauai. Garden Island.

No police reform in 2017 Legislature; Honolulu taxpayers fund police chief PR campaign, legal fees; Hawaii one of worst states for doctors; Canary Island more appealing to Thirty Meter Telescope board; immigrants an issue at Kona coffee farms; Ellison changes Lanai energy advisor, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Hawaii police © 2017 All Hawaii News

Hawaii lawmakers so far haven’t had much of an appetite for passing police reform legislation this year, despite widespread concerns both locally and nationally about the need for more accountability of law enforcement. Civil Beat.

The chairwoman of the Hawaiian Homes Commission is asking federal authorities whether the state’s long-standing and exclusive agreement with embattled telecommunications provider Sandwich Isles Communications Inc. might run afoul of federal law. Star-Advertiser.

Lawmakers are moving forward on a bill that would allow hundreds of low-income Hawaii students to attend college for free. Tribune-Herald.

Doctors in Hawaii live in one of the worst states to practice medicine, according to a new study by WalletHub. The personal finance website placed the Aloha State toward the bottom of its list of best states to be doctor, in 43rd place. Pacific Business News.

Interest slows for Hawaiian Electric's pilot rate program. Pacific Business News.

The president's proposed budget includes deep cuts to a number of federal agencies, and federal workers fear in the islands fear that could translate into layoffs, furloughs and big impacts to services for residents. Hawaii News Now.

Condo boards brace for medical marijuana smoke complaints. KITV.

Hawaiian Airlines flight HA47 from Oakland to Honolulu was diverted to Kahului on Monday due to an odor of smoke in the cabin, according to the airline. KITV.

A rare collection of Hawaiian and Polynesian artifacts will be going up for auction in Paris. Hawaii News Now.

Commentary: Money Talks To Lawmakers During Legislative Session. Numerous legislators continue to hold campaign fundraisers at the same time they’re making decisions on their benefactors’ issues. Civil Beat.

Oahu

A just-ended, $125,000 one-year contract with a downtown public relations firm netted the Honolulu Police Department about a dozen training classes for top HPD officials, a department wide communications plan and a customized, seven-page “crafting your message” strategy guide. Star-Advertiser.

The Honolulu City Council on Wednesday approved payment of up to $10,000 to a private law firm to represent former Police Chief Louis Kealoha in yet another lawsuit against both him and the city. In December the Council had authorized up to $150,000 be paid to three law firms to represent Kealoha in four other civil cases that name him (in his capacity as chief) and the city. Star-Advertiser.

HPD accepts recruit applications, looks to fill more than 100 vacancies. KHON2.

The Honolulu Rail Transit Project is facing an April 30th deadline to come up with a funding source to complete the downtown segment of the 20-mile system. Hawaii Public Radio.

A $900,000 settlement for the family of an elderly woman struck and killed by a Honolulu garbage truck in 2013 was approved Wednesday by the Honolulu City Council. Star-Advertiser.

Oahu might seem crowded these days, especially during the morning commute. But new Census figures show the island's population actually shrank in 2016. Hawaii News Now.

Residents in a Mililani neighborhood are worried as a nonprofit prepares to open a group home for mental health patients. Hawaii News Now.

Hilton Garden Inn hotel workers ratified their first union contract between management and Unite Here Local 5. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii

One year out from the time Thirty Meter Telescope officials are insisting that construction must begin, the TMT International Observatory board is making the case for why a mountain in the Canary Islands will be an “excellent” alternative site for the $1.4 billion next-generation telescope. Star-Advertiser.

ICE officials deny any ‘large scale enforcement actions’ around Kona coffee farms. West Hawaii Today.

A lack of staff has pool hours reduced at the Kona Community Aquatic Center — a temporary set back the county says it hopes to remedy by April although some people are skeptical they’ll get the extra lane time back. West Hawaii Today.

Repairs to a century-old bridge in Hakalau valley might have to wait until October to avoid the Hawaiian hawk’s breeding season. West Hawaii Today.

VIDEO: Lava Fire Hose Fizzles, New Delta Forming. Big Island Video News.

Maui

The Maui County Democratic Party will hold its annual convention Saturday in the Maui Waena Intermediate School Cafeteria. Maui News.

Kauai

The Department of Land and Natural Resources is accepting proposals for projects or programs submitted by public or private agencies or organizations to increase water security in Hawaii. Garden Island.

On the Garden Isle, two people are born and one person is moving to the island per day, according to census data. Garden Island.

A Hawaii estate once owned by actor Sylvester Stallone has been sold for $11 million. In 1990, Stallone paid $401,800 for the property on Kauai’s North Shore and sold it in 1998 for $875,000, public records show. Pacific Business News.

Lanai

Billionaire Oracle Corp. founder Larry Ellison is not using the expertise of an energy veteran and Punahou School alumnus to lead his sustainability efforts on the Hawaiian island of Lanai that he purchased for $300 million in 2012, the company heading operations on the island on behalf of Ellison confirmed to Pacific Business News.

Hawaiian Electric sale faces June deadline, rift in Native Hawaiian constitutional convention, Wasserman Schultz rallying Hawaii Democrats tonight, doctors needed stat, county probe finds Maui tires missing, homeless have great view atop Diamond Head, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Honolulu lights up at night © 2016 All Hawaii News

NextEra Energy Inc. is likely to pull the plug on its proposed purchase of Hawaii’s largest electric utility if state regulators do not approve the sale by June, according to analysts. Star-Advertiser.

NextEra Energy Inc. and Hawaiian Electric Co. say they hope the Florida utility giant’s $4.3 billion proposed acquisition of Hawaii’s largest utility is finalized by March 14, according to public documents. Pacific Business News.

The monthlong Na‘i Aupuni constitutional convention moved into its final two weeks Monday with a consensus to draft formal documents establishing a Native Hawaiian government. Star-Advertiser.

A hui calling itself Aha Aloha Aina 2016 plans a series of meetings on Oahu, Hawaii island and Maui later this month “to identify the very broad movement in the Hawaiian movement for Independence and educate the community on the various initiatives.” Civil Beat.

Hawaiian activist Bumpy Kanahele has walked away from the Hawaiian Constitutional Convention, saying the process is rigged. Hawaii News Now.

A growing number of Hawaii voters — 56 percent in the last primary — already request early ballots so they can vote from the comfort of their own homes and then mail in their ballots. But now there’s legislation, Senate Bill 2496, to phase in all-mail balloting in the islands. Civil Beat.

House Higher Ed Leader Takes Aim At the University of Hawaii. The nearly two dozen bills introduced by Rep. Isaac Choy may be indicative of a larger sense of frustration with the university. Civil Beat.

Home-growers can breathe a sigh of relief: A bill that would have prohibited patients from growing their own medical marijuana is essentially dead. The measure, HB 1680, had not been heard by the House Committee on Health by Thursday, which was the filing deadline for bills referred to at least three committees. Tribune-Herald.

Hawaiian and English are both official languages in the state but as of the 2010 Census only 3% of the islands' population actually speak Hawaiian. The push to increase the number of Hawaiian language speakers topped the agenda at the 2nd annual 'Aha Kumu at Disney's Aulani Resort and Spa on Monday. KITV4.

The state has hired the private company Securitas to provide security at all of Hawaii’s airports for at least three more years, despite recent allegations of bribery. The state says the new contract takes effect this week. KHON2.

Oahu
The Honolulu Traffic Code says street parking isn’t allowed within 4 feet of a driveway. A bill moving through the Honolulu City Council would allow an exception, under a pilot project, to that law in one tightly packed Ewa Villages neighborhood. Star-Advertiser.

A bill expected to be heard Wednesday at the Hawaii State Capitol calls for $1.5 million to restore part of Waikiki Beach. Civil Beat.

Debbie Wasserman Schultz will lead a fundraiser at The Plaza Club in Honolulu Tuesday evening. Civil Beat.

They live on the best real estate in Hawaii, perched on cliffs above $10 million dollar oceanfront mansions on Diamond Head Road. The homeless of Diamond Head pay no rent or property taxes but enjoy postcard ocean views and the balmiest weather in the islands. Civil Beat.

When traffic is moving smoothly, it takes about six minutes for drivers to get from Maili to Nanakuli. On Saturday, it took drivers 90 minutes or more to travel that stretch. Hawaii News Now.

The Howard Hughes Corp. officially began construction Thursday on its third mixed-use condominium tower in the Honolulu neighborhood of Kakaako, with a groundbreaking ceremony for Aeo, which includes what will be Whole Foods Market’s flagship Hawaii store. Pacific Business News.

The federal government will soon list the endangered Oahu elepaio as a bird species distinct from other elepaio in what environmentalists describe as an attempt to better protect them. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii

A bill amendment to be introduced in the state Senate today would undo Hawaii County’s nighttime drilling ban for geothermal power projects and further restrict — if not entirely prohibit — efforts by counties to enact similar regulations. Tribune-Herald.

The chances of the majority of sitting County Council members facing opposition this election year is increasing, with new potential challengers pulling nomination papers last week. West Hawaii Today.

Calling all orthopedic surgeons, pediatric specialists, obstetricians and psychiatrists: Hawaii Island needs you. Those specialties and more have been identified as pressing needs on the Big Island, according to the latest assessment of the state’s physician workforce. Tribune-Herald.

A humpback whale can stretch more than 50 feet from nose to tail, but sometimes it takes a 45-foot Coast Guard station boat to keep it safe. West Hawaii Today.

Maui

More than $73,000 were spent in just over one year on nearly 200 tires, none of which can be accounted for, and they’re not to be found on any county cars and trucks. KHON2.

Coast Guard crews with Hawaiʻi Department of Natural Resources conservation officers conducted joint patrols off Maui Thursday in conjunction with Operation Koholā Guardian.  Maui Now.

Kauai

A measure scheduled to be heard before the Kauai County Council would restore a lobbying ordinance on the island that was eliminated some 20 years ago. Civil Beat.

Former Gov. Lingle takes job with Illinois governor, military in Hawaii: love it or lose it, marijuana decriminalization on legislative agenda, doc shortage worsens, broadband lagging, breathing life into Coco Palms, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Former Gov. Linda Lingle in 2012 campaign © 2015 All Hawaii News

n a move that could signal the end of her political career in Hawaii, former Gov. Linda Lingle on Thursday was tapped by the new Republican governor of Illinois to serve as a senior adviser working to help turn around that state's sinking finances. Star-Advertiser.

Former Hawaii Gov. Linda Lingle is headed for Illinois to serve as the chief operating officer for Gov. Bruce Rauner. Civil Beat.

Legislative leaders from the Hawaii House of Representatives say they plan to focus on fixing infrastructure, encouraging business and increasing participation in government in the new legislative session. Associated Press.

House Democrats held a news conference Thursday afternoon at the Capitol to announce the majority caucus legislative package but offered little in the way of details about any of the priorities they plan to focus on this session, which convened Wednesday. Civil Beat.

Lawmakers in Hawaii are beginning to introduce a series of bills that aim to make marijuana more freely available in the state. A bill to decriminalize marijuana is currently being drafted, said Sen. Will Espero, chairman of the Public Safety, Intergovernmental and Military Affairs Committee. That bill would reduce punishment for using marijuana to a civil violation instead of a felony, he said. Associated Press.

Genetically Modified or Engineered crops will be a hot topic at the Legislature this session. And lawmakers could learn from a Hawai’i State Bar Association forum that looked at the issue from a purely legal standpoint. Hawaii Public Radio.

Hawaii’s doctor shortage is getting worse, and it’s getting especially difficult to find a physician on neighboring islands. Associated Press.

Feverish and aching patients continue to inundate Hawaii's overstressed health care system during a flu season that has no end in sight. Star-Advertiser.

One boat sank, several beaches around the state were closed, and state facilities on Hawaii island sustained minor damage from high surf that is expected to stick around statewide until 6 p.m. Saturday. Star-Advertiser.

Opinion: The Army in Hawaii: Fight to Save It, Prepare to Lose It. Business leaders are right to pull out all the stops to preserve the Army's Hawaii presence at its current level, but we also need to start thinking about what comes next if major cuts are made. Civil Beat.

Opinion: A case for army downsizing in Hawaii. Why the Chamber of Commerce of Hawaii and our Congressional delegates have it wrong. Hawaii Independent.

Broadband internet access is both a luxury for modern entertainment and a necessity for business. But Hawaii is falling behind when it comes to fast connections. Hawaii Public Radio.

The University of Hawaii is studying the possibility of selling off investments in companies that produce fossil fuels. The university's Board of Regents on Thursday appointed a task group to examine the feasibility and desirability of such a move. Associated Press.

On Thursday, Yelp released its second annual list of Top 100 Places to Eat in the U.S., and eight Hawaii eateries have made the cut. KHON2.

Oahu

Honolulu Mayor Kirk Caldwell’s desire to protect $210 million in federal bus funding means the city’s $6 billion rail project needs even more money than officials had recently announced. Civil Beat.

Honolulu police and prosecutors have gotten tough on suspected pimps — more than 45 times tougher than three years ago. Civil Beat.

Two high-profile employees at the Hawaii Theatre Center will lose their jobs Jan. 31 as part of a plan to reduce costs that have left the Chinatown venue in the red for the past five years. Star-Advertiser.

Paying around $3 a gallon for gas thrills most Honolulu drivers, but it's less of a joy when you learn the average cost should be $2.49 if our prices had dropped as much as they did on the mainland in the last year. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii

The Hawaii County Council has entered a new era of accessibility to the public — starting today, council and committee meetings will be streamed live on the county’s website. West Hawaii Today.

A settlement is in the works between Hawaii County and the state Department of Health, which last year fined the county more than $350,000 for violations at two landfills. West Hawaii Today.

Hawaii Island’s doctor shortage grew by 17 percent in the last year. The need for physicians in 2014 was estimated at 554, but only 327 were practicing on the island, according to the latest figures from the University of Hawaii John A. Burns School of Medicine’s Area Health Education Center. That puts the island’s shortage at 41 percent of its need, far ahead of the statewide shortage of 24 percent. Tribune-Herald.

More than a dozen West Hawaii beaches were closed Thursday because of warning-level surf aloha west-facing shores of the Big Island. West Hawaii Today.

Maui

The Maui Mayor's Office of Economic Development issued over $4.64 million in grant funds to local organizations over the last six months. Pacific Business News.

Homeless shelters have effectively become affordable housing on Maui, according to governmental and nonprofit agencies speaking at a panel discussion Wednesday night at the Maui Economic Opportunity Conference Room. Maui News.

After moving its monthly meeting Wednesday to the University of Hawaii Maui College, the Maui Police Commission had its biggest public turnout in more than a year. Maui News.

If Maui County residents think it's tough to get a doctor appointment now, then just wait - a statewide physician's shortage will worsen as nearly a third of Hawaii's practicing doctors have reached retirement age, according to a University of Hawaii study submitted to state lawmakers this week. Maui News.

Kauai

As a place that once served as the home of Kauai’s last reigning queen, Deborah Kapule Kekaiha‘akulou, and the backdrop for the 1961 film “Blue Hawaii” starring Elvis Presley, there is no dearth of historical features at Coco Palms Resort. Preserving that history while paving the way for a new Coco Palms Resort, however, is a question that several state and county agencies are still wrestling with. Garden Island.

A circuit court judge Tuesday ruled in favor of the County of Kauai and the Planning Commission in response to the county’s lawsuit against a Hanalei resident’s unpermitted boatyard operation. Garden Island.

A mariner’s union said a lawsuit filed against a tug operator for negligence is full of errors. Garden Island.

Health care top Hawaii concern as doctors flee state, tight budgets ahead, HECO asks to cut customer rebates, Honolulu airport seeks free WiFi, Waikiki sand returns, property owners face tax, more politics and government news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Leahi Hospital, courtesy Hawaii Health Systems Corp.

Hawaii's doctor shortage jumped 20 percent over the past year as more physicians left the field amid a growing demand for medical services. New estimates on physician supply and demand peg the current shortage at 890, and that's expected to jump as high as 1,500 by 2020, according to the latest figures from the University of Hawaii John A. Burns School of Medicine's Area Health Education Center. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii lawmakers and the state’s newly elected governor are heading into the upcoming legislative session with a tight budget and a slew of looming priorities that include dealing with struggling hospitals, medical marijuana and a creeping lava flow. Associated Press.

With pronouncements already from Gov. David Ige that excessive government spending must stop and the state must live within its means, lawmakers are taking the cue and preparing for a low-key 2015 legislative session. Star-Advertiser.

2015 Legislature — Time To Stop the Financial Bleeding. Lawmakers are expected to focus on major fiscal problems facing the state with less attention to hot-button political issues. Civil Beat.

Officials from the state’s public health care provider, Hawaii Health Systems Corporation, say they will likely need more than a quarter of a billion dollars in taxpayer money over the next two fiscal years to fully offset potentially crippling debts, ranging from new federal changes to collective bargaining raises. Some officials, however, say they are not convinced the request should be approved. Garden Island.

Time and the tenacity of Maui County's state lawmakers will tell if this year's legislative session will be the one that takes Maui Memorial Medical Center off life support. Maui News.

The new chairmen of the House and Senate agriculture committees are both from the Big Island, but their stance on genetically modified crops couldn’t be more different. The strong positions Senate Agriculture Chairman Russell Ruderman and House Agriculture Chairman Clift Tsuji have taken on each side of GMO laws almost guarantee a stalemate on issues such as state pre-emption of county farming regulations, counties’ home-rule rights and just about anything dealing with GMO limits or labeling when the state Legislature convenes for its regular session Wednesday. West Hawaii Today.

In the wake of recent federal court rulings that Hawaii counties don’t have the authority to regulate farming, it is now up to legislators to address growing concerns about pesticides. Civil Beat.

A nonprofit foundation headed by state Sen. Sam Slom had its tax-exempt status revoked last year by the Internal Revenue Service for failing to file its federal tax return for three years. Slom, the sole Republican in the state Senate and a staunch opponent of new taxes, is president of the Small Business Hawaii Entrepreneurial Education Foundation. Star-Advertiser.

Fresh from winning a new four-year term, incumbent West Hawaii Sen. Josh Green is sitting on the fattest war chest of any state or local candidate in the 2014 election. Green, D-Kona, Ka‘u, ended the election season with $493,438 left over, according to new statistics posted Thursday to the state Campaign Spending Commission website, ags.hawaii.gov/campaign/2014-election. Coming in second was Gov. David Ige, with $435,030. Some 298 candidates sought office in 2014, according to the commission. West Hawaii Today.

Hawaiian Electric Co. is expected to file a proposal Tuesday with the state Public Utilities Commission to cut nearly in half the net energy metering reimbursements offered to customers with rooftop photovoltaic systems. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii Gas, the state's only regulated gas utility, is looking to be the sole provider of liquefied natural gas to help the state reach renewable-energy goals. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii temporarily suspended its online Medicaid eligibility system over the weekend as health center workers complain it's fraught with problems. The system known as Kolea is set to cost taxpayers as much as $144 million. It launched in October 2013. Associated Press.

NASA has selected Hawaii as the preferred site to establish the world's first laser communications ground terminal, which could spur major economic activity in the state, translating to job creation and revenues, according to public documents obtained by Pacific Business News.

One trend of Hawaii’s tourism industry over past year has been a growing number of visitors from China. While the numbers are still small compared to Japan, they’re increasing. And China’s government is taking a new step that may improve the travel experience for all parties concerned. Hawaii Public Radio.

Oahu

Passengers waiting for flights at Hawaii's largest airport could have access to free Wi-Fi by the end of the year — if state transportation officials can make it happen. Star-Advertiser.

A plan to get Waikiki property owners to pool their resources to help pay for maintenance and restoration of Oahu's most iconic beach cleared its first hurdle before the City Council Zoning Committee on Thursday. Star-Advertiser.

Not that long ago the popular section of Kuhio Beach known for beach boys and surfing lessons was very low on sand. The shore was so stripped and bare, you could see blocks and boulders. But the shoreline has expanded in what seems like an overnight growth spurt. Hawaii News Now.

Opening statements were scheduled for Tuesday in the state civil trial of Katherine Kealoha, a deputy city prosecutor and wife of Honolulu Police Chief Louis Kealoha. Star-Advertiser.

The U.S. government is modifying terms of a plea deal reached with a shipping company for spilling 233,000 gallons of molasses into Honolulu Harbor. The judge who accepted the guilty plea from Matson Terminals Inc. in October was concerned that the $1 million the company agreed to pay is higher than the maximum fines allowed by law. Associated Press.

Opinion: Urban Hawaii: When the World Is Your Neighbor, Do You Ever Meet? When a big, fancy tower is built it creates a different sort of “neighborhood” from the ones many of us grew up in. Civil Beat.

Hawaii

Parker Ranch and NextEra Energy Resources, a subsidiary of the company buying Hawaiian Electric Industries, reached a deal for the development of wind farms on its land. Tribune-Herald.

Kua Bay should have lifeguards, many say. West Hawaii Today.

More than 50 friends, patients and colleagues of Dr. Frederick Nitta lined Kamehameha Avenue in Hilo on Saturday, holding up signs and showing their support for the embattled obstetrician. The doctor has practiced in Hilo for about 20 years and helped deliver “tens of thousands” of East Hawaii’s newborns in that time, by his own estimation. Now, he stands accused of overbilling Medicaid to the tune of about $1.2 million and faces the possibility of having to shut his practice down after the federal health care program stopped reimbursing him in September. Tribune-Herald.

Hilo Hattie, one of Hawaii’s largest retailers of Hawaiian fashions and goods, closed its nearly 30-year-old Kailua-Kona store and plans to pursue a new direction — expanding and broadening cultural experiences. West Hawaii Today.

Maui

Maui now has a voice for cyclists and pedestrians seeking a safe and fun place to bike and walk. The Maui Bicycling League, a nonprofit Maui chapter of the Hawai‘i Bicycling League, officially formed on Dec. 19, 2014, will spearhead efforts to put more bike lanes on Maui roads. Maui Now.

Haleakala National Park will be hosting two community meetings for public review and comment on a draft of the park's foundation document, which defines the park's core mission and significance, its most important resources and values and interpretive themes. Maui News.

Kauai

A federal court ruling in Washington state is being eyed as a victory and potential game changer by those battling to stop Hawaii Dairy Farms’ proposed dairy on Kauai’s south side, including the Friends of Mahaulepu group. HDF, however, doesn’t see a connection. Garden Island.

The Kauai Squadron of the Civil Air Patrol is experiencing a drop in numbers and volunteers who left are saying its ability to carry out emergency services and tsunami watch missions is in peril.  Garden Island.

Judiciary asks for more money, Kulani prison to reopen, Hawaii needs doctors, lawmakers debate Shield Law, preschool vouchers to go to ballot, Kauai coral disease spreading, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Hawaii Supreme Court building (c) 2013 All Hawaii News

Inadequate courthouse security, an increased backlog of cases and long waits for a wide range of services are just some of the problems the public can continue to expect if the Legislature fails to fully fund the state Judiciary’s budget request. Civil Beat.

More Hawaii doctors have left their practices over the past year and likely will continue to do so just as the first major piece of federal health reforms rolls out. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii’s congressional delegation this week pushed for more support of a measure that would provide funds to train health care providers in rural areas. West Hawaii Today.

U.S. Sen. Brian Schatz rakes in the cash from Hawaii business and political leaders. Civil Beat.

State House and Senate negotiators Thursday reached agreement on a proposed constitutional amendment that would ask voters next year whether public money should be spent on private preschool. Star-Advertiser.

House lawmakers aren't going along with the Senate’s version of a bill that protects journalists from revealing their confidential sources under certain circumstances. Civil Beat.

With the newly ratified teachers contract approved by Gov. Neil Abercrombie and expected to be funded by lawmakers, work now begins on creating a new evaluation system that negotiators have agreed will be used to reward and dismiss teachers. Star-Advertiser.

The U.S. Senate on Thursday confirmed Derrick Kahala Watson to a seat on the the U.S. District Court in Honolulu. Pacific Business News.

State roundup for April 19. Associated Press.

Oahu

Kahala community leaders are rejoicing after the Honolulu City Council's approval of a bill allowing the city to impose stiffer fines on property owners who blight their neighborhoods by leaving overgrown foliage and trash in their yards. Star-Advertiser.

City officials say they're scrambling to find money to reverse more of the bus cuts that have hit riders the hardest. Star-Advertiser.

A convicted rapist will get a $35,000 check from the city of Honolulu, although he’ll likely be behind bars when it arrives. On Wednesday, the Honolulu City Council approved a legal settlement with Dewitt Lamar Long for injuries he sustained in 2010 when he was beaten by four cops during a traffic stop. Civil Beat.

City Council Chairman Ernie Martin said he was insulted by the behavior of some members of Mayor Kirk Caldwell's Cabinet at this week's Council meeting and made it clear that he expects them to act with decorum and respect at the meetings. Star-Advertiser.

Honolulu-based Watermark Publishing officially launched a new self-publishing service on Thursday that will help Hawaii residents share their stories. Pacific Business News.

Rep. Gene Ward, R-Hawaii Kai, Sen. Laura Thielen, D-Kailua-Hawaii Kai, and Sam Slom, R-Hawaii Kai-Diamond Head, sent a letter on April 16 to the Honolulu City Council asking its 9 members to oppose development of the “Great Lawn”, a parcel 14-acre parcel in Hawaii Kai now zoned as preservation land. Hawaii Reporter.

It’s been a favorite hangout spot at Ala Moana Center for nearly 30 years. But on Thursday, some long-time customers got the sad news. Zippy’s is closing at the end of the month. KHON2.

Hawaii

Lawmakers have agreed upon funding for the Kulani Correctional Facility, paving the way for the mothballed prison outside Hilo to reopen next year. Tribune-Herald.

Eighteen months after two Environmental Management employees were arrested on charges of stealing diesel fuel from the Waimea baseyard pumps, the county administration has instituted procedures to keep it from happening again, but the Prosecutor’s Office has yet to formally charge the suspects. West Hawaii Today.

The Office of Hawaiian Affairs is going all in on geothermal. OHA’s Board of Trustees voted Thursday to invest $1.25 million into the Huena Power Consortium, with an upfront contribution of $600,000. Tribune-Herald.

A memorial fund has been established in honor of West Hawaii businessman Guy Toyama who helped champion sustainability, renewable energy and entrepreneurship efforts. West Hawaii Today.

Maui

Maui's hotel occupancy rate slipped 1.1 percentage points in February to 82.6 percent while hotels made more money for their rooms, according to the monthly update from Hospitality Advisors LLC. Maui News.

Maui teachers were pleased to finally have a tentative labor contract in hand, and most said Wednesday afternoon that they voted in favor of the proposal even though they still had concerns about teacher evaluations and medical coverage. Maui News.

Kauai

The outbreak of deadly coral disease along Kaua‘i’s North Shore may be targeting more than one species of Montipora coral. Garden Island.

Retired auto dealer James Pflueger faces a long-delayed trial in September after he declined to accept a plea agreement that would have dismissed his manslaughter charges related to seven deaths when the Ka Loko dam breached seven years ago. Star-Advertiser.