Consumer spending fattens state budget, Obama vacation costs Honolulu police $277K in overtime, Hawaii banker named to federal reserve, schools lag under decentralization, manta rays suffer fin damage, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Shoppers in Waikiki © 2015 All Hawaii News

Increased consumer spending, spurred by savings from lower gasoline and heating fuel prices, should help the U.S. economy overall and in turn have a positive impact on Hawaii's economy, state economists predicted Tuesday. The improved economic outlook prompted the state Council on Revenues to revise upward its forecast for the current fiscal year, predicting revenue growth of about 4.5 percent, up from the 3.5 percent growth predicted in September. Star-Advertiser.

Gov. David Ige’s administration and state lawmakers have a little more money to work with as they develop the next biennium budget for the state in the coming months. The Hawaii Council on Revenues decided Tuesday to increase its revenue forecast for the current fiscal year, which started July 1. Its previous projection of a 3.5 percent increase in revenue was raised to 4.5 percent, which translates to roughly $53.7 million in additional revenues for the general fund. Civil Beat.

No new day for school empowerment. A pair of new studies show decentralization of the DOE saw little progress over the past four years. Will our new governor have more success? Hawaii Independent.

Allan Landon, the unflappable and unpretentious former head of the state's second-largest bank, is being summoned for another challenge. On Tuesday, President Barack Obama said he will nominate Landon, 65, to a seat on the seven-member Federal Reserve Board. If approved by the Senate, he would become the first banking executive from Hawaii to ever serve on the prestigious committee. Star-Advertiser.

President Barack Obama said Tuesday he plans to nominate retired Bank of Hawaii Chairman and CEO Allan R. Landon to the Federal Reserve's Board of Governors. Pacific Business News.

Hawaii’s largest health insurer says it’s still having substantial problems with the state’s health exchange. The staff at Hawaii Medical Services Association has spent 27,940 hours working on technical issues with the Connector, and a fifth of those hours were spent in the last two months. Associated Press.

Obesity task force seeks fee for sugar-sweetened drinks. KITV4.

FBI: Investment Scams on the Rise in Hawaii. Hawaii Reporter.

Oahu

The bill has come in for President Barack Obama and his family's holiday vacation in Hawaii. According to Honolulu police, the cost for HPD officers' overtime pay during the first family's visit was more than $277,000. Hawaii News Now.

President Barack Obama left Oahu over the weekend, but he left Honolulu taxpayers with the bill. KHON2.

The state has lost its appeal of a judge's ruling in which the state Department of Human Services was found negligent, along with a Navy diver based at Pearl Harbor, in the 2009 death of the sailor's 14-month-old boy. Star-Advertiser.

Developers of a wind farm set to break ground later this year in Kahuku are boasting of its low-priced energy, but Oahu residents will still be paying six times the national average for the wind energy produced from the 10 turbines. Civil Beat.

It was pretty certain before 2014 was over that Oahu home prices would set a record. And they did. Yet there also was a dip in the number of sales as limited inventory clashed a bit with buyer demand. The Honolulu Board of Realtors released for publication Wednesday its latest monthly sale report with December data that rounded out a year during which record prices were broken. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii

Creating more housing by allowing people to live in industrial-commercial mixed districts is proving a tough pill for the Hawaii County Council to swallow. The council Planning Committee on Tuesday lauded the goal of a measure advanced by the county administration, but said there are too many concerns to allow Bill 4 to go forward without more work. West Hawaii Today.

A Tuesday morning overflight of the June 27 lava flow showed that breakouts upslope of the stalled front advanced another 150 yards to the north in the past day. Hawaii County Civil Defense said the breakouts were about 1-1.5 miles upslope of the front, which has remained quiet for about a week. Tribune-Herald.

Lava flowing from Kīlauea’s Pu‘u ‘Ō‘ō Vent has left the lower Puna community in a state of limbo. The slow moving disaster has prompted one researcher to look at how residents are coping with the flow. Hawaii Public Radio.

Earl Bakken, the 91-year-old inventor of the pacemaker and a longtime Big Island resident, already has his 9-acre Kona Coast estate off the grid but now wants to power it without any fossil fuels. Now Bakken has started building one of the largest private residential photovoltaic systems in Hawaii not connected to a utility electrical grid. Star-Advertiser.

Big Island employers began paying the state’s new increased minimum wage last week, and the change is either long overdue or an unwelcome hardship, depending on whom you talk to. Tribune-Herald.

Opinion: Could an Airship Ferry Residents Stranded by the Lava Flow? A Hilo attorney and entrepreneur has a plan for the "Lava Ferry" if Highway 130 in Pahoa is taken out. Civil Beat.

Maui

A Maui research and conservation group says 10 percent of the more than 300 manta rays in waters south of Lahaina have amputated or severely damaged fins. The Hawaii Association for Marine Education and Research says the manta rays are injured when they get caught in fishing lines. Associated Press.

About 10 percent of 330 manta rays identified off Olowalu have an amputated or severely damaged fin used in eating, caused by entanglement in fishing lines. Maui News.

Coffee growers on Maui are bracing for a destructive beetle to eventually make its way to the island. Star-Advertiser.

Maui coffee growers are taking measures to belay the arrival of the coffee berry borer beetle that has been brewing trouble for farmers on the Big Island for years and that made its way to Oahu in December. Maui News.

Kauai

Kauai legislators are preparing district and shared concerns as they get ready for their first session Jan. 21. Garden Island.

Community meetings will be held around the island next week to discuss the county’s Multi-Hazard Mitigation Plan update. The discussions will be led by the Kauai Civil Defense Agency and two researchers from the University of Hawaii’s Social Science Research Institute, Dr. Cheryl Anderson and Dr. Sarah Henly-Shepard. Garden Island.

Record low temps chill Hawaii, climate change studied, Ige plans belt tightening, Kauai police run over pedestrian they were sent to help, Obama has left the islands, $90M wind farm cleared for Oahu, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Snow-topped Mauna Kea on Saturday © 2015 All Hawaii News

Temperatures in Hawaii dropped into the 50s, setting records on three islands and tying a record in Honolulu Sunday morning. Star-Advertiser.

Snow blanketed the summit areas of Mauna Kea and Mauna Loa on the Big Island of Hawaii while morning temperatures dipped into the 50's Sunday. Hawaii News Now.

Last month, as he submitted his budget for the next two-year cycle, Gov. David Ige noted that government spending would grow over the next two fiscal years due primarily to nondiscretionary spending requirements such as health benefits and raises negotiated by the previous administration. To him, that means one thing: The state will have to live within its means. Star-Advertiser.

New rules regarding dentists and sedatives were put into place shortly after her daughter's death, But Ashley Boyle has started a web site, finleys-law.org. She's pushing for a law allowing parents to be in the treatment room with their children during dental procedures, or at least to have a window available so they can observe. She also wants a law that says any drug must be administered by the dentist or an equally-certified staff member. Hawaii News Now.

President Barack Obama and family left Honolulu Saturday evening following a two-week vacation. Star-Advertiser.

President Obama and his family departed from Oahu’s Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam at 9:43 p.m., marking the end of their annual Hawaiian winter vacation to the islands. The President and the First Lady arrived to the take-off zone at 9:27 p.m. on Saturday and were greeted by state dignitaries, including Gov. David Ige, Senator Mazie Hirono, Mayor Kirk Caldwell, and General Vincent Keith Brooks. KHON2.

The U.S. Department of the Interior announced that its Pacific Islands Climate Science Center will award universities and other partners over $600K for studies that will assess the potential effects of climate change in and around Hawai‘i. Maui Now.

A University of Hawaii researcher has received a $104,477 grant to see whether resources from Hawaii waters can be used to ward off sepsis, an often fatal complication of infection. Star-Advertiser.

Oahu

Honolulu City Council Chair Ernie Martin has made no secret of his aspirations to be mayor and political insiders say he’s worked to undermine Caldwell’s political agenda — something Martin denies — as he positions himself to challenge Caldwell in the 2016 mayoral race. Civil Beat.

The $90 million Na Pua Makani wind farm being built by California's Champlin Hawaii Holdings LLC on public and private lands on Oahu's North Shore has been approved by Hawaii regulators this week, according to a public filing. Pacific Business News.

Diamond Head, the extinct volcano that has become synonymous with Waikiki Beach, isn’t going anywhere, but much of the sand that both locals and visitors enjoy has vanished. Associated Press.

Opinion: Urban Hawaii: What Does the Future Hold for Honolulu — and Us? It is time to explore what the transformation of Kakaako says about the evolution of our city. Civil Beat.

Hawaii

One of the three bond rating firms has reaffirmed Hawaii County’s solid financial status, even as the County Council is poised Wednesday to add $20 million to the debt to  pay for lava-impacted Puna roads. West Hawaii Today.

Motorists fuming about changes to the acceleration lanes on Queen Kaahumanu Highway may only have to drop it in neutral and wait a bit; things could change yet again. State Department of Transportation engineers are returning to the drawing board on a restriping project between Makala Boulevard and Henry Street — a redesign of traffic flow that eliminated acceleration lanes and drew protest from not just motorists but also some cyclists. West Hawaii Today.

Maui

In his third and final term as mayor of Maui County, Alan Arakawa hopes to work with the state to expand airport facilities in Kahului, to create a facility for the mentally disabled and drug and substance abusers at the Old Maui High School in Hamakuapoko and to work with the Maui County Council amicably over the next four years. Maui News.

Doug McLeod has stepped down as Maui County's energy commissioner and appears to be on the verge of working as a consultant to Florida-based NextEra Energy, which announced plans last month to absorb Hawaiian Electric in a multibillion-dollar merger deal. Maui News.

The Maui County Council on Friday welcomed the new year with new leadership. Maui News.

Kauai

A pedestrian who was struck by a vehicle, then struck again by the police officer responding to the accident, died Saturday night. Garden Island.

Commercial businesses operating in the ocean are now required to have a permit. But some Kauai companies lost money when they were forced to close unnecessarily during the holidays. Hawaii News Now.

A Westside company is suing the Office of Hawaiian Affairs for breach of contract and fraud in its operation of the former Makaweli Poi Mill that it purchased and operated from 2008 until it ceased operations in 2012. Garden Island.

With the first phase of the Rice Camp Senior Apartments set for completion in March, rental applications are now being accepted by the project’s management company, EAH Housing. Garden Island.

Djou, Takai battle for congressional seat, Aiona courts religious right, tax collections up, boaters must take classes, Hawaii Mayor Kenoi finishes Ironman, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Mark Takai, Charles Djou Hawaii News Now screen grab

Congressional candidates Charles Djou and Mark Takai traded jabs Sunday night in their final face-off on Hawaii News Now.

In their last scheduled statewide television appearance, Democrat Mark Takai and Republican Charles Djou broke little new ground on issues Sunday, choosing instead to sharpen their rhetoric on partisanship and who would better serve the people of Hawaii in the next Congress. Star-Advertiser.

Gubernatorial candidate James Duke Aiona and Elwin Ahu, his lieutenant governor running mate and a pastor, describe religious conservatives as one of several coalitions -- like Filipinos or small business owners -- they want to attract to their campaign. Star-Advertiser.

Faith and Politics, Aiona and Ahu, at the Blaisdell. During a gathering that resembled a religious revival, the Republican candidates for Hawaii's top offices say they are men of faith with the moral compass to lead. But they also cite other coalitions of support. Civil Beat.

While some tickets in the past have matched candidates who are distant, or even rivals, the lieutenant governor nominees this year complement the aspiring chief executives. Lieutenant governor candidates rarely alone drive voter behavior, but they can help enhance a ticket. The No. 2 job can also be a pathway to higher office. Since statehood, three former lieutenant governors — George Ariyoshi, John Waihee and Ben Cayetano — became governors, while two — Mazie Hirono and Brian Schatz — became U.S. senators. Star-Advertiser.

One of five proposed constitutional amendments on the Nov. 4 ballot will ask voters whether the state can fund partnerships with private preschools to build capacity and ultimately serve all of the state's 17,000 4-year-olds with a publicly funded preschool education. The ballot measure has become a divisive issue among early-learning advocates and the union for public school teachers. Star-Advertiser.

The state Department of Land and Natural Resources will soon be cracking down on boaters. Starting Nov. 10, anyone behind the wheel of a motorized vessel must show proof of completing an approved boater safety course. KHON2.

The state’s tax collections for the first quarter of fiscal 2015, which started July 1, are up 2.7 percent overall compared to the same period last year, according to a report the Hawaii Department of Taxation released Friday. Civil Beat.

Governor Neil Abercrombie recently granted a nice chunk of change to the Dept. of Business, Economic Development and Tourism for the purpose of researching ways to build a new film studio facility. As part of DBET, the Hawaii Film Office is excited for the opportunity, saying this is a step in the right direction for Hawaii’s economy. To the tune of $100,000, it’s going to help officials figure out what the local film industry needs right now, and also search for the best location to build a brand new studio. KHON2.

Close to 1,000 teachers are recruited each year to work in Hawaii. Some fill spots left when people retire. Others take the places of hopeful teachers who come to Hawaii but can’t survive on the salaries they are paid. Garden Island.

Opinion: However the general election turns out, it'll represent the most significant youth movement in Hawaii's highest offices since the early days of statehood. Star-Advertiser.

Honolulu

Voters have two very different options in the race for the District 6 Honolulu City Council seat, which covers much of Oahu’s urban core, including downtown Honolulu and its surrounding neighborhoods. It’s Democrat versus Republican, albeit for a nonpartisan office. It’s an incumbent who touts her insider political acumen against a challenger who casts himself as a political outsider. Civil Beat.

Local construction firm Nan Inc., the lowest of three bidders looking to build the Honolulu rail system's first nine stations from West Oahu to Aloha Stadium, has dropped its recent protest against a decision to cancel those bids. Star-Advertiser.

The city's new Sit-Lie ordinance was aimed at reducing the number of homeless in Waikiki, but now some street vendors contend its also being used against them.Hawaii News Now.

A $75 million, 17-story senior-living facility on Kalakaua Avenue near the Hawaii Convention Center that will officially begin construction next week, is expected to create a total of 460 jobs, including 160 permanent full-time jobs when the project is completed in early 2016. Pacific Business News.

Hawaii

Roger Christie has become a cause célèbre in cannabis culture. The 65-year-old founder of The Hawaii Cannabis Ministry in Hilo believes his arrest with 13 others — including his wife, Share — by local and federal authorities on July 8, 2010, was due to his outspokenness for marijuana legalization. Tribune-Herald.

They don’t leave butts on the beach. And there’s no secondhand smoke. But Kona Councilman Dru Kanuha thinks electronic cigarettes and vaporizers ought to go the way of the traditional leaf-and-fire tobacco product and be banned from county facilities, parks and beaches. West Hawaii Today.

Hawaii County Mayor Billy Kenoi completed a 2.4 miles swim, a 112 mile bike ride and a 26.2 mile marathon to finish his first IRONMAN World Championship in Kailua-Kona. The mayor used nearly all the time allotted to him, crossing the finish line in dramatic fashion with about 15 minutes to spare. Big Island Video News.

Hawai’i County Mayor Billy Kenoi can now say that he has completed one of the most grueling tests a triathlete can ever accomplish. Kenoi, 46, crossed the finish line Saturday night of the IRONMAN World Championships, presented by GoPro, with a finishing time of 16:54:13. He was the 1,982nd finisher of the race. Big Island Now.

Does the Big Island have a libertarian streak? The Hawaii Libertarian Party is hoping so as it seeks to establish itself as an alternative to both Democratic and Republican parties. Tribune-Herald.

The dean of the Daniel K. Inouye College of Pharmacy called the release Friday of $33 million for the school to construct a permanent building “a great day for the college, a great day for the state and probably even a greater day for the whole Pacific region.” Tribune-Herald.

Hawai‘i County Civil Defense officials say a narrow breakout along the north side of the Puna lava flow has advanced approximately 60 yards, becoming the new leading edge. Hawaii News Now.

IN PELE’S PATH: Pahoa residents closest to flow ready to leave. Tribune-Herald.

Maui

The University of Hawaiʻi today announced that Lui Hokoana has been recommended to the Board of Regents as the University of Hawai‘i Maui College’s chancellor. Maui Now.

Median prices for single-family homes and condos in Maui County leaped 21.3 percent to $570,000 and 34.8 percent to $465,000 respectively in September compared to 2013, the Realtors Association of Maui reported late last week. Maui News.

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is finalizing a proposed plan that would remove unexploded ordnance from the former Makanalua Bombing Range on Molokai's Kalaupapa peninsula. Maui News.

Kauai
Subsistence fishers, lineal descendants of Hāʻena and community members from across Kaua‘i and the rest of the state testified in support of the Hāʻena Community Based Subsistence Fishing Area rules. Hawaii Independent.

Kapaa High School registered to participate in the safe driving commitment, sponsored by State Farm.  Anyone 14 years of age and over, not just Kapaa High School students, can go online starting Oct. 15 and click to commit to safe driving, thereby registering a “vote” toward winning — on the road and in the contest. Garden Island.

Superferry resurfaces, Aiona leads in gubernatorial poll, economy gaining, Kauai photographer sues Bieber, GMO advocates and foes not disclosing contributions, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Hawaii Superferry docked in Kauai, photo courtesy Christopher P.  Becker

People are talking ferry again. The first Hawaiian Inter-Island Ferry Conference to explore pros and cons of Hawaiian Inter-Island Ferry systems is scheduled Oct. 6 in Honolulu. Recent online polls showing 80 percent in favor of ferry service prompted the Marine Engineers’ Beneficial Association, and the Master Mates and Pilots, to organize six speakers at the five-hour town hall meeting. Garden Island.

With the primary election over, it's now a three-way race for governor. And some experts believe the race is closer than recent polls suggest. In the latest Hawaii News Now/Honolulu Star-Advertiser Hawaii Poll, Republican Duke Aiona is the front-runner in a three-way race with 41 percent of the vote, followed by Democrat David Ige with 34 percent and independent Mufi Hannemann with just 15 percent.

Hawaii's economy is expected to grow faster this year than previously forecast after inflation remained mild during the first six months of 2014. The state revised upward its growth forecast on Wednesday and projects Hawaii's inflation-adjusted gross domestic product, the broadest measure of economic output, to rise 2.6 percent this year, up from 2.4 percent in its May forecast, according to a quarterly report released by the state Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism. Star-Advertiser.

State economists are expecting 8.3 million visitors to spend $14.9 billion in Hawaii this year, which would set a new record. The Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism’s third-quarter report, released Wednesday, revises Hawaii’s economic growth upward. Civil Beat.

Across the islands, 1 out of every 5 Hawaii residents depends on food aid from the Hawaii Foodbank and its network of agencies, a new report reveals. That's well above the national average of 1 in 7 people relying on food banks and feeding programs. Star-Advertiser.

Funding for vacant special-education services positions at public schools could be cut by more than $9 million under a preliminary plan the state Department of Education is working on as it braces for a reduced budget allocation from the state. Star-Advertiser.

Mark Takai and Charles Djou have much in common. They’re middle-aged family men who grew up in Hawaii, serve in the military and have years of experience in elected office. But there are fundamental differences between the two candidates that will help urban Oahu voters decide Nov. 4 who they want to represent them in Congress for the next two years. Civil Beat.

Aircraft facility named after late U.S. Sen. Inouye. KITV4.

Hawaii’s health-care exchange, the Hawaii Health Connector, has taken another blow. Hawaii Medical Service Association, the state’s largest health insurer, won’t participate in the Connector’s Small Business Health Options Program, or SHOP, as of January. Hawaii Reporter.

Oahu

The University of Hawaii athletic department says it is targeting a 5 percent cut on operational budget line items in an attempt to help rein in its projected deficit for the current fiscal year. Star-Advertiser.

The state is wading into a touchy turf war that's pitting stand up paddlers against surfers and bodyboarders. A group called Safe-Surf Hawaii is proposing a one year pilot program. The program would ban stand up paddle boarders from all surf breaks between Ala Wai boat harbor to Kewalo Basin. Hawaii News Now.

Organizers bringing a circus to Honolulu say the show will not feature animals as previously planned. People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals protested against the Moscow International Circus' plans to include animals during Honolulu shows in October. Associated Press.

Hawaii

A politically connected pumping company will be allowed to keep a baseyard it built in a Hilo neighborhood that’s zoned residential, despite constructing a five-bay industrial warehouse after getting a permit for a single-family home. West Hawaii Today.

While Tropical Storm Iselle apparently didn’t cause any serious injuries, some lower Puna residents think the same cannot be said for the steam release that occurred at Puna Geothermal Venture while they were hunkering down for Iselle’s arrival. The release, which included hydrogen sulfide, occurred the evening of Aug. 7 when the 38-megawatt plant was cut off from transmission lines and shut down. Tribune-Herald.

A total of 260 Hawaii Island residents reported sustaining damage to their homes as a result of Tropical Storm Iselle, according to the Hawaii Emergency Management Agency. Tribune-Herald.

Hawaii Electric Light Co. continues to restore electric service to customers who lost power as a result of Tropical Storm Iselle. However, the company said in a prepared statement Wednesday that it could take another two weeks — in some cases, even longer — to restore power to all affected customers. West Hawaii Today.

Unemployment is dropping, while business is increasing, state Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism officials said Wednesday. In the department’s third quarter 2014 statistics and economic report, officials said Hawaii Island’s unemployment rate dropped from 7 percent to 6 percent between the first part of 2013 and first quarter of this year. At the same time, Hawaii County had the second-highest increase in building permit values in the first quarter of 2014, a $13.8 million increase, or 16.2 percent. West Hawaii Today.

Things may be looking up for the critically endangered palila, the small songbird with a yellow head found only in the wild on Hawaii island. Star-Advertiser.

Maui
Donations Pour In to Influence GMO Debate, But Are They Being Disclosed? No ballot issue committees have formed to raise money for or against the proposed Maui County GMO ban on the fall ballot, but a lot has been spent on political candidates. Civil Beat.

Maui Mayor Alan Arakawa joins his administration in hosting a series of community meetings in September and October to receive public comment on the fiscal year 2015-2016 budget. Maui Now.

Three ranking Maui Police Department officers and three retired police officers from Maui, Honolulu and New York are the six finalists who will be interviewed for the job of Maui County police chief. Maui News.

A special committee tasked with reviewing applications for the Maui police chief vacancy has narrowed the list to six finalists and has released the names of those still in the running. Maui Now.

Former Maui County mayoral candidate Nelson Waikiki Jr. will be out of jail and placed on supervised release again, after police arrested him following a candidate forum at Seabury Hall in July. Maui News.

Kauai

A Kauai photographer is suing Canadian music star Justin Bieber and his bodyguard for assaulting him and destroying his camera at Shipwreck’s Beach in November. Garden Island.




A photographer who says he was assaulted by Justin Bieber's bodyguard on a Hawaii beach last year is suing the pop singer for assault and negligence. Associated Press.

County of Kauai officials are moving ahead with a new waste management program that would charge residents based on how much they throw away, though some have concerns. Garden Island.

Waikiki beach named best in the U.S., Maui GMO foes struggle with signatures, Kauai campers evicted, gubernatorial candidates weigh in on UH president search, preschool plan falls short, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Duke Kahanamoku Beach © 2014 All Hawaii News

A tourist-friendly beach named for a Hawaii surfing legend has been dubbed the best public beach in the United States in this year’s Dr. Beach ranking. Duke Kahanamoku Beach, a well-groomed crescent of blond sand and palm trees near the Hilton Hawaiian Village Waikiki Beach Resort, beat out more than 600 other beaches for the distinction. Associated Press.

The Duke Kahanamoku Beach in front of the Hilton Hawaiian Village Waikiki Beach Resort has topped this year's list of the nation's best beaches, according to "Dr. Beach," the self-proclaimed foremost beach expert in America. Pacific Business News.

The two leading Democrats in the governor's race weighed in on the University of Hawaii Board of Regents' search for a new UH president Thursday, after questions were raised about the search process and its outcome. Hawaii News Now.

State Sen. David Ige said Thursday that if voters elect him governor this fall he will work to change how public schools are managed, starting with the statewide Board of Education, whose members are appointed. The Democratic gubernatorial candidate fielded an array of questions before an audience of about 60 concerned citizens and campaign supporters who attended Civil Beat’s monthly Civil Cafe event.

After watching Kentucky's hemp seed importation quandary unfold last week, Hawaii plans to apply for a Drug Enforcement Administration permit to prevent delays in its own plan for industrial hemp. Star-Advertiser.

The reduced funding lawmakers set aside this session for Gov. Neil Abercrombie’s universal preschool plan will serve 220 fewer 4-year-olds than planned, establishing prekindergarten classes at 18 instead of 30 public schools next school year. Star-Advertiser.

Equality Hawai‘i Foundation, hoping to spark more efforts to prevent bullying, released poll data Thursday showing that voters think it's an important issue and that Caucasians in Hawaii are the ethnic group most likely to report being bullied. Star-Advertiser.

U.S. Rep. Colleen Hanabusa touts her local roots and sympathy for the middle class in her first ad of the 2014 Senate campaign season. Civil Beat.

Bryan Earl Jeremiah has been campaigning as a Republican for state House District 41, but after learning he had an extensive criminal rap sheet, elected Republican leaders asked the 51-year-old on Wednesday to withdraw. Hawaii Reporter.

The neighbor islands, which lagged behind Oahu in economic growth for much of the past five years, have closed the gap and are poised for continued improvement this year and next, according to a report scheduled for release Friday by the University of Hawaii Economic Research Organization. Star-Advertiser.

Mike Gold, president and CEO of Hawaii Medical Service Association, says that despite drawing criticism from some lawmakers in the past few weeks, he’s received largely positive responses since recommending that the state do away with the Hawaii Health Connector’s health insurance exchange for small business owners. Tribune-Herald.

Meetings will be held statewide to receive public input on the potential inclusion of the Honouliuli Internment Camp into the National Park System. Star-Advertiser.

Oahu

Federal officials propose spending $200 million to erect walls around the Ala Wai Canal and build upland detention ponds to protect Waikiki and other areas from a major rainstorm that could cause catastrophic flooding. Civil Beat.

The city received 14,316 applications for Section 8 rental assistance during a one-week open application period that ended at 11:59 p.m. Wednesday, officials said. Star-Advertiser.

The City and County of Honolulu is moving forward with building bike-friendly infrastructure to coincide with the arrival of rail transit in the urban core in less than 5 years. Hawaii Public Radio.

The state is reminding the public that it will be enforcing a ban on alcohol at the popular Kaneohe sandbar this Memorial Day weekend. Star-Advertiser.

The Honolulu market probably won’t see a new office tower built anytime soon, according to one local real estate expert, who noted that this will cause existing landlords to enjoy this next upswing in the market. Pacific Business News.

Navy officials said Thursday they are still not certain that 27,000 gallons of jet fuel leaked from an underground storage tank at Red Hill in January, noting that other factors may have caused a discrepancy in what they had expected to find in the tank and what was actually measured. Star-Advertiser.

The historic former Marks Estate is losing its steward and two 90-something sisters who call the stately Nuu­anu property home, after a tangled financial affair that involves what the property owner claims is a $40 million masterwork painting that he can’t sell to save his beloved estate. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii

Slow but steady wins the race seems the motto for Hawaii County’s economy, as it builds incrementally toward levels lost during the Great Recession. That’s according to a report being released today by the University of Hawaii Economic Research Organization, known as UHERO. West Hawaii Today.

Burglaries, drivers speeding in residential neighborhoods and Tasers were among concerns voiced by citizens to police commanders during a meeting Thursday at the Hilo Police Station. Tribune-Herald.

The new owners of 252 acres of South Kohala land hope to have the utilities in place for the first 195 home sites in 2015. West Hawaii Today.

Maui

The Maui County clerk has rejected more than half of the 9,768 signatures on an initiative petition submitted by the SHAKA Movement seeking a moratorium on genetically modified crops. Star-Advertiser.

The SHAKA Movement is about 3,700 signatures shy of placing a citizens' initiative on the Nov. 4 ballot for a moratorium on genetically modified organisms in Maui County. Maui News.

The National Park Service's plan to cut down the number of tour bus companies allowed in Haleakala National Park from 18 to four may have upset commercial operators, but one Upcountry resident said the downsizing is "long overdue." Maui News.

The Maui Humane Society's board of directors announced that it has appointed Sandra "Sandy" Shelby as its new chief executive officer. Maui News.

Hāmoa Beach Among Top 10 on Dr. Beach’s 2014 Picks. Maui Now.

Kauai

Campers at Anahola Beach Park were told to vacate or face arrest on Thursday. Garden Island.

For nearly four decades, a long-term plan for a bypass road located mauka of Lihue and Hanamaulu was spelled out on the county’s books. Garden Island.

A 107-year-old metal siphon running along the Kekaha Ditch has seen better days. Garden Island.

Hawaii economy growing beyond tourism, Obama to help Hawaii's ailing Health Connector, Alaska wants humpbacks delisted, minimum wage bill closer to agreement, Lanai plane crash aftermath, Clayton Hee building war chest, nurses get raises, Mufi Hannemann disliked, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Maui whale count courtesy Pacific Whale Foundation

The state of Alaska has filed a petition to remove some North Pacific humpback whales from protections granted under the federal Endangered Species Act, saying the whales are thriving and no longer need them. The petition filed Wednesday with the National Marine Fisheries Service aims to delist humpbacks that feed in Alaska in the summer and breed in Hawaii in winter, the Anchorage Daily News reported. Associated Press.

University of Hawaii economists are predicting the state's economy will grow slightly faster as the recovery expands beyond the tourism industry. The university's Economic Research Organization said in a report Friday Hawaii's gross domestic product is likely to grow 2.9 percent this year, up from 2.6 percent last year. Hawaii News Now.

Following two years of record-breaking growth, tourism officials say Hawaii’s tourism economy is starting to plateau. According to the Hawaii Tourism Authority, while visitor arrivals in January are on pace with last year’s numbers which contributed to a record of 8.2 million annual visitors, expenditures were down 4.7 percent compared to the same period last year. KHON2.

States such as Hawaii that have experienced technical problems running their own health care enrollment websites are getting some help from the Obama administration. Associated Press.

In a potential framework for an agreement, the state House Finance Committee on Thursday approved a bill that would increase the minimum wage to $10 an hour by January 2018 and expand the tip credit to $1 while shielding low-income workers. The $7.25-an-hour minimum wage would gradually rise to $10 an hour over four years, giving businesses time to absorb the increase. The 25-cent tip credit — the amount businesses can deduct from the minimum wage for workers who earn tips — would rise to $1 over three years. Star-Advertiser.

Facing a key internal deadline Friday, state senators and representatives are trying to reach agreement on a minimum wage increase and tip credit. A Senate committee on Thursday deferred decision making on its version of a wage hike until Friday morning — the second delay on a vote this week. Civil Beat.

Debate will continue today over how much Hawaii businesses should compensate their minimum-wage employees. The state’s benchmark has remained at $7.25 an hour — the same as the current federal minimum — since 2007. Tribune-Herald.

State Sen. Clayton Hee has more than $460,000 in cash on hand, meaning he has the money to help stave off challengers or run for higher office. Hee told Civil Beat the money gives him the “flexibility” to consider a run for governor or lieutenant governor, but that he hasn’t made a decision yet.

Gov. Neil Abercrombie Thursday declined to say whether he plans to reappoint Hawaii Public Utilities Chairwoman Hermina Morita when her term ends June 30. Morita's future as head of the regulatory agency was thrown into doubt recently after an Abercrombie staff member reportedly said the governor did not intend to reappoint her. Star-Advertiser.

Elwin Ahu, a former state judge who serves as senior pastor at New Hope Metro, announced Thursday that he would run in the Republican primary for lieutenant governor. Star-Advertiser.

A bill aimed at establishing a community food forest program within the state Department of Agriculture is headed to the House floor. Garden Island.

A bill currently going through the state Legislature would require mediation be sought before arbitration in determining the sale price or lease rental of state lands. Tribune-Herald.

A state program aiming to help low- and moderate-income families send their children to a licensed preschool is opening its doors to new applicants. Hawaii News Now.

The Hawaii Government Employees Association unit representing registered professional nurses has ratified a new two-year contract with pay raises. The unit, which covers about 1,700 public-sector nurses, agreed to a 4 percent pay raise retroactive to January and a 4.3 percent raise effective in July. The government will also cover 60 percent of health insurance premiums. Star-Advertiser.

DBEDT has released two new applications showing demographic information for Hawaii's legislative districts. Hawaii Reporter.

On Tap at the Hawaii Legislature: Feb. 28. Civil Beat.

Oahu

A new Civil Beat Poll shows nearly 60 percent of Oahu voters have a negative impression of former Honolulu mayor Mufi Hannemann. Just 32 percent view him in a positive light. Asked whether they would vote for Hannemann were he to run for political office this year, 28 percent said "very unlikely" and 20 percent said "somewhat unlikely."

A Honolulu City Council committee is putting off decision-making on a request to raise the height limit for a second hotel-condominium tower on Kuhio Avenue to be operated and managed by the Ritz-Carlton chain, following objections raised by the project's neighbors. Star-Advertiser.

State senators Thursday agreed to revive a bill that could enable the state to acquire undeveloped North Shore land owned by Turtle Bay Hotel and Resort through eminent domain. Star-Advertiser.

The state Supreme Court has agreed to consider a lawsuit protesting a plan to build a 3,500 homes on farmland in Koa Ridge in central Oahu. The development by Castle and Cooke Hawaii would turn 576 acres of prime agricultural land into master-planned suburban community more than two miles away from the nearest planned rail station. Civil Beat.

Hawaii Community Development Authority (HCDA) executive director Anthony Ching said in a public meeting that there would be an announcement about a new, projected preschool-kindergarten building as part of the Kakaako redevelopment plan. Hawaii Independent.

Hawaii

A former Puna councilman is ready to throw his hat in the ring again — it’s just a matter of which ring. Fred Blas has filed to run for two offices, Council District 4, which covers eastern Puna and is currently represented by Greggor Ilagan, and House District 4, also in Puna, currently represented by Faye Hanohano. West Hawaii Today.

Mayor Billy Kenoi provided some insight Thursday into why he signed a controversial measure banning new genetically modified organisms from growing in Hawaii County. West Hawaii Today.

The UH Board of Regents recently approved a sublease for the planned Thirty Meter Telescope atop Mauna Kea on Hawai’i island. Hawaii Public Radio.

Maui
The logistics of travel and communication and how Maui County serves its four-island community will likely be on the public agenda in the wake of Wednesday night's fatal plane crash on Lanai. Star-Advertiser.

A small plane crashed and burst into flames shortly after takeoff from Lanai, killing three people and leaving three others injured, authorities said Thursday. Associated Press.

“This is a tragedy that has stunned our community, but we are also thankful for those whose lives were spared,” said Maui Mayor Alan Arakawa who hosted a press conference to share information on Wednesday’s deadly plane crash on the island of Lānaʻi. Maui Now.

Grief and relief rose as the dominant emotions Thursday in the aftermath of a charter plane crash that left three people dead and three others injured in charred grassland in central Lanai. Two of the dead and three of the injured were Maui County employees on Lanai to attend a planning commission meeting Wednesday. Star-Advertiser.

The surviving passenger who is credited with pulling two others from the burning wreckage of Wednesday’s plane crash on Lāna‘i has released a statement to reassure family and friends of his condition. Maui Now.

After a small chartered aircraft carrying Maui County officials crashed near the Lanai Airport on Wednesday night, a deputy attorney for Maui County called 911 to alert emergency officials to the crash and then pulled two other victims from the wreckage, friends and coworkers tell Hawaii News Now.

The Maalaea small boat harbor on Maui could receive up to $4 million in improvements under legislation being considered by the Hawaii Legislature. Pacific Business News.

The Maui Planning Commission unanimously approved a new, family-focused, 200-room hotel in Wailea. Maui News.

Kauai

Representatives of Hawaii Dairy Farms spent Thursday evening laying out their plans for the $17.5 million, 582-acre dairy in Mahaulepu. Garden Island.

The Honolulu firm of McCorriston Miller Mukai MacKinnon has been selected to represent Kauai County in a lawsuit filed by seed four seed companies that want to block the implementation of a new ordinance regulating pesticide use and genetically modified crops. Star-Advertiser.

The Honolulu firm of McCorriston Miller Mukai MacKinnon LLP has been selected to represent the County of Kauai in a lawsuit filed by four biotech seed companies relating to Ordinance 960, regulating GMO and pesticides. Garden Island.

Hawaii economy up, 'alarming' increase in Army DUI, more on Obama family visit, Honolulu preps for marathon, Kakaako condo approved, Molokai could be 100% renewable, Hawaii County advances $61M bond, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Waikiki shoppers (c) 2013 All Hawaii News

Hawaii’s state economists are forecasting a higher economic growth rate of nearly 3 percent for 2014, despite lowering the 2013 growth rate in a quarterly economic report released on Wednesday. Pacific Business News.

The White House hasn't officially announced its plans yet, but Hawaii News Now has learned the Obamas will vacation here over the holidays.  This will be the First Family's sixth Christmas in Hawaii since he was elected president, and keeping with tradition they are expected to spend it in Kailua.

The Army is reporting an "alarming increase" in drunken driving by soldiers in Hawaii as the military continues to struggle with the consequences of war and a return to "garrison" life. Star-Advertiser.

Dozens of upset individuals have taken to social media to express anger over a major airline's alleged treatment of a World War II veteran believed to have been on his way to Hawaii for a remembrance ceremony at Pearl Harbor. We have received unconfirmed reports that despite telling employees that he was a veteran on his way to Hawaii for a memorial at the Arizona Memorial on December 7, a war veteran named Ewalt Shatz was bumped off of United Airlines flight 1226 from Los Angeles International Airport to Honolulu on Wednesday because the plane was overweight. Hawaii News Now.

The Hawaii Supreme Court upheld a lower court ruling on Wednesday that said the state violated its own rules in allowing construction of a $17 million activity center at Kawaiahao Church to proceed without requiring the church to do an archaeological inventory survey first.  Some 660 dug-up human remans have languished in the church’s basement while the project has remained stalled for months amid court proceedings. The burials were expected to be reinterred in another part of the church property, but last year’s ruling by the Intermediate Court of Appeals on the AIS halted the project and left the fate of the remains in limbo. Civil Beat.

Oahu

The Honolulu Marathon, which will be run for the 41st year on Sunday, is on pace to bolster the state's $15 billion visitor industry during the seasonal lull right before the winter holidays. While entries for this year's race were flat going into the Honolulu Marathon Expo, organizers say that this year could still pull ahead of 2012. Before the opening of late registration on Wednesday, 29,575 runners had entered the race compared with 29,937 at the same point last year. Another 2,000 to 4,000 runners are expected to enter before Saturday's 5 p.m. cutoff, topping last year's total of 31,083 racers.Star-Advertiser.

Due in part to what happened at the Boston Marathon, there will be added security at the beginning, end, and on the route of the Honolulu Marathon on Sunday. There will be more uniformed and plain clothes police officers on the scene. KHON2.

Donors to Mayor Kirk Caldwell's transition committee which raised $400,000 for an inauguration party and to help install him in office had significant business interests with the city, according to a list of the donors released Wednesday by the Honolulu Ethics Commission. Some donors, who were implicated in an ethics investigation of the committee, also included registered lobbyists and cabinet members Carolee Kubo and Chris Takashige. Civil Beat.

A memorandum this week from city Corporation Counsel Donna Leong telling department heads that her office will advise city employees about ethical issues has drawn the ire of Ethics Commission Executive Director Chuck Totto. Totto told members of the seven-member commission on Wednesday that Leong's position could confuse employees and the public about where they should turn for advice on ethical issues, noting that he has already received calls from perplexed workers about the Dec. 2 memo. Star-Advertiser.

Subpoenas could be on the way for Honolulu Mayor Kirk Caldwell’s top executives if the administration continues to stonewall the Ethics Commission and its investigations into possible corruption at city hall. On Wednesday, at the third meeting on what's become a fast-disintegrating relationship between the commission and the administration, commissioners made it clear that they could soon take legal action to pry information loose in ethics investigations, including cases involving nepotism and political favoritism. Civil Beat.

Sales are expected to begin early next year for a second "workforce housing"condominium tower in Kakaako aimed at moderate-income residents after a state agency approved the project at the mauka end of South Street on Wednesday. The 410-unit tower representing a second phase of a project called 801 South St. won unanimous approval from the nine-member Hawaii Community Development Authority, the agency regulating development in Kakaako. Star-Advertiser.

The Hawaii Community Development Authority has given Downtown Capital LLC permission to develop a second residential tower in Kakaako at 801 South St. despite the vocal opposition of hundreds of local residents. Civil Beat.

A largely empty, five-story parking structure on South King Street just makai of the Alapai Street police station should soon be filling up and earning some cash for the city. The city reached an agreement with the Federal Transit Administration in September to allow city employees who don't have transit-related jobs to park at the location at least until the entire $100 million Joint Traffic Management Center is completed in late summer or early fall of 2016. Star-Advertiser.

California developer Champlin Windpower is proposing to add a second wind farm here next to the current Kahuku wind farm, called Na Pua Makani. KHON2.

A Mainland biomass company with ties to Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen could shake up the energy scene in Hawaii by providing a quick, environmentally-friendly, lower-cost solution to fossil fuels such as fuel oil and liquefied natural gas to power up Hawaiian Electric Co.’s power stations. Pacific Business News.

Hawaii

Kailua-Kona is the top U.S. Destination on the Rise for 2013, the world’s largest travel website, TripAdvisor.com, announced this week. The West Hawaii town earned the title based on the reviews and opinions of millions of TripAdvisor travelers. Anchorage, Alaska, took second and Destin, Fla., placed third on the 2013 Travelers’ Choice Top 10 Destinations on the Rise in the U.S. list. West Hawaii Today.

Unlike his last omnibus bond authorization request before a prior County Council, it was full steam ahead Tuesday for Mayor Billy Kenoi’s request to borrow $61 million for 23 projects countywide. The council Finance Committee, meeting into the evening, unanimously agreed to forward Kenoi’s bond package to the County Council with a positive recommendation. West Hawaii Today.

A software vendor is scrambling to get Hawaii County’s online building permit system back online, three weeks after the county took down the public portal because it wasn’t working right. West Hawaii Today.

A former case manager at CARE Hawaii filed suit against the mental health care provider, claiming she was wrongfully terminated after reporting other case managers illegally billed the state and private health insurance companies for work they didn’t do. Tribune-Herald.

The Hawaii County Council has cleared the way for the completion of the Mamalahoa Highway bypass in South Kona. The council approved a resolution Wednesday allowing for the county to acquire portions of nine parcels through eminent domain. Tribune-Herald.

Maui

A two-mile stretch of coastal waters off South Maui was closed Wednesday after two divers reported aggressive behavior by a shark that followed them to shore near Little Beach -- just two days after a fatal attack on a kayak fisherman nearby. State officials said the divers told lifeguards that an 8- to 10-foot Galapagos shark made several passes at them while they were spearfishing close to shore off Black Sand Beach at Makena about 11:20 a.m. Star-Advertiser.

Residents who qualified for the circuit breaker tax credit last year but would not qualify under the stricter criteria passed by the Maui County Council earlier this year are encouraged to still submit their applications as the council continues to deliberate on which criteria to make, county officials said Tuesday. Maui News.

Two appraisals ordered by the Maui County Council last month for 186 acres in Launiupoko came back with "significantly different" values, further convoluting a yearlong effort to sign a deal that would preserve open space along the West Maui coastline. Maui News.

A grand opening celebration will be held this Friday night, Dec. 6, at the new The Outlets of Maui shopping center in Lahaina. Maui Now.

Kauai

The Garden Isle recently earned a No. 2 ranking on TripAdvisor’s list of the 10 best islands in the United States, according to the website’s 2013 Travelers’ Choice awards. Kauai was bested only by San Juan Island, Wash., but placed ahead of Maui, 5, and Hawaii Island, 8, as the top Hawaiian island to crack the list. Garden Island.

Kauai County is moving forward on a $9.2 million project aimed at improving Hardy Street to meet the county’s newly-implemented Complete Streets policy. That policy seeks to create walkable, commuter-friendly communities. According to proposed Department of Public Works plans, two travel lanes with a landscaped median, turn lanes, bike lanes on both sides of the street, on-street parking, planter strips and continuous sidewalks will run the length of Hardy Street. Garden Island.

Molokai

A proposed renewable energy project for Molokai combines solar and stored hydroelectric power with the goal of 100 percent renewable energy for the island and lowered electric rates for local customers. The project, called Ikehu Molokai, is still in the early stages of discussion. It would be a joint endeavor between California-based Princeton Energy Group and landowner Molokai Ranch. If completed, Molokai would become the first grid in the world to be converted completely to renewable energy, said Princeton CEO Steve Tabor. Molokai Dispatch.

Hawaii economy down, but not out; Army gets permission for depleted uranium; Maui movie to employ hundreds; students favor gay marriage rights; Abercrombie opens immigration center, new species found in Kilauea Caldera; more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Waikiki shoppers (c) 2013 All Hawaii News

Tighter federal spending, a weaker yen and higher hotel room rates are combining to take a bite out of Hawaii's economic recovery this year, says a team of University of Hawaii economists. In a report released today, the University of Hawaii Economic Research Organization cut its forecasts for growth in both 2013 visitor arrivals and gross domestic product, the broadest measure of the state's economic activity. Star-Advertiser.

The recent federal government shutdown didn’t shut down Hawaii’s economy, and the future looks particularly bright for the neighbor islands, where job growth is expected to outpace that of Oahu over the rest of the decade. That’s according to reports released this week by the University of Hawaii Economic Research Organization and the state Department of Labor and Industrial Relations. West Hawaii Today.

With the launch of the Obamacare health care exchange Hawaii Health Connector, expect to see more state and  federal dollars flowing to Hawaii’s needy. Hawaii’s Legislature appropriated $2.75 billion for fiscal year 2013 and $2.83 billion for FY 2014 — or about 20 percent of the state general fund budget — for “social services” operating expenses. Hawaii Reporter.

Students aligned with Hawaii United for Marriage have collected more than 400 signatures on a petition favoring marriage equality as the state Legislature convenes in special session next week to consider a gay marriage bill. Jeremy Divinagracia, a UH sophomore, said at a news conference Thursday at the UH Campus Center that a vote against equality would be "a terrible message" for a state that prides itself on diversity and the aloha spirit. Star-Advertiser.

A growing number of University of Hawaii at Manoa students are signing a petition urging lawmakers to pass a same-sex marriage bill that’s up for debate in next week’s special session. As of of Thursday afternoon, more than 400 students have signed on. The petition drive, students said, was inspired by recent student government debates on campus about the pros and cons of same-sex marriage. Civil Beat.

Two local advocacy groups are sponsoring Hawaii legislation next session that would ban a type of mental-health counseling that aims to change the sexuality of children who identify as gay, bisexual or transgender. "Conversion therapy," as it’s known, is typically nonconsensual counseling imposed on children by parents or other adult figures and is widely seen as ineffective and intolerant. It’s already banned in California and New Jersey. Civil Beat.

With four legislators on hand to field questions at the Lihue Business Association, it took just a few minutes for the conversation to get to what was on many minds: the upcoming special session on the marriage equality bill. Garden Island.

In an increasingly crowded special session, Abercrombie's nomination for Director of the Office of Environmental Quality Control may be cause for concern. The agenda for next week’s special session is becoming increasingly crowded. On Tuesday the governor asked legislators to add three additional measures to the session agenda. Along with these measures, 31 additional gubernatorial nominations will be heard in the senate on Tuesday, October 29th beginning at 10am. Hawaii Independent.

The Nuclear Regulatory Commission has issued a license for the possession of depleted uranium at the Army’s Pohakuloa Training Area on the Big Island and Schofield Barracks on Oahu. The license, granted Wednesday, is in response to the revelation about six years ago that spotting rounds used as part of the Davy Crockett program were fired at both locations in the 1960s. Tribune-Herald.

Oahu

Ripple effects from rule changes that Hawaiian Electric Co. abruptly implemented last month are leaving solar customers especially vulnerable to unscrupulous salespeople who are desperate to close deals amid a tightening market. HECO put new controls on customers who want to hook up solar systems to protect the reliability of the utility's electric grid. The new policies have confused solar companies, left hundreds of customers who were in the middle of the installation process in limbo and cut deeply into solar sales at what is normally the busiest time of year. Civil Beat.

One of the companies responsible for disposing of sludge dredged from the Hawaii Kai Marina is apparently again looking at dumping the material on the site of a controversial and long-stalled cemetery in the back of nearby Kamilo Nui Valley. The marina's dredging project angered the public when sludge from there was spilled on the H-1 freeway Aug. 31 and was found on a private lot in Waianae in violation of city and possibly state and federal permits or regulations. Star-Advertiser.

Major decisions about new skyrises in Honolulu loom, but Hawaii’s state development agency may have to make them at a time when it is understaffed in a way that critics say favors developers. The Hawaii Community Development Authority has been missing two members of its Kakaako board since May, prompting lawmakers to urge Gov. Neil Abercrombie to fill the seats in time for the Legislature’s special session next week. Civil Beat.

It isn't exactly the majestic image often thought of with whales. There is believed to be a 30 to 40 foot dead sperm whale floating off the coast of Windward Oahu. It appears to have been dead for a while. Hawaii News Now.

The Marine Corps is warning windward Oahu residents to expect more aircraft noise for a short period. The Marines say people can expect to see multiple helicopters conducting maintenance and readiness flights from 10:15 a.m. to 11 a.m. on Friday. Residents may also hear more noise. Associated Press.

Six years ago, the city removed the playground equipment at Waimanalo Beach Park because of safety concerns. But the new equipment that's there is raising those same concerns. KHON2.

Hawaii

Governor on hand as state’s first immigration resource center opens. Tribune-Herald.

The Hawaii Judiciary said Thursday that it has selected a 10-acre parcel of land in North Kona owned by the Queen Liliuokalani Trust for the site of the new $9 million Kona Judiciary Complex. Pacific Business News.

Puna Community Medical Center is moving forward with plans to construct a comprehensive medical center to help meet the needs of the increasing population in the Puna District, according to a draft Environmental Assessment released Wednesday by the state Office of Environmental Quality Control. West Hawaii Today.

Kona home, condo and land sales will top last year’s numbers easily, even as sales slowed in September, a West Hawaii real estate agent says. West Hawaii Today.

A new species has been found – so far in only one cave in Kilauea Caldera on Hawaii Island – and scientists at the University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa say it has not been found anywhere else in the world. “We cultivated a new cyanobacterium from an almost 100-year-old lava cave in volcanically active Kilauea Caldera,” said Associate Professor Stuart Donachie in the Department of Microbiology at the College of Natural Sciences. Big Island Video News.

Maui

By early next year, Maui Film Studios will be home to the next "Lord of the Rings"-style movie, with hundreds of positions from extras to makeup artists open to Maui County residents, studio officials said. Maui News.

Maui County will enjoy a 15.1 percent growth in jobs during the current decade, with annual openings of more than 3,000 jobs during the period, according to projections in a state Department of Labor and Industrial Relations report released Wednesday. Maui News.

The neighbor islands are forecast to lead job growth in the state through 2020, according to new data released by the state Department of Labor and Industrial Relations. Maui County is forecast to have the second fastest growth in the state, with a projected 15.1% increase in industry growth over the 10 year period from 2010-2020. Maui Now.

Plans for resurfacing Kahului Airport's main runway would lead to late-night jet takeoffs from the airport's secondary runway and cause "serious and substantial" noise impacts on Spreckelsville residents, according to their attorney. Maui News.

A team from the University of Hawaii just launched a new study to track the movement of tiger sharks in Maui waters. Hawaii News Now.

Kauai

The state is projecting big things for the County of Kauai. Specifically, it thinks The Garden Isle will outpace neighboring islands when it comes to industry and occupational growth by 2020. The Hawaii State Department of Labor and Industrial Relations said in a report Wednesday that Kauai’s forecasted expansion rate of 15.4 percent in both sectors will be tops in the state. Garden Island.

Repealing an ordinance that expedites the permit process to rebuild structures destroyed by Hurricane Iniki will put an end to restoration plans for the Coco Palms Resort, the iconic Kauai hotel where Elvis Presley filmed "Blue Hawaii," argues Bob Jasper, who holds guided tours at the property. The Kauai County Council held a public hearing Wednesday on Bill 2502, which would repeal the so-called "Iniki Ordinance," which offers an expedited permit process to rebuild structures and buildings destroyed by the Category 4 storm that devastated the Garden Isle on Sept. 11, 1992. Star-Advertiser.

Library opens new chapter. $1.9M renovation unveiled. Garden Island.