Voters to decide on investment/rental property tax for education, $93k considered low-income for Honolulu family of four, Kauai seeks tourists after flood, pesticide-free school zones bill failing, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Kauai rental investment property ©2018 All Hawaii News

Hawaii voters will decide in November whether they want to tax investment property to help pay for public education after a proposed constitutional amendment sailed through the Senate in a 23-1 vote Monday. Star-Advertiser.

Voters Will Decide Whether To Hike Property Taxes To Fund Schools. Even if the proposed constitutional amendment passes in November, it won’t automatically guarantee new money for schools. Civil Beat.

Should the state help pay for public schools through property taxes? That's a question voters will be able to answer in November's General Election. KITV.

Voters to decide tax surcharge on investment property to help fund public education. West Hawaii Today.

The Hawaii state Senate on Monday gave final passage to a bill that seeks to amend the state constitution by allowing the Legislature to tax investment properties and earmark the revenue for public schools, after bypassing a conference committee to discuss amendments made by the House. Pacific Business News.

Voters this year will have the opportunity to decide if Hawaii should establish a surcharge on investment property to help fund public education. Associated Press.

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The Kupuna Caregivers program, which the Hawaii Legislature approved in 2017, will see a doubling of its resources if the state budget bill passes in its current form. Pacific Business News.

A bill to create restricted pesticide-free buffer zones around Hawaii schools is currently stalled at the legislature. Hawaii Public Radio.

This New Military Spending Site Is Floundering. The state launched a website to track defense dollars with the help of a federal grant. But now there’s no one keeping the site updated. Civil Beat.

Air carriers servicing Hawaii have been largely unaffected by the Federal Aviations Administration’s recent call for emergency inspections after a fatal engine explosion on a Southwest Airlines flight last week. Pacific Business News.

Oahu

$93K Is Now Considered Low-Income For Honolulu Family Of 4. Oahu’s median income jumped nearly 11 percent in a year, according to new federal housing guidelines. Civil Beat.

Oahu residents are likely to see their rent go up. KHON2.

Feds: Honolulu Needs $250 Million More To Complete Rail. Local officials believe their $8.16 billion cost estimate remains sound, despite the shortfall identified in an unreleased draft report. Civil Beat.

Two measures aimed at relaxing building and zoning requirements for Oahu landowners and developers who build smaller, walk-up apartment buildings are up for a final vote of the Honolulu City Council on Wednesday. Star-Advertiser.

City councilman Ikaika Anderson introduced Bill 33 Thursday,  which would require certain buildings without permits to be demolished at the owner's expense. KITV.

City enforcement of zoning and building laws has been a chronic problem. After one local contractor, Brilliant Construction, continued building after receiving an order to stop. City Councilmember Ikaika Anderson is trying to get tough on violators. Hawaii Public Radio.

Local police getting more federal support to handle repeat offenders. Hawaii News Now.

Honolulu's police chief says staffing shortages means property crimes will have to wait while her department investigates more serious crimes. Hawaii News Now.

A portion of the sidewalks along Kalakaua Avenue will soon get an overhaul as the city and its private industry partners begin their first major Waikiki sidewalk project since the city readied the tourism district to host the 2011 Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation gathering. Star-Advertiser.

Sidewalk improvements will be performed along Kalakaua Avenue for 275 calendar days as part of a construction project in Waikiki. Hawaii News Now.

Honolulu’s Morgue Is So Run Down Even The Autopsy Room Leaks. The conditions raise concerns about employee health and the quality of lab results, including whether evidence is being contaminated. Civil Beat.

Your water rates could be going up, and this week you'll get your first of many chances to weigh in. KHON2.

Hawaii Gas's first renewable natural gas project remains on track for completion later this year after holding a blessing ceremony at the Honouliuli Wastewater Treatment Plant last week. Pacific Business News.

Hawaii Island

Lava from Kilauea’s summit lava lake spilled out of its Overlook crater onto the floor of Halemaumau Crater on Monday, resulting in the largest overflow since the summit vent opened up 10 years ago. Star-Advertiser.

Lava lake spills onto Halemaumau Crater floor. Tribune-Herald.

Kilauea Lava Lake Overflow Captured In Various Views. Big Island Video News.

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Astronomers using the Gemini Observatory on Maunakea have confirmed what has been speculated for years: Uranus stinks. Tribune-Herald.

For yet another year, the state legislature has killed a bill to fund lifeguards at Kua Bay, but there is another possible avenue. Big Island Video News.

Big Island receives little fire ant funding as Legislature mulls Hawaii Invasive Species Authority. West Hawaii Today.

864 pounds of debris removed from South Kona shoreline. West Hawaii Today.

Three bills affecting use and management of Maunakea appear headed for the dust bin after the state House of Representatives refused to assign members to a conference committee. Tribune-Herald.

Maui

County Council budget chairman Riki Hokama released his proposed county budget for the fiscal year beginning July 1 on Monday, taking a knife to Mayor Alan Arakawa’s proposal to the tune of $33 million. Maui News.

The newly opened section of the Lahaina bypass created an early morning traffic jam, doubled the work commutes for many residents and even confused some navigational apps on its first day open to the public Monday. Maui News.

The opening of a new traffic solution for West Maui ended up creating a nightmare for many drivers on Monday. Hawaii News Now.

A coalition on Maui has launched a “15% for the Future” campaign, which is petitioning Alexander & Baldwin to donate or allow the sale of former sugar cane lands in Central Maui to support affordable housing and agriculture. Maui Now.

The House and Senate money committees finalized negotiations on the state budget on Friday, April 20, which included funding that will benefit Central Maui. Maui Now.

King Kekaulike, Maui High among state’s most improved schools. Maui News.

Kauai

The Hawaii Tourism Authority wants visitors to know that Kauai is still open for business, and welcomes travelers to the Garden Isle, except for the northernmost communities from Wainiha to Haena, which are temporarily closed to vehicles while repairs continue on Kuhio Highway. Star-Advertiser.

HTA: Kauai open for business. All of Kauai is open, with the exception being the northernmost communities from Wainiha to Haena. And it’s still a beautiful island. Garden Island.

The Hawaii Tourism Authority is trying to combat dips in Kauai tourism by sending a message to visitors and stakeholders that the island is “open and welcoming travelers,” with the exception of the northernmost communities from Wainiha to Haena. Pacific Business News.

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More than a week after floodwaters ravaged homes, businesses, hillsides and roads, there is still no idea of the cost of the damage — or even a guess of how many structures were destroyed or left uninhabitable. Star-Advertiser.

Backpacks lined the edges of classrooms at Hanalei School once again on Monday as the Department of Education welcomed kids back to class after record-breaking rains caused flooding throughout Hanalei. Garden Island.

Self-Reliance Runs Deep on Kauai’s North Shore. Hawaii Public Radio.

Hawaii tourism setting records, audit blasts Health Department handling of disease outbreaks, U.S. Appeals Court rules fishery feds erred in allowing turtle takings, minimum wage increases, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Hula on Waikiki beach ©2017 All Hawaii News

State visitor arrivals to break 9 million mark for year. With just three days left in the year for visitors to step off planes, it’s expected that about 9.3 million tourists — a record — will have come to the state this year. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii visitor spending increases to $1.3B in November. Visitor spending in Hawaii increased 4.5 percent in November to $1.29 billion, while year-to-date spending rose 6.6 percent to $15.2 billion, according to preliminary statistics released Thursday by the Hawaii Tourism Authority. Pacific Business News.

Hawaii visitor spending, traveler numbers went up this November. Whether it's to escape the cold on the mainland or just to relax on the beach, travelers continue to choose Hawaii as their vacation destination. KITV.

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The state auditor is slamming the Health Department for failing to properly communicate with its own divisions, health responders and the public during three major disease outbreaks in Hawaii. Star-Advertiser.

Audit: Hawaii Needs To Get Its Act Together In Responding To Outbreaks. When it comes to communication and record keeping, the Health Department seems to start from scratch with each disease outbreak. Civil Beat.

Audit blasts outbreak responses. A breakdown in communication reported throughout the dengue fever outbreak on Hawaii Island between October 2015 and April 2016 were included in an audit of the Department of Health’s Disease Outbreak Control Division that was critical of several issues in the way the agency handled that and other outbreaks across the state. West Hawaii Today.

State Health Officials Criticized For Dengue Outbreak Response In Audit. The State Auditor details confusion and discord in the Department of Health during the 2015 Big Island dengue fever outbreak, as well as other outbreaks. Big Island Video News.

Audit slams state's fumbled response to 3 major outbreaks. The state Health Department experienced "communication breakdowns" and "inconsistent processes and procedures" in its response to three disease outbreaks in 2015 and 2016, a scathing new audit found. Hawaii News Now.

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Report: Most sirens worked during Hawaii warning test. A report on a Hawaii siren test that drew international attention amid a North Korea missile threat shows that 28 sirens statewide played the wrong sound or had other technical problems. Associated Press.

Come Jan. 1, Hawaii's minimum wage workers will earn more. Hawaii's minimum wage will go up to $10.10 per hour starting on New Year's Day. Hawaii News Now.

Swordfishing permit review ordered. Environmental groups that sued to protect migratory birds and endangered sea turtles are claiming victory in their challenge to the federal government’s authorization to expand the swordfish fishery for Hawaii-based longline fishing vessels. Star-Advertiser.

US Appeals Court: Feds Erred In Hawaii Fishery Expansion. Conservation groups had challenged a rule that doubled limits on how many endangered sea turtles could be accidentally hooked. Associated Press.

Hawaii Looks To Spur School Creativity With ‘Innovation Grants’. Up to $250,000 will be available for the right idea and a two-year plan to implement it. Civil Beat.

Kamehameha Schools invests $24M in community programs. Kamehameha Schools has awarded $24 million in community investment grants to support collaboration partners in more than 100 programs and projects during current fiscal year, which began July 1. Pacific Business News.

USS Wasp with F-35B makes stop on way to Japan. The amphibious assault ship USS Wasp pulled into Pearl Harbor on Thursday for a port visit on its way to Japan and the introduction of an F-35B ship-based joint strike fighter capability in the highly charged region that includes North Korea and China. Star-Advertiser.

A report on sea level rise vulnerabilities and adaptation has been released by the Hawaii Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation Commission, known as the Climate Commission, and the 304 pages are available online.  Garden Island.

Climate Change's Impact on Hawaiian Fishpond Aquaculture. New research is shedding light about what needs to be done as the cultural resource is under threat by climate change. Hawaii Public Radio.

Young Brothers names Gas Co. executive to take over as president. Young Brothers Ltd., the state’s largest interisland cargo carrier, said today it has selected Joseph Boivin as its new president. Star-Advertiser.

Oahu

New Year’s means higher taxes, fees, bus fares and minimum wage. The state and city are ringing in the new year by lightening your pocketbooks through new laws or rule changes that take effect Monday. Star-Advertiser.

Rush is on to prepay property taxes. Dozens of people waited in line for more than an hour Thursday at Honolulu Hale trying to beat an end-of-the-year deadline to save money by paying their 2017 property taxes early. Star-Advertiser.

City and County of Honolulu says bond refinancing saves taxpayers $20.7M. The City and County of Honolulu’s Department of Budget and Fiscal Services said it closed on $253 million of tax-exempt advance refunding bonds last week that will be used to refinance existing debt for improvements to Oahu’s wastewater system. Pacific Business News.

Leaky roofs still a problem at Honolulu airport, some say it’s getting worse. KHON2.

Kualoa Ranch plans include expanding visitors center, new buildings. Kualoa Ranch, a Windward Oahu visitor attraction that has also served as a filming location for such movies as “Jumanji” and “Jurassic World,” is planning to build a number of improvements, including an expanded visitors’ center, a new retail building, new tour depots and more than 7,000 square feet of office space. Pacific Business News.

Diamond Head Theatre redevelopment moves ahead with revised plan, new architect. Two years after launching a capital campaign to fund a redevelopment, Diamond Head Theatre is moving ahead with plans to build a new 500-seat theater building and has hired a Houston-based architecture firm that specializes in theater design. Pacific Business News.

Commentary: Did Hawaii Really Try To Thwart CNN’s Homelessness Report? The DLNR explains its reasons for not granting a permit for access to an encampment near the Waianae Boat Harbor. Civil Beat.

Hawaii Island

Allure of isle boosts tourism. Tourism numbers were strong in November — and for the year overall statewide — particularly for the Big Island. Tribune-Herald.

Kamehameha Schools Invests Nearly $7M in Hawaii Island Programs. Big Island Now.

An endangered seabird is nesting 7,000 feet above sea level on the slopes of Mauna Loa on the Big Island. Hawaii Public Radio.

Maui

Maui Visitor Spending and Arrivals Surpass 2016 Numbers. Visitor spending on Maui rose (+2.7% to $359.4 million) in November 2017, boosted by growth in visitor days (+5.8%), and visitor arrivals (+9.3% to 215,266), according to preliminary data released today by the Hawaii Tourism Authority. Maui Now.

Maui close to record-breaking visitor arrival, spending totals. Maui visitor arrivals by air were up 9.3 percent in November to 215,266 and up 3.7 percent to 2,483,686 for the year’s first 11 months. Maui News.

Reef Safe Sunscreen on Maui. There’s now a movement in Maui County to ban sunscreen containing chemicals that scientists say are harming the reefs. Hawaii Public Radio.

Kamehameha Schools Invests $1.7 M in Maui Programs. Kamehameha Schools has awarded more than $1.7 million in community investment grants to support collaboration partners on Maui, Molokai and Lanai for the current fiscal year which began July 1. Maui Now.

November home sales sizzle with strong demand. Low inventory makes it a hot sellers’ market. Maui News.

More fish, lower sashimi prices predicted. Retailers say there should be plenty for New Year’s parties. Maui News.

Kauai

Visitor spending continues climb. Kauai saw 95,900 visitors in November, an increase of 9.8 percent over November 2016. Through the first 11 months of 2017, Kauai has had 1.16 million visitors, a 7.5 percent increase over the same time frame last year. Garden Island.

Canines latest tool in effort to curb avian botulism. Avian botulism has been dropping ducks in outbreaks that have been sweeping the population since 2011 — and it’s not just koloa ducks. Garden Island.

Changes coming to Hawaii airports, 1k National Guard troops face deployment, CEO leaves Pearl Harbor nonprofit, sewer spill closes Maui beaches, Ige's fundraising slow, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Honolulu airport © 2017 All Hawaii News

The Department of Transportation Airports Division expects the number of passengers boarding planes at state airports to exceed the 2007-2008 peak this year and is continuing major initiatives, including a $2.7 billion airline modernization project. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii DOT plans to resurrect airport authority bill as modernization projects move forward. Pacific Business News.

State to create new police force for Honolulu's airport, ports. Hawaii News Now.

Gov. Ige’s Campaign Cash As Low As His Poll Numbers. The incumbent, who has held just three fundraisers, has raised far less than most sitting governors at this point. Civil Beat.

Political Analyst Boylan: Governor David Ige Will Be Hard to Beat in 2018. Hawaii Public Radio.

The Hawaii Army National Guard has been told that about 1,000 of its citizen soldiers should be prepared to deploy to the Middle East and Europe starting in the spring and with those departures continuing into 2019. If the mobilizations occur as planned, the combined deployments would be the biggest in a decade. Star-Advertiser.

Approximately 1,000 Hawaii Army National Guard soldiers have been notified they should be prepared to deploy to the Middle East and Europe starting next spring. West Hawaii Today.

The Hawaii Army National Guard says it has been notified by the Department of Defense about possible deployments in spring 2018. KITV.

The Hawaii Army National Guard has just been notified by the Department of Defense about upcoming unit deployments to the Central and European Command’s areas of operation starting in the spring of 2018. KHON2.

A plan to tax drivers by how much they drive instead of how much gas they use is moving forward. KHON2.

County clerks in Hawaii are releasing limited voter information to President Donald Trump’s commission investigating alleged voter fraud, but the clerks from Honolulu, Kauai and Hawaii counties said today they’re providing far less information than what the commission wants. Associated Press.

The Western Pacific Regional Fishery Management Council is crafting new definitions that could allow more fishing in restricted waters around the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands and American Samoa. Civil Beat.

The buying power of $100 in the islands is just $84.18. That's the lowest purchasing power of any state, and $1.44 less than it was last year, according to a Tax Foundation analysis. Hawaii News Now.

The University of Hawaii Foundation, the fundraising arm of the UH system, attracted more than $77.6 million in donations for the year that ended June 30, officials announced Thursday. Star-Advertiser.

Oahu

A nonprofit that supports National Park Service operations at Pearl Harbor said Thursday its CEO is no longer with the organization. Associated Press.

State lawmakers can expect another request for some kind of facility for racing enthusiasts on Oahu. Hawaii News Now.

A wayward bullet from his .38 Smith and Wesson could cost former Honolulu police officer Anson Kimura $300,000, according to recently filed court records. Civil Beat.

The Honolulu Fire Department announced Thursday that it received confirmation that the Marco Polo building contained asbestos at the time of the fatal July 14 fire, and it is taking additional precautions to ensure that any and all firefighters’ gear that may have been exposed to the hazardous material is safe. Star-Advertiser.

Nearly a month after more than 120 Honolulu firefighters responded to the city's largest-ever highrise fire, many are being asked turn in their jackets, hoods, and pants because of potential asbestos contamination. Hawaii News Now.

Nearly a month after Honolulu firefighters were exposed to asbestos at the fatal Marco Polo high-rise blaze, some of the protective gear they wore is just now being taken out of service. KHON2.

A day after the state health department confirmed Oahu's first case of Rat Lungworm disease in seven years, island farmers are already seeing an impact on their businesses. Hawaii News Now.

A single-engine, Beech 19A plane that fatally crashed in the Waianae Mountains above Kunia was traveling at an altitude of 2,000 feet before it disappeared from radar, according to a preliminary report by the National Transportation Safety Board. Star-Advertiser.

A legal battle has erupted over control of the $200 million estate of Abigail Kawananakoa after the Campbell Estate heiress suffered a recent stroke. Star-Advertiser.


Two women were arrested in the aftermath of a law enforcement raid of a massage parlor in the Kukui Plaza Mall on Thursday. Star-Advertiser.

The National Endowment for the Humanities will give more than $200,000 to the Manoa Heritage Center and East-West Center to support the understanding of Native Hawaiian and East Asian history and culture. Pacific Business News.

Honolulu-based water purification startup Hawaiian Cool Water is getting ready to add staff after scoring a contract to become the sole water provider for one of Hawaii’s largest employers. Pacific Business News.

The Boiling Crab will open its first Hawaii location in October at Kamehameha Schools’ Salt at Our Kakaako restaurant and retail complex. Pacific Business News.

Hawaii Island

The Hawaii Supreme Court has agreed to hear a 2012 defamation lawsuit by Elections Administrator Pat Nakamoto against former County Clerk Jamae Kawauchi and former Council Chairman Dominic Yagong. West Hawaii Today.

New hotel proposed for Henry Street. West Hawaii Today.

After months of planning, Hawaii County began the long-awaited cleanup of Old Airport Park Wednesday. West Hawaii Today.

Cyanotech Corp., a Hawaii island producer of nutritional supplements made from algae turned higher sales into a $501,000 profit in its fiscal first quarter after having a $691,000 loss in the same period last year. Star-Advertiser.

Maui

The public is advised to stay out of the waters of Kahului Harbor from Kanaloa Avenue to Linekona Street because of a 25,000 gallon sewage spill. Maui Now.

The state Health Department advised the public Thursday afternoon to stay out of the ocean from outside the Kahului Harbor breakwater to Linekona Street in Paukukalo because of a sewage spill. Maui News.

The Maui County Liquor Commission voted unanimously Wednesday to consider streamlining single-event liquor licenses for nonprofits next month via rule amendments proposed by Maui County Council Member Yuki Lei Sugimura and the Department of Liquor Control. Maui News.

Maui’s Kula Elementary School was selected as one of five state-funded Pre-K classrooms for the 2018-2019 school year. Maui Now.

Frustrations and worries mounted Wednesday among parents and even a West Maui lawmaker as 383 students at three Maui schools continued to deal with temporary bus route suspensions. Maui News.

Filipino residents and groups are rallying to restore a traditional Filipino country hut honoring immigrant sugar cane workers at Kepaniwai Park after it was nearly destroyed by September’s torrential downpour and floodwaters in Iao Valley. Maui News.

Kauai

The Department of Education still has a shortage of school bus drivers on Kauai and Maui a week into the school year. Garden Island.

Council considering changing school bus stop application process. Garden Island.

Students at King Kaumualii Elementary School are being turned away from the after-school A+ program because of a shortage of staff members. Garden Island.

Some rainfall levels for Kauai in July were the lowest they’ve been since 2006, but experts say the island isn’t in extreme drought. Garden Island.

Jobs for homeless, taxes, green fuel and Oahu ferry on Legislature's agenda, Haleakala rules rile native practitioner, Abercrombie blasts committee for killing aid in dying bill, coffee season promising, Kauai trail to open, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Hilo homeless man reads up on money-making © 2017 All Hawaii News

A measure before state lawmakers would launch a day laborer program to give Hawaii’s homeless alternatives to panhandling. Star-Advertiser.

Former Gov. Neil Abercrombie is blasting a House committee for shelving a high-profile bill that would allow terminally ill patients to obtain prescriptions for lethal doses of medication and says lawmakers should resurrect the measure through a rarely used clause in the state Constitution that would allow for a full floor vote on the bill. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii lawmakers are exploring progressive taxes, green fuel and a potential Oahu ferry route in the upcoming week at the Legislature. Associated Press.

The state Public Utilities Commission is giving the solar industry more time to add customers who are looking to get credit on their electrical bills for the excess energy their rooftop systems produce. Star-Advertiser.

The 2016-17 Hawaii coffee season looks promising statewide with preliminary estimates calling for an increase in production, yield and value. West Hawaii Today.

Hawaii may not often appear as itself in movies but as a shooting location, it has been on a hot streak. Hawaii Public Radio.

Hawaiian Airlines and its 670 pilots agreed on a 63-month contract amendment, resulting in a one-time cash payment of $55 million to $60 million, according to a filing the airline made with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission on Friday. Pacific Business News.

Hawaiian Airlines’ pilots, ending more than two years of contentious negotiations, have ratified a new 63-month contract worth 42 percent more than the existing agreement. Star-Advertiser.

Commentary: Hawaii’s ailing GOP won’t grow more popular while riding the coattails of Trump. Star-Advertiser.

Oahu

A year and a half after Mayor Kirk Caldwell signed the accessory dwelling unit ordinance into law, interest has been growing, with more than 1,280 homeowners submitting “pre-check” forms to see whether their lot qualifies for the addition. Star-Advertiser.

The city is proposing several short-term projects in Waipahu, some of which are already funded, in an effort to build on existing transit-oriented development plans and to prepare the area for rail’s arrival. Star-Advertiser.

Using your cellphone while behind the wheel is against the law, but one Honolulu City Council member is looking to take that a step further. His proposal would make it illegal for pedestrians to use an electronic device while crossing the street. KHON2.

The state Department of Health’s Clean Water Branch reported that the its water quality alert notification for Sans Souci Beach in Waikiki has been cancelled. Star-Advertiser.

A multi-million dollar Honolulu safe house meant to be used by victims of domestic violence is being criticized by advocates at both the local and national levels for failing to live up to its mission. Hawaii News Now.

Hawaii

Saturday marked the first-ever East Hawaii Republican County Convention, where party members gathered to select committee officers and delegates for the upcoming state party convention, to be held in May on Kauai. Tribune-Herald.

The Hawaii County Council and Mayor Harry Kim remain at odds over the canceling of a composting contract. Tribune-Herald.

Lack of state funds threaten to discontinue Veterans Treatment Court. The Big Island Veterans Treatment Court is now facing an unknown future as funding to continue the program has not yet been determined. West Hawaii Today.

If the county truly supports sustainable agriculture, says Fred Housel, it will lower the tax rate on agricultural property. Now the highest rate in the state, the agricultural rate was increased by 31.5 percent in 2010. West Hawaii Today.

Hawaii Electric Light Co. says in its latest filing to the state Public Utilities Commission that it can achieve the state’s goal of 100 percent renewable energy, possibly even before the state-mandated deadline of 2045. Tribune-Herald.

The cost of your future electric bill rests, once again, with the Hawaii Public Utilities Commission. Tribune-Herald.

More Big Island high school students enrolled in college and participated in dual-credit programs last year, but four-year high school graduation rates dropped slightly. Tribune-Herald.

The contractor in charge of a project to provide aeration pump upgrades and sludge removal at the Kealakehe Wastewater Treatment Plant has defaulted, and dredging of the facility’s sludge ponds has come to a temporary halt, according to the Department of Environmental Management. West Hawaii Today.

Maui

A Haleakala National Park ranger and a teacher from an Oahu public charter school got into a heated argument over cultural practice conflicting with park safety, and a video of the recent exchange is going viral on social media. Hawaii News Now.

Maui Medical Cannabis Dispensary to Open this Summer. Nearly 100 well-wishers attended Friday’s blessing of Maui Grown Therapies, one of two medical cannabis dispensaries on Maui. Maui Now.

Maui County’s unemployment rate continues to tick downward. Maui News.

UH-MC students swap coral-killing sunscreens for ‘reef safe’ versions. Maui News.

Kauai

Council OKs use of trail to Koloa shoreline. Kauai residents will soon be able to legally access a dirt trail in Koloa to get to the shoreline. Garden Island.

Kapaa High School saw one of the highest increases in student enrollment in dual-credit courses in the state, from 8 percent to 23 percent. Garden Island.

Department of Water officials announced the completion of the Halewili Road Main Replacement Project in Kalaheo, and recently held a dedication ceremony at the project site. Garden Island.

Polystyrene foam food container ban advances, Ige releases new set of budget cuts, marijuana crop in the ground, lawyers reject judge reconfirmation measure, repairs coming to Mighty Mo, Kauai GOP holds Lincoln Day Dinner, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Polystyrene food containers at farmers market © 2017 All Hawaii News

A proposal before state legislators that would ban foam food containers drew considerable support at a packed hearing last week. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii Gov. David Ige has proposed across-the-board cuts to his $28.5 billion spending plan for the next two years due to tax revenues coming in lower than expected. Civil Beat.

Hawaii lawmakers tackle affordable housing, health, fishing. Associated Press.

Prominent lawyers including former Attorney General Margery Bronster turned out in force at a hearing last week to oppose requiring Hawaii judges seeking to serve more than one term on the bench to be reconfirmed by the state Senate. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii authorities may have been violating their own state law for years by issuing commercial fishing licenses to thousands of foreign workers who were refused entry into the country, The Associated Press has found.

State Sen. Glenn Wakai has directed a series of scathing attacks at officials with the Hawaii Tourism Authority in recent months, but denies the suggestion he may be using his office to retaliate or pursue a personal agenda after his wife resigned from her executive position at HTA following disagreements with management. Star-Advertiser.

A review of a critical audit issued five years ago that revealed a lack of oversight and accountability over the hiring and compensation of so-called casual hires at Hawaii public schools finds few improvements have been made. Star-Advertiser.

Ruth Bader Ginsburg: Anti-Immigrant Sentiment ‘Disheartening’. The U.S. Supreme Court Justice, in Honolulu for a UH law school program, spoke to high school students Saturday. Civil Beat.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture estimated that the value of vegetable crops produced by commercial farmers statewide rose 6 percent to $47.9 million last year from $45.2 million the year before. Star-Advertiser.

Commentary: U.S. Rep. Tulsi Gabbard overreaches in lofty comparisons with Mink and Eisenhower. Star-Advertiser.

Oahu

One of Oahu’s state-approved medical marijuana dispensaries has started growing Hawaii’s first legal cannabis plants, and anticipates sales can begin in early summer. Star-Advertiser.

The contentious proposal to spend a share of Oahu rail tax dollars on state transportation projects is still alive in the state Senate after all. It’s one of a host of ideas the chamber might pack into the bill that aims to rescue the island’s beleaguered rail project. Star-Advertiser.

Reports about Honolulu’s ongoing rail issues can seem to come in alarming and disjointed bursts. Hawaii Public Radio.

Environmentalists and businesses are being given an opportunity to develop a proposal to stiffen Oahu’s plastic checkout bag ban. Star-Advertiser.

Effective immediately, commercial activity is being shut down along most of the eastern Oahu coastline from Makapu’u to Kailua. KHON2.

The Hawaii Public Utilities Commission, the key state agency that regulates such utilities as Hawaiian Electric Co., is consolidating its staff into one building next year, the head of the agency told Pacific Business News.

The state Department of Hawaiian Home Lands has spent more than a decade trying to make higher and better use of its only land in urban Honolulu: a former bowling alley in Moiliili. Now state lawmakers are considering helping to kick-start redevelopment of the site. Star-Advertiser.

New video shows the moments right before Honolulu police officers shot and killed a man inside a stolen vehicle on Saturday. Hawaii News Now.

The USS Missouri Memorial Association, the nonprofit owner of the “Mighty Mo” in Pearl Harbor, has embarked on a $3 million project to repair some extensive corrosion high up on the superstructure and add some historical features to the 887-foot battlewagon. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii

As the March 1 deadline approaches for Mayor Harry Kim to submit his preliminary budget to the County Council, the administration is working feverishly trying to cover a roughly $12 million difference between anticipated revenue and anticipated expenses. West Hawaii Today.

The National Park Service is asking the state Commission on Water Resource Management to step in and designate the Keauhou Aquifer, which covers a vast region from Makalawena Beach to north of Kealakekua Bay, a water management area. A hearing on the proposal is scheduled for 9:30 a.m. Tuesday at the West Hawaii Civic Center. West Hawaii Today.

Sammy Hagar, take heart. Saddle Road motorists can’t drive 55 either. West Hawaii Today

Mauna Kea’s oldest telescope will get a makeover later this year, but an internal upgrade will have to wait for additional funds. Tribune-Herald.

The County has responded to complaints of static electricity shocks at island playgrounds, officials said at this week’s council committee meetings. Big Island Video News.

Bills that would create the first-ever community economic district on Hawaii Island are inching their way toward a final form. Tribune-Herald.

Maui

Hawaiian Commercial & Sugar Co. says it still needs around 115 million gallons of water per day for its plans to transform most of its 36,000 acres formerly used for sugar cane into diversified agriculture. Maui News.

Maui Electric Co. is marching toward 100 percent renewable energy for Maui County, and that will come without an undersea interisland cable, utility President Sharon Suzuki told about 75 people during a community discussion Thursday night at the University of Hawaii Maui College. Maui News.

Tens of thousands of introduced plants present in Hawaii. Maui News.

Kauai

Kauai County is the first in the state to convert all its streetlights from high pressure sodium lights to energy-saving LED lights as a result of a joint project between the County of Kauai and Kauai Island Utility Cooperative. Garden Island.

90 attend GOP Lincoln Day Dinner. Garden Island.

Project to fix Alaka‘i Swamp boardwalk in full swing. Garden Island.

From educating beachgoers about conditions to responding to swimmers in distress, Kauai’s roving patrol unit is protecting the island’s unguarded beaches. Garden Island.

Molokai

The clock is running on the Maui County Council’s yearlong deadline to take action on the Molokai Community Plan update, which has been sitting in the council’s Planning Committee docket since May 4. Maui News.

University of Hawaii to gain in Ige budget, Republicans dwindle in state Legislature, low pay, high credit card debt for residents, Honolulu Ethics Commission mulls PAC laws, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Obama's fish, courtesy National Geographic

Scientists with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration have named a fish after President Obama. Hawaii Public Radio.

President Barack Obama, his family and some friends are spending the afternoon at a beach at a marine corps base near his Hawaii vacation rental. Associated Press.

Gov. David Ige’s call for increased education dollars in his proposed state budget extends to higher education as well with a $44 million boost for operations at the University of Hawaii over the next two years. Star-Advertiser.

There are no more Republicans in the Hawaii state Senate, while the number of members in the House has dwindled to six. Civil Beat.

A Big Day For US-Japan Relations Tuesday At Pearl Harbor. Prime Minister Abe will join President Obama to honor Americans killed in Japan’s surprise attack on Oahu in 1941. Civil Beat.

Despite threats of an Obamacare repeal, 11,750 Hawaii residents signed up this year to renew or buy for the first time health insurance through the federal exchange, HealthCare.gov, for coverage starting on New Year’s Day. Star-Advertiser.

By some measures, employment is booming in Hawaii and the rest of the country. But the shortage of good-paying jobs — the kind where wages are high enough to afford a decent standard of living — is attracting top-level political attention in both Honolulu and the nation’s capital. Civil Beat.

Hawaii has the eighth-highest credit card debt in the nation, with customers owing an average $5,966, according to a new report by CreditCards.com. Star-Advertiser.

A former state representative has died. Mark Moses represented the Makakilo and Kapolei communities from 1996-2006. KHON2.

Oahu

Opening day for the state Legislature is still weeks away, but there's already a proposal to extend the .5 percent rail tax surcharge. Hawaii News Now.

The Honolulu Ethics Commission considered a request today to curb the unfair influence of Super PACs. Hawaii Public Radio.

Acting Honolulu Police Chief Cary Okimoto may face uncomfortable questions come January as he attempts to explain to police commissioners his proximity to a growing scandal involving a missing mailbox. Civil Beat.

City prosecutor explains why he wants chief’s wife to stay on the job. KHON2.

Honolulu police are reporting a big drop in speeding tickets so far this year. Hawaii News Now.

A medical marijuana dispensary with ties to Hawaii businessman Colbert Matsumoto is opening in the former Bank of Hawaii branch on Kapahulu Avenue in Honolulu, Pacific Business News has learned.

For years, families have been laying small plaques in the rocks at Pokai Bay to remember loved ones who've passed on. But state law says it's illegal to install these on any heiau without written permission. KITV.

Hawaii

More than three weeks after the first bout of winter weather hit Hawaii Island, the Mauna Kea Summit Access Road is still closed to the public. Tribune-Herald.

Maui

The developer of the Pulelehua working-class community in West Maui and owner of the Maalaea Harbor Shops & Restaurants says he was exonerated in fraud case. Maui News.

The Maui Ocean Center is hosting a contest to seek help from the public in naming six baby sea turtles. Hawaii News Now.

Kauai

Department of Parks and Recreation officials are reminding the public that the deadline to provide input on the draft preferred master plan for Black Pot Beach Park is Saturday, Dec. 31. Garden Island.

Ige unveils $28.5B biennial budget, Honolulu police chief gets FBI target letter, Caldwell lets ride-sharing bill become law, mumps on Maui, Thirty Meter Telescope close to Canary Islands deal, Obama vacation, rogue elector goes for Sanders, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Gov. Ige budget news conference, courtesy Office of the Governor

Gov. David Ige today unveiled his proposed $28.5 billion state budget for the next two years that includes money for severance payouts for Maui hospital workers who will lose their jobs to privatization, funding for new jail space for women offenders, and more money to combat homelessness. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii Gov. David Ige is proposing a state budget that boosts spending on education, housing and homelessness. The plan calls for $28.5 billion in spending on operations and $3 billion on capital improvement projects over the next two years. Associated Press.

Hawaii public schools would see a significant boost in funding to the tune of $93 million for operations under a proposed two-year state budget Gov. David Ige released Monday. Star-Advertiser.

Gov. David Ige’s biennium budget proposal seeks additional money for every state department, with a special emphasis on education. Civil Beat.

Hawaii Gov. David Ige is proposing a state budget that boosts spending on education, housing and homelessness. Hawaii News Now.

Governor David Ige wants to spend big over the next two years, increasing the state's operating budget to $28.5 Billion. KITV.

Gov. David Ige was sporting an aloha shirt featuring ohia foliage Monday, as he announced a no-new-taxes biennial budget that includes money to protect the important tree as well as funds for other Big Island projects. West Hawaii Today.

There are several Maui projects outlined for budget allocations under the governor’s proposal including $12 million to repair flood damage and reconstruction at ʻĪao Valley State Monument. Maui Now.

Gov. Ige's budget details here.

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Will 2017 be the year for medical aid-in-dying legislation for Hawaii? Compassion & Choices Hawaii has a new poll showing that 80 percent of Hawaii voters believe a “death with dignity” option should be available for a terminally ill person who is mentally capable to receive a prescription for life-ending medication. Civil Beat.

Hawaii’s four Electoral College electors were required by law to vote for Hillary Clinton because she won the general election in the state, but one so-called “faithless elector” voted for Sen. Bernie Sanders instead. Associated Press.

Rogue isle elector votes for Sanders, despite Clinton win. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii's electors gathered at the state Capitol to cast their votes for president. Hawaii Public Radio.

Sen. Mazie K. Hirono announced that the Hawaii Department of Health will receive $1.1 million in Centers for Disease Control funding to fight the Zika virus. Garden Island.

Workout, golf and dinner comprise president’s day. Star-Advertiser.

The Latest on President Barack Obama's annual two-week vacation in Hawaii. Associated Press.

Hawaiian Telcom is an equal partner with the seven consortium members involved with the Southeast Asia-U.S. broadband cable under construction, and President and CEO Scott Barber said the company would have the power to veto an attempt by a Chinese company to buy out any of the members in order to protect national security. Pacific Business News.

The state Public Utilities Commission last week blocked an attempt to take a portion of a $150 million financing program, originally intended to help underserved residents get renewable energy, to be used to pay private companies directly. Star-Advertiser.

Oahu

Honolulu Police Chief Louis Kealoha has voluntarily placed himself on restrictive duty after receiving a letter informing him that he is the target of a federal grand jury investigation, his attorney confirmed Monday night. Star-Advertiser.

Honolulu Police Chief Louis Kealoha received a target letter from the U.S. Attorney’s Office on Monday notifying him that he’s a suspect in the ongoing criminal investigation stemming from the theft of his mailbox in 2013. Civil Beat.

Honolulu Police Chief Louis Kealoha will go on restricted duty after receiving a "target letter" from the FBI as part of an ongoing public corruption case. Hawaii News Now.

Honolulu Police Chief Louis Kealoha received a target letter from the U-S Attorney's office Monday. KITV.

Police chief to place himself, other officers on restricted duty amid federal investigation. KHON2.

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Mayor Kirk Caldwell has returned a bill that tightens rules for private transportation and ride-hailing companies such as Uber and Lyft to the Honolulu City Council unsigned, which means it will now become law. Pacific Business News.

Gov. David Ige says both city and state transportation projects need more from taxpayers, but how that tab is collected is up in the air for now, though he’s committed to making a federal deadline on the rail project coming up this spring. KHON2.

A trampoline that sits in shallow waters off Laie Beach Park, better known as Pounders Beach, has become Oahu's latest hot spot. Hawaii News Now.

For the past several weeks, residents in Moiliili have complained about the dust from the demolition of the University Square building on King Street. Developers are razing the 59-year-old complex to make way for a 14-story, student housing project. Hawaii News Now.

Commentary: Diamond Head Slopes Are Absolutely Trashed. New photos from the state depict the squalid conditions encountered in homeless encampments during recent sweeps. Civil Beat.

Hawaii

The executive director of the Thirty Meter Telescope said Monday that the TMT International Observatory board is closing in on the execution of a backup agreement to allow construction of the $1.4 billion project on a mountain in the Canary Islands  if permission cannot be obtained to build on Mauna Kea by the spring of 2018. Star-Advertiser.

TMT International Observatory could seek another partner to finance its next-generation telescope once it knows where it’s going to be built, its executive director said Monday. Tribune-Herald.

The chief of the controversial Thirty Meter Telescope project faced hours of questioning Monday during the state Board of Land and Natural Resources Conservation District Use Application contested case hearing in Hilo. Hawaii News Now.

The Hawaii Island Energy Cooperative is moving forward with its attempt to split off Hawaii island from the Hawaiian Electric Industries umbrella to become a cooperative similar to the one on Kauai. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii energy co-op moves closer to possible utility takeover. Pacific Business News.

Huena Power Inc., the company whose complaint was rejected by state regulators this week regarding planned geothermal energy expansion on the Big Island, is not ruling out further legal action, a company executive confirmed to Pacific Business News.

Hawaii County Mayor Harry Kim is aware of the environmental concerns being raised in Keuakaha and Pana’ewa, and shared a sympathetic view of the situation in a recent interview. Big Island Video News.

Maui

Several cases of mumps were recently detected at separate schools in the Baldwin-King Kekaulike-Maui Complex Area. Maui Watch.

Pono Life Sciences Maui, LLC, one of two marijuana dispensaries approved for operation in Maui County, showcased its cannabis education center in Kahului over the weekend. Maui Now.

The last field is harvested, the last of the cane processed and the last ship with sugar in the hold has set sail for California. Maui News.

Kauai

Hoping to spur a resolution of a years-long dispute over stream water in West Kauai, the state Agribusiness Development Corporation approved a five-year lease to the Kauai Island Utility Cooperative for its Puu Opae hydropower project. Civil Beat.

Maile Alfiler was promoted to member services manager for Kauai Island Utility Cooperative. Garden Island.

School superintendent snubbed for new standards panel, embattled IBEW chief retires, tax collections up, ethics panel demurs in Kenoi pCard case, Turtle Bay plans unveiled, new form of government going to Maui ballot, rail lawsuit dismissed, lifeguard pay at issue, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Hawaii schoolchildren © 2016 All Hawaii News

In a high-profile snub that's raising eyebrows, the governor decided against appointing state schools Superintendent Kathryn Matayoshi to a newly-formed task force charged with overhauling Hawaii's public school standards and testing. Hawaii News Now.

Hawaii’s general tax fund deposits rose 6.4 percent during the first 10 months of the current fiscal year when compared with the same period in the previous fiscal year, according to a statement released by the state Department of Taxation. Pacific Business News.

Brian Ahakuelo, the embattled leader of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 1260, retired from his position Tuesday amid an investigation into the Hawaii union’s finances. Star-Advertiser.

Oahu

Some $43 million earmarked for critical sewage treatment projects is being held up by the Honolulu City Council Budget Committee because of concerns over the future of a substance and mental health treatment facility that is on land proposed to be used for expansion of the Sand Island Wastewater Treatment Plant. Star-Advertiser.

A federal court has dismissed a lawsuit against Ansaldo Honolulu JV, a contractor for Honolulu’s $6.6 billion rail project. John McCaughey, a former employee, filed the complaint last year arguing the Italian-based company was putting its workers in danger by failing to hire enough safety workers. Civil Beat.

The head of the Honolulu Authority for Rapid Transportation says he hopes to have an updated financial plan by the end of the year. KHON2.

The U.S. Housing and Urban Development Department slashed over half a million dollars for Honolulu’s Continuum of Care program participants even though Hawaii has the worst rate of homelessness in the nation. While the cutback is relatively small — a 5 percent decrease from $9.7 million last year to $9.2 million this year — HUD estimates the expiration of funds will remove funding for 465 homeless people who are currently relying on services. Civil Beat.

Turtle Bay Resort's expansion plans for the 880-acre resort on Oahu's North Shore include a 452-room hotel, two golf courses, a spa, a stables and a golf clubhouse, according to a map obtained by Pacific Business News.

The HCDA is proposing a $45 million redesign of the 53 acres it owns next to Kewalo Basin over the next 20 years. Hawaii News Now.

The state says new self-service machines at Honolulu International Airport have significantly reduced average customs wait times for passengers arriving from other countries. Associated Press.

Hawaii

The Hawaii County Board of Ethics remained no closer Tuesday to hearing an ethics complaint regarding Mayor Billy Kenoi’s misuse of a county purchasing card a year after it deferred the issue. Tribune-Herald.

Two recent actions by the County Council have ratcheted the county’s potential bond debt a little higher. But county officials say the authorization to float another $78.6 million in bonds isn’t likely to affect the county’s credit rating, or the annual payment made to debt service, because it is unlikely the bulk of that amount will go out to a bond sale. West Hawaii Today.

The legal fireworks over the Thirty Meter Telescope are expected to start up again Monday as retired Judge Riki May Amano called a pre-conference hearing in Honolulu for the attorneys representing all parties. Star-Advertiser.

A three-year effort to improve connectivity between upper Puna’s numerous subdivisions enters a new phase this week. Members of an ad hoc committee formed to address the connectivity problem will vote tomorrow on a draft report to be used by the Hawaii County Council and agencies such as the Department of Public Works for future planning. Tribune-Herald.

Boat moorings, dengue fever, land purchases and construction updates. Those were a few of the offerings Tuesday night as Kona Sen. Josh Green, Kona Rep. Nicole Lowen and leaders from the state Department of Land and Natural Resources addressed a standing-room only crowd at the West Hawaii Civic Center Council Chambers for a legislative update. West Hawaii Today.

The goal was straightforward: Determine the existing and future needs of the Kona-Kohala business community. The result was a complicated one, summed up in the Workforce Needs Study released Tuesday by the Kona-Kohala Chamber of Commerce. West Hawaii Today.

Maui

After five months of deliberations, the Special Committee on County Governance recommended Monday that a new form of county government be placed on the ballot in November, though members remained deeply split in their support of a change. Maui News.

If Maui doesn’t sign off on a $1 million budget expenditure to pay an arbitration award, county officials say it could send everyone in the bargaining unit back to the table, based on their reading of a state attorney general’s opinion. So it wouldn’t just be the 55 lifeguards on Maui that would be affected, but several hundred public workers, including lifeguards on Kauai, Oahu and the Big Island, plus state law enforcement officers. Civil Beat.

Maui authorities are looking at ways to cut down on the number of people who become victims of financial crimes, an issue being dealt with in police departments across the state. Associated Press.

A 45-year-old man will receive $24,000 in damages from settlement of an age discrimination lawsuit filed against the Maui Police Department three years ago, the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission said Tuesday. Star-Advertiser.

The Office of Hawaiian Affairs will hold two meetings on Maui this week, the agency announced. Maui News.

Some Maui County residents will receive a survey in the mail to identify how they use county parks and recreation facilities. Residents also may make recommendations for improvements to Maui County park facilities. Maui News.

Kauai

Transportation problems Kauai residents experience on a regular basis took center stage during the Community Advisory Committee meeting on Monday. Garden Island.

Hanalei Elementary School is growing. During a Planning Commission meeting Tuesday, commissioners unanimously voted to approve a planning director’s report detailing the construction of two classroom portables on the school campus. Garden Island.

Meet Ollie, a courthouse facility dog who joined the Kauai Office of the Prosecuting Attorney as the newest team member Tuesday. Garden Island.