IBEW union boss found guilty of embezzlement, HPD faces backlog of 600 concealed carry applications, Blangiardi hires collection agency to enforce short-term vacation rental laws, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Former union boss of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, Local Union 1260 Brian Ahakuelo convicted of wire fraud, embezzlement. The former business manager of a Hawaii labor union accused by federal prosecutors of rigging a vote to raise dues and using members’ money to fund his family’s opulent lifestyle — including a multimonth excursion to Las Vegas — was found guilty on all counts Monday. Star-Advertiser. Civil Beat. Hawaii News Now. KHON2. KITV4.

One-third of Hawaii homeless and evictions are kupuna. A new analysis of U.S. Census Bureau data by AARP has estimated that Hawaii has 5,116 homeless adults — about one-third of whom are kupuna 55 years or older. Star-Advertiser.

Flu, RSV cases on the rise. Virus season hit Hawaii early this year, with cases of flu and respiratory syncytial virus, or RSV, increasing in October and November. Tribune-Herald.

Oahu

HPD to begin processing concealed carry permits after approval of new gun rules. The Honolulu Police Department will start processing permits for civilians to carry concealed firearms starting Monday, but applicants facing a daunting list of requirements to get approved. There are already 600 permit applications pending, according to the department. Hawaii News Now.

City to ramp up enforcement of fines for illegal Oahu vacation rentals. Honolulu Mayor Rick Blangiardi put owners and operators of illegal vacation rentals on notice Monday that the city is hiring a collection agency to handle the fines —up to $10,000 per day. Star-Advertiser.

‘Red Hill clinic’ set up for Oahu families affected by crisis. One year after jet fuel from the Navy’s underground Red Hill Bulk Fuel Storage Facility contaminated the service’s Oahu water system, which serves 93,000 people, military officials say they are pushing to remove the fuel from the site and take care of those whose health has been affected. Star-Advertiser. Hawaii News Now. KITV4.

Transparency at HPD questioned after rising violent crime stats kept out of Waikiki safety summit talk. If you attended the Hawaii Lodging and Tourism Association’s Waikiki Safety Summit last week you might have left with an entirely different impression of crime in the state’s no. 1 tourist destination. Hawaii News Now.

Some Honolulu Neighborhood Boards Are Looking For New In-Person Meeting Spots. Board members are confused about why. Civil Beat.

Hawaii Nonprofit To Begin Dredging Of Loko Ea Fishpond. The sediment drawn from the bottom will be used to rebuild banks that have eroded over the decades, according to the organization. Civil Beat.

Dr. Sun Yat-sen Memorial Park holds reopening ceremony in Chinatown. A reopening ceremony was held Monday at Chinatown’s Dr. Sun Yat-sen Memorial Park after it had been closed for renovations since November 2019. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii Island

County to partner with two ‘mentor’ cities to explore hydrogen energy opportunities. Hawaii County is partnering with cities in California and Japan to develop hydrogen energy technology as the state transitions toward carbon neutrality. Tribune-Herald.

Hawaii Sent At Least 10 Foster Children To An Abusive Home At The Center Of A Drug Ring. At least a decade ago, Hawaii Child Welfare Services starting sending foster children to live in the Hilo home of Yvonne and Paul Caitano. Civil Beat.

Kaloko property in ‘zoning limbo’ gets another chance. A 21-acre Kaloko Drive parcel that had been approved for rezoning 24 years ago got a new lease on life recently, when the Leeward Planning Commission agreed to a five-year time extension for the new owners to complete the conditions of the rezoning. West Hawaii Today.

Maui

Maui's homeless solutions committee outlines critical plans for leadership. The volunteer-based Commission on Healing Solutions for Homelessness on Maui has been operational for about 18 months, but most of that time has been spent without leadership and a place to meet that would keep in compliance with Sunshine Laws. Hawaii Public Radio.

Maui County led Hawai’i in revenue per available rooms at $344 for October 2022. Hawai‘i hotels statewide reported stronger revenue per available room (RevPAR), and average daily rate (ADR) and occupancy rate in October 2022 compared to October 2021. Maui Now.

Kauai

Home sales slow in October. A steep rise in mortgage interest rates over the last year continued to wreak havoc with housing markets across the country, including Kaua‘i, where home sales slowed to a crawl in the first full month of fall. Garden Island.

County offices to be closed for Thanksgiving. Regular business hours for county offices and services will resume Nov. 25. Kauai Now.

Legislature to convene next week for veto override session, ex-Honolulu official to be sentenced in embezzling case today, job vacancies go unfilled despite high unemployment rate, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Hawaii state Capitol ©2021 All Hawaii News

House Speaker: Lawmakers Will Return To The Capitol July 6. Scott Saiki says he’s unsure if there will be any veto overrides, but Hawaii legislators need to make some technical budget fixes. Civil Beat.

After Embezzling To Fund ‘Luxurious Lifestyle,’ Former Nonprofit Exec Begs For Leniency. Prosecutors are asking a federal judge to send Hanalei Aipoalani to prison. Aipoalani is hoping for home confinement. Civil Beat.

Text messages implicate Higa in federal embezzlement case. Text messages between Stacy Higa and a former associate who pleaded guilty to a scheme to embezzle $600,000 in federal coronavirus relief funds show Higa allegedly offering to teach the associate how to “launder money” and “funnel cash.” The text messages were filed by federal prosecutors Friday in U.S. District Court in anticipation of sentencing scheduled today for Hanalei Aipoalani, 42, former City and County of Honolulu Department of Community Services grant administrator for coronavirus relief funding. West Hawaii Today.

Children 5 to 11 not eligible for July 8 vaccine exemption. Hawaii next week will lift travel restrictions for domestic travelers who have been vaccinated on the mainland, but keiki under 12 must still test negative for COVID-19 prior to arrival. Tribune-Herald.

Hawaii’s Board Of Education Is In Limbo As Ige Stays Mum On Vacancies. New faces are expected to join the Hawaii Board of Education soon to replace three members whose terms expire Wednesday, but it’s not clear who will be filling at least one of those vacancies. Civil Beat.

Lawmakers fight for teacher bonuses, funding for Hawaii’s education system. A bill that would give $2,200 bonuses to Hawaii public school teachers is now on Gov. Ige’s intent to veto list. KHON2.

Hawaii Has Millions In Rental Assistance To Hand Out But Not Enough Takers. County officials are trying to get the word out that rent help is available and process applications as the end of the eviction moratorium looms. Civil Beat.

Hawaii to offer cash prizes, extend COVID vaccination campaign into August. As Hawaii’s pace of vaccination against the coronavirus continues to fall, the state is extending its incentive campaign to persuade more Hawaii residents to get vaccinated, this time adding cash to the list of prizes that have included trips to Las Vegas, HawaiianMiles and Zippy’s meals for a year. Star-Advertiser. Hawaii News Now. KITV4.

Ige expresses concern about pockets of COVID cases among unvaccinated. Hawaii’s COVID cases have been relatively stable over the last three weeks, averaging about 40 a day. Hawaii News Now. KHON2.

Hawaii reports 33 new COVID-19 cases, no new deaths. Of the new cases, 19 were on Oahu, three on Hawaii Island, and eight on Maui. There were also three residents diagnosed out-of-state. Hawaii News Now.

Oahu

New Study: Oahu Freeways Deliver The Roughest Rides In The Country. But the state’s DOT deputy director says the new report from a D.C.-based research group doesn’t tell the whole story. Civil Beat.

Honolulu building-inspection mandate back in spotlight after being waylaid by fire priority. The collapse of a condo building in Florida shines a spotlight on high-rise building safety in the islands. KHON2.

Oahu condo owners struggle to comply with fire safety ordinance. The vast majority of Oahu condominiums are failing a safety evaluation required when no automatic sprinkler system is in place, prompting condo owners and associations to urge the Honolulu City Council to amend a mandate they say could cause bankruptcy. Star-Advertiser.

Fees for nonresidents at Hanauma Bay will more than double. Starting Thursday, the entrance fee to Hanauma Bay Nature Preserve will more than double for nonlocal visitors, rising to $25 from $12 per person age 13 and above, the Honolulu Department of Parks and Recreation has announced. Star-Advertiser. Associated Press. Hawaii News Now.

Task force underway to address safety concerns, management for Ewa Beach roadway. The state and city are working to create a task force to figure out how to manage and police a busy roadway in Ewa Beach that’s raising illegal dumping and safety concerns. Hawaii News Now.

EPA: Pearl Harbor water plant “exceeds discharge limits” under Clean Water Act. The US Environmental Protection Agency announced a Federal Facility Compliance Agreement with the US Navy to complete major upgrades to the Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam Wastewater Treatment Plant today.  Maui Now. Hawaii News Now.

State to close Maunawili Falls Trail for improvements, preservation of cultural sites. The state Department of Land and Natural Resources will be closing Maunawili Falls Trail in an effort to preserve historic cultural sites along the hike. The Windward Oahu trail will be closed beginning in mid-July. Hawaii News Now.

Despite Hawaii’s hot housing market, average sales prices plunge at Trump Tower Waikiki. During the 2019 tourism boom, condominiums at the Trump International Tower in Waikiki sold for an average of about $1.7 million. Since then, average sales prices in the tower have fallen below $650,000 ― despite the hot housing market in the islands. Hawaii News Now.

Hawaii County

‘Amazing’ hula ready for prime time. The dancing is pau at the 2021 Merrie Monarch Festival hula competition, and all that’s left is the delayed broadcast of the event Thursday, Friday and Saturday. Tribune-Herald.

Next phase of Bayfront Trails pushed back. The Hilo Bayfront Trails is a decade-long plan to build nearly six miles of public pedestrian trails connecting the Hilo Bayfront to Hilo Harbor and the University of Hawaii at Hilo. Tribune-Herald.

West Hawaiʻi State Parks To Close Early On July 4th. The DLNR Division of State Parks will close several Kona and Kohala parks at 5 p.m. on Sunday, July 4th. Big Island Video News.

Maui

Short-Term Rental Home Caps Scheduled for Discussion in Committee. A bill that seeks to lower the cap on short-term rental home permits on Maui from 328 to 259 and to establish a cap of 19 on Lānaʻi will be considered by the Planning and Sustainable Land Use Committee on Thursday at 9 a.m. Maui Now.

After more than 30 years of service, Maui fire chief to retire. After a more than 30-year career at the Maui Fire Department, Chief David Thyne will be retiring. Hawaii News Now.

Issues, possible remedies discussed for Hana Highway. Establishing a parking enforcement task force, addressing social media influencers and towing illegally parked vehicles were some of the simpler possible remedies mentioned Monday to deal with the “health and safety crisis” on the congested Hana Highway. Maui News.

Battle might not be pau over Maui stream water. A day after the state Commission on Water Resource Management issued a historic decision in the long-running dispute over Maui stream water, the groups who started the legal action 17 years ago were expressing concern about a document they said is flawed. Star-Advertiser.

Kauai

Tourism industry needs more workers. Kaua‘i’s tourism industry can’t find people to work. According to a state Department of Labor and Industrial Relations report, the county had an 11.3% unemployment rate in May, the highest in the state. The statewide rate in May was 7.5%. Garden Island.

‘We’re a houseless community’. Today, Salt Pond Beach Park will close for maintenance, shutting down the county’s pandemic-era Shelter-In-Place permitted camping program for the houseless. Garden Island.

COVID cases rise as vaccination passport system in works, guilty plea in CARES funds scam, HGEA files grievance over mass rail layoffs, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Humpback whale watching off Hawaii ©2021 All Hawaii News

Data gathered for humpback whale count from Kaua’i, O’ahu, Hawai’i, and Maui. Marine experts held the last humpback whale count of the season Saturday, March 27, 2021. About 68 trained leaders from NOAA gathered data from the 42 sites across Kaua’i, O’ahu, Hawai’i, and Maui. KHON2.

Neighbor island lawmakers’ per diem overlooked as 10% raise could go into effect. Neighbor island state senators and representatives continue to earn $225 for every day of the legislative session, weekends and even after the session — valued at nearly half of their $62,604 legislative salaries — even as some have criticized the possibility of legislative pay raises in July. Star-Advertiser.

Bills to get Hawaii income taxes from real estate investment trusts die. State lawmakers have once again taken a pass at trying to abolish a tax break for real estate investment trusts operating in Hawaii. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii Nonprofit Leader Pleads Guilty To Embezzling And Agreeing To Take A Bribe. Hanalei Aipoalani also admitted using his position as a Honolulu grant administrator to direct money to the CEO of Hawaii island’s public access TV station. Civil Beat.

Should Hawaii Invest To Help Workers Displaced By The Pandemic Find New Careers? Hawaii paid hundreds of unemployed tourism workers to learn new job skills last year. Now state lawmakers want to create a permanent jobs corps — but no one knows how to fund it. Civil Beat.

Cocktails To Go? Hawaii Restaurants Hope Service Will Outlast The Pandemic. To help struggling bars and restaurants stay in business amid COVID-19 lockdowns, Gov. David Ige signed an executive order last April to allow establishments with a liquor license to sell alcohol to-go and for home delivery for the first time in state history. Civil Beat.

Many Inmates Leaving Prison Are Still Having Trouble Getting ID Cards. Advocates say something as simple as a state ID card can make all the difference for released convicts. Civil Beat.

Vaccination Passport System in the Works, Lt. Gov. Green Says. Governments in other parts of the world have started setting up vaccination passport systems in an effort to further open up borders, live events and tourism. As for Hawai‘i, Lieutenant Governor Josh Green said he sees a vaccination tracking system coming soon. Hawaii Public Radio.

As COVID case counts rise, health officials push more testing across the state. The statewide COVID case count average rose nearly 60% in the past two weeks, and experts are worried about a drop in testing for the virus. They fear the vaccination rollout has caused people to let down their guard. Hawaii News Now.

March 28, 2021 COVID-19 Update: The state Department of Health reports that there were 102 additional COVID-19 cases reported in Hawai‘i on Sunday, including 61 on O‘ahu, 26 on Maui, and 15 on Hawai‘i Island. Maui Now.

Oahu

Rising COVID-19 cases could push Oahu back to Tier 2. If the number of positive COVID-19 cases on Oahu continues to climb, the island could move back to Tier 2 restrictions on business and social activities, which limit gatherings to five people. Star-Advertiser.

Police break up another large concert in Kapolei as partiers ignore COVID rules. Another weekend, another large concert on the west side. This time, HPD took action, arresting one man. Hawaii News Now.

In an effort to ‘Stop Asian Hate,’ scores gather at the state Capitol to push for change. Scores rallied at the state Capitol Saturday to call for an end to racism and misogyny. The event on Oahu, known as the “Stop Asian Hate Rally” was one of many rallies that were held across the country to advance an important conversation -- fighting hate against Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders. Hawaii News Now. KITV4.

Oahu man pleads guilty to embezzlement, bribery over CARES Act funds. Prosecutors say a Waianae man agreed to accept a bribe in exchange of federal pandemic aid money. Hanalei Aipoalani, 42, pleaded guilty to the charges of embezzlement and bribery on Friday. He was hired by the city last August to administer the federal funds. Hawaii News Now. KITV4. Star-Advertiser.

HGEA files grievance against HART after interim CEO lays off dozens without notice. The state’s largest labor union has filed a grievance against the Honolulu Authority for Rapid Transportation over recent layoffs at the troubled rail project. Hawaii News Now.

Honolulu rail’s future tied to questions of federal obligation. Joe Uno, a member of the Honolulu Authority for Rapid Transportation’s board of directors, has been frustrated in trying to get the board to discuss ideas for an unspecified “Plan C” for how to complete and fund the city’s troubled rail project, which faces a budget shortfall of $3.68 billion. Star-Advertiser.

Developers readying affordable apartment projects on Oahu. Thirteen developers have submitted applications for building permits to produce roughly 300 apartments under a 2-year-old city ordinance that provides incentives for private developers to build such projects in areas zoned for apartment use. Star-Advertiser.

Kakaako streets remain in disrepair after judge rules ownership away from two brothers. A state judge recently removed what some Kakaako business owners and residents regarded as a troll of sorts that collected tolls to park on several longtime public streets. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii Island

Kahele talks COVID relief, infrastructure. U.S. Rep. Kai Kahele is touting the merits of the $1.9 trillion American Rescue Plan — the third and probably last federal coronavirus relief package — and President Joe Biden’s plan to spend upwards of $3 trillion on America’s infrastructure. Tribune-Herald.

Roth addresses West Hawaii Forum. It’s all still a waiting game as Mayor Mitch Roth works on his proposed budget, with the county awaiting word from the state and the state awaiting word from the federal government before anticipated revenues become more solid. West Hawaii Today.

Solar water tax break program dims. The County Council will soon be considering a bill eliminating a tax break for property owners who install solar hot water panels on their property. West Hawaii Today.

Researcher: Hilo evacuation maps should account for possible megatsunami. Hilo’s existing tsunami evacuation zones are not sufficient to respond to a hypothetical megatsunami, according to a University of Hawaii researcher. Tribune-Herald.

Portuguese cultural center plans scaled back. Nearly five years after fundraising for the effort began in earnest, plans for the Hawaii Island Portuguese Chamber of Commerce Cultural and Educational Center have gone back to the drawing board. Tribune-Herald.

Vaccinating a village: 120 residents of the Miloliʻi Fishing Village receive one-shot vaccine. West Hawaii Today.

Maui

1,000 People Get Shots at Mass Vaccination Site in Wailuku. More than 1,000 eligible individuals, both Kaiser Permanente members and non-members, were vaccinated at a mass vaccination event held on Saturday, March 27, at the Kaiser Permanente Wailuku Medical Office. Maui Now.

As travel returns, some changes here to stay. Airlines, hotels say increased cleaning, digital services among lasting effects. One year later, Hawaii’s travel and tourism industries are turning the page to a “new normal,” a term that has been tossed around throughout the pandemic and at times still feels like a moving target.  Maui News.

More Rental and Mortgage Assistance Available on Maui. A Maui Economic Opportunity rental and mortgage assistance program targeting Maui County residents economically impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic received an additional infusion of $900,000 from the county managed Community Development Block Grant fund. Maui Now.

Kauai

Half of Kaua‘i’s population vaccinated. Professor Amy Ebesu Hubbard of the Department of Communicology said in Hawai‘i, 31% of the adult population have received at least one dose, and 36% have indicated that they will definitely get the vaccine. Garden Island.

Hanapepe bridge project takes step backward. After a month of pouring new concrete on the north side of the new Kaumuali‘i Highway bridge over the Hanapepe River, Kalaheo resident Robert Brodowy spotted some highway workers jackhammering out yards of the new pour. Garden Island.

Team Rubicon cleans up after flooding. A veteran-led organization has launched a statewide operation to support recovery on three of the most-heavily-impacted islands, including Kaua‘i, which was affected by the recent heavy rain and flooding earlier this month. Garden Island.