$149M high-speed internet plan approved, federal judge denies Maui plan to take private land for Lahaina wildfire debris landfill, parts of volcano park closed due to fire risk, more news from all the Hawaiian islands

Hawaii gets over $149M to get Hawai‘i 100% internet connected. Hawaii will soon see an expansion in affordable and reliable high-speed internet access through a grant of over $149 million, the Department of Commerce’s National Telecommunications and Information Administration announced Tuesday. Star-Advertiser. Civil Beat.  Big Island Now.

Full text of initial Hawaii broadband proposal as approved by the Broadband Equity, Access and Deployment, or BEAD, program by the U.S. Department of Commerce’s National Telecommunications and Information Administration. University of Hawaii.

Commission allows candidates to pay for child care with campaign funds. Lisa Dugan with the Vote Mama Foundation, an organization that advocates for caregivers to hold political office, explained that the inability to afford child care is a reason why many people wait until their children are grown to even consider running for office. Hawaii Public Radio.

Land board authorizes temporary closures of wildlife sanctuaries. In an action inspired by last month’s birth of a monk seal on Mokulua island off of O‘ahu’s windward coast, the Board of Land and Natural Resources approved the temporary closure of wildlife sanctuaries statewide when necessary to protect endangered or threatened species. Maui Now.

Can I Sue My Neighbor For Playing Pickleball? The Noise Is Tearing Hawaii Neighborhoods Apart. The sport’s popularity skyrocketed during the pandemic, but its noise is getting to some residents. Civil Beat.

Former CNN Exec Named New HPR Chief. Hawaiʻi Public Radio’s Board of Directors has appointed Meredith Artley, former editor-in-chief and senior vice president of CNN Digital Worldwide, as the nonprofit media organization’s new President and CEO.  Civil Beat. Hawaii Public Radio.

Oahu

Honolulu names acting Ocean Safety director. Kurt Lager, a nearly 19-year city lifeguard veteran, was named acting director of Honolulu’s Ocean Safety Department on Tuesday morning. Star-Advertiser. Hawaii Public Radio.

Residents are urged to vote by mail. Some 480,000 registered voters across Oahu should receive their primary election ballots in the mail sometime next week — which can be mailed back or dropped off by Election Day on Aug. 10 to vote for preferred candidates. Star-Advertiser.

How to vote on Oahu. Oahu voters have multiple ways to cast ballots on or before the Aug. 10 primary election. Star-Advertiser.

Jury deliberation continues in sprawling Miske trial.  The jury has been deliberating since Friday afternoon after both sides presented their closing arguments.  Hawaii News Now.

Chinatown Business Owners Filing Claims From June Power Outages Unsure How Much Will Be Covered. For restaurants, the outages meant lost tips and wages and spoiled food, but also damaged equipment from power surges. Civil Beat.

Hawaii Island

Elevated Fire Risk In Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park Prompts Closures.  Sections of Mauna Loa Road and Hilina Pali Road has been closed to motorized vehicles, and open fires are prohibited until further notice. Big Island Video News. Big Island Now. Hawaii News Now.

Uncertain path forward for Bayfront Trails: Funding needed for next phases of the project. The Hilo Bayfront Trails project — spearheaded by the nonprofit Hilo Bayfront Trails Inc. — has built out a network of pedestrian trails throughout downtown Hilo since 2016.  Tribune-Herald.

Water quality issues continue to disrupt hatcheries at Big Island's HOST Park.  The state Natural Energy Laboratory of Hawaiʻi Authority manages the HOST Park, located in Kailua-Kona. The facility houses about 50 aquaculture operations, renewable energy projects and other groups working with ocean-based sustainable technologies. Hawaii Public Radio.

How an illegal ATV Tour near Green Sand Beach was shut down. Vendors react to regulation. A recent Department of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR) enforcement action on Hawaii Island's South Point was aimed at an illegal ATV tour company, operating in the Kau Forest Reserve. KITV4.

Maui

Federal Judge Rules Against Maui County Taking Private Land Soon For Lahaina Fire Debris. The ruling likely will result in the estimated 400,000 tons of fire debris and ash staying much longer than expected in the temporary dump site at Olowalu. Civil Beat.

Wednesday Disaster Recovery Community Update Meeting to be held in Lahaina Civic Center gym, July 17. Residents are encouraged to attend the County of Maui’s Weekly Disaster Recovery Community Update Meeting at 5:30 p.m. Wednesday, July 17, in the Lahaina Civic Center gymnasium. Maui Now.

Hawaiian Electric deploys AI video cameras for early detection of wildfire ignitions; First station is in Lahaina, Maui. Hawaiian Electric began deploying a network of high-resolution video cameras using artificial intelligence (AI) technology to provide enhanced situational awareness and early detection of ignitions in elevated fire risk areas near company infrastructure.  Maui Now. KITV4.

Kauai

Hanapepe and Kaumakani fire charred an estimated 1,100 acres. A brush  fire, which tore through roughly 1,100 acres in Hanapepe and Kaumakani on Monday, was 100 percent contained about 12 hours after it started, the Kaua‘i Fire Department said.  No homes were destroyed and no injuries were reported. Garden Island. Kauai Now. Hawaii News Now. KITV4.

Info-sessions to educate Kaua‘i residents on broadband equity and funding. The county of Kaua‘i Office of Economic Development will hold a series of informational sessions from July to September to update and train the public on the upcoming Broadband Equity, Access and Development Challenge Process. Kauai Now.

UH enrollment ticks up, state worst for early lung cancer diagnosis, $360k stolen from Kamehameha Schools campus, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

UH enrollment sees uptick, community colleges lead the way. The University of Hawaii says enrollment at its 10 campuses is up 1.2% for this fall semester compared to the fall semester of last year — the largest increase in enrollment since 2010. Star-Advertiser. KHON2.

Hawaii Mayors Discuss Housing Crisis At Native Hawaiian Convention. Hawaii’s four county mayors took the stage Thursday at the 22nd Native Hawaiian Convention, taking place on Maui, for a panel to discuss their approaches to Hawaii’s housing crisis. Star-Advertiser. Civil Beat. Hawaii News Now.

House Committee Briefed On Opioid Settlement Funds. A Hawaiʻi State House committee briefing was held at the Capitol on Wednesday, to provide lawmakers with an update on various initiatives to be supported by opioid lawsuit settlement funds.  Big Island Video News.

Hawaii Elections Commission Selects New Chair. The nine-member commission that advises Hawaii’s chief election officer on matters relating to elections has new leadership. Michael Curtis will replace Scotty Anderson early next month. Civil Beat.

Agriculture Department to discuss rules for invasive species. Concerns over how to control damaging invasive species, including little fire ants, continue to intensify as the state Department of Agriculture discusses rules for the pests. Star-Advertiser. Garden Island.

Hawaiʻi among worst states for early lung cancer diagnosis, treatment. In the American Lung Association's newest “State of Lung Cancer” report, the state was ranked as the worst in the nation for diagnosing lung cancer early, when the survival rate is greater. Just over 20% of cases are diagnosed early, compared to nearly 27% nationally. Star-Advertiser.

Oahu

HART board approves eminent domain filing for Kalihi property. The Honolulu Authority for Rapid Transportation’s board of directors Thursday approved filing an eminent domain against one family’s industrially zoned property in Kalihi. Star-Advertiser.

Aloha Stadium redevelopment draws competitors. At least three viable teams will compete to develop, build, operate and maintain a new Aloha Stadium and construct real estate in the adjoining New Aloha Stadium Entertainment District, state officials said Thursday. Star-Advertiser.

The Fate Of The North Shore’s Airfield Is Once Again Up In The Air. State transportation officials warn they will have to close Dillingham Airfield if negotiations with the Army, which owns the land, are unsuccessful. Civil Beat.

After nearly 2 decades, state fixes numerous leaking pipes at Dillingham Airfield. Since finishing the repairs at the end of October, the airfield has gone from using about 100,000 gallons a day to 57,000 gallons. That means they’re saving about 1.3 million gallons of water per month. Hawaii News Now.

Civilians at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam say big rent hikes may price them off-base. Hickam Communities provides on-base housing to nearly 2,000 active duty military personnel at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam. There are also more than 400 civilian residents, and some of them feel like they’re living their own version of being priced out of paradise. Hawaii News Now.

Hawaii Island

Hawaiʻi County Council takes first step to award $17.3M to seven affordable housing projects. Millions of dollars aimed at expanding the availability and affordability of housing on the Big Island are one step closer to being put into action after the Hawaiʻi County Council on Wednesday approved the first reading of a measure awarding more than $17.3 million to seven housing projects. Big Island Now.

County Council passes bill easing requirements for PV systems. Homeowners will be able to install solar power systems more easily under a new bill passed Wednesday by the Hawaii County Council. Tribune-Herald.

Council Wildfire Resolution Amended After Volunteer Firefighter Concerns. At Wednesday’s Hawaii County Council meeting held in Kona, a resolution was passed strongly urging the mayor to increase funding and capacity for the Hawaiʻi Fire Department to proactively mitigate potential wildfire impacts. Big Island Video News.

Kamehameha Schools Hawaii campus reports large internal theft to police. Kamehameha Schools Hawaii filed a police report Thursday alleging a former employee stole more than $360,000 from the Keaau campus. Tribune-Herald. KHON2.  KITV4.

Maui

Legislators Call For Additional Safety Measures For Lahaina Schools. The DOE said they would not make emergency response plans available to the public at this time. Civil Beat.

Work to drain underground parking garage in Lahaina begins, along with MPD search. The  US Environmental Protection Agency started work to drain an underground parking garage located on Front Street in Lahaina that has remained flooded since the fire of Aug. 8.  Maui Now.

8.6 acres at Hāmoa, Maui forever protected for cultural preservation, stewardship. Ke Ao Hāliʻi, a Hāna-based nonprofit community organization, in partnership with the County of Maui, State of Hawaiʻi, and Hawai‘i Land Trust, has completed the purchase of 8.6 acres of Hāmoa lands for permanent cultural preservation and stewardship. Maui Now.

KWC Management Closes Acquisition of Montage Kapalua Bay. Located at the edge of Namalu Bay, Montage Kapalua Bay is situated on 24 acres. The cliffside resort welcomes travelers with 146 residential-style, multi-bedroom suites, four restaurants, a children’s program, Paintbox, and a spa, as well as a collection of privately owned residences. Maui Now.

Kauai

Food banks holding distribution events. The two food banks on the island of Kauai will be holding food distribution events over the next couple of days. Garden Island.