Officials mull private prison partnerships, Finance Director Machida to retire, local banks share tax savings with employees, entangled humpback freed off Maui, homeless problems persist, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Hawaii Community Correctional Center ©2017 All Hawaii News

State prison officials consider private partnerships. State prison officials are asking lawmakers for $1 million to study the potential for forming “public-private partnerships” that could be used to help expand and modernize the crowded state correctional system. Star-Advertiser.

State Finance Director Machida to retire, following 2 surgeries. State Director of Finance Wesley Machida, who has served as the state’s budget director since 2014 and previously led the state’s $16 billion public employees pension fund, will retire effective New Year’s Eve. Star-Advertiser.

Gov. Ige Makes Two Cabinet Appointments. The governor named a temporary replacement for the outgoing State Budget Director, and a new head for the Human Resources Development Department. Civil Beat.

‘From Bad To Worse:’ Hawaii’s $1.75 Billion Cesspool Problem. The risks posed by the state’s 88,000 remaining cesspools will likely be amplified by climate change. Civil Beat.

Reducing liability for rescue tube landowners. The threat of being sued may be stopping lifesaving equipment from getting to the waters edge, where it is needed the most. KITV.

Local banks to save millions from corporate tax cut. Hawaii’s four largest banks gave unexpected stocking stuffers to employees over the long holiday weekend in the form of bonuses and minimum wage increases. Star-Advertiser.

Four Hawaii banks raise minimum wage, award cash bonuses. Pacific Business News.

Price for Island Air’s assets to be reduced by $125,000. The sale of Island Air’s operating certificate and other assets is not going to generate as much money from Hawaiian Airlines’ parent company as initially expected. Star-Advertiser.

Oahu

Obama a sight on Oahu this holiday season. Unlike the eight years Obama spent in the Oval Office, there are no machine gun-mounted boats patrolling the waters off of Kailua this year. And there have been no presidential motorcades to snarl Oahu traffic. Star-Advertiser.

HECO asks for $6 million more from the state PUC. Hawaiian Electric Co. is asking the state Public Utilities Commission for slightly more than the 2.5 percent base-rate increase that was approved Dec. 15. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaiian Electric files motion with state regulators to recover pension contributions. Pacific Business News.

Honolulu Police Try Building More Trust With The Homeless. In a new program, officers work with outreach workers to help steer the homeless to services rather than just write tickets. Civil Beat.

In just two years Christina Bush has solicited donations through Facebook and Instagram that have generated thousands of dollars’ worth of new and used donations for hundreds of homeless and low-income children and families across Oahu while building a small but loyal group of volunteers. Star-Advertiser.

Can Hawaii end homeless crisis for good? There's a new push to make affordable housing a reality. It's called the Puuhonua Villages Bill -- and the idea would tackle the homeless crisis head-on. KITV.

Councilwoman: Giant treehouse in Manoa is site of illegal 'retreat'. A Christmas Day accident at a Manoa treehouse is renewing calls by neighbors to investigate the landowner. Hawaii News Now.

Wastewater discharges prompt advisories for Pauoa, Kailua. The state health department advises the public to stay out of the waters of Pauoa Stream from Olomana Lane to Hialoa Street bridge due to wastewater discharge. Star-Advertiser.

The badly decomposed carcass of a humpback whale that nearly washed ashore at Haleiwa on Christmas Day, is in the process of being towed out to deep ocean waters this afternoon, according to the state Department of Land and Natural Resources. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii Island

County negotiates state approval to move forward with permanent homeless development. Hawaii County continues to move forward with plans to relocate Camp Kikaha out of the Old Kona Industrial Area and expand it to accommodate several hundred homeless on a permanent basis — but both the process and pace of that change have been altered in recent weeks. West Hawaii Today.

Rarest of the rare: Colony of endangered seabirds discovered at PTA. In a discovery that surprised researchers, a nest of the endangered band-rumped storm-petrel has been found at nearly 7,000 feet above sea level on Mauna Loa, making it the seabird’s only confirmed colony in the state. Tribune-Herald.

Rat lungworm disease can be devastating. The overwhelming majority of cases have been on Hawai'i Island. State legislators on that island have made several requests to fund ongoing research and outreach efforts at the UH Hilo College of Pharmacy and Hilo Medical Center. In the last legislative session, funds WERE allocated—but not to institutions on the Big Island. Hawaii Public Radio.

UH-Hilo pharmacy study could have nationwide impact. A University of Hawaii at Hilo study designed to decrease medicine-related re-hospitalizations of older adults is garnering national attention. Tribune-Herald.

Maui

Maui Ag Shipments Down 65% in Third Quarter. Young Brothers, Limited announced that intrastate cargo volumes between Honolulu and six neighbor island ports increased 0.3% in the third quarter of 2017, compared to the same time last year. Maui Now.

Meeting to discuss administrative rules for harbors planned. Maui News.

Unemployment rates in county at historic lows. Maui News.

Whale freed off Lahaina. Adult humpback had been entangled in 340 feet of heavy line. Maui News.

Entangled Humpback Whale Freed Off Maui. An entangled adult humpback whale was freed by a team of trained responders off Lahaina, Maui on Christmas Day. Maui Now.

Kauai

Debris threatens whales. A buoy is floating about 200 yards offshore at Ahukini Landing, seemingly snagged on something in the water below. Garden Island.

Hawaii lawmakers huddle on North Korea threat, iiwi honeycreeper named threatened species, students show slight STRIVE test improvement, tourism v. natural resources, Maui mulls steep tax hike for vacation rentals, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Pacific Iiwi at Hakalau Forest National Wildlife Refuge USFWS

Hawaiian iiwi bird named to list of threatened species. With its bright red plumage and down-curved bill, the iiwi is a living symbol of Hawaii that for so long seemed to resist the tide of extinction that overcame so many of its native Hawaiian cousins. Star-Advertiser.

Facing extinction due in large part to the effects of climate change, the iiwi — a scarlet honeycreeper only found in Hawaii — will receive federal protection as a threatened species, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service announced Tuesday. Civil Beat.

Dozens of legislators and their staffers met behind closed doors Tuesday to hear a briefing by state Emergency Management Agency officials on preparedness for a North Korea nuclear strike on Hawaii. Civil Beat.

Students in Hawaii’s public schools did better in science this year, but their English and math performance stagnated, according to the Strive HI report presented to the Board of Education on Tuesday evening. Star-Advertiser.

In a new report released by the DOE Tuesday, numbers of students meeting or exceeding Strive HI benchmarks continues to grow. Hawaii News Now.

Tourism in 2018 is expected to surpass 2017, which so far is shaping up to be the best tourism year on record, according to experts at the annual Global Tourism Summit, which kicked off Tuesday at the Hawaii Convention Center and is expected to attract some 1,689 attendees through Thursday. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii’s annual visitor-industry conference is being expanded to the first-ever Global Tourism Summit.  About 25-hundred attendees are registered for the 3-day event. Hawaii Public Radio.

Global tourism leaders look at balancing surging industry with preserving natural resources. Hawaii News Now.

From hiking trails to beaches, the feeling of being overrun by visitors can be inescapable on some weekends here in Hawaii. Hawaii Public Radio.

Hawaii’s only cannabis laboratory received approval Tuesday from the state Health Department to begin testing cannabis-­infused concentrates and tinctures so that patients who don’t want to smoke the drug can buy alternative products. Star-Advertiser.

Two federal class-action lawsuits were filed this week against consumer credit reporting giant Equifax on behalf of Hawaii consumers. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii has joined a coalition of states in seeking documents and information from manufacturers and distributor of prescription opioids. Pacific Business News.

Hawaii has been declared one of the most diverse states in the United States, according to a new report by personal-finance website WalletHub. Pacific Business News.

Oahu

In the only recovery plan they ever hope to write, Honolulu rail officials say it’s “realistic and achievable” to build the full line to Ala Moana Center with the $9 billion total they now expect to receive. Star-Advertiser.

Full report: rail recovery plan can be found here.

Firefighters Union Protests Lack Of Information On Marco Polo Investigation. The Honolulu Fire Department knows the cause of the fire, but is refusing to reveal it — even to their own firefighters — until reports are finalized. Civil Beat.

Diamond Head Cliffs, one of Hawaiiʻs most iconic surfing areas, was the scene of a homeless sweep involving the Honolulu Police Department and 20 groundskeepers from the city Department of Parks and Recreation on Tuesday. Civil Beat.

The mother of Peyton Valiente, the toddler who was severely abused more than two years ago while under the care of his baby sitter, is seeking a federal investigation of the way the state Department of Human Services handled her son’s case. Star-Advertiser.

The mother of a Honolulu toddler who almost died from apparent abuse while under the care of a babysitter in 2015 is seeking a federal agency’s help in figuring out whether the sitter was ever put on the state’s child abuse and neglect registry. Civil Beat.

A proposal to build an emergency bypass road through a section of Nanakuli is meeting strong resistance that could derail the plan. Hawaii News Now.

The wheels are beginning to turn on a $1.3 billion project to transform a rundown federal public housing complex in Kalihi. On Wednesday, the state plans to sign a master development agreement for Mayor Wright Homes with a development team led by Hunt Companies Inc. Hawaii News Now.

Costco is expanding the gas station across from its warehouse store in Honolulu. Pacific Business News.

Costco members will need to find a new place to fill up their tanks for the next month. Signs posted at the almost always crowded Iwilei location say the station will be closed from Thursday Sept 28 and reopen on Friday Nov. 3. Hawaii News Now.

American Fast Freight has purchased a 26,153-square-foot warehouse in West Oahu from Kraft Heinz Foods Co. for $7.1 million. Pacific Business News.

Caught on camera: Strange lights spotted floating over Oahu. KHON2.

An attorney defending a man accused of inflight behavior that prompted military fighter jets to escort an airplane wants a hearing on his mental competency and detention to be closed to the public. Associated Press.

Pamela Burns, president and CEO of the Hawaiian Humane Society, died at her home Monday night. She was 65 years old. Star-Advertiser.

Pamela Burns, the longtime president and CEO of the Hawaiian Humane Society, has died, the nonprofit said Tuesday. She was 65. Pacific Business News.

Hawaii Island

One audit of the North Kona water system isn’t enough, at least not for the county government. West Hawaii Today.

On Tuesday, September 19 at the West Hawaii Civic Center, the Hawaii County Council Finance Committee will take up a resolution requesting the Legislative Auditor conduct a review of the Department of Water Supply. Big Island Video News.

An igloo village could pop up in Kona over the next few years, as Hawaii County works on a homeless settlement across from the West Hawaii Civic Center. West Hawaii Today.

Dozens of East Hawaii hospital patients got eye-popping medical bills last week. Nearly 200 patients served by Hawaii Health Systems Corp. received the “incorrect billing statements” in the mail from third-party billing vendor Healthcare Resource Group. Tribune-Herald.

The Kailua Village Design Commission on Tuesday gave its approval for a proposed new hotel on Henry Street. West Hawaii Today.

The Hawaii Department of Education’s new superintendent on Monday said delivery of special education services is among the areas eyed for improvement this year. Superintendent Christina Kishimoto, who took the reins in August, spoke about her plans for those programs and others to parents and faculty at Kealakehe High School. West Hawaii Today.

Maui

Based on current rates, a nearly 29 percent property tax hike could be in store for homeowners who rent out their non-primary residences as transient vacation rentals. Maui News.

The state is proposing improvements to the Lower Waiohuli Trail that would heighten public safety and allow for bicycle use on the 1.5-mile path on Haleakala’s western slope. Maui News.

The Maui County Department of Public Works invites the South Maui community to a public meeting on the Kihei Drainage Master Plan on Thursday, Sept. 21, at 6 p.m. at the Kīhei Community Center. Maui Now.

The Kihei drainage master plan will be discussed at a public meeting at 6 p.m. Thursday at the Kihei Community Center. Maui News.

The state Department of Land and Natural Resources will hold a public information meeting on Monday, Sept. 25, 2017, from 5 to 6:30 p.m. at the West Maui Senior Center, 788 Pauoa St. in Lahaina. Maui Now.

Coaches, league organizers, school athletic directors and other sports officials will need to start applying for recreational facilities months before each season begins as part of the county’s new triennial permit process, the county has announced. Maui News.

An official with Maui County has confirmed that the rumor regarding a fee at Kihei Aquatic Center is untrue. Maui Now.

The Fairway Shops at Kaanapali on Maui recently sold for nearly $14 million in a leasehold transaction. Pacific Business News.

Kauai

Hawaii representatives toured Kauai Tuesday and liked what they saw. Members of the House Finance Committee, chaired by Rep. Sylvia Luke, visited sites to see projects and programs supported by the Legislature. Garden Island.

The Kauai Police Department’s Fugitive Apprehension Strike Team conducted a special mission on Monday in the Lihue and Kapaa areas, which led to arrests, the removal of illegal campsites and the removal of abandoned property. Garden Island.

Stadium lights could once again come to life for a few night football games on Kauai this season, if the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service signs off. Garden Island.

Search on for five crew members of downed Black Hawk off Kaena Point, Ige downplays budget surplus, Honolulu council to consider rail audit, Hawaii representatives jump into Trump fray, Kauai rat eradication on hold, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Gov. David Ige

The state government ended the last fiscal year with a near-record budget surplus of more than $893 million, but Gov. David Ige’s administration is downplaying that seemingly cheery snapshot of the state’s finances. Star-Advertiser.

The U.S. Coast Guard and the Honolulu Fire Department are searching this morning for five crew members of an Army Black Hawk helicopter that went down off Oahu’s Kaena Point late Tuesday. Star-Advertiser.

Rescue crews are searching for an Army UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter with five people aboard that crashed about two miles off Kaena Point late Tuesday. Hawaii News Now.

Coast Guard, Army and Honolulu Fire Department crews are responding to a report of a downed Army UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter with five crew aboard approximately two miles west of Kaena Point, Oahu, Wednesday. KHON2.

Debris Field of Downed Army Helicopter Spotted off Oahu. Maui Now.

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The Hawaii Attorney General’s Office is entering the legal fight over who controls the $200 million trust of Abigail Kawananakoa so that it can protect the interests of Native Hawaiians who are in line to receive a large share of the money when she dies. Civil Beat.

A trustee of Abigail Kawananakoa's estate is calling on the state to investigate allegations of physical abuse of the 91-year-old Hawaiian royalty descendant by her longtime partner. Hawaii News Now.

Members of Hawaii’s congressional delegation were among a growing number of elected officials distancing themselves Tuesday from President Donald Trump following the president’s remarks that again blamed “both sides” for the deadly violence over the weekend at a white supremacist rally in Charlottesville, Va. Star-Advertiser.

Sen. Brian Schatz: Trump Is ‘Not My President’ The Hawaii Democrat tweeted, “As a Jew, as an American, as a human, words cannot express my disgust and disappointment.” Civil Beat.

Bob McDermott, candidate for Hawaii governor, is sticking up for President Trump as the commander-in-chief takes heat for his remarks over the violence in Charlottesville, Virginia this weekend. Hawaii News Now.

U.S. Deputy Secretary of the Interior David Bernhardt on Tuesday announced more than $500,000 is headed to Hawaii state wildlife agencies through the State Wildlife Grants program. West Hawaii Today.

Uncertainty surrounding Obamacare dragged down the financial results last quarter of the state’s two largest health insurers. Star-Advertiser.

Oahu

A resolution calling on city Auditor Edwin Young to conduct an economy and efficiency audit of Honolulu’s troubled rail project is to be taken up during a special meeting of the City Council Budget Committee at 9 a.m. today. Star-Advertiser.

As lawmakers grapple with how to pay for a $3 billion shortfall for Honolulu's rail project, supporters are trying to influence them with a new survey and public relations campaign. Hawaii News Now.

The city’s bulky-item pickup program is badly in need of an overhaul, according to a scathing report issued Monday by city Auditor Edwin Young. Star-Advertiser.

Employees of the city’s garbage service abuse overtime, sick time and paid time off, according to a city audit of the Department of Environmental Services bulky item collection service. Civil Beat.

Starting today, those seeking building permits on Oahu might need to pay additional fees and do additional work as new water quality rules take effect, according to a release issued by the Department of Planning and Permitting this week. Star-Advertiser.

Surf, scuba schools skirting the boundaries? KITV.

After community outcry, the Kahala Resort and Hotel has pulled its environmental assessment to expand wedding venue options. Hawaii News Now.

Tension escalates on Haiku Stairs after trespassing hiker reportedly shot by pellet gun. KHON2.

Chinatown Has A New Shelter For The Homeless Mentally Ill. Not everyone is happy about the relocation of the Safe Haven shelter to a new spot four blocks away. Civil Beat.

The Honolulu Zoo’s endangered Sumatran tiger, Berani, was euthanized Monday. Star-Advertiser.

Embassy Suites by Hilton, one of three hotels planned for West Oahu and the second of its kind in Hawaii, will open in October. Pacific Business News.

Hawaii County

Endangered coots and stilts that call the Kealakehe sewer treatment plant home will get a little extra protection, thanks to a business seeking to offset bird losses on its own site. West Hawaii Today.

The preservation of Hawaiian Stilts and Hawaiian Coots nesting in the lagoons of the Kealakehe Wastewater Treatment Plant was on the agenda for the Hawaii County Council Environmental Management Committee Tuesday. Big Island Video News.

Hawaii County Council members advanced a resolution Tuesday supporting a skate park in Hilo after hearing from skateboarders and Paradise Roller Girls members disappointed with years of delays. Tribune-Herald.

Kona spaceport plan yet unfit for takeoff. West Hawaii Today.

A Kohala Hospital nurse is suing the hospital on claims of discrimination and a hostile work environment. West Hawaii Today.

The Seattle developer that built a Holiday Inn Express & Suites on Hawaii’s Big Island is planning a similar hotel project on a four-acre parcel in Kailua-Kona. Pacific Business News.

Maui

A plan to reduce flood risks at a Maui river isn't sitting well with some who are concerned over the site's historic value. Hawaii News Now.

State Representative Angus McKelvey of Maui is renewing his call for a specific timeline for resolution of the school bus crisis on Maui as frustrated parents want to know when the situation will be resolved. Maui Now.

A typical 10-minute drive to school has morphed into hourlong traffic jams for Lahaina students as the state Department of Education and its new school bus contractor Ground Transport continue to struggle to find bus drivers. Maui News.

It's been just over a month since Kaiser Permanente took over operations at three Maui County hospitals. But the new chief executive officer of the hospitals is already moving on. Hawaii Public Radio.

Kauai

The Lehua Island rat eradication project is on hold pending two permits, and the state permitting agency wants to make sure details are ironed out before giving the go-ahead. Garden Island.

Kauai Island Utility Cooperative on Monday said it filed a proposal with the state Public Utilities Commission that would provide customers with two new options to receive credit when installing a solar system. Pacific Business News.

Honolulu mulls high-rise sprinkler retrofits, WIC program trimmed, DOT dismantles homeless camps, Waikiki flotilla enforcement sought, Maui hospital takeover deemed a success, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Honolulu high-rises © 2017 All Hawaii News

Honolulu Mayor Kirk Caldwell’s bill to require that older residential high-rises be retrofitted with sprinklers in the wake of the fatal Marco Polo condominium fire was put on hold Tuesday by City Council members. Civil Beat.

Firefighters and condominium owners Tuesday met before a City Council committee for the first time since the July 14 Marco Polo fire left three people dead and discussed potential incentives for, as well as obstacles in the way of, retrofitting aging residential towers with sprinkler systems. Star-Advertiser.

Dozens of owners of Marco Polo apartments, where three people died recently in a fire that swept through the building, have secondary hallway doors with louvers that boost air circulation into their units but also can help a fire spread more quickly, residents and fire experts say. Star-Advertiser.

Two state agencies are now taking action over asbestos at the scene of the massive fire at the Marco Polo building. KHON2.

The state is cutting dozens of positions at the Women, Infants and Children — or WIC — program aimed at helping low-income mothers and children as part of a revamp officials say is needed to deal with a federal funding decline and higher payroll costs. Hawaii News Now.

A sailor’s computer input error on the Pearl Harbor-based destroyer USS John Paul Jones apparently caused an $80 million missile defense test failure off the coast of Kauai on June 21, according to DefenseNews.com. Star-Advertiser.

State wants to change boating, harbor rules. KHON2.

The Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary Advisory Council held an unprecedented emergency meeting Monday to approve a letter urging the Trump Administration to maintain 11 marine reserves that are under federal review, including Papahanaumokuakea in the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands. Civil Beat.

Nine-year-old Robbie Bond decided to do something about the threat of budget cuts to public parks — launching Kids Speak for Parks and the website kidsspeakforparks.com as a way for children to speak up and share their experiences at parks and monuments in jeopardy of funding cuts. Star-Advertiser.

An Office of Hawaiian Affairs trustee reports money from a Hawaiian princess is helping pay legal fees. Hawaii News Now.

Hurricane Hilary, churning in the Eastern Pacific off Mexico, is expected to crash into a cyclone that's also tracking westward — Hurricane Irwin — sometime in the next 48 hours, the National Hurricane Center said. Hawaii News Now.

Oahu

Contractors began dismantling several homeless encampments near the H-1 freeway Tuesday, part of the state’s effort to keep areas near roadways clear of illegal encampments. Star-Advertiser.

State Steps Up Its Homeless Sweeps Along Highways. Aggressive new effort comes as officials question if moving people along encourages them to use shelters. Civil Beat.

The Hawaii Department of Transportation is leading an effort to remove homeless encampments near major traffic corridors. Hawaii Public Radio.

Additional rescue personnel for the July 4 "floatilla" cost taxpayers $16,000. That led Honolulu's City Council to adopt a resolution calling for regulations against the event Tuesday. Hawaii News Now.

It's only been about two weeks since the Fourth of July flotilla but some city and state officials don't want a repeat, and they are doing what they can to make sure that doesn't happen. KITV.

State and city law enforcement officials say they support a call for stiffer enforcement of regulations at the annual, mostly unorganized Fourth of July event known as Floatilla, but also stressed that they are already throwing all the resources they can at the problem. Star-Advertiser.

The state has fined Aloha Petroleum Ltd. $200,000 for fuel tank violations. Star-Advertiser.

Aloha Petroleum has been fined $200,000 by the Hawaii State Department of Health for failing to notify officials about a "suspected fuel release" within 24 hours of finding it. Pacific Business News.

Some Hawaii students and other volunteers are getting their feet wet in the medical field, while simultaneously easing the workload for some doctors and nurses. It's all part of a new project at Queen's Medical Center geared toward improving patient’s experiences. KITV.

Honolulu ranks among the top 15 best cities to live, despite a low rank for affordability, according to a new WalletHub study. Pacific Business News.

Hawaii Island

Following demolition of the former Hilo Tropical Gardens, Kamehameha Schools officials say they will take a closer look at the management plan for their Keaukaha properties that could help identify future land uses. Tribune-Herald.

What went wrong and how to prevent it from happening again were topmost on the minds of members of the county Water Board on Tuesday as they heard an update on well breakdowns in West Hawaii. West Hawaii Today.

$5,000 arson reward fund remains on table. West Hawaii Today.

There’s a lot of rubbish in the Big Island’s rain forest gulches, and a Paauilo man is on a mission to remove it. Tribune-Herald.

Two native plant species are thriving today in Hawaii Volcanoes National Park on the Big Island. Hawaii Public Radio.

Elson “Bobo” Kanaina Brown, the last member of the legendary band Hilo Hawaiians and son of founder William “Bunny” Brown, died Saturday surrounded by family at his Hilo home after a yearlong battle with cancer. He was 77. Tribune-Herald.

Maui

For five years, two planning guiding documents of Maui County have been at odds when it comes to short-term rental homes. Maui News.

The transition phase of the operational takeover of Maui County public hospitals by Kaiser Permanente subsidiary Maui Health System has ended, and it was a success, said an official with the new management. Maui News.

The transition phase is now complete for the Maui Health System, the Kaiser Permanente subsidiary which took over management of three Maui hospitals (Kula Hospital & Clinic, Lānaʻi Community Hospital and Maui Memorial Medical Center) on July 1st. Maui Now.

Some new enforcement strategies and more participation from Lahaina patrol and other officers contributed to significant increases in citations for seat belt and cellphone violations during the recent Click It or Ticket campaign, police said. Maui News.

The Maui Humane Society announced it has achieved a 92% Live Release Rate for dogs in Fiscal 2017, meaning more than nine out of every ten dogs who entered the shelter were either adopted, transferred to rescue partners for adoption, or returned to their owners. Maui Now.

Every summer, rice coral (montipora capitata) colonies around Maui and in the aquarium’s exhibits spawn shortly after the new moon cycle. Maui News.

Kauai

Mayor Bernard Carvalho Jr. shared his plan for Kauai’s future Tuesday during the Kauai Chamber of Commerce’s 3rd Annual Mayor’s Luncheon held at the Sheraton Kauai Resort. Garden Island.

More than 50 people attended Monday's public hearing, hosted by the state Department of Land and Natural Resources Division of Boating and Ocean Recreation, to comment on proposed changes to boating laws and rules at harbors. Garden Island.

A young pueo, or Hawaiian short-eared owl that tangled with a vehicle in late March has died after being hit by another vehicle two months after it was rehabilitated and released back into the wild. Two more were found dead on Kauai’s roads on the same day, according to a press release from the state’s Department of Land and Natural Resources. Garden Island.

Hawaii tourism breaks record, ferry feasibility study, yellow-faced bee added to endangered species list, bail bond companies stiffing state, DOT backs off Kauai bird protection plan, mayor's campaign aide gets city contracts, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Tourists on Hawaii beach © 2016 All Hawaii News

The number of tourists visiting Hawaii hit a record for the month of August by topping 780,000 people. The Hawaii Tourism Authority said Friday 3.1 percent more travelers came to the islands in August compared to the same month last year. It marked the 19th straight month of gains. Associated Press.

The number of visitors to Hawaii last month rose 3.1 percent from last year to the highest level ever for an August, and spending increased by 5.2 percent to more than $1.3 billion for the month, according to preliminary statistics released Friday by the Hawaii Tourism Authority. Pacific Business News.

August turns out to have been a third month of higher visitor arrivals despite low airline seats to Hawaii. Hawaii News Now.

The U.S. Maritime Administration has agreed to help finance a feasibility study for establishing a publicly financed Hawaii ferry service, a plan that may reignite public debate over one of Hawaii’s hot-button transportation and environmental issues. Star-Advertiser.


Federal authorities on Friday added seven yellow-faced bee species, Hawaii’s only native bees, for protection under the Endangered Species Act, a first for any bees in the United States. Associated Press.

Biosecurity plan formed to protect Hawaii from invasive species. KHON2.

The official general election registration “deadline” for this year is Oct. 10, despite falling on the Columbus Day federal holiday. For people who opt to mail in their voter registration forms, the Office of Elections said forms must be postmarked no later than Saturday. Star-Advertiser.

Bail bond companies that pledged bail money as guarantees that their clients would appear for criminal court proceedings now owe the state more than $2.4 million in forfeited bail bonds after the offenders failed to show up for their court dates, according to data provided by the Hawaii State Judiciary. Star-Advertiser.

Supporters of proposed rules that would allow for groups such as nonprofits and universities to approve and oversee Hawaii’s public charter schools say the move would strengthen charters without eroding standards. Star-Advertiser.

The U.S.Department of Housing and Urban Development is giving $350,000 to the Legal Aid Society of Hawaii to investigate and fight housing discrimination. Civil Beat.

Oahu

Honolulu Mayor Kirk Caldwell’s campaign spokeswoman has been awarded tens of thousands of dollars worth of city contracts, but apparently doesn’t get paid for her campaign work. Civil Beat.

Honolulu Mayoral Candidates Vie For Coveted Kupuna Vote. The city’s high cost of living and public safety are on the minds of AARP Hawaii members, who shared their concerns during a “tele-town hall” Saturday morning. Civil Beat.

At the Kalaeloa Heritage Park, there is a story about almost everything. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii
Two new wells are being proposed in North Kona to increase water capacity at higher elevations, with the goal of reducing the use of water sources closer to sea level. West Hawaii Today.

Opinion: Was Civil Beat Right To Publish The Billy Kenoi Party Video? Addressing some key issues raised by readers about the publication of a video showing the Big Island mayor giving a profanity-laced toast. Civil Beat.

A site visit was made to the summit of Mauna Kea on September 26, as part of the second Thirty Meter Telescope contested case hearing now underway. Objections to the way the site visit was carried out have already been filed by opponents of the TMT project. Big Island Video News.

The Affordable Care Act is triggering clinics on Hawaii Island to consider expansion, a fulfillment of plans made when the federal law passed. Tribune-Herald.

Bringing farmers, tourists together: First AgriTourism Symposium slated for Oct. 15. Tribune-Herald.

The wife of a well-known marijuana activist who spent more than four years in federal prison after his Downtown Hilo marijuana ministry was raided is now making a last-ditch effort to prevent her own incarceration. Tribune-Herald.

Maui

Council member Don Couch is the target of an ethics violation complaint filed by Haiku resident Sean Lester with the Maui County Board of Ethics. In documents received on Sept. 23, 2016, Lester alleges Couch purchased a home in Waikapu and a condo in Kihei in 2007. He states that Couch did not meet the “affordable income criteria” for the condo and implies that Couch improperly received and failed to disclose rental income derived from the house. Maui Watch.

A Community Connection public forum with Governor David Ige is planned on Maui on Wednesday, Oct. 5, 2016 at the University of Hawai‘i, Maui College Pā‘ina Cafeteria in Kahului. Maui Now.

As sugar operations wind down this year, an elevated scale to weigh sugar and molasses will be closed, and that will prompt some Maui businesses to look elsewhere to weigh their containers before shipping them on barges. Maui News.

Kauai

Hawaii Department of Transportation has taken an unexplained step back from developing a Kauai County Seabird Habitat Conservation Plan, and the gears of the entire process have slowed. Garden Island.

Road safety measures and extending the deadline to apply for building permits will be discussed Wednesday during the Kauai County Council meeting. Garden Island.

Building bridges. Division of Forestry and Wildlife plans to connect with public on Keahua Stream construction. Garden Island

Foreign fishermen held captive in Hawaii, native honeycreepers in peril, Honolulu police chief feels heat in midst of federal corruption probe, school flu shots delayed, human-dolphin interaction rule draws Kona crowd, Kauai to allow multiple housing units, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Amakihi honeycreeper, Lucas Behnke USGS

Native forest birds on Kauai are rapidly dying off and facing the threat of extinction as climate change heats up their habitat and allows mosquito-borne diseases to thrive, according to a study released Wednesday. Associated Press.

‘I‘iwi honeycreeper, Lucas Behnke USGS

Pier 17 doesn’t even show up on most Honolulu maps. Cars whiz past it on their way to Waikiki. Passing tourists, let alone locals, are unaware that just behind a guarded gate, another world exists: foreign fishermen confined to American boats for years at a time. Associated Press.

Though federal laws and rules don’t mention Hawaii’s fishing fleet by name, technicalities buried in immigration law, maritime regulations and agency rule books have combined to give it a rare distinction: In the Aloha State hundreds of foreign fishermen are stuck on their boats for years. Associated Press.

Angry Democrats want a Bernie Sanders delegate who made an obscene gesture on national television kicked out of the Democratic Party of Hawaii. Civil Beat.

Hepatitis A outbreak holds up school flu program for now. KHON2.

Under a $39 million plan for the next decade, the state would not only escalate its fight against invasive species at home but take measures to prevent them from reaching the islands. The draft of the Hawaii Interagency Biosecurity Plan, scheduled to receive an airing at public hearings across the state early next month, was unveiled Wednesday in a news conference at the World Conservation Congress at the Hawai‘i Convention Center. Star-Advertiser.

A proposed biosecurity plan for the state seeks additional funding and increased cooperation between government agencies to stop the spread of invasive species. Tribune-Herald.

Hawaii officials plan to unveil a plan to cope with coral bleaching that's threatening the state's reefs. Warmer ocean temperatures have stressed Hawaii's coral, forcing them to expel algae they rely on for food. Vast stretches of reef have turned white, increasing the risk that the coral will get sick and die. Hawaii News Now.

Members of an international environmental group are debating a proposal to urge leaders in every country to ban trading ivory. Associated Press.

Although there’s a lot of focus on the IUCN this week…there’s a different conference beginning today that focuses on native rights issues. The International Indian Treaty Council is hosting its annual meeting this year in Hawai‘i.  Indigenous leaders from First Nation groups around the world use the annual meeting to discuss issues around decolonization, sovereignty and self-determination. Hawaii Public Radio.

Gov. David Ige has appointed Edmund Hyun as the interim chair of the Hawaii Paroling Authority. Civil Beat.

Oahu

Federal prosecutors investigating a case involving possible public corruption by Police Chief Louis Kealoha and his wife, a deputy prosecutor, have sent out a target letter to at least one person, saying he is a possible suspect in the investigation. Star-Advertiser.

Honolulu’s newest police commissioner turned Wednesday’s Honolulu Police Commission meeting into a detailed inquiry about the department’s lax handling of police misconduct. Civil Beat.

Honolulu police Chief Louis Kealoha faced heated questioning Wednesday about allegations of police misconduct and several high-profile incidents in which officers found guilty of abuse of power were never punished. Hawaii News Now.

The Honolulu City Council delayed final approval of the Mana‘olana condominium-hotel tower Wednesday, sending the issue back to the Zoning and Planning Committee for further work. Star-Advertiser.

The Honolulu City Council voted Wednesday to push back decision-making on a luxury hotel and condominium project that’s planned for the corner of Kapiolani Boulevard and Atkinson Street in Ala Moana. Civil Beat.

Oahu residents looking to get rooftop solar energy systems soon won’t be able to send their excess energy into the grid. Hawaiian Electric Co. said Wednesday that Oahu has nearly reached the capacity that the state Public Utilities Commission put on solar systems that export energy to the power grid. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii

A decision on a rule that would regulate human-dolphin recreational activity off the Kona coast and throughout Hawaii isn’t likely to be made for at least a year. But heated public conversations on the topic, which will be held across the state, began Wednesday night on the Big Island. West Hawaii Today.

Riders using the county’s new Hele-On Kakoo paratransit system will pay a $4 fare each way, after an attempt Wednesday by Hilo Councilman Dennis “Fresh” Onishi to halve the amount was killed by a County Council majority. West Hawaii Today.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency said Wednesday that Mid Pac Petroleum LLC paid a settlement of $600,000 for federal Clean Air Act violations at the company’s Kawaihae facility on Hawaii island. Star-Advertiser.

A failure to install vapor pollution controls and obey pollution limits under the Clean Air Act will cost a a Hawaii-based petroleum company $632,000, according to an agreement with the Environmental Protection Agency announced Wednesday. West Hawaii Today.

Maui

The state director of the United Public Workers and Gov. David Ige on Tuesday quietly signed a supplemental contract agreement for the union's Maui County public hospital workers along the outlines of a pact forged during a legal fight borne of the state's efforts to privatize the facilities. Maui News.

The Hawaiʻi Department of Transportation, Airports Division is conducting a public information meeting for the Kahului Airport Master Plan Update from 6 to 8 p.m. on Thursday, Sept. 22, 2016 at the Kaunoa Senior Center, Room 101-102 in Spreckelsville. Maui Now.

A two-story commercial, retail and hotel building is being proposed for an empty lot on a corner of Kaunakakai's main street, which could provide lodging for visiting island residents, though some said they'd rather see it become housing for Molokai families. Maui News.

Manpower and mechanical problems have affected trash pickups in Lahaina, Haiku and Makawao and the hours of the Molokai Landfill this week, the county Solid Waste Division announced Tuesday. Maui News.

Kauai

The Kauai County Council unanimously passed a bill on first reading Wednesday that allows multiple family dwelling units in all residential zoning districts. Garden Island.

Several people in support of a petition that would preserve about 21,000 acres of agricultural land on the Westside testified in front the state Land Use Commission on Wednesday. Garden Island.

Adolescent center moves ahead. Council approves $5 million in CIP funds from Legislature. Garden Island.

Honolulu airport rated best, DLNR chief canned for probing waste and abuse, cool schools plan falls to hot construction market, cats killing endangered petrels on Kauai, EPA closes Army cesspools, Big Island gambling sweep, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Honolulu International Airport © 2016 All Hawaii News

Honolulu International Airport is the best airport in the nation for the summer travel season, according to a new study from NerdWallet. Pacific Business News.

The state’s ambitious goal of cooling 1,000 public school classrooms by the end of the year is facing a major setback: All construction bids have come in over budget, meaning completion of the project will likely be delayed until next year, members of the Board of Education were told Tuesday. Star-Advertiser.

Plans to cool off classrooms throughout Hawaii have been delayed, an assistant superintendent told state Board of Education members Tuesday. The department’s initiative to add air conditioning to 1,000 classrooms has been slowed by high costs resulting from increased construction demand and a shortage of skilled labor, said Dann Carlson, assistant superintendent for the Office of School Facilities and Support Services. Civil Beat.

Thomas “Tommy” Friel, chief of enforcement for the state Department of Land and Natural Resources, said he is resigning from his position after only six months on the job because he wasn’t getting the support from above to clean up “a culture of waste, fraud and corruption” in the department. Star-Advertiser.

Just six months on the job, the new Chief of Hawaii's DLNR enforcement division is suddenly forced out. After gushing praise for conservation officer Thomas Friel at his hiring, the state has quickly changed its tune. KITV4.

Enforcement Chief Leaves DLNR. Land Board Chair Suzanne Case thanked Thomas Friel for his brief tenure but offered no explanation for the abrupt departure. Civil Beat.

Legislation establishing an industrial hemp pilot program to allow its cultivation and distribution of its seed in Hawaii for research purposes unanimously passed the Legislature last month and awaits Gov. David Ige’s signature. Civil Beat.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has forced the Army to close 12 illegal cesspools on Oahu and the Big Island and ordered it to pay a $100,000 fine, the first time the EPA has imposed a civil penalty against a federal government facility for operating banned cesspools. Pacific Business News.

The Army has agreed to pay a $100,000 penalty for operating 12 large-capacity cesspools on Oahu and Hawaii island beyond a ban that went into effect on April 5, 2005, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced Tuesday. Star-Advertiser.

The U.S. Army has been fined by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and will have to close eight illegal large capacity cesspools on the Big Island. Big Island Video News.

Scientists working to prevent coral reef destruction have stumbled onto some good news. In one of the largest global studies reef studies, researchers discovered fifteen “Bright Spots” where reefs were doing better than expected. Hawaii Public Radio.

As our oceans become warmer and more acidic, scientists need to act to make sure their research spurs policies and action that can reverse environmental decline, Aulani Wilhelm told hundreds of scientists, policy makers, cultural practitioners and others Tuesday at the International Coral Reef Symposium. Civil Beat.

Oahu

The city plans to turn a four-story industrial building in Iwilei into the first all-in-one homeless project of its kind in the islands that will provide showers, laundry machines, two floors of permanent housing, and social services pertaining to mental illness and alcohol and drug abuse. Star-Advertiser.

Legal experts are weighing-in after the Honolulu Police Chief, Louis Kealoha, and his Deputy Prosecutor wife, Katherine, sued the city's Ethics Commission -- claiming they are victims of "vindictive" attacks that have damaged their professional and personal reputations. Hawaii News Now.

Honolulu’s police chief and his wife say a federal grand jury targeting them can be traced in part to what they call “vindictive and illegal investigations” by the Honolulu Ethics Commission, and they’re suing to set the record straight. KHON2.

The owners of a papaya farm on Oahu are seeking help from the community in catching the thieves who struck their Punaluu property, resulting in a loss of thousands of dollars. Associated Press.

A total of 75 luxury single-family homes and condominiums on Oahu were sold during May, a drop of 13.8 percent from the 87 homes that sold for $1 million or more in May 2015, according to a report by Coldwell Banker Pacific Properties. Pacific Business News.

Hawaii

With the addition of a few ramps and rails, a Bayfront parking lot could soon double as Hilo’s only skate park. Tribune-Herald.

They gave it their best shot. But at least one organizer of a proposed Puuanahulu shooting range, after biting the bullet trying to get it built for more than a decade, said Tuesday he’s about ready to cease fire. West Hawaii Today.

Several koa-oriented initiatives are ongoing on the Big Island, including breeding disease-resistant trees and helping private landowners develop best practices for managing their own acreage. Tribune-Herald.

Four Hilo men were arrested Thursday in connection with nine search warrants served March 1 on seven Big Island establishments and two homes police say harbored illegal gambling operations. Tribune-Herald.

Maui

As Maui's affordable housing crisis mounts, local property owners said they're willing to help - but that the county also needs to adjust some of its laws on housing. Maui News.

Undeterred by early-morning rain, about 30 farmers and residents from Hana to Waihee gathered at the Honomanu bridge Saturday to protest House Bill 2501. Maui News.

Maui Medical Group, one of the island's largest health care providers, is referring 100 pregnant patients to other island doctors because its obstetrics and gynecology department will be down to one part-time physician and one nurse practitioner on Aug. 1. Maui News.

Tenants and landlords are being pointed to resources designed to prevent disputes from escalating to eviction. Maui Now.

cat kills petrel, DLNR

Kauai

A cat was caught on camera picking off two Hawaiian Petrels last week, but researchers say the feral feline is actually responsible for recently killing six of the endangered birds. Garden Island.

Feral cats have been blamed for the recent deaths of endangered seabirds found only in the Hawaiian Islands. Associated Press.

North Shore residents and visitors will have another way to get around this summer. Kauai County received $160,000 from the Hawaii Tourism Authority to bring back the North Shore Shuttle program, said George Costa, Kauai County director of the Office of Economic Development. Garden Island.

U.S. Rep. Takai faces surgery for pancreatic cancer, Gov. Ige flies to Seoul and Tokyo, election officials want more money and easier voter registration, air conditioners for Oahu schools, Hawaii County passes ethics bill, Maui mulls county manager government, petrels protected on Kauai, dengue fever fears rise, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

U.S. Rep. Mark Takai on Facebook

U.S. Rep. Mark Takai’s doctors have confirmed he has pancreatic cancer, and the congressman will undergo surgery at the National Institutes of Health in Bethesda, Md., next week to remove a tumor in his pancreas. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii Congressman Mark Takai revealed Tuesday that a tumor in his pancreas is malignant. Civil Beat.

U.S. Rep. Mark Takai says he will have surgery to remove a small cancerous tumor in his pancreas next week. Associated Press.

Gov. David Ige will be traveling to Seoul and Tokyo through Nov. 12. Star-Advertiser.

Gov. David Ige will be traveling to Seoul, South Korea and Tokyo, Japan from Nov. 3 through Nov. 12. Garden Island.

County and state election officials advocated for major voting reforms — including all-mail elections and automatic voter registration — during a joint legislative briefing Tuesday at the state Capitol that included members of the Senate Judiciary and Labor and House Judiciary committees. Star-Advertiser.

If you’re evicted from state-run public housing for any reason in Hawaii, you can’t go back — ever. But now the Hawaii Public Housing Authority, which manages over 6,000 units statewide, is looking to change the rule in light of the state’s homelessness crisis. Civil Beat.

Getting a view into Hawai‘i’s current state of health may be a little easier thanks to a new website from the State Department of Health. The Hawaii Health Data Warehouse is a collection of information gathered from surveys conducted year round. Hawaii Public Radio.

Oahu

Travelers in air-travel-dependent Hawaii can now apply for faster, easier security checks at a new kiosk at Honolulu Airport. The Transportation Security Administration opened the new application site for its PreCheck expedited security program last week at the airport’s Interisland Terminal. Star-Advertiser.

Even as Wahiawa’s homeless count appears to have doubled over the past 11 months, state Rep. Marcus Oshiro maintains that efforts underway could serve as a template for other rural communities struggling to address island homelessness. Star-Advertiser.

The Board of Water Supply of the City and County of Honolulu has withdrawn as an intervenor taking part in the regulatory review of NextEra Energy Inc.’s proposed $4.3 billion acquisition of Hawaiian Electric Co., according to public documents. Pacific Business News.

A mysterious closed-door meeting of the Honolulu Ethics Commission was cancelled Tuesday just hours before it was scheduled to begin. Last week, the Ethics Commission announced it would hold a special session Tuesday night to talk with the agency’s attorney about “personnel and management matters.” No other details were given. Civil Beat.

The state Department of Education has received a final shipment of 100 portable air conditioners that officials say will go into five West Oahu schools as part of an ongoing effort to cool more classrooms. Star-Advertiser.

When a patient aboard a city ambulance allegedly attacked two medics outside Queen's Medical Center a week and a half ago, one of them had to begin an anti-AIDS cocktail. Hawaii News Now.

The group that filed a complaint with the state, claiming labor violations at Ala Moana Center’s Ewa Wing expansion, is raising more concerns. KHON2.

Former University of Hawaii football coach Norm Chow, who was in the fourth year of a five-year contract when he was fired over the weekend, will receive nearly $340,000 for his termination, the university confirmed Monday. Pacific Business News.

On Sept. 25, the state Board of Land and Natural Resources approved a one-year special use permit to Mark Hixon, a professor of marine biology at the University of Hawaii, for the deployment and study of artificial reef modules in the Hanauma Bay Marine Life Conservation District and Waikiki. Civil Beat.

Hawaii

As Hawaii health officials wrestle to contain a dengue fever outbreak on the Big Island, a review of how the state handled a 2001 outbreak on Maui reveals some of the challenges in store. Tribune-Herald.

Kona Community Hospital says it is being “overwhelmed” by phone calls from Big Islanders concerned about dengue fever. West Hawaii Today.

Without the support of the public, state health officials fear the current outbreak of dengue fever on the Big Island could be here to stay. On Tuesday, the state Department of Health confirmed the mosquito-borne virus so far has infected 11 people, with many possible cases remaining to be verified. Tribune-Herald.

An ethics bill now on its way to Mayor Billy Kenoi lost many of its stricter provisions during an arduous trip through the County Council, but sponsor Kohala Councilwoman Margaret Wille says it’s still tough enough to do the job. West Hawaii Today.

Before the candidates for ‘aha delegate spoke at the Moku O Keawe Alliance forum in Panaewa on Sunday, Council for Native Hawaiian Advancement President and CEO Michelle Kauhane gave an overview of Kana’iolowalu and the Na’i Aupuni process. Kauhane, herself an Oahu candidate for delegate, also explained the federal rules for a government-to-government relationship, as proposed by the Department Of The Interior.Big Island Video News.

Should Kona International Airport host Hawaii’s first commercial space flights? That’s a question that could be brought before Big Island residents close to the new year following the completion of a draft environmental assessment for a proposed spaceport certification. Tribune-Herald.

More than a year after Department of Land and Natural Resources officials said work was set to start on the north side of Honokohau Harbor, the improvements have not begun. West Hawaii Today.

The County Council’s unanimous approval Tuesday of no-parking zones around Manini Beach marks the beginning of a strategy that supporters hope will bring state assistance with parking for the beach and Kealakekua Bay area. West Hawaii Today.

Maui

Testifiers encouraged Maui County Council members Monday to study the possibility of having a county manager form of government, as initially put forward in a resolution by Council Chairman Mike White. Maui News.

The County Committee on Public and Intergovernmental Affairs will reconvene on Wednesday, Nov. 4, at 1:30 p.m. in the Council Chamber to further discuss a county manager form of government instead of one run by a mayor. Maui Now.

The burn of a 75-acre sugar cane field 3 miles southeast of Kahului brought smoke and haze to Central Maui Tuesday morning, but Hawaiian Commercial & Sugar Co. received only two direct complaints, said General Manager Rick Volner. Maui News.

An association for a 19th-century Maui cemetery where several influential Hawaii figures are buried is suing federal and state agencies over a planned expansion project at a neighboring veterans' cemetery. Maui News.

Na Hale O Maui, which had been placing families in affordable homes through rehabilitating foreclosed homes, has returned to its original business model and has begun building its first home, John Andersen, executive director of the nonprofit group said Friday. Maui News.

Kauai

A 67-foot military-funded rocket that blasted off a rail launcher at the Pacific Missile Range Facility on Kauai at sunset Tuesday in Hawaii’s first satellite launch failed shortly after takeoff. Star-Advertiser.

What sounded like a successful liftoff soon turned into a realization that something went wrong. Shortly after liftoff at 5:45 p.m. Tuesday from Barking Sands, Kauai, ORS-4 – the rocket carrying a satellite – malfunctioned. It was designed and built by University of Hawaii faculty and students. KITV4.

A historic project more than 30 years in the making took place on Kauai’s North Shore on Monday when 10 downy endangered Hawaiian Petrel chicks were flown by helicopter to a new colony protected by a predator-proof fence at Kilauea Point National Wildlife Refuge. Garden Island.

Endangered Hawaiian petrels now have a predator-proof place to live on Kauai. Civil Beat.

A Kauai elementary school was scrambling for substitute teachers Tuesday, a day the school's principal made controversial comments about their performance. Six of the 27 teachers at Kekaha Elementary School called in sick, according to the Department of Education. Hawaii News Now.

The halls of Kekaha Elementary School were missing a key fixture Tuesday — teachers. Garden Island.