House committees punt housing density plans back to counties, lawmakers mull tax breaks, last USS Arizona survivor dies at 102, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Housing density bill curtailed. A proposal to increase housing density statewide was substantially cut Monday after lawmakers chose to leave the matter to the counties. The measure attracted lengthy testimony, both positive and negative, during a Monday joint meeting of the House committees on Housing, Water and Land, and Judiciary and Hawaiian Affairs. Tribune-Herald.

As deadline looms, lawmakers evaluating best use of limited money for tax breaks. Lobbying for tax breaks is in high gear at the state Capitol. That’s because Gov. Josh Green last week said costs for Maui’s recovery are lower than expected, making limited tax relief possible.  Hawaii News Now.

State Senate wants to establish renewable fuel working group to study local production. State senators are asking stakeholders from across the energy industry to convene a working group to figure out the best way to ramp up local production of renewable fuels.  Hawaii Public Radio.

HECO rolls out program for customers to streamline rooftop solar energy programs. “Smart Renewable Energy” represents the next step in Hawaiian Electric’s push to bring more customer-sited renewable energy resources onto the grid as Hawai‘i strives to achieve its clean energy goals. Maui Now.

Hawaii Senate bill seeks to toughen penalties for speeding in school zones. A bill is moving through the legislature that will allow harsher fees and penalties for those who speed in a school zone. KITV4.

Lou Conter, last survivor of the USS Arizona, dies at 102. Lou Conter, the last survivor of the USS Arizona, died Monday morning at his home in Grass Valley, Calif., at the age of 102. Star-Advertiser. Associated Press.Hawaii News Now.

OHA selects Hailama Farden as Senior Director of Hawaiian Cultural Affairs. The newly created position will be responsible for creating recommendations and institutionalizing OHA’s culture ensuring that a Hawaiian worldview and practices are incorporated into all lines of business. Maui Now.

Sanctuary Ocean Count, Great Whale Count conclude for 2024 humpback whale season. Data collected during the Sanctuary Ocean Count and Great Whale Count combined with other research efforts can help reveal trends in humpback whale occurrence within and amongst whale seasons. Big Island Now.

Oahu

Navy Whistleblower Pursued Fraud Case Against Red Hill Contractors, Unsealed Documents Show. Newly unsealed court documents show that federal authorities spent the past two years investigating but ultimately declined to pursue a Navy whistleblower’s claim that private contractors helped cause the dire fuel leaks at the military’s Red Hill fuel storage facility by fraudulently cutting corners on their work there. Star-Advertiser.

High Fives And Hugs: Witness Describes Friendly Relationship Between Mike Miske And HPD Officers. A government witness in the trial of accused crime boss Miske told jurors he asked HPD for help after Miske threatened him. Instead, officers at Miske's business told him to get lost, he says. Civil Beat.

Court records: GPS data to be presented at trial will show officers drove past crash scene after pursuit. Court records show the city Prosecutor’s Office plans to employe location tracking technology in the trial against four HPD officers charged in connection with a 2021 chase and crash that seriously injured six people. Hawaii News Now.

Honolulu police officer shortage imperils public safety, union says. The State of Hawaii Organization of Police Officers is urging the Honolulu Police Department and county leadership to address a shortage of 437 officers that leaves areas of Oahu with “limited to no coverage” several days a week. Star-Advertiser.

Public Comment Requested For Oahu’s Near-Term Infrastructure Projects. The Oahu Metropolitan Planning Organization announced Monday that it is seeking public comment to determine which local infrastructure projects get federal funding over the next three years.  Civil Beat.

Hawaii Island

A new name for Hawaii Island? A state board considering it. The Board on Geographic Names is considering it — and could take a key vote this week. Hawaii News Now.

Hu Honua Pushes PUC To Take Action On Hawaiʻi Island Power Crisis. Hu Honua takes aim at Hawaiian Electric's "monopolization of the firm power generation market on the Big Island", and wants the Public Utilities Commission to help bring the bioenergy facility online. Big Island Video News. KITV4.

Planning Commission to mull housing-related bills. A trio of Hawaii County Council bills that would change how transient accommodations and ‘ohana housing units are regulated will go before the Windward Planning Commission on Thursday. Tribune-Herald.

EPA addresses pollution violations involving wastewater treatment plants on Hawaiʻi Island. The US Environmental Protection Agency entered into an Administrative Order on Consent with the County of Hawai’i to ensure pollution discharge requirements are met at the Hilo, Pāpa‘ikou, and Kula‘imano Wastewater Treatment Plants in accordance with the Clean Water Act. Maui Now.

Hawaii Island has most traffic fatalities in state. This time last year Hawaii island was at five traffic deaths, as of April 1, 2024, they’re at 14. KHON2.

Hualālai Deepwell Goes Offline, Kona Water Restriction Notice In Place. North Kona customers that a mandatory 25 percent Water Restriction Notice with two deepwells offline. Big Island Video News. Big Island Now.

Waikoloa Road Rehabilitation project ongoing. Work continues on the Waikoloa Road Rehabilitation, which extends from Mamalahoa Highway to Queen Ka‘ahumanu Highway. Tribune-Herald.

Maui

Hawaii Governor Will Take ‘Unilateral Action’ To Restore Historic Wetland In Lahaina. With legislative efforts dead this session, Native Hawaiian leaders remain encouraged by what they're hearing from elected officials and seeing on the ground. Civil Beat.

Maui Council Wrestles With ‘Tough Questions’ As It Begins Reviewing $1.7B County Budget. The county needs to ensure it is spending its own money wisely while asking for hundreds of millions of dollars in outside funding to rebuild Lahaina. Civil Beat.

State acquires former hotel to house Maui fire survivors. Between 350 and 450 Maui wildfire survivors in early May should begin moving into a former hotel in Kihei now owned by the state. Star-Advertiser.

Wai Now: Public forum sparks debate on Upcountry water well development. Members of the Upcountry community gathered to discuss a possible public-private partnership aimed at incrementally building one to four water wells in Kula, Maui. Maui Now.

Kauai

Hanalei National Wildlife Refuge sets opening date for long-awaited viewpoint. The Hanalei refuge is the oldest of Kauaʻi’s three national wildlife refuges.  Hawaii Public Radio.

Hawaii tax rebates could hit bank accounts this year, GOP announces candidates, Army may close road in Fort DeRussy redevelopment, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Photo by 金 运 on Unsplash

Hawaii tax rebates to be expedited if enacted July 1. State government administrators are opting to diverge from a historical practice of delivering special legislative tax rebates through a following year’s tax return, and instead are preparing to issue direct bank deposits and checks in the next few months if Senate Bill 514 clears a legal and technical review by Gov. David Ige’s administration. Star-Advertiser.

Lower Electric Bills Or More Jobs? Hawaii Grapples With A Green Economy. Lawmakers did an abrupt — and secretive — about-face as the session ended when they revamped a bill putting limits on some renewable energy sources. Civil Beat.

Lawmakers award Hawaii nonprofits nearly $50M. Hawaii’s 2022 Legislature may long be mainly remembered for appropriating hundreds of millions of dollars for high-profile needs, but many smaller worthy causes also received extraordinary funding this year. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii Police Standards Board Finally Gets Some Money From Lawmakers. Hawaii is the last state in the country to set up minimum qualifications for its law enforcement officers. Civil Beat.

Junked Vehicles: How One Hawaii Lawmaker Turned A Good Idea Into Reality. A freshman legislator saw four of his bills addressing abandoned vehicles pass the 2022 Hawaii Legislature. Here’s how he did it. Civil Beat.

Final pick for permanent Hawaii public schools superintendent expected Thursday. The job is huge, and there is much at stake. As the nation’s only statewide school district, Hawaii’s is widely considered the 10th largest in the nation, with 171,000 students and 42,600 employees in 257 regular public schools and 37 charter schools, and an annual operating budget of more than $2 billion. The salary is up to $250,000 per year, less than many comparable mainland positions. Star-Advertiser.

Report Cites Mistreatment Of Students At Native Hawaiian Boarding Schools. Hawaiians fared somewhat better than students at Indian boarding schools on the mainland, a new federal investigation shows. Civil Beat. Star-Advertiser.

GOP introduces candidates for 2022 election season at state convention. Although Hawaii is a heavily democratic state, there are well-known candidates willing to take the risk of running for governor. Hawaii News Now.

A Major Solar Farm Developer Is Pulling Out Of Maui And Oahu Projects. Inflation and supply chain disruptions have made the utility-scale solar projects too costly, but the developer is hopeful it’s only a delay. Civil Beat.

DLNR to hold additional meetings on use of lay nets. The new rules proposed in December limited the use of lay nets, requiring a $25 permit for the use and possession of them, and mandated that the nets be attended at all times. Tribune-Herald.

Oahu

Closure of Kalia Road proposed for redevelopment of Fort DeRussy in Waikiki. The Army has proposed a long-range plan to close a broad swath of Kalia Road in Waikiki as part of the redevelopment of the Fort DeRussy Complex, igniting concerns that it will cause gridlock and significantly increase bus commute times for workers in the state’s busiest tourism district. Star-Advertiser.

Former city prosecutor’s top assistants return to testify in public corruption probe. Federal prosecutors appear to be re-focusing their efforts to charge Honolulu’s former city Prosecutor Keith Kaneshiro as part of a sprawling public corruption probe. Hawaii News Now.

State shows ‘disturbing’ fuel contamination plume maps from Red Hill spills. Six months after the Navy’s tainted water crisis went public, the state has released new maps showing the underground movement of the contamination. Hawaii News Now.

Attorneys for alleged Hawaii crime boss ask judge to compel evidence disclosure. Attorneys for Michael Miske have accused federal prosecutors of ignoring the rules of discovery and not producing evidence — including text messages that show the parents of the man allegedly murdered at the order of the accused crime boss believed their son’s pregnant girlfriend and her father were responsible for his disappearance. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii Island

The public’s turn: Council seeks input on budget increase, tax rollback. Property values are up dramatically, there’s a record high $779.7 million budget in the works and the County Council, for the first time in decades, is considering lowering the tax rates. West Hawaii Today.

Palila habitat fence slated for expansion. Another five miles of fencing around a portion of Maunakea is slated for construction this year, which will almost, but not quite, enclose the upper slopes of the mountain after more than 10 years. Tribune-Herald.

Maui

New property tax rates approved with cuts for some homeowners. Saddled by deadlines, the Maui County Council on Friday approved property tax rates for the next fiscal year, even as several members expressed a need for a more thorough review of property tax rates and policy. Maui News.

Panel sets higher pay for first agriculture director. After initially setting lower amounts, the Maui County Salary Commission voted Friday to increase annual salaries for the director and deputy director of the new county Department of Agriculture to $114,000 and $102,600, respectively. Maui News.

Kauai

Kaua‘i county council shuts down vacation rental tax. By a 4-3 vote, the County Council voted down a measure Friday that would have increased the tax rate on vacation rental units and used the funding for affordable housing. Garden Island.

Masks Recommended Indoors On Kauai Due To ‘High’ Covid Risk, CDC Says. Masks are recommended in indoor public spaces and on public transportation on Kauai as the number of positive Covid-19 cases per 100,000 people on the island exceeds 540 people. Civil Beat. Garden Island.

$1.9B radar dropped from budget, Hawaii woman on cruise ship contracts coronavirus, Blangiardi running for Honolulu mayor, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Wind turbines in Hawaii ©2020 All Hawaii News

Renewable energy rises 28% in 2019, Hawaiian Electric says. Hawaiian Electric said its use of renewable energy in 2019 increased over 2018 despite the unavailability of geothermal on the Big Island, and significantly lower wind energy production. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaiian Electric Puts Activist Fund Manager On Board. The once-critical investor changed his tone on Wednesday. Civil Beat.

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Budget drops $1.9B radar. Funding for the $1.9 billion Homeland Defense Radar- Hawaii and a more than $1 billion Pacific radar that was expected to be located in Japan has been zeroed out in the Missile Defense Agency’s fiscal 2021 budget request — raising the possibility that neither radar will be built. Star-Advertiser.

Opponents claim victory as the Missile Defense Agency pulls the plug on a controversial radar project. Opponents were worried the project would harm cultural and environmental sites. Lockheed Martin already had a contract to build the facility, but the latest Defense budget request includes no funding to continue. Hawaii News Now.

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Bill Would Let Hawaii Residents Buy Medicine From Canada. If it passes, Hawaii would be the fifth state allowing importation of drugs from north of the border. Civil Beat.

Bill would eliminate special inspections for lowriders, lifted vehicles. Many car enthusiasts hope that a proposal to get rid of a special inspection for reconstructed vehicles gets the green light from state lawmakers. Hawaii News Now.

Neighbor Island Clinics Worry About Fewer Medicaid Options. A state Med-QUEST plan to simplify its insurance playing field by offering two health plans to Medicaid patients on neighbor islands is receiving pushback. Civil Beat.

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Hawaii woman on quarantined cruise ship off Japan confirmed to have coronavirus. A Hawaii resident who was on board a quarantined cruise ship off Japan has contracted the coronavirus, her family says. Hawaii News Now.

Quarantined Ewa Beach couple tries to stay positive aboard cruise ship. Halfway through a two-week quarantine on a cruise ship docked in Japan, an Ewa Beach couple is trying to stay patient as the number of people aboard the ship who have tested positive for the new coronavirus continues to grow. Star-Advertiser.

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EPA Regional Official Who Covered Hawaii Says His Firing Followed Praise From Pelosi. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency official who oversaw Hawaii and portions of the Western states was abruptly forced to resign last week – and is publically questioning why he was terminated. Hawaii Public Radio.

Oahu

Surrounded by various downtown notables, Rick Blangiardi formally announced his candidacy for Honolulu mayor Wednesday. The newly retired HNN television general manager joins a field that includes Honolulu businessman Keith Amemiya, former state Sen. John Carroll, former U.S. Rep. Colleen Hanabusa, activist and Realtor Choon James and City Councilwoman Kym Pine. Star-Advertiser.

Rick Blangiardi Announces Run For Honolulu Mayor. The longtime media executive will face some well-funded opponents. Civil Beat.

Former HNN General Manager Rick Blangiardi announces run for mayor.  Rick Blangiardi, the former general manager at Hawaii News Now, announced his candidacy for Honolulu mayor Wednesday. Hawaii News Now.

Blangiardi Announces Bid For Honolulu Mayor. Former Hawaii News Now General Manager Rick Blangiardi officially announced his candidacy for Mayor of the City and County of Honolulu Wednesday. Maui Now.

Former t.v. general manager throws his name into the race for mayor. On Wednesday, former t.v. general manager, Rick Blangiardi, officially announced his run for Mayor of Honolulu. KITV4.

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Military Housing Offered To Teachers In Effort To Address Retention, High Cost of Living. Any DOE teacher can apply to live in the military housing, which is located at Schofield Barracks. Hawaii Public Radio.

Will There Be A New Oahu Jail? The Legislature Has Varying Answers. The Oahu Community Correctional Center continues to present a dilemma for lawmakers. Civil Beat.

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Topgolf could still be coming to Oahu, but it’ll take a few years. The city is moving forward with a $50 million redevelopment of the Ala Wai Driving Range — and it includes the construction of a popular attraction. Hawaii News Now.

Top Golf design may change. Top Golf is heading to Honolulu, but it may look different from how it was originally envisioned. The City and County of Honolulu said Top Golf is making adjustments based on community input. KHON2.

Topgolf still on the table to take over Ala Wai Golf Course. Nearly two years after the City's initial announcement, Topgolf still has plans to come to Hawaii. KITV4.

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Senate Bill Complicates UH Plans for Student Entrepreneurs Center. The bill aims to put a senior citizens center at the same site of a planned student “live, learn and work” hub at the former Atherton YMCA. Hawaii Business.

Honolulu Is A Top Potential Market For E-Scooters — But They’re Still A Year Away. E-scooter rentals have been controversial, but if the rollout is done right they could help soften Honolulu’s traffic woes. Civil Beat.

Rally held for unwed Catholic school director asked to leave because she’s pregnant. About a dozen people held signs outside Maryknoll School on Wednesday for a former school director asked to step down because she’s pregnant and not married. Hawaii News Now.

Hawaii Island

Legislature mulls handing off SHPD responsibilities to counties. Delays in getting archaeological plan reviews from the State Historic Preservation Division have added years to the construction of Hawaii County projects, but county planning officials are skeptical a bill currently making its way through the Legislature is the answer. West Hawaii Today.

Legislation tackles fire ant abatement. Two bills introduced by Big Island legislators would require the state Department of Agriculture to identify best practices for treatment of the invasive pests. Tribune-Herald.

Schatz, Legislature seek help to combat spittlebug. A U.S. senator has requested federal assistance to manage an invasive insect that has devastated thousands of acres of pasture land on the Big Island. Tribune-Herald.

Maui

Mayor touts projects to come. Victorino delivers State of the County address at new Kihei gym. Maui News.

Potential Maui Council Candidates Begin Pulling Nomination Papers. West Maui’s Councilmember Tamara Paltin, filed nomination papers to run for her second two year term on the Maui County Council.  Maui Now.

Cousteau’s underwater classroom: Imparting lessons from under the sea. Jean-Michel Cousteau to speak on Maui this weekend in Kapalua. Maui News.

Kauai

Kauai councilman, out on bail, involved in car crash that injured 6-year-old boy. Councilman Arthur Brun already faces two felony charges after getting arrested in October. The latest incident could lead to more legal trouble. Councilman Arthur Brun already faces two felony charges after getting arrested in October. The latest incident could lead to more legal trouble.  KHON2.

Councilmember Arthur Brun involved in Feb. 7 traffic collision. Kaua‘i Police have confirmed Kaua‘i Councilmember Arthur Brun was the driver of a Hyundai involved in a Feb. 7 collision on Kapa‘a Bypass Road in the vicinity of mile marker 5. Garden Island.

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KPD removes derelict vehicles, installs boulders. On Tuesday around 7 a.m., KPD officers helped community members vacate the area beside the Wailua Bridge, where people had been driving and illegally parking their vehicles for more than a year. Garden Island.

The Office of the Mayor will hold a community open house focused on the Wainiha Community Resilience Center on Wednesday, Feb. 26, from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m., at the Hanalei Neighborhood Center at the old courthouse. Garden Island.

Lanai

Approvals sought for Lanai observatory. Pulama Lana‘i seeks to build facility for resort guests and locals. Pulama Lana’i wants to construct and operate a 25-foot tall observatory for stargazing at its Four Seasons Resort Lanai and is seeking approval from the Lanai Planning Commission. Maui News.

Thousands dropped from state Medicaid rolls, AG won't prosecute sheriff who killed homeless man at Capitol, Menor ponders mayoral bid, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Coral reef off the Big Island ©2019 All Hawaii News

Pacific heat wave threatens Hawaii’s iconic coral reefs. At the edge of an ancient lava flow where jagged black rocks meet the Pacific, small off-the-grid homes overlook the calm blue waters of Papa Bay on Hawaii’s Big Island — no tourists or hotels in sight. Here, one of the islands’ most abundant and vibrant coral reefs thrives just below the surface. Associated Press.

Record heat: People swelter, reefs suffer. A major marine heat wave is responsible for a triple-digit number of record high heat days in Hawaii this summer, according to the National Weather Service. Tribune-Herald.

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Thousands Dropped From Hawaii’s Medicaid Coverage After Data Review. Real-time data collection and a better economy could be behind a significant drop in Medicaid health insurance enrollment, but some health workers are concerned. Civil Beat.

Why No One Knows How Many Green Energy Jobs Exist In Hawaii. Hawaii’s shift to renewable energy was meant to trigger an explosion of new jobs, but officials aren’t closely tracking employment in the sector. Civil Beat.

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How much should teachers in Hawaii get paid? And how much is enough to keep them around? Hawaii's Department of Education hosted its first listening sessions Monday night: one at 4pm and then at 6pm. KITV.

WalletHub: Hawaii Teacher Salary Goes Least Furthest In US. The state has the lowest teacher salary when adjusted for cost of living, according to the personal finance website. Civil Beat.

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Attorney General won’t prosecute sheriff behind deadly state Capitol shooting. The Attorney General’s office has decided not to criminally prosecute a state sheriff who shot and killed a man at the state Capitol. Hawaii News Now.

AG Won’t Press Charges Against Deputy Sheriff In Capitol Shooting. The state Attorney General’s office found insufficient evidence to press charges over the February shooting of a homeless man. Civil Beat.

State Attorney General calls for background checks on ammunition purchases. Hawaii Attorney General Clare Connors joined 20 other Attorneys General Monday urging Congress to support a gun control measure. Hawaii News Now.

Increased use of air conditioning drives up demand for electricity, resulting in higher bills. Hawaiian Electric, which provides electricity to Oahu, Maui County and Hawaii island, said Monday that the uptick in demand, in turn, has been showing up in the form of higher bills, even for those who have private rooftop solar systems. Star-Advertiser.

Oahu

State, tourism agencies fund effort to reduce chronic Waikiki homelessness. The Institute for Human Services has kicked off a program to reduce the chronically homeless population in Waikiki, the epicenter of the state’s tourism economy. Star-Advertiser.

Ron Menor Raising Cash For Possible Mayoral Bid. The Honolulu City Council member calls the fundraiser exploratory. Civil Beat.

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Caldwell Defends the State of Honolulu's Finances In Face of Rail Costs. Honolulu Mayor Kirk Caldwell sought to reassure the public on Monday that the city has enough money to cover the operational costs of the controversial rail project. Hawaii Public Radio.

FTA Won’t Confirm ‘High Praise’ For HART. The Honolulu rail agency says its federal partners are “extremely impressed” with how the project’s going, but the feds will only point to key steps that still need to happen. Civil Beat.

High-ranking DLNR officer stripped of police powers after crash reveals misconduct. A high-ranking Department of Land and Natural Resources officer has been relieved of his police duties pending an investigation into a recent crash involving his state patrol car. Hawaii News Now.

Mysteries Surround Pay For Top Staffers At Prominent Honolulu Rehab. Why did Sand Island Treatment Center report much higher salaries in its tax returns than in bids for state contracts? The rehab won’t say. Civil Beat.

Anticipated renewal of construction prompts rally in Waimanalo. Opponents of stalled plans to build new park facilities in Waimanalo rallied Monday morning at Sherwood Forest in anticipation that construction at the site soon would resume. Star-Advertiser.

Waimanalo Sports Field Protest Flares Again. Inspired by the Mauna Kea protests, residents opposed to the beach park project say they plan to block construction equipment. Civil Beat.

Hawaii Island

Council approves funds for Waiakea Stream flood channel repairs. The Hawaii County Council approved $1 million in funding toward a project to repair damage to the Waiakea Stream flood channel caused by Hurricane Lane last year. Tribune-Herald.

An update on the Thirty Meter Telescope project was recently posted to the Canadian Astronomical Society website, providing a glimpse of how Canadian astronomers involved in the observatory view the ongoing standoff on Mauna Kea. The CATAC chair says "there is effectively an indefinite moratorium on construction" and that the "only path to TMT construction in Hawai’i is through negotiation". Big Island Video News.

Puakea Ranch draft EA finds no impact. A Hawi property that has been the subject of more than $100,000 worth of fines and a lawsuit by Hawaii County has applied for a special permit from the county to host events such as weddings and to increase vacation rental occupancy. West Hawaii Today.

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Hilo veterans home hit by scabies outbreak. Visitors to the Yukio Okutsu State Veterans Home in Hilo are being limited as the facility works to address an outbreak of scabies. Tribune-Herald.

A scabies outbreak has been reported at a veterans home on Hawaii Island. Now the Hilo facility is taking action to prevent it from spreading. Hawaii News Now.

Yukio Okutsu State Veterans Home in Hilo experiences scabies outbreak. According to Avalon Healthcare which manages Yukio Okutsu State Veterans Home, the home has experienced an outbreak of scabies and is currently working to 'mitigate' the outbreak. KITV.

Maui

Waikapu Country Town gets long-awaited approval. Now, developer says, the real work begins. In 2004, when he first bought 2,000 acres in Waikapu that included the Maui Tropical Plantation, affordable housing developer Mike Atherton envisioned an entire community of homes and services that would bring back the Waikapu town of old. Maui News.

EMI Submits Draft EIS for 30-Year Water Lease to Mahi Pono. The DEIS is for a long-term, 30-year, water lease which would allow a continued supply of water through the EMI system to Mahi Pono’s farm lands in Central Maui and other water users served by EMI including approximately 35,000 upcountry Maui residents served by the Maui County water system. Maui Now.

Kauai

Hale Opio plans to focus on mindfulness programs, continue outreach. Since 1975, Hale Opio has helped more than 10,000 island youth and families. Garden Island.

Kauai makes CNN's list of Top 10 most beautiful islands. Spin the globe, pick a spot and odds are good you'll alight on the color blue: 71% of the Earth's surface is covered with water. KITV.

Navy issues EIS for sonar testing, training; Ige reappoints three department heads; Pearl Harbor stays open amid federal shutdown; more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Humpback whale feeding, breeding zones. NOAA

The U.S. Navy is moving forward with training and testing in Hawaii-Southern California waters after re-evaluating potential environmental impacts of their activities. “These military readiness activities include the use of active sonar and explosives at sea off the coasts of Hawaii and Southern California,” according to the final EIS. Garden Island.

Read the Navy's Hawaii-Southern California Training and Testing Environmental Impact Statement/Overseas Environmental Impact Statement here.

Winter on Maui means it’s time for humpback whales. More than half of the North Pacific humpback whale population, estimated at over 20,000 strong, visit the waters of Maui Nui each year. Hawaii Magazine.

The year 2018 has been a record one for Hawaiian monk seal pups born in the main Hawaiian isles, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Star-Advertiser.

Gov. David Ige has reappointed leaders at three state departments, his office announced today, including the Department of Transportation, Department of Human Resources Development and Department of Taxation. Star-Advertiser.

Tatum takes over at HTA amid tourism challenges. Created by the Legislature in 1998, the tourism authority believes it’s found a power hitter in Chris Tatum. Star-Advertiser.

Court Cases Open Window Into Marshallese Adoptions. A lawsuit by a Kentucky couple alleges that an Arkansas attorney offered to fly a Marshallese birth mother to the U.S. despite a treaty that bars such travel. Civil Beat.

Japanese-Americans are more likely to accumulate fat in their liver and abdomen compared to other ethnicities. That's according to the latest research from the University of Hawaii's Cancer Center. Hawaii Public Radio.


YEAR IN REVIEW: The repercussions of Hawaii’s false missile alert are still being felt. Hawaii News Now.


YEAR IN REVIEW: Remembering this year’s record breaking hurricane season. Hawaii’s 2018 hurricane season was among the most destructive in years. Hawaii News Now.

Hawaii taxpayers claim close to $86M in renewable energy tax credits in 2016. The state of Hawaii dished out $85.8 million in renewable energy tax credits in 2016, down from $98.6 million during the previous year. Pacific Business News.

Oahu

As government shutdown drags on, nonprofits scramble to keep Pearl Harbor monument open. Despite the partial government shutdown, the World War II Valor in the Pacific National Monument is still open — thanks to the generosity of several nonprofits. Hawaii News Now.


Since the government's partial shutdown several Hawaii national parks have seen a shake-up in services. But places like the World War II Valor in the Pacific National Monument, - a historic site that drew in just under 2-million visitors last year - according to park stats isn't one that's closing quietly. KITV.

Not Everyone’s Thrilled To Have A Film Crew In The Neighborhood. “Magnum P.I.” is generating complaints from businesses and residents about the way it commandeers streets and parking places. Civil Beat.

Fraud alleged in local trash company bankruptcy. A commercial refuse hauler that stiffed the city on $3 million in garbage disposal fees may not have actually dumped that debt obligation through bankruptcy two years ago. Star-Advertiser.


The trains may one day run on time, but the construction of the track certainly hasn't. At $8.3 billion, not including finance charges, the Honolulu rail project is the largest public works project in Hawaii history and, according to a policy analyst at the conservative think tank Cato Institute, "the most expensive per capita of any publicly funded rail project in the modern age." U.S. News & World Report.


Twelve parcels of land for sale, including the Willows, could change Moiliili neighborhood. KHON2.


Back in business: Ala Wai Community and Neighborhood parks re-open. Since October, the parks have been closed for crews to revamp the public areas. KITV.


With students out of school for winter break, families hoping to check out certain libraries are out of luck. Three Oahu branches are temporarily closed because of emergency work or other issues. Hawaii News Now.

State orders brothers to fix decrepit Kakaako roads or stop charging for parking. A state agency is ordering two brothers to either fix up the streets they claim they own in Kakaako or stop charging parking fees. Hawaii News Now.


A former U.S. Housing and Urban Development employee accused of collecting Section 8 rental assistance on properties she and her husband managed and controlled pleaded not guilty in U.S. District Court Wednesday to five counts of wire fraud. Star-Advertiser.


The new year means changes for some fishermen. Starting January 1, 2019, the Waikiki-Diamond Head shoreline will be off-limits for fishing. The ban will last for all of 2019. KHON2.


Firecracker permit sales drop in Honolulu for New Year’s. Firecracker permit sales are down this year with 3,000 fewer sold compared to last year, the Honolulu Fire Department reported. Star-Advertiser.


A couple of Nevada residents are suing to evict the people living in Duane “Dog” Chapman’s Portlock home because Chapman and his wife have allegedly defaulted on their house payments. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii Island

Mayor Harry Kim thanked Puna Geothermal Venture executives for a six-figure donation, a short time before the company was granted permission to cut an access road over the inactive lava channel that isolated the company’s power plant during the summer eruption of Kilauea Volcano. Big Island Video News.


Ookala residents frustrated by latest dairy discharge. On Monday, Big Island Dairy, which is set to cease operations next year, discharged nearly 600,000 gallons of wastewater into Kaohaoha Gulch. Tribune-Herald.


Report examines benefits, feasibility of basalt facility. A new study commissioned by the Pacific International Space Center for Exploration Systems suggests the island could make a name for itself in this small but growing industry. Tribune-Herald.

Alii Drive culvert replacement project delayed. A county project to replace a deteriorating culvert on Alii Drive will get started a little later than previously estimated. West Hawaii Today.


Making Food More Affordable For The Hungry. Nearly 13 percent of Hawaii Island residents are “food insecure,” according to the USDA — well above the statewide average. Civil Beat.

21st Annual Mochi Pounding Set For Dec. 29 At Akiko’s. Traditional mochi pounding will return to the small village of Wailea this weekend, and the public is invited. Big Island Video News.


Maui

The South Maui Parking Lots Improvements Project will continue construction with the closure of Keawakapu Beach parking lot, at the corner of Kilohana Drive and South Kihei Road, on Wednesday, Jan. 2. Maui Now.

The comment period for the Kalaupapa National Historical Park General Management Plan and Environmental Assessment has been extended to Feb. 1. Maui News.


Maui’s law banning foam takeout containers goes into effect at the end of the year. The county law bans polystyrene foam food containers, which popular local plate lunches are typically served in. Associated Press.


Hale Kau Kau: 1.5 Million Meals and Counting. Today, South Maui’s only daily soup kitchen, Hale Kau Kau, served its 10,000th consecutive day of meal service. Maui Now.


Kauai

Kauai officials have agreed to pay $1 million to the family of a man who died after being hit by a police cruiser. Associated Press.

Kauai Medical Clinic recently broke ground on its new 7,900-square-foot facility at the Safeway-anchored Kauai Village Shopping Center. Pacific Business News.

Molokai

The comment period for the Kalaupapa National Historical Park General Management Plan and Environmental Assessment has been extended to Feb. 1. Maui News.

Honolulu, Monsanto, spar over land preservation; Legislature asked to comply with Sunshine Law; mixed reviews for Maui hospital transition; no sheriffs for Big Island evictions; overfishing on Molokai, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Monsanto Hawaii  Facebook photo

A city agency focused its effort to preserve prime farmland on Oahu earlier this year, but one large landowner, Monsanto, doesn’t like the plan and wants to preserve less of its land than the city recommends. Star-Advertiser.

Unhappiness with the recent special session to bail out the Honolulu rail project has prompted all three neighbor island county councils to advance resolutions urging the Hawaii Legislature to finally comply with the state’s Sunshine Law. Star-Advertiser.

Frustrated by a deal state lawmakers struck behind closed doors to bail out the Honolulu rail project, all three neighbor island county councils are urging the Legislature to follow Hawaii’s open meeting laws. Civil Beat.

The Hawaii County Council is poised to become the third in the state to send a resolution to the Legislature, asking that body to comply with the state Sunshine Laws governing open meetings. West Hawaii Today.

The Hawaii County Council wants state lawmakers to be more transparent. Big Island Video News.

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A federal judge on Friday said he would give Hawaii an opportunity to make its case that it should be allowed to challenge the Trump administration’s latest travel ban. Associated Press.

Hawaii is one of the worst places to pay taxes in the U.S., according to Kiplinger’s 2017 Tax Map. Pacific Business News.

The Hawaii State Energy Office will host a series of community meetings across the state next week to solicit community input for a study being done on future models for utility ownership and regulation in Hawaii. Star-Advertiser.

The Hawaii State Energy Office on Thursday said it will host a series of community meetings next week to gather public input for a study about future utility ownership models and regulatory approaches. Pacific Business News.

The U.S. Department of Energy on Friday said two Hawaii businesses will receive close $1.5 million in federal funding to develop offshore seaweed as a potential clean energy source. Pacific Business News.


Pearl Harbor shipyard is Navy’s most backlogged. The Navy’s four public shipyards, including Pearl Harbor, whose oldest dry dock was built in 1919, are in poor condition, contributing to inefficiency that is robbing the Navy of ship and submarine time at sea, according to a government report. Star-Advertiser.

The Pentagon agency that recovers missing American war dead made a record 201 individual identifications during fiscal 2017, meeting for the first time a benchmark set by Congress in 2010, officials said. Star-Advertiser.

The former executive director of the Democratic Party of Hawaii, Flo Kong Kee, has died. Hawaii News Now.


Hawaii officials are grappling with how to control rats, snails and slugs that are known to carry roundworm parasites, which can cause significant harm to people. Associated Press.

Commentary: Little medical scrutiny in medical pot screenings. Star-Advertiser.

Oahu

Acting Police Chief Cary Okimoto announced Friday that he will retire at the end of the month, capping a 33-year career at the Honolulu Police Department. Civil Beat.

Farming and suburban living often peacefully coexist in Hawaii. But in Royal Kunia, residents are clashing with recent buyers of vacant land behind roughly 300 homes where a golf course was once planned. Star-Advertiser.

Structures once intended for survivors of the Japan tsunami are now providing relief for homeless families in Hawaii. Hawaii News Now.

Urban Honolulu's largest park closed Sunday night following safety concerns and a growing number of illegal homeless campers. Hawaii News Now.

A Honolulu councilman is proposing a measure that would create a special fund to attract developers to build along the rail. KHON2.

Home sales on Oahu soared in September on slight price gains, compared to the same month last year, while the median price of a condominium jumped 11 percent to tie with the record set over the summer, according to statistics released Friday by the Honolulu Board of Realtors. Pacific Business News.

Dead honu entangled in fishing line found in Kailua. Hawaii News Now.

Hundreds celebrate life of entertainer Roland Cazimero. Star-Advertiser.


Hawaii Island

An internal review of the eviction process for the sheriff’s division on Hawaii Island has led to benching deputies from assisting in evictions. West Hawaii Today.

Hawaii County is seeking permission to repair Ahalanui Beach Park infrastructure in Puna. Tribune-Herald.

Being priced out of paradise is one reason island residents find themselves houseless. Big Island Video News.

A key component in the plan for the future Village 9 homeless shelter in Kealakehe is set to be decided this week. Big Island Video News.

Room to romp: With fundraising goal reached, community to reconstruct Anuenue Playground. Tribune-Herald.

Maui

Maui County Council members unanimously adopted a resolution Friday to refer to county planning commissions a bill to protect dune areas with potentially culturally sensitive sites from sand mining other than for on-site construction. Maui News.

At 100 days: Hospital transition has some hiccups. Island physicians give mixed reviews for Maui Health System’s first three months. Maui News.

Piilani Highway’s closure over three weeks next summer for bridge repairs is not sitting well with East Maui residents who rely on the road to get to medical appointments and do grocery shopping in Central Maui. Maui News.

The Kealia Pond National Wildlife Refuge Visitor Center, which has been closed since May 2014 due to issues with environmental controls in the building, will be reopening Tuesday, just in time for National Wildlife Refuge Week. Maui News.

Kauai

Film to be made on Kauai gets funding. Kauai-made film will feature local actors. Garden Island.

The Lihue Business Association’s 11th annual meeting is set for Oct. 26 at Duke’s Canoe Club in Kalapaki, from 7:30 to 9:30 a.m. Hawaii Gov. David Ige will be the keynote speaker. Garden Island.

KCC program offers healthcare skills. Community Health Workers program helps students, island. Garden Island.

Molokai

Study: Overfishing has less impact on Molokai. Maui News.

VP Pence visits Hawaii, Hanabusa downplays Korea fear, big raise mulled for teachers, half of Big Island buses broken down, private sponsorship of Oahu city parks proposed, record high carbon dioxide measured, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Pence in Hawaii, courtesy KHON2

Vice President Mike Pence and his family late Sunday evening arrived on Oahu, where he will spend most of his short visit with military personnel. KHON2.

Vice President Mike Pence is on Oahu for a short visit before going back to Washington, D.C., concluding his 10-day, four-nation tour of the Asia-Pacific region. Hawaii News Now.

Vice President Mike Pence is making a shortened visit to Hawaii today before heading back to Washington, D.C., ahead of a busy week for President Donald Trump. Star-Advertiser.

Vice President Mike Pence's office said he would depart Hawaii on Monday afternoon after meeting with U.S. Pacific Command leaders and troops stationed in Honolulu. Plans for a Tuesday visit to the USS Arizona in Pearl Harbor have been postponed, Pence's office said. Associated Press.

Video: VP Mike Pence Arrives in Honolulu. Civil Beat.

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The fears of a ballistic missile strike on Hawaii from North Korea are overblown, according to U.S. Rep. Colleen Hanabusa, speaking at a town hall in Honolulu Saturday. Civil Beat.

3 judges to hear appeal of Hawaii ruling blocking travel ban. Associated Press.

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Hawaii public school teachers would see multiyear pay raises totaling nearly 14 percent under a tentative four-year contract deal reached with the state. Star-Advertiser.

A crucial vote for thousands of Hawaii's public school teachers is coming up this week. They'll have a chance to learn more about a tentative contract agreement during statewide meetings that start on Monday. Hawaii News Now.

After nine months of negotiating, beginning public school teachers across Hawaii could see their salaries jump by nearly $10,000. For the first time by the end of the contract, beginning teachers in Hawaii will be making over $50,000 a year. KITV.

Tentative agreement goes to teachers to ratify. KHON2.

Corey Rosenlee, president of the 13,500-Member Hawaii State Teachers Association, announced that the HSTA Board is recommending a tentative agreement for four-year contract. Maui Now.

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Tom Gorak, Gov. David Ige’s controversial nominee to the state agency that regulates Hawaii’s utilities was dealt a preliminary setback Friday when he was narrowly rejected by a Senate committee. Star-Advertiser.

A state Senate committee recommended Friday to the full Senate to reject Gov. David Ige’s nomination of current Hawaii Public Utilities Commission commissioner Thomas Gorak. Pacific Business News.

A state House-Senate conference committee has recommended final passage of a bill that would budget $250,000 in state money to help fund a physician student loan repayment program for doctors who practice in underserved areas in Hawaii. Maui News.
http://www.mauinews.com/news/local-news/2017/04/funding-for-student-loan-repayment-program-advances-in-state-legislature/

Atmospheric carbon dioxide measurements from Mauna Loa Observatory last week topped 410 parts per million for the first time in modern history. Star-Advertiser.

More than 600 students joined activists at the state Capitol rotunda Thursday in support of a bill that sets a goal of having all ground transportation in Hawaii run on renewable fuel by 2045. Star-Advertiser.

Lawmakers tussle with bill to fight painkiller addiction. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii lawmakers are still considering several bills designed to make life easier for condominium owners and stem complaints about the boards that oversee their buildings, but some owners say the legislation doesn’t go far enough. Civil Beat.

The state’s Senate Judiciary and Labor Committee advanced a resolution Tuesday calling for a national constitutional convention to claw back the U.S. Supreme Court’s controversial Citizens United decision, which has increased the influence of corporate money in political campaigns. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii, last year ranked the healthiest state in the nation, has scored below average in a report measuring public health preparedness — or the ability to respond to natural disasters, disease outbreaks and other public health crises. Star-Advertiser.

As state health officials try to balance public education with preventing panic, some critics believe the state should have addressed rat lungworm disease more vigorously earlier. Civil Beat.

Commentary: Ige’s administration lacks needed victories. Star-Advertiser.

Oahu

A bill that would allow private sponsorship of city parks and other facilities is drawing the ire of the Outdoor Circle and others worried that it would clear the way for billboards and other outdoor advertising despite the strong insistence by the bill’s author that that won’t happen. Star-Advertiser.

Honolulu Commission votes down Haleiwa house lots plan. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii Island

The wheels on the bus aren’t going round and round for almost half the Hele-On fleet. West Hawaii Today.

Hawaii Electric Light Co. and its parent companies, Hawaiian Electric Co. and Hawaiian Electric Industries, are asking a judge to dismiss a federal antitrust lawsuit against them by Hu Honua Bioenergy and compel arbitration of all claims. Tribune-Herald.

Hawaii County’s 2017-18 spending plan was hit with a double whammy Thursday, when a legislative conference committee deadlocked on the county share of the hotel tax and firefighters were awarded a more than 2 percent pay increase. West Hawaii Today.

Invasive spittlebug attacks Kona grazing land. Tribune-Herald.

The Ka‘u Community Development Plan is nearing completion. Tribune-Herald.

Not cleared for takeoff: DLNR confusion puts model flying club in holding pattern. West Hawaii Today.

Maui

Maui surrounded by history. A team of divers is documenting state’s underwater wreckage. Maui News.

Signs have been posted warning people against trespassing near a crop of sunflowers on Maui that is being grown as part of an experiment to produce biofuel. A growing number of visitors have been attracted to the yellow flowers that started blooming weeks ago. Associated Press.

Kauai

The Kauai Police Department is requesting nearly $900,000 from the County Council to lease 15 marked patrol Ford Explorers. Garden Island.

The gigantic pension plan that serves Los Angeles County government employees is putting up for sale the St. Regis Princeville Resort and Makai Golf Club in Princeville, which have been part of the fund’s assets since 2005. The decision has major financial and other ramifications for Kauai. Garden Island.

Assisted suicide bill dies in Legislature, Trump judge threatened, 24/7 alcohol purchases now allowed on Maui, bacteria at Waikiki beach, fuel tax bill killed, hope for coral reefs, utilities model mulled by potential buyers, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Ornate butterflyfish with damaged coral © 2017 All Hawaii News

New information could be on the horizon for the world’s declining coral reefs, as well as a more complete picture of their health. Garden Island.

The FBI says authorities are aware that the federal judge in Hawaii who ruled against President Donald Trump’s travel ban has received threatening messages. Associated Press.

Hawaii lawmakers defeat a bill allowing terminally ill patients to end their own lives.The action comes after decades of debate, which culminated in hours of testimony Thursday morning.  Associated Press.

A bill that would allow terminally ill patients to obtain prescriptions for lethal doses of medication is dead for the year after the House Health Committee deferred the measure, saying, in part, that there were too many kinks to be worked out before the legislative session ends in May. Star-Advertiser.

A lack of specifics in the current draft of the controversial 'Death with Dignity' bill is partially the reason some lawmakers decided to table the issue. Hawaii News Now.

The House Health Committee killed a bill Thursday that would have made it legal for Hawaii adults diagnosed with a terminal illness to take medication that would end their lives. Garden Island.

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The state House and Senate separately — and unanimously — passed bills earlier this month to extend and expand tax credits for low-income people while raising taxes on the wealthy. Civil Beat.

A bill that would have increased Hawaii’s fuel tax to fund state highway improvement projects is dead. Tribune-Herald.

Hawaii legislative committees have passed new versions of bills addressing vacation rentals. Lawmakers have been keen to devise ways to make sure vacation rental operators are paying transient accommodation taxes just like hotels. Associated Press.

Another attempt to consolidate management and planning for Hawaii’s airports is making its way through the state House of Representatives. Tribune-Herald.

The Office of Hawaiian Affairs Board of Trustees on Thursday approved a proposal to hire an independent certified public accounting firm to conduct a wide-ranging financial audit and management review of the agency and its subsidiaries. Star-Advertiser.

Firefighters’ meal allowance among points of discussion as contract negotiations continue. KHON2.

Companies are lining up to possibly buy Hawaiian Electric Co. subsidiary Maui Electric Co., the mayor of Maui County confirmed to Pacific Business News.

Washington D.C.-based Twenty First Century Utilities, a company looking to own and operate regulated utilities, proposed a business model that could be used in Hawaii at the Maui Energy Conference. Star-Advertiser.

Maui Energy Conference: ‘What Type Of Place Are We Trying To Create?’ Experts discussed Hawaii’s move away from fossil fuels amid buzz about another potential buyer for Hawaiian Electric. Civil Beat.

The Maui Energy Conference, which is currently underway in its fourth year, reports the highest amount of attendees in its short history, a conference organizer confirmed to Pacific Business News.

Oahu

The state Health Department is warning the public about elevated bacteria levels at popular Kaimana Beach in Waikiki. Hawaii News Now.

State health officials are warning beach lovers in Waikiki about a spike in an “indicator bacteria” in the waters off Sans Souci Beach that could lead to diarrhea and vomiting. Star-Advertiser.

Sick beachgoers say 'cesspool' at Pokai Bay is source of infections. Hawaii News Now.

Some City Council members are trying to block transferring oversight of Thomas Square to the Department of Enterprise Services from the Department of Parks and Recreation amid concerns the move could commercialize the historic site. Star-Advertiser.

Lawmakers discuss homeless concerns as retailers prepare to open in Iwilei. KHON2.

If you park in front of your own driveway, you could get a ticket.  But, a proposal from Honolulu Councilwoman Ann Kobayashi could change that. KITV.

A scary encounter involving two female city workers and a homeless man is highlighting the need for increased security at Honolulu Hale. Hawaii News Now.

It might only be a temporary grass lawn, but construction of a “central plaza” at Ward Village in Kakaako is slated to move forward by the end of this year with the demolition of several warehouse buildings. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii

Planned upgrades at the Kealakehe Wastewater Treatment Plant won’t only offer recycled water to irrigate growing Kona developments, they can also drastically reduce the discharge of nitrogen and phosphorus — two nutrients that can be harmful if they get into groundwater. West Hawaii Today.

Maui

Residents on Maui can now purchase alcohol 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Maui is the first county in the state to relax existing liquor laws that restrict the sale of alcohol between 2 a.m. and 6 a.m. Hawaii News Now.

Maui County is the first in the state to allow stores to sell alcohol any time of the day. KHON2.

The Department of Liquor Control on Maui has lifted the time restriction on the sale of alcohol at retail locations and hotels in Maui County. Maui Now.

In addition to eliminating dry hours for alcohol sales at retail stores and hotels, the Maui County Liquor Commission approved rule changes allowing home delivery of alcoholic beverages and removing the more than three-decade-old cap on the number of hostess bars in the county. Maui News.

Work has begun on buildings in the first phase of Alexander & Baldwin’s Kamalani project in Kihei with the first affordable units expected to be completed in the summer, an A&B official said Wednesday. Maui News.

Kauai

The blessing of Koloa Landing, Phase III marked the completion of the $100 million expansion project on 25 acres leading to the rocky coastline adjacent to the Koloa Landing small boat launch site. Garden Island.

A claim filed by Kauai Police Department Chief Darryl Perry was discussed in executive session during the Kauai County Council meeting Wednesday. Garden Island.