Hawaii adds cats to invasive species list, Senate wants to double HI5 container deposit, Schatz to hold false missile hearing, bills alive and dying at legislative session midpoint, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Feral cat with endangered Hawaiian petrel in this DLNR webcam file photo

Feral cats make invasive species list. Feral cats have been added to Hawaii’s list of most impactful invasive species, and advocates of trap-neuter-release say the state should reconsider. Garden Island.

Bills sink or swim at session’s midpoint. The Hawaii State Legislature passed the midpoint of the 2018 session last week, with lawmakers considering bills that would allow physician-assisted death, would increase the 5-cent deposit for bottles and cans, and would impose a new mandate for paid family leave. Star-Advertiser.

Airlines Pushing To Take Over Honolulu Airport Operations. Supporters say improvements could happen more quickly if the state Department of Transportation was out of the way. Civil Beat.

The state Senate is proposing to double the 5-cent deposit on bottles and cans as part of an effort to increase the redemption and recycling rates for the tens of millions of containers used by Hawaii consumers each year. Star-Advertiser.

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U.S. Sen. Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii), ranking member of the Senate Subcommittee on Communications, Technology, Innovation and the Internet, will convene a hearing titled “Hawaii False Missile Alert: What Happened and What Should We Do Next?” April 5 in Honolulu. Garden Island.

Hawaii Picks New Leader For Agency That Sent False Missile Alert. Thomas Travis has commanded a submarine squadron and was deputy commander of an aircraft carrier strike group. Associated Press.

Kim: Travis the right man for the job. Tribune-Herald.

Apparently taking the recommendation of Hawaii County Mayor Harry Kim to heart, the State of Hawaii has appointed retired U.S. Navy Captain Thomas Travis to serve as Administrator of the Hawaii Emergency Management Agency. Big Island Video News.

Survey shows more people in Hawaii felt relatively calm, rather than panicked during false missile alert. A team from the Department of Psychology and Communication at Hawaii Pacific University conducted the online survey, and found that a majority of the participants felt like the missile was actually inbound to Hawaii. KITV.

A new report produced by researchers at Hawaii Pacific University revealed more in-depth about how Hawaii residents reacted to January's false missile alert scare. Hawaii News Now.

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Democratic congressional candidates were given a chance to explain their evolving views on such topics as marriage equality and lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender rights during a candidates forum Saturday in Kakaako. Dozens packed into the small office space to hear Lt. Gov. Doug Chin, state Sen. Donna Mercado Kim and state Rep. Kaniela Ing speak about their candidacy and answer questions from the three caucuses, with each allotted 40 minutes to talk. Star-Advertiser.

Tulsi Gabbard’s Record On Gun Control Is A Moving Target. The Hawaii congresswoman talks tough on gun control but she’s often lagging behind Democratic colleagues in pushing firearms legislation. Civil Beat.

Commentary: Charles Djou: Why I’m Leaving The GOP. The former Republican congressman from Hawaii says he can no longer remain in a party led by Donald Trump. Civil Beat.

Hawaii Medical Aid In Dying Bill Passes Key Senate Panel. Sen. Roz Baker shepherded the measure through her health committee with comparatively little fanfare. Civil Beat.

A rapidly progressing state Senate bill would mandate that sellers of properties featuring cesspools upgrade to a septic or sewer system after the purchase. Senate Bill 2567, which passed the Senate and is moving through House committees, aims to replace cesspools with more modern waste management systems so as to protect the state’s groundwater. Tribune-Herald.

Tourism remains one of Hawaii’s economic pillars. And while 2017 was another year of records, the industry faces some new challenges this year. Hawaii Public Radio.

Hawaii is scrambling to fill teacher vacancies. This analysis on salaries won't help. The average salary for Hawaii public school teachers in 2016 was $57,431. Hawaii News Now.

Crime victim restitution up 70 percent. The state over the past several years has dramatically increased its collection of funds that inmates and parolees owe to their crime victims, forging a path that national experts say is a model for other states. Star-Advertiser.

Study: Pesticides In Hawaii Waters Well Below Federal Standards. State officials call the results reassuring but some environmental experts aren’t so sure. Civil Beat.

Petition seeks protection for cauliflower coral. The Center for Biological Diversity petitioned the National Marine Fisheries Service Wednesday to afford protection to cauliflower coral under the Endangered Species Act. West Hawaii Today.

University of Hawaii astronomy professor Paul Coleman, the first Native Hawaiian to earn a doctorate in astrophysics and an outspoken supporter of the Thirty Meter Telescope, has died at the age of 62. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii Ponzi schemer and professed secret agent dies at 76. Ronald Rewald, Hawaii’s most notorious branded conman, a Wisconsin native who claimed to be a CIA agent but swindled money from hundreds of island residents and served barely 10 years of an 80-year prison sentence, has died. Star-Advertiser.

Oahu

Honolulu Police Chief Defends Reassignment Of Union Leaders. Union head testifies the actions caused fear among members and that he was maligned in a news interview. Associated Press.

Safety measures for fuel tanks could take billions — and decades, Navy says. The least expensive method of double-walling the Red Hill fuel tanks could cost between $500 million and $2 billion, the Navy said in a newly released estimate. Star-Advertiser.

Developing condos tricky near last station site. The city’s mass-transit line is supposed to move people and spark development of affordable housing, but these two objectives are on paths that could clash at the end of the line. Star-Advertiser.

Appeals court rejects Kawananakoa’s challenge to rail votes. The Hawaii Intermediate Court of Appeals this month reaffirmed the dismissal of a lawsuit that sought to invalidate votes cast by certain Honolulu City Council members in support of the city’s rail project. Star-Advertiser.

Honolulu has a new sprinkler law in place - 8 months after the deadly Marco Polo fire. Mayor Kirk Caldwell signed two bills into law yesterday afternoon. They do not mandate sprinkler installation but do provide tax breaks to encourage installation. Hawaii Public Radio.

Among ongoing gun law debate, thousands attend major gun show at the Blaisdell. It was the Hawaii Historic Arms Association's 82nd semi-annual gun show. Hawaii News Now.

Southwest Airlines has been granted a revocable permit for space at Honolulu's Daniel K. Inouye International Airport. Star-Advertiser.

Urban Honolulu water plan to be discussed. The Honolulu Board of Water Supply is holding a series of meetings starting this week to seek public input on its planned Primary Urban Center Watershed Management Plan. Star-Advertiser.

IHeartMedia Inc.’s Chapter 11 bankruptcy won’t impact the eight radio stations it operates in Honolulu. Pacific Business News.

New Gold Star monument in Kaneohe honors families of fallen Hawaii servicemen and women. It's a first of its kind in the state - a  monument that honors families that lost loved ones in the military who died while in service to our country. KHON2.

Hawaii Island

A new permanent building for pharmacy students at the University of Hawaii at Hilo hopefully will be up and running by this time next year. Tribune-Herald.

The state commission for public charter schools has yet to make a decision on allegations that a Kona charter school violated its contract by failing to maintain accurate enrollment data, reportedly netting them more than $300,000 in overpaid funding. West Hawaii Today.

A comprehensive look at the effects of short-term vacation rentals on the Big Island was shared with the Hawaii County Council on Tuesday. Big Island Video News.

Kilauea’s summit eruption will become 10 years old Monday and scientists say they don’t expect it to stop anytime soon. Tribune-Herald.

Vaping shop raises concerns, sparks debate in Waimea. West Hawaii Today.

The Village 9 Homeless and Affordable Rental project in Kealakehe will serve as the template for an island-wide approach to the helping the houseless. Big Island Video News.

Maui

Stant’s ‘side job,’ gambling match county paycheck. Good luck in Las Vegas and a Midas touch with a direct marketing “side business” combined last year for Stewart Stant to match his annual salary as Department of Environmental Management director, financial disclosure documents show. Maui News.

White reports variety of investments in his financial disclosure. Maui County Council Chairman Mike White jointly has investments in 37 different companies doing business in Hawaii, including Hawaiian Electric, Verizon Communications and Amazon. Maui News.

Panel seeks more reasonable parking and ohana rules. Flexibility sought in cases where current mandates don’t make sense. Maui News.

This year’s real property assessment notices have been mailed or emailed to property owners, the Department of Finance’s Real Property Assessment Division announced Wednesday. Maui News.

Kauai

Two candidates for mayor of Kauai recently shared their views on two key issues facing the island: homelessness and traffic. Garden Island.

The county Department of Public Works Wastewater Division concluded sewer maintenance work on Kuhio Highway Sunday evening in the vicinity of the Kapaia Bridge. A sewer spill was reported about 4:15 p.m. Saturday when a manhole cover overflowed.  Garden Island.

After completing a rigorous three-year program, Kauai Christian Academy has finally gained accreditation. Garden Island.

Happy in Hawaii, officer in Navy corruption scandal sentenced, layoffs at Honolulu newspaper, media sues over police commission secrecy, police stun the wrong man, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Children dive in Hawaii © 2017 All Hawaii News

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

The state's tax revenues are up 8.9 percent for the first two months of fiscal year 2018, according to the Hawaii Department of Taxation. Pacific Business News.

Hawaii’s Pacific Command took another blow to its reputation Monday when a former deputy chief of staff for U.S. Special Operations in Honolulu was sentenced to 18 months in federal prison for his role in a Navy corruption and bribery scandal. Civil Beat.

A retired Navy officer who later became a high-ranking civilian defense employee at Camp Smith told a federal judge Monday it was “hubris, selfishness and a sense of entitlement” that led him to take part in a massive Navy corruption scandal centered around Singaporean-based defense contractor Leonard Glenn “Fat Leonard” Francis. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii’s medical marijuana dispensaries will be able to open bank accounts after the state reached a deal with a Colorado-based credit union, according to one of the local dispensaries. Pacific Business News.

Invasive seaweeds have taken a stronghold on Hawaii reefs over the last half of the 20th century, contributing to a decline in the health and productivity of once-thriving marine ecosystems. Hawaii Public Radio.

Oahu

The Star-Advertiser and Civil Beat are taking the Honolulu Police Commission to court in an effort to make public any proceedings involving requests by officers for attorney’s fees. Star-Advertiser.

Two media outlets have filed a legal challenge to the Honolulu Police Commission’s long-standing practice of conducting closed-door hearings for officers seeking taxpayer-funded attorneys. Civil Beat.

How A Police Officer’s Complaints About HPD Corruption Went Viral. Denny Santiago says he’s worried about being ostracized for speaking out about the Kealoha scandal to the Police Commission. Civil Beat.

Oahu Publications plans a new round of job cuts — the second in the past year — at the Honolulu Star-Advertiser, raising worries that the smaller newsroom won’t be able to sustain the quality of the newspaper’s journalism. Civil Beat.

Oahu hunters are criticizing the Department of Land and Natural Resources over an aerial eradication program meant to protect native watersheds. Hawaii News Now.

New city parks rule to crackdown on vendors who hide behind free speech permits. KITV.

Nearly two months have passed since the fatal Marco Polo high-rise fire, which caused more than $100 million in damage, yet the cause remains a mystery to the public. Star-Advertiser.

Just since mid-August, newly hired off-duty Honolulu police officers have kept at least 900 illegal hikers from trespassing onto one of Oahu’s most popular outlaw trails: Kaneohe’s Haiku Stairs, also known as the Stairway to Heaven. Star-Advertiser.

Over the past month alone, Honolulu police prevented 630 people from illegally accessing Haiku Stairs - or Stairway to Heaven. KITV.

Lawsuit filed over school lockdown drill that brought students to tears in 2015. KHON2.

A local nonprofit that helps at-risk teens and young adults received approval last week to use a state-owned waterfront storage building for up to 35 years following a split decision by a board. Star-Advertiser.

The state agriculture and health departments and University of Hawaii are coordinating three public informational meetings on rat lungworm disease on Oahu this month. Star-Advertiser.

Sarento’s at the top of the Ilikai will serve its last customers Sept. 30, after which the 25-year-old restaurant will close. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii Island

Hawaii County police officers realized they arrested the wrong person after shooting him with a stun gun and assaulting him, a federal lawsuit alleges. Associated Press.

Enrollment at Big Island private schools was about on par in the 2016-17 academic year compared to the previous school year. Tribune-Herald.

Maui

Service has been restored to all school bus routes on Maui, but more drivers are needed to increase frequency to normal levels. Star-Advertiser.

Maui police issued 1,600 traffic citations, including 55 DUI arrests during the 20-day Drive Sober or Get Pulled over campaign that ran from Aug. 16 to Sept. 4. Maui Now.

A community meeting is planned to discuss transportation issues as they relate to the update of the West Maui Community Plan on Tuesday, Sept. 12, 2017, from 5 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at the West Maui Senior Center at 788 Pauoa Street, Lahaina. Maui Now.

Bridge being replaced. Maui News.

Kauai

Kauai Community Cat Project opposes changes to the small boat harbor rules that would stop trap-neuter-release activities in those areas. Garden Island.

Grant to fund coral reef education, feral cats topic at Conservation Congress, human rights organization seeks help for Hawaii's foreign fishermen, sewer capacity slows Honolulu housing plan, Kona mulls homeless cleanup, Tropical Storm Greg fizzles, Hurricane Hillary forms, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Coral and fish © 2017 All Hawaii News

Those who study Hawaii’s coral reefs are hoping a recent $715,000 federal grant awarded to the state of Hawaii will amp up both the education and conservation of the underwater ecosystems. Associated Press.

Attorney General Doug Chin joined California Attorney General Xavier Becerra and 18 attorneys general in sending a letter to President Trump urging him to maintain and defend the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program. Maui Now.

A human rights complaint has been filed with an international commission to investigate claims of human rights violations in Hawaii’s commercial fishing industry.Associated Press.

We Do Practically Nothing To Control Feral Cats Threatening Rare Seals And Birds. While Hawaii’s animal rights and environmental groups are sharply divided on solutions, there’s little government support even for steps the two sides agree on. Civil Beat.

State officials have granted hundreds of thousands of dollars in discounts to a family of companies affiliated with Navatek Ltd. as part of a deal to settle claims that included alleged “loss of business opportunity” on state-owned waterfront land where the companies operate under a month-to-month permit. Star-Advertiser.

A federal grand jury in Hawaii indicted a U.S. soldier Friday for attempting to provide material support to the Islamic State group. Associated Press.

Carilyn Shon, an energy efficiency program manager at the Hawaii State Energy Office, has been named the agency’s administrator. Pacific Business News.

 The remnants of Fernanda will continue moving west today, across Oahu and Kauai, as two tropical storms and a hurricane continue heading toward the Central Pacific.  Star-Advertiser.

Oahu

Lack of adequate sewer capacity is the key reason most of 344 preliminary applications for accessory dwelling unit permits have been denied by the city since the ADU program began in 2013, a problem that’s spurred Honolulu City Councilman Ernie Martin to urge Mayor Kirk Caldwell to speed up expansion of Oahu’s sewer system. Star-Advertiser.

Some urge sprinkler mandates across US after Honolulu fire. Associated Press.

To pay or not to pay? That is the question owners and boards of older Honolulu high-rise condos have grappled with for decades as they considered retrofitting their buildings with automatic sprinkler systems. Star-Advertiser.

Honolulu Mayor Kirk Caldwell on Monday will sign Oahu's latest plastic bag ban into law. KITV.

On Monday, Honolulu Mayor Kirk Caldwell will sign Oahu’s plastic bag ban expansion into law. KHON2.

The new upscale International Market Place opened nearly a year ago with 30 shops and restaurants in the heart of Waikiki, unrecognizable from the previously cluttered maze of kiosks selling cheap souvenirs and trinkets. Star-Advertiser.

About 300 Royal Kunia residents in Central Oahu have some new neighbors, and that’s not sitting well with the community that long expected manicured golf fairways and putting greens to grace a vacant piece of land bordering its homes. Star-Advertiser.

After five straight years of sliding enrollment at the University of Hawaii’s flagship Manoa campus, university President David Lassner has set an ambitious goal to hold enrollment flat for the upcoming fall and boost it back up to 20,000 students by 2020. Star-Advertiser.

Commentary: Mayor Kirk Caldwell, the City Council, the Honolulu Authority for Rapid Transportation and the state Legislature have made a culture of looking the other way when it comes to the financial and managerial lapses that have doubled the cost of Oahu rail to $10 billion and delayed its opening by six years. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii Island

Offenses such as bullying and harassment were on the decline last year in Hawaii Island public schools, though the number of more serious misconduct cases — such as fighting and use of illicit drugs — increased slightly. Tribune-Herald.

As plans move forward to clean up homeless camps at Old Kona Airport Park, the results could be a template for how law enforcement and community agencies respond to homeless issues in the future. West Hawaii Today.

Taking the bus: Cost an issue as Hele-On management strives to improve. West Hawaii Today.

Federal housing officials have withdrawn a voucher for Phase 2 of the Mohouli senior housing project, prompting Hawaii County to help cover rent subsidies for future tenants of the 30-unit development in Hilo. Tribune-Herald.

Saving South Point: Implementation of resources management plan still years away. Tribune-Herald.

Results of a recent survey of Hilo Medical Center employees will be used to help improve the hospital’s work environment. Tribune-Herald.

A skate park won’t be built at a Hilo Bayfront parking lot after all. Tribune-Herald.

Puna’s La Hoolokahi Ka La Hui 2017 was held at Uncle Robert’s ‘Awa Club in Kaimu-Kalapana on Saturday evening; one of several events striving to unite various Hawaiian organizations across the islands. Big Island Video News.

The father of “Peter Boy” Kema is set to be sentenced Monday, bringing some closure in one of Hawaii’s most notorious murder mysteries. Hawaii News Now.

Maui

Maui County Council Member Yuki Lei Sugimura and local nonprofit groups will propose to the Liquor Control Commission next month further changes to single-event liquor license procedures that would streamline the application process to prevent burdensome requirements that threaten the groups’ fundraising events. Maui News.

A major portion of the Old Makena-Ulupalakua Road in South Maui would be reopened as a historic trail under an out-of-court settlement between the landowner and various organizations, including Maui Tomorrow. Star-Advertiser.

A settlement in the fight over a south Maui community modifies development plans by allowing for fewer buildings and more open space. Hawaii News Now.

After high-rise blaze, property managers mull fire suppression. Cost to retrofit older Maui complexes with sprinklers considered too expensive by some. Maui News.

Maui coral bleaching in spotlight at free screening. Maui News.

Maui District Health Officer Dr. Lorrin Pang sees firsthand how bad the opioid pain reliever epidemic has become. Maui News.

Kauai

Proposed changes to state boating rules will be up for discussion at a meeting on Monday from 6 to 8 p.m. at Wilcox Elementary School Cafeteria. Garden Island.

The county Parks and Recreation Department has partnered with Kauai Beer Company to spruce up Kalena Park. Garden Island.

Education is important, but doesn’t necessarily determine your ability to advance in the workplace, said Steve Yoder, Kauai County Republican chair. Garden Island.

Lack of training blamed for deadly Marine Corps helicopter crash, celebrity chef Sam Choy testifies in Kenoi trial, Ige's salary lags top CEOs, Hanabusa a sure thing, another $6.9M for Honolulu homeless housing, iconic Coco Palms trying to rebuild, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Sam Choy hands a photograph back to attorney Richard Sing while he testifies during Kenoi's trial Tuesday in Hilo Circuit Court. Pool photo HOLLYN JOHNSON/Tribune-Herald

Celebrity chef Sam Choy didn’t take long to change the mood in Mayor Billy Kenoi’s criminal trial Tuesday morning. Tribune-Herald.

Celebrity chef Sam Choy took the witness stand today during the ongoing criminal trial of Hawaii County Mayor Billy Kenoi. Big Island Video News.

The architect of Hawaii County’s purchasing card — or pCard — program testified in Mayor Billy Kenoi’s corruption trial Tuesday that Kenoi had broad leeway over his spending, including purchasing alcohol, as long as it was in the best interest of the county. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii County Mayor Billy Kenoi's former managing director knew as far back as 2011 that the mayor was using his government-issued credit card for personal purchases. Hawaii News Now.

On day four of the trial for Big Island Mayor Billy Kenoi, a total of five witnesses were called to the stand by the defense team. KITV.

Day four of Hawaii Island Mayor Billy Kenoi’s trial saw laughter and tears in the courtroom. KHON2.

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A Marine investigation of a deadly 2016 helicopter collision off Oahu found that pilot error, lack of training and command problems were to blame. The findings are contained in a report obtained by the Investigative Reporting Program at UC Berkeley. Civil Beat.

Twelve Hawaii Marines were killed on Jan. 14 when two CH-53E Super Stallion helicopters collided off Oahu as one chopper raced at night to catch up and the first helicopter turned in its path, according to the Investigative Reporting Program at the University of California, Berkeley. Star-Advertiser.

How Gov. David Ige's salary compares with other governors. Pacific Business News.

The election is still two weeks away, but a Washington, D.C., political news outlet says Colleen Hanabusa will definitely be returned to Congress. Civil Beat.

Two incumbents face challengers in the final two races for the Office of Hawaiian Affairs on the Nov. 8 general election ballot. West Hawaii Today.

Restaurant Brands New Zealand Ltd. said Tuesday it plans to buy Pacific Island Restaurants, the largest fast-food operator in Hawaii, for $105 million. Pacific Business News.

Oahu
Nearly a year after Hale Mauliola’s opening, city leaders who once doubted it would work are calling the transitional housing complex a success — and they aim to expand the model to help address widespread homelessness on Oahu. Star-Advertiser.

The city spent $6.9 million to buy a three-story, 24-unit walk-up apartment building on Beretania Street to be used for low-income and homeless housing. Star-Advertiser.

Are Oahu’s Bridges Better Off Than They Were 4 Years Ago? Kirk Caldwell promised to improve them. But while work has continued, there haven’t been any new repair initiatives. Civil Beat.

This Clear Water Has Been Flowing Under Kakaako Since The 1920s. An auwai has been discovered underground, and Howard Hughes wants to find a way to bring it to the surface. Civil Beat.

Heavy day at polls as early voting starts. Star-Advertiser.

Honolulu voters are being asked to establish an agency dedicated to managing thousands of acres of city land and another charged with handling climate change and sustainability. Civil Beat.

The chief executive of the Queen’s Medical Center says the hospital is trying to help fix the state’s critical primary care shortage in private practice even as it offers lucrative contracts to persuade doctors to join its staff. Star-Advertiser.

A 14 year old Hawaiian monk seal is back in the water after a lifesaving surgery to remove a fishing hook he swallowed. Scientists from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration released RE-74, also known as Benny, after a two-week recovery period. Hawaii Public Radio.

Copper thieves target street lights along Farrington Highway. Hawaii News Now.

Hawaii

The contested case hearing over a key permit for the Thirty Meter Telescope inched forward today as opponents of the project wrapped up their questions for the first witness called by the University of Hawaii, and moved on to the second. Star-Advertiser.

Fence on Mauna Loa meant to protect ‘ua‘u from feral cats. Tribune-Herald.

Humpback whale season typically starts in December and stretches through March, but a few of the mammoth mammals recently made early appearances off the coast of West Hawaii. Two separate reports of sightings came into the West Hawaii Today Tuesday, the first such reports since last season.

Maui
Commentary: Why Maui County Mayor Alan Arakawa’s decision to suspend community plans may be a bad idea. MauiTime.

Maui County’s largest products show, the 3rd Annual Made in Maui County Festival, is fast approaching and the island is gearing up for what is anticipated to be a “big draw” for both residents and visitors alike. MauiWatch.

Kauai

The developers of the iconic Coco Palms Resort on Kauai are hoping to clear another hurdle. Pacific Business News.

‘No vote, no grumble’ Some visit polls before the general election. Garden Island.

Schools in the state of Hawaii are getting a much needed boost from the U.S. Department of Education. HIDOE will receive $1.5 million in School Improvement Grants, or SIG, to improve facilities, classrooms and the overall student experience. Garden Island.

Blocking the locks. DLNR removes 94 ‘love locks’ from Waimea Canyon lookout. Garden Island.

Ala Wai cleanup mulled, changes to state constitution, local charters on ballot, Oahu wants feral cat cleanup, Department of Education pares teacher suspension list, lots of candidates on ballots, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Canoe on the Ala Wai © 2016 All Hawaii News

The Ala Wai Canal is home to the largest concentration of canoe clubs in the state, yet according to city readings it sometimes has 20 times the level of contaminants considered safe for human recreation. Star-Advertiser.

The Department of Education’s backlog of employee misconduct cases has dropped to its lowest level in at least two years amid efforts to resolve investigations quicker and provide consistent guidelines to schools. Star-Advertiser.

Public high schools across the state saw an increase this past year in ACT results for 2016 graduates, increasing scores in mathematics by 2 percent and 1 percent in English and science.Garden Island.

From Now Through Nov 8, Every Day Is Election Day In Hawaii. Plenty of people have their ballots in hand, but there are a lot of decisions to make. Civil Beat.

Hawaii residents who missed the deadline to register to vote will get a second chance. Late registration will be available during Early Walk-In voting starting on Tuesday. KITV.

Voters won’t just be deciding political races in November. Also on the general election ballot, voters will find two proposed constitutional amendments adopted during the Twenty-Eighth Legislature’s Regular Sessions of 2015 and 2016, as well as proposed charter amendment questions for individual counties. KHON2.

University of Hawaii researchers have been awarded more than $1 million to test and evaluate technology used to observe aquatic ecosystems, the university announced. Star-Advertiser.

Oahu

Democratic hopeful aims to unseat Hawaii’s only GOP senator. Associated Press.

Honolulu Charter Commission leaders say there’s a legitimate argument for allowing the mayor and City Council members to serve up to three consecutive four-year terms instead of the current two terms. Star-Advertiser.

Oahu voters are being asked to study up on 20 proposed changes to the Honolulu City Charter dealing with topics as diverse as giving more teeth to the Honolulu Police Commission to creating a new Department of Land Management. Star-Advertiser.

Amendment Would Help Fund Honolulu Zoo With Property Taxes/ Voters are asked to dedicate a portion of the tax revenue. The zoo recently lost its accreditation, partially due to the lack of a steady funding. Civil Beat.

Nearly 70 percent of Oahu voters want feral cats removed from Hawaii, according to The Civil Beat Poll conducted earlier this month by Merriman River Group.

Mayoral candidate Charles Djou has filed an ethics complaint against Mayor Kirk Caldwell, alleging the incumbent lied on his official financial disclosure form about the value of his stock in Territorial Savings Bank. Civil Beat.

The race for state House District 22 comes down to an incumbent Democrat who does not think government is hard enough on the homeless versus a Republican businesswoman who maintains the homeless should be shown more compassion. Star-Advertiser.

Honolulu has the second-highest construction costs in the world behind only Oslo, Norway, according to a new report. Pacific Business News.

The state Department of Land and Natural Resources is working on a plan to better protect the Pahole Natural Area Reserve at Mokuleia. Star-Advertiser.

A Haleiwa landowner is seeking to rezone 7 acres of agricultural property for development of 29 homes on the edge of an existing residential neighborhood and large farms. Star-Advertiser.

Palolo Valley: ‘Overshadowed By Its Past,’ But Making Progress. Though outsiders have long been wary of the community east of Manoa, its reputation is changing for the better. Civil Beat.

Hawaii

After more than 770 absentee voters cast mail-in ballots too late to be counted in the primary election, officials have tucked a bright orange reminder in the ballot packages being mailed for the general election. West Hawaii Today.

Depending on whom you ask, the single local amendment on the Big Island’s general election ballot will either do nothing or quite a lot. The amendment changes language in the county charter, the county’s governing document. It would broaden the scope of the General Plan, the document that dictates what can be developed, where. West Hawaii Today.

The House District 3 race is probably the closest it gets to putting the Thirty Meter Telescope on the ballot. Tribune-Herald.

Rep. Cindy Evans, who’s represented North Kona, South Kohala and North Kohala since 2002, said it’s her experience that makes her suited to continue representing the district during the next legislative cycle. Her opponent, community organizer Jeffrey Coakley, said it’s time to “bring in a change,” and fight for a less “Oahu-centric” government. West Hawaii Today.

For the first time in 2016, voters in West Hawaii’s 5th District have a choice to make regarding who will represent them in the State House of Representatives. Incumbent Democrat Richard Creagan’s seat, which covers the southern tip of the island from Keauhou down to South Point, is being challenged by Libertarian candidate Michael Last. West Hawaii Today.

Two community association leaders are seeking to represent lower Puna on the Hawaii County Council. Maddie Greene of Nanawale Estates and Eileen Ohara of Hawaiian Shores will face off in the Nov. 8 general election in the District 4 race. Tribune-Herald.
http://www.hawaiitribune-herald.com/news/local-news/candidates-share-puna-visions-greene-ohara-both-proven-leaders-district-4-race

During the first day of the contested case hearing in Hilo, Pua Case – a Hawaiian cultural practitioner and one of the original legal challengers of the Thirty Meter Telescope permit – asked planner Perry White if he believes Mauna Kea is sacred. Big Island Video News.

Maui

Wailuku council race draws candidates with contrasting styles, goals. Maui News.

Some Haiku residents are seeking help and guidance from county officials and landowners to establish a pedestrian and bike path to link Haiku’s two commercial centers — the old Pauwela and Haiku canneries. Maui News.

Record flood was a close call for parts of Wailuku. Levee holds, barely preventing massive destruction, loss of life. Maui News.

Kauai

Justin Kollar, incumbent, is seeking another term as the county’s prosecuting attorney. If re-elected, he hopes to address drug houses, domestic violence and find ways for drug addicts to get the help they need. Garden Island.

If elected, Lisa Arin promises to tackle the island’s methamphetamine problem, beginning by making sure children are safe in their homes. Garden Island.

Kauai public high schools made big strides during the 2015-16 school year. The Hawaii State Department of Education announced an increase in the number of public high schools and public charter schools in terms of their academic performance; in particular, graduation rates and test scores. Garden Island.

An online petition is circulating, demanding changes to the contract between the County of Kauai and Kauai Humane Society. Garden Island.

On Monday, the second round of Hawaiian Petrel translocation will bring another group of chicks into the borders of the predator-proof fence within the Kilauea Point National Wildlife Refuge. Garden Island.

State abuse notifications violate federal law, Kenoi trial starts today, $8.3M in rail change orders, more on feral cat poop problem, REITs cost millions in tax losses, Thirty Meter Telescope hearing Thursday, Maui wastewater overflow, Kauai water project, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Kilauea crater overflow, courtesy Hawaiian Volcano Observatory

Kilauea Volcano’s summit lava lake has deposited fresh lava onto the floor of Halema‘uma‘u Crater for the first time since spring 2015. Tribune-Herald.

The procedures the state has used for years to notify thousands of Hawaii families suspected of child abuse or neglect in less serious cases do not meet U.S. regulations and must be changed, according to the preliminary findings of a federal investigation. Star-Advertiser.

Two years ago the state Legislature wanted to know the value of a Hawaii tax deduction that benefits real estate investment trusts, or REITs. Now they know, and it’s way higher than they previously estimated. Star-Advertiser.

Feces from Hawaii's stray cats threatens seals: Video. Pacific Business News.

A replacement has been found for Jim Williams, who resigned from the Hawaii state Board of Education last month. Gov. David Ige on Monday appointed former public school teacher and principal Darrel Galera. Civil Beat.

Oahu

Honolulu rail leaders approved $8.3 million in leftover change orders Thursday — cost increases related to delays and premature starts that hit the project’s first 10 miles. Star-Advertiser.

Following Monday’s meeting with the Honolulu Authority for Rapid Transportation’s board of directors, chairwoman Colleen Hanabusa told KHON2 she wants a complete overhaul to fix a crumbling critical component to the rail.

Honolulu voters will be asked in November to decide whether to change the rules governing the city’s Affordable Housing Fund. Civil Beat.

Honolulu Mayor Kirk Caldwell is expected to nominate former Hawaii Supreme Court Associate Justice Steven Levinson to the Honolulu Police Commission. Civil Beat.

HPD: Officers' actions before Kunia shooting were appropriate. Hawaii News Now.

An elementary school serving mostly military families on Schofield Barracks now bears the name of the late U.S. Sen. Daniel K. Inouye, who was remembered Monday during a ceremony at the campus as a staunch supporter of education and the military. Star-Advertiser.

Teachers and administrators met at Radford High School for their first ever technology summit, Monday. Hawaii News Now.

School just got cooler for students at Jefferson Elementary in Waikiki. The Hawaii Lodging and Tourism Association donated 32 air conditioners and fans that'll help fend off the campus's blistering heat. KITV.

Almost a century ago, Kakaako, with its dusty streets and dilapidated houses, seemed to be asleep, just awakening to the fact that business was encroaching on its boundaries. Civil Beat.

Jon McKenna, who abruptly departed from his position as the top executive of Associa Hawaii just a few weeks ago, is now with his former property management company’s chief competitor, Hawaiiana Management Co., his new company confirmed to Pacific Business News.

Hawaii

A jury was seated Monday in the trial of Mayor Billy Kenoi, clearing the way for opening statements that will start today in Hilo Circuit Court. Honolulu Circuit Court Judge Dexter Del Rosario, who is hearing the high-profile case, said he expects closing arguments to be held Oct. 31. Tribune-Herald.

On Hawaii Island, jury selection has wrapped and opening statements for the trial of Mayor Billy Kenoi will take place Tuesday. KHON2.

We will live stream court proceedings, however the signal may be cut off when the court goes into recess or has private bench conferences with the attorneys. When the trial resumes, our coverage will continue. KHON2.

Attorneys with the University of Hawaii at Hilo have accused Thirty Meter Telescope foes of waging a campaign to disrupt and delay the contested case hearing with the aim of having the case overturned on appeal. Star-Advertiser.

The start of witness testimony in the Thirty Meter Telescope contested case was delayed until Thursday. Tribune-Herald.

VIDEO: TMT Opponents Asked About Attorney Withdrawal. Big Island Video News.

Kim wants say in nominations: Flurry of last-minute Kenoi posts to county boards raises concerns. West Hawaii Today.

A former police officer was found dead on Sunday, two days before he was scheduled to change his plea in an assault case. West Hawaii Today.

Maui

A new classroom building at a crowded Maui campus is still empty, nearly three weeks after a blessing ceremony. Hawaii News Now.

A wastewater overflow of approximately 4,600 gallons occurred on Friday, Oct. 14, at 3 p.m. along South Kīhei Road. Maui Now.

Pavement striping will prompt alternating lane closures on Mokulele Highway between North Kihei and Kamaaina roads this week, according to the state Department of Transportation. Maui News.

Kauai

The water department is planning a $3.5 million project to make the dispersal of water from the Kapaia Reservoir more efficient. Garden Island.

Feral cats plague Hawaii, clean energy rut, Maui mayor stops community projects, state Ethics Commission seeks public input, Kenoi trial starts this week, charter amendments on county ballots, rail a factor in Honolulu mayoral race, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Feral cat with petrel on Kauai, courtesy Hawaii DLNR

Two wildlife issues have collided in Hawaii, pitting one group of animal defenders against another in an impassioned debate. The point of contention? Deadly cat poop and the feral felines that produce it. Associated Press.

It’s no secret that invasive species have stuck Hawaii with a series of ever-mounting bills. Battling fruit flies alone costs about $300 million a year. Estimates for future costs of little fire ants push past $200 million. Tribune-Herald.

When it comes to clean energy use, Hawai‘i is in a bit of a rut. That’s according to the Blue Planet Foundation, who released their 4th annual energy report card. Hawaii Public Radio.

While Maui Electric Co. is re-examining the idea of an undersea cable between Maui and Oahu, the utility understands that it’s a “very culturally sensitive issue,” a MECO official said Thursday night during a community energy forum in Spreckelsville. Maui News.

The State Ethics Commission is asking the public to share ideas on how it can best promote integrity in government, inviting written comments and active participation at its meeting Thursday. Star-Advertiser.

There are 42 real estate investment trusts (REITs) doing business in Hawaii with an estimated net income of $720.6 million, according to a new report. Pacific Business News.

Nearly 500 people linked to more than 50 companies competed for licenses to operate Hawaii’s first medical marijuana dispensaries. Civil Beat.

Isles fare well in new shooting study. Associated Press.

The state agency in charge of commercial fishing licenses has rejected a petition to change its rules, a request that sought to ensure foreign fishermen understand what they’re signing. KHON2.

Hawaii’s longline fishermen will be able to go after similar amounts of bigeye tuna next year under a policy passed last week by the Western Pacific Regional Fishery Management Council. Civil Beat.

It took a few small conversations to kickstart the statewide talk about concussions in high school athletes. Tribune-Herald.

Oahu

Mayor Kirk Caldwell and his mayoral challenger, Charles Djou, have traveled very different paths since 2005 to get to the same conclusion: Honolulu’s elevated rail line, both of them now say, must be built to Ala Moana Center. But the candidates still disagree sharply over how to pay for the severely cash-strapped project. Star-Advertiser.

Both Mayoral Candidates Ask: Better Off Than 4 Years Ago? Mayor Kirk Caldwell steals challenger Charles Djou’s frequently asked question, but supplies very different answers. Civil Beat.

There are no less than 20 charter amendment questions on the ballot for voters living on Oahu, and it may prove challenging to determine what to do with all of them. Civil Beat.

Commentary: Oahu voters next month may be deciding not only who will lead the city for the next four years, but also for the following four years through 2024. That’s because of controversial proposed City Charter amendment No. 15, which would perpetuate our political elite by extending term limits for City Council members and mayor from two consecutive four-year terms to three. Star-Advertiser.

Here’s a little-known fact: Honolulu’s charter currently says that the city police chief and prosecuting attorney have discretion over what records from their departments get released to the public, with the exception of traffic accident information. Civil Beat.

Unlike many police agencies across the country, the Honolulu Police Department excludes violent crimes from the public mapping service it provides online, giving residents only a partial picture of the types of offenses happening in their neighborhoods. Star-Advertiser.

A Honolulu rail contractor is getting paid $1 million to come up with a plan for an electric bus system that would connect Waikiki to a rail station that may never see the light of day. Civil Beat.

The once rat- and crime-infested Mayor Wright Homes in the heart of Kalihi could be torn down and reborn as a series of high-rise towers designed to shed the stigma of low-income housing beginning with groundbreaking in early 2018. Star-Advertiser.

Decades of waiting end for 44 families awarded Hawaiian homestead lots. Star-Advertiser.

Folks in Leeward Oahu say erosion is creating a safety concern for visitors at a local beach. KHON2.

Hawaii

For the Big Island, it's one of the biggest trials in decades. A crowded courtroom is expected in Hilo Tuesday as Mayor Bill Kenoi becomes the first mayor in Hawaii since Honolulu Mayor Frank Fasi to defend himself against criminal charges while still in office. Hawaii News Now.

Don’t let the lack of registration and regulation fool you. The Big Island has a thriving agricultural tourism industry, where visitors tour workplaces, sample everything from vanilla to chocolate to coffee to honey to mushrooms and visit the gift shop to buy value-added farm products. West Hawaii Today.

In June, the County Council defeated a bill that would have heavily restricted the use of expanded polystyrene products, more commonly known as Styrofoam, across Hawaii Island’s food industry. But proponents of the legislation aren’t ready to put the issue to bed. West Hawaii Today.

The Hawaii County Department of Public Work’s Building Division went before the county Board of Ethics on Tuesday to answer accusations of unfair treatment. Big Island Video News.

The Thirty Meter Telescope debate placed Native Hawaiian activist Kealoha Pisciotta in the spotlight, making her name and face recognizable across Hawaii island. Pisciotta, considered a long shot against incumbent Rep. Richard Onishi, said the Democratic nominee garnered just 3,346 votes in the primary out of more than 14,600 registered voters in sprawling District 3, which extends from Hilo to Kau. Star-Advertiser.

Dentist, homeless advocate, community supporter dies suddenly at 60. West Hawaii Today.

Maui

Mayor Alan Arakawa has directed the Department of Planning to suspend work on upcoming Maui island community plans and focus instead on revamping the county’s long-range planning process. Maui News.

Kihei association to host candidate forum Candidates for three competitive Maui County Council races will be appearing at a Kihei Community Association forum Tuesday at Kihei Charter Middle School. Maui News.

Bail was maintained Friday at $650,000 for West Maui-north Kihei Republican state House candidate Chayne Marten, who allegedly sexually assaulted a preteen female family member over the course of three years. Maui News.

The end of incentive programs doesn’t mean the door has closed on rooftop solar, but customers and businesses will have to start relying more on the still-growing technology of energy storage, industry experts explained at a community forum Thursday night. Maui News.

Forest City Hawaii plans to develop an affordable rental project on Maui, Pacific Business News has learned.

Using newly declassified documents, we examine the legacy of Elmer Cravalho, Maui County’s most important political leader. MauiTime.

Kauai

Proposed modifications to the TIGER Grant projects and measures amending the county’s operating budget will be discussed Wednesday during the Kauai County Council meeting. Garden Island.

The state proposes to install an aluminum bridge over a stream at Hanakapiai Valley on Kauai’s North Shore to keep hikers from trying to ford the stream during flash floods. Star-Advertiser.

When Kauai residents take to the polls on Nov. 8, they will have more to vote for than just state and county officials. Seven amendments to Kauai’s Charter, which was adopted in 1968, will appear on the ballot. Garden Island.

Ross Kagawa, incumbent, is seeking re-election. He is running on a platform that includes cutting government spending and trimming the county budget. Garden Island.

Two years ago, Kauai was the lowest in the state for incidents of property crime, according to a Crime in Hawaii Report. Garden Island.

Two more Newell’s shearwater chicks fledged from Crater Hill last week, bringing the number of babies under the care of the Pacific Rim Conservancy team to five. Garden Island.

Hawaii coalition calls for better conservation, Kenoi lawyer accuses attorney general of leaking information to TV news, raises deferred for school administrators, Maui taro farmer escapes water use fine, Hilo landfill almost full, hepatitis-tainted scallops destroyed, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Cruise ship in Hawaii prisma art © 2016 All Hawaii News

A coalition of 17 Hawaii funders of conservation projects issued a report today that says the state’s environment is under pressure and out of balance, and calls for greater attention to protection of drinking water, renewable energy and marine management. Star-Advertiser.

The biggest issue with feral cats, federal and state scientists said, is the cats’ unique ability to spread toxoplasmosis, a parasitic disease that has killed at least eight critically endangered Hawaiian monk seals, two spinner dolphins, nene geese and native birds over the past 15 years. Civil Beat.

As a Native Hawaiian living in modern Hawaii, one of the times Shad Kane truly felt connected to his ancestors was when he traveled to a remote, 140,000-square-mile area of the Pacific where islands, atolls, islets and coral reefs make up a federally protected marine monument. Associated Press.

A Board of Education committee deferred action Tuesday on proposed raises for 23 senior Department of Education executives, with some board members citing concerns about paying out across-the-board increases. Star-Advertiser.

Members of a Hawaii Board of Education committee tasked with investigating the State Public Charter School Commission are recommending a more formal review of the agency’s performance after finding a “pattern of well-founded complaints” from charter school leaders. Civil Beat.

Scallops suspected of triggering a major hepatitis A outbreak in Hawaii came from the Philippines and were served at Genki Sushi restaurants on Oahu and Kauai but not other islands, state health officials said Tuesday. Star-Advertiser.

Gov. David Ige said Tuesday he wants Hawaii to deploy more community solar projects — which give those renting or living in condominiums access to renewable energy — by 2018. Star-Advertiser.


Honolulu-Based Young Brothers, Hawaii's largest interisland shipping company, reported that interisland cargo shipping was "essentially flat" in the second quarter of 2016 compared to the same period a year earlier. Pacific Business News.

Oahu

The Pentagon agency that searches around the world for American service members missing from past wars has started a mission to recover one of the last World War II pilots still left on land in Hawaii. Star-Advertiser.

On Tuesday, the federal public defender issued a lengthy statement that blasted the Police Commission for its repeated failure to investigate the chief in a case that involves allegations that he helped frame his wife’s uncle, Gerard Puana, for the theft of their mailbox in 2013. Civil Beat.

It will take an estimated $8 billion in infrastructure upgrades alone to get Oahu to 100 percent renewable energy, a former Hawaii regulator told attendees at an energy event in Honolulu. Pacific Business News.

For the first time in 10 years, the state has reopened the wait list for Section 8 rental housing vouchers on Oahu. But the window to apply is short — just three days — and thousands are expected to apply. KHON2.

Pharmacies on Oahu saw long lines for the Hepatitis A vaccine Tuesday, a day after state health officials identified raw scallops served at Genki Sushi restaurants as the source of a Hepatitis A outbreak. Hawaii News Now.

Hawaii

Pretrial motions filed by lawyers representing Mayor Billy Kenoi in his felony theft case accuse the state attorney general’s office of leaking confidential information to a Honolulu television news outlet and claim the leaks were intended to prejudice the grand jurors who indicted the mayor and the prospective jury pool for his upcoming trial. Tribune-Herald.

Hawaii County Mayor Billy Kenoi has asked a Circuit Court judge to dismiss charges stemming from a state investigation of his alleged misuse of a county credit card. Star-Advertiser.

A lawyer for Hawaii County Mayor Billy Kenoi has made several requests to have Kenoi's theft case tossed out before he heads to trial. Associated Press.

In just 36 months, the Hilo landfill will be filled up and all garbage not recycled or composted will be trucked to the Puuanahulu landfill for disposal. West Hawaii Today.

A small group of Kukuihaele residents staged a protest Tuesday afternoon at the site of a controversial county park project. Tribune-Herald.

Building a giant telescope atop Mauna Kea will come with educational opportunities that Hawaii shouldn’t close the door to, the president of a Native Hawaiian group that supports the project said. Associated Press.

Maui
The state Commission on Water Resource Management on Tuesday voted not to impose fines against a family in ʻĪao Valley for their use of water from the Wailuku River to grow taro. Maui Now.

The Genki Sushi restaurant in Lahaina discarded about 21 pounds of raw scallops Monday night after discovering the seafood was likely linked to the recent hepatitis A outbreak at the chain's Oahu locations, state Department of Health officials said Tuesday. Maui News.

Genki Sushi in the Maui Mall is expected to reopen in December with touch-screen ordering and a double-rail sushi delivery system, a supervisor said Tuesday. Maui News.

Maui County is a step closer to acquiring more than 250 acres near the world-famous "Jaws" surf break in East Maui after a Maui County Council committee recommended approval Tuesday of a resolution to acquire the lands owned by Alexander & Baldwin. Maui News.

Kauai

Val Faford was concerned when she found out Hawaii’s Department of Health closed Genki Sushi on Monday in connection with the state’s hepatitis A outbreak. Garden Island.