Hawaii braces for economic fallout, union worries about possible furloughs, Hannemann running again for Honolulu mayor, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Lone man fishing ©2020 All Hawaii News

‘It’s Going To Be Bad’: Federal Aid Will Soon Run Out For Many In Hawaii. With the state’s largest industry shut down and federal funds soon to dry up, nothing is on the horizon to replace residents’ lost income. Civil Beat.

Pandemic Job Losses In Hawaii Curb Cash Flow To Families Abroad. Many immigrants from the Philippines have to decide between saving money to survive unemployment or sending it to relatives. Civil Beat.

HGEA says the state could still furlough workers to make up lost revenue. The head of the state’s largest public employee union said that Gov. David Ige’s administration is still considering furloughs for state workers. Hawaii News Now.

Lt. Gov. Josh Green ranks activities by COVID-19 risk level. Hawaii’s Lieutenant Governor and emergency room doctor Josh Green ranked a list of 12 common activities from low to high risk with regards to COVID-19. KITV4.

Hospitality consultant suggests diversifying tourism industry to strengthen it. Health or cultural tourism could be options, suggests Keith Vieira. KITV4.

One new coronavirus case on Maui brings Hawaii’s statewide total to 652. Hawaii Department of Health officials said today that the state’s tally of coronavirus cases has risen to 652, up one new case from Saturday. Star-Advertiser.

One New COVID-19 Case on Maui Brings Hawai‘i Total to 652; 95.7% Recovered. There was one new COVID-19 case reported today on the island of Maui, pushing Hawaiʻi’s COVID-19 case total to 652. Maui Now.

1 new case of COVID-19 from Maui County reported brings state total to 652. The state Department of Health reports 1 new case of COVID-19 from Maui County reported brings state total to 652. KHON2.

Oahu

Former Honolulu Mayor Mufi Hannemann is filing to get his old job back. Two-term former Honolulu Mayor Mufi Hannemann plans to file his nomination papers to run for mayor on Monday, the day before the 2020 election’s deadline. Star-Advertiser.

Former Honolulu Mayor Mufi Hannemann wants his old job back. Hannemann says he built a reputation for strong leadership when he was the city’s chief executive from 2005-2010 and he's ready to fix the rail project. KITV4.

Sheehan, Levinson voice frustration as they resign from Police Commission. The two most vocal members of the Honolulu Police Commission are resigning, voicing frustration at the limited power the commission has to oversee the Police Department and its chief, Susan Ballard. Star-Advertiser.

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Packed but peaceful: Black Lives Matter protesters take to streets of Oahu. Protesters in Honolulu spilled onto the streets of Ala Moana Boulevard near Piikoi Saturday, spreading the message: Black lives matter. Hawaii News Now.

'All we want is to be recognized as human beings’. David Broussard figures he was 6 or 7 years old when his parents sat him down for the talk many African American parents feel compelled to have with their sons. Star-Advertiser.

Waikiki man arrested during a protest on Kalakaua Avenue. A 29-year-old Waikiki man was arrested while he was marching with other protesters on Kalakaua Avenue on May 31. KHON2.

Local law professor reacts to George Floyd protests. Ken Lawson believes Hawaii has good police-community relations, and we need to be a model for the rest of the nation. KITV4.

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Residents, business owners fight to stop proposed Chinatown homeless station.  Hawaii's largest homeless services provider has a new plan to help keep coronavirus off the streets. It starts with buying an old building in Chinatown. Hawaii News Now.

Public swimming pools to reopen on Oahu next week. Oahu’s public swimming pools will reopen again on June 5, but ― as with nearly everything else that’s begun to reopen over the last few weeks ― things will operate a little differently once people are allowed back in the water. Hawaii News Now.

Bar owners awaiting governor’s plan for reopening. Several bar owners are expected to rally today in front of the Honolulu Liquor Commission to protest the lack of information coming from state leaders about when bars can reopen despite liquor license renewals coming due at the end of this month. Star-Advertiser.

Locals take back tourist-free Waikiki during pandemic. Growing up in Hawaii, Amber Lethem’s family avoided Waikiki, the world-famous tourist mecca. Associated Press.

Brief absence of humans shows remarkable changes in Hanauma Bay. Since March 26,  the only people entering the preserve, besides regular maintenance and security staff with the Honolulu Department of Parks and Recreation, have been teams of five or fewer scientists at a time, studying the status of coral, water quality and fish behavior during this unprecedented, visitor-free time. Star-Advertiser.

Illegal dumping plagues Sand Island State Recreational Area. The Sand Island State Recreation Area has been an urban gem for beach goers, surfers, campers and people who fish. Hawaii News Now.

Hawaii Island

Mayors unenthusiastic about vacation rentals: Hawaii County clears backlog but reopening likely months away. West Hawaii Today.

Hilo breakwater study likely to be delayed. A study investigating the possible benefits of opening a gap in the Hilo Bay breakwater will likely not happen until at least October. Tribune-Herald.

Hilo hospital to ease visitor restrictions. Nearly two months after implementing a no-visitor policy in response to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, Hilo Medical Center will begin loosening those restrictions this week. Tribune-Herald.

Waimea neighbors protest STVR: Mixed messages from Planning Department contribute to neighbors’ angst. West Hawaii Today.

Suspended and Limited Waste Disposal Services. Electronic device recycling and other programs continue to be suspended in Hawai‘i County due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Big Island Now.

Maui

New Maui County directive expedites permits for business repairs, renovations impacted by COVID-19. Maui County Mayor Michael Victorino is working with county agencies to permits for repairs and renovations for businesses affected by COVID-19. KHON2.

MRA decision-making is being put on hold for time being. The Maui Redevelopment Agency will not be making any decisions on zoning and variance requests until the County Council decides on the legality of the agency, per an agreement between Maui County and plaintiffs in a lawsuit challenging the powers of the agency. Maui News.

Mayor Victorino asks Ige to remove quarantine from interisland travel June 15. In a Facebook post Saturday afternoon, the mayor said the lifting of the quarantine would be part of the phased re-opening of businesses and operations toward economic recovery. Maui News.

Mayor Victorino Asks Governor to Lift Interisland Quarantine on June 15. Maui Mayor Michael Victorino sent a letter to the Governor David Ige today asking him to lift the 14-day restriction on interisland travelers starting June 15, 2020. Maui Now.

Maui Brewing Company Issued Warning Over Sanitizer Giveaway. The county Liquor Control Department on Tuesday handed Maui Brewing Co. a “notice of warning” after investigating the company’s made-in-house hand sanitizer and giveaway promotions. Maui News.

Maui candidates have to work around restrictions that have been keeping them from engaging voters. In an election year in which voting will be conducted for the first time in Hawaii on a mail-only basis and several key seats are up for grabs on Maui and across the state, candidates have been hard-pressed to find alternative means of engaging with constituents. Star-Advertiser.

Maui Peaceful Paddle Out for George Floyd. A peaceful Paddle Out for George Floyd was held just before sunset on the West shores of Maui on Sunday in a show of unity amid tensions nationally over the man’s death at the hands of a police officer. Maui Now.

Kauai

YB wants to stop hauling small loads. Young Brothers shipping company is seeking permission to discontinue less-than-container-load shipping of goods to and from Kaua‘i, according to a request recently submitted to the state Public Utilities Commission. Garden Island.

New strategies for business owners. As they’re struggling to make ends meet, small business owners are doing their best to take care of each other, too. Garden Island.

Hawaii's first confirmed COVID-19 death, inter-island quarantine begins, unknown number of idle state employees collect paychecks, may forego raises as economy tanks, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Hawaii beach scene in happier times ©2020 All Hawaii News

New study makes dire predictions about human toll of coronavirus in Hawaii. A new study is issuing dire predictions about the death toll in the islands from coronavirus, but the governor said the projections don’t take into account Hawaii’s 14-day mandatory quarantine for all visitors and returning residents, which went into effect last week. Hawaii News Now.

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State sees first death. An older Oahu man recently hospitalized with multiple medical issues became Hawaii’s first fatality linked to the new coronavirus as cases in the islands climbed to 224. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii Reports First COVID-19 Death. The state coronavirus infection count rose by 20 on Tuesday, and an elderly Oahu man died late Monday evening. Civil Beat.

Hawaii’s first coronavirus-related death was older Oahu man with multiple health issues. Following the state’s first coronavirus-related death in Hawaii, government and public health officials pleaded with residents Tuesday to take stay-at-home orders seriously. Hawaii News Now.

Hawaii records 1st death; Green stresses need to protect kupuna; ‘essential’ travel defined. he first COVID-19-related death in Hawaii is that of an elderly Oahu man who tested positive for the coronavirus after being hospitalized, authorities revealed Tuesday during a statewide media conference. Tribune-Herald.

Hawaii Updates: First Coronavirus-Related Death, Model Projects 374 Deaths, DOH Maps Hot Spots. Hawaii Public Radio.

Elderly O‘ahu Man First COVID-19 Victim in Hawai‘i, DOH Assures Accuracy of Test. The Hawai‘i Department of Health reported the state’s first coronavirus-related fatality Tuesday, saying the victim was an elderly male resident of O‘ahu dealing with several other health complications in addition to the virus. Big Island Now.

Older Oahu man is Hawaii’s 1st coronavirus death; total cases at 224. Gov. David Ige said Hawaii’s first coronavirus death is an older Oahu male who was hospitalized with multiple medical issues. Maui News.

Hawaii's first COVID-19 related death. State Department of Health Director Bruce Anderson said today  Hawaii has recorded its first COVID-19 related death. KITV4.

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Interisland quarantine to stem in-state spread of coronavirus starts Wednesday. A mandatory 14-day self-quarantine for interisland travelers starting Wednesday comes as Hawaii begins to address a shift in COVID-19 cases from mostly out-of-state travel-related to more in-state. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii Inter-Island Quarantine Order Signed, Detailed. Governor David Ige has officially issued a new emergency order requiring inter-island travelers to self-quarantine for 14 days. Big Island Video News.

Ige to require quarantine for interisland flyers. Questions still linger over how to enforce new 14-day self-quarantine. Maui News.

Here’s how the mandatory quarantine for inter-island travelers will work. The state’s mandatory quarantine for inter-island travelers takes effect at 12:01 a.m. Wednesday. Hawaii News Now.

Hawaiian Air scales back service, offers free interisland flights to health care workers. As a new, interisland 14-day mandatory quarantine goes into effect, Hawaiian Airlines is further reducing its flight schedule. Hawaiian says it will provide a total of 16 daily round-trip flights between the neighbor islands, starting Saturday, April 4. Hawaii News Now.

Mandatory quarantine for inter-island travelers to take effect April 1. Starting April 1, a new state mandate ordering inter-island travelers to undergo a 14-day quarantine will go into effect. KHON2.

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Leaders don’t know how many state workers are getting paid to do nothing. One of Hawaii’s biggest employers — state government — is trying to determine how it can have more workers be productive amid prohibitions on less essential work that can’t be done with social distancing. Star-Advertiser.

As economy weakens, state lawmaker says public worker raises could be in jeopardy. Pay increases for government workers, such as public school teachers and first responders, may be in limbo. State House Finance Committee Chair Rep. Sylvia Luke says the pandemic has dramatically cut projected tax revenue by 25 to 30 percent. Hawaii News Now.

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Isle tourism won’t improve until curve flattens. Hawaii’s visitor industry is under siege as COVID-19 containment measures and dropping visitor demand have slowed tourism — the largest contributor to the state’s growth — to a trickle. Star-Advertiser.

Public Defender’s Office Wants Hundreds More Hawaii Inmates Released. The Supreme Court is considering the proposed releases to avoid a coronavirus outbreak in correctional facilities. Civil Beat.

Lt. Gov. Josh Green recommends everyone wear a protective mask when they leave their home. Lieutenant Governor Josh Green is a doctor and the Hawaii COVID-19 Healthcare Liaison. He said not all masks are created equal, but something is still better than nothing. KHON2.

Hawaii’s geography and widespread testing are advantages in the COVID fight. The novel coronavirus has upended life in Hawaii and been an economic disaster, but Hawaii residents do have some unique advantages as public health officials fight to slow the local spread of the disease. Star-Advertiser.

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New State Virus Maps Have Some Geographic Breakdowns. New maps from the Hawaii health department illustrate higher concentrations of confirmed coronavirus cases in some areas. Civil Beat.

DOH releases map of COVID-19 cases by zip code. KITV4.

A closer look at how the state’s coronavirus zip code maps work. An explanation Tuesday on that map released by the department of health showing cases by zip code. Hawaii News Now.

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Meadow Gold Hawai'i to close following Dean Foods' bankruptcy. Meadow Gold Hawai'i, a Dean Foods Company, is set to close according to the company. KITV4.

Honolulu Star-Advertiser Cutting Payroll Costs To Weather Pandemic. The question for already-beleaguered media outlets nationwide is when steps such as furloughs and reduced work schedules can be lifted. Civil Beat.

Oahu

Mayor Caldwell and police chief oppose release of jail inmates. Mayor Kirk Caldwell and Honolulu Police Chief Susan Ballard raised new objections Tuesday to the proposed release of hundreds of inmates from overcrowded state jails, arguing that releasing prisoners now will trigger an increase in crime at the worst possible time. Star-Advertiser.

Honolulu Mayor: Prison May Be ‘Safest Place’ To Ride Out COVID-19. Mayor Kirk Caldwell’s comments contradict the CDC and the experience of correctional facilities across the country where coronavirus is spreading rapidly. Civil Beat.

Caldwell wants Trump to stop travel to isles. Noting Hawaii’s first COVID-19-related death, Honolulu Mayor Kirk Caldwell on Tuesday emphasized the importance of everyone following state and county “stay-at-home” orders during the coronavirus pandemic. Star-Advertiser.

Honolulu’s police chief reports numbers on arrests and citations for violations of the emergency proclamation. Police are issuing more warnings than citations for violations of stay-at-home orders. Star-Advertiser.

Waikiki doctors to offer blood test that detects exposure to COVID-19. Some in the medical community call the 10 minute test a game changer that can identify people who've had the virus and have built immunity against it. KITV4.

More first responders test positive for COVID-19. The Honolulu Fire Department has confirmed that a second fire fighter from the Kalihi Uka Fire Station has tested positive for COVID-19. KHON2.

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The Queen’s Medical Center employee tests positive for coronavirus. The first employee of the Queen’s Medical Center has tested positive for the coronavirus. Star-Advertiser.

Queen’s Health Systems employee diagnosed with coronavirus. A Queen’s Health Systems employee has been diagnosed with COVID-19 at a facility, a spokesperson confirmed. Hawaii News Now.

Queen’s Medical Center confirms an employee has tested positive for the coronavirus. The Queen’s Medical Center confirms one of its workers has tested positive for COVID-19. KHON2.

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Amid pandemic, 17 homeless people move into state’s first Kauhale village. Many times, the community’s reply to plans for a property for the homeless is not in my backyard. Hawaii News Now.

Hawaii Island

West Hawaii leads in positive COVID-19 tests. West Hawaii had the majority of confirmed COVID-19 cases on the island, a state Department of Health map released Monday shows. West Hawaii Today.

Hilo Muni closed because of coronavirus. The Hilo Municipal Golf Course is closed until further notice because of the COVID-19 pandemic, the county Department of Parks and Recreation announced Tuesday. Tribune-Herald.

County Closes Hilo Muni Golf Course. The Hilo Municipal Golf Course will be closed until further notice starting on April 1, due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Big Island Video News.

Still struggling to recover from 2018 eruption, Pahoa takes another hit from pandemic. A walk through downtown Pahoa is strikingly reminiscent to 2018, when businesses struggled to stay open as many Puna residents lost their homes and visitors stayed away from the area. Tribune-Herald.

Testing demand wanes as people follow stay-at-home order. The Pahoa facility — part a network of clinics in the East Hawaii Region of the Hawaii Health Systems Corp., which also includes Hilo Medical Center, Ka‘u Hospital and Hale Ho‘ola Hamakua — is in its second week of offering COVID-19 screening and testing in the rural East Hawaii district. Tribune-Herald.

Cars Line Up For Computers, Meals At Pāhoa Schools. Families of Pāhoa High and Intermediate students picked up computers for distance learning, and meals, during the statewide school closure. Big Island Video News.

‘Emergency and humanitarian release’ sought for sex assault suspect. Counsel for a 19-year-old man accused of sexually assaulting a septuagenarian last summer at a Kawaihae campground is seeking “emergency and humanitarian release” for his client due to the COVID-19 pandemic. West Hawaii Today.

Maui

Effective Immediately, Maui Health Allows Employees to Wear Their Own Masks. Effective immediately, new hospital protocol for personal protective equipment (PPE) allows Maui Health employees and providers to wear their own masks. Maui Now.

Mayor Victorino Provides Guidance on Interisland Travel for Maui County. Maui Mayor Michael Victorino provided guidance to Maui County residents on the inter-island travel quarantine policy issued by Gov. David Ige. Maui Now.

Kauai

Visitor arrested for violating quarantine. The Kaua‘i Police Department arrested 62-year-old Dwight Anthony Tucker of Tampa, Florida, on Tuesday for violating the state’s mandatory 14-day quarantine order. Garden Island.

State officials are holding a virtual town hall meeting for Hawai‘i residents on the Zoom platform on Thursday, April 2, from 11 a.m. to 12 p.m. The list of speakers currently includes Senate President Ronald D. Kouchi, House Speaker Scott Saiki and House Finance Committee Chair Sylvia Luke, with more to come according to the announcement. Garden Island.

Farmers need pig feed. Kaua‘i pig farms aren’t getting their usual food scraps from local schools, restaurants and hotels since they’re closed due to COVID-19, and farmers are asking the community to pitch in and help keep the hogs fed. Garden Island.

Saving Hawaii's native duck, HECO denies buyout rumors, Abercrombie and Ige set debate, USEEOC: Kauai police discriminated, Honolulu Council approves $2.14B budget, new corp counsel on Hawaii Island, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Koloa maoli duck pair on Hawaii Island © 2014 All Hawaii News all rights reserved

State, federal and University of Hawaii wildlife experts are undertaking a yearlong campaign aimed at ensuring the survival of the Hawaiian duck, or koloa. The chocolate brown koloa maoli is an endangered species largely due to its cross-breeding with the introduced common mallard duck. Star-Advertiser.

The native Hawaiian duck, koloa maoli, is being pushed out of existence. The population of the duck has been declining for years, and experts said they believe only about 2,500 are left in the wild. KITV4.

Even wildlife biologists have a tough time telling the difference between the endangered koloa maoli (Hawaiian duck) and the common mallard. Cross-breeding or hybridization between the two species is the primary reason the endemic koloa is endangered. West Hawaii Today.

Two Democratic candidates for Hawaii governor plan to debate later this month at the Honolulu Japanese Chamber of Commerce. The chamber said Wednesday that incumbent Gov. Neil Abercrombie and state Sen. David Ige would be featured at a lunchtime forum at the Japanese Cultural Center June 24. Associated Press.

Hawaiian Electric Industries was never approached by any companies, nor did it receive any offers whatsoever to buy all of its shares, the head of one of the company’s subsidiaries told Pacific Business News on Wednesday, disputing a first-hand report this week to the contrary.

The university's longtime information technology chief says he's open to the possibility of dialing back scheduled tuition increases, but recognizes that many of the goals laid out in an agenda set by the Board of Regents come with a hefty price tag. Star-Advertiser.

August 9 is primary election day in Hawaii, so televised political debates will begin very soon. If the past is any guide, that is not a good thing unless you have an exceptional sense of civic duty, an enormous capacity for boredom or your remote is broken. Civil Beat.

The Race for Nationhood. Umi Perkins on what he sees as the race shaping up between Federal recognition and independence. Hawaii Independent.

Despite 88 percent of Hawaii’s public school principals reporting in a recent survey that they are dissatisfied with the leadership of Department of Education Superintendent Kathryn Matayoshi, the state Board of Education reappointed her to another three-year contract on Tuesday that goes into effect July 1. Hawaii Reporter.

Oahu

The Honolulu City Council has passed a $2.1 billion budget and more than $48 million is going to the homeless. Hawaii News Now.

The Honolulu City Council voted Wednesday to approve a $2.14 billion operating budget and $708.9 million package that avoids tax rate increases for most residential property owners, a fee for curbside garbage pickup and advertising on the sides of buses but directs $40 million toward homeless shelters and programs. Star-Advertiser.

The Honolulu City Council has boosted funding to combat homelessness for the 2015 fiscal year to $47.2 million. That marks, council members say, a new high. Civil Beat.

The Honolulu City Council passed the executive spending plan for the upcoming fiscal year that starts July 1st. Hawaii Public Radio.

The Navy said it will fly only two P-8A sub-hunting and surveillance jets out of Kaneohe Bay instead of the 18 it had contemplated at one time — meaning less jet noise for area residents. Star-Advertiser.

When the Honolulu City Council approved a $1.4 million settlement last month in the death of Aaron Torres, it was the largest payout in recent history involving the police department or its officers. Civil Beat.

Honolulu City Council member Carol Fukunaga wants to make sure that there is a mix of incomes among residents in three high-rise buildings in Chinatown that the city wants to sell to a private developer as part of a major public housing deal. Civil Beat.

The developer of the planned 801 South St. Building B condominium tower does not have to seek a new development permit for the project in Kakaako under a court order clarification issued Tuesday, but does have to halt construction. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii

An attorney pulled from within the ranks of the Office of Corporation Counsel is now the county’s top civil lawyer, following the County Council’s confirmation Wednesday of Molly Stebbins. West Hawaii Today.

The county clerk would serve for six years, under a charter amendment that squeaked through the Hawaii County Council on Wednesday. West Hawaii Today.

Hilo Medical Center is cutting staff positions and taking other cost-saving measures as it confronts a $9 million budget shortfall. Tribune-Herald.

Commentary: It looks like Puna Rep. Faye Hanohano has stirred up considerable interest in the Democratic primary race in District 4 in Puna. Hanohano, a Democrat whose controversial comments got her in hot water with her state House colleagues twice in the past 16 months, faces no less than five challengers in her primary. Big Island Now.

The estimated cost of decommissioning for what’s poised to be one of the world’s largest telescopes atop a sacred Hawaii mountain is $17.1 million. Tribune-Herald.

A judge on Wednesday lifted part of a temporary restraining order for construction work at Keauhou Bay, but left the order in place for a later phase of the project. West Hawaii Today.

Hawaii Island veterans had a chance to air long-standing dissatisfaction with the health care they’ve received through the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs on Wednesday night with Congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard. West Hawaii Today.

The owners of a 25-acre Pepeekeo site of an electrical power plant under construction are looking to be dismissed from a $35 million mechanic’s lien filed by the former construction contractor. Tribune-Herald.

Maui

Neldon Mamuad said he is not an angry man, but he believes he's found an opportunity to deny Mayor Alan Arakawa a third term in office. Maui News.

A Maui property management firm has reached a settlement with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency over lead-paint disclosure violations. The company, Destination Maui, failed to notify its tenants about the potential hazard. But what’s unusual is the terms they’ve agreed to. Hawaii Public Radio.

The state elections office released an uncertified list of candidates running in the 2014 election after the filing deadline passed on Tuesday afternoon. Maui Now.

Kauai

The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission has determined the Kauai Police Department retaliated against a veteran police officer after she reported alleged sexual harassment by an assistant chief. Star-Advertiser.

A round of Kauai County furloughs, imposed in response to the lingering economic crisis in 2010, may not have been necessary and was not planned or executed as well as it could have been, according to a county auditor’s report released Tuesday. Garden Island.

JoAnn Yukimura seeks 10th term on Kauai County Council. Garden Island.

The Kauai County Council Planning Committee opted Wednesday to defer action on a bill that would amend the county’s shoreline setback ordinance. Garden Island.

Kauai's electric utility will issue refunds to its members this month. The Kauai Island Utility Cooperative said Wednesday the money comes from funds the cooperative has left over after paying all its expenses and meeting lender expectations for financial stability. Hawaii News Now.

15K Hawaii civilian defense employees face furloughs, hepatitis alert from Costco, Honolulu fixing sewers, Hawaii County faces fee hikes, Godzilla movie cast call draws hundreds, Maui hires deer expert, Lt. Gov. Tsutsui opening Maui office, Kauai to hire cops, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

U.S. Navy Marching Band in Hilo parade (c) 2013 All Hawaii News

Nearly 15,000 civilian Department of Defense employees in Hawaii are expected to receive furlough notices by Wednesday, while employees of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration won't face any furloughs at all. Pacific Business News.

U.S. Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel has invited the defense ministers from the 10 member states of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations to meet in Hawaii next year. Pacific Business News.

The state Department of Health is investigating two cases of hepatitis A that may be linked to a frozen organic berry drink that was pulled from Costco shelves on Wednesday. DOH spokesperson Janice Okubo said one case was reported on Oahu, the other on Kauai. Star-Advertiser.

Next year's congressional elections represent the first time in 55 years that Dan Inouye won't be directly involved, either as a candidate or kingmaker. Civil Beat.

A private mainland health care provider remains interested in a possible takeover of Hawaii Island public hospital facilities, according to Hawaii Health Systems Corp. — but legislators will have to clear the way if such a public/private partnership is to occur. Tribune-Herald.

The gap between supply and demand of medical doctors in Hawaii is only going to widen in the next few years, according to University of Hawaii researchers. Garden Island.

It will have a huge impact on the future of Hawaii's farming industry. There are only a few days left for farmers to fill out the 2012 Agriculture census. KITV4.

Hawaii Gov. Neil Abercrombie is releasing more than $21.8 million for capital improvement projects for airports and highways statewide. Associated Press.

Less than five years ago, Hawaii ranked number one in the nation for the rates that youth considered suicide, planned a suicide, and actually attempted suicide. But no more, said Elaine de Mello, who helped develop a program that’s increased awareness of the crisis and lowered the rate of suicide among Hawaii’s youth. Tribune-Herald.

State roundup for June 3. Associated Press.

Oahu

Mayor Kirk Caldwell says the city is making good progress on a federal agreement requiring a major overhaul to Oahu's sewer system. Civil Beat.

Oahu skateboarders would be required to wear helmets under two separate bills scheduled to get their first airings by the Honolulu City Council on Wednesday. Star-Advertiser.

Honolulu City Council members and Mayor Kirk Caldwell have been arguing for weeks over how much public money should be set aside for nonprofit special interest groups in the new city budget. Civil Beat.

Condo Mania! The nearly 5,000 units planned for Honolulu’s urban core are expected to meet pent-up demand — or could even fall short. Star-Advertiser.

A "community paramedic" program intended to reduce overuse of ambulances by chronic 911 callers has been dropped by the new city administration, but the state hopes to start a similar effort. Star-Advertiser.

Hundreds of aspiring actors and film extras braved long hours and lines Sunday along Pohukaina and Keawe streets for a shot at being cast in the "Godzilla" remake reportedly planned to be filmed this summer on Oahu. Star-Advertiser.

More than 1,000 people vie for a chance to be in Godzilla movie. KHON2.

After seven years, the city of Honolulu is set to remove the large black sewage pipe that snakes along the bottom of the Ala Wai Canal and out toward the mouth of the boat harbor, adjacent to Waikiki’s famous beaches. Civil Beat.

A metallic graduation balloon is to blame for a power outage that affected nearly 2,000 customers in Waipahu overnight, according to the Hawaiian Electric Company. Hawaii News Now.

It wasn't the 95-percent-off, everything-must-go sale that brought 57-year-old Ray Feguis to the Ala Moana Center Sears last night. It was the opportunity to say goodbye to an old friend. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii

The Hawaii County Council signed off on Thursday on Mayor Billy Kenoi’s proposed operating budget for next year, but county residents get another chance to weigh in on proposed tax and fee increases. On Tuesday, the council’s Finance Committee picks up Kenoi’s recommended increases to the vehicle weight tax, minimum vehicle tax and yearly registration fee. West Hawaii Today.

Hawaiian Electric Companies are targeting four goals in their latest round of long-term planning: lowering customers’ bills, creating a clean energy future, modernizing the companies’ grids and fairness. West Hawaii Today.

Sections of wall, about 12 feet high and 8 feet wide, slotted together like pieces in a jigsaw puzzle Thursday morning, as construction workers erected the main building at Kaiser Permanente’s new Kona clinic. West Hawaii Today.

Maui

A Maui County Council committee held off hiring private attorneys Friday to look into an allegation brought forward by a council member over the potential misuse of public funds to demolish the Old Wailuku Post Office. Maui News.

Perhaps as early as this week Lt. Gov. Shan Tsutsui will officially have an office on Maui in the county's Kalana O Maui building. Maui News.

Lieutenant Governor Shan S. Tsutsui formally announced his candidacy to continue serving the state of Hawaii in his current capacity. Maui Now.

In the struggle against one of the island's most disruptive animals, the Maui Axis Deer Working Group has hired a full-time coordinator to lead the charge against the invasive species. Maui News.

Last month, the Women's Health Center at Molokai General Hospital received a $133,232 grant from the state Office of Hawaiian Affairs to fund a new prenatal program to focus on promoting care in the first trimester of pregnancy. Maui News.

The Central Maui Landfill caught fire Sunday afternoon. Hawaii News Now.

Kauai

More than 20 years after Hurricane Iniki blew the life out of the iconic Coco Palms Resort, its property owners are still hopeful of finding the right developers to return the former Wailua beachfront hotel to its former glory. Garden Island.

A plan to replace future police vacancies along with a plan to fill remaining open spots was an issue raised at the County of Kauai Police Commission meeting on Friday. Garden Island.

Early fundraising shows Hirono leading Case, Hanabusa, Hawaii County employees face monthly furloughs, Kauai garbage fee going up, green energy abounds and more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Mazie Hirono

U.S. Rep. Mazie Hirono and former Congressman Ed Case had strong fundraising performances over the past three months in the Democratic primary campaign for U.S. Senate, according to their campaigns, but Hirono has the early cash advantage. Star-Advertiser.

Ed Case

The final numbers won't be official until late Friday, but preliminary data provided to Civil Beat show U.S. Rep. Mazie Hirono leading her top Democratic rivals in fundraising for the U.S. Senate race. Civil Beat.

Gov. Neil Abercrombie has signed a bill into law that could make it easier for the cash-strapped state to renovate aging facilities or construct new buildings. KITV4.

A food safety plan passed by lawmakers has been vetoed by the governor.  Hawaii News Now.

In a stunning reversal of his recent, publically-stated intent to veto Senate Bill 1511, Governor Abercrombie signed into law the bill, which will increase lease terms for offshore factory fish farms in Hawaii’s waters from 35 to 65 years. Hawaii Independent.

The state's largest public-sector labor union has agreed to once-monthly furloughs in a separate deal signed Thursday with Hawaii County. West Hawaii Today.

First Wind LLC has completed an environmental impact statement for a proposed 70-megawatt wind energy project on former sugar cane land northeast of Haleiwa that would be the state's largest, generating enough energy to supply 14,500 homes. Star-Advertiser.

The Public Utilities Commission ordered Hawaiian Electric Co. Thursday to seek new bidders to develop half of the large-scale wind energy project proposed for Molokai and Lanai. Star-Advertiser.

Freezing water to make ice in Hawai’i is one of the most energy intensive businesses in the state. Hawaii Public Radio.

A group of local investors is among several on Maui trying to harness the sun's power with the latest technology, photovoltaic, to create enough electricity to power hundreds of homes and businesses without making so much as a puff of smoke, said Doug McLeod, Maui County's energy commissioner. Maui News.

A county trash collection fee for property owners went into effect July 1, adding a few dollars per month to real property taxes. Garden Island.

The hassle of waiting in long security lines will soon be a thing of the past for some Hawaiian Airlines travelers. KHON2.

Authorities now have more resources to help find missing people - two dogs donated to Big Island and Oahu police. KHON2.

They may look cute and cuddly. But don't be fooled by their friendly and playful demeanor.Hawaii News Now.

The number of reports of coqui frogs on O'ahu has doubled in the last year, after more than half the island's agriculture inspectors were laid off. KHON2.

The Big Island Visitors Bureau announced plans for the Big Isle to reclaim its rightful name, and the word "the" would play a central role. No longer will residents live, work and play on "Hawaii's Big Island." From now on, it's "Hawaii, the Big Island." Tribune-Herald.

A Maui accountant who led a long-running Ponzi scheme that cost his investors $8 million was sentenced Wednesday to serve nearly 12 years in federal prison without the possibility of parole. Maui News.

Kaiser Permanente’s ranked highest in employer satisfaction in the 2011 J.D. Power and Associates U.S. Employer Health Insurance Plan Study for its fully-insured commercial health plan, Kaiser announced Thursday. Pacific Business News.

A nonprofit West Hawaii health clinic, started several years ago to recruit doctors to the Big Island, recently earned a profit and is reportedly on the turnaround. West Hawaii Today.

City Transportation Services Director Wayne Yoshioka says the city is not setting a precedent by moving a Kapiolani bus stop because of complaints about a homeless woman who had taken up residence at the shelter near Keeaumoku Street. Star-Advertiser.

First furlough Friday for local governments today, Akaka told to hurry on Hawaiian recognition, Big Island papaya farmer hit hard by vandals, new cruise ship coming, more news from around the isles

U.S. Sen. Daniel Akaka has been advised he must act quickly on a native Hawaiian federal recognition bill or lose the chance to bring it to a vote before the November elections change the political composition of the Senate. Star-Advertiser.

There are two words in our language that can be used to mean independence: kuokoa and ea. Civil Beat.

Lt. Gov. James "Duke" Aiona called yesterday for a "comprehensive, independent" audit of the state Department of Education and said if elected governor he would make sure schools get 90 cents out of every dollar that goes to the department Star-Advertiser.

It's already turning into a heated battle. The democratic candidates for governor continue to point fingers at each other. Hawaii News Now.

A bill banning all consumer fireworks advanced out of the City Council Public Safety and Services Committee by a vote of 3-0. A public hearing on the measure before the full Council is set for July 14. Star-Advertiser.

A Big Island farmer is devastated by the destruction of thousands of his papaya trees at the hands of vandals. Hawaii News Now.

The first image to come out of Mauna Kea's newest telescope doesn't amount to much, from a scientific standpoint.Tribune-Herald.

Carnival Cruise Lines said it plans to offer two California-to-Hawaii round-trip voyages next year and the year after. KITV.

Property tax rates for homeowners and other categories will go up, landfill tipping fees will increase and it will be a little more expensive to play a round of golf at the Waiehu Municipal Golf Course, starting today. Maui News.

First it was the state, now it's the city's turn. KHON2.

Starting Friday, residents will find most Hawaii County government offices closed on the first and third Fridays of every month, as the county struggles to balance its budget in a sour economy. West Hawaii Today.

In union-employer negotiation parlance, what the forced Friday off today for many county employees is known as is a “give back” or “concessionary takeaway.” Garden Island.

Mayor Charmaine Tavares announced that all County of Maui civil service and appointed employees, excluding uniformed police and fire department employees under separate collective bargaining agreements, will be furloughed 12 days in the next fiscal year, July 1, 2010 to June 30, 2011. Lahaina News.

Wayne Meadows said he's at a satellite City Hall nearly every day for his business as an auto dealer, sometimes more than one in a day. By law he's allowed only two title transfers a day per location. KITV.

Plans are moving forward for two new condo projects in the Ala Moana-Kakaako Area. KHON2.

Ranch Attempts to Legalize Water System. Molokai Dispatch.

The state's Natural Area Reserve System would grow by 6,600 acres under a proposal to incorporate most of the former Kulani Correctional Facility for research and species preservation.Tribune-Herald.

Just as DW Aina Lea representatives are set to argue before the state Land Use Commission their project is moving forward, contractors working on the project say they haven't been paid in months. West Hawaii Today.

A lawsuit seeking to remove Lanai Council Member Sol Kaho'ohalahala from office will go to trial next month, after a judge on Wednesday said he would not make an immediate ruling on the case. Maui News.

Mayor Bernard P. Carvalho Jr. said he still intends to site a residential, adolescent, drug-treatment facility on the island before year’s end. Garden Island.

DOE administrators seek big pay hikes as Furlough Fridays end, Honolulu crime up, Maui water deal struck, Big Island land sale pau, more top state news

Starting in July, the salaries of Hawaii's top secondary public school administrators could go up, including the state superintendent's — to as high as $240,000 from $150,000.

With only one more day of class left in the school year, Governor Lingle announced today that school furloughs are over.

Furlough Fridays at Hawai'i public schools are a thing of the past

After enduring a school year cut short by 17 Furlough Fridays, public school students and their parents, along with principals, teachers and other education officials, head into next year with a complete academic calendar once again.

What started last September as a breakthrough by Gov. Linda Lingle and educators to reduce labor costs and help with the state's budget deficit ended yesterday with a face-saving compromise to cancel teacher furloughs and return students to the classroom for a full calendar next school year.

Furlough Fridays are over. Governor Linda Lingle made the announcement around 4:15 in a press conference Tuesday afternoon at the State Capitol.

As you might expect, most parents are thrilled to see the school furlough saga come to an end, although many are wondering why Hawaii's leaders couldn't figure it out months ago.

Frozen Investments Could Have Helped Solve State Budget Crisis

Gov. Linda Lingle on Tuesday afternoon announced the state has reached an agreement to end school closures on furlough days next year.

Gov. Linda Lingle on Tuesday spent a little more than an hour with supporters of civil unions in a private meeting in her office. The legislation would provide rights similar to marriage to unmarried couples.

Property crime in Honolulu increased 5 percent in 2009, ending a six-year streak of declining offenses in the category. Authorities said the increase is disappointing, but probably won't jeopardize Honolulu's standing as the nation's safest large city.

Once it was Cash for Clunkers. Now it's rebates for refrigerators, and the chance to save $250 while going green is proving just as irresistible to Hawaii consumers.

On the day new U.S. Rep. Charles Djou was formally sworn into office in Washington, D.C., a handful of candidates offered their services as potential candidates to fill out the remainder of his term on the City Council.

State Commission on Water Resource Management members reached a historic compromise late Tuesday night, returning some water to six East Maui streams, but leaving both sides in the water dispute dissatisfied.

Mayor Billy Kenoi took the offensive Monday, calling a news conference urging the Hawaii County Council to make public its budget-cutting plans.

With the administration giving up for now on selling Hamakua lands, one councilman wants to revoke the county's authority to do so without future council approval.

A hearing on the voter registration of Maui Council Member Sol Kaho'ohalahala will be held in Lanai City today

Koloa and Po‘ipu house some of the richest archaeological sites in the entire state. Despite widespread development, new sites are still being discovered there.

Feds say teachers can work for free, Big Island mayor says tax the rich, new electric car plant coming to Oahu, Neighbor Islands struggle with budgets, state to sell fishponds, more Hawaii news

Feds: Union Wrong, Teachers Can Work Legally For Free

A South Korea-based company has committed to build a $200 million assembly plant on O'ahu that would turn out two-seat electric cars and other vehicles and employ as many as 400 people.

A South Korea-based auto manufacturer announced yesterday its plans to build Hawaii's first car assembly plant.

Unable to reach an agreement after threatening legal action in March, conservationists and cultural practitioners are suing the St. Regis Princeville Resort for the hotel’s alleged failure to mitigate deaths and injuries of rare Hawaiian seabirds, according to a Thursday press release.

In less than two months, two stealthy F-22 Raptor fighters will fly from Utah to Hickam Air Force Base.

Frustrated by a divided local party, national Democratic groups that have spent more than $300,000 on ads and phone calls in attempts to weaken Republican Charles Djou's campaign for Congress appear ready to pull out of the battle.

Colleen Hanabusa has power.

State plans to auction ancient fishponds

The state Department of Transportation is ordering a contractor to restore a damaged stream on Oahu's north shore.

A Seattle-based firm that planned to ship hundreds of tons of the city's trash to the Pacific Northwest has been fined $40,400 by the state for illegally storing waste.

Marybeth Yuen Maul, 85, who served as an attorney and judge on Molokai for nearly 40 years, died April 23 in Eugene, Ore.

The number of homes resold on Oahu in April climbed compared to the same time last year and the previous month, according to the Honolulu Board of Realtors.

Tax rates for the county's wealthiest property owners could spike as much as 31.5 percent under a "cautiously optimistic" budget proposed Wednesday by Mayor Billy Kenoi.

The Hawaii County Council voted Wednesday night to delay the start new energy efficiency building standards to June 15, pending mayoral approval.

Partial funding for Hawaii County's two bands, extended transfer station hours and higher property tax rates are all part of the amended spending request Mayor Billy Kenoi gave to lawmakers Wednesday.

A proposal to increase water rates, particularly for agricultural users, met opposition during a public hearing before Hawaii County's Water Board on Wednesday at King Kamehameha's Kona Beach Hotel in Kailua-Kona.

Concerns about loss of conservation land, the impact of airplane noise above a development and a developers' broken promises were reiterated at a state Land Use Commission meeting Wednesday.

Even as they furlough employees, close pools and raise property tax rates to cope with a major decline in revenues, Maui County officials expressed frustration that more than $19 million in potential collections are frozen due to a backlog in property tax appeals.

Maui County will hold its first property tax foreclosure auction in more than 13 years later this month.

Recycling, The Kaua‘i Bus, lifeguards, the county auditor and other topics were on the minds of Kauaians at the last County Council public hearing on the county operating budget before Mayor Bernard Carvalho Jr. today delivers his final version to councilmembers.

Kilauea on the move, garbage shipments delayed, special session averted, more Hawaii news

The U.S. Geological Survey's Hawaiian Volcano Observatory says that dozens of small lava flows have moved down the pali and across the coastal plain of Kilauea's south flank in the past several weeks.

Everyone who testified Wednesday about the state Department of Land and Natural Resource's proposed rule changes that will allow the department to go forward with its Recreational Renaissance plan did so with reservations or opposition to the plan.

The state Board of Education last night approved 95 schools' requests to convert teacher training days into instructional days, an action that restores as many as six classroom days that would have been lost because of staff furloughs.

Hawaii State Representatives have caucused, and say there will be no special session over furlough days at schools.

About 75,000 children and at least 10,000 staff and faculty members have been vaccinated in this year's seasonal flu school clinics, and state health officials hope to see the turnout repeated in H1N1 school clinics starting next Friday.

A faith-based community group marched on Honolulu Hale yesterday, calling for the mayor to create a policy and a department to deal with a widespread housing crisis on Oahu.

The first shipment of garbage will be sent from Oahu to the mainland about two weeks later than originally planned because the trash facility ran into some startup problems and had to shut down for nearly half its first month of operations.

Furloughs and other economic concerns dominated an informal public meeting Wednesday night with state lawmakers.

A potentially deadlocked Hawaii County Council unanimously agreed Wednesday to let absent Council Vice Chairwoman Emily Naeole be the tiebreaker on two hotly contested measures relating to land sales.

Planning consultant Chris Hart has announced he will run for mayor of Maui County in 2010.

A request from the county Office of Boards and Commissions to destroy audio recordings of meetings after they are transcribed into minutes and approved was withdrawn Wednesday, but could return to the Kaua‘i County Council’s agenda.

Top Hawaii Headlines: Thursday morning edition

State and union negotiators meet with one main goal in mind, to reach new government worker contracts without furloughs or layoffs.

Gov. Linda Lingle yesterday defended her furlough plans for state workers from an objection by the federal Social Security Administration.

Four employee unions and the state have fewer than two weeks to come to an agreement on how to cut $688 million n spending to ease the budget deficit.

Hawaii's congressional delegation is asking Gov. Linda Lingle to reconsider her decision to furlough state workers who are paid with federal funds, especially those who process claims for disabled residents and military personnel.

Hawaii County employees will avoid furloughs or layoffs threatened against their state counterparts under unprecedented action announced Tuesday by the state Council of Mayors.

Honolulu Prosecutor Peter Carlisle and City Council Chairman Todd Apo are seriously looking at the possibility of running for Honolulu mayor if Mayor Mufi Hannemann steps down to run for governor.

An Oahu grand jury indicted a tenured math professor at the University of Hawaii at Manoa yesterday for arson in a case that his colleagues call a tragedy reminiscent of the movie "A Beautiful Mind."

North Korea is reportedly preparing to fire a long-range ballistic missile toward Hawaii early next month.

Hawaii County residents spoke unanimously Tuesday -- this isn't the time to change council committee chairmanships and last-minute resolutions isn't the way to do it.

Puna Councilwoman Emily Naeole was made the council's new vice chairwoman on a 5-4 vote Tuesday following nearly eight hours of testimony, debate and bickering.

A friendly crowd filled an elementary school cafeteria Tuesday night to speak in favor of locating the Thirty Meter Telescope in Hawaii

Maui County Council members took steps Wednesday that could lead to the long-anticipated curbside pickup of residential recycling items such as glass, cans, newspapers and plastic.

Top Hawaii Headlines: Monday morning edition

While it may be easy to buy potted plants at a garden center, successful gardeners know the secret to a bountiful harvest starts by selecting plants known to grow well locally.

Chef Chai Chaowasaree said Saturday that he would love to have more locally produced items, but in Honolulu they have a hard time getting them.

Hawai'i's first construction project using federal stimulus money is now under way at Kahului Airport.

They maintain telescopes on Mauna Kea, work in state laboratories and on oceanographic research ships. They are state workers, but their money comes from grants from the federal government and other sources outside the state

Local recording artist Anuhea is asking for the public's help after she had two prized guitars and a laptop stolen from her truck Sunday morning in Waikiki.

Work began on Sunday to restore the Falls of Clyde. And for the first time in recent history, the old ship flew her flag in Honolulu Harbor.

The Hawaii County Council may have an internal shakeup Tuesday that would make Emily Naeole the vice chairwoman, reassign council committee heads and reduce the number of committees from seven to five.

The owners of a Hilo apartment building haven't been receiving a tax break after all, says Hawaii County's property tax administrator. Stan Sitko admits his staff incorrectly left the Hale Haumana apartment at 1452 Kinoole St. off tax rolls, but said that oversight has been fixed and won't cost the county any money.

Maui Electric Co.’s sales, measured in kilowatt-hours, are down nearly 10 percent this year, a drop that tracks closely with declining visitor arrivals, said company President Ed Reinhardt.

The good news is that Graham McCumber, 24, one of the Big Island residents seriously affected by the rat lungworm disease, is home and is recuperating nicely. But it's a long road.