Northwestern Hawaii Islands eyed for commerce, net neutrality at issue, governor praises Nimitz homeless cleanup, attorney general probes state mental hospital, Kauai’s Na Pali Coast cleared of squatters, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Papahanaumokuakea Northwest Hawaii Islands

Should Papahanaumokuakea Be Open For Business? GOP lawmakers want restrictions lifted on fishing, mining and energy exploration — even though experts say there is no oil and gas there. Civil Beat.

Hawaii Lawmakers Call on FCC to Protect Net Neutrality. Hawaii lawmakers are among those voicing concerns with the Federal Communications Commission’s plan to dismantle landmark net neutrality rules. Maui Now.

Six investigators from the state Attorney General’s Office are looking into how killer Randall Saito escaped from the Hawaii State Hospital in Kaneohe on Nov. 12 and made his way to Maui and then California while officials at the psychiatric hospital waited 10 hours to notify authorities, Gov. David Ige said Tuesday. Star-Advertiser.

They're dirty and they know it': Hawaii State Hospital worker speaks out about killer's escape. A Hawaii State Hospital employee is speaking out about the escape of a psychopathic killer from the facility, saying it underscores the need to "clean house."  Hawaii News Now.

One Senator’s Prescription For Making The State Hospital Safer. Officials say they’re already taking steps to make the facility more escape-proof by adding fences and suspending patient privileges. Star-Advertiser.

Another mental patient is on the run from state custody. Prior to the highly publicized Nov. 12 escape of Hawaii State Hospital patient Randall Saito, acquitted of murder by reason of insanity, another patient under Department of Health custody disappeared, and he remains on the run. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii Has Fewer Certified Teachers This Year. Board of Education members want state officials to rethink how they plan to recruit and retain new teachers in the long run. Civil Beat.

HECO, University of Hawaii partner to develop new renewable energy tariff. Hawaiian Electric Cos. and the University of Hawaii have joined forces to create a renewable energy initiative that could help the university achieve its net-zero energy goal and bring more renewable energy resources online. Pacific Business News.

Oahu

Massive viaduct cleanup complete. It cost the state $516,000 to remove 180 homeless people, their belongings and trash from below the H-1 freeway viaduct last month in what Gov. David Ige described Tuesday as a “new approach” to addressing homeless encampments on state land. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii DOT

Crews wrap up Nimitz Viaduct clean-up, hauling out 4M pounds of trash. After nearly a month, the state says it's wrapped up a massive clean-up of entrenched homeless encampments under the Nimitz Viaduct. Hawaii News Now.

Gov. Ige: Clean-up of homeless camp on Nimitz Hwy. complete. Gov. David Ige announced Tuesday that a clean-up of a massive homeless encampment under the Airport Viaduct on Nimitz Highway is complete. KITV.

State promises regular enforcement to keep homeless out of restricted areas. The state is touting significant progress in keeping the homeless out of public areas, saying the pieces are in place to enforce the law. KHON2.

Kahauiki Plantation-Style Village: Jobs First. Hawai’i’s first public-private rental housing project for homeless families should be completed in 2 months. Hawaii Public Radio.

Advocates in 'race' to keep pimps from preying on homeless teens. Youth outreach experts in Waikiki are battling the clock to reach homeless teenage girls before they fall into prostitution as a way to survive. Hawaii News Now.

20 arrested as police raid suspected game rooms in Punchbowl area. Honolulu police conducted a crack-down on illegal gambling operations in a Punchbowl neighborhood on Saturday, arresting at least 20 people for various warrants and gambling-related offenses. Hawaii News Now.

Former city worker gets jail and probation in sex assault. Fired city parks groundskeeper Harold Villanueva Jr. insisted at his sentencing in state court for misdemeanor sexual assault Tuesday that he did not grab the victim’s buttock. Star-Advertiser.

City asks governor to hold off on Airbnb tax deal. Mayor Kirk Caldwell said the city reached out to the governor, to ask that he not rush into any deal with Airbnb, to collect taxes until the city can come up with a possible enforcement fix. KITV.

Hughes Corp. sues over alleged deficiencies in Waiea tower. As the first residential tower in a proclaimed model 21st-century urban Honolulu community, the ultraluxury Waiea high-rise was supposed to be a showcase for Ward Village. Star-Advertiser.

Oahu solar permits declined 16% in October. In October, the city Department of Planning and Permitting issued 307 permits for solar electric systems, down from 367 in the same month last year, a drop of 16 percent. Star-Advertiser.

Three-bedroom homes on Oahu accounted for nearly half of all single-family home sales so far this year, and more than a third of those three-bedroom homes sold in 2017 were bid up over asking price, an increase of 8 percent from last year, according to a mid-month report by Locations. Pacific Business News.

Demand high for three-bedroom homes on Oahu. Hawaii's housing market remains hot especially for three-bedroom homes. KITV.

Ward Warehouse’s demolition yields a trove of materials for reuse. Storefront doors, restaurant kitchen sinks, light fixtures, railings and maybe even a worn trolley car from inside the former Old Spaghetti Factory are among items being salvaged by Re-Use Hawaii, a nonprofit that recycles construction materials. Star-Advertiser.

Shuttered Snappers seeks protection from creditors. A more than 25-year-old Waikiki sports bar that had been trying to deal with disruptive sewer and storm drain flooding along with a federal sexual harassment lawsuit has filed for bankruptcy after closing two weeks ago. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii Island

New 3rd Circuit Court Judge Robert Kim sworn in; heavy caseload ahead. New 3rd Circuit Court Judge Robert D.S. Kim won’t spend his first day meeting co-workers, mingling and filling out HR paperwork — quite the opposite. West Hawaii Today.

Company to expand amphibious tours. Big Island Duck Adventures, a Kailua-Kona company, considers adding more tours on the windward side. Tribune-Herald.

Reporter to be honored for breaking story about former Mayor Billy Kenoi.  West Hawaii Today government reporter Nancy Cook Lauer is being honored for her work in breaking the story of former Mayor Billy Kenoi’s misuse of a county-issued credit card, known as a pCard. Associated Press.

Maui

The Maui Police Department is conducting a citizen survey to evaluate the public’s attitudes and opinions pertaining to the level of law enforcement services currently provided. Maui Now.

Flood-ravaged Iao Valley to finally reopen Wednesday. Just more than a year after major flooding wreaked havoc on parts of the Iao Valley State Monument on Maui, state officials say the park is set to reopen on Wednesday – nearly a month ahead of schedule. Hawaii News Now.

Man accused of harassing interracial teen couple. Two teenagers testified they were “shaken” and “scared” when a stranger used a racial slur and yelled at them while they were waiting for food at a Pukalani restaurant earlier this year. Maui News.

Kauai

Sweeps show improvement in Kauai’s Kalalau Valley. During their latest sweep of Kauai’s Kalalau Valley, state conservation officers cited three campers without permits, dismantled a squatter camp and spotted a handful of illegal camps hidden in the forest. Star-Advertiser.

State’s consistent enforcement cleans up Kalalau. Fewer people are squatting in Kauai’s Na Pali Coast State Wilderness Park than there were a few months ago. Garden Island.

Beach, trail cleanups set Saturday. Surfrider Foundation Kauai Chapter and B*RAD Foundation are hosting a cleanup at Donkey Beach, north of Kapaa. Garden Island.

Molokai

Over the next week the voyaging canoe Hokulea is in Molokai as part of its "Mahalo Hawaii" sail. KITV.

University of Hawaii enrollment drops, bankruptcy filings rise, Honolulu Fire Department fined in Marco Polo fire, 91-year-old heiress Kawananakoa marries partner, gambling devises seized in Maui raid, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

University of Hawaii at Hilo © 2017 All Hawaii News

Enrollment at most University of Hawaii campuses dropped this year, as some community colleges appear to be losing students to the workforce in a tight labor market. Star-Advertiser.

Enrollment at the University of Hawaii at Hilo and Hawaii Community College is down again this fall, though HCC’s Palamanui extension campus in Kailua-Kona saw a slight increase. Tribune-Herald.

Hawaii bankruptcy filings increased in September for the second time in three months as evidence continued to mount that growth in the economy is slowing. Star-Advertiser.

Special Interests Spend Big On Their Lobbyists. Ethics Commission reports provide some details about what Hawaii’s professional persuaders spend, and what they earn. Civil Beat.

Hawaii’s Surprising Number Of Lobbyists. It doesn’t take a whole lot to satisfy the state’s legal definition of a lobbyist. Civil Beat.

The State Of Coral In The Northwestern Hawaiian Islands. A scientific expedition that just wrapped up collected information expected to help understand how reefs are faring in the face of climate change. Civil Beat.

Oahu

The Honolulu Fire Department said Monday it is working with the state to ensure workplace safety after it was cited for not following proper safety procedures and exposing firefighters to asbestos in the deadly blaze at the Marco Polo condominium. Star-Advertiser.

The state has cited and fined the Honolulu Fire Department thousands of dollars in connection with the deadly Marco Polo fire. KHON2.

A toxic mix of severe overcrowding and frequent lockdowns was apparently at the heart of a melee involving as many as 18 inmates at the Oahu Community Correctional Center over the weekend. Civil Beat.

North Shore Food Trucks Are Under Fire From Environmentalists. A petition seeks to force the city to enforce land use and coastal zone management laws designed to protect marine areas from overuse. Civil Beat.

The Princess Bride: Hawaiian Heiress Gets Married Amid Legal Dispute. Abigail Kawananakoa, 91, weds Veronica Gail Worth, who is at the center of a battle over control of millions of dollars. Civil Beat.

Campbell Estate heiress Abigail Kawananakoa, 91, married her longtime partner and private secretary, 64-year-old Veronica Gail Worth, in a private ceremony in Manoa Sunday. Star-Advertiser.

A police officer who accidentally shot a bartender at a King Street Kings Sport Bar two years ago has settled a lawsuit by the victim. Hawaii News Now.

Displeased with a change in hours at the University of Hawaii at Manoa's Sinclair Library, a student group protested the new hours early Monday morning. Hawaii News Now.

Two separate reports on apartment rents have stated the obvious – that Honolulu has some of the highest rents in the nation for one- and two-bedroom apartments – but Apartment List and Zumper differ on where Hawaii’s largest largest city ranks. Pacific Business News.

The highest price paid for a residential condominium in Hawaii has now topped $20 million. A buyer on Friday closed on a purchase at Park Lane Ala Moana for a record $22 million. Star-Advertiser.

An attorney representing Brigham Young University-Hawaii tells a federal judge the school will pay $5,000 to settle a former student’s lawsuit alleging her campus job supervisor sexually assaulted and harassed her. Associated Press.

Outrigger Enterprises Group has appointed Michael Shaff as vice president of hotel operations in Waikiki and Guam. Pacific Business News.

American Savings Bank is closing its Ala Moana Center location next week, and it will consolidate the branch with its Kapiolani branch. Pacific Business News.

Hawaii Island

Well permit fees to increase tenfold.  Permit fees for drilling water wells and installing and repairing pumps will surge under new rules being considered by the state Commission on Water Resource Management. West Hawaii Today.

Keaau business owners are scrambling as the Keaau Village Market prepares to move to a new a location, with the current location to be demolished. Tribune-Herald.

The Big Island Invasive Species Committee states that rapid ohia death has been detected in North Kohala. Associated Press.

Maui

Dozens of illegal gambling machines were seized by police in a raid on Maui Monday. Hawaii News Now.

Maui police executed a search warrant, seized 25 gaming machines and arrested two people Monday morning at the Temple of the Pharaohs, whose owner has said that his Maalaea establishment is a legal skill-based video arcade that pays off in cash. Maui News.

UPDATE: Two Arrested as Result of MPD Arcade Raid. Maui Now.

Kauai

The number of residents concerned about Kauai’s General Plan has prompted the county to relocate the discussion to a larger facility. Garden Island.

Locally grown foods are popping up in school cafeterias across the state as farm-to-school programs start taking hold, and this month there’s a chance to help at Kauai’s school gardens. Garden Island.

Still no warning signs for beach bacteria, charter school probe could overhaul agency, taxpayers to foot Honolulu police chief legal bill, anti-Trump march in Waikiki, arcade owner sues over gambling sweeps, Maui to build homes for workers, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Beach-goers at black sand beach © 2016 All Hawaii News

Hawaii residents and visitors are unknowingly exposing themselves to serious health risks from chronically polluted waters in dozens of places around the islands that don’t post warning signs. Civil Beat.

An investigation into complaints lodged against the agency regulating Hawaii’s public charter schools could result in far-reaching sanctions including a halt to new campuses and removal of appointees to the Public Charter School Commission. Star-Advertiser.

The Western Pacific Fishery Management Council is wasting no time seeking financial compensation for those in the fishing industry who may claim they have been harmed by President Barack Obama’s expansion of the Papahanaumokuakea Marine National Monument in late August. Civil Beat.

Oahu

More than 1,000 demonstrators marched through Waikiki on Sunday to express their opposition to a Donald Trump presidency and to advocate for a wide variety of progressive causes they worry will be trampled when the controversial president-elect takes office next year. Star-Advertiser.

In a protest that began in a Waikiki park and ended at a hotel that bears his name, hundreds of people rallied in opposition to President-elect Donald Trump on Sunday. Civil Beat.

Demonstrators hit the streets of Waikiki Sunday evening for a massive protest against President-elect Donald Trump. Hawaii News Now.

Taxpayers will fund private representation for Honolulu's police chief in four civil cases. Associated Press.

Improvements to Oahu crime mapping tool to be discussed by city, police. KHON2.

Hawaii’s housing inventory issue will be addressed Tuesday at the second-annual Houseless in Honolulu summit. Pacific Business News.

City officials are seeking input on a draft plan proposed for transit-oriented development in Halawa. The plan outlines a vision for potentially redeveloping about 150 acres around the Aloha Stadium rail station into mixed-use communities.Star-Advertiser.

Honolulu Mayor Kirk Caldwell found broader support among voters across Oahu on his way to an easier-than-expected re-election victory over former U.S. Rep. and City Councilman Charles Djou on Tuesday. Star-Advertiser.

A new contender has entered the ownership fight over more than seven streets running through Kakaako close to where glass condominium towers are rising in Honolulu’s urban core. Star-Advertiser.

City finally taking action in Ewa’s Varona Village. Star-Advertiser.

In an effort to protect and manage a native forest and trail system on Oahu, the state has purchased 635 acres in Kalauao Valley from Bishop Museum, the state Department of Land and Natural Resources announced last week. Star-Advertiser.

$2.5M project aims to alter breakwater near Shangri La. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii

Another old hand is returning to county government. Charmaine Kamaka, who served as Parks and Recreation director under former Mayor Lorraine Inouye, is returning to that position under Mayor-elect Harry Kim. West Hawaii Today.

The Hawaii County Council will consider a resolution next week asking the state to strengthen its animal cruelty law. Introduced by Kohala Councilwoman Margaret Wille, the measure urges lawmakers in Honolulu to require owners to use a tether of at least five feet when restraining their dog. Tribune-Herald.

A Hilo arcade owner whose establishment has twice been the subject of police gambling raids is suing in an effort to stave off another potential search and seizure. Tribune-Herald.

As opioid use surges, experts urge cautious approach. Tribune-Herald.

Maui

The developer of the 304-acre Pulelehua working-class housing community in West Maui said Thursday that the project’s first phase will include the first apartment complex built on the west side in more than two decades. Maui News.

The developer of a proposed 304-acre housing community says the first phase of the project will include the first apartment complex in west Maui in more than two decades. Associated Press.

Council Member Don Couch filed an amended financial disclosure statement late last month, breaking out the rental income he and his wife received for a Waikapu home, in the wake of a review by the Ethics Board of a complaint. Maui News.

Despite being denied a special use permit in July, a zipline company that’s been operating illegally for six years is continuing to accept reservations at its property in Haiku. Maui News.

The company chosen to redevelop the Old Maui High School campus pledged Thursday night to work more with the community on its technological, educational and events center and is willing to delay the approval process for a bit to work with community members, who felt they needed more time to digest and analyze the project. Maui News.

Kauai

Fuel economy and emissions levels in new cars have surpassed Environmental Protection Agency standards for the past eight years running, and as a result the state is looking at new ways to generate revenue. Garden Island.

Belly full of plastic. New paper shows how much endangered seabirds dine on ocean debris. Garden Island.

The North Shore Shuttle, which has transported residents and visitors between Princeville and Ke‘e Beach over the last three months, will end today. Garden Island.

Coco Palms resort, featured in the 1961 Elvis Presley movie “Blue Hawaii” and destroyed in a 1992 hurricane is nearing the end of its demolition phase. Associated Press.

University of Hawaii cleared to import zika virus, Department of Education seeks contractors for $100M school cooling project, biggest RIMPAC yet coming to Hawaii, most ocean debris not from Japan, tourism chief laments Pro Bowl loss, solar capacity varies, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Dr. Vivek Nerurkar, chairman, Tropical Medicine, Medical Microbiology and Pharmacology, courtesy University of Hawaii

The Board of Agriculture voted unanimously Tuesday to allow University of Hawaii scientists to import the Zika virus to Hawaii for vaccine trials, paving the way for local researchers to join the growing clamor among companies and scientists worldwide to develop methods to control the virus, which is linked to devastating birth defects in newborns. Star-Advertiser.

The Department of Education has reopened its request for contractors to prequalify to bid on cooling projects, including the installation of air conditioners at public schools, as part of the state’s $100 million initiative to cool 1,000 classrooms this year. Star-Advertiser.

The U.S. Navy says 27 nations will participate in the world’s largest maritime exercises in coming weeks. This is an all-time high for the Rim of the Pacific exercises, which date to 1971. They drills are held every two years. Associated Press.

A study of the eight main Hawaiian Islands shows that ocean debris regularly accumulates around the archipelago, and that most of it is not linked to the March 2011 earthquake and tsunami in Japan, state officials said Tuesday. Associated Press.

U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders has picked up a superdelegate vote in Hawaii, but he still faces a steep uphill battle in his quest to overtake Hillary Clinton for the Democratic presidential nomination. Associated Press.

Hawaiian Electric Industries and Florida-based NextEra Energy each have until Friday to walk away from their $4.3 billion merger deal without paying a $90 million termination fee and up to $5 million in related expenses. Civil Beat.

Oahu is half full. Maui County is 70 percent full, and the Big Island is 38 percent. That’s how close each county is to reaching its capacity for residential solar systems that can export excess power to the grid and receive credit. Star-Advertiser.

The head of Hawaiian Electric Co., the state’s largest utility, had some choice words aimed at some in the solar photovoltaic industry, a sector that was once one of the fastest-growing industries in the state but has slowed since the ending of net energy metering. Pacific Business News.

Commentary: For the second time in just six years, a class action lawsuit brought by a group of retired state and county employees challenging what they say were unconstitutional cuts to their health benefits upon retirement is back before the Hawaii Supreme Court. Civil Beat.

Jimmy Borges, Hawaii’s gentleman of jazz, died Monday at age 80, having faced his recurring cancer with the same gutsy attitude that propelled him from hardscrabble Kalihi to the glittering stages of Las Vegas. Star-Advertiser

Hawaii jazz singer Jimmy Borges died of cancer Monday, two days before his 81st birthday and two days after he won four Na Hoku Hanohano awards. Civil Beat.

Oahu

The president of the Hawaii Lodging and Tourism Association said Tuesday the departure of the NFL’s Pro Bowl for Orlando, Florida, is a black eye to the state’s sports tourism sector. Mufi Hannemann said it will be difficult to get the game to return. Associated Press.

The Pro Bowl’s relatively low return on the $5.2 million price of bringing it to Hawaii sparked years of debate about whether the money would be better spent elsewhere. According to HTA statistics, the 2016 Pro Bowl generated $26.2 million for the state’s economy, second only to the PGA Tour, which brings in $55 million. Star-Advertiser.

Planning the future of a popular Honolulu park, by looking to its historic past. Thomas Square is set to get a major makeover, but after unveiling improvements to the public -- city leaders got an earful Tuesday evening over the plans. KITV4.

Oahu’s busiest satellite city hall and driver licensing operations at City Square will relocate two blocks to the new Kapalama Hale in the coming weeks, about nine months later than originally anticipated. Star-Advertiser.

The distributor of arcade machines, deemed gambling devices by a federal judge, and two former arcade owners pleaded not guilty Tuesday to state racketeering and gambling promotion charges. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii
More than two dozen people and groups filed to intervene in the Thirty Meter Telescope contested case by Tuesday’s deadline. The motions are scheduled to be considered during a June 17 hearing in Hilo. Tribune-Herald.

Abandoned vehicles littering the sides of Mamalahoa Highway and elsewhere throughout the island are slowly disappearing, thanks to new contracts inked last month by Hawaii County. West Hawaii Today.

A much-anticipated mauka-makai connector along Alii Drive is one step closer to reality, following final publication last month of a finding of no significant environmental impact. West Hawaii Today.

Over half of all marine debris on Hawaii Island shores is plastic, according to the results of a state wide aerial survey, and is concentrated on the southeastern tip of the island, particularly around Kamilo Point. Big Island Video News.

On Hawaii Island, 2,200 pieces of marine debris were mapped during the August to November 2015 time period. Fifty-two percent of that was plastic. Most was concentrated at Kamilo Point in Ka‘u. Tribune-Herald.

Maui

Workers are concerned about the water coming out of the faucet at a school on Maui.KHON2.

The cost of the yet-to-be-built Iao water treatment plant has grown more than 43 percent from an estimated $15 million to nearly $21.5 million. Maui News.

Mayor to discuss ongoing projects.Ongoing county projects will be discussed on the TV show “Your County with Mayor Arakawa” at 7 p.m. Wednesday on Akaku Channel 55. Maui News.

Kauai

Hawaii’s voters have chosen the people they will be sending to the Republican and Democratic national conventions this summer and Kauai has a few of her own who will be visiting the mainland to cast their votes. Garden Island.

The waters in the United States are relatively safe for swimming, according to the 2015 Clean Water Report released Thursday by the Surfrider Foundation. Garden Island.

Marine debris on the coastlines of Hawaii is predominately plastic, according to an aerial survey of the eight main Hawaiian Islands. On Kauai, the imagery analysis identified 2,878 pieces of marine debris. Nearly half of it was plastic, and most of the debris was concentrated on the eastern shores of the island. Garden Island.

Molokai

The Department of Hawaiian Home Land's refusal to pay a $15,000 bill could wind up costing taxpayers hundreds of thousand of dollars. Back in July, the DHHL hired Red Dirt Construction to build a dirt road through six miles of rugged terrain in Hoolehua on Molokai. Hawaii News Now.

Niihau

More discarded plastic, stray fishing nets and other marine debris is washing up on Niihau than on any of the other eight main Hawaiian Islands, according to a recent, first-of-its-kind study by state officials. Star-Advertiser.

Legislature kills bill to fly homeless to mainland, only DNA was recovered from Marine helicopter crash, Thirty Meter Telescope hearings officer sought, Ige defends slow response to dengue, Honolulu Mayor Caldwell grows $1.6M war chest, public opposes NextEra Hawaiian Electric purchase, Kona could beat Honolulu to bike-share program, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Sen. Gil Kahele funeral procession, courtesy Hawaii House Majority

A motorcade tribute with the body of the late state Sen. Gilbert Kahele passed the state Capitol on Tuesday and then continued its trip to Big Island locations.

Hawaii lawmakers killed a bill today that would have funded a program to fly homeless people back to the mainland, saying some people may view it as an opportunity for a tropical vacation. Associated Press.

Hawaii’s controversial program to fly homeless people back to the mainland is likely to expire at the year’s end. The Legislature adopted the three-year program in 2013, infusing it with $100,000 in state funds to buy one-way tickets to those wishing to return to their families on the mainland. Civil Beat.

A bill to exempt members of the University of Hawaii Board of Regents from a law that requires them to publicly disclose their financial interests cleared its first hurdle in the House on Tuesday. Civil Beat.

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Gov. David Ige on Tuesday defended his response to the ongoing dengue fever outbreak, following criticism from Congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard on Friday that included a call for him to declare a state of emergency. Tribune-Herald.

The stubborn outbreak of dengue fever on Hawaii island underscores the potential threat to the state from other mosquito-borne diseases like the fast-spreading Zika virus, linked to devastating birth defects in Brazil. Star-Advertiser.

Responding to Hawaii’s largest dengue fever outbreak since World War II has stretched state resources thin, an issue that the state will have to address in order to be prepared for future outbreaks, Gov. David Ige says. Civil Beat.

It’s been 3 months since the Dengue Fever Outbreak was first reported on the Big Island.   There are also concerns of it spreading to the neighboring islands.  The Governor brought the County and State responders to the Capitol for an update. Hawaii Public Radio.

Gov. Ige and other county and state officials said in a news conference Tuesday that they are continuing an “aggressive, collaborative response” to the current dengue fever outbreak on Hawaii Island. KHON2.

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The proposal for a Florida company to acquire Hawaii’s largest electric utility does not sit well with most Hawaii voters. And, when it comes to state government officials being capable of making a sound decision on the merger, people also don’t think state regulators have their interest at heart, according to a new Civil Beat Poll.

Staffing shortages and inefficient technology are hampering operations of the special-education program in Hawaii’s public schools, according to an internal audit released this week that found the program is functioning at a “marginal” level. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii lawmakers are considering dozens of proposals to regulate medical marijuana dispensaries, as well as a couple that could legalize recreational marijuana. Associated Press.

The state Health Department is going ahead with rules banning cesspools statewide even after state lawmakers rejected similar proposals last year. Hawaii News Now.

Fitch Ratings is concerned about First Hawaiian Bank’s future after BNP Paribas and has placed its support rating and long-term issuer default rating on negative watch. Pacific Business News.

Scientists have discovered four new species of algae in waters 200 to 400 feet deep at Papahanaumokuakea Marine National Monument. Civil Beat.

Oahu

Bolstered by an active fundraising effort since winning the race for Honolulu Hale three years ago, Mayor Kirk Caldwell owns a hefty $1.6 million campaign war chest to draw from as he gears up for a re-election bid. Star-Advertiser.

As of Dec. 31, Kirk Caldwell was sitting on $1.6 million for his re-election in 2016. The figure comes from the Honolulu mayor’s filing this week, which covers the past six months of 2015. Civil Beat.

Honolulu Prosecuting Attorney Keith Kaneshiro has asked FanDuel and DraftKings to stop operating their daily fantasy sports contests on Oahu, his office said Tuesday. Star-Advertiser.

The Marine Corps today clarified a statement it made Monday about remains being recovered from the Jan. 14 crash of two CH-53E helicopters off Waimea Bay, killing all 12 service members aboard. trace elements of remains, in the form of DNA, were recovered during the search and rescue phase that ended on 19 Jan. Star-Advertiser.

Trace elements of DNA have been found from Marines killed in a helicopter crash off Oahu last month, the Marine Corps said Tuesday. Associated Press.

Hawaii

Hawaii officials are looking for a hearings officer to oversee proceedings for a permit to build the Thirty Meter Telescope. Telescope officials haven't indicated whether they will pursue a new contested case hearing after the state Supreme Court in December voided the project's permit to build on conservation land on Mauna Kea. Associated Press.

If all goes as planned, Kailua-Kona could be the first community in the state to have a bike-share program. West Hawaii Today.

Several Big Island lawmakers are backing legislation that would establish seven “science and technology research subzones,” including one covering Mauna Kea’s astronomy precinct. Tribune-Herald.

A 39-year-old Department of Land and Natural Resources enforcement officer, accused of sexually assaulting a girl, was arraigned Tuesday afternoon and pleaded not guilty to five counts of sexual assault in Circuit Court in Hilo. Star-Advertiser.

A state Department of Land and Natural Resources enforcement officer accused of the New Year’s Day rape of a 16-year-old girl on a Hilo beach pleaded not guilty to all charges Tuesday. Tribune-Herald.

Maui

Virgin America airlines today announced it is expanding its service to Hawai’i with daily nonstop flights from Los Angeles International Airport to Honolulu, Oʻahu on May 5, 2016, and Kahului, Maui on June 14, 2016. Maui Now.

Maui-based Kokua Realty LLC has taken over management of the Lahaina Business Park on the Valley Isle. Pacific Business News.

"Your County with Mayor Arakawa" will be televised live on Akaku Channel 55 at 7 p.m. Wednesday. Maui News.

Kauai

Mayor Bernard Carvalho, Jr. recently returned from a trip to Washington, D.C., where he attended the 84th Winter Meeting of the U.S. Conference of Mayors. While there, the mayor also met with Hawaii’s congressional delegation and their staff as well as with federal partners. Garden Island.

In November, 10 fuzzy Hawaiian Petrel babies were taken from their mountain burrows in the Hono O Na Pali Natural Area Reserve and transplanted into artificial nesting boxes within the Kilauea Point National Wildlife Refuge. It was the first phase in a plan to establish a protected breeding colony of the endangered Hawaiian Petrel. Garden Island.

Lanai

Lanai's tourism engine restarts, and Larry Ellison turns the key. Pacific Business News.

Hawaii tourism up, copter commander fired days before deadly crash, Maui jail plans scuttled for Oahu project, lawmakers have gambling fever, inter-island ferry bill floated, zika worries add to dengue scare, airport security bribery spurs lawmaker action, mayor's deputy seeks top Hawaii County job, EPA investigates Kauai pesticide poisoning, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Rainbow over Kauai © 2016 All Hawaii News

Hawaii’s tourism industry achieved its fourth consecutive year of records for visitor arrivals and visitor expenditures in 2015, with strong momentum expected to continue into 2016. Star-Advertiser.

The Hawaii hotel market is doing well, compared to its Asia Pacific counterparts, according to a new report by Hospitality Advisors and STR Inc. Pacific Business News.

The commanding officer of the Kaneohe Bay Marine squadron, which lost 12 aviators two weeks ago in a helicopter accident, was removed from his job three days prior to the tragedy because he had failed to keep the unit operating at acceptable standards, the Marine Corps Times reported Thursday. Star-Advertiser.

Copter Commander Fired Days Before Crash. Twelve Marines were killed in the Jan. 14 crash of two helicopters off Oahu’s North Shore, just three days after the unit’s commanding officer was removed from his post. Civil Beat.

Lawmakers in Hawaii want to make an exception to the state’s gambling ban by legalizing fantasy sports contests. Hawaii is one of two states, along with Utah, with no legal gambling. The Aloha State has some of the strictest anti-gambling laws in the country, Hawaii Attorney General Doug Chin said. Associated Press.

There’s Another Hawaii Lottery Bill. Rep. John Mizuno’s bill would direct proceeds to be used to address homelessness. Civil Beat.

Private Police Force At Hawaii Airports Draws Legislative Scrutiny Contract security guards at the state’s airports carry guns and have the authority to arrest people. But some lawmakers question whether they’re qualified to do so. Civil Beat.

Re-establishing an interisland ferry capable of carrying hundreds of passengers as well as vehicles and cargo should be a priority for Hawaii, giving residents an alternative to expensive air transportation, according to a bill introduced Wednesday by Big Island Sen. Lorraine Inouye. Maui News.

Lawmakers Debate A Lower Blood-Alcohol Limit For Drivers. The measure is deferred, but another making it illegal to smoke in a car containing minors is passed by the Senate Transportation and Energy Committee. Civil Beat.

Establishment of a law enforcement standards board is a priority for female lawmakers at the Hawaii Legislature this year. Another is that county police commissions have members experienced in women’s issues and civil rights. The 2016 Women’s Legislative Caucus package also targets domestic violence and sex trafficking. Civil Beat.

The Hawaii Department of Health is looking for ways to beef up its staffing and expertise for responding to mosquito-borne viruses like dengue and Zika, following a report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention pointing out “critical deficiencies” at the agency. Civil Beat.

After months battling the dengue virus, Hawaii health officials now are wary of another mosquito-borne virus that is sweeping through the Americas and has been linked to brain damage in thousands of babies in Brazil. Tribune-Herald.

Compared to other states and regions, Hawaii’s labor market is tiny. However, its growth needs to be realistic and lofty goals are not the solution, according to a panel of experts. Hawaii faces an “uphill battle” to fix its labor market, said Jack Suyderhoud, a professor of business economics at the University of Hawaii at Manoa Shidler College of Business at a “jobs for Hawaii” panel hosted by ThinkTech Hawaii on Thursday. Pacific Business News.

Oahu

Under new legislation introduced by Gov. David Ige, the price tag for building a new facility to replace the crumbling Oahu Community Correctional Center could reach nearly a half-billion dollars. Civil Beat.

A joint Senate and House committee was briefed yesterday on a proposal to move the O’ahu Community Correctional Center from Kalihi to Halawa. Hawaii Public Radio.

It’s been more than two years since building resumed on Honolulu’s rail transit system, but the project continues to cope with its earlier construction delays and those costs are proving more expensive than officials had anticipated. Star-Advertiser.

An Oahu grand jury has indicted four private security officers and traffic control officers for allegedly taking bribes from taxi and shuttle drivers at Honolulu Airport, state Attorney General Douglas Chin announced Thursday. Star-Advertiser.

An Oahu grand jury indicted four Securitas law enforcement and traffic control officers on Thursday for accepting bribes from taxi and shuttle drivers at the Honolulu International Airport, Hawaii Attorney General Doug Chin announced. KITV4.

Airport bribery scheme sparks criticism over security at state facilities. KHON2.

Burglaries on Oahu dipped to a 30-year low last year, following local and national trends of declining crime. Star-Advertiser.

Folks unhappy with the city’s decision to allow alcohol in a roped-off section of the National Football League’s Pro Bowl Beach Stadium party at Queen’s Surf Beach today and Saturday are expected to voice their objections during the event. Star-Advertiser.

Police are investigating after a dozen schools received prank bomb threats Thursday afternoon. The threats were made between 2 and 3 p.m., police said, and officers were dispatched to each school. Hawaii News Now.

Several Honolulu schools were evacuated Thursday afternoon due to a series of bomb threats. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii

Mayor Billy Kenoi’s top deputy quit his job Thursday and announced he’s running for mayor. West Hawaii Today.

Wally Lau announced his candidacy for Hawaii County Mayor on Thursday, resigning from his post as Hawaii County Managing Director. Big Island Video News.

A Department of Land and Natural Resources enforcement officer accused of raping a 16-year-old girl on a Hilo beach faces a possible 20 years in prison if he is convicted under terms requested by prosecutors. Tribune-Herald.

Hawaii County has identified revisions for a park project in Kukuihaele it hopes will better suit the community’s needs after residents expressed concern earlier this month. West Hawaii Today.

Two bills currently under review in the legislature call for $100,000 to study the impact of a small satellite launch facility on Hawaii Island. KHON2.

The number of visitors arriving by airline on Hawaii Island rose by 3.8 percent in 2015, according to preliminary data released Thursday by the Hawaii Tourism Authority. Meanwhile, cruise ship tourism foundered slightly, dropping 0.2 percent, with 225,707 visitors arriving on the Big Island by ship in 2015. Tribune-Herald.

Maui

Plans to relocate Maui’s overcrowded jail to a larger facility in Puunene have fallen by the wayside as Gov. David Ige aggressively moves forward on plans to relocate Oahu’s largest jail to the grounds of the existing Halawa Correctional Facility. Star-Advertiser.

To prevent vehicle overcrowding and safety hazards in a parking lot at 'Ahihi-Kina'u Natural Area Reserve, the state Department of Land and Natural Resources is proposing a concrete-paved, 31,000-square-foot parking lot. Maui News.

Kauai

Two government agencies are coordinating an investigation after some Syngenta workers were hospitalized last week after they were exposed to the pesticide chlorpyrifos. Dean Higuchi, Environmental Protection Agency spokesman, said his regional office was working with the Hawaii Department of Agriculture to review the incident. Garden Island.

For 2015, Kauai saw 1.16 million visitors, up 4.3 percent from 1.11 million in 2014. Garden Island.

Fuel tax hikes proposed for roads, three counties mull general excise tax increase, attorney general says fantasy sports betting illegal, military wants to beef up Kauai missile range, opposition rises to homegrown marijuana ban bill, more than 2k bills filed this legislative session, two Hawaii billionaires among world's top 10 wealthiest, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Road construction in Hawaii © 2016 All Hawaii News

In an unusual election-year move, Gov. David Ige is asking lawmakers to raise the state’s gasoline tax from 16 cents to 19 cents per gallon while also boosting the state’s vehicle registration fees and weight taxes, steps the administration expects will cost a typical motorist about $55 extra per year. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii Attorney General Doug Chin issued a formal advisory opinion Wednesday stating that daily fantasy sports contests, such as DraftKings and FanDuel, are illegal under Hawaii gambling laws, and his office is considering pursuing criminal or civil enforcement actions against companies operating the websites. Star-Advertiser.

The Hawaii Attorney General’s office issued an opinion Wednesday saying daily fantasy sports contests like those run by FanDuel and DraftKings constitute illegal gambling in Hawaii. Civil Beat.

The state Attorney General says daily fantasy sports contests, such as FanDuel and DraftKings, are illegal gambling under Hawaii law. Hawaii News Now.

Hawaii lawmakers have filed more than 2,000 new bills in the 2016 legislative session. They're racing to turn in their proposals before a legislative deadline. Associated Press.

With the high cost of incarceration, many states are increasingly turning to ankle bracelets as a more cost-effective way to supervise offenders — while freeing up space in prisons and jails. But, in Hawaii, the concept of electronic monitoring has yet to fully take hold. Civil Beat.

Hawaii state lawmakers are pushing for a new bill to make wrongdoings by officers become public knowledge. KHON2.

A bill that would ban homegrown marijuana in Hawaii is riling pot advocates as the state prepares for the opening of medical cannabis dispensaries this year. Star-Advertiser.

The people have spoken, and lawmakers have finally heard them: Hawaii’s sweltering classrooms need to cool off. How to accomplish that will be a top priority this legislative session, possibly snagging even more attention than the Hawaii State Teacher Association’s ambitious proposal for wide-ranging education reforms. Civil Beat.

A no-tipping model has been gaining popularity across the nation and Hawaii restaurants may soon jump on the bandwagon. Pacific Business News.

As of Jan. 23, approximately 13,194 Hawaii residents had signed up for coverage through HealthCare.gov during the enrollment period that began in November, according to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Pacific Business News.

Candidate filing for the elections for federal, state and county offices later this year gets underway Monday and runs through June 7, the state Office of Elections said Tuesday. Maui News.

A new report ranking all 50 states based on residents’ sense of well-being puts Hawaii at No. 1, followed by Alaska, which held the top spot last year. Associated Press.

Oahu

Oahu residents and visitors will be paying a 0.5 percent surcharge on goods and services through 2027 for the $6.57 billion rail project after the Honolulu City Council voted Wednesday to approve a five-year extension. Star-Advertiser.

The Honolulu City Council extended state funding for the rail transit project today.  But the lawmakers imposed a few restrictions on spending. Star-Advertiser.

The Honolulu City Council approved a five-year extension of a 0.5 percent general excise tax surcharge Wednesday to help cover cost overruns and lost revenues on the $6.6 billion rail project that’s currently under construction. Civil Beat.

The Honolulu City Council 7-2 vote boils down to this. For the average taxpayer, it’s not a forever tax. But it's continuing to pay a half percent more on goods and services until 2027. KITV4.

Is Rod Tam returning to politics? An outspoken and controversial figure, he spent two nights in jail in late 2011 and early 2012 for stealing city funds and violating campaign spending laws. Civil Beat.

The U.S. Navy is asking officials from government agencies that want to participate in the implementation of an agreement to update underground fuel tanks at Red Hill to sign non-disclosure agreements that would prevent them from sharing information related to procurement and national defense. Civil Beat.

Bikeshare Hawaii planned to roll out its bike rental system this month, but the start date has been delayed because of a lack of capital. Hawaii News Now.

Hawaii

A measure currently being considered by Hawaii County officials would add another half-percent to the general excise tax charged on goods and services. West Hawaii Today.

All seven members of the Big Island’s state House delegation are co-sponsoring a bill that would bolster efforts to combat invasive little fire ants. Tribune-Herald.

Extending roads across five lots between subdivisions would be enough to connect upper Puna communities and provide another route in case of an emergency, an ad hoc committee concluded. Tribune-Herald.

A pair of House and Senate bills would pave the way for privatization of Honokohau Small Boat Harbor. West Hawaii Today.

An off-duty Kona Patrol officer has been arrested and charged with the alleged assault of a 72-year-old man living above him in a Kailua-Kona apartment. Big Island Video News.

Scientists from University of Hawaii at Hilo and the San Diego Zoo, are trying to bring the Hawaiian crow back from the brink of extinction. Researchers were able to successfully sequence the genome of the bird, also known as the alala. KHON2.

Maui

ATC Makena Holdings came up against strong opposition Tuesday to its plans to develop 47 acres in the Makena Resort. Maui News.

Kauai

It was a mixed bag at the Kauai County public hearing Wednesday for the proposed one-half percent general excise tax surcharge increase. Garden Island.

Findings from N&K CPA Inc.’s audit report were in the same areas as the findings from the last fiscal year’s audit report. But the county has made progress in each of the areas. Garden Island.

The head of U.S. Pacific Command said Wednesday that the U.S. military should consider enabling an Aegis Ashore facility on Kauai to protect against North Korean missile threats. Star-Advertiser.

A school bus rear-ended a sedan on Kaumualii Highway near the Kauai Humane Society Tuesday morning. There were no injuries. Garden Island.

Lanai

Billionaire Larry Ellison, the co-founder of Oracle Corp. to bought Hawaii’s island of Lanai for $300 million, is the seventh-richest person in the world, according to a new ranking by Wealth-X, in collaboration with Business Insider, of the world’s 50 wealthiest people. Another Hawaii landowner, Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg, 31, was ranked just below Ellison at No. 8 with a net worth of $42.8 billion. Pacific Business News.

Board seeks bridge over Ala Wai, dengue closes Waipio Valley, state lawmakers mull homelessness, budget, lottery, Kasich added to GOP ballot, Maui could swap hemp for sugarcane, DLNR warned not to hire officer accused of rape, Kauai advances barking dog ordinance, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Along the Ala Wai © 2016 All Hawaii News

The Waikiki Neighborhood Board is urging the city and state to kick-start a plan to build a pedestrian and bicycle bridge that crosses the Ala Wai Canal linking Waikiki to the University of Hawaii at Manoa and nearby neighborhoods. Star-Advertiser.

Homelessness And Housing Top Legislative Agenda. Fiscal accountability is also a major concern for majority Democrats and minority Republicans as the opening of their 2016 session nears. Civil Beat.

The joint Senate and House money committees conducted another pre-session budget hearing today and lawmakers focused on homelessness -- one of the key issues in the state. Hawaii Public Radio.

Powerball mania nationally is reigniting discussions about bringing the lottery to Hawaii. Hawaii News Now.

Ohio Gov. John Kasich is the third Republican presidential candidate to land on Hawaii’s caucus ballot. The March 8 vote already includes real estate mogul Donald Trump and former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush. Civil Beat.

Growing issues with emergency sirens prompt state to take action. KHON2.

Is Hawaii Doing Enough To Oversee Commercial Tour Operators? It’s difficult for consumers to check up on tour companies, including their safety record or whether tour guides are qualified and trained. Civil Beat.

Oahu

The U.S. Labor Department has found the Honolulu Board of Water Supply violated federal labor law by routinely denying its investigators lunch breaks for a two-year period in a case that could have implications for government and private sector employers across the state. Hawaii News Now.

The head of the City Council’s Committee of Public Works, Infrastructure and Sustainability demanded answers Wednesday from the Department of Environmental Services to questions raised in a scathing report that found HPOWER’s contracts and procurement practices appear to have violated city policies and state procurement rules. Star-Advertiser.

The Honolulu City Council is closer to approving a five-year extension of a general excise tax surcharge to pay for cost increases on the municipal rail system, but there are still questions about just how much revenue will actually go to the project. Civil Beat.

The Honolulu City Council now has before it a new version of a bill that it hopes will satisfy federal funders to release needed money to pay rail contractors going forward. KITV4.

After a year of heightened debate over bike lanes in Honolulu, local transportation officials on Wednesday pitched to the public their latest plans to gradually make the city’s car-saturated urban core more bike-friendly. Star-Advertiser.

Staff at the Hawaii Youth Correctional Facility in Kailua continues to rack up hundreds of thousands of dollars in overtime pay annually even though the number of inmates at the facility has dropped to just 23 youths, down from 80 to 90 several years ago. Star-Advertiser.

SunEdison Inc. is selling three of its major solar energy farms in Hawaii that are worth $350 million to a group that includes D.E. Shaw Group, Madison Dearborn Capital Partners IV LP and Northwestern University as part of a larger effort to get rid of $336 million of its debt. Pacific Business News.

Hawaii

Hawaii County Civil Defense announced Wednesday afternoon that it had shut down traffic access to Waipio Valley as a precaution in the ongoing fight against the dengue fever outbreak. Tribune-Herald.

Hawaii County Civil Defense shut down the Waipio Valley Access Road and valley area to all traffic effective 2:30 p.m. today, and a message from the agency says the access will be limited to valley residents only. Big Island Video News.

The Honolulu Police Department recommended that the state not hire an officer who had been fired by the police force in 2012, but the Department of Land and Natural Resources did so anyway, according to information released Wednesday in a sexual assault case. Ethan Ferguson, 39, of Hilo was arrested last week and charged with multiple criminal counts for allegedly sexually assaulting a female minor while on the job Jan. 1 at a Hawaii island beach park. Star-Advertiser.

Top Hawaii officials say they knew accused rapist Ethan Ferguson had been fired by the Honolulu Police Department before offering him a job in 2013 to be a law enforcement officer on the Big Island. They hired him anyway. Civil Beat.

West Hawaii lawmakers polled this week generally seem to support the idea of a lottery here — with certain conditions to minimize societal damage and maximize the social benefit of gambling profits. West Hawaii Today.

This Saturday, a hui made of telescope operators and the ‘Imiloa Astronomy Center will host the first official tour of the Kama‘aina Observatory Experience, a new program established exclusively for Hawaii residents. Tribune-Herald.

Maui

Rep. Kaniela Ing (Kīhei, Wailea, Mākena) today announced via change.org that he and “hemp warrior” Rep. Cynthia Thielen (R-Kailua) are putting forth a bipartisan proposal to “transition HC&S’s cornerstone crop from sugar to industrial hemp.” Maui Now.

Two legislators are crossing party lines and a generational gap to join hands in support of rapid action to enable the Hawaiian Commercial & Sugar Company to transition to hemp production as it ceases sugar cane farming later this year. Civil Beat.

Kauai

Barking dogs beware: the law could soon have some teeth when it comes to you, and your owners will be getting a notice from the Humane Society if you’re too noisy. Garden Island.

Ige budget gets cool reception in Legislature, down-sized Pacific fleet worries China-watchers, Snowden attorney to teach University of Hawaii class, 2,600 complaints about fireworks, Honolulu police revive gambling probe, lava lake explosions at Kilauea, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Kilauea eruption Saturday, photo courtesy of Hawaiian Volcano Observatory.

Gov. David Ige’s proposed budget for next year got a frosty reception Monday from some leading state lawmakers who say they are worried about both how much the governor proposes to spend and about some upcoming expenses Ige didn’t include in his spending plan. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii Finance Director Wes Machida sidestepped a host of questions from members of the House and Senate money committees Monday, but assured lawmakers that he will provide more details about the overall state spending plan in the coming weeks. Civil Beat.

US Pacific Fleet shrinks even as China grows more aggressive. Questions about whether the Pacific Fleet has enough resources are more of a reflection of regional anxieties than the Navy’s actual capability, said its commander, Adm. Scott Swift. Even if the entire fleet was in the South China Sea, he said, he’d still get asked whether the U.S. was bringing more forces. Associated Press.

Hawaii bankruptcies plunged in 2015 for the fifth year in a row, according to data released Monday from U.S. Bankruptcy Court, District of Hawaii. The 1,569 cases last year were down 7.8 percent from 1,702 in 2014 and were the lowest since 1,381 cases were filed in 2007. Star-Advertiser.

NextEra Energy Inc., the company looking to buy Hawaiian Electric Industries for $4.3 billion, is assisting HEI on the utility’s renewable-energy plan at no charge, which has raised concern among at least two groups involved in the sale’s review. Star-Advertiser.

The Hawaii chapter of the Better Business Bureau revoked 130 companies’ membership this year for owing thousands of dollars in membership fees to the BBB. Pacific Business News.

Federal wildlife officials reopened a public comment period for a draft environmental impact statement regarding the eradication of mongooses and rodents in Hawaii’s native ecosystems and wildlife refuges. Associated Press.

Oahu

The public, apparently fed up with illegal fireworks activity, made 2,600 complaints to police in December, said Honolulu Police Department Assistant Chief Alan Bluemke. Star-Advertiser.

A man arrested after National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration volunteers called police to report he was harassing a Hawaiian monk seal at a Nanakuli beach has filed an excessive force lawsuit. Associated Press.

A man who was pepper-sprayed, beaten and arrested by a Honolulu police officer in 2014 after chanting on a beach next to an endangered monk seal filed an excessive use of force lawsuit in federal court last week. Civil Beat.

Ben Wizner, a national ACLU attorney and head lawyer for NSA whistleblower Edward Snowden, will co-teach a seminar at the University of Hawaii Richardson School of Law this month. Pacific Business News.

Four years after a major gaming rooms case was dismissed, the Honolulu prosecutor's office appears ready to try again. Hawaii News Now.

Why Are Online Classes, Degrees Hard To Get At The University Of Hawaii? UH Manoa offers two fully online degree programs, a stark contrast to the 16 programs offered on average at comparable institutions. Civil Beat.

The late Don Ho is alive and well — “Tiny Bubbles” and all — at the University of Hawaii-West Oahu. The university’s ʻUluʻulu Henry Kuʻualoha Giugni Moving Image Archive of Hawaiʻi recently acquired the complete collection of the entertainer’s films, videos and personal memorabilia from the Donald Tai Loy Ho Trust. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii

After nearly 12 years in office, state Sen. Josh Green has built a massive campaign war chest of more than $500,000 — money he is considering using for a run for either governor or lieutenant governor in 2018. Tribune-Herald.

Rockfalls into the lava lake at Kilauea on Hawaii island triggered small explosions at the summit early Monday morning and Saturday. Star-Advertiser.

The public is invited to learn about the eruptive events of Kilauea Volcano during a presentation by a USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory geologist later this week. Tribune-Herald.

A historical area of land on the Southern Coast of Hawai‘i Island will be protected from development. Hawaii Public Radio.

One of two people taken into custody by police in what was dubbed “Freedom Ride 2016” told a judge Monday he was “the only living being in this courtroom, a child of creation.” Tribune-Herald.

Road and Highway Builders LLC, an affiliate of the Texas based Sterling Construction Co., was the lowest bidder for the $61 million contract to reconstruct the Saddle Road on Hawaii's Big Island, the parent company said. Pacific Business News.

Maui
The state Department of Transportation will decide this week whether to move forward with improvements to Hana's 90-year-old pier, a project fiercely opposed by Hana residents who fear the arrival of commercial activity and high costs. Maui News.

Kauai

January is National Mentoring Month. A proclamation was issued by Mayor Bernard Carvalho Jr. to the Big Brothers Big Sisters program. Garden Island.