Waikiki hotels fight tax hike, Democrats shut out Ige, Micronesians seek benefits, X-Men director accused of sex abuse, H-1 construction ahead of schedule, Maui seeks water solution, vendors vie for waste contract, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Waikiki beach © 2014 All Hawaii News

Waikiki hotel and resort officials say they oppose the idea that their tax rate will rise next year when rates for most other property owners will not. Star-Advertiser.

State Sen. David Ige said Wednesday that he is disappointed he will not get a speaking role at the state Democratic convention in May while Gov. Neil Abercrombie will be able to address the delegates. Convention planners have decided that only the party's top eight elected officials — including Abercrombie — will get to speak about progress on the party's platform during the two-day event at the Sheraton Waikiki.  Star-Advertiser.

Al Gore might have brought 9,000 people to their feet Tuesday night, but it’s U.S. Sen. Brian Schatz who took center stage during this week’s sustainability conference at the University of Hawaii. Schatz is locked in a tight primary race with U.S. Rep. Colleen Hanabusa, which makes it hard to leave election politics out of any decision he makes even if it is, as he says, for the betterment of Hawaii. Civil Beat.

State Rep. Mark Takai leverages his military experience in the first TV ad to come from the crowded field of Democratic candidates vying for the open 1st Congressional District seat. Civil Beat.

Stanley Chang, running for Congressional District 1, spoke today on the need for millionaires to carry a higher tax burden. Hawaii Independent.

Micronesian community members marched from Kalihi to the federal building in Honolulu on Wednesday to rally for migrant health care and ask Hawaii's congressional delegation to redouble its efforts to reinstate Medicaid payments. The 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled earlier this month that the state has no obligation to offer paid health care benefits to Micronesian migrants covered under the Compact of Free Association, which allows Palau, Marshall Islands and Federated States of Micronesia citizens to live and work in the United States. Star-Advertiser.

The State’s Affordable Care Act Insurance Portal, the Hawai’i Health Connector, needs more money to stay in business next year. Hawaii Public Radio.

Electricity rates in Hawaii remain by far the highest in the nation. And among the products used to generate electricity in the state, oil remains the undisputed leader. Civil Beat.

A former child model and aspiring actor is accusing “X-Men” franchise director Bryan Singer of sexually abusing him as a teenager in a federal lawsuit filed in Hawaii. Associated Press.

A former child model and aspiring actor is accusing "X-Men" franchise director Bryan Singer of sexually abusing him as a teenager in a federal lawsuit filed in Hawaii. The lawsuit filed Wednesday says the prominent director of the forthcoming "X-Men: Days of Future Past" forced Michael Egan III into sex during parties in California and Hawaii when he was 17 in the late 1990s. Star-Advertiser.

Dozens of seniors participated in Kupuna Power Day at the State Capitol Wednesday morning. KITV4.

Every few years, lawmakers and their staffers come and go -- but one smiling face at the State Capitol has been a constant for nearly two decades.  60-year old Cheryl Derby has been volunteering in State Representative Mark Takai's office since 1999. Hawaii News Now.

On Tap at the Hawaii Legislature: April 17. A selective list of bills, resolutions, hearings, briefings and events for Thursday at the state Capitol. Civil Beat.

Oahu

Representatives of more than two dozen nonprofits appeared at a Honolulu City Council hearing on Wednesday to cheer on a budget proposal that would restore about $1.2 million in funding to such organizations after the money was cut during last year's budget negotiations. Civil Beat.

Hundreds of millions of dollars are being spent to fix Oahu’s roads and sewer lines, but lawmakers are asking to spend taxpayers’ money in other ways, including studying climate change and its effects on Hawaii. For that, Honolulu City Council Chairman Ernie Martin is asking for $2 million in the budget. The request passed a second reading late Wednesday afternoon. KHON2.

The state has agreed to settle three lawsuits filed by parents who alleged "cruel and unusual punishment" and abuse of their daughters, special education students, at the hands of Kipapa Elementary School employees. Star-Advertiser.

After months of dealing with heavy construction along the H-1 between the Likelike highway and Ward Avenue, Honolulu motorists received good news Wednesday. The extensive rehabilitation project is two months ahead of schedule and on budget.  Its set to finish in July at a cost of $42 million. Hawaii News Now.

The ambitious redevelopment plans for the former Kam Drive-In site across from Pearlridge Center won final approval Wednesday from the Honolulu City Council. Star-Advertiser.

Kapio News, the newspaper run by students at Kapiolani Community College, is printing its final issue at the end of this month. The school administration made the decision to shutter the paper because it wants to “move Kapio in a new direction.” Civil Beat.

Hawaii
Eight companies submitted bids to build a waste reduction facility by the Tuesday deadline. The county at first refused to provide the number of bidders, but provided the information Wednesday evening after the newspaper made repeated calls to county officials and the state Office of Information Practices. West Hawaii Today.

The Big Island’s new resident physician training program run by Hilo Medical Center is expecting to hear by the end of the week whether or not the $2.8 million in state funding it needs to run the program will come through or not. Pacific Business News.

The Hawaii state Judiciary says a Hilo lawyer has been appointed as a family court judge on the Big Island. Court officials said Wednesday that Chief Justice Mark Recktenwald appointed Henry Nakamoto as judge of Third Circuit Family Court. Associated Press.

Real estate sales are increasing in the Puna district and decreasing in South Hilo for the first quarter of 2014. Tribune-Herald.

Maui

At least two main ideas vied Tuesday night as ways for Maui County to raise the millions of dollars needed over the next 20 years for water system improvements, with the most costly being for waterlines, pumps and reservoirs to supply water to drought-plagued Upcountry residents, farmers and ranchers. Maui News.

Maui County Council members expressed dismay Tuesday morning when Fire Chief Jeff Murray asked for a delay until July 2015 for the long-anticipated transfer of beach lifeguards to the Maui Fire Department. Maui News.

A bill in the state Legislature that could assist with the financing of a long-awaited West Maui hospital is currently in a state House-Senate conference committee awaiting scheduling, Maui legislators said this week. Maui News.

Kauai

It’s back to the drawing board, again. The state Department of Transportation will be looking at several options over the next year aimed at relieving traffic congestion on Kuhio Highway, including one to open the Pouli Road connection to the Kapaa Bypass Road — re-addressing a problem officials have been trying to solve for at least 20 years. Garden Island.

A year behind schedule, the state is set to tackle the issue of drifting beach sand at the Kikiaola Small Boat Harbor in Kekaha. The upcoming project, initially slated to begin last summer, involves relocating 80,000 cubic yards of beach sand from the east end of Kikiaola Small Boat Harbor to the west side. Garden Island.

Long week ahead for Hawaii Legislature, state to pay Turtle Bay to conserve North Shore land, attorney general wants more money, Pacific Biodiesel leaves Maui, Hawaii County plans Mauna Kea park takeover, tipping fees to rise on Kauai, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Hawaii House of Representatives

Hawaii lawmakers are preparing for an onslaught of bills to move through their chambers this week, in advance of a legislative deadline to pass bills out of the second chamber. Associated Press.

A House committee approved a bill to outlaw eating cats and dogs in Hawaii, a measure supported by animal lovers who lobbied lawmakers with their pets. Associated Press.

Hawaii Attorney General David Louie asked the Legislature in December to give his office an extra $5.3 million for fiscal 2015, which starts July 1. But the latest draft of the budget, which lawmakers will finalize over the next few weeks, adds only $1.5 million. Civil Beat.

Rep. Bob McDermott is troubled about new classroom materials that are being tested out by some Hawaii public school teachers. The vocal, socially conservative Ewa Beach lawmaker recently wrote a memo to Hawaii Department of Education Superintendent Kathryn Matayoshi requesting that the department prohibit teachers from using any materials or lesson plans from the Southern Poverty Law Center’s Teaching Tolerance program in their classrooms. Civil Beat.

With affordable-housing and homelessness problems persisting, measures aimed at promoting affordable-housing construction, assisting the Hawaii Public Housing Authority with repair and maintenance, encouraging Housing First programs and funding the up-and-coming concept of micro-apartments continue to move through the Legislature. Star-Advertiser.

A measure that would have allowed rock climbers to resume their sport has been amended, catching outdoor enthusiasts by surprise. Hawaii News Now.

The Office of Hawaiian Affairs is canvassing communities in an effort to expand a roll of qualified Native Hawaiians interested in participating in their own government. Associated  Press.

Charles Djou, a Republican who served six months in Congress in 2010 after winning a special three-way election, has launched a campaign to reclaim his District 1 Congressional Seat. Hawaii Reporter.

Oahu

Time is running out for the state and the owners of Turtle Bay Resort to decide how much Hawaii should pay the hotel to conserve some of the land it owns on Oahu's North Shore. Civil Beat.

City officials are promising at least one public hearing in the coming weeks on rules governing how food trucks can operate in Hono­lulu's Capitol Special District under a two-year pilot program that became law last week. Star-Advertiser.

Selling rail. Yes, half of the audience at this public meeting were HART employees. Hawaii Independent.

Tuition at three of Hawaii's largest private schools — ‘Iolani School, Mid-Pacific Institute and Punahou School — will hit the $20,000 mark for the first time next school year as most schools plan hikes of between 3 percent and 7 percent. Star-Advertiser.

They were small, but price gains achieved by Oahu's housing market last month continued a rising trend reaching further into its third year. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii

Hawaii County will be able to improve and maintain its portion of the Mauna Kea State Recreation Area without a big budget increase or neglecting other county parks, officials assured the County Council Finance Committee on Friday. West Hawaii Today.

A bill establishing a temporary working group to help the state acquire lands in Waipio Valley was passed by the state House committees on finance Wednesday with amendments. Tribune-Herald.

Whether residents and business owners think it’s a good idea or not to limit commercial use of the ocean, they appear to agree on one thing — a package of proposed rules governing commercial use is convoluted and confusing. West Hawaii Today.

Maui

Maui businesswoman and former vice chairwoman of the Democratic Party of Maui Del Rosario has been appointed the party chairwoman of the newly formed Hawaii Independent Party. Maui News.

Pacific Biodiesel has eliminated two employee positions and closed its biodiesel production plant at the Central Maui Landfill in Puunene, according to an announcement Friday from the pioneering Maui alternative fuel company. Maui News.

Sales of Maui condominiums soared by 31 percent last month, while prices of both condos and single-family homes in Maui County increased by double digits in March, according to statistics from the Realtors Association of Maui. Pacific Business News.

Kauai

Businesses owners may soon be paying more to dump or haul their waste into County of Kauai landfills. That’s if the Kauai County Council chooses one of two options before it to raise the landfill tipping fee. Garden Island.

A Kauai councilman who sued the county for claims his civil rights were violated for going against political foes agreed to settle the lawsuit for $290,000. Associated Press.

Challenging times, state Department of Transportation consultants say, lie ahead for Kauai. The Garden Isle is expected to face a nearly $2.2 billion shortfall in transportation project funds at a time when it will also face a significant population and economic boom. Garden Island.

Voters say raise minimum wage, don't legalize marijuana; plane crash kills Maui County planners, Health Connector ailing, Hawaii County asks for waste-to-energy bids, oysters making a comeback, Hawaii tops in nursing home care, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Hotel workers rally in Waikiki file photo (c) 2014 All Hawaii News

A large majority of people in the state are in favor of a substantial increase in the minimum wage, a new Civil Beat Poll shows. But the state should not legalize marijuana for recreational use. Increasing the wage from $7.25 an hour to at least $9.25 is something that 68 percent of statewide registered voters agree on. But 59 percent of respondents said they do not want the Aloha State to follow Washington and Colorado in allowing residents to smoke marijuana.

Hawaii has the highest percentage of nursing homes that earned a five-star rating in a new U.S. News & Word Report report, which ranked Hawaii as the No. 1 state in long-term care for best nursing home facilities. Pacific Business News.

The head of the Hawaii Health Connector acknowledged for the first time Wednesday that the state-based insurance exchange won't be sustainable beyond this year. The Connector, the online health insurance marketplace created by the federal Affordable Care Act, needs $15 million a year to operate but expects to earn only $1 million this year from fees. Star-Advertiser.

The head of Hawaii's online health insurance marketplace told state lawmakers Tuesday that it isn't earning enough to pay its bills beyond 2014. Tom Matsuda, the interim executive director of the Hawaii Health Connector, told the House Finance Committee that because so few people have used it, the Health Connector won't break even after this year. About 4,500 people have enrolled in individual insurance plans since the Health Connector launched in October. Associated Press.

Hawaii’s political and military leaders are worried proposed cuts to the military will affect the state’s economy and national security. Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel this week announced the Obama administration’s plans to cut the U.S. Army to its smallest size since before World War II. Hawaii Reporter.

Hawaii lawmakers want to carve out an exception in the state Ethics Code so public schools can continue raising money for nonprofit organizations — if it’s educational. Teachers were advised in December to stop encouraging students from participating in the Macy’s “A Million Reasons to Believe” promotion because state employees aren’t allowed to use public resources for private business activities, which generally includes supporting or promoting charities. Civil Beat.

A bill that would mandate the use of “Made in Hawaii” labeling for local agricultural products was approved today during a joint meeting of three state Senate committees. Big Island Now.

Seven of the truly worst things about Hawaii. No, really. Hawaii Independent.

Hawaiian Airlines is suspending daily service to Fukuoka, Japan, due to low demand, the second Asian city it has dropped within the past year after an aggressive international expansion. Star-Advertiser.

On Tap at the Hawaii Legislature: Feb. 27. Civil Beat.

Oahu

City Council leaders said they are generally supportive of Mayor Kirk Caldwell's plan to eliminate roughly 600 vacant job positions and cut the funding for additional slots, a plan projected to save $37 million annually for the money-strapped city budget. Caldwell made the announcement Wednesday, one of several new initiatives unveiled during his second State of the City address. Star-Advertiser.

A plan by Mayor Kirk Caldwell to start charging Oahu property owners $10 a month for trash pickup was shot down by the Honolulu City Council Budget Committee Wednesday. Star-Advertiser.

The Mayor of Honolulu delivered his annual State of the City address today…his second since taking office last year. Hawaii Public Radio.

More than one out of every five public schools on Oahu failed to comply with federal school food safety regulations in one or more of the three past academic years, according to data from the state Department of Health. Specifically, the schools were not inspected by state health officials twice annually in at least one of those years — the minimum number of checks required by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, which oversees the national school lunch and breakfast programs. Civil Beat.

Trevor Ozawa, a Hawaii Kai resident and attorney, will run to replace Honolulu City Councilman Stanley Chang who is leaving his position to run for U.S. Congress, according to a media release. Civil Beat.

Kamehameha Schools added details to another piece of its Kakaako development master plan Wednesday, announcing a project called 400 Keawe expected to add 183 homes in two midrise buildings in early 2016. The roughly $60 million project is made up of a six-story condominium with 95 units developed by Castle & Cooke Homes Hawai‘i Inc., and a seven-story apartment building with 88 rentals developed by Kamehameha Schools. Star-Advertiser.

Oysters grown in a nutrient-rich ancient Hawaiian fishpond for about seven months, hit the local market Monday afternoon as the first state-certified commercial harvest in decades. Star-Advertiser.

Developing Agriculture: HCDA Helps Restore Kalo Fields in Windward Oahu. Civil Beat.

Hawaii

Mayor Billy Kenoi on Wednesday laid out an aggressive time line to locate a waste-to-energy facility — by far the county’s largest public works project — at the site of the Hilo landfill before he leaves office in 2016. West Hawaii Today.

Hawaii County could receive $306,237 to evict the little fire ant from its parks. The Senate Committee on Ways and Means will consider a bill today to provide the funds to the county Parks and Recreation Department as part of a pilot project. Tribune-Herald.

An amendment going before the county’s planning commissions will bring the county’s zoning code into line with the state Land Use Commission rules. West Hawaii Today.

Maui

A chartered plane carrying five Maui County employees crashed moments after attempting to take off from the Lanai airport Wednesday night, killing three, critically injuring two and seriously injuring a sixth person, county officials say. Hawaii News Now.

Three people killed and three injured in a fiery plane crash on Lanai Wednesday night were Maui County employees returning on a chartered plane after attending a Lanai Planning Commission Meeting. A Maui County news release said the three people killed were the pilot of the plane and two Department of Planning employees. Two other planning employees were in critical condition and a deputy attorney for the Corporation Counsel was in serious condition. Star-Advertiser.

Three people are dead, and three others are injured after a plane chartered by the County of Maui crashed about a mile outside of the Lānaʻi on Wednesday night. County officials have since confirmed that the pilot and two Department of Planning employees suffered fatal injuries in the crash. Maui Now.

A plane crashed about a half-mile from Lanai Airport on Wednesday night, according to police and a witness near the crash site. Maui News.

Lifeguard Tamara Paltin has launched a campaign for Maui County mayor that's short on money and election paraphernalia, but, she says, long on her concern for addressing community issues. Maui News.

Kauai

At least one county councilman wants the public to know the whole story. Kauai County Councilman Mel Rapozo said Wednesday he will make a motion, at a later time, to release executive session minutes to the public dealing with the civil suit filed by Councilman Tim Bynum against the county. Garden Island.

Kauai County is paying more than $250,000 to settle a wrongful prosecution lawsuit by County Councilman Tim Bynum, Hawaii News Now has learned. Bynum's suit accused former Prosecutor Shaylene Iseri-Carvalho of retaliating against him by filing criminal charges after he questioned the financial activities of the prosecutor's office.

‘Every time it rains, we flood’ Kamalu Road resident has been battling culvert issue for 7 years. Garden Island.

Legislature may name ukulele official state instrument, Schatz most liberal senator, garbage fees coming to Oahu, school superintendent could get huge raise, time-share plan draws ire of Hilton neighbors, minimum wage, unemployment at issue, Io may be delisted as endangered species, Maui's parks boss may be in trouble, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Hawaii's ubiquitous ukulele could become the state's official state musical instrument under a bill lawmakers are considering. Associated Press.

Its frisky four strings are the sound of Elvis’ “Blue Hawaii,” of Tiny Tim tiptoeing through the tulips and lately, beyond all reason, of a popular “Bohemian Rhapsody” cover. Above all, the humble ukulele — dubbed “the underdog of all instruments” by virtuoso Jake Shimabukuro who busted out his rendition of the aforementioned Queen classic in a recent performance — sounds like Hawaii. Associated Press.

State Sen. Clayton Hee challenged the Senate on Wednesday to hear a new minimum wage bill while labor and social-service advocates warned lawmakers not to let a pay raise for low-income workers drift into the morass of election-year political maneuvering. Star-Advertiser.

To the casual observer, Hawaii's comparatively low unemployment numbers have long been a point of pride. But the official unemployment rate offers an incomplete portrait of what's going on in Hawaii's job market.  Civil Beat.

A proposal to raise the cap on the Hawaii Department of Education superintendent’s salary by $100,000 has garnered support from key players ranging from school board members to local education advocacy groups. Now the proposal is making its way through the Legislature. House Bill 2257 got the green light from the education and labor committees, while its companion, Senate Bill 2806, moved out of the Education Committee earlier this month. Civil Beat.

Brian Schatz came in first as the most liberal Senator in the nation, tying for that top stop with two other Democrats, Chris Murphy of Connecticut, and Chuck Schumer of New York. Hawaii Reporter.

Get Ready — Political Campaigns Are Rumbling to Life in Hawaii. Civil Beat.

Homeless program coming to Hawaii. Hawaii News Now.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is asking for the public's input on a proposal to remove the Hawaiian hawk or io from the endangered species list. The agency said Wednesday comments previously submitted on the proposal don't need to be sent again. The hawk was originally listed as endangered in 1967. At the time, the hawk population was believed to number in the low hundreds. Associated Press.

State briefs for February 13. Associated Press.

Oahu

Oahu households would be charged $10 a month for curbside garbage pickup under a bill proposed by Mayor Kirk Caldwell's administration on Wednesday. Those in condominiums, apartments and townhouses who now get city refuse service would have to pay market rates under the measure. Star-Advertiser.

Mayor Kirk Caldwell today proposed levying a uniform $10 per month fee for trash pickup across the island. Is it fair to charge everyone the same for trash pickup? Hawaii Independent.

New Hope Church is paying $775,000 to settle a lawsuit by local activist Mitch Kahle, Hawaii News Now has learned. Most of the money will go to the state's school system but a big chunk -- about $200,000 -- will go to Kahle for pursuing the lawsuit, which accuses New Hope and several other churches of underpaying the state to rent school facilities.

The state Office of Hawaiian Affairs won support from two Senate committees Wednesday for developing condominium towers on land in Kakaako makai of Ala Moana Boulevard despite deeply divided testimony on a bill that would reverse a 2006 law prohibiting residential use in the area. Star-Advertiser.

Honolulu City Councilman Ikaika Anderson is one of two council members running for the 1st Congressional District seat being vacated by Rep. Colleen Hanabusa and one of six candidates in the race. Most are established politicians. Civil Beat.

First Wind has restored the output of its Kahuku wind energy project to full capacity after a fire shut down the facility nearly 1 1/2 years ago. Star-Advertiser.

The owners of Cheeseburger Waikiki plan to open a brewery at the restaurant, pending approval from the Honolulu Liquor Commission. Pacific Business News.

Hawaii
The Thirty Meter Telescope project gained momentum Wednesday following a Mauna Kea Management Board vote in favor of the project’s proposed sublease Wednesday morning. Tribune-Herald.

Hilton Waikoloa Village’s neighbors are protesting a plan that would convert 601 Ocean Tower hotel rooms to 450 timeshare units. West Hawaii Today.

“Don’t keep a dog and bark yourself,” seemed the adage of the day Wednesday as the county Board of Ethics considered a complaint that Finance Department officials punished an employee for violating the ethics code without first getting an opinion from the board charged with making those determinations. West Hawaii Today.

Hawaii County would have greater authority over the approval of new geothermal projects under legislation two state House committees will consider today. Tribune-Herald.

Maui

County mum on status of its absent parks chief. Source: Department investigated over free rounds of golf at Waiehu. Maui News.

Although businessman Michael Baskin and his associates had short-term rental permits revoked last year for two short-term rental properties in Paia, he continues to operate them, despite an order to stop operations as of Jan. 26, according to a complaint filed Friday in 2nd Circuit Court. Maui News.

Kauai

The Kauai County Council unanimously approved a $75,000 allocation request from the county attorney’s office Wednesday to start searching for special counsel services to defend Ordinance 960 in federal court. Garden Island.

The Kauai County Council on Wednesday approved a request to hire special counsel to represent the county in a lawsuit by three seed companies that want to block the implementation of a new ordinance regulating pesticide use and genetically modified crops. Star-Advertiser.

The installation of bike racks is the latest step in the transformation of the Lihue Civic Center area to a pedestrian — and bicycle-friendly campus linking state and county functions with vibrant commercial areas. Garden Island.

Niihau

Waves of proposals aimed at Niihau have been introduced during this year’s legislative session. The most recent one would require the state to grant “the village elder” of Niihau exclusive konohiki rights to control fishing in the island’s nearshore waters. Garden Island.

Japanese WWII sub found off Oahu, year's 2nd shark-bite death on Maui, DOT employee lives high life off contractors' dime, foster parents want more money, Omidyar group plans Kauai dairy, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Unidentified scuttled vessel discovered by Hawaii Undersea Research Laboratory

A World War II-era Imperial Japanese Navy mega-submarine, the I-400, lost since 1946 when it was intentionally scuttled by U.S. forces after its capture, has been discovered in more than 2,300 feet of water off the southwest coast of O‘ahu. The discovery resolves a decades-old Cold War mystery of just where the lost submarine lay, and recalls a different era as one war ended and a new, undeclared conflict emerged. Hawaii Reporter.

Japanese I-400

This is a photo of the Japanese crew and its submarine, the I-400. KITV.

A class-action lawsuit is expected to be filed today against the state, alleging it has failed to pay foster parents enough to adequately care for their foster children. The suit will be filed by a sole foster parent, Raynette Nalani Ah Chong of Kaha­luu, on behalf of more than 1,000 Hawaii foster parents, who haven't had their reimbursement payments increased since 1990. The federal Child Welfare Act requires that reimbursements cover the expenses of children in foster care, but the $529 monthly payment does not come close, said Victor Gemi­ni­ani, executive director of Hawaii Appleseed Center for Law and Economic Justice. Star-Advertiser.

A handful of companies consistently cash in on lucrative contracts in Hawaii, a Civil Beat analysis of 10 years of federal contracting data indicates. The federal government spent $159 billion in contracts in Hawaii over the past 10 years. From that pool of money, the top 10 corporate contractors secured at least $200 million apiece since 2003, with two of them crossing the $1 billion threshold. That's according to eight years of data from the Census Bureau's Consolidated Federal Funds Report and two years of data from USASpending.gov, a government-run website that replaced the Census reporting system. Civil Beat.

The Hawaii State Department of Education will place its sex education program, Pono Choices, on hold after the completion of the 2013 Fall semester to conduct a review of the pilot curriculum. The DOE calls the program a “medically accurate” program that informs teens about pregnancy and Sexually Transmitted Diseases and gives students greater knowledge of the risks associated with unsafe sexual behaviors and be more likely to report safe sex practices, including abstinence. Parents were concerned their children in sixth, seventh and eighth grade, were learning to put condoms on dildos and about performing oral sex, vaginal sex, and anal sex. Hawaii Reporter.

The state has awarded a $17.4 million contract to a mainland company to undertake energy efficiency improvements and install solar panels at 33 government buildings on five islands. The project is expected to cut energy costs by more than $1 million in the first year and $28 million over two decades, according to Ameresco Inc., the Massachusetts-based company that was awarded the contract by the Department of Accounting and General Services.Star-Advertiser

The Hawaii Ethics Commission has charged a state employee for improperly accepting gifts from businesses doing business with the state and failing to report them. The Department of Transportation engineer, identified only as John Doe, has agreed to pay $7,500 to resolve the charge. He apparently accepted a number of invitations to play in charity golf tournaments and recreationally at places like Mauna Lani Resort from 2007 to 2010. His entry fees, which ranged from $150 to $800, were paid for by DOT vendors directly subject to his official action as an engineer, according to the commission’s Nov. 20 resolution of the charge. Civil Beat.

After decades of sound and fury, the first same-sex marriages early Monday morning happened in almost complete silence and intimacy. Standing in huddles on a stage in a Waikiki lounge, the couples read their vows and their officiants performed an act which had only minutes-before become legal. Hawaii Independent.

Retired professors Rod Powell and Bob Eddinger have been partners in life since they met at the University of Hawaii in 1977. On Monday, they joined in marriage on the first day their home state allowed same-sex couples to form such unions. Associated Press.

Hawaiian Airlines is launching a codeshare program with Taiwan’s China Airlines this month that will extend its network in Asia and allow members of both airlines’ frequent flyer programs to earn and redeem miles on both airlines. Pacific Business News.

Another hurricane season came and went in the Central Pacific this year without unleashing destruction on the Hawaiian Islands. The season was, however, twice as active as scientists initially predicted in May. Star-Advertiser.

The Legislature wants the public to take part in the process of creating the laws and policies that govern Hawaii. With the next session set to start in January, the House communications office has put together a public service announcement that encourages people to get informed and get involved. Civil Beat.

State roundup for December 3. Associated Press.

Oahu

Trial will remain in Honolulu for a North Carolina man accused of scamming the University of Hawaii out of $200,000 in a failed concert that was supposed to feature Stevie Wonder, a federal judge ruled Monday. Associated Press.

Kakaako Rising: Is This Community Development? Civil Beat.

Hawaii

Is a waste-to-energy plant a done deal for Hawaii County? A resolution urging Mayor Billy Kenoi to consider other alternatives comes back before the County Council Waste Management Committee today after being panned by both the Environmental Management Commission and the director of the Department of Environmental Management. West Hawaii Today.

The Hawaii Electric Light Co. says awarding a contract for another 50 megawatts of geothermal power will take more time. But how long remains unclear. The utility was initially expecting to make a selection among the six companies that submitted proposals by September. It later pushed that timeline to the end of November. That deadline was missed, and HELCO Administration Manager Rhea Lee said Monday that a new date is in the process of being determined. Tribune-Herald.

The Big Island is expected to have at least seven warning sirens upgraded or installed over the next few months. State Civil Defense spokeswoman Shelly Kunishige said work orders are being released for the department’s $25.6 million statewide siren upgrade project. Priority locations are being addressed first, and work should occur over the next three months, she said. Tribune-Herald.

If the old adage “Practice makes perfect” holds true, then the union of the first same-sex couple to tie the knot Monday in Hilo is likely to be perfect indeed. Tribune-Herald.

Maui

A visiting kayaker from Washington state died Monday morning after part of his right leg was bitten off by a shark about a half-mile off Little Beach in Makena, state and county officials said. Maui News.

Maui police have since identified the victim who sustained fatal injuries in a shark attack offshore of Mākena, Maui on Monday as 57-year-old Patrick A. Briney. Police say Briney, who is from Stevenson, in Washington State, was kayaking with a friend when the incident occurred. Maui Now.

Maui County police identified a kayak fisherman killed in a shark attack Monday morning as Patrick A. Briney, 57, from Stevenson, Wash. This is the eighth shark attack off Maui and the second death statewide this year. Star-Advertiser.

A kayaker died on Monday morning after a shark attacked him in the waters off of Maui. Hawaii experienced strong rains over the weekend, and murky waters are known to both attract and confuse sharks who often can't tell the difference between prey and humans. HuffPost Hawaii.

Hawai’i made international news yesterday with another fatal shark attack on Maui. Makena State Recreation Area was closed after the attack that happened before 10:30 am. Hawaii Public Radio.

Typically Hawaii will see four shark attacks a year, but this year there have been 13 in the state and eight of them around Maui. The most recent killed Patrick Briney, 57, as he was kayak fishing half mile off Makena Beach on Maui. Hawaii News Now.

The phrases "now I pronounce you husband and husband" and "wife and wife" were heard at same-sex marriages around Maui on Monday, the first day that gay marriages in Hawaii were legal. Maui News.

The county's proposed integrated waste conversion project may have the potential to double the amount of trash currently diverted from the Central Maui Landfill, but a couple of longstanding local recycling companies are worried that they will be displaced. Maui News.

The US Army Corps of Engineers hosts a public meeting this Wednesday, Dec. 4, to gather public input on its proposal to perform an environmental cleanup of the former Maui Airport Landfill. Maui Now.

Kauai

A socially minded investment organization is moving ahead with plans to establish a new model of dairy farming in Hawaii: a $17.5 million venture on Kauai called Hawai‘i Dairy Farms projected to start milk production in 2015. The farm would be the biggest dairy in the state and roughly double the supply of local milk, according to Ulu­pono Initiative, the local investment firm that announced the project Monday. Star-Advertiser.

EBay founder Pierre Omidyar’s Ulupono Initiative is investing $17.5 million to build a grass-fed dairy farm on Kauai on 583 acres of pasture land leased from Grove Farm. Pacific Business News.

The ballot question is crafted. But before going out to vote, Kauai Island Utility Cooperative wants to know what its members think of how to word the yes-or-no decision point. Beginning next week, the public will have two opportunities to provide input on ballot language for KIUC’s special election related to smart meters. The upcoming election — expected to cost co-op members $63,000 — will take place in January, although exact dates have not been determined. Garden Island.

Hawaii nears special session on gay marriage, surf's up, but sand is down, dealing with tsunami debris, cattle call on Hawaii Island, Honolulu one of top Conde Nast cities, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Honolulu gay marriage rally file photo (c) 2013 All Hawaii News

Support for gay marriage is growing. Hawaii voters are split over making same-sex marriage legal in the islands, with 44 percent in support and 44 percent opposed. When Civil Beat asked voters where they stood on the same issue in April 2012, a majority (51 percent) said they did not believe same-sex couples should have the legal right to get married. Civil Beat.

The Hawaii Pastors Roundtable, declaring that God's word is the highest law in the land, issued a statement Monday urging Hawaii to uphold traditional marriage. The message from the round table, which includes Pastor Wayne Cordeiro of New Hope Christian Fellowship, Bishop Larry Silva from the Diocese of Hono­lulu and Kahu Curt Kekuna from Kawai­aha‘o Church, comes as state House and Senate leaders prepare for a special session on gay marriage next week. Star-Advertiser.

With one week left before a special session that could legalize same-sex marriage, opponents are ramping up their lobbying efforts. A new TV ad was released Monday to state their case. The public can expect a lot of lobbying through rallies and sign waving, but also a good amount of money from outside sources. KHON2.

Legislation to fund pay raises for government professional and scientific employees will be introduced by House Republicans during the Special Session scheduled to convene on Oct. 28. Hawaii Reporter.

Ocean Safety personnel participated in 14 rescues and took hundreds of preventive actions as high surf pounded the north and west shores of Oahu on Monday. Star-Advertiser.

Government officials, beach cleanup activists and environmental experts have gathered in Honolulu this week to discuss how to deal with trash in the ocean. Associated Press.

It's been more than two years since a horrific, earthquake-generated tsunami wrecked much of Japan's eastern coast, claiming thousands of lives and sucking millions of tons of debris into Pacific waters. Yet despite government researchers' best efforts, it's not clear how much of that debris remains scattered across the ocean or exactly where it will wind up. Star-Advertiser.

State roundup for October 22. Associated Press.

Oahu

A handful of oceanfront residents of Sunset Beach sweated out another anxiety-filled day Monday as high surf in combination with high tides continued to threaten homes above an eroded beach at Ke Nui Road. Large waves out of the northwest actually pushed some new sand onto the beach Sunday and Monday, but the homes are far from being secure as they sit dangerously close to a newly carved cliff that drops 20 feet to the beach. Star-Advertiser.

NOAA

Two of Oahu's most popular beaches are experiencing erosion at unprecedented levels. Kuhio Beach in Waikiki and Sunset Beach on Oahu's North Shore are more than 40 miles apart, but the growing winter swells and extreme tides have caused rapidly shifting sands in both spots. HuffPost Hawaii.

A new state law is creating friction between the City and County of Honolulu and Kailua residents who are concerned about their eroding beach. Act 120 was signed into law this June.  It prohibits removing sand from Hawai'i's coastlines with a few exceptions, including if it is used for the replenishment or protection of public shorelines, but only if the restoration efforts won't cause water quality issues. Hawaii News Now.

About 1,000 East Honolulu residences receive their drinking water from Aina Koa Water Well II, where broken chlorination equipment led to trace amounts of E. coli bacteria found in water samples taken in the area last week, Hono­lulu Board of Water Supply officials said Monday. Star-Advertiser.

Honolulu is among one of the Top 10 Cities in the United States, according to the Conde Nast Traveler 2013 Readers’ Choice Awards. Honolulu ranked No. 4 on the list, with a readers’ choice rating of 79.5. Pacific Business News.

The fired former head of one of the Hawaii's largest charter schools was arrested Monday and has been charged with stealing more than $100,000 from the school. An investigation by Hawaii News Now first raised questions about spending by Jeff Piontek at Hawaii Technology Academy early last year.

A former Waipahu elementary school principal was ordered to pay a fine after pleading no contest to record-tampering charges Monday in Circuit Court. The state attorney general's office had charged Florentina Smith in June with two counts of tampering with a government record, a misdemeanor. The state alleged she authorized $200 stipends to each of nine staff members for training sessions that they did not attend. The state alleged the crimes were committed Nov. 12 and 19, 2011, while Smith was serving as principal of August Ahrens Elementary. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii

It’s a cattle call of a different color. The state Department of Land and Natural Resources is renewing its call for hunters to participate in a lottery to help eradicate feral cattle from the Puu Oo area of the Hilo Restricted Watershed, near mile marker 22 of Saddle Road. The deadline to sign up has been extended a week after a less-than-enthusiastic response from area hunters. West Hawaii Today.

A medical marijuana group, the Alternative Pain Management Club of Hawaii, has cancelled a meeting it said was scheduled for today with County Prosecutor Mitch Roth, but a spokesman said the group plans to establish a “medical cannabis transfer station” — with or without the blessing of local law enforcement. Tribune-Herald.

The Naniloa Volcanoes Resort could soon be in new hands. On Nov. 6, a federal bankruptcy judge will consider a motion to sell the troubled Hilo hotel following the submission of sealed bids last Friday, said David Farmer, the Naniloa’s bankruptcy trustee. Tribune-Herald.

The Leeward Planning Commission signed off last week on a Kohala resident’s plan to open a home business. Rebecca Jacobs filed the special permit request with the Planning Department, seeking permission to open an acupuncture clinic in her Hookela Place garage. West Hawaii Today.

Maui

A public presentation on a proposed county integrated waste conversion and energy project will be held at 6 p.m. Tuesday in the University of Hawaii Maui College's new science building, 'Ike Lea. Maui News.

A Maui-based company is seeking approval from state regulators to take over water and sewer services from the Navy at the former Barbers Point Naval Air Station. Kalaeloa WaterCo. is proposing to raise rates for customers in the area now known as Kalaeloa to pay for "massive capital expenditures" it says are needed to upgrade the aging infrastructure it would inherit if its proposed acquisition is approved by the Public Utilities Commission. Star-Advertiser.

A $10,000 challenge grant was awarded to the Kite Surf Pro World Championship Tour to produce a second consecutive annual tournament at Ho’okipa Beach Park next month, county officials announced. Maui Now.

Kauai
A regional ocean observation network has installed its first-ever wave detection buoy off Kauai just in time for the winter wave season that rolled in during the weekend. The bright yellow buoy, moored three nautical miles off Hana­lei in more than 700 feet of water, is ideally suited to gauge Hawaii's winter swells, which typically move in from the northwest. Star-Advertiser.

Kauai County officials will ask the state for a bigger slice of Hawaii's hotel room tax. Visitor-related expenses cost the county $44.2 million in fiscal year 2012, including nearly $25 million in operation expenses such as police and fire calls, said County Council legislative assistant Ashley Bunda. Kauai County receives $13.7 million in hotel tax money and would like to see that doubled to $27.4 million. Associated Press.

Part of the late Sen. Daniel K. Inouye’s dream is being fulfilled, and a part of the dream is still being worked on. The Kauai Community College celebrated the opening of its Daniel K. Inouye Technology Center during a dedication and blessing ceremony honoring the support and advocacy provided by the late Senator Friday afternoon. Garden Island.

Molokai

Sixty Molokai residents traded in their old refrigerators - some 20 years old - for new more energy-efficient ones Tuesday - for $250. Maui News.

Man arrested in Gabbard threat, Abercrombie drafts gay marriage bill, general excise tax broad-ranging, a court win for special ed, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Hawaii cashiers (c) 2013 All Hawaii News

Hawaii's average 4.35 percent general excise tax rate may be relatively low when compared with sales taxes in other states, but the GET's structure makes it a greater burden on economic activity than the headline number suggests, according to a report released Wednesday by the Tax Foundation. Star-Advertiser.

Gov. Neil Abercrombie on Wednesday presented state lawmakers with a draft of legislation that would legalize gay marriage in Hawaii. Associated Press.

Speaker of the Hawai'i House of Representatives, Joseph Souki, says that Gov. Neil Abercrombie will not be calling a special session on same-sex marriage anytime soon, but did not rule out the possibility it could happen before January, when the next regular session convenes. Hawaii News Now.

Gov. Neil Abercrombie on Wednesday released the latest draft of a gay marriage bill and invited state lawmakers to offer feedback over the next week before he decides on a special session. Star-Advertiser.

State House Fails to Muster Votes for Special Legislative Session. Hawaii Public Radio.

Everyone, it seems, wants to put in their two cents on gay marriage. Extreme critics argue that it will bring huge moral costs. Others decry how much money it would cost the state in tax revenue — given that married working couples enjoy tax breaks — and increased benefits, such as health care coverage for married partners of state and federal employees. Civil Beat.

Authorities in the District of Columbia say they've arrested a man for making threats against Hawaii Rep. Tulsi Gabbard. Associated Press.

A man accused of making threats against Hawaii Congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard has been arrested in Mexico. Hawaii News Now.

A GOP operative traveled to Hawaii this spring in an effort to make the Senate race there competitive. The National Republican Senatorial Committee sent western regional political director Sarah Morgan, who managed Jeff Flake’s Senate campaign in Arizona last year, for a “campaign school” to train potential candidates and to meet with Hawaii GOP leaders. Civil Beat.

A federal appeals court gave Hawaii’s special education students a victory Wednesday by ruling the state must provide public schooling to disabled students up to age 22. Associated Press.

A Hawaii law that bars special-needs students 20 years of age or older from attending public schools violates federal law, the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals has ruled. Civil Beat.

Special education students will be able to receive a free public education for an additional two years beyond the state's cutoff age of 20 which violates federal law, according to a U.S. appeals court ruling Wednesday. Star-Advertiser.

The U.S. Navy is moving ahead with plans to increase training between California and the Hawaiian Islands, rejecting concerns from environmental groups in both states about the impact of sonar and underwater detonations on marine animals. West Hawaii Today.
http://westhawaiitoday.com/sections/news/local-news/navy-advancing-pacific-training-plan.html

Hawaii regulators are re-examining a program that's designed to encourage the addition of more renewable energy projects in Hawaii called the feed-in-tariff, or FIT, program. Pacific Business News.

Have a passion for Hawaii's history and culture? Are you a strong leader who can cultivate relationships with public officials, professional groups and the general public? Want a six-figure salary and generous state benefits? If so, you might consider applying to lead the State Historic Preservation Division. Civil Beat.

Oahu

Honolulu's unemployment rate declined to 4.2 percent in July, tying it for the 13th lowest jobless rate among 372 metropolitan areas nationwide, the U.S. Labor Department reported Wednesday. Honolulu improved from 21st place on the list in June when the city's unemployment rate was 4.7 percent. Star-Advertiser.

Honolulu’s Board of Water Supply has come under fire lately for miscalculating up customers’ bills and responding to complaints in a timely fashion. It’s gotten so bad that Honolulu Councilman Ikaika Anderson — who’s running for Congress — has pushed to give the council more oversight of the semi-autonomous agency’s finances. Civil Beat.

A local activist says state's largest private landowner shortchanged the city $2 million in property taxes over a 16-year-period. Holly Huber said the city gave Kamehameha Schools a sweetheart deal on its 555 South St. property in Kakaako by allowing the $7.3 billion trust to pay residential tax rates instead of commercial rates. Hawaii News Now.

Water not regularly tested at Ala Wai Canal. KHON2.

Circuit Judge Karen Ahn has sealed transcripts of a bench conference and a closed court session held Monday before she declared a mistrial in Christopher Deedy’s murder case. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii

Unlike five years ago, when Hawaii County almost got on the hook to buy a $125 million waste-to-energy incinerator with taxpayer money, garbage technology companies today are paying for their own facilities and assuming the risk of selling the resulting product, the county Waste Management Commission learned Wednesday. West Hawaii Today.

The number of Hawaii County administrators who would receive pay raises has been cut by about half under a new plan before the county’s Salary Commission. Tribune-Herald.

The  Federal Public Defender’s Office has bowed out of the case of Justin Wade Smith, citing the effects of federal budget cuts on the office that provides legal counsel to many of the criminal defendants in U.S. District Court. Tribune-Herald.

We are still a year away from the 2014 Primary. But the Hawaii County Elections Division team is hard at work to make sure next year's elections run smoothly...and so it won't face problems that affected the entire state in 2012. Hawaii Public Radio.

Maui

The federal government is considering restoring wetland that once surrounded the royal residence of King Kamehameha III before the capital of the Hawaiian kingdom moved to Honolulu in 1845. Star-Advertiser.

‘Challenging and difficult’ as Waterfront closes doors. Maui News.

The Maui Ocean Center hosts a honu or turtle release this morning in West Maui, according to a company announcement. During the Holomua nā Honu event, six 2-year-old juvenile Hawaiian green sea turtles will be released into the ocean. Maui Now.
Kauai

The Kauai Island Utility Cooperative said Wednesday that its board of directors have approved the final version of its 2013-2025 strategic plan, which focuses on rates, cost-control and clean energy with specific targets to achieve. Pacific Business News.

Kapaa firefighters and a HAZMAT crew responded to Kauai’s Eastside Wednesday morning after a 100-gallon fuel tank containing an odorous liquid washed ashore. Garden Island.

Hawaii military buildup delayed, new contract for Hawaii teachers, audit raps Hawaiian Home Lands, Hawaii mayor mulls waste-to-energy incinerator, Pfleuger manslaughter trial date to be set in dam failure, Ellison not only billionaire with an island, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Marines at Pohakuloa Training Area Hawaii (c) 2013 All Hawaii News

The Marine Corps’ top brass has told Congress that sequestration could slow the Marines movement from Okinawa to Guam, a move that is expected to also bring as many as 2,700 additional Marines to Hawaii. Pacific Business News.

Public school teachers voted Wednesday to approve a $330 million, four-year contract that will tie their pay raises in part to student performance. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii’s public school teachers overwhelmingly approved a new labor agreement on Wednesday night, their first in nearly two years since their last contract expired. Associated Press.

A year after teachers rejected their last tentative labor contract, the moment has finally arrived: pay raises and improved healthcare benefits are on their horizon. Civil Beat.

Hawaii's public school teachers have overwhelmingly approved a new contract. Hawaii News Now.

The failure of the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands to adequately address a growing loan delinquency problem among its Native Hawaiian beneficiaries poses a solvency risk to the agency, according to the state auditor. Star-Advertiser.

Lax management, millions of dollars in delinquent loans and a reluctance to terminate lessees who are chronically behind in payments. That's the picture painted by an audit released Wednesday of the Department of Hawaiian Homelands and the commission charged with overseeing a program that is supposed to help thousands of Native Hawaiians. KITV4.

State lawmakers are discussing whether to fold a proposed school readiness program into the state Department of Human Services until voters can decide whether the state should use public money for private preschool. Star-Advertiser.

Nine state lawmakers were tapped this week to resolve significant differences between the House and Senate versions of a bill to make Hawaii’s shield law permanent. Civil Beat.

State legislators are moving toward creating a task force to consider the implications of privatizing some of the state’s public hospitals. West Hawaii Today.

Hawaii’s congressional delegation this week pushed for more support of a measure that would provide funds to train health care providers in rural areas. West Hawaii Today.

New Immigration Proposal Is Mixed Bag For Hawaii Families. Civil Beat.

The University of Hawaii Board of Regents is looking at consulting more closely with the UH administration on salaries for new hires. Star-Advertiser.

The Democratic Party of Hawaii is looking to sue the state because it doesn't like the way primary elections are run. Civil Beat.

Taxpayers have until Monday, April 22 to file their Hawaii state taxes this year. Maui Now.

Oahu

The City and County of Honolulu is moving ahead with its new $68.9 million Joint Traffic Management Center building at the corner of South King Street and Alapai Street near the recently completed $20 million, 411-stall parking structure. Pacific Business News.

The city likely won't be able to begin enforcement of a new "sidewalk nuisance" law until the summer, Honolulu Mayor Kirk Caldwell said Tuesday after the City Council unanimously approved the bill. Star-Advertiser.

The Honolulu City Council passed a bill yesterday aimed at clearing public sidewalks.  The unanimous vote by the 9-member Council advances the measure to the Mayor who is expected to sign it into law. Hawaii Public Radio.

The Honolulu City Council approved George Atta as the new director of the department of Permitting and Planning Wednesday. But as recently as two months ago, George Atta's name was on a preliminary draft environmental review for the New Hope Leeward Church project  planned for Kunia farmland. KITV4.

The Honolulu City Council today adopted Bill 3 Relating to the Disposal of Weeds, Garbage, Trash and Waste from Property. The bill raises the maximum fine for property owners who don't maintain their properties which include the non-removal of trash and overgrown weeds. Hawaii Reporter.

#noonecares. That harsh tweet from University of Hawaii athletic director Ben Jay has sparked a lot of chatter about the poor state of facilities on campus. KHON2.

Hawaii

A waste-to-energy incinerator has moved up as the best solution to Hawaii County’s mounting garbage problem. West Hawaii Today.

The Office of Hawaiian Affairs could be getting into the geothermal business. OHA’s Board of Trustees today will discuss whether to partner with Honolulu-based Innovations Development Group as it seeks to win a contract for providing up to 50 megawatts of geothermal electricity to island residents. Tribune-Herald.

Hawaii lawmakers on Wednesday cleared the financial hurdles out of the way for Kulani Correctional Facility to reopen on the Big Island. Civil Beat.

Highway 137, AKA the "Red Road," is red no more. Tribune-Herald.

Proponents of making the trail leading to Papaikou Mill beach public urged Hawaii County Council members on Tuesday to get the process rolling by adding funding for an appraisal to the county budget. West Hawaii Today.

Maui

The budget for the staff and operation of the Mayor’s Office is proposed to rise 15 percent next fiscal year — including two new administrative assistant positions — according to presentations made before the County Council’s Budget and Finance Committee on Monday. Civil Beat.

Two of the three sets of moving walkways in the Kahului Airport terminal will be fully operational again by the end of May, a state Department of Transportation official said. Maui News.

Despite only light winds passing through Maui’s Central Valley last Thursday, the wind turbines at Kaheawa Wind Power were turning and cranking out electricity. Maui News.

Kauai

A state judge is scheduled Thursday to set the date for retired auto dealer James Pflueger’s trial on seven counts of manslaughter for each of the seven people swept to their deaths when the Ka Loko dam breached on Kauai seven years ago. Star-Advertiser.

Taxpayers’ money thrown into trash studies just keeps accumulating. A $1.8 million contract with off-island consultant AECOM to produce an environmental impact study for the island’s next landfill includes two updates to the Kaua‘i County Council — one was held in January, and the next is scheduled for later this year. Garden Island.

Kauai Activist Finds A Way To Make The Streets Safer. Civil Beat.

The first of two defendants accused of killing a goat was sentenced to felony probation in 5th Circuit Court Wednesday. Garden Island.

Lanai

Larry Ellison, the CEO of Oracle Corp. and majority owner of Lanai, isn’t the only billionaire to own an island. Pacific Business News.