Hawaii wants its tourists back, emergency funding, gambling bills at issue, Kauai to add garbage tax, maui praises wind farm, rail tranist lauded, more news from the Hawaiian Islands

Quiet Waikiki (c) 2011 All Hawaii News

Online travel companies are appealing $170 million in assessments from the state in unpaid hotel occupancy taxes, but the Attorney General's Office says it intends to collect from several online travel companies including Orbitz, Travelocity and Hotwire.com. Star-Advertiser.

The Hawaii Tourism Authority is spending nearly $3 million to secure more flights to Hawaii, while reaching out to other untapped markets -- all in an effort to lessen the blow of the big decline expected in Japanese visitors. KITV4.

The Hawaii Tourism Authority will mount a $3-million-plus recovery plan to offset substantial losses related to the tsunami and earthquake in Japan and the radiation scare. Star-Advertiser.

The state Council on Revenues plans to hold a special meeting Tuesday to revisit its general fund forecast after this month’s magnitude-9.0 earthquake in Japan that is expected to have a drastic impact on state tourism. Star-Advertiser.

Officials with the Hawaii Tourism Authority on Wednesday laid out plans for a new recovery strategy to offset more than $200 million in anticipated losses from fewer Japanese visitors coming to the Islands. Pacific Business News

The preliminary Big Island price tag on damage from the March 11 tsunami is almost $14.2 million. Tribune-Herald.

A proposal that would allow events like the World Series of Poker to take place in a Hawaii hotel or resort was passed in two legislative committees Wednesday. KITV4.

Just when the public thought lawmakers had killed all forms of proposed-gambling in Hawaii there's a new proposal up for debate. KHON2.

A bill that would have given tax breaks to parents buying back-to-school supplies for their children has been gutted and replaced with language allowing internet poker games and poker tournaments in Hawaii. Hawaii Reporter.

Mauna Kea State Lands to be discussed at Hawaii Senate Committee. Big Island Video News.

An Oahu judge on Wednesday ruled in favor of the city of Honolulu in a lawsuit seeking to block the multi-billion dollar rail transit project. Hawaii News Now.

The good news for supporters of Honolulu’s rail project did not end at the courthouse Wednesday where Circuit Court Judge Gary Won Bae Chang dismissed a lawsuit that challenged construction of the $5.5 billion system. KHON4.

U.S. Secretary of Transportation Ray LaHood on Wednesday pronounced Honolulu’s $5.5 billion rail transit project a model program, but sidestepped questions about how his agency would react if state lawmakers raided $200 million funding for the effort. Hawaii Reporter.

Starting July 1, the Kauai County will start charging a trash collection fee, which will be added to property tax bills. Garden Island.

Mayor Billy Kenoi is proposing that West Hawaii get a big chunk of county's capital improvement projects this year, a circumstance that likely reflects the region's rapid growth, solid tax base and developer contributions. West Hawaii Today.

Young girls in Hawaii are bought and sold as easily as pizza. Honolulu Weekly.

Building more affordable work force housing has been debated and studied for decades in Hawaii. Hawaii Public Radio.

The giant turbines in the hills above Kahuku have been pumping power into Hawaiian Electric's grid since the middle of December with no hiccups. Hawaii News Now.

Maui planning commissioners Tuesday praised a proposed wind farm as a "wonderful, wonderful project" but raised doubts about getting the massive equipment to the remote location on the southwest flank of Haleakala between two sections of the Auwahi native plant restoration area. Maui News.

A month after denying a cell phone carrier a permit to install a 150-foot pole by Halfway Bridge on Kaumuali‘i Highway, the county Planning Commission on Wednesday granted Sprint/Nextel a request for reconsideration. Garden Island.

FACT CHECK — Abercrombie: I Helped Put 'Thousands' of Federal Employees Back to Work. Civil Beat.

The man who became inextricably linked to Hawaii's 1959 statehood as a grinning newsboy in an iconic photo has died. Associated Press.

Hawaii's legislative leaders have appointed members of a commission charged with redrawing district lines for elected state and federal lawmakers. Associated Press.

Hawaii House readies $11 billion state budget, Honolulu budget transparent, Kauai fights arsenic, Maui basketball coach starts wedding business, news from all the islands

Taro protesters at state Capitol (c) 2011 All Hawaii News

The illegal pai ai issue has recently attracted attention from a wide variety of groups, including those in the state house and senate. Honolulu Weekly.

The state is moving forward with $2 million in infrastructure upgrades at Honolulu International Airport's international arrivals building. Associated Press.

The state House Finance Committee completed its draft of the budget yesterday, which would shrink Gov. Neil Abercrombie's recommendations but still increase spending over this fiscal year. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii representatives are cutting funding from almost all of Democratic Gov. Neil Abercrombie's initiatives in an early draft of the state's budget. Associated Press.

The House Finance Committee on Wednesday passed a state budget that restores the days that workers were on furlough, but calls for $250 million in cuts to Gov. Neil Abercrombie's plan. KITV4.

A nearly $11 billion a year state budget passed the House Finance Committee Wednesday. KHON2.

Scores of government officials gathered in and around a House hearing room Wednesday morning, waiting to learn how the Finance Committee planned to either reduce or increase the budgets for their departments or agencies. KITV4.

The head of the House Finance Committee will ignore many of the new initiatives proposed by Gov. Neil Abercrombie in producing what he says is a lean budget relying on a combination of tax increases and budget cuts. Hawaii Reporter.

Hawaii's Per-Capita Spending Ranks in Top 5. Civil Beat.

Dozens of legislators attended a free dinner last night organized by producers of genetically modified food but very few lawmakers cleared their attendance ahead of time with the state Ethics Commission, commission executive director Les Kondo said. Hawaii Reporter.


Hawaii's public schools are waiting for millions of dollars in repairs, but Department of Education officials said major progress has been made in reducing the backlog.Hawaii News Now.

The legislature is trying to tackle homelessness this session. Hawaii Public Radio.

Chief Justice Mark Recktenwald has made public the names of candidates the Judicial Selection Commission has proposed for three district judgeships on Oahu and a fourth on Kauai. Star-Advertiser.

The City and County of Honolulu unveiled its new fiscal transparency web site today. KHON2.

A week after presenting his first budget as Honolulu mayor, Peter Carlisle on Tuesday night became the city's first mayor to upload line-by-line spending details to a website aimed at improving government transparency. Civil Beat.

Honolulu homeowners, and particularly North Shore residents, will be keeping a close eye on Honolulu City Councilmembers who will be considering property tax relief and the North Shore Sustainable Communities Plan next week. Hawaii Independent.

Kauai residents said they're worried about the chemical contamination in soil found recently in a residential neighborhood that was once an industrial area near a former sugar mill. Star-Advertiser.

The state Health Department has discovered arsenic contamination on historic plantation land in Kilauea. Garden Island.

Dramatic changes to the county's 20-year-old building code are being sent back to a County Council committee, following public hearings that raised more questions than answers. West Hawaii Today.

Two Percent for Public Land is back. Mayor Billy Kenoi's new budget, he announced, would mark "the resumption of transfers" to the Open Spaces Fund at the rate of two percent of property tax receipts after the County Council, at Kenoi's request, temporarily cut payments to the fund in 2009. Big Island Weekly.

The nascent biofuels industry in Hawaii is struggling to produce commercially viable fuel for the Islands’ electricity needs, and a recent ruling by the state Public Utilities Commission stands to increase the challenges. Pacific Business News

A scaled-down Maui Lani Center got its phase two project district approval from the Maui Planning Commission on Tuesday, just barely. Maui News.

Former professional basketball coach Don Nelson signed an agreement with neighbors of his proposed wedding business on North Kihei Road on Tuesday morning, and in a brief hearing Tuesday afternoon got his special management area permit. Maui News.

For many visitors, the view from a helicopter circling Kilauea's newest eruption leaves them reaching for words. Tribune-Herald.

More electric vehicles may soon be spotted on Oahu roads, as another shipment of cars has arrived at Tony Nissan. KITV4.

Herb Kawainui Kane once said his beliefs ran counter to contemporary theory -- the one that teaches artists to paint from the inside out. Hawaii News Now.

Honolulu rail project begins, land chief confirmation stalls over fish permits, Abercrombie defends budget, coqui frogs invade Oahu, Big Island biomass plant questioned, Maui hikers sue, more

Groundbreaking yesterday was a milestone in the battle to bring a rail transit system to Honolulu, a debate that has spanned more than four decades. Star-Advertiser.

Critics say it's all for show but rail supporters see today's ceremonial rail transit groundbreaking as an important milestone. Hawaii News Now.

Both supporters and critics of Honolulu’s proposed $5.5 billion rail projected flocked to North-South Road on the outskirts of Kapolei Tuesday for a large and elaborate groundbreaking ceremony, estimated to cost $30,000. KHON2.

After 45 years of talking about rail, the City and County of Honolulu Tuesday broke ground on its $5.5 billion, 20-mile project. Pacific Business News

Honolulu’s largest public works project broke ground Tuesday, capping more than four decades of work to bring the $5.5 billion rail project to fruition. Hawaii Reporter.

Politicians hate to talk about it. The media doesn’t cover it, unless they absolutely have to. It is a taxpayer’s nightmare. Yet it has come so far. It is the Honolulu Rail Transit project, aka TheRail. Hawaii Independent.

The National Weather Service has extended a flash flood watch for all Hawaiian islands until Friday morning as unsettled weather continues over the state. Star-Advertiser.

State House and Senate leaders questioned Gov. Neil Abercrombie and his state budget director yesterday about a new two-year budget draft, including what would happen if they reject the governor's tax revision and spending cut proposals to close a projected $700 million deficit. Star-Advertiser.

If anybody wants to try and manipulate the numbers for personal political agendas in order to try and score political points, let me tell you, this is one governor that's not going to put up with it," Gov. Neil Abercrombie warned lawmakers. Hawaii News Now.

Gov. Neil Abercrombie told lawmakers Tuesday that the state is in a "terrible financial hole for which there are no easy answers." KITV4.

Hawaii Gov. Neil Abercrombie is calling for partnership and collaboration with government employee unions as he seeks to reduce their pay. Associated Press.

Governor Neil Abercrombie and his budget director defended a $22.7 billion biennial budget plan before dozens of lawmakers. KHON2.

Hawaii lawmakers confronted Gov. Neil Abercrombie on Tuesday over his new budget proposal to expand government and raise taxes while the state is recovering from an economic downturn. Associated Press.

Hawaii Sen. Clayton Hee defers land chief decision until next week; Aila surrenders fishing permits. Civil Beat.

At least one state lawmaker is saying the recent increase in the number of coqui frogs found on Oahu highlights the need for more agricultural inspectors to check on cargo coming into the state and moving from island to island. Hawaii News Now.

Vigil held in opposition to civil unions on eve of bill signing ceremony. KHON2.

A fast-tracked bill setting up the process for appointing a Board of Education is expected to get to the governor's desk as early as next week. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii developers are struggling to sell affordable housing units, despite being given plots of state land to build on for free. Civil Beat.

The number of manufacturing jobs in Hawaii fell for the fifth year in a row last year but the rate of decline slowed. Associated Press.

The state Department of Health has revised its advisory levels for sulfur dioxide to be more protective of people with asthma. KITV4.

Ka'u residents had questions for Aina Koa Pono officials Monday night, ranging from the environmental impacts of the planned biofuel production plant on the district to what other plans the company has. West Hawaii Today.

The hikers' group Public Access Trails Hawaii-Maui is suing Haleakala Ranch and the state to force the reopening of the horse trail that was used to reach the crater until 75 years ago. Maui News.

In six years, a group of volunteers, working along with police and county officials, has transformed Kalama Park from "not a good place to go and hang out" to a place where families go for walks, bike rides, sporting events and picnics. Maui News.

In the interest of public safety the utility access road to the Nawiliwili jetty will be closed to the public this Thursday and Friday between 7 a.m. and 6 p.m. while the Kaua‘i Fire Department conducts its helicopter rescue operations training. Garden Island.

The state Department of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR) is holding statewide public hearings this month on proposed amendments and additions to its Hawaii Administrative Rules for the Division of Boating and Ocean Recreation. Lahaina News.

Hawaii volcano active, leaked speech shows Abercrombie uncertainty, Maui seeks to harness landfill gas, cheap inmate labor keeps unemployment high, Molokai flood zones revealed, more news from the Hawaiian Islands

Kilauea volcano

Scientists at the Hawaiian Volcano Observatory on the Big Island of Hawaii are looking at a swarm of small earthquakes that shook Kilauea Volcano last week. Hawaii News Now.

The lava lake at the summit of Halema'uma'u crater has been rising gradually in the last few months. Tribune-Herald.

The haze and vog that have been clogging the air over Oahu will spread and persist throughout the islands for the rest of the week, according to the National Weather Service. Star-Advertiser.

Bills to require genetically modified food to be labeled as such have been taken off the table this legislative session. Star-Advertiser.

Vacationers flock to Hawaii for the sun, sand and sea, but what about the stars. Hawaii lawmakers are hoping visitors can soon boldly go where only few have gone before - outer space. KHON2.

If you want to know what a veteran union lobbyist and ally of Hawaii Gov. Neil Abercrombie really thinks of the state of things in Hawaii, read on. Civil Beat.

The demand for prison work crews as cheap labor for nonprofit groups, schools, churches and state and city agencies has skyrocketed over the past two years in an economy that forced deep cuts, layoffs and a mounting backlog of repair and maintenance projects. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii Gov. Neil Abercrombie is making his case before lawmakers and an upset crowd of retirees that the state should end Medicare Part B reimbursements for public workers. Associated Press.

Taxpayers shouldn’t be surprised that both the administration and lawmakers are coming up with all sorts of platitudes about how we should lead healthier lives and contribute back to the community that are smoke screens for raising taxes. Garden Island.

If Hawaii lawmakers get their way this session, they will protect aquarium fish from harvest, ban feral cat trapping, import nonvenomous snakes for study, order the castration of wild donkeys, designate the Hawaiian Hoary Bat as the official state land mammal, keep dogs out of puppy mills, put Zoo elephants in a space to roam, ban shark tours and give tax credits for, well, worms. Hawaii Reporter.

Trash at the Central Maui Landfill creates gas, which Maui officials want to convert into energy. KITV4.

Converting those stinky gases from the Central Maui Landfill into electricity could create enough energy to power the equivalent of up to 3,000 Maui homes per year, according to a county-commissioned study. Maui News.

In rainy weather and through ankle-deep mud, county officials and Kapa‘a Solar LLC project members gathered under a tent Friday for a blessing and ribbon-cutting ceremony to celebrate the state’s largest and Kaua‘i’s first solar farm. Garden Island.

Twenty years after Molokai’s first flood maps were released, Maui County and federal agencies have presented a major overhaul of flood zones on Molokai. Molokai Dispatch.

Hawaiian Airlines, ramping up service to the state's largest international tourism market, will inaugurate its second Honolulu-Japan flight when it begins daily nonstop service to Osaka in July. Star-Advertiser.

Volunteers using heavy equipment are working to replenish sand at Oahu's famed Makaha Surfing Beach. Associated Press.

Kamehameha Schools plans to renovate 46 rental units in three Moiliili apartment buildings owned by the Schools starting in April. KITV4.

The Department of Hawaiian Home Lands held lot selection for 20 homes on Saturday. KITV4.

Big Islanders showed Saturday that they love Roseanne Barr just as much as the controversial actress-comedian loves her new Big Island home. Tribune-Herald.

Hawaii Island's national parks offer residents and visitors alike a means for escaping the hustle and bustle of daily life to get back to the simplicity of old Hawaii. West Hawaii Today.

Hawaii residents had the second-highest average credit card debt in the nation in January, according to consumer credit advocate CreditKarma.com. Pacific Business News

Spacenet recently received stimulus grant funding from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Development to provide StarBand: Open Skies Alaska and Hawaii, a broadband service made available in rural areas. Molokai Dispatch.

Neighbor Island residents object to powering Oahu, part-time residents bearing tax burden, plastic bag bans in the wind, more Hawaii news

Honolulu Spam Jam (c) 2011 All Hawaii News

Hawaii is the nation's top consumer of SPAM. So the company that makes the canned meat is saluting the state's devotion by holding a contest for a Hawaiian-designed label. Associated Press.

Lanai residents turned out Saturday to express strong opposition to bringing "big wind" to their island for the benefit of Oahu consumers. Maui News.

It seems lately, everyone has been hosting meetings on alternative energy options for Molokai – the state, the federal government, community members – and now, land owners. Molokai Dispatch.

If the House Judiciary Committee passes Senate Bill 232 unamended late Tuesday, a Hawaii civil unions measure could be on Gov. Neil Abercrombie's desk this week. Civil Beat.

Attorneys, friends, colleagues and even former litigants expressed unanimous respect and affection for state Supreme Court nominee Judge Sabrina McKenna in a hearing today at the Legislature. Hawaii Reporter.


On Maui and Kauai, windy days find fewer plastic shopping bags tumbling across the landscape or landing in the ocean. Star-Advertiser.

A state senate committee is scheduled to hear a bill that would ban the sale of any aquatic life for aquarium purposes. Hawaii News Now.

Lawmakers in the Senate heard two bills relating to marijuana Friday. KITV4.

Some state lawmakers still disagree with the decision to close Kulani Correctional Facility and open a Hawaii National Guard Youth ChalleNGe Academy on 600 acres of the former prison site. Tribune-Herald.

Hawaii did worse than the nation last year as a whole in terms of the broadest measure of unemployment. Hawaii Reporter.

The federal government is reporting that Hawaii has one of the sharpest increases in children enrolled in the Children's Health Insurance Program and Medicaid. KITV4.

Hawaii's Public Schools: Fixing a Broken System? Filipino Chronicle.

A Honolulu middle school is planning to offer all its seventh and eighth-grade classes online next year, a move that would allow students to learn from home and make the school the first of its kind in Hawaii. Associated Press.

Airport taxi service under state scrutiny. Star-Advertiser.

Taxation without representation? Part-time residents shoulder larger property tax burden. West Hawaii Today.

Hawaii Is the Only State to Assess Hotel-Room Tax on Timeshare Owners. Civil Beat.

More than a thousand Maui County property owners may now need flood insurance because the Federal Emergency Management Agency is proposing significant changes to flood insurance rate maps in certain areas of the county. Maui News.

County officials last week submitted an updated application to the state Department of Land and Natural Resources and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service for the Kaua‘i Seabird Habitat Conservation Plan project. Garden Island.

Residential real estate market slow to rebound. Garden Island.

Waimea's pink cherry blossoms may not have been in full bloom Saturday, but the spirit surrounding the annual Waimea Cherry Blossom Heritage Festival was on full display. West Hawaii Today.

Hawaii pins hopes on Chinese tourism, shoreline surveillence drones planned, Maui lawmakers seek tropical fish ban, schools lack AC, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Hawaii Interisland Renewable Energy Program

State and federal officials are holding public meetings starting tomorrow on an environmental study of the proposed transmission of wind energy from Maui County to Oahu by undersea cable. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaiian Electric Co. announced Friday that it has tested 100 percent renewable biofuel in a petroleum oil-fired steam turbine generator at the Kahe power plant near Kapolei. Pacific Business News

The National Weather Service in Honolulu has issued a High Surf Warning, effective from midnight Sunday night until 6 a.m. Tuesday for the north and west facing shores of Kauai and Niihau and for the north facing shores of Oahu, Molokai and Maui. Hawaii News Now.

Collecting reef fish for sale in the aquarium trade would be banned or restricted statewide under bills introduced by Maui legislators. Maui News.

Bills proposed by Maui lawmakers would set bag limits and size restrictions for uhu and goatfish caught in waters off Maui. Maui News.

A measure creating a school board directly appointed by the governor is heading for a vote in the full Senate. KHON2.

With gas consumption projected to decrease in coming years, lawmakers are looking for a new way to pay for roads — taxing drivers based on their mileage. Civil Beat.

A self-storage entrepreneur is protecting more than 2,000 acres of Hawaii agricultural land from development. Associated Press.

The first chartered direct flight full of high-spending Chinese tourists touched down at Honolulu Airport yesterday with 263 passengers eager to shop and see the islands through the Chinese New Year over the next six days. Star-Advertiser.

A China Eastern Airlines A-340 touched down at Honolulu International Airport at 11:30 a.m. Sunday, becoming the first-ever direct charter flight from China to Hawaii. Hawaii News Now.

Hawaii tourism officials and politicians greeted the first direct charter flight from China Sunday. KITV4.

The state and a private contractor are installing extensive new security and surveillance measures at harbors and shorelines that include planned use of unmanned aerial drones, according to public records. Hawaii Reporter.

Wright: The U.S. is making a killing off the killing in Afghanistan. Hawaii Independent.

The U.S. Army is taking responsibility for "miscommunication" it said fueled the recent public outcry over its proposal to conduct high-altitude helicopter training on Mauna Kea and Mauna Loa. Tribune-Herald.

Over the past decade, the state has installed air conditioning in just three schools. Star-Advertiser.

As part of a push to extend services to more native Hawaiian children statewide, Kamehameha Schools spent $102 million on educational outreach programs last fiscal year, up from $57 million in 2006. Star-Advertiser.

The state is due to hold a public hearing this week on efforts to avoid and minimize harm to nene and other endangered birds during the planned construction of a new development at Kauai Lagoons Resort in Lihue. KHON2.

A state agency collaborating with a community advisory council has sketched its vision for developing state land in Kakaako next to Kewalo Basin. That was no easy task, but now comes the hard part: paying for delivery. Star-Advertiser.

First-ever State of the County addresses Mayor Billy Kenoi delivered have drawn mixed reactions from County Council members, several of whom wanted a budget forecast. Tribune-Herald.

The Hawaii County Council will get its first look at a redistricting plan Tuesday, when a bill by South Kona Councilwoman Brenda Ford is scheduled to be heard by the Committee on Governmental Relations. West Hawaii Today.

Every year researchers and scientists send thousands of island bugs to the University of Hawaii’s insect museum. Hawaii Public Radio.

Molokai Dialysis Facility is preparing to upgrade their facilities to better suit special case patients, so they’ll no longer need to travel off-island for dialysis treatments.Molokai Dispatch.

Watching a whale breach off Ahukini Landing was the perfect way to wake up Saturday, said Lani Broadbent, part-time resident of Wailua and Maryland. Garden Island.

Obama birth certificates could go on sale, Maui drivers flout cellphone ban, HECO strike looms, Native Hawaiians learning law, Kauai mayor ends furloughs, EPA praises bag bans, more Hawaii news

Hawaii Mayor Billy Kenoi Photo (c) 2011 All Hawaii News

Mayor Billy Kenoi gave his first State of the County address Thursday morning in Kona, pointing out the positives despite a still-ailing economy. Hawaii 24/7

Moving to dispel claims that President Barack Obama was not born in Hawaii, his supporters in the state's legislature have introduced a bill that would allow anyone to get a copy of his birth records for a $100 fee. Associated Press.

Hawaii now has its first network of commercial charging stations for Nissan Leaf electric cars. Pacific Business News

The Abercrombie administration is starting to make good on the governor's promise to bring all state prison inmates incarcerated on the mainland back to Hawaii. Star-Advertiser.

Hospitals would be barred from denying care to rape victims who refuse to undergo forensic examinations under a proposal being pushed by the Women's Legislative Caucus in the state Legislature. Star-Advertiser.

The Women’s Legislative Caucus of the Hawaii State Legislature has proposed a package of bills and resolutions that include a number of measures related to sexual assault, including removal of the statute of limitations on prosecuting rape cases. Hawaii Reporter.

Gov. Neil Abercrombie asked Dr. Neal Palafox to withdraw his nomination as director of the state Department of Health, but the governor's staff has declined to publicly disclose the reason. Star-Advertiser.

Gov. Neil Abercrombie has appointed the director of two executive branch offices. Associated Press.

Kauai Mayor Bernard Carvalho Jr. has signed a bill restoring funding in various county departments, ending all county employee furloughs for the remainder of the current fiscal year. Associated Press.

Mayor Bernard Carvalho Jr. signed a bill Thursday that restores funding in the various county departments and ends all county furlough days for the remainder of the current fiscal year. Garden Island.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is praising Maui and Kauai counties for banning plastic shopping bags. Associated Press.

Kohala Councilman Pete Hoffmann hopes Hawaii County will follow the lead of Maui and Kauai, whose mayors and county councils were praised Thursday by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. West Hawaii Today.


A proposed biofuel plant in Ka'u will not be built in Pahala town; officials are instead looking at acquiring land near the Pahala Transfer Station. Tribune-Herald.

The Hawaii Department of Health on Thursday issued an updated list of recall items involving the First Commercial Kitchen investigation. KITV4.

The demand for new Army and Air Force housing is driving a rebirth in the local construction industry. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii tourism officials are counting on sunshine and momentum from the NFL play-offs to bring big bucks to our islands.Hawaii News Now.

Hawaii is one of the top four states in the nation when it comes to debt and pension burden, according to a new report from Moody’s Investors Service. Hawaii Reporter.

The Council for Native Hawaiian Advancement (CNHA) and its Policy Center have adopted a project to increase understanding on a variety of legal cases moving through the court system involving Native Hawaiian trust assets. Hawaii Independent.

As bad as the landfill spill was, the decision to release contaminated stormwater into the ocean was necessary to prevent something even worse — a catastrophic structural failure, a top state Health Department official told Civil Beat. Civil Beat.

They're not striking yet, but Hawaiian Electric employees gathered Thursday to get ready for such an event. KHON2.

A trust representing unsecured creditors in the Hawaiian Telcom bankruptcy case is suing three former top executives of the company to recover about $2.5 million in severance and other payments paid to the officers before the company filed for bankruptcy in late 2008. Star-Advertiser.

Although some drivers denied they had been talking on cell phones and most had hung up before reaching a police checkpoint, officers ticketed 26 motorists for cell phone violations last week in Wailuku. Maui News.

A Naalehu man has filed an ethics complaint against Hilo Councilman Donald Ikeda. West Hawaii Today.

Bill Dorman has been appointed as Hawaii Public Radio’s News Director. Hawaii Public Radio.

Brother honors astronaut's memory. Hawaii News Now.

Developer Jesse Spencer and his supporters turned out for a meeting of the Maalaea Community Association on Tuesday night to advocate for his Ohana Kai Village project and protest the association's legal action against it. Maui News.

The U.S. Army has suspended animal-eradication efforts within its Pohakuloa Training Area due to a dispute with state wildlife administrators, who maintain recent aerial shoots were unauthorized. Tribune-Herald.

Hawaii fish farm faces coral damage fine, state House still out of order, ignition interlock law flawed, airport chief wants more money, Maui resort taken over by lenders, Lanai wind farm discussion slated, more news from the Hawaiian Islands

Technology finally enabled scientists to prove what they'd thought to be true: A network of protected marine areas will help replenish fish stocks in areas more than 100 miles away. West Hawaii Today.

Kona Blue Water Farms faces a $6,750 fine for damaging coral when it moored a net pen in the Kawaihae Small Boat Harbor last year. West Hawaii Today.

State House Speaker Calvin Say and a dissident faction challenging his leadership traded proposals over the weekend but have yet to reach a power-sharing agreement to organize the House. Star-Advertiser.

Why the big fuss over who the next House Speaker will be? In a word: power.Civil Beat.

Maui Democratic Party chairman Lance Holter is urging Hawaii House Democrats to resolve their leadership struggle internally, without including Republicans. Associated Press.

Supporters of same-sex civil unions are optimistic that a new governor who supports their plight means 2011 will be the year a civil union bill becomes law in Hawaii. KITV4.

A legislative informational briefing will be held on Tuesday, January 11 from 1:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. at the Hawaii State Capitol in Room 229 to discuss the Oahu industrial wind power plant proposed for Lanai. Hawaii Independent.

Directing the Department of Budget and Finance is one of the state's most important and challenging jobs, given that the present economic recovery probably will not generate enough added revenue to close a roughly $700 million projected state budget deficit through June 2013.Star-Advertiser.

The winter storm that pounded the Waianae Coast last month also filled one of the cells at Waimanalo Gulch Landfill with rainwater that was eventually pumped into the ocean. KHON2.

A flaw in Hawaii's new ignition interlock law prevents second and third time DUI offenders from being able to get the device installed in their vehicles as the law intended. Hawaii News Now.

The 2011 Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation Conference – APEC – will be conducted in Hawaii in 10 months. Today, members of the Hawaii Host Committee updated a Honolulu City Council Committee on their latest plans. Hawaii Public Radio.

Hawaii airport officials Monday told lawmakers they want to hire more than 200 people, many of them to repair and clean-up Hawaii's airports. KITV4.

Administrators plead case for cleaner airport restrooms. Hawaii News Now.

The Supreme Court has rejected an appeal from a lawyer who has been in the forefront of the challenge to President Barack Obama's citizenship. Associated Press.

The U.S. Supreme Court won’t be hearing an appeal from so-called “birther” attorney Orly Taitz. Hawaii Reporter.

Kauai County canceled the first Furlough Friday of the year after saving and raising funds to stave off furloughs for the fiscal year. Star-Advertiser.

Kauai County officials said they have canceled the first furlough day of 2011, which would have been Friday. KITV4.

The Grand Wailea Resort Hotel & Spa on Maui has been taken over by a group of lenders including New York-based Paulson & Co. who seized control of former CNL Hotels & Resorts Inc. from Morgan Stanley. Pacific Business News.

From grocery stores to toy stores, businesses beginning on Tuesday will no longer be giving out plastic bags to their customers. The county's plastic bag ban takes effect then, following a long publicity campaign. Maui News.

As one part of the County's B.Y.O. Bag: Shop Smart campaign winds down, another part begins, as the county will now have to condition residents to change their behavior. Maui News.

The saying paper or plastic is now a thing of the past. KHON2.

A live bat discovered in a shipment of radishes and turnips from Korea tested negative for rabies after it was discovered in a Pearl City produce storage facility last week, state agriculture officials said today. Star-Advertiser.

Information from a Japanese man who pleaded guilty in October to smuggling 42 exotic turtles and tortoises into Honolulu airport has helped lead to two arrests in Los Angeles on similar charges. Star-Advertiser.

Shallow and relatively short. That was the extent of Oahu's most recent housing market downturn, which was reversed last year by a 3.1 percent rise in the median sale price of previously owned single-family homes to $592,750. Star-Advertiser.

Students commuted to class in the rain Monday morning as spring semester started at Kaua‘i Community College. Garden Island.

Hawaii farm to fuel project, military to stay strong in Pacific, school impact fees coming to Maui, but not the Big Island, Maui, Kauai expect budget surpluses, Oahu, Hawaii, shortfalls, Honolulu hotels filling up, more news from the Hawaiian Islands

Crops grown on Hawaii's Big Island will be converted into liquid fuel as part of a deal announced Thursday between Hawaiian Electric Co. and renewable energy company Aina Koa Pono. Associated Press.

Hawaiian Electric Company has struck a deal to buy more than 300 million gallons of liquid biofuel from a local company over the next two decades. Civil Beat.

Hawaiian Electric Co. has signed a contract to buy 16 million gallons a year of locally produced biofuel to power its generators in a move that will allow the state to take a big step toward reducing its dependence on fossil fuel. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaiian Electric company announced a major deal today to turn Big Island crops into liquid fuel. KHON2.

At the same time the Pentagon announced big budget cuts yesterday, the head of the U.S. military in the Pacific said that "Hawaii is of extreme strategic importance" to the United States because of its mid-Pacific location facing Asia -- the "economic engine for the rest of the world." Star-Advertiser.

Kauai and Maui are experiencing budget surpluses, while Oahu and the Big Island predict budget shortfalls this year. KITV4.

With its economy sputtering, Hawaii is in the perfect position to foster healthier residents at less cost, says Health Director-designate Dr. Neal Palafox.Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii’s hotels were 80.1 percent full for the last week of 2010, according to Smith Travel Research and Hospitality Advisors. That was 2.7 percentage points higher than the same week in 2009. Pacific Business News.

Landowners who want to build new housing units in Central, South and West Maui will soon have to pay new "impact fees" for the construction of new school facilities. Maui News.

The state's Department of Education is collecting impact fees on Maui, but Hawaii County still opposes the plan to levy similar fees in West Hawaii. West Hawaii Today.

The Windward Planning Commission on Thursday unanimously approved a special permit for Yamada & Sons Inc. to dig a new quarry near the landfill, but not before two members scolded County Council Chairman Dominic Yagong for publicly airing his concerns. West Hawaii Today.

Maui County’s Department of Environmental Management has prepared an Environmental Assessment and Environmental Impact Statement for the proposed Wailuku-Kahului Wastewater Reclamation Facility Shoreline Protection Extension Project, which will be published in The Environmental Notice on January 23. Hawaii Independent.

The West Maui Charter Working Group recently released its final report offering six proposals for amending the Maui County Charter during the upcoming Charter Review Commission. Lahaina News.

Public schools in Hawaii will have a hard time complying with a new state law requiring more instructional time next school year, Superintendent Kathryn Matayoshi said today. Associated Press.

They raised the fares and reduced the service areas, but school buses are still costing the Department of Education $20 million more than they were budgeted for. KITV4.

Several state officials provided dozens of North Hawaii residents an update regarding legislative priorities for the upcoming session Thursday evening in Waimea. West Hawaii Today.


Tenants went toe-to-toe Thursday with State Health and Public Housing officials. They've been told their washing machines are in violation of state health codes and that they'd have to give them up, effective immediately. Hawaii News Now.

Honolulu Firefighters hope that security cameras at the Hawaiian Waste Management facility will help determine cause of blaze. KITV4.

With carpooling and mass transit use down, island workers are leaving for their jobs earlier to avoid traffic and shorten their commutes. Civil Beat.

In the coming months Hawaii Public Radio will take an important step closer toward its long-time dream of providing two, first-class program services to the entire state and, of equal importance, providing people around the state with a means to talk to one another, exchange information, debate and tell stories, using our airwaves. Hawaii Public Radio.

A Maui businessman pleaded guilty in federal court Wednesday to charges that he bilked more than 50 people of up to $20 million in a long-running Ponzi scheme. Maui News.

Federal authorities are investigating a loan officer fired from the Bank of America’s Honolulu office last month for allegedly stealing at least $1 million of customer funds to repay personal gambling debts, HawaiiReporter has learned. Hawaii Reporter.

Nine Island School high school students participated in this year’s model United Nations conference on O‘ahu, Dec. 10-11. Garden Island.

Green energy plans move forward, Aloha Petroleum to get more market share, Hawaii grads unprepared for college, Chinese, Filipinos celebrate heritage, more Hawaii news

Castle & Cooke Resorts, Lanai's biggest employer, has proposed to erect more than 150 wind turbines on the remote northwestern end of the island and lay an undersea cable that would send the power to Oahu. Maui News.

The goal of breaking Hawaii's addiction to shipped-in oil first took vague shape during a ceremony in the governor's executive chambers, with lofty speeches and frequent applause but few specifics. Associated Press.

The Federal Trade Commission has closed an investigation into Aloha Petroleum LLC’s purchase of Shell Oil Co.’s Hawaii gas station and terminal operations, a move that will significantly increase Aloha’s share of the state’s retail gasoline market and open opportunities for it on Maui and Kauai. Hawaii Reporter.

In an effort to create a clean energy workforce that will help meet the growing demand for photovoltaic energy systems, Kaua‘i Community College and WorkWise Kaua‘i have paired to create a new program that offers training and certification in commercial and residential installation. Garden Island.

You often hear about landowners who want to develop on their property. But on Sunday, one landowner on Oahu's North Shore celebrated the fact that he -- or anyone else who owns his land in the future -- will never be able to do so. Hawaii News Now.

A round of three regional meetings conducted by University of Hawai‘i researchers wrapped up last week, giving the public a chance to provide its feedback on what matters most when identifying prime agricultural land on Kaua‘i. Garden Island.

More than a third of Hawaii public school graduates who enrolled in the University of Hawaii system following graduation last year needed remedial instruction in math or English, according to a new school-by-school report that helps paint a picture of the college- and career-readiness of the 2009 graduating class. Star-Advertiser.

Generations of ethnic Chinese youth have strengthened the bonds of culture and language to their parents and the motherland by attending daily classes at Mun Lun School. Star-Advertiser.

Planners of next year's Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit — due to be held in Honolulu in November — are being given an opportunity to think about security this week. Associated Press.

An ordnance was found Sunday morning near the Kahe Power Plant in Waianae. KHON2.

Navy divers said yesterday that a mysterious object caught in the ocean intake pipe of Hawaiian Electric Co.'s Kahe power plant is not a torpedo. Star-Advertiser.

It's the first — and arguably most controversial — order of business on the City Council's agenda Monday morning: David Tanoue's nomination to serve as director of the Department of Planning and Permitting. Civil Beat.

Maui County Council Chairman Danny Mateo's colleagues decided that he will continue in that position for the next two years, his office announced Saturday morning. Maui News.

The Kauai County Council's nonbinding organizational meeting starts at 9 a.m., Monday, at Council Chambers in Nawiliwili. Garden Island.

University of Hawaii officials signed a deal Friday to build a new community college in Kailua-Kona on Hawaii's Big Island, which they say will be the most energy-efficient campus in the nation. Associated Press.

Hawaii Literacy (HL) reintroduced the Bookmobile after the “classroom on wheels” was forced to stop operating when the vehicle was deemed unfixable earlier this year. Hawaii Independent.

At an open house at Kailua Elementary School, residents protested Target's plan to move into the community. KITV4.

Through major cleanups, Matt Lane teaches the public to reduce waste. Lahaina News.

The spirit of giving filled The Sheraton Waikiki tonight at a benefit for the Ronald McDonald House Charities- Hawaii. KITV4.

With Thanksgiving days away and Christmas barreling toward the Big Isle like a runaway sleigh, the season of giving is upon us. Tribune-Herald.

For the last 18 years, the Hawaii Filipino Chronicle (HFC) has served as the voice of the Filipino community in the islands. Filipino Chronicle.

Akaka Bill in jeopardy with Alaska GOP loss, tourism up, investigations at DOT, green energy advances with PUC decoupling, more state news

Reminder: The Civil Defense monthly test of the statewide outdoor siren warning system and Emergency Alert System on the radio, is scheduled for 11:45 a.m. today

Hawaii's electric company will get paid a guaranteed amount of money regardless of how much power it sells under a decision Tuesday meant to promote renewable energy. Associated Press.

Alaska Republican, seen as key vote for the Akaka Bill, loses in primary. Associated Press.

July was the best month for visitor performance that Hawaii has seen in five years. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii officials have known for weeks that July was a very strong month for tourism, because daily arrivals were up smartly from last summer, but financial data released Tuesday showed spending outpacing even arrivals. Hawaii News Now.

People renting a car in Hawaii can expect to pay more in fees starting tomorrow. KHON2.

Hawaii GOP Chairs Tells Christians To Shun Hannemann. KITV

As September election approaches, the Hawaii Republican Party is weighing in to keep religious conservatives from crossover voting in a close democratic primary. KHON2.

The two leading Democratic contenders to be Hawaii's next governor visited the Big Island a nearly equal number of times this summer. West Hawaii Today.

A spokeswoman for Democratic gubernatorial candidate Neil Abercrombie says he misspoke when he alleged that a website that rated his congressional record poorly was a "Republican front organization." Associated Press.

Lt. Gov. James "Duke" Aiona is planning 20 campaign meetings in as many communities over the next two months as the primary and general elections approach.Associated Press.

The state ethics commission has begun an investigation into the former deputy transportation director who abruptly resigned three weeks ago while under fire for mismanagement and questionable ethical behavior. KITV.

A supervisor at Lihue Airport who admitted to stealing thousands of dollars in an embezzlement case has been fired after state transportation officials put her on leave with pay for nearly two months while they investigated the case. KITV.

If the highest paid employees of the University of Hawaii reveal where its priorities lie, then UH appears to most value the following: football, medicine and cancer research. Civil Beat.

James Bopp Jr., the attorney who brought a federal lawsuit against Hawaii's campaign finance law, said the law severely limits First Amendment rights to criticize the government and participate in political campaigns. Star-Advertiser.

On August 27, 2010, Attorney General Mark J. Bennett filed a Complaint in First Circuit Court for the State of Hawai`i for Preliminary and Permanent Injunctive, and Declaratory Relief against The Financial Group Legal Plan, Inc Hawaii Reporter.

U.S. Senator Daniel Inouye used a workshop on Rail Transit to re-state that Federal funding is in jeopardy unless the project moves ahead. Hawaii News Now.

The city held a workshop Tuesday to answer questions about the rail transit project from senior citizens and those with disabilities. KHON2.

The Army said Tuesday that its tests show depleted uranium at Pohakuloa Training Area isn't likely to adversely affect people living and working at or near the Big Island base. Garden Island.

Apo taking Disney job. The Council chairman's departure in November will trigger a special election. Star-Advertiser.

The Honolulu City Council is getting shaken up again. Hawaii News Now.

Harry E. Williams of Kapa‘a is officially a Republican candidate for the state House seat encompassing Wailua to Ha‘ena, a judge ruled Tuesday morning. Garden Island.

Hawaii County taxpayers are chipping in for cell phones used in the reelection campaigns of five of the nine County Council members, but whether that use violates campaign laws is open to debate. West Hawaii Today.

Monday's public hearing on proposed changes to the two-year-old Puna Community Development Plan turned into a public referendum on growth versus conservation. Tribune-Herald.

U.S. Sen. Daniel Inouye is seeking out alternative ways to get people to and from West Maui. Maui News.

Bobby Cooper, the former president of W.H. Shipman Ltd. and a powerful force for good in the community who could never stay retired, died last Friday at his Hilo home of bile duct cancer. Tribune-Herald.

Several candidates for many office positions met Monday evening at the historic Waimea Theatre to share their visions and goals for Kaua‘i. Garden Island.

A new affordable rental housing complex has opened in Kailua-Kona. Associated Press.

With the State Primary elections nearing, it is imperative for every voter to get to know the candidates and what they stand for. Molokai Dispatch.