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.

PUC: Smart grid dumb idea, cable repair could take weeks, WWII munitions no danger yet, lawyers speak out on chief justice pick, more

Hawaii regulators have rejected plans for a broad expansion of smart grid electric technology that would have been paid for by residents and bus- inesses. Asso- ciated Press.

When it comes to repairing a severed fiber-optic cable 3,000 feet under the sea, it won't be as simple as calling the cable guy. Star-Advertiser.

Internet, cable television and telephone service began returning to normal Tuesday afternoon for thousands of Oceanic Time Warner Cable customers after a break in an undersea fiber-optic cable disrupted service about 12 hours earlier. Maui News.

A rare break in an undersea fiber-optic cable Tuesday morning, left around 400,000 people without Internet, phone and TV service, for 12 hours in some cases. Hawaii News Now.

Oahu resident Ian Kurihara discovered early Tuesday morning he wasn't able to go online. KITV.

A wind farm on Oahu's North Shore is receiving a big boost in federal funding. KHON2.

Chemical weapons dumped off Pearl Harbor after World War II pose no threat to humans for now but are "clearly deteriorating" and should continue to be monitored, the lead scientist on the University of Hawaii project said Tuesday. Associated Press.

They're safe for now. There's no threat to humans or the ocean so far. Hawaii News Now.

The Hawaii Women Lawyers will be expressing their strong support of Gov. Linda Lingle's appoint- ment of appeals Judge Katherine Leonard as the next chief justice, a spokeswoman for the group said yesterday. Star-Advertiser.

In a letter to the Hawaii Bar Association, attorney Eric Seitz calls Katherine Leonard "ill equipped and unqualified" to be Hawaii's next Chief Justice. Hawaii News Now.

After failing at its first bid for federal Race to the Top funds, Hawaii has placed among 19 finalists with its second application for one of the coveted education grants. Civil Beat.

A West Hawaii ranch owner says a local business owner who bought part of Hokukano Ranch is cutting down old-growth sandalwood in the upper reaches of the property. West Hawaii Today.

Recreational off-road vehicles have damaged much of the terrain at Kaena Point. KHON2.

A city contractor working on a 42-inch main that broke late last week in Pearl City accidentally severed the 30-inch backup force main near the 14th hole of the Ted Makalena Golf Course, causing a spill of about 108,000 gallons of sewage yesterday. Star-Advertiser.

Officials posted signs warning of a sewage spill are being posted along the Pearl Harbor bike path and at Middle Loch. KITV.

Hawaii County property taxes are leaving the state this year. But don't worry, say county administrators, the money will come back. West Hawaii Today.

Hawaii's "Sunshine Law" is hampering the County Council and should be overturned, says North Kona Councilman Kelly Greenwell. Tribune-Herald.

A forum on the topic of “In Search of Real Security for Kaua‘i” will include remarks by Congresswoman Mazie Hirono, D-2nd District. Garden Island.

Local divers will be competing in a tournament targeting invasive fish. The "Westside Roi Reckoning" takes place Saturday off Kahe Point. Hawaii News Now.

Wind energy plan unveiled, Census tells us what we already knew, tax revenues dip some, Honolulu cops investigation widens, tougher graduation requirements ahead, more

The North Shore of Oahu is about to have a new power plant - a clean power plant that generates 30 megawatts of electricity from wind. (Photo Stan Shebs) KHON2.

Gov. Linda Lingle's highly criticized move of delaying tax refund payments until after the start of the new fiscal calendar resulted in a higher general fund balance for the recently concluded fiscal year.Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii's tax revenue took a slight dip in the fiscal year that recently ended, giving state officials mixed signals about the robustness of the state's economic recovery. Associated Press.

Hawaii's tax revenues took a slight dip during the fiscal year that recently ended. Hawaii News Now.

The state Department of Transportation is moving forward with its development of a statewide pedestrian master plan. Garden Island.

A U.S. Census Bureau report released Tuesday shows Hawaii leads the nation in minority-owned businesses. Associated Press.

Gov. Linda Lingle, in a letter yesterday to the U.S. Senate in favor of a native Hawaiian federal recognition bill, said the bill is "fair and just" and would treat Hawaiians like other indigenous people. Star-Advertiser.

Governor Linda Lingle spoke about her veto of the civil unions bill for the first time since making her controversial decision. KHON2.

Honolulu’s rail plan is "the premier transit project in the entire country,” the congressman who chairs the House transportation committee says. Civil Beat.

After six years of planning, work has gotten under way on Honolulu's $100 million Joint Traffic Management Center. Associated Press.

A synthetic marijuana known as “spice” will be illegal in Hawaii starting Aug. 1. KITV.

Public school students would have to fulfill tougher requirements to earn diplomas, including taking algebra 2 or an equivalent math course and completing a senior project, under changes advanced yesterday by a Board of Education committee. Star-Advertiser,

In an about-face, it appears Kohala schools will be saved from closing -- for now. West Hawaii Today.

Honolulu Mayor Mufi Hannemann intends to step down from office to run for governor next week, but his political foes are not making his last week easy. KITV.

Circuit Judge Shackley F. Raffetto has confirmed the sale of the Makena Beach & Golf Resort on Maui for $95 million. Associated Press.

Opponents of a consumer fireworks ban say the city should enforce the aerial fireworks prohibition already on the books before trying to add another law to the mix. Star-Advertiser.

The investigation into allegations of false reporting by two Honolulu police sergeants who oversaw DUI enforcement has widened to include half a dozen officers who worked under the pair. Hawaii News Now.


A bunch of drunks were hanging around the Kilauea Military Reservation gymnasium late last week. Hawaii Today.

To address the needs of Kaua‘i’s growing senior population, the Agency on Elderly Affairs is in the process of collecting data that will be incorporated into its Four-Year Area Plan on Aging for October 2011 to September 2015. Garden Island.

Big Island products in spotlight. Tribune-Herald.

Maui's Queen Ka'ahumanu Center will come under the management of Chicago-based Jones Lang LaSalle as part of the restructuring of bankrupt General Growth Properties Inc., which is managing the mall now. Maui News.

Maui Humane Society last week announced it will alter some programs and services as a result of county budget cuts. Lahaina News.

Paddleboarders, swimmers at odds, Kauai utility faces EPA sanctions, counties contemplate cuts, congressional election looms, more top Hawaii news

The state installs a boundary of buoys in an effort to resolve the fight for space between paddlers and swimmers at Ala Moana Beach Park

The buoys were placed in a row just off-shore as a way to prevent conflict in the water, only they instead caused some confusion.

The surf world is in mourning. Hawaiian waterman Marvin Foster has died.

Important clean energy projects have opened a rift in Hawaii's environmental community.

Kaua‘i Island Utility Cooperative was informed Wednesday that the U.S. Department of Justice has obtained an indictment of the cooperative for violations of the Endangered Species Act and the Migratory Bird Treaty Act.

The central Pacific should see only two or three tropical cyclones this hurricane season — fewer than normal — but federal and state officials yesterday pleaded with everyone to be ready for the Big One.

U.S. Senator Daniel K. Akaka met Wed- nesday with Solicitor General Elena Kagan regarding her nomination to the U.S. Supreme Court.

Hannemann campaign official says mayor will run for governor

State elections officials began counting the ballots in the special election for Congress yesterday while the top candidates made last-minute appeals to voters.

Hawaii elections officials on Wednesday reported that 46 percent of the ballots in the special election for Hawaii's congressional race have been returned.

In Hawaii's winner-take-all special election to fill a 1st Congressional District vacancy, candidates are struggling before Saturday's deadline to increase voter turn out.

The election of either Charles Djou or Colleen Hanabusa in this Saturday's Congressional District 1 election would put into motion a process leading to a short-term replacement.

A proposal to build the world's largest telescope atop Mauna Kea has cleared another hurdle.

The state is feeling more optimistic about the strength of the economic recovery.

Big Island homeowners fearful that a neighbor's tree may fall onto their property and cause damage or injury don't have many places to turn.

When longtime residents of this small town needed a road paved, they did what families here have done for years -- they contacted their county councilman and asked. And asked. And asked.

Some Hawaii County Council members say they want greater assurances a reorganized Transportation Agency won't cost more before they approve it as part of the budget.

Maui fire officials and their supporters made a last-ditch effort Tuesday to oppose funding cuts for the county's fire and rescue helicopter, but County Council members stuck with their plan to trim $90,000 from the program.

As far as massacres go, the one that occurred in Hilo on Aug. 1, 1938, was mild, resulting in 50 injuries and no deaths.

Charlene Prickett said her friends are going to make her a T-shirt that on the front reads "FHB -- fucking haole bitch, the lady at the end of the street," and on the back, "My friends call me Charlene."

Ed Case trailing in fundraising, Obama still popular at home, hydrogen cars coming to Hawaii, homeless buy one-way tickets, The Bus riders buying fake passes, news all around the state

Robert White came here about two years ago after living on the streets in Sacramento, Calif. He figured if he was going to be homeless, he might as well live in Hawai'i.

Hawaii's upcoming special election will fill a vacant seat in the U.S. House for only six months, but that has not stopped candidates from raising $3 million so far.

Charles Djou and Colleen Hanabusa continued to receive strong financial backing from their core groups — both topping $1 million since the start of the year — while Ed Case came in a strong third place heading into the final weeks of the special election for Congress.

State Senate President Colleen Hanabusa raised more than $364,000 in April in her bid for the 1st Congressional District seat, her campaign reported Tuesday.

What he’s Djou-ing here

A state known for high gas prices is becoming the go to spot for alternative fuel options.  Just days after Korean manufacturer CT&T tapped Hawaii to build electric cars, General Motors announced a deal with The Gas Company to bring hydrogen powered cars to Hawaii.

Auto-maker General Motors has teamed up with The Gas Company for a pilot project using hydrogen fuel to power vehicles.

Voters will decide this November whether they would rather trade in their elected board of education for an appointed one, but little data exists to help them make an informed decision.

Board of Education committee on Tuesday recommended a fee hike for the popular A+ after-school program.

Mr. President, can you still feel the Aloha spirit?

Honolulu Police on Tuesday called for stricter new laws dealing with people who brandish replica guns in public, or use them while committing a crime.

Hundreds of Oahu bus riders are being lured into buying "bargain" bus passes but are finding that using the fake cards will get them ejected from TheBus, city officials said yesterday.

Wedding bells could soon be ringing at the Ala Wai Boat Harbor, and some harbor residents don't like the sound of it.

Instead of heading to the chopping block, a 13,130-acre koa forest north of Hilo is going on the auction block.

Some members of the Hawaii County Council are taking a dim view of Mayor Billy Kenoi's proposal to balance the budget in part by raising property taxes.

First the architectural plans needed to be redrawn because the county administration omitted the County Council. Then the elevators had to be custom-made because the specs for the elevator shaft didn't fit any known elevator on the planet.

The mainland company that insured the bond for the Mamalahoa bypass wants more information from Hawaii County before handing over any money to county officials.

Power has been restored to about 1,400 Kahului customers who were left without electricity when a short circuit occurred on a power line on Dairy Road about 9:17 a.m. Tuesday, said Kau'i Awai-Dickson, spokeswoman for Maui Electric Co.

Sterling Kim's six-year struggle to build the Hale Mua affordable housing project has hit another barrier: a $12 million foreclosure action by a Colorado lender against the real estate and against the value of his hard-won government approvals.

Employees at the Kaanapali Beach Hotel spent four months building a four-man, single-hull Hawaiian sailing canoe.

Kaua‘i County Council members needed only one of the two scheduled sessions this week to tweak the mayor’s proposed budget.

Seventy-five homes for 100 years. That is the capacity of a new hydroelectric plant that was dedicated by Green Energy Hydro, Monday afternoon, in an albizia forest just outside of Koloa

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

Feds: Union Wrong, Teachers Can Work Legally For Free

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

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

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

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

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

Colleen Hanabusa has power.

State plans to auction ancient fishponds

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Return of the humpback whales, abandoned fishnets power homes, other top Hawaii news

A pod of humpback whales was spotted yesterday morning off the coast of West Maui, the first reported sighting statewide marking the beginning of whale season, according to an official with the Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary.

Molokai residents flew to Oahu to protest a federal agency's removal of a nearly blind Hawaiian monk seal from waters off Kaunakakai.

A pair of federal lawsuits filed on behalf of special education and other students have the potential to keep some public schools open tomorrow despite the state's plan to furlough teachers on 17 Fridays, attorneys for the plaintiffs said yesterday.

At the public school in Manoa where President Barack Obama, parents are planning to join hundreds of parents across the state to protest at the State Capitol on Friday, the first day of public school teacher furloughs.

Just last month Hawaii's teachers agreed to take 17 furlough days. But already, an area school is using strategy to help students survive the cuts.

Honolulu Mayor Mufi Hannemann yesterday awarded the first construction contract for the city's planned $5.5 billion elevated commuter rail line.

Abandoned fishing nets and other derelict fishing gear recovered in the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands is powering homes on Oahu.

Hawaii County should attempt to sell 737 acres in Paauilo mauka to help finance government operations, according to an initial 5-4 vote by a County Council committee Tuesday.

Working late into Tuesday evening, the Hawaii County Council Finance Committee was scheduled to get its first look at a critical audit of the county Department of Public Works.

Aerosmith concertgoers said they expected to experience one of the band's best concerts ever Tuesday night, especially since members of the rock band were under court order to perform on Maui after they canceled a concert here two years ago.

The Hawaii Supreme Court affirmed Tuesday that Maui County Council Member Sol Kaho'ohalahala is a resident of Lahaina - not Lanai, the island from which he holds the council's residency seat.

A land deal years in the making came to fruition Wednesday when the Kaua‘i County Council unanimously approved a plan that will secure 138 oceanfront acres on the Ninini Coastline near Lihu‘e Airport for public use in perpetuity

Road repairs, flooding and drainage issues, and traffic safety were among the pressing issues addressed when Mayor Billy Kenoi spoke with the residents of Holualoa recently.

Sen. Daniel K. Inouye today becomes the third-longest-serving senator in U.S. history, a landmark for the powerful lawmaker who has held a seat in Congress for as long as Hawaii has been a state.

Everything old is new again

HONOLULU -- The Nature Conservancy of Hawaii rang in the New Year with a new state-of-the-art photovoltaic system that allows the nonprofit to generate clean energy and reduce its carbon emissions.

The powerful 12.6 kilowatt PV system was just installed atop the rooftop of the Conservancy’s downtown Honolulu office. Hawaii Energy Connection engineered and supervised the project in collaboration with Siu’s

Electric, the firm’s commercial installation partner.

“We are thrilled that these panels are helping us to reduce our use of petroleum-based fuel,” Suzanne Case, the Conservancy’s Hawaii executive director, said in a statement. “With our conservation mission, it’s imperative that we do our part and walk the talk.”

The Conservancy’s high-performance photovoltaic system is typically valued at more than $100,000. In a Power Purchase Agreement structured by Hawaii Energy Connection, the cost of the system was capitalized up front by a private investor and will be paid over time by the Conservancy as the user. The group will buy the power generated by the renewable energy system at a reduced rate below current utility pricing. The agreement structures the tax incentive provided by the state and federal governments to encourage users to install photovoltaic systems, to enable the investor to take the tax credit and thereby reduce the cost to the non-profit which otherwise could not use the tax credit.

The Conservancy purchased the Wing Wo Tai Building with its graceful gray stone facade on Nuuanu Avenue in 2005 to house its Honolulu office. Originally built in 1877 and rebuilt in 1916, the wood and stone structure survived the Great Fire of Honolulu in 1900 and now demonstrates how even historic buildings can be adapted to meet 21st century needs.

By late 2009, the Conservancy’s Molokai office will be outfitted with a similar system that will fully power the building — taking it totally off the grid.

“We are just doing what we can to tackle the global climate problem on a local level,” Case said. “By taking steps to shrink our own carbon footprint, we can be part of the solution.”

Water Heaters for Christmas

HONOLULU -- Ten Oahu families were awarded free solar water heater systems today after they won a drawing sponsored by Blue Planet and Suntech Hawaii.

The families were randomly selected from a list of people who signed up to be a “friend” of Blue Planet Foundation, a nonprofit created to change the world's energy culture by raising global awareness and developing practical programs to implement clean, efficient and renewable energy. Suntech Hawaii, founded in 2004, is a renewable energy company specializing in solar photovoltaic and hot water systems.

The 10 solar water heaters—to be installed in the first months of 2009—will save approximately 500 barrels of oil over the life of the system. At today’s electricity prices, they will also save the homeowners about $150,000 collectively over the next 15 years, a spokesman said.

“A solar water heater is one of the easiest and most cost effective ways to reduce the use of fossil fuels and start saving money,” said Julie Rogers, Director of Community Relations for the Blue Planet Foundation, in a statement. “We want to provide an opportunity for people to get involved in Hawaii’s clean energy movement.”

Blue Planet and Suntech Hawaii are able to deliver solar hot water systems system at no out-of-pocket cost to the homeowners because of the state and federal tax incentives supporting adoption of solar energy. The two organizations have agreed to jointly cover the full after-tax/after-rebate cost of the systems.