Hawaii's endangered nene goose rebounding, woman rams car into Mauna Kea manager vehicle, state short of shrinks, Maui cardiac unit underused, Honolulu landfill to close, sex trafficking enforcement to target hotels, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Nene geese © 2015 All Hawaii News

Decades of conservation efforts to help the nene population rebound are paying off as scientists begin to understand more about the endangered bird’s ecology and life history. Tribune-Herald.

Hawaii Gov. David Ige will sign a bill into law on Monday that aims to expand the development of hydroelectric energy-generating projects in the state, the governor’s office said Friday. Pacific Business News.

Female leaders from the state's visitor industry are urging businesses to play a greater role in stopping sex trafficking, which they say is victimizing children from Hawaii and elsewhere. Star-Advertiser.

Psychologists and clerical staff in the Health Department's Courts and Corrections Branch have filed an internal complaint about shortages they say are resulting in serious consequences for mentally ill defendants and the community. Star-Advertiser.

The cost of a private school education in Hawaii continues to climb as the state's larger independent schools are charging 5 percent more in tuition, on average, for the upcoming school year, according to a Honolulu Star-Advertiser analysis.

Oahu

The state Board of Land and Natural Resources issued another reprieve to the financially adrift Wakiki Landing, a controversial public-private partnership at the Ala Wai Small Boat Harbor. Star-Advertiser.

Despite the desperate need for low-income housing, about 175 public housing units are sitting empty, largely because state policymakers haven’t allocated enough funding and resources to renovate them. Civil Beat.

Gov. David Ige said Thursday his administration is working with Honolulu Mayor Kirk Caldwell to create a new emergency shelter area in Kakaako on state land that’s away from the Hawaii Children’s Discovery Center. Civil Beat.

A resolution to expedite the closure of the Waimanalo Gulch Sanitary Landfill won City Council approval last week at Kapolei Hale. Star-Advertiser.

Residents of Oahu neighborhoods would be able to band together and petition for "restricted parking zones" along their streets under a bill before the City Council. They could then pay for exclusive rights to park their cars in those zones. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii
The public will have a chance to weigh in on a U.S. Army Corps of Engineers proposal for cleanup of unexploded ordnance in the former Waikoloa Maneuver Area. West Hawaii Today.

The new warden at Hawaii Community Correctional Center credits “hard work, determination, timing and some luck” for his appointment to the Hilo jail’s top post. Peter Cabreros was the facility’s chief of security for 12 years before becoming its warden Wednesday following the retirement of former warden Pete MacDonald. Tribune-Herald.

The Board of Land and Natural Resources voted 5-2 Friday night on the 120-day rule restricting access to Mauna Kea. The rule restricts being within a mile of the mountain’s access road during certain nighttime hours, unless in a moving vehicle, and prohibits camping gear. Tribune-Herald.

A woman was arrested on Mauna Kea in the early hours of Sunday morning, after allegedly hitting an Office of Mauna Kea Management vehicle with her car. Big Island Video News.

The Board of Land and Natural Resources voted 5-2 to approve an emergency rule that would restrict access on Mauna Kea and forbid camping materials. State officials made the decision after more than 8 hours of public testimony. Hawaii Public Radio.

Maui

An underutilized cardiac unit and an outpatient clinic that was vacant for four years contributed to the financial plight of Maui Memorial Medical Center, which must cut $28 million in the fiscal year that began July 1. Star-Advertiser.

Kauai

A $220,000 project to repair floorboards and areas damaged by a leaky roof at the Kilauea gymnasium is expected to get under way this month, according to Kauai County officials. Garden Island.

Kauai’s four lawmakers sponsored fewer pieces of legislation compared to their colleagues in the state Legislature during the past session. Garden Island.

As part of the county’s Integrated Solid Waste Management Plan, the rollout of the final phase of the automated trash collection program took place last week. Garden Island.

Thirty Meter Telescope to be the last on Mauna Kea, Hanabusa joins Honolulu rail board, windmills posed for Oahu coastal waters, Hawaiian Telcom to double Internet speeds, EPA, and Navy reach deal on Red Hill storage tanks, Kauai buses could be powered by landfill gas, mayor's entertainment spared in Big Island budget, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Telescopes on Mauna Kea, courtesy photo

University of Hawaii officials affirmed Monday that the controversial Thirty Meter Telescope project will be the last new observatory developed on Mauna Kea and pledged to decommission one-quarter of existing telescopes atop the Hawaii island mountain as requested by Gov. David Ige. Star-Advertiser.

Following Gov. David Ige’s lead, the University of Hawaii on Monday outlined its plan for improving stewardship of Mauna Kea that includes a commitment to reduce the number of observatories by the time the controversial Thirty Meter Telescope is complete. Tribune-Herald.

The University of Hawaii announced a plan Monday that will lead to the removal of several large telescopes on Mauna Kea. School officials will meet with the state Department of Land and Natural Resources this week to discuss the decommissioning process. Associated Press.

On Monday, June 1st, the University of Hawaii issued its promised written response to Governor David Ige’s requests concerning stewardship of Mauna Kea, which were announced at a news conference on May 26. The governor’s intervention comes as construction of the $1.4 billion Thirty Meter Telescope on Mauna Kea has been delayed due to strong opposition. Big Island Video News.

It’s been one week since Governor David Ige told the University to do a better job of managing land atop Mauna Kea. Hawaii Public Radio.

Hawaiian Telcom will double its fastest Internet speeds to 1 gigabit-per-second, starting next week, the Honolulu-based company said Tuesday. Pacific Business News.

Hawaii’s energy future could hinge on a June 10 vote by Hawaiian Electric Industries Inc. shareholders. During a special meeting last month, a majority of the company’s shareholders voted in favor of the $4.3 billion sale of Hawaiian Electric Co. to Florida-based NextEra Energy. However, the 75 percent super-majority required by Hawaii law was not secured. Tribune-Herald.

The Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary is seeking to fill seven alternate and one primary seat on its advisory council. The sanctuary is accepting applications for the following seats: commercial shipping (primary), commercial shipping (alternate), Hawaii County (alternate), Lanai Island (alternate), citizen-at-large (alternate), education (alternate), tourism (alternate), and whale watching (alternate). MauiTime.

Oahu

State and federal regulators will meet Wednesday to discuss a Danish company's plan to build 102 floating wind turbines off Oahu's shores and generate about 30 percent of the island's electric power needs. Star-Advertiser.

Former U.S. Rep. Colleen Hanabusa was appointed to the Honolulu Authority for Rapid Transportation Board of Directors by Mayor Kirk Caldwell on Monday. Civil Beat.

Colleen Hanabusa is taking on a new challenge outside of the political arena: Honolulu's public rail transit project. Starting later this month, the former congresswoman from Waianae will replace Carrie Okinaga on the Hono­lulu Authority for Rapid Transportation board of directors, which oversees the cash-strapped rail project that's currently under construction. Star-Advertiser.

When Honolulu Mayor Kirk Caldwell announced his preliminary affordable housing strategy last September, housing advocates praised it as aggressive, even revolutionary. Nine months later, little has changed. Civil Beat.

Mayor Kirk Caldwell is now looking at putting up modular or container-style transitional shelter units at Sand Island for between 75 and 100 of Honolulu's chronically homeless. Star-Advertiser.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the Hawaii state Department of Health on Monday announced a tentative deal with the military to better prevent and detect leaks from 20 giant fuel storage tanks near Pearl Harbor. Associated Press.

The Navy has reached an agreement with federal and state regulatory agencies to improve technology aimed at better preventing and detecting fuel leaks at its Red Hill Bulk Storage Facility following last year's spill of an estimated 27,000 gallons of aviation fuel from one of its World War II-era tanks. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii

Teed-off golfers were able Monday to persuade the County Council not to dip into Hilo Municipal Golf Course accounts to beef up recycling programs during a long day of tweaking the county’s $438.8 million annual budget. West Hawaii Today.

Four tsunami warning sirens on Hawaii Island failed Monday’s test, according to Hawaii County Civil Defense. Tribune-Herald.

Maui

Before serving as a hearings officer in the Haleakala Telescope contested case, attorney Lane Ishida had never done any legal work for the University of Hawaii. But two years after he issued an order giving the controversial, $300 million project the green light, the university awarded him with four contracts for legal work, budgeting $110,000 for the work. Three of those contracts were issued during a two-day period in October 2014. Hawaii News Now.

The economic downturn in 2007 sparked a series of delays for a proposed 103-unit condominium project in Kahului, but Alexander & Baldwin Properties executives said they're optimistic that the project will come to fruition now that the Maui County Council has relaxed workforce housing requirements. Maui News.

East Maui County Councilman Robert Carroll is hosting a community meeting tomorrow, June 2, at 5 p.m. at the Hāna Community Center cafeteria to address community concerns regarding the proposed operation of Skydive Hawaiʻi out of the Hāna Airport. Maui Now.

Kauai

A NASA flying saucer is set to take to the skies offshore of the Pacific Missile Range Facility as early as Wednesday, a test flight designed to land heavier payloads on Mars during future human and robotic missions. Garden Island.

The launch window for the low density supersonic decelerator officially begins Tuesday. Late Monday, Scientists decided ocean conditions were not right and would have made recovery operations unsafe.  They have postponed any testing until Wednesday, no earlier than 7:30 a.m. KHON2.

Methane gas generated by the decay of organic matter in the Kekaha landfill could one day be used to power Kauai County’s public bus fleet. The plan is part of a long-range strategy to reduce the island’s dependence on fossil fuels and move toward a more sustainable system. Garden Island.

If you’re looking for a home on Kauai — and have an extra $18 million handy — your search could be over. Garden Island.

State works toward clean energy goals, Big Island may up tobacco sale age, Hawaiian woman's name too long for drivers license, Honolulu looks for more taxes from $1M homes, molasses spill killing fish, controversial Japanese investor sells prime Oahu real estate, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Hawaii wind farm courtesy  Green Travelers Guide

To hear Hawaii's governor tell it, the state is making tremendous progress in moving toward an energy independent future. But has the administration really made good on its promises on alternative and renewable energy, as detailed in his New Day in Hawaii Plan, his state of the state addresses and his legislative packages? Civil Beat.

You have heard these figures before: Hawai’i burns five billion dollars worth of fossil fuel each year for 85% of the state’s energy needs. But, the Blue Planet Foundation has set a goal of transitioning to 100% clean energy by 2030, more than double the state’s clean energy objective. Hawaii Public Radio.

President Barack Obama has nominated Hawaii Department of Land and Natural Resources Deputy Director Esther Kiaaina to be assistant secretary for insular affairs at the U.S. Department of Interior. Associated Press.

Hawaiʻi state and congressional delegates today applauded the president’s announcement of his intent to nominate Esther Kia‘āina to serve as the assistant secretary for insular areas at the US Department of the Interior. Maui Now.

Kia’aina currently serves as the First Deputy Director of the Hawai’i Department of Land and Natural Resources. Appointed by Governor Neil Abercrombie to oversee the management of 1.3 million acres of public lands and near shore ocean resources in the State of Hawai’i, Kia’aina has worked on watershed management protection initiatives, threatened and endangered species protection, invasive species control, land and ocean preservation, and strengthening public-private and enforcement partnerships. Hawaii Independent.

Legislators have been slow to incorporate digital delivery into the law. Hawaii’s Sunshine Law still requires “mail” delivery. And although “mail” isn’t defined, the law was written before email existed, and this provision hasn’t been amended since. Civil Beat.

The Memorial Task Force, co-chaired by David Brostrom and Allen Hoe, the Gold Star Fathers of Army 1st Lieutenants Jonathan Brostrom and Nainoa Hoe, are seeking input from the public on the design and location of a newly planned memorial honoring Hawaii veterans. Hawaii Reporter.

As two more of the nation's wars begin to fade from the forefront of American consciousness, two fathers who lost their sons in Iraq and Af­ghani­stan hope it won't be the same for their sons' sacrifices. Star-Advertiser.

DonorsChoose.org is a Kickstarter for public education. Much like the giant crowdfunding site that helps people raise money for creative endeavors, on DonorsChoose.org teachers across the country collect donations for classroom projects. One study suggests that U.S. public school teachers spent on average about $485 of their own money last year on school supplies and other classroom materials, a tendency that local educators have highlighted in their rallies to secure higher wages and increased investment in the state’s public schools. Civil Beat.

State roundup for September 11. Associated Press.

Oahu
The Honolulu City Council will vote today on a proposal to establish a new tax classification for houses and condominiums valued at $1 million or more, allowing the city to tax them at a higher rate than other residential parcels. Bill 42, however, would shift into a new "Residential A" class only those properties that do not have home exemptions. Star-Advertiser.

A molasses spill dumped an estimated 233,000 gallons of the dark, syrupy liquid into Honolulu Harbor on Monday, killing thousands of fish so far and prompting beach closures. State officials said they are still trying to assess the scope of the “severe” environmental damage. A corroded, faulty pipe that runs under Pier 52 at Sand Island and pumps molasses exports onto Matson Inc. cargo ships likely caused the spill, company representatives and state officials said Tuesday. Star-Advertiser.

A massive molasses spill at Honolulu Harbor that Hawaii News Now first reported on Monday is killing fish and the State has no way to clean up the sticky substance.

Japanese investor and real estate tycoon Genshiro Kawamoto has sold his collection of 27 Kahala Avenue properties and four other parcels in Windward Oahu and on Maui to local real estate firm Alexander & Baldwin Inc. in a $98 million deal announced Tuesday. A&B said it plans to clean up, refurbish and resell the parcels, some of which look like ruins with little more than the foundations of former homes, untended vegetation and swimming pools piled with rubble. Star-Advertiser.

Alexander & Baldwin announced Tuesday that it has purchased 31 properties from Japanese billionaire Genshiro Kawamoto for $98 million. Civil Beat.

Alexander & Baldwin’s property arm said Tuesday that it has acquired 27 residential properties in Honolulu’s oceanfront Kahala neighborhood, along with properties in Windward Oahu and on Maui, from Japanese billionaire Genshiro Kawamoto for $98 million. Pacific Business News.

A company seeking to develop what would be Hawaii's second seawater air-conditioning project said it has received letters of intent from some of Waikiki's biggest hotels and other businesses interested in the electrical savings promised by the plan. Kaiuli Energy has received authorization from the state to issue $200 million in special-purpose revenue bonds for the project that could replace conventional air-conditioning systems in an area stretching from Kaka­ako to Waikiki by 2018. Star-Advertiser.

The notice of violation issued to a trucking company owner under fire for apparently hauling dredged material from a Hawaii Kai marina to a private Wai­anae property last week was the second citation received in recent years. Star-Advertiser.

A century-old bronze statue of President William McKinley is making waves in some circles in the native Hawaiian community. KITV.

Hawaii

The legal age to buy tobacco products on Hawaii Island would increase from 18 to 21 under a bill set to be discussed next month by the County Council. West Hawaii Today.

State alters woman’s name after it fails to fit on driver’s license. For the past 20 years, Janice “Lokelani” Keihanaikukauakahihuliheekahaunaele has had to carry two identification cards. KHON2.

The man who swam to the aid of a fellow surfer after he was repeatedly bitten last month by an estimated 10-foot tiger shark at Pohoiki will be recognized next week by the Hawaii County Council. Tribune-Herald.

A Hawaii Island school that four years ago was close to losing its charter amid financial troubles and lagging test scores was recognized Tuesday as one of the state's top-performing public schools. Na Wai Ola, formerly Waters of Life, was among 14 schools awarded more than $1 million in prizes for academic performance on a new accountability system the state Department of Education is calling Strive HI. Star-Advertiser.

The response to a special legislative session called to act on a gay marriage bill from Big Isle legislators interviewed Tuesday ranged from enthusiastic to tepid, with some not quite willing to show their cards yet. Tribune-Herald.

Maui

State crews were on site this morning, monitoring the Pacific Whale Foundation’s Ocean Odyssey vessel that had run aground near McGregor Point in Māʻalaea on Maui. Company officials advised that the grounding is being investigated by the US Coast Guard. Maui Now.

Kahului firefighters assisted the Coast Guard with evacuation of a Pacific Whale Foundation catamaran that grounded near McGregor Point Tuesday morning, Maui County fire officials said. Star-Advertiser.

Kauai

The Kauai Planning Commission unanimously approved permits Tuesday for the county Department of Water to go ahead with an $8 million project to construct a new administration building twice the size of its existing headquarters at Pua Loke Street in Lihue. Garden Island.

Honolulu may offer homeless washrooms, fired DOE administrator files whistleblower lawsuit, Christian lawmakers to discuss marriage, wait staff can sue for tips, witnesses say Deedy was drunk, parking garages galore, more about Larry's Lanai, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Honolulu homeless (c) 2013 All Hawaii News

The Honolulu City Council is looking at a proposal to establish places where the homeless and others can take showers, use toilets and wash their clothes. Associated Press.

Setting up places where the homeless and others can take a shower, use a toilet and wash their clothes will be discussed by a City Council committee Thursday. Star-Advertiser.

On Wednesday, four Oahu pastors will meet with a handful of lawmakers at a fellowship luncheon, and the luncheon's co-organizer plans to bring up the ruling on the federal Defense of Marriage Act. Civil Beat.

Flawed bid would cost state $284M, whistle-blower says. Sarah McCann filed a whistle-blower lawsuit in state court Friday against schools Superintendent Kathryn Matayoshi and the DOE. She contends she was fired in June for writing an audit critical of the preferred vendor's bid and for refusing a superior's order to destroy the report. Star-Advertiser.

The state Department of Education's website's first makeover in more than a decade was unveiled Monday with the launching of hawaiipublicschools.org. The website — built using $1.7 million in federal Race to the Top funds — is part of the department's strategic plan that calls for improved communications and community engagement to keep parents, students, teachers, staff and the public informed. Star-Advertiser.

A new, redesigned version of the Hawaii State Department of Education website was released Monday as a part of a $1.7 million effort to increase transparency and communication with community members. Garden Island.

Hawaii hotel workers can sue their employers for money the hotels collected as service charges but didn't pass on to the employees, the Hawaii Supreme Court ruled Monday. Star-Advertiser.

The Hawaii Supreme Court ruled Monday that hotels or restaurants that apply a service charge for the sale of food or beverage services allegedly violate state law by not distributing the full service charge directly to its employees as tip income. Pacific Business News.

The U.S. Department of Labor has awarded Hawaii more than $700,000 to continue implementing a program to help the unemployed find work. Associated Press.

Blue Planet Foundation is rolling out four programs by the end of the year to further support its mission of reducing Hawaii’s dependency on fossil fuels. Pacific Business News.

State roundup for July 16. Associated Press.

Oahu

The state is looking to build a parking structure and other public facilities that could include an innovation and technology park on a 5-acre lot in Kakaako where the University of Hawaii originally planned to build its cancer center. Star-Advertiser.

It’s been nearly a year since the Hawaii Supreme Court stopped construction on Honolulu’s $5.26 billion rail project because of the city’s failure to follow established law when seeking out Hawaiian burial sites along the proposed 20-mile route. Civil Beat.

Eight months after it opened, a new multi-million dollar city parking garage sits virtually empty in spite of a city employees' parking crunch near City Hall, Hawaii News Now has learned.

Two customers and the first police officer to arrive at the 2011 fatal shooting scene at a Waikiki McDonald's restaurant testified Monday that they thought State Department special agent Christopher Deedy was intoxicated. Star-Advertiser.

Day 5: Officer says Deedy looked drunk on night of shooting. Hawaii News Now.

The Christopher Deedy murder trial continued on Monday and a witness to the deadly shooting took the stand. KHON2.

Waikiki's International Market Place is a shopping mecca for souvenirs and Hawaiiana, wedged between high end retailers, but its days are numbered. Land owner Queen Emma Land Company is developing a shopping center there anchored by Saks Fifth Avenue. Hawaii News Now.

Kaneohe Ranch and the Harold K.L. Castle Foundation's holdings of more than 60 properties are expected to sell for as much as $600 million. Star-Advertiser.

Nicknamed the Black Noodle it's been a reminder of one of the dirtiest days in state history. Now the City of Honolulu has started removing a sewage pipe from the Ala Wai Canal. Hawaii News Now.

The city is in a sticky situation as some residents from Ewa to Makaha deal with a stinky mess. Trash has been piling up all weekend after two routes were missing. KHON2.

Hawaii
As many as 10 “top priority” emergency warning sirens may be upgraded or installed on the Big Island by the end of the year. Hawaii Civil Defense is embarking on a statewide $25.6 million siren modernization program that is expecting to make the system more reliable. Tribune-Herald.

A Hualalai Road development, which its owner withdrew two years ago after significant negative community reaction, is headed back to the Leeward Planning Commission Thursday. West Hawaii Today.

A Big Island-based teacher preparation program that focuses on developing educators to work with Native Hawaiian students in charter schools recently earned national accreditation, allowing it to soon begin recruiting students. Associated Press.

A few recurring issues pop up when Hawaii Island farmers talk about the challenges of going organic. West Hawaii Today.

Maui

The Hawaiian Islands Land Trust and Hawaiian Legacy Hardwoods have formed a partnership to further restore Hawaii's koa forests and assist other native forests across the state. Maui News.

A Draft Environmental Assessment has been prepared for the proposed replacement of the Kūlanihākoʻi Bridge in Kīhei, with public comment being accepted through August 7. According to the document, the existing four-cell concrete box culvert system is “structurally deficient” and in “advanced stages of deterioration.” Maui Now.

Kauai

Local residents are asking the Kauai County Council to pass a new law to circumvent a ruling by a federal judge in Honolulu. The ruling found initiating zoning amendments is the government’s business rather than a voter’s right. Garden Island.

Signs announcing the road closure of Eiwa Street at the Rice Street junction were put in place Monday. The closure is expected to last six months and is part of the Lihue Civic Center master plan. Garden Island.

Lanai

The Lanai Airport, one of the few places on Lanai that Oracle Corp. CEO Larry Ellison does not own, is nearing a $25 million to $30 million runway safety improvement project, according to a request for proposals from the state. Pacific Business News.

Lanai's billionaire owner hasn't given local media interviews and has stayed under the public radar, putting his chief operating officer and Lanai native, Kurt Matsumoto, in the spotlight instead. But the California software guru, who bought the island for "hundreds of millions of dollars" last year, has been around, many Lanai residents say. Maui News.

Most businesses in the heart of Lanai City are pleased with new island owner Larry Ellison's efforts to rejuvenate the economy and his work on sprucing up the town square and company-owned buildings. Maui News.

Molokai

The remote Kalaupapa settlement is normally the epitome of peace. But once a year on barge day, its wharf becomes as busy as a city intersection. Hawaii Public Radio.

Hawaii mulls water-powered jetpack rules, audit finds schools overcounting students, Dems bicker over marriage amendment, Ed Case leaves politics, Lanai likes Ellison, Ala Wai sewer pipe coming out, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

water-powered jetpack, photo courtesy boatbloggings

The Department of Land and Natural Resources is holding a public meeting this week to discuss possible state rules for water-powered jet packs. The department says it called the meeting in response to public concerns about the jet packs, which can appear to make people fly over water. Associated Press.

A recent internal audit by the Hawaii Department of Education finds that schools are exaggerating their enrollment counts. That's a serious issue because it skews how the state distributes the funding among the schools and ultimately reduces how much money schools receive for staffing and equipment. Civil Beat.

Some state House and Senate Democrats have asserted legislative immunity against accusations they violated the Demo­cratic Party of Hawaii's platform on equal rights by proposing a constitutional amendment on traditional marriage. The lawmakers say they were acting within their official legislative duties when they introduced or co-sponsored bills last session that would let voters decide whether marriage should be reserved for heterosexual couples. Star-Advertiser.

More than 13,000 Hawaii property owners — including businesses, owners of vacation homes, and those whose properties have had major problems with flooding could see their annual federal flood insurance premiums climb by 25 percent before the end of the year.  Civil Beat.

Former U.S. Rep. Ed Case is joining Outrigger Enterprises Group as senior vice president and chief legal officer later this month, and said Friday that he will no longer seek political office as long as he is with the Hawaii-based hotel chain. Pacific Business News.

POW/MIA recovery unit defended in wake of critical internal report. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaiian Airlines said Friday that its flight from Taipei to Honolulu this weekend has been delayed once more because of Typhoon Soulik, which made landfall in Taiwan before turning toward China. Pacific Business News.

State Sen. Glenn Wakai is serving as the Republic of Palau's honorary consul to Hawaii. Associated Press.

A Kaneohe Bay boating enthusiast is floating a proposal to have Hawaii's harbor masters and agents on duty when he says they're most needed: on the weekends. Star-Advertiser.

A new mobile application helps the public locate electric vehicle charging stations in Hawaii. Associated Press.

State roundup for July 15. Associated Press.

Oahu

Crews are scheduled to begin work to remove a 5,000 foot long pipe from the Ala Wai Canal on Monday. Hawaii News Now.

The ‘Ewa Development Plan is based on a more-than-thirty-year-old vision of a “second-city;” a new urban center in Kapolei and the ‘Ewa plains – long before “sustainability,” “urban sprawl” and “food security” were terms on people’s lips. Hawaii Independent.

Jeffrey Mahon, who has worked as a curator at underwater facilities and aquariums in Asia and the Mainland, has been named director of the Honolulu Zoo, Mayor Kirk Caldwell announced Friday. Pacific Business News.

Looking to get space for those with green thumbs in Honolulu. A dig for more community gardens is underway KITV4.

Hundreds of families came out to Kualoa Ranch this weekend to enjoy the Hawaii State Farm Fair. KHON2.

Hawaii

Construction is booming at the Natural Energy Laboratory of Hawaii Authority. West Hawaii Today.

Hawaii County Council Chairman J Yoshimoto has given the Food Basket Inc. a deadline to account for how it spent almost $200,000 in county disaster funds. West Hawaii Today.

The state Department of Land and Natural Resources has not forgotten about a game management plan drafted for Hawaii County three years ago but never enacted, says the agency’s Forestry and Wildlife chief. Tribune-Herald.

Three years after a Mountain View hunter was critically injured in an accidental shooting on private property in Keaau, illegal hunting remains a big problem according to landowners and law enforcement authorities. Tribune-Herald.

Maui
The Public Utilities Commission is taking a close look at tying together the power grids of Maui and Oahu with a two-way flow of energy. The commission's decision to open "an investigation to determine whether an Oahu-Maui Interisland Transmission System is in the public interest" was one of several key rulings made Thursday that could affect power acquisition and transmission in Maui County and Oahu. Maui News.

First Wind, the renewable energy company that operates the Kaheawa Wind farms above Māʻalaea on Maui, unveiled a newly constructed bird enclosure on Thursday. Maui Now.

Kauai

The Kauai Police Department is near full-strength with the graduation of its 83rd Police Recruit Class on Friday. Garden Island.

Tuesday will offer an opportunity for local residents to view new footage of Hawaiian monk seals in their natural habitat. Garden Island.

Charles Roessler still remembers purchasing his 3-acre piece of agriculture land on Kuawa Road in 1977 shortly after Big Five sugar cane giant C. Brewer sold off much of their land in Kilauea. Garden Island.

Lanai

So far, Lanai residents give billionaire Larry Ellison a thumbs up for the improvements and changes he has brought to the island since buying the vast majority of it a year ago. Maui News.

Although most of Larry Ellison's plans will probably take years to reach fruition, the man who owns the vast majority of Lanai has already taken some concrete steps by beginning work on a desalination plant on the island's dry southern end. Maui News.

Smoking ban looms for Honolulu, group wants Dems to drop closed-primary lawsuit, Maui dumps wind power from the grid, solar owners get big break, tax review panel gets off the ground, new home for Hawaii Five-0, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Waikiki beach scene (c) 2013 All Hawaii News

Lighting up cigarettes and other tobacco products at bus stops and city-run parks and beaches would be illegal come Jan. 1 under bills the Honolulu City Council passed unanimously on Wednesday. Mayor Kirk Caldwell said he expects to sign both bills, assuming they clear routine legal reviews. Star-Advertiser.

The Honolulu City Council is moving to ban smoking at city parks, beaches and bus stops. The council passed two bills covering the bans on Wednesday. Mayor Kirk Caldwell is expected to sign the measures. Associated Press.

The Honolulu City Council is sending a strong message against smoking. The nine members unanimously approved two measures that bans lighting up at all bus stops and city parks, beaches, athletic fields and facilities. Hawaii News Now.

With nine ayes for the two laws banning smoking in more public areas, it was clear Wednesday morning that the city is aiming for a cleaner environment. KHON2.

A national organization representing independent voters is calling for the Democratic Party of Hawaii to withdraw its federal lawsuit that seeks a closed primary election system. The lawsuit filed in federal court last month claims Hawaii's primary system that allows every registered voter to participate in the party's nomination process is tantamount to forced political association and is unconstitutional. Associated Press.

The Hawaii Department of Health says the availability of tuberculosis testing solution is returning to normal. Health department clinics statewide will resume providing tuberculin skin tests on Monday. Associated Press.

Does the University of Hawaii even need a new president? That’s the argument being raised by the university’s faculty union — the University of Hawaii Professional Association. UHPA has for years urged UH to overhaul its governance structure, including eliminating the president's post, so it can better manage its finances and establish clearer, more efficient lines of authority. Civil Beat.

The Hawaii Ethics Commission is taking a whack a free golf outings for state officials. In a July 3 advisory letter, the commission said that dozens of state contracting officials and lawmakers have accepted complimentary entry and green fees to charity golf tournaments from companies that do business with the state. Hawaii News Now.

U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius today announced $1,204,918 in grant awards to 14 Hawaii health centers operating 79 sites to enroll the uninsured in new health coverage options made available by the Affordable Care Act.  In Hawaii, health centers served 144,427 patients last year, 24 percent of whom were uninsured. Hawaii Reporter.

HECO Says Residents With Solar Aren't Paying Their Fair Share of Costs. Civil Beat.

The Federal Communications Commission has fallen short in its effort to reform a government program that subsidizes telephone service in rural areas, including Hawaiian Home Lands, according to a report released Wednesday by a Las Vegas-based think tank. Star-Advertiser.

Car booting is now banned statewide.  It is illegal for any person, business—even the police department— to clamp a boot on vehicles.  The bill passed through the Hawai'i State Legislature in April and became law Tuesday without the Governor's signature. Hawaii News Now.

Hawaii’s military still follows green building standards, despite 2012 law. Pacific Business News.

Federal officials say studies of white shark populations along the West Coast show no need to list the animal as threatened or endangered. West Hawaii Today.

Oahu

The surveillance video that captured an altercation and subsequent fatal shooting at a McDonald's restaurant in Waikiki early Nov. 5, 2011, was shown Wednesday to help a Circuit Court jury decide whether U.S. State Department special agent Christopher Deedy murdered a 23-year-old Kailua man or shot him in self-defense. Star-Advertiser.

A Honolulu police officer who testified in the Christopher Deedy murder trial was accused of bias Wednesday after defense attorneys found he'd posted information about the case to his Facebook page. Civil Beat.

Jurors in the murder trial of federal agent Christopher Deedy on Wednesday were finally able to view a much-talked-about security video of the shooting of Kollin Elderts inside a Waikiki McDonald's. But the video is of such poor quality that it does little to help jurors see what really happened in the early morning hours of Nov. 5 when the two men scuffled and Deedy shot and killed Elderts. Civil Beat.

As George Zimmerman’s second-degree murder trial for the killing of Treyvon Martin crawls to a close in Florida, Hawaii is in the midst of its racially charged murder trial. Claims of self defense and the right to bear arms are central in both cases. Hawaii Reporter.

With the cost of public worker pay raises expected to surge during the next fiscal year, Mayor Kirk Caldwell wants to begin a dialogue with Oahu residents about the creation of a tiered system for property taxes. KITV4.

The Honolulu City Council gave the go-ahead for the long-awaited update Ewa Development Plan on Wednesday but not before some three hours of heated testimony, mostly against the controversial 12,000-home Ho‘opili housing project. Star-Advertiser.

Six months after announcing an ambitious push to fix the city streets in most need of repair, Mayor Kirk Caldwell says work remains on course to repave 300 lane miles of degraded road on Oahu this year. Star-Advertiser.

Filming of the new season of "Hawaii Five-0" got underway Wednesday with the Hawaiian blessing of the production at the show's new home at the Hawaii Film Studio near Diamond Head. Star-Advertiser.

UH West Oahu, HCC Offer New Cybersecurity Degree. Hawaii Public Radio.

Hawaii

Big Island residents will find themselves with a bigger bill the next time they register their car or truck. The Hawaii County Council on Wednesday voted 8-1 to approve higher vehicle taxes and registration fees, a move intended to support infrastructure and make costs more comparable with other counties. Tribune-Herald.

The confirmation Wednesday of Bobby Jean Leithead Todd as Environmental Management director hinged on the definition of “related field.” West Hawaii Today.

The fifth time proved to be the charm Wednesday, when the County Council finally agreed on the makeup of a task force to make recommendations on revamping the county’s property tax code. The resolution, introduced in December, was debated at four previous council sessions before its unanimous vote.  West Hawaii Today.

Hilo’s Daniel K. Inouye College of Pharmacy will retain its accreditation following a late June meeting of the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education. Tribune-Herald.

Maui

In the first five months of this year, more than a quarter of collected wind energy reported from three wind farms that deliver electricity to Maui Electric Co. has been dumped from the grid, according to the utility's website. Maui News.

The Hawai‘i Department of Transportation, Harbors Division announced plans to host an informational meeting to discuss proposed improvements to Hāna Pier in East Maui. Maui Now.

Billionaire Larry Ellison's purchase of Island Air and his interest in go! airlines has garnered most of the headlines in recent months but flying under the radar has been Mokulele Airlines, which has been growing and expanding its reach and operations. Maui News.

The Hōlua area of Haleakalā National Park will be closed on Thursday evening July 11, 2013, as park biologists work to control the spread of non-native Argentine ants, officials said. Maui Now.

Kauai

Just when it appeared that Coco Palms would never be rebuilt, there seems to be new hope for the iconic Wailua Beach resort. “A new, Hawaii-based group of investors has stepped up and is willing to restore the property to its former glory,” states an online petition launched by the Save Coco Palms Committee Wednesday.Garden Island.

Planning Director Michael Dahilig on Tuesday gave the Kauai Planning Commission an outline of efforts to enforce transient vacation laws. The Kauai County Council passed four ordinances in the last five years to stop new TVRs in residential neighborhoods and agricultural lands, and grandfather those that could prove they were operating in those areas and paying their taxes prior to March 2008. Garden Island.

Molokai
The 36-passenger Safari Explorer yacht begins a new itinerary in the Hawaiian islands that includes one-way travel between Molokaʻi and Hawaiʻi Island, company officials announced today. Maui Now.

Hawaii to announce $300M energy plan, Navy stops Ford Island solar plan, syphilis outbreak in Kona, Microsoft opens Honolulu store, Maui gets auditor, police officers sued, coral reefs, tropical fish in jeopardy, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Honolulu night skyline (c) 2013 All Hawaii News

A $300 million plan to be unveiled today to more than double the energy efficiency in state and Honolulu County buildings could add 5,000 new jobs to Hawaii's economy by 2015 and bolster efforts to meet aggressive clean-energy goals. The state planned to make a commitment to more energy efficiency at the Clinton Global Initiative America meeting in Chicago hosted by former President Bill Clinton. Star-Advertiser.

Over the last couple of months, Neil Abercrombie has played Santa Claus, sans the red hat and coat. The Hawaii governor has been releasing tens of millions of dollars for capitol improvement projects across the state. Civil Beat.

U.S. Sens. Brian Schatz and Mazie Hirono are among 13 senators calling for an investigation into the legality of recently uncovered National Security Agency surveillance programs that collect data on millions of Americans. Star-Advertiser.

Oahu
A new five-year Oahu energy plan released by Hawaiian Electric Co. on Wednesday calls for reducing costs to consumers and increasing the utility's use of renewable energy. Civil Beat.

The Honolulu Planning Commission on Wednesday approved a proposed condominium tower at the site of the YMCA of Honolulu on Atkinson Drive that would rise 350 feet, or more than double the current height limit. Star-Advertiser.

The Navy has stepped away from a controversial plan — at least for now — to blanket the historic Ford Island runway in photovoltaic panels, a new environmental assessment reveals. Star-Advertiser.

A lawsuit has stopped the city and county of Honolulu from auctioning off a piece of public parkland on the North Shore. Last year, a group of North Shore citizens formed the Save Hale’iwa Beach Park Coalition to fight a city plan to sell 3.5 acres of city-owned land near Haleiwa Beach Park. Civil Beat.

Kamehameha Schools has shelved its plan to develop a shopping center anchored by a Foodland supermarket on preservation-zoned land in Hawaii Kai, City Councilman Stanley Chang said. Star-Advertiser.

A private association of National Guard members plans to hold its annual conference in Honolulu this year even though some at the Pentagon have questioned the wisdom of meeting in a vacation destination. Associated Press.

Microsoft will open its first store in Hawaii today at 11 a.m. at Ala Moana Center. Star-Advertiser.

Lawmakers have been raising red flags over a proposed high-rise housing project on Waimanu Street in Kakaako. Civil Beat.

Hawaii
The Hawaii County Council last week authorized Corporation Counsel to represent five police officers facing a federal lawsuit on claims of excessive force during a 2010 arrest. West Hawaii Today.

The discovery of five syphilis cases in the past five months in West Hawaii — more than the past five years on Hawaii Island combined — has the state Department of Health warning the public to take precautions in their sexual activities. West Hawaii Today.

An East Hawaii resident is suing Hawaii County over a shoreline setback for homes at Pepeekeo Point. Tribune-Herald.

A recent Hawaii Department of Land and Natural Resources study of reef fish at Puako and Pauoa shows a “drastic decline” in the populations of both bays, a marine biologist says. West Hawaii Today.

Following the removal of Dennis Simonis as president, CEO and director of Royal Hawaiian Orchards LP, Hawaii’s largest macadamia nut producer is focusing on working closely with other growers and farmers in the state and reviving the Hawaii Macadamia Nut Association to ensure the industry has a strong future in Hawaii. Pacific Business News.

Tropic Care 2013 was a massive, joint military training exercise that brought free health, vision and dental care to Big Island, Lanai, Molokai and Maui residents. On Hawaii Island, this Innovative Readiness Training Program targeted those living in Ka‘u and Ocean View — rural, largely underserved and geographically isolated communities. West Hawaii Today.

Maui

The Maui Council’s Budget and Finance Committee unanimously recommended Lance Taguchi as its selection to the newly created county auditor position. Maui Now.

A Maui organization is getting more than $300,000 in federal money to help migrant and seasonal farmworkers. The U.S. Department of Labor on Wednesday announced $9 million in grants to seven organizations through the National Farmworkers Jobs Program. Associated Press.

More than 65 years after the end of World War II, Gov. Neil Abercrombie signed a bill last week that will establish a "Civil Liberties and the Constitution Day" to recognize more than 110,000 Japanese-Americans who were put in internment camps during the war. Among those interned was the late Rev. Masao Arine of Maui, who was a detainee at the Haiku Detention Center. Maui News.

Three varieties of tree snails and 37 species of herbs, shrubs, trees and ferns in Maui County have been added to the Endangered Species list. Maui News.
 
Kauai

Two studies intended to promote production and consumption of local foods and products were updated for the Kauai County Council on Wednesday. The message was that locally produced and processed foods feed more than just people; they also feed the economy. Backing this up, local cattle ranchers and producers of value-added products came to the council chambers in support of a meat processing facility and a commercial kitchen and agri-business incubator. Garden Island.

Red rice coral hit by blue-green algae off Kauai’s North Shore has responded well to a treatment involving marine epoxy, according to state and federal scientists, but they’re still trying to find out what is causing skin problems in nearby Hawaiian puffer fish. Associated Press.

The Hoouluwehi Sustainable Living Institute was at the heart of the 2013 Second Nature Prestigious Climate Leadership Award presented to Kauai Community College. Garden Island.

Hawaii Big Wind moving forward, Jones Act under fire, military retreats from Kauai weapons range expansion, China to launch nonstop Taiwan-Honolulu flights, Hawaii business tourism a hard sell, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Hawaii Island wind farm, courtesy courtesy Green Travelers Guide

One half of Hawaii’s controversial 400-megawatt “Big Wind” project — in which large wind farms on Lanai and Molokai would pump electricity to Honolulu via an undersea cable — is still moving forward. Pacific Business News.

Hawaiian Electric Co. residential customers on Oahu will pay an average of 13 cents more a month over the next three years to cover the cost of preliminary studies HECO completed as part of its plan to generate wind energy on the neighbor islands and transmit it to Oahu via an undersea cable. Star-Advertiser.

With the help of Gov. Neil Abercrombie's administration, the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands has begun reforming its controversial revocable permit program and evaluating other aspects of its operation. But Native Hawaiian beneficiaries already are raising questions about the process, saying they are not being allowed to participate from the start. Star-Advertiser.

Even though Hawaii's business travel fell 20 percent after the Great Recession and hasn't completely recovered, John Mona­han, president and CEO of the Hawaii Visitors and Convention Bureau, said he is confident that changing the way the state markets business travel will build success. Star-Advertiser.

China Airlines will launch regular nonstop flights between Taiwan and Hawaii on June 2, the airline said Friday. Pacific Business News.

High-profile Hawaii economists, professors and businessmen last week called on Congress to repeal the Jones Act, the 1920s federal law requiring that cargo shipped within the U.S. be moved only by American-made, American-manned and American-owned vessels. Hawaii Reporter.

Lawyer and former U.S. Senate candidate John Carroll has sued the United States of America for the second time in hopes of exempting Hawaii from the Merchant Marine Act of 1920. Better known as the Jones Act, the statute requires all ships traveling between U.S. states to be manned, built, owned, and flagged by Americans. Critics say the regulations inflate the cost of shipping, which makes everything from eggs to electricity more expensive. Civil Beat.

Hawaii Bromance: Honolulu Mayor Kirk Caldwell and Gov. Neil Abercrombie. Civil Beat.

In its second quarter 2013 economic report, the Department of Business, Economic Development & Tourism predicts continued positive economic growth in 2013, outpacing the national growth rate. DBEDT also expects to see continued positive growth in 2014. West Hawaii Today.

Next month, the Hōkūle‘a and its sister canoe, the Hikianalia , will set sail on a 46,000 mile trip across the globe. And joining the crew will be a team of Hawaii teachers and researchers, who will play a key role in bringing the Worldwide Voyage back into the classroom. Hawaii Public Radio.

State roundup for May 27. Associated Press.

Oahu

Four firms are vying to operate the state-owned Hawai‘i Convention Center, which for more than a decade has routinely underperformed at filling Hawaii hotel rooms with high-spending business visitors. Star-Advertiser.

Honolulu officials don’t appear to be in any rush to scrub the mold, lead and asbestos from Honolulu Hale. The city contracted for $250,000 with Unitek in 2012 for some lead paint clean-up, but now officials say the building is on a fix-it-as-we-go approach. Civil Beat.

A tenant association at a Chinatown affordable-housing complex is calling for more openness from the city of Honolulu as it moves forward with the sale of all 12 of its affordable-housing properties to a California-based private group. Star-Advertiser.

The city of Honolulu this week is restoring more bus service, part of a plan Mayor Kirk Caldwell and transit officials rolled out earlier this year to reverse many of last year's widely unpopular cuts in TheBus routes. Star-Advertiser.

Three months after the official opening of the University of Hawaii's Cancer Center in Kakaako, Hawaii News Now brought a construction problem and potential design flaw to the attention of its director.

Hawaii
West Hawaii’s three County Council districts, comprising roughly one-third of the county’s population, will continue shouldering 70 percent of the property tax burden under a 10 percent rate hike proposed by Mayor Billy Kenoi. West Hawaii Today.

Kamehameha Schools is suing the HSC Inc. and Realty Investment Co., alleging the Hilo companies are in default of a five-decade-plus lease of commercial property on Kekuanaoa Street near the Hilo Shopping Center. Tribune-Herald.

Hundreds of Big Islanders came together Saturday in Kailua-Kona for one of many March Against Monsanto events held worldwide to call attention to the dangers posed by genetically modified foods. West Hawaii Today.

Maui
The Maui County Council will hear a proposal that would give partial protection to an estimated 1,250 additional applicants on the Upcountry Water Meter Priority List. Maui Now.

The number of photovoltaic and other renewable energy systems in Maui County keeps growing each year. Maui News.

The Maui Chapter of the Korean War Veterans Association was once open only to those who served during the Korean War, but the aging members of the association have opened its doors to all veterans who served in Korea during the war and since. Maui News.

Kauai

The gun jammed on the National Guard’s proposal for an expanded “danger zone” in the waters fronting the Kekaha Rifle Range. “The Army Corps of Engineers, at the request of the Hawaii Army National Guard, will be rescinding the current public notice in regards to a proposed new danger zone at Kekaha Range Facility,” Lt. Col. Charles Anthony, director of public affairs for the Hawaii National Guard, wrote in a statement Friday. Garden Island.

The Kauai County Council approved Wednesday an additional $10,000 for legal fees associated with a civil rights complaint filed by councilman Tim Bynum against former County Prosecutor Shaylene Iseri-Carvalho, county planner Sheila Miyake and the county of Kauai. Garden Island.

A Kauai firefighter is suing the county for alleged discriminatory compensation claims. Garden Island.

Molokai

Molokai General Hospital has received a $133,232 grant from the Office of Hawaiian Affairs to support the hospital's Women's Health Center's prenatal program. Maui News.

Collective bargaining bogs down in Labor Board, Gabbard opposes domestic drones, Hawaii House to vote on state budget by Wednesday, atrazine in drinking water, elevator inspections lag, public opposes Kauai biofuel plant, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Hawaii teachers protest, Hawaii State Teachers Association courtesy photo

The state agency charged with enforcing and protecting collective bargaining rights says its "skeleton crew and bare-bones budget" hamstring its ability to rule on dozens of labor complaints filed each year by public and private employees and their unions. Star-Advertiser.

The Hawaii state House and Senate are holding several hearings this week to vet each other’s proposals. Last week, both chambers passed hundreds of bills and sent them over to the other chamber, marking a new phase in the legislative session. Associated Press.

In Hawaii, additional gun regulation faces the fact that the state has among the most stringent gun laws in the nation, and unlike the mainland, little public urgency to make them tougher. Civil Beat.

The state House Committee on Finance passed Friday a nearly $23.3 billion budget for fiscal years 2014 and 2015, about $590 million shy of Gov. Neil Abercrombie’s request for $23.8 billion. Associated Press.

Hawaii lawmakers have trimmed Gov. Neil Abercrombie’s proposed biennium budget by almost half a billion dollars due to uncertainty over pending contract negotiations with public unions and looming federal budget cuts.Civil Beat.

Many of the state's 7,000 elevators are behind on inspections. KITV4.

U.S. Rep. Tulsi Gabbard reiterated her stance against the use of drones on domestic soil during an appearance on NBC’s “Meet the Press” Sunday. Star-Advertiser.

Civil Beat's chief political writer, Chad Blair, and, in his debut appearance, our fedora-topped D.C. bureau chief, Kery Murakami, talk about the implications of a rare split in the Hawaii Congressional delegation. And much more.

A mainland company that supplied a key component for many commercial and utility-scale solar photovoltaic projects in Hawaii has gone out of business, leaving its customers scrambling to come up with contingency plans for servicing the devices, which are critical to the operation of PV systems.Star-Advertiser.

Along with hockey sticks, canoe paddles should be included in the Transportation Security Administration's list of approved carry-on items on flights, local paddlers argue. Star-Advertiser.

Monday marks the second anniversary of the devastating earthquake and tsunami that hit Japan. Hawaii News Now.

State roundup for March 11. Associated Press.

Oahu

Thousands of Schofield Barracks soldiers who have been hard at training for months for a pair of deployments to Afghanistan might not go, officials say. Star-Advertiser.

The Honolulu Authority for Rapid Transportation said Friday that it has received $67.5 million of an expected $1.55 billion in federal funding from the Federal Transit Administration for the $5.16 billion Honolulu rail transit project. Pacific Business News.

U.S. State Department special agent Christopher Deedy will withdraw his request for dismissal of his murder charge that was based on his contention that he was acting as a federal law enforcement officer when he fatally shot a Kailua man at a Waikiki restaurant in 2011. Star-Advertiser.

A new survey of conditions and costs of driving in America's 50 most populated cities documents what drivers in Honolulu already know: Gas prices and congestion are high. Hawaii Reporter.

Hawaii

Police Chief Harry Kubojiri has disciplined a Hilo Patrol Division sergeant for misconduct over an incident that took place in the Hilo police cellblock on May 31 last year, according to a letter to the complainant. Tribune-Herald.

For years, Hilo residents’ drinking water has been contaminated with the chemical atrazine — a popular weed killer used on thousands of acres of sugar cane fields that lined the landscape up until a couple of decades ago. Civil Beat.

Goodfellow Bros. Inc. Regional Manager Ed Brown guided a tour along the 11-mile stretch that will bring Saddle Road closer to Kona by about seven miles. West Hawaii Today.

Maui

The House Finance Committee has included $65 million for the Kihei high school in the 2015 fiscal year of the state's biennium, an amount that's half of what Gov. Neil Abercrombie, the state Department of Education and South Maui's lawmakers have sought to complete the project all at once. Maui News.

Expected growth in the rental car industry at Kahului Airport drives the need for the proposed Consolidated Rental Car Facility, according a draft environmental report. Maui News.

Kauai

The Department of Hawaiian Home Lands is proposing to lease more than 2,000 acres of Anahola lands to Green Energy Team, LLC of Kaua‘i for the purpose of clearing existing albizia trees for its planned biomass-to-energy facility near Koloa. Garden Island.

It was sprinkling between periods of downpour, but several hundred demonstrators marched from the Grand Hyatt Kaua‘i Resort and Spa to Mano‘okalanipo Park on Saturday. Garden Island.

County officials told the Kaua‘i County Council Wednesday an anonymous tip that sensitive documents may have been secretly buried at Kekaha Landfill is too broad, and an internal investigation produced no results. Garden Island.

The original version of a bill progressing at the state Legislature would give the shrimp farm owner, Sunrise Capital, up to $1.3 million in state special purpose revenue bonds to protect the company’s hatchery facility and its salt water well, relocating them further inland to avoid shoreline erosion. Garden Island.