Tourism outlook sunny, legislative committees advance pesticide bills, emergency shelters, vacation rentals, monster homes, 'survival sex' for young Honolulu homeless, plus Maui politics, Coco Palms lawsuit, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Waikiki beach ©2018 All Hawaii News

Hawaii visitor arrivals and spending are expected to grow over the next four years. Speakers at the Pacific Asia Travel Association’s annual outlook and economic forecast forum tried to evaluate how much of a boon for Hawaii the latest forecast from the state Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism would be. Star-Advertiser.

The Hawaii Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism said in a new report Hawaii’s overall economic condition in 2018 will be better than previously projected, as a result of the new tax reform bill. Pacific Business News.

Visitor accommodation units statewide increased to 80,336 units (+1.6%) year-over-year, the largest total ever recorded for the State of Hawaii, according to the 2017 Visitor Plant Inventory released by the Hawaii Tourism Authority. Maui Now.

Bills Introduced to Crack Down on Vacation Rentals, Monster Homes. Maui Now.

All new state buildings would have to be designed and built with shelter space capable of withstanding catastrophic disasters under a proposal making its way through the Legislature. Star-Advertiser.

House Emergency Preparedness Task Force Bill Advances. Hawaii Public Radio.

In the hours before the state's infamous missile alert mistake, a documentary crew from NBC News was getting an exclusive tour of the Hawaii Emergency Management Agency, gathering material for a future story that was meant to focus on communications in the aftermath of an actual attack. Hawaii News Now.

Four bills are moving ahead in the state legislature, and lawmakers believe that a lack of action on the federal level will increase the likelihood that the bills will pass. The bills would regulate the use of some heavily used pesticides, including a popular herbicide called Roundup.  Hawaii News Now.

House Committee Advances Ban On Chlorpyrifos. Big Island Video News.

The House committees on Agriculture and Energy & Environmental Protection passed a complete ban on the pesticide chlorpyrifos during a hearing at the State Capitol on Thursday. Big Island Now.

A statewide ban on chlorpyrifos passed through two Hawaii House committees Thursday, along with measures for stricter restrictions on glyphosate herbicides and public notification requirements for pesticide application. Garden Island.

Modernizing Hawaii’s Electric Grid For Less Than $1 A Month. Hawaiian Electric Co. needs to upgrade its distribution system to accommodate mushrooming rooftop solar. Civil Beat.

Hawaiian Electric reports 1 percentage point increase in renewable energy in 2017. Hawaiian Electric Cos., the state's largest utility company, said on Thursday it was able to increase its renewable portfolio standard to 27 percent during the past year. Pacific Business News.

Hawaii Schools Can’t Seem To Give Breakfast Away. Nearly all of Hawaii’s public schools participate in the federal School Breakfast Program, but only 43 percent of low-income students who qualify for free or reduced-price school lunches also take advantage of subsidized school breakfast. Civil Beat.

Another government shutdown — even a short one — has particularly bad timing for the Hawaii National Guard, which has its once-a-month drills this weekend. More than 4,500 Hawaii Army and Air Guard soldiers were expected to train Saturday and Sunday. Star-Advertiser.

Oahu

Young homeless on Oahu are forced into “survival sex”. Homeless youth on Oahu tend to have been abused by their parents, became homeless at the age of 14, on average, and generally live a dangerous and disturbing existence where most tried to kill themselves while others were forced to perform “survival sex,” according to the first study of its kind in four decades. Star-Advertiser.

Honolulu Mayor Kirk Caldwell has a lucrative second job at Territorial Savings Bank, and that's raised concerns with members of the state Legislature. Now, legislators are considering a proposal that would prevent acting governors and mayors from having second jobs. Hawaii News Now.

Spill sends 10,000 gallons of sewage into Waianae drainage ditch. The Hawaii Department of Health is urging the public to stay away from a sewage-contaminated drainage ditch in a residential area near Waianae Mall. Hawaii News Now.

City reverses decision to reject gift aimed at supporting young athletes. KHON2.

A woman who stole more than $3.8 million from the company that publishes Honolulu Magazine through a scheme the judge called “intricate” and that the prosecutor said was “exquisitely executed” was sentenced in federal court Thursday to four years in prison. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii Island

The Nature Conservancy has transferred ownership of 222 acres of land to Hawaii Volcanoes National Park. Tribune-Herald.

Lifeguard liability bills treading water. West Hawaii Today.

A state House committee voted Thursday to advance a bill to establish lifeguards at Kua Bay. West Hawaii Today.

Hawaii Island Rep. Richard Creagan and the Hawaii County Council don’t think the Hawaii Department of Health is as serious as it should be about rat lungworm disease. West Hawaii Today.

After two meetings left local business owners with more questions than answers about the proposed surf school regulations, the county has postponed a looming deadline to bid on doing business at Kahaluu Bay. West Hawaii Today.

The Hawaii Army National Guard is replacing its decades-old vehicle and equipment maintenance shop in Hilo. Tribune-Herald.

Maui

Was Maui Official Ousted For Skipping Mayor’s Campaign Event? The director of Maui’s Department of Water Supply is suing his boss after being placed on leave. Civil Beat.

New rental car tax proposed to help fund Lahaina, Paia bypasses. $4.50 per car, per day fee would help build state projects stalled in county. Maui News.

Ongoing discord among Maui County Council members has inspired the launching of campaigns for two candidates: former mayoral candidate and Council Member Alice Lee and Claire Kamalu Carroll, the 48-year-old daughter of Council Member Bob Carroll, who’ll retire this year. Maui News.

Maui resident and community organizer Tiare Lawrence is running for the State House representing Maui. KITV.

Two men who were arrested for allegedly harassing a monk seal in Lahaina could have felony charges dismissed if they make donations to a federal agency responsible for managing ocean resources. Maui News.

Businesses who use the EKO Compost facility that do not have a commercial account are being reminded by Department of Environmental Management officials that they are now required to set up an account and pay green waste tipping fees at $46 per/ton. Maui Now.

Kauai

Coco Palms Developer Fights Back With Its Own Native Hawaiian Research. A Hawaiian consultant disputes the claims of the occupiers of a planned resort site on Kauai. Civil Beat.

Milo Spindt, born in Lawai and now a Kalaheo resident, has pulled papers and is running for the Kauai County Council. Garden Island.

Kapaa grocery store Cost-U-Less is closing after a quarter-century of doing business.  Garden Island.

Phyllis Ann De Graff Kunimura died Dec. 7. She was known as the “First Lady of Kauai” during her husband Tony Kunimura’s tenure as mayor. Star-Advertiser.

AG Chin preparing for congressional race, Hawaii slips to second healthiest state, worker's comp fails workers, mayors pledge to ban fossil fuels in vehicles, Honolulu cop hits pedestrian, basalt fiber plant planned, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Attorney General Doug Chin with U.S. Sen. Mazie Hirono, file courtesy photo

State attorney general eyes Congress. State Attorney General Douglas Chin is laying the groundwork for his first political campaign, which will be a run for the U.S. House seat being vacated by U.S. Rep. Colleen Hanabusa, sources said. Star-Advertiser.

Civil Beat Poll: Support Is Still Strong For Medical Aid In Dying. Proponents of the legislation outnumber opponents by a 3-to-1 ratio. Civil Beat.

Hawaii slips to second healthiest state in the nation in annual report. After five consecutive years in the No. 1 spot, the Aloha State has fallen to second place behind Massachusetts, according to the America’s Health Rankings 2017 report by the United Health Foundation. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii is no longer the nation's 'healthiest state'. Hawaii News Now.

Recent Court Decisions Beneficial For Injured Workers. The Hawaii Supreme Court made two rulings in 2015 in favor of workers who had been denied treatment for their injuries. Civil Beat.

Part 2 of an ongoing series about Hawaii’s workers’ compensation system. Hawaii’s workers’ comp system developed over more than a century, allows insurance companies to pay doctors of their choosing to examine injured workers. Civil Beat.

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Using the worldwide-traveling Hokulea docked at Pokai Bay as inspiration, leaders from all four major counties Tuesday signed pledges to eliminate the use of fossil-fuel-powered ground transportation vehicles by 2045. Star-Advertiser.

The leaders of Hawaii’s four counties have pledged to eliminate all fossil fuels from ground transportation by 2045. Pacific Business News.

Mayors pledge 100% ground transportation powered by renewable energy by 2045. KITV.

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New Ag Department Pesticides Manager Appointed. Hawaii Entomologist John McHugh, Ph.D., has been appointed as the new program manager of the Pesticides Branch of the Hawaii Department of Agriculture. Big Island Now.

Cannabis Cardholders Increase, But They Aren’t Flocking To Dispensaries. A by-the-numbers look at the medical marijuana landscape now that dispensaries have opened on Oahu and Maui. Civil Beat.

Hawaii Medical Assurance Association, which provided the majority of the health services rendered to Island Air employees in November, said Tuesday it will absorb the more than $137,000 in costs incurred during the month even though the now-bankrupt airline did not pay its premiums for the month. Star-Advertiser.

Oahu

A state effort to partner with a private developer to overhaul several sites in the Ala Wai Small Boat Harbor has prompted community skepticism from those who fear redevelopment could leave them with a soaring tower on prime public land intended for recreation. Star-Advertiser.

Political candidate with history of incendiary remarks sparks new controversy. Hawaii News Now.

Homeless return to popular bike path despite major cleanups. After two large-scale cleanups along a popular bike path in Aiea, homeless campers are starting to return. KHON2.

HPD vehicle strikes pedestrian during morning rush. KITV.

Products made by Hawaii inmates will be featured in the Hawaii Correctional Industries Holiday Showcase Sale. KHON2.

Worst erosion in years on Sunset Beach forces tough decisions. Hawaii News Now.

Hawaii Island

Officials still making rounds urging vigilance for N.Korean attack. It’s an emergency message no one wants to hear: “The U.S. Pacific Command has detected a missile threat to Hawaii. A missile may impact on land or sea within minutes. This is not a drill”. West Hawaii Today.

Isle lava could be source of high-tech building materials. A state research organization wants to know if turning volcanic rock dust on Hawaii island into a versatile, high-strength building material can become a new local industry. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii aerospace center seeks proposals for basalt fiber manufacturing feasibility study. Pacific Business News.

Back out to bid for Waimea Highway project. About a month after Hawaii County scrapped a bid solicitation for the Mamalahoa Highway widening project amid concerns about fairness, the county is once again soliciting bids for the work. West Hawaii Today.

Mobile spay, neuter clinic down the road for HIHS. The Hawaii Island Humane Society is raising money to purchase a vehicle for a mobile spay and neuter clinic. Tribune-Herald.

Police, HDOA say parasites may be playing role in Ka'u cattle deaths. West Hawaii Today.

Maui

Sand Mining Moratorium Resolution to Resurface in Council. A resolution recommending a moratorium on sand mining in Central Maui surfaces again for first reading at the council’s next meeting on Dec. 15 after the item was deferred earlier this month. Maui Now.

No support found for lifeguard tower move. Testimony calls for the funding of new tower at popular tourist beach. Maui News.

The median price of a single-family home on Maui increased by more than 8 percent last month, compared to last year, even as the number of sales dropped 21 percent, while condominiums recorded increases in sales and prices for November, according to the monthly report by the Realtors Association of Maui. Pacific Business News.

Kauai

KIUC plans changes to Wailua River diversions. Water is going to be returned to the North Fork of the Wailua River, at the Blue Hole and Waikoko diversions. Garden Island.

Hokua Place may face fight. Members of the community are expected to show up in force at a county meeting today in opposition to a development that would be located behind Kapaa Middle School. Garden Island.

Hawaii still tops for homeless, Obama in town, Honolulu police chief selection delayed, monk seal in road slows Maui traffic, no cool schools for Big Island, Maui hospital lawsuit dismissed, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Homeless in Hawaii © 2017 All Hawaii News

Hawaii still has the highest per capita homeless population in the country “but things have started to gel” in the islands, according to the western regional coordinator for the U.S. Interagency Council on Homelessness. Star-Advertiser.

The state Department of Health gave the green light Wednesday for two more production facilities to begin growing medical marijuana, despite not being able to sell the drug to consumers yet. Star-Advertiser.

Expert: Amid delays, patient died waiting for medical marijuana relief. Hawaii News Now.


Legislation to ban certain sunscreen chemicals in Hawai’i stalled in the final days of the 2017 session.  But, state lawmakers are already starting their push to pass the bills next year. Hawaii Public Radio.

Former President Barack Obama in the islands for unannounced visit. Hawaii News Now.

Hawaii’s congressional delegation on Wednesday introduced federal legislation to reinstate Medicaid coverage for eligible Micronesians living and working in the United States. Civil Beat.

Hawaii will experience another round of exceptional king tides Friday and Saturday as some of the highest tides of the year will again be enhanced by higher-­than-normal sea levels. Star-Advertiser.

How HECO Is Trying To Modernize Its Electric Grid. Hawaiian Electric is drafting a new strategy after regulators rejected an earlier $736 million proposal in part because it didn’t serve solar users well. Civil Beat.

Hawaiian Airlines’ baggage fee revenue declined in the first quarter even though the state’s largest carrier transported more passengers than in the year-earlier period. Star-Advertiser.

Island Air is suffering through growing pains as it continues to reinvent itself with new aircraft and additional routes. Star-Advertiser.

Oahu

The selection of a new police chief has been delayed again, this time because the entity initially selected to help the Honolulu Police Commission make the pick backed out, Commission Chairman Max Sword said Wednesday. Star-Advertiser.

Ex-Honolulu Police Chief’s Fight For Legal Fees Turns Nasty. Police Commissioner Loretta Sheehan says the former chief’s attempt to have her removed from the case is “baseless.” Civil Beat.

Search for Honolulu’s next police chief delayed after consultant backs out. KHON2.

Retired police Chief Louis Kealoha wants Honolulu Police Commissioner Loretta Sheehan disqualified from considering any matters that involve him, arguing she’s been critical of him and the police department in the past. Star-Advertiser.

The Hawaii Department of Public Safety on Wednesday released a report on the latest on where to replace the current Oahu Community Correctional Center. Civil Beat. Report here.

A homeless camp that had been hidden in the mangroves along the Ala Wai Canal is beginning to emerge as more and more people are moving in. Hawaii News Now.

The Environmental Protection Agency, state Department of Health, the Navy and the Defense Logistics Agency are holding an “open house” tonight to update the public on the status of the Red Hill Underground Fuel Storage Facility. Star-Advertiser.

North shore residents are fed up that nothing is being done to fix the heavy traffic near the famous "Turtle Beach" at Laniakea. Now, a campaign is shifting blame for the congestion to the turtles. Hawaii News Now.

Attorney General’s office seeks answers to city’s new Bikeshare program. KHON2.

Biki bike pushback at Kapiolani Park. KITV.

A woman whose pet store was connected to a Waimanalo puppy mill owned by her father is getting the chance to avoid conviction for tax evasion. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii Island

The state’s plan to cool 1,000 classrooms by this fall won’t initially benefit many schools on the Big Island. Tribune-Herald.

The cleanup at Old Airport Park is posing more of a logistical challenge than the new administration anticipated when it made the project a priority soon after assuming office. West Hawaii Today.

Lottery decides waiting list for Kona housing development. West Hawaii Today.

The Hawaii Island Family Medicine Residency Program has done exactly what planners hoped — its graduates now plan to practice medicine in Hawaii; two in Hilo, one in Honolulu. Tribune-Herald.

Maui

A renewable energy startup company will break ground on old sugar land this summer. Star-Advertiser.

A new energy crop will soon be tested on former sugar plantation lands in Central Maui. Alexander & Baldwin is teaming up with a California-based business to grow pongamia trees on 250 acres near Kihei. Hawaii News Now.

The state Employees’ Retirement System and the Hawaii Health Systems Corp., which operates the state’s public hospitals, formally agreed to drop a lawsuit this week over benefits for about 1,500 employees at three Maui County hospitals. Star-Advertiser.

Lawsuit dismissed, clearing the way for transfer of hospitals. Maui News.

A monk seal came up partially on the road on the Honoapiilani Highway in Olowalu Wednessday afternoon, slowing traffic on the busy thoroughfare that connects West Maui to the Central Valley.  Police and volunteers responded to the report in an effort to protect the animal from oncoming traffic. Maui Now.

Gov. David Ige on Wednesday announced the nomination of Mr. Lee A. Ohigashi to the Maui County seat on the State Land Use Commission for a term beginning June 21, 2017 and ending June 30, 2020. The appointment is subject to confirmation by the Senate. Maui Now.

Kauai

Congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard will host a telephone town hall at 4 p.m. Monday on hurricane and disaster preparedness. Garden Island.

Green energy money may go to schools, donated swim gear stolen from soldiers, Waikiki fireworks revived, 47 want to be Honolulu zookeeper, grant award questioned, Maui reconsiders liquor law, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Hawaii beach scene © 2017 All Hawaii News

Wondering if your favorite beach is safe for a swim? You’ll know a lot sooner now that the state is implementing new public notification procedures that require signs posted as soon as test results show the water quality does not reach safety standards. West Hawaii Today.

The state might pull one-third of the money from its stagnant $150 million green energy loan program to help lower electrical bills at Hawaii’s public schools. Star-Advertiser.

Lawmakers this year approved a grant worth hundreds of thousands of taxpayer dollars to a privately owned Hawaii island well-drilling company through a process usually used to fund nonprofit social service organizations, and some lawmakers are wondering why. Star-Advertiser.

Governor to explore possibility of special session for rail. KHON2.

VIDEO: Officials Testify On Hawaii Missile Defeat Programs. Big Island Video News.

Hawaii had the eighth-fastest growing solar market in the United States in the first quarter of 2017, adding 76.4 megawatts of solar capacity between January and March, according to a new report. Pacific Business News.

XLR8UH, the University of Hawaii’s accelerator program, was named one of the nation's best startup accelerators of 2017. Pacific Business News.

Oahu

The latest report card shows that homeless people placed into market-rate apartments through the city’s Housing First program continue to do better than their counterparts on the street — and are far less likely to use drugs and alcohol, get arrested or rely on hospital emergency rooms. Star-Advertiser.

Demand for farm land is so great in Hawaii, Aloun Farms is trying to speed up its sale of acres in Central Oahu. Hawaii Public Radio.

The Sorry State Of Many Honolulu Parks. Millions of dollars have been spent on Oahu parks in the past decade, but some have fared better than others. Civil Beat.

Members of the state Land Use Commission last month threw the question of keeping open Oahu’s only public landfill back to the Honolulu Planning Commission to clear up technical errors, but not before criticizing city officials for foot-dragging. Star-Advertiser.

The city received applications from 47 people hoping to be the next director of the Honolulu Zoo, but only 10 were deemed qualified, city Human Resources Director Carolee Kubo said Friday. Star-Advertiser.

The city is moving forward on plans to shore up a portion of the crumbling sea wall that protects Kapiolani Park between the Queen’s Surf groin and the Waikiki Aquarium. Star-Advertiser.

Twenty-five years of weekly fireworks in Waikiki almost came to an indefinite end Friday after a disagreement over how much money the show’s organizer should pay for impeding public use of the beach fronting Hilton Hawaiian Village during the event. Star-Advertiser.

Kaimuki High School is the latest-starting public school in Hawaii, and according to a preliminary study, students there think the later morning bell may make for better health and academic performance. Civil Beat.

Supporters of LGBT rights gathered at the state capitol on Sunday for the Honolulu Equality March for Unity and Pride. Hawaii News Now.

Survey Of Homeless Kids To Include Sexual Orientation Information. A national survey found 40 percent of homeless youths identify as LGBTQ. Service providers will soon have data for Oahu. Civil Beat.

After a man allegedly damaged glass doors at Iolani Palace late May, appraisers said the price tag of the doors is $375,000. Hawaii News Now.

Hawaii Island

Members of a nonprofit group were disheartened over the theft of swim gear donated to soldiers, training on the Big Island, for their rest and relaxation. West Hawaii Today.

Two Hilo colleges are divided over stone altars, or ahu, with inverted Hawaii flags constructed on campuses by students. Associated Press.

Hilo colleges are taking different approaches to two on-campus ahu — or stone altars — which a student group claims it constructed to bring attention to “124 years of genocide continuing on the Hawaiian community.” Tribune-Herald.

Entries for a lottery that will determine the waiting list order for two local affordable housing projects are being accepted online through June 14. The lottery is scheduled for June 20. West Hawaii Today.

The days of Pagoda Hilo Bay Hotel — formerly known as Uncle Billy’s Hilo Bay Hotel — are coming to an end. Tribune-Herald.

A Hawaii island lava tour boat operator was fined $15,000 Friday for three violations of state boating rules. Star-Advertiser.

Though the enthusiasm and passion for getting involved in Hawaii’s young hemp industry was on display during Saturday’s conference, many in attendance also expressed concern about potential stumbling blocks in the path. Tribune-Herald.

Doctors at the Queen’s Medical Center in Honolulu have begun making virtual rounds to treat the most critical intensive care patients on Hawaii island. Star-Advertiser.

Graham Ellis, who made headlines this week after he was picked up by the Department of Homeland Security and subsequently given 45 days to depart the country voluntarily, will leave a few loose ends on Hawaii Island when he returns to England on July 20. West Hawaii Today.

Turtle monitoring efforts ramp up: Nesting season is a busy time for researchers. Tribune-Herald.

Maui

The Maui Liquor Commission will meet on July 12 for a public hearing to consider proposed changes to the existing rules that were implemented in February. Maui Now.

Simply put, there isn’t enough federal and state money to pay for all of Maui County’s highway maintenance and expansion needs — now projected to cost $3.1 billion through 2035, members of the Maui Metropolitan Planning Organization heard last week. Maui News.

Maui Police Department Chief Tivoli Faaumu has received high marks in all categories in his annual review and evaluation by the Maui Police Commission. Maui News.

Chemical farming’s impacts on Maui’s environment and the public will be the topic of discussion at a gathering at 6 p.m. Tuesday at the Paia Community Center. Maui News.

Median prices for single-family houses and condominiums on Maui increased by double-digit percentages in May as low inventory prompted buyers to snap up properties at a rapid pace. Star-Advertiser.

Kauai

The Kauai County Council is expected to discuss several requests from the county to apply for grants for services at its meeting Wednesday beginning at 8:30 a.m. at the Historic County Building. Garden Island.

The environmental law group Earthjustice is asking for better survey methods for finding marine mammals in target areas for military weapons testing around Kauai. Garden Island.

After almost 20 years since legalization, medical marijuana patients on Kauai may be able to purchase state-approved cannibas by October. Garden Island.

County cemeteries are filling up. KHHA president is seeking additional land for Kekaha Hawaiian Cemetery. Garden Island.

Waioli Corporation gets $550,000 to build interactive park featuring Hawaii locomotives. Garden Island.

Jobs for homeless, taxes, green fuel and Oahu ferry on Legislature's agenda, Haleakala rules rile native practitioner, Abercrombie blasts committee for killing aid in dying bill, coffee season promising, Kauai trail to open, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Hilo homeless man reads up on money-making © 2017 All Hawaii News

A measure before state lawmakers would launch a day laborer program to give Hawaii’s homeless alternatives to panhandling. Star-Advertiser.

Former Gov. Neil Abercrombie is blasting a House committee for shelving a high-profile bill that would allow terminally ill patients to obtain prescriptions for lethal doses of medication and says lawmakers should resurrect the measure through a rarely used clause in the state Constitution that would allow for a full floor vote on the bill. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii lawmakers are exploring progressive taxes, green fuel and a potential Oahu ferry route in the upcoming week at the Legislature. Associated Press.

The state Public Utilities Commission is giving the solar industry more time to add customers who are looking to get credit on their electrical bills for the excess energy their rooftop systems produce. Star-Advertiser.

The 2016-17 Hawaii coffee season looks promising statewide with preliminary estimates calling for an increase in production, yield and value. West Hawaii Today.

Hawaii may not often appear as itself in movies but as a shooting location, it has been on a hot streak. Hawaii Public Radio.

Hawaiian Airlines and its 670 pilots agreed on a 63-month contract amendment, resulting in a one-time cash payment of $55 million to $60 million, according to a filing the airline made with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission on Friday. Pacific Business News.

Hawaiian Airlines’ pilots, ending more than two years of contentious negotiations, have ratified a new 63-month contract worth 42 percent more than the existing agreement. Star-Advertiser.

Commentary: Hawaii’s ailing GOP won’t grow more popular while riding the coattails of Trump. Star-Advertiser.

Oahu

A year and a half after Mayor Kirk Caldwell signed the accessory dwelling unit ordinance into law, interest has been growing, with more than 1,280 homeowners submitting “pre-check” forms to see whether their lot qualifies for the addition. Star-Advertiser.

The city is proposing several short-term projects in Waipahu, some of which are already funded, in an effort to build on existing transit-oriented development plans and to prepare the area for rail’s arrival. Star-Advertiser.

Using your cellphone while behind the wheel is against the law, but one Honolulu City Council member is looking to take that a step further. His proposal would make it illegal for pedestrians to use an electronic device while crossing the street. KHON2.

The state Department of Health’s Clean Water Branch reported that the its water quality alert notification for Sans Souci Beach in Waikiki has been cancelled. Star-Advertiser.

A multi-million dollar Honolulu safe house meant to be used by victims of domestic violence is being criticized by advocates at both the local and national levels for failing to live up to its mission. Hawaii News Now.

Hawaii

Saturday marked the first-ever East Hawaii Republican County Convention, where party members gathered to select committee officers and delegates for the upcoming state party convention, to be held in May on Kauai. Tribune-Herald.

The Hawaii County Council and Mayor Harry Kim remain at odds over the canceling of a composting contract. Tribune-Herald.

Lack of state funds threaten to discontinue Veterans Treatment Court. The Big Island Veterans Treatment Court is now facing an unknown future as funding to continue the program has not yet been determined. West Hawaii Today.

If the county truly supports sustainable agriculture, says Fred Housel, it will lower the tax rate on agricultural property. Now the highest rate in the state, the agricultural rate was increased by 31.5 percent in 2010. West Hawaii Today.

Hawaii Electric Light Co. says in its latest filing to the state Public Utilities Commission that it can achieve the state’s goal of 100 percent renewable energy, possibly even before the state-mandated deadline of 2045. Tribune-Herald.

The cost of your future electric bill rests, once again, with the Hawaii Public Utilities Commission. Tribune-Herald.

More Big Island high school students enrolled in college and participated in dual-credit programs last year, but four-year high school graduation rates dropped slightly. Tribune-Herald.

The contractor in charge of a project to provide aeration pump upgrades and sludge removal at the Kealakehe Wastewater Treatment Plant has defaulted, and dredging of the facility’s sludge ponds has come to a temporary halt, according to the Department of Environmental Management. West Hawaii Today.

Maui

A Haleakala National Park ranger and a teacher from an Oahu public charter school got into a heated argument over cultural practice conflicting with park safety, and a video of the recent exchange is going viral on social media. Hawaii News Now.

Maui Medical Cannabis Dispensary to Open this Summer. Nearly 100 well-wishers attended Friday’s blessing of Maui Grown Therapies, one of two medical cannabis dispensaries on Maui. Maui Now.

Maui County’s unemployment rate continues to tick downward. Maui News.

UH-MC students swap coral-killing sunscreens for ‘reef safe’ versions. Maui News.

Kauai

Council OKs use of trail to Koloa shoreline. Kauai residents will soon be able to legally access a dirt trail in Koloa to get to the shoreline. Garden Island.

Kapaa High School saw one of the highest increases in student enrollment in dual-credit courses in the state, from 8 percent to 23 percent. Garden Island.

Department of Water officials announced the completion of the Halewili Road Main Replacement Project in Kalaheo, and recently held a dedication ceremony at the project site. Garden Island.

Bills for free tuition, school funding, Zuckerberg's land plans, $2B housing bond flow in new legislative session, Ige's State of the State address today, lower coffee rules to stay, Maui to vote on GMO repeal, veto override, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Wind farm on Big Island

President Donald Trump has disputed climate change, pledged a revival of coal and disparaged wind power, and his nominee to head the Energy Department was once highly skeptical of the agency’s value. What this means for states’ efforts to promote renewable energy is an open question. Associated Press.

Hawaii could soon join other states in offering tuition-free college under legislative proposals to have the state pick up the cost of tuition and other school expenses for needy students enrolled at University of Hawaii community colleges. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii’s Cash-Strapped Small Schools Struggle To Operate. The teachers union and a Maui state representative will push proposals to better fund remote neighbor island schools. Civil Beat.

Lawmakers are introducing dozens of measures that aim to solve Hawaii’s homelessness crisis and increase affordable housing, including a proposal to issue $2 billion in state-backed bonds to develop public housing, shelters and apartments. Associated Press.

The Hawaii Tourism Authority faces losing its sunshine exemption in the wake of criticism from lawmakers and members of the visitor industry that it isn’t transparent about how it spends tens of millions of taxpayer dollars to market the islands. Star-Advertiser.

State health officials are pushing this year to restore adult Medicaid coverage for basic dental care nearly eight years after it was cut amid the 2008 financial crisis. Star-Advertiser.

As Hawaii struggles to stem homelessness and prison overcrowding, Gov. David Ige wants to take a new approach: connecting people arrested for low-level drug crimes with social services rather than putting them behind bars. Civil Beat.

Gov. David Ige will give his third State of the State address to the Legislature at 10 a.m. Monday in the chamber of the state House of Representatives at the Capitol. Star-Advertiser.

Commentary: Fellow Democrats faulting governor for lack of decisiveness and clear leadership. Star-Advertiser.

Robert Farrell, the state Department of Land and Natural Resources’ new chief of enforcement, pledged to work on improving efficiency and providing more resources to staff as he takes the reins as helm of DLNR’s Division of Conservation and Resources Enforcement. Star-Advertiser.

Oahu

The Honolulu Police Department let millions of budgeted dollars lapse unspent, while some divisions, including the police commission, have seen spending soar in recent years. KHON2.

Honolulu motorists whose commute includes the east end of H-1 and the adjoining Kalanianaole Highway should plan detours when heading home this week, as workers are expected to be repairing a broken water main until Thursday. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii

Six Hawaii County department heads and seven deputy directors make less than their subordinates, an issue the county’s Salary Commission will focus on at a meeting next month. Tribune-Herald.

A compromise among coffee producers statewide is leading to continuation of lower standards that were temporarily put in place in 2014 in the wake of an invasion of coffee berry borers. West Hawaii Today.

Two Kona legislators are pushing for management changes at the Honokohau Small Boat Harbor as its state of disrepair, and the overall quality of other harbors like it, have become a growing source of frustration across Hawaii Island. West Hawaii Today.

Honomu residents will ask the county Parks and Recreation Department to save their iconic banyan trees. Tribune-Herald.

Starting today, all Priority Mail stamps sold around the country will feature an image of Hilo’s Liliuokalani Park and Gardens. Tribune-Herald.


Maui

The Family Life Center’s new state contracts for emergency shelter and other services for Maui homeless people have forced the facility to reduce its number of beds from 50 to 18 and to discontinue shelter services for families and men. Maui News.

Kauai

Over 120 years have passed since a handful of businessmen with loyalties to the U.S. led a coup d’etat to overthrow the Kingdom of Hawaii, but some Native Hawaiians on the Garden Isle continue to advocate sovereignty. Garden Island.

Solutions to Kapaa’s traffic will be discussed Thursday at a public meeting hosted by the Kapaa Business Association. Garden Island.

Council to vote on mayor veto, GMO repeal. Garden Island.

School transgender guidelines implemented smoothly. Garden Island.

Lanai

Entire Island of Lana'i without power. KITV.

Lanai High & Elementary School will be closed Monday due to the power outage on the island, the state Department of Education announced at 9 p.m. Sunday. Maui News.

A Hawaii lawmaker said Friday he plans to introduce a bill aimed at closing what he calls a “legal loophole” that Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg is using to gain ownership of small pieces of land, or kuleana lands, within his 700 acres of oceanfront property on the island of Kauai. Pacific Business News.

Hawaii Dairy Farms, a long-planned 699-cow operation on the island of Kauai being funded by billionaire eBay founder Pierre Omidyar’s Honolulu investment firm Ulupono Initiative, has reached a key milestone. Pacific Business News.

Historic Pearl Harbor visit by Obama and Abe, Hawaii reaches 25% renewable energy, Green bill to raise minimum wage, Senate President Kouchi to speak at Maui inauguration, restaurateur bans Trump supporters, Waikiki hotel closed, rare crows die in the wild, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Obama and Abe offer flowers at the USS Arizona Memorial at Pearl Harbor. (Pool photo)

Prime Minister Shinzo Abe didn’t apologize Tuesday for Japan’s attack on Pearl Harbor 75 years ago, but his landmark visit to the USS Arizona Memorial with President Barack Obama spoke volumes about reconciliation. Star-Advertiser.

In a joint appearance deep with cultural and historic significance, the leaders of Japan and the United States placed flowers at the USS Arizona Memorial on Tuesday. Civil Beat.

In a historic pilgrimage, the leaders of Japan and the United States took to the hallowed waters of Pearl Harbor on Tuesday to prove that even the bitterest enemies can become allies. Prime Minister Shinzo Abe did not apologize, but conceded Japan “must never repeat the horrors of war again.” Associated Press.

The leaders of the United States and Japan visited the USS Arizona Memorial together for the first time since the December 7th surprise attack on Pearl Harbor. Hawaii Public Radio.

In a powerful gesture of reconciliation 75 years after the surprise attack on Pearl Harbor, Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe joined President Obama Tuesday to lay a wreath at the USS Arizona Memorial and tell a gathered crowd that Japan "must never repeat the horrors of war again." Hawaii News Now.

The ceremonial visit of Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe to Pearl Harbor, where he met with President Barack Obama and offered his “condolences,” comes amid rising tensions with Japan’s historic rival, China. Civil Beat.

President Barack Obama and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe met at Camp Smith Tuesday morning to cement alliances as the political uncertainties in the Pacific continue to grow. KITV.

It was a historic moment Tuesday when, for the first time ever, a U.S. president and the Japanese prime minister together visited the USS Arizona Memorial. KHON2.

Abe's Pearl Harbor visit in photos. Nikkei Asian Review.

=====================

Hawaii has made progress toward its goal of lowering its dependence on oil, cutting the number of barrels imported by 41 percent since 2006. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii currently gets 25 percent of its electricity from renewable energy sources, according to a new state report. Pacific Business News.

The Aloha State got a little greener in 2015, according to the 2016 Energy Resources Coordinator’s Annual Report released by the Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism’s Hawaii State Energy Office on Tuesday. Garden Island.

Under a bill drafted by state Sen. Josh Green, the minimum wage would rise to $15 an hour by 2019, from $8.50 now. Hawaii News Now.

As Hawaii residents eye the fresh ahi sashimi platters traditionally found on holiday dinner tables, major negotiations loom next year over how much tuna commercial fishermen should be allowed to catch. Civil Beat.

The Sierra Club of Hawaii is urging local residents to withdraw funds and close their accounts with First Hawaiian Bank in an act of solidarity with Dakota Access Pipeline protesters, citing the bank’s connection to its majority shareholder BNP Paribas, which is backing the pipeline project. Pacific Business News.

A longtime Honolulu journalist is moving into the public-relations business. AARP Hawaii on Tuesday announced that Craig Gima is its new communications director. Civil Beat.

Oahu

Republican state Rep. Bob McDermott has gone to court to try to force the state to provide funding to improve what he describes as “intolerable” overcrowded conditions at Campbell High School or else immediately select a site and begin construction on a new East Kapolei high school.Star-Advertiser.

The City and County of Honolulu is ordering guests of the Polynesian Plaza hotel in Waikiki to be relocated out of the boutique hotel immediately because of unsafe conditions, Pacific Business News has learned.

Structural safety concerns prompted the city Department of Parks and Recreation to close the pavilion at Waimanalo Beach Park last week until further notice. Star-Advertiser.

Between the high rise buildings and industrial warehouses, a farm is the last thing you’d expect to find in urban Kaka‘ako. But one business is creating a space for growing food in an unexpected way. Hawaii Public Radio.

A longtime downtown Honolulu restaurant known for its pasta dishes and daily baked bread is now drawing attention for his poster banning Trump supporters. Star-Advertiser.

The Howard Hughes Corp. has completed a bike lane from Queen Street to Ward Avenue within its 60-acre Ward Village master planned community. Pacific Business News.

A 19-year-old college student accused of killing seabirds at a Hawaii nature reserve pleaded not guilty Tuesday to animal cruelty. Associated Press.

Hawaii

The Ka‘u gym and shelter has been open for more than three months, but Hawaii County officials are now seeking reassurance that the $18 million project meets state and county building codes for emergency shelters. West Hawaii Today.

Legacy Hilo Rehabilitation &Nursing Center will lose its Medicare certification in March if it does not fix problems found during recent inspections. Tribune-Herald.

Hawaiian Electric’s latest energy plan calls for an additional 20 megawatts of wind power on Hawaii Island in just a few years as it shifts away from fossil fuels. Tribune-Herald.

Kamehameha Schools is seeking a new tenant for 10,000 acres of former sugar lands that are planted in eucalyptus along the Hamakua Coast of Hawaii island after a company that had been logging those lands opted to surrender the lease. Star-Advertiser.

The plan to re-establish the Hawaiian crow in the wild suffered a blow as three of the five birds released into the East Hawaii wilderness were found dead last week of unknown causes. Star-Advertiser.

Less than two weeks after a small cohort of captive-bred ‘alala, endangered Hawaiian crows, was released into the wild, two of the five birds were returned to an outdoor aviary. Tribune-Herald.

Maui

Senate President Ronald Kouchi will deliver the keynote address at the Maui County Council inauguration on Monday, Jan. 2, 2017 at 10 a.m. in the Council Chamber. Maui Now.

Stephanie Dunbar-Co of Molokai, Ian Robin Kaye of Lanai and Robert Parsons of Maui have been appointed by Gov. David Ige to the 15-member state Environmental Council. Maui News.

Kauai

Two Kauai residents were named to the 15-member Hawaii State Environmental Council, which provides a bridge between the public and the state Office of Environmental Quality Control. Garden Island.

New law requires schools to generate own electricity, prison negotiations extended, how Hawaiian Electric shaped a state, Honolulu bike-share struggling, Lahaina Bypass contract awarded, Kauai affordable housing bills to be mulled,more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Hilo schoolchildren © 2016 All Hawaii News

Within the next two decades Hawaii public schools will need to produce as much renewable energy as they consume under legislation signed into law last week by Gov. David Ige. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii Extends Negotiation On New Private-Prison Contract. The Hawaii Department of Public Safety has signed a short-term deal with Corrections Corporation of America, the largest for-profit prison company in the country, to extend an existing contract letting the state house up to 1,926 Hawaii prisoners in Arizona. Civil Beat.

How One Company Turned ‘Darkness Into Day’ From its beginning in 1891, Hawaiian Electric Co. has been deeply entwined with the economic, political and social history of Hawaii. Civil Beat.

Could Native Hawaiian independence movements gain momentum following the so-called Brexit vote that has convulsed the European Union? Civil Beat.

Hawaii’s medical marijuana dispensaries could generate between $12 million and $38 million in revenue in their first year of operations and as much as $80.5 million in 2018. Star-Advertiser.

State officials say they have yet to inspect Hawaii’s eight licensed medical marijuana businesses, making it unlikely that the dispensaries will open by July 15, the earliest date legislators had allowed them to begin selling their products. Associated Press.

Hawaii No. 6 For Patriotism. The WalletHub study measures metrics like military numbers, voting patterns and civic education. Civil Beat.

Oahu

Honolulu’s long-anticipated bike-share system, which had originally been pegged to launch in 2015 and then pushed to 2016, no longer has an official start date. Nonetheless, its organizers say they’re making progress. Star-Advertiser.

Honolulu’s last attempt at a city-sanctioned tent city — between 1990 and 1993 — ended in failure after a night of “wilding” that included an attempted murder and a trail of crime scenes. Star-Advertiser.

Community leaders hope rededicating the hula mound at Kapolei Regional Park on Saturday and erecting a sign there at a later date will raise public awareness about the area’s cultural significance.Star-Advertiser.

Douglas Emmett Inc., the owner of one of the largest office complexes in Downtown Honolulu, is embarking on a multimillion-dollar effort to build nearly 500 more units at the Moanalua Hillside Apartments in Honolulu, Pacific Business News has learned.

A laboratory explosion at the University of Hawaii that resulted in a researcher losing her arm was likely caused by static electricity, according to an independent investigation. Associated Press.

Hawaii

Members of the Hawaii County Band would officially get the status they’ve held unofficially for a decade, under a charter amendment making its way to the Nov. 8 ballot. West Hawaii Today.

Maui

Maui’s future as a destination was shaped by Elmer Cravalho. By going after high-end visitors instead of volume, infrastructure was less strained and Maui escaped many of the challenges of Waikiki. Maui News.

The Hawaii Department of Transportation awards the $38.6 million Design-Build contract for the Lahaina Bypass 1B-2 phase, in cooperation with the Federal Highway Administration – Central Federal Lands Highway Division, to Hawaiian Dredging Construction Company, Inc. Maui Watch.

Kauai

The Kauai County Council will be considering measures to combat the housing crisis on Kauai on Wednesday. Two bills, one regarding the the Lihue Planning District and one seeking to provide a tax benefit for residents who use their homes for long-term affordable housing, are slated for second reading. Garden Island.

Friends of Mahaulepu is hosting a meeting at the Koloa Neighborhood Center from 4-9 p.m. July 14 to discuss the draft environmental impact statement recently released by Hawaii Dairy Farms. Garden Island.

The state of Hawaii has secured a $763,000 grant to complete a Supply Chain Map for the state’s defense contracting community, but representatives from Kauai’s naval base aren’t expecting changes to their bottom line. Garden Island.

Judge orders Hawaii to fund Hawaiian Home Lands, sex trafficking ban advances, Green's residency questioned, more on Caldwell's Honolulu budget, elected attorney general bill advances, Kauai studies salaries, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

File photo: the late Rep. Mele Carroll leads Hawaiian group on land rights © 2016 All Hawaii News

The state of Hawaii must adequately fund the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands, a judge said Monday. But the judge also said she is not ordering the state to appropriate a specific amount. Civil Beat.

Circuit Judge Jeannette Castagnetti said this week that she will strike from her November order language that instructs the state to boost funding for the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands to about $28.5 million from its current level of $9.6 million. Star-Advertiser.

The latest attempt to ban sex trafficking in Hawaii would treat minors who engage in sex work differently than adults in the industry. Associated Press.

Bills to elect judges and limit the number of terms that state lawmakers can serve are likely dead this legislative session. But a measure that would let voters elect the state attorney general is still alive. Civil Beat.

Wave energy and ocean thermal energy conversion, or OTEC, are two of the renewable energy resources that Hawaii will need to explore to bring the state closer to its 100 percent renewable energy goal by 2045, the head of the state’s Energy Office told Pacific Business News.

A bill that initially set out to require state energy regulators to determine there is a “substantial net benefit” in order to approve a utility merger has cleared its final committee hurdle in the House. Civil Beat.

The Hawaii Wildlife Coalition is set to release a new investigative report Thursday morning that looks into the online trade of elephant ivory and related wildlife products in Hawaii. Hawaii News Now.

Ivory is a hot political issue locally this year. Two bills before the state Legislature, House Bill 2502 and Senate Bill 2647, propose to ban all sales of elephant ivory in Hawaii, which is the third-largest ivory market in the U.S. after New York and California, both of which have recently passed ivory bans. Star-Advertiser.

The chief of the boat of the Pearl Harbor attack submarine USS Columbia was relieved of his duties today “due to a pattern of poor leadership,” the Navy said. Star-Advertiser.

Oahu

Chronic homelessness will continue to be a major source of contention between Honolulu Mayor Kirk Caldwell and City Council members if deliberations on the fiscal 2017 budget package are any indication. Star-Advertiser.

Honolulu Mayor Kirk Caldwell wants the City Council to approve a $2.33 billion budget for fiscal year 2017, but judging from key Council members’ critical reactions Wednesday, it’s going to be a fight. Civil Beat.

The Honolulu City Council is recommending lifeguard coverage be expanded on O’ahu beaches. Hawaii Public Radio.

Mayor Kirk Caldwell's $2.3 billion budget includes money for a lot of the basic city services. The lion's share will go for sewer upgrades. It's part of a federal court settlement. KITV4.

Creating new positions in the City and County of Honolulu, and even a new division to help with affordable housing. That’s part of Honolulu Mayor Kirk Caldwell’s proposed budget for the next fiscal year. He is asking for $2.3 billion, up 2.5 percent from last year. KHON2.

Despite being one of Hawaii's most iconic beaches, many visitors don't know Waikiki Beach is actually an engineered beach that has been filled with imported sand for decades. Waikiki has been facing erosion problems for years, so Hawaii lawmakers are pushing a bill to restore it. Associated Press.

NOAA stresses importance of reporting after mutilated sea turtle discovered. KHON2.

Four Kapolei students were named the inaugural winners of the Maunakea Scholars Program, believed to be the first of its kind in the United States that gives aspiring astronomers an opportunity to spend time at a major international observatory. Star-Advertiser.

Jon Riki Karamatsu, a former deputy city prosecutor and state legislator, was convicted today of drunken driving for the second time. Star-Advertiser.

Jon Riki Karamatsu, the former vice speaker of the House and deputy city prosecutor, was found guilty Wednesday of operating a motor vehicle under an intoxicant, according to the state Attorney General’s office. Civil Beat.

Hawaii

Sen. Josh Green’s Tale Of Two Cities. The longtime Hawaii Island lawmaker says he now spends about half his time on Oahu, including working a medical job in Honolulu. Civil Beat.

Eight new vector control workers should be helping fight the island’s dengue fever outbreak by next month, and the Hawaii National Guard may be called for a West Hawaii community cleanup day in the near future. West Hawaii Today.

Two previously identified hot spots for dengue fever in South Kona were discussed at the Hawaii County Council meeting on Wednesday. Local lawmakers talked about the reopening of Ho’okena Beach, and the possibility of Miloli’i catchment tanks becoming habitat for mosquitoes. Big Island Video News.

Hawaii Electric Light Co. confirmed Wednesday that it terminated a power purchase agreement with Hu Honua Bioenergy LLC. Tribune-Herald.

Two Hilo gaming establishments raided Tuesday by local and federal authorities were previously raided by law enforcement. Tribune-Herald.

Maui

Monique Yamashita takes over today as executive director of the 30-year-old Ka Hale A Ke Ola Homeless Resource Center, the island's leader in providing transitional housing and other services for the homeless. Maui News.

Kauai

Developers who hope to rebuild the historic Coco Palms Hotel near Kapaa said on Wednesday that a final financial commitment on funding for the $23 million project “could come at any hour, any day.” Garden Island.

Officials agree that considerable, and often unfair, pay discrepancies exist between certain Kauai County executives and their rank-and-file public employees, but precisely how to resolve the disparities — and in particular how to fund those irregularities — remains unclear. Garden Island.

Kanani Fu has been appointed as the county’s new director of housing. Garden Island.