Showing posts with label gun control. Show all posts
Showing posts with label gun control. Show all posts

Friday, December 29, 2023

Hawaii tourism's slow return, minimum wage hike, new gun laws kick in Monday, Lahaina restaurant workers get $600 gift cards, four inmates indicted in OCC beating death, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Visitor arrivals to Hawaii up slightly, but spending drops.  Some 731,233 visitors came to the Hawaiian Islands in November, up just 0.3% from November 2022. Star-Advertiser.

In encouraging sign for tourism, Japanese visitor arrivals to Hawaii on the rise. Just under 63,000 Japanese tourists arrived in Hawaii last month, which is a 142% increase from November 2022. Arrivals are still not quite at pre-COVID levels, but, spending is seeing an increase. Hawaii News Now.
https://www.hawaiinewsnow.com/2023/12/29/encouraging-sign-tourism-japanese-visitor-arrivals-hawaii-rise/

Hawaii’s Minimum Wage To Increase To $14 On Monday.  The increase is required under a 2022 law that incrementally increases the wage to $16 per hour on Jan. 1, 2026, and to $18 per hour on Jan. 1, 2028. Civil Beat. Kauai Now.

Kaleo Manuel Became A Cause Celebre For Maui Water. Now He’s Leaving The State Water Commission Without Saying Why. The deputy water commissioner told one state lawmaker he didn't want to be 'an obstacle.'  Civil Beat. Hawaii Public Radio.

Oahu


Oahu gun owners frustrated over new firearm law. The Honolulu Police Department has not certified any instructors yet, therefore it will be impossible to get a permit. KITV4.

City releases ‘Complete Streets’ report. Honolulu has released its 2023 “Complete Streets” progress report, which details finished and ongoing projects underway for people walking, biking and accessing transit on Oahu. Star-Advertiser.

Attorney Michael Green sued for alleged sexual harassment.
A former client of attorney Michael Jay Green filed a “Jane Doe” lawsuit against him and his law firm alleging he sexually harassed and sexually assaulted her. Star-Advertiser.

Four inmates indicted in OCCC beating death.
An Oahu grand jury indicted four Oahu Community Correctional Center inmates for manslaughter in the death of inmate Christopher Vaefaga, 36. Star-Advertiser. Civil Beat. Hawaii News Now.  KITV4.

NOAA surveying shoreline in case whale calf spotted around Waikiki comes back. Honolulu Ocean Safety and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) responded to a call Wednesday afternoon to a humpback whale calf that was separated from its mother. The calf was spotted swimming very close to shore at Fort DeRussy Beach. KITV4.

Hawaii Island

New Firearm Permitting Law Takes Effect Starting 2024. The Hawaiʻi Police Department detailed the changes to the application form in a Thursday news release. Big Island Video News.

Hawai‘i County’s top leadership to get pay raises for first time in 5 years.
  Officials  will receive a 22.44% inflation adjustment increase starting Jan. 1 and a 5% pay raise in July. Big Island Now.

County seeks to fill Community Development Plan Action Committees. The County of Hawaiʻi seeks applicants for its Community Development Plan (CDP) Action Committees for Kona and Puna.  Big Island Now.

Maui

New rules on Maui Police Department’s concealed carry weapon policy go into effect. Any concealed carry weapons license applications submitted before January 1, 2024, but are pending approval will not be subject to the new rules. Maui Now.

Thousands of Lahaina restaurant workers to receive $600 prepaid debit cards.  Thousands of Lahaina restaurant workers are scheduled to receive financial aid in the form of $600 prepaid debit cards following a fundraiser by celebrity chef Guy Fieri. Hawaii Public Radio.

Parents And Teachers Say Schools Must Do More To Help Those Still Traumatized By Lahaina Fire.
Campuses have expanded their mental health resources, but some people say the response has been inadequate. Civil Beat.

Lahaina Disaster Recovery Center hours to change Tuesday.
The Lahaina Disaster Recovery Center will have shorter hours next year, starting Tuesday, Jan. 2, according to the Federal Emergency Management Agency. Star-Advertiser.

Survivor shares video of his dramatic Lahaina escape in bid to share a powerful message. Nearly five months after the Maui wildfires killed at least 100 people, a Lahaina man is sharing dramatic videos of his escape. Hawaii News Now.

Kauai

County seeks approval for ‘Waimea 400’ affordable housing.
As the County of Kaua‘i Housing Agency works to obtain land use and environmental approvals for a new affordable housing development on the island’s westside, the agency is asking members of the public to weigh in on plans for the future project. Garden Island.

Home sales hold steady, price eases. A weary housing market showed a spark of life in the penultimate month of 2023, as sales of single-family homes were on par with the same period a year earlier on the island of Kaua‘i. Garden Island.

Tuesday, May 2, 2023

Hawaii to fly homeless back to the mainland, another mystery balloon spotted off islands, Legislature mulls gun control bill, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Hawaii to pay to return homeless people back to mainland. The Hawaii-backed plan to provide $100,000 in airfare over each of the next two fiscal years to send homeless people back to the mainland underscores the persistent urban legend that Hawaii’s homeless population is driven by cities, counties and state governments on the mainland that send their homeless people to the islands. Star-Advertiser.

Lawmakers construct statewide sensitive places, gun safety bill. Senate Bill 1230 is the state Legislature’s encompassing gun legislation measure, which would define where concealed carry firearms are not allowed and add new provisions on concealed carry laws. Hawaii Public Radio.

Military: Balloon recently spotted off Hawaii not a threat. The U.S. military tracked an unidentified balloon transiting through Hawaii’s airspace over the weekend, but have so far determined that the object poses no threat either to civilian aircraft or national security. Star-Advertiser. Big Island Now.  Kauai Now.  Hawaii News Now. KHON2.

Hawaii's 2023 legislative session will end on Thursday, when lawmakers will take final votes on hundreds of bills. To prepare for that, lawmakers were busy Monday making sure the final wording is right on bills and any last minute problems have been corrected. KITV4.

Hawaii doctors who treat Medicaid patients to get significant pay raise. Many Hawaii doctors will be getting a pay raise thanks to the state Legislature. Experts say new rates for treating Medicaid patients will keep some doctors from leaving the business of medicine. Hawaii News Now.

Lawmakers pass bill ensuring schools provide timely learning materials to blind students. State lawmakers have reached an agreement on a bill that ensures blind students in public schools receive timely learning materials. That means textbooks, posters and audio recordings will be provided to students in braille and tactile graphics. Hawaii Public Radio.

Food And Farming Advocates Look To State Budget After Mixed Results This Session. The number of bills aimed at revitalizing Hawaii’s agriculture sector that have passed through conference committees both deflated and buoyed industry advocates, and they now wait for the full state budget to understand what the industry will take from this legislative session.  Civil Beat.

HTA survives another takedown attempt by lawmakers amidst dwindling funds. A bill that would have disbanded Hawaiʻi Tourism Authority to create a new destination management agency was deferred Friday, after a long life in the state Legislature.  Hawaii Public Radio.

Visitors to Hawaii won’t pay more ‘green fees’ for now
. Hawaii won’t impose new fees after all on tourists who want to visit more of the state’s most popular state parks and trails. Star-Advertiser. Hawaii Public Radio. Garden Island.

So-called clean elections bills dies ‘in the shadows’ of the Legislature.
A state Senate bill pushing for publicly financed elections, or “clean elections,” died Friday during a conference committee meeting. Tribune-Herald.

Oahu


More Oahu Beaches Would Be Open To Business Under Mayor’s Plan.
Honolulu Mayor Rick Blangiardi is heading for a showdown with North Shore and Windward Oahu communities over his plan to create an island-wide commercial use system that would wind back established protections for some of the island’s most photogenic and popular beaches. Civil Beat.

All 10 red-light cameras on Oahu have been activated
. All 10 red-light safety cameras that are part of the state’s two-year pilot program Opens in a new tab on Oahu are now activated, according to the Hawaii Department of Transportation. Star-Advertiser. Hawaii Public Radio.

Hawaii officials seek to quell concerns about unsafe drinking water at school
. For weeks, community members and state lawmakers representing Ewa Beach have been soliciting donations of bottled water for students at Iroquois Point Elementary School amid myriad concerns about unsafe drinking water due to either lingering effects of the 2021 Red Hill water crisis or the detection in 2022 of unsafe lead levels in a number of the school’s water fountains and sinks. Star-Advertiser.

More Honolulu water sources sought. The Honolulu Board of Water Supply is still trying to find new water sources to make up for the capacity it lost after the 2021 Red Hill water crisis prompted it to take its Halawa shaft and two smaller wells offline to ensure jet fuel didn’t make its way into the public drinking water system.  Star-Advertiser.

City, HPD create new database for bikes reported stolen amid uptick in thefts. The Honolulu Police Department now has a new database of bicycles that have been reported stolen. Hawaii News Now.

Hawaii Island

Hawaiʻi County Mayor Names New Department Execs. Frecia Cevallos has been appointed Deputy Director of the Department of Research and Development, while Robert Ewbank has been named Director of the Department of Information Technology. Big Island Video News. Big Island Now.

Funding for preferred boat ramp option not in state budget. The plan to reopen the Pohoiki Boat Ramp has gone sideways after a funding snafu, Big Island lawmakers said. Tribune-Herald.

Five years after eruption, rebuilding takes hold for USGS, Hawaii Volcanoes National Park
. The Thomas Jaggar Museum held a lot of memories for visitors to Hawaii Volcanoes National Park. But the building on Uekahuna Bluff overlooking the Kilauea caldera will be coming down this summer, another casualty of the 2018 eruption. Hawaii News Now.

Waikoloa Solar + Storage Project Goes Online. Hawaiian Electric says the AES Corporation’s Waikoloa Solar + Storage project is now feeding lower-cost renewable energy to the Hawai‘i Island electric grid. Big Island Video News. Big Island Now.

Maui

Molokai property to be added to state legacy land.
Two properties on Oahu, one on Kauai, and one on Molokai are being added to the 2023 Department of Land and Natural Resources Legacy Land Conservation Program after the Board of Land and Natural Resources approved $6.35 million in grant awards from the Land Conservation Fund to acquire these properties. Maui News.

Wailea hotels enjoy high revenues but lag in occupancy. In March, Wailea hotels brought in the most revenue across the state, but also saw some of the lowest occupancy rates in Hawaii, according to a recently released Hawai’i Hotel Performance Report. Maui News.

Kauai

Kaua‘i issues $25 million bond for affordable housing project. The largest affordable housing project ever undertaken by the County of Kaua‘i received a major financial boost on April 26 with the county council’s approval of a $25 million bond issuance. Garden Island.



Tuesday, March 28, 2023

Coin honoring Edith Kanakaole enters circulation, Legislature delays managed retreat plan, gun control bill advances, more news from all the Hawaiian islands


U.S. Mint releases Edith Kanaka‘ole quarter into circulation. Kanaka‘ole, who died in 1979, was an award-winning composer, chanter, master instructor for hula, and venerated cultural icon who taught at Hawaii Community College (1971-1974) and the University of Hawaii at Hilo (1974-1979). Star-Advertiser. Big Island Now. Maui Now.  Kauai Now.  KHON2.

Tax credit, early childhood education bills remain alive. Do not expect a direct cash rebate from the state this legislative session, but several bills in motion would offer tax credits, helping keep more money in your pocket. KHON2.

Hawaii Lawmakers Grappling With Sea Level Rise Say It’s ‘Not The Right Time’ For Managed Retreat. The task of moving people away from the coast faces a hurdle: economic complexities. Civil Beat.

Lawmakers inch closer to eliminating Hawaiʻi Tourism Authority.
State lawmakers advanced measures in both chambers last week that would disband the Hawaiʻi Tourism Authority and place some of its functions under a new office at the Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism. Hawaii Public Radio

Hawai‘i gun control bill moves forward
. A bill aimed at restricting who can obtain firearm permits and where they can carry them passed its second reading in the state House of Representatives, moving it one step closer to becoming law. Garden Island.

Push To Lower The Legal Alcohol Limit For Hawaii Drivers Runs Out Of Gas Again
. A push to lower the legal blood alcohol concentration for Hawaii drivers fell short again this year, as it has for the past five years. Civil Beat.

Coast Guard to send additional cutter to Hawaii. The service announced that it has selected the CGC Harriet Lane as its new “Indo-Pacific Support Cutter” and that the vessel will move from Portsmouth, Va., to Honolulu early in fiscal year 2024. Star-Advertiser.

Feds seek prison for wife of convicted former union boss.
The wife of the former business manager of a Hawaii labor union convicted of rigging a vote to raise dues and using members’ money to live a luxurious lifestyle should spend 70 to 87 months in federal prison, according to the U.S. Department of Justice. Star-Advertiser.

As manufacturers pay for e-waste, local recyclers see huge demand. Hawaii’s new system for collecting old computer equipment and televisions is moving into high gear, three months after electronic companies began footing the bill. Hawaii News Now.

Oahu

Bill aims to regulate commercial activity at Oahu public parks.
An effort to get away from allowing commercial activities at city and county parks around Oahu on a park-by-park basis has met resistance from the public as well as local officials. Star-Advertiser.

Tiny Homes Proposed For DHHL Lands In West Oahu. However, the chairs of the Senate and House Hawaiian affairs committees are proposing two different approaches to providing housing options to certain DHHL beneficiaries. Civil Beat.

Honolulu rail moves step closer to opening as HART expands trial run
.  The Honolulu Authority for Rapid Transportation released new drone video showcasing the Honolulu Rail Transit Project’s latest trial run.  Hawaii News Now.

Questions remain over future of Concealed Gun Carry policies in Honolulu. Honolulu Mayor Rick Blangiardi is expected to sign into law soon -- a bill aiming to protect sensitive places, such as schools, from gun violence. KITV4.

Patients armed with weapons: Gun scare at Straub highlights disturbing trend. A patient armed with a ghost gun was arrested at Straub Medical Center after sources say staff discovered the firearm along with a high capacity magazine hidden in the man’s backpack. Hawaii News Now.

Environmentalists criticize health department for delayed toxic chemical reporting in Kunia Village. Environmental advocates are criticizing the Department of Health for the delay in telling the public that a drinking water well in Kunia Village was contaminated with toxic forever chemicals. Hawaii News Now.

Hawaii Island

Hawaiʻi County Mass Transit Launches New Website. The Hawaiʻi County Mass Transit Agency on Monday announced it has launched a new website to improve the way in which riders connect with the Hele-On bus service. Big Island Video News. Big Island Now.

Court dismisses challenge against the state on lease revision. Lessees of state land within the Kanoelehua Industrial Area in Hilo were allowed in 2018 to apply with the Department of Land and Natural Resources for lease extensions of up to 40 years, so long as they made certain improvements to their properties. Tribune-Herald.

Community receives $10 million for new Papa‘aloa Community Center Gym
. There is a bright future on the horizon for Papa‘aloa and the Hamakua Coast with the newly acquired $10 million for a new community gym. Tribune-Herald.

The former Country Club Condominium Hotel is up for new development. The former Country Club Condominium Hotel may become a hotel again under new management. Tribune-Herald.

Maui

Maui councilmembers vote against exemptions for Waiehu affordable housing project. An affordable housing project on the Valley Isle that needed Maui County Council's approval to move forward is facing complications. Hawaii Public Radio.

Rep. Tokuda to host first community town hall on Maui, April 6. Representative Jill Tokuda (HI-02) announced her first community town hall on Maui, Thursday, April 6, 2023, from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. at the University of Hawaiʻi Maui College, Pāʻina building. Maui Now.

Kīhei Community Association president hopes to overcome funding road blocks. Kīhei Community Association president Michael Moran points out that his group has had its measure of successes in pushing forward projects that benefitted South Maui from Māʻalaea to Mākena.  Maui Now.

Expansion plan at Grand Wailea hits permitting complication.  A Maui Planning Commission hearing officer has recommended denying the Grand Wailea, a Waldorf Astoria Resort’s applications for a planned development and special management area permits, which are needed for the luxury resort to complete its plan to add about 137 more units. Star-Advertiser.

Mokulele adding planes to aid scheduling for Lanai and Molokai.
Southern Airways, the parent company of Mokulele Airlines, announced Monday that it will deploy $10 million in additional aircraft to Molokai and Lanai. Star-Advertiser. Hawaii News Now.  KHON2.

Kauai

Farmers market vendors encouraged to take part in nutrition program. The Hawai‘i Foodbank Kaua‘i is encouraging vendors in farmers markets to participate in the Seniors Farmers Market Nutrition Program, SFMNP. Garden Island.

Moriyama connects with Kaua‘i. Three high school students from Moriyama, Japan, all winners of an English language proficiency contest sponsored by Moriyama, arrived on Kaua‘i on Sunday and met their respective host families. Garden Island.



 

Thursday, March 16, 2023

Green touts progress in first 100 days, Honolulu council sets gun-free zones, UPW union members to vote on agreement with Maui Health, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

First 100 days will lead to bigger solutions, Green says. Gov. Josh Green believes the progress his administration has made in his first 100 days of office will lead to solutions to a wide range of problematic issues including help for struggling families, homelessness and climate change by the end of his first term. Star-Advertiser. Big Island Now.  Maui Now.  Kauai Now.  Hawaii News Now.

Lawmakers seek to increase the penalty for high-profile bribery cases.
House Bill 126 would change political bribery from a class B felony to a class A felony. That would double the maximum prison sentence to 20 years. Hawaii Public Radio.

Past-due rent of DHHL nominee is a character issue, Fevella says.  State Sen. Kurt Fevella, a member of the Senate committee scheduled to consider today the confirmation of Gov. Josh Green’s latest choice to run the state Department of Hawaiian Home Lands, blasted nominee Kali Watson but stopped short of saying how he will vote. Star-Advertiser. Hawaii News Now.  KITV4.

House budget bill crosses over, priorities include housing and renewable energy. The House approved its version of the state's $18 billion  budget Wednesday, prioritizing health, safety and education. Tribune-Herald. Maui Now.

Process to indict violent offenders needs Gov.’s signature. Six months after a Hawaii Supreme Court decision invalidated the use of preliminary hearings to indict serious offenders, the legislature pushed a bill through that would reinstate the process. KHON2.

New policy could reduce high cost of evictions. House Bill 1439 would reinstate policies under a COVID-era pilot program called Act 57, which required landlords to go through a third-party mediation session before filing to evict a tenant. It would also provide up to $5,000 in emergency rent relief funding through the Hawai‘i Public Housing Authority. Garden Island.

Judge wants plan to protect humpback whales from fishery. A U.S. judge this week ruled that the National Marine Fisheries Service violated the law when it failed to develop a plan to prevent West Coast commercial sablefish fishermen from harming humpback whales. Associated Press.

Looking back and ahead: Hawaii learns to live with COVID. Three years on since the COVID-19 pandemic hit Hawaii shores, many have resumed living without restrictions, but the state is still reeling from its impacts — and residents are still dying from the disease. Star-Advertiser.

449 new COVID-19 cases and 8 more deaths. The Hawaii Department of Health today reported 449 new COVID-19 infections over the past week, bringing the total number of cases since the start of the pandemic to 381,057. Star-Advertiser. KITV4.

Oahu

Honolulu City Council OKs bill designating gun-free places.  Firearms should be banned on Oahu in 13 “sensitive places,” including schools, hospitals and parks, the Honolulu City Council decided Wednesday. Star-Advertiser. Civil Beat. Hawaii News Now.

Enforcement of beach closure hours starts Friday in Waikiki. Enforcement starts Friday for the newest Waikiki Beach early morning closure period, which went into effect earlier this month at the Royal Hawaiian Beach to address a range of problems associated with overnight campers. Star-Advertiser.

City plan to restrict commercial activities at parks hits opposition. The city wants to restrict commercial activities to all city parks. But Bill 19 also repeals the ban on tour buses at Windward Oahu beaches ― and that’s got some residents concerned. Hawaii News Now.

Joint Task Force to begin an environmental assessment for defueling Red Hill.  The DOD's Joint Task Force Red Hill will begin the environmental assessment process for defueling the Red Hill Bulk Fuel Storage Facility this month. Hawaii Public Radio.

New warning sirens will be tested across Oahu.
The Hawaii Emergency Management Agency will test new or upgraded warning sirens this week at six locations on Oahu. Hawaii News Now. KITV4. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii Island

High court decides two cases involving Maunakea. On the same day, the Hawaii Supreme Court ruled largely against two Hilo residents but in support of a group of Native Hawaiian residents in two unrelated but similar cases surrounding the jurisdiction of the mauna. Tribune-Herald.

Hawaii lawmaker stresses importance of prevention, detection after battling kidney disease. During this National Kidney Month, state leaders and health advocates are raising awareness about what many call a silent epidemic. State Rep. Mark Nakashima knows that firsthand. Hawaii News Now.

Maui

Latest agreement between UPW and Maui Health goes to vote. The Maui Health and United Public Workers bargaining teams reached an agreement following lengthy talks on Tuesday, March 14. Maui Now.

State declines to fund half of $10M beach restoration
. BLNR chair: Mission is to protect public trust, not private property. Maui News.

Kauai

From Kaua‘i to Ukraine: Reflecting on a month at war. Dr. Allon Amitai arrived in Kyiv, Ukraine, in early February — hoping to deliver a lecture and reclaim a stolen ambulance. Garden Island.

Humane society needs community to be able to accept animals
. The Kaua‘i Humane Society contracts with the County of Kaua‘i to perform numerous services for the community that includes, but are not limited to, caring for homeless, sick or injured animals. Garden Island.

Wednesday, February 8, 2023

Bill to fly homeless home gains traction in Legislature, ethics bills advance, groups sue DLNR over Kauai energy project, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Program To Fly Homeless Back Home Considered By Hawaiʻi Lawmakers.  A bill that will “assist homeless with the ability to secure a flight back to their family in their home State” is moving through the state Legislature. Big Island Video News. KHON2.  

Hawaii Government Transparency Bills Clear A Key Hurdle In The Legislature. Measures that would ban lawmakers from taking donations while in session and increase transparency in Hawaii’s campaign finance system were unanimously approved with bipartisan support Tuesday in the House. Civil Beat.

Hawaii Senators Move To Keep Public Records Secret. The state Supreme Court ruled Hawaii law has no 'deliberative process privilege', but Senators are trying to create one. Budget documents and other records that are now routinely made public by state and county agencies might instead be kept secret under a bill that won tentative approval from a Senate committee on Tuesday. Civil Beat.

How would state legislation on guns stack up to county-level laws? Now that the state Legislature is back in session, lawmakers are considering several measures dealing with guns in public and on private property. Hawaii Public Radio.

Affordable housing proposal that would go after non-residents deemed unconstitutional. Republican Sen. Brenton Awa and other supporters have until the end of the week to come up with an alternative plan, or wait until next year. Hawaii News Now.

Original ‘Ōlelo Hawai‘i versions of law would be held binding with new measure. Senate Bill 16 would require that the Hawaiian or an ‘Ōlelo Hawaiʻi version of a law be held binding if the law in question was originally drafted in Hawaiian and then translated into English.  Hawaii Public Radio.

Bed bugs bill prevents landlords from renting infested units. According to the proposal, the landlord would have to pay for remediation if bugs are found within 60 days of a tenant moving in. KHON2.

No Longer At Odds: Tokuda Hosts Green In DC For Biden Speech. Hawaii Gov. Josh Green was scheduled to attend President Joe Biden’s State of the Union address Tuesday in the nation’s capitol as a guest of an old political rival — U.S. Rep. Jill Tokuda. Green and Tokuda squared off in 2018 while vying to become Hawaii’s lieutenant governor. Civil Beat.

Should Hawaii Tighten Its Work-From-Home Policies For State Employees? Some senators want to ensure the remote workers are properly supervised and are productive. Civil Beat.

Highway Closures Due To Rockfall And Erosion Drive Calls For More Frequent Road Inspections. Almost 168 miles of the state's roads are at risk of damage from major earth movement with remote communities bearing the brunt of the lengthy disruptions. Civil Beat.

Oahu

Some Kaneshiro case charges late, lawyers argue. Attorneys representing Dennis Mitsunaga, former Prosecuting Attorney Keith Kaneshiro and four Mitsu­naga & Associates executives indicted for allegedly conspiring to charge a former Mitsunaga employee with felony theft are trying to dismiss some of the charges based on their statute of limitations. Star-Advertiser.

Settlement reached for 4 injured in high-speed police chase. The city and lawyers for four passengers injured in a 2021 near-fatal police chase in Makaha have reached a tentative multi-million dollar settlement. Hawaii News Now.

Navy needs more time for chemical spill report.  The Navy has blown a Monday deadline to provide the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency with details about its cleanup of a Nov. 29 spill of toxic fire suppression chemicals at Red Hill and any past spills of the aqueous film forming foam, or AFFF, at the underground fuel facility, telling federal regulators that it would need another five weeks to provide that information. Star-Advertiser.

Mayor Blangiardi, hotels commit to buying more from local farmers.  Honolulu Mayor Rick Blangiardi and representatives from more than 20 hotels in Hawaii today committed to buying more locally grown food as well as collecting and providing data on the tourism industry’s purchasing habits. Star-Advertiser.

Uproar over possible charter school move premature, UH officials say. The possible redevelopment of a University of Hawaii land parcel that could potentially displace the nearly century-old University Laboratory School years from now has upset many of the charter school’s supporters, but UH officials believe the uproar has been premature. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii Island

Measure to establish dedicated animal control agency heads to County Council. The nine-member Committee on Governmental Operations and External Affairs on Tuesday voted unanimously to forward Bill 22 with a favorable recommendation to the council for further consideration following a lengthy discussion with officials and hearing from a number of testifiers. West Hawaii Today. Big Island Video News. Big Island Now.

Octopus farm accused of offering ‘petting zoo’ experience ordered to shut down. The state Division of Aquatic Resources served a cease-and-desist letter to Kanaloa Octopus Farm last month and said the company is not allowed to have day octopuses under one pound. Hawaii News Now.

Maui

Council adopts resolution seeking recognition of emergency dispatchers as first responders
. The Maui County Council adopted a resolution Friday to urge the county administration to recognize emergency dispatchers as first responders. Maui Now. KHON2.

Maui County testifiers passionate over freedom to choose birth practitioner. Fervent testifiers over many hours at Maui County Council sought the freedom to choose birth practitioners regardless of licensure status. Maui Now.

Kauai

Kaua‘i community groups, Earthjustice  sue DLNR over West Kaua‘i Energy Project. Two Kaua‘i community organizations are suing the state Department of Land and Natural Resources, claiming the department failed to sufficiently examine the environmental impact of a proposed Kaua‘i Island Utility Cooperative energy project. Garden Island. Kauai Now.  Hawaii News Now.

Kauai County to give away 7,500 at-home COVID-19 test kits in March.
Kauai County announced today a free giveaway of about 7,500 COVID-19 home tests kits at various neighborhoods from March 7 to 9. Star-Advertiser.

Tuesday, December 13, 2022

'Last Hawaiian Princess' dies at 96, Green names Dawn Chang to head DLNR, 16 others to top posts, gives state employees two holiday bonus days' leave, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Abigail Kawananakoa, Considered ‘Last Hawaiian Princess,’ Dies At 96. Campbell Estate heiress Abigail Kawananakoa, following her death at age 96, was described as a champion of the Hawaiian people and an alii who carried herself with dignity and humility. Star-Advertiser. Associated Press.  Big Island Now.  Maui Now.  Kauai NowHawaii News Now.  KHON2.  KITV4.

Gov. Green adds to Cabinet appointments. The nominees include former Honolulu City Council Chair Ikaika Anderson, who unsuccessfully ran to become lieutenant governor this year and was appointed to head the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands, and Dawn Chang, who runs a consulting company that specializes in building community support for economic development projects and is drawing some early opposition as the appointed new head of the Department of Land and Natural Resources. Star-Advertiser. Civil Beat.  Big Island Video News.  Maui Now.

Gov. Green stuffs state workers’ stockings with 2 days off.  Many workers will have four-day weekends surrounding Christmas and New Year’s Day by receiving Friday Dec. 23 and Friday Dec. 30 off. Star-Advertiser.

Ambitious State Plan For Expansion Of Pre-K Hinges On Boosting Workforce. Hawaii Lt Gov. Sylvia Luke has so far declined to commit to wage increases for early educators this coming session. Civil Beat.

State partners with nonprofit group for upgrades to school playgrounds. The state Department of Education is partnering with Hawaii 3R’s to fix, replace or build anew about 100 playgrounds at a cost of  $18 million. Star-Advertiser. Civil Beat. KHON2.

Hawaii Tourism Marketing Chief Hopes For New Mainland Contract By March. The state Senate Ways and Means Committee grilled tourism officials about a major tourism marketing contract that has been mired in the procurement process for more than a year. Civil Beat.

Annual conference focuses on shifting the future of Hawaiʻi tourism. Sessions at last week's Hawaiʻi Tourism Conference included Native Hawaiian cultural workshops and discussions, and updates on important tourism markets. But the main focus was changing state tourism for the future. Hawaii Public Radio.

Native Honeycreepers Evolved Over 6 Million Years. Now They’re Barely Hanging On. As mosquitos move into higher elevations, they kill off endemic species. A UH Hilo specialist is working to save them. Hawaii Business Magazine.

Oahu

Community pushes for more answers on Red Hill spill.  Federal and state environmental regulators Monday ducked out of a Honolulu Board of Water Supply meeting early, leaving the board and community members frustrated that they couldn’t get more answers to questions they have about a recent spill of toxic fire suppressant chemicals at Red Hill and a host of other issues relating to the Navy’s underground fuel facility that is being shut down. Star-Advertiser. Civil Beat.  Hawaii News Now.  KITV4.

HPD chief: 10 of 600 concealed-carry apps complete, permit issuance pending. Honolulu Police Chief Joe Logan joins KHON2 in-studio to talk about the status of concealed-carry applications, violent crime and expanding body-worn cameras for officers.  KHON2.

$30M available for Oʻahu nonprofits affected by the pandemic.  Oʻahu nonprofits that were impacted by the pandemic will soon be able to apply for a grant of up to $100,000. The City and County of Honolulu has offered up to $30 million in funds to help cover daily expenses and Personal Protection Equipment for nonprofits that are eligible for relief.  Hawaii Public Radio.

Japanese group buys Queen Kapiolani Hotel. The 315-room Queen Kapi‘olani Hotel in Waikiki has been acquired by Financial Products Group Co., a financial services group in Japan that is publicly traded on the Tokyo Stock Exchange. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii Island

Finalists for police chief talk leadership, service. The public had its first opportunity Monday to testify about the four finalists to vying to become Hawaii County police chief and see them answer questions from the Police Commission in Hilo. Tribune-Herald. KHON2.

No new visitor center for HVNP; 60-stall parking also scratched. “People didn’t want to see so much rainforest lost to build a new parking lot and visitor center,” said Danielle Foster, environmental protection specialist for Hawaii Volcanoes National Park. Tribune-Herald.

Board of Appeals rules against neighbors in short-term rental case.  The county Board of Appeals has determined that laws governing state and county agriculture project districts don’t prohibit landowners from using their farm dwellings for short-term rentals, as long as they also live on the property. West Hawaii Today.

Maui

Kekuhaupio “Keku” Akana named Managing Director under Mayor-elect Bissen administration. Akana, a 25-year Maui County career Police Officer who retired as deputy chief in 2006, will now head the Department of Management and oversee County departments.  Maui Now.

Virtual meetings to discuss shared solar projects in Piʻiholo and Makawao on Maui. Nexamp will host virtual community meetings in January to discuss two planned Community Based Renewable Energy shared solar projects on Maui.  Maui Now.

The world’s most powerful solar telescope atop Haleakalā on Maui marks milestone with data release.  The US National Science Foundation’s Daniel K. Inouye Solar Telescope atop Haleakalā on Maui, announced the release today of its first set of publicly available datasets.  Maui Now.

Kauai

Hāʻena shuttle on Kaua’i hits bump in road to success.  In recent weeks, hundreds of cars have been turned away at Hāʻena State Park, the gateway to the world-famous Nā Pali Coast on Kaua‘i’s North Shore, with reports of upset visitors not knowing they needed to go through the reservation and shuttle system. Kauai Now.

Thursday, November 17, 2022

Biden makes quick refueling stop in Hawaii, Hawaii County council passes list where guns banned, jury clears warden in prison rape case, jailed ex-police chief Kealoha starts paying restitution, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Biden lands in Hawaii, meets Iges after global tour. President Joe Biden used Gov. David Ige’s cell phone to take a selfie with Ige and First Lady Dawn Ige during a refueling stop today at Joint Base Pearl Harbor Hickam. Star-Advertiser. Hawaii News Now.

Iges reflect on their accomplishments and contemplate a future run for office. Ige declared a state of emergency 41 times-- each of them played out in the unforgiving eye of social media criticism often directed at Ige, famous for his methodical thinking and low-key, measured responses. Star-Advertiser.

Kouchi back as state Senate president. The state Senate announced Wednesday that Ronald D. Kouchi (D-8 – Kaua‘i and Ni‘ihau) will remain Senate president next session, a position he has held since 2015. Garden Island.

Backlog delays food stamps for hundreds of families. Food stamps also known as SNAP benefits are usually received at the beginning of the month. But there are many who are still waiting. KHON2.

Longs Drugs pharmacists now prescribing Paxlovid. CVS Pharmacy, the retail division of CVS Health, which operates Longs Drugs in Hawaii, said pharmacists at more than 9,000 locations can now prescribe Paxlovid, an oral antiviral treatment for COVID-19. Star-Advertiser.

Health officials push bivalent boosters ahead of Thanksgiving. While the daily average of COVID-19 cases in Hawaii has become less of a concern, health officials are now keeping an eye on the rise of influenza and respiratory syncytial virus infections approaching winter. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii records 1,049 new COVID-19 cases, 6 more deaths. The number of cases per 100,000 in the state was at 10.0 compared with 10.9 the previous week. The state’s average positivity rate also declined to 5.1% compared with 5.3% the previous week. Star-Advertiser. Hawaii News Now. KITV4.

Oahu

After recount of ballots, Democratic incumbent wins razor-thin state Senate race. In a razor-thin victory, Democratic incumbent Maile Shimabukuro won the state Senate race for District 22 after a recount of ballots. After the ballots were cured Wednesday, the results show Shimabukuro as the winner with just 40 votes over Republican Samantha Decorte.  Hawaii News Now.

The average wait for a residential permit is 10 months. The city hopes ‘bots’ will slash that to weeks. Improvements are in the works for Honolulu’s Department of Planning and Permitting, which is grappling with a backlog of 6,000 residential permit applications. Hawaii News Now.

Jury finds state not liable for alleged women’s prison sex assaults. A federal jury on Wednesday returned a verdict finding that the state and a former warden of the women’s prison in Kailua are not liable for alleged sexual assaults committed by guards against six inmates between 2013 and 2016. Star-Advertiser. Civil Beat. Hawaii News Now. KITV4.

Navy stands up information sharing group to discuss Red Hill defueling. The Navy’s Joint Task Force Red Hill has named several elected officials and community members to a Defueling Information Sharing Forum group. Hawaii Public Radio.

VA researching jet fuel, Red Hill effects. Officials with the Department of Veterans Affairs told lawmakers Wednesday that they anticipate following the long-term effects of the Red Hill water crisis for many years. Star-Advertiser. Hawaii News Now.

A bill that would impact theBus and Handi-van services is advancing at Honolulu Hale. The bill over bus fares has one more stop to make before becoming law. KITV4.

Imprisoned Ex-Honolulu Police Chief Kealoha Begins Paying Restitution. Honolulu’s ex-police chief Louis Kealoha has begun paying restitution more than three years after he was convicted in one of Hawaii’s most notorious corruption scandals. Civil Beat.

HPD chief: Officers were chasing motorcyclist moments before critical crash. Plainclothes police officers were chasing a motorcyclist moments before a crash last week that left the man critically injured, the Honolulu Police Department revealed Wednesday. The incident happened Nov. 10 in Wahiawa. Hawaii News Now.

Parents asked for more pedestrian safety efforts at Oahu’s North Shore — and they got it. The Department of Transportation is responding to parents pleas on Oahu’s North Shore for more action to address pedestrian safety. This week the DOT is installing two raised pedestrian crosswalks to act as speed bumps to reduce speeding in areas of concern. Hawaii News Now.

Hawaii Island

County Council passes legislation barring firearms in ‘sensitive places’. Bill 220, which defines a list of “sensitive places” on the island where carrying concealed and unconcealed firearms is prohibited, was introduced in late September and has finally been approved after three drafts and dozens of amendments. Tribune-Herald. Big Island Video News. Big Island Now. KHON2.

Police Report: Mom Says Big Island Prosecutor Threatened To Shoot Her Son. A number of neighbors have had issues with the deputy prosecutor, Winston Albright, but he has kept his job as the cases get dismissed or resolved behind closed doors. Civil Beat.

Kanalani street extension to open soon. Just in time for holiday shopping, the extension of Kanalani Street providing access to the Kaloko Light Industrial Area could be opened as early as next week, thanks to action Wednesday by the Hawaii County Council. West Hawaii Today.

Nearly 2,000-acres In Kaʻū Transferred To Trail Association. Ownership and stewardship of Kiolakaʻa has been transferred from the Trust for Public Land to the Ala Kahakai Trail Association. Big Island Video News.

Maui

Deputy Chief Wade Maeda sworn-in as the Maui Police Department’s second in command. Maeda was promoted to fill the spot vacated by former Deputy Chief Charles Hank III, who announced his retirement in October after 10 months on the job.  Maui Now.

The State Just Cracked Down On This West Maui Water Company. Olowalu Water Co. was accused of taking more water than it was allowed from a stream, a rule that’s aimed at protecting fragile natural ecosystems. Civil Beat.

Lahainaluna farming program for boarders revives orchard. Project, which allows students to grow crops and sell products, gets help from Mahi Pono. Maui News.

Kauai

Council approves affordable housing funding commitment. In a move to set a floor for affordable housing funding, the Kaua‘i County Council unanimously approved a measure on Wednesday that would allocate 2 percent of real property tax revenue each year to a housing development fund. Garden Island.

Connecting with the homeless. The House Connect outreach event presented by the County Housing Agency in partnership with community agencies and groups continues on Thursday at The Salvation Army Lihu‘e Corps, starting at 10 a.m. Garden Island.

Monday, November 25, 2019

Hawaii lowest in gun deaths, DOE supervisors fined for ethics violations, Maui council approves property tax reform, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

woman pointing
Woman pointing gun
Study ranks Hawaii lowest in U.S. for gun deaths and gun-related homicides, according to a new study. Hawaii had the lowest rates of both overall gun deaths and gun-related homicides in the nation during a 10-year period from 2008 to 2017, but that still meant that someone was killed by a gun every eight days across the islands, according to a new study. Star-Advertiser.

Pay by the gallon or mile? State looks at fuel tax alternatives. A state project exploring a replacement for fuel taxes remains on schedule, but some remain skeptical. Tribune-Herald.

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High ranking DOE supervisors fined thousands for ethics violations. The state Ethics Commission has fined three high-ranking supervisors in the Department of Education’s facilities maintenance branch for misusing state employees on private construction projects. Hawaii News Now.

Three DOE Facilities Staff Members Fined By Ethics Commission. A facilities manager was fined for using agency employees to do work on his home and another property. Civil Beat.

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Hawaiian community renews push to recognize holiday overshadowed by Thanksgiving. La Ku'oko'a recognizes the day in 1843 on November 28th when the Kingdom of Hawaii's sovereignty was officially recognized internationally by Britain and France. KITV.

Department of Education to offer Hawaiian courses to employees. The state Department of Education plans to offer free Hawaiian language courses to all of its employees, beginning in January. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii Sen. Kai Kahele Finds Money, Connections In DC. Now that Tulsi Gabbard has said she won’t seek reelection, the CD2 candidate is finding receptive ears in the nation’s capital. Civil Beat.

Mental Health Services On Hawaii Campuses Lag Far Behind Demand. At UH Manoa, students can wait as long as two months to sit down with a therapist. Civil Beat.

Oahu

A Windward Oahu school grapples with an uncertain future. At Keolu Elementary in Kailua, there are 15 students in the entire first grade class. Keolu’s total enrollment is at 115, one of the lowest in the state according to DOE figures. Hawaii News Now.

HART’s Last Original Board Member Hasn’t Left As Planned. Damien Kim announced his departure five months ago, but the City Council can’t find a qualified successor. Civil Beat.

Bikeshare Hawaii sets sights on electric bikes. Bikeshare Hawaii, founder of Honolulu’s first bikeshare system, is looking toward the future with an eye on electric bikes. Star-Advertiser.

‘Makoa,’ a recently weaned monk seal pup, found dead. NOAA officials say a male monk seal pup named Makoa has died. He was found dead on Oahu’s North Shore the morning of Nov. 9. Hawaii News Now.

Scientists investigate the death of a young Hawaiian monk seal. NOAA says the male seal RL-36, also known as Makoa, was found dead on the North Shore of Oahu last weekend. KHON2.

Hawaii Island

Draft EIS Proposes 14 Commercial Aquarium Fishing Permits For West Hawaii. Supporters of commercial aquarium fishing have posted a draft environmental impact statement examining the future collection in the West Hawai’i Regional Fishery Management Area. Big Island Video News.

Pharmacy school faculty vote ‘no confidence’. Faculty members in the Daniel K. Inouye College of Pharmacy have taken a vote of “no confidence” for Dean Carolyn Ma. Tribune-Herald.

Months after article exposed security woes, KVBID reports improvements. Two months after a news article highlighted frustrations with security issues and businesses downtown, the Kailua Village Business Improvement District offered its status report to the Hawaii County Council Finance Committee. West Hawaii Today.

Hawai‘i Island Vacation Rentals Increase Slightly in October. Vacation rental performance on Hawai‘i Island increased slightly in October from the previous month, according  to the Hawai‘i Tourism Authority. Big Island Now.

Home in Kukio sells for $25M, highest price in Hawaii in 2019. A six-bedroom home in the Maniniowali section of the Kukio Golf and Beach Club on Hawaii Island recently sold for $25 million, the highest price in the state for a single-family home so far this year. Pacific Business News.

Maui

Council OKs property tax reform bills. Pointing to an imbalance where longtime Maui residents cannot afford one property while out-of-state buyers scoop up multiple dwellings, the Maui County Council approved a pair of property tax reform bills that will change tax classifications and set the framework for new tiered rates. Maui News.

Airport runway rebuilding to force changes. Part of old Haleakala Highway to close, private plane area will be relocated. Maui News.

Grand Wailea Development Request Strikes Opposition. Native Hawaiian activists are expressing disapproval over proposed development at the Grand Wailea Resort, which they argue would disturb iwi kupuna, or human remains. Maui Now.

More than $1 million in diamonds stolen. $50,000 reward offered in Lahaina Halloween robbery. Maui News.

Maui Hotels, Vacation Rentals Lead State. Hotels and vacation rentals throughout Maui County outperformed others in the state during October, the Hawaiʻi Tourism Authority announced earlier this week. Maui Now.

Kauai

Golden Rule arrives in Nawiliwili on Dec. 1. The small sailboat with a big mission, the Golden Rule, was in Hawaii in the 1950s, and played a pivotal role in ending global atmospheric nuclear testing. Garden Island.

Tuesday, August 6, 2019

Chinese tourism drops, Kauai missile range preps for action, college credit for protesting, Thirty Meter Telescope readies Mauna Kea alternative, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

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Tourists visit rocky Hawaii beach ©2019 All Hawaii News
Chinese Tourism To Hawaii Is On The Decline, Is The Trade War To Blame? Recently released data from the Hawaii Tourism Authority shows that Chinese visitor arrivals dropped 25 percent in the first half of 2019. Hawaii Public Radio.

The Aloha State holds the lowest rate of gun violence in the nation. Hawaii also has some of the strictest gun laws. KITV.

Civil Rights Groups Call Out Hawaii DOE. Two local civil rights organizations have called upon the Hawaii Department of Education to reform its suspension policies after alleging a suspension pattern unfavorable toward students with disabilities. Big Island Now.

Teacher shortage: About 600 classrooms staffed by long-term substitutes. DOE is working with the University of Hawaii to retain local graduated and teachers. KITV.

Wet and humid conditions expected as Flossie passes north of the state. Wet and humid conditions are anticipated across the state through midweek due to a combination of light winds and deep tropical moisture pooling northward from Post-Tropical Cyclone Flossie. KHON2.

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UH Will Allow Students To Earn Credit While Protesting TMT. Professors are still working out the details, such as whether students will be allowed to Skype into class discussions. Civil Beat.

List of UH professors offering courses at TMT protest camp on Mauna Kea grows. The list of University of Hawaii professors offering classes at a TMT protest camp on Mauna Kea started last week ― and is rapidly growing. Hawaii News Now.

TMT not giving up on Hawaii. Thirty Meter Telescope officials insisted Monday that news of their Canary Islands building permit application does not mean they’re giving up on Hawaii. Star-Advertiser.

Giant Telescope Consortium To Seek Spain Building Permit. The director of a Spanish research center says an international consortium that planned to build a giant telescope on Hawaii's tallest peak has decided to seek a permit for an alternative site in the Canary Islands. Associated Press.

TMT moves forward with building permit request for ‘plan B’ site. The group behind the Thirty Meter Telescope plans to apply for a permit to build on the Canary Islands, its second choice for the project after Maunakea. Tribune-Herald.

Environmentalists in Canary Islands: We’ll seek legal action to stop TMT from coming here. Ben Magec - Ecologistas en Acción, an environmentalist group based in the Canary Islands, says it plans to seek legal action to stop the $1.4 billion telescope from being built on the island La Palma. Hawaii News Now.

Mauna Kea Day 22 – Canary Islands TMT Option Stirs Debate. Big Island Video News.

2 state senators urge TMT to abandon Mauna Kea. State Sens. Kai Kahele and Kurt Fevella each made formal offerings to show their respect for the kupuna, or senior protesters, on Mauna Kea Monday, and both said the Thirty Meter Telescope should give up on the effort to build on the mountain. Star-Advertiser.

Exploring the Native Hawaiian Belief in the Sacredness of Mauna Kea. Many native Hawaiians who oppose the construction of the planned Thirty-Meter Telescope on Mauna Kea say the mountain is sacred. Hawaii Public Radio.

Oahu

City not issuing vacation rental violations. The city Department of Planning and Permitting has not issued any violation notices tied to the new vacation rental ordinance due to a pending lawsuit, a city official said Monday. Star-Advertiser.

Kealoha corruption case exposes lack of available court-appointed attorneys. Katherine Kealoha has had a long list of attorneys since the FBI started investigating the former Honolulu deputy prosecutor. Hawaii News Now.

Who Is Earle Partington And What’s He Doing In The Kealoha Case? The longtime Honolulu attorney reveals his colorful — some say questionable — legal style and substance in an interview. Civil Beat.

Prices for Oahu homes, condos hit new records in July.  The single-family home price, an increase of 6% from July 2018, eclipsed the previous record of $813,000 set in September, according to the report by Locations. Pacific Business News.

Hawaii Island

Pond of water is found in Kilauea crater for first time. For the first time in recorded history, a pond of water has been discovered inside the summit crater of Hawaii’s Kilauea Volcano, a development that could signal a shift to a more explosive phase of future eruptions. Associated Press.

The Office of Environmental Quality Control has received a draft analysis for the county’s planned emergency shelter and an affordable rental project in Kailua-Kona. The assessment covers both Kukuiola, the homeless emergency shelter formerly called Village 9, as well as an affordable rental community. West Hawaii Today.

500 new computers coming: Council to vote Wednesday on PC purchase plan. West Hawaii Today.

Draft general plan review to come out Friday. The county’s Planning Department said it will release a draft of the general plan, which is used to guide land use and development on the island, this Friday. West Hawaii Today.

Maui

Maui Is Taking This Clean Water Legal Fight All The Way — Some Say Too Far. The Maui wastewater case has far-reaching ramifications for the nation’s rivers, lakes and oceans. And it’s headed to a Trump-packed Supreme Court. Civil Beat.

Second Circuit Court Expands Self-Help Center Hours.  The center located at Hoapili Hale in Wailuku will be open Mondays and Thursdays from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Maui Now.

Kauai

Kauai might host missile tests. The Pacific Missile Range Facility on Kauai could play a key role in the testing of multiple versions of the missiles — possibly as early as November — as well as with hypersonic missiles also being developed, defense experts said. Star-Advertiser.

Navy Commander visits Kauai. Rear Adm. Robert Chadwick, commander, Navy Region Hawaii, visited the sailors at Pacific Missile Range Facility, Barking Sands, Kauai, for the first time, July 26. Garden Island.

Meeting to review definition of ‘guest house’. The County Council Planning Committee on Wednesday will review a draft bill updating the definition of a guest house to include a kitchen. Garden Island.

Kauai condo prices jump 33% in July. The median price of a condo on Kauai in July was $630,000, which was 32.63% higher than the median price a year ago, which was $475,000. Pacific Business News.