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

Wednesday, February 12, 2025

Legislature mulls bills to return homeless to U.S. continent, allow farmers to stand their ground, protect gender-affirming care, extend Honolulu rail tax; plus more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Returning homeless to the mainland could become permanent. Popular and successful efforts that have returned over 800 homeless people to the mainland since 2015 would become permanent if either of two bills in the state Legislature becomes law this session. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii ‘Stand your ground’ laws could expand after killing. Hawaii’s current stand-your-ground laws allow lawful gun owners to use deadly force to protect themselves if they believe their lives are in danger on their own property or while they are at work. Some said the rules make confronting armed poachers difficult if they live or work on agricultural land. KHON2. Hawaii Public Radio.

Testimony over gender-affirming care bill gets heated. Lawmakers with the Senate committees on Commerce and Consumer Protection and Health and Human Services heard a flood of support Tuesday for Senate Bill 1150, which would let children get gender-affirming health care services in Hawaii without other states getting in the way. Hawaii News Now.

‘Modest’ piece of wildfire settlement promoted for insurers. Gov. Josh Green doubts that Hawaii’s insurance market will suffer from a Monday court decision supporting a tentative $4 billion Maui wildfire settlement, but he still sees merit in sharing settlement proceeds with insurers. Star-Advertiser.

Acasio, 7 others sue state House. A former state senator from Hilo is suing the state House of Representatives, accusing the legislative body of violating the state Constitution by holding a Rules Committee meeting behind closed doors. Tribune-Herald.

Oahu

A 15-Year Extension Of Honolulu Rail Tax Advances In The Senate. A Senate committee gave preliminary approval Tuesday to a bill to extend the half-percent excise tax surcharge for rail for another 15 years, a politically volatile move that could lead to billions of dollars in additional funding for the city’s Skyline project. Civil Beat.

Honolulu Mayor Hires New Homeless Coordinator. Honolulu’s newest homelessness czar will be Roy Miyahira, a retired operations manager who spent much of his career at Nestlé Waters in California. Miyahira is taking on a big job. The city’s unsheltered homeless population doubled during the past decade, and much of the local response entails acquiring more shelter space. Civil Beat.

Council ponders bill on revenue-generating sponsorships.  For the second time in nearly 10 years, a Honolulu City Council measure that would allow private sponsorship of city parks and other public facilities is drawing concern from some in the community who fear the legislation will clear the way for large billboards and other outdoor advertising signs that could mar the natural beauty of Oahu. Star-Advertiser.

Miske’s half brother gets 20 years in federal prison. The 37-year-old half brother of Michael J. Miske Jr. was sentenced to 20 years in federal prison Tuesday for his role in the criminal organization that sold drugs, committed murder-for-hire, robberies, assaults and used chemical weapons against the opposition. Star-Advertiser. Hawaii News Now.  KHON2.

Body of a 72-year-old woman found in Kapahulu dumpster. An investigation is underway after a body was found in a dumpster in the Kapahulu area on Tuesday morning, February 11. KITV4. KHON2.  Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii Island

Sewage plant prompts emergency proclamation. Mayor Kimo Alameda signed an emergency proclamation Tuesday in preparation for a potential failure of the Hilo Wastewater Treatment Plant in in Keaukaha. Tribune-Herald. Big Island Video News.  Big Island Now.

Kimo Alameda talks priorities in his first year as Hawaiʻi Island mayor. Alameda and the other three county mayors are presenting their respective requests to state lawmakers this legislative session. Hawaii Public Radio.

Proposal may result in more parking at Akaka Falls. Landowner and businessman Tirtha Luitel has requested that the county permit him to convert about 18,000 square feet of a 98-acre parcel near Akaka Falls State Park in to a 49-stall paid parking lot. Tribune-Herald.

Kealakehe Regional Park project drags on. Efforts to move the Kealakehe Regional Park project forward are underway, but a construction date has not been announced, county officials said. West Hawaii Today.

Micah Kāne To Become Next Parker Ranch CEO. Kāne will transition into the Parker Ranch CEO role in April 2025, and depart the Hawaiʻi Community Foundation effective August 2025. Big Island Video News.

Maui

Environmental assessments online for public review including Wākiu Master Plan in East Maui.
Public comments are due March 10 for the state Department of Hawaiian Home Lands’ draft Wākiu Master Plan for development of approximately 656 acres south of the Hāna Airport for department beneficiaries. Maui Now.

Bill advances to allow tenants with liability insurance to keep pets in rental units. Maui Residents Can’t Find Housing. Neither Can Their Cats And Dogs. With housing scarce after the Lahaina wildfire, the Maui Humane Society says it’s struggling to find people to adopt animals and its shelter is well over capacity. Civil Beat. Maui Now.

Lānaʻi Culture & Heritage Center focuses on restoration around island heiau. This past weekend the Lānaʻi Culture & Heritage Center brought together a group of volunteers to a sacred and remote heiau, where restoration efforts have been underway for the past nine years.  Maui News.

Kauai

Public input sought on preferred site for new Kauaʻi Community Correctional Center. Land off Māʻalo Road in Līhuʻe, owned by Grove Farm, was identified by the state as the preferred site. The location offers about 20 to 30 acres of usable land, access to infrastructure and proximity to critical support services, including Kaulu I Ka Pono Academy, a treatment and education facility for at-risk youth. Kauai Now. Hawaii News Now.

Monday, February 10, 2025

Eggs at a premium, federal court upholds age-based gun ban, appeals court rules against hotel in beach use, casino gambling bill introduced, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Demand skyrocketing for local eggs. Demand for local eggs in Hawaii has skyrocketed as a shortage persists across the U.S. due to continual outbreaks of bird flu. Star-Advertiser. Hawaii Public Radio.

Hawaii leaders challenge federal buyout plan. State Attorney General Anne Lopez announced Sunday that she is leading a coalition of 21 state attorneys general in supporting the legal challenge against the directive, which offers federal workers up to eight months of pay and benefits in exchange for their immediate resignation. Employees who decline the offer face potential termination. Star-Advertiser.

Bill is back to clear way for Filipino WWII vets to reunite with families. A group of bipartisan lawmakers in Congress has reintroduced legislation aimed at expediting the visa process for the children of Filipino World War II veterans, many of whom have spent decades separated from their families due to immigration backlogs. Star-Advertiser.

Federal Court upholds Hawaii’s age-based firearms acquisition law. On Friday, a federal judge upheld Hawaii’s law banning those under 21 from buying a gun. Hawaii News Now.

New bill seeks to build casinos and legalize gambling. Hawaii is one of two states in the country where gambling is illegal. A new bill aims to bring in casinos and legalize gambling. KHON2.

Lawmakers are trying to help families pay their electric bills.
With what funding?  State senators have proposed two measures to create utility assistance programs for low-income households: Senate Bill 191 and Senate Bill 994. Hawaii Public Radio.

Racism Is Common In Hawaiʻi Schools — And Often Goes Unaddressed. Nearly half of white high school students and more than half of Black students in the state said they’d experienced racism in schools, according to a federal survey recently pulled from the internet by Trump administration orders. Civil Beat.

Measures target ‘fentanyl tsunami’.  At least three bills have been introduced by the Legislature this year to crack down on fentanyl trafficking. Tribune-Herald.

Hawaiian Homes agency seeking an additional $600M. Hawaii lawmakers are considering big funding increases to produce homesteads for state Department of Hawaiian Home Lands beneficiaries after a historic $600 million appropriation in 2023. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaiʻi Water Safety Coalition reveals state’s first-ever Water Safety Plan. The Hawaiʻi Water Safety Coalition on Thursday released its first Hawaiʻi Water Safety Plan to address the drowning crisis that is threatening the health of Hawaiʻi’s residents and visitor-dependent economy.  Maui Now.

Oahu

Kahala hotel’s use of public beach in dispute and could affect other hotels. A recent ruling by the state’s Intermediate Court of Appeals could become precedent-setting when it comes to protecting the public’s interests at public beaches. The appeals court ruled Jan. 29 in David Kimo Frankel v. the Board of Land and Natural Resources, Department of Land and Natural Resources and Resort Trust Hawaii LLC — owner of the Kahala Hotel & Resort — that BLNR breached its public-trust duties when it authorized the hotel’s exclusive use of a portion of land designated for use as a public beach. Star-Advertiser.

Military launches new effort to ID unknown soldiers from West Loch Disaster. On May 21, 1944, as American troops prepared for the invasion of Japanese-­occupied Saipan in the Northern Marianas, a series of explosions in West Loch killed at least 163 people and injured 396, though some historians have alleged that shoddy record keeping by military officials in a rush to keep the operation on track may have left more uncounted. Star-Advertiser.

E-bike bills advance at City Council, Legislature. The state Department of Health asserts the average number of reported e-bike incidents statewide more than doubled from an average of 10 per month in 2022 to 24 per month in 2024. Oahu experienced a nearly threefold increase, from an average of seven per month in 2022 to 19 per month in 2024, the data indicates. Star-Advertiser.

Council mulls proposal to strengthen fireworks laws. Bill 7 seeks to amend the city’s fire code to increase penalties for possessing, using and causing the explosion of any aerial device, pyrotechnic or display fireworks on Oahu. Star-Advertiser.

Several gambling machines found at illegal game room bust in Kalihi. An illegal game room in Kalihi was raided where 11 gambling machines and cash were seized. Honolulu police executed the search warrant on Thursday, Feb. 6 where the machines and cash was found.  KITV4.

ACLU Cites ‘Pattern Of Violence’ After Murder At Oʻahu Jail.
The death of OCCC inmate Eric Scotton is apparently the third homicide in the Hawaiʻi correctional system in less than a year. Civil Beat.

Hawaii Island


Contested case could decide fate of Papaikou’s ‘Falls on Fire’. A Papaikou property owner’s plan to host an annual “Burning Man-style” festival on his land is being challenged by neighbors. In 2023, Andrew Tepper opened a portion of his more-than-1,400-acres located on Indian Tree Road north of Papaikou for a multiday festival called “Falls on Fire.”  Tribune-Herald.

2 more school bus routes to be restored in East Hawaiʻi starting Monday. The routes serve Pāhoa High and Intermediate School, Pāhoa Elementary School and Keonepoko Elementary School.  Big Island Now.

Under the big top: Super American Circus comes to Hilo this week. Look for the big top at the Afook-Chinen Civic fairgrounds in Hilo on Friday, Saturday and Sunday, and at Old Kona Airport Park on Feb. 21, 22 and 23. Tribune-Herald.

Maui

Meeting could help chart course for Hana Community Pathway. Design concepts for the Hāna Community Pathway will be presented at the next in-person community meeting scheduled for 4:30 p.m. Feb. 18 at Helene Hall in Hāna. Maui News.

With massive flooding in Kīhei wreaking havoc every winter, community wonders: When will things change? Maui County says while it is following a master drainage plan, South Maui’s wetland origins make it inherently vulnerable to flooding. But residents and environmental scientists say more concrete action needs to be taken, and more quickly.  Maui Now.

Kauai

Kaua‘i Community College works to fund scholarship for graduating island seniors. The Ho‘olei Scholarship Fund aims to cover first-year tuition, after financial aid, for every senior graduating from a public or charter high school on Kauaʻi. Kauai Now.

Tuesday, December 10, 2024

Big changes coming to state tax code, U.S. Supreme Court won't take up gun rights case, UnitedHealthcare CEO shooting suspect recently lived in Honolulu, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Hawai‘i House Finance Chair Has Plans For Big Changes In The Tax Code. Rep. Kyle Yamashita has been talking about shifting millions of dollars in tax surcharge revenue from the counties back to the state. Civil Beat.

U.S. Supreme Court avoids Hawaii legal fight over gun rights. The U.S. Supreme Court on Monday rejected a Hawaii man’s bid to throw out criminal charges for carrying a pistol while hiking, as the justices declined to review a ruling by the liberal-leaning state’s top court that denounced an expansion of gun rights by the nation’s highest judicial body. Reuters. Associated Press. Hawaii News Now.

Luigi Mangione’s Hawaiʻi Friends Shocked By Arrest In UnitedHealthcare CEO Shooting.
Luigi Mangione lived at the Surfbreak co-living community near Ala Moana Park on Oʻahu and later at 801 South St. Friends recall him as a natural leader who led a book club where members would share ideas while watching sunsets from a place called Magic Island. Civil Beat. Star-Advertiser.  Hawaii News Now.  KHON2.  KITV4.

Senators Urged To Examine Gabbard’s ‘Deep and Intense’ Ties To Hawaiʻi Sect. A former member of the scretive Science of Identity Foundation is warning members of Congress about the potential dangers of confirming Tulsi Gabbard as President-elect Donald Trump’s next director of national intelligence. Civil Beat.

Lawmakers again introduce measures to boost civic education and media literacy. Hawai‘i lawmakers are renewing efforts to help students identify disinformation and improve their understanding of how the government works. Hawaii Public Radio.

UH, Navy, Marines team up on resource management. The University of Hawaii and the Department of the Navy signed Monday an unprecedented 10-year agreement aimed at safeguarding natural and cultural resources on Navy and Marine Corps installations in the state. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaiian to take over Seattle-based routes, add airplanes and crews. Alaska Air Group today plans to tell investors in New York that Hawaiian Airlines will take over West Coast routes from Alaska Airlines to Hawaii and fly new nonstop routes from Seattle to Japan and South Korea, and announce more Hawaiian Air planes, and flight and ground crews. Star-Advertiser.

Oahu

Honolulu City Council to vote on standards for office-to-residence conversions. The Honolulu City Council will have its final vote Wednesday on a bill that would lay out the standards to convert commercial buildings to residential. Hawaii Public Radio.

City Council to vote Wednesday on empty homes tax bill. More than 9% of Oahu homes are vacant. That’s 34,000 unoccupied units based on 2020 U.S. Census data. Hawaii News Now.

Property values are going up again, here’s why
. Heads up to homeowners, real property assessments will be mailed out soon and valuations are up again. That means many will be paying higher property taxes. KHON2.

Hawaiʻi Has Money To Police Agriculture Crime, But No Timeline To Start. Despite the high-profile killing of an Oʻahu rancher, local law enforcement don’t receive any specialized training in agricultural crime. Civil Beat.

City and state collaborate to improve Kailua Beach Park. The city Department of Parks and Recreation, the state Department of Land and Natural Resources’ Office of Conservation and Coastal Lands and the University of Hawaii Sea Grant College Program say they plan to work with community groups to smooth and flatten the dunes toward the makai side of the park. Star-Advertiser. KITV4.

The Case Against Mike Miske Could Be About To Disappear As If It Never Happened. A federal legal doctrine requires all actions be vacated if a defendant dies before being sentenced or if any appeals remain. Civil Beat.

Hawaii Island

Military Exemption To Hawaiʻi Nuclear-Free Law Repealed. The military is no longer exempt from Hawaiʻi County’s Nuclear-Free Law, according to Big Island lawmakers.  Big Island Video News.

Agency sees uptick in marine debris. The Hawaii Wildlife Fund has removed about 350 tons of marine debris from Big Island shores between 2003 and 2023, the majority of which came in the form of net bundles, masses of tangled rope and nets that can weigh hundreds of pounds. Tribune-Herald.

Maui

Maui County Council considers ban on flavored tobacco sales. The council passed the measure through its first reading on Friday after a series of mostly supportive testimony. If passed, retailers would not be allowed to sell or market flavored tobacco, including menthol products. Hawaii Public Radio.

This unsheltered Maui community is stepping up to improve the road they call home. It’s shower and laundry day at Holomua Road in Pāʻia, where nearly 30 Maui residents live unsheltered. Hawaii Public Radio.

Maui coalition of the Hawaiʻi Workers Center departs to Washington D.C. to demand Congress release disaster recovery funds for Lahaina.
A Maui coalition of the Hawaiʻi Workers Center has departed to Washington D.C. where they will demand that Congress release disaster recovery funds for Lahaina.  Maui Now.

Private Maui school’s proposed anti-trans policy stirs controversy. A West Maui school is considering controversial new guidelines that would essentially ban transgender students. The proposed changes would come to Maui Preparatory Academy in 2025. Hawaii News Now.

Kauai

University of Hawai‘i and the US Navy partner to support Pacific Missile Range Facility Barking Sands. The University of Hawaiʻi and the Department of the Navy signed a historic 10-year agreement to support the protection and management of natural and cultural resources on Navy and Marine Corps installations in Hawaiʻi. Kauai Now.

Monday, September 9, 2024

New faces coming to state Legislature, Honolulu city council already set, HART CEO gets 22% raise, cell tower battles in two counties, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Hawaii Legislature to see 11 new faces even before November election. The state House and Senate will welcome at least 11 new faces for the next legislative session, even before the Nov. 5 general election, which could result in more incumbent upsets. Star-Advertiser.

Commentary: The FBI Continues To Stall On Releasing Hawaii Lawmakers’ Bribery Investigations. Former state lawmakers Ty Cullen and J. Kalani English pleaded guilty more than two years ago to taking cash bribes in exchange for swaying legislation to favor Honolulu businessman Milton Choy, who owned a wastewater disposal company. Civil Beat has been trying to get the investigative files on public officials convicted of bribery for more than a year. Civil Beat.

California, Hawaii can ban guns in bars and parks, appeals court rules. Court ruling supports Hawaii gun restrictions. State Attorney General Anne Lopez hailed a ruling of a panel of the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals that Lopez said reinstates restrictions on where people can carry firearms in Hawaii. Star-Advertiser. Associated Press.

Waianae Shootings May Spur A Push To Strengthen Hawaii’s Self-Defense Laws. Some lawmakers want to amend the state law on use of deadly force for self-protection, but a key senator says that's unnecessary. Civil Beat.

Oahu

No contested Honolulu city races on general election ballot. All of the contested city races — namely, elections for mayor and City Council — were decided during the Aug. 10 primary election. Star-Advertiser.

HART OKs 22% raise for CEO Kahikina to a $336,000 annual contract. The board of directors for the Honolulu Authority for Rapid Transportation on Friday approved a new contract with a 22% raise for Executive Director and CEO Lori Kahikina to oversee completion of the nearly $10 billion Skyline. Star-Advertiser.

‘It Smells Like Earth’: Honolulu Shows Off Its Alternatives To Landfills. An end-of-year deadline looms for Honolulu officials to name a location for a new municipal landfill. Meanwhile, the city is working to divert waste from needing to go to the disposal site in the first place. Civil Beat.

Kapi‘olani nurses seek injunction to block lockout. The Hawaii Nurses’ Association/Office and Professional Employees International Union Local 50 is seeking an injunction to stop Kapi‘olani Medical Center from locking unionized nurses out of the hospital following a planned one-day strike, the union’s second this year. Star-Advertiser. Hawaii News Now.  KHON2.

Oahu housing market steady ahead of possible demand increase. According to data released Friday by the Honolulu Board of Realtors, sales and prices ticked up for single-­family homes and down for condominiums. Star-Advertiser.

Ewa Beach to get first hotel. Alaka‘i Development has secured $135 million in financing and is on its way to delivering Ewa Beach’s first hotel: a dual-branded Hyatt Place and extended-stay Hyatt House for the Ho‘opili master-­planned community. Star-Advertiser.

Turtle Bay resort expansion proceeding under new owners. Arete Collective recently hosted an “open house” in Kahuku to share its plan with community members and gather feedback on what its chief executive described as an eight- to 10-year project slated to begin later this year with 20 homes in four buildings between the beach and the 18th hole of the resort’s Arnold Palmer Golf Course. Star-Advertiser.

St. Francis Healthcare pensions face chopping block. Almost all private retirement plans are required to comply with federal pension and tax laws, according to the Pension Rights Center, a nonprofit based in Washington, D.C., with the exception of church pension plans. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii Island

County buys refrigerated containers to store bodies; Morgue at Hilo hospital is overcapacity. Hawaii County has purchased two 40-foot refrigerated containers and is exploring the possibility of an emergency proclamation to start using them as a temporary storage facility for the bodies of decedents whose deaths occurred somewhere other than Hilo Benioff Medical Center. Tribune-Herald.

Changes eyed for cell towers: Proposals would alter the approval process. Cell towers on the Big Island could be installed without a Hawaii County permit under a proposed new policy. Tribune-Herald.

2 Keaukaha projects rejected: Planning commission sides with area residents. The Windward Planning Commission on Thursday considered a pair of applications for special management area use permits to build housing in Keaukaha near Onekahakaha Road. Tribune-Herald.

Public advised to avoid affected waters following sewage spill at Kailua-Kona Pier. On Sunday, September 8, 2024, it was reported that a sewage spill had occurred at the Kailua Kona Pier. Officials state that an unknown amount of sewage had spilled from a restroom and onto the pier, which entered the ocean.  KITV4. Big Island Video News.

NOAA research ship docks in Hilo: Okeanos Explorer to host events throughout week. The team on board — Shannon Hoy, Anna Coulson, Mark Durbin and Caitlin Ruby — just finished conducting 24-hour-a-day exploratory seafloor mapping operations of the atoll’s deep waters for 20 days before traveling to Hilo this past Saturday. Tribune-Herald.

Maui

Maui’s toxic debris could fill 5 football fields 5 stories deep. Where will it end up? The temporary landfill in Olowalu is a former quarry on state-owned land and close to Lahaina, which made it a convenient choice for quickly storing the debris being cleared away so the town can rebuild. Associated Press.

End of an era? Lahaina fire delivers big blow to already declining commercial fishing industry. On Aug. 27, following a request for an update on the harbor work, officials from the Division of Boating and Ocean Recreation said the harbor has been cleared of debris and pilings and was expected to be operational in two-plus years, but did not provide more details. Maui Now.

County of Maui acquires Kula community center land for $950,000 for ‘public use in perpetuity’.
The County of Maui has acquired approximately seven acres of land beneath the Kula community center and adjacent facilities for “public use in perpetuity,” according to a press release announcing the acquisition. The county has leased the land for over six decades.  Maui News.

Feds Partner With Maui Groups To Develop An Energy Plan For Lahaina. The National Renewable Energy Laboratory is working with three local organizations. Civil Beat.

AES launches state’s largest solar power facility on Maui. The Central Maui project is a key part of Hawaii’s aggressive 2045 Clean Energy Initiative goals as well as AES’ own 2040 goal of net zero carbon emissions from electricity sales. Star-Advertiser. Maui Now.

Kauai

Haʻena residents file lawsuit against proposed 5G cell tower. In a continuing effort to stop the construction of a 95-foot tall 5G cell tower in their neighborhood, two Haʻena couples have filed a lawsuit against the California-based property owner who is leasing the vacant lot to AT&T. Kauai Now.

A Stomach Bug Outbreak Brings Uncomfortable Scrutiny To One Of Hawaii’s Most Beautiful Places.
Some of the campers who endured the recent norovirus outbreak at the end of Kauai’s famed Kalalau Trail hope the unusual incident, which sickened dozens of people, will lead to better state upkeep of one of the most scenic destinations in Hawaii. Civil Beat.

Friday, July 5, 2024

Ammo age ban likely, German navy joins RIMPAC, Honolulu mulls fake farm bill, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Hawaii to ban those under 21 from buying ammo. Gov. Josh Green is expected to sign a new bill into law that will ban those under 21 from purchasing ammunition. KHON2.

German navy makes its debut at RIMPAC in Hawaii. German navy makes its debut at RIMPAC. This year at the biennial Exercise Rim of the Pacific — the world’s largest naval exercise — the German navy has dispatched ships to participate for the first time as Berlin begins putting its ambitious new Pacific strategy into action. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii urged to prepare for wildfire power shutoffs. This week marks the start of Hawaiian Electric’s program of proactively shutting off power in specified areas to protect the public if and when there is a high risk of wildfires on all the islands it serves. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaiian Electric launches new searchable maps for Public Safety Power Shutoff program. Hawaiian Electric customers can now use a new online search feature to determine if their address is within the high-risk wildfire areas within the company’s Public Safety Power Shutoff program. Maui News. Big Island Video News.

New law boosts funding for Hawaiian language immersion education.
Hawaiian language immersion education is getting a boost in funding to create new positions for kaiapuni teachers and curriculum specialists with the state Department of Education. Hawaii Public Radio.

Oahu


Honolulu Bill To Rein In Fake Farms Threatens Real Ag Enterprises. Beekeepers, kennels and livestock owners say a proposed change to Honolulu's land use ordinance would drive them out of business. Civil Beat.

City seeks to terminate tow contractor after audit finds hundreds of drivers overcharged. All Island Wreckers, also known as All Island Automative Towing, was contracted by the city in January 2023 and city officials were made aware of the complaints about the fees during the mayor’s town hall in Mililani on April 6, 2023. Hawaii News Now.

EPA fines 2 Oahu nurseries for worker protection standard violations. According to the EPA, the state in 2021 conducted inspections at the nurseries: Olomana Orchids Inc. of Kaneohe and Mari’s Garden’s in Mililani. Both cases were referred to the EPA in 2023 for resolution. Star-Advertiser.

Popular Oahu trail to temporarily close for much-needed maintenance, upgrades. Manoa Falls Trail, one of the most popular hikes on Oahu, will temporarily close for maintenance this month. The closure will run from Monday through July 13.  Hawaii News Now.

A Tale Of 12 Shopping Carts And The Man Who Retrieves Them. It's a dirty business, even in suburban Kapolei. But somebody's got to do it. Civil Beat.

Hawaii Island

Aircraft Alert Issued For Pōhakuloa Training Area, RIMPAC. Residents around Hilo airport have already noticed an increase in military aircraft taking off and landing.  Big Island Video News.

Hawai‘i County park returns to its original place name. A Pāhoa park sign now bears its original place name. On Wednesday, community leaders, students elected officials and local residents held a blessing for Waiakahi‘ula Beach Park, formerly known as Kahakai Park. Big Island Now.

Maui

Moratorium on disconnections of electric service for non-payment for Maui customers extended through Aug. 31. Suspension of service disconnections for all Hawaiian Electric customers on Maui has been extended through at least Aug. 31, 2024, in accordance with the extension of Gov. Josh Green’s emergency proclamation. Maui Now.

Over 30 rebuilding permits have been issued after the fire.
Here’s how some Lahaina homeowners did it. A total of 31 disaster recovery permits for residential structures have been issued as of Wednesday, including 28 in Lahaina and three in Kula, according to Desilee Santiago, one of four permit technicians with 4LEAF, which received a three-year, $16 million contract to help Maui County with the permitting process following the fires. Maui Now.

Lahaina Fire Survivors Prepare To Test Maui County’s Rules On Living In The Burn Zone
. With the trailer on a barge en route to Hawaii, two business partners plan to set up a makeshift home on the now-cleared property. Civil Beat.

Oahu Coral Group Gears Up To Help Maui’s Battered Reefs. Started by fishermen and firefighters, Kuleana Coral Restoration prioritizes workforce development to aid coral reefs stressed by warming oceans, urban runoff and more. Civil Beat.

Maui chef who served community during fires now fighting for his life. Riko Bartolome was recently diagnosed with leukemia. The specific form he is battling is high risk that affects his blood and bone marrow. Hawaii News Now.

Kauai

Fireworks determined to be cause of motel lanai fire on Kauai. Kaua'i Fire Department firefighters extinguished a structure fire on Papaloa Road in Wailua on Wednesday, July 3. KITV4.

Kaua‘i Sushi Station crowned best in nation – for the second year in a row. That’s according to popular business review website Yelp, which recently placed Kaua‘i Sushi Station at the summit of its “Top 100 Sushi Spots” of 2024. Kauai Now.

Strong start to summer travel season at Lihu‘e Airport.  A busy start to the summer travel season at Lihu‘e Airport saw more passengers arriving via domestic flights and longer wait times for people leaving the island of Kaua‘i. Garden Island.

Thursday, February 22, 2024

Legislature tackles assault weapon ban, warrant-less fireworks searches, public election funding, free school lunches; U.S. Transportation Secretary Buttigieg tours Lahaina, feces found on Honolulu police supervisors' desks, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

More Assault Weapons May Be Banned As Hawaii Seeks To Shore Up Strict Gun Laws. Lawmakers are working to tighten Hawaii’s existing assault weapons ban by passing a bill that would expand the types of weapons it covers, even as the state fends off legal challenges to some of its current gun regulations. Civil Beat.

House committee to hear bill allowing warrantless fireworks searches. A bill that would allow law enforcers and firefighters to search the premises of fireworks licensees without a warrant is making its way through the state House of Representatives. Tribune-Herald.

State Senate approves comprehensive public funding for ‘clean elections’ by 2028. The Hawaiʻi State Senate unanimously approved Senate Bill 2381 Senate Draft 2 (SB2381 SD2), which would establish a comprehensive system of public financing for candidates seeking election to state and county public offices, beginning with the 2028 general election year.  Maui Now.

Lawmakers Question Plans For Governor’s Maui Wildfire Death Settlement Fund. The state will contribute $65 million to the fund, which is designed to limit litigation and provide some closure in cases where there were deaths or severe injuries. Civil Beat. Star-Advertiser.

Should public buildings be able to withstand Category 5 hurricanes? Senate Bill 2972 states that warmer seas and fewer trade winds are making Hawaiʻi more vulnerable to strong hurricanes, and thus future government buildings should be adequately equipped to serve as shelters in a major disaster.  Hawaii Public Radio.

Surveyed lawmakers don’t think Hawaiʻi is prepared for sea level rise. A new survey from the University of Hawaiʻi's Economic Research Organization polled elected officials at the state and county levels to take their pulse on sea level rise.  Hawaii Public Radio.

Hawaiʻi gets $50M in federal funds for clean water infrastructure projects. The federal funding comes from President Biden's Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, which sets out to invest over $50 billion in clean water initiatives. Hawaii Public Radio.

Governor signs executive order declaring Hawaiʻi a trauma-informed state
. It’s an internal message for the state government to collaborate with the Office of Wellness and Resilience to use trauma-informed care in programs and policies. Hawaii Public Radio. Big Island Video News.

Vehicle towing rates in Hawaii could more than double this year.
Under a  bill sponsored by state Sen. Kurt Fevella, the rate for a hookup would go up from $65 to $143. KITV4.

Free breakfast and lunch for all public school students could be making a comeback.
There’s a bill (HB 1775) gaining traction in the legislature would make it a reality and help thousands of kids who go hungry each day.  KHON2.

CVS Health invests nearly $35 million for affordable housing, preschools in Hawaii. CVS Health on Wednesday announced an investment of almost $35 million for affordable housing developments in Kapolei and Lahaina. Star-Advertiser.

Oahu


HPD leadership, morale called into question after police supervisors find envelopes with feces on their desks.  HPD confirms its Professional Standards Office launched an internal probe after someone placed envelopes full of feces on the desks of a Honolulu police commander and a Honolulu police supervisor earlier this month. Hawaii News Now.

7 public schools in Pearl Harbor area show detections of petroleum-based chemicals. Advocates are urging the Navy to warn the public, but the military insists the water is safe. Hawaii News Now.

University Of Hawaii Medical School Resumes Accepting Donated Bodies.
The program had been halted in July due to having too many bodies for too few surgical trainees. Civil Beat.

City ethics commission reviews gift prohibitions for employees.
During a virtual meeting Wednesday, the Honolulu Ethics Commission discussed but took no formal action on the measure.  Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii Island


Meeting On Future Waikoloa Public Library, February 27.  According to the Draft Environmental Assessment for the project published in January 2024, the proposal includes a new, 12,000 square foot public library, with an “approximately 3,000 square foot Early Learning Center (ELC), 71-stall surface parking lot, and complimentary landscaping.  Big Island Video News.

Hilo smoke shop owner accused of selling illegal marijuana products from business.
The charges came after police and the state Narcotics Narcotics Enforcement Division executed a search warrant Feb. 15 at Karl Stasik’s business, Hale Hookah at 60 Waianuenue Ave. Tribune-Herald. Big Island Video News.  Big Island Now.

Maui

U.S. Transportation Secretary Buttigieg tours Lahaina destruction.
  U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg toured what remains of Lahaina on Wednesday and heard from members of Mayor Richard Bissen’s advisory counsel, who reported sometimes conflicting pressures as Maui continues to recover from the Aug, 8 wildfires. Star-Advertiser. Maui Now.  Hawaii News Now.  KITV4.

Pop-Up Village For Maui Fire Survivors Battles Red Tape To Finally Open. Organizers had hoped to have the rent-free housing ready to go within weeks of the fire. They're still waiting. Civil Beat.

State discusses how to shelter displaced residents once FEMA leaves Maui. State lawmakers are concerned there may not be enough housing in place to shelter displaced Lahaina residents by the time the Federal Emergency Management Agency leaves next February. Hawaii Public Radio.

Kauai


Kīlauea man killed in blast caused by homemade explosives, police report. On the evening of Monday, Feb. 12, police were dispatched to a residence in Kīlauea following the report of an unattended death, which led to the discovery of a man’s body. The deceased was later identified as Jasper Gunsell, a 37-year-old resident of Kīlauea. Kauai Now.

Wednesday, February 14, 2024

Convention center and stadium could sport ads, Senate bill limits youth firearms use, rolling blackouts continue, 101st Maui fire victim ID'd, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Bills would allow outdoor ads on stadium, convention center. Naming rights for the Hawai‘i Convention Center would be allowed despite Hawaii’s general ban on outdoor advertising after a key Senate committee approved a bill Tuesday despite concerns. Star-Advertiser.

Bills For A New Ride-Share Fee And A Climate-Impact Fee Advance. State lawmakers gave tentative approval Tuesday to a new fee that would be charged to users of ride-hailing companies such as Uber and Lyft and another proposed new climate-impact fee mostly aimed at tourists. Civil Beat.

State Senate to consider bill on firearms, ammunition regulation changes on Wednesday. A Senate Bill that proposes to prohibit people under the age of 21 to own, possess and control ammunition is drawing fire from gun enthusiasts. KITV4.

Enthusiasm surrounds measure to provide universal free school meals. House Bill 1775 would make meals free for all students. Hawaii Public Radio.

Lawmakers consider a bill that would make it easier to become a teacher in Hawaii. A bill is moving through the Hawaii legislature that would allow individuals who have an associate’s degree or a high school diploma with certain additional coursework to become teachers. KITV4.

Senate bill on legalizing adult-use cannabis moves forward. If passed into law, the measure would establish the Hawaiʻi Cannabis Authority and Cannabis Control Board within the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs to regulate all aspects of the cannabis plant. Big Island Now. Hawaii News Now.

State lawmakers consider lowering penalty for possession of marijuana. A measure that passed its second reading in the House of Representatives would decrease the fine to $25 and increase the amount of decriminalized marijuana to less than 1 ounce. Hawaii Public Radio.

Hawaiian Electric keeps profit up, seeks financing as Maui wildfire costs loom. Hawaii’s largest electrical utility is maintaining financial stability in the face of still-growing legal claims and recovery expenses from the Aug. 8 Maui wildfire disaster. Star-Advertiser. Civil Beat.

Affordable Connectivity Program ends soon that helped subsidize internet costs for low-income households. A federal program reimbursing low-income households for their internet bills will end within months. Tribune-Herald.

Oahu

City auditor reviews building permit department. A follow-up audit on the city Department of Planning and Permitting found prior recommendations related to the quicker issuance of city building permits to the public have been met, in some cases, but not yet been achieved in other instances. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii flight attendants picket amid worldwide protests.
Local flight attendants picketed at Daniel K. Inouye International Airport on Tuesday as part of a Worldwide Day of Action to demand fair contracts. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii Island

State prevails in multimillion-dollar federal lawsuit over Big Island housing development
. The State of Hawai‘i prevailed in a multimillion-dollar federal lawsuit brought by a developer claiming damages after a decision to revert its Waikōloa project – Villages at Aina Leʻa – from an urban to an agricultural district.  Big Island Now.

Rolling Power Outages Hit Hawaiʻi Island Tuesday Night. At 7:10 p.m., Hawaiian Electric reported over social media that about 8,300 customers were already without power in parts of Hawaiʻi Island. Big Island Video News. Big Island Now.  Hawaii News Now.  KHON2.

Kona airport closed again. The state Department of Transportation announced the airport did not open as scheduled at 6 a.m. after overnight paving of the runway due to equipment malfunction and asphalt cooling. West Hawaii Today. Big Island Video News.  Big Island Now.

Cosmic Drive heading to Naniloa: Nighttime Top Golf-like experience will utilize hotel’s driving range. The Grand Naniloa Hotel’s driving range is about to look very different in the evening when it becomes home to Hilo’s newest nighttime attraction — Cosmic Drive. Tribune-Herald.

Maui

Lahaina man, 76, identified as the 101st fire victim. Paul Kasprzycki, 76, had been one of three remaining people on the official list of those reported as missing to the Maui Police Department after the Lahaina fire. Star-Advertiser. Civil Beat.  Hawaii Public Radio.  Maui Now.  Hawaii News Now.  KHON2.

$15,000 hotel bill for Maui evacuee sparks call for new housing solutions. For the first time, the public is getting an idea of how much it’s costing to house just one wildfire survivor in a Maui hotel. That tab is more than $15,000 per month — and advocates say it shows why intermediate housing is needed now. Hawaii News Now.

Officials Confront Lahaina’s Fire Evacuation Route Problem With Computer Simulations. Narrow roads, gates and parking are playing into how the county and residents should rebuild certain neighborhoods. Civil Beat.

Survey on Permanent Maui Disposal Site closes on Thursday
. The County of Maui reminds residents that the last day to respond to its survey on a permanent disposal site for wildfire debris from Lahaina is this Thursday, Feb. 15.  Maui Now.

Kauai


Kauai visitors spend a record $2.76 billion in 2023. The willingness of people to dig deep into their pockets, while spending time on the island of Kaua‘i, produced a record-setting year for visitor spending. Garden Island.

Friday, February 9, 2024

Public school fire alarms failing, senators seek pay cut for prison oversight commission head, Maui wildfire disaster commemorated on 6-month anniversary, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

DOE: Fire alarms at 11 public schools don’t work, others need repairs. Eleven Hawaii public schools do not have working fire alarm systems, and at least a dozen more need repairs, according to the Department of Education. Hawaii News Now.

Senators Move To Cut The Pay Of The Top Staffer On Hawaii’s Prison Oversight Commission. Critics of the bill say it's the latest in a series of moves to undermine or defund the panel, which has drawn attention to major problems and the need for reforms. Civil Beat.

House GOP Champions ‘Common Sense’ Bills, Conservative Values. Measures include paid family leave, term limits and tax breaks for Hawaii. But other bills call for death to sex traffickers, teaching of fetal growth and open carry of handguns. Civil Beat.

Hawaii’s high court cites ‘The Wire’ in rebuke of US Supreme Court decision that expanded gun rights.  A ruling by Hawaii’s high court saying that a man can be prosecuted for carrying a gun in public without a permit cites crime-drama TV series “The Wire” and invokes the “spirit of Aloha” in an apparent rebuke of a U.S. Supreme Court decision that expanded gun rights nationwide. Associated Press.

Oahu

Honolulu Mayor Appoints TV Journalist As New Chief Of Staff. Mayor Rick Blangiardi has hired Andy Sugg as his new chief of staff, filling the hole left in January when former chief of staff Sam Moku became the city’s homelessness coordinator. Civil Beat.

‘Monster homes’ measure nears final vote.  As a means of cracking down on those who would build so-called “monster homes” on Oahu, a 2023 measure meant to prohibit giving false statements to city planners proposes a new set of penalties be given to violators. Star-Advertiser.

Army bio-diesel generating plant is helping to ‘fill the gap’ in HECO grid. What makes this fuel source different is that instead of mixing fossil fuel, the bio-diesel is a mix of diesel and cooking oil that is processed at a plant on the Big Island. Hawaii News Now.

Lead Detections Near Puuloa Shooting Range Prompt Calls For Investigation. Residents are asking the state health department to investigate lead contamination in the community neighboring the range.  Civil Beat.

State pilot program tapped for Kuilei Place units. Prices for the affordable units at Kuilei Place in Moiliili with one to three bedrooms ranged from $370,600 to $813,300. Star-Advertiser.

Controversial bill to relax Hawaii’s century-old anti-billboard law. SB3197 would allow advertisements on billboards, digital signs, and wallscapes in the new Aloha Stadium Entertainment District. KHON2.

Hawaii Island

12 dump truck loads needed to clear Kona encampment, tunnels
. State Department of Transportation crews, joined by Hawaii Police Department Community Policing Officers, cleared out three drainage tunnels and another encampment in Kona on Wednesday, hauling away tons of trash. West Hawaii Today.

County Accepts Final EIS For Puna Geothermal Venture Repower Project.
The County of Hawai‘i Planning Department has accepted the Final Environmental Impact Statement for the Puna Geothermal Venture Repower Project. Big Island Video News.

County Council drives ahead with new funding bill for study to identify alternate routes in Puna. Bill 131 would provide $2 million for the Hawai‘i County Department of Public Works to complete a Puna Alternate Routes Study.  Big Island Now.

Upcoming moon mission has ties to the Big Island. Should all go well, on Feb. 22, the rocket will deposit on the moon a lunar lander carrying several instruments, including two from the Waimea-based International Lunar Observatory. Tribune-Herald.

Maui


Hawaii Governor: There’s Still ‘A Ton More Work To Do’ In Maui’s Fire Recovery. Six months after the deadliest wildfire in modern U.S. history, government officials gathered to tout the progress in helping Maui rebound from the disaster that killed 100 people and destroyed more than 2,200 buildings in Lahaina. Civil Beat. Star-Advertiser.  Hawaii Public Radio.  KITV4.   Maui Now.  Hawaii News Now. 

Maui wildfire residents still reeling, UH health study finds. Six months after the devastating Maui wildfires, many survivors are suffering from depression, poor health and financial struggles, according to researchers from the University of Hawaii at Manoa. Star-Advertiser. Hawaii News Now.

Bill would broaden, streamline emergency building permits on Maui. Maui County Council members Thursday advanced a measure designed to broaden and streamline emergency building procedures in a move that aims to speed up construction approvals in the wake of the Aug. 8 wildfires. Star-Advertiser.

DOE Asks To Waive Minimum Days Required For Maui Schools To Help Fire Survivors.
Some Maui schools were closed for long periods after the disaster, and education officials want to help students recover emotionally and academically. Civil Beat.

Aikanaha project could be first buildout of rental housing in Waikapū Country Town.
A 212-unit, low-income rental housing project in Waikapū underwent review Wednesday morning by the Maui County Council’s Housing and Land Use Committee.  Maui Now.

Kauai

Public invited to workshop for Waimea 400 Affordable Housing project. The County of Kaua‘i Housing Agency will host a community workshop for the Waimea 400 Affordable Housing Master Plan project later this month. This workshop will share more information and gather input from the community on the different types of housing the public would like to see at Waimea 400. Kauai Now.






Wednesday, January 10, 2024

Senate to tackle climate change, Big Island geothermal expansion advances, new gun laws stir Honolulu residents, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Briefing to be held to discuss threats climate change poses to Hawaii. A joint Informational Briefing will be held at the State Capitol on Thursday, Jan. 11, by Senator Mike Gabbard, Chair of the Senate Committee on Agriculture and Environment, and Representative Nicole Lowe, Chair of the House Committee on Energy and Environmental Protection. KHON2.

Here’s why Hawaiʻi’s new pay transparency law might not affect your employer. Act 203 requires that companies must put a reasonable salary range or hourly rate in their job listings. Exempt are internal promotions or transfers, public sector employees subject to collective bargaining agreements, and companies with 50 or more employees. Hawaii Public Radio.

Hawaii Governor Will Seek More Funds To Update Financial Management System. Gov. Josh Green’s administration plans to ask lawmakers for more money to replace an outdated financial management system, saying the project will cost $60 million after it stalled last year when the state terminated its troubled contract with a vendor. Civil Beat.

Invasive species are top of mind for Department of Agriculture this legislative session.
Managing invasive species is a top priority for the state Department of Agriculture in the upcoming legislative session. Hawaii Public Radio.

Oahu

Council panel OKs federal plan to fund rail. On a split vote, the City Council’s budget committee Tuesday approved a federal agreement to fund Skyline’s ongoing construction to a planned station in Kakaako. On a split vote, the City Council’s budget committee Tuesday approved a federal agreement to fund Skyline’s ongoing construction to a planned station in Kakaako. Star-Advertiser.

Public hearing set for proposed changes to affordable housing rules. A public hearing on proposed amendments to the city’s Affordable Housing Requirement Rules is scheduled for Friday morning.  Star-Advertiser.

The public shares concerns with HPD on newly enacted state laws on guns. As the Honolulu Police Department weighs compliance with newly enacted state laws, gun owners Tuesday flooded a hearing to weigh in on rules that will govern where firearms are not allowed, and the requirements for permits and licenses. Star-Advertiser. Hawaii News Now.

Honolulu mayor appoints new Homeless Coordinator. Honolulu Mayor Rick Blangiardi has appointed a new homeless coordinator for the City’s Department of Community Services. On Tuesday, they announced Sam Moku was selected for the role. Hawaii News Now.

Hawaiʻi's largest energy storage project now online in Kapolei. After several delays, the utility-scale battery farm kicked off commercial operations shortly before the holidays.  Hawaii Public Radio.

Navy Releases Nearly 2 Million Gallons Of Partially Treated Wastewater Off Pearl Harbor.
The latest incident at its sewage treatment plant happened after heavy rains knocked out a power transformer. Civil Beat.

Red Hill task force will soon begin removing residual fuel from pipelines. Joint Task Force - Red Hill completed defueling the storage tanks last month, but approximately 64,000 gallons remain in the pipelines from that process. Hawaii Public Radio.

5 power sources linked to blackouts
. Hawaiian Electric avoided a second straight evening of rolling blackouts across Oahu on Tuesday, but the power shutoffs Monday substantiated prior concerns about the company’s shift to more renewable energy. Star-Advertiser.

Ewa Beach Residents Left In The Dark About Possible Lead Contamination From Marines’ Shooting Range. A state lawmaker is refusing to share a taxpayer-funded lab report while endorsing a Marine-backed plan community leaders oppose.  Civil Beat.

Amid worrisome surge, Queen’s West sees more ER visits than state’s largest hospital. The emergency room at The Queen’s Medical Center West Oahu is so inundated it now gets more daily visits than Queen’s Punchbowl, the state’s largest hospital. Hawaii News Now.

Hawaii Island

Puna Geothermal Venture expansion moves ahead.
PGV’s long-awaited “repower” project, which will boost the facility’s energy production from 38 megawatts to 46 by replacing energy converters with more efficient ones, passed one of its final hurdles Monday when the final draft of an environmental impact statement covering the project was published, anticipating “no unavoidable adverse long-term impacts.” Tribune-Herald.

2 Big Island inmates charged after fatal fentanyl overdose.
Hawaii County police are awaiting toxicology results in the suspected fentanyl overdose death Thursday of a 56-year-old Hilo inmate whose 41-year-old cellmate, Izaiah Shields, allegedly smuggled fentanyl inside his body onto a plane and into the Hawaii Community Correctional Center. Star-Advertiser. KHON2.

Woman fined for stealing nene gosling from state park. A 58-year-old woman was convicted for stealing a nene gosling from Wailoa State Recreation Area last March and sentenced Tuesday in Hilo Environmental Court. Tribune-Herald.

Maui

Unspent Funds Could Fill Maui’s $31 Million Budget Hole.
The Bissen administration won't have more precise figures until at least next month, but county officials expect a rosier outlook. Civil Beat.

8 people rescued aboard foreign flagged sail boat that ran aground off Lahaina, Maui.
The US Coast Guard and local agencies are responding to a foreign flagged sailing vessel that ran aground near Lahaina, Maui on Monday. Maui Now.

Scores of residents still can’t sift their Lahaina properties for belongings. Maui’s burn zones fully reopened last month, allowing thousands an opportunity for closure. But some residents still haven’t been allowed to sift through their homes.  Hawaii News Now.

Kauai

Nakamura named Act 279 Working Group chair.
Hawai‘i House Majority Leader Nadine K. Nakamura of Kaua‘i (District 15) was named chair of a legislative working group, whose role will be to oversee the execution of millions of dollars aimed at whittling down a beneficiary waiting list for housing. Garden Island.