More schools qualify for free meals, 8 Hawaiian birds listed as extinct, Red Hill defueling commences, Lahaina students return to school, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

More Hawaii Schools Qualify For Free Meal Programs But The State May Not Participate. Recent changes to a federal program could allow for a significant expansion of free school meals in Hawaii, but it's unclear if the state will opt in. Civil Beat.

Food prices increase going into the holidays. Food prices have increased from this time last year, and it is likely prices will remain high going into the holidays, so how much will people be paying for some holiday staples? KHON2.

Federal government lists 8 Hawaiian birds as extinct. The eight bird species, all forest honeycreepers, include the Kauai akialoa, Kauai nukupuu, Kauai oo, kamao or large Kauai thrush, Maui akepa, Maui nukupuu, Molokai creeper and poouli, also known as the black-faced honeycreeper. Star-Advertiser. Maui News.  Maui Now. Hawaii News Now.

High surf warning posted for first huge swell of the winter surf season. The National Weather Service in Honolulu said the warning will be in effect from 6 a.m. Tuesday until 6 p.m. Wednesday for the north and west shores of Niihau, Kauai, Oahu and Molokai, and the north shores of Maui. Hawaii News Now.

WWII Marine and hero laid to rest at Punchbowl 80 years after his death. Nearly 80 years after Marine Sgt. Arthur Ervin died fighting on Saipan, he was laid to rest Monday in a ceremony at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific at Punchbowl. Star-Advertiser.

Oahu

HECO Seeking $2M From HART For Work Done On Canceled Substation. The substation is no longer needed based on the rail authority's latest projections on power usage and deferral of the Pearl Highlands parking garage. Civil Beat.

Red Hill defueling operation officially underway. On Monday morning Joint Task Force Red Hill, the military organization responsible for draining the tanks at the Navy’s underground Red Hill Bulk Fuel Storage Facility, officially began the defueling process. Star-Advertiser.  Hawaii News Now.  KITV4.

Newly-unearthed letter from Akaka offers evidence of Red Hill leaks 2 decades ago. In 2006, the late U.S. Sen. Dan Akaka questioned a high ranking military official about the viability of the Red Hill underground fuel storage tanks. Hawaii News Now.

New homeless program in ʻEwa aims to serve children and their families. Hale Kipa unveiled Thursday the 'Ohana Resilience Services program at Hale Kū Ola, located at Renton Road. The goal is to provide children and their families with a place of refuge and additional services. Hawaii Public Radio.

Hawaii Island

Did construction start at TMT site? Land board to mull the question next month. After months of delays, the question of whether construction work on the Thirty Meter Telescope has begun will be answered in November. Tribune-Herald.

BLNR approves transition of Hilo lots into affordable housing. About 35 acres of state land around Hilo and Kalaoa will be set aside to Hawaii County for affordable housing development. Tribune-Herald.

Maui

Maui County seeks information on vehicles damaged or destroyed in wildfires. Maui County is requesting information from vehicle owners to help identify fire-damaged or destroyed vehicles found on public roadways and other right-of-way areas following the August wildfires.  Maui News. Maui Now. Hawaii News Now.

Lahainaluna High School Students Are Met With Celebrations As They Return To Campus. Classes resumed despite lingering concerns about air quality due to the nearby burn zone. Lahaina's intermediate and elementary schools also are reopening this week. Civil Beat. Star-Advertiser.  Maui Now.  Hawaii News Now.

Hawaiian Electric extends moratorium on disconnections for Maui customers. Hawaiian Electric has extended the suspension of service disconnections for all Maui customers through at least Nov. 6. Maui Now.

Housing shuffle vexes Lahaina fire evacuees.  Paul Maloney, his wife, Sandra, and their Pomeranian, Zeus, are about to move for the eighth time since the Aug. 8 wildfire that swept through Lahaina killing up to 98 people and destroying about 2,200 buildings, mostly homes. Star-Advertiser.

Maui police identify Lahaina resident, 61, as latest fire fatality.  The 97th victim out of 98 confirmed fatalities from the Aug. 8 wildfire has been identified as Michael Misaka, 61, of Lahaina — leaving just one victim’s identity yet to be announced. Star-Advertiser.

Kauai

Shark bites surfer at Hanalei Bay on Sunday. The first confirmed shark attack of the year on Kaua‘i was reported on Sunday afternoon after a surfer’s leg was bitten by a large shark at Hanalei Bay. Garden Island. Hawaii News Now.

State, feds one step closer to protecting native forest birds on Kauaʻi from mosquito-borne diseases. The Hawaiʻi Department of Land and Natural Resources and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service are one step closer to protecting native forest birds on Kauaʻi from mosquito-borne diseases with their proposal to employ the incompatible insect technique to reduce mosquito populations. Kauai Now.

Hawaii celebrates Little League world championship, Honolulu mulls shoreline setbacks, Hawaiian Princess Kawananakoa near death, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

 

Honolulu wins Little League World Series, beating Curacao 13-3. For a week and a half at the Little League World Series, no team came close to Hawaii. The championship Sunday was no different. Hawaii News Now. Star-Advertiser. Hawaii Public Radio. Associated Press. KHON2.

Survey finds strong support for visitor education efforts, access fees to parks. Visitor access fees to state parks and trails are just one of the many tourism management efforts supported by Hawaii residents. That’s according to a recent Resident Sentiment Survey by the State of Hawai’i Department of Business, Economic Development & Tourism for Spring 2022. Hawaii News Now. Hawaii Public Radio.

Changes in affirmative action may have little impact on Hawaii schools. University officials say the impact in Hawaii would be minimal should the U.S. Supreme Court strike down racial affirmative action in school admissions. Star-Advertiser.

Fewer Native Hawaiian Men Are Going To College. The Repercussions May Last Generations. Overall college enrollment in the state shrank 20% over the last decade, but the drop was steeper for Native Hawaiian men, with 30% fewer male students enrolled last spring than there were a decade ago. Civil Beat.

Hawaii’s Top Campaign Contributor Is Backing Republicans This Election Cycle. The GOP saw an uptick in donations as well as stronger voter turnout in the Aug. 13 primary election. Civil Beat.

‘An Epic Fail:’ Hawaii Inmate Medical Records System Hasn’t Worked Right For Months. A top prison official said computer updates weren’t done for the system, and health workers at Hawaii’s jails and prisons lost access to thousands of records. Civil Beat.

Commentary: Hospitalized And Gravely Ill, This Hawaiian Princess Is Intent On Sharing Her Wealth. Abigail Kawananakoa has made clear in the past that she wants her fortune to be used to benefit Native Hawaiians. Civil Beat.

Oahu

Council considering increasing shoreline setbacks. The Honolulu City Council is considering increasing the general shoreline setback distance for structures and development from 40 feet to between 60 and 130 feet, depending on the location and size of the property. Star-Advertiser.

Honolulu Liquor Commission May Be Headed For An Overhaul. In justifying the need for change, a City Council resolution outlines a decades-long pattern of malfeasance. Civil Beat.

End in sight for foam and plastic take-out containers. Starting on September 6, single-use plastic and foam take-out containers can no longer be used. KHON2.

Ambulance safety questioned on Oahu following deadly explosion in Kailua. The Honolulu City Council is planning a special hearing with the head of Honolulu Emergency Services Department to figure out what changes may need to be made to ensure public safety. KITV4.

University of Hawaii reorganization merges 5 academic units into 1. Five academic units from three different colleges — each with related yet distinct approaches to communication and information — have been combined to establish the  School of Communication and Information  in one of the largest reorganizations in the university’s history. Star-Advertiser.

University of Hawaii study focuses on detecting mutations as a predictor of future COVID-19 variants. UH researchers led by Tao Yan, a professor in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, are analyzing wastewater collected from Oahu during the pandemic to determine if the presence of a mutation could be an indicator of virus evolution. Star-Advertiser.

Homeless encampments along Nimitz Highway reduced for now. As Oahu’s summer tourism season comes to its traditional Labor Day end, the main Nimitz Highway corridor that visitors use to get from Daniel K. Inouye International Airport into Waikiki last week was unusually clear of homeless encampments. Star-Advertiser.

Volunteers remove trash and paint over graffiti in Chinatown. The improved look is thanks to the more than 300 volunteers who picked up trash and added fresh layers of paint to the exteriors of businesses, traffic control boxes and nearby bridges Saturday during the Chinese Chamber of Commerce of Hawaii’s second annual “Chinatown Cleanup.” Star-Advertiser. Hawaii News Now.

Hawaii Island

Survey: Locals feeling a little friendlier toward tourists. Big Island residents are reporting an increasingly favorable view of the visitor industry, with East Hawaii residents expressing a more positive opinion than their West Hawaii counterparts. West Hawaii Today.

Commissioners mull cesspool alternatives: Waste management master plans in the works. Tax incentives and low-interest loans as well as the creation of an enterprise fund through a utility surcharge are three options being bandied about to help the state convert its 88,000 cesspools into something less harmful to the environment by 2050. West Hawaii Today.

How to catch up? Pandemic’s impact has stunted development for many young keiki. Preschool and elementary teachers on the Big Island have reported alarming behavioral changes in young keiki following the pandemic. Tribune-Herald.

Proposed bottling plant hopes to give back to community. Hawaiian Kingdom Brands plans to build a 30,000-square-foot water bottling and coffee roasting facility on a lot at the intersection of Mililani and Piilani streets. Tribune-Herald.

Another boat ramp option floated for Pohoiki. State engineers are investigating whether to remove most of a beach in order to reopen the Pohoiki Boat Ramp. Tribune-Herald.

Maui

Mayor transmits two resolutions to council in an effort to finalize A&B land acquisition. Maui County Mayor Michael Victorino transmitted two resolutions to the Maui County Council on Friday to accept the dedication of 45 acres of land from A&B Properties for parks and open space.  Maui Now.

Maui hate crime case hinges on use of term ‘haole’. The central question that jurors will be asked to decide is whether the men attacked the victim because he was white or because he was a newcomer who disrespected their community, court documents show. Star-Advertiser.

Maui hospital receives zero “Condition Level Findings” from accrediting body. Maui Memorial Medical Center received zero “Condition Level Findings” during an unannounced visit by surveyors with The Joint Commission in July. This marked the hospital’s highest scores to date, according to a Maui Health press release. Maui Now.

Maui hotels were tops in revenue, last in occupancy in July. Report shows less of a summer travel surge than last year. Maui News.

Could The End Be Near For Hawaii’s Resort Penguins? For nearly 40 years, guests arriving at the Hyatt Regency Maui Resort and Spa have been greeted by a group of penguins that, while perhaps charming in their feathery faux tuxedos, aren’t exactly associated with Hawaii. Civil Beat.

Kauai

Kaua‘i Police Department backed up Vice President Kamala Harris on vacation. KPD provided services both for the Vice President’s Aug. 15 arrival and the Aug. 25 departure, along with backing up her movements when necessary. Garden Island.

Bird Rescuers ‘Desperately’ Seek Kauai Honeycreepers As The Species Faces Extinction. Crews are in the remote forest seeking three ‘akikiki birds, part of a last-ditch attempt to protect them from the mosquito-borne illness that’s devastated their numbers. Civil Beat. Garden Island.

Federal grants drive honeycreeper protection, mosquito control, climate study; hemp farmers fight red tape, Maui jail riot study still not released, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Apapane honeycreeper PC:Janice Wei National Park Service

Campaign to save Hawaiian honeycreepers gets funding boost. A multiagency campaign to save Hawaii’s imperiled honeycreepers got a significant shot in the arm Monday with the announcement of a $14 million influx of federal funds. Star-Advertiser. Civil Beat. Big Island Video News. Big Island Now. Maui Now. Garden Island. KITV4.

$20M Federal Grant Supports State-wide Climate Resilience. The National Science Foundation has awarded the University of Hawaiʻi’s Established Program to Stimulate Competitive Research a five-year $20-million grant. Big Island Video News. Maui Now. Garden Island.

Hawaiʻi receiving $14 million in federal funding to combat invasive mosquitoes. More than $14 million in federal funding from the US Department of the Interior will go to conservation programs to tackle invasive mosquitoes in the State of Hawaiʻi as a priority distribution from the $1.2 trillion Bipartisan Infrastructure Package enacted last year. Maui Now.

Hemp Farmers Are Fed Up With Government Regulations Hampering The Industry’s Potential. After exhausting their savings and losing hope for more meaningful legislative relief, some hemp producers in Hawaii may ditch the crop altogether. Civil Beat.

Harsher penalties urged for car thieves. A bill that would double the maximum possible sentence for stealing a vehicle is only one of several crime bills currently under consideration by Gov. David Ige. Tribune-Herald.

Local government complaints office is dealt more work abuse amid pandemic. The state Office of the Ombudsman has welcomed complaints about state and county administrative agencies in Hawaii for over 50 years, but the past two have been extraordinary. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii has lowest monthly starting salaries: Study. WalletHub, a free credit score website, ranked cities based on different metrics like availability on entry level jobs, monthly average salary, annual job growth, workforce diversity, share of workers in poverty and more. KHON2.

Oahu

‘Water waste’ complaints quadruple as calls for conservation continue. Since the initial call went out March 9, after three well were shut down amid the Navy’s water contamination crisis, BWS officials say their phones have been ringing off the hook with residents reporting so-called water wasters. Hawaii News Now.

Oahu violent crime at 3-year high, Honolulu Police Department report finds. Homicides, robberies, assaults and rape cases on Oahu are at three-year highs, according to 2022 Honolulu Police Department counts through April, elevating concern among police and federal law enforcement officials using data and crime prevention tactics to contend with threats to public safety. Star-Advertiser.

Recipients reaching limits on assistance from Honolulu rent and utility program. Honolulu Hale’s efforts to distribute upward of $225 million in pandemic- related federal funding through its Rental and Utility Relief Program have been underway for over a year — and recipients are now beginning to hit set limits for financial assistance. Star-Advertiser.

City and County of Honolulu expands COVID-19 testing as demand increases. The City and County of Honolulu will once again offer free COVID-19 testing for Oahu residents at its Mobile Lab at the Daniel K. Inouye International Airport seven days a week, as demand for increases during the current rise in coronavirus cases. Star-Advertiser.

HART to receive $500,000 for environmental assessments along rail line. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency will pay half a million dollars for Honolulu’s rail authority to conduct environmental assessments along the rail line. Hawaii Public Radio.

Hawaii officials resume postponed aerial drop to eradicate coqui frogs in Waimanalo. The Hawaii Department of Agriculture Monday resumed plans to drop a citric acid solution over a remote mountain area of Waimanalo as part of efforts to eradicate invasive coqui frogs. Star-Advertiser. KITV4.

Supreme Court Orders Judge To Revist Sealed Case Dispute. The Civil Beat Law Center for the Public Interest has asked Circuit Court Judge Gary Chang to unseal names of defendants in a case, restore a complaint the judge removed and lift a gag order imposed on the center. Civil Beat.

Hawaii Island

Report: Hawaii County tops in construction hurdles. It’s more difficult to get a construction project rolling in Hawaii County than anywhere else in the nation, according to a report released last month. West Hawaii Today.

County Council eyes tougher sunscreen law. A state law took effect last year that banned the sale of sunscreens that contain two specific chemicals, but a proposed Hawaii County law would go further and ban selling all sunscreens except those containing two different substances. Tribune-Herald.

This Stunning Big Island Valley Is Drawing Bigger Crowds — And Controversy. Pololu Valley, located along the North Kohala coast, is defined by forested cliffs that descend dramatically to a legendary black sand beach. Civil Beat.

Maui

Three years later, report on Maui jail riot still not released. More than three years after a riot that caused millions of dollars in damage, the Maui Community Correctional Center is set to undergo major repairs. But a final report on the incident has yet to be released to the public. KHON2.

Comments now accepted on latest listing of federal transportation projects for Maui. The Maui Metropolitan Planning Organization is now accepting public comments on its Federal Fiscal Year 2022-2025 Transportation Improvement Program Revision #5. Maui Now.

Maui Fair is canceled for a third year in a row. That hasn’t happened since WWII. The fair won’t be coming to Maui this year — and that’s leaving many residents and vendors disappointed. Hawaii News Now.

Kauai

Kaua‘i Community College celebrates in-person graduation. About 120 students elected to take the walk to receive their appropriate degrees or certificates from a specially created stage before an audience of several hundred people spread out over the area behind the Performing Arts Center. Garden Island.

Hawaii honeycreepers in peril, lei banned at some graduations, Hawaiian Airlines cancels more flights, omicron XE reaches the state, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

‘Ākohekohe crested honeycreeper PC:DLNR Jacob Drucker

Some Hawaiian Songbirds May Vanish In Less Than Two Years, Report Warns. Scientists and wildlife officials said urgent action is needed to save the honeycreepers from disease-ridden mosquitoes. Four species of the Hawaiian honeycreeper could disappear in the next few years, with conservation officials and scientists warning that disease and climate change are driving the palm-sized songbirds to extinction. Civil Beat. Big Island Now. Hawaii News Now.

New Report On Reestablishing ʻŌhiʻa In Hawaiʻi. The study, which highlights the value of ʻōhiʻa in capturing carbon, provides support for recovery of the native tree, officials say. Big Island Video News. Garden Island.

Health Department confirms omicron variant XE detected in Hawaii. The recombinant COVID-19 omicron variant XE, first identified in the United Kingdom, has been detected in Hawaii, according to the state Department of Health. Star-Advertiser. Civil Beat. Tribune-Herald. Hawaii News Now. KITV4.

Hawaiian Airlines to cancel 32 more flights amid pilot recertification delays. In place of the canceled flights, Hawaiian is planning to substitute their smaller aircraft with larger planes to rebook passengers and ensure travelers get to their destinations. They do plan to complete 119 flights around the state Friday. KITV4. Hawaii News Now.

Documents Show US Rep. Kai Kahele Has A Special Deal With Hawaiian Airlines. Just before Kahele took office, the airline and national pilots union agreed to a new provision in the union contract granting a special leave for pilots who are also elected officials. Civil Beat. Hawaii News Now.

Department of Public Safety official pleads not guilty to perjury, other charges. The head of training at the state Department of Public Safety pleaded not guilty Thursday to charges accusing her of lying about her educational background. Public Training Officer J. Marte Martinez pleaded not guilty to perjury, tampering with a government record and unsworn falsification to authorities. Associated Press.

State may loosen restrictions for ‘Made in Hawaii’. The Made in Hawaii brand is synonymous with many local products. But after sales dipped during the pandemic, the state is looking at ways to revitalize the Made in Hawaii brand. KHON2.

Oahu

Experts: As more suits are filed, cost to taxpayers for crash involving officers could top $10M. Legal claims are mounting in a near-fatal crash last year in which officers allegedly chased a car without their emergency lights on and then didn’t stop to render aid. All six people in the Honda sedan involved in the September crash in Makaha are now suing the city. Hawaii News Now.

Oahu North Shore homeowners defy state laws as they try to save their properties. The state Department of Land and Natural Resources says it’s investigating after a beachfront property owner rented an excavator and moved large amounts of sand in front of his homes at Rocky Point on Oahu’s North Shore to protect them from erosion. Star-Advertiser.

More Lead Detected In Water Of Pearl Harbor Schools, Home. Lead has again been detected in water samples taken from three Pearl Harbor area locations, including schools for young children, the Navy announced on Thursday. Civil Beat.

University of Hawaii gets funding for weather research. The University of Hawaii at Manoa has been named to a consortium of institutions that will share $360 million over the next three years to conduct research that will help weather authorities better forecast episodes of flooding in rivers and streams, among other things. Star-Advertiser.

Good Friday and Easter weekend 2022: List of what’s open and closed on Oahu. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii Island

Senate Calls For Lava Evacuation Plans On Big Island. Lawmakers want the Hawaii Emergency Management Agency to pick up the pace in drafting evacuation plans. Civil Beat.

New site planned for abandoned vehicles: Facility would be on state land near Hilo landfill. Hawaii County officials within the next two years want to construct a building in Hilo to store abandoned vehicles. Tribune-Herald.

Hawaii Community College gets EV charging station that is first of its kind on isle. Hawaii Community College gets EV charging station that is first of its kind on isle. The solar charger follows the installation of eight new EV charging stations at the University of Hawaii at Hilo campus in 2020. Tribune-Herald. Big Island Video News.

As Hawaii lifts the mandatory mask mandate and Safe Travels Program, hospitals on the Big Island are generally seeing fewer COVID-19 patients, including Kona Community Hospital, which recently saw a six- day period during which no COVID-19 patients were admitted. West Hawaii Today.

Maui

Tourists May Have To Start Paying To Park At Popular Maui Beaches. In response to growing calls from residents who want their government leaders to better manage crowds of tourists who’ve clogged parking lots and dissuaded locals from going to some beaches in their own backyards, Maui County is planning to roll out a new paid parking system that would charge visitors and set aside free spaces for residents at some of the island’s busiest destinations. Civil Beat.

Paia temple takes steps to curb shoreline erosion. State approves plans to put in temporary barrier while long-term solutions sought. Maui News.

Lei-giving ban at high school graduation? Maui students question new restriction. Long a Hawai’i tradition, lei-giving at high school graduation has been banned — at least temporarily — at Baldwin High School.  Maui Now.

Maui County had a 4.3% unemployment rate in March. Maui County’s unemployment rate in March was 4.3%, down from the 4.7% reported in February, and the 8% rate from March of 2021. Maui Now.

Kauai

Kaua’i politicians and climate activists push, pull on policy. Local state representatives met with advocates on Wednesday, to discuss climate bills still alive near the end of the Hawai‘i State Legislature’s 2022 session. Garden Island.

Kahele hears from students. For U.S. Rep. Kai Kahele, Wednesday was his turn to take on the role of teacher as he addressed the Island School staff and the school’s high school population at the Wilcox Gymnasium on the school’s Puhi campus. Garden Island.

Foreign fishermen held captive in Hawaii, native honeycreepers in peril, Honolulu police chief feels heat in midst of federal corruption probe, school flu shots delayed, human-dolphin interaction rule draws Kona crowd, Kauai to allow multiple housing units, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Amakihi honeycreeper, Lucas Behnke USGS

Native forest birds on Kauai are rapidly dying off and facing the threat of extinction as climate change heats up their habitat and allows mosquito-borne diseases to thrive, according to a study released Wednesday. Associated Press.

‘I‘iwi honeycreeper, Lucas Behnke USGS

Pier 17 doesn’t even show up on most Honolulu maps. Cars whiz past it on their way to Waikiki. Passing tourists, let alone locals, are unaware that just behind a guarded gate, another world exists: foreign fishermen confined to American boats for years at a time. Associated Press.

Though federal laws and rules don’t mention Hawaii’s fishing fleet by name, technicalities buried in immigration law, maritime regulations and agency rule books have combined to give it a rare distinction: In the Aloha State hundreds of foreign fishermen are stuck on their boats for years. Associated Press.

Angry Democrats want a Bernie Sanders delegate who made an obscene gesture on national television kicked out of the Democratic Party of Hawaii. Civil Beat.

Hepatitis A outbreak holds up school flu program for now. KHON2.

Under a $39 million plan for the next decade, the state would not only escalate its fight against invasive species at home but take measures to prevent them from reaching the islands. The draft of the Hawaii Interagency Biosecurity Plan, scheduled to receive an airing at public hearings across the state early next month, was unveiled Wednesday in a news conference at the World Conservation Congress at the Hawai‘i Convention Center. Star-Advertiser.

A proposed biosecurity plan for the state seeks additional funding and increased cooperation between government agencies to stop the spread of invasive species. Tribune-Herald.

Hawaii officials plan to unveil a plan to cope with coral bleaching that's threatening the state's reefs. Warmer ocean temperatures have stressed Hawaii's coral, forcing them to expel algae they rely on for food. Vast stretches of reef have turned white, increasing the risk that the coral will get sick and die. Hawaii News Now.

Members of an international environmental group are debating a proposal to urge leaders in every country to ban trading ivory. Associated Press.

Although there’s a lot of focus on the IUCN this week…there’s a different conference beginning today that focuses on native rights issues. The International Indian Treaty Council is hosting its annual meeting this year in Hawai‘i.  Indigenous leaders from First Nation groups around the world use the annual meeting to discuss issues around decolonization, sovereignty and self-determination. Hawaii Public Radio.

Gov. David Ige has appointed Edmund Hyun as the interim chair of the Hawaii Paroling Authority. Civil Beat.

Oahu

Federal prosecutors investigating a case involving possible public corruption by Police Chief Louis Kealoha and his wife, a deputy prosecutor, have sent out a target letter to at least one person, saying he is a possible suspect in the investigation. Star-Advertiser.

Honolulu’s newest police commissioner turned Wednesday’s Honolulu Police Commission meeting into a detailed inquiry about the department’s lax handling of police misconduct. Civil Beat.

Honolulu police Chief Louis Kealoha faced heated questioning Wednesday about allegations of police misconduct and several high-profile incidents in which officers found guilty of abuse of power were never punished. Hawaii News Now.

The Honolulu City Council delayed final approval of the Mana‘olana condominium-hotel tower Wednesday, sending the issue back to the Zoning and Planning Committee for further work. Star-Advertiser.

The Honolulu City Council voted Wednesday to push back decision-making on a luxury hotel and condominium project that’s planned for the corner of Kapiolani Boulevard and Atkinson Street in Ala Moana. Civil Beat.

Oahu residents looking to get rooftop solar energy systems soon won’t be able to send their excess energy into the grid. Hawaiian Electric Co. said Wednesday that Oahu has nearly reached the capacity that the state Public Utilities Commission put on solar systems that export energy to the power grid. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii

A decision on a rule that would regulate human-dolphin recreational activity off the Kona coast and throughout Hawaii isn’t likely to be made for at least a year. But heated public conversations on the topic, which will be held across the state, began Wednesday night on the Big Island. West Hawaii Today.

Riders using the county’s new Hele-On Kakoo paratransit system will pay a $4 fare each way, after an attempt Wednesday by Hilo Councilman Dennis “Fresh” Onishi to halve the amount was killed by a County Council majority. West Hawaii Today.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency said Wednesday that Mid Pac Petroleum LLC paid a settlement of $600,000 for federal Clean Air Act violations at the company’s Kawaihae facility on Hawaii island. Star-Advertiser.

A failure to install vapor pollution controls and obey pollution limits under the Clean Air Act will cost a a Hawaii-based petroleum company $632,000, according to an agreement with the Environmental Protection Agency announced Wednesday. West Hawaii Today.

Maui

The state director of the United Public Workers and Gov. David Ige on Tuesday quietly signed a supplemental contract agreement for the union's Maui County public hospital workers along the outlines of a pact forged during a legal fight borne of the state's efforts to privatize the facilities. Maui News.

The Hawaiʻi Department of Transportation, Airports Division is conducting a public information meeting for the Kahului Airport Master Plan Update from 6 to 8 p.m. on Thursday, Sept. 22, 2016 at the Kaunoa Senior Center, Room 101-102 in Spreckelsville. Maui Now.

A two-story commercial, retail and hotel building is being proposed for an empty lot on a corner of Kaunakakai's main street, which could provide lodging for visiting island residents, though some said they'd rather see it become housing for Molokai families. Maui News.

Manpower and mechanical problems have affected trash pickups in Lahaina, Haiku and Makawao and the hours of the Molokai Landfill this week, the county Solid Waste Division announced Tuesday. Maui News.

Kauai

The Kauai County Council unanimously passed a bill on first reading Wednesday that allows multiple family dwelling units in all residential zoning districts. Garden Island.

Several people in support of a petition that would preserve about 21,000 acres of agricultural land on the Westside testified in front the state Land Use Commission on Wednesday. Garden Island.

Adolescent center moves ahead. Council approves $5 million in CIP funds from Legislature. Garden Island.