Showing posts with label human trafficking. Show all posts
Showing posts with label human trafficking. Show all posts

Thursday, June 13, 2019

Kaiser sues Queen's in contract dispute, Honolulu no sanctuary city, OHA trustees must pay back misused money, water buffaloes on Kauai, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

copyright 2019 All Hawaii News all rights reserved
Honolulu cityscape ©2019 All Hawaii News
Study: Average Honolulu resident would have to save for 40 years to afford a home. Urban Honolulu tied with San Francisco for the second-longest length of time a prospective homeowner would have to save up. Los Angeles was in the top spot -- at 43 years. Hawaii News Now.

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Kaiser sues Queen’s over billing. Kaiser Foundation Health Plan Inc. filed a federal lawsuit Wednesday against The Queen’s Health Systems, after the hospital provider said it intended to directly bill Kaiser members who receive emergency medical services at its facilities as of May 31. Star-Advertiser.

Kaiser Permanente Sues Queen's Health System In Contract Dispute. Kaiser Permanente Hawaii has sued the Queen's Health System in federal court after it said the parties failed to reach agreement over a hospital provider contract that expired last month. Hawaii Public Radio.

Kaiser files lawsuit against Queen’s following contract expiration at end of May. Kaiser Permanente on Wednesday filed a lawsuit against The Queen’s Health Systems after Queen’s told the health plan it will be billing Kaiser members for the balance of any emergency services it provides that aren’t reimbursed. West Hawaii Today.

Kaiser Permanente files lawsuit against Queen's Health System to protect patients from 'unfair billing practices'. According to Kaiser Permanente, it has filed a lawsuit in federal court against Queen’s Health System to "protect their patients from unfair billing practices." KITV.

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Ethics Commission forces several OHA trustees to pay back thousands. The state Ethics Commission has ordered several members of the Office of Hawaiian Affairs Board of Trustees to pay back thousands of dollars in travel and meal expenses. Hawaii News Now.

As Hawaii Looks to Build Tech Industry, Attention Turns To Esports. Hawaii has long sought to diversify its economy and build up its tech industry. One area gaining ground at local colleges is the competitive video gaming known as esports. Hawaii Public Radio.

Push To Increase College Financial Aid Applications May Be Paying Off. Education officials hope this results in more graduating seniors enrolling in college this year, especially those from low-income families. Civil Beat.

This Texas Lawyer Flies Marshallese Women Through Hawaii For Black Market Adoptions. In texts and emails with adoptive parents, Dallas lawyer Jody Hall openly flouts laws restricting Marshallese adoptions in the U.S. Civil Beat.

The State Department of Defense put out a warning about a scam involving the late Hawaii U.S. Representative Mark Takai. A person is sending text messages to people using his photo. He claims to be Sergeant Philip Lee Alexander Junior, a soldier in the Army stationed in Syria. KITV.

Oahu

Bill to make Honolulu sanctuary city dies. Honolulu City Councilwoman Ann Kobayashi, who co-authored Bill 31, said there are no plans to move the bill beyond the approval it received on first reading June 5. Star-Advertiser.

Power Outage At Honolulu Airport Causes Travel Delays. For about an hour, security checkpoints at Terminal 1 were not operational and there was no electricity at the gates. Civil Beat.

Faulty transmission line blamed for power outage at Honolulu’s airport. A power outage shut down a large portion of Honolulu’s airport Wednesday morning, but it’s now back to business as usual. Hawaii News Now.

Charges dismissed against ousted principal. A state judge has permanently dismissed felony theft charges against the ousted director of the now-defunct Halau Lokahi Public Charter School because the state took too long to take the case to trial. Star-Advertiser.

‘An ongoing problem’: Kailua residents worry a stretch of road is too dangerous for pedestrians. Two people have been hit by cars in two days on the same road in Kailua. Hawaii News Now.

Injured man, 5 others cited for trespassing after rockfall at Sacred Falls. State conservation officers on Tuesday afternoon cited an injured Honolulu man, along with five others, for trespassing at Sacred Falls State Park following a rockfall incident. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii Island

Garbage diversion is the goal: Solid Waste Advisory Committee wraps up draft report. The newest crop of trash-talkers advocates the carrot, not the stick. West Hawaii Today.

Man indicted in crash that killed HFD veteran. A Kona grand jury met June 10 and indicted Christopher Raymond Helmlinger, 21, of Waimea, on charges of manslaughter and second-degree negligent homicide in connection with the May 22 multiple-car crash that took the life of David Mahon, a 49-year-old Kailua-Kona resident who had a lengthy career with the fire department. West Hawaii Today.

HMC adds cardiologist. Hilo Medical Center’s cardiac program has expanded once again, with the addition of a second interventional cardiologist. Tribune-Herald.

Maui

Council budget in fact $43M more than mayor’s. Budget Chairwoman Keani Rawlins-Fernandez comments at news conference incorrect. Maui News.

On Hawaiian Kingdom, Maui County Goes Where Hawaii County Would Not. On May 15, Dr. Keanu Sai, a political science professor at the University of Hawaii, made a presentation to the Maui County Council regarding the status of Hawaii as an occupied nation State under international law. Big Island Video News.

Snake hitchhikes to Maui in Virginia visitor’s backpack. Maui police and state officials caught a small, juvenile snake that slithered out of a visitor’s backpack Monday night at a vacation rental in Pukalani. Star-Advertiser.

Stowaway Snake Found Slithering from Backpack of Maui Visitor. A small juvenile snake was captured after it was seen slithering out of a newly arrived visitor’s backpack Monday night at a Maui vacation rental in Pukalani. Maui Now.

Kauai

Rules ready when highway reopens. It’s going to be different for Kauai residents trying to get to Kee Beach for sunset or take a weekend hike to Hanakapiai. Garden Island.

Hanalei Initiative to launch North Shore Shuttle. It will begin running with the reopening of Kuhio Highway to the general public. Garden Island.

Kauai climbs ‘The Hill’. Kauai’s contingent sent to this week’s “Hawaii on the Hill” in Washington, D.C., was on a mission of aloha. Garden Island.

Water buffaloes arrive on a Kauai farm. Kauai farmer Don Heacock has four new additions taking up residence on his 25-acre farm — water buffaloes from Arkansas that he considers a dream come true. Star-Advertiser.

Thursday, January 4, 2018

Audit blasts state energy office, Hanabusa more popular among business leaders, new U.S. attorney named, dialysis clinics vacant as inspections awaited, rats return to Lehua Island, Kealoha accused of coercing witness, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

courtesy University of Hawaii Sea grant college
Waikiki king tides July 2017, courtesy UH Sea College Grant program
For the past two years, the University of Hawaii Sea Grant Program has been recruiting citizen scientists from across the Pacific. They were trained to document high water levels or King Tides in an effort to understand and adapt to sea level rise. Hawaii Public Radio.

State Auditor’s report blasts energy office. The Hawaii State Energy Office awarded a contract for more than $250,000 to plan a “state-of-the-art” energy innovation center last year, and then seven months later commissioned another consultant to assess whether that center is actually needed, according to an audit of the office. Star-Advertiser.

Read full audit here.

Auditors couldn't figure out what this state office does — or plans to do. Hawaii News Now.

Audit: State Energy Office ‘Is Not Doing Its Job’ A scathing report cites the office’s failure to document what it’s doing to help Hawaii’s transition to renewable energy resources. Civil Beat.

Why Colleen Hanabusa Can’t Sit Still. The Hawaii congresswoman talks about ambition, office-hopping and her quest for the Hawaii governor’s office. Civil Beat.

BOSS Asks Business Leaders: Ige or Hanabusa? Hawaii Business.

Kenji Price — a former federal prosecutor and Army Ranger who is now a director at the Honolulu law firm of Alston Hunt Floyd & Ing — has been appointed Interim U.S. Attorney for Hawaii by Attorney General Jeff Sessions, the Justice Department announced today. Star-Advertiser.

Ex-Army Ranger Named Temporary US Attorney For Hawaii. Kenji Price has been focusing on white collar criminal defense and commercial litigation at a Honolulu firm. Associated Press.

Delays in clinic inspections hurt dialysis patients. Lawmakers are trying to find solutions to a three-year delay in inspections for some dialysis clinics that largely remain closed as the number of residents with kidney failure continues to climb. Star-Advertiser.

One aspect of the homeless crisis: State realizes policing encampments is pricey. DLNR is requesting $330,000 in related funds. Gov. David Ige's administration also wants $419,302 to pay for eight new deputy sheriffs that could respond to complaints about illegal camping and trespassing on state lands. There is also a $5 million lump sum request in the state Department of Human Services' budget. Hawaii News Now.

Hawaii joins 'tele-abortion' pilot amid debate about procedure's safety. Hawaii is one of only four states taking part in a "tele-abortion" pilot project, and the politically-charged issue is riling up abortion foes. Hawaii News Now.

Preschool Open Door Program Open for Enrollment. Low and moderate-income families in Hawaii can tap a state subsidized program to give their keiki a head start in early learning. Hawaii Public Radio.

No end in sight for mumps outbreak. In addition to containing clusters of mumps cases, the state is gearing up for the peak of flu season. KITV.

Mumps booster needed to avoid virus. Even if you had a mumps vaccination, you are being urged to get a booster shot. KITV.

Foreign fishermen settle human trafficking suit. Two Indonesian fishermen who say they were enslaved on an American fishing boat have settled their lawsuit against the vessel’s owner seven years after escaping and receiving special U.S. visas as victims of human trafficking. Associated Press.

Kmart to pay over $84K for overbilling Hawaii Medicaid customers. Pacific Business News.

Hawaiian Airlines awarded share of $227M federal contract. Hawaiian Airlines Inc. on Friday received a share of a $227 million federal contract for international commercial scheduled air cargo transportation services. Pacific Business News.

Oahu

Katherine Kealoha coerced man to lie to grand jury, charges say. The deputy city prosecutor wife of a Honolulu police chief convinced a man whose trust she allegedly stole from when he was a child to lie for her before a grand jury looking into corruption allegations against the couple, according to court documents filed today. Associated Press.

An alleged victim in the case against former Honolulu police chief Louis Kealoha and his deputy prosecutor wife, Katherine, is now a suspect. KHON2.

Police Commission Loosens Rules On Legal Fees For Officers. For years, city attorneys have been strict when it comes to paying an officer’s attorney fees in lawsuits and criminal complaints. Civil Beat.

Rise in attacks by state hospital patients prompts call for change. KHON2.

Medical Pot And Veterans: Groups Offer Free Evaluations. The cost of getting evaluated usually far exceeds the price of the actual registration process for cannabis users. Civil Beat.

Honolulu EMS announces the need for more money. KHON2.

Warning signs posted after big sewage spill into Kaneohe Bay. The public is being told to stay out of Kaneohe Bay after a spill sent 30,000 gallons of sewage into the water. Hawaii News Now.

Kaimana the monk seal is hooked again. Kaimana the monk seal got hooked — a second time. This time, she needed help getting it out. Star-Advertiser.

$500K-plus micro condo units to hit Kakaako market. About 200 studios range from 277 square feet to 373 square feet, with the smallest of those starting between $500,000 and $600,000. Star-Advertiser.

Howard Hughes to open sales office for new Honolulu tower. Pacific Business News.

Petitioners want to preserve monkeypod trees at Manoa Marketplace. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii Island

Ige releases additional $1.3M for outreach, research in battle against rapid ohia death. Tribune-Herald.

Mayor Harry Kim’s lobbyist to the state Legislature appeared before a more local body Wednesday, where he defended his track record and pledged better communication with the County Council. West Hawaii Today.

The traffic signals are in place, but it may take until the end of the month before intersection improvements at Shower Drive and Highway 130 in Puna are complete. Tribune-Herald.

A former driver for The Arc of Hilo who sexually assaulted a physically and mentally disabled woman last year in a van owned by the nonprofit organization was sentenced Wednesday to 20 years in prison. Tribune-Herald.

Maui

Makawao is Highest Priority Area for Cesspools, Public Meeting Announced. Maui Now.

Water Director Taylor remains at home. Water Department leadership in limbo following council vote in support of director. Maui News.

Kauai

Rats! signs of life. A rapid assessment team flew to Lehua Island Tuesday after checks of motion-detecting field cameras showed the presence of two rats. Garden Island.

Housing crisis lingers as additional rental unit bill deferred. A bill aimed at allowing homeowners to build small rental units on their land in order to help meet an affordable housing shortage was deferred to the end of February during a Kauai County committee meeting Wednesday. Garden Island.

Friday, April 7, 2017

Bill to criminalize trespassing on state land, Lt. Gov. Tsutsui 'pretty certain' he'll leave post, Hawaii County seeks to limit public in contested case hearings, H-POWER worker killed, state cooperates on immigration holds, rat lungworm worries Maui, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

copyright All Hawaii News all rights reserved
Pohulu Valley lookout
The Hawaii House of Representatives approved a bill to make it a crime to trespass on all state lands despite concerns it could harm homeless people, cultural practitioners, protesters and hikers. Associated Press.

Hawaii Cooperates With Feds On Immigration Holds, Even As Other States Balk. A recent study shows that Hawaii is one of just seven states that fully complied with federal requests to hold immigrants in custody beyond their release dates without a warrant. Civil Beat.

University of Hawaii at Manoa researchers have found that life expectancy in the Aloha State exceeds averages, and continues to increase, compared to those who live on the mainland. Hawaii News Now.

Oahu

The state has agreed to pay $875,000 to settle a lawsuit filed in connection with the death of 4-year-old Zion McKeown, a known victim of child abuse who was killed after state Child Welfare Services staff returned him to his family. Star-Advertiser.

Honolulu police are investigating the death of a 41-year-old man at the H-POWER plant Thursday. Hawaii News Now.

The company behind H-POWER says an employee was killed in an accident at the facility. KHON2.

Some 182 acres overlooking the rugged East Oahu coastline have been conveyed from the Trust for Public Land to the nonprofit Livable Hawai‘i Kai Hui, which will oversee stewardship of the Ka Iwi Coast land, officials said. Star-Advertiser.

After four decades, efforts have paid off for people trying to protect a beloved East Oahu shoreline. Thursday, City and State Representatives announced the purchase of Ka Iwi Coast Mauka Lands. KITV.

A man is facing deportation to China after being convicted of trafficking Chinese women to work as prostitutes in Hawaii massage parlors. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii Attorney General Doug Chin is reviewing the 2015 assault of a toddler at an Ewa Beach day care after Honolulu Prosecuting Attorney Keith Kaneshiro declined to pursue the case, saying he had received no new information from the Honolulu Police Department despite the department taking a fresh look. Civil Beat.

Despite its reputation as a safe snorkeling spot, Hanauma Bay is actually one of Hawaii's deadliest beaches. Hawaii News Now.

The median price for both condominiums and homes on Oahu increased 4 percent last month, while interest rates are up almost 12 percent from last year. Pacific Business News.

The $1 billion, 217-unit Park Lane Ala Moana luxury condominium project in Honolulu opened on Wednesday to its first residents, an executive with one of the developers of one of the most luxurious condos in Hawaii confirmed to Pacific Business News.

More details have been revealed regarding the planned medical marijuana dispensary at the former Bank of Hawaii branch on Kapahulu Avenue in Honolulu with ties to well-known Hawaii businessman Colbert Matsumoto, including why the company behind it chose this location. Pacific Business News.

Wet’n’Wild Hawaii is changing owners again. EPR Properties, a Kansas City, Mo.-based specialty real estate investment trust, said Thursday it is buying the Kapolei water park from CNL Lifestyle Properties Inc. as part of a $455.5 million deal involving the Northstar California Ski Resort, 15 water and amusement parks, and five small family entertainment centers. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii

New rules for the Planning Department would reduce public participation in contested case hearings, while increasing public participation in planned unit developments. West Hawaii Today.

Hilo moved one step closer to having the state’s first Neighbor Island community economic district on Thursday after a bill creating the district cleared its final committee in the state Senate. Tribune-Herald.

Big Island homes and condominiums ended the first quarter on a high note, with prices up 20 and 33 percent, respectively, according to Hawaii Island Realtors. Pacific Business News.

Maui

On Thursday, Lt. Gov. Shan Tsutsui, the 45-year-old Wailuku resident and former Senate president confirmed that he’s “pretty certain” he won’t seek re-election as lieutenant governor, and he’s thinking about running for mayor. Maui News.

The Maui County Council will be holding a public hearing on the proposed budget for the next fiscal year at 6 p.m. April 18 in Council Chambers on the eighth floor of the county building in Wailuku. Maui News.

The chairman of the Maui County Council’s budget committee said Thursday that he is not looking to close the Waiehu Municipal Golf Course, but added that privatization could be an option. Maui News.

A meeting in the remote East Maui community of Hāna to discuss the threat of rat lungworm disease, drew a standing room only crowd to Helene Hall on Thursday evening. Maui Now.

Maui health officials said six cases of rat lungworm disease have been reported over the past three months after the island had seen just two cases of the disease in the previous decade. Associated Press.

Kauai

Cooperation between residents and government, environmental impacts of planes and quality education were concerns voiced at a community meeting Thursday hosted by Gov. David Ige. Garden Island.

Hawaii Dairy Farms has agreed to write a $125,000 check for streambank restoration and endangered species protection at the Makauwahi Cave Reserve. Garden Island.

Kauai real estate sales dropped in March, while median sales prices increased, with condominium prices jumping nearly 20 percent. Pacific Business News.

Molokai

Community-based subsistence fishing area designation sought for Molokai. ‘Our resources are depleting’ Maui News.

Thursday, January 12, 2017

Money sought for roads, mileage tax mulled, state computers probed 45M times a day, death with dignity legislation, Green mulls gubernatorial run, Attorney General clears homeless map, Hawaii park downsized, Maui workers charged with vacation theft, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

copyright 2017 All Hawaii News all rights reserved
Hawaii roadway © 2017 All Hawaii News
Hawaii Department of Transportation officials told state lawmakers Wednesday that they need dozens of new positions and millions of additional dollars to continue with plans to modernize airports, repair harbors and maintain roads. Civil Beat.

As laws mandate more fuel efficient cars and trucks, state transportation officials said they have to either double the gas tax, or find some a more fair way to charge users. KITV.

The top manager of state government computer systems in Hawaii says would-be hackers are probing the defenses of state networks up to 45 million times a day in an effort to find vulnerabilities in the system. Star-Advertiser.

With two years left in his Senate term, Josh Green is considering running for governor or lieutenant governor in 2018. West Hawaii Today.

Pierre Omidyar, LinkedIn co-founder ​Reid Hoffman put $10M each into new fund for ethical artificial intelligence. Pacific Business News.

Longtime state political lobbyist John Radcliffe has stage four liver and colon cancer and wants to choose when he dies. Radcliffe, 74, is asking the court to declare that Hawaii’s murder and manslaughter laws do not apply when a physician helps a mentally-competent, terminally-ill adult patient who chooses to die. Star-Advertiser.

Lawmakers in Hawaii and several other states want to prevent presidential candidates from appearing on their states’ ballots unless the candidates release their tax returns. Associated Press.

Incensed that President-elect Donald Trump still won’t make public his tax returns, state Rep. Chris Lee is trying to do something about it. Civil Beat.

As the state Department of Education continues to reduce its backlog of employee misconduct cases, some Board of Education members are questioning whether the department is doing enough to prevent cases in the first place. Star-Advertiser.

The Governor’s top budget priority for this upcoming legislative session is Public Education. But will his increased spending really make a difference? Hawaii Public Radio.

Seniors in Hawaii face a greater risk of being struck and killed by a car than in any other state in the nation — a nagging fact that hasn’t changed much in the last decade, according to a report released this week by the National Complete Streets Coalition. Star-Advertiser.

How Hawaii’s Inmates Are Ending Up In Prisons All Over The Country. But, citing privacy and security reasons, state prison officials won’t say why ‌imates are being transferred or where they have gone. Civil Beat.

Oahu
The state Attorney General’s office told state Rep. Gene Ward that a map he published in November of suspected homeless encampments and homeless activity in his East Honolulu district passes legal muster and is constitutional. Star-Advertiser.

Honolulu Mayor Kirk Caldwell said Wednesday said he doubts a final agreement has been reached yet between the Police Commission and Police Chief Louis Kealoha over a possible payout to the chief in exchange for his retirement. Civil Beat.

As out of state law enforcement agencies prepare to make the trip to Hawaii and begin their recruiting trip, the Honolulu Police Department is searching for applicants of its own. KHON2.

A traffic pattern change due to the city's rail project in Pearl City is not sitting well with a longtime business there. Hawaii News Now.

The city wants to sell a portion of a popular park in Windward Oahu. However, the proposal is facing backlash from some community members in Kahaluu. Hawaii News Now.

Sewage spills are likely to continue in West Kapolei near Ko Olina until corroded pipes are replaced at an estimated cost of $20 million, a Honolulu City Council committee was told Wednesday. Civil Beat.

A third finalist for the University of Hawaii at Manoa chancellor position will be participating in a final round of interviews this month, UH officials announced Wednesday. Star-Advertiser.

Commentary: STEM Jobs? Not In Honolulu. Nationally, we rank close to the bottom when it comes to professions involving science, technology, engineering and math. Civil Beat.

Ho‘ola Na Pua event provides insight into human trafficking. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii

After more than a year of neighborhood contention regarding construction of a park in Kukuihaele, county planners presented a new and largely well-received proposal for the 4-acre space Tuesday night. Tribune-Herald.

The number of solar electric permits issued on the Big Island dropped 56 percent compared with the year earlier. Star-Advertiser.

A long-awaited four-year aviation program could take off this year at University of Hawaii at Hilo. Tribune-Herald.

Legacy nursing home in Hilo hired a former state Department of Health nursing home compliance director to get Legacy back in line with federal regulations. Tribune-Herald.

As big of a challenge combating human trafficking is in Hawaii, convincing people it even happens here in the first place is a whole other one. West Hawaii Today.

West Hawaii joins the previous selections of East Hawaii and North Hawaii as Blue Zones, making Hawaii County the first entire county in the nation to join the movement. Big Island Video News.

Maui

Two former Maui County Public Works employees pleaded not guilty Wednesday to second-degree theft charges involving unrecorded vacation time, according to sources familiar with the case. Maui News.

The Maui County Council will hold a special meeting on Monday to handle matters left over from its Jan. 2 meeting, including establishing the body’s standing committees and referring various matters to appropriate committees. Maui News.

Kauai

Getting a fair share of the transient accommodations tax, making sure lifeguards are insured and purchasing an additional ambulance are some of the goals for Kauai County this legislative session. Garden Island.

Wednesday, September 28, 2016

Gay tourism touted, new beach bacteria signs coming, human trafficking groups meet, UH-Hilo enrollment drops again, sex abuse at Oahu prison investigated, Molokai ferry struggling, Coco Palms rebuild planned, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

copyright 2016 All Hawaii News all rights reserved
Gay pride parade, Hilo © 2016 All Hawaii News
The rainbow is already a major tourism brand for Hawaii, but industry experts say connecting with the LGBT community could put a pot of gold at the end of it. Star-Advertiser.

State to roll out new signs warning of water pollution. KITV.

In recent years, Hawaii’s state-run highways and roads have held firm as some of the worst in the nation, the Reason Foundation’s latest annual report shows. Star-Advertiser.

Prosecutors from a dozen states and eight countries are meeting in Waikiki to talk about the global problem of sex trafficking. Associated Press.

The federal prosecutor in the “Wonder Blunder” case wants to submit as trial evidence to a jury the alleged scammer’s guilty plea in a similar case in Pennsylvania. Star-Advertiser.

The Navy investigated a case of a sailor who didn’t salute as the national anthem played during a recent morning flag-raising at Pearl Harbor. Associated Press.

Oahu

The Caldwell administration is seeking to award a $50 million contract to convert yellowish high-pressure sodium lights to white-ish light-emitting diodes (LED) islandwide. Civil Beat.

Laid-Back, Aging Manoa Is No Longer A Haven For Young Families. The community near the University of Hawaii is still friendly, quiet and rainy, but rising housing prices bring changes. Civil Beat.

The list of Hawaii adult corrections officers accused of sexually assaulting female inmates has grown. Hawaii News Now.

The Honolulu Star-Advertiser reported Tuesday that it was letting go of 15 editorial employees effective Oct. 17. Pacific Business News.

Oahu Publications plans to cut 15 jobs at the Honolulu Star-Advertiser, a move that will trim the newsroom of about 110 editorial employees by more than 10 percent. Civil Beat.

$5.4 million contract for new jail site involves more than just scouting. KHON2.

After only two years of service, Mokulele Airlines will end its service out of Kalaeloa Airport in southwest Oahu. Associated Press.

A lawsuit filed against developer D.G. “Andy” Anderson alleges he is operating a Haleiwa restaurant without legal permits and continuing to let treated wastewater contaminate nearby waters. Star-Advertiser.

Several Hawaii residents are suing the property owners of a North Shore restaurant for allegedly violating permitting law and polluting Haleiwa by using an improper septic system. Civil Beat.

NOAA is apologizing to the public over how the carcasses of three sea turtles were handled. Hawaii News Now.

Hawaii


Overnight parking will likely soon become a thing of the past in the county lot situated between Kuakini Highway and Likana Lane. West Hawaii Today.

Fall enrollment at the University of Hawaii at Hilo declined for the fourth consecutive year, prodding administrators to revamp recruitment materials in hopes of attracting — and retaining — more students. Tribune-Herald.

A balloon was floated at the planned site of the Thirty Meter Telescope in the summit area of Mauna Kea during a site visit on Monday. Big Island Video News.

Maui

Progress continues on the long-awaited Kihei high school, with a $21 million contract awarded last week for infrastructure work, but costs continue to climb and the completion date keeps being pushed back, now to 2022. Maui News.

After strong opposition from the Kaanapali community over the most recently proposed site for a million-gallon treated wastewater storage tank, the county Department of Environmental Management is looking into different locations for the tank as it works to deal with a lawsuit over injection wells at the Lahaina wastewater treatment plant. Maui News.

The Philippine Consulate will conduct a mobile outreach on Molokai and Maui in early October, visiting Molokai on Saturday and Sunday, and Maui on Oct. 15 and 16. The outreach will provide on-island services for Philippine passport renewal, dual citizenship and authentication. Maui News.


Kauai

The Kauai County Planning Department and developers of the Coco Palms Resort have agreed on some changes tied to redevelopment permits to ensure the iconic hotel is rebuilt. Star-Advertiser.

Nineteen political candidates from the state legislative offices, Kauai County Council, and prosecuting attorney attended a political coffee hour Tuesday morning at the Lihue Neighborhood Center. Garden Island.

Alakai O Kauai Public Charter School still needs a home. While the school was unanimously approved by the Hawaii State Charter School Commission in August, it still needs land and a building. Garden Island.

Molokai

A ferry service on Moloka‘i is struggling to stay afloat and may have to shut down. The company that has been operating the service for nearly 30 years says low ridership and competing air fares are to blame. Hawaii Public Radio.

Tuesday, November 19, 2013

Sledgehammer lawmaker defends homeless hunt, Ag Chief Kokubun stepping down to join Hanabusa campaign, Hawaii mulls new prisons, Del Monte settlement first in human trafficking case, alleged embezzlement at Big Island Pop Warner league, Honolulu mayor ethics case heats up, deal reached with firefighter union, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

copyright 2013 All Hawaii News all rights reserved
Homeless along the Ala Wai  (c) 2013 All Hawaii News
Despite a firestorm of controversy on Monday, state Rep. Tom Brower once again picked up his sledgehammer and went out to rid his Waikiki-Ala Moana district of shopping carts that homeless people use. He said people have told him that they appreciate the work he has done in the past several weeks to clear the district of stolen and abandoned carts. Institute for Human Services Director Connie Mitchell said Brower's actions could traumatize homeless people and incite street violence. Star-Advertiser.

Tom Brower has found a unique solution to houselessness: he destroys shopping carts with a sledgehammer (and awakens people sleeping at bus stops). Hawaii Independent.

State Rep. Tom Brower has taken a sledgehammer and a novel approach to Hawaii's homeless problem. Hawaii News Now.

Hawaii is considering building a new prison on Oahu and new jails statewide to alleviate the state’s overcrowding crisis, including replacing the state’s largest jail, the Oahu Community Correctional Center, with a new facility. Pacific Business News.

A larger replacement for the Oahu Community Correctional Center at a new location is one piece of a possible major overhaul of Hawaii's crowded and old prisons and jails, state officials say. The overhaul could include new or expanded correctional facilities at its seven institutions and adding an eighth facility for a total prison bed space for up to 4,425 inmates. Star-Advertiser.

The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission reached a $1.2 million settlement with a former Kunia farm in a human trafficking lawsuit involving more than 150 Thai farmworkers. Associated Press.

Hawaii Agriculture Chairman, Hanabus campaign
Kokubon
Russell Kokubun is stepping down as director of the Hawaii Department of Agriculture, in part to help Colleen Hanabusa with her U.S. Senate campaign, according to sources close to the campaign. Civil Beat.

State Rep. Rida Cabanilla has been fined $500 by the state Campaign Spending Commission for filing an inaccurate or false campaign-finance report.Star-Advertiser.

The Hawaii Fire Fighters Association union has received a tentative deal on a new collective bargaining agreement. According to HFFA President Bobby Lee, a draft arbitration award is now making the rounds throughout the islands. Civil Beat.

Taxpayers have spent $200 million to establish the network for the Affordable Care Act in Hawaii - $53 million on just the Hawaii Health Connector web site development and management alone. However, so far, just 257 individuals have secured healthcare through the exchange. Hawaii Reporter.

The numbers are in and they are low -- just a couple hundred people in Hawaii have signed up for insurance on the new Health Connector website. But it's not for a lack of trying. KHON2 found out the problems people are still having, and how they can be fixed.

The state Department of Health today is dropping off $250,000 worth of voluntarily forfeited OxyELITE Pro products at the HPOWER waste-to-energy plant in Campbell Industrial Park to be destroyed amid an investigation that has linked the dietary supplement to multiple cases of liver damage and acute hepatitis in the isles and around the country. Star-Advertiser.

Tiny Tern Island, a 25-acre strip of land in the middle of the Pacific Ocean that has been inundated with marine debris, could become a Superfund cleanup site if the Center for Biological Diversity gets its way. Civil Beat.

State roundup for November 19. Associated Press.

Oahu
The seven-member Honolulu Ethics Commission voted unanimously Monday to back a request by Executive Director Chuck Totto to fire off a letter to Mayor Kirk Caldwell's administration, essentially urging city officials to retain the agency's budget request despite the objections of the Department of Corporation Counsel. Star-Advertiser.

Honolulu Mayor Kirk Caldwell’s top lieutenant reiterated the administration’s commitment to transparency Monday, despite lingering questions about its interference in ongoing ethics investigations. Civil Beat.

Kakaako’s designated central park is Kakaako Waterfront Park and Kakaako Makai and Mauka Gateway parks. But the state agency in charge of Kakaako development is moving full speed ahead with ridiculous proposals to remove large sections of valuable parkland from general public. Civil Beat.

The federal government has agreed to pay $67,500 to settle a lawsuit filed by a woman who says she was raped by a prison employee at the federal detention center. Government lawyer Edric Ming-Kai Ching announced the settlement Monday in U.S. District Court. Star-Advertiser.

The first commercial airline service out of Kalaeloa Airport could become a reality early next year. Mokulele Airlines is seeking state and community support to operate daily service to Lanai, Molokai and Maui, as well as possibly Kona, from the former Barbers Point Naval Air Station. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii

Following an announcement Monday that Del Monte Fresh Produce Inc. will pay $1.2 million and change its migrant worker policies to settle a discrimination lawsuit, two Big Island farms have less than a month to file their consent decrees in federal court detailing their own settlement agreements. West Hawaii Today.

An alleged embezzlement of possibly more than $100,000 in league funds may prevent a Hilo midget football team from traveling to Florida next month to play in the Pop Warner Super Bowl. Tribune-Herald.

A Big Island football team's trip to the national tournament is in jeopardy because of missing travel funds. As authorities investigate, the players' families are scrambling to come up with about $100,000 to get to Florida in less than three weeks. Hawaii News Now.

The Kona Judiciary Complex has had its proposed home approved, in concept anyway. On Nov. 8, the state Board of Land and Natural Resources granted preliminary approval for building the $90 million facility near the Makalapua Center, mauka of Queen Kaahumanu Highway. Tribune-Herald.

Maui

While Del Monte Fresh Produce has agreed to pay $1.2 million to settle claims in a discrimination lawsuit involving Thai farmworkers, a trial is set for February on the claims against California-based labor contractor Global Horizons and Maui Pineapple Co. Maui News.

Maui Electric Company has formed a partnership with a mainland firm to manage new electric vehicle charging stations on Maui. Maui Now.

Scientists are posting on the Internet the movements of several tiger sharks that have been tagged with satellite and acoustical tracking devices in the ocean near Maui. The tagging is part of a two-year project to study the movement of the sharks and their behavior, including an attempt to determine their mating and pupping areas. Star-Advertiser.

Kauai

It has been nearly 18 years since a 400-square-foot Hurricane Iniki shelter next to Kapaa Beach Park was converted into a Kauai Police Department substation. Garden Island.


Molokai

Molokai residents have noticed a lot of temporary electricity outages lately… and energy researchers have proposed a multi-million dollar project they hope will solve the problem. Hawaii Public Radio.

Tuesday, February 19, 2013

Aquarium fish in jeopardy, Hawaii tax office backs off hefty filing fee, UH profs consider severing NEA ties, military cuts could hurt, plan could help solar panel installation, Steve Case licks wounds on Maui, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

copyright 2013 All Hawaii News all rights reserved
Yellow tang off Hawaii coast (c) 2013 All Hawaii News
Aquarium fish collectors love yellow tang, the electric-yellow fish that once thrived off the Hawaiian islands. But a successful research program on the brink of helping ease depletion of the wild species is facing an uncertain future. Civil Beat.

The state might help more consumers afford solar panels by tapping into the same bond financing that utilities have used to improve power plants and respond to storm damage. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii tax officials have backed off on plans to charge an extra fee to residents who file their taxes electronically after tax preparers used to doing so for free raised a big stink. Civil Beat.

The University of Hawaii's faculty union will decide this month whether to end its affiliation with the National Education Association, a move proponents say would save money and sharpen the union's focus. Star-Advertiser.

In the midst of the national debate over immigration, the University of Hawaii system is poised to begin treating undocumented students as state residents — a move that would make it less expensive to attend college and open up career paths for perhaps hundreds of young people. Civil Beat.

The University of Hawaii has received a $3 million gift in support of cancer and oceanographic research. Associated Press.

Hawaii among most vulnerable to federal military cuts. Associated Press.

Hawaii is the state most vulnerable to federal defense budget cuts, according to a report released Monday by Wells Fargo Securities. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii Sen. Brian Schatz has tapped field representatives on Oahu, Kauai, Maui and the Big Island, including the CEO of a Kauai engineering firm and the COO of L&L Franchise Inc., to help his office engage with local communities. Pacific Business News.

Trafficked Thai Workers' Dreams Become Nightmares. Hawaii Reporter.

Stunning underwater video of a Hawaii-based shark conservationist petting and swimming very close to a Great White shark is aimed at teaching people that not all sharks are violent, blood-hungry creatures, according to the people who shot the footage. Hawaii News Now.

Oahu

The Waikiki Health Center, Honolulu's largest homeless service provider and operator of the city's biggest emergency shelter, has opted out of a plan to get some of Oahu's most mentally ill homeless off the street. Star-Advertiser.

The destroyer USS Russell has been replaced at Pearl Harbor by the destroyer USS Halsey in what's known as a "hull swap," but planned upgrades of the Russell that prompted the move are in jeopardy because of military-wide budget shortages, the Navy said. Star-Advertiser.

About 100 Kaiser Permanente Hawaii workers have authorized their union to move forward with preparations, including a potential strike, over layoffs due to the planned closure of Kaiser's Honolulu Clinic Urgent Care Center. Star-Advertiser.

Billionaire investor plans to change image of Kahala. Hawaii News Now.

A fishing boat that recently reached Hawaii has been confirmed as debris from the Japan tsunami, capping off a busy week of discoveries. KHON2.

Hawaii

April 23 marks the 20th anniversary of the West Hawaii Sanitary Landfill in Puuanahulu, an ambitious public-private contract born of necessity and forged through a lawsuit over union labor. West Hawaii Today.

A measure to codify language about public access and open space land Hawaii County voters approved six years ago goes before the County Council for its final reading Wednesday. West Hawaii Today.

HPR is getting underway with its next signal enhancement project – the building of a new HPR-2 transmitter for West Hawaii. HPR has just made the $100,000 goal needed for the West Hawaii KHPH transmitter. Hawaii Public Radio.

World-renowned inventor and engineer Graham Hawkes hopes to inspire the next generation of ocean explorers with his latest machine. West Hawaii Today.

Maui

Steve Case's fortunes ballooned as the chairman of AOL was able to gobble up Time Warner in hopes of building an old/new media behemoth. It all unraveled at the dawn of the 21st century, and Case's fortune is a mere shadow of its past. But if you feel like you want to weep for the guy, take the road past Kaanapali and Napili to the far northwest coast of Maui. Orange County Register.

A bill that authorizes the mayor and the Department of Water Supply director to declare "water shortages" and to impose higher rates for Maui County residents is one step closer to becoming law with the Maui County Council on Friday approving the measure on first reading. Maui News.

A bill that would establish a Mala Wharf Task Force to examine the feasibility of redeveloping the collapsed pier at Mala Wharf on Maui, gained preliminary approval by a House committee on Friday. Maui Now.

Kauai

On Presidents’ Day, U.S. Sen. Mazie Hirono met with about 40 veterans at the Kaua‘i Veterans Center to listen to their various concerns on jobs, health and education. Garden Island.

After several weeks of fine-tuning, the Kaua‘i County Council on Wednesday gave its final approval on a law that creates a planning enforcement account, where fines collected by the Planning Department will be deposited and used toward enforcement of zoning laws. Garden Island.

There are more than 200 former residents of the Marshall Islands on Kaua‘i, and they are adapting to Kaua‘i’s (comparatively) fast-paced lifestyle, leaders of the community said last week.  Garden Island.


Monday, March 12, 2012

Honolulu streetwalkers not policed Saturdays, bag fee to benefit watersheds, low turnout expected in state GOP caucus, islands mark 2011 tsunami, Molokai poll shows opposition to tourist boats, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Waikiki at night (c) 2012 All Hawaii News


They're promising Hawaii voters strong leadership in Washington, but most of Hawaii's leading candidates for federal office are waiting for their opponents to make public their tax returns before they'll do so themselves. Civil Beat.

David Chang, Hawaii’s Republican Party chairman, is estimating that 5,000 to 10,000 voters will turn out for caucuses Tuesday that will determine the candidate who will get 17 of the state’s 20 delegates to the GOP National Convention in Tampa, Fla., this summer. Star-Advertiser.

The four GOP presidential candidates are campaigning in the Deep South, but some of their members are here in Hawaii hoping to win over prospective voters.KHON2.

As Hawaii experiences decreasing rainfall and increasing demand for water from urbanization, Gov. Neil Abercrombie's administration has proposed doubling protected watershed areas, including the state natural area reserve at Mount Kaala. Star-Advertiser.

Tackling Hawaii's massive unfunded liability for future public pensions is going to be painful for the state, counties — and taxpayers, pension officials say. Civil Beat.

The state Senate is looking at ways to ease traffic problems by improving highway and road designs. Associated Press.

A law enacted Friday postpones a scheduled unemployment insurance rate hike that will save business owners across the state about $107 million. Associated Press.

Republican State Sen. Sam Slom today delivered his analysis of the Legislature’s accomplishments this year, expressing doubts about the effectiveness, legality and price tags of bills backed by the Democratic majority. Hawaii Reporter.

Hawaii has 10 main islands — not eight — in 10 commemorative Hawaii quarters that Wai­alae Iki coin collector Joe Au-Franz has found so far. Star-Advertiser.

Oahu

A Civil Beat investigation of 12 months' worth of prostitution arrests shows that there is virtually no enforcement of prostitution laws on weekends. Civil Beat.

The 2012 NFL Pro Bowl played at Aloha Stadium on Jan. 29 generated an economic impact of $25.3 million, according to an estimate released Friday by the Hawaii Tourism Authority. Pacific Business News.

It's been one year since the earthquake and tsunami disaster in Japan and even though the majority of the damage was suffered thousand of miles away, Hawaii's harbors were deeply impacted by the devastation. KITV4.

Hawaii

Fastest wireless speeds hard to come by on Big Isle. Tribune-Herald.

No Rush Limbaugh program advertisers were angered or inconvenienced this week when Hilo-based KPUA-AM 670 chose to drop the show after 16 years, according to the station’s owner. That’s because there weren’t any, he said. Tribune-Herald.

The first warning a tsunami was headed to Hawaii came late March 10, 2011. West Hawaii Today.

It took seven days after the March 11, 2011, tsunami for the Kona Inn Restaurant to regain power. West Hawaii Today.

Maui

Deliberations will continue this week on the inaugural Maui Island Plan. Maui Now.

Planning Director Will Spence said Friday that his efforts to simplify the Maui Island Plan have been misunderstood by critics as an attempt to gut the document. Maui News.

A year ago, Bart Chow looked at the ocean from his in-laws' Molokai beach home and saw the ocean retreat from the shoreline. Maui News.

Much has been learned from last year's tsunami and now government agencies and residents should be better equipped to cope with another tsunami strike, county and emergency officials said last week. Maui News.

Kauai

Resort developer plans 400 new housing units for Princeville. Garden Island.

Kaua‘i joined Japan and locations around the world on Sunday for moments of silence, prayer and reflection about the enormous loss from the magnitude-9.0 earthquake that struck a year ago in Japan. Garden Island.

Molokai

A vast majority – 85 percent – of people in a Molokai survey voted “no,” to dockings by American Safari Cruises and other tourist vessels, 11 percent voted “yes” and 4 percent voted “yes, with controls.” Molokai Dispatch.


Monday, February 27, 2012

Ala Wai Harbor to get upgrades, 60 retired workers get big state pensions, state mulls mongoose control, inmates may return, Kauai police chief battle continues, zip-line death could spur lawsuit and more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Ala Wai Boat Harbor (c) 2012 All Hawaii News
Commercial subleasing has begun on the $20 million Kalia Marketplace project that plans to bring two wedding chapels, retail and office space and return a boat repair facility to the Ala Wai Small Boat Harbor in Waikiki. Star-Advertiser.

In 1890, the Kingdom of Hawai’i was an independent nation, with diplomatic relations with other countries. Within ten years, the government was overthrown and the nation was annexed as America joined the ranks of colonial powers. Hawaii Public Radio.

Hawaii could become a key state in the discussion over a patient's right to ask for a physician's help to die, according to a group seeking to expand awareness of the issue in the islands. Maui News.

Nearly 60 retired state and county workers in Hawaii each receive government pensions of more than $100,000 annually. Star-Advertiser.

The state plans to return Hawaii inmates incarcerated on the mainland to the islands. Two Senate committees will hear more details of the plan from the Abercrombie administration on Tuesday. Hawaii News Now.

Hawaii is a hot spot for sex and labor trafficking. Hawaii Reporter.

A proposal to make abusive conduct against an employee an occupational safety violation would allow Victims to be eligible for workers’ compensation. Associated Press.

Despite several hundred calls to the agency’s tip line a year, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration has closed only one case on Kauai and three cases on Oahu during the past decade. Civil Beat.

The state land board approved a memorandum of understanding between the Department of Land and Natural Resources and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to come up with a mongoose eradication plan. KITV4.

The Hawaii Reapportionment Commission meets Monday at 2 p.m. at the state Capitol to act on its district maps for state Senate and House. Hawaii Reporter.

A bill to be heard Tuesday would outlaw the taking of opihi from below the waterline, set seasons for opihi picking and limit the amount of opihi that can be taken for non-commercial purposes. It would also essentially ban opihi picking on the island of Oahu for five years. Tribune-Herald.

Four of Hawaii’s five largest private K-12 schools plan tuition increases for the 2012-13 school year. Pacific Business News.

State roundup for Feb. 27. Associated Press.

Oahu

A complaint about a chemical odor led to the discovery of an illegal gambling room in Kakaako. Hawaii News Now.

The man whom Honolulu Authority for Rapid Transportation officials have tapped to serve as the agency's new CEO had a rocky departure from his job as general manager of the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority. Civil Beat.

The Coast Guard in Honolulu wants to retire its two biggest ships, the aging 378-foot cutters Jarvis and Rush, but can't because it has no replacements, officials said. Star-Advertiser.

Past the chaperoned façade of school bus transport, first time home buyers, optimistic and anxious, were shuffled around by Hawaii HomeOwnership in Waipahu. KHON2.

Hawaii

More than 6,000 Big Island low-income individuals and families are on a waiting list for federal rent assistance, according to a recent report the Hawaii County Housing Agency filed with the federal government. West Hawaii Today.

The mother of the man killed in last summer's collapse of a zip line tower in Paukaa may follow a lawsuit challenging Hawaii's failure to regulate its zip line industry. Tribune-Herald.

Maui
There were no grandiose plans or brand-new ideas in Mayor Alan Arakawa's State of the County address Friday. Maui News.

In his State of the County address on Friday, Mayor Alan Arakawa noted his administration's accomplishments last year. Maui News.

A community meeting will be held Monday night to familiarize people with their legal rights and the Hawai'i Access to Justice Commission. Maui News.

Kauai

There may soon be some clarification over who's in charge of Kauai's police chief. Hawaii News Now.

With six small-scale hydroelectric projects, a 12-megawatt solar farm and an island-wide rollout of smart meters all on the horizon, it’s arguably the most significant time in the history of the Kaua‘i Island Utility Cooperative. Garden Island.

“Free health care for all” on Kaua‘i this week has the state Department of Health phones ringing constantly. Garden Island.

Molokai

A shiny new fire engine, made specifically to fit Molokai’s needs, has joined the fleet at the Kaunakakai Fire Station. Molokai Dispatch.