Hawaii adds cats to invasive species list, Senate wants to double HI5 container deposit, Schatz to hold false missile hearing, bills alive and dying at legislative session midpoint, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Feral cat with endangered Hawaiian petrel in this DLNR webcam file photo

Feral cats make invasive species list. Feral cats have been added to Hawaii’s list of most impactful invasive species, and advocates of trap-neuter-release say the state should reconsider. Garden Island.

Bills sink or swim at session’s midpoint. The Hawaii State Legislature passed the midpoint of the 2018 session last week, with lawmakers considering bills that would allow physician-assisted death, would increase the 5-cent deposit for bottles and cans, and would impose a new mandate for paid family leave. Star-Advertiser.

Airlines Pushing To Take Over Honolulu Airport Operations. Supporters say improvements could happen more quickly if the state Department of Transportation was out of the way. Civil Beat.

The state Senate is proposing to double the 5-cent deposit on bottles and cans as part of an effort to increase the redemption and recycling rates for the tens of millions of containers used by Hawaii consumers each year. Star-Advertiser.

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U.S. Sen. Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii), ranking member of the Senate Subcommittee on Communications, Technology, Innovation and the Internet, will convene a hearing titled “Hawaii False Missile Alert: What Happened and What Should We Do Next?” April 5 in Honolulu. Garden Island.

Hawaii Picks New Leader For Agency That Sent False Missile Alert. Thomas Travis has commanded a submarine squadron and was deputy commander of an aircraft carrier strike group. Associated Press.

Kim: Travis the right man for the job. Tribune-Herald.

Apparently taking the recommendation of Hawaii County Mayor Harry Kim to heart, the State of Hawaii has appointed retired U.S. Navy Captain Thomas Travis to serve as Administrator of the Hawaii Emergency Management Agency. Big Island Video News.

Survey shows more people in Hawaii felt relatively calm, rather than panicked during false missile alert. A team from the Department of Psychology and Communication at Hawaii Pacific University conducted the online survey, and found that a majority of the participants felt like the missile was actually inbound to Hawaii. KITV.

A new report produced by researchers at Hawaii Pacific University revealed more in-depth about how Hawaii residents reacted to January's false missile alert scare. Hawaii News Now.

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Democratic congressional candidates were given a chance to explain their evolving views on such topics as marriage equality and lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender rights during a candidates forum Saturday in Kakaako. Dozens packed into the small office space to hear Lt. Gov. Doug Chin, state Sen. Donna Mercado Kim and state Rep. Kaniela Ing speak about their candidacy and answer questions from the three caucuses, with each allotted 40 minutes to talk. Star-Advertiser.

Tulsi Gabbard’s Record On Gun Control Is A Moving Target. The Hawaii congresswoman talks tough on gun control but she’s often lagging behind Democratic colleagues in pushing firearms legislation. Civil Beat.

Commentary: Charles Djou: Why I’m Leaving The GOP. The former Republican congressman from Hawaii says he can no longer remain in a party led by Donald Trump. Civil Beat.

Hawaii Medical Aid In Dying Bill Passes Key Senate Panel. Sen. Roz Baker shepherded the measure through her health committee with comparatively little fanfare. Civil Beat.

A rapidly progressing state Senate bill would mandate that sellers of properties featuring cesspools upgrade to a septic or sewer system after the purchase. Senate Bill 2567, which passed the Senate and is moving through House committees, aims to replace cesspools with more modern waste management systems so as to protect the state’s groundwater. Tribune-Herald.

Tourism remains one of Hawaii’s economic pillars. And while 2017 was another year of records, the industry faces some new challenges this year. Hawaii Public Radio.

Hawaii is scrambling to fill teacher vacancies. This analysis on salaries won't help. The average salary for Hawaii public school teachers in 2016 was $57,431. Hawaii News Now.

Crime victim restitution up 70 percent. The state over the past several years has dramatically increased its collection of funds that inmates and parolees owe to their crime victims, forging a path that national experts say is a model for other states. Star-Advertiser.

Study: Pesticides In Hawaii Waters Well Below Federal Standards. State officials call the results reassuring but some environmental experts aren’t so sure. Civil Beat.

Petition seeks protection for cauliflower coral. The Center for Biological Diversity petitioned the National Marine Fisheries Service Wednesday to afford protection to cauliflower coral under the Endangered Species Act. West Hawaii Today.

University of Hawaii astronomy professor Paul Coleman, the first Native Hawaiian to earn a doctorate in astrophysics and an outspoken supporter of the Thirty Meter Telescope, has died at the age of 62. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii Ponzi schemer and professed secret agent dies at 76. Ronald Rewald, Hawaii’s most notorious branded conman, a Wisconsin native who claimed to be a CIA agent but swindled money from hundreds of island residents and served barely 10 years of an 80-year prison sentence, has died. Star-Advertiser.

Oahu

Honolulu Police Chief Defends Reassignment Of Union Leaders. Union head testifies the actions caused fear among members and that he was maligned in a news interview. Associated Press.

Safety measures for fuel tanks could take billions — and decades, Navy says. The least expensive method of double-walling the Red Hill fuel tanks could cost between $500 million and $2 billion, the Navy said in a newly released estimate. Star-Advertiser.

Developing condos tricky near last station site. The city’s mass-transit line is supposed to move people and spark development of affordable housing, but these two objectives are on paths that could clash at the end of the line. Star-Advertiser.

Appeals court rejects Kawananakoa’s challenge to rail votes. The Hawaii Intermediate Court of Appeals this month reaffirmed the dismissal of a lawsuit that sought to invalidate votes cast by certain Honolulu City Council members in support of the city’s rail project. Star-Advertiser.

Honolulu has a new sprinkler law in place - 8 months after the deadly Marco Polo fire. Mayor Kirk Caldwell signed two bills into law yesterday afternoon. They do not mandate sprinkler installation but do provide tax breaks to encourage installation. Hawaii Public Radio.

Among ongoing gun law debate, thousands attend major gun show at the Blaisdell. It was the Hawaii Historic Arms Association's 82nd semi-annual gun show. Hawaii News Now.

Southwest Airlines has been granted a revocable permit for space at Honolulu's Daniel K. Inouye International Airport. Star-Advertiser.

Urban Honolulu water plan to be discussed. The Honolulu Board of Water Supply is holding a series of meetings starting this week to seek public input on its planned Primary Urban Center Watershed Management Plan. Star-Advertiser.

IHeartMedia Inc.’s Chapter 11 bankruptcy won’t impact the eight radio stations it operates in Honolulu. Pacific Business News.

New Gold Star monument in Kaneohe honors families of fallen Hawaii servicemen and women. It's a first of its kind in the state - a  monument that honors families that lost loved ones in the military who died while in service to our country. KHON2.

Hawaii Island

A new permanent building for pharmacy students at the University of Hawaii at Hilo hopefully will be up and running by this time next year. Tribune-Herald.

The state commission for public charter schools has yet to make a decision on allegations that a Kona charter school violated its contract by failing to maintain accurate enrollment data, reportedly netting them more than $300,000 in overpaid funding. West Hawaii Today.

A comprehensive look at the effects of short-term vacation rentals on the Big Island was shared with the Hawaii County Council on Tuesday. Big Island Video News.

Kilauea’s summit eruption will become 10 years old Monday and scientists say they don’t expect it to stop anytime soon. Tribune-Herald.

Vaping shop raises concerns, sparks debate in Waimea. West Hawaii Today.

The Village 9 Homeless and Affordable Rental project in Kealakehe will serve as the template for an island-wide approach to the helping the houseless. Big Island Video News.

Maui

Stant’s ‘side job,’ gambling match county paycheck. Good luck in Las Vegas and a Midas touch with a direct marketing “side business” combined last year for Stewart Stant to match his annual salary as Department of Environmental Management director, financial disclosure documents show. Maui News.

White reports variety of investments in his financial disclosure. Maui County Council Chairman Mike White jointly has investments in 37 different companies doing business in Hawaii, including Hawaiian Electric, Verizon Communications and Amazon. Maui News.

Panel seeks more reasonable parking and ohana rules. Flexibility sought in cases where current mandates don’t make sense. Maui News.

This year’s real property assessment notices have been mailed or emailed to property owners, the Department of Finance’s Real Property Assessment Division announced Wednesday. Maui News.

Kauai

Two candidates for mayor of Kauai recently shared their views on two key issues facing the island: homelessness and traffic. Garden Island.

The county Department of Public Works Wastewater Division concluded sewer maintenance work on Kuhio Highway Sunday evening in the vicinity of the Kapaia Bridge. A sewer spill was reported about 4:15 p.m. Saturday when a manhole cover overflowed.  Garden Island.

After completing a rigorous three-year program, Kauai Christian Academy has finally gained accreditation. Garden Island.

Lt. Gov. Tsutsui quits, false missile alarm investigation to be unveiled today, Ala Moana park plans unpopular, FBI probes Maui liquor commission, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Lt. Gov. Tsutsui at Maui Economic Development Board function, Sept. 26, 2017, courtesy photo

Lt. Gov. Shan Tsutsui said Monday he would resign this week to join a lobbying and public affairs firm. The move comes several years after Tsutsui publicly complained the governor hadn’t given him enough responsibility, but he said his decision had nothing to do with that. Associated Press.

Lt. Gov. Shan Tsutsui will resign on Wednesday, setting off a possible shuffle to take his place in one of the top political jobs in the state. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii’s lieutenant governor, Shan Tsutsui, is leaving office effective Wednesday. Civil Beat.

Hawaii Lt. Gov. Shan Tsutsui Monday said he will resign from his position on Wednesday to return to a private-sector job on Maui. Pacific Business News.

Shan Tsutsui To Resign As Lieutenant Governor. Big Island Video News.

Tsutsui to resign as Lt. Gov. KITV.

Shan Tsutsui to Resign as Lieutenant Governor. Maui Now.

Tsutsui announces resignation. With resignation, Tsutsui is headed home to Maui. Maui News.

The job of second in command of the state government had no immediate takers Monday. Star-Advertiser.

Senate President Ronald D. Kouchi today said he has mixed emotions about the departure of Lieutenant Governor Shan Tsutsui from office and says he is not interested in becoming the next LG for Hawaii. Maui Now.

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The results of the state’s internal investigation of the Jan. 13 false report of an imminent missile attack are scheduled to be released Tuesday morning by Gov. David Ige, state Adjutant General, Maj. Gen. Joe Logan and retired Brig. Gen. Bruce Oliveira. Star-Advertiser.

The state says it will release the results Tuesday of a internal investigation into this month's false ballistic missile alarm. Hawaii News Now.

State emergency officials have completed an internal investigation after a false missile alert was sent to cell phones across the state. KHON2.

Senators To Stores: Don’t Kick People Out In Emergencies. Sen. Michelle Kidani’s measure comes two weeks after the false missile alert, when some people reported being told to leave businesses. Civil Beat.

How To Survive A Nuclear Attack On Hawaii. When the state accidentally sent out a false alarm, many people didn’t know how to respond. Civil Beat.

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U.S. Rep. Colleen Hanabusa has attracted more than $700,000 in campaign donations so far in her bid to become Hawaii’s next governor. Star-Advertiser.

Can Anyone Resuscitate The Hawaii GOP? State Chairwoman Shirlene Ostrov says Republicans have the tools and money to start winning elections in the islands. Civil Beat.

As many as 80 permanent homeless "villages" would be sprinkled across the state under a proposal getting support at the state Legislature. Hawaii News Now.

A bill to integrate the Hawaiian language into fundamental functions of the state is scheduled for a hearing before the Senate Committees on Hawaiian Affairs, Higher Education and Judiciary on Tuesday. Maui Now.

Here’s How The State Could End Up Owning Your Oceanfront Property. When sea level rises, a new legal opinion says, public land follows the shoreline and the state can charge property owners to access their own places. Civil Beat.

Pesticides’ potential impacts on human health require further study, and those furthering that goal are still promoting bills — this time through the 2018 legislative session. Garden Island.

New technology for detecting invasive species on cargo shipments and detector dog teams for agricultural inspections are just two steps out of dozens the state is making toward reinforcing biosecurity in Hawaii. Garden Island.

Responsible use of Hawaii’s marine life and responsible pet trade nationwide were both promoted last week as the Hawaii Senate Water and Land Committee heard a bill outlining tougher restrictions on aquarium fishing in the state. Garden Island.

After several years of planning, the state has awarded a $140 million building contract for a new 144-bed psychiatric facility at the troubled Hawaii State Hospital in Kaneohe. Star-Advertiser.

Hensel Phelps wins $140M contract to build Hawaii state psychiatric hospital. Pacific Business News.

Hawaiian Airlines’ profit reaches new height. The parent company of Hawaiian Airlines, Hawaiian Holdings Inc., reported Monday earning $364 million, or $6.82 a share, in 2017. Star-Advertiser.

The 401(k) accounts that former Island Air employees have been unable to access contain more than $8 million, according to a person close to the situation who requested his name not be used. Star-Advertiser.

Oahu

A proposal to eliminate parking on the makai side of the road through Ala Moana Regional Park and create a wide beachside “promenade” ran into plenty of opposition at a city meeting Monday night. Star-Advertiser.

Things quickly got heated inside the McCoy Pavilion at Ala Moana Beach Park Monday night as the city held its final public meeting on the park's future. Hawaii News Now.

The crowd booed inside McCoy Pavilion Auditorium Monday night as the city presented its vision for the beach promenade at Ala Moana Regional Park. KITV.

Meeting to discuss future of Ala Moana beach park turns into shouting match. KHON2.

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People who live on Tantalus Drive are demanding change. KITV.

Work is underway to improve Pali Highway, resulting in barriers, lane closures and, by the middle of next month, complete overnight closures for three long-anticipated projects that are expected to last two years. Star-Advertiser.

Concerns raised after three firefighters’ children diagnosed with cancer. KHON2.

Hawaii Island

Governor pushes ahead on re-election bid. West Hawaii Today.

Volunteers scour East Hawaii before dawn to help with Homeless Point in Time Count. Tribune-Herald.

A new county Human Resources Department director could be selected by Feb. 21, almost five months after the sudden resignation of former HR Director Sharon Toriano in the wake of a critical audit. West Hawaii Today.

Interview with Man Who Faces 77 Years in Prison for Medical Marijuana Collective. Big Island Now.

Hawaii microalgae producer Cyanotech Corp. has its third CEO in three years. Star-Advertiser.

Maui

FBI agent seen examining liquor control documents. Spokesman for the bureau would not confirm or deny any federal investigation. Maui News.

Another bond issue planned to help finance West Maui hospital construction. Maui News.

Murder Trial Begins for Woman Accused of Driving Twin Off East Maui Cliff. Maui Now.

Murder trial begins for twin in cliff crash. Witness testifies he saw ‘hair-pulling and punching’ before SUV took fatal jerk to left. Maui News.

Kauai

The Kauai Board of Water Supply announces the appointment of Steven Kyono to the position of acting manager and chief engineer for the Department of Water, effective Feb. 12. Garden Island.

Life’s Choices Kauai is seeking people to join a substance abuse prevention coalition aimed at reducing and preventing youth substance abuse. Garden Island.

Hawaii's worker shortage, state at odds over voter info, Schofield soldier in court, 'Peter Boy' father gets 20 years, Kauai seeks to save native birds, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Waikiki restaurant worker © 2017 All Hawaii News

There Just Aren’t Enough Workers To Go Around In Hawaii. The state labor director calls it a “perfect storm” as restaurateurs and retailers struggle to recruit — and keep — employees. Civil Beat.

A federal judge has cleared the way for President Donald Trump’s commission on election fraud to resume collecting detailed voter roll information from the states, but at least one election official in Hawaii says he won’t comply with the federal request. Star-Advertiser.

A U.S. Army soldier based in Hawaii pleaded not guilty Monday to charges of attempting to support the Islamic State group. Associated Press.

A Schofield soldier accused of trying to provide support for ISIS has pleaded not guilty. KHON2.

A federal judge Monday scheduled a trial date in September for Wheeler Army Airfield soldier Ikaika Erik Kang on four counts of trying to provide support to the Islamic State, also known as ISIS. Star-Advertiser.

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A trustee with the Office of Hawaiian Affairs has accepted nearly $16,000 from a Native Hawaiian heiress to pay for legal fees in her battle against fellow trustees. Civil Beat.

Native Hawaiian waterman Malama Chun of Maui filed a petition with the state Board of Land and Natural Resources on April 12, 2017, challenging the DLNR Division of Aquatic Resources’ practice of issuing licenses to foreign fisherman who have been refused permission to land in Hawai’i by US authorities and have been ordered deported. Maui Now.

Royal Hawaiian Macadamia Nut Inc. said Monday that the company’s petition to claim that consuming macadamia nuts can help reduce the risk of coronary heart disease under certain circumstances has officially been approved by the U.S. Food & Drug Administration. Pacific Business News.

Two of the three storms in the Eastern Pacific strengthened overnight. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaiian Airlines said Monday it will add three new daily routes between the neighbor islands and the U.S. West Coast in early 2018. Star-Advertiser.

A robust economy continued to boost Bank of Hawaii’s double-digit loan growth in the second quarter, with earnings per share exceeding analysts’ expectations. Star-Advertiser.

Wailuku artist Kirk Kurokawa’s “most significant” project in his artistic collection — the official painting of former Gov. Neil Abercrombie — was unveiled last week on Oahu. Maui News.

Oahu

Mayor Kirk Caldwell on Monday signed into law a bill that bans nearly all plastic bags distributed at Oahu retail checkout counters starting Jan. 1, 2020. Star-Advertiser.

The Honolulu City Council is considering a bill that would expand the city’s sit-lie ban another few blocks in the Ala Moana-Sheridan area. Civil Beat.

Honolulu’s Potholes Cost Drivers — And Taxpayers — Millions. A 2016 study found the city had the 11th-worst roads among large urban areas, and residents pay more than the national average for related car repairs. Civil Beat.

The police presence in Oahu’s main tourist hub could be getting a boost thanks to a gift that puts more boots on the ground. A Waikiki business group wants to give $85,000 to the city. KHON2.

The July Fourth Waikiki “floatilla” attracted a crowd of about 9,000 partyers, led to at least 30 alcohol-related injuries and cost the city and state more than $12,000 to police, so it’s little wonder officials want to halt alcohol use at future floatillas. Star-Advertiser.

The executive director of the Hawaii Community Development Authority said since April the number of illegal campers in Kakaako parks under HCDA supervision has nearly doubled. Hawaii News Now.

Bill to ban electronic devices for crossing pedestrians represents latest push to make roads safer. Bill 6, which is awaiting the mayor’s approval, would make it illegal to look at a phone, tablet, gaming device, or anything electronic while crossing the street. KHON2.

The Queen Kapiolani Hotel, a 312-room property across the street from Kapiolani Park, is starting a $30 million makeover. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii Island

Peter Kema Sr. was sentenced Monday in Hilo Circuit Court to 20 years in prison for the 1997 death of his 6-year-old son, Peter Kema Jr. Tribune-Herald.

Peter Kema Sr. was sentenced to 20 years in prison this morning for the manslaughter of his 6-year-old son, Peter Boy, whose fate remained a mystery for two decades until his parents recently acknowledge their roles in his death. Star-Advertiser.

20 years. That is how long it's been since Peter Boy Kema's death. It's also the sentence handed down to his father on Monday, for killing the Big Island boy. KITV.

Hawaii County Prosecutor Mitch Roth said he’s using lessons learned from the Peter Kema Jr. case to propose changes in the laws governing child abuse and home schooling and to advocate for a longer statute of limitations period for manslaughter. Tribune-Herald.

A lawyer for the estate of the late Peter Kema Jr. and the siblings of “Peter Boy” sent a cease-and-desist letter to a senior vice president of Amazon.com, attempting to persuade the online merchandising giant to pull the Kindle book series “Peter Boy: Hawaii’s Most Notorious Case of Child Abuse and Murder” from its website. Tribune-Herald.

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Major changes are coming to boating and harbor rules, but those most affected say the state hasn’t consulted with them, or even made the rules readily available prior to public hearings scheduled for Thursday and Friday. West Hawaii Today.

PA system installed at popular Kailua-Kona beach park. West Hawaii Today.

Hawaiian Airlines will add a new year-round flight from Los Angeles to Kona starting early next year. West Hawaii Today.

Maui

Ulupalakua Ranch on Maui is best known for its winery and cowboy culture, but not its Hawaiian dry forest. A 20-year forest restoration project on Ranch lands is changing that. Hawaii Public Radio.

Maui Electric Co. is seeking approval by the state Public Utilities Commission to refurbish one of its 21-megawatt petroleum-fired turbines at the Maalaea Power Plant, which will cost an estimated $2.6 million. Maui News.

Three months after being forced to vacate its longtime dance studio in the Old Kula Community Center, the Alexander Academy of Performing Arts has found a new home in Haliimaile that will allow it to add classes, teachers and more studio space in the coming months. Maui News.

Maui’s electronic recycling program should reopen August 5th after being closed for several weeks. Hawaii Public Radio.

Hawaiian Airlines will add a new non-stop daily route between Portland and Maui, starting Jan. 18. Maui Now.

Move over, Kona. Maui coffee is getting much stronger. Maui News.

Kauai

Noisemakers and motion sensors are just a few of the new tools scientists and conservationists are combining with traps to reduce predators in remote endangered seabird nesting areas. Garden Island.

There are nearly 400 predator traps scattered throughout Kauai's Hono O Na Pali Natural Area Reserve. Hawaii News Now.

The county Housing Agency will be hosting a community meeting Thursday from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Koloa Neighborhood Center to discuss plans for a new workforce housing development. Garden Island.

Boardwalk from Kawaihau Road to highway is open. Garden Island.

Niihau

State officials say they're moving ahead with a second attempt at eradicating rats from a tiny island near Niihau, but critics of the plan say they're worried about the potential risks to the marine environment. Hawaii News Now.

Hokulea homecoming celebrations continue, universal basic income studied by Legislature, anti-aging drug begins trials, Maui sugarmill sale begins, Honolulu lobbyists spent $200k, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Greeting Hokulea in Honolulu, courtesy Hokulea crew

No modern navigation instrumentation guided a Polynesian voyaging canoe as it followed the horizon during a three-year journey around the globe. On Saturday, thousands welcomed double-hulled canoe Hokulea home to Hawaii when it entered a channel off the island Oahu and tied up to a floating dock at Magic Island. Associated Press.

Hokulea homecoming celebrations continued on Sunday, one day after thousands welcomed home the voyaging canoe. Hawaii News Now.

Hokulea is home, but its mission continues. The Malama Honua Summit kicked off Sunday -- highlighting the world-wide voyage. KITV4.

Three-quarters of the world’s inhabitants, including those living in Hawaii, will be exposed to deadly heat waves by the end of the century unless greenhouse gases are not substantially reduced, according to a study published today in Nature Climate Change. Star-Advertiser.

A resolution adopted by the Legislature last session calls for a “basic economic security working group” to study universal basic income. Civil Beat.

The National Institute of Health has chosen a compound developed by a Hawaii-based business for an anti-aging research program. Hawaii News Now.


Hawaii spends slightly more on each public school student than the national average each year but far less on general administration than the national norm, according to a new report from the Census Bureau. Star-Advertiser.

The state Department of Taxation’s new computer system has generated so many complaints from taxpayers and raised so many concerns among lawmakers that the Legislature this year stepped in to halt the flow of new funding into the project. Star-Advertiser.

Rear Adm. John Fuller will relinquish command of Navy Region Hawaii and Naval Surface Group Middle Pacific at 1 p.m. Friday to Rear Adm. Brian Fort. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii's seasonally adjusted unemployment rate dropped to 2.7 percent in May, a decline of 0.4 percentage points from 3.1 percent in May 2016. Pacific Business News.

About 49,000 Hawaii Medical Service Association members covered by small-business health insurance plans will see an average 2.1 percent rate hike July 1, the smallest increase since 2012. Star-Advertiser.

Oahu

Companies spent more than $200,000 to sway Honolulu’s elected officials last year, according to lobbying reports filed with the city Ethics Commission in January. Civil Beat.

 The state Department of Transportation has ended its agreement with the Department of Public Safety to have deputy sheriffs handle law-enforcement duties at the Daniel K. Inouye International Airport, and state Sen. Will Espero is questioning whether the move is payback for a lawsuit filed by the sheriffs’ union to block the state’s new contract with a private airport security firm. Star-Advertiser.

A landowner’s plan to develop 29 lots in the heart of Haleiwa town won its first approval from the City Council last week, and a community hearing is likely next for the contentious project. Star-Advertiser.

A developer calls it Serenity Gardens, but community reaction to a cemetery planned in a residential Kaneohe neighborhood has not been calm or soothing. Star-Advertiser.

The most expensive homes on Oahu are in the neighborhood of Kāhala. And the priciest ones of all are on Kāhala Avenue, a street of some changes over time. Hawaii Public Radio.

Winners of the Make the Ala Wai Awesome contest were announced Saturday at the opening ceremony of the World Youth Conference at the Hawaii Convention Center. Hawaii News Now.

The Honolulu Police Department and the city Prosecutor’s Office have seen an increase in their domestic violence caseloads in recent years but without a corresponding increase in successful prosecutions, a report released last week by city Auditor Edwin Young concludes. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii Island

Renters and owners of second homes, especially those in West Hawaii, are about to feel the sting of changes the County Council made to Mayor Harry Kim’s proposed property tax hikes. West Hawaii Today.

Time could be running out for The Villages at Aina Lea. After more than a quarter-century of false starts and litigation, all work at the South Kohala site has been ordered again stopped and Hawaii County has notified developer, Aina Lea Inc., it plans to start the county process of reverting the land’s zoning “to its original” (unplanned) or a “more appropriate designation.” West Hawaii Today.

The state Department of Transportation’s reconstruction project on Saddle Road is nearing completion. Tribune-Herald.

A contested case hearing on whether to let a proposed 306-unit timeshare development in Kahaluu move forward is unlikely to get resolved this year. West Hawaii Today.

Recent sewage leaks and high bacteria counts along the Keaukaha shoreline are the topics of discussion at this community meeting Thursday night. Big Island Video News.

When the Big Island Invasive Species Committee’s field crew heads out to take samples from ohia trees, no news is good news. Tribune-Herald.

Following the recommendation of Hawaii County inspectors, the state Department of Land and Natural Resources has made the decision to close Pagoda Hilo Bay Hotel immediately and vacate the hotel. Tribune-Herald.

Maui

An inspection for potential buyers of the former Hawaiian Commercial & Sugar Co.’s processing plant will be held from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday. Maui News.

A Lahaina Department of Public Works crew defied its supervisor following September’s torrential rains and flooding and risked further environmental damage from brown-water runoff, the department’s former chief of field operations and maintenance charges in her federal whistleblower lawsuit filed this week against Maui County. Maui News.

Kaiser Permanente Hawaii plans to spend more than $50 million on three Maui County hospitals as the biggest privatization effort in state history finally comes to fruition following a one-year delay. Star-Advertiser.

Having adequate doctors, access to services for non-Kaiser Permanente members and the possibility of reopening adolescent mental health services were some of the issues brought up during a public meeting Friday. Maui News.

The Maui County Council approved the 49-unit Makila Kai project in Launiupoko on a 6-2 vote Friday. Maui News.

The county Department of Water Supply has announced the winners of its eighth annual Water Conservation Poster Contest and of its first Source Water Protection Video Contest. Maui News.

Experts say elder abuse is happening in all settings. Conference focuses on signs of a problem, prevention tactics. Maui News.

Kauai

Mayor Bernard Carvalho Jr. sent the upcoming year’s budget back to to the council unsigned. Garden Island.

Kauai County Council Chair Mel Rapozo will give an overview of the county’s fiscal year 2017-18 budget at the Lihue Business Association meeting, 7:30 to 9 a.m. Thursday at Duke’s Canoe Club. Garden Island.

The Kauai County Council will host the annual Hawaii State Association of Counties conference Monday and Tuesday at the Koloa Landing Resort at Poipu. Garden Island.

The public has a chance to hear about the new approach to recreational water quality in a meeting set for 6 p.m. Wednesday at the Kauai District Health Office Conference Room in Lihue. Garden Island.

Kauai residents are grateful for Tropic Care services. Between Monday and Wednesday, 1,661 patients visited the clinics, and Tropic Care provided 8,015 procedures. Those numbers already surpass those from last year, said Lauren Guest, public health preparedness planner for the Hawaii State Department of Health. Garden Island.

Hawaii dislikes Trump's climate accord withdrawal, bill banning aquarium fish taking on Ige's desk, health worker benefit bill signed, Maui mayor signs $705M budget, mumps cases reach 81, Kauai rose-ringed parakeet bill signed, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Golden dawn over Hawaii © 2017 All Hawaii News

Hawaii’s Democratic congressional delegation quickly panned President Donald Trump’s decision Thursday to withdraw from the 2015 Paris agreement on climate change, describing it as sad, irresponsible, shortsighted and an abandonment of American leadership. Star-Advertiser.

Disgusted by President Trump’s decision Thursday to pull the United States out of the Paris climate accord, elected officials and nonprofit leaders in Hawaii said they are not backing down from their commitments to combat global warming. Civil Beat.

Local scientists are reacting with anger and dismay after President Trump's decision Thursday to pull the United States out of the Paris accords aimed at slowing global warming and climate change. Hawaii News Now.

President Donald Trump’s decision to withdraw the United States from the 2015 Paris climate accord drew sharp criticism from Hawaii’s congressional delegation on Thursday. Tribune-Herald.

Hawaii lawmakers and members of the state's Congressional delegation railed against President Trump's decision Thursday to pull the United States out of a global agreement aimed at slowing the pace of global warming. Hawaii News Now.

President Trump’s decision to withdraw the United States from the Paris Climate Accord was universally criticized by Hawaii Democrats in the hours following the announcement made from the White House’s Rose Garden. Big Island Video News.

US Senator Brian Schatz of Hawai‘i, co-chair of the Senate Climate Action Task Force, said he is “appalled and disappointed” with President Donald Trump’s decision to withdraw from the Paris Agreement.  Maui Now.

President Donald Trump’s decision Thursday to withdraw the United States from the Paris climate accord will hamper efforts to stem global warming throughout the world — the primary cause of rising ocean temperatures that pose the single greatest threat to Hawaii’s marine ecosystems. West Hawaii Today.

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The Trump administration has asked the Supreme Court to immediately reinstate its ban on travelers from six mostly Muslim countries, saying the U.S. will be safer if the policy is put in place. Associated Press.

A bill awaiting Governor Ige's signature would end the commercial collecting of Hawaii reef wildlife for the aquarium trade. Hawaii Public Radio.

Civil Beat Poll: Voters Dislike Trump, Support Lawsuit Against Travel Ban. The president’s approval rating of 32 percent is actually higher than the percentage of the state vote he received in November. Civil Beat.


Madison, Wis.-based Hartung Brothers Inc. is expected to acquire Syngenta’s Hawaii operations, which include about 100 full-time employees and 4,000 acres of land on Oahu and Kauai. Star-Advertiser.

Maui Land & Pineapple Co., Inc. has seen its stock price more than double since the beginning of the year, while the majority of Hawaii's publicly traded companies suffered losses in May. Pacific Business News.

Oahu

The Hawaii Supreme Court heard oral arguments Thursday in a lawsuit brought by Honolulu Civil Beat against the City and County of Honolulu after city officials denied access to budget documents and material that Honolulu Mayor Kirk Caldwell used to shape his spending plan for fiscal year 2016. Civil Beat.

Rail officials will receive $900,000 in federal grant funds to revitalize “brownfields,” which is name for the contaminated properties in need of an environmental cleanup. Pacific Business News.

A new freeway lane from the Red Hill area to Aiea is expected to open in a few months in an effort to ease westbound traffic congestion. Star-Advertiser.

Could Oahu’s West Side Be The New Vacation Hot Spot For Millennials? The Hawaii Food & Wine Festival is promoting island agriculture by taking travel writers to the Leeward Coast. But will it sell? Civil Beat.

Aloha Green Holdings Inc. said Thursday it is dropping plans to sell non-THC products at its King Street medical marijuana dispensary starting next week. Star-Advertiser.

So far, 81 cases of the highly contagious respiratory disease mumps have been reported, all but two of them on Oahu. The total is far beyond any annual tally in Health Department records dating back to 1990 — and the year isn’t even half over. Star-Advertiser.

Federal law makes city’s struggle to get abandoned cars off streets even harder. KHON2.

An Oahu grand jury Thursday indicted a 57-year-old man who allegedly broke etched glass panes on three doors at historic Iolani Palace and a glass door at the state Capitol. Star-Advertiser.

A school name change on Oʻahu is raising awareness in that community about the origin of place names in Hawaiʻi. Hawaii Public Radio.

Searider Productions produces Emmy Award winning stories and animation. With the $10.7 million they received from the state Legislature, they're hoping to produce more awarding projects out of a much better facility. KITV.

Deep in the quiet Manoa Valley, the fight to protect the ohia plant plays on. Hawaii News Now.

Unusual 6-foot-long fish rescued after washing up in Ko Olina lagoon. KHON2.

Hawaii Island

County employee survey: Morale mostly high, but employees afraid to speak out West Hawaii Today.

A federal civil lawsuit alleges that a dorm mother at an elite Hawaii boarding school had sex with a male student in her campus apartment. Associated Press.

A former Hawaii island boarding student and his parents are suing Hawaii Preparatory Academy, alleging the private school failed to protect the minor from repeated sexual abuse by a female dormitory supervisor and concealed evidence of the inappropriate relationship. Star-Advertiser.

The parents of a former Hawaii Preparatory Academy student on Wednesday filed suit against the school, alleging it failed to prevent or investigate a relationship between that student and a former employee. West Hawaii Today.

A longstanding, Hilo-based Hawaiian immersion public charter school is vacating Keaukaha Elementary School’s campus next year after three decades accommodating students there. Tribune-Herald.

Maui

Maui County Mayor Alan Arakawa on Thursday signed into law a $705.2 million county budget for the fiscal year that begins July 1 that keeps the Waiehu Municipal Golf Course open and imposes a new $3 per vehicle tipping fee for residential dumping at the Central Maui Landfill. Maui News.

Gov. David Ige has signed into law a bill that would provide severance benefits to employees affected by the privatization of three Maui County public hospitals. Maui News.

How Anne Morrow Lindbergh Battled Maui’s Wild Side. Today, the famous author’s granddaughter faces similar struggles keeping the critters and climate at bay in remote Kipahulu. Civil Beat.

Kauai

Gov. David Ige signed House Bill 655 on Thursday aimed at reducing the rose-ringed parakeet population. Garden Island.

In front of a crowd of nearly 300 people at the 19th annual Governor’s Luncheon at Koloa Landing Resort, Gov. David Ige said collaboration with county and state officials and the Legislature made a difference. Garden Island.

The county is considering creating a university district for Kauai Community College. Garden Island.

Humpback whale count concludes, over-the-counter birth control advances, counties count budget blessings, Ellison's Lanai golf course up for LUC decision, Honolulu seeks comments on transit development plan, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Humpback whale breach, courtesy  Kohala Sail & Sea PC: Michael Faughn

More than 380 volunteers gathered data from the shores of Hawaii Island, Oahu and Kauai during the final count of the 2017 Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary Ocean Count. Tribune-Herald.


Women would no longer have to make a trip to the doctor to get a prescription for birth control pills or other forms of hormonal contraception under a bill that gained approval from negotiators in the House and Senate on Tuesday. Star-Advertiser.

Passage Of State Budget Bill Breaks The Legislative Logjam — For Now. Negotiations continue on the rail-tax measure during the secretive home stretch when Senate and House leaders meet in conference committees. Civil Beat.

Advocates Fear Hawaii’s Sick Leave Bill Abandons Workers In Need. But industry groups say bills that mandate paid sick leave for workers and expand the state’s current family leave law will push prices higher. Civil Beat.

Hawaii lawmakers are in the midst of intense negotiations about what bills to pass this year. But with only three days left to make decisions, some committees haven’t even met yet. Bills to increase public input about new seawalls, ensure media access in disaster zones and protect lifeguards from lawsuits may die without negotiations. Civil Beat.

A new course of relief for residents plagued by little fire ant infestations or concerned about falling albizia trees is nearing the finish line in the state Legislature. House Bill 606 allows county employees or authorized county agents to enter private property in order to manage invasive species or pests on the land. Tribune-Herald.

State officials reassure visitors after rat lungworm cases. Associated Press.

President Donald Trump is ordering a review of the designations for more than two dozen national monuments, including ecologically rich marine preserves in the Pacific such as Papahanaumokuakea, Marianas Trench and the Pacific Remote Islands. Civil Beat.

President Trump is expected to sign an executive order Wednesday that could end up shrinking — or even nullifying — some large federal national monuments on protected public lands, as established since the Clinton administration. Hawaii Public Radio.

Oahu

The city is seeking input on its draft plan for transit-oriented development around the three rail stations in the Hono­lulu Airport area, including proposed new mixed-use communities not primarily centered on housing. Star-Advertiser.

Some residents on Oahu’s North Shore want to stop tour bus companies from dropping off passengers at beaches in the area. KHON2.

Gov. David Ige joined dozens of kindergarten and first-grade students, along with faculty and state officials, to dedicate a new one-story, air-conditioned building at Ewa Elementary School on Tuesday. Star-Advertiser.

Is a DLNR officer harassing a North Shore businessman? KITV.

Hilton Hawaiian Village Waikiki Beach Resort is looking for a “few good men and women” to fulfill its goal of making military veterans and military family members 7 percent of all their new hires in the next three years. Star-Advertiser.

Waikiki center seeks more aid as costs and services grow. Star-Advertiser.

Even though there have been no cases of rat lungworm on Oahu, fear about the disease is hurting sales for growers of leafy greens. Hawaii News Now.

Kahala Resort plan: Privatization of public beach? KITV.

Honolulu-based Island Air and South Korea's Jin Air have entered into an interline partnership, which allows travelers to book connections between Jin Air’s network throughout Korea and Southeast Asia and Island Air’s destinations in the Hawaiian Islands. Pacific Business News.

Hawaii Island

Leaders in the state House and Senate agreed to a budget deal that includes funding for extending Saddle Road to Queen Kaahumanu Highway, responding to rat lungworm disease and containing rapid ohia death. Tribune-Herald.

West Hawaii is currently using less than 40 percent of what scientists have determined is the sustainable yield of water in the Keauhou Aquifer system. If current population growth trends continue, that amount will top 60 percent by 2035. West Hawaii Today.

Big Island Residents Step Up Resistance To Solar Project. Residents of Hawaii Ocean View Estates are upset about having no formal way to oppose or have input into plans for a large solar farm in their subdivision. Civil Beat.

Peter Kema Sr., as part of a condition of a plea deal, led police on Sunday to a site in Puna where he claims he dumped his 6-year-old son’s body in 1997. Tribune-Herald.

Bird excrement annoying post office goers in Waikoloa Village. West Hawaii Today.

Maui

The $1.1 billion in capital improvement projects that state House and Senate conferees agreed upon Monday for the biennium budget include $63 million for the Kihei high school, which should be enough to open the school by 2022, education officials and state lawmakers said Tuesday. Maui News.

An approximately $90 million, 217-condominium unit project behind the Kamaole Shopping Center along South Kihei Road moved closer to fruition Tuesday as the Maui Planning Commission granted a Special Management Area use permit for the project. Maui News.

The former Maui Film Studios will be converted into a 23,000-square-foot trampoline park to open in July or August in the Maui Lani Village Center, the park’s owner said Tuesday. Maui News.

A non-profit dance academy in Kula is scrambling to vacate the Old Kula Community Center building that is being condemned by County officials due to the discovery of chipped and deteriorating lead paint. Maui Now.

Researchers who examined Maui’s nearshore waters in a study of changing sea depths discovered a remarkable amount of seafloor and coral reef erosion — enough sand, rock and other material over nearly four decades to fill up the Empire State Building 81 times. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii lawmakers have approved a budget bill providing funds for the transfer of operations of Maui Memorial Medical Center and two other state-owned Maui County hospitals to private health care provider Kaiser Permanente. Pacific Business News.

Kauai

When it comes to Kauai’s General Plan, Planning Commissioner Glenda Nogami-Streufert wants to make sure future lawmakers are not locked into policies they cannot enforce. Garden Island.

Dow Chemical is asking members of President Donald Trump’s Cabinet agencies to “set aside” results of federal studies that say three pesticides may pose a risk to the health of endangered species and humans. Garden Island.

The water conservation request for Wainiha and Haena residents has been lifted as of 4 p.m., April 25. Customers may return to normal water use. Garden Island.

Lanai

The state Land Use Commission could make a decision this week regarding the water usage at Oracle Corp. co-founder Larry Ellison’s Manele Golf Course on Lanai, which could lead to the billionaire shutting down the course. Pacific Business News.

Legislature looks to ban insecticide chlorpyrifos, Oahu and Maui top destinations for gay travelers, home care inspections fail, Honolulu airport renovations hit snag, Molokai may be first island to go off grid, feral pig disposal at issue in Hilo, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Hilo farmers market © 2017 All Hawaii News

Hawaii lawmakers who oversee committees on agriculture and the environment indicated a new resolve last week to ban the commonly used insecticide chlorpyrifos that could be harming the brains of fetuses and young children, as well as farm workers. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii produces less than 15 percent of the food it consumes, and some lawmakers want to help change that by studying the feasibility of “vertical farming.” Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii lawmakers this week will take up clean transportation, disruptive public-records requests and involuntary psychiatric treatment. All bills have to be passed out of their final committees by Friday. Associated Press.

‘Terrible’ Report On Care Home Inspections Is Finally In. Hawaii lawmakers delayed doing unannounced inspections to get reports on the health department workload. Civil Beat.

Legislation aims to repeal interisland electric cable act. Tribune-Herald.

HB 606 gives the counties in Hawaii the authority to enter private property for the purpose of eradicating and/or controlling invasive species or pests. Garden Island.

Beckie Stocchetti has been named executive director of the Hawaii International Film Festival. She will succeed Robert Lambeth effective Aug. 1. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaiian Airlines’ top executives received pay increases in 2016, according to an annual proxy statement filed Friday with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. Mark Dunkerley, the airline’s chief executive officer, received a total compensation of $3.7 million last year, a 13.9 percent jump from the $3.3 million he received in 2015. Pacific Business News.

Commentary: State governor’s practice of low expectations mires us from moving forward. Star-Advertiser.

Oahu

Another major piece of the long-delayed Honolulu Airport modernization program is stuck on a snag, this time involving a pair of smaller airlines that need to move but as yet have no place to go. Star-Advertiser.

A Civil Beat analysis of police disciplinary records from 2014 to 2016 found at least 16 HPD officers who were terminated by police officials but are still going through the process to have that decision reversed. Dozens of officers who are fired or suspended succeed in having the punishment overturned as part of a union-backed grievance process. Civil Beat.

It’s been open only six months, but the Honolulu prosecutor’s safe house for female victims of domestic violence, sex assault and human trafficking already is a flashpoint for criticism locally and nationally. Star-Advertiser.

Mayor Kirk Caldwell again made between $200,000 and $299,999 in 2016 from his side work as a Territorial Savings Bank director, he reported in his annual financial disclosure. Star-Advertiser.

Mayor Kirk Caldwell appointed former Bank of Hawaii executive Peter Biggs as deputy director of the city Department of Budget and Fiscal Services on Thursday. Biggs starts today and replaces Gary Kurokawa, who was tapped to serve as Caldwell’s chief of staff. Star-Advertiser.

A 42-year-old woman who was shot by an off-duty Honolulu police officer in a King Street bar two years ago says in a federal lawsuit that the officer’s supervisors knew the officer had drinking and emotional problems but failed to take steps to prevent him from carrying a firearm. Star-Advertiser.

It was move-in day Tuesday for five chronically homeless people who are part of a massive, all-hands-on-deck effort by the state, city and social service agencies to get 30 homeless people off the street and into Chinatown apartments by June. Star-Advertiser.

Parts of Kailua Beach Park will be closed starting Monday as City and County of Honolulu crews work to remove sand to reduce the risk of flooding. Hawaii News Now.

A California-based English-Japanese bilingual preschool is expanding to Hawaii with its first location planned for Honolulu, the architect working on the project confirmed to Pacific Business News.

A veteran Hawaii architect is seeking to build a 300-foot residential tower in Kakaako and expects it will be subject to the current affordable-housing rules, although those rules could soon change. Star-Advertiser.

State lawmakers advanced a bill Thursday that could help improve conditions at Sunset Memorial Park in Pearl City after concerns were raised that the cemetery has been neglected and is in disrepair. Star-Advertiser.


Hawaii

West Hawaii Republicans came together Saturday in Waikoloa, re-electing Chairman Dave Ross and setting forth plans for strengthening the party. West Hawaii Today.

As Mayor Harry Kim announced late Friday he’s reopened negotiations on a multimillion-dollar composting contract he’d canceled, County Council Chairwoman Valerie Poindexter said she’d still like a council resolution to go forward giving the council authority to hire an outside attorney to look over the contract and make recommendations. West Hawaii Today.

Big Island residents are preparing to meet with Gov. David Ige to address ongoing pollution concerns about a large dairy farm. Hawaii News Now.

Legislators gathered Thursday evening in Kona at a Community Enterprises forum to engage with more than 100 residents on issues that matter to West Hawaii communities. How to pay teachers more money to help them absorb Hawaii’s substantial cost of living was discussed at length. West Hawaii Today.

Now that a grant-funded county program to combat little fire ants has wrapped, Hawaii County invasive species specialists and legislative representatives once again are hoping to secure state funding to address the issue. Tribune-Herald.

Disability advocates are considering a lawsuit against Hilo Medical Center after an Americans with Disabilities Act complaint failed to get the U.S. Department of Justice involved. Tribune-Herald.

Restricting access to popular manta ray viewing sites will radically affect business, many local tour operators said Saturday. West Hawaii Today.

Kaumana residents are worried that feral pig carcasses being dumped near a stream at Akolea Road are contaminating the water — though the state says the problem is being addressed and the public’s health is not at risk. Tribune-Herald.

Keanalele, located in Kiholo State Park Reserve, and commonly referred to as “Queen’s Bath,” gives visitors the rare opportunity to dip into and swim in a lava tube. At least it would, but a sign at the park warns visitors with a $1,000 fine for anyone who enters any cave or lava tube. West Hawaii Today.

There are no clear-cut solutions when it comes to topics of legalizing, decriminalizing or regulating prostitution, but one theme sounded louder than others during a Saturday panel discussion hosted by the Zonta Club of Hilo: Empathy matters. Tribune-Herald.

Maui

Maui is the second-most visited island for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender travelers from the United States, but it is top amongst Canadians and third among Australians, according to a study released by the Hawai’i Tourism Authority in March. Maui News.

Saying a law applies to pedestrians as well as drivers, a state appeals court vacated a Wailuku District Court order that had dismissed a charge against a weekly tabloid publisher who was detained when he used his cellphone to videotape a police traffic enforcement operation five years ago. Maui News.

A general map showing possible uses of now fallow sugar fields — including areas for possible biodiesel-producing tree orchards, coffee and cacao crops and livestock-irrigated pastures — was projected on a screen as the former general manager of Hawaiian Commercial & Sugar Co. gave a presentation at the Maui Energy Conference last week. Maui News.

Maui County’s Ho’aloha Park is home to hundreds of Hawaiian and Na Kai ‘Ewalu canoe club paddlers, but in recent months it’s been a hot spot for trouble with homeless people and vagrants. Maui News.

A rare sighting of a Whale Shark was observed near Molokini Crater Saturday. Maui Now.

Kauai

The Air Force has agreed to reduce exterior lighting at a mountaintop radar facility on Kauai to better protect endangered and threatened seabirds. Star-Advertiser.

State and federal officials have moved a Hawaiian monk seal on Kauai due to concerns for the animal's safety. Associated Press.

A 10-month-old female Hawaiian monk seal was moved Friday from the Lihi canal in Kapaa to a beach on Kauai’s Westside. Garden Island.

Molokai

Thanks to a new battery storage system, Molokai may be the first Hawaiian island to go entirely off the grid. Hawaii Public Radio.