Showing posts with label judges. Show all posts
Showing posts with label judges. Show all posts

Wednesday, May 8, 2024

Legislature commits $94M to overcrowded jails and prisons, Hawaiian-Alaska airlines clear merger hurdle, below-average hurricane season predicted, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Lawmakers Commit $94M To Fix Deteriorating Prisons And Jails. Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation Director Tommy Johnson has been warning that the state needs to fix its run-down correctional facilities or face lawsuits over deteriorating conditions. It now appears the system is finally making a dent in the problem. Civil Beat.

Surge of Hawaii inmates sent to mainland prison is temporary. The head of the State’s Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation said there’s been a surge of Hawaii inmates being sent away to a facility on the mainland, but it’s only temporary. KHON2.

Hawaiian, Alaska airlines clear key hurdle in merger deal. Hawaiian Airlines and Alaska Airlines said they have met a crucial milestone in Alaska’s proposed buyout of the local airline. KHON2.

Hawaii’s New School Board Chair Has Played A Big Role In Public Education Reforms. In 2010, House Education Committee Chair Roy Takumi proposed a constitutional amendment to shift Hawaii’s Board of Education from elected to appointed. Civil Beat.

School chief’s salary cap rests with the governor. If Gov. Josh Green doesn’t sign Senate Bill 3207, the current $248,000 salary of Department of Education Superintendent Keith Hayashi will revert to its former limit of $150,000 annually, and the mandatory evaluation of the superintendent will be eliminated. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii Is Entering A Dangerous Fire Season
. Here’s What Will Be Different Post-Lahaina. As Hawaii enters its first wildfire season since the deadly Aug. 8 fires in Lahaina, emergency responders and state officials say they’re using lessons learned from the Maui tragedy to better prepare for what forecasters say is a high-risk year for significant fires. Civil Beat.

Hawaiʻi Tourism Authority says it's grateful for renewed funding from lawmakers.  The embattled Hawaiʻi Tourism Authority emerged from this legislative session with strong financial support. Hawaii Public Radio.

West Oʻahu Sen. Maile Shimabukuro announces resignation from Legislature.
State Sen. Maile Shimabukuro has announced she will resign from her seat at the end of the month. She has represented West Oʻahu for the last 21 years. Hawaii Public Radio.

Hawaiʻi to get nearly $30M in federal funds to replace lead pipes.
Last week the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced the funding, which is meant to prevent exposure to lead in drinking water. The money comes from the federal Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. Hawaii Public Radio.

‘Things can still happen,’ weather service cautions of below-average hurricane prediction. Hurricane season is June 1 to Nov. 30 in Hawaii, and AccuWeather — a commercial weather forecasting service — is predicting a relatively quiet season for tropical cyclones in the Central Pacific basin. Tribune-Herald.

Oahu

Gov. Green considers seven nominees for four judicial vacancies. Three state Family Court judges, two private practice attorneys, a District Court judge and a deputy public defender are in the running to become state Circuit Court judges on Oahu. Star-Advertiser. Maui Now.

City struggles to combat illegal rentals amidst over tourism concerns.
The city is having a hard time cracking down on illegal rentals. So far this year, they fined about a hundred violators. KITV4.

Proposed housing project in Leeward Oahu for at-risk youth stirs mixed feelings. Residential Youth Services & Empowerment says it bought the property last year to serve the youth experiencing homelessness in that community. Hawaii News Now.

Video surveillance sought for scenic sites in East Oahu. The Honolulu Police Department is considering using video cameras mounted on at least four mobile security trailers to avert auto burglaries, thefts, vandalism and other crimes at popular scenic points in East Oahu. Star-Advertiser.

New report says Hawaii is second-worst state to be a police officer. On Oahu, the starting salary for HPD officers is just over $75,000 a year, not to mention the $25,000 recruitment bonuses. This beats the national average of $69,000 a year, but Hawaii ranked low overall on training and job growth opportunities. Hawaii News Now.

Victim from 1970s Tripler hospital medical malpractice lawsuit dies. A man whose medical malpractice case against Tripler Army Medical Center in the 1970s was turned down after a U.S. Supreme Court statue of limitations ruling has died. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii Island

Federal drought insurance to be expanded for Hawaiʻi Island ranchers. The insurance is meant to protect ranchers who lose foraging grass because of a lack of expected rainfall. Hawaii Public Radio.

First Public Hearing Held On Pōhakuloa EIS Draft Two. The community had a chance to testify Monday on the second draft environmental impact statement for the Army Training Land Retention at Pōhakuloa Training Area, during a meeting held at the Waimea District Park. Big Island Video News.

Maui

Dozens meet to discuss proposal for more telescopes on Haleakala.
Dozens packed into a lecture hall at the University of Hawai'i Maui College Tuesday evening to discuss the Department of the Air Force's proposal to build up to seven more telescopes on Haleakala.  KITV4.

County of Maui accepting applications for nearly 600 positions. Whether it’s Police, Parks, or Public Works, the County of Maui has positions to fill in nearly every department. Hawaii News Now.

DLNR: Dozens of vehicles towed at Kahului Harbor during cleanup
. Crews with the state Department of Land and Natural Resources finished clearing the public parking areas of Kahului Boat Harbor by removing more than five dozen vehicles, many of them abandoned.  Maui Now.

HECO extends moratorium on cutting power for Maui customers affected by the fires. Maui customers financially challenged by the wildfires won’t have to worry about losing electric service for at least another two months. Hawaii Public Radio.

Land Board set to take up proposed purchase of 257 acres at Māʻalaea Mauka.
The state of Hawaiʻi is considering acquisition of nearly 257 acres at Pōhākea, also known as Māʻalaea Mauka, for $8.22 million, as a forest reserve to protect the watershed and prevent massive erosion from damaging Māʻalaea Bay. Maui Now.

Second suit filed against Maui hotel over lights that disorient birds. Earthjustice is filing suit a second time against the Grand Wailea, A Waldorf Astoria Resort, on Maui over the harms its bright lights cause to endangered seabirds. Star-Advertiser.

Kauai

Court ruling could trigger environmental assessment for Kauai seed production project
. A Kauai seed production company may be forced to do an environmental assessment because of a ruling from the state Intermediate Court of Appeals. Hawaii News Now.

State investigating cruise ships anchored near Na Pali Coast.
The Hawaii Department of Land and Natural Resources is investigating whether a cruise ship, possibly two, recently anchored too closely to the Na Pali Coast on Kauai, following complaints. Star-Advertiser. Maui Now.

April storm on Garden Isle brought record-breaking rainfall totals. According to the monthly rainfall summary from the National Weather Service in Honolulu, the mid-April heavy rain event resulted in above-average totals over the entire island of Kauaʻi. Rain gauges near the town of Waimea recorded monthly totals greater than 10 times the April average. Kauai Now.

Thursday, October 25, 2018

Honolulu short $44M as rail deadline nears, Senate committee approves Ige pal for judgeship, feral cats overrun transfer stations, Zuckerberg buys Kauai land, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

copyright 2018 All Hawaii News all rights reserved
Giraffe at Honolulu Zoo ©2018 All Hawaii News
The Honolulu Zoo announced that Nairobi, a 21-year-old male giraffe, died this morning from complications due to old age. Star-Advertiser.

Senate Judiciary Committee: Friendship Is Not Disqualification. Keith Hiraoka, Governor David Ige’s nominee for the Intermediate Court of Appeals faced members of the Senate Wednesday. Hawaii Public Radio.

Lawyer tells commission about many complaints over trustee. A former Office of Hawaiian Affairs attorney testified Wednesday that at one time there were so many employee harassment and abuse complaints against Trustee Rowena Akana, officials were worried about a cascade of lawsuits. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii Tax System Places Larger Burden on Low Income Residents. Low-income residents in Hawaii are paying a higher share of their income in taxes than higher level earners. That is the conclusion of a recent report from the Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy titled Who Pays?  Hawaii Public Radio.

Emergency Help For Hawaii’s Mentally Ill Is Often A Revolving Door. Hundreds of people taken by police to the hospital for psychiatric care go on to repeated hospitalizations or brushes with the law. Civil Beat.

Kahoolawe’s shorelines aren’t as pristine as you might think. The Greenpeace crew discovered just how polluted it really is. Greenpeace staff and volunteers are back in Honolulu with two and a half tons of plastic pollution collected from the shorelines around Kahoolawe. Hawaii News Now.

State’s 4 Native Hawaiian Chambers of Commerce Form New Alliance. Maui Now.

Super Typhoon Yutu Hits Northern Marianas With 180-mph Winds. Associated Press.

United Airlines kitchen employees vote to join Unite Here. Kitchen employees in five United Airlines cities, including Honolulu, have voted to unionize with Unite Here, adding 2,700 workers to the union. Pacific Business News.

Oahu

City scrambles to find $44M for rail as feds hold firm on deadline. Mayor Kirk Caldwell’s administration and the Honolulu City Council are scrambling to find ways to provide $44 million in city funds by next month to help finance the Honolulu rail project. Star-Advertiser.

Feds To City: Show Us The Rail Money Now. Honolulu will need to come up with $44 million by Nov. 20 — and a good-faith effort to eventually issue bonds for those dollars next year won’t cut it. Civil Beat.

In less than a month, the city needs to find $44M for rail. A deadline has been set by the federal government. Hawaii News Now.

The Federal Transit Administration is not budging on its deadline for the City and County of Honolulu to fund the rail project. The FTA declared Wednesday that the City must come up with 44 million dollars by November 20th or risk losing some or all of its federal funding. KITV.

Mayor urges passage of bill to fund rail through property tax. Mayor Kirk Caldwell is pushing the city council to act quickly to fund Honolulu's rail project. KHON2.

Rail draft plan reveals potential cost-cutting measures. The rail authority expects to collect $188 million more in taxes than previously projected to help finance the Honolulu rail project, but the city is still making plans to cut costs if necessary, including possibly deferring construction of the $315 million Pearl Highlands Parking Structure and Transit Center. Star-Advertiser.

=====

Two More Condo Towers Proposed Near Ala Moana Center. Developers continue to seek special permits for building near rail stations that allow taller, denser structures. Civil Beat.

A landowner plans to develop nearly 1,000 moderately priced condo units on Keeaumoku Street and is offering public benefits including a bigger park in return for letting two towers rise 50 feet beyond the current limit. Star-Advertiser.

A company that developed the pair of oval Moana Pacific condominium towers on Kapiolani Boulevard has bought more land on the same street for redevelopment. Star-Advertiser.

Applications now accepted for McCully affordable housing condo. KHON2.

=====

Church debuts domes to shelter homeless women and children. A grand opening ceremony was held Wednesday morning for a handful domes built to shelter the homeless in Kaneohe. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii's first dome homeless shelters open at First Assembly of God. Pacific Business News.

Kaneohe church’s igloo-like dome shelters to house homeless families. Hawaii News Now.

What Caused This North Shore Cliff To Collapse? Since boulders fell into the sea at Laie Point, the city has issued a notice of violation for installation of a hot tub, fish pond and stone fire pit at the site. Civil Beat.

Chevron to settlement will fund $300K in gear for Honolulu emergency responders. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced Wednesday a national settlement with Chevron U.S.A. Inc. for violations of the Clean Air Act that will fund about $300,000 in equipment for the Honolulu Department of Emergency Management. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii Island

Representative behind Waikola development commits to following through with project. A representative for the developer behind a planned 398-lot residential subdivision in South Kohala repeatedly committed on Wednesday to completing the project that has gone undeveloped for the past decade. West Hawaii Today.

Feral cats, other animals, a problem at transfer stations. Hawaii County garbage transfer stations are going to the dogs. But especially the cats. Not to mention the pigs, the goats and the chickens. West Hawaii Today.

The Hawaii County Game Management Advisory Commission provided an update on the effort to locate and develop a shooting range on the Big Island. Big Island Video News.

State Division of Conservation and Resources Enforcement officers are asking for the public’s help identifying two men wanted for questioning in connection with the recent poisoning of several East Hawaii streams on the Big Island. West Hawaii Today.

When 2019 begins, so too will a new law authorizing health care providers to supply terminally ill patients with life-ending medication. To prepare residents and health care providers for the new law, Compassion and Choices Hawaii — a nonprofit dedicated to raising awareness about end-of-life options — hosted a series of presentations around the Big Island this week. Tribune-Herald.

Maui

Candidates have history with seat they are seeking. The two candidates vying for the Makawao, Haiku, Paia residency seat on the Maui County Council are no strangers to the office being vacated by council Chairman Mike White, who is retiring. Maui News.

Permit hearing for Haiku zipline to resume Dec. 11. The Maui Planning Commission recessed a hearing for a Haiku zipline company on Tuesday, to the audible groans of neighbors seeking an end to the zipline’s operations. Maui News.

Kauai

Affordable housing targeted. The County Council gave a green light to the county clerk to sign documents to accept a loan that will improve the infrastructure for phase one of the Lima Ola affordable housing community in Eleele. Garden Island.

County Council candidate: Mason Chock. After five years in office, some politicians become disillusioned or complacent. Incumbent Mason Chock, though, retains his sense of humor, drive and self-reflective humility. Garden Island.

Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg continues to acquire property on Kauai. KITV.


Wednesday, September 27, 2017

Beer tax could be slashed, commercial fishing fees double, tourism could benefit from others' troubles, audit slams Honolulu homeless program management, Maui condo war, Princeville founder dies, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

copyright 2017 All Hawaii News all rights reserved
Hops to it! Beer making in Hawaii © 2017 All Hawaii News
A new bill could slash beer taxes in half, bolster Hawaii's hops industry. Hawaii Rep. Kaniela Ing will introduce the bill, which would slash taxes that Hawaii residents pay for beer by more than half, from 93 cents per gallon to 42 cents per gallon. Pacific Business News.

Maui Rep. Kaniela Ing plans to introduce a bill during the next legislative session that would cut taxes Hawaii residents pay for beer by more than half, from 93 cents a gallon to 42 cents a gallon. Maui Now.

Democratic South Maui state Rep. Kaniela Ing wants to introduce legislation next year to cut state beer taxes by more than half, from 93 to 42 cents per gallon. Maui News.

The state Department of Land and Natural Resources wants to triple license fees for commercial fishermen and charter captains while requiring more paperwork for dealers in fish and other marine life. West Hawaii Today.

A devastating Atlantic hurricane season, along with concerns about safety in Mexico and Europe, could propel Hawaii’s visitor industry to an even stronger finish in 2018, which was already anticipated to be tourism’s best year. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii Gov. David Ige on Tuesday announced the appointment of Catherine Betts as deputy director of the state Department of Human Services, effective Oct. 3. Pacific Business News.

Hawaii schools not prepared to shelter children in event of nuclear strike. As tensions continue to rise between the United States and North Korea, Hawaii's Emergency Management Agency has instructed residents to prepare for a nuclear strike by stockpiling 14 days worth of food, water and supplies – a standard the Department of Education says Hawaii's public schools cannot fulfill. Hawaii News Now.

The number of public school students taking and passing Advanced Placement exams jumped by double-digit percentages over last year, a step forward in college readiness in Hawaii. Star-Advertiser.

Punahou teens all earn top AP calculus score. Star-Advertiser.

Oahu

A report by city Auditor Edwin Young gives the city’s initiatives to fight homelessness a lukewarm grade and slams Mayor Kirk Caldwell and his administration for lacking benchmarks and mismanaging programs aimed at sheltering people. Star-Advertiser.

A Circuit Court judge will hear arguments on Wednesday in the Sierra Club’s lawsuit over the underground fuel tanks at Red Hill. The Sierra Club is suing the state Department of Health, saying it did not enact underground storage rules to protect Hawaii’s groundwater. Hawaii News Now.

Some Honolulu High Rises Don’t Need Sprinklers, Fire Safety Panel Says. Residential buildings could each be evaluated to determine if a sprinkler retrofitting is necessary, a City Council committee is told. Civil Beat.

Following summer’s deadly Marco Polo fire, city leaders continue to grapple with how to make hundreds of Honolulu high-rises safer without overburdening owners and tenants. Star-Advertiser.

The secrecy and confusion continue over how Honolulu is choosing its next police chief. Tuesday, a group of local residents -- whose names are being kept confidential -- began the process of ranking the top nine candidates at a Waikiki hotel. Hawaii News Now.

The departure of Luella Costales from the Honolulu Police Commission means the oversight agency will need to collaborate more on future decisions, including the selection of a new chief. Civil Beat.

The battle over beach access in the Portlock community may soon come to an end after the city took its first step in resolving the conflict Tuesday. Hawaii News Now.

Gentrification for Chinatown?  Honolulu's Chinatown has been a center of revitalization, but there are concerns too many improvements could change the character of the district. KITV.

A startup is using former sugar cane land on the North Shore to “grow oil” — pongamia trees whose seeds can be turned into biofuel. Can pongamia, an obscure plant agriculture startup TerViva is growing on 50 acres of former sugar cane land near Haleiwa, really be Hawaii’s next big cash crop? Civil Beat.

The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission is suing the owners of Pacific Fun Enterprises LLC, dba Snappers Sports Bar and Grill and Snap-ette Beach and Liquor Store for sexual harassment of female employees. Star-Advertiser.

Federal lawsuit claims owner of Waikiki bar sexually harassed female workers over the course of 7 years. Hawaii News Now.

A 58-year-old Pearl City man is in custody at the Federal Detention Center on charges that he accepted and hid more than $2.8 million in bribes that he solicited to steer more than $400 million worth of engineering and construction work to a particular South Korean-based multinational company when he worked as a contracting officer for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. Star-Advertiser.

Residents in Makakilo say they've been cited for having plants and objects other than grass in the planting strips fronting their homes. The citations are causing confusion as many say they had no idea they were breaking the city's building code. Hawaii News Now.

Private concert draws dozens of noise complaints in Kakaako. KHON2.

Hawaii Island

The only solar program available that credits residents for the excess energy their solar systems send into the grid on Hawaii Island has hit its limit. Star-Advertiser.

In unanimous floor votes, members of the Hawaii State Senate Tuesday confirmed the appointments of 3rd Circuit District Family Court Judge Henry T. Nakamoto to the Circuit Court of the 3rd Circuit (Hilo) and attorney Robert D.S. Kim to the Circuit Court of the 3rd Circuit (Kona). West Hawaii Today.

Ocean View resident Raina Whiting announced over the weekend that she’ll run for the District 5 House seat being vacated by Rep. Richard Creagan. West Hawaii Today.

Real estate development company Meridian Pacific Ltd. says about two-thirds of storefront spaces at its planned Puna Kai shopping center are spoken for. Tribune-Herald.

Outside the aisle: Local grocery store launches online shopping, delivery service. West Hawaii Today.

Nine months after its last attempt ended in failure, the state and its conservation partners Tuesday released another six captive-born Hawaiian crows into the East Hawaii wilderness, hoping to re-establish a species that hadn’t been seen in the wild since 2002. Star-Advertiser.

Maui

Condo War Breaks Out On Maui When Homes Become Hotels. When people were required to wait in line at the front desk to check into their own units, they started complaining. Civil Beat.

Panel moves to allow north shore vacation rentals. County Council will need to amend current Paia-Haiku Community Plan, which prohibits short-term rentals. Maui News.

The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs has awarded more than $1.9 million to Hawaii for improvements at veterans cemeteries on Maui and Lanai, U.S. Sen. Brian Schatz announced Friday. Maui News.

St. Anthony School has a new statue of the Blessed Father William Joseph Chaminade in the same location as one damaged in late March 2016, the school announced. Maui News.

Women Helping Women’s new executive director has firsthand knowledge of how the domestic crisis agency can help victims. Maui News.

Kauai

Harry Trueblood, the pioneer developer of Princeville, died in Denver on Sept. 14 at the age of 92. Garden Island.

Wildland fire on Kauai's Na Pali Coast highlights drought conditions statewide. Hawaii News Now.

A wildland fire burning adjacent to Haena State Park on Kauai’s North Shore closed the park and the popular Kalalau Trail in Na Pali Coast State Wilderness Park Tuesday. Garden Island.

Tuesday, August 1, 2017

Hawaii certifies first medical marijuana lab, old hand picked as new Honolulu transit chief, telescope protest planned for Maui, Kauai police chief wins attorney fees, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

courtesy Pixabay
Marijuana plant, courtesy Pixabay Commons
The state Department of Health today certified Hawaii’s first marijuana testing laboratory. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii approved its first laboratory to begin testing samples of medical marijuana 17 years after use of the drug was legalized in the state. Associated Press.

Dispensaries Closer To Opening As State Certifies First Cannabis-Testing Lab. A Honolulu laboratory can begin testing the products that will be sold to medical marijuana patients. Civil Beat.

The Hawaii Department of Health on Monday granted Steep Hill Hawaii a provisional certification to begin testing medical cannabis from the state’s medical marijuana dispensaries and registered patients and caregivers. Pacific Business News.

The state Department of Health on Monday approved its first laboratory to begin testing medical marijuana, putting Hawaii’s dispensaries one step closer to being able to open. Tribune-Herald.

A private laboratory on Oahu has been certified by the state Department of Health to begin testing medical cannabis products, a long-awaited next step that brings Hawaii's eight dispensaries closer to completing their first sales, which could be as early as mid-August. Hawaii News Now.

Honolulu lab first to conduct medical cannabis testing for Hawaii dispensaries. KITV.

The Hawaii Department of Health granted Steep Hill Hawaii, a private independent laboratory on Oahu, a provisional certification Monday after the laboratory passed and met requirements that demonstrate it has the capacity and proficiency to test cannabis and manufactured cannabis in compliance with state law. Maui Now.

Political candidates contemplating running for elected office in 2018 will be allowed to file nomination papers in 6 months. The Republican Party of Hawaii hopes to is resolve ongoing internal issues by then. Hawaii Public Radio.

Christina Kishimoto begins her new job leading Hawaii public schools today, ahead of Monday’s start of the 2017-18 school year. Star-Advertiser.

Public school students head back to class in a week, but the Department of Education says if it doesn’t find more bus drivers before then, there could be issues. KHON2.

Black people have a long history in Hawaii dating back to the 19th century. The state’s more than 21,000 blacks make up a little over 3 percent of the population. That compares to a national average of 13 percent and ranks Hawaii 39th among all state in the percentage of its population that is black. Hawaii Public Radio.

Matson Inc. sailed over a shallow trough of lower Hawaii cargo shipments to produce a 33 percent profit gain in the second quarter largely driven by enhanced business in China and Alaska. Star-Advertiser.

Mary Ann Barnes, who started as an intensive care unit nurse on the night shift with Kaiser Permanente in San Diego and rose through the ranks in a 43-year career to become president of Kaiser Foundation Health Plan and Hospitals Hawaii Region, will retire in September. Pacific Business News.

Oahu

The Honolulu Authority for Rapid Transportation has selected Andrew Robbins as the next, permanent executive director to lead the island’s financially challenged rail transit project. Star-Advertiser.

HART Board Chooses A New Executive Director. Andrew Robbins will take over as the city and state struggle to fully fund the 20-mile project, which has an estimated $3 billion shortfall. Civil Beat.

Oahu's beleaguered rail project has a new head. Hawaii News Now.

The Honolulu Authority for Rapid Transportation (HART) has named Andrew “Andy” Robbins as its new executive director Monday morning. KHON2.

The Honolulu Authority for Rapid Transportation board on Monday voted to hire Andrew Robbins, an executive with Bombardier Transportation, to oversee the construction of Honolulu’s $10 billion rail transit project. Pacific Business News.

Andrew Robbins was a key member of the Oahu Transit Group that was working on the city’s rail project in the 1990s when it was killed by a Honolulu City Council vote, an outcome he called “a huge disappointment.” Star-Advertiser.

Scrutiny of Oahu company grows after it's tied to 2 recent plane crashes. Hawaii News Now.

How A Diamond Head Pitchman Eludes A Crackdown. The state says to compete with illegal sales of “I Climbed Diamond Head” certificates, it will sell its own souvenirs at the summit. Civil Beat.

Honolulu City Councilwoman Ann Kobayashi says she’s been receiving complaints about homeless setting up camp along streams in her district. KHON2.

Hawaii Island

A switch to cost-saving LED streetlights has saved Hawaii County enough money to pay for upgrades to traffic signals islandwide. Tribune-Herald.

Waiaha Deepwell’s return to service derailed by malfunction, cable break. West Hawaii Today.

Auto thefts have long been a concern on the Big Island. As of late, however, court documents describing some of these crimes have narratives that seem to be lifted from the script of a made-for-TV movie. Tribune-Herald.

Gov. David Ige has received a list of nominees from the Judicial Selection Commission for the vacancies created by the retirement of former Big Island circuitjudges Glenn S. Hara and Ronald Ibarra. Tribune-Herald.

Maui

Maui Health System, the Kaiser Permanente Hawaii entity that took over operation of three state-owned hospitals in Maui County earlier this month, has named Michael Rembis CEO and hospital administrator. Pacific Business News.

Just a month after Maui Health System assumed operations at Maui County hospitals, the Kaiser affiliate and its parent company have announced changes in top leadership. Maui News.

A peaceful protest of a slow-moving wide load of telescope parts for the Daniel K. Inouye Solar Telescope atop Haleakala is planned at King Kekaulike High School in Pukalani tonight and into Wednesday. Maui News.

Sovereignty Restoration Day marked with kalo-pounding event. Maui News.

After more than a century, taro is now once again growing in Kahoma Valley on Maui. Hawaii News Now.

Hokulea Coming to Honolua, Aug. 19. Maui Now.

Kauai

Darryl Perry, chief of the Kauai Police Department, was recently reimbursed over $12,000 for attorney fees after he filed a complaint against the county. Garden Island.

A survey for the Kauai Bus Short-Range Transit Plan will be open until Sept. 4. Garden Island.

Local divers are hosting a public meeting to discuss the preservation of Kauai’s popular dive sites at 6 p.m. Thursday at the Lihue Public Library. Garden Island.

Monday, February 13, 2017

Polystyrene foam food container ban advances, Ige releases new set of budget cuts, marijuana crop in the ground, lawyers reject judge reconfirmation measure, repairs coming to Mighty Mo, Kauai GOP holds Lincoln Day Dinner, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

copyright 2017 All Hawaii News all rights reserved
Polystyrene food containers at farmers market © 2017 All Hawaii News
A proposal before state legislators that would ban foam food containers drew considerable support at a packed hearing last week. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii Gov. David Ige has proposed across-the-board cuts to his $28.5 billion spending plan for the next two years due to tax revenues coming in lower than expected. Civil Beat.

Hawaii lawmakers tackle affordable housing, health, fishing. Associated Press.

Prominent lawyers including former Attorney General Margery Bronster turned out in force at a hearing last week to oppose requiring Hawaii judges seeking to serve more than one term on the bench to be reconfirmed by the state Senate. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii authorities may have been violating their own state law for years by issuing commercial fishing licenses to thousands of foreign workers who were refused entry into the country, The Associated Press has found.

State Sen. Glenn Wakai has directed a series of scathing attacks at officials with the Hawaii Tourism Authority in recent months, but denies the suggestion he may be using his office to retaliate or pursue a personal agenda after his wife resigned from her executive position at HTA following disagreements with management. Star-Advertiser.

A review of a critical audit issued five years ago that revealed a lack of oversight and accountability over the hiring and compensation of so-called casual hires at Hawaii public schools finds few improvements have been made. Star-Advertiser.

Ruth Bader Ginsburg: Anti-Immigrant Sentiment ‘Disheartening’. The U.S. Supreme Court Justice, in Honolulu for a UH law school program, spoke to high school students Saturday. Civil Beat.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture estimated that the value of vegetable crops produced by commercial farmers statewide rose 6 percent to $47.9 million last year from $45.2 million the year before. Star-Advertiser.

Commentary: U.S. Rep. Tulsi Gabbard overreaches in lofty comparisons with Mink and Eisenhower. Star-Advertiser.

Oahu

One of Oahu’s state-approved medical marijuana dispensaries has started growing Hawaii’s first legal cannabis plants, and anticipates sales can begin in early summer. Star-Advertiser.

The contentious proposal to spend a share of Oahu rail tax dollars on state transportation projects is still alive in the state Senate after all. It’s one of a host of ideas the chamber might pack into the bill that aims to rescue the island’s beleaguered rail project. Star-Advertiser.

Reports about Honolulu’s ongoing rail issues can seem to come in alarming and disjointed bursts. Hawaii Public Radio.

Environmentalists and businesses are being given an opportunity to develop a proposal to stiffen Oahu’s plastic checkout bag ban. Star-Advertiser.

Effective immediately, commercial activity is being shut down along most of the eastern Oahu coastline from Makapu’u to Kailua. KHON2.

The Hawaii Public Utilities Commission, the key state agency that regulates such utilities as Hawaiian Electric Co., is consolidating its staff into one building next year, the head of the agency told Pacific Business News.

The state Department of Hawaiian Home Lands has spent more than a decade trying to make higher and better use of its only land in urban Honolulu: a former bowling alley in Moiliili. Now state lawmakers are considering helping to kick-start redevelopment of the site. Star-Advertiser.

New video shows the moments right before Honolulu police officers shot and killed a man inside a stolen vehicle on Saturday. Hawaii News Now.

The USS Missouri Memorial Association, the nonprofit owner of the “Mighty Mo” in Pearl Harbor, has embarked on a $3 million project to repair some extensive corrosion high up on the superstructure and add some historical features to the 887-foot battlewagon. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii

As the March 1 deadline approaches for Mayor Harry Kim to submit his preliminary budget to the County Council, the administration is working feverishly trying to cover a roughly $12 million difference between anticipated revenue and anticipated expenses. West Hawaii Today.

The National Park Service is asking the state Commission on Water Resource Management to step in and designate the Keauhou Aquifer, which covers a vast region from Makalawena Beach to north of Kealakekua Bay, a water management area. A hearing on the proposal is scheduled for 9:30 a.m. Tuesday at the West Hawaii Civic Center. West Hawaii Today.

Sammy Hagar, take heart. Saddle Road motorists can’t drive 55 either. West Hawaii Today

Mauna Kea’s oldest telescope will get a makeover later this year, but an internal upgrade will have to wait for additional funds. Tribune-Herald.

The County has responded to complaints of static electricity shocks at island playgrounds, officials said at this week’s council committee meetings. Big Island Video News.

Bills that would create the first-ever community economic district on Hawaii Island are inching their way toward a final form. Tribune-Herald.

Maui

Hawaiian Commercial & Sugar Co. says it still needs around 115 million gallons of water per day for its plans to transform most of its 36,000 acres formerly used for sugar cane into diversified agriculture. Maui News.

Maui Electric Co. is marching toward 100 percent renewable energy for Maui County, and that will come without an undersea interisland cable, utility President Sharon Suzuki told about 75 people during a community discussion Thursday night at the University of Hawaii Maui College. Maui News.

Tens of thousands of introduced plants present in Hawaii. Maui News.

Kauai

Kauai County is the first in the state to convert all its streetlights from high pressure sodium lights to energy-saving LED lights as a result of a joint project between the County of Kauai and Kauai Island Utility Cooperative. Garden Island.

90 attend GOP Lincoln Day Dinner. Garden Island.

Project to fix Alaka‘i Swamp boardwalk in full swing. Garden Island.

From educating beachgoers about conditions to responding to swimmers in distress, Kauai’s roving patrol unit is protecting the island’s unguarded beaches. Garden Island.

Molokai

The clock is running on the Maui County Council’s yearlong deadline to take action on the Molokai Community Plan update, which has been sitting in the council’s Planning Committee docket since May 4. Maui News.

Tuesday, January 17, 2017

Honolulu purchases 114 acres for preservation, Hawaii to be linked with broadband cable, Oahu solar hookups down, Delta adding Seattle-Kauai flights, living payheck to paycheck, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

courtesy Honolulu Mayor Kirk Caldwell
North Shore beach purchased, courtesy Honolulu Mayor Kirk Caldwell
The City and County of Honolulu announced Monday the $12 million purchase of 114 acres of the North Shore, saving a sizable chunk of oceanfront land that includes the Kahuku Golf Course from possible development. Star-Advertiser.

The City and County of Honolulu has purchased 114 acres of oceanfront land on Oahu’s North Shore, including the nine-hole Kahuku Golf Course, for $12.1 million, saving these lands from a planned development of luxury homes along the shoreline. Pacific Business News.

The City and County of Honolulu just beat developers to the punch, and scooped up prime beachfront land in Kahuku before houses could pop up. KITV.

A large piece of oceanfront land on Oahu’s North Shore that was at risk for development is now city property. KHON2.

================

People living in Hawaii are more likely to live paycheck to paycheck than in any other state, and may even be in the red each month after paying for basic living expenses, according to a new study by GoBankingRates. Pacific Business News.

For the second year in a row, Hawaii has been named the state where residents are "most likely" to live paycheck to paycheck. Hawaii News Now.

Hawaiian Telcom said the Federal Communications Commission has approved the landing license for the $250 million Southeast Asia-U.S. broadband cable under construction, which will allow the cable to connect Indonesia and California, via Hawaii. Pacific Business News.

Do Condo Owners Need Some Help From Hawaii’s Legislature? Potential condo-related proposals run the gamut from establishing an ombudsman to merely clarifying existing laws. Civil Beat.

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s presence at Pearl Harbor will endure in the form of a small yet powerful symbol of peace and reconciliation between Japan and America. Star-Advertiser.

As many as 50 supporters from the islands will be among the one million people in attendance for the inauguration of President-elect Donald J. Trump in Washington, D.C. Hawaii News Now.

Hawaii Most Integrated State. America, it seems, has come closer to realizing Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s vision, “though segregation and discrimination persist,” says WalletHub. Civil Beat.

With a high turnover rate of teachers, it can be challenging to fill open positions. The state Department of Education is trying to fix this problem by increasing recruitment efforts, providing mentoring programs for teachers and by strengthening partnerships with organizations such as Hawaii State Teachers Association. Garden Island.

Gun-Death Rates In America. Hawaii still rates very low but slips to No. 49 in report analyzing weak gun violence prevention laws and higher rates of gun ownership. Civil Beat.

Oahu
More Judge Jobs For Ige Pal. The governor’s former campaign manager is being considered for three judicial vacancies. Civil Beat.

Three Honolulu attorneys in private practice and a District Court judge are among the nominees for two vacancies on Oahu's 1st Circuit Court submitted to Gov. David Ige by the Hawaii Judicial Selection Commission. Pacific Business News.

The solar industry on Oahu continues to shrink as the number of building permits issued for rooftop solar projects by the City and County of Honolulu was down 34 percent in 2016 compared with the year prior. Star-Advertiser.

Volunteers spent the holiday cleaning up Diamond Head State Monument. KHON2.

Commentary: I feel sad whenever I hear about local residents being squeezed out of their community beach parks by tour buses rumbling in day after day to drop off hundreds of tourists on so-called “recreation stops.” Civil Beat.

Hawaii

Puna residents were in shock Monday following a fire late Sunday night that gutted the historic Akebono Theatre and Luquin’s Mexican Restaurant in downtown Pahoa. Tribune-Herald.

Although there were no reported injuries in the fire, it felt like a funeral on Monday as the community stood in disbelief over the loss of their town's cultural center. Big Island Video News.

For the second straight year, around 150 Kaiser Permanente employees and members of various nonprofits from across the island dedicated their annual day of service, which falls every year on Martin Luther King Jr. Day, to reforestation efforts at the Hauaina Enclosure, part of the 40,000-acre Puu Waawaa Forest Reserve on Hawaii Island. West Hawaii Today.

Maui

More than 150 volunteer physicians, staff, and family members continued a 12-year tradition of giving back on Martin Luther King Jr. Day by participating in the Kaiser Permanente Hawaiʻi Annual Day of Service on Maui. Maui Now.

Kauai

Delta Air Lines is adding a daily nonstop flight between the Hawaiian island of Kauai and Seattle, one of seven new flights from the Atlanta-based airline’s hub in the Pacific Northwest. Pacific Business News.

Kaiser Permanente staff members and families volunteered at Waipa ahupuaa in North Kauai Monday as part of the organization’s 12th annual Day of Service. Garden Island.

Albatross back on Kauai; 33 eggs relocated from Pacific Missile Range to Oahu. Garden Island.

Thursday, March 24, 2016

Grand jury indicts Hawaii County mayor, millions in federal aid for displaced sugar workers, Legislature kill gas tax hike, charter amendment could strengthen Honolulu Police Commission, Kauai council nixes county employee raises, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

copyright 2016 All Hawaii News all rights reserved
Hawaii County Mayor Billy Kenoi in happier times © 2016 All Hawaii News
An attorney for Mayor Billy Kenoi said the county’s embattled chief executive won’t resign. A Hilo grand jury on Wednesday indicted Kenoi with two counts of second-degree theft, two counts of third-degree theft, three counts of tampering with a government record, plus making a false statement under oath. Tribune-Herald.

Mayor Billy Kenoi gave a half hour speech to the local business community in Hilo, as a grand jury indicted him for his alleged misuse of a government issued purchase card between 2011 and 2015. Big Island Video News.

A Hawai‘i County grand jury has indicted Mayor Billy Kenoi on seven different counts stemming from the misuse of his county issued purchasing card. Hawaii Public Radio.

A grand jury indicted Hawaii County Mayor Billy Kenoi on theft charges Wednesday in connection with misuse of his county-issued purchasing card. Star-Advertiser.

After months of investigation, a 16-member grand jury indicted Hawaii County Mayor Billy Kenoi on theft charges Wednesday in connection with his alleged misuse of a government credit card. Hawaii News Now.

Hawaii Island Mayor Billy Kenoi has been indicted by a grand jury. The charges come after a nearly-year-long criminal investigation by the attorney general’s office over Kenoi’s improper use of a county-issued credit card, or pCard. KHON2.

The state Attorney General’s office said Wednesday that a Big Island  grand jury has indicted Hawaii County Mayor Billy Kenoi. Civil Beat.

A grand injury has indicted Hawaii County Mayor Billy Kenoi on two counts of felony theft and other charges, the state attorney general's office said Wednesday. Associated Press.

Hawaii island’s homegrown mayor from Kalapana and Hilo seemed on an unlikely path to a bright future in island politics. Instead, two-term Mayor Billy Kenoi — a former Honolulu deputy public defender and disciple of the late U.S. Sen. Daniel K. Inouye — must answer to felony, misdemeanor and petty misdemeanor charges from his time in office from 2011 to 2015. Star-Advertiser.

Many political insiders thought one day Billy Kenoi's career would take him to the governor's mansion. That future is still up in the air as some say his political career is over, but others say he could make a comeback. Hawaii News Now.

Following months of controversy hanging over Mayor Billy Kenoi, Hawaii island officials expressed shock and dismay that the hammer finally came down Wednesday. Star-Advertiser.

The mood on the Big Island on Wednesday is one of shock and sadness. KHON2.

Those who worked with Mayor Billy Kenoi are trying to understand how it all came to this. KHON2.

===================================

Despite a full-court press lobbying effort by Gov. David Ige’s administration, the proposed gas tax, weight tax and vehicle registration fee increases it proposed may be dead for the year. Star-Advertiser.

The House Transportation Committee on Wednesday indefinitely deferred a bill that would have increased taxes and fees on motor vehicles and fuel. Civil Beat.

Hawaii may soon implement what’s become standard practice elsewhere in the country — mandatory unannounced inspections of state-licensed care facilities for the elderly and disabled. Civil Beat.

A measure that would have required drivers working for transportation network companies such as Uber and Lyft to carry a certain level of insurance was killed by the House Consumer Protection and Commerce Committee on Wednesday. Civil Beat.

A bill that would ensure enforcement of crime victims’ rights as an amendment to the state Constitution remains alive at the Legislature. Star-Advertiser.

A Hawaii Senate panel deadlocked 3-to-3 Wednesday over a controversial bill that sought to trim retirement benefits for judges, effectively killing the measure. Civil Beat.

Despite the fact that Hawaii has two official languages, only one of them is offered on voters’ ballots. English and Hawaiian are the state’s official languages, and lawmakers are pushing a bill to offer both on ballots. Right now, English, Japanese, Cantonese and Ilocano must be offered on ballots in some counties. Associated Press.

Union membership has declined nearly 10 percent in Hawaii since 1989, according to the latest figures from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. But despite this downward trend, the BLS reports that Hawaii still has the second-highest percentage of union membership in the nation behind New York. Civil Beat.

Ryan Kalei Tsuji Leaves Government. The aide to Gov. Ige will leave his post at the end of the month to focus on his new video production company. Civil Beat.

Oahu

Oahu voters will have the chance to toughen up the Honolulu Police Commission in light of numerous scandals gripping the Police Department, including a federal investigation of Chief Louis Kealoha. Civil Beat.

Supporters and staff of Wahiawa General Hospital turned out in force Wednesday to ask lawmakers to fund a $3 million bailout of the private, nonprofit facility, which has been struggling to stay afloat during the past nine years of increasing financial strains. Star-Advertiser.

Supporters turned out in force at the state Capitol Wednesday to ask lawmakers to approve of a resolution requesting the governor and the Legislature to provide emergency financial assistance to Wahiawa General Hospital. Civil Beat.

Dozens rallied at the State Capitol Wednesday in support of Wahiawa General Hospital as financial troubles threaten to shut it down. KHON2.

Hawaiian Electric Co. President and CEO Alan Oshima said the electric utility will meet with the company looking to buy three canceled solar farms on Oahu. Star-Advertiser.

The Honolulu Board of Water Supply has struck a $33 million deal with NORESCO, one of the largest energy services companies in the United States, that allows the water agency to implement energy efficiency, renewable energy and operational improvements while guaranteeing enough savings over the next 20 years to pay for the contract, the agency said Wednesday. Pacific Business News.

Hawaii

It will be business as usual at Sheraton Kona Resort Spa at Keauhou Bay amid a proposed merger between the hotel’s owner, Starwood Hotels and Resorts, and Marriott International. West Hawaii Today.

Maui

Hundreds of Hawaiian Commercial & Sugar Co. workers will receive millions of dollars in federal funding as the sugar plantation ends its operations, the U.S. Department of Labor announced Thursday. Hawaii News Now.

The latest vision to alleviate Wailuku Town's parking problem is a multipurpose layout akin to San Francisco's Union Square, members of the Maui Redevelopment Agency said Wednesday. Maui News.

Kaanapali resort managers spoke out against proposed water rate increases, calling them "excessive" and "out of line" during a public hearing held by the Hawaii Public Utilities Commission on Wednesday night at Lahaina Intermediate School. Maui News.

Kauai

Citing bad timing and an uncertainty in the ability to make good on its promises, the Kauai County Council Wednesday voted 5-2 against proposed salary increases for county administers. Garden Island.

Kauai County Councilmember JoAnn Yukimura will host a public workshop titled “How to Have a Voice in County Government” 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday, March 31 at Ha Coffee Bar in Lihue. Garden Island.

When an after-hours medical emergency arises on the rapidly growing North Shore of Kauai, critical minutes can be lost before treatment can be provided. That will soon change. Garden Island.