Sine die for Hawaii Legislature, Ige signs cool schools bill, group pushes expansion of Papahanaumokuakea marine monument, new Maui Metropolitan planning group forms, geothermal bills die, study coming for interisland ferry, abused Kauai monk seal gives birth, $20M for UH to study water quality, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Hawaii Senate chambers, courtesy Senate Majority

2016 Session: AC For Schools, Help For Housing And Homeless. The House and Senate also killed bills to let psychologists prescribe drugs and fund a new jail on Oahu, but did hand water permits to A&B on Maui. Civil Beat.

The 2016 Hawaii legislative session has ended, and Hawaii lawmakers have passed dozens of bills including those to ban sex trafficking and combat homelessness. Associated Press.

The 2016 Legislature adjourned today but not before participating in a ceremony to enact one of the state’s top priorities this session. Hawaii Public Radio.

Hawaii lawmakers set aside more money to tackle the highest rate of homelessness in the nation — a crisis that has left families with children living on sidewalks alongside the beaches of paradise. The Legislature allocated $12 million in new funding during the session ending Thursday. It will go toward social services and clearing out homeless encampments. Associated Press.

The Department of Education on Thursday issued its first bid request for work to begin installing air conditioning in at least 1,000 public school classrooms — the same day Gov. David Ige signed legislation to fund the $100 million initiative. Star-Advertiser.

Gov. David Ige signed into law on Thursday legislation that spends $100 million to fund equipment and installation costs for air conditioning in public schools statewide, as well as heat-abatement and energy-efficiency measures. Civil Beat.

Will a state-owned ferry system prove seaworthy? Transportation officials are expected to find out after lawmakers approved funding a study on establishing a publicly owned fleet similar to Washington State Ferries, the largest ferry system in the United States. Tribune-Herald.

Two Hawaii nonprofits are urging Gov. David Ige to sign a bill that makes it easier for health care providers to distribute medicine that reverses opioid overdoses. Civil Beat.

Local environmentalists, scientists and lawmakers banded together Thursday to announce that the Obama administration has responded to their proposal to expand Papahanaumokuakea Marine National Monument and make it, once again, the largest marine sanctuary in the world. Star-Advertiser.

A group of roughly 20 Native Hawaiians, local fishermen, scientists and conservationists rallied Thursday morning at Kewalo Marine Laboratory, armed with a 43,000-signature petition urging President Barack Obama to expand federal protections around the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands. Civil Beat.

A Native Hawaiian proposal that calls for the expansion of the Papahanaumokuakea Marine National Monument is picking up steam and this week a delegation from the Obama Administration is meeting with stakeholders to discuss the possibility. Garden Island.

The University of Hawaii has been awarded a $20 million grant for its clean water research project. The money comes from the National Science Foundation. KITV4.

Hawaii will receive $3 million in new funding from the National Housing Trust Fund to pursue affordable rental housing. Star-Advertiser.

Schatz Takes On D.C., Homelessness And The Donald. The U.S. senator says he wants to help local, state and federal officials boost the housing stock. He also calls Trump “dangerous.” Civil Beat.

Oahu

Engineering experts raise quality concerns over Honolulu’s rail construction. KHON2.

U.S.VETS this fall will take over the city’s efforts to find 100 permanent homes for some of Honolulu’s chronically homeless households through a model known as Housing First. Star-Advertiser.

Virgin America today expands its Hawai‘i service with the launch of daily nonstop flights from Los Angeles International Airport to Honolulu International Airport, with connecting flights from most Virgin America markets. Maui Now.

Hawaii

The Big Island’s fights against rapid ohia death and the spread of invasive albizia trees will get much-needed booster shots of funding in the coming fiscal year. Tribune-Herald.

A bill aimed at giving the state sole regulatory authority over geothermal power plants died in conference committee. Tribune-Herald.

Critics of geothermal development in Puna left a Windward Planning Commission on Thursday a little more hopeful that they can break through a bureaucratic logjam that has held up a study on impacts to Native Hawaiians. Tribune-Herald.

All three legacy bills signed by the late state Sen. Gil Kahele have died at the Legislature. However, efforts to preserve land at Kapua Bay — an issue which was perhaps most near and dear to the Hilo Democrat’s heart — might still move forward. Tribune-Herald.

Hawaiian Airlines on Wednesday requested U.S. Department of Transportation Sec. Anthony Foxx to immediately approve its application to provide service between Kona and Haneda Airport in Tokyo. West Hawaii Today.

Maui

The newly formed Maui Metropolitan Planning Organization elected the chairman and vice chairman of its policy board at its first meeting Wednesday. Maui News.

A 300-pound male spinner dolphin beached itself and died on a rocky Kuau shoreline early Wednesday afternoon, officials said. Maui News.

Kauai

Major strides were made in many areas during Hawaii’s 2016 Legislative session, but some Kauai officials are saying they feel slighted by the state. Garden Island.

Low-income families on Kauai who are searching for affordable housing are about to get help from the Hawaii Housing Finance and Development Corporation. Garden Island.

Ross Kagawa is running for another term in the Kauai County Council because he wants to be sure the less fortunate people of Kauai are represented. Garden Island.

The Hawaiian monk seal that was caught on camera being beaten by a man last week on Kauai gave birth on Tuesday. Hawaii News Now.

Inmates to be released early from overcrowded Hawaii jails, pregnant endangered Kauai monk seal attacked on video, dengue fever ebbs, hotel tax unchanged, Honolulu councilmen scrap church funding plan, 1.2M visitors to Maui's Haleakalā National Park last year, council airs rail audit battle, Department of Education drowning in teacher applications, igloos for homeless, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Hawaii jail exterior © 2016 All Hawaii News

The state correctional system will likely be able to begin releasing misdemeanor criminal offenders in the coming months as a way to ease severe overcrowding in Hawaii jails. House Bill 2391, part of Gov. David Ige’s legislative package, unanimously passed conference committee on Wednesday, a crucial hurdle in the final days of this legislative session. Star-Advertiser.

Loyalists, Dissidents, the Fab Four and the Three Amigos. These four factions, and others within the 51-member Hawaii House of Representatives, form alliances that determine leadership structures, influence what bills become law and affect who wins elections. Civil Beat.

The state Department of Education has been inundated with thousands of applications from people all over the world after bringing attention to Hawaii’s teacher shortage, but officials say it has been frustrating to find that many applicants have little or no teaching experience. Associated Press.

House and Senate lawmakers agreed Wednesday to give the counties $103 million of state hotel tax money for fiscal 2017, which starts July 1. They left the percent each county receives unchanged. Civil Beat.

House and Senate negotiators have agreed to provide the four counties with the same amounts of money in hotel tax revenues as they are receiving this year. Star-Advertiser.

State lawmakers rejected a bill Tuesday that would have allowed the University of Hawaii system to hire members of the Legislature. Star-Advertiser.

A bill garnering support from advocates of both business interests and social services sets a state goal of developing at least 22,500 affordable rental housing units over the next decade. Civil Beat.

Unless state lawmakers change course in the coming days, Hawaii will continue to lag behind the rest of the country when it comes to certain policies and resources provided to ensure the health and safety of residents living in long-term care facilities. Civil Beat.

House and Senate lawmakers agreed Tuesday to sign off on the payment of nearly $11 million to resolve claims against the state. In all, House Bill 2279 appropriates the funds for 23 settlements or judicial orders involving seven departments. Civil Beat.

Let Hawaii Happen, the Hawaii Visitor Convention Bureau’s marketing campaign, has reached 54 percent of frequent U.S. travelers, via paid advertising, website, social media, or direct public relations. Pacific Business News.

Hawaii will recover more than $400,000 from a pharmaceutical products distributor that underpaid Medicaid drug rebates, state Attorney General Doug Chin announced today in a news release. Star-Advertiser.

Oahu

Honolulu City Council Chairman Ernie Martin has deleted his budget request for $250,000 to fund the expansion of an evangelical Christian megachurch in Sand Island on Oahu’s south shore. Civil Beat.

Honolulu City Council Chairman Ernie Martin and Councilman Joey Manahan are backing away from New Hope Church Oahu’s request to have the city provide $250,000 in grants- in-aid for its expansion plans at Sand Island. Star-Advertiser.

Despite the political rhetoric surrounding Honolulu’s rail project, all that is certain when it comes to the final price tag: Nobody will know the ultimate cost until at least next January and it could exceed the current $6.6 billion estimate. Civil Beat.

City Auditor Edwin Young has claimed that rail officials tried to intimidate his audit team when they reviewed the rail authority's finances. Hawaii News Now.

The Honolulu City Council’s Budget Committee focused on the Audit of Honolulu’s Rail Transit Project today. Hawaii Public Radio.

Cooler heads prevailed at a council budget meeting. The tone appeared to be more about clearing the air, than being confrontational. KITV4.

A church in Hawaii looking to address the state's ongoing homelessness crisis has settled on a solution that on first look appears better suited for the frigid winters of Alaska than the islands' tropical climate: igloos. Associated Press.

A large solar energy farm planned for Central Oahu that was rejected by Hawaii regulators last year has been officially canceled, according to public documents. Pacific Business News.

Prosecutor Files Complaint Over Police Officer Actions. Honolulu police are investigating whether an officer misrepresented himself in a high-profile manslaughter case to help a local reporter. Civil Beat.

The University of Hawaii says an independent investigation into what caused a laboratory explosion that seriously injured a visiting researcher has been delayed by several weeks. Associated Press.

Residents and local businesses in the Ko Olina area are being asked to conserve water as the city's Department of Environmental Services responds to a water main break at its West Beach Wastewater Pump Station. Hawaii News Now.

Hawaii

With more than 30 days past since the last case of dengue fever on the Big Island, state and county officials could have declared “breakbone fever” officially pau. They didn’t. West Hawaii Today.

State officials said that the dengue fever outbreak is not over during a press conference held on Oahu Wednesday, even though the Big Island reached a “significant milestone” with no reports of locally acquired dengue fever in 30 days. Big Island Video News.

With no new cases of dengue fever reported in 30 days, it appears the Hawaii island dengue fever outbreak has come to an end. Star-Advertiser.

State officials celebrated a big milestone on Wednesday in the fight against dengue fever, but said it’s too soon to declare victory in the outbreak — and warned that Hawaii’s real battle may just be beginning. Civil Beat.

The county Department of Environmental Management isn’t exactly flush with cash, thanks to hundreds of people seriously behind on their sewer bills. West Hawaii Today.

Maui

A new National Park Service report shows that 1,216,772 visitors to Haleakalā National Park in 2015 spent over $76 million in communities near the park. Maui Now.

Honopou taro farmer Lynn Scott sees more water flowing down East Maui streams since Alexander & Baldwin announced last week that it was "fully and permanently" restoring water to eight East Maui streams. Maui News.

A scheduling conflict between the first Maui County Carnival and the third annual Vietnam veterans' memorial ceremony has been resolved with carnival organizers deciding to observe "quiet time" during the veterans' ceremony in front of the War Memorial Gym on Saturday evening. Maui News.

Kauai

One of Kauai’s most popular Hawaiian monk seals was attacked on Tuesday night at Salt Pond Beach Park, and a video recording of the scuffle is circulating on social media. Garden Island.

A video posted on social media that shows a man repeatedly punching a pregnant Hawaiian monk seal at a Kauai beach has touched off an investigation by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Star-Advertiser.

The video of a pregnant monk seal being attacked on Kauai has left many people outraged including Kauai Mayor Bernard Carvalho. KHON2.

A documentary that spotlights problems tied to illegal camping on Kauai’s Na Pali Coast is slated to air on KFVE to educate the public about the need to protect natural and cultural resources, particularly at Kalalau. Star-Advertiser.

Cyndi Ayonon of the Mayor’s Office coordinated the tallying of contributions from county agencies for transport by the Kauai Independent Food Bank toward its Spring Food and Fund Drive. Garden Island.

Tent tourism crackdown, Hawaii congressman seeks protection from North Korea threat, Honolulu rail head says audit a 'joke,' no action on Maui mayor ethics complaint, counties beg state leaders for more of hotel tax, endangered monk seals returning to the wild, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Hawaii fishing camp © 2016 All Hawaii News

Hawaii lawmakers are taking aim at a burgeoning vacation rental market: online brokers offering up tents to tourists on the islands’ world-class beaches and public parks. The state Senate passed legislation Thursday cracking down on a growing — but sometimes illegal — trend of campsites advertised as vacation rentals on online lodging services such as Airbnb. Associated Press.

Researchers from the University of Copenhagen say that chemicals commonly used in sunscreen can weaken sperm. KITV4.

Gov. David Ige has selected retired high school principal Darrel Galera to head a team that will develop a blueprint consistent with a new federal law that gives the state more authority over public education. Star-Advertiser.

A congressman from Hawaii is getting worried by the fact that North Korea has recently tested its fourth nuclear device and launched a satellite. At a House Armed Services’ Strategic Forces Subcommittee hearing Thursday in Washington, D.C., Rep. Mark Takai, D-Honolulu, had questions for military leaders when it comes to protecting Hawaii from potential attack. Civil Beat.

The Hawaii Attorney General’s Office has submitted 17 claims totaling $10.6 million for state lawmakers to approve before the 2016 legislative session ends May 5. Civil Beat.

Resources have not kept pace with Hawaii’s rapidly aging population when it comes to ensuring the health and safety of residents living in long-term care facilities, according to health officials and state budget documents. But that could change this year. State lawmakers will be deciding in the next couple weeks whether to approve additional funding and positions for the Department of Health. Civil Beat.

The state Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism released a report Thursday that offers a different look at just how diverse Hawaii is and the importance of English proficiency. The report shows 18 percent of the population is foreign-born, and more than 130 languages are spoken in the islands. Civil Beat.

A seventh annual report on government spending transparency places Hawaii in the middle of the pack. Hawaii received a C, according to Following the Money 2016, subtitled “How the 50 States Rate in Providing Online Access to Government Spending Data.” Civil Beat.

Seven healthy, endangered female Hawaiian monk seals are on Oahu preparing for their journey back to the wild. Within the next week or so, six of the seals will be returned to the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands. Associated Press.

Hawaii hotels charged less during the week of April 3 through April 9, compared to the same week a year ago, according to the weekly report from Hospitality Advisors LLC and STR Inc. Pacific Business News.

Oahu

Dan Grabauskas, who heads the Honolulu Authority for Rapid Transportation, made a preemptive strike Thursday by criticizing a yet-to-be-released city audit expected to be highly critical of him and his agency’s handling of the $6.6 billion commuter rail project. Civil Beat.

Amid growing uncertainty and upheaval over rail, the transit project’s embattled executive director took the unusual step Thursday of going on the offensive against a critical audit report before its public release Saturday. Star-Advertiser.

HART CEO and Executive Director Dan Grabauskas has blasted a critical city audit of Oahu's $6.5 billion rail project, calling it a "joke," "ridiculous," and "flawed." Hawaii News Now.

Dan Grabauskas, CEO and executive director of the Honolulu Authority for Rapid Transportation, says a city audit of Honolulu’s rail project is flawed and filled with inaccuracies. KHON2.

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The Marine Corps confirmed Thursday that it has officially concluded the search for wreckage and the 12 Hawaii Marines killed when two CH-53E Super Stallion helicopters crashed off Oahu’s North Shore due to unknown reasons Jan. 14. Human remains discovered during search operations led to the positive identification of nine of the 12 Marines, Marine Corps spokesman Capt. Tim Irish said in a release. Star-Advertiser.

A Hawaii agency has approved a development agreement with a New York developer to build a low-income Honolulu rental project that will include smaller, efficient units such as micro-units. Pacific Business News.

With news reports warning that the solar giant SunEdison could declare bankruptcy as early as this week, the fate of a trio of the company’s stalled solar projects on Oahu remains uncertain. Civil Beat.

Hawaii

A delegation including Mayor Billy Kenoi, County Council Chairman Dru Kanuha and Hilo Councilman Dennis “Fresh” Onishi, who is executive vice president of the Hawaii State Association of Counties, met Thursday with legislative leaders to appeal for a greater share of the transient accommodations tax for the counties. West Hawaii Today.

A bill to increase the speed limit on Saddle Road has cruised past both legislative chambers — but just how much of an increase, and precisely where, is still up in the air. Tribune-Herald.

Rachel Solemsaas is the top candidate to be Hawaii Community College’s next chancellor, the University of Hawaii announced this week. Board of Regents’ Vice President for Community Colleges John F. Morton recommended Solemsaas from a pool of four candidates who flew in last month for interviews and a public open forum. Tribune-Herald.

Island Air is rekindling service to Kona following a four-year hiatus from the Big Island market. Starting June 14, five daily flights between Kona International Airport and Honolulu will offer 320 more seats daily to a market where travelers have complained about high fares and not enough competition. West Hawaii Today.

Maui

The Maui County Board of Ethics will take no action on a letter submitted by a Kihei resident seeking more information from Mayor Alan Arakawa about possible income from his holdings in Arakawa Farms and three Omaopio Road parcels. Maui News.

Rate increases proposed by Mayor Alan Arakawa's administration are "substantial" but may prove necessary to keep up with rising department operating costs, Maui County Council members said Wednesday while reviewing the mayor's proposed fiscal year 2017 budget. Maui News.

Hawaii’s largest public workers union is lobbying lawmakers for severance payments and special retirement bonuses for employees at the state-run Maui and Lanai hospitals that could cost the state $40 million or more if Gov. David Ige’s administration succeeds in privatizing those hospital operations. Star-Advertiser.

Mayor Alan Arakawa is asking Maui farmers to "step up" and grow food on Hawaiian Commercial & Sugar's 36,000 acres that could be left barren after the company ends sugar cane operations at the end of the year. Maui News.

The state Board of Land and Natural Resources has issued an order directing A&B and subsidiary East Maui Irrigation Company to “commence the environmental review process in support of A&B’s application for a lease of water from the license areas of Honomanu, Keana, Huelo and Nahiku.” Civil Beat.

Four candidates vying for the head of the county Department of Liquor Control are planned to be re-interviewed, "very tentatively," on May 24, by the Liquor Control Commission, an official said Wednesday. Maui News.

Kauai

Women call for ‘Equal Pay Day’ Locals highlight wage inequality during gathering in Lihue. Garden Island.

Lloyd Miyashiro said March through June on Kauai is babysitting season. That’s because he and the 100 other volunteers who keep an eye on Kauai’s monk seal population will be welcoming brand new pups. Garden Island.

Lanai

After Maui County's search for a private developer to build Lanai's affordable housing project turned up empty, Department of Housing and Human Concerns Director Carol Reimann said it's time to "regroup" and find other ways of bringing long-awaited housing to the Pineapple Isle. Maui News.

Ige budget gets cool reception in Legislature, down-sized Pacific fleet worries China-watchers, Snowden attorney to teach University of Hawaii class, 2,600 complaints about fireworks, Honolulu police revive gambling probe, lava lake explosions at Kilauea, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Kilauea eruption Saturday, photo courtesy of Hawaiian Volcano Observatory.

Gov. David Ige’s proposed budget for next year got a frosty reception Monday from some leading state lawmakers who say they are worried about both how much the governor proposes to spend and about some upcoming expenses Ige didn’t include in his spending plan. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii Finance Director Wes Machida sidestepped a host of questions from members of the House and Senate money committees Monday, but assured lawmakers that he will provide more details about the overall state spending plan in the coming weeks. Civil Beat.

US Pacific Fleet shrinks even as China grows more aggressive. Questions about whether the Pacific Fleet has enough resources are more of a reflection of regional anxieties than the Navy’s actual capability, said its commander, Adm. Scott Swift. Even if the entire fleet was in the South China Sea, he said, he’d still get asked whether the U.S. was bringing more forces. Associated Press.

Hawaii bankruptcies plunged in 2015 for the fifth year in a row, according to data released Monday from U.S. Bankruptcy Court, District of Hawaii. The 1,569 cases last year were down 7.8 percent from 1,702 in 2014 and were the lowest since 1,381 cases were filed in 2007. Star-Advertiser.

NextEra Energy Inc., the company looking to buy Hawaiian Electric Industries for $4.3 billion, is assisting HEI on the utility’s renewable-energy plan at no charge, which has raised concern among at least two groups involved in the sale’s review. Star-Advertiser.

The Hawaii chapter of the Better Business Bureau revoked 130 companies’ membership this year for owing thousands of dollars in membership fees to the BBB. Pacific Business News.

Federal wildlife officials reopened a public comment period for a draft environmental impact statement regarding the eradication of mongooses and rodents in Hawaii’s native ecosystems and wildlife refuges. Associated Press.

Oahu

The public, apparently fed up with illegal fireworks activity, made 2,600 complaints to police in December, said Honolulu Police Department Assistant Chief Alan Bluemke. Star-Advertiser.

A man arrested after National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration volunteers called police to report he was harassing a Hawaiian monk seal at a Nanakuli beach has filed an excessive force lawsuit. Associated Press.

A man who was pepper-sprayed, beaten and arrested by a Honolulu police officer in 2014 after chanting on a beach next to an endangered monk seal filed an excessive use of force lawsuit in federal court last week. Civil Beat.

Ben Wizner, a national ACLU attorney and head lawyer for NSA whistleblower Edward Snowden, will co-teach a seminar at the University of Hawaii Richardson School of Law this month. Pacific Business News.

Four years after a major gaming rooms case was dismissed, the Honolulu prosecutor's office appears ready to try again. Hawaii News Now.

Why Are Online Classes, Degrees Hard To Get At The University Of Hawaii? UH Manoa offers two fully online degree programs, a stark contrast to the 16 programs offered on average at comparable institutions. Civil Beat.

The late Don Ho is alive and well — “Tiny Bubbles” and all — at the University of Hawaii-West Oahu. The university’s ʻUluʻulu Henry Kuʻualoha Giugni Moving Image Archive of Hawaiʻi recently acquired the complete collection of the entertainer’s films, videos and personal memorabilia from the Donald Tai Loy Ho Trust. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii

After nearly 12 years in office, state Sen. Josh Green has built a massive campaign war chest of more than $500,000 — money he is considering using for a run for either governor or lieutenant governor in 2018. Tribune-Herald.

Rockfalls into the lava lake at Kilauea on Hawaii island triggered small explosions at the summit early Monday morning and Saturday. Star-Advertiser.

The public is invited to learn about the eruptive events of Kilauea Volcano during a presentation by a USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory geologist later this week. Tribune-Herald.

A historical area of land on the Southern Coast of Hawai‘i Island will be protected from development. Hawaii Public Radio.

One of two people taken into custody by police in what was dubbed “Freedom Ride 2016” told a judge Monday he was “the only living being in this courtroom, a child of creation.” Tribune-Herald.

Road and Highway Builders LLC, an affiliate of the Texas based Sterling Construction Co., was the lowest bidder for the $61 million contract to reconstruct the Saddle Road on Hawaii's Big Island, the parent company said. Pacific Business News.

Maui
The state Department of Transportation will decide this week whether to move forward with improvements to Hana's 90-year-old pier, a project fiercely opposed by Hana residents who fear the arrival of commercial activity and high costs. Maui News.

Kauai

January is National Mentoring Month. A proclamation was issued by Mayor Bernard Carvalho Jr. to the Big Brothers Big Sisters program. Garden Island.

Monk seal succumbs to fish-hook surgery, Hawaii touts gay marriage tourism, court denies teacher certificate over views on sex with minors, Obama family snorkels, state and counties spar over hotel tax, humpbacks late to Hawaii, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Monk seal surgery, courtesy NOAA

An 8-month old Hawaiian monk seal that swallowed a large fishing hook died following surgery to try and save it. Star-Advertiser.

An endangered Hawaiian monk seal has died after swallowing a large fishing hook. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration said Tuesday the hook was lodged in the throat of the eight-month-old seal. Associated Press.

Federal officials are encouraging the use of barbless circle hooks and J hooks when fishing in Hawaii waters after the death of an 8-month-old endangered monk seal. Star-Advertiser.

State lawmakers should lift the cap on the counties’ share of hotel tax money and instead give them a 45 percent cut, so their funding can grow as the tourism industry does, according to a working group’s report released Tuesday. Civil Beat.

Circuit Judge Gary Chang on Tuesday halted a solar advocacy group’s lawsuit against the state Public Utilities Commission, which the group filed after it objected to how the PUC ended a popular solar incentive program. Star-Advertiser.

Despite its longtime leadership on issues such as anti-discrimination laws, civil unions and marriage equality, Hawaii has been shy about using that street cred to leverage more same-sex destination wedding tourism. Until now. Civil Beat.

Hawaii's high tech industry is trying to lure former residents back home as well as keep current residents who excel in the field from moving to the mainland. KITV4.

Been looking in vain for the flash of flukes and the awe-inspiring breach of the humpback whale? It’s not your eyes, and you’re not the only one. The giants really are late this year. West Hawaii Today.

While recent catches apparently aren’t approaching last year’s record-breaking levels, there should be a nice range of quality and prices to choose from for New Year’s ahi poke and sashimi. Star-Advertiser.

The first family headed off to Hanauma Bay on Tuesday morning, to enjoy the preserve on a day it’s typically closed to the public. President Barack Obama and his family went snorkeling at the bay with friends, pool reports said. Hawaii News Now.

Oahu

The University of Hawaii didn't violate First Amendment rights when it denied a teaching certificate for a Caltech-educated aspiring high school teacher who expressed views condoning adults having sex with minors, a panel of federal appeals court judges ruled Tuesday. Associated Press.

Officials report they’re keeping pace with Honolulu Mayor Kirk Caldwell’s goal to repave Oahu’s worst city-run roads in five years, although some of the island’s most-used and hardest-to-fix streets — the ones that leave a lasting impression on commuters — still need to be repaired. Star-Advertiser.

Dr. Michele Carbone—the former director of the University of Hawaii Cancer Center who was asked to resign in November of 2014 after evidence that he had grossly mismanaged the Manoa unit was publicized, and who was at the center of the power struggle that led to the controversial decision by the Board of Regents to remove former Manoa Chancellor Tom Apple—failed to disclose significant financial conflicts of interest to either the university or the National Institute of Health. Hawaii Independent.

Calls about illegal fireworks are skyrocketing this month, surpassing all fireworks-related calls last year. Star-Advertiser.

Mericia Palma Elmore describes the large mound of illegally dumped Christmas trees, large appliances and furniture across the street from her Makakilo condominium as a disaster waiting to happen. Star-Advertiser.

He didn’t figure to live past his 50s. For almost six years, Robert Binnie lived on the streets of Waikiki. The words scrawled across his cardboard sign: “Anything helps. God bless.”  Civil Beat.

Office Depot is closing its location in Honolulu’s Ward Village in January to make way for a planned mixed-use condominium project that will include Whole Foods Market’s flagship Hawaii store. Pacific Business News.

Hawaii

The Hawaii Supreme Court on Tuesday officially vacated a 3rd Circuit Court order and judgment that had authorized the $1.4 billion Thirty Meter Telescope project on Mauna Kea, following the high court's decision in the case earlier this month. Pacific Business News.

An attempt to save the endangered palila has included the sound of rotors, gunfire, arguments and sheep and goats eating the trees the bird needs to survive. Now, as the number of sheep and goats drops, the pressure to end the aerial shooting is as high as ever. West Hawaii Today.

A new venture looking to successfully rear octopus on land has set up shop at the Natural Energy Laboratory of Hawaii Authority. West Hawaii Today.

Maui

With an empty field serving as the play area for more than 700 students at Puu Kukui Elementary School, a group is seeking help from the community as it continues fundraising to build a playground on the Wailuku campus. Maui News.

It's the busy time of year for people wanting to view the sunrise from the summit of the "House of the Sun," or Haleakala, said an official with the National Park Service, noting that there can be more than double the number of cars for available parking at popular overlooks during that time. Maui News.

The Maui Fire Department reminds residents of the following rules in relation to fireworks as the New Year holiday approaches: Fireworks and firecrackers can only be legally set off from 9 p.m., New Year’s Eve to 1 a.m., New Year’s Day. Maui Now.

Kauai

In observance of New Year’s Day, County of Kauai offices, all refuse transfer stations, the Kekaha Landfill, Kauai Resource Center, Puhi Metals Recycling Center and all HI-5 bottle redemption centers will be closed on Friday. Garden Island.

Molokai

When Molokai resident Nancy Gove got into the salt-making business in 1999, she was one of a handful of local artisans crafting the condiment. Her backyard-cultivated sea salt filtered from Molokai waters eventually turned into a thriving operation and gained national recognition. Maui News.

Office of Hawaiian Affairs officials visit Mauna Kea amid protests, arrests; few affordable homes built under Honolulu plan; councilman cleared to accept pro-GMO trip; Campaign Spending Commission fines scofflaws; new solar deal on Kauai; disputes on Maui over energy, cane burning; monk seal rescued off Niihau, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Earl DeLeon speaks about Mauna Kea and Thirty Meter Telescope, courtesy Big Island Video News

The Office of Hawaiian Affairs’ administrator offered his commitment, though few specifics, to protecting indigenous rights and proper stewardship of Mauna Kea after meeting with Thirty Meter Telescope opponents Wednesday morning at their camp site near the Mauna Kea Visitor Information Station. The meeting, which also included four OHA trustees, was held only hours after Hawaii County police and state Department of Land and Natural Resources officers arrested eight camp occupants during their second nighttime sweep to enforce emergency rules that prohibit people from staying there between 10 p.m. and 4 a.m. Tribune-Herald.

Earl DeLeon, who in the past has stood for Aloha Aina on Kaho’olawe and Hilo Airport, speaks to Office of Hawaiian Affairs Trustees during Wednesday’s site visit to Mauna Kea and Hale Kukia’imauna. Big Island Video News.

Eight people were detained early Wednesday in the latest round of arrests in an ongoing battle over construction of a giant telescope atop a mountain many Native Hawaiians consider sacred. Associated Press.

State conservation officers arrested eight protesters on Mauna Kea early Wednesday morning in only the second enforcement action since the Board of Land and Natural Resources enacted a new emergency rule prohibiting camping on the mountain two months ago. Star-Advertiser.

Protesters aren't leaving Mauna Kea, and the state's not backing down on its camping ban. On Wednesday morning, eight protesters were arrested, including a man who was atop a structure at a campsite across the road from the Visitor Center. KITV4.

Seven women and one man were arrested early Wednesday morning for allegedly violating the Board of Land and Natural Resources' emergency rule, which prohibits access in the overnight restricted area along Mauna Kea Observatory Access Road. Hawaii News Now.

Eight people were arrested early Wednesday morning at a protest camp across the road from the Mauna Kea Visitors Center on Hawaii Island. Civil Beat.

The Hawaii Campaign Spending Commission on Wednesday approved a total of about $8,000 in fines for 13 political candidates and noncandidate committees, including former Hawaii island Rep. Faye Hanohano and the Castle & Cooke Inc. Legislative Committee, for filing late campaign spending reports. Star-Advertiser.

NextEra Energy Inc. and Hawaiian Electric Co., the two firms involved in a $4.3 billion acquisition, have completed a federal pre-merger notification program, one of the requirements they needed to meet prior to closing the transaction, the two companies said Wednesday. Pacific Business News.

The Department of Education is trying to expedite the purchase of as many as 1,000 portable air conditioners in hopes of bringing temperatures to tolerable levels in the hottest public school classrooms. Star-Advertiser.

The Department of Education is setting aside half-a-million dollars to buy air conditioning units to bring relief to students and teachers suffering in the heat. KHON2.

An abandoned Hawaiian monk seal pup found Monday on Niihau is the first from the main Hawaiian Islands to be admitted to the Marine Mammal Center’s Ke Kai Ola Hospital. Star-Advertiser.

An abandoned monk seal pup is now being cared for in Kona. Hawaii Public Radio.

A new survey ranks the Aloha State at No. 4 for best places to have a baby in the nation, and No. 1 for “baby friendly environment.” Civil Beat.

Oahu

Honolulu’s affordable housing policy requires that any developer seeking approval for a zone change set aside 30 percent of their units for people earning moderate incomes or less. Thirty percent may sound like a lot, but in fiscal year 2014, only 33 units were produced under that policy, known as inclusionary zoning. Civil Beat.

A Japanese firm’s 350-foot mixed-use condominium-hotel tower being planned for the former property of the Kyo-ya Restaurant in Waikiki was met with strong opposition by some community members and the area’s neighborhood board. Pacific Business News.

Honolulu Police Department officials are touting the launch of a service that can help first responders handle emergencies quicker and more efficiently. Star-Advertiser.

Behind the homes on Iliaina Street and just down the road from Kalaheo High School lays 10 acres of unused land. The city owns it and it doesn't need to sell it, but it’s an option it's looking into. KITV4.

The city has owned a ten-acre parcel of land above Iliaina Street in Kailua since 1961. Originally the Department of Education was going to build an elementary school on the site. But that idea died. The undeveloped land along Kalaheo Hillside is zoned residential and is now on the city's surplus list. Hawaii News Now.

Hawaii

One County Council member was cleared by the county Board of Ethics on Wednesday to accept a free trip to New York paid by a pro-GMO group later this month, while the acceptance of two free trips to Honolulu last year from anti-tobacco lobbyists by another council member remains pending before the board. West Hawaii Today.

A new science and technology building two decades in the making will soon be a reality at Waimea Middle School. West Hawaii Today.

Maui
Anaergia Services LLC has filed a complaint with Hawaii regulators against Hawaiian Electric Co. and its subsidiary Maui Electric Co. over a proposed energy project on Maui, according to public documents. Pacific Business News.

The legal firestorm that is Maui Environmental Court’s new cane burning lawsuit. MauiTime.

Kauai

State Attorney: Public May Need Doctor’s OK to Visit Kauai Irrigation Sites. The water commission is planning a field trip to look at ditches and other waterways but state legal advisors are worried about the public tagging along. Civil Beat.

Kauai Island Utility Cooperative has signed a power purchase agreement with SolarCity for electricity from the first utility-scale solar array and battery storage system designed to supply power to the grid in the evening, when demand is highest. Garden Island.

The Kauai Island Utility Cooperative has struck a deal with California-based SolarCity to develop what would become one of the first utility-scale systems in the United States to provide the utility with electricity whenever it needs it. Pacific Business News.

The Department of Land and Natural Resources, Division of State Parks will continue to accept public comments on the master plan and draft environmental impact statement for Haena State Park through Oct. 8. The required public comment period of 45 days, ended Tuesday, but State Parks will continue to accept comments in response to requests from the public to allow more time to review the large and complex document. Garden Island.

Hawaiian monk seal protections expanded, Maori visit Mauna Kea, more gay tourists sought, Big Island Roundup ban bill yanked, Laniakea barriers coming down, Maui home sold for $41.8M, state mental health hospital due $150M in upgrades, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Hawaiian monk seal and pup, courtesy NOAA

The federal government expanded the critical habitat for Hawaiian monk seals by 7,000 square miles Tuesday, a move aimed at preventing the declining species from going extinct. Civil Beat.

Federal officials are expanding protections for Hawaiian monk seals around portions of the main Hawaiian Islands in an attempt to help save the species,  which is believed to number only about 1,100 and is declining at a rate of about 4 percent a year. Star-Advertiser.

The National Marine Fisheries Service today issued a final rule protecting nearly 7,000 square miles of critical habitat for Hawaiian monk seals, a species considered among the world’s most endangered marine mammals. Maui Now.

Federal regulators have issued a final rule geared at protecting 7,000 square miles of critical habitat for Hawaiian monk seals, one of the world’s most endangered marine mammals. Garden Island.

Dozens of tourism officials are meeting today in Waikīkī to discuss LGBT travel in Hawai‘i. Hotels, tour groups, and local businesses are hoping to better promote the islands as a destination for the gay market. Hawaii Public Radio.

Hawaii's the new state health director, Dr. Ginny Pressler, plans to ask the Legislature for $150 million next session to build a state-of-the-art forensic facility at the Hawaii State Hospital to add more beds, specialized care and better equipment. Civil Beat.

The Hawaii Department of Education is planning to beef up the number of investigators tasked with reviewing cases of employee misconduct later this month, one of several initiatives aimed at streamlining a process that can currently drag on for up to a year. Civil Beat.

The Department of Education has placed 43 employees on leave during an investigation into alleged misconduct. Associated Press.

Hawaii had the fewest non-fatal injuries from firearms in 2010 in a comparison of 18 states, including California, New York and Florida, a new study shows. Civil Beat.

Oahu

Nearly $40 million has been invested in a $200 million plan to revitalize farming in Central Oahu by providing farmers with land, water, housing, packaging and shipping facilities, one of the plan’s major stakeholders said. Pacific Business News.

State transportation officials have until Monday to remove the barriers that have blocked parking at Laniakea Beach, according to the coalition of North Shore community members and activists that sued to bring them down. Star-Advertiser.

As they do every workday, a maintenance crew cleared scores of sidewalks structures and personal belongings Tuesday as the city continued enforcement actions that hit the homeless in areas throughout Oahu where they congregate. Star-Advertiser.

City Councilwoman Carol Fukunaga hopes to preserve and promote industrial uses along the rail transit route through a bill that seeks to offer real property tax incentives. Star-Advertiser.

The number of photovoltaic permits issued by the City and County of Hono­lulu rose 47 percent as they continued reversing a trend that had seen permits fall for two years in a row. Star-Advertiser.

A controversial bill imposing noise restrictions on pet birds in residential zones was shelved by a Honolulu City Council committee Tuesday. Star-Advertiser.

The city says it has finished counting the number of trash and recycling bins throughout Oahu. It’s a process that took more than eight months. KHON2.

University of Hawaii West Oahu Chancellor Rockne Freitas is retiring at the end of the year. Star-Advertiser.

A combination of restaurant and shopping options could be replacing the Macy's store in Kailua in Windward Oahu after it closes down in early 2016, the head of Alexander & Baldwin Inc.'s subsidiary's Kailua operations confirmed to Pacific Business News.

On Tuesday, local companies wanting to get their products on the shelves at military commissaries showed up at the Hawaii Prince Hotel to hand out their samples. KITV4.

Hawaii

A bill aimed at finding alternatives to Monsanto Co.’s Roundup and other non-organic weed killers was facing certain death Tuesday at the County Council Environmental Management Committee when it was swiftly uprooted by sponsor Kohala Councilwoman Margaret Wille. West Hawaii Today.

After struggling to come up with a definition of “public purpose,” and in the absence of key players, the County Council Finance Committee on Tuesday postponed a bill to tighten rules governing county purchasing card policies. West Hawaii Today.

A new ad hoc committee will tackle road connectivity in Puna. The County Committee on Public Works and Parks and Recreation discussed the finalization of the committee during an 11 a.m. meeting Tuesday in Kona. Big Island Now.

Big Island Video News caught a glimpse of a special cultural exchange at Pu’u Huluhulu on Monday. Participants say 250 visiting Maori ʻohana from Rotorua, Aotearoa shared song and chant with a large group associated with the Ku Kia’i Mauna movement.

How Lanakila Mangauil came to Mauna Kea. The first installment of a three-part profile of Joshua Lanakila Mangauil, based on interviews conducted over several weeks. Hawaii Independent.

Maui

A 6,737-square-foot home on more than four acres in Makena sold for close to $41.8 million in what may be a record for a residential real estate sale on Maui. Pacific Business News.

To ease Maui's pet overpopulation problem, the Maui Humane Society has begun a mobile clinic program that recently spayed and neutered - for free - more than 1,050 dogs and cats in nine days. Maui News.

Kauai

Two dozen kayak tour operators pored over hydrology maps with state officials Tuesday in hopes of determining why Uluwehi Falls, the crown jewel of the Wailua River kayak tour industry, has dried up. Garden Island.

Molokai

A Hawaii energy consulting firm and its finance subsidiary plan to develop a microgrid project for the only slaughterhouse on Molokai, the firm told Pacific Business News.

Monk seal population to grow, NextEra promises $1B in benefits from Hawaiian Electric purchase, Honolulu media target homeless woes, rail contract nears, inspections lacking at home care sites, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Hawaiian monk seal at rest © 2015 All Hawaii News

Federal fisheries authorities want to more than double the small population of endangered Hawaiian monk seals in the state’s main islands. Authorities on Tuesday released a draft management plan for the endangered species, of which approximately 200 live in the main Hawaiian Islands. Associated Press.

Federal regulators want to more than double the small population of endangered Hawaiian monk seals in the state’s main islands. Garden Island.

NextEra Energy Inc., the company looking to buy Hawaiian Electric Industries, said Tuesday the deal will result in $1 billion in customer savings and economic benefits over five years. Star-Advertiser.

The state’s consumer watchdog agency gave a thumbs-down Monday to the proposed $4.3 billion merger of Hawaii Electric Companies and Florida-based NextEra Energy Inc. Tribune-Herald.

The state of Hawaii is expected to sign a major agreement with Korea’s leading energy technology institute later this month to collaboratively work on test projects in the state, including a packaged battery system for residential homes, the head of Hawaii’s energy office told Pacific Business News Tuesday.

Unlike in many other states, Hawaii does not mandate unannounced inspections as part of its annual certification process for community care foster family homes. Officials have the authority to make unannounced visits, but say limited resources often prevent them. Civil Beat.

The Office of Hawaiian Affairs has appointed Lisa Victor to serve as the new chief operating officer for its 170-person state agency. Pacific Business News.

Oahu

Safety concerns are so bad in and around the Kakaako homeless encampment that the state Department of Public Safety, which oversees state sheriff’s deputies, has hired a private security company to guard its nearby offices. Star-Advertiser.

As of this week, there’s a new sense of order on the ground floor of the Kakaako building that houses scores of state workers from the departments of health and public safety. KITV4.

More than half of O’ahu’s single unsheltered homeless live in the urban core according to January’s point-in-time count.   There are also an unspecified number who are not counted by social service providers and are the undocumented homeless. Hawaii Public Radio.

The Honolulu Police Department has rolled out a new fleet of vehicles aimed at catching drivers who break the law. KHON2.

Honolulu Mayor Kirk Caldwell’s administration has emailed a questionnaire to 530 Oahu residents to ask them to help the city decide on a color for the Magic Island pathway. The choice is between bright blue favored by the mayor and the brownish-red color traditionally seen on running tracks and tennis courts. Civil Beat.

Opposition, dismay and resignation. That was largely the sentiment of North Shore residents responding to the first public presentation of a plan to carve up the historic 2,700-acre Dillingham Ranch into a subdivision for 106 homes tenuously connected with fruit orchard, horse and cattle uses. Star-Advertiser.

In an effort to fuel job creation and address traffic congestion, James Campbell Co. officials are embarking on a $50 million project to widen and reconstruct Kalaeloa Boulevard in Kapolei. Star-Advertiser.

Tuesday marked the deadline for groups interested in building the next stretch of rail guideway and stations to put their names in the running. But project officials say they can’t yet disclose who — or  how many parties — responded. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii

Hawaii County officials will dedicate a new playground Monday at the Mauna Kea Recreation Area. Tribune-Herald.

Maui

A new Maui County ordinance allows the placement of signs, posters and nontransparent materials on vehicle side windows and rear windows that don’t obstruct the driver’s view of the road, West Maui Councilmember Elle Cochran announced today. Maui Now.

Maui County Liquor Commission discusses new dancing law on Wednesday, Aug. 12. MauiTime.

The Maui Visitors Bureau hopes to attract more "never been" travelers from the East Coast and other regions of the Mainland this year. Maui News.

Construction is underway on the long-anticipated Bath & Body Works store at the Queen Ka'ahumanu Center. Maui News.

Kauai

Roy Oyama is a humble man. Oyama, who will be recognized for his achievements in agriculture and the Kauai County Farm Bureau, was inducted as a Kauai Museum Living Treasure in 2005. Garden Island.

Hawaii low in greenhouse gas emissions, seven schools to get free lunch, monk seals to be vaccinated, Ethics Commission mulls class trips, Maui Council considers water plan, UH research brings in $425M, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Hawaii Rep. Cynthia Thielen with hemp, file courtesy photo

University of Hawaii researchers are poised to start their first harvest of industrial hemp in Waimanalo, while crop advocates explore opportunities to tap into the multimillion-dollar demand for the plant’s products in the United States. Star-Advertiser.

The status of future educational trips for Hawaii’s public school students remains murky following a marathon meeting of the State Ethics Commission on Wednesday. More than half of the nearly four-hour meeting was devoted to attempts to solve a messy clash between several provisions of the ethics code that applies to state employees, including teachers, and the Department of Education’s goal of encouraging educational trips to complement, extend, and broaden classroom experiences. Civil Beat.

A new pilot program launching next week at seven Hawaii public schools will provide lunches free of charge to more than 1,600 students regardless of their family’s ability to pay. Star-Advertiser.

Educators were asked this week to identify measurements of achievement for young Native Hawaiians in the coming decade. The answer had nothing to do with standardized test scores. Civil Beat.

External funding for research and instruction projects at the University of Hawaii surged to more than $425 million in the recently completed fiscal year — a jump of $33 million or 8.5 percent over last year and the first increase after three consecutive years of funding declines, UH officials disclosed Wednesday. Civil Beat.

Hawaii is in the bottom half of rankings in the United States when it comes total greenhouse gas emissions, according to a new report. Pacific Business News.

NOAA Prepares for Hawaiian Monk Seal Vaccinations. Hawaii Public Radio.

Models to mitigate coastal hazards related to climate change. New research using wave modeling helps explain the effects coral reefs have on preventing coastal hazards like flooding.  Hawaii Independent.

Oahu

The state Department of Health is issuing a $1.1 million fine against the Department of Education and several companies over the alleged dumping of toxic soil from Radford High School. Hawaii News Now.

Major metal recyclers on the island would once again enjoy a substantial discount in disposal fees under a plan making its way through the Honolulu City Council despite objections from Mayor Kirk Caldwell’s administration. Star-Advertiser.

Honolulu’s Council chairman on Wednesday proposed the city consider using some of the hundreds of millions of dollars from a five-year rail tax extension to help Oahu businesses hard-hit by rail construction. Star-Advertiser.

Population growth and concerns over crime have prompted some residents and officials to call for a greater police presence on the Leeward Coast. Star-Advertiser.

The state agency regulating development in Kakaako has acknowledged that its rule governing the opaqueness of glass on new condominium towers may need to be modified to achieve a better balance between reflectiveness and energy use. Star-Advertiser.

A Bloomberg analysis has found that Honolulu ranks fourth among American cities that lost the most residents between July 2013 and July 2014. Civil Beat.

A Honolulu city council committee has approved a settlement in a lawsuit filed against the city by a Waipahu man who claimed he was beaten by an off-duty police officer. Hawaii News Now

The Hawaii Community Development Authority finalized an amended development permit Wednesday requiring construction to start on the moderate-priced 988 Halekauwila condominium tower in Kakaako before an initial luxury tower can be occupied at Ward Village. Star-Advertiser.

Owners in the Royal Capitol Plaza condominium tower in Kakaako have dropped their lawsuit challenging a state permit for a tower under construction next door. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii

The state land board has agreed to consider on Aug. 14 a request for a contested case hearing, which seeks to reverse a recently approved emergency rule limiting access to Mauna Kea. Pacific Business News.

Hawaii County is among the lengthy list of parties urging the Public Utilities Commission not to approve the proposed $4.3 billion merger of Hawaii Electric Industries to Florida-based NextEra Energy. Tribune-Herald.

The State Historic Preservation Division has given the state transportation department a green light to break ground on the Queen Kaahumanu Highway widening project. West Hawaii Today.

Maui

Hundreds of Upcountry residents have waited a decade or more for a water meter. And in recent years a lucky few have been offered a meter by the Department of Water Supply, but there's been a catch - the staggering cost of paying for fire protection improvements required to connect with the municipal water system. Maui News.

A substance abuse treatment center on Maui was ordered to pay an estimated $45,000 in back wages, damages and penalties to employees for violating the federal fair labor standards act, according to the Department of Labor. Maui Now.

Kauai
It looks like the barking dog ordinance could be repealed. A 4-3 committee vote Wednesday signaled that Bill 2590 will succeed on final passage if the sides hold when the council meets Aug. 5 to decide its fate. Garden Island.