Polling places may become a thing of the past, public resists Honolulu park plans, Kauai residents want road to themselves, Big Island struggles with Sunshine Law, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Hawaii paper ballots ©2019 All Hawaii News

Lawmakers approve statewide mail-in voting. Leading lawmakers have finally agreed on a plan to switch to statewide mail-in balloting starting in the 2020 election, a shift that is expected to save the state hundreds of thousands of dollars each election cycle and possibly boost voter turnout slightly. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii Takes Another Step Toward Statewide All-Mail Voting. A House-Senate conference committee approves the measure, and other election reform bills remain alive as well. Civil Beat.

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Senate To Vote Wednesday On Public Safety Chief. A panel of senators previously advised that Nolan Espinda not serve a second four-year term. Civil Beat.

Deputy sheriffs, COs using guns and ammo that violate state policy. The department provides all corrections officers who qualify with 9mm, semi-automatic handguns, but the 2010 policy mandates the older, Smith and Wesson .38 revolvers. Hawaii News Now.


Lawmakers Pass Bill Giving Indoor Farmers Better Electric Rates. Hawaiian Electric Co. and the Hawaii Farm Bureau say that the potential rates may not be fair. Civil Beat.

A bill to get rid of the statute of limitations for child sex abuse is facing a mysterious hurdle in the Hawaii Legislature, even though lawmakers in both chambers appear to agree that it’s a good idea. Civil Beat.


State officials announced today the launch of its “Malama Hawaii” campaign in partnership with the Hawaii Tourism Authority, encouraging visitors to care for the state’s natural resources. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii Tourism Authority is partnering with the state Department of Land and Natural Resources on two new projects aimed at wilderness preservation and raising public awareness about respect for the land. Garden Island.

Oahu

Neighborhoods Are Really Angry At The Feds’ $345 Million Ala Wai Project. Seven local boards want legislators to halt the flood control project, saying it protects Waikiki at the expense of their communities. Civil Beat.

Bacteria Could Clean Up the Ala Wai Cheaply and Quickly. Honolulu’s Ala Wai canal is one of the most polluted waterways in the country. Hawaii Public Radio.

A Honolulu City Council committee voiced opposition Tuesday to key parts of Mayor Kirk Caldwell’s plan for improving Ala Moana Regional Park. The Parks, Community Services and Intergovernmental Affairs Committee approved a resolution, Resolution 19-92, calling on the mayor to reconsider. Star-Advertiser.

City Council members get into debate over City's controversial master plan for Ala Moana regional park. KITV.

Honolulu residents weigh in as new bulky item collection pilot project nears. Under the new bulky item collection pilot project, residents will have to go to the City's website or call to make an appointment to get their bulky items removed. KHON2.

Convention center scrapped from plans for Hawaiian music and dance center. Key members of the state House and Senate have agreed to scrap the Hawai‘i Convention Center as the location for a proposed Hawaiian music and dance center after the state spent $800,000 studying the feasibility of the location and coming up with preliminary design and business plans. Star-Advertiser.

Kakaako Land Company fined by Hawaii Community Development Authority for poorly maintained roads. The company has been fined $250,000 by the Hawaii Community Development Authority and the deadline to pay is May 15th. KITV.

City Council Searching For New City Auditor. Edwin Young, who has held the job since 2010, retired in February. Civil Beat.

A Honolulu Police Department officer with a troubled past has been arrested for felony abuse of a household member. Officer Darren Cachola was in custody Tuesday night at Honolulu’s main police station. Hawaii News Now.

Police Sergeant who was seen hitting girlfriend in video has been arrested again. KHON2.

HPD officer arrested for abuse of household member. KITV.

HNN picks up 8 regional Edward R. Murrow awards. Hawaii News Now has netted eight Edward R. Murrow regional awards for outstanding broadcast and digital coverage in 2018. Hawaii News Now.

Hawaii Island

County budget group may violate Sunshine Law. Behind-the-scenes budget meetings could run afoul of the state Sunshine Law, County Council members learned Tuesday. West Hawaii Today.

Developers, county host community brainstorming session for Village 9. An accelerated path to alleviating some of the homeless pressure in Kailua Village began Tuesday at the West Hawaii Civic Center. West Hawaii Today.

Kuawa Street park nearly ready for use. The long-delayed Kuawa Street park in Hilo is “99 percent” sure to open by this summer, according to county Parks and Recreation officials. Tribune-Herald.

Maui

Maui Grant Funding Available. The Mayor’s Office of Economic Development has grant funding available for the last quarter of fiscal year 2019. Maui Now.

Founders of biodiesel firm unveil their own green new deal: Hemp. Earth Day blessing fetes Maui’s first state-licensed industrial hemp farm. Maui News.

Kauai

Kauai residents say state misled them on rationale for reopening Kuhio Highway. Residents are pushing back on the state Department of Transportation’s decision to reopen a 2-mile stretch of Kuhio Highway to outside traffic on May 1, and they have found a new argument to fuel their objections. Star-Advertiser.

Flood insurance need arises. Some home and business owners near the Waimea and Hanapepe rivers may have to buy flood insurance starting next year because levees on the banks of both rivers do not meet federal standards for flood prevention. Garden Island.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency has determined the Waimea and Hanapepe levees on Kauai do not provide a high level of protection and are to be de-accredited. New preliminary flood maps, effective in 2020 show areas behind the Waimea and Hanapepe levees to be in a high-risk flood zone. Maui Now.

Sub-par Kauai levees mean some could have to buy costly flood insurance. Residents and businesses in Waimea and Hanapepe may be required to purchase costly flood insurance after FEMA found the levees along the rivers do not provide “a high level of protection.” Hawaii News Now.

Endangered Hawaiian monk seal RH38 is back at the Hawaii Island seal hospital in stable, but critical condition about two years after being released back into the wild. Garden Island.

Navy issues EIS for sonar testing, training; Ige reappoints three department heads; Pearl Harbor stays open amid federal shutdown; more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Humpback whale feeding, breeding zones. NOAA

The U.S. Navy is moving forward with training and testing in Hawaii-Southern California waters after re-evaluating potential environmental impacts of their activities. “These military readiness activities include the use of active sonar and explosives at sea off the coasts of Hawaii and Southern California,” according to the final EIS. Garden Island.

Read the Navy's Hawaii-Southern California Training and Testing Environmental Impact Statement/Overseas Environmental Impact Statement here.

Winter on Maui means it’s time for humpback whales. More than half of the North Pacific humpback whale population, estimated at over 20,000 strong, visit the waters of Maui Nui each year. Hawaii Magazine.

The year 2018 has been a record one for Hawaiian monk seal pups born in the main Hawaiian isles, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Star-Advertiser.

Gov. David Ige has reappointed leaders at three state departments, his office announced today, including the Department of Transportation, Department of Human Resources Development and Department of Taxation. Star-Advertiser.

Tatum takes over at HTA amid tourism challenges. Created by the Legislature in 1998, the tourism authority believes it’s found a power hitter in Chris Tatum. Star-Advertiser.

Court Cases Open Window Into Marshallese Adoptions. A lawsuit by a Kentucky couple alleges that an Arkansas attorney offered to fly a Marshallese birth mother to the U.S. despite a treaty that bars such travel. Civil Beat.

Japanese-Americans are more likely to accumulate fat in their liver and abdomen compared to other ethnicities. That's according to the latest research from the University of Hawaii's Cancer Center. Hawaii Public Radio.


YEAR IN REVIEW: The repercussions of Hawaii’s false missile alert are still being felt. Hawaii News Now.


YEAR IN REVIEW: Remembering this year’s record breaking hurricane season. Hawaii’s 2018 hurricane season was among the most destructive in years. Hawaii News Now.

Hawaii taxpayers claim close to $86M in renewable energy tax credits in 2016. The state of Hawaii dished out $85.8 million in renewable energy tax credits in 2016, down from $98.6 million during the previous year. Pacific Business News.

Oahu

As government shutdown drags on, nonprofits scramble to keep Pearl Harbor monument open. Despite the partial government shutdown, the World War II Valor in the Pacific National Monument is still open — thanks to the generosity of several nonprofits. Hawaii News Now.


Since the government's partial shutdown several Hawaii national parks have seen a shake-up in services. But places like the World War II Valor in the Pacific National Monument, - a historic site that drew in just under 2-million visitors last year - according to park stats isn't one that's closing quietly. KITV.

Not Everyone’s Thrilled To Have A Film Crew In The Neighborhood. “Magnum P.I.” is generating complaints from businesses and residents about the way it commandeers streets and parking places. Civil Beat.

Fraud alleged in local trash company bankruptcy. A commercial refuse hauler that stiffed the city on $3 million in garbage disposal fees may not have actually dumped that debt obligation through bankruptcy two years ago. Star-Advertiser.


The trains may one day run on time, but the construction of the track certainly hasn't. At $8.3 billion, not including finance charges, the Honolulu rail project is the largest public works project in Hawaii history and, according to a policy analyst at the conservative think tank Cato Institute, "the most expensive per capita of any publicly funded rail project in the modern age." U.S. News & World Report.


Twelve parcels of land for sale, including the Willows, could change Moiliili neighborhood. KHON2.


Back in business: Ala Wai Community and Neighborhood parks re-open. Since October, the parks have been closed for crews to revamp the public areas. KITV.


With students out of school for winter break, families hoping to check out certain libraries are out of luck. Three Oahu branches are temporarily closed because of emergency work or other issues. Hawaii News Now.

State orders brothers to fix decrepit Kakaako roads or stop charging for parking. A state agency is ordering two brothers to either fix up the streets they claim they own in Kakaako or stop charging parking fees. Hawaii News Now.


A former U.S. Housing and Urban Development employee accused of collecting Section 8 rental assistance on properties she and her husband managed and controlled pleaded not guilty in U.S. District Court Wednesday to five counts of wire fraud. Star-Advertiser.


The new year means changes for some fishermen. Starting January 1, 2019, the Waikiki-Diamond Head shoreline will be off-limits for fishing. The ban will last for all of 2019. KHON2.


Firecracker permit sales drop in Honolulu for New Year’s. Firecracker permit sales are down this year with 3,000 fewer sold compared to last year, the Honolulu Fire Department reported. Star-Advertiser.


A couple of Nevada residents are suing to evict the people living in Duane “Dog” Chapman’s Portlock home because Chapman and his wife have allegedly defaulted on their house payments. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii Island

Mayor Harry Kim thanked Puna Geothermal Venture executives for a six-figure donation, a short time before the company was granted permission to cut an access road over the inactive lava channel that isolated the company’s power plant during the summer eruption of Kilauea Volcano. Big Island Video News.


Ookala residents frustrated by latest dairy discharge. On Monday, Big Island Dairy, which is set to cease operations next year, discharged nearly 600,000 gallons of wastewater into Kaohaoha Gulch. Tribune-Herald.


Report examines benefits, feasibility of basalt facility. A new study commissioned by the Pacific International Space Center for Exploration Systems suggests the island could make a name for itself in this small but growing industry. Tribune-Herald.

Alii Drive culvert replacement project delayed. A county project to replace a deteriorating culvert on Alii Drive will get started a little later than previously estimated. West Hawaii Today.


Making Food More Affordable For The Hungry. Nearly 13 percent of Hawaii Island residents are “food insecure,” according to the USDA — well above the statewide average. Civil Beat.

21st Annual Mochi Pounding Set For Dec. 29 At Akiko’s. Traditional mochi pounding will return to the small village of Wailea this weekend, and the public is invited. Big Island Video News.


Maui

The South Maui Parking Lots Improvements Project will continue construction with the closure of Keawakapu Beach parking lot, at the corner of Kilohana Drive and South Kihei Road, on Wednesday, Jan. 2. Maui Now.

The comment period for the Kalaupapa National Historical Park General Management Plan and Environmental Assessment has been extended to Feb. 1. Maui News.


Maui’s law banning foam takeout containers goes into effect at the end of the year. The county law bans polystyrene foam food containers, which popular local plate lunches are typically served in. Associated Press.


Hale Kau Kau: 1.5 Million Meals and Counting. Today, South Maui’s only daily soup kitchen, Hale Kau Kau, served its 10,000th consecutive day of meal service. Maui Now.


Kauai

Kauai officials have agreed to pay $1 million to the family of a man who died after being hit by a police cruiser. Associated Press.

Kauai Medical Clinic recently broke ground on its new 7,900-square-foot facility at the Safeway-anchored Kauai Village Shopping Center. Pacific Business News.

Molokai

The comment period for the Kalaupapa National Historical Park General Management Plan and Environmental Assessment has been extended to Feb. 1. Maui News.

Hawaii second-worst for driving, sprinklers for Honolulu high-rises, University of Hawaii faculty holds anti-Thirty Meter Telescope press conference, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Honolulu traffic file photo

No surprises here: In a new study, Hawaii is ranked the second-worst state for drivers. The study, conducted by Bankrate, gave Hawaii some of the worst numbers in several areas related to safety, cost and driving quality. It analyzed commute time information, traffic fatality data, road condition reports and gas prices — all of which Hawaii drivers deal with on a daily basis. Hawaii News Now.

Hawaii placed 2nd for worst drivers across the nation, according to study. Personal finance site Bankrate.com has ranked the best and worst states for drivers related to cost, safety, and driving quality. KITV.

Commuting Oahu: ‘It Takes Your Time And It Gives You Back Stress’ Some of us live closer to our jobs than ever. But it’s taking longer to get there. And the cost in lost time, dollars and home life is heavy. Civil Beat.

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 Former carpenters’ union official is Green’s chief of staff. Lt. Gov. Josh Green appointed a former carpenters’ union official to be his chief of staff months after a super PAC funded by the union spent more than $1 million supporting his candidacy in the Democratic Party primary. Associated Press.

Bravery of USS Vestal crew saved many lives. History focuses most on the cataclysmic explosion on the USS Arizona and sunken battleship memorial — still a tomb for over 900 crew — in remembering the Dec. 7, 1941 attack on Pearl Harbor. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaiian monk seal has eel removed from its nose. On Monday, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Hawaiian Monk Seal Research Program posted to its Facebook page a photo of a juvenile monk seal with what appears to be a spotted eel in its nose. Star-Advertiser.

Wisdom, a Laysan albatross reputed to be the world’s oldest known bird in the wild, has returned to Midway Atoll and laid another egg, federal wildlife officials confirmed earlier this week. Star-Advertiser.

Oahu

Sprinkler extension denied. At its last meeting of 2018, the Honolulu City Council failed to override Mayor Kirk Caldwell’s veto of a bill easing condo fire safety rules, but gave the final green light for Waikiki’s first, large-scale rental complex in decades and moved forward with proposals regulating vacation rentals and “monster” houses. Star-Advertiser.

The Honolulu City Council failed to override the Mayor’s Veto of an important fire sprinkler bill. Bill 72, allows high-rise condominiums without fire sprinkler systems an additional 2 years to complete a life system evaluation and retrofit. Hawaii Public Radio.

High rise fire inspections to remain at three years vs. five, post-Marco Polo fire. The Honolulu City Council voted five-to-three on Bill 72. This keeps high rise building fire inspections to three years instead of five. KITV.

City Ethics Commission Is Investigating Far Fewer Cases Than 2 Years Ago. Director Jan Yamane, who took over from Chuck Totto, is emphasizing training over investigation in an effort to change the culture. Civil Beat.

Legal community urges action against Honolulu prosecutors mixed up in federal criminal probe. There is growing pressure on the city Prosecutor’s Office after a Hawaii News Now investigation revealed First Deputy Chasid Sapolu was sent a subject letter from the Department of Justice. Hawaii News Now.

Islandwide Homeless Restrictions Approved — But Are They Legal? A recent federal court ruling has some cities pulling back their bans on homeless people camping in public places. Civil Beat.

Hawaii Island

With the legal fight against the Thirty Meter Telescope appeared to be over, University of Hawaii faculty, staff and students took their case to the public Wednesday in a press conference on the UH Manoa campus. Star-Advertiser.

Energy experts discuss grid resiliency, redesign against external threats. The components of the concept were part of a panel discussion Wednesday at a conference on energy storage trends and opportunities convened by the Natural Energy Laboratory of Hawaii Authority and held at the Sheraton Kona at Keauhou Bay. West Hawaii Today.

As checkpoints come down inside Leilani Estates, Hawaii Island residents face uncertainty for future. KHON2.

Puna’s New Councilmember Ashley Kierkiewicz Looks Ahead. Big Island Video News.

Paradise Helicopters expands Big Island service. Kona-based Paradise Helicopters is expanding its service to the Waimea-Kohala Airport on the Big Island with the launch of a new tour. Pacific Business News.

Home sales drop on Hawaii's Big Island, prices flat. The median price of a single-family home on the Big Island in November was $358,000, which was a decline of 3.57 percent from $371,250 during the same month last year. Pacific Business News.

Maui

Upcountry skate park just needs a fence. While not popular, county says it’s needed for safety. The Pukalani community will get its gift of a skate park probably early next year, and it will come with what some may call extra wrapping — a fence. Maui News.

Tourism on Maui appears to have weathered storms. October visitor arrivals, spending up, HTA data show. Tourism officials appeared to downplay the impacts of storms Lane and Olivia that arrived weeks apart in August and September following the release of October tourism data last week. Maui News.

Kauai

A bill that proposed to reform the county’s affordable housing policy did not pass a second hearing at the Kauai County Council meeting last week, losing in a 6-1 vote. Garden Island.

Former PMRF worker accused of wire fraud. The U.S. Pacific Fleet on Oahu is still putting together the pieces of how a woman allegedly stole nearly $356,000 from the Navy’s Pacific Missile Range Facility. Garden Island.

Kauai condo prices jump 35% in November. The median price of a condo on Kauai last month was $550,000, an increase of 35.47 percent from $406,000 in November 2017. Pacific Business News.

Hurricane Hector coming closer, candidates make last-minute pitches, Makua Military Reservation must allow cultural access, monk seal Rocky rejects pup, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Hurricane Hector on Tuesday, NOAA

Hurricane Hector is still churning closer to the Hawaiian islands on Tuesday as a powerful Category 4 storm to the southeast of Hawaii. Hawaii News Now.

Hector weakened slightly overnight but remains a category 4 hurricane. Located 540 miles east-southeast of Hilo and 750 miles east-southeast of Honolulu, Hector was packing maximum sustained winds of 130 mph — a drop of 15 mph from Monday night — at 5 a.m. today, according to the National Weather Service. Star-Advertiser.

At 2 a.m. HST on Tuesday, Aug. 7, 2018, the center of Hurricane Hector was located 585 miles ESE of Hilo, 670 miles ESE of Hana, Maui, and 705 miles ESE of Kahului, Maui (near latitude 15.9 North, longitude 147.1 West). Maui Now.

The National Weather Service on Monday posted a tropical storm watch for the Big Island as Hurricane Hector continued its trek toward Hawaii. Tribune-Herald.

A powerful hurricane expected to pass to the south of the state is forecast to bring dangerously large waves to east-facing shores of some islands starting Tuesday. Hawaii News Now.

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Candidates debate energy, climate issues in last major public forum before primary election. With the primary election coming up this Saturday, candidates for governor, lieutenant governor, and congress tried one last time to set themselves apart from their opponents in the last major public forum before the primary. Hawaii News Now.

The Hawaii Republican Party’s Slow Path To Extinction. The GOP is unable to field candidates in a growing number of races — and that, worry experts, is a problem for democracy and government transparency. Civil Beat.

Hanabusa’s Legacy in Congress: From Military Spending To A Post Office In Kahala. In D.C., the Democratic candidate for governor prided herself on funneling military dollars to Hawaii and was a strong advocate for the fishing industry. Civil Beat.

Some Gabbard campaign material runs afoul of military ethics rules. The Hawaii Army National Guard has instructed Congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard to take down or amend certain campaign material from her VoteTulsi Facebook page because it violates military ethics rules. Star-Advertiser.

Ad Watch: Governor, LG Wannabes Hone Their TV Pitches. The leading Democratic candidates sometimes shine in a series of mostly positive campaign commercials. Civil Beat.

Can non-citizens vote? Elections officials rely on affidavits to verify citizenship. In a state that values access to the ballot, Hawaii election officials pretty much take your word for it when you claim to be a U.S. citizen and thus are eligible to vote. West Hawaii Today.

Some OHA Candidates Continue To Spend Big On Their Campaigns. Sam King has the most cash on hand in the Oahu race, while Rowena Akana has the most in the at-large contest. Civil Beat.

Lanialoha Lee of the Aloha Center Chicago is helping to organize a demonstration at Aloha Poke Company's corporate office this Friday and a protest march on Monday. Activists call it cultural appropriation and believe it will be the first Native Hawaiian protest march in Chicago. Hawaii News Now.

Oahu

Nonprofit group Malama Makua is regaining cultural access to Makua Military Reservation, $80,000 in attorney fees and the Army’s agreement to address an unexploded ordnance stockpile with the settlement of a 2016 lawsuit against the Army. Star-Advertiser.

Honolulu Ponders How To Be More ‘Age-Friendly’. Oahu has the fastest-growing population of people 65 and older in the country. Civil Beat.

Super PAC Be Change Now Spends $62K to Oppose Honolulu City Councilmember Carol Fukunaga. An Independent Political Action Committee is financing a negative campaign against an incumbent Honolulu City Councilwoman. Hawaii Public Radio.

29th annual Hiroshima commemoration and peace service ceremony held on Oahu. KHON2.

Oahu’s housing market posted modest median price gains in July and again fell a little shy of setting any new records. The Honolulu Board of Realtors reported today that previously owned single-family homes sold for a median $789,500 last month, up 5.3 percent from $750,000 a year earlier. Star-Advertiser.

Box jellyfish force closure of Hanauma Bay. City officials have closed Hanauma Bay for the rest of the day after many people were stung by an influx of box jellyfish. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii Island

The scientist-in-charge at Hawaiian Volcano Observatory said there “were some hints” the near cessation of seismic activity at Kilauea’s summit and drastic reduction of lava production by fissure 8 might happen. Tribune-Herald.

Although earthquakes decreased over the weekend, the majority of Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park, a top attraction for the state, remains closed due to damage and will not be reopening any time soon. Star-Advertiser.

Legislative candidates drain accounts as election nears. New money flowed into state House and Senate candidates’ campaign coffers last month, but for most candidates racing toward Saturday’s election, it was flowing out just as fast. West Hawaii Today.

Big Island grapples with lava, hurricane as election nears. As Hawaii readies for its primary elections, voters are grappling with an erupting volcano and Hurricane Hector. Associated Press.

Maui

Maui continues on record-setting pace for visitor arrivals. Maui island visitor arrivals are on pace to reach nearly 2.9 million visitors by year’s end, a milestone that would make 2018 the fourth straight record-breaking year for air travelers to the Valley Isle, according to statistics released this week by the Hawaii Tourism Authority. Maui News.

Outrigger Hotels and Resorts recently acquired the Honua Kai Resort &Spa’s on-site resort rental program from affiliates of Alterra Mountain Co. Star-Advertiser.

Kauai

Hanabusa sweeping state before primary. As four lanes of vehicles passed by Congresswoman Colleen Hanabusa and some of her supporters Monday afternoon, there was a lot of honking and waving and shouting. Garden Island.

‘I remember’. On Aug. 6, 1945, at 8:15 a.m., Hiroko Kunioka’s grandmother was in Hiroshima with her nephew. That was when the United States dropped the atomic bomb on Hiroshima. Garden Island.

Significant quantities of honey in the Garden Isle have tested positive for RoundUp, a popular herbicide used to kill weeds and plants, according to a recent study. Hawaii News Now.

The Hawaii Marine Animal Response team says Rocky the Hawaiian monk seal has rejected her three-week-old pup. Officials say the baby is malnourished but is stable and is being fed through tubes until it can eat on its own. KHON2.

The median price of a single-family home on Kauai rose 11 percent last month, compared to a year ago, while the median price of a condominium in July jumped by more than 30 percent, according to statistics from Hawaii Information Service on behalf of the Kauai Board of Realtors. Pacific Business News.

U.S. Senate confirms former Hawaii AG as appellate judge, Hawaii to become last state with police standards board, Ige vetoes 8 other bills, Kauai electric co-op generates checks, don't feed the monk seals, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Pohakuloa Quonset huts ©2018 All Hawaii News

The Army plans to demolish nearly 100 World War II-era Quonset huts at Pohakuloa Training Area on Hawaii island — a potential loss of iconic structures that historians are lamenting. Star-Advertiser.

The United States Senate has confirmed former Hawaii Attorney General Mark Bennett to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 9th Circuit by a vote of 72-27. Star-Advertiser.

Former Hawaii attorney general confirmed to US Court of Appeals. The U.S. Senate confirmed President Trump’s nomination of Honolulu attorney Mark J. Bennett Tuesday in a 72-27 vote Tuesday. KHON2.

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Governor Reverses Himself: Hawaii Will Get A Police Standards Board. All four county police chiefs also switched positions on the bill, according to Honolulu Chief Susan Ballard. Civil Beat.

A bill requiring the creation of a statewide law enforcement standards and training board has become law after Gov. David Ige on Tuesday reversed course and decided not to veto it. Star-Advertiser.

Gov. Ige vetoes 8 bills but reverses decision on giving Hawaii a police standards board. KITV.

Gov. Ige vetoes eight bills, allows two to become law without his signature. KHON2.

3 measures will become law without the governor's signature. Hawaii News Now.

Hawaii Gov. David Ige plans to veto legislation that would expand the state’s hotel tax. Associated Press.

Here are the 8 bills vetoed by the governor. Gov. David Ige vetoed eight bills on Tuesday that covered topics from medical marijuana use, enhanced consumer protections and environmental concerns. Hawaii News Now.

Read Gov. David Ige's full veto list here.

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Why Union Support Matters In The Hawaii Governor’s Race. Rep. Colleen Hanabusa has gathered the majority of big labor endorsements, but incumbent Gov. David Ige has the support of teachers. Civil Beat.

Lt. Gov. Doug Chin was endorsed today by the country’s largest federal employee union in his bid for Congress. Star-Advertiser.

RIMPAC Drill Will Use Hospitals Across the State. Big Island Now.

A U.S. judge gave the green light to lawsuits alleging the weed killer Roundup caused cancer Tuesday, allowing expert testimony linking the herbicide to non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma. Garden Island.

A recent study by University of Hawaii at Manoa researchers revealed more information about where rat lungworm has spread — and where it might spread in the future as the climate changes. Tribune-Herald.

Hawaiian Airlines carried a record 1.05 million passengers in June, a 2.9 percent increase over 1.02 million in the year-earlier period. Star-Advertiser.

Oahu

State and federal officials are reminding the public not to feed Hawaiian monk seals after several of the critically endangered species were recently spotted near a bay on the Leeward side looking for food. Star-Advertiser.

New signs are posted at the small bay near Kahe Power Plant asking people especially fishermen not to feed the Hawaiian monk seals. KITV.

Waimea Valley will soon close on a 3.75-acre land purchase that will allow the attraction to undertake its first real expansion since emerging from more than a decade of major financial struggles. Star-Advertiser.

Beachgoers at Magic Island warned of water main break, high bacteria levels. Hawaii News Now.

Crews to test water at Magic Island after finding high bacteria in ocean. KITV.

Toyota Motor Corp. launched a Honolulu car-sharing service today that allows customers to use smartphones to unlock and start cars for rent by the hour or day. Bloomberg.

Servco Pacific Inc. in cooperation with Toyota Connected North America launched car-share program Hui on Tuesday. Pacific Business News.

Hawaii Island

Because so much of Hawaii Island geography is designated as lava zones 1 and 2, it doesn’t make sense to bar construction there, Mayor Harry Kim said Tuesday. West Hawaii Today.

Leilani Estates resident Geoffrey Last has been denied FEMA assistance, but his home is uninhabitable, according to a letter from county officials. Big Island Video News.

Lava imperils charter school and destroys endangered plants. Star-Advertiser.

District 7 hopefuls address issues at West Hawaii forum. The race for the Hawaii County Council District 7 seat is one of the 2018 election cycle’s most hotly contested on the Big Island. West Hawaii Today.

A Big Island firefighter accused of lying to a federal grand jury about his relationship with a Honolulu deputy prosecutor in the fraud and corruption case against her and her husband, the former Honolulu police chief, was put on paid leave. Tribune-Herald.

Hawaii County firefighters battled an early morning fire inside a 36,000-square-foot recycling company warehouse in Keaau, and finally putting it out after 5 1/2 hours. Star-Advertiser.

Maui

Property owners can now pay their real property taxes online with the County of Maui’s Treasury Division automatic payment program. Maui Now.

Maui Preparatory Academy in Napili is constructing two new campus facilities that will add over 1200 square feet to existing infrastructure and position the school for future growth. Maui Now.

Maui named top island in Hawaii by Travel and Leisure Magazine. For the seventh year in a row, the Valley Isle was voted the top island in Hawaii. KHON2.

The island of Maui has earned honors once again as the No. 1 spot on Travel + Leisure magazine’s list of “Top Islands in Hawaii” in its 2018 World’s Best Awards readers’ survey. Maui Now.


Kauai

All seven candidates for the Kauai Office of the Mayor were on hand Tuesday night at the Kauai Chamber of Commerce Mayor’s Forum at Kauai War Memorial Convention Hall. Garden Island.

With the passage of Bill 2687 the Kauai County Council seems poised to gift millions of dollars of increased property values to a relatively small number of owners located in Lihue along Rice Street with “no strings attached.” Garden Island.

Kauai Island Utility Cooperative will begin issuing $3.2 million in 2017 patronage capital retirement checks to cooperative members next week. Star-Advertiser.

Kauai Island Utility Cooperative will begin issuing $3.2 million in 2017 patronage capital retirement checks to cooperative members next week. Garden Island.

The Kauai County Housing Agency will be accepting applications for its Section 8 program waiting list. KHON2.

The effects of the April flooding continue to be felt on Kauai and will be for the foreseeable future. Hawaii Public Radio.

Molokai

Committee defers action on Molokai short-term rentals. Residents oppose bill that would allow 25 rentals and grandfather existing ones. Maui News.

Lanai

Four Seasons Lanai applies for $5M in building permits for spa, fitness facilities. The spa buildings are part of The Lodge’s long-planned expansion and upgrade that will reduce the hotel’s room count and rebrand it as a destination spa. Pacific Business News.

Active Kilauea volcano puts on a show, state and local lawmakers react to ongoing lava crisis; Mayor Kim hospitalized with 6th heart attack; feral cat feces killing monk seals; Kauai group fights RIMPAC, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

More Kilauea volcano fissures become active. Star-Advertiser.

While fissure 8 continues to steadily produce lava from Kilauea volcano, three other fissures are displaying weak signs of activity. Tribune-Herald.

Scientists monitoring renewed fissure activity. Hawaiian Volcano Observatory scientists say while the continually fountaining vent known as Fissure 8 continues to be very active with channelized flow entering the ocean at Kapoho Bay, lava is now oozing from three other fissures that are being monitored and described as “weakly active.” Star-Advertiser.

Scientists answered questions about the ongoing slumping at the summit of Kilauea volcano, as well as the size of the growing lava delta at Kapoho, during a media conference call Monday. Big Island Video News.

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Legislature keeps grip on Judiciary’s purse strings. Funding rejections have fueled speculation that legislators are still smarting over court decisions that some believe have undermined the separation of powers between the legislative and judicial branches of government. Star-Advertiser.

State speeds up hiring process for much-needed social worker positions in new pilot program. The state's Child Welfare Services branch has struggled to fill 46 vacant spots. KHON2.

Ad Watch: Ige And Hanabusa On What Makes Them Different. The incumbent Hawaii governor boasts of delivering on a promise to put AC in classrooms, while the challenger touts her leadership chops. Civil Beat.

Gov. David Ige announced that he has signed a second supplementary proclamation for Kauai County and the City and County of Honolulu, which suffered heavy losses and damage during severe rain and flooding in April. Big Island Now.

HCF awards $1.5 million to career program. The Hawaii Community Foundation’s Career Connected Learning grants aim to prepare Hawaii’s students for the workforce of the future. Garden Island.

Hawaiian Telcom has informed its shareholders that the company’s $650 million sale to Cincinnati Bell could be completed as early as Saturday. Star-Advertiser.

Oahu

Military eyes sites on Oahu for high-powered radar to defend against missile threats. Hawaii News Now.

The city’s first homeless “navigation center” has taken in 616 people from the streets in three years of operation on Sand Island, and the state Board of Land and Natural Resources has extended a sweetheart lease of $1 a year for another four years, Gov. David Ige and Mayor Kirk Caldwell announced Monday. Star-Advertiser.

Is Honolulu Hale Making City Staffers Sick? City Council Chairman Ernie Martin thinks so — and wants to relocate the legislative branch out of the 90-year-old building. Civil Beat.

Greater protections, more funding sought for Honouliuli Internment Camp site. A bill before Congress would designate Honouliuli Internment Camp on Oahu a national historic site, giving it greater protections — and funding. Hawaii News Now.

UH-West Oahu students unearth history at Honouliuli. Star-Advertiser.

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A disease spread by cat feces killed three female Hawaiian monk seals on Oahu in May, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration announced Monday. Star-Advertiser.

Monk seal monitors are keeping a sharp eye on The Garden Island’s Hawaiian monk seal population after scientists confirmed toxoplasmosis as the cause of death for three Oahu seals in early May. Garden Island.

State officials are now blaming toxoplasmosis, a parasite carried in cat feces, for the deaths of three critically endangered Hawaiian monk seals on Oahu. Hawaii News Now.

Three Hawaiian monk seals found dead on Oahu last month were caused by a disease called toxoplasmosis. It's a disease that's spread through cat feces. KHON2.

State doesn't follow through on threats to impound Lanikai boats. The owners of boats and canoes stored on Lanikai Beach got a temporary reprieve Monday. Hawaii News Now.

The Daniel K Inouye International Airport now has free and unlimited wifi, among a host of other digital upgrades, transportation officials announced on Monday. Hawaii News Now.

Hawaii Island

Mayor Harry Kim has been hospitalized after suffering a heart attack Saturday, his second since April. Tribune-Herald.

Hawaii County Mayor Harry Kim was resting and recuperating in the hospital today, following another heart attack over the weekend. Big Island Video News.

Hawaii County Council members plan to take up a resolution today urging the state Legislature to convene a special session to address the impacts of the ongoing lava flow in Lower Puna where hundreds of homes, businesses and farms have been destroyed and about 2,000 people have been forced to evacuate. Star-Advertiser.

After hearing pleas from short-term vacation rental operators in Puna and elsewhere asking the county put a vacation rental bill aside until Puna and the county recover from its ongoing lava emergency, the County Council Planning Committee postponed action Monday until July 10. West Hawaii Today.

How And Where Should We Rebuild After Kilauea Eruption? Hawaii Public Radio.

Now that Kilauea Volcano has destroyed hundreds of homes in Puna, some are asking how people were able to purchase and insure homes in such a known high-risk area. Hawaii Public Radio.

Thousands of displaced residents are assessing their next steps as lava is steadily pumping from four fissures in lower Puna where destructive flows have destroyed hundreds of homes. Hawaii News Now.

County Council set to take final vote on tax increase today. West Hawaii Today.

For National Guard, lava disaster presents real-world mission. Star-Advertiser.

Since it opened four days ago, hundreds of lava evacuees have turned to the FEMA Disaster Recovery Center for help. Hawaii News Now.

Big Island farmers brave lava, toxic fumes to harvest crops. Big Island farmers lucky enough to still have viable crops are braving hazardous conditions to harvest what they can. Hawaii News Now.

Maui

A bill aimed at more enforcement of bed-and-breakfast operations got some of its teeth removed Friday when Maui County Council members amended it to give operators a 30-day grace period to renew their county permits. Maui News.

Faith Action for Community Equity (FACE) Maui will host an Affordable Housing Mayoral Forum on June 28, 2018 from 6 to 8 p.m. at Valley Isle Fellowship Church located at 1033 Waiale Road in Wailuku. Maui Now.

Three new physicians are joining Kaiser Permanente on Maui. Maui News.

Maui College Aims for 100% Solar Power. The first container-load of solar panels are set to arrive at the Maui College campus in Kahului later this summer. Hawaii Public Radio.

Kauai

The world’s largest international maritime exercise is coming back to Hawaii next week, with 26 countries set to participate in the 2018 Rim of the Pacific Exercise. Those who oppose the exercise are gathering to form another iteration of the Oceans4Peace coalition, which works to educate the public on RIMPAC impacts they find concerning. Garden Island.

Why The Beef Industry Is Rapidly Expanding On The Garden Island. The Hawaii market develops a taste for meat born, raised and slaughtered in the islands, and these ranchers are happy to serve it up. Civil Beat.

Hanalei Colony Resort officials announced on Monday that it plans on remaining closed until further notice as Kauai residents continue recovering from historic floods. Hawaii News Now.

Hawaii to be first state to enact pesticide ban with bill signing today, HGEA endorses Hanabusa, Kilauea volcano settles into earthquake pattern, state sued over child death, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Hawaii agriculture PC:Monsanto Facebook photo

Hawaii will become the first state to prohibit the use of pesticides containing the chemical chlorpyrifos, after Gov. David Ige signs a bill into law on Wednesday. Hawaii News Now.

President Donald Trump arrived at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam on Tuesday afternoon aboard Air Force One, and although no one disembarked to greet base residents, the summit with North Korea — if implemented — will have its own impact on Hawaii. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii Government Employees Association, Hawaii’s largest union, representing more than 42,000 government workers, took several swipes at Gov. David Ige as it announced Tuesday its decision to support Colleen Hanabusa in the governor’s race. Star-Advertiser.

Why This New Hawaii Super PAC Has Already Changed Its Name. The backlash over using a Hawaiian song title without permission has been building for weeks and surfaced at the state Democratic Convention. Civil Beat.

The Hawaii Juvenile Justice Information Committee is working to help as many underage offenders as possible to become productive citizens. Hawaii Public Radio.

The Crusade To Keep Hawaii Kids Fed This Summer. While the Department of Education provides meals on summer school campuses, other efforts are afoot to deliver food to nonschool venues. Civil Beat.

Hawaii’s mortgage delinquency rate improved by 0.5 percentage points in March, and was a full percentage point lower than the national average for loans that were 30 days or more past due, according to a monthly report by CoreLogic. Pacific Business News.

Oahu

Study: Honolulu Workers Need $39 An Hour To Afford A 2-Bedroom Rental. At the state level, Hawaii residents need to earn more than anywhere else in the U.S., researchers say. Civil Beat.

Rents for two-bedroom apartments in Honolulu fell by 3.9 percent from a year ago, ranking Hawaii’s largest city at No. 99 among the 100 largest cities in the U.S. for year-over-year rent growth, according to a report from Apartment List. Pacific Business News.

The "Hawaii Emergency Management Agency" and the City and Council of Honolulu will be conducting siren tests between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. Wednesday. KITV.

Windy Kaukonahua Road will close from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. today through Friday as the city converts streetlights along the Wahiawa-­North Shore thoroughfare to LED lamps from traditional lamps. Star-Advertiser.

For the second time this month, a live snake has been captured in Hawaii. KHON2.

State agricultural officials picked up a stowaway snake from Honolulu Harbor on Monday. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii Island

Large earthquakes and steam explosions at the summit of Kilauea have been occurring on an almost daily basis in the past few days, with one happening approximately 24 hours after the next, and scientists say the activity is in fact following a "fairly reliable pattern." Hawaii News Now.

Lava spewing in 160-foot-high fountains in lower Puna and flowing to the sea has now created at least 250 acres of new land in Kapoho. Hawaii News Now.

With scores of businesses around the island impacted by the Kilauea eruption, county, state and federal agencies are investigating ways to help struggling employers and employees alike. Tribune-Herald.

VIDEO: Scientist Shares Kilauea Eruption Update. Big Island Video News.

The Latest: Kilauea Eruption Update. KITV.

USGS caldera collapse

Lighter winds toward the end of the week could send vog and sulfur dioxide from Kilauea’s eruption “over more populated areas,” including Hilo, the National Weather Service said Tuesday. Star-Advertiser.

Volcanic gas emissions very high from fissure 8. KHON2.

Influx of new people has brought more crime, shelter residents say. A growing number of people who were homeless or living in unstable situations before the volcano disaster have joined the makeshift community and are responsible for an increase in thefts, domestic disturbances and other trouble that has required police intervention. Star-Advertiser.

As eruptions continue, land swap eyed for hundreds of evacuees. An old idea to relocate part of Puna is getting a new push amid ongoing eruptions, which have destroyed at least 700 homes on the Big Island. Hawaii News Now.

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Aunt of girl who starved to death sues state. Star-Advertiser.

The maternal aunt of a 9-year-old Hilo girl allegedly starved to death almost two years ago by her parents and maternal grandmother has filed a wrongful death lawsuit against the state, the girl’s parents and her maternal grandmother. Tribune-Herald.

A new lawsuit blames the state for the death of a nine-year-old Hilo girl who died of starvation in 2016. Hawaii News Now.

The family of a 9-year-old Big Island girl who starved to death is suing the state of Hawaii as well as her parents and grandmother for wrongful death. KHON2.

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The Board of Ethics on Tuesday cleared a retired county employee to hold a county contract overseeing a project replacing the county’s problematic online building permit application system. West Hawaii Today.

The state Department of Health’s Clean Water Branch is evaluating information collected last month during an investigation into wastewater discharges from Big Island Dairy. Tribune-Herald.

The number of photovoltaic permits issued in Hawaii County nearly tripled in May despite Kilauea Volcano erupting and thousands of people evacuating their homes on the east side of the island. Star-Advertiser.

Maui

Council candidates challenged. Haiku resident maintains term limits disqualify them from seeking council seats. Maui News.

Panel advises settlement in director’s suit. Details not released publicly. The lawsuit filed by Department of Water Supply Director David Taylor against Mayor Alan Arakawa over Taylor’s dismissal last year may be winding down with the parties nearing a settlement. Maui News.

Maui County is preparing to advance $250,000 to help fund an appraisal of the ground lease for the affordable Front Street Apartments, where rents are set to go to market rates in 2019. Maui News.

Kauai

Lawsuits behind, Coco Palms rebuild to continue. Garden Island.

Feral conflict rising. Wild Hawaii cats, like the one in this photo, and their impacts to the state’s endangered species are the fodder for FERAL, an upcoming documentary on the Hawaiian cat conversation. Garden Island.

Molokai

Authorities Investigate Death Of Young Monk Seal On Molokai. She’s believed to be the sixth killed by people since 2009. Associated Press.

Legislative committees begin budget negotiations, Ige picks Hashimoto to fill Souki's House seat, Molokai leprosy memorial project approved, Kauai taxpayers get tax filing relief as they dig out from floods, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Monk seal pup with knife PC: Hawaii DLNR

Endangered monk seal pup spotted with knife; but all is OK. West Hawaii Today.

The state House and Senate on Tuesday began public discussions on next year’s budget, which is expected to total more than $14 billion. Star-Advertiser.

State Office of Information Practices: Funding Denied, Again. The State Budget is in a joint conference committee this week to work out Senate and House differences. Hawaii Public Radio.

Lawmakers May Expand Definition Of Drugged Driving. A measure to ensure that driving under the influence of marijuana remains illegal also addresses other substances. Civil Beat.

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Gov. David Ige has appointed Troy Hashimoto, former chairman of the Maui Democratic Party, to the Maui House seat vacated by Joseph Souki, who resigned last month to resolve sexual harassment allegations. Star-Advertiser.

Governor Selects Replacement For Vacant Hawaii House Spot. Troy Hashimoto will take former speaker Joe Souki’s Maui post. Associated Press.

Governor David Ige picked Troy Hashimoto to replace Joe Souki in the State House of Representatives Tuesday. KITV.

Ige appoints Hashimoto to serve remainder of Souki’s House term. Appointment follows Souki’s resignation in late March over sexual harassment charges. Maui News.

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With less than four months until the primary election, three candidates vying for the U.S. House seat representing urban Honolulu raised more than $200,000 each in the first three months of the year. Star-Advertiser.

The late U.S. Sen. Daniel K. Akaka will lie in state at Hawaii’s Capitol rotunda prior to his memorial services next month. Star-Advertiser.

Late U.S. Sen. Daniel Akaka to lie in state before private burial. KHON2.

Whose Side Is This Workers’ Comp Doctor On? Chris Brigham has exerted major influence on how Hawaii’s insurers treat injured workers claims. Critics say he has mostly made it easier to slash benefits. Civil Beat.

Oahu

State lawmakers passed a bill Tuesday aimed at remedying a sore spot among drivers and businesses in Kakaako. The measure, House Bill 2275, would require that owners of private roads in the area pay to conform with city standards if they charge for parking on those streets. Star-Advertiser.

City Council Planning Chairman Ikaika Anderson said Tuesday he is looking at introducing legislation giving city officials clear authority to tear down structures that are built while under a stop-work order for constructing without a building permit. Star-Advertiser.

New Waikiki senior apartments blessed. A nonprofit developer with heavy government financing held a blessing Tuesday for a new affordable rental apartment building expected to welcome its first residents early next month. Star-Advertiser.

Man released after deadly shooting in Ewa Beach, but will self-defense claim hold?  KHON2.

Olomana Golf Links owed the state of Hawaii more than $110,000 when the operator of the 18-hole Windward Oahu golf course closed last week without notice. Pacific Business News.

Dennis “Bumpy” Kanahele, head of the sovereign Nation of Hawaii, envisions Olomana golf course as site for homeless. Star-Advertiser.

3 Oahu homes destroyed, dozens more damaged in Oahu flooding. At least 67 Oahu homes were seriously impacted by the weekend's heavy rains that caused flooding in several areas on the east side of the island. Hawaii News Now.

The Board of Water Supply crews are working tonight to repair a 24-inch water main break near the entrance to Waimanalo Gulch Landfill in the westbound shoulder of Farrington Highway. Star-Advertiser.

Whole Foods sets opening date for new Kakaako location. Pacific Business News.

Hawaii Island

If each man, woman and child living on the Big Island dug into a pocket and handed over his or her share of the cost of operating county government, that amount would be $2,449. West Hawaii Today.

The Hawaii County Council Committee on Finance began its week of department budget and program reviews on Tuesday in Hilo, starting with the traditional opening presentation from the mayor. Big Island Video News.

The state attorney general’s office executed a search warrant at Ka'u Learning Academy on Tuesday morning, school leaders confirmed Tuesday. Tribune-Herald.

Residents packed a public meeting on Saturday to sound off on satellite launch project representatives who were eyeing Ka'u as a potential location. Big Island Video News.

Police officers and staff at the Kealakehe police station have been working on a plan to remove feral chickens as their presence has become annoying. West Hawaii Today.

The restroom facilities at Glenwood Park on the Big Island have been temporarily closed after thieves stole utility equipment from the park site. Hawaii News Now.

Kilauea Volcano Showing Signs of Increased Activity. Big Island Now.

Maui

The southern terminus of the Lahaina bypass will open about 6 a.m. Monday, the state Department of Transportation announced. All northbound traffic will be routed to the bypass at the southern terminus, which starts at “cut mountain” near Olowalu. Maui News.

High Enterococci Bacteria Count at Hanakaoo. Maui Now.

Environmental assessment is approved for memorial project honoring the 8,000 people sent to Kalaupapa. Completion and opening targeted for October 2020. Maui News.

Kauai

Gov. David Ige has directed the state Department of Taxation to provide relief for Kauai residents affected by the devastating floods and landslides. Garden Island.

Kauai residents get extension to file state tax returns. Hawaii News Now.

It could be weeks before roads on Kauai's north shore reopen. Hawaii News Now.

State explains what needs to happen before Kuhio Hwy. can reopen on Kauai. KHON2.

The devastation is all around in hard-hit Wainiha, but so is hope. Garden Island.

Hanalei residents cleaning up, assessing damage. Garden Island.

Westside ohana boats in supplies to flood victims. Garden Island.

Molokai

Environmental assessment is approved for memorial project honoring the 8,000 people sent to Kalaupapa. Completion and opening targeted for October 2020. Maui News.