No special session for volcano recovery, monster houses on Oahu, vacation rentals in Hawaii County, ending term limits for Kauai, cesspools on Maui, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Kilauea Fissure 8, Sept. 6, 2018, USGS photo

House: No Special Session For Kilauea Recovery. The State Legislature will take up the issue of funding recovery efforts during the regular legislative session beginning in January 2019. Tribune-Herald.

Prospects for special legislative session for disaster recovery funds for Puna dwindling. Mayor Harry Kim continued to hold out hope Friday for a last-minute special session of the state Legislature to approve disaster recovery funding for Puna, even as lawmakers say that window has closed. Tribune-Herald.

Lawmaker: ‘A more solid plan’ needed before convening special session on disaster funding. Some were hoping a special session would be held to address immediate needs. Hawaii News Now.

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Here’s How The Top Contenders For Governor Shake Out On Key Issues. Gov. David Ige and state Rep. Andria Tupola both oppose using LNG to produce electricity. But their differences shine through on other topics. Civil Beat.

4 former governors weigh in on controversial constitutional amendment. In the commercial spot paid for by the Affordable Hawaii Coalition, former governors George Ariyoshi, John Waihe’e, Ben Cayetano and Neil Abercrombie appear in a conference call-like setting, all stating their opposition to the proposal. Hawaii News Now.

With the election less than a month away, Hawaii voters will be deciding on a constitutional amendment that would add a surcharge on investment property to help fund public education. Garden Island.

Voters to decide on Hawaii Constitutional Convention. The last ConCon was in 1978, and there wer 102 delegates. Each delegate was chosen by voters. KHON2.

Strike-related dampening of visitor numbers could cross into 2019. Some 2,700 Marriott hotel workers in Hawaii spent a sixth day on strike Saturday, seeking higher wages and better benefits while exacerbating challenges to the state’s visitor industry, which already has had to deal with floods, a volcanic eruption and hurricanes. Star-Advertiser.

Cooperation to Fight Competition in the Air. Seven months into a comprehensive partnership, Hawaiian Airlines and Japan Airlines have already deepened their connection in key ways. Hawaii Public Radio.

How technology is transforming Hawaii agriculture. Hawaii’s farmers, large and small, will have to embrace technology if they want to compete with one another, as well as the global market. That was the general consensus of a recent panel on precision agriculture, hosted by the Hawaii Business Roundtable and the University of Hawaii on Thursday. Pacific Business News.

Oahu

‘Monster houses’ bill is criticized as not addressing the cause of the problem. The draft of a bill designed to crack down on Oahu’s illegal large-scale houses, or so-called monster homes, is already drawing fire — and it hasn’t even gotten its first public hearing. Star-Advertiser.

We May Finally Get To See Honolulu Police Salary Information. A judge’s rejection of a police union challenge clears the way for the release of names and pay levels for hundreds of officers. Civil Beat.

Experts: Lack Of Mental Health Treatment Among The Culprits In Police Shootings. Six armed suspects have been shot and killed by Honolulu police in recent weeks. Four appear to have suffered from mental health problems. Civil Beat.

Rivals compete for Ewa Beach Senate seat. Matt LoPresti and Kurt Fevella are old Ewa Beach political adversaries whose rivalry is so intense that they have, at different times, called the police on one another. Star-Advertiser.

Race for Mililani House seat pits veteran against rookie. In state House District 36 that covers Mililani Mauka and part of Mililani, a Republican is squaring off against a Democrat to replace a Democrat who won the seat as a Republican. Star-Advertiser.

The commander of American Veterans Hawaii said he will somehow remove 28 enormous concrete pilings — many nearly 60 feet long — that he had trucked in without permission to the former Marine Corps Air Station Ewa, a Dec. 7, 1941, battlefield that’s on the National Register of Historic Places. Star-Advertiser.

Nonprofit aids startups finding green solutions in energy, transportation. Start-up companies offering battery-operated airplanes, a video-based monitoring system to verify how fish are caught and new ways to install, track and store solar technology are among Elemental Excelerator’s newest cohort for 2019. Star-Advertiser.

Noise from Local 5 strike impacting businesses, guests. For a week now, the peace in Waikiki has been disrupted. The chants, drums, and bells can get loud, affecting neighboring businesses. KHON2.

Second tower adds 245 units to Ritz-Carlton hotel property. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii Island

Revised vacation rental bill comes back to Council. The fifth version of a bill regulating short-term vacation rentals will be considered by the County Council Planning Committee on Tuesday, taking into account recommendations from the Leeward and Windward planning commissions and the Planning Department. West Hawaii Today.

A number of recommendations are being made to alter the charter sections dealing with Hawaii County's Public Access, Open Space, and Natural Resources Preservation Fund. Big Island Video News.

Water Supply Dismantling Proposal Opposed. Speakers testified during a Charter Commission meeting against creating a new Department of Water Sustainability. Big Island Video News.

Only one firm shows interest in former Uncle Billy’s site; Study needed before state can proceed with redevelopment. Tribune-Herald.

Kamehameha Schools is seeking a new operator to harvest a portion of 10,000 acres of forest on the Hamakua Coast and will issue a request for proposal today. Tribune-Herald.

Jury finds former Hawaii Island officer guilty of third-degree negligent homicide. Jody Buddemeyer was on trial accused of hitting and killing cyclist Jeffrey Surnow while driving a police car on Waikoloa Road in Kohala more than three years ago. Hawaii News Now.

HPA didn’t stop adult-student affair, report says. A female supervisor at the Hawaii Preparatory Academy boy’s dormitory on the Big Island was having sex with a male student and officials didn’t do anything to stop her even though they knew or should have known it was happening, according to an independent investigation commissioned by the school. Star-Advertiser.

Maui

Maalaea condo groups working on wastewater alternatives. Health Department citations issued for three condominium complexes. Maui News.

Solar project proposed for Ulupalakua Ranch land. Innergex plans Oct. 30 meeting for public comment. Maui News.

UH study: Maui more susceptible to erosion from rising sea levels. Erosion, wave run-up models show greater risk. Maui News.

The Maui County Department of Planning will close all of its offices on Friday, Oct. 19, 2018, to conduct staff training. Maui Now.

Kauai

Council Members Want To End Term Limits — On Themselves. The chief proponent of the ballot measure is Councilman Ross Kagawa. If it fails, he could be term-limited out in 2020. Civil Beat.

Two County Councilmen vying for the mayor’s seat for Kauai County are promising to tackle scarce affordable housing and traffic congestion, which are among the main concerns of isle residents. Star-Advertiser.

As communities across the mainland report disarray in recycling programs after China stopped accepting items in January, people on Kauai said they haven’t seen much of a change. Garden Island.

Hawaii House seeks 200 temps for 2019 session, Caldwell signs monster home bill, humpback whale sightings down, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Window washers at Hawaii Convention Center ©2018 All Hawaii News

Hawaii Convention Center anticipates more robust 2019. Business at the Hawaii Convention Center, which turned its first profit in 2016, has softened as the facility celebrates its 20th anniversary. Star-Advertiser.

Construction industry enjoys unexpected growth to help boost Hawaii’s economy. Hawaii’s construction industry should provide a little more oomph to the local economy this year than previously expected, according to a report by economists released Friday. Star-Advertiser.

Ed Case And Cam Cavasso Far Apart On Kavanaugh Nomination. Hawaii’s top candidates for the 1st Congressional District found common ground on the Jones Act and the Honolulu rail project but disagreed about marijuana legalization and Native Hawaiian sovereignty during a forum Friday hosted by the Grassroot Institute of Hawaii. Civil Beat.

Mazie Hirono, the Hawaii senator in the national spotlight for her blunt criticisms of male behavior surrounding the controversial Supreme Court nomination said questions about one of her own male political allies with a checkered domestic past are nothing more than “more manufactured moral outrage led by the Republican leadership.” West Hawaii Today.

State House of Representatives Hiring for 200 Temporary Positions. The House of Representatives is accepting job applications for the 2019 Legislative Session. Maui Now.

Humpback whale sightings are becoming less common in the Hawaiian Islands. Associated Press.

State’s Hawaii Department Dashboard recognized by global company. KITV.

Air seats expected to increase 7% through October. Scheduled nonstop air seats to Hawaii between August and October increased 7.2 percent to 3.1 million seats, with a 24 percent increase in scheduled service to the Big Island to 282,542 seats. Pacific Business News.

Oahu

Builders of so-called illegal monster homes and other city building code violators now face stiffer penalties under a bill signed into law by Mayor Kirk Caldwell on Thursday. Star-Advertiser.

Second dock unusable at USS Arizona Memorial. The shoreside dock at the memorial’s visitor center is sinking, making it too risky for visitors to get onto the boats. Star-Advertiser.

Docks at the WWII Valor memorial partially submerged after taking on water. That led to the cancellation of boat tours Sunday. Hawaii News Now.

Boat tours at Pearl Harbor suspended for at least a week while crews fix sinking dock. KHON2.

Families filled the Kapolei High Cafeteria this weekend hoping to be selected as awardees of land in an upcoming subdivision. Lots in this subdivision are a part of the East Kapolei 2 master-planned community being developed by the DHHL on the Ewa Plains. Hawaii News Now.

This Waianae Homeless Camp Is Going Legit. Residents, who fought off state plans to sweep the camp at the Waianae Boat Harbor, want to create a new self-made village for up to 300 homeless people. Civil Beat.

Can Hawaii’s Oldest Dive Bar Survive Chinatown’s Invading Hipsters? The owner of Smith’s Union Bar in Chinatown, opened in 1935, worries his landlord won’t renew the bar’s lease. Civil Beat.

Three Hawaii public school teachers were named today as finalists in a nationwide competition sponsored by Farmers Insurance and all three could win $100,000 each for their schools if they get enough support from the public. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii Island

A lawsuit filed by a Big Island group seeking to limit helicopter traffic over the island will go before the U.S. Court of Appeals in November. Tribune-Herald.

A panel debated the upcoming November ballot question, “Shall the legislature be authorized to establish, as provided by law, a surcharge on investment real property to be used to support public education?”, during a forum in Hilo on Thursday night. Big Island Video News.

Proponents for and against a proposed amendment to the state constitution that aims to better fund public education debated merits of the upcoming ballot measure during a moderated panel forum Thursday at the Arc of Hilo. Tribune-Herald.

Years after the development of a preservation plan designed to protect historic properties at Laaloa Beach Park, a subcommittee of the county’s Cultural Resources Commission is pushing the county to make full implementation of that plan a priority. West Hawaii Today.

Puna Councilwoman Jen Ruggles sent a letter to the CEO of The Queen’s Health Systems stating the state’s largest private employer “may have committed the international crime of genocide against aboriginal Hawaiians.” Tribune-Herald.

Maui

The Maui Ocean Center has recently been named among the “Top 10 Aquariums in the World” by TripAdvisor 2018 Travelers’ Choice awards. Maui Now.

Dream of water meter can come with nightmare of added costs. Most homeowners find they can’t afford water system improvements. Maui News.

Lights that will be installed at Central Maui Regional Park in the upcoming months will be on fields farthest away from the Maui Lani subdivision and near the park’s parking lots, according to the state Department of Land and Natural Resources, which coordinates the planning and construction for the park. Maui News.

Kauai

The Kauai Chamber of Commerce interviewed 11 of 14 candidates for Kauai County Council, and has posted those interviews on YouTube. Garden Island.

They’re fuzzy, they’re endangered and there are now 19 of them growing in man-made burrows on Kauai’s North Shore. They’re Newell’s shearwater chicks, and they make up the third round of chicks translocated from Kauai’s mountain burrows to a protected nesting site within a predator-proof fence in Kilauea Point National Wildlife Refuge. Garden Island.

Manhunt on for Big Island cop killer, disabled housing to be improved after federal probe, monster house bills back before Honolulu council, lava inches toward Pohoiki, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Sunrise July 17 above Kilauea's lower East Rift Zone PC:USGS

 A manhunt is underway for a 33-year-old man in connection with a fatal shooting of a Hawaii island police officer in Mountain View. Officer Bronson K. Kaliloa was gunned down allegedly by the suspect identified as Justin Waiki. Star-Advertiser.

A manhunt is underway after a Big Island police officer was killed in a shooting in Mountain View late Tuesday, sources say. Hawaii News Now.

Justin Waiki

Hawaii Island police are investigating the murder of a police officer who was fatally shot while on a traffic stop on a vehicle on Highway 11, in the area of Kukui Camp Road, Mountain View. Maui Now.
  State Agrees To Upgrade Public Housing For Disabled After Federal Probe. An investigation found hundreds of violations of accessibility standards in Hawaii Public Housing Authority complexes. Civil Beat.

Retired ship pummeled during RIMPAC. U.S. and Japanese truck-mounted missiles hit the decommissioned ex-USS Racine from the shore, and an Australian P-8A Poseidon targeted it from the air Thursday during Rim of the Pacific exercises. Star-Advertiser.

Verizon, HECO team up on smart sensors. Hawaiian Electric Co. and Verizon have joined forces to modernize Hawaii’s power grid with the installation of GridWide, a smart sensor that collects near real-time data and is now up and running. Star-Advertiser.

Oahu

Council panel to hear more ‘monster house’ bills. Two bills aimed at toughening laws on violators of building and zoning codes go before the City Council Zoning and Planning Committee on Thursday while a closely watched third bill will not. Star-Advertiser.

How Charles Djou Is Keeping His Hand In Honolulu Politics. The former Republican congressman, who unsuccessfully ran for mayor against Kirk Caldwell in 2016, is backing several City Council candidates. Civil Beat.

Judge: Officer in Kealoha Civil Case Entitled to City-Funded Attorney. The court ruled the city must pay for the defense of HPD officer Ming-Hung Nguyen because he was sued for actions “done in performance of duty.” Civil Beat.

A one-way ticket for homeless to Waianae's coast is upsetting residents, lawmakers. City officials are at odds with leeward lawmakers over what's causing an increase in Waianae's homeless population. Hawaii News Now.

The Hale Koa Hotel’s swimming pool complex on Waikiki Beach, including its popular Barefoot Bar, is getting a $14 million makeover. Star-Advertiser.

Honolulu police have announced an amnesty program for gun owners who have trigger modification devices called bump stocks. Hawaii News Now.

Honolulu police are reminding residents that they have just over three weeks to turn in bump stocks and other trigger modification devices without penalty under a state amnesty program. Star-Advertiser.

Did you know there are park rangers at Ala Moana Beach Park? KHON2.

Community Outcry Saves A Banyan Tree. Residents and others rejoiced after their protests changed the plan of a condo association and the city to cut down the massive tree. Civil Beat.

Hawaii Island

The U.S. House of Representatives approved $4.8 million in federal funds Tuesday to support the opening of a new office for the Hawaiian Volcano Observatory on Hawaii Island. Tribune-Herald.

Tour boat operators plan to continue taking visitors to see lava, but will follow the Coast Guard’s revised policy and stay farther away after an explosion caused molten rock to barrel through the roof of a vessel Monday, injuring 23 people. Associated Press.

Lava Ocean Tours, the lava boat operator whose 23 passengers were injured Monday morning by lava bombs, had a prior history of passenger lawsuits and had been previously fined by the state for lava tour boat violations. Star-Advertiser.

Mayor Harry Kim told Hawaii News Now on Tuesday that he didn't know the Coast Guard had reduced the safety zone for licensed lava tour boat operators — and that he never would have agreed to that. Hawaii News Now.

Lava from Kilauea volcano’s lower East Rift Zone continues to inch its way along the lower Puna coastline toward Isaac Hale Beach Park and Pohoiki boat ramp. Tribune-Herald.

State land and ocean managers are keeping a close watch on the lower East Rift Zone eruption, and are already preparing in the event lava overtakes Pohoiki and Issac Hale Park, which they believe could happen within the next few days. Big Island Video News.

Lava Could Overtake Pohoiki in Next Few Days. Big Island Now.

Mayor Harry Kim says a safe lava viewing area can happen soon. Hawaii County Mayor Harry Kim says there could soon be a safe lava viewing area on land.  He adds there's a growing need for people from all over the world to see the attraction. KHON2.

Pahala meeting will prepare for various volcano scenarios. While chances of the seismic activity at Kilauea reaching catastrophic levels are very slim, a community meeting in Pahala seeks to keep everyone informed and prepared. Star-Advertiser.

A governor candidate forum featuring Sen. John Carroll, Congresswoman Colleen Hanabusa, Gov. David Ige, Ray L’Heureux and Rep. Andria Tupola is slated for 6 p.m. Friday (July 20) at The Arc of Hilo Event Center at 1099 Waianuenue Ave. in Hilo. Tribune-Herald.

The Hawaii County Department of Water Supply is poised to salvage the Waiaha Deep Well after a cable snapped during a botched extraction at the site last summer, sending equipment plummeting into the earth and knocking the water source offline indefinitely. West Hawaii Today.

Opioid Effort: Tighter safeguards, increased awareness and expanding reach among upgrades in drug abuse battle. West Hawaii Today.

Maui

Affordable housing got a boost on Maui recently when Governor Ige signed a bill that will help keep rents stable for 142 apartments on Front Street and build more affordable rentals in Lahaina. Hawaii Public Radio.

Old Wailuku Post Office site may be swapped. State would get lease for site for Kahului bus hub land. Maui News.

Ex Boys & Girls Club worker charged with sex assault. Incident allegedly involved girl at Central Maui clubhouse. Maui News.

The number of solar permits issued in Maui County plunged 23 percent during the first six months of the year. Star-Advertiser.

Kauai

With 24 candidates running for the seven seats on the Kauai County Council, the public has an opportunity to meet the candidates from 6 to 8:30 tonight at a forum coordinated by the Eleele-Hanapepe Community Association, Hui Hana Paakai, and Community Coalition Kauai at the Eleele Elementary School cafeteria. Garden Island.

Kaneshiro leads council race contributions. Candidates for Kauai County Council recently filed their financial reports for Jan. 1 to June 30 to the State of Hawaii Campaign Spending Commission. Garden Island.

Draft plan reduces convoys. The state Department of Transportation has circulated a draft plan to reduce the number of convoy runs to escort residents of the Haena-Wainiha area over the closed portion of Kuhio Highway and told community leaders the highway may close completely on weekends for six to nine weeks. Garden Island.

Federal disaster assistance tops $2.5 million. Garden Island.

The Small Business Administration is shutting down three Disaster Loan Outreach centers this week.  KITV.

Popular monk seal gives birth on Kauai. Garden Island.

Kilauea volcano hits Hawaii farmers hard, state Supreme Court to hear Thirty Meter Telescope case Thursday, Honolulu's 'monster house' builder back in business, Maui council members OK'd to run, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Flowers at farmers market ©2018 All Hawaii News

Flower growers seek help as lava flow continues. For more than 20 years, Hawaiian Tropicals Direct grew numerous varieties of orchids on 10 acres in Kapoho, but as of June 3, the entire property and the owner’s home were ravaged by lava. Star-Advertiser.

The ongoing eruption on Kilauea’s lower East Rift Zone has displaced a few thousand people and altered the landscape. For farmers and ranchers in the area, it’s also taken away their livelihood. Tribune-Herald.

Starting January, volunteer health professors can get tax credit for training future doctors, nurses, and pharmacists. KITV.

Conference offers glimpses into Hawaii’s clean energy future.  report called “Transcending Oil” says that 12 years into the future we can get 84 percent of our electricity from renewable sources. Star-Advertiser.

Should Hawaii Hotels Help Their Workers Buy Homes? Hawaii has record visitor spending but many hotel employees still can’t afford to buy homes. Civil Beat.

Oahu

The city’s Department of Planning and Permitting is again under scrutiny, this time for having given approvals to a contractor tied to 17 projects — some of them “monster homes” — despite licensing issues the company had with the state. Star-Advertiser.

Delays have big impact on Oahu domestic violence cases. The crowded dockets are especially evident on Oahu, particularly with misdemeanors and temporary restraining orders in domestic disputes. Star-Advertiser.

Justice Delayed Part 2: More infractions, more gridlock. Star-Advertiser.

Kawananakoa dispute puts estate’s horse farms at risk. Many know her as a descendent of Hawaiian royalty, a philanthropist and an activist known for freely giving to Native Hawaiian causes and institutions. Fewer know Abigail Kawananakoa as a champion racehorse breeder and owner. Star-Advertiser.

She’s Back! Hawaii’s Most Notorious Candidate Returns. Along with her friend “Jesus,” Angela Kaaihue is now vying for Andria Tupola’s Leeward Oahu seat. Civil Beat.

Hawaii Island

The saga of the Thirty Meter Telescope will return to the state Supreme Court this week as oral arguments are held for the project’s land use permit. Tribune-Herald.

The Hawaii Supreme Court will hear arguments on whether to approve a building permit for a telescope on Mauna Kea, the grand volcano on Hawaii island. Associated Press.

The public will have two opportunities to weigh in on a proposed quarter-percent increase to the general excise tax before the County Council takes its final vote Tuesday. West Hawaii Today.

Kilauea eruption, management dominate gubernatorial forum in Kona. West Hawaii Today.

The response to the ongoing eruption of Kilauea Volcano and the future of astronomy on Mauna Kea were some of the topics discussed by the four top candidates for Hawaii governor, during a public forum in Kona Friday evening. Big Island Video News.

A moderated Gubernatorial and Lieutenant Governor Candidate Forum was held on Friday at the Kealakehe High School Cafeteria, presented by the Kona-Kohala Chamber of Commerce and Community Forums. Big Island Video News.

Three federal emergency response teams have been deployed to Puna to help those affected by the eruption. Hawaii News Now.

AmeriCorps has deployed three teams of members to Hilo to join assistance efforts for survivors of the recent Kilauea volcanic eruption. Star-Advertiser.

The eruption along Kilauea volcano’s lower East Rift Zone that started May 3 continued with fissure No. 8 continuing its vigorous production of lava late Sunday, according to Hawaii County Civil Defense. Tribune-Herald.

Hawaii island residents warned of fallout following Kilauea ash eruption. Star-Advertiser.

New numbers from Hawaii County Civil Defense officials says that at least 533 homes have been destroyed in the ongoing eruptions in lower Puna. Hawaii News Now.

The state Public Utilities Commission, acting at the request of Gov. David Ige, has met with the Hawaiian Electric Cos. and the nonprofit Hawaii Energy to develop a series of rapid-response actions to address the loss of renewable generation from the Puna Geothermal Venture power plant due to the lava flow on Hawaii island. Star-Advertiser.

Hundreds of displaced Puna residents visited a Disaster Recovery Center on Friday at Keaau High School to apply for assistance with rebuilding their lives. Tribune-Herald.

Hawaii’s Last Hippie Holdouts May Not Survive The Eruption. The lava is doing a number on counterculture havens, and it’s hard to imagine some of these “Punatics” fitting in anywhere else. Civil Beat.

With new courthouse, prosecutor offices coming, public defenders still looking for place to go. West Hawaii Today.

Cyanotech Corp, which produces nutrition and health products from microalgae on Hawaii island, posted a wider loss in its fiscal fourth quarter as several events curtailed its spirulina production. Star-Advertiser.

Maui

Council veterans allowed to run. Deputy county clerk deems ‘consecutive’ as deciding term in law. Maui News.

County settles ex-film commissioner suit. Payout was nearly $157,000 in legal fees and settlement. Maui News.

Parks department unveils options for county pools. Repairs, more lifeguards, new relocated pools are envisioned. Maui News.

An open forum on the county Department of Liquor Control will be held this month as part of a performance audit of the department, according to an announcement from Maui County Council Chairman Mike White. Maui News.

The public is advised to stay out of the coastal waters north of Mala Boat Ramp in West Maui due to a wastewater spill originating from the Lahaina Wastewater Pump Station. Maui Now.

Kauai

Kauai County is launching a new effort to help quickly rebuild homes in the wake of April's historic floods. Hawaii News Now.

The Office of the County Clerk, Elections Division is initiating enhanced absentee mail voting services for registered voters of the North Shore directly impacted by the April flooding. Garden Island.

Narrowing the field of candidates. The crowded field in this year’s local elections might warrant asking for anyone who is NOT running for County Council to raise his or her hand. Garden Island.

Two rat-sniffing dogs found three areas last week where rats could still be living on Lehua island in the latest operation to rid the seabird sanctuary of invasive rodents, the state Department of Land and Natural Resources said. Star-Advertiser.

Two rat-sniffing dogs recently wrapped-up work at Lehua island. KHON2.

Two Border Terriers spent most of last week crisscrossing the rugged, hot, wind-swept terrain of tiny Lehua Island. Garden Island.

Lava's effect on tourism, state auditor says rail agency interfering with audit, anti-Hee signs crop up in governor's race, volcano emergency costs pile up, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Lava closes roadway PC: Andrew Richard Hara

Hawaii’s booming tourism market continued in April despite record rainfall that caused massive flooding midmonth on Kauai. Star-Advertiser.

University of Hawaii economists are taking a wait-and-see approach before projecting the potential impact on tourism that the natural disasters had on Hawaii island and Kauai. Star-Advertiser.

Anti-Clayton Hee signs taken down. Police took down two dozen banners and plastic signs which were posted on overpasses and city poles because they were illegally posted on public property. KHON2.

Group Ratchets Up Attack On Clayton Hee With Street Signs. A political action committee posts more than 100 signs linking the gubernatorial candidate to domestic violence — something he denies. Civil Beat.

Candidate for governor responds to signs that accuse him of domestic violence. Hawaii News Now.

Google said 5,300 Hawaii businesses generated $171 million in economic activity through the use of Google search and advertising tools, according to a new report by the Mountain View, Calif.-based tech giant. Pacific Business News.

Oahu

State Auditor Says Rail Agency Is Interfering With His Work. Les Kondo says HART’s insistence on recording auditor interviews with staff members “is akin to management sitting in.” Civil Beat.

A sophisticated radar to track North Korean missiles and better protect Hawaii might join the Kaena Point satellite tracking facility atop Kuaokala Ridge, whose antenna domes are a mountaintop landmark. Star-Advertiser.

Members Of Military Might Get A Property Tax Break. The Hawaii National Guard Enlisted Association helped Councilman Ernie Martin craft a bill to give military homeowners a $120,000 exemption. Civil Beat.

The city has ordered a builder of monster homes to stop work on 17 projects throughout Oahu. Hawaii News Now.

A major construction industry organization speaks out Thursday against a contractor without a license who it says it building "monster homes." KITV.

Without emergency funds, aging Aloha Stadium could be forced to consider closing areas of the facility in the event of additional deterioration in the future, the Stadium Authority was told Thursday. Star-Advertiser.

The Army and Hawaiian Electric Co. held a dedication Thursday to mark the completion of a new Schofield generating station that will strengthen Oahu’s electrical grid and pave the way for more renewables. Star-Advertiser.

A new power plant is expected to save $4M, and thousands of barrels of oil. Hawaii News Now.

Hawaii Island

Evacuees face tough road ahead as 'staggering' costs of eruption mount. Hawaii News Now.

Hawaii County is warning the dwindling number of people living closest to lava flows and fountains in the Leilani Estates subdivision that they are now subject to arrest if they remain after about noon today. Star-Advertiser.

Lower Leilani Estates holdouts given deadline to leave or possibly face arrest. Mayor Harry Kim issued the mandatory evacuation order Thursday for the area east of Pomaikai Street in the subdivision, much of which has been devastated by lava during the past month. Tribune-Herald.

Mandatory Evacuation Order Signed For Leilani Estates, East Of Pomaikai. Big Island Video News.

Mayor Kim Signs Mandatory Evacuation Order. Hawaii Public Radio.

A mandatory evacuation order has been issued for the lava-ravaged Leilani Estates subdivision, where eruptions that started four weeks ago are more vigorous than ever. Hawaii News Now.

Hawaii mayor issues mandatory evacuation order, strict curfew for Leilani Estates. KHON2.

Mayor Signs Second Supplementary Emergency Proclamation. Big Island Video News.

It’s not official yet, but U.S. Geological Survey scientists are seriously debating whether the Leilani Estates eruption that began May 3 should be declared a “new” eruption that is distinct from the Puu Oo eruption on the flank of Kilauea Volcano, which began in 1983. Star-Advertiser.

Suspect Arrested After Shooting In Volcano Evacuation Zone. A resident allegedly fired shots after confronting people he apparently thought were trespassing, authorities say. Associated Press.

Man Charged in Leilani Estates Shooting Incident. Maui Now.

The gun-toting man accused of shooting at a lava evacuee during a heated confrontation captured on video was charged Thursday with multiple counts of reckless endangering and terroristic threatening. Hawaii News Now.

A 38-year-old California man was cited for using a drone near the eruption in lower Puna. Tribune-Herald.

The eastern side of Hawaii island has been a pyrotechnic spectacle for almost four weeks, producing fountains of lava and sky-high blasts of pulverized rock that have had devastating effects in the immediate area. But a community about 25 miles away is also suffering from the fallout. Star-Advertiser.

Fissure No. 8 in Leilani Estates continued to dominate the lower Puna eruption Thursday as it shot lava up to 260 feet into the air, creating a fountain of molten rock seen for miles. Tribune-Herald.

Hawaii Has 5 Other Active Volcanoes In Addition To Kilauea. Here’s a quick look at the islands’ active and inactive volcanoes. Associated Press.

Maui

The next step in the government review process for the Waikapu Country Town project will be Tuesday before the Urban Design Review Board. Maui News.

Maui High day care program squeezed out for lack of space. Teen parenting program will continue to be taught. Maui News.


Kauai

Visitors continued to come to Kauai and spend lots of money in the month of April. Garden Island.

A former Kauai police officer has been found guilty on cyberstalking charges according to the State Department of the Attorney General. Hawaii News Now.

A former police officer has been found guilty of using Kauai Police Department’s computer surveillance system to watch a co-worker while she arrived for work. KHON2.

The Lihue Kmart only has about four months left before it closes for good, according to a Thursday decision by owner Sears Holdings Corporation. Garden Island.

New Kauai shopping center constructed with recycled shipping containers. Hawaii News Now.

Hawaii Island is wrapped in a veil of vog and covered in layers of Pele’s hair, but more than 300 miles away Kauai isn’t seeing a real uptick of any volcano-related health issues. Garden Island.

Molokai

A 25-year battle for water on Molokai continues today before the Hawaii Supreme Court.  Hawaii Public Radio.

Voter approval of Ige, Caldwell, drop in poll; Obama spotted on island; iconic farmers market changing; biofuel farm mulled for Molokai, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Hilo Farmers Market ©2018 All Hawaii News

County gets tough after iconic Hilo Farmers Market fails to fix code violations. Tribune-Herald.

Hilo Farmers Market has been ordered by Hawaii County to take down all of its existing tarps and tents because of fire safety and zoning violations. KITV.

Former President Barack Obama is on Oahu following an Asia-Pacific trip that included stops in Japan, Singapore, New Zealand, and Australia. KHON2.

Voter approval numbers for Gov. David Ige and Honolulu Mayor Kirk Caldwell have declined in the last two years, according to the latest Honolulu Star-Advertiser poll. Star-Advertiser.

Gov. David Ige plans on pushing his administration’s accomplishments to the forefront of his campaign over the next four or five months, saying he’s been “too humble” about his successes. Garden Island.

Five in 7 Hawaii voters support efforts at the state Capitol to legalize medical aid in dying for terminally ill patients, according to the latest Hawaii Poll by the Honolulu Star-Advertiser, which found consistent support across younger and older voters, men and women, and ethnic groups statewide. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii lawmakers call for tougher laws, penalties for child care providers. Under the bill, House Bill 2528, any adult relatives who help daycare operators care for children will be required to get a criminal background check. Hawaii News Now.

Should electric and hybrid car owners pay more to register their cars? It's a proposal being considered by state lawmakers to help fix our highways. KHON2.

Electric utility companies largely unprepared for anticipated EV boom, report says. Though Hawaii has one of the highest EV adoption rates in the county, the total number of battery-powered cars represents less than 1 percent of all passenger vehicles in the state. Pacific Business News.

Hawaii’s inventory of vacation rental units increased 35 percent to 23,000 from 2015 to 2017, according to a report by The Hawaii Appleseed Center for Law and Economic Justice. Pacific Business News.

Some of Hawaii’s major labor unions are gearing up for a tough year ahead. Hawaii Public Radio.

Hawaii’s Medical Pot Program Struggling To Get Its Act Together. The licensing and inspection programs remain very short-staffed, but pot shop owners are pleased by the state’s recruitment efforts. Civil Beat.

Oahu

Oahu voters overwhelmingly support a ban on so-called monster houses, according to the latest Hawaii Poll. Star-Advertiser.

Waikiki condo seeks to ban short-term rentals.  fierce battle is brewing at Waikiki Lanais over whether the condominium board has the right to ban short-term vacation rentals at the 160-unit building where the practice has been going on for decades. Star-Advertiser.

Lawmakers asked to approve sale of Kakaako property for new wastewater facility. A public hearing will be held Tuesday on a resolution to approve the sale of land on Forrest Avenue and Ala Moana Boulevard. KHON2.

Cure Oahu begins cannabis sales. Hawaii’s fifth dispensary began pakalolo sales Friday, with a steady flow of medical marijuana patients registering and visiting the Kapahulu retailer. Star-Advertiser.

The number of solar permits issued on Oahu rose in February for the second straight month after declining for two years in a row. Star-Advertiser.

Cardax Inc.’s first full year of revenue from its new anti-inflammatory product produced robust results. The Honolulu-based company, which launched ZanthoSyn in August 2016, was scheduled to announce today that it generated $610,323 in sales last year compared with $35,258 from its product’s limited release the year before. Star-Advertiser.

Honolulu-based accelerator Blue Startups is partnering with Singapore-based venture capital investment platform Hatcher+ to co-invest in its startups. Pacific Business News.

No one was hurt today after a helicopter with four people on board made an emergency landing in a softball field at Koko Head Neighborhood Park. Star-Advertiser.

Mariota expanding role as philanthropist with Motiv8 Foundation. Hawaii News Now.

Monday marked the state holiday celebrating the birthday of a Hawaiian Alii, also known as a citizen prince, Jonah Kuhio Kalanianaole. Many gathered to pay tribute to the Hawaiian monarch at the Royal Mausoleum in Nu'uanu for Kuhio day honors. KITV.

Hawaii Island

Activists erect makeshift checkpoint. About two dozen people calling themselves “kanaka rangers” held an unauthorized checkpoint Monday along the Maunakea Access Road. Tribune-Herald.

With Puu Huluhulu visible in the distance, a group of Hawaiian Home Lands beneficiaries set up an “Aloha Safety Checkpoint” by the Mauna Kea Access Road on Prince Kūhiō Day, part of the next phase of “Aina Mauna Solution”. Big Island Video News.

Group gathers on Kuhio Day to demonstrate alleged DHHL mismanagement. KITV.

Turns out the county’s affordable housing requirements can be pretty affordable for developers. West Hawaii Today.

Hawaii County is looking to establish a Hilo counterpart to the proposed Village 9 homeless site in Kailua-Kona, although plans are still in preliminary stages. Associated Press.

A proposal to fund a cardiac care unit at Hilo Medical Center has nearly made it through both chambers of the state Legislature. Tribune-Herald.

Maui

Report: 1 in 7 homes in county a vacation rental. Vacation rental group is disputing statistics. Maui News.

A Maui man who asserted his right to speak Hawaiian in court instead of English, has been granted a Hawaiian language interpreter. Maui Now.

County special use permit sought for Jaws zipline project. Haiku community meeting scheduled for Wednesday. Maui News.

County to remove hundreds of dead eucalyptus trees on Maui. The eucalyptus trees along Piiholo Road will be trimmed down to two-foot stumps to reduce the risk of injury or accident. Hawaii News Now.

Crews from the Maui County Department of Public Works began emergency tree removal along Piiholo Road. Maui Now.


Kauai

The Department of Public Safety is looking to fill several vacancies throughout the state for the position of adult correction officer. Garden Island.

Molokai

New Molokai Ranch Plans Pitched To A Development-Wary Island. An energy company has proposed buying the 55,000 acre ranch, which has been idle since 2008, to farm organic biofuels. Civil Beat.

Hawaii economy is hot! Plus, hotel tax for neighbor islands, 'monster house' moratorium, rooster reprieve, airport insecurity, more top state and local government news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Kona beach scene ©2018 All Hawaii News

State revenue forecast is bumped up again. A panel of economic forecasters painted a rosier financial picture for the state Tuesday, projecting Hawaii tax revenue increases of $50 million in the fiscal year ending June 30 and $66 million next fiscal year. Star-Advertiser.

The Hawaii House of Representatives Finance Committee will hear a proposed House amendment to Senate Bill 648 SD1 HD1 to increase the amounts of the Transient Accommodations Tax revenues for the neighbor islands. Big Island Now.

Hanabusa challenges Ige on missile alert records. U.S. Rep. Colleen Hanabusa, who is leaving her seat in Congress to challenge Ige in the state’s gubernatorial race, said today she is troubled by the lack of transparency from the agency and her opponent. Associated Press.

A bill that would dissolve the state Invasive Species Council to create an administrative body with greater authority to manage invasive species passed all but one committee in the state Legislature. Tribune-Herald.

State Relaxing Animal Quarantine Rules. For decades, Hawaii had some of the strictest animal quarantine rules in place, in an effort to keep the islands rabies-free. Hawaii Public Radio.

Lawmakers take up proposal to put UH tuition hikes on ice. State Sen. Kai Kahele believes it would be easier on UH students if the university put a freeze on tuition and tied future increases to the state's median household income. Hawaii News Now.

3-foot buffer zones for bicyclists could be a reality. KHON2.

Student walkouts spread across state. The 17-minute walkouts are a tribute to the victims as well as a rallying cry for an end to the violence. Star-Advertiser.

Campuses across the islands are gearing up for National School Walkout on Wednesday. Hawaii News Now.

Students across Hawaii will walk out of class Wednesday on the one-month anniversary of the mass school shooting in Florida. KHON2.

ACLU Says State Has No Plan To Address Gender Equity Issues. The organization said it was “disappointed” by the Department of Education’s response to its Title IX demand letter. Civil Beat.

The Employees’ Retirement System of the State of Hawaii has named Howard Hodel its acting chief investment officer, as it looks to replace Vijoy Chattergy, who left abruptly last month. Pacific Business News.

The University of Hawaii Foundation is on the hunt for a new president and CEO after Donna Vuchinich, who currently holds the position at the fundraising organization, announced she's planning to retire. Pacific Business News.

Hawaiian Telcom continued to generate solid TV subscriber growth but lost money for the sixth straight quarter as more consumers abandoned their landlines. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaiian Airlines has revised its first-quarter and full-year expectations and adjusted some 2016 and 2017 financial results due to its adoption of a new revenue accounting standard. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii is still one of the healthiest states in the country — it's just no longer the healthiest. According to the 2017 Gallup-Sharecare Well-Being Index, Hawaii is the third healthiest state behind South Dakota and Vermont. Hawaii News Now.

Oahu

Honolulu Mayor Kirk Caldwell signed into law Tuesday a bill imposing a moratorium of up to two years on building permits for “monster” houses, giving the city Department of Planning and Permitting time to come up with permanent rules to deal with the growing phenomenon. Star-Advertiser.

A temporary ban on over-sized homes on Oahu was formally implemented today. Hawaii Public Radio.

A temporary ban on so-called "monster homes" is now law on Oahu. KHON2.

Honolulu Mayor Kirk Caldwell signed a bill into law Tuesday placing a temporary ban on building so-called "monster homes" on Oahu. KITV.

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Yet Another Speed Bump Ahead For Rail As City Council Reorganizes. A power shift at Honolulu Hale rekindles debate over how to cover the costs of the project as it faces federal scrutiny. Civil Beat.

Sex discrimination, rail funding issues said to be reasons for city council leadership shakeup. Hawaii News Now.

The majority of Honolulu airport's 23,000 employees are not in compliance with security requirements, an audit has found. Hawaii News Now.

The city is struggling to find qualified workers, and Honolulu's mayor says it's enough to drive him crazy. Near-record-low unemployment makes hiring a challenge for all businesses, and the mayor says the city needs to do a better job of recruiting. KHON2.

The state's planned sweep of Oahu's largest homeless camp is on hold after its leaders met with the governor for more than two hours Tuesday. Hawaii News Now.

Homeless Leaders Say Waianae Sweep Called Off For Now. Leaders of the Waianae Boat Harbor encampment say the governor assured them there’s no impending eviction. Civil Beat.

Environmentalists are using a bill at the state Legislature to pressure the military to do more and do it sooner to protect a major Oahu groundwater source from future leaks from the Navy’s enormous fuel tanks at Red Hill. Star-Advertiser.

Hale Mahana, the $57.6 million student housing project being developed by Laconia Development at EdR Collegiate Housing near the University of Hawaii’s Manoa campus, towers over other buildings in the Moiliili neighborhood more than a year after breaking ground. Pacific Business News.

State Circuit Judge Todd Eddins says U.S. State Department Special Agent Christopher Deedy’s third trial for a fatal shooting in a Waikiki McDonald’s restaurant will go on as scheduled. Star-Advertiser.

A P-3C Orion airplane monument put up by the Navy nearly two decades ago to memorialize a long history of maritime patrol service at Naval Air Station Barbers Point has been removed, creating a backlash in the community and concern over how the process was handled. Star-Advertiser.

After a dramatic drop in the number of residents at the Hawaii Youth Correctional Facility, more teens could head there later this year. There are plans for more services to help at-risk youth at the Olomana facility, but those troubled teens would go there by choice instead of being ordered by the courts. KITV.

The State Department of Land and Natural Resources says enforcement officers cited an Oahu man for multiple lay net violations. KHON2.

Dick Adair, an editorial cartoonist who amused and sometimes outraged Hawaii newspaper readers for more than three decades, died at his Hawaii Kai home Monday from cancer. He was 82. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii Island

County Council members are calling for a balance that would allow revenue-generating vacation rentals in some areas, while keeping them from consuming neighborhoods in others. West Hawaii Today.

A bill that would have provided a buffer zone between rooster farms and their neighbors died in a Hawaii County Council committee on Tuesday. Tribune-Herald.

Rooster Farmers Flock to Council Meeting, Bill Dies. Big Island Now.

The first of three public open house meetings was held in Waimea Monday night, on the University of Hawaii’s Environmental Impact Statement Preparation Notice to replace the two existing leases and easement for UH managed lands on Maunakea. Big Island Video News.

A shortage of lifeguards will affect the operating hours at Charles “Sparky” Kawamoto Swim Stadium from next week until further notice. Tribune-Herald.

Hawaii Island schools and libraries would receive more than $10 million in capital improvement project funds under the proposed state budget for fiscal years 2018 and 2019. Tribune-Herald.

The dust won’t settle on the old Keauhou Beach Hotel demolition until the end of the calendar year but the project continues to outpace its original timeline, currently operating two to three weeks ahead of schedule. West Hawaii Today.

A monk seal and her recently born pup are doing well resting on a North Kona beach. West Hawaii Today.

Maui

State eyes purchase of affordable complex after rent hike threats. Front Street Apartments is a 142-unit affordable rental project in Lahaina. It was expected to remain affordable for 51 years. But after 17 years, the owner is exercising a legal option to raise rents to "market value." Hawaii News Now.

The House Finance Committee approved $83.26 million for Central Maui Capital Improvement Projects. This includes $10 million towards the construction of a new middle school in Central Maui. Maui Now.

Kauai

The anticipated impacts of sea level rise on Kauai will be explained in a Friday meeting at Kauai Community College. Garden Island.

New director, same direction for KIUC. Janet Kass is the newest member of the Kauai Island Utility Cooperative’s board of directors, and she really didn’t expect to be. Garden Island.

The Hawaii Department of Education has said it will support students who plan to participate in the planned nationwide school walkouts in protest of gun violence, and several Kauai schools are participating. Garden Island.

Trump names former Hawaii AG Bennett to Court of Appeals, Syngenta settles with EPA, Mauna Kea telescopes stir hot debate in Legislature, Maui ferry not feasible, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Farming, courtesy Monsanto

Concerned residents from Maui and Kauai are set to testify in support of a pesticide regulation bill at the State Capitol requiring companies to alert the public before chemicals are sprayed. The Senate committees on Agriculture and Environment and Commerce, Consumer Protection and Health are expected to make a decision Wednesday. KITV.

President Donald Trump has nominated former Hawaii Attorney General Mark Bennett to the Hawaii seat of the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals. Star-Advertiser.

This Trump Pick Wins Rare Applause from Hawaii’s Democratic Senators. Mark Bennett, the former state attorney general, has been nominated for the Hawaii seat on U.S. 9th Circuit Court of Appeals. Civil Beat.

Today President Donald Trump announced his intent to nominate an eleventh wave of judicial nominees including the nomination of former Hawaii Attorney General Mark J. Bennett as a Circuit Judge on the US Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit. Maui Now.

Report: Public Is Being Shut Out On Critical State Information. A new study by a public interest law firm says Hawaii is the worst in the nation when it comes to timely decisions on open records and open meetings issues. Civil Beat.

Hawaii’s largest public pension fund lost about 6 percent of its value in the recent stock market correction. The Employees' Retirement System Star-Advertiser.

Bill Would Require Insurance Coverage Of Emergency Flights To Mainland. Patients who need to travel quickly for organ transplants can pay from $80,000 to $130,000 for air ambulance service. Civil Beat.

Hawaii lawmakers are pursuing legislation that would update the state’s disaster preparedness protocols after the false ballistic missile alert last month. Tribune-Herald.

DOE could be sued over lack of female locker rooms – a violation of federal law. The ACLU has given DOE a deadline of one month to come up with a plan to provide all student athletes equal access to locker rooms. Hawaii News Now.

University of Hawaii Cancer Center researchers are seeking legislative funding for a three-year study to determine why Hawaii has one of the highest rates of liver cancer in the country. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii regulators approve revised tariffs for Hawaiian Electric rate increase. Pacific Business News.

Congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard and Nina Turner, president of Our Revolution, traveled across Hawaii this past weekend to promote citizen engagement, grassroots organizing, and efforts to reform and strengthen democracy and the Democratic Party. Garden Island.

Oahu

Development Lobbyist Failed To Register With Honolulu Ethics Commission. David Arakawa hadn’t registered to lobby at Honolulu Hale for at least five years. And then a reporter asked him about it. Civil Beat.

Moratorium on ‘monster homes’ faces final vote. A final vote on a bill placing a temporary moratorium on large-scale homes is scheduled for today, and Honolulu City Council members have been getting mounting pressure from both opponents and supporters of the “monster houses” legislation. Star-Advertiser.

Several bills were introduced at this year’s state Legislature to address concerns about large-scale houses. Star-Advertiser.

Bill would prevent sweep of Waianae homeless camp. Star-Advertiser.

Family members of a man who says four officers forced him to lick a urinal allege the extent of the abuse is worse than first reported. Hawaii News Now.

Should buses and other large vehicles be kept out of the freeway’s fast lane? KHON2.

Third Deedy trial pushed back as attorney prepares federal appeal. There's another delay in the latest trial of a State Department special agent who fatally shot a man inside a Waikiki McDonald's in 2011. Hawaii News Now.

Number of Honolulu Zoo exhibits & visitors going up. KITV.

Honolulu has been named one of the healthiest cities in the United States, according to a new report. Pacific Business News.

Hawaii Island

Bill would create new authority to run Mauna Kea. Senate Bill 3090, sponsored by state Sen. Kaiali‘i Kahele (D, Hilo) and 16 other lawmakers, would establish the Mauna Kea Management Authority as a way of installing “fresh leadership” and “a new model of governance.” Star-Advertiser.

Heated discussion at the State Capitol Monday, over a bill calling for the removal of the board that manages Mauna Kea. That board is currently run by the University of Hawaii. KITV.

Hawaii County Mayor Harry Kim appeared today in Honolulu for the committee hearing on the controversial Senate Bill 3090, which would upend the way Mauna Kea is currently managed. Big Island Video News.

Kahele Grills OMKM Director Nagata Over Bulldozed Ahu. Big Island Video News.

Amid TMT dispute, lawmakers look to establish new body to manage Mauna Kea. Hawaii News Now.

Homeless Villages proposal up against deadline. The program would fund 50 homeless units — 25 at two sites in Kailua-Kona and Hilo, respectively — as well as two homeless assessment centers and supportive services under the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s preferred Housing First model. West Hawaii Today.

Hawaii County and Hawaiian Earth Recycling continue to hammer out the details of a new agreement after Mayor Harry Kim nixed plans to build a composting facility in a quarry near the Hilo landfill. Tribune-Herald.

This Hilo Community Fears Its ‘Toxic’ Neighbors. With a nearby airport, landfill, sewage plant, port and petroleum tanks, Hawaiian Homestead residents in Keaukaha want health concerns addressed. Civil Beat.

Hawaii County’s Mayor has about three weeks to send a budget to the County Council. Since 2000, the budget has increased more than 250 percent. Hawaii Public Radio.

Hilton Waikola Village recently became the first resort on the Big Island to discontinue the use of plastic straws and replace them with a compostable, paper alternative. Pacific Business News.

Maui

A ferry system to relieve Lahaina-bound traffic jams and shuttle sports teams within Maui County isn’t in the cards, at least for now. Maui News.

Greg Kaufman, founder of the 38-year-old Pacific Whale Foundation and a pioneer of whale watching on Maui, died Saturday. Maui News.

Pacific Whale Foundation today confirmed the passing of founder and executive director, Greg Kaufman. Maui Now.

Kauai

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and Syngenta Seeds LLC have reached a settlement concerning safety violations affecting field workers on Kauai. Star-Advertiser.

EPA Settles Syngenta Pesticide Claim For Pennies On The Dollar. The GMO company will pay $150,000 instead of the $4.8 million that had been sought for exposing Kauai workers to pesticides. Civil Beat.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency came to an agreement Monday with Syngenta Seeds, LLC, to resolve violations of federal pesticide regulations at its farm in Kekaha. Garden Island.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has reached a settlement with Syngenta Seeds to resolve violations of federal pesticide regulations at its farm in Kekaha, Kauai. Pacific Business News.

The Kauai County Council recently voted six to one to adopt the County’s General Plan. Garden Island.