Hawaii urges mumps shots, native rite causes Kauai brushfire, Gabbard banned from Azerbaijan, Big Island HR chief resigns following critical audit, who's selecting Honolulu police chief, infant contracts rat lungworm, Akaka supports Thirty Meter Telescope, judge halts Maui sand-mining, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Mumps symptoms, Hawaii Department of Health

State health officials, continuing to investigate the growing number of mumps infections statewide, are urging most Hawaii residents to get an extra mumps vaccination. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii among 8 states questioned on Medicaid spending surge. Federal data shows Hawaii’s spending on new Medicaid enrollees increased by almost 76 percent in one year, and the chairman of the U.S. Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs wants to know why. Star-Advertiser.

Are Hawaii’s Nursing and Senior Care Homes Prepared For Disasters? Recent tragedies elsewhere raise questions about preparedness here, which can vary dramatically depending on the size of the facility. Civil Beat.

Open-government advocates are slamming a proposal that would triple the fees to access public information, saying a draft of rules unveiled this month add vague terms that could make it harder to obtain public documents from state and county agencies. Civil Beat.

U. S. Rep. Tulsi Gabbard has been banned from entering Azerbaijan, a formerly Soviet country in the South Caucasus region, adjacent to Russia, Iran and Armenia. Gabbard went to the conflict-ridden region last week on what was billed as a fact-finding trip with a congressional delegation. Civil Beat.

Oahu

The closely watched search for a police chief enters its final phase when the Honolulu Police Commission gathers today to come up with a list of finalists from a semifinalist roster of nine. Star-Advertiser.

Former HPD chief among those narrowing the candidates for that job. The panel includes former HPD chief Lee Donahue and former United States Attorney Flo Nakakuni.  Also assessing the nine finalists at a Waikiki hotel, is former Honolulu Managing Director Bob Fishman and one time Assistant Chief for HPD, Mark Nakagawa. Hawaii News Now.

State to examine regulations around Red Hill storage tanks. An environmental court judge says he'll decide next month whether to require new state rules for underground fuel tanks. Hawaii News Now.

After years of complaints, the city is dramatically changing a busy Kailua intersection. A roundabout is coming to the triangular intersection of South Kalaheo Avenue and Kailua Road. Hawaii News Now.

Some Mililani residents are upset and confused as to why the city would remove crosswalks at a busy intersection. KHON2.

Planning officials OK Maunawili Valley rezoning request. Former Kamehameha Schools trustee Oswald Stender resides on four acres zoned for agriculture and wants to add more homes to his family estate through rezoning. Star-Advertiser.

Some Oahu charities say they're scrambling to ensure services for seniors are not impacted by a delay in federal funding -- and they blame the city for not stepping in. Hawaii News Now.

A federal fire captain is facing a handful of charges after being accused of sexually assaulting a girl under the age of 14. Hawaii News Now.

Hawaii Island

County Human Resources Director Sharon Toriano resigned suddenly Wednesday, following a critical audit that showed “questionable hiring practices,” and a West Hawaii Today article Monday indicating preferential treatment of job applicants through her use of sticky notes on official hiring documents. West Hawaii Today.

Former U.S. Sen. Daniel Akaka has endorsed the construction of the controversial Thirty Meter Telescope in his new autobiography, saying the cutting-edge observatory will generate “huge” educational opportunities and jobs for the Hawaiian community. Star-Advertiser.

The latest victim of rat lungworm disease in the state is a Pahoa infant thought to have eaten a slug or snail. Tribune-Herald.

The tenth laboratory-confirmed case of rat lungworm disease contracted on Hawaii Island this year, and the 17th in the state, has been contracted by an infant from the Puna District. Big Island Video News.

The state has confirmed that an infant in the Puna district of the Big Island has contracted the rat lungworm disease. Hawaii News Now.

Hawaii County warned residents Wednesday of the possibility of being cut off from the water supply temporarily after tank levels declined in the past few days. West Hawaii Today.

As the Emergency Water Restriction remains in effect for North Kona, officials have started to see a decline in the water level in some tanks. Big Island Video News.

Helicopter Noise On The Big Island Has Residents Buzzing. Protesters decry “dirty tourism” during a demonstration outside the Hilo airport. “It’s never been this bad,” said a County Council member. Civil Beat.

Fewer Hawaii Island charter school students met state testing standards last year, though leaders at some of those schools said results aren’t the best indicator of their students’ progress. Tribune-Herald.

Maui

A 2nd Circuit Judge ordered Maui Lani Partners to halt earthmoving work at its Phase IX site in Kahului, saying that the facts show “at least preliminarily” that the company did not follow a state-approved archaeological monitoring plan. Maui News.

A judge ordered a preliminary injunction Wednesday to protect Valley Isle sand dunes from being mined for export and construction, but allows some work at Maui Lani to continue if properly supervised. KHON2.

A “skill-based” video game arcade with cash returns quietly opened over the weekend at Maui Harbor Shops in Maalaea, but it has caused residents and law enforcement to question if it is gambling, a county official said Tuesday. Maui News.

The County of Maui Mayor’s Office of Economic Development announced it won the Gold Excellence in Economic Development Award for its 2017 Made in Maui County Festival. Maui Now.

Kauai

The Kauai Island Utility cooperative is moving ahead with a renewable energy project on the Garden Isle's west side. Hawaii News Now.

Kauai Island Utility Cooperative's board of directors on Tuesday approved expenditures of up to $350,000 to conduct preliminary work for a project on the island's west side. Pacific Business News.

No seabirds were grounded during the first night football game during fledgling season in seven years on Kauai. Garden Island.

A fire-throwing ceremony on Makana mountain on Monday was being blamed for sparking the wildland fire still burning along the cliffs on the North Shore. Garden Island.

A wildland fire that closed large portions of Kauai's North Shore on Tuesday is believed to have been accidentally ignited during an ancient Hawaiian fire-throwing ceremony, according to a state Department of Land and Natural Resources spokesperson. Hawaii News Now.

Some residents are asking what Kauai’s General Plan can achieve. Tuesday, they received some possible answers. Garden Island.

Rail deal reached-- special session starts Monday, lawmaker seeks recreational marijuana, Maui police suspended in probe, mumps could linger another year, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Caldwell unveiling rail, May 30, 2017, Mayor's Office photo

State lawmakers announced their new plan Thursday to raise $2.37 billion to bail out the city’s financially troubled rail project, but Honolulu Mayor Kirk Caldwell warned the money is “not sufficient” to cover the budget shortfall for rail. Star-Advertiser.

Four days ahead of a planned special session, state House and Senate leaders outlined their proposal to save Honolulu’s struggling rail project. Civil Beat

Full text of SB1, rail funding bill to be heard Monday can be found here.

State lawmakers have struck a breakthrough compromise to keep Honolulu's rail project going, but the city says the deal falls short. Hawaii News Now.

Just days before a special session, Hawaii lawmakers announced late Thursday they've come up with a measure that could fund Honolulu's mass transit rail project. KITV.

Hawaii lawmakers reached a tentative agreement Thursday, which means a special session to address funding for Honolulu’s rail project can begin Monday. KHON2.

Hawaii lawmakers have reached a tentative deal to solve the funding shortfall of Honolulu's rail project by drafting a bill that combines extending Oahu's general excise tax surcharge as well as raising the transient accommodations tax by one percent. Pacific Business News.

A bill to fund completion of the $8.2 billion rail project on Oahu will be considered during a special legislative session next week. Garden Island.

Governor and lawmakers react to new rail funding ideas. KITV.

The ongoing friction between several state lawmakers and Honolulu Mayor Kirk Caldwell is a key subplot in the drama playing out this week in the Legislature as it decides whether, and how, to raise the money to bail out the city’s financially strapped rail project. Star-Advertiser.

State House and Senate leaders have come up with a compromise measure to help the City and County of Honolulu pay for cost overruns on its rail project that includes raising the hotel room tax — assessed in all state counties — by 1 percent and increasing Maui County’s share of the revenues by $2.3 million per year. Maui News.

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Homeless shelters are bracing for change — and the potential loss of funds — as the state begins requiring them to move the homeless more swiftly into permanent housing. Civil Beat.

Hawaii’s desire for higher tax revenue could eventually lead to the legal sale of recreational marijuana, a state legislator said. Star-Advertiser.

The fate of America’s largest protected conservation area — the 580,000-square-mile Papahanaumokuakea Marine National Monument northwest of the main Hawaiian Islands — remains in doubt after Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke on Thursday sent undisclosed recommendations to President Donald Trump about 27 national monuments that Trump ordered reviewed. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii again ranked No. 1 in a national nonprofit’s survey of state investments in energy efficiency projects. Star-Advertiser.

Fundraising accounts have been set up for two of the five Hawaii Army aviators missing from the Aug. 15 nighttime crash of a Black Hawk helicopter off Kaena Point as a sonar search for wreckage and the crew continues about a mile offshore. Star-Advertiser.

Royal Hawaiian heiress Abigail Kawananakoa wants a state judge to issue a gag order to her former attorney, James Wright, saying he has inappropriately revealed sensitive details about her and her partner, Veronica Gail Worth. Civil Beat.

The Hawaii Department of Health says it could be a year or more before the state's mumps outbreak finally subsides. Hawaii News Now.

Oahu

City audit discovers high costs in employee overtime in the bulky waste pick-up program. KITV.

Grandmother who launched Kealoha corruption probe believes indictments are coming. Hawaii News Now.

A bill that would establish a special entity to manage parking and traffic in Waikiki will go before the full Honolulu City Council for a final vote. KITV.

Risking fines, thousands of moped owners flout new requirements. Hawaii News Now.

According to a report from the Honolulu Police Department, the department paid more than $171,000 for overtime and expenses over the last fiscal year on protecting visiting dignitaries. KHON2.

Matson Inc. on Wednesday said it reached a deal with Paceco Corp. for the purchase of three new 65 long-ton capacity cranes and modifications to upgrade three existing cranes at its Sand Island Terminal in Honolulu Harbor. Pacific Business News.

Bank of Hawaii’s renovation of its main branch downtown will be unveiled Wednesday after five months of construction. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaiian Electric Co. ranks among the top 10 utility companies in the United States for solar capacity per customer, according to the Smart Electric Power Alliance "2017 Utility Solar Market Snapshot." Pacific Business News.

A live boa constrictor found in a shipment of household goods was spotted Thursday morning by workers who were unloading a pallet and then used a stick and bucket to capture it. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii Island

The University of Hawaii’s Board of Regents adopted a resolution Thursday in Honolulu stating it affirms its commitment to the “collaborative stewardship” of Mauna Kea and its resources. Tribune-Herald.

Pohakuloa seeks citizens for advisory board. West Hawaii Today.

Fall enrollment at the University of Hawaii at Hilo appears to be lower than predicted, but interim Chancellor Marcia Sakai said she’s optimistic the campus can reverse the decline. Tribune-Herald.

Hawaii's state-funded aerospace agency, Pacific International Space Center for Exploration Systems, has launched a new credit-based internship program for students at the Big Island's Hawaii Community College to gain high-tech skills. Pacific Business News.

The lawsuit over the state’s Kaʻū Forest Reserve Management Plan reached the Hawaii Supreme Court. Big Island Video News.

Sen. Mazie K. Hirono announced that the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration has awarded $646,886 in grant funding to restore the Kawaihae watershed in West Hawaii. Garden Island.

Hawaii Volcanoes National Park will temporarily close portions of the popular Thurston Lava Tube, also known as Nahuku, and its rainforest loop trail for maintenance work. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii County will become the first county in the United States to receive a Blue Zones designation. Hawaii Public Radio.

Maui

Maui Police Department investigations lead to suspensions. Maui News.

Two people testifying Wednesday in a sand mining lawsuit recalled seeing earthmoving work in a Maui Lani development in February without a required archaeological monitor. Maui News.

A single family residence located at 150 Luna Place in Paiia, is being proposed for transformation into a commercial building. Maui Now.

Ocean water levels remain unseasonably high, said a University of Hawaii coastal expert. Maui News.

Kauai

Watershed restoration: Waipa Foundation’s holistic management of the ahupua’a is showing signs of success. Garden Island.

Bus shelters on the way: Project expected to cost nearly $900k. Garden Island.

When it comes to converting to renewable energy, the biggest success story in the islands is on Kauai. Hawaii Public Radio.

Military feeds Hawaii economy, Army identifies crew lost in Black Hawk crash, PETA asks Omidyar to cease Kauai dairy plans, Honolulu rail special session nears, mumps hits Big Island school, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Pearl Harbor aerial view © 2017 All Hawaii News

Military Buildup Is A Boost For Pearl Harbor Shipyard. Amid rising tensions in Asia, hundreds of workers are being hired and aging dry dock facilities are being replaced. Civil Beat.

Hawaiian Dredging Construction Co. Inc. on Monday was awarded a contract of more than $60.6 million from the U.S. Department of Defense for the construction of two facilities at the Marine Corps Base Hawaii at Kaneohe Bay. Pacific Business News.

Cultural access to military training grounds in Mākua Valley began in a court battle between the military and the native Hawaiian community. Nearly two decades later, the cultural access program has begun to foster a transformation in mutual understanding and relationship building. Hawaii Public Radio.

Officials announced Monday that they have suspended the search for five Army soldiers who were in a helicopter crash during offshore training in Hawaii last week. Associated Press.

Army families in North Carolina, Alabama, Texas, Kentucky and Tennessee on Monday received the news they had been dreading: The search for the crew of a downed Black Hawk helicopter off Kaena Point on Oahu had ended with no recoveries. Star-Advertiser.

The Army said they are committed to recovering the remains of the missing aviators. After five days of searching, only four helmets were recovered. KITV.

Legislators eye Honolulu general excise tax surcharge extension plus increase in transient accommodations taxes for rail. Star-Advertiser.

Why Hotels Will Likely Get Stuck With Honolulu Rail Tab. State lawmakers also want a thorough audit of the beleaguered project. Civil Beat.

Public frustrated over rail's price tag, management ... but they still want to see it finished. Hawaii News Now.

Hawaii’s new school superintendent says she’s not going to tell school leaders how to do their jobs or second-guess decisions they’ve made about what’s best for students. Civil Beat.

Hawaii hotel executive Elliot Mills has been named to a five-year term on the board of trustees for Kamehameha Schools, the educational trust supported by a multibillion-dollar endowment. Star-Advertiser.

Oahu

The Sierra Club is suing the state Department of Health over leaks from the Navy’s fuel storage facility at Red Hill. Star-Advertiser.

The city is expected to begin work on an $85.7 million sewer rehabilitation project in Nuuanu Valley next summer. Civil Beat.

A Honolulu City Council Committee will conduct a public hearing Tuesday on a bill to retrofit older high rises with fire sprinkler systems. Hawaii Public Radio.

Honolulu Police Commissioner Loretta Sheehan sent a letter Monday to HPD's Acting Chief Cary Okimoto, saying the public has a right to know about the termination of Darren Cachola, a former sergeant, who is trying to get his job back. Hawaii News Now.

Abigail Kawananakoa’s former attorney and now trustee of her $200 million estate formally asked the court Monday to appoint a neutral party to investigate the legal issues and circumstances surrounding the Campbell Estate heiress and to authorize independent medical examinations. Star-Advertiser.

The city Monday added Pacific Street in Iwilei and several areas from Victoria to McCully streets to the long list of commercial areas where people can no longer sit or lie. Star-Advertiser.

Pearl City High School is reaching out to the community for help controlling the population of feral cats that call the school grounds home. KHON2.

The erosion at Kuhio Beach in Waikiki has reached a new level. KHON2.

Ala Moana Center plans to add another collection of dining establishments at Hawaii’s largest shopping mall in October with the opening of what it is calling The Lanai @ Ala Moana. Star-Advertiser.

After Waikiki's Shore Bird Restaurant and Beach Bar at the Outrigger Reef Waikiki Beach Resort closes its doors on Sept. 30, the hotel will refresh the space and quickly open a new restaurant, called the Reef Bar and Market Grill. Pacific Business News.

After 38 years, Waikiki's popular 'Shore Bird' restaurant set to close. Hawaii News Now.

The number of luxury homes in escrow at the end of July increased 14 percent from last year, according to Coldwell Banker Pacific Properties, offsetting decreases in activity that occurred in May and June. Pacific Business News.

Hawaii Island

Water usage restrictions applied to all of North Kona banning residential irrigation and the recreational washing of boats and vehicles will persist for at least two more months. West Hawaii Today.

A statewide mumps outbreak has hit a Ka‘u classroom. West Hawaii Today.

A Hilo businesswoman who filed a lawsuit last year against Hilo Lanes Inc., claiming its owners reneged on a signed deal to sell the property to her, has added a defendant to her lawsuit — the parent company of Cost-U-Less, the business next door to the long-vacant bowling alley. Tribune-Herald.

Sunday's passing storm brought rain and thunder, and apparently some snow, to the Big Island of Hawaii. Big Island Video News.

Maui

The Haiku Community Association will host a public meeting from 6:30 to 8 p.m. Thursday at the Haiku Community Center for a panel discussion of a proposal to amend the Paia-Haiku Community Plan. Maui News.

Armstrong Development recently held a topping off ceremony at its Keala o Wailea development on Maui, marking a milestone in construction as the roof was added to the seventh and final building. Maui Now.

Kauai

PETA urges Ebay founder to call off plans for Kauai dairy farm. In a letter to eBay's founder Pierre Omidyar, an animals rights group called upon the billionaire to scrap plans for a Kauai dairy farm citing environmental and animal safety concerns. Hawaii News Now.

Pierre Omidyar’s plan to put an industrial dairy farm on Kauai has been detailed in national rags, and most recently an Aug. 13 article in The New York Times gave some space to the controversy. The dairy is being proposed as a 699-cow operation that could be expanded to a herd of 2,000 pregnant dairy cows on about 557 acres in Mahaulepu Valley near Poipu. Garden Island.

The Kauai County Housing Agency Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher Program will be accepting applications for its Section 8 HCV waiting list during the open period from 8 a.m. on Wednesday, Sept. 6, to 4 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 8. Garden Island.

KCC enrollment rises. Classes begin same day as eclipse. Garden Island.

Polystyrene foam ban resurfaces in Honolulu, Maui police deny excessive force in telescope protester arrests, Big Island mayor cancels geothermal health studies, Kona homeless get new tent city, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Polystyrene lunch plate © 2017 All Hawaii News

An effort to bar Oahu businesses from using foam takeout containers has been renewed, this time by a Honolulu City Council member who said she opposed a similar proposal in 2004. Star-Advertiser.

‘Biocontrol Agents’ Could Be Used To Kill Albizia In Hawaii. Moths, mites, weevils, beetles, even a fungus, are under consideration as a way to stop the spread of the invasive tree in the islands. Civil Beat.

Hawaii’s college graduates are managing student debt better than their peers anywhere else in the country, according to a new WalletHub report released this week. Tribune-Herald.

More than eight months after issuing a request for landowners in Hawaii willing to host renewable energy projects, Hawaiian Electric Co. said this week that it has compiled a list of potential sites, but it’s not saying where they are. Pacific Business News.

Hawaiian Electric Industries Inc.’s earnings fell 12 percent in the second quarter, as its utilities saw a decrease in profits. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaiian Electric Industries Inc. reported second-quarter net income of $38.7 million, or 36 cents per diluted share, compared to net income of $44.1 million, or 41 cents per diluted share, for the same quarter a year ago. Pacific Business News.

Oahu

The number of mumps cases at Oahu Community Correctional Center has more than doubled in less than a month, accounting for nearly 10 percent of the state’s outbreak, which now tops 200 cases. Star-Advertiser.

Fast-acting work crews prevented a mainland bat from escaping a container ship docked at Honolulu Harbor on Monday, according to state officials. Star-Advertiser.

The Honolulu City Council has sided with an advisory board and an overwhelming community view to reject a developer’s proposal to rezone farmland on the fringe of Haleiwa town for residential use. Star-Advertiser.

A midrise rental apartment building reserved for residents with incomes up to the median in Honolulu will begin accepting tenant applications Aug. 18 in preparation for an opening by the end of this month. Star-Advertiser.

Howard Hughes Corporation Kakaako Development Update. Ward Warehouse in Kakaako closed earlier this week and is scheduled to be torn down by the end of the year. Hawaii Public Radio.

City transportation officials told a Honolulu City Council committee Thursday they are looking at redesigning and reducing the size of 11 traffic bulb-outs in Chinatown that merchants, customers and residents have complained about. Star-Advertiser.

A pedestrian safety measure in Chinatown is irking area businesses, who say it's hurting their bottom line. Hawaii News Now.

A nonprofit wants turn a former fishing shed at Kewalo Basin into a cultural and educational center. Hawaii News Now.

The median price for condominiums on Oahu hit an all-time high of $425,000 in July, rising 6 percent from the same month a year ago, according to a report by Honolulu-based real estate firm Locations. Pacific Business News.

Dozens of community members gathered Thursday inside Kapolei High School's cafeteria to have their questions and concerns heard, as Congresswoman Colleen Hanabusa discussed the latest news out of the nation's capital. KITV.

The University of Hawaii Manoa student newspaper is hoping for a student fee increase to help it survive in the digital age. Civil Beat.

Former Honolulu police officer Jessie Laconsay,  who is already serving a 10 year sentence for sexually assaulting a teen, faces even more punishment. Hawaii News Now.

Hawaii Island

A bill that would allow Hawaii County to spend its geothermal royalties on “community health and safety projects” will be sent to the Planning Commission for review. Tribune-Herald.

Mayor Harry Kim has canceled two geothermal studies previously approved by the Windward Planning Commission. The studies would have looked at health impacts of geothermal development in Puna and dispersion of hydrogen sulfide during steam releases. Tribune-Herald.

Hawaii County Department of Parks and Recreation maintenance crews had their hands — and their trucks — full Wednesday, as they cleared out rubbish from the Old Airport Park in preparation for a cleanup effort set for Aug. 9-10. West Hawaii Today.

Some of those who were previously camping at Old Kona Airport have been relocated under tents next to Hale Kikaha. Big Island Video News.

There's nothing fancy about the Big Island's new homeless safe zone. It's just a row of pop-up tents, a few portable toilets and some showers. Hawaii News Now.

Maui

Roads leading to the summit of Haleakala are once again open to the public today. Park officials say the construction convoy delivering equipment for the new Daniel K. Inouye Solar Telescope was successful. This follows the latest round of protests against the solar telescope under construction. Hawaii Public Radio.

Maui police said a preliminary review of reports and video from the arrest of a protester on Haleakala Wednesday shows that officers acted within department policy in forcibly restraining him before he fell unconscious in handcuffs. Star-Advertiser.

Police force on Maui has been questioned following an injury reported during an arrest of one of the demonstrators during the Kāko’o Haleakala protest early Wednesday morning. Maui Now.

Some are claiming that Maui officers used excessive force during a protest of the controversial Haleakala telescope project, and are pointing to cell phone video circulating online as evidence of their charges. Hawaii News Now.

The Maui County Council’s Land Use Committee unanimously voted against approval for a conditional permit to allow special events at the “Lona Ridge” property in Wailuku. Maui Now.

A shortage of bus drivers on Maui has forced state officials to suspend bus rides for students at three schools and limit rides for students at one school. Associated Press.

Frustration is mounting on Maui as parents learn new bus pickup times for their kids still aren’t set or are set too late. KHON2.

Kauai

Days from the first potential drop of 10 tons of rodenticide on Lehua Island, some are still demanding the state respond to unanswered questions. Garden Island.

The Navy announced today that it successfully tracked a medium-range ballistic missile target in flight off Kauai with the new AN/SPY-6(V) Air and Missile Defense Radar on July 27. Star-Advertiser.

When some Kauai County Councilmembers voted against funding to develop a Climate Action Plan, it was because they did not know what it hoped to accomplish. Garden Island.

Group sinks teeth into General Plan Update. Garden Island.

A Lihue man awaiting trial on charges of producing child pornography told Kauai police that he had sexually assaulted seven boys and girls over a span of eight or nine years, according to a recently unsealed U.S. District Court document. Star-Advertiser.

Tax hikes loom as state spends more than it collects, universal basic income debated, dock strikes unlikely, snorkel deaths studied, Honolulu official leaving in wake of critical audit, Big Island biomass gets PUC approval, Kauai Syngenta changes hands, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Hawaii state Capitol, courtesy Charles Freedman

For the second time in five years, the state is being warned that its tax collections likely won’t be enough to cover its costs in the years ahead, which may mean tax increases in Hawaii’s future. Star-Advertiser.

Commentary: Recently, some very notable people including Mark Zuckerberg of Facebook have been championing the idea of “universal basic income,” which basically is a payment from the government to individuals simply for being alive. Our Legislature latched onto that idea, passing House Concurrent Resolution 89. West Hawaii Today.


Ocean safety advocates are working on ways to gather more data to determine why so many more visitors die snorkeling in Hawaii than local residents. Civil Beat.


With the impacts of climate change bearing down on Hawaii, government officials and community members need to make some important decisions about the islands’ iconic coastlines, said Dolan Eversole, a coastal hazards expert with the University of Hawaii’s Sea Grant program. Civil Beat.

A political scientist, acting as an agent for the government of the Hawaiian Kingdom in international proceedings, believes the time is right to go forward with an International Commission of Inquiry at the Hague. Big Island Video News.

The International Longshore and Warehouse Union said that early West Coast election results show an existing labor contract with waterfront employers represented the Pacific Maritime Association will be extended by three years. Pacific Business News.

New cases of mumps statewide have risen by close to 40 percent since late June, prompting health officials to continue monitoring the infection and encourage vaccinations. Star-Advertiser.


Oahu

An audit of the Section 8 Tenant-Based Assistance Program administered by the city finds key deficiencies in several areas but says it generally meets federal requirements. Star-Advertiser.


City Community Services Director Gary Nakata is resigning from his post at the end of the week, Honolulu Managing Director Roy Amemiya said in a memorandum to Mayor Kirk Caldwell’s Cabinet officials late Friday. Star-Advertiser.

When the Hawaii Public Utilities Commission issued an order earlier this month accepting Hawaiian Electric Co.’s long-term plan for supplying power to customers, one part of the plan stood out: a 44 percent rate increase on Oahu over 10 years. Civil Beat.

A Hawaiian Electric Co. pilot program meant to encourage customers to shift energy use to the daytime has seen little interest. Star-Advertiser.

A leak in the basement of Honolulu’s Daniel K. Inouye International Airport may be a pricey problem to fix. Star-Advertiser.


The Fight To Save Ancient Hawaiian Archeological Sites. Fearing future development of a Leeward valley rich with cultural history, some community members are pushing for preservation. Civil Beat.

After months of fielding complaints from residents, the Nanakuli-Maili Neighborhood Board wants to stop what it sees as overuse of the Waianae Coast by commercial tour groups that locals say clog the beaches and prevent easy public access. Civil Beat.


A third Oahu neighborhood will be getting a restricted parking zone. KHON2.

Friday night's plane crash above Kunia is the latest incident in a string of single engine aircrafts that have gone down in Hawaii over the last year. Hawaii News Now.


The plane that went down is the second plane from Aircraft Maintenance and Flight School Hawaii to crash on Oahu in the last month. KITV.


The bodies of Dean Hutton, Gerrit Evensen, Heather Riley and Alexis Aaron were discovered late Saturday afternoon at the wreckage of the aircraft in the Waianae Mountains above Kunia. The Beech 19A, manufactured in 1969, took off from Daniel K. Inouye International Airport for a sunset flight Friday. Star-Advertiser.

For months, Hawaii store owners and residents have prepared for the end of Ward Warehouse — and now it's finally here. Hawaii News Now.

Hotel executive Kelly Hoen has managed six Hawaii hotels in a career that now sees her as area general manager for Outrigger. Hawaii Public Radio.

Hawaii Island

The state Public Utilities Commission approved Hawaii Electric Light Co.’s contract with a half-built biomass facility on the Big Island on Friday. Star-Advertiser.

The state Public Utilities Commission informed Hu Honua Bioenergy on Friday that it approved its amended and restated power purchase agreement with Hawaii Electric Light Company. Tribune-Herald.

The state Land Board will hear oral arguments on a hearings officer’s recommendation in favor of the Thirty Meter Telescope land use permit Sept. 20 in Hilo. Tribune-Herald.

A long-awaited public gun range for Hawaii Island may finally get a shot at success, depending on how the County Council handles a resolution up for vote next week. West Hawaii Today.

International competition and retirements are decreasing the number of commercial orchid growers in Hawaii. Tribune-Herald.

Once a $90 million project expected to wrap up in September, phase two of the Queen Kaahumanu Highway widening has grown to a $105 million project now planned to be substantially completed next August. West Hawaii Today.

Access to the shoreline park at Kohanaiki should be easier, now that a new frontage road has been completed by developers of a luxury community there. West Hawaii Today.

Hawaii County and a property owner have been unable to agree on a purchase price for a large parcel in Hakalau Valley. Tribune-Herald.

Maui

Maui hospital raises fee but retreats after moms protest. The hospital raised the price for a private room to $672 from $152 on July 1 when Maui Health System, a subsidiary of Kaiser Permanente Hawaii, assumed control of operations of Maui Memorial, Kula Hospital & Clinic and Lanai Community Hospital in the largest privatization in state history. Star-Advertiser.

Construction costs could hit as much as $75 million for the Wailuku Parking and Events Facility, which includes a multilevel parking structure and three-story building for retail, Maui County offices and special events space. Maui News.

Maui Electric Co. has been given the green light to expand its “Fast Demand Response” program from four to a projected 13 Maui businesses, which would receive bill credits to reduce their energy use with 10 minutes’ notice to stabilize the grid when demand exceeds generation. Maui News.

At least four repair projects are planned for sections of Piilani Highway in the vicinity of Kaupo, and one of them — the repair of Waiopai Bridge — has the remote community concerned because work could close the road for a month or more, according to Jonathan Starr, a board member of the Kaupo Community Association. Maui News.


Kauai

About three months after announcing a six-month freeze on filling new vacancies in county jobs, the administration is changing course. Garden Island.

Hartung Brothers take over Syngenta Kekaha operations. Garden Island.

A new affordable housing project in Poipu has an aggressive construction timeline. Garden Island.

Kauai’s strong tourism season seems to be good for some, but not all, businesses. Garden Island.

The U.S. Department of Veterans’ Affairs approved lease agreements to build community-based outpatient clinics on Kauai and Maui. The project construction will total $9.9 million. Garden Island.

Molokai

Molokai’s south shore is knee-deep in invasive algae. A new report from a team of scientists and volunteers provides a ‘good reality check for the community’ Maui News.

Engineers to present plan for ex-bombing range on Molokai. Public comment will be accepted during meeting scheduled for Kaunakakai. Maui News.

Tourism up, 2 Hawaii beaches make top 10, schools no longer graded, OHA secrecy irks beneficiaries, farm exchange program worries lawmaker, Oahu app replaces Nixle, low-income Maui renters face eviction, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Tourists visit rocky black sand beach © 2017 All Hawaii News

A surge in travelers from the U.S. mainland, Canada and Japan fueled a 7.5 percent increase in visitors to Hawaii last month compared to the same month last year. Associated Press.

Visitor arrivals and spending in the islands increased for the 11th straight month in April, keeping Hawaii on track to reach its sixth consecutive year of record tourism. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii’s four core visitor markets led to strong tourism gains in April, offsetting declines from all other international markets, according to preliminary statistics from the Hawaii Tourism Authority. Pacific Business News.

Maui, Big Island beaches make annual Dr. Beach top-10 list. Kapalua Bay Beach on Maui came in at No. 2 on the list, while Hapuna Beach State Park on Hawaii island came in at No. 8. Associated Press.

President Donald Trump’s revised executive order on immigration “speaks with vague words of national security, but in context drips with religious intolerance, animus and discrimination,” a federal appeals court said Thursday in ruling against the travel ban targeting six Muslim-majority countries. Hawaii Attorney General Doug Chin is spearheading the state’s effort to block President Donald Trump’s new executive order. Associated Press.

Hawaii Attorney General Doug Chin said Thursday that not even President Donald Trump is above the Constitution following a Virginia federal appeals court decision against the administration's revised travel ban. Pacific Business News.

The 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals has ruled that President Trump's controversial travel ban should be kept on hold, maintaining a nationwide preliminary injunction that blocks key elements of the executive order from being enforced. Hawaii Public Radio.

The Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals today upheld a nationwide injunction against President Donald Trump’s Revised Executive Order, dated March 6, 2017, banning travel from six Muslim-majority nations. Maui Now.

Hawaii public schools starting this fall will no longer be ranked against each other on how well their students perform on standardized tests and other academic benchmarks. Star-Advertiser.

As it deals with infighting in the boardroom and a criminal investigation into its contract awards, the Office of Hawaiian Affairs is facing new questions over the secrecy of some of its investments. Hawaii News Now.

A farm-exchange program which provides housing in exchange for work on organic agricultural operations is the source of growing concern from some state lawmakers. Hawaii News Now.

Oahu

Honolulu is bracing for some of its highest tides in more than a century in a rare event scientists describe as a test-run for a future of rising sea levels. Star-Advertiser.

City crews have brought in sandbags in anticipation of high surf conditions at Oahu beach parks, where water levels are expected to rise tonight and peak Friday — bolstered by astronomical “king tides.” Star-Advertiser.

King Tides Are Providing A Glimpse Of Hawaii’s Future. Volunteers help to document what happens when some of the year’s highest tides combine with a south swell and ongoing sea level rise. Civil Beat.

Parts of the state's most famous beach all but disappeared Thursday, as a "king tide" coupled with a south swell pushed up surf along Waikiki's shoreline to well beyond the normal high water mark. Hawaii News Now.

The Department of Transportation announced Thursday that it will add a new freeway lane on Moanalua Freeway from Red Hill to the Aiea Heights drive overpass, making more use of the current space by re-striping the area and preserving the amount of road space. KITV.

Beginning in early June, the Hawaii Department of Transportation will be working on the H-201 Moanalua Freeway westbound from the Halawa Interchange to the Aiea pedestrian overpass on the H-1 Freeway. KHON2.

A new emergency messaging app is replacing Nixle. The city announced the HNL Info app at a news conference Thursday. Star-Advertiser.

City says goodbye to NIXLE alerts and came up with their new mobile app. KITV.

A government crackdown on Oahu basil farms and their pesticide use practices has led to a settlement with a Waianae farm that has agreed to pay a $26,700 penalty. Star-Advertiser.

Aloha Stadium officials said they are re-examining security plans in the wake of the Manchester concert bombing and other terrorist attacks. Star-Advertiser.

A former Honolulu nightclub is being fined for numerous violations that came to light after a violent clash between bouncers and customers last year. Hawaii News Now.

Three more cases of mumps have been confirmed on Oahu, the state Department of Health announced Thursday. Civil Beat.

The World, a luxury residential cruise ship, has docked at Aloha Tower during its year-long voyage that included stops at the four major islands. Pacific Business News.

Hawaii Island

As the budget process winds down, Mayor Harry Kim is spending considerable time and effort meeting with various groups across the island to discuss the finer points of his office’s proposed $491.2 million budget for the fiscal year beginning July 1. West Hawaii Today.

The county has hired a consultant and selected properties for two new wastewater treatment plants as it works toward complying with a federal consent order requiring the closure of gang cesspools in Ka‘u. West Hawaii Today.

Waikapuna eyed for conservation. Tribune-Herald.

State raising awareness of hala scale. West Hawaii Today.

Part two of a series on the homeless population in North Hawaii, with possible solutions from local nonprofits, churches and community groups for how to tackle the problem. West Hawaii Today.

Big Island leads spending, arrivals gains for Hawaii tourism in April. Pacific Business News.

Maui

Hundreds Of Low-Income Maui Residents May Face Eviction. Their taxpayer-subsidized apartment building was supposed to be affordable for 50 years. But a loophole could end that arrangement far sooner. Civil Beat.

A procedural change in the way the county Department of Liquor Control processes permits to sell alcohol for one-day events is jeopardizing Maui nonprofit organizations’ fundraising efforts, according to a petition circulated via email this week by the Maui Non-Profit Directors Association. Maui News.

The transportation department has accrued some unusual help to manage weeds next to Maui roadways, goats. KHON2.

Maui County Parks are going organic. A pilot project to create pesticide-free county parks is underway on the Valley Isle. Hawaii Public Radio.

In addition to more parking, residents want food trucks, a plaza and a children’s museum in Wailuku town, according to an online survey that concluded earlier this month. Maui News.

With reports of the ocean washing over Honoapiilani Highway in Ukumehame on Wednesday and Thursday, the National Weather Service is warning of possible coastal flooding in Maui County due to record-level spring “king tides.” Maui News.

Kauai

The General Plan will keep land in Princeville zoned as resort. On Tuesday, the Planning Commission voted against the plan’s attempt to take away the resort designation, which it currently has. Garden Island.

Eleven people were arrested in the past two days for illegally camping in Kalalau Valley, according to the state’s Department of Land and Natural Resources on Thursday. Garden Island.

Coco Palms takes spotlight at LBA meeting. Man tells legislators they have no authority over property. Garden Island.

State Reps. James Tokioka, Dee Morikawa and Nadine Nakamura, and Senate President Ron Kouchi offered a look at the highlights of the legislative session that wrapped up earlier this month. Garden Island.

‘King tides’ could be norm. Rising water offers chance for citizen science. Garden Island.

Federal appeals court panel hears Hawaii's travel ban lawsuit, bill gives Hawaii unions more power, Hawaii insurer benefits from Obamacare battle, homeless count questioned, mumps hits 16-year high, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Albatross at Papahanaumokuakea, courtesy NOAA

The Trump administration’s review process for 29 national monuments, including the Papahanaumokuakea Marine National Monument, is sparking some outrage during the public comment period. Civil Beat.

An executive order signed by President Donald Trump directs Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke to review 27 national monuments established or expanded by three other presidents since 1996. Associated Press.

An attorney for Hawaii told a federal appeals court Monday that President Donald Trump’s revised travel ban on citizens from six predominantly Muslim countries amounts to establishing Islam as a disfavored religion. Star-Advertiser.

The Trump administration faced tough questioning from a panel of the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals for the second time in four months as it defended its revised executive order on immigration. A 9th Circuit Court of Appeals panel Monday heard arguments in Hawaii’s lawsuit to block key parts of the executive order restricting travel and immigration from countries. Civil Beat.

Trump confident travel ban is lawful. Associated Press.

Did Hawaii Lawmakers Just Give Public Worker Unions Too Much Power? Government officials fear a bill sitting on Gov. Ige’s desk will strip them of their ability to tell their employees what to do without union interference. Civil Beat.

The state launched a public hearing schedule today to determine the feasibility of growing industrial hemp in Hawai’i. Hawaii Public Radio.

The state has taken $10 million away from a successful energy program -- Hawaii Energy -- to give it to a failing one-- Green Energy Market Securitization. Star-Advertiser.

The Supreme Court has turned away challenges to open primaries in Hawaii and Montana that allow voters to take part in party primary elections regardless of their political affiliations. Star-Advertiser.

Obamacare hasn’t been repealed and replaced yet under the administration of President Donald Trump, but the suspension of an Affordable Care Act fee for insurers greatly benefited the state’s largest health insurer, Hawaii Medical Service Association. Star-Advertiser.

The number of people infected during the current mumps outbreak in Hawaii jumped to 39 Monday with the confirmation of eight new cases on Oahu and another on Kauai. Star-Advertiser.

The Hawai‘i State Department of Health today confirmed nine additional cases of mumps in Hawai‘i residents, bringing the total number of cases in 2017 to 39. Maui Now.

Kamehameha Schools graduates and teachers are criticizing a list of finalists for a $165,000-a-year trustee position that includes the names of two individuals without any Hawaiian heritage. Hawaii News Now.

Following the bloodiest World War II battle of the Pacific at Okinawa, the United States brought some 3,000 prisoners of war to Hawaii, where they were held in detention camps between July 1945 and December 1946. Early next month those POW days will be formally remembered when a delegation from Okinawa, led by a pair of elderly camp survivors, returns to Hawaii to retrace their steps. Star-Advertiser.

The U.S. Department of Defense on Monday awarded contracts totaling $129 million to several companies for various medically related administrative and programmatic support services across the country, including Hawaii. Pacific Business News.

Oahu

Looking around the disheveled homeless encampments on Oahu, it’s difficult to reconcile some of the more extraordinary numbers that came out of the latest homeless census last week — specifically, a 29 percent reduction in homelessness in Waikiki and East Honolulu. Star-Advertiser.

48 fallen officers remembered during 'Police Week' in Honolulu. Hawaii News Now.

Why even the state’s smallest fix-its are facing big delays. KHON2.

Planned Parenthood said Monday it will open a new location in Honolulu. Star-Advertiser.

The chimpanzee exhibit at the Honolulu Zoo is closed indefinitely after an ape escaped late Sunday morning. Hawaii News Now.

Hawaii Island

The Hawaii County Council will get a crack this week at Mayor Harry Kim’s proposed $491.2 million budget and tax increases that go with it. Tribune-Herald.

The budget proposed by Mayor Harry Kim will add seven new positions to county government. West Hawaii Today.

The hydrologist who studied potential impacts that a development in Kahaluu could have to groundwater said Monday that while the proposed timeshare project could slightly decrease the flow rate of groundwater and slightly increase its salinity, it would also lead to a decrease in the level of unwanted nutrients in the water that discharges at the shoreline. West Hawaii Today.

After years of planning and months of delay, the Hawaii Island Meat Cooperative has started processing local meat at its mobile slaughterhouse unit. Tribune-Herald.

A 36-year-old U.S. solider has died during a training incident on Hawaii island. Star-Advertiser.

University of Hawaii’s John A. Burns School of Medicine announced last week that it plans a residency rotation in obstetrics and gynecology via a partnership with Bay Clinic and Hilo Medical Center, which already hosts primary care medical residency. Tribune-Herald.

Hawaii Island landowner and entrepreneur Edmund C. Olson was recognized by the Hawaii Small Business Administration on Monday with a special lifetime award for his work stimulating the state’s economy, protecting the environment and helping train a generation to follow in his footsteps. West Hawaii Today.

The many friends and family of the late State Senator Gilbert Kahele gathered Monday to dedicate “Kahele Point” on the small, oceanfront dock of the Grand Naniloa Hotel on Banyan Drive. Big Island Video News.

Maui

The 39th annual Visitor Industry Charity Walk set a new record for Maui County with events on Maui, Lanai and Molokai bringing in $1,159,053, an increase of $125,670 from last year, the Maui Hotel & Lodging Association announced. Maui News.

Kauai

A recent flurry of activity on social media about illegal goings on in the Kalalau Valley has stirred anti-squatter sentiment on Kauai, and some are calling for a change in the area’s management. Garden Island.

After years of planning and deliberation, Island School’s efforts to reclassify 38.4 acres of land to urban usage could be decided in July. Garden Island.

No evidence tree fungus is here. Garden Island.

Construction bolsters Hawaii GDP, deaf Japanese tourist sues Honolulu airport, Caldwell expands sit-lie ban, King Kamehameha III statue planned, OHA talks native rights on Kauai, 100th Molokai monk seal born, mumps, rat lungworm diseases increase, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Honolulu construction cranes © 2017 All Hawaii News

Hawaii’s construction industry contributed to strong growth in the state’s real gross domestic product for 2016, despite pulling it down in the fourth quarter. Star-Advertiser.

As the Board of Education prepared to privately interview its two selected finalists for schools superintendent Thursday, community members and education groups complained to board members that the selection process was not transparent and lacked public input. Star-Advertiser.

Medical marijuana dispensaries have been allowed to grow plants in Hawaii since January, but until the state certifies labs that will be charged with testing it, patients remain clueless as to when they'll actually be able to obtain the drug. Hawaii News Now.

Hawaii Attorney General Doug Chin has joined the attorneys general of 37 states and the District of Columbia to widen their authority in the investigation of Medicaid fraud. Pacific Business News.

Four new mumps infections and another case of rat lungworm were confirmed in Hawaii on Thursday, bringing the totals of those disease outbreaks to new annual highs in the state. Star-Advertiser.

Oahu

A deaf Japanese tourist was illegally denied a sign-language interpreter while she was detained and interrogated after landing at the Honolulu International Airport, the American Civil Liberties Union of Hawaii said in a discrimination complaint. Associated Press.

A deaf tourist from Japan was illegally denied access to a sign language interpreter during hours of interrogation and detention at Daniel K. Inoyue International Airport, and was subsequently handcuffed, an ACLU discrimination complaint alleges. Hawaii News Now.

A developer whose permit has stalled in Honolulu City Council called a councilman's comments racist against Chinese-Americans and threatened to organize a boycott of Hawaii if he doesn't get his way. Hawaii News Now.

Mayor Kirk Caldwell signed a bill into law Thursday that expands the city’s controversial sit-lie enforcement zones into Iwilei and additional parts of Kapalama. Star-Advertiser.

Mayor Kirk Caldwell signed into law Thursday a bill that expands the controversial sit-law ban to certain sidewalks near businesses in Iwilei and Kalihi. Hawaii News Now.

Living on the street is now illegal in another part of Oahu. KITV.

Backup power is latest project plagued by costly delays at Honolulu airport. KHON2.

The name “Daniel K. Inouye International Airport” greets drivers heading into the airport, so what other changes can we expect? KHON2.

The distinctive missile telemetry ship MV Pacific Collector is in port at Aloha Tower, possibly for a key upcoming ballistic missile defense test. Star-Advertiser.

On Saturday, about 2,000 students are expected to attend graduation at UH Manoa — and most will likely stay in Hawaii after getting their diploma. Civil Beat.

Honoring the longest reigning monarch in Hawaii's history, the legacy of King Kamehameha III will live on with a permanent statue. KITV.

Hawaii Island

Hawaii, Japan talk tourism at summit. West Hawaii Today.

The University of Hawaii’s medical school for the first time is placing a paid faculty member on Hawaii island to address its chronic shortage of doctors. Star-Advertiser.

A Hilo obstetrician/gynecologist has lost a court battle over the state’s demand that he repay more than $200,000 in reimbursements for services to Medicaid patients. Tribune-Herald.

The parking lot at Laaloa Beach Park, also known as Magic Sands, will be closed indefinitely starting Wednesday, according to the county’s Department of Parks and Recreation. West Hawaii Today.

A Kalapana woman says she takes “full responsibility” for graffiti on Mauna Kea but denied defacing rocks. Tribune-Herald.

Commentary: The Hawaii Supreme Court has administered a mild but still meaningful rebuke to a prominent proponent of the thesis, now in vogue among certain parts of the Hawaiian sovereignty movement, that the Hawaiian Kingdom was never legally made part of the United State and therefore continues to exist as an independent nation. Civil Beat.

Maui

A day after hearing emotional testimony from about 50 people affected by drunken driving and alcohol abuse, the Maui County Liquor Control Commission unanimously voted Wednesday to reconsider its decision to allow 24-hour retail sales of alcohol and removing the cap on hostess bars in the county. Maui News.

Maui single-family home and condominium sales prices remained high in April, but not the lofty heights seen earlier this year, according to a Realtors Association of Maui report this week. Maui News.

Kauai

Native Hawaiian lands and rights were a big part of the talks at an Office of Hawaiian Affairs Board of Trustees meeting Thursday at the Kekaha Neighborhood Center. Garden Island.

State epidemiologist Dr. Sarah Park told Kauai council members Wednesday the rat lungworm disease may be under-recognized on some Hawaiian islands. Garden Island.

Molokai
Kalaupapa National Historic Park welcomes 100th baby monk seal. Hawaii News Now.