No special session for veto overrides, Hurricane Daniel weakens, Public Housing Authority hiring, Honolulu picking up prostitutes, landowners blocking beach access, Haleakala National Park may limit tours, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Hawaii state Capitol (c) 2012 All Hawaii News

House Speaker Calvin Say and Senate President Shan Tsutsui said today in a memo to fellow legislators there will be no special session this July 10 to override any of Gov. Neil Abercrombie's potential vetoes. Hawaii Reporter.

Hawaii's main energy efficiency and conservation program — initially focused primarily on hardware upgrades such as compact fluorescent bulbs, Energy Star appliances and air conditioning retrofits — is now getting some help from behavioral scientists in its mission to cut the state's electricity consumption. Star-Advertiser.

There’s a new energy debate heating up, looking at whether liquefied natural gas could play a role in Hawai`i’s fuel future. Hawaii Public Radio.

Across the country, voter turnout has been on the decline since the 1960s, but Hawaii started higher than most and has fallen farther over the years. Civil Beat.

Oceanfront property owners use vegetation--and deception--to thwart rightful public access. Honolulu Weekly.

The state's Public Housing Authority is hiring. Which means dozens of jobs are available, and more people will be able to get housing they desperately need. KITV4.

Adult community schools have gotten a one-month reprieve before a planned consolidation, now set to take place Aug. 1. Star-Advertiser.

Nobel Peace Prize Laureate Desmond Tutu will be making five appearances at a Honolulu cathedral. Associated Press.

The National Hurricane Center says hurricane Daniel continues to weaken as it moves west along the Pacific Ocean. Hawaii News Now.

State roundup for July 9. Associated Press.

Oahu

Honolulu prosecutors say prostitution laws are being more aggressively enforced, and police are making more arrests on weekends. Civil Beat.

The city deviated from state procurement law in its award of a $175,000 Fire Department consulting contract in 2010, said state Chief Procurement Officer Aaron Fujioka. Hawaii Reporter.

More questions are being raised about backroom contracting procedures that have led to a Honolulu Ethics Commission investigation. Civil Beat.

Hawaii Gov. Neil Abercrombie has released more than $75.3 million for Honolulu International Airport projects. Associated Press.

Hawaii

Hirono opens East Hawaii headquarters. Tribune-Herald.

Providing Native Hawaiians already incarcerated with the tools and skills needed to succeed is just one of many ways to address concerns about the over-representation of Native Hawaiians in the criminal justice system, one resident told a state task force Saturday in Kailua-Kona. West Hawaii Today.

BigIslandRadar.com monitoring, reporting traffic violations to police. West Hawaii Today.

Maui

County Council members voted 7-2 Friday to give initial approval to a resolution that would put before voters on Nov. 6 a second version of a proposed Maui County Charter amendment to extend council terms from two to four years. Maui News.

The Public Utilities Commission has appointed Senators Roz Baker and J. Kalani English as members to the newly created Hawaiian Electric Companies’ Integrated Resource Planning (IRP) Advisory Group. Maui Now.

Haleakala National Park officials are seeking public input on a plan that would significantly scale back commercial tour activities offered in the park, including prohibiting tours several days each year and banning motor coaches. Maui News.

Kaiser Permanente Hawaii plans to open a new behavioral health services location on Maui this week. Pacific Business News.

Kauai

After hearing public concerns regarding a bill to “encourage the use” of county-owned charging stations for electric vehicles, Kaua‘i County Council members on Thursday changed language in the bill to no longer offer free charges to electric vehicles for the next six months. Garden Island.

Even though the price of crude oil went down in June, Hawai‘i drivers are, on average, paying more for gasoline compared to the same time last year. Garden Island.

While some states offer rebates as high as 35 percent,  that’s not the only reason filmmakers select locations. Garden Island.

Molokai

After a scare in April that bus services to Molokai Intermediate and High schools would be cut, parents and students will be relieved to learn that school bus services on Molokai will not be affected for the upcoming school year, according to the Department of Education. Molokai Dispatch.

Abercrombie to announce 'sensational' news, plastic bag ban nearing for Hawaii Island, Honolulu faces 70% water rate hike, $1.4B rail contract inked, Molokai fights tourist yacht, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Kahuku guided hike (c) 2011 All Hawaii News

Hawaii Volcanoes National Park officials are debating how to develop its Kahuku Unit, more than seven years after it opened to the public. Tribune-Herald.

Later this week, Gov. Abercrombie is scheduled to announce "sensational" news about the sale of a state bond issue and tell the public what it says about the state's financial condition and what work it might make possible. Civil Beat.

After initially saying it couldn’t be done, the Hawaii State Judiciary has upgraded electronic access to state Circuit Court records. Hawaii Reporter.

The list of candidates Gov. Neil Abercrombie released for the associate justice vacancy he filled with Sabrina McKenna's appointment includes three finalists for chief justice last year, who could be nominated again for an upcoming opening on the Supreme Court. Star-Advertiser.

The state Reapportionment Commission should be ordered to redraw new political boundaries to more accurately reflect the total permanent resident population of the islands, Gov. Neil Abercrombie's office contends, a move that would shift a state Senate seat to Hawaii Island. Star-Advertiser.

More than 3,000 volunteers are expected to help make 60,000 pages of Hawaiian language newspapers available to the world via the Internet on this Lā Kū‘oko‘a, Hawaiian Independence Day. Hawaii Independent.

Hawaii's progress on Race to the Top education reforms and a timeline for implementing common core standards are on the state Board of Education's agenda this weekend. Associated Press.

Officials with Schofield Barracks identified the soldier who died in an early morning roll-over crash Saturday as Spc. Phillip S. Bullins, 23, of Carthage, North Carolina. KITV4.

Oahu

The Honolulu Board of Water Supply on Monday unanimously approved a 70 percent increase in water rates through the next five fiscal years. Star-Advertiser.

On Monday, Abercrombie riffed on a new idea, his boldest yet: a third city for Oahu, after Honolulu and Kapolei. Civil Beat.

Ansaldo Honolulu JV signed a $1.4 billion contract with the Honolulu Authority for Rapid Transportation for 80 rail cars on Monday. Star-Advertiser.

The Honolulu Rail Transit contract for rail cars was signed late this afternoon … one day before the Project is challenged in Federal Court. Hawaii Public Radio.

The City of Honolulu is shifting its towing contract. Hawaii News Now.

Hawaii’s largest metropolitan area had 300 fewer businesses after the onset of the recession, according to a new analysis of data from the U.S. Census Bureau. Pacific Business News.

The Traffic Violations Bureau in the Honolulu District Court at 1111 Alakea Street will no longer be open until 9:00 p.m. on Wednesday evenings. KHON2.

Hawaii

Having heard from communities around the island, the County Council is moving closer to deciding whether to prohibit businesses from giving plastic shopping bags to their customers. Tribune-Herald.

State and county officials are OK with letting a Puako home owner keep a seawall that protects about 30 feet of personal property above the shoreline. West Hawaii Today.

Maui
Fortunately for Maui and the Hana community, there weren't many teaching jobs in Michigan for Mitzi Hasegawa. Maui News.

Kauai

Members of the Kapa‘a Middle School Choir and ‘Ukulele Band offered shoppers some holiday cheer on Sunday during its “Singing for Tips” fundraiser at the Walmart and Safeway stores. Garden Island.

Molokai

An American Safari Cruises vessel was able to dock at a Molokai harbor a day after protesters on small boats and surfboards blocked its previous attempt. Associated Press.

A Molokai protester said a cruise ship that he and others stopped from entering into Kaunakakai Harbor on Saturday "snuck back in" on Sunday. Maui News.

A group of protestors on small boats and surfboards physically blocked an American Safari Cruises’ (ASC) yacht, the Safari Explorer, from docking at Kaunakakai Wharf last Saturday morning. Molokai Dispatch.