AG Chin preparing for congressional race, Hawaii slips to second healthiest state, worker's comp fails workers, mayors pledge to ban fossil fuels in vehicles, Honolulu cop hits pedestrian, basalt fiber plant planned, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Attorney General Doug Chin with U.S. Sen. Mazie Hirono, file courtesy photo

State attorney general eyes Congress. State Attorney General Douglas Chin is laying the groundwork for his first political campaign, which will be a run for the U.S. House seat being vacated by U.S. Rep. Colleen Hanabusa, sources said. Star-Advertiser.

Civil Beat Poll: Support Is Still Strong For Medical Aid In Dying. Proponents of the legislation outnumber opponents by a 3-to-1 ratio. Civil Beat.

Hawaii slips to second healthiest state in the nation in annual report. After five consecutive years in the No. 1 spot, the Aloha State has fallen to second place behind Massachusetts, according to the America’s Health Rankings 2017 report by the United Health Foundation. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii is no longer the nation's 'healthiest state'. Hawaii News Now.

Recent Court Decisions Beneficial For Injured Workers. The Hawaii Supreme Court made two rulings in 2015 in favor of workers who had been denied treatment for their injuries. Civil Beat.

Part 2 of an ongoing series about Hawaii’s workers’ compensation system. Hawaii’s workers’ comp system developed over more than a century, allows insurance companies to pay doctors of their choosing to examine injured workers. Civil Beat.

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Using the worldwide-traveling Hokulea docked at Pokai Bay as inspiration, leaders from all four major counties Tuesday signed pledges to eliminate the use of fossil-fuel-powered ground transportation vehicles by 2045. Star-Advertiser.

The leaders of Hawaii’s four counties have pledged to eliminate all fossil fuels from ground transportation by 2045. Pacific Business News.

Mayors pledge 100% ground transportation powered by renewable energy by 2045. KITV.

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New Ag Department Pesticides Manager Appointed. Hawaii Entomologist John McHugh, Ph.D., has been appointed as the new program manager of the Pesticides Branch of the Hawaii Department of Agriculture. Big Island Now.

Cannabis Cardholders Increase, But They Aren’t Flocking To Dispensaries. A by-the-numbers look at the medical marijuana landscape now that dispensaries have opened on Oahu and Maui. Civil Beat.

Hawaii Medical Assurance Association, which provided the majority of the health services rendered to Island Air employees in November, said Tuesday it will absorb the more than $137,000 in costs incurred during the month even though the now-bankrupt airline did not pay its premiums for the month. Star-Advertiser.

Oahu

A state effort to partner with a private developer to overhaul several sites in the Ala Wai Small Boat Harbor has prompted community skepticism from those who fear redevelopment could leave them with a soaring tower on prime public land intended for recreation. Star-Advertiser.

Political candidate with history of incendiary remarks sparks new controversy. Hawaii News Now.

Homeless return to popular bike path despite major cleanups. After two large-scale cleanups along a popular bike path in Aiea, homeless campers are starting to return. KHON2.

HPD vehicle strikes pedestrian during morning rush. KITV.

Products made by Hawaii inmates will be featured in the Hawaii Correctional Industries Holiday Showcase Sale. KHON2.

Worst erosion in years on Sunset Beach forces tough decisions. Hawaii News Now.

Hawaii Island

Officials still making rounds urging vigilance for N.Korean attack. It’s an emergency message no one wants to hear: “The U.S. Pacific Command has detected a missile threat to Hawaii. A missile may impact on land or sea within minutes. This is not a drill”. West Hawaii Today.

Isle lava could be source of high-tech building materials. A state research organization wants to know if turning volcanic rock dust on Hawaii island into a versatile, high-strength building material can become a new local industry. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii aerospace center seeks proposals for basalt fiber manufacturing feasibility study. Pacific Business News.

Back out to bid for Waimea Highway project. About a month after Hawaii County scrapped a bid solicitation for the Mamalahoa Highway widening project amid concerns about fairness, the county is once again soliciting bids for the work. West Hawaii Today.

Mobile spay, neuter clinic down the road for HIHS. The Hawaii Island Humane Society is raising money to purchase a vehicle for a mobile spay and neuter clinic. Tribune-Herald.

Police, HDOA say parasites may be playing role in Ka'u cattle deaths. West Hawaii Today.

Maui

Sand Mining Moratorium Resolution to Resurface in Council. A resolution recommending a moratorium on sand mining in Central Maui surfaces again for first reading at the council’s next meeting on Dec. 15 after the item was deferred earlier this month. Maui Now.

No support found for lifeguard tower move. Testimony calls for the funding of new tower at popular tourist beach. Maui News.

The median price of a single-family home on Maui increased by more than 8 percent last month, compared to last year, even as the number of sales dropped 21 percent, while condominiums recorded increases in sales and prices for November, according to the monthly report by the Realtors Association of Maui. Pacific Business News.

Kauai

KIUC plans changes to Wailua River diversions. Water is going to be returned to the North Fork of the Wailua River, at the Blue Hole and Waikoko diversions. Garden Island.

Hokua Place may face fight. Members of the community are expected to show up in force at a county meeting today in opposition to a development that would be located behind Kapaa Middle School. Garden Island.

Hawaii still tops in homelessness, new tax chief named, Honolulu police chief admits error in gun confiscation, Kauai council passes GET surcharge, attack siren failures reported, Pearl Harbor remembered, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Homeless sleep on Honolulu sidewalk © 2017 All Hawaii News

Hawaii still leads nation in homeless count per capita. The 7,220 homeless people counted across the islands in January as part of an annual, nationwide homeless census put Hawaii’s rate at 51 homeless people for every 10,000 individuals, the worst of all 50 states, according to a U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development report released Wednesday. Star-Advertiser.

Despite broad concerns, governor says tax system upgrades are on track. The governor says a $60 million project to modernize the tax department's outdated computer systems is moving forward with the right team in place. Hawaii News Now.

Ige appoints new director for troubled state tax department. Gov. David Ige today named Linda Chu Takayama as the new director of the state Department of Taxation in an effort to quickly replace outgoing director Maria Zielinski in what has emerged as a pivotal position in Ige’s administration. Star-Advertiser.

Linda Chu Takayama

Ige appoints new interim director of taxation. Hawaii Gov. David Ige has named Linda Chu Takayama as the new interim director of the state Department of Taxation following Maria Zielinski's sudden resignation on Tuesday. Pacific Business News.

Governor Appoints Linda Chu Takayama as Interim Tax Director. Hawaii Public Radio.

Trump advised to alter Pacific Remote Islands monument. Commercial fishing has been banned for nearly a decade in 490,534 square miles of water around several western Pacific islands and atolls. But that could change based on a recommendation issued Tuesday to President Donald Trump. Star-Advertiser.

Can Voluntourism Offset the Environmental Impacts of Hawaii's Growing Visitor Industry? Most tourists come to Hawaii on vacation for rest and relaxation, but there’s a popular trend in visitors coming to Hawaii to volunteer their time and labor. Hawaii Public Radio.

Hawaii Lawmakers Are Used To Hearing About Potential Conflicts Of Interest. Legislators argue there are good reasons to vote even on issues where they may have potential conflicts. Associated Press

Why Hawaii Residents Can’t Build Their Own Private Power Grids. As solar systems and battery storage gain popularity, some say Hawaii’s law needs to catch up with the technology. Civil Beat.

Survivors, families to mark 76th anniversary of Pearl Harbor attack. The crowds will be smaller this year. There will be fewer headlines and cameras and big names. Hawaii News Now.

76th Anniversary of National Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day. Maui Now.

WWII veterans accomplish final mission. Seventy-six years have passed since the “day of infamy.” The call to “Remember Pearl Harbor” has faded, Hotel Street has faded, and the men like Lauren Bruner and Lou Conter, who were there and fought back, are fading, too. Star-Advertiser.

USS Arizona Survivors take special flight to mark 76th Anniversary of Pearl Harbor attack. KITV.

USS Arizona survivors take aerial tour ahead of Pearl Harbor’s 76th commemoration. KHON2.

How Hawaii airports stack up against the competition for international passengers. Pacific Business News.

Island Air workers unable to access 401(k) funds. The company’s 423 workers, already without their final November paycheck and health insurance, now are being shut out from accessing their 401(k) retirement funds — some of which have been deposited in the wrong account. Star-Advertiser.

Following report, judge in Kamehameha Schools sex abuse case recuses herself. Hawaii News Now.

Commentary: Preparing For Hawaii’s Next Constitutional Convention Vote. A referendum is set for Nov. 6, 2018, but now is the time to begin the discussion. Civil Beat.

Oahu

Emergency Leader Concerned Siren Was Hard To Hear In Waikiki. Beachgoers hardly noticed the alarm, which also was hard to hear in some other areas. Associated Press.

HPD in error over cannabis patients with guns, chief says. Honolulu police Chief Susan Ballard said her department’s controversial policy requiring medical marijuana patients to relinquish their guns was wrong. Star-Advertiser.

Council Gives Preliminary OK To Changing How Police Panel Selected. The resolution would allow the City Council to select three members of the seven-member commission. Civil Beat.

Council OKs measures trying to rein in ‘monster’ homes. The Honolulu City Council approved legislation Wednesday that directs the Department of Planning and Permitting to come up with stiffer regulations on large-scale houses and renewed an effort to impose a moratorium on building permits for such structures until new rules are in place. Star-Advertiser.

Council gives OK to Keeaumoku condo tower project. The developers of the Hawaii City Plaza condominium tower in the Keeaumoku area have been given the go-ahead by the Honolulu City Council, despite lingering ill feelings toward the developers by some Council members and concerns by community members that the approval was rushed. Star-Advertiser.

Proposed High Rise With ‘Poor Door’ Stalls At City Council. Councilwoman Kymberly Pine said the developer needs to address concerns about a planned separate entrance to the lower-cost rental units. Civil Beat.

Hawaii health officials have issued an advisory telling people not to eat fish or shellfish caught in the Kaneohe Marine Corps Base Hawaii fuel pier and marina area due to unsafe levels of contaminants. Associated Press.

Crews Are Close to Finally Ridding Waikiki Of The Pacific Paradise. The Coast Guard says the cost of salvaging the wrecked vessel has already exceeded $1 million. Civil Beat.

The state attorney general says no criminal charges will be filed for now in the case of a toddler who was assaulted in a babysitter's care. Hawaii News Now.

Oahu home prices continued their mostly slow and steady rise this year, notching 3 percent gains in November. Star-Advertiser.

Oahu home sales post double-digit increases as prices rise. Pacific Business News.

Hawaii Island

State adding more sirens to alert Big Island about emergencies. The state is adding 17 new Big Island sirens to its system of emergency alerts as it works to fill gaps in a program designed to bolster public preparedness in natural and man-made emergencies. West Hawaii Today.

People in Hilo thought they were hearing sirens. It was actually a leaf blower. Hawaii News Now.

The owner of Cloverleaf Dairy is looking to hand his family business over to another company after a deal reached in 2016 fell through. Tribune-Herald.

VIDEO: Hungarian Automated Telescope On Mauna Kea Made Permanent. A request for permanent continuation of the Hungarian Automated Telescope, or HAT, was approved by the Maunakea Management Board on November 28. Big Island Video News.

Maui

LUC members hear testimony backing ‘agrihood’ project. Land Use Commission members heard several hours of testimony Wednesday as part of hearings on proposed state district boundary amendments for the nearly 500-acre Waikapu Country Town project. Maui News.

Letter: County Liquor officials did not prohibit children at event. The county Department of Liquor Control defended its “limited role” in an October fundraiser by the Boys & Girls Clubs of Maui, writing in a letter last week to the club that no liquor laws or rules prevented youths from receiving awards at the event that served alcohol. Maui News.

Infographic: Sewage Spills on Maui. Maui Now.

Kauai

Council OKs tax hike. On Wednesday, the county council approved Bill 2670 to establish a general excise and use tax surcharge. Garden Island.

Officers seize illegal plants from Kalalau Valley. The Kauai Police Department participated in a two-day multi-agency operation this week that led to the removal of 15 coca plants from Kalalau Valley. Garden Island.

Molokai

New emergency sirens will be tested at five Molokai sites between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. today and Friday, the Hawaii Emergency Management Agency said. Maui News.

Tourists flocking to Hawaii, nuclear attack siren test today, state tax officials told consultant to alter report, Jim Nabors mourned, Uber and Lyft allowed to pickup at Honolulu airport, Kauai natives claim title, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Waikiki beach beauties © 2017 All Hawaii News

Hawaii posts solid tourism gains in October. Hawaii tourism continued its blistering pace in October, kicking off the fourth quarter ahead of forecasts with further gains expected. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii sees big gains in tourism spending. Visitor spending in Hawaii increased 4.4 percent last month to $1.3 billion, while year-to-date spending rose 6.8 percent to $13.8 billion, according to preliminary statistics released Thursday by the Hawaii Tourism Authority. Pacific Business News.

The Hawaii Tourism Authority says the number of visitors to the state rose nearly 3 percent in October compared to the year before. Associated Press.

The Hawaii Tourism Authority says the number of visitors to the state rose nearly 3 percent in October compared to the year before. Garden Island.

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Emergency sirens will blast new ‘attack’ warning in first test. Today, sirens will blast in wavering unison to a sound not heard in Hawaii since the Cold War — an “attack warning.” Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii Revives Cold War Relic: Test System For Nuke Attack. The siren will be tested Friday. It includes a wailing sound in the middle to distinguish it from the storm siren. Civil Beat.

Get ready, Hawaii. For the first time since the Cold War, an "attack warning" siren with a wavering tone will sound Friday across the state. Associated Press.

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Firm says state tax officials told it to alter report on $60M computer project. A consultant hired by the state to oversee the $60 million modernization of the Department of Taxation’s computer systems was instructed by state tax officials on which subjects “should and should not” be addressed in its supposedly independent monitoring reports to lawmakers and the public, according to a new report. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii has a critical need for more infant and toddler care, and some rural areas are “child care deserts” with few options for working parents, according to a report released Thursday. Star-Advertiser.

Study: Child care in Hawaii is pricey and in short supply. Hawaii News Now.

Emotions 101: Why Hawaii Schools Are Focusing On Feelings. Hawaii schools have joined a growing educational movement that emphasizes “whole child” development, not just academics. Civil Beat.

Among Kamehameha Schools alums, no consensus on how to handle sex abuse case. Hawaii News Now.

A state program helping Hawaii consumers and businesses conserve electricity said it delivered record energy savings last fiscal year despite a 29 percent budget cut and fewer incentives. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaiian Airlines will unveil two changes today by launching a new meal program in the main cabin for its North American routes and debuting uniforms by Hilo-based designer Sig Zane across its network. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii’s 2017 hurricane season officially ended Thursday as one of the quietest yet. Tribune-Herald.

Jim Nabors, 87, dies at Diamond Head home. Hawaii friends of beloved entertainer Jim Nabors say he wasn’t far removed from the gentle, amiable television character, Gomer Pyle, that first brought him fame in the 1960s. Star-Advertiser.

Legendary singer and actor Jim Nabors being remembered around the world. He died at his Diamond Head home early Thursday morning at the age of 87. KITV.

'It wasn't a facade': Friends, fans remember Jim Nabors' talent, wit and folksy charm. Hawaii News Now.

Oahu

The Honolulu Police Department is reviewing a controversial policy that requires legal marijuana patients to turn in their firearms. Star-Advertiser.

A unanimous Hawaii Supreme Court ruled last week that the Honolulu Police Department conducted an illegal search when, acting on an anonymous tip, it made several helicopter flights in October 2012 over a Waipahu home and spotted a number of marijuana plants growing alongside the house. Civil Beat.

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Uber, Lyft OK’d to pick up at airport. Several Hawaii taxicab companies are objecting to an agreement between the state Department of Transportation and ride-hailing services to allow pickups at Daniel K. Inouye International Airport in Honolulu. Star-Advertiser.

Starting Friday, ride-hailing services Uber and Lyft will be able to pick up passengers at Daniel K. Inouye International Airport. Civil Beat.

Uber and Lyft have been granted a temporary three-month permit beginning Friday to pick up passengers from the Honolulu International Airport for a pilot program announced Thursday by the Hawaii Department of Transportation. Pacific Business News.

Starting Dec. 1, Uber and Lyft can pick you up at the airport. KITV.

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Rent for a 2-bedroom apartment in Honolulu drops 11%, Zumper report finds. The median rent for a two-bedroom apartment in Honolulu is $2,110, which is 11 percent less than the same time last year, when it was $2,370, according to the Zumper report, which analyzed rental data from more than 1 million active listings in the U.S. available in the month prior to publication. Pacific Business News.

City to spend $46M to replace street lamps with energy-efficient LEDs. The city is finally ready to kick off a project to convert all 53,500 street lights on Oahu to energy-efficient LED lamps. Hawaii News Now.

Oahu is going to get brighter. The city plans to convert 53,000 street lights island-wide into LED lights. KITV.

City’s bright idea aims to save millions of tax dollars each year. KHON2.

KouWork, a co-working space that recently opened in the ground floor of a two-story, 6,000-square-foot building at 814 Ilaniwai St., has brought in such tenants as The Wedding Café, Brue Bar and its parent company, HonBlue. Pacific Business News.

Stevenson teacher wins $100,000 to set up campus technology hub. Hundreds of students erupted in raucous cheers at Stevenson Middle School as teacher Patricia Morgan was named Thursday as a national winner of a $100,000 grant to set up an “Imaginerium” on campus. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii Island

The Hawaii Police Department has a letter it sends to medical marijuana patients seeking a gun permit that’s similar to a letter sent by the Honolulu Police Department which has cannabis advocates up in arms, so to speak. Tribune-Herald.

Hilo selected as one of the best places for snowbirds. Hilo has been named among the “20 best places for snowbirds this winter” by the travel site Expedia. Tribune-Herald.

Two California men who posted photos of themselves on social media holding an endangered green sea turtle have been fined. KHON2.

A man and woman were arrested on drug charges after a search of a homeless housing unit Tuesday afternoon. West Hawaii Today.

Flood Warning Prompts Shelter Opening, East Hawaii Parks Closed. Big Island Video News.

Maui

Maui Police Captain Enters Not Guilty Plea in Sex Assault Case. Maui Police Capt. Stephen Orikasa was charged with fourth degree Sex Assault for an alleged incident reported in October 2017. Maui Now.

Councilmember Yuki Lei Sugimura will introduce a resolution at the Maui County Council’s meeting on Friday, Dec. 1, urging the Governor and the State Legislature to mandate the Department of Land and Natural Resources Division of Conservation and Resources Enforcement, to proactively administer the state statute relating to the preservation of historic properties and native Hawaiian burials. Maui Now.

Work continues on Lahaina bypass extension. Maui News.

Visitor spending on Maui grew (+7.6% to $368.3 million) in October 2017, boosted by increased daily spending (+5.6% to $219 per person) and growth in visitor days (+1.9%), according to preliminary data released today by the Hawaii Tourism Authority. Maui Now.

Hospice Maui’s new land parcel blessed. Maui News.

Kauai

More than 20 people claim interest in quiet title suit. Judge Randal Valenciano’s courtroom was full on Thursday as more than 50 people filed in to be a part of quiet title proceedings related to land on Kauai’s Westside. Garden Island.

Postal service pledges vigilance as Kauai woman sentenced for drug packages. A Kauai woman was sentenced Thursday to 10 years in prison for smuggling drugs in the mail. KHON2.

Honolulu medical marijuana users told to surrender guns, nuclear attack warning sirens to be tested Friday, Russian billionaire yacht turned back from Molokai harbor, public forum set for new Oahu jail, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

HPD medical marijuana gun letter circulating on Facebook

HPD tells medical marijuana patients to turn in their guns. The Honolulu Police Department is ordering legal cannabis patients to “voluntarily surrender” any guns they own because pot is still considered an illegal drug under federal law. Star-Advertiser.

Honolulu Police Tell Medical Marijuana Patients To Give Up Their Guns. Some say the department’s policy of sending letters to patients is an escalation of efforts to deny gun permits. Civil  Beat.

North Korea’s test launch Tuesday of what could be its longest-range intercontinental ballistic missile yet seems to add further justification to the state planning for what officials are still calling the “extremely unlikely” possibility of a strike on Hawaii. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii Announcement of Attack Warning Siren. Gov. David Ige, Director of Emergency Management Major General Arthur J. Logan and Hawaii Emergency Management Agency Administrator Vern Miyagi presented the tone and discussed the need for the Attack Warning Signal, how it will be used and what their agencies are doing to prepare our state for a nuclear threat. Big Island Now.

Get ready, Hawaii. For the first time since the Cold War, an "attack warning" siren with a wavering tone will sound Friday across the state. Hawaii News Now.

Hawaii readies ‘attack warning’ siren tone in event of unlikely nuclear attack. KHON2.

A new website can now show you the economic impact the U.S. military has in the islands. The U.S. military is the second biggest driver to Hawaii’s economy…with approximately 2 billion dollars being spent annually in the state. Hawaii Public Radio.

Hotel rate increases drive October performance. A higher average hotel rate drove up hotel performance in October, offsetting flat statewide occupancy, according to a Hawaii hotel performance report distributed Tuesday by the Hawaii Tourism Authority. Star-Advertiser.

RevPAR, or revenue per available room, for Hawaii hotels increased 3.8 percent in October to $189 compared to last year, with Hawaii Island reporting the largest gain, according to the Hawaii Hotel Performance Report released Tuesday by the Hawaii Tourism Authority. Pacific Business News.

Hotels across Hawaii earned more revenue per available room in October at $189 (+3.8%) compared to a year ago, according to the Hawaii Hotel Performance Report released by the Hawaii Tourism Authority. Maui Now.

Pledge to investigate Kamehameha Schools sex abuse went unfulfilled. Hawaii News Now.

Former trustees: 'Wall of secrecy' at Kamehameha Schools helped sex abuse stay hidden. Hawaii News Now.

Oahu

Public forum tonight on plan for new jail. The public will have an opportunity to comment on state plans for a proposed new jail on what is now the site of the Animal Quarantine Station in Halawa Valley at a public meeting tonight. Star-Advertiser.

20 companies to vie for former Island Air employees at job fair. Star-Advertiser.

Homeless move into cemetery, frustrating efforts to clean it up. Hawaii News Now.

Mormon Church North Shore Housing Plans Hit Roadblock. A City Council bill to preserve ag land in Koolauloa could restrict a proposed 550-unit housing and commercial development. Civil Beat.

Malaekahana development to be discussed in meeting. Hawaii Reserves Inc. is expected to present publicly for the first time an alternative to its contentious Envision Laie plan at a meeting of the Honolulu City Council’s Planning Committee at 6:30 p.m. today at Hauula Elementary School. Star-Advertiser.

Did Honolulu Police Go Too Far In The Case Of This Man’s Death? Sheldon Haleck died after a struggle with police in 2015. He was on meth. He refused to get out of the road. Police say they took appropriate actions. Civil Beat.

A first look of Kapiolani Medical Center's new ER space: Slideshow. The Kapiolani Medical Center for Women & Children will open a new emergency room next month. Pacific Business News.

Hawaii Island

Commercial haulers and others taking garbage to the landfill will be paying more to toss their trash, if the County Council agrees with a Department of Environmental Management request to raise tipping fees 33 percent over five years. West Hawaii Today.

County seeks members for boards, commissions. A number of boards and commissions, made up of private citizens, have had trouble getting quorum at meetings. Some have difficulty even getting enough members to make a quorum. Tribune-Herald.

The Hawaii County Salary Commission on Monday approved double-digit raises for some of the county's top officials. Pacific Business News.

The Hawaii Police Department and its Neighborhood Watch division will be sharing public information on emergency guidelines for a possible nuclear event, as recommended by Hawaii County. West Hawaii Today.

Hilo Hospital Goes It Alone With Rat Lungworm Treatment. Many of the disease’s more severe cases are popping up on the Big Island, where the resident expert prefers an aggressive approach. Civil Beat.

Maui

New Law Would Ban Smoking in Cars with Minors. A bill that would make it illegal to smoke in a vehicle with a minor present will be reintroduced in a special Maui County Council committee meeting on Jan. 5. Maui Now.


West Maui condo fined $100,000 for unpermitted structures. Unpermitted items include barbecue grills, a stairway, an eating area and a seawall. Maui News.

A woman who survived a crash near Hana that killed her twin sister waived her right to a jury trial on a murder charge and will be tried by 2nd Circuit Judge Peter Cahill beginning Jan. 29. Maui News.

Maui ranch pegged for housing back in bankruptcy. Star-Advertiser.

Maui Metro Area Named “Drunkest City” in Hawaii. A new report lists the Maui County metro areas of Kahului-Wailuku-Lahaina as the “Drunkest City” in Hawaii. Maui Now.

Kauai

Lawmakers suspicious on whale beachings. The five pilot whales that died on Kalapaki Beach after the Oct. 13 stranding weren’t diseased and some are questioning whether there’s a connection with the state’s Lehua Island rat poisoning project or military sonar. Garden Island.

Marine scientists investigating the mass stranding of five pilot whales on Kauai’s Kalapaki Beach last month have ruled out disease as causing the event, and say something sudden must have triggered the stranding. Garden Island.

Mainland real estate investment firm Holliday Fenoglio Fowler LP said Tuesday that it placed acquisition financing of $32.3 million with a Mainland investor for Epic Real Estate Partners’ $43.55 million purchase of the Safeway-anchored Kauai Village Shopping Center. Pacific Business News.

The new owner of the Safeway-anchored Kauai Village Shopping Center has hired Honolulu-based Commercial Consultants Inc. to handle leasing at the center and has plans to remodel the buildings’ exteriors. Pacific Business News.

Fugitive captured on Kauai. William Lawrence, 41, had been on the run since 2006, when he was convicted of forcible sexual abuse and forcible sodomy, a third-degree felony, according to a press release. At the time of the alleged abuse, Lawrence worked as a correctional officer for the Utah Department of Corrections. Garden Island.

Molokai

Billionaire’s massive yacht turned away at Molokai harbor. A billionaire was blocked from docking at a Molokai harbor after he tried to visit the island with his massive yacht. Garden Island.

Molokai residents send message to billionaire Russian boater: Go away. After protesters blocked a cruise ship from docking at Kaunakakai Harbor several years ago, residents set a protocol for luxury ships and large groups of visitors wanting to come to Molokai. Maui News.

Hawaiian Telcom to be sold; Kealoha attorneys want out; Big Island, Maui bomb training could resume, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Old Hawaiian Telcom building in Hilo © 2017 All Hawaii News

Hawaiian Telcom shareholders approve sale. The state’s largest technology and telecommunications company received overwhelming approval Tuesday morning from its shareholders to be acquired by Cincinnati Bell. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaiian Telcom's shareholders have approved a $650 million cash-and-stock sale to Cincinnati Bell. Associated Press.

Hawaiian Telcom shareholders vote in favor of acquisition by Cincinnati Bell. Hawaiian Telcom’s shareholders voted in favor of the company’s acquisition by Cincinnati Bell during a special meeting on Tuesday. Pacific Business News.

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Attack warning siren tests will begin next month. Hawaii, one of the first states to initiate a nuclear preparedness campaign, was previously depicted as a target by North Korea, and Oahu is home to the Navy’s U.S. Pacific Command. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii joins state coalition calling for taxation of out-of-state online retailers. Pacific Business News.

Medical Tourism: Not Ready For Prime Time? The first-ever Pacific Regenerative Medical Conference in Honolulu conducted a panel discussion today to explore ways to attract visitors to the islands for healing and medical cures. Hawaii Public Radio.

New online tool monitors students’ progress. A new online tool launched Tuesday allows easy tracking of how Hawaii’s public school students are faring on various measures that are in the state’s strategic plan for education. Star-Advertiser.

The state Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs announced Tuesday that the status of new and existing vocational licenses is now searchable online. Star-Advertiser.

Rat lungworm on agenda. The state Department of Health has been working with the Governor’s Joint Task Force on Rat Lungworm Disease to better provide widespread education about the risks associated with this debilitating disease and how to prevent it, as well as address issues around diagnosis and treatment. Garden Island.

United Airlines bids farewell to 747s by re-creating its first Honolulu flight. Star-Advertiser.

Kauai ranch sale helps Alexander & Baldwin turn a profit. Selling 566 acres of land on Kauai and Maui helped Alexander & Baldwin Inc. earn $6.6 million in the third quarter and reverse a year- earlier $1.4 million loss that included heavy costs to close Hawaii’s last sugar cane plantation. Star-Advertiser.

Oahu

Kealoha Attorneys Want Out Of Police Corruption Case. The three defense attorneys say the Kealohas can’t afford to pay them. Civil Beat.

Attorneys for Kealohas ask to be removed from case. The three attorneys for Louis and Katherine Kealoha want permission from a federal judge to be removed as legal counsel for the high-profile couple in the public corruption case that’s led to the indictments of the retired police chief, his wife the deputy city prosecutor, and four other current or former Honolulu Police Department officers. Star-Advertiser.

Kealoha attorneys dump case, say couple can't afford them for defense. All three attorneys representing former Police Chief Louis Kealoha and his deputy prosecutor wife are seeking to withdraw from a public corruption case focused on the couple, saying the two can't afford to pay them for their defense. Hawaii News Now.

Attorneys file motion to withdraw as counsel, Kealohas ‘can no longer fund a defense’. The three attorneys representing Louis and Katherine Kealoha have filed to remove themselves from the case. KHON2.

The Case Against Katherine Kealoha Just Keeps Getting Worse. A new FBI report says the now-indicted prosecutor leaned on a witness to help cover up alleged criminal activity in a private guardianship case. Civil Beat.

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Steps taken to reduce crime in Waikiki, Chinatown, but glaring disparity remains. Waikiki and Chinatown are neighborhoods that serve very different purposes and attract different crowds. KHON2.

Par Pacific Holdings Inc., the owner of Kapolei-based oil refinery Par Hawaii, on Monday reported net income of $18.8 million, or $0.41 per diluted share, for the quarter ended Sept. 30, compared to a net loss of $27.8 million, or $0.67 per diluted share, for the same quarter in 2016. Pacific Business News.

Oahu residents have one more chance to offer up opinions on the city’s draft Neal S. Blaisdell Center Master Plan at a meeting at 6 p.m. tonight at the Blaisdell Center Exhibition Hall Pikake Room. Star-Advertiser.

Is Ala Moana The New Kakaako? A lot of new developments are planned for the neighborhood, making some residents worry about whether they’ll be priced out. Civil Beat.

Waianae homeless without water nearby.  The state shuts down access to widely-used Waianae water spigots, leaving nearby homeless residents high and dry. Those taps will remain turned off, until the end of the year. KITV.

Coast Guard officials are still working on a plan to salvage a 79-foot fishing boat that’s been stranded on a reef off Waikiki’s Kaimana Beach for almost a month, even as people endanger themselves by sneaking onto the leaking wreckage at night. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii Island

The U.S. Navy wants to resume deploying sonar and explosives around the Big Island and Maui where it cut back after a 2015 lawsuit. West Hawaii Today.

Jobie Masagatani, the Chair of the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands, joined Governor David Ige for a Facebook livestream on Tuesday. One of the topics of discussion was the Subsistence Agricultural Homestead Community being planned for Honomū. Big Island Video News.

Someone removed a large concrete barricade and broke through a fence to access the closed Hakalau Beach Park, according to the Hawaii County Department of Public Works. Tribune-Herald.

Hawaii Island bus ridership down big over 4 years, experts say. Associated Press.

The County of Hawaii’s Mass Transit Agency held its final in a series of Transit Master Plan community meetings at the Aupuni Center Conference Room in Hilo on Monday night. Big Island Video News.

CVS Health is moving its Longs Drugs store in Keaau to a new space in the Big Island town, which is being built on the five-acre site of the former open-air Keaau Village Market. Pacific Business News.

Maui

Water testing program expands to South Maui.  Hui O Ka Wai Ola, a volunteer-based water quality testing program, has expanded to South Maui and will be measuring ocean clarity and nutrients on South Maui’s shores, the group announced. Maui News.

Open House on the Future of Honolua Bay and Lipoa Point, Nov. 8. The open house will provide an opportunity for the community and area residents to learn about the planning process, view informational exhibits and contribute their ideas at their own pace. Maui Now.

Tourism industry plan calls for improvements. The visitor industry lobbying for infrastructure improvements and improving communication between industry officials and cultural practitioners and residents are some actions suggested in a new tourism industry strategic plan for 2017 to 2026. Maui News.

Puunene Shopping Center filling up. Planet Fitness, Massage Envy and Ulta Beauty to open outlets on Maui. Maui News.

Kauai

County checking on alleged zoning violations. Mason Chock, County Council Planning Committee chair, said he was asked to look into a situation where a restaurateur was being charged several thousand dollars per month for parking by its hotel and timeshare counterpart for visiting patrons. Garden Island.

Wilcox Medical Center unveiled its new simulation lab on Monday with a blessing ceremony and tours for invited guests, physicians and staff. Garden Island.