Supreme Court mulls Honolulu election results, Kauai reaches 50% renewable power, Hawaii lawmaker joins drilling fight as tarballs surface on Big Island beach, whale count scheduled despite federal shutdown, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Humpback whale breach  in Hawaii PC: Kohala Sail & Sea Michael Faughn

An annual effort to monitor humpback whale migration numbers in Hawaii will proceed as scheduled despite the shutdown of the federal government, a spokesperson for the National Marine Sanctuary Foundation said Tuesday. Hawaii News Now.

The Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary's annual Ocean Count will take place January 26 despite the federal government shutdown. KHON2.

Mike Gabbard joins other lawmakers from coastal states to oppose offshore drilling. Associated Press.

New State Lawmakers and Their Priorities. There are 12 new state lawmakers for the upcoming session – 9 in the House and 3 in the Senate. Hawaii Public Radio.

Gov. David Ige has chosen Jay Griffin to chair the Public Utilities Commission. Griffin has served on the three-member commission since May 2017. Star-Advertiser.

Gov. Ige reappoints leaders for DOD, announces new appointees for 3 state departments. Two leaders at the helm of Hawaii’s Department of Defense are likely to continue their work after Gov. David Ige announced their reappointments to their positions Wednesday. Hawaii News Now.

Shutdown leaves Hawaii immigrant cases in limbo. The impasse in Washington has raised fears in Hawaii funding will end for federal benefits used by low income residents, for food, housing and much needed assistance. KITV.

Tensions rise between 2 of Hawaii’s Congressional leaders over ‘religious bigotry’ comments. Hawaii Congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard appears to have “called out” Hawaii Senator Mazie Hirono over her questioning of a judicial nominee, accusing her and others of religious bigotry. Hawaii News Now.

The Navy test-fired a series of new hypervelocity projectiles this past summer from the destroyer USS Dewey during Rim of the Pacific exercises off Hawaii that the Congressional Research Service said could be a “game changer” for defending warships against an increasingly sophisticated array of Chinese missiles. Star-Advertiser.

Oahu

The Hawaii Supreme Court pressed election officials Tuesday for information on late-arriving absentee ballots in a dispute over Trevor Ozawa’s 22-vote victory in November for a seat on the Honolulu City Council. Star-Advertiser.

Honolulu City Council candidate Tommy Waters says he is pleased that the Hawaii Supreme Court is asking more questions about how ballots were counted in his close race against incumbent Trevor Ozawa. Hawaii News Now.

A place for Iwilei homeless to shower, do laundry, pick up mail and receive other services opened Tuesday on Kuwili Street. Star-Advertiser.

After years of waiting, a hygiene center (and safe haven) opens in Iwilei. The rest stop is the first phase of a multi-million dollar project designed to help Iwilei’s homeless population. Hawaii News Now.

The homeless in Iwilei now have a place to shower, wash their clothes, and check their email. KITV.

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‘Go home’: Councilman has choice words for a Chinese developer that threatened to boycott Hawaii. It comes as the developer appears to have broken a key promise. A Chinese developer’s promise to hire hundreds of local, unionized construction workers at his Sheridan Street condo project appears to be in jeopardy. Hawaii News Now.

Hawaiian Airlines revises international check-in site for some passengers. Star-Advertiser.

Kealohas’ foreclosed Hawaii Kai home goes on market for $1.3M. The Hawaii Kai home of retired Honolulu police chief Louis Kealoha and his former city prosecutor wife, Katherine, is for sale while their lender forecloses on the property and the couple faces corruption-related charges. Associated Press.

Jim Nabors’ oceanfront Honolulu estate sells for $12M. Los Angeles Times.

Hawaii Island

Tarballs found in sands at Spencer Beach Park in South Kohala. West Hawaii Today.

Squatters, homeless, vacation rentals, taxes and an emergency relief package in the wake of last year’s volcanic eruption top the priority list Mayor Harry Kim is presenting to the state Legislature this year. West Hawaii Today.

Joining The Parade Of Counties That Are Raising Taxes. Hawaii County tacks a 0.25 percent surcharge onto the general excise tax and considers going higher. Civil Beat.

Courts and corrections officials modified their operations after an accused murderer was mistakenly released from the Hilo jail last summer, and the Hawaii island courts now send bail documents to the jail via email as well as having them hand-carried to the facility, state lawmakers were told Tuesday. Star-Advertiser.

County officials shot down a bill that would require the county to establish a plan to control feral animals and waste at county facilities. Tribune-Herald.

Suit against Big Island Dairy settled. The suit was filed in 2017 in U.S. District Court in Honolulu by citizen group Kupale Ookala and the Center for Food Safety and was scheduled to go to trial this month. Tribune-Herald.

Big Island Dairy Settlement Sets Dates For Closure, Cleanup. Big Island Video News.

Maui

The deadline for applications for Maui County boards, councils, commissions and committees has been extended to Jan. 15. Maui News.

1.2 acres in Kapalua set to be preserved as open space. A conservation easement for a 1.2-acre property in Kapalua that includes a trail in the area has been donated to the Hawaiian Islands Land Trust by the Sue D. Cooley Trust. Maui News.

Maui housing prices rose last year to a record for single-­family homes but still lagged a more than decade-­old high for condominiums despite a double-digit rise. Star-Advertiser.

Developer's plan for second Maui hotel triggers need for EIS. R.D. Olson Development’s plan to build a second limited-service hotel on Maui outlined in an environmental assessment last summer has triggered a requirement to prepare a more detailed environmental impact statement. Pacific Business News.

Kauai

Kauai Fire Department Chief Robert Westerman is retiring before the end of the week, but the fire commission has not decided who his successor will be. Garden Island.

The Kauai Fire Commission is searching for a new fire chief, following the retirement of Chief Robert Westerman after 20 years of service. KHON2.

Kauai reaches goal of 50% renewable power. AES Corp. has completed a solar power plant on Kauai that can do something most renewable projects can’t: deliver power when it’s most needed. Star-Advertiser.

A 150-acre solar farm on the south side of the island was unveiled Tuesday. Garden Island.

New solar-plus-storage facility gets KIUC past 50% renewable generation. Kauai Island Utility Cooperative has reached the next milestone in its pursuit of 100 percent renewable energy generation with the completion of the largest solar-plus-storage facility in the state. Pacific Business News.

Kauai home sales increase in 2018, prices rise 6%. Single-family home sales rose 8.17 percent in 2018 to 596 houses sold, from 551 houses sold in 2017. The median price of those homes was $699,500, which was a 5.98 percent increase from $660,000 in 2017. Pacific Business News.

Akaka Bill heading for vote, UH scientists predict oil spread, civil union veto could hurt tourism, Inouye talks stimulus funding, more Hawaii news

A vote in the U.S. Senate on allowing Native Hawaiians to form their own government could come this month following a deal between Hawaii's Democratic senators and the state's Republican governor. Associated Press.

The Akaka bill on Wednesday cleared a groundbreaking hurdle and now a vote could come down this month in the U.S. Senate. Hawaii News Now.

Gov. Linda Lingle has agreed to strongly support a native Hawaiian federal recognition bill after U.S. Sens. Daniel Inouye and Daniel Akaka promised to insert changes to protect the state's regulatory power. Star-Advertiser.

The Native Hawaiian Reorganization Act, known as the Akaka Bill, could soon be on its way to a vote in the U.S Senate. KHON2.

Gov. Linda Lingle stood her ground on the Akaka Bill — and in the end it means she had her way. Civil Beat.

A team of University of Hawaii researchers has produced a long-range computer simulation with new details showing where the BP oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico could spread. Star-Advertiser.



The state is losing more than a half million dollars a year because it's leasing a building it already owns near Honolulu International Airport. KITV.

Despite the stakes for public education and the attention given to the issue by Gov. Linda Lingle, none of the candidates for governor has made the structure of the state Board of Education a significant part of their education platforms.Star-Advertiser.

Gov. Linda Lingle's veto of legislation to grant civil unions to same-sex couples is generating rumblings of a possible boycott of tourism-dependent Hawaii. Associated Press.

Civil Union Supporters Mount Hawaii Boycott. KITV.

Lawmakers are aware this is still a hot issue but are hopeful constituents don't lose sight of other legislative accomplishments this session. But that may be a tough sell. KHON2.

While many have voiced their opinion on House Bill 444, one gubernatorial candidate's stance remained unclear. Hawaii News Now.

Governor Linda Lingle has allowed the following 24 bills to go into law without her signature.  Six of the bills were on the Governor’s potential veto list that she submitted to the Legislature on June 21. KHON2.

Sen. Daniel Inouye (D) Wed- nesday heard from Hawaii agencies pleased with the millions they have received in federal stimulus money. KITV.

When Inouye conducted a hearing of the Senate Appropriations Committee at the Hawaii State Capitol Wednesday, a contingent of eight Capitol Police from Washington, D.C., lined the hall and the hearing room. They were backed up by three state sheriffs. KITV.

Maui County last to enact cell ban. Maui News.

Proposed new rules regarding conservation and coastal lands would allow for more land uses, like creating renewable energy, and for routine property maintenance, state officials said. West Hawaii Today.

Shoppers at Borders Books and Music in Hilo were greeted Tuesday by signs announcing that the store is closing. Tribune-Herald.

By continuing to chop rates, Maui hoteliers boosted occupancy to 60.5 percent in May, according to the Smith Travel Research statistics published by Hospitality Advisors in Honolulu. Maui News.

Vacation packages and Hollywood’s renewed presence on island are the most likely reasons for the recent improvements to certain economic indicators in the visitor industry, county officials said Wednesday. Garden Island.

Hawaii County will soon start allowing owners of more than 150,000 Big Island vehicles to renew their yearly registrations online, a senior administrator said Tuesday. Tribune-Herald.

Stacy Jeffrey discovered aviation not through movies or books, but through a chance encounter with a set of French doors. West Hawaii Today.

She may be a political rookie, but Elle Cochran’s fiery ambition and enthusiastic personality prove she is a force to be reckoned with when it comes to campaigning for a seat on the Maui County Council. Molokai Dispatch.

Hundreds stand in solidarity as Hands Across the Sand joins Waikiki to Florida

 Waikiki Beach is usually so clean, on Saturday they had to bring in garbage bags to simulate the pollution. But the mood was as somber as if it had actually been this famed Hawaii beach besmirched by the massive BP oil gusher that is still polluting Florida beaches 4,000 miles away. Hundreds joined hands in the sand in solidarity to their Mainland beach goers with a Hands Across the Sand event sponsored by the Sierra Club Hawaii and other environmental groups.

Hands Across the Sand is spon- sored nation- ally by the Sierra Club and the Surfrider Foundation, joined by Greenpeace, 1SKY, Environment Florida, ecomb, and Urban Paradise Guild. You'll find more info here.

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