Showing posts with label ordnance. Show all posts
Showing posts with label ordnance. Show all posts

Friday, November 15, 2019

Oahu, Maui top U.S. Thanksgiving destinations, Honolulu plastic ban advances, Kahuku wind farm protesters arrested, PUC nixes HELCO rate hike, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

copyright 2019 All Hawaii News all rights reserved
Waikiki beach scene ©2019 All Hawaii News
Oahu, Maui listed among top US Thanksgiving destinations according to AAA. Two Hawaiian Islands have been listed among some of the most coveted Thanksgiving destinations in America, according to a recent report by the American Automobile Association of Hawaii. Pacific Business News.

Oahu, Maui Among Top Thanksgiving Destinations For US Travelers. For those travelers planning an international vacation for Thanksgiving, sandy beaches are their destinations of choice. Maui Now.

Hawaii’s Economic Growth Is The Lowest In The Nation. Record visitor numbers are hiding an alarming trend. Civil Beat.

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Officials urge public to stay away from ocean ordnance prior to removal in 2020. State and federal officials say remedial work of unexploded ordnance off of Oahu’s North Shore and in Molokini is scheduled for spring 2020, after humpback whales have migrated back north and ocean waters are calmer. Star-Advertiser.

Federal and state agencies are issuing warnings to the public advising of the planned removal of unexploded ordnance from Oahu and the Molokini islet off Maui. Maui Now.

More money for protection of coral. Hawaii coral reefs are one step closer to receiving nearly $10 million more in federal funding thanks to the U.S. Senate Commerce Committee approval of the Restoring Resilient Reefs Act. Garden Island.

Bill To Restore And Conserve Hawai‘i’s Coral Reefs Passes Key Committee. A bill that would help to restore Hawai‘i’s coral reefs, was approved by the Senate Commerce Committee.  The measure was introduced by US Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawai‘i), who is a member of the committee. Maui Now.

Oahu

Foodware plastics ban bill advances. Oahu would have the state’s strictest law against single-use, oil-based plastic containers and utensils under a bill approved 3-2 by the Honolulu City Council Public Safety and Welfare Committee Thursday night. Star-Advertiser.

Opponents of the proposed plastic ban want the city council to start over. Those who are against the proposal say the city council is rushing the bill and would prefer that they start over to get things right. KHON2.

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At least 26 arrested as hundreds of wind farm protesters turn out in Kalaeloa. Dozens of arrests were made late Thursday into early Friday as hundreds of protesters of a wind farm project gathered in Kalaeloa to block a transport of heavy equipment. Hawaii News Now.

The first of the latest wind turbines goes up in Kahuku. KITV.

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Honolulu Taxpayers Are Footing The Bill For Defense Lawyers’ Rail Advice. But city officials won’t say how much they’re paying the San Francisco law firm. Civil Beat.

Department of Planning and Permitting schedules public meeting to provide community with update on draft plan. The Department of Planning and Permitting has scheduled a public meeting to provide the community with an update on the East Kapolei Neighborhood Transit-Oriented Development Draft Plan. KITV.

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Taxpayers Spent Nearly $700,000 on Kealohas’ Legal Fees. The court-appointed attorney for Katherine Kealoha received the largest chunk of the fees. Civil Beat.

The federal government has paid out nearly $700,000 in legal expenses for the Kealohas and one of their co-defendants. The fees and costs were detailed in a report from the federal court Thursday. Hawaii News Now.

Kealoha fed cases run up $700,000 in taxpayer-funded attorney fees. Taxpayers have footed the bills for nearly $700,000 in attorney fees in the Kealohas’ federal corruption and fraud cases. KHON2.

O'ahu taxpayers spent nearly $700,000 to cover lawyer fees for Kealohas and HPD officer. O'ahu tax payers spent nearly $700,000 to cover lawyer fees for the Kealohas and an HPD officer convicted of corruption. KITV.

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Yep, Hanabusa Is Running For Mayor Of Honolulu. The former congresswoman all but declares her campaign in an email to supporters. Civil Beat.

Waianae community divided over relocation of state’s largest homeless camp. The relocation of the state’s largest homeless camp is facing new resistance from its would-be neighbors. Hawaii News Now.

First kauhale homeless tiny homes going up next month in Kalaeloa. The first 10 tiny homes aimed at housing homeless military veterans are scheduled to go up next month in Kalaeloa as part of a new, wider approach to quickly develop permanent housing communities for homeless adults who have been living the longest on Oahu’s streets. Star-Advertiser.

The Fate Of This Beautiful Honolulu Park Is Now In The Hands Of One Man. Damon estate heir J.P. Damon has ended up the sole owner of Moanalua Gardens, the historic park on sacred land in west Honolulu. Civil Beat.

Rapid ohia death spreads on Oahu. An aerial survey of some 20,000 acres of Oahu forest has yielded the island’s fourth detection of rapid ohia death, the fungal disease that has killed millions of ohia trees on Hawaii Island. Star-Advertiser.

Cardax’s quarterly loss widens to $1.4 million. Pharmaceutical company Cardax Inc. saw its loss widen in the third quarter as revenue plunged more than half from the year-earlier period. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii Island

Regulators decline to approve increase in Hawaii Electric Light rates. The Hawaii Public Utilities Commission has issued an interim decision that results in no increase in electric rates at this time for Hawaii Electric Light Company customers, the PUC announced today. West Hawaii Today.

No special tax class for vacation rentals. There will be no special property tax classification for short-term vacation rentals under recommendations proposed by a panel tasked with revamping the county property tax code, but some people currently getting tax breaks for agriculture could take a hit. West Hawaii Today.

40 attend inaugural cleanup aimed to integrate homeless back into community. The basis of HONOUR (Homeless Outreach Nurturing Our Community) is to integrate the homeless back into the community by having them work on projects under positive guidance. West Hawaii Today.

LEAD Homelessness Program Arrives in Kona. The pilot project, which received $650,000 in ʻOhana Zone funding from the State, launched Thursday in Kona. Big Island Now.

A former employee at the Big Island’s largest community health center says she was retaliated against for blowing the whistle on its former CEO and its board. She’s said she’s one of dozens of workers who are alleging a hostile work environment at the Bay Clinic. Hawaii News Now.

Maui

Agency considers raising height limits in Wailuku. Meeting to be held Friday but decision not expected till next year. The Maui Redevelopment Agency, which has the power to alter zoning and development rules for downtown Wailuku, will continue to mull whether to hike height limits from four to six stories along certain streets during its Friday meeting, though decision-making likely won’t come until next year, an official said. Maui News.

Hawaii endangered bird program halted after 9 die of illness. The Maui Forest Bird Recovery Project will halt the program after the deaths of nine endangered birds, officials said. Associated Press.

Kauai

House Finance members to visit. Members of the state House Finance Committee, chaired by Rep. Sylvia Luke, will tour sites on Kauai to view firsthand several projects and programs supported by the Legislature. The visits will also allow committee members to learn about other concerns and needs facing Kauai. Garden Island.

Thursday, December 1, 2016

Ohia disease to be managed, thousands of ballots not counted, tourism up, Rep. Tulsi Gabbard explains Trump meeting, telecom company sues PUC, feds pay $2M in Honolulu police officer death, new ocean safety patrol for Maui, unexploded ordnance collected, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

copyright 2016 All Hawaii News all rights reserved
Ohia blossom © 2016 All Hawaii News
After more than a year of emergency response efforts, collaborators working to stop the spread of rapid ohia death are shifting to a long-term research and management strategy. Tribune-Herald.

More than a thousand absentee ballots mailed in for the general election were not counted. Despite lingering questions about the process, elections officials will once again push for an all mail-in election. KHON2.

Hawaii’s visitor industry is hurtling toward its fifth banner year of arrivals and spending gains, with the momentum expected to continue into 2017. Star-Advertiser.

The Hawaii Tourism Authority says the number of travelers to the islands increased 4.3 percent in October compared to the same month last year, setting a record for the month. Associated Press.

Sandwich Isles Communications, which provides phone and internet service to about 3,600 residents of Hawaiian Home Lands, is suing state regulators in the hopes of restoring the flow of about $1.36 million in monthly federal subsidies that were suspended last year while federal regulators scrutinized the company’s finances. Star-Advertiser.

A new study says a Hawaii criminal justice program praised nationally for improving parole and probation is not a “silver bullet” for reducing recidivism and lowering costs for supervising high-risk probationers. Civil Beat.

A Honolulu attorney has sued the Hawaii Department of Taxation in a case that could establish how transparent state agencies must be about their communication with the Legislature. Civil Beat.

Pilot in helicopter crash seemed lost, report says. Associated Press.

As Americans remember the attack on Pearl Harbor 75 years ago, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration is offering an up-close look at two Japanese mini submarines involved in the attack. Hawaii News Now.

The Enterprise Rent-A-Car Foundation has donated $50,000 to Pacific Historic Parks in honor of the 75th anniversary of the attack on Pearl Harbor. Star-Advertiser.

A bill to award Filipino World War II veterans with the nation’s highest civilian honor is one step closer to becoming a reality. Hawaii Public Radio.

Congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard wrote an opinion-editorial article that was published Wednesday in The Nation about why she met with President-elect Donald Trump. KITV4.

Hawaii residents got some reprieve this hurricane season following a record-breaking 2015 season that saw 15 storms impact the Central Pacific. West Hawaii Today.

Oahu

The federal government has agreed to pay $2 million to settle a lawsuit over the death of Honolulu Police Officer Garret Davis. Star-Advertiser.

The increasing interest in Hawaii’s third-string solar program is caught on a snag as the city, the utility and solar contractors learn more about battery technology. Star-Advertiser.

A Chuukese couple is suing Kapiolani Medical Center for Women and Children, where their 9-month-old son died after a series of visits to the hospital’s emergency room in 2015. Civil Beat.

Honolulu Police Department officials said Wednesday hundreds of fireworks violations are being reported on Oahu before fireworks are permitted between 9 p.m. Dec. 31 and 1 a.m. Jan. 1. Star-Advertiser.

A Honolulu company that’s backed by Chinese investors has purchased another property that would be part of its redevelopment project that includes a 400-unit mixed-use high-rise tower on a block across the street from the Walmart and Walgreens flagship stores in Honolulu, Pacific Business News has learned.

Starting next spring, Honolulu shoppers will start to see more local beef in their market. Hawaii News Now.

Hawaii

Forum tackles unexploded ordnance in Waikoloa. West Hawaii Today.

Hawaii Electric Light Co. is still in talks with Hu Honua Bioenergy LLC about completing construction of a biomass power plant in Pepeekeo, according to the utility’s president. Tribune-Herald.

A judge on Wednesday dismissed four allegations against the Hawaii Island Humane Society filed as part of the ongoing legal dispute with Big Island Dog Rescue. West Hawaii Today.

Hawaii Island’s state senators will lead three committees in the 2017 legislative session. Tribune-Herald.

The Big Island is celebrating its latest efforts to reduce homelessness with the launch of a $2.5 million housing project in Kailua-Kona. Associated Press.

Maui

Workers and volunteers were in full force Tuesday afternoon preparing for Thursday’s grand opening of the long-awaited Hospice Maui Hale, which will provide comfort and spiritual support for patients in their last days. Maui News.

Hearing on food establishment rules set Tuesday at UH-MC. Amendments to sanitation regulations among updates offered. Maui News.

Kauai

Ocean Safety Bureau Roving Patrol Program begins today. ‘We’re here to save lives’ Garden Island.

A pod of false killer whales spent a record 11 consecutive days circumnavigating Kauai and Ni’ihau in November. Garden Island.

Arthur Brun is looking forward to beginning his term on the Kauai County Council. Garden Island.

Lanai

Expeditions, known for its ferry service between Maui and Lānaʻi, launched service aboard its newest vessel today, the Expedition Six. Maui Now.

Monday, September 28, 2015

Environmentalists seek tougher tuna rules, Maui mulls tax breaks for affordable housing, butterfly arrives in Hawaii, IRS probe shows Hee's political spending, charter changes coming to Honolulu, trial on Pohakuloa munitions cleanup, Supreme Court seeks lawyer rules on medical marijuana dispensaries, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

copyright 2015 All Hawaii News all rights reserved
Hawaii fish market © 2015 All Hawaii News
Environmentalists on Friday asked a federal judge to stop the National Marine Fisheries Service from allowing Hawaii-based fishermen to attribute some of the bigeye tuna they catch to U.S. territories. They argue the agency is enabling the fishermen to circumvent international agreements aimed at controlling the overfishing of a popular tuna species known as ahi. Associated Press.

Researchers from the University of Hawaii say they’ve identified a tiny newcomer to Hawaii that’s been settling across the islands with “remarkable” speed. The Sleepy Orange, a butterfly commonly found across the Americas — from the Southern United States all the way to Brazil — was first spotted on Oahu in 2013. It has since become common on Maui, and also spotted on Kauai, Molokai, Hawaii Island and even Kahoolawe. Civil Beat.

The Hawaii Supreme Court is seeking public input on whether to amend its rules to allow attorneys to help clients who are applying for high-stakes licenses to run medical marijuana dispensaries. The court’s Disciplinary Board issued a formal opinion last month saying lawyers shouldn’t provide legal services to help establish or operate medical cannabis businesses because that would assist in committing a federal crime. Civil Beat.

The IRS investigation into Sandwich Isles Communications Inc. also exposed some eye-popping spending in a politically connected corner of Hawaii’s business community that benefited from hundreds of millions of dollars in federal subsidies and contributed generously to the campaigns and causes of many of the state’s leading politicians. Star-Advertiser.

State lawmakers have confronted the issue of how to allow charitable giving by candidates in a way that creates a public benefit but doesn't give incumbents an unfair advantage over those seeking to challenge them politically. Maui News.

Oahu

Hawaiian Electric Co. has given the green light to nearly 10,000 rooftop solar systems on Oahu this year, and still the rush of applicants outpaces what the utility can approve. Star-Advertiser.

Oahu residents have until Oct. 31 to submit proposals to the Honolulu Charter Commission for improving the city and county government. As of Friday only six proposals have been submitted, but the commission chair still anticipates that the ultimate response will be similar to 2005, when 180 proposals were made. Civil Beat.

Is the City Violating the Law in Destroying Homeless People’s Property? As the ACLU launches a legal battle against Honolulu’s sweeps of homeless encampments, it points to a case in Los Angeles in which that city’s sweeps were ruled unconstitutional. Civil Beat.

Hawaii

A lawsuit claiming the state breached its duties to protect public lands used for the Army’s Pohakuloa Training Area will go to trial this week. Filed by Big Island residents Clarence Ching and Mary Kahaulelio, the suit says the Department of Land and Natural Resources failed to ensure that munitions are cleaned up after military exercises as the Army’s existing 65-year lease for the lands between Mauna Kea and Mauna Loa requires. Tribune-Herald.

Flooding that turned coffee fields into wastelands of rock this week has Kainaliu coffee farmers asking how the water can be managed in a way that doesn’t pit neighbor against neighbor. West Hawaii Today.

Only one Hawaii County Council seat will be open because of term limits next year, and two political neophytes are already planning to run for it. West Hawaii Today.

Maui

A Maui developer is seeking to create a largely rural residential subdivision near Lahaina on 271 acres of land zoned for agricultural use. Star-Advertiser.

A bill that would provide a $75,000 property tax assessment exemption for landowners who rent to lower-income residents in the federal Department of Housing and Urban Development voucher program was introduced Thursday by Maui County Council Member Robert Carroll. Maui News.

After 2nd Circuit Court implements its upgraded security system for Hoapili Hale on Oct. 9, all courthouse visitors will go through a single screening location on the first floor before they can enter the building. Maui News.

Kauai

A Navy-funded project landed five scientists on a research boat in the waters between Kauai and Niihau earlier this month in an effort to learn more about the effects of sonar on whales and dolphins. Garden Island.

A group of homeless people in Lihue have set up a semi-permanent tent city in the forested lot between Walmart and Wilcox Memorial Hospital. The owners of the lot are in the process of clearing it and have given the homeless people who live in tent city three weeks to vacate the premises. Garden Island.

Molokai

After dangerous winds and huge swells led to the cancellation of a world-renowned canoe race, stranding competitors on Molokai, some say Hawaiian Airlines increased fares in the rush to fly off the island. About 750 paddlers were left looking for flights off the island Saturday when race officials called off Na Wahine O Ke Kai, which is sponsored by Hawaiian Airlines. Associated Press.

Thursday, July 16, 2015

General excise tax hike, medical marijuana dispensaries become law in Hawaii, Thirty Meter Telescope foes contest Land Board ruling, National Guard trains for civil disobedience, dune buggy biz approved for Oahu's North Shore, Liberty Dialysis charged with over-billing the state, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

copyright 2015 All Hawaii News all rights reserved
Medical marijuana sign © 2015 All Hawaii News
Gov. David Ige has signed a bill establishing a system of medical marijuana dispensaries in Hawaii. Civil Beat.

On Wednesday, Governor David Ige signed into law HB 321 (now Act 241) Relating to Medical Marijuana, which establishes a licensing system for medical marijuana dispensaries. Big Island Video News.

Governor David Ige today signed Hawaiʻi’s medical marijuana dispensary bill into law. Maui Now.

Gov. David Ige approved a five-year extension of the half-percent excise tax surcharge on Tuesday to raise more money to cover cost overruns on Honolulu's $6 billion Oahu transit project, and also put his personal stamp of approval on a plan to establish a statewide network of dispensaries to distribute medical marijuana. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii Gov. David Ige signed a bill Wednesday to extend Honolulu’s rail tax for another five years to help pay for cost overruns. Civil Beat.

Hawaii Gov. David Ige signed into law House Bill 134, which extends the 0.5 percent general excise tax surcharge on Oahu for another five years to fund the City & County of Honolulu’s rail transit project. Pacific Business News.

A bill aimed at taking a closer look at real estate investment trusts in Hawaii has become law without Gov. David Ige’s signature. Pacific Business News.

The proposed $4.3 billion sale of Hawaiian Electric Co. to NextEra Energy Inc. is expected to generate $109 million in economic activity for Hawaii in the first four years, according to public documents. Pacific Business News.

Liberty Dialysis, a company that operates kidney dialysis facilities throughout the state, owes Hawaii $7 million that the company allegedly overbilled in Medicaid payments from 2006 to 2010, a state lawsuit says. Star-Advertiser.

The new director of a streamlined program to identify the missing remains of war veterans says he’s optimistic that goals will be reached this year. Associated Press.

Oahu

City officials have approved the registration of gas-powered, low-speed vehicles on Oahu after initially denying a startup dune buggy rental business on the North Shore the license to begin operations. Star-Advertiser.

More park workers, a smoothed-out beach and a playground are in. Increased commercialization and newfangled restrooms are out. Those are some of the highlights of a nine-point, short-term community action plan for the 119-acre Ala Moana Beach Park released by Mayor Kirk Caldwell on Wednesday. Star-Advertiser.

You could still dump aunty’s ashes into Maunalua Bay but there’s debate over whether building a sand castle on the shore would be allowed under a proposed federal management plan. Civil Beat.

Hawaii

Lawyers representing two men opposed to building the Thirty Meter Telescope are challenging a recently enacted emergency rule restricting access to the mountain where it will be built. Associated Press.

A request for a contested case hearing was filed with the state Board of Land and Natural Resources on Wednesday, seeking to upend the emergency rule limiting nighttime access on Mauna Kea. Star-Advertiser.

Civil disobedience training for more than 100 Hawaii National Guard troops during the weekend was unrelated to the ongoing unrest atop Mauna Kea because of the Thirty Meter Telescope, according to officials. Tribune-Herald.

A state Board of Land and Natural Resources member had no conflict of interest when he voted to restrict access to Mauna Kea last week, as erroneously claimed in an opinion piece written by University of Hawaii law school student Zuri Aki. Civil Beat.

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and its contractors have completed a plan for addressing the threat of unexploded ordnance at four sites in the former Waikoloa Maneuver Area, as cleanup efforts reach the $200 million mark in what is expected to be a 70-year, $723 million effort. West Hawaii Today.

An Ocean View community is rallying today to oppose a massive solar energy project in its neighborhood. West Hawaii Today.

Maui

Although 10 million gallons of water per day has been returned to Iao Stream since October, it is hard to tell so far if more freshwater species are flourishing, said Skippy Hau, an aquatics biologist with the state Department of Land and Natural Resources. Maui News.

Kauai

Opinions are sharply divided between dog owners who oppose the current barking ordinance and want to repeal it, and upset neighbors who want to keep it in place as a way to hold owners accountable for incessant barking. Garden Island.

County officials announced that guardrail and other safety improvements are being made to Koloa Road. The project is expected to be completed by the beginning of September. Garden Island.

The County of Kauai Housing Agency is holding a public hearing to receive comments on the proposed Administrative Rules for the Administration of Chapter 7A of the Kauai County Code, pertaining to the housing policy for the County of Kauai. Garden Island.

Monday, July 13, 2015

Hawaii's endangered nene goose rebounding, woman rams car into Mauna Kea manager vehicle, state short of shrinks, Maui cardiac unit underused, Honolulu landfill to close, sex trafficking enforcement to target hotels, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

copyright 2015 All Hawaii News all rights reserved
Nene geese © 2015 All Hawaii News
Decades of conservation efforts to help the nene population rebound are paying off as scientists begin to understand more about the endangered bird’s ecology and life history. Tribune-Herald.

Hawaii Gov. David Ige will sign a bill into law on Monday that aims to expand the development of hydroelectric energy-generating projects in the state, the governor’s office said Friday. Pacific Business News.

Female leaders from the state's visitor industry are urging businesses to play a greater role in stopping sex trafficking, which they say is victimizing children from Hawaii and elsewhere. Star-Advertiser.

Psychologists and clerical staff in the Health Department's Courts and Corrections Branch have filed an internal complaint about shortages they say are resulting in serious consequences for mentally ill defendants and the community. Star-Advertiser.

The cost of a private school education in Hawaii continues to climb as the state's larger independent schools are charging 5 percent more in tuition, on average, for the upcoming school year, according to a Honolulu Star-Advertiser analysis.

Oahu

The state Board of Land and Natural Resources issued another reprieve to the financially adrift Wakiki Landing, a controversial public-private partnership at the Ala Wai Small Boat Harbor. Star-Advertiser.

Despite the desperate need for low-income housing, about 175 public housing units are sitting empty, largely because state policymakers haven’t allocated enough funding and resources to renovate them. Civil Beat.

Gov. David Ige said Thursday his administration is working with Honolulu Mayor Kirk Caldwell to create a new emergency shelter area in Kakaako on state land that’s away from the Hawaii Children’s Discovery Center. Civil Beat.

A resolution to expedite the closure of the Waimanalo Gulch Sanitary Landfill won City Council approval last week at Kapolei Hale. Star-Advertiser.

Residents of Oahu neighborhoods would be able to band together and petition for "restricted parking zones" along their streets under a bill before the City Council. They could then pay for exclusive rights to park their cars in those zones. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii
The public will have a chance to weigh in on a U.S. Army Corps of Engineers proposal for cleanup of unexploded ordnance in the former Waikoloa Maneuver Area. West Hawaii Today.

The new warden at Hawaii Community Correctional Center credits “hard work, determination, timing and some luck” for his appointment to the Hilo jail’s top post. Peter Cabreros was the facility’s chief of security for 12 years before becoming its warden Wednesday following the retirement of former warden Pete MacDonald. Tribune-Herald.

The Board of Land and Natural Resources voted 5-2 Friday night on the 120-day rule restricting access to Mauna Kea. The rule restricts being within a mile of the mountain’s access road during certain nighttime hours, unless in a moving vehicle, and prohibits camping gear. Tribune-Herald.

A woman was arrested on Mauna Kea in the early hours of Sunday morning, after allegedly hitting an Office of Mauna Kea Management vehicle with her car. Big Island Video News.

The Board of Land and Natural Resources voted 5-2 to approve an emergency rule that would restrict access on Mauna Kea and forbid camping materials. State officials made the decision after more than 8 hours of public testimony. Hawaii Public Radio.

Maui

An underutilized cardiac unit and an outpatient clinic that was vacant for four years contributed to the financial plight of Maui Memorial Medical Center, which must cut $28 million in the fiscal year that began July 1. Star-Advertiser.

Kauai

A $220,000 project to repair floorboards and areas damaged by a leaky roof at the Kilauea gymnasium is expected to get under way this month, according to Kauai County officials. Garden Island.

Kauai’s four lawmakers sponsored fewer pieces of legislation compared to their colleagues in the state Legislature during the past session. Garden Island.

As part of the county’s Integrated Solid Waste Management Plan, the rollout of the final phase of the automated trash collection program took place last week. Garden Island.

Tuesday, April 28, 2015

Kilauea lava lake attracts crowd, counties could get general excise tax surcharge by adopting roads in limbo, Honolulu rail worries businesses, ordnance removal a dangerous job, Marine Corps commander relieved of duties, half of Kauai coral diseased, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

courtesy National Parks Service
Kilauea lava lake, courtesy Mark Wasser NPS
The lava lake atop Kilauea continues to put on a breathtaking show, swelling Monday morning to yet another record high just a few feet shy of Overlook Vent’s rim. If the lava continues to rise, it soon could spill out of the vent and onto the floor of the larger Halema‘uma‘u Crater. Tribune-Herald.

A group of senators, led by Ways and Means Chairwoman Sen. Jill Tokuda (D, Kai­lua-Kane­ohe), proposed that any county be allowed to adopt a general excise tax surcharge for a limited time — but to do so, that county would also have to put in writing that it owns the disputed "public highways" there. Star-Advertiser.

So-called “roads in limbo” are the latest bargaining chip in the negotiations to extend Honolulu’s rail tax to help shore up an estimated $910 million shortfall. On Monday, state Sen. Jill Tokuda revealed her chamber’s latest version of House Bill 134 that would extend Oahu’s 0.5 percent General Excise Tax surcharge for rail for five years from 2022 to 2027 and allow neighboring counties to implement their own tax hike. Civil Beat.

A bill to create a limited purpose driver license for undocumented immigrants and other people lacking the usually required identification is awaiting a floor vote in the Hawaii House of Representatives. Civil Beat.

Contract ratification meetings resumed Monday for two units of the Hawaii Government Employees Association that are considering a proposed new agreement with the state and counties, but at least some union members are still unhappy with the settlement. Star-Advertiser.

Despite concerns from the Hawaii Department of Human Services, state lawmakers are advancing a bill that would relax rules on community care foster family homes to allow married elderly couples to live together despite their level of insurance coverage. Pacific Business News.

Hawaii’s senior population is increasing, but the funding of the state’s Kupuna Care program, which provides basic services to older adults who can’t live at home without help, has stayed flat for years. Senate Bill 964 would provide additional funding to the Kupuna Care program. It’s now in conference committee with a hearing scheduled Tuesday, and the specific dollar figures in the first draft have been converted to blanks while negotiations continue. Civil Beat.

State health officials have asked legislators to put an expiration date on a proposed law that could displace an unknown number of Medicaid clients who want to live at community care foster family homes. Civil Beat.

Oahu

As Oahu rail construction pushes closer toward town, more local businesses along the route are feeling the strain — and more are starting to air concerns that they won't be able to survive all the work. Star-Advertiser.

Col. Eric Schaefer, the commanding officer in charge of Marine Corps Base Hawaii in Kaneohe, has been relieved of his duties. The announcement came around 9:15 p.m. on Monday evening. Military officials say the decision was made due to "loss of trust and confidence in his ability to lead his command." Hawaii News Now.

Hyatt Regency Waikiki Beach Resort and Spa has completed a $100 million renovation of the beachfront resort's 1,230 rooms, including Japa­nese bidet-style toilets with cleansing jet streams in each room. Star-Advertiser.

Tracking truth, transparency promises at Honolulu Police Department. KHON2.

Hawaii

Ordnance removal workers say job is hazardous, pay is unfair. West Hawaii Today.

Construction at the troubled Hu Honua Bioenergy plant in Pepeekeo again has met with delays after the company announced Monday the need to lay off employees. It was not clear how many employees were laid off or whether any work at the site was continuing. Tribune-Herald.

Big Island Mayor, Billy Kenoi, is in trouble for misusing his County P- card, charging nearly 130-thousand dollars in personal expenses.   But the Mayor is term limited next year and cannot run for re-election. What are his political options? Hawaii Public Radio.

A 35-year-old Pahoa man was tasered and arrested after he illegally deployed an unmanned aerial vehicle, or drone, Saturday night at Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, according to the National Park Service. HVNP spokeswoman Jessica Ferracane on Monday identified the man as Travis Ray Sanders. Tribune-Herald.

The campaign to prevent the $1.4 billion Thirty Meter Telescope from becoming a reality on Mauna Kea has gone absolutely viral. Maybe a little too viral, according to anti-TMT leader Kea­loha Pisciotta, who said the recent cyberattacks on the state and TMT websites don't really fit into the movement's style of nonviolent protest. Star-Advertiser.

Frank Pauline Jr., one of three men convicted of the 1991 Christmas Eve murder and rape of Dana Ireland on Hawaii island, died Monday in a New Mexico prison yard. Star-Advertiser.

Amateur cinematographers on the Big Island looking for exposure will have an opportunity to share their versions of the world around them during a new Hawaii television series that showcases local talent. The show, called “Everything Hawaii,” premiers at 7:30 p.m. May 5 on OC16. West Hawaii Today.

Maui

The Maui Region of the Hawaiʻi Health Systems Corporation announced plans to initiate public discussion on what they are calling “imminent service and position cuts.” Maui Now.

Kauai

Half the coral reef sites surveyed by state scientists in nearshore Kauaian waters in the last year are plagued by disease, environmental officials announced Monday. Garden Island.

An islandwide power outage left many homes and businesses in the dark Monday night and Kauai Island Utility Cooperative asking customers to conserve energy to help weather the situation. KIUC spokesman Jim Kelly said their largest generator is down for maintenance through this week, and when the second generator went offline due to a mechanical problem about 5:45 p.m., different areas lost electricity. Garden Island.

Debris from a fishing boat has washed up in the Uhelekawawa Canal in Kapaa, about 100 yards inland from the Bull Shed Restaurant. Carl Berg, chairman of the Surfrider Foundation’s Kauai Chapter, said the two large boat pieces are similar to features found on Japanese fishing boats that have previously washed up on the island’s shores. Garden Island.

Friday, April 10, 2015

Hawaii Senate wants Superferry reconsidered, shark fin ban upheld, Mauna Kea telescope foes ask OHA to intercede, Tulsi Gabbard is wed, Big Island mulls panhandling laws, Honolulu workers injured by exploding ordnance, Molokai solar on hold, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands


wikipedia image
Hawaii Superferry, courtesy Wikipedia
Senators are asking the state to explore whether it's time to take another swing at creating a statewide interisland ferry system. Associated Press.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration has officially upheld Hawaii’s state shark fin ban. Civil Beat.

Senate lawmakers advanced a bill Wednesday that would, among other things, give greater access to media personnel covering natural disasters, amending it to include language recommended by the Hawaii Department of Defense. Tribune-Herald.

Congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard is now officially off the market after she and fiance Abraham Williams tied the knot Thursday at a historic site in Kahaluu. Hawaii News Now.

Oahu

Big Island Mayor Billy Kenoi’s questionable purchases on a county charge card has prompted the Honolulu Mayor’s Office to release information on how Hawaii’s largest city handles the special charge cards. On Thursday, Mayor Kirk Caldwell’s spokesman Jesse Broder Van Dyke issued a lengthy fact sheet outlining the city’s purchasing card policies. Civil Beat.

Two homeless woman claim that city crews didn't allow them to retrieve identification documents when their homeless camps were cleared recently. But the city says its policy should have allowed them to get the ID's. Hawaii News Now.

A pilot project in San Francisco that rolled out three portable restrooms to problem areas has proven to be such a success that city officials in Honolulu are taking a close look. KITV4.

One groundskeeper has been released but another remained hospitalized after unexploded ordnance apparently detonated and injured the men as they cut grass at the Army's Makua Military Reservation on Monday, officials said. Star-Advertiser.

The Honolulu Police Department is inviting the public to share comments on its policies, procedures, administration, operations and services. The department says the comments will be part of an assessment conducted by the Commission Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies. Associated Press.

Guy Kaulukukui was nominated by Honolulu Mayor Kirk Caldwell Thursday to head the city Department of Enterprise Services. Star-Advertiser.

A partially submerged boat has been sitting in Honolulu Harbor for months and people want to know what is it still doing there. KHON2.

Hawaii

Foes of the controversial Thirty Meter Telescope asked the Office of Hawaiian Affairs Board of Trustees on Thursday to reverse itself and come out against the $1.4 billion project on the summit of Mauna Kea. Star-Advertiser.

Armed with signs and songs, people protesting the Thirty Meter Telescope that’s set to be built on Mauna Kea took their pleas to the Office of Hawaiian Affairs on Thursday. Star-Advertiser.

Opponents of the Thirty Meter Telescope planned for Mauna Kea brought their concerns to the Office of Hawaiian Affairs Thursday. Hawaii Public Radio.

Attorney David Kimo Frankel of the Native Hawaiian Legal Corporation believes the Thirty-Meter Telescope planned for Mauna Kea can be stopped because it isn't consistent with criteria in the state's administrative rules. Hawaii News Now.

Changes to Hawaii County’s panhandling laws are scheduled to be considered Tuesday, as two County Council committees tackle bills responding to a federal judge’s opinion that the local ordinances violate First Amendment rights. West Hawaii Today.

Hawaii County Councilwoman Margaret Wille said she can no longer use her county-issued purchasing card — or pCard — after she was questioned two weeks ago by the county clerk about two first-class flights and a hotel upgrade to a room with an ocean view. Star-Advertiser.

The Hawaii State Teachers Association alleges that teachers at Honokaa High and Intermediate School have been assigned to teach classes next year for which they are not qualified. Tribune-Herald.

This Saturday, Hilo High School will officially recognize the grand opening of its new, 1,350-seat gymnasium — five months after the facility opened its doors for regular use. Tribune-Herald.

Maui

The Senate Ways and Means and Judiciary and Labor committees advanced House Bill 1075 on Wednesday, setting up a full Senate vote Tuesday on the measure to allow a public-private partnership to take over management of Maui Memorial Medical Center and the Kula and Lanai Community hospitals. Maui News.

Improvements to water and photovoltaic systems and trails in the Kipahulu District will be discussed at a meeting organized by Haleakala National Park from 5 to 6:30 p.m. Wednesday at Kalena Triangle in Kipahulu. Maui News.

Kauai

As Jalissa Rapozo-Carveiro filled out job applications and visited employers at Kauai Community College’s job fair, she was hopeful she would find work. Garden Island.

Molokai

Sixty-five applications for rooftop solar on Molokai currently remain in limbo at the hands of Maui Electric Company (MECO), according to company Communications Director Kau`i Awai-Dickson. Molokai Dispatch.