USS Daniel Inouye tours Hawaiian Islands, civil rights complaints prompt changes to unemployment application, Aloha Stadium demolition planned for 2023, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

USS Daniel Inouye tours Hawaii ©2021 All Hawaii News

USS Daniel Inouye passes by East Hawaii. The future USS Daniel Inouye, or DDG 118, cruised off the coast of East Hawaii on Tuesday morning as it headed toward Oahu. The Arleigh Burke-class guided missile destroyer — named in honor of the late U.S. senator from Hawaii and World War II Medal of Honor recipient — left General Dynamics Bath Iron Works in Bath, Maine, on Oct. 4. en route to its home port, Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam on Oahu. Tribune-Herald. Big Island Now.

How Police Overtime Leaves Taxpayers On The Hook For Jacked Up Pensions. State lawmakers cracked down on pension spiking in 2012 – but only for new employees. The old-timers continue to stick taxpayers with ever-growing bills from the state pension system. Civil Beat.

Come January, Hawaii residents will be allowed to carry Tasers in public. With Hawaii residents soon allowed to carry Tasers in public, some say it’s a good tool for self-defense but others worry they could fall into the wrong hands. Hawaii News Now.

Hawaii To Update Unemployment Application After Federal Investigation. The state agreed to provide better access to limited English speakers and non-citizens after five filed civil rights complaints. Civil Beat.

Scientists partnered with local fishermen find Hawaiʻi's bottomfish are not being overfished. Every year for the last decade, scientists from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration join Hawaiʻi fishermen like Clay Tam to measure the abundance of bottomfish like the ʻopakapaka, hāpuʻupuʻu, and five other species known as the “Deep 7.” Hawaii Public Radio.

Hawaii recruiting conservation and resources enforcement officers statewide. The Hawaii Department of Land and Natural Resources announced Monday it is looking for new recruits for its Division of Conservation and Resources Enforcement to expand its force statewide. Star-Advertiser. Tribune-Herald.

$365M Released For School, Airport, Hospital Infrastructure. The capital improvement projects were approved and appropriated by the Hawaii Legislature. Civil Beat.

Agency charged with protecting at-risk keiki grappling with funding issues, staff shortages. State Rep. Ryan Yamane, chair of the Health, Human Services and Homelessness Committee, said he already has met with leadership from Child Welfare Services and the Hawaii Department of Human Services. Hawaii News Now.

Kupuna advocates overjoyed after federal guidelines OK nursing home visits. The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, the federal agency which oversees Hawaii’s nearly 50 nursing homes, said “visitation is now allowed for all residents at all times.” Hawaii News Now.
 
Hawaii sees 63 new coronavirus cases, bringing statewide total to 85,948. The new confirmed and probable infection count by island includes 33 new cases on Oahu,14 on Hawaii Island, seven on Maui, four on Kauai and five Hawaii residents diagnosed outside the state. Star-Advertiser.

Oahu

Demolition of Aloha Stadium possible in early 2023. Aloha Stadium could come down in early 2023, based on a new state expectation for having a private developer replace the largely condemned facility in Halawa with a smaller arena. Star-Advertiser.

How Honolulu’s Rail Compares to Other Federally Funded Projects. It’s common for rail projects to have cost overruns, but few are as large as Honolulu's. Hawaii Business magazine.

The project to replace the rail line’s wheels will take a year. Price tag? Unknown. In an ongoing setback for the embattled Honolulu rail project, there are lingering issues with the wheels, which are too small for the width of the track. Hawaii News Now. KHON2.

Amendment would add to Honolulu affordable-housing fund. The Honolulu City Council is considering a charter amendment that would increase the share of property tax revenue allocated to the city’s affordable-housing fund. Star-Advertiser.

Are Tiny Homes The Answer To Homelessness? Hawaii Is Giving Them A Try. Located on Yorktown Street, a strip with other transitional housing facilities and shelters, the homes will be rented for at least $500 per month, including utilities. However, residents must share restroom, laundry and shower facilities as well as a kitchen, which are located in a 2,800-square-feet community center that also includes a medical clinic, a community lounge and storage. Civil Beat. Hawaii News Now. KHON2. KITV4.

Wahiawa charter school vows to fight commission’s enrollment ruling. Officials at a Wahiawa public charter school said they plan to fight back against a decision by the Hawaii State Public Charter School Commission that would result in the loss of more than $1 million in state funding. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii Island

Council gets EPIC update; permits backlog could be cleared by February, Rodenhurst says. Hawaii County should be able to work through a massive backlog of building permit applications by the second quarter of next year, county officials said Tuesday. Tribune-Herald.

Herbicide ban 2.0: Bill looks to end use of glyphosate-based pesticides at parks and rec facilities. Bill 91, introduced by Kona Councilwoman Rebecca Villegas, is intended to reduce the use of the broad-spectrum systemic herbicide by county workers at Hawaii County Parks and Recreation facilities across the Big Island. West Hawaii Today.

County hopes to allow trailers at certain transfer stations by March. Since the Hawaii County Department of Environmental Management announced in April that all trailers and dump beds would be prohibited at all Big Island transfer stations, residents and County Council members have urged the department to reconsider. Tribune-Herald.

Maui

Some say certificate of need stands in way of local hospitals. For years, lack of funding has held back a hospital that would bring the West Maui community better access to health care and has been talked about and pursued for over two decades. But there’s another barrier the project faced early on, and that other health care facilities have struggled to overcome — Hawaii’s “certificate-of-need” laws. Maui News.

Hawaii Department of Transportation receives federal grant for Honoapiilani Highway work on Maui. Hawaii will receive $22 million in new federal funding to help offset the estimated $90 million in design and construction costs to realign 4.5 miles of Honoa­piilani Highway vulnerable to sea-level rise and coastal erosion. Star-Advertiser.

Lifeguard Services Restored at Oneloa “Big Beach” in Mākena. Lifeguard towers at Oneloa “Big Beach” in Mākena have resumed operations as of this morning. Maui Now.

Kauai

Future USS Daniel Inouye passing Kaua‘i today. The new Arleigh Burke-class destroyer is scheduled to pass Nawiliwili Harbor at 8 a.m. today, before being commissioned on Dec. 8, one day after the 80th anniversary of Pearl Harbor Remembrance Commemoration. Garden Island.

KIFB gets holiday push. The KIFB also launched its holiday food drive to help with the community demand that sees more than 150 food packages for families go out on its weekly emergency food distributions. Garden Island.

More Native Hawaiians becoming doctors, TSA allows cannabis product on flights, Honolulu police $10M over OT budget, Kauai tackles vacation rentals, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Man sets flags at Punchbowl cemetery PC: Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam

Remembrance at Punchbowl on Memorial Day. Punchbowl cemetery was awash in more than 35,000 small and large American flags Monday as Memorial Day and the sacrifices made by American service members across the decades were observed amid a series of auspicious anniversaries coming closely together. Star-Advertiser.Star-Advertiser.

Where Hawaii’s Chronic Teacher Shortage Hits Hardest. Students at rural or lower-income schools are less likely to be taught by experienced, fully qualified teachers than elsewhere, DOE data shows. Civil Beat.

Number of UH minority medical school graduates reaches record. The University of Hawaii has seen a record number of minority medical student graduates despite low numbers of Native Hawaiians and Filipinos in college. Star-Advertiser.

More terminally ill are requesting lethal drugs under the new law. Since Jan. 1, when medically assisted death became legal in Hawaii, at least 17 patients have requested lethal drugs to end their lives and at least three of them went on to use the medication to “have a peaceful death.” Star-Advertiser.

TSA now allowing a cannabis product on flights. TSA updated passenger guidelines after the Food and Drug Administration approved a drug containing cannabidiol or CBD used by children with epilepsy. KITV.

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Hawaii’s slow-growth economy is expected to continue. In what is becoming a recurring theme in local economists’ quarterly reports, the state’s economy is projected to keep inching forward with its gross domestic product — the total value of the state’s goods and services — growing from 1.2% to 1.4% annually over the next four years, according to a new economic forecast by the state Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism. Star-Advertiser.

Economist: Overtourism And Crowding Is A Pricing Problem. The number of tourists coming to Hawai'i has grown in the past three decades, but their spending in real dollars has remained the same. Hawaii Public Radio.

Good and bad signs for Hawaii's economy. Home sales are down. New vehicle sales are down. And bankruptcies are up. The state's chief economist says there is no recession just around the corner -- but not all economists agree. KHON2.

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NTSB calls for safety improvements to rules following Kailua helicopter crash. Following three fatal crashes in the past month, including a helicopter crash in Kailua, the National Transportation Safety Board is calling for greater safety measures to the federal regulations covering them. Star-Advertiser.

Pet dogs trained to detect invasive species in Hawaii's forests. The fight to save endangered species in Hawaii is gaining more ammunition. KITV.

Oahu

Honolulu Police Department seeks $10M transfer to fund overtime. The City Council Budget Committee last week gave tentative approval to a Honolulu Police Department request to transfer $10.25 million to cover salaries and wages during the last six weeks of the fiscal year due to unanticipated expenses. Star-Advertiser.

Hotel workers union reaches tentative deal with Hilton Hawaiian Village. The tentative deal is for a four-year union contract that reportedly covers some 1,800 workers. Hawaii News Now.

Completed questionnaires offer insight into prospective jurors for Kealoha trial. Many of the 413 prospective jurors for the Kealoha mailbox trial didn’t hold back when filling out questionnaires aimed at determining whether they could serve. Hawaii News Now.

Arbitrator asked to rule on private Kakaako road fines. Two brothers who created a public uproar over control of several streets they own in Kakaako are not bowing to the state’s attempt to impose a $250,000 fine over the issue. Star-Advertiser.

Oahu woman's campaign to clear-out Honolulu homeless comes with bus ticket to Waianae encampment and criticism. She posted her plan on Facebook. KITV.

Former BWS employee says automated meter reading system is bogus. Back in 2000, the Honolulu Board of Water Supply paid $30 million for an automated meter reading system to help it measure the monthly water use of its 170,000 residential and business customers. Hawaii News Now.

Nearly 1,000 beachgoers stung as jellyfish invasion keeps Oahu lifeguards busyNearly 1,000 people were stung today by box jellyfish at five beaches on Oahu’s south, west and north shores, city Department of Emergency Services officials said. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii Island

Thirty Meter Telescope Hearing Set For Storm Water Discharge Permit. The hearing on the NPDES application and draft permit to discharge storm water associated with construction activities from the TMT will be heard in Kona on Tuesday, June 25. Big Island Video News.

Video shows PTA public meeting. Protecting Native Hawaiian archaeology from Pohakuloa Training Area bombing exercises was top of mind for those attending a May 16 annual meeting with PTA officials, according to video footage provided by a participant. West Hawaii Today.

500 Kamehameha parcels to be checked for cesspools. Kamehameha Schools has conducted an assessment of its properties statewide in efforts to identify, and subsequently close, any large-capacity cesspools. Tribune-Herald.

Beach Created By Volcanic Eruption Was Born Polluted. You might think a brand new black sand beach would be pristine. But microplastics have already been detected at Pohoiki in Lower Puna. Civil Beat.

Kahaluu Ma Kai slated for completion in 2020. Every day, a historic plot of oceanfront aina is regaining more of its natural ambiance. West Hawaii Today.

Maui

Kanaha Beach Park Closure for Cleanup, May 29-31. Kanaha Beach Park in Kahului will be closed from 8 p.m. Wednesday, May 29, to 2:30 p.m. Friday, May 31, for park maintenance, repairs and cleanup. Maui Now.

Maui Liquor License Renewals Due June 15. The Department of Liquor Control is reminding liquor license holders that license renewal applications for the 2019-2020 fiscal year are due by 4:30 p.m. on June 15, 2019. Maui Now.

Homegrown Teachers Are The Norm At Molokai High. The school defies Hawaii’s revolving door of teachers at many isolated schools, with the vast majority staying more than five years. Civil Beat.

Kauai

County cracks down on illegal TVRs. The Kauai County Council on Wednesday will hear public testimony on a bill aimed at helping the county shut down illegal vacation rental homes. Garden Island.

Kauai beach reopens after whale carcass, 30K pound head removed. The sperm whale carcass that washed ashore in Kealia over the weekend is now gone. Hawaii News Now.

Saving Kauai’s rare birds. Hiking through the sheer ridges and native forests of the world’s highest wetland, Justin Hite spends his time looking and listening for Kauai’s endangered forest birds. Garden Island.

Molokai

Homegrown Teachers Are The Norm At Molokai High. The school defies Hawaii’s revolving door of teachers at many isolated schools, with the vast majority staying more than five years. Civil Beat.

Akaka hospitalized, lesbian child support case draws national spotlight, Arakawa fights ethics fine, kupuna caregiver plan announced, state shoreline creeps mauka, Oahu property values climb, Hawaii County OT pared, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Former Sen. Daniel Akaka, right, with the late Sen. Daniel Inouye, 2012 file photo © 2017 All Hawaii News

Former U.S. Sen. Daniel Akaka is fighting a leg infection at Queen’s Medical Center in Honolulu. Akaka, 93, was admitted to the hospital a couple of weeks ago after a small infection on his leg worsened. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii Attorney General Doug Chin issued a formal advisory opinion today stating that when the shoreline migrates landward (or mauka) due to erosion or sea level rise, the dividing line between public and private ownership also migrates mauka. Big Island Now.

Hawaii case draws attention to same-sex child support issues. National gay rights advocates are watching a child support fight between a divorced lesbian couple in Hawaii. Associated Press.

Civil Beat Poll: Voters Just Say No To Legalizing Recreational Marijuana. Survey respondents 50 and older aren’t ready to take the step, and in Hawaii, older voters still call the shots. Civil Beat.

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New state program offers aid for caregivers. The state is hoping its new program to provide up to $70 a day in services to those caring for seniors will help keep caregivers in the workforce longer. Star-Advertiser.

Caregivers to get much-needed financial help under new state program. Hawaii News Now.

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New state initiative offers support for those working and taking care of kupuna. The Kupuna Caregivers Program will provide financial help of up to $70 per day for services such as home-delivered meals, personal care, respite, adult day care, transportation or homemaker assistance. Tribune-Herald.

DowDuPont to cut jobs in Hawaii. Two global companies doing seed crop research in Hawaii became one in August, and now the company plans to consolidate local operations from six sites to three while also investing in two facilities. Star-Advertiser.

State traffic fatalities down so far this year. As of Monday, the state had 101 traffic fatalities, compared to 112 last year at the same point. Star-Advertiser.

How Will Hawaiian Airlines Weather Its Big Transition In 2018? With a new chief executive and the bulk of a new fleet set to arrive, Hawaii’s dominant airline will face a major competitor — Southwest Airlines. Civil Beat.

Republican leaders reach an agreement over tax reform. The call for sweeping changes could impact how much you pay at tax time, along with how much money is available for affordable housing in Hawaii. KITV.

Oahu

Oahu property values rise and taxes may, too. Across Oahu, the valuations for residential properties are going up 6.1 percent for the 2018-2019 tax year. Star-Advertiser.

Honolulu Police Department reviews body camera pilot program. Now that the pilot program is done — will it be rolled out permanently? KHON2.

Red Hill study details 6 options for fuel tanks. The Navy has submitted a tank upgrade study for the Red Hill Bulk Fuel Storage Facility that examines six options ranging from enhancing current maintenance and inspection to creating a carbon steel tank within a tank. Star-Advertiser.

Oahu North Shore: Short Term Vacation Rentals. The state and counties are trying to resolve illegal vacation rentals in residential areas but it’s a complicated issue throughout the state. Hawaii Public Radio.

City sued over falling, 'twisting' hillside in Palolo. Hawaii News Now.

Hawaii business could lose everything over Amazon taxes dispute. Ren Wu, the founder of the Remi Collection in Kalihi, says he has been a third-party seller for Amazon since 2009. Hawaii News Now.

Some of Hawaii's kumu hula considering trademark on halau name. A number of kumu hula are in the process of trademarking their halau after a Kaneohe hula school announced it may be forced to change its name. KITV.

Hawaii Island

Hawaii County is on track to pare almost half a million dollars off overtime expenses this year compared to last year. But overtime for county employees, most notably in the police and fire departments, still accounts for millions of dollars, according to an analysis of data provided by the county Finance Department. West Hawaii Today.

Hilo parcel could be developed after arsenic removal. A proposed commercial development in Hilo will move forward only if a plan to clean up and contain arsenic gets approval from the state. Tribune-Herald.

VIDEO: More Rule Changes Target Kealoha Beach Park. The Hawaii County Council continues to visit laws that could curb problems at 4-mile in Keaukaha. Big Island Video News.

A year after Hawaii County celebrated a $10.3 million renovation to the renamed Mauna Kea Recreation Area, Big Island residents and visitors are still waiting to use the park’s refurbished cabins, bunkhouses, dining hall and concessionaire. Civil Beat.

Aerospace agency promotes basalt as base for new industry in Hawaii. Could basalt — the volcanic rock that makes up the ground beneath our feet — become the building blocks for a new industry in the state? Tribune-Herald.

Maui

The state's Campaign Spending Commission wants to fine Maui Mayor Alan Arakawa $1,000 and wants him to pay back $8,000 to his campaign for excess donations to multiple charitable organizations. Hawaii News Now.

The chairman of the Maui County Liquor Control Commission promised a simpler application process for nonprofits seeking single-event liquor licenses after a handful of groups complained of more issues during Wednesday’s meeting in Wailuku. Maui News.

Lawsuit filed over Maui cancer institute's land leases. The Hawaii Health Systems Corp. has filed a lawsuit claiming land leases it entered into with the Pacific Cancer Institute are illegal and should be voided. Associated Press.

Maui hospital, cancer center lease dispute heads to court. A dispute between the Hawaii Health Systems Corp. and the Pacific Cancer Institute over the cancer center’s ground lease at the Maui Memorial Medical Center campus has reached an impasse and is headed to state court ahead of a deadline for resolution next month. Pacific Business News.

Kauai

Kauai Independent Food Bank had a busy weekend. Garden Island.

Aquarium fish collecting halted; Mauna Kea conflict spurs arrests, peace park plan; Taiwan president visits USS Arizona Memorial; Oahu monster houses, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

School of tropical fish © 2017 All Hawaii News

A Hawaii judge has halted the commercial fishing of reef fish for aquariums until the state reviews the trade's environmental impact. Associated Press.

A new ruling upholds a state Supreme Court ban on Hawaii's aquarium fishing industry and there's no timeline on when it will be lifted. Hawaii News Now.

Aquarium fishing permits in Hawaii are now invalid and illegal, due to a Friday Oahu Circuit Court ruling by Judge Jeffrey Crabtree. Garden Island.

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The U.S. Navy wants approval to continue war games in Hawaii and California waters that include naval ships firing at air targets, Marine battalions practicing amphibious assaults and submarines shooting explosive torpedoes. Civil Beat.

Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen visited the USS Arizona Memorial on Saturday, providing a very public record of her first trip to Hawaii, which drew strong objections from China. Star-Advertiser.

President Donald Trump is scheduled to stop on Oahu this week, before beginning a two-week trip to Asia. He will travel to Japan, the Republic of Korea, China, Vietnam, the Philippines, and Hawaii, from November 3-14. KITV.

Three TMT opponents were arrested after they interrupted a land board meeting on Friday, demanding the resignation of one member. Big Island Video News.

A U.S. Navy ship carrying two Honolulu women it rescued from their storm-battered sailboat in the Pacific docked Monday at an American naval base in Japan. Associated Press.

House and Senate leaders will convene an informal working group of lawmakers in the weeks ahead to try to finally develop a viable system for collecting hotel room taxes from Airbnb Inc. and other companies that market transient vacation units across the islands. Star-Advertiser.

State goes after unlicensed aging-in-place facilities. Health Department data show the agency conducted 10 investigations of unlicensed care homes in 2015, 10 in 2016 and 11 through mid-October of this year, with six of those still pending. Star-Advertiser.

Will Regular Classrooms Better Serve Hawaii’s Special Ed Students? Co-teaching — classrooms with both a general and special-ed teacher — is catching on in a state that has one of the lowest “inclusion” rates in the nation. Civil Beat.

Doctors At UH Hyperbaric Facility Complained Months Before It Shut Down. In a letter to university officials, the physicans said they were worried about patient safety and a lack of resources. Civil Beat.

With state’s only hyperbaric chamber inactive, some divers feel uneasy. West Hawaii Today.

Group seeks to rebrand medical marijuana as ‘cannabis’. A local nonprofit trade organization is trying to stamp out use of the term “marijuana” as well as associated slang words that include pot, grass, weed and pakalolo when referring to licensed dispensaries that grow and sell cannabis to registered patients. Star-Advertiser.

The first Pacific Regenerative Medicine Conference will be held Nov. 6-7 at the Hawaii Convention Center. State Sen. Josh Green, an emergency room physician, will deliver a keynote presentation on regenerative medicine in Hawaii’s health landscape. Star-Advertiser.

After more than a century away from the islands, human remains stolen from burial caves in Hawaii and sold to a museum in Germany have finally returned home. Star-Advertiser.

Island Air said in a bankruptcy filing Friday it is in discussions with multiple prospective investors to obtain about $6.5 million in financing. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaiian Airlines took delivery Friday of its first of 18 Airbus A321neo aircraft that it plans to use for West Coast markets. Star-Advertiser.

Commentary: Lieutenant governor race needs firefight spark. Star-Advertiser.

Oahu

Waikiki business people and government officials are calling on the Honolulu Police Department and U.S. armed forces to address a recent uptick in serious crimes in the state’s top tourist district, where two military members were victimized this month. Star-Advertiser.

Several Waikiki leaders are frustrated by the holdup in the release of $1 million earmarked this year by state lawmakers to address homelessness in tourist areas, which many say is contributing to the district’s security concerns. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii’s public defender is reviewing the criminal cases handled by four Honolulu police officers and a deputy city prosecutor to uncover any possible wrongdoing after they were accused of planting evidence, falsifying reports and lying to U.S. investigators in a corruption probe. Associated Press.

Former police chief Louis Kealoha will soon have a new attorney defending him against charges of conspiracy, bank fraud and deception of government investigators. Civil Beat.

Council members offer bills to address ‘monster houses’. Officials with the city Department of Planning and Permitting, which is tasked with enforcing zoning and building violations, say their hands are tied on many of the complaints because they can cite or fine only people who are not meeting code requirements. Star-Advertiser.

Star-Advertiser Employees Rally To Protest Layoffs. More than 30 newsroom staffers have lost their jobs at Hawaii’s biggest newspaper in the past year amid ongoing contract negotiations. Civil Beat.

Tenants, landlord clash at Kewalo Basin harbor. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii's new 'Teacher of the Year' hails from Ewa Makai Middle. Hawaii's Department of Education honored Vanessa Ching of Ewa Makai Middle School Friday with the title of "Teacher of the Year." Hawaii News Now.

Several scabies cases reported at Oahu elementary school. The Hawaii Department of Education sent a letter home to parents after several cases of the infection were reported at Makalapa Elementary School in Salt Lake. KHON2.

Hawaii Island

Gov. David Ige has tapped Mayor Harry Kim to lead a working group to create a “living monument for world peace” on Mauna Kea. West Hawaii Today.

The Department of Hawaiian Home Lands wants future landholders and Honomu community members to help plan their new subsistence agriculture development. Tribune-Herald.

Hawaii County is hiring a consultant to draft a master plan for a park in Hawaiian Paradise Park. Tribune-Herald.

Almost six years after one of the county planning commissions rejected rule changes governing special management areas, which center around shorelines, the Planning Department is trying again. West Hawaii Today.

Hawaii solar customers can still receive credit for supplying solar energy to the power grid after the Public Utilities Commission approved new solar incentive programs earlier this month. Tribune-Herald.

The state Land Board approved fining a tour boat operator $42,165 on Friday for damage done to the historic Punaluu Wharf. Tribune-Herald.

The Hawaii land board voted on Friday to fine the man accused of digging up part of the historic Punalu’u Wharf with a backhoe back in June. Big Island Video News.

Senate WAM Committee Visits East Hawaii. Big Island Now.

Closing the Hilo Landfill. On Hawaii Island, county officials have been talking about the potential closure of the Hilo Landfill for more than three decades. Hawaii Public Radio.

Maui

Proposed tax changes cause concern. A Maui Vacation Rental Association official fears that two bills on property tax classifications recommended for approval by a Maui County Council committee could lead to higher property taxes for at least 2,900 property owners in Maui County. Maui News.

Low-income renters fear they’ll be priced out of Lahaina apartments. Some 300 low-income residents at Front Street Apartments effectively face eviction under what they call an “IRS loophole” that enables the property to be converted to market-priced units after 15 years in service. Star-Advertiser.

Audit calls for change to MFD staffing policy. Overtime costs have almost doubled since provision took effect. Maui News.

Sweeping change. ‘Group effort’ offers jobs and more for homeless people in Wailuku. Maui News.


Kauai

Timeshare visitors leave behind billions of dollars. The timeshare industry generated about a billion dollars in economic output just on Kauai and an estimated $5.3 billion in consumer and business spending in 2016. Garden Island.

Nearly $250,000 in federal grant funds were awarded to the Office of the Prosecuting Attorney to continue funding its Drug Nuisance Abatement Unit and Sex Assault Prosecution Unit. Garden Island.

The Hawaii Farm Bureau’s 70th annual meeting will be prefaced Monday by the Ag Summit Reception and screening of “Food Evolution” on Kauai. Garden Island.

Footings went in for a $32,000 gazebo at the Kilauea Community Agricultural Center on Thursday, one of the first steps for constructing the little community gathering place within the developing ag park. Garden Island.

Molokai

One-third of the island of Molokai is up for sale and residents want to send a message to its prospective buyer. On Saturday, about 200 community members marched from Mahana to Maunaloa wearing green shirts that read "We Are Molokai Pule O'o" and "Keep Molokai Molokai." Hawaii News Now.

Chicago firm pitches solar panel, battery project for Molokai. 37-acre solar farm could stablize rates now, reduce reliance on oil-generated power. Maui News.

Audit questions big film industry tax breaks, Health Department mulls food handler certification, other rules, water tank vandalism closes Molokai schools, Big Island faces electricity hikes, more ado about University of Hawaii politicking, House picks leaders, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Hawaii Five-O promo, courtesy Hawaii Film Office

The tax breaks the state of Hawaii offers to lure Hollywood productions to the islands are probably sweeter than they should be under state law, according to a report released Tuesday by the state auditor. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii's film tax credit may not be helping the state as much as its film office claims. Civil Beat.

Read the entire film tax credit audit here.

The Hawaii State Department of Health said Tuesday that it will introduce amendments and updates to the state's food safety code, including a new education requirement, that will affect restaurants and other food service operations in the Islands. Pacific Business News.

More about the food safety rule changes and public hearings here.

The leadership of the state House of Representatives announced Tuesday who will head 20 committees that will oversee everything from tourism and transportation to the environment and education when the 2017 legislative session gets underway in January. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii House unveils lineup of committee chairs. Civil Beat.

See the entire House lineup at All Hawaii News.

A federal judge's nationwide preliminary injunction blocking the implementation of the Department of Labor’s overtime rule could be good news for employers in Hawaii, according to Ryan Sanada, director of legal and government affairs for the Hawaii Employers Council. Pacific Business News.

Communities such as Hawaii that continue to see their homeless populations rise “tell us that something is broken” and changes need to be made, the regional coordinator for the U.S. Interagency Council on Homelessness told the Hono­lulu Star-Advertiser on Tuesday.

Oahu

A donor has pulled funds supporting art students at the University of Hawaii after the art department’s chairwoman organized a sign-painting party on Facebook to protest President-elect Donald Trump. Associated Press.

Why Keith Kaneshiro Is Standing Behind Katherine Kealoha. Honolulu’s top prosecutor has been a harsh critic of a Justice Department investigation into Police Chief Louis Kealoha and his prosecutor wife. Civil Beat.

One of the largest food pantries on Oahu is preparing to close next month if a new location is not found.  Civil Beat.

State investigates water pollution complaint at Keehi Marine Center. KITV4.

Kahumana Community, a 50-acre nonprofit organic farm and community in Leeward Oahu, has been waiting for more than two years to get a solar energy project approved by Hawaiian Electric Co., delaying plans to house several dozen homeless individuals, businesses involved in the project confirmed to Pacific Business News.

Hawaii

The public soon will have a chance to weigh in on two scenarios posed by Hawaii Electric Light Co. that could raise typical residential electric rates by $9.31 a month in one case or possibly provide savings in another. West Hawaii Today.

The House of Representatives Majority named its 2017 Committee Chairs and Vice Chairs during a caucus meeting today. Kona-Ka’u representative Richard Creagan has been declared the new chair of the House Committee on Agriculture. Big Island Video News.

KTA Super Stores dives deeper into the digital age this week with the introduction of “virtual clinics of the future.” Shoppers in need of medical checks for scrapes, respiratory ailments, urinary infections, colds, sunburns or prescription refills can connect through iPad telemedicine. Tribune-Herald.

A guide sign that was misdirecting South Kona drivers through a new intersection came down in recent days and new, correct signs are expected to go up in its place. West Hawaii Today.

Maui

Maui County Council Land Use Committee members recommended approval of A&B Properties’ Waiale South project Monday, while continuing to wrestle with questions about the developer’s vetting of prospective homebuyers for its 600-home Kamalani project in north Kihei. Maui News.

The Department of Water Supply is advising customers in the Honokōhau area to boil water before consumption due to possible E. coli contamination. Maui Now.

The Ritz-Carlton, Kapalua has been sold for the second time in about two years to a partnership that includes Trinity Investments and Area Property Partners, which also are part of a consortium that owns the shuttered Makena Beach & Golf Resort. Maui News.

Melon Headed Whale Stranding Off Sugar Beach, Maui. Maui Now.

Kauai

The Kauai Island Utility Cooperative is offering a $10,000 reward for information leading to the arrest of a suspect involved in vandalizing the utility’s hydroelectric power infrastructure. Garden Island.

Molokai
The Department of Hawaiian Home Lands is urging the public on Molokai to avoid using water from two storage tanks in Hoolehua after they were damaged by vandals. Star-Advertiser.

Several schools on Molokai are closed Wednesday due to water quality concerns after vandals damaged two 3.5-million-gallon storage tanks, officials said. Hawaii News Now.

Ige seeks enhanced trespassing laws, millions for Hawaiian Home Lands, state recruits Mainland teachers, grand jury mulls Honolulu police corruption, OT raises county costs, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Pocket park along Diamond Head © 2016 All Hawaii News

Gov. David Ige’s administration wants to make it a crime to trespass on all state lands, but homeless advocates worry that could give homeless people a criminal record by expanding the areas that are off-limits to set up camp. Associated Press.

Gov. David Ige announced Monday he will ask the Legislature to boost funding for the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands by millions of dollars, representing the “highest level of funding” that the department has ever received from the state. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii Gov. David Ige is asking lawmakers to give an additional $20 million to the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands over the next two years. Associated Press.

Gov. David Ige announced Monday he is asking state lawmakers to approve $17.1 million to cover the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands’ operating budget and administrative expenses for fiscal 2016, which ends June 30. Civil Beat.

Gov. David Ige is proposing to almost double the Department of Hawaiian Home Land’s administration and operation budget for the next two fiscal years. Garden Island.

The Hawaii Department of Education is finishing the last two of five Mainland recruiting trips this week as officials scramble to deal with a growing teacher shortage. Hawaii News Now.

As the Zika outbreak takes hold in Latin America, researchers thousands of miles away in Hawaii are using data to figure out where it might spread next. Associated Press.

Hawaii Gas, which has plans to ship liquefied natural gas in bulk amounts to the Islands as a replacement for oil, among other uses, has sliced its project cost for this venture by $100 million. Pacific Business News.

Oahu

A grand jury is looking into allegations of civil rights abuses and corruption by the Honolulu Police Department that emerged from a theft case involving the police chief’s mailbox, a federal public defender said Monday. Associated Press.

The Honolulu mayor’s race is slowly taking shape as three seasoned politicians appear to be positioning themselves for potential challenges to incumbent Kirk Caldwell. Star-Advertiser.

Honolulu Ethics Commission Executive Director Chuck Totto was back at work Monday after a month-long suspension over allegations of improper management and possible violations of the Hawaii Whistleblower Protection Act.  Civil Beat.

A community park has been left in disrepair for years. Community members want the city to let them take over upkeep. But with so many other parks across the city also in need of help could this be the answer to keeping up with Honolulu’s neglected parks? KHON2.

Turtle Bay Resort plans to expand farming on land mauka of its hotel on Oahu’s North Shore, following completion of a $6 million deal Monday to preserve the agricultural property. Star-Advertiser.

An independent investigation is underway to determine the cause of a laboratory explosion last month at the University of Hawaii at Manoa that seriously injured a 29-year-old researcher. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii

Overtime pay is driving some county employees’ salaries much higher than their bosses’ and even higher than the mayor’s, the chief elected official on the island. Mayor Billy Kenoi makes $132,000. In fact, some Hawaii County employees make more than the governor. West Hawaii Today.

Perspectives on Mayor Billy Kenoi's Legal and Personal Futures. Hawaii Public Radio.

A range fire that began March 24 within the Pohakuloa Training Area (PTA) on Hawaii island during a combined armed live-fire exercise is contained but still smoldering near Range 3 in the PTA impact area, where officials say it is running out of fuel. Hawaii Independent.

After three decades of growing bananas, Richard Ha has overseen his last harvest. On Friday, the Ha family and their farm workers gave away 300 boxes – close to 12,000 pounds – of Hamakua Springs Country Farms bananas at the Hilo soccer fields. Big Island Video News.

Maui

An agricultural giant would be allowed to continue diverting water from East Maui streams for three years under legislation that cleared a critical committee Monday at the Capitol. Civil Beat.

An energy industry veteran from Colorado has been tapped to be the next energy commissioner of Maui County, filling the spot vacated by Doug McLeod, who recently left to become an energy and real estate consultant, the county said. Pacific Business News.

Discovery Land Company, a luxury community developer, is preparing for the construction phase of its development of Makena Golf & Beach Club at Makena Beach & Golf Resort, which will close on July 1, 2016. Maui Now.

Kauai

A proposed roving Jet Ski patrol program stayed afloat Monday in the wake of intense scrutiny of the county’s police and fire budgets. Garden Island.

Nadine Nakamura, managing director for the County of Kauai, formally filed her papers to run for the State House of Representatives, District 14, Monday. Garden Island.

Hawaii paniolo cowboys honored, state workers rack up big overtime, Hawaii Health Connector extended, lights in sky likely 1981 Soviet payload, park service to poison Haleakala pine trees, Micronesian center opens, little interest in Hilo university village, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Little cowboys on parade © 2015 All Hawaii News

The Hawaii Tourism Authority honored four ranches on Thursday for their commitment to perpetuating the state's unique paniolo, or Hawaiian cowboy, traditions that date back to the early 1800s. Pacific Business News.

A handful of state workers who are responsible for allocating federal funds to county water projects have raked in hundreds of thousands of dollars in overtime pay in recent years, raising concerns that staff has been abusing overtime and sabotaging efforts to upgrade antiquated accounting processes that would make things more efficient. Star-Advertiser.

Gov. David Ige isn’t anyone’s idea of a disruptive force, but he helped to shake up the islands’ power elite at the recent 2015 Asia Pacific Resilience Innovation Summits & Expo at the Honolulu Convention Center. The unassuming governor turned the clean-energy event on its side in his opening-day speech when he made it clear that he intends to help drive a radical transformation of Hawaii’s most critical industry: electricity. Civil Beat.

The state of Hawaii is likely to extend the operations of the Hawaii Health Connector through October 2016 for $3.3 million, the health insurance exchange’s officials announced Friday at its board of directors meeting. Pacific Business News.

The Hawaii Board of Education is slated to consider a considerably scaled-back student discipline policy on Tuesday, after delaying a vote on the proposal for more than three months while trying to address the concerns of school principals. Civil Beat.

Many residents across the state observed unusual streaks of light or a “fireball” over Hawaiian skies late Sunday night, raising questions about what it could possibly be. An official with NASA's orbital debris program told Hawaii News Now that based on investigations, the object was likely a Soviet payload -- Cosmos 1315 -- launched in 1981. Hawaii News Now.

A new Hawaii law requires private insurers to cover medically necessary orthodontic work of up to $5,500 for oral-facial anomalies. That brings the Aloha State in line with 16 other states and Medicaid insurance. Star-Advertiser.

Gridiron 2015, put on by Honolulu’s press corps, public relations pros and supporters, poses the question “Is nothing sacred?” And the answer is a resounding “no.”  Star-Advertiser.

Oahu

The state Department of Land and Natural Resources has its sights set on establishing 300 acres of pristine forestland near Hawaii Kai as the Pia Natural Reserve Area. The parcel was offered as a donation by interests that include retired car dealer James Pflueger and is home to a variety of rare plants and animals. Civil Beat.

A City Council bill to allot some parking spaces for car-sharing companies passed third reading unanimously and was signed into law by Mayor Kirk Caldwell this month. Star-Advertiser.

On Friday, Mayor Kirk Caldwell announced plans for the city’s next protected bike lane and future mauka makai routes to establish a grid in urban Honolulu. KITV4.

The first military “gasifier” waste-burning power plant on Oahu — using palms damaged by the coconut rhinoceros beetle as some of its fuel — is expected to be up and running by the end of the year as part of a $20 million Air Force energy “microgrid” demonstration project for the Hawaii Air National Guard at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, officials said. Star-Advertiser.

A “one-stop center” pilot project that aims to help Micronesians in Hawaii was opened in Kalihi Friday. The center wants to serve as a “central hub” linking Micronesian communities, families and individuals with public services and other resources. Civil Beat.

The Department of Agriculture appears to have won the battle against the little fire ant, one of the world's most invasive species in some Honolulu neighborhoods. Associated Press.

Hawaii

Ka‘u residents angered by a massive solar energy project are changing county law to prevent another of its kind from landing in a residential area. West Hawaii Today.

The University of Hawaii at Hilo hopes to boost interest in plans for its University Village after a request for offers from developers attracted only one applicant. Tribune-Herald.

Lower electricity rates will translate to slightly lower water bills for households that get their water from the county Department of Water Supply. West Hawaii Today.

Plans to redevelop an aged resort area into an educational hub at Kahaluu are making their way through the regulatory process. West Hawaii Today.

Friday afternoon marked the final of three public sessions to review suggestions for a master plan aimed at promoting beautification and improved access to Hilo’s downtown. Tribune-Herald.

Following the August 27 oral arguments before the Hawaii Supreme Court in appeal of the state land board’s approval of the Thirty Meter Telescope’s conservation district use permit, the appellants and their supporters are feeling positive. Big Island Video News.

Maui

To prevent Haleakala Crater from turning into a pine forest, the national park will be flying helicopters in September and October to 3,000 invasive trees growing on cliffs and terrain inaccessible by foot and spraying a herbicide tree by tree. Maui News.

The Shops at Wailea sold for $342 million earlier this month to a Chicago-based company that has investments worldwide, according to state records. Maui News.

Until recently, the record-setting, nearly $41.8 million sale of a 4.23-acre residential property in Makena has been hush-hush, supposedly shrouded in secrecy and tied up in binding confidentiality agreements. Associated Press.

A&B Properties, Inc. today announced it has completed the sale of an 11-acre site to Lowe’s for the construction of a 167,000-square-foot store at Phase II of the Maui Business Park in Kahului. Maui Now.

Maui Now received multiple reports late Sunday evening of mysterious lights seen over the night skies.

Kaihalulu Beach in Hana is well-known as a dramatic hidden cove of deep red sand and jagged black lava rocks, but getting there can be dangerous. Maui News.

Kauai

The state is accepting public comment until Sept. 8 on plans that would limit daily visitors to Kauai’s Haena State Park. Star-Advertiser.

The Kaua'i Island Utility Cooperative is refining an effort that uses low-powered lasers to create a visual "light fence" that helps night-flying endangered seabirds steer clear of power lines and transmission poles. Star-Advertiser.

Ask any beekeeper the worst thing to hit the islands since Hurricane Iniki and they’ll probably tell you this: Varroa mite. Garden Island.

The road to Polihale State Park will remain closed until at least Wednesday while crews work to clear debris from the roadway and repair the first bridge, according to the State Department of Land and Natural Resources. Garden Island.