Minimum wage, vacation rental, police disclosure bills die, while red light cameras, hemp, suicide bills advance; Rapozo wants to be Kauai auditor, more than half Maui school not vaccinated, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Ala Wai ©2019 All Hawaii News

Ala Wai Canal: Flood Control Project Will Do Little To Clean Up the Polluted Waterway. Federal engineers could ease the impacts of its plan if it also worked to restore the local ecology, conservationists say. The agency says its hands are tied. Civil Beat.

Minimum Wage Increase Dead For 2019 Session. Concerns about different rates of increase and the impact to employer health care plans scuttled a deal. Civil Beat.

A bill that would have increased the state’s minimum wage from $10.10 an hour to $15 an hour was killed at the last minute Friday. Tribune-Herald.

Lawmakers Shoot Down Airbnb Tax But Agree To Tax Big Real Estate Investments. A groundbreaking bill to collect revenue from real estate investment trusts moves ahead, but a plan to tax vacation rentals falls short. Civil Beat.

A bill that would have collected transient accommodations taxes from vacation rental platforms has died in a tie vote in the state Senate. The 12-12 vote came after impassioned discussion over whether the state should be collecting taxes from illegal vacation rentals without cracking down on them. Hawaii News Now.

It may soon be easier for mental health professionals and the court to force chronically homeless people with severe mental illnesses into treatment. Within hours of a deadline that would have killed the proposal, lawmakers voted unanimously Friday to pass changes to the the state’s Assisted Community Treatment Law. Hawaii News Now.

Red light cameras get green light. A proposed statewide red light detector system will first operate as a pilot program for at least a year. West Hawaii Today.

Hawaii gun group aims to sue over ‘red flag’ law. SB 1466 would create a process that police or family members could use to petition Family Court for a protective order to prevent a person from accessing firearms if that person “poses a danger of causing bodily injury” to anyone, including himself or herself. Star-Advertiser.

Why The Police Misconduct Bill Failed To Pass The Legislature — Again. One lawmaker says the bill was too complex to pass this year. But another says the political will still just isn’t there. Civil Beat.

Hawaii Ag Department Likely To Get Hemp Program. Conferees at the Hawaii Legislature on Friday struck agreement on establishing a permanent industrial hemp program in the state’s Department of Agriculture. Civil Beat.

A bill headed to the governor’s desk would, if signed, change the state’s industrial hemp pilot program into a permanent program. Tribune-Herald.

Hawaiian salt could evaporate under federal ban. The FDA has issued a warning that the color additives used to make red and black Hawaiian salt—clay from Kauai and charcoal—are not approved as safe, thereby rendering the popular gourmet items technically illegal for sale. Star-Advertiser.

Legislature Cuts Size Of UH Regents Board. House Bill 398 will reduce the numbers on the board from 15 to 11 and restructure the distribution of regents on Oahu. Civil Beat.

Legislature Passes Suicide Prevention Bills. The Hawaii State Legislature recently passed two measures to help suicide prevention and awareness efforts. Maui Now.

The spike in measles cases on the mainland is raising concern that the highly infectious and sometimes fatal disease could break out here as well. Star-Advertiser.

State officials worry low vaccination rates in some Hawaii schools may cause health risk. State law requires all students from kindergarten to 12th grade to meet immunization requirements to go to school. KITV.

Oahu

‘Monster’ house bill would punish builders for lying. A bill that makes it a misdemeanor to lie to a government investigator or inspector during a building inspection won approval from both houses of the state Legislature last week and is now awaiting action from Gov. David Ige. Star-Advertiser.

Mounting city fines don’t deter owner building monster home on steroids. The city has fined the owner of a Kalihi monster home more than $124,000 after he ignored orders to stop building a year and a half ago. Hawaii News Now.

Hirono Urges for Federal Funding to Clear Rape Kit Backlog. On a visit to the Honolulu Police Department Headquarters on Wednesday, Sen. Mazie K. Hirono highlighted the important role of federal funding in helping Hawaii law enforcement clear a backlog of 1,500 untested rape kits statewide. Maui Now.

Get ready for a fare war: Southwest launches inter-island service. Southwest Airlines launched its new inter-island service Sunday, with four round-trip flights between Honolulu and Maui and introductory fares as low as $29. Hawaii News Now.

Southwest inter-island flights take off between Kahului and Honolulu. KHON2.

Hawaii Island

Next Round Of Hearings On Mauna Kea Rules Set For June. Another hearing will be held in Hilo and in Waikoloa, as the University of Hawaii invites the public to provide feedback on the latest draft. Big Island Video News.

Big Island to get bomb squad rig. The state recently awarded a $306,947 contract to Rainbow Chevrolet to provide three bomb squad vehicles, one each for Hawaii, Kauai and Maui counties. West Hawaii Today.

A project that would add 111 affordable housing units to West Hawaii is moving closer to reality. The Kaloko Affordable Housing Project upon completion would build out 111 two- and three-bedroom units on 10.75 acres off Hina Lani Street about 2 miles mauka (east) of Ane Keohokalole Highway. West Hawaii Today.

Major mixed-use plan marches forward. A development carrying about 300 residences and more than 200 hotel rooms passed a major milestone earlier this month when the county’s Planning Department determined the $65 million project won’t have significant environmental impacts on the area. West Hawaii Today.

Testing finds extremely high oxybenzone levels at Kahaluu Bay. The Kahaluu Bay Education Center last April commissioned testing to measure bay waters for the presence of oxybenzone, a chemical compound found in sunscreens and known to be harmful to coral ecosystems. West Hawaii Today.

Kalanianaole Avenue improvements continue. Work will widen Kalanianole Avenue from Kanoelehua Avenue to Kuhio Street to allow for a concrete sidewalk on the makai side, a paved shoulder on the mauka side, bicycle lanes in each direction, one through lane in each direction, a shared turn lane and installation of a 12-inch diameter waterline. Tribune-Herald.

Pahoa businesses still struggle while creating new attractions. A year after lava from Kilauea Volcano began shooting out of the ground on May 3, choking off tourism and destroying more than 700 homes, Pahoa town still needs any help it can get. Star-Advertiser.

Maui

Number of students exempt from vaccinations growing. Haleakala Waldorf School has highest rate of unvaccinated students in state. Maui News.

More than half of Maui school exempted from vaccination. Hawaii News Now.

Bill to limit tour boats at Molokini sails through Legislature. Boat operators voice support for amended measure. Maui News.

Town hall planned to address control of illegal fireworks. Residents have expressed concern over the increase in violations, impact on people, animals. Maui News.

Kauai

County moves closer to selecting auditor. The County of Kauai and the County Council have begun the hiring process for a county auditor, according to one applicant, Mel Rapozo. Garden Island.

The National Tropical Botanical Garden has announced that the Limahuli Garden & Preserve will reopen soon. The garden has been closed since the April 2018 flooding which had major impacts on the garden’s infrastructure. Garden Island.

Hawaii's sunscreen ban first in nation, 450 rescued from Honolulu 'floatilla,' former ILWU union boss indicted, volcano, earthquakes continue to rattle Big Island, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Rinsing off beach baby ©2018 All Hawaii News

Hawaii became the first state in the nation to ban sales of sunscreens containing chemicals deemed harmful to coral reefs after Gov. David Ige signed a bill into law Tuesday afternoon at the Capitol Rotunda in Honolulu. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii Governor Starts The Clock On Sunscreen Ban. Gov. David Ige signs a bill that prohibits the sale of sunscreen containing oxybenzone and octinoxate in the islands, beginning in 2021. Civil Beat.

Gov. David Ige on Tuesday signed legislation that will ban the sale of sunscreens containing two chemicals thought to harm coral reefs. Associated Press.

34% of Hawaii’s coast at risk as climate change accelerates. A study by University of Hawaii researchers has found a third of the state’s shorelines are vulnerable to coastal hazards as the waves and storms that hit the islands become intensified by the growing impacts of sea level rise. Star-Advertiser.

Conditions of Hawaii's Beaches this Summer. The Conversation's Catherine Cruz spoke with Dolan Eversole, a coastal geologist with the University of Hawaii’s Sea Grant College, about managing our coastal resources as we face rising warming waters. Hawaii Public Radio.

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Congressional candidate Sherry Alu Campagna is upset Congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard has not agreed to debate her. Garden Island.

More women in Hawaii are running for office in 2018 than in the last election cycle two years ago, following a nationwide trend. Statewide, females make up 38 percent of candidates this year, compared to 32 percent in the prior election cycle. Civil Beat.

Former high-ranking union leader slapped with theft charges in new indictment. A federal grand jury has indicted Nate Lum, the former division director for the ILWU on theft charges. Hawaii News Now.

How Hawaii Is Trying To ‘Grow Our Own’ Pipeline of New Teachers. In an effort to address the state’s chronic teacher shortage, a new initiative offers scholarships and support to help long-term subs become licensed teachers. Civil Beat.

Governor to sign 'bill of rights' for Hawaii's foster youth. Current and former foster youth helped shape legislation that Gov. David Ige will sign into law on Thursday. Hawaii News Now.

Federal Disaster Survivor Assistance teams on Tuesday began going door-to-door on Oahu and Kauai trying to register uninsured or underinsured renters and homeowners who may qualify for federal assistance after suffering damage during April’s rains and flooding that triggered landslides and mudslides. Star-Advertiser.

Representatives from FEMA's Disaster Survivor Assistance teams will be going door-to-door to register homeowners and renters of the City and County of Honolulu and Kauai County who were uninsured or underinsured and suffered damage from the April severe storms, flooding, landslides and mudslides. KHON2.

Report: Hawaii still a long way off from 100 percent renewable energy. Hawaii law mandates that by 2045, 100 percent of energy in the state's electricity sector must be renewable. Hawaii News Now.

Oahu

Lifeguards have rescued about 450 July Fourth "floatilla" revelers in waters off Waikiki, a Honolulu Emergency Services Department spokeswoman said. Hawaii News Now.

Fourth of July floatilla considered calm, controlled despite more than 450 rescues. KHON2.

Hundreds of people rescued during the annual 4th of July flotilla in Waikiki, but compared to last year's event some say this one was tamer. KITV.

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More than 1,000 people use special Saturday DMV hours after computer outage. KHON2.

Hawaiian Electric prepares to launch first phase of community solar program. Customers participating in the program will receive a credit on their electric bill. Pacific Business News.

Honolulu’s controversial bike share program is expanding. BikeShare Hawaii plans to add about 40 new Biki docking stations to its existing 100 this year, displacing one to two parking stalls per station in some cases. Star-Advertiser.

$1.7 Million for Hawaii Ocean Research, Estuary Management. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration will award a total of $1,748,582 to the University of Hawai‘i to fund its Sea Grant College Program and its management of the Heeia National Estuarine Research Reserve. Maui Now.

Hawaii Island

State Senate District 3 candidates share views during forum. For the first time in a decade, the state Senate seat for Hawaii Island’s 3rd District will be filled by a new face. West Hawaii Today.

Waimea Community Association is again collaborating with several community groups to co-host a candidate forum from 5 to 8 p.m. on Thursday, July 12, in Hawaii Preparatory Academy’s Taylor Commons, the upper campus cafeteria. Big Island Now.

Tourism bureau: It’s the best time to visit the Big Island. Tribune-Herald.

The Hawaii National Guard deactivated the Joint Task Force 50 partnership with the Guard and regular military forces that was formed to help with the lava emergency response in Hawaii County, said Guard spokesman Maj. Jeff Hickman on Tuesday in a statement. Tribune-Herald.

Air quality monitoring, condemnation, and access to isolated homes were some of the concerns on the minds of the residents of Puna, who were given a chance to directly question county officials for the second time at Tuesday’s eruption meeting in Pahoa. Big Island Video News.

The Village That Can’t Stop Shaking. Volcano Village’s residents and businesses are coping with frequent earthquakes and the closure of the nearby national park. Civil Beat.

People returned to subdivision buried by lava in 1990 — could it happen again? Star-Advertiser.

Kalapana vacation rental businesses may resume operations after volcano eruption. KHON2.

County still seeking site for Naalehu sewer plant. Maybe the 31st time will be the charm. West Hawaii Today.

During a special session held Friday in Hilo, the Hawaii County Council met with and approved the 11 nominees to serve on the Charter Commission. Big Island Video News.

Maui

A proposed charter amendment to reorganize the county’s executive branch by incorporating a professional managing director to run the county’s daily operations was deferred by a County Council committee Tuesday, which likely means it will not be on Nov. 6 general election ballot. Maui News.

Fireworks Likely Cause of Kihei Fire: Two Homes Destroyed, Four Others Damaged. Maui Now.

Fireworks possible cause of fire that destroyed two Maui homes. KHON2.

Old cane field fire burns at least 2,500 acres. Traffic slowed, precautionary evacuations called. Maui News.

Sales of lots in Maui heavy industrial park set to close. Subdivision improvements at the 86-acre Pulehunui Industrial Park on Maui, the island’s first and only subdivision with M3 heavy industrial zoning, have been completed, clearing the way for lots to be delivered to buyers, including Goodfellow Bros. Inc., Aloha Waste Systems and Truss Systems Hawaii. Pacific Business News.

Kauai

North Shore learning lessons. Following the massive rainfall and flooding on Kauai in April, many residents experienced a high degree of uncertainty as schools, businesses, and roads were closed, leaving many stranded or displaced. Garden Island.

Sunscreen, pesticide, fake service animal bans move to governor as Legislature nears final days, Big Island braces for Kilauea volcano eruption, Honolulu homeless sweep nets tons of trash, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Hawaii House of Representatives PC: House Majority

Lawmakers say they made good on their pledge to address the state’s homeless and affordable-housing crises with strategies they described as groundbreaking and bold during the 2018 legislative session, which ends Thursday. Star-Advertiser.

The Most Progressive Legislative Session In A Long Time. From approving medical aid in dying to banning certain sunscreens and pesticide chemicals, legislators passed bills they only thought about in years past. Civil Beat.

After months of back and forth, lawmakers have settled on dozens of measures that could soon become law. The following list contains some of the measures now heading to the governor's office for approval. KHON2.

Bills awaiting the governor's action can be found here.

Hawaii lawmakers on Tuesday passed a measure that would ban sunscreen containing oxybenzone in an effort to protect coral reefs. Senators and representatives also voted to prohibit licensed professional counselors from attempting to change the sexual orientation of minors. Associated Press.

Hawaii lawmakers passed a bill today banning the sale of sunscreens containing chemicals believed to be harmful to coral reefs. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii lawmakers approved a ban Tuesday on the sale of sunscreens with chemicals that could be harmful to the environment. Hawaii News Now.

Hawaii’s Legislature has approved the first chlorpyrifos ban in the nation as a component of a pesticide disclosure bill approved by both the Senate and the House Tuesday. Garden Island.

A bill that would fine people fraudulently representing their pets as service dogs was approved unanimously on both floors of the state Legislature today, and now awaits the governor’s signature to become law. Star-Advertiser.

A bill that would penalize people who falsely present their pets as service animals passed its final reading Tuesday and now goes to Gov. David Ige for final consideration. Tribune-Herald.

Hawaii moved a step closer to expanding protections for students discriminated against on the basis of sex, gender identity or sexual orientation when the Legislature passed a bill Tuesday establishing a law to prohibit such treatment. Civil Beat.

Hawaii tourism officials are offering a sweet deal to six New York City workaholics: Come to Hawaii for an all-expenses-paid, week-long vacation to "work from home" — island style. Hawaii News Now.

A state judge has scheduled a hearing on state Rep. Andria Tupola’s petition for a temporary restraining order against fellow Hawaii Republican Party member Eric Ryan. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii regulators have finally approved an on-bill financing program to boost the adoption of clean energy technology across the state, almost seven years after lawmakers passed a corresponding piece of legislation to investigate such a program. Pacific Business News.

Matson Inc. doubled its profit in the first quarter despite delivering about the same number of shipping containers to Hawaii. Star-Advertiser.

Honolulu-based shipping company Matson Inc. reported net income of $14.2 million, or 33 cents per diluted share, for the first quarter of 2018, an increase of 102 percent compared to net income of $7 million, or 16 cents per diluted share, during last year’s comparable period. Pacific Business News.

Oahu

City clears out 5 tons of trash during sweep of Kakaako parks. The estimated 80 homeless people living in Kakaako Waterfront Park and its sister parks had dwindled to about 30 to 50 Monday afternoon following days of warnings about the impending sweep. Star-Advertiser.

Price tag grows to move homeless off state land — and keep them off. Hawaii News Now.

A recreation center at the University of Hawaii needs hundreds of thousands of dollars in repairs, only four years after opening. KHON2.

Sidewalk Extensions Please Some But Infuriate Others. A City Council committee passes a bill that would prohibit any more extensions, even though they’re intended to increase safety. Civil Beat.

City Councilmember Ikaika Anderson is spearheading a measure to crack down on illegal monster homes. Hawaii News Now.

A majority of condo owners at the 35-story Marco Polo have voted in favor of retrofitting the building with automated sprinklers several months after a deadly fire raged through the building, killing four people. Associated Press.

Another high rise is being planned for Ward Village. It will be 41 stories and will have 570 condo units. KHON2.

Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam will conduct anti-terrorism force protection training exercises Wednesday, May 2 and Thursday, May 3 from about 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. KITV.

State crews completed a four-day clean-up of the Ala Wai Small Boat Harbor Tuesday. KITV.

The city intends to enter into a public-private partnership with Topgolf Hawai‘i, which would invest $50 million replacing the Ala Wai Golf Course’s traditional driving range with a high-tech version and other golf-related activities. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii Island

An intrusion of magma into Kilauea’s East Rift Zone shook the ground under lower Puna residents’ feet Tuesday and stirred worries about a new volcanic vent opening near populated areas. Tribune-Herald.

Hawaii County Civil Defense was activated at 3 a.m. Tuesday in response to a significant increase in seismic activity and deformation — changes in the surface of a volcano — following the collapse of the Puu Oo crater floor on Kilauea’s East Rift Zone. Star-Advertiser.

Earthquakes, Crater Collapse On Kilauea May Indicate New Eruption. An “intrusion” of lava could affect a popular access point where people can hike or bike into a viewing area. Associated Press.

A half mile long, steaming crack was discovered just west of Puu Oo crater during an overflight by scientists on Tuesday, following the collapse of the crater floor the day before. Big Island Video News.

New USGS Map Shows Location of New Crack in Kilauea. Big Island Now.

Residents in Puna are being urged to be on alert after a series of small earthquakes in Kilauea volcano's east rift zone, which may indicate an eruption is imminent. Hawaii News Now.

The Hawaii State Senate passed a Senate Bill on Tuesday that would create a Hilo Community Economic District. Big Island Video News.

Effort seeks to preserve native trees south of Palamanui campus. West Hawaii Today.

Maui

Starting May 1, the County of Maui’s free Electronic Recycling Program will no longer accept a list of items including: DVDs and VCRs; phones; audio-visual equipment including AV screens, cameras and projectors; transmission devices; audio equipment including receivers; CD and record players, amplifiers or speakers. Maui Now.

Rep. Tulsi Gabbard hosted a “Congress On Your Corner” event at the Queen Kaahumanu Center in Kahului on Monday, where she visited with local residents and updated them on her work in Washington, DC.  Maui Now.

Kauai

Three meetings scheduled this week are aimed to respond to questions about disaster recovery, health concerns, relief loans and assistance. Garden Island.

Rum Distilleries Keep Hawaii’s Sugar Industry Alive. The islands’ cane crop will never return to the production levels of plantation days, but it’s essential for these local businesses. Civil Beat.

Legislators to vote on sunscreen ban today, airport authority bill dies, OHA trustee investigated for accepting money from royal heiress, Honolulu officials get 4% pay raise, heart attack doesn't keep 78-year-old mayor from the job, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Rinsing the beach baby in Hawaii ©2018 All Hawaii News

Hawaii is poised to become the first state in the nation to pass a law banning the sales of over-the-counter sunscreens containing chemicals believed to harm coral reefs if Hawaii legislators vote to pass it on Tuesday. Star-Advertiser.

Senate bill would stop sale of reef stressing sunscreens. Statewide ban would take effect in 2021. Maui News.

Legislation to regulate unlicensed care homes faces its final hurdle today as both House and Senate lawmakers vote on the controversial bill. Star-Advertiser.

A major change to a financial assistance program designed to help those caring for Hawaii's senior citizens is upsetting some caregivers. Hawaii News Now.

A bill that would have created a dedicated governing body to take control of the state’s airports was unexpectedly killed Friday despite being on the verge of passage. Tribune-Herald.

Voters will see on the November ballot a measure seeking to generate public education funding through a surcharge tax on high-value residential investment properties. Several other education-related bills are awaiting a final reading today and likely are headed to Ige’s desk. Tribune-Herald.

The Hawaii State Legislature passed House Bill 2342, which eliminates the fee for freezing and thawing credit reports. Maui Now.

OHA Trustee Under Investigation For Accepting $72,000 From Heiress. Rowena Akana says charges against her by the state ethics commission are inaccurate and politically motivated. Civil Beat.

Hawaii Inequality Study Overlooked Thousands of Micronesians. Service providers say more data is needed to help Hawaii’s most recent immigrants. Civil Beat.

The second of two Hawaii regulatory agencies has blessed the pending sale of local phone, TV and internet service provider Hawaiian Telcom to Ohio-based Cincinnati Bell. Members of the state Public Utilities Commission voted 3-0 Monday to approve the $650 million deal with several conditions. Star-Advertiser.

The Hawaii Office of Consumer Protection is launching an investigation into a data breach that impacted all 25 Zippy’s Restaurants in the state as well as its Napoleon’s Bakery, Kahala Sushi and Pearl City Sushi locations. Pacific Business News.

Boosted by the Trump administration's federal tax reform, Honolulu-based American Savings Bank reported first quarter earnings of $18.9 million for the year ending March 31, the highest quarterly net income in the company’s history. Pacific Business News.

Oahu

A bump in pay could be coming for city officials, but it's not the mayor who will be making the most. The four percent pay raise approved by the Salary Commission covers the mayor, Honolulu City Council, and city department heads and deputies. KHON2.

Thirty to 50 people who have been living along the streets and parks in Kakaako Makai were anticipating being rousted from their campsites by city crews late Monday night, and while they’re not happy about it, frequent parkgoers applauded the change in policy that will allow the sweep. Star-Advertiser.

The city now has enforcement jurisdiction at Kakaako Makai parks, which include Kewalo Basin Park, Kakaako Waterfront Park and Kakaako Makai and Mauka Gateway Parks. For the first time, city crews utilized its new enforcement authority Monday night. Hawaii News Now.

Council to city: Replace parking stalls lost to urban bike lanes (or else). Hawaii News Now.

Competition May Be Coming To Honolulu’s Bike-Share Market. The nonprofit Biki launched in June. Now the for-profit LimeBike is advertising to fill job openings for its dockless service. Civil Beat.

Several months after a deadly fire raged through the 35-story Marco Polo, a majority of condo owners voted in favor of retrofitting the 35-story building with automated sprinklers. Star-Advertiser.

Public hearings are set to begin June 6 on a new 570-unit Kakaako tower proposed by Ward Village developer Howard Hughes Corp. Star-Advertiser.

Sidewalk renovations will begin Tuesday along Kalakaua Avenue, which could mean more traffic headaches in Waikiki. Hawaii News Now.

Gifts given by King Kalakaua and Queen Kapiolani are being returned to Iolani Palace. KITV.

The Honolulu home of 92-year-old Campbell Estate heiress Abigail Kawananakoa was burglarized over the weekend. Associated Press.

Hawaii Island

78-year-old mayor back at his desk days after heart attack. Mayor Harry Kim was at his desk Monday morning, looking fresh and rested, after undergoing evaluation and a heart procedure late last week. West Hawaii Today.

The Mauna Lani Bay Hotel &Bungalows will shut its doors in October, sending roughly 400 employees back out into the job market. West Hawaii Today.

Economists, farmers say overtreatment of coffee berry borer breaking banks. West Hawaii Today.

Mele, the young donkey that lived on the Kona Coffee Living History Farm, was killed Saturday afternoon after she was struck by what appears to have been a stray bullet fired from an adjacent agricultural property. West Hawaii Today.

Maui

County Council members halved money planned for the Wailuku civic complex, bringing it down from $81.2 million to $40 million, and the Maui Lani roundabout, originally cut by Budget and Finance Committee Chairman Riki Hokama, was back in the spending plan, but with conditions, including a review by a council committee. Maui News.

A one-mile portion of the Pipiwai Trail in east Maui will close for helicopter operations on Wednesday, May 2, 2018, in support of a trail boardwalk replacement project. Maui Now.

Kauai

Hawaii's U.S. senators surveyed damage on Kauai on Monday, and pledged to work quickly to ensure that aid continues to flow to the flood-ravaged island. Hawaii News Now.

Sen. Mazie K. Hirono joined Mayor Bernard Carvalho, Jr., soldiers from the Hawaii National Guard, and emergency management officials to assess storm damage on Kauai’s North Shore and discuss ways the federal government can assist community residents as they work to recover from the storm. Garden Island.

Rules may change for Kauai homeowners anxious to rebuild. KHON2.

Kauai to begin shuttle service for isolated residents, car registration deadline extended. Hawaii News Now.

Now that food and fuel are arriving, the emotions of the last two weeks are catching up to people in the isolated Kauai communities of Wainiha and Haena, where an unknown number of homes were destroyed in unprecedented flooding last month. Star-Advertiser.

For over 40 years, Shirley-Simbre-Medeiros has called Kekaha home, but in that time, she said she has seen little change in some of the problems on the Westside, which is why she’s running for Kauai County Council. Garden Island.

Sunscreen ban advances, payday loan regulation passes Senate, Hawaii v. Trump in court today, new Honolulu agencies to cost $1M, Uber comes to Big Island, Haleakala records 1.3M visitors, UH grad programs drop in rating, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Swimming at Waikiki © 2017 All Hawaii News

State lawmakers have advanced a bill making it illegal to use or apply sunscreen containing any amount of oxybenzone while at the beach or in the ocean. Star-Advertiser.

The Hawaii Senate voted last week to limit payday loan annual interest rates to 36 percent, down from the current allowable annual rate of 459 percent. Civil Beat.

More than 200 kupuna sporting orange T-shirts rallied at the state Capitol on Tuesday to protect senior programs in a “March for Meals,” as legislators weighed how to respond to a federal health care bill that could hike costs for the needy. Star-Advertiser.

Travel Ban Challenged In 3 Cities Wednesday — Including Honolulu. A local hearing is scheduled to begin six hours after one in Maryland and 90 minutes before another in Seattle. Civil Beat.

Hawaii versus Trump is expected be one of three lawsuits that will be heard in courts across the country Wednesday.  All this comes as President's Trump's travel ban is expected to kick in on Thursday. KITV.

Major federal budget cuts are going to hit Hawaii soon. Civil Beat.

Two high-profile state agencies are having difficulty attracting viable candidates to serve on their boards. Civil Beat.

Service members with Hawaii ties among group accused of trading military secrets for sex parties. KHON2.

Oahu

It will cost more than $1 million for the city to fully establish two new agencies that Oahu voters approved via City Charter amendments in November. Star-Advertiser.

The state Legislature is considering a bill to continue funding for Honolulu’s Rail Transit project. Hawaii Public Radio.

Just 3 inches below the asphalt on Factory Street in Kalihi lies a toxic dump that — until last summer — the government had forgotten about. Hawaii News Now.

Despite a growing call for a secondary access road through the Waianae Coast to relieve traffic congestion and address public safety concerns, the state Department of Transportation says it doesn’t have the money to build it and is instead focusing on improvements planned for Farrington Highway. Star-Advertiser.

While as many as a dozen residential high-rise condominiums are in some sort of development process along the Ala Moana-Kapiolani corridor, representing the next wave of towers in Honolulu’s urban core, a long-planned project roughly in the same area is now in limbo, Pacific Business News has learned.

A state judge says he intends to close his courtroom to the public when two Kamehameha Schools employees testify in May in a case involving a teacher accused of using a spy camera to record students in the shower at his home. Star-Advertiser.

Frustration mounts over 'slow' progress of Honolulu airport renovations. Hawaii News Now.

The city’s prosecutor and public defender agree that a pilot program to adjudicate low-level, nonviolent offenses for homeless defendants is working. Star-Advertiser.

Several of the graduate programs at the University of Hawaii at Manoa have taken a turn in the wrong direction based on the latest rankings of the country’s top graduate schools from U.S. News & World Report. Pacific Business News.

President Barack Obama heads to Kailua course during surprise visit to Oahu. Hawaii News Now.

Hawaii

A bit of Silicon Valley is set to arrive on the Big Island this week with the launch of ride-hailing startup Uber. The phone app will go live Friday for the entire island. Tribune-Herald.

Controlling invasives and human activity in order to protect endangered species while honoring traditional practices and access rights are highlights of a management plan for county-owned lands along Kawa Bay that will be discussed at a public meeting this evening in Naalehu. West Hawaii Today.

The Office of Mauna Kea Management plans to nearly double the number of parking stalls at the Mauna Kea Visitor Information Station. Tribune-Herald.

Hawaii County Parks and Recreation Director Charmaine Kamaka doesn’t yet have a concrete strategy to reclaim Old Kona Airport Park from the homeless population that has commandeered it through sheer numbers. But the outline of a plan is beginning to take shape. West Hawaii Today.

Maui

Haleakalā National Park recorded 1,263,558 visitors in 2016, the National Park Service’s centennial year, up 4% (46,786 visitors) from 2015. Maui Now.

The Department of Land and Natural Resources released a statement today saying it has received numerous comments from concerned members of the public regarding the Environmental Impact Statement Preparation Notice for a water lease in East Maui filed by Alexander & Baldwin Inc. and East Maui Irrigation Company, Limited.  Maui Now.

Golf enthusiasts on Maui are pitching ideas ranging from higher prices to night golf in an attempt to keep Maui County's mayor from shutting down an 87-year-old municipal golf course. Associated Press.

Kauai

In its newest version, the General Plan Update spells out ways to enforce policies. Garden Island.

Eradication plan questioned. About 15 attend Waimea meeting on proposal to poison Lehua Island rats to protect native birds. Garden Island.

Kunoa Cattle Co., which manages about 2,000 cattle across several thousand acres of former sugarcane land on Kauai and operates the Oahu slaughterhouse facility, has received $300,000 from a Hawaii-based venture capital fund, the company said Tuesday. Pacific Business News.

New Honolulu rail impact fee proposed for schools, 3 media opinions on Kenoi trial, gay-bashing in Puna, Kauai inmates see violent porn, oxybenzone ban promoted, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Rinsing off the sunscreen at Kona beach © 2016 All Hawaii News

A nonbinding resolution asking the Legislature to ban oxybenzone in sunscreens is heading to the state Capitol, following a unanimous vote Wednesday by the County Council. West Hawaii Today.

Hawaiian Airlines-Disney partnership first of its kind. Pacific Business News.

The Battle of Midway was a major turning point in World War II’s Pacific theater. But the remote atoll where thousands died is now a delicate sanctuary for millions of seabirds, and a new battle is pitting preservation of its vaunted military history against the protection of its wildlife. Associated Press.

Oahu

The Department of Education wants to start levying what it calls its only taxing power to generate funding for new schools in urban Honolulu, where officials anticipate population spikes will require several new campuses along the city’s rail line. Star-Advertiser.

The rail has triggered a new fee proposal by the Hawaii State Department of Education. Hawaii News Now.

The Hawaii State Department of Education wants to establish a School Impact District along the Honolulu Area Rapid Transit (HART) route. KITV.

Anti-Caldwell Super PAC May Have Broken Campaign Laws. Save Our City spent nearly $200,000 on anti-Caldwell ads, but it hasn’t been telling voters where the money came from. Civil Beat.

Former Honolulu city Councilman Rod Tam says voters should move past his 2011 conviction for stealing city funds and violating campaign spending laws as he fights for the open Senate seat representing downtown Honolulu, Nuuanu, Iwilei and Liliha. Star-Advertiser.

The Honolulu City Council voted unanimously Wednesday to approve a $1 million settlement of a lawsuit by the family of a Honolulu woman who died after she was struck by a city refuse truck in Kalihi in February 2014. Star-Advertiser.

The second-highest-ranking member of the Honolulu Police Department is leaving her post. KHON2.

The state is trying to make it safer for people to bike and jog along Nimitz Highway. KHON2.

Questions about the latest proposed condominium tower at Ward Village in Kakaako were raised during an initial public hearing Wednesday on the project called ‘A‘ali‘i. Star-Advertiser

Mark Platte, news director at Hawaii News Now, will resign at the end of this year, and Scott Humber, assistant news director, will take over the top newsroom post Jan. 1. Star-Advertiser.

Honolulu Mother Looks In Vain For Answers In Son’s Day Care Death. Cynthia King tried to move on after the loss of her baby two years ago. But then she came across inconsistencies she couldn’t ignore. Civil Beat.

Hawaii

An openly gay Puna father whose home and car were spray-painted with an anti-gay slur this past weekend said he thinks the vandalism is related to the hostility he alleges his two sons have faced at a Pahoa charter school. Tribune-Herald.

The Thirty Meter Telescope contested case hearing continued Wednesday at the Grand Naniloa Hotel Crown Room in Hilo with navigator Chad Kalepa Baybayan and astronomer Robert McLaren appearing as witnesses for the University of Hawaii at Hilo. Tribune-Herald.

Famed voyaging canoe captain and Hawaiian navigator Chad Kalepa Baybayan testified Wednesday in favor of building the Thirty Meter Telescope near the summit of Mauna Kea, arguing it would be “the highest level of desecration” to take any action that limits opportunities for future generations of Hawaii youth. Star-Advertiser.

The Hawaii County Board of Ethics is scheduled to hear a long-pending complaint against Mayor Billy Kenoi next week following his acquittal on criminal charges for alleged misuse of a county-issued credit card. Tribune-Herald.

Opinion: AG swung big, and missed. West Hawaii Today.

Opinion: In Kenoi Case, Don’t Confuse ‘Not Guilty’ With ‘Innocent’ The Hawaii County mayor was repeatedly warned about his misuse of a government credit card. Civil Beat.

Opinion: Kenoi leaves courtroom, his future uncertain. Star-Advertiser.
 
Maui

Maui County Councilmember Elle Cochran today announced she has introduced a proposal to prioritize the use of accessory dwelling units, sometimes called ʻohana units, for long-term tenants. Maui Now.

Upcountry Maui County Council candidate Yuki Lei Kashiwa Sugimura outdistanced not only her opponent, Napua Greig-Nakasone, but also every other council candidate in raising and spending campaign funds this election cycle, according to reports filed for Aug. 14 to Oct. 24 with the state Campaign Spending Commission. Maui News.

In a closely watched council race this election cycle, incumbent and Maui County Council Chairman Mike White will defend his Makawao-Haiku-Paia residency seat against challenger and first-time candidate Trinette Furtado on Tuesday. Maui News.

Maui County officials say they need more time to decide on two proposals that would extend the county’s ban on plastic bags to include reusable ones and do away with food containers. Associated Press.

Robert Olson, founder of California-based R.D. Olson Development, which has done several projects in Hawaii, has purchased property within the resort town of Kapalua on the island of Maui for $8.65 million, Pacific Business News has learned.

Kauai

A state prison warden admitted in federal court Wednesday that he showed sexually violent films to inmates as part of a therapy program he designed, but insisted they were not pornographic. Star-Advertiser.

Kauai Community Correctional Center's warden admitted in federal court Wednesday that he showed female inmates sexually-violent movies and used terms like "whore" and other derogatory words when talking to women prisoners. Hawaii News Now.

A jail warden on the Hawaiian island of Kauai is testifying about showing violent sexual films to inmates as part of a unique therapy program he created. Associated Press.

Citing bad timing, the Kauai County Council unanimously voted down Wednesday a resolution that would give them the ability to ask questions during public testimony. Garden Island.

Protecting Earth’s oceans is paramount to survival on Kauai and two local organizations are providing an opportunity for residents to have a say in preserving their place. Garden Island.

Sunscreen is killing coral reefs, Jane Goodall addresses World Conservation Congress, Djou beats Caldwell in campaign money, Sam Choy battles to keep his brand, Kenoi attorneys block email release, Maui mulls charging for rescues, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Kona beach scene © 2016 All Hawaii News

State officials called for a united effort in battling the negative effect of oxybenzone, a common sunscreen ingredient, on coral reefs during an afternoon media briefing at the World Conservation Congress at the Hawai‘i Convention Center. Star-Advertiser.

Fearing cancer, many beachgoers slather their bodies with sunscreen in hopes of blocking the sun’s sometimes deadly rays. While the practice may be good for humans, it’s deadly for coral reefs. Civil Beat.

Jane Goodall sure knows how to draw a crowd. On Saturday, the famed primatologist packed hundreds in of adoring fans into a large ballroom at the Hawaii Convention Center in Honolulu for the International Union for Conservation of Nature World Conservation Congress, the largest environmental symposium in the world. Civil Beat.

Hawaii received grim news Sunday when the International Union for Conservation of Nature declared that 38 plant species found only on our islands had gone extinct and that hundreds more were on the brink. Civil Beat.

On Sunday at an all-star panel at the World Conservation Congress in Honolulu, Kathryn Sullivan, the first American woman to walk in space, described the Earth’s atmosphere as a “thin veneer” and an “ocean of air” that looks as slim as the peel of a tangerine. Civil Beat.

Former Harvard biology professor E.O. Wilson is one of the world’s most respected and revered conservationists alive today. So you might find it curious that his biggest fear isn’t climate change or the ongoing mass extinction that decimates an estimated 150-200 species every day. Nope. It’s Donald Trump. Civil Beat.

Hawaii-based marine biologists Randall Kosaki, Richard Pyle and Brian Greene plan to name a colorful, newly discovered fish species after President Barack Obama. Civil Beat.

About two dozen protesters assembled peacefully outside the Hawaii Convention Center Saturday with a message to those meeting inside: The U.S. military is destroying the planet. Civil Beat.

The World Conservation Congress in Honolulu is making a concerted effort at being green and could set a new standard for the tourism industry here. The International Union for Conservation of Nature event underway now through Saturday is taking ambitious measures to reduce paper, eliminate plastic, avoid food waste, decrease energy use, ramp up recycling and take other sustainability measures that are likely to set a new standard for Hawaii. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii’s hepatitis A outbreak, which has sickened 241 people so far, is the worst in the country since 2003 and a sharp reversal from the downward trajectory of the disease in recent decades. Star-Advertiser.

Under Hawaii’s civil asset forfeiture program, law enforcement agencies can seize property suspected of being connected with criminal activity, even if they don’t obtain a conviction or file a criminal charge. Star-Advertiser.

Oahu

While Mayor Kirk Caldwell received more votes in last month's primary, Charles Djou raked in more money. Filings with the state Campaign Spending Commission show Caldwell's campaign received $57,000 in contributions in the two weeks before the Aug. 13th election.  In that same period, Djou's campaign received nearly three-times as much: $167,000. Hawaii News Now.

More than a year after three controversial measures tied to the last undeveloped phase of Haseko’s 1,100-acre Ewa Beach development were introduced, the City Council is still trying to reach a resolution on certain issues. Star-Advertiser.

The U.S. Department of Transportation on Friday finalized its decision to award Hawaiian Airlines a daytime slot to fly from Honolulu International Airport to Haneda Airport in Tokyo, according to U.S. Sen. Mazie Hirono. Pacific Business News.

A Hawaii union says it has filed a complaint with the Environmental Protection Agency over reports of unsafe working conditions after discovering mold at a Waikiki hotel that’s under construction. Associated Press.

Hawaii

County attorneys are seeking to keep the contents of 40 emails, most of them sent in the month after Big Island newspapers reported Mayor Billy Kenoi’s misuse of his county-issued credit card, secret. Tribune-Herald.

Roughly 40 scientists, researchers and business people will convene at Kilauea Military Camp at Hawaii Volcanoes National Park Tuesday and Wednesday to discuss the feasibility of the implementation of one or several groundbreaking technologies to curb the mosquito population across the state — if not eradicate it. West Hawaii Today.

Hawaii County is seeking a state Department of Health permit for a full-scale composting facility — the first in Hawaii — before breaking ground next year. Tribune-Herald.

Hawaii Supreme Court Chief Justice Mark Recktenwald issued a memo to chief judges statewide after ads appeared on the Big Island depicting state Judiciary personnel endorsing a candidate for county prosecutor. West Hawaii Today.

In addition to picking from an assortment of local, state and national candidates on the Nov. 8 ballot, Big Island voters will help decide three ballot questions — two to amend the state constitution and one to amend the Hawaii County charter. West Hawaii Today.

Local chef Sam Choy is disputing an Oahu restaurant’s right to use his name “royalty-free” despite the chef having no connection to the restaurant. West Hawaii Today.

Maui

The Maui Demolition & Construction Landfill that has been operating on 15 acres at the corner of North Kihei Road and Honoapiilani Highway for the last 20 years stopped accepting construction debris Wednesday, a landfill official confirmed Friday. Maui News.

Nearly half of the 250 people surveyed by the Maui County Fire Department supported the idea of billing people who require helicopter and mountain rescues by firefighters. Maui News.

The Maui County Council approved a resolution Friday for the county to acquire more than 250 acres near the world famous "Jaws" surf break in East Maui for nearly $9.5 million. Maui News.

The final touches are currently being applied to the nonprofit Maui Ocean Center Marine Institute, which will work on developing rehabilitation facilities for endangered turtles, expanding an existing coral bank at the aquarium and providing marine sciences educational opportunities. Maui News.

Brown Water Advisories have been issued for Baldwin Beach Park and Honokahua Bay on Maui due to recent rains. Maui Now.

Kauai

New technology that could help out Kauai’s endangered forest birds is on the horizon, but questions remain. Garden Island.

Kauai residents are invited to comment on a bill that would allow alcohol sales on the Wailua Golf Course. The Kauai County Council will host a public hearing on Bill No. 2635 at 1:30 p.m. Wednesday, which made it legal for alcohol to be consumed on the course. Garden Island.

Kauai Humane Society is reeling after an Alaska Airlines decision to end its pet transfer program was announced Friday. Garden Island.

Marijuana dispensaries not likely this year, state ignores inmate deaths in Mainland prison, Zuckerberg wall draws Kauai neighbors' ire, no-kill shelters touted on Big Island and Kauai, SPJ honors state media, Ige visits neighbor islands, feral animals to be removed from Haleakala National Park, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Medial marijuana permit sign, Keaukaha, Hawaii © 2016 All Hawaii News

It does not appear that legal sales of medical marijuana will begin this year, although the state is allowing the first eight dispensaries to start operations in as early as three weeks. Star-Advertiser.

The Hawaii Health Department on Friday released the scores for the 66 applications for eight medical marijuana dispensary licenses, which were awarded in late April. Civil Beat.

Hawaii medical marijuana dispensary license application scores for the eight selected applicants. Star-Advertiser.

Actor Woody Harrelson fared worse than Hawaii video game pioneer and Blue Planet Foundation founder Henk Rogers in their rejected applications for the eight medical marijuana dispensary licenses that were granted by the state. Pacific Business News.

==============================

Starting Wednesday, 26 nations with 45 ships, five submarines, more than 200 aircraft and 25,000 personnel will be practicing war in and around the Hawaiian Islands as they engage in the biennial Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) exercise. Garden Island.

The state has never sought or obtained damages against Corrections Corporation of America  even though a number of inmates have been killed while incarcerated, which attorneys for some of the victims have attributed to a shortage of corrections staff, and female prisoners have accused guards of sexual abuse. Star-Advertiser.

A Deadly Dust Is Plaguing Hawaii Prisoners In Arizona. Valley fever is widespread in the Southwest, yet Hawaii prison officials haven’t paid much attention to it, despite the recent deaths of at least two prisoners who had the disease. Civil Beat.

Startup hiccup for Hawaii state agency charged with growing startup ecosystem. What happens when a state agency charged with growing Hawaii’s startup industry gets shortchanged. Pacific Business News.

A pair of in-depth studies into the potential threat of chemical munitions dumped at sea have yielded cause for cautious reassurance. Star-Advertiser.

State Sen. Will Espero announced Friday that he plans to introduce a bill in January to ban oxybenzone, a chemical commonly found in sunscreen that damages coral reefs. Civil Beat.

As the largest international gathering of coral reef experts comes to a close, scientists have sent a letter to Australian officials calling for action to save the world’s reefs, which are being rapidly damaged. Star-Advertiser.

In a study published in the science journal Archives of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology in February, a research team headed by Craig Downs, executive director of the Haerecticus Environmental Laboratory in Virginia, reported on a link between oxybenzone, a key ingredient in sunscreen lotions and personal-care products that protect against UV rays, and so-called coral bleaching. Star-Advertiser.

Why You Should Check Your Sunscreen Label Right Now. Scientists say oxybenzone, an active ingredient in many sunscreens and other personal care products, is killing coral reefs. Civil Beat.

It’s not always clear just what research is going on. In some cases, the University of Hawaii and other biolabs have refused to reveal what viruses they’ve imported for research purposes, pointing to national security concerns. Civil Beat.

Column: Civil Beat Named Best Hawaii News Site For The 6th Year In A Row. The Society of Professional Journalists also honored us with the top award of the contest, public service journalism, and in many other categories. Civil Beat.

SPJ award list.

Hawaiʻi Public Radio’s newsroom was recognized today by RTDNA (Radio Television Digital News Association) with its third National Edward R. Murrow Award in two years. This 2016 award was in the category of Small Market Radio Continuing Coverage for a series of reports on the construction of the Thirty Meter Telescope by HPR General Assignment Reporter Molly Solomon. The series previously won in the same category for its region, comprising California, Guam, Hawaiʻi, and Nevada.

The University of Hawaii's new Institute of Hawaiian Language Research and Translation or "IHLRT" is now making 125,000 pages of Hawaiian language newspapers available for research and study. KITV4.

Oahu

Language in the Honolulu City Charter requiring the city to set aside a percentage of annual revenues for a grants-in-aid fund to be doled out to Oahu nonprofits would be abolished under a plan moving through the Charter Commission. Star-Advertiser.

Transportation and homelessness have been major concerns facing Leeward Coast residents, and addressing those issues are some of the top priorities in the Democratic primary for the House District 43 seat. Star-Advertiser.

The Ansaldo Honolulu JV staffing problems that came to light last fall have persisted in recent months — and they’ve continued to worry those who oversee the island’s rail project, according to documents provided by the Honolulu Authority for Rapid Transportation. Star-Advertiser.

The HOV lanes in five heavily congested areas will now be open from 5:30 a.m. to 9 a.m. during weekdays. The change starts Monday, June 27 and extends the routes by 30 minutes. Hawaii News Now.

A huge line snaked around Ala Moana’s Ewa wing Saturday as crowds waited to take part of Shirokiya’s grand reopening. KHON2.

Hawaii

The Kona International Airport should be set to receive international flights by November 1. But the news gets better, Gov. David Ige and his transportation department heads revealed at a town hall meeting at Hawaii Community College — Palamanui on Friday evening. West Hawaii Today.

The subject of the Thirty Meter Telescope project on Mauna Kea, as well as the related blockade and mass arrests that occurred exactly one year ago, was discussed when Governor David Ige and his administration came to Pālamanui for a community meeting Friday night. Big Island Video News.

An ancient South Kona fishing village and trail is set to be placed in public hands, thanks to the efforts of the Ala Kahakai National Historic Trail and The Trust For Public Land Hawaii. West Hawaii Today.

There were 915 instances in which pedestrians were hit by motor vehicles on the Big Island between 2007 and May 31 this year, according to figures provided by the Hawaii Police Department. Tribune-Herald.

Nathan Winograd, an expert on the no kill movement, was brought to the island for a day-long conference sponsored by Big Island Dog Rescue as that group squares off with the Hawaii Island Humane Society in a bitter legal battle that carried allegations of defamation and conspiracy from both sides. West Hawaii Today.

Last Hawaii Vietnam veteran ID’d with picture after unexpected twist. West Hawaii Today.

Hawaii County officials are making plans for a lava viewing area in Kalapana should the latest flow from Kilauea’s Pu‘u ‘O‘o vent advance over the top of Pulama pali. Tribune-Herald.

Maui

Haleakala National Park has outlined plans to remove feral pigs, goats, dogs and axis deer to protect endangered plants and animals, including the endangered uau, in the park's newest addition at Nuu on the mountain's southwestern flank. Maui News.

An $830,000 proposal would remove feral animals such as pigs and goats from Haleakala National Park land. Associated Press.

The vice chairwoman of a special committee that narrowly recommended a change from the current mayor-council form of government to a system that includes a county manager has lodged a Sunshine Law complaint over the filing of a "Minority Report" with the County Council. Maui News.

Kauai

For years, Kilauea resident Gy Hall has enjoyed the view of the ocean and the breeze along Koolau Road. Then, a few weeks ago, a crew started to build a wall which happens to belong to Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg. Garden Island.

‘A win-win-win situation’ Gov. Ige visits Tropic Care facilities, praises ‘terrific’ service. Garden Island.

Kauai is tied with Hawaii Island for having the most high-risk areas for water quality degradation from on-site disposal systems, according to reports from the state’s Department of Health. But the island only has three properties taking advantage of the state’s tax break program for cesspool upgrades, making a very small dent in the county’s estimated 14,000 existing cesspools. Garden Island.

Around 100 people turned out to hear Nathan Winograd’s No-Kill Conference at the Kauai Beach Resort on Sunday, hosted by Big Island Dog Rescue in Kona. Garden Island.

Ed Justus wants to make sure a bill that would allow vending on county-owned property is fully discussed before the Kauai County Council takes a final vote. Garden Island.