Showing posts with label pCards. Show all posts
Showing posts with label pCards. Show all posts

Tuesday, July 24, 2018

Lava overtaking popular boat ramp, park; affordable housing spurs campaign accusations; suspects charged with abetting cop killer; Honolulu airport upgrades proceeding; more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

USGS United States Geological Survey
Lava flow July 22, 2018 PC:USGS
Big Island residents are watching in horror as a lava flow from fissure 8 creeps steadily closer to a popular and beloved boat ramp in Pahoa. Hawaii News Now.

Lava flow from fissure 8 may go on for months or years. That’s the conclusion of a recent U.S. Geological Survey report prepared for Hawaii County Civil Defense. Star-Advertiser.

The eruption of Kilauea Volcano along the lower East Rift Zone, which scientists said could last for “months to years” in a new report, continues. Big Island Video News.

Turtles, marine life found dead in Pohoiki after lava approaches area. Hawaii News Now.

Passengers Recount Moments After Lava Hit Tour Boat. A couple from Portland who both suffered burns still managed to shoot video of the mishap. Associated Press.

=====

Credit for affordable housing sparks political clash. Congresswoman Colleen Hanabusa, who is seeking to beat Gov. David Ige in the Aug. 11 Democratic primary, has accused the governor of taking undue credit for the $200 million in funding, saying that it’s the Legislature that should be applauded. Star-Advertiser.

Political Analyst Dan Boylan on Congressional District One Race . Hawaii Public Radio hosted a Congressional District One Candidate Forum Sunday Night and asked a political analyst to evaluate the race. Hawaii Public Radio.

Bank of Hawaii Corp.’s second-quarter net income totaled $54.7 million — $1.30 earnings per share, a record high for the state’s second-largest financial institution. Star-Advertiser.

Oahu

HPD Hopes Body Cameras Will Reduce Confrontations — And Lawsuits. At a cost of $3.5 million, Honolulu will equip all its officers with body cameras during the next year — following a step taken by many large urban departments. Civil Beat.

HDOT moves forward with $69M renovation project at Honolulu airport. Officials announced the completion of several parts of a $69 million renovation project in the Daniel K. Inouye International Airport on Monday. Hawaii News Now.

New bill could set up future bikeshares to come to Honolulu. The new City Council proposal sets up a permit process with rules to follow, which could open the door for more bikeshare companies to do business in Honolulu. KHON2.

Familiar Faces Return For Another Run At State House Seats. Former legislators try to regain their seats in Waianae and Ewa, while a candidate who narrowly lost in 2016 runs again in Manoa. Civil Beat.

5,000 soldiers participate in Army activity. While naval forces are at sea for Rim of the Pacific, the Army is holding its own big exercise, with lots of troops on the ground, military vehicles on the move and helicopters in the air as they practice against what are known as “near-peer” competitors. Star-Advertiser.

An eight-person crew from Oahu Junk Removal began clearing out tons of metal, rubbish and overgrown foliage from a Pensa­cola Street property, where a fourth vehicle was unexpectedly discovered among the debris Monday. Star-Advertiser.

Two Native Hawaiian practitioners no longer face charges for illegally taking the remains of a small, ailing whale the pair watched over before it died and burying them at sea off Kawaihae. Associated Press.

Safeway to take over old Sports Authority location in Waikele. Safeway has signed a 20-year lease for approximately 50,000 square feet in the former Sports Authority space at Waikele Center in Waipahu. KHON2.

Safeway Inc. will open its first grocery store in Waipahu next year in the former Sports Authority space at Waikele Center. Star-Advertiser.

USS Arizona Memorial won't be accessible to visitors for a couple more months. KITV.

Hawaii Island

Hawaii island police have identified four more suspects who may have provided assistance to accused cop killer Justin Waiki before he was gunned down by police in a shootout in Kau Friday. Star-Advertiser.

The manhunt that started when Officer Bronson Kaliloa was fatally shot and culminated with officers shooting and killing the suspect, Justin Waiki, “took up a lot of resources,” said police Maj. Robert Wagner on Monday. Tribune-Herald.

A preliminary hearing has been scheduled for this afternoon for three individuals charged in connection with a shootout Friday at South Point that left a Hawaii Police sergeant injured and suspected cop killer Justin Waiki dead. West Hawaii Today.

Court documents show Waiki's accomplices used Facebook to avoid cops. Four people allegedly involved in the manhunt for Justin Waiki appeared before Judge Margaret Masunaga in Kona Monday. KITV.

Hawaii County government has cleaned up its act regarding its pCard use, according to a report to be discussed today by the County Council Finance Committee. West Hawaii Today.

Hawaii to receive $3.5M in federal grant funding for clean-up efforts on Big Island. Pacific Business News.

Officials announced on Monday that families displaced by the ongoing volcanic and seismic activity in Kilauea will soon be eligible for food assistance from the state. Hawaii News Now.

Seismic activity causes cracks to form in surface of Highway 11 passing through national park. Tribune-Herald.

Water department requests power cost charge increase despite renewable energy to spare. West Hawaii Today.

Candidates jockeying to win a position on Hawaii’s 2018 general election ballot say at least one Big Island newspaper is requiring them to buy an ad if they want to be included in the newspaper’s primary voter’s guide. Civil Beat.

Maui

$4 M in Grants Released by Maui Economic Development Office. Maui Now.

Volcano dogs: Looking for new homes after Kilauea. Pups displaced by the ongoing eruptions on the Big Island in need of new forever homes on Maui. Maui News.

Animal rescue groups and volunteer pilots are finding new homes on Maui for dogs displaced by the Kilauea volcano eruption on the Big Island. Associated Press.

Kauai

A protest of one stopped the state’s preliminary work on a North Shore bridge Monday morning. Garden Island.

Makaala Kaaumoana, chairwoman of Hui Hoomalu i kaaina, said there is another issue that could delay North Shore bridge work. Garden Island.

County officials announced that refuse collection services for residents affected by the April flood in the Wainiha and Haena area will continue. Garden Island.

Monday, August 7, 2017

Parole administrator reassigned pending investigation, Kauai study shows glyphosate in honey, Maui school bus shortage reaches crisis, Big Island council members fly high on pCards, Ellison describes Lanai ag plans, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

courtesy U.S. Sen. Brian Schatz
Wiki bikestand in Waikiki, courtesy U.S. Sen. Brian Schatz

You’ve seen the new Biki bikeshare stations around town but who are the people pedaling them? Hawaii Public Radio.

The state Department of Public Safety has temporarily reassigned longtime Paroles and Pardons Administrator Tommy Johnson pending the outcome of an internal investigation, according to Public Safety Director Nolan Espinda. Star-Advertiser.

The Hawaii Department of Public Safety has temporarily reassigned longtime Paroles and Pardons Administrator Tommy Johnson pending the outcome of an internal investigation. Associated Press.

Robert K. Masuda has been appointed as First Deputy Director of the Department of Land and Natural Resources by Gov. David Y. Ige on Friday. Pacific Business News.

Gov. David Ige has joined 38 other governors in signing a cybersecurity compact in an effort to enhance state cybersecurity and develop the cyber workforce. Star-Advertiser.

As summer winds down, thousands of Hawaii students return to school. Hawaii News Now.

Nearly 40 Hawaii public school graduates have received the state’s first round of awards signifying they have mastered two languages. Star-Advertiser.

John H. Radcliffe, a retired Hawaii lobbyist who became, as he puts it, the “poster child” for legalizing medical aid in dying in Hawaii, got some astounding news last month. His inoperable cancer was deemed operable. Star-Advertiser.

Oahu

Former city Community Services Director Pam Witty-Oakland returns to the post effective Oct. 1, Mayor Kirk Caldwell’s office announced Friday. Star-Advertiser.

Junk Cars Are Piling Up On Oahu. As scrap yards close or start charging to take derelict vehicles, it’s often cheaper to ditch a worn-out car than legally dispose of it. Civil Beat.

Couple OK’d as foster parents despite marred past. Star-Advertiser.

A judge ruled Friday that statements an Army medic made to an investigator after his wife was found dead were coerced. Star-Advertiser.

Cleanup of Ala Wai has start in Manoa. Star-Advertiser.

Oahu condo prices climb: Previously owned Oahu condos sold for a median $425,000, increasing 6.3 percent from $400,000 in July 2016, according to resale figures released Sunday by the Honolulu Board of Realtors. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii Island

Some County Council members are flying high on the taxpayers’ dime. The council spent $58,453 on travel during the first seven months of the two-year term, almost twice the monthly average of prior years, according to a West Hawaii Today analysis of purchasing card and travel records. West Hawaii Today.

Mayor Harry Kim claims to be a “pretty dull guy,” and his purchasing card and travel expenses seem to reflect he’s no social butterfly. West Hawaii Today.

The Big Island Invasive Species Committee has declared victory in its effort to remove axis deer from Ka‘u, nearly eight years since they were introduced. Tribune-Herald.

It's official. Axis Deer are no more on Hawaii Island. Big Island Video News.

Lance Niimi, the Hawaii County's assistant housing administrator, has been sleeping among the homeless at the Hale Kikaha tent-city. Big Island Video News.

The Hilo Drag Strip is set to reopen by the end of 2017 after being closed nearly two years for renovations. Tribune-Herald.

It didn’t take long for a mishap to befall the beleaguered Mass Transit department’s new buses, which were just donated to the Big Island from the City and County of Honolulu. Big Island Video News.

A Hawaiian Paradise Park woman and her two young children were uninjured after being involved in a minor collision with a reportedly stolen Hele-On bus in Hilo Saturday afternoon. West Hawaii Today.

State emergency officials want public schools to be prepared for a possible North Korea missile attack, though Hawaii’s education leaders aren’t planning any drills specific to nuclear detonations just yet. Tribune-Herald.

The state land department is accepting proposals to move forward with a carbon credit system that will fund forest restoration on the Big Island. Hawaii News Now.

Maui

Maui Mayor Alan Arakawa, the Department of Education, and one of Hawaii’s largest school bus providers met Friday to try to fix the Valley Isle school bus crisis, but to no avail. KHON2.

Maui Mayor Alan Arakawa said the county's bus service can't accommodate the 250 students whose school bus service has been cut because of a driver shortage. Hawaii News Now.

The Hawaii State Department of Education advises parents and guardians of students at Lahainaluna High and Baldwin High who depend on school bus routes exclusively serving grades 9 to 12 to find alternate rides. Maui Now.

Power grid showing its age as more renewable energy produced. Maui News.

Community input is being sought on a proposed light industrial and commercial business park at Pulehunui in Central Maui, the state Department of Land and Natural Resources announced. Maui News.

The Iao Valley State Monument has reopened, at least temporarily, after sustaining severe damage from a massive flood in September. Associated Press.

Kauai

Another study looking at pesticides in beehives is underway in Hawaii. And results are showing a connection between agriculture-dense areas and an increase in the chemical glyphosate — the active ingredient in Roundup — in honey. Garden Island.

Taxes and establishing bus stops will be discussed at the Kauai County Council meeting Wednesday. Councilmembers are expected to approve two bills relating to taxes. Garden Island.

The project to eradicate the rats on Lehua Island won’t be starting on Tuesday, according to Scott Enright, director of the state’s Department of Agriculture. Garden Island.

Forum ends with consensus: Seek ways to preserve marine species. Garden Island.

Lanai


Tech billionaire Larry Ellison sees potential for agriculture on Lanai. Star-Advertiser.

Friday, July 7, 2017

NOAA begins survey of marine life, Hawaii first state in nation to pay family caregivers, federal judge knocks down travel ban challenge, taxes at issue in rail special session, Maui audits pCards, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

courtesy photo
NOAA Ship Oscar Elton Sette off Maui in 2004, NOAA Photo by Ray Boland
A research ship was launched Thursday on the first leg of a six-month mission to survey whales, dolphins and seabirds across the Hawaiian archipelago, a vast expanse of 1.8 million square nautical miles. Star-Advertiser.

Scientists and researchers kicked off the Hawaiian Islands Cetacean and Ecosystem Assessment Survey on Thursday. Garden Island.

Using high-powered binoculars, hydrophones and, for the first time, drones, researchers with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration will spend the next six months documenting whales, dolphins and other marine life around the main and Northwestern Hawaiian Islands. Maui News.

=====

A federal judge in Honolulu on Thursday denied an emergency motion by the state of Hawaii to clarify what constitutes a close family relationship in the rules of President Donald Trump’s partial travel ban. Star-Advertiser.

A federal judge in Honolulu declined Thursday to second-guess how the Trump administration is implementing the scaled-back version of the travel ban. Civil Beat.

With the Hawaii Legislature poised to hold a special session in July or August to address paying for the over-budget, $10 billion rail project, the question of which tax is best to pay for rail will take center stage. Civil Beat.

Supreme Court hears arguments on constitutionality of city, state rail tax issue. Hawaii News Now.

Free or low cost legal services for residents in need is in jeopardy as funding for civil legal services has been cut from the Hawaii State Judiciary’s budget for at least the next year. Civil Beat.

The Kupuna Caregivers Act passed Thursday, making Hawaii the first state in the nation to offer money to caregivers who also work full-time. Hawaii News Now.

United Airlines has apologized to a Hawaii teacher who was forced to hold her 2-year-old son on her lap for three-and-a-half hours after an employee gave the toddler’s purchased seat to a standby passenger. Associated Press.

Hawaii State Attorney General Doug Chin was among the Democratic attorneys general from 18 states and the District of Columbia who sued U.S. Education Secretary Betsy DeVos today over her decision to suspend rules that were meant to protect students from abuse by for-profit colleges. Associated Press.

The state Health Department announced Thursday that 10 more people in Hawaii have been diagnosed with mumps, including four on Kauai, raising the statewide total to 143 cases. Star-Advertiser.

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services is awarding more than $4 million in federal to three community health centers in Hawaii. They include the Community Clinic of Maui ($1.3 million); Bay Clinic on Hawaii Island ($1 million); and the Waianae Coast Comprehensive Health Center on Oahu ($1.7 million). Pacific Business News.

Oahu

Christian Gutierrez is serving a 45-day state jail term for killing Laysan albatrosses in the Kaena Point Natural Area Reserve during his 2015 winter school break from New York University. Star-Advertiser.

Christian Gutierrez, 19, has been sentenced to 45 days in jail and must perform 200 hours of community service and pay $1,000 in restitution for his part in the killing of Laysan albatrosses at Kaena Point. Civil Beat.

A man accused of killing federally protected Laysan albatross birds on Oahu has been sentenced. KHON2.

=====

State fires execs at OCCC as jail's care for mentally ill inmates declines. Hawaii News Now.

The City and County of Honolulu is reviving a plan to build a pedestrian and bicycle bridge over the Ala Wai Canal. Hawaii Public Radio.

As of Thursday morning, Bikeshare Hawaii has reported more than 11,000 total rides. KITV.

Honolulu police dispatchers, beset with a bedbug infestation, have left their offices after bedbugs were discovered earlier this week. Star-Advertiser.

Workers at Daniel K. Inouye International Airport say dust from construction is causing a health hazard, and we’ve learned some people have gone to the hospital because of it. KHON2.

Single-family houses on Oahu soared to a median price of nearly $800,000 last month, prompting local real estate experts to forecast that the $1 million threshold could be breached within the next five years. Star-Advertiser.

Honolulu was the only city among major U.S. metropolitan areas to see a decline in construction costs in April, but costs to build in Hawaii's largest city are still among the highest in the nation, according to a comparative cost index compiles by Rider Levett Bucknall. Pacific Business News.

The Hawaii Symphony Orchestra celebrated the conclusion of its fifth season, and current fiscal year, by meeting a $150,000 matching challenge by the family of its board chairman, the owner of Hawaii's ABC Stores, with the help of donors. Pacific Business News.

At Hawaiian Hope's tech center in Kakaako, tall stacks of computers wait to be cleaned, tested then repaired. Hawaii News Now.

Hawaii Island

Residents planning to build in flood-prone areas will be required to take an additional step to get an exemption, under a bill advanced Thursday by a County Council committee. West Hawaii Today.

The owners of a biomass facility and Hawaii Electric Light Co. have a lot riding on a state Public Utilities Commission decision expected to come at month’s end. Star-Advertiser.

Responding to increased community complaints, the Hawaii County Council Committee on Public Works and Parks and Recreation voted Thursday to ban consumption of alcoholic beverages at James Kealoha Beach Park. Tribune-Herald.

Drinking alcohol at James Kealoha Beach Park in Keaukaha could soon be a thing of the past, legally speaking. Big Island Video News.

A farmers market at Hakalau Veterans Park will be allowed to resume its activities. Tribune-Herald.

The entire upper floor of the Lyman Museum is closed until late next year as the museum reconstructs its popular Island Heritage Gallery. Tribune-Herald.

Maui

Maui County Auditor Lance Taguchi will examine county vehicle use and county employee travel as part of a planned list of audits for the current fiscal year. Maui News.

For the first time in more than a century, land titles held by Hawaii’s former sugar companies are being opened to challenge. At their peak in the 1930s, sugar plantations cultivated approximately 250,000 acres across the island chain. Hawaii Public Radio.

Former HC&S equipment being moved. Maui News.

The Community Clinic of Maui will receive $1,350,479 in federal funds as part of a larger $4,069,396 appropriation for three community health centers in Hawaii. Maui Now.

Kauai

The Department of Water has scheduled a water shutdown for select Hanamaulu customers on Hipa Road, Hehi Road and on a portion of Kuhio Highway; mauka side, near Laukona Street. Water will be turned off on Tuesday, July 11 from 7 p.m. to 5 a.m. Wednesday July 12; weather permitting. Garden Island.

A Kalaheo woman happily paid $10,000 when she was reunited Wednesday with her dogs that were missing for almost two weeks. Garden Island.

Thursday, December 15, 2016

Obama family to arrive this weekend, agencies announce pesticide protection plan, Hawaii County restricts alcohol expenditures, new lawsuit against Honolulu police chief, Maui's first medical marijuana dispensary, successful missile test off Kauai, crickets as food, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

copyright 2016 All Hawaii News all rights reserved
Ala Moana Center © 2016 All Hawaii News
Ala Moana Center plans to spend $4 million to replace existing railings throughout the Honolulu shopping mall after a railing gave way near the Hookipa Terrace on the mall's fourth floor two months ago, killing one man and critically injuring another, Pacific Business News has learned.

New worker protection standards, tripling the cost to register pesticides and better data collection are just a few of the projects being launched by the state to address restricted-use pesticide exposure. Garden Island.

Hawaii Says Its New Plan Should Allay Concerns About Pesticides. The Agriculture and Health departments say they’ll gather more data, improve emergency responses and communicate better with public. Civil Beat.

The state departments of Agriculture and Health are embarking on a series of initiatives to address concerns about pesticide exposure in Hawaii. Tribune-Herald.

Surface water on Oahu and Kauai will be tested for pesticides in a $500,000 study as a way to address ongoing concerns about restricted-use pesticide exposure, state officials said Wednesday. Star-Advertiser.

President Obama and the first family will be spending the holidays in Hawaii. According to the White House, they leave Washington, D.C. for Honolulu on Friday, Dec. 16. KHON2.

Hawaii’s four Democratic electors have joined a movement asking for information about possible Russian hacking during the presidential election, calling on President Barack Obama to release a CIA report on the topic. Associated Press.

The four people in Hawaii tasked with casting the state’s Electoral College votes have asked President Barack Obama to release to electors the CIA report on Russia’s computer hacking designed to influence the presidential election. Civil Beat.

The uninsured rate in Hawaii has dropped by 49 percent since the Affordable Care Act was enacted in 2010, with 54,000 residents gaining coverage over the last six years, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services said Tuesday. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii is the healthiest state in the nation for the fifth year in a row, according to the United Health Foundation’s 2016 report. Star-Advertiser.

Gov. David Ige on Wednesday reiterated his commitment to cancer research at a summit of the Hawaii Comprehensive Cancer Coalition, which has set a five-year goal to promote prevention, early detection, equitable access to care, and quality of life for cancer survivors through a public health campaign. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii regulators have shot down a request by an alliance of solar energy industry trade groups to increase the cap on one of the options for installing rooftop solar that replaced net energy metering, according to public documents. Pacific Business News.

GoDaddy Inc., the world’s largest internet domain registrar known for its edgy Super Bowl commercials, has been cleared to start doing business in Hawaii, Pacific Business News has learned.

Oahu
A federal civil lawsuit filed Wednesday alleges the police chief, his deputy prosecutor wife and several police officers are guilty of engaging in a "pattern of racketeering" and conspiring with others at the Honolulu Police Department. Hawaii News Now.

Gerard Puana filed Wednesday a second civil complaint against his niece, city Deputy Prosecutor Katherine Kealoha, the wife of ­Honolulu Police Chief Louis Kealoha, naming the chief and five Honolulu police officers. Star-Advertiser.

Gerard Puana, the man once accused of stealing Honolulu Police Chief Louis Kealoha’s mailbox, filed a lawsuit in federal court Wednesday saying he was the victim of abusive police tactics and malicious prosecution stemming from a family fight over money. Civil Beat.

City tax assessments rise, Waianae coast sees double digits. KITV.

Board directors at public isle companies are paid well for expertise, experience. Star-Advertiser.

State officials say they’re working to figure out what to do with possible skeletal remains found at a beach along Oahu’s North Shore. Associated Press.

Rolloffs Hawaii LLC, a major Hawaii commercial refuse and recycling firm that has been struggling financially, will be sold at a court auction early next year in an effort to keep the business running. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii

The Hawaii County administration has overturned a 17-year-old policy and instituted strict new rules governing the purchase of alcohol with taxpayer money. West Hawaii Today.

A proposed Hawaii Electric Light Co. rate increase triggered biting comments from the public about the power company’s performance during a state Public Utilities Commission meeting Tuesday evening. Tribune-Herald.

Hawaii Electric Light Co. wants customers to pay more for electricity, but several ratepayers in West Hawaii are having none of it. West Hawaii Today.

A company that wants to import biofuel through Hilo Harbor plans to resume refurbishing storage tanks at a former asphalt plant by February, its founder said. Tribune-Herald.

Maui

Maui Wellness Group, doing business as Maui Grown Therapies, announced Wednesday its first medical marijuana dispensary location in the Maui Lani Village Center at 44 Paa St. in Kahului. Star-Advertiser.

Maui Grown Therapies today announced its first medical cannabis dispensary is located in the Maui Lani Village Center at 44 Paʻa Street in Kahului.  The dispensary joins other medical, professional and retail businesses in the Professional Row section of the commercial development. Maui Now.

Maui Mayor Alan Arakawa has announced plans that could lead to the county purchasing property and infrastructure owned by Wailuku Water Company. Hawaii News Now.

The Maui Planning Commission on Tuesday unanimously denied Paia businessman Michael Baskin a special use permit to operate his nine-bedroom transient vacation rental, the Paia Inn. Maui News.

Maui County officials have denied a special-use permit to the owner of a short-term rental property who was hit with a half-million dollar fine last year as part of a settlement involving 30 alleged permit violations. Associated Press.

Sugar might still have a chance at surviving at the 36,000-acre Hawaiian Commercial & Sugar Co. plantation on Maui — at least in a much smaller capacity, the head of its parent company told Pacific Business News.

Growing Maui’s farm-to-table cattle industry is among the chief projects of Alexander & Baldwin as its 36,000-acre sugar plantation folds at the end of this year. Maui News.

Kauai

For Councilwoman JoAnn Yukimura, whether the council repeals its GMO bill, the issues it raised will not go away. Garden Island.

The Missile Defense Agency and Navy continued testing the versatility of the SM-6 missile with a salvo of two missiles fired at a ballistic missile target in the “terminal” or final phase of flight early this morning off Pacific Missile Range Facility. Star-Advertiser.

The Missile Defense Agency and sailors aboard USS John Paul Jones, an Aegis baseline 9.C1 equipped destroyer, on Wednesday successfully fired a salvo of two SM-6 Dual I missiles against a complex, medium-range ballistic missile target, demonstrating defensive capability and meeting the test’s primary objective. Garden Island.

The first round of several meetings addressing options for management of the newly expanded Papahanaumokuakea Marine National Monument came to Kauai Tuesday night. Garden Island.

Kauai County plans to develop a 550-unit affordable housing project in Eleele on the westside of the island, according to public documents. Pacific Business News.

Two entrepreneurs are working to open an eatery on Kauai that offers customers healthy food options, with a focus on crickets as a main protein source. Associated Press.

Thursday, November 10, 2016

Native Hawaiians, Asia-Pacific, pundits react to Trump triumph, Kenoi admits 'probable cause' to pCard misuse, cheaper to put Thirty Meter Telescope on Canary Islands, saving Waikiki Natatorium, voter turnout down, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

copyright 2016 All Hawaii News all rights reserved
Keaukaha Hawaiian campground © 2016 All Hawaii News
The future of a Hawaiian nation has suddenly found itself in the shadow of a huge cloud with the stunning election of Republican Donald Trump as president. Star-Advertiser.

Uncertainty regarding America’s relationships with Asia-Pacific nations has “increased exponentially” with the election of Donald Trump, the outgoing leader of the East-West Center said Wednesday. Civil Beat.

A Donald Trump presidency could theoretically boost military spending in Hawaii, impact relations with neighboring countries overseas and shake up health care for people of the Aloha State, some local experts predict. Tribune-Herald.

Hawaii’s congressional delegation still seemed to be processing what Trump’s presidency could mean for national policy and Hawaii’s political interests. Star-Advertiser.

The day after the General Election, some wonder what impact a Trump Presidency will have on Hawaii. KITV.

Despite his win in heavily Democratic Hawaii, U.S. Sen. Brian Schatz says overall losses in his party mean he will have to work harder on issues such as climate change, which are important to his state. Associated Press.

Column: Welcome To TrumpWorld. Donald Trump’s presidency could be both good news and bad news for Hawaii. Civil Beat.

The Republican Party’s General Election “Sweep” on the mainland was in stark contrast to political races in Hawai’i where GOP candidates were defeated. Hawaii Public Radio.

Even as Republicans nationally celebrated the election of billionaire Donald Trump as president, Hawaii Republicans this week continued their slide into near-oblivion on the state political scene. Star-Advertiser.

Despite long lines on Election Day, a shortage of blue “secrecy sleeves,” and malfunctioning voting machines that turned away some voters, the new chairman of the state Elections Commission said Wednesday he was “very, very impressed” with the election. Star-Advertiser.

The voter turnout in Hawaii Tuesday was down from four years ago, from 62 to 58 percent. But actual ballots cast were up by about 400 to more than 437,000 due to an increase in registered voters. Hawaii News Now.

Despite this year’s all-time high number of  registered voters — likely due to a new online registration system — Hawaii’s voter turnout rate in the general election was less than for the 2012 presidential election. Civil Beat.

Column: Wednesday-Morning Quarterbacking Hawaii’s Election. Civil Beat.

With Republicans in control of the White House and in Congress, will Hawaii’s Democratic lawmakers on Capitol Hill face a tougher battle sending federal dollars our way? KHON2.

Hawaii voters seem inclined to let the Legislature have more flexibility when it comes to spending excess state revenue. Civil Beat.

It’s been a busy year for the state Department of Health. KHON2.

Outrigger Hotels and Resorts and its portfolio of 37 hotels, condominiums and vacation resort properties is being sold to Colorado-based private equity firm KSL Capital Partners for an undisclosed amount, the two companies said Tuesday. Pacific Business News.

Oahu

Historic preservationists are pushing a new plan to save the Waikiki Natatorium War Memorial, a World War I monument, and its pool, where Hawaii Olympian Duke Kahanamoku once swam. Star-Advertiser.

With Veterans Day coming up, there is a new proposal to save the aging Waikiki Natatorium. Hawaii News Now.

Ko Olina Resort &Marina is envisioned to almost double in size and connect directly with the City of Kapolei as part of an estimated $5 billion expansion for the West Oahu vacation destination. Star-Advertiser.

A major solar farm that would span hundreds of acres of land near the University of Hawaii-West Oahu campus is in the works, Pacific Business News has learned.

Hawaii

Mayor Billy Kenoi’s attorneys reached a stipulated agreement Wednesday with the Hawaii County Board of Ethics for misuse of his county-issued credit card. The advisory opinion, offered by the lawyers to avoid an investigative hearing in response to a long-delayed complaint, acknowledges there is “probable cause” that Kenoi violated a section of the county’s Ethics Code by using the card for personal expenses, which were later paid back. Tribune-Herald.

Outgoing Hawaii County councilwoman Margaret Wille read scathing testimony into the record of the Board of Ethics on Wednesday, sharply criticizing Mayor Billy Kenoi in the wake of the government purchase card controversy. Big Island Video News.

TMT official: Moving Thirty Meter Telescope  to Canary Islands could save money. Pacific Business News.

President-elect Donald Trump didn’t win any Hawaii County precincts, but voters were much kinder to him on the west side of the island than on the east side. That’s according to a West Hawaii Today analysis of precinct reports released early Wednesday by the state Office of Elections.

Maui

Maui’s voter turnout improved from 52.7% in 2014 to 56.4% this year. Of the 93,912 registered voters in Maui County, 52,969 cast ballots in the General Election. Maui Now.

After nearly 3,000 votes were counted late Tuesday night and early Wednesday morning, natural farm alchemist Alika Atay came from behind to defeat former Maui County Council Member Dain Kane for the Wailuku-Waihee-Waikapu council residency seat, according to general election results posted at 5:18 a.m. Maui News

An ocean-front Maui property that has been rock star Pat Benatar's home for years went on the market for $3.6 million on Wednesday morning. Pacific Business News.

Kauai

The 2016 general election saw the highest voter turnout in Kauai since the 2008 general election, which featured U.S. Senators Barack Obama and John McCain. Garden Island.

Ensuring a future for keiki, mitigating a large tourist population and protecting the environment are just some of the topics Kauai residents want to see addressed in the general plan update. Garden Island.

With all 16 precincts reporting, Derek Kawakami and Arthur Brun are the new faces of the Kauai County Council. Garden Island.

Monday, September 19, 2016

Human bones moved to Mauna Kea by TMT protester, facial recognition in Hawaii tourism ads, rape test kit results lag, Kauai police continue body cameras, Kenoi rushes to finish projects as trial looms, Maui gay resort gets new owner, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

copyright 2016 All Hawaii News all rights reserved
An ahu atop Mauna Kea © 2016 All Hawaii News
The Hawaii Department of Land and Natural Resources is investigating a case in which someone allegedly disinterred human remains and put them in a shrine at the proposed site of the controversial Thirty Meter Telescope on Mauna Kea on the Big Island. Civil Beat.

A Hilo man says an ahu built at the Thirty Meter Telescope site atop Mauna Kea should be protected after he deposited human remains there. Palikapu Dedman, who is facing potential criminal charges, told the Tribune-Herald he placed iwi, or bones, belonging to an ancestor on the stone altar last September and then again earlier this month after realizing the first set of bones were missing. Tribune-Herald.

The world of personal advertising isn’t quite there yet, but Hawai‘i Tourism Authority and Expedia are inching closer. They will roll out the “Discover Your Aloha” campaign on Sept. 26, which uses facial recognition software to personalize Hawaii advertising content. Star-Advertiser.

State and federal lawmakers are promising to improve conditions for hundreds of foreign fishermen working in Hawaii’s commercial fleet, and at least one company has already stopped buying fish from the boats following an Associated Press investigation that found the men have been confined to vessels for years without basic labor protections. Associated Press.

All four of Hawaii’s county police departments have failed to comply with a Sept. 1 statutory deadline requiring them to report to the attorney general’s office the number of untested rape kits they have in storage and the dates the forensic evidence was collected from alleged victims of sexual assault. Star-Advertiser.

Two top bond rating agencies last week upgraded their credit ratings for the state of Hawaii by a notch to the second-highest possible, a change that will allow the state to pay less interest when it borrows money later this month to finance state construction projects and to refinance debt. Star-Advertiser.

A Tennessee man was arrested Friday for allegedly making death threats against U.S. Sen. Mazie Hirono and U.S. Rep. Tulsi Gabbard. Civil Beat.

The Democratic Party of Hawaii followed through on Wednesday on its promise to sue a bigoted politician who is attempting to run for Congress as a Democrat in one race and as a Republican in a separate race. Civil Beat.

Oahu

The work to build Honolulu rail’s first 10 miles of elevated pathway is costing Kiewit Infrastructure West at least $100 million, according to a former project consultant with knowledge of the situation. Star-Advertiser.

Mayoral candidate Charles Djou has chastised Mayor Kirk Caldwell for eliminating a program designed to reduce the overuse of ambulances by chronic 911 callers. Star-Advertiser.

Chinatown Tries To Hang On To Tradition, Even As It Changes. Young professionals are moving to Chinatown to take advantage of the cheaper rents as well as new bars and restaurants. Civil Beat.

First wave-produced electricity in U.S. goes online in Hawaii. Associated Press.

The state health department confirmed a new case of hepatitis A today in a food service worker on Oahu. The infected person worked at Chart House Waikiki. The latest case brings the total of confirmed hepatitis A cases in the outbreak to 271. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii

More than two years behind schedule and at least $228,000 over budget, the Ka'u gym project is becoming the gunk on the track slowing Mayor Billy Kenoi’s sprint to untie as many maile lei as he can before leaving office in early December. West Hawaii Today.

The criminal trial of Hawaii County Mayor Billy Kenoi will go forward after a judge refused to throw out charges, including felony theft, stemming from his alleged misuse of his county credit card. Star-Advertiser.

The prosecutor in Mayor Billy Kenoi’s theft case said during a pretrial hearing Friday in Hilo he plans to call an FBI forensic accountant as an expert witness to go through the mayor’s personal and family finances. Tribune-Herald.

A judge has denied Hawaii Mayor Billy Kenoi's motions aimed at getting the theft case against him thrown out. Hawaii News Now.

Hawaii Island Mayor Billy Kenoi will go on trial in October for theft relating to alleged misuse of his county credit card. KHON2.

Hawaiian Springs, which currently utilizes a well in Keaau, has submitted a proposed plan with the Hawaii County Planning Department for the “Pahala Town Square &Hawaiian Springs Facility.” Tribune-Herald.

Maui

West Maui Rep. Angus McKelvey and South Maui County Council Member Don Couch are calling on Gov. David Ige to stop - at least temporarily - construction of a seawall near Olowalu intended to prevent a section of Honoapiilani Highway from being washed away. Maui News.

Representative Angus McKelvey (West Maui, Māʻalaea, Kīhei) sent a letter to Governor David Ige on Friday, asking him to suspend the Department of Transportation’s work on the Honoapiʻilani Highway seawall near Olowalu.  Rep. McKelvey said he made the request, “so a cooling off period can be used to ensure that the concerns of the community are given a fair hearing.” Maui Now.

Wesley Lo, the chief executive officer of public hospitals in Maui County who helped shepherd a public-private partnership measure through the state Legislature, will be leaving his post Oct. 31, creating a leadership void as the hospitals make an operational transition to Kaiser Permanente in July. Maui News.

The Maui Sunseeker, the north Kihei shoreline resort known for catering to the LGBT community, has a new owner and a new name. Maui News.

Kauai

The Kauai Police Department plans to keep its officers outfitted with body cameras. Garden Island.

Progress on a project to create a 5.3-megawatt hydropower plant on state-owned land on the Kokee Ditch Irrigation System has been halted. That’s because the developer failed to meet construction deadlines, and the state withdrew the right to use the property, according to an Aug. 31 Federal Energy Regulatory Commission order terminating the permit exemption. Garden Island.

Mayor Bernard Carvalho Jr. and a few other public officials have intervened in a complaint at a state-owned housing complex, resulting in the promise of flooring upgrades, but questions still linger. Garden Island.

Genki Sushi reopens to wave of loyal customers. Garden Island.

The Department of Hawaiian Homelands is looking into a cache of cars abandoned south of Anahola Bay, brought to light by cleanup crews with Surfrider Kauai’s Net Patrol. Garden Island.

Wednesday, July 27, 2016

Kilauea lava flow returns to ocean, Hawaii delegate booted from DNC convention following inappropriate gesture, new telescope planned for Maui's Haleakala, battle over expanded marine zone brings out environmentalists, politicos, Honolulu mayor candidates spar over rail, pCard looms over Big Island mayoral race, cremated remains could form new reef, hepatitis speads, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

courtesy Capt. Shane Turpin Lava Ocean Tours
Lava enters ocean, courtesy Capt. Shane Turpin, Lava Ocean Tours
Lava entered the ocean early Tuesday morning, just two months after emerging from a vent at Kilauea Volcano and beginning a steady flow toward the sea. It’s the first time lava has reached the ocean since August 2013. Star-Advertiser.

Lava began spilling into the ocean early Tuesday morning, sending a plume of volcanic gas skyward while adding new land to Hawaii Island’s southeast coast as waves crashed into 2,000-degree molten rock. Tribune-Herald.

The first video of the new lava ocean entry is already hitting social media, thanks to the tour guides who track Hawaii’s volcanic activity. Big Island Video News.

On Hawaii Island, lava from the erupting Kilauea volcano has reached the ocean. According to the Hawaiian Volcano Observatory, a flow that extends southeast of Puʻu ʻŌʻō entered the ocean at 1:12 a.m. Tuesday. KHON2.

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

With thousands of government dignitaries, scientists, environmentalists, business leaders and possibly President Obama set to descend on Honolulu in a month for one of the world’s largest conservation conferences, a local fight over whether the Papahanaumokuakea Marine National Monument should be expanded to further protect the marine ecosystem is escalating. Star-Advertiser.

Former Gov. George Ariyoshi said Tuesday that he doesn’t want “somebody from the outside” dictating how Hawaii residents can use the waters around the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands. Civil Beat.

New Army Secretary Eric Fanning is in Hawaii with an agenda for his first Pacific tour that includes robotic technology, jungle training and ballistic missile defense. Star-Advertiser.

Several community groups and national environmental nonprofits have filed a lawsuit against the U.S. Navy to prevent bombing and other live-fire training from occurring on the islands of Pagan and Tinian in the Mariana Islands in the western Pacific. Civil Beat.

A Hawaii delegate was removed from the Democratic National Convention and the Chair of the Democratic Party of Hawaii has issued a statement after the delegate, Chelsea Lyons Kent, District 27 Chair, appeared to make an inappropriate gesture during the vote to nominate the party's candidate. KITV.

Commentary: How not to send a unity message: File into the City of Brotherly Love and spend the first day of the Democratic National Convention booing each other. Star-Advertiser.

Commentary: The State Ethics Commission took another beating in court this month, when the Hawaii Supreme Court threw out the commission’s case against a Big Island charter school administrator who it had charged with numerous counts of conflict of interest and self-dealing. Civil Beat.

Oahu

Mayor Kirk Caldwell, former U.S. Rep. Charles Djou and former Mayor Peter Carlisle criticized one another for their respective positions on rail but failed to provide specific plans of their own during a forum Tuesday sponsored by the Rotary Club of Honolulu. Star-Advertiser.

When rebuttal time came at a Honolulu mayoral candidate forum Tuesday, Peter Carlisle acted like he didn’t have anything more to say about his opponents, Kirk Caldwell and Charles Djou. Civil Beat.

There are 8 candidates running for Honolulu Mayor who have never been elected to public office. Hawaii Public Radio.

Cedric Gates, a Democratic candidate running for state House District 44, said he felt shocked and disgusted after finding out Tuesday morning that some of his campaign posters had been defaced and spray-painted with a racial slur. Star-Advertiser.

The City and County of Honolulu is moving ahead with its effort to replace about 52,000 of its streetlights with more efficient LED lighting, a city spokesman confirmed to Pacific Business News.

A unique proposal for an artificial reef off Oahu’s west and southeast shores using the cremated remains of loved ones has created backlash from some community members. Hawaii News Now.

A Pacific Business News panel discussion featuring five leaders of Hawaii nonprofit organizations touched on raising money, collaborating with other groups and what qualities to look for in new board members.

Hawaii

The Ghost In The Big Island’s Political Machine. Billy Kenoi isn’t among the 13 candidates for Hawaii County mayor, but the incumbent’s credit card scandal looms over the race. Civil Beat.

A mayoral candidate who was shut out of several Big Island forums said he’s filed a complaint with the American Civil Liberties Union, believing nonprofits that sponsor forums are required to invite all candidates. West Hawaii Today.

Kai Kahele is the state’s newest senator, but he’s proving to be one of its most adept fundraisers. Campaign finance records show the District 1 Democrat, appointed by Gov. David Ige in February following the death of his father, the late Sen. Gil Kahele, raised $109,362.76 for his campaign during the first half of 2016. Tribune-Herald.

State Sen. Kai Kahele has passed along a controversial state land lease in Milolii to a relative. The state Board of Land and Natural Resources approved transferring the residential lease to Orasa Fernandez during its meeting Friday in Honolulu. Tribune-Herald.

Employees at a Waikoloa fast food and catering restaurant have been ordered to undergo blood testing after one employee tested positive for hepatitis A earlier this month. West Hawaii Today.

A Hawaii outbreak of hepatitis A has grown to 93 cases, including an infected sushi restaurant worker who might have exposed diners, the state's Department of Health said Tuesday.Associated Press.

A 32-year-old man convicted in May of damaging the statue of King Kamehameha the Great on Hilo’s Bayfront and stealing the top portion of the statue’s bronze spear during last year’s Labor Day holiday weekend was sentenced this morning to five years in prison. Tribune-Herald.

Maui

A year after vehement protests attempted to block construction of a solar telescope on Haleakala, plans are being made for another, smaller telescope in an existing building near the summit. Maui News.

Kaiser Permanente has hired seven new care providers for its facilities, including a pediatric hospitalist and family medicine physician on Maui. Maui Now.

Kauai

Hidden away in Kalaheo, about a quarter mile west of mile marker 12 on Kaumualii Highway, is a dirt road that leads to a property with a storied history. Garden Island.

Monday, July 18, 2016

NextEra Energy quits $4.3B Hawaii electric plan after PUC rebuff, Djou ahead of Caldwell in Honolulu mayoral poll but Caldwell leads in fundraising, Maui audits pCard use, Kenoi's right-hand man Lau has huge money advantage on Big Island, Kauai worries about sacred spots in Pokemon game, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Public Utilities Ciommission Chairman Randy Iwase, Lorraine Akiba and Tom Gorak
NextEra Energy Inc. has ended its plan to buy Hawaiian Electric Industries Inc. and will pay the state’s largest utility $95 million in “break-up” fees and other costs, the two companies announced early today. Star-Advertiser.

NextEra Energy Inc. and Hawaiian Electric Industries Inc. have decided not to try to put their merger deal back together again. Hawaii News Now.

Hawaiian Electric Industries Inc. and NextEra Energy Inc. have ended their plans to merge following the state’s decision Friday to reject the deal. KHON2.

Now that the state has denied Florida-based NextEra Energy Inc.’s $4.3-billion bid to buy Hawaii’s largest electric utility, some see another black-eye to the state’s business reputation while others see opportunity. Star-Advertiser.

The state Public Utilities Commission has rejected the $4.3 billion proposal to sell Hawaiian Electric Industries to Florida-based NextEra Energy. Civil Beat.

Hawaii regulators on Friday shot down one of the biggest business deals in state history, which involved Florida-based NextEra Energy Inc.'s proposed $4.3 billion acquisition of Hawaiian Electric Co. Pacific Business News.

The Public Utilities Commission rejected the purchase of Hawaiian Electric Company by Florida-based NextEra Energy on Friday. Hawaii Public Radio

The state Public Utilities Commission voted to not approve a merger between Florida-based NextEra and Hawaii’s largest utility, saying the companies didn’t show they would provide adequate benefits to ratepayers or help the state meet its aggressive renewable energy goals. Associated Press.

The $4.3 billion deal for control of Hawaii’s power company has been rejected by state regulators. Big Island Video News.

Hermina Morita, former chair of the Hawaii Public Utilities Commission and an ex-state representative, filed a lawsuit on Friday against Thomas Gorak, who was appointed by Gov. David Ige to the PUC to replace Commissioner Michael Champley when his term ended June 30. Pacific Business News.

Press release: In a 2-0 decision, the Hawaii Public Utilities Commission (“PUC” or “Commission”) today dismissed without prejudice the Hawaiian Electric Companies (“HECO Companies”) and NextEra Energy’s (“NextEra”) (collectively, the HECO Companies and NextEra are referred to as the “Applicants”) Joint Application for the Change of Control (“Application” or “Change of Control”). Commissioner Thomas C. Gorak abstained from signing the Decision and Order.

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

The controversial Pono Choices sex education program taught in some Hawaii middle schools has helped increase students’ knowledge of preventing teen pregnancies and sexually transmitted infections, as designed, but students were not significantly deterred from engaging in risky sexual behaviors, an external review of the program released Friday concluded. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii’s delegates to the Republican National Convention have gathered in Cleveland this week to help adopt a sharply conservative new party platform and to join what they expect will be a grand celebration of the presidential nomination of Donald Trump. Star-Advertiser.

Tulsi Gabbard raised more than $420,000 in the April-June period. According to her July quarterly filing with the Federal Election Commission, the Hawaii Democrat is sitting on $1.88 million in cash. Civil Beat.

University of Hawaii President David Lassner’s salary ranks in the bottom two-thirds of salaries paid to the nation’s public college presidents, according to a report released today by the Chronicle of High Education. Lassner’s $375,000 base salary is No. 152 out of 260 leaders of public colleges and university systems. Star-Advertiser.

How many missiles, bombs and torpedoes does it take to sink a U.S. frigate? More than 10, a Rim of the Pacific exercise showed. Star-Advertiser.

What Happened When HECO Went To Wall Street. Energized by statehood and a booming economy, Hawaiian Electric began to reach beyond Oahu for investors and investments. Civil Beat.

Oahu

The latest Hawaii Poll shows former U.S. Rep. Charles Djou ahead in the race for Honolulu mayor, garnering more support among likely voters than incumbent Mayor Kirk Caldwell and former Mayor Peter Carlisle. Djou was the choice for 39 percent of poll participants — ahead of Caldwell at 30 percent, and Carlisle at 15 percent. Star-Advertiser.

If money were the only factor in an election, Mayor Kirk Caldwell would be re-elected in a landslide. The Honolulu mayor received $425,200 in campaign contributions in the first half of this year, far more than the next-highest amount for any state or city candidate. Charles Djou, who is also running for Honolulu mayor, came in second with $233,535. Civil Beat.

A solid majority of Oahu voters maintain the island’s rail transit project still should be built to Ala Moana Center as planned, the latest Hawaii Poll found. Star-Advertiser.

Most Oahu residents want the see the entire 20-mile rail system built all the way to Ala Moana Center. But even more people oppose raising property taxes to pay for the construction.  Hawaii News Now.

People on Oahu generally feel that the island’s homeless situation has gotten better in the year since the beating of a state representative in the heart of an entrenched encampment in Kakaako, and far fewer believe the problem’s gotten worse, results of the latest Hawaii Poll show. Star-Advertiser.

Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton retains a solid lead among Oahu voters as Republicans and Democrats prepare for their national conventions, with 49 percent of likely voters here saying they would vote for Clinton if the election for president were held today. Star-Advertiser.

Honolulu police are hoping to begin a body camera pilot program by the end of this year. Star-Advertiser.

They live on the wrong side of Honolulu’s traffic jams and like everyone on the island they think housing costs too much, but it’s hard to find Mililani residents who are dissatisfied with their community. Civil Beat.

Thurston Twigg-Smith
, a scion of missionary descendants who helped make the once-weaker Honolulu Advertiser Hawaii’s dominant newspaper, died Saturday at the age of 94. Star-Advertiser.

Road repaving projects to begin in Iwilei, Kalihi, Kapalama, Liliha, Punchbowl and Pu‘unui. KITV.

Hawaii
If elections were won by money alone, mayoral candidate Wally Lau would be a shoo-in for the top Hawaii County post. Lau, Mayor Billy Kenoi’s former right-hand man, accumulated $183,705 in campaign contributions in the first six months of the year, eclipsing the rest of the 13-member field seeking the open seat.  West Hawaii Today.

Lawmakers are expecting a gas tax hike to be on the table again next year following the deferral of major highway improvements, including further widening of Highway 130 in Puna. Tribune-Herald.

Little Fire Ants, first discovered on Hawaii Island in 1999, likely arrived as hidden passengers in imported nursery plants. And there’s little sign they’re letting up in West Hawaii. West Hawaii Today.

Maui

The Maui County auditor will be reviewing county employee travel expenses after an investigation into government purchasing cards, known as pCards, revealed about $850,000 in travel spending from September 2014 to October 2015. Maui News.

Maui County Council hopefuls Yuki Lei Sugimura and Keith Regan, candidate newcomers, took in $54,000 and $42,000 respectively from January to June - the highest total of campaign donations received during the reporting period among all council candidates, according to campaign spending reports. Maui News.

Lawmakers are tentatively planning to close out their special veto override session Monday without taking any further action on a proposal for special severance payments and retirement benefits for the Maui hospital workers who will lose their state jobs when Gov. David Ige’s administration privatizes three hospitals in Maui County. Star-Advertiser.

The median price of a single-family home in Maui County for the first half of 2016 was $630,000 - with mostly local residents buying properties below that price and off-islanders snarfing up listings above that amount, the president of the Realtors Association of Maui said last week. Maui News.

Kauai

Kauai Mayor Bernard Carvalho has nominated Syngenta spokeswoman Beth Tokioka to the county’s Board of Water Supply despite concerns about the seed company’s record on water quality. Civil Beat.

The deadline for commenting on the latest paperwork from Hawaii Dairy Farms and their plan to establish a 699-cow dairy in the Mahaulepu Valley is a little more than a week away. Garden Island.

The fate of an amendment to a bill that would prohibit smoking in cars with minors could be settled Wednesday. When the Kauai County Council meets, it is expected to make a decision on amending Bill No. 2629, which would make it illegal for adults to smoke in a car if they are riding with keiki under the age of 18. Garden Island.

Computer Hospital owner Jeff Elkins’ troubles began when he received a warning letter from the Hawaii Department of Health asking him to cease and desist his “unpermitted operation of a solid waste management system.” Garden Island.

Two people searching for the augmented reality game “Pokemon Go’s” pocket monsters wandered into a sensitive heiau on Kauai where a cultural protocol was underway, according to the state’s Department of Land and Natural Resources. Garden Island.