Military response formed for Kilauea volcano emergency as earthquakes rattle summit, plumes shoot into air, ash fallout warnings issued, plus $140M state psychiatric hospital plans unveiled, details on Akaka memorial service, new super PAC with rail ties, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Deputy Adjutant Gen. Gary Ishikawa, l, and Brig. Gen. Kenneth Hara address the media. PC: Big Island Video News

Hawaii governor forms command to 'streamline military response' to Kilauea volcano eruption on Big Island. Pacific Business News.

Joint Task Force 50 in position to support county government. Tribune-Herald.

Brig. Gen. Kenneth Hara spoke to media at the Keaukaha Military Reserve on Wednesday afternoon, announcing the approval of the request for the Joint Task Force 50. Big Island Video News.

Press Release: Gov. David Y. Ige has announced the formation of a Dual-Status Command, Joint Task Force 50 (JTF) in response to the Kilauea lava flow on Hawai‘i Island. Gov. Ige’s formal request to appoint Brig. Gen. Kenneth Hara was submitted on Tuesday, May 15 and approved by Secretary of Defense James N. Mattis earlier today. Governor's Office.

An explosive eruption from Kilauea's summit on Thursday morning sent an ash plume soaring some 30,000 feet into the air, and officials are warning that ash emissions will cover a large part of the Big Island. Hawaii News Now.

Explosive eruption at Kilauea summit; those in area advised to shelter in place amidst ash plume. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii Volcano Observatory officials on Thursday confirmed that an explosive eruption occurred at the summit of Kilauea. As a result, the National Weather Service issued an ashfall advisory for the Ka'u District of the Big Island. Officials say the ash plume reached 25,000 feet. Hawaii News Now.

Hawaiian Volcano Observatory reports that an explosive eruption at Kilauea summit has occurred at 4:17 a.m.. The resulting ash plume may affect the surrounding areas.  The wind may carry the ash plume north towards Kau, Volcano, Mt. View, Keaau and as far as Hilo. KITV.

A series of sharp, shallow earthquakes rattled the summit area of Kilauea volcano Wednesday morning, and the gray plume from an ash eruption at the summit crater continued to distribute volcanic ash as far away as Kau and Pahoa village. Star-Advertiser.

Earthquakes Batter Roads As More Ash Spews From Kilauea. The state is forming a joint task force to handle mass evacuations of the Puna district if lava flows cover major roads and isolates the area. Associated Press.

Emergency officials are keeping a close eye on Highway 11 after cracks appeared Wednesday on the road near the entrance to Hawaii Volcanoes National Park. KHON2.

Kilauea’s summit was rocked by shallow earthquakes Wednesday as the volcano’s caldera inside Hawaii Volcanoes National Park subsides along with its magma chamber. Tribune-Herald.

Volcanic gas emissions remain elevated throughout the area downwind of the fissures, and magma continues to be supplied to the lower East Rift Zone. Big Island Video News.

Geologists: Kilauea is no Mount St. Helens. Hawaii News Now.

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A petition urging Hawaii Gov. David Ige to sign a bill into law that would prohibit the sale of sunscreens containing certain ingredients found to be harmful to marine life is gaining traction, having garnered close to its goal of 40,000 signatures. Pacific Business News.

New Super PAC With Pro-Rail Ties Emerges In Hawaii Elections. The group, All Hawaii Stand Together, has ties to the pro-rail Pacific Resource Partnership that has been a big player in past elections. Civil Beat.

The late U.S. Sen. Daniel Akaka will lie in state at the Capitol rotunda Friday and Saturday and be eulogized during two public services and one private service before being laid to rest at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific at Punchbowl. Star-Advertiser.

The family of the late Sen. Daniel Akaka released new information on Wednesday concerning the schedule for his memorial service. Hawaii News Now.

Plans for the construction of a new Hawaii State Hospital facility were unveiled today. Hawaii Public Radio.

Architects, designers and state health officials Wednesday pledged that a new Hawaii State Hospital in Kaneohe would be more secure, safer for staff and better suited to help patients with mental health issues who are court ordered for treatment. Star-Advertiser.

Security upgrades planned at State Hospital in wake of high-profile escape. Hawaii News Now.

Press Release: Governor David Ige and the Hawaii Department of Health today unveiled the security features for a new, $140 million, state-of-the-art Hawaii State Hospital building to enhance the safety of patients, employees and the community. Governor's Office.

Health department director Dr. Virginia Pressler looks forward to retirement. Dr. Virginia Pressler announced last week that she will be retiring after three and a half years with the state Department of Health. KHON2.

Oahu

Lawsuit: Managers Took Bribes At Low-Income Rentals. Executives at a Hawaii property management company say the allegations are false and upsetting. Civil Beat.

Pacific Office Properties considering shutdown. A local company that owns three Honolulu office tower properties lost more money in the first quarter and let investors know its board is considering alternatives that could include dissolution. Star-Advertiser.

‘Lime’ Rental Scooters Invade Honolulu With Mixed Results. The new motorized rental scooters are appearing on sidewalks in Honolulu, but the mayor is not pleased. Civil Beat.

Honolulu home prices rose by 4 percent in April, and Hawaii’s largest market was one of the few in the United States where inventory is growing, according to the May National Housing Report from Re/Max. Pacific Business News.

“Faith Betrayed,” a Honolulu Civil Beat story about Guam’s reckoning with the torturous legacy of decades of sexual abuse by local priests, has been awarded the Sally Jacobsen International Perspective Award from the Associated Press Media Editors. Civil Beat.

Hawaii Island

Lava burning up tourism: Economic impact to Hawaii Island could be worse than thought. West Hawaii Today.

No-Entry Zone Established for Hawaii Electric Light Crews in Leilani Estates. Big Island Now.

No-entry zone established for Hawaii Electric Light crews in Leilani Estates. KHON2.

The eruptions in lower Puna won't seem to let up as several older fissures continue to reignite, shooting lava into the air. Hawaii News Now.

Cultural practitioner performs oli (chant) in honor of goddess Pele. While the eruptions along the East Rift Zone and volcanic activity at Halemaumau Crater are awe-inspiring, they are also significant to the Hawaiian culture. KHON2.

The Hawaii Tribune-Herald donated warehouse space to the American Red Cross for its ongoing lava disaster relief efforts. Tribune-Herald.

Oahu Publications Inc., the parent company of the Honolulu Star-Advertiser and the Hawaii Tribune-Herald, is providing warehouse space to the American Red Cross in Hilo for the storage of goods to be used at its shelters. Star-Advertiser.

Maui

Preparing to serve up environmentally friendly plate lunches. Ban on polystyrene foam products takes effect Dec. 31. Maui News.

Vodka maker purchases Maui pineapple farm. Principals of a California-based maker and distributor of distilled spirits have bought a pineapple farm on Maui that was once part of a more than 100-year-old plantation. Star-Advertiser.

New ownership announced for Haliimaile Pineapple Co. Company acquisition ensures Maui Gold pineapple will continue. Maui News.

The owners of Haliimaile Distilling Co. have purchased Haliimaile Pineapple Co., producers of Maui Gold pineapple in Hawaii. Pacific Business News.

Hawaiian Airlines started new daily nonstop flights Wednesday between Maui’s Kahului Airport and San Diego International Airport. Star-Advertiser.

Kauai

The County Council approved the purchase of property along the Hanalei River Wednesday. Garden Island.

Water quality has cleaned up in some areas on Kauai’s North Shore after the April floods, but the state Department of Health still has a brown water advisory for some places on the island. Garden Island.

Mud is smothering the coral in Hanalei Bay, according to one resident who explored the reef there Saturday. Garden Island.

Kauai's legislators are slated to be at the Lihue Business Association meeting 7:30 to 9 a.m. May 24 at Duke’s Canoe Club. Garden Island.

Woman claims late Sen. Inouye sexually harassed her, leasing library land, Legislature's lax ethics, Hawaii last in return on taxpayer investment, polystyrene ban advances, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Hawaii State Library ©2018 All Hawaii News

A bill that would rent out library land and facilities as a way to generate revenue is proceeding through the state Legislature as quietly as libraries themselves. West Hawaii Today.

Paid Family Leave Legislation Advances in House and Senate. State lawmakers are on the verge of passing legislation for paid family leave in Hawaii. Hawaii Public Radio.

Could Hawaii Be the First State to Ban Polystyrene Food Containers? First it was Maui County then Hawaii County, and now the State is considering a ban on polystyrene food containers. Hawaii Public Radio.

Hawaii ranked last in the nation for taxpayer return on investment in 2018, according to a WalletHub study released today. Star-Advertiser.

#MeToo: One Woman’s Story Of Sexual Harassment By Hawaii Sen. Dan Inouye. Megan Bailiff says her treatment by the late U.S. senator — and the staffers who protected him — changed her life. Civil Beat.

Commentary: Ethics too lax at Legislature. “Following the rules” ordinarily equates to ethical behavior, except where the rules themselves set a ridiculously low standard. Star-Advertiser.

Super PAC’s Attack Reveals Gaps In Hawaii Campaign Finance Law. Voters can’t find out who’s funding a new website with claims of domestic violence against a candidate for governor until after the primary election. Civil Beat.

State of Hawaii Organization of Police Officers endorses Hanabusa for governor. Hawaii News Now.

Visitor industry looks to attract high schoolers. A visitor industry-supported workforce development program kicks off this week to encourage young people to pursue tourism careers, an important recruitment step at a time when the state’s visitor industry is vying to attract candidates amid record unemployment lows. Star-Advertiser.

Humpbacks are seen in smaller numbers. The number of humpback whales seen in coastal waters fell once again during this weekend’s Sanctuary Ocean Count, continuing a trend this season and beyond. Star-Advertiser.

Nene population nears 3,000 statewide. Conservationists say a new proposal to reclassify the nene from endangered to threatened shows that “great strides” have been made in recovering the species, whose population dropped to 30 animals in 1960. Tribune-Herald.

Environmental group is turning Hawaii's ocean waste into energy. Since 2002, about 800 tons of abandoned ocean gear has been burned and turned it into electricity — enough to power 350 homes in Hawaii for a year. Hawaii News Now.

Kaiser Permanente has hired a new president for the Hawaii region. Dave Underriner will begin as head of Kaiser Foundation Health Plan and Hospitals of Hawaii in mid-May, the company said Monday. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii's flagship carrier Hawaiian Airlines on Monday said it signed a new partnership with natural, organic sun care company Raw Elements USA. Pacific Business News.

Hotel gives out environmental friendly sunscreen to protect Hawaii's coral reefs. Aqua-Aston Hospitality's statewide initiative steers tourists away from Oxybenzone, and does so in the most effective way possible: Giving away reef-safe sunscreen for free. KITV.

Oahu

Caldwell to announce plan for more B&Bs, longer-term vacation rentals. In his sixth State of the City speech today, Mayor Kirk Caldwell will unveil his plan to allow for more legal bed-and-breakfast establishments and transient vacation units across Oahu, but only if the operators are also the owners of those homes, abide by stricter guidelines, pay higher property taxes and pay stricter penalties when they run afoul of the law. Star-Advertiser.

Honolulu Mayor Kirk Caldwell will be delivering his sixth State of the City address on Tuesday at the Neal S. Blaisdell Center. Hawaii News Now.

Could giving pedestrians a head start make crosswalks safer? The technical term is "leading pedestrian intervals." Hawaii News Now.

Biki to add more stops as bike share program expands on Oahu. KHON2.

Feral chickens flummox city officials. The city is looking for a better way to deal with chickens after its first attempts resulted in a cost of $108 per chicken caught and killed. Star-Advertiser.

The Army is spending about $3.5 million over nearly two months to search for unexploded ordnance off Makua Beach after a 5-inch projectile was found offshore in 2016, officials said. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii home made famous by 'Magnum P.I." slated to come down. CBS is wrapping up filming its pilot of the reboot of “Magnum, P.I.” in Hawaii, but the house made famous by the 1980s television series of the same name and purchased by a friend of President Barack Obama three years ago, likely won’t be featured in the new series. Pacific Business News.

Hawaii Island

Mauna Kea governance bill appears dead. A bill to revamp the governance of public lands on Mauna Kea appears to be dead in the state House after Finance Committee Chairwoman Sylvia Luke said she will not consider the measure. Star-Advertiser.

Maunakea management bill to be debated Thursday; Senate rewrites House measure to keep issue alive. Legislation to create a new management authority for Maunakea is getting another chance after apparently stalling in the House. Tribune-Herald.

A House Bill requiring land board reporting on public lands has been dramatically altered, bringing new life to a stalled legislative effort to create a Mauna Kea Management Authority. Big Island Video News.

A beloved symbol of Hawaii returned to Hilo on Monday when the voyaging canoe Hokulea arrived at Kahele Point at the Grand Naniloa Hotel for the first time since 2014. Hokulea departed from Hilo in May 2014 on the three-year-long Malama Honua voyage, where it circumnavigated the globe using only traditional Polynesian wayfaring techniques. Tribune-Herald.

Maui

Another moving day for homeless people on Maui. Notice to vacate is enforced near Shiraishi Pool in Central Maui. Maui News.

Will Lawmakers Help These Low-Income Tenants Stay In Their Lahaina Homes? More than 250 tenants of a subsidized Maui apartment complex fear eviction amid the owner’s plans to raise rents to market rates. Civil Beat.

Lahaina ferry pier improvements are ready to proceed. Maui News.

Maui's transportation department will be testing an all-electric bus along different routes this week. The vehicle is on loan from Proterra Inc. KHON2.

Kauai

The Death Spiral Of A Local Shopping Mall. Kukui Grove Shopping Center on Kauai is not alone in its demise, but its fadeout is still a community loss. Civil Beat.

Lanai

The Lanai Planning Commission made history by changing the boundary for the entire island. The commission worked with the planning department to revise the island's special management area boundary. KHON2.

Legislature advances foam food container ban, minimum wage hikes unlikely, records request deadline killed, property taxes for Honolulu rail, vacation homes proliferating, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Polystyrene foam food containers ©2018 All Hawaii News

Senate committee advances a bill to impose a statewide ban on polystyrene foam containers. Star-Advertiser.

Don’t Count On A Minimum Wage Hike This Session. The Senate wants an analysis. The House wants to give employers the option of increasing pay or offering paid sick leave. Civil Beat.

Senator shelves bill for timely action on state records requests. A bill seeking to speed up the resolution of disputes over which government records should be open to the public appears to be dead for the session. Star-Advertiser.

State bills aim to make homes for disabled user-friendly. State researchers addressing issues faced by people with disabilities want every new home in Hawaii built with six basic features they say will benefit a disadvantaged group that includes an approaching “silver tsunami” of seniors. Star-Advertiser.

A bill before lawmakers would provide free tuition in exchange for a commitment to remaining a state government employee. Star-Advertiser.

Legislators Want Abandoned Cars Removed Quicker. Counties object to measures that would give them 10 days to move the vehicles off of roadways. Civil Beat.

The Hawaii House of Representatives passed 131 bills on third reading on Friday, March 2, moving them to the Senate for their consideration. Big Island Now.

The Hawaii State Ethics Commission fined four Hawaii Tourism Authority employees for unethical travel practices but chose not to penalize two other HTA employees, including a state senator’s wife. Star-Advertiser.

Child welfare agency shows no improvement in latest federal review. In the 14 categories that the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services analyzed in 2017, the state agency showed no improvement from 2009. Star-Advertiser.

Hee: Allow schools to decide on arming security officers. A former state senator who is hoping to be Hawaii's next governor is offering his plan to prevent gun violence at schools. Hawaii News Now.

Surveillance is accepted practice in workers’ comp cases. It can lead to a cutoff of benefits, but things are not always as they appear. Civil Beat.

Community solar is poised to launch in Hawaii as early as this year, and putting the pieces together to make it happen is turning out to be quite a puzzle. Hawaii Public Radio.

Report: Navy admiral likely to head U.S. Pacific Command has little experience in Asia. U.S. military forces stationed in Hawaii will soon report to a new commander after President Donald Trump said last month that he intends to name current U.S. Pacific Command Commander Adm. Harry B. Harris Jr. ambassador to Australia. Pacific Business News.

Despite talk of the Navy’s surface fleet losing its war-­fighting edge, the head of U.S. Pacific Fleet at Pearl Harbor said a two-year training success that’s only being revealed now challenged the status quo, injecting greater uncertainty — and a higher degree of risk of failure — into sea-based exercises. Star-Advertiser

Animal advocacy groups called it cruel and misleading. Local food producers called it humane and important for Hawaii’s food supply. Recently, however, the practice of shipping live pigs to Hawaii for slaughter ended. Star-Advertiser.

Oahu

Honolulu’s Share Of The Bill For Rail Just Got $54 Million Bigger. At a budget preview Friday, Mayor Kirk Caldwell acknowledged the city will have to cover more of the project’s cost. Civil Beat.

Honolulu City Councilman Trevor Ozawa is again demanding the city step up its bulky-item pickup service in East Honolulu. Star-Advertiser.

Mayor proposes fees for bulky item, residential trash pick-up. Hawaii News Now.

Feds: UH Manoa Violated Rules In Handling Sexual Harassment Cases. Complaints were mishandled and federal grievance procedures weren’t followed, investigators found. Civil Beat.

Sales of condominiums on Oahu rose 5 percent in February, as prices rose by the same percentage point, while single-family home sales recorded a slight decline in sales and a slight increase in prices, according to a report from Hawaii real estate firm Locations. Pacific Business News.

After giving shade for 5 decades, iconic monkeypod in Manoa to be cut down. Hawaii News Now.

Hawaii’s new bike-share program is getting popular, and expanding. To drum up more interest, Bikeshare Hawaii has been offering free 30-minute rides to new users today. KHON2.

Hawaii Island

Vacation rentals: Changing the face of neighborhoods. West Hawaii Today.

Neighbors of a large vacation rental under construction in the oceanfront community of Leleiwi are appealing county Planning Department approval of a special management area permit. West Hawaii Today.

A Hawaii County Council member wants to rein in rooster farms. Puna Councilwoman Eileen O’Hara is introducing a bill that would require anyone owning more than four roosters to keep them at least 75 feet from property lines. Tribune-Herald.

A Hilo developer is hoping to build a new housing project for a vastly underserved demographic: low-income seniors. Tribune-Herald.

The month of March kicks off the budget season in Hawaii County, and the preliminary numbers are presenting a bleak picture for Big Island government finances. Big Island Video News.

Needed Water Reuse Could Affect Planned Kona Park. Big Island Video News.

A historic Naalehu landmark remains in a sad state of neglect after years of failure by the property’s owners to maintain it. Tribune-Herald.

The Hawaii County Water Board is proposing an increase to its power cost charge and will hold a public hearing on the matter later this month. West Hawaii Today.

Maui

The county Planning Department has begun charging fees for repeated reviews of building permit applications, with the first re-review costing $250. Maui News.

Longtime Hawaiian falsetto singer Richard Hoopii died early Saturday morning at home in his beloved Kahakuloa. He was 76. Maui News.

Beloved Maui musician, Uncle Richard Hoopii passed away early this morning at his home in Kahakuloa, family members have confirmed. Maui Now.

Maui’s state Highways Division is looking to add at least 10 workers to help clear out thick cane grass along the road and glycine — an increasingly pervasive vine that blankets guardrails, road shoulders and road signs, state Department of Transportation officials said. Maui News.

Pacific Whale Foundation’s Ocean Explorer, on the ultimate Ultimate Whalewatch with the Experts, recovered a placenta in Maui’s waters today. Maui Now.

Kauai

Six qualified candidates are vying for three positions on the Kauai Island Utility Cooperative board. The nonprofit co-op, Hawaii’s only member-owned electric utility, is making progress towards its goal of using renewable resources to generate 70 percent of Kauai’s power by 2030. Garden Island.

The first new shopping center on the North Shore in 30 years is about to open in Kilauea, but two things will be missing when it does: the anchor supermarket operated by Foodland and a long-awaited new access road to Kilauea Town. Garden Island.

Kahoolawe

The restoration of Kahoolawe is a marathon, not a sprint. And we're on mile 1. Hawaii News Now.

State reacts to killer's escape from mental institution, 7 employees on unpaid leave, hospital history examined; Honolulu rejects polystyrene ban; neighbor islands tackle homelessness, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Hawaii State Hospital courtesy photo

The California capture of an escaped killer from the Hawaii State Hospital resulted in seven hospital employees being suspended without pay on Wednesday as Gov. David Ige ordered an investigation of how Randall Saito was able to get the money and means to escape after 38 years in confinement. Star-Advertiser.

A dangerous psychiatric patient who escaped from the Hawaii State Hospital in Kaneohe and flew to California before being captured Wednesday has prompted an investigation into why employees appeared to fail to do their jobs. Associated Press.

Saito

'Fault on our side': State officials take blame for killer's escape. Seven Hawaii State Hospital employees have been put on leave without pay — and others could follow — as authorities investigate why it took 10 hours for personnel to alert authorities of a psychopathic killer's escape Sunday. Hawaii News Now.

Gov. Ige on state hospital escapee: "His escape should never have happened" KITV.

Atty Gen: Saito’s Escape was “Premeditated, Intentional and Planned”. The escape of a mental health patient from the Hawaii State Hospital and the lengthy time it took to report the incident is being called “unacceptable,” according to comments made by state authorities this afternoon. Maui Now.

Hawaii State Hospital Wasn’t Built For The Type Of Patients It Serves. Some lawmakers want tighter security at the psychiatric hospital, where seven patients have escaped since 2014, until new facilities are built. Civil Beat.

More than a dozen escapes have occurred over the past eight years at a Hawaii psychiatric hospital where a patient described as dangerous walked off the grounds and made it to California before he was captured this week. Associated Press.

Kaneohe lawmakers: State hospital escape is unacceptable. They want answers, and they want improvements. KITV.

Saito captured, San Joaquin County Sheriffs Dept

Killer's escape shines spotlight on the controversial judge who acquitted him. The Circuit Court judge who deemed Randall Saito mentally unfit to stand trial and committed him to the State Hospital in 1981 was a controversial figure, and one of his decisions even prompted hundreds of people to protest at the state Capitol. Hawaii News Now.

What will happen to state hospital escapee when he returns to Hawaii? Once Hawaii State Hospital escapee Randall Saito is back in Hawaii, he won’t go directly back to the hospital. KHON2.

An alert taxi company employee on Wednesday helped deputy sheriffs in California nab a dangerous Hawaii murderer who had escaped by walking out of the Hawaii State Hospital Sunday — chartering a flight to Maui, and taking a commercial airliner to the mainland before ever being reported missing. Star-Advertiser.

Randall Saito's escape started in a cab and three days later, it ended in one too. A tip from the Yellow Cab Company in Stockton California led to Saito's arrest Wednesday morning near a local gas station. Sheriffs swarmed the cab the 59-year-old was riding in. KITV.

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There have been 90 traffic deaths in Hawaii this year through Monday — 10 fewer than reported at the same time last year, according to data released Wednesday by the state Department of Transportation. Star-Advertiser.

HMSA’s third-quarter profit drops; Kaiser posts loss. The gains of the state’s largest health insurer were down from $17.8 million in the year-earlier quarter. HMSA’s main competitor, Kaiser Permanente Hawaii, lost $300,000 in the quarter, reversing a year-earlier profit of $7.7 million. Star-Advertiser.

The Building Industry Association of Hawaii sponsored its 3rd Summit titled, “Still Houseless in Hawaii.” Hawaii Public Radio.

Oahu

A Honolulu City Council committee on Wednesday deferred a bill that would bar food vendors from using polystyrene foam food containers and require them to instead use compostable ones. Star-Advertiser.

Will Rail Go To Manoa and Waikiki After All? The HART board may be resurrecting a route plan far more ambitious than the one submitted to federal transit officials. Civil Beat.

Council Panel Votes To Prohibit Lying Down At Honolulu Bus Stops. But the committee postponed action on a measure to extend the sit-lie ban to areas around schools and libraries. Civil Beat.

New HPD Chief Shares Her Goals For A Department In Turmoil. Susan Ballard outlined what she wants to accomplish in the coming years in her first regular meeting with the Honolulu Police Commission. Civil Beat.

Starting fresh: Chief Ballard outlines plans to revitalize HPD. Chief Sue Ballard had her first chance to share her new ideas with police commissioners and the public Wednesday afternoon. Hawaii News Now.

Restoring community trust among new police chief’s goals for HPD. KHON2.

The state Senate voted Wednesday to confirm four judges to fill vacancies in Oahu’s circuit and district courts. Star-Advertiser.

Former band director indicted in sex assault. The sexual assault charges against fired Damien Memorial School band director Peter Rucci stem from a three-month relationship the 62-year-old Rucci had with a 15-year-old girl, Deputy Prosecutor Ayla Weiss told a state judge Wednesday. Star-Advertiser.

Parents claim students reprimanded for speaking up after bleach attack. KHON2.

Ward Warehouse demolition begins; luxury condos slated for site. Hawaii News Now.

The Hawaiian Humane Society has appointed Lisa Fowler as its new president and chief executive officer. Pacific Business News.

Hawaii Island

Scientist says chemicals create ‘zombie’ coral, add to reef decimation. Craig Downs, a Ph.D. and executive director of Haereticus Environmental Laboratory, gave a presentation on the topic Tuesday night at the Natural Energy Laboratory of Hawaii Authority Gateway Center at the request of Rep. Nicole Lowen, D — Kailua-Kona, Holualoa, Kalaoa and Honokohau. West Hawaii Today.

Hawaii Community College is looking to either renovate its current campus on Manono Street or move to a larger site elsewhere in Hilo. Tribune-Herald.

32 Die on Hawaii Island Roadways So Far This Year. Big Island Now.

Hapuna Beach Prince Hotel under renovation. The Hapuna Beach Prince Hotel will be renamed the Westin Hapuna Beach Resort in February after Mauna Kea Resort LLC signed a franchise agreement with Westin Hotels and Resorts in August. Tribune-Herald.

Maui

Housing First is making a dent in homelessness. Program’s aim is to get people off the streets first, then provide the needed social and medical services. Maui News.

Maui Seminar Explores How to Increase Exports. The State Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism announced the launch of a program designed to help local small businesses increase their exports. Maui Now.

Kauai

The County of Kauai may establish a safe zone to help the homeless population. Garden Island.

Hawaiian Airlines held an open house Wednesday for former Island Air employees who lost their jobs after the airline’s recent shutdown. Garden Island.

Dangerous mental patient already in California when Hawaii hospital officials raise escape alarm, seawater air conditioning coming to state buildings, ticket-fixing alleged in Honolulu prosecutor probe, City Council to take up foam food container ban, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Hawaii state Capitol PC:Henry Curtis Ililani Media

State Capitol to get seawater air conditioning. The state Department of Accounting and General Services said Tuesday it has reached an agreement with Honolulu Seawater Air Conditioning LLC to air-condition eight state buildings, including the Capitol. Star-Advertiser.

The state of Hawaii on Tuesday said it reached a preliminary agreement with Honolulu Seawater Air Conditioning to cool seven state office buildings and the state Capitol, a move that could save taxpayers more than $14 million a year. Pacific Business News.

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Hawaii State Hospital officials, citing patient privacy laws and a criminal investigation, offered no explanation Tuesday of how a killer in their care walked out of the Kaneohe facility and found his way to California even before the hospital reported him missing. Star-Advertiser.

Officials Still Silent About How Killer Escaped From Hawaii State Hospital. The AG’s office issued a $500,000 warrant for the arrest of Randall Saito, calling him a “dangerous individual” who needs to be off the street. Civil Beat.

Escapee had cell phone, change of clothes, paid in cash. Hawaii News Now.

Surveillance video shows escapee in taxi, dispatcher says ‘he sounded so nice’ KHON2.

All the way to San Jose. That is how far a Hawaii State Hospital patient, with a violent past, got before law enforcement was notified he escaped. KITV.

Documents: Hospital escapee had sexual relations with staff. Hawaii News Now.

Escapee married former hospital worker, allegedly threatened to ‘blow away the staff’ KHON2.

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Homeless safe zones are catching on — everywhere but Oahu. Hawaii News Now.

State and City leaders on Homelessness in Hawaii took part in a Housing Summit to discuss current homeless/housing issues and learn from others about different strategies used to combat the problem. KITV.

Oahu

City Council committee to discuss bill banning plastic foam containers Wednesday. Star-Advertiser.

A 31-year-old Niu Valley man says city Deputy Prosecutor Katherine Kealoha had his speeding ticket dismissed after he did some electrical work for her and her husband, former Honolulu Police Chief Louis Kealoha. Star-Advertiser.

The federal court has named the lawyers who will represent former Honolulu Police Chief Louis Kealoha and his deputy prosecutor wife Katherine Kealoha against charges that they conspired to and obstructed justice, lied to investigators, and committed bank fraud and identity theft. Star-Advertiser.

Kealohas Get New Defense Attorneys In Federal Conspiracy Case. The couple could no longer afford to pay their long-time lawyers to defend them in one of the largest public corruption cases in Hawaii history. Civil Beat.

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Honolulu police officials Tuesday urged City Council members to provide funding for a permanent, departmentwide body-worn camera program. Star-Advertiser.

A Honolulu City Council committee decided Tuesday to defer a measure that would require the owners of approximately 150 Oahu residential high-rises to install automatic fire sprinklers throughout their buildings. Star-Advertiser.

New Council Proposal Cuts Back Fire Sprinkler Requirements. Only about half as many high rises built before 1975 would have to be retrofitted under an amended version of the measure. Civil Beat.

City May Get Tougher On Tour Vans In Waimanalo. A bill to establish permit fees for commercial stops at Waimanalo Bay Beach Park would help pay for monitoring compliance. Civil Beat.

The city is hiring someone to figure out what caused the lights to go out at a baseball field in Waipio. KHON2.

Hawaiian Electric Co. has struck a deal to buy renewable fuel at a lower price from a local company to produce power on Oahu. Star-Advertiser.

Earlier this year, 75 acres of East Honolulu land, in one of Hawaii’s wealthiest areas, sold for $380,000. The parcel is on the slope that stretches from the east side of Aina Haina up to the luxury homes of Hawaii Loa Ridge.  Star-Advertiser.

In unrelated cases, two Hawaii women have been charged after suspicion of welfare fraud. Hawaii News Now.

Honolulu nonprofit Arc in Hawaii is suing its longtime bookkeeper, claiming she embezzled nearly $7 million. Star-Advertiser.

Cardax Inc.’s revenue soared last quarter as the nationwide launch of the company’s new anti-inflammatory product ZanthoSyn generated strong demand. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii Island

The career ladder reaches only so far for Hawaii County firefighters, at least if they don’t want to take a pay cut. Concerns over a lack of interest from rank-and-file firefighters about rising to battalion chief have Fire Chief Darren Rosario and Acting Human Resources Director Bill Brilhante meeting with Mayor Harry Kim, asking for a classification study to determine whether the position should be moved up a few rungs. West Hawaii Today.

A discussion regarding Hawaii County Fire Department battalion chiefs’ pay grade was held on Tuesday during the Hawaii County Council Finance Committee meeting. Big Island Video News.

After circumnavigating the globe for three years, Hokulea’s historic Malama Honua voyage will officially come full circle in April when the double-hulled sailing canoe returns to Hawaii Island. Tribune-Herald.

A nonprofit from California is working to renovate youth baseball fields in Hilo this week with the help of some professionals: three Major League Baseball players. Tribune-Herald.

Maui

The Maui Planning Commission approved amendments Tuesday to a special management area use permit to allow ATC Makena Holdings to demolish the old Makena Beach & Golf Resort hotel and no longer pursue a separate 76-unit boutique hotel at the nearly 24-acre site. Maui News.

An affordable hotel in Kahului being modeled after the popular local Pagoda Hotel on Oahu is still in the works, although it will take a little longer to build. Maui News.

A Maui County Council committee has recommended that sunscreens containing certain chemicals be banned in the county. Associated Press.

A 10-year prison term was ordered Tuesday for a former jail guard convicted of sexually assaulting an inmate while he was working at the Maui Community Correctional Center three years ago. Maui News.

The Maui Police Department will conduct emergency preparedness exercises at two Kahului locations this week. Maui Now.

Voyaging canoe Hokulea sets sail for a return visit to county. Kick-off event is a ‘talk story’ Friday. Maui News.

Kauai

Dairy farm violated Clean Water Act, told to pay up. A federal court ordered Hawaii Dairy Farms to pay $506,000 to The Friends of Mahaulepu, an environmental watchdog organization. Hawaii News Now.

Hotel working with county. In August, the county Planning Department issued violations to Hanalei Bay Resort for illegal dwellings and insufficient parking. Garden Island.

The Kauai Community Alliance, Continuum of Care for homeless services, and the County of Kauai will host “Hope in the Park: Information and Free Lunch,” starting at 11 a.m. today on the lawn of the Historic County Building in observance of Hunger and Homelessness Awareness Week. Garden Island.

Resource Recovery Solutions, the operator of Puhi Metals Recycling Center, accepts e-waste at no cost to residents and businesses. Garden Island.

Molokai

Two women have been charged with embezzling more than $1 million from a Molokai federal credit union. Pacific Business News.

Land Board to decide Thirty Meter Telescope permit, Big Island to ban foam food containers, firefighters' union blasts Honolulu chief for actions in deadly high-rise blaze, low-income seniors get $800 rent hike, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Telescopes on Mauna Kea © 2017 All Hawaii News

The fate of the Thirty Meter Telescope is in the hands of the state Board of Land and Natural Resources following a lengthy and sometimes emotional final hearing Wednesday to conclude the project’s contested case proceeding. Star-Advertiser.

The Thirty Meter Telescope is again in the hands of the state Board of Land and Natural Resources. After a full day of testimony, and time to ask its own questions of supporters and opponents, the seven-member panel ended a hearing Wednesday in Hilo without making a decision regarding whether the next-generation telescope should be built on Mauna Kea, leaving that for an undetermined date. Tribune-Herald.

The final public hearing over the proposed Thirty Meter Telescope kicked off Wednesday in Hilo. Hawaii News Now.

Hawaii’s land board is hearing arguments for and against building a giant telescope on a mountain some consider sacred. Associated Press.

The Hawaii State Board of Land and Natural Resources began hearing oral arguments in the Contested Case Hearing for the Conservation District Use Application for the Thirty Meter Telescope at the Mauna Kea Science Reserve on Wednesday, Sept. 20, 2017, beginning at 9 a.m. in the Crown Room of the Grand Naniloa Hotel in Hilo. Big Island Now.

VIDEO: University of Hawaii Final Argument In TMT Case. Big Island Video News.

VIDEO: Kahookahi Kanuha Final Argument In TMT Case. Big Island Video News.

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Hawaii stands to lose $5 billion in federal funding for health insurance within a decade if the latest Senate GOP health care bill becomes law. Hawaii News Now.

State to brief people on what to do if NKorea launches attack. Hawaii News Now.

How Some Hawaii Officials’ Paychecks Compare To The Mainland. Some of the islands’ top public employees stack up well, even with our high cost of living. Others, not so much. Civil Beat.

Report: Hawaii among 14 states making strides to combat climate change. Hawaii News Now.

Hawaii’s first two medical marijuana dispensaries sold a combined 57 pounds of buds totaling more than $426,000 in sales since opening in early August. Star-Advertiser.

For the first time in a decade, there’s new management on the way for a $1.5 million annual grant provided by the Office of Hawaiian Affairs to Hawaiian-focused public charter schools, and not everyone is happy about that. Civil Beat.

Global Tourism Summit: Japan #1 for Hawaii. One-point-five million Japanese Tourists visit Hawaii and spend more than 2 billion dollars. Hawaii Public Radio.

Hawaiian Airlines has no plans to drop its money-making fees for checked baggage and reservation changes when Southwest Airlines enters the Hawaii market. Star-Advertiser.

Island Air hopes for profit next year after costly upgrades. Star-Advertiser.

Commentary: Make It Easier, Not Harder, To Access Hawaii’s Public Records. Gov. David Ige and his Office of Information Practices are sending very different messages about openness and accountability in state government. Civil Beat.

Oahu

The head of the firefighters’ union took his complaints against Honolulu Fire Chief Manuel Neves and his top lieutenants over their handling of the July 14 Marco Polo condominium fire to the city Fire Commission on Wednesday. Star-Advertiser.

The president of Hawaii Firefighters Association criticized Honolulu Fire Department's response to the deadly Marco Polo high rise fire that killed three people on July 14. KITV.

Firefighters Union Protests Lack Of Information On Marco Polo Investigation. The Honolulu Fire Department knows the cause of the fire, but is refusing to reveal it — even to their own firefighters — until reports are finalized. Civil Beat.

A complaint from a decorated police officer who is urging the Honolulu Police Commission to scrutinize police chief applicants who might be involved in the corruption case against former Police Chief Louis Kealoha and his wife was taken up behind closed doors Wednesday. Star-Advertiser.

Tensions flared at Wednesday’s Honolulu Police Commission meeting as former Police Chief Louis Kealoha continued his quest to have taxpayers foot his legal bills. Civil Beat.

Monthly rent for several kupuna at a low income senior apartment complex in Honolulu is expected to shoot up by about $800. KITV.

The U.S. Department of Commerce is investing in a new agricultural produce processing and farmer training facility on Oahu through a $1.6 million grant to the Waianae Community Redevelopment Corp. Pacific Business News.

Community concerns prompt landowner to scale back North Shore food truck hub. Hawaii News Now.

Kahuku Medical Center is searching for a new chief executive officer to replace Stephany Nihipali Vaioleti, who is leaving the North Shore hospital in October to join Hawaii Medical Service Association. Star-Advertiser.

The Honolulu-based Coast Guard cutter Sherman returned Wednesday after a 94-day, 16,000 mile patrol in the Arctic Ocean and Bering Sea in a region where melting sea ice is causing commercial and military activity to heat up as well. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii County

Mayor Harry Kim said Wednesday he plans to sign a foam food container ban that passed the County Council by a 7-2 vote earlier in the day. West Hawaii Today.

Rep. Richard Creagan, who has represented South Kona and Ka‘u for the past four years, announced Wednesday his candidacy for the state Senate, recommitting in his announcement to an earlier goal of getting a new hospital and teaching institution for West Hawaii. West Hawaii Today.

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Hawaiian Electric Industries Inc. announced Wednesday that the owner of an oil-fired power plant on Hawaii Island has agreed to sell the facility to a private subsidiary of HEI. The purchase comes after the state Public Utilities Commission stopped Hawaii Electric Light Co., an HEI subsidiary, from purchasing the power plant. Star-Advertiser.

Pacific Current, a newly created subsidiary of Hawaiian Electric Industries, has reached an agreement with ArcLight Capital Partners to buy Hamakua Energy Partners' 60-megawatt power plant on the Big Island for an undisclosed price. Pacific Business News.

One of the “highest efficiency, lowest emission power plants in the state” is being sold to a new subsidiary of Hawaiian Electric Industries Inc. Tribune-Herald.

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Big Island Tourism: Fastest Growing in the Islands. Hawaii Public Radio.

The Food Basket Inc., Hawaii Island’s food bank, is teaming up with KTA Super Stores and farmers markets to help SNAP-EBT cardholders purchase more island-grown produce. Tribune-Herald.

Child porn, trafficking suspect sues his home surveillance company. Star-Advertiser.

Maui

A nearly 29 percent property tax hike could be in store for Maui homeowners who rent out their non-primary residences as transient vacation rentals. Associated Press.

The state Department of Land and Natural Resources will hold a public meeting Monday to discuss maintenance dredging scheduled for October at the Lahaina Small Boat Harbor and Mala Boat Ramp. Maui News.

The newly renovated and rebranded Goodwill Store and Donation Center in Kahului will celebrate its grand reopening Saturday, Sept. 30, and Sunday, Oct. 1. Maui Now.

Kauai

Maui Kupono Builders will be conducting roadwork repairs on Maluhia Road, from Kaumualii Highway to Ala Kinoiki, from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday through Friday. Garden Island.

Three citizens are being acknowledged for making a difference with aloha in their actions. The Kauai Chamber of Commerce will be presenting the 2017 Mea Ho‘omana‘o Awards to recognize and honor those who demonstrate the importance of aloha with respect and civility in their interactions. Garden Island.

Economy beats expectations, appeals court agrees with Hawaii on Trump travel ban, flu program curtailed, foam food container ban advances, Ige confident against Hanabusa, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Waikiki shoppers © 2017 All Hawaii News

Economic experts tasked with forecasting Hawaii’s tax collections say the state’s revenue will grow at a slightly higher rate over the next two years, bringing in roughly $40 million more than previously expected. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii’s attorney general cheered a federal appeals court decision Thursday rejecting the Trump administration’s limited view of who is allowed into the United States under the president’s travel ban. Star-Advertiser.

A federal appeals court on Thursday rejected the Trump administration's limited view of who is allowed into the United States under the president's travel ban, saying grandparents, cousins and similarly close relations of people in the U.S. should not be prevented from coming to the country. Associated Press.

Governor Ige: I Have More Experience Running the State Than Congresswoman Hanabusa. Hawaii Public Radio.

Multiple federal agencies and state regulators have built cases around investment adviser and former head of the Hawaii Republican Party, David Chang, sources tell Hawaii News Now.

Mazie Hirono is happy, healthy and feeling great, ready to take on the Trump Administration and re-election. KITV.

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A lack of funding is forcing the state to scale back its annual school vaccination program. Hawaii News Now.

Stop Flu at School, the state’s free annual vaccination program for students in kindergarten through eighth grade, will be offered at only about 90 public schools on Oahu this year, according to the Department of Health. In addition, the free flu shots will no longer be offered in private schools. Star-Advertiser.

The state Department of Health will not provide free vaccinations against influenza at private schools this year. Tribune-Herald.

‘Stop Flu at School’ Annual vaccination program limited to selected public schools. Garden Island.

According to the Association of American Medical Colleges, the United States could be short more than 100,000 doctors by 2030. But Hawaii may have a solution. Hawaii Public Radio.

Oahu

A more than $100 million public-private partnership to add new low-income rental homes to the state’s largest public housing project has unraveled, and a state agency and a private developer are blaming each other for it. Star-Advertiser.

The Honolulu Police Commission whittled its list of 34 police chief candidates to nine Wednesday after ranking their scores from a written exam that was administered by an independent contractor helping evaluate the applicants. Civil Beat.

Earlier this month, the Honolulu Police Department told us it was finally ready to begin testing body cameras. Now, we’ve learned that’s no longer the case. KHON2.

A contract dispute between the state and Queen's Medical Center forced some young patients with mental illnesses to scramble for new services last week. Hawaii News Now.

The Honolulu City Council granted special permits Wednesday for a 400-foot-tall, 444-unit condo-hotel near Ala Moana Center, waiving some zoning restrictions because of its location along the future rail line. Civil Beat.

Family demands answers for child’s second-degree burns from spilled hot school lunch. KHON2.

Three years after the city removed a filthy water fountain from Chinatown’s Dr. Sun Yat-sen Memorial Park and promised other improvements, a nearby business owner hopes to call out city officials Saturday by painting a community mural over a massive and useless 11-by-10-foot pump house that remains in the park. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii Island

A polystyrene food container ban took a big leap forward Thursday, when the County Council moved a bill to its final reading. West Hawaii Today.

The Hawaii County Council voted to pass Bill 13, the polystyrene foam reduction bill, on first reading during Thursday’s meeting in Hilo. Big Island Video News.

A Hawaii tour operator has been fined for repeatedly dropping swimmers in front of dolphins and encircling the animals with his tour boat, officials said. Associated Press.

County Finance Director Collins Tomei has turned in his resignation. He’s the second department head to resign since Mayor Harry Kim took office in December. West Hawaii Today.

The final touches are being made to a new Hawaii Fire Department station on Haihai Street in Hilo. Star-Advertiser.

Two Big Island school bus drivers have been placed on leave, after two school buses filled with children crashed into one another on Wednesday. KITV

A federal judge in California ruled at the beginning of this month that a lawsuit alleging violations of consumer protection laws and misrepresentation by the owner of Kona Brewing Co. could move forward. West Hawaii Today.

Maui

Knowing that 1 million to 2 million gallons of drinking water every day irrigates Wailea and Makena landscapes, Maui County administrators and County Council members have begun exploring ways to find alternatives. Maui News.

The Department of Land Natural Resources plans to close Iao Valley State Monument again, this time for two months beginning on Monday, Oct. 16. Maui Now.

Anna Foust has resigned as head of the Maui County Emergency Management Agency to move with her family to Dayton, Ohio. Maui News.

Kauai

The Real Property Tax Assessment office announces that property owners who were previously denied the 3 percent Assessment Cap for Home Exemption due to a transfer of title may now retroactively adjust their 2017 assessments pursuant to Kauai County Ordinance 1015. Garden Island.


Molokai

Nearly 10 years after shutting down operations at Hawaii’s Molokai Ranch, the property’s Singapore-based owner has put the 55,575 acres, or 35 percent of the island of Molokai, on the market for sale with an asking price of $260 million. Pacific Business News.