Showing posts with label public housing. Show all posts
Showing posts with label public housing. Show all posts

Monday, April 24, 2023

10k public housing units proposed, child abuse cases rise, Oahu jail funding uncertain, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

10,000 more homes planned at Hawaii public housing projects. The Hawaii Public Housing Authority anticipates picking a private master developer partner within 60 days to redevelop nine of the agency’s low-income rental housing subdivisions on four islands where all 1,187 existing apartments would be replaced while also adding potentially 10,880 more homes for low- and middle-income households. Star-Advertiser.

Hawai‘i Tourism Authority faces critical week. The Hawai‘i Tourism Authority faces its most critical week since its 1998 creation as lawmakers consider a state budget that could zero out its funding or drastically reduce it, and begin the final push in advance of Friday’s decking deadline on two bills that could repeal the agency. Star-Advertiser.

University of Hawaii concerned with Senate version of budget. The House version of the state budget fully restores funding to the University of Hawaii, unlike the Senate version, which only partially restores funds cut during COVID-19. Star-Advertiser.

Latest sequel to Hawaii film tax credit program pending at Legislature. Hawaii lawmakers have written several different scripts this year to dramatically alter the state’s ever-changing film industry tax credit program, and one controversial draft is still pending at the Legislature. Star-Advertiser.

Bill protecting sexual assault survivors awaits Governor Josh Green's signature. Senate Bill 1267 will help survivors obtain a restraining order against their offender regardless of what state they live in. KITV4.

Child abuse cases in Hawaii rose to 2,114 in 2022 as pandemic unwound. In a news conference Sunday, the Children’s Justice Centers of Hawaii said that in 2022 they tracked 2,114 cases of abuse in children ranging in age from infants to 17 years old. The cases were up 332 from 2020 and 54 from 2021. Star-Advertiser. Hawaii News Now.

Teenagers Go To Court To Force Climate Action. Lawsuits in Hawaii and Montana shine light on how climate chaos threatens their adult lives. Hawaii presents another opportunity to test a constitutional guarantee to a “clean and healthful environment.” What does that mean? The plaintiffs, represented by Our Children’s Trust and Earthjustice, are determined to find out.  Civil Beat.

Hawaii’s water systems tackle ‘forever chemicals’.
PFAS, an acronym for perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances, have been found in water systems throughout the country, particularly those that rely on surface water. In Hawaii, most of the state’s drinking water comes from groundwater. Star-Advertiser.

UH Sea Grant Program receives over $5M for ocean debris cleanup
. Efforts to keep waters around Hawaii pristine are getting some welcome funding. Hawaii News Now. Maui Now.

Hawaii Residents Are Struggling Even More With High Interest Rates. But Good News May Be Looming. Many people and small businesses racked up debt during the pandemic and are "in catch-up mode," according to the Council for Native Hawaiian Advancement. Civil Beat.

US Rep. Jill Tokuda Refuses To Take Corporate PAC Money.
Does It Matter? The first-term congresswoman doubled down on her campaign pledge in a recent fundraising email. Experts say it's all about political messaging. Civil Beat.

Oahu

Debate Over A New Hawaii Jail Heats Up In The Final Days Of The Legislature. The Senate proposed spending $25 million to plan and solicit bids to replace the aging Oahu Community Correctional Center. The House offered nothing. Civil Beat.

Honolulu rail safety plans include security cameras, patrols. A federally mandated rail safety plan identifying the city Department of Transportation Services as the final responsible party for the coming rail system has rolled toward official approval. Star-Advertiser.

The Battle Against Cockfighting In Hawaii: Lax Enforcement Helps Foster An Attitude Of ‘What’s Wrong With It?’ HPD used to do weekly raids and undercover ops to tackle cockfighting. Now, police haven’t made any arrests in over a year.  Civil Beat.

Chinatown Walmart Could Be Converted To Housing If City Council Bill Passes. The measure would make it easier to transform commercial spaces into residential. Some say the measure goes too far. Civil Beat.

Dorm to be UH Manoa’s second housing partnership. A newly approved University of Hawaii student housing project on Dole Street will be a landmark in a couple of ways, becoming the second public-private student housing project on the Manoa campus and housing a child care facility supported by the state’s new preschool initiative. Star-Advertiser.

Project aims to kick-start Waikiki coral reefs. The REEFrame project, as it is being called, is a partnership of the University of Hawaii at Manoa, Conservation International, the state Division of Aquatic Resources, ocean technology firm Natrx, ocean engineering firm Oceanit and ClimbHI, a workforce development nonprofit. Star-Advertiser. KHON2.

DLNR to monitor monk seal Kaiwi, pup around the clock. DLNR said its Division of Conservation and Resources Enforcement officers will help keep people safe by directing them away from where the seals are in the water. Anyone who ignores the DOCARE officers’ directions can be cited or arrested. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii Island

State to open new pre-K classrooms: Big Island to receive a total of 13 by 2024. Eleven new pre-kindergarten classrooms are set to open throughout the state by August, including one at Waimea Elementary School. Tribune-Herald.

Puna Wastewater Service Options Examined In Draft EIS. The County of Hawaiʻi is considering options for wastewater systems in Puna, including sending the wastewater to Hilo for treatment. Big Island Video News.

Pohoiki Bay Restoration Draft Environmental Assessment Published. Public comments are being accepted on a plan to dredge the accumulated volcanic debris and restore access to the Pohoiki Boat Ramp. Big Island Video News.

Lawyers in Boy Scout shooting case express frustration. Lawyers for the family of an 11-year-old Boy Scout killed last August when an AK-47 semi-automatic rifle was accidentally discharged at a shooting range wrangled in court Friday with lawyers for the Boy Scouts of America and its Aloha Council. Tribune-Herald.

Food Basket working to establish ag innovation campus. With newly acquired 24.5 acres of land, The Food Basket is working to create the Hawaii Island Agricultural Innovation Park and Food Systems Campus, which will help alleviate food insecurity, lift barriers to pursuing agriculture, and respond to the current economic downturn by providing the capital needed to create a robust agricultural economy. Tribune-Herald.

Paving Waikoloa Road – Community meeting explains timeline, process. Nearly 20 community members attended a meeting Thursday evening presented by the county Public Works Division at Waikoloa Elementary School to learn the details of the planned paving of the road that transverses their village from Mamalahoa Highway to Queen Kaahumanu Highway. West Hawaii Today.

Maui

State cracking down on illegal car rentals at airport. Owners say they need help from Turo, state to comply with rules Since early March, the state Department of Transportation has been working “hand in hand” with the Maui Police Department to crack down on peer-to-peer rental car businesses operating without permits at Kahului Airport.  Maui News.

Sports, extracurricular activities moving ahead at Kulanihako‘i. Officials at the new Kihei high school are seeking an athletic director and coaches. Maui News.

Kauai

U.S. Rep. Jill Tokuda talks climate at first Kaua‘i town hall. On Earth Day, the climate was top of mind for many in attendance, including resident Jimmy Trujillo, who asked about tapping into federal funds to address climate change on Kaua‘i. Garden Island.

Oahu Land Crunch Leads Aloun Farms To Expand Acreage On Fertile West Kauai. Aloun Farms, one of Hawaii’s most prolific producers of Chinese cabbage, green beans, pumpkin and sweet corn, made a name for itself in Central Oahu in the 1990s as a local food producer focused on edging out vegetable imports. Civil Beat.

Wednesday, April 25, 2018

Lawmakers peg $570M for affordable housing, Trump likely to win Hawaii travel ban lawsuit at U.S. Supreme Court, vacation rentals big Big Island issue, Ige signs electricity ratepayer protection bill, all-mail voting may come to Kauai, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Hawaii Public Housing Authority
Mayor Wright housing, Hawaii Public Housing Authority
State lawmakers Tuesday tentatively agreed on a bill to deposit $200 million into the state Rental Housing Revolving Fund — the biggest single cash contribution ever for the fund — and to dramatically expand an excise tax exemption for construction of affordable rental housing to help cope with the severe housing shortage. Star-Advertiser.

House and Senate conferees on Tuesday passed a funding package that would provide some $570 million for the construction of more than 25,000 affordable housing units in Hawaii over the next 12 years. Pacific Business News.

President Donald Trump appears likely to win his Trump. v. Hawaii travel ban case at the Supreme Court. Associated Press.

Electricity Ratepayer Protection Act Signed Into Law. Hawaii Public Radio.

In an effort to recognize the significance and precariousness of the state’s most abundant native tree, Gov. David Ige has proclaimed today Ohia Lehua Day in Hawaii. Star-Advertiser.


Ad Watch: David Ige Reminds Voters Of His Roots. Hawaii’s governor emphasizes education and working families in his first re-election television commercial. Civil Beat.

On average, visitors paid almost $293 to stay in a Hawaii hotel during the first quarter, the highest rate in the nation, according to the Hawaii Hotel Performance Report released Tuesday by the Hawaii Tourism Authority. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii hotels experienced a strong first quarter with statewide revenue per available room increasing 8.9 percent to $243 when compared to the same period last year. Pacific Business News.


Hawaiian Airlines generated more revenue and carried more passengers during any first quarter ever for the company despite increased competition and delivery delays on the carrier’s new aircraft. Star-Advertiser.


Despite having a record quarter for revenue and passengers flown, Hawaii’s largest carrier experienced a 15 percent drop in net income during the first three months of the year. Pacific Business News.


Oahu

The Honolulu City Council will debate Wednesday whether or not to authorize the settlement in an alleged police violence case. Hawaii News Now.

The state is taking steps to reclaim control of the land it owns under the Olomana golf course in Waimanalo and recover unpaid rent from a company that closed the course two weeks ago. Star-Advertiser.

Honolulu city councilman proposes ban on ride share company surge pricing. KHON2.

Residents of Oahu’s Leeward Coast residents are increasingly concerned about their lack of options should a natural disaster close the Farrington Highway — their only way in or out. Civil Beat.

Oahu attorney faces 17 charges of tax evasion. Hawaii News Now.

Hawaii Island

No matter where they stand on the issue, one thing was clear Tuesday. People care very deeply about vacation rentals. West Hawaii Today.

The Hawaii County Council Committee on Planning took up Bill 108 on Tuesday, a measure that attempts to get a handle on the short term vacation rentals doing business on the Big Island. Big Island Video News.

The contractor for a medical marijuana growing site under construction has filed a civil suit against the developer and operator of the facility project, claiming nonpayment for construction on the Pepeekeo site. Tribune-Herald.

A ‘Descendants’-Style Land Feud Breaks Out On The Big Island. A trust established by a former Dole president and Bishop Estate trustee has spawned a legal fight over a historic, 4,000-acre ranch. Civil Beat.

Fireworks have lit up the sky for years to celebrate Kealakehe High School’s graduating seniors, but changes made more than a year ago to the county’s fire code are putting an end to the festive tradition. West Hawaii Today.

Facility would grow algae from papaya for feed, fuel. Tribune-Herald.

Hawaii County Police Chief Weighs In on Drug Issues. Hawaii Public Radio.

The University of Hawaii at Hilo’s search for a permanent chancellor has been pushed back. Tribune-Herald.

Maui

Lahainaluna High School is getting over $425,000 for air conditioning in eight classrooms, restrooms, a conference room, a faculty center, and an electrical room. KITV.

The Maui Police Department is facing another lawsuit. This time filed by a 21-year-veteran of the force diagnosed with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. Hawaii News Now.

Members of the Maui Police Department and the employees of the Maui County Federal Credit Union Lahaina Branch will be participating in a one-day Coordinated Agency Emergency Preparedness Exercise. Maui Now.

Queen Kaahumanu Center’s security personnel have increased rotations and checks of a second-floor restroom where a 35-year-old Makawao man was killed in a machete attack in March after a confrontation on the Maui Bus on a trip to the mall. Maui News.

Fears over the opening of the latest Lahaina bypass section causing heavy traffic congestion on Keawe Street were realized Monday with many cars unable to enter or exit Lahaina Gateway Center, store managers said. Maui News.

A coalition made up of Maui residents, farmers, and their supporters presented a petition at Alexander & Baldwin's annual shareholders meeting in Iwilei on Tuesday. Hawaii News Now.

A group of Maui residents is asking Alexander and Baldwin to make 15% of its lands in Central Maui available for local food production, housing, and conservation. KITV.

Darren Strand, president of Haliimaile Pineapple Co., will be moving to Alexander & Baldwin and becoming the new general manager for diversified agriculture on Maui, A&B announced Tuesday. Maui News.

Alexander & Baldwin has named Darren Strand, former president of Haliimaile Pineapple Co., as president of the Hawaii-based real estate investment trust’s diversified agriculture operations on its former sugar cane fields on Maui. Pacific Business News.

Kauai

State May Experiment With All-Mail Voting On Kauai. The Garden Island has had difficulty in the past recruiting volunteer poll workers. Civil Beat.

Kauai Mayor Bernard P. Carvalho Jr. signed a supplementary emergency proclamation Tuesday that allows the county to continue responding in the aftermath of the torrential rainfall and flooding that occurred a week and a half ago. Star-Advertiser.

Kauai Mayor Bernard Carvalho Jr. signed a supplementary emergency proclamation on Tuesday evening to continue emergency operations on Kauai. Hawaii News Now.

Hawaii state lawmakers will have their final vote on a proposed emergency funding bill Wednesday. It calls for $100 million in emergency aid to help Kauai recover and rebuild after historic flooding and landslides. KHON2.

Despite the odor of cow manure and the brown water advisory currently cast over Kauai, surfers were taking on the waves in Hanalei Bay on Monday. Garden Island.

A footwear store will be donating more than 250 rubber boots to help with flood-recovery efforts. Garden Island.

Check Out These Before-And-After Photos Of The Kauai Flood. Take a look at the first Google satellite imagery capturing the extent of the flooding, road damage and altered beachscapes. Civil Beat.

Wednesday, January 10, 2018

Ige confident facing Hanabusa challenge, black Hawaiian Airlines employee files suit after noose found near locker, Legislature gets extra $13M to spend, almost half of residents struggle to make ends meet, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Japanese training sailing ship Nippon Maru visits Hilo, PC: Hollyn Johnson, Hawaii Tribune-Herald
Hawaii Gubernatorial Candidates Up to the Challenges. Governor David Ige won a lopsided victory in the 2014 primary election.  He says it wasn’t a fluke. It was a voters’ mandate. Hawaii Public Radio.

Hawaii health officials are bracing for at least $6.2 million in federal cuts to state programs that cover everything from emergency preparedness and immunizations to water-quality testing, air-pollution control, children’s health and hazardous waste. Civil Beat.

Legislature Gets An Extra $13M To Spend This Session. The Council on Revenues slightly upgraded its growth projection for this fiscal year to 4.5 percent. Civil Beat.

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development will announce its annual homeless grant awards in support of thousands of local housing and service programs across the U.S. Thursday. Garden Island.

Nearly half of Hawaii’s households earn too little to cover their basic needs, even though many are holding down more than one job, according to a study released Tuesday by Aloha United Way. Star-Advertiser.

Nearly Half Of Hawaii Residents Struggle To Make Ends Meet. Finding affordable housing and a job that pays enough on the same island is tough, according to a new report. Civil Beat.

According to a new report from Aloha United Way, nearly half of Hawaii’s households can’t make ends meet. KITV.

Officials acknowledged Tuesday that connecting houseless or at-risk people with the services they need is paramount to solving Hawaii’s homeless crisis. Garden Island.

A Hawaiian Airlines employee stationed in Kona has filed a racial harassment and discrimination suit against the carrier, saying that his life was threatened by colleagues who placed a noose and a lynching rope near his locker. Hawaii News Now.

Trump Immigration Plans Would Hit Hawaii’s Filipino Families Hard. Filipinos have become the state’s largest ethnic group, in part because of family-friendly immigration policies. Civil Beat.

Results are in from a new state study: The ferry isn’t going to happen. There’s more hype than actual interest. Civil Beat.

Hawaii’s REAL ID-compliant driver’s licenses and state identification cards will be issued with a new “star in a gold circle” marking starting Tuesday, Jan. 16. Tribune-Herald.

The PGA Tour and the Hawaii Tourism Authority signed a $2.1 million contract Tuesday extending their marketing partnership through 2022. Star-Advertiser.

Oahu

 The Hawaii Public Housing Authority is planning to build 800 units of affordable senior rentals as part of a $370 million mixed-use development on the six-acre site of its current administrative campus in Honolulu under a public-private partnership with Retirement Housing Foundation. Pacific Business News.

Developer to seek city concessions for Waikiki condo. OliverMcMillan, the company developing approximately 500 rental units on Queen Emma trust land, told the Waikiki Neighborhood Board on Tuesday that it plans to ask the city for variances to increase density, height and transitional setbacks in exchange for providing affordable housing. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaiian Electric looks to unplug from longtime operating base. Hawaiian Electric Co. is offering up one of its biggest real estate assets for sale in an effort to consolidate operations, and the opportunity could result in more condominium towers in Kakaako. Star-Advertiser.

OliverMcMillan Inc. expects to submit a draft environmental assessment later this month for what will be the first new high-rise apartment project in decades, a 500-unit market-rate and affordable mixed-use rental project in the center of Waikiki on 2.5 acres of land owned by the Queen Emma Land Co. Pacific Business News.

Homeless shuffle to avoid Kakaako park closures. More than a dozen homeless encampments returned to the mauka Kakaako Gateway Park as state and city officials continue to close and reopen parks overrun by homeless people in Kakaako. Star-Advertiser.

Oahu ranch to re-establish native forest. An Oahu ranch operated on land owned by an affiliate of the Mormon Church has partnered with its landlord and a nonprofit to re-establish a native forest on most of the 750-acre property in Laie and Malaekahana. Star-Advertiser.

New Chinatown bus schedule draws complaints from businesses. Hawaii News Now.

About 500 gallons of fuel oil leaked from a Hawaiian Electric underground pipeline in Pearl City Tuesday night. Hawaii News Now.

Commentary: Conspiracy Charges Up The Ante For Kealohas. The former police chief and his prosecutor wife could be punished for crimes that were committed by other defendants. Civil Beat.

Hawaii Island

Ethics Board policies, procedures under review. Two 2016 ethics complaints against the Hawaii County Building Division have resurfaced in a complaint about the procedures of the Board of Ethics itself. West Hawaii Today.

As of this morning, the 25 percent mandatory North Kona water restriction, that has been in effect since Jan. 12, 2017, is officially downgraded to a 10 percent voluntary water conservation. West Hawaii Today.

Forty-seven attorneys were honored during the Hilo Self-Help Center Recognition Awards on Monday for providing free legal information to more than 1,000 people on Hawaii Island who sought assistance at the Hilo Courthouse Self-Help Center in 2017. Tribune-Herald.

Maui

Lawyers to mayor: Let Dave Taylor go back to work. Attorneys for Water Supply director hand Maui County Mayor Arakawa an ultimatum. Maui News.

Senior housing project clears a hurdle. The Maui Planning Commission granted a special management area use permit Tuesday for a 164-unit affordable senior housing project near the Foodland Kaahumanu store and the Kahului Public Library. Maui News.

Smoke-Free Vehicles with Minors Passes Through Committee. Maui Now.

Maui home prices set new record. It took 11 years, but Maui’s real estate market finally eclipsed a prior record for the annual median sale price of single-family homes. Star-Advertiser.

Kihei Charter School Construction Two-Thirds Complete. Maui Now.

Kauai

Testimony continued Tuesday in the Coco Palms civil trial, with the defendants maintaining direct lineage to Hawaiian royalty and their right to occupy the land. Garden Island.

Friday, December 8, 2017

Grounded fishing boat finally moved off Waikiki, Honolulu council approve state hospital expansion, Pearl Harbor survivors commemorate anniversary, Miss Hawaii wants to be state rep., Kauai mayoral candidates meet, Queen Kaahumanu Highway costs escalate, LUC mulls Maui development, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Petty Officer 3rd Class Amanda Levasseur / U.S. Coast Guard
Pacific Paradise PC: Petty Officer 3rd Class Amanda Levasseur / U.S. Coast Guard
Pacific Paradise finally towed away, sunk at sea. The Pacific Paradise sank to its watery grave Thursday afternoon, ending a nearly two-month saga to get the grounded fishing vessel off the reef at Kaimana Beach. Star-Advertiser.

Salvage Team Tows Wrecked Fishing Boat Off Waikiki Reef. Aided by a high tide, a tugboat pulls the Pacific Paradise out to sea where it will be sunk two months after it ran aground. Associated Press.

2 months after it grounded off Waikiki, big fishing boat finally removed. Hawaii News Now.

Remaining survivors determined that Pearl Harbor not be forgotten. The dwindling sentinels of Pearl Harbor faithfully returned on the 76th anniversary of the surprise Japanese attack Thursday to reminisce and honor fellow warriors from the greatest generation still living and gone. Star-Advertiser.

100-year-old veteran inspires bill for Pacific war memorial. A bipartisan bill called the “Admiral Lloyd R. ‘Joe’ Vasey Pacific War Commemorative Display Establishment Act” unanimously passed the U.S. House on the 76th anniversary of the Japanese bombing of Pearl Harbor. Star-Advertiser.

Trump travel ban to be heard by federal appeals court. President Donald Trump’s updated travel ban is headed back to a federal appeals court in Virginia. Associated Press.

VIDEO: Hawaii vs. Donald Trump At Appeals Court. A three-judge panel of the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals heard arguments Wednesday on the merits of the third version of the President’s ban on travel from several Muslim-majority nations. Big Island Video News.

Hawaii Urges DHHS Not to Roll Back Contraception Coverage Mandate. Attorney General Doug Chin announced that Hawaii has joined a letter authored by New York Attorney General Eric Schneiderman pressing Eric Hargan, Acting Secretary of the US Department of Health and Human Services, not to roll back the contraception coverage mandate that is part of the Affordable Care Act. Maui Now.

Feds: Many Public Housing Units For The Disabled Aren’t Really Accessible. The Hawaii Public Housing Authority is appealing the preliminary findings of a federal investigation. Civil Beat.

Island Air bankruptcy is 'a catastrophe,' judge says. A federal bankruptcy judge lashed out at Island Air in court Thursday for the treatment of its employees as the liquidation of the state’s second-largest airline appeared to be headed for an early termination due to lack of funds to administer the case. Star-Advertiser.


Trade "Clusters" and Hawaii's Economy. U-H Economic Professor, Carl Bonham, says the Hospitality and Tourism cluster in Hawaii is five times more concentrated based on employment than in other states. Hawaii Public Radio.

Hawaii employees of GE's power division not affected by layoffs, source says. Hawaii employees of General Electric Co.'s power division are currently not affected by the company's decision to cut its global workforce by 12,000 positions. Pacific Business News.

Hawaii mumps cases reach 685; health officials broaden recommendation. The Hawaii Department of Health is asking all residents to get an “outbreak vaccination” against the ongoing flareup of mumps cases statewide. Tribune-Herald.

Oahu

City Council approves expansion of State Hospital. Long-range expansion plans for the Hawaii State Hospital have been approved by the Honolulu City Council after the facility’s staff gave assurances that improvements would include a perimeter fence and other public safety measures prompted by the recent escape of a patient deemed to be dangerous. Star-Advertiser.

City to convert empty building into 30 affordable apartments. The city has purchased another three-story building in town — on Young Street, Ewa of McCully Street — which will add another 30 studio apartments for people who earn just over $36,000 per year. Star-Advertiser.

One Ala Moana Condo Development Approved And Another In The Pipeline. Developer Jay Fang wins approval for his 26-story tower despite some rocky moments at Wednesday’s City Council meeting. Civil Beat.

Former Kawamoto lot on Kahala Avenue sells for $13M. A 1-acre beachfront lot on Kahala Avenue that once belonged to Japanese billionaire Genshiro Kawamoto was sold this week for $13 million to a Chinese multinational company that is planning to build a new house on the site. Pacific Business News.

Fire department releases 911 calls made during deadly Marco Polo building fire. KHON2.

No threats against Honolulu Marathon, but authorities aren't taking any chances. On Sunday, 28,000 runners from all over the world will participate in the 45th annual Honolulu Marathon. Hawaii News Now.

Hawaii Island

Queen Kaahumanu Highway project costs rise again. It’s going to cost another $16.3 million to widen Queen Kaahumanu Highway from Kealakehe Parkway to Keahole Airport Road, compared to numbers released earlier this year, putting the project more than $30 million over initial estimates from its groundbreaking two years ago. West Hawaii Today.

Miss Hawaii 2015 to run for state House. Former Miss Hawaii Jeanne Kapela announced Thursday she’s throwing her crown in the ring for what’s shaping up as a competitive race for the open District 5 House seat. West Hawaii Today.

Paradise Helicopters expands fleet with first twin-engine helicopter. Paradise Helicopters has added a twin-engine Bell 430, becoming the first Hawaii tour company to operate a twin-engine helicopter. Pacific Business News.

Ohio investor to buy state’s second-largest dairy. An Ohio entrepreneur and financial planning company executive is advancing an initiative to acquire Hawaii’s second-largest dairy as part of a plan to more than double the production of local milk in the state. Star-Advertiser.

Three injured after state vehicle strikes school bus. Two children and a state employee were injured Wednesday morning after a state pickup truck struck a school bus in Mountain View. Tribune-Herald.

Keauhou Beach Hotel demolition progresses.  The Keauhou Beach Hotel is literally a shell of its former self — the soft demolition completed and the inside of the structure gutted. West Hawaii Today.

Firefighter disciplined after reportedly ‘reeking of alcohol’ while on duty. A Hawaii island firefighter is being disciplined for having alcohol in his system while on duty. KHON2.

Thieves target Big Island humane society — twice. The Hawaii Island Humane Society is looking for crooks who stole animals at a shelter. Hawaii News Now.

Maui

Atherton’s Waikapu project finishes evidentiary phase. LUC chairman orders drafting of panel’s proposed final action. Maui News.

LUC members hear testimony backing ‘agrihood’ project. Land Use Commission members heard several hours of testimony Wednesday as part of hearings on proposed state district boundary amendments for the nearly 500-acre Waikapu Country Town project. Maui News.

Maui Cannabis Conference hosts its inaugural Maui Cannabis Conference on Saturday and Sunday, Jan. 6-7, 2018 at the Hyatt Regency Maui Resort & Spa in Kaanapali. Maui Now.

Kauai

Mayor candidates state cases. Derek Kawakami, Lenny Rapozo and Mel Rapozo mingled with attendees at the Christmas party setting before taking the stage Thursday at in the Kauai Marriott Resort and Beach Club. Garden Island.

Wednesday, May 10, 2017

Movie criticized for white actor portraying Native Hawaiian hero, active hurricane season expected, trial begins in fireworks bunker explosion, liquor sales and hostess bars big issues on Maui, OHA called secretive, plastic bags and polystyrene at issue, PUC rejects HELCO power plant purchase, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Photo: US Army Signal Corps/University of Hawaii at Manoa Library
Benehakaka Kanahele honored at ceremony. Photo: US Army Signal Corps/University of Hawaii at Manoa Library
In a move that's prompting growing condemnation, New York actor Zach McGowan has been cast as the Native Hawaiian hero in an upcoming movie about the Battle of Niihau. Hawaii News Now.

Movie under fire for casting Caucasian actor as real-life Native Hawaiian war hero. The movie, called “Niihau,” is  based on the true story of Benehakaka “Ben” Kanahele, a Native Hawaiian WWII hero who received a Medal for Merit and a Purple Heart. KHON2.

Forecasters say Hawaii is likely to see an active hurricane season if signs of a developing El Nino continue to hold true. Star-Advertiser.

Members of the LGBT community are more likely to suffer health problems than heterosexuals in Hawaii, according to a new state Department of Health report. Star-Advertiser.

A new report identifies 42 government agencies across the country that have poor practices when it comes to online spending transparency. One of them is the Office of Hawaiian Affairs, the only city, county or state agency named from Hawaii. Civil Beat.

Residents Rally to Voice Displeasure at State Capitol. Hawaii Public Radio.

The mayors of Kauai, Maui, and Hawaii counties are proposing property tax increases to cover rising costs and state cuts. Hawaii News Now.

Starting next school year, 52 public schools will serve free breakfast and lunch to all 25,000 children in their schools, regardless of a family’s ability to pay, as the Department of Education expands its free-meals program to benefit more low-income communities. Star-Advertiser.

There will be an estimated demand for 65,000 housing units by 2025 in Hawai’i. Hawaii Public Radio.

Hawaiian Telcom reported a net loss of $2 million, or 17 cents per diluted share for the first quarter ending March 31. Pacific Business News.

Oahu

The Honolulu City Council on Wednesday will consider a measure that aims to increase the number of lower-priced homes built near the rail line. Civil Beat.

The City Council's Zoning Committee will likely place a hold on plans to build a 26-story condo transit-oriented development project on Sheridan Street. Hawaii News Now.

The criminal trial against a company accused of mishandling fireworks involved in a deadly 2011 Hawaii explosion is about reckless disregard for the law and safety, a federal prosecutor told jurors today. Star-Advertiser.

The criminal trial against a company accused of mishandling fireworks involved in a deadly 2011 Hawaii explosion is about reckless disregard for the law and safety, a federal prosecutor told jurors Tuesday. Associated Press.

In opening statements Tuesday, federal prosecutors said a company and one of its executive tied to a 2011 Waikele bunker blast that killed five employees showed a "reckless disregard" for safety. Hawaii News Now.

It Looks Like Political Insiders Will Help Pick The Next Honolulu Police Chief. Concerns are being raised about the lack of Native Hawaiians, Micronesians and other groups on a citizen selection committee organized by the Honolulu Police Commission. Civil Beat.

Octogenarian among Section 8 tenants told to vacate affordable units. Hawaii News Now.

The University of Hawaii at Manoa's 35-year-old practice gyms for basketball and volleyball wil‎l receive $9.3 million-$12 million in renovation and improvements. Star-Advertiser.

A group of volunteers plans to move forward with maintenance and repair efforts at the dilapidated Sunset Memorial Park in Pearl City even after a bill died in the Legislature that was intended to protect them from liability. Star-Advertiser.

The Hawaii state Department of Health has fined the City and County of Honolulu and Southland Mole JV a combined $700,000 for Clean Water Act violations associated with the construction of a sewer tunnel between Kaneohe and Kailua. Pacific Business News.

Some plastic bags are already banned on Oahu --  but environmentalists and a Honolulu Councilman want to block even more plastic from the check out stand. KITV.

A real-life K-drama involving a roughly $50 million retail complex on Keeaumoku Street has taken a new turn with fresh allegations of fraudulent ownership after a federal judge recently decided what should happen to the property. Star-Advertiser.

Michael Titterton, the former president and general manager of Hawaii Public Radio, has been named president of the Hawaii Symphony Orchestra. Pacific Business News.

A retired University of Hawaii associate professor, who was once the rallying point for academic freedom after being fired for expressing views against the Vietnam War in the 1960s, has died. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii Island

The state Public Utilities Commission has denied Hawaii Electric Light Co.’s request to buy the Hamakua Energy Partners power plant. Tribune-Herald.

The Hawaii Public Utilities Commission has rejected an application by a subsidiary of Hawaiian Electric Co. to purchase a Big Island power plant for more than $86 million, saying the benefits to customers would be “marginal.” Pacific Business News.

Resolution says infrastructure, public services lagging in Puna, Ka‘u despite civil rights ruling in 2000. Tribune-Herald.

A county public housing project is about to become the first on the island to ban smoking, and that’s causing problems for one resident, who’s considering a lawsuit if he’s barred from smoking medical marijuana in his home. West Hawaii Today.

Authorities have found the woman suspected of painting graffiti on a mountain held sacred by Native Hawaiians. Associated Press.

Ethics Board member Rick Robinson criticized the conduct of state official Edward Underwood, the administrator of the Division of Boating and Ocean Recreation, during a meeting in Hilo Tuesday. Big Island Video News.

Public hearing set for Saddle Road extension environmental impact statement. West Hawaii Today.

On Tuesday, current Hiroshima governor Hidehiko Yuzaki, along with members of the Hiroshima Prefectural Assembly, attended a rededication ceremony for a stone lantern donated to the garden in 1968 by the governor of Hiroshima Prefecture, and commemorated the centennial anniversary of the gardens themselves by planting a black pine. Tribune-Herald.

Maui

Families of victims of drunken driving, recovering alcoholics and a former mayor were among about 50 people who all opposed the Maui County Liquor Control Commission’s decision in February to allow 24-hour retail sale of alcohol and to remove the cap on hostess bars in the county during a special meeting Tuesday. Maui News.

The Maui Liquor Commission convened today in Wailuku for a special meeting, prior to tomorrow’s regular session to review a request for a repeal of amendments relating to alcohol sales; and a petition to amend rules relating to hostess bars in Maui County. Maui Now.

Three months after the Maui Liquor Commission decided to allow liquor sales 24/7, many community members are fighting back. Dozens testified at a meeting Tuesday in Wailuku. KITV.

Maui residents spoke out Tuesday against changes to the county’s liquor laws. KHON2.

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The final environmental impact statement has been released for the proposed 75-acre Piilani Promenade, a housing and commercial project that’s been scaled back since the Kihei community objected to original plans for two megamalls. Maui News.

The majority of the 36 people who testified at Monday’s County Council meeting favored the ban on the sale and use of polystyrene containers, a staple of takeout food eateries, that is a step away from being approved. Maui News.

Maui Electric Co. will begin construction this month of its Kuihelani Substation near the intersection of Kuihelani Highway and Maui Lani Parkway. Maui News.

Kauai

Two members of the Kauai County Council are gearing up to propose a measure addressing single-use polystyrene, similar to a bill the Maui County Council took under consideration Tuesday. Garden Island.

Kaua'i residents are pleading with state officials to do more to crackdown on illegal camping in Kalalau Valley. KITV.

Brittany Steinbeck is determined to help open Alakai O Kauai Public Charter School by the next school year. Garden Island.

County offers free composting bins. County recycling team promotes recycling food scraps. Garden Island.

Hundreds celebrate John Lydgate’s life. Hundreds celebrate man who dedicated life to isle. Garden Island.

Wednesday, November 4, 2015

U.S. Rep. Takai faces surgery for pancreatic cancer, Gov. Ige flies to Seoul and Tokyo, election officials want more money and easier voter registration, air conditioners for Oahu schools, Hawaii County passes ethics bill, Maui mulls county manager government, petrels protected on Kauai, dengue fever fears rise, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Facebook photo
U.S. Rep. Mark Takai on Facebook
U.S. Rep. Mark Takai’s doctors have confirmed he has pancreatic cancer, and the congressman will undergo surgery at the National Institutes of Health in Bethesda, Md., next week to remove a tumor in his pancreas. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii Congressman Mark Takai revealed Tuesday that a tumor in his pancreas is malignant. Civil Beat.

U.S. Rep. Mark Takai says he will have surgery to remove a small cancerous tumor in his pancreas next week. Associated Press.

Gov. David Ige will be traveling to Seoul and Tokyo through Nov. 12. Star-Advertiser.

Gov. David Ige will be traveling to Seoul, South Korea and Tokyo, Japan from Nov. 3 through Nov. 12. Garden Island.

County and state election officials advocated for major voting reforms — including all-mail elections and automatic voter registration — during a joint legislative briefing Tuesday at the state Capitol that included members of the Senate Judiciary and Labor and House Judiciary committees. Star-Advertiser.

If you’re evicted from state-run public housing for any reason in Hawaii, you can’t go back — ever. But now the Hawaii Public Housing Authority, which manages over 6,000 units statewide, is looking to change the rule in light of the state’s homelessness crisis. Civil Beat.

Getting a view into Hawai‘i’s current state of health may be a little easier thanks to a new website from the State Department of Health. The Hawaii Health Data Warehouse is a collection of information gathered from surveys conducted year round. Hawaii Public Radio.

Oahu

Travelers in air-travel-dependent Hawaii can now apply for faster, easier security checks at a new kiosk at Honolulu Airport. The Transportation Security Administration opened the new application site for its PreCheck expedited security program last week at the airport’s Interisland Terminal. Star-Advertiser.

Even as Wahiawa’s homeless count appears to have doubled over the past 11 months, state Rep. Marcus Oshiro maintains that efforts underway could serve as a template for other rural communities struggling to address island homelessness. Star-Advertiser.

The Board of Water Supply of the City and County of Honolulu has withdrawn as an intervenor taking part in the regulatory review of NextEra Energy Inc.’s proposed $4.3 billion acquisition of Hawaiian Electric Co., according to public documents. Pacific Business News.

A mysterious closed-door meeting of the Honolulu Ethics Commission was cancelled Tuesday just hours before it was scheduled to begin. Last week, the Ethics Commission announced it would hold a special session Tuesday night to talk with the agency’s attorney about “personnel and management matters.” No other details were given. Civil Beat.

The state Department of Education has received a final shipment of 100 portable air conditioners that officials say will go into five West Oahu schools as part of an ongoing effort to cool more classrooms. Star-Advertiser.

When a patient aboard a city ambulance allegedly attacked two medics outside Queen's Medical Center a week and a half ago, one of them had to begin an anti-AIDS cocktail. Hawaii News Now.

The group that filed a complaint with the state, claiming labor violations at Ala Moana Center’s Ewa Wing expansion, is raising more concerns. KHON2.

Former University of Hawaii football coach Norm Chow, who was in the fourth year of a five-year contract when he was fired over the weekend, will receive nearly $340,000 for his termination, the university confirmed Monday. Pacific Business News.

On Sept. 25, the state Board of Land and Natural Resources approved a one-year special use permit to Mark Hixon, a professor of marine biology at the University of Hawaii, for the deployment and study of artificial reef modules in the Hanauma Bay Marine Life Conservation District and Waikiki. Civil Beat.

Hawaii

As Hawaii health officials wrestle to contain a dengue fever outbreak on the Big Island, a review of how the state handled a 2001 outbreak on Maui reveals some of the challenges in store. Tribune-Herald.

Kona Community Hospital says it is being “overwhelmed” by phone calls from Big Islanders concerned about dengue fever. West Hawaii Today.

Without the support of the public, state health officials fear the current outbreak of dengue fever on the Big Island could be here to stay. On Tuesday, the state Department of Health confirmed the mosquito-borne virus so far has infected 11 people, with many possible cases remaining to be verified. Tribune-Herald.

An ethics bill now on its way to Mayor Billy Kenoi lost many of its stricter provisions during an arduous trip through the County Council, but sponsor Kohala Councilwoman Margaret Wille says it’s still tough enough to do the job. West Hawaii Today.

Before the candidates for ‘aha delegate spoke at the Moku O Keawe Alliance forum in Panaewa on Sunday, Council for Native Hawaiian Advancement President and CEO Michelle Kauhane gave an overview of Kana’iolowalu and the Na’i Aupuni process. Kauhane, herself an Oahu candidate for delegate, also explained the federal rules for a government-to-government relationship, as proposed by the Department Of The Interior.Big Island Video News.

Should Kona International Airport host Hawaii’s first commercial space flights? That’s a question that could be brought before Big Island residents close to the new year following the completion of a draft environmental assessment for a proposed spaceport certification. Tribune-Herald.

More than a year after Department of Land and Natural Resources officials said work was set to start on the north side of Honokohau Harbor, the improvements have not begun. West Hawaii Today.

The County Council’s unanimous approval Tuesday of no-parking zones around Manini Beach marks the beginning of a strategy that supporters hope will bring state assistance with parking for the beach and Kealakekua Bay area. West Hawaii Today.

Maui

Testifiers encouraged Maui County Council members Monday to study the possibility of having a county manager form of government, as initially put forward in a resolution by Council Chairman Mike White. Maui News.

The County Committee on Public and Intergovernmental Affairs will reconvene on Wednesday, Nov. 4, at 1:30 p.m. in the Council Chamber to further discuss a county manager form of government instead of one run by a mayor. Maui Now.

The burn of a 75-acre sugar cane field 3 miles southeast of Kahului brought smoke and haze to Central Maui Tuesday morning, but Hawaiian Commercial & Sugar Co. received only two direct complaints, said General Manager Rick Volner. Maui News.

An association for a 19th-century Maui cemetery where several influential Hawaii figures are buried is suing federal and state agencies over a planned expansion project at a neighboring veterans' cemetery. Maui News.

Na Hale O Maui, which had been placing families in affordable homes through rehabilitating foreclosed homes, has returned to its original business model and has begun building its first home, John Andersen, executive director of the nonprofit group said Friday. Maui News.

Kauai

A 67-foot military-funded rocket that blasted off a rail launcher at the Pacific Missile Range Facility on Kauai at sunset Tuesday in Hawaii’s first satellite launch failed shortly after takeoff. Star-Advertiser.

What sounded like a successful liftoff soon turned into a realization that something went wrong. Shortly after liftoff at 5:45 p.m. Tuesday from Barking Sands, Kauai, ORS-4 – the rocket carrying a satellite – malfunctioned. It was designed and built by University of Hawaii faculty and students. KITV4.

A historic project more than 30 years in the making took place on Kauai’s North Shore on Monday when 10 downy endangered Hawaiian Petrel chicks were flown by helicopter to a new colony protected by a predator-proof fence at Kilauea Point National Wildlife Refuge. Garden Island.

Endangered Hawaiian petrels now have a predator-proof place to live on Kauai. Civil Beat.

A Kauai elementary school was scrambling for substitute teachers Tuesday, a day the school's principal made controversial comments about their performance. Six of the 27 teachers at Kekaha Elementary School called in sick, according to the Department of Education. Hawaii News Now.

The halls of Kekaha Elementary School were missing a key fixture Tuesday — teachers. Garden Island.

Friday, March 20, 2015

Commercial real estate booming, judge extends moratorium on Maui GMO ban, Aloha Stadium needs $200M, fire chief suspends critics, over-budget Honolulu rail project seeks bailout, tech troubles Hawaii County, rats plague Health Department, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

copyright 2015 All Hawaii News all rights reserved
Downtown Honolulu © 2015 All Hawaii News
Hawaii's commercial real estate market has moved from a rebound to full-blown boom, according to a tally of major property sales last year. Star-Advertiser.

Gov. David Ige earned the respect of his colleagues during his long, successful career in the Hawaii Senate, which an outsider might assume earned him political capital to sway votes. But that wasn't the case during Ige's first major political test as governor, when most of the members of his old political faction in the Senate — the Chess Club — were among the majority of senators who planned to reject his nominee for Department of Land and Natural Resources before a scheduled vote on the Senate floor. Associated Press.

Unlike the Carleton Ching nomination for the director of DLNR, the confirmation of the director and deputy director for the Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism passed committee and the full senate with no hang-ups. Hawaii Independent.

Department of Health employees say they're getting sick from unsanitary working conditions at their office, caused by an infestation of rats. Hawaii News Now.

The deadline for applications to fill vacancies on the state Ethics and Campaign Spending commissions has been extended to March 31. There is one vacancy on the Ethics Commission, and two on the Campaign Spending Commission. Star-Advertiser.

The number of visitors filling hotel rooms in January declined across all major islands except Maui, causing a dip in statewide occupancy. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii’s hotels had a good week last week, showing increases in both occupancy and room rates, according to the weekly report from Hospitality Advisors LLC and STR, Inc. Pacific Business News.

Oahu

The latest report from the independent contractor monitoring Oahu's public rail transit project echoes what rail leaders first acknowledged publicly in December: that despite their public assurances that the project would come in on time and on budget, the effort will "most likely exceed" what it was supposed to cost. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii lawmakers seem poised to bail out Honolulu’s over-budget elevated rail system, but they have yet to find the right tax formula. On Thursday, a state Senate panel approved a convoluted House measure that could extend Oahu’s 0.5 percent general excise tax surcharge for an additional 25 years. Civil Beat.

To keep Aloha Stadium operational for the next 30 years will cost $200 million just to address priority health and safety problems, a consultant told the Aloha Stadium Authority on Thursday. Star-Advertiser.

The Honolulu Ethics Commission has reaffirmed an earlier informal opinion by its staff that said Mayor Kirk Caldwell and other city officials were acting within the scope of their duties when they used city resources in an attempt to rally the community behind an effort to stave off possible downsizing of military troops on Oahu. Star-Advertiser.

Thousands of people have weighed in so far on the future of Ala Moana Beach Park. But many are asking – why not work on the things that need to be fixed now? KHON2.

Hawaii lawmakers’ latest attempt to swap urban state property for private farm land appears to be dead this legislative session. The Senate passed a bill earlier this month that proposed spending $400,000 next fiscal year to investigate the possibility of acquiring lands owned by Dole Food Company between the North Shore and central Oahu that may be suitable for long-term diversified agriculture production. Civil Beat.

The buyer of the $8.7 million Hawaii beachfront estate known as the home of Tom Selleck’s 1980's television character “Magnum P.I.” — a Chicago entity with close ties to President Barack Obama — has "strong ties to Hawaii," the firm that represented the seller said Thursday. Pacific Business News.

A former program director of an Oahu transitional homeless shelter has been charged in the theft of more than $700,000 from her former employer. Associated Press.

Hawaii

The county has spent hundreds of thousands of dollars on two audiovisual systems that were supposed to connect the West Hawaii Civic Center with the county building in Hilo. Four years after buying the system, the county in January finally tried to use it, only to find it doesn’t work properly and one of the warranties has already run out. West Hawaii Today.

Big Island Fire Chief Darren Rosario has suspended two battalion chiefs after they complained about his alleged mismanagement of the department. They've been on paid leave for four months -- and now are under investigation themselves for speaking out. Hawaii News Now.

There will be no changes this year to laws governing how Kona coffee and Kona blends are labeled. A House bill requiring that the origins of coffee used in blends be listed on the package — plus a provision that coffee carrying the Kona label have at least 51 percent coffee from that region — never received a hearing. West Hawaii Today.

While it never left Pahoa, the Puna Community Medical Center is eager to return to its home at the Pahoa Marketplace, said Clinical Programs Director Dan Domizio. Tribune-Herald.

Maui


A federal judge has extended an injunction blocking Maui County’s voter-approved moratorium on genetically engineered farming from going into effect for at least another three months. Civil Beat.

Lawmakers advanced a bill today to enable neighbor island hospitals to transition into public-private partnerships, beginning with Maui. Hawaii Public Radio.

The state House of Representatives approved its version of the state's biennium fiscal year budget Wednesday, including nearly $64 million for Central Maui capital improvement projects. Maui News.

The Maui County Council Land Use Committee recommended approval on Wednesday of community plan and zoning changes that would move the long-awaited Downtown Kihei project forward. Maui News.

The Kā‘anapali Beach Hotel and its twin resort, The Plantation Inn, have been voted “Number One Hotel with the Best Aloha Spirit” and “Number One Best Budget Hotel” respectively, by readers of Hawai‘i Magazine. Maui Now.

Kauai

When the maile lei to Kanikoo senior housing project was undone Thursday, 36 residents were already moved into their apartments at the site of the former in Lihue. Garden Island.

Hawaii Wildfire Management Organization, in collaboration with the Kauai Fire Department, Department of Land and Natural Resources Division of Forestry and Wildlife, and Kauai Civil Defense Agency, will hold community input meetings to develop a Kauai Community Wildfire Protection Plan. Garden Island.

An 11.78-acre slice of vacant, beachfront land set aside for the proposed Coconut Plantation Resort has new owners. And the buyers, who purchased it on Thursday at an absolute auction, didn’t have to look far beyond their backyard to find it. Garden Island.

Friday, November 28, 2014

Hawaii crackdown on public housing, court tosses Hawaii County GMO law, Land Use Commission erred in Kona development, Health Department probes Navy's Red Hill fuel leak, Maui tourist spending up 20%, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

courtesy U.S. Housing and Urban Development
Halekauwila Place in Kakaako, courtesy HUD
A federal and state crackdown has prompted increased evictions from public housing projects across the state, with more on the way. Sources said the feds are using FBI and IRS agents who could bring federal criminal charges against fraudulent tenants at 5,500 federal housing units across the state. Hawaii News Now.

A state employee has been charged with stealing state funds while working for Gov. Neil Abercrombie's office. Roxanne Kamalu was charged in a grand jury indictment Nov. 13 with second-degree theft and use of a computer in the commission of a separate crime. Star-Advertiser.

Seven University of Hawaii campuses have been awarded $69 million in grants for Native Hawaiian programs, from preschool through higher education. Pacific Business News.

Oahu

Air Force Gen. Lori Robinson, Pacific Air Forces commander, will be the keynote speaker at the 73rd anniversary of the Japanese attack on the Pacific Fleet at Pearl Harbor on Dec. 7. Star-Advertiser.

The State Department of Health is leading a study on the 27,000-gallon fuel leak at the Navy’s Red Hill underground storage facility in January.  A task force subgroup is developing a report to the state Legislature due next month. Hawaii Public Radio.

Hawaii

Oversight of genetically modified crops in Hawaii remains the state’s kuleana, a federal judge ruled Wednesday when invalidating Hawaii County’s law restricting the use of transgenic plants. Tribune-Herald.

The Land Use Commission did not follow state law when it reverted land under a South Kohala development from urban to agriculture, the Hawaii Supreme Court said Tuesday. West Hawaii Today.

Pahoa Village Road was reopened to through traffic between Apa‘a Street and Post Office Road on Wednesday. The approximately 0.5-mile section of the road was closed to nonresidents Oct. 26 as the June 27 lava flow entered Pahoa. Tribune-Herald.

A former county councilman has lost his civil lawsuit against the county. Hilo Circuit Judge Glenn Hara ruled Monday Stacy Higa and wife Janice owe the county and former Corporation Counsel Lincoln Ashida more than $10,000 in legal fees to defend themselves from the lawsuit. Tribune-Herald.

Maui

Maui visitor spending for October jumped 20.1 percent, compared with last year, to $312 million, buoyed by a 6.9 percent increase in visitor arrivals to the island, according to Hawai'i Tourism Authority preliminary data released Wednesday. Maui News.

A total of 15 acres of open space along Hana Highway on the Kipahulu side of Hana town have been placed in conservation in an agreement between the landowners and the Hawaiian Islands Land Trust. Maui News.

Kauai

It took all of two nudges with an excavator Wednesday to topple the half century-old pavilion at Hanamaulu Beach Park. Garden Island.