Ige attends governor's conference, Tulsi Gabbard gets an earful at town hall, more money for homeless, 'vexatious requester' bill back before Legislature, Zuckerberg makes it official, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Gov. Ige at governor's conference, courtesy Governor's Office

Hawaii’s Governor Steps Gingerly Into GOP Power Circle. David Ige, a Democrat, is in Washington meeting with everyone who he thinks might help the islands — including the newly empowered Republicans. Civil Beat.

Three years after homeless people on Oahu were first placed into market-rate, Housing First rental units, the state wants to add another $3 million to expand the concept to Kauai, Maui and Hawaii island starting in April. Star-Advertiser.

A bill in the Hawaii Legislature could limit some people’s rights to file public records requests with public agencies, raising concerns that it could reduce journalists’ and community members’ access to information. Associated Press.

The Department of Education has awarded more than two dozen contracts totaling $43.5 million to install just over 500 air conditioners that would get the state halfway to its goal of cooling 1,000 classrooms, a new status report shows. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii lawmakers are nearing the halfway point of the 2017 legislative session. They’re reviewing bills that need to be passed out of the originating chamber in the next two weeks in order to stay alive. Associated Press.

Hawaii lawmakers advanced a bill Friday that would significantly dial back the use of prolonged segregated confinement at the state’s eight prisons and jails. Civil Beat.

Were global trade to be disrupted, Hawaii would be particularly susceptible to food shortages, as the state imports the vast majority of what it consumes. Senate Bill 1313, pending at the Legislature, aims to change that by making Hawaii more self-­sufficient. Star-Advertiser.

Investigators working in the Hawaii correctional system were able to substantiate more cases in which corrections staff sexually abused inmates during 2015 than cases where inmates sexually assaulted one another, according to a new report released by the state Department of Public Safety. Star-Advertiser.

Roberts Hawaii said Friday that it has determined its website was hacked after a number of customers reported fraudulent credit card charges after making an online purchase with the tour company. Pacific Business News.

Even though the state Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism announced this month that Hawaii’s economy continues to expand, albeit at a slightly reduced rate, a Young Brothers report shows interisland cargo shipments between Honolulu and six Neighbor Island ports “essentially flat” at 0.1 percent growth in 2016. Maui News.

Commentary: If Souki’s tallies are right, medically assisted death bill has fighting chance to survive. Star-Advertiser.

Oahu

A town hall with U.S. Rep. Tulsi Gabbard included some heated exchanges Saturday, as some constituents questioned her about her recent trip to Syria and her stance on the president. Hawaii News Now.

Congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard held a town hall meeting, on Saturday, called "Congress on Your Corner." to listen to her constituents concerns for their community and country. KITV.

The majority of parking lot owners have evaded a law that requires lots with 100 stalls or more to have at least one electric vehicle charging station. Star-Advertiser.

Regulators will gain more authority to crack down on illegal structures and uses on agricultural land if two bills advancing at the Legislature become law. The legislation was introduced to address enforcement gaps that emerged over the past several years as dozens of unregulated buildings, including illegal dwellings, were erected in an off-the-grid ag development in West Oahu. Star-Advertiser.

The amount of construction cranes in Honolulu is holding steady with residential and mixed-use projects continuing to dominate the construction industry in Hawaii’s state capital, according to a new report. Pacific Business News.

Longtime city ocean safety chief Jim Howe has been chosen to be Honolulu’s new director of the Department of Emergency Services. Star-Advertiser.

The Hawaiian Humane Society on Friday issued a citation on 310 counts of animal cruelty against the owners of a Makaha animal shelter, where more than 300 dogs were seized in October. Star-Advertiser.

A California company plans to develop a big solar energy farm in Kalaeloa in West Oahu, Pacific Business News has learned.

Hawaii

Rep. Cindy Evans (D-North Kona, North Kohala, South Kohala) introduced legislation allowing farms to have so-called “tiny homes” on agricultural-zoned land in order to house employees. If enacted, the bill would be limited to agricultural land in Hawaii County. Tribune-Herald.

A bill to fund lifeguards and life-saving equipment at Kua Bay passed committee Friday in Honolulu and will now move to the full state House of Representatives. West Hawaii Today.

A bill that would grow a farming program at Kulani prison is headed for a vote in the state House. Tribune-Herald.

Sheriffs have new wheels for transporting custodies to and from Hawaii Community Correctional Center in Hilo for court hearings in Kealakekua. West Hawaii Today.

Hawaii County Prosecutor Mitch Roth believes was a target of retaliation for raising concern over possible corruption within the ranks of state government. Big Island Video News.

Where’s the darn bus? That question could soon be asked a little less frequently, as Hawaii County works toward installing an app that will provide real-time information on estimated Hele-On bus arrival times. West Hawaii Today.

Hawaiians heard amid telescope hearings. Star-Advertiser.

Maui

On Maui Friday, Congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard toured the Maui Community Correctional Center as she continues this week’s focus on reforming the criminal justice system and visiting Hawai?i correctional facilities.  Maui Now.

With about 70 percent of the on-site preparation work done for the West Maui Hospital and Medical Center, the project is seeking as much as $85 million in bond financing for equipment purchases and to complete construction, hospital and medical complex developer Brian Hoyle said Thursday. Maui News.

Kauai

The majority of the crowd at Saturday’s Wailua-Kapaa Neighborhood Association meeting wanted one thing: for the state to take down the bridge currently under construction over Keahua Stream. Garden Island.

Starting today, The Garden Island is publishing profiles on the seven candidates for the Kauai Island Utility Cooperative board of directors. Garden Island.

One of the reasons Juno-Ann Apalla wants to be on the Kauai Island Utility Cooperative board is so she can help Kauai residents understand what’s going on within the organization. Garden Island.

Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg has officially dropped his quiet title lawsuits against hundreds of fractional owners of small pieces of land, or kuleana lands, within his 700 acres of oceanfront land he owns on the island of Kauai’s North Shore, which was an attempt to gain ownership of those small pieces of lands, an attorney representing Zuckerberg confirmed to Pacific Business News over the weekend.

Commentary: A reporter’s work can still move mountains. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii residents healthy, fewer airline seats but more tourists, OHA board ousts chairwoman, Health Department violated records act in redactions, Oahu jail costly, lava shelf collapses, turning Maui sugarcane fields to coffee, Waikoloa garbage gasification advances, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Hawaii hikers © 2017 All Hawaii News

For the second year in a row, Hawaii has been named the state with the healthiest residents, in terms of mind and body, according to the 2016 State of Well-Being Rankings report released by Gallup and wellness provider Healthways Inc. Pacific Business News.

The state's economist says a slight decline in the number of seats on flights to Hawaii will likely slow tourism industry growth. Associated Press.

Airfares are expected to increase in 2017 as a result of decreased air capacity, according to travel experts that spoke at a conference Thursday of the Pacific Asia Travel Association and the Travel and Tourism Research Association. Pacific Business News.

Key Hawaii lawmakers are hoping to secure $3.5 million annually over the next two years to continue a program that has been credited with helping hundreds of families in the past year escape or avoid homelessness. Star-Advertiser.

Circuit Court Judge Karen Nakasone ruled Thursday the state Health Department violated the state open records law by blacking out large portions of inspection reports for a Honolulu nursing home before it made the documents public. Civil Beat.

A state Senate committee on Thursday gave police more power to seize guns from potentially dangerous people. But lawmakers also softened the consequences for people who fail to register their guns as required by law. Civil Beat.

Senator: Police Union Wrong On Domestic Violence Bill. Sen. Laura Thielen took issue with a SHOPO attorney who testified the union contract takes precedence over state law. Civil Beat.

Marijuana use has risen slightly among Hawaii workers, a quarterly report shows. Star-Advertiser.

After two months of drama and infighting, the Office of Hawaiian Affairs Board of Trustees on Thursday ousted Rowena Akana as chairwoman and elevated Vice Chairwoman Lei Ahu Isa to the top spot on an interim basis. Star-Advertiser.

OHA Infighting Continues As Chairwoman Rowena Akana Is Ousted. Lei Ahu Isa takes over as the acting chair. She is the third trustee to lead the troubled board in three months. Civil Beat.

The state’s Department of Education Superintendent Kathryn Matayoshi has a new replacement. Keith Hayashi has accepted the offer to serve as deputy superintendent through the remainder of Matayoshi’s term. Garden Island.

The Hawai’i Public Utilities Commission today issued a reminder to the public that its enforcement officers continue to be on the road at unannounced times statewide to ensure that motor carriers are in compliance with state laws and rules. Maui Now.

Commentary: Everybody is wondering about Tulsi Gabbard. Star-Advertiser.

Oahu

Replacing Hawaii’s largest jail might cost $673 million, although that price tag could be reduced by hundreds of millions of dollars if lawmakers and prison officials choose a less expensive, low-rise design, according to preliminary estimates in a report from consultants hired to plan and design the proposed facility. Star-Advertiser.

The price tag for building a new jail to replace the crumbling Oahu Community Correctional Center could reach anywhere from $433 million to $673 million, according to a team of consultants hired by the Hawaii Department of Public Safety. Civil Beat.

The state of Hawaii is taking more money than justified out of a general excise tax surcharge for Honolulu’s troubled rail project, according to a University of Hawaii report released Thursday. Civil Beat.

A $250,000 severance check was delivered to Honolulu Police Chief Louis Kealoha and his attorneys sometime in the last week, as stipulated in Kealoha’s retirement agreement with the Police Commission, Commission Chairman Max Sword told the Honolulu Star-Advertiser on Thursday.

About a dozen Honolulu police officers were disciplined last year — including two who were discharged — for their handling of an investigation into a fellow officer who accidentally shot a woman in the stomach while he was at a bar. Civil Beat.

Hawaii Sen. Brian Schatz and Washington Rep. Derek Kilmer have introduced legislation that would exempt employees of Navy public shipyards from President Donald Trump’s federal hiring freeze. Pacific Business News.

Public Navy shipyards, including the Pearl Harbor Navy Shipyard, will be exempt from President Donald Trump’s federal hiring freeze. Star-Advertiser.

The question of whether Honolulu can pursue a third trial against Christopher Deedy, a federal agent from the mainland who fatally shot local resident Kollin Elderts in 2011, is now in the hands of the Hawaii Supreme Court. Civil Beat.

Five state Supreme Court justices heard oral arguments Thursday on whether to allow a third trial of Christopher Deedy, who as an off-duty federal agent shot and killed Kollin Elderts, a 23-year-old Kailua man, at a McDonald’s in Waikiki on Nov. 5, 2011. Star-Advertiser.

It’s illegal to sit or lie on sidewalks in a number of areas across Oahu. Honolulu’s mayor is looking to expand the ban to more areas on the island. KHON2.

The state Department of Health has cited Island Recycling Inc. for failing to comply with its permit to prevent polluted stormwater discharges at two of the company’s facilities. Star-Advertiser.

The push to change Dole Street’s name back to its original Hawaiian name has ended, at least for now. Hawaii News Now.

Robert Kekaula and Paula Akana have been named weeknight 6 and 10 p.m. news anchors at KITV effective Feb. 13, the station announced Thursday. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii

The entire section of the Hawaii Volcanoes National Park sea cliff that was seaward of the hot crack collapsed, scientists say. The moment was partially caught on video. Big Island Video News.

A dramatic “fire hose” of lava entering the ocean from Hawaii island has ended, for now at least, with the collapse of a nearby sea cliff, the Hawaiian Volcano Observatory said. Star-Advertiser.

The Hawaii County Planning Department has given its stamp of approval on a waste-to-energy plant in Waikoloa that could reduce the garbage headed to the landfills while providing natural gas for Kohala coastal resorts. West Hawaii Today.

TMT International Observatory’s sublease payments are on hold following a court order requiring a contested case for the agreement with the University of Hawaii at Hilo. Tribune-Herald.

Hilo Medical Center will soon solve two key medical-specialist shortages in East Hawaii. Tribune-Herald.

The Big Island Abalone Corporation announced Thursday it is seeking a new investor for its farm at the Natural Energy Laboratory of Hawaii Authority. West Hawaii Today.

Prominent Hilo-born business and community leader Fred J. Koehnen died at home Wednesday following an illness. He was 92. Tribune-Herald.

Maui

The state House Committee on Agriculture will hear a bill this morning to help MauiGrown Coffee expand its West Maui plantation to fallow sugar cane lands and to create jobs for displaced Hawaiian Commercial & Sugar Co. workers. Maui News.

The way vehicles access Iao Valley State Monument “could be substantially different” once the park reopens in the summer, state Department of Land and Natural Resources officials said Wednesday evening. Maui News.

A close call at Maui's Kahului Airport. Federal Aviation Administration officials say a small plane took off without clearance from Runway 5 as a Hawaiian Airlines Boeing 717 took off from Runway 2. KITV.

A pilot turned a Hawaiian Airlines interisland jet to avoid a smaller plane that took off without clearance Wednesday morning at Kahului Airport, according to a Federal Aviation Administration spokesman. Maui News.

Kauai

Denver oil and gas executive Gary Stewart, who owns about 80 acres of land next door to Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg's 700-acre oceanfront estate on Kauai’s North Shore, bought out one of the small landowners within his larger parcel but has no plans to buy out the other one, he confirmed to Pacific Business News Thursday.

The Hawaii Department of Agriculture is investigating the source of coffee plants found at a Home Depot on Kauai earlier this week. Garden Island.

Group urges expansion of marine protection, state lawmakers seek info on police property seizures, breastfeeding moms may skip jury duty under bill, Kenoi pushes for general excise tax increase, wayward shopping carts big issue in Honolulu, wrong gauge caused UH researcher to lose arm, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Millet butterflyfish, courtesy NOAA

A group of Native Hawaiian leaders have urged President Barack Obama to expand what’s already one of the largest marine conservation areas in the world. Associated Press.

Hawaii lawmakers want to know how often police are seizing people’s property, and what happens with money they make from selling it. Associated Press.

Senate OKs breast-feeding bill to let new moms skip jury duty. Star-Advertiser.

Advocates for legislation that would allow psychologists to prescribe powerful medications argue the change is badly needed because there are too few psychiatrists on the neighbor islands. Star-Advertiser.

With the 2016 legislative session rapidly nearing sine die May 5, House and Senate lawmakers have started appointing members from their respective chambers to serve on conference committees tasked with trying to reach agreements on the final language of hundreds of bills such as the state budget. Civil Beat.

Those selected to open Hawaii’s first medical marijuana dispensaries later this month might eventually be able to grow in greenhouses and shadehouses, under certain conditions. Tribune-Herald.

An inmate at the Halawa Correctional Facility filed a lawsuit Thursday claiming the Hawaii Department of Public Safety has a “statewide policy and/or custom” that prevents Native Hawaiian inmates from practicing their religion. Civil Beat.

Commentary: Not So Public: Hey DLNR, We’re Still Waiting For That Info On Commercial Tours. Four months later, and the state Department of Land and Natural Resources has yet to provide information about permits, fees and fines. Civil Beat.

About one in four residents in Hawai‘i speak a language other than English at home. That’s according to a new report by the Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism. Hawaii Public Radio.

What really happened at the ʻAha, part V The purpose of the ʻAha is fulfilled and a federal recognition-friendly constitution is adopted, but the call for true self-determination still grows louder. Hawaii Independent.

Oahu
A new City Council bill aims to crack down on wayward shopping carts on Oahu. But at least one veteran supermarket executive says the measure might be more trouble than it’s worth. Star-Advertiser.

Lawmakers consider tougher rules to squelch abandoned shopping cart ‘graveyards’ KHON2.

A powerful explosion at a University of Hawaii science lab that ripped an arm off a researcher was likely caused by a digital pressure gauge that shouldn’t have been used around flammable gases, the Honolulu Fire Department said today. Star-Advertiser.

A visiting researcher who lost an arm last month in a laboratory explosion at the University of Hawaii told fire investigators the blast occurred after she turned off a digital pressure gauge she was using to check the pressure in a gas cylinder. Associated Press.

There’s something in the air at University of Hawaii Manoa’s St. John Plant Laboratory Complex — and if you ask some of the employees there, an outdated ventilation system is to blame. Civil Beat.

The type of Japanese torpedo bomber that wrought destruction on Battleship Row on Dec. 7, 1941, can be seen again at Pearl Harbor for the first time in nearly 75 years. Star-Advertiser.

U.S. Rep. Mark Takai wants the Army to extend the special status granted previously to the 100th Battalion, 442nd Infantry Regiment to allow it to continue to wear its liberty torch unit patch. Star-Advertiser.

Lanikai parking solution creates initial confusion. KITV4.

Hawaii

Mayor Billy Kenoi is recommending the County Council pass a one-half percent increase in the general excise tax, but not all council members are on board. West Hawaii Today.

The talk is supposed to be about money, but a Hawaii County Council member wants to bring something more to the table Tuesday when the county council’s finance committee meets: a discussion on Mayor Billy Kenoi. KHON2.

Riki May Amano served as a judge on the Big Island for more than a decade where she built up a reputation for fairness. But now, the Hilo native's impartiality has come under heavy criticism by native Hawaiian opponents of the $1.4 billion Thirty Meter Telescope project. They want her removed as the hearings officer on the controversial project. Hawaii News Now.

A 60-megawatt power plant will remain out of service through Friday, leaving the Big Island’s power grid vulnerable to outages, Hawaii Electric Light Co. cautioned Monday. Tribune-Herald.

There’s a new form of guidance at Kohanaiki Beach Park — a star compass made of concrete and cut lava. West Hawaii Today.

Maui

In a town where bustling storefronts are a stone's throw away from where Kamehameha III once tended kalo, Lahaina residents have kick-started a project they hope will balance culture and commerce around the harbor. Maui News.

The County of Maui Department of Parks and Recreation announced today that Phase One of several parking lot improvement projects are now underway in West Maui. Maui Now.

Details are still sketchy, but the developers of the proposed Olowalu Town–which will add 1,500 homes and a variety of commercial structures to tiny Olowalu–withdrew their petition with the state Land Use Commission (LUC), according to an Apr. 7, 2016 letter from LUC Executive Officer Daniel Orodenker posted on the LUC website. MauiTime.

Britain's first official spaceman, Timothy Peake, shot this photo of Maui on a cloudless March 23 from the International Space Station. Maui News.

Kauai

Sanoe Ho‘okano, a staff water safety officer at the Kekaha tower, has been named the Kauai County Lifeguard of the Quarter presented by Duke’s Kauai, said Mariko Lum of Duke’s Kauai at Kalapaki Beach. Garden Island.

Democrats flock to the polls for Sanders, Army reorganization could affect Hawaii, initial rail route cut by 10 miles, airline seats, DUIs on Legislature's agenda, Maui battles for new school, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Democrats crowd Pahoa polling place Saturday as Sanders takes Hawaii, photo by K.T. Cannon-Eger

Democratic voters who were both buoyed — and discouraged — by this year’s presidential hopefuls from both parties packed polling sites Saturday, hoping to influence the outcome of the November general elections. Star-Advertiser.

Vermont U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders scored a stunning victory over Hillary Clinton in Hawaii Democrats’ presidential preference poll Saturday, mobilizing a grass-roots campaign that signed up thousands of new Democrats and defied the wishes of almost the entire “old guard” of the party. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii’s Democrats have spoken, and they much, much prefer Bernie Sanders to Hillary Clinton in the presidential election. Sanders, the Vermont senator, defeated Clinton, the former secretary of state, 70 percent to 30 percent in the state’s presidential preference poll Saturday, with 100 percent of all precincts reporting. Civil Beat.

Hawaii lawmakers will return from long holiday weekend and tackle a slew of resolutions and bills in committee hearings. They'll take up a resolution about driving under the influence of marijuana. And another resolution asks the federal government to set limits on how small airline seats can get. Associated Press.

NextEra Deal: What Happens If The PUC Loses A Member? PUC commissioner Mike Champley could be off the board on June 30. That puts a new card in Gov. David Ige’s hand. Civil Beat.

As laid out by the Army, the Army Reserve’s 100th Battalion, 442nd Infantry Regiment, headquartered in Hawaii, could lose some autonomy — and possibly its famed liberty torch shoulder patch — in its alignment with the 3rd Brigade Combat Team at Schofield Barracks. Star-Advertiser.

Both the Hawaii House and Senate have passed their own version of bills that would ban the sale of certain wildlife parts, including elephant ivory, rhinoceros horn and shark. The bills include some exemptions, including for the age of the ivory and cultural uses. Associated Press.

A top Hawaii lawmaker is delaying a public-records request because of a dispute that could hold up similar requests for years. The outcome will likely determine whether legislators may withhold emails, calendars and other information from the public, which watchdog groups see as crucial to government accountability.  Associated Press.

Oahu

Local rail officials have decided that for the opening of the transit system, they won’t extend the route to Middle Street after all. Star-Advertiser.

City Council Chairman Ernie Martin and at least two other Council members want to mimic Seattle-style public showers and tent cities across Oahu. Star-Advertiser.

Both the city administration and the nonprofit Honolulu Zoo Society need to do more to ensure the longevity of the zoo, particularly providing more stable funding, current and former elected officials insist. Star-Advertiser.

Health officials are reminding Hawaii residents to get rid of mosquito-breeding grounds as the state Department of Health investigates whether four reports of travel-related mosquito-borne illness on Oahu could be the Zika virus, dengue fever or chikungunya. Associated Press.

Hawaii

The projects are being built and soon the bill will come due. A big bond sale last month by term-limited Hawaii County Mayor Billy Kenoi and the County Council will leave the next administration with a heck of a tab to pay. West Hawaii Today.

Three bills signed by the late state Sen. Gil Kahele hours before his death this past January, are moving full steam ahead through the House. Tribune-Herald.

Hawaii County is moving forward with modified plans to improve Kukuihaele Park. A final environmental assessment was released Wednesday for the North Hawaii project. West Hawaii Today.

The Hawaii Community College in Hilo announced its final four candidates for chancellor this week. The four candidates are Larry Buckey, Micheal Glisson, Anthony Munroe and Rachel Solemsass. Pacific Business News.

The public will get a chance next week to hear from four newly selected finalists vying to be Hawaii Community College’s next chancellor. Tribune-Herald.

About 2,412 more people resided in Hawaii County in 2015 than the year prior, newly released data from the U.S. Census Bureau show. The bureau reports Hawaii Island’s population at 196,428 as of July 1, 2015, up from 194,016 the same day in 2014. That’s roughly a 1.2 percent yearly growth rate, or about a seven-person increase each day. Tribune-Herald.

Maui

The County Council budget committee chairman Thursday announced a slate of countywide meetings on Mayor Alan Arakawa's proposed $711.5 million budget while expressing concerns about its 14.6 percent spending increase over the current fiscal year and the assumptions on the county's take of the hotel room tax. Maui News.

Citing a Legislative Reference Bureau report showing declining enrollment at Maui High School beginning in the 2018-19 academic year, state Rep. Bob McDermott of Oahu says a new Kihei high school is not needed and that state funding should go toward building a new high school in West Oahu, which is "exploding in growth." Maui News.

Permit application requests Baldwin estate to become grand vacation rental. The former Baldwin estate in Haiku has a long history as well as a botanical garden with a collection of rare species of tropical trees collected from around the world. Maui News.

Kauai

Mix seasonal changes with chronic erosion, dash in some global warming, coral death and rise in sea level, and top all of that with one mean El Nino year — and you’ve got a cocktail of challenges for Kauai’s coastline. Garden Island.

On Sunday, the debris clogging the Morgan’s Ponds swimming pond and adjacent keiki pond kept people on land. Garden Island.

Lanai

A roughly 20-year dispute over whether a luxury resort golf course on Lanai is improperly tapping the island’s stressed drinking water supply appears headed back to the state Land Use Commission after a court ruling last week. Star-Advertiser.

State agency seeks to save coral, challenges to medical marijuana selection secrecy and care home inspection confidentiality, labor lawsuit dismissed in Maui hospital privatization, bill would ban feeding feral cats on public land, Schatz calls for swift dengue action, illegal vacation rentals targeted on Oahu, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Growing coral faster, courtesy state Department of Land and Natural Resources

The state Department of Land and Natural Resources is establishing a new coral nursery at Sand Island that aims to serve as a sort of “neonatal intensive care unit” to help restore damaged reefs as well as a bank for Hawaii’s native corals. Star-Advertiser.

Officials in Hawaii have come with a plan to grow large chunks of coral in a fraction of the time it would normally take. In doing so, they hope to create a stock of replenishing species to build up damaged or unhealthy reefs in the future. Associated Press.

The Honolulu Star-Advertiser told the state Health Department on Thursday it will file a lawsuit if the agency does not release by the close of business today the names of committee members who will award Hawaii’s first medical marijuana dispensary licenses.

Health Officials: Don’t Make Us Post Care Home Inspections Online. Hawaii health officials say they “strongly supported” a bill that would let them stop following a law they’ve struggled to comply with, but senators killed the measure. Civil Beat.

Hawaii lawmakers are pushing for more police oversight in the wake of incidents that they say chipped away at the public’s trust. Star-Advertiser.

The Honolulu Police Department is opposing an effort to create statewide standards and training for law enforcement officers, while state law enforcement agencies support the proposal. Hawaii News Now.

To help relieve overcrowding in jails, Hawaii lawmakers advanced a bill that would release from custody some misdemeanants — people convicted of misdemeanors. Civil Beat.

State legislators advanced two bills Thursday that address regulation of taxicabs and ride-hailing companies that use smartphones to connect independent drivers with fares. Star-Advertiser.

Charter School Commission Executive Director Tom Hutton is stepping down after three years on the job, having put in place a new accountability system for charter schools and overseen the contentious closure of one of the state’s oldest charter campuses. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii’s airports could have their own governing body in the coming years thanks to a Senate bill seeking to expedite modernization of the state’s key transit system. Tribune-Herald.

A bill to prevent large commercial solar operations from setting up shop in residential neighborhoods is moving ahead at the state Legislature. West Hawaii Today.

House Bill 1668 would authorize any state court to permit the use of a facility dog in a judicial proceeding “involving the testimony of a vulnerable witness if the court determines that there is a compelling necessity for the use of a trained and credential facility dog to facilitate the testimony of a vulnerable witness.” Civil Beat.

Hawaii Attorney General Douglas Chin has filed a complaint in 1st Circuit Court seeking to officially dissolve the defunct Hawaii Health Connector, citing that its assets are being "misapplied or wasted." Pacific Business News.

The state maintained its 2.3 percent growth forecast for Hawaii’s economy this year and raised its projection for visitor arrivals but said it expects tourists to spend less in 2016 than previously anticipated due to the strong U.S. dollar and the weakening of foreign currency. Star-Advertiser.

In the first seven months of the fiscal year general tax fund deposits have surged 7.3 percent compared to the same period in the previous year, according to a statement released by the Department of Taxation. Pacific Business News.

The Center for Public Integrity analyzed lobbying registration data from all 50 states from 2010 through 2014. Civil Beat.

Predator bill could outlaw feeding of feral cats on public land. KITV4.

With the changing face of Hawaii communities, the State Historic Preservation Division will be surveying and documenting residential neighborhoods on Maui, Kauai and Hawaii island. Maui News.

Oahu
The city is turning up the heat against operators of illegal vacation rentals, putting more inspectors in the field and scanning the Internet for advertisements. Star-Advertiser.

The Honolulu Police Department pushed back Thursday against criticism that it isn’t doing enough to catch rapists after it was disclosed that 1,500 rape kits collected from alleged victims of sexual assaults have gone untested. Star-Advertiser.

Some businesses along Kamehameha Highway in Pearl City say they have been suffering because of the rail project. KITV4.

Hawaii
Thursday evening, officials with the Department of Land and Natural Resources considered a rule amendment that would establish the Kaupulehu Marine Reserve, where no marine life could be taken inside of 120 feet of water. The kapu is being proposed to allow the shoreline ecosystems near the Four Seasons Resort Hualalai a chance to recover from what some say has been years of overfishing. West Hawaii Today.

The TMT International Observatory’s decision to consider locations other than Mauna Kea for its next-generation telescope didn’t come as much of a surprise to supporters of the project, given the hurdles it still faces. Tribune-Herald.

U.S. Sen. Brian Schatz called Thursday for a swift response to Hawaii Island’s dengue fever outbreak. Tribune-Herald.

Maui

Maui County Council Chairman Mike White listed an annual income of more than $180,000 and newly appointed Environmental Management Director Stewart Stant won $85,000 from Las Vegas table games, according to financial disclosures recently filed with the Maui County Board of Ethics. Maui News.

A federal judge has denied an effort to halt privatization of three hospitals in Maui County. Civil Beat.

A federal judge dismissed a lawsuit Tuesday filed by the United Public Workers, clearing a potential roadblock to the takeover of operations of three Maui County public hospitals by Kaiser Permanente on July 1. Maui News.

The names of the four candidates vying for the top post in the county Department of Liquor Control were disclosed Wednesday during a county Liquor Commission meeting. Maui News.

A January court ruling invalidating Alexander & Baldwin’s permits to tap millions of gallons of water a day from Maui streams could also affect other companies, farmers and developers that are allowed to use public water without conducting environmental assessments or consulting with Native Hawaiians on whether the use affects taro farming and other customary practices. Star-Advertiser.

There are a handful of bills dealing with industrial hemp before the state legislature this session.   Some lawmakers are looking at ways to help 675 Maui sugar workers who are scheduled to lose their jobs at the end of the year. Hawaii Public Radio.

Kauai

The State Historic Preservation Division will be surveying residential neighborhoods on Kauai, Maui and Hawaii islands, starting this month. Staff will be on Kauai Feb. 16 to 18 and visit Hanalei, Kapaa, Lihue and Hanapepe. Garden Island.

Power outages on the Lihue Airport runway caused a 45-minute delay Wednesday for travelers in Honolulu. Garden Island.

Hawaii kills non-compete clause for high-tech workers, Tetris inventor goes off grid, Hanabusa to discuss Hawaiian homelands, open records less open, Waimanalo landfill could close, $1.2M land money not spent, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Solar Impulse 2 approaches Honolulu, courtesy Solar Impulse

Solar Impulse 2 made its first U.S. landing Friday in Hawaii, an event that highlights the state’s goals to create a clean energy sector that has “tremendous economic potential,” the head of the State Energy Office said after the solar-powered aircraft touched down at Kalaeloa Airport in West Oahu. Pacific Business News.

A plane attempting to fly around the world, powered only by the sun, has landed safely in Hawai‘i. The 4,000 mile flight over the Pacific Ocean was the plane’s longest and most challenging leg. Hawaii Public Radio.

A plane powered by the sun’s rays has landed in Hawaii after a record-breaking five-day journey across the Pacific Ocean from Japan. Associated Press.

A bill that supporters believe will help attract high-tech workers to Hawaii and encourage growth in the local technology sector has been signed into law by Gov. David Ige. Act 158 prohibits technology companies from requiring their workers to enter into "noncompete" agreements as a condition of employment, a change that is supposed to make it easier for technology workers to move from job to job. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii Gov. David Ige signed several health-related bills Thursday as the state Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs unveiled an online service for insurance agents to file general liability and workers compensation coverage information for contractors and pest control operators. Civil Beat.

Gov. David Ige has approved a new exemption from the state open records law that will withhold government records from the public if releasing the information "would create a substantial and demonstrable risk of physical harm" to a person. Star-Advertiser.

The state would halt acceptance of new charter school applications for a year starting next fall under a proposed hiatus before the Hawaii State Public Charter School Commission — a move advocates say would stifle growth of the local charter movement. Star-Advertiser.

Kathryn Xian is determined to get a sex trafficking law in Hawaii, despite opposition from the governor and the Hono­lulu prosecutor. Star-Advertiser.

Oahu

Despite a multiyear waiting list for slips at the Ala Wai Small Boat Harbor, state operators have a vacancy rate above 10 percent, potentially costing the state tens of thousands of dollars annually. Star-Advertiser.

City Councilwoman Kymberly Pine hopes to expedite the closure of the Waimanalo Gulch Sanitary Landfill, a contentious issue prompting years of frustration and concerns. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii Pacific Health is no longer considering an acquisition of Wahiawa General Hospital. Star-Advertiser.

Will the Hammer Fall on Homeless Encampment in Kakaako? After an attack on a legislator, some homeless people expect their tent city to be dismantled. But so far, officials are showing restraint and acknowledging there’s no place else for many of the campers to go. Civil Beat.

Tetris video game inventor Henk Rogers has taken his home off the grid and will announce his new company, Blue Planet Energy Systems, on Monday. The new venture, which will sell and install battery systems for homes and businesses running on solar technology, plans to begin sales on Aug. 1. Star-Advertiser.

Hiking survey shows some Oahu trails bursting at the seams. KITV4.

Hawaii

Almost $1.2 million has accumulated in a special account since voters in 2012 approved setting aside money for nonprofits to compete for grants to help take care of land bought with open space funds. But the county has yet to award its first stewardship grant. West Hawaii Today.

At least two incidents of vehicular violence have been committed atop Mauna Kea against its protectors, even as state agencies accuse protectors of endangering public safety through their blockade. Hawaii Independent.

Encouraged by a sound study showing their noise will have minimal impact on neighbors, backers of the Kona Motorsport Park are pushing for the project to get higher priority at the county. West Hawaii Today.

Medical marijuana dispensaries could start operating on the Big Island next year, after Gov. David Ige this week indicated he would not be vetoing the bill authorizing them. Tribune-Herald.

The Big Island — specifically, Hawaii Volcanoes National Park — saw a boom in visitor numbers in May as people flocked to catch a glimpse of a Madame Pele in action. Tribune-Herald.

Maui

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is seeking public comment on the control or eradication of invasive rodents and mongooses in native Hawaiian ecosystems. Maui News.

The group Stop Cane Burning and three Maui residents Wednesday filed the first lawsuit in the newly established Maui County Environmental Court that challenged as unconstitutional the state Department of Health's issuance of a cane burning permit to Hawaiian Commercial & Sugar Co. Maui News.

Kauai

A pair of proposed federal rules that spell out the process by which the 95-year-old Hawaiian Homes Commission Act should be administered is the topic of a public meeting in Anahola Tuesday night. Colleen Hanabusa, the former U.S. representative and state Senate president, is billed as the guest speaker. Garden Island.

A makeshift junkyard overtaking a stretch of undeveloped land held in trust for Native Hawaiians has grown so problematic that community leaders are binding together in an effort to put a stop to it. Garden Island.

State employees fined for taking gifts from contractors, fire ants slow lava evacuation route, Granny could be liable for child support, Honolulu Police Department under fire, making prison guards work, $28M bonds sought for Hawaii Health Connector, Omidyar gives $100M for Hawaii causes, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Road construction through lava flow, courtesy Hawaii County

Nine mid- to high-level current and former state employees have agreed to pay a total of $34,800 in administrative penalties for allegedly accepting free golf from private contractors, consultants, vendors and other companies that did business with their agencies, the state Ethics Commission announced this week. Star-Advertiser.

Commentary: Gov. David Ige’s Honeymoon Ended With Nomination of Ching. The Governor's Office has arranged meetings between the nominee to head the Department of Land and Natural Resources and his critics, but strong opposition remains.Civil Beat.

Going after grandparents for child support could happen under a new proposal before state lawmakers. HB128 would hold parents of a minor who has a baby financially responsible for their grandchild. KHON2.

A Hawaii state Senate committee is planning to take up a slew of bills that aim to improve elections. The bills are being introduced after Hawaii's recent elections were thrown off track by a series of natural disasters that hit Hawaii's Big Island. Associated Press.

State lawmakers are considering a handful of bills aimed at reforming Hawai‘i’s prison system. One would create and fund a pilot program that would hire part time workers to make sure weekend visitation days are fully staffed. Hawaii Public Radio.

The Hawaii Health Connector, which came under fire by the state auditor last week for the way it spent millions of dollars in federal grants, may be able to borrow as much as $28 million in bonds backed by the state. Star-Advertiser.

House lawmakers smacked down a bill Tuesday that would have created an exemption to the state open records law that one critic called “grossly over-broad.” The Judiciary had included House Bill 287 in its legislative package purportedly over concerns of identity theft and physical security. But it was really about finding a way to let judges, who have to retire at age 70, keep their birthdates secret. Civil Beat.

Kaiser Permanente Hawaii said Tuesday striking union workers picketing at its clinics blocked patients trying to get into the facilities on the second day of a six-day strike. The union denied the accusation. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii could become the first state in the country to adopt energy mandates requiring the state’s utilities to derive 100 percent of their electricity from renewable sources, such as wind, solar and geothermal, if a bill backed by clean energy advocates is approved. Currently, Hawaiian Electric Co., serving Oahu, the Big Island and Maui County, as well as the Kauai Island Utility Cooperative, are required to convert to 40 percent renewable energy by 2030 or face penalties. Civil Beat.

The state Department of Education will be trying out standardized tests for third- and fourth-grade Hawaiian language immersion students in May and is seeking a federal waiver so the students won't have to be tested in both English and Hawaiian. Star-Advertiser.

A federal judge said Tuesday she's inclined to order a settlement conference for both sides of a lawsuit claiming Hawaii discriminates against those with limited English skills. Associated Press.

Opinion: It is time for the Legislature to re-examine why Hawaii has an open meetings law. This year marks the 40th anniversary of the Sunshine Law. Bills pending in the Legislature illustrate how the open meetings law has pulled in different directions over time. Civil Beat.

A superstition that warned people not to get married in the latter half of 2014 led to a drop in weddings in South Korea and may have affected travelers to Hawaii, which many Koreans see as a dream honeymoon destination. Pacific Business News.

Commentary: Pierre Omidyar in Hawaii: The Billionaire in the Corner. Bringing about positive social change in Hawaii isn't cheap or easy, but here's how $100 million has been spent on the effort. Civil Beat.

Oahu

The FBI released semiannual 2014 crime stats for America's biggest cities last week, but don't bother trying to find out how safe — or dangerous — life can be in Honolulu. Even the state attorney general's office that compiles islandwide crime data every year cannot get statistics from the Hono­lulu Police Department on crimes ranging from murder to motor vehicle theft. Star-Advertiser.

The Honolulu Police Department and its chief have faced tough questions about transparency and accountability. The latest Hawaii Poll reveals mixed feelings about HPD's investigations into police shootings and alleged misconduct. Hawaii News Now.

Several Oahu residents who participated in the Hawaii Poll said their opinion of Hono­lulu Police Chief Louis Kea­loha was marred by recent events involving the chief and his wife, Deputy Prosecutor Katherine Kea­loha. The poll showed Oahu residents were nearly split in their opinions of Kea­loha with 32 percent favorable and 28 percent unfavorable. Star-Advertiser.

Cockfights, family abuse and tampering with government records are only a few of the crimes Honolulu police officers were punished for in 2014, according to an annual misconduct report submitted to the Legislature last week. In all, the Honolulu Police Department disciplined 39 officers for 47 incidents that also included surfing on the job, gaming the overtime system, beating up suspects and driving under the influence. Civil Beat.

In its 2014 annual report to the state legislature, Honolulu Police Department only focused on administrative actions taken against officers who were either suspended or discharged for violating the department’s standards of conduct. KHON2.

A state senator representing the Kakaako area asserts that he does in fact reside there — and that he made a mistake claiming homeowner tax exemptions on a property he owns outside his district. Sen. Brickwood Galuteria (D, Kakaako-McCully-Wai­kiki) made those assertions this week after an adviser to his latest general-election challenger filed a complaint with the Honolulu City Clerk's office this past fall. Star-Advertiser.

Sen. Brickwood Galuteria comes clean on tax exemption claims. KITV4.

Opinion: After reading about all the contributions to politicians from rail project contractors, I am struck by the arrogance and contempt our public servants share towards those they have been elected to serve. Civil Beat.

Opinion: A report confirming that Unit Director Michele Carbone ran the UH Cancer Center into the ground can teach us an important lesson about the systemic problems currently killing the University of Hawaii. Hawaii Independent.

Hawaii

A sewer pipe leaking off the Keaukaha coast is going to cost Hawaii County almost $6 million to fix. The County Council Finance Committee on Tuesday voted favorably on Bill 20, to appropriate $4.95 million on top of the $1 million already appropriated to fix the outfall pipe that sends treated sewage three-quarters of a mile into the ocean. West Hawaii Today.

Completion of the Chain of Craters alternate route is being pushed further back thanks to a tiny pest that already has taken over much of East Hawaii. Hawaii County Public Works Director Warren Lee said little fire ants have been found in baseyards supporting the approximately 8-mile road construction project that will reconnect Highway 130 with Chain of Craters Road in Hawaii Volcanoes National Park. Tribune-Herald.

A bill adding transparency and public input to the process of creating planned unit developments sailed through the County Council Planning Committee on Tuesday. The committee unanimously agreed to a positive recommendation for Bill 281, which now heads to two council votes. West Hawaii Today.

State legislators will hear from the Hawaii Island Family Residency Program’s inaugural class members as organizers support multiple bills seeking funding to keep the program going. Tribune-Herald.

A Hawaii County Police Department sergeant facing domestic abuse and terroristic threatening charges will make his initial court appearance next month. West Hawaii Today.

University of Hawaii will host meetings this week regarding an environmental impact statement for expanding its lease on Mauna Kea. The open houses are slated for 5:30-8 p.m. today at the Department of Hawaiian Homelands office in Waimea and Thursday at the ‘Imiloa Astronomy Center in Hilo. Tribune-Herald.

Maui

Acknowledging that Maui County residents are dealing with substandard internet browsing speeds, the County of Maui has hired Joel Ogren of the U.S. Navy-sponsored Applied Research Laboratory at the University of Hawaii to “evaluate, develop and recommend a preliminary telecommunications strategy for Maui County,” according to a Feb. 2 county news release. MauiTime.

Kauai

A Kauai Island Utility Cooperative committee has confirmed eight candidates who will run for three seats on its board of directors, the Lihue-based utility said Tuesday. Pacific Business News.

A public hearing on proposed medical marijuana rules is scheduled to take place at 10:30 a.m. Thursday in the basement room of the State Office Building, 3060 Eiwa Street in Lihue. Garden Island.

Sara Lee Silverman was reappointed to a second term as a Kauai District Court Judge. Garden Island.

Affordable housing lacking, Kaiser strike looming, Maui in trouble over injection wells, medical marijuana hearings begin, Coco Palms permits deferred, tempers flare over military meeting, geothermal drilling at issue, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Apartments in Honolulu © 2015 All Hawaii News

The cost of renting a home in Hawaii has jumped at least 10 percent over the past two years, according to a new study. And given the lack of construction of affordable units, the state’s housing crisis is projected to get worse. Civil Beat.

Hawai’i’s need for more affordable rental housing was the subject  of a briefing today before a Joint Legislative Housing Committee. Hawaii Public Radio.

Hawaii housing officials are reminding lawmakers that low-income families need more affordable housing. Associated Press.

Workers at Kaiser Permanente’s hospital and clinics in Hawaii plan to strike for six days beginning Feb. 2, the union representing them said Friday. Associated Press.

Kaiser Permanente Hawaii will temporarily close down 10 of its smaller clinics on Oahu and the neighbor islands during a planned six-day strike by nearly 1,900 union workers, or about 43 percent of its workforce. The state's largest health maintenance organization announced Tuesday that it will reschedule elective procedures and nonurgent appointments and close the smaller clinics while consolidating resources to its larger medical facilities. Star-Advertiser.

Kaiser Permanente Hawaii said Tuesday it plans to close 10 clinics on Oahu, Maui and Big Island and consolidate operations to its larger facilities next week, when unionized workers plan to walk off the job in what would be Unite Here! Local 5's first statewide strike in nearly 30 years. Pacific Business News.

Senate Committee Defers Public Records Bill. The Office of Information Practices objected to legislation requiring government agencies to maintain public records better. Civil Beat.

The Office of Information Practices, the agency responsible for making sure state officials and agencies are complying with open meeting and public records requirements of state law, is looking for a new home. Top on the wish list seems to be an administrative base where OIP can enjoy independence from undue political interference, and also minimize the inevitable conflicts that come from being part of state government while at the same time trying to hold state agencies and departments accountable. Civil Beat.

The state attorney general is asking the Legislature to pay more than $1 million to a former prison inmate who claims he became infertile because state prison doctors failed to properly treat him for an infection, and more than $450,000 to a woman whom a state jury found was sexually assaulted by a guard at the Hawaii Youth Correctional Facility. Star-Advertiser.

Randy Iwase, the man who may be in charge of helping to shape Hawaii's energy scene came out of retirement because he believes he and other stakeholders have a duty to set a foundation for a sustainable renewable energy future for the state. Pacific Business News.

Opinion: Hawaii Needs An Effective Opposition Party. Republicans need a new strategy — and soon — if they're going to be the balancing political voice this state sorely needs. Civil Beat.

Volunteers are surveying the number of homeless people in Hawaii, counting those living in shelters or on the streets. The annual Point-in-Time count started Monday and will be conducted through Friday. Associated Press.

Living Hawaii: Who Can Afford to Retire in the Islands? Civil Beat.

Oahu

Tempers flared at a military meeting in Waikiki Tuesday night as Army leaders from the Pentagon invite the public to express how much of an impact a possible troop reduction in Hawaii could have. Hawaii News Now.

As the Army considers downsizing on Oahu, a theory making the rounds is that if Schofield Barracks and Wheeler Army Airfield close, the state would inherit lots of family housing and barracks for the public that could offset a housing crunch. Star-Advertiser.

U.S. Army Garrison-Hawaii is holding two meetings, known as listening sessions, this week to get public feedback on possible troop reductions or restructuring here in Hawaii. Military spending is the second largest industry in Hawaii behind tourism. KHON2.

Under the $1.55 billion full funding grant agreement signed between the city, the Honolulu Authority for Rapid Transportation and the Federal Transit Administration on Dec. 19, 2012, Honolulu must build an elevated rail line that’s 20 miles long, features 21 stations and has 80 rail cars. In addition, the rail line must open to the public by the revenue service date of Jan. 31, 2020. KITV4.

Hawaiian Electric Co. can safely connect almost 10 times the amount of solar generation the electric utility currently allows, according to a recent test sponsored in part by HECO. Star-Advertiser.

Opinion:  Stop broadcast license renewals for the Raycom Media cartel. The danger of the Hawaii News Now media monopoly. Hawaii Independent.

Hawaii

Big Island residents will be able to weigh in today on a number of administrative rule changes related to Hawaii’s medical marijuana program. Among the proposed changes are a new process for the Department of Health to consider approval of additional medical conditions to be covered by the state’s medical marijuana program; a new system of application processing, registrations, monitoring and disciplinary actions; physician requirements to participate in the program; registration of qualifying patients and primary caregivers; monitoring and corrective action; and procedures for maintaining confidentiality for patients and caregivers. Tribune-Herald.

Does Hawaii County’s nighttime drilling ban apply to Puna Geothermal Venture? That’s a question the County Council will grapple with again next week as the geothermal power plant in Pohoiki starts another around-the-clock drilling project to build a new well. Tribune-Herald.

Celebration hosted for Kona’s newest “lifeline” road. West Hawaii Today.

Residents of the Kona Ocean View subdivision finally have their water. But they will have to wait a little longer before the roads are put back together. The county Water Board on Tuesday agreed to add $183,150 and extend to Feb. 28 its contract with Koga Engineering and Construction Inc. so the contractor can repave subdivision roads that were in worse shape than first thought. West Hawaii Today.

Maui

For the second time in less than a year, a federal judge has ruled that the use of injection wells at Maui County's sewage treatment plant in Lahaina violates the federal Clean Water Act, a finding that could lead to a large penalty. Star-Advertiser.

A federal judge effectively ruled Friday that all four injection wells at the Lahaina wastewater facility are "illegal" and in violation of the Clean Water Act, leaving the county open to tens of thousands of dollars a day in civil penalties, a lawyer for a group suing the county over the wells said. Maui News.

Maui legislators and county officials said Hawaii Gov. David Ige gave a "very positive" and "pleasant" speech Monday morning at the state Capitol, though it was what he didn't say in his first State of the State address that caught some attention. Maui News.

Kauai

In what marked their first bid to rebuild the Coco Palms Resort, developers from Coco Palms Hui LLC were greeted on Tuesday with a mixture of praise and skepticism before the county board charged with approving the building permits for their $135 million restoration project. The County Planning Commission unanimously deferred any decisions on the project until their 9 a.m. meeting on Feb. 10, but not before residents and visitors alike shared their two cents on renewed efforts to restore and reconstruct the Wailua resort, which has been closed since Hurricane Iniki struck Kauai in 1992. Garden Island.

Hawaii Dairy Farms has submitted an environmental impact statement preparation notice to the state Department of Health for its proposed $17.5 million dairy in Mahaulepu Valley. It is the first step in moving forward with the study, which HDF has agreed to conduct voluntarily in light of public concern surrounding the project. Garden Island.