Hawaii transportation: Rapid transit, fast ferry, more cycles, higher vehicle taxes, Board of Education considers ditching its buses, more news

A bill that would establish a state-controlled, high-speed ferry system, much like the ill-fated Hawaii Superferry, cleared the Senate Transportation Committee yesterday. Star-Advertiser.

A Census worker cleared of trespassing last year after entering a Hawaii County police officer's property lost his bid Monday to have the officer and two others disciplined for their actions. West Hawaii Today.

To meet proposed budget reductions for the coming fiscal year, the Department of Education is considering getting rid of school bus service on Oahu, slashing the amount of per-student funding that schools receive by up to 6 percent and eliminating $11 million for special programs.Star-Advertiser.

Two proposals are moving through the legislature that would add to the cost of registering a car. KHON2.

Too many bills lacking cost or fiscal analysis are flowing through the state Legislature as Hawaii grapples with pension taxes and funding its schools, says a member of a conservative think tank on Oahu. Tribune-Herald.

A former employee with the state Department of Land and Natural Resources is under investigation by the attorney general. KHON2.

As Maui emergency officials prepared for the arrival of the tsunami from Japan on March 10, the new iPhones to coordinate their response were useless. KITV4.

Appraisers with the county’s real property assessment office will be conducting an island-wide review of all dwellings throughout the month of April and possibly part of May. Garden Island.

Command of U.S. Army Pacific changed hands yesterday in a ceremony reflecting Fort Shafter's multifaceted responsibilities, including the crisis in Japan, wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, and relations with Asia-Pacific nations. Star-Advertiser.

The 80 rail transit cars for the city's $5.5 billion project will cost $574 million to build. Star-Advertiser.

Troubles meeting deadlines have plagued the company awarded the $574 million contract to provide rail cars and a control center for Honolulu. Civil Beat.

City Says Rail Contracts Coming in Under Budget; Critics Not Convinced. Hawaii Reporter.

Italy, famous for its food, architecture, and art can apparently build a pretty good train too. Hawaii News Now.

Gas Prices Driving Up Moped, Motorcycle Business. KITV4.

Hawaii law enforcement is looking for a tool straight out of a TV cop show. Hawaii Public Radio.

Only about 20 percent of former Hansenís disease patients who died in Kalaupapa have been given a proper grave, but with a commemorative memorial on the way, the remaining 80 percent will finally be recognized. Molokai Dispatch.

New cruise ships coming, stinky people to be banned from The Bus, hotel workers jobs in limbo

Hawaii's cruise market, which had declined this year 22.9 percent through July, is likely to become more buoyant in 2010 and 2011 when two major cruise lines expand their island presence.

The Honolulu City Council is considering a bill that will make it illegal to "bring onto transit property odors that unreasonably disturb others or interfere with their use of the transit system, whether such odors arise from one's person, clothes, articles, accompanying animal or any other source."

The fate of 380 jobs is in limbo as a lender searches for a new company to manage the Maui Prince Hotel and Makena North Golf course.

With a pending foreclosure and uncertainty about continued funding for Makena Resort operations, the Maui Prince Resort gave notice to employees Monday that it would terminate its management contract and cease being the hotel and golf course operator as of Sept. 16.

Maui County police ordered mandatory evacuations on Sunday after winds changed course, causing a brushfire on Molokai to switch direction from mauka to makai

A wildfire that threatened dozens of homes and business in Kaunakakai over the weekend is now endangering native forests.

The Lingle administration vowed yesterday that a new, state-sponsored medical insurance program for legal immigrants will not endanger the lives of Micronesians in Hawai'i who need kidney dialysis or chemo- therapy.

A bill that would increase restrictions on drinking in Kauai county parks took another step toward becoming law when it passed out of committee during last week’s Kaua‘i County Council meeting at the Historic County Building.