Public Safety Director Espinda confirmed, no budget surplus tax refunds this year, Maui may withdraw injection well appeal, Kauai officials get raises, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Hawaii Public Safety Director Nolan Espinda, courtesy photo

Hawaii Senate reconfirms Public Safety Department leader Nolan Espinda. Nolan Espinda was confirmed by the Senate to lead Hawaii’s Department of Public Safety for another four years, but he will do so amid numerous internal and external investigations into a recent riot at the Maui jail that took more than three hours to contain, and the fatal shootings of an Oahu jail inmate and homeless man outside the state Capitol. Star-Advertiser.

The Hawaii Senate voted 17-8 on Wednesday to reconfirm Public Safety Director Nolan Espinda for another term. The Senate’s vote came after a tumultuous couple of months for Espinda and his department. Civil Beat.

State Public Safety Director Nolan Espinda was confirmed by the Hawaii Senate Wednesday after critical remarks by several of his opponents. Hawaii Public Radio.

After intense debate, senators vote to reconfirm embattled Public Safety head. Hawaii News Now.

Senate votes to reconfirm Public Safety Director Nolan Espinda. KHON2.

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Lawmakers decline to issue budget surplus refunds. State lawmakers have decided to make a modest $5 million deposit into the state’s “rainy day” budget reserve fund instead of issuing taxpayer refunds from the state budget surplus this year. Star-Advertiser.

Supporters, critics of $15 minimum wage make last-minute appeals to lawmakers. The deadline to raising Hawaii’s minimum wage is getting closer and both sides of the debate have strong opinions on the issue. Hawaii News Now.

State To Housing Applicants: Sign Up Online Or Lose Your Spot On Wait List. Nearly 14,000 applicants for public housing in Hawaii must sign up online or risk losing their spot in line for one of about 6,100 federal and state-subsidized low-income housing units. Civil Beat.

Members of AARP urged Hawaii lawmakers to save a bill that would help residents save for retirement. They rallied outside the capitol Wednesday hoping to push Senate Bill 1374, which would create a "Hawaii Saves Retirement Savings Program." KITV.

Lost Your Firearm? You Have To Report It. Hawaii’s governor signed the enabling legislation into law Wednesday. Civil Beat.

Attorney general investigates use of illegal GPS jammers by DOCARE officers. The state Attorney General’s Office is investigating the use of illegal GPS jammers by state conservation officers. Hawaii News Now.

Are Medical Costs Dropping Under HMSA's New Doctor Payment Plan? HMSA now pre-pays primary care doctors with a capped amount per patient. The new system has been in place for two years, and the jury is still out on whether it's met its goal of lowering medical costs and improving the quality of care. Hawaii Public Radio.

Oahu

Honolulu leads state in population loss, Census finds. Honolulu was the biggest population loser over the eight-year period, having posted a net loss of more than 61,700 residents from domestic migration — residents leaving Oahu for other U.S. counties versus newcomers arriving. Star-Advertiser.

A Nonprofit Honolulu Rehab Center Mixes Taxpayer Support With Lavish Pay. The executive director of the nonprofit Sand Island Treatment Center has been paid as much as $500,000 a year — and many counselors make over $100,000 — far in excess of their peers in Hawaii. Civil Beat.

Residents run into red tape in push to tackle squatters’ village in Kalihi Valley. Homeless squatters have built a new village in Kalihi Valley, and the city says they can’t evict them. Hawaii News Now.

Lawsuit filed raises allegations of conspiracy and abuse against HPD and several officers. KHON2.

Public input still open for "Oahu's First Pedestrian Plan". The City and County of Honolulu wants to improve pedestrian safety by creating "Oahu's First Pedestrian Plan" to update streets. It's currently taking public feedback of pedestrian areas that need additional safety measures. KHON2.

Hawaii Island

DLNR Chair Gives Pohakuloa, Mauna Kea, TMT Update. During the nomination hearing before the Senate Water & Land Committee, Sen. Kai Kahele asked DLNR chair Suzanne Case for an update on the hot-button land management issues. Big Island Video News.

Council approves software upgrade. The County Council approved a three-year, $320,000 software license Wednesday that the administration said will fix the problem holding up the county’s $2.3 million building permit system as well as improve geographic information systems at the Civil Defense Agency, Mass Transit Agency and other county departments. West Hawaii Today.

Gov. Ige Releases $1.9M for New Waikoloa Public Library. Ige released $1.9 million in Capital Improvement Project funds on Wednesday, April 24, 2019, to buy a 1.750-acre parcel for a new Waikoloa Public Library. Big Island Now.

Maui

Council looks to have final say over injection wells settlement. Chairwoman King wants to see county withdraw appeal from US Supreme Court. Maui News.

Tsuhako approved as housing director. Lori Tsuhako was unanimously approved as director of Housing and Human Concerns on Tuesday by the Maui County Council. Maui News.

Kauai

Raises get green light. Raises for some county officials and employees were approved Wednesday. Garden Island.

Homeless camp cleared. In what is the start of an islandwide homeless encampment sweep, government agencies began removing unauthorized property and persons on a parcel of state land along Rice Street Wednesday morning. Garden Island.

Research rockets launched from PMRF. The U.S. Department of Energy’s National Nuclear Security Administration and Sandia National Laboratories launched two research rockets this week from the Pacific Missile Range Facility. Garden Island.

Long lines, limited parking expected as Hawaii Volcanoes National Park reopens Saturday, 15% of Hawaii young men not registered with Selective Service, Hawaii County scales down special session emergency fund request, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Map of Hawaii Volcanoes National Park reopening plan

Hawaii Volcanoes National Park is on track to open Saturday at 10 a.m., with free admission on that day, the National Park Service said today. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii Volcanoes National Park preps for reopening. While Hawaii Volcanoes National Park reopens Saturday, visitors might find it hard to park. Tribune-Herald.

The reopening of areas in the park, which go into effect by 10:00 a.m. on September 22, are listed in a new map published by the National Park Service. Big Island Video News.

This Saturday will mark a new beginning for Hawaii Volcanoes National Park. More than 130 days since explosions, ash plumes and earthquakes forced it to close, the park is set to reopen. KITV.

HVNP Reopening, Expect Limited Parking & Long Lines. Big Island Now.

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State Department of Education Proposes Increases For Executive-Level Salaries. The proposed raises would be at slightly lower percentages than DOE employees represented by unions. Overall, the executive-level increases would shift the salary range for complex area superintendents to $135,000-$170,000 from $125,000-$163,589. Pay for the seven assistant superintendents would increase to $145,000-$175,000 from $143,023-$167,353. The annual salary for the deputy superintendent — who is second in command to the school superintendent — would increase to a range of $155,000-$180,000 from $143,023-$167,353. Civil Beat.

Hawaii income stats climb, but so does the cost of living. Hawaii household and family incomes rose again last year to remain among the highest in the nation, according to the latest information from the U.S. Census Bureau. Star-Advertiser.

Fifteen percent of Hawaii’s young men aren't registered with the U.S. Selective Service System, which means they might not be eligible for major federal benefits. Hawaii News Now.

Innovative New Program Plugs Some Holes In Mental Health Care System. A new network of providers and social workers is teaming up to get mental health patients the treatment they need. Civil Beat.

Chairman’s Death Comes At Crucial Time For Pacific Fishery Council. Edwin Ebisui was among the leaders pushing the Trump administration to reopen restricted waters to commercial fishing. Civil Beat.

Several Hawaii banks are enacting financial assistance programs for customers impacted by the heavy rains and flooding brought on by Tropical Storm Olivia last week. Pacific Business News.

Hawaiian Tax-Free Trust named Cathy Luke and Randy Perreira to its board in anticipation of the retirement of current trustees Richard Humphreys and Russell Okata. Pacific Business News.

Oahu

Rail transit: Town-bound tension piles up. Some business operators and residents who attended a Monday night briefing on the arrival of rail construction in the Kalihi-­to-Ala Moana region left feeling anxious about the future. Star-Advertiser.

Water utility offers breaks for affordable housing builders. The Honolulu Board of Water Supply has agreed to offer those who build affordable housing units on Oahu a break on BWS charges in an effort to spur construction. Star-Advertiser.

New proposal could pave the way for more restricted parking zones in Honolulu. It would require residents living in the area to have a placard proving they live there. The bill specifically mentions areas near universities and hospitals. KHON2.

Two new projects geared at pedestrians are heading to the Waikiki and Ala Moana areas. Recently revived plans to build a pedestrian and bicycle bridge over the Ala Wai Canal, linking Waikiki to McCully, are moving forward. KHON2.

Waimanalo residents concerned about pollution of Kaupo Beach. A homeless encampment tucked away downhill on the makai side of Kalanianaole Highway is causing some in the Waimanalo community to push for action. KITV.

Waikiki Shell officially named after concert promoter Tom Moffatt. A special renaming ceremony was held Sunday at the venue, where the beloved local personality and concert promoter known simply as "Uncle Tom" put on a host of big shows. Hawaii News Now.

Koko Nuts Koalition: We Will Help Repair Koko Head Trail. The City and County of Honolulu is considering ways to develop partnerships to refurbish and maintain the iconic Koko Head Trail. Hawaii Public Radio.

A rental housing tower in downtown Kapolei for seniors with low incomes is set to start construction after several years of planning. Star-Advertiser.

Two Oahu neighborhoods with single-family home median prices below the record islandwide median of $810,000 saw increases in sales of more than 25 percent in August, according to a report by the Honolulu Board of Realtors. Pacific Business News.

Hawaii Island

Based on feedback from lawmakers, county scales down lava recovery wish list. A decision on a whether there will be a special session of the state Legislature to consider disaster relief funding appropriation, especially for Puna communities impacted by lava from Kilauea volcano’s lower East Rift Zone eruption, needs to be made soon. Tribune-Herald.

The group of Hawaii Island residents standing post at the entrance to Mauna Kea Access Road are on the verge of being kicked out. KITV.

Beneficiaries spoke out about the problems plaguing the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands during a community meeting held Monday night in Keaukaha. Big Island Video News.

Pohoiki Boat Ramp Could Be Used Again. The Hawaii Department of Land and Resources reports that a damage assessment of the formerly popular Pohoiki Boat Ramp area, along the lower Puna coast, shows no damage to the ramp itself. However, an estimated 14,000 cubic yards of black sand, deposited during the recent East Rift Zone eruption, completely rings and blocks the entrance to the small boat ramp. Big Island Now.

The Hawaii Department of Land and Natural Resources has produced a video update on two, transformed Puna beach parks following the eruption of Kilauea. Big Island Video News.

A village of tiny homes — built by the community — welcomes first lava evacuees. Several Puna families who have spent months living in an eruption evacuee shelter moved into places of their own on Tuesday. Hawaii News Now.

Pahoa shelter closes leaving legacy of help, complaints. Pahoa’s emergency evacuation center opened in a hurry at 4:15 p.m. May 3 and over the next 136 days offered a lifeline to people forced from their homes by the Kilauea eruption. Star-Advertiser.

Maui

Council to discuss call for audit of DOE. Resolution part of opposition to proposed school property tax ballot amendment. Maui News.

Last ex-officer in bribery scheme sentenced. Unlike other defendants, Ahuna does not receive jail time. Maui News.

The US Department of Health and Human Services will award $1,000,000 in federal funding to Maui Family Support Services to support the Quality Care for Hawaiian Keiki Project. Maui Now.

Why your television isn't getting a signal on Maui. We're told a special fiber cable that provides OTA transmission to Maui is no longer functioning. The line feeds all of the broadcasters transmitters on Maui.  KHON2.

Masons add another course of cinderblocks to the South Maui Community Park Recreation Center earlier this month. The 34,000-square-foot facility is scheduled to be finished by the end of next March. Maui News.

Maui County currently has a shortage of 141 doctors, up slightly from the 139 in 2017, according to a recent Hawaii physician workforce survey by the University of Hawaii. Maui News.

A Brown Water Advisory has been issued for waters from Waihee to Kahului in Central Maui and Honokohau to the Honua Kai property in West Maui. Maui Now.

Old Makena Hotel coming down piece by piece. Maui News.

Kauai

Teachers’ union stands behind amendment. In November’s general election, voters will consider a constitutional amendment that would give the Legislature the authority to establish a surcharge on investment real property to support public education. Garden Island.

A meeting of County of Kauai committees is set for 8:30 a.m. today. Garden Island.

Kauai is gearing up to build the next double-hulled voyaging canoe on Hawaii and now the organization heading up the project has five acres in Kalihiwai to do it. Garden Island.

FCC advisors investigate false missile scare, FBI probes Honolulu prosecutor as Ethics Commission drops charges, big raises for Big Island mayor, County Council, federal complaint over Takai campaign account, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Cold War stockpiles on Oahu, courtesy HI-EMA

Gov. David Ige and Hawaii Emergency Management Agency Administrator Vern Miyagi will brief state lawmakers today on the ballistic missile attack false alarm that frightened residents and tourists across Hawaii on Saturday. Star-Advertiser.

Investigators with the Federal Communications Commission met with state officials and members of the media at the Diamond Head Emergency Operations Center on Thursday. Hawaii News Now.

Advisors from the Federal Communications Commission are in Hawaii looking for answers after Saturday's false alert. KITV.

Everything you need to know about Hawaii's false ballistic missile alert in one place. Hawaii News Now.

State’s missile alert program rife with problems, Kim says. Hawaii County Mayor Harry Kim says the state needs to reassess everything about its missile warning program, not just what led to last week’s false alarm that caused panic across Hawaii.  Tribune-Herald.

In the alert’s aftermath, some seek comfort in guns, MREs and supplies. Star-Advertiser.

Heartbreaking moment on social media when man puts child down manhole during false missile alarm. KITV.

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Republican gubernatorial candidate John Carroll has dubbed Democratic Gov. David Ige as “Doomsday David” and is calling on him to resign in the wake of Saturday’s ballistic missile false alarm. Star-Advertiser.

A nonprofit campaign finance watchdog in Washington, D.C., has filed a formal complaint with the Federal Election Commission against the campaign treasurer for the late Congressman Mark Takai, alleging that Dylan Beesley “illegally converted the late Congressman’s leftover campaign funds to personal use.” Star-Advertiser.

Complaint Filed Over Use Of Late Congressman’s Campaign Funds. The Campaign Legal Center says Dylan Beesley illegally converted funds to his own use after death of U.S. Rep. Mark Takai. Civil Beat.

Residents are urged to help combat climate change. The Hawaii Sea Level Rise Vulnerability and Adaptation Report, adopted by the Hawaii Climate Commission at the end of December and delivered to the state Legislature, projects climate change-driven sea level rise of 3.2 feet over the next 30 to 70 years. Star-Advertiser.

Here’s How Climate Change Is Already Threatening Hawaii. We’ve seen flooded streets and washed out beaches, but even the birds, the animals and the forests are being affected by global warming. Civil Beat.

State says it is past time to address climate change. Garden Island.

New questions in homeless survey aimed at better understanding lives of those on streets. Hundreds of volunteers are gearing up to canvass the state next week in an effort to count every person living on the street. Hawaii News Now.

Coming soon: Online inspection reports for neighbor island restaurants. KHON2.

Solar installations surged in 2017 while permits declined. Solar installations across Hawaiian Electric Cos.’ service territories rose in 2017 by the most megawatts in five years even as the number of permits that were issued continued a multiyear downward trend. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii solar installations see largest gain in 5 years, driven by rooftop solar. Hawaiian Electric Cos. said it added more than 100 megawatts of solar energy across its service territories in 2017. Pacific Business News.

Civil Beat: The 2018 legislative session. KITV.

Thousands of native Hawaiians turned out for the Onipaa Kakou march yesterday. The event commemorated the 125th Anniversary of the overthrow of the Hawaiian Kingdom. Hawaii Public Radio.

Oahu

FBI corruption investigation targets city prosecutor. Honolulu prosecuting attorney Keith Kaneshiro is the target of an FBI investigation into corruption at the highest levels of law enforcement on Oahu. Hawaii News Now.

Katherine Kealoha cleared of ethics claims despite charges. The attorney for the man who filed an ethics complaint against embattled lawyer and Honolulu Deputy Prosecutor Katherine Kealoha has called for the removal of the leader of the Office of Disciplinary Counsel because he cleared Kealoha of wrongdoing. Associated Press.

Mayor’s Affordable Housing Mandate Loses Ground. A City Council committee agrees to incentives for developers, but hesitates to impose requirements to build affordable units. Civil Beat.

1 of 2 affordable housing bills moves. A City Council committee gave preliminary approval Thursday to one bill that’s considered a key component of Mayor Kirk Caldwell’s affordable housing strategy, but held off taking a vote on a companion measure. Star-Advertiser.

Officers At Bar Shooting Denied City-Paid Legal Defense. They were off-duty, out of uniform and drinking when HPD Sgt. Anson Kimura accidentally shot a bartender. Civil Beat.

At Kualoa Ranch, a real WWII-era bunker came in pretty handy this weekend. Hawaii News Now.

State Department of Health officials said this morning they are investigating a possible case of hepatitis A in a Mapunapuna restaurant employee. Star-Advertiser.

Volunteers collect 10,000 pounds of invasive algae from Maunalua Bay. KHON2.

Hawaii Island

Raises approved: Mayor, County Council, others get big hikes. The Salary Commission approved raises up to 34.6 percent Thursday, while a County Council member has introduced a charter amendment to slow down the money train. West Hawaii Today.

Neighbors push back against resort project. The Leeward Planning Commission Thursday held off on approving a slate of requests from Waikoloa BC, LLC, related to a proposed 40-unit resort development. West Hawaii Today.

A crowd showed up to the Leeward Planning Commission meeting in Kealakehe on Thursday to share their opinion on a small resort complex being proposed for the cherished sandy beach of Anaehoomalu. Big Island Video News.

Power generation up but number of Big Island permits down. Tribune-Herald.

Maui

Haleakala sunrise reservations gone in minutes; tweaks considered. Waitlist, cancellation capability mulled but changes not likely soon because park lacks control over system. Maui News.

It’s been two days since the latest road work started on Tuesday on the Honoapiilani between Keawe Street and Kapunakea Street. Maui Now.

Aloha Recycling HI5 redemption centers reopened early Thursday afternoon after closing a day earlier over alleged late payment from the state Department of Health. Maui News.

Kauai

Coco Palms continued. Thursday’s continuance in the Coco Palms civil case was continued again to this morning because Hawaiian language interpreter Kumu Hina wasn’t present. Garden Island.

UH pay hikes questioned, Honolulu suffers sewage spills, renters may purchase solar power, former state officials join HMSA, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

University of Hawaii at Hilo ©2017 All Hawaii News

Lawmakers question big pay hikes at UH. Some lawmakers are blasting a decision by the University of Hawaii to award $800,000 in pay raises and merit-based bonuses to university executives. Star-Advertiser.

End of tax write-off for premium seats may hit hard at UH. In good years UH has grossed as much as $4.4 million annually from its premium seat contributions and parking initiatives, or as much as 10 percent of the revenue it takes to run the 21-team athletic program in Manoa. Star-Advertiser.

The Hawaii Department of Education is thinking up new ways to attract teachers to the state to address an ongoing teacher shortage, starting with looking at teacher-exchange programs with other countries. Civil Beat.

Hawaii Medical Service Association has hired two high-profile former state employees. Kathryn Matayoshi, former superintendent of the Department of Education, was hired to lead the sales team, and former state representative Pono Chong is joining Hawaii’s largest health plan as a lobbyist. Star-Advertiser.

A new Community-Based Renewable Energy program is designed to open the door for people previously shut out of the solar market. Hawaii’s long-awaited Community-Based Renewable Energy Program is designed to let residents, including renters, buy their electricity from off-site producers of renewable power. Civil Beat.

Rental Housing Report. A recent study that tracks rental housing across the country throws some light on the plight of families in Honolulu and Hilo as they struggle to make rent spending more than a third of their salary for housing. Hawaii Public Radio.

Filing error overvalues Island Air's assets. Hawaiian Holdings Inc. (Nasdaq: HA), the parent of Hawaiian Airlines, last week agreed to pay $750,000 for the assets of its now defunct competitor. Due to the filing error, Hawaiian will now only have to pay $625,000. Pacific Business News.

The Rat Lungworm Task Force. The State Department of Health has created a Rat Lungworm Task Force to look at this daunting disease. Hawaii Public Radio.

Oahu

Suits Against Honolulu Cops Cite ‘Culture Of Silence’ At HPD. An attorney says the incidents that injured his clients could have been prevented if officers had been disciplined in the past. Civil Beat.

About 6,200 gallons of raw sewage spilled into Honolulu Harbor today after a clogged pipe caused waste water to seep out of a manhole near Pier 38, a Department of Environmental Services spokesman said. Star-Advertiser.

Oahu grapples with 3 large sewage spills over 2 days. Hawaii News Now.

Homeowner at center of Portlock beach access debate suffers stroke and wife blames city. Hawaii News Now.

A former employee at Waianae's largest medical facility has been indicted for the alleged theft of thousands of boxes of diabetic test strips that were later sold on the black market. Hawaii News Now.

A 69-year-old woman accused of stealing millions of dollars from an Oahu non-profit pleaded not guilty in court Tuesday. Lola Jean Amorin is accused of taking $7 million from stealing millions of dollars from an Oahu non-profit pl The Arc in Hawaii, a non-profit that provides services for those with intellectual and developmental disabilities. KITV.

Efforts are underway to save the Falls of Clyde. A year and a half after she was impounded by the state Harbors Division, the historic Falls of Clyde may be heading home to her birthplace of Scotland this summer. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii DLNR

Albatross colony at Kaena Point gets new life. Conservationists last week teamed up with the U.S. Navy to translocate 21 Laysan albatross eggs to Kaena Point Natural Area Reserve from the Pacific Missile Range Facility on Kauai. Star-Advertiser.

For aircraft safety (and theirs), 21 albatross eggs relocated to Oahu. Twenty-one fertilized Laysan albatross eggs have been taken from a colony on Kauai, where the protected birds are an aircraft strike hazard. Hawaii News Now.

One of the state’s largest charities is worried it will have less money to help those in need next year because of tax changes that take effect next month. KHON2.

Honolulu-based Hawaiian Islands Land Trust will honor Henk Rogers and Blue Planet Foundation, the clean energy nonprofit he founded, at its 17th annual Buy Back the Beach: Malama Kipuka Benefit Luau on Jan. 20. Pacific Business News.

Paradise Park founder had knack for numbers and real estate. James Wong is probably most known for establishing Paradise Park in Manoa Valley. But he also developed real estate on Oahu, taught accounting at Chaminade College and in recent years lobbied for bills at the Legislature to improve affordable-housing production. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii Island

Five Big Island regions are especially vulnerable to contamination from cesspools, a state report says. The Dec. 19 report to the Legislature by the Department of Health says the Big Island is home to more than half of the state’s 87,900 cesspools, and has five of the 14 areas prioritized for cleanup. West Hawaii Today.

A driver’s insurance policy should cover the cost of replacing approximately 15 headstones damaged or destroyed after a vehicle plowed into Hilo’s Alae Cemetery last week, according to the Hawaii County Department of Parks and Recreation. But the department is still asking family members to call so they can help replace the grave markers. Tribune-Herald.

Maui

Adult Correction Officer Recruitment Opens on Maui. Maui Now.

November home sales sizzle with strong demand. Low inventory makes it a hot sellers’ market. Maui News.

Lost funding has put brakes on local Read Aloud program. Cost cutting has led to loss of vans, use of U-Haul vehicles. Maui News.

1,275 Rocks Returned to Haleakala in 2017. Letters of apology to Pele, the Hawaiian goddess of fire and volcanoes, often accompany these rocks. Maui Now.

Kauai

Coastline changes. While geologists say shifting sands aren’t unusual, it’s a prediction of what could be coming in the next few decades and scientists say long-term studies of the area are necessary. Garden Island.

Expedia Travel featured Lihue as one of the best vacation destinations in America to escape the winter, mainly because its average temperatures in January reach a warm 78 degrees and drop to a comfortable 65 degrees. Garden Island.

Record low unemployment rate, feds charge Maui police with witness tampering, state hospital escapee goes on-air, police get raises, monster house bill advances at Honolulu City Council, Hawaiian Airlines CEO retiring, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Hawaii grocery clerks © 2017 All Hawaii News

Shrinking workforce underlies Hawaii’s best-ever 2.2% jobless rate. Hawaii’s unemployment rate is now at an all-time low and could be the best in the country. Star-Advertiser.

The Hawaii State Department of Labor and Industrial Relations announced Thursday that the seasonally adjusted unemployment rate for October was 2.2 percent, compared to 2.5 percent for September. Garden Island.

How Brian Schatz Is Becoming The Senate’s Chief Science Nerd. From data security to climate change, from net neutrality to telemedicine, the Hawaii senator is front and center on technology issues. Civil Beat.

Hawaii is set to benefit from a $700 billion federal defense bill that passed the U.S. Senate on Thursday. The measure includes investments of more than $300 million for military construction in the state. Pacific Business News.

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A Hawaii psychiatric patient who acknowledges killing a woman nearly four decades ago said Thursday he escaped from his hospital and flew to California to prove he could live responsibly in the community. Associated Press.

Inmate who fled Hawaii psych hospital tells ABC7 escape was 'act of desperation'. ABC-7 News.

'I couldn't believe I actually made it': Hawaii State Hospital escapee speaks out. Island News has obtained a one-on-one interview with Hawaii State Hospital escapee Randall Saito. KITV.

Saito said he escaped to prove his ability to ‘act appropriately’. Escaped murderer Randall Saito said in television interviews Thursday that the Hawaii State Hospital wouldn’t give him a chance — that every time he applied for release, officials made him “sound like a bad guy.” Star-Advertiser.

‘I’m not a psychopath, okay?’ Saito claims desperation, assaults led to escape. KHON2.

Hawaii State Hospital's neighbors say they don't feel safe in their own homes. Angry Kaneohe residents gathered Thursday night to quiz the state on what's being done to address safety concerns about the Hawaii State Hospital. Hawaii News Now.

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Judge tells Island Air workers they might not get final pay.  Island Air employees have been told by a bankruptcy judge that there is no guarantee they will receive their final paychecks. Associated Press.

Hawaiian Airlines CEO to retire. Mark Dunkerley, 54, said he will step down to attend to family obligations on the East Coast and in Europe and spend a few months reflecting on what he wants to do next. Chief Commercial Officer Peter Ingram, 51, who has been with the company for 12 years, will replace him. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaiian Airlines CEO To Retire In March, Replacement Named. Mark Dunkerley has been one of the longest-tenured CEOs in the airline industry. Civil Beat.

Mark Dunkerley will retire as CEO of Hawaiian Airlines next year and will be replaced by Peter Ingram, the airline’s executive vice president and chief commercial officer, the Honolulu-based carrier announced Thursday.  Pacific Business News.

Hawaiian Airlines Thursday announced the planned retirement of Mark Dunkerley, president and chief executive officer, and the selection of Peter Ingram, executive vice president and chief commercial officer, to replace Dunkerley, effective March 1. Garden Island.

Hawaiian Airlines readies for U.S. West Coast expansion. Hawaiian Airlines welcomed to Honolulu the first of 18 Airbus A321neo aircraft that will shortly begin flying between Hawaii and the U.S. West Coast. Garden Island.

Hawaiian Airlines accepted delivery the first of 18 Airbus A321Neo aircraft this week. The fleet will begin service on Jan. 8 on the Hawaiian's existing Kahului-Oakland route. Pacific Business News.

Oahu

Council bill to rein in ‘monster houses’ advances. A proposal to place more restrictions on large homes moved out of the committee Thursday, setting it up for a final vote of the full Council on Dec. 6. Star-Advertiser.

Honolulu City Council Considers Regulating ‘Monster Homes’. Neighbors complain about homes with 15 or more bedrooms, but they’re defended by a man who said they serve mutigenerational households. Civil Beat.

Opponents, supporters of monster homes clash at City Council. So-called "monster" homes spurred a big debate at Honolulu Hale on Thursday. Hawaii News Now.

A plantation-style village for homeless families begins to take shape. Kahauiki Village, the new long-term, affordable housing project for homeless near Keehi Lagoon, broke ground in July. Hawaii News Now.

Special court that gives homeless a second chance plans to expand islandwide. Hawaii News Now.

Caldwell Nominates Former TV Executive For Police Commission. Dick Grimm, who worked at three local stations, would be the mayor’s sixth appointment to the seven-member board. Civil Beat.

Dick Grimm, who led the Hawaii Foodbank for 17 years before his retirement earlier this year, has been nominated to replace L&L Hawaiian Barbecue founder Eddie Flores Jr. on the Honolulu Police Commission. Pacific Business News.

Authorities had not determined Thursday what caused a rubbish fire under the Nimitz viaduct that damaged fiber-optic lines carrying phone, internet and cable TV service, causing widespread disruptions most of Thursday for T-Mobile, Spectrum and Hawaiian Telcom customers. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii Island

Hawaii police officers are getting raises, the last large bargaining group to have salaries settled for this year as the county begins crafting a new budget for the next fiscal year that begins July 1, 2018. West Hawaii Today.

The HOVE Deep Well in Ocean View has failed, the Hawaii County Department of Water Supply said Thursday. It is the only county water source serving Hawaiian Ocean View Estates and the Ranchos area in Ka'u. West Hawaii Today.

Hawaii County’s Mass Transit Agency is getting close to occupying its new bus baseyard, about a year after it was initially expected to be complete. Tribune-Herald.

High-profile thefts, crippled fleet among problems plaguing troubled transit division. KHON2.

Hawaii County is cutting security at Old Kona Airport Park, which was intended to ensure homeless didn’t re-establish illegal campsites there after police ushered them out in August. West Hawaii Today.

The chief executive officer of one of Hawaii Island’s first medical marijuana dispensary companies has died. William K. “Billy” Richardson, an Oahu-based venture capitalist recruited during summer 2016 to lead Hawaiian Ethos, died Nov. 10 in his sleep. Tribune-Herald.

Maui

Maui police officers charged in federal witness tampering case. Two Maui Police Department officers are facing federal charges after police say they conspired to force a victim to drop his complaint. KHON2.

Mayor seeking approval to dismiss water director. A falling out between Mayor Alan Arakawa and Department of Water Supply Director Dave Taylor has led the mayor to seek Maui County Council approval for Taylor’s dismissal from his $135,884-per-year job. Maui News.

Panel resolution urges state to maintain affordability of units at Lahaina complex. After hearing heartfelt testimony from worried tenants, a Maui County Council committee recommended passage of a resolution urging the state to save the affordability of the Front Street Apartments, where rent for units could rise to market rates by 2019. Maui News.

The Hawaii State Department of Health says it’s notifying the parents of students and staff members of Lihikai Elementary School on Maui of possible exposure to tuberculosis at the school. Maui Now.

Man ‘spewing hateful things’ leads protest outside church. Iao United Church of Christ targeted for rainbow flag, homosexual pastor. Maui News.

Hokulea’s Voyage To Hana Is A Homecoming For Young Captain. Hana native Nakua Konohia-Lind, 24, will be the youngest captain of the storied voyaging vessel when it sails into East Maui. Civil Beat.

Kauai

Bamboo Grill finds second home at golf course. The Wailua Golf Course has not had much luck with those opening a bar/restaurant there. Usually, it’s followed by closing. Garden Island.

Hawaii reacts to travel ban ruling, state to get more missile defense against North Korea threat, Honolulu continues rousting homeless, Hawaii County mayor signs budget, DNA testing lags, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Hawaii Attorney General Doug Chin on travel ban, courtesy photo

The 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals on Monday ruled in favor of Hawaii’s challenge of President Donald Trump’s revised travel ban, setting up a likely face-off before the U.S. Supreme Court. Star-Advertiser.

President Donald Trump’s revised executive order on immigration suffered another major setback Monday, when a three-judge panel of the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled unanimously in favor of Hawaii to uphold a preliminary injunction against the travel ban. Civil Beat.

Hawaii Attorney General Douglas Chin sounded like he couldn't be happier with the outcome. KITV.

The 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in San Francisco ruled Monday in favor of Hawaii’s challenge to President Donald Trump’s revised travel ban, the second appeals court to reject the administration’s move to curb immigration from six mostly Muslim nations. Associated Press.

Another U.S. appeals court stomped on President Donald Trump's revised travel ban Monday, saying the administration violated federal immigration law and failed to provide a valid reason for keeping people from six mostly Muslim nations from coming to the country. Associated Press.

Lawyers for Hawaii told the U.S. Supreme Court on Monday that letting the Trump administration enforce a ban on travel from six mostly Muslim countries would “thrust the country back into the chaos and confusion” that resulted when the policy was first announced in January. Associated Press.

Another federal court has ruled against President Donald Trump’s revised travel ban. Now a decision first made locally is likely headed to the U.S. Supreme Court. KHON2.

The State of Hawaii filed its memorandum in opposition of the Trump administration's revised travel ban to the U.S. Supreme Court on Monday morning. Pacific Business News.

Members of Hawaii’s Congressional delegation are lauding a U.S. appeals court decision to uphold the state's injunction against President Donald Trump’s revised travel ban. Hawaii News Now.

Hawaii’s congressional leaders reacted to the Ninth Circuit Court’s ruling Monday against President Trump’s travel ban. Garden Island.

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With growing concern over Hawaii’s potential vulnerability to North Korean ballistic missiles, plans are being fast-tracked for a new medium-­range radar here, while a Pentagon official confirmed that a new U.S. defensive missile being developed jointly with Japan could add a second layer of defense for the state. Star-Advertiser.

The San Diego-based aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson is scheduled to pull into Pearl Harbor Wednesday after a five-month deployment during which it and the carrier USS Ronald Reagan conducted rare joint training in the Sea of Japan in a massive show of force aimed at North Korea. Star-Advertiser.

USS Michael Murphy, an Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer, will return to its homeport Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam after a successful five-month deployment. Maui Now.

Commercial aquarium fish collection may no longer be a viable career in Hawaii unless Gov. David Ige can be convinced to take out his veto pen in the next two weeks. Star-Advertiser.

State and county officials are months late in launching a website and producing a public service announcement informing victims of sexual assault about an effort to test hundreds of rape kits that have sat in evidence rooms for years untested. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii ranks 17th among the states for child well-being, with an improving economic picture and nearly universal health coverage for kids, according to the 2017 Kids Count Data Book released today. Star-Advertiser.

As of today the dominant cable TV system operator in the state has been re-branded as Spectrum, replacing Oceanic, which had served kamaaina customers since the 1960s. Star-Advertiser.

Oceanic Time Warner Cable has officially changed its name to Spectrum following the merger of their respective parent companies last year. Pacific Business News.

Oahu

Mayor Kirk Caldwell, Prosecutor Keith Kaneshiro, the nine members of the Honolulu City Council and the city’s appointed employees are getting a 5 percent pay raise starting July 1. Star-Advertiser.

Medical Bills Exceed $1 Million For Woman Accidentally Shot By Cop. Hyun Ju Park was working at a bar when Anson Kimura’s duty weapon discharged, lodging a bullet in her stomach. Civil Beat.

The Honolulu Police Department has matched some of the DNA profiles obtained from 180 recently processed rape kits with potential perpetrators in a national offender database — a development that could lead to solving years-old crimes or prevent serial sex offenders from committing new ones. Star-Advertiser.

Since a homeless sweep in February, few if any homeless have returned to the steep hillside of Diamond Head Monument, in what appears to be one of the few cases of the state's enforcement in homeless encampments that's actually stuck. Hawaii News Now.

State Sheriffs will conduct a homeless sweep of the area off Nimitz Highway Tuesday. KITV.

With 10 days to go until the next round of "king tides," plans are moving forward to strengthen Hawaii's most famous beach. Hawaii News Now.

Hawaii Island

Mayor Harry Kim signed a $490.8 million budget Friday, a 6 percent increase compared with the current fiscal year. Tribune-Herald.

With a year to go before candidate qualifying ends for the 2018 election, Kona Councilman Dru Kanuha is ready to make the leap to the state Legislature. West Hawaii Today.

Sewage from ruptured main that occurred earlier today has entered the ocean in Kona, closing the waters around Kailua Bay. Big Island Video News.

Jaylin Kema, mother of missing “Peter Boy” Kema, is scheduled to be sentenced to probation today in Circuit Court in Hilo after pleading guilty to manslaughter in her son’s death. Star-Advertiser.

One of two companies slated to open Hawaii Island’s first medical marijuana dispensaries says a change in production plans has pushed its estimated opening into next year. Tribune-Herald.

Tourism summit looks to entice group travel to Hawaii. West Hawaii Today.

Maui

Maui Electric Co. ranked seventh for connecting energy storage to the grid, according to the Smart Electric Power Alliance that surveyed 412 utilities nationwide. Maui News.

The median price for single-family homes and condominiums on Maui jumped 12.4 percent and 13.5 percent, respectively, in May from last year, caused by low housing inventory, according to a report by the Realtors Association of Maui. Pacific Business News.

Police officers issued 2,351 citations during the two-week “Click It or Ticket” enforcement campaign that ended June 4. Maui News.

Kauai

Senior Master Sergeant Ryan Voigt, second in command at the Kauai Community College clinical site for Tropic Care Kauai 2017, had concerns over the long lines outside the Office of Continuing Education and Training center Monday. Garden Island.

A new study found that people who attend regular religious services tend to live less stressful and healthier lives. Garden Island.

Lanai

A drop in construction work on Lanai resulted in a 26.2 percent decline in the amount of cargo in and out of the island’s Kaumalapau Harbor, the smallest in the state, according to first-quarter statistics from interisland shipper Young Brothers. Maui News.