Hawaii buffeted by winds as Hurricane Dora stays to the south, federal court overturns 30-year old ban on butterfly knives, Honolulu mulls flavored tobacco ban, rats run amok in Safeway donut case, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Strong winds buffet the state, toppling trees and knocking out power to hundreds. Blustery conditions are being reported across state Monday as Hurricane Dora passes south of the island chain, and forecasters say the strongest winds could be yet to come. Hawaii News Now. KHON2.  Star-Advertiser.

Court rules butterfly knives, or balisongs, protected by Constitution.  Hawaii’s 30-year ban on butterfly knives was overturned Monday by the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals when the three-judge panel ruled that the right to carry the blade was protected by the Second Amendment. Star-Advertiser. KITV4.

Despite rising prices, Hawaii residents poised to see cut in food stamp benefits this fall. The U.S. Department of Agriculture is adjusting Hawaii’s Thrifty Food Plan funding, which means a cut in the Hawaii’s Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, also known as food stamps. Starting Oct. 1, the cut for a household of one is going to $11 a month, while a family of four will see a monthly decrease of $35. Hawaii News Now.

Hawaii Medicaid recipients hit roadblocks amid renewal push. Tens of thousands of Hawaii residents on Medicaid must re-enroll for the health care program for the first time since emergency rules put in place during the pandemic prevented people from losing their coverage. (video). Hawaii News Now.

Hawaii Inmates Are Kept Behind Bars To Complete Programs They Can’t Get Into. Prisoners often face an uphill battle to complete drug and behavioral programs required by the parole board. Civil Beat.

Oahu

Council floats ‘trigger ban’ on flavored tobacco. But their draft measure will only take effect if a 5-year-old state law that stripped authority from Hawaii’s four counties to regulate or restrict the sales and use of tobacco and nicotine products is overturned or suspended. Star-Advertiser.

Honolulu Liquor Commission lawsuit going to trial. The owners of a Chinatown nightclub and an LGBTQ+ guide to the islands who accused the Honolulu Liquor Commission and its investigators of anti-gay discrimination are seeking at least $5 million in damages when the case goes to trial after a judge denied parts of the city’s motion to dismiss the case. Star-Advertiser.

Lawsuit expected over dismantling of Haiku Stairs. The Friends of Haiku Stairs, a 36-year-old nonprofit dedicated to preserving the once-legally accessible steel steps built along a sheer ridgeline above Kaneohe, is suing the city to prevent removal of the stairs via helicopters by a newly contracted demolition company. Star-Advertiser.

Viral video of rats in grocery store’s pastry case underscores need for vigilance, pest experts say. The state Department of Health is investigating after a viral video posted online appeared to show rodents scurrying inside a Safeway store’s doughnut case. The incident happened at the upscale Safeway store on Beretania Street. Hawaii News Now. KHON2. KITV4.

Oahu’s Main Meals-On-Wheels Program Gets A Boost From FEMA Against Climate Change. Emergency officials prioritize community groups that serve vulnerable communities as they weigh which buildings to retrofit with limited dollars. Civil Beat.

Hawaii Island

A Big Island Man Sues Over Gun Permit Privacy Protection. Hawaii County is facing a lawsuit over background checks required for people applying for a concealed carry firearm permit.  Civil Beat.

Hawai‘i County issues mandatory 25% water restriction for North Kona. A mandatory 25% water restriction has been issued for various communities in North Kona due to the failure of the Honokōhau Deepwell over the weekend. Big Island Now. KHON2.

Speed limit reduced on Kalaniana‘ole Street in Hilo to protect nēnē — and pedestrians.  The Hawai‘i County Council last week adopted a bill to lower the speed limit from 30 mph to 25 mph on the stretch that runs from the entrance of James Kealoha Beach Park to Kings Landing.  Big Island Now.

Momentum wanes in albizia fight: Biggest concern is threat to infrastructure on private property. The invasive trees are resented across the island for their rapid growth and brittle branches, which break easily in windy weather and caused an estimated $20 million in infrastructure damage during Tropical Storm Iselle in 2014. Tribune-Herald.

Maui

State senators visit Maui, Molokai to discuss projects, local issues. From Upcountry Maui to Kalaupapa on Molokai, members of the state Senate Committee on Ways and Means visited multiple venues on the two islands from July 26 to 28 to learn about future projects in the area and discuss local issues.  Maui News.

Kauai

Yearslong Waipa restoration project reaches end. After nearly a decade of work, environmental nonprofit Waipa Foundation is wrapping up its Waipa Stream Restoration Project, a multifaceted effort to restore its namesake ahapua‘a’s natural resources and promote agricultural land use.  Garden Island.

Trump to stay in Waikiki, doubts raised about sailors adrift, Ige pledges oversight of Kakaako parks, coastal zone regulations eased, Maui News kills postal delivery, more news from all the Hawaiian islands

Children with paddleboard in Keaukaha © 2017 All Hawaii News

Hawaii's Sustainable Tourism Stamp is Changing Industry Culture. 2017 is being dubbed the Year of Sustainable Travel by the World Tourism Organization. Hawaii Public Radio.

White House releases details of Trump's 12-day trip to Asia. Trump will start the Nov. 3-14 travel with a briefing from the U.S. Pacific Command in Hawaii. He will also visit Pearl Harbor and the USS Arizona Memorial during his first trip as president to the Pacific island. Washington Examiner.

President Trump is expected to arrive in Hawaii on Nov. 3, and the White House has started telling local officials that he's planning to stay in Waikiki. Hawaii News Now.

Six U.S. states want to intervene in Hawaii’s lawsuit challenging President Donald Trump’s travel ban. Associated Press.

Experts raise doubts about Hawaii sailors' harrowing survival tale. The U.S. Coast Guard said today that the two Hawaii women who were lost at sea for five months had an emergency beacon aboard their sailboat that was never activated. Associated Press.

Two high-profile challengers will spice up the races for the embattled Office of Hawaiian Affairs Board of Trustees. William Aila Jr. and Esther Kiaaina are well-known Native Hawaiians who have spent years working for the state and federal governments, each with an emphasis on conservation and cultural rights. Civil Beat.

Treat PTSD With Medical Cannabis. Combat vets have options for treatment – including medical cannabis -- that could ease their PTSD symptoms. Hawaii Public Radio.

Dialysis clinics stalled waiting on certification. A surge of 700 new Hawaii kidney dialysis patients a year is driving an increase in treatment facilities statewide. Star-Advertiser.

HMSA CEO Michael Gold to retire after 43 years. Michael Gold, the CEO of the Hawaii Medical Service Association, will retire at the end of the year, the board of directors of the state’s largest healthcare provider announced on Monday. Pacific Business News.

Honolulu-based American Savings Bank reported net income of $17.6 million for the quarter ending Sept. 30, an increase of 16.5 percent compared to net income of $15.1 million in the third quarter of 2016. Pacific Business News.

Oahu

As Kakaako parks re-open, governor pledges tougher enforcement efforts. Weeks after they were closed for homeless sweeps, Kewalo Basin and Kakaako Gateway parks and Point Panic reopened Monday. Hawaii News Now.

State to hire private security to enforce Kakaako park hours, Ige says. The state will begin regularly enforcing park closures in Kakaako Makai “regardless of housing status,” Gov. David Ige said today, as some of the area’s parks reopened to the public three weeks after sprawling homeless encampments were cleared. Star-Advertiser.

Gov. Ige announces commitment to keep Kakaako Makai safe. KITV.

Kakaako parks reopen with new security measures, but more work needed at Waterfront. KHON2.

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Honolulu police Maj. Susan Ballard will be sworn in as the Honolulu Police Department’s 11th chief at HPD’s South Beretania Street headquarters Wednesday morning. Star-Advertiser.

Susan Ballard To Be Sworn In Wednesday As Honolulu Police Chief. The 32-year veteran will be first woman to lead the police department in its 85-year history. Civil Beat.

A Look At The Business Execs Up For Seats On Honolulu Police Commission. The City Council is set to vote Wednesday on Mayor Caldwell’s nominees, who would join the oversight panel amid a corruption scandal at HPD. Civil Beat.

The Hawaii Pacific Rim Society has donated $2.3 million to the East-West Center, one of the largest single donations in its history. Pacific Business News.

Senate Transportation Chairwoman Lorraine Inouye wants lawmakers to order an audit of the over- budget, long-delayed construction of a new maintenance and cargo hangar for Hawaiian Airlines at Daniel K. Ino­uye International Airport. Star-Advertiser.

What lies beneath? As Kakaako develops up, questions raised about infrastructure below. KHON2.

Army to install hundreds of rat traps in Waianae, Koolau mountains. Over the next few months workers from Schofield Barracks will place about 1,000 rat traps in the Waianae and Koolau mountains. Hawaii News Now.

Several cases of scabies have been reported at Makalapa Elementary School, and the principal has alerted parents and staff to keep an eye out for the skin infection, which is caused by a parasitic mite. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii Island

Streamlining development permits in coastal zones without limiting public input was a balancing act confronting the Leeward and Windward planning commissions Monday. West Hawaii Today.

The Windward and Leeward Planning Commission met on Monday to consider amendments to rules regarding Special Management Areas. Big Island Video News.

As TMT opponents disrupt a BLNR meeting, the governor and Mayor Kim move forward with a plan for a Living Monument for World Peace on Mauna Kea. Big Island Video News.

Big Island Mayor Harry Kim is leading a group to establish a living monument on Mauna Kea. Governor Ige tapped on Kim to come up with ideas to create a symbol of peace on the mountain. KITV.

County cracks down on crop theft. Ken Love, executive director of Hawaii Tropical Fruit Growers, convened a meeting Friday afternoon at the University of Hawaii College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources Kona Cooperative Extension Service in Kainaliu, which a couple dozen frustrated farmers attended. West Hawaii Today.

Removal of banyan trees at Honomu Park to begin. A contractor says his crew will arrive at Honomu Park today to begin clearing a large banyan tree that fell next to the gym earlier this month. Tribune-Herald.

The National Park Service is investigating the case of a Keaau woman who fell to her death at the Kilauea Crater during the weekend. Tribune-Herald.

Trucking Trash All The Way Across The Big Island. The Hilo landfill is filling up, and plans call for most East Hawaii garbage to be hauled west starting in a year. Civil Beat.

Arthur “Art” Taniguchi, senior vice president and Hawaii Island regional manager, announced that he will retire from Bank of Hawaii in January, after 27 years of service. West Hawaii Today.

Maui

The Maui News will rescind its recently announced decision to switch home delivery of the newspaper from carriers to the United States Postal Service. Maui News.

Feral pigs made themselves noticed in Maui’s central plain this summer as motorists dodged them on major roadways and state crews have had to pick up the not-so-fortunate ones as roadkill. Maui News.

Hawaiian Airlines is looking to hire 70 people for customer and ramp service contract position at Kahului Airport. Hawaii News Now.


The Hyatt Regency Maui welcomes Klara Crocco as its Director of Marketing and Communications. Maui Now.

Kauai

Kauai’s popular Eastside path is set to complete its span from Lydgate Beach Park to Ahihi Point. And the county is getting a good deal on it. Garden Island.

Kahoolawe

Long-term results in watershed restoration to be studied. Grant funds to benefit efforts on Kahoolawe. Maui News.

Hawaii infrastructure worst in nation, Maui water rights stir controversy, DOE ups teacher requirements, Kakakaako homeless moved from park to sidewalks, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Saddle Road construction work © 2017 All Hawaii News

Shoddy and unsafe conditions plaguing the state’s roads, bridges and dams helped earn Hawaii the dubious distinction of having the worst infrastructure in the country, according to a new report. Star-Advertiser.

As boats and other debris from continue to wash up on Hawaii's shores after the 2011 Tsunami in Japan, it's bringing some unexpected visitors. According to a study in "Science Magazine," nearly 70 different species made its way to the islands. KITV.

Hawaii farmers raising plants for landscaping had a good year in 2016 and led the state’s flower and plant nursery industry in a sales rebound, according to a new report. Star-Advertiser.

In an effort to staff classrooms with more qualified teachers, the Hawaii Department of Education will include only certified instructors when it reports the number of teacher positions filled to the state Board of Education at the start of each school year. Civil Beat.

Two pottery pieces labeled “Atomic Ware” were delivered to Japan last week. The unique artifacts were found during a garage sale in Hawaii Kai. Hawaii Public Radio.

Oahu

State sweeps homeless from Kakaako parks. State sheriffs were stationed at entry points at Kakaako Waterfront Park early today after the state closed the park indefinitely for safety reasons. Star-Advertiser.

Within 12 hours of Kakaako Waterfront park closing indefinitely, the sidewalks surrounding the nearby Children's Discovery Center were overrun with tents. Hawaii News Now.

Three parks in Kakaako are now closed indefinitely for major maintenance and improvements: Kakaako Waterfront, Gateway, and Kewalo Basin parks. KHON2.

Commentary: Give Us Back Our Parks. Gov. David Ige says he hopes to create a new sheriff’s division to consistently enforce trespass laws while helping link people to social services. Civil Beat.

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Mayor Kirk Caldwell said Monday that Police Commission Chairman Max Sword should recuse himself from deciding who will be Honolulu’s next police chief. Star-Advertiser.

A new proposal before the Honolulu City Council would offer a tax break to ocean-friendly restaurants using compostable takeout containers. KHON2.

New Airport Shuttle Service Won’t Deliver On Promises, Suit Claims. Robert’s of Hawaii submitted a winning proposal calling for a fleet of new buses and islandwide service. Civil Beat.

City facing a shortage of lifeguards for pools. Honolulu is looking for more part-time, contract lifeguards to fill various hours at its 21 pools throughout Oahu. Star-Advertiser.

Oahu’s second marijuana dispensary, Noa Botanicals, will open Wednesday at the former Krazy Karaoke building at 1308 Young St. Star-Advertiser.

Honolulu-based Noa Botanicals will begin selling medical marijuana products on Wednesday after being cleared by the Hawaii State Department of Health. Pacific Business News.

Seminars touting vacation rentals draw protests. A flyer advertising three 90-minute seminars called “Make Money With Airbnb” recently went out to thousands of Oahu homes. Run by Lindon, Utah-based Response LLC, whose registered agent is Response Marketing Group LLC, the event promised that participants would learn how to build wealth by cashing in on the Airbnb craze. Star-Advertiser.

Biki, Honolulu’s first bike-share program, said it logged 180,272 rides during the three-month period between June and September in its first release of quarterly data Monday. Star-Advertiser.

Nearly a thousand people form different groups turned up to the 33rd annual Pacific Rim International Conference on disability and diversity at the Modern Honolulu and Hilton Hawaiian Village this week. KITV.

Hawaii Island

A long awaited widening and realignment project on Daniel K. Inouye Highway, also known as Saddle Road, is complete. State and government officials are hosting a dedication ceremony today to celebrate the opening of the final phase of reconstruction on the east side of the highway. Tribune-Herald.

Consultants examine Hawaii County’s utility model. West Hawaii Today.

Public Access, Open Space and Natural Resources Commissioners got an earful from a handful of testifiers over the plan to provide grant funding to groups interested in stewarding Kawa. Big Island Video News.

University of Hawaii at Hilo researchers have shown they can decrease the birth rate of rats. Tribune-Herald.

Hawaii to Be Site of First Moon Base Prototype. The International MoonBase Summit was held from Oct. 1 to 5, on Hawaii Island, where global industry leaders, representatives from academia, government leaders and representatives from the student community worked together collaboratively to lay the groundwork for the world’s first permanent human settlement on the moon. Maui Now.

The state Land Board is scheduled to decide Friday whether Sean Pagett should pay a $10,000 fine for holding two “Peaman” biathlons without marine ocean water event permits. West Hawaii Today.

With the Ironman World Championship days away, the Hawaii Police Department is preaching the importance of individual safety plans in light of a fatal mass shooting that occurred just over a week ago in Las Vegas. West Hawaii Today.

Maui

Tempers flared in the latest chapter of the long-standing battle over Maui water rights. Dozens of people crowded into the Haiku Community Center for final arguments in the contested case hearing before the State Commission on Water Resource Management on Monday night. Hawaii News Now.

A new $12 million two-story classroom building at Lahainaluna High School is expected to be ready for the 2020-21 school year, according to a draft environmental impact statement for the project. Maui News.

Maui will soon join the ranks of U.S. cities being served by a major online-based grocery delivery service. Maui News.

Kauai

Areas that are normally off-limits to the public within the Kauai National Wildlife Refuge Complex will be open for tours starting today, in celebration of National Wildlife Refuge Week. Garden Island.

The Rats Of Lehua Appear To Have Taken The Bait. Rats appear to be gone from the island after officials dropped poison bait in an effort to help bird populations that had been threatened. Civil Beat.

Drag queen pageant fights back after hotel tries to cancel event. A Kauai hotel is being accused of discrimination for allegedly trying to cancel a pageant for drag queens. Hawaii News Now.

Honolulu council passes pedestrian cellphone ban, Maui reverses 24 hour liquor sales, audit dings state invasive species branch, anti-abortion group sues over new law, Tropical Storm Fernanda churns in Pacific, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Waikiki pedestrians © 2017 All Hawaii News

A bill that would bar pedestrians from looking at their cellphones or other electronic mobile devices while crossing the street won final approval from the Honolulu City Council Wednesday. Star-Advertiser.

A bill that would fine pedestrians who use mobile electronic devices while crossing the street passed its third reading Wednesday. Hawaii News Now.

The state Agriculture Department’s Plant Quarantine Branch is not blocking invasive pests from entering Hawaii as well as it could because its “failed database” doesn’t target the most imminent threats, a state audit released Wednesday said. he audit also described the Agriculture Department’s Plants and Animals Declaration Forms filled out by people arriving in Hawaii as of “limited value.” Few people declare such items and even fewer are intercepted. Star-Advertiser.

A national anti-abortion religious organization is suing to block a new state law that requires family planning and pregnancy care centers to inform women of all of their options, including contraception and abortion, and that such services may be available to them for free or at low cost through state programs. Star-Advertiser.

Faith-based pregnancy centers in Hawaii are challenging a new state law in federal court, claiming it forces them to promote abortion. Hawaii News Now.

Saying the intervention by the U.S. District Court is urgently needed, the state of Hawaii on Wednesday filed its reply in response to the Trump administration’s arguments regarding the scope of its partial travel and refugee bans allowed by the U.S. Supreme Court. Star-Advertiser.

Cybersecurity Experts Exchange Tricks Of The Trade In Honolulu. Political motives are driving hackers these days along with more sophisticated financial scams. Civil Beat.

The state officially launched a multi-governmental initiative today to address drug abuse prevention in Hawaii. Hawaii Public Radio.

State officials plan to distribute 20,000 opioid overdose rescue kits to health care providers, emergency personnel, pharmacists and social workers in response to a growing substance abuse “crisis” in Hawaii. Star-Advertiser.

AT&T has received a 10-year contract from the Defense Information Systems Agency to replace its Hawaii network. Pacific Business News.

The Hawaii Department of Health says it is investigating its second death linked to vibriosis, an infection cause by bacteria found in the ocean. KITV.

Tropical Storm Fernanda in the Eastern Pacific is expected to grow into a major hurricane over the next several days as it heads toward the Central Pacific, forecasters said Wednesday. Star-Advertiser.

Tropical Storm Fernanda forecast to become hurricane as it churns in East Pacific. Hawaii News Now.

Oahu

Mayor Kirk Caldwell likely will sign a bill passed by the City Council that would bar supermarkets and other retailers from distributing plastic and compostable bags at the checkout counter beginning Jan. 1, 2020, the mayor said late Wednesday. Star-Advertiser.

The Honolulu City Council has authorized $350 million in city-backed bonds to keep existing rail work going — a shot of political support for the beleaguered transit project as the Legislature looks to bail it out later this summer. Star-Advertiser.

After listening to more than an hour of testimony, the Honolulu City Council voted Wednesday to approve the issuing of $350 million in general obligation bonds to help pay for building the Honolulu rail project. Civil Beat.

Owners of historic homes on Oahu would see their property taxes increase to $1,000 under a measure that cleared another hurdle at the City Council Wednesday. Civil Beat.

Can Revamped Honolulu Ethics Commission Rebuild Its Credibility? The commission’s former executive director often tangled with Mayor Caldwell’s administration. Now new director Jan Yamane has big plans for change. Civil Beat.

The Hawaii Attorney General’s Office has declined to pursue criminal charges against the Pacific Resource Partnership Political Action Committee or its chairman for allegedly failing to report some of its campaign expenditures made during the vicious 2012 campaign for Honolulu mayor. Star-Advertiser.

Residents who search daily for parking on congested streets in their neighborhoods may find relief with a measure being considered by the Honolulu City Council. Bill 51, which would allow the city to create “residential parking zones,” cleared another hurdle Wednesday when the council unanimously passed it on second reading. Civil Beat.

A new law requires the City and County of Honolulu to take over any and all roads that don’t have a clear owner. House Bill 115 became law Wednesday without the governor’s signature. KHON2.

East Oahu fresh water spring permanently protected. KITV.

Some critics say the Navy isn’t moving fast enough to comply with an 18-month-old agreement to upgrade the underground fuel system at Red Hill. Civil Beat.

Government and private sector representatives put their heads together over cafeteria tables on Wednesday to talk about ways to make Iwilei and Kapalama safer for cyclists and pedestrians. Star-Advertiser.

The City and County of Honolulu is holding a public workshop on Thursday night to share plans and gather input on renovating Blaisdell Center. Hawaii News Now.

Approximately 350 suppliers and vendors are showcasing their products and services at the Hawaii Lodging, Hospitality and Foodservice Expo to local individuals in the hospitality and food industry on Wednesday and Thursday at the Neal Blaisdell Center. Pacific Business News.

Hawaii Island

University of Hawaii at Hilo Chancellor Don Straney is moving on. UH announced Wednesday Straney will be leaving his chancellor post Aug. 1 to serve as vice president of academic planning and policy, a leadership role within the UH system. Tribune-Herald.

The Old Kona Airport Park will be closed for two days in August to facilitate park cleanup efforts, county officials announced Wednesday. No camping in the park will be allowed after the park cleanup and police enforcement of park rules, which has ratcheted up in recent months, will be more stringent moving forward. West Hawaii Today.

In Hawai'i County, the annual Point in Time Count showed a reduction in homeless individuals from last year to this year of about a third. But that still leaves nearly a thousand unsheltered people on the island by the official count. Hawaii Public Radio.

In its latest cost analysis submitted to state regulators, Hawaii Electric Light Co. says Hu Honua Bioenergy would save customers cash in the long run. That’s assuming the Hamakua Energy Partners facility, which HELCO recently failed to acquire, closes in 2030 at the end of its contract. Tribune-Herald.

Big Island residents had a chance to talk with officials on Wednesday about the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s updated Flood Insurance Rate Maps during a public meeting held in Hilo. Big Island Video News.

Only one County Council member, Hilo Councilman Aaron Chung, reported receiving any gifts in the past 12 months. West Hawaii Today.

Tucked between Buster Brown and Puu Ki on Kohala Mountain sit two working reservoirs that support approximately 4,000 service connections in Waimea, Ahualoa, upper portions of Kalopa, Pohakea and Waiemi subdivision above Kawaihae. West Hawaii Today.

Louis Sardis, a 65-year-old driver for The Arc of Hilo accused of sexually assaulting a mentally and physically disabled woman July 30 aboard one of the nonprofit organization’s service vans, is currently suspended from his job. Tribune-Herald.

Maui

The Maui County Liquor Control Commission voted unanimously Wednesday to reverse itself and to restore the 11 p.m. to 6 a.m. blackout on retail sales of alcohol and the 12 hostess bar cap, bowing to the public outcry and a lawsuit filed over its decision five months ago. Maui News.

Officials with Maui nonprofit groups received some relief Wednesday from strict new procedures for single-event liquor licenses, including extensive background checks and fingerprinting, that were putting a crimp on their fundraising efforts. Maui News.

Median single-family home prices in Maui County hit $700,000 or more for the third time this year in June when the midpoint price at which homes sold was $740,000, according to statistics released Tuesday by the Realtors Association of Maui. Maui News.

Kauai

Another meeting has been set to bring the public up to speed on the Lehua Island rat eradication project, which is set to begin in August, pending permit approval. Garden Island.

The Kauai County Council approved two bills Wednesday containing collective bargaining agreements for government employees. Garden Island.

Eirik Stevens pleads no contest. A man who police say sexually assaulted two underage girls while volunteering at the Boys & Girls Club will no longer go to trial. Garden Island.