Tuesday, August 13, 2024
Tulsi Gabbard on terrorist watch list, insurance companies seek first cut of $4B Lahaina fire settlement as Hawaiian Electric stocks drop, real estate commissions to change, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands
Hawaiian Electric stocks fall after report of massive quarterly loss. Hawaiian Electric Industries is reporting a loss of about $1.3 billion for the second quarter of 2024. The fall is related to the costs of ongoing litigation with Maui wildfire victims and their families. Hawaii Public Radio.
Will Insurance Companies Get First Crack At $4 Billion Lahaina Fire Settlement? A last obstacle to a proposed $4.04 billion global settlement between thousands of victims of the Lahaina wildfire and defendants including the state of Hawaii, Maui County, Hawaiian Electric Co., Kamehameha Schools and Hawaiian Telcom is scheduled to be addressed Tuesday by Maui Circuit Court Judge Peter Cahill. Civil Beat. Hawaii News Now.
How a major settlement could impact Hawaiʻi real estate commissions. On Aug. 17, a settlement agreement takes effect that will impact the real estate industry. It stems from a lawsuit filed against the National Association of Realtors over its practice of setting commissions. Hawaii Public Radio. Hawaii News Now.
‘Above normal significant fire potential’ for Hawaii expected through October. As drought continues to expand and intensify, Hawaii can expect more wildfires to occur across the isles the rest of this summer. Star-Advertiser. KHON2.
Awards to fund University of Hawaii research soar by $100 million. UH snagged $616 million in the 2024 fiscal year, up 19% from $516 million a year earlier, which followed only a 2% gain from $505 million in the 2022 fiscal year, according to university officials. Star-Advertiser. Civil Beat. Maui Now.
Hawaii Joins Military Program To Recruit Government Workers. The state of Hawaii is hoping the U.S. Department of Defense can help fill some of the thousands of state job vacancies through a program that connects military members nearing the end of their service with employers looking for workers. Civil Beat.
After surprise primary upset, Democrats hope to flip seats in the general election. Republicans did not have their unity breakfast this year. Instead, they will be hosting candidate forums leading up to the general election on Nov. 5. Hawaii Public Radio.
Oahu
Chemical Plume Found In Closed Aiea Drinking Wells May Come From Red Hill. It's the first time so-called PAH's have been detected at the shuttered wells, although regulators disagree about whether the chemicals stem from the Navy's fuel spill. Civil Beat. Hawaii News Now. KITV4.
Violent crime report shows rise in 2 disturbing categories for Honolulu. There were 16 murders reported, compared to 15 during the same time period in 2023. Reported rapes jumped. There were 164 in the first half of this year, compared to 136 in the first half of last year. Hawaii News Now. KHON2.
With ‘zero fatalities’ top of mind, city unveils 16-year plan to improve Oahu’s roads. The city released its ambitious 16-year plan to eliminate traffic fatalities on Oahu’s roads that come with changes to the island’s most dangerous streets. It could cost up to $755 million. Hawaii News Now.
Rental, utility assistance enrollment to open for new applicants in Makiki. The City’s Rental and Utility Relief Program (RURP) will hold an enrollment event for new applicants on Friday, August 23. KHON2.
Sources: Corrections officer, sergeant suspended after alleged assault of prison inmate. An adult corrections officer and a sergeant were reportedly suspended after allegedly assaulting a handcuffed inmate at the Halawa Prison earlier this month. Hawaii News Now.
Hawaii Island
Hawaiʻi Island Dairy Faces Lawsuit For Dumping Milk, Animal Waste. Meadow Gold and Cloverleaf Dairy have been put on legal notice for allegedly polluting local waters on the Big Island. Big Island Video News.
Public feedback sought for solar project. The Ke‘amuku Solar + Storage project is a proposed solar farm that would be built on a pair of parcels just south of the intersection between Mamalahoa Highway and Waikoloa Road. Tribune-Herald.
State increasing no-passing zones on DKI Highway. The state Department of Transportation advises motorists that sections of the Daniel K. Inouye Highway, formerly Saddle Road, will become no-passing zones effective upon installation of signs and pavement markings. Tribune-Herald. Big Island Video News. Big Island Now.
Maui
Maui police arrest Kahului suspect in Pukalani IEDs explosion. The Maui Police Department arrested a 47-year-old Kahului man Saturday in connection with the discovery of a series of improvised explosive devices, one of which detonated and sidelined a sport utility Opens in a new tab vehicle in Pukalani on Thursday. Star-Advertiser. Maui Now.
Maui resort agrees to dim lights to protect native seabirds. Conservation groups sued the Grand Wailea Resort on Maui in February 2022, and again in May, claiming that the hotel's outdoor lights harmed the native seabirds. Hawaii Public Radio.
Precinct results: In razor-thin primary, Cook takes Central Maui; King backed in South and East Maui. First-term Maui County Council Member Tom Cook finished 145 votes ahead of former Council Member Kelly Takaya King in Saturday’s primary election by winning all Central Maui precincts and splitting votes with his rival Upcountry and in West Maui. Maui Now.
Kauai
Kaua‘i Fire Department urges public to be vigilant as risk for fire weather increases. There is an above normal significant fire potential through October, until the wet season gets underway in November. Kauai Now.
Water conservation request issued for some residents in Princeville. In an effort to avoid a water outage due to dry weather, Kaua‘i County officials have issued a water conservation request for customers along the North Shore. Kauai Now.
Thursday, July 27, 2023
ACLU sues over Honolulu homeless sweeps, Gov. Green bails out Lt. Gov. Luke's budget overruns, feds probe for money laundering in state real estate transactions, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands
Hawaii LG Sylvia Luke Needed Bailout From Governor, Documents Show. Just before the close of the fiscal year, Gov. Josh Green stepped in with a $49,000 solution to a budget problem that threatened to expose Lt. Gov. Sylvia Luke to possible liability and removal from office. Civil Beat.
Feds Closely Watching Local Property Deals For Signs Of Money Laundering. Real estate purchases by anonymous shell companies can distort appraisals and tax assessments. The Financial Crimes Enforcement Network, a branch of the U.S. Department of the Treasury, has begun requiring title companies on Oahu, Maui, Big Island and Kauai to report the identities of the true owners for all-cash purchases of residential real estate exceeding $300,000. Civil Beat.
Businesses, residents demand more clarity on how new ocean recreation fee will be used. The state is preparing to collect a new $1 fee from every customer of commercial vessels, watercraft and water sports equipment operators. Hawaii News Now.
Law Enforcement Standards Board Inches Toward Hiring Key Staff. The board charged with overseeing police statewide still can’t develop standards, leaving Hawaii the only state unable to certify its law enforcement officers. Civil Beat.
Angelo named as Hawaii’s Consumer Advocate. The state has named Michael S. Angelo executive director of the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs’ Division of Consumer Advocacy. Angelo assumed the position on July 17. Star-Advertiser.
Hawaii Defense Contractors Likely To Get Probation For Campaign Violations. Clifford Chen and Lawrence Lum Kee, formerly of Navatek LLC, were indicted along with their boss, Martin Kao, after making illegal donations to a senator's reelection efforts. Civil Beat.
Oahu
EPA hosting public meeting to create new community group for Red Hill defueling. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is hosting a community meeting Thursday night in Salt Lake, joined by Navy officials, to share more information about the formation of the “Community Representation Initiative.” Hawaii News Now.
HPD’s newly converted fleet of pickups taken off patrols after safety concerns surface. In June, Honolulu police converted 10 Chevy Colorados into the department’s newest patrol vehicles. The trucks were purchased during the pandemic using COVID relief funds. Hawaii News Now.
Planners OK more mixed-use development in Halawa. The Honolulu Planning Commission voted Wednesday to recommend rezoning 227 acres around Skyline’s Halawa station to allow for more development of mixed-use business, residential and affordable housing sites near the state’s planned New Aloha Stadium Entertainment District. Star-Advertiser.
Former site of Stadium Bowl-o-Drome will be new home for DHHL’s first rental project. The 23-story building in Moiliili will include 278 affordable apartments exclusively for beneficiaries of the Hawaiian Home Lands program. Hawaii News Now.
Developer renews plan for homes below Koko Crater. A developer has revived plans to extend a subdivision of million-dollar homes in Hawaii Kai onto land zoned for preservation after making similar efforts twice before in recent decades. Star-Advertiser.
Nearly 300 tsunami hazard road signs installed across Oahu. The city says this is part of phase 2 of its project to alert people where the danger zone begins and ends. Hawaii News Now.
Hawaii Island
Council votes to change process for ag land tax assessments. An effort to offer Big Island commercial farmers a better break on their taxes took a new form Wednesday. Tribune-Herald.
UH reaches agreement with hackers in Hawaii Community College ransomware attack. The University of Hawaii has reached an agreement with those responsible for a ransomware attack on the Hawaii Community College network. Tribune-Herald. Hawaii News Now.
Board hearing over TMT construction is postponed. Land Board Chair Dawn Chang has formally declared she can be fair and unbiased in the matter despite having previously worked for the University of Hawaii and the Department of Land and Natural Resources in matters related to the Mauna Kea summit and its astronomy uses. Star-Advertiser.
Maui
Roadway along rural Alelele Point reopens 3 months after rockfall. Maui County’s roadway along rural Alelele Point in East Maui reopened Tuesday, nearly three months after a rockfall forced emergency work to remove rock debris and stabilize the cliffside. Maui News.
Outrigger finalizes acquisition of Kāʻanapali Beach Hotel; welcomes Maui Brewing Co. restaurant this summer. Outrigger Resorts & Hotels finalized its acquisition of the iconic Kāʻanapali Beach Hotel on Wednesday. The 11-acre, 432-room property is now rebranded as Outrigger Kā‘anapali Beach Resort. Maui Now.
School bus routes modified to handle driver shortage. Some Maui public school students will head to campus on modified or consolidated routes, similar to last school year, as the island deals with a shortage of 29 bus drivers, the state Department of Education said. Maui News.
Kauai
Kaua‘i Bus to offer free passes to high school students this upcoming school year. With ongoing staffing shortages for school bus drivers, the state will partner with counties for the second year in a row to provide transportation for students attending Hawai‘i public schools. Kauai Now.
Kauaʻi Community College begins chancellor search. Margaret Sanchez was appointed interim chancellor on Jan. 3, 2023 after the previous chancellor, Joseph Daisy, retired in December 2022. Kauai Now.
Tour companies host free sightseeing event at Kikialoa Small Boat Harbor. Tour companies at Kikialoa Small Boat Harbor gave free Napali Coast sightseeing tours to more than 200 Kaua‘i residents on Wednesday, July 26, launching what organizers say will be an annual event for locals. Garden Island.
Friday, January 6, 2023
Kilauea volcanic eruption resumes, NTSB releases deadly air ambulance crash report, out of state home buyers increase, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands
Kilauea volcano eruption PC:USGS |
Traffic-related fatalities in Hawaii surged in 2022. By the end of the year, the number of traffic-related fatalities, 117, was higher than for 2021, 2020 and 2019 but even with 2018, according to statistics from the state Department of Transportation. Star-Advertiser.
Final moments of missing Hawaii plane detailed in NTSB report. A witness saw a medical transport plane that disappeared on a flight between Maui and the Big Island go into a spiraling descent and hit the ocean, according to a preliminary report released Thursday by the National Transportation Safety Board. Star-Advertiser. Associated Press. Maui Now. Hawaii News Now. KITV4.
Air Ambulance Crash Exposes Vulnerability In Neighbor Island Health Care. Gov. Josh Green agrees that Hawaii needs a major health care build-out on the neighbor islands so that the state can wean itself off its dependency on medical air transport. Civil Beat.
Bringing students home to fix Hawaii’s doctor shortage. Hawaii needs about 800 doctors, according to the Hawaii Physician Workforce Assessment Report. KHON2.
To address staffing shortfalls, 12-hour shifts proposed for adult corrections officers. Christin Johnson, the coordinator for the Correctional Systems Oversight Commission, is proposing 12-hour shifts in a bid to cut down on sick time and reel in new applicants. Hawaii News Now.
Hawaiʻi sees more out-of-state homebuyers; Canadians, Californians purchase on Maui. A state report showed about 25% of single-family homes from January to September of 2022 were bought by out-of-state residents. Of those, 23% of purchases were from the US Mainland and 2% were from international residents. Maui Now.
Public input sought about adding 100 land parcels to Hawaiʻi nature reserve systems. The Hawaiʻi State Department of Land and Natural Resources is seeking comments on a proposal to protect nearly 100 unencumbered state land parcels across Hawai’i as part of the State Forest Reserves, Natural Area Reserves and Wildlife Sanctuaries systems. Maui Now.
State of Hawai’i has a new poet laureate, succeeding Kealoha. Brandy Nālani McDougall has been selected as the second Hawaiʻi State Poet Laureate, succeeding Kealoha, who served from 2012-2022. Big Island Now.
Oahu
Interim chair of the Honolulu Liquor Commission resigns, blaming ‘baseless accusations’. In less than a year, two chairs and a vice chair have resigned amid accusations of corruption and discrimination. Hawaii News Now.
Semi-sub in fraud case missing from harbor. Semisub One, the vessel belonging to Curtiss Jackson, a tour boat company co-founder charged with federal securities fraud and released on pretrial bond in October, was gone from its slip in Kewalo Harbor on Thursday. Star-Advertiser.
Hundreds Of Honolulu Parking Meters Disabled By Verizon 3G Shutdown. The city knew the shutdown was coming but didn’t upgrade the meters quickly enough. An estimated 2,200 digital parking meters in Honolulu suddenly stopped accepting credit cards on Wednesday after Verizon shut down its 3G network, according to the Department of Transportation Services. Civil Beat. KHON2.
State adds more ‘No Right Turn On Red’ signs at major intersections. No right on red! Oahu drivers are seeing more of those signs at major intersections. The state said it’s a renewed effort to increase safety for pedestrians and bicyclists. But it’s not sitting too well with some drivers. Hawaii News Now.
Former health director suggests water storage for Red Hill tanks, staying at Kapolei landfill. In a column for the Honolulu Star-Advertiser, former state Department of Health Director Bruce Anderson suggested the tanks could be used to store drinking water for emergency use. Hawaii Public Radio.
Macy’s to close Windward Mall store on Oahu. Macy’s at Windward Mall in Kaneohe is among four Macy’s stores nationwide that are slated to close this year. Star-Advertiser. Hawaii News Now.
Hawaii Island
Bills aim to add new parking rules, standardize hours at county parks. Stricter parking controls and other rules might be coming to Hawaii County beach parks under a series of bills proposed Thursday at a County Council committee hearing. Tribune-Herald.
Maui
Maui’s New County Council Struggles To Get Moving Amid 4-4 Split. Some people worry that the current 4-4 split could hinder the legislative body’s ability to get things done. Civil Beat.
‘Record-breaking’ demand for healthcare takes toll on workers at Maui hospital. Employees at Maui’s only acute care hospital are crying out for help. They say they can’t keep up with the current demand for healthcare. Hawaii News Now.
Investigative Reporter May Have To Testify Despite Journalist Privilege. A federal judge said Hawaii News Now’s Lynn Kawano did not waive her privilege when reporting about a Maui police officer accused of sexual misconduct. Civil Beat.
Kauai
COVID-19 cases remain stable on Kaua‘i but effects linger. While COVID-19 has surged through the mainland United States during the holiday season, case counts on Kaua‘i have been holding relatively stable. Garden Island.
Tuesday, July 13, 2021
Ige to extend COVID precautions through summer, real estate booms, tax collections soar, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands
Gov. David Ige |
Gov. David Ige to maintain COVID guidelines as isle businesses grow frustrated. Gov. David Ige is holding strong to his target of fully vaccinating 70% of Hawaii residents before dropping the majority of the state’s COVID-related safety restrictions, including indoor mask mandates. Ige plans to extend his emergency proclamation suspending various laws and mandating safety protocols, which is set to expire Aug. 6. Star-Advertiser. Tribune-Herald. Hawaii News Now.
State Tax Collections Soared Back To Pre-Pandemic Levels In The Past Year. The stunning rebound in general treasury tax revenue was driven by increased state income tax collections. The unexpected bump in tax collections last year means the Ige administration is suddenly holding about $740 million in un-budgeted cash, and lawmakers said Monday they will be watching closely to see what the administration has in mind for that money. Civil Beat.
DOE to identify schools with COVID-19 cases, but lack of testing could skew data. A new law requires the DOE release details of COVID-19 cases reported on its campuses, including the name of the school, the date the positive test result was reported, and the date the COVID-positive individual was last on campus. KITV4.
TSA prepares for unruly travelers as complaints of disruptive passengers increase. As rising COVID-19 vaccinations bring more visitors to Hawaii, the Transportation Security Administration restarted flight crew self-defense training this month after a 62% increase in unruly and aggressive passenger complaints during the first six months of 2021, including physical attacks and verbal confrontations over enhanced safety measures brought on by the pandemic. Star-Advertiser.
Hospitalizations, ICU beds, case numbers, and positivity rate increase statewide as Delta variant spreads. The state health department has detected 53 new Delta cases statewide in two weeks. KHON2.
Hawaii reports 63 new COVID cases; no additional fatalities. Of the new infections, 28 were on Oahu, 15 on Hawaii Island, seven on Kauai, and six on Maui. There were also seven residents diagnosed out-of-state. Hawaii News Now.
Oahu
Real estate bidding wars driving up home prices. The median price of a single family home on Oahu is just shy of a $1 million, but realtors said the bidding war is going strong. It is not expected to ease any time soon. KHON2.
Miske Case Rocks Stagehand Union After Executive Board Member’s Guilty Plea. The ripple effects from the federal criminal prosecution of former Honolulu business owner Michael Miske Jr. are now rocking Local 665 of the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees after a member of its executive board admitted he took part in drug trafficking, armed robberies and at least one murder-for-hire scheme as a member of a racketeering organization that Miske controlled and directed. Civil Beat.
Honolulu police chief candidates’ names not released. The names of the 24 individuals who applied to serve as Honolulu’s 12th police chief will remain confidential after the Honolulu Police Commission denied a Honolulu Star-Advertiser public-records request for the applicants’ names, calling the disclosure a violation of privacy that would prejudice the selection process. Star-Advertiser.
Slowing pace of vaccinations prompts state, UH to consider capacity limits for UH football games. While the University of Hawaii is planning for a packed house in the stands for its first football game at the newly renovated Clarence T.C. Ching Athletic Complex, a slowing pace of vaccinations and a rise in Delta variant cases could mean the season opens to a smaller group. Hawaii News Now.
Hawaii Island
Home sales soar on isle. Big Island homes are selling almost as soon as they hit the market as the real estate industry rebounds from the COVID-19 pandemic. Tribune-Herald.
Mahukona preservation advances. A plan to preserve 644 acres of Mahukona land of historical and cultural significance has taken a big step forward with the County Council’s unanimous approval of a resolution authorizing sale negotiations. West Hawaii Today.
ʻAlalā Exhibit In Hilo Is Only One In The World. The endangered Hawaiian crow now has a home at the Panaʻewa Rainforest Zoo. The exhibit opens to the public next week. Big Island Video News. Tribune-Herald. Big Island Now.
Maui
Maui Median Home Price in June Was More Than $1.1M. The highest median price for a single-family home in Hawai‘i last month was in Maui County at more than $1.1 million. Kaua‘i's median was $1.1 million, O‘ahu's was $978,000 and the Big Island's was $465,000, according to data from Hawai‘i Information Service and Honolulu Board of Realtors. Associated Press. Maui News.
Maui High Performance Computing Center Names New Executive Director. The center is part of the Applied Research Laboratory at UH and supports the US Air Force’s Maui High Performance Computing Center, one of five Department of Defense Supercomputing Resource Centers nationwide. Maui Now.
Kauai
Protesters call for reopening of county offices, meetings. Around 11 a.m. Monday, about three dozen people arrived just outside the Lihu‘e Civic Center Mo‘ikeha Building rotunda, unable to get in due to a closed gate. Garden Island.
North Shore shuttle service seeks to curb congestion, crowding. The end of the road is just the beginning for nonprofit organizations Hui Maka‘ainana o Makana and The Hanalei Initiative, which took over management and operation of the North Shore Shuttle from Waipa to Ha‘ena State Park last Sunday. Garden Island.
Visiting couple regret touching monk seal after video goes viral on social media. A Louisiana couple has apologized and will pay a fine after a TikTok video shows a woman touching an endangered Hawaiian monk seal at a Kauai beach. Star-Advertiser.
Tuesday, June 25, 2019
Ige may veto vacation rental, REIT taxes, lets marijuana decriminalization bill stand, NTSB dings FAA for lax skydiving regulations, the future of Haiku Stairs, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands
Ige announces potential vetoes PC:Governor's Office |
Ige Set To Veto $56 Million In New Taxes On Real Estate Trusts And Vacation Rentals. But bills to decriminalize the use of pot, allow mail-in balloting, create a new state prison oversight commission and provide funds to replace aging Aloha Stadium will all become law. Civil Beat.
Tax bills for vacation rentals and REITs among items on governor’s veto list. Gov. David Ige said he will veto a measure that will allow vacation rental platforms like AirBNB to collect taxes from owners. Hawaii News Now.
Ige says he will veto Senate vacation rental collection bill. Star-Advertiser.
Governor Plans To Veto Short-Term Rental Tax Bill. Hawaii Governor David Ige on Monday announced he plans to veto a bill that would require short-term rental booking platforms to collect state taxes. The measure, S.B. 1292, was passed by the state Senate last month by a single vote. Hawaii Public Radio.
Governor Ige unveils "intent to veto" list. Governor David Ige unveiled his intent to veto list Monday. Twenty bills already passed by state lawmakers may not become law. KITV.
Ige plans to veto bill to tax REITs in Hawaii. Gov. David Ige plans to veto a bill that would make Hawaii only the second state to tax real estate investment trusts, saying any gain the state might see wouldn’t be worth the “negative impacts to the state’s economic health and business climate.” Pacific Business News.
Ige considering vetoes for Airbnb, industrial hemp billsTwenty bills might be on the chopping block after Gov. David Ige revealed Monday which of them he is considering vetoing. Tribune-Herald.
Hemp, Airbnb, Cannabis, Asset Forfeiture Bills On Ige’s Veto List. Hawaii Governor David Ige notified state leaders and key lawmakers today of his intent to veto the 20 different measures that passed through the Legislature this year. Big Island Video News.
Airbnb Among 20 Bills on Ige’s Intent to Veto List. Gov. David Ige notified legislative leaders and key lawmakers of his Intent to Veto 20 measures. Maui Now.
=====
Pot possession decriminalized with new bill. Starting next year, possession of small quantities of cannabis will no longer be a criminal offense in Hawaii. Star-Advertiser.
Hawaii airports get $10M in federal funds for safety improvements, upgrades. Four airports in Hawaii will get over $10 million in federal funds to improve airport safety, U.S. Sen. Brian Schatz announced Monday. Hawaii News Now.
Hawaii Gets $10 Million For Airport Improvements. The funding will be used to purchase aircraft rescue and firefighting vehicles, reconstruct taxiways and install runway lighting at four airports across the state. Civil Beat.
=====
More regulation urged in crash’s wake. The National Transportation Safety Board is urging the Federal Aviation Administration to increase regulations for aircraft that operate parachuting services in the wake of Friday’s fatal skydiving plane crash in Mokuleia. Star-Advertiser.
In wake of crash, investigators put FAA ‘on notice’ over safety concerns with skydiving operations. In an extraordinary news conference Monday, NTSB investigators in Hawaii following Friday’s deadly plane crash in Mokuleia publicly criticized the FAA for failing to adopt tougher oversight of skydiving operations and said the agency is “on notice." Hawaii News Now.
FAA Largely Ignored Calls For Improved Skydiving Flight Safety, NTSB Says. The NTSB called for more stringent standards for skydiving operations more than 10 years ago. On Monday, it called out the FAA for not taking sufficient action on those. Civil Beat.
NTSB calls on FAA to strengthen regulation on parachute operations. According to a National Transportation Safety board member, changes to some Federal Aviation Administration rules could save lives. KITV.
NTSB holds second press conference on Mokuleia plane crash that killed 11. KHON2.
Oahu Parachute Center owner responds for the first time following crash. KHON2.
Medical Examiner releases names of 7 victims from Mokuleia plane crash. The Honolulu Medical Examiner’s Office today released the names of seven of the victims of Friday’s skydiving plane that crashed at Dillingham Airfield, killing all 11 aboard. Star-Advertiser.
Names Of 7 Oahu Plane Crash Victims Released. Eleven people total died in the Dillingham Airfield incident Friday. Civil Beat.
Honolulu Medical Examiner IDs 7 Of 11 Victims In Plane Crash. Hawaii Public Radio.
Vague guidelines on pesticide use at schools has community calling for change. During a community meeting Monday, the head of Hawaii’s public schools admitted she’s not sure if the Department of Education is fully compliant with a new law banning certain pesticides on or near campuses. Hawaii News Now.
Oahu
Court expects crowd for Kealoha closings. An overflow crowd is expected today when government and defense attorneys give closing arguments in the corruption and conspiracy trial of Katherine and Louis Kealoha and three co- defendants. Star-Advertiser.
Here’s What To Expect At Closing Arguments In The Kealoha Case. Louis and Katherine Kealoha are on trial with three Honolulu police officers for allegedly framing a family member for the theft of their mailbox. Civil Beat.
Unsealed records: Kealoha was prosecuting cases despite ‘serious’ medical condition. Records unsealed Monday by a federal judge show Katherine Kealoha was not capable of prosecuting cases for at least eight months between 2013 and 2014. Hawaii News Now.
Judge to decide on change to Kaneshiro removal petition. A circuit judge will soon decide whether there needs to be a complete do-over of a petition campaign seeking to impeach embattled Honolulu Prosecutor Keith Kaneshiro. Star-Advertiser.
=====
Tear it down or reopen it? A new evaluation outlines options for the Haiku Stairs. Honolulu Mayor Kirk Caldwell is offering hope to hikers looking for a legal way to enjoy the scenic — and currently off-limits — Haiku Stairs. Hawaii News Now.
Board of Water Supply considering the future of Haiku Stairs. An environmental impact statement was released on Sunday that shows the stairs could be removed as early as 2022. KITV.
Hawaii Island
Hydrogen Powered Buses Are Happening On Hawaii Island. Hydrogen buses are on the way and the fueling station in Kona is ready to go, according to County officials. Big Island Video News.
FEMA Wants Its Money Back For Aid To Volcano Victims. FEMA says the agency is required to review disaster assistance payments to ensure the money doesn’t duplicate other assistance, wasn’t inappropriately spent or was provided in error. Civil Beat.
Maui
Kahului Airport Gets $4.29 Million in Federal Funds. Maui’s Kahului Airport will receive $3.6 million to reconstruct its taxiway and $693,750 to purchase aircraft rescue and fire fighting vehicles, according to an announcement today from US Senator Brian Schatz. Maui Now.
Maui vets work to keep Korean War history alive. Veterans remembered through oral histories; candlelight ceremony planned for Tuesday. Maui News.
Kauai
Visitors must pay in Waimea Canyon state parks. Paid parking for visitors and commercial tours is soon to be a common requirement in Kauai State Parks. Garden Island.
Out-of-state visitors to pay parking fees at Kokee, Waimea Canyon State Park. If you’re not a Hawaii resident, be prepared to pay a parking fee come Friday. Hawaii News Now.
Kauai leaders to discuss plans that might impact traditional salt making in Hanapepe. A battle is brewing over Kauai’s famed salt ponds of Hanapepe. Hawaii News Now.
Kauai man among victims of Oahu skydiving crash. Jordan Tehero was a Kauai-raised man in love with skydiving and videography. Garden Island.
Thursday, January 11, 2018
Cesspool replacement challenging, bacteria closes Ala Moana beach, AG Chin seeks $2.5M to counter civil disobedience, Trump tax cuts could lower electricity costs, Hanabusa island-hopping, Peter Boy siblings sue state, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands
Rinsing off baby after Kona swim ©2018 All Hawaii News |
The Department of Health presented their new report, Relating to Cesspools and Prioritization for Replacement, to a joint committee in Honolulu on Wednesday. Big Island Video News.
Cesspools an ‘impending threat’ to waters. Hawaii legislators were brought up to speed on cesspool replacement Wednesday during a briefing for the House and the Senate on the Department of Health’s cesspool report. Garden Island.
Homeowners express outrage at cesspool talk. Report to Legislature targets Upcountry Maui as potential threat for drinking water wells. Maui News.
=====
Hawaii Attorney General Douglas Chin, the state’s chief law enforcement officer, is seeking $2.5 million from the Legislature that he said would be used to respond to potential mass violence or civil disobedience events — and, possibly, demonstrations atop Mauna Kea. Star-Advertiser.
Legislators Push To Create More “Safe Zones” For The Homeless. But critics of legal homeless encampments say the state should emphasize finding permanent housing for people. Civil Beat.
U.S. Rep. Colleen Hanabusa, who officially launched her gubernatorial bid this week, said she wanted to show support for the neighbor islands during a visit to Hawaii Island on Wednesday. Tribune-Herald.
‘The future of the state’: Hanabusa touts Hawaii Island’s potential in bid for governor. West Hawaii Today.
Dialysis patients worry over Hawaii Medical Service Association policy change. On Feb. 1, HMSA said it will stop accepting payments from nonprofits that receive donations from dialysis clinics that treat patients whose medical premiums are paid for by the same charities. Star-Advertiser.
An upcoming HMSA policy change has certain Hawaii dialysis patients worried about how they’ll be able to pay for treatment. KITV.
Trump tax cuts could result in lower electric bills for Hawaiian Electric customers. The new federal tax code has the potential to ease the burden of Hawaii's utility ratepayers by lowering electricity costs across Hawaiian Electric Cos.' service territory. Pacific Business News.
US Marshals Return Escaped Psychiatric Patient To Hawaii. The killer had walked away from the state hospital in November. Associated Press.
Hawaii State Hospital escapee Randall Saito arrived in Honolulu today under the custody of federal marshals. Star-Advertiser.
U.S. Marshals escorted a psychopathic killer who escaped from the Hawaii State Hospital and fled to California back to the islands Wednesday. Hawaii News Now.
Kamehameha Schools official hopeful about settlement talks in abuse case. Kamehameha Schools has presented a “strong, substantial” financial offer in hopes of settling a lawsuit in which more than 30 former students accused a psychiatrist of sexually abusing them decades ago, the institution’s chairman said Wednesday. Star-Advertiser.
Settlement talks are now underway in the Kamehameha Schools sex abuse case. Hawaii News Now.
The Hawaii Tourism Authority on Wednesday released the 2017 Visitor Plant Inventory, which showed that visitor accommodation units statewide increased to 80,336 units, up 1.6 percent, year-over-year, the largest total ever recorded for the state. Garden Island.
Hawaii is leading the way in digital health and other ways to cut costs. Hawaii Public Radio.
First Hawaiian ranked ninth among U.S. banks. First Hawaiian Bank, in its first year of eligibility, cracked the top 10 of Forbes magazine’s 2018 annual list of America’s 100 largest top-performing banks. Star-Advertiser.
Oahu
The state Department of Health issued a high bacteria advisory today for Ala Moana Beach Park. Star-Advertiser.
Department of Health Clean Water Branch officials are warning of elevated bacteria levels at a highly popular Oahu beach. Hawaii News Now.
High levels of fecal matter detected at Ala Moana Beach Park. KITV.
Warning signs posted after high bacteria levels detected in Ala Moana waters. Hawaii News Now.
=====
Hawaiian Electric says crews cleaned up about 95 percent of the estimated 500 gallons of oil that leaked from an underground pipeline in Pearl City Tuesday evening. KITV.
Cleanup underway after oil leaks from underground pipeline in Pearl City. KHON2.
Blue Startups will kick off its 4th annual East Meets West Conference on Feb. 1, with global investors managing over $1 billion expected to attend. Pacific Business News.
Federal investigators say a man who once spent time on Delaware's death row came to Hawaii intending to develop a major prostitution ring — and that he threatened, beat and raped women to force them to cooperate. Hawaii News Now.
Hawaii Island
Lawsuit filed in ‘Peter Boy’ death. The estate of the late Peter Kema Jr. and Kema Jr.’s siblings are suing the state of Hawaii, the Department of Human Services and Kema Jr.’s parents, claiming the 1997 death of the chronically abused Big Island boy could have been prevented. Tribune-Herald.
The family of "Peter Boy" Kema, the 6-year-old who died at the hands of his abusive parents in 1997 but whose killing would remain unconfirmed for 20 years, has sued the state, saying Child Protective Services workers and the system didn't do enough to protect him. Hawaii News Now.
County hiring practices changing in wake of critical audit. A critical audit of the county Human Resources Department has spurred a bevy of changes to how public employees are recruited and hired. West Hawaii Today.
Retired police detective suing county, captain. A retired Hawaii Police Department detective claims he was falsely arrested and imprisoned early last year, and is suing the county and a police captain. Tribune-Herald.
Lawsuit alleges racial harassment. A Hawaiian Airlines employee stationed at Ellison Onizuka Kona International Airport filed a lawsuit citing racial harassment and discrimination after discovering a noose and lynch rope near his locker. West Hawaii Today.
The Governor’s Task Force on Rat Lungworm Disease says the problem is spreading, it’s become an “emerging” tropical disease and that unanswered questions need to be addressed with research. Tribune-Herald.
Members of the Governor’s Joint Task Force on Rat Lungworm Disease visited Hilo Medical Center on Tuesday. The group is on the island, learning first hand about the effects of the disease in East Hawaii. Big Island Video News.
State officials are looking to fine a major big island landowner after unpermitted construction work damaged a historic cemetery in South Hilo. Hawaii News Now.
Maui
Is This Maui Landowner Getting A Raw Deal From The State? A man who lost his waterfront land may have to pay the state $1 million as part of an eminent domain case. Civil Beat.
Rep. Angus L.K. McKelvey of Maui presented a letter to Gov. David Ige formally requesting that he intervene and stop a Hawaii Department of Transportation proposal that includes last-minute changes to the Keawe Street intersection of the Honoapiilani Highway in Lahaina. Maui Now.
Liquor Commission sends evaluation of director to mayor. Arakawa will need to sign off before report is available to public. Maui News.
The pending sale of Grand Wailea resort on Maui for $1.1 billion will be the highest price paid for a Hawaii hotel and the second highest paid for a hotel in the United States. Star-Advertiser.
Blackstone Group LP is buying the Grand Wailea resort on Maui from Singapore’s sovereign wealth fund for a reported $1.1 billion, according to several reports. Pacific Business News.
Kauai
Panel looks at the climate and what could be ahead for Kauai. Threats to species, shorelines and structures, as well as opportunities for innovation were all on the table as the Earth Matters public lecture series opened Tuesday with a panel discussion on climate change and conservation. Garden Island.
West Maui condos face imminent threat from extreme erosion. Hawaii News Now.
The Kauai County Council on Wednesday approved a new lifeguard stand for Poipu Beach Park that officials believe will save lives. Garden Island.
Tuesday, March 7, 2017
Reef fish population ebbs; Legislature to vote on pesticide buffer, university smoking/vaping ban, Oahu homeless, concussion education, more bills; DLNR officer convicted of rape fired; Honolulu looks at distracted pedestrians; Maui's Iao Valley slowly recovering; Kauai monk seal apparently killed, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands
Hawaiian net fisherman © 2017 All Hawaii News |
U.S. officials say the first-ever assessment of Hawaii’s reef fish shows that 11 of 27 species are experiencing some level of overfishing. Associated Press.
NOAA: 11 species overfished in Hawaii. Garden Island.
Link to full NOAA report here.
Pesticide bill will be put to a vote. Bill would require farms to implement buffer zones around schools, watersheds, shorelines and hospitals when spraying pesticides. Garden Island.
Hawaii School Board Member Wants Top State Education Job. Darrel Galera is seen as a favorite for the superintendent position because of his relationship with Gov. David Ige. Civil Beat.
Former public school principal Darrel Galera resigned from the state Board of Education on Monday and said he will apply for the superintendent job the board is seeking to fill. Star-Advertiser.
A 1978 amendment to the state constitution mandated that Hawaii’s public schools teach Hawaiian education. Thirty-nine years later, the state’s Department of Education still struggles to offer Hawaiian education programs to the vast majority of public school students. Civil Beat.
A bill to ban vaping and smoking on all University of Hawaii campuses statewide crossed over from the state Senate to the House. Tribune-Herald.
There's a growing call underway to scrap safety checks for Hawaii cars. Hawaii News Now.
Legislature helps fund concussion education. Star-Advertiser.
Native Hawaiian activist Mililani Trask is suing Office of Hawaiian Affairs Trustee Peter Apo, accusing him of violating his responsibilities stemming from alleged incidents of sexual harassment.Civil Beat.
Video blog: Interview With Former Hawaii Governor John D. Waihee III. Civil Beat.
Two rallies last week demonstrated the great divide here over the Presidency of the United States. Hawaii Public Radio.
Oahu
A bill before the Honolulu City Council would prohibit pedestrians from using mobile electronic devices, including cellphones, while crossing a street or highway. Star-Advertiser.
The City's "Department of Planning and Permitting", is presenting the "Oahu General Plan" Tuesday night, addressing the impacts of sea level rise, and climate change. KITV.
A Waikiki group is proposing sweeping changes to parking in the state’s No. 1 tourist district, including raising the hourly rate for metered parking to $3 from $1.50, extending the metered parking hours to 10 p.m. instead of 6 p.m., converting about 300 free parking spaces to metered and issuing reduced-rate permits to Waikiki residents. Star-Advertiser.
State ends lease with Moiliili tow company, eyes rentals for Native Hawaiians.KHON2.
On Friday, the House passed 137 bills, including two measures relating to supporting Oahu’s homeless population. Pacific Business News.
The median sales price for a single-family house on Oahu climbed in February to the second-highest level ever at $755,000, according to data released Monday by the Honolulu Board of Realtors. Star-Advertiser.
The Honolulu company that makes Hula Brand noodles, shrimp flakes and other dry edibles has violated food safety standards with unsanitary equipment and insect droppings at its plant, the Food and Drug Administration says. Star-Advertiser.
Hawaii
Two close associates of Mayor Harry Kim have joined the administration as contract hires after turning down full-time jobs. West Hawaii Today.
Mokulele Air and Makani Kai Air are two contenders for a new Essential Air Service contract that will cover all commercial flights in and out of Waimea-Kohala Airport beginning later this year. West Hawaii Today.
The Department of Land and Natural Resources announced in a tersely worded written statement Monday it has terminated the employment of Division of Conservation and Resources Enforcement Officer Ethan Ferguson. Tribune-Herald.
Big on ideas, but short on funding, the staff at a small Hilo-based aerospace agency are hoping a bill moving through the state Legislature will make the difference. Tribune-Herald.
The contested case hearing for the Thirty Meter Telescope project at Mauna Kea on Hawaii's Big Island concluded on Thursday after 44 days of witness testimony, but a decision on whether TMT officials can proceed with the $1.4 billion project could still be months away. Pacific Business News.
Home prices on Hawaii’s Big Island rose by double digits last month, even as the number of single-family homes sold fell, according to statistics provided by Hawaii Information Service on behalf of Hawaii Island Realtors. Pacific Business News.
Maui
Flood-ravaged Iao Valley is slowly coming back to life six months after powerful stormwater forced evacuations, swept cars and massive boulders downstream and shut down the two parks that help make this spectacular canyon one of Maui’s most popular visitor destinations. Star-Advertiser.
The Department of Land and Natural Resources allowed media access into Iao Valley park March 6 to provide an update on the current restoration process. Maui Now.
Hazardous conditions following a major flood in September haven’t deterred tourists from trying to visit Kepaniwai Park and Iao Valley State Monument. Maui News.
Kauai
State authorities are investigating what they’ve described as the suspicious death of a 15-year-old endangered monk seal on Kauai. Star-Advertiser.
A 15-year-old endangered Hawaiian monk seal known to many Kauai locals was found dead on a beach near Eleele on Feb. 23. Civil Beat.
An oft-spotted, 15-year-old endangered Hawaiian monk seal, known as R4DP, was found dead on a beach near Eleele on Feb. 23. Garden Island.
The Honolulu-based company in the process of redeveloping the iconic Coco Palms Resort on the island of Kauai is also building an affordable housing project as a component of the Coco Palms project, a company executive confirmed to Pacific Business News.
Kauai’s real estate market sizzled last month as the median price for single-family houses soared above $700,000 and the median cost for condos rose nearly 50 percent. Star-Advertiser.
The Hawaii Foodbank has promoted a new branch manager to take care of its Kauai location. Garden Island.
Friday, December 30, 2016
Fishing limits could raise ahi prices, Superferry redux, theft charges for Maui employee who built kitchen, coffee picker shortage, more physical exams for schoolkids, Gorak PUC conflict investigated, Royal Hawaiian Gold Club must clean up, sugar plantation equipment heads to auction, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands
courtesy Suisan Fish Market |
Superferry dreams face cost, public opinion hurdles. Lawmakers approved $50,000 in May to study a possible inter-island ferry, and the state Department of Transportation received a $500,000 grant from the federal Maritime Administration to hire consultants to explore potential routes and boats. Associated Press.
It’s been almost 10 years since protesters rallied against the Superferry in Nawiliwili, but some Kauai residents have their reservations and optimisms about an interisland ferry system that may reemerge, pending a state study. Garden Island.
A new law will take effect this upcoming school year that will double the number of physical examinations Hawaii students will need to get in order to keep attending public school. KHON2.
Two state lawmakers are raising red flags over the legal work Tom Gorak was doing on the side while serving full-time as general counsel of the state Public Utilities Commission. Civil Beat.
Newly elected U.S. Rep. Colleen Hanabusa has decided to get closer to her constituents by moving out of the federal building complex across from Honolulu Harbor. Civil Beat.
Hawaii No. 8 For Electoral Integrity. The integrity of America’s electoral system lags far behind other Western democracies, according to a new report. Civil Beat.
Gov. David Ige gave his support Thursday to two young men who want to make the world a better place. Andrew Tisba and Manuel Frederick of Let’s All Connect say they are on a journey to visit all 50 states. Civil Beat.
A crowd of mostly tourists cheered as President Barack Obama and his wife Michelle arrived at a Waikiki restaurant Thursday night. Associated Press.
Oahu
The owners of the Royal Hawaiian Golf Club must provide bathrooms, parking and trash receptacles for hikers of Maunawili Falls Trail or face losing their permit to operate the 18-hole course, the city said Thursday. Star-Advertiser.
A community association that owns the private marina in Hawaii Kai wants to more permanently inhibit sand from migrating off Portlock Beach into the boat entry channel by constructing a $2 million rock groin. Star-Advertiser.
The Honolulu building that houses the now-infamous restaurant that posted a sign in its window saying that voters of President-Elect Donald Trump couldn't eat there is up for sale, the broker handling the sale confirmed to Pacific Business News Thursday.
Hawaii
A bumper crop is usually good news for Big Island coffee farmers, but this year, many are facing a severe shortage of pickers. Businesses in both Kona and Kau are losing thousands of dollars. Hawaii News Now.
This past July, Governor David Ige signed a new law that creates a 10-year marine reserve across a three and a half mile stretch of coastline in North Kona. That came as a huge relief to the community leaders and residents in the area who have been fighting to protect the shoreline and its resources for decades. Hawaii Public Radio.
Tamar Elias, USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory scientist, will present “Volcanic Air Pollution: The What, Where, and How of Vog in Hawaii” at 6:30 p.m. on Jan. 18 at Hawaii Preparatory Academy’s Gates Performing Arts Center on the Upper Campus. The event is free and open to the public. West Hawaii Today.
A 17.73-pound taro corm grown by a group of farmers and cultural practitioners is being submitted to Guinness World Records. Tribune-Herald.
Maui
Theft charges have been filed against a former Maui county employee accused of building a fancy kitchen on the taxpayers’ dime, without permission. KHON2.
A 59-year-old former Maui County Public Works district supervisor was charged with second-degree theft Tuesday, police records show. Maui News.
Hawaiian Commercial & Sugar Co.’s 36,000-acre plantation on Maui, which closed last week and effectively ended the era of the sugar industry in Hawaii, is auctioning off its equipment and items, Pacific Business News has learned.
The state Real Estate Commission will hold its standing committee meetings on Maui in January and will take comments from residents on current and future programs. Maui News.
Kauai
The entrance to the Princeville at Hanalei resort community will get a new Hawaiian landscaped feature as well as rebuilt roads under projects announced by Princeville Development Company’s president and CEO, Jeff Stone. Garden Island.
Monday, March 7, 2016
New octopus discovered, prison corporation wants federal court to clarify Native Hawaiian religious practices, Legislature enters crossover week, gun control advances, Kona courthouse delayed by bid protest, Kauai seeks gas tax hike, Maui coffee comes to fore, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands
Octopus, courtesy NOAA |
Corrections Corporation of America is asking the federal court to force a final settlement in a class-action lawsuit over religious rights of Native Hawaiian inmates in Arizona. Civil Beat.
Despite heavy opposition from federal recognition advocates and an agenda deliberately primed to produce a federal recognition-friendly constitution, Hawaiian independence advocates at the Native Hawaiian Convention, better known as the ʻAha, succeeded in planting a stake in the ground for the “pursuit of independence.” Hawaii Independent.
Hawaii lawmakers are heading into a busy week when bills have to be passed out of the House and Senate and sent over to the other chamber. Those that don’t make it over the hurdle will die. Associated Press.
Hawaii already has some of the toughest gun control laws in the nation, but state House and Senate lawmakers are advancing a half-dozen new proposals this year to further restrict access to firearms for people who have criminal records or are being treated for mental illnesses. Star-Advertiser.
A bill that would prevent known and suspected terrorists from purchasing a firearm is moving forward in the House. Star-Advertiser.
Opposition is mounting to bills that would let the online vacation rental giant Airbnb and similar companies arrange to collect general excise and transient accommodations taxes on behalf of hosts and pay the money to the state. Star-Advertiser.
Some lawmakers at the Hawaii Legislature think the state could do more to attract major national and international sports and entertainment events. Civil Beat.
Oahu
The University of Hawaii-Manoa campus is now accredited internationally as an arboretum, a designation that recognizes its more than 500 species of trees as an important collection. Star-Advertiser.
The number of single-family homes sold on Oahu jumped 19.4 percent to 240 homes sold in February, from 201 homes sold during the same month in 2015. Pacific Business News.
Hawaii
Recent tourism statistics suggest Hawaii Island’s dengue fever outbreak hasn’t had the overall negative impacts some feared. Tribune-Herald.
A bid protest on the new $90 million judiciary complex means that West Hawaii might have to wait a bit longer for justice to be served in a secure setting. A protest letter filed late last month by contractor Nan Inc. alleges that two lower bidders failed to respond to all of the requirements of the project. West Hawaii Today.
Sales of single-family homes on Hawaii’s Big Island soared in February as prices dropped, while sales of condominiums dropped and prices soared, according to statistics from the Hawaii Island Realtors via Hawaii Information Service. Pacific Business News.
Maui
While much of the focus of Hawaii's coffee industry centers on the Big Island's Kona brand, Maui farmers are proving it's not the only coffee from the Aloha State worth tasting. Maui News.
Kaanapali's hotel and condominium owners are baffled by a proposed 33 percent increase of their water bill for this year. Maui News.
A random sampling of Maui County residents will receive a mailed Department of Parks and Recreation survey seeking help in prioritizing future parks facilities, programs and services. Maui News.
Single-family home sales soared 15 percent to 69 homes sold, compared to 60 homes sold in February 2015. The median price of a single-family home in February was $595,000, an increase of 6.5 percent from $558,625 during the same month a year ago. Pacific Business News.
Kauai
The Kauai County Council on Wednesday will consider a proposal to increase the gas tax by 15 cents per gallon beginning Jan. 15. Garden Island.
Single-family home sales on Kauai jumped in February, even as condominium sales and prices dropped, according to statistics from the Kauai Board of Realtors via Hawaii Information Service. Pacific Business News.