Recreational marijuana legalization bill advances; 100-year-old smoking age, anti-abortion bills die, court protects Airbnb records from government, heiress Kawananakoa releases video claiming competency, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Marijuana PC:Pixabay Commons

Bill to legalize pot in Hawaii passes state Senate committee. A bill to legalize marijuana passed a significant legislative hurdle with a surprisingly quick approval by the Senate Judiciary Committee today. Star-Advertiser.

Marijuana legalization bill clears committee hurdle. The Senate Judiciary Committee on Thursday became the first legislative committee in Hawaii to pass a bill that would legalize recreational adult use of marijuana. Tribune-Herald.

A bill that would legalize recreational marijuana is moving forward at the state Legislature. On Thursday morning, the Senate Judiciary Committee voted unanimously to support the measure. It’s now headed to at least two more committees. Hawaii News Now.

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DUI bill moves forward in wake of fatal Kakaako crash. State lawmakers advanced a measure Thursday that would allow judges to prohibit drunken drivers from purchasing or publicly consuming alcohol for three years after their conviction, among other increased penalties. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii lawmaker drops plan to ban cigarettes until age 100. A lawmaker who wanted to restrict the sale of cigarettes to people who are 100 years old or older backpedaled from his proposal today, suggesting instead that his bill be amended to limit cigarette sales to people who are age 25 or older. However, the bill failed anyway. Star-Advertiser.

House Health Committee Tables Anti-Abortion Bill. The first anti-abortion bill in 20 years was heard today by the state legislature in a standing-room only committee room. Hawaii Public Radio.

Proposed measures could weaken service animal law. While a law prohibiting people from falsely claiming an ordinary dog is a service dog successfully passed last year, two bills recently introduced in the Legislature would broaden the definition of service dogs to include emotional support animals. Tribune-Herald.

A new proposal is taking aim at pet owners who don't pick up after their animals. The law would consider it littering and would carry a hefty $500 fine. KHON2.

Bestiality Is Still Legal In Hawaii. It’s not a crime to have sex with animals. Legislation aims to right that wrong. Civil Beat.

Judge Denies Hawaii’s Move To Get Airbnb Host Records. The state sought the records to find out which hosts haven’t been paying taxes involving their vacation rental listings. Associated Press.

Court sides with Airbnb; state to appeal. Hawaii’s Department of Taxation plans to appeal a Honolulu judge’s ruling Thursday that denied the state’s attempt to subpoena rental records from online vacation rental booking site Airbnb. Star-Advertiser.

In new video, heiress Kawananakoa says she can run her $200 million trust. The descendant of Hawaiian royalty defends wife who is suspected of manipulating her. Hawaii News Now.

Campbell Estate heiress Abigail Kawananakoa says in video that she’s mentally fit. During the eight-minute, edited interview, the 92-year-old Campbell Estate heiress also says she has an obligation to the Hawaiian people but that her hands are tied. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaiian heiress Abigail Kawananakoa in her own words. For the first time we're hearing from 92-year-old Hawaiian heiress Abigail Kawananakoa. This video of an interview recorded last month was released by public relations firm Comm-Pac Thursday. KITV.

Oahu

City rejects plea to delay homeless sweeps. City rejects plea to delay homeless sweeps. Star-Advertiser.

Homeless camp to city: Stop the sweeps and let us come to the bargaining table. A group of homeless people who typically try to avoid media attention sought it out Thursday morning, inviting cameras inside the tents they call home. Hawaii News Now.

The hui "Ka Poe o Kakaako" or The People of Kakaako announced Thursday that it will conduct weekly clean ups around the Children's Discovery Center. The group is made up of houseless residents in the area focused on improving the cleanliness of area parks. KITV.

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HPD plans to speed up rollout of body cameras. The Honolulu Police Department’s body camera program is going so smoothly that Chief Susan Ballard is aiming for full implementation by the end of the year, eight months earlier than projected. Star-Advertiser.

Deployment of body cameras to all officers ahead of schedule. The Honolulu Police Department said Thursday that it was making plans to speed up the implementation of body cameras on the remainder of its police officers after the success of initial field tests. Hawaii News Now.

Faster roll-out of body cams. Honolulu Police Chief Susan Ballard wants a faster roll out for body cameras to police officers in all districts. KHON2.

Fighting To Keep The Kealoha Case Open To The Public. As the trial nears in a high-profile case involving widespread corruption in Hawaii law enforcement, a silent legal battle is being waged in the background over courtroom transparency. Civil Beat.

City Leaders Unveil Plan to Encourage Affordable Housing Development. Officials with the City and County of Honolulu want to build more affordable rental housing. But rather than directly fund construction, they have prepared a package of incentives to make those type of projects more appealing to developers. Hawaii Public Radio.

At heated meeting, residents clash over future of popular Ewa Beach park. Oneula Beach Park, also known as “Hau Bush,” has been overridden with illegal dumping, homeless encampments and crime for years. Hawaii News Now.

City hopes to install security cameras at Ala Wai Boat Harbor. KHON2.

State puts Falls of Clyde up for auction after decade of waiting. State transportation officials have officially put the 140-year-old Falls of Clyde up for auction. Star-Advertiser.

DOH fines trendy Kakaako bar for failing to get food permit. WorkPlay, a coffee and cocktail bar on Ilaniwai St., was found to have been operating a food establishment without a state permit. Hawaii News Now.

'Secret’ yakitori restaurant now open to the public. For about a year after opening in late 2017, Toridokoro Matsumoto operated solely as an exclusive eatery — you could only make a reservation if someone who was invited to dine there previously gave you a referral and vouched for you. But recently, the secret restaurant opened its doors to the public, and its locale on Kalauokalani Way has been published for all to see. Pacific Business News.

Hawaii Island

Planning Puts Off Piilani Partners Water Bottling Permit. The Windward Planning Commission once again took up the permit application for a water bottling facility in Hilo, and once again the applicant failed to receive a recommendation. Big Island Video News.

Residents air concerns about spaceport proposal. A draft EA could be complete in three to six months, followed by a public meeting on its findings. Tribune-Herald.

Long-term relief sought for Hawaii Island. The eruption on Hawaii Island last year destroyed some 700 homes, not including businesses, farms and schools. KHON2.

Prosecutors seek additional funds for Career Criminal Unit. Hawaii County prosecutors are now seeking an additional $365,000 from the Legislature for the office’s unit for fiscal years, 2019-20 and 2020-21. West Hawaii Today.

Maui

$350,000 pact reached in Maui Police Department discrimination suit. Retired captain sues over not being promoted to assistant chief. Maui News.

Goodfellow Bros., LLC has issued a notice to motorists that they will be performing construction along Kulanihakoi Street for installation of underground utilities as part of the infrastructure work for Phase 1 of the Kihei High School project. Maui Now.

Class to raise new crop of Master Gardeners. A new Master Gardener class has begun at University of Hawaii Maui College. Maui News.

Kauai

Talk Story With Mayor Kawakami Of Kauai. It’s been two months since Kauai Mayor Derek Kawakami was sworn into office. The Garden Isle lawmaker traded his seat in the State House for the top county job. Hawaii Public Radio.

Woman missing for 7 days on Kauai found safe in ravine behind homes. She’d lost 30 pounds and was very dehydrated, but was otherwise OK. Hawaii News Now.

A Kauai woman who was missing for a week in Kalaheo has been found alive. According to Kauai Police Emi Oka had been yelling for help from a ravine Thursday morning behind homes on Kakela Makai Drive. KITV.

Hawaii tourism nears 10M mark, Kauai dairy plan dropped, lawmaker seeks to ban cigarettes, $15 minimum wage and recreational marijuana bills advance, county mayors present wish lists, lots more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Luau in Kailua-Kona ©2019 All Hawaii News

Isle tourism hit nearly 10M arrivals in 2018. Hawaii welcomed a record 9.9 million tourists in 2018, just 45,452 visitors shy of a 10 million benchmark that had been anticipated before head winds emerged in the back half of last year. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii saw nearly 10M visitors last year. That’s half a million more than in 2017. Hawaii News Now.

The total number of visitors to Hawaii increased to nearly 10 million — and the amount they spent while here increased nearly 7 percent — in 2018 compared to the previous year, Hawaii Tourism Authority found in a report released Thursday. Pacific Business News.

Hawaii visitors spend an average of $201 per day in 2018. Visitors to the Hawaiian Islands spent $17.82 billion in 2018, an increase of 6.8 percent compared to 2017, according to preliminary year-end statistics released today by the Hawaii Tourism Authority. KHON2.

Airbnb criticizes Hawaii attempt to subpoena host records. Airbnb is pushing back against Hawaii’s attempt to find tax delinquents by subpoenaing 10 years’ worth of invoices, receipts and other records from the home-sharing platform’s island hosts, calling it an unprecedented, “massive intrusion” that violates state and federal law. Associated Press.

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County Mayors Brief House/Senate Finance Committee Members. All four county mayors support the Governor’s plan to remove the Transient Accommodations Tax restriction, which is currently capped at $103-million for the counties and provide them with a 23.1% share. Hawaii Public Radio.

The county mayors told state lawmakers Thursday that emergency funding for the Kilauea eruption and the Kauai flooding are among their top priorities this legislative session. Hawaii News Now.

Hawaii lawmakers advance bills to adopt $15 minimum wage. House and Senate lawmakers advanced bills Thursday that would increase the state’s minimum wage to $15 an hour for many workers in the years ahead and also would offer a tax credit to small businesses to try to cushion the impact of the wage increases on businesses. Star-Advertiser.

The first bill to raise the minimum wage in Hawaii made it through its first hearing with lawmakers Thursday. KITV.

Almost Half The Senate Signs On To Bill To Legalize Recreational Marijuana. The prospects are promising for the measure in the 25-member Senate, but Gov. David Ige opposes legalization. Civil Beat.

Ban on cigarette sales proposed for Hawaii. Adults younger than age 30 could be legally prohibited from buying cigarettes in less than a year's time -- and all cigarette sales would be banned in Hawaii in five years -- under a bill by State Representative Richard Creagan. KHON2.

Lawmakers call for tougher laws in wake of Kakaako crash. State legislative leaders from the House and Senate, galvanized by the recent crash in Kakaako that killed three pedestrians, gathered Thursday morning at the state Capitol to call for tougher laws to address a growing number of drunken and impaired drivers in Hawaii. Star-Advertiser.

In wake of horrific crash, lawmakers look to strengthen DUI laws. Hawaii News Now.

Regents reject UH president’s plan to cut tuition. The University of Hawaii Board of Regents Thursday turned away the UH president’s proposal to reduce tuition across the statewide system. Hawaii News Now.

Correctional reform bills to be heard Friday. Two legislative measures introduced as a result of the report of the Task Force on Prison Reform will be heard on February 1 by the House Committee on Public Safety, Veterans and Military Affairs. KHON2.

High Turnover In Gabbard’s Office Preceded ‘Tulsi 2020’ Problems. The Hawaii congresswoman has had a hard time holding on to staff, so much so that her turnover rate has been among the highest in all of Congress. Civil Beat.

Oahu

Developer breaks ground on first of at least 5 high-rises near Ala Moana. Construction on the first of at least five condominium towers in the Ala Moana area kicked off Thursday with rain and a blessing from Hawaiian musician and priest Aaron Mahi. Star-Advertiser.

Aloha Stadium’s board seeks $30M to battle damage. With approximately 200 weathered steel components and 85 decking panels “exhibiting severe corrosion,” according to a new study, Aloha Stadium will require “at minimum” $30 million from the Legislature over the next two years to remain safe and operable, the Stadium Authority said Thursday. Star-Advertiser.

Aloha Stadium needs $30 million in repairs to keep going. KHON2.

HPD misconduct report reveals multiple officers found driving under the influence of alcohol. The Honolulu Police Department has released a new report outlining misconduct within the department. KHON2.

City moving to bring feral cat population under control. The city is moving aggressively to keep in check the population of feral cats that roam alleys, empty lots and other hidden corners of Oahu. KHON2.

How Many More Cars Can We Cram On Oahu? Since 1995, the growth in registered vehicles on Oahu has far outpaced the population increase — making any attempt to keep up with new roads futile. Civil Beat.

Hawaii Island

Kim seeks GET flexibility. Mayor Harry Kim asked state lawmakers in Honolulu on Thursday to grant more flexibility in how counties can use their general excise tax surcharge. Tribune-Herald.

VIDEO: Mayor Harry Kim At The Capitol. Big Island Video News.

County releases draft vacation rental rules. The county Planning Department wants to hear from the public about its proposed rules regulating the rentals on the island. West Hawaii Today.

The number of visitors to the Big Island in 2018 dropped from the previous year, while visitor spending remained flat in the wake of the Kilauea eruption. Tribune-Herald.

An effort to continue astronomy on the summit of Mauna Kea for the next several decades, and how that effort might affect the Thirty Meter Telescope project, was discussed at the State Legislature recently. Big Island Video News.

Residents of Kona Vistas, nearby subdivisions meet with mayor about proposed development. West Hawaii Today.

Maui

Council panel votes down mayor’s prosecutor pick. A Maui County Council committee late Wednesday night voted, 5-4, to recommend rejecting Mayor Michael Victorino’s appointment of John D. Kim as prosecuting attorney. Maui News.

Joint Training with Hawaii National Guard. The Maui Police Department, Fire Department and Emergency Management Agency joined the Hawaii National Guard and other agencies for a full-scale training exercise Thursday near the Kahului Airport. Maui Now.

Plans for Maui agricultural lands reviewed by Mayor. Maui County Mayor Michael Victorino reviewed Mahi Pono’s conceptual plans Wednesday for agricultural development on 41,000 acres formerly used for sugar cane cultivation in Central Maui. KHON2.

A pre-opening of the 39-unit Hale Mahaolu Ewalu Phase I affordable senior rental housing project and groundbreaking for the 22-unit Phase II were held Wednesday morning in Pukalani. Maui News.

Black ice but no snow atop of Haleakala. Black ice shut down the summit of Haleakala for a few hours on Tuesday as chilly conditions swept across the islands, though forecasters did not expect snow at the summit anytime soon. Maui News.

Kauai

Proposal For New Dairy On Kauai Dropped After 5-Year Effort. Hawaii Dairy Farms was thwarted by regulatory obstacles, lawsuits and community opposition. Civil Beat.

Ulupono Initiative scraps plan for dairy farm on Kauai. Socially minded investment firm Ulupono Initiative has abandoned an 8-year effort to establish a dairy on Kauai that aimed to be the state’s biggest local milk source. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii Dairy Farms announced Thursday it was discontinuing plans for a pasture-based dairy farm on Kauai. Garden Island.

Tourism reaches new heights. According to the Hawaii Tourism Authority, Kauai had 118,873 visitors in December, bringing the total for the year to 1.38 million, the most ever for this small island, and a 7.6 percent increase over 2017. Garden Island.