Mauna Kea telescope removal sought; 75th anniversary of USS Bowfin; new tax rate for Maui short-term rentals; another Honolulu homeless sweep; Kauai mulls hikes in salaries, taxes; more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Caltech Submillimeter Observatory telescope Mauna Kea © 2017 All Hawaii News

Caltech seeks feedback on removal of observatory atop Maunakea, site restoration. The California Institute of Technology is preparing to take removal of its submillimeter telescope atop Maunakea through the regulatory process. Tribune-Herald.

VIDEO: Process Starts To Decommission CSO From Mauna Kea.  Last week, Mauna Kea Management Board members heard from consultants retained to begin the decommissioning process for the Caltech Submillimeter Observatory. Big Island Video News.

USS Bowfin celebrates 75th anniversary of its launch. Star-Advertiser.

4 of last 5 USS Arizona crew members to attend ceremonies. Four of the last five crew members of the USS Arizona will be at Pearl Harbor on Thursday to commemorate the 76th anniversary of the “Day of Infamy” on Dec. 7, 1941. Star-Advertiser.

US Supreme Court Allows Enforcement Of Trump Travel Ban. The court ruled the ban on travel from six Muslim countries can be enforced while legal challenges from Hawaii and other states make their way through the lower courts. Associated Press.

The U.S. Supreme Court on Monday allowed the Trump administration to fully enforce a ban on travel to the United States by residents of six mostly Muslim countries. Star-Advertiser.

Where Protected Lands Stand After National Monument Review. Trump downsizes two Utah monuments, and rule changes are still under consideration for two preserves in the Pacific. Civil Beat.

Why The Number of Criminal Defendants Sent To The State Hospital Is Soaring. Experts cite Hawaii’s large number of homeless mentally ill, who are often charged with minor crimes, and the lack of preventive services. Civil Beat.

Health and Human Services Providers Gearing Up for Legislative Session. Hawaii Public Radio.

OHA Settles Lawsuit That Pitted Trustee Against Her Colleagues. Former Board Chair Rowena Akana has penned an apology to other trustees, but her legal fees will be covered by the state agency. Civil Beat.

Island Air didn’t fund health plans, may have thwarted COBRA coverage. On Nov. 10, the day Island Air ceased operations, it promised employees it would continue to pay for their health insurance until the end of November. The airline broke that promise. Star-Advertiser.

Judge in Kamehameha Schools case didn't disclose apparent conflict. For more than three years, Circuit Judge Virginia Crandall has presided over the lawsuits against Kamehameha Schools and St. Francis Hospital by former students who accuse a psychiatrist of sexual abuse decades ago. Hawaii News Now.

Western Union to pay restitution to scam victims. Hawaii residents scammed out of money they transferred via Western Union have an opportunity to be paid back. Star-Advertiser.

Oahu

Whether you drive a car or catch the bus, prepare to pay more for your ride. There have been numerous proposals to increase fees and taxes in Honolulu. KHON2.

The state’s last large homeless sweep of 2017 saw 70 people, 20 dogs and 22 guinea pigs cleared from a public bike path near the H-1 freeway airport viaduct on Monday. Star-Advertiser.

State expands massive homeless sweep to troubled Nimitz bike path. Hawaii News Now.

Councilman Wants A Piece Of The Action In Picking Police Commissioners. Ikaika Anderson seeks to change the selection process for the Honolulu police and fire commissions, whose members are now mayoral appointees. Civil Beat.

Honolulu police inadvertently free suspect wanted in felony case. When Honolulu police arrested a 36-year-old suspected felon on Nov. 1, he had been on the run for more than a month after escaping from court-ordered custody at Kahi Mohala. Star-Advertiser.

UH Manoa’s Sinclair Library to resume 24-hour operation. KHON2.

Hawaii Mexican food chain Maui Tacos has opened its third Oahu location in the Waipahu Town Center. Pacific Business News.

Rumours Night Club, the site of thousands of parties, pau hana gatherings and more than few high school dances, will close in January after 34 years. Hawaii News Now.

Hawaii Island

The county is raising tipping fees at its landfills even more than previously considered. The County Council Finance Committee on Monday advanced Bill 82, increasing the price haulers pay at the county’s Hilo and West Hawaii landfills by 36.4 percent over the next five years. Tipping fees were last raised in 2007. West Hawaii Today.

VIDEO: Eminent Domain For Pahala Wastewater Plant Deferred. The parties involved in the taking of lands from Kamehameha Schools in Pahala for a future wastewater treatment plant were not exactly on the same page. Big Island Video News.

The Hawaii County Department of Water Supply has detected trace amounts of dalapon — a commonly used herbicide — in two South Kona water sources, the department announced in a press release Monday. West Hawaii Today.

Buying Local Beyond the Holidays. For one of Hawaii's few remaining locally-owned grocery chains “buy local” is a year-round effort, and has been for nearly three decades. Hawaii Public Radio.

Maui

Tax rate for short-term rentals created. Permitted operators are worried the higher rates will penalize law-abiding owners. Maui News.

Testimony Supports Keeping Water Director. Council members agreed to refer the item to committee for discussion so that they can hear from both Director Taylor and Mayor Alan Arakawa.  The item is expected to be discharged back to the council for a full vote on Dec. 15. Maui Now.

Sunscreen ban is postponed. Council wants attorneys to sign off on measure first. Maui News.

Rehabilitation of Kalahaku Overlook Focus of Dec. 7 Meeting. The National Park Service will host a public meeting about proposed plans to rehabilitate the Kalahaku Overlook at an upcoming meeting slated for 5 to 6:30 p.m. on Thursday, Dec. 7, 2017, the Pukalani Community Center pool meeting room. Maui Now.

Students at Kahului Elementary go back to class. A Nov. 24 fire over the Thanksgiving break charred classrooms, damaged waterlines. Maui News.

Hawaiian Airlines is beginning nonstop daily service between Kahului and San Diego and expanding seasonal summer service, including its first to an international location. Star-Advertiser.

U-Haul International Inc. is converting a former Kmart store in Kahului to the company’s first self-storage facility on Maui. Star-Advertiser.

Kauai

Commentary: Proposed increases in salaries, taxes a quandary. Two items on Wednesday’s Kauai County Council meeting deserve the public’s attention. Garden Island.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture will loan the Makana North Shore Urgent Care $1.1 million to complete construction and help with operating costs of a new urgent care clinic to serve Kauai’s North Shore community. Pacific Business News.

North Shore clinic receives USDA loan; scheduled to open Spring 2018. The Makana North Shore Urgent Care clinic in Princeville will receive a loan of about $1.1 million from the U.S. Department of Agriculture to complete construction and help with operating costs. Garden Island.

New system for county finance. Customers may experience some slight delays with services, as county cashiers are becoming familiar with the new system. Garden Island.

Inouye, Kamehameha Schools sex scandals revisited, huge raises for Hawaii County officials, no new landfill for Oahu, Maui group sues DLNR over boat traffic, mental hospital escapee fights extradition, Kauai whale beaching hearing held, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

File photo: late U.S. Sen. Daniel Inouye © 2017 All Hawaii News

Would Dan Inouye Have Survived 1992 Sex Allegations Today? Accusations against the revered Hawaii senator didn’t generate much of a public outcry 25 years ago. Civil Beat.

The Kamehameha Schools administration in the 1990s dropped the ball by not investigating allegations of sexual abuse against a psychiatrist who had treated hundreds of students from the late 1950s to the early 1980s, a board member from that period told the Honolulu Star-Advertiser on Monday. Star-Advertiser.

Kamehameha Schools sex abuse victims: 'Monster' stole our childhoods. Hawaii News Now.

Kamehameha Schools responds to sex abuse scandal. Hawaii News Now.

PHOTOS: Hidden Betrayal: Kamehameha Schools Scandal. Hawaii News Now.

‘Attack’ siren to sound Friday. Schoolchildren statewide won’t be scurrying for shelter Friday when officials sound an “attack warning” siren in the first test of its kind in decades. Star-Advertiser.

State Hospital escapee fights extradition to Hawaii. Hawaii State Hospital escapee Randall Saito today contested extradition to Hawaii. Star-Advertiser.

Island Air just one of several airport tenants that owe the state rent money. KHON2.

Craigslist: Where Desperate Hawaii Renters Plead For Help. Online postings show the dire straits would-be renters face in one of the nation’s most expensive housing markets. Civil Beat.

Oahu

Project to provide 160 homes for Native Hawaiians. More than 100 Native Hawaiians are inching closer to homeownership as the state Department of Hawaiian Home Lands works to complete a long-planned subdivision in Kapolei. Star-Advertiser.

The judge in the federal criminal case against former Honolulu Police Chief Louis Kealoha, his prosecutor wife, Katherine Kealoha, and four former members of the Honolulu Police Department’s Criminal Intelligence Unit has pushed back the trial by six months. Star-Advertiser.

New Kealoha Defense Tactic: Going After ‘Mainland Prosecutors’ A federal judge pushed back the trial date until June due to the complexity of the case and sheer volume of the evidence. Civil Beat.

City wants to extend landfill’s life. The city will move forward with its plan to continue using the Waimanalo Gulch Sanitary Landfill into the near future with the hope that it won’t need a new location down the line, Mayor Kirk Caldwell announced Monday. Star-Advertiser.

Despite new rankings for alternate landfills, mayor opposes opening new site. The city released a consultant's report on Monday that includes new rankings for the 11 sites identified as possible alternatives to the Waimanalo Gulch Sanitary Landfill. Hawaii News Now.

A new report shows the Waimanalo Gulch Landfill may only have 20-years left, but Honolulu Mayor Kirk Caldwell said Monday afternoon, he does not want another landfill on Oahu. KITV.

Accessory dwellings touted as alternative to ‘monster’ homes. The leader of the Honolulu Board of Realtors said Oahu homeowners looking to help family, friends or even strangers with housing should look into the idea of creating an accessory dwelling unit on their properties. Star-Advertiser.

Many huge homes not illegal under current city laws. While they’re getting a ramped-up number of complaints from Oahu residents about the large-scale houses that are creeping into their neighborhoods, Honolulu City Council members are learning that existing zoning and building laws allow for much more than people think. Star-Advertiser.

A public hearing will be held Tuesday in the hearing room of the Mission Memorial Building on the Honolulu Hale municipal ground to discuss quiet times at the 17 campsites the city maintains across Oahu. KHON2.

Tempers fray over parking fees, maintenance on private Kakaako roads. Hawaii News Now.

Retail plan near Sharks Cove advances. The public has another opportunity to comment on a developer’s plan to build a “rural” retail complex on Oahu’s North Shore as part of a state environmental review. Star-Advertiser.

Two More Condo And Hotel Towers Proposed For Ala Moana. The city planning department has given the green light to the builders as long as they add more community benefits. Civil Beat.

Ex-officer gets 6-month sentence for seeking sex to fix case. Former University of Hawaii volleyball player and fired Honolulu police officer Maulia LaBarre is going to jail for six months for offering to help a woman get her prostitution case dismissed in exchange for sex. Star-Advertiser.

Ex-Cop Sentenced For Helping Prostitute In Exchange For Sex. Judge cites “abuse of your position of power” in sentencing Maulia LaBarre to six months behind bars. Associated Press.

A former University of Hawaii volleyball player and former Honolulu Police Department officer was sentenced Monday to 6 months in prison for federal wire fraud. KITV.

OCCC clearing out contraband. KITV.

Sleep Number to open first Hawaii store in December. U.S. mattress and bedding brand Sleep Number will open its first Hawaii store on West Oahu. Pacific Business News.

Hawaii Island

It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas for some top county officials who will see double-digit raises as high as 39.7 percent. West Hawaii Today.

An underground leak slowed motorists Monday but didn’t create a significant impact on the water-sensitive region. West Hawaii Today.

Six Rescued From Sinking Vessel Off Hawaii Island. The Coast Guard, and good Samaritans rescued six fishermen from the 57-foot fishing vessel, Jane, reportedly taking on water 110 miles southeast of the Big Island of Hawaii on Monday. Big Island Now.

Prominent San Diego couple, George and Gladys Novinger, swept away in Wailuku River. The couple owns Vineyard Hacienda, a Spanish hacienda-style inn on a 9-acre property with a Bordeaux wine grape vineyard in Rancho San Diego. Tribune-Herald.

Winter arrives on Big Island summits. Snow fell Monday on the summits of Mauna Loa and Maunakea after the National Weather Service declared a winter storm warning. Tribune-Herald.

A winter wonderland! Mauna Kea sees heavy snow (and more is on the way). Hawaii News Now.

Coffee Theft on Hawaii Island. Agriculture theft has been a problem on Hawaii Island for decades. Hawaii Public Radio.

Most Hilo locations already sold out of cut Christmas trees. Tribune-Herald.

Maui

A lawsuit has been filed against the state Department of Land and Natural Resources over the current permitting system for tour boat operators off of Kaanapali Beach. Maui Now.

Fire-damaged Kahului school to reopen Thursday. Kahului Elementary School will remain closed to students until Thursday as staff work to cope with the aftermath of a suspected arson fire. Star-Advertiser.

Kahului Elementary Remains Closed Until Thursday, Nov. 30. Maui Now.

Kahului Elementary School remains closed today after a suspicious fire Friday night burned six classrooms, damaged the school’s waterlines and left parents and students frustrated and saddened. Maui News.

Kauai

A briefing to discuss findings regarding the October beaching of pilot whales on Kauai is scheduled at 10 a.m. today at the State Capitol building. Garden Island.

Samples taken from 45 mullet-like fish found in Lehua tide pools during the summer 2017 rat-eradication project are too degraded to point to what killed the animals. Garden Island.

Loop Road in Wailua has been closed past the point known as “Jurassic Gate” temporarily, after recent rains created muddy conditions and caused trees to fall over the dirt road. Garden Island.

More abandoned dogs being found at Kokee kennels. Garden Island.

Honolulu rail $2.4B bailout passed by Senate, advances in House; Kauai missile test successful; Hawaii's last princess; Big Island judges appointed, Maui judge sought; more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

U.s. Sen. Mazie Hirono, Hawaii Attorney General Doug Chin at 'Dreamer' press conference, courtesy Chin

Hope For Legal Status In the US Turns To Uncertainty For This ‘Dreamer’. President Trump is considering ending a program that granted temporary legal status to young undocumented immigrants, including more than 500 in Hawaii. Civil Beat.

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A $2.4 billion Honolulu rail bailout bill clipped quickly down the fast track Wednesday, easily clearing the Senate and its only House committees midway through a week-long special session. West Hawaii Today.

A $2.4 billion bailout plan for the troubled Honolulu rail project cleared some big hurdles Wednesday, passing both the full Senate and two House committees despite opposition from lawmakers who say the project’s costs have spun out of control. Civil Beat.

Impassioned pleas to force the House to negotiate and come up with a better rail bill fell on deaf ears. After nearly two hours of debate the Senate closed its side of the deal. KITV.

The bill to bail out Honolulu Rail passed the House Transportation and Finance Committees Wednesday night. Senate Bill 4 would extend the General Excise Tax (GET) and raise the transient accommodations tax (TAT) by 1-percentage point to help pay for rail. KITV.

With all 25 state senators casting votes, legislation aimed at rescuing the city’s cash-strapped rail project by raising state taxes passed the full Senate today with a 16-9 vote and now heads over to the House of Representatives. Star-Advertiser.

The State Senate chamber was emotionally charged today as lawmakers voted on the bill to fund the Honolulu Rail Transit project. Hawaii Public Radio.

A bill to fund Honolulu’s rail project passed out of the Hawaii State Senate Wednesday. KHON2.

VIDEO: Senate Advances Rail Bill, Big Island Votes No. Big Island Video News.

A bill that would combine increasing the state’s transient accommodations tax and extend Oahu’s 0.5 percent surcharge of the general excise tax passed the Senate on its third reading on Wednesday. Pacific Business News.

Mayor’s stress test claim ‘evaporated’ as FTA reaffirms half-billion pad not required. KHON2.

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The U.S. military shot down a medium-range ballistic missile during a test off Hawaii, officials said. Associated Press.

Tuesday’s ballistic missile intercept test off Kauai represents another success in the development of missile defense systems that are increasingly in demand, are often tested in Hawaii, and whose development is being ramped up to meet an otherwise vexing threat from North Korea. Star-Advertiser.

A Raytheon Co. missile system was a key part of a successful anti-ballistic test off the coast of Hawaii Tuesday, boosting the company's stock as the saber-rattling between the U.S. and North Korea continues. Pacific Business News.

The US military successfully shot down a medium range ballistic missile target during an interceptor test off of Kauaʻi on Tuesday night. Maui Now.

The National Marine Fisheries Service has approved a five-year Air Force plan for bombing practice at sea off the Hawaiian Island of Kauai. Associated Press.

Updated Hawaii Salary Database: Doctors And Judges Do Well, Thank You. We’ve added tens of thousands of additional workers, including those in the Department of Education, the Judiciary and general state employees. Civil Beat.

There’s an ongoing court battle involving the health and future of the woman some call Hawaii’s last princess. Apart from the legal case itself, it’s a story of royalty….and how that lineage continues to this day. Hawaii Public Radio.

State regulators and the solar industry are seeking more input on Hawaiian Electric Co.’s $205 million grid modernization plan. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaiian Electric Companies submitted on Tuesday the final draft of its Grid Modernization Strategy for review by the state Public Utilities Commission. West Hawaii Today.

A real estate firm is predicting that investors could spend around $1 billion less acquiring commercial property in Hawaii this year, which if accurate would be a third consecutive year of decline. Star-Advertiser.

New statewide safety rules for food establishments go into effect Saturday. Garden Island.

Oahu

A proposal to substantially increase Oahu liquor license fees is expected to come under heavy criticism during a public hearing today before the Honolulu Liquor Commission. Star-Advertiser.

For the past few months Honolulu police have been trying out a new method of interaction. It's designed to build a bridge with Honolulu's homeless population. Hawaii News Now.

The state Department of Health advised the public to stay out of the waters of part of Honolulu Harbor after a wastewater discharge Wednesday night. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii Island

Supporters of Hu Honua Bioenergy celebrated a new beginning Wednesday as construction continues to ramp up on the once troubled $250 million power plant near Pepeekeo. Tribune-Herald.

Gov. David Ige on Wednesday announced the appointments of two new judges to the 3rd Circuit Court on the Big Island. Pacific Business News.

Gov. David Ige Wednesday appointed Kealakekua-based Attorney Robert D.S. Kim as judge of the 3rd Circuit Court in Kona. West Hawaii Today.

Hawaii Senator Mazie Hirono kicked off a special Facebook event geared towards small business owners in Hilo on Monday. Big Island Video News.

Maui

A settlement has been reached between the Hawaii Civil Rights Commission and the County of Maui over a complaint filed that alleged denial of reasonable accommodations for a disabled employee. Maui Now.

A disability discrimination case has been settled between Maui County and the Hawaii Civil Rights Commission, according to an announcement Wednesday. Maui News.

Saying it didn’t appear that information not provided to the defense would have affected the outcome, a judge denied a former Maui Community Correctional Center guard’s request for a new trial on charges that he sexually assaulted an inmate three years ago. Maui News.

Former Maui Corrections Officer Convicted of sex assault, Sentencing Set. Maui Now.

The Department of Water Supply’s new water treatment plant on West Alu Road in Wailuku is about 40 percent complete. Maui News.

The Judicial Selection Commission is accepting applications and nominations to fill a vacancy for 2nd Circuit Family Court judge. Maui News.

When Judge Keith Tanaka retires today, he will end 10 “unexpected” and “invaluable” years on the 2nd Circuit Family Court bench. Maui News.

Kauai

The second drop of rodenticide on Lehua Island happened Wednesday. Garden Island.

The state has administered a second round of rodenticide bait drops to eradicate rats on Lehua Island. Star-Advertiser.

Honolulu Zoo struggling; schools superintendent, tourism officials, PUC appointee named; Maui and Kauai advance budgets; tropical storms, high seas expected for summer; Caldwell, Honolulu officials to get 5% raise, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Honolulu Zoo © 2017 All Hawaii News

A year after the Honolulu Zoo suffered an embarrassing loss of accreditation from the Association of Zoos &Aquariums, three zoo exhibits are shuttered and the facility lacks a permanent director. Star-Advertiser.

A rare convergence of rising sea levels with some of the highest tides of the year could cause episodes of serious coastal flooding in Hawaii over the next few months, scientists are warning. Star-Advertiser.

More than 30,000 online public comments have already poured into the U.S. Department of Interior’s web-based docket system since the agency opened a review of more than two dozen federally protected areas, including the Papahanaumokuakea Marine National Monument and Pacific Remote Islands, at the direction of President Donald Trump. Star-Advertiser.

After years of legal wrangling, the state and advocates for foster parents thought they had a deal to help cover the cost of caring for foster children — but one state lawmaker torpedoed the settlement. Star-Advertiser.

An Arizona school district superintendent was tapped to serve as Hawaii’s next chief of public schools. Tribune-Herald.

The state Board of Education said Friday it has selected Christina Kishimoto as the new superintendent to lead the Hawaii State Department of Education. Pacific Business News.

Christina Kishimoto, superintendent of a public school district in Arizona, has been selected as the new Hawaii public schools superintendent, the state Board of Education announced Friday. Maui News.

Rep. Beth Fukumoto is expected to face tough questioning from members of the Democratic Party as she seeks their acceptance after ditching the Republican Party earlier this year amid a political dust-up over critical comments that she made about President Donald Trump. Star-Advertiser.

Gov. David Ige on Friday appointed James “Jay” Griffin, a natural energy researcher at the University of Hawaii Manoa, to an interim seat on the Hawaii Public Utilities Commission. Pacific Business News.

Two business and tourism veterans will join the Hawaii Tourism Authority, the government agency responsible for statewide tourism marketing. The state Legislature has confirmed Sherry Menor- McNamara, president and CEO of the Chamber of Commerce Hawaii, and Kelly Sanders, area managing director of Marriott Hotels and Resorts Waikiki, as HTA’s newest board members. Star-Advertiser.

Investigators Try To Figure Out Why Man Tried To Disrupt Flight. The man who created a disturbance on an American Airlines flight from Los Angeles to Honolulu faces possible federal charges of interfering with a flight crew. Associated Press.

A University of Hawaii faculty member is causing a stir in conservative media circles by suggesting that white men need to quit their jobs to make room for minorities and women. Civil Beat.

Commentary: Souki’s House career lasted 35 years for good reason. Star-Advertiser.

Oahu

The Honolulu Salary Commission is recommending 5 percent raises for the mayor, police chief and other top city officials. Civil Beat.

Even with the official number of homeless people soaring in their communities, some state and city lawmakers on Oahu say the latest homeless census gives them a better idea of how to plan for possibilities that could include hygiene centers and even tent cities. Star-Advertiser.

A former employee of DuPont Pioneer on Oahu is suing the company, claiming she was retaliated against for raising concerns about its use of pesticides. Civil Beat.

A planned public school envisioned to be a “vertical” prototype for urban Honolulu areas near transit stations is on track to be built sooner rather than later as part of a Kakaako project with two residential apartment towers. Star-Advertiser.

The City Council is advancing a bill aimed at addressing long-standing concerns about foul odors emanating from waters around the Honolulu Country Club in Salt Lake. Star-Advertiser.

Public comments wanted for study on future of Haiku Stairs. KHON2.

A $300 million waterfront retail village would be a welcome amenity for many Hoakalei Resort and Ocean Pointe homeowners in Ewa Beach, but some of them still want something else: $27 million from a jury award two years ago and more in pending claims. Star-Advertiser.

The state Department of Transportation plans to begin resurfacing Farrington Highway from Kili Drive to Kaena Point in Makaha in the coming weeks. Star-Advertiser.

The Honolulu International Airport’s name will be officially changed to Daniel K. Inouye International Airport at a ceremony on Memorial Day weekend, but the new sign is already up on the main airport building. Star-Advertiser.

AT&T workers in Hawaii continued their three-day strike on Sunday to fight for better wages and benefits. Four of Oahu's nine AT&T stores remained closed while workers rallied near Ala Moana Beach park. Hawaii News Now.

Resort Fees: A Hidden Pain For Tourists, A Windfall For Hotels. While consumer advocates decry costs for amenities like swimming pool access and in-room safes, the fees bring in an estimated $2.6 billion annually for hotels. Civil Beat.

Natives are recolonizing urban Honolulu. Native birds, that is. The white tern or Manu O Kū is thriving in Hawaiʻi’s most populous city, and so is its fan base – the Hui Manu O Kū. Hawaii Public Radio.

Commentary: Rail debacle should prompt developers, bankers to step up. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii Island

Chlamydia infections are circulating unchecked in Hawaii County, state Department of Health data shows. Tribune-Herald.

Kona led Hawaii Island in auto thefts in 2016 and is on track to do so this year, as well, according to data from the Hawaii Police Department. Tribune-Herald.

Dr. Sharon Bintliff left county councilmembers smiling after a vote in support of her nomination to sit on the ethics board. Big Island Video News.

In a case of justice grinding slowly but exceedingly fine, the Hawaii Island Board of Registration on Tuesday is scheduled to pick up a 2014 election dispute that first took a trip to the Hawaii Supreme Court. West Hawaii Today.

Hilo’s state senator says it “is really, really unfortunate,” that Hawaii County is still without an East Hawaii representative on the University of Hawaii Board of Regents. Big Island Video News.

The state Land Board rejected a petition from a Thirty Meter Telescope opponent seeking an online transcript of the project’s contested case hearing. Tribune-Herald.

The Hawaii County Office of Housing and Community Development has prepared its list of projects it plans to fund with allocations from a long-standing federal initiative, but it’s not clear how long that program will continue. Tribune-Herald.

After the rescue of more than 80 dogs from a South Kona property, the Hawaii Island Humane Society is looking to the community to give the animals temporary homes. West Hawaii Today.

Maui

The Maui County Council passed on first reading Friday an approximately $705.2 million fiscal 2018 budget. Maui News.

The Maui Planning Commission will hold a hearing Tuesday on ATC Makena Holding’s application for a special management area permit, but under a court order last week the panel will only acknowledge and accept petitions to intervene. Maui News.

The National Weather Service is expecting an “above-average year” for tropical cyclones, which could destroy huge sections of Honoapiilani Highway and isolate West Maui residents from the rest of the island for months — possibly a year, a senior forecaster and hurricane specialist said. Maui News.

A pesticide-free pilot program will launch in four Maui parks over the coming year in the county’s quest to find greener measures that won’t break the bank. Maui News.

Kauai

The Kauai County Council voted 6-1 to approve $201 million for the next fiscal year on May 12. Oahu, Maui and the Big Island councils are expected to make decisions on their respective budgets by mid-June. Highlights of Kauai County budget, which is the highest in a decade, include reducing the mayor’s original proposal by $2 million without increasing property taxes. Garden Island.

Even with the threat of being open to lawsuits, lifeguards will continue to man their respective towers this summer. Garden Island.

Seventeen health-care professionals on Kauai are adding their voices to a request that Gov. David Ige ban the pesticide chlorpyrifos in Hawaii. Garden Island.

Kauai’s lawmakers will recap the legislative session at the Lihue Business Association’s Thursday meeting at Duke’s Canoe Club. Garden Island.

Obama and Abe to visit Pearl Harbor today, $112M for renewable energy, Honolulu to tax part-time homeowners higher, Kim institutes hiring freeze, 12% raises for Maui officials, lawmaker publishes Hawaii Kai homeless map, new civil defense chief, Kenoi's legacy, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe places a wreath at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific at the Punchbowl in Honolulu, Hawaii on December 26, 2016. (AFP PHOTO/JAPAN POOL VIA JIJI PRESS /STR)

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe laid wreaths at various cemeteries and memorials Monday ahead of a visit to the site of the 1941 bombing that plunged the United States into World War II. Associated Press.

Putting 75 years of resentment behind them, the leaders of the United States and Japan are coming together at Pearl Harbor for a historic pilgrimage to the site where a devastating surprise attack sent America marching into World War II. Associated Press.

In a solemn, silent tribute, Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe presented a white chrysanthemum wreath at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific on Monday, bowing his head slightly as a gentle rain fell. Star-Advertiser.

In a gesture that highlights the strength of U.S-Japan relations and how far the two nations have come since World War II, Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe will join President Obama at the USS Arizona Memorial on Tuesday to mark the 75th anniversary of the attack on Pearl Harbor. Hawaii News Now.

The historic visit to Honolulu of Japan’s top leader began Monday morning at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam. Civil Beat.

Prime Minister Abe Shinzo paid tribute to fallen warriors at the National Cemetery of the Pacific at Punchbowl shortly after arriving in Honolulu Monday. KITV.

President Barack Obama and first lady Michele Obama thanked hundreds of service members and their families on Christmas Day in his final holiday visit as commander-in-chief to the Marine Corps Base Hawaii. Civil Beat.

Commentary: We in Hawaii know Obama’s historic presidency was all the richer because of his Hawaii roots. Star-Advertiser.

Legislation introduced a year ago by two Hawaii lawmakers is now law. “Talia’s Law,” as it is called, seeks to at better protect children from abuse on military bases. Civil Beat.

More than half a million Hawaii residents in commercial health plans will see an average 6.2 percent rate hike Sunday. Star-Advertiser.

The Hawaiian Electric companies that power Oahu, Maui County and the Big Island have submitted a plan to state energy regulators that lays out how they will achieve 100 percent of their electricity generation from renewable sources by 2040 — five years sooner than the state-mandated goal. Civil Beat.

Eight organizations have banded together on a mission to create more electric options in ground transportation in Hawaii, including the state’s Department of Transportation and Kauai Island Utility Cooperative. Garden Island.

The state paid out $112 million in tax credits for renewable energy investment in 2014, the largest state tax credit for the year. Star-Advertiser.

As Hawaii residents eye the fresh ahi sashimi platters traditionally found on holiday dinner tables, major negotiations loom next year over how much tuna commercial fishermen should be allowed to catch. Civil Beat.

University of Hawaii researchers say severe birth defects related to the Zika virus occurred in the islands several years before this year’s outbreaks in Brazil and Puerto Rico. Star-Advertiser.

Oahu

A Honolulu ordinance that taxes homeowners at higher rates for million-dollar homes that they don’t live in full time will remain in effect after a state judge Friday reversed his October decision that found that the tax classification was unconstitutional. Star-Advertiser.

A state legislator has published a map of suspected homeless people in his district in an effort to raise public awareness of the problem, but some attorneys say the effort could be unconstitutional.Star-Advertiser.

City Councilman Joey Manahan has met with officials at the Honolulu Country Club in an effort to address concerns by Salt Lake residents about foul odors emanating from the waters around the club. Star-Advertiser.

The Honolulu Fire Department said it has been fined $15,400 and told to control workplace hazards as a result of an investigation into the accidental death of firefighter Clifford Rigsbee during a training exercise. Star-Advertiser.

A Waipahu homeless shelter is preparing to close its doors for good. Shelter officials at Lighthouse Outreach Center say new regulations adopted by the state are to blame. Hawaii Public Radio.

Hawaii

Mayor Harry Kim has instituted a hiring freeze while county departments revamp their procedures for selecting job candidates. West Hawaii Today.

Mayor Harry Kim tapped a former chief ranger at Hawaii Volcanoes National Park to be Hawaii County’s next Civil Defense administrator. Tribune-Herald.

Two Former Big Island Mayors Weigh In on Billy Kenoi's Political Future. Hawaii Public Radio.

A room set aside for welcoming cruise ship passengers at Hilo Harbor will be turned into a security office, frustrating greeters who have waited four years to return to the space. Tribune-Herald.

Hawaii Island tourism numbers are approaching a record high thanks to an ongoing shift in arrivals from cruise ships to airlines. Tribune-Herald.

Hawaii House Majority Leader Scott Saiki is calling on the state Supreme Court to speed up the contested-case hearings for the permit to build a giant telescope atop Mauna Kea. Associated Press.

Honokaa anxiously awaits gym's re-opening -- a year from now. Hawaii News Now.

Peaman cited: Race goes on but organizer says he has court date in February. West Hawaii Today.

Maui

The 12 percent pay raise approved earlier this month for Mayor Alan Arakawa and his department appointees stands after the Maui County Salary Commission took no new action Friday, despite calling a special meeting after questions arose about the nondescriptive agenda item posted for its last meeting. Maui News.

The proposed new Maui County Service Center in Alexander & Baldwin’s Maui Business Park II in Puunene/Kahului has an estimated price tag of $27 million and would include a number of new occupants. Maui News.

The Dorvin and Betty Leis Charitable Trust announced it is donating a total of $1.25 million to 17 nonprofits on Maui. Pacific Business News.

Leis family is the model for philanthropic giving. Maui News.

The Kihei Community Association has provided about a quarter of the cost for a follow-up study to look into the water quality off South Maui in the context of human health. Maui News.

Kauai

Fire Chief Robert Westerman talks growth, future needs. Garden Island.

There’s another set of hands working in Katherine Muzik’s underwater coral garden named Mala Moana, or “Ocean Garden,” in Hawaiian. Garden Island.

Unemployment hits low 3%, judge rules against Thirty Meter Telescope lease, more Honolulu rail delays, EPA seeks $5M fines against Syngenta, Maui to revisit big salary hikes, lawmakers question rape test kit backlog, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Shoppers in Waikiki © 2016 All Hawaii News

Hawaii’s unemployment rate fell for the fourth straight month and hit 3 percent in November, the lowest level since October 2007, according to data released Thursday by the state Department of Labor and Industrial Relations. Star-Advertiser.

The state's labor department says Hawaii's unemployment rate fell to a nine-year-low of 3 percent last month. Associated Press.

Three months ago Gov. David Ige told attendees at an international conference on conservation that he would like to see Hawaii double its food production by the year 2020. Civil Beat.

State lawmakers were briefed today on the status of sexual assault kits that have not been tested and county plans to resolve the backlogs. Hawaii Public Radio.

With President Barack Obama set to arrive Friday for vacation on Oahu, the Western Pacific Regional Fishery Management Council is making another push for his administration to ease the anticipated impacts of the newly expanded Papahanaumokuakea Marine National Monument on Hawaii’s $100 million commercial fishing industry. Civil Beat.

Mounting legal costs and allegations of wasteful spending are being lobbed by both sides of a bitterly divided Office of Hawaiian Affairs, and some say the Hawaiian community is paying the price. KHON2.

Hawaii is launching several new projects and implementing new rules aimed at addressing concerns about pesticide exposure. Associated Press.

Oahu

Honolulu’s rail system could face further delays if Hitachi Rail Italy can’t fix a newly discovered glitch in its train cars before tests scheduled to start next year, project officials say. Star-Advertiser.

Honolulu Mayor Kirk Caldwell made a surprise visit to the board of directors of the Honolulu Authority for Rapid Transportation on Thursday and cautioned that “there will be more problems” in the city’s troubled 20-mile, 21-station rail project. Civil Beat.

A former Honolulu police officer plans to plead guilty Friday to felony conspiracy. Niall Silva is one of the officers recently named in a civil lawsuit filed by Gerard Puana against Honolulu police chief Louis Kealoha and his wife, Katherine, a city deputy prosecutor and Puana’s niece. KHON2.

In newly-released court records, a federal prosecutor indicates the police chief's wife, Katherine Kealoha, was deeply involved in an effort to frame her uncle by faking the theft of her mailbox. Hawaii News Now.

Last month’s sewage spill near Ko Olina may have gone undetected for a full day before city officials responded. KHON2.

Kerzner International's first Atlantis resort in the United States is coming to the 642-acre Ko Olina Resort in West Oahu and will include a total of 1,324 hotel rooms and luxury residences, an aquarium, a wedding chapel and a water park. Pacific Business News.

Hawaii

A Hilo Circuit Court judge on Thursday overturned the state’s approval of the Thirty Meter Telescope’s sublease for Mauna Kea. Tribune-Herald.

A Circuit Court judge ruled Thursday that the state Board of Land and Natural Resources should have held a contested case hearing before it consented to a sublease between the University of Hawaii at Hilo and the Thirty Meter Telescope. Star-Advertiser.

The state’s approval of a sublease between the University of Hawai’i and the Thirty Meter Telescope has been thrown out in court. Big Island Video News.

The land board is waiting on the Banyan Drive Hawaii Redevelopment Agency before it decides what to do with the Pagoda property. Here is what new mayor Harry Kim says about the agency and the Banyan Drive situation. Big Island Video News.

Six County Council members have dipped into contingency funds to help pay for an overhaul of the Fire Department’s primary West Hawaii rescue boat. West Hawaii Today.

A conservation story nearly two decades in the making entered its latest chapter Wednesday with the release of five young ‘alala into the wild. Tribune-Herald.

When Kona Brewing Co. opens its new facility in 2018, the brewery won’t only dramatically increase its capacity to brew more beer, it’ll also include new features designed to reduce waste and improve efficiency. West Hawaii Today.

Maui

The Maui County Salary Commission will meet Dec. 23 for a special meeting to once again take up pay raises for Mayor Alan Arakawa and top appointees in his administration. Maui News.

A Maui County Council committee is calling for ending a parking lot concession on county property in Lahaina by the Friends of Moku’ula, questioning the group’s financial management and its responsiveness to community and council inquiries. Maui News.

The permitting process for the next phase of the Lahaina bypass, from the Olowalu landfill to Hokiokio Place, continues to move forward as the project’s construction date approaches next month. Maui News.

A tentative agreement has been reached for Maui County to pay $9.5 million for Wailuku Water Co.’s ditch system and 8,764 acres of its West Maui Mountains watershed lands. Maui News.

Eight hours of face-to-face deliberations between officials and supporters of the Maui Veterans Cemetery and the Makawao Cemetery Association on Tuesday appear to have resolved a dispute that at times has led to a contentious relationship between neighbors over the past few years. Maui News.

Kauai

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is suing a Kauai seed company over the protection of agricultural workers at its crop research farm in connection with a medical emergency in January when 10 people were treated at a hospital. Star-Advertiser.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency on Thursday filed a complaint alleging that Syngenta Kauai violated “numerous federal pesticide regulations” meant to protect agricultural workers at its crop research farm in Kekaha. Civil Beat.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is seeking nearly $5 million in fines against a unit of the Swiss chemical giant Syngenta for the company’s alleged violations of pesticide regulations in Hawaii. Associated Press.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is suing Syngenta Seeds over an incident early this year on Kauai. Garden Island.

The Wailua Golf Course will soon be able to sell alcohol to players on the links. The Kauai County Council on Wednesday voted 6-1 to pass Bill No. 2635 allows the sale of alcohol via roving concessions. Garden Island.

Ala Wai to be disrupted by repair work, Hawaii union clout dims, Maui mulls charging for county parks, passes 12% raises for officials, Kauai council to repeal failed GMO bill, Kim to investigate unpermitted sea wall, HMSA revamps payment protocol, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Ala Wai jogger © 2016 All Hawaii News

Hawaiian Electric Co. is proposing to spend an estimated $14 million to replace two old high-voltage cables that run across the bottom of the Ala Wai Canal with new lines installed deeper underground. Star-Advertiser.

As Trump takes aim at unions, labor's clout has dipped in Hawaii. Pacific Business News.

A former teacher and the teachers union are teaming up to ensure that Hawaii Board of Education meetings will continue to be videotaped for those who cannot attend. Civil Beat.

Sandwich Isles Communications Inc., the politically connected Hawaii telecommunications company that provides services on Hawaiian home lands, is being warned that its Federal Communications Commission authorization to operate may be revoked. Star-Advertiser.

Fisheries Commission Takes Steps To Keep Observers Safer. The last-minute agreement represented one of the week’s few accomplishments, but more action on tuna is expected next year. Civil Beat.

Hawaii Medical Service Association has decided to phase in a major overhaul of its payment system to doctors. The state’s largest health insurer, with 3,000 doctors in its network, is changing the way it reimburses its primary care physicians to a fixed monthly rate for each patient in a practice, instead of paying them based on the number of patients they see and the number of services they provide. Star-Advertiser.

It’s well known that Hawaii faces a critical housing shortage. As Pacific Business News reports, different challenges exist at all price points. Hawaii Public Radio.

Oahu
A record number of students are earning undergraduate degrees within four years from the University of Hawaii at Manoa — the result, officials say, of nearly a decade of initiatives aimed at better supporting student success. Star-Advertiser.

Rural commuters in Windward Oahu who rely on TheBus are getting some relief after enduring several years of scaled-back service, but it remains to be seen whether they’ll keep those gains in the long term. Star-Advertiser.

A federal measure known as the 21st Century Cures Act that could boost grant funding by millions of dollars per year for the University of Hawaii Cancer Center has won approval from Congress, and President Barack Obama is expected to quickly sign it into law. Star-Advertiser.

Starting Monday, Thomas Square will close to the public for six months. The park will be undergoing maintenance and improvements. KHON2.

New Kakaako condos debut urban community associations. Star-Advertiser.

Some students at Shafter Elementary School have been using the library and cafeteria as classrooms since last school year while three portable rooms have sat vacant on the campus for about two years, leading an area legislator and parent to question the state Department of Education about the delay. Star-Advertiser.

Some residents displaced five months ago by Tropical Storm Darby are back home in a Honolulu neighborhood. Associated Press.

Despite Oahu’s tight inventory driving median home prices up, the luxury real estate market is still strong, according to Hawaii real estate experts. Pacific Business News.

Commentary: Financial fumbling makes difficult task of paying for rail even more onerous over time. Star-Advertiser.

Honolulu Marathon is not just a race, but a spectacle. Star-Advertiser.

The Honolulu Marathon is more than a race. It’s an exhibition, festival, visitor attraction and business — and it’s huge. Pacific Business News.

Lance Mizumoto resigned last week from his position as vice chairman and chief operating officer of Central Pacific Financial Corp. and its subsidiary, Central Pacific Bank, the Honolulu-based bank said in a regulatory filing with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission early Tuesday. Pacific Business News.

Hawaii
The land board is waiting on the Banyan Drive Hawaii Redevelopment Agency before it decides what to do with the Pagoda property. Here is what new mayor Harry Kim says about the agency and the Banyan Drive situation. Big Island Video News.

Mayor Harry Kim says his administration will check on the status of a nonpermitted seawall built at Lalakea pond following complaints from some park users. Tribune-Herald.

A recent Puna Geothermal Ventures community meeting in Pahoa included some of the usual back and forth between industry watchdog group Puna Pono Alliance and PGV officials, but ended with a handshake and a word of thanks. Big Island Video News.

Hawaii County Democrats are proposing new rules for selecting candidates to fill legislative vacancies after some controversy over the process of filling Rep. Clift Tsuji's seat. Associated Press.

The Volcano School of Arts &Sciences is developing plans for a new campus, replacing what it calls inadequate and deteriorating facilities. Tribune-Herald.

Moku Loa, Hawaii Island’s chapter of the Sierra Club, held its annual meeting Saturday evening, with more than 25 people gathering at Wailoa River State Park. Tribune-Herald.

The state Judiciary held the 2016 Self-Help Desk Recognition Awards Friday to celebrate the work of Hawaii Island attorneys who provided free legal information to more than 500 Hawaii Island residents seeking assistance during the past year at the Kona Courthouse in Kealakekua. West Hawaii Today.

Maui

Free entry for everyone at Maui County parks could become a thing of the past. Last week, the county Cost of Government Commission heard a suggestion to charge park entry fees for visitors and businesses from Vice Chairwoman Annie Alvarado. Maui News.

The Maui County Salary Commission approved a 12 percent pay increase Friday for Mayor Alan Arakawa, his department directors and their deputies, although a problem with the posted meeting agenda could void the pay hike, at least temporarily. Maui News.

Hawaii's only remaining sugar mill is wrapping up its final harvest, with the last cane haul set for Monday. Hawaii News Now.

The state Board of Land and Natural Resources is allowing Alexander & Baldwin to continue diverting East Maui streams, even though the company’s Hawaiian Commercial & Sugar Co. is ending sugar cane production this year. Maui News.

New budget director cites past experience. Araki-Regan has come under fire for her connection to mayor. Maui News.

The County of Maui announced its 2016 Employee Recognition Awards following ceremonies that were held on Maui, Molokaʻi and Lānaʻi. Maui Now.

After settling fines and violations in late July 2015 for $500,000 — the largest amount ever levied by the Maui County Department of Planning — Paia businessman Michael Baskin has missed the original deadline for full payment by more than four months. Maui News.

Kauai

When councilmembers gather for the first full council meeting of the new term this week, they are expected to discuss repealing the GMO bill that was recently ruled invalid in federal court. Garden Island.

KCC group attacks illegal dumping. Garden Island.

Thirty Meter Telescope goes back to Land Board, Hawaii County Council candidate indicted on voter fraud charge, $13M settlement for Tripler Army Medical Center, homeless emergency extended, Kauai mulls raises for officials, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Tour of Subaru Telescope atop Mauna Kea © 2016 All Hawaii News

The proposed Thirty Meter Telescope project on Wednesday landed back in the jurisdiction of the state Board of Land and Natural Resources, which now must hold a new contested case hearing. Star-Advertiser.

Gov. David Ige and acting Gov. Shan Tsutsui have signed eight emergency proclamations since taking office in 2014, including four that waive procurement and other normal procedures to more quickly address the highest per capita homeless rate in the nation. Star-Advertiser.

The Hawaii Department of Health has made some major improvements in its ability to test for the Zika virus, following the confirmation of a child born in the state with possible Zika-related birth defects last month. Civil Beat.

Key lawmakers in the state House and Senate are making some major changes to Gov. David Ige’s plan to spend $100 million in energy efficiency funds to cool 1,000 public school classrooms. Star-Advertiser.

Senate Committee Passes Bill to Authorize Psychologists to Prescribe Medication . Hawaii Public Radio.

Hawaii lawmakers are pushing a bill to make it easier to get medication that counteract the effects of overdoses, and provide immunity for people who administer them. Associated Press.

Why Do Business, Labor Groups Support The NextEra Merger? Many organizations have spoken out against the purchase of Hawaiian Electric, but not much has been heard from certain supporters. Civil Beat.

A proposed bill would make Hawaii’s current 100 percent renewable energy goal more clear and make sure that all resources being fed to the grid are by renewable resources, the head of the state’s Energy Office told Pacific Business News.

Democrat Lorraine Inouye was not alone when she held a campaign fundraiser Tuesday night at Mandalay in downtown Honolulu. It turns out that Sens. Donovan Dela Cruz and Michelle Kidani were on hand as well, and also asking for donations of $150. Civil Beat.

It’s high time to take expanding mongoose and rodent populations in hand before they destroy more of a fragile native landscape. That’s the gist of a new joint state and federal proposal to launch a comprehensive control or eradication of the invasive animals from native ecosystems. West Hawaii Today.

Oahu

Following a successful first year of getting homeless people into so-called “Housing First” apartments and homes, the city is now seeking bids to expand the program across Oahu. Star-Advertiser.

Beretania Street should soon offer drivers a smoother ride now that road crews are finally repaving the major thoroughfare, resuming work more than a year after abruptly stopping when they encountered shallow utility lines. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii lawmakers are pushing for more details on Honolulu's backlog of untested rape kits, which supporters say can be crucial for catching repeat offenders. Associated Press.

The federal government has reached a $13 million settlement with the parents of a 7-year-old girl who as an infant suffered severe, permanent brain damage while being treated at Tripler Army Medical Center. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii

Tiffany Edwards Hunt, a blogger and former County Council candidate, has been charged with voter fraud, the Hawaii County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office said Wednesday. Tribune-Herald.

State Sen. Lorraine Inouye is pushing a bill that would raise the speed limit on the Daniel K. Inouye Highway, commonly called Saddle Road, from 55 mph to 65 mph — 5 mph faster than the state’s highest-speed roads currently allow. Tribune-Herald.

Hu Honua Bioenergy is firing back at the Hawaii Electric Light Company in a document filed with the Hawaii Public Utilities Commission, addressing what it calls incomplete and misleading information in HELCO’s status report to the PUC. Big Island Video News.

One of Hawaii’s last remaining dairy farms is asking the state for help building its own milk processing facility. Big Island Dairy, located in Ookala, says the $10 million in special purpose revenue bonds it is requesting would help it secure low-cost loans for the plant, which it sees as helping stabilize the industry. Tribune-Herald.

The Hawaii Health Systems Corp. West Hawaii Region board of directors has selected Frank Sayre to serve as its new chair. Pacific Business News.

On Saturday, faculty, students and residents will celebrate the grand opening and open house of the Hawaii Community College-Palamanui. West Hawaii Today.

Maui

The percentage of unused wind power by Maui Electric Co. in 2015 grew 3 percentage points to 10 percent compared to 2014, but the utility accepted its highest amount of power from wind farms in the year, according to a filing with the state Public Utilities Commission late last month. Maui News.

Victory Development's proposed 39-unit Nani Loa condominium hotel project in Kihei's "Kamaole Superblock" became a procedural hairball for the Maui Planning Commission on Tuesday. Maui News.

Kauai

The county is considering more than $800,000 in raises for elected and appointed officials. Garden Island.

A 3 percent assessment cap for homestead and long-term affordable rental properties was approved unanimously by the five members of the county council present at Wednesday’s meeting. Garden Island.

In their Tuesday meeting, the planning commission approved the zoning, use, and special permits for a middle and high school along the mauka side of Kuhio Highway in Kilauea. Garden Island.