Sunscreen ban, aquarium fish limit posed by state Legislature, Thirty Meter Telescope hearing concludes, Honolulu bikeshare advances, minimum wage hikes dying, growth forecast slows, more on Caldwell, Kim budgets, Kauai mayor returns from Phillipines, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Rinsing off baby at Kona beach © 2017 Al Hawaii News

The Hawaii Senate is on track to pass a bill banning the use of sunscreens that contain oxybenzone, which studies have shown harms coral reefs. Civil Beat.

Lawmakers have advanced a bill that would limit aquarium fish collecting. KITV.

Hawaii workers who are paid the minimum wage will see it grow from $9.25 to $10.10 in January. But it won’t be going higher than that any time soon. Civil Beat.

A University of Hawaii economic group is dialing back its growth forecasts for the state amid an ongoing slowdown in tourism and construction that is expected to continue for at least the next three years. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii's correctional facilities grapple with a 'silver tsunami.' The state's population is aging, including behind bars. Hawaii News Now.

Another Hawaii bill that sought more oversight of the state’s commercial fishing industry is dying. The bill would have required boat operators to provide contracts between foreign fishermen and employers. Associated Press.

Lawmakers are pushing a bill that would require hospitals, before transferring a patient to another facility via air ambulance, to first call a carrier contracted with the patient’s health insurer in an effort to prevent excessive medevac charges. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii lawmakers are pushing to provide firefighters -- diagnosed with cancer on the job -- with expanded medical coverage, disability benefits, and compensation equal to 100 percent of average weekly wages. Hawaii News Now.

Eight finalists are in the running to fill three seats on the voluntary 15-member University of Hawaii Board of Regents. Star-Advertiser.

In the last fiscal year, Hawaii paid $197,057.21 to settle 535 claims that cost $10,000 or less. KHON2.

The state’s monthly outdoor warning siren test will take place Friday after severe weather prompted officials to reschedule it. Hawaii News Now.

The shipping company Pasha Group is hiring charter barges to reduce delays in deliveries to neighbor islands that resulted from a labor shortage Wednesday night and Thursday morning, Pasha spokeswoman Laurie LaGrange said. Star-Advertiser.

Shipping company Pasha Hawaii says there’s been a work stoppage at Honolulu Harbor by its stevedores. KHON2.

Costco Wholesale announced Thursday it plans to raise membership fees on June 1. Pacific Business News.

Oahu

Mayor Kirk Caldwell defended his proposals for a trash pickup fee, higher bus fares and an increase in property taxes Thursday against criticism from some City Council members. Star-Advertiser.

Honolulu Mayor Kirk Caldwell devoted much of his annual budget presentation Thursday to trying to persuade state lawmakers and the public that it makes sense to extend a half-percent general excise tax surcharge to help fund construction of the city’s rail system. Civil Beat.

Honolulu Mayor Kirk Caldwell unveiled his 2018 budget today.  He is proposing to raise property taxes for investors and hotels, charge more for trash pickup and increase fuel and vehicle weight taxes. Hawaii Public Radio.

Honolulu's mayor unveiled his budget plan for next fiscal year. It calls for hikes in everything from bus fares, property taxes and a new fee to pick up your trash. KITV.

Honolulu Mayor Kirk Caldwell presented Thursday his Fiscal Year 2018 budget request. KHON2.

A Hawaii bill would give more power to the state board that regulates Aloha Stadium in Honolulu and its surrounding land that’s primed for development, including residential and commercial projects. Pacific Business News.

Environmental impact of popular Waikiki fireworks show being studied. Hawaii News Now.

Honolulu’s long-awaited bike-share system is finally slated to launch this summer, now that its organizers say they have a major deal signed to help fund and run the service. Star-Advertiser.

Bikeshare Hawaii has signed an agreement with Secure Bike Share as its financing and operating partner. Pacific Business News.

Conservationists are trying to establish a Black-footed albatross colony on Oahu’s North Shore. Hawaii Public Radio.

Hawaii

Thirty Meter Telescope hearing concludes: Decision on contested case could still be months away. Tribune-Herald.

Mayor Harry Kim and members of his cabinet laid out parts of their vision and listed priorities for economic development in West Hawaii at the Kona-Kohala Chamber of Commerce Mayoral Luncheon Thursday at the Sheraton Kona Resort &Spa at Keauhou Bay. West Hawaii Today.

A University of Hawaii at Hilo professor says he wants a full UH college curriculum taught in Hawaiian. Tribune-Herald.

Kahaluu Beach Park will likely remain closed at least until the end of this month as crews work to reroute pipes in the park. West Hawaii Today.

The bottle might say “Liquid Aloha,” but two California residents say the company that owns Kona Brewing Co. is misleading shoppers into believing they’re buying beer brewed in the Aloha State. West Hawaii Today.

Maui

A state Senate bill that would give fire and county building permitting inspectors the power to enter private property, with notice, to investigate possible violations of agriculture building codes “could be very helpful to us,” said the Maui County deputy planning director. Maui News.

The Maui Police Department introduced its newly acquired scent-tracking dog at a media meet-and-greet held Thursday at the Honolulu Police Department’s training academy on Oʻahu. Maui Now.

Kauai

Mayor Bernard Carvalho Jr. and Council Chair Mel Rapozo returned to Kauai last week after leading the Filipino Chamber of Commerce of Hawaii’s 26th trade mission to the Philippines. Garden Island.

ABC Stores’ Island Country Markets, which will be the anchor of the newly renovated 66,000-square-foot Coconut Marketplace in Kapaa on Kauai’s Eastside, is expected to open in July, the firm handling leasing for the marketplace confirmed to Pacific Business News.

The state has ordered Hawaii’s only dairy company to put a halt on the sale and distribution of some of its milk, but health officials say milk on Kauai is safe to drink. Garden Island.

Lanai

Shelter for domestic violence victims opens on Lanai. Maui News.

Cargo fees could jump 55% over next three years, Tulsi to join Standing Rock protest, new Senate leaders announced, gearing up for Pearl Harbor's 75th, vandalism plagues Kakaako homeless project, Mayor-elect Kim completes Cabinet, candidates line up to fill Tsuji's House seat, sugar industry shutdown to close Maui electric plant, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Moana, courtesy Disney

Disney’s animated movie “Moana” debuted to critical acclaim and box office success over the Thanksgiving weekend, but some people in the South Pacific dislike how it depicts their culture. Associated Press.

Congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard, D-Hawaii, is expected to join as many as 2,000 veterans from across the country at the Standing Rock Sioux Reservation in North Dakota to protest an oil pipeline that tribal leaders say threatens their water supply and cultural heritage sites. Civil Beat.

U.S. Rep. Tulsi Gabbard will join military veterans in North Dakota next week as they show support for protesters trying to block construction of an oil pipeline near the Standing Rock Indian Reservation. Tribune-Herald.

State fees imposed on goods unloaded at Hawaii harbors would increase by 55 percent over the next three years under a plan tentatively approved by the state Department of Transportation to provide additional cash for construction of a major new cargo terminal at the former Kapalama Military Reservation. Star-Advertiser.

Tourism from Japan to Hawaii is expected to hit visitor industry targets in 2016 as the removal of an airline surcharge cut costs for travelers. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii Senate leaders Tuesday unveiled the chairs and vice chairs of the 15 committees that will shape what bills become laws next session, which starts in January. Civil Beat.

When Hawai‘i’s legislature convenes its next session in January, the state House of Representatives will have a new chair of the Agriculture Committee. Hawaii Public Radio.

A change in Hawaii law is giving adopted families a better chance in discovering their roots. Hawaii News Now.

A Jordanian-born Palestinian who was imprisoned in the United States for putting a bomb on a Hawaii-bound flight in 1982 has been relocated to the West African country of Mauritania. Associated Press.

Japan’s attack on Pearl Harbor still intrigues 75 years later. Star-Advertiser.

Three of the heroes of Pearl Harbor took on the aura of stars as the survivors recounted some of their Dec. 7, 1941, experiences at the USS Arizona Memorial visitor center Tuesday and as the much-anticipated 75th anniversary of the landmark attack draws closer. Star-Advertiser.

Virtual reality tours to let visitors witness Pearl Harbor attack. Pacific Business News.

Oahu

Kakaako Waterfront Park had to be closed four hours early every day starting in October after vandals destroyed light poles to tap into electricity, and now the park’s water system may have been broken into — shutting off water to bathrooms, showers, fountains and the 12 families at the state’s new homeless shelter. Star-Advertiser.

Honolulu officials have yet to fully address allegations — including misuse of funds —involving Hanauma Bay Nature Preserve despite assurances from bureaucrats and a federal court order, according to the leaders of a nonprofit group that advocates for the preserve. Civil Beat.

Windward residents will be updated at an informational meeting Thursday night on the upcoming construction of an intermediate shaft at the Honolulu Board of Water Supply Kapaa Water Tank. Star-Advertiser.

City officials are gathering input on a proposal for a dog park and training facility at the Patsy T. Mink Central Oahu Regional Park in Waipio. Star-Advertiser.

Some people would love to see the venerable Kaimuki venue reopen for live shows or classes and have even formed a Friends of Queen Theater organization. Civil Beat.

A California developer plans to build a 430-unit condominium high-rise tower in the growing Honolulu neighborhood of Kakaako, Pacific Business News has learned.

Hawaii
Democratic Party officials from state House District 2 will see at least a few familiar faces when they meet Saturday to select three nominees to replace the late Rep. Clift Tsuji. Tribune-Herald.

Less than a week before he takes office, Mayor-elect Harry Kim put the finishing touches on his Cabinet, pulling new blood into the departments of Planning and Environmental Management and naming an aide to Gov. David Ige as his right-hand man. West Hawaii Today.

On Tuesday, the County of Hawaii marked another step in its efforts to reduce homelessness on the Big Island with the blessing and grand opening of Hale Kikaha, a micro housing project in the Old Kona Industrial Area. West Hawaii Today.

A blessing and opening was held on Tuesday for the Hale Kīkaha micro unit housing project in Kona. Big Island Video News.

Assistant police chief Paul Kealoha steps away today after 31 years. West Hawaii Today.

Prominent business and community leader Barry T. Mizuno died Saturday following an illness. He was 68. Tribune-Herald.

Maui

Hawaiian Commercial & Sugar Co. provided 1,265.5 megawatt hours of power to Maui Electric Co. in the third quarter, the second-to-last quarter that the sugar company will be providing electricity to Maui residents. Maui News.

Kauai

Questions about potential logging in the Lihue-Koloa Forest Reserve were just a few of the concerns raised Tuesday night about the plan to build a bridge over Keahua Stream. Garden Island.

KipuKai Kuali’i says he’ll run again for County Council seat. KipuKai Kuali’i plans for 2018 race. Garden Island.

The Kauai Island Utility Cooperative’s Board of Directors on Tuesday appointed director David Iha to complete the unexpired term of former director Dennis Esaki, who resigned in October. Garden Island.

The owner of a Kauai property that includes Kilauea Falls is suing one of his neighbors for allegedly entering the property and cutting down some trees to get a better view of the waterfall. Star-Advertiser.

Japanese visitors spark tourism rise, animal quarantine harms pets, Honolulu councilman wants men's room diaper tables, shipping declines, Office of Hawaiian Affairs forms sovereignty committee, Kauai animal shelter kill rate disputed, USS Arizona Memorial to reopen in a week, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

visitor learns Hawaiian hula © 2015 All Hawaii News

April was the second month of 2015 that experienced a year-over-year climb in visitor spending and arrivals, largely due to a gain in domestic travelers and visitors from Japan. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii hosted more visitors last month than in April 2014, and they spent more, according to the Hawaii Tourism Authority. For the year, visitors are up but their spending is about the same as last year. Civil Beat.

The Hawaii Tourism Authority says the number of travelers visiting the islands climbed 2.3 percent in April over the same month last year as more tourists arrived from the western part of the United States. Data released by the state agency Thursday showed nearly 680,000 people visited the islands in April. Visitor spending rose 5.4 percent to $1.2 billion. Associated Press.

In a move to maintain its neutrality, the Office of Hawaiian Affairs is handing off responsibility for the final stage of its nation-building campaign to a new group that will independently administer an election of delegates, convention and final ratification vote. Na'i Aupuni, a group of five volunteer and unpaid directors with ties to Hawaiian royalty, has been given nearly $2.6 million originally earmarked for the effort aimed at moving Native Hawaiians a step closer to self-determination as authorized by the state under Act 195. Star-Advertiser.

Despite vocal opposition and community concerns raised at OHA board meetings in late April, 2015, the board has decided to go forward with a nation building process spearheaded by a new organization: Na‘i Aupuni. Hawaii Independent.

Complaints of overheated and underfed animals getting sick at the state-run Animal Quarantine Station in Halawa have prompted the Legislature to take a closer look at how pets are housed and treated at the facility. Civil Beat.

In a private sector economic indicator, Young Brothers Ltd. reports a 1.9% decline in cargo shipments between islands during the first quarter, compared to the same time last year. Hawaii News Now.

The East-West Center, which has faced big funding threats in recent years as federal support for its programming dwindled, is about to start head-hunting for its first new president in nearly two decades. Longtime center President Charles E. Morrison is planning to leave his post in August 2016, at the end of his current contract. Civil Beat.

An ongoing dispute over the results of a recent Hawaii State Teachers Association election for president and other officers to lead the teachers union has made its way to the courts. Star-Advertiser.

Oahu

The city's top civil attorney said it's not up to the Honolulu Ethics Commission staff to determine the potential ramifications of a settlement agreement reached by the commission and former City Councilman Nestor Garcia. Star-Advertiser.

Time for a change? Lawmaker wants diaper changing tables in men’s restrooms. KHON2.

Punahou School has begun construction on a campus-wide overhaul project that is expected to be completed during the next decade, which includes building four two-story studios for elementary school students and a 20,000-square-foot learning commons for kindergarten through eighth grade. Civil Beat.

The National Park Service and the Navy aim to resume taking visitors to the USS Arizona Memorial in a week, after a dock damaged by a wayward vessel is repaired. Associated Press.

The Navy said Thursday that it is uncertain if a hospital ship hit the dock of the USS Arizona Memorial as was initially reported. Star-Advertiser.

The Hawai’i Health Systems Corporation continues to develop plans to meet a budget shortfall of 50 million dollars. Hawaii Public Radio.

Hawaii

Hawaii Electric Light Co.’s selection of Ormat Nevada Inc. to build the next geothermal power plant in Puna received a positive recommendation this month from an independent observer. Tribune-Herald.

Kohala Councilwoman Margaret Wille wants to slice into Hilo Municipal Golf Course funds to hire three new transfer station attendants to help promote recycling programs. In a budget amendment to be considered Monday, Wille is asking that golfers and the community do more to augment the greens fees at the county’s only publicly funded golf course instead of relying on taxpayer bailouts. West Hawaii Today.

A new class-action lawsuit claims Hawaii Community College fraudulently collected “hundreds of thousands of dollars” in student fees throughout the past decade. Tribune-Herald.

A dangerous and crowded North Kona beach will have to wait at least another year for lifeguards. A push for funding to install ocean safety officers at Kua Bay fell short this past session. West Hawaii Today.

Maui

Ever since Samuel Thomas Alexander and Henry Perrine Baldwin planted their first sugarcane crop in 1870, there have been cane fires on Maui. But on Wednesday morning, a fire that was set near Kamali’i Elementary School by Hawaiian Commercial and Sugar Co. inundated the campus and left some residents wondering whether a state permit system is working. KITV4.

Iao Stream will likely have its name restored to "Wailuku River," which dates back more than a century, following the state Board on Geographic Names' unanimous vote Wednesday night in favor of the move. Maui News.

Kauai

No more than 10 B&B permit applications will be reviewed per year under an ordinance change approved during a Kauai County Council committee hearing Wednesday. Garden Island.

The Kauai Humane Society has underreported the percentage of cats and dogs it euthanized for the last five fiscal years, a fact that has become the crux of a campaign launched by employees to oust the organization’s executive director. Garden Island.

Kauai was the leader of the four larger Hawaiian Islands when it came to visitor growth and spending through April. According to the Hawaii Tourism Authority, per person per day spending on the Garden Isle rose to $179, up 2.7 percent, and total expenditures reached $533 million, up 6.2 percent. Garden Island.

Transgender birth certificates, out-of-state CPAs, home health care, cop camera bills pending in Hawaii Legislature, Ige appointments scrutinized, iconic "Uncle Robert" dies on Big Island, neighbor island shipping sluggish, Kauai Sheraton to be time-share, more government and political news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Interior of Hawaii Capitol © 2015 All Hawaii News

Hawaii lawmakers are considering a bill that aims to step up police accountability with body-worn cameras. Senate Bill 199 would provide a total of $2.7 million over the next two years to the state's four county police departments to buy cameras for officers and vehicles, if the state allocation is matched with county funding. Star-Advertiser.

The home care industry is using an elderly couple as the impetus for the state to relax restrictions on community care family foster homes, or CCFFHs, that could mean thousands of extra dollars a month for each operator. Civil Beat.

Two bills scheduled to be heard by a Senate committee Friday would authorize out-of-state certified public accountants without a Hawaii license to do business in the state, but both face opposition as some accountants say it will outsource jobs and result in lost CPA licensing fees for the state. Pacific Business News.

Obtaining a new birth certificate that changes gender identification could be easier under a bill at the Legislature. House Bill 631 would allow an individual to ask the state Department of Health to issue a birth certificate changing that person's gender designation by submitting "a statement from a licensed medical or social service provider attesting that the current birth certificate record does not align with the birth registrant's gender identity; and that in the provider's professional opinion the birth registrant's gender designation should be changed accordingly." Star-Advertiser.

The State of Hawaii has successfully completed the upgrade of an important, formerly-at-risk information technology system. Governor David Ige says initiatives like these are a part of long-term plans to improve government functions through increased efficiency via technology upgrades. Hawaii Independent.

Opinion: Nolan Espinda, the governor’s nominee to run Hawaii’s prisons and the State Sheriff Division has been on the job only six weeks but already he’s churned up the ire of shadow critics, whom I consider cowardly. They have been sending the same anonymous email to the governor, state senators and news reporters. Civil Beat.

Governor David Ige has announced the nomination of two deputy directors to his cabinet, subject to confirmation by the Senate. Hawaii Independent.

Sluggish economic activity on the neighbor islands resulted in volume at Young Brothers Ltd., Hawaii's largest interisland cargo operator, slipping 0.2 percent in the fourth quarter. Star-Advertiser.

Opinion: The Legislature has berated the University of Hawaii for lacking a plan to implement cost-saving measures. Now that UH has a long-term strategic plan for capital improvement projects — will the Legislature step up to the plate? Civil Beat.

Oahu

The cost to taxpayers to defend a former Schofield Barracks soldier accused of torturing his daughter to death has risen to more than $5 million, according to data released by the U.S. District Court in Hawaii. That does not include costs incurred by federal prosecutors who took him to trial. Star-Advertiser.

State bills would help rectify injustices caused by Honolulu’s “nuisance” laws. A brief rundown on three bills that would alleviate some of the unnecessary hardship inflicted upon our houseless citizens by city ordinances that target them unjustly. Hawaii Independent.

Lanikai is consistently rated as one of the most beautiful beaches in the world, but when it comes to parking, it can get down-right ugly. KITV4.

A $6 million grant to Punahou School, expected to be announced Tuesday, will be used to fund another decade of academic programming for a public-private partnership in its 10th year of grooming disadvantaged public school students for success in college. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii

The Department of Public Safety has placed Ruth Forbes, the warden at the recently re-opened Kulani prison on the Big Island, on unpaid leave in a personnel investigation, sources told Hawaii News Now.

Hawaii County needs to get a better handle on overtime, the use of county vehicles, fuel costs and excess paperwork, according to a report issued by the Cost of Government Commission. West Hawaii Today.

Robert Pookapu “Uncle Robert” Keliihoomalu Sr., an iconic figure in the Kalapana and Hawaiian communities, died peacefully Sunday at his Kaimu home. He was 75. Tribune-Herald.

Marine experts are tracking an adult humpback whale spotted off Hawaii Island with its tail wrapped in several hundred feet of strong synthetic line and dragging a big red balloon buoy. West Hawaii Today.

Maui

The future of genetically engineered crops in Maui County remains uncertain. A US District Court judge has delayed the implementation of a ballot initiative that would put a moratorium on those crops. Many backers of the moratorium are frustrated with the delay—and they’re blaming the county attorney, Patrick Wong. Hawaii Public Radio.

While state lawmakers worked on bills to clear the way for public hospitals in Hawaii Health Systems Corp.'s Maui region to be operated by a private nonprofit corporation, Gov. David Ige said Thursday that the state's problems with public hospitals do not affect Maui in isolation. Maui News.

Kauai

The Sheraton Kauai could become a time-share property under a realignment announced by Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide this week. Pacific Business News.

Three months after being chosen to manage development of an exclusive, member-only resort community in Princeville, Discovery Land Company has been hired by Ohana Real Estate Investors, LLC to reevaluate its plans for a large and controversial development project near Hanalei Bay. Garden Island.

Intra-state cargo volumes between Honolulu and six neighbor island ports were flat in 2014, increasing by just 0.5 percent against the previous year. According to the Young Brothers, Limited announcement on Monday, Kauai saw a 1.8 percent decline in annual cargo volume for the year, but was one of just two ports that saw a fourth quarter increase with 3.7 percent. Agricultural shipments increase 5.2 percent for the year. Garden Island.

Cesspool rules in limbo, OHA chair and UH Cancer Center head step down, Kauai dairy farm wins approval, agencies seek FEMA funds in lava disaster, Maui ends Kihei curbside recycling, rail speeds up, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Hibiscus blooms along Hawaii coast © 2014 All Hawaii News

Responding to public opposition, the state Department of Health dramatically watered down its proposed rules phasing out cesspools, but it’s unknown if Gov. Neil Abercrombie will sign the package before he leaves office Monday. West Hawaii Today.

Office of Hawaiian Affairs trustee Colette Machado announced Tuesday that she would step down as chairperson of the nine-member board when the new panel takes office in December. Star-Advertiser.

Matson Inc., the largest ocean cargo transportation company in the state, announced Tuesday that freight rates to and from Hawaii will rise an average 5.4 percent effective Jan. 4. Star-Advertiser.

A strong flow of recovery and reconstruction supplies through Hilo Harbor kept Young Brothers shipping totals on the rise at that port, even as other maritime entry points around the neighbor islands saw cargo volume slip 2.1 percent in the third quarter. West Hawaii Today.

Texas-based Blue Jay Wireless, has received so much government money through the federal Lifeline cellphone program over the past year that the former head of the state Public Utilities Commission is calling for an investigation. Civil Beat.

Michele Carbone, the embattled leader of the University of Hawaii Cancer Center who resigned on Friday, has issued a detailed account of his triumphs while director of the center. Civil Beat.

A report by the Center for Disease Control found that lax security measures and a number of safety hazards at the University of Hawaii's biolab. Hawaii News Now.

Hawaii State Rep. Bob McDermott is slamming the University of Hawaii over its refusal to disclose data collected from middle school students during a controversial sex education program. Hawaii Reporter.

A state employee has been charged with felony theft after an act she allegedly committed while working for the governor. Authorities said Roxanne Kamalu used a computer in September 2013 to spend hundreds of dollars in state money for personal benefit. KHON2.

Opinion: Why is Medical Marijuana Legal Only for Green Thumbs? Fifteen years after its approval, Hawaii’s process is changing. But that won't necessarily make it any easier for patients to get their medicine. Civil Beat.

Oahu

Former banker Roy Amemiya Jr., once praised by politicians and civil servants for helping maintain the integrity of city government, is back at Hono­lulu Hale, this time as Mayor Kirk Caldwell's second-in-command. Star-Advertiser.

Lanes in sections of H-1 and H-2 near Leeward Community College will be closed at night beginning next week as workers begin building a section of Honolulu's $5.16 billion elevated rail guideway that will connect Waipahu to Pearl City, officials with the Honolulu Authority for Rapid Transportation said. Pacific Business News.

Another round of partial freeway closures is slated to begin next week — this time for construction of the rail guideway overpass. Star-Advertiser.

Starting Monday the Honolulu Authority for Rapid Transportation (Hart) will start the most dramatic piece of construction along the 20 mile rail route and with it there will be considerable traffic impacts. Hawaii News Now.

Removal of a filthy water feature at Chinatown's Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Memorial Park should be completed by the end of November, giving hope to residents that the work will eliminate an unhealthy and unsafe haven in the neighborhood and draw more people to the Hawaii Theatre next door. Star-Advertiser.

The Hawai’i Community Development Authority met one last time before the new Governor takes office and approved the development of two high rise towers in Kaka’ako. Hawaii Public Radio.

Attorney General's Office staffers armed with a search warrant seized records from the financially ailing Halau Lokahi Public Charter School on Tuesday for an investigation into expenditures. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii
Lava that recently was threatening homes and a nearly $4 million waste transfer station continued to cool Tuesday as Hawaii County prepared to reopen a closed section of Pahoa Village Road in time for Thanksgiving. Tribune-Herald.

Eight applications have been submitted by qualifying organizations and state and county agencies seeking federal reimbursement for protective actions taken or planned in response to the June 27 lava flow ahead of the Dec. 3 deadline. West Hawaii Today.

Maui
Maui County announced that its pilot "3 Can Plan" curbside recycling project in Kihei will end Feb. 1 after a 2year run. Maui News.

Future plans for Pāʻani Mai Park in Hāna, Maui, will be the focus of discussion for an upcoming meeting hosted by the Maui Department of Parks and Recreation. Maui Now.

Kauai

Hawaii Dairy Farms has been awarded building permits for its proposed $17.5 million, 578-acre dairy in the Mahaulepu Valley. Garden Island.

A planned Kauai dairy has received building permit approval from the county. Hawaii Dairy Farms announced Tuesday the state Department of Health has completed its review, which allowed for the approval of the building permits. Associated Press.

A county employee has filed a civil complaint against the County of Kauai, alleging retaliation and violations of the whistleblower’s act. Garden Island.

The old pavilion/comfort station at Hanamaulu Beach Park is scheduled for demolition starting at 8:30 a.m. today and is expected to be completed by the end of the day. Garden Island.

Shipping company buyouts to change Hawaii's commerce, HUD investigates public housing, Supreme Court to hear gay marriage, lava reaches garbage transfer station, Maui 'coup' changes council leadership, Sheraton fined for coastal work, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Matson shipping company courtesy photo

The domestic shipping business that is Hawaii's main lifeline for goods is reverting to a duopoly next year after nearly a decade of three-way competition, though local consumers and businesses are not expected to see significant price or service changes. Star-Advertiser.

Two business transactions announced Tuesday will significantly change the seascape of the shipping industry in Hawaii. Matson Inc., which has the largest share of the U.S. mainland-to-Hawaii market, said it will buy Horizon Lines Inc. for $69 million. Matson also will acquire Horizon’s debt. Tribune-Herald.

Matson Inc., which has the largest share of the U.S. Mainland-to-Hawaii market, said it will buy the Alaska operations of Horizon Lines Inc. for $69 million. Matson will also acquire Horizon’s debt. Separately, Horizon will sell its Hawaii operations to The Pasha Group for $142 million and shut down its Puerto Rico business. Garden Island.

Commentary: State Senate will lean left, House will go right. In analyzing the power shifts in leadership and committee assignments for the upper house of the Hawaii State Legislature, we predict a more liberal Senate in the 2015-16 Legislature. But the House will likely shift right. Hawaii Independent.

The state Supreme Court will hear arguments in December on a state House lawmaker's legal challenge to Hawaii's marriage equality law. Star-Advertiser.

A federal investigation is underway into whether tenants at 68 federal housing projects across the state are violating the rules and taking advantage of taxpayers, sources told Hawaii News Now. The U.S. Housing and Urban Development Department, known as HUD, began an Inspector General's investigation into tenants at federal housing projects across Hawaii several months ago, sources said.

The Hawaii Health Connector has quadrupled the number of call center workers at the state's insurance exchange to make it smoother for residents to enroll in medical coverage after a disastrous rollout a year ago. Star-Advertiser.

The nonprofit Faith Action for Community Equity is hosting a summit on Saturday focused on Hawaii’s affordable housing crisis. Civil Beat.

Opinion: Voters Didn’t Show Up Because the Election Was Boring. Civil Beat.

Oahu

Service to the country by veterans past and present — including a legacy of contributions by Hawaii's sons and daughters — was remembered Tuesday at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific at Punchbowl. Star-Advertiser.

More than 400 homeless people have died on Oahu in the past eight years, a Civil Beat review of medical examiner’s death records has found. Civil Beat.

State and city agencies want the Navy to either double-line its operational underground fuel storage tanks at Red Hill within the next 10 years or shut them down, according to a draft report issued last week by the Red Hill Fuel Storage Facility Task Force. Star-Advertiser.

PBS Hawaii held a groundbreaking ceremony Monday morning morning on the site of its future home — 315 Sand Island Access Road in Kalihi. The public television station’s lease with the University of Hawaii at Manoa is expiring. Thus far, PBS Hawaii — it’s a 501(c)(3) nonprofit — has raised more than 75 percent of its $30 million capital campaign goal. Civil Beat.

Hawaii

A day after the June 27 lava flow claimed its first Pahoa home, Hawaii County Civil Defense reported that the leading edge of the flow remained stalled 480 feet from Pahoa Village Road. But activity taking the form of a number of breakouts further up slope behind the flow front continued. Tribune-Herald.

courtesy Hawaii County

Lava from Kilauea Volcano flowed through a fence surrounding Pahoa's $3.5 million waste and recycling center Tuesday afternoon, one day after it burned a nearby house. Star-Advertiser.

As the lava flow from Kīlauea’s Pu’u ‘O’o Vent continues to creep through Puna just outside of Pahoa, Hawai'i County officials are facing a series of decisions. A major one concerns roads. Hawaii Public Radio.

Hawai‘i County Civil Defense officials say they're very closely monitoring three active Puna lava flow breakouts in the Apa‘a Street vicinity. Hawaii News Now.

A local resort is scrambling to get an after-the-fact permit after it was cited by the county Planning Department for unauthorized construction and landscaping work. West Hawaii Today.

The new Hawaii Community College — Palamanui center must become its own master while pushing the envelope to develop innovative offerings. That was the message at a community forum Tuesday evening at Old Kona Airport Park, with several speakers saying the West Hawaii population has lacked proper access to higher education for too long. West Hawaii Today.

Maui

Council Member Mike White announced Monday that he will chair the Maui County Council in the next term, unseating current Chairwoman Gladys Baisa, who characterized her deposing as a "coup." Maui News.

The Maui region of Hawaii Health Systems Corp., which includes Maui Memorial Medical Center, Kula Hospital and Lanai Community Hospital, could plunge into a $46.4 million cash-flow deficit by fiscal 2017 if it continues on its current financial trajectory. Maui News.

A standing room only crowd showed up to testify at an informational briefing and hearing on Maui focused on the state health system and district plans to address anticipated budget shortfalls. Maui Now.

Kauai

Company officials from ABC Stores, a popular Honolulu-based convenience store chain, are seeking to build a fourth store on Kauai. Garden Island.

Testifiers: Don't eat cats and dogs, Wilson Supreme Court confirmation stalled, Saiki new GOP head, 2012 Hawaii County election a bargain, Maui seeks more polling places, Legislature mulls Jones Act, more news from all the Hawaiian Islaands

Abercrombie and his dog sign bill, file photo

Animal lovers in Hawaii packed a legislative hearing room Thursday with poodles and pugs, asking lawmakers to ban the practice of eating cats and dogs in the state. The House Committee on Agriculture later advanced SB 2026, a bill to ban the practice. Associated Press.

Circuit Judge Michael Wilson's confirmation to the state Supreme Court took an unexpected detour Thursday as the state Senate women's caucus urged the nominee to open up his personnel file and judicial performance reviews to satisfy questions about his conduct toward women. The unusual request was in response to the Hawaii State Bar Association's disclosure Wednesday that its "unqualified" rating for Wilson was based in part on the propriety of his conduct toward women in professional contexts. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii Women Senators Prompt Further Inquiry Into Judge Michael Wilson. Civil Beat.

The state Senate Judiciary and Labor Committee will hold another hearing on Circuit Judge Michael Wilson's nomination to the state Supreme Court on Saturday after more detailed questions have been raised about his fitness to serve. Star-Advertiser.

The State Senate Judiciary Committee will hold a second hearing on Circuit Court Judge Michael Wilson's nomination to the State Supreme Court Saturday morning, as Hawaii News Now has discovered more reasons why lawyers have told the Hawaii Bar Association and some state senators Wilson is unqualified for the high court. Hawaii News Now.

Pat Saiki, one of the most successful Republicans in Hawaii history, is going to lead the state Republican Party.  The state party’s executive committee tapped her as chairwoman in a meeting Wednesday night, a title the state committee will formalize next week. David Chang, who had led the state party since 2011, resigned the position. Associated Press.

A roll of qualified Native Hawaiians interested in participating in their own government has grown to more than 120,000. The Native Hawaiian Roll Commission announced on Thursday that more than 120,000 have signed up to re-organize a Native Hawaiian government recognized by the state of Hawaii. Associated Press.

An amended bill on hunting lands will head to the state Senate Committee on Water and Land on Monday. The bill initially would have required the state Department of Land and Natural Resources to replace any hunting lands lost to conservation or other efforts. Tribune-Herald.

Scientists say deep coral reefs in the Papahanaumokuakea Marine National Monument may contain the highest percentage of fish species found nowhere else. A study published in the Bulletin of Marine Science says nearly 50 percent of the fish scientists observed over a two-year period in monument waters 100 to 300 feet deep are unique to Hawaii. Associated Press.

Lawmakers from Hawaii, Alaska, Puerto Rico and Guam are teaming up to pressure the U.S. government for relief from a maritime law passed in the 1920s. The Jones Act was designed to protect the domestic shipping industry. It states that only ships made in the U.S. and flying the country’s flags can deliver goods between U.S. ports. Associated Press.

The state House committee on Health recently amended a bill aimed at regulating electronic smoking devices by stripping it of its taxation elements but keeping its limitations on where the devices can be used. Tribune-Herald.

Oahu

A retired Army Reserve lieutenant colonel faces up to 20 years in prison and a $500,000 fine when he is sentenced this summer for sharing military secrets with his younger Chinese girlfriend. Star-Advertiser.

It was 100 years ago that the Navy laid the keel to begin construction on the USS Arizona. On Thursday the U.S. Postal Service honored the historic vessel with the dedication of a stamp. KITV4.

Aikea rallies against condo conversion. The job preservation movement, organized by Unite Here Local 5, rallied at Honolulu Hale today in support of City Bill 16. Hawaii Independent.

Representatives from Kamehameha Schools talked about Kakaako development plans on Thursday at a "Civil Cafe," an occasional discussion hosted by Civil Beat on topics of local relevance. Civil Beat.

Sales are slated to start Saturday for units in a planned Kakaako condominium tower that has been both praised as middle-class housing produced without government subsidy and derided as an overly dense blight to the community. Star-Advertiser.

Everyone loves a carnival. But that's not entirely true in Hawaii Kai, where some residents say while the cause may be good, the venue is not. Hawaii News Now.

Hawaii

Even counting the County Clerk’s Office staff pulled from across the hall to help out during the contentious 2012 election, it still cost less to run that election than the two elections prior. That’s the finding of an outside auditor the County Council hired last year to compare the election costs. West Hawaii Today.

The list of reasons why Hawaii Island legislators are proposing renaming the Natural Energy Laboratory of Hawaii Authority Gateway Center after Guy Toyama takes up nearly two pages. West Hawaii Today.

With a bit of smoke, a couple loud pops, and first responders dressed head to toe in protective gear, Edith Kanakaole Tennis Stadium became the epicenter of a simulated terrorist attack on Thursday. The event, which included over two dozen volunteers, was part of an annual drill with county agencies, the National Guard and Hilo Medical Center all participating. Tribune-Herald.

Mayor Billy Kenoi was the keynote speaker Wednesday evening at Waimea Middle School, where he shared advice on how to be successful with students, families, educators and mentors. West Hawaii Today.

Maui

The Maui County Council on Tuesday adopted a resolution seeking an increase in the number of early walk-in voting locations, Council Member Mike White announced. White, who introduced the resolution, said it supports voter access and equal voting opportunities across the county, which only had two early walk-in sites during the last election cycle. Maui Now.

Maui hotels and resorts set new records for average daily room rates and revenue per room in 2013, though occupancy fell slightly with a "small shift" to time shares and vacation rentals, according to a Hospitality Advisors report. Maui News.

The Kihei-to-Upcountry highway, three decades in the making, took a step toward reality when the state House passed its supplemental budget Wednesday with funds for the road in it. Maui News.

Kauai

The outspoken Mel Rapoza is running for his fifth term on the Kauai County Council. Garden Island.

The public is invited to attend Mayor Bernard Carvalho Jr.’s State of the County address on Monday. The event will begin at 8:30 a.m. at the Lihue Civic Center, Moikeha Building courtyard. Garden Island.

The Kauai Visitors Bureau will be sharing an update on key markets for the island’s visitor industry next week, and highlight information from the recent Hawaii Tourism Authority Spring Update. Garden Island.

State Public Utilities Commission Chair Hermina Morita, considered the state's “main diva for environmentalism” while she was in the House of Representatives from 1996 to 2011, may not be reappointed by Gov. Neil Abercrombie to the Public Utilities Commission for a second term after the state Department of Land and Natural Resources documented illegal activities by Morita and her husband, Lance Laney. Hawaii Reporter.

Lanai

The Maui County Council on Tuesday gave final approval for various bills, including those to purchase a fire rescue boat and trailer and one to increase security at Kaumalapau Harbor on Lanai. Maui News.

Share of hotel tax biggest issue for Hawaii counties, high shipping costs a growing concern, new consultant for Honolulu rail, Kiss opening Maui restaurant, Molokai feels short-changed by Larry Ellison's Island Air, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Kona hotel pool scene (c) 2013 All Hawaii News

Hawaii’s four mayors and county councils are working to reach unanimous agreement on key tax issues so they can lobby the Legislature next year with a louder and more unified voice, officials said. The counties want to protect their share of the hotel tax revenue and have the state grant them a new taxing power so they can raise more funds, according to interviews with mayors, council members and legislators. The Hawaii State Association of Counties has invited the state's Council of Mayors to its meeting Wednesday in the hopes of reaching consensus on how to approach state lawmakers about the transient accommodations tax, general excise tax and other issues. Civil Beat.

Moving a container here from Los Angeles costs nearly 10 times more than moving that same container from Los Angeles to Shanghai, some three times farther. And that cost for shipping to and from Hawaii from the west coast is set to rise again. Hawaii Reporter.

The Navy’s top submarine commander in the Pacific says budget issues won’t affect his ability to deploy submarines next year. But Rear Adm. Phillip Sawyer said he’s concerned cuts to the civilian workforce at the nation’s naval shipyards will mean submarines won’t be ready to deploy as quickly in 2015 and beyond. Associated Press.

Former State Welfare Worker Charged with Tampering with Government Records and Misapplication of Property. Hawaii Reporter.

Hawaiian Airlines is starting to sell tickets for its first-ever direct flight to China. The airline plans to launch nonstop service from Honolulu to Beijing on April 16. It will operate the flight three times a week. Associated Press.

Oahu

Local transit officials announced Tuesday they have awarded a $46.1 million contract to the consulting firm CH2M Hill Inc. to help oversee the next phase of Honolulu's rail project. Star-Advertiser.

A new contractor is taking over some of the oversight on Honolulu’s $5.26 billion rail project, and will be paid nearly $50 million to do so. On Tuesday, the Honolulu Authority for Rapid Transportation awarded a contract to CH2M Hill, an international engineering firm, to replace Parsons Brinckerhoff. Civil Beat.

'Virtual line' eases wait at satellite city hall. A low-cost system city workers developed lets people sit down rather than stand in queues. Star-Advertiser.

A former city street sweeper fired from his job after admitting to theft in an overtime scam was rehired by a different city department three years after losing his job. Hawaii News Now.

A developer is proposing to build 499 rental loft apartments in downtown Kapolei aimed at young professionals. But some community representatives say the area has plenty of housing and needs more places for young professionals to work. The local office of Ohio-based development firm Forest City Enterprises Inc. presented plans for the project called Kapolei Lofts at a meeting Monday night before the planning and zoning committee of the Makakilo/Kapolei/Honokai Hale Neighborhood Board. Star-Advertiser.

Two Kamiloiki Elementary School students were sent to a hospital Tuesday morning after their Hawaii Kai school was evacuated following reports of a strange odor on campus. Star-Advertiser.

A contract that allows federal workers to trap and capture feral pigs at the city's Hoomaluhia Botanical Garden was allowed to lapse, resulting in increased damage to the grounds. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii

Hawaii County is still grappling with how to develop rules following a new state law exempting nonresidential structures on farms from building permits and plan reviews. The law, which went into effect July 1, allows structures such as sheds, barns, greenhouses and other buildings not intended for living space to be built without permits on commercial farmland within the agricultural district. West Hawaii Today.

After the Thirty Meter Telescope is built on Mauna Kea, it won’t be able to hold onto the title of world’s largest optical telescope for long. Other large observatories, including a telescope with a 39-meter mirror in Chile, are planned and may be completed a few years afterward. But Sandra Dawson, TMT spokeswoman, assured a luncheon of the Japanese Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Hawaii on Tuesday that it will remain the most advanced. Tribune-Herald.

Maui

Rockers Gene Simmons and Paul Stanley of the band Kiss are planning to be on Maui for a late January opening celebration for the Rock & Brews restaurant in Paia. Pacific Business News.

The Outlets of Maui, a retail and restaurant center under construction in the space once occupied by the former Lahaina Center, is scheduled for a soft opening Thursday, according to information released by the Maui Visitors Bureau. Maui Now.

The state Public Access Room, a division of the Legislative Reference Bureau, will conduct a series of free workshops on Maui called "We the Powerful!" the first week of December. Maui News.

Kauai

An upcoming election to vote on whether Kauai Island Utility Cooperative should be charging additional fees to customers who choose to keep their old electric meters is pegged to cost about $63,000. Garden Island.

A popular south shore Kauai beach will undergo a small-scale sand replenishment project to address erosion. The county's Department of Parks and Recreation says the Poipu Beach project is scheduled to begin Dec. 9 and is expected to be completed by the end of the week. Associated Press.

Molokai

Because of frequent and seemingly interminable delays, folks who live on the Friendly Island are not feeling very friendly toward Island Air. Dozens of Molokai residents who spoke with Civil Beat said they feel like the company is giving them short shrift, perhaps in favor of routes to Lanai. That island's owner, billionaire Larry Ellison, bought Island Air in March.

Deadline looms for shipping union, medical records cost doubles, UH looks close to home for new president, Tsutsui gets $1 Maui office space, Honolulu strives to be bike-friendly, Abercrombie sign super PAC, budget bills, Ellison clout makes quick work of state permits, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Matson container ship courtesy photo

Crew members in charge of sailing Matson ships are nearing a deadline to reach a new contract. KHON2 learned Wednesday night that if both sides don’t have a deal by July 1, the workers can walk off the job.

The cost to convert to electronic medical records at the state’s 14 public hospitals will likely exceed $100 million over five years, nearly double earlier projections. Hawaii Health Systems Corp. says it will need to seek additional funds from the Legislature next year for the largest project in decades at its antiquated facilities that provide acute and long-term care as well as critical access services on Oahu and the neighbor islands. Star-Advertiser.

Gov. Neil Abercrombie has approved a pair of bills imposing new regulations on campaign super PACs. Abercrombie also gave final approval Tuesday to the two-year state budget of $11.8 billion for fiscal year 2014 and $11.9 billion for fiscal year 2015. Star-Advertiser.

The federal government wants Hawaii to give back more than $500,000 in stimulus funds after state officials let a nonprofit spend it on computers and multimedia equipment for at-risk youth. Civil Beat.

The group of University of Hawaii regents assigned to find the next UH president said it will look for a candidate with strong island ties before conducting a national search. That might require reaching beyond academia and widening the candidate pool to include leaders in the business, government and nonprofit sectors. Star-Advertiser.

FACT CHECK — Gov: Hawaii is 'Most Stable' State Government. Civil Beat.

Hawaii is ranked eighth in the nation for most entrepreneurial activity, according to a report in CNN Money. Pacific Business News.

You've probably seen the logo for "Defend Hawaii," a streetwear company, on T-shirts or on vehicles. It's the two words sandwiching an AR-15 assault rifle. The company's owner says it can be misinterpreted as perhaps being anti-American or anti-haole, but he maintains it's to protect the Hawaii way of life. Hawaii News Now.

Oahu

Honolulu Mayor Kirk Caldwell joined local cyclists, federal environmental protection officials and state and city workers on Wednesday to ride more than six miles through town, promoting bicycling as a healthier, more affordable way to commute. Star-Advertiser.

Honolulu Mayor Kirk Caldwell wants to encourage a more bike-friendly city. So we strapped a camera on his handlebars and watched him roll. Civil Beat.

Nearly 40 nonprofit organizations represented at a meeting Wednesday for those wishing to apply grants from the city ran the gamut of interests — from one of the state’s largest hospital systems to a group that wants to provide birth control tablets to feral pigeons. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaiian Electric Co. hopes to reduce electricity costs by adding more lower-priced, renewable energy projects. HECO said Wednesday it is asking state regulators for permission to negotiate with developers of five renewable energy projects that want to sell electricity to the utility for one-third less than HECO's current cost of generating power. Star-Advertiser.

The Hawai’i Community Development Authority conducted back-to-back public hearings today for two condominium projects in downtown Kaka’ako. Hawaii Public Radio.

Hawaii

Recently released data from Hawaii’s Department of Aquatic Resources indicates that the overall number of reef fish off the coast of Puako has fallen by between 43 percent and 69 percent over the last quarter-century, and off of Pauoa, the fish population dropped between 49 and 76 percent. Civil Beat.

Less than half of Hawaii County residents responding to a Hawaii Police Department survey believe the agency does a good job keeping the island safe, but most said they are comfortable contacting the department and were treated with “aloha and respect” by officers. West Hawaii Today.

Three sovereignty activists who were arrested on April 5 near the King Kamehameha the Great statue on the Hilo Bayfront were in Hilo District Court on Wednesday. Judge Barbara Takase delayed hearings for Abel Simeona Lui, Simbralynn Kanakaole and Kittrena Morgan until July 24 at 1:30 p.m. All have pleaded not guilty to illegal camping at their “Kanaka Garden” near the statue of the Hawaiian monarch at the Wailoa State Recreational Area. Tribune-Herald.

A 69-year-old Ocean View man awaiting trial for allegedly molesting two underage girls was a deacon and youth mentor for a church in the remote Ka‘u community for at least a part of the time the abuse was alleged to have occurred. Tribune-Herald.

Kekaha Kai State Park remained closed for a second day Wednesday while a 28-year-old Kailua-Kona man remained hospitalized, recovering from shark bites to his leg. The shark attack occurred shortly before 1 p.m. Tuesday afternoon in waters off the Mahaiula area. West Hawaii Today.

Maui
Lt. Governor Shan Tsutsui signed a $1 lease agreement with the mayor, which allows him to utilize office space at the County Building for the next 18 months, officials said. Maui Now.

Maui Electric Co. announced its plan Tuesday to refund $7.8 million, plus interest, to its customers on Maui, Molokai and Lanai. The refund will be in the form of a credit on customers' bills, the utility said. Maui News.

A proposed waiver that surfaced in a special meeting of the county council today failed to pass as an investigation looms over potential misuse of funds involving the demolition of the Old Wailuku Post Office. Maui Now.

Saying a recent rash of unscheduled cane fires has endangered residents and firefighters while taxing Fire Department resources, Fire Chief Jeff Murray asked for help from the community by reporting suspicious activity. Maui News.

The Texas-based landowner of a controversial 700,000-square-foot retail shopping complex in Kihei has taken over development of the project and plans to change its concept to a "mixed-use" development with business, commercial and residential uses, a representative for the project said Tuesday. Maui News.

An education specialist with the state Department of Land and Natural Resources Division of Aquatic Resources will discuss coral reef trends, threats and management from 6 to 7:30 p.m. Thursday at the Pacific Whale Foundation's Discovery Center near Maalaea Harbor. Maui News.

Kauai
For the fifth straight year, residents and visitors can participate in the Mayor-a-thon, an event that draws hundreds of people to the multi-use coastal path, Ke Ala Hele Makalae, for a day of fun, exercise and a chance to win prizes. Garden Island.

The residents of Kalaheo, Omao and Lawai who were unable to attend the kick-off events for the South Kauai Community Plan update are encouraged to share their thoughts on the future of their communities at a workshop scheduled next week. Garden Island.

George Thompson, owner of Fathom Five Divers in Koloa, has been chosen to represent Kauai as an advisory council member for the Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary. Garden Island.

Lanai
Oracle Corp. CEO Larry Ellison has quite the influence and power. The billionaire, who became the majority owner of Lanai last year, managed to leverage his relationship with Nobu Malibu to briskly open a Nobu restaurant on Lanai at Four Seasons Resort Lanai at Manele Bay in less than a year. Pacific Business News.