LGBTQ measures advance, private school tuition climbs, House Speaker Saiki faces primary challenge, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Gay Pride parade in Hawaii pre-CVID ©2022 All Hawaii News

Lawmakers say 2022 legislative session was a success for LGBTQ community. Lawmakers say they want the community to know this past legislative session was a success for the LGBTQ community. They say three PRO LGBTQ bills passed out of the Capitol. KITV4.

Hawaii Moves To Improve Transgender Health Insurance Coverage. House Bill 2405, which is awaiting the governor’s signature, would prevent insurers from denying gender-affirming treatments due to “cosmetic” exclusions. Civil Beat.

Tuition at Hawaii private schools continues to climb. According to survey data from the nonprofit Hawai‘i Association for Independent Schools, the average annual tuition figures from 92 member private schools for this fall is $12,997 — 3.9% higher than last year and 28% percent higher than the $10,159 average in 2019-2020, the last full school year before the pandemic. Star-Advertiser.

Gun Enthusiasts Keep Winning In Court. That Could Soon Weaken Hawaii’s Strict Gun Laws. When it comes to gun violence, Hawaii is one of the safest places in the U.S. The state has among the lowest number of registered guns and gun deaths per capita, and some of the nation’s toughest gun laws. Civil Beat.

Release of altered mosquitoes is questioned. A multiagency plan to release tens of millions of imported mosquitoes into the wild to help save Hawaii’s endangered forest birds is generating fears of unintended consequences. Star-Advertiser. Tribune-Herald.

Hawaii Tourism Authority’s contract reversal leaves longtime marketer HVCB’s future in limbo. The reversal of fortune that has left the Hawaii Visitors and Convention Bureau with a fraction of the tens of millions of dollars in state contracts it enjoyed will become clearer Tuesday after a formal debriefing on the Hawaii Tourism Authority’s decision to award its top U.S. contract to a Native Hawaiian nonprofit. Star-Advertiser.

Rear admiral assumes command of U.S. Coast Guard 14th District. Rear Adm. Michael Day, who presided over a historic maritime mass evacuation during Sept. 11, 2001, assumed command of the U.S. Coast Guard 14th District on Friday following a change-of-command ceremony at Coast Guard Base Honolulu. Star-Advertiser.

Efforts to improve marine conservation receive state funding. State funding is being provided to two ocean-based efforts in Hawaii — one to help conservation in the Pupukea area on Oahu and another to promote fishing statewide. Star-Advertiser.

New law aims to reel in fishing violations. House Bill 1653, which was signed into law by Gov. David Ige on Wednesday and takes effect July 1, would create a flexible, tiered system of fines based on the type of specimen caught illegally and whether it’s first-time or repeat offense. Maui News.

New group wants corporate money out of Hawaii politics. A local political action committee is hoping a pledge to stop Hawaii’s politicians from accepting large campaign donations from lobbyists and corporations will help solve some of those problems and allow kamaaina to live more comfortably. KHON2.

Oahu

August primary to feature rematch between Hawaii House Speaker Scott Saiki, Kim Coco Iwamoto. At stake is whether Kaka­ako and Ala Moana voters will return Saiki to the House after 28 years or whether the House will get a new speaker and new leadership team in 2023. Star-Advertiser.

Oahu short-term rental owners sue city over law raising minimum stay to 90 days. The lawsuit alleges the new city ordinance, which goes into effect Oct. 23, is unconstitutional because it interferes with owners’ vested rights to own and rent property and violates state zoning law. Star-Advertiser.

Honolulu police might limit amount of overtime officers can work, in response to audit. Honolulu police are considering capping the amount of overtime hours officers may work and bringing back a three-days-a-week, 12-hours-a-day work schedule in response to a city audit that detailed HPD’s “ineffective” management of time-and-a-half policies from 2016 to 2020. Star-Advertiser.

Staffing Shortages At The Oahu Jail Are Raising Alarms About Safety And OT Costs. Officers at Oahu Community Correctional Center say they are exhausted from working extra shifts with more frequent lockdowns. Civil Beat.

Oahu Lifeguards Say They Need Help. But City Officials Are Stonewalling. A resolution that would let voters help chart the future course for the city Ocean Safety division has stalled in City Council chambers. Civil Beat.

Honolulu among 3 major U.S. tourist destinations to become coronavirus hot spots. The three sizable urban centers in the United States where the coronavirus is spreading fastest right now have something in common: They are major warm-weather tourist destinations. New York Times.

Iwi kupuna returned to Oahu from New Zealand museum. The remains of three Native Hawaiians, illegally taken from Oahu in 1860, found their way to New Zealand, where they were housed in the Canterbury Museum in Christchurch for more than 150 years. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii Island

County Council fields set. Villegas wins reelection to Kona council seat. The primary election is still months away, but incumbent Kona Councilwoman Rebecca Villegas has already won reelection. West Hawaii Today.

State legislative races set: Incumbents win four seats without challengers. Sen. Dru Kanuha, a Democrat representing Kona’s District 3; Rep. Mark Nakashima, a Democrat representing Hamakua’s District 1, Richard Onishi, a Democrat representing Hilo’s District 2 and Nicole Lowen, a Democrat representing Kona’s District 7, will appear on their respective ballots without competition. West Hawaii Today.

Homeowner, kupuna exemptions to be considered Tuesday. Bill 182, to be taken up by the County Council Finance Committee at 10:30 a.m. Tuesday, doesn’t change tax rates but would increase the value of property that would be taxed. The bill also adds two new categories for kupuna exemptions — 65 years and 75 years — while increasing the amounts exempted. West Hawaii Today.

More questions than answers regarding Naniloa hotel. The Board of Land and Natural Resources determined with some reluctance Thursday that granting a request to WHR LLC, the owner of the Naniloa, to take out a $62 million mortgage to cover its current $50 million mortgage with another lender would not be in the best interests of the state. Tribune-Herald.

Group claims Judges for Justice interfering with exoneration effort. The Hawaii Innocence Project has replied to a motion by a Seattle group seeking to unseal post-conviction DNA testing conducted on a key piece of evidence in the Dana Ireland murder, saying the leader of the group is interfering with HIP’s efforts to exonerate one of the men convicted in the case. Tribune-Herald.

Maui

County mulls creation of East Maui Water Authority. Board would oversee water lease agreements; charter amendment could be put on ballot. A County Council committee is considering a charter amendment proposed by Council Member Shane Sinenci that would let voters decide whether the county should establish an East Maui Community Water Authority and Community Board. Maui News.

Campaign begins to raise $2M for fire station in Olowalu. Property and station would be turned over to Maui County once it’s been constructed. Maui News.

Kauai

Kauaʻi Destination Management Action Plan approved. The plan is aimed at rebuilding, redefining and reseting the direction of tourism over a three-year period. The focus is on stabilization, recovery, and rebuilding to the desired visitor industry for each island.  Maui Now.

Tropic Care Kaua‘i is open. A medical innovative readiness training mission presented by the U.S. Department of Defense, Tropic Care Kaua‘i will be providing mobile clinics at Kilauea School from June 13 through 15, and moving to the Waimea Easter Seals facility on June 17, 18 and 20, all with the same hours as the main clinics. Garden Island.

Ige signs 4 bills in honor of World Oceans Day, Maui council passes record high $1B budget, Land Use Commission votes to appeal short-term rental case to ICA, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Black triggerfish amid Hawaii coral ©2022 All Hawaii News

Governor David Ige signs four bills in honor of World Ocean's Day. (video) KITV4.

Improving the health of our oceans and beaches for World Oceans Day. At least 14 million tons of plastic end up in the ocean annually, and plastic makes up 80% of all marine debris, according to the International Union for Conservation of Nature. Hawaii Public Radio.

Hawaii mayors, Honolulu prosecutor team up to urge Gov. David Ige to veto bail reform bill. The four county mayors, Honolulu Prosecutor Steve Alm and representatives from the Honolulu Police Department joined forces Wednesday to urge Gov. David Ige to veto a bill that would eliminate cash bail for some nonviolent, low-level offenses. Star-Advertiser. KHON2.

Solar energy backers urge veto of bill on renewable power. A few hundred members of Hawaii’s solar power industry and environmental organizations came together Wednesday to publicly urge Gov. David Ige to veto a bill they say would cap growth of low-cost, environmentally friendly renewable energy. Star-Advertiser. Hawaii News Now.

Hawaii Prisons Phone Service Provider To Repay Inmates Up To $67 Million. The lawsuit alleges Global Tel Link overcharged inmates and their families, and people who used the system have until next week to file for reimbursement. Civil Beat.

Hawaiʻi teachers union drops endorsement of U.S. Rep. Ed Case in favor of Sergio Alcubilla. Union president Osa Tui Jr. says Alcubilla is a better choice to represent the people of Hawaiʻi. The 1st Congressional District covers most of Oʻahu's urban areas. Hawaii Public Radio.

State Senate to Convene Special Session to Review Judicial Appointments. The Hawaiʻi State Senate will convene a special session for the purpose of reviewing the judicial appointments of Jill M. Hasegawa and Joanna E. Sokolow to the District Family Court of the 3rd Circuit – Hawaiʻi Island and Gregory H. Meyers to the District Court of the 5th Circuit – Kauaʻi. Big Island Now.

Hawaiian Airlines and Par Hawaii explore sustainable aviation fuels in Hawaiʻi. Hawaiian Airlines and Par Hawaii, announced plans today to join forces to study the commercial viability of locally produced sustainable aviation fuels, to replace all or a percentage of traditional kerosene-based jet fuel with fuel that is made with sustainable feedstocks.  Maui Now.

State DOA Panel to Consider Importing ‘Incompatible Male’ Mosquitoes to Help Control Wild Populations. The Plant and Animal Advisory Committee of the state Department of Agriculture is looking at importing “incompatible male” mosquitoes as a method of mosquito population control in the islands to help save several native honeycreeper species. Big Island Now. Tribune-Herald.

Hawaii Department of Health reports 8,033 new infections, 8 coronavirus-related deaths. The state’s average positivity rate, meanwhile, increased to 19.2% from 18.4% reported last week. Star-Advertiser. Maui Now.

Hawaii health officials identify Oahu resident with second probable case of monkeypox. State health officials on June 3 reported the first probable case of an individual who had symptoms consistent with monkeypox and recently traveled to an area with confirmed cases. Star-Advertiser. Hawaii Public Radio. Big Island Now.

Oahu

Honolulu police clarify procedures for informing public after arrest of new chief’s son. Honolulu police will share crime highlights at regular intervals with the public and stop using the “do not post to media” designation on those highlights following an internal review of why the felony arrest of the incoming chief’s son earned that label. Star-Advertiser.

After more than a decade of controversy, council recommends burial plan for Kawaiaha‘o. On Wednesday the fate of hundreds of Native Hawaiian skeletal remains was finally determined by the Oahu Island Burial Council, which approved a plan to allow interment of iwi kupuna as close as possible to their original burial places at Honolulu’s oldest church. Star-Advertiser. Hawaii News Now.

Calls for safety improvements on Pali crosswalks continue. Pedestrian safety along the Pali Highway is a long-standing issue for Nuuanu residents, many including the widow of a man who was struck while crossing the Pali are calling for traffic signals to be installed, while the money that was aside for that project is close to expiring. KHON2.

Death, Fines And Captive Animals: Is Sea Life Park Part Of A Bygone Era? Many have fond memories of Oahu’s sometimes controversial marine animal park, but what will be its role in a changing business? Civil Beat.

Hawaii Island

LUC vows vacation-rental battle: Land Use Commission to take lawsuit to Intermediate Court of Appeals. A Kona judge’s order overturning Hawaii County’s prohibition of short-term vacation rentals in the agricultural district could set a statewide precedent, the state Land Use Commission said Wednesday in unanimously agreeing to seek a ruling from the Intermediate Court of Appeals. West Hawaii Today.

Six Injured After Helicopter Crash In Kaʻū. The Hawaiʻi County Fire Department says there were no fatalities at the scene of the crash. The tour helicopter went down between the Ranchos Subdivision and South Point Road. Big Island Video News. Star-Advertiser. Big Island Now. Hawaii News Now. KHON2.

With a little help from Japan: Stone beaches rebuilt in Liliuokalani Park. After over two years of planning, four gardeners from Japan traveled to Hilo and built two suhama, or stone beaches, at Liliuokalani Park and Gardens. Tribune-Herald.

Maui

Maui County Council Approves Record-Setting $1 Billion Budget. The spending plan relies on increased revenue from taxing tourism accommodations and certain investment properties while lowering taxes for full-time residents. Civil Beat. Maui Now.

After leaving due to term limits, Hokama to run for Lanai seat. Longtime former Maui County Council Member Riki Hokama is looking to take his former seat back after having to relinquish it in 2020 due to term limits. Maui News.

Kauai

KPD airport gun incident details emerge. A Kaua‘i Police Department deputy chief said a “brain fart” led to him to leave a loaded handgun in his carry-on backpack while going through a Transportation Security Administration checkpoint at Lihu‘e Airport security. Garden Island.

Battle over development heats up in Koloa town after blasting methods used. Some residents in Koloa town on Kauai’s south shore have long been opposed to a new condominium development. But now they’re upset that the developer has started using blasting methods as part of construction. Hawaii News Now.

Koloa site of cesspool scrap. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has reached an $18,000 settlement with a South Shore business after federal officials identified a large-capacity cesspool at Koloa Self Storage on Waikomo Road. Garden Island.

Can An Ancient Hawaiian Fishpond Turn A Profit? The owners of a recently restored Kauai fishpond are setting out to prove that this cultural resource can also be a money-maker. Civil Beat.