Smoking ban coming to Oahu beaches and parks, federal report blasts JPAC, Hawaii Army National Guard on furlough, federal agent's murder trial starts today, Kauai addresses beach bathrooms, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Waikiki beach scene (c) 2013 All Hawaii News

Lawmakers could get one step closer to making it harder to light up in Oahu. This week two smoking bills face final readings. Smoking at all city and county public parks could become illegal. KITV4.

A new state law allowing proof of ancestry to be taken from several sources is expected to make it easier to expand the roll of Native Hawaiians - a move that could help them form their own government. Associated Press.

Monday will not be a work day for some 1,100 full-time members of the Hawaii Army National Guard. It will be a furlough day, thanks to federal sequestration budget cuts. Hawaii News Now.

The Pentagon's Hawaii-based effort to account for tens of thousands of Americans missing in action from foreign wars is so inept, mismanaged and wasteful that it risks descending from "dysfunction to total failure," according to an internal study suppressed by military officials. The report paints a picture of a Joint POW/MIA Accounting Command, a military-run group known as JPAC and headed by a two-star general in Hawaii, as woefully inept and even corrupt. Associated Press.

Mere hours before the world was introduced to Edward Snowden, more than 400 people, many of them from Hawaii’s intelligence community, gathered for a gala inside the hangar of the Pacific Aviation Museum Pearl Harbor at Ford Island. Civil Beat.

A Civil Beat review found at least eight high-level Public Utilities Commission employees who have left in the past several years for jobs at HECO, other utilities the commission regulates or law firms representing those companies.  The turnover is troubling in and of itself, but it’s of particular concern when PUC employees head down the street to Hawaiian Electric Co.

An arbitration panel has awarded a six-year contract with increases staggered in the fourth through sixth years of its term for members of the State of Hawaii Organization of Police Officers. Maui News.

The state’s first performance contract with public charter schools will give the schools’ governing commission the authority to do more than threaten to revoke a school’s charter, the commission’s executive director said this week. West Hawaii Today.

Hawaii teachers often struggle to incorporate art into their classes because of severely limited public funding and the demands of federal and state education requirements that place an emphasis on testing in core subjects such as math and reading. Civil Beat.

The number of initial unemployment claims filed in Hawaii dropped by 15.4 percent last week compared to the same week of 2012, according to the Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism. Pacific Business News.

State roundup for July 8. Associated Press.

Oahu

The trial for a federal agent charged with murder in the shooting death of a man at the Waikiki McDonald's begins Monday morning. Hawaii News Now will be live streaming the proceedings starting Monday at 10 a.m.

A mega church is changing the landscape of West Oahu. They are moving forward with purchasing more than 200 acres of Kunia farmland and building an entire church community. KHON2 sat down with the pastor of New Hope Leeward in an exclusive interview to find out what this $30 million expansion plan entails.

Hawaii

Hawaii Island is poised to become a major player in the U.S. oyster industry, as growers on the mainland wrestle with the effects of climate change. Tribune-Herald.

Now that each County Council member gets a $98,877 contingency fund, Hilo Councilman Dennis Onishi wants to be sure the money goes for district necessities rather than donated to nonprofits. West Hawaii Today.

The Hawaii County Council Planning Committee will hear two bills proposing reforms to the Planned Unit Development process at a 9:15 a.m. Tuesday hearing in Hilo. West Hawaii Today.

Maui

The Maui County Council voted Friday to move forward with a formal investigation into the potential misuse of county funds appropriated for rehabilitation of the Old Wailuku Post Office.Maui News.

Agreeing that Maui County residents are "increasingly frustrated" with Maui Electric Co., Mayor Alan Arakawa has written to Public Utility Commission Chairwoman Hermina Morita to thank the commission for its recent decision to lower power rates. Maui News.

The Maui County Council gave initial approval on Friday to a bill that seeks to rename the Waiheʻe Ball Park on Halewaiu Road to the Richard “Pablo” Caldito Sr. Park. Maui Now.

Kauai

In response to the growing concern over the bathrooms at county parks, Mayor Bernard Carvalho has assembled a multi-agency team to address repairs and upgrades to county parks. Garden Island.

State officials are proposing nighttime construction to mitigate traffic impacts and fast track a project to improve flow for more than 27,000 vehicles that cross the old Lihue Mill Bridge daily. Garden Island.

Hawaii governor signs preschool bills, medical marijuana bills to be signed today, Feds to set rules for Hawaiian Homelands, permit granted for Gene Simmons Maui restaurant, Honolulu council tackles smoking bans, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Hawaii preschoolers sing before bill signing

Surrounded by preschoolers, Gov. Neil Abercrombie signed a bill Monday that expands early childhood education. Even though it’s a far cry from what Abercrombie envisioned, he declared, “No other piece of legislation this year was more important.” The bill funds $1.16 million for administrative costs and $6 million in subsidies to help 900 children. Associated Press.

Hawaii moved closer Monday to providing universal preschool under legislation Gov. Neil Abercrombie signed that establishes a statewide school readiness program. Star-Advertiser.

Preschool bill signing

Governor Neil Abercrombie calls the 'school readiness' bill the most important legislation of the session. Parents in Hawaii pay an average of 640-dollars per month to send their child to preschool. Hawaii News Now.

Hawaii’s first changes to its medical marijuana laws since their inception 13 years ago will begin with a bill-signing today, after the legislation survived a rather short potential veto list released Monday by Gov. Neil Abercrombie. West Hawaii Today.

Legislative leaders say they plan to meet with other lawmakers this week but do not expect a special session to override any of the nine bills on Gov. Neil Abercrombie’s potential veto list. Star-Advertiser.

Gov. Neil Abercrombie notified lawmakers Monday that he intends to veto just nine of the 293 bills they passed. Last year, he had 20 bills on the list and went on to veto 14. In 2011, his potential veto list included 25 bills and he vetoed 17. Civil Beat.

Gov. Neil Abercrombie on Monday notified Hawaii lawmakers of his intent to veto nine of the 293 measures that passed the Legislature during this year’s session. Pacific Business News.

For the first time in nearly 100 years, the U.S. government may soon have formal rules for the federal law designed to put eligible Native Hawaiians onto homestead lots. The U.S. Department of the Interior on Monday notified the state Department of Hawaiian Home Lands of its intent to establish rules related to the Hawaiian Homes Commission Act of 1920, which set up a trust comprising roughly 200,000 acres throughout the islands for homesteading purposes. Star-Advertiser.

On March 1, Gov. Neil Abercrombie called for the formation of a Sequestration Impact Response Team to address nationwide federal spending reductions. The team is still trying to fill the 25 slots with people from government, the military, business and non-profits. Hawaii News Now.

The third National Climate Assessment aims to help federal, state and local officials to adapt to mounting environmental challenges that are likely to result from warming waters, higher average temperatures, more extreme weather, and rising sea levels. Civil Beat.

Hawaii falls smack dab in the middle of a list that rates overall child well-being across the country. Civil Beat.

While some analysts have compared the state’s growing unfunded pension and retirement benefit liabilities as a “tsunami,” overwhelming state taxpayers with an enormous debt, the comparison isn’t valid, says a new Senate Minority report. Hawaii Reporter.

Federal and state authorities are asking boaters to call in when they see dead whales floating at sea. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration regional marine mammal response manager David Schofield says early reporting allows officials to locate dead whales and tow the carcasses away from the islands. Associated Press.

State roundup for June 25. Associated Press.

Oahu

Three bills designed to curb smoking in public places on Oahu will be on the agenda of the City Council Public Safety and Economic Development Committee today. Star-Advertiser.

A nonprofit group under investigation for possible misuse of federal grant money received nearly $30 million in contracts from the U.S. Department of Defense between 2000 and 2012. Opportunities and Resources, Inc., also known as ORI Anuenue Hale, runs a wellness center and workplace for elderly and developmentally disabled people next to the Dole Plantation in Central Oahu. Civil Beat.

Oahu nonprofit groups may now request as little as $25,000, instead of a minimum of $50,000, from the city's new Grants in Aid Fund, city officials announced Monday. Star-Advertiser.

Although Honolulu's new sidewalk nuisance law is more than two months old, enforcement won't begin until next Monday. The city was forced to delay implementation if Bill 7 until new administrative rules could be written. KITV4.

Aliiolani Hale, the 139-year-old downtown Honolulu building that is home to the Hawaii Supreme Court and the iconic statue of Kame­ha­meha I, is about to undergo nearly $3 million in repairs. Star-Advertiser.

A  plan by a geologist and former mineral exploration company chief executive to establish an organic cacao farm in Wai­kane Valley took a step forward with publication of a draft environmental assessment Sunday. Star-Advertiser.

Members of the public can provide feedback on the latest designs for three planned rail stations — West Loch, Waipahu Transit Center and Leeward Community College — during a 6:30 p.m. meeting today at Waipahu Intermediate school, 94-455 Farrington Highway. Honolulu Authority for Rapid Transportation, the semiautonomous government agency overseeing the entire rail project, is holding the meeting. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii

More than 50,000 of the state’s kids — or 17 percent — lived in poverty in 2011, up from 13 percent in 2005. Hawaii County, in particular, continues to have the highest child poverty rate, increasing from 18 percent in 2008 to almost 30 percent in 2011, according to statistics released Monday. West Hawaii Today.

Maui

Rock & Brews LLC, a California-based restaurant chain involving rocker Gene Simmons of Kiss fame, which has plans to open in Paia on Maui, is moving ahead as the state of Hawaii recently approved its special management area minor permit. Pacific Business News.

Camp Maluhia, the largest Boy Scouts of America camp in Hawaii, received $1.5 million from the state for facility improvements and repairs as part of $41.2 million in state funding for capital improvement projects released by Gov. Neil Abercrombie on June 6. Maui News.

The Maui County law says sign waving too close to roads, crosswalks or intersections can distract drivers and become a hazard so there are space restrictions. But residents say it's not fair that the law is being selectively enforced. Kevin Olson's sign reads, "MPD spotter van ahead in the Times Super Market parking lot. Be smart." Holding that sign got Kevin Olson a $50 ticket. Hawaii News Now.

Kauai

The Department of Water will hold informational meetings over the next few weeks to discuss the scheduled 11.2 percent water rate increase that will take effect on July 1. Garden Island.

A proposal to be introduced by the Kauai County Council Wednesday would mean a significant hike in dog-license fees — especially for owners of unneutered and unspayed dogs.Garden Island.

Officials search for hooked monk seal, Hawaiian hawks wounded, Board of Regents bails out athletics department, mulls new UH president, military tests missile, business groups give Legislature good grade, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Hawaiian monk seal with fish hook courtesy NOAA

State conservation officials on Maui are looking for an injured Hawaiian monk seal with a fishhook lodged in its neck. Star-Advertiser.

Two endangered Hawaiian hawks were found wounded on the Big Island after apparently being shot with a pellet gun, and federal wildlife officials want to know who is responsible. Associated Press.
http://hawaiitribune-herald.com/sections/news/state/endangered-hawks-shot-big-island.html

The Missile Defense Agency and US Navy sailors completed a successful test of a missile defense system by destroying a target launched in the Pacific Ocean. Hawaii News Now.

Hawaii isn't at the bottom of the list anymore when it comes to voter turnout, according to a new study. West Virginia now occupies that spot. Civil Beat.

Hawaii’s unemployment rate dropped to 4.9 percent in April, the state’s lowest rate since October 2008, officials said Thursday. Associated Press.

State legislators earned some decent grades for the session that ended last week, as much for what they didn’t do as what they passed. Pacific Business News.

Nearly two weeks after University of Hawaii President M.R.C. Greenwood announced she would be retiring in September, the university’s Board of Regents is deciding the best way to go about looking for her successor. Star-Advertiser.

The University of Hawaii Board of Regents spent at least an hour and a half meeting behind closed doors in executive session Thursday afternoon to discuss the departure of UH President MRC Greenwood and efforts to find her successor. And the only thing the Regents' leader could say for sure afterwards was that none of the regents wanted her job. Hawaii News Now.

It was the first meeting since MRC Greenwood announced her retirement, and the first chance for board members to talk about a replacement. It began with a call to look for a good communicator in our own back yard. KITV4.

Hawaii vehicle registrations were up 9.8 percent in the first quarter of the year, besting the 8.7 percent national figure. The forecast of 45,750 sales for the year has brightened from a record annual low of 32,668 vehicle registrations in 2010. Star-Advertiser.

July 1 the Hawaii Public Housing Authority begins enforcing smoking restrictions at its 85 properties. From then on smoking will only be allowed in designated areas. Hawaii News Now.

Oahu

The 15-member Board of Regents gave unanimous approval Thursday to plans to retire a $13 million accumulated net deficit, allow the University of Hawaii athletics department to award scholarships to out-of-state athletes based on in-state rates, and receive help from the Manoa chancellor’s office in paying staff salaries. Star-Advertiser.

The University of Hawaii athletic program will have its $13-million dollar accrued deficit absorbed by the Chancellor's office at the end of the fiscal year, June 30, following a unanimous vote by the schools Board of Regents Thursday. Hawaii News Now.

The UH Board of Regents agreed to give the Athletic Department a fresh-start, zeroing out millions in debt after sports lost money for years. But KHON2 found that will not be a one-time cost to the campus — because sports will continue to rely on operational subsidies.

The state tax director assured transit officials Thursday that the city’s rail project, which relies heavily on tax dollars generated on Oahu, will receive its fair share even if the cash does not arrive in steady amounts. Star-Advertiser.

Former Hawaii Gov. Ben Cayetano and other plaintiffs in a federal lawsuit that aims to stop Honolulu’s rail project filed their opening brief in their appeal to 9th Circuit Court of Appeals. It’s 3,785 pages with attachments. Civil Beat.

Questions about a controversial North Shore development have kept Honolulu Mayor Kirk Caldwell’s campaign chairman from sitting on a city land use board. Civil Beat.

The number of Oahu’s homeless people is growing at a higher rate than last year, and an important metric, the number living on streets instead of shelters, rose 11 percent, according to the latest Homeless Point-in-Time Count. Star-Advertiser.

For as long as we can remember, Chinatown has been notorious for drugs, homelessness and filthy streets. Some claim nothing has changed–and that it never will. But many Downtown merchants and workers say things have gotten markedly worse starting in January of this year, and key government officials are pushing for change. Honolulu Weekly.

Hawaii

Hilo businessman Ken Fujiyama and Ken Direction Corp. have been ordered to pay almost $10.7 million to a North Carolina bank holding a mortgage on the Naniloa Volcanoes Resort. Tribune-Herald.

Locally, 16 of the 34 fatal crashes that resulted in 38 deaths on Hawaii Island roads in 2012 were attributed to alcohol-impaired driving, according to Hawaii Police Department Traffic Services Section Sgt. Robert Pauole. That equates to nearly half — 47 percent — of fatal crashes here having alcohol as a contributing factor. Sen. Josh Green, D-Kona, Ka‘u, said he plans to bring legislation before the 2014 Legislature to reduce the legal limit in Hawaii to 0.05. West Hawaii Today.

Geothermal relocation requests would be limited to existing homeowners under a bill before the Hawaii County Council. The bill, introduced by Puna Councilman Greggor Illagan, would limit eligibility for the program to anyone who owns a home near Puna Geothermal Venture within 90 days of the bill’s adoption. Tribune-Herald.

State Department of Transportation officials are asking the public to write letters to the Federal Highways Administration in support of funding for the last section of the Saddle Road extension. West Hawaii Today.

Maui

As media mogul Oprah Winfrey goes public in her magazine about her thriving Upcountry organic farm, some Maui farmers expressed mixed feelings about her farm's vision and whether they will have to compete with Winfrey's fame and fortune for a place in an already tough agricultural market. Maui News.

Guy Kaulukukui, senior vice president and Hawaii director of Bio-Logical Capital, said the company is "pleased and flattered" to be mentioned in the June edition of O, The Oprah Magazine that offers details about Winfrey's farm on Maui. Maui News.

After three years and an estimated $15 million in funding by a state and federal partnership, almost all the upgrades to Ma'alaea Harbor are in place and operating. Maui Weekly.

The Kalama'ula Homesteaders Association is anticipating a finding of no significant environmental impact for a project to build a new pavilion and restrooms at Kiowea Park, next to Molokai's historic Kapuaiwa Coconut Grove and about a mile west of Kaunakakai. Maui News.

The Maui Solar Summit 2013 will be taking place on Friday, May 24 at the University of Hawaii Maui College campus. Maui Now.

Kauai

Kaua‘i Chief of Police Darryl Perry says that when a dismissed officer is ordered back by arbitration it presents a problem to the department. Garden Island.

Study seeks solutions to Po‘ipu Road woes. Garden Island.

Schatz-Hanabusa contest tight, smokers to be ejected from public housing, Department of Hawaiian Home Lands scrutinized, state to keep chunk of transit tax, Inouye's legacy continues, Abercrombie stumps on islands, preschool plan falters, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Brian Schatz, Colleen Hanabusa vie for U.S. Senate seat

Though myriad factors will come into play in Hawaii Rep. Colleen Hanabusa’s campaign against Sen. Brian Schatz, from Hawaii’s demographics to fundraising, much of the campaign will hinge on what happens in the halls of Congress over the next several months. Civil Beat.

Governor's legislative defeat puts tots in educational bind. The state's intent was to phase out junior kindergarten — launched in 2006 for late-born 4-year-olds — while rolling out a plan for publicly funded universal preschool. Hawaii is one of 11 states without state-funded preschool. Star-Advertiser.

Dozens of tenants are leasing more than 38,000 acres of mostly undeveloped land from the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands for as little as pennies per acre monthly, with the deals administered through a revocable-permit program plagued by lax oversight and selective enforcement, a Star-Advertiser investigation has found.

For several years, Robin Danner has been a persistent critic of top administrators at the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands. Star-Advertiser.

Although the state Legislature is a part-time institution, most lawmakers will say their work does not end when the gavel comes down on closing day. Star-Advertiser.

The Legislature this week approved a record-setting $24 billion biennium budget that includes funding for operations and capital improvement projects for fiscal years 2014 and 2015. Hawaii Reporter.

Tenants caught smoking three times or more in apartments or common areas at any of the state's 85 public housing properties could be evicted under a tough new smoking ban effective this month. Star-Advertiser.

Reason TV sat down with Ken Schoolland, professor of economics at Hawaii Pacific University  to talk about the Jones Act, federal legislation that restricts foreign-flagged ships from engaging in commerce in domestic shipping lanes. Hawaii Reporter.
 
Oahu

A measure that would have reduced how much money the state pockets in exchange for collecting the tax used to fund Hono­lulu's rail project died in this year's legislative session. Star-Advertiser.

According to the disclosure forms filed with Congress, in 2010 lobbyists — many of them defense firms seeking defense contracts — reported making $449,000 "honoree donations" to the Pacific Aviation Museum, all in honor of the late U.S. Sen. Daniel Inouye, D-Hawaii. Civil Beat.

There are mystery men — or women — inside Honolulu Hale. And by not telling us who they are Mayor Kirk Caldwell is violating a state law that requires disclosure of the names of government employees.  Civil Beat.

Hawaii can expect to see its very first Olive Garden restaurant on Oahu at the 1.4-million square-foot, $500 million Ka Makana Alii mixed-use regional shopping center in Kapolei, according to the head of DeBartolo Development. Pacific Business News.

It's the final chapter for east O'ahu's biggest bookstore -- the Barnes & Noble Booksellers at Kahala Mall will soon be closing. Hawaii News Now.

Hawaii

Hawaii County is emerging from five years of economic doldrums that saw construction projects plummet, with contractors, consultants and labor unions now looking forward to a slower, more sustainable rise in development. West Hawaii Today.

Gov. Neil Abercrombie was in Hilo Sunday on part of a three-day Neighbor Island tour to announce he’s running for reelection in 2014. Tribune-Herald.

Funding for the Kona Judiciary Complex and the Hawaii Community College at Palamanui top two West Hawaii legislators’ lists of capital improvement project successes this session. West Hawaii Today.

Festival celebrates Ka'u coffee's growing stature. West Hawaii Today.

Maui

Maui County Mayor Alan Arakawa said Friday that the difference between his $574 million budget proposal and County Council Budget Committee Chairman Mike White's $551 million basically status-quo plan is a long-term versus a short-term view of the needs of Maui County. Maui News.

The Legislature passed a bill directing state officials to pursue buying a scenic stretch of coastal land from Maui Land & Pineapple Co. to protect the area from possible development and shore up company pension obligations. But the bill was passed without a budget appropriation, making acquisition questionable. Star-Advertiser.

Eddie Would Go documentary set to open Maui’s film festival. Maui News.

Kauai

The Kauai Visitors Bureau is presenting an event at a San Diego mall next weekend to promote tourism to the Garden Island just a few weeks ahead of Alaska Airlines’ launch of its nonstop service between San Diego and Lihue. Pacific Business News.

Reports that airlines are scaling back flights to Hawai‘i this summer have alarmed some who fear it will hurt tourism, but others say it’s cyclical and does not present a serious concern. Garden Island.

Kaua‘i Therapy & Wellness and In Home Services opened a new site Wednesday during a Kaua‘i Chamber of Commerce Ribbon Cutting ceremony. Garden Island.

Molokai

Stacy Helm Crivello joined Maui County Council as the Molokai representative in January. A few months into her new role, Crivello answered questions from the Dispatch about serving as a county councilmember. Molokai Dispatch.

Abercrombie launches re-election bid, UPW contract inked, elections, solar credit, ag bills die, beach-born baby rescued, Maui councilor proposes no-new taxes budget, DLNR tackles Native Hawaiian protesters, Tesoro postpones layoffs, Caldwell staff get pay hikes, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

UPW Director Nakanelua, Hawaii Gov Abercrombie courtesy photo

More than 9,000 blue-collar workers for the state and counties have a new four-year contract that their union says acknowledges the sacrifices they made during tough budgeting times. Star-Advertiser.

The state inked another union contract Monday, the latest deal to come down before the legislative session comes to a close this week. Gov. Neil Abercrombie and county mayors signed a four-year agreement with United Public Workers Unit 1, which represents some 8,000 blue-collar employees. Civil Beat.

Gov. Neil Abercrombie has formally launched his campaign to win a second term in 2014, saying Hawaii has built momentum coming out of recession and he wants it to continue. Associated Press.

Gov. Neil Abercrombie formally launched his re-election campaign Monday, citing the state's financial rebound and progress toward his "New Day" agenda as reasons voters should give him a second four-year term. Star-Advertiser.

Joined by Lt. Gov. Shan Tsutsui, Honolulu Mayor Kirk Caldwell and dozens of friends and supporters at Ward Warehouse Monday, Neil Abercrombie formally kicked off his 2014 re-election. Civil Beat.

Gov. Neil Abercrombie launched his re-election campaign Monday, as the Republican Party searched for an opponent to run against him in 2014. Hawaii News Now.

Hawaii Gov. Neil Abercrombie launched his 2014 campaign for re-election on Monday, promising to keep the state’s economy strong and to improve the educational system. Pacific Business News.

Hawaii lawmakers are preparing to vote on the final bills of the legislative session after a heated week of negotiations, but some advocates are disappointed several initiatives failed in the final hours after gaining momentum earlier. Associated Press.

Hawaii Lawmakers Set to Debate and Pass About 150 Bills in Final Hours of the 2013 Session. Hawaii Reporter.

A bill that would have required an evaluation of the chief election officer after each general election died because of a procedural gaffe in a legislative conference committee last week. Star-Advertiser.

A bill that would have changed the state tax credits for solar photovoltaic systems in Hawaii has failed to progress, leaving in place the administrative rules set by the state Department of Taxation that went into effect in November. Pacific Business News.

A contentious but at times comical scrap between Rep. Jessica Wooley and Sen. Donovan Dela Cruz has left in limbo $175 million in revenue bonds to preserve agricultural land. Star-Advertiser.

The Pacific Rim International Conference on Disability and Diversity is underway in Honolulu this week, and one thing they will be looking at is the connection between disabilities and prison incarceration. Hawaii Public Radio.

As a younger member of the Hawaii Supreme Court at age 46, Steven Levinson wrote the landmark opinion issued nearly 20 years ago that launched the debate over same-sex marriage that still reverberates today across the country and in the nation's highest court. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaiian Electric said on Monday that a record 13.9 percent of energy came from renewable sources last year. KITV4.

Hawaii Teacher: New Teacher Evaluation System Will Damage Education. Civil Beat.

State roundup for April 30. Associated Press.

Oahu

Honolulu Mayor Kirk Caldwell is taking a pay cut, but those closest to him are already making more than their predecessors in the Carlisle administration. Civil Beat.

Whoever abandoned a newborn girl at Sandy Beach late Sunday night could have avoided prosecution by turning the baby over to the proper authorities, state officials said. Star-Advertiser.

A shocking discovery was made on a south shore beach overnight. A baby just hours old was found abandoned on the sand. KHON2.

There are about 4,000 bus stops on Oahu, and right now there are no restrictions on where people who are waiting for the bus can smoke. Hawaii News Now.

The owner of a local wheel boot company may lose his business if a bill is approved this week at the Hawaii Legislature. Civil Beat.

Tesoro Hawaii Corp. now says that it will hold off on laying off about 210 of its employees while the Texas-based refiner and marketer of petroleum products remains in discussions with potential buyers for its Kapolei refinery. Pacific Business News.

On Monday, as Honolulu Mayor Kirk Caldwell led a walking caravan of local officials through downtown, traffic consultant Dan Burden challenged the group to make the streets there safer for pedestrians. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii

Sovereignty activists who planted a garden twice without permission near the King Kamehameha the Great statue in Hilo will be billed for the cost of removing their crops, William Aila, state Department of Land and Natural Resources chair, said Monday. Tribune-Herald.

Abel Simeona Lui, the colorful and controversial figure behind recent acts of Hawaiian sovereignty protests and civil disobedience around the island, will spend his 70th birthday in jail Wednesday. West Hawaii Today.

Real estate agents and appraisers agree — West Hawaii’s real estate market is hot again. West Hawaii Today.

A Fire Department hazardous materials team was unable to determine what caused people in the District courtroom at the Kona Courthouse in Kealakekua to begin coughing Monday morning. West Hawaii Today.

On Friday, state legislators approved $100,000 to fund early efforts to launch an international flight training center and advanced aviation degree program at the University of Hawaii at Hilo. Tribune-Herald.

Safeway has settled a lawsuit filed by a customer over the labeling of its “Kona Blend” coffee. Big Island Now.

Maui

Maui County Council Budget and Finance Committee Chairman Mike White is seeking to cut Mayor Alan Arakawa's proposed county budget for next fiscal year by $23 million and is proposing to not raise any real property taxes. Maui News.

Council Member Mike White today proposed the stabilization of real property tax rates in fiscal year 2014. Maui Now.

Hale Makua Health Services is accepting applications for financial assistance to its Adult Day Health program in Kahului, thanks to a $25,000 grant from The Harry & Jeanette Weinberg Foundation. Maui News.

Results of a remedial investigation of the ‘Āhihi Kīna‘u Natural Area Reserve in South Maui will be discussed during an upcoming public meeting, officials said. Maui Now.

Kauai

Seed crop producer Syngenta will move its Hawaii research operations from Oahu to Kauai in June, a company official said Monday. Star-Advertiser.

County building applications are set to go paperless this week. Effective Wednesday, building applications submitted electronically will receive priority over paper-based applications. Garden Island.

Kaua‘i’s unique topology and weather allows some of the best star gazing conditions at sea level, said Dr. James Dire. Garden Island.

Hawaii Legislature enters final week, minimim wage hike dies, PACS must name top campaign donors, state employee firings secret, Hawaii needs more hotels, officials warn of Kauai drownings, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Hawaii Legislature conference committee, courtesy photo

Committees of negotiators in the Hawaii Legislature have approved funding for several new initiatives, including proposals to revitalize emergency funds, create a new school readiness program and establish a new entrepreneurship initiative. Associated Press.

After discussing a slew of election-related bills this session, lawmakers agreed on a bill that will require political action committees to disclose in all advertisements the names of the top three donors that contributed to the message. Star-Advertiser.

Minimum Wage Hike Legislation Dies in Conference Committee. Hawaii Reporter.

The Media Council of Hawaii has sent a letter to all Hawaii state senators and representatives urging them to vote against House Bill 622, the weakened media shield law. Civil Beat.

Some federal and state officials are supporting the idea of shortening the permits process for work on traditional Hawaiian fishponds to encourage more restorations. Star-Advertiser.

State officials say they've recently discovered a conflict in state law that requires them to leave the public in the dark about government employees who are guilty of certain types of misconduct. Civil Beat.

In the past two years, state workers have been suspended and fired for a range of misconduct, including harassment, theft and workplace violence. Civil Beat.

By 2030, more than a third of Hawaii residents will be neighbor islanders, a reality that observers predict will almost certainly have repercussions big and small for everything from the state’s economy to its politics. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii interests are significantly scaling back on federal lobbying, the result of changes in the political landscape that are making it tougher to get issues through Congress and secure dwindling federal dollars. Civil Beat.

Hawaiian Airlines President and CEO Mark Dunkerley says that the state needs to provide an even more diverse mix of hotels to accommodate visitors to the Islands, including those from China. Pacific Business News.

Oahu
A new proposal before the Honolulu City Council would add bus stops to the growing number of places a person can't smoke on Oahu. Star-Advertiser.

For the first time in more than 60 years, fireworks didn't light up the night in Kailua last Fourth of July. Now a group of residents is raising money to make sure it doesn't happen again. Hawaii News Now.

An excess of fuel inside of a boiler is to blame for a stubborn fire that burned early Monday morning at the Pacific Biodiesel facility on Sand Island, according to sources at the scene. Hawaii News Now.

Ewa Beach residents are now officially ready for a natural disaster, said the National Weather Service. After the 2011 tsunami those living in the town felt that they were not fully prepared, so they took things into their own hands. KITV4.

Kahaluu Elementary principal selected as principal of the year. KHON2.

Hawaii

Just a few weeks after Mayor Billy Kenoi warned County Council members he was considering a property tax increase, the council will vote on forming a task force to consider the county’s real property tax rates and rules. West Hawaii Today.

It sometimes rains on the Veterans Day Parade parade in downtown Hilo, but never like this. The popular, annual November parade won’t be held this year due to the construction along Kamehameha Avenue, a key part of the six-year-old parade route, said the parade’s chairman and founder, Dan Kama. Tribune-Herald.

Leaders of the specialty coffee industry are traveling to the state’s largest agricultural district in May to learn about award-winning Ka‘u coffee. Tribune-Herald.

A lease of state land to a Colorado man nearly two decades ago has turned out to be a nightmare for Hawaii’s taxpayers. Big Island Now.

Maui

Maui County announced its selection of Anaergia Services of Carlsbad, Calif., for the county's Integrated Waste Conversion and Energy Project that will divert roughly 85 percent of waste from the Central Maui Landfill and produce renewable fuels. Maui News.

Honolua's Lipoa Point is one of few areas left in West Maui that has resisted commercial development, and now that state lawmakers have alloted $20 million toward its preservation, it is likely to stay that way. Maui News.

Maui received an "A" grade for air quality - the best in the state - in an American Lung Association national report that may raise the eyebrows of residents who have complaints about cane burning and dust from fallow fields. Maui News.

Maui Mayor Alan Arakawa announced the selection of Anaergia Services for the county’s proposed Integrated Waste Conversion and Energy Project. Maui Now.

Kauai

A spate of visitor deaths this year has officials wanting to educate tourists about the dangers. Associated Press.

Residents may be puzzled as to why Census workers are knocking on their doors — three years after the last decennial count, and seven years until the next one. Two basic Census Bureau surveys are the American Community Survey and the Community Population Survey. Participants respond quarterly for two consecutive years to household questions in one and employment or job search information in the other. Garden Island.

Dive tournament targets invasive species. Garden Island.

Legislature settles on $23.8B biennium budget, Hanabusa-Schatz showdown creates wide-open House seat, Oahu smoking ban expands, GMO bills die, Honolulu officials lobby Washington for rail, iconic lifeguard shacks to be removed, Maui chips away at unfunded liabilities, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Hawaii Capitol, courtesy AARP-Hawaii

State House and Senate negotiators reached agreement Tuesday night on the final draft of a two-year state budget. The state would spend $11.8 billion in fiscal year 2014 and $11.9 billion in fiscal year 2015. The budget is slightly more than Gov. Neil Abercrombie had proposed for 2014 but less than the governor had requested for 2015. Star-Advertiser.

State budget negotiators on Tuesday passed a $23.8 billion biennium budget three days ahead of their internal deadline, but they were unable to agree on how much money to put toward economic growth and early education initiatives. Civil Beat.

The debate over whether genetically modified produce sold in Hawaii should be labeled as such came to a close at the state Capitol this week with the House snubbing a Senate resolution that called for several state agencies to study the issue. Star-Advertiser.

A Honolulu city councilman and others have raised late objections to a bill that would authorize the private development of public school land, undermining its chances as state House and Senate negotiators approach a deadline on Friday. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii lawmakers are trying to iron out key differences between the House and Senate versions of legislation to develop school lands so the state can generate revenue to fix ailing educational facilities. Civil Beat.

As U.S. Rep. Colleen Hanabusa readies a campaign to take on appointed U.S. Sen. Brian Schatz in 2014, potential successors to her U.S. House seat are preparing for what promises to be a wide-open primary contest. Star-Advertiser.

The Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee plans to back Hawaii U.S. Sen. Brian Schatz in his bid for re-election next year amid a primary challenge from U.S. Rep. Colleen Hanabusa, a spokesman said Tuesday. Associated Press.

Brian Schatz may have been appointed to the U.S. Senate rather than elected, but national political analysts say he is slightly favored to win a 2014 primary contest against U.S. Rep. Colleen Hanabusa. Civil Beat.

It’s a heavyweight bout in which the loser could go home for good. That’s how one political analyst is describing the upcoming race for U.S. Senate. KHON2.

Her camp isn't confirming, but reports say U.S. Rep. Colleen Hanabusa will challenge Brian Schatz for his seat in the U. S. Senate in 2014. "The profile of both of these candidates are about the same," political analyst Dan Boylan said. Hawaii News Now.

The Hawaii Natural Energy Institute, a key research entity that has existed for nearly four decades and is aimed at helping to oversee Hawaii’s attempts to wean itself from imported oil, is in serious jeopardy of losing crucial funding from the state’s so-called barrel tax. Pacific Business News.

Historic preservation supporters, archaeologists and Native Hawaiian groups celebrated Earth Day on Monday by rallying at the state Capitol to demand that legislators shelve a bill that would allow for archaeological inventory surveys to be done in phases while construction work is ongoing. Star-Advertiser.

The Public Land Development Corp. has been repealed and a bill to create a similar agency has died in the state Legislature. But the debate over what to do with underutilized public lands remains anything but settled. Tribune-Herald.

A conference committee composed of House and Senate members will meet tomorrow, 4/24/13, at 10:30am in room 325 at the State Capitol, to attempt to address differences in SB946 SD1 HD1 relating to the unfunded liability of the Employee Union Trust Fund (EUTF). Hawaii Reporter.

Does the state ethics law prohibit use of the University of Hawaii’s email system to criticize or attempt to roll back decisions of the faculty union without obtaining its prior permission? That’s the rather startling claim made by the University of Hawaii Professional Assembly as it defends against critics of its recent decision to cut decades-long ties to the National Education Association as of Sept. 1. Civil Beat.

The recently signed compassionate care bill was the top priority for women lawmakers this session… but there are more bills they want passed in the final days before adjournment May 2nd. Hawaii Public Radio.

Lengthy delays are not expected at Hawaii’s airports despite thousands of air traffic controllers nationwide being forced to take furloughs because of budget cuts. West Hawaii Today.

The state’s No. 1 industry, which has led Hawaii’s economic recovery while posting record numbers, could see a drop in arrivals in the second half of the year as airlines cut back on seats flown to the islands. Star-Advertiser.

State roundup for April 24. Associated Press.

Oahu

A bill that would ban smoking at all 293 Honolulu city parks and beaches gained preliminary approval Tuesday from the City Council Public Safety and Economic Development Committee. Star-Advertiser.

Honolulu Mayor Kirk Caldwell and other officials said they were encouraged about continued federal funding for the city’s rail project after meeting with Secretary of Transportation Ray LaHood on Tuesday. Civil Beat.

City leaders looking to keep the Honolulu rail project's federal funding on track met Tuesday in Washington, D.C., with top Obama transportation officials and the members of Congress whose continued support they'll need. Star-Advertiser.

With the popularity of cell phones these days, emergency call boxes along Oahu's roadways are becoming obsolete. During the last six months, the Hawaii Department of Transportation removed approximately 276 roadside phones along freeways and highways. Hawaii News Now.

There’s a ray of hope for more than 200 Tesoro workers who are about to lose their jobs. Both the union and the company say there are possible buyers. KHON2.

Chevron Corp. is expanding its renewable energy effort in Hawaii with the planned development of a utility-scale solar photovoltaic project near its Campbell Industrial Park refinery that would provide up to 1 megawatt of generating capacity for Oahu's electrical grid. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii
The island’s iconic wooden lifeguard shacks are slated for removal to be replaced with fiberglass units manufactured on the mainland. West Hawaii Today.

Mayor Billy Kenoi says he doesn’t want it and his finance director says the county can’t afford it, but the county Salary Commission is proceeding with a meeting Thursday to consider a $22,000 raise for the mayor and raises up to 19.8 percent for some department heads. West Hawaii Today.

A federal appeals court has ordered a new trial in a lawsuit filed by the family of a Texas soldier who was killed and others who were injured during a live-fire training exercise in Hawaii. Associated Press.

Department of Water Supply officials are hoping to reopen the Hawaiian Ocean View Estates well fill station at noon today, after a three-week outage. West Hawaii Today.

Former Council Chairman Dominic Yagong and former County Clerk Jamae Kawauchi acted against a Human Resources Department opinion in firing several elections workers last year, the attorney for the reinstated Elections Division chief says. West Hawaii Today.

Maui

Maui County faces $330 million in unfunded pension liabilities and $610 million in liabilities for retiree health benefits as of the end of last June, according to state officials appearing before the County Council on Monday. Maui News.

Hawaii legislators charged with negotiating the state budget have agreed to a $23.8 billion biennium budget proposal -- including $130 million for the Kihei high school. Maui News.

The Kihei, Lahaina and Pukalani satellite offices of the Division of Motor Vehicles and Licensing will be closing early this week so that staff can attend union ratification meetings, according to a county news release. Maui News.

Kauai

Kaua‘i Beekeepers Association Chair Jimmy Trujillo said local folks are “concerned about the health of bees,” as well as the dependency on chemical farming. Garden Island.

The Solid Waste Division recently awarded $40,000 in recycling and waste diversion grants to local organizations. Garden Island.

A five-star rating for a senior health care plan has an asterisk when it comes to serving Kaua‘i. Garden Island.

Geothermal sneaks into Hawaiian Roll Commission bill, gays no longer excluded from health bill, FBI gets new field office, smoking banned at some Oahu beaches, HMSA seeks 8.5% rate hike, Hawaii council won't bet on bingo, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

The Nesjavellir Geothermal Power Plant in Þingvellir, Iceland, courtesy photo

State senators, fretting over transparency, want to give the public more time to digest a bill that was supposed to be about the Native Hawaiian Roll Commission but was radically altered to also apply to geothermal development. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii legislative leaders have decided who will serve on a conference committee to hash out the differences between the House and Senate versions of the state budget over the next few weeks. Civil Beat.

Hawaii lawmakers are deciding whether to give teachers, school librarians and counselors a tax credit for buying classroom supplies. Associated Press.

The question of who or what is a journalist will take center stage with the full Senate scheduled to vote on House Bill 622 Tuesday. Civil Beat.

A state Senate panel on Friday killed a proposed fee on cesspool and septic tank owners after Hawaii Island residents raised a stink about it. West Hawaii Today.

Holding fundraisers during session is not illegal in Hawaii. It's a very a common practice — one that freshmen lawmakers appear to be adopting quickly, starting this week. Civil Beat.

The nonprofit Hawaii Health Connector has won $128 million in federal funds to implement the state's first health insurance exchange, designed to provide residents access to affordable medical coverage. Star-Advertiser.

The Hawaii Medical Service Association has asked to increase health insurance premiums on small businesses July 1 by an average 8.5 percent, its largest rate increase in four years. Star-Advertiser.

State lawmakers have amended a bill so that it no longer excludes homosexuals from a treatment option for certain sexually transmitted diseases. Civil Beat.

The first of a two-part series looking at whether Hawaii's public schools are doing enough to help students with dyslexia and other struggling readers. Civil Beat.

Homeless handyman and Congressional candidate's American flag burned. Hawaii News Now.

State roundup for April 9. Associated Press.

Oahu

Smoking is no longer legal at major East Honolulu beaches and parks under a bill signed Monday by Mayor Kirk Caldwell. But a glitch in the language means enforcement must wait at six of the seven locales. Star-Advertiser.

Honolulu Mayor Kirk Caldwell on Monday signed into a law a bill that bans smoking at Waikiki Beach and other popular Oahu beaches. Pacific Business News.

It’s battle that has been waged for years, but now the Honolulu City Council is finally drawing a line when it comes to funding vacant positions that cost taxpayers millions of dollars every year. KITV4.

Traffic signal adjustments at two of Waikiki's most congested intersections might make life easier for local drivers who cringe at navigating through the tourist-heavy district amid throngs of pedestrians. Star-Advertiser.

The FBI has a new field office in Hawaii. A ribbon-cutting ceremony is being held Tuesday for the new building in the Honolulu suburb of Kapolei.Associated Press.

Waimanalo residents are concerned a planned road that would run through a new subdivision will increase traffic safety issues in an already congested area. KHON2.

Plants aren't the only thing growing in the garden at the Women's Community Correctional Center. Inmates are blossoming as they build self-confidence and learn new skills while planting and harvesting vegetables and herbs for the prison kitchen. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii

Hawaii County Council members indicated Monday they’re not ready to gamble on high-stakes bingo as a way to raise revenues in a tight budget year. West Hawaii Today.

Property tax assessors across the country are applying a new technology to crack down on this old crime — comparing aerial photographs and satellite images to existing house plans. Hawaii County began using that process about a year ago, Real Property Division Chief Stanley Sitko said. West Hawaii Today.

What a difference (almost) a week makes. After a record low temperature was set in Hilo on April 2, a record high temperature was set there on Sunday. Big Island Now.

Maui

Maui state Sen. J. Kalani English was one of several Hawaii policymakers who attended the "Waves of Change" conference on Oahu that focuses on the environmental, social, cultural, political, economic and legal impacts of climate change on Pacific Islands, including Hawaii. Maui News.

Ask the Mayor: Building Permits; Homeowner Exemptions. Maui Now.

Kauai

The Pacific Missile Range Facility’s Security Department will conduct live small arms fire training starting today and lasting through April 30, between the hours of 1 and 9 p.m. at Kekaha Rifle Range. Garden Island.

Hawaii Public Land Development Corp. faces key vote today, China to join Pacific war exercises, STD treatment not for gays, Schatz kicks off 2014 campaign, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Upolu Point (c) 2013 All Hawaii News

The Hawaii Senate Ways and Means Committee is voting Monday on a bill to repeal the Public Land Development Corp., one of several key bills being debated this week. Associated Press.

Hawaii lawmakers want to counter the state’s high rates of chlamydia and gonorrhea by letting doctors treat the partners of patients who have the sexually transmitted diseases without first examining them. But only the straight ones. Civil Beat.

China has accepted an invitation from the United States to participate, for the first time, in Rim of the Pacific naval exercises off Hawaii next year, the Pentagon said. Star-Advertiser.

Although the federal Veterans Administration has been taking heat nationally for a growing backlog and increased times to process disabled veterans benefits, the office in VA Secretary Eric Shinseki’s home state of Hawaii has been doing particularly poorly in processing claims in a timely manner. Civil Beat.

A measure to create a full public funding option for election campaigns is making its way through the state Legislature this session. KITV4.

Hawaii added 2,300 construction jobs in February, 8 percent more than in January, giving it the second-highest percentage growth among all the states. Pacific Business News.

April is environmental month at the Independent. To kick it off, we’re showcasing our environmental panel from the 2013 Ideas Summit. Hawaii Independent.

The 2014 election is still a ways away but US Senator Brian Schatz is already gearing up for his re-election campaign. KHON2.

State roundup for April 1. Associated Press.

Oahu

The state Department of Agriculture hopes to break ground next year on a long-stymied Central Oahu farm subdivision where 150 acres of former sugar cane land in Kunia owned by the state would be leased to small farmers at attractive terms often absent in the private market. Star-Advertiser.

The Honolulu Fire and Emergency Medical Services departments are still sorting the pros and cons of a controversial proposed merger that has been championed by Mayor Kirk Caldwell as a life and money-saving opportunity. Civil Beat.

A smoking ban at some of Oahu's most popular beaches will likely become law. KITV4.

District 7's city roads were found to be in pretty decent shape compared with most other districts on the island. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii

Beginning the first week of May, the state Department of Transportation will begin putting the brakes on Highway 130 traffic by designating a new 45 mph zone along Hawaiian Paradise Park and Orchidland Estates. Tribune-Herald.

Gov. Neil Abercrombie has picked the former head of the county Department of Water Supply to fill a vacancy on a state commission. Big Island Now.

Kona’s homeless grateful for free holiday meal, fellowship. West Hawaii Today.

It's the pride of Hilo and officials say the Merrie Monarch now has a venue worthy of its international acclaim. Hawaii News Now.

The coronation pageant for the mo‘i kane and mo‘i wahine, the king and queen of the Merrie Monarch Festival, set the tone for Hilo’s busiest week of the year. Tribune-Herald

Maui

The decision by Oracle billionaire Larry Ellison's Island Air to pull out of Kapalua West Maui Airport at the end of May has left a void at the airport that Mokulele Airlines - the only other carrier currently with regular flights into the airport - will attempt to fill. Maui News.

Maui Mayor Alan Arakawa has clarified his plans for the future of recycling amid “confusion and concern” regarding the status of county-funded residential drop-box recycling sites. Maui Now.

Construction on the state's 65-acre Central Maui Regional Park could start as soon as next summer with more than half of the park completed sometime in late 2015, state officials and consultants said Thursday. Maui News.

Kauai

Are Kaua‘i’s waters polluted? Carl Berg of the Kaua‘i Chapter of the Surfrider will answer that question Thursday during the free monthly lecture series on the Hawaiian Marine Environment presented by the Friends of the Hanapepe Public Library. Garden Island.

Final whale count matches February record. Garden Island.

Molokai

All this week, we’ve been looking at issues surrounding food in Hawaii. As we continue our series “Feeding Ourselves, Hawaii’s Food Future,” we turn to Molokai. Hawaii Public Radio.