Surfing community mourns Andy Irons, Akaka Bill in jeopardy, environment moves forward, election dissection, and more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Choppy seas made for poor surfing yesterday on the North Shore, where waves hit 15 to 30 feet at Ehukai Beach Park on the second day of the first big swell of the winter season. Star-Advertiser.

Surfers around the world honor and remember Andy Irons. Hawaii News Now.

Democrats Say Obama's Participation Helped Dems Win. KITV4.

So many Republican victories could mean defeat for the Akaka Bill. Hawaii News Now.

Democrats found refuge in their island stronghold of Hawaii, winning elections for all the state's congressional seats and the governor's office in contrast to their losses in most other states. Associated Press.

In the end, a race for the 1st Congressional District that appeared in doubt for Democrats just a few months ago followed a familiar pattern in Hawaii, with party faithful turning out across the island in virtually all districts to support their candidate, Colleen Hanabusa. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii's overwhelmingly Democratic Legislature is now the nation's most one-sided, although Republicans managed to pick up one seat. Associated Press.

Neil Abercrombie turned Hawaii back to blue on Tuesday, sweeping all but one state House district in his march to Washington Place. Star-Advertiser.

Two grueling battles, a whole lot of mud slung, and a prophesy denied -- Neil Abercrombie is Hawaii's next governor. Hawaii Independent.

The state Office of Elections reports 55.7 percent of Hawaii's 690,748 registered voters cast ballots in Tuesday's general election. Associated Press.

If money talks and voting is your voice in government, then Aina Haina is being heard loud and clear. Civil Beat.

Candidates who came up short in balloting weren’t the only ones losing out this 2010 election season. Hawaii Reporter.

Governor-elect Neil Abercrombie spent part of his day delivering on a promise made to our Kanoa Leahey earlier this summer. KHON2.

New School Board Could Be Appointed By March. KITV4.

Anti-incumbent sentiment appeared to be strong in several county council races on the neighbor islands, as some challengers campaigned on change and open government. Star-Advertiser.

The campaigning is done, the winners elected and it's time for the political mudslinging to end. West Hawaii Today.

The election is not yet two days old and already some people say they've seen enough. KHON2.

A federal judge says he will rule next week on a state request to dismiss a lawsuit filed by a group of 7,700 Pacific island migrants in Hawaii. Associated Press.

It started simply enough: transform an overgrown wetland into a habitat for endangered water birds. But after three years of seeking approval from federal, state and county officials – and enduring objections from the community over his plans – Kip Dunbar is anxious to begin work. Molokai Dispatch.

The University of Hawaii (UH) is in damage control mode. Hawaii News Now.

Voters enshrined the 1 percent land fund in the Hawaii County Charter and defeated five other charter proposals, including those relating to recall and ballot amendments. Tribune-Herald.

Mayor-elect Alan Arakawa this morning announced that he will appoint Wailuku businessman Keith Regan to serve once again as Maui County's managing director. Maui News.

Council candidates across the board said they felt the aloha spirit of Kaua‘i voters on the campaign trail. Garden Island.

Casting call for surfer movie on, islands settle into normal trade-wind weather, no Magic in Obama name, residents call for DU cleanup, more news

Gentle winds and big waves are in the forecast for the weekend.

Have you ever dreamed of being in a surf movie? Now's your chance and you don't even have to surf. There's a casting call for extras this Saturday for a movie about Kauai surfing champion, Bethany Hamilton.

Four people urged a panel of judges to force the Army to clean up its depleted uranium-contaminated lands Wednesday.

Four Hawaii residents charged the U.S. Army with trying to cover up its discovery of depleted uranium and then taking a cavalier attitude about cleaning it up during a five-hour hearing Wednesday before a panel of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.

There was little support at a City Council meeting yesterday for a plan to name what's popularly known as Magic Island after President Obama anytime soon, and the plan now appears to be in limbo.

While Councilman Tim Bynum pointed to a “non-starter” 50-cent fuel tax proposal to undermine other recommendations in the final draft of the Kaua‘i Energy Sustainability Plan Wednesday, his colleagues offered much harsher criticisms of the fuel tax a day later.

Two Hawaiian Electric Co. employees were injured yesterday by an underground explosion that shook the ground and knocked out power to downtown Honolulu.

"Ambiguous" wording in Hawaii County's so-called "Peaceful Sky" law needs rectifying because it's hampering the Police Commission's work, says the panel's chairman.

Think pulling off the road when you use your cell phone will get you off the hook for a ticket? Think again.

Maui County Council members took a step Wednesday toward altering the county's residential work force housing policy in an effort to coax more development of affordable housing - and any housing - in these troubled economic times.

Even as it closed a door, the Kaua‘i County Council opened a window

Missing moon rocks found, BOE discusses salary cap, Sec. State Clinton speaks, Honolulu vet, son, plane crash victims, surf's still up, more news

 A northwest swell is diminishing but will continue to generate high surf along most of Hawaii's north- and west-facing shores today.

Surf's up, and it is going to stay up, at least for some beaches

Missing moon rocks from the first and last human lunar landings have been discovered in a locked cabinet in Hawaii.

The owners of Aloun Farms, one of the largest and best-known agricultural businesses in Hawai'i, are scheduled to plead guilty tomorrow in federal court to illegally importing farm laborers from Thailand and holding them in virtual servitude

The state Board of Education's decision yesterday to conduct a national search for the next chief of public schools reignited a long-standing debate over the $150,000 pay cap on the superintendent's salary.
The Board of Education on Monday named its new interim superintendent.

The Federal Aviation Administration and National Transportation Safety Board have taken over the investigation of a small single-engine plane crash that took the lives of a prominent Honolulu veterinarian and his 20-year-old son Sunday.

Secretary of State Hillary Clinton's speech today on U.S. relations with Asia and Pacific nations will be webcast.

The crackdown on illegal kayak vendors at Kealekekua Bay is continuing.

Whenever state Rep. Angus McKelvey drives down Front Street and out of the corner of his eye sees that filthy sailboat wreck, he grips the wheel a bit more and let's out a little "grrrr," he said.

A Sunday night fire in a Port Allen warehouse bay leased by Mana Divers caused an estimated $250,000 in damages but no injuries, the Kaua‘i Fire Department announced Monday.

A man died early Sunday morning after collapsing during the Hawaii Electronic Music Festival at the Palace Theater in downtown Hilo.

Tom Greenwell admits he sounds like an infomercial for KonaRed, a new wellness drink made from the ruby red coffee cherries cultivated in Kona.

Welcome home, Barry-O, big waves coming for Christmas, residents leaving Hawaii, more state news

Images of Hawai'i's clear skies, blue waters and verdant cliffs were being beamed to a snow-bound Mainland audience even before President Obama touches down in his hometown today for an expected 10-day Christmas vacation.

Waves of 40 feet or higher are forecast for north shores on Christmas day.

Two more rounds of extra-big and giant-sized waves are expected to hit the north and west shores of Maui and Molokai this week, said Glenn James, senior weather analyst at the Pacific Disaster Center in Kihei.

More Hawaii residents moved to the U.S. mainland through the past year than vice versa, helping to keep the state's population growth rate relatively low, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.

Education officials remained tight-lipped on details of a tentative agreement with the state teachers union to reduce furlough days for public school teachers.

Battered by foreign competition and a sputtering economy, the last major pineapple producer in Hawaii completed its final harvest after 97 years in the agricultural business.

Those who imbibe their holiday spirits should be aware that police plan to step up drunken driving enforcement.

Hawaii County government, having batted 0 for 2 on two different approaches to providing affordable housing, remains mired in litigation, is contemplating a drastic revision of county code and is preparing to try yet a third approach.

The county Charter Review Commission voted unanimously to move forward with a ballot measure that would, if approved by voters next year, extend the term for Kaua‘i County Council members from two years to four.

Even for many U.S. cities and municipalities, the life-sustaining liquid delivered to consumers, even when safe, can taste like the shallow end of a swimming pool

No magic in Obama name for island, surf lures the best, Lingle talks special session, more news

Some parkgoers at Magic Island Beach Park last night gave a thumbs-down to a plan to rename the 30-acre Magic Island section of Ala Moana Beach Park after Honolulu-born President Obama.

A dwindling income has taken a toll on nonprofit groups in Hawai'i, forcing nearly six in 10 to lay off staff and more than a third to eliminate services to the needy, according to results of a November survey released yesterday.

Gov. Linda Lingle's administration is starting to sound out legislative leaders about a possible special session to raid much of the state's $60 million rainy day fund to wipe out some of the public school teachers' furlough days.

About a dozen to two dozen students at a time waved signs in front of the state Capitol yesterday afternoon, urging the Legislature to restore funds to the University of Hawaii.

Greg Long scored a perfect 100 in the final round to push him ahead of 2002 "Eddie" champ Kelly Slater, who led for almost the entire tournament. A perfect ride by the 25-year-old Californian helped him surge ahead to win big wave surfing's most esteemed title. This was only the second time that Long was invited to the Eddie Aikau tournament.

Thousands of people flocked to the North Shore today to watch the surfing competition.

Kaua‘i residents, some in favor of a makai alignment for the Wailua segment of the multi-use path and some strongly opposed, piled into the War Memorial Convention Hall Monday night to tell Mayor Bernard Carvalho Jr. their thoughts on his recent announcement to keep the boardwalk on the sand.

Academy Award-winning filmmaker and part-time Maui resident Clint Eastwood is going to let the Valley Isle make his day - three of them - when he films part of his newest movie here.

Having recently obtained County Council authority to sell 737 acres of the county's Hamakua lands, Mayor Billy Kenoi's administration is now delaying the liquidation effort until after the holidays.

A Kamehameha Schools lessee is proposing a gate across Keawaiki Road to cut off vehicle access to the Keawaiki Beach Lots, according to a draft environmental assessment filed with the state.

Monster surf continues, education official visits, Pearl Harbor attack remembered, more Hawaii news

More monster waves are forecast today for O'ahu's North Shore, where thousands fought traffic and battled for parking yesterday to catch the kick-off of a swell that brought surf of up to 40 feet.

Monster waves drove several people to Red Cross shelters and drew thousands of onlookers to Oahu's North Shore, creating bumper-to-bumper traffic between Haleiwa and Waimea Bay, where many hoped to see a premier surfing event.

Some of the biggest names in tow-in surfing are expected to return today to the legendary "Jaws" surf spot, where wave heights could top 50 feet.

The northern shores of all Hawaiian islands remain under a high surf warning that has been extended through Wednesday, according to the National Weather Service.

The Keawaula portion of Kaena Point State Park was closed Monday due to high surf conditions, according to officials at the Department of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR). The decision was made upon the recommendation of Ocean Safety lifeguards.

Baldwin and Hookipa beach parks closed shortly after 8:30 a.m. Monday because dangerously high surf and shore breaks posed unsafe conditions for beachgoers, Maui County announced.

The public wants to hold elected leaders accountable for education in Hawaii, says Gov. Linda Lingle, renewing her push to change Hawaii's educational structure.

A top federal education official told parents yesterday to keep the pressure on for a solution to teacher furloughs, but also said the crisis could be used as an opportunity to improve quality at some of the state's poorly performing public schools.

Dozens of survivors of the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor on Monday solemnly remembered those who died in the aerial assault 68 years ago.

Headline from 1941 inflames conspiracy theory

Hawaii County solid waste officials have responded to complaints about shortened transfer station hours by revising the schedule so more people can dump their rubbish en route to work.

Winners of the 39th annual Kona Coffee Cultural Festival's coffee label, web site and recipe contests have been announced.