Hawaii tax changes stall, federal housing funds dry up, Hawaii County advances impact fees, Native Hawaiian recognition process begins, cleaning up Waikiki, Kauai to open new campground, more news from the islands

Native Hawaiian rally (c) 2011 All Hawaii News

Former Gov. Waihee will lead a new commission charged with preparing and maintaining a roll of qualified Native Hawaiians that would work toward the reorganization of a native government. Star-Advertiser.

A federal appeals court has ruled that the state Department of Education violated federal law when it denied special assistance to a dyslexic public school student. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii lawmakers will have to wait an extra year to get advice on the state's tax structure. Civil Beat.

The sun apparently doesn't shine too brightly at the Department of Taxation. Civil Beat.

At the end of the year, Hawaii no longer will receive more than $6 million in federal stimulus money aimed at preventing 5,000 people from joining the circuit of homeless people who continuously migrate around the islands. Star-Advertiser.

Republican congressional candidate former Rep. Charles Djou is scheduled to leave Friday for a six-month deployment to Afghanistan. KITV4.

There is enough information on people living temporarily in Hawaii who likely vote elsewhere to exclude them when redrawing the state's election district boundaries. Star-Advertiser.

Board of Education Chairman Don Horner said in testimony Thursday he was "very surprised" when the executive board of the teachers union unanimously rejected in June a "last, best and final" offer that included wage reductions and higher medical premiums. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii residents can expect to see costs cut for home insurance next year but no one knows exactly how much premiums will drop. KITV4.

Oahu

The Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation meeting on O’ahu is less than 60 days away … and the finishing touches on more than 137 million dollars of infrastructure upgrades are under way. Hawaii Public Radio.

Impressed and comforted.Those were two words that members of the Honolulu Authority for Rapid Transportation used after hearing from the company selected to build the City and County of Honolulu’s rail car system. Pacific Business News.

The developer of a regional mall in East Kapolei — similar in size to Pearlridge Center — plans to break ground in July and open the first phase in 2014. Star-Advertiser.

14 months after union hotel workers’ contract with Hyatt Hotels expired, workers have walked off the job at the Hyatt Regency Waikiki. Those workers join thousands of others in Chicago, Los Angeles, and San Francisco, in a week-long strike. Hawaii Independent.

The Hawaiian Humane Society is seeking full custody of the more than 200 dogs seized from an alleged puppy farm in Waimanalo. KHON2.

As the 10th anniversary of the September 11th terrorist attacks draws near, Hawaii News Now takes a look at the many changes that have taken place at Hawaii's airports to improve safety for travelers. Hawaii News Now.

Hawaii

The cost of building a new home or business would increase under an impact fee bill advanced by a County Council committee Thursday. Tribune-Herald.

The seventh time proved the charm Thursday, when the County Council Planning Committee finally advanced an impact fee bill. West Hawaii Today.

The Hawaii County Council wants the state Legislature to come up with a more practical solution to electronic waste recycling than requiring neighbor island residents to mail their old televisions and computers to Honolulu. West Hawaii Today.


An anonymous mother and child who collected a $7 million legal settlement from Kamehameha Schools in 2007 will remain unidentified even when they testify in a Hilo trial next month over the schools’ demand for return of $2 million. Hawaii Reporter.

Gov. Neil Abercrombie has nominated Kailua-Kona resident Lei Kihoi, 66, to the Native Hawaiian Roll Commission. Tribune-Herald.

The hunt for unexploded military ordnance continues Friday at the Hapuna Beach State Recreation Area. Hawaii News Now.

Maui

A private Mainland-based company is conducting the “compliance audit” of a Maui public housing project plagued by chronic vacancies and overdue repair work. Hawaii Reporter.

Because more and more of Maui's sandy shorelines are being "impaired" by development and uncontrollable environmental issues, laws and procedures to protect the environment must be followed, county and state officials said Wednesday morning. Maui News.

Gov. Neil Abercrombie joined state education and lawmakers and Maui County officials Wednesday in ceremonially turning shovels full of dirt to break ground for the $37.1 million Pu'u Kukui Elementary School. Maui News.

Kauai

In a meeting filled with strong opinions, the County Council on Wednesday approved by a 5-2 vote the opening of Lydgate Beach Park campgrounds to the public. Garden Island.

A Na Pali area camper says he witnessed an abandoned sailboat break apart on Kalalau Beach, but officials say there is no sign of the vessel. Garden Island.

Hawaii economy upticks, Honolulu bus stop moved because of homeless smell, Big Island needs fire chief, China new tourism target, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Container ship (c) 2011 All Hawaii News

In sharp contrast to what is happening in the U.S. shipping market, Hawaii’s duopoly shipping companies continue to increase their prices for container cargo transported between the mainland United States and Hawaii. Hawaii Reporter.

Young Brothers Ltd.’s application to raise interisland shipping rates will be the subject of a series of Public Utilities Commission hearings to be held this month and next around the state. Star-Advertiser.

State tax collections dropped by 0.9 percent last fiscal year, a smaller decline than the state Council on Revenues had forecast, giving Gov. Neil Abercrombie more cushion in implementing the state budget. Star-Advertiser.

Consumers pulled out their credit and debit cards more liberally last quarter and increased spending at Hawaii hotels and restaurants as the tourism-led recovery continued to gain traction. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii Gov. Neil Abercrombie Wednesday approved hiring 10 agricultural inspectors, restoring nearly 40 percent of the positions that were lost due to layoffs in 2009. Pacific Business News.

The state is hiring 10 agricultural inspectors, bringing back some positions that were cut in 2009 -- but none will be added on the Big Island, the state's agricultural breadbasket. West Hawaii Today.

A city bus stop has been temporarily moved so bus drivers and riders can get away from the smell of a homeless woman who's living at a busy Honolulu bus shelter. KITV4.

As of Tuesday, July 12 novelty cigarette lighters can no longer be sold legally in Hawaii. Hawaii News Now.

Plastic bag ban draws small crowd, big passions. Tribune-Herald.

Hawaii's state, city and business leaders are aggressively courting China in the months leading up to the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation meeting to give its leaders the message that the isles are open for business and travel and that local experts have clean energy and scientific knowledge to share. Star-Advertiser.

A glance through the $137,000 in gifts Hawaii lawmakers received over the past year shows a lot of local items — malasadas, kadomatsu plants and lei haku, to name a few. Civil Beat.

Inauguration lei and an occasional meal were the primary gifts reported by Hawaii County Council members in their annual gift disclosures. West Hawaii Today.

At a recent bill-signing ceremony, state Sen. Clayton was among several Native Hawaiian lawmakers applauding a new law recognizing Hawaiians as the state's indigenous people.Civil Beat.

North Shore residents have been battling with off-road vehicles at Kaena Point for years, and the heated debate over how to curb the illegal activity has passed it's boiling point. KHON2.

Honolulu mayor Peter Carlisle says what's done is done, and that the city council ignored overflow issues at Sand Island wastewater treatment plant.KHON2.

With time running out to choose a new fire chief, the Fire Commission began the search for a permanent replacement. Tribune-Herald.

The county Planning Commission on Tuesday approved a solar farm nearly three times the size of the state’s largest solar facility in operation. Garden Island.

Kaua‘i Island Utility Cooperative on Wednesday announced that an insufficient number of valid signatures was submitted on a second petition received by the cooperative on Monday. Garden Island.

Hawaii County has decided it made an error on Queen Liliuokalani Trust's tax bill, and it is refunding $89,991 in property taxes it says the trust overpaid last year. West Hawaii Today.

A blessing and groundbreaking ceremony was conducted today in Ewa Beach for O’ahu’s latest affordable rental housing project. Hawaii Public Radio.

An inflammatory website has hit the Internet that claims State Rep. Kymberly Pine stole money from a constituent then tried to cover it up. Hawaii News Now.

County officials announced Wednesday that Theodore “Teddy” Daligdig III, a retired colonel in the Hawai‘i Army National Guard, has been selected to manage the Kaua‘i Civil Defense Agency. Garden Island.

The Maui Planning Commission on Tuesday unanimously approved a bed-and-breakfast application for the Bamboo Valley Inn in Haiku. Maui News.

Newly seated board members of the Aloha Tower Development Corporation voted to allow the leasehold transfer between the current owners of the marketplace to a company called Hawaii Lifestyle Retail Properties. KITV4.

Former Big Island Mayor Herbert Matayoshi died Monday of heart failure at Straub Clinic and Hospital in Honolulu. He was 82. Tribune-Herald.

Hawaii proposed online tax could hurt tech business, Maui showing signs of recovery, Hawaii County property rolls lower, governor signs bills, Merrie Monarch begins, more news

Hawaii hula (c) 2011 All Hawaii News

The 48th Merrie Monarch Festival kicked off in grand fashion Sunday. Tribune-Herald.

NOAA crews have returned from a trip to the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands to survey damage from last month's tsunami. KHON2.

Hawaii lawmakers are looking for creative ways to tax online shopping, either by requiring Internet sellers to hand over customer information to the government, or by enrolling in a multistate program in which websites voluntarily collect taxes. Associated Press.

Governor Abercrombie signed eight more bills that were passed out of the 2011 legislature into law on Monday. Hawaii News Now.

Six of seven bargaining units of the state's largest public-sector labor union yesterday ratified a new two-year contract that will mean a 5 percent pay cut, an increase in their health care premium payments and an increase in time off. Star-Advertiser.

The state Senate Education Committee rejected two of Gov. Neil Abercrombie's nominees for the University of Hawaii Board of Regents yesterday, making it unlikely that the full Senate will confirm them. Star-Advertiser.

Gov. Neil Abercrombie on Monday announced a plan to provide more help to the homeless in Hawaii. KITV4.

With Maui County's economy showing signs of recovery, the administration of Mayor Alan Arakawa wants to provide more money to nonprofit agencies because they "provide a service to the community, often its neediest," said Sandy Baz, the administration's budget director. Maui News.

Hawaii County real property valuations came in about 4 percent less than last year, good news for County Council members fearing losses as high as 10 percent. West Hawaii Today.

A Civil Beat investigation of public financial disclosures shows the real estate values listed by 14 Hawaii lawmakers differed from public assessments. Civil Beat.

City & County of Honolulu Details Rail Bond Financing. Hawaii Reporter.

If you were waiting for crunch time to see how all the powerful talk at the Hawaii State Legislature would translate into the actual definition of the people’s business in 2011, and the balanced budget to pay for it, you’re in luck. Hawaii Independent.

Hawaii County will honor permits already issued for DW Aina Lea's the Villages at Aina Lea, Planning Director Bobby Jean Leithead-Todd said Monday. West Hawaii Today.

Northwynd Resort Properties Ltd., the owner of Makaha Resort & Golf Club, has sold the resort’s 18-hole golf course to Hawaiian Golf Properties LLC. Pacific Business News

The county Redistricting Commission had barely gotten itself organized Monday before some members started questioning a new county code setting strict rules for its operation. West Hawaii Today.

Residents of the Garden Island celebrated Earth Day this past Friday by working on projects, such as cleaning up beaches and planting trees around the island. Garden Island.

Researchers on a recent trip to the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands helped rescue a Hawaiian monk seal found tangled in marine debris. Associated Press.

On one of the holiest days of the year for Christians, Hilo's faithful flocked to see a "corpse" -- flower that is. Tribune-Herald.

Hawaii lawmakers grapple revenue shortfall, allow themselves freebies, look at decriminializing marijuana, Maui reconsiders furloughs, Honolulu has HART, Kilauea continues show, more news

Hawaii Legislature

State House and Senate lawmakers advanced a menu of tax options yesterday to generate revenue to help balance the budget. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii lawmakers passed a wide array of measures Tuesday night to tax pensions, reduce tax exemptions and raise liquor fees to help solve the state's big budget deficit. KITV4.

Hawaii legislators are passing a wide selection of measures to tax pensions, trim tax exemptions and raise liquor levies to help narrow the state's big budget deficit. Associated Press.

Among hundreds of measures approved by the Hawaii State Senate today were proposals to decriminalize marijuana, classify some peeping toms as sex offenders, amend the procurement code and re-open Kulani Prison on the Big Island. Hawaii Reporter.

The state Senate has kept alive a bill to scoop an unspecified amount from the general excise tax surcharge on Oahu for rail projects, while the House advanced a proposal to cap the amount of money from the hotel room tax that goes to counties. Star-Advertiser.

A bill that would allow lawmakers and other state employees to accept free tickets to fundraising events for charities is moving forward at the Legislature.Star-Advertiser.

The state Legislature has reached the first important deadline of the session, with hundreds of bills receiving third readings in the House and Senate. KITV4.

The head of the House Finance Committee will ignore many of the new initiatives proposed by Gov. Neil Abercrombie in producing what he says is a lean budget relying on a combination of tax increases and budget cuts. Hawaii Reporter.

The latest eruption at Kilauea Volcano has a new working name. Associated Press.

A new eruption near Pu'u 'o'o Crater on the Big Island that began March 5 has led to a dramatic increase in sulfur dioxide gas, one of two main ingredients in vog. KHON2.

Board of Water Supply: Oahu below national average for number of water main breaks. Hawaii News Now.

It will cost $21.1 million to run the new Honolulu Authority for Rapid Transit (HART) in its first year, according to documents posted to the city's new budget website. Civil Beat.

Carlisle talks about rail, budget woes. Pacific Business News.

While furloughs were designed to dish out less money in regular pay, the county council questioned whether ensuing overtime required may have cost the county more than a normal work schedule. Garden Island.

The state judiciary is expanding a unique probation program to Hilo after it helped reduce recidivism rates on Oahu and produced similar results in Maui County. Associated Press.

Gov. Neil Abercrombie promised residents of an Iwilei public housing complex yesterday that he would take quick action to get them the hot water service they have not had for years. Star-Advertiser.

Hilton and hotel workers union celebrate new deal. Hawaii News Now.

Maui Electric Co. union members continued picketing Monday afternoon despite learning that their union had finalized a tentative agreement with their parent company, Hawaiian Electric Industries, a Maui union official said. Maui News.

Striking Hawaii Electric Light Co. workers picketed Monday amid reports that a tentative settlement had been reached to end the 4-day-old walkout. Tribune-Herald.

Day-to-day operations are running smoothly and reliable electric service is continuing on the Big Island, despite the 240 Hawaii Electric Light Co. employees on a strike and continuing negotiations, said a company official Monday. West Hawaii Today.

Hawaii's Father Damien a saint, catching tax scofflaws, farm land in peril, other news

Pope Benedict XVI said St. Damien "teaches us to choose the good fight — not those that lead to division, but those that gather us together in unity."

At home, perhaps, they would have celebrated with a lu'au. But in Rome, they gathered for a six-course meal, topping off the dinner with a frosted cake that read, "St. Damien."

Computer technology is making it harder for Hawai'i residents and businesses to skip out on their taxes.

It's the last large piece of undeveloped land in East Oahu and farmers have been working to prevent its development for the last five years.

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is moving ahead with plans to clear munitions from the Makuu Farm Lots.

Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs officials said a doctor violated medical ethics standards after investigators concluded he traded drug prescriptions in exchange for sex.

Australia's Craig Alexander whittled down yet another seemingly insurmountable deficit, coming from 12 minutes, 13 seconds behind to win his second straight Ironman world championship

Na Hale O Maui, a nonprofit community land trust, received $3 million in federal funds this summer to convert foreclosed homes into affordable housing, and this month it closed its first deal.