Ige pushes digital economy in State of the State address, new COVID-19 variant found in state, Health Department discovers 60 unreported coronavirus deaths, vaccine shortage hinders efforts, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Gov. David Ige State of the State address, Jan. 25, 2020

Full text of Gov. David Ige's State of the State address can be found here.

Gov. David Ige calls for economy to pivot to technology. Gov. David Ige wants Hawaii to develop a more robust digital economy — “a Hawaii 2.0” pivot — that would spread broadband connectivity to rural communities in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, which has strangled tourism. Star-Advertiser.

Gov. Ige pushes for more investment in digital technology. In his state of the state speech on Monday, Gov. David Ige called for the state to invest in digital technology to help get out of its budget crisis. KHON2.

Ige introduces digital economy initiative during State of the State address. Gov. David Ige’s State of the State address Monday promised big changes for the state, but was light on detail. Tribune-Herald.

Ige’s campaign pushes for digital economy. A digitally driven and connected “Hawai‘i 2.0” is the crux of Gov. David Ige’s latest campaign in diversifying the state’s economy. Garden Island.

Ige asks residents to ‘do more with less’ as state grapples with budget shortfall. Gov. David Ige on Monday asked residents to be ready for more tough times ahead as the state grapples with a large budget shortfall caused by a coronavirus pandemic that’s pummeled the tourism industry, but said improved tax revenue forecasts mean he’s not currently seeking broad-based tax increases. Associated Press.

Ige’s State Of The State Speech Skips The Difficult Details. The Hawaii governor recapped impacts from the pandemic, but never mentioned furloughs, layoffs or possible tax increases. Civil Beat.

In State of the State, Ige urges collaboration but offers few details on next steps. In his State of the State address Monday, the governor warned that government will have to “tighten its belt” in the face of a gaping budget deficit but neglected to offer much in the way of concrete details on how the state intends to recover from the pandemic. Hawaii News Now.

Governor Ige gives his State of the State address. Governor David Ige gave his State of the State address, focusing on possible steps for a brighter future, rather than dwell on Hawaii's current gloomy economic situation. KITV4.

Hawai'i Legislature disappointed by State of State address, call for clearer action. Shortly after he urged for collaboration, state lawmakers criticized Gov. David Ige Monday after his State of the State address, demanding more details on how he plans to steer the state out of the economic crisis. KITV4.

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Biden Raises Hopes For Native Hawaiians Seeking Federal Recognition. Democratic control of the White House and Congress may breathe new life into efforts to establish a Native Hawaiian government that is recognized by the United States. Civil Beat.

Marines In Hawaii Are Training For A Return To Island Fighting. Hawaii is at the center an ambitious plan to give the Marine Corps a 21st century reboot that will lead to a leaner force that moves faster and strikes harder as tensions with China intensify in the Pacific.  Civil Beat.

Hawaii vacation rental use rose in recent months. Hawaii’s short-term vacation rental industry completed a painful year with 42.8% occupancy in 2020 after accounting for supply reductions, a new report shows. Star-Advertiser.

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COVID-19 variant detected in Hawaii. The state Department of Health confirmed Monday that its Laboratories Division detected two cases of the SARS-CoV-2 variant L452R in Hawaii — one on Oahu and one on Maui. Star-Advertiser. Civil Beat. West Hawaii Today. Big Island Now. Garden Island. Maui Now. Hawaii News Now. KHON2. KITV4.

Vaccination Available For All Employees At Legislature. The Department of Health has told the Hawaii State Legislature that all legislative employees working at the Capitol will be able to get vaccines for COVID-19 beginning Thursday. Civil Beat. Maui Now.

CVS says vaccination at Hawaii nursing homes, long-term facilities on schedule. CVS partnered with 45 skilled nursing and long-term facilities in Hawaii to begin the vaccinations on Dec. 28, and said it has finished administering the first doses of the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine so far. Star-Advertiser.

Shortage forces Hawaii Department of Health to cut vaccines for seniors’ companions. Hawaii Pacific Health officials said Sunday they will continue to honor COVID-19 vaccination appointments to companions of seniors (age 75 and older) made prior to the Department of Health’s decision to end the practice. Star-Advertiser.

 Vaccine shortage hobbles Hawaii’s COVID-19 immunization effort. Hawaii’s only expected to receive about 32,000 doses this week. Officials say that’s half of what clinics have the ability to administer. Hawaii News Now.

Records review finds 60 additional COVID-19 deaths in Hawaii. Records review adds 60 COVID-19-related deaths to Hawaii tally; state records 123 new infections. The state Department of Health has identified and confirmed 60 previously unreported COVID-19-related deaths. Star-Advertiser. Hawaii News Now. KITV4.

HAWAII VIRUS TRACKER — Jan. 25: State Announces 60 Deaths Over Five Months Previously Unreported. Hawaii health officials reported 123 new cases of COVID-19 on Monday, including 91 on Oahu, 21 on Maui, six on the Big Island and five Hawaii residents diagnosed out of state. Civil Beat.

Oahu

Witness in drug case involving Katherine Kealoha’s brother is now on the run. A 33-year-old woman who plays a major role in the Kealoha corruption scandal is now wanted by police in connected with another crime. Hawaii News Now.

Wastewater spills reported around Oahu after heavy rains subside. City officials said the Department of Environmental Services responded to at least five sanitary sewer spills. Hawaii News Now.

Honolulu extends City Card use to Feb. 15. The City and County of Honolulu is extending use of the Immediate Response Incentive Mastercard – known as the City Card – to Feb. 15 to give people more time to spend the entire amount on their card. Star-Advertiser. KHON2.

Waikiki sand replenishment begins again. Work began Monday in waters off Waikiki Beach on a project to dredge 20,000 cubic yards of sand from a channel 2,000 feet offshore and pump it onto the beach, the state Department of Natural Resources said. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii Island

B.J. Penn arrested for DUI on Hawaii Island. UFC Hall of Famer B.J. Penn, 42, was arrested Saturday for operating a vehicle under the influence of intoxicants, the Hawaii Police Department said. Star-Advertiser. Tribune-Herald. Big Island Now. Hawaii News Now. KITV4.

Hilo hospital seeing high demand for COVID vaccine from kupuna 75 and older as rollout continues. Because of the high demand for the COVID-19 vaccine from kupuna 75 and older, Hilo Medical Center will delay its vaccination rollout to individuals 65-74. Tribune-Herald.

Reef Safe Sunscreen Dispensers Installed at Kahalu‘u Beach. As part of an ongoing initiative to support reef health and regrowth, two new reef-safe sunscreen dispensers have been installed at the pavilion in Kahalu‘u Beach Park. Big Island Now.

Maui

Out-of-state buyers scoop up 30 percent of Maui home sales. Mainland buyers represented 27.4 percent and foreign buyers 1.4 percent, state Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism Chief Economist Eugene Tian said. Maui News.

Rental aid program sent $10 million to county households. More than $10 million went toward helping about 2,500 households in Maui County under a rental assistance program launched by the state during the COVID-19 pandemic.  Maui News.

Maui County reports more than 600 new COVID-19 cases this month. Comparatively, within a 10 month span in 2020, the island saw less than 1,000 cases. KITV4.

Police Station to be Professionally Disinfected after Employee Tests Positive for COVID-19. The Maui Police Department received confirmation today that a department employee who works out of the Wailuku District has tested positive for COVID-19. Maui Now.

Kauai

Herrera case first jury trial since last March. Fifth Circuit Court Judge Randal G. B. Valenciano announced Monday morning he will conduct Kaua’i’s first jury trial since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic in Fifth Circuit Court. Garden Island.

North Shore Lions raise over $50,000. The North Shore Lions Club, in partnership with Aloha Roofing Supply, raised more than $50,000 during the annual golf tournament that was contested earlier this month at the Princeville Makai Golf Club. Garden Island.

LGBTQ+ students added to Hawaii Title IX, high-tech economy boosted by cyber spies, Sensei Farms transforms Lanai agriculture, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Gay pride parade in Hawaii ©2020 All Hawaii News

Hawaii's new Title IX law includes protection for LGBTQ+ students. Hawaii's new Title IX law is the first in the nation to include protection for LGBTQ+ students. Activists say this addition is a positive step forward in expanding rights in educational programs. KITV.

State senators grill University of Hawaii on salary funding details. University of Hawaii officials Friday were unable to answer pointed questions from state senators about who should pay for what could be more than $14 million worth of “fringe” employee benefits for an estimated 1,076 UH salaried positions paid through tuitions rather than the state’s general fund. Star-Advertiser.

Cyber Spies Are Quietly Boosting Hawaii’s High Tech Economy. Can the state build on a massive base of National Security Agency and other government cyber jobs? Civil Beat.

Hawaii's New Asset Forfeiture Rules Take Effect Jan. 17. New requirements will apply to local enforcement authorities in seizing cars and other property of criminals under long-awaited asset forfeiture rules issued by the Hawaii attorney general on Dec. 31. Hawaii Public Radio.

Hawaii bankruptcies in 2019 hit highest level in 5 years. The U.S. stock market had a record bull run in 2019. But not everyone shared in the wealth. Star-Advertiser.

Pay Hikes for Special Ed, Hawaiian Language, Rural School Teachers Start On Tuesday. Pay increases for public school teachers in hard-to-fill positions, including those for special education, rural areas and Hawaiian language immersion, start on Tuesday. Hawaii Public Radio.

A $75,000 Settlement Is Scaring Hawaii Charter Schools. A recent legislative directive that forces state agencies to cover the costs of legal claims could have a big impact on charter schools. Civil Beat.

New law on reporting inmate deaths exposes alleged prison homicide. A new law that requires prison officials to report to the governor each time an inmate dies in custody has already revealed the case of a prisoner who died on Christmas morning after being assaulted at Oahu Community Correctional Center.  Star-Advertiser.

Maunakea Looms Over American Astronomical Society Meeting. The Thirty Meter Telescope controversy will be a major topic of discussion during the four-day conference being held at the Hawai‘i Convention Center on Oʻahu. Big Island Video News.

TMT supporters rally at Hawai‘i Convention Center. Supporters of the Thirty Meter Telescope waved signs and flags Sunday outside of the Hawai‘i Convention Center while a major astronomy conference was being held inside. Star-Advertiser.

Oahu

Honolulu Board Of Water Supply Fined For Stream Pollution. The Board of Water Supply failed to notify state health officials about a sediment discharge for 15 days, according to the state health department. Civil Beat.

Honolulu Board of Water Supply faces $420K penalty for polluting Nuuanu Stream. The Honolulu Board of Water Supply and a trio of contractors face a possible $420,000 fine for polluting the Nuuanu Stream over an 18-day period last year. Star-Advertiser.

Dead Koi fish led to a $420K fine from the Department of Health. The Department of Health announced a notice of violation for the Board of Water Supply and some of its consultants and contractors carrying a $420K fine. KITV.

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Hauula residents want long-term fix for collapsed road. Repair crews began work Sunday morning along a portion of Kamehameha Highway that collapsed into the ocean in Hauula, but some residents questioned why the state allowed the road’s condition to deteriorate to that extent. Star-Advertiser.

Traffic in Hauula still impacted as crews make emergency repairs to crumbling roadway. A lane of Kamehameha Highway in Hauula remains closed Monday morning as crews make emergency shoreline repairs to the crumbling roadway. Hawaii News Now.

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Development firms to build affordable housing through state resolution. A development partnership is positioned to start building a low-income housing tower in Pawaa later this year following a recent tentative endorsement by the state to finance the $89 million project. Star-Advertiser.

New rules for tent installers impact vendors at Aloha Stadium Swap Meet. Vendors of the popular Aloha Stadium Swap Meet say they were caught off guard when trying to set up Saturday, leading to tensions over the market. Hawaii News Now.

Hawaii Island

Herbicide ban not a sure thing. While the County Council had voted 6-3 to approve Bill 101 — the same number of affirmative votes needed to override Mayor Harry Kim’s veto — there’s no guarantee all six council members who previously voted yes on the bill will also agree to override the veto. West Hawaii Today.

Kim to meet with governor, TMT officials this week. Although the protesters at Maunakea Access Road have physically changed their position, their philosophical position remains the same as in July. Tribune-Herald.

Charges dropped against retired police captain. Charges against a retired Hawaii Police Department captain accused of tipping off arcade owners prior to a gambling raid have been dropped. Tribune-Herald.

Charges in a 2-year-old drug case have been dropped because of officer misconduct, a judge ruled. ose Miranda was charged in December 2017 with 11 counts of first-degree promoting a dangerous drug, class A felonies punishable by up to 20 years in prison. West Hawaii Today.

Councilwoman seeks affordable housing fund. The Big Island’s shortage of affordable housing is reaching the crisis stage, says a County Council member sponsoring a nonbinding resolution pushing for the creation of an affordable housing fund. West Hawaii Today.

Hilo Woman Pulls Slug From Mouth After Eating Island Naturals Sandwich. A Hilo woman will have to wait about two weeks to find out if she’s contracted rat lungworm disease after nearly ingesting a half-inch slug on New Year’s Eve. Big Island Now.

Maui

Mahi Pono: ‘We are not profiting off water’. Officials offer details of approach to vital resource. Maui News.

New Self-Service Kiosk for Vehicle Registrations at Maui County Building. A new self-service DMV kiosk was installed and blessed today at the county’s Kalana O Maui Building, bringing to five, the total number available in Maui County. Maui Now.

Crab, lobster hearings next week. Hearings are set on Molokai, Lanai and Maui next week on a housekeeping consolidation of rules regulating the take, possession and sale of Samoan crab, Kona crab and lobsters in state waters. Maui News.

Maui fires burned 25,000 acres in 2019. Brush fires took their toll on Maui in 2019, setting ablaze more acres of land last year than in recent years, and in the process destroyed utility poles, amassed hundreds of thousands of dollars in costs by the county and displaced hundreds of people. Star-Advertiser.

Kauai

Hawaii Tour Helicopter Owner Rejects Congressman’s Criticism. Richard Schuman says the industry is safe and does not need increased federal regulation. Civil Beat.

Forums target climate change. The National Tropical Botanical Garden is holding another series of forums on climate change, starting in February, titled “Climate Crisis 2020.” Garden Island.

Lanai

Lanai undergoes agricultural transformation using hydroponic greenhouses. Lettuce, tomatoes and cucumbers are lined up to be part of the first commercial harvest from a pioneering hydroponic greenhouse farm on Lanai developed by technology billionaire Larry Ellison and envisioned for expansion to serve the state and potential replication beyond Hawaii. Star-Advertiser.

Sensei Farms Lanai’s greenhouses mix old and new technology. Paving over red dirt that was once part of the most productive pineapple plantation in the world might not seem like the way to start a positive transformation of agriculture on Lanai. Star-Advertiser.

Water concerns linger at Legislature, Maui mayor reveals past sex assault, DOE accelerates school repairs, tobacco tax hike snuffed out, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Pipe brings water down from the mountain ©2019 All Hawaii News

State Senate leaders say they don’t intend to revive water bill. Leaders in the Senate say they have no plans to revive a controversial bill that would extend the deadline for Alexander & Baldwin and other water users to convert their water permits into long-term leases, contrary to a flurry of concerns from the bill’s opponents that the Senate might attempt a last-ditch maneuver to ram the measure through the Legislature. Star-Advertiser.

Commentary: Possible Resurrection Of Water Bill Has Capitol Abuzz. Lawmakers supporting the measure to extend rights to divert stream water — including for Alexander & Baldwin — play hardball behind closed doors. Civil Beat.

All eyes were on House Bill 1326 at the Legislature on Monday, even though the Senate Committee on Ways and Means deferred it last week, effectively killing the measure. Garden Island.

Gathering at the State Capitol rotunda over water rights bill. The sound of chanting and pahu drum echoed through the state Capitol Monday night. KITV.

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Bills Lighten Up On Pot Possession, But Add Penalties For Drugged Driving. A Senate committee passed a measure to decriminalize possession of small amounts of marijuana, while a House committee voted to add penalties for drugged drivers. Civil Beat.

There will be no increase to the tax on cigarettes and little cigars after a measure that initially sought to increase the cost of a pack of cigarettes by $1 was snuffed out. West Hawaii Today.

Sen. Kai Kahele says he’s raised $250K for run at U.S. Rep. Tulsi Gabbard’s seat. Kahele is running for the U.S. House of Representatives’ seat currently occupied by U.S. Rep. Tulsi Gabbard. The seat represents rural Oahu and the neighbor islands. Star-Advertiser.

Ed Case’s ‘Talk Story’ Has Aged Well. The Hawaii congressman perfected constituent forums when he was in office 10 years ago. Now he’s taking that show on the road again. Civil Beat.

Moving Hawaii’s Technology Out Of The Dark Ages. The Legislature is considering bills that would help modernize decades old and outdated systems. Civil Beat.

State Initiates Audit Of School Impact Fees On Developers. The fees on new residential developments in certain areas have proven controversial since they were authorized by the Legislature in 2007. Civil Beat.

DOE finds quick fix for school roofs. Previously, each roof repair for a public school had to go through the traditional design-bid-build process, which typically takes several years. The new approach, known as job-order contracting, instead relies on several companies chosen through competitive bidding to perform common repair projects at fixed prices under a multiyear contract. Star-Advertiser.

Department of Education using new contracting method to clear backlog of repair projects. KHON2.

Oahu

Katherine Kealoha loses fight to keep personnel file secret, but questions remain. Circuit Court Judge Edward Kubo has reviewed Katherine Kealoha’s employment records from the Honolulu Prosecuting Attorney’s office, but hinted in court Monday that it didn’t provide all the information requested. Hawaii News Now.

The state is soliciting developers again to revitalize its run-down Ala Wai Small Boat Harbor in Waikiki 11 years after making a similar attempt that failed amid much public criticism. The state Department of Land and Natural Resources published a request for proposals Friday seeking competitive bids to redevelop 11 acres that include parking areas, public restrooms, a former fuel dock, a former boat repair site and submerged lands extending off the fuel dock and boat repair sites. Star-Advertiser.

Longtime television anchor Marisa Yamane is leaving KHON2 to join the Hawaii Tourism Authority. Yamane, 40, who co-anchors newscasts three times a day, will be director of communications and public relations at the HTA, where she will oversee a contract with PR firm Anthology Marketing Group. Star-Advertiser.

Solar permits issued on Oahu continued their downward trend and plunged 14 percent in the first quarter. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii Island

Verizon Tower For Lower Puna Planned. The Windward Planning Commission has some concerns about the placement of the tower near Highway 130, although they agree the service in needed in the area. Big Island Video News.

Waimea-Kohala Airport subsidy moving forward. Continuation of commercial air service from Waimea-Kohala Airport is on solid footing for the next two years, based on an agreement Hawaii County plans to sign with the U.S. Department of Transportation. West Hawaii Today.

The planning for the removal of the Caltech Submillimeter Observatory from Mauna Kea is underway, but an event that occurred at the facility in 2009 sparked some discussion at the Maunakea Management Board meeting on April 2 in Hilo. Big Island Video News.

Thirty Meter Telescope has green light, but protesters aren’t giving up fight. On Monday, Native Hawaiians gathered at the University of Hawaii at Manoa campus to honor the season of Ku -- and honor those who stand for Mauna Kea. Hawaii News Now.

The future of marijuana: Island cannabis industry reps talk hurdles, economic woes. The Hawaii Island Chamber of Commerce Medical Cannabis Forum brought business owners together to participate in a panel discussion about medical marijuana on the island. Tribune-Herald.

Maui

Maui Mayor Breaks Silence on Sex Assault. Maui Mayor Michael Victorino today, recounted a very personal account of sex assault that he shared for the very first time as joined in offering a proclamation to recognize Sexual Assault Awareness Month in the County of Maui. Maui Now.

Maui mayor reveals haunting personal details of an incident from teenage years. Hawaii News Now.

Mayor to announce decision Tuesday on corporation counsel. There have been calls for the mayor to dismiss Patrick Wong. Maui News.

Maui mayor faces mounting pressure to oust appointee after abuse arrest. Hawaii News Now.

Make way for Southwest. Inaugural flight of Maui service touches down at Kahului Airport. Maui News.

Kauai

A Kekaha woman was sentenced on Monday to 30 months in prison and ordered to pay back hundreds of thousands of dollars she stole from the federal government while working as a clerk at the Pacific Missile Range Facility. Garden Island.

Special session for rail funding looming, Ige signs bill giving more tech oversight, $1M from nonprofit for homeless vets, HART study finally public, farmers market comes to Ala Moana Center, Oprah to speak on Maui, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Rail plan for Honolulu transit, courtesy HART

Lawmakers haven’t yet agreed on the details, but leaders in the state House and Senate announced Monday they plan to hold a special session this summer to try to resolve their impasse over how to provide more funding for the city’s 20-mile rail project. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii lawmakers plan to convene a special session in July or August to again try to reach a deal on how to fund the remainder of Honolulu’s 20-mile rail project, which is now billions of dollars over budget. Civil Beat.

Hawaii lawmakers on Monday told the Federal Transit Administration that they will hold a special session this summer to find a solution for the funding issue surrounding Honolulu's rail project. Pacific Business News.

More than two months after lawmakers wrapped up the legislative session with no deal on how to fund Oahu's beleaguered rail project, state lawmakers are trying to reassure the federal government that they'll hold a special session on the issue by August. Hawaii News Now.

House Speaker Scot Saiki and Senate President Ron Kouchi have sent a letter to the Federal Transit Authority assuring they intend to meet in special session this summer. KITV.

Hawaii State legislative leadership says there will be a special session before the end of the summer in order to take on funding for Honolulu’s rail project. Big Island Video News.

Hawaii lawmakers plan to hold a special session this summer to discuss funding for Honolulu’s troubled rail line. Garden Island.

Hawaii Gov. David Ige on Monday signed into law a bill that provides increased oversight and third-party verification of state information technology projects within the executive branch. Pacific Business News.

Rep. Beth Fukumoto was accepted into the Democratic Party on Saturday with the unanimous vote of the Oahu county executive committee. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii, led by Governor David Ige, is staking out an increasingly combative stance in opposing Trump administration policies. Civil Beat.

MacNaughton Group donates $1 million to help Hawaii’s homeless veterans. Star-Advertiser.

Scores of homeless vets to be housed thanks to $1M donation to Hawaii nonprofit. Hawaii News Now.

Commentary: Candidates so far for LG fail to spark voter enthusiasm. Star-Advertiser.

Oahu

The Honolulu Authority for Rapid Transportation in 2013 spent $35,000 on a peer review that yielded fairly routine findings. Its attorneys fought to keep the report secret for four years. Civil Beat.

Lawmaker demands answers after state boots deputy sheriffs from Honolulu airport patrols. KHON2.

The owner of Valley of the Temples Memorial Park will preserve and enlarge its historic main building, which includes Hawaiian heiau references, under a plan to establish mortuary services and a bigger chapel at the Windward Oahu property. Star-Advertiser.

Ala Moana Center is getting its own weekly farmers market. KHON2.

East Oahu neighborhoods experienced strong sales in May, with closed sales of single-family homes in the Aina Haina and Kuliouou area more than tripling, according to the Honolulu Board of Realtors monthly local market update.Pacific Business News.

Hawaii Island

A Kona coffee farmer whose fight against deportation has played out publicly in recent weeks is thanking Hawaii residents and lawmakers for their support. Hawaii News Now.

Researchers can now look with a bird’s-eye view at rapid ohia death in an entire forest and also microscopically within a single tree. Collaborating researchers showcased their wide-ranging technology for journalists Monday at the Hilo Air Patrol. Tribune-Herald.

The Department of Water Supply reported last week that North Kona consumers are largely ignoring the mandatory 25 percent reduction in water usage the department first issued in January. West Hawaii Today.

Drought conditions on Hawaii Island are improving, according to the latest Drought Information Statement issued by the National Weather Service in Honolulu. Big Island Video News.

Hawaii County’s unemployment rate increased a fraction last month but remains near 10-year lows, according to recent figures from the state Department of Labor and Industrial Relations. Tribune-Herald.

Maui

Global media leader and philanthropist Oprah Winfrey will appear for a special conversation at Maui Arts & Cultural Center’s outdoor Alexander & Baldwin Amphitheater on Monday, June 26. Maui Now.

Haleakalā National Park is still seeking cultural practitioners from local communities for is Hana Noʻeau program, a series of cultural demonstrations that is offered in the park’s Kīpahulu and Summit Districts. Maui Now.

The county’s electronics recycling program on Maui and Molokai will be suspended for five weeks beginning July 1 in order to implement new processing and Mainland shipping systems, the Department of Environmental Management has announced. Maui News.

Kmart’s last day of business on Maui drew many loyal customers for the same reason it always has over the past two decades: all the great deals. Maui News.

Kauai

County and industry leaders said Monday investments in renewable energy systems are key to lowering dependence on fossil fuels while strengthening the economy. Garden Island.

Sunday was a day when the more than 350 people involved with Tropic Care Kauai 2017 could let their hair down and enjoy the hospitality and gratitude of a grateful island at a luau put on by the Smith’s Tropical Paradise family. Garden Island.

End of an era for last Hawaii sugar plantation, Hawaiian Electric seeks land, Ige touts $10M for innovation, Caldwell outspent Djou 4-1 in Honolulu mayoral race, state Supreme Court dings Hilo judge for closing records, uranium plan completed for Pohakuloa, Diamond Head homeless eviction sought, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Sen. Brian Schatz at sugar mill as harvest, Facebook photo by Gilbert Keith-Agaran

The 36,000-acre Hawaiian Commercial & Sugar Co. plantation in Puunene on Maui held its last harvest Monday with hundreds of former and current workers, families, public officials and community leaders in attendance, and the head of Hawaii’s last major sugar plantation may have summed up the day best when he quoted a Hawaiian poet by saying, “it is what it is.” Pacific Business News.

It started with two horn beeps delivered by Fermin Domingo from the cab of an 80-ton Tournahauler on Monday morning, and then the final load of sugar cane that likely will ever be produced on a plantation in Hawaii was fed into the mill of Hawaiian Commercial & Sugar Co. Star-Advertiser.

Sugar workers, retirees and company officials expressed sadness as well as pride as they witnessed “an end of an era” Monday with the delivery of the last load of sugar cane from the fields to the Puunene Mill. Maui News.

Workers delivered the final truckload of cane to the state's last remaining sugar mill on Monday. Hawaiian Commercial & Sugar Company held a commemoration event at its Puunene factory with an estimated 700 employees, retirees and community leaders. Hawaii News Now.

The only remaining sugar mill in Hawaii is ending its final harvest. Associated Press.

Gilbert Keith-Agaran

Hawaiian Commercial & Sugar Company commemorates its final sugar harvest today (Monday, Dec. 12, 2016) following months of transition work. Maui Now.

Hawai’i’s last sugarcane harvest ended on Maui today and state leaders are asking, “What Next?”   That was the focus of a panel discussion. Hawaii Public Radio.

Hawaii Commercial & Sugar held a ceremony Monday for its final harvest.  HC&S is the last sugar plantation in Hawaii. KITV.

It’s the end of an era for Hawaii’s sugar industry, as the final sugar harvest in our state took place Monday morning in Puunene on Maui. KHON2.

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Gov. David Ige has pledged to propose $10 million of the state budget be used to help build the innovation sector. Ige said he would request the funds be used for the state-run HI Growth Initiative, which was created to attract private investment to innovation in Hawaii. Star-Advertiser.

State and county employers likely will have to contribute more money into the Hawaii Employees’ Retirement System as early as July 1. Star-Advertiser.

Gov. David Ige has appointed two state employees as the new deputy directors for the state Department of Budget and Finance and the Department of Human Resources Development. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaiian Electric Co. said Monday it is looking for land to build more renewable-energy projects. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaiian Electric Co. is looking to expand its renewable energy portfolio with more large-scale projects, the Honolulu-based utility said this week. Pacific Business News.

Hawaiian Electric Companies announced a search for land to house potential renewable energy production. The request for information comes from Hawaiian Electric, Maui Electric Company and the Hawaii Electric Light Co. Tribune-Herald.

Tulsi Gabbard For President? A reporter for The New Yorker suggests 13 women candidates for 2020. Civil Beat.

Oahu

Caldwell Outspent Djou Nearly 4-to-1 In Honolulu Mayor’s Race. The mayor raised $3.6 million, and a super PAC kicked in nearly $1 million more to support his re-election bid. Civil Beat.

The ZipMobile broke down for at least the third time in as many years Monday, snarling the early- morning town-bound traffic on the H-1 freeway. Star-Advertiser.

The state is planning to evict homeless campers from more than 40 tent and tarp encampments on the slopes of the Diamond Head State Monument. Civil Beat.

Beach erosion reveals scattered bones at Mokuleia. Hawaii News Now.

Judge denies early release for firefighter in H-1 crash that killed officer. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii

The Hawaii Supreme Court on Monday issued an opinion that took issue with the way a state judge sealed documents in a criminal case, with the justices underscoring the need to protect confidential information while ensuring the public’s right to access judicial proceedings and records. Star-Advertiser.

A site-specific Environmental Radiation Monitoring Plan has been finalized for the Pohakuloa Training Area. Big Island Video News.

Nonexplosive but designed to fool passers-by is how police described a suspicious device that caused businesses to close and traffic rerouted Friday in downtown Kailua-Kona. West Hawaii Today.

Maui

The Maui Department of Water Supply is working to resolve pumping issues in Wakiu, Hāna. Maui Now.

Hawai‘i’s Board of Land and Natural Resources approved a one-year permit to Alexander and Baldwin that will allow them to continue diverting water from streams in East Maui. Hawaii Public Radio.

The 36,000-acre Hawaiian Commercial and Sugar Co. plantation on Maui, which will close on Dec. 23 and effectively end the era of the sugar industry in Hawaii, will soon begin to see a major expansion of cattle ranching on the former cane fields, a company executive told Pacific Business News.

Maui County single-family homes continued their climb in value in November, while condominium prices fell compared with the same month last year, according to statistics released last week by the Realtors Association of Maui. Maui News.

Kauai

Island School’s proposal to reclassify land took a big step forward as the school submitted its petition to the State Land Use Commission. Garden Island.

Larry Richardson hopes the loaner life jacket station will save lives Saturday at the Nawiliwili Small Boat Harbor launch ramp. Garden Island.

Molokai

With the ferry no longer operating, a U.S. Coast Guard crew helped the Salvation Army deliver 800 toys and clothes to Molokai children on Friday. Maui News.

Obama to vacation in Hawaii, Ige clamps down on IT contracts, hospitals fined for infections, Kenoi defends effectiveness, medical marijuana use questioned for police, firefighters, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

President Obama speaks to Hawaii troops, White House file photo

President Barack Obama and his family are scheduled to fly to Hawaii late next week for their annual Christmas vacation in the islands. Star-Advertiser.

Gov. David Ige’s administration announced Thursday that it’s working to tighten up control of its information-technology contracts. Civil Beat.

On Thursday, the governor admitted the state's done a lousy job of managing its IT contracts at the expense of Hawaii taxpayers. KITV4.

December marks the end of Gov. David Ige’s first year on the job. It was a year of accomplishments and tough criticisms, but Ige gives himself a B. KHON2.

After a state audit, the Hawaii State Judiciary is moving to close five trust funds that do not meet required criteria. Pacific Business News.

The federal government is punishing three Hawaii hospitals for having high rates of avoidable infections. Maui Memorial Medical Center, Pali Momi Medical Center and Wahiawa General Hospital were among 758 hospital nationwide that will be docked 1 percent of Medicare payments in 2016. Civil Beat.

Starting soon restaurants that handle raw meat will be inspected three times a year instead of just once. Fast food restaurants will be inspected twice a year, and places like bakeries or places that don’t handle raw food will continue to be inspected once a year. KHON2.

Randy Iwase, chairman of the state Public Utilities Commission, questioned why NextEra Energy Inc. has not made a written commitment to maintain benefits for Hawaiian Electric Industries retirees. Star-Advertiser.

Column: The Hawaii Republican Assembly argues that the Hawaii Republican Party is simply not conservative enough, especially regarding fiscal issues. But many establishment leaders say the way HIRA, as it’s more commonly known, is going about demanding change is seriously backfiring. Civil Beat.

The Hawai‘i State Teachers Association says higher taxes are needed to improve education in the state. Hawaii Public Radio.

Oahu

Amid heightened concerns tied to mass shootings in recent years, the Honolulu Police Department is continuing to provide its patrol officers with the latest specialized training on responding to active shooter incidents. Star-Advertiser.

One Honolulu police officer and one Honolulu firefighter have tested positive for marijuana in recent years and they presented their medical marijuana permits as the reason, sources told Hawaii News Now Friday. But police departments across the state and the Honolulu Fire Department are not allowing employees to use medical marijuana.

The six luxury oceanfront homes being planned by Alexander & Baldwin Inc.’s real estate subsidiary has disclosed to PBN a price range for the six luxury apartment homes it developing on the Kahala property formerly owned by Japanese businessman Genshiro Kawamoto. Each is being priced between $6 million and $12 million. Pacific Business News.

It has been two years since Alexander & Baldwin purchased 30 Kahala properties from eccentric Japanese billionaire Genshiro Kawamoto. Now, it's A&B's plans for one of those properties that is raising issues with some residents. Hawaii News Now.

Hawaii

One day after Hawaii Island Mayor Billy Kenoi said the state investigation into his use of a county-issued credit card has not impacted his effectiveness, others are saying that's not the case. Hawaii News Now.

Police arrested five juveniles following a series of campus fights at Pahoa High and Intermediate School. Tribune-Herald.

The makeover of the Old Kona Airport Park has been delayed and scaled back because of delays in getting state sign-offs on the project. West Hawaii Today.

A team of federal and state entomologists are on the prowl this week in South Kona, setting traps for dengue-carrying mosquitoes. West Hawaii Today.

Maui

Maui County residents are toying with an idea that no other county in Hawaii has tried before - a council-manager form of government, which could replace the current mayor-council system that has been in place since 1969. Maui News.

Developers broke ground this week for a 70-unit luxury condominium complex that they say will create hundreds of jobs, generate property tax revenue and lead to affordable housing in South Maui. Maui News.

The groundbreaking and blessing ceremony for the 64-unit Kulamalu affordable-rental project in Pukalani was held on Thursday. Maui Now.

Kauai

The Department of Water will hold a public information meeting to discuss a new water main replacement project along Halewili Road and Kaumualii Highway in Kalaheo. Garden Island.

The public is advised that a portion of Kainahola Road in Kapahi will remain closed until the end of February. Due to delays caused by the weather, the contractor was unable to complete the work on 0.7 miles of the roadway this week as originally planned. Garden Island.

Counties must define dancing, Hawaii-based military warns about South China Sea claims, humpback whales arrive early, whistle-blower lawsuit in Honolulu rail work, unions settle state hiring grievance, Maui mulls mayor-less government, enterprise zones advance, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Dancing at a Kona hotel pool party © 2015 All Hawaii News

What is dancing? That’s the question that the four county liquor commissions in Hawaii are asking now that the state has forced them to define dancing if they want to continue regulating it in bars, restaurants, clubs and hotels. Civil Beat.

Another Hawaii-based military leader has stepped up the rhetoric against China’s island-building and territorial claims in the South China Sea, this time ahead of what could be a bolder U.S. military demonstration of air and sea navigation rights through the area. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii Gov. David Ige is traveling to Japan and China to promote educational partnerships, energy cooperation and investment in Hawaii. Associated Press.

The state is phasing out the use of private contractors for highway landscaping and other maintenance work, costing taxpayers more money and settling two long-time class-action grievances filed by one of the state's most powerful unions, the United Public Workers. Hawaii News Now.

A couple of humpback whales have arrived early to the Hawaiian Islands this humpback whale season, which generally runs November through May, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration said today. Star-Advertiser.

The number of Hawaii residents attempting to use fake urine to trick workplace drug tests is at its highest point since 2012, according to recent drug test data from Diagnostic Laboratory Services, Inc. Civil Beat.

Hawaii Gas’ parent will invest $6 million in two solar energy projects in the state in a deal that is expected to close before the end of October, a company spokesman confirmed to Pacific Business News.

Opinion: Implementing a high-tech tax credit more than a decade ago was well-meaning and helped jumpstart the technology sector in Hawaii, but there was little thought put into measuring its costs and benefits. It will likely become a costly lesson for state lawmakers. Star-Advertiser.

Opinion: Native Hawaiian Election Throws Out All the Rules. None of the customary election laws apply to the high-stakes selection of delegates to a constitutional convention regarding a new government. Civil Beat.

Oahu

John McCaughey quit as the head of Ansaldo Honolulu's construction safety program in July because he thought the company was jeopardizing workers' safety. In a lawsuit filed last week, McCaughey said the company -- which is being paid $1.4 billion to build the trains and operate them -- cut corners by not hiring the required safety experts. Hawaii News Now.

The completion this month of steel framing for the International Market Place puts the redevelopment on track to reopen in August, creating jobs for an anticipated 2,500 employees and contract workers. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii Congressman Mark Takai took to the floor of the U.S. House of Representatives on Tuesday to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the Asia-Pacific Center for Security Studies in Honolulu and its renaming in honor of the late Sen. Daniel Inouye. Civil Beat.

The Trump International Waikiki in Hawaii is one of seven in the The Trump Hotel Collection where guests may have been affected by payment system hacks that lasted nearly a year. Pacific Business News.

Residents at Marine Corps Base Hawaii in Kaneohe who are suing a developer over a possible connection between health problems and pesticide contamination got a big boost from the state Health Department last month. The state wants the developer to test for soil contamination in anticipation of turning the matter over to the federal agency that assesses toxic waste sites. Star-Advertiser.

State land officials are touting their latest efforts to shield Oahu residents and their homes from potential rockfalls, with a new protective fence going up on the hillside below the popular Lanikai pillbox trail. Star-Advertiser.

Good news from the Hawaii Department of Transportation Tuesday. Work on the Wilson Tunnel won’t take as long as initially expected. KHON2.

Inside University of Hawaii's College of Education are Hawaii's future elementary school teachers.  Students conducted experiments Monday while the building where they learn crumbled around them. Hawaii News Now.

Fourteen Honolulu homes purchased for more than $2 million apiece last month helped Hawaii’s main housing market break another record. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii

Opposition from some County Council members has resulted in a scaled-back enterprise zone plan that doesn’t swallow up large conservation areas in West Hawaii. West Hawaii Today.

Hawaii County on Tuesday took a step toward purchasing land in Ka‘u that once hosted Makahiki events. County Council members, meeting as the Finance Committee, advanced a resolution that would authorize negotiations to acquire the 13 acres assessed at $179,000. Tribune-Herald.

A Hualalai Road condominium project for middle-income families could break ground in two months and have its first units ready within three years, following a favorable vote Tuesday by the County Council Planning Committee. West Hawaii Today.

Hawaii Electric Light Co., the Big Island subsidiary of Hawaiian Electric Co., which is involved in a $4.3 billion sale with NextEra Energy Inc., is valued at just over $700 million, the head of the state’s Division of Consumer Advocacy confirmed to Pacific Business News Tuesday.

Construction has been completed on a mobile slaughterhouse geared specifically to the island’s smaller producers. The unit contained in a 36-foot trailer is in Tacoma, Wash., waiting to be shipped, said Mike Amado, president of the Hawaii Island Meat Cooperative. West Hawaii Today.

On Monday, a small group of cultural practitioners, government officials, and project contractors gathered by the edge of the hardened lava flow on Cemetery Road to take part in a Hawaiian blessing. Following the ceremony performed by Kahu Moses Kaho’okele Crabbe and Pi’ilani Ka’awaloa, Ludwig Construction crews began removing the lava, which burned across the road almost an entire year ago. Big Island Video News.

Maui

A Maui County Council committee has been assigned the task of establishing a special committee on county governance to consist of community and government officials, who would consider different forms of government, including an already proposed council-hired county manager system without a mayor. Maui News.

The Mayor’s Maui Homeless Initiative, a task force put together to address solutions to homelessness and affordable housing in Maui County, held its first meeting today. Maui Now.

Maui County Liquor Control Director Frank Silva retiring after 22 years. MauiTime.
More Upcountry residents may be getting their long-awaited water meters as the Maui County Council passed a bill Tuesday that offers exemptions from expensive street and fire protection improvements for some on the waiting list. Maui News.

The Maui Demolition & Construction Landfill is seeking a solid waste management renewal permit from the state Department of Health for its ongoing operations in Maalaea. Maui News.

Kauai

The turbine is back together, but it will still be another six to eight weeks until Green Energy Team’s $90 million biomass-to-energy facility in Koloa starts producing steam. Garden Island.

The median price of a condominium unit on Kauai rose by 62 percent year-over-year last month to reach $390,000, while actual sales only saw a slight uptick in activity, according a monthly report compiled by Hawaii Information Service on behalf of the Kauai Board of Realtors. Pacific Business News.

Gov. Ige goes paperless, auditor targets growing IT problems, Hawaii tourism dollars fly homeless back to mainland, online travel companies to pay $53M in back taxes, 209 vie for 40 Native Hawaiian delegate slots, Maui homeless next project, Big Island opposes NextEra utility purchase, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Gov. David Ige goes paperless, courtesy Governor's Office

In an effort to get a grip on the growing cost of complex state computer projects, the state auditor has hired a private auditing firm to finally inventory how much state agencies are actually spending on information technology, and what the projects are designed to accomplish. Star-Advertiser.

In an effort to make government more efficient, Hawaii Gov. David Ige plans to start processing all documents electronically starting Thursday, according to a press release from his office. Civil Beat.

A unit set up in the state Attorney General’s Office to combat Medicaid fraud has failed to communicate with federal authorities about its investigations and worked on cases that were not allowed under a federal grant, according to the Inspector General for the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Star-Advertiser.

The state Attorney General’s office said Wednesday that online travel companies will have to pay $53.1 million in general excise taxes, penalties and interest stemming from litigation that began in 2011. Star-Advertiser.

The Hawaiian vacation tab has arrived for nine online travel companies, and it’s a big one. The companies, including Travelocity, Expedia, Orbitz and Priceline, owe the state of Hawaii $53.1 million in general excise taxes, penalties and interest, the state Tax Appeal Court ruled. Civil Beat.

Hawaii’s attorney general on Wednesday said the state has recovered more than $53.1 million in general excise tax, penalties and interest from nine online travel companies, following a final judgement by the state Tax Appeal Court. West Hawaii Today.

A federal research vessel returned to Honolulu on Wednesday after discovering perhaps a dozen species never seen before in an expedition exploring the coral reefs of the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands at greater depths than ever before. Among the discoveries was a possible new species of sea horse and a sea star previously not seen in Hawaii. Star-Advertiser.

The list of delegates running in a election this fall to establish a way forward for Native Hawaiian self-determination includes a lot of names that will be familiar to many people. Civil Beat.

Some 209 candidates will vie for 40 delegate positions across the islands for the Native Hawaiian ‘aha constitutional convention that will work to form a Native Hawaiian government. Star-Advertiser.

209 candidates are running for 40 spots to help form a Native Hawaiian government.  The long-awaited list of people wanting to participate in the landmark Na'i Aupuni election was released just one day after the Department of Interior announced a pathway toward federal recognition for Native Hawaiians -- which has some asking what impact, if any, it will have on the November vote. Hawaii News Now.

Throughout November of 2015, Native Hawaiians who have been registered by the Native Hawaiian Roll Commission will be able to vote for 40 delegates to attend an ʻaha, or convention, in which those delegates will convene for the purpose of working out the details of a new Hawaiian government and determining what relationship the governing entity would have with the Hawaiian community, as well as with the State of Hawai‘i and the United States of America.  Hawaii Independent.

What does it mean to be local in Hawaii? That’s a discussion we’re diving into in a new thread in our popular Connections section. It launches today with a podcast featuring former Gov. Ben Cayetano and a story by a young man who left his dream life in Hawaii because he didn’t feel local enough. Civil Beat.

Oahu
The Hawaii Lodging and Tourism Association pledged Wednesday to expand the Waikiki homeless outreach program that in the past 11 months served 355 people, including 115 who were assisted with buying airline tickets to leave the state. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii’s tourism industry and the state’s biggest homeless shelter operator are partnering to expand a program that flies homeless people back to the mainland. Civil Beat.

Fence built to deter homeless camp causes parking shortage near Honolulu Community College. Hawaii News Now.

Imagine a flood that raised the level of the Ala Wai Canal just seven feet. It's possible, and engineers are working on a way to keep those waters from overflowing into Waikiki. Hawaii News Now.

Traffic, street parking, drainage and loss of the community’s character were among the issues raised by neighbors at a public meeting Wednesday about the proposed Skyline Honolulu condominium on the slopes of Punchbowl crater. Star-Advertiser.

Eight schools with large numbers of military dependents in West Oahu will benefit from a $1.5 million federal grant aimed at expanding learning opportunities in STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) fields. Star-Advertiser.

Alan Oshima, president and CEO of Hawaiian Electric Co., which is involved in a proposed $4.3 billion sale to NextEra Energy Inc., has met with the Hawaii Public Utilities Commission eight times this year, more than he did in the three previous years combined, according to public documents. Pacific Business News.

For more than a half century, the fountain at Kailua’s Pohakupu Mini Park has proudly welcomed visitors and residents into the Windward Oahu community. But for more than two years, it has sat in a state of disrepair. Its waters have gone from streaming to stagnant. KHON2.

Kamehameha Schools isn’t selling its leased fee interest in the 677 Ala Moana Building nor is it looking to buy the landmark Honolulu high-rise, a spokesman for the trust confirmed to Pacific Business News.

Hawaii

Area residents who spoke during a public meeting were almost universally opposed to the pending acquisition of Hawaii Island’s electric utility. More than 300 people attended the meeting, with dozens waiting in line to speak to the PUC members. Tribune-Herald.

Hundreds packed the Hilo High School cafeteria Tuesday night for the Hawaii Public Utility Commission’s public listening session for the Hawaiian Electric Companies and NextEra Energy docket, a multi-billion dollar deal said to be one of the biggest economic transactions in state history. Big Island Video News.

A handful of Big Island residents spent Tuesday evening under a pop-up tent in the parking lot of Hilo High School giving out buttons, bumper stickers, yard signs and gray T-shirts emblazoned with “Own The Power.” Civil Beat.

Thirty-two candidates are running for seven positions as Hawaii Island delegates to a Native Hawaiian constitutional convention, or aha, set for early next year. In all, more than 200 candidates qualified for a total of 40 delegate positions, the organization in charge of the election and convention announced Wednesday. West Hawaii Today.

A meeting opposed to the introduction of a marijuana grow site in Kohala included a strong current of local rule. West Hawaii Today.

A disagreement between the board that controls the roads in Hawaiian Ocean View Estates and two quarry companies over expansion of mining activities in the neighborhood played out before a Windward Planning Commission panel on Wednesday. West Hawaii Today.

With construction on Kamehameha Avenue reaching an end after a year and a half of work, a host of smaller roadway projects continue in the Hilo area. Work on Manono Street and Kapiolani Street began earlier this year. A reconstruction project on Komohana Street is set to begin this week. Tribune-Herald.

Maui

A Kahului resident has filed a petition to have the Maui Planning Commission consider sugar cane smoke when evaluating special management area use permits for projects near and around shorelines. Maui News.

The Grand Wailea reached a more than $3 million settlement Monday with nonmanagerial food and beverage workers owed back wages dating back to 2006, said a member of the class-action lawsuit. Maui News.

It’s been nearly a year since tourism officials funded a plan to tackle Waikīkī’s homeless problem. Now they’re looking to expand the model to neighbor islands, starting first on Maui. Hawaii Public Radio.

Since the announcement Sept. 23 that Kaiser Permanente has been chosen to take over Maui's three public hospitals, some - including Lt. Gov. Shan Tsutsui - have questioned what that would mean for residents who aren't insured by Kaiser. Maui News.

The Maui County Farm Bureau announced honorees of its annual award celebration, who were recognized for demonstrating tremendous support for Maui agriculture. Maui Now.

Kauai

Five candidates from Kauai County have been cleared to campaign in an upcoming private election for Native Hawaiian self-governance. Garden Island.