Hawaii kills non-compete clause for high-tech workers, Tetris inventor goes off grid, Hanabusa to discuss Hawaiian homelands, open records less open, Waimanalo landfill could close, $1.2M land money not spent, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Solar Impulse 2 approaches Honolulu, courtesy Solar Impulse

Solar Impulse 2 made its first U.S. landing Friday in Hawaii, an event that highlights the state’s goals to create a clean energy sector that has “tremendous economic potential,” the head of the State Energy Office said after the solar-powered aircraft touched down at Kalaeloa Airport in West Oahu. Pacific Business News.

A plane attempting to fly around the world, powered only by the sun, has landed safely in Hawai‘i. The 4,000 mile flight over the Pacific Ocean was the plane’s longest and most challenging leg. Hawaii Public Radio.

A plane powered by the sun’s rays has landed in Hawaii after a record-breaking five-day journey across the Pacific Ocean from Japan. Associated Press.

A bill that supporters believe will help attract high-tech workers to Hawaii and encourage growth in the local technology sector has been signed into law by Gov. David Ige. Act 158 prohibits technology companies from requiring their workers to enter into "noncompete" agreements as a condition of employment, a change that is supposed to make it easier for technology workers to move from job to job. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii Gov. David Ige signed several health-related bills Thursday as the state Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs unveiled an online service for insurance agents to file general liability and workers compensation coverage information for contractors and pest control operators. Civil Beat.

Gov. David Ige has approved a new exemption from the state open records law that will withhold government records from the public if releasing the information "would create a substantial and demonstrable risk of physical harm" to a person. Star-Advertiser.

The state would halt acceptance of new charter school applications for a year starting next fall under a proposed hiatus before the Hawaii State Public Charter School Commission — a move advocates say would stifle growth of the local charter movement. Star-Advertiser.

Kathryn Xian is determined to get a sex trafficking law in Hawaii, despite opposition from the governor and the Hono­lulu prosecutor. Star-Advertiser.

Oahu

Despite a multiyear waiting list for slips at the Ala Wai Small Boat Harbor, state operators have a vacancy rate above 10 percent, potentially costing the state tens of thousands of dollars annually. Star-Advertiser.

City Councilwoman Kymberly Pine hopes to expedite the closure of the Waimanalo Gulch Sanitary Landfill, a contentious issue prompting years of frustration and concerns. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii Pacific Health is no longer considering an acquisition of Wahiawa General Hospital. Star-Advertiser.

Will the Hammer Fall on Homeless Encampment in Kakaako? After an attack on a legislator, some homeless people expect their tent city to be dismantled. But so far, officials are showing restraint and acknowledging there’s no place else for many of the campers to go. Civil Beat.

Tetris video game inventor Henk Rogers has taken his home off the grid and will announce his new company, Blue Planet Energy Systems, on Monday. The new venture, which will sell and install battery systems for homes and businesses running on solar technology, plans to begin sales on Aug. 1. Star-Advertiser.

Hiking survey shows some Oahu trails bursting at the seams. KITV4.

Hawaii

Almost $1.2 million has accumulated in a special account since voters in 2012 approved setting aside money for nonprofits to compete for grants to help take care of land bought with open space funds. But the county has yet to award its first stewardship grant. West Hawaii Today.

At least two incidents of vehicular violence have been committed atop Mauna Kea against its protectors, even as state agencies accuse protectors of endangering public safety through their blockade. Hawaii Independent.

Encouraged by a sound study showing their noise will have minimal impact on neighbors, backers of the Kona Motorsport Park are pushing for the project to get higher priority at the county. West Hawaii Today.

Medical marijuana dispensaries could start operating on the Big Island next year, after Gov. David Ige this week indicated he would not be vetoing the bill authorizing them. Tribune-Herald.

The Big Island — specifically, Hawaii Volcanoes National Park — saw a boom in visitor numbers in May as people flocked to catch a glimpse of a Madame Pele in action. Tribune-Herald.

Maui

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is seeking public comment on the control or eradication of invasive rodents and mongooses in native Hawaiian ecosystems. Maui News.

The group Stop Cane Burning and three Maui residents Wednesday filed the first lawsuit in the newly established Maui County Environmental Court that challenged as unconstitutional the state Department of Health's issuance of a cane burning permit to Hawaiian Commercial & Sugar Co. Maui News.

Kauai

A pair of proposed federal rules that spell out the process by which the 95-year-old Hawaiian Homes Commission Act should be administered is the topic of a public meeting in Anahola Tuesday night. Colleen Hanabusa, the former U.S. representative and state Senate president, is billed as the guest speaker. Garden Island.

A makeshift junkyard overtaking a stretch of undeveloped land held in trust for Native Hawaiians has grown so problematic that community leaders are binding together in an effort to put a stop to it. Garden Island.

Osprey safety concerns Japan as military games begin in Hawaii, Honolulu Osprey crash kills one, injures 21, bill closes more government records, teacher's union tosses votes, Kauai, Maui wrapping up county budgets, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

U.S. Marine Corp amphibious assault vehicle splashes into the sea, Department of Defense photo by Petty Officer 1st Class Elizabeth Merriam, U.S. Navy

Amphibious military capabilities are on the agenda as the U.S. Marine Corps and Navy host defense leaders from around the Pacific in Hawaii this week. The first-of-its-kind meeting comes as territorial disputes over islands are growing more heated in the region. U.S. treaty allies Japan and the Philippines are expected to attend along with U.S. partners like Malaysia, Singapore and Vietnam. Altogether, 23 nations will join the meeting. Associated Press.

A fatal crash of a U.S. Marine Corps Osprey in Hawaii has renewed safety concerns in Japan, where more of the hybrid aircraft are to be deployed. Gov. Takeshi Onaga on the southern island of Okinawa said Monday that flights of Ospreys should be suspended until the cause of the crash is found. Associated Press.

One Marine died after an MV-22 Osprey aircraft crashed in a "hard-landing mishap" at Bellows Air Force Station in Wai­ma­nalo during a routine training exercise late Sunday morning. Twenty-one others were sent to three Oahu hospitals with varying degrees of injury following the 11:40 a.m. incident. Star-Advertiser.

A Marine Corps Osprey aircraft made a hard landing on Bellows Air Force Station near Waimanalo, Oahu on Sunday, killing one Marine and sending 21 other people to hospitals as dark smoke from the resulting fire billowed into the sky. Associated Press.

Honolulu firefighters and emergency crews are responding to a downed military aircraft at Bellows Air Force Station in Windward Oahu that killed one person and injured several others. Hawaii News Now.

Lawmakers have approved a new exemption to the state open-records law that allows government records to be withheld from the public if releasing that information "would create a substantial and demonstrable risk of physical harm" to a person. Star-Advertiser.

The Hawaii State Teachers Association's board of directors has rejected the results of ballots cast for a new union president and other state officers, and says it will redo the elections. Star-Advertiser.

The Hawaii State Teacher's Association held an election and then a runoff vote for union leadership positions, but the board decided not to certify either set of results. Some members are questioning the union's credibility. Civil Beat.

Oahu
The state said it’s close to identifying the source of what appears to be a chemical spill that led to a large fish kill in Pearl City discovered Friday. KHON2.

Robert ‘Bobby’ Bunda Stepping Down from HART Board. The former lawmaker has been overseeing the Honolulu rail project since 2011. He says he's leaving to spend time with family. Civil Beat.

Hawaii

Opposing sides have agreed to come together to discuss the controversial Thirty Meter Telescope project during a series of informational meetings beginning Tuesday. Tribune-Herald.

The Commission on Water Resource Management will be in Kailua-Kona next week to take up the petition to designate the Keauhou aquifer a state water management area. West Hawaii Today.

Maui

Maui County residents will see lower property tax rates, but may be still paying more in taxes with rising property valuations. Maui News.

A tentative settlement has been reached in the Haleakala Trail lawsuit that will hand the state ownership of the old path to the summit, which runs through the middle of Haleakala Ranch lands. Maui News.

The 2nd Annual Startup Weekend Maui kicked off on Friday, May 15, with nearly 30 entrepreneurs pitching business startup ideas in front of an enthusiastic audience of 80-plus like-minded individuals at the Maui Economic Development Board’s Malcolm Center in Kīhei. Maui Now.

Two Maui startups got the chance to pitch their ideas to Silicon Valley investors during the third annual MaiTai Maui Tech Night at Maui Tropical Plantation on Wednesday. Maui News.

Kauai
The Kauai County Council wrapped up its decision-making process on Friday with a unanimous vote to cut $314,000 from the mayor’s proposed budget for the upcoming 2016 fiscal year. Garden Island.

James Pfleuger, the Kilauea property owner who was convicted for his role in the Ka Loko Dam break that killed seven people is now a free man. Garden Island.

Celebrity real estate deals on Kauai's North Shore abound: Slideshow. Pacific Business News.

Molokai

A bill to give the ailing Molokai ferry a subsidy to stay afloat for a little more than a month passed out of a Maui County Council committee Friday afternoon. Maui News.

$11M preparing for tech bids lost, state seeks broadband help, construction to grow 9.4%, Hawaiian Electric catching up on PV applications, Kauai space launch delayed, Chinese tourists drive visitor stats, more government and politics news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Computer e-waste recycling, courtesy Damon Tucker

After the state spent more than $11 million developing a request for proposals for new computer technology to make government more efficient, the Ige administration is now scrapping the solicitation but promises the money has not been wasted. Star-Advertiser.

A panel of experts at the Hawaii Venture Capital Association luncheon on Thursday discussed the state’s need for broadband, which actions are needed to make it a reality and ways that higher bandwidth can be used. Pacific Business News.

Construction spending is forecast to rise 9.4 percent this year to $7.6 billion, the University of Hawaii Economic Research Organization said. Star-Advertiser.

The construction industry isn’t growing as quickly as economists had expected. That’s according to a new report by the University of Hawai‘i Economic Research Organization. Despite a surge of activity on Oahu, the annual forecast says residential building permits actually fell last year. Hawaii Public Radio.

Visitor arrivals to Hawai‘i rose slightly last month, up a little more than 2% compared to a year earlier. Visitor spending fell by a little more than 4%. One group with higher numbers: the Chinese. Hawaii Public Radio.

A plan to allow tourists who are ripped off during their Hawaii vacations to testify against the suspects by way of videoconferencing was rejected by state lawmakers this week, and it appears the idea is dead for the year. Star-Advertiser.

The push to allow for medical marijuana dispensaries in Hawaii — some 15 years after state leaders permitted medical use of the drug — continues to advance through the Legislature, with key lawmakers in support saying they hope to give the state's nearly 13,000 medical pot patients access to such outlets by early 2016. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaiian Electric Industries CEO Connie Lau made it clear during her closing speech Thursday at the Maui Energy Conference that the company will continue to pursue liquefied natural gas as a “bridge fuel.” Civil Beat.

Hawaiian Electric Co. said Thursday it has approved all rooftop solar applications on Maui and Hawaii island waiting since at least October for the go-ahead. Star-Advertiser.

The Nominating Committee to the State Commission on Water Resource Management will meet Tuesday to review personnel applications and select nominees to fill one position on the State Commission on Water Resource Management. Hawaii Independent.

State taxpayers will pay $418,500 to settle three cases of wrongful terminations of public school employees. Hawaii News Now.

Oahu

Seeking public input, city aims to lock away prime Oahu farmland. More than 56,000 acres is eyed for inclusion on a map that puts limits on urban development. Star-Advertiser.

The state fears the little fire ant infestation in Waimanalo could get worse. That’s because a group of people have been going in and out of the area that’s infested with the ants. On Friday, the state attorney general’s office will file a temporary restraining order against the group, hoping a judge orders them off the property. KHON2.

City considers fencing Kapalama Canal to move out homeless. Hawaii News Now.

Hawaii

While the June 27 lava flow is not dead, the downgrading of the threat from Kilauea volcano Wednesday could provide the Federal Emergency Management Agency with a closing date for the disaster. If that occurs, FEMA spokeswoman Kelly Hudson said the agency would continue to process requests for disaster relief funds but could limit reimbursement to expenses that occurred before March 25. Tribune-Herald.

Hawaii County Fire Department operations in West Hawaii are not being jeopardized by recent turmoil in the office that resulted in two battalion chiefs being put on paid leave, a top-ranking Fire Department official said this week. West Hawaii Today.

As the site preparation for the construction of the Thirty Meter Telescope gets underway, the opposition to the $1.3 billion observatory has taken to Mauna Kea. Big Island Video News.

Several dozen demonstrators assembled Thursday along Mauna Kea Access Road, where organizers say protesters plan to camp out indefinitely in hopes of halting work atop Mauna Kea on what is expected to be the world's largest telescope. Star-Advertiser.

As cars tear up and down residential streets and along roadways in Kona, those who live closest to the lead-footed driving are increasingly calling on the county to erect speed humps to rein drivers in. West Hawaii Today.

Maui

The state is threatening to seize several private boats in Lahaina over a lease dispute. Hawaii News Now.

Having Maui County glean 100 percent of its energy needs from renewable energy sources has long been a vision for Mayor Alan Arakawa, but achieving that goal will take time and technological advances, utility officials said Wednesday. Maui News.

Maui County plans to replace its streetlights with more efficient LED lighting, following other counties in Hawaii, including Honolulu and Kauai. Pacific Business News.

Maui County is Hawaii's healthiest county with its active residents and many opportunities for exercise, according to a study released Wednesday by a national health foundation and the University of Wisconsin Population Health Institute. Maui News.

Kauai

The University of Hawaii's first space launch has been delayed three times since 2013, with liftoff of the low-cost, small-satellite delivery system pushed back from January to the fall due to technology and timing issues, officials said. Star-Advertiser.

Traffic congestion. U.S. Sen. Brian Schatz wants to hit it head on, not only for Hawaii’s sake, but all other states that are faced with similar challenges. Garden Island.

Kauai District Engineer Ray McCormick of the Hawaii Department of Transportation will be the featured speaker at the Wailua-Kapaa Neighborhood Association’s meeting at 2 p.m. Saturday at the Kapaa Library. The talk is free and open to the public. Garden Island.

Commercial real estate booming, judge extends moratorium on Maui GMO ban, Aloha Stadium needs $200M, fire chief suspends critics, over-budget Honolulu rail project seeks bailout, tech troubles Hawaii County, rats plague Health Department, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Downtown Honolulu © 2015 All Hawaii News

Hawaii's commercial real estate market has moved from a rebound to full-blown boom, according to a tally of major property sales last year. Star-Advertiser.

Gov. David Ige earned the respect of his colleagues during his long, successful career in the Hawaii Senate, which an outsider might assume earned him political capital to sway votes. But that wasn't the case during Ige's first major political test as governor, when most of the members of his old political faction in the Senate — the Chess Club — were among the majority of senators who planned to reject his nominee for Department of Land and Natural Resources before a scheduled vote on the Senate floor. Associated Press.

Unlike the Carleton Ching nomination for the director of DLNR, the confirmation of the director and deputy director for the Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism passed committee and the full senate with no hang-ups. Hawaii Independent.

Department of Health employees say they're getting sick from unsanitary working conditions at their office, caused by an infestation of rats. Hawaii News Now.

The deadline for applications to fill vacancies on the state Ethics and Campaign Spending commissions has been extended to March 31. There is one vacancy on the Ethics Commission, and two on the Campaign Spending Commission. Star-Advertiser.

The number of visitors filling hotel rooms in January declined across all major islands except Maui, causing a dip in statewide occupancy. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii’s hotels had a good week last week, showing increases in both occupancy and room rates, according to the weekly report from Hospitality Advisors LLC and STR, Inc. Pacific Business News.

Oahu

The latest report from the independent contractor monitoring Oahu's public rail transit project echoes what rail leaders first acknowledged publicly in December: that despite their public assurances that the project would come in on time and on budget, the effort will "most likely exceed" what it was supposed to cost. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii lawmakers seem poised to bail out Honolulu’s over-budget elevated rail system, but they have yet to find the right tax formula. On Thursday, a state Senate panel approved a convoluted House measure that could extend Oahu’s 0.5 percent general excise tax surcharge for an additional 25 years. Civil Beat.

To keep Aloha Stadium operational for the next 30 years will cost $200 million just to address priority health and safety problems, a consultant told the Aloha Stadium Authority on Thursday. Star-Advertiser.

The Honolulu Ethics Commission has reaffirmed an earlier informal opinion by its staff that said Mayor Kirk Caldwell and other city officials were acting within the scope of their duties when they used city resources in an attempt to rally the community behind an effort to stave off possible downsizing of military troops on Oahu. Star-Advertiser.

Thousands of people have weighed in so far on the future of Ala Moana Beach Park. But many are asking – why not work on the things that need to be fixed now? KHON2.

Hawaii lawmakers’ latest attempt to swap urban state property for private farm land appears to be dead this legislative session. The Senate passed a bill earlier this month that proposed spending $400,000 next fiscal year to investigate the possibility of acquiring lands owned by Dole Food Company between the North Shore and central Oahu that may be suitable for long-term diversified agriculture production. Civil Beat.

The buyer of the $8.7 million Hawaii beachfront estate known as the home of Tom Selleck’s 1980's television character “Magnum P.I.” — a Chicago entity with close ties to President Barack Obama — has "strong ties to Hawaii," the firm that represented the seller said Thursday. Pacific Business News.

A former program director of an Oahu transitional homeless shelter has been charged in the theft of more than $700,000 from her former employer. Associated Press.

Hawaii

The county has spent hundreds of thousands of dollars on two audiovisual systems that were supposed to connect the West Hawaii Civic Center with the county building in Hilo. Four years after buying the system, the county in January finally tried to use it, only to find it doesn’t work properly and one of the warranties has already run out. West Hawaii Today.

Big Island Fire Chief Darren Rosario has suspended two battalion chiefs after they complained about his alleged mismanagement of the department. They've been on paid leave for four months -- and now are under investigation themselves for speaking out. Hawaii News Now.

There will be no changes this year to laws governing how Kona coffee and Kona blends are labeled. A House bill requiring that the origins of coffee used in blends be listed on the package — plus a provision that coffee carrying the Kona label have at least 51 percent coffee from that region — never received a hearing. West Hawaii Today.

While it never left Pahoa, the Puna Community Medical Center is eager to return to its home at the Pahoa Marketplace, said Clinical Programs Director Dan Domizio. Tribune-Herald.

Maui

A federal judge has extended an injunction blocking Maui County’s voter-approved moratorium on genetically engineered farming from going into effect for at least another three months. Civil Beat.

Lawmakers advanced a bill today to enable neighbor island hospitals to transition into public-private partnerships, beginning with Maui. Hawaii Public Radio.

The state House of Representatives approved its version of the state's biennium fiscal year budget Wednesday, including nearly $64 million for Central Maui capital improvement projects. Maui News.

The Maui County Council Land Use Committee recommended approval on Wednesday of community plan and zoning changes that would move the long-awaited Downtown Kihei project forward. Maui News.

The Kā‘anapali Beach Hotel and its twin resort, The Plantation Inn, have been voted “Number One Hotel with the Best Aloha Spirit” and “Number One Best Budget Hotel” respectively, by readers of Hawai‘i Magazine. Maui Now.

Kauai

When the maile lei to Kanikoo senior housing project was undone Thursday, 36 residents were already moved into their apartments at the site of the former in Lihue. Garden Island.

Hawaii Wildfire Management Organization, in collaboration with the Kauai Fire Department, Department of Land and Natural Resources Division of Forestry and Wildlife, and Kauai Civil Defense Agency, will hold community input meetings to develop a Kauai Community Wildfire Protection Plan. Garden Island.

An 11.78-acre slice of vacant, beachfront land set aside for the proposed Coconut Plantation Resort has new owners. And the buyers, who purchased it on Thursday at an absolute auction, didn’t have to look far beyond their backyard to find it. Garden Island.

Undersea cable mulled in new energy mix, OHA appeals Sunshine Law ruling, Kauai reef restoration approved, Kilauea lodge for sale, Honolulu churches appeal ethics ruling, Obama family to vacation on Oahu, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Hawaii undersea cable

As the Hawaii Public Utilities Commission continues to study the feasibility of a proposed high-voltage undersea cable between Maui and Oahu, the position of two major players in that project appears to be shifting in light of the announced multibillion-dollar absorption of Hawaiian Electric Industries by Florida-based NextEra Energy. Maui News.

Opinion: Since Florida-based NextEra Energy announced it will buy Hawaiian Electric for $4.3 billion, many public officials have hoped the new owner will better HEI's dismal record on reducing fossil fuels and cutting rates. Our leaders can do more than hope. Star-Advertiser.

The Office of Hawaiian Affairs is fighting back in court against a ruling that found the Board of Trustees in violation of the state's open-meeting law in two instances involving a dispute over the conduct of CEO Kamana‘opono Crabbe. Star-Advertiser.

A new report released today shows the use of electronic cigarettes among teens is growing in Hawai‘i. The study, coming out of the University of Hawai‘i Cancer Center, shows adolescents are smoking e-cigarettes three times the national average. Hawaii Public Radio.

Opinion: Are E-cigs Creating the Next Generation of Smokers? Civil Beat.

The U.S. Congress may soon be controlled by Republicans, but Hawaii’s Democrats in the Senate have secured important committee assignments that begin early next year. Civil Beat.

President Barack Obama and his family plan to leave Washington, D.C., on Dec. 19 for their annual Christmas vacation in Hawaii. Pacific Business News.

The governor is appointing an executive at Hawaii’s largest health care provider to be the director of the state Department of Health. Gov. David Ige on Friday announced the appointment of Dr. Virginia “Ginny” Pressler. Her appointment is subject to state Senate confirmation. Associated Press.

More than 600 public-sector employees will be attending the Hawaii Digital Government Summit. Associated Press.

Monday is the deadline for Hawaii residents to enroll with the Hawaii Health Connector for coverage taking effect on Thursday, Jan. 1, 2015. You can change your plan at any time during their open enrollment period that runs through Feb. 15, 2015. However, if you change your plan after Monday, Dec. 15, your new plan coverage will take effect on the first of the following month. KHON2.

Oahu

Two Oahu churches being sued for allegedly underpaying the state Department of Education for using school facilities for religious services are appealing a state judge's refusal to throw out the lawsuit. Star-Advertiser.

Deputy Prosecutor Katherine Kealoha, wife of the Honolulu chief of police, has fired another volley in a legal dispute involving her family. Star-Advertiser.

The U.S. Navy does not agree that double-lining massive tanks at the Red Hill Fuel Storage Facility is the best way to prevent groundwater contamination. Associated Press.

Gas prices dipped below $3 a gallon in some parts of Oahu for the first time in seven years. But the state still has the highest gas prices in the nation, followed by Alaska and New York. Star-Advertiser.

Commentary: The Little Solution to the Big Housing Crisis. On islands where real estate is so precious, how small do we need to think to bring down the cost of living? Civil Beat.

Hawaii

Changes to the size limit for commercial ahi is in the works. State and federal fisheries regulators seeking comment on raising the minimum size of ahi from 3 pounds — along with other rule changes — took input from about two dozen commercial fishermen in Kailua-Kona on Saturday. West Hawaii Today.

Hawai'i County Civil Defense officials say the Puna lava flow advanced east-northeast another 300 yards since Saturday and is now 1.4 miles from the Highway 130 and Pahoa Village Road intersection. Hawaii News Now.

Burglaries, car break-ins and stolen vehicles all fell in November in Hawaii island's Puna district after invading lava prompted Mayor Billy Kenoi to declare a state of emergency that includes increased penalties for some crimes committed there. Star-Advertiser.

A historic piece of Volcano Village is for sale. Kilauea Lodge, a landmark hotel and restaurant that was originally a YMCA camp, was put on the market recently with an asking price of $5.9 million. Tribune-Herald.

Maui

Former Maui County Council candidate Ka'ala Buenconsejo has been appointed as the county's new Department of Parks and Recreation director. Maui News.

Kauai

Marine biologist Katherine Muzik has been given the green light for a reef restoration pilot project along a dredged area of reef in Kapaa. Garden Island.

Opinion: Four years. That’s a long time to wait for the cavalry to come to your rescue. But that’s how long it took the Hawaii Office of Information Practices to rule when I sought its help obtaining public records in 2010 after being stonewalled by government officials on Kauai. Civil Beat.

Charter schools lag in 3R's, Honolulu police chief causes mistrial, Kauai newspaper offers $10k reward in monk seal bludgeoning, Pearl Harbor officials blasted for selling free tickets, Waikiki merchants could pay fee for beach upkeep, Pahoa merchants eye lava flow, land use mulled, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

courtesy Hawaii Charter Schools Network

Public school students as a whole performed better than charter school students in math, reading and science last year, according to the Charter School Commission's annual report released this week. Star-Advertiser.

An internal report from the National Park Service, which operates a visitors' center for a memorial at the USS Arizona, said tour companies sold tickets with the knowledge of park officials even though tickets are supposed to be free. Associated Press.

The state of Hawaii has implemented a "cloud first" policy across all state departments for all new information technology projects and migrating existing applications, the governor's office announced Thursday. Pacific Business News.

Three U.S. cities that President Barack Obama once called home are trying to outdo one another as the competition to host his future presidential library comes to a close. Associated Press.

The Hawaii Attorney General’s office and Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism failed to report millions of dollars from certain accounts, hindering the Legislature’s ability to monitor the money, a state audit has found. Civil Beat.

The University of Hawaii Board of Regents voted unanimously Thursday to approve Kalbert Young as chief operating officer and vice president for budget and finance. Young had been state budget director the past four years under former Gov. Neil Abercrombie, helping craft the state's roughly $10 billion operating budget and develop long-term financial strategies. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii’s FBI agency received $1.2 million worth of equipment in the form of three mine-resistant vehicles. Civil Beat.

The head of the Florida company buying Hawaiian Electric Industries said Thursday he plans to lower electric bills in the islands by switching power plants to liquefied natural gas, adding large-scale solar and wind farms and making use of smart grid technology. Star-Advertiser.

Oahu

The lawyer for the man who was on trial for allegedly stealing Honolulu Police Chief Louis Kealoha's mailbox is accusing Kealoha of intentionally causing a mistrial. Star-Advertiser.

Inappropriate testimony from Honolulu Police Chief Louis Kealoha caused a federal judge to declare a mistrial in what has become a high-profile case involving a mailbox stolen from his house and an ongoing family feud between his wife and her estranged uncle over money. Civil Beat.

It was only in its second hour and on the second witness, when the federal trial for the man accused of stealing the mailbox of the Honolulu Police chief, abruptly ended. Hawaii News Now.

If two new city bills aimed at maintaining iconic Waikiki Beach are adopted, commercial property owners in the area will have to contribute to beach restoration projects. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii

Drivers traversing the intersection of Queen Kaahumanu Highway and Makala Boulevard in Kailua-Kona may need to adjust their driving pattern, and more changes are ahead. West Hawaii Today.

On Monday, a group of students and activists took down the American flag flying at main entrance of the University of Hawaii at Hilo, instead raising the Hawaiian flag that was beneath it. The action was related to what they say is the continued illegal occupation of the Hawaiian Kingdom by the United States. Big Island Video News.

A bill aimed at increasing transparency and public input in the process of creating planned unit developments was reluctantly endorsed Thursday by the Windward Planning Commission. West Hawaii Today.

The lava flow on the Big Island has shifted in recent weeks. That means new neighborhoods threatened and lots of questions, which community leaders attempted to answer Wednesday night. KITV4.

The new leading edge of the June 27 lava flow moved 170 yards between Wednesday and Thursday, bringing it within about 435 yards of a fork in its predicted path. Tribune-Herald.

Twenty-one people attended a state Planning Office meeting Wednesday at the Natural Energy Laboratory of Hawaii Authority, where officials gathered input about the state’s land use process, specifically district boundary amendment procedures. West Hawaii Today.

East Hawaii residents might have a harder time finding a Christmas tree this year after shipments to one major retailer were sent back to the mainland. Tribune-Herald.

Maui

Target has already attracted 1,100 applicants online, and had hundreds of interested job seekers attend the first day of a four-day job fair on Maui today. Maui Now.

Maui-based Pacific Biodiesel Technologies has signed a contract with Hawaiian Electric to supply the utility with biodiesel processed from waste cooking oil and other local feedstocks for use at HECO's 110-megawatt Campbell Industrial Park generation facility. Maui News.

Kauai

The Garden Island newspaper is putting up a $10,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of whoever is responsible for the bludgeoning death of a female Hawaiian monk seal pup in Anahola, on Kauai’s northeast coast. The award matches a $10,000 award offered by the Humane Society of the United States, Conservation Council of Hawaii, Center for Biological Diversity and the Monk Seal Foundation.

The county will not change the designation of a Poipu neighborhood after many residents and property owners objected. County planning officials, in response to concerns from Whalers Cove residents, said they will keep the active residential zoning designation for the area. Garden Island.

Many Hawaii homeless new arrivals, Abercrombie says same-sex marriage highlight of gubernatorial term, PAC spending case sent to prosecutor, Hawaii council advances e-cig ban, Kakaako construction gone wild, Maui could hike water rates in droughts, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Honolulu homeless © 2014 All Hawaii News

About 6 percent of Hawaii's homeless population — or about 600 people — arrived in the Aloha State in only the last 12 months, according to a new University of Hawaii report. In addition, about 16 percent of the homeless population — or about 1,600 people — told Hawaii social service workers they became new residents within the last five years. Star-Advertiser.

Opponents of a proposal to put in place the city's "sit-lie" ordinance in business districts across Oahu plan to hold rally at Hono­lulu Hale starting shortly before midday Thursday to urge Mayor Kirk Caldwell to veto the bill passed by the Honolulu City Council. Star-Advertiser.

A Statewide Homeless Awareness Conference on O’ahu is scheduled for Friday. It will bring service providers and government agencies together to look for viable solutions. Hawaii Public Radio.

An immigration reform proposal expected to be unveiled by President Barack Obama today could protect hundreds of undocumented immigrants living in Hawaii from deportation. Civil Beat.

Gov. Neil Abercrombie on Wednesday described the legalization of same-sex marriage as his proudest accomplishment as governor and said he wished he had done more to convince the public of the need for shared sacrifice near the end of the recession. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii Attorney General David Louie plans to appeal a court’s decision requiring the release of financial disclosure statements of certain state board members, which is expected to keep the records private while that lengthy process plays out. Civil Beat.

Opinion: Hawaii Needs to Spread a Little Digital Aloha. Our new governor should take steps — even if they're costly — to drag the islands’ computer systems into the modern world. Civil Beat.

Oahu

The city prosecutor's office is now tasked with deciding whether criminal charges are warranted in connection with two complaints related to the 2012 mayoral campaign activities of the Pacific Resource Partnership Political Action Committee. Star-Advertiser.

Honolulu prosecutors will decide whether to file criminal charges against the Pacific Resource Partnership’s political action committee for failing to disclose hundreds of thousands of dollars spent during the 2012 mayoral campaign, among other violations. The state Campaign Spending Commission voted 3-1 Wednesday to refer two complaints against PRP to city prosecutors. Civil Beat.

A global engineering and design firm that holds three Oahu rail project contracts has purchased a rival company that holds the contract to oversee the design firm's work, forcing city officials to look at ways to resolve an apparent conflict of interest. Star-Advertiser.

The former lead prosecutor in the gambling, money laundering and racketeering case involving arcade sweepstakes machines is facing possible sanctions for failing to show up in state court Wednesday. Star-Advertiser.

Pearl Harbor is getting a fourth Virginia-class submarine next week, adding to the high-tech firepower the Navy has said will accompany the rebalance to the Pacific. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii developer Stanford Carr's Keauhou Lane project, which includes 388 residential units in a 400-foot high-rise tower, along with 35 townhouse units in a 42-foot mid-rise tower, is slated to start construction in late March or early April. Pacific Business News.

Better coordination between landowners, developing a business improvement district and subsidizing retailers were some of the ideas tossed around at a town hall meeting in Downtown Honolulu that focused on the pedestrian experience in the growing Honolulu neighborhood of Kakaako. Pacific Business News.

Opinion: Imagining Kakaako — How Our Hearts Lead Us Astray. The area is developing all too quickly thanks to public/private cooperation on steroids and the lack of urban vision. Civil Beat.

Reece Huculak-Kimmel has become known as the million-dollar baby. The 11-month-old Canadian girl was prematurely born at Kapiolani Medical Center for Women & Children on Dec. 10 and her parents are now responsible for a $950,000 bill that insurance won't cover. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii

A bill prohibiting the use of electronic cigarettes anywhere smoking traditional cigarettes is banned moved ahead Wednesday to its final vote, after attempts to first amend, then delay, the measure were batted away by a County Council majority. West Hawaii Today.

Hawaii County’s Civil Defense chief said he will continue to assess whether road restrictions should be lifted as the June 27 lava flow remains calm near Pahoa. Tribune-Herald.

US House Panel Gets Volcano Hazard Update. Reps. Hanabusa and Gabbard were among those at the congressional hearing that included testimony from Hawaii officials. Civil Beat.

The June 27 lava flow took centerstage Wednesday during a Congressional subcommittee hearing on volcano monitoring in the United States. Tribune-Herald.

The comptroller for the state Department of Accounting and General Services has joined the lineup of opposition to placing the Keauhou aquifer under the control of the state’s water commission. West Hawaii Today.

Two top administrators of the state Department of Health’s Adult Mental Health Division appeared in a Hilo courtroom Tuesday to explain delays in performing a mental examination for a woman jailed several months for relatively minor offenses. Tribune-Herald.

Maui

Members of the council committee on water resources today passed a bill on first reading that seeks to establish special water rate actions and conservation measures during times of water shortages and drought. Maui Now.

Lahainaluna High School staff, students, supporters and local politicians have formed a Lahainaluna Boarding Department Working Group to sustain the historic and nearly 200-year-old program that has been hit with funding problems and the phasing out of traditional and lucrative farming programs. Maui News.

Kauai

The Kauai County Council soundly defeated a proposal encouraging Mayor Bernard Carvalho Jr.’s administration to create a low-interest loan program that would help residents upgrade their cesspools to septic systems on the heels of imminent changes to state Department of Health rules on wastewater. Garden Island.

Army to stay in Hawaii, House OKs minimum wage hike, anti-GMO amendment headed to Maui ballot, feds renew $10.7M homeless grant, Schatz, Hanabusa, same but different, state ponders hiker protection after Kauai Kalalau Trail rescue, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Pohakuloa Army training area (c) 2014 All Hawaii News

The Army's presence in the Pacific has grown to 106,000 active-duty soldiers from about 90,000, a nearly 18 percent increase, as the service re-balances in the region while planning drastic cuts elsewhere, officials said. Star-Advertiser.

The state House on Tuesday approved a minimum wage increase, and there were new signs that the state Senate might accept the House draft rather than force conference committee negotiations that could endanger a pay raise for low-income workers. The minimum wage would increase to $10 an hour by January 2018 and the tip credit would expand to 75 cents an hour under the House bill. Star-Advertiser.

Lawmakers have passed a bill that will raise the minimum wage in Hawaii. The House passed the measure Tuesday. Before it goes to the governor to become law, its details will have to be hammered out in conference with the Senate. Associated Press.

The state attorney general said Hawaii will continue to provide health benefits for Micronesian migrants until a lawsuit on the issue is resolved. Attorney General David Louie said Tuesday the migrants will receive uninterrupted access to health benefits while the suit is pending. Star-Advertiser.

In the senatorial contest between U.S. Sen. Brian Schatz and Rep. Colleen Hanabusa, it can be challenging to find clear ideological differences. Both are Democrats in a left-leaning state, and their votes tend to align with their party. In terms of their track records in Washington, it can be about a sliver here or a nuance there. But campaigns are often fought — and won — by making the right contrasts. Civil Beat.

LGBT, Church groups mobilize around Horner nomination The BOE chairman's Senate re-appointment confirmation hearing could become a flash point for the first skirmish of the new year between the groups that fought over same-sex marriage in October. Hawaii Independent.

Rebounding from an “F” in government transparency last year, Hawaii this year has attained a “C” grade as the second most improved state in the nation, according to a “Following the Money” study released Tuesday. West Hawaii Today.

Federal housing officials have renewed $10.7 million in grants for 38 Hawaii homeless housing and service programs through the Department of Housing and Urban Development's Continuum of Care Program. The programs deal with a variety of services from street outreach to client assessment to direct housing assistance to homeless individuals and families with children. Star-Advertiser.

The Hawaii auditor has commended the State Public Charter School Commission for so quickly turning around an education system that lacked serious oversight. In a report the office released Tuesday, the auditor says a 2012 law that re-established charter schools’ governance structure and clarified the lines of accountability shows real promise. Civil Beat.

Teach for America in Hawaii says losing about $1 million in state funding will drastically hamper efforts to train and support teachers in struggling schools that need them the most. Associated Press.

State is pursuing initiatives to keep kids' teeth healthy. The state Health Department's dental hygiene branch was eliminated in 2009 due to budget cuts. Star-Advertiser.

The top 10 University of Hawaii employees make on average almost 13 times more than the bottom 100 workers earn, salary data for 2013 shows. The highest paid position last year was again the football coach. Norm Chow's base salary was $550,000. Civil Beat.

Oahu

An effort to permit residential towers on land owned by the state Office of Hawaiian Affairs in a makai portion of Kaka­ako could be on shaky ground at the Legislature. Star-Advertiser.

Red-shirted sign-wavers rallied at the state Capitol Tuesday, trying to defeat legislation that will allow the Office of Hawaiian Affairs to develop residential buildings in Kakaako Makai. Surfers, fishermen, environmental groups and park users held signs that read "No High Rises!" and "Save Our Kakaako." They later massed in the House of Representatives gallery to listen to lawmakers deliberate over Senate Bill 3122. Civil Beat.

State Health Department officials are investigating the alleged illegal dumping of tons of potentially hazardous materials in Kalaeloa. Investigators with Health Department's hazardous waste branch are testing the corrosiveness of the white powdery substance stored on land owned by the state Department of Hawaiian Home Lands near the Kalaeloa Airport. Hawaii News Now.

Instead of being used as a farm and generating rental income for the state, an agricultural plot in Waimanalo has been vacant for six years, prompting complaints from a state senator. Hawaii News Now.

Hawaii

The state’s public hospital network says it is in need of emergency funding if it is to maintain its current level of service as Hawaii’s health care safety net. Specifically, administrators of Hawaii Health Systems Corp.’s East Hawaii Region — encompassing four acute and long-term care facilities and 11 clinics on the windward side of the Big Isle — say they expect to come up short this year to the tune of just less than $5 million unless aided by the state. Tribune-Herald.

Hawaii County is still a few years away from being able to offer treated water for reuse in landscaping irrigation, Environmental Management Director Bobby Jean Leithead Todd said Tuesday evening. West Hawaii Today.

The state House of Representatives on Tuesday voted in favor of a bill establishing a temporary working group to help the state acquire lands in Waipio Valley. Tribune-Herald.

Natural Energy Laboratory of Hawaii Authority officials are looking two decades down the road with a draft environmental assessment for several internal connector roads. West Hawaii Today.

Maui

The Sustainable Hawaiian Agriculture for the Keiki and the Aina (SHAKA) Movement submitted more than 9,500 signatures Monday in support of a temporary ban on growing or testing genetically modified organisms (GMOs) in Maui County, becoming the first citizen's initiative in the county to garner enough signatures to be considered for the ballot. Maui News.

A total of 9,500 signatures were submitted to the county on Monday as part of a petition calling for the suspension of genetically-engineered operations and practices in Maui County. Maui News.

A Maui group says it has submitted more than 9,500 signatures in support of a temporary ban on growing or testing genetically modified organisms in Maui County. The measure will be heard by the Maui County Council if the group, the Sustainable Hawaiian Agriculture for the Keiki and the Aina Movement, has been found to have gathered at least 8,500 valid signatures. Associated Press.

Kauai

Shall the Code of Ethics be amended to allow members of boards and commissions to appear before boards they are not a member of to represent private interests? It’s an issue that voters may take up in this year’s election if the County Council approves a resolution today authorizing the ballot question. Garden Island.

The Kauai Fire Commission on Monday said it would wait for a task force report before deciding whether to support legislation that could dictate when emergency responders could use sirens and lights. Garden Island.

When it comes to closing Kauai’s Kalalau Trail, the state Department of Land and Natural Resources relies exclusively on warnings from the National Weather Service and information from its ranger in Haena. Garden Island.

Kauai’s Kalalau Trail reopened Tuesday, one day day after an exhaustive rescue that involved firefighters flying 121 hikers out of an area near Hanakapiai stream over a two-day period. KHON2.

Oahu native Ho‘omanawanui makes House bid. Garden Island.

Hawaii voters want GMO labeling, Kauai continues GMO fight in court, police discipline records destroyed, homeless increasing, voters unsure about Kakaako development, fishing, surfing, kayaking could be forbidden on 'Forbidden Isle,' more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

GMO sign in Hilo grocery (c) 2014 All Hawaii News

Three-quarters of voters interviewed in a new Hawaii Poll want the state Legislature to pass a law requiring that all food from genetically modified organisms sold in Hawaii carry labels. The poll found that only a quarter of voters consider themselves very familiar with GMOs. Yet those with the most knowledge about GMOs tend to be the most concerned about the issue. Star-Advertiser.

SB 2591 — introduced by Sen. Will Espero — aims to make more information available about police disciplinary actions as well as require county police agencies to maintain fired officers’ disciplinary files for six months after the annual legislative summaries are filed. Civil Beat.

A majority of Hawaii residents think the homeless problem has grown worse over the last year and even threatens the state's economy by discouraging visitors from returning. In addition, most folks who responded to the Hawaii Poll say the homeless are reducing the quality of their own lives by their increasing presence on or near beaches, parks, sidewalks and other places where they hang out. Star-Advertiser.

The state’s technology office is in the process of rolling out a half-million dollar system that allows the governor’s office to better manage thousands of communications from constituents and track bills that are moving through the Legislature. Civil Beat.

Hunting for sport and subsistence is popular on the neighbor islands and rural Oahu where wild game is more plentiful and accessible. A number of lawmakers are supporting a measure this session to preserve land set aside for Hawai’i’s hunters. Hawaii Public Radio.

New solution to help combat graffiti. HB 2391: “Requires all persons offering aerosol spray paint containers for sale to restrict public access to the containers so that access to them cannot be gained without employee assistance." KHON2.

The io population is secure so this revered Hawaiian hawk can be removed from the federal list of threatened and endangered species, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service said in a proposal that’s ruffling feathers with some residents. West Hawaii Today.

The Kamehameha butterfly was once found on all the main Hawaiian Islands. But researchers say the insect, which is found only in the state of Hawaii, is now on the decline. Hawaii Public Radio.

Three Hawaii high schools are preparing for national competitions. The state Department of Education says Maui, Mililani and Waipahu high schools will head to the mainland for national competitions in April. Associated Press.

Oahu

Complaints about condominium tower development being too rampant in Kakaako have gushed this year at the Legislature and at meetings of a state agency governing such development. Yet a new poll suggests that this view is held by only about half of Oahu residents. Star-Advertiser.

Voters asked about development in Kakaako echo the stand protesters took at the State Capitol two weeks ago against the rise in condo projects. 54 percent say, "there's been too much development, too quickly." However, 43 percent believe it's better there than other areas of Oahu. Hawaii News Now.

The 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals will hear oral arguments in Honolulu this week. A three-judge panel of the court plans to hear three appeals of decisions by immigration authorities and by the U.S. District Court for Hawaii. Associated Press.

Legendary singer-songwriter Bob Dylan is heading back to the islands for his first performance here in 16 years. Hawaii News Now.

Hawaii

Ethics reform just may be the last 2008 campaign promise still on Mayor Billy Kenoi’s plate. He’s hoping the Hawaii County Council Finance Committee finally bites when it meets at 4 p.m. today to consider a bill that’s been twice spurned by the county Board of Ethics and killed by a previous County Council. West Hawaii Today.

A recently signed memorandum of understanding between Hawaii Electric Light Co., Hawaii County and the Natural Energy Laboratory of Hawaii Authority lays out one of the biggest difficulties in adding more renewable energy to a grid: energy storage. West Hawaii Today.

Unexpectedly high water in the Humuula saddle region, between Mauna Kea and Mauna Loa, has prompted a University of Hawaii researcher to seek a new site for additional tests. West Hawaii Today.

Maui

The Maui Federal Credit Union and Kula Community Federal Credit Union have received final approval from the National Credit Union Administration to merge, with an effective back date of Jan. 2. Pacific Business News.

Kauai

A release of the Office of the County Attorney’s confidential legal opinion on the final draft of Bill 2491, regulating GMO and pesticides, is one of the reasons why an outside firm is being sought to defend it in federal court, County of Kauai officials said. That Oct. 24 opinion, penned by Deputy County Attorney Mauna Kea Trask and stamped “DO NOT DISCLOSE” in large, red letters, was released publicly a week later by Mayor Bernard Carvalho, Jr. along with an announcement of his bill veto. Garden Island.

The Attorney General’s Office said it won’t get involved in a statute dispute centered around whether the mayor should have to vacate office. Garden Island.

Molokai

Urban development in Hawaii has left native butterflies with dwindling habitat, but on Molokai, butterflies will soon enjoy a buffet in downtown Kaunakakai. A specially-designed garden in front of the Molokai Public Library, created last week through volunteer community efforts, offers butterfly flower favorites, beauty for passersby and an agriculture education for keiki. Molokai Dispatch.

Niihau
Fishing restrictions around Niihau would be set by a single individual on the island under a bill approved last week by a Senate committee. Senate Bill 180, passed 5-0 with amendments Friday by the Committee on Water and Land, would establish a private fishery around the island under the auspices of a so-called kono­hiki, a term referring to the "village elder" or head of an ahupuaa land division. Star-Advertiser.

A handful of lawmakers in the state Legislature are not only seeking to prohibit fishing within two miles of the “Forbidden Island” of Niihau but also keep out tour boats, kayaks and even surfers. Garden Island.

Kauai coral study complete, gas tax, park fee hikes loom, Hawaii computers unaffected by hacker blitz, Maui council overrides tax-credit veto, officials react to Greenwood retirement, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Coral scientist (c) 2013 All Hawaii News

A team of scientists from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration wrapped up its week-long study of Kaua‘i’s diseased coral reefs Tuesday. Garden Island.

Sanjeev "Sonny" Bhagowalia, the state's chief information officer, said there did not appear to be a noticeable increase in the number of hacking attempts or scans of state agency sites Tuesday, which #OpUSA organizers had declared as the day for hackers to disrupt the websites of U.S. government agencies and banks. Star-Advertiser.

U.S. Sen. Brian Schatz met with a high-level federal official this week to discuss mismanagement and oversight problems at the state Department of Hawaiian Home Lands that were exposed in a just-published Star-Advertiser series.

U.S. Rep. Colleen Hanabusa was endorsed on Tuesday by EMILY's List, the national political action committee that helps elect Democratic women who favor abortion rights. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii leaders say one of the highlights of the 2013 legislative session was greater transparency in the lawmaking process. But advocacy groups like Common Cause and the League of Women Voters, along with more critical legislators, say a lot more needs to be done to make Hawaii’s legislative process clearer and more accessible to the public. Associated Press.

Observers were beginning to weigh in Tuesday on what they would like to see in the University of Hawaii's next president, with several saying the Board of Regents should focus on a candidate who will be a stabilizing force in the wake of a rocky year. Star-Advertiser.

A day after embattled University of Hawaii President MRC Greenwood announced her plans to retire, UH observers said she had realized she was having a difficult time being effective. Hawaii News Now.

When UH President MRC Greenwood made the announcement Monday she was resigning as UH President, no one was really shocked. KHON2.

Less than 18 hours after University of Hawaii President MRC Greenwood announced she plans to retire several months before her lucrative $475,000-a-year contract expires in 2015, the controversial academic has gone silent – at least for now. Hawaii Reporter.

The number of tropical storms and hurricanes threatening Hawaii is expected to increase significantly after 2075 due to climate change, a group of researchers said. Star-Advertiser.

Oahu

The Honolulu City Council budget committee has some changes in store for Mayor Kirk Caldwell’s inaugural spending plan. Civil Beat.

Managing Director Ember Shinn asked members of the City Council to reconsider Mayor Kirk Caldwell's 5-cent per gallon fuel tax increase, as recent collective bargaining agreements reached with United Public Workers and the Hawaii Government Employees Association appear to be budget busters for the city, and that's even before arbitration awards for police officers and firefighters become part of the equation. KITV4.

Honolulu Mayor Kirk Caldwell has released the names of the employees in his executive office, which he had been withholding for more than a week in violation of the state’s public records law. Civil Beat.

A jury has been selected for the trial of State Department agent Christopher Deedy, who was in Hono­lulu to provide security for the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation conference, on a murder charge in the 2011 shooting of a Kailua man in Waikiki. Star-Advertiser.

The Oahu housing market continued to shine in April with double digit percentage increases in both the number of sales of condominiums and single-family homes, according to statistics from the Honolulu Board of Realtors. Pacific Business News.

Hawaii

Fees to use park pavilions would more than double and fees for other county facilities would also jump under rule changes proposed by the Department of Parks and Recreation. West Hawaii Today.

Hawaii County Councilwoman Margaret Wille has introduced a bill that would ban most genetically modified crops from the Big Island. Tribune-Herald.

The retirement of University of Hawaii President M.R.C. Greenwood shouldn’t affect the Palamanui campus project, West Hawaii legislators and a Hawaii Community College official said Tuesday. West Hawaii Today.

Hawaii Island and the rest of the state have been hit with heavy vog as a result of an unseasonable lack of trade winds. Tribune-Herald.

The long-awaited Kona Judiciary Complex remains on schedule for a 2019 opening despite the state Legislature this session approving just 10 percent of the $90 million the state judiciary requested for the West Hawaii project. West Hawaii Today.

Maui

The Maui County Council on Tuesday unanimously voted to override Mayor Alan Arakawa's veto of a County Council bill making changes to the county's "circuit breaker" property tax program that aims to help those with limited incomes from being taxed out of their homes. Maui News.

Maui Mayor Alan Arakawa issued a media statement today in response to the council’s override of his veto on Bill 16. The bill seeks to amend the Circuit Breaker tax credit. Maui Now.

Despite some concerns from committee members, the Maui County Council Budget and Finance Committee officially referred its proposed $559 million county budget - $15 million less than proposed by Mayor Alan Arakawa - to the full council for approval Monday afternoon. Maui News.

Dozens of parents and keiki rallied in the rain at Paia Elementary on Monday against a lottery process - suspended the day before - that they said would deny some of their children the right to a Hawaiian language immersion education. Maui News.

Kauai

Once the offices of the Prosecuting Attorney, a portable building will breathe life as the clubhouse for the Boys & Girls Club of Hawai‘i, Lihu‘e Outreach. Garden Island.

Kaua‘i is the island that has suffered the most from hurricanes, with Hurricane Iwa in 1982 causing more than $250 million in damages, a record for Hawai‘i at that time, and Hurricane ‘Iniki in 1992, pushing the record to $2 billion. Garden Island.