Green signs 'historic' tax cut bills, Kilauea eruption pauses, Maui Council tackles resolution opposing Space Force telescopes, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Gov. Josh Green Gives Final Approval To Income Tax Break He Hopes Will Make Hawaii Affordable. The Governor also signed a bill that exempts medical services reimbursed by Medicare, Medicaid, and TRICARE from the state’s General Excise Tax.  Gov. Josh Green signed the largest income tax cut in state history into law on Monday, giving final approval to a measure that should deliver bigger paychecks for many of Hawaii’s working people as early as the beginning of next year. Civil Beat. Hawaii Public Radio.  Big Island Now.  Star-Advertiser.  Tribune-Herald.  Hawaii News Now. KHON2.  KITV4.  Big Island Video News.

Governor declares emergency to avoid loss of phone, internet services for Hawaiian Home Lands households. Hawai‘i Gov. Josh Green on Friday signed an emergency proclamation to avoid loss of telecommunications services for many Hawaiian Home Lands households across the state. Big Island Now.

Hawaiian Home Lands Broadband Customers Say The Service Has Been Bad For Years. State regulators and the governor stopped the communications company from cutting off phone and internet services over the weekend. Civil Beat.

Telecom service can’t last, Sandwich Isles founder says. Sandwich Isles Communication founder Albert Hee said Monday that despite the company’s lack of resources, services have continued for about 1,500 customers on Hawaiian home lands because of Gov. Josh Green’s emergency proclamation Friday evening to prevent the loss of telecommunications services. Star-Advertiser. Hawaii News Now.

DHHL Has Big Plans For More Homes. But It Needs A Lot More Money. The department and its developers are pushing for a mixed bag of financing and housing options. But not everyone is happy with proposals for more rentals. Civil Beat.

Hawaii’s Department of Health is investigating the Badia brand seasonings after food inspectors in New York confirmed elevated levels of lead.  Hold off on using Badia ground ginger and cinnamon products. Hawaii News Now.

73 public schools to offer summer meals to children under 18. Thanks to the Seamless Summer Option (SSO) program, two meals will be served Monday through Friday at 73 participating schools, excluding state-observed holidays. KHON2.

Oahu

Uncertainty over Honolulu rail leadership could put funding in jeopardy. The Federal Transit Administration on Monday warned that leadership uncertainty at the Honolulu Authority for Rapid Transportation could jeopardize another $250 million in federal money needed by the city’s rail system. Star-Advertiser.

City land donation proposed for Kailua Hawaiian homesteads project. For the third time in two decades, city officials are seeking to make residential use out of a large parcel of vacant city land in Kailua. Star-Advertiser.

New injunction is sought to stop Haiku Stairs’ removal. The Friends of Haiku Stairs have filed a new legal motion meant to stop the city’s planned demolition of the World War II-era staircase, above Haiku Valley and the H-3 freeway, in Kaneohe. Star-Advertiser.

NOAA: Post-mortem exam confirms monk seal pup attacked by dog. Federal wildlife officials today said a post-mortem exam confirms a newborn monk seal pup born on Oahu’s North Shore died from injuries due to a dog attack. Star-Advertiser. KHON2.  KITV4.

Hawaii Island

Kīlauea eruption within Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park has paused. The eruption that began southwest of Kīlauea’s summit at approximately 12:30 a.m. has paused. However, activity in this region remains dynamic and could change quickly, according to a press release from Hawaiian Volcano Observatory.  Big Island Now. Big Island Video News.  Star-Advertiser.  KITV4.

DHHL To Bring Wi-Fi Hotspots To Puʻukapu Pastoral Leases. SIC broadband customers in Puʻukapu who have been without service since April 2024 will be eligible for the AT&T Wi-Fi hotspot distribution. Big Island Video News.

Police, fire, National Guard, others stage exercise at Hilo school today. Waiakea High School will take on the appearance of Ground Zero today — but rest assured, this is only a drill. Tribune-Herald.

Maui

Maui Council Hears Opposition To Proposed Space Force Telescopes On Haleakala. The council will vote on a resolution on Wednesday to officially oppose construction of up to seven telescopes on the dormant volcano. More than 20 people from Hawaii to Tahiti urged the Maui County Council on Monday to oppose the military’s plan to build more telescopes atop Haleakala, the Valley Isle’s highest peak at 10,000 feet. Civil Beat. Maui Now.

73 public schools, including eight in Maui County to offer summer meals to children. The Hawaiʻi State Department of Education announced today that 73 public schools will serve meals free of charge over the summer to children ages 18 and younger – regardless of public school enrollment status – through its summer food service program. The list includes five schools on Maui and three on Molokaʻi. Maui Now.

Kauai

PMRF honors Hawaiian place name as Major’s Bay becomes Waiapua‘a Bay. The US Navy’s Pacific Missile Range Facility in Kekaha formally changed a recreation area at its military base to its Native Hawaiian place name during a sign unveiling ceremony on Friday, May 31, as  Major’s Bay officially became Waiapua‘a Bay.  Kauai Now. Garden Island.

State to ‘closely monitor’ cruise ships after large liner appeared too close to Na Pali Coast. The state is putting cruise ship operators on notice after the large liner Celebrity Edge appeared to come too close to Kauai’s Na Pali coast a month ago. Hawaii News Now. KHON2.

Kilauea erupts, Hawaii seaweed touted to reduce cattle methane emissions, Honolulu mulls gift ban bill, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Cattle Are A Major Source Of Greenhouse Gas Emissions. Hawaii Seaweed Could Change That. Local businesses are getting big funding boosts to help make farmed algae part of the solution in addressing the amount of methane cattle produce. Civil Beat.

 Kilauea erupting as alert level raised to red. Kīlauea erupts; fissures active likely about a mile south of caldera, within Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park. Big Island Now.  Star-Advertiser.
 Big Island Video News. . Hawaii News Now.  KHON2.

Established Hawaii business groups question fledgling chamber. The head of the Chamber of Commerce of Hawaii says a new organization called the Chamber of Sustainable Commerce has generated confusion among some island businesses and does not represent traditional business interests. Star-Advertiser.

PUC orders halt to phone, internet service disconnections for 1,500 Hawaiian Home Lands households.  The state Public Utilities Commission has ordered Sandwich Isles Communications not to cut phone and internet service to about 1,500 Hawaiian Home Lands households statewide. Hawaii News Now.

State chief information officer retiring. State Chief Information Officer Doug Murdock retired from public service Friday, Gov. Josh Green announced.. Murdock served as CIO since January 2019. Star-Advertiser.

Big Island senator assigned new interim chair Senate Committee. Sen. Herbert M. “Tim” Richards III (Senate District 4, North Hilo, Hāmākua, Kohala, Waimea, Waikoloa, North Kona) will be the interim Chair of the Senate Committee on Hawaiian Affairs. Big Island Now.

New members appointed to Hawaiian Homes Commission. Renown waterman and Maui activist Archie Kalepa was appointed to represent the Valley Isle, effective immediately.  Gov. Josh Green also appointed Lawrence Lasua, former president and CEO of Moloka‘i Community Federal Credit Union, effective July 1. Star-Advertiser.

Falck protests EMS contracts for Maui, Kauai going to AMR. The company that initially won the state contracts for emergency medical services for Maui and Kauai counties and then lost it in a rebidding process is formally contesting awarding of the work to International Life Support, dba American Medical Response, or AMR. Star-Advertiser.

Oahu

Council advances gift ban bill for Honolulu city and county employees. A Honolulu City Council measure to prohibit city and county employees from accepting gifts from lobbyists or other third-party sources in relation to their official duties is nearing final approval. Star-Advertiser.

Tweaks To Honolulu’s Land Use Law Could Jeopardize Kahuku’s Controversial Wind Farms. Repairs may soon be needed, but those could run into legal trouble as the City Council considers new restrictions. Civil Beat.

Honolulu Has Been Fighting Over Illegal Vacation Rentals Since The 1970s. Whether tourists destroy neighborhoods or provide a critical financial lifeline to residents is an argument that goes back a generation. Civil Beat.

Tensions at HART leave future of rail leadership in doubt. Lori Kahikina’s future as the CEO and executive director of the city’s rail project — and the future of the project itself — has been thrown into doubt with six months left on her contract and relations continuing to break down between her and the chair of the board that oversees the Honolulu Authority for Rapid Transportation. Star-Advertiser.

Navy’s Red Hill tank ventilation rattles some residents. Navy Closure Task Force-Red Hill announced on its mobile app last week that the state Department of Health had approved its plans to begin cleaning operations and venting of the facility’s Tank No. 8. Star-Advertiser.

City land donation proposed for Kailua Hawaiian homesteads project. For the third time in two decades, city officials are seeking to make residential use out of a large parcel of vacant city land in Kailua. Star-Advertiser.

Working group formed as lead testing continues near Marine rifle range. The Marine Corps Puuloa Range Training Facility in Ewa Beach has been in continuous operation for more than a century. But in recent years complaints about noise and concerns about environmental effects of the shooting range have put it under increasing scrutiny from the surrounding community. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii Island

UH observatory removed from Mauna Kea; CSO will be next. The Hoku Kea Observatory, the University of Hawaii’s educational telescope, was the first of five Mauna Kea observatories slated for removal as part of the university’s Maunakea Comprehensive Management Plan and, as of the end of May, was the first to be completely removed from the summit. Star-Advertiser. Tribune-Herald.  Big Island Now.  KHON2.

Court rejects access road claim: Justices rule DOT erred when it designated thoroughfare to Maunakea a state highway. The Hawaii Supreme Court on Thursday ruled the state Department of Transportation’s 2018 designation of Maunakea Access Road as a public highway “took almost all property rights” from the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands. Tribune-Herald. Hawaii News Now.


ROD fight continues: Experts hope to limit spread by preventing injuries to trees. While the fight against Rapid ‘Ohi‘a Death continues throughout Hawaii, scientists have shifted their focus to managing ungulates and other invasive species. Tribune-Herald.

Maui

Help for Maui’s fire-impacted businesses trickles down slowly. It’s been more than nine months since the Maui wildfires, but thousands of Maui business owners who applied for the Maui Bridge Grant or a Small Business Administration disaster loan are still waiting. Star-Advertiser.

Lahaina Fire Sparks Bitter Business Disagreement Over Who Is Responsible For Rebuilding. One issue in the case of West Maui Center is whether insurance should cover both the landlord's and the tenant's loss. Civil Beat.

FEMA Is Canceling Some Of Its Direct Leases To House Maui Fire Survivors. The property owners are now scrambling to figure out what to do with their units which sat empty for months at the expense of taxpayers. Civil Beat.

Will We Recognize Lahaina Once It’s Rebuilt? A Maui Lawmaker Ponders The Question. Angus McKelvey says the state government needs to do more to prevent a massive sell-off of land. Civil Beat.

Kauai

Property tax rate hikes approved by Kauaʻi County Council. Resolution No. 2024-31 proposes to create a tiered system for real property tax rates for the 2024 to 2025 fiscal year, where more expensive properties are placed into a higher tax rate.  Kauai Now.

Group mapping out feral cat population, judge considers Red Hill compensation, Hawaii Tourism Authority gets negative rating, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Community invited to submit feral cat sightings to help protect native species. In the wake of the death of a nēnē gosling from a disease transmitted by cats, a nēnē research and conservation group is asking members of the community to report cat colony sightings. The group will put together a comprehensive cat map and work with policymakers to prioritize areas where feral cats and endangered native species are coming in contact. It’s the first statewide effort of its kind. Hawaii Public Radio.

HTA study examines reinventing tourism oversight. The Hawai‘i Tourism Authority received an unfavorable rating from 43% of the stakeholders who gave feedback to the contractor working on a tourism governance structure recommendation. Star-Advertiser.

Landmark coffee legislation to tighten labeling requirements nears final approval. Senate Bill 2298 has passed through the state Legislature and is awaiting Gov. Josh Green’s signature to become law. It would require roasted, instant, or ready-to-drink coffee marketed as "locally sourced" to have at least 51% local coffee. Hawaii Public Radio.

Hawaii bill would protect shelters that house homeless minors. A newly passed bill before Gov. Josh Green would protect homeless shelters that take in minors without the consent of their parents or guardians. Star-Advertiser.

Former UH Regents Chair To Oversee Hawaii Public School Facilities. Randy Moore will replace Curt Otaguro as one of three deputy superintendents in the Hawaii Department of Education. Civil Beat.

New law governing Tenant Screening Fees now in effect. Enacted as Act 200 (SLH 2023) and codified in Hawai‘i Revised Statutes § 521-46, the law prohibits a landlord from charging an applicant for a residential dwelling unit, a tenant screening fee that is more than the actual cost to obtain information about the applicant. Maui Now.

Oahu

A Missouri River Court Decision Could Sink Hawaii’s Ala Wai Flood Control Plan. The nearly 30-year push to better protect one of Hawaii’s most populous watersheds from extreme rains and flooding has hit another snag, city leaders say — this time due to a federal court ruling that upholds farming interests along the Missouri River.  Civil Beat.

Judge In Red Hill Trial Takes On Question Of Compensation. Plaintiffs are seeking a combined sum of nearly $7 million for physical and mental harm related to Red Hill. Civil Beat. Star-Advertiser.

A ‘High-Ranking Prosecutor’ Helped Mike Miske Out Of A Traffic Citation, HPD Officer Testifies. Without naming former Honolulu prosecutor Katherine Kealoha, the feds try to show how Miske used powerful connections to avoid legal trouble for years while operating a criminal enterprise. Civil Beat.

Honolulu agrees to 4-month window to grant or deny gun carrying licenses after lawsuit. Honolulu has agreed to grant or deny applications to carry guns in public within four months of submission in response to a lawsuit by residents who complained of delays of up to a year, according to a stipulation signed by a federal judge Friday. Associated Press.

HART director receives support at Council. During a special budget hearing Monday morning, HART Executive Director and CEO Lori Kahi­kina, who’s come under fire in recent weeks from some on the board and has voiced concerns of her own over her future at the rail agency, got public backing from Council Vice Chair Esther Kia‘aina. Star-Advertiser.

Request To Halt Haiku Stairs’ Dismantling Denied By Judge. Friends of Haiku Stairs argued during a court hearing Friday that the city didn't follow proper historic preservation procedures for dismantling the stairs. Civil Beat. Hawaii News Now.  KHON2.

Ala Moana Boulevard to close for pedestrian bridge work. State officials are issuing a traffic alert ahead of a full closure of Ala Moana Boulevard on Tuesday and Wednesday night for construction of the pedestrian bridge. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii Island

Study of PGV’s impacts on groundwater set to begin. A nearly $500,000 federal study of the impacts of Puna Geothermal Venture on Puna’s groundwater should begin soon. Tribune-Herald.

Akaka Falls State Park To Close Weekdays, Starting May 15. The temporary weekday closure is expected to run through the end of the month, the DLNR Division of State Parks says. Big Island Video News. Big Island Now.

Maui

'Unacceptable': critics testify against proposal for more telescopes on Haleakala. Tensions escalated during a public meeting Monday evening discussing a proposal from the Department of the Air Force to construct up to seven additional telescopes on Haleakala.  KITV4.

Inmate hospitalized after becoming unresponsive at MCCC. A female inmate is in the hospital after becoming unresponsive at Maui Community Correctional Center on Monday. Hawaii News Now.

Kauai

Kaua‘i poi to be served at dozens of Hawai‘i schools throughout May. To help increase local menu offerings in school lunches, three dozen public schools on Hawai‘i Island, Maui, Kaua‘i, and Moloka‘i will be offering fresh local poi as an accompanying lunch menu item to students and staff this month in honor of May Day. Kauai Now. Hawaii News Now. KHON2.

FBI rescues 11 potentially trafficked children in Hawaii, Mauna Kea telescope suspends operations after cyberattack, Hurricane Dora now a Category 4, no AC for many Hawaii classrooms as school year begins, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

FBI recovers 11 missing children in Hawaiʻi, rescues 200 victims of sex trafficking nationwide. The Federal Bureau of Investigation recently announced the results of "Operation Cross Country," a nationwide sweep targeting sex traffickers. The effort involved local police departments, non-profit groups and more. Hawaii Public Radio.

New Hawaii BOE Chairman Brings Corporate Expertise To The Table. Veteran businessman Warren Haruki says he accepted the position to help students in the public school system. Civil Beat.

Thousands of Hawaii classrooms still need air conditioning. As students get ready for the new school year, the state’s Department of Education facilities staff are busy making updates to campuses across the state; but the DOE is still ways away from reaching its goal of installing air conditioning units in the majority of public school classrooms. KHON2.

Increase in Hawaii COVID cases points to late-summer wave. The state Department of Health on Wednesday reported a seven-day daily average of 115 new cases, reaching triple digits for the first time since mid-May. The average positivity rate was about 12% statewide, roughly double what it was in mid-May. Star-Advertiser.

Dora strengthens to Category 4 hurricane. Dora, located about 2,050 miles east of the Big Island, is moving west at 18 mph and this general motion is expected to continue during the next several days. Dora’s winds have decreased to near 130 mph with higher gusts. Star-Advertiser.

Enhanced security screening at the Hawaii State Capitol has been delayed again due to electrical and installation requirements, the state announced Wednesday.  Maui News.

Hawaiian Airlines announces route suspensions amid recalled engine inspections.  Hawaiian Airlines announced Thursday it will be altering its flight schedule for the next couple months after some of its engines have been recalled for inspections. Hawaii News Now.

Second Pasha ship powered by natural gas now serving Hawaii. Hawaii is now being regularly supplied with goods delivered on two cargo ships powered by natural gas instead of higher­-emissions fuel. Star-Advertiser.

Oahu

Fundraising For Mayor’s 2024 Campaign Is Off To A Slow Start. Honolulu Mayor Rick Blangiardi has close to $600,000 in his war chest with just over a year to go until the next election, according to his most recent disclosure to the state Campaign Spending Commission.  Civil Beat.

Honolulu Rail Is Still Waiting For The Feds To Release Large Chunks of Money. HART had hoped $125 million would quickly be released last year to help fund the $10 billion project but now expects that money won't arrive until December. Civil Beat.

Honolulu Liquor Commission Selects New Administrator. The Honolulu Liquor Commission voted in Sal Petilos as its new administrator Thursday. Petilos had originally been nominated to join the commission itself, but the nomination was deferred because he did not meet the state requirement that county liquor commissioners must have lived in the county for the last three years. Civil Beat.

Waikiki Community Center matching savings to help residents.  The Waikiki Community Center over the next three years will provide a dollar-for-­dollar savings account match for low-income kupuna and financially struggling working families who earn too much to qualify for traditional aid programs like food stamps. Star-Advertiser.

No longer hidden from view, homeless encampment in Kalihi draws concern. DeCorte Neighborhood Park is hidden in the Kalihi Valley neighborhood, which means a homeless encampment there has been allowed to grow. At a meeting at the park Thursday evening, residents aired their concerns and frustrations about that encampment — and the people it has attracted. Hawaii News Now. KHON2.

Hawaii Island

Mauna Kea telescope suspends operations following attempted cyber attack. A Mauna Kea telescope has paused operations after an attempted cyber attack threatened its computer systems on Wednesday. The telescope — known as the Gemini North — had its system immediately shut down following the attempted attack, The National Science Foundation said. Hawaii News Now.

Long-awaited draft EA puts county one step closer to reopening Puna roads cut off by lava.  Nearly five years after the end of the 2018 Kilauea eruption, a long-delayed environmental report about the reopening of Pohoiki Road and other lower Puna roads inundated by lava finally was published Thursday. Tribune-Herald. Big Island Video News.

Kohala Swimming Pool to reopen this month after being closed nearly 2 years.  After being closed for almost 2 years because of numerous system failures in the pump room, the Kohala Swimming Pool at Kamehameha Park in Kapaʻau will reopen Aug. 12. Big Island Now.

Honokohau Harbor drainage project begins.  Work began Monday at Honokohau Small Boat Harbor on the boat wash down area to improve drainage. West Hawaii Today.

Food Basket clears part of Hilo site that will house ag campus.  The Hawaii Island Food Basket has started clearing a portion of its 24.5 acres of land meant for an agricultural innovation campus in Hilo. Tribune-Herald.

Maui

1st phase of Liloa extension could be ready in 2027. County recently received $25M in federal funding for project. Maui County officials anticipate that by 2027, the first phase of a north segment of the long-awaited Liloa Drive extension — which aims to provide an alternative to busy Piilani Highway and South Kihei Road — will be operational in Kihei.  Maui News.

Senate WAM Committee delves into priorities during recent site visit to Maui and Molokaʻi.  The schedule featured vigorous discussions that gave Senators an opportunity to convene Cabinet members and private sector leaders to learn more about the status of critical and urgent statewide and regional initiatives, according to a Hawaiʻi State Senate recap.  Maui Now.

Kauai

June home sales highest of year on Kaua‘i. Single-family home sales on Kaua‘i hit the highest level of the year in June, marking a rare bright spot for a housing market struggling to rightsize itself in the post-pandemic era. Garden Island.

Disaster relief effort aims to help Philippines.  Mayor Derek S.K. Kawakami and other county employees joined leaders of the Filipino community, including the Kaua‘i Philippine Cultural Center, in soliciting relief funds to help the Filipino people that were impacted when Super Typhoon Egay impacted Northern Luzon on July 23. Garden Island.

Kaua‘i War Memorial Convention Hall auditorium closed through first week of September.  The Department of Parks and Recreation is announcing that the Kaua‘i War Memorial Convention Hall auditorium is estimated to be closed through the first week of September due to construction. Kauai Now.

New panel seeks to align factions over Mauna Kea telescope construction, businesses raked in profits on COVID testing, iconic Coco Palms Resort back before planning commission, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Protester sign on Mauna Kea ©2022 All Hawaii News

Hawaii seeks end to strife over astronomy on sacred mountain. Telescopes and the needs of astronomers have dominated the summit of Maunakea for 50 years but that’s changing with a new state law saying the mountain sacred to Native Hawaiians must be protected for future generations and that science must be balanced with culture and the environment. Associated Press.

‘The Three Climateers’: Hawaii’s Brian Schatz among new generation of Senate climate hawks. Schatz, 49, embodies a new type of climate hawk on Capitol Hill — one that resonates with a younger generation of climate activists determined to win buy-in not just from environmentalists but also from farmers, ranchers, Native people, labor groups, low-income communities and corporations, too. Washington Post.

New Law Expanding Benefits For Exposure To Harmful Toxins Helps Hawaii Veterans. The PACT act makes veterans who served in several countries as well as those who participated in the cleanup of Enewetak Atoll eligible for VA health care and benefits. Six years after Hawaii Congressman Mark Takai died of pancreatic cancer, one of his signature pieces of legislation has finally become law. Civil Beat.

Update on renewable power plant plans for Hawaii. With the all the increases in power bills recently, many people are wondering what's next for the state of electricity in Hawaii. If you look on Hawaiian Electric's renewable status area of their website, you can see 14 power plants and storage facilities are set to go online in the next 2 years. While one is a geothermal plant, the rest are solar. KITV4.

Democratic running mates Josh Green and Sylvia Luke fine-tune roles. So far they’re still in their political honeymoon phase following their separate Democratic primary victories Aug. 13 to become Hawaii’s next lieutenant governor and governor, respectively. Star-Advertiser.

Oahu

Experts: Nonprofit’s non-bid COVID contract was a lucrative ‘sweetheart deal’ that gouged taxpayers. COVID testing in Hawaii early in the pandemic was extremely lucrative for government contractors, experts say. They also say the city’s airport testing program meant big profits for a local non-profit and its partners. Hawaii News Now.

Complaints pour in about Honolulu Liquor Commission as critics call for overhaul. The agency in charge of overseeing liquor sales on Oahu is under fire again, facing more allegations of corruption and discrimination. An amended complaint, filed Monday by LGBTQ business owners, cites civil rights violations by the Honolulu Liquor Commission and the state Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs, along with individual employees. Hawaii News Now.

Developer plans to sell 222 acres in Wahiawa to local farmers. Developer Peter Savio is offering local farmers a chance to buy small lots on 222 acres in Wahiawa at what he says are below- market prices as part of his push to make available more affordable agricultural land. Star-Advertiser. Hawaii News Now.

Honolulu City Council considering measure to protect historic cultural sites. In an effort to better protect historic cultural sites, the Honolulu City Council is considering a measure that would activate the Historic Preservation Commission, which has remained dormant for the past 29 years. Star-Advertiser. Civil Beat.

City of Honolulu takes ownership of controversial area - Leahi Avenue. City and County of Honolulu now owns the privately owned area between Leahi Avenue and Noela Street – effective Monday. KITV4.

Hawaii Island

Affordable housing credits: Finance Committee approves downsized audit request. A “boiled down” request for an audit of county affordable housing credits got the nod Tuesday from the County Council Finance Committee after concerns were raised earlier this month about possibly impeding a federal criminal investigation. West Hawaii Today.

Waikoloa Solar + Storage Project to begin full operations next spring. Work is wrapping up at the Waikoloa Solar + Storage Project in South Kohala with AES Clean Energy on track to begin next spring full operations producing power for Hawaii Island. West Hawaii Today. Big Island Video News.

Emergency call center projected to be finished late next year. A new facility to consolidate the dispatch centers for the Hawaii Police Department and Hawaii Fire Department is now expected to be finished late next year. Tribune-Herald.

Puna boat ramp blues: Four years after Kilauea eruption, community mulls three options. Dozens of Puna residents, many of them fishermen, gathered at Pahoa Community Center on Thursday for a public meeting about a predesign report for an eventual reopening of the ramp, which was cut off from the ocean in 2018 by a sandbar raised by lava entering the ocean during the Kilauea eruption that year. Tribune-Herald.

Hunt Companies sells Palamanui property. The land slated for a university village around Hawaii Community College-Palamanui has changed hands, but development of the massive project isn’t expected to change much under new ownership. West Hawaii Today.

Maui

Maui camper van owners push back on plans to regulate, prohibit mobile vacation dwellings. As Maui lawmakers mull plans to regulate or prohibit mobile vacation dwellings to curb overtourism, some camper van businesses are saying leaders are unfairly targeting some of the island’s most respectful visitors.  Maui Now.

Safety, operational concerns raised over new pier. Residents and a Maui lawmaker have multiple safety and operational concerns about the new Lahaina Small Boat Harbor pier located near a popular surf break in West Maui. Maui News.

$15M released for a new dedicated teacher affordable housing project on Maui. State Representative Angus McKelvey, who currently represents District 10 (which includes the areas of West Maui, Māʻalaea, and a small section of North Kīhei), announced the release of $15 million for the construction of dedicated teacher housing in Lahaina. Maui Now. Hawaii News Now.

Surfers, beachgoers push for earlier access to Hoʻokipa amid parking concerns. County officials confirm that hours are 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., and lifeguards are on duty from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at the location. The mayor's administration said any change first requires a cost analysis, changes to Administrative Rules, and a mutually agreeable plan with the union and the Department of Fire and Public Safety for staffing changes. Maui Now.

New tool developed by University of Hawaii researchers predicts coastal flooding in West Maui. With the beaches having a limited sand supply and seasonal waves striking shores from both north and south, West Maui is probably Hawaii’s most vulnerable coast when it comes to the effects of sea level rise. Star-Advertiser.

The No. 1 Reason Maui Residents Call 211? They Need Help Buying Food. When Maui families call 211, the service that directs people to social services, the No. 1 reason isn’t the need for medical care, utility assistance or even rental assistance in a place that’s experiencing a dire shortage of affordable housing. It’s because they need help buying food. Civil Beat.

Kauai

Kauai Wants To Disaster-Proof New Buildings By Putting Them On Stilts. Kauai would become the state’s first municipality to regulate construction based on flood projections spurred on by sea level rise. As scientists warn of a merciless rise in sea level that could render more than 25,000 acres of statewide land uninhabitable this century, Kauai County planners are plotting new rules to defend homes and businesses from a watery demise. Civil Beat.

Controversial development of Coco Palms Resort draws renewed concerns. A Planning Commission meeting Tuesday could decide the fate of the iconic Coco Palms Resort at Wailua, which was featured in the Elvis Presley film, ”Blue Hawaii.” Hawaii News Now. KITV4.

Kauaʻi Island Utility Cooperative welcomes new CFO. Stacie Dellamano was appointed to the position of chief financial officer of the Kaua‘i Island Utility Cooperative as of Aug. 15. Garden Island.

Shearwater deaths alarm residents. Five wedge-tailed shearwater seabirds were found dead in Ha‘ena in the area between Tunnels (Makua) Beach and Camp Naue in two separate incidents this summer. Garden Island.

Electric seaglider mulled for Hawaii, ticket-less tourists turned away from Diamond Head, Honolulu announces 4 police chief finalists, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Seaglider concept plane PC:REGENT

Hawaiian Airlines investing in electric seaglider. Hawaiian Airlines has invested in an all-electric, no-emission, propeller-driven plane that would take off from sea, fly just the length of a wing over the surface of the ocean and land at neighbor island docks without touching land. Star-Advertiser. KHON2.

Hawaii gas prices continue to increase statewide. The AAA Hawaii said the average regular unleaded gas price for Hawaii was $5.31 on Thursday, May 12. KHON2.

Federal Report: Boarding Schools And Intergenerational Trauma In Hawaiʻi. The United States Department of the Interior on Wednesday released the first volume of an investigative report as part of a “comprehensive effort to address the troubled legacy of federal Indian boarding school policies,” that included schools in Hawaiʻi. Big Island Video News.

Kaiser’s mental health clinicians say they are ready to strike. Mental health professionals employed by Kaiser Permanente say they are ready to strike next week as contract negotiations drag on, four years after they unionized. Star-Advertiser.

University of Hawaii at Manoa graduation ceremonies shift to require masks. The University of Hawaii at Manoa has made a rule change to require masking at the three commencement ceremonies this weekend, officials have announced. Star-Advertiser. Hawaii News Now. KITV4.

Presence of omicron subvariant BA.2.12.1 on the rise in Hawaii. The proportion of BA.2.12.1, a descendant of the BA.2 subvariant of the coronavirus, has increased in the state, according to the Hawaii Department of Health’s latest variant report. Star-Advertiser.

Oahu

Some visitors turned away from Diamond Head on first day of new reservation system. Many Tourists Unaware Of New Diamond Head Reservation System On First Day. Almost half of the visitors arriving at Diamond Head crater when it opened at 6 a.m. Thursday were unaware of a new rule requiring reservations for out-of-towners, according to the State Department of Land and Natural Resources. Civil Beat. Star-Advertiser. Maui Now. Hawaii News Now. KITV4.

Honolulu Police Commission Names 4 Finalists For Police Chief. On Wednesday, Commission Chair Shannon Alivado identified the finalists as Scott Ebner, Mike Lambert, Joe Logan and Ben Moszkowiz. They are expected answer questions from the public during a live televised forum on May 19 on PBS Hawaii. Civil Beat. Star-Advertiser. Hawaii News Now. KHON2. KITV4.

Ex-Honolulu Officials Charged With Conspiracy Will Face A Jury In The Fall. A trial that was scheduled for June has been pushed to at least October after the judge granted a continuance. Civil Beat.

Judge defers sentence for man behind ‘email bomb’ attack on HPD’s network. Authorities said 31-year-old Christian Grado allegedly sent thousands of emails to a server that police used to help report and enforce COVID lockdown orders.Officials called the attack an “email bomb.” Hawaii News Now.

Honolulu's recycling program has completed most of its audit recommendations. The Honolulu Auditor’s office made 10 recommendations about the city’s recycling program in 2017. The auditor recommended advocating for changes in the law to allow recyclable materials at H-Power, and to remove the white bin community recycling program. Hawaii Public Radio.

BWS scrambles to get wells online in hopes of avoiding mandatory restrictions. The Board of Water Supply has been busy replacing old pumps to bring wells in Kalihi and Aiea that were out of service back online. Hawaii News Now.

Waikiki Friday night fireworks’ return on Land Board agenda. Friday night fireworks off the Hilton Hawaiian Village Waikiki Beach Resort might soon return in what could be seen as another sign of recovery from the worst of the COVID-19 pandemic. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii Island

First image of Milky Way’s black hole produced. A global collaboration of telescopes, including two observatories on Mauna Kea, helped produce the first image of the black hole at the center of the Milky Way galaxy. Star-Advertiser. Hawaii Public Radio. Tribune-Herald. Big Island Video News. Big Island Now. Maui Now.

Ethics Board dismisses complaint against Waltjen. The county Board of Ethics on Wednesday dismissed a complaint against Prosecuting Attorney Kelden Waltjen by a group opposing vaccines, masks and other pandemic protocols who said Waltjen ignored their petitions and compilations of documents they assert prove their case. West Hawaii Today.

Despite renovated quarters, federal firefighters on Hawaii Island say they’re living in Quonset huts. Federal inspectors are investigating health and safety complaints made by firefighters at the Army’s Pohakuloa Training Area on Hawaii island. Hawaii News Now.

Maui

Report shows rent prices spiked 41% on Maui; residents worry about finding a place. Rent prices spiked over the first few months this year, with Maui seeing a 41% surge in asking prices compared with the same time last year, according to a new report from University of Hawaiʻi Economic Research Organization. Maui Now.

The Debate Over This Maui Housing Project Is Still Going Strong 35 Years Later. Critics point to decades of broken promises by developers, who say those in opposition will do anything to delay. Now it’s up to the planning commission to decide. Civil Beat.

Kauai

Kaua‘i test positivity rate highest in State. Kaua‘i County’s test positivity rate is now the highest among all counties in Hawai‘i, at 20.3%. That means every fifth individual who takes a test for COVID-19 on Kaua‘i, tests positive. Garden Island.

41% of Hawaii voters already voted, Lanai voter center closed amid COVID-19 surge, Eddins appointed to state Supreme Court, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

 

Hawaii Voter Turnout Already At 41%. Officials ask that voters mail ballots by Tuesday. Civil Beat.

Hawaii elections office begins processing ballots. The state has already received nearly 365,000 ballots by mail. KHON2.

Ballots pouring in: 41% of Hawaii County voters have already voted. Some 41% of Hawaii County’s more than 127,000 registered voters had already voted by Friday, with 11 days to go before the Nov. 3 general election. West Hawaii Today.

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Wrong Tests, Weird Exemptions – What The Data Tells Us About Hawaii’s Reopening. In the first full week of Hawaii’s pre-arrival testing program, 86% of the nearly 67,000 people traveling from out of state bypassed quarantine one way or another, but only 63% of arriving travelers had a negative COVID-19 test. Civil Beat.

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To reclaim ancestral land, all Native Hawaiians need is a $300,000 mortgage and to wait in line for decades. A 100-year-old program created to provide Native Hawaiians — especially poor ones — land to live on after the U.S. annexed the islands is failing. Thousands have died waiting in line and even more can’t afford the mortgages they’d need. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaiian Home Lands Announces $1 Million in Grant Availability. The Department of Hawaiian Home Lands has announced the availability of $1 million in grants as part of the Native Hawaiian Development Program Plan. Big Island Now.

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Another Federal Grand Jury In Hawaii? This Time It’s About United Public Workers Union. The U.S. Department of Labor and the Internal Revenue Service have subpoenaed stacks of records from one of the state’s largest unions. Civil Beat.

Judge Todd Eddins Appointed To Hawaiʻi Supreme Court. Governor David Ige on Friday announced the appointment of First Circuit Judge Todd W. Eddins to the Hawai‘i Supreme Court. Big Island Video News.

Why Some Hawaii Parents Now Want Their Kids In Private School. One Catholic school principal said the calls have been nonstop, mostly from families who are tired of doing remote learning as part of the state public school system. Civil Beat.

Big Island coronavirus cases hit 1-day peak and surpass Oahu. The number of COVID-19 cases reported Sunday on the Big Island reached 51, the isle’s largest one-day tally since the start of the pandemic. Star-Advertiser.

VIRUS TRACKER — Oct. 25: 121 New COVID-19 Cases In Hawaii. Hawaii health officials reported 121 new cases of COVID-19 statewide Sunday with 49 on Oahu, 51 on Hawaii island and 18 in Maui County, where there is an outbreak on Lanai. Civil Beat.

Oahu

Deadline looming for HART’s rail plan. It’s been a rocky couple of months for the folks at the Honolulu Authority for Rapid Transportation, the agency tasked with building the city’s embattled $10 billion-plus East Kapolei-to-Ala Moana rail line. Star-Advertiser.

Waikiki residents fear Halloween night could turn into COVID-19 super spreader event. Honolulu police and other officials are pleading with residents and visitors to follow COVID-19 restrictions, especially those pertaining to social gatherings and face coverings, as Oahu enters the holiday season, starting with Halloween on Saturday. Star-Advertiser.

State plans $1.8 billion housing and commercial development for East Kapolei. A thousand affordable rental homes could rise on state land in East Kapolei as part of a new long-range development plan also featuring a hotel, retail, offices and warehouses.  Star-Advertiser.

Haseko plans 1,850 new homes at Royal Kunia in Central Oahu. A third attempt is underway in as many decades to produce roughly 2,000 homes in Central Oahu at the long-stalled second phase of Royal Kunia. Star-Advertiser.

City agrees to a tentative $320,000 settlement over HPD domestic violence case. The suit alleged that officer Darren Cachola choked his wife in 2017 then pushed her against a wall and terrorized two years later after she filed for divorce. The city is on the hook because the suit alleges that HPD officers did not investigate her injuries and tried to talk her out of filing charges. Hawaii News Now.

Tony Roma's Waikiki closing. After 45 years sitting on Kalakaua Avenue, the Tony Roma's Waikiki restaurant is closing up shop. The restaurant, known for it finger-licking baby back ribs, will serve the final customers until Wednesday, October 28. KITV4.

Vintage aircraft face chopping block. A Kalaeloa Airport naval air museum whose vintage aircraft could be auctioned off or chopped up is scrambling to remove some of its collection ahead of the Saturday deadline to vacate the premises. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii Island

Lt. Gov. Josh Green called for a stronger, uniform statewide mask mandate on Sunday as Hawaii Island reported its highest single-day jump in new COVID-19 cases since the start of the pandemic. Lt. Gov. Josh Green called for a stronger, uniform statewide mask mandate on Sunday as Hawaii Island reported its highest single-day jump in new COVID-19 cases since the start of the pandemic. West Hawaii Today.

Spike in Big Island cases described as an ‘islandwide problem’. The spread of COVID-19 on Hawaii Island is no longer limited to one cluster or one part of the county, and it’s mostly blamed on social or family gatherings. Hawaii News Now.

TMT opponents oppose small teaching telescope at Halepohaku. The public comment period for the proposed relocation of the University of Hawaii’s teaching telescope to a site on Maunakea will end Monday. Tribune-Herald.

Date set for management transition at veterans home. The East Hawaii Region of Hawaii Health Systems Corp. is preparing to take over the management of Yukio Okutsu State Veterans Home Jan. 1, 2021. Tribune-Herald.

Maui

Mayor seeks Guzman’s removal as prosecutor. Maui County Mayor Michael Victorino is seeking the removal of Don Guzman as prosecuting attorney in a resolution submitted to the Maui County Council. Maui News.

County Officials Defend Use of Kamaʻāina Program as Incentive to Visitors who Take Post-Arrival Test. But the extension of offers to visitors via the program’s new Mahalo Card, has prompted criticism from some who say the program was established and intended for residents. Maui Now.

Astronomers Say Cluster of Mysterious Lights in Maui Sky was an Old Rocket Booster. The mysterious lights in the night sky over Maui on Saturday still has many perplexed as to their origin, but astronomers say the believe the lights “in all likelihood” were associated with the reentry of a used up rocket booster from a launch in 2008. Maui Now.

Kauai

14 arrested on Kauai for allegedly breaking quarantine requirements since state’s reopening. Kauai police have arrested 14 people for allegedly violating the state’s mandatory 14-day quarantine since the state’s pre-arrivals testing program began on Oct. 15. Star-Advertiser.

Resident tests positive. A Kaua‘i resident has tested positive for COVID-19 following a voluntary post-travel test from the County of Kaua‘i, the state Department of Health Kaua‘i District Health Office announced Sunday. Garden Island.

County receives $15.5M for water systems, capital improvements. The state allocated the county $15.5 million for a breadth of projects across the island, including capital improvements and water systems. Garden Island.

Lanai

Lanai voter service center closed due to outbreak. With the outbreak of COVID-19 on Lanai now reaching 95 cases and counting, it isn't just impacting public health on the small island, it's also impacting the election. KITV4.

Lt. Gov. Green worries COVID-19 infections could hit triple digits on Lanai. As of last night, the governor had not signed Maui Mayor Mike Victorino’s request for a Stay At Home Order that would start on Tuesday. Hawaii News Now.

Lanai COVID-19 total tops 60 cases. Maui County Mayor Michael Victorino is expecting to implement a stay-at-home order and travel restrictions for Lanai beginning Tuesday as the island’s COVID-19 case count ballooned to 65 Friday. Maui News.

As Cases Spike On Lanai, School Moves To Distance Learning. Lanai High and Elementary School has switched to distance learning as the COVID-19 outbreak on the island grows and Maui County officials await approval to impose a stay-at-home order on the island starting Tuesday. Hawaii Public Radio.

Cat disease killing endangered monk seals, Schatz slams coronavirus test kit delays, Ala Moana park plan approved, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Man feeds feral cats at Hilo bayfront park ©2020 All Hawaii News

Cats blamed for ‘debilitating’ disease striking Hawaiian monk seals. In just the first month this year, two Hawaiian monk seals have been killed or sickened by a disease that is released into the environment by cat feces. Star-Advertiser.

Endangered Hawaiian monk seal sickened by toxoplasmosis, which is spread in feces of cats. Officials from NOAA want the public to know that if cats were kept indoors, toxoplasmosis would not spread through the landscape and kill monk seals and other native species. KHON2.

Study: Marine Monuments Aren’t Hurting Hawaii’s Tuna Fishermen. The commercial longline industry made more money after the feds expanded the protected areas around Papahanaumokuakea and the Pacific Remote Islands. Civil Beat.

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Clean Energy Advocates, Auto Industry Disagree Over How To Promote Electric Vehicles. More than two dozen bills at the Hawaii Legislature aim to increase the use of electric vehicles, but auto dealers and green energy proponents are supporting different approaches. Hawaii Public Radio.

Hawaii lawmakers again propose raising car rental tax. State lawmakers for the second straight year are proposing to increase the state’s daily car rental tax as a way to fund more highway construction projects that would hopefully reduce traffic congestion. Star-Advertiser.

Uber And Lyft Are Fine With Hawaii Regulating Them — Just Not Too Much. The ride-hailing companies take issue with parts of a House bill that gives the state Department of Transportation more power to investigate them. Civil Beat.

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Experts: Hawaii tourism likely to take a hit amid coronavirus fears. Airlines that serve the Asia-Pacific region are bracing for a possible 13% drop in passenger traffic, according to the International Air Transport Association. Hawaii News Now.

Hawaii officials ponder new coronavirus’ economic impact. State officials, alarmed about the rapidly spreading new coronavirus, are grappling with how to prevent an outbreak in the islands as tourists from Japan and other countries continue to travel to Hawaii. Star-Advertiser.

Schatz: Repeated delays of coronavirus test kits for Hawaii ‘unacceptable’. The botched coronavirus test kits that were sent to Hawaii now have to be re-manufactured. U.S. Sen. Brian Schatz says he’s been told by CDC that the new test kits won’t be ready until mid-March. Hawaii News Now.

Number of People Being Monitored For Coronavirus In Hawaii Is Dropping. As of Thursday, the Hawaii Health Department had yet to identify any suspect coronavirus cases in Hawaii, but continues to investigate the Hawaii vacation of a Japanese couple who later fell ill. Civil Beat.

Oahu

Ala Moana park plan OK’d without playground or dog park. The Honolulu City Council this week gave Mayor Kirk Caldwell’s administration a permit for a host of improvements at Ala Moana Beach Park but made sure the list of projects doesn’t include an “inclusive” playground, dog park or changes to the parking on the mauka side of Ala Moana Drive. Star-Advertiser.

How Much Should It Cost To Ride Rail? Honolulu officials are seeking public input on setting rates. Civil Beat.

Public can weigh in on how much transit fares should cost. The Honolulu Rate Commission is asking the public to weigh in on how much they think transit fares should cost. KHON2.

Series of coastal engineering projects underway amid race to save Waikiki Beach. A series of coastal engineering projects aimed at saving Waikiki Beach is underway, and one of the projects that kicked off three months ago is performing well so far. Hawaii News Now.

Applicants sought for affordable rental complex for seniors in Kapolei. A random drawing for units at Hale Moena Kupuna will be held March 5. Hawaii News Now.

Lottery to open in March for Kapolei senior affordable rentals. A lottery is scheduled for March 5 for Hale Moena Kupuna, 153 senior affordable rentals in Hale Moena Kupuna, the first phase of Highridge Costa Cos. and Coastal Rim Development’s mixed-use project in Kapolei. Pacific Business News.

Hawaii Island

Mike Ruggles Running For Hawaii County Mayor. Medical cannabis advocate Mike Ruggles filed paperwork on Thursday in order to officially run for Hawaiʻi County mayor. Big Island Video News.

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Thurston Lava Tube set to reopen. After more than a year of closure, the Thurston Lava Tube in Hawaii Volcanoes National Park is once again open for visitors today. Tribune-Herald.

Thurston Lava Tube reopens to the public. Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park’s Thurston Lava Tube will open to the public this morning for the first time since it was knocked out of action by the Kilauea eruption nearly two years ago. Star-Advertiser.

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Date for removal of two Maunakea telescopes pushed back. Two telescopes on Maunakea scheduled for decommissioning are expected to be removed from the summit by 2023. Tribune-Herald.

Telescope Take-Down Update Given To UH Regents. University officials say the decommissionings of the UH Hilo Hōkū Ke‘a and the Caltech Submillimeter Observatory on Maunakea are tentatively scheduled to be completed by 2023. Big Island Video News.

Operating rooms of the future: Kona hospital unveils $6M renovation project. Kona Community Hospital unveiled its newly remodeled state-of-the-art operating rooms Thursday morning. West Hawaii Today.

Maui

Kanaha closed to remove illegal encampments. Maui County departments and Maui police removed illegal encampments at Kanaha Beach Park, which was closed from Tuesday to this afternoon. Maui News.

Application Period Opening for Hale Mahaolu Ewalu II Senior Housing in Pukalani. Hale Mahaolu will accept applications for Ewalu II, the second phase of its senior housing complex in Upcountry Maui, from Feb. 24 through 4 p.m. on March 6, 2020. Maui Now.

Maui man who traveled on Westerdam returns home. Health officials say coronavirus risk low; quarantine not needed. Maui News.

Mainland, Big Isle eyed for endangered bird move. In the wake of a highly-anticipated translocation project that saw all but one of its 14 birds die on Haleakala, experts are mulling whether to move critically endangered kiwikiu to the Mainland or to the Big Island to save them from extinction. Maui News.

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Mahi Pono Enters Majority Partnership with Maui Cattle Company. Mahi Pono today announced that it has become the majority partner of Maui Cattle Company, a kamaʻāina company. Maui Now.

Mahi Pono becomes majority partner of Maui Cattle Co., acquires slaughterhouse. Mahi Pono, the farming venture that bought 41,000 acres of former sugar cane land on Maui from Alexander & Baldwin, said Thursday that it is now the majority partner of Maui Cattle Co., a collaborative between five family owned ranches on the Valley Isle, and is also the new owner of Maui Cattle Co.’s slaughterhouse and USDA-certified processing facility. Pacific Business News.

Kauai

KIUC ballots are on their way. Ballots will be mailed out for Kaua‘i Island Utility Cooperative’s board of directors election within the next week. Garden Island.

Kauaʻi Council Advances Polysytrene Container Ban Proposal. Similar to other county bans, Bill 2775 would prohibit the sale and use of styrofoam containers in the county. Hawaii Public Radio.

Community safety meetings kick off. Tuesday was the first in a series of County of Kaua‘i’s safety meetings, “Keeping Your Community Safe,” at the state Department of Hawaiian Home Lands Anahola clubhouse. Garden Island.

Kahoolawe

State money still needed for Kahoolawe restoration. The Kahoolawe Island Reserve Commission is asking the state Legislature for financial support in its ongoing mission to restore an island that remains wounded from decades of abuse in the form of military bombing practice. Star-Advertiser.