Polystyrene foam ban resurfaces in Honolulu, Maui police deny excessive force in telescope protester arrests, Big Island mayor cancels geothermal health studies, Kona homeless get new tent city, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Polystyrene lunch plate © 2017 All Hawaii News

An effort to bar Oahu businesses from using foam takeout containers has been renewed, this time by a Honolulu City Council member who said she opposed a similar proposal in 2004. Star-Advertiser.

‘Biocontrol Agents’ Could Be Used To Kill Albizia In Hawaii. Moths, mites, weevils, beetles, even a fungus, are under consideration as a way to stop the spread of the invasive tree in the islands. Civil Beat.

Hawaii’s college graduates are managing student debt better than their peers anywhere else in the country, according to a new WalletHub report released this week. Tribune-Herald.

More than eight months after issuing a request for landowners in Hawaii willing to host renewable energy projects, Hawaiian Electric Co. said this week that it has compiled a list of potential sites, but it’s not saying where they are. Pacific Business News.

Hawaiian Electric Industries Inc.’s earnings fell 12 percent in the second quarter, as its utilities saw a decrease in profits. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaiian Electric Industries Inc. reported second-quarter net income of $38.7 million, or 36 cents per diluted share, compared to net income of $44.1 million, or 41 cents per diluted share, for the same quarter a year ago. Pacific Business News.

Oahu

The number of mumps cases at Oahu Community Correctional Center has more than doubled in less than a month, accounting for nearly 10 percent of the state’s outbreak, which now tops 200 cases. Star-Advertiser.

Fast-acting work crews prevented a mainland bat from escaping a container ship docked at Honolulu Harbor on Monday, according to state officials. Star-Advertiser.

The Honolulu City Council has sided with an advisory board and an overwhelming community view to reject a developer’s proposal to rezone farmland on the fringe of Haleiwa town for residential use. Star-Advertiser.

A midrise rental apartment building reserved for residents with incomes up to the median in Honolulu will begin accepting tenant applications Aug. 18 in preparation for an opening by the end of this month. Star-Advertiser.

Howard Hughes Corporation Kakaako Development Update. Ward Warehouse in Kakaako closed earlier this week and is scheduled to be torn down by the end of the year. Hawaii Public Radio.

City transportation officials told a Honolulu City Council committee Thursday they are looking at redesigning and reducing the size of 11 traffic bulb-outs in Chinatown that merchants, customers and residents have complained about. Star-Advertiser.

A pedestrian safety measure in Chinatown is irking area businesses, who say it's hurting their bottom line. Hawaii News Now.

A nonprofit wants turn a former fishing shed at Kewalo Basin into a cultural and educational center. Hawaii News Now.

The median price for condominiums on Oahu hit an all-time high of $425,000 in July, rising 6 percent from the same month a year ago, according to a report by Honolulu-based real estate firm Locations. Pacific Business News.

Dozens of community members gathered Thursday inside Kapolei High School's cafeteria to have their questions and concerns heard, as Congresswoman Colleen Hanabusa discussed the latest news out of the nation's capital. KITV.

The University of Hawaii Manoa student newspaper is hoping for a student fee increase to help it survive in the digital age. Civil Beat.

Former Honolulu police officer Jessie Laconsay,  who is already serving a 10 year sentence for sexually assaulting a teen, faces even more punishment. Hawaii News Now.

Hawaii Island

A bill that would allow Hawaii County to spend its geothermal royalties on “community health and safety projects” will be sent to the Planning Commission for review. Tribune-Herald.

Mayor Harry Kim has canceled two geothermal studies previously approved by the Windward Planning Commission. The studies would have looked at health impacts of geothermal development in Puna and dispersion of hydrogen sulfide during steam releases. Tribune-Herald.

Hawaii County Department of Parks and Recreation maintenance crews had their hands — and their trucks — full Wednesday, as they cleared out rubbish from the Old Airport Park in preparation for a cleanup effort set for Aug. 9-10. West Hawaii Today.

Some of those who were previously camping at Old Kona Airport have been relocated under tents next to Hale Kikaha. Big Island Video News.

There's nothing fancy about the Big Island's new homeless safe zone. It's just a row of pop-up tents, a few portable toilets and some showers. Hawaii News Now.

Maui

Roads leading to the summit of Haleakala are once again open to the public today. Park officials say the construction convoy delivering equipment for the new Daniel K. Inouye Solar Telescope was successful. This follows the latest round of protests against the solar telescope under construction. Hawaii Public Radio.

Maui police said a preliminary review of reports and video from the arrest of a protester on Haleakala Wednesday shows that officers acted within department policy in forcibly restraining him before he fell unconscious in handcuffs. Star-Advertiser.

Police force on Maui has been questioned following an injury reported during an arrest of one of the demonstrators during the Kāko’o Haleakala protest early Wednesday morning. Maui Now.

Some are claiming that Maui officers used excessive force during a protest of the controversial Haleakala telescope project, and are pointing to cell phone video circulating online as evidence of their charges. Hawaii News Now.

The Maui County Council’s Land Use Committee unanimously voted against approval for a conditional permit to allow special events at the “Lona Ridge” property in Wailuku. Maui Now.

A shortage of bus drivers on Maui has forced state officials to suspend bus rides for students at three schools and limit rides for students at one school. Associated Press.

Frustration is mounting on Maui as parents learn new bus pickup times for their kids still aren’t set or are set too late. KHON2.

Kauai

Days from the first potential drop of 10 tons of rodenticide on Lehua Island, some are still demanding the state respond to unanswered questions. Garden Island.

The Navy announced today that it successfully tracked a medium-range ballistic missile target in flight off Kauai with the new AN/SPY-6(V) Air and Missile Defense Radar on July 27. Star-Advertiser.

When some Kauai County Councilmembers voted against funding to develop a Climate Action Plan, it was because they did not know what it hoped to accomplish. Garden Island.

Group sinks teeth into General Plan Update. Garden Island.

A Lihue man awaiting trial on charges of producing child pornography told Kauai police that he had sexually assaulted seven boys and girls over a span of eight or nine years, according to a recently unsealed U.S. District Court document. Star-Advertiser.

Legislature wants wider airline seats, homeless measures advance, ivory sale ban clears hurdle, missile range fior Kauai, cleanup for Kahoolawe, Kenoi faces arraignment today, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Airline seats © 2016 All Hawaii News

A group of Hawaii lawmakers says the growing size of Americans and obesity issues should be taken into account when airlines determine the size of their seats. Many travelers are getting fed up with the tight spaces they're allowed on airplanes, so a group of state senators introduced a resolution urging the federal Secretary of Transportation to set minimum sizes for airplane seats. Associated Press.

Legislation backed by groups who want to reduce homelessness and create more affordable housing cleared the Senate Ways and Means Committee on Tuesday.The four bills — plus a fifth that was absorbed into one of the other measures — now head to the Senate floor for a full vote. Civil Beat.

Lawmakers in the House of Representatives want to study whether it would be feasible or wise to decriminalize possession of small quantities of illicit drugs for personal use in Hawaii. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii is another step closer to banning ivory sales after Senate Bill 2647 cleared the House Judiciary Committee on Tuesday in a 10-0 vote. Civil Beat.

AARP ‘Airs’ Caregiver Bills At Capitol. The kupuna advocacy group held live radio interviews with legislators in the Rotunda to raise support for care legislation. Civil Beat.

Hawaii ranks 37th among the states in terms of dependency on the federal government — if military spending isn't included, according to a report by WalletHub released Tuesday. Pacific Business News.


The starting salary for educational assistants is less than that of cafeteria helpers or low-level school custodians. Depending on how they are hired, EAs may not always qualify for union representation, and they have limited professional development opportunities. Civil Beat.

Oahu

The Right To Take Pics In Public. ACLU Hawaii and the state settle a First Amendment dispute over snapping photos of airplanes near Honolulu International. Civil Beat.

A Hawaii Community Development Authority board member wants to temporarily shut down Kakaako Makai Gateway Park to “break the cycle” of constant sweeps to clear out the homeless only to see the camps return the next day. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii

Mayor Billy Kenoi turned himself in to police for booking on theft charges late this morning. Tribune-Herald.

Hawaii County Mayor Billy Kenoi is expected to make his first appearance in Circuit Court in Hilo today to answer to criminal theft charges over misuse of his county purchasing card. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii County police arrested a 30-year-old Kailua-Kona man on suspicion of criminal property damage at one of the telescope facilities on Mauna Kea. Star-Advertiser.

Kailua-Kona man allegedly breaks into telescope after ramming truck into building. Tribune-Herald.

The public on Tuesday got its first look at four newly selected hopefuls vying to be Hawaii Community College’s next chancellor. Tribune-Herald.

Maui

Owners of Makena Beach and Golf Resort, formerly known as Maui Prince Hotel, announced the property is shutting down, effective July 1. The hotel will be converted into privately owned units, meaning about 350 workers will lose their jobs. KHON2.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service issued its final rule Tuesday designating critical habitat for 125 federally protected species found in Hawaii. Civil Beat.

Authorities have opened a criminal property damage investigation after a statue of Father William Chaminade outside a Maui school was found beheaded after Easter. Hawaii News Now.

Kauai

In the face of increasing North Korean ballistic missile threats, the Pentagon is studying beefing up Hawaii’s defenses by switching an “Aegis Ashore” missile system and launcher on Kauai from testing to operational mode and adding radars to track incoming missiles, a missile defense expert said. Star-Advertiser.

Downtown Lihue businesses and associations on Tuesday urged Kauai County’s Budget and Finance Committee to move forward with plans to use $2 million in local matching funds to support $13 million in federal transportation grants to revitalize the city’s core. Garden Island.

The Friends of Kamalani and Lydgate Park are coordinating a major beach cleanup starting at 8:30 a.m. Saturday. Garden Island.

Kahoolawe

A key public decision-making hearing by the Hawaii State Senate concerning funding for the restoration of Kahoolawe is scheduled for Wednesday. Pacific Business News.

Honolulu to require baby-changing stations, sit-lie ban expanded, Kauai muzzles dog-barking law, power producers fight clean air laws, road to be cleared of lava, Maui cane-burner foes raise $25k, cesspool rules advance, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Fish amid coral © 2015 All Hawaii News

Researchers with the University of Hawaii at Manoa are being honored for their work to understand and reverse coral bleaching. The team headed by Ruth Gates and Madeleine van Oppen from the Australian Institute of Marine Science attempts to grow coral that’s resistant to the effects of global warming and rising levels of acid in the water. Hawaii Public Radio.

New research suggests small-scale fisheries could have big benefits for local communities. That’s according to a new study that highlights the economic impact of community supported reef fisheries. Hawaii Public Radio.

The process to determine Hawaii’s first medical marijuana dispensary license holders will likely be based on a point scale, state officials said Wednesday. But just how transparent the application process will be has yet to be determined. Pacific Business News.

Recently released campaign finance data shows more than $1.8 million has flowed into local candidates’ campaign coffers since the 2014 elections. Civil Beat.

One of Hawaii island’s largest power suppliers and one of the state’s two oil refineries say they can’t meet legal requirements for reducing air pollution as the state moves forward on an eight-year-old law that requires Hawaii to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions to 1990 levels by 2020. Star-Advertiser.

The sale of Chevron Corp.’s Hawaii retail and refinery operations is getting interest from firms from as far as the Philippines and South Korea, Pacific Business News has learned.

Oahu

Diaper-changing stations would have to be provided for men and women in new or significantly renovated commercial and business spaces under a bill approved unanimously by the Honolulu City Council on Wednesday. Star-Advertiser.

Despite vocal and sometimes harsh criticism from opponents, the City Council voted twice on Wednesday to expand the controversial sit-lie law, which bars people from sitting or lying down on restricted sidewalks and other areas. KITV4.

The Honolulu City Council passed two measures Wednesday that would further curb where the homeless and other people can sit, lie or camp. Star-Advertiser.

The Honolulu City Council voted Wednesday to advance a draft development plan for the North Shore that doesn’t include any new homes in Malaekahana. Civil Beat.

The Honolulu City Council has passed a measure to make grants and loans available to businesses hit hard by rail construction, but it’s still unclear where the city would get the funds for such a program or at what amount. Star-Advertiser.

Some of the workers on the front lines of Hawaii’s tourism industry work in fancy hotels but are employed by contractors. They’re still supposed to receive union wages under a collective bargaining agreement, but that doesn’t necessarily happen despite legal action and union grievances. Civil Beat.

Local students interacted with leading scientists around the world Wednesday at the International Astronomical Union’s exhibit hall at the Hawaii Convention Center. KHON2.

TMT Protesters Hope to Reach Visiting Astronomers Through Waikiki March The event is planned during a day of rest for the more than 2,000 astronomers in town for the International Astronomical Union’s triennial convention. Civil Beat.

Hawaii

Hawaii County taxpayers are footing the bill for Environmental Management Director Bobby Jean Leithead Todd to defend herself from a lawsuit claiming she’s not qualified for the job, and the case isn’t over yet. The County Council on Wednesday voted to pay $47,231 for legal fees and court costs, on top of the $13,860 that had already been paid. West Hawaii Today.

Two-term Puna Councilman Greggor Ilagan announced Wednesday he’s running as a Democrat for the District 2 state Senate seat. West Hawaii Today.

Puna councilmember Greggor Ilagan is going to run for the state senate district 2 seat in 2016. The state senate seat is currently occupied by Russell Ruderman, who has yet to finalize his future political plans. Big Island Video News.

Hawaii County Council members Tuesday took plenty of testimony but no action on a bill banning the use of “toxic herbicides” by county workers, during a meeting of the Committee on Environmental Management. Tribune-Herald.

Tourists and isle residents might have only a few more months to snap pictures of a lava-covered Cemetery Road. Hawaii County put restoration of the narrow country road in Pahoa out to bid, with work expected to begin in late September or early October. Tribune-Herald.

More than four decades after the first promise was made, the Alii Kai subdivision will have its park. West Hawaii Today.

Maui

Maui County is slapping a half-million dollar fine on the owner of a popular boutique hotel for several dozen alleged permit violations. Associated Press.

A group of Maui residents called Stop Cane Burning has raised more than $25,000 for legal costs in an attempt to stop Hawaiian Commercial & Sugar Co. from burning sugar cane. Civil Beat.

Kauai

The Kauai County Council on Wednesday voted to repeal the county’s barking dog ordinance, which provides penalties for dog owners who fail to keep their animals quiet. Garden Island.

Kauai County Council Chair Mel Rapozo’s plan to require an audit of the Kauai Humane Society was unanimously approved on Wednesday. Garden Island.

State health officials are drafting rules for a ban on cesspools as well as a tax credit incentive program that would help a small percentage of property owners upgrade to a more environmentally friendly waste system. Garden Island.

Tropical Storm Guillermo stays north of Hawaii, astronomers convention faces protests, turtles close USS Arizona Memorial, Hawaii county council takes up Roundup regs today, Native Hawaiians to vote on governance, Kauai group mulls marijuana dispensary, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Tuesday 5 a.m. Tropical Storm Guillermo, courtesy Central Pacific Hurricane Center

Tuesday 5 a.m. update: Weakened Tropical Storm Guillermo expected to stay north of Hawaiian Islands. Hawaii and Maui counties remain under tropical storm watch. Central Pacific Hurricane Center.

An international gathering of astronomers began in Honolulu on Monday, a two-week event that University of Hawaii’s Institute for Astronomy Director Gunther Hasinger described as “the Olympic Games of our discipline.” Star-Advertiser.

Election Details Going Out to Native Hawaiian Roll Voters. It’s in order to participate in the process of a future constitutional convention for kanaka maoli self-governance. Civil Beat.

The Hawaii Health Connector insurance exchange has issued a request for proposals for an IT vendor to archive its data and dismantle its system as it winds down operations. After spending approximately $130 million on the Connector system build-out, the state has opted to move to the federal healthcare.gov exchange, instead of the Hawaii Health Connector, which was established as a nonprofit entity in 2011. Pacific Business News.

Amid dismal voter turnout numbers, state leaders will speak in the courtyard of the state Capitol on Thursday to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the federal Voting Rights Act and kick off a local effort to encourage more residents to vote. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii Lawmakers Tour Marijuana Stores in Colorado. A dozen of our legislators were reported to be in Vail last week for the Council of State Governments West annual convention. Civil Beat.

Hawaii regulators are calling on a nationally known expert in "Demand Response," a program that gets consumers to shift their electricity use during peak periods, according to public documents. Pacific Business News.

Hawaii's average mortgage closing costs of $2,163 are the highest in the nation, according to a new comparison. Star-Advertiser.

Thirty boats left Hawaii this weekend on a unique mapping mission: To record the size and location of the plastic garbage over 1.4 million square miles of the Pacific Ocean. Associated Press.

Oahu
The state Public Utilities Commission said Monday it approved four of seven utility-scale solar projects on Oahu, placing conditions to make sure residents won’t have to pay if developers miss out on a federal tax credit. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaiian Electric Co.’s current controversial rooftop solar photovoltaic program, which has been major driver responsible for the record amounts of residential solar being integrated into the utility’s grid, has some serious issues, according to a new report from the University of Hawaii Economic Research Organization. Pacific Business News.

Protected sea turtles with a newfound interest in the floating dock for the USS Arizona Memorial have resulted in about 7,000 people not being able to set foot on the memorial since Wednesday, the National Park Service said. Star-Advertiser.

Homelessness was one of the issues taken up at the National Association for Rural Mental Health conference in Waikiki over the weekend. Hawaii Public Radio.

While new places to relocate homeless people were being talked about at the Capitol on Monday, more of them were displaced a few miles away — this time, from an encampment under the H-1 freeway by the Hawaii Department of Transportation. Civil Beat.

The state Department of Transportation on Monday cleaned out a small but troublesome homeless encampment across from the Market City Shopping Center — and Gov. David Ige and Honolulu Mayor Kirk Caldwell hours later said they’re still working on a plan to clear out the expanding homeless encampment in Kakaako. Star-Advertiser.

City officials are ending a long-time deal that was designed to help protect an East Oahu nature preserve while also providing access to fishing clubs. Hawaii News Now.

About 40 tons of contaminated soil from Radford High School wound up in the backyard of a home in the exclusive Haiku Plantations community in Kaneohe. Hawaii News Now.

Honolulu's planned rail line drew significantly fewer state tax dollars than expected this past quarter. The project received $52.3 million in rail taxes during the quarter that ended June 30. That's more than $8 million short of the amount that had been projected. Associated Press.

Hawaii

Kohala Councilwoman Margaret Wille is making good on her vow to ease the island away from Roundup and similar herbicide applications at county parks and along county-maintained thoroughfares. Wille’s Bill 71, to be heard by the council Committee on Environmental Management on Tuesday, would ban a long list of herbicides, including Monsanto Co.’s glyphosate-based Roundup. West Hawaii Today.

Six scientists will spend a year together in isolation on the Big Island as they embark on the longest Mars habitat simulation ever attempted in the United States. Starting Aug. 28, the crew of three men and three women will lock themselves in a small dome on Mauna Loa’s north flank, to venture outside only in hazmat or space suits. Tribune-Herald.

Following discussions with the Hawaii County Department of Parks and Recreation and other county officials earlier this month, backers of the proposed Kona Motorsport Park say they’re placing the concept of a fairgrounds and dirt bike raceway front and center and putting a controversial plan for a drag strip on the far back burner. West Hawaii Today.

Maui

Trade ministers from a dozen Pacific Rim nations meeting on Maui failed to reach a deal on a new trade agreement that would cover nearly 40 percent of the global economy, U.S. Trade Representative Michael Froman said. Associated Press.

Unresolved legal challenges to construction of the Daniel K. Inouye Telescope atop Haleakala were cited Sunday by a protesters' group as fueling the outrage that led to 20 arrests late Thursday and early Friday at the Central Maui Baseyard. Maui News.

Maui County protests against Haleakala telescope, TPP are really heating up. MauiTime.

A proposed 60-megawatt wind farm can bring hundreds of thousands of dollars to Kahikinui homesteaders and the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands, but some residents say the windmills would desecrate the area. Maui News.

After Oahu spill, HC&S molasses now shipped from Maui to Mainland. Matson no longer ships molasses; alternative shipper found. Maui News.

Kauai

The U.S. military says it has successfully tested an interceptor that can shoot down ballistic missiles as well as airplanes. The Missile Defense Agency said Monday the destroyer USS John Paul Jones tested the technology during a series of flight tests off Kauai over the past week. Star-Advertiser.

The fight over how much money to set aside for the county’s Open Spaces Fund is not over. On Wednesday, Councilman Gary Hooser will introduce a resolution that, if approved, will ask voters in the 2016 election to decide whether to amend the county charter in order to permanently increase the amount of money specifically earmarked for the fund. Garden Island.

A group of Kauai stakeholders plans to apply for a medical marijuana dispensary on the island, and hopes to make it 100 percent locally funded and operated. Garden Island.

Teaching telescope to be idled, Mauna Kea access restricted as Hawaii prepares for Thirty Meter Telescope, VA promises improvements, Honolulu bird limit ruffles feathers, GOP hosts first fundraiser, Hawaii worst place to make a living, geothermal exploration expands, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Hoku Kea telescope, courtesy University of Hawaii

Under pressure to reduce astronomy’s footprint on Mauna Kea, the University of Hawaii at Hilo plans to remove its Hoku Kea teaching telescope after wasting nearly $800,000 in federal grants on the project. Tribune-Herald.

The state is proposing to restrict public access to a large portion of Mauna Kea’s summit — the site of recent protests against construction of the Thirty Meter Telescope. The Department of Land and Natural Resources drafted new “emergency rules” that would “protect against imminent peril to public safety and natural resources,” according to documents posted Monday on the department’s website. Tribune-Herald.

A new set of administrative rules could restrict use of and access to a one mile area near the Mauna Kea Access Road. The Board of Land and Natural Resources will vote on the proposed administrative rule changes during its Friday meeting on Oahu. Big Island Video News.

The local Republican Party hosted its first fundraiser for the 2016 election last week. It was a sell-out and party leaders say this is only the beginning.  Hawaii Public Radio.

The U.S. Secretary of Labor and the U.S. Secretary of Veteran Affairs are in Hawaii to find out what issues our local veterans are facing – this time it’s jobs. KITV4.

Acknowledging the "crisis" last year over long patient wait times, the head of the Department of Veterans Affairs said the agency is "making progress, we're making improvements, but we're not where we need to be yet." Star-Advertiser.

Doctors Angle to Make Extra Money From Elite Access. A new concierge system offers access to quality care only to Hawaii patients who pay a premium, which places strain on other primary care doctors. Civil Beat.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration on Monday said abnormally warm waters that threaten the spread of major heat stress to Hawaiian reefs are likely to return. Garden Island.

A pair of Oahu-based shark experts — Kim Holland and Carl Meyer — are working on an analysis of shark behavior in Hawaiian waters. The report is expected to be released by the end of the year. Holland said he and Meyer are staying tight lipped on the subject until their report is finished. Garden Island.

Struggling members of Hawaii’s middle class aren’t imagining it: Hawaii really has become a very tough place to get by. In fact, it is the nation’s worst place to earn a living, according to a recently released money-rates.com survey. Civil Beat.

47 Years Later, Hawaii Senator Meets Birth Mother. Sen. Glenn Wakai reunited with Yoko Boughton, who lives in Okinawa. Civil Beat.

Sixteen medical marijuana dispensaries will open in Hawaii for the first time on July 15, 2016, but only eight license applications will be granted in the state. Pacific Business News.

Henk Rogers, the entrepreneur who made "Tetris" famous, announced Monday the launch of a new company that offers batteries for rooftop solar systems and a way to disconnect from the electric grid, something he says more Hawaii residents will want if NextEra Energy Inc. becomes their electric company. Star-Advertiser.

More than 20 years ago, video game entrepreneur Henk Rogers popularized “Tetris,” a strategic game that requires players to make efficient use of alternating puzzle pieces as they perpetually fall from the sky. Now, the 61-year-old hopes the work he’s been doing at his energy lab on the Big Island will help provide the pieces to solve a much more complex puzzle — energy independence. Tribune-Herald.

Oahu

A bill that requires Oahu residents with 10 or more birds on a residential property to get a permit has some bird enthusiasts crying foul. Star-Advertiser.

The company that runs the city's landfill will not contest charges in a federal case involving the discharge of millions of gallons of contaminated stormwater into the ocean near Ko Olina Resort. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii residents would buy more local eggs if they could find them — and they’re willing to pay a premium for freshness, a recent food sustainability survey shows. That finding meshes nicely with plans for a solar-powered egg farm in central Oahu that would start with 300,000 hens and possibly expand to 1 million egg-layers. Civil Beat.

The limited supply of single-family homes on Oahu pushed the median price to $700,000 in June, tying the record set a year ago and placing homeownership out of reach for many first-time buyers. Star-Advertiser.

The number of condominiums sold on Oahu in June jumped by 22 percent even as the median sales price fell 6 percent compared to the same time last year, while the median price of a single-family home remained flat as the number of sales rose 7 percent, the Honolulu Board of Realtors said Tuesday. Pacific Business News.

A week into Oahu's plastic bag ban, some folks are wondering why so many plastic bags are still being given out at island grocery checkout stands. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii

After obtaining permits in March to begin exploring for geothermal energy under the dormant Hualalai volcano, researchers with the University of Hawaii are looking to more than double the number of survey sites included in the project. Tribune-Herald.

Maui

Opinion: News that the organization Stop Cane Burning filed a lawsuit in the state’s new Environmental Court against the state Department of Health over–you guessed it–cane burning has moved at least one legislator to offer some proposals for weaning Hawaiian Commercial & Sugar (HC&S) off of the dirty, archaic method of harvesting sugar. And I wasn’t surprised to see that the legislator is state Representative Kaniela Ing, D–South Maui. MauiTime.

Kauai

The Kauai Police Department has completed its investigation into the January death of a pedestrian who was struck by a car and then struck a second time by a police officer who was responding to the scene. Garden Island.

Kahoolawe

At least two jobs will be saved and around five volunteer trips to Kahoolawe will be secured as the state Department of Health recently extended its restoration project for the cash-strapped Kaho'olawe Island Reserve Commission, which is facing layoffs and program cuts in light of a budget shortfall. Maui News.

Ige signs renewable energy bills, monk seal pups rescued, telescope 'bullet hole' that wasn't, Honolulu council beefs up staff, Oahu solar farms pending before PUC, parachute fails during NASA test on Kauai, layoffs coming to Kona hospital, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Gov. David Ige signs energy bills, courtesy Governor's Office

Hawaii would be the first state to wean itself off of all fossil fuels by 2045 under legislation signed by Gov. David Ige and praised by advocates as groundbreaking for the state and the rest of the world. Star-Advertiser.

The Governor signed four energy-related bills into law today, establishing the state as a leader in renewable sources for power. Hawaii Public Radio.

Press release: Gov. David Ige today signed into law four energy bills, including one that strengthens Hawaii’s commitment to clean energy by directing the state’s utilities to generate 100 percent of their electricity sales from renewable energy resources by 2045. Governor's Office.

Two malnourished monk seal pups were rescued during the latest mission to the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands by the research ship Hi‘ialakai in its efforts to protect the endangered species. The ship and crew working for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration docked in Pearl Harbor on Monday after a 21-day voyage. Star-Advertiser.

Ocean wildlife officials recently started a 21-day mission to the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands. So far 14 researchers picked up approximately 5,000 pounds of marine debris. KHON2.

Oahu
The Honolulu City Council, which refused to fund seven new affordable housing positions, has doubled the number of staff that report to Chair Ernie Martin since he took the helm five years ago. Hawaii News Now.

The Honolulu Board of Water Supply is taking steps to close down the controversial hiking trail known as the Stairway to Heaven. The BWS plans to spends $500,000 on an environmental assessment and other studies to figure out the best way to remove the Haiku Stairs, a 3,922-step trail in Kaneohe that goes up into the Koolau mountain range. Civil Beat.

The seven major solar energy projects on Oahu total more than 200-megawatts and which have been put on hold are not dead just yet, the head of the Hawaii Public Utilities Commission told Pacific Business News.

The bulk of solar farms pending before the Public Utilities Commission are in Central Oahu, so the delay on a decision on the projects caught the firms by surprise. KITV4.

A federal agency says workplace safety violations led to the deaths of two workers at Pearl Harbor last December. Associated Press.

Hawaii

By no later than Aug. 1, 34 positions at Kona Community Hospital will be eliminated, and the hospital will shut down its 18-bed skilled nursing unit. Administrators at the 94-bed hospital in Kealakekua announced the cuts Monday morning as part of a plan to patch a $6 million hole in the budget for the fiscal year beginning July 1. West Hawaii Today.

No, the Subaru Telescope didn’t take a bullet. Saeko Hayashi, a spokeswoman for the Mauna Kea observatory, said Monday morning that an approximately 9 mm hole in a metal door at the telescope was caused by it hitting a bolt sticking out from an intake manifold next to the side entrance. Tribune-Herald.

Turns out what appeared to be a bullet hole in the door of the Subaru Observatory on Mauna Kea is not a bullet hole after all. Star-Advertiser.

Reports of a “bullet hole” found in the door of the Subaru Telescope on the summit of Mauna Kea have been dispelled. The observatory has “confirmed a match between this hole and an intake manifold cover on the wall”, which indicates no guns or bullets were involved in creating the hole. Big Island Video News.

Ohia Disease on Big Island Poses Threat to Native Forests Statewide. Foresters are scrambling to figure out how the disease is spreading and how to stop it. Civil Beat.

Tourism is once again expected to be the main economic driver on the Big Island over the next few years, with hotel rooms plentiful and bargain-priced, compared to Oahu. West Hawaii Today.

Maui

Gov. David Ige is expected to sign a bill Wednesday authorizing the Maui region state hospitals to begin discussion on implementing a private-public partnership. Pacific Business News.

It should surprise no one that County of Maui Managing Director Keith Regan is running for office. MauiTime.

The Maui AIDS Foundation has been awarded $1.4 million in federal funds to provide rental assistance to lower-income people who are suffering from HIV/AIDS and their families. Maui News.

Kauai

A parachute failed during a NASA test of new technology for landing larger spacecraft — and eventually astronauts — on Mars, the agency said Monday. The parachute deployed but failed to inflate, Kimberly Newton, a spokeswoman for NASA, said in an email. The agency plans to provide more details during a news conference on Tuesday, she said. The parachute appeared to disintegrate in a video of the test. Associated Press.

NASA and Pacific Missile Range Facility employees raised their eyes to the sky and smiled Monday as they watched the successful launch of NASA’s new “flying saucer.” Garden Island.

Michele Davis and her family have cruised on Hanalei’s Black Pot Beach every summer for the past decade, but the Kilauea native said the atmosphere at Black Pot has “definitely changed” in the past five years. Garden Island.

Molokai
A California energy firm hopes to make Molokai the first Hawaiian island to achieve the state's clean energy goals of 100 percent renewable energy. Maui News.

Native Hawaiians irked over Ige land policy, Oahu preps for plastic bag ban, public can comment on University of Hawaii Mauna Kea telescope plan, Kauai lighthouse cleanup under fire, overfishing worries Molokai residents, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Native Hawaiians guard the Hokulea canoe © 2015 All Hawaii News

Barely a month into his term, Gov. David Ige already is in hot water with some Native Hawaiians. Two key actions taken at the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands since he took office have prompted some to question whether Ige will bring the change he promised during the campaign to the agency that manages the 203,000-acre land trust on their behalf. Star-Advertiser.

Where Real Estate Is King. A key driver of our cost of living is the high price of land. A collision of interests and actions push its value upward. Civil Beat.

Former Gov. Neil Abercrombie’s chief of staff Bruce Coppa has landed a lobbying job with Hawaii’s top lobbying firm, Capitol Consultants of Hawaii. Civil Beat.

Nearly 14 years after the use of medical marijuana was legalized in Hawaii, medical marijuana patients may have a legal way to purchase it, rather than just grow it themselves, within the next few years. Garden Island.

New details have emerged regarding Florida-based NextEra Energy's planned $4.3 billion acquisition of Hawaiian Electric Co., including the fact that talk of a deal first began as early as May 2014, when NextEra Chairman and CEO Jim Robo first requested a meeting with Connie Lau, president and CEO of HECO parent Hawaiian Electric Industries Inc., according to a document filed with federal regulators on Thursday. Pacific Business News.

Oahu

Starting July 1, Oahu will join the growing list of places that have banned the plastic checkout bag. Businesses will be prohibited from giving out plastic bags and nonrecyclable paper bags to their customers at the point of sale for carrying groceries or other merchandise. Star-Advertiser.

State and federal officials are pursuing the possibility of designating a part of Kaneohe Bay as a research-focused estuarine reserve. Star-Advertiser.

Opinion: Hawaii Reporter’s Malia Zimmerman Bids Aloha. The loss of the longtime local investigative reporter is another a blow for independent media — and the citizens of Hawaii. Civil Beat.

The former Porlock madam who said she ran an elite prostitution business for 10 years servicing celebrities, politicians and law enforcement, has been convicted on federal drug charges. A federal jury on Jan. 9 found Malia Elena Arciero guilty of one count of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine, two counts of distribution and possession with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine, and one count of distribution of some quantity of methamphetamine. Hawaii Reporter.

Hawaii

The University of Hawaii issued its first document exploring a new master lease for astronomy facilities on Mauna Kea. The 160-page environmental impact statement preparation notice was published Thursday and explores its proposal for a new 65-year lease covering the Mauna Kea Science Reserve and Halepohaku mid-level facilities, and potential alternatives. Tribune-Herald.

The public has 30 days to comment on the environmental impact of UH's proposed new master lease for the Mauna Kea Science Reserve. Hawaii Independent.

The University of Hawaii has taken its first steps toward a new Mauna Kea "master lease" for astronomy facilities on the mountain. Associated Press.

It took almost five years of negotiating between the state and county, but an almost 8-foot boa constrictor, the latest addition to the Panaewa Rainforest Zoo &Gardens, was settling in Friday, its distinctive tan and black geometric patterns undulating as it stretched to its full length for perhaps the first time in that many years. West Hawaii Today.

Maui

The state Department of Land and Natural Resources will be holding a public hearing to discuss proposed management changes to areas on Maui in the state forest reserve system, including three state parks, at 5:30 p.m. Wednesday at the Hannibal Tavares Community Center's upstairs room in Pukalani. Maui News.

Economist Paul Brewbaker predicted that Maui's struggling housing construction industry will benefit from the Maui County Council's action last month to ease the county's affordable housing requirement for developers from 50 percent to between 20 to 25 percent. Maui News.

Maui region hospitals seek solutions for hospitals’ longevity. HHSC Maui region to enter into partnership discussion with Hawai‘i Pacific Health. Hawaii Independent.

Jet pack rides off Kaanapali proposed. Maui News.

Kauai

State and federal officials are trying to determine who is responsible for cleaning up areas around Ninini Point Lighthouse, which has been blighted by a pair of stripped, abandoned cars and other discarded trash for several months. Garden Island.

Molokai

Opinion: Since statehood, the people of Molokai have relied on state government to manage Molokaiʻs ocean resources. We are currently witnessing profound shortages in our subsistence gathering sources, which island families rely heavily on. We have fewer income opportunities and higher costs of living than most of the other islands. Molokai Dispatch.

Native Hawaiians, other protesters, block Thirty Meter Telescope ceremonies, heat is on Ige in gubernatorial battle, voter registration up, plans to name beach for Obama dropped, Hawaii could net $13M from marijuana sales, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Protesters block Mauna Kea telescope access, courtesy Occupy Hilo

A groundbreaking and Hawaiian blessing ceremony came to an abrupt end before it could really get underway Tuesday because of protesters who oppose plans to build one of the world's largest telescopes near the summit of a mountain held sacred by Native Hawaiians. Associated Press.

Protesters who say the $1.4 billion Thirty Meter Telescope doesn't belong on Mauna Kea blocked access to the summit for more than an hour Tuesday, disrupting groundbreaking for one of the world's largest optical observatories. Star-Advertiser.

TMT protesters courtesy Occupy Hilo

A groundbreaking ceremony for what will be one of the world’s most advanced observatories was disrupted Tuesday by Native Hawaiian protesters and others opposed to the construction of the Thirty Meter Telescope on Mauna Kea. More than 50 protesters blocked access near the mountain’s summit and greeted vans carrying dozens of attendees from five countries with chants and hula. Tribune-Herald.

What was meant to be a moment of pride for the University of Hawaii and Hawaii astronomy, turned into a spectacle revealing the deep animosity among those who consider Mauna Kea a sacred mountain. Hawaii News Now.

Protesters disrupted a groundbreaking and Hawaiian blessing ceremony for the construction of one of the world's largest telescopes at the summit of Mauna Kea Tuesday. KITV4.

Protester with telescopes courtesy Occupy Hilo

The price tag for the building of a 30-meter telescope on Mauna Kea is $1.4 billion, and it has been seven years in the making, but it literally ran into a roadblock Tuesday on Hawaii Island. KHON2.

TMT groundbreaking ceremony blocked. Demonstrators have blockaded the Mauna Kea access road to protest the Thirty Meter Telescope project, which was set to break ground today. Hawaii Independent.

State Sen. David Ige on Tuesday night took a more piercing tone against his rivals for governor, chiding former Lt. Gov. James "Duke" Aiona for improperly filming a campaign advertisement in a state courtroom and former Honolulu Mayor Mufi Hannemann for his administration's blacklisting of two stagehands after a dispute over a benefit concert. Star-Advertiser.

On Tuesday night, the three leading candidates for governor squared off in a debate sponsored by AARP and held in the KHON2 News studio. Afterward, KHON2 asked political analyst and HPU Communication Department Chair John Hart: “Who do you think won the debate?”

National and local Republicans are scolding the Democratic nominee for Hawaii governor, accusing him of raising taxes and fees. Perhaps the strongest attack concerns a proposal for increasing the state’s general excise tax by 25 percent three years ago. The GOP claims that, as chairman of the state Senate Ways and Means Committee, David Ige was the architect of a draft of a bill that called for the GET hike in 2011. Civil Beat.

The state of Hawaii's web portal is the best in the U.S., according to the e.Republic's Center for Digital Government's 2014 Best of the Web and Digital Government Achievement Awards. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii stands to make more than $13 million each year in tax revenue if it were to fully legalize marijuana. That’s the results of a new study from NerdWallet, which determined this number by analyzing the population of pot smokers in Hawaii - those who acknowledge smoking marijuana - and the marijuana market size here. Hawaii Reporter.

Oahu

Two Honolulu city councilmen have dropped plans to rename a popular beach for President Barack Obama. Associated Press.

The University of Hawaii's flagship Manoa campus is facing a multimillion-dollar tuition shortfall for a fourth straight year as state support continues to decline while energy and personnel costs escalate. Manoa officials are projecting a $31 million deficit for the fiscal year that ends June 30, despite efforts to curb spending. Star-Advertiser.

The city of Honolulu is seeking to pay a California law firm experienced in fighting environmental regulations $900,000 in an effort to avoid having to comply with stricter environmental controls at three sewage treatment plants on Oahu that discharge waste into the ocean. Civil Beat.

The author of a bill that would ban sitting and lying on sidewalks in Oahu business districts outside Wai­kiki — scheduled for a final vote Wednesday — says he wants to pull the measure back for further work. Star-Advertiser.

The price tag for refurbishing City Council chambers at Hono­lulu Hale is $428,000, more than three times the $141,000 figure that officials initially said it would cost. Star-Advertiser.

The Makaha Hotel and Resort in West Oahu, which has been closed for about three years, will be demolished as soon as possible to make way for future redevelopment of the property that may include the rebuilding of a new hotel, the owner of the 40-year-old resort told Pacific Business News on Tuesday.

An endangered tree snail atop Oahu's highest point is holding up repairs that would allow Hawaii Public Radio to transmit to listeners on Kauai and Oahu's North Shore during HPR's million-dollar pledge drive. Star-Advertiser.

As Hawai‘i Public Radio’s fall fund drive Celebration 2014 proceeds at its breakneck pace toward its $1.03 million goal, an O‘ahu tree snail colony asserts its own timeline. Hawaii Public Radio.

Hawaii

The Big Island Press Club will present a luncheon panel “Revisiting Hawaii’s Primary Election” at noon Friday at Restaurant Kenichi. Discussion will consider “Could Puna voters have changed the outcome and should media have called victory in the U.S. Senate Democratic contest for Brian Schatz on Aug. 9?” Tribune-Herald.


Hawaii County voters are adding to their numbers at a faster rate than the state as a whole. Some 856 Hawaii County residents have been added to the voter rolls since the Aug. 9 primary election, a statistic that is expected to grow as registrations continue trickling in following Monday’s voter registration deadline. West Hawaii Today.

The front of a lava flow spewing out of Kilauea Volcano advanced 120 to 150 yards and was within one mile of Apaa Street in Pahoa on Tuesday. The flow remained "fairly narrow" and was 0.95 mile from reaching Apaa Street near the waste transfer station, said Hawaii County Civil Defense Administrator Darryl Oliveira. Star-Advertiser.

As lava from the Kilauea Volcano continues its approach toward Pahoa, schools in the rural community are preparing for the worst. For two public Department of Education and charter schools, that could mean total devastation. Civil Beat.

It is a sight frustrated coffee farmers might line up to see — a hungry predator beetle devouring the larvae of the pestilential coffee berry borer. Researchers at the U.S. Pacific Basin Agricultural Research Center took that video inside a coffee bean just a few days ago using a microscope, part of a research project that could eventually lead to the square-necked grain beetle being used as biocontrol. West Hawaii Today.

Maui

The food fight over GMO's in Maui County will be put to an historic vote in one month. Ashley Lukens, Hawaii Center for Food Safety Director, explained the significance, saying "Never in Maui's history have citizens been able to collect enough signatures to get an initiative on the ballot." 9,000 people signed a petition calling for a halt to seed production, while chemical companies conduct a health and environmental impact study. Hawaii News Now.

The Shaka Movement, the group that filed the petition in support of a moratorium on genetically engineered organisms in Maui County, hosts a public meeting today to discuss Monsanto’s operations in Kīhei. Maui Now.

Wailuku Water Co. will begin releasing 10 million gallons of water per day into Iao Stream on Monday morning, per a settlement agreement in the Na Wai Eha Contested Case, the state Department of Land and Natural Resources said. Maui News.

Oral and written comments on proposed changes to cesspool rules - which include conversion of cesspools to septic tanks when a property is sold - will be accepted at meetings on Molokai on Friday and in Wailuku on Oct. 15, the state Department of Health announced Monday. Maui News.

Kauai
The Kauai County Council will make final decisions on three of eight measures that seek relief for county taxpayers who saw noticeable increases on their real property tax bills this year. Garden Island.

The Kauai County Council is urging the state Department of Education to take a hard look at a policy through which students with negative account balances can be denied meals at their schools. Star-Advertiser.

Kauai District Health Officer Dr. Dileep Bal has been nominated to the University of Hawaii Board of Regents. Gov. Neil Abercrombie announced four nominations — Bal, Simeon Acoba, Peter Hoffmann and Helen Nielsen — on Monday. All are interim appointments that take effect immediately and are subject to state Senate approval. Garden Island.

Giant telescope approved for Mauna Kea, IRs targets Maui for tax cheats, Inouye legacy funds candidates, small Hawaii farms can't catch a break, Abercrombie kicks off campaign on fiscal record, more news from all the Hawaiian islands

Telescopes atop Mauna Kea courtesy photo

The Hawaii Board of Land and Natural Resources on Friday granted the University of Hawaii at Hilo a conservation district use permit for the $1.3 billion Thirty Meter Telescope, saying the university can add what will be one of the world's largest telescopes to the observatories on the summit of Mauna Kea. Pacific Business News.

Construction on the $1.3 billion Thirty Meter Telescope could begin atop Mauna Kea within a year, project managers said this weekend, following Friday’s approval of a permit for the plans by the state Board of Land and Natural Resources. Tribune-Herald.

The state's recent approval to build the world's largest telescope atop Mauna Kea has thrilled astronomers eager to explore the edges of the universe. But it also has disappointed environmentalists and Native Hawaiians. Hawaii News Now.

A plan by California and Canadian universities to build the world’s largest telescope at the summit of Hawaii’s Mauna Kea volcano won approval from the state Board of Land and Natural Resources on Friday. Associated Press.

Several of Hawaii's biggest companies and landowners have qualified to claim tax credits and other benefits for preserving agricultural land in perpetuity. But a hui of small farmers couldn't convince a state commission earlier this month that they deserve the same. Star-Advertiser.

Several of Hawaii's biggest companies and landowners have qualified to claim tax credits and other benefits for preserving agricultural land in perpetuity. But a hui of small farmers couldn't convince a state commission earlier this month that they deserve the same. Star-Advertiser.

Gov. Neil Abercrombie, outlining themes for his re-election campaign next year, said today that the “hard choices” he has made since taking office have helped make Hawaii’s state government among the most financially stable in the nation. Star-Advertiser.

Something odd is going on in the Abercrombie administration. Officials actually seem to be scrambling to release public records in a timely fashion. Civil Beat.

On the first day of his last campaign, Neil Abercrombie recalled the last day of his first campaign. Civil Beat.

The late Sen. Dan Inouye's political legacy continues to play out as his leadership political action committee begins helping out candidates that the senator favored when he was alive. According to the latest campaign finance filings, Rep. Colleen Hanabusa and Sen. Mazie Hirono each received $10,000 from DANPAC. Inouye's PAC had roughly $50,000 in unspent funds when he died. Inouye's main campaign account had more than a quarter-million dollars.  Civil Beat.

Hawaii Senate and House lawmakers plan to spend the beginning of this week in negotiations over roughly $24 billion in proposed state spending for the next two fiscal years. Associated Press.

Local Korean civic groups and supporters rallied Saturday at the state Capitol to denounce the military actions and nuclear threats by North Korea, particularly by its young dictator, Kim Jong Un, and to express frustration, anger and shame. About 200 gathered to hear speakers, march and chant. Star-Advertiser.

The American Civil Liberties Union of Hawaii claims the state Department of Public Safety is illegally withholding public records that attorneys representing families in wrongful prison death lawsuits have already paid thousands of dollars to receive. Associated Press.

A law firm has paid the Hawaii Department of Public Safety $5,300 for public records, but state officials have yet to produce a single document, according to a lawsuit filed Thursday by the ACLU of Hawaii. Civil Beat.

A resolution in the Hawaii House of Representatives is asking for federal labeling of genetically modified food. Associated Press.

The state tax credit is a major incentive to install solar photovoltaic systems, and eliminating or reducing them would drive Hawaii homeowners away from using the sun to power their homes. At least that is what a recent survey by the Blue Planet Foundation suggests. Maui News.

A string of drownings across all Hawaii islands have put a new focus on ocean safety, especially targeted at tourists. Hawaii Public Radio.

State roundup for April 15. Associated Press.

Oahu

Key members of the City Council are taking steps to tighten the rules for filling vacant job positions so that city agencies cannot spend the money on other purposes. Too much is being diverted to pay for such things as mileage expenses and cashing out unused vacation pay for retiring employees, says Councilman Ikaika Anderson. Star-Advertiser.

A lag in processing tax returns led to Honolulu's rail project receiving $33 million less than it anticipated in the first half of this fiscal year — even though state GET collections are up this year, state Department of Taxation officials say. Star-Advertiser.

On Thursday, the 10-member HART board gave Dan Grabauskas a $35,000 bonus as part of his first annual performance review, boosting his overall pay for the year from $245,000 to $280,000. He also gets $42,000 for housing and transportation. Civil Beat.

One of the most controversial decisions by the city’s rail authority was to award a contract to build the elevated steel on steel rail trains to the financially troubled Italian company Ansaldo. The city’s HART CEO Dan Grabauskas maintained in a University of Hawaii student forum this week that the company was the best choice to design, build, operate and maintain Oahu’s $5.2 billion system. Hawaii Reporter.

The Diamond Head State Monument Foundation is holding a public meeting on Wednesday to discuss the proposed nomination of scenic roadways encircling Diamond Head as a designated "Hawaii Scenic Byway." Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii

Hawaii County Council members weighed the ideas of seeking a general excise tax increase, a fuel tax increase or raising bus fares to help fund the county’s Mass Transit Agency. West Hawaii Today.

Hawaii County Councilwoman Margaret Wille had heard enough. Before noon on Friday, the third straight day of budget talks, the Kohala representative had grown tired of the cadre of department heads highlighting needs not met in the proposed budget, and decided it was time to speak her mind. Tribune-Herald.

The makers of Mehana and Hawaii Nui beer filed for bankruptcy this week and are seeking new ownership as part of a reorganizing plan to restructure its debts.  Big Island Now.

After years of delay, a project to improve the eastern portion of Kawaihae Small Boat Harbor is moving forward. West Hawaii Today.

Maui

The communities in Hawaii where you would most likely find tax cheats and audits are Lahaina and Kahului on Maui, according to a study by the National Taxpayer Advocate. Associated Press.

In Maui County, approximately 4,000 homeowners have installed solar PV systems, according to county officials. Only three out of 10 existing PV owners said they still would have switched to solar if there had been no tax credits.  Maui News.

A building in the Kenolio Recreational Complex in Kihei that was damaged by fire more than two years ago is expected to be repaired early next year, according to Department of Parks and Recreation Deputy Director Brianne Savage. Maui News.

Hawaii's Backyard: Healing energy surrounds clients at Maui retreat. Star-Advertiser.

Kauai

Gov. Neil Abercrombie spent Friday on island, visiting school students and lending his support to the Kaua‘i Philippines Cultural Center and the Kaua‘i Raceway Park in the form of financial aid. Garden Island.

Donna Schultze has called Kaua‘i home for 41 years, so when she heard about a proposal that includes drilling a high-elevation well through Wai‘ale‘ale, she knew one thing: She didn’t like it. Garden Island.