Navy kept mum about Red Hill fuel tank leaking into Pearl Harbor, illegal tour groups, boat tours fined, condos drive Maui's hot real estate market, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Healthcare leaders 'cautiously optimistic' about COVID conditions, support governor's plan to ease restrictions. Governor David Ige is expected to announce details on the adjustments by the end of this week. KITV4. Star-Advertiser. Tribune-Herald. Big Island Now. KHON2.

Task force studies scourge of missing and murdered Native Hawaiian women and girls. The panel, created by the state House earlier this year, aims to gather data and identify the reasons behind the problem. As of now, few figures exist, but those that do suggest Native Hawaiians are disproportionately represented among the state's sex trafficking victims. Associated Press.

Hawaii residents will need to press more buttons for local calls. Many are used to dialing seven digits to make local calls, but they will need to include the 8-0-8 area code before those seven digits when calling local numbers starting Sunday, Oct. 24. KHON2.

Hawaii Is Prone To Fire But State Money To Control The Problem Is Lacking. Some residents are taking action to protect their homes and communities from devastating wildland fires. Civil Beat.

Hawaii records 8 new coronavirus-related deaths, 304 additional infections. The new confirmed and probable infection count by island includes 166 new cases on Oahu, 30 on Maui, 54 on Hawaii Island, 28 on Kauai and 26 Hawaii residents diagnosed outside the state. Star-Advertiser.

Oahu

Hope high for announcement on loosening Hawaii COVID-19 restrictions. Expectations are high that a change in COVID-19 restrictions will be announced today after Mayor Rick Blangiardi told a crowd of event planners at Honolulu Hale on Thursday, “I think tomorrow you’ll be pleased.” Star-Advertiser. Hawaii Public Radio.

Family of doctor killed in Kakaako pedestrian crash is awarded $10 million. The Honolulu City Council has approved a $10 million settlement in a civil lawsuit filed by the family of William Travis Lau, one of three pedestrians killed in the January 2019 crash in Kakaako. Star-Advertiser.

Amid ‘Political Concerns,’ Navy Kept Quiet About Red Hill Pipeline Leaking Into Pearl Harbor. As the health department held hearings on whether the Navy could operate its Red Hill fuel facility safely, fuel from a Red Hill pipeline was leaking into Pearl Harbor. Civil Beat.

Council considers saying ‘I do’ to wedding, commercial activity ban at Waimanalo beach parks. The City Council is considering a ban on commercial activities, including weddings, along the Waimanalo shoreline. Hawaii News Now.

Oahu’s solar battery program to boost clean energy stymied by permitting system. A new program offering Hawaiian Electric customers on Oahu the opportunity to add their stored solar power to the grid and get paid for it has generated plenty of interest, according to those in the industry. Star-Advertiser.

Businessman accused of conducting illegal boat tours in Kaneohe Bay faces $180K fine. The state is proposing a $180,000 fine against a boat owner accused of conducting unpermitted tours in Kaneohe Bay, despite repeated warnings to stop. Hawaii News Now.

Honolulu’s new homeless Crisis Outreach Response and Engagement program is expected to begin in 2 weeks. The city’s long-awaited Crisis Outreach Response and Engagement program, which will use a separate team of first responders to address nonviolent homeless emergency calls, is expected to start in the next two weeks. Star-Advertiser. Hawaii News Now.

Hawaii Island

School’s permit request advances: Planning commission votes 4-1 to support Connections’ project. The Windward Planning Commission voted 4-1 Thursday to forward a favorable recommendation to the state Land Use Commission to grant a special permit for Connections New Century Public Charter School to build a campus on about 70 acres of agricultural-zoned state land in Hilo. Tribune-Herald.

Chief medical officer sues Kona Community Hospital. The chief medical officer of Kona Community Hospital is suing the hospital, Kona Ambulatory Surgery Center and three individuals in a personnel dispute. West Hawaii Today.

Maui

Maui Condo Sales Leading Hot Real Estate Market for September. The Maui real estate market remained hot for September 2021, with the median sales price for single-family homes at $996,500 (27.3% higher than a year ago) and $729,125 for condominiums (a 46.6% increase from September 2020), according to statistics from the REALTORS® Association of Maui. Maui Now.

HuiZero, Maui’s First Zero Waste To-Go Food Container Program Set to Launch. The stainless steel HuiZero containers are available at participating restaurants to get food to go, and are exchangeable at other participating restaurants. Maui Now.

Hawaii startup Parklinq expands to Maui. Parklinq, a Hawaii startup app that seeks to solve the problem many residents and tourists face when searching for parking in the Islands, is expanding its operations to Maui.  Pacific Business News.

Kauai

County asks to dissolve tier system. The County Kaua‘i moved forward this week with plans to repeal the COVID-19 tier system as local spread of the virus continued. Garden Island.

Photographers illegally capturing photos at off-limits Kauai locations receive cease and desist. The state is cracking down on professional wedding photographers who are breaking the rules to get the perfect shot on Kauai. Hawaii News Now. KITV4.

Hawaiian Petrel Chick Rescued from Flooded Burrow on Kaua‘i. The rescue was carried out late last week by a monitoring team from Archipelago Research and Conservation. Maui Now.

Lanai

Raucous Roosters Are Invading Neighborhoods On Lanai. Residents say an influx of roosters is laying bare an age-old spat over two sometimes conflicting hallmarks of country life: agriculture and peace and quiet. Civil Beat.

Ige's Mauna Kea emergency proclamation spurs lawsuit, more protests, tour guides hit hard by shutdown, Kealoha linked to rail delays, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Mauna Kea protest scene PC:DLNR

Ige Sued Over Mauna Kea Emergency Proclamation. The complaint says the TMT protest does not justify the governor granting broad powers to control mountain access. Civil Beat.

TMT protesters brace for more law enforcement action at Mauna Kea. Opponents of the Thirty Meter Telescope were concerned that law enforcement officers would move in to Mauna Kea early Friday, but there had been no indication from authorities so far that a larger presence was on the mountain yet. Hawaii News Now.

An emergency proclamation signed by Gov. David Ige means that no one will be allowed on Mauna Kea, including cultural practitioners, and National Guard troops will join other law enforcement officers in dealing with protesters attempting to stop construction of a telescope at the mountain’s summit, state officials said Thursday. Star-Advertiser.

Emergency proclamation closes Maunakea to the public; TMT opponents continue protest. Maunakea has been closed to the public entirely as one of the first actions under the emergency proclamation signed by Gov. David Ige Wednesday. Tribune-Herald.

Kupuna Decry Governor’s Emergency Proclamation. The kupuna holding the front lane in opposition to the Thirty Meter Telescope, many of whom were arrested the day before, held a news conference Thursday. Big Island Video News.

Protesters Condemn Governor’s Emergency Proclamation at Maunakea. A group of protesters led by kupuna held a press conference this morning, in which they condemned the governor’s Emergency Proclamation that was issued on Wednesday afternoon. Maui Now.

Arrested kupuna return to Mauna Kea upset with Ige's emergency proclamation. Earlier the access road was open to those traveling on foot, but it is now completely closed off.  KITV.

Another Day Of Waiting For Protesters, Authorities At Mauna Kea. Hundreds of Thirty Meter Telescope opponents maintain their vigil as authorities say all access to the mountain is now restricted. Civil Beat.

Latest Developments On TMT Protests At Mauna Kea. A group of elders and protest leaders called on partners in the international collaboration that is building the Thirty Meter Telescope to stop the construction. Hawaii Public Radio.

TMT Standoff, Day 4: State Clarifies Proclamation; No Arrests Today. At its peak, there were an estimated 600 people in the area and around the intersection of the Daniel K. Inouye Highway (formerly known as Saddle Road) and Mauna Kea Access Road. Big Island Now.

Quieter day at Mauna Kea after 34 arrests Wednesday afternoon. It is now day four of the standoff and there is no word on what will happen to demonstrators that are currently at the base of Mauna Kea. KHON2.

In wake of arrests, TMT protesters pledge to stand their ground. A day after 34 were arrested for blocking the access road to the summit of Mauna Kea, leaders of a growing TMT protest say they’re not going anywhere and claimed the governor’s emergency proclamation for the mountain is an “abuse of power.” Hawaii News Now.

UH president addresses ‘heartbreaking’ TMT arrests, calls for his resignation. University of Hawaii President David Lassner said Wednesday was one of the most challenging days in his six-year tenure as the head of the university system. Hawaii News Now.

Ed Case and Mazie Hirono respond to TMT. KHON2.

State Sen. Kahele says he’ll seek TMT moratorium. State Sen. Kai Kahele said this afternoon he will ask Gov. David Ige today “for a moratorium on the construction of (Thirty Meter Telescope) for the next 60 days.” Tribune-Herald.

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Hawaii Funds Women's Health Services To Address Trump Rule On Abortion Services. Hawaii officials say they are prepared to maintain women’s health services in the state as the Trump administration orders taxpayer-funded family planning clinics to stop both referring patients for abortion services and discussing the topic with them. Hawaii Public Radio.

Hawaii jobless rate remains steady at 2.8%. The seasonally adjusted measure held at 2.8% in June for the fourth month in a row while the state’s labor force continued to shrink, according to data released Thursday by the state Department of Labor and Industrial Relations. Star-Advertiser.

Oahu

Thirty Meter Telescope protesters block H-1 traffic for second day. A coordinated effort presumably by Thirty Meter Telescope protesters blocked traffic on Hawaii’s busiest freeway this afternoon for the second day in a row. Star-Advertiser.

HPD calls TMT protest on H-1 Freeway ‘foolish and dangerous’. Pop-up TMT protests are happening statewide, including on Oahu roadways. On Thursday, protesters took to the H-1 Freeway westbound for a second day, creating a slow-rolling convoy near the Ward Avenue overpass. Hawaii News Now.

Federal investigators probe Katherine Kealoha’s role in costly rail project delay. Katherine Kealoha who’s now behind bars awaiting sentencing in one of the biggest public corruption cases in Hawaii history played a role in one of the first, major and costly delays of the Honolulu rail project. Hawaii News Now.

Contingency fund to cover contamination, HART says. The board of the Honolulu Authority for Rapid Transportation on Thursday approved paying a contractor up to $10 million to deal with contaminated groundwater found in December in an aquifer about 30 feet below a rail work site at Daniel K. Inouye International Airport. Star-Advertiser.

Honolulu Rail Will Spend Nearly $40 Million More On Change Order Fixes. Despite the cost increases, the 20-mile, 21-station transit line is holding steady to HART’s latest, $8.14 billion construction budget, officials say. Civil Beat.

Katherine Kealoha’s attorney seeks delays in trials. Kealoha and her husband, retired Police Chief Louis Kealoha, face an Oct. 21 trial on bank fraud and identity theft, but that date is expected to be pushed back. Star-Advertiser.

Next Kealoha Trials May Get Pushed Back As New Attorney Gets Up To Speed. Katherine Kealoha’s attorney wants to delay a bank fraud until next year. That could also set back her drug trafficking trial, too. Civil Beat.

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Board of Water Supply proposes to remove Haiku Stairs. The owners of Haiku Stairs, also known as “Stairway to Heaven,” made yet another pitch at the Kaneohe Neighborhood Board meeting Thursday evening to remove the nearly 4,000 steps above Heeia. Hawaii News Now.

BWS presents draft of Haiku Stairs environmental impact statement to Kaneohe community. A recent environmental study listed several options including taking the stairs down, or handing it over to the city to manage and open to the public. KITV.

What could be the future of Haiku Stairs in Kaneohe? KHON2.

Kailua Residents Long For Past, Worry About Future. The community is grappling with a number of issues as it grows from a small town to an overcrowded tourist destination. Civil Beat.

Hawaii Island

Tour guides feeling the pinch of Maunakea closure. The closure of Maunakea and uncertainty about the status of Saddle Road is having a direct impact on the island’s tour guides — primarily mom and pop operations that rely on stargazing and astronomy tours to make their living. West Hawaii Today.

Mauna Kea Tour Companies Are Out Of Luck For Now. Businesses that take visitors up the mountain are stymied. And even if the protests end, Thirty Meter Telescope construction will be disruptive. Civil Beat.

Grant helps grow bikeshare program. The nonprofit organization AARP recently awarded Peoples Advocacy for Trails Hawaii, PATH, a grant to extend its bikeshare program. West Hawaii Today.

Maui

Interview with Peter Martin: Developer talks about his start, challenges building affordable homes. His opponents outline issues with him; developer’s West Maui projects up for vote at council Friday. Maui News.

Kauai

Mayor: Raves welcome, not rants. When Mayor Derek S.K. Kawakami was asked how the business community could help him and the county be successful, he didn’t hesitate with a simple, lighthearted answer. Garden Island.

Kalalau Trail work scheduled. Friends of Kalalau Trail is inviting volunteers to work on the Kalalau Trail on Saturday. Garden Island.

Kayaks could be halted at famed Captain Cook monument, protecting seals, turtles, Honolulu permitting director resigns, Hawaii identifying tsunami debris, restaurant jobs on the uptick, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Kayaks at Kealakekua Bay

The Department of Land and Natural Resources, citing concerns about impacts to Kaawaloa, compliance and under-reporting of commercial activities, as well as worries about public safety, has issued a de facto ban on kayak tours in Kealakekua Bay, starting next year. West Hawaii Today.

State and federal officials are asking fishermen to quickly call a hotline when they see a hooked or entangled Hawaiian monk seal. Associated Press.

De-listing the Hawaiian green sea turtle as an endangered species would still keep the animal protected, according to a presentation at Kapa‘a Public Library Wednesday. Garden Island.

Democrats are on track to begin the 2013 session with dominant majorities in the Hawaii Legislature. Civil Beat.

Democratic U.S. Rep. Hanabusa has looked for signs of optimism in her re-election campaign in urban Honolulu's 1st Congressional District. Former Congressman Charles Djou, the Republican, sees a starkly different picture. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii Campaigning In The 21st Century. Civil Beat.

The Hawaii Office of Elections is reminding citizens Monday is the last day people may register to vote in November’s general election. Associated Press.

Hawaii taxpayers are suffering a crippling tax load due to the state debts, particularly the unfunded retiree health care and unfunded pension costs.Hawaii Reporter.

The federal government now has a much clearer understanding of how serious a problem bullying and suicide is for Hawaii kids, especially among Native Hawaiians and Pacific Islanders. Civil Beat.

Hawaii had the third-highest growth in the number of restaurant jobs in the past year, according to an analysis by the National Restaurant Association that shows the restaurant industry has been posting job growth at more than twice the rate of the overall economy. Pacific Business News.

State roundup for October 8. Associated Press.

Oahu

Sirens are going to become more reliable. A statewide siren modernization project is under way. KITV4.

City director of planning and permitting David Tanoue resigned. KHON2.

Hawaii

State officials have yet to determine if a large metal object that washed ashore near Naalehu on Hawaii island is a piece of debris from last year’s tsunami in Japan. Star-Advertiser.

Former Mayor Harry Kim is quick to point out the tough economic straits Hawaii County was in when he took office in 2000. Perhaps it’s a reaction to his opponent for the office, incumbent Mayor Billy Kenoi, equally as quickly noting how his office dealt with declining property tax revenues the last four years, something Kim never faced in his eight years at the county’s helm. West Hawaii Today.

The Hawaii County Ethics Board on Wednesday is scheduled to hear a complaint against Jamae Kawauchi, the Big Island’s embattled clerk, alleging she violated county code in her handling of the island’s elections. Civil Beat.

Maui

Rapid development, fallow plantations and byproducts - like herbicides and pesticides still in the soil and abandoned dirt roads - as well as animal feces, landscaping fertilizer, treated wastewater and open storm water drains are all damaging West Maui's coral reefs, members of a multiagency nonprofit community task force announced last week. Maui News.

Members of the Kaho'olawe Island Reserve Commission will hold hearings on Oahu and Maui this month to hear public input on how to preserve a large, flat, petroglyph-inscribed boulder perched at the edge of an eroding gully on Kahoolawe. Maui News.

Farmers and ranchers have an opportunity to sign up for federal funds to install conservation practices through the West Maui Coral Reef Initiative, according to an announcement from the U.S. Department of Agriculture Natural Resources Conservation Service. Maui News.

The latest marine debris to arrive in Hawai’i from the Japan tsunami was recovered in waters off of Maui. Maui Now.

Kauai

County officials announced the acquisition of two Lihu’e parcels that will be used to develop affordable housing units for seniors. Garden Island.

Clinton addresses Hawaii APEC, Obama on his way, teacher's union loses court case, military beefing up, council redistricting maps completed on Oahu, Big Island, more top news for web and smartphone

Secretary of State Hillary Clinton (c) 2011 Sen. Will Espero

APEC

Secretary of State Hillary Clinton provided the first public comments from a high-ranking official at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit, saying America's prosperity is tied to the region and pledging stepped-up economic, diplomatic and military emphasis in the East. Star-Advertiser.

Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton on Thursday vowed to expand U.S. engagement in the Asia-Pacific by building trade ties, reinforcing alliances and continuing to press for democratic reforms in authoritarian nations like China and Vietnam. Associated Press.

Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton yesterday portrayed this week’s meeting of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum here as but the first step in the Obama Administration’s strategy to put new emphasis on America’s diplomatic, economic, and military posture in this region. Civil Beat.

Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton said Thursday that the United States would expand its role in the Asia-Pacific region. Pacific Business News.

Rains held off in rainy Manoa Valley for U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton’s 50-minute address on what she called “America’s Pacific Century.” Hawaii Reporter.

Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton visited the East West Center yesterday. Hawaii Public Radio.

Determined to deepen relations with Asia, President Barack Obama is pouring nine days of valued time into a diplomatic mission away from Washington while Congress struggles toward a crucial budget deadline and a doubtful outcome. Associated Press.

Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner Thursday urged China to continue allowing its currency to strengthen, a move that could translate into increased spending by the growing number of Chinese visitors to Hawaii. Star-Advertiser.

The European economic crisis is the central challenge to global growth, U.S. Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner said Thursday. Pacific Business News.

As catastrophic floods overwhelm Thailand, preparation for such disasters and providing relief in their aftermath were prominently discussed today at the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation conference in Honolulu. Hawaii Reporter.

The private-sector side of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation starts today in Waikiki, but registration for the APEC CEO Summit appears to fall short of expectations and past summits, according to the full list of participants. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii politicians and business leaders urged attendees of the Asia-Pacific Business Symposium Thursday to form relationships that will transcend beyond the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit this week. Star-Advertiser.

In APEC's Shadow: The Pacific People's Economy. Civil Beat.

About 1,800 journalists from news organizations throughout the Asia-Pacific region are in Honolulu this week to cover APEC.  Civil Beat.

On Friday morning, the Russian President is expected to arrive. And then late Friday night -- President Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama. KHON2.

State

Budget cuts are forcing the state to eliminate programs that help welfare recipients get jobs. Associated Press.

Gov. Neil Abercrombie praised a tentative agreement reached between the state and the United Public Workers union that will save the state 5 percent in labor costs over two years. Star-Advertiser.

A state judge Thursday dismissed the Hawaii State Teachers Association's attempt to force a decision on its request to block the contract imposed by Gov. Neil Abercrombie this summer while the union pursues an unfair labor practices complaint. Star-Advertiser.

About half of Hawaiian Telcom's workers began a two-day strike Thursday after negotiators failed to agree on a new contract. Associated Press.

Hawaiian Telcom’s motto of “always on” may be a little off, as more than half of the company’s roughly 1,300 workers began a two-day strike yesterday. Garden Island.

The U.S. Marine Corps has proposed basing two new aircraft in Hawaii, according to a draft environmental impact statement released Thursday. West Hawaii Today.

Oahu

Despite today's arrival of President Barack Obama and at least nine other delegations for the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit, traffic congestion could ease up with fewer cars on the road because of today's Veterans Day holiday, state transportation officials said. Star-Advertiser.

The impact of APEC in the Pacific in the long term will not be immediate, but its impact on Honolulu has begun and will continue for the next few days. Hawaii Independent.

A city panel has approved the plan that will shape the Honolulu City Council landscape for the next decade. Civil Beat.

Ground was broken Thursday on a facility to expand what the state calls its "hub of international trade" near downtown Honolulu. KITV4.

Waikiki hotels report their room sales gradually increased last week as people arriving early for this week's APEC meetings, while neighbor island hotel occupancy remained lower. Hawaii News Now.

Hawaii

Hilo played host Thursday afternoon to a delegation of Russian dignitaries looking to get an eyeful of the Big Island's natural wonders. Tribune-Herald.

More than a dozen meetings, nine public hearings and innumerable hours of squinting at census blocks culminated Thursday in the county Redistricting Commission's "final" draft map of new County Council districts for the next decade. West Hawaii Today.

After 11 attempts, the Hawaii County Redistricting Commission has designated County Council districts that keep most communities intact, provide for two Puna lawmakers and avoid changes many residents called unacceptable. Tribune-Herald.

Maui

Former Honolulu Mayor Mufi Hannemann ramped up his campaign to win votes on the Neighbor Islands by collecting the endorsement of ILWU Local 142 Wednesday at its union hall in Wailuku. Maui News.

A high-surf advisory for the east-facing shores of Maui and Molokai will remain in effect until 6 p.m. Saturday, the National Weather Service announced. Maui News

Kauai
The Kaua‘i High School Foundation presented a $3,500 check to Kaua‘i High School teacher Leah Aiwohi to support a project designed to assist the Kaua‘i Police Department in its public safety awareness program. Garden Island.

Molokai

A helicopter taking four tourists on an excursion over West Maui and the neighboring island of Molokai crashed into a mountainside near an elementary school Thursday, killing all of the tourists and the pilot, authorities said. Associated Press.

Molokai Boy Joins DHHL Leadership. Molokai Dispatch.

Lawmakers to be schooled on sharks

Shark experts will be schooling lawmakers Thursday about shark feeding in relation to commercial tours.

The information briefing, conducted by the Senate committees on Energy and Environment and Water, Land, Agriculture and Hawaiian Affairs, will be held from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the Capitol auditorium.

• On the agenda:
• Presentation by the Hawaii Institute of Marine Biology about shark behavior and human interactions.
• Presentation by Hawaii Shark Encounters about their shark tour operations.
• Presentation by Surfrider Foundation from the perspective of ocean recreation users.
• Presentation by Save Our Surf from the perspective of ocean recreation users.
• Presentation by the Royal Order of Kamehameha concerning the Native Hawaiian perspective of sharks.
• Presentation by the Department of Land and Natural Resources, Aquatic Resources Division regarding the state's jurisdiction over near shore waters.
• Presentation by the U.S. Coast Guard regarding enforcement activities in federal waters.
• Presentation by the NOAA Fisheries Service regarding federal jurisdiction.