Navy rescues Honolulu women after months lost at sea, homegrown pot tainted, audit says burning Honolulu recyclables cheaper than recycling them, vacation rentals irk neighbors, Kauai mayor wannabes line up, rail begins airport leg, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Women lost at sea rescued, courtesy U.S. Navy

After five months adrift, two women are saved by the U.S. Navy. Two Honolulu women and their dogs survived powerful storms, shark attacks and bouts of hopelessness while drifting at sea for five months aboard a 50-foot sailboat that broke down during their sail from Hawaii to Tahiti. Star-Advertiser.

U.S. Navy

Two Honolulu women and their dogs have been rescued after being lost at sea for months while trying to sail from Hawaii to Tahiti. Associated Press.

Two Hawaii women and their dogs have been rescued after spending months lost at sea in the Pacific Ocean. The pair, Jennifer Appel and Tasha Fuiava, survived off of water purifiers and a year’s worth of dry food, like pasta and oatmeal. Hawaii News Now.

The U.S. Navy released a video of its recent rescue at sea. A pair of Hawaii women and their dogs were stuck on board their sailboat in the Pacific Ocean. KITV.

Growth in visitor numbers outpaces spending. Arrivals last month increased 5 percent year-over-year to 701,833 visitors, and spending rose to $1.2 billion — up nearly 2 percent from September 2016, according to preliminary statistics released Thursday by the Hawaii Tourism Authority. Star-Advertiser.

Visitor spending increased 7.1 percent to a total of $12.56 billion through the third quarter of 2017 in Hawaii, according to preliminary statistics released Thursday by the Hawaii Tourism Authority. Pacific Business News.

Visitors to the Hawaiian Islands spent a total of $12.5 billion in the first three quarters of 2017, an increase of 7.1 percent compared to the same period last year, according to preliminary statistics released Thursday by the Hawaii Tourism Authority. Garden Island.

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Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen is expected to arrive today for a short visit on her first official trip to Hawaii on what is technically labeled a “transit.”  Star-Advertiser.

Vigilance required for public pensions to reach full funding. 9.4 percent of Hawaii residents are part of the state Employees’ Retirement System. Maui News.

Cannabis Curriculum a Grassroots Effort in Hawaii. The number of patients registered under Hawai’i’s medical cannabis program has grown by 54 percent since 2015. Hawaii Public Radio.

Most homegrown marijuana tainted, lab reports. Most of the homegrown pakalolo tested by Hawaii’s first medical marijuana laboratory is tainted with pesticides and other dangerous contaminants. Star-Advertiser.

Human remains stolen from burial caves in Hawaii more than a century ago are finally returning to their resting place. Hawaii News Now.

High Surf Warning issued as waves of 35 feet forecast. A High Surf Warning has been issued for north- and west-facing shores of Oahu, Niihau, Kauai and Molokai, and north-facing shores of Maui. Hawaii News Now.

Southwest Airlines officials say starting service to Hawaii is now their primary focus, interisland flying is being seriously considered and they don’t plan on using red-eye flights from the mainland to the islands. Star-Advertiser.

Island Air filled two key employment positions Thursday, even as its long-term fate remains up in the air in federal Bankruptcy Court. Star-Advertiser.

Oahu

Audit: Honolulu Could Save Millions By Burning Recyclables For Energy. Sorting and selling recyclables hauled away in blue bins no longer makes economic sense, the audit found. Civil Beat.

Auditor urges city to get some cash for its trash. Many of the recyclables collected in Honolulu residents’ blue bins could eventually wind up at the city’s HPOWER plant in Kapolei instead of overseas, based on the recommendations of a new city auditor’s report. Star-Advertiser.

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After hearing more than four hours of sometimes emotional testimony from supporters and detractors of vacation rentals, the City Council Zoning and Housing Committee on Thursday voted to advance four proposals aimed at addressing the complicated issue. Star-Advertiser.

The Honolulu City Council is once again trying to get control of the growing vacation rental industry and crack down on illegal units. Hawaii News Now.

A battle over vacation rentals and illegal bed-and-breakfasts is brewing before the city council. On Thursday, members of the Committee on Zoning and Housing took up four resolutions that addressed the issue. KHON2.

Operators, neighbors clash over plans to curb vacation rentals. The online booking platforms for vacation rentals have created issues in neighborhoods no one ever expected. KITV.

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First, it was a law that bans lying down on city sidewalks. Now a city councilman wants to take it a step further, by making it illegal for people to lie down at bus stops. KHON2.

HPD Corruption Case: Who Is Alison Lee Wong? The feds say Honolulu prosecutor Katherine Kealoha used the alias of “Alison Lee Wong” to help carry out alleged crimes. Civil Beat.

Years in the making: How prosecutors built their case against the Kealohas. It's the biggest abuse of power case in modern Hawaii history. Hawaii News Now.

Former Honolulu Prosecutor Peter Carlisle: Fed's Case Against the Kealohas Solid. Honolulu’s former police chief and his city deputy prosecutor wife pleaded not guilty to federal charges Friday. Hawaii Public Radio.

Rail work kicks off airport leg. The joint venture Shimmick, Traylor and Granite is being paid $875 million to build Phase 3 of the 20-mile Honolulu rail line. Hawaii News Now.

Rail pillars are going up for the airport section of Honolulu's Rail Transit Project. Contractors used heavy machinery to drill its first holes for the 5-plus mile stretch of that phase of the project, which runs from Aloha Stadium to Middle Street. KITV.

Star-Advertiser Employees Rally To Protest Layoffs. More than 30 newsroom staffers -- about a quarter of the staff -- have lost their jobs at Hawaii’s biggest newspaper in the past year amid ongoing contract negotiations. Civil Beat.

A restaurant in the Shirokiya Japan Village Walk at Ala Moana Center was shut down for interfering with a state Department of Health inspection to follow up on food safety violations. Star-Advertiser.

The Hawaii Department of Health Sanitation Branch has posted a red “closed” placard at Mazesoba Ono-ya inside Ala Moana Center for refusing to cooperate during a follow-up health inspection to correct eight outstanding critical food safety violations. Pacific Business News.

Hawaii Island

Construction continues on the former Sports Authority storefront at Prince Kuhio Plaza, with new tenants — T.J. Maxx and Petco — expected to open early next year, according to the mall. Tribune-Herald.

Lava Inundation Zones Mapped On Mauna Loa. Mauna Loa is not erupting, but scientists with the USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory are watching it closely. Big Island Video News.

Kua O Ka La students learning about ‘what’s happening in their ocean’ by participating in eDNA study. Tribune-Herald.

Maui

Maui Police Officer Arrested for Domestic Abuse. Maui police responded to a Kahului residence on Tuesday night after receiving a call for a domestic violence complaint involving a 26-year-old female and an off-duty Maui Police Department officer. Maui Now.

State pension system still considering golf course development. As questions circled around plans for the Kaanapali Golf Course, the executive director of the state Employees’ Retirement System, which owns the golf course, said it’s too early to tell how much the project will cost and whether it will prove beneficial for the agency and the community. Maui News.

Kauai

Kauai County Department of Parks and Recreation director announces run for mayor. Kauai’s Lenny Rapozo announced Thursday that he’ll be entering the race for county mayor. Hawaii News Now.

Gov. David Ige covered a lot of ground in his 40-minute talk Thursday morning at the Lihue Business Association. Garden Island.

State Rep. Andria Tupola, recently chosen as House Minority Leader, will be at Lihue United Church Parish 6 to 8 p.m. Saturday. Tupola is running for governor. Garden Island.

The Department of Water recently held a blessing ceremony to commence the Koloa Well 16 A and 16 B Site and Building Improvements Project in Koloa. Garden Island.

Beer tax could be slashed, commercial fishing fees double, tourism could benefit from others' troubles, audit slams Honolulu homeless program management, Maui condo war, Princeville founder dies, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Hops to it! Beer making in Hawaii © 2017 All Hawaii News

A new bill could slash beer taxes in half, bolster Hawaii's hops industry. Hawaii Rep. Kaniela Ing will introduce the bill, which would slash taxes that Hawaii residents pay for beer by more than half, from 93 cents per gallon to 42 cents per gallon. Pacific Business News.

Maui Rep. Kaniela Ing plans to introduce a bill during the next legislative session that would cut taxes Hawaii residents pay for beer by more than half, from 93 cents a gallon to 42 cents a gallon. Maui Now.

Democratic South Maui state Rep. Kaniela Ing wants to introduce legislation next year to cut state beer taxes by more than half, from 93 to 42 cents per gallon. Maui News.

The state Department of Land and Natural Resources wants to triple license fees for commercial fishermen and charter captains while requiring more paperwork for dealers in fish and other marine life. West Hawaii Today.

A devastating Atlantic hurricane season, along with concerns about safety in Mexico and Europe, could propel Hawaii’s visitor industry to an even stronger finish in 2018, which was already anticipated to be tourism’s best year. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii Gov. David Ige on Tuesday announced the appointment of Catherine Betts as deputy director of the state Department of Human Services, effective Oct. 3. Pacific Business News.

Hawaii schools not prepared to shelter children in event of nuclear strike. As tensions continue to rise between the United States and North Korea, Hawaii's Emergency Management Agency has instructed residents to prepare for a nuclear strike by stockpiling 14 days worth of food, water and supplies – a standard the Department of Education says Hawaii's public schools cannot fulfill. Hawaii News Now.

The number of public school students taking and passing Advanced Placement exams jumped by double-digit percentages over last year, a step forward in college readiness in Hawaii. Star-Advertiser.

Punahou teens all earn top AP calculus score. Star-Advertiser.

Oahu

A report by city Auditor Edwin Young gives the city’s initiatives to fight homelessness a lukewarm grade and slams Mayor Kirk Caldwell and his administration for lacking benchmarks and mismanaging programs aimed at sheltering people. Star-Advertiser.

A Circuit Court judge will hear arguments on Wednesday in the Sierra Club’s lawsuit over the underground fuel tanks at Red Hill. The Sierra Club is suing the state Department of Health, saying it did not enact underground storage rules to protect Hawaii’s groundwater. Hawaii News Now.

Some Honolulu High Rises Don’t Need Sprinklers, Fire Safety Panel Says. Residential buildings could each be evaluated to determine if a sprinkler retrofitting is necessary, a City Council committee is told. Civil Beat.

Following summer’s deadly Marco Polo fire, city leaders continue to grapple with how to make hundreds of Honolulu high-rises safer without overburdening owners and tenants. Star-Advertiser.

The secrecy and confusion continue over how Honolulu is choosing its next police chief. Tuesday, a group of local residents -- whose names are being kept confidential -- began the process of ranking the top nine candidates at a Waikiki hotel. Hawaii News Now.

The departure of Luella Costales from the Honolulu Police Commission means the oversight agency will need to collaborate more on future decisions, including the selection of a new chief. Civil Beat.

The battle over beach access in the Portlock community may soon come to an end after the city took its first step in resolving the conflict Tuesday. Hawaii News Now.

Gentrification for Chinatown?  Honolulu's Chinatown has been a center of revitalization, but there are concerns too many improvements could change the character of the district. KITV.

A startup is using former sugar cane land on the North Shore to “grow oil” — pongamia trees whose seeds can be turned into biofuel. Can pongamia, an obscure plant agriculture startup TerViva is growing on 50 acres of former sugar cane land near Haleiwa, really be Hawaii’s next big cash crop? Civil Beat.

The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission is suing the owners of Pacific Fun Enterprises LLC, dba Snappers Sports Bar and Grill and Snap-ette Beach and Liquor Store for sexual harassment of female employees. Star-Advertiser.

Federal lawsuit claims owner of Waikiki bar sexually harassed female workers over the course of 7 years. Hawaii News Now.

A 58-year-old Pearl City man is in custody at the Federal Detention Center on charges that he accepted and hid more than $2.8 million in bribes that he solicited to steer more than $400 million worth of engineering and construction work to a particular South Korean-based multinational company when he worked as a contracting officer for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. Star-Advertiser.

Residents in Makakilo say they've been cited for having plants and objects other than grass in the planting strips fronting their homes. The citations are causing confusion as many say they had no idea they were breaking the city's building code. Hawaii News Now.

Private concert draws dozens of noise complaints in Kakaako. KHON2.

Hawaii Island

The only solar program available that credits residents for the excess energy their solar systems send into the grid on Hawaii Island has hit its limit. Star-Advertiser.

In unanimous floor votes, members of the Hawaii State Senate Tuesday confirmed the appointments of 3rd Circuit District Family Court Judge Henry T. Nakamoto to the Circuit Court of the 3rd Circuit (Hilo) and attorney Robert D.S. Kim to the Circuit Court of the 3rd Circuit (Kona). West Hawaii Today.

Ocean View resident Raina Whiting announced over the weekend that she’ll run for the District 5 House seat being vacated by Rep. Richard Creagan. West Hawaii Today.

Real estate development company Meridian Pacific Ltd. says about two-thirds of storefront spaces at its planned Puna Kai shopping center are spoken for. Tribune-Herald.

Outside the aisle: Local grocery store launches online shopping, delivery service. West Hawaii Today.

Nine months after its last attempt ended in failure, the state and its conservation partners Tuesday released another six captive-born Hawaiian crows into the East Hawaii wilderness, hoping to re-establish a species that hadn’t been seen in the wild since 2002. Star-Advertiser.

Maui

Condo War Breaks Out On Maui When Homes Become Hotels. When people were required to wait in line at the front desk to check into their own units, they started complaining. Civil Beat.

Panel moves to allow north shore vacation rentals. County Council will need to amend current Paia-Haiku Community Plan, which prohibits short-term rentals. Maui News.

The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs has awarded more than $1.9 million to Hawaii for improvements at veterans cemeteries on Maui and Lanai, U.S. Sen. Brian Schatz announced Friday. Maui News.

St. Anthony School has a new statue of the Blessed Father William Joseph Chaminade in the same location as one damaged in late March 2016, the school announced. Maui News.

Women Helping Women’s new executive director has firsthand knowledge of how the domestic crisis agency can help victims. Maui News.

Kauai

Harry Trueblood, the pioneer developer of Princeville, died in Denver on Sept. 14 at the age of 92. Garden Island.

Wildland fire on Kauai's Na Pali Coast highlights drought conditions statewide. Hawaii News Now.

A wildland fire burning adjacent to Haena State Park on Kauai’s North Shore closed the park and the popular Kalalau Trail in Na Pali Coast State Wilderness Park Tuesday. Garden Island.

Hawaii lawmakers huddle on North Korea threat, iiwi honeycreeper named threatened species, students show slight STRIVE test improvement, tourism v. natural resources, Maui mulls steep tax hike for vacation rentals, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Pacific Iiwi at Hakalau Forest National Wildlife Refuge USFWS

Hawaiian iiwi bird named to list of threatened species. With its bright red plumage and down-curved bill, the iiwi is a living symbol of Hawaii that for so long seemed to resist the tide of extinction that overcame so many of its native Hawaiian cousins. Star-Advertiser.

Facing extinction due in large part to the effects of climate change, the iiwi — a scarlet honeycreeper only found in Hawaii — will receive federal protection as a threatened species, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service announced Tuesday. Civil Beat.

Dozens of legislators and their staffers met behind closed doors Tuesday to hear a briefing by state Emergency Management Agency officials on preparedness for a North Korea nuclear strike on Hawaii. Civil Beat.

Students in Hawaii’s public schools did better in science this year, but their English and math performance stagnated, according to the Strive HI report presented to the Board of Education on Tuesday evening. Star-Advertiser.

In a new report released by the DOE Tuesday, numbers of students meeting or exceeding Strive HI benchmarks continues to grow. Hawaii News Now.

Tourism in 2018 is expected to surpass 2017, which so far is shaping up to be the best tourism year on record, according to experts at the annual Global Tourism Summit, which kicked off Tuesday at the Hawaii Convention Center and is expected to attract some 1,689 attendees through Thursday. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii’s annual visitor-industry conference is being expanded to the first-ever Global Tourism Summit.  About 25-hundred attendees are registered for the 3-day event. Hawaii Public Radio.

Global tourism leaders look at balancing surging industry with preserving natural resources. Hawaii News Now.

From hiking trails to beaches, the feeling of being overrun by visitors can be inescapable on some weekends here in Hawaii. Hawaii Public Radio.

Hawaii’s only cannabis laboratory received approval Tuesday from the state Health Department to begin testing cannabis-­infused concentrates and tinctures so that patients who don’t want to smoke the drug can buy alternative products. Star-Advertiser.

Two federal class-action lawsuits were filed this week against consumer credit reporting giant Equifax on behalf of Hawaii consumers. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii has joined a coalition of states in seeking documents and information from manufacturers and distributor of prescription opioids. Pacific Business News.

Hawaii has been declared one of the most diverse states in the United States, according to a new report by personal-finance website WalletHub. Pacific Business News.

Oahu

In the only recovery plan they ever hope to write, Honolulu rail officials say it’s “realistic and achievable” to build the full line to Ala Moana Center with the $9 billion total they now expect to receive. Star-Advertiser.

Full report: rail recovery plan can be found here.

Firefighters Union Protests Lack Of Information On Marco Polo Investigation. The Honolulu Fire Department knows the cause of the fire, but is refusing to reveal it — even to their own firefighters — until reports are finalized. Civil Beat.

Diamond Head Cliffs, one of Hawaiiʻs most iconic surfing areas, was the scene of a homeless sweep involving the Honolulu Police Department and 20 groundskeepers from the city Department of Parks and Recreation on Tuesday. Civil Beat.

The mother of Peyton Valiente, the toddler who was severely abused more than two years ago while under the care of his baby sitter, is seeking a federal investigation of the way the state Department of Human Services handled her son’s case. Star-Advertiser.

The mother of a Honolulu toddler who almost died from apparent abuse while under the care of a babysitter in 2015 is seeking a federal agency’s help in figuring out whether the sitter was ever put on the state’s child abuse and neglect registry. Civil Beat.

A proposal to build an emergency bypass road through a section of Nanakuli is meeting strong resistance that could derail the plan. Hawaii News Now.

The wheels are beginning to turn on a $1.3 billion project to transform a rundown federal public housing complex in Kalihi. On Wednesday, the state plans to sign a master development agreement for Mayor Wright Homes with a development team led by Hunt Companies Inc. Hawaii News Now.

Costco is expanding the gas station across from its warehouse store in Honolulu. Pacific Business News.

Costco members will need to find a new place to fill up their tanks for the next month. Signs posted at the almost always crowded Iwilei location say the station will be closed from Thursday Sept 28 and reopen on Friday Nov. 3. Hawaii News Now.

American Fast Freight has purchased a 26,153-square-foot warehouse in West Oahu from Kraft Heinz Foods Co. for $7.1 million. Pacific Business News.

Caught on camera: Strange lights spotted floating over Oahu. KHON2.

An attorney defending a man accused of inflight behavior that prompted military fighter jets to escort an airplane wants a hearing on his mental competency and detention to be closed to the public. Associated Press.

Pamela Burns, president and CEO of the Hawaiian Humane Society, died at her home Monday night. She was 65 years old. Star-Advertiser.

Pamela Burns, the longtime president and CEO of the Hawaiian Humane Society, has died, the nonprofit said Tuesday. She was 65. Pacific Business News.

Hawaii Island

One audit of the North Kona water system isn’t enough, at least not for the county government. West Hawaii Today.

On Tuesday, September 19 at the West Hawaii Civic Center, the Hawaii County Council Finance Committee will take up a resolution requesting the Legislative Auditor conduct a review of the Department of Water Supply. Big Island Video News.

An igloo village could pop up in Kona over the next few years, as Hawaii County works on a homeless settlement across from the West Hawaii Civic Center. West Hawaii Today.

Dozens of East Hawaii hospital patients got eye-popping medical bills last week. Nearly 200 patients served by Hawaii Health Systems Corp. received the “incorrect billing statements” in the mail from third-party billing vendor Healthcare Resource Group. Tribune-Herald.

The Kailua Village Design Commission on Tuesday gave its approval for a proposed new hotel on Henry Street. West Hawaii Today.

The Hawaii Department of Education’s new superintendent on Monday said delivery of special education services is among the areas eyed for improvement this year. Superintendent Christina Kishimoto, who took the reins in August, spoke about her plans for those programs and others to parents and faculty at Kealakehe High School. West Hawaii Today.

Maui

Based on current rates, a nearly 29 percent property tax hike could be in store for homeowners who rent out their non-primary residences as transient vacation rentals. Maui News.

The state is proposing improvements to the Lower Waiohuli Trail that would heighten public safety and allow for bicycle use on the 1.5-mile path on Haleakala’s western slope. Maui News.

The Maui County Department of Public Works invites the South Maui community to a public meeting on the Kihei Drainage Master Plan on Thursday, Sept. 21, at 6 p.m. at the Kīhei Community Center. Maui Now.

The Kihei drainage master plan will be discussed at a public meeting at 6 p.m. Thursday at the Kihei Community Center. Maui News.

The state Department of Land and Natural Resources will hold a public information meeting on Monday, Sept. 25, 2017, from 5 to 6:30 p.m. at the West Maui Senior Center, 788 Pauoa St. in Lahaina. Maui Now.

Coaches, league organizers, school athletic directors and other sports officials will need to start applying for recreational facilities months before each season begins as part of the county’s new triennial permit process, the county has announced. Maui News.

An official with Maui County has confirmed that the rumor regarding a fee at Kihei Aquatic Center is untrue. Maui Now.

The Fairway Shops at Kaanapali on Maui recently sold for nearly $14 million in a leasehold transaction. Pacific Business News.

Kauai

Hawaii representatives toured Kauai Tuesday and liked what they saw. Members of the House Finance Committee, chaired by Rep. Sylvia Luke, visited sites to see projects and programs supported by the Legislature. Garden Island.

The Kauai Police Department’s Fugitive Apprehension Strike Team conducted a special mission on Monday in the Lihue and Kapaa areas, which led to arrests, the removal of illegal campsites and the removal of abandoned property. Garden Island.

Stadium lights could once again come to life for a few night football games on Kauai this season, if the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service signs off. Garden Island.

Hotel revenue surges, Legislature mulls transient taxes, Ige AC plan lags, Board of Education reduces proposed impact fee on rail route, grad students again try to unionize, Big Island audit finds inventory controls lacking, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Hapuna Beach Prince Resort © 2017 All Hawaii News

Hawaii hotels ended 2016 with record highs in revenue, boosted by increases in visitor arrivals and a spike in room rates in December. Star-Advertiser.

Airbnb is once again backing two bills that would enable the online vacation rental platform to act as a tax broker and collect and remit taxes on behalf of its hosts in Hawaii, claiming the measure could generate $100 million in tax revenue. Pacific Business News.

Counties face a drop in their share of the state’s transient accommodations tax next fiscal year if the state Legislature doesn’t take action this session. Tribune-Herald.

Housing Bill Strikes A Blow For The Middle Class. Rep. Beth Fukumoto says the Legislature needs to act on housing issues to help low- and middle-income buyers. Civil Beat.

University of Hawaii graduate assistants could have the option to unionize under legislation moving through the state Legislature. Tribune-Herald.

Only about 200 Hawaii classrooms have received air conditioning units as part of Gov. David Ige's $100 million plan announced early last year to cool 1,000 classrooms. Hawaii News Now.

Hawaii’s public school system is the top-ranked district in K-12 broadband connectivity in the United States, according to an annual report released by EducationSuperHighway, a nonprofit that focuses on Internet connectivity in the classrooms. Garden Island.

Life is getting better for the thousands of humpback whales that make the trip from Alaska each winter to breed in Hawaii’s warm waters, but state and federal scientists, government officials and law enforcement officers are remaining vigilant. Civil Beat.

Young Brothers Ltd.’s interisland cargo volume finished 2016 at virtually the same level it began the year. Star-Advertiser.

Oahu

The Department of Education has come up with a lower proposed fee that it would charge homebuilders to help pay for new schools along the rail line in urban Honolulu. Star-Advertiser.

City proposes new park rules to curb sales of goods by religious groups. KITV.

Police Commission starts hashing out subpoena process. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii

Inadequate inventory control at county Public Works baseyards allowed chainsaws, string trimmers, a generator, lawnmower, digital camera and other items to walk off the job. West Hawaii Today.

Efforts to revitalize Banyan Drive and the surrounding Kanoelehua Industrial Area are moving forward in the Hawaii State Legislature. Big Island Video News.

The Leeward Planning Commission approved a rezoning proposal last week that cleared a path for a new development at the Mauna Lani Resort in South Kohala. West Hawaii Today.

New Hawaii island Police Chief Paul Ferreira was a young detective when he enlisted famed forensic scientist Henry Lee 24 years ago to determine whether a well-liked police sergeant accidentally ran over his wife or if blood spatter inside his van proved it was murder. Star-Advertiser.

The Big Island Community Beach Clean Up event is back and has the potential this year to be bigger than ever before. West Hawaii Today.

Maui

Less than a year after Wailuku’s Clean & Safe program was born, business owners say the town’s atmosphere has improved, and the people who were given jobs say they’ve gotten their dignity back. Maui News.

Kauai

Kekaha Elementary is the only Kauai school on the Department of Education’s priority list in the state’s Heat Abatement project to cool down Hawaii classrooms, ranking 31 out of 33 in the state. As of Feb. 15, no units have been installed. Garden Island.

New Catholic Charities CEO: Homelessness, senior care are big challenges. Garden Island.

Ige vetoes Airbnb tax, six other bills, lawmakers call special override session on Maui hospital, Biden stopping in Hawaii, Kenoi ethics case delayed again, Anaergia seeks to sell energy to Maui Electric, revamp for Kauai Black Pot park, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Kauai short-term vacation rental © 2016 All Hawaii News

Gov. David Ige has vetoed a bill that would allow short-term accommodations brokers, such as Airbnb, to act as tax collection agents for the state, along with six other measures that he found problematic for various reasons. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii Gov. David Ige dropped the veto hammer Tuesday on seven bills, including one that would have allowed vacation-rental companies like Airbnb to collect taxes on behalf of the state. Civil Beat.

Hawaii Gov. David Ige vetoed a bill that would have allowed online lodging services like Airbnb to collect taxes, delving into a debate about whether websites should be held responsible for the listings people post on their sites. Associated Press.

Gov. David Ige announced the vetoes of seven bills Tuesday, including one that prompted the Hawaii State Legislature to call for a special session. West Hawaii Today.

Governor David Ige announced the veto of seven bills on Monday, a day ahead of Tuesday’s July 12th deadline. Maui Now.

The Hawaii Legislature convened a special session on Tuesday in an effort to save a bill aimed at providing benefits for unionized employees at three state-owned Maui hospitals who risk losing their jobs due to privatization. Pacific Business News.

Lawmakers gathered at the state Capitol on Tuesday for a special “override” session to consider Gov. David Ige’s veto of a bill to provide severance payments or retirement bonuses to workers at three Maui County hospitals, but quickly recessed without voting. Lawmakers are scheduled to return to the Capitol on Monday to continue their deliberations on whether to amend the bill or allow the governor’s veto to stand. Star-Advertiser.

Lawmakers back in special session to salvage Maui hospitals deal. KITV.

David Ige Vetoes Far Fewer Bills Than His Predecessors. Hawaii’s governor has vetoed 16 bills from the first two legislative sessions of his term. Former governor Linda Lingle has him beat – by a lot. Civil Beat.

Hawaii lawmakers convened a special session Tuesday to revive a bill providing financial assistance to public employees at three hospitals in Maui County that was vetoed by Gov. David Ige on Monday. Civil Beat.

The legislature convened a special session today to consider the Governor’s veto of a bill to help Maui hospital workers.  Hawaii Public Radio.

Vice President Joseph Biden will make a brief layover in Hawaii this week on his way to state visits in Australia and New Zealand, the White House announced Tuesday. Star-Advertiser.

State Public Utilities Commission Chairman Randy Iwase said Tuesday he is hopeful the commission will announce a decision on NextEra Energy Inc.’s $4.3 billion proposed purchase of Hawaiian Electric Industries Inc. this week. Star-Advertiser.

A 10-page unsigned document titled “ODC COMPLAINT” that was distributed to some media outlets late last week has blown up into a request for a full-fledged investigation amid concerns over its impact on the sale of Hawaiian Electric to NextEra Energy, the biggest business deal in Hawaii’s history. Civil Beat.

Why Hawaii Has A Double Standard On Isolating Prison Inmates. Hawaii lets its for-profit prison contractor set its own rules for what it terms segregated, instead of solitary, confinement. Civil Beat.

A fighter pilot and former U.S. Air Force commander in South Korea has taken over as the top U.S. Air Force leader in the Pacific. Associated Press.

A group working to raise $2 million to bring the newly created Native Hawaiian constitution to a ratification vote by the end of the year says they’re running behind schedule. Associated Press.

Items confiscated at Hawaii airports now up for sale. KHON2.

Oahu

The reams of paperwork in Honolulu Police Chief Louis Kealoha and his prosecutor wife, Katherine's lawsuit against the Honolulu Ethics Commission include records that reveal new details about what provoked the federal probe. Civil Beat.

A group whose stated purpose is to lobby and educate government officials, property owners, vendors and the public about the vacation rental industry is suing to invalidate the way the city enforces its bans on some bed-and-breakfast and transient vacation rental units. Star-Advertiser.

In an effort to build on existing plans for transit-oriented development in Waipahu, the city is holding a meeting today to identify short-term projects to enhance Waipahu town. Star-Advertiser.

The Hawaii Attorney General’s Office said Tuesday that former state Rep. Richard Fale pleaded no contest July 1 in state District Court for failing to file “a complete and accurate candidate committee report.” Civil Beat.

With the number of hepatitis A cases on Oahu climbing to 52 adults, state health officials are urging all residents to consider getting vaccinated — and especially anyone who consumed food or drinks at a Waipahu ice cream shop between June 17 and July 3. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii

The county Board of Ethics moved Tuesday to defer until November a complaint that Mayor Billy Kenoi’s use of a county-issued credit card for personal expenses violated the Ethics Code, while a petition alleging the panel’s vice chairman is biased toward Kenoi and shouldn’t be allowed to hear the matter won’t be considered until next month’s hearing. Tribune-Herald.

A lingering ethics complaint against Council Chairman Dru Kanuha could be revisited next month, just a few days before the primary election. The unresolved ethics issue is one reason Kanuha, who’s never had an opponent in his four-year political career, faces a challenger for his Kona council seat. West Hawaii Today.

Maui

Anaergia Services is seeking local buyers for its biogas and engaging in talks with the state's only franchised gas utility, Hawaii Gas Co., as it awaits a ruling from the state Public Utilities Commission on its efforts to get Maui Electric Co. to consider purchasing its product, a company official said. Maui News.

South Maui Rep. Kaniela Ing pulled no punches Monday evening in his first face-to-face forum with challenger Deidre Tegarden, questioning her campaign support and endorsements. Maui News.

The Maui Mall Service Center will reopen Monday after a four-month closure following rain damage from a leaky roof, the county announced. Maui News.

Kauai

The Department of Parks and Recreation is leading a public planning effort to develop a master plan for the future expansion of Black Pot Beach Park. Garden Island.

Solar power incentive programs can useful, according David Bissell, president and CEO of Kauai Island Utility Cooperative, but they need to undergo periodic evaluation. Garden Island.

Ige signals veto of social media, Airbnb tax, seven other bills, signs Maui stream diversion bill, Maui's first mayor dies, Djou gets rare union endorsements for Honolulu mayor, Hawaii Island police switching to Glocks, Kauai police files lawsuit, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Gov. David Ige singles vetoes, courtesy photo

Gov. David Ige said he plans to veto nine bills. Among the nine is a bill that would prohibit employers from accessing or obtaining employees’ social media accounts and passwords. Associated Press.

The Governor today released the list of bills he intends to veto or needs more time to look over. Hawaii Public Radio.

Hawaii Gov. David Ige announced Monday that he intends to veto nine bills, including a measure that would allow vacation-rental companies to collect taxes on behalf of the state. Civil Beat.

Gov. David Ige expects to veto a hotly contested bill that would allow transient accommodations brokers, such as Airbnb, to act as tax collection agents for the state, as well as eight other bills that he’s determined to be legally questionable, fiscally unsound or generally problematic. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii Gov. David Ige said Monday he intends to veto a bill that would allow Airbnb, HomeAway, VRBO and other alternative accommodations companies to act as tax brokers on behalf of the state. Pacific Business News.

Gov. David Ige detailed his "Intent To Veto" list in a press release Monday.  On the list are nine bills. KITV4.

Gov. David Ige notified legislative leaders and key lawmakers Monday that he intends to veto nine bills. KHON2.

Gov. David Ige notified legislative leaders and key lawmakers that nine bills are on the Intent to Veto list. The Hawai‘i State Constitution requires the governor to give notice to the Legislature by Monday’s deadline. Maui Now.

Young Brothers, Hawaii’s largest interisland cargo service provider recently invested tens of millions of dollars in four new tugs — the first to be delivered to the state in 2018 and the fourth by 2019. Garden Island.

Oahu
The city wants 10 additional months to submit to federal transit officials a plan for how it intends to proceed with its increasingly expensive rail project. Star-Advertiser.

Officials overseeing Oahu's billion-dollar rail project have expressed concern in recent months about staffing issues that could potentially delay progress on the rail. Associated Press.

The images of the mural taggers left on the rail cars were jaw dropping not just because they're elaborate... But for the apparent easy access to Honolulu's very expensive train. KITV4.

Rail officials hope the cleanup of a rail car vandalized by graffiti is done by the end of the week. KHON2.

A 1st Circuit Court of Hawaii judge ruled Monday that state Sen. Laura Thielen properly filed her nomination papers for re-election this year. Civil Beat.

Officials with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency said Monday that the Navy’s plan to secure and prevent future leaks at the Red Hill Bulk Fuel Storage Facility is moving forward and making progress. Star-Advertiser.

Three monitoring wells will be built near where 27,000 gallons of fuel spilled from the U.S. Navy’s Red Hill fuel storage tanks in January 2014. Civil Beat.

In seven months the Hale Mauliola homeless shelter on Sand Island has managed to get 61 individuals into permanent housing, but perhaps the greatest benefit is the lessons learned from the first-of-its-kind project that can be translated to other homeless projects in the future, according to Mayor Kirk Caldwell. Star-Advertiser.

Honolulu mayoral candidate Charles Djou scored endorsements Monday from five organized labor unions that had backed incumbent Mayor Kirk Caldwell in two previous bids. Star-Advertiser.

Charles Djou’s campaign acknowledged the novelty of the occasion of having received union endorsements in his campaign for Honolulu mayor. After all, the Republican politician had not received labor backing since 2006, and Democrats have historically sided with Democrats. Civil Beat.

The owner of a company that sells Hawaiian-themed souvenirs was sentenced to six months in jail this afternoon and fined $40,000 for smuggling walrus ivory and whale teeth into and out of the country and for importing black coral without a permit. The company, Hawaiian Accessories Inc., was also fined $50,000. Star-Advertiser.

Column: A Rare Chance To Explore Chinatown’s Mysterious Lofts. History is preserved in the apartments and businesses that most people will never see above street level in Honolulu’s Chinatown. Civil Beat.

Hawaii

The Hawaii Police Department is going the way of many federal, state and local law enforcement agencies, and exchanging officers’ clunky old Smith &Wessons for sleek, new Glock 9 mm semiautomatic handguns. West Hawaii Today.

The latest lava flow from Kilauea’s Pu‘u ‘O‘o vent has begun to peek over the pali, providing curious onlookers an early glimpse of its glow from Kalapana. Tribune-Herald.

Things just got a lot louder at Kahaluu Beach Park, not to mention safer, thanks to a recently gifted long-distance communication system. The system lets lifeguard messages reach surfers 300 yards away from the north tower. West Hawaii Today.

Construction on the Waimea District Park continues, with the frame of the initial structure visible from Ala Ohia Road. A metal roof in nearly completed on one side of the covered play courts building that can be seen from the southeast side of town, atop exposed beams. West Hawaii Today.

Hawaii County consumers spent an average of $51,700 per household in 2014, with the bulk of those expenditures falling in three categories: housing, transportation and food. The number is less than both Oahu’s average ($62,280) and the nationwide average ($53,495). Hawaii County spends more on housing and food, but less on transportation as compared to the U.S. average. Tribune-Herald.

Maui

Elmer F. Cravalho, who served as speaker of the state House, Maui County chairman and mayor for 12 years, died Monday afternoon under hospice care after a long illness. He was 90 years old. Maui News.

Elmer Cravalho, Maui’s first mayor, has died, county officials confirmed. Hawaii News Now.

Gov. David Ige on Monday signed a bill allowing Alexander & Baldwin to continue its more than century-old practice of diverting water from East Maui streams for at least three more years under current lease terms to the jeers of East Maui taro growers and environmentalists. Maui News.

Among the nine bills Gov. David Ige put on his list of potential vetoes Monday is one that aims to help Maui County public hospital employees as the facilities move to become privately operated by Kaiser Permanente. Maui News.

With some using Brexit as a cautionary tale of rushing a vote, dozens of testifiers made their case to a Maui County Council committee on Monday on a new form of county governance, which could be placed on the general election ballot in November depending on what council members decide in the coming weeks. Maui News.

California-based U.S. Realty Partners Inc. said Monday that it has acquired the Lahaina Cannery Mall in West Maui from an affiliate of Safeway for an undisclosed price. Pacific Business News.

Kauai

An assistant chief in the Kauai Police Department is suing the department and Kauai County. The civil court filing by assistant chief Mark Begley claims he was harassed and intimidated for following department procedures after a female officer accused another assistant chief of inappropriate behavior. KHON2.

Salvaging of the Coco Palms property is wrapped up, and demolition has begun. On Monday, heavy demolition equipment took to the 46-acre lot, tearing down the former cottages. Garden Island.

With Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump the presumptive presidential nominees for the Democratic and Republican parties, many voters on Kauai have mixed feelings on who they’re supporting to be the next president of the United States. Garden Island.

Pro Bowl to move to Orlando, University of Hawaii seeks to import zika virus, Kauai police chief has no official job description, Hawaii Democrats oppose super delegates at rally, new judge coming to Thirty Meter Telescope case, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Aloha Stadium, courtesy Bobak Ha'Eri

It's official: The Pro Bowl is moving from Hawaii to Orlando. Hawaii News Now.

Three people with knowledge of the negotiations have told The Associated Press that the NFL is moving the Pro Bowl from Honolulu to Orlando this season. Associated Press.

The Board of Agriculture is expected to vote today on whether to grant the University of Hawaii a permit to import the Zika virus to Hawaii for animal vaccine trials as concerns mount locally and internationally over the spread of the virus and its ability to cause microcephaly, a devastating birth defect.  Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii Democrats sent a message to their national party to stop using super delegates for the presidential election. KITV4.

Bernie’s Backers Prevail At Democratic State Convention. Despite party elite’s support of Hillary Clinton, Hawaii Democrats elected a party chair who supports Bernie Sanders. Civil Beat.

Despite the growing evidence that something is chronically amiss, the Legislature has repeatedly failed to act on police reform. Civil Beat.

At least one prominent Democrat has opted out of the race for the urban Honolulu congressional district now that Colleen Hanabusa has confirmed she is running. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii’s Public Utilities Commission has suspended Young Brothers Ltd.’s request to increase its general rate on Thursday, according to public documents. Pacific Business News.

State regulators said they plan to host public hearings in July as part of an investigation of Young Brothers Ltd.’s application to increase interisland shipping rates by roughly 4 percent. Star-Advertiser.

Oahu

The Honolulu City Council is poised to reject funding for a plan to upgrade and renovate Thomas Square that has drawn mixed reviews from community members. Star-Advertiser.

A nonprofit effort to purchase and preserve the last major freshwater spring in Honolulu with a surface connection to the ocean has run into a jam after neighboring homeowners expressed concerns over their privacy. Star-Advertiser.

Dr. Randall F. Holcombe, chief medical officer for cancer in the Mount Sinai Health System in New York City, has been chosen as the next director of the University of Hawaii Cancer Center. Civil Beat.

A state agency has fined a Honolulu hotel, the Kahala Hotel & Resort, for a New Year's Eve fireworks show launched from state land. Associated Press.

D.G. “Andy” Anderson reopened the former Jameson’s by the Sea restaurant in March as Haleiwa Beach House despite warnings from the city not to because renovation work was done without building permits. Star-Advertiser.


Hawaii

The University of Hawaii released a progress report last week regarding implementation of Gov. David Ige’s 10-point plan for Mauna Kea. Ige gave UH, which manages 11,288 acres on the mountain, the directives a year ago following large protests against construction of the Thirty Meter Telescope. Tribune-Herald.

Hawaii County’s wastewater treatment plant in Hilo has a mold problem. An administrative building, which includes a laboratory and break room for wastewater employees, has been mostly vacated after mold was found behind the walls and ceiling. Tribune-Herald.

The Board of Land and Natural Resources gave final approval Friday for a marine reserve at Kaupulehu, where a 10-year moratorium will be placed on the harvest of fish along a 3.6-mile stretch of coastline. West Hawaii Today.

State considers permanent ohia transport ban. Tribune-Herald.

Puna Councilman Greggor Ilagan is seeking $5.5 million to put a park in Hawaiian Paradise Park. Ilagan will ask the rest of the council this week to add the project to the county’s capital budget. Tribune-Herald.

Maui

Democratic Rep. Lynn DeCoite has filed as a candidate to retain the 13th House District seat she was appointed to in February 2015 to fill the remainder of the term of the late Rep. Mele Carroll. Maui News.

The U.S. Senate Appropriations Committee has approved a defense spending bill for fiscal 2017 that includes $11.7 million for the Maui Space Surveillance System, according to an announcement from U.S. Sen. Brian Schatz. Maui News.

Kauai

It was revealed by Kauai police commissioners on Friday that three job descriptions for the chief of police are unofficial. Garden Island.

The Planning Commission sided with North Shore residents Tuesday, unanimously voting to change the proposed location of two classroom portables at Hanalei Elementary School. Garden Island.

The fate of two transient vacation rentals operating in Kekaha will not be decided until June. During a Planning Commission Tuesday, commissioners unanimously voted to defer taking action on two TVRs to give the operators, Ian and Anna Cronshaw, time to argue their case. Garden Island.

Aaryl Kaneshiro, elected to the Kauai County Council in 2014, filed his nomination papers for re-election. Garden Island.

Hawaiian Airlines gets second Tokyo flight, rail costs increase again, IBEW head won't retire during investigation, more on Honolulu police chief probe, Kauai to regulate homestays, Maui struggles to name liquor chief, tourism president touts millennial market plan, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Visitor captures Akaka Falls © 2016 All Hawaii News

The University of Hawaii was awarded $20 million to combine Native Hawaiian knowledge with modern geological data to figure out exactly how fresh water flows in Hawaii. The grant from the National Science Foundation will give the university funding to study water sustainability throughout the state. Associated Press.

University of Hawaii Gets $20 Million To Study Fresh Water Aquifers. The award, from the National Science Foundation, will be used to better map the flow of water through Hawaii’s aquifers. Civil Beat.

Barack Obama’s decision to make a first-of-a-kind presidential visit to Hiroshima, Japan, later this month prompted U.S. Rep. Mark Takai to invite Japan’s prime minister, Shinzo Abe, to make a similar first-of-a-kind visit to Pearl Harbor for the 75th anniversary of the attack on Oahu. Star-Advertiser.

The U.S. Department of Transportation on Friday announced that Hawaiian Airlines has been awarded a second route from Haneda International Airport in Tokyo to Hawaii, potentially bringing more visitors to the state. Hawaii News Now.

Hawaiian Airlines has been awarded an additional route to Haneda International Airport in Tokyo. The U.S. Department of Transportation made the announcement Friday morning, according to a statement from Sen. Brian Schatz. KITV4.

A national report released Wednesday ranked Hawaii's state court system No. 1 in the country for providing support to those with limited English proficiency. Associated Press.

U.S. Rep. Mark Takai of Hawaii has introduced legislation that would provide money for families to increase accessibility in their homes for kupuna who may need wider hallways for wheelchairs, handlebars in showers or ground-floor bathrooms. Civil Beat.

Young Brothers Ltd.’s interisland cargo shipments keep showing incremental growth. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii’s blood supply is particularly vulnerable should there be a widespread outbreak of mosquito-borne illnesses such as Zika or dengue fever on the islands. Civil Beat.

Hawaii hotel occupancy fell statewide by 1.9 percentage points during the first week of May, taking Hawaii hotels to 73.2 percent occupied, according to Hospitality Advisors and STR’s weekly report. Pacific Business News.

Oahu

The official cost estimates for Honolulu’s rail transit system have grown by nearly $350 million in recent months, raising more concerns that the city’s new five-year rail tax extension won’t be enough to finish the project. Star-Advertiser.

Drivers should start mentally preparing for lane closures because rail construction crews are nearing their work to extend the concrete guideway over the H-1 Freeway in Aiea. Hawaii News Now.

Mayor Kirk Caldwell received his first major endorsement for his re-election campaign from the Hawaii Construction Alliance. Hawaii News Now.

The criminal defense attorney hired by the Honolulu police chief and his prosecutor wife said he expects a federal grand jury to return indictments in the ongoing investigation surrounding possible wrongdoing within the Honolulu Police Department. Star-Advertiser.

The key witness in the federal probe into the police chief and his wife, a deputy city prosecutor, is a police officer who was related by marriage to the power couple. Hawaii News Now.

Brian Ahakuelo, head of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 1260, used union funds for personal expenses over the last three years, according to a list of allegations assembled by the parent union. Star-Advertiser.

The embattled head of a Hawaii electrical workers union is being accused of using union money on personal first-class travel, hotel accommodations, and to pay for his son's attorney fees in a felony case. Hawaii News Now.

Two days after announcing his retirement, the head of the IBEW Local 1260 has changed his mind. KHON2.

Honolulu Mayor Kirk Caldwell announced Thursday that he has appointed local businessman Peter Adler to serve on the city and county’s Ethics Commission. Civil Beat.

The parking crunch in Kakaako could be getting a lot worse. There’s a plan in the works to create a lot of new housing, but it may not come with a lot of parking stalls. KHON2.

Hawaii

A Hawaii County budget review held Thursday evening at the West Hawaii Civic Center was part numbers for future spending, part update covering ongoing projects and partly a look back on eight years of West Hawaii priorities. West Hawaii Today.

The Hawaii Island Community Development Corporation recently submitted permit applications for a 30-unit expansion to the Mohouli Heights Senior Neighborhood, according to its executive director. Tribune-Herald.

New tourism chief looks to millennials for growth. West Hawaii Today.

Scuba diving is popularly connected with the Navy SEALS, not the Marines and Army. But two veterans from each service have become skilled divers, exploring this week the Kona Coast through the Soldiers Undertaking Disabled Scuba, or SUDS. West Hawaii Today.

Maui

The Liquor Control Commission is scheduled to re-interview four candidates for director of the Department of Liquor Control on May 24, an official said Wednesday. Maui News.

A request for an additional $1.9 million this fiscal year for the county Department of Fire and Public Safety received initial approval Wednesday from the County Council's Budget and Finance Committee. Maui News.

With Kaiser Permanente set to take over three public hospitals in Maui County in less than two months, the national health care provider announced new leadership Wednesday for its Maui Health System. Maui News.

The Maui County Council's Budget and Finance Committee voted Wednesday to recommend adoption of a resolution giving county ocean safety officers a 16 percent pay raise as part of an arbitration decision earlier this year. Maui News.

A Maui High School English teacher who had also served as head football coach pleaded no contest Thursday to five counts of indecent electronic display to a child. Star-Advertiser.

A former teacher and head football coach at Maui High School, David Bui, pleaded no contest today to five counts of indecent electronic display to a child. Maui Now.

Maui County residents and tourists are being advised to stock up on mosquito repellent because of an expected increase in the number of people infected by the Zika virus coming to the county this summer, said the state Department of Health county district health officer. Maui News.

Kauai

Council members voted to recommend passing a bill that aims to define and regulate homestay operations on the island during a planning committee meeting Wednesday. Garden Island.

The developers of a planned beachfront time-share resort on Kauai say they would like the project to open under a Hyatt Hotels Corp. brand. Pacific Business News.

Some of these kids have never ridden an escalator before, said Trisha Page, special events and bookings manager at the Kauai Marriott Resort and Beach Club Thursday morning. Garden Island.