UH tuition cuts proposed, more on Gabbard's past, Ozawa-Waters battle heats up, Maui newspaper editor moves to mayor's office, Kauai seeks $130k fine for illegal vacation rental, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

University of Hawaii at Manoa ©2019 All Hawaii News

UH proposes tuition cuts and freezes for students at all campuses. KITV.

University of Hawaii proposes holding off on tuition hikes for all students. Hawaii News Now.

UH proposes tuition decrease, then freeze. The UH administration is seeking to increase affordability, improve price competitiveness and reverse enrollment declines by instituting a tuition decrease that would apply to nearly all students at the 10-campus system for this academic year and then freeze those lowered rates through 2023. Star-Advertiser.

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A New Public Corruption Scandal Looms For Hawaii. A Honolulu engineer admitted paying $400,000 in bribes, but secrecy still surrounds the state employees and Micronesian officials who allegedly accepted payoffs. Civil Beat.

Tulsi Gabbard’s run for president brings questions about her past. Star-Advertiser.

When the Honolulu Star-Advertiser began reporting on a story about Congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard and the Science of Identity Foundation, a religious organization founded by a local spiritual leader named Chris Butler, the organization began aggressively arguing that the newspaper was using religion as a “political weapon” and was fomenting religious bigotry. Star-Advertiser.

Not All Hawaii Lawmakers Embrace Gut-And-Replace. At least five senators and two representatives oppose the practice of inserting whole new language and often a different purpose into legislation with little public notice. Civil Beat.

Bail reform on tap in Legislature. A task force established to examine pretrial detention for criminal defendants has recommended eliminating bail for nonviolent offenders charged with misdemeanors and petty misdemeanors but stopped short of eliminating cash bail altogether. Tribune-Herald.

A lawmaker is pushing to add fluoride to the state's public water system to promote oral health in Hawaii. KITV.

We Have To Move Our Homes And Businesses Away From The Shoreline. But How? Hawaii lawmakers will confront major policy questions this session as they grapple with looming problems from a warming planet. Civil Beat.

168 Whales Sighted in 15 Minutes During Whale Counts. More than 572 volunteers gathered data from the shores of O‘ahu, Kaua‘i and Hawai‘i islands during the first event of the 2019 Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary Ocean Count, and on Maui with the Great Whale Count by Pacific Whale Foundation. Maui Now.

Commentary: Abercrombie’s preschool actions then are the building blocks for Ige’s program today. Star-Advertiser.

Oahu

If Honolulu City Council candidate Trevor Ozawa thought Hawaii Supreme Court justices had conflicts of interest with his opponent Tommy Waters, he could have objected before they participated in deciding on Waters’ election challenge, the state Judiciary said. Star-Advertiser.

A new Honolulu City Council District 4 election will be held within four months, with the council planning to appoint an interim representative for now. Civil Beat.

Trevor Ozawa, Tommy Waters split over high court’s ruling. Star-Advertiser.

"Dirty politics": City Council candidate Trevor Ozawa considering legal action after Supreme Court ruling. The Supreme Court invalidated Trevor Ozawa's win over Tommy Waters for the district four seat Friday. KITV.

War of words as battle for Honolulu city council seat continues. KHON2.

Ozawa: Conflicts of interest tainted state Supreme Court’s judgement. Hawaii News Now.

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Honolulu police officers volunteered to testify in Kealoha case. Lower-ranking police officers asked to be subpoenaed for the Honolulu Ethics Commission’s investigation into then- Honolulu Police Chief Louis Kealoha and his then- deputy prosecutor wife, Katherine Kealoha, according to documents the Kealohas recently disclosed in their upcoming federal conspiracy and obstruction trial. Star-Advertiser.

State Rep. Gregg Takayama hopes to convince the federal government to sell the Federal Detention Center next to the Honolulu airport to the state to use as a replacement for the aging Oahu Community Correctional Center in Kalihi. Star-Advertiser.

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For the first time in a decade of discussion about the future of rapidly deteriorating Aloha Stadium, bills before the Legislature propose a by-the-numbers financial blueprint and define a process for ancillary redevelopment of the 98-acre parcel. Star-Advertiser.

The future of Aloha Stadium might not include the beloved swap meet. Hawaii News Now.

Some lawmakers want more than new Aloha Stadium. KHON2.

Lawmakers look at building parks, condos, even hotels in Aloha Stadium district. The idea for redevelopment is to reel in money for the state's economy. KITV.

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New allegations surface against a former trustee of Heiress Kawananakoa. Attorneys for Campbell Estate heiress Abigail Kawananakoa are accusing her former trustee of taking money from her the day he was fired. Hawaii News Now.

The city prosecutor has filed papers in Honolulu District court to dismiss charges against five men who were arrested in a failed attempt to seize the Office of Hawaiian Affairs. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii Island

Members of the county Charter Commission are having second thoughts about a ballot measure reducing how much of the county’s budget must be used to buy land for preservation. West Hawaii Today.

The CEO of Alaska Aerospace Corp. said the organization will have some homework to do after a contentious meeting with Department of Hawaiian Home Lands residents Friday about its proposed small satellite launch facility. Tribune-Herald.

Kamehameha Schools, which owns 54 acres at Keauhou Bay, is developing a management plan intended to move traffic and commercial operations away from historic sites and reduce pressure on the bayfront’s resources. West Hawaii Today.

Homeless numbers in Hawaii vs public perception. West Hawaii Today.

A study to determine whether the Pohoiki boat ramp can reopen may happen in months or in mere weeks. Tribune-Herald.

Lawyers discuss Lloyd’s of London lawsuits at meeting. Tribune-Herald.

Council advances Kaupulehu project. West Hawaii Today.

Maui

The state has agreed to pay $585,000 to settle a lawsuit by two former foster children who were sexually molested by a state-licensed Maui foster parent. Star-Advertiser.

Hana Highway group looks to make road safer while raising cultural awareness. KHON2.

Lawmakers mull ways to deal with fire risk, relief. State and local lawmakers are looking for ways to provide relief for West Maui residents still working to rebuild their homes and crops after fires in August. Maui News.

South Maui park options presented. Three concepts for the undeveloped portion of the South Maui Community Park will be presented from 4:30 to 7 p.m. Feb. 7 at the Kenolio Recreation Center, 131 S. Kihei Road. Maui News.

Colleen Uechi named assistant city editor. Her appointment comes amid a newsroom reorganization brought on by the departures of City Editor Brian Perry and reporter Chris Sugidono to the mayoral administration of Michael Victorino. Maui News.

Kauai

Commission recommends $130,000 fine. The owners of a vacation rental property on the Wailua River may be fined $130,000 for violating county zoning ordinances. Garden Island.

Coral reefs bouncing back. On Kauai, corals battled black band disease from 2004 to about 2015 and did experience some impacts of bleaching, but in the last year, divers reported an increase in coral growth at Anini Beach on Kauai’s northeast side in March — a March report from underwater photographer Terry Lilley mentioned healthy and disease-free corals that “continue to grow at a rapid rate.” Garden Island.

Kauai Beach Resort has undergone many transformations since its construction in the 1970s, and April 1 another hospitality company is taking over management of the resort. Garden Island.

Tropical Storm Darby continues path toward Hawaii, Ige pledges another $12M to fight homeless, only Senate Republican faces challengers, incumbent advantage on Big Island, UH tuition to increase, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Fisherman in Ala Moana Park © 2016 All Hawaii News

City officials said Thursday it will take two weeks to repair a section of Ala Moana Beach Park Drive where a large sinkhole has been blocking the Ewa entrance to Ala Moana Regional Park since Tuesday afternoon. Star-Advertiser.

Tropical Storm Darby maintained its strong winds overnight as it continued heading west toward Hawaii island. As of 5 a.m. today, the center of Darby was located 390 miles east of Hilo and 595 miles east-southeast of Honolulu. Maximum sustained winds measured 60 mph as the storm moved west at 12 mph. Star-Advertiser.

Gov. David Ige plans to spend an extra $12 million this year to make a dent in the state’s homelessness crisis, outlining a three-pronged approach that includes expanding services, conducting sweeps of encampments and developing more affordable housing. Associated Press.

Armed with $12 million in supplemental funding to stem the state’s homeless crisis, Gov. David Ige unveiled a four-year plan Thursday that aims to reduce the number of unsheltered homeless people to “functional zero.” Civil Beat.

Governor details $12 million spending plan to tackle homeless crisis. KITV.

Gov. David Ige pledged Thursday to allocate $12 million to combat the issue. The plan is to get more people into permanent housing by building 10,000 affordable units in the next four years, expanding homeless outreach, and providing more funds for property storage and cleanup. KHON2.

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The University of Hawaii Board of Regents voted Thursday to hold tuition flat across the 10-campus system for the 2017-18 academic year, a move that will delay the administration’s plans to begin upgrading campus facilities. Star-Advertiser.

Students at Hawaii Community College and the University of Hawaii at Hilo will see modest tuition hikes in coming years. The UH Board of Regents on Thursday approved a three-year plan that starts in the 2017-18 school year and caps increases at 2 percent systemwide. Tribune-Herald.

In a case stemming from ballot shortages at precincts on Oahu and the Big Island in the 2012 general election, the state Supreme Court on Tuesday ruled that the state Office of Elections needs to establish rules through proper public noticing and hearing on the method it uses to calculate the number of ballots printed for precincts and how to handle ballots cast incorrectly. Maui News.

Valley Fever Risk Won’t Slow Flow Of Hawaii Inmates To Arizona. Hawaii may soon face legal claims over prisoners infected with valley fever, a disease endemic in the Southwest. Civil Beat.

NextEra Energy Inc. (NYSE: NEE), which has pending projects across Hawaii, is mum on what will happen with those projects following its termination of its proposed $4.3 billion acquisition of Hawaiian Electric Co., a spokesman for the Florida energy giant told Pacific Business News this week.

Oahu

State Sen. Sam Slom has held the District 9 seat representing East Honolulu for two decades, but a pair of Democratic candidates are spending thousands of dollars in hopes of unseating Hawaii’s only Republican senator. Civil Beat.

The State and City of Honolulu are implementing separate plans to address homelessness and affordable rental housing. Hawaii Public Radio.

The chief academic officer for the University of Hawaii at Manoa announced he is resigning from the post but said the decision was not a result of complaints lodged last year by faculty and staff over alleged bullying and racist and sexist behavior. Star-Advertiser.

The attorney for Honolulu Police Chief Louis Kealoha wants the federal prosecutor heading a grand jury investigation dismissed from the case. KHON2.

The Navy held a lease-signing ceremony Thursday with Hawaiian Electric Co. for a 20-megawatt alternating-current solar farm at Pearl Harbor’s West Loch Annex that HECO said would be the second largest for photovoltaics in the state. Star-Advertiser.

A new 60-second radio commercial from the campaign of Honolulu Mayor Kirk Caldwell “fact-checks” challenger Charles Djou and finds him wanting. Specifically, the spot refers to Djou’s statements on rail and homelessness. Civil Beat.

Hawaii

There’s a definite incumbent advantage when it comes to raising money for County Council elections. West Hawaii Today.

Citing violations ranging from poor land husbandry to evidence of a junkyard and the possibility of a cockfighting operation, the state Board of Land and Natural Resources will consider a request to revoke the lease on a 10-acre Panaewa parcel. Tribune-Herald.

The Leeward Planning Commission paved the way Thursday for construction of a 19-unit, single-family subdivision on the mauka side of Alii Drive across from the Alohi Kai Subdivision and Kamoa Point, allowing the applicant, Larry Smith of Royal Alii LLC, a five-year extension to meet conditional requirements set forth when the project was initially approved in July 2006. West Hawaii Today.

As Tropical Storm Darby continues to track toward the state, the Big Island could see heavy rain and strong winds as soon as Friday night. As a result, officials has begun preparations for the storm. Hawaii News Now.

Maui

Hawaiian Commercial & Sugar Company was fined $600,000 by the state for violating air quality regulations. The state Department of Health said that the excess emission and reporting violations occurred from 2009 to 2014 in Puunene, Maui. Civil Beat.

Kauai

The Kilauea Neighborhood Association is throwing its weight behind the plan to subdivide 120 acres on the Kilauea Plateau, but the group wants a seat at the table when it comes to developing the eight planned parcels. Garden Island.

The plan for the future of Haena State Park has been tweaked, and Saturday, the State Parks division and members of the Haena State Park Community Advisory Committee will host an open house to chat about the changes. Garden Island.

When it comes to creating bus stops, Mel Rapozo, chair of the Kauai County Council, wants to make sure they will be accessible for everyone. That’s why the council voted to defer a decision on passing a resolution that proposes establishing a bus stop on Kawaihau Road, west of Awa’a Place, near the Menehune Food Mart and the Kauai Athletic Club. Garden Island.

Hawaii House and Senate reach $13.7B budget deal, medical marijuana bid winners to be announced today, Alexander & Baldwin to continue diverting Maui stream, Honolulu has world's most expensive bread, 'Peter Boy' parents indicted on Big Island, Honolulu police chief files civil rights case in corruption probe, man arrested in Kauai pregnant monk seal attack, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Hawaii Legislature in joint session, courtesy Hawaii House Majority

House and Senate lawmakers reached an agreement Thursday to finalize the overall state budget, including $160.5 million for the Hawaii State Hospital, $17 million for Hawaiian Home Lands and $81 million to more aggressively pay down unfunded liabilities for health benefits promised to public workers. Civil Beat.

State lawmakers have wrapped up negotiations on a $13.7 billion budget for the coming year that includes a financial bailout for Wahiawa General Hospital and $160 million to rebuild much of the Hawaii State Hospital for the mentally ill. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii state lawmakers have approved a state budget that includes $2.5 million for the Wahiawa General Hospital and another $700,000 for the Wahiawa Center for Community Health. Pacific Business News.

Hawaii state lawmakers have agreed to set aside nearly $62 million of this year’s budget to subsidize the construction of rental housing units and $35 million to repair aging public housing units. But Sen. Jill Tokuda and Rep. Sylvia Luke, who lead each chamber’s money committees, said they don’t plan to hold a hearing for a proposal to increase a tax credit for renters, even though Hawaii renters are among the most cost-burdened in the nation. Civil Beat.

Despite a last-minute legal demand to delay the announcement, Hawaii’s Department of Health plans on Friday to announce the eight companies that will receive licenses to grow and sell medical marijuana. Civil Beat.

After Hawaii sought bids last month for a lucrative new contract to house hundreds of its prisoners on the mainland, no rivals stepped up to challenge the state’s current contractor. The Hawaii Department of Public Safety announced Thursday that Nashville, Tennessee-based Corrections Corporation of America, the largest for-profit prison company in the country, was the sole bidder for the contract. Civil Beat.


State lawmakers are looking to make Hawaii one of only a few states that allow psychologists to prescribe medication in an effort to increase access to mental health services. Associated Press.

Hawaii has the highest rate of residents using solar panels in the nation, and lawmakers want to extend the state’s leadership role by offering incentives or rebates to those who buy batteries to store their renewable energy. Associated Press.

The head of the Native Hawaiian Education Council and an insurance company executive are among five nominees being considered for positions on the Hawaii State Public Charter School Commission. Civil Beat.

Oahu

Honolulu’s chief of police, Louis Kealoha, and his wife Katherine, a deputy prosecutor, are firing back at the city ethics commission, saying they’ve been unfairly targeted for years.  They also say they’re not the only ones, so they’ve filed a federal civil rights complaint. KHON2.

Honolulu Police Chief Louis Kealoha and his wife, Katherine Kealoha, took to the television Wednesday to proclaim their innocence in a wide-ranging federal grand jury investigation that involves allegations of corruption and abuse of power. Civil Beat.

A bill that would create more incentive for homeowners to apply for second dwellings on a property got a preliminary approval from the City Council Zoning and Planning Committee on Thursday. Star-Advertiser.

So far this year, there have been eight pedestrians killed on O‘ahu’s roads. Advocates say one solution includes revamping streets to make them safer for all users, whether on bike, car or foot. Hawaii Public Radio.

Honolulu has a new claim to fame. It has the most expensive cost of bread in the world, according to expatistan.com. Pacific Business News.

As rail construction makes its way to the city, small businesses owners in Kalihi are bracing themselves. Pre-construction has already begun along Dillingham Boulevard and major construction is set to begin sometime between 2017 and 2018. Hawaii News Now.

Hawaii

The battle of the budget is officially over, with House and Senate committees agreeing Thursday on the 2016-17 supplemental funding bill. Here’s how West Hawaii fared. West Hawaii Today.

The parents of Peter Kema Jr., aka “Peter Boy,” are in police custody and have been charged with his murder. Peter Kema Sr., 45, was arrested at 5:31 p.m. Thursday and charged with second-degree murder for the 1997 death of his 6-year-old son. Kema was already in custody at the police cellblock, having been arrested earlier in the afternoon on a charge of driving without a license. Tribune-Herald.

The 19-year-old disappearance of a 6-year-old Big Island boy, who would have turned 25 on Sunday had he lived, will finally be adjudicated. Star-Advertiser.

Around 15 people testified against tuition increases at a roughly two-hour meeting, which was one of 11 held statewide this spring to gather feedback before regents convene next month to make revisions. A second meeting was held at UH-Hilo later in the day. Tribune-Herald.

Big Island Invasive Species Committee collaborates with retail giant to remove night-blooming jasmine and medinilla from garden centers in Hawaii. Big Island Video News.

Maui

On Thursday, House Bill 2501 HD2 SD 2 CD1, or the Maui water rights bill, was approved. The bill allows Alexander & Baldwin Inc. to continue a previously authorized disposition of water rights for three years or until its pending application for water rights is resolved, whichever occurs sooner. KITV4.

The House on Thursday passed a controversial bill that would allow Alexander & Baldwin to retain the rights to the water flowing through dozens of streams in East Maui while administrative and legal challenges to its request for a long-term lease for water are resolved. Star-Advertiser.

The House voted Thursday evening to approve a bill that lets Alexander & Baldwin continue leasing stream water from East Maui, to divert to farmland in Central Maui, where the last sugar mill in Hawaii is soon to close. That sets up House Bill 2501 for its final vote in the Senate on Tuesday. If passed, the bill would then head to Gov. David Ige for his signature. Civil Beat.

Alexander & Baldwin Properties' new residential community in north Kihei is accepting applications for its first neighborhood, which includes up to 170 condominium homes. Maui News.

Kauai

The Kalalau Valley is world renown for its majestic scenery and breathtaking wilderness. Because of that, it’s a nest of illegal camping activity and ground zero for periodic enforcement sweeps by the Department of Land and Natural Resources’ Division of Conservation and Resources Enforcement. Garden Island.

A 19-year-old Eleele man was arrested Thursday in connection with an attack on a Hawaiian monk seal at a Kauai beach. Star-Advertiser.

Shylo Akuna was picked up by Department of Land and Natural Resources DOCARE and NOAA Office of Law Enforcement special agents around 2:30 p.m., just two days after a video showing a man harassing a well-known Kauai monk seal named RK30 began circulating the internet. Garden Island.

The trial for the Kauai police officer charged with negligent homicide for allegedly causing the death of a 19-year-old man on Kaumalii Highway has been moved to October. Garden Island.

GMO hearings planned for June, rail officials want Ala Moana station, bond sale saves state $32.8M, judges shun Kenoi case, OHA's Lindesey suffers stroke, PR for Honolulu police, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Store display in Hilo © 2016 All Hawaii News

The 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals may hold hearings in June on three cases related to genetically modified farming in Kauai, Maui and Hawaii counties. The appeals court hasn’t officially scheduled the hearings yet, but it notified parties recently that they may be held June 13-17 in Honolulu. Civil Beat.

Gov. David Ige’s plans to address Hawaii’s homelessness crisis and affordable-housing shortage are competing for funding with other priorities in the Legislature, and some advocates are concerned that lawmakers are not setting aside enough money to solve those pressing problems. Associated Press.

The state refinanced $345 million in general obligation bonds Thursday in a move that will save the state $32.8 million during the next eight years, according to an announcement from Gov. David Ige. Star-Advertiser.

A bill to allow the cultivation and distribution of industrial hemp for research was approved by the House Finance Committee on Friday. Civil Beat.

Hawaii spends roughly $17 million a year on the salaries of state employees whose main mission is to keep the islands safe from natural- and human-caused disasters. Civil Beat.

State utility regulators are weighing a switch to smart meters for thousands of Hawaiian Electric Co. customers. Associated Press.

Embattled telecommunications company Sandwich Isles Communications has asked the Hawaiian Homes Commission to certify it as an eligible telecommunications carrier so that it can potentially resume receiving millions of dollars in federal ratepayer funds to subsidize its phone and Internet service on Hawaiian homelands. Star-Advertiser.

The Office of Hawaiian Affairs Chairperson, Robert K. Lindsey Jr., suffered a stroke a few weeks ago, and the agency says he is now in the process of recuperating. Big Island Video News.

The University of Hawaii will be presenting its proposed tuition schedule for fall 2017 through spring 2020 to the community at public meetings statewide from Monday, March 28 to Thursday, May 5. KHON2.

Oahu

City rail officials appear to be massaging their construction schedule to preclude the Legislature, City Council and public from any temptation to stop the financially troubled $6.57 billion project at Middle Street instead of running to Ala Moana Center. Star-Advertiser.

The Honolulu Police Department will pay a public relations firm about $125,000 over a year to train its two police public relations professionals as well as leaders and officers. Associated Press.

When they were announced last year, accessory dwelling units were touted as a potential quick fix to help alleviate O‘ahu’s housing shortage. Hawaii Public Radio.

Hawaii

It appears no Big Island judge will hear the pending theft trial of Hawaii County Mayor Billy Kenoi. Tribune-Herald.

The state indictment charging Hawaii County Mayor Billy Kenoi with theft and lying about purchases he made with his county-issued credit card does not include any of the more egregious allegations, including that he used the card to pay Honolulu hostess bar tabs, to buy a surfboard and bicycle or to pay his state lawyer association dues, according to an analysis of the credit card statements. Star-Advertiser.

Retired Hawaii Island Circuit Court Judge Riki May Amano has been chosen as the hearings officer to conduct a new contested case hearing regarding the proposed Thirty Meter Telescope project atop Mauna Kea, the state Department of Land and Natural Resources announced Friday. Civil Beat.

A retired Hawaii state judge will serve as a hearing officer for a contested case hearing redo for the Thirty Meter Telescope land permit, the Hawaii Department of Land and Natural Resources said. Pacific Business News.

A bill to privatize Honokohau Harbor after years of disrepair is gaining steam at the Capitol. And the state agency which now oversees the facility is backing what could become a model for privatization of small boat harbors across Hawaii. West Hawaii Today.

A group of Papaikou mill beach users and their supporters stood along Highway 19 on Friday to again urge Hawaii County officials to make the only trail to the small black sand beach a public path.Tribune-Herald.

A Life Flight helicopter which has been allowed to permanently park on Hilo Medical Center’s helipad will soon be getting the boot. Tribune-Herald.

Maui

The Special Committee on County Governance voted 6-5 on Thursday afternoon to pursue some form of county manager government. Maui News.

Hawaiian Electric Cos., including subsidiary Maui Electric Co., is seeking to embark on a $340 million project to install smart grid technology which will allow customers to monitor their electricity use by computers or mobile devices and the utility to improve grid operations and integration of renewable energy. Maui News.

Kauai

Creating transportation alternatives that would decrease Kauai’s traffic congestion and carbon footprint is a long road. Garden Island.

State health officials are blaming the fecal waste of feral pigs, sheep, rats, birds and possibly a dozen land tortoises for polluting a stream that people frequent on the south shore of Kauai. Civil Beat.

In its continuing effort to maximizing efficiency, the Kauai Transportation Agency next month plans to implement new bus routes, resulting in savings of up to $120,000, according to the county. Garden Island.

Lanai

Technical difficulties in maintaining clear videoconference or phone communications with Lanai testifiers pulled the plug on the Maui County Council's attempt to pass the Lanai Community Plan update on first reading Friday. Maui News.

Honolulu Zoo loses accreditation, sex trafficking bill opposed by sex workers and prosecutors, police body cams advance in Legislature, Kauai farm center created, Hawaiian Electric's Lau makes $2.7M, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Honolulu Zoo © 2016 All Hawaii News

The Honolulu Zoo has lost its accreditation with the Association of Zoos and Aquariums, the organization and the city announced today. Star-Advertiser.

The Honolulu Zoo could lose as many as 90 exotic animals on loan through animal exchange programs after the Association of Zoos and Aquariums this week denied the Waikiki facility’s request for re-accreditation. Star-Advertiser.

© 2016 All Hawaii News

The Association of Zoos and Aquariums has rejected the Honolulu Zoo’s request for re-accreditation. City officials recently met with AZA executive members, and were told their application was denied due to concerns about consistent funding from the city and private partners. Civil Beat.

The Honolulu Zoo has lost its accreditation from the Association of Zoos and Aquariums. Hawaii Public Radio.

© 2016 All Hawaii News

The Association of Zoos and Aquariums has denied Honolulu Zoo’s application for re-accreditation as it is worried about the institution's lack of funding from the city. Pacific Business News.

A panel of Association of Zoos and Aquariums executive members met with a team from the Honolulu Zoo this Monday in Omaha, Nebraska to consider the city’s application for re-accreditation of the Honolulu Zoo. KITV4.

The Association of Zoos and Aquariums has denied the city’s application for re-accreditation of Honolulu Zoo. KHON2.

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A new version of a sex trafficking bill vetoed last year by Gov. David Ige was discussed before the Senate Judiciary Committee on Tuesday, and it drew the same opposition as last year from Honolulu’s prosecuting attorney. Civil Beat.

Advocates for sex trafficking victims are saying Hawaii is long overdue to pass a bill banning sex trafficking. But some sex workers oppose the measure. Hawaii is the only state in the nation without a law that specifically bans sex trafficking. Hawaii News Now.

Body cams and dashboard cameras in police cars moved a step closer on Tuesday to becoming part of police operations in Hawaii. The House Judiciary Committee unanimously passed Senate Bill 2411, with two Republican members voting with reservations. Civil Beat.

Hawaii lawmakers have made changes to a controversial bill aimed at simplifying tax collections for transient vacation rentals to prevent the operations from being run illegally. Associated Press.

Connie Lau, president and CEO of Hawaiian Electric Industries Inc., received total compensation of $2.7 million in 2015, according to a filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission.Star-Advertiser.

Discovery of long-lost Navy vessel ends years of searching. Star-Advertiser.

Scientists from Honolulu's Bishop Museum have helped document the existence of second bat species that once lived in the Hawaiian Islands. Associated Press.

Oahu

A federal jury found Honolulu police officer Landon K. Rudolfo guilty this morning of knowingly buying then selling a stolen vehicle. Star-Advertiser.

Honolulu Mayor Kirk Caldwell’s often-fractious relationship with most members of the City Council appeared to reach a new low last week, with some Council members calling him insincere and disrespectful during a public meeting. Civil Beat.

TheBus, the future rail line and Handi-Van are all moving closer toward sharing a “smart card” fare pass that Oahu riders would use for all public transportation. Star-Advertiser.

The Honolulu Authority of Rapid Transportation and the city’s Department of Transportation Services have awarded a $31 million contract to design, build, operate and maintain a new smart card pass system to INIT Innovations in Transportation, Inc. Pacific Business News.

Pushed out for rail, a Kakaako business owner fears he'll lose everything. Hawaii News Now.

At a time when airport security is at the top of people’s minds, the agency responsible for protecting our nation’s airports is experiencing its lowest staffing levels in years. KHON2.

Hawaii is facing a nearly $6 million funding shortfall to host the International Union for Conservation of Nation World Conservation Congress slated for September in Honolulu, an international event deemed the “Olympics of Conservation.” Civil Beat.

Hawaiian Airlines has received a temporary daytime slot by the U.S. Department of Transportation for travel this winter between Honolulu and Haneda International Airport in Tokyo. Hawaiian currently has less-desirable late-night arrival and departure times because of a 2010 U.S.-Japan Open Skies agreement that limited U.S. flights to between 10 p.m. and 7 a.m. local time. Star-Advertiser.

The commander of the 25th Infantry Division, Maj. Gen. Charles A. Flynn, has been named a deputy commander of U.S. Army Pacific at Fort Shafter, the Pentagon announced last week in a slew of general officer changes for Hawaii. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii

With the announcement of its third class of physician residents last Friday, the Hawaii Island Family Medicine Residency Program has reached a milestone. For the first time since it began in 2014 as a means of addressing Hawaii Island’s doctor shortage, it will have a full complement of doctors: 12 in all. Tribune-Herald.

A new surcharge will hit water bills this summer as the Department of Water Supply strives to reduce its dependence on purchased power. The energy rate surcharge, set at 5 cents per 1,000 gallons of water, goes into effect July 1, and is expected to generate $460,000 the first year. West Hawaii Today.

State Representatives passed two resolutions through committee on Monday requesting stakeholders collaborate on the future stewardship and preservation of Waipi‘o Valley. Big Island Video News.

Burrowing beetles that colonize dead ohia trees and spread wood dust on the wind are being targeted as the likely cause of a swiftly spreading fungus that threatens the island’s forests. West Hawaii Today.

Maui

A bill that would allow Alexander & Baldwin to temporarily hold on to the rights to millions of gallons of water it diverts each day from East Maui streams survived a close vote in a key Senate committee Monday night. Star-Advertiser.

Most charges were dismissed Monday for four college students who had been awaiting trial after being arrested last year during a protest over the Daniel K. Inouye Solar Telescope being built at the Haleakala summit. Maui News.

The wife of Democratic presidential candidate Bernie Sanders came to Maui on Monday and heard about the end of sugar - its lost jobs as well as the harms of cane burning - reached out to Native Hawaiians and offered advice to a community grappling with the issue of genetically modified organisms in food. Maui News.

Public meetings on proposed tuition increases for the University of Hawaii system - including the University of Hawaii Maui College, which would see annual rates rise $150 by the 2019-20 school year - will be held at 2 p.m. May 5 at the college and through Skybridge's two-way video to Hana, Lahaina, Molokai and Lanai. Maui News.

Kauai
Seventy-five acres of prime farmland, ceded by the county to a community-based not-for-profit organization will become an agricultural center. Garden Island.

Democratic voters in Kauai have an opportunity to show their patriotic spirit when they cast votes for their party favorite Saturday as part of the presidential preference poll. Garden Island.

Hawaii emojis a hit, Legislature kills gambling, assisted-suicide bills, road study ignored, Maui school could be named for Patsy Mink, Native Hawaiians to protest constitutional convention, Waikiki groin work mulled, future of Big Island mayor uncertain, Coco Palms may be demolished, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

emojis courtesy Bank of Hawaii

Emojis are changing the way people communicate across cultures, which has led Bank of Hawaii to introduce a set of local emojis for Hawaii that features images such as Spam musubi, a loco moco, shaka and slippers. Pacific Business News.

It’s a bit early to pronounce any issue to be dead and buried for this session of the state Legislature, but the prognosis is poor for any legalized-gambling bill in 2016. Star-Advertiser.

Seventeen state legislatures across the country were considering physician-assisted suicide bills this year, but Hawaii’s effort is already over. Civil Beat.

Nearly eight years ago a national pavement consultant gave Hawaii’s Department of Transportation recommendations to help improve the condition of its crumbling roads — but the consultant’s report was largely disregarded, and DOT leaders say they’ve only recently begun to enact some of the steps he suggested. Star-Advertiser.

House lawmakers have gutted legislation that initially set out to strike a compromise between the interests of the burgeoning industry that provides long-term care for the elderly in neighborhood settings and the consumer advocates looking out for thousands of Hawaii residents who live in these facilities. Civil Beat.

Hawaiian community leaders are protesting the Naʻi Aupuni ʻAha today, and have issued a signed declaration rejecting the process and calling on other Hawaiians to do the same. Hawaii Independent.

University of Hawaii students would see modest tuition increases of no more than 2 percent annually from 2017-18 through 2019-20 under a three-year tuition schedule being rolled out by UH President David Lassner’s administration this week. Star-Advertiser.

China is likening its construction of islands and placement of surface-to-air missiles in the South China Sea to the U.S. military presence in Hawaii. Star-Advertiser.

Superintendent Kathryn Matayoshi is the highest-paid Hawaii Department of Education employee at $200,000. At the other end, office assistants start at $22,824. Civil Beat.

Commentary: Still In Session? Let’s Raise Cash! Nine members of the Hawaii Legislature are holding fundraisers Tuesday night. It’s all perfectly legal. Civil Beat.

Oahu

A 16-year-old passenger died Monday after being injured last week in a Pearl Harbor helicopter crash, hospital officials said. Associated Press.

Stakeholders have a couple of opportunities to pick the best method of shoring up the Royal Hawaiian groin, which is needed to keep Hawaii’s most visited beach from being swept away. Star-Advertiser.

Erosion continues to eat away at the Royal Hawaiian groin in Waikiki. It’s an issue that has been affecting the area for years. KHON2.

City officials will hold a hearing Tuesday to consider closing the main public access point to Maunawili Falls trail, which attracts more than 1,000 a week. Hawaii News Now.

The department of Planning and Permitting is holding a public hearing to reconsider a conditional use permit which currently requires public access to the popular Maunawili Falls Trail.  If approved, access to the trail head could be closed. KITV4.

Hawaiian Monk Seal Vaccinations Begin On Oahu. Researchers say the endangered Hawaiian monk seal population is on the rise. But so is the threat of a fatal virus that could wipe out the native species if it reaches Hawai‘i. Hawaii Public Radio.

Hawaii

People may line up on one side or the other over whether Mayor Billy Kenoi’s admitted misuse of his county-issued credit card was a criminal act, but there’s one thing Big Island residents seem to agree on — the investigation has gone on long enough. West Hawaii Today.

Following the completion of the much-anticipated audit of Hawaii County’s use of purchasing cards, or pCards, then-County Managing Director Wally Lau pledged the administration would follow through on all of its recommendations to prevent further misuse. But other than amendments to the County Code, it remains unclear how much progress the county has made in addressing the issue, sparked by the high-profile missteps of Mayor Billy Kenoi. Tribune-Herald.

The pension fund for Hawaii public employees has written off what it considers to be a bad $2.5 million investment it made in the Hu Honua Bioenergy project on Hawaii island after concluding the company won’t be able to resolve its engineering and other challenges. Star-Advertiser.

A California investor has pushed the pause button on the development of a 25-acre oceanfront estate at Puakea Ranch on the northern tip of the Big Island of Hawaii, the architect for the project confirmed to Pacific Business News.

In a week, it will be a year since a visiting bicyclist was killed in a vehicular collision by an on-duty police officer. West Hawaii Today.

Maui
Kihei Kai Nani residents are asking the Maui Planning Commission to grant them intervenor status and to hold a contested case proceeding for Victory Development's proposed $13 million, 39-unit Nani Loa condominium-hotel. Maui News.

Senate Bill 814, which has a hearing Friday, would require the Hawaii Board of Education to name the new public high school in Kihei, Maui, after the late U.S Rep. Patsy Mink. Civil Beat.

Growing up in Hawaii, residents are ingrained with reef etiquette and ocean safety early on: Don't stand on the coral, give fish and turtles their space and "if in doubt, don't go out." But for many Mainland and international visitors, a trip to Hawaii may be their first encounter with marine life and the unfamiliar dangers of the ocean. Maui News.

The Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary is seeking advisory council applicants. Maui News.

Kauai

The county may revoke the permits necessary for the rebuild of the Coco Palms Resort. The shuttered hotel’s restoration is once again up for debate, this time in front of the Planning Commission in a meeting scheduled at 9 a.m. today. Garden Island.

Bill Peterson, a candidate for the Kauai Island Utility Cooperative board of directors, is passionate about rooftop solar. Garden Island.

Hawaii turns Obamacare program over to feds, House speaker tries to hobble ethics director, teachers challenge union election decision, tuition hikes scaled back, military beefed up, layoffs for Kaho'olawe Island commission, Hawaii hospitals, Kaui DuPont workers, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Waimanolo Beach, photo by Alaska Dave

Waimanalo Bay Beach Park was named the top beach on an annual top 10 list of U.S. beaches compiled by a coastal science professor known as Dr. Beach. Associated Press.

Hawaii is switching its Obamacare program to the federal exchange, meaning 37,000 residents insured through the Hawaii Health Connector will have to re-enroll via the federal marketplace for coverage in 2016, Gov. David Ige's administration confirmed Thursday. Star-Advertiser.

House Speaker Joe Souki is calling on the Hawaii State Ethics Commission to reject many of the new policies it has put in place since Les Kondo became its executive director in 2011. The five-member commission has been reviewing Kondo’s performance over the past four months, his first formal evaluation in three years, and plans to take up the issue at its next meeting Wednesday. Civil Beat.

Three teachers who say they won the Hawaii State Teachers Association election plan to go to court on Tuesday to try and force the union to uphold the already counted election results, unless the organization takes action on its own before then. Civil Beat.

The man who won the election last month to become the next president of the state's teacher union said he will go to court to prevent union leaders from throwing out the results and holding another vote. Hawaii News Now.

Gov. David Ige has approved a final payment to the Honolulu Star-Advertiser to cover lawyers' fees in a lawsuit the newspaper filed to force former Gov. Neil Abercrombie to disclose the names of nominees for appointments as state judges.

The State Auditor has released a follow-up to its 2012 report on the state Department of Education’s transportation woes. That audit slammed the DOE for numerous problems related to how it managed its school bus services and made 20 recommendations for improvement. Civil Beat.

The Army's commander in the Pacific said Thursday one of his top priorities is incorporating the growth of U.S. soldiers assigned to the region. Over 100,000 soldiers are now assigned to the U.S. Pacific Command, Gen. Vincent Brooks said in an interview. That's up from about 80,000 before President Barack Obama implemented his policy of "rebalancing" U.S. attention to the Asia-Pacific region, he said. Associated Press.

Tourism numbers would seem to be at all-time highs, but a deeper dive into the data shows that the visitor spending may not be as rosy as it appears. Hawaii Public Radio.

The University of Hawaii Board of Regents on Thursday took the unusual step of scaling back tuition increases for the next two school years in an effort to keep tuition affordable. Star-Advertiser.

UH regents vote to divest from fossil fuels. The University of Hawaii, with 53,000 total students, is now the largest university in the world to have divested from the fossil fuel industry so far. Hawaii Independent.

Oahu

An updated master plan for the Hawaii State Hospital includes development of a new 150-bed long-term care facility on the site of the Bishop Building located near the front of the Kaneohe campus, a state official said. Star-Advertiser.

Don’t expect a quick decision on whether the City Council will override Mayor Kirk Caldwell’s veto of Bill 6, legislation that would have expanded the city’s sit-lie law beyond business and commercial districts. On Thursday, Council Chairman Ernie Martin said he and his colleagues would review the mayor’s offer to work on a different version of the bill before deciding their next step. KITV4.

Hawaii

The West Hawaii region of the Hawaii Health Systems Corp. is planning layoffs to address budget shortfalls. But it is not yet clear what the reduction in force will look like, or how it will impact services at Kona Community and Kohala hospitals. West Hawaii Today.

A task force is taking on a troublesome bike lane design on Queen Kaahumanu Highway where it passes through Kailua-Kona. West Hawaii Today.

The first of several fee increases at Hawaii Volcanoes National Park kicks in June 1. While entrance fees will increase annually in $5 increments from its current price of $10 per vehicle to $25 in 2017, the annual Tri-Park Pass will remain at $25 until 2017, when it will jump to $30. The vehicle pass is valid for seven days. Tribune-Herald.

Maui

Laying off half of its staff and periodically closing the Kahoolawe base camp may be in the future for the Kaho'olawe Island Reserve Commission. Maui News.

The state Department of Transportation hopes emergency funds from the federal government will help make shoreline repairs to the Olowalu section of Honoapiilani Highway, but residents insist the department focus its efforts, and money, on moving the highway mauka to the planned Lahaina bypass. Maui News.

Stock price for Maui-based software firm Code Rebel soars after IPO. Code Rebel is the first Hawaii-based technology company to have an initial public offering in 10 years. Pacific Business News.

Maui’s Hāmoa Beach in the remote east end of the island has once again claimed a spot on the top 10 Best Beaches in America list compiled by Dr. Stephen P. Leatherman, a professor at Florida International University. Maui Now.

Kauai

Seed company DuPont Pioneer has laid off 23 employees on Kauai as part of a plan to consolidate a parent seed facility in Kekaha with one in Waialua on Oahu, officials said Thursday. Star-Advertiser.

Global seed giant DuPont Pioneer is shuttering its Kekaha facility and serving pink slips to 34 workers in a move company officials say will help streamline operations. Garden Island.

The Pacific Missile Range Facility is earmarked to receive $30 million in the Military Construction and Veterans Affairs appropriations bill for fiscal year 2016 on Thursday by the Senate Appropriations Committee. Garden Island.

An endangered monk seal is set to return to Kauai shores today after veterinarians on Oahu removed a large fish hook from its esophagus. Garden Island.

Honolulu council tackles Stairway to Heaven, mistrial in Deedy case, gay marriage special session decided tomorrow, Osprey over Hawaii, tuition freeze proposed, GMO debate rekindles, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Stairway to Heaven

On Monday, Honolulu City Council members Joey Manahan, Kymberly Pine and Ikaika Anderson planned to hike the “Stairway to Heaven,” which has been off-limits to the public for years. Manahan, who heads the city’s Parks Committee, has been exploring the possibility of reopening the stairway to hikers. But in doing so he’s inadvertently stepped into a bureaucratic quagmire that could keep one of Oahu’s most alluring trails off the maps of hikers — at least officially. Civil Beat.

Calls for and against a special session to consider a bill on gay marriage are increasing as lawmakers and Gov. Neil Abercrombie continue internal debate on whether to return before the regular session in January. House Democrats are to meet Wednesday to discuss the matter and inform the governor whether they have the votes to pass a bill. Such a measure has enough support in the Senate. Star-Advertiser.

Larry Silva, the bishop of Honolulu, is urging all Catholics in Hawaii to contact their state legislators to let them know how they feel about same-sex marriage — and he hopes they don't feel good about it. Civil Beat.

A state lawmaker says he will introduce a proposal to freeze tuition at the University of Hawaii. Associated Press.

On the first day of the 2013-2014 academic year, several Univeristy of Hawaii students, along with state Rep. John Mizuno, passed out copies of a proposed bill to dozens of students at the Campus Center. The measure he plans to introduce during next year's legislative session calls for a tuition freeze throughout the UH system for the 2014-2015 academic year. Star-Advertiser.

It’s never good news when sharks attack. It’s even worse when someone dies from a shark bite. But when eight shark attacks are reported in a single year, it could be devastating to Hawaii’s tourist-rich economy.Hawaii Reporter.

The Marine Corps’ distinctive MV-22 Osprey tilt-rotor aircraft will make its first appearance Wednesday over Hawaii as the USS Boxer Amphibious Ready Group heads through the region on a deployment to the Western Pacific and Middle East, officials said. Star-Advertiser.

Journalists, recovering journalists and other talented actors, singers and dancers put on the show Gridiron 2013: #SequesterThis over the weekend. Hawaii Reporter.

State roundup for August 27. Associated Press.

In brief | State briefs 082713.Associated Press.

Oahu

A mistrial declared Monday in the seven-week Christopher Deedy murder trial sets the stage for a rematch that could see many of the same arguments play out again if a new jury is selected next summer. Civil Beat.

A mistrial was declared Monday after a Circuit Court jury could not reach a verdict on whether State Department special agent Christopher Deedy should be convicted or acquitted of second-degree murder for a 2011 shooting in Waikiki. Star-Advertiser.

A judge declared a mistrial Monday after jurors said they couldn’t unanimously decide whether a federal agent is guilty of murder in the early-morning shooting of a customer at a McDonald’s restaurant in Waikiki. Associated Press.

Weeks after the high profile murder trial of a U.S. State Department special agent began in Honolulu, jurors told Circuit Court Judge Karen Ahn they were unable to come to a unanimous verdict and a mistrial has been declared in the case. Hawaii News Now.

On Monday Oahu Circuit Court Judge Karen Ahn declared a mistrial in the Christopher Deedy murder case after jurors told her they could not agree on a verdict, even if they had more time to deliberate. KHON2 News spoke with a juror on Monday night, on the condition that the juror remains anonymous.

It’s been one of the most highly publicized trials in recent memory. During the past two months, barely a day went by when there wasn’t something about the Christopher Deedy murder trial on television or in the newspaper. KHON2.

Bus No. 13, which travels from Liliha to the University of Hawaii with stops in Chinatown and Waikiki, has been restored to full service as of Sunday. KITV.

The first traditional Hawaiian dry-stacked stone marker or ahu used to designate an ahupuaa (land division) in an ongoing project, erected July 27 at Castle Junction, was destroyed Saturday afternoon. Star-Advertiser.

A Honolulu-based startup that developed a technology to help battle a massive global counterfeiting problem was recognized by the World Economic Forum on Monday with a prestigious award that counts firms like Google, Twitter and Kickstarter among past recipients. Star-Advertiser.

In a classroom for preschoolers, a group of adults is trying to revive a language that is foreign to their ear but not to their heart. The language is Okinawan, or "Uchinaaguchi," as it is pronounced in the language itself. Star-Advertiser.

A Retiree Tries Not to Get Burned in Hawaii's White-Hot Solar Market. Civil Beat.

Local experts say a new report by Homes.com indicating home sale prices in Honolulu have surged by 23% in the past year doesn't paint an accurate picture of the current housing market.  Analysts say that would mean an average increase of over $100,000 and that's not what their data shows. Hawaii News Now.

Recently, approximately 50 new unit victim advocates from across Hawaiian Army units were certified after completing an 80-hour Sexual Harassment and Assault Response Prevention certification course on Wheeler Army Airfield, Hawaii. Hawaii Reporter.

Hawaii

Hawaii Island’s food fight is about to get even more messy. After sitting on the sidelines during the last three months, South Kona/Ka‘u Councilwoman Brenda Ford has entered the debate over genetically modified organisms with her own bill that would ban all transgenic crops, including modified papaya. Tribune-Herald.

A member of the Salary Commission has resigned in protest of Hawaii County’s requirement that members of boards and commissions file financial disclosures, sparking a debate about whether the disclosures serve the best interests of the county. West Hawaii Today.

U.S. Rep. Tulsi Gabbard came to Kealakehe High School Monday afternoon prepared to talk about how the federal government works, from how the three branches balance each other to how she got her first piece of legislation passed as a freshman legislator. West Hawaii Today.

You won’t find any “Under New Management” signs hanging out front, but seven Hawaii Island public schools welcomed new principals as the academic year got under way this month. Tribune-Herald.

Maui

Lawmakers say the effects of sequestration are not immediate. Gabbard, Hanabusa, Schatz attend Maui event. Maui News.

U.S. Rep. Tulsi Gabbard offered a balanced perspective on the debate between national security and civil liberties brought about by the revelations of the National Security Agency's surveillance program derived from the leaks of highly classified material by Edward Snowden. Maui News.

One of U.S. Sen. Brian Schatz's "missions in life" is to make sure lawmakers of every party understand that climate change is a problem and it should be addressed immediately.  Maui News.

Haleakalā Ranch kicks off its 125th anniversary year with a historical exhibit about Upcountry ranching. The year-long exhibit opens on Tuesday, Sept. 3, at the Hui Noʻeau Visual Arts Center on Baldwin Avenue in Makawao. Maui Now.

Kauai

The Charter Review Commission is considering a proposal that may significantly affect how elections — and campaigning — for Kauai County Council members are conducted. The commission heard a report Monday from a special Committee on County Districting, which proposes dividing council elections into five district seats and two at-large seats. Garden Island.

After many years of providing a prime spot for barbecues and gatherings, the two northernmost pavilions at Lydgate Beach Park were demolished last week due to safety concerns, but new ones will be built by the year’s end, according to county officials. Garden Island.

The Kiahuna Golf Course on Kauai’s South Shore is on the market for $13.75 million, according to Paul Kyno of Sleeping Giant Sotheby’s International Realty, which is marketing the course. Pacific Business News.

Enrollment at Kauai Community College changed from a deficit to an increase within a matter of minutes Monday. When the doors to the Puhi campus opened for the fall semester, the initial student estimate showed a decline from a year ago. But by midmorning, unofficial estimates indicated 1,463 students registered. Garden Island.