Honolulu rail project to get its day in court, low turnout at late-opening precincts, Inouye plans to run again, Hawaii legislators rake in big bucks during session, Hawaii watches California GMO debate, Alaska looks to Hawaii as natural gas market, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Honolulu rail courtesy photo

Supporters and opponents of the city's $5.26 billion rail project will be back in court this week for arguments in a lawsuit alleging city and Federal Transit Administration officials violated federal environmental law in the planning of Honolulu's train system. Star-Advertiser.

A much anticipated lawsuit that could determine the fate of Honolulu’s $5.26 billion rail project is nearing an end, and the timing could affect the race for Honolulu mayor. Civil Beat.

Sovereignty activists who want Hawaii to leave statehood behind and become a sovereign nation have put a stop to all the Statehood Day celebrations. Hawaii Reporter.

Hawaii lawmakers raked in close to $800,000 for their campaign purses during this year's legislative session, a Civil Beat analysis of campaign finance filings shows. Civil Beat.

U.S. Sen. Daniel Inouye will turn 88 next month. And, if his health keeps holding up, the spry World War II hero said on Saturday that he will run for another six-year term in four years. Maui News.

Political Analysts Say Make Way for Sen. Hirono. Civil Beat.

Hawaii's Department of Agriculture is warning the public to be careful when attending fairs or other events where there are pigs. Associated Press.

The state teacher's union board plans to meet Monday in an effort to resolve the teacher's contract issues. KHON2.

For more than a year, some Alaska political leaders have been quietly pursuing an untapped market for the state’s vast stores of natural gas: Hawaii. Associated Press.

On election day California residents will be asked if labeling of genetically modified foods should be labeled. If the most populated state says, “Yes” it could have impacts across the nation, including Hawai`i. Hawaii Public Radio.

State roundup for Aug. 20. Associated Press.

Oahu

Honolulu Mayor Peter Carlisle's administration is moving forward with changes to 12 additional bus routes Sunday as the city looks to save $10 million in fuel and labor costs. KITV4.

Get ready for more cars on the road Monday morning. About 40,000 university and private school students are heading back to class. KHON2.

On Monday, 40,000 college students will add to the freeway and bus congestion. KITV4.

Every year, tens of thousands of people head to the popular Made in Hawaii Festival at the Blaisdell Center Exhibition Hall. But how many of the products are actually made in Hawaii? Hawaii News Now.

The new headmaster of the Kamehameha Schools' Kapalama Campus says he wants to continue the work of his predecessor — longtime Kapalama President and Headmaster Michael J. Chun — in moving from "being a school for Native Hawaiians to being a Native Hawaiian school." Star-Advertiser.

Fans of "Hawaii Five-0" can exhale now: CBS announced today that it will hold a red-carpet Sunset on the Beach premiere of the crime drama one day before the start of the third season. Star-Advertiser.

Disney has sent out a request for proposals for its expansion of Aulani, which is part of the Ko Olina resort's final build-out. Pacific Business News.

Hawaii County precincts (c) 2012 All Hawaii News

Hawaii

Three West Hawaii precincts that opened late on primary election day were among the four with the worst voter turnout in the county, a trend that leads at least one candidate to question whether the late openings cost her crucial votes. West Hawaii Today.

Point your index finger to the ground and measure to about the first two digits. That’s about 2 inches, the amount of water that a rain gauge at Waikoloa town has gathered this year. Tribune-Herald.

Hawaiian Electric Co. has paid a prominent volcanologist to tell the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency that Madame Pele is causing the haze over Hawaii. Civil Beat.

Maui

Construction of a long-discussed public parking facility for Wailuku isn't in the "foreseeable future," although the county has spent $1.2 million in federal funds on design work and environmental studies. Maui News.

After the state Supreme Court kicked back the state Commission on Water Resource Management's 2010 ruling about exactly where - and how much - water to restore to Na Wai Eha, opponents said last week that they were jubilant that the commission will be forced to "redo" its review of competing water uses. Maui News.

A public informational meeting will be held later this month to discuss preparations of a master plan for the district of Pulehunui on Maui. Maui Now.

Kauai

The primary election results show the Kaua‘i County Prosecutor’s race as a close contest, and the two candidates will present their ideas in a debate this Tuesday. Garden Island.

Crews continued to fight high winds and dry conditions but were making progress in fighting the wildfire along the Poki‘i, Paua and Waiaka ridges in Koke‘e on Sunday. Garden Island.

Molokai
The amount of solid waste exported out of the Kalaupapa settlement is estimated to near 41,000 pounds by the end of September, increasing almost 50 percent from last year’s 27,000 pounds of trash. Molokai Dispatch.

Molokai’s Native Hawaiian health care provider, Na Pu`uwai, recently received $1,696,281 in federal funding. Molokai Dispatch.

Same-day voter registration passes Hawaii Senate

HONOLULU – Hawaii may become the 10th state in the nation to allow same-day voter registration, thanks to a bill that passed the state Senate today.

SB 654, sponsored by Sen. Les Ihara, D-Kapahulu, Kaimuki, Palolo, is aimed at improving Hawaii’s historically low voter turnout. It’s championed by the League of Women Voters of Hawaii, Common Cause Hawaii and the American Civil Liberties Union of Hawaii.

Even the 2008 presidential election featuring Hawaii-born Barrack Obama failed to excite Hawaii voters, with just under 70 percent going to the polls. That’s still higher than the estimated turnout nationwide, but still not enough to satisfy civic groups.

“The last month of campaigning is the period when individuals become most motivated and engaged in elections because of the heightened awareness of issues and mobilization of efforts in competitive races,” said Laurie Temple, lobbyist for the American Civil Liberties Union

“Voters that would be otherwise have been denied the opportunity to vote, including new voters or people who have recently moved, will be enfranchised by election-day registration and thus will increase voter turnout.”

In 2004, an average of 74 percent of eligible voters turned out to vote in states with election-day voter registration compared to 60 percent in states without election-day voter registration. In Minnesota, 77 percent of eligible voters voted in the 2004 presidential election. Wisconsin and Maine, which also have election-day voter registration programs, finished second and third, respectively, in voter turnout, according to Senate staff.

But Kevin Cronin, chief election officer for the state, worries about the likelihood of increased administrative costs and the possibility of fraud. Sen. Sam Slom, R-Kahala, Hawaii Kai, cited similar concerns when voting no.

“Increasing voter registration among eligible individuals might be more easily accomplished without risk of same-day voter registration by increasing voter education funding to further raise public awareness and encourage participation in voting and elections,” Cronin said.