Hawaii mulls reopening state, unemployment comp system a nightmare, wayward tourists sent home, Maui IDs COVID-19 grouping at upscale restaurant, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Labor Director Scott Murikami and Gov. David Ige  talk about state's unemployment system April 22, 2020

State is well-positioned to relax restrictions, health director says. After nearly a month of stay-at-home orders and quarantine to limit the spread of the new coronavirus, it is becoming clear that Hawaii communities are relatively free of COVID-19, and policymakers are considering the first steps to carefully begin to reopen the state, state Health Director Bruce Anderson said Wednesday. Star-Advertiser.

DOH discusses state’s reopening at COVID-19 senate committee hearing. At Wednesday’s special senate committee hearing, Dr. Bruce Anderson said more COVID-19 tests are needed, as well as increased contact tracing and personal protective equipment for medical providers before Hawaii should begin opening larger sections. KHON2.

‘What Was It All For?’: Divide Grows Over Hawaii’s Lockdown. Some protesters, small business owners and others chafe at the continued restrictions, but many worry about lifting those too early. Civil Beat.

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State says antiquated system to blame for unemployment claims backlog. Delays have left some unemployed workers waiting four weeks or more to get their benefits. Hawaii News Now.

Manpower Shortage, Hacking Compound Problems With Unemployment Claims Processing. Officials Wednesday continued to blame an antiquated computer system for the plodding process of filing for and receiving unemployment insurance in Hawai‘i, an issue they said was slated to be updated this summer. Big Island Now.

At least 700 state workers volunteer to tackle unemployment backlog. The first wave of about 200 state worker volunteers began tackling Hawaii’s massive backlog of unemployment claims. House Speaker Scott Saiki said a second shift will be added next week that could double the number of people processing claims. Hawaii News Now.

State volunteers begin processing unemployment filings for Labor Dept. at Convention Center. Hawaii went from having one of the lowest unemployment rates in the U.S. to now one of the highest. KHON2.

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HTA rolling out new procedures to prevent quarantine rule breaking. Multiple people have broken quarantine rules since it began, the latest being a pair that broke quarantine more than once. To improve the system, the Hawaii Tourism Authority is rolling out new procedures. KHON2.

Visitors still trickling into Hawaii, but most passengers are residents. A small flow of visitors is still coming into the state, despite onerous emergency orders and high-profile arrests of violators. Star-Advertiser.

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Antibody tests show COVID-19 was in Hawaii before first positive test. New COVID-19 antibody studies out of USC and Stanford hint that the coronavirus may have been more widespread than originally thought, which would significantly reduce the disease’s mortality rate. KHON2.

Hawaii’s coronavirus cases rise to 592, up 6. Hawaii’s tally of coronavirus cases has risen to 592, up six from Tuesday, state Department of Health officials said today. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii Reports 6 New Cases of COVID-19. As of Wednesday, 75% of those infected by the coronavirus had recovered, according to Hawaii health officials. Civil Beat.

Hawai‘i reported six new cases of coronavirus overnight, bringing the statewide total to 592. The state Department of Health identified three of the cases on O‘ahu, while the other three were reported on the Big Island. Big Island Now.

Lawmaker implies state health director withheld information about 2 COVID-19 clusters. The state health director and the lead medical coordinator for the Hawaii Emergency Management Agency were in the hot seat Wednesday before the state Senate Special Committee on COVID-19. Tribune-Herald.

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Hawaii’s small businesses ready for more aid. An estimated 11,000 Hawaii small businesses tried but failed to snag forgivable federal loans for paying workers and certain bills amid the COVID-19 pandemic ravaging the economy. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii businesses ready for next round of PPP loans. Island banks and businesses are gearing up for the second round of Payroll Protection Program loans, which can help keep even non-essential workers busy. KITV4.

Oahu

Honolulu Mayor Caldwell explains 30-day shutdown extension amid concerns. At least some in the local restaurant and retail industries were uneasy with Mayor Kirk Caldwell’s announcement Tuesday that he will extend his stay-at-home, work-from-home order — aimed at blunting the spread of the coronavirus —by an entire month through May 31. Star-Advertiser.

Virus Test Kits Touted By City Lack Federal And State Approval. Thousands of coronavirus test kits Honolulu plans to order from a Texas-based company haven’t been authorized by the federal agency that oversees test kits. Civil Beat.

When it comes to ramped up testing on Oahu, leaders aren’t on the same page. There’s growing criticism from state officials a day after Mayor Kirk Caldwell announced enhanced testing efforts. Caldwell said the city is spending $2 million to ramp up COVID-19 testing on Oahu. Hawaii News Now.

Hawaii quarantine violators picked up in manhunt after violating rules again. A couple, who were arrested Tuesday for violating the state’s quarantine order, gave law enforcement the slip and broke the rules again before finally getting sent home Wednesday. Star-Advertiser.

2 visitors arrested for allegedly breaking quarantine leave Hawaii.  Two tourists who were arrested twice for violating the 14-day quarantine have left Hawaii. Hawaii News Now.

Businesses, residents struggle for survival in Chinatown. Chinatown’s Kekaulike Market saw a glimmer of encouragement when the week began with several dozen people shopping for produce following weeks of discouraging turnout. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii Island

Tourism reboot: What should tourism 2.0 look like in Hawaii County? Tourism, Hawaii’s No. 1 industry, is in a reboot, and tourism officials see it as a perfect opportunity to redefine how they go about marketing the state. West Hawaii Today.

Council votes to accept $5.3 million for police overtime. After months of delays and revisions, the Hawaii County Council finally approved a deal between the county and the state for reimbursement of police overtime costs incurred during the Thirty Meter Telescope protests on Maunakea last year. Tribune-Herald.

Roads-acquisition bill shelved. A proposal to allow the county to acquire key private roads around the island was postponed indefinitely after being roundly criticized during a County Council committee meeting Wednesday. Tribune-Herald.

County Clarifies New Rule Requiring Hand Sanitizers At Stores. Businesses must now provide hand sanitizer to customers, or at least a place to wash hands as an alternative. Big Island Video News.

Remote, Rural Kaʻū Prepares For Possible COVID-19 Surge. At least one positive case of COVID-19 has been found in the Kaʻū region of the Big Island, according to state health officials. It's something this remote and rural district has been preparing months for. Hawaii Public Radio.

Maui

Merriman’s confirms COVID-19 cases reported by DOH. Three coronavirus cases tied to Merriman’s in Kapalua had about 65 people potentially exposed to the virus in an incident that has since been deemed too small to be a cluster and a “very low” risk to public health, state health officials said Wednesday. Maui News.

Maui Restaurant COVID-19 Grouping Involved 3-4 Positive Cases and Up to 100 Exposed Contacts. Officials with the Maui District Health Office clarified information shared yesterday about a group of positive COVID-19 cases involving a restaurant on Maui.  Dr. Lorrin Pang said he misspoke by calling the group a cluster and said the group included 3 or 4 confirmed cases and 100 exposed contacts. Maui Now.

Maui Stay-At-Home Orders Will Likely Be Extended to End of May. Mayor Victorino said he’d likely report this coming Friday on the likelihood of extending Maui’s stay-at-home orders. Maui Now.

A 95-year-old Maui woman’s family is upset after she contracts COVID-19 while in the hospital. Pukalani resident Lillian Seiser, 95, was admitted to Maui Memorial Medical Center on Feb. 29 for a urinary tract infection and, six weeks later, tested positive for the coronavirus. Star-Advertiser.

Mayor Victorino announces his plan to start phasing in reopening businesses. On Wednesday he announced he plans to start phasing in reopening businesses in three to four weeks. KITV4.

Supreme Court sides largely with environmentalists in Maui wastewater case. The Supreme Court ruled Thursday that sewage plants and other industries cannot avoid environmental requirements under landmark clean-water protections when they send dirty water on an indirect route to rivers, oceans and other navigable waterways. Associated Press.

Kauai

Council addresses housing, Sunshine Law. Written testimony regarding the lifted Sunshine Laws was brought to the attention of the Kaua‘i County Council’s at its April 22 meeting. Garden Island.

Ahead of the curve in Renewable Energy. Kaua‘i Island Utility Cooperative announced on Earth Day that the entity has achieved 56% renewable energy production for 2019, well ahead of its own strategic goals and the State of Hawai‘i’s mandated renewable benchmarks. The information was filed with the Hawai‘i Public Utilities Commission this week in KIUC’s Renewable Portfolio Standard Annual Report. Garden Island.

Space control squadron coming to Kauai, Airbnb to provide records to state, DHHL beneficiaries sound off at Senate hearing, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Antenna field in Barking Sands PC:National Institute of Standards and Technology

Space Control Squadron Approved For Barking Sands. The Air Force will create a high-tech unit to monitor U.S. satellites to support national security. Civil Beat.

Hawaii Air Guard adding new space control squadron. The Hawaii Air National Guard is expected to take on a new space mission with the Air Force announcing that the Pacific Missile Range Facility on Kauai is the preferred location for a Pacific-based space control squadron. Star-Advertiser.

Kauai Selected As 'Preferred Alternative' For New Air Force Squadron. The United States Air Force has approved Barking Sands Pacific Missile Range Facility as the preferred alternative for the Air National Guard's Space Control Squadron. Hawaii Public Radio.

Air Force selects Kauai for new squadron charged with monitoring satellites. The Air Force will create a new squadron on Kauai to monitor U.S. satellites as part of the national security space mission, U.S. Sen. Brian Schatz announced Monday. Hawaii News Now.

Air Force selects Kauai for new space squadron. The United States Air Force has approved Barking Sands Pacific Missile Range Facility as the preferred alternative for the Air National Guard’s Space Control Squadron. KHON2.

Space Squadron Destined for Kaua‘i. The United States Air Force will place its new space squadron on the island Kaua‘i. Big Island Now.

Space squadron settles on PMRF. The United States Air Force has approved the Barking Sands Pacific Missile Range Facility as the preferred alternative for the Air National Guard’s Space Control Squadron. Garden Island.

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Airbnb agrees to provide host records to state. Airbnb Inc. has agreed to provide Hawaii with records of many of its island hosts as the state tries to track down vacation rental operators who haven’t been paying their taxes. Star-Advertiser.

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Lawmakers Consider Fixes To Hawaiian Homelands Shortcomings. State senators may take up some legislative proposal put forward by beneficiaries of the Hawaiian Homes Commission Act. Civil Beat.

DHHL beneficiaries urge restructuring of department. Major changes need to be made to the Hawaiian Homes Commission and the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands before Native Hawaiians can be reconnected to their homelands, a series of speakers told a state Senate panel Monday in Honolulu. West Hawaii Today.

Beneficiaries Speak Out At Senate DHHL Meeting. Leaders from Hawaii Island homestead associations and beneficiary councils made the trip to Oʻahu on Monday to participate in a Department of Hawaiian Home Lands information briefing at the Capitol. Big Island Video News.

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Sex trafficking a big concern to tourism authority. Hawaii’s visitor industry is known for its aloha — but this week hoteliers and other members are learning to be less welcoming to sex traffickers whose $100 billion industry casts a dark shadow on this paradise. Star-Advertiser.

Training recognizes key role hotel industry could play in cracking down on sex trafficking. Experts say the vast majority of sex trafficking cases take place at hotels ― and Hawaii is no exception. Hawaii News Now.

Oahu

Hawaii Gas Faces Uncertain Future In State’s Renewable Energy Push. A bill to limit the use of natural gas in new homes could be a first step to broader bans, a gas company official says. Civil Beat.

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Waianae homeless camp to move inland. In the first project of its kind, the leaders of the 219-person homeless encampment known as Pu‘uhonua o Waianae next to the Waianae Small Boat Harbor announced Monday that they are in escrow to buy a 20-acre parcel of private, undisclosed agricultural land mauka of Farrington Highway where they plan to create permanent housing out of tiny homes. Star-Advertiser.

Homeless residents closer to creating their own community. A group of homeless residents on Oahu’s west coast is one step closer to creating their own community. KHON2.

Potential new site for Wai'anae homeless village worries Piliuka Place residents. The 10-acre homeless village near the harbor has a deal in escrow to purchase a new site, about 20 acres of agricultural land further inland. KITV.

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Kalaeloa Water Company customers told to use alternative water sources immediately until further notice. The taps are running again in West Oahu, but Kalaeloa Water Company customers are warned not to start drinking it just yet. Hawaii News Now.

Katherine Kealoha’s ‘Alison Lee Wong’ resurfaces in bizarre court filing. Hawaii News Now tracked down the bank employee after her business card was included in a federal court motion for a Kauai woman who seems to have ties to Kealoha. Hawaii News Now.

Women Make Great Cops. Now HPD Wants More. Honolulu Police Chief Susan Ballard is hoping to achieve a force that is half female. Civil Beat.

Hawaii Island

Mauna Kea Board Wants Deferral Of UH Regents Resolution. On Wednesday, the University of Hawaiʻi Board of Regents will consider a Maunakea stewardship resolution, but UH's Mauna Kea Management Board is not happy with the proposal. Big Island Video News.

Most Mauna Kea arrestees reject plea deal, citing ‘moral and sacred obligation’. Trial scheduled for December 20. Hawaii News Now.

Hawai'i County Vacation Rentals Draw Hundreds of Neighbor Complaints. Hundreds of owners on the Big Island are seeking exemptions to operate short-term vacation rentals legally in residential neighborhoods but their neighbors have flooded officials with letters of objections. Hawaii Public Radio.

Council committee to talk animal control. After a Hawaiian Acres woman was attacked by unrestrained dogs in October, a Hawaii County Council committee will look into ways to improve the county’s animal control laws. Tribune-Herald.

Palace readies for restoration. Repairs to a seawall damaged by high surf this summer and site improvements are planned for Hulihee Palace in the heart of Kailua Village. West Hawaii Today.

Baltimore Clean-up activist hits Big Island. Conservative activist and Baltimore Clean-up organizer Scott Presler is coming to Hawaii Island to speak in support of President Trump and what can be done in the local community by ordinary citizens. West Hawaii Today.

Maui

The Stakes Are High As Maui Wastewater Case Heads To US Supreme Court. The lawsuit has drawn attention from environmental groups, fossil fuel interests and the Trump administration, which is backing Maui County. Civil Beat.

Visitors on Maui Spent $5B in 2018. More tourists came to Maui in 2018 than the previous year- and they spent more too. Maui Now.

For 2 decades, Valley Isle business key to Maui’s emergency response. MFD doesn’t own its own helicopter. So for nearly two decades, the department has had a contract with the company to handle air operations. Hawaii News Now.


Kauai

Finalists set in chancellor search. Two finalists for the Kauai Community College chancellor position have been selected by the chancellor search advisory committee and will participate in a final round of interviews that includes public forum for each candidate. Garden Island.

Lanai

MECO to recoup charges from Lanai solar farm. Battery issue leads to $360,000 in overpayments; customers to benefit. Maui News.

12% more homeless on Oahu streets, former governors back Kahele over Gabbard, Southwest preps for Hawaii routes, state doesn't know how many vaccinated, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Homeless in Honolulu ©2019 All Hawaii News

The number of homeless living on Oahu streets jumped 12 percent in the past year while the overall number, including those living in shelters, dropped by 4 percent. Star-Advertiser.

Unsheltered homeless population up 12% on Oahu from last year. Despite a number of city efforts to push people living on the streets to shelters, the number of unsheltered homeless people on Oahu is up 12 percent from a year ago. Hawaii News Now.

Fewer homeless on Oahu. There are fewer homeless on Oahu. But efforts to get them into shelters are falling short. KHON2.

Partners In Care provides 2019 Oahu Point in Time Count fact sheet. KITV.

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Former Govs. Neil Abercrombie and John Waihee are throwing their support behind state Sen. Kai Kahele in his bid for the congressional seat occupied by U.S. Rep. Tulsi Gabbard, an indication that Kahele — while a relative newcomer to politics — could prove a formidable candidate in next year’s race. Star-Advertiser.

How Many Kids In Hawaii Have Been Vaccinated? The State Doesn’t Know. The state Department of Health says a high percentage of schools haven’t reported the number of kindergarten students who’ve received vaccination waivers. Civil Beat.

On Tuesday, the Senate Ways and Means Committee passed Senate Bill 1368 that would create a collective bargaining unit for graduate assistants. Civil Beat.

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Southwest Airlines received Federal Aviation Administration approval Wednesday to begin making long, over-water flights to Hawaii. The carrier said Wednesday it would publish its schedule in the “coming days.” Star-Advertiser.

Southwest Gets FAA Approval For Flights Between Hawaii And California. The Dallas-based airline plans to fly to four islands from the mainland, with the option  of adding inter-island flights later. Associated Press.

Southwest Airlines plans to announce its inaugural flights to Hawaii when it publishes its schedule in the coming days after the Federal Aviation Administration gave the airline approval to run flights between California and the islands. West Hawaii Today.

Southwest Gains FAA Authorization for Hawaii Flights. Maui Now.

Southwest Airlines has decisions to make and announcements to prepare, after finally winning federal regulatory permission to run revenue service to Hawaii. Hawaii News Now.

Ticket sales for Southwest Airlines should be announced in the coming days. That's because the FAA has finally approved the company to serve Hawaii. KHON2.

Oahu

New crime-fighting plan rolled out for Waikiki amid cries to beef up security. Flanked by Waikiki stakeholders and members of Hawaii’s visitor industry, Mayor Kirk Caldwell and Honolulu Police Maj. Dagan Tsuchida this morning unveiled a new Waikiki crime-fighting plan. Star-Advertiser.

40 More Security Cameras To Be Installed in Waikiki Area. Government and private business partners announced stepped up security efforts in Waikiki - the state's major economic engine. Hawaii Public Radio.

Forty new security cameras. A greater police presence. And removals of benches and walls where criminal elements are known to gather. Those are among the public safety strategies the city is taking ― with the help of a number of private groups ― as part of a bid to address rising crime in Waikiki. Hawaii News Now.

More cameras are being put up in Waikiki in an effort to curb crime. It's just one of the things the city is doing to make the area safer for locals and visitors alike. KHON2.

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A dismissed 2015 DUI is among the ways Kealoha allegedly helped her friends. The federal investigation into public corruption at some of Honolulu’s highest levels includes traffic court favors for friends of ex-deputy Prosecutor Katherine Kealoha. Hawaii News Now.

Protest outside HPD Headquarters after three officer-involved shootings. KITV.

City council resolution for forensic HART audit deferred. The chair made the recommendation to give HART a chance to discuss the resolution at Thursday's board meeting, and also give them a chance to respond. KHON2.

Feds cite multiple Oahu restaurants for not paying overtime, violating child labor laws. Star-Advertiser.

U.S. Dept. of Labor finds overtime, minimum wage, and child labor violations at Oahu malls. KHON2.

Already hit by rail, Waipahu businesses are dreading another city project. In order to prepare Waipahu for rail, the city has several construction projects planned to revitalize the old plantation town. Hawaii News Now.

The National Institutes of Health Centers of Biomedical Research Excellence awarded researchers at the University of Hawaii at Manoa a $10.4 million grant to create an interactive center for environmental microbiomes and human health. Maui Now.

A 20-year-old Marine infantryman at Kaneohe Bay is being investigated for “derogatory online” comments tied to a slew of neo-Nazi Twitter posts, officials said. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii Island

Some Ka'u residents face hefty bills for mandated sewer connections. While the projects will eliminate sources of groundwater pollution, they also are leaving affected residents wondering how they are going to pay for it. Tribune-Herald.

County mulls potential users of recycled water. At some point in 2020, the Department of Environmental Management will have to find somewhere to put the 1.8 million gallons of recycled water (R1 water) its Kealakehe Wastewater Treatment Plant will pump out every day. West Hawaii Today.

Erosion undermines Alii Drive in Kailua Village. County crews are working to address erosion issues on Alii Drive across from Bongo Ben’s Island Cafe in Kailua Village. West Hawaii Today.

In an effort to restore the Waimea River's natural discharge into the ocean, crews plan to remove 15,000 cubic yards of sand from the existing river mouth and restore its natural depth. DLNR is hosting a public information meeting on Wednesday March 6, 2019, to provide a brief overview of the planned construction activities. KHON2.

Maui

Maui County Council leadership expressed surprise and displeasure with Mayor Michael Victorino’s move to appoint three directors whom the council had rejected days ago to temporarily lead the departments. Maui News.

A metals and electronics recycling event in Hana has been set for Thursday through Saturday for East Maui residents. Maui News.

Kauai

Abandoned cars were on the table at Wednesday’s Kauai County Council Parks and Recreation/Transportation Committee meeting, with councilmembers voicing concerns about the high number of banged-up vehicles appearing along roadsides, in county parks and on beaches. Garden Island.

Project may extend landfill. The Kekaha Landfill, which is Kauai’s only landfill and was built in 1953, is projected to reach its capacity by 2026. Garden Island.

The Kauai Republican Party County Convention will be held Saturday, March 23, from 3 to 5 p.m. at Lihue Missionary Church on Rice Street. Garden Island.

Surfrider removes tons of trash from beaches. From cleaning beaches and marine debris education to publishing scientific papers, Kauai’s Surfrider chapter was busy in 2018. Garden Island.

Hawaii feeling the shutdown strain, sole GOP state senator affirmed by Supreme Court, Gabbard criticizing Democratic colleagues, bacteria closes Oahu beaches, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Honolulu International Airport ©2019 All Hawaii News

Shutdown strain could lead to longer airport lines. Working without pay for weeks. While the battle over the partial government shutdown takes place in Washington D-C, it's putting a strain on people here in Hawaii. KITV.

Impact in Hawaii likely to worsen as shutdown continue. The number of federal civilian employees in Hawaii that are either furloughed or working without pay 20 days after the government partially shut down has been tallied at some 2,741, according to website governing.com, which focuses on state and local government. Star-Advertiser.

Day 19: Federal workers in Hawaii take on side jobs, loans as shutdown drags on. Hawaii News Now.

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The State’s General Fund forecast for the current fiscal year was lowered less than one percentage point today, meaning there’s less money to spend in the upcoming legislative session. Hawaii Public Radio.

The Hawaii Supreme Court on Wednesday rejected a challenge filed by defeated state Senate candidate Matt LoPresti, clearing the way for Kurt Fevella to be the state’s only Republican senator. Star-Advertiser.

Minimum Wage And Marijuana: What To Expect In The 2019 Hawaii Legislature. Lawmakers will tackle familiar issues like public school funding. They’re also likely to raise the minimum wage and might even legalize recreational marijuana. Civil Beat.

Congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard took aim at Democratic colleagues, including U.S. Sen. Mazie Hirono, accusing them of religious bigotry in their questioning of Brian Buescher, a nominee to the U.S. District Court of Nebraska, in an opinion piece published by The Hill yesterday. Star-Advertiser.

Childhood sexual abuse, drug use, violence and fractured families are among the common threads in the victim stories told to researchers examining the scope of sex trafficking in Hawaii. Star-Advertiser.

Oahu

High bacteria levels at various beaches lead to closure of a popular spot. Due to the elevated levels, a city spokesperson said Hanauma Bay would be closed on Thursday. The upper viewing area, parking lot, and visitor center will remain open. Hawaii News Now.

Hanauma Bay will be closed Thursday after testing showed elevated levels of bacteria in the water. It's one of six separate areas of Oahu where high bacteria levels were found. KHON2.

Honolulu Police Chief increases patrol staff for the next few years. KHON2.

An erased crosswalk renews calls for safer roads after elderly man’s death. It was Oahu’s first traffic fatality of the year. Hawaii News Now.

"Put the crosswalk back on Hawaii Kai Drive," residents urge the city after a man dies in the area. KHON2.

The tail section of a crashed Hawker Hunter fighter jet -- with its engine and "black box" -- was recovered in about 265 feet of water Monday off Kewalo Basin, the Coast Guard said. Star-Advertiser.

Non-Profits Contribute Funds, Staff to Keep Pearl Harbor Open During Shutdown. Hawaii Public Radio.

The International Market Place — more than two years after opening a glitzy $500 million shopping complex in the heart of Waikiki — is redesigning its Kalakaua Avenue entrance to improve the flow of customers. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii Island

Despite perennial complaints about the cumbersome process of getting building permits, the head of that county division was elevated Wednesday to director of the Department of Public Works. West Hawaii Today.

David Yamamoto, a long-time County engineer, was confirmed as the new Director of Public Works by the Hawaii County Council during a meeting in Hilo on Wednesday. Big Island Video News.

A pair of bills that appropriate millions of federal dollars to recover from 2018’s disasters passed their first readings by the County Council on Wednesday. Tribune-Herald.

A priority list of Kilauea Volcano eruption recovery projects was provided to the Hawaii County Council today, as a bill to appropriate an early round of Federal Emergency Management Agency funds passed first reading. Big Island Video News.

Big Island officials are asking state lawmakers for $155 million to fund repairs and losses due to the Kilauea eruption. That’s on top of more than half a billion dollars in federal funding sought by the county and Big Island residents. Hawaii News Now.

When the new legislative session opens next week Hawaii County will ask the state for $155 million dollars to help with the Kilauea eruption recovery. KITV.

County Council members Wednesday held their noses and advanced a sewer rate hike few seemed to like, sending it to the council for two more votes. West Hawaii Today.

Federal class-action suit claims Lloyd’s, underwriters, defrauded Puna homeowners. Tribune-Herald.

Hawaii County Department of Water Supply employees at a public meeting in Holualoa Wednesday evening fielded inquiries on a new 16-inch transmission line set to span 5,240 feet of Mamalahoa Highway between Water Pipe Road and Kamila Place. West Hawaii Today.

Other Spaceport Plans Crashed — Will This One Fly? The site of a proposed launch pad in Puna has not been revealed, but a preliminary possibility is described as “east or northeast of the macadamia nut farm.” Civil Beat.

Maui

The Maui Planning Commission has approved a settlement agreement between Maui County and the Kapalua Resort Association, which dismantled a rock wall on its property without permits in June 2017. Maui News.

The state Health Department said this morning it has ordered Maui Land & Pineapple Co. to pay a penalty of $230,000 for 15 wastewater effluent violations from the Haliimaile waste stabilization ponds on the Valley Isle. The company must also build a new wastewater treatment plant. Star-Advertiser.

The Hawaii State Department of Health issued a Notice of Violation and Order against the Maui Land & Pineapple Company, Inc. for 15 alleged wastewater effluent violations from the Haliimaile waste stabilization ponds on Maui. The company has been ordered to pay a penalty of $230,000 and construct a new wastewater treatment plant. Maui Now.

Maui Land & Pineapple fined for wastewater violations. KHON2.

Department of Taxation special agents and state Deputy Sheriffs arrested today a former tax preparer in Lahaina for tax violations. Star-Advertiser.

Kauai

On Kauai, election officials are preparing for a big experiment: All mail-in voting. Last year, Governor David Ige signed a law that allows Kauai County to distribute mail-in ballots to all registered voters for the 2020 primary and general elections. Hawaii News Now.

Knee-deep in keawe and spiders, about 15 sailors at the Pacific Missile Range Facility were on the hunt for albatross nests Wednesday morning, under the guidance of the base’s natural resource team and members of federal and state wildlife and land management agencies. Garden Island.

The opening of Kuhio Highway on the North Shore remains uncertain. In an update on emergency repairs to the road damaged in the April flooding, the Hawaii Department of Transportation said Wednesday there have been “unavoidable extensions in the project schedule.” Garden Island.

Sewage spills close famed Waikiki beaches, hit two other islands, Ige nixes liquefied natural gas, Public Utilities Commission sets hearings on Hawaiian Electric sale, Maui mulls parking meters, Catholic cardinal gets Kona DUI, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Waikiki Beach © 2015 All Hawaii News

Waikiki Beach and much of Oahu’s South Shore were placed off-limits Monday after more than 500,000 gallons of sewage, mixed with stormwater, spewed into the ocean from heavy rainfall. Star-Advertiser.

Miles of beaches are still closed Monday night after about half a million gallons of raw sewage overflowed on Atkinson Drive and then poured into the Waikiki side of Magic Island. Hawaii News Now.

Heavy rain caused numerous wastewater discharges across Oahu on Monday, from Kaneohe to Waikiki, where state officials closed Waikiki beaches on Monday due to a 500,000 gallon sewage spill near Ala Moana Center. Pacific Business News.

A massive sewage spill has shut down miles of beaches along Waikīkī and Ala Moana. Flooding from heavy rains caused more than 500,000 gallons of sewage to overflow from manholes near Ala Moana Center. Hawaii Public Radio.

Heavy rains triggered a half-million gallon sewage spill in Honolulu, prompting city officials Monday to close most of the beach fronting Waikiki. Associated Press.

An estimated half a million gallons of sewage water has spilled from a 69-foot pipe that's currently backed up. EMS warns beachgoers to stay out of the water until further notice. KITV4.

The area between Point Panic at Kakaako Waterfront Park to Kapahulu Groin in Waikiki is closed because of Monday’s sewage spill along Ala Moana Boulevard that was estimated to be 500,000 gallons. KHON2.

Gov. David Ige blew a hole in the plans of Hawaii utilities to burn liquefied natural gas to generate electricity, saying it would only delay the state’s eventual switch to renewable energy. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii Gov. David Ige said Monday that the state does not need liquefied natural gas as part of its energy future and says Hawaii should focus on developing renewable energy rather than importing LNG. Pacific Business News.

Hawaiian Electric Co. is not backing down from its commitment to ship liquefied natural gas to Hawaii, following Gov. David Ige’s new stance made known on Monday that he is in opposition to LNG being imported to the state as a replacement for oil. Pacific Business News.

The Public Utilities Commission will be conducting public listening sessions next month on the proposed merger of Hawai’i’s major electricity provider. Hawaii Public Radio.

Inmate Work Furlough Program: Statistical Success or a Public Danger? Prison reform advocates and tough-on-crime proponents glean different conclusions from the same numbers concerning well-publicized prisoners who walk away — and the few who commit new crimes. Civil Beat.

Linda Lingle says she’s not giving political advice to her new boss Illinois Gov. Bruce Rauner, even though he considers her a “superstar.” The former Hawaii governor, who spent eight years at the helm of the Aloha State, is now earning $198,000 as Rauner’s chief operating officer. But in a recent interview she insists she’s only helping with the day-to-day operations of the state. Civil Beat.

Oahu

State Rep. Marcus Oshiro contends the number of homeless people in Wahiawa is woefully underreported, so he’s bringing together government officials, landowners, businesses and social service providers Tuesday night to get a clearer picture of what’s really going on. Star-Advertiser.

The Office of Hawaiian Affairs, a major landowner around the Kakaako homeless encampment, is in talks with state and city officials about using one or two of its Kakaako properties to create short-term housing that could potentially accommodate all of the estimated 300 homeless occupants. Star-Advertiser.

While the Honolulu Police Department has not implemented a body camera program, some officers are using their own personal devices while in the field. Associated Press.

A printing problem is plaguing the state’s largest daily newspaper and the Honolulu Star-Advertiser doesn’t know when it will be fixed. KHON2.

Hawaii

Pepeekeo’s Hu Honua Bioenergy Facility once again has taken the top spot on the Hawaii State Energy Office’s list of renewable energy projects. The list ranks 45 of the state’s top clean energy leaders and is updated twice a year. Hu Honua first took the top spot in January. Tribune-Herald.

A decade after Hawaii County created a new sign ordinance and then backed off enforcing it, questions are arising in Kailua-Kona about what are and are not legal signs. West Hawaii Today.

School started for Hawaii Community College students at their new Palamanui campus on Monday morning. West Hawaii Today.

One of the high-ranking American officials of the Roman Catholic Church was arrested for drunken driving late last week in Kailua-Kona. The Most Eminent Cardinal William Joseph Levada, 79, of Menlo Park, Calif., was stopped at about midnight Thursday on Hina Lani Street and charged with DUI, according to the police arrest log. Tribune-Herald.

Approximately 70,000 gallons of partially treated wastewater was released into waters near the Kulaimano Wastewater Treatment Plant in Pepeekeo between Sunday evening and Monday morning. Star-Advertiser.

Maui

On Friday, Aug. 28. the Maui Redevelopment Agency will take up a number of issues, all of which are parking-related. The agenda shows that the big new item involves the potential “use of Capital Improvement funds for the construction of additional parking at the Wailuku Municipal Parking lot” but “old business” includes items like the “Parking Pricing RFP” and discussion on “Revisions to Parking ordinance” that will likely involve parking meters. MauiTime.

Maui County students and teachers are feeling the heat this school year with temperatures reaching 90 degrees nearly every day this month and causing principals to look for relief from state legislators and the Department of Education. Maui News.

Kauai

A sewage spill happened at the Princeville Wastewater Treatment Plant sometime between Sunday and Monday, according to Marshall Lum, a supervisor of the state Department of Health’s Wastewater Branch. Garden Island.

Apollo Kauai, a grassroots organization that promotes the use of alternative energy, is hosting a discussion on climate change called “He moku he wa’a,” which means “an island is a canoe.” Garden Island.

Army cuts to be announced for Hawaii, finance director cleared in Kenoi pCard use, Ellison's Island Air $35M in the red, Honolulu mulls 500 Kakaako homeless, Native Hawaiians sue over Mauna Kea access, legal fees upped to $2.25M in Maui wastewater case, tax refunds still lagging, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Soldiers at Pohakuloa Training Area © 2015 All Hawaii News

Army personnel cuts are being announced for Hawaii, Alaska and Georgia — among other locations — according to Alaska’s congressional delegation. How many soldiers will be cut in Hawaii has not been announced. Star-Advertiser.

The possibility of the U.S. Army eliminating nearly 20,000 soldier and civilian jobs from Hawaii's Schofield Barracks and Fort Shafter is extremely unlikely to be fully realized, U.S. Sen. Brian Schatz said Thursday. Pacific Business News.

The U.S. Army is transferring its western medical headquarters to Hawaii from Washington state, bringing 61 jobs and a command position for a general officer. Pacific Business News.

Island Air, downsizing in the wake of mounting losses, is now nearly $35 million in the red through its first two years under the ownership of billionaire Larry Ellison. Star-Advertiser.

State still needs to process nearly 8,000 tax refund requests. Hawaii News Now.

Friend or Foe? Kathryn Xian Has Become a Problem for Anti-Trafficking Advocates Hawaii human-trafficking activists say Kathryn Xian’s in-your-face style is hindering progress and hurting the victims they are trying to help. Now, she’s in danger of losing her seat on a statewide task force working to find solutions to the issue she’s so closely identified with. Civil Beat.

Oahu

State and city officials are promising to work together to ease a growing homeless population in Kakaako, where an estimated 500 people are living in tents and makeshift structures. Star-Advertiser.

For the first time in its history, the Hawaii Community Development Authority waded into the issue of homelessness Wednesday as it held an open discussion on the burgeoning encampment in Kakaako. Civil Beat.

The Hawai’i Community Development Authority heard from major stakeholders in Kaka’ako today on the homeless encampments there. Hawaii Public Radio

Gov. David Ige has given the nod to plans to purchase upscale 25-story downtown office building Alii Place to provide more office space for state workers, but the $90 million purchase is not a done deal quite yet. Star-Advertiser.

Two Hawaii Health Systems Corp. hospitals on Oahu will have to lay off 64 workers and temporarily freeze admissions, officials said Wednesday. Pacific Business News.

The Hawaii Supreme Court has overturned a former circuit judge’s order disqualifying two city deputy prosecutors from a high-profile gambling case involving sweepstakes machines.Star-Advertiser.

Honolulu businessman Albert Hee says the two-hour, twice weekly massages he has been getting for the past 20 years have a legitimate business purpose because they “allowed me to function as CEO” of Waimana Enterprises Inc. Star-Advertiser.

If you feel your neighborhood has gone to the birds, then you’re likely to support a bill introduced by Councilmember Carol Fukunaga that would create a permitting system for homeowners with 10 or more birds. KITV4.

Hawaii
Hawaii County Finance Director Deanna Sako was cleared Wednesday of any wrongdoing in Mayor Billy Kenoi’s misuse of his county-issued credit card, while the county Board of Ethics reopened a case against Kenoi that it had deferred pending an investigation by the state attorney general. The Ethics Board is now in disagreement over whether it should continue its investigation into Kenoi’s pCard use or wait for Attorney General Doug Chin to complete his criminal investigation. West Hawaii Today.

The Board of Ethics on Wednesday dismissed a complaint against Mayor Billy Kenoi and his former campaign manager Kimo Alameda, after receiving assurances from the county Human Resources Department that Kenoi wasn’t involved in Alameda’s appointment as executive of the Office of Aging, and that Alameda had the requisite two years supervisory experience. West Hawaii Today.

A lawsuit has been filed in Federal District Court alleging that the Office of Mauna Kea Management and other state agencies are restricting cultural and religious practices on the mountain. Big Island Now.

Photographers who share a passion for capturing imagery on Mauna Kea are uniting in opposition to proposed rules that will restrict access to the scenic mountain. Big Island Video News.

Kona Community Hospital began a construction project Wednesday to renovate and expand its emergency department. West Hawaii Today.

Maui

The Maui County Council approved raising compensation to $2.25 million on Tuesday for private legal counsel to defend against a lawsuit in which the county faces millions of dollars in fines over its use of four injection wells at its Lahaina Wastewater Reclamation Facility. Maui News.

Kauai

An audit of Kauai County’s Department of Human Resources found hiring practices lacking, potentially creating a situation in which personnel decisions regarding unskilled laborers can be made on something other than merit. Garden Island.

More than 100 Native Hawaiians gathered at the Anahola Clubhouse Tuesday to hear Colleen Hanabusa trace the history of the Hawaiian Homes Commission Act, putting in context the significance of a pair of newly proposed federal rules that aim to govern its enforcement. Garden Island.

A plan to allow the county to recover fuel expenses incurred during search-and-rescue operations is on the fast-track for final approval after it was unanimously passed by the Public Safety Committee on Wednesday. Garden Island.

Gov. David Ige has yet to sign rules intended to create Hawaii’s first Community-Based Subsistence Fishing Area for Haena on the north shore of Kauai. The seven-month delay has irked those who fought for the past several years to convince the state Board of Land and Natural Resources to take action to ensure the sustainability of the near-shore ocean resources there by implementing a program based on culturally rooted practices. Civil Beat.

Affordable housing lacking, Kaiser strike looming, Maui in trouble over injection wells, medical marijuana hearings begin, Coco Palms permits deferred, tempers flare over military meeting, geothermal drilling at issue, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Apartments in Honolulu © 2015 All Hawaii News

The cost of renting a home in Hawaii has jumped at least 10 percent over the past two years, according to a new study. And given the lack of construction of affordable units, the state’s housing crisis is projected to get worse. Civil Beat.

Hawai’i’s need for more affordable rental housing was the subject  of a briefing today before a Joint Legislative Housing Committee. Hawaii Public Radio.

Hawaii housing officials are reminding lawmakers that low-income families need more affordable housing. Associated Press.

Workers at Kaiser Permanente’s hospital and clinics in Hawaii plan to strike for six days beginning Feb. 2, the union representing them said Friday. Associated Press.

Kaiser Permanente Hawaii will temporarily close down 10 of its smaller clinics on Oahu and the neighbor islands during a planned six-day strike by nearly 1,900 union workers, or about 43 percent of its workforce. The state's largest health maintenance organization announced Tuesday that it will reschedule elective procedures and nonurgent appointments and close the smaller clinics while consolidating resources to its larger medical facilities. Star-Advertiser.

Kaiser Permanente Hawaii said Tuesday it plans to close 10 clinics on Oahu, Maui and Big Island and consolidate operations to its larger facilities next week, when unionized workers plan to walk off the job in what would be Unite Here! Local 5's first statewide strike in nearly 30 years. Pacific Business News.

Senate Committee Defers Public Records Bill. The Office of Information Practices objected to legislation requiring government agencies to maintain public records better. Civil Beat.

The Office of Information Practices, the agency responsible for making sure state officials and agencies are complying with open meeting and public records requirements of state law, is looking for a new home. Top on the wish list seems to be an administrative base where OIP can enjoy independence from undue political interference, and also minimize the inevitable conflicts that come from being part of state government while at the same time trying to hold state agencies and departments accountable. Civil Beat.

The state attorney general is asking the Legislature to pay more than $1 million to a former prison inmate who claims he became infertile because state prison doctors failed to properly treat him for an infection, and more than $450,000 to a woman whom a state jury found was sexually assaulted by a guard at the Hawaii Youth Correctional Facility. Star-Advertiser.

Randy Iwase, the man who may be in charge of helping to shape Hawaii's energy scene came out of retirement because he believes he and other stakeholders have a duty to set a foundation for a sustainable renewable energy future for the state. Pacific Business News.

Opinion: Hawaii Needs An Effective Opposition Party. Republicans need a new strategy — and soon — if they're going to be the balancing political voice this state sorely needs. Civil Beat.

Volunteers are surveying the number of homeless people in Hawaii, counting those living in shelters or on the streets. The annual Point-in-Time count started Monday and will be conducted through Friday. Associated Press.

Living Hawaii: Who Can Afford to Retire in the Islands? Civil Beat.

Oahu

Tempers flared at a military meeting in Waikiki Tuesday night as Army leaders from the Pentagon invite the public to express how much of an impact a possible troop reduction in Hawaii could have. Hawaii News Now.

As the Army considers downsizing on Oahu, a theory making the rounds is that if Schofield Barracks and Wheeler Army Airfield close, the state would inherit lots of family housing and barracks for the public that could offset a housing crunch. Star-Advertiser.

U.S. Army Garrison-Hawaii is holding two meetings, known as listening sessions, this week to get public feedback on possible troop reductions or restructuring here in Hawaii. Military spending is the second largest industry in Hawaii behind tourism. KHON2.

Under the $1.55 billion full funding grant agreement signed between the city, the Honolulu Authority for Rapid Transportation and the Federal Transit Administration on Dec. 19, 2012, Honolulu must build an elevated rail line that’s 20 miles long, features 21 stations and has 80 rail cars. In addition, the rail line must open to the public by the revenue service date of Jan. 31, 2020. KITV4.

Hawaiian Electric Co. can safely connect almost 10 times the amount of solar generation the electric utility currently allows, according to a recent test sponsored in part by HECO. Star-Advertiser.

Opinion:  Stop broadcast license renewals for the Raycom Media cartel. The danger of the Hawaii News Now media monopoly. Hawaii Independent.

Hawaii

Big Island residents will be able to weigh in today on a number of administrative rule changes related to Hawaii’s medical marijuana program. Among the proposed changes are a new process for the Department of Health to consider approval of additional medical conditions to be covered by the state’s medical marijuana program; a new system of application processing, registrations, monitoring and disciplinary actions; physician requirements to participate in the program; registration of qualifying patients and primary caregivers; monitoring and corrective action; and procedures for maintaining confidentiality for patients and caregivers. Tribune-Herald.

Does Hawaii County’s nighttime drilling ban apply to Puna Geothermal Venture? That’s a question the County Council will grapple with again next week as the geothermal power plant in Pohoiki starts another around-the-clock drilling project to build a new well. Tribune-Herald.

Celebration hosted for Kona’s newest “lifeline” road. West Hawaii Today.

Residents of the Kona Ocean View subdivision finally have their water. But they will have to wait a little longer before the roads are put back together. The county Water Board on Tuesday agreed to add $183,150 and extend to Feb. 28 its contract with Koga Engineering and Construction Inc. so the contractor can repave subdivision roads that were in worse shape than first thought. West Hawaii Today.

Maui

For the second time in less than a year, a federal judge has ruled that the use of injection wells at Maui County's sewage treatment plant in Lahaina violates the federal Clean Water Act, a finding that could lead to a large penalty. Star-Advertiser.

A federal judge effectively ruled Friday that all four injection wells at the Lahaina wastewater facility are "illegal" and in violation of the Clean Water Act, leaving the county open to tens of thousands of dollars a day in civil penalties, a lawyer for a group suing the county over the wells said. Maui News.

Maui legislators and county officials said Hawaii Gov. David Ige gave a "very positive" and "pleasant" speech Monday morning at the state Capitol, though it was what he didn't say in his first State of the State address that caught some attention. Maui News.

Kauai

In what marked their first bid to rebuild the Coco Palms Resort, developers from Coco Palms Hui LLC were greeted on Tuesday with a mixture of praise and skepticism before the county board charged with approving the building permits for their $135 million restoration project. The County Planning Commission unanimously deferred any decisions on the project until their 9 a.m. meeting on Feb. 10, but not before residents and visitors alike shared their two cents on renewed efforts to restore and reconstruct the Wailua resort, which has been closed since Hurricane Iniki struck Kauai in 1992. Garden Island.

Hawaii Dairy Farms has submitted an environmental impact statement preparation notice to the state Department of Health for its proposed $17.5 million dairy in Mahaulepu Valley. It is the first step in moving forward with the study, which HDF has agreed to conduct voluntarily in light of public concern surrounding the project. Garden Island.

Week of hula in Hilo, revenge porn in lawmakers' sights, stowaway boy survives cross-Pacific wheel-well flight to Maui, counties to learn their share of hotel tax, EMS staff shortage threatens Honolulu, Kauai fights wastewater quality standards, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Merrie Monarch file photo © 2014 All Hawaii News

About 2,500 witnessed a Sunday midday performance by Halau O Ka Ua Kani Lehua under the direction of kumu hula Johnny Lum Ho. The performance was part of the Merrie Monarch Festival’s Ho‘olaule‘a, the kick-off event for Merrie Monarch week in Hilo. Tribune-Herald.

See this week's full Merrie Monarch schedule here.

There's a juggling act going on at the Hawaii Legislature as lawmakers negotiate the finer details of hundreds of bills. Members of the House and Senate are getting together in conference committees this week to bridge the gaps between their goals. Associated Press.

The counties will likely know Monday afternoon if the state is going to give them millions of dollars in additional hotel tax money. Hawaii lawmakers are scheduled to meet in conference committee to finally decide the issue that has kept local officials guessing all session. Civil Beat.

Legislation designed to protect victims and punish perpetrators of "revenge porn" is making its way through the Hawaii Legislature. House Bill 1750 has advanced in the state Senate and House of Representatives with little opposition. The bill would make it a first-degree violation of privacy to post an image or video of another person either nude or engaging in sexual contact without their consent and with the intent to "substantially harm" that person. Civil Beat.

Money Floods Campaign Coffers in CD1 Race. Civil Beat.

You can trace the genetic makeup of most corn grown in the U.S., and in many other places around the world, to Hawaii. But these same farms have become a flashpoint in a spreading debate over genetic engineering in agriculture. Associated Press.

Hawaii's community college students lag far behind the national average when it comes to timely graduations. Data from the National Center for Education Statistics shows that fewer than 13 percent of the students who enrolled in one of Hawaii’s community colleges in 2009 graduated from their programs within three years, the benchmark typically used by the federal government to describe “on-time” graduation.  Civil Beat.

Hawaii hotel rates rose 4.5 percent during the week of April 6-12, while statewide occupancy was relatively flat, according to a report by Hospitality Advisors LLC and STR Inc. Pacific Business News.

Oahu

It’s the first time the Honolulu Emergency Medical Services Division has faced this problem: too many employees calling in sick. EMS couldn’t talk on camera or by phone, but told KHON2 the unexpected staff shortage forced them to temporarily suspend service at four of its 22 units on Oahu.

Honolulu has endured 12 straight weeks of rising gasoline prices, but an industry expert says fuel prices may peak finally in the next two to four weeks before a possible slide back down. Star-Advertiser.

Updated rules should make it easier for the city to maintain and regulate Wai­kiki publication dispensing racks and their enclosures. Bill 67 (2013) was approved 9-0 by the Hono­lulu City Council on Wednesday and signed into law Thursday by Mayor Kirk Caldwell. Star-Advertiser.

On Monday, construction will begin on a 6-foot-high aluminum fence along the Cromwell's seawall to prevent jumping and injuries. Star-Advertiser.

USS Port Royal to remain with Navy. The cruiser will be "laid up" at Pearl Harbor until it is returned to service. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii

The U.S. Department of Agriculture in September eased rules prohibiting the export of the avocados to the mainland, allowing farmers here to ship the Sharwils to 32 cold weather states each winter, from November through March. West Hawaii Today.

Maui

A 16-year-old boy who stowed away in the wheel well of a Hawaiian Airlines jet that traveled from San Jose, Calif., to Maui on Sunday has been released to Child Protective Services and will soon be reunited with his family, according to the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Star-Advertiser.

The FBI says a teenager stowed away on a Hawaiian Airlines flight to Maui from San Jose, California. Hawaii News Now.

A 2nd Circuit judge has granted Maui County a partial summary judgment and a preliminary injunction against Paia businessman Michael Baskin, ruling that he's prohibited from continuing to operate two of his short-term rental properties without required permits. Maui News.

A disabled Maui man who was forced to crawl on his hands and knees by airline workers has reached a legal settlement with the carrier. Baraka Kanaan made national headlines when he sued Delta Airlines last year, alleging that he was twice forced to crawl down the aisle of his plane, down a flight of stairs and onto the tarmac, even though he is partially paralyzed. Hawaii News Now.

Kauai

The County of Kauai is fighting stricter water quality standards at its Wailua Wastewater Treatment Plant, which already has a history of exceeding certain pollutant limitations. Garden Island.

The Elections Division of the Office of the County Clerk will be mailing Yellow Notice of Voter Registration Postcards to all voters on Monday. Also known as the “Yellow Card,” the postcard provides election dates and  information for the upcoming elections. Garden Island.

Molokai

Managing the kitchen at Lanikeha Community Center on Molokai had been the Molokai Community Service Council's kuleana for more than a decade, but the state Department of Hawaiian Home Lands turned over the responsibility to another community group last month. Maui News.