Hawaii officials explain homeless plan, bill clarifies public's right to film police, Uber driver accused of raping 16-year-old rider, HPD officer charged with bribery, Maui water plan lauded, Honolulu council tears into Caldwell budget, solar plane ready for takeoff, raises for Kauai employees, Big Island council passes vague $10M budget amendment, Honolulu has clean air, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Homeless tent in Waikiki © 2016 All Hawaii News

State Homeless Coordinator Scott Morishige, state Attorney General Doug Chin and Rachael Wong, director of the state Department of Human Services, spoke to the Star-Advertiser about the state’s wide-ranging approach to reduce the largest per capita homeless rate in the country through a mix of consistent social service outreach, systemic changes and ongoing sweeps by law enforcement officers.

State lawmakers are considering a bill to clarify the public’s right to photograph or film police officers. The bill would make it clear that filming or photographing police in a public space isn’t against the law as long as it doesn’t prevent police from doing their jobs. Associated Press.

Approximately 100 people gathered around Hangar 111 at Kalaeloa Airport and waved “goodbye” to Solar Impulse 2, the plane attempting to travel around the world powered only by the sun. Star-Advertiser.

Solar Impulse 2, the solar-powered plane that has been grounded in Hawaii since last summer awaiting repairs to its batteries is scheduled to take off from Hawaii on Thursday morning to complete the first-ever-round-the-world solar-powered flight, the aircraft’s officials said Wednesday. Pacific Business News.

Oahu

A preliminary hearing will be held in Honolulu District Court today for Luke Wadahara, who was arrested Sunday and later charged with three counts of first-degree sexual assault for allegedly attacking a 16-year-old girl whom he picked up Sunday while working as an Uber driver. Star-Advertiser.

Honolulu City Councilman Brandon Elefante has introduced a bill that proposes a new regulatory framework for Uber, Lyft and other ride-hailing companies that rely on smartphone applications to connect passengers with drivers. Civil Beat.

Honolulu City Council members approved a draft of the city budget Wednesday that would deny Mayor Kirk Caldwell’s request to fund eight staff positions in a new housing division and cut $125 million of the $490.7 million that he is seeking for sewer improvements. Civil Beat.

An eight-year veteran of the Honolulu Police Department and a former University of Hawaii volleyball player, Maulia LaBarre, was arrested Tuesday in Waikiki by the state Attorney General’s Office for investigation of attempted bribery, prostitution and illegal use of a computer. Star-Advertiser.

A Honolulu police officer was arrested Tuesday night in Waikiki on suspicion of attempted bribery, prostitution and the unauthorized use of a computer, according to statements from Hawaii law enforcement agencies. Civil Beat.

Go ahead, take a deep breath. A new report from the American Lung Association says Honolulu has some of the cleanest air in the nation. Hawaii News Now.

A 32-story condominium-hotel that would replace the King’s Village shopping complex in Waikiki won approval from the Honolulu City Council on Wednesday. Star-Advertiser.

Honolulu Mayor Kirk Caldwell has chosen insurance company executive Colbert Matsumoto to replace Don Horner on the board that oversees the island’s rail transit project, according to a city news release. Star-Advertiser.

Mayor Kirk Caldwell has picked Colbert Matsumoto to serve on the board of the Honolulu Authority for Rapid Transit. Hawaii Public Radio.

Mayor Kirk Caldwell has appointed Colbert Matsumoto to the board of directors for the Honolulu Authority for Rapid Transportation. Matsumoto will fill the position left vacant by former Chairman Don Horner. Pacific Business News.

The Blood Bank of Hawaii, the islands’ sole source of blood, warned that continued efforts by the rail project to use eminent domain to seize a portion of its property could lead to a reduction in the state’s blood supply. Star-Advertiser.

Historical structures that date back to before World War II have become so dangerous that the state had to take action. KHON2.

Saks Fifth Avenue is looking to fill 130 full- and part-time positions for its new store in Waikiki. Hawaii News Now.

Hawaii

With scant information to go on, the County Council on Wednesday voted to add $10 million to the county Parks and Recreation budget, doubling the repairs and improvements line item for the department. West Hawaii Today.

The Honolulu attorney for a group that sued to stop construction of the $1.4 billion observatory near the summit of Mauna Kea claims his clients’ rights to due process were again violated when the state selected retired Hilo Circuit Judge Riki May Amano to hear the next contested case hearing. Tribune-Herald.

The battle over the authenticity of emails that form part of a lawsuit against the Hawaii Island Humane Society will likely be resolved only by a forensic examination of the society’s servers. West Hawaii Today.

Legislators in the state House are advancing a bill that could boost the Big Island’s aerospace capabilities. Tribune-Herald.

Hawaii Island-based Mokulele Airlines is spreading its wings to service a new market — on the mainland. West Hawaii Today.

Maui

Alexander & Baldwin has pledged to fully and permanently restore water to seven streams in East Maui that it’s been diverting to irrigate its sugar cane fields, the company’s CEO, Chris Benjamin, announced Wednesday while flanked by powerful members of the state House and Senate. Star-Advertiser.

Wednesday’s announcement by Alexander & Baldwin that it will permanently restore some streams for taro farms in East Maui was hailed by some legislative leaders — in particular, ones from Maui — as a critical first step in healing a wound inflicted over a century ago. But environmental groups and Native Hawaiian interests say A&B and the Hawaii Legislature are merely “throwing the farmers a bone” by making a “piecemeal return” of waters that does not fundamentally resolve A&B’s continued illegal diversion of waters for its agricultural needs. Civil Beat.

In a landmark announcement today, Alexander & Baldwin announced the release of water to several East Maui streams. Maui Now.

Alexander & Baldwin Inc. announced today that it is "fully and permanently" restoring water to priority taro streams in East Maui. Maui News.

Alexander & Baldwin announced today that it will stop diverting water from priority streams in East Maui as soon as possible.  The company announced its plans at a news conference with key state lawmakers. Hawaii Public Radio.

Kauai

A proposed bill aimed to get tighter control over homestay operations was referred to committee Wednesday. Garden Island.

Some county employees will be receiving salary increases in July. Garden Island.

Karen Baldwin has resigned this week from her position on the board of directors at the Kauai Island Utility Cooperative, the Lihue-based utility cooperative said Wednesday. Pacific Business News.

About 30 people joined the Community Advisory Committee’s meeting on agriculture Tuesday afternoon. Garden Island.

Ige seeks enhanced trespassing laws, millions for Hawaiian Home Lands, state recruits Mainland teachers, grand jury mulls Honolulu police corruption, OT raises county costs, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Pocket park along Diamond Head © 2016 All Hawaii News

Gov. David Ige’s administration wants to make it a crime to trespass on all state lands, but homeless advocates worry that could give homeless people a criminal record by expanding the areas that are off-limits to set up camp. Associated Press.

Gov. David Ige announced Monday he will ask the Legislature to boost funding for the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands by millions of dollars, representing the “highest level of funding” that the department has ever received from the state. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii Gov. David Ige is asking lawmakers to give an additional $20 million to the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands over the next two years. Associated Press.

Gov. David Ige announced Monday he is asking state lawmakers to approve $17.1 million to cover the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands’ operating budget and administrative expenses for fiscal 2016, which ends June 30. Civil Beat.

Gov. David Ige is proposing to almost double the Department of Hawaiian Home Land’s administration and operation budget for the next two fiscal years. Garden Island.

The Hawaii Department of Education is finishing the last two of five Mainland recruiting trips this week as officials scramble to deal with a growing teacher shortage. Hawaii News Now.

As the Zika outbreak takes hold in Latin America, researchers thousands of miles away in Hawaii are using data to figure out where it might spread next. Associated Press.

Hawaii Gas, which has plans to ship liquefied natural gas in bulk amounts to the Islands as a replacement for oil, among other uses, has sliced its project cost for this venture by $100 million. Pacific Business News.

Oahu

A grand jury is looking into allegations of civil rights abuses and corruption by the Honolulu Police Department that emerged from a theft case involving the police chief’s mailbox, a federal public defender said Monday. Associated Press.

The Honolulu mayor’s race is slowly taking shape as three seasoned politicians appear to be positioning themselves for potential challenges to incumbent Kirk Caldwell. Star-Advertiser.

Honolulu Ethics Commission Executive Director Chuck Totto was back at work Monday after a month-long suspension over allegations of improper management and possible violations of the Hawaii Whistleblower Protection Act.  Civil Beat.

A community park has been left in disrepair for years. Community members want the city to let them take over upkeep. But with so many other parks across the city also in need of help could this be the answer to keeping up with Honolulu’s neglected parks? KHON2.

Turtle Bay Resort plans to expand farming on land mauka of its hotel on Oahu’s North Shore, following completion of a $6 million deal Monday to preserve the agricultural property. Star-Advertiser.

An independent investigation is underway to determine the cause of a laboratory explosion last month at the University of Hawaii at Manoa that seriously injured a 29-year-old researcher. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii

Overtime pay is driving some county employees’ salaries much higher than their bosses’ and even higher than the mayor’s, the chief elected official on the island. Mayor Billy Kenoi makes $132,000. In fact, some Hawaii County employees make more than the governor. West Hawaii Today.

Perspectives on Mayor Billy Kenoi's Legal and Personal Futures. Hawaii Public Radio.

A range fire that began March 24 within the Pohakuloa Training Area (PTA) on Hawaii island during a combined armed live-fire exercise is contained but still smoldering near Range 3 in the PTA impact area, where officials say it is running out of fuel. Hawaii Independent.

After three decades of growing bananas, Richard Ha has overseen his last harvest. On Friday, the Ha family and their farm workers gave away 300 boxes – close to 12,000 pounds – of Hamakua Springs Country Farms bananas at the Hilo soccer fields. Big Island Video News.

Maui

An agricultural giant would be allowed to continue diverting water from East Maui streams for three years under legislation that cleared a critical committee Monday at the Capitol. Civil Beat.

An energy industry veteran from Colorado has been tapped to be the next energy commissioner of Maui County, filling the spot vacated by Doug McLeod, who recently left to become an energy and real estate consultant, the county said. Pacific Business News.

Discovery Land Company, a luxury community developer, is preparing for the construction phase of its development of Makena Golf & Beach Club at Makena Beach & Golf Resort, which will close on July 1, 2016. Maui Now.

Kauai

A proposed roving Jet Ski patrol program stayed afloat Monday in the wake of intense scrutiny of the county’s police and fire budgets. Garden Island.

Nadine Nakamura, managing director for the County of Kauai, formally filed her papers to run for the State House of Representatives, District 14, Monday. Garden Island.