Hawaii's early voting push intensifies with Hurricane Iselle, Tropical Storm Julio, looming, GMO labeling candidates listed, ethnicity in politics, HECO gets no-bid contracts for Oahu solar, state cracks down on ride-sharing, legislative reshuffle could help counties' TAT chances, super Pac funding on Maui, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Hurricane Iselle 5 a.m. Aug. 6 courtesy NOAA National Weather Service

Party leaders urged residents to take advantage of early voting this week as storm preparations continue for tropical weather systems headed toward the islands ahead of Saturday's primary election. Star-Advertiser.

The chairwomen of the Hawaii Republican Party and the Democratic Party of Hawaii today issued a joint call for voters to cast their ballots early to ensure their safety as Hurricane Iselle and Tropical Storm Julio bear down on the state. Iselle could threaten the eastern coast of Hawaii Island as soon as Thursday and Julio may bring dangerous conditions on Saturday. West Hawaii Today.

Abercrombie Implores Supporters to Get Out the Vote. Upbeat at his final campaign rally before Saturday's primary, Hawaii governor recalls that no one expected him to win 40 years ago, either. Civil Beat.

Hawaii candidates who support GMO labeling , pesticide disclosure and restriction. Hawaii Reporter.

Ethnicity as a common denominator in Hawai’i elections is not as pronounced as it once was in the 1950s and 60s. But as Hawaii Public Radio’s Wayne Yoshioka reports, ethnicity is still viewed as an important characteristic in local political races.

Hurricane Iselle is weakening. The eye is not as apparent and the storm is not as symmetrical as it was 24 hours ago. KHON2.

Hawaii island, Maui County and Oahu are under a tropical storm watch and the entire state is covered by a flash flood watch as two hurricanes east of Hilo Wednesday pack a potential one-two punch of heavy rain, high surf and powerful winds.Star-Advertiser.

The Central Pacific Hurricane Center has issued a Tropical Storm Watch for Oahu as weakening Hurricane Iselle continues on its path towards the Hawaiian islands. Forecasters issued a Tropical Storm Watch for the Big Island of Hawaii earlier Tuesday and Maui County late Tuesday. Hawaii News Now.

Hurricane Iselle continues to churn menacingly from the east, weakening as it encounters Central Pacific wind shear and cooler waters but still is expected to be capable of unleashing flash flooding, tropical storm-force winds and ocean surge starting Thursday afternoon in Hawaii. Star-Advertiser.

Hurricane Iselle continues to make its way toward the Hawaiian islands and is expected to weaken to a tropical storm by the time it hits the Big Island and Maui County on Thursday before it progresses across the archipelago Friday. Civil Beat.

State officials are closing scores of recreation areas that could be affected by rising streams, flash flooding, falling trees or high surf touched off by the arrival of tropical storm Iselle. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii is used to preparing for tropical storms — stock up on water, toilet paper and other essentials and wait. But actually getting hit with systems like the two approaching the islands? Not as much. Associated Press.

Hawaii Disaster Team Ready for Anything. With a hurricane and tropical storm approaching the islands, local emergency personnel are training for widespread casualties. Civil Beat.

Hawaii hotels are preparing for Hurricane Iselle and Tropical Storm Julio, which are expected to bring heavy rain and strong winds to the Islands starting Thursday, by testing generators, stocking up on bottled water, first aid kits, flashlights and other supplies, as well as canceling reservation fees for guest and setting aside rooms for employees. Pacific Business News.

Oahu

Hawaiian Electric Co. may now move ahead with contract negotiations with six solar energy developers on Oahu whose projects total 210 megawatts after state regulators approved the state’s largest electric utility’s request to forgo the competitive bidding process for the projects. Pacific Business News.

The Hawaii Department of Transportation is cracking down on two ride services that entered the Oahu market in June, ordering them to stop picking up and dropping off passengers at Honolulu International Airport. Civil Beat.

Criminal proceedings against an aerial advertising company and the pilot it hired to fly banners over Oahu will be held later this month. Star-Advertiser.

Students call for investigation into Apple’s termination. ASUH and GSO have sent a letter to Governor Abercrombie requesting a formal investigation into the firing of Tom Apple. Hawaii Independent.

Lawyers for the state and murder defendant and federal agent Christopher Deedy told the jury in closing arguments of the U.S. State Department special agent's retrial Tuesday that they do agree on several points. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii

Upcoming leadership changes in the state Legislature could be good news for counties seeking to increase their share of hotel taxes, the Hawaii County Council learned Tuesday at a meeting with several state legislators. West Hawaii Today.

Hawaii County’s battle against the little fire ant will get a little more bite with a unanimous vote Tuesday by the County Council Finance Committee to accept $375,000 from the state Department of Agriculture and the Hawaii Invasive Species Council. West Hawaii Today.

Kamehameha Schools officials have taken another step toward demolishing the shuttered Keauhou Beach Hotel. West Hawaii Today.

County emergency responders were busy preparing Tuesday as Hurricane Iselle and Tropical Storm Julio continued their march toward Hawaii. Tribune-Herald.

Maui

Maui County Council candidate Ka'ala Buenconsejo has the backing of two super political action committees based in Honolulu that independently have spent more than $130,000 in mailers, radio ads and media consultation for the first-time political candidate seeking to unseat Elle Cochran for the West Maui residency seat. Maui News.

Maui Continues Preparations for Iselle’s Stormy Weather. Maui Now.

Kauai

Visitor industry officials on Kauai say they are worried that recent property tax rate hikes approved by the Kauai County Council will deal a blow to one of the island’s main economic drivers: tourism. Garden Island.

Tropical storms shouldn't disrupt Hawaii elections, support wanes for state-funded preschool, lieutenant governor candidates in dead heat, GMO motivates candidates, drone regulation sought, Maui mayor's seat safe, property taxes at issue, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Hurricane Iselle, Tropical Storm Julio courtesy NOAA National Weather Service

A tropical storm expected to bring heavy rain and wind to Hawaii this week shouldn't significantly affect the state's primary election based on current weather forecasts. Associated Press.

Hurricane Iselle weakened slightly and Tropical Storm Julio maintained its intensity as both storms continued on a path toward Hawaii. Star-Advertiser.

Government officials kicked storm planning into a higher gear Monday as Hurricane Iselle appeared to be taking aim at the Hawaiian Islands and another powerful storm was following in its tracks. Star-Advertiser.

Nineteen Hawaii super PACs have spent more than $1 million in the current election season to sway voters and influence the state’s political atmosphere, according to the most recent campaign spending commission data. Civil Beat.

A nonpartisan candidate for the U.S. Senate is suing Hawaii television stations KHNL and KGMB for not allowing her to appear in a televised debate. Joy Allison of Waikoloa filed the lawsuit in U.S. District Court on Friday. Associated Press.

With 5 days to go before the primary election, our Hawaii News Now/Star Advertiser Hawaii poll shows a dead heat between Shan Tsutsui and Clayton Hee in the Lieutenant Governor's race.

The race for the Democratic Party's nomination to be the state's next lieutenant governor is in a statistical dead heat, and could come down to last-minute appeals from the campaigns to swing a large number of undecided voters, according to one analyst. Star-Advertiser.

GMO Issue Spurs Candidates to Seek Election, But It’s Ugly Out There. Hawaii political observers are watching bellwether races on Kauai, Maui and the Big Island. Sentiments run high on both sides, and sometimes the campaigns get edgy. Civil Beat.

A majority of voters favors a constitutional amendment on the November ballot that would allow public money to be spent on private preschool, according to a new Hawaii Poll, but the degree of support has weakened since February. Star-Advertiser.

The Department of Veterans Affairs continues to whittle down the wait times for patients in the military medical system in Hawaii and other parts of the Pacific. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii's tourism industry is in a good position to match or break visitor arrival and spending records this year after gains in June and an expectation that airline capacity serving the state from North America will expand over the remainder of the year. Star-Advertiser.

State officials announced the successful sale of nearly $164 million in Highway Revenue Bonds, with an estimated $120 million to fund various highway projects, and more than $65 million allocated to refinance existing bonds for interest savings. Maui Now.

Pesky Drones Snap Photos on Private Property. Should a small model airplane with a camera on it be allowed to fly into your space and take pictures of you? Civil Beat.

Hawaii's first plan to address Alzheimer's disease and dementia forecasts effective prevention of Alz­hei­mer's by 2025 while calling on volunteer caregivers, health care professionals and others in the near term to step up training in the complicated issues tied to both conditions. Star-Advertiser.

State roundup for August 5. Associated Press.

Oahu

A new proposal would allow residential owner-occupants on Oahu to petition the city for one-time property tax compromise bills if they got shoved into the new Residential A tax class, requiring them to pay at a much higher rate. Star-Advertiser.

A source within the State Senate has informed the Independent that State Senator Rosalyn Baker is the “chief legislative supporter of [Dr. Michele] Carbone,” the Director of the University of Hawaiʻi Cancer Center (UHCC) who has come under fire for his mismanagement of the center and for his unheard of amount of ethical and academic violations against his own researchers. Hawaii Independent.

The fierce elements brought on by hurricanes and tropical storms are a big threat to people who live in the elements. The efforts to warn and find homeless shelter is already underway. KITV4.

A Honolulu insurance agent has purchased nearly 30,000 square feet of vacant, foreclosed property in Kailua in Windward Oahu for about $2 million that could be redeveloped as apartments, retail, offices or assisted-living facilities. Pacific Business News.

Hawaii

Incumbents are flexing their financial muscles in the Big Island state House and Senate races ahead of the primary election Saturday. With a few exceptions, those running for re-election are outspending and out-fundraising their opponents by large margins. Tribune-Herald.

Farmers taking advantage of county property tax breaks could soon be required to dedicate the land to farming for at least three years to qualify. West Hawaii Today.

The Center for Food Safety and Big Island organic farmers Rachel Laderman, Nancy Redfeather and Marilyn Howe are seeking to help Hawaii County defend its law restricting the use of genetically modified crops. Tribune-Herald.

Two Hawaii Island telescopes captured images of several eruptions that are changing scientists’ understanding of volcanic activity on Io, one of Jupiter’s moons. West Hawaii Today.

Maui
Five candidates are trying to unseat Mayor Alan Arakawa, a Hail Mary proposition that even Maui's most established politicians decided to take a pass on this year. Maui News.

Maui state Senate candidates are debating how to help local public hospitals amid news the Maui Memorial Medical Center will shut down its adolescent behavioral health unit to save money. Associated Press.

Life on Maui has changed, at least when it comes to trash collection. And you can blame it on budget cuts. Money problems are squeezing everything from trash pickups to hours of operation at county landfills. Hawaii Public Radio.

Kauai

Jay Furfaro has seen a number of issues come across his desk during the nearly 12 consecutive years that he has been on the Kauai County Council. Garden Island.

Hawaii’s tourism economy is on pace with last year’s record-breaking year in spending and arrivals, but Kauai saw fewer visitors and spending in June. Garden Island.

Schatz vs. Hanabusa -- Down to the wire

Colleen Hanabusa, Brian Schatz recent debate screen shot

Only in Hawaii would a challenger to a sitting incumbent be known as the insider, and a race between two seasoned politicians be seen as a fight between a dead senator and President Obama.

But that's apparently the case in the down-to-the-wire showdown between U.S. Sen. Brian Schatz and U.S. Rep. Colleen Hanabusa. Schatz, formerly lieutenant governor and an appointee of longtime Obama friend and supporter Neil Abercrombie, faces challenger Hanabusa in the Democratic primary Saturday in Hawaii.

It's a grudge match for Hanabusa, who viewed as a personal affront Abercrombie's 2012 appointment of Schatz over her despite an apparent deathbed request from the powerful U.S. Sen. Daniel Inouye. Inouye's widow continues to endorse her.

(Abercrombie, it should be noted, is facing his own problems in his reelection bid, posed by fellow Democrat and state Sen. David Ige.)

"On Saturday, Hawaii brings a test of Mr. Obama’s pull in contested Democratic primaries," said a Wall Street Journal political post.

Obama is backing both Schatz and Abercrombie.

There's a lot of history there. Schatz endorsed Obama in the 2008 Democratic presidential primary. Inouye and Hanabusa backed Hillary Rodham Clinton.

Dueling polls show either Schatz or Hanabusa in the lead, and many predict it's going to be a close one. It's an important contest because it's just about a given that the real election in this race is the Democratic duel in the primary.

Hanabusa leads Schatz 50 percent to 42 percent, with 8 percent undecided in a July 21-29 Honolulu Star-Advertiser poll.

A Civil Beat poll July 24-28 of likely Democratic voters shows Schatz with a 49 percent to 41 percent edge on the congresswoman.

But what about those polls?

"Polling in Hawaii— and especially primary polling— is notoriously unreliable. And we don't mean off-by-a-few points unreliable. We mean often vastly different-from-the-final-result unreliable," said a Washington Post blogger in a The Fix posting titled " Hawaii: Where good polling goes to die."

It's trite but true, and it's become a mantra for several candidates these past few days: The only poll that really matters is the one the state tallies up on Election Day.

Polls favor Hanabusa, Ige, Takai. Hurricane Iselle a category 4, Tax Department to refund bills sent in error, RIMPAC is pau, PAC money in politics, mice plague Kohala, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Brian Schatz and Colleen Hanabusa

U.S. Rep. Colleen Hanabusa holds an edge over U.S. Sen. Brian Schatz in the Democratic primary for Senate, a new Hawaii Poll shows, and voters who prefer the congresswoman cite her legislative experience as the main reason. Hanabusa leads Schatz 50 percent to 42 percent, with 8 percent undecided. Star-Advertiser.

In the Senate showdown between Democrats Brian Schatz and Colleen Hanabusa, Representative Hanabusa has a 50 to 42 percent lead over Senator Schatz in our new Hawaii News Now/Star Advertiser Hawaii poll.

State Rep. Mark Takai has pulled into a tie with state Senate President Donna Mercado Kim in the most recent Hawaii Poll, suggesting that the crowded Demo­cratic primary for the 1st Congressional District seat has become a two-person race. The poll showed Kim and Takai each receiving support from 28 percent of those polled, while Hono­lulu City Councilman Stanley Chang (East Hono­lulu) was a distant third with 12 percent. Star-Advertiser.

Gov. Neil Abercrombie is in grave risk of losing to state Sen. David Ige in the Democratic primary, according to a new Hawaii Poll that shows the governor's job approval and favorability sinking among voters. Ige, chairman of the Senate Ways and Means Committee, holds a 54 percent to 36 percent lead over Abercrombie with 11 percent undecided. Star-Advertiser.

Abercrombie Camp on Latest Poll: ‘We Don’t Believe It for a Second.’ Campaign manager Bill Kaneko says the governor is tied with David Ige, urges voter turnout. Civil Beat.

David Ige’s Leadership Style: State Senator Wants To Be Honest, Open, Fair, No Ego. Fellow lawmakers applaud the Hawaii gubernatorial contender as a collaborative problem-solver who stands by decisions and can't be pushed around. Civil Beat.

Hurricane Iselle has regained intensity and is once again a major hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 140 miles per hour, making it a strong Category 4 hurricane. At 5 a.m. Monday, it was located about 1,257 miles east of Hilo and was moving west at 9 miles per hour. Hawaii News Now.

The state Tax Department acknowledged on its website Friday that inaccurate letters had been sent to taxpayers who had submitted payment via paper check "close to the April 20 deadline." Star-Advertiser.

The world’s largest international maritime exercise, Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) 2014, concluded August 1 with the participation of 22 nations, 49 surface ships, six submarines, more than 200 aircraft and 25,000 personnel in and around the Hawaiian Islands and Southern California. Hawaii Reporter.

A Final Look at the Miltaristic RIMPAC Exercises Around Hawaii. RIMPAC is about to temporarily disappear from the public eye again, but the militaristic framework it was founded on ties Hawaii to the rest of the world. Civil Beat.

Opinion: It's one thing to lament the influence of money in politics, to bemoan the power of Super PACs that besmirch candidates first and apologize later — long after they've flooded a race with cash and the candidate they prefer has prevailed. Star-Advertiser.

Oahu

Scientists predicted this would be an above-average Central Pacific hurricane season, and sure enough, Hurricane Iselle, packing 115 mph winds, is swirling in from the east. Are the 30,000 or so residents of Waikiki, Hawaii's most densely packed area, ready if Iselle or another storm makes a direct hit? Star-Advertiser.

Opinion: The University System administration and President Lassner's decision to continue defending the unit director largely responsible for Chancellor Apple's removal jeopardizes both the future of the Cancer Center and the standing of the University as a whole. Hawaii Independent.

Kamehameha Schools is funding a new Kapiolani Community College program designed to encourage Native Hawaiians to become interested in fields involving science and technology. Associated Press.

Hawaii

State and county election workers, voting equipment representatives and volunteer observers put marked-up paper ballots through the mill Saturday morning as they participated in the statewide testing of ballot counting equipment. West Hawaii Today.

First-term incumbent County Councilman Greggor Ilagan, facing three challengers for Puna District 4, has raked in the most campaign contributions of any of the 27 hopefuls running for nine seats. West Hawaii Today.

Four candidates vying for the Hawaii County Council District 2 seat discussed issues facing downtown Hilo and beyond at a candidate forum Friday evening. Tribune-Herald.

There’s a plague of mice on the land. The tiny invaders are scampering into homes in North Hawaii, being trapped to the tune of 30 to 70 a day per household in some areas, and getting squished in great numbers along roadways. West Hawaii Today.

Kilauea Military Camp offers screenings of movie about Japanese American internment, tour of site. Tribune-Herald.

Maui

As Maui Memorial Medical Center has announced the shutdown of its adolescent behavioral health unit in an attempt to make a dent in a $13 million budget gap this year, the Democratic candidates seeking their party's nomination for the state 6th Senate District seat agree that a public-private partnership is needed to keep public hospitals afloat. Maui News.

Islands Hospice is slated to open Maui's first inpatient hospice home once it begins accepting patients this fall at its Kahului branch, but some neighbors are concerned that having hospice next to their homes might affect traffic and children. Maui News.

A trio of Hawaii botanists has discovered a new tree species related to the hibiscus plant in the remote Kauaula Valley on Maui. Star-Advertiser.

A groundbreaking ceremony was held today for the new Central Maui Regional Sports Complex located on 65-acres in the master-planned Waiʻale community. Maui Now.

Kauai

At least three Kauai County Councilmembers have said they are looking at ways to provide immediate relief for residents who have experienced sizable property tax increases. Garden Island.

Homeless living in cars and still camping in Anahola. Garden Island.

Lanai
Oracle Corp. CEO Larry Ellison, the billionaire who owns 98 percent of the island of Lanai, has added another hotel to his collection on the Pineapple Island with the purchase of the historic Hotel Lanai, one of the hotel's former owners told Pacific Business News.

Billionaire Larry Ellison has purchased the historic Hotel Lanai for an undisclosed price. The deal that closed July 7 now makes Ellison the owner of every hotel room on the island. Associated Press.

Could Hawaii return to a Republican governor?

There's blood in the water as Democratic Gov. Neil Abercrombie struggles to stay afloat despite a persistent -- and polls say successful -- attack by state Sen. David Ige, an Oahu Democrat who chaired the Senate Ways and Means Committee.

Republicans on the national level are taking advantage of the intraparty blood-letting to bolster the chances of GOP candidate James "Duke" Aiona. Aiona, you'll recall, was lieutenant governor under former Gov. Linda Lingle, a Maui Republican who served two terms ending in 2010.

Abercrombie

"Thanks to a divisive Democratic gubernatorial primary in Hawaii, the party committee thinks that seat may now be in play," noted CNN pundits in a July blog post, adding that the Republican National Committee has sent additional staff to Hawaii, hoping to put this blue state into play in the midterm elections.

The RNC might not be that far off base. The latest poll, released by the Honolulu Star-Advertiser today, shows Aiona's favorability at 63 percent, the highest of any candidate tested in the poll, up from 58 percent in February. Fifty-one percent of traditional Democrats view him positively.

Ige

The poll found Ige holding a 54 percent to 36 percent lead over Abercrombie with 11 percent undecided. Independent candidate Mufi Hannemann, who lost to Abercrombie in the 2010 primary, had a 39 percent favorability rating.

"No governor has lost re-election since William Quinn, a Republican, in 1962, so Ige could be on the cusp of a historic upset on Saturday," the Star-Advertiser said.

The Hawaii Poll, conducted by Ward Research Inc., for the Star-Advertiser and Hawaii News Now, follows a Civil Beat poll last week with similar results.

Civil Beat found 51 percent of those who said they will vote in the Democratic primary said they would vote for Ige, compared with 41 percent for Abercrombie. Just 8 percent said they are undecided.

Aiona

Intraparty squabbles certainly aren't new in a state that is so overwhelmingly Democratic -- the 25-member state Senate has one Republican, and the 51-member House has seven.

Party leaders traditionally push for unity at a huge Hilo rally the night before the primary, and work toward reconciliation at a breakfast the day after.

They'll certainly have their work cut out for them this year, and it will be interesting to see -- no matter who emerges victor -- how quickly the wounds can be salved during the long swim to the Nov. 4 general election.

Poll shows Ige, Schatz, Takai in lead, super PAC money influencing local races, Honolulu council rethinks property tax hike, Apple to get high-paid teaching job, Cachola fined for campaign spending violations, 2 Hokulea crew flown for medical aid, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

David Ige, Neil Abercrombie © 2014 All Hawaii News

With barely a week to go before the primary election, state Sen. David Ige has a double-digit lead over Gov. Neil Abercrombie in the race for the Democratic gubernatorial nomination, a new Civil Beat poll shows. A majority of Hawaii voters surveyed statewide, or 51 percent, who say they will vote in the Democratic primary said they would vote for Ige, compared with 41 percent for Abercrombie. Just 8 percent said they are undecided.

U.S. Sen. Brian Schatz appears to have stretched out his lead over U.S. Rep. Colleen Hanabusa, according to the latest Civil Beat Poll. The survey of likely Democratic voters shows Schatz with a 49 percent to 41 percent edge on the congresswoman. Poll results also show Hawaii Rep. Mark Takai is now the frontrunner in a seven-way free-for-all for the Democratic nomination in the state’s 1st Congressional District.

Lt. Gov. Shan Tsutsui raised significantly more than his top challenger, state Sen. Clayton Hee, in the last month, but Hee holds the edge in available cash for the final stretch of the campaign. Star-Advertiser.

Political upsets are rare in Hawai’i and incumbent candidates, especially at the Congressional level, don’t usually lose to lesser- known challengers. Hawaii Public Radio.

This week Hawaii is presenting its own initiative on addressing climate, sustainability, renewable energy and natural resource management at the 45th Pacific Islands Forum, an annual gathering of more than 300 delegates from 16 independent and self-governing Pacific states with the stated goal of stimulating economic growth and enhancing governance, security and cooperation in the region through policy advice. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii residents need a household income of $122,175 in order to be happy, the largest dollar amount in the nation, according to a new study by Nerdwallet.com. Star-Advertiser.

2 seek medical attention as Hokulea, Hikianalia arrive in Cook Islands. KHON2.

Oahu
Candidates in two Honolulu City Council races are complaining about large sums of money being spent to defeat them by independent expenditure committees, also known as "super PACs," that are not limited by traditional campaign laws. Star-Advertiser.

State Rep. Romy Cachola agreed to pay a $2,496 fine to the state and reimburse his campaign $32,166 to settle a complaint filed against him by the Campaign Spending Commission. Star-Advertiser.

Honolulu City Council members are seeking to provide relief to Oahu property owners caught off-guard by a hike in property taxes this year. Civil Beat.

University of Hawaii President David Lassner said former Manoa Chancellor Tom Apple's performance over the past two years raised serious red flags about his abilities to turn around a fiscal crisis, inspire his leadership team to carry out strategic goals, and champion the university's flagship campus. Star-Advertiser.

Fired University of Hawaii Manoa Chancellor Tom Apple will be reassigned to a tenured faculty post that would pay him nearly three times as much as the average professor in UH’s chemistry department, but it’s unclear whether he will stay at the university. Hawaii News Now.

Officials are urging people to stay out of windward Oahu waters because of a pair of false killer whales in appear in distress. Associated Press.

A new academic year that includes increased classroom time and assessments on a new national test aligned to more rigorous curriculum standards greets the more than 185,000 isle public school students returning to school Friday. Star-Advertiser.

The Kahala Hotel & Resort has been sold to Japanese-based Resorttrust Inc. for $300 million, which equates to $887,000 per room, the next-to-highest per-room price paid for a Hawaii hotel and the highest per-room price paid for an Oahu property. Star-Advertiser.

Castle Medical Center, Hawaii National Bank and Aerotek took top honors as Hawaii’s Healthiest Employers during a Pacific Business News event Thursday, for creating an atmosphere of health and wellness for their employees in the workplace.

Hawaii

A Honolulu political action committee has pumped tens of thousands of dollars into three Hawaii County Council campaigns, in each case eclipsing the money the candidates were able to raise on their own. West Hawaii Today.

Two of the three candidates vying for the County Council seat in District 9 expressed concerns about the likely results of a request for proposals to deal with Hawaii County’s garbage. West Hawaii Today.

A complaint alleging Hawaii County Council District 5 candidate Tiffany Edwards Hunt does not qualify to run in the Puna mauka election will not receive a formal ruling since it was filed after the June 10 deadline for candidate objections. Tribune-Herald.

The Hawaii Independent has sent a series of follow up questions to OHA trustee Bob Lindsey asking how the decision to back down from contesting the Thirty Meter Telescope sublease was reached.

Maui

The future of Hawaii’s young tech industry was at the heart of a tech town hall last week. Many of the 50 or so attendees were left wondering whether Mbloom, a Maui-based venture fund, would either become the poster child for Hawaii’s burgeoning success or its potential source of implosion. Civil Beat.

A groundbreaking ceremony was held today for the new Central Maui Regional Sports Complex located on 65-acres in the master-planned Waiʻale community. Maui Now.

An Idaho-based real estate and financing firm has completed a draft environmental assessment for a proposed 186-unit, affordable rental housing project in Kihei. Maui News.

The remnants of tropical system Wali battered the deteriorating 138-year-old Ka'ahumanu Church, leaving puddles and the church interior soaked before Sunday service July 20. Maui News.

Kauai

The state Department of Education says the closures of four Kauai public schools were necessary because the water system was compromised during a construction project in Hanamaulu. The Kauai Department of Water issued an advisory instructing residents to boil water. Associated Press.

The problems at Kauai Pasta started Wednesday when the restaurant closed two hours early after the water shut off in the middle of the evening rush. When the water came back on, it was murky. Garden Island.

Billy DeCosta says he is not what you may call “the typical politician.” While late Mayor Bryan Baptiste was still in office, DeCosta recalled a time when he and Waimea High School students built 12 picnic tables in three months after county officials provided the materials. Garden Island.

Feds seek clues in monk seal death, rail work to come in over budget, man charged in scuba attack, state seeks to foreclose Pflueger property, big tax hikes on Oahu, Kauai, Abercrombie, Ige, reveal plans for state, UH Manoa chancellor Apple gets walking papers, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Kauai monk seal mom with pup prior to dog attack, courtesy NOAA

Federal and state officials have initiated an investigation and are asking for the public’s help on information on a deadly attack on an endangered monk seal on Kauai. David Schofield, NOAA’s Marine Mammal Health and Response coordinator, said this is believed to be the first monk seal killed by a dog in the main Hawaiian Islands. Star-Advertiser.

RK28, a local Hawaiian monk seal, spent all of Tuesday desperately scouring the beach and nearshore waters for her two-week-old pup. Garden Island.

The latest roundup of gubernatorial elections throughout the country by respected political expert Larry Sabato has put Hawaii’s governor’s race in the “toss up” category. Civil Beat.

State Sen. David Ige said his first priority if he is elected governor would be to submit a balanced budget and collect $450 million in unpaid taxes. Gov. Neil Abercrombie wants to prioritize affordable housing and smart growth. Associated Press.

Gov. Neil Abercrombie and state Sen. David Ige on Wednesday discussed in more detail what they would do if elected governor, while also throwing a few gibes at each other in what is becoming a tight Democratic primary. Star-Advertiser.

The day after their last two candidate debates, Neil Abercrombie and David Ige released their respective plans for the state, should one of them be favored by voters to be governor for the next four years. Civil Beat.

Rivals in the Democrat primary for governor, Neil Abercrombie and David Ige revealed dueling plans for the State just hours apart. Abercrombie calls his "Charting Tomorrow: A plan for a brighter future in Hawaii." Ige's is titled "David Ige's Action Plan: Engineering Hawaii's Future" or, as he put it, " what an Ige administration would look like if elected Governor." Hawaii News Now.

As longtime Democrats, Gov. Neil Abercrombie and Sen. David Ige largely share the same vision when it comes to things like public worker pay raises, transportation and agriculture. KITV4.

The Democratic candidates for governor revealed their action plans Wednesday, giving Hawaii voters more insight into their strategies. Both candidates are confident and committed to their plans and believe it’s more than just a campaign document. KHON2.

A new day in environmental protection? Analyzing the success of the governor's A New Day in Hawaii plan promise to protect Hawaii’s environment and resources. Hawaii Independent.

They are the children of Baby Boomers and the next generation of political leaders in Hawai’i.   They have the potential of being a powerful political force in the state if they get involved, run for office and vote. Hawaii Public Radio.

George Takei, the actor in the original Star Trek movies who played the beloved character, Hikaru Sulu, and has made his mark on the Hollywood scene with the saying "Oh my!" has joined a growing list of celebrities, politicians and activists endorsing Hawaii's Democratic candidates in advance of Hawaii's Aug. 9 Primary Election. Hawaii Reporter.

For the first time, the public is privy to the annual financial disclosure reports filed by members of the University of Hawaii Board of Regents. Civil Beat.

The Hawaii Visitors and Convention Bureau has amassed the largest number of social media followers among U.S. state tourism boards, according to a report by Skift, a travel intelligence company. Pacific Business News.

Oahu

Oahu homeowners hit with huge jumps in their property-tax bills continue to lash out at the way the city calculated the amounts. Some absentee owners of the island's most expensive residences are facing an annual tab approaching or topping $100,000. Star-Advertiser.

University of Hawaii President David Lassner handed UH Manoa Chancellor Tom Apple a termination notice late Wednesday afternoon, Apple announced Wednesday night, saying "I have been forced out as chancellor of UH Manoa." Hawaii News Now.

Tom Apple has been dismissed as chancellor of the University of Hawaii at Manoa, his attorney, Big Island lawyer Jerry Hiatt, said Monday night. He was offered a tenured faculty position at the UH medical school for an 11-month salary of $299,000. The university is also offering him a total lump sum payment of $100,000, including attorney’s fees. Civil Beat.

University of Hawaii at Manoa Chancellor Tom Apple says he was forced out as head of the UH system's flagship campus Wednesday, two years into his five-year appointment. Apple said he was removed "for alleged unsatisfactory performance" in his job. Star-Advertiser.

Will New Honolulu City Council Members Smooth Friction with Mayor Caldwell? Council Chair Ernie Martin is clearly the mayor's nemesis. But the Council as a whole frequently clashes with Caldwell. Soon it will have at least two new members. Civil Beat.

Construction bids for the first nine stations of Honolulu’s $5.16 billion elevated-rail project are likely to come in higher than originally anticipated and could cause the agency to dip into its contingency fund, Dan Grabauskas, executive director and CEO of the Honolulu Authority for Rapid Transportation told Pacific Business News.

Now that rail is becoming a reality many we spoke with have no idea where the route actually goes so we will show you the last seven stops in the more dense city center section starting here in Kapalama where 30 feet up will be a transit station. Hawaii News Now.

U.S. State Department Special Agent Christopher Deedy doesn't want the jurors in his murder retrial to have the option to find him guilty of manslaughter, and his testimony in state court Wednesday emphasized that. Star-Advertiser.

The Public Charter School Commission approved a new financial plan for Halau Lokahi Charter School on Wednesday, paving the way for the school to reopen on Aug. 14. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii

Lovell charged with misdemeanor for May scuba attack off Kona coast West Hawaii Today.

The state Department of Transportation is making completion of Saddle Road improvements a priority as it maps out projects to finish during the next four years with its share of federal funds. Tribune-Herald.

After several years of making do with old, high-mileage cars, the county administration stepped up its purchase of passenger vehicles this past fiscal year. West Hawaii Today

Maui

South Maui Challengers Align on Environmental Issues. Kihei Community Association membership gives new candidates the floor. Maui Weekly.

Kauai

State seeks foreclosure on Pflueger property. The state wants to ensure it will get the $4 million in interest and fines it assessed James Pflueger for damages caused by a mudslide that covered the Pilaa reef in 2001. Garden Island.

It has been over a week and a half since the County of Kauai sent out property tax bills to the owners of 33,370 individual properties on the island. And for most of that time, some Kauai County Councilmembers have said an influx of emails and phone calls have been coming in — on the other end, in many cases, are disgruntled property owners who have seen noticeable increases on their tax bills. Garden Island.

Three candidates vying for Kauai's 15th House District seat have varying views on the controversial issue of county oversight of the use of pesticides and growth of genetically engineered crops by large agribusinesses. Star-Advertiser.

Molokai

Picture this: a higher learning education center with a spacious auditorium, high-tech computer labs, larger classrooms and a grassy campus pavilion right here on Molokai. This long-awaited dream may become a reality for UH Maui College, Molokai now that the college has completed its Long-Range Development Plan. Molokai Dispatch.

Final Democratic gubernatorial debate highlights Abercrombie, Ige similarities, Hee sole candidate at Lt. Gov. forum, Kauai dog kills monk seal pup, Maui council mulls polystyrene ban, Hilo and Kona now asteroids, RIMPAC wrapping up, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Silverswords on Haleakala, Maui, courtesy National Park Service

Haleakala National Park on Maui is reporting an unusual abundance of silverswords currently in bloom. The rare ahinahina, found nowhere else in the world, is flowering atop the summit at the Kala­haku Overlook as well as along 4- to 6-mile hikes into the summit basin along the Sliding Sands Trail. Star-Advertiser.

In their final face-to-face encounters before the Democratic primary, Gov. Neil Abercrombie and state Sen. David Ige on Tuesday quarreled over taxes, preschool and leadership style but did not identify any new policy differences that might help voters choose between them. Star-Advertiser.

At the final two forums before the Aug. 9 primary, the governor and senator discuss senior issues, preschools and highways in the morning event. In the nightcap, things get more personal. Civil Beat.

Hawaii's Democratic candidates for governor told voters on Tuesday how they would improve health care, the economy and quality of life for seniors. Gov. Neil Abercrombie and state Sen. David Ige also compared leadership styles in a forum hosted by AARP on Hawaii's Big Island. Associated Press.

Democratic gubernatorial candidates Neil Abercrombie and David Ige tackled airports, business issues, harbors and other topics at a forum in Kailua-Kona Tuesday. West Hawaii Today.

The top two Hawaii Democrats running for governor squared off Tuesday morning for an hourlong debate focusing on several key issues affecting the state’s rapidly growing elderly population. West Hawaii Today.

State Sen. Clayton Hee showed up at a candidate forum in Kailua-Kona Tuesday. Turns out he was the only candidate running for lieutenant governor who accepted the Kona-Kohala Chamber of Commerce’s invitation. Civil Beat.

When Shan Tsutsui became the first-ever Hawaii Lieutenant Governor to open a neighbor island satellite office, his initial funding request was for $317,000. But since then, the costs have more than doubled to nearly $700,000. Hawaii News Now.

U.S. Senate Race: Who Can Save Hawaii’s Middle Class? U.S. Sen. Brian Schatz and U.S. Rep. Colleen Hanabusa discuss how to make life more affordable in one of the most expensive places in the country. Solutions are elusive, they say, but job creation, energy efficiencies and food production top the list. Civil Beat.

The Congressional District One race has 7 Democrats vying for the party’s nomination. The top three campaign money-raisers in the last month before the Primary Election are making a final push for victory on August 9th. Hawaii Public Radio.

Japan has been practicing storming beaches with the U.S. and other countries in Hawaii this month. The amphibious landing exercises, which are relatively new to Japan's military, come as Tokyo tries to boost its ability to defend small islands it controls but China claims as its own. Associated Press.

Rim of the Pacific war games are wrapping up with dozens of ships heading back to Pearl Harbor on Wednesday and Thursday after spending several weeks at sea working on interoperability in an increasingly interconnected Asia-Pacific region. Star-Advertiser.

The Hawaii Health Connector, a federally mandated insurance marketplace, is losing money. A temporary funding plan went into effect this month, but once that money runs out, lawmakers will need to settle on a long-term fix that officials characterize as a choice between propping up a failing system at the expense of taxpayers, or turning control over to federal authorities at the risk of unravelling the state's comprehensive Prepaid Health Care Act. Associated Press.

This year, for the first time, Hawaii state law will require students to receive a minimum number of instructional hours. Tribune-Herald.

A recent rash of resignations from state boards prompted by a new financial disclosure law has Gov. Neil Abercrombie scrambling to make replacements. But no board has been hit harder than the Land Use Commission, which can’t even conduct business, leaving developers and other petitioners hanging. Civil Beat.

Hawaii foster parents this month received their first pay raise since 1990, but the increase is far from enough for those who filed a class-action lawsuit claiming foster parents are underpaid. Star-Advertiser.

Tropical Depression Genevieve is expected to intensify into a tropical storm Wednesday and may bring muggy weather and rains to the state Friday. Star-Advertiser.

Oahu

How are Oahu officials trying to prevent elections fraud and other errors? Elections officials have a brand new, $200,000 machine to help count the record number of absentee ballots already mailed out this election season. KHON2.

University of Hawaii President David Lassner apologized Tuesday that a reported attempt by him to remove UH-Manoa Chancellor Tom Apple has become "a public spectacle." Star-Advertiser.

Commentary: Chancellor Apple's removal after only two years on the job is a reflection of political in-fighting and dysfunction within the university, not on the performance of his duties. Hawaii Independent.

Commentary: The budget meltdown and administrative shakeup at the University of Hawaii’s Manoa campus have been very much in the news, but I doubt  most people understand just how delicate — to use a polite euphemism — the immediate situation is in the wake of Chancellor Tom Apple’s imposition of an indefinite hiring freeze and the subsequent swirling rumors of his likely administrative demise. Civil Beat.

The recent sale of Royal Hawaiian Center, Waikiki's largest shopping complex, totaled $696.5 million, according to Hawaii Information Service. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii

Hilo and Kona are not just towns on Hawaii Island. They’re also two asteroids in the night sky, thanks to recent action by amateur astronomers at observatories in Germany and the Canary Islands. West Hawaii Today.

Dozens of absentee ballots have been replaced on the Big Island because humid weather is causing return envelopes to become glued shut before voters can place their ballots inside. KITV4.

The Big Island’s Camp Kilohana will get a share of a $1.25 million state capital improvement grant to the Girl Scouts of Hawaii for wastewater systems improvement. Tribune-Herald.

Contractors will begin work Monday on the final phase of the Mamalahoa Highway bypass. West Hawaii Today.

Maui

Big and small businesses say that a bill restricting polystyrene disposable food containers in Maui County will increase costs for them and for their customers and has another major flaw - there currently is no facility on Maui that can recycle the alternative food containers. Maui News.

The University of Hawaii Maui College recently received $3.5 million in state funds to begin building Hawaii's first training hotel for hospitality students. Pacific Business News.

County landfills will close a little earlier daily and shut down on all holidays, and trash pickups on holidays will be nixed with no makeup of the lost service beginning Friday, according to the county Department of Environmental Management. Maui News.

A discussion about possible sites for a new Maui County service center Tuesday brought frustration for some council members when they learned that property being eyed for the center might alter plans for the site of the Old Wailuku Post Office. Maui News.

Kauai

The Kauai County Elections Division and the Kauai Police Department said they are investigating a recently reported case of voter fraud. Garden Island.

Absentee ballot fraud incident has Kauai police, elections officials on alert. Hawaii Reporter.

A two-week old Hawaiian monk seal pup was found dead Tuesday morning on Kauai from an apparent dog attack, an official with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration said. Garden Island.

A California family is suing the Marriott for a falling headboard. Bonnie and Walter Hagmaier and their minor daughter Savannah, residents of California, were staying in a unit at Marriott’s Kauai Beach Club on July 27, 2012. As Bonnie and Savannah slept in the same bed of the unit, a large wooden headboard fell onto the bed and struck them, the suit said. Garden Island.

The development company suing a proposed dairy to prevent it from being built said it’s not backing off the suit despite the dairy’s scaled down plans. Garden Island.

Kauai County Councilman Gary Hooser said he is not one to shy away from asking for help and reaching across the aisle to state lawmakers and county officials. Garden Island.

Hawaii Republicans outnumbered but optimistic, UH Manoa chancellor Apple fights to keep job, early walk-in voting begins, reports from the campaign trail, more top government and political news from all the Hawaiian Islands

James "Duke" Aiona ©2014 All Hawaii News

Republican candidate James “Duke” Aiona lost by 17 percentage points to Democratic Gov. Neil Abercrombie in Hawaii’s last gubernatorial election. It’s never been easy for a Republican to win a statewide office in Hawaii, but Aiona’s supporters say the odds are much better this year. Civil Beat.

Republican Charles Djou, the onetime U.S. House member, raised $48,925 during the July 1-20 period, more than any other candidate in the  Hawaii 1st Congressional District race, including the seven Demo­crats seeking the job, and has more money available than any of them. Star-Advertiser.

The seven Democrats campaigning to represent urban Oahu in Congress for the next two years have a lot in common when it comes to social issues. Civil Beat.

Since the beginning of the year, there have been about 30 inmates who walked away from the work furlough program statewide, that's more than all of last year. Hawaii News Now.

A local artist is carrying out the last wish of the late Department of Health Director Loretta Fuddy. KITV4.

State roundup for July 29. Associated Press.

Oahu

Embattled University of Hawaii at Manoa Chancellor Tom Apple says he wants to continue working to improve accessibility for students and turn around budget troubles at UH's flagship campus despite an attempt to remove him from Manoa's top post Star-Advertiser.

As reports surface that University of Hawaii at Manoa Chancellor Tom Apple is getting the boot, professors and students are starting to speculate whether inside politics and disputes over the campus’s budget are at play. Civil Beat.

Tom Apple is still the chancellor of the University of Hawaii at Manoa, according to a University of Hawaii spokeswoman and an attorney hired by Apple, refuting multiple news reports of his imminent departure. Pacific Business News.

Supporters of Tom Apple are coming to his defense, saying he should not be ousted as Chancellor of the University of Hawaii at Manoa. The head of the faculty union UHPA, J.N. Musto, said Apple was given notice by UH President David Lassner that Apple will be replaced. KHON2.

Nearly 1,000 voters cast ballots Monday on Oahu as walk-in absentee polling sites opened. Star-Advertiser.

Walk-in Absentee and Early Voting started today at two sites on Oahu. Hawaii Public Radio.

Speeding cars, pedestrian fatalities and crime are top concerns for Honolulu City Council candidates in the race to represent District 8, the heavily suburban area of central Oahu where housing developments and strip malls proliferate. Civil Beat.

It's a breathtaking view from the pillboxes at Lanikai. But is it safe with people standing on top of it and the giant block of concrete is deteriorating? Hawaii News Now.

Starting in late August or early September, those traveling past the storefronts and homes lining the busy east-west corridor from Kapa­hulu Avenue to the H-1 freeway will find new designated bike lanes and "sharrows" — painted arrows along the street shoulder for bicyclists to share the road. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii

PAC mismailing baffles council candidates. West Hawaii Today.

Hawaii County Council candidate RJ Hampton berated primary election opponent Tiffany Edwards-Hunt during a candidate forum organized by the Puna Pono Alliance on Saturday night, before she herself stormed out of the event. Big Island Video News.

A site dedication ceremony for the Thirty Meter Telescope will be held in October, the TMT International Observatory Board of Directors confirmed today. Tribune-Herald.

Canadian businessman Stephen Petasky plans to transform a roughly 5.5-acre vacant lot at the Mauna Lani Resort into a luxury residential community that seamlessly unites modern technology and style with traditional Hawaiian culture and beauty. West Hawaii Today.

Volunteers lead charge to renovate Kaipalaoa Landing. Tribune-Herald.

Opinion: ‘Ban’ on Trucking Rubbish to West Hawaii is a Myth. Big Island Now.

Maui

Two Filipino leaders will share their experiences Tuesday evening of organizing and empowering communities to take control of their health, workplace and food systems, according to an announcement. Maui News.

A Maui County Council committee will take up a bill this afternoon to ban polystyrene food containers, a measure similar to a plastic grocery bag ban that took effect in 2011. Maui News.

Governor Neil Abercrombie announced the release of $3.5 million for renovations at the University of Hawaiʻi Maui College. Maui Now.
Kauai

Over the next two weeks, county voters will make their voices heard by either visiting one of the 16 designated polling locations to cast their ballots on Aug. 9 or sending in their absentee ballots through the mail. Garden Island.

Mason Chock admits that he is not one of the more vocal member on the Kauai County Council. But there’s a method to it. Garden Island.

A post-Inouye Hawaii Democratic Party, UH Manoa chancellor Apple ousted, Kauai GMO rules hearing Tuesday, Maui mayor candidate tased, arrested, property tax shock on Oahu, state tops in solar power, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Hawaii Gov. Neil Abercrombie campaigning ©2014 All Hawaii News

Primary voters will help direct the course of state Democratic Party politics in August in the first election since the death of U.S. Sen. Daniel Inouye, the dominant figure in Hawaii's political culture for half a century. Star-Advertiser.

How Did the ‘New Day in Hawaii’ Plan Work Out? Four years ago Neil Abercrombie outlined a vision for the state. Civil Beat analyzes whether the governor delivered.

Hawaii now has more solar power per person than any other state in the nation. Star-Advertiser.

Public elementary schools across the state will see around 5,500 fewer kindergartners this upcoming school year, beginning Friday when a new law goes into effect. Maui News.

It’s a pivotal time in history for Native Hawaiians and an unprecedented number of candidates want to be a part of it. Events coalescing around the state have brought a dramatic increase in candidates seeking a seat on the board of trustees for the Office of Hawaiian Affairs. West Hawaii Today.

The Army in Hawaii has landed Black Hawk and Kiowa Warrior helicopters on the decks of underway Navy ships in the past as the land service seeks to prove its sea-based flexibility. Star-Advertiser.

Matson Navigation Co. Inc., Hawaii’s largest cargo container shipping company, will pay $9.95 million as part of a settlement agreement with the U.S. Department of Justice and Illinois freight consultant Mario Rizzo. Hawaii Reporter.

Oahu

Two years into what was supposed to be a five-year appointment, University of Hawaii at Manoa Chancellor Tom Apple will be removed from the position, but he may remain at UH as a professor, sources told Hawaii News Now.

Hawaii Hall, where the office of the University of Hawaii's Manoa chancellor is located, was closed for the weekend, but it's been anything but quiet among the allies of Tom Apple. Hawaii News Now.

After just over two years on the job, University of Hawaii at Manoa Chancellor Tom Apple will soon be leaving his position as chancellor at the university, according to sources familiar with the situation. Several sources told the Honolulu Star-Advertiser that Apple's ouster as chancellor is imminent, but the UH administration said in a statement Sunday that Apple is still chancellor.

Opinion: What’s the Story Behind Tom Apple’s Ouster as UH Chancellor? UH officials should be forthcoming about why the chancellor has been canned just a few weeks after new president takes over. Civil Beat.

Glass in the trash. A lack of funding for recycling non-Hi5 glass has forced businesses to begin throwing their wine and spirit bottles out with the trash. Hawaii Independent.

The Honolulu City Council’s District 6 covers much of Oahu’s urban core — including downtown Honolulu and a portion of the up-and-coming Kakaako — so it’s not surprising that high-profile issues such as homelessness, development and affordable housing are at play in the four-way Council race. Civil Beat.

This fall, Oahu is poised to be the first place in the United States where electricity generated by ocean waves is connected to a power grid — a milestone in the budding wave energy industry, officials say. Star-Advertiser.

Property valuations by city spur disbelief, derision. Shocked homeowners complain the numbers are way off and their tax bills are unreasonably high. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii

The Thirty Meter Telescope cleared its last major hurdle Friday. The state Board of Land and Natural Resources dismissed the remaining contested case hearing requests for the $1.3 billion project’s sublease, allowing construction to begin on Mauna Kea. Tribune-Herald.

A final environmental assessment released last week found no significant impacts to a proposed project that aims to improve access from the Natural Energy Laboratory of Hawaii Authority to Queen Kaahumanu Highway and Kona International Airport. West Hawaii Today.

Maui

State Sen. David Ige stopped by a luncheon for seniors Saturday at the Grand Wai­lea Resort in Kihei, Maui. He and his wife, Dawn, met in the afternoon with women who support his Demo­cratic primary campaign for governor at Cafe o' Lei at the Dunes at Maui Lani here. Star-Advertiser.

Maui mayoral candidate Beau Hawkes was arrested and released on bail after an encounter with police that resulted in him being tazed and handcuffed in Wailuku Town. Maui Now.

A bill seeking a ban on the use and sale of polystyrene disposable food service containers in Maui County comes up for review before a council committee on Monday. Maui Now.

One day after a Maui County Council committee deferred a citizen's initiative that calls for a temporary moratorium on genetically engineered crops, Mayor Alan Arakawa said at a Maui Chamber of Commerce luncheon Friday that he, personally, believes genetically modified organisms are not harmful. Maui News.

Maui County voters will cast ballots in November on a proposal to impose a moratorium on the cultivation of genetically engineered organisms. Associated Press.

The state has released $3.5 million to renovate University of Hawaii Maui College student housing and transform the former Hale Haumana into the Hospitality Academy of Maui, Gov. Neil Abercrombie announced Saturday. Maui News.

Kauai

The Office of Economic Development will hold a public hearing on draft rules that could be utilized to implement Ordinance 960. The ordinance was passed by the County Council in November 2013 to govern genetically modified organisms and pesticide use by large ag companies on Kauai. The hearing is set for 6 p.m. Tuesday at Kauai War Memorial Convention Hall. Garden Island.

Three candidates in Kauai County's mayoral race strongly oppose operations of seed companies on the lush island, while incumbent Mayor Bernard Carvalho Jr. seeks to strike a balance between the community and the biotech industry. Star-Advertiser.

A French battery maker has been awarded a multi-million dollar contract by Kauai Island Utility Cooperative to provide a battery energy storage system for the Lihue-based utility’s $54 million, 12-megawatt Anahola Solar project, which started construction late last month. Pacific Business News.

The general partners of early-stage investment fund mbloom and the president of the Hawaii State Development Corporation addressed questions from the local tech community regarding conflict of interest in a town hall meeting at Box Jelly in Kakaako on Thursday night. Pacific Business News.

Plans for a Kauai dairy farm are being modified in response to odor and other environmental concerns. Hawaii Dairy Farms modified its application to the state Department of Health, with plans for starting on a smaller scale with 650-699 cows, backers announced Friday. Associated Press.