Honolulu rethinks security for its marathon following Boston bombing, PLDC repeal heads to governor, Hanabusa, Gabbard report contributions, UH outlines its impact, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Hawaii public lands (c) 2013 All Hawaii News

The Hawaii House voted unanimously Monday to get rid of the highly disliked Public Land Development Corp., ending legislative debate on the agency that sparked a groundswell of public protest because of its broad power to develop state land. Associated Press.

The state House voted unanimously Monday for a bill to repeal the Public Land Development Corp., undoing a law that will likely be remembered at the state Capitol as a cautionary tale of government hubris. Star-Advertiser.

Legislation described by some supporters as "the cornerstone to increasing transparency in government" is nudging toward approval by Hawaii lawmakers. Civil Beat.

U.S. Rep. Colleen Hanabusa raised $229,000 in the first three months of 2013. Rep. Tulsi Gabbard, elected last year to her first term in District 2 representing rural Oahu and the neighbor islands, raised $84,000 in the first quarter. Star-Advertiser.

If Rep. Colleen Hanabusa does take on Sen. Brian Schatz for the late Daniel Inouye’s U.S. Senate seat, she’s already nearly $1 million behind. Civil Beat.

Hawaii lawmakers are taking small steps toward shaping the state’s multi-billion-dollar biennial budget. Associated Press.

A large university in a small state, the University of Hawaii occupies a central role in Hawaii's society and culture. But what is its economic impact? Can it be expressed in dollars? Yes, a new study says, and it's billions.Hawaii News Now.

The University of Hawaii system produced an estimated $3.61 billion in economic benefits for the state last year, including the ripple effects from university-generated spending, according to a report released today by a group of UH economists. Star-Advertiser.

On paper, tuition for the typical local undergraduate student enrolled in the University of Hawaii at Manoa next year will run around $9,100. But here's the caveat: students must also fork over $760 in additional fees, effectively raising students' bills an additional 8 percent. Civil Beat.

A judge has ruled a Hawaii bed and breakfast violated the law when two women were denied a room because they're gay. KITV4.

Although a bill to label GMOs in food has died in the state Legislature, Earthjustice attorney Paul Achitoff says he’s happy that the measure got as far as it did. Honolulu Weekly.

The Hawaii Tourism Authority is awarding $1.4 million in grants to support cultural and natural resource programs run by 40 groups across the state. Associated Press.
http://www.staradvertiser.com/news/breaking/203209501.html?id=203209501

State roundup for April 16. Associated Press.

Oahu

A weeks-long jury selection process opened Monday for State Department special agent Christopher Deedy's trial on a charge of murdering a Kailua man in a 2011 Waikiki shooting. Star-Advertiser.

A U.S. special agent standing trial for killing a Kailua man in a Waikiki McDonald's appears to be raising his defense fund through a crowdfunding campaign, similar to those launched by aspiring filmmakers, activists and entrepreneurs who need a financial nudge to get their projects off the ground. Civil Beat.

Honolulu Marathon officials said they will look more closely at security measures to prevent explosions in the wake of Monday's deadly blasts at the Boston Marathon. Star-Advertiser.

Honolulu Marathon officials said Monday it is too early to say whether the explosions that rocked the finish line of the Boston Marathon, killing two and injuring dozens of others, will affect the Hawaii race scheduled for Dec. 8. Pacific Business News.

Mayor Kirk Caldwell delivered the first quarterly report Monday on what he hopes will be an unprecedented push to repair Honolulu's crumbling roads. Star-Advertiser.

The City and County of Honolulu announced it is on track to restore roads over the next 5 years. Hawaii Public Radio.

The breathtaking ocean vistas of Waikiki surf, iconic Diamond Head and historic points in between could soon become part of a national program that showcases roads that have a story to tell. Star-Advertiser.

Drivers on Kuaoa Street are seeing a crooked center line. The construction company that repaved the road says it’s just a temporary fix until the asphalt cures. KHON2.

Hawaii

A rough draft of several reports to be included in the Ka‘u Community Development plan, reviewed last week by the plan Steering Committee, offers insights into how district residents see themselves and what their vision is for the region’s future. West Hawaii Today.

Maui

Mayor’s Proposed Budget Includes Infrastructure Spending, Tax and Fee Increases. Maui Weekly.

The founder and owner of the Maui-made Ocean Vodka will be opening up a new production facility in Kula next week for the public to tour and see. Maui News.

Kauai

Police officers stationed in Waimea will soon get a new roof. The Kaua‘i County Council on Wednesday unanimously approved an eight-year lease at Waimea Dispensary for the Kaua‘i Police Department starting May 1. Garden Island.

Giant telescope approved for Mauna Kea, IRs targets Maui for tax cheats, Inouye legacy funds candidates, small Hawaii farms can't catch a break, Abercrombie kicks off campaign on fiscal record, more news from all the Hawaiian islands

Telescopes atop Mauna Kea courtesy photo

The Hawaii Board of Land and Natural Resources on Friday granted the University of Hawaii at Hilo a conservation district use permit for the $1.3 billion Thirty Meter Telescope, saying the university can add what will be one of the world's largest telescopes to the observatories on the summit of Mauna Kea. Pacific Business News.

Construction on the $1.3 billion Thirty Meter Telescope could begin atop Mauna Kea within a year, project managers said this weekend, following Friday’s approval of a permit for the plans by the state Board of Land and Natural Resources. Tribune-Herald.

The state's recent approval to build the world's largest telescope atop Mauna Kea has thrilled astronomers eager to explore the edges of the universe. But it also has disappointed environmentalists and Native Hawaiians. Hawaii News Now.

A plan by California and Canadian universities to build the world’s largest telescope at the summit of Hawaii’s Mauna Kea volcano won approval from the state Board of Land and Natural Resources on Friday. Associated Press.

Several of Hawaii's biggest companies and landowners have qualified to claim tax credits and other benefits for preserving agricultural land in perpetuity. But a hui of small farmers couldn't convince a state commission earlier this month that they deserve the same. Star-Advertiser.

Several of Hawaii's biggest companies and landowners have qualified to claim tax credits and other benefits for preserving agricultural land in perpetuity. But a hui of small farmers couldn't convince a state commission earlier this month that they deserve the same. Star-Advertiser.

Gov. Neil Abercrombie, outlining themes for his re-election campaign next year, said today that the “hard choices” he has made since taking office have helped make Hawaii’s state government among the most financially stable in the nation. Star-Advertiser.

Something odd is going on in the Abercrombie administration. Officials actually seem to be scrambling to release public records in a timely fashion. Civil Beat.

On the first day of his last campaign, Neil Abercrombie recalled the last day of his first campaign. Civil Beat.

The late Sen. Dan Inouye's political legacy continues to play out as his leadership political action committee begins helping out candidates that the senator favored when he was alive. According to the latest campaign finance filings, Rep. Colleen Hanabusa and Sen. Mazie Hirono each received $10,000 from DANPAC. Inouye's PAC had roughly $50,000 in unspent funds when he died. Inouye's main campaign account had more than a quarter-million dollars.  Civil Beat.

Hawaii Senate and House lawmakers plan to spend the beginning of this week in negotiations over roughly $24 billion in proposed state spending for the next two fiscal years. Associated Press.

Local Korean civic groups and supporters rallied Saturday at the state Capitol to denounce the military actions and nuclear threats by North Korea, particularly by its young dictator, Kim Jong Un, and to express frustration, anger and shame. About 200 gathered to hear speakers, march and chant. Star-Advertiser.

The American Civil Liberties Union of Hawaii claims the state Department of Public Safety is illegally withholding public records that attorneys representing families in wrongful prison death lawsuits have already paid thousands of dollars to receive. Associated Press.

A law firm has paid the Hawaii Department of Public Safety $5,300 for public records, but state officials have yet to produce a single document, according to a lawsuit filed Thursday by the ACLU of Hawaii. Civil Beat.

A resolution in the Hawaii House of Representatives is asking for federal labeling of genetically modified food. Associated Press.

The state tax credit is a major incentive to install solar photovoltaic systems, and eliminating or reducing them would drive Hawaii homeowners away from using the sun to power their homes. At least that is what a recent survey by the Blue Planet Foundation suggests. Maui News.

A string of drownings across all Hawaii islands have put a new focus on ocean safety, especially targeted at tourists. Hawaii Public Radio.

State roundup for April 15. Associated Press.

Oahu

Key members of the City Council are taking steps to tighten the rules for filling vacant job positions so that city agencies cannot spend the money on other purposes. Too much is being diverted to pay for such things as mileage expenses and cashing out unused vacation pay for retiring employees, says Councilman Ikaika Anderson. Star-Advertiser.

A lag in processing tax returns led to Honolulu's rail project receiving $33 million less than it anticipated in the first half of this fiscal year — even though state GET collections are up this year, state Department of Taxation officials say. Star-Advertiser.

On Thursday, the 10-member HART board gave Dan Grabauskas a $35,000 bonus as part of his first annual performance review, boosting his overall pay for the year from $245,000 to $280,000. He also gets $42,000 for housing and transportation. Civil Beat.

One of the most controversial decisions by the city’s rail authority was to award a contract to build the elevated steel on steel rail trains to the financially troubled Italian company Ansaldo. The city’s HART CEO Dan Grabauskas maintained in a University of Hawaii student forum this week that the company was the best choice to design, build, operate and maintain Oahu’s $5.2 billion system. Hawaii Reporter.

The Diamond Head State Monument Foundation is holding a public meeting on Wednesday to discuss the proposed nomination of scenic roadways encircling Diamond Head as a designated "Hawaii Scenic Byway." Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii

Hawaii County Council members weighed the ideas of seeking a general excise tax increase, a fuel tax increase or raising bus fares to help fund the county’s Mass Transit Agency. West Hawaii Today.

Hawaii County Councilwoman Margaret Wille had heard enough. Before noon on Friday, the third straight day of budget talks, the Kohala representative had grown tired of the cadre of department heads highlighting needs not met in the proposed budget, and decided it was time to speak her mind. Tribune-Herald.

The makers of Mehana and Hawaii Nui beer filed for bankruptcy this week and are seeking new ownership as part of a reorganizing plan to restructure its debts.  Big Island Now.

After years of delay, a project to improve the eastern portion of Kawaihae Small Boat Harbor is moving forward. West Hawaii Today.

Maui

The communities in Hawaii where you would most likely find tax cheats and audits are Lahaina and Kahului on Maui, according to a study by the National Taxpayer Advocate. Associated Press.

In Maui County, approximately 4,000 homeowners have installed solar PV systems, according to county officials. Only three out of 10 existing PV owners said they still would have switched to solar if there had been no tax credits.  Maui News.

A building in the Kenolio Recreational Complex in Kihei that was damaged by fire more than two years ago is expected to be repaired early next year, according to Department of Parks and Recreation Deputy Director Brianne Savage. Maui News.

Hawaii's Backyard: Healing energy surrounds clients at Maui retreat. Star-Advertiser.

Kauai

Gov. Neil Abercrombie spent Friday on island, visiting school students and lending his support to the Kaua‘i Philippines Cultural Center and the Kaua‘i Raceway Park in the form of financial aid. Garden Island.

Donna Schultze has called Kaua‘i home for 41 years, so when she heard about a proposal that includes drilling a high-elevation well through Wai‘ale‘ale, she knew one thing: She didn’t like it. Garden Island.

Special Report: Hawaii Shield Law in jeopardy

The state House on Thursday rejected Senate amendments that would radically weaken Hawaii's Shield Law, a law seen as landmark legislation when it was enacted five years ago.

Next on the agenda is the creation of a conference committee where House and Senate conferees work out a compromise for floor votes by both bodies. The Shield Law was seen as groundbreaking because it included bloggers as well as traditonal media.

The version as amended by the Senate creates categories of traditional journalists that would be protected, then deletes protection of any unpublished information, such as notes and raw video.

The House had previously expanded the exceptions so journalists would have to disclose information involving potential felonies, serious crimes involving unlawful injury to people or animals and all civil cases.

 If the Legislature fails to act, the Shield Law automatically expires June 30. You can keep up with how the bill, HB 622, is faring here.







Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Clayton Hee became the focal point of criticism by the media -- and especially bloggers -- because of his insistence that "so-called journalists" lie and falsify information. In a committee hearing (audio clip top), Hee produced copies of the famous 1948 Chicago Tribune "Dewey Defeats Truman" article to prove his point.

Hee continued that theme on the Senate floor, ultimately winning approval of his committee amendments on a 24-1 vote in the 25-member Senate.

Honolulu rail gets federal boost, tax collections up 10.6%, ethics chief keeps job, bird poop bill advances, tax hikes in store for Hawaii County, more flights to Hawaii, Honolulu may ban smoking at all city parks, defamation lawsuit seeks to add online commenter, Ellison top-paid public CEO, Schatz builds Senate war chest, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

2011 Honolulu rapid transit groundbreaking, HART photo

Under President Barack Obama's budget proposal released Wednesday, Honolulu's future elevated rail system would get its full federal funding for 2014 — a move that local proponents say shows the project is in good health. Star-Advertiser.

U.S. Rep. Tulsi Gabbard says she's concerned about cuts to missile defense as Hawaii and the rest of the country face direct and heightened threats from North Korea. Star-Advertiser.

U.S. Sen. Brian Schatz raised more than $1.1 million in the past three months for his election campaign next year, a warning flare to other Democrats who are thinking about challenging him in the primary. Star-Advertiser.

State tax collections are up 10.6 percent through the first nine months of the fiscal year, the state Department of Taxation announced Wednesday. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii lawmakers met at the state capitol yesterday for several hours for the second “crossover” of the 60-day working session. They debated and voted on bills before the legislation passed third reading in their respective Houses. Hawaii Reporter.

The state Ethics Commission on Wednesday gave Leslie Kondo, its executive director, a vote of confidence after the commission’s former executive director asked that he be fired. Star-Advertiser.

Lawmakers this session are close to passing a bill that would make feral bird feeding a public health misdemeanor. Star-Advertiser.

House Finance Chair Sylvia Luke and Senate Ways and Means Chair David Ige have announced that the first conference committee meeting on the state budget will be held on Thursday, April 11, 9:30 a.m. in room 309 at the State Capitol. Hawaii Reporter.

An online tool that predicts where and when vog may move into your neighborhood is in jeopardy because of a lack of funding. KITV4.

Homeowners with cesspools and septic tanks may breathe freely now that lawmakers have killed a bill that would have required them to pay an annual fee for monitoring water quality. Maui News.

Wednesday was a busy day for Hawaii airline news, with announcements of a new international route to China, another route to the Philippines would end, and that Mainland carrier Virgin America would introduce service to Hawaii. Pacific Business News.

State 4/11. Associated Press.

Oahu

A state agency decided Wednesday to make $6 million in repairs to the historic but vacant Royal Brewery building in Kakaako and use it as a headquarters, after a lengthy and vigorous debate over whether the move makes good financial sense. Star-Advertiser.

The Honolulu Police Department refuses to release investigative details about an officer who was fired after sexually assaulting a Waikiki prostitute even though state law requires the information to be made public once a discharge is finalized. Civil Beat.

A new bill authored by City Councilman Ikaika Anderson would make smoking illegal at all city parks and beaches. Star-Advertiser.

The Slipper House, one of the few remaining original tenants at Ala Moana Center, will close at the end of May and the store's owner is going to great lengths to find jobs for his 19 employees. Hawaii News Now.

KITV takes a tour of new FBI building in Kapolei.

The population of Kalaeloa is envisioned to surge over the next two decades under a private developer's plan to add roughly 4,000 homes and 7,000 jobs to the West Oahu area that was once Barbers Point Naval Air Station. Star-Advertiser.

VIDEO: Shark surprises fishing kayaker in waters off Oahu. Hawaii News Now.

Hawaii
Hawaii Island property owners could see a tax hike this year as the county struggles to meet rising costs with a budget diminished by a decrease in property values. West Hawaii Today.

The attorney for two Hawaii County employees suing former County Council Chairman Dominic Yagong and former Clerk Jamae Kawauchi is trying, again, to get information from an anonymous online commenter. West Hawaii Today.

A recent Hawaiian sovereignty protest at the Kamehameha the Great statue on Hilo’s Bayfront isn’t sitting well with some of the folks who worked to install the statue in 1997. Tribune-Herald.

The University of Hawaii’s Palamanui campus passed another hurdle late last week. West Hawaii Today.

A group that includes Big Island business and community leaders is asking the state House of Representatives to fund a permanent home for the University of Hawaii at Hilo’s pharmacy school. Big Island Now.

Hawaii Senate judiciary committee Chairman Clayton Hee has shot down two resolutions asking federal authorities to release Roger Christie from federal prison on bail. Associated Press.

Maui

Valley Island Welcomes Gov's Cabinet With Aloha. Civil Beat.

Ongoing milo tree thefts on Maui will prompt the temporary closure of parking at the area commonly referred to as “Baby Beach” in Spreckelsville, officials said. Maui Now.

Target Corp. has reached an agreement to build its fifth Hawaii store — and first on Maui — in a shopping center being built by a subsidiary of Safeway Inc. Pacific Business News.

Maui County is inviting bids from contractors to demolish and dispose of the Montana Beach house. May 1 is the deadline to submit bids. Maui News.

Kauai

The county Parks and Recreation Department presented Tuesday to the Kaua‘i County Council its plans for the upcoming fiscal year and operational budget, which is slightly smaller than its current budget. Garden Island.

Four monitors broadcasting an ocean safety video were dedicated Wednesday at the Lihu‘e Airport. Kaua‘i has seen 11 drownings this year, and community members hope the video will help spread water safety awareness. Garden Island.

Lanai

Larry Ellison, the billionaire majority owner of Lanai, was the top paid CEO of a public company in the United States in 2012 with total earnings of $96.2 million, a 24 percent increase from 2011, according to CNN Money. Pacific Business News.

More housing, a skateboard park, keeping the shorelines development-free and restoring an old bowling alley were some of the ideas that came out of a two-day Lanai community planning workshop on the Pine Isle last week, county officials said Tuesday. Maui News.

Kauai lighthouse named for Inouye, ag inspectors face cuts, another blow to PLDC, fed court tosses Hawaii County aerial hunting ban, Hawaii Gas can't recoup upgrade costs from customers, Caldwell looks to campaigners for appointees, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Kilauea Point Lighthouse, U.S. Coast Guard photo

The Kilauea Point Lighthouse on Kauai has been renamed the Daniel K. Inouye Kilauea Point Lighthouse. A formal ceremony to rename the lighthouse is scheduled for May 4. Star-Advertiser.

Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar said Tuesday his department had renamed the Kilauea Point Lighthouse on Kauai in honor of the late Sen. Daniel Inouye. Associated Press.

The Kilauea Point Lighthouse on Kaua‘i’s North Shore will soon be renamed in honor of the late Sen. Daniel Inouye. Garden Island.

State House and Senate leaders said Tuesday they are confident they have the money for a robust two-year state budget, but they are increasingly tentative about spending on tax incentives and new state programs because of the financial uncertainty in future years. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii senators have voted to move forward a slew of bills including budgets for the judiciary and Office of Hawaiian Affairs, election reforms and a more restricted shield law for journalists. Associated Press.

State House Majority Leader Scott Saiki says it is highly likely that his chamber will agree to a bill that would dissolve the state's Public Land Development Corp., bringing the widely disliked agency one step closer to its demise. Associated Press.

State agriculture inspectors are worried about a move by State House leaders to stop the restoration of two dozen inspectors' positions. The Agriculture Department has been trying to recover from layoffs four years ago that cut the number of inspectors in half. Hawaii News Now.

The legitimate historical grievances of Native Hawaiians have become a fertile soil for frauds perpetrated on Hawaiians and non-Hawaiians alike. Civil Beat.

Board of Regents members told an advisory task group conducting a study of accountability in the University of Hawaii system that there may be a disconnect between their role and the public's perception of that role, but that they understand they have to improve efforts to be more transparent. Star-Advertiser.

A Washington, D.C. tea ceremony honors the late Sen. Daniel Inouye, D-Hawaii. Civil Beat.

The head of the U.S. Pacific Command told the Senate Armed Services Committee Tuesday that the military could intercept missiles fired from North Korea at Hawaii or the United States. Civil Beat.

On the 71st anniversary of the Bataan Death March, U.S. Sen. Brian Schatz introduced legislation that would restore full veterans benefits to Filipinos who volunteered to serve with U.S. armed forces and allied soldiers during World War II. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii regulators this week denied a request from Hawaii Gas to recoup from its customers through a future rate hike about $2 million in costs for upgrades the utility has already completed to portions of its gas transmission pipeline as part of the federally-mandated Gas Transmission Integrity Management program. Pacific Business News.

The US Department of Justice is threatening to take criminal action against the State Department of Transportation. It has to do with street lights, and their effect on wedge-tailed shearwaters. KHON2.

This is the second of a two-part series looking at dyslexia services in Hawaii's public schools. Civil Beat.

State roundup for April 10. Associated Press.

Oahu

Honolulu Mayor Kirk Caldwell appears to be helping out those who have helped him. Caldwell wants to appoint his campaign chairman Lex Smith to the Honolulu Zoning Board of Appeals. Civil Beat.

A group that helps prevent the spread of coqui frogs and other invasive species on Oahu will be forced to lay off staff if additional funding is not secured by the end of October. KITV4.

A 43-story condominium will be a new addition in Kakaako as part of a development plan that also includes townhomes, a couple of restaurants and retail on the former site of a Comp­USA store. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii
A U.S. District Court in Honolulu ruled Monday Hawaii County’s aerial hunting ban cannot overrule the Department of Land and Natural Resources’ federal mandate to reduce grazing animals in palila habitat on Mauna Kea. West Hawaii Today.

Attorneys hired by former County Council Chairman Dominic Yagong in what became a high-stakes lawsuit will not be paid for their work after action Tuesday by the new County Council. West Hawaii Today.

Hawaii’s Food Basket is getting bigger, and that’s a great thing for the families who struggle to put food on their tables, say the nonprofit’s organizers. Tribune-Herald.

For the last time in the foreseeable future, the Social Security Administration offered satellite office hours in Kona Tuesday morning. West Hawaii Today.

Maui

A new 150-room, four-story, “select-services” hotel is part of a planned development proposed for construction along Piʻikea Avenue in South Maui. Maui Now.

The numbers for residential and condominium sales were down in first quarter of 2013 compared to the same quarter last year - but median sale prices and total dollar value of the sales were up. Maui News.

Kauai

A former state representative pleaded no contest to illegally receiving rocks from a historic preserve and heiau site in 2011. Garden Island.

About 2,500 gallons of sewage overflowed Tuesday morning from a manhole in Hanama‘ulu. This is the second sewage spill reported in the area in less than a week. Garden Island.

Geothermal sneaks into Hawaiian Roll Commission bill, gays no longer excluded from health bill, FBI gets new field office, smoking banned at some Oahu beaches, HMSA seeks 8.5% rate hike, Hawaii council won't bet on bingo, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

The Nesjavellir Geothermal Power Plant in Þingvellir, Iceland, courtesy photo

State senators, fretting over transparency, want to give the public more time to digest a bill that was supposed to be about the Native Hawaiian Roll Commission but was radically altered to also apply to geothermal development. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii legislative leaders have decided who will serve on a conference committee to hash out the differences between the House and Senate versions of the state budget over the next few weeks. Civil Beat.

Hawaii lawmakers are deciding whether to give teachers, school librarians and counselors a tax credit for buying classroom supplies. Associated Press.

The question of who or what is a journalist will take center stage with the full Senate scheduled to vote on House Bill 622 Tuesday. Civil Beat.

A state Senate panel on Friday killed a proposed fee on cesspool and septic tank owners after Hawaii Island residents raised a stink about it. West Hawaii Today.

Holding fundraisers during session is not illegal in Hawaii. It's a very a common practice — one that freshmen lawmakers appear to be adopting quickly, starting this week. Civil Beat.

The nonprofit Hawaii Health Connector has won $128 million in federal funds to implement the state's first health insurance exchange, designed to provide residents access to affordable medical coverage. Star-Advertiser.

The Hawaii Medical Service Association has asked to increase health insurance premiums on small businesses July 1 by an average 8.5 percent, its largest rate increase in four years. Star-Advertiser.

State lawmakers have amended a bill so that it no longer excludes homosexuals from a treatment option for certain sexually transmitted diseases. Civil Beat.

The first of a two-part series looking at whether Hawaii's public schools are doing enough to help students with dyslexia and other struggling readers. Civil Beat.

Homeless handyman and Congressional candidate's American flag burned. Hawaii News Now.

State roundup for April 9. Associated Press.

Oahu

Smoking is no longer legal at major East Honolulu beaches and parks under a bill signed Monday by Mayor Kirk Caldwell. But a glitch in the language means enforcement must wait at six of the seven locales. Star-Advertiser.

Honolulu Mayor Kirk Caldwell on Monday signed into a law a bill that bans smoking at Waikiki Beach and other popular Oahu beaches. Pacific Business News.

It’s battle that has been waged for years, but now the Honolulu City Council is finally drawing a line when it comes to funding vacant positions that cost taxpayers millions of dollars every year. KITV4.

Traffic signal adjustments at two of Waikiki's most congested intersections might make life easier for local drivers who cringe at navigating through the tourist-heavy district amid throngs of pedestrians. Star-Advertiser.

The FBI has a new field office in Hawaii. A ribbon-cutting ceremony is being held Tuesday for the new building in the Honolulu suburb of Kapolei.Associated Press.

Waimanalo residents are concerned a planned road that would run through a new subdivision will increase traffic safety issues in an already congested area. KHON2.

Plants aren't the only thing growing in the garden at the Women's Community Correctional Center. Inmates are blossoming as they build self-confidence and learn new skills while planting and harvesting vegetables and herbs for the prison kitchen. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii

Hawaii County Council members indicated Monday they’re not ready to gamble on high-stakes bingo as a way to raise revenues in a tight budget year. West Hawaii Today.

Property tax assessors across the country are applying a new technology to crack down on this old crime — comparing aerial photographs and satellite images to existing house plans. Hawaii County began using that process about a year ago, Real Property Division Chief Stanley Sitko said. West Hawaii Today.

What a difference (almost) a week makes. After a record low temperature was set in Hilo on April 2, a record high temperature was set there on Sunday. Big Island Now.

Maui

Maui state Sen. J. Kalani English was one of several Hawaii policymakers who attended the "Waves of Change" conference on Oahu that focuses on the environmental, social, cultural, political, economic and legal impacts of climate change on Pacific Islands, including Hawaii. Maui News.

Ask the Mayor: Building Permits; Homeowner Exemptions. Maui Now.

Kauai

The Pacific Missile Range Facility’s Security Department will conduct live small arms fire training starting today and lasting through April 30, between the hours of 1 and 9 p.m. at Kekaha Rifle Range. Garden Island.

Honolulu rail agency could run theBus, Legislature gears up for week of votes, bonds could pay for solar panels, Kauai landfill problems mount, airport becomes beach park for Kona, sequestration contingency in budget, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Honolulu bus system (c) 2013 All Hawaii News

With rail construction slated to resume later this year, city officials will soon have to decide how they want to manage Oahu's 100 or so bus routes with its future 20-mile elevated train stretching from East Kapolei to Ala Moana Center. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii lawmakers are gearing up for a marathon of voting this week as they figure out which of the session’s remaining initiatives merit further debate. Associated Press.

The Hawaii Legislature included a $25 million sequestration contingency fund in the budget. It’s not enough to cover up to $45 million in direct federal grants that are at risk, but it would dampen the blow. Civil Beat.

State House lawmakers are growing uncomfortable with a bill that would allow the state to conduct phased reviews of the impact of construction projects on burials or other historic property. Star-Advertiser.

Less than six months after the 2012 elections, Hawaii's 2014 political season is already under way. Civil Beat.

Bonds might fund solar gear. The state urges loans for PV installations that borrowers could repay via electric bills. Star-Advertiser.

State and federal officials are on the alert for a new bird flu virus that has infected at least 14 people and killed six in China after they suffered severe respiratory illnesses. Star-Advertiser.

Two Hawaii-based fighter squadrons that fly F-22 Raptor fighter jets are combat capable and able to deploy all of their aircraft in any contingency, Hawaii Air National Guard officials announced Sunday. Star-Advertiser.

State roundup for April 8. Associated Press.

Oahu

Less than a year after launching nonstop flights between Washington D.C. and Honolulu, United Airlines has decided to cut the daily service back to once a week at the end of the summer. Hawaii News Now.

Walmart Stores Inc. said Friday that it has purchased the 80,000-square-foot former Macy’s department store and parking garage in Downtown Honolulu and plans to open a Walmart store there next year. Pacific Business News.

In the nearly two years since a blast ripped through a Waikele storage bunker and killed five men, many remembrances have been left at the site. On Sunday, the day before the second anniversary of the explosion, the family of one of the men came to leave more flowers in tribute. Hawaii News Now.

Mayor Kirk Caldwell announced the winners of the lion cubs naming contest and revealed the cubs’ new names on Saturday. KHON2.

Hawaii

Hawaii County Mayor Billy Kenoi wants to finish the first phase of Old Kona Airport Park improvements before he leaves office in 2016, but county officials don’t yet know how much that will cost — or even what will be built. West Hawaii Today.

Lt. Gov. Shan Tsutsui told the Hawaii Island Chamber of Commerce that his Maui background gives him broad insight to the concerns of Neighbor Island residents. Tribune-Herald.

The Department of Water Supply expects the Hawaiian Ocean View Estates fill station to remain open through 7 p.m. Sunday. West Hawaii Today.

Residential real estate sales volume rose 30 percent on the Big Island in March, according to the MLS Database compiled by the Hawaii Information Service. Sales volume stood at $54.8 million in March 2012, but reached $71.1 million in March 2013. Tribune-Herald.

Maui

An average household on Maui could see its water fees based on usage rise by at least $4.37 a month under a worst-case scenario in a declared emergency water shortage, according to a rate structure proposed by Mayor Alan Arakawa's administration. Maui News.

Maui Island food product owners agree that they have a good brand base because the Maui name is known worldwide. On the downside, owners have to bear the higher cost of doing business in the middle of the Pacific. Maui News.

With a month of experience under her belt, things are coming naturally to Haleakala National Park's new superintendent. Maui News.

Kauai

Liability in county settlements and foreclosures due to unpaid property taxes were just two of the topics scrutinized Friday by Kaua‘i County Council members during the ongoing review of Mayor Bernard Carvalho Jr.’s proposed budget for FY 2014, which starts July 1. Garden Island.

The private consultants tasked with figuring out how to fit more trash in and around Kekaha Landfill are saying the state Department of Health came up with additional concerns late in the game, prompting Mayor Bernard Carvalho Jr. to propose a vertical expansion and postpone a lateral one for the island’s only landfill. Garden Island.

U.S. Sen. Brian Schatz visited Kaua‘i Friday as part of a neighbor island tour he launched earlier in the week to speak with constituents about issues facing Hawai‘i. Garden Island.

The developer of the 46,800-square-foot Kilauea Lighthouse Village shopping center, approved to be across the street from Kong Lung Center, expects to break ground in August, and the project could be finished in about 14 months. Garden Island.

Molokai

Traditional fishing practices along Molokai’s north shore could soon be supported by law if a new proposal is approved by the state. Molokai Dispatch.

Hawaii Senate passes budget, Hawaii could be drone testing ground, state addresses Oahu prison problems, Ellison holds briefings for Lanai residents, property tax hike for Kauai, bus fare hike for Hawaii County in the works, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Waikiki tourists (c) 2013 All Hawaii News

Hawaii hotels had a strong week for room rate increases last week when compared to the same week last year, while occupancy rates had modest increases on most of the major islands, according to the latest report from Hospitality Advisors LLC and Smith Travel Research. Pacific Business News.

The state Senate passed its version of the two-year budget Thursday, restoring funding slashed by the House for some of Gov. Neil Abercrombie's initiatives on early childhood education, cash incentives for entrepreneurs and information technology upgrades. Star-Advertiser.

The Hawaii state Senate on Thursday approved a $24 billion budget for the next two fiscal years, setting up talks with the House to work out differences in the proposals that fall short of what the governor wants. Associated Press.

Nearly two dozen individuals made personal contributions totaling at least $20,000 to dozens of candidates in the 2012 election, according to an analysis of newly available data provided by the Campaign Spending Commission. Civil Beat.

Fewer than 2 out of 10 Hawaii homeowners who are considering installing solar photovoltaic panels said they would do so if the availability of state renewable-energy tax credits was "reduced considerably or eliminated," according to a survey published Thursday. Star-Advertiser.

Sen. Clayton Hee says online journalists will be protected from being forced to reveal their sources — but only if their publications meet the definition of a magazine. Civil Beat.

Hawaii’s law is considered by media advocacy groups and working journalists as one of the best in the country. However the battle between Senate Judiciary Chair Clayton Hee and local journalists to keep the Journalism Shield Law in place did not end well for journalists at a Wednesday committee hearing. Hawaii Reporter.

FAA wants some more information on domestic drones and Hawaii could be a testing ground. Hawaii News Now.

Fracking may seem like a mainland issue, but in fact it could have major implications on Hawaii's plans to import liquefied natural gas as a way to lower electricity costs. Civil Beat.

State roundup for April 5. Associated Press.

Oahu

State corrections officials plan to install surveillance cameras in the security holding cell area at Oahu Community Correctional Center where a detainee allegedly killed another earlier this year. Star-Advertiser.

Recent incidents force Hawaii public safety officials to review policies and procedures to prevent more embarrassing incidents. Civil Beat.

A contract for a 12-hour-a-day ambulance service operating out of Halawa has been cut for budgetary reasons, but city Emergency Services Director Mark Rigg said he expects the void to be filled by next month. Star-Advertiser.

After more than two years shut down, the former Hawaii Medical Center West, and the people who want to fill its halls, is itching to reopen. KITV4.

Sears Portrait Studios close without warning to workers, customers. KHON2.

Navigation device maker TomTom found Honolulu to be the third-most traffic-congested city in North America, in its 2012 Congestion Index, released Thursday. Star-Advertiser.

Late-night spots blamed for Ala Moana crime surge. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii

A hike in county bus fares may be “unavoidable,” a transit official said Thursday. West Hawaii Today.

U.S. Sen. Brian Schatz, D-Hawaii, said Thursday during a tour of Hilo that he and Sen. Mazie Hirono are working well together to fill the void left after the death of longtime Sen. Daniel Inouye. Tribune-Herald.

Maui

It's a matter of guesswork to foretell the impact of pending public employee union negotiations and arbitration proceedings on Maui County's fiscal 2013-14 budget. Maui News.

The march to protest the agricultural practices of agribusiness giant Monsanto Corp. drew an estimated 1,500 to 2,000 activists to the street on Saturday, March 23. Maui Weekly.

Kauai

County Finance Director Steven Hunt presented Thursday to the Kaua‘i County Council the administration’s proposal to raise property tax rates to every class of taxpayers, except for homesteaders, who have a Permanent Home Use cap in place. This alone would bring nearly $12 million in additional revenues to the county. Garden Island.

Plans for a caretaker residence situated on a Kilauea property controlled by an easement are being opposed by the Kilauea Neighborhood Association. Garden Island.

Lanai

Larry Ellison’s expansion plans for Lanai will be detailed in community meetings on the Pineapple Isle on Thursday and Saturday nights. Pacific Business News.

Molokai

The main streets of Kaunakakai were closed Saturday morning as people young and old marched through town, carrying signs and shouting protests aimed toward Monsanto and calling for clear labeling of food made with genetically modified organisms (GMO). Molokai Dispatch.

Hawaii House kills marijuana decriminalization, Senate panel guts shield law, feds threaten state over lights, sea creatures' futures mulled, Kaiser Permanente workers stop work, Hawaii worst state to make a living, senator supports pot minister, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Hawaii state Capitol (c) 2013 All Hawaii News

The state House on Wednesday discarded a bill that would have decriminalized the possession of small amounts of marijuana after House leaders concluded they lacked the votes to advance the legislation. Star-Advertiser.

The Hawaii House has killed a bill that would have decriminalized small amounts of marijuana. Hawaii News Now.

The Hawaii House has killed a bill that would have decriminalized small amounts of marijuana. Associated Press.

The state Senate Judiciary and Labor Committee on Wednesday made substantial revisions to a media shield law, removing bloggers and other nontraditional journalists and deleting the protection for unpublished information, like notes, unless it would lead to the identity of confidential sources. Star-Advertiser.

Media: Shield Law Bill 'Worthless' After Senate Committee Amendments. Civil Beat.

The state Senate Judiciary Committee voted Wednesday to remove protections for online news media in Hawaii and limit a journalists' ability to protect confidential sources. KITV4.

The state House Finance Committee advanced a bill Tuesday that would give teachers a state tax credit for their out-of-pocket classroom expenses. Star-Advertiser.

The U.S. Department of Justice says that Hawaii's street lights are killing endangered birds, turtles and moths — and it's threatening criminal action to get the state to fix the problem. Civil Beat.

Scientists say they are months away from finishing a report that could help determine whether green sea turtles in the state retain their threatened status. Tribune-Herald.

Efforts to protect marine mammals from death and injury caused by Navy training exercises in Hawaii and Southern California have gotten a boost from the California Coastal Commission, which recently rejected the plan. Honolulu Weekly.

For the third year in a row, the website MoneyRates.com ranked Hawaii the "Worst State in the Nation to Make a Living." KITV4.

Hawaii has the support of key members of the U.S. Senate to continue federal funding for a host of initiatives championed by the late Sen. Dan Inouye, ranging from the Honolulu rail project to Native Hawaiian education and health care, U.S. Sen. Brian Schatz said Wednesday. Star-Advertiser.

Many people in Hawaii are expressing concern about increasing threats from North Korea, but so far, those threats haven't pushed residents to take action, such as stocking up on supplies. Hawaii News Now.

North Korea has moved a missile with "considerable range" to its east coast, South Korea's defense minister said Thursday (Wednesday in Hawaii), but he added that there are no signs that the North is preparing for a full-scale conflict. Associated Press.

The union representing 1,900 Kaiser Permanente Hawaii workers has called for a one-day work stoppage Thursday to protest increased employee workloads and other impacts from last month’s closure of the Honolulu Clinic Urgent Care Center. Star-Advertiser.

Oahu

Much of Mayor Kirk Caldwell's first State of the City speech was devoted to reiterating goals he had announced during the first three months of this administration, but two relatively unpublicized ideas were also highlighted Wednesday: a plan to push a "housing-first" initiative to battle homelessness and a proposal to make Honolulu an "age-friendly city" to help the island's growing elderly population. Star-Advertiser.

Honolulu Mayor Kirk Caldwell hopes to accomplish something no one else before him has been able to do. Civil Beat.

The Hawaii Department of Transportation is finally moving ahead with its long-awaited redevelopment of the 90-acre Kapalama Military Reservation at Honolulu Harbor, which is currently home to roughly 100 businesses. Pacific Business News.

The College of Education at the University of Hawaii at Manoa has been ranked 65th out of 177 graduate schools of education by U.S. News & World Report. Star-Advertiser.

A long awaited renovation project at the University of Hawaii's Hamilton Library is expected to provide much needed climate control. KHON2.

Hawaii

Improving the county’s technology to make government more efficient topped the list of priorities for two County Council members interviewed Wednesday as they tackle another tight budget year. West Hawaii Today.

The way the federal government is treating a Big Island man who has been in federal custody for three years is outrageous, a Hawaii Island senator says. West Hawaii Today.

Maui
Ocean safety officials reopened waters off Kaanapali at noon Wednesday after the area was ordered off limits to swimmers and surfers because of a shark attack Tuesday morning. Maui News.

The National Weather Service in Honolulu has issued a high surf advisory for north- and west-facing shores of Molokai and north-facing shores of Maui, in effect until 6 p.m. Saturday. Maui Now.

Kauai

The proposed AT&T cell phone tower in Kilauea should be reconsidered to another possible location, said nearly 70 residents at the Kilauea Neighborhood Association meeting Tuesday. Garden Island.

The public is invited to comment on the proposed Local Area Plan for July 1, 2013, to June 30, 2017, that was developed by the Kaua’i Workforce Investment Board. Garden Island.

A blocked sewer line was the culprit of a sewage spill in Hanama‘ulu Wednesday, which resulted in a partial closure of the Kuhio Highway and slowed traffic in the area. Garden Island.

HECO can recoup Big Wind costs, feds investigate labor union, lawmakers felt threatened by email, state nurses pay raised, bankruptcy filings down, lawmakers tighten anti-gambling regs, Kauai seeks MRF, Hawaiian activists make camp on state land, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

undersea cable, courtesy photo

Hawaiian Electric Co. can now recover $3.9 million from its customers to pay for studies related to the so-called “Big Wind” projects on Lanai and Molokai that would pump electricity to Oahu via an undersea cable, according to a Hawaii Public Utilities Commission ruling Tuesday.Pacific Business News.

Gov. Neil Abercrombie's early-childhood education initiative survived the scrutiny of the state House Finance Committee on Tuesday, but many lawmakers still have fundamental questions about a program that could eventually cost the state more than $125 million a year. Star-Advertiser.

Turns out teacher absenteeism in Hawaii isn’t as bad as it’s made out to be. That was the conclusion Hawaii Board of Education Human Resource Committee members came to after perusing data presented to them at a meeting Tuesday. Civil Beat.

Nearly 1,700 registered professional nurses of the Hawaii Government Employees Association Bargaining Unit 9 will receive a 4 percent pay increase retroactive to Jan. 1 and another 4 percent effective April 1, the HGEA announced Tuesday. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii lawmakers are debating amending the state’s anti-gambling law to clarify that it’s illegal to sell goods or services that entitle people to play gambling machines. Associated Press.

Hawaii lawmakers are debating where to draw the line between journalists’ right to protect confidential sources and the needs of law enforcement. Associated Press.

An email sent to state senators on Easter Sunday is being called a threatening and cowardly message that crossed the line. KHON2.

State Senate President Donna Mercado Kim criticized the University of Hawaii's Board of Regents on Tuesday for questionable financial decision-making and a lack of communication with lawmakers. Star-Advertiser.

The state Office of Information Practices issued an opinion that “almost none” of the redactions to the 57-page University of Hawaii fact-finders’ report on the Stevie Wonder concert debacle were justified under state law. Star-Advertiser.

Federal authorities are investigating possible misuse of union assets by former Hawaii Painters Union officials. Hawaii News Now.

Former Mortgage Task Force Member Still Wants Ethics Cover. Civil Beat.

The number of Hawaii residents and businesses filing for bankruptcy during the first three months of 2013 fell to the lowest level in nearly five years, according to data released by U.S. Bankruptcy Court. Star-Advertiser.

People in Hawaii are donning sweaters and long-sleeve shirts as winds from the north send temperatures to record lows. Associated Press.

The Pearl Harbor destroyer Chung-Hoon, whose deployment was delayed three times amid budget uncertainties, finally glided away from port Tuesday on its way to duty in the Western Pacific and Indian Ocean region. Star-Advertiser.

State roundup for April 3. Associated Press.

Oahu
Mayor Kirk Caldwell will re-emphasize his five priorities for Hono­lulu when he delivers his first State of the City speech at Mission Memorial Auditorium next to Hono­lulu Hale this morning. Star-Advertiser.

District 9 boasts has nearly 390 lane-miles of city-owned road — and it earns the dubious distinction of having the lowest share of roads in satisfactory condition and the highest share in substandard condition. Star-Advertiser.

A private power provider generating nearly one-fourth of Oahu's electricity went off­line Tuesday morning, resulting in a 40-minute power outage for as many as 75,000 Hawaiian Electric customers in Central, West and Windward Oahu. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii

Mayor Billy Kenoi laid out an ambitious slate of projects Tuesday, while acknowledging the fiscal realities that could prevent the county from reaching those goals. West Hawaii Today.

The state’s patience may be running short for the small group of Hawaiian sovereignty activists who have symbolically reclaimed a corner of the Wailoa River State Recreation Area for the kingdom. Tribune-Herald.

All 71 of Hawaii Island’s tsunami emergency warning sirens sounded shortly before noon Tuesday after a maintenance worker mistakenly tripped the alarm. Tribune-Herald.

The Hawaiian Ocean View Estates well is out of service for the second time since it opened last year, Department of Water Supply officials said Tuesday. West Hawaii Today.

Geothermal energy companies have until the end of this month to submit bids for a project on the Big Island of Hawaii. Hawaii Electric Light Company wants to add up to 50 additional megawatts of geothermal energy. In Japan, a geothermal project is moving ahead with studies in national parks. Hawaii Public Radio.

Maui
Maui County Council members began their review of the proposed $573.6 million fiscal 2013-14 budget Monday by hearing an overview of Mayor Alan Arakawa's spending plan. Maui News.

A 58-year-old California man visiting Maui with his wife for a spring vacation was attacked by a shark Tuesday while surfing off Kaanapali. Star-Advertiser.

A 58-year-old man from Marina Del Rey, Calif., reported the shark that attacked him had a head "the size of a basketball." Maui News.

Kauai

County officials told Kaua‘i County Council members the administration is fast tracking a process to open a materials recovery facility at the former papaya disinfestation facility in Ahukini near Lihu‘e Airport. If all goes well, it would take at least three years for it to be up and running. Garden Island.

When it comes down to public money, it’s never water under the bridge for Kaua‘i County Council members, who fired much criticism toward the county Public Works Department Monday for overspending on two bridges due to design flaws. Garden Island.

Abandoned Kauai Dogs Get Life Saving Plane Ride. Civil Beat.