Hawaii averages $4/gallon gas, residents fear radiation fallout, tsunami assessment continues, tourism hit expected, surf's coming up, more news from the Hawaiian Islands

Hawaii gas prices (c) 2011 All Hawaii News

The state reached the dubious milestone yesterday of being the first in recent years where the average price for a gallon of regular unleaded gasoline has reached $4, according to AAA's Daily Fuel Report. Associated Press.

Hawaii Residents Fear Radiation Fallout. KITV4.

Japanese and American authorities are being reassuring about the risk of radiation from the two or three or four reactors facing multiple meltdowns following the Sendai earthquake and tsunami. Civil Beat.

The Hawaii State Department of Health (DOH) has not detected any elevated radiation readings, and air samples remain at ambient or normal background levels following a small release of radiation Saturday at a nuclear reactor facility in Japan. Hawaii Reporter.

Hawaii's economy will likely take a major hit since many visitors from Japan are canceling their trips to the islands.Hawaii News Now.

The tsunami that struck Hawaii early Friday morning caused tens of millions of dollars in damage — an estimate that's expected to climb as Gov. Neil Abercrombie warned of a drop in Japanese tourists to the islands. Star-Advertiser.

The tally of Hawaii's damage from last week's tsunami has reached tens of millions of dollars and it's still climbing. KHON2.

A top official of the Federal Emergency Management Administration paid a courtesy call to Gov. Neil Abercrombie yesterday en route to American Samoa to be briefed on the progress of recovery efforts since the September 2009 earthquake and tsunami there. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii Gov. Neil Abercrombie marks his 100th day in office Tuesday by assessing damages across the state from last week's tsunami. Associated Press.

State and County Civil Defense teams are assessing property damage in the aftermath of Friday’s Tsunami that originated in Japan.Hawaii Public Radio.

William Aila Jr., chairman of the Department of Land and Natural Resources, listed his top three priorities for West Hawaii Sunday, foremost of which was repairing damages at state parks, harbors and facilities caused by powerful tsunami surges that have pounded the Kona and South Kohala coastlines. West Hawaii Today.

The Big Island got the brunt of the tsunami that rolled through Hawaii early Friday.Civil Beat.

The head of the Big Island Visitors Bureau said there's no reason for prospective visitors to change their travel plans in the aftermath of Friday's tsunami. Tribune-Herald.

Two Big Island hotels remained closed Monday, awaiting assessments of damage from last week’s tsunami. Pacific Business News

Japanese ex-pats here in Hawaii can't help but be worried about what's happening back home. Hawaii News Now.

Three months into the tenure of a new governor and just past the midpoint of the legislative session, are we indeed paddling the canoe Gov. Neil Abercrombie spoke of in his State of the State Address in January? Hawaii Independent.

The state Attorney General's office is warning residents to be wary of scams that prey on people wanting to donate to relief efforts for Japan. Star-Advertiser.

Dead fish wash ashore after tsunami. KHON2.

Surf along northern and western shores is expected to climb as high as 35 feet today, prompting the National Weather Service to issue a high surf warning. Star-Advertiser.

Two longtime Kaua‘i politicians are now officially heading important environmental decisions statewide. Garden Island.

State Rep. Hermina Morita bade a tearful goodbye to her House colleagues yesterday as she took on her new role as chairwoman of the Public Utilities Commission. Star-Advertiser.

More than 100 people have applied to serve on the appointed Board of Education, whose nine members the governor will select over the next three weeks. Star-Advertiser.

The Molokai Community Plan, last updated in 2001, is on the move after holding community engagement workshops last October. Molokai Dispatch.

Although retired Maui County police officers aren't happy about it, Maui Police Chief Gary Yabuta said it was decided several years ago - before he was appointed chief - that the state Department of the Attorney General would administer a program to qualify retired police officers to carry concealed firearms. Maui News.

A slow-moving wildfire is burning in Volcanoes National Park. Associated Press.

Fundraisers, blame games as Hawaii mops up after tsunami, Japanese, Hawaii residents trying to get home, more tsunami scenes and news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Aloha for Japan T-shirt

Help Japan tsunami victims with an Aloha for Japan T-shirt. Available here.

Recent tragedies in Japan has sparked a special fundraiser in hopes to spread Aloha overseas. Grp Home has created special T-shirts for the "Aloha for Japan" fundraiser that will be available on Monday. Hawaii News Now.

Honolulu Festival Helps Japanese Disaster Victims. KITV4.

First Hawaiian Bank has donated $100,000 to establish a Japan-Hawaii Relief Fund to help survivors of Friday’s earthquake and tsunami in Japan. Pacific Business News

The Nuclear Regulatory Commission says harmful levels of radioactivity are not expected in the United States due to damaged nuclear reactors in Japan. Associated Press.

Crews were busy over the weekend cleaning up and assessing damage, while American Red Cross volunteers were helping people after tsunami waves battered Hawaii early Friday. Associated Press.

Late Sunday afternoon, the office of Gov. Neil Abercrombie issued a statement explaining that he had signed a supplementary proclamation, "which expands and extends the previous State of Disaster Proclamation the Governor signed on Friday." Civil Beat.

In the wake of this morning’s statewide tsunami strike, Gov. Neil Abercrombie has issued an emergency proclamation and will seek federal assistance to pay for at least $3 million damages to state property alone. Hawaii Reporter.

Hundreds of visitors from Japan are still here in Hawaii trying to get home. KHON2.

On the Big Island residents are still picking up the pieces.KHON2.

Tsunami and aftermath videos. Big Island Video News.

The majority of damage caused by a series of tsunami waves that battered Hawaii Island's coasts Friday is primarily in West Hawaii, Hawaii County Civil Defense Administrator Quince Mento said Saturday. West Hawaii Today.

Although it destroyed homes, flooded businesses and damaged public infrastructure, Friday's costly tsunami could have been much worse. Tribune-Herald.

Volunteers, residents and visitors still in awe of the tsunami waves that battered the Kona Coast one day earlier spent Saturday enjoying ono grinds and ice cold brews at the Kona Brewers Festival. West Hawaii Today.

Maui County's harbors were back in business Saturday after a tsunami swept through them early Friday. Maui News.

Damage was reported on Molokai's east end, and county officials are still taking assessment reports of the area. Molokai Dispatch.

Late Thursday afternoon, Maui News Staff Writer Harry Eagar boarded the tugboat Hoku-Loa at Kahului. His aim was to write a feature story about the crew's overnight routine of hauling a Young Brothers barge from Kahului to Honolulu Harbor. Hours later, an 8.9-magnitude earthquake struck off the east coast of Japan and generated a massive tsunami that would swamp the Pacific. Maui News.

Photographs of how the recent tsunami affected Kauai. Garden Island.

Officials are unsure how the tsunami affected the discovery of hundreds of dead fish found floating in the Ala Wai Canal Saturday morning. KITV4.

As people grasped for helpful information, the websites didn't step up. Civil Beat.

Hawaii County "absolutely" needs more tsunami sirens to warn coastal residents left vulnerable during Friday's disaster, says Kohala Councilman Pete Hoffmann. Tribune-Herald.

The aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln was due to leave Pearl Harbor this morning with its 5,000-member crew and air wing. Star-Advertiser.

Dozens of people acquitted of minor criminal offenses because of mental illness have remained under the state's supervision for years, resulting in what experts say is wasteful spending of potentially hundreds of thousands of dollars annually at a time of severe budget cuts. Star-Advertiser.

Lawmakers, for the second year in a row, have come up short in their effort to tackle the problem of upfront costs that are keeping many Hawaii residents from buying solar water heaters and other energy-efficient appliances. Star-Advertiser.

Two long-time Kaua‘i lawmakers will make a marked transition today in their careers as public servants if the state Senate confirms their gubernatorial appointments as expected. Garden Island.

The National Park Service has identified two sites in Maui as former Japanese internment camps. Associated Press.

Water Officials Prepared for APEC? Hawaii Public Radio.

Striking Hawaiian Electric Co. workers will be going back to work soon after voting in favor of a new labor deal with the company. Associated Press.

Hawaii tsunami roundup: News from Oahu, Maui, Kauai, Molokai, Lanai, Big Island, all the Hawaiian Islands

Hawaii tsunami recovery Photo (c) 2011 All Hawaii News

For all its destructive potential, the tsunami that swept through the state early yesterday largely spared island residents. No one was killed or injured, and the damage to property paled in comparison with entire Japanese towns and villages being swept away. Star-Advertiser.

LIVE BLOG: Hawaii Tsunami. Civil Beat.

Tsunami waves swamped Hawaii beaches and severely damaged harbors in California after devastating Japan and sparking evacuations throughout the Pacific. West Hawaii Today.

On the Neighbor Islands, damage was reported in Kailua-Kona and flooding was reported in Kahului, where the surge reached a third of a mile inland. Star-Advertiser.

A spending plan approved by the House would slash funding for a tsunami warning center that issued an alarm after the devastating earthquake in Japan. Associated Press.

This was the first major natural disaster event for Neil Abercrombie as Governor and Peter Carlisle as Mayor. Hawaii News Now.

Hilo has weathered its second tsunami threat in little more than a year, although groggy visitors, coastal residents and the homeless were still recuperating Friday from an overnight evacuation. Tribune-Herald.

Gordon Leslie learned that the tsunami claimed his home, a day after he started chemotherapy treatment for leukemia in Honolulu. KITV4.

There's no doubting that Maui saw significant tidal changes when Friday's tsunami reached its shores. KHON2.

After a night of suspense, preparation and, for some, seeking higher ground, Mauians saw in the first light of day Friday how an earthquake-generated tsunami had washed in to low-lying areas, damaging homes, boats and harbors and disrupting lives. Maui News.

No Tsunami Damage Reported on Molokai. Molokai Dispatch.

Thousands of Kaua‘i residents and visitors exhaled a collective sigh of relief Friday morning after receiving the “all clear.” Garden Island.

Tsunami keeps folks awake, but mostly spares the Hawaiian Islands

Hawaii County Emergency Operations Center (c) 2011 All Hawaii News

Tsunami waves swamped Hawaii beaches and brushed the U.S. western coast Friday but didn't immediately cause major damage after devastating Japan and sparking evacuations throughout the Pacific. Associated Press.

Hawaii teams are beginning to assess the damage Friday morning after a tsunami connection with a powerful 8.9-magnitude earthquake off Japan. KITV4.

Honolulu Mayor Peter Carlisle has issued an all clear for Oahu residents after tsunami waves overnight caused a mass evacuation of coastal areas statewide. Star-Advertiser.

On the Neighbor Islands, damage was reported in Kailua-Kona and flooding was reported in Kahului, where the surge reached a third of a mile inland. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii House readies $11 billion state budget, Honolulu budget transparent, Kauai fights arsenic, Maui basketball coach starts wedding business, news from all the islands

Taro protesters at state Capitol (c) 2011 All Hawaii News

The illegal pai ai issue has recently attracted attention from a wide variety of groups, including those in the state house and senate. Honolulu Weekly.

The state is moving forward with $2 million in infrastructure upgrades at Honolulu International Airport's international arrivals building. Associated Press.

The state House Finance Committee completed its draft of the budget yesterday, which would shrink Gov. Neil Abercrombie's recommendations but still increase spending over this fiscal year. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii representatives are cutting funding from almost all of Democratic Gov. Neil Abercrombie's initiatives in an early draft of the state's budget. Associated Press.

The House Finance Committee on Wednesday passed a state budget that restores the days that workers were on furlough, but calls for $250 million in cuts to Gov. Neil Abercrombie's plan. KITV4.

A nearly $11 billion a year state budget passed the House Finance Committee Wednesday. KHON2.

Scores of government officials gathered in and around a House hearing room Wednesday morning, waiting to learn how the Finance Committee planned to either reduce or increase the budgets for their departments or agencies. KITV4.

The head of the House Finance Committee will ignore many of the new initiatives proposed by Gov. Neil Abercrombie in producing what he says is a lean budget relying on a combination of tax increases and budget cuts. Hawaii Reporter.

Hawaii's Per-Capita Spending Ranks in Top 5. Civil Beat.

Dozens of legislators attended a free dinner last night organized by producers of genetically modified food but very few lawmakers cleared their attendance ahead of time with the state Ethics Commission, commission executive director Les Kondo said. Hawaii Reporter.


Hawaii's public schools are waiting for millions of dollars in repairs, but Department of Education officials said major progress has been made in reducing the backlog.Hawaii News Now.

The legislature is trying to tackle homelessness this session. Hawaii Public Radio.

Chief Justice Mark Recktenwald has made public the names of candidates the Judicial Selection Commission has proposed for three district judgeships on Oahu and a fourth on Kauai. Star-Advertiser.

The City and County of Honolulu unveiled its new fiscal transparency web site today. KHON2.

A week after presenting his first budget as Honolulu mayor, Peter Carlisle on Tuesday night became the city's first mayor to upload line-by-line spending details to a website aimed at improving government transparency. Civil Beat.

Honolulu homeowners, and particularly North Shore residents, will be keeping a close eye on Honolulu City Councilmembers who will be considering property tax relief and the North Shore Sustainable Communities Plan next week. Hawaii Independent.

Kauai residents said they're worried about the chemical contamination in soil found recently in a residential neighborhood that was once an industrial area near a former sugar mill. Star-Advertiser.

The state Health Department has discovered arsenic contamination on historic plantation land in Kilauea. Garden Island.

Dramatic changes to the county's 20-year-old building code are being sent back to a County Council committee, following public hearings that raised more questions than answers. West Hawaii Today.

Two Percent for Public Land is back. Mayor Billy Kenoi's new budget, he announced, would mark "the resumption of transfers" to the Open Spaces Fund at the rate of two percent of property tax receipts after the County Council, at Kenoi's request, temporarily cut payments to the fund in 2009. Big Island Weekly.

The nascent biofuels industry in Hawaii is struggling to produce commercially viable fuel for the Islands’ electricity needs, and a recent ruling by the state Public Utilities Commission stands to increase the challenges. Pacific Business News

A scaled-down Maui Lani Center got its phase two project district approval from the Maui Planning Commission on Tuesday, just barely. Maui News.

Former professional basketball coach Don Nelson signed an agreement with neighbors of his proposed wedding business on North Kihei Road on Tuesday morning, and in a brief hearing Tuesday afternoon got his special management area permit. Maui News.

For many visitors, the view from a helicopter circling Kilauea's newest eruption leaves them reaching for words. Tribune-Herald.

More electric vehicles may soon be spotted on Oahu roads, as another shipment of cars has arrived at Tony Nissan. KITV4.

Herb Kawainui Kane once said his beliefs ran counter to contemporary theory -- the one that teaches artists to paint from the inside out. Hawaii News Now.

Hawaii lawmakers grapple revenue shortfall, allow themselves freebies, look at decriminializing marijuana, Maui reconsiders furloughs, Honolulu has HART, Kilauea continues show, more news

Hawaii Legislature

State House and Senate lawmakers advanced a menu of tax options yesterday to generate revenue to help balance the budget. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii lawmakers passed a wide array of measures Tuesday night to tax pensions, reduce tax exemptions and raise liquor fees to help solve the state's big budget deficit. KITV4.

Hawaii legislators are passing a wide selection of measures to tax pensions, trim tax exemptions and raise liquor levies to help narrow the state's big budget deficit. Associated Press.

Among hundreds of measures approved by the Hawaii State Senate today were proposals to decriminalize marijuana, classify some peeping toms as sex offenders, amend the procurement code and re-open Kulani Prison on the Big Island. Hawaii Reporter.

The state Senate has kept alive a bill to scoop an unspecified amount from the general excise tax surcharge on Oahu for rail projects, while the House advanced a proposal to cap the amount of money from the hotel room tax that goes to counties. Star-Advertiser.

A bill that would allow lawmakers and other state employees to accept free tickets to fundraising events for charities is moving forward at the Legislature.Star-Advertiser.

The state Legislature has reached the first important deadline of the session, with hundreds of bills receiving third readings in the House and Senate. KITV4.

The head of the House Finance Committee will ignore many of the new initiatives proposed by Gov. Neil Abercrombie in producing what he says is a lean budget relying on a combination of tax increases and budget cuts. Hawaii Reporter.

The latest eruption at Kilauea Volcano has a new working name. Associated Press.

A new eruption near Pu'u 'o'o Crater on the Big Island that began March 5 has led to a dramatic increase in sulfur dioxide gas, one of two main ingredients in vog. KHON2.

Board of Water Supply: Oahu below national average for number of water main breaks. Hawaii News Now.

It will cost $21.1 million to run the new Honolulu Authority for Rapid Transit (HART) in its first year, according to documents posted to the city's new budget website. Civil Beat.

Carlisle talks about rail, budget woes. Pacific Business News.

While furloughs were designed to dish out less money in regular pay, the county council questioned whether ensuing overtime required may have cost the county more than a normal work schedule. Garden Island.

The state judiciary is expanding a unique probation program to Hilo after it helped reduce recidivism rates on Oahu and produced similar results in Maui County. Associated Press.

Gov. Neil Abercrombie promised residents of an Iwilei public housing complex yesterday that he would take quick action to get them the hot water service they have not had for years. Star-Advertiser.

Hilton and hotel workers union celebrate new deal. Hawaii News Now.

Maui Electric Co. union members continued picketing Monday afternoon despite learning that their union had finalized a tentative agreement with their parent company, Hawaiian Electric Industries, a Maui union official said. Maui News.

Striking Hawaii Electric Light Co. workers picketed Monday amid reports that a tentative settlement had been reached to end the 4-day-old walkout. Tribune-Herald.

Day-to-day operations are running smoothly and reliable electric service is continuing on the Big Island, despite the 240 Hawaii Electric Light Co. employees on a strike and continuing negotiations, said a company official Monday. West Hawaii Today.

We're happy and we know it, Kilauea amazes, unions have deal, Legislature takes up tax and spend bills, Kauai County sinks money in golf course, news from the Hawaiian Islands

Kilauea photo USGS Hawaii Volcano Observatory

Sun and waves might be good for the soul, according to a new national survey naming Hawaii as tops in well-being among U.S. states — but the sunshine doesn't necessarily elbow out Northern Lights and snow, as Alaska also made the top 10 happiest states list. KHON2.

The happiest man in America likes to laugh and be intellectually stimulated, lives with a frisky, oversize puppy, cooks kosher meals for young scholars at his home in Manoa — and enjoys the love of a good woman he's been married to for the last 35 years. Star-Advertiser.

Visitors are flocking to the Big Island's Hawaii Volcanoes National Park to get a glimpse of the lava that is spewing from the fissure near Pu'u O'o crater. KITV4.

After wandering Kilauea Volcano's flanks for the past 28 years, Madame Pele has returned to where she started one of the world's most active lava flows. Tribune-Herald.

Hawaii’s Legislature is nearing the halfway point in its annual session. Senate Bill 1274, a healthcare bill to reconcile the State with the federal Affordable Care Act means some nuanced aspects of healthcare as we now know it in Hawaii may change. Hawaii Independent.

Five of Democratic Gov. Neil Abercrombie's Cabinet appointees are still awaiting Senate hearings and confirmation votes, months after most of them were nominated in December. Associated Press.

The Hawaii State House Minority Caucus met for eight hours Monday mapping out their votes as the Legislature moves toward crossover deadlines this week. Hawaii Reporter.

One of the options lawmakers may be considering is a proposal to temporarily suspend existing exemptions from the general excise tax. West Hawaii Today.

Three years after the Hawaii Senate went paperless, the House hasn't followed suit. Civil Beat.

Roughly 1,300 striking Hawaiian Electric Co. workers could be back to work by the end of this week if they approve a tentative agreement reached yesterday by negotiators for the company and the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 1260. Star-Advertiser.

Maui Electric Co. union workers began picketing at the company's Kahului main office Sunday for the first time since the union called a strike Friday afternoon. Maui News.

Hilton Hawaiian Village Beach Resort & Spa union workers, who have been without a contract since June, have reached a tentative agreement with the company and will vote today on whether to accept it. Star-Advertiser.

Honolulu plans to close Keaau beach park on the Waianae Coast this week and force out about the homeless who live there. Associated Press.

Traffic was snarled and ground floor businesses near the intersection of Royal Hawaiian Avenue and Kuhio Avenue were flooded late Monday morning when a 12" water main broke under Royal Hawaiian Avenue. Hawaii News Now.

Prices of condominiums on the Big Island and Kauai fell in February, even though the number of units sold saw a healthy increase. Pacific Business News

Wailua Golf Course was once the highest-ranked municipal course in the nation. Garden Island.

Hawaii volcano erupts, Abercrombie silences watchdog, electric company bargaining during strike, Maui resort owners head to court, Kauai waters unsafe, more Hawaii news

Kilauea fissure photo USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory

Madame Pele is putting on quite a show on the Big Island. KHON2.

A new vent that opened Saturday on Kilauea continued to erupt yesterday with quiet periods punctuated by curtains of lava 80 feet high, scientists at the Hawaiian Volcano Observatory said. Star-Advertiser.

The floor of Pu'u O'o crater collapsed Saturday afternoon and an eruption occurred along the middle of Kilauea Volcano's east rift zone, according to scientists at Hawaiian Volcano Observatory. Tribune-Herald.

Negotiators for Hawaiian Electric Co. and striking union workers held a marathon, closed-door session with a federal mediator yesterday with no word of progress in settling a strike that coincided with a widespread blackout. Star-Advertiser.

HECO President Richard Rosenblum comments on labor talks. Hawaii News Now.

Electrical power has been restored to most of Oahu, according to Hawaiian Electric Company and Hawaii Civil Defense. Hawaii Independent.

Crews of nonunion Hawaiian Electric Co. employees had restored power to all but about 500 customers by early Sunday morning, the company said in a statement issued at noon Sunday. Pacific Business News

A key player in Hawaii’s effort to cut oil dependency will soon run out of money. Hawaii Public Radio.

A month after contradicting Gov. Neil Abercrombie’s position on a public records issue, Office of Information Practices Acting Director Cathy Takase has been given her walking papers by Abercrombie. Hawaii Reporter.

Gov. Neil Abercrombie has informed the head of the state's open records agency that she's being laid off and that he plans to replace her with his own appointee. Civil Beat.

Unless the legislation undergoes further amendments when it goes before the full Hawai‘i House of Representatives, a proposal to create a state-run interisland ferry system has been effectively tabled. Garden Island.

Hawaii's three-strikes law was touted as a way to make the community safer, but since its passage nearly five years ago, the statute has been used only once and is now destined to quietly expire this summer. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii excise tax revenues for the current fiscal year were up at the end of January, but the state's general fund deposits were 2.1 percent lower compared to the same period last year because of delayed income tax refunds. Associated Press.

Governor Pushes Big Wind to be Pono. Molokai Dispatch.

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has awarded a $37.9 million contract to a Chicago company to build a tactical maintenance facility at Schofield Barracks on Oahu. KITV4.

Store shelves and restaurants will be out of Hawaii's popular, fresh bottom fish soon as state and federal officials shut down catches in the main Hawaiian islands on Saturday. Star-Advertiser.

On Tuesday, Wailuku attorney Richard Rost will be in 1st Circuit Court in Honolulu asking for partial summary judgment in a lawsuit by a buyer at the Honua Kai Resort & Spa who is trying to back out of his purchase. Maui News.

Besides the alleged defects in the legal language of the sales documents, customers at Honua Kai Resort & Spa have alleged a wide range of omissions of pertinent information or of physical features that didn't appear when the project was built out. Maui News.

Heavy rains over the past couple weeks have made some coastal waters on Kaua‘i unsafe until further notice, health officials and local experts said.Garden Island.

Congress' two-year ban on earmarks won't jeopardize federal funding needed to complete the most-expensive government project being built on Hawaii Island. Tribune-Herald.

The cash-strapped Hawaii County government is leaving hundreds of thousands in unpaid property taxes on the table for the $60 million Target-Safeway complex in Hilo. West Hawaii Today.

More Hawaii hotel rooms full, appointed education board passed, Big Island bag ban bogs down, land chief confirmed, budget bills nixed, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Volunteers counting humpback whales last month saw an average of five every 15 minutes from sites on Oahu and Kauai. Those on the Big Island saw an average of four. Associated Press.

More than 800 volunteers gathered data from the shores of Oahu, Kauai, and the Big Island for Saturday’s annual Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary Ocean Count. Hawaii 24/7

William Aila Jr. was confirmed unanimously yesterday by the state Senate as director of the state Department of Land and Natural Resources, a vote of confidence in the former Waianae harbormaster's ability to manage a sprawling department that has struggled to protect the state's unique environment. Star-Advertiser.

Environmental groups are celebrating the confirmation of William Aila Jr. as the new Director of the Department of Land and Natural Resources. Hawaii News Now.

The state House Finance Committee has moved nearly two dozen bills that would generate revenue or reduce benefit costs, an alternative blueprint to Gov. Neil Abercrombie's plan to help balance the state budget. Star-Advertiser.

As Hawaii lawmakers near the half-way point of the legislative session, Gov. Neil Abercrombie's major revenue-generating proposals have mostly flopped.Civil Beat.

Hawaii moved a step closer to taxing certain pension payments and eliminating deductions for state taxes Thursday, after first turning down a Republican-led effort to table the measure. Hawaii Reporter.

After the Senate unanimously approved a measure yesterday giving him the power to directly appoint Board of Education members, Gov. Neil Abercrombie called for people who can "help bring change" to public schools to apply. Star-Advertiser.

After Hawaii voters approved the change to the constitution, the BOE could be fully replaced as soon as the middle of this month as a bill to establish an appointed school board heads for the governor's signature. KHON2.

The state transportation department has begun a big beautification and resurfacing project that will improve Ala Moana Boulevard and Nimitz Highway from Waikiki to Fort Street in downtown Honolulu. KITV4.

U.S. Sens. Daniel Inouye and Daniel Akaka say Hawaii is due to receive a $250,000 grant to help local businesses cater to the 20,000 visitors expected to come to Honolulu for November's Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation meeting. Associated Press.

The Honolulu Police Commission is finalizing its review of Louis Kealoha's first year as chief of police, after a closed-door discussion with him Wednesday. Hawaii News Now.

The Hawaii County Council bogged down on its bag ban bill Wednesday, after a minority-led move to schedule six public hearings effectively pushed a decision back until late November. West Hawaii Today.

Aina Koa Pono, the company planning on building a biofuel plant in Ka'u, is promising well-paying jobs, a more stable fuel supply and minimal environmental impacts once the project is completed. West Hawaii Today.

More and more homeless people are setting up tents on the sidewalks and in the park around the UH medical school in Kakaako. KITV4.

The Veterans Administration estimates there are more than 100-thousand former service members who are homeless on any given night in America. Hawaii Public Radio.

Developers would have to offer affordable homes to buyers and renters with varying incomes under a bill the County Council advanced by a unanimous vote Wednesday. Tribune-Herald.

North Shore’s shave ice attractions have taken center stage in plans to redevelop the historically popular area. Hawaii Independent.

More than eight out of every 10 Hawaii hotel rooms were full during the week ending Feb. 26, and average room rates across the state were notably higher than during the same week in 2010, according to data compiled by Smith Travel Research and Hospitality Advisors. Pacific Business News

Nominees for the 2011 Charter Commission were grilled about their opinions on district voting and other issues Wednesday, but a vote to approve them was postponed. Maui News.

Kaua‘i’s keiki are now able to enjoy new playground equipment at Puhi and ‘Oma‘o county parks, a county press release announced Wednesday. Garden Island.

Creighton and Cathy Mattoon thought they were helping the City develop a plan for the North Shore.

Sen. Akaka retirement opens floodgates for Hawaii candidates, Honolulu mayor proposes more, Hawaii County mayor, less, new top doc named, elected attorney general considered, Waikiki hotel workers to strike, more

Sen. Daniel Akaka, D-Hawaii

U.S. Sen. Daniel Akaka's announcement yesterday that he will not seek re-election in 2012 creates a rare open seat in Hawaii in a year when the balance of political power in the Senate will be at stake. Star-Advertiser.

"Senator Akaka is a very, very good man," says Art Caleda, President of the Hawaii World War II Fil-Am Veterans Organization. KHON2.

US Sen. Daniel Akaka announced on Wednesday that he will not seek re-election in 2012. Hawaii News Now.

Sen. Daniel Akaka announced on Wednesday that he will not seek re-election in 2012. KITV4.

U.S. Sen. Daniel Akaka, D-Hawaii, announced Wednesday that he will not run for re-election in 2012. Pacific Business News

Democratic U.S. Sen. Daniel Akaka of Hawaii announced Wednesday he won't run for re-election next year after 22 years in the Senate. Associated Press.

Hawaii’s Senior Senator Daniel Inouye announced on PBS Hawaii, February 24, that although he’d helped U.S. Senator Daniel Akaka raise “six figures” for his 2006 election bid, “circumstances have changed” and he doubted he could make that kind of commitment again. Hawaii Reporter.

Sen. Daniel Akaka, who has served Hawaii as senator and as a representative for 35 years, announced today he is not running for re-election next year, when his term expires. Molokai Dispatch.

How crowded will the race be to replace Daniel Akaka in Washington? Civil Beat.

The announced retirement of U.S. Sen. Daniel Akaka means a Hawaii Senate seat is up for grabs for the first time in decades. Star-Advertiser.

The announcement allows the race to begin for the U.S. Senate seat, and it could be a crowded field in the primaries. KHON2.

Here are some of the official statements released Wednesday on the announcement of the retirement of Sen. Dan Akaka. Hawaii News Now.

Lenny Klompus is leaving his job with state House Minority Leader Gene Ward at the end of the week. Honolulu Notes.

A Kaimuki native and Sacred Hearts Academy product has been tapped by Gov. Neil Abercrombie as the state's new health director. Star-Advertiser.

A bill calling for a proposed state constitutional amendment that would allow voters to select the attorney general is scheduled to be heard this afternoon by the Senate Judiciary and Labor Committee. Star-Advertiser.

The state House Finance Committee, worried about legal implications, agreed to end state Medicare Part B reimbursements only for future public worker retirees hired after July.Star-Advertiser.

Honolulu Mayor Peter Carlisle has crafted an operating budget for next year that's $114 million, or 6 percent, bigger than this year's — mostly to cover "skyrocketing" debt and "unsustainable" rising benefit costs for employees. Civil Beat.

Mayor Peter Carlisle is counting on tax hikes, user fee increases and across-the-board cuts to public worker salaries as he seeks to follow through on campaign promises to rein in spending and put forth a lean, fiscally responsible administration. Star-Advertiser.

Honolulu Mayor Peter Carlisle on Wednesday announced his plans for the city's $1.932 billion budget that includes several fee and tax hikes and an end to furloughs. KITV4.

Honolulu mayor Peter Carlisle presented his administration's first executive budget on Wednesday. Hawaii News Now.

Honolulu Mayor Peter Carlisle is calling for a mix of spending cuts and fee increases in his inaugural budget, including higher gasoline taxes, lower labor costs and increases in a number of fees. Hawaii Reporter.

Mayor Peter Carlisle unveiled his 2012 budget proposal today… one that doesn’t raise property taxes … and proposes a long-term “pay-as-you go” system. Hawaii Public Radio.

Mayor Billy Kenoi on Tuesday promised not to raise property taxes as he unveiled a budget that unfunds 100 vacant positions, eliminates worker furloughs, restores the 2 percent land fund, adds a $1 bus fare and postpones $29.1 million to the next budget year. West Hawaii Today.

Mayor Billy Kenoi on Tuesday proposed a $366.1 million budget that would cut Hawaii County spending for a third straight year, end worker furloughs and reinstate open-space funding. Tribune-Herald.

County Council members offered praise, along with a little regret, for the $366.1 million budget proposal they received earlier from Mayor Billy Kenoi. Tribune-Herald.

Comedian Roseanne Barr is seeking a temporary restraining order against a woman who complained to the county about grading done at Barr's Honokaa macadamia nut farm. Tribune-Herald.

The Hawaii County Council on Tuesday evening confirmed all nine nominees to the county Redistricting Commission, despite grumbling about the last-minute timing of the nominations. West Hawaii Today.

Community members on Wednesday packed Council Chambers in Nawiliwili, voicing their views on a bill that would carve new exemptions in the county’s plastic bag ban. Garden Island.

A Maui County Council committee gave unanimous support Tuesday to a proposed $1.9 million federal grant application for fiscal year 2012. Maui News.

Proposed regulations for vacation rentals would be referred to the Maui, Molokai and Lanai planning commissions under a resolution recommended for approval Monday by the Maui County Council Planning Committee. Maui News.

Hotel employees who work at the four Starwood Hotels and Resorts properties in Waikiki (Sheraton Waikiki, Princess Kaiulani, Moana Surfrider, Royal Hawaiian) voted overwhelmingly Wednesday to authorize a strike in their ongoing contract dispute with management. Hawaii News Now.

An agenda item posted last week for the monthly Charter Review Commission meeting Monday has raised the eyebrows of community members. Garden Island.

Waikiki hotel union deciding strike plans, Honolulu Airport TSA scrutinized, Senate caucus to decide land chief's fate, Asians shrink, whites grow on Big Island, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Honolulu city bus (c) 2011 All Hawaii News

Honolulu is observing the 40th birthday of its public bus system. KITV4.

A group of marine conservationists is calling on Gov. Neil Abercrombie to bar collecting exotic fish from Hawaii's reefs for sale in the aquarium trade. Associated Press.

The nomination of land chief William Aila Jr. has raised enough concerns that Senate Democrats will meet behind closed doors Wednesday to decide their next step. Civil Beat.

A proposed bill that would have allowed state employees to accept gifts of up to $200 from anyone, under any circumstances, will be gutted and refined after critics testified it would open the floodgates to corruption in government. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii public employees will not be able to conceal their name, compensation range, and job description. Hawaii Reporter.

Excessive speeding could do more than just send you to jail. It could cost you your car. KHON2.

The Senate Ways and Means Committee voted unanimously yesterday to approve a scaled-back version of a bill that would have raided 138 of the state's special funds to help address a budget shortfall. Star-Advertiser.

There are more than 10 bills being heard at the State Legislature aimed at boosting Hawaii’s Television and Film Industry. Hawaii Public Radio.

Actors from Australia shot scenes at the state capitol on Tuesday as lawmakers advanced a bill to boost Hawaii's film industry. Hawaii News Now.

A popular Australian soap opera is filming on Oahu this week. KHON2.

A bill giving the Public Utilities Commission authority to move forward on undersea power transmission cable projects was approved by the House Finance Committee Monday. West Hawaii Today.

An investigation is underway of more than two dozen Transportation Security Administration officers at the Honolulu International Airport after security failures that could have allowed a terrorist attack on an airplane were allowed to continue for months. KITV4.

Hawaiian Electric Co. has introduced a tiered rate structure for its residential customers on Oahu that increases the cost of electricity per kilowatt-hour as usage goes up. Star-Advertiser.

A recent survey by AARP of Hawaii adults older than 50 found that 2 in 3 plan to work longer if the economy does not improve. KITV4.

Honolulu begins reconstructing deteriorating sidewalks on Waikiki's main drag this week.Associated Press.

The Hawaii Medical Service Association reported net income of $14.27 million on revenues of $452.01 million for its fourth quarter of 2010. Pacific Business News

Kaiser Foundation Health Plan Inc. Hawaii Region reported a net loss of $2.3 million on revenues of $241.1 million for the quarter ending Dec. 31. Pacific Business News

The Navy has agreed to give Kalaleloa horse stables that use World War II airplane revetments an extension on its use of the military-owned land, City Councilman Tom Berg said yesterday.Star-Advertiser.

Waikiki hotel union workers will vote whether or not to authorize a strike against Sheraton-owned hotels Wednesday. Hawaii News Now.

The Fairmont Kea Lani hotel on Maui will pay roughly 240 present and former employees $500,000 to settle a lawsuit over how gratuities were divided between workers and the company. Associated Press.

For the last 12 months workers have been pulling invasive algae known as leather mudweed by hand from the Paiko area of Maunalua Bay. Hawaii News Now.

Community group Livable Hawaii Kai Hui (LHK Hui) together with The Oahu Club will hold a garden party fundraiser to help with ‘alae ‘ula preservation efforts that improve the wetland habitat located off Hawaii Kai Drive. Hawaii Independent.

Castle & Cooke's move to auction off its inventory of 11 new condominiums on Lanai in January resulted in five sales totaling $6 million, the company said. Maui News.

The Asian population on the Big Island barely budged during the past 10 years, while the number of whites increased by 15,444, U.S. Census figures show. Tribune-Herald.

Roseanne Barr illegally grades mac nut farm, Hawaii lawmakers seek free lunch, state eyes school property, school lunch price tag rises, land chief fight continues, Kauai beach project advances, artist sees Virgin Mary in monkeypod tree, more

Hawaiian protest photo (c) 2011 All Hawaii News

Hawaii could grant native Hawaiians self-government rights after federal proposals to do so failed. Associated Press.

Some Hawaii state legislators are trying to rewrite the law when it comes to getting gifts from ordinary citizens, businesses and even lobbyists.KITV4.

A bill intended to strengthen and clarify the state’s lobbyist regulation law has been quietly changed to allow legislators and state officials “to accept significant and costly gifts” from lobbyists. Hawaii Reporter.

The state House Finance Committee voted early today to tax pension income but set the threshold significantly higher than Gov. Neil Abercrombie preferred. Star-Advertiser.

With many Oahu residents already struggling to make ends meet, a property tax increase would only add to an already precarious financial situation. KHON2.

City Council members are taking aim at bills moving through the Legislature that would redevelop unused land on public school campuses to generate revenue for school facilities. Star-Advertiser.

The spat over land chief William Aila Jr.'s qualifications has moved from the Senate floor into Senate inboxes. Civil Beat.

The price of school lunches at Hawaii’s public schools will increase Tuesday from $2.20 to $2.35. KITV4.

Producing more electricity from lava-heated steam is the best way to meet Hawaii Island's future energy needs, according to one civil engineering professor. Tribune-Herald.

More than 150 dogs seized from puppy farm. Hawaii News Now.

State government general fund spending would start rising again under Gov. Neil Abercrombie's budget proposals following two years of decline under Gov. Linda Lingle. Associated Press.

Kona resident Bob Russell thinks Hawaii is in "a state of fiscal emergency" and "our so-called wise leader is continuing our spending addiction." West Hawaii Today.

Fisherman Stan Wright said he is afraid a continuing loss of water at Lake Wilson could cause a massive die-off of fish at one of the best angling places he knows in the United States. Star-Advertiser.

Sea Engineering Inc. has been selected to study Kauai’s Poipu Beach, where erosion is prompting safety and natural resource concerns. Pacific Business News

A public-private partnership between the county, state and local organizations has resulted in the Po‘ipu Beach restoration study becoming a reality. Garden Island.

A City Council Public Works and Sustainability Committee meeting took a bizarre turn Monday afternoon when former City Council candidate Matthew LoPresti had trouble explaining whether he was a lobbyist. Civil Beat.

Volunteers and researchers on Maui tallied 1,607 sightings of humpback whales Saturday, a 33 percent increase from last year, the Pacific Whale Foundation reported.Maui News.

A United Airlines flight from Los Angeles to Kona International Airport on the Big Island landed without incident even though mechanical problems forced a pilot to shut off one of the plane's engines shortly before arriving. Associated Press.

Alexander & Baldwin Inc. says Chris Benjamin, its chief financial officer and the general manager of A&B's sugar plantation on Maui, is being promoted to president of A&B Land Group, which oversees A&B Properties and the company's agricultural businesses. Associated Press.

Hawaii County has informed comedian Roseanne Barr's land trust that grading done on her Honokaa macadamia nut farm was illegal. Tribune-Herald.

Cast and crew of the hit show Hawaii Five-0 have just a month-and-a-half left of shooting for this season. They'll wrap in mid-April. Hawaii News Now.

The Eddie won't go. The three-month holding period for the Quicksilver In Memory of Eddie Aikau surf tournament on Oahu's North Shore ended Monday. KITV4.

There was a divine sighting on the Big Island in a monkey pod tree. KHON2.

Hawaii hospitals get federal funds, internment camps, race at issue, Maui mayor seeks end to furloughs, UH-Hilo gets new pharmacy programs, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

2010 tsunami in Hilo

One Year Later: New improvements since the tsunami. KHON2.

The Hawaii Department of Human Services has distributed $10 million in federal funds to 15 private hospitals.Pacific Business News

Hilo Medical Center staffers put their job satisfaction and engagement at the very bottom when compared to other hospitals, according to a recent survey.Tribune-Herald.

Senator Dan Inouye believes partisan fighting in Washington will NOT derail Oahu’s rail project. Hawaii Public Radio.

The state of Hawaii should maybe take a look into its own unclaimed property program for lost cash as it scratches for more funding. Hawaii Reporter.

A pair of proposals now before the state Legislature could make Hawaii's food code compatible with this traditional Hawaiian food preparation practice. Star-Advertiser.

The number of Hawaii public school children eligible for free and reduced-cost lunch, a key indicator of poverty, has risen 20 percent -- or by more than 13,500 children -- since 2007. Star-Advertiser.

Demonstrators at the state capital voiced their concerns Saturday hoping lawmakers on Capital Hill hear their message. KITV4.

On Friday, Gov. Neil Abercrombie announced the appointment of Deputy Director for the Department of Public Safety and Deputy Director of Behavioral Health for Department of Health. Hawaii Independent.

As the governor learned earlier this month, it isn’t as easy as it seems trying to rein in the cost of government —  especially when it comes to public employee retirement benefits.Garden Island.

Mayor Alan Arakawa has requested $1 million to end county furlough days starting in April. Maui News.

Mayor Billy Kenoi's strategy for closing a $40-million-plus budget gap remains a mystery to County Council members bracing for possible tax increases, service cuts and worker layoffs. Tribune-Herald.

For years they have been a hidden part of Hawaii's history. But now, there are efforts underway to preserve World War II era internment camps in the islands. All Hawaii News.

Race in Hawaii: Betcha Can't Pick Just One. Civil Beat.

The state Board of Land and Natural Resources has approved a plan to build a large new telescope at the summit of Mauna Kea. Associated Press.

Some nominees to the county's Redistricting Commission apparently were approached by administrative officials and hadn't necessarily thought to apply for the position on their own. West Hawaii Today.

A new phase of repairs to the Diamond Head landmark is beginning, including fixes to a lookout area, a narrow ledge at the summit and construction of a new summit loop trail. Star-Advertiser.

Even as the cost of fueling up on Maui topped $4 per gallon for regular unleaded gas last week on Maui, Aloha Petroleum is developing a new gas station and a 2,000-square-foot convenience store next to Home Depot in Kahului. Maui News.

Nancy McPherson, the recently reinstalled Molokai planner, has returned to ensure projects are done correctly to Molokai standards – and efficiently. Molokai Dispatch.

The University of Hawaii Board of Regents has approved two new pharmacy degrees. Associated Press.

Officials with the Hawaii County Council are set to begin the process of determining how to divide $1.5 million among dozens of nonprofit groups asking for more than double that amount. Associated Press.