Hawaii Polls: Abercrombie struggling, Aiona gaining, Hanabusa leading, Kim on top, Hanohano investigated, plus more government and political news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Neil Abercrombie campaigning file photo (c) 2014 All Hawaii News

Voters are deeply ambivalent about Gov. Neil Abercrombie, a new Hawaii Poll shows, an opening that breathes unexpected life into his political challengers. Despite the state's economic turnaround and record budget surplus, Abercrombie's job approval rating stands at 43 percent, and just 45 percent of voters interviewed had a favorable opinion of him. Abercrombie holds a single-digit lead over state Sen. David Ige in the Democratic primary for governor, a surprise given that Ige has raised little money and many voters have never heard of or do not know enough about the state senator. Star-Advertiser.

Ige

Reflecting lingering bad feelings about a protracted standoff in labor negotiations, now settled, the Hawaii State Teachers Association today announced its support for state Sen. David Ige in the Democratic primary for governor. That’s a blow to Gov. Neil Abercrombie, the incumbent seeking re-election. The governor angered the 13,500-member union by imposing cuts to salaries and health benefits after the administration could not reach agreement with the union. Civil Beat.

The Hawaii State Teachers Association has announced that it is endorsing state Sen. David Ige in the race for governor. Ige, a Democrat, is challenging Gov. Neil Abercrombie in the primary election. Hawaii News Now previously reported that former governors Ben Cayetano and George Ariyoshi are also throwing their support behind the Pearl City-Aiea senator. Hawaii News Now.

Aiona

Hundreds of registered voters were asked if the election were held for Governor today, who would you vote for in the Democratic primary? 47% said incumbent Neil Abercrombie while 38% chose State Senator David Ige. 14% were undecided with a 4% margin of error. 45% polled have an unfavorable opinion of Neil Abercrombie. 45% have a favorable view. In this race Duke Aiona has the highest approval rating at 58%. David Ige polled 30% favorable, but 38% have never heard of him. Hawaii News Now.

Hanabusa

U.S. Rep. Colleen Hanabusa has a gap over U.S. Sen. Brian Schatz in the Democratic primary for U.S. Senate, a new Hawaii Poll has found, and a quarter of voters interviewed did not know enough about Schatz to form an opinion about the senator. Hanabusa was at 48 percent and Schatz was at 40 percent in the poll of Democratic primary voters. Eleven percent were undecided. Star-Advertiser.

Schatz

In advance of a Honolulu Star-Advertiser poll today that shows Rep. Colleen Hababusa leading Sen. Brian Schatz 48-40 percent in the Democratic primary, Schatz told supporters yesterday that his campaign’s internal poll has him up 41-37 percent. Civil Beat.

Kim

State Senate President Donna Mercado Kim would win the Democratic primary for Hawaii's 1st Congressional District House of Representatives seat handily if the election were held this month, according to the latest results of the Hawaii Poll. Kim, who's spent more years in elective office than five other candidates in the poll, scored 10 percentage points better than the second top finisher, state Rep. Mark Takai. Star-Advertiser.

Bhagowalia

In hopes of advancing the state's overhaul of its aging information technology infrastructure, the current director of the Office of Information Management Technology will serve as the governor's chief adviser for technology and cybersecurity effective Tuesday. Star-Advertiser.

Hanohano

State House leaders plan to appoint a special committee to investigate Rep. Faye Hanohano after a college student complained she treated him rudely while testifying before a committee she chairs. Associated Press.

Rosen

Gov. Neil Abercrombie on Friday named Dr. Linda Rosen director of the state Department of Health. Pacific Business News.

The Hawaii Legislature is considering a number of bills to provide tax relief for residents on the verge of becoming homeless.  One sweeping measure is proposing a number of tax breaks for those in need. Hawaii Public Radio.

A bill requiring radiation warnings on cellphones passed two committees in the state Senate. Introduced by Sen. Josh Green, D-Kona, Ka‘u, SB 2571 would require cellphones sold in Hawaii to contain a label covering nearly a third of the back of the device. Tribune-Herald.

Weeks of slow, soaking rains are helping the grass grow again on the western slopes of Maui and Hawaii islands, giving cattle ranchers hope they may at last escape a punishing drought brought on by years of below-normal rainfall. But ranchers warn the soil will dry out if rain doesn’t continue to fall for the rest of Hawaii’s wet season, which lasts through April. Associated Press.

Committee hearings are slowing at the Hawaii state Legislature, so in the coming four-day week, the usual monsoon of public debate will taper to a fine mist. Associated Press.

Oahu

Caldwell

Seventy-two percent of Oahu voters feel Mayor Kirk Caldwell did a good job in his first year in office, according to a recent Hawaii Poll. While that may seem high for a politician, that's been the case for the past three mayors, said Rebecca Ward, president of Ward Research Inc., which did the poll for the Hono­lulu Star-Advertiser and Hawaii News Now.

Dozens gathered in the drizzling rain at Malaekahana State Park to stage a peaceful protest against what is commonly called Bill 47 (2013) in the Honolulu City Council. It would involve changes in zoning and planning for the North Shore community. KHON2.

Honolulu police are testing a high-speed camera that captures thousands of license plates — and searches a database for information about vehicles and who might be behind the wheel. Star-Advertiser.

Media Council Hawaii and attorneys with the Institute for Public Representation have filed a petition with the Federal Communications Commission to halt the transfer of the broadcast license of KFVE from HITV to American Spirit Media.  MCH previously challenged, unsuccessfully, agreements between Raycom Media and HITV that gave Raycom ownership and control of KHNL, KGMB and KFVE in the Honolulu market. Civil Beat.

Hawaii

Landers

The Pahoa woman believed to be the Big Island’s oldest resident has died. Saramae Williams Landers, who died Monday at home, witnessed breathtaking technological advances and historic social changes in her 107 years. Tribune-Herald.

With Hawaii County expecting a $20 million payment next month, the County Council’s Finance Committee will consider a bill Tuesday to accept the money, which will be used to build the second half of the Mamalahoa bypass. West Hawaii Today.

Hawaii County experienced positive economic growth last year. The unemployment rate decreased 2.2 percent during the third quarter of 2013, from 8.4 percent to 6.2 percent, according to a Hawaii Department of Business and Economic Development report. Tribune-Herald.

A mainland-based medical nonprofit, working with Hawaii-based senior living developers, wants to build a combination assisted living and skilled nursing facility in Kailua-Kona. West Hawaii Today.

Maui

A subsidiary of Colorado-based land investment, development and conservation firm Bio-Logical Capital has purchased about 3,600 acres of Hana Ranch’s land in East Maui for $4.75 million, Pacific Business News confirmed.

The county Department of Parks and Recreation will host a series of community meetings to discuss proposed permitting and scheduling improvements for the use of county facilities, an announcement said Friday. Maui News.

Kauai

About a dozen rain-soaked people took to the street late Friday afternoon in downtown Kapaa to protest proposed legislation that would discourage home births using a midwife. Garden Island.

A fourth biotech seed company has joined a lawsuit aimed at blocking the County of Kauai’s implementation of Ordinance 960 related to pesticides and genetically modified crops. BASF is now on board with the complaint, filed Jan. 10 in U.S. District Court in Honolulu by Syngenta, DuPont Pioneer and Agrigenetics, a company affiliated with Dow AgroSciences. Civil Beat.

The Department of Public Works will hold a public information meeting to discuss the draft environmental assessment for the Waipouli connection of Ke Ala Hele Makalae, the multi-use path. The meeting will be begin at 6 p.m. Wednesday at the Kapaa Middle School cafeteria. Garden Island.

Molokai

Two years after Molokai's Kanemitsu Bakery was originally fined $90,000 and subsequently ordered to suspend operations due to "numerous health code violations," the iconic bakery has reached a settlement with the state Department of Health to pay $20,000 in fines. Maui News.

Attacks on the Sunshine Law, marijuana legalization dies, hospital privatization nears, homeless bill of rights, rail car mockup unveiled, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Hawaii black sand beach (c) 2014 All Hawaii News

Hawaii Senate panels were of two minds on Thursday, killing a bill to legalize marijuana — "We felt Hawaii was not ready for legalization at this time," said Sen. Will Espero — pushing forward legislation that calls for a fine of just $100 for possession of an ounce of pakalolo. Arguments for and against decriminalization and legalization were on display Thursday, as supporters and opponents of reforming Hawaii's marijuana laws filled Conference Room 224 at the Capitol. Civil Beat.

A bill to legalize recreational marijuana in Hawaii died in committee Thursday. But state lawmakers advanced a measure that could decriminalize possession of up to an ounce of the drug. Associated Press.

A proposal rejected by the Hawaii County Council as unnecessarily weakening the Sunshine Law has made its way to the state Legislature, where it’s getting serious consideration. The bills, HB 2139 and SB 2962, were sponsored by state lawmakers from Maui after the Hawaii County Council struck the measure from a package the counties were sending jointly to the state Legislature under the Hawaii State Association of Counties umbrella. West Hawaii Today.

While opposed by open-government advocates, a Senate bill advanced in the state Legislature this week - with amendments - to allow county council members to jointly attend any meetings or presentations without violating the state's Sunshine Law, as long as the gathering is open to the public. Maui News.

Hawaii Health Systems Corp. is hoping this will be the year for legislation paving the way for privatization. The Senate Health Committee this week passed Senate Bill 3064, which allows for the HHSC facilities to partner with or be purchased by a local nonprofit provider such as Hawaii Pacific Health, The Queen's Health Systems or Kaiser Permanente Hawaii. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii lawmakers are considering creating a homeless bill of rights that supporters say would guard against laws that allow authorities to roust or intimidate people forced to live on the streets. Associated Press.

Under Senate Proposal, Parents Could be Prosecuted for Unreported Missing Children. Hawaii Reporter.

Journalists Need Protection, from Hawaii to DC. Civil Beat.

Hawaii's insurance commissioner says small businesses and individuals have the "best of both worlds" this year when it comes to health insurance. Maui News.

A public advisory was issued today, reminding ocean and beach goers to keep the recommended distance of 150-feet when observing dolphins in the wild. Maui Now.

State roundup for February 14. Associated Press.

Oahu

The Oahu rail transit system's maintenance-storage facility will undergo a redesign to upgrade the track operations there -- a $4.25 million decision by project officials that scraps many of the original blueprints for how that facility was to work. Board members overseeing the rail project approved the change order Thursday to the 43-acre facility, which is in the early stages of being built near Leeward Community College. Star-Advertiser.

The city of Honolulu unveiled a life-like model Thursday of what a rail transit car will look like, sort of. The mock up, on display through the end of April at Kapolei Hale, is 14 feet high and 10 feet wide. Hawaii News Now.

Oahu residents can now see in person a life-size mock-up of the 80 rail cars being designed for the island's planned transit system. Rail officials joined Honolulu City Council members to unveil the model Thursday at Kapolei Hale, where it will remain on display during regular business hours through April. Star-Advertiser.

The Navy may soon have to install a sophisticated leak detection system at its massive Red Hill Underground Fuel Storage Facility where thousands of gallons of fuel leaked last month. The state Department of Health urged the Navy to put in a better leak detection system as far back as 2008, but the Navy has resisted despite evidence that fuel has been contaminating the groundwater and the pollution may be moving toward a nearby Navy well that supplies drinking water to about 65,000 people at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam. Civil Beat.

State May Step Up Funding for Ag Inspections at Oahu Farms after Pesticide Abuses Reported. Hawaii Reporter.

The international megachurch that oversees New Hope has agreed to fork over $775,000 to settle a lawsuit claiming it shortchanged the state when it rented public school facilities on Oahu. But as of now it’s unclear exactly where the money will go. Civil Beat.

A project that could save Oahu millions of dollars in energy costs faces criticism from a North Shore community. KITV4.

The state is concerned about the spread of measles after an Oahu infant contracted the highly contagious disease in the Philippines and was infectious while traveling back to Honolulu and during visits to receive medical treatment. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii

The state Senate’s Ways and Means Committee approved a measure Thursday to fund two new ambulances on the Big Island. West Hawaii Today.

The U.S. Marine Corps wants to construct and operate an urban close air support range and an aviation bull’s-eye range at Pohakuloa Training Area. West Hawaii Today.

The University of Hawaii at Hilo Daniel K. Inouye College of Pharmacy now stands at the edge of a cliff, according to Dean John Pezzuto. And this session, the state Legislature has the power to either push the program into the chasm below, or pull it back from the precipice, he added. Tribune-Herald.

Hawaii Electric Light Co. is teaming up with county and state agencies to create a facility to test energy storage technologies at the Hawaii Ocean Science and Technology Park in Kailua-Kona. Star-Advertiser.

Maui
The Maui Planning Commission deferred action Tuesday on an anticipated final decision to reject appeals challenging permits for the Rock & Brews restaurant in Paia. Maui News.

Kauai

TSA looking into harassment allegations. Garden Island.

Molokai

Tickets for Hawaii’s newest interisland operation, ‘Ohana by Hawaiian,  are now available for its long-awaited turboprop service from Honolulu International Airport to Molokai Airport and Lanai Airport by booking online at HawaiianAirlines.com. Molokai Dispatch.

Lanai

Larry Ellison, who bought 98 percent of the Pineapple Isle from fellow billionaire David Murdock in 2012, has apparently yet to initiate any major philanthropic efforts for Lanai since Pacific Business News first explored this question in 2012.

Legislature may name ukulele official state instrument, Schatz most liberal senator, garbage fees coming to Oahu, school superintendent could get huge raise, time-share plan draws ire of Hilton neighbors, minimum wage, unemployment at issue, Io may be delisted as endangered species, Maui's parks boss may be in trouble, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Hawaii's ubiquitous ukulele could become the state's official state musical instrument under a bill lawmakers are considering. Associated Press.

Its frisky four strings are the sound of Elvis’ “Blue Hawaii,” of Tiny Tim tiptoeing through the tulips and lately, beyond all reason, of a popular “Bohemian Rhapsody” cover. Above all, the humble ukulele — dubbed “the underdog of all instruments” by virtuoso Jake Shimabukuro who busted out his rendition of the aforementioned Queen classic in a recent performance — sounds like Hawaii. Associated Press.

State Sen. Clayton Hee challenged the Senate on Wednesday to hear a new minimum wage bill while labor and social-service advocates warned lawmakers not to let a pay raise for low-income workers drift into the morass of election-year political maneuvering. Star-Advertiser.

To the casual observer, Hawaii's comparatively low unemployment numbers have long been a point of pride. But the official unemployment rate offers an incomplete portrait of what's going on in Hawaii's job market.  Civil Beat.

A proposal to raise the cap on the Hawaii Department of Education superintendent’s salary by $100,000 has garnered support from key players ranging from school board members to local education advocacy groups. Now the proposal is making its way through the Legislature. House Bill 2257 got the green light from the education and labor committees, while its companion, Senate Bill 2806, moved out of the Education Committee earlier this month. Civil Beat.

Brian Schatz came in first as the most liberal Senator in the nation, tying for that top stop with two other Democrats, Chris Murphy of Connecticut, and Chuck Schumer of New York. Hawaii Reporter.

Get Ready — Political Campaigns Are Rumbling to Life in Hawaii. Civil Beat.

Homeless program coming to Hawaii. Hawaii News Now.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is asking for the public's input on a proposal to remove the Hawaiian hawk or io from the endangered species list. The agency said Wednesday comments previously submitted on the proposal don't need to be sent again. The hawk was originally listed as endangered in 1967. At the time, the hawk population was believed to number in the low hundreds. Associated Press.

State briefs for February 13. Associated Press.

Oahu

Oahu households would be charged $10 a month for curbside garbage pickup under a bill proposed by Mayor Kirk Caldwell's administration on Wednesday. Those in condominiums, apartments and townhouses who now get city refuse service would have to pay market rates under the measure. Star-Advertiser.

Mayor Kirk Caldwell today proposed levying a uniform $10 per month fee for trash pickup across the island. Is it fair to charge everyone the same for trash pickup? Hawaii Independent.

New Hope Church is paying $775,000 to settle a lawsuit by local activist Mitch Kahle, Hawaii News Now has learned. Most of the money will go to the state's school system but a big chunk -- about $200,000 -- will go to Kahle for pursuing the lawsuit, which accuses New Hope and several other churches of underpaying the state to rent school facilities.

The state Office of Hawaiian Affairs won support from two Senate committees Wednesday for developing condominium towers on land in Kakaako makai of Ala Moana Boulevard despite deeply divided testimony on a bill that would reverse a 2006 law prohibiting residential use in the area. Star-Advertiser.

Honolulu City Councilman Ikaika Anderson is one of two council members running for the 1st Congressional District seat being vacated by Rep. Colleen Hanabusa and one of six candidates in the race. Most are established politicians. Civil Beat.

First Wind has restored the output of its Kahuku wind energy project to full capacity after a fire shut down the facility nearly 1 1/2 years ago. Star-Advertiser.

The owners of Cheeseburger Waikiki plan to open a brewery at the restaurant, pending approval from the Honolulu Liquor Commission. Pacific Business News.

Hawaii
The Thirty Meter Telescope project gained momentum Wednesday following a Mauna Kea Management Board vote in favor of the project’s proposed sublease Wednesday morning. Tribune-Herald.

Hilton Waikoloa Village’s neighbors are protesting a plan that would convert 601 Ocean Tower hotel rooms to 450 timeshare units. West Hawaii Today.

“Don’t keep a dog and bark yourself,” seemed the adage of the day Wednesday as the county Board of Ethics considered a complaint that Finance Department officials punished an employee for violating the ethics code without first getting an opinion from the board charged with making those determinations. West Hawaii Today.

Hawaii County would have greater authority over the approval of new geothermal projects under legislation two state House committees will consider today. Tribune-Herald.

Maui

County mum on status of its absent parks chief. Source: Department investigated over free rounds of golf at Waiehu. Maui News.

Although businessman Michael Baskin and his associates had short-term rental permits revoked last year for two short-term rental properties in Paia, he continues to operate them, despite an order to stop operations as of Jan. 26, according to a complaint filed Friday in 2nd Circuit Court. Maui News.

Kauai

The Kauai County Council unanimously approved a $75,000 allocation request from the county attorney’s office Wednesday to start searching for special counsel services to defend Ordinance 960 in federal court. Garden Island.

The Kauai County Council on Wednesday approved a request to hire special counsel to represent the county in a lawsuit by three seed companies that want to block the implementation of a new ordinance regulating pesticide use and genetically modified crops. Star-Advertiser.

The installation of bike racks is the latest step in the transformation of the Lihue Civic Center area to a pedestrian — and bicycle-friendly campus linking state and county functions with vibrant commercial areas. Garden Island.

Niihau

Waves of proposals aimed at Niihau have been introduced during this year’s legislative session. The most recent one would require the state to grant “the village elder” of Niihau exclusive konohiki rights to control fishing in the island’s nearshore waters. Garden Island.

Hawaiian Airlines on time, fiscal watchdogs dispute Abercrombie's claims, Koreatown for Honolulu, Legislature mulls minimum wage, e-cigarette regs, massage therapists, vehicle charging stations; Hawaii County Dems to tighten elections, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Hawaiian Airlines at Honolulu airport (c) 2014 All Hawaii News

Hawaiian Airlines had the best on-time performance of any U.S. airline in 2013, 93.3 percent, making it the 10th consecutive year the Honolulu-based airline led all U.S. carriers in punctuality, according to the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Air Travel Consumer Report released Tuesday. Pacific Business News.

Gov. Neil Abercrombie maintains the government is on strong financial footing, but fiscal watchdogs say because Hawaii’s unfunded liabilities are in the billions of dollars, the governor’s claims are grossly inaccurate. Hawaii Reporter.

So far this session, the Hawaii Legislature is working to make good on its promise to raise the minimum wage, something Gov. Neil Abercrombie supports. HB 2580 also eliminates the tip credit, the 25 cents employers can deduct from the wages of waiters and other employees who depend on gratuities. And it lets the state Department of Labor and Industrial Relations adjust the wage in accordance with the Consumer Price Index beginning September 2017. Civil Beat.

Supporters of electronic smoking devices gathered at the Capitol on Tuesday for the third time in less than a week to oppose proposed measures that would highly tax, regulate or ban the increasingly popular products. Star-Advertiser.

Lawmakers consider new restrictions on e-cigarettes. KHON2.

Massage, spa and escort ads would be restricted under a bill Hawaii lawmakers are considering. The bill targets ads that use the words “massage,” “relaxation,” “escort,” “spa” or “body rub.” It says those ads cannot include physical descriptions or photos of the therapist except for the person’s hands, wrists and forearms. Associated Press.

A bill to impose fines for owners of parking lots who fail to provide a minimum of one electric vehicle charging station and exclusive space is advancing in the Hawaii Senate. Maui Now.

Hawaii's prison system is housing fewer inmates these days. Last year, the state saved $2.5 million by holding fewer prisoners on the mainland, and the state's inmate population decreased by 4 percent overall. A new report credits this to the Justice Reinvestment Initiative (JRI) that Hawaii implemented in 2012. Civil Beat.

Doctors, nurse midwives and lay midwives will have nine months to discuss reform of rules regulating home births in Hawaii, based on proposed amendments to several measures before the state Legislature this session. West Hawaii Today.

Beneath the sparkling blue waters of Waikiki's world-famous beaches, an unwelcome visitor called alien algae is killing native coral, chasing away the natural sea life and upsetting the fragile balance of the ocean's ecosystem. Three types of alien algae — Acanthophora spicifera, Gracilaria salicornia and Avrainvillea amadelpha — have formed strongholds around the famous South Shore swells, choking the reefs and overtaking some of the native algae that once grew. Star-Advertiser.

Oahu

New condominium towers in Kakaako would be spaced farther apart and rise no higher than existing towers under bills that were advanced Tuesday by a legislative committee that also deferred more radical measures that included a one-year development moratorium for the urban Honolulu area. Star-Advertiser.

A State House Committee today passed 4 of the 7 bills introduced this session to restructure the Hawai’i Community Development Authority.  This following a day-long hearing Saturday involving many Kaka’ako residents who wanted the state agency abolished. Hawaii Public Radio.

Keeaumoku — or as some call it, Korea-moku — is known as Honolulu’s informal ethnic Korean neighborhood, a place to get delicious bibimbap from Sorobel restaurant or pick up gochujang at Keeaumoku Supermarket. A bill introduced by Rep. Sharon Har of West Oahu would set aside money for the state to officially designate the area near Kapiolani Boulevard and Ala Moana Shopping Center as Koreatown. Civil Beat.

Three Senate panels voted on Tuesday to move forward a bill to exchange state land in West Oahu with private agricultural land in central Oahu.  Sen. Donovan Dela Cruz has been advocating for the measure, Senate Bill 3065, as a way to preserve Hawaii’s farmland and help transform the rural town of Wahiawa into an agribusiness hub.  Civil Beat.

A state judge ruled Monday that the Honolulu Police Department must turn over certain disciplinary records requested by Peer News, which does business in Hawaii as Honolulu Civil Beat. Star-Advertiser.

A state judge said she’ll rule within three weeks on a request by a Honolulu newspaper and a television station to unseal transcripts of closed proceedings when she declared a mistrial for a federal agent charged with murder. Associated Press.

Hawaii

Allegations of a “rigged” election have been dismissed by local Democrats, who vowed Tuesday to create clearer rules governing the process of replacing state lawmakers who leave before their term is complete. At issue was the Dec. 27 District 5 Council election that sent three candidates to Gov. Neil Abercrombie to replace former Rep. Denny Coffman, who resigned a year shy of the completion of his third term. West Hawaii Today.

Legal counsel acting on behalf of Thirty Meter Telescope Corp. will head to court at 8 a.m. next Thursday. The move comes after the TMT Corp. requested to file an amicus curiae brief, also known as a friends of the court brief, in the case involving six petitioners opposing the state’s approval process for issuing a permit for the construction of one of the world’s largest telescopes atop Mauna Kea. Tribune-Herald.

Hunters working for the state Department of Land and Natural Resources are allowed to use suppressors, sometimes called silencers, on their rifles, the department’s chairman said Tuesday. West Hawaii Today.

Maui

A controversial measure giving the Legislature more authority to determine what is a public trail cleared a key Senate committee Tuesday. But Senate Bill 2728, backed by Maui Sen. Kalani English, is particularly raising the eyebrows of a trail-advocacy group that has sued a Maui company over trail access. Civil Beat.

Maui County's administration wants to outlaw electronic smoking devices at all county properties where tobacco smoking is prohibited. Maui News.

Kauai

A review committee has rejected free legal services offered by attorney Teresa Tico to defend Kauai County against a lawsuit filed by three seed companies to block a new GMO and pesticide law. Kauai County solicited pro bono legal services concerning a lawsuit filed by Syngenta, DuPont Pioneer and Agrigenetics Inc., doing business as Dow AgroSciences. Star-Advertiser.

A review committee rejected an offer from a pair of attorneys to defend the County of Kauai for free in the lawsuit challenging county Ordinance 960 related to pesticides and genetically modified crops. The lone offer to provide pro-bono representation was submitted Jan. 27 by Teresa Tico, former head of the Kauai Bar Association, and Peter Schey, head of the Center for Human Rights and Constitutional Law. Garden Island.

Bird’s-eye view. NestCam gives world close-up look at Kauai albatross. Garden Island.

They know about birthing babies, judge says police must release records, stiff e-cig tax mulled, hospital privatization advances, state picks up $5M baggage screening tab, Waikiki tile rainbow to be restored, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Hawaiian family man (c) 2014 All Hawaii News

Dozens of mothers and their children crowded a hallway at the Hawaii State Capitol on Monday afternoon hoping to shoot down a proposal to increase government oversight of home births. The measure, Senate Bill 2569, creates a regulatory framework for people who help women give birth at home. Home births currently aren't regulated in Hawaii and advocates for the bill say that it would make such births safer for women and their babies. Civil Beat.

Legislation proposing to establish a home birth safety board to regulate midwives and providers drew passionate testimony Monday from both sides of the spectrum. Star-Advertiser.

A new bill in the senate aims at making licensing a requirement for home birth providers. Supporters say educational mandates for those who practice mid-wifery are long overdue, but opponents fear the bill will put an end to the practice. KITV4.

For nearly 20 years, Hawaii police officers who were suspended for misconduct have been able to hide behind an exemption in the state’s public records law that prevents officials from releasing their names and details of disciplinary actions. But on Monday, in a case brought by Civil Beat, Hawaii Circuit Court Judge Karl Sakamoto ruled that police cannot be above the law when it comes to disclosure of their misconduct.

State lawmakers on Monday advanced bills that could heavily tax electronic smoking devices in Hawaii. People who sell the devices, also called vaporizers or e-cigs, turned out to hearings Friday and Monday to oppose the bills (SB2495 and SB2496). They said the devices help people stop smoking cigarettes and that high taxes could put their shops out of business. Star-Advertiser.

A bill that would clear the way for public-private hospital partnerships in Hawaii is getting across-the-board support. Testimony for Senate Bill 3064, which was scheduled for a Senate Health Committee hearing Monday afternoon, shows representatives from a number of Hawaii Health Systems Corp. hospitals are in favor of the measure, which would allow nonprofit hospitals already operating in Hawaii to partner with the state-supported facilities. West Hawaii Today.

Previous measures have failed to get very far at the Legislature, but now that Washington and Colorado have changed their laws on marijuana, Hawaii lawmakers are given the idea another look. Civil Beat.

A bill that would remove the state’s general excise tax from groceries and medical services has stalled in the Legislature. Introduced by Sen. Sam Slom, Senate Bill 2169 would also make seeds and garden plants, as well as meals prepared for those age 60 and above, exempt from the GET. Big Island Now.

Of all the ants in all the world, Hawaii had to get bitten by this one. Hawaii lawmakers on Monday advanced a bill aiming to study and kill the little fire ant, a hard-stinging pipsqueak that threatens the state's economy and ecology. Associated Press.

On Tap at the Hawaii Legislature: Feb. 11. Civil Beat.

State Land Board Chairman William Aila said he will seek fines against two people who damaged a front door of Iolani Palace and made their way into the historic building Sunday morning. Star-Advertiser.

KHON2 has exclusive video of two suspects arrested for vandalizing Iolani Palace over the weekend.

Gov. Neil Abercrombie is currently considering his third appointment to the Hawaii Supreme Court. He received a list of six candidates from the Judicial Selection Commission on Jan. 27. Under the state Constitution a governor must make the judicial appointment within 30 days of receiving the commission's list. That deadline falls on Feb. 26. Star-Advertiser.

The state Department of Health will temporarily be without a director. Gary Gill, who Gov. Neil Abercrombie named as interim director after Loretta Fuddy died in a plane crash off Molokai in December, returned to his deputy director for environmental health administration post on Monday after the interim appointment expired. Star-Advertiser.

The number of discrimination complaints filed statewide increased in 2013, with retaliation as the most common suit against employers. Garden Island.

Scientists are using crittercams and crowdsourcing to bust myths about Hawaiian monk seals.  The incredible footage they're gathering from little cameras mounted onto the seals' backs are dispelling misconceptions many have had about the endangered species. Hawaii News Now.

Oahu
The state Department of Transportation is paying $5 million for a baggage screening contract at Honolulu International Airport that airlines used to pay for, Hawaii News Now has learned.

Honolulu Mayor Kirk Caldwell is visiting the Philippines. Caldwell's office says the purpose of the visit is to strengthen ties, promote business opportunities and renew sister-city relationships. Associated Press.

Come rain or shine, a rainbow always will grace the Waikiki skyline thanks to Hilton Hawaiian Village's $4.25 million commitment to restore the colorful ceramic-tile bands around the sides of its Rainbow Tower. Star-Advertiser.

There’s a proposal to install a zipline above an Aiea neighborhood, but not everyone is happy about it. The Aiea Neighborhood Board will take up the issue at its monthly meeting. KHON2.

Shares of Cardax Pharmaceuticals rose sharply on the first day of public trading for the Honolulu-based biotech firm. Cardax opened at $1.50 a share and rose as high as $3.25 a share before closing at $3.05 in the over-the-counter market. Trading volume was 5,200 shares. Star-Advertiser.

Sir Russell Coutts, CEO of Larry Ellison’s Oracle Team USA, which won the 2013 America’s Cup in one of the greatest comebacks in sports history, will be the keynote speaker at a Hawaii Coast Guard Foundation event in April. Pacific Business News.

Hawaii

Legislation seeking an environmental study of Keauhou Bay, the creation of an ocean management recreation area and a moratorium on new commercial vessels permits in the area is likely dead. House Bill 2226 was considered Friday during a joint hearing with the Committee on Land &Water and Committee on Ocean, Marine Resources & Hawaiian Affairs at the state Capitol. West Hawaii Today.

The state House Committee on Higher Education will hear a bill today proposing funding for the Hawaii Island Family Medicine Residency program. The program, administered by Hilo Medical Center and Hawaii Health Systems Corp., is viewed as an important tool to help address the Big Island’s growing doctor shortage. Tribune-Herald.

The Environmental Protection Agency has ordered the state’s Clean Air Branch to modify or reissue an air pollution permit for the proposed Hu Honua Bioenergy facility in Pepeekeo. Tribune-Herald.

Maui

Home Birth Bill in Senate Prompts Demonstration on Maui. Maui Now.

Kauai

Authorities are investigating the poisoning deaths of five pets in a Kauai subdivision but say it's unclear whether they were intentional. The four dogs and one cat were poisoned Jan. 25 in Kalaheo using paraquat, a highly toxic pesticide used to kill unwanted plants, state Department of Agriculture spokeswoman Janelle Saneishi said. Associated Press.

The Anianiau is one of six Kauai forest birds found nowhere else on Earth, restricted to the high elevations of Kokee and the Alakai Swamp. Garden Island.

Rising for justice. Red flags aim to raise awareness for domestic violence. Garden Island.

Break-in at Iolani Palace, Hawaii Legislature targets smoking, governor's travel records sketchy, state Supreme Court reaffirms shoreline access, HECO mulls liquefied natural gas, Honolulu owes feds $8M, appeals court rejects county's lowest priority marijuana law, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Iolani Palace (c) 2014 All Hawaii News

A woman, accompanied by a man, walked up the front steps of Iolani Palace at about 8 a.m. Saturday and kicked the door, cracking the glass of one of two left-side doors as they made their way into the historic building, said Kippen de Alba Chu, palace executive director. Star-Advertiser.

Authorities are investigating a break-in at Iolani Palace in which one of the original glass doors of the historic landmark was destroyed. The incident happened at around 8:10 a.m. Saturday.Hawaii News Now.

Plywood now covers the door where the glass was broken. Honolulu police say around 8 a.m. Saturday, a woman kicked the glass door in and shattered it. Palace officials can’t understand why. KHON2.

When the governor and his staff travel to places where they can advocate for deals to boost Hawaii’s economy or otherwise improve the lives of people in the Aloha State, there is a real potential value. But it’s hard to know if our taxpayer dollars are being spent wisely on these trips because there is so little public accounting. Civil Beat.

House lawmakers are again considering a bill that would ban smoking in all of the state's public housing units. The state came close to enacting a public housing smoking ban in 2012, but the housing agency asked Gov. Neil Abercrombie to veto the bill in order to give it more time to implement a ban as part of its administrative rules. Star-Advertiser.

A Senate bill that would raise the legal age to buy cigarettes in Hawaii — both tobacco products and electronic cigarettes — to 21 from 18 is moving through the Legislature, but another bill that would have placed an excise tax on e-cigarettes has stalled. Pacific Business News.

State legislators are looking for ways to regulate popular electronic smoking devices by treating them like the product they were modeled after: cigarettes. Star-Advertiser.

It’s no secret that electricity in Hawaii is expensive. But Robert Harris, the executive director of the Sierra Club’s Hawaii Chapter, raised eyebrows when he spoke at a Feb. 4 hearing at the Legislature. "Since 2009, the average electric rate has gone up 50 percent in Hawaii; the business model needs to be examined," Harris said. Civil Beat.

Hawaii would post cameras on state property and hire someone to coordinate anti-graffiti programs if lawmakers pass a bill they are considering. The bill, SB2602, says graffiti on buildings, walls, bridges, bus stops, trees, mail boxes and other surfaces is a blight on Hawaii. Associated Press.

The Hawaii Supreme Court reaffirmed its decades-old stance that the public is entitled to own and use as much of the beach as possible. The Jan. 27 opinion, issued in a case brought by Kauai residents, orders the state to consider historical evidence in determining shorelines, which become the starting line for building setbacks. Garden Island.

Is Tulsi Gabbard Hawaii's Invincible Rep.? Civil Beat.

Lt. Gov. Shan Tsutsui has $357,086 available as he enters this election year and attempts to retain the state's second-highest elected office. Maui News.

Human-Manned Subs Are Being Phased Out — But at What Cost for Hawaii? Civil Beat.

Big crowds flooded committee hearings last week at the Hawaii legislature to stump for better regulation of solar power and to push against taxes on electronic smoking devices. The bills that roused them to action (SB 2656 and SB 2495) will come up again in hearings this week. Other highlights of the fourth week of the session will include committee hearings on measures aimed at protecting against beach erosion and increasing the state’s minimum wage. Associated Press.

On Tap at the Hawaii Legislature: Feb. 10. Civil Beat.

State roundup for February 10. Associated Press.

Oahu

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development is expected to put the squeeze on the city to return about $8 million in disputed grant money after the Caldwell administration's announcement late Friday that negotiations with Wahiawa nonprofit ORI Anue­nue Hale have ended. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii civil defense officials said Friday they’re launching a project to improve the security and resiliency of Oahu’s electrical grid. The state Department of Defense will work with Hawaiian Electric, IBM, U.S. Pacific Command and other entities on a study exploring options. Associated Press.

Hawaiian Electric Co. is in talks with the Navy about a plan to build the state's first liquefied natural gas import terminal at Pearl Harbor as part of the utility's effort to find a cheaper source of fuel for power generation. HECO has been seriously considering LNG as a potential fuel source since at least mid-2012 when Gov. Neil Abercrombie asked utility officials to investigate the feasibility of using natural gas as a replacement for fuel oil during the utility's transition to renewable energy. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii

An appeals court has sided with a lower court’s ruling that the county’s voter-approved initiative making adult personal use of marijuana on private property the lowest law enforcement priority is unenforceable. The ruling opinion issued Friday by the state Intermediate Court of Appeals affirms the Jan. 28, 2013, ruling by Hilo Circuit Judge Greg Nakamura, who dismissed a civil lawsuit against the numerous county officials, which alleged they failed to implement and enforce the initiative passed in 2008 by a vote of 35,689 to 25,940. Tribune-Herald.

When NASA spacecraft phone home in the next decade, they could be communicating directly with one of Hawaii’s tallest mountains. The space agency is looking to replace radio communications with laser technology, and believes Mauna Loa could be the best location for one of its new ground stations, according to state officials. Tribune-Herald.

Downtown Hilo’s latest paint job ended right on time and is receiving mixed reviews. Tribune-Herald.

Maui

Last year, there appeared to be little hope that taxpayers would see repayment of even a portion of the millions of dollars Ka Hale A Ke Ola Homeless Resource Center owes Maui County for construction of the nonprofit's low-income housing projects. Maui News.

A lawsuit has been filed in federal court alleging First Amendment violations against Maui County. The suit stems from an incident reported in October of 2013 in which a pastor and his wife were distributing religious materials to the public on a sidewalk outside of the Maui Fair. Maui Now.

Kauai

Kauai residents continue to lighten the ecological footprint on the island. Kauai Island Utility Cooperative reported Friday that home energy use has dropped again for the sixth straight year. Residents have cut average monthly electric use by 10 percent in seven years. Garden Island.

Legislature mulls tax break for food and meds, aerospace caucus looks up, lawsuits galore at Kauai Community Correctional, lawmakers want to take over Health Connector, cellphone law could loosen, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Hawaii grocery clerks (c) 2014 All Hawaii News

Hawaii would exempt groceries and medical services from its general excise tax if bills advancing through the Legislature become law. Lawmakers heard a chorus of support Thursday from policy analysts, poverty advocates and the food industry for the proposal to stop taxing groceries. Associated Press.

Several House Democrats want the state to take over the Hawaii Health Connector, set up last year as a private, nonprofit. Amid an outpouring of public complaints and scathing reviews, the rollout was called an “epic fiasco.” Hawaii Reporter.

A typical charter school in Hawaii doesn't have much of a campus. Unlike regular Hawaii Department of Education schools, charter schools can’t dip into state capital improvement funds to finance things like building construction and repair. Their operating budgets have to cover every expense — overhead costs, construction, transportation and everything in between. But efforts are underway to solve the nearly two-decade-old facilities dilemma. Among other proposals, a trio of bills advancing through the Legislature would subsidize the schools’ brick-and-mortar needs in one way or another. Civil Beat.

State lawmakers Thursday announced the formation of a caucus that aims to support the development of Hawaii’s aerospace sector and foster the potential for a burgeoning drone industry. In a news conference at the state Capitol, members of the Hawaii State Legislative Aerospace Caucus pledged their support for 12 bills that address a variety of aerospace-related issues, including concerns over unmanned aerial vehicles, or drones. Star-Advertiser.

Lying to police who are investigating a crime would become at least a misdemeanor under a bill state lawmakers are advancing. Honolulu police officers told members of the House Public Safety Committee on Thursday that they support the measure because witnesses who mislead police can hamper investigations and can get innocent people thrown in jail. Associated Press.

A new Justice Department study shows that allegations of sex abuse in the nation's prisons and jails are increasing — with correctional officers responsible for half of it  — but prosecution is still extremely rare. Civil Beat.

Hawaii drivers would be able to check their cellphones for traffic or weather information while driving, under a bill state lawmakers are considering. Associated Press.

An arrogant disregard for government integrity and the public trust is on full display in House Bill 2287, through which the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands seeks to conceal vital information about its operations. It's shameful that Gov. Neil Abercrombie, who promised transparency in his administration, has included this bill in his legislative package, at the request of the DHHL. Star-Advertiser.

The problem is that for our very different new media, old rules and laws still apply. One sign of this is how lawmakers continue to wrestle with out-dated questions about who is and who isn't a journalist. Civil Beat.

Oahu

The ongoing legal fight over rail in U.S. District Court now boils down to one key issue -- and it could make or break the project. Did rail officials follow proper procedure in selecting the route to Ala Moana Center instead of a route to the University of Hawaii-Manoa campus as originally envisioned? Star-Advertiser.

The Hawaii Community Development Authority has been under fire for months by residents who worry about whether the agency has been managing development properly in the urban district of Kakaako. Now, state and city lawmakers are grappling with questions about whether they should curb the authority of an agency some critics describe as "rogue." Civil Beat.

The contractor that runs the state's zipper lane on the H-1 freeway was warned to change the brakes five months before brake troubles sidelined a ZipMobile, causing a major traffic jam. Hawaii News Now.

Hawaii

The parents of a New York teen swept out to sea during a Kealakekua Bay hiking and kayaking tour plan to use money from settling their wrongful death lawsuit to fund first responders who helped search for the boy. West Hawaii Today.

Maui

For the second time in a year the Maui Police Department is embroiled in a first amendment lawsuit. The plaintiffs filed a lawsuit claiming they were on a public sidewalk passing out religious pamphlets in front of the Maui County Fair. Hawaii News Now.

Momentum was the recurring theme of Mayor Alan Arakawa's State of the County address Wednesday night. Maui News.

Kauai

The Honolulu investment group that has plans to restore the iconic Coco Palms Resort on Kauai to its original glory plans to select a “nationwide” hotel operator in two weeks, and start demolition and construction on the site as early as the third quarter of this year, the investors told Pacific Business News.

A short form bill introduced Thursday, and passed by a Senate committee about an hour later, proposes to make the privately owned and “Forbidden Island” of Niihau an independent county from Kauai. Garden Island.

A former psychiatric social worker at Kauai Community Correctional Center is suing Warden Neal Wagatsuma and the Department of Public Safety for retaliation and violations of the whistleblowers act. Carolyn Ritchie was employed at KCCC from April 2009 until she left in November 2012, citing “serious abuses and wrongdoing.” Garden Island.

A female inmate is suing the Kauai Community Correctional Center warden on grounds that a prison warden sexually shamed her and other female inmates while she was incarcerated. Garden Island.

Kilauea lava lake puts on a show, bill prohibits eating cats and dogs, tasered man dies in police custody, carpenters union to endorse Schatz, Senate committees mull solar credits, lawsuit alleges sex abuse by Kauai prison warden, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Kilauea lava lake

Like a moving jigsaw puzzle, the lava lake at the summit of Kilauea Volcano continues to glow and gurgle, while the Puu Oo vent is feeding a flow largely hidden from public view. Star-Advertiser.

House Bill 2368 would prohibit the slaughtering or trafficking of dogs or cats for human consumption. Civil Beat.

About 20 people testified their support, some while fighting back tears, for a bill that could lead Hawaii’s electric utilities to better accommodate homeowners who make their own renewable energy. Impassioned power customers and an out-of-work solar panel installer, among others, urged members of the Senate committees overseeing energy and commerce to push Hawaii’s utilities to set out clearer guidelines for incorporating solar into the state’s power grid. Associated Press.

People in Hawaii could see more micro apartments, housing for elderly people and rental properties if bills that lawmakers approved in committee Wednesday become law. Associated Press.

Hawaii’s small producers of beer, liquor and wine would see relief from some of the nation’s highest alcohol taxes under legislation state lawmakers are considering. Associated Press.

The Hawaii Regional Council of Carpenters is expected to announce today that the union will endorse U.S. Sen. Brian Schatz over U.S. Rep. Colleen Hanabusa in the Democratic primary for U.S. Senate. The 6,300-member union is among the most politically influential private-sector labor organizations in the state. Star-Advertiser.

Oahu

A federal grand jury has indicted a 31-year-old Halawa prison guard on charges of conspiracy to smuggle methamphetamine into the prison, bribery and  drug-related counts. James "Kimo" Sanders III, a Kailua resident, was indicted on one count of conspiring to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine from October 2013 and Jan. 12. Star-Advertiser.

University of Hawaii athletic department is staring at the possibility of a $2 million deficit this fiscal year and may have to lay off some part-time and temporary workers, a Board of Regents committee was told Wednesday. Star-Advertiser.

The state Department of Health is notifying the public that "very low" levels of lead and other chemicals have been detected in the Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam water system. The lead levels are within federal and state compliance levels for drinking water in a water distribution system (below the lead "action level") and do not represent a health threat, the Health Department said in a news release issued today. Star-Advertiser.

The planned seven ultra-luxury condominium towers to be built on what is now a parking area of Ala Moana Center fronting Ala Moana Boulevard will include 215 units with 109 two-bedroom units, 65 three-bedroom units, 36 one-bedroom units and five five-bedroom penthouses, according to a permit filed recently with the City and County of Honolulu. Pacific Business News.

Hawaii

The Hawaii County Council appeared to settle a conflict regarding powers of the council chair Wednesday. Council Chair J Yoshimoto proposed a resolution clarifying his authority after an apparent disagreement with Kohala Councilwoman Margaret Wille. Tribune-Herald.

The issue was over whether Yoshimoto could decide whether presentations and other non-legislative matters are put on the agenda for council meetings. Tribune-Herald.

Hawaii County police used an electronic weapon, commonly known as a Taser, in an attempt to subdue a 39-year-old Kailua-Kona man who died Tuesday while in police custody. Star-Advertiser.

Right-to-farm legislation that could have threatened Hawaii County’s law restricting the use of transgenic crops appear to have been defeated in the state Legislature. Tribune-Herald.

Maui

Maui Mayor Alan Arakawa delivered his 2014 State of the County Address from the McCoy Studio Theater at the Maui Arts and Cultural Center on Wednesday night, Feb. 5, 2014. During his address, the mayor highlighted the county’s achievements in 2013, outlined plans for the coming year, and discussed issues presently facing the County of Maui. Maui Now.

University of Hawaii researchers have attached satellite transmitters to six more sharks in the second phase of a project to observe the movements of tiger sharks after a surge in the number of shark attacks recorded off Maui. Star-Advertiser.

A total of 14 tiger sharks are now being tracked via satellite transmitters as researchers round out phase two of a project to observe their movement in Maui waters. Maui Now.

Kauai

The Kauai County Council approved a measure Wednesday redefining the tasks and requirements for a group charged with framing a study on pesticides and genetically modified organisms on Kauai. When the 12-member committee, called the Pesticide and Genetic Engineering Joint Fact Finding Group, does meet, they will determine a number of research topics ranging from scientific studies to project cost estimates and timelines. Garden Island.

Two federal court lawsuits alleged that a Kauai prison warden forced female prisoners to watch violent pornography and confess their darkest sexual secrets in front of male prisoners. Hawaii News Now.

A male prison warden filmed his “public sexual shamings” in which female inmates had to disclose their “rape, childhood sexual abuse … sexual preferences [and] sexual deviations,” while he called them “whores” in front of male inmates, a woman claims in a federal class action. Alexandria Gregg sued Hawaii’s Department of Public Safety, its director Ted Sakai, and the allegedly abusive warden of the Kauai Community Correctional Center, Neal Wagatsuma. Civil Beat.