RIMPAC heading to Hawaii, Lingle chairs Djou campaign, Maui to lower property taxes, pot minister gets 5 years, hotel tax downsized, Kauai to make ballot initiatives harder, hospital privatization fails, Hawaii County mulls raises, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

RIMPAC 2012 courtesy U.S. Navy

Twenty-three nations, about 40 ships, six submarines, hundreds of aircraft and 25,000 people are participating in this year's Rim of the Pacific war games in and around Hawaii June 26 to Aug. 1, the Navy said. Details until now have been few, but Navy officials released some of the specifics of this summer's iteration of the world's largest international maritime exercise. Star-Advertiser.

The state's four mayors and County Council leaders failed in their full-court press to get the state Legislature to lift the cap on their share of hotel room tax revenues Friday, but they walked away with $10 million more for their troubles. Star-Advertiser.

A bill that would have authorized Hawaii’s semipublic hospitals to work with private partners won’t become law this year. Senate Bill 3064, sponsored by Sen. Josh Green, D-Kona, Ka‘u, died late Friday night, when officials failed to release it. West Hawaii Today.

A bill to name the ukulele the official state musical instrument stalled and died last week in conference committee because both houses could not reach an agreement. But there is still hope for passage of another measure that could do the same thing before the session adjourns Thursday. Hawaii Public Radio.

State lawmakers advanced a proposal on Friday to increase the state’s minimum wage to $10.10 an hour by January 2018. Maui Now.

Wooley

Jessica Wooley, chairwoman of the House Agriculture committee whom Abercrombie has appointed director of the Office of Environmental Quality Control, faces opposition from key legislators in the Hawaii state Senate. So does  Brian Tamamoto, appointed to serve on the Hawaii Community Development Authority. Civil Beat.

Hawaii environmental groups have launched a campaign to pressure state Senators to confirm House Agriculture Chair Jessica Wooley as the governor’s Director of ​the Office of ​Environmental Quality Control. Hawaii Reporter.

A $500,000 pesticide subsidy aimed at combating the coffee berry borer has made it through its last round of negotiations and is scheduled today for a final vote in the state Legislature. Tribune-Herald.

A cap on the salary Hawaii pays its schools superintendent would get a boost for the first time in 13 years under a bill — initially presumed dead for this session — lawmakers advanced out of conference committee Monday afternoon. Star-Advertiser.

A bill that would have made it easier for residents of high-rise apartment buildings and renters to switch to solar was killed in conference committee on Friday. Senate Bill 2934 was a priority piece of legislation for clean-energy advocates. The measure would have allowed residents without roof space or those living in areas where Hawaiian Electric Co.’s electric grid can’t accommodate any more solar to still take advantage of solar energy. Civil Beat.

Hawaii ranks in the top 10 in the United States for solar energy with both Hawaiian Electric Co. and the Kauai Island Utility Cooperative recognized for being leaders on both the solar megawatts rankings and the solar watts-per-customer rankings, according to a new report released Monday. Pacific Business News.

A state board has issued new rules for solar panel installation that will require journeyman electricians to do more of the work, which is expected to raise the cost of installing the systems. Associated Press.

Hawaii legislators will vote on a bill today that will make it a felony to post a photograph of an individual in the nude without their permission. Tribune-Herald.

Lingle © 2014 All Hawaii News

Former two-term Hawaii Gov. Linda Lingle is chairing Charles Djou’s campaign for Congress, the Republican candidate announced Monday. Civil Beat.

State Rep. Mark Takai has a status that no other candidate in the Democratic primary for Hawaii’s 1st Congressional District can match. Takai is a combat veteran. Civil Beat.

There were 760 fewer visitors arriving in Hawaii each day in the first quarter of 2014 compared with a year earlier, and those who came spent a dollar less per day, as the tourism industry continued to lag behind last year's record numbers. Star-Advertiser.

The US Department of Education released a report on high school graduation rates across the country for 2012 on Monday. For the first time ever, the rate hit 80%. Hawaii beat the national average at 82%. Hawaii News Now.

State roundup for April 29. Associated Press.

Oahu

The company contracted to oversee various construction projects at the University of Hawaii is suing the school for more than $4.6 million over complications related to two projects, including $2.8 million for costly delays to the brand-new UH Manoa Campus Center. Civil Beat.

Detractors have called it unaffordable housing, but a planned second tower of the 801 South St. condominium project in Kakaako has attracted an overwhelming number of buyers with moderate incomes. Star-Advertiser.

An undercover sting at a Keeaumoku massage parlor could wind up backfiring on Honolulu Police. Police arrested a 41-year-old woman at the VIP Lounge for prostitution back in February but only after the vice officer said he engaged in sexual activity with the woman. Hawaii News Now.

The state has agreed to settle three alleged abuse cases against Kipapa Elementary School employees for a total of $190,000. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii

Six county department heads and three deputy directors will get 5 percent raises July 1, but heftier pay hikes for the County Council, mayor and top managers are less certain, following action Monday by the county Salary Commission. West Hawaii Today.

A Big Island man who openly used his ministry to promote marijuana use has been sentenced to five years in federal prison for having 300 pot plants as part of a distribution ring. Associated Press.

The wife of a Hilo man who was sentenced Monday to five years in federal prison for having 284 marijuana plants called his sentence — and hers — “disappointing." Sherryanne “Share” Christie, the wife of Roger Christie, received a 27-month prison sentence for her role in what prosecutors described as a drug distribution ring. Tribune-Herald.

Bids to complete the Mamalahoa bypass came in slightly higher than Hawaii County officials had estimated they would. But bids for the second half of the project, building a new intersection at the Napoopoo Road junction with Mamalahoa Highway, came in slightly lower than estimates. West Hawaii Today.

Pohakuloa Training Area could see upgrades, including a runway capable of handling large air transports, under a bill aimed at enhancing the U.S. military’s operations in the Pacific region. Tribune-Herald.

Maui

Budget and Finance Committee Chair Mike White today announced a proposed average 9% reduction to real property tax rates for the fiscal year 2015 budget. Maui Now.

As the costs of long-term care for seniors continue to climb, especially in nursing homes and assisted living facilities, officials with Maui agencies that deal with aging suggest senior residents take more preventative measures. Maui News.

Kauai

In the future, amending the Kauai County Charter via a citizen’s petition could be more difficult. On Monday, the County of Kauai Charter Review Commission discussed, and later deferred for one month, a proposal that would quadruple the number of signatures required to petition an amendment to the charter from 5 to 20 percent of registered voters. Garden Island.

Kauai Island Utility Cooperative was honored Monday by the Solar Electric Power Association as one of the nation’s Top 10 utilities for its delivery of solar energy. Garden Island.

No aloha for ukulele, GMO fervor brings campaign cash, final week for Hawaii Legislature, election day voter registration advances, Pohakuloa could get military money, Maui airport improvements bring runway closure, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Ukulele player in Merrie Monarch parade © 2014 All Hawaii News

Sorry, ukulele. Hawaii won’t spurn the steel guitar to sound its love for you. Bills in the state Legislature that would’ve declared the friendly little guitar the official instrument of Hawaii both died near the end of the legislative session. Associated Press.

Hawaii lawmakers are heading into the last week of the 2014 Legislative session, preparing to clear the decks on hundreds of bills before the action ends Thursday. Associated Press.

Chad Blair: Why I Hate Conference Committee. Civil Beat.

The fervor surrounding genetically engineered crops in Hawaii is expected to spill into this year's elections, as a number of candidates have already begun framing their campaigns around an anti-GMO sentiment. It's also anticipated to lead to increased spending on particular races that will pit opponents of genetically modified organisms against those who believe that large agribusiness and chemical companies, such as Monsanto, Syngenta and BASF, are a boon to the local economy and global food production research. Civil Beat.

A bill that would ban smoking in and around Hawaii Public Housing Authority units is headed for passage by the state Legislature. Star-Advertiser.

State lawmakers are considering a measure to downward voter turnout reverse the trend by allowing same-day voter registration. Hawaii News Now.

A state board has issued long-awaited licensing guidelines covering workers who install solar panels — a move that will result in a greater involvement of licensed electricians in the installation process. Star-Advertiser.

The influential Sierra Club of Hawaii is urging people to ask state senators to vote in favor of Jessica Wooley's appointment as director of the Office of Environmental Quality Control. Civil Beat.

Hawaii’s elevator standards are on their way up — but they have further to go. Two years ago, Hawaii's elevators were on a downward trajectory. The Department of Labor and Industrial Relations (DLIR) was way behind on elevator and boiler inspections, and working with an “archaic” code that some experts said was a threat to public safety. More than 5,000 of the more than 7,000 elevators in the state required inspecting, meaning that no one knew for sure how many needed repairs. Civil Beat.

Heart of tourism industry lies in hana hou visitors. Problems with the homeless and increases in travel costs could keep some from coming back, officials say. Star-Advertiser.

State roundup for April 28. Associated Press.

Oahu

Honolulu’s Salary Commission is recommending raises of 8 percent for many of the city’s top officials – a rate that’s almost five times the annual inflation rate. That might seem like a steep increase, but for many of the positions — such as the police and fire chiefs and Honolulu City Council members — salaries would still lag far behind those of their counterparts in mainland cities of comparable size. Civil Beat.

Hawaii

Bill would upgrade Pohakuloa. A measure set to be introduced in Congress would assess security in Asia and the Pacific. Star-Advertiser.

There’s a good chance three former or current council members will be running for the Puna District 4 County Council seat, following the addition this week of former Councilwoman Emily Naeole. West Hawaii Today.

House and Senate conferees have agreed to include funding in the state budget for two major Big Island projects — the planned $90 million Kona Judiciary Complex and the planned $55 million University of Hawaii Daniel K. Inouye College of Pharmacy building. Pacific Business News.

The state Legislature’s budget conference committee has agreed on a proposal to fund a permanent building for the University of Hawaii at Hilo’s Daniel K. Inouye College of Pharmacy, legislators and university officials said Friday. Tribune-Herald.

Hawaii County Council members tapped their district contingency funds for $525,354 during the last 10 months, with a majority of expenditures going to park facilities. Tribune-Herald.

Two students at the University of Hawaii at Hilo have filed a federal lawsuit against the school, alleging their First Amendment rights were violated on campus. The lawsuit claims U.H. Hilo staff prevented them from passing out copies of the U.S. Constitution. Hawaii Public Radio.

Maui

The House Finance Committee and Senate Ways and Means Committee put finishing touches on the state budget, approving funds for several key capital improvement projects in Central Maui, including funds for: the widening of Puʻunēnē Avenue; planning and design of a new middle school in Central Maui; and design and construction of a Central Maui Regional Park and Sports Complex. Maui Now.

Repair and reconstruction of the taxiway for Kahului Airport's main runway that begins Wednesday will force the closure of the runway during nighttime hours most days through the end of the year and will increase air traffic over Kahului and Wailuku, the state Department of Transportation said. Maui News.

The state Board of Land and Natural Resources on Friday approved a request to restrict hunting dogs for at least two years in Molokai's Puu Alii Natural Area Reserve and in portions of reserve areas in East and West Maui. Maui News.

Kauai

Several nonprofit organizations are supporting a charter amendment petition to regulate pesticides and the growth of genetically modified organisms on Kauai. Star-Advertiser.

It’s a question of in-house versus outsourcing. A cost-saving proposal by the Office of the County Attorney to create a litigation team within the County of Kauai department is being met with some resistance by officials who question how the team would be assembled — and whether the extra attorneys would be financially worth it. Garden Island.

State and county representatives are celebrating the passage of a measure that pushes back the sunset clause on a law that allows county lifeguards to operate on state beaches. Garden Island.

'Politics is personal,' says U.S. Sen. Brian Schatz at campaign HQ grand opening - Watch the video

U.S. Sen. Brian Schatz, D-Hawaii, talks about the tight primary contest against U.S. Rep. Colleen Hanabusa.

"Politics is personal," Schatz said, noting the contest is splitting family and friends, as well as those who previously stood side-by-side working on the same campaign.

He urges his supporters to be "Happy Warriors" during the April 27, 2014 grand opening of his Hilo campaign headquarters.

Hawaii Legislature is down to the wire, state's first death penalty case since 1944 troubles rights groups, Chinese tourists seen as 'economic salvation,' ID, please, in GMO lawsuit, Sunshine Law exemption broadens, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Merrie Monarch hula festival © 2014 All Hawaii News

Merrie Monarch hula contest, festival continues. See more here.

Hawaii lawmakers are confronting a deadline to pass the state budget, but they’re still deciding how to work out key issues that include a historic land-preservation deal and funding for a slew of nonprofits. Legislative appropriations committees have until Friday night to reach agreement on all aspects of the state’s $12 billion budget. Associated Press.

House and Senate lawmakers have agreed to carve out a new exemption in the Sunshine Law for county councils to get together outside their regular meetings. Civil Beat.

There were surprises Thursday as the clocked ticked toward a Friday 6 p.m. deadline for bills to advance to a final round of votes next week. Civil Beat.

Giving victims of childhood sexual abuse more time to seek justice, state lawmakers agreed Thursday on a bill that would extend a unique window to file lawsuits for another two years and include the state and counties among the potentially liable. Star-Advertiser.

A conference committee of state lawmakers passed House Bill 1926 Thursday to plug the legal loophole that lets police have sex with prostitutes. The committee, chaired by Rep. Karl Rhoads and Sen. Clayton Hee, also reached agreement on House Bill 1750 to combat revenge porn. Civil Beat.

Gov. Neil Abercrombie is taking Sen. David Ige to task over failing to put $40 million in the state budget to pay the state's share of a sensitive land deal with Turtle Bay Resort. Civil Beat.

The outcome of a decades-long battle to protect O’ahu’s North Shore from development will likely be decided on the last day of state budget deliberations at the State Capitol tomorrow.  Lawmakers have yet to decide on whether to fund the state’s portion of the offer to purchase the coastline property. Hawaii Public Radio.

The state Department of Education supports the annual 4.5 percent raises an arbitration panel awarded to principals and other educational officers earlier this week, according to a statement released Wednesday by the department. Star-Advertiser.

US Senate race in Hawaii pits opposing wings of Democratic Party. Los Angeles Times.

U.S. Sen. Brian Schatz’s latest reports with the Federal Election Commission show he’s using his considerable cash advantage to keep him in front of voters while driving even more money to his campaign bank account. The senator, who’s locked in a tight race with U.S. Rep. Colleen Hanabusa, is spending his cash on media, polling, fundraisers and political consulting, among other campaign essentials. Civil Beat.

The civil rights compliance director for public schools across the state is under investigation for complaints that she conducted biased investigations and did campaign work for a gubernatorial candidate on state time. Hawaii News Now.

Hawaiian Airlines CEO Mark Dunkerley called China the "economic salvation" for Hawaii tourism but said the state is ill-equipped to handle the expected surge of tourists who are likely to come in future years. Star-Advertiser.

A majority of Hawaii residents support the installation of more rooftop solar photovoltaic systems, while also believing that Hawaiian Electric Co. is slowing these installations to protect its profits, a new poll says, although the state’s largest electric utility pointed out that its rooftop solar policies are not about the financial impact on the Honolulu-based company. Pacific Business News.

On Tap at the Hawaii Legislature: April 25. Civil Beat.

Oahu

A federal jury returned a guilty verdict Thursday for the first person in the state to stand trial for a death penalty crime. Star-Advertiser.

The possibility that former Hawaii soldier Naeem Williams could face execution is troubling for some folks in a state where the death penalty has not been imposed since 1944. Star-Advertiser.

A Marine who admitted killing a prostitute in his Waikiki hotel room last year was found guilty Thursday of "murder while engaging in an inherently dangerous act," a crime punishable by a maximum of life in prison without the possibility of parole, the Marine Corps said. Star-Advertiser.

Residential towers in Kakaako makai of Ala Moana Boulevard would be permitted to rise on eight large parcels -- or just two -- under competing proposed amendments to one of the most controversial bills at the Legislature this year. Star-Advertiser.

The City Council Transportation Committee is moving forward with plans to audit the Handi-Van program. But the committee also agreed to a request to delay the start of the audit to allow the impact of planned improvements to be assessed. Star-Advertiser.

For a second consecutive year, the rail project's top executive will receive a $35,000 bonus. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii

A Big Island papaya farmer will have to identify himself to continue as part of a lawsuit against Hawaii County’s registration program for genetically modified crops, Judge Greg Nakamura said Thursday. Tribune-Herald.

Faced with a May 5 deadline to present his final budget proposal to the Hawaii County Council, Mayor Billy Kenoi said Thursday he’s crafting a spending plan that doesn’t take any increases in the county’s share of the hotel tax into account. West Hawaii Today.

Legislators in a joint conference committee opted Wednesday to include a $2 million appropriation in the state’s budget next year for Hilo Medical Center’s fledgling Primary Care Residency Program. Tribune-Herald.

The family of a man who died after being tased by a Hawaii Police Department officer intends to file a lawsuit against the department, their attorney said Thursday. -  West Hawaii Today.

A Hilo jury Thursday found a 32-year-old Hilo man guilty of first-degree attempted murder and first-degree assault in the shootings of two police officers Jan. 2, 2013. Tribune-Herald.

Maui

East Maui Irrigation Co. and The Nature Conservancy agreed on a deal that will add 3,721 acres of rain forest to Waikamoi Preserve, creating the largest private nature reserve in the state. Maui News.

A portion of the Hāmākua Ditch across the Kailua Gulch in East Maui broke on Thursday, April 24, resulting in a “mud plume” in the ocean near Baldwin Beach Park, officials at Hawaiian Commercial and Sugar Company said. Maui Now.

Kauai

In a recent online poll question, The Garden Island asked readers, “Who should pay the cost of rescue operations for people who are hurt or stranded on the Kalalau Trail?” Sixty percent voted for the hikers because they were being careless or not paying attention, while 35 percent said the state because it manages the trail.

Hannemann to run for governor as Independent, state budget negotiations snarled, Kauai group starts anti-GMO ballot initiative, jury says Haleakala trail belongs to the state, Honolulu bus signs bill advances, would-be bidder pans Hawaii County waste reduction plans, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Mufi Hannemann and supporters 2012 file photo © All Hawaii News

Former Honolulu Mayor Mufi Hannemann, hoping voters have grown weary of both Democrats and Republicans, will run for governor as an independent. Star-Advertiser.

Minimum wage, transient accommodations tax, construction spending snag Legislature's budget negotiations. Civil Beat.

Hung up over construction spending, state House and Senate negotiators have pushed deliberations on the state budget to Friday, the deadline to have bills ready for final votes next week before the session adjourns. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii lawmakers passed a bill out of conference committee Wednesday that will force county police departments to disclose more information about officers who get in trouble for misconduct. Civil Beat.

Victims of child sexual abuse in Hawaii would have more time to file lawsuits against abusers if lawmakers and the governor approve one of two bills pending in the Legislature. In a highly publicized law, victims have been given a two-year window to file lawsuits in cases that passed the statute of limitations, which led to a surge of filings. Associated Press.

A Republican lawmaker in Hawaii is saying the state Department of Education is being secretive about its sex education program. Rep. Bob McDermott is taking issue with the Pono Choices curriculum that’s being developed by the Department of Education. He says it sexualizes the innocent by teaching 11-year-old children about anal sex. Associated Press.

The state Intermediate Court of Appeals ruled Wednesday that the Circuit Court can hear a legal challenge to former House Speaker Calvin Say's residency. Six voters in Say's Palolo state House district had questioned his residency, arguing that the Democrat actually lives with his family in Pauoa Valley. Star-Advertiser.

The search for the next University of Hawaii president is advancing, though mostly under the radar as the presidential selection committee led by Carl Carlson prepares to present its final report on Monday to the Board of Regents and Chairman John Holzman. Pacific Business News.

Hawaiian Electric Co. and its sister utilities did not fare well in a new opinion poll that showed 9 out of 10 residents in their service areas believe the companies have slowed rooftop solar installations to protect their profits. Star-Advertiser.

State-of-the-Art Political Campaign Intimacy. Civil Beat.

On Tap at the Hawaii Legislature: April 24. A selective list of bills, resolutions, hearings, briefings, meetings and events for Thursday at the state Capitol. Civil Beat.

Honolulu
Selling advertising space on the sides of Honolulu buses may yet become reality after the City Council Budget Committee voted to revive Mayor Kirk Caldwell's revenue-generating plan Wednesday. Star-Advertiser.

On the eve of a critical deadline, a woman Wednesday sued the Roman Catholic Diocese of Honolulu and its former vicar general, Marc Alexander, accusing him of sexually abusing her 30 years ago when she was a minor and he was working at St. John Vianney in Kailua. Star-Advertiser.

TRO against Honolulu police major dropped. KHON2.

Two coqui frogs were captured on Oahu this month, one in Waikiki and one in Kalihi Valley, state Department of Agriculture officials said Wednesday. Star-Advertiser.

When the Polynesian Voyaging Society's two double-hulled canoes embark on their unprecedented worldwide sail next month, they aim to spread a message to protect what the group has dubbed "Island Earth." But they'll need the help of environmental leaders back home to put that call for stewardship into practice. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii

A would-be bidder for Hawaii County’s waste reduction facility claims the county’s bid solicitation was designed to favor large-scale waste-to-energy incinerators. West Hawaii Today.

Hawaii County Corporation Counsel Lincoln Ashida is taking a job with a private practice May 1, ending a nearly three-decade tenure with the county. Ashida, who has been the county’s top civil attorney for 13 years, is joining the Hilo office of Torkildson, Katz, Moore, Hetherington &Harris as senior counsel. Tribune-Herald.

Big Island Police last week said Randall Hatori died as a result of cardiac arrest not because he was tased. But an independent autopsy obtained by Hawaii News Now said the 39-year-old Kona man's death was a homicide.

A David Ige supporter woke up Wednesday morning to find the campaign signs he had put up Tuesday evening had already been vandalized. West Hawaii Today.

Thousands expected to try out for ‘Wheel of Fortune’ shows on Big Isle. West Hawaii Today.

Maui

A jury on Maui ruled Wednesday that the Haleakala Trail on Maui belongs to the state, dismissing Haleakala Ranch Company’s claim to the land. The decision followed a 14-day jury trial brought by Public Access Trails Hawaii. The Maui-based nonprofit has been advocating since 2011 to secure public access to the historic trail. Civil Beat.

Jurors decided Wednesday that the state, not Haleakala Ranch, owns a section of a historic trail that once ran from Makawao town to the summit of Haleakala. Maui News.

A proposed settlement between Maui County and Neldon Mamuad, creator of the popular MAUIWatch Facebook page, has yet to be agreed on, forcing the county to file a memorandum of opposition against Mamuad's federal lawsuit. Maui News.

Local developer Peter Savio plans to expand his Pagoda hotel brand to Maui with the purchase of the Maui Beach Hotel, an adjacent golf course and a vacant lot where the circa-1953 Maui Palms Hotel once stood. Star-Advertiser.

Kauai
Some Kauai residents are collecting signatures that would put to vote a citizens’ initiative aimed at regulating the GMO industry. Garden Island.

Hawaii Democrats to let Ige, other candidates speak, supporters fret over ukulele bill, Maui bans smoking at parks, beaches, Honolulu bans sweepstakes gambling machines, Kauai mulls golf fees, Hawaii garrison tops in the Army, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

The decision to name the ukulele the state instrument in Hawaii is proving more difficult than some lawmakers expected. Associated Press.

The National Conference of State Legislatures ranked Hawai’i number one for having the most interesting legislative proposal in the country.   It has nothing to do with the state budget … minimum wage increase or proposals to buy conservation land.  The number one topic in the national publication’s monthly magazine has to do with a bill naming Hawai’i’s official musical instrument. Hawaii Public Radio.

The Democratic Party of Hawaii on Tuesday evening reversed course and agreed to allow state Sen. David Ige, who is challenging Gov. Neil Abercrombie in the primary, to speak at the party's state convention in May. Star-Advertiser.

Private school teachers typically make far less than their public school counterparts. That applies nationally as well as locally. The median public school teacher salary in the Aloha State is about $55,300 this year, according to Hawaii Department of Education spokeswoman Dara Young. Meanwhile, for a private school teacher it is roughly $48,700, according to Myra McGovern of the National Association of Independent Schools, an umbrella organization that collects compensation data from member teachers. Civil Beat.

Lawmakers are fast-tracking legislation that would make kindergarten mandatory for 5-year-olds in hopes of giving the state time to run a public education campaign about the change before the school year ends next month. Under Senate Bill 2768, beginning with the 2014-2015 school year, kindergarten attendance would be mandatory for children who are 5 years old on or before July 31 preceding the school year. Hawaii's compulsory education age currently starts at 6. Star-Advertiser.

When the chair of the House Finance Committee dropped key provisions of a bill intended to further limit the legal liability of the state and counties for injuries occurring on public property as long as signs warning of dangerous conditions are property posted, some supporters of the measure responded by accusing Rep. Sylvia Luke of violating the conflict of interest provisions of the state ethics law. Civil Beat.

U.S. Army Garrison-Hawaii has received the 2014 Army Community of Excellence Award as the top installation in the Army. Hawaii Reporter.

On Tap at the Hawaii Legislature: April 23. A selective list of bills, resolutions, hearings, briefings, meetings and events for Wednesday at the state Capitol. Civil Beat.

State roundup for April 23. Associated Press.

Oahu

The odds are looking good that sweepstakes gaming machines will be outlawed on Oahu after a Hono­lulu City Council committee Tuesday endorsed a proposed ordinance. Star-Advertiser.

House negotiators on a controversial bill allowing residential development in Kakaako Makai are signaling they may be willing to compromise. Rep. Cindy Evans told Sen. Maile Shimabukuro Tuesday at the State Capitol that the House wants "to move" on Senate Bill 3122 "and that definitely we need to find a solution." Civil Beat.

The 21-year-old woman accused of damaging a 130-year-old glass door at Iolani Palace two months ago entered a plea of not guilty Monday in Circuit Court to criminal property damage and burglary. Drew Paahau is scheduled for trial the week of June 23 before Circuit Judge Rom Trader. Star-Advertiser.

On Tuesday, Forest City Military Communities announced the completion of a decade-long military housing proj­ect to renovate and rebuild about half of the Navy and Marine Corps' more than 6,700 housing units in 36 neighborhoods on Oahu and Kauai as part of just such a public-private venture with the Department of the Navy. Star-Advertiser.

Walgreens plans to open its 19th store in Hawaii in Downtown Honolulu this fall right across from its biggest rival, CVS-owned Longs Drugs, a spokesman for the nation’s largest drugstore chain told Pacific Business News.

Hawaii

State officials are proposing two agreements to settle 11 of the 12 complaints against Dr. John D. Stover for medical and dental work. The pre-petition settlement agreements, filed April 15, will be sent to the state Medical Board and state Board of Dental Examiners for consideration. Tribune-Herald.

Changes to flood zone maps in South Kona could mean elevations of houses as well as insurance premiums. The Federal Emergency Management Agency is in the process of updating flood maps for several areas in Hawaii County, with South Kona and Waikoloa among the most recent areas. South Hilo will also come under FEMA scrutiny in the near future. West Hawaii Today.

Lincoln Ashida, the county’s top civil attorney for the past 13 years, is moving to the private sector. The longtime government lawyer is resigning at the end of the month to join the law firm Torkildson, Katz, Moore, Hetherington & Harris. Big Island Now.

A group of protesters gathered outside of Lincoln Park in downtown Hilo on Tuesday morning, sporting signs that read “Aloha not racism” and “Park for Peace.” Tribune-Herald.

Maui

A bill that effectively bans tobacco use at county parks, beaches and recreational facilities in Maui County, passed second and final reading today in the Maui County Council. Maui Now.

The chairman of the Maui County Council's Budget and Finance Committee is not looking to make any "significant rate changes" or to do any "upheaval" to current real property tax rates - in contrast to Mayor Alan Arakawa's proposed budget calling for an across-the-board 6.5 percent increase in rates. Maui News.

Kauai

It’s been eight months since the County of Kauai began closing Hanamaulu Beach Park at night in an effort to combat excessive vandalism, illegal activity and vagrancy. Garden Island.

For more than eight decades, the County of Kauai-owned Wailua Golf Course has been known as one of the more affordable pastimes on the island. But deciding fees for the golf course could change. The Kauai County Council is expected to decide today whether to put the issue on this year’s ballot for voters to decide. Garden Island.

Raises for Hawaii principals, UH culls presidential candidates, attorneys call Kauai GMO opponents 'eco-terrorists,' hotel workers fight condo conversion, Mauii stream deal reached, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Maui stream, courtesy Earthjustice

The state Commission on Water Resource Management has approved a settlement to a decade-long legal dispute that is expected to assure continuous flow of streams in an area of the West Maui Mountains, particularly Iao Stream. Star-Advertiser.

For the first time in more than a century, there will be a steady flow of water from mauka to makai in all four Na Wai Eha streambeds. Maui News.

A decade–long Maui water dispute has been settled. Over the past 10 years, Native Hawaiian and conservation groups have been caught in a legal battle with Hawaiian Commercial and Sugar Company and Wailuku Water Company over how much water the companies should divert from Na Wai Eha, or The Four Great Waters. These include Iao, Waihee, Waiehu and Waikapu streams. Hawaii Public Radio.

An arbitration panel has awarded annual 4.5 percent pay raises to approximately 850 Department of Education principals, vice principals and other school and district-level educational officers, the Hawaii Government Employees Association announced Monday. Star-Advertiser.

The University of Hawaii presidential committee has completed its work and will send a shortlist of names to the full Board of Regents on April 28, according to a UH news release. Star-Advertiser.

The House and Senate remain apart on what to do with the minimum wage. The House wants it to increase to $10 by 2018 but the Senate wants a $10.10 wage by 2017. The House also wants to increase the tip credit — the amount that businesses like restaurants can deduct from employees who rely on tips — to 75 cents by 2016, while the Senate wants to keep it at 25 cents. Civil Beat.

State Rep. Tom Brower hinted Monday at how the Legislature might amend the law that determines how much hotel tax money each of Hawaii’s four counties receives annually. Brower, one of the co-chairs on a joint House-Senate committee that is working on the bill, said the House is working on one of two possibilities: removing the cap in step increases or raising the cap. Civil Beat.

Parents are pushing the Hawaii Legislature to pass a bill that would require insurance companies to cover treatments for autism, a move opposed by some insurers, who say it could lead to higher costs for people seeking coverage. Associated Press.

House and Senate budget conferees have agreed to a $50 million kickoff of a statewide program to provide financing for photovoltaic and other alternative energy initiatives. It is designed to make clean energy projects available for under-served community members, including low- and moderate-income homeowners and renters and non-profit organizations. Big Island Now.

Hawaii’s healthy citizens owe much to the state’s trailblazing health system and its long history of near-universal health insurance. Tribune.

On Tap at the Hawaii Legislature: April 22. A selective list of bills, resolutions, hearings, briefings and events for Tuesday at the state Capitol. Civil Beat.

Oahu

A Honolulu City Council committee is planning to take up a measure on Tuesday that aims to protect hospitality jobs lost when hotels convert rooms to condos and time shares. Bill 16 would require companies to apply for a permit before transforming more than 20 percent of their hotel rooms to condo or time share units. Civil Beat.

Chinatown has attracted its share of hip restaurants, bars and art houses over the last decade. Now the lure of flexible office space and business support might attract start-up companies and technology entrepreneurs to the area. Star-Advertiser.

Construction of the Honolulu rail system is expected to spark a development boom along the transit corridor running from East Kapolei to Ala Moana Center and a key element in the city's emerging transit-oriented development plans is supposed to be affordable housing. Civil Beat.

CBRE Inc. Hawaii, one of the largest commercial real estate firms in the state, is cutting its office space in half at its headquarters in Downtown Honolulu. The “Workplace 360” model, which is currently being constructed in one-half of CBRE’s office at Bishop Square’s Pauahi Tower in Downtown Honolulu, will be a 100 percent free-address environment, where no one has an assigned office or workstation. Pacific Business News.

Hawaii
Prospects are good that a bill will pass this legislative session allowing experimental sustainability communities in Maui and Hawaii counties, following the appointment of a House-Senate conference committee and dismissal of ethics charges against the bill’s sponsor. West Hawaii Today.

Gov. Neil Abercrombie announced Monday the release of $3.3 million for a new aircraft rescue and firefighting facility (ARFF) at Hilo International Airport. The amount was part of a larger release of $335 million for various airport projects around the state. Associated Press.

Hawaii County officials have asked a federal bankruptcy court to allow them to foreclose on $20 million worth of South Kona land. West Hawaii Today.

Three former Hawaii Community College student government officers say they were voted off the Hilo school's student council after trying to account for an estimated $1.8 million in student fees that have been collected over the past five years. Star-Advertiser.

The Natural Energy Laboratory of Hawaii Authority is seeking a new lease for the former HGP-A geothermal test site. NELHA Executive Director Greg Barbour said the new lease would not allow for additional geothermal use on the property. Tribune-Herald.

Maui
A total of $305.5 million is being released for the planned Consolidated Car Rental Facility and roadway improvements projects at Kahului Airport on Maui, Governor Neil Abercrombie announced today. Maui Now.

A teenager who stowed away in a wheel well Sunday during a Hawaiian Airlines flight from San Jose, Calif., to Maui was found to be in stable condition at Kahului Airport and was later transported to Honolulu for follow-up medical care, an ambulance company official said. Maui News.

Kauai

Kauai’s biotech seed industry is asking a judge to nullify the county’s pesticide and genetically modified crop ordinance without going to trial. Plaintiffs Syngenta, Pioneer Hi-Bred, Agrigenetics and BASF jointly filed a pair of motions last week seeking summary judgment in their legal challenge of Ordinance 960 (formerly Bill 2491). Garden Island.

County residents can give their two cents on four bills seeking to generate more money for county services and reallocate future tax revenues Wednesday. Of those four proposals which will go before the County Council, three were pitched by Mayor Bernard Carvalho Jr.’s administration this year and range from increasing landfill tipping fees to modifying county tax allocations for open space projects. Garden Island.

Jeff Davis, known commonly by his radio show host name, “The Solar Guy,” has announced his run for governor as a member of the Libertarian party. Garden Island.

Week of hula in Hilo, revenge porn in lawmakers' sights, stowaway boy survives cross-Pacific wheel-well flight to Maui, counties to learn their share of hotel tax, EMS staff shortage threatens Honolulu, Kauai fights wastewater quality standards, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Merrie Monarch file photo © 2014 All Hawaii News

About 2,500 witnessed a Sunday midday performance by Halau O Ka Ua Kani Lehua under the direction of kumu hula Johnny Lum Ho. The performance was part of the Merrie Monarch Festival’s Ho‘olaule‘a, the kick-off event for Merrie Monarch week in Hilo. Tribune-Herald.

See this week's full Merrie Monarch schedule here.

There's a juggling act going on at the Hawaii Legislature as lawmakers negotiate the finer details of hundreds of bills. Members of the House and Senate are getting together in conference committees this week to bridge the gaps between their goals. Associated Press.

The counties will likely know Monday afternoon if the state is going to give them millions of dollars in additional hotel tax money. Hawaii lawmakers are scheduled to meet in conference committee to finally decide the issue that has kept local officials guessing all session. Civil Beat.

Legislation designed to protect victims and punish perpetrators of "revenge porn" is making its way through the Hawaii Legislature. House Bill 1750 has advanced in the state Senate and House of Representatives with little opposition. The bill would make it a first-degree violation of privacy to post an image or video of another person either nude or engaging in sexual contact without their consent and with the intent to "substantially harm" that person. Civil Beat.

Money Floods Campaign Coffers in CD1 Race. Civil Beat.

You can trace the genetic makeup of most corn grown in the U.S., and in many other places around the world, to Hawaii. But these same farms have become a flashpoint in a spreading debate over genetic engineering in agriculture. Associated Press.

Hawaii's community college students lag far behind the national average when it comes to timely graduations. Data from the National Center for Education Statistics shows that fewer than 13 percent of the students who enrolled in one of Hawaii’s community colleges in 2009 graduated from their programs within three years, the benchmark typically used by the federal government to describe “on-time” graduation.  Civil Beat.

Hawaii hotel rates rose 4.5 percent during the week of April 6-12, while statewide occupancy was relatively flat, according to a report by Hospitality Advisors LLC and STR Inc. Pacific Business News.

Oahu

It’s the first time the Honolulu Emergency Medical Services Division has faced this problem: too many employees calling in sick. EMS couldn’t talk on camera or by phone, but told KHON2 the unexpected staff shortage forced them to temporarily suspend service at four of its 22 units on Oahu.

Honolulu has endured 12 straight weeks of rising gasoline prices, but an industry expert says fuel prices may peak finally in the next two to four weeks before a possible slide back down. Star-Advertiser.

Updated rules should make it easier for the city to maintain and regulate Wai­kiki publication dispensing racks and their enclosures. Bill 67 (2013) was approved 9-0 by the Hono­lulu City Council on Wednesday and signed into law Thursday by Mayor Kirk Caldwell. Star-Advertiser.

On Monday, construction will begin on a 6-foot-high aluminum fence along the Cromwell's seawall to prevent jumping and injuries. Star-Advertiser.

USS Port Royal to remain with Navy. The cruiser will be "laid up" at Pearl Harbor until it is returned to service. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii

The U.S. Department of Agriculture in September eased rules prohibiting the export of the avocados to the mainland, allowing farmers here to ship the Sharwils to 32 cold weather states each winter, from November through March. West Hawaii Today.

Maui

A 16-year-old boy who stowed away in the wheel well of a Hawaiian Airlines jet that traveled from San Jose, Calif., to Maui on Sunday has been released to Child Protective Services and will soon be reunited with his family, according to the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Star-Advertiser.

The FBI says a teenager stowed away on a Hawaiian Airlines flight to Maui from San Jose, California. Hawaii News Now.

A 2nd Circuit judge has granted Maui County a partial summary judgment and a preliminary injunction against Paia businessman Michael Baskin, ruling that he's prohibited from continuing to operate two of his short-term rental properties without required permits. Maui News.

A disabled Maui man who was forced to crawl on his hands and knees by airline workers has reached a legal settlement with the carrier. Baraka Kanaan made national headlines when he sued Delta Airlines last year, alleging that he was twice forced to crawl down the aisle of his plane, down a flight of stairs and onto the tarmac, even though he is partially paralyzed. Hawaii News Now.

Kauai

The County of Kauai is fighting stricter water quality standards at its Wailua Wastewater Treatment Plant, which already has a history of exceeding certain pollutant limitations. Garden Island.

The Elections Division of the Office of the County Clerk will be mailing Yellow Notice of Voter Registration Postcards to all voters on Monday. Also known as the “Yellow Card,” the postcard provides election dates and  information for the upcoming elections. Garden Island.

Molokai

Managing the kitchen at Lanikeha Community Center on Molokai had been the Molokai Community Service Council's kuleana for more than a decade, but the state Department of Hawaiian Home Lands turned over the responsibility to another community group last month. Maui News.

Hawaii, Turtle Bay reach conservation deal, salary hikes for Honolulu, Hawaii County officials, minimum wage hike could be delayed, GAO to probe Hawaii Obamacare exchange, police to be barred from sex with prostitutes, Maui County to settle blogger's First Amendment lawsuit, Ethics Commission to investigate nepotism at state hospital, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Turtle Bay Resort public domain image

The owner of Turtle Bay Resort on Oahu's North Shore has agreed to sell some of its development rights to the state, the city and a trust for $48.5 million in a deal that will reduce the resort's expansion plan and preserve much undeveloped land. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii state and city officials have reached a $48.5 million deal with Turtle Bay Resort to conserve more than 600 acres of the resort's land that was slated for development. Gov. Neil Abercrombie announced the agreement on Thursday at the Hawaii State Capitol along with Attorney General David Louie, Sen. Clayton Hee, Turtle Bay's CEO Drew Stotesbury, Honolulu Mayor Kirk Caldwell, Honolulu City Council Chairman Ernie Martin, the Trust for Public Land Hawaiian Islands Program Director Lea Hong, and North Shore Community Land Trust Executive Director Douglass Cole. Civil Beat.

Turtle Bay Resort public domain image

A $48.5 million deal has been reached to establish a conservation easement on about 666 acres of land at Turtle Bay Resort on Oahu’s North Shore, saving portions of this land from future development forever, Hawaii state officials said Thursday. Pacific Business News.

Turtle Bay Resort is agreeing to protect more than 660 acres of land on Oahu’s North Shore in a deal reached with the state, county and a nonprofit organization. The resort will continue to own and use the land. But it and future owners will be bound by conservation easement restrictions. Associated Press.

Turtle Bay Resort public domain image

Gov. Neil Abercrombie today announced an agreement has been reached between the State of Hawaii, City and County of Honolulu, The Trust for Public Land, and Turtle Bay Resort (TBR) to establish a conservation easement on 665.8 acres of land at Turtle Bay Resort in Kahuku. Hawaii News Now.

There’s been a new development in the battle over land belonging to the Turtle Bay Resort. Governor Neil Abercrombie has announced a deal that would conserve 665 acres of land on Oahu’s North Shore. The $48.5 million agreement establishes a conservation easement, protecting the coastal area from future resort development. Hawaii Public Radio.

State lawmakers in both chambers agree that legal permission for police to have sex with prostitutes should end. House and Senate members are still negotiating on the version of House Bill 1926 they will send to the governor. But they concur that the crime bill should revoke a peculiar exemption that permits police in Hawaii, in the course of their duties, to have sex with prostitutes. Associated Press.

The U.S. Government Accountability Office said Wednesday it will investigate Hawaii Health Connector’s spending of its $204 million federal grant. Senate Minority Leader Sam Slom filed a complaint March 27, asking for the investigation. Hawaii Reporter.

Republican state Sen. Sam Slom said the U.S. Government Accountability Office will investigate the Hawaii Health Connector's use of $204 million in federal grants. Slom complained in March to the GAO, an independent, nonpartisan agency that investigates federal government spending for Congress, that Hawaii had spent more than $80 million on information technology contracts for a faulty website. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii House members put forward a new minimum wage plan Thursday that would allow most employers in the state to take a longer time to increase wages. In the new proposal presented to a conference committee of Senate and House members, employers with fewer than 100 employees — most employers in the state — would not have to pay $10 an hour until 2019, phasing in the increase over five years. Associated Press.

House and Senate lawmakers found common ground Thursday on a few dozen differences between their chambers’ respective versions of the state budget, but it was mostly minor stuff on the second day of hearings in conference. But with an April 25 deadline to iron out a final draft, the pressure will be on the 29-member joint committee to tackle the bigger disagreements when it reconvenes Monday. Civil Beat.

Sen. Clayton Hee wants to see how Gov. Neil Abercrombie feels about requiring some of the most powerful state boards and commissions to start filing public financial disclosure statements.  If Senate Bill 2682 can avoid a veto, Hee said he’s inclined to go along with the House version of the legislation despite its broader reach. Civil Beat.

The state Ethics Commission has agreed to open an investigation into nepotism at the Hawaii State Hospital. A state Senate panel investigating mismanagement and assaults on staff at the Kaneohe psychiatric hospital has documented that at least eight staffers have relatives working at the facility. Star-Advertiser.

U.S. Rep. Tulsi Gabbard is making her first trip to Japan, South Korea and China as a member of Congress. Gabbard, a Democrat, announced Thursday she will be part of a mostly Republican delegation to meet with leaders in the three Asian powerhouse nations. Star-Advertiser.

State roundup for April 18. Associated Press.

Oahu

The Honolulu Salary Commission is proposing 8 percent raises be given to Mayor Kirk Caldwell, City Council members and most department heads starting July 1. Star-Advertiser.

With its court battles behind it, Oahu's elevated rail project is poised to become a concrete-and-steel reality and city officials have launched an effort to show the public the construction that's already happening. Star-Advertiser.

If you change channels between local television newscasts, you may have noticed that some of the broadcasts are identical. The Federal Communications Commission, which has the power to regulate such matters, recently concluded that it is a problem worthy of its attention. A recent FCC decision will prohibit a single company from controlling two or more television stations in the same market, which could signal changes in Hawaii’s TV news market. Civil Beat.

A high ranking Honolulu Police officer has been stripped of his police powers.  Maj. Ryan Borges has turned in his gun and badge while the department investigates harassment complaints from a 33-year-old man. Hawaii News Now.

A study on traffic lights passed second reading and would cost $5.6 million. KHON2 wanted to know why this study would be so expensive and how it would help.

Hawaii

The county Salary Commission has pay hikes in store for county officials who didn’t get raises last year, including the next mayor and County Council. West Hawaii Today.

Hawaii Island’s tourism industry has steadily increased over the years, but an increase in hotel prices and air fares could have an adverse effect on the market this year. That was the message David Uchiyama, brand manager and vice president of the Hawaii Tourism Authority, gave at a luncheon with the Japenese Chamber of Commerce Thursday. Tribune-Herald.

EPA official tours Kona reuse site. West Hawaii Today.

An advocacy group for victims of sexual abuse is asking the state Department of Human Services and Catholic Charities to explain how children were continually placed in the care of Jay Ram, accused in a lawsuit of abusing boys he fostered and adopted. Tribune-Herald.

The Leeward Planning Commission is sending a bill requiring subdivision site visits back to the County Council with an unfavorable recommendation, but not before conceding the concept behind the proposal has some value. West Hawaii Today.

Maui
For the first Lanai Planning Commission meeting since the February plane crash that killed two Maui County planning staff members, all county officials from Maui attending Wednesday night's meeting elected to take the ferry to and from Lanai. Maui News.

A Maui County Council committee recommended Wednesday to authorize a settlement of a federal lawsuit in which county administration officials were alleged to have violated an employee's First Amendment right to free speech in a case involving the popular MAUIWatch Facebook page. Maui News.

Maui Fire Chief Jeffrey Murray received a positive evaluation from the Maui County Fire and Public Safety Commission during its annual mandated review, the commission announced today. Maui Now.

Despite having to relocate their businesses to Lahaina and Maalaea harbors after Mala Wharf closed for repairs March 16, boaters and commercial tour operators say business is still "on par." Maui News.

Hawaiian Commercial & Sugar Co. is researching options that could possibly end the need to burn the leaves off its sugar cane crop before harvest. Maui News.

Kauai

Review: Police shooting justified. Following a Kauai Police Department investigation, the Office of the Prosecuting Attorney has concluded its review of the police-involved shooting of Mason Saio on Aug. 16. Garden Island.

Court documents released Wednesday by the state attorney general’s office show a company owned by retired auto dealer James Pflueger has paid $350,000 to the state of Hawaii. The money was part of a controversial plea deal that let’s Pflueger’s company, Pacific 808 Properties LP, and not Pflueger himself, take responsibility for 7 manslaughter charges. Hawaii Reporter. In November 2008, Pflueger was charged with 7 counts of manslaughter and one count of reckless endangerment in the first degree for recklessly causing the deaths of 7 people when his Ka Loko dam breached on March 14, 2006. Hawaii Reporter.

Waikiki hotels fight tax hike, Democrats shut out Ige, Micronesians seek benefits, X-Men director accused of sex abuse, H-1 construction ahead of schedule, Maui seeks water solution, vendors vie for waste contract, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Waikiki beach © 2014 All Hawaii News

Waikiki hotel and resort officials say they oppose the idea that their tax rate will rise next year when rates for most other property owners will not. Star-Advertiser.

State Sen. David Ige said Wednesday that he is disappointed he will not get a speaking role at the state Democratic convention in May while Gov. Neil Abercrombie will be able to address the delegates. Convention planners have decided that only the party's top eight elected officials — including Abercrombie — will get to speak about progress on the party's platform during the two-day event at the Sheraton Waikiki.  Star-Advertiser.

Al Gore might have brought 9,000 people to their feet Tuesday night, but it’s U.S. Sen. Brian Schatz who took center stage during this week’s sustainability conference at the University of Hawaii. Schatz is locked in a tight primary race with U.S. Rep. Colleen Hanabusa, which makes it hard to leave election politics out of any decision he makes even if it is, as he says, for the betterment of Hawaii. Civil Beat.

State Rep. Mark Takai leverages his military experience in the first TV ad to come from the crowded field of Democratic candidates vying for the open 1st Congressional District seat. Civil Beat.

Stanley Chang, running for Congressional District 1, spoke today on the need for millionaires to carry a higher tax burden. Hawaii Independent.

Micronesian community members marched from Kalihi to the federal building in Honolulu on Wednesday to rally for migrant health care and ask Hawaii's congressional delegation to redouble its efforts to reinstate Medicaid payments. The 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled earlier this month that the state has no obligation to offer paid health care benefits to Micronesian migrants covered under the Compact of Free Association, which allows Palau, Marshall Islands and Federated States of Micronesia citizens to live and work in the United States. Star-Advertiser.

The State’s Affordable Care Act Insurance Portal, the Hawai’i Health Connector, needs more money to stay in business next year. Hawaii Public Radio.

Electricity rates in Hawaii remain by far the highest in the nation. And among the products used to generate electricity in the state, oil remains the undisputed leader. Civil Beat.

A former child model and aspiring actor is accusing “X-Men” franchise director Bryan Singer of sexually abusing him as a teenager in a federal lawsuit filed in Hawaii. Associated Press.

A former child model and aspiring actor is accusing "X-Men" franchise director Bryan Singer of sexually abusing him as a teenager in a federal lawsuit filed in Hawaii. The lawsuit filed Wednesday says the prominent director of the forthcoming "X-Men: Days of Future Past" forced Michael Egan III into sex during parties in California and Hawaii when he was 17 in the late 1990s. Star-Advertiser.

Dozens of seniors participated in Kupuna Power Day at the State Capitol Wednesday morning. KITV4.

Every few years, lawmakers and their staffers come and go -- but one smiling face at the State Capitol has been a constant for nearly two decades.  60-year old Cheryl Derby has been volunteering in State Representative Mark Takai's office since 1999. Hawaii News Now.

On Tap at the Hawaii Legislature: April 17. A selective list of bills, resolutions, hearings, briefings and events for Thursday at the state Capitol. Civil Beat.

Oahu

Representatives of more than two dozen nonprofits appeared at a Honolulu City Council hearing on Wednesday to cheer on a budget proposal that would restore about $1.2 million in funding to such organizations after the money was cut during last year's budget negotiations. Civil Beat.

Hundreds of millions of dollars are being spent to fix Oahu’s roads and sewer lines, but lawmakers are asking to spend taxpayers’ money in other ways, including studying climate change and its effects on Hawaii. For that, Honolulu City Council Chairman Ernie Martin is asking for $2 million in the budget. The request passed a second reading late Wednesday afternoon. KHON2.

The state has agreed to settle three lawsuits filed by parents who alleged "cruel and unusual punishment" and abuse of their daughters, special education students, at the hands of Kipapa Elementary School employees. Star-Advertiser.

After months of dealing with heavy construction along the H-1 between the Likelike highway and Ward Avenue, Honolulu motorists received good news Wednesday. The extensive rehabilitation project is two months ahead of schedule and on budget.  Its set to finish in July at a cost of $42 million. Hawaii News Now.

The ambitious redevelopment plans for the former Kam Drive-In site across from Pearlridge Center won final approval Wednesday from the Honolulu City Council. Star-Advertiser.

Kapio News, the newspaper run by students at Kapiolani Community College, is printing its final issue at the end of this month. The school administration made the decision to shutter the paper because it wants to “move Kapio in a new direction.” Civil Beat.

Hawaii
Eight companies submitted bids to build a waste reduction facility by the Tuesday deadline. The county at first refused to provide the number of bidders, but provided the information Wednesday evening after the newspaper made repeated calls to county officials and the state Office of Information Practices. West Hawaii Today.

The Big Island’s new resident physician training program run by Hilo Medical Center is expecting to hear by the end of the week whether or not the $2.8 million in state funding it needs to run the program will come through or not. Pacific Business News.

The Hawaii state Judiciary says a Hilo lawyer has been appointed as a family court judge on the Big Island. Court officials said Wednesday that Chief Justice Mark Recktenwald appointed Henry Nakamoto as judge of Third Circuit Family Court. Associated Press.

Real estate sales are increasing in the Puna district and decreasing in South Hilo for the first quarter of 2014. Tribune-Herald.

Maui

At least two main ideas vied Tuesday night as ways for Maui County to raise the millions of dollars needed over the next 20 years for water system improvements, with the most costly being for waterlines, pumps and reservoirs to supply water to drought-plagued Upcountry residents, farmers and ranchers. Maui News.

Maui County Council members expressed dismay Tuesday morning when Fire Chief Jeff Murray asked for a delay until July 2015 for the long-anticipated transfer of beach lifeguards to the Maui Fire Department. Maui News.

A bill in the state Legislature that could assist with the financing of a long-awaited West Maui hospital is currently in a state House-Senate conference committee awaiting scheduling, Maui legislators said this week. Maui News.

Kauai

It’s back to the drawing board, again. The state Department of Transportation will be looking at several options over the next year aimed at relieving traffic congestion on Kuhio Highway, including one to open the Pouli Road connection to the Kapaa Bypass Road — re-addressing a problem officials have been trying to solve for at least 20 years. Garden Island.

A year behind schedule, the state is set to tackle the issue of drifting beach sand at the Kikiaola Small Boat Harbor in Kekaha. The upcoming project, initially slated to begin last summer, involves relocating 80,000 cubic yards of beach sand from the east end of Kikiaola Small Boat Harbor to the west side. Garden Island.