#BoycottHawaii trending on Twitter, gay tourism study released, state could be dinged by Trump budget, Honolulu rail spared, voter turnout lowest in nation, police set to test body cams, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Hawaii pool party at Kona resort © 2017 All Hawaii News

Hawaii won in court over the travel ban Wednesday but found itself in the midst of a social media firestorm Thursday as #BoycottHawaii went viral on President Donald Trump’s favorite platform, Twitter. Star-Advertiser.

After a federal judge in Hawaii blocked President Trump’s revised travel ban Wednesday, Trump supporters took to Twitter to call for a boycott of all things Hawaii. Civil Beat.

#BoycottHawaii is a hashtag that’s currently trending on Twitter after a federal judge in Hawaii blocked President Donald Trump’s revised travel ban. KHON2.

Derrick Watson: An Apolitical Judge Caught In A Partisan Firestorm. Acquaintances call the federal judge from Honolulu reserved and unemotional. But he’s under attack from the president and his supporters. Civil Beat.

The Hawaii Tourism Authority is bringing the preferences, sentiments and profiles of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender travelers out of the closet with the Thursday release of the state’s first commissioned studies for this niche market. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii's airline industry saw gains in 2016 due to the addition of new routes, though there are huge market opportunities from Asia and Japan, according to independent airline consultancy Ailevon Pacific. Pacific Business News.

New air service to Hawaii in 2017 is expected to bolster Hawaii’s economy by millions of dollars and help the state reach a sixth straight year of record-setting tourism performance. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii would stand to lose tens of millions of federal dollars annually that support services for the poor, affordable housing, the environment, local arts and media organizations under President Trump’s 2018 budget outline for discretionary spending released Thursday. Star-Advertiser.

President's budget proposal includes significant cuts to Hawaii programs, services. Hawaii News Now.

Trump’s draft budget still includes Honolulu’s rail funds. KITV.

At least 6,000 Hawaii students — including more than 1,000 on the Big Island — could be without after-school care if President Donald Trump’s proposed 2018 fiscal budget were to take effect as is. Tribune-Herald.

The East-West Center is listed among the Trump administration’s programs that would be eliminated under the president’s proposed budget cuts. Pacific Business News.

How Trump’s proposed budget could affect agencies, programs in Hawaii. KHON2.

For the fifth presidential election in a row, Hawaii had the lowest voter turnout rate in the nation, with only 43 percent of eligible voters casting ballots, according to a study. Star-Advertiser.

Lawmakers: Mail-in voting can improve Hawaii’s low voter turnout. Hawaii News Now.

Hundreds of people with developmental disabilities thronged the Capitol on Thursday to celebrate 30 years of progress toward self-determination and to push for adequate funding. Star-Advertiser.

The U.S. Air Force this week hosted allies and partners in Hawaii for a symposium on the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter, which can sneak undetected behind enemy radar. Star-Advertiser.

Oahu

The Honolulu rail board approved nearly $15 million in additional change orders Thursday — the latest tranche of money to help cover changes to construction contracts that project leaders have said the city issued prematurely. Star-Advertiser.

The Honolulu Police Department hopes to have patrol officers in at least one of its districts equipped with body cameras by the end of the year under a pilot project, HPD officials told the City Council Budget Committee on Thursday. Star-Advertiser.

A Kakaako street will be closed Saturday as the city begins construction of a new protected bike lane. Hawaii News Now.

Nineteen-year-old Christian Gutierrez, one of three people charged with slaughtering Laysan albatrossess at Kaena Point in 2015, agreed to a plea deal Thursday in Circuit Court. Civil Beat.

The Grand Islander, a 38-story Hawaii time-share property by Hilton Grand Vacations, is at 99 percent occupancy just two weeks after opening in Waikiki. Pacific Business News.

Hawaii

Much of the Akaka Falls State Park trail system remains closed to visitors until further notice. The upper portion of the trail between the Akaka Falls and Kahuna Falls overlooks was damaged accidentally in February during the removal of trees. Tribune-Herald.

Rain and snowfall continue to replenish Lake Waiau, keeping the alpine lake that sits some 13,000 feet above sea-level atop Mauna Kea nearly full or full for more than two years. West Hawaii Today.

An endangered Hawaiian monk seal has died after wandering into a net pen and becoming trapped at a fish farm that was partially funded by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration in Hawaii. Associated Press.

West Hawaii Today senior reporter Nancy Cook Lauer earned the Big Island Press Club’s Torch of Light award for her work on breaking the story surrounding former-Hawaii County Mayor Billy Kenoi’s use of a county-issued pCard. West Hawaii Today.

Press Release: The Big Island Press Club presented its annual Torch of Light Award to reporter Nancy Cook Lauer for shining a light on a credit card scandal involving former Hawaii Island Mayor Billy Kenoi, who received the group’s Lava Tube dishonor award for keeping the public in the dark.

Maui

The Hawaii Public Utilities Commission’s public hearing on 113.5 percent sewer rate increases for 880 residential, business and government customers in Pukalani will begin at 6 p.m. today in Pukalani Elementary School’s cafeteria. Maui News.

The developer of a proposed project below Wailuku Heights that called for 147 residential lots, 450 multifamily units, a park and commercial area has nixed the project, according to a filing with the state Land Use Commission. Maui News.

Almost 280 people live in the Front Street Apartments, an affordable housing complex in Lahaina on Maui’s western shore. In two and a half years, their rents will convert to market rates if state lawmakers don’t take action to keep the 142 units affordable. Civil Beat.

Waiehu Golf Course Pro Shop co-owner Catherine Cordeiro holds a stack of petitions against Mayor Alan Arakawa’s proposal to shut down the municipal course. Maui News.

State House budget approved; moves to Senate for review. Proposed funding for Maui County airport improvements, ag park, flood damage included. Maui News.

Kauai

Fixing roads, freezing county vacancies, raising property taxes and establishing a special reserve fund are some of Mayor Bernard Carvalho, Jr.’s goals for the coming fiscal year. Garden Island.

Kauai residents are a step closer to being able to legally access an area in Koloa to get to the shoreline. Garden Island.

Award-winning documentary features pesticide use on Kauai. Garden Island.

Seven aircraft tour companies on Kauai are staffing a help line available for the public to report complaints about low-flying aircraft and noise issues relating to air tour operators. Garden Island.

A new study provided the first rigorous population estimate of an endangered bird species found only on Kauai. Garden Island.

Commentary: In recognition of Sunshine Week. When the government won't talk to you, the documents will. Eventually.

 

 “We are always secretive. It’s part of being a legislator.”

Those unapologetic words this week from Hawaii House Speaker Joe Souki show the Aloha State still has a long road ahead in making government more transparent. The quote, reported by both the Star-Advertiser and Civil Beat, couldn't have been timelier, coming in the middle of Sunshine Week.

Launched in 2005, Sunshine Week has grown into an "enduring annual initiative to promote open government and push back against excessive official secrecy," according to its website. It's sponsored by the American Society of News Editors and Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press, with support from John S. and James L. Knight Foundation and The Gridiron Club and Foundation.

Considering everything happening on the federal level, it's easy to see why Sunshine Week is more important than ever. But access to government doesn't stop in Washington, D.C.

Not just the media, but everyday citizens have a right to ask for, and receive, government documents. They have a right to ask -- no, demand -- that their government work in the open, in the sunlight of public scrutiny. They have a right to know how taxpayer money is spent.

Yet, more and more, government is drawing a screen over that important access. Government, at the state, national and local level, seeks to provide the public only the information, or in some cases, misinformation, that it wants the public to know about.

Our leaders  need to be reminded that sunshine is the best disinfectant, that citizens are more likely to understand and trust the workings of government if they can see it at work and that there is no embarrassment exemption in the Freedom of Information Act.

I have encountered resistance at the county, state and federal level as a reporter for a small daily newspaper, way out in the middle of the Pacific. Here's my story.

It took five years for the federal Transportation Security Administration to respond to my FOIA request for a list of items confiscated during a 12-month period at our five major airports. By the time I received them, they were literally old news.

On Oct. 17, 2013, I requested copies of tsunami inundation maps created for the state Emergency Management Agency by the state university. Yep. Still waiting. The state claims the maps will "confuse" the public if they're released. My appeal is being considered by the overworked and under-staffed Office of Information Practices.

In another case, it took five years of regular requests for records of our county mayor's taxpayer-paid purchasing card. Once someone apparently outside official channels finally provided me a document, I discovered the card was used for such personal expenses as hostess bars, where young attractive hostesses sit on your lap in exchange for overpriced drinks.

Our mayor was ultimately indicted by a grand jury for what turned out to be a continuing practice of using the card for private expenses -- a surfboard, a bicycle and lots of hefty bar tabs. He was cleared of theft charges by a jury after he proved he repaid the expenses, so there was no intent to steal. Funny thing though, many of the repayments came just after FOIA requests were submitted.

A study of more than 300 of those who seek (or provide) public records, released March 12 by the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation, found half of those surveyed said access to public records has deteriorated over the past four years, and nearly nine of 10 predicted access will continue to get worse under our new president, according to “Forecasting Freedom of Information," by David Cuillier of the University of Arizona School of Journalism and Eric Newton, of Arizona State University, as consulting editor.

After encountering so many roadblocks trying to get my questions answered, I've adopted a new mantra: "When the government won't talk to you, the documents will."

I'm adding this caveat: "Eventually."

Win for Hawaii attorney general as judge halts Trump travel ban, nobody wants to be Honolulu top cop, Hawaii House passes $28B budget, Amazon to start collecting Hawaii taxes, snorkeling masks studied after drownings, radios go online on Big Island, Kauai mayor touts tax hike, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Hawaii Attorney General Doug Chin, left, with staff leaving federal courthouse Wednesday, Facebook photo

Rejecting arguments from the government that President Donald Trump’s revised travel ban was substantially different from the first one, judges in Hawaii and Maryland blocked the executive order from taking effect as scheduled today, using the president’s own words as evidence that the order discriminates against Muslims. Associated Press.

In a case of legal deja vu, President Donald Trump’s new executive order on immigration suffered a major setback Wednesday, when a federal judge in Honolulu issued a temporary restraining order to keep the travel ban from taking effect nationwide. Civil Beat.

President Donald Trump says a federal judge in Hawaii demonstrated “unprecedented judicial overreach” when he ordered a temporary halt to Trump’s revised travel ban earlier today. Star-Advertiser.

PC: Joshua Wisch

For the second time, a federal court on Wednesday blocked President Donald Trump’s efforts to freeze immigration by refugees and citizens of some predominantly Muslim nations, putting the president’s revised travel ban on hold just hours before it was to take effect. Associated Press.

Hours before it was to take effect, President Donald Trump’s revised travel ban was put on hold Wednesday by a federal judge in Hawaii who questioned whether the administration was motivated by national security concerns. Associated Press.

A federal judge Wednesday granted a temporary restraining order filed by the State of Hawaii that puts the revised travel ban signed by President Donald Trump on hold. KHON2.

The judge who halted President Donald Trump’s revised travel ban is the only Native Hawaiian serving on the federal bench. Associated Press.

View the full opinion here.

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The Hawaii House passed the state’s $28 billion two-year budget at a time when state revenue projections are falling. Associated Press.

Using words like “prudent,” “cautious” and “conservative,” the Hawaii House on Wednesday unanimously passed the state’s operating budget, sending it over to the Senate for its review. Civil Beat.

Amazon said Wednesday it will begin collecting general excise tax on items sold in Hawaii. Star-Advertiser.

A tax credit that's offered to producers to film motion pictures and television shows in Hawaii may come with new requirements, including one to show respect and compliance with Hawaii's cultural beliefs and the environment. Hawaii News Now.

The Republican who chairs the U.S. House Committee on Natural Resources has teamed up with a congresswoman from American Samoa to lobby President Donald Trump to open all marine monuments, including those in the Hawaii area, to commercial fishing. Civil Beat.

Counties To Track Equipment Used In Snorkeling Deaths. A woman’s drowning spurs officials to consider the possible hidden dangers of full-face snorkeling masks. Civil Beat.

Investing in a college education pays off with substantially higher earnings over a Hawaii graduate’s lifetime, according to a newly released report by economists at the University of Hawaii that underscores the value of a college degree. Star-Advertiser.

Oahu

More than two weeks after the forced retirement of Honolulu's top cop, the department has not received any applications to become the city's next police chief — at least not yet. Hawaii News Now.

The city says an estimated $5 million from an approved charter amendment will help the Honolulu Zoo enhance its programs and its budget. Star-Advertiser.

Millennials in Honolulu pay some of the highest taxes in the nation compared to their counterparts in other cities, according to a new report by SmartAsset. Pacific Business News.

US soldiers train for jungle warfare at Hawaii rainforest. Associated Press.

The University of Hawaii Manoa has questioned the latest U.S. News & World Report graduate school rankings, saying the Washington, D.C.-based publication did not consider the complete data for its business school ranking. Pacific Business News.

Hawaii

A long awaited overhaul of the communication systems used by Hawaii County’s public agencies began rolling out this week as the Hawaii Police Department switched its radios to a new bandwidth. Tribune-Herald.

The Intermediate Court of Appeals has sided with former County Council Chairman Dominic Yagong and former County Clerk Jamae Kawauchi in a 2012 defamation lawsuit filed by Elections Administrator Pat Nakamoto and one of her staff. West Hawaii Today.

A notice to proceed on the Lako Street extension could be issued later this year. West Hawaii Today.

Monk seal dies in fish pen off Big Island. KITV.

Maui

The proposed $354.5 million mixed-used Makena Resort project narrowly received enough votes from the Maui Planning Commission on Tuesday to allow the project to move forward without needing to prepare a lengthy environmental impact statement. Maui News.

The Hawaii Board of Agriculture on Tuesday expanded the coffee berry borer quarantine to Maui, effective May 1. West Hawaii Today.

Maui’s biggest coffee farm wants to double or triple in size, and would like some state help to get there. Star-Advertiser.

Kmart — the first big-box store to open on Maui over two decades ago — will close June 11 after sales have been cut in half since the opening of Target, a store manager said Tuesday. Maui News.

Kauai

The county administration is seeking a $14 million increase and proposing tax hikes for the next fiscal year’s operating budget. Garden Island.

The mayor is seeking over $200 million for the operating budget and just under $15 million for capitol improvements. Garden Island.

The Department of Health says high levels of a harmful bacteria called Clostridium Perfringens -- an indicator of human and animal wastes -- were found during recent water testing in Waikomo Stream on Kauai's South Shore. Hawaii News Now.

Honeybee pollen study yields positive results. Some chemicals found in pollen raises concerns. Garden Island.

Sunscreen ban advances, payday loan regulation passes Senate, Hawaii v. Trump in court today, new Honolulu agencies to cost $1M, Uber comes to Big Island, Haleakala records 1.3M visitors, UH grad programs drop in rating, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Swimming at Waikiki © 2017 All Hawaii News

State lawmakers have advanced a bill making it illegal to use or apply sunscreen containing any amount of oxybenzone while at the beach or in the ocean. Star-Advertiser.

The Hawaii Senate voted last week to limit payday loan annual interest rates to 36 percent, down from the current allowable annual rate of 459 percent. Civil Beat.

More than 200 kupuna sporting orange T-shirts rallied at the state Capitol on Tuesday to protect senior programs in a “March for Meals,” as legislators weighed how to respond to a federal health care bill that could hike costs for the needy. Star-Advertiser.

Travel Ban Challenged In 3 Cities Wednesday — Including Honolulu. A local hearing is scheduled to begin six hours after one in Maryland and 90 minutes before another in Seattle. Civil Beat.

Hawaii versus Trump is expected be one of three lawsuits that will be heard in courts across the country Wednesday.  All this comes as President's Trump's travel ban is expected to kick in on Thursday. KITV.

Major federal budget cuts are going to hit Hawaii soon. Civil Beat.

Two high-profile state agencies are having difficulty attracting viable candidates to serve on their boards. Civil Beat.

Service members with Hawaii ties among group accused of trading military secrets for sex parties. KHON2.

Oahu

It will cost more than $1 million for the city to fully establish two new agencies that Oahu voters approved via City Charter amendments in November. Star-Advertiser.

The state Legislature is considering a bill to continue funding for Honolulu’s Rail Transit project. Hawaii Public Radio.

Just 3 inches below the asphalt on Factory Street in Kalihi lies a toxic dump that — until last summer — the government had forgotten about. Hawaii News Now.

Despite a growing call for a secondary access road through the Waianae Coast to relieve traffic congestion and address public safety concerns, the state Department of Transportation says it doesn’t have the money to build it and is instead focusing on improvements planned for Farrington Highway. Star-Advertiser.

While as many as a dozen residential high-rise condominiums are in some sort of development process along the Ala Moana-Kapiolani corridor, representing the next wave of towers in Honolulu’s urban core, a long-planned project roughly in the same area is now in limbo, Pacific Business News has learned.

A state judge says he intends to close his courtroom to the public when two Kamehameha Schools employees testify in May in a case involving a teacher accused of using a spy camera to record students in the shower at his home. Star-Advertiser.

Frustration mounts over 'slow' progress of Honolulu airport renovations. Hawaii News Now.

The city’s prosecutor and public defender agree that a pilot program to adjudicate low-level, nonviolent offenses for homeless defendants is working. Star-Advertiser.

Several of the graduate programs at the University of Hawaii at Manoa have taken a turn in the wrong direction based on the latest rankings of the country’s top graduate schools from U.S. News & World Report. Pacific Business News.

President Barack Obama heads to Kailua course during surprise visit to Oahu. Hawaii News Now.

Hawaii

A bit of Silicon Valley is set to arrive on the Big Island this week with the launch of ride-hailing startup Uber. The phone app will go live Friday for the entire island. Tribune-Herald.

Controlling invasives and human activity in order to protect endangered species while honoring traditional practices and access rights are highlights of a management plan for county-owned lands along Kawa Bay that will be discussed at a public meeting this evening in Naalehu. West Hawaii Today.

The Office of Mauna Kea Management plans to nearly double the number of parking stalls at the Mauna Kea Visitor Information Station. Tribune-Herald.

Hawaii County Parks and Recreation Director Charmaine Kamaka doesn’t yet have a concrete strategy to reclaim Old Kona Airport Park from the homeless population that has commandeered it through sheer numbers. But the outline of a plan is beginning to take shape. West Hawaii Today.

Maui

Haleakalā National Park recorded 1,263,558 visitors in 2016, the National Park Service’s centennial year, up 4% (46,786 visitors) from 2015. Maui Now.

The Department of Land and Natural Resources released a statement today saying it has received numerous comments from concerned members of the public regarding the Environmental Impact Statement Preparation Notice for a water lease in East Maui filed by Alexander & Baldwin Inc. and East Maui Irrigation Company, Limited.  Maui Now.

Golf enthusiasts on Maui are pitching ideas ranging from higher prices to night golf in an attempt to keep Maui County's mayor from shutting down an 87-year-old municipal golf course. Associated Press.

Kauai

In its newest version, the General Plan Update spells out ways to enforce policies. Garden Island.

Eradication plan questioned. About 15 attend Waimea meeting on proposal to poison Lehua Island rats to protect native birds. Garden Island.

Kunoa Cattle Co., which manages about 2,000 cattle across several thousand acres of former sugarcane land on Kauai and operates the Oahu slaughterhouse facility, has received $300,000 from a Hawaii-based venture capital fund, the company said Tuesday. Pacific Business News.

Obama in town, Galera withdraws schools superintendent bid, House reorganizes committees, forecasters drop economic prediction, Ala Moana mall to spend $4M on railings after fatality, Kauai cellphone tower disguised as clock tower, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Obama at World Conservation Congress Honolulu September 2016, media pool photo

Former President Barack Obama is back in the islands. KHON2.

Coming off a string of high-profile meetings, former President Barack Obama made an unannounced return to Hawaii today. Star-Advertiser.

Former President Barack Obama made a surprise visit to Oahu this week. Hawaii News Now.

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Darrel Galera — the retired public school principal who has been the center of controversy in the state’s search for a new schools superintendent — has withdrawn his application amid complaints that he had an unfair advantage as a former Board of Education member and friend of Gov. David Ige. Star-Advertiser.

Former Board of Education member Darrel Galera is withdrawing his application for schools superintendent. KHON2.

The Hawaii Board of Education is starting up its search for a superintendent again now that former board member Darrel Galera has decided not to apply. Civil Beat.

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In the coming weeks Hawaii lawmakers will be wrestling with ways to cut roughly $250 million from the state’s overall budget for the next two years thanks to lower than expected general fund revenues. Civil Beat.

Hawaii's economic growth is slowing down according to an economic forecast from the Council on Revenues. KITV.

The state House of Representatives voted Monday to remove Rep. Angus McKelvey as chairman of the Consumer Protection and Commerce Committee, a powerful post that holds sway over issues relating to business in the state. Star-Advertiser.

Rep. Angus McKelvey was removed from his chairmanship of the House Consumer Protection and Commerce Committee on Monday after hours of behind-the-scenes networking. Civil Beat.

State Rep. Angus McKelvey was removed from his position as chairman of the Consumer Protection and Commerce Committee on Monday amid controversy over how the Maui lawmaker handled certain bills. Maui News.

The U.S. government Monday responded to Hawaii’s legal challenge to President Donald Trump’s revised travel ban affecting six predominantly Muslim countries, saying assertions that the order will hurt the state’s tourism industry and universities are mere speculation. Star-Advertiser.

The Trump administration on Monday asked the U.S. District Court in Honolulu to deny Hawaii’s request for an immediate injunction against the newly revised travel ban, arguing that the state “lacks any actual or imminent concrete injury” on which to base its challenge. Civil Beat.

Until this year, Hawaii Attorney General Doug Chin had never sued the federal government. Civil Beat.

Florence Nakakuni, U.S. attorney for Hawaii, has retired after the Justice Department asked her and other prosecutors held over from the President Barack Obama’s administration to step down. Associated Press.

Hawaiian Telcom, which has invested aggressively in its infrastructure over the past six years, cut its fourth-quarter loss in half after achieving strong growth from its TV and broadband internet services and reducing overtime and contractor costs. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii ranks No. 10 among states with the highest individual income tax collections per capita, according to a new study by the Tax Foundation. Pacific Business News.

6,500 state taxpayers may be owed a refund for ’13; deadline to file nears. Maui News.

The Hawaii Department of Agriculture has started posting data on what kinds of restricted-use pesticides large agricultural companies apply each month and in what amounts. Civil Beat.

Oahu

Hawaii regulators have issued Ala Moana Center a $4 million building permit to replace existing railings throughout the state’s largest shopping mall after a railing gave way near the Hookipa Terrace on the mall’s fourth floor last year, killing one man and critically injuring another, Pacific Business News has learned.

Work began Monday at Ala Moana Center to replace rusty railings five months after a man fell to his death and another was seriously injured. KHON2.

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The Honolulu Police Department is investigating after an officer was charged with committing multiple counts of theft and identity theft at the Navy Exchange at Pearl Harbor. Star-Advertiser.

A Honolulu police officer has been charged after allegedly using a stolen credit card and military ID at the Navy Exchange. Hawaii News Now.

A veteran Honolulu police officer has been charged with multiple felony counts, including theft and credit card fraud. KHON2.

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A state judge Monday dismissed a misdemeanor tampering charge against Myron B. Thompson Academy Principal Diana Oshiro, three months early. Star-Advertiser.

A meeting in Nanakuli on Monday gave elected officials an opportunity to meet with community members to explain and clarify plans intended to alleviate traffic woes on Oahu’s leeward coast. Hawaii News Now.

A fundraising effort is kicking into high gear to bring a park to Waikiki, which has limited green space outside of Kuhio Beach and Fort DeRussy. Star-Advertiser.

An Oahu after-school and summer program for youths with disabilities is shutting down at the end of the month due to a lack of funds, leaving families scrambling to find alternatives. Associated Press.

Hawaii

Some $1.86 million is sitting in a special account to maintain property purchased with open space funds, yet only two organizations have so far been awarded grants to spend the money. West Hawaii Today.

The prosecutors have moved to dismiss a citation against Sean “Peaman” Pagett after he was cited for running an unpermitted race at the Kailua Pier in December. West Hawaii Today.

University of Hawaii at Hilo students could receive more financial aid next year than ever before. The campus predicts awarding close to $50 million in aid for the 2017-18 school year, up from $43.1 million in 2016, $42.4 million the year prior and about $46 million in 2014. Tribune-Herald.

Hawaii developer Brian Anderson plans to develop a 410-home project along the Big Island’s “Gold Coast” that would become the first off-grid community of this magnitude, he said Monday. Pacific Business News.

Maui

Maui County is looking to sell 51 lots in Maui Lani obtained as part of a legal settlement with a developer a decade ago in a dispute over land filling to increase the heights of homes that ended up towering over neighboring Palama Drive homes. Maui News.

A 285-acre business park is being proposed by the state Department of Land and Natural Resources on former sugar lands in Pulehunui. Maui News.

A humpback whale entangled in hundreds of feet of heavy-gauge cable in waters off Maui has a new lease on life thanks to the efforts of an interagency team of rescuers. Star-Advertiser.

Maui fisherman spends an hour at sea with great white circling kayak. Hawaii News Now.

Sales prices for homes and condos in Maui County continued to rise in February, compared to 2016, with the median price of a home at $672,575 and condos at $465,000, the Realtors Association of Maui reported last week. Maui News.

The median price of a single-family home in Maui County rose 13 percent last month, while condominium prices increased by 8 percent, according to statistics from the Realtors Association of Maui. Pacific Business News.

Kauai

A cellphone tower designed as a clock tower is approaching completion. Garden Island.

Opposition to closing of Rice Street post office continues with 100 message-bearing coconuts. Garden Island.

More than half of Kauai’s students who eat school lunch receive free or reduced-priced meals. Garden Island.

Pesticides play politics in state House, advocates want Hawaii to be sanctuary state, DLNR seeks criminal probe at Kona boat harbors, bill could require Honolulu building inspections, Maui mayor's plan to sell golf course irks golfers, Kauai monk seal killing reward upped to $50k, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Pesticide spray in Hilo, special to All Hawaii News

Lawmaker May Lose Committee Chair Over Pesticide Bill. Hawaii Rep. Angus McKelvey’s effort to push through a contentious pesticide disclosure bill could lead to his ouster as head of Consumer Protection and Commerce. Civil Beat.

The Hawaii Department of Agriculture has started posting data on what kinds of restricted-use pesticides large agricultural companies apply each month and in what amounts. Civil Beat.

A proposed bill to increase the counties’ allocation of money generated from the transient accommodations tax passed in the Hawaii Senate. Garden Island.

A bill to replace the term “medical marijuana” with “medical cannabis” in state law is moving through the Legislature, though most other marijuana-related measures have died. Tribune-Herald.

Senate Bill 518 and companion House Bill 680 would mandate all those with barber, beauty operator and instructor licenses under the state Board of Barbering and Cosmetology complete a one-time, three-hour training program on domestic violence awareness and education. Tribune-Herald.

The Hawaii Board of Education has suspended its search for the next state schools superintendent after a foundation pulled back from a large donation to support the effort. Civil Beat.

The search for the next schools superintendent is delayed over concerns about fairness. Hawaii News Now.

Hawaii’s unemployment rate has fallen to its lowest level in nearly 10 years. Star-Advertiser.

While hotel occupancy rose only slightly in January, the industry saw record revenue of $561 million. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii tourism had another record year of arrivals in 2016, but statewide sales of homes typically bought by visitors barely budged, a new report shows. Star-Advertiser.

Advocates for immigrants are ramping up efforts to make Hawaii a sanctuary state. Hawaii News Now.

State Attorney General Doug Chin, who filed the nation’s first state lawsuit Wednesday to block President Donald Trump’s revised travel ban, said the executive order still discriminates against residents of Muslim-majority countries in spite of the watered-down language. Star-Advertiser.

A new technical report by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration suggests that climate change-induced sea level rise over the course of this century, especially in Hawaii, may be far worse than predicted in the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change scenario that has been serving as a guide for a number of local efforts to address climate change impacts. Civil Beat.

Growth in out-of-state investment in Hawaii real estate is prompting the state to take a closer look at property tax rates. Tribune-Herald.

A bill seeking to ban foam containers was shelved this session, despite sizable public support. Star-Advertiser.

Catherine Ngo, president and chief executive officer of Central Pacific Bank, earned $1,051,039 last year, $45,071 less than she did in 2015, despite an increase in salary, according to the bank’s annual proxy statement filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission on Friday. Pacific Business News.

Hawaiian Airlines unveiled an Airbus A321neo full-flight simulator to train pilots ahead of the airline’s full incorporation of the fleet starting next year. Pacific Business News.

Oahu

Two bills that would require most Oahu commercial buildings, condominiums and apartments to be inspected every five years moved out of a City Council committee Thursday, despite concerns raised by both a condo association group and the Department of Planning and Permitting. Star-Advertiser.

Building 800 affordable homes annually on Oahu is a goal Mayor Kirk Caldwell laid down last month. It is ambitious. And he said he has an aggressive strategy to get it done. But a close look at his plan suggests it will be tough to realize. Star-Advertiser.

The first phase of a 320-unit affordable rental apartment complex in east Kapolei could break ground at the end of this year or early next year, Michaels Development Co. officials say. Star-Advertiser.

As the University of Hawaii works to modernize buildings on the aging Manoa campus, officials want to move away from static learning and research spaces toward facilities that foster collaboration across fields. Star-Advertiser.

When Salem Partners first inquired about building a condominium-hotel tower across from the Hawaii Convention Center in Honolulu, little did the Los Angeles-based investment bank and wealth management firm know that several other towers would be joining its project along Kapiolani Boulevard. Pacific Business News.

The Hawaiian Humane Society this spring plans to start building Hawaii’s first high-volume spay-and-neuter clinic focused on “free-roaming” cats to reduce their numbers on Oahu. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii

The Department of Land and Natural Resources has joined Hawaii County Prosecutor Mitch Roth in asking the state attorney general to investigate the ethics issues and allegations that continue to roil the waters at West Hawaii small boat harbors. West Hawaii Today.

The state Department of Land and Natural Resources has taken the first step toward starting a contested case hearing for the Thirty Meter Telescope’s sublease on Mauna Kea by seeking applicants for a hearing officer. But it remains unclear when or if the quasi-judicial hearing — the third so far — will be held. Tribune-Herald.

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers will soon begin work to determine the extent of munitions and explosives of concern remaining from military training and on more than 1,900 acres on Kohala Mountain’s flanks. West Hawaii Today.

Council Chairwoman Valerie Poindexter has called a meeting over runoff dispute between dairy, neighbors. West Hawaii Today.

Demolition by neglect: Fate of Naalehu Theater remains in limbo, even as it deteriorates. Tribune-Herald.

Work on the Hilo Bayfront Trails continues despite an unexpected setback in the grant cycle that caused organizers to shift priorities. Tribune-Herald.

Maui

Mayor Alan Arakawa’s proposed shutdown of the 87-year-old Waiehu Municipal Golf Course drew the ire of Maui golfers, who praised the course for its beauty and affordability. Maui News.

Golfers are criticizing a plan by Maui County’s mayor to shut down an 87-year-old municipal golf course. Associated Press.

A 285-acre business park is being proposed by the state Department of Land and Natural Resources on former sugar lands in Pulehunui. Maui News.

Maui County could see a small increase in its share of the hotel room tax and money for an agricultural park in South Maui, and there may be hope for 250 low-income residents who are looking at being priced out of their Lahaina apartments as the Legislature cleared a key deadline Thursday. Maui News.

Maui hotel room rates jumped 10 percent last week with other Islands experiencing similar gains compared to last year, according to the Hospitality Advisors LLC and STR weekly hotel report. Pacific Business News.

Undocumented immigrants on Maui are unsure of future. Given the changing policies, some worry they’ll get caught up in deportation fervor. Maui News.

Hawaii Gas is planning to build a new storage facility for propane tanks near Kanaha Pond State Wildlife Sanctuary in Kahului, company officials said Tuesday. Maui News.

Kauai

Planning Commission to discuss General Plan Update. General Plan Update goes to Planning Commission Tuesday. Garden Island.

The state plans to once again take on the rats that have colonized Lehua Island. Details will be presented Tuesday at the Waimea Neighborhood Center. Garden Island.

The state wants to eradicate rats on a small island off Niihau to create a refuge for threatened and endangered seabirds as rising sea levels threaten low-lying atolls. Star-Advertiser.

A total of $50,000 is being offered for information about the killings of five Hawaiian monk seals, including the February death of a 15-year old female known as R4DP on Kauai. Garden Island.

The Hawaii Department of Health will reconvene public hearings statewide to introduce amendments to Chapter 50 of the state’s Food Safety Code. Garden Island.

Hawaiian Airlines starts direct service from Lihue to Kona. Garden Island.

Absent owners pay one-third of property taxes, state to benefit from military spending, House kills pesticide disclosure bill, EPA probes pesticide effects on Native Hawaiians, Maui mayor jeered at state of county speech, North Shore surfer group protests wind turbines, former judge Burns dies, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Big Island aerial © 2017 All Hawaii News

A new report released by the Hawaii Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism estimates that close to one third of the state’s real property tax was paid by out-of-state owners in 2016. Pacific Business News.

U.S. military spending is on the rise, and Hawaii is likely to be a financial beneficiary, especially when it comes to expanded sea power. A $578 billion defense bill, up $5 billion overall from last year, was passed by the U.S. House of Representatives on Wednesday on a bipartisan vote of 371-48. Civil Beat.

The state Department of Budget and Finance is reviewing the flow of federal funding into Hawaii to see what funds might be at risk from budget cuts or other actions by President Trump’s administration, Gov. David Ige said Thursday. Star-Advertiser.

State lawmakers are looking for ways to generate more state revenue by taxing foreign real estate investors. Hawaii Public Radio.

Leadership in the state House of Representatives killed a bill that would increase regulation over pesticide use in an 11th-hour move that’s attracting strong criticism from environmental activists who backed the measure. Star-Advertiser.

The Hawaii House of Representatives on Thursday quashed a bill that would have required large-scale agricultural operations to publicly disclose when and where they spray pesticides and insecticides. Civil Beat.

A bill that would require chemical companies to give notice before spraying restricted use pesticides around sensitive areas died on the Hawaii House floor on Thursday. Garden Island.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is launching an investigation into whether state agencies discriminated against Native Hawaiians on West Kauai and Molokai when licensing pesticide use on nearby farms. Civil Beat.

The Hawaii Department of Agriculture and its affiliated Agribusiness Development Corp. are being investigated for alleged violations of the Civil Rights Act. Garden Island.

Hawaii taxpayers are facing a legal bill of as much as $150,000 — and maybe more — to underwrite a campaign to topple President Donald Trump’s revised travel ban. Star-Advertiser.

A bill that would establish a working group to explore the use and best practices of blockchain technology in Hawaii has crossed over to the Senate. Blockchain technology is used to track digital money transactions by connecting “blocks,” or virtual bank statements and linking them chronologically on a “chain.” Pacific Business News.

The Harold K.L. Castle Foundation said today that it has pulled back a $50,500 grant that had been awarded to help the Board of Education hire a search firm to recruit the next schools superintendent. Star-Advertiser.

The Harold K.L. Castle Foundation has decided to pull its $50,500 donation for Hawaii’s search for a school superintendent out of concerns that the process is rigged in favor of Darrel Galera. Civil Beat.

Payment of a major grant to the Board of Education has been suspended over concerns a board member who quit to apply for the superintendent position could have an unfair advantage. KHON2.

Retired Judge James S. Burns, who served more than 30 years on the bench from state district court per diem judge to chief judge of the Intermediate Court of Appeals, died of throat cancer this morning at the Queen’s Medical Center. He was 79. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaiian Airlines' unexpected landing due to 'unruly passenger' was an expensive decision. This unscheduled landing may have cost the Honolulu-based airline tens of thousands of dollars due to costs incurred by dumping fuel, refueling, providing additional meals for delayed passengers as well as ground handling fees. Pacific Business News.

Commercial real estate sales in Hawaii dipped for a second straight year in 2016 but stayed above $4 billion thanks to the sale of roughly 2,500 hotel rooms by the largest local hotel company. Star-Advertiser.

Right now tax refunds are being delivered within four weeks. As things get busier, your state refund could take as long as 16 weeks. KHON2

Oahu

A new peer review penned by transit industry experts from across North America raises renewed concerns over the Honolulu rail agency’s ability to gauge the true cost and schedule for Oahu’s cash-strapped transit project. Star-Advertiser.

High turnover and distractions over old contract disputes are hampering Honolulu’s over-budget and behind-schedule rail project, according to a panel of independent transit experts commissioned to review the project’s management. Civil Beat.

A federal appeals court Thursday ruled in favor of the decision by Honolulu police to seize and hold 77 arcade machines as gambling devices in 2012. Star-Advertiser.

A battle is starting to swell between the developer of an on-shore wind energy farm that is planned for the area and a community group called “Surfers 4 Solar.” They are waging a battle over the effects the giant wind turbines may be having on the waves at one of the most-famous surf spots on the planet. Pacific Business News.

Hawaii

East Hawaii legislators and business owners are urging the Hilo community to continue its support of a series of economic revitalization bills. Tribune-Herald.

The preservation of lands in Hakalau was once again on the Hawaii County Council agenda. Big Island Video News.

A bill that could boost safety at a popular swimming spot in Puna is moving through the state Legislature. Tribune-Herald.

Another lawsuit filed in a federal court in California is accusing Craft Brew Alliance Inc., which owns Kona Brewing Co., of misleading shoppers into believing they’re buying beer made in Hawaii. West Hawaii Today.

Alaska Airlines announced Thursday 13 new nonstop routes from the Bay Area, including its first between San Francisco and Kona, which will run daily and is set to begin on Dec. 14. West Hawaii Today.

Maui

In his annual ‘State of the County’ address on Thursday, Mayor Alan Arakawa called Maui’s housing crisis his “most immediate priority,” vowing to find new ways to make it affordable to live in the county — and to find new ways to make the islands sustainable for future generations. Hawaii News Now.

Protesters seek to drown out Maui mayor's State of the County address. Hawaii News Now.

A group of demonstrators held signs outside the venue for the Mayor’s State of the County Address on Thursday, calling for respect of the Hawaiian Culture, accountability, and an apology for comments made about rocks some consider to be sacred at ʻĪao Valley. Maui Now.

Mayor Alan Arakawa presented an array of ambitious plans for the county, including buying more shoreline property to prevent development, creating an affordable housing fund and shutting down the 87-year-old Waiehu Municipal Golf Course during his State of the County address on Thursday. Maui News.

Maui Mayor Alan Arakawa announced the proposed closure of the Waiehu Municipal Golf Course due to continued operating losses. Maui Now.

ATC Mākena Holdings, LLC will be completing several projects that will significantly expand coastal access and recreational opportunities for the public within the Mākena Resort area. Maui Now.

Kauai

An agreement between the County of Kauai and a land developer for the use of land to provide access and parking was deferred Wednesday during the Kauai County Council meeting. Garden Island.

A 55-year-old pavilion at Kapaa Beach Park was taken down last month. Garden Island.

The public is invited to attend the mayor’s State of the County address. Garden Island.