Hawaii pushes new road usage charge, ex-Schofield Army range director pleads guilty in bribery scandal, Kauai giving affordable rental tax breaks, relocated rare Maui birds die, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Hawaii roadwork ©2019 All Hawaii News

Survey: Hawaii’s Roads Third Worst To Drive. Only South Carolina and Louisiana scored worse than the Aloha State. Civil Beat.

Survey shows Hawaii has third worst roads in the country. A survey released Tuesday by Consumer Affairs, shows Hawaii has the third worst roads in the country. KITV.

HDOT Continues Study on Road Usage Charge. Beginning this month, the Hawai‘i Department of Transportation will mail driving reports to thousands of vehicle owners across the state in an effort to research the feasibility of adjusting to a per-mile road usage charge. Big Island Now.

Check your mail: HDOT sends out info on proposed road usage charge. Starting this week, thousands of vehicle owners across Hawaii will be receiving driving reports in their mailboxes. Hawaii News Now.

DOT looks to switch from gas tax to road usage charge for road maintenance funding. One third of the state’s funding for road and bridge maintenance comes from our 16 cents-per-gallon gas tax. KHON2.

DOT has a long-term fix for Hawaii’s roads. The Department of Transportation has a solution that could double the life of their roads. It’s called stone matrix asphalt, a stronger and more flexible aggregate that could last up to 25 years.  KHON2.

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Companies Vie to ‘Accelerate’ Clean Energy Transition. The Hawaiian Electric Companies have received more than 75 proposals after its call for more renewable energy resources to “accelerate the state’s transition off fossil fuels used for generations of electricity.” Maui Now.

Public Safety Deputy Director For Corrections Is Retiring. Jodie Maesaka-Hirata is leaving in December and will be replaced by a top DPS administrator. Civil Beat.

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State consumer office warns of email phishing scam. The state Office of Consumer Protection warns local businesses about fraudulent emails that have been going out with its letterhead and a spoofed account. Star-Advertiser.

Phishing scam imitating state agencies sent to local businesses. The fraudulent email says a claim has been submitted against the business and provides a link for the business to reply. KHON2.

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Mazie Hirono Gets A Book Deal To Tell Her Life Story. The U.S. senator from Hawaii will detail her upbringing as an immigrant, her recent bout with kidney cancer and her political life in the Trump era. Civil Beat.

Gabbard enlists high-profile law firm with roster of colorful clients in claims against Clinton. Hawaii Congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard is being represented by the law firm Pierce Bainbridge Beck Price & Hecht in her claims that Hillary Clinton defamed her by making comments about Russian support for Gabbard’s presidential bid. Star-Advertiser.

White Nationalists Try To Claim Aloha Spirit As Their Own. David Duke endorsed an ultra-right radio show on social media with the caption “the aloha spirit will set you free.” Civil Beat.

Museums and archives are often celebrated as rich repositories of culture and history. But for the communities whose culture and history are on display, having a say over what should become of these items is an ongoing battle – one that some native Hawaiian advocates and scholars are tackling head on. Hawaii Public Radio.

UFO? Satellites? Aircraft? Some across the islands saw strange lights in the night sky. Hawaii News Now.

Oahu

Proponents of plastics-ban bill hold rally before committee vote. With smiles and cheers beneath a bright morning sun, supporters of Bill 40, which seeks to ban Styrofoam and single-use plastics in the City and County of Honolulu, gathered Tuesday for an educational rally on Honolulu Hale’s front lawn. Star-Advertiser.

Scaled-down version of single-use plastics ban finds support from some businesses. After pushback from food industry leaders, a City Council committee is set to consider a revised version the bill that would target Oahu’s single-use plastics. Hawaii News Now.

Some O'ahu businesses support revised bill of "plastic ban". It's a proposal working it's way through the city council that has many businesses upset. KITV.

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Former Schofield Army range director pleads guilty in bribery scandal. The U.S. Department of Justice says 67-year-old Victor Garo of Mililani admitted to accepting over $100,000 in bribes to steer federal contracts worth more than $18 million to a specific contractor. Hawaii News Now.

Former US Army Range Director Pleads Guilty of Conspiracy. Victor Garo is the third public official to plead guilty as a result of an ongoing investigation into fraud and bribery at Schofield Barracks. Big Island Now.

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Kealoha Drug Plea Results In New Claim Of Prosecutorial Misconduct. Accused drug dealer Tiffany Masunaga wants charges against her dropped because Katherine Kealoha admitted manipulating the case. Civil Beat.

Controversial Ala Moana Playground Is a ‘Gift’ City Council May Refuse. A recent vote suggests the proposal may lack the Honolulu City Council support it needs to proceed at Ala Moana. Civil Beat.

New homeless services hub is expected to open in Waipahu next month. A pilot project involves inflatable, portable tents and the opportunity for unsheltered homeless people to receive medical and counseling services, housing help, hygiene and laundry services, and, if needed, a temporary place to sleep. KITV.

Honolulu City Council considers shortening time Hawaiian Humane Society must keep stray dogs, cats. A Honolulu City Council committee Tuesday gave preliminary approval to a bill that would require registered pet dogs and cats to be microchipped and would shorten the minimum time that strays need to be held by the Hawaiian Humane Society to five days from the current nine. Star-Advertiser.

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Hawaii thieves target cars’ catalytic converters at huge cost to motorists. At least a dozen vehicles, mostly Honda Elements, have had their catalytic converters stolen in the last six weeks because they contain precious metals such as platinum. Star-Advertiser.

Thieves target a part under cars that could be a costly fix. There is a warning from auto repair shops about an expensive new crime. Hawaii News Now.

Hawaii Island

Study of Hilo Bay breakwater expected to begin in early 2020. A state and federal study to determine whether the Hilo Bay breakwater should be modified likely will begin early next year. Tribune-Herald.

Ormat Gives Puna Geothermal Update In Latest Earnings Call. Ormat hopes to have the Puna Geothermal Venture plant in Puna back in full operation by the end of the second quarter of 2020, and has also filed suit against insurers. Big Island Video News.

Kierkiewicz disclosure, Ethics Board presentation planned. It’s been almost three months since the Board of Ethics approved an advisory opinion requiring Puna Councilwoman Ashley Kierkiewicz to file an after-the-fact written disclosure of a possible conflict of interest stemming from a vote she took earlier this year. West Hawaii Today.

‘There’s many laws I don’t like’: Mayor Kim seeks neutrality in dealing with Mauna Kea conflict. During a high-stakes interview with Harry Kim, the 80-year-old Hawaii County mayor repeatedly referred to his commitment in finding a peaceful way forward despite, what appears to be an impossible impasse. Hawaii News Now.

HVO updates webcam network at Kilauea’s summit. Hawaiian Volcano Observatory has updated its Kilauea webcam network, adding new cameras and decommissioning old ones that are no longer useful for monitoring purposes, according to the U.S. Geological Survey. Tribune-Herald.

Maui

Nine Rare Kiwikiu Birds Die Out of 13 Translocated at Maui’s Nakula Forest. The Kiwikiu or Maui Parrotbill birds were part of a larger group of 13 that were translocated from captivity and the wild to the Nakula Natural Area Reserve on the leeward slopes of Haleakalā in East Maui. Maui Now.

Effort to help endangered Maui bird on hold following multiple deaths. A multiagency campaign to establish a second population of one of Hawaii’s most critically endangered birds got off to a dreadful start, with at least nine of 13 kiwikiu apparently succumbing quickly to avian malaria, officials said Tuesday. Star-Advertiser.

Mosquitoes are threatening the population of rare birds on Maui. Mosquitoes are having a negative impact on the efforts to save the Kiwikiu in the forests of Haleakala, the state said. Hawaii News Now.

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Protesters unhappy with mayor, injection well case. Maui News.

Kula Community Association to discuss tax proposals. Proposed changes to Maui County Council’s real property tax system will be among the topics at the Kula Community Association meeting Wednesday night. Maui News.

Kauai

Mayor signs rental bills. Mayor Derek S. K. Kawakami signed five Additional Rental Unit bills on Tuesday that would waive permitting fees on additional rental units deemed affordable. Garden Island.

Dive finds healthy corals and plenty of fish. A recent diving outing on the south side of Kauai found an array of colorful corals and fascinating fish. Garden Island.

Baby fish eating plastic off Hawaii, $214M bond floated for Honolulu rail, half of workers say they're sexually harassed, Anheuser-Busch buys Kona Brewing Co., more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Scribbled filefish in sea of plastics sampled in surface slicks off Hawaii Island. NOAA/David Liitschwager

Study Confirms Plastics Are Threatening Fish Nurseries. Tiny bits of plastics are threatening fish nurseries in Hawaii, and likely around the globe. That's according to the latest study from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center. Hawaii Public Radio.

Recent evidence has shown that adult fish are eating plastics in the ocean and suffering from perils such as malnutrition and toxicant buildup. Now, for the first time, a study conducted in Hawaii shows baby fish are ingesting tiny plastics, too. Star-Advertiser.

Researchers find microplastics in the stomachs of baby mahimahi, other species off Hawaii. A new study released Monday says baby fish around Hawaii are eating a large amount of plastic particles. Hawaii News Now.

Researchers find plastic in baby fish on Big Island. A troubling discovery announced on Monday, researchers found plastic in baby-fish in waters off the Big Island. KITV.

Fish in study found to be eating fibers thought to come from everyday laundry. Larval fish off the coast of Kona are eating plastics at an alarming rate, according to a study published Monday in a national scientific journal. Tribune-Herald.

Study: Plastics plague Pacific fish. A new study on the Pacific Ocean’s floating trash indicates not only a significant accumulation of microplastics in the Hawaiian Islands, but that larval fish are eating the debris. Garden Island.

NOAA fisheries report on the plastic research can be found here.

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Half of isle adults claim sexual harassment, survey finds. Nearly half of adults have experienced sexual harassment while working in Hawaii, a new statewide survey suggests. Star-Advertiser.

Nearly Half Of Hawaii Workers Say They’ve Been Sexually Harassed. People who grew up in Hawaii were much less likely to report any sexual harassment they experienced. Civil Beat.

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Meth Deaths Soar in Hawaii Even As Opioids Grab Public Attention. Meth-related overdose fatalities have significantly outpaced other drug overdose deaths in the the past five years. Civil Beat.

Oahu

Council, Caldwell OK rail bond spending. Without the fanfare of past similar votes, the Honolulu City Council and Mayor Kirk Caldwell signed off on a bill clearing the way for the city to spend up to $214 million in taxpayer dollars for the over-budget $9.2 billion East Kapolei-to-Ala Moana rail project. Star-Advertiser.

Another push to impeach city Prosecutor Kaneshiro gains traction. Organizers filed more than 500 signatures collected online with docushare and in person. Hawaii News Now.

Who stole the Kealohas’ mailbox? 6 years later, prosecutors could finally find out. Katherine Kealoha’s plea deal requires that she cooperate with federal prosecutors — without limitations or restrictions. Hawaii News Now.

Queen’s Medical Center On ‘Losing End’ Of Battle With Meth. Some days, as many 40% of people admitted at the ER in Punchbowl have problems related to meth use, according to hospital officials. Civil Beat.

Republican Party of Hawaii looking forward to 2020. American Conservative Activist Scott Presler promised high energy during his speech. KITV.

Hawaii Island

Will Mayor Harry Kim run for re-election? That’s the question on a lot of people’s minds with the campaign qualifying season set to commence in less than three months. West Hawaii Today.

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Anheuser-Busch to buy out Kona Brewing parent company. Kona Brewing Co. is soon to become wholly owned by beer giant Anheuser-Busch. West Hawaii Today.

Anheuser-Busch to acquire all of Kona Brewing Co. Kona Brewing Co. is slated to become wholly owned by beer company behemoth Anheuser-Busch under a deal announced today. Star-Advertiser.

Anheuser-Busch to Take Full Ownership of Kona Brew. Anheuser-Busch currently owns 31% of Kona Brewing Company. Big Island Now.

Anheuser-Busch to buy out owner of Kona Brewing Company. Anheuser-Busch, the folks who produce big brands like Budweiser and Stella Artois, announced Monday that they plan to buy out Craft Brew Alliance, the Portland-based craft brewing company that owns Kona Brewing as well as a number of other small brands. Hawaii News Now.

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Man arrested following fatal head-on crash had prior DUI conviction. A 25-year-old Waimea man Sunday arrested on suspicion of negligent homicide and DUI following a two-car crash near Ke Kahakai State Park that killed a 35-year-old mother and hospitalized three girls has a prior conviction for drunken driving. West Hawaii Today.

Maui

Supreme Court Recordings Reveal Justices Struggling To Find Answer in Maui Case. During an hour-long hearing on the Maui Clean Water Act case, the U.S. Supreme Court justices seemed to be seeking a legal path to keep polluters from skirting the law without ensnaring ordinary homeowners. Hawaii Public Radio.

Farmers convention growing the good stuff. Knowledge-sharing draws hundreds to Puunene event. Maui News.

Kula Community Association Meeting This Wednesday. The Kula Community Association is inviting all Maui residents to its community meeting this Wednesday. Maui Now.

Kauai

Surfrider releases latest water test results. These are the latest results for this month’s Surfrider Foundation Blue Water Task Force sampling of our Kauai waters for Enterococcus, a fecal indicating bacteria, on Nov. 9. Garden Island.

East Kauai Irrigation System to revert to DLNR. In 2001, the East Kauai Water Users Cooperative was formed to take over management of the state-owned irrigation system in our area previously operated by Lihue Plantation. Garden Island.

Natatorium War Memorial could be rebuilt, Hawaii's deadly dams, Maui to restructure property taxes, Hilo homeless shelter opened, Southwest Airlines adds Kauai service, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Waikiki Natatorium War Memorial, Hawaii Office of Environmental Quality Control ©2019 Robb Williamson/AECOM

Ocean-water pool is part of Waikiki Natatorium restoration EIS. The long debate over the future of the Waikiki War Memorial Natatorium may finally be over. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii’s 130 state-regulated dams considered deadly if they fail. Many dams across Hawaii, like those in other parts of the country, are aging and in a state of decay. Associated Press.

Office of Hawaiian Affairs’ Keli‘i Akina demands apology from fellow trustees. An Office of Hawaiian Affairs committee that investigated complaints against trustee Keli‘i Akina concluded he made misleading and untrue statements in violation of the board’s code of conduct policy. Star-Advertiser.

UH study: Native Hawaiians have lower life expectancy when they stay in the islands. A study released by public health researchers at the University of Hawaii analyzed the life expectancies of the major racial and ethnic groups in Hawaii. KITV.

Coral bleaching widespread across Hawaiian Islands, surveys show. On the map of the main Hawaiian isles, colored dots denoting the extent of bleached corals cover the north and south sides of Kauai, surround all of Oahu and blanket the west sides of Maui and Hawaii Island. Star-Advertiser.

Oahu

130 people work to re-beautify the USS Arizona Memorial. It’s the resting place of more than 1,100 American sailors and marines killed during the surprise Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor in Hawaii. KHON2.

Recycle or Burn: What’s The Carbon Impact of Honolulu’s Trash? Oahu’s waste-to-power facility has a hidden carbon cost, but is it better than shipping all our recyclables off-island? Civil Beat.

Second Bid To Impeach Honolulu’s Top Prosecutor Is Filed. A Honolulu businessman once charged with operating an illegal gambling operation is seeking to remove Keith Kaneshiro, the Honolulu prosecutor. Civil Beat.

Honolulu Prosecutor Objects To Feds’ Ruling On A Third Deedy Trial. A U.S. Court of Appeals panel ruled Christopher Deedy couldn’t be tried for manslaughter charges again, but only on assault charges. Civil Beat.

Push For Alternatives Resurfaces In Ala Moana Playground Controversy. A Honolulu City Councilmember hopes Mayor Kirk Caldwell will seriously consider alternative locations for a controversial children’s playground, with Kaka’ako Waterfront Park that was recently transferred to the city being one option. Hawaii Public Radio.

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Some drivers cited during anti TMT convoy because of flags flown on vehicles. Hundreds of motorists took to Oahu roads to drive home their message against additional construction on the mountain. KITV.

Oahu convoy protests TMT and other development. Scores of people attended a rally Sunday at Kualoa Regional Park in support of opposition to the Thirty Meter Telescope on Mauna Kea and other “malama aina” issues in the islands. Star-Advertiser.

Anti-TMT activists hold another ‘rolling convoy’ on Oahu. Anti-TMT activists held another “rolling convoy” on Sunday, with hundreds of vehicles making the drive from West Oahu to the Windward side. Hawaii News Now.

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Unregistered, cash-only Honolulu massage parlors are raising red flags for law enforcement. Nearly two-thirds of Honolulu massage parlors reviewed by customers on a popular website within the past year were not registered to do business in Hawaii, and almost all of the unregistered establishments accepted cash only, according to a Honolulu Star-Advertiser analysis. Star-Advertiser.

Farmer sues ‘rogue’ state agency over alleged mistreatment. A state agency established to support diversified farming in Hawaii is being accused of wrecking one prospective venture to grow produce on former pineapple fields in Wahiawa. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii Island

Temporary Pohoiki access? Plan for boat ramp involves installing sheet piles, dredging channel. The state Department of Land and Natural Resources will seek funding from the state Legislature next year in the hope of establishing temporary ocean access at the Pohoiki boat ramp. Tribune-Herald.

Board of Appeals won’t consider constitutionality of vacation rental law. Whether the county’s short-term vacation rental law is constitutional is beyond the scope of the county Board of Appeals, members said Friday in unanimously voting to deny a Captain Cook homeowner’s request to take up the issue. West Hawaii Today.

Piilani Partners appeals permit denial. An attorney representing a company appealing the county’s denial of a Special Management Area permit to drill for and bottle water in Hilo argued in court Tuesday the Windward Planning Commission’s decision was based on speculation about things that could potentially happen. Tribune-Herald.

Construction of first phase of Honomu homestead project could begin in 2020. An environmental assessment for an agricultural homestead community planned for Honomu found no significant environmental impact. Tribune-Herald.

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Weeks after opening, new Big Island homeless shelter nearly at capacity. The newest homeless shelter on the Big Island is housed in Hilo’s old Memorial Hospital. Hawaii News Now.

Keolahou shelter officially opens in Hilo. Dozens gathered Friday morning for the formal opening and blessing of Keolahou, an emergency homeless shelter recently established at the old Hilo Memorial Hospital. Tribune-Herald.

Keolahou Shelter In Hilo Blessed. A celebration was held Friday at Keolahou, the site of the old Hilo hospital, East Hawaiʻi first "Ohana Zone" shelter. Big Island Video News.

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As temps drop at Mauna Kea, protesters hunker down for a long winter. It's been nearly four months since protesters set up camp at Mauna Kea to block the Thirty Meter Telescope and protect against what they call desecration of the mountain. Hawaii News Now.

County plots next course of action as lot owners fail to appeal. The owners of a downtown Hilo lot that has become a homeless camp have failed to appeal their case. Tribune-Herald.

Safety requirement or freedom of choice? Agency says states should require bicycle helmets. Head injury is the most common cause of death and serious disability in bicycle-related crashes, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. It accounts for 62% of bicycle-related deaths. West Hawaii Today.

Cleanup activist, Trump supporter rallies groups to get out and vote. Scott Presler wants to help turn the blue state of Hawaii “red like hot lava.” West Hawaii Today.

Maui
Council has property tax changes in the works. Two bills pass first reading to change tax classifications and to establish tiered rates. Maui News.

Farmers convention growing the good stuff. Knowledge-sharing draws hundreds to Puunene event. Hundreds of farmers from around Hawaii gathered in Central Maui over the weekend to cultivate a deeper understanding of ag in the Aloha State. Maui News.

Maui bucks a statewide downturn in hotel demand with new developments increasing. Hotel demand is dropping on every major Hawaiian island but Maui, where growth is fueling a development cycle that could add about 10 or more new hotels and timeshares to the market. Star-Advertiser.

Equity and Electrification to be Explored at 2020 Hawai‘i Energy Conference. The 7th annual Hawaiʻi Energy Conference will explore issues relating to beneficial electrification and the design of an equitable energy transition during its next conference on March 18 and 19, 2020. Maui Now.

Kauai

Schatz Calls On Spectrum, Other Firms To Explain Kauai Outage. Hawaii Sen. Brian Schatz accused companies responsible for Kauai's recent islandwide Internet, cable and phone outage of failing to give residents timely information on the communications disruption and when service might be restored. Hawaii Public Radio.

Passengers cheered as the first Southwest Airlines flight out of Lihue landed in Honolulu on Sunday morning, marking the beginning of the carrier’s flights to and from Kauai. Garden Island.

Tropic Care coming in 2020. Tropic Care 2020 will be the fifth IRT mission on Kauai, and will offer free clinic services from April 27 through May 5 under the lead of the U.S. Air Force Lt. Col. Sherman. Garden Island.

Navy headed to court on Red Hill fuel tanks, Deedy to be retried for assault, cop killer accomplices sentenced, dog rescued from lava tube, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

In this August 2007 photo, then Secretary of the Navy Donald Winter tours the Red Hill Underground Fuel Storage Facility.
PC: Chief Mass Communication Specialist Shawn P. Eklund / U.S. Navy

Sierra Club Sues To Stop Automatic Approval Of Red Hill Fuel Tanks. Department of Health permits are automatically approved if officials don’t take action on them within 180 days. Civil Beat.

In Shift, Navy Says It's Weighing Double-Walled Red Hill Fuel Tanks.  The U.S. Navy is now considering double-wall tanks for its fuel storage in Red Hill and says it will relocate the facility if that upgrade can't be done. Hawaii Public Radio.

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Naval Air Museum intends to fight ‘wrongful eviction’ from Kalaeloa Aiport. At the Naval Air Museum Barbers Point, old military vehicles and aircraft stand at attention waiting on visitors and tour groups that visit the Kalaeloa Airport. Hawaii News Now.

Air museum is being evicted over contract issues. A nonprofit air museum that opened 20 years ago and was built on Naval Air Station Barbers Point’s 57-year history is being evicted from state airport land over long-standing contract issues that led to a running dispute with the state Department of Transportation Airports Division. Star-Advertiser.

Naval Air Museum Barbers Point believes it's wrongfully evicted by the state. The non-profit’s administrators also pushing for discussions with the state towards a solution. KITV.

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A top CEO’s prescription for Hawaii’s tourism-driven economy: It’s time to diversify. Ajay Banga believes investments in Hawaii’s technology sector is important and logical because it does not need geographic proximity to enable success. Hawaii News Now.

Searching For New Ways To Keep Hawaii’s Mentally Ill Out Of Jails And ERs. At a mental health summit Wednesday, the judiciary and state agencies explored options for pre-trial diversions. Civil Beat.

Hawaii School System Convenes First-Ever Data Retreat. School officials and state board members got a deep look at statewide student performance, but some left wanting more. Civil Beat.

Sen. Laura Thielen Won’t Seek Re-Election To Hawaii Senate. Thielen said, “I’m going to end my time as a legislator, and get back to the doing.” Civil Beat.

Oahu

Caldwell reaffirms support for Ala Moana playground. Mayor Kirk Caldwell on Thursday doubled down on his support for a playground at Ala Moana Regional Park, issuing a statement defending the plan and the nonprofit created to find funding for the project. Star-Advertiser.

Commentary: Backers Of $3M Ala Moana Playground Carry Lots Of Clout. Donors linked to the non-profit group promoting the project have been large campaign contributors to the mayor and many council members. Civil Beat.

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Christopher Deedy can be re-tried but only for assault. Federal agent Christopher Deedy can be tried a third time in connection with a fight that led to the fatal shooting of a local man in Waikiki 8 years ago. KHON2.

State can retry Deedy for assault, court rules. A federal appeals court says the state can take U.S. State Department Special Agent Christopher Deedy to trial a third time for the November 2011 shooting death of Kollin Elderts in a Waikiki McDonald’s restaurant, but not for manslaughter. Star-Advertiser.

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Coast Guard Responding To Cargo Ship Oil Spill In Honolulu Harbor. Officials said about 120 gallons of oil have been recovered so far. Civil Beat.

Officials Responding To Oil Spill From Cargo Ship In Hawaii. The U.S. Coast Guard says a cargo ship has spilled oil into Honolulu Harbor. Associated Press.

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Marine Corps wants to put up a retaining wall in Ewa Beach. The Marine Corps shooting range in Ewa Beach is eroding and in order to stop the damage caused by the ocean, it wants to build a retaining wall. KITV.

Sex assault conviction of wrestling coach thrown out by Hawaii Supreme Court in a case that sheds light on polygraph testing. The Hawaii Supreme Court has thrown out the sexual assault conviction of a wrestling coach accused of inappropriately touching the buttocks of a 14-year-old female wrestler at a tournament in 2012 in a case that could have lasting effects. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii Island

Guilty verdict reached on 4 counts in Waiki accomplice trial. Guilty verdicts were handed down Thursday for three defendants accused of aiding cop killer Justin Waiki following a six-week trial. West Hawaii Today.

Dirty recycling dooms program. Garbage in, garbage out. Hawaii County’s recycling program fell apart not because of a lack of markets, but because of dirty garbage dumped into the two-bin system, the Hawaii County Council learned Tuesday. West Hawaii Today.

Koa forest project proposed for ranch land. The state Board of Land and Natural Resources is considering approval of a project that would convert pasture land in Waimea into a koa forest over a span of 50 years. Tribune-Herald.

Hawaii Island businesses ‘somber’ over TMT stalemate at Mauna Kea. Hawaii island’s business community says they’re spooked by what could be an economic warning sign. Hawaii News Now.

Ambient Air Quality Data Website Updated. Kilauea is not erupting and monitoring data have shown no significant changes over the past week, the U.S. Geological Survey Hawaiian Volcano Observatory reports. Big Island Video News.

Maui

Maui police increasing hiring efforts as more vacancies open up. The Maui Police Department is upping their recruitment efforts because their number of vacancies keeps growing each year due to retirements and officers moving. KHON2.

Maui case gets day in high court. U.S. Supreme Court hears arguments in Lahaina injection wells caseLawyers on both sides of the longstanding Lahaina injection wells case delivered their oral arguments Wednesday before the U.S. Supreme Court, whose ultimate ruling could determine how the federal Clean Water Act is used to regulate pollution to protected waters. Maui News.

Water Conservation Urged in West Maui Amid Ongoing Dry Conditions. West Maui residents and businesses are being urged to conserve water amid ongoing dry, hot conditions and low surface water flows at treatment facilities in Lahaina and Mahinahina. Maui Now.

Kauai

Kauai police officer accused of domestic abuse. A Kauai police officer is on paid administrative leave following his arrest on suspicion of abuse of a family or household member. Star-Advertiser.

Mayor, others promote walking to school for improved health, learning. About a dozen Kilauea School students, parents, school and public-safety officials joined Mayor Derek S.K. Kawakami Thursday along a new route recently created to better guarantee the safety of students walking to school. Garden Island.

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Hawaii botanist rescues pup trapped for six days in 81-foot pit in Kauai forest. When a one-year-old hunting dog named Orange fell 81 feet into a shaft in the Lihue-Koloa Forest Reserve on Kauai, it was a state botanist who came to his rescue. Star-Advertiser.

A dog named Orange beat the odds thanks to a rescuer in orange. A 1-year-old hunting dog named “Orange” fell into 81-foot deep hole in the Koloa section of the Lihue-Koloa Forest Reserve last Saturday. Hawaii News Now.

Botanist Rescues Dog Trapped in 81-Foot Hole on Kaua‘i. A one-year-old Catahoula hunting dog, Orange, fell into the pit last Saturday, Nov. 2. Big Island Now.
Botanist descends 81 feet to rescue dog. The one-year-old Catahoula fell into the pit Saturday. Garden Island.

UH Board of Regents approves Mauna Kea rules, Gabbard qualifies for DNC debate, Honolulu lifeguard hours extended, Big Island to ban county herbicide use, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Tourists view Mauna Kea telescopes ©2019 All Hawaii News

Controversial rules passed to protect Mauna Kea’s natural resources. The proposed Mauna Kea administrative rules were battered and bruised over eight hours of testimony Wednesday, but the University of Hawaii Board of Regents unanimously approved them anyway, with one substantial provision. Star-Advertiser.

UH Board of Regents Approve Mauna Kea Resolution and Rules. The University of Hawaiʻi Board of Regents approved the latest draft of rules yesterday governing activities on Mauna Kea. Hawaii Public Radio.

UH regents amend, approve draft administrative rules for Maunakea. After eight hours of impassioned opposition from community members, the University of Hawaii Board of Regents ultimately voted Wednesday to amend and approve a draft of administrative rules governing Maunakea. Tribune-Herald.

UH Regents approve stewardship resolution, rules on management for Mauna Kea. The guidelines aim to limit the amount of vehicles and commercial activity on the mountain. Hawaii News Now.

UH regents approve resolution on Mauna Kea stewardship, proposed administrative rules. The University of Hawaiʻi Board of Regents approved the latest draft of the administrative rules for University of Hawaiʻi-managed lands on Maunakea at a special meeting on November 6 on the UH Hilo campus. KHON2.

UH Board of Regents passes Mauna Kea administrative rules with one change. The UH Board of Regents has passed administrative rules related to Mauna Kea but has made one change: removing the section regarding group use registration. KITV.

UH Regents Approve Mauna Kea Admin Rules. The University of Hawaiʻi Board of Regents voted unanimously in favor of the rules with one amendment after a marathon meeting in Hilo. Big Island Video News.

Regents agenda and rules (page 627) can be found here.

Mayor on Maunakea impasse: ‘If we work on it, we can do it’. Mayor Harry Kim remains steadfast in his commitment to finding a way forward as the standoff over the Thirty Meter Telescope on Maunakea continues. West Hawaii Today.

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Tulsi Gabbard qualifies for November presidential debate, defying predictions. Hawaii Congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard has qualified for the November presidential debate, defying predictions that her performance last month in Westerville, Ohio, would mark the last time she would be on the national debate stage. Star-Advertiser.

Gabbard Qualifies For November DNC Debates. She has yet to meet the criteria for December, however. Civil Beat.

Gabbard meets criteria to participate in next Democratic presidential debate. Hawaii Congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard has met the qualifying criteria for the next Democratic presidential debate and is poised to join nine other candidates on stage later this month. Hawaii News Now.

Gabbard Says She Won't Mount 3rd-Party 2020 Presidential Bid. Longshot presidential hopeful Tulsi Gabbard says she will not launch a third-party bid for the White House if she fails to secure the Democratic nomination. Associated Press.

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Judge Considers Whether To Allow Hawaii To Subpoena Airbnb. A judge on Wednesday ruled Hawaii tax authorities may subpoena Airbnb for records of its hosts as part of an investigation into whether operators of vacation rentals have been paying their taxes. Associated Press.

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Singapore Is An Affordable Housing Model, But Can Hawaii Follow? Hawaii’s challenges include divided state and county governments and no overall coordination. Civil Beat.

Housing experts weigh in on affordable housing plan based on Singapore’s model. State Sen. Stanley Chang wants to take a page from Singapore's public housing playbook and apply it to Hawaii's affordable housing shortage. Hawaii News Now.

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DOT has a long-term fix for Hawaii’s roads. The Department of Transportation has a solution that could double the life of their roads. It’s called stone matrix asphalt, a stronger and more flexible aggregate that could last up to 25 years. KHON2.

Flying into the uninhabited Northwestern Hawaiian Islands, Midway Atoll appears out of the vast blue Pacific as a tiny oasis of coral-fringed land with pristine white sand beaches that are teeming with life. But on the ground, there’s a different scene: plastic, pollution and death. Associated Press.

Political Feuding Over The Border Wall Is Stalling Military Housing Reform. Grim housing conditions on military bases in Hawaii and elsewhere remain as Congress continues to argue over diverting military dollars to pay for Trump’s proposed border wall. Civil Beat.

Oahu

Council OKs extending workday of lifeguards. Lifeguard service on Oahu beaches will be extended to sunrise-to-sunset from the current 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. hours under a measure adopted by the Honolulu City Council Wednesday. Star-Advertiser.

City Council votes to extend lifeguard hours, but the change won’t go into effect immediately. On Wednesday, the Honolulu City Council voted to pass Bill 39. It begins the process of extending lifeguard hours from sunrise to sunset. Hawaii News Now.

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New Ala Moana Pedestrian Bridge Planned Near Fatal Crash Site. Kakaako developers hope the new bridge will also serve as a “linear park” for pedestrians, similar to New York City’s High Line park. Civil Beat.

State awarded $20M in federal funds for Ala Moana pedestrian bridge. Federal transportation officials have committed to $20 million in funding to help the state build a pedestrian bridge over Ala Moana Boulevard, according to U.S. Sen. Brian Schatz. Star-Advertiser.

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City Plastics Ban Bill Undergoing Changes But Businesses Want Statewide Approach. A bill banning single-use plastic items on Oahu has been moved back to a City Council committee for more discussion but that’s not stopping business owners from wanting a statewide approach to the issue.  Hawaii Public Radio.

Major project begins to tackle erosion hotspot on Oahu’s most famous shoreline. Crews have started working on a new fix for an erosion hotspot in Waikiki. Hawaii News Now.

Hawaii Island

Herbicide ban advances. A ban on the county’s use of weedkillers in parks and along its highways advanced Wednesday on an 8-1 vote, although some members of the County Council asked for more clarification before its final vote later this month. West Hawaii Today.

Food Basket to receive nearly $1M to help low-income families. The Food Basket, Hawaii Island’s food bank, will receive nearly $1 million from the U.S. Department of Agriculture to help more low-income families throughout Hawaii access locally grown produce and healthy food, it was announced Wednesday. Tribune-Herald.

Farmers market canopy to be constructed ‘soon’. While the actual building of a permanent canopy over Hilo Farmers Market’s produce area hasn’t yet started, a sign was posted saying construction will start soon. Tribune-Herald.

Maui

US Supreme Court Hears Maui Pollution Case As Mayor, Council Fight Continues. The high profile case is now in the hands of the justices, but if the Maui County Council gets its way a decision may never come. Civil Beat.

Justices Seem Uncertain About Reach Of Clean Water Act In Maui Case. The justices heard arguments Wednesday about whether a sewage treatment plant needs a federal permit when it sends treated wastewater deep underground, instead of discharging the sewage directly into the Pacific Ocean. Associated Press.

Supreme Court hears debate in Maui injection well case. Maui County Council members who tried to stop a case involving wastewater injection wells from being heard before the U.S. Supreme Court on Wednesday say they still hope Maui Mayor Michael Victorino will withdraw the case before justices can come out with a ruling sometime next year. Star-Advertiser.

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Water supply impacted by redirection of river. County says plant shutdown coincides with fish kill incident. Damage to diversions and redirecting of stream flow in the Wailuku River reduced water intake to the county treatment plant to the point that it had to shutdown three times since Oct. 28, the county water director said. Maui News.

Special Counsel Sought in County’s Climate Change Lawsuit. The County of Maui is seeking to hire special counsel in a lawsuit that alleges fossil fuel companies are responsible for the impacts of climate change and rising sea levels. Maui Now.

Kahului Airport terminal expansion project under way. DOT submits SMA application for 27,300 square foot, 400 seat growth. Maui News.

DLNR completes new Maui annex building. The state Department of Land and Natural Resources held a blessing and ribbon-cutting ceremony on Monday to mark the completion of its new 8,000-square-foot Maui annex building, which will house four divisions. Maui News.

Two meetings on Pulelehua project set for Saturday. Community open house for the 304-acre Pulelehua community in West Maui will be held from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. today and 9 to 11 a.m. Saturday at Princess Nahienaena Elementary School Cafeteria. Maui News.

Kauai

Bringin’ back the ‘o‘opu. For three years, hydrologist and water resources engineer Matt Rosener has been heading up a stream-restoration project in the North Shore Waipa watershed. Garden Island.

Molokai

CEO of Molokai’s only health center not stepping down despite residents’ demands. Tempers flared on Molokai Wednesday night at a meeting about the island's only health center. The CEO of the Molokai Community Health Center is resisting demands for her to step down. Hawaii News Now.

Coral bleaching less serious than feared, Honolulu cracking down on flags on vehicles, $11M for Mauna Kea enforcement, food industry rallies against proposed Honolulu plastic ban, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Bleached coral in Hawaii ©2019 All Hawaii News

State, federal officials say bleaching not as bad as expected, urge all to take coral pledge. State and federal officials said the widespread coral bleaching event predicted by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration due to warmer ocean temperatures this summer did happen — but not as severely as originally anticipated. Star-Advertiser.

Bleaching Of Hawaii Reefs Less Severe Than Predicted. But the islands clearly suffered from warmer ocean temperatures. Civil Beat.

Coral bleaching not as severe as previous years, but still widespread. Coral bleaching continues to devastate some reefs across the state. Hawaii News Now.

Coral bleaching in Hawaii not as severe as predicted. The widespread coral bleaching event predicted by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration did impact reefs across Hawai‘i, beginning with warm ocean temperatures in the summer, extending into the fall. KHON2.

Coral bleaching widespread but not as severe as predicted. The widespread coral bleaching event predicted by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration did impact reefs across Hawaii. West Hawaii Today.

Coral Bleaching not as Bad as Expected. The widespread coral bleaching event predicted by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) impacted reefs across Hawai‘i, though not to the extent initially thought. Big Island Now.

Coral conditions improving. As Hawaii simmers in warmer-than usual ocean temperatures, experts monitoring the expected coral bleaching say it’s not as severe as was predicted by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration in early September. Garden Island.

Coral Bleaching Not as Severe as Predicted, Still Widespread. An extensive coral bleaching event that has been impacting reefs across Hawaiʻi did not cause as much damage as experts anticipated it would. Maui Now.

Saving Coral and The Coral Pledge. DLNR press release.

Oysters Unleashed: A New Hack To Help Clean Hawaii’s Filthy Waters. For decades, oysters have helped filter polluted waterways elsewhere. Now, researchers are testing how well those efforts would do in Hawaii. Civil Beat.

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In 2018, lawmakers put up $30M to create Ohana Zones for the homeless. So where are they?  It was the most money ever put towards solving Hawaii's homeless crisis. Hawaii News Now.

Costs for Hawaii's homeless continue even after they die. On average, a homeless resident dies on Oahu every 5 days. Many of them end up being cremated, with their ashes left waiting to be picked up. While the cost of that cremation is picked up by the state. KITV.

Oahu

City Announces Plans To Sue Oil Companies For Climate Change Damage. The City and County of Honolulu is the second county to announce plans to sue fossil fuel companies for what officials say is damage caused by climate change and rising sea levels traced back to corporate action or inaction. Hawaii Public Radio.

Honolulu To Fossil Fuel Companies: Pay For Our Climate Change Damages. “Big oil” has caused major climate change problems for Oahu and Mayor Kirk Caldwell wants the City Council to approve a lawsuit to cover the costs. Civil Beat.

City to sue fossil fuel companies in bid to hold them ‘accountable’ for climate change. The city plans to file a lawsuit against fossil fuel companies aimed at holding them “accountable for the costs and consequences” of climate change. Hawaii News Now.

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Settlement reached in deadly Marco Polo fire. A confidential settlement has been reached in the 2017 deadly Marco Polo high-rise fire, but even the parties involved in a settlement conference Tuesday did not know how much each individual insurance company and other defendants will have to pay. Star-Advertiser.

Regulators Demand Audit Of Hawaiian Electric Co. In an unprecedented move, Hawaii’s utilities regulators have ordered an independent management audit of Hawaiian Electric Co. in response to the utility’s request to increase electricity rates for Oahu customers. Civil Beat.

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Hundreds gather to protest against a stricter ban on plastics. More than 200 members of Hawaii’s Food Industry demonstrated against a stricter plastics ban Tuesday. KHON2.

Food industry leaders criticize council’s proposed ban on single-use plastics. Dozens of food industry leaders rallied outside Honolulu Hale on Tuesday to express their opposition to a wide-ranging ban proposed for single-use plastics. Hawaii News Now.

Local food industry leaders voice concerns over bill that would ban single use plastics. If it becomes law, it goes into effect January 1, 2021. KITV.

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Police cracking down on vehicles with large banners, flags. The Honolulu Police Department posted on Tuesday that stricter enforcement is on the way for vehicles that have large flags and banners. KHON2.

HPD cracking down on flags flown on vehicles. The Honolulu Police Department is asking drivers to be mindful. KITV.

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Judge grants new trial for Puanas in civil case. Katherine Kealoha’s uncle and 100-year-old grandmother will have their day in court, again. A state judge has granted Gerard Puana and Florence Puana a new trial for their civil lawsuit against the disgraced former deputy prosecutor. Star-Advertiser.

Katherine Kealoha to stand trial again for a case she's already won. Florence and Gerard lost the case in 2013 and were ordered to pay Katherine more than $650,000. KITV.

Katherine Kealoha’s outspoken attorney withdrawing from the mailbox case. Earle Partington is withdrawing as attorney for Katherine Kealoha. Hawaii News Now.

Letters For Leniency: Katherine Kealoha’s Family And Friends Seek ‘Justice’ . The federal court has made public a number of letters aimed at helping her when she’s sentenced on numerous felonies next year. Civil Beat.

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Some say gates blocking beach access in a private Kailua community isn’t fair. The public has a right to access all beaches in Hawaii, which is why newly locked gates have people upset in Kailua. Hawaii News Now.

Hawaii Island

TMT law enforcement costs jump to $11M, almost half spent by Hawaii County. The state and counties have spent more than $11 million on law enforcement costs in connection with 16 weeks of protests against the Thirty Meter Telescope, according to new figures released today by the Office of the Attorney General and Hawaii County. Star-Advertiser.

State spends nearly $11 million in response to demonstrations against TMT. The state has spent nearly $11-million for it's response to demonstrations against the Thirty Meter Telescope on Mauna Kea. KITV.

County’s mauna costs hit $4.9M. Hawaii County has spent nearly $5 million on expenses relating to the standoff at Maunakea Access Road, but reimbursement should be coming soon. Tribune-Herald.

Councilman Urges HPD ‘Pull Back’ on Maunakea Patrols. During the Hawai‘i County Council Finance Committee’s update on Maunakea spending Tuesday, District 5 Councilman Matt Kaneali‘i-Kleinfelder urged Hawai‘i County Police Chief Paul Ferreira to reduce patrols on the mountain. Big Island Now.

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Council hears vacation rental update. West Hawaii accounts for 82% of the county’s short-term vacation rental applications in permitted areas and just 25% of those in non-permitted areas, according to a report discussed Tuesday by the County Council Planning Committee. West Hawaii Today.

Survey results highlight Puna’s needs following Kilauea eruption. The results of three community surveys administered this summer — which aim to aid the county in its recovery from the 2018 eruption of Kilauea volcano — highlight the impact the eruption had on households, businesses and the community. Tribune-Herald.

Maui

Maui Wastewater Lawsuit Will Go Before U.S. Supreme Court. On Wednesday, the nine justices of the nation's highest court will hear oral arguments in a case accusing Maui County of violating the federal Clean Water Act. Hawaii Public Radio.

High court to hear oral arguments for Maui case. Reach of the Clean Water Act hinges on Lahaina injection wells decision. Maui News.

Drone Surveys Planned for Wildfire Mitigation on Maui. The Hawaiian Electric Companies will conduct drone surveys across their five-island territory to identify areas vulnerable to wildfire and determine the best course of action to protect the public, as well as electrical infrastructure. Maui News.

Papayas planted in Mahi Pono fields. Mahi Pono Community Relations Director Tiare Lawrence said the next crops scheduled to be planted by the farm are onions, coffee and limes, which will go in the fields that have been prepped along Haleakala Highway. Maui News.

Kauai

No butts. Dean Otsuki was disappointed that he picked up 700 cigarette butts in the parking lot of Wailua River State Park over the weekend. Garden Island.

Space control squadron coming to Kauai, Airbnb to provide records to state, DHHL beneficiaries sound off at Senate hearing, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Antenna field in Barking Sands PC:National Institute of Standards and Technology

Space Control Squadron Approved For Barking Sands. The Air Force will create a high-tech unit to monitor U.S. satellites to support national security. Civil Beat.

Hawaii Air Guard adding new space control squadron. The Hawaii Air National Guard is expected to take on a new space mission with the Air Force announcing that the Pacific Missile Range Facility on Kauai is the preferred location for a Pacific-based space control squadron. Star-Advertiser.

Kauai Selected As 'Preferred Alternative' For New Air Force Squadron. The United States Air Force has approved Barking Sands Pacific Missile Range Facility as the preferred alternative for the Air National Guard's Space Control Squadron. Hawaii Public Radio.

Air Force selects Kauai for new squadron charged with monitoring satellites. The Air Force will create a new squadron on Kauai to monitor U.S. satellites as part of the national security space mission, U.S. Sen. Brian Schatz announced Monday. Hawaii News Now.

Air Force selects Kauai for new space squadron. The United States Air Force has approved Barking Sands Pacific Missile Range Facility as the preferred alternative for the Air National Guard’s Space Control Squadron. KHON2.

Space Squadron Destined for Kaua‘i. The United States Air Force will place its new space squadron on the island Kaua‘i. Big Island Now.

Space squadron settles on PMRF. The United States Air Force has approved the Barking Sands Pacific Missile Range Facility as the preferred alternative for the Air National Guard’s Space Control Squadron. Garden Island.

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Airbnb agrees to provide host records to state. Airbnb Inc. has agreed to provide Hawaii with records of many of its island hosts as the state tries to track down vacation rental operators who haven’t been paying their taxes. Star-Advertiser.

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Lawmakers Consider Fixes To Hawaiian Homelands Shortcomings. State senators may take up some legislative proposal put forward by beneficiaries of the Hawaiian Homes Commission Act. Civil Beat.

DHHL beneficiaries urge restructuring of department. Major changes need to be made to the Hawaiian Homes Commission and the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands before Native Hawaiians can be reconnected to their homelands, a series of speakers told a state Senate panel Monday in Honolulu. West Hawaii Today.

Beneficiaries Speak Out At Senate DHHL Meeting. Leaders from Hawaii Island homestead associations and beneficiary councils made the trip to Oʻahu on Monday to participate in a Department of Hawaiian Home Lands information briefing at the Capitol. Big Island Video News.

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Sex trafficking a big concern to tourism authority. Hawaii’s visitor industry is known for its aloha — but this week hoteliers and other members are learning to be less welcoming to sex traffickers whose $100 billion industry casts a dark shadow on this paradise. Star-Advertiser.

Training recognizes key role hotel industry could play in cracking down on sex trafficking. Experts say the vast majority of sex trafficking cases take place at hotels ― and Hawaii is no exception. Hawaii News Now.

Oahu

Hawaii Gas Faces Uncertain Future In State’s Renewable Energy Push. A bill to limit the use of natural gas in new homes could be a first step to broader bans, a gas company official says. Civil Beat.

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Waianae homeless camp to move inland. In the first project of its kind, the leaders of the 219-person homeless encampment known as Pu‘uhonua o Waianae next to the Waianae Small Boat Harbor announced Monday that they are in escrow to buy a 20-acre parcel of private, undisclosed agricultural land mauka of Farrington Highway where they plan to create permanent housing out of tiny homes. Star-Advertiser.

Homeless residents closer to creating their own community. A group of homeless residents on Oahu’s west coast is one step closer to creating their own community. KHON2.

Potential new site for Wai'anae homeless village worries Piliuka Place residents. The 10-acre homeless village near the harbor has a deal in escrow to purchase a new site, about 20 acres of agricultural land further inland. KITV.

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Kalaeloa Water Company customers told to use alternative water sources immediately until further notice. The taps are running again in West Oahu, but Kalaeloa Water Company customers are warned not to start drinking it just yet. Hawaii News Now.

Katherine Kealoha’s ‘Alison Lee Wong’ resurfaces in bizarre court filing. Hawaii News Now tracked down the bank employee after her business card was included in a federal court motion for a Kauai woman who seems to have ties to Kealoha. Hawaii News Now.

Women Make Great Cops. Now HPD Wants More. Honolulu Police Chief Susan Ballard is hoping to achieve a force that is half female. Civil Beat.

Hawaii Island

Mauna Kea Board Wants Deferral Of UH Regents Resolution. On Wednesday, the University of Hawaiʻi Board of Regents will consider a Maunakea stewardship resolution, but UH's Mauna Kea Management Board is not happy with the proposal. Big Island Video News.

Most Mauna Kea arrestees reject plea deal, citing ‘moral and sacred obligation’. Trial scheduled for December 20. Hawaii News Now.

Hawai'i County Vacation Rentals Draw Hundreds of Neighbor Complaints. Hundreds of owners on the Big Island are seeking exemptions to operate short-term vacation rentals legally in residential neighborhoods but their neighbors have flooded officials with letters of objections. Hawaii Public Radio.

Council committee to talk animal control. After a Hawaiian Acres woman was attacked by unrestrained dogs in October, a Hawaii County Council committee will look into ways to improve the county’s animal control laws. Tribune-Herald.

Palace readies for restoration. Repairs to a seawall damaged by high surf this summer and site improvements are planned for Hulihee Palace in the heart of Kailua Village. West Hawaii Today.

Baltimore Clean-up activist hits Big Island. Conservative activist and Baltimore Clean-up organizer Scott Presler is coming to Hawaii Island to speak in support of President Trump and what can be done in the local community by ordinary citizens. West Hawaii Today.

Maui

The Stakes Are High As Maui Wastewater Case Heads To US Supreme Court. The lawsuit has drawn attention from environmental groups, fossil fuel interests and the Trump administration, which is backing Maui County. Civil Beat.

Visitors on Maui Spent $5B in 2018. More tourists came to Maui in 2018 than the previous year- and they spent more too. Maui Now.

For 2 decades, Valley Isle business key to Maui’s emergency response. MFD doesn’t own its own helicopter. So for nearly two decades, the department has had a contract with the company to handle air operations. Hawaii News Now.


Kauai

Finalists set in chancellor search. Two finalists for the Kauai Community College chancellor position have been selected by the chancellor search advisory committee and will participate in a final round of interviews that includes public forum for each candidate. Garden Island.

Lanai

MECO to recoup charges from Lanai solar farm. Battery issue leads to $360,000 in overpayments; customers to benefit. Maui News.

Hawaii bankruptcies hit 5-year high, state looks to curb child sex trafficking, counties struggle with vacation rentals, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Orchids at Hawaii show ©2019 All Hawaii News

Senate Provision Requires Impact Study Of Imported Orchids. Sen. Mazie Hirono of Hawaiʻi, a state known for its orchid growing industry, wants the U.S. Department of Agriculture to submit a report on the economic and environmental impacts of importing foreign orchids in growing media. Big Island Video News.

State bankruptcies hit highest level in 5 years. There were more bankruptcy filings in October than in any month since 2014 as the number of cases now appears nearly certain to top 2018’s full-year total in just 11 months. Star-Advertiser.

Feds called to resolve rail land dispute. The Department of Hawaiian Home Lands and the city are turning to the federal government to help resolve a years-long stalemate over how to value land in a property exchange involving the rail project. Star-Advertiser.

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Protests are continuing against three separate projects in Hawaii. That’s led people who work with infrastructure development to rethink how they engage the public. Hawaii Public Radio.

Mauna Kea protests have exposed ‘corruption,’ activists say. There is a strong sense among them that the struggle over Mauna Kea has finally exposed systemic unfairness in public institutions that, among other injustices, allowed the TMT to win government approval. Star-Advertiser.

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Why Some Native Hawaiians End Up Selling Coveted Homesteads. So far this year, 16 residential homesteads have been sold on Oahu — allowing buyers to shortcut DHHL’s long waiting list. Civil Beat.

Aloha United Way helps families stay out of poverty. After waiting 60 years for a Department of Hawaiian Home Lands lot to build their home, Keonaona Salis and his family finally felt like they won the lottery. Star-Advertiser.

Principals Forced to Hire Non-speakers for Hawaiian Immersion Positions Amid Teacher Shortage. About 43 percent of Hawaiian immersion teachers do not speak Hawaiian. Maui Now.

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Authorities seek ways to protect children in the islands from sexual exploitation. It's a relatively unknown crisis that has hit our island paradise, but officials say more awareness about the issue of child sex trafficking is the first step to ending its vicious cycle. Hawaii News Now.

The Hawaii tourism industry is getting involved with sex trafficking awareness. It's part of an inaugural symposium that kicks off on Oahu Monday and will continue statewide through the week. KITV.

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September Vacation Rental Performance Report. For seven years, the State of Hawai‘i has set visitor arrival records. But during those years, the number of traditional lodging units, like hotels and timeshares, has increased only minimally. Big Island Now.

State drives toward renewable energy. Hawaii is getting a boost toward the goal of transitioning its municipal fleets to 100% renewable energy by 2045 thanks to a grant from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Garden Island.

State Rep. John Mizuno (D-Kalihi Valley, Kamehameha Heights) is calling for the U.S. Attorney General’s office to investigate allegations that New York City officials are shipping homeless people to Hawaii. Garden Island.

Why Nearly Half The Kids In An Island State Can’t Swim. Some Hawaii schools are working with community groups to make swim lessons more affordable and more widely available. Civil Beat.

Kaiser billing-practices suit against Queen’s dismissed. A federal court has dismissed a lawsuit filed by Kaiser Foundation Health Plan Inc. against The Queen’s Health Systems over unfair billing practices. Star-Advertiser.

Oahu

Oahu short-term vacation rentals drop steeply since city’s crackdown Vacation rental supply fell on Oahu and the number of visitors reporting vacation rental stays dropped by about half in September, the first month since the city’s crackdown on illegal rentals took effect. Star-Advertiser.

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State to extend Pali Highway hours as crews prepare to wrap up repairs. The state is extending Pali Highway hours, giving Windward Oahu drivers the opportunity to use the route seven days a week from 5 a.m. to 8 p.m. Hawaii News Now.

Pali Highway to open daily starting Monday. The Hawaii Department of Transportation (HDOT) has completed emergency slope repairs and is reopening the Pali Highway (Route 61) daily during daytime hours. KHON2.

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A new village-style homeless project could begin to rise by Thanksgiving on Oahu. A new village-style homeless project could start to rise in Kalaeloa before the end of the month. Hawaii News Now.

Hawaii Island

Vacation rental applications flood Planning Department. A month after a key deadline for short-term vacation rentals, the Hawaii County Planning Department is plowing through almost 4,000 applications, including 1,150 seeking exemptions for nonconforming zoning. West Hawaii Today.

County to hear first appeal of vacation rental permit denial. A Captain Cook homeowner is appealing the county’s new short-term vacation rental law, saying it’s unconstitutional. West Hawaii Today.

Second lab sought for HMC cardiac clinic. Cardiac services continue to expand at Hilo Medical Center, with a full panel of cardiologists now on staff and treating patients, and hospital officials are hoping to keep that momentum going. Tribune-Herald.

Maui

Thousands of meals made for local children in need. Two local companies team up for a good cause. Many hands made light work Saturday during a joint local effort to pack 20,000 dry meals for Maui children in need. Maui News.

Kauai

Spectrum restores internet, cable for Kauai residents after second lapse in service. Kauai residents are back online after another outage of phone, internet and cable services Saturday. Hawaii News Now.

Mayor Derek S.K. Kawakami on Thursday signed a proclamation declaring Stop the Ant Month in support of little fire ant awareness on Kauai. Garden Island.