Hawaii tourism, jobs in COVID-19 jeopardy, state doubles down on testing, Honolulu ex-police chief Kealoha faces enhanced sentencing, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Kona beach scene ©2020 All Hawaii News

Virus scare could cost Hawaii 6,000 jobs, economists warn. A new report by University of Hawaii economists predicts the coronavirus scare will cause visitor spending in Hawaii to fall by more than 10% and wipe out nearly 6,000 jobs, but acknowledges there are a “wide range of other possible outcomes.” Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii Visitor Spending Will Drop 10% From Coronavirus. The latest report from UH economists says a more prolonged spread of the virus means greater economic tolls. Civil Beat.

UH economists predict ‘significant’ job losses in Hawaii as economic fallout of coronavirus widens. A new University of Hawaii forecast predicts the economic impacts of coronavirus to the islands will be significant and long-lasting, resulting in at least 4,000 job losses before year’s end as visitor arrivals decline sharply. Hawaii News Now.

UH research predicts COVID-19 could cause “nearly 4000” job losses this year. The University of Hawaii Economic Research Organization (UHERO) released an updated economic forecast based on recent COVID-19 developments, predicting “significant economic impacts” and the loss of thousands of jobs. KHON2.

Tourism industry plagued by COVID-19. Hawaii's top industry is reeling as COVID-19 concerns are impacting travel plans. KITV4.

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Gov. David Ige, Hawaii health officials announce enhanced testing for coronavirus. Hawaii health officials will begin broad community testing this week to find out whether the state has a more severe coronavirus problem than it thinks. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii Coronavirus Updates: UHERO Updates Economic Forecast, Community Tests To Begin This Week. The news on the Hawaii front of the coronavirus battle is swiftly changing. Hawaii Public Radio.

State unveils ‘proactive’ testing for coronavirus. State health officials on Tuesday announced the launch of a COVID-19 “surveillance testing program” that will help identify cases of community spread of the disease — cases that cannot be traced back to a traveler or contact with an individual with the coronavirus. Tribune-Herald.

Coronavirus Community Testing Program to Begin This Week. Hawai‘i will no longer test only those patients who meet the criteria for COVID-19. Big Island Now.

COVID-19 Surveillance tests initiated. Hawai‘i officials said Tuesday they plan to begin randomly testing negative flu samples taken in the state for the new coronavirus. Garden Island.

COVID-19 Daily Update: State Launches Surveillance Initiative. Maui Now.

State launches program to identify community spread of COVID-19. The State Health Department is stepping up its efforts to test for COVID-19 in our islands in an effort to identify possible cases of community spread of the virus. KHON2.

2 more coronavirus tests come back negative, DOH says. The state Health Department said two more tests for coronavirus came back negative Tuesday night. Hawaii’s confirmed cases remains at two. Hawaii News Now.

Private laboratories begin testing for coronavirus. A private lab began its testing for COVID-19 on Tuesday with more labs to come online soon. KHON2.

Hawaii's two largest private medical labs can now test for COVID-19. In the medical community allowing Diagnostic Laboratory Services and clinical labs to work up doctor-collected samples is seen as a game-changer. KITV4.

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Many Hawaii private schools cancel mainland and international travel due to coronavirus concerns. Several private schools in Hawaii, including Punahou and ‘Iolani, have announced the cancellation of school-­related travel for the rest of the academic year due to the novel coronavirus. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii Elderly Care Facilities Prepare For Coronavirus But It's Not Clear If All Are Ready. Hawaii senior care facilities are preparing for a coronavirus outbreak in Hawaii, spurred on by the nursing home deaths in states like Washington. Hawaii Public Radio.

State’s largest industrial distributor of sanitizers ‘basically wiped out of product’. Fears about the coronavirus significantly increased orders from customers and emptied the warehouse. Hawaii News Now.

COVID-19 precautions for dining out. COVID-19 is already affecting the restaurant industry. Local restaurants are stepping up disinfecting common areas. KHON2.

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At least 1 dead in Hawaii from multistate listeria outbreak from enoki mushrooms. A company is recalling its enoki mushrooms after they were linked to dozens of cases of listeria infections and four deaths, including at least one from Hawaii. Star-Advertiser.

CDC issues recall alert for enoki mushrooms following listeria outbreak. Don’t eat enoki mushrooms. That’s the message the CDC put out Tuesday after the mushrooms were linked to a listeria outbreak that stretches all the way back to November 2016. Hawaii News Now.

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Jobs In Hawaii: The Future Looks A Lot Like The Past. Many of the state’s fastest-growing areas of employment remain in service and tourism jobs that make it tough to get by in Hawaii’s pricey economy. Civil Beat.

Lawmakers Concerned Homesteaders Could Bear Brunt of Telecom Fiasco. Sandwich Isles Communications began auctioning off its assets last week to pay off hundreds of millions of dollars in debt. The once-exclusive provider of telecom services to Hawaiian home lands also faces legal trouble, and Hawaiʻi lawmakers are worried services to homesteaders could be interrupted. Hawaii Public Radio.

Lawmakers May Ban Side Hustles For State and County Executives. Both chambers of the state Legislature have passed some form of a prohibition on the governor and county mayors earning income from employment other than their elected office. Hawaii Public Radio.

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Conservationists urge caution in the water as number of whales injured by boats rise.  Humpback whale season in Hawaii is only at its midpoint, but so far nine collisions between ocean vessels and whales have been reported. Hawaii News Now.

At Least Nine Vessel-Whale Collisions Since December. At least nine instances of vessel/whale collisions have been reported since December in Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary and nearby waters, according to new information from the organization. Maui Now.

Sanctuary reports vessel/whale collisions. At least nine instances of vessel/whale collisions have been reported since December in Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary and nearby waters. Ocean users are asked to use caution when navigating shared waters. Garden Island.

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Journalism Conference To Focus On Indigenous Issues. Regional chapters of the Society of Professional Journalists will gather at UH Manoa March 20-21. Civil Beat.

Oahu

Police Chief Susan Ballard supports enhanced sentence for her predecessor. Honolulu Police Chief Susan Ballard is calling for a harsher sentence for former Police Chief Louis Kealoha, and two other former officers. Hawaii News Now.

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Ewa Makai Middle School teacher Miki Cacace wins $25,000 Milken Educator award. The award for excellence from the Milken Family Foundation is given to 40 teachers each year across the nation, none of whom know they are even being considered. Star-Advertiser.

Ewa Makai Middle School teacher scoops up prestigious Milken Educator Award. An Ewa Makai Middle School teacher just won an award regarded as the Oscar of teaching. Hawaii News Now.

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Kaimuki parking lot repaving work delayed for 2 weeks. Kaimuki business owners and their customers will get at least a two-week reprieve from an initially scheduled Monday start date for an eight-month-long parking lot repaving project they believe will wreak havoc on their businesses. Star-Advertiser.

8 Months To Pave A Parking Lot? Kaimuki Businesses Are Outraged. The city says it will take months to repave the lot at Waialae and 12th Avenue but worried business owners are pushing back. Civil Beat.

Hawaii Island

Yagong seeks his old council seat. Former County Council Chairman Dominic Yagong, who held the District 1 Hamakua seat for 12 years, said Tuesday he plans to run for the seat again. West Hawaii Today.

Residents cut off by lava in Puna urge county to work faster to clear roads. Dozens of Puna residents urged faster and more transparent action from the county on clearing lava-inundated roads in Puna after Monday’s announcement that Pohoiki Road will be restored. Tribune-Herald.

ACLU Backs KAHEA, File Amicus Brief. The American Civil Liberties Union of Hawai‘i is stepping into the conflict between KAHEA, an environmental nonprofit, and the State Department of the Attorney General. Big Island Now.

Outburst Disrupts Council Hearing On Kohala Shoreline. An outburst that resulted in an unplanned recess of the Hawaiʻi County Council on Tuesday was not enough to stop the advance of a bill to change the zoning of 37-acres of shoreline land in North Kohala. Big Island Video News.

Maui

Lt. Governor Green is 'Confident' in Maui Hospital Amid COVID-19 Outbreak. As concerns over the spread of the novel coronavirus escalate, state and county officials gathered at the Maui Memorial Medical Center on Tuesday afternoon to discuss preventative measures and potential emergency response. Maui Now.

Hale Makua screening visitors to nursing facilities. Efforts underway to sanitize public buses, other county facilities. Maui News.

Kauai

State of the County Address via video. Mayor Derek S. K. Kawakami will deliver his second State of the County Address via video, which will be uploaded to the County of Kaua‘i website and Facebook page by noon on Friday, March 13. Garden Island.

Hawaii House panel named to study COVID-19 economic effects, Nadamoto seeks Honolulu prosecutor job, $82M FEMA agreement for lava-stricken Puna, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Hawaii cruise ship scene ©2020 All Hawaii News

‘Floating germ factories’: Anxiety within cruise ship industry puts spotlight on Hawaii’s ports. As the coronavirus spreads, more government officials want to stop vessels from entering Hawaii's ports. Hawaii News Now.

Grand Princess docks in Oakland with 4 isle residents to be quarantined. Four Hawaii residents were among the 3,500 people aboard the Grand Princess that docked Monday at the Port of Oakland, Calif., but state health officials did not have details on them or where they will be quarantined. Star-Advertiser.

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House Speaker Scott Saiki appoints members of Hawaii coronavirus committee. House Speaker Scott Saiki has appointed 26 members of the Select House Committee on COVID-19 Economic and Financial Preparedness, which is scheduled to hold its first meeting this week. Star-Advertiser.

House Speaker Names Business Leaders To Coronavirus Committee. The 26-member committee will have its first public meeting Thursday. Civil Beat.

Hawaii House Speaker names panel on virus’ economic effects. Hawaii House Speaker Scott Saiki on Monday said he has appointed 25 people plus himself to serve on a committee that will advise House members on the potential financial and economic fallout of the new coronavirus. Associated Press.

Hawaii House Speaker names panel on virus’ economic effects. Hawaii House Speaker Scott Saiki on Monday said he has appointed 25 people plus himself to serve on a committee that will advise House members on the potential financial and economic fallout of the new coronavirus. Hawaii News Now.

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The state is scrambling to get in touch with people who had close contact with an elderly Oahu man who caught the coronavirus on a trip to Washington state. State scrambles to get in touch with those who had contact with patient. Hawaii News Now.

State tourism hit hard as virus reaches Hawaii. COVID-19 has infected Hawaii’s visitor industry, which is starting to see symptoms ranging from travel cancellations and anemic bookings to declining air seats to plummeting hotel occupancies — some as low as 10%. Star-Advertiser.

COVID-19 testing in Hawaii comes under fire. The state confirmed its first case Friday and a second on Sunday, though doctors have been frustrated at the lack of widespread testing in the community and say the Health Department has denied testing for some patients who physicians suspect might have the disease. Star-Advertiser.

5 Kaiser employees linked to coronavirus care under ‘self-monitoring’ at home. Kaiser Permanente says five of its employees are now self-monitoring at home because they were involved in the care of two people with coronavirus. Hawaii News Now.

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Minimum Wage Hikes Have Had Little Long-Lasting Effect On Business. Minimum wage hikes might be tough for some local businesses, but a recent state study of the impacts of the 2014 minimum wage increase shows few effects on the labor market. Civil Beat.

Lawmakers Want To Subsidize Big Rate Increases By Hawaii’s Only Interisland Shipper. But the state Department of Transportation opposes House Bill 2475, saying it unfairly benefits just one company. Civil Beat.

Oahu

Acting prosecutor Nadamoto formally announces run for the position. Honolulu’s acting city prosecutor, Dwight Nadamoto, on Monday formally kicked off his campaign for election to the job. Star-Advertiser.

Acting Prosecutor Dwight Nadamoto Announces Run For The Job. He filed his paperwork back in December but withheld his announcement until now. Civil Beat.

Honolulu’s acting city prosecutor wants the job permanently. Acting city Prosecutor Dwight Nadamoto announced Monday he wants the job permanently. Hawaii News Now.

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In trial for control of her fortune, heiress Abigail Kawananakoa takes the stand. Hawaiian royalty descendant Abigail Kawananakoa took the witness stand for the first time in the two-a-half year legal battle over her fortune. Hawaii News Now.

Kawananakoa takes witness stand in her defense. Abigail Kawananakoa denied she had a stroke, accused her former attorney of lying and disputed the need for independent oversight of her financial affairs during more than an hour of court testimony that was open to the public Monday afternoon. Star-Advertiser.

Coronavirus concerns prompt downtown Honolulu bar to cancel popular St. Patrick’s Day block party. Murphy’s Bar & Grill announced today it is canceling its 32nd annual St. Patrick’s Day block party over concerns of spreading the novel coronavirus. Star-Advertiser.

Oahu home sales strong in first two months of 2020. Oahu single-family home sales for the first two months of the year were 13% higher than the same period a year ago, while the median price declined slightly, and condominium sales in January and February rose 7% as the median price increased by nearly 4%, according to statistics from the Honolulu Board of Realtors. Pacific Business News.

Hawaii Island

County reaches agreement with FEMA on lava-covered roads. The agreement under FEMA’s Public Assistance program identifies about $82 million worth of damage to county-owned roads, excluding Highway 132. Tribune-Herald.

Pohoiki Road Restoration Part Of $82 Million FEMA Agreement. The County will cover a quarter of the cost of recovering various county roads covered by lava during the 2018 eruption of Kīlauea. Big Island Video News.

FEMA to Provide Tens of Millions in Volcano Recovery Aid. The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is sending more than $60 million to Hawai‘i County to help repair public roads devastated by lava during the 2018 Kīlauea eruption. Big Island Now.

FEMA, Hawaii County reach agreement to replace roads destroyed by Kilauea eruption. FEMA and Hawaii County have reached an agreement on the cost of replacing public roads inundated by lava during 2018’s Kilauea eruption — $82 million. KHON2.

Bill would establish guidelines for distribution of disaster funds. A County Council committee will hear a bill today that will determine how to disburse millions of dollars of Kilauea eruption recovery funds. Tribune-Herald.

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20 nominations considered by PONC: Commission kicks off land-buying program for 2020. Three stretches of Alii Drive oceanfront property are on a list of properties the county will consider purchasing this year under its open space land-buying program. West Hawaii Today.

Kona’s Simmy and Lokelani McMichael made the trip to Hilo on Monday to testify before the Hawaiʻi County Public Access, Open Space, and Natural Resources Preservation Commission on behalf of some treasured coastal lands along Aliʻi Drive. Big Island Video News.

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Hospitals button up: HMC, others implement new visitor restrictions, screenings. New visitor restrictions and screenings are now in place at Hilo Medical Center, Hale Ho‘ola Hamakua, Ka‘u Hospital, Extended Care Facility and HMC’s outpatient clinics in response to ongoing developments with COVID-19. Tribune-Herald.

EPA assesses fines, requires closure of 12 large-capacity cesspools. The owners of a dozen large-capacity cesspools in North and South Kona have agreed to pay fines and replace them with compliant systems. West Hawaii Today.

Marzo running for mayor. Ikaika Marzo, a Puna tour operator who became a social media phenomenon during the monthslong 2018 lower East Rift Zone eruption of Kilauea volcano, is running for mayor. Tribune-Herald.

Maui

Sen. English Announces $204 Million for Projects in 7th Senatorial District. Senate Majority Leader J. Kalani English of Maui announced that over $204 million in Capital Improvement Project funds were released by Governor David Ige for the senator’s District 7, which covers Hāna, East and Upcountry Maui, Moloka‘i, Lāna‘i and Kaho‘olawe. Maui Now.

Maui Departments Increase Sanitization, Urge Precautions Against COVID-19. While there are no confirmed cases in Maui County, all county departments and personnel have increased sanitization efforts and are taking additional precautions amid statewide concerns relating to COVID-19. Maui Now.

Home sales on Maui rise on mixed prices in February. Home sales on Maui rose in February, compared to a year ago, but the median price for single-family homes declined by 5% even as the median price for condominiums rose by about the same amount, according to statistics from the Realtors Association of Maui. Pacific Business News.

Kauai

Some Brun charges dismissed. Felony charges of assault on a police officer and resisting arrest against County Councilmember Arthur Brun—originally filed by Kauai County authorities—have been dismissed, apparently because they were superseded by Brun’s federal indictment for running an island-wide methamphetamine ring. Garden Island.

How rulebreaking is impacting professional photographers. Many places on Kauai are completely off-limits for professional photography and videography — places like the bottom of Wailua Falls and Waimea Canyon and Koke‘e. Garden Island.

Kauai median condo price soars as sales grow by double digits. Home sales grew by double digits on Kauai last month along with prices, compared to a year ago, with the median price of a condominium rising 89%, according to statistics from Hawaii Information Service on behalf of the Kauai Board of Realtors. Pacific Business News.

Hawaii disinfects behind cruise ship as second COVID-19 victim tests positive, Lt. Gov. asks White House to stop cruise ships from docking here, Kauai mayor to deliver state of the county speech online, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Workers disinfect handrails at Hilo park PC:Raymond Rowe

State official asks White House to stop cruise ships from docking in Hawaii over COVID-19. Should the government stop cruise ships from docking in Hawaii to prevent the spread of coronavirus? Lieutenant Governor Josh Green thinks so. And he said he put a formal request into the White House. KHON2.

Hawaii Officials Confirm 2nd Virus Case. Hawaii’s second case of the virus that causes COVID-19 was confirmed after a man who traveled to Washington state was tested after his return to Hawaii, officials said Sunday. Associated Press.

Second isle resident tests positive for COVID-19. A male Oahu senior who returned to Hawaii last week from Washington state became the second resident to test positive for the new coronavirus, state officials said Sunday. Star-Advertiser.

Elderly Oahu man ‘very ill’ after contracting COVID-19 during Washington State trip. Officials said he fell ill on March 2 and returned to Hawaii on March 4. Late Sunday night, health officials confirmed he arrived in Honolulu from Seattle on Hawaiian Airlines Flight HA21 on March 4. Hawaii News Now.

Elderly Honolulu man traveled to Washington state before testing positive for COVID-19. Oahu man got sick in Washington state on March 2, before coming home to Hawaii March 4. KITV4.

A second person on Oʻahu has tested positive for coronavirus after travelling to Washington State, officials say. Big Island Video News.

Elderly O‘ahu Man Contracts Coronavirus, State’s Second Case. An elderly resident of O‘ahu has come down with the state’s second confirmed case of COVID-19, or coronavirus, state officials said Sunday. Big Island Now.

Second Presumptive Positive Coronavirus Case Confirmed in Hawaii. The Hawaiʻi Department of Health is announcing a second presumptive positive result for COVID-19 in the state. Maui Now.

The resident who fell ill in Washington state and came home to Hawaii where he tested positive for COVID-19 was aboard Hawaiian Airlines Flight HA21 from Seattle to Honolulu on March 4, state Department of Health spokeswoman Janice Okubo said as of 10:25 p.m. Sunday. Maui News.

Passengers, crew members on cruise ship docked in Hilo test positive for COVID-19. Passengers and crew members aboard the Grand Princess, which had a port call in Hilo on Friday, have tested positive for the COVID-19 virus. KITV4.

A series of events titled Atua: Polynesian Ancestors, Stars and Temples scheduled to be held at the University of Hawaii at Manoa and Brigham Young University–Hawaii over the next two weeks has been postponed out of an abundance of caution due to concerns surrounding the coronavirus and COVID-19. KITV4.

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Bill would protect school newspapers’ rights. Hawaii lawmakers are advancing a bill that would ensure more First Amendment protections for student journalists in Hawaii public schools. Star-Advertiser.

Pot, hemp bills advance. About one-third of the marijuana-related bills introduced in the state Legislature this year have successfully passed the halfway point before possibly becoming law. Tribune-Herald.

Oahu

Zoning committee decision could restrict wind farms on Oahu. A proposal to prohibit energy-producing windmills from being installed within 5 miles of any neighboring properties won tentative approval from the City Council Zoning Committee last week despite a warning from city officials it would essentially eliminate future development of wind farms anywhere on Oahu. Star-Advertiser.

Honolulu City Council Violated Open Meetings Law. A council meeting improperly included a last-minute resolution about the use of Honolulu police resources during the Mauna Kea protests. Civil Beat.

Public transit, taxis ramp up cleaning amid growing coronavirus fears. Hawaii News Now.

Aviation groups want Dillingham Airfield to keep flying as businesses face an uncertain future. Two national aviation organizations have weighed in on the Dillingham Airfield controversy, with one asking the state for more time to maintain jobs and find a new airport “sponsor,” and the other asking federal authorities to “stand firm” and not release the state from grant obligations at the airport. Star-Advertiser.

State confirms rapid ohia death on fifth tree on Oahu. Rapid ohia death, the fungal blight that has killed off hundreds of thousands of native ohia trees in Hawaii, has been detected once again on Oahu, according to state officials. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii Island

Ikaika Marzo To Run For Hawaii County Mayor. A resident who sprang into action to help Puna during the 2018 eruption of Kīlauea now plans a run for Hawaiʻi County mayor. Big Island Video News.

Audit says water department needs clearer contingency plans. The Department of Water Supply needs to take a few more steps to ensure the public has dependable access to water when equipment breaks down, the county legislative auditor said in a report released Tuesday. West Hawaii Today.

Council panel to consider Kohala Shoreline rezoning. Developers of a 38-acre shoreline parcel north of Kohala Kai want to downsize the zoning to create only six lots rather than the 50 currently allowed, but local conservationists would prefer no development there at all. West Hawaii Today.

Puna residents: Reopen more roads. Dozens of lower Puna residents plan to attend a County Council committee meeting next week to voice their dissatisfaction with the county’s handling of roads still buried in lava. Tribune-Herald.

West Hawai‘i Hospitals Change Policy to Address Coronavirus. Kona Community Hospital and Kohala Hospital began routing all visitors through a single point of entry starting Saturday, March 7. Big Island Now.

Maui

Short-term rental talk draws crowd – Owners: Ban of vacation rentals would punish the legal operators. County mulling end to short-term rental homes; no bill yet. Rental owners, managers and real estate agents decried an idea to phase out short-term rentals in single-family dwellings, saying it would penalize legal small businesses that work hard to follow rules. Maui News.

Maui homes scooped up as mortgage rates fall. Median sales price for single-family homes drops slightly to $744,150. Maui News.

Hawaii High School Athletic Association policy regarding transgender athletes challenged. Cynthia Monteleone, a Lahainaluna track and field coach, sent a complaint to the Department of Education office of civil rights last week questioning the rules regarding transgender athletes. Star-Advertiser.

Invitation For Bid Issued For Wastewater System in Pūlehunui. The Department of Hawaiian Home Lands has issued an Invitation for Bid (IFB) for a Wastewater System in Pūlehunui, Maui. Maui Now.

Plan for eco-friendly cemetery in Haiku gets $1M pledge from anonymous donor. Hawaii’s first exclusively “green” cemetery is still years away from being realized, but a local benefactor is helping to accelerate the process. Star-Advertiser.


Kauai

Kawakami to Deliver Kaua’i State of The County Online Amid Concerns Over Coronavirus Spread. Mayor Derek S. K. Kawakami will deliver his second State of the County Address via video, which will be uploaded to the County of Kaua‘i website and Facebook page by noon on Friday, March 13. Maui Now.

1-person cars create congestion. The answer to traffic congestion lies in bolstering alternatives to single-person vehicle transportation, according to a recent report out of the advocacy organization Transportation for America. Garden Island.

Plastic prohibited. When the 2020 edition of the Kaua‘i County Farm Bureau Fair opens in August, there is a strong possibility there will be no plastic bottled water available. Garden Island.

Last Of Its Kind: This Small Neighborhood Market Is Still A Big Part Of Life On Kauai. Kauai’s last mom and pop market is fighting to stay in business and nurture a new breed of local entrepreneurs. Civil Beat.

Molokai

Molokai Education Center a step closer to expansion. Final EA released for project; permits still required. Maui News.

Kahoolawe

$1M sought for Kahoolawe emergency fire recovery. Emergency funding of at least $1 million is being sought from the state Legislature following a brush fire on Kahoolawe estimated to be the largest to strike the island in decades. Star-Advertiser.

Cruise ship from Hawaii tested for coronavirus, Hawaii senator asks airlines to pitch in for airport screening, cellphone towers nixed, tour helicopter crash-lands on Big Island, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Hula kupuna at Hawaii festival ©2020 All Hawaii News

State: Kupuna should prepare for self-isolation if coronavirus outbreak hits Hawaii. Seniors are particularly at risk when it comes to the coronavirus. That’s why Lt. Gov. Josh Green says he has already reached out to state agencies that deal with the elderly to determine safety measures. Hawaii News Now.

Stuck at sea, cruise ship passengers off San Francisco after Hawaii visit await coronavirus test results. A military helicopter crew lowered test kits Friday onto the 951-foot Grand Princess by rope and later retrieved them for analysis at a lab as the vessel lay at sea off San Francisco, under orders to keep its distance from shore. Princess Cruises said 45 people were selected for testing. Associated Press.

Coronavirus: Cruise Ship In Limbo Off California After A Former Passenger Died. Eleven passengers and 10 crew members were showing symptoms of COVID-19 on the ship en route from Hawaii. Hawaii Public Radio.

Cruise ship en route from Hawaii to San Francisco is held off California coast for coronavirus testing. Scrambling to keep the coronavirus at bay, officials ordered a cruise ship with about 3,500 people aboard to stay back from the California coast today until passengers and crew can be tested, after a traveler from its previous voyage died of the disease and at least two others became infected. Associated Press.

Cruise ship visiting Maui linked to virus. Two on previous voyage test positive; 50 continue to Hawaii. More than 50 passengers aboard a cruise ship that anchored off Lahaina on Friday were possibly exposed to the novel coronavirus on a previous voyage. Maui News.

The Westerdam, which was caught up in coronavirus outbreak, is headed for Honolulu. Another cruise ship that was caught up in the global coronavirus response is headed for Honolulu. Holland America’s Westerdam was denied entry to several ports in Southeast Asia last month after one passenger tested positive for the virus. Hawaii News Now.

Depth Of Hawaii’s Economic Pain Hinges On Length Of Virus Outbreak. How long it takes to get the coronavirus to run its course will make the difference between a short-term hiccup and serious economic woes, says a University of Hawaii economist. Hawaii Public Radio.

Senator wants airlines to offset COVID-19 screening costs. A Hawaii state senator wants to improve airport screening for the new coronavirus and pay for it with increased airport landing fees if necessary. Star-Advertiser.

EPA Releases List of Disinfectants to Use Against COVID-19. Today, the US Environmental Protection Agency released a list of EPA-registered disinfectant products that have qualified for use against SARS-CoV-2, the novel coronavirus that causes COVID-19. Maui Now.

View the list of EPA-registered disinfectant products here.

County mayors ask public to reconsider how they greet one another. Hawaii Mayor Harry Kim and Kauai Mayor Derek Kawakami said they’re taking extra steps to keep public areas clean amid COVID-19 concerns. KHON2.

Some stores limiting items, state recommends buying only what you need. In light of the rush to buy supplies last week, which left behind many empty shelves, some stores like Costco now have a purchasing limit on certain items. KHON2.

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Senate Passes Ban On Side Gigs For Mayors And Governor. House Bill 361 would affect all county mayors and the governor after 2022. Civil Beat.

Potty Parity: Should Women Have More Public Toilets Than Men? The Legislature is considering a bill that would ensure women have double the number of toilets than men do at public venues across Hawaii. Civil Beat.

Researchers say runoff impacts reefs. While the Trump Administration is eyeing new protections for Hawai‘i’s cauliflower coral, researchers with the University of Hawai‘i have uncovered clues as to how land use affects the sea creatures. Garden Island.

Cultural practitioners scramble to save limu as it faces new threats in a warmer world. Limu, a staple on Hawaii tables, is starting to disappear. Conservationists say climate change and improper harvesting are impacting limu supplies. Hawaii News Now.

Oahu

Vehicle owners will be cited for illegal dumping. A new city ordinance signed into law Thursday will allow the city to cite owners of vehicles if their cars or trucks are involved in illegal dumping. Star-Advertiser.

New illegal dumping law starts July 1. Some new rules are coming to Oahu in an effort to crack down on illegal dumping. Starting July 1, the city will no longer need an employee to see someone dumping to go after them. KHON2.

Coronavirus Is Causing A New Set Of Problems For Honolulu Rail. The outbreak has created trouble for Hitachi’s supply chain. Civil Beat.

State faces more challenges clearing mass dumping ground in Wahiawa. A week ago dozens of law enforcement officers from multiple agencies conducted a sweep of the area off of Kamehameha Highway between Kamanui Road and Whitmore Avenue. KHON2.

Lead-removal project in Kalihi is completed. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency said it has finished its removal of lead-contaminated soil from beneath a part of Factory Street in the Kalihi-Palama neighborhood. Star-Advertiser.

Lucky kupuna win lottery for affordable apartments in Kapolei. With a computer keystroke from a Kapolei office building, Brandon Hegland made many Hawaii senior citizens happy Thursday as winners in an affordable- housing lottery. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii Island

Cell tower permits denied for AT&T projects in Kurtistown, HPP. Tempers and temperatures ran high at a Windward Planning Commission meeting that ended with two proposed cellphone towers in Puna being denied use permits. Tribune-Herald.

25th annual Kona Brewers Festival to go on despite virus fears. Despite a spate of canceled events throughout the state as COVID-19 fears escalate, festivities on the Big Island are forging ahead. West Hawaii Today.

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Pilot and passengers survive Big Island helicopter crash. A pilot and his five passengers walked away from the crash of a tour helicopter at about 11:30 a.m. Thursday in a remote area of the Big Island on the edge of a Puna lava field near Leilani Estates. Star-Advertiser.

Tour helicopter makes ‘precautionary landing’ near Leilani Estates. A Blue Hawaiian Helicopters tour aircraft with six aboard made an emergency landing in a lava field in the Leilani Estates area shortly before noon Thursday. Tribune-Herald.

Tour Helicopter Goes Down In Puna, Minor Injuries. County officials say a Blue Hawaiian tour helicopter "crashed in a wooded area of Puna" on Thursday, resulting in minor injuries to all aboard. Big Island Video News.

Tour Chopper Found in Tall Grass After Hard Landing in Pahoa. Big Island Now.

Tour chopper makes hard landing on Big Island, sending 6 to hospital. Authorities are investigating after a tour helicopter made a hard landing in Puna on Thursday and rolled over. Hawaii News Now.

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Alii Drive sinkhole repair work to take another month. Crews are making progress in repairing damage to Alii Drive caused by a sinkhole that opened late last year fronting Coconut Grove Marketplace. West Hawaii Today.

Maui

Maui Matsuri Cancels Festival for 2020. Maui Matsuri organizers today announced the cancellation of their annual celebration which was set for May 2020. Maui Now.

Maalaea coastal erosion considered above average. Official: Mitigation may take 55 months and a quarter-million dollars. Maalaea Bay’s high shoreline erosion rate is forcing area residents to act soon, but mitigation efforts are often riddled with time, permitting and funding issues, government officials said recently. Maui News.

Three New Businesses Come to Maui’s Azeka Shopping Center. Three new businesses have opened at Azeka Shopping Center in Kīhei, Maui, including: Ekolu Kitchen1279, Studio 151 and O’Reilly’s Auto Parts. Maui Now.

Kauai

Lihu‘e sewer inspections start this Sunday. The county Department of Public Works Wastewater Management Division’s contractor will be performing closed-circuit television inspections on the Lihu‘e sewer system along Kuhio Highway from Ehiku Street to Hardy Street, daily from the evening of Sunday, March 8, through the morning of Friday, March 13. Garden Island.

Infected cruise ship visited 4 Hawaii ports; Ige, all four mayors declare state of emergency over COVID-19; Green named coronavirus liaison, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Passengers disembark cruise ship on a rainy Hilo day ©2020 All Hawaii News

Ige’s state of emergency declaration follows the death of a passenger on a cruise ship that visited four Hawaiian islands. Gov. David Ige declared a state of emergency Wednesday following the disclosure that a cruise ship that carried California’s first coronavirus fatality visited the four main Hawaiian islands last week. Star-Advertiser.

State monitoring cruise ship that had virus cases. State health officials said Wednesday they are monitoring a situation regarding a cruise ship that recently made stops in Hawaii and might have had passengers previously exposed to COVID-19, the recently identified coronavirus that has infected nearly 100,000 people worldwide since it was discovered in late December. Tribune-Herald.

Cruise Ship Headed Back to San Francisco with Quarantined Individual. The Coast Guard informed state officials today that the Grand Princess cruise had two ill passengers onboard a previous cruise, which was not in the islands, who have since tested positive for COVID-19. Maui Now.

Cruise ship linked to new coronavirus death stopped in Hawaii after patient disembarked in CA. A cruise ship that was carrying two passengers later confirmed to have coronavirus stopped in Hawaii after those patients disembarked in California, officials said. Hawaii News Now.

California man on same cruise ship that came to Hawaii has died from COVID-19. The Grand Princess arrived on Oahu on February 27 and was docked at Pier 2. Passengers were allowed to get off here as they did on Kauai, Maui, and in Hilo. KHON2.

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Ige issues emergency proclamation to streamline state’s response to coronavirus. The governor has issued an emergency proclamation aimed at streamlining the state’s response to the coronavirus. Hawaii News Now.

Gov. Ige, counties of Hawaii issue emergency proclamations for COVID-19. Gov. David Ige issued an emergency proclamation on March 3 that will let the State work to prevent, contain and mitigate the spread of the novel coronavirus or COVID-19, and to provide disaster relief if necessary. KHON2.

Gov. Ige issues emergency proclamation for COVID-19. Gov. David Ige today issued an emergency proclamation that allows the state to work quickly and efficiently to prevent, contain and mitigate the spread of the novel coronavirus or COVID-19, and to provide disaster relief if necessary. KITV4.

Coronavirus Prompts Emergency Proclamation From State. Gov. David Ige Wednesday issued an emergency proclamation to facilitate a fast, efficient response to the threat posed by the coronavirus and to provide disaster relief, should that prove necessary. Big Island Now.

Hawaii Declares Emergency To Coordinate Coronavirus Efforts. Hawaii Gov. David Ige issued an emergency proclamation Wednesday in response to the coronavirus outbreak. Hawaii Public Radio.

Hawaii Governor Issues Emergency Proclamation for COVID-19. Hawaiʻi Governor David Ige today issued an emergency proclamation that allows the state to work quickly and efficiently to prevent, contain and mitigate the spread of the novel coronavirus or COVID-19, and to provide disaster relief if necessary. Maui Now.

Hawaii Officials Give COVID-19 Update, Pass Funding Measures. While there are no cases of Coronavirus, or COVID-19, in the State of Hawaiʻi, “the CDC announced it is investigating confirmed cases of COVID-19 linked to the Grand Princess cruise ship which is returning to San Francisco,” the Hawaiʻi Department of Health reported in a Wednesday afternoon update. Big Island Video News.

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Gov. David Ige appoints Josh Green as coronavirus preparedness coordinator. Gov. David Ige has appointed Lt. Gov. Josh Green as the administration’s liaison between the state and the health care sector for activities related to the COVID-19 preparedness and response. Star-Advertiser.

Ige Makes Green Coronavirus Healthcare Liaison. The lieutenant governor, a medical doctor, is “uniquely positioned” for the job, says the governor. Civil Beat.

Lieutenant Governor Josh Green named Hawaii's COVID-19 Healthcare Liaison. Governor David Ige named Lieutenant Governor Josh Green Hawaii's COVID-19 Healthcare Liaison. KITV4.

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Hawaii Preparing For Possible Economic Effects Of Coronavirus. Lawmakers want to work with state officials to make sure Hawaii can weather potential impacts from the virus. Civil Beat.

Economic Warning Signs From Coronavirus Already Appear In Islands. There are still no reported cases of the COVID-19 coronavirus in Hawaii. But a spate of canceled events and falling visitor numbers from abroad indicate the virus is creating economic headwinds. Hawaii Public Radio.

Hawaii receiving millions in federal funding to support coronavirus response. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services today announced it will provide $2.75 million in initial funding to support Hawaii’s response to the new coronavirus, or COVID-19. Star-Advertiser.

COVID-19 emergency money on the way. Two people on Kaua‘i are under the supervision of the state Department of Health, self-monitoring for COVID-19, according to latest updates from DOH, and Gov. David Ige has issued an emergency proclamation regarding the virus. Garden Island.

United, Korean Air reducing Hawaii service as virus worries mount. News that United Airlines, Hawaii’s largest domestic carrier, plans to temporarily cut service to the islands was the latest coronavirus-related blow to the state’s tourism economy. Star-Advertiser.

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Defense secretary notes site delays in stalled $1.9B radar. The Defense Department zeroed out funding in its fiscal 2021 budget request for the Homeland Defense Radar-Hawaii — in spite of three years of congressional appropriations. Star-Advertiser.

Judge Rejects Gabbard’s Lawsuit Against Google. The presidential candidate claimed the company was trying to silence her. Civil Beat.

Oahu

HPD chief hopes to ‘shore up’ beats. The Honolulu Police Department plans to “shore up” parts of the department after Mayor Kirk Caldwell’s proposal for a large bump in positions for officers. Star-Advertiser.

How to save Haiku Stairs? Kualoa Ranch suggests they be moved. With breathtaking views, Kualoa Ranch on Windward Oahu attracts tourists and filmmakers alike. Hawaii News Now.

New DMV self-service kiosk opens at Foodland in Waipahu. Another self-service kiosk to renew motor vehicle registrations is now available inside the Foodland Super Market at Waipio Shopping Center, city officials announced Wednesday. Star-Advertiser.

Settlement reached in deadly 2016 fall at Ala Moana Center. The owners of Ala Moana Center have settled a lawsuit over a 2016 railing collapse that led to the death of a young man. Hawaii News Now.

Hawaii Island

Residents of Kurtistown neighborhood vow to fight cell phone tower project. Members of a small Kurtistown community are fighting for their health and homes against the planned construction of a nearly 200-foot-tall cellphone tower. Tribune-Herald.

$103M bond issue would build roads. A move to leverage the county general excise tax by floating bonds to expedite road projects could mean the payments stretch out past the 2030 expiration of the GET. West Hawaii Today.

Feds reviewing Section 106 comments for Daniel K. Inouye Highway extension. As state lawmakers consider allocating $90 million in capital improvement project funds to extend the cross-island route, known colloquially as Saddle Road, from its current terminus at Mamalahoa Highway to Queen Kaahumanu Highway, federal officials are starting to assess comments on the project’s archaeological inventory survey completed several years ago. West Hawaii Today.

Japan suspends its funding for TMT. Tomonori Usuda, TMT Japan project manager with the National Astronomical Observatory of Japan, confirmed the budget reduction “due to the stalemate of the construction in Hawaii”. Star-Advertiser.

Maui

One on Maui tests negative for coronavirus. Number of tests likely to go up with arrival of kits, expanded criteria. Maui News.

Maui public libraries launch 'ukulele lending program. Six Maui public libraries will launch a new lending collection of ‘ukulele beginning Saturday, March 14th. KITV4.

Tournahauler takes its place of honor at sugar museum. Its 750-horsepower engine firing up with a guttural rumble and belch of black smoke, the island’s last functioning Tournahauler began what was likely the final run of its kind Monday morning in Puunene. Maui News.

Kauai

Honoring Bill Enoka. Enoka was one of two pilots who died in a recent plane crash at Dillingham airport on O‘ahu and was an active part of the Kaua‘i community, training pilots in the CAP and working on aircraft. Garden Island.

Six suspected coronavirus cases test negative, Japan suspends Thirty Meter Telescope funding, festivals canceled, tourism falters amid COVID-19 scare, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Hawaii coronavirus laboratory, screengrab from Ige press conference

All 6 suspected coronavirus cases in Hawaii test negative. Six people in Hawaii suspected of having the new coronavirus have all tested negative, though state officials are on high alert for the first signs of the deadly disease in the islands. Star-Advertiser.

Coronavirus tests for 6 people in islands come back negative. Officials stress that there have been no confirmed cases in the islands. Hawaii News Now.

Hawaii Officials Set Testing Procedures For Coronavirus. Tests so far are coming back negative. Civil Beat.

Hawaii DOH to see increased covid19 testing. Hawaii health officials tested six potential cases of Coronavirus, all of the results were negative, but they said to expect even more people to be under investigation for the virus as the state’s department of health is now able to test for the virus. KHON2.

First look at coronavirus testing lab in Pearl City. There is coronavirus in Hawaii but not to worry it is contained at the state lab and sent here by the Centers for Disease Control so experts can test samples against it. KITV4.

Hawai‘i Can Now Process Up To 240 COVID19 Tests a Week.  Hawaiʻi is now one of 40 states that has the ability to do testing for COVID-19. Maui Now.

DOH: Don’t be alarmed by tests. A patient in isolation at Hilo Medical Center, one of three in the state under investigation Tuesday for possible COVID-19, has tested negative for the disease. Tribune-Herald.

Amid coronavirus concerns, Hawaii steps up efforts to sanitize airports. With travelers from around the world visiting Hawaii, the state is boosting efforts to sanitize airports amid concerns about the coronavirus outbreak. Hawaii News Now.

Coronavirus concerns prompt more event cancellations ... and economic concerns. The cancellation of the Honolulu Festival and the postponement of the Festival of the Pacific Arts & Culture is prompting growing concerns about the potential economic impact of the coronavirus on Hawaii’s No. 1 industry. Hawaii News Now.

Hawaii’s tourism industry wobbles amid mounting cancellations. Mariah Carey announced Tuesday that she won’t be in Hawaii for her March concert due to current global travel restrictions designed to stem the spread of the new coronavirus. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii saw a $23M drop in visitor spending last month. The House has formed a special committee to tackle the fallout to Hawaii’s economy of the coronavirus. Hawaii News Now.

Mariah Carey Reschedules Hawai‘i Concert Due To International Travel Restrictions. Maui Now.

UH law school postpones event due to coronavirus travel challenges. The University of Hawaii at Manoa William S. Richardson School of Law has postponed the 30th anniversary celebration for its environmental law program on campus this weekend out of an abundance of caution due to the coronavirus outbreak. Star-Advertiser.

State House moves to create committee on COVID-19. The state House of Representatives approved a resolution Tuesday to create a committee on COVID-19, the coronavirus that in the midst of a global outbreak. Tribune-Herald.

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Minimum wage increase and tax credits are approved. The state House approved bills Tuesday to increase tax credits to help renters and to offset the impact of the state excise tax on food, and another measure to dramatically expand the state’s earned income tax credit. Star-Advertiser.

Priority Bills On Housing, Education And Wages Advance At Hawaii Legislature. The measures propose slight increases to the minimum wage, more affordable housing, a streamlined school maintenance program and expansion of pre-school. Civil Beat.

Hawaii Senate Passes Cannabidiol Regulation Bill. A bill relating to industrial hemp derived products was passed on third reading by the Hawaiʻi State Senate Tuesday. Big Island Video News.

American Samoa gives Gabbard her first primary delegate. Hawaii Congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard has picked up her first delegate for the 2020 Democratic presidential nomination ― thanks to American Samoa. Hawaii News Now.

Oahu

2 new bus routes planned to augment rail line. Among the new initiatives in Mayor Kirk Caldwell’s $2.9 billion operating budget are two new bus routes aimed at connecting riders of the city’s new rail system with their final destinations. Star-Advertiser.

Honolulu’s $2.98 Billion Budget: More Rail Funding and Police, No Tax Increase. Taxpayers will have to start paying for rail operations, the mayor said. Whether it will start running this year or not is unclear. Civil Beat.

Mayor outlines new budget, which allows for new HPD positions. Honolulu’s police chief is looking forward to expanding the force after the mayor offered more money in his proposed city budget. Hawaii News Now.

Rate Commission hearing public testimony for Rail and TheBus. The Honolulu Rate Commission is proposing changes to TheBus and Rail fees and is hearing public testimony. KITV4.

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Honolulu Agrees To Post Financial Disclosures Online. The city decided to make the forms more easily available following a Civil Beat report earlier this week. Civil Beat.

Electric scooter company waits to operate until state laws change. Another company wants to start a ride share program on Oahu, this time using electric scooters. KHON2.

Ke Kilohana condo owners sue Kakaako tower’s developer over maintenance fees, alleged construction defects. Elation has become frustration for homeowners in a new Kakaako condominium tower now embroiled in litigation with the developer of their homes at Ward Village. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii’s Largest Private College Is Fighting For Its Future. Hawaii Pacific University has experienced plunging enrollment, steep operating losses and large debt. Civil Beat.

Oahu Hiking trail closed after Rapid Ohia Death fungus found in another tree. The Department of Land and Natural Resources has temporarily closed the Poamoho Trail in Central Oahu after the discovery of another tree with Rapid Ohia Death. Hawaii News Now.

Hawaii Island

Japan Suspends TMT Funding Citing Mauna Kea Stalemate. Japan has suspended its yearly funding for the Thirty Meter Telescope, citing the stalemate over its construction on Mauna Kea. While this doesn’t mean the country is pulling out of the multi-nation project as opponents urged it to do, the country does supply key components for the telescope. Hawaii Public Radio.

Japan suspends annual funding for Thirty Meter Telescope project. Japan has suspended its yearly funding for the Thirty Meter Telescope project on the summit of Mauna Kea, citing an ongoing stalemate over its construction. Associated Press.

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Merrie Monarch: The show will go on. The Merrie Monarch Festival, Hilo’s biggest event of the year, will go on as scheduled next month, according to festival organizers. Tribune-Herald.

No plans to cancel Merrie Monarch competition president says. Merrie Monarch Festival organizers say the show will go on at least for now. Hawaii News Now.

Ethics Board weighs in on attorney compensation. Hawaii County is suing an attorney representing former Council Chairman Dominic Yagong and former County Clerk Jamae Kawauchi in a 2012 defamation lawsuit filed by Elections Administrator Pat Nakamoto, saying the money Yagong and Kawauchi paid him rightfully belongs to the county. West Hawaii Today.

Maui

Coronavirus testing kits to remain on Oahu. Since the long-awaited arrival of coronavirus test kits in Hawaii, Maui Memorial Medical Center has not yet taken any samples to test for the virus, as no patient has exhibited the risk factors, a hospital spokesperson said Monday. Maui News.

New Signs to Show Original Place Names of Central Maui. Roadways throughout Central Maui will soon be decorated with new signs–each one telling a piece of the area’s history. Maui Now.

Maui Land & Pineapple suffered $10.4M loss in 2019. Maui Land & Pineapple Co. finances swung to a loss in the fourth-quarter and dragged full-year earnings into the red largely due to confusion over taxes. Star-Advertiser.

Business is booming for Maui booze producers. Vodka, whiskey, rum, beer and wine — for a small island, the Valley Isle produces an impressive variety of booze, with solid market success. Star-Advertiser.


Kauai

Add Councilman Arthur Brun to list of public employees getting paid while not working. State lawmakers are looking to punish public officials who commit crimes by cutting their pensions. KHON2.

Kaua‘i officials said Monday there are no confirmed cases of COVID-19 on Kaua‘i, but some on-island resorts say they’re starting to see cancellations, some people who work with the public are donning masks and there have been reports of busy lines at local stores. Garden Island.

Molokai

First movie theater in 12 years is being planned for Molokai. Owners of RWH Chen Building want to open cinema in Kaunakakai. Maui News.

State park fees going up, Native Hawaiian skulls returned from England, Caldwell seeks 5.1% budget increase, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Snow atop Mauna Kea March 2, 2020. ©2020 All Hawaii News

Shower activity to slowly decrease as an upper level low moves north of the islands. KHON2.

BLNR approves parks fee increase proposal. Land Board members on Friday approved unanimously a State Parks proposal to increase an array of parks-related fees in an effort to increase revenue. West Hawaii Today.

Hawaii Lawmakers Hamstrung By Their Own Law On Special Funds. The auditor determined that none of the 63 special funds that legislators wanted to create this session met the high legal bar they set for themselves in 2013. Civil Beat.

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20 Native Hawaiian skulls are returned from England. Human remains taken from Hawaii in the name of science have been returned to the islands after more than a century in a museum in England. Star-Advertiser.

OHA, Hui Secure Return of 20 Iwi Kupuna. After a decade-long struggle, ancient Native Hawaiian remains housed in a foreign land have returned to Hawai‘i. Big Island Now.

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How Prepared Are Hawaii Hospitals For Coronavirus? Past training for outbreaks such as Ebola have hospitals equipped to deal with infectious diseases like the new coronavirus. Civil Beat.

Leahi Hospital being considered for quarantines. State officials are considering using Leahi Hospital in Kaimuki to quarantine any people in Hawaii who contract the deadly new coronavirus. Star-Advertiser.

Additional hospitals adding virus screening. Local hospitals are ramping up their screening for anyone who walks in the door to make sure they don’t spread any viruses. KHON2.

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Weather dampens statewide efforts to count whales. Hundreds of volunteers counted 191 humpback whales on Kauai, Oahu, Maui and Hawaii Island over the weekend, but heavy rain and wind resulted in challenging sighting conditions. Star-Advertiser.

More whales than most. Despite the blustery weather, Kaua‘i island with just 11 sites operating, posted the most average number of whales viewed per 15-minute count period at 2.4 whales “counted”, Saturday during the Marine Sanctuary Ocean Count for February. Garden Island.

Pacific Media Group is moving into television. PMG has acquired the Paradise Television Network in a transaction that took effect on March 1, 2020, the company announced Monday. Big Island Now.

Oahu

Mayor Caldwell’s $2.8B budget calls for 5.1% increase. There is a relatively flat property tax picture on Oahu and a need to find $71 million to pay for the first half-year of rail operations as well as other increasing expenses. Star-Advertiser.

Honolulu Ethics Commission Scrubs Financial Disclosures From Website. The records are now only available for inspection at Honolulu Hale and officials are charging for copies — even if that’s just taking photos with your phone. Civil Beat.

City Seeks Comments On Proposed $3 Fare, Free Transfers Between Bus and Rail. The Honolulu transit fare review body wants to raise the price of a bus ride by 25 cents to $3, but provide free transfers between the rail and bus. Hawaii Public Radio.

Glider Tours Get Federal Scrutiny After Dillingham Airfield Crash. Officials are looking more closely at the use of towplanes to get gliders aloft. Civil Beat.

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COVID-19 keeps L.A. Clippers from returning to Hawaii and postpones FESTPAC. The Los Angeles Clippers, who played in Hawaii the last three years, won’t return to the islands this year due to uncertainty over the spreading coronavirus. Star-Advertiser.

FESTPAC international festival has been postponed due to coronavirus concerns. The 13th Festival of the Pacific Arts and Culture — or FESTPAC — has been postponed due to concerns of the coronavirus. KHON2.

Pacific Arts Festival Postponed Over Coronavirus Concerns. Festival of the Pacific Arts & Culture was planned for June but event organizers are putting it off as concern about COVID-19 grows. Civil Beat.

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Tents in Old Stadium Park offer temporary stay to the homeless. Honolulu officials said tents could be part of the solution in tackling homelessness on Oahu, the Old Stadium Park is the new location for the Homeless Outreach and Navigation for Unsheltered Persons or HONU that hopes to take hundreds off the street. KHON2.

Hawaii Island

Council reacts to mayor’s proposed budget. Nonprofit organizations are set to get a $1 million raise in Mayor Harry Kim’s proposed budget, but County Council members will see their individual contingency accounts shrink from $100,000 to $20,000 each. West Hawaii Today.

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TMT opponents ask Japan to end involvement with project. Protesters in opposition to the construction of the Thirty Meter Telescope on Maunakea presented a letter to the Consulate General of Japan in Honolulu urging the Japanese government to cease its involvement in the project. Tribune-Herald.

TMT opponents seek Japanese support as hiatus for telescope continues. As a pause in the Thirty Meter Telescope project at the summit of Mauna Kea continued, telescope opponents calling themselves kiai, or protectors of the mountain held sacred by many Native Hawaiians, took a break from their Big Island vigil to travel to Oahu on an outreach mission. Star-Advertiser.

TMT Opponents Visit Japan Consul, Refute Governor’s Claims. TMT opponents say there is no hoʻoponopono process taking place with Maunakea kiaʻi, and requested that Japan withdraw support for the planned observatory. Big Island Video News.

TMT opponents voice opposition outside of Japanese Consulate-General. Opponents of the Thirty Meter Telescope took their message to the Japanese Consulate-General in Nuuanu Monday. Hawaii News Now.

Mauna Kea protectors ask Japanese government to stop supporting the Thirty Meter Telescope. Protectors of Mauna Kea -- or kia'i -- took their fight against the Thirty Meter Telescope to the Japanese government. KITV4.

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Five Big Island residents self-monitoring for COVID-19. The Big Islanders are among 91 across the state — including 83 on Oahu, two on Kauai and one Maui — keeping tabs for symptoms of the coronavirus that’s sickened more than 88,000 worldwide and killed more than 3,000, the vast majority in mainland China. West Hawaii Today.

Hilo Iron Works Rezoning Requested. The property owners want to rezone the current Open zoning designation to an Industrial-Commercial Mixed Use, in order to maintain the existing uses and structures at the site. Big Island Video News.

Maui

As Maui Weighs Countywide Vacation Rental Ban, Molokaʻi Is Divided On Impacts. Molokaʻi may become the first island in Hawaiʻi where new short-term vacation rentals are banned and old ones phased out. Hawaii Public Radio.

Haleakala summit dusted with snow. Winter weather brings cold rain, winds to isle. Maui News.

Kauai

Kauaʻi Residents Surprised, Disappointed After Councilman Brun's Arrest. The arrest on Thursday of Kauaʻi Council Member Arthur Brun has surprised and disappointed residents across the small island, while charges that he led a major drug ring selling methamphetamine has shaken the image of the tranquil, laid-back community. Hawaii Public Radio.

Organizations monitor COVID-19 spread. Kaua‘i officials said Monday there are no confirmed cases of COVID-19 on Kaua‘i, but some on-island resorts say they’re starting to see cancellations, some people who work with the public are donning masks and there have been reports of busy lines at local stores. Garden Island.