Hawaii governor signs preschool bills, medical marijuana bills to be signed today, Feds to set rules for Hawaiian Homelands, permit granted for Gene Simmons Maui restaurant, Honolulu council tackles smoking bans, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Hawaii preschoolers sing before bill signing

Surrounded by preschoolers, Gov. Neil Abercrombie signed a bill Monday that expands early childhood education. Even though it’s a far cry from what Abercrombie envisioned, he declared, “No other piece of legislation this year was more important.” The bill funds $1.16 million for administrative costs and $6 million in subsidies to help 900 children. Associated Press.

Hawaii moved closer Monday to providing universal preschool under legislation Gov. Neil Abercrombie signed that establishes a statewide school readiness program. Star-Advertiser.

Preschool bill signing

Governor Neil Abercrombie calls the 'school readiness' bill the most important legislation of the session. Parents in Hawaii pay an average of 640-dollars per month to send their child to preschool. Hawaii News Now.

Hawaii’s first changes to its medical marijuana laws since their inception 13 years ago will begin with a bill-signing today, after the legislation survived a rather short potential veto list released Monday by Gov. Neil Abercrombie. West Hawaii Today.

Legislative leaders say they plan to meet with other lawmakers this week but do not expect a special session to override any of the nine bills on Gov. Neil Abercrombie’s potential veto list. Star-Advertiser.

Gov. Neil Abercrombie notified lawmakers Monday that he intends to veto just nine of the 293 bills they passed. Last year, he had 20 bills on the list and went on to veto 14. In 2011, his potential veto list included 25 bills and he vetoed 17. Civil Beat.

Gov. Neil Abercrombie on Monday notified Hawaii lawmakers of his intent to veto nine of the 293 measures that passed the Legislature during this year’s session. Pacific Business News.

For the first time in nearly 100 years, the U.S. government may soon have formal rules for the federal law designed to put eligible Native Hawaiians onto homestead lots. The U.S. Department of the Interior on Monday notified the state Department of Hawaiian Home Lands of its intent to establish rules related to the Hawaiian Homes Commission Act of 1920, which set up a trust comprising roughly 200,000 acres throughout the islands for homesteading purposes. Star-Advertiser.

On March 1, Gov. Neil Abercrombie called for the formation of a Sequestration Impact Response Team to address nationwide federal spending reductions. The team is still trying to fill the 25 slots with people from government, the military, business and non-profits. Hawaii News Now.

The third National Climate Assessment aims to help federal, state and local officials to adapt to mounting environmental challenges that are likely to result from warming waters, higher average temperatures, more extreme weather, and rising sea levels. Civil Beat.

Hawaii falls smack dab in the middle of a list that rates overall child well-being across the country. Civil Beat.

While some analysts have compared the state’s growing unfunded pension and retirement benefit liabilities as a “tsunami,” overwhelming state taxpayers with an enormous debt, the comparison isn’t valid, says a new Senate Minority report. Hawaii Reporter.

Federal and state authorities are asking boaters to call in when they see dead whales floating at sea. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration regional marine mammal response manager David Schofield says early reporting allows officials to locate dead whales and tow the carcasses away from the islands. Associated Press.

State roundup for June 25. Associated Press.

Oahu

Three bills designed to curb smoking in public places on Oahu will be on the agenda of the City Council Public Safety and Economic Development Committee today. Star-Advertiser.

A nonprofit group under investigation for possible misuse of federal grant money received nearly $30 million in contracts from the U.S. Department of Defense between 2000 and 2012. Opportunities and Resources, Inc., also known as ORI Anuenue Hale, runs a wellness center and workplace for elderly and developmentally disabled people next to the Dole Plantation in Central Oahu. Civil Beat.

Oahu nonprofit groups may now request as little as $25,000, instead of a minimum of $50,000, from the city's new Grants in Aid Fund, city officials announced Monday. Star-Advertiser.

Although Honolulu's new sidewalk nuisance law is more than two months old, enforcement won't begin until next Monday. The city was forced to delay implementation if Bill 7 until new administrative rules could be written. KITV4.

Aliiolani Hale, the 139-year-old downtown Honolulu building that is home to the Hawaii Supreme Court and the iconic statue of Kame­ha­meha I, is about to undergo nearly $3 million in repairs. Star-Advertiser.

A  plan by a geologist and former mineral exploration company chief executive to establish an organic cacao farm in Wai­kane Valley took a step forward with publication of a draft environmental assessment Sunday. Star-Advertiser.

Members of the public can provide feedback on the latest designs for three planned rail stations — West Loch, Waipahu Transit Center and Leeward Community College — during a 6:30 p.m. meeting today at Waipahu Intermediate school, 94-455 Farrington Highway. Honolulu Authority for Rapid Transportation, the semiautonomous government agency overseeing the entire rail project, is holding the meeting. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii

More than 50,000 of the state’s kids — or 17 percent — lived in poverty in 2011, up from 13 percent in 2005. Hawaii County, in particular, continues to have the highest child poverty rate, increasing from 18 percent in 2008 to almost 30 percent in 2011, according to statistics released Monday. West Hawaii Today.

Maui

Rock & Brews LLC, a California-based restaurant chain involving rocker Gene Simmons of Kiss fame, which has plans to open in Paia on Maui, is moving ahead as the state of Hawaii recently approved its special management area minor permit. Pacific Business News.

Camp Maluhia, the largest Boy Scouts of America camp in Hawaii, received $1.5 million from the state for facility improvements and repairs as part of $41.2 million in state funding for capital improvement projects released by Gov. Neil Abercrombie on June 6. Maui News.

The Maui County law says sign waving too close to roads, crosswalks or intersections can distract drivers and become a hazard so there are space restrictions. But residents say it's not fair that the law is being selectively enforced. Kevin Olson's sign reads, "MPD spotter van ahead in the Times Super Market parking lot. Be smart." Holding that sign got Kevin Olson a $50 ticket. Hawaii News Now.

Kauai

The Department of Water will hold informational meetings over the next few weeks to discuss the scheduled 11.2 percent water rate increase that will take effect on July 1. Garden Island.

A proposal to be introduced by the Kauai County Council Wednesday would mean a significant hike in dog-license fees — especially for owners of unneutered and unspayed dogs.Garden Island.

More Hawaii children in poverty, Gabbard in spotlight, Hanabusa, Schatz battle for Senate, Waikiki homeless at issue, unsanctioned trails claim hikers, UH contract woes continue, Ellison to build tennis stadium on Lanai, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Hawaii father and son (c) 2013 All Hawaii News

The number of children growing up poor in Hawaii has continued to climb, with the families of about 1 in 6 keiki living in poverty, according to new data from the University of Hawaii Center on the Family. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard was featured on ABC's This Week "Sunday Spotlight," where she talked about contributions women have made in the U.S. military, the need to put an end to military sexual assault, and her time in office as a Hawaii representative. Star-Advertiser.

Should Colleen Hanabusa defeat Brian Schatz in the U.S. Senate race, she will owe her ascension largely to lingering affection for Daniel Inouye, the most powerful figure in the state's modern history. It would suggest that the late senator is so influential that he can win victories from beyond the grave. But if Schatz prevails, it could signal the end of an era of a kingmaker in Hawaii politics, and the beginning of a less predictable period. Civil Beat.

Burned by high-technology tax incentives that many tax policy experts thought were too generous and ripe for abuse, state lawmakers have chosen to resurrect a pared-down research and development credit to reward scientific experimentation. Star-Advertiser.

The Public Utilities Commission Finally Generates Some Sparks. Civil Beat.

Signs that Hawaii's superheated solar energy market is beginning to cool have some photovoltaic installation companies pulling out all stops with giveaways and other promotions to drum up new business. Star-Advertiser.

Educators May Give Poor Marks to New Teacher Evaluation System. Civil Beat.

Three Hawaii colleges have committed to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's 2013 Food Recovery Challenge to further reduce food waste on campuses. Star-Advertiser.

Hawai‘i is home to over 12,000 native plant species, with 90% found nowhere else in the world. Hundreds of these plants are endangered and teeter on the brink of extinction. Hawaii Public Radio.

State roundup for June 24. Associated Press.

Oahu

A 70-year-old man and a 23-year-old woman died this weekend after separate falls from unsanctioned hiking trails on Oahu, and several other hikers were rescued. Star-Advertiser.

It’s the number one complaint by tourists who come to Oahu — the homeless situation in Waikiki. The visitor industry is so important to our state’s economy that tourism officials are now working with the city and state to find a solution. KHON2.

The Royal Order of Kamehameha I will bestow the order of Honorary Alii Knight Companion, 7th degree, on Roman Catholic Bishop Larry Silva, in an investiture ceremony, 6 p.m., June 25, in the Cathedral of Our Lady of Peace in downtown Honolulu. Hawaii News Now.

Hawaii

University of Hawaii at Hilo administrators maintain that their campus will be ready to receive a new crop of students in a new dorm building this fall, despite an ongoing investigation into UH’s procurement process for capitol improvement projects. Tribune-Herald.

Maui

Work on the 1.8-meter Pan-STARRS 2 telescope atop Haleakala that will focus on near-Earth objects "has been going very well," with the telescope expected to be operational next month. Maui News.

Nearly one in four bridges in Maui County is structurally deficient and in need of significant repairs or replacement, according to a recent study by Transportation for America. Maui News.

Changes in honey-production regulations, signed into law by Gov. Neil Abercrombie last week, will benefit home-based, uncertified honey producers, also referred to by local beekeepers as the "renegade honey guys," according to a handful of Maui beekeepers. Maui News.

Police Chief Gary Yabuta issued a statement Friday afternoon, responding to an American Civil Liberties Union lawsuit alleging that enforcement of Maui County's sign ordinances violates the public's constitutional right to free speech. Maui News.

A state budget bill, signed into law this week, significantly increases funding for forest protection in Hawaiʻi, state officials said. Maui Now.

Kauai

The administration signed a contract Wednesday morning for a Lihue Bypass Road feasibility study, only to take a lashing from some members of the Kauai County Council in the afternoon for putting money down on a project they believe will likely never go through. Garden Island.

New changes will soon be coming to Kauai High School following the release of $134.7 million in capital improvement projects identified by legislators as key projects needed to stand up the state’s economy and aging public schools. Garden Island.

Lanai

Oracle Corp. CEO and Lanai majority owner Larry Ellison is bringing his love of tennis to the Pineapple Isle with plans to build a 50-acre tennis academy in town, Pacific Business News has learned.

Molokai

Larry Helm, a well-known native Hawaiian activist, former political candidate and military veteran on the island of Molokai, has died after a battle with cancer. Hawaii Reporter.

Hawaii deep-sea reefs explored, Mazie finding her mojo, Ellison buys another airline, ACLU sues Maui for sign ordinance, Kauai joins GMO battle, park fees increase, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Northwestern Hawaiian Islands coral reef NOAA photo

Exploration of deep-sea coral reefs in the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands is just beginning but already has revealed a slew of species previously not known to inhabit the island chain. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration researchers returned last week from a 26-day trip to four of the northwestern islands and the Johnston Atoll National Wildlife Refuge with specimens of new species of deep-water algae and the first recorded specimens of black coral from Johnston Atoll. Star-Advertiser.

Shark tours are more valuable than shark soup, study finds. Hawaii News Now.

Deep-sea adventure captures humpback whales’ song off Kona. KHON2.

A bureaucratic scuffle between the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs and the state Department of Health is leaving veterans unable to qualify for VA loans or refinance existing VA loans at lower interest rates. The VA has declined to approve home loans on properties with rainwater catchment systems in Hawaii because the state does not recognize the water as safe for drinking or food preparation. Star-Advertiser.

As Congress works to frame a sweeping immigration reform deal, U.S. Sen. Mazie Hirono and 12 other female senators Thursday introduced an amendment they say would treat women more fairly as they seek to come to the U.S. Star-Advertiser.

In a church auditorium here this week, Senator Mazie Hirono enjoyed something of a rock-star welcome. At a female-rich rally on immigration, Hirono was introduced to more than a hundred women from across the country, including the president of the National Organization for Women, as a “champion” of women’s issues. The crowd cheered wildly and began chanting: “Ma-zie! Ma-zie!” Civil Beat.

Local Enough To Be UH Prez? Take Our Quiz! Civil Beat.

The executive director of a Kauai foundation trying to prevent drownings says rescue tube kiosks that have worked on the island are coming to other parts of Hawaii. Associated Press.

Friday Factoid: How Many Pesticides Are Licensed for Sale in Hawaii? Civil Beat.

State 6/21. Associated Press.

State roundup for June 21. Associated Press.

Oahu

A former Honolulu police officer faces possible state and federal drug charges after police and the Drug Enforcement Administration conducted separate raids at his Pearl City house through the past two months. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii News Now has learned that the FBI is looking into the case of a 35-year-old Kaneohe man who died after he was arrested by police.

What’s the cost of restarting an oil refinery just two months after it was shut down? About $27 million, according to the new owner of Tesoro Corp.’s Kapolei oil refinery. Star-Advertiser.

Honey Bee USA Inc. has revealed more of its $20 million plan to redevelop a part of the Ala Wai Small Boat Harbor called Waikiki Landing with wedding chapels, restaurants, retail and office space, as well as a boat repair facility and fuel dock. Pacific Business News.

Repairs are under way for a historic downtown Honolulu building that houses the Hawaii Supreme Court. Associated Press.

HI Spy: Out of the Honolulu Weekly’s Ashes. Hawaii Public Radio.

Picking up art is not foremost in most customers’ minds as they rummage through the boxes and stacks of literary and musical goodies at the annual Friends of the Library of Hawai‘i Book Sale. But this year’s sale, which begins Saturday, will include catalogs of paintings, prints and art books, according to Friends Executive Director Byrde Cestare. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii

Those graduation and birthday picnics at a park pavilion will soon cost you more — more than twice as much, in fact. The increases, along with hikes in property taxes, vehicle registration and weight fees and bus fares, all go toward balancing the county’s $394.3 million 2013-14 budget. West Hawaii Today.

The federal Department of Transportation is considering making a new agreement for regular scheduled service to the Waimea airport. Flights are guaranteed to the North Hawaii community through the federal Essential Air Service program, which subsidizes service to rural areas. Tribune-Herald.

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Honolulu District, in coordination with the Hawaii Department of Health and various Hawaii County safety and law enforcement agencies, on Wednesday successfully completed investigations for ordnance at the Sandalwood subdivision area and along Kawaihae Road in South Kohala. West Hawaii Today.

Gov. Neil Abercrombie’s office announced Thursday afternoon releasing more than $134.7 million for capital improvement projects at Hawaii public schools, including $850,000 for work at two Big Island schools. Tribune-Herald.

Maui

The American Civil Liberties Union of Hawaiʻi has filed a lawsuit against the County of Maui seeking changes to laws relating to the display of signs on sidewalks and along roadways. Maui Now.

The American Civil Liberties Union of Hawaii filed a federal lawsuit against Maui County on Thursday, saying an ordinance placing restrictions on roadway sign-waving is unconstitutional. The lawsuit was filed on behalf of Maui residents Chuck Carletta and Mele Stokesberry, who said police threatened to fine them for carrying signs in a Martin Luther King Jr. Day parade in Wai­luku in January. Star-Advertiser.

Two Maui residents are suing to change a county law prohibiting sign waving on sidewalks and roadways. The American Civil Liberties Union filed the lawsuit Thursday in federal court in Honolulu on behalf of Chuck Carletta and Mele Stokesberry. Associated Press.

A divided Maui County Council voted down a request by Mayor Alan Arakawa's administration Wednesday to expedite a bill that would amend the current county budget to explicitly call for the demolition of the Old Wailuku Post Office after the fact in an attempt to resolve a simmering dispute between the mayor and the council. Maui News.

The Maui County Council accepted a donation Wednesday of a personal watercraft and sled and approved some funding for the Department of Fire and Public Safety's budget shortfall this year. Maui News.

Maui Economic Opportunity Inc. has begun construction on its new transportation facility located on 10 acres of former sugar cane land in Puunene, according to an announcement Wednesday. Maui News.

Kauai
Kauai County Councilman Gary Hooser introduced an ordinance Thursday that would give authority to the county to govern the commercial use of pesticides and genetically modified organisms. Garden Island.

The latest buzz from the Kauai Beekeepers Association is a plea to local government for more transparency and regulations on pesticide use. Garden Island.

State regulators have cleared the Kauai Island Utility Cooperative to build a $42.2 million solar energy facility that would be the state’s largest. Star-Advertiser.

Kauai residents will experience an 11.2 percent water rate increase July 1. It's the third of four increases to pay for upgrades to the island's aging water system. Hawaii News Now.

Officials held a groundbreaking ceremony Thursday at Kauai Raceway Park, also known as Mana Drag Strip, to mark the start of construction of a $1 million project to repair the facilities and resurface the pavement, the state Department of Land and Natural Resources said. Star-Advertiser.

The deadline to provide input on phase two of the Comprehensive Zoning Ordinance update is June 28, according to county officials. The CZO, which regulates land use and development on Kauai, is being updated in two phases by the Planning Department with assistance from the consulting firm Helber, Hastert and Fee. Garden Island.

Lanai

Oracle Corp. CEO Larry Ellison, who bought the island of Lanai a year ago and recently purchased Island Air, is now buying the Hawaii interisland airline go!, Pacific Business News has learned.

Deadline looms for shipping union, medical records cost doubles, UH looks close to home for new president, Tsutsui gets $1 Maui office space, Honolulu strives to be bike-friendly, Abercrombie sign super PAC, budget bills, Ellison clout makes quick work of state permits, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Matson container ship courtesy photo

Crew members in charge of sailing Matson ships are nearing a deadline to reach a new contract. KHON2 learned Wednesday night that if both sides don’t have a deal by July 1, the workers can walk off the job.

The cost to convert to electronic medical records at the state’s 14 public hospitals will likely exceed $100 million over five years, nearly double earlier projections. Hawaii Health Systems Corp. says it will need to seek additional funds from the Legislature next year for the largest project in decades at its antiquated facilities that provide acute and long-term care as well as critical access services on Oahu and the neighbor islands. Star-Advertiser.

Gov. Neil Abercrombie has approved a pair of bills imposing new regulations on campaign super PACs. Abercrombie also gave final approval Tuesday to the two-year state budget of $11.8 billion for fiscal year 2014 and $11.9 billion for fiscal year 2015. Star-Advertiser.

The federal government wants Hawaii to give back more than $500,000 in stimulus funds after state officials let a nonprofit spend it on computers and multimedia equipment for at-risk youth. Civil Beat.

The group of University of Hawaii regents assigned to find the next UH president said it will look for a candidate with strong island ties before conducting a national search. That might require reaching beyond academia and widening the candidate pool to include leaders in the business, government and nonprofit sectors. Star-Advertiser.

FACT CHECK — Gov: Hawaii is 'Most Stable' State Government. Civil Beat.

Hawaii is ranked eighth in the nation for most entrepreneurial activity, according to a report in CNN Money. Pacific Business News.

You've probably seen the logo for "Defend Hawaii," a streetwear company, on T-shirts or on vehicles. It's the two words sandwiching an AR-15 assault rifle. The company's owner says it can be misinterpreted as perhaps being anti-American or anti-haole, but he maintains it's to protect the Hawaii way of life. Hawaii News Now.

Oahu

Honolulu Mayor Kirk Caldwell joined local cyclists, federal environmental protection officials and state and city workers on Wednesday to ride more than six miles through town, promoting bicycling as a healthier, more affordable way to commute. Star-Advertiser.

Honolulu Mayor Kirk Caldwell wants to encourage a more bike-friendly city. So we strapped a camera on his handlebars and watched him roll. Civil Beat.

Nearly 40 nonprofit organizations represented at a meeting Wednesday for those wishing to apply grants from the city ran the gamut of interests — from one of the state’s largest hospital systems to a group that wants to provide birth control tablets to feral pigeons. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaiian Electric Co. hopes to reduce electricity costs by adding more lower-priced, renewable energy projects. HECO said Wednesday it is asking state regulators for permission to negotiate with developers of five renewable energy projects that want to sell electricity to the utility for one-third less than HECO's current cost of generating power. Star-Advertiser.

The Hawai’i Community Development Authority conducted back-to-back public hearings today for two condominium projects in downtown Kaka’ako. Hawaii Public Radio.

Hawaii

Recently released data from Hawaii’s Department of Aquatic Resources indicates that the overall number of reef fish off the coast of Puako has fallen by between 43 percent and 69 percent over the last quarter-century, and off of Pauoa, the fish population dropped between 49 and 76 percent. Civil Beat.

Less than half of Hawaii County residents responding to a Hawaii Police Department survey believe the agency does a good job keeping the island safe, but most said they are comfortable contacting the department and were treated with “aloha and respect” by officers. West Hawaii Today.

Three sovereignty activists who were arrested on April 5 near the King Kamehameha the Great statue on the Hilo Bayfront were in Hilo District Court on Wednesday. Judge Barbara Takase delayed hearings for Abel Simeona Lui, Simbralynn Kanakaole and Kittrena Morgan until July 24 at 1:30 p.m. All have pleaded not guilty to illegal camping at their “Kanaka Garden” near the statue of the Hawaiian monarch at the Wailoa State Recreational Area. Tribune-Herald.

A 69-year-old Ocean View man awaiting trial for allegedly molesting two underage girls was a deacon and youth mentor for a church in the remote Ka‘u community for at least a part of the time the abuse was alleged to have occurred. Tribune-Herald.

Kekaha Kai State Park remained closed for a second day Wednesday while a 28-year-old Kailua-Kona man remained hospitalized, recovering from shark bites to his leg. The shark attack occurred shortly before 1 p.m. Tuesday afternoon in waters off the Mahaiula area. West Hawaii Today.

Maui
Lt. Governor Shan Tsutsui signed a $1 lease agreement with the mayor, which allows him to utilize office space at the County Building for the next 18 months, officials said. Maui Now.

Maui Electric Co. announced its plan Tuesday to refund $7.8 million, plus interest, to its customers on Maui, Molokai and Lanai. The refund will be in the form of a credit on customers' bills, the utility said. Maui News.

A proposed waiver that surfaced in a special meeting of the county council today failed to pass as an investigation looms over potential misuse of funds involving the demolition of the Old Wailuku Post Office. Maui Now.

Saying a recent rash of unscheduled cane fires has endangered residents and firefighters while taxing Fire Department resources, Fire Chief Jeff Murray asked for help from the community by reporting suspicious activity. Maui News.

The Texas-based landowner of a controversial 700,000-square-foot retail shopping complex in Kihei has taken over development of the project and plans to change its concept to a "mixed-use" development with business, commercial and residential uses, a representative for the project said Tuesday. Maui News.

An education specialist with the state Department of Land and Natural Resources Division of Aquatic Resources will discuss coral reef trends, threats and management from 6 to 7:30 p.m. Thursday at the Pacific Whale Foundation's Discovery Center near Maalaea Harbor. Maui News.

Kauai
For the fifth straight year, residents and visitors can participate in the Mayor-a-thon, an event that draws hundreds of people to the multi-use coastal path, Ke Ala Hele Makalae, for a day of fun, exercise and a chance to win prizes. Garden Island.

The residents of Kalaheo, Omao and Lawai who were unable to attend the kick-off events for the South Kauai Community Plan update are encouraged to share their thoughts on the future of their communities at a workshop scheduled next week. Garden Island.

George Thompson, owner of Fathom Five Divers in Koloa, has been chosen to represent Kauai as an advisory council member for the Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary. Garden Island.

Lanai
Oracle Corp. CEO Larry Ellison has quite the influence and power. The billionaire, who became the majority owner of Lanai last year, managed to leverage his relationship with Nobu Malibu to briskly open a Nobu restaurant on Lanai at Four Seasons Resort Lanai at Manele Bay in less than a year. Pacific Business News.

Abercrombie unlikely to veto much, Oahu prison guard dies when rescuers can't find the key, shark taste-tests Kona man, Honolulu rail depot downsized, more on Dems lawsuit, Hawaii Island faces hikes on vehicle taxes, bus fares, Maui sugarcane fires suspicious, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Abercrombie bill signing

Gov. Neil Abercrombie says he is likely to complete his list of potential vetoes ahead of Monday's deadline to notify the state Legislature and that the list will probably be a short one. Star-Advertiser.

The Democratic Party of Hawaii has taken the politically risky step of asking a federal judge to throw out a provision of the state constitution protecting the “secrecy of voting” and the confidentiality of voters’ party affiliations. Civil Beat.

In a federal lawsuit, the Democratic Party of Hawaii claims the state's primary election law is unconstitutional. Associated Press.

The new leader of the Grassroot Institute of Hawaii, a nonprofit hui focused on public policy, has already identified two policy areas as priorities: the cabotage laws that govern maritime rules in U.S. waters (the Jones Act) and the formation of a race-based government (the Native Hawaiian Roll Commission). Civil Beat.

Hawaii's elementary- and high-school teaching degree programs are among the worst in the country when it comes to preparing new teachers for the classroom, according to a new report that slams many of the nation's teacher colleges. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii is one of six states chosen by the National Governors Association to receive help with early childhood education. Associated Press.

Hawaii is home to one of the largest and most powerful military complexes in the world yet fails to produce a large cadre of local kids who are qualified to enter its ranks, according to experts who say declining military eligibility across the country is posing a threat to national security. Civil Beat.

Oahu

Community feedback on the size and scope of Honolulu's future rail stations has helped save the project some $100 million in design and construction costs, the city's top rail official said Tuesday. Star-Advertiser.

The Honolulu Authority for Rapid Transportation on Tuesday released renderings of three proposed rail station designs, and it plans to hold a series of public meetings next week to gather input on the designs. Pacific Business News.

A veteran Oahu Community Correctional Center sergeant died on the job Saturday night after suffering an apparent cardiac arrest, and prisons officials were delayed in getting him medical treatment because they couldn't find the key to get to his secured post. Hawaii News Now.

A community group opposing Turtle Bay Resort expansion plans has renewed a push to block the project by challenging the validity of a 27-year-old state approval for enlarging the resort on Oahu's North Shore. Star-Advertiser.

When the sun goes down, beaches up and down the Leeward coast are filled with night fishermen. That's when Ro Domondon catches ulua and other fish that swim close to the shoreline. Hawaii News Now.

Oahu’s first stand-alone zip line planned for Aiea. KHON2.

Hawaii

By bus or by car, your ride is soon going to cost you more. The Hawaii County Council on Tuesday advanced bills doubling bus fares and car registration and vehicle weight taxes. West Hawaii Today.

A shark bit the leg of a man swimming at a West Hawaii beach Tuesday afternoon but released him and swam away, allowing the man to get back to shore. Star-Advertiser.

A 28-year-old Kailua-Kona man is recovering from shark bites to his leg following an attack Tuesday afternoon in waters off the Mahaiula area of Kekaha Kai State Park in North Kona. West Hawaii Today.

A man was bitten by a 14-foot shark while swimming at Kekahakai State Park's Mahaiula Beach on the Big Island of Hawaii Tuesday afternoon. Hawaii News Now.

A proposal to give the County Council members’ appointed staff a 4 percent raise was tabled Tuesday after a lengthy discussion over step increases. Tribune-Herald.

Dozens of construction workers could lose their jobs on a bioenergy plant project in Pepeekeo following a decision in a labor dispute. Tribune-Herald.

A parade of county dignitaries and former leaders came to the West Hawaii Civic Center on Tuesday to witness the final chapter of a 35-year saga. West Hawaii Today.

Maui

A spate of suspicious sugar cane field fires in Central Maui within a month has resulted in the loss of an estimated $182,500 to the sugar crop, firefighters said Tuesday. Although the cause of the fires remains undetermined, fire officials believe the fires may have been intentionally set because there are no obvious points of ignition. Star-Advertiser.

Maui County Council's Policy and Intergovernmental Affairs Committee advanced a resolution Monday to formally investigate possible misuse of public funds by Mayor Alan Arakawa's administration over the demolition of the Old Wailuku Post Office. Maui News.

The Texas-based landowner of a controversial 700,000-square-foot retail shopping complex in Kihei has taken over development of the project and plans to change its concept to a "mixed-use" development with business, commercial and residential uses, a representative for the project said Tuesday. Maui News.

The Polynesian voyaging canoe, Hōkūleʻa arrived at Māʻalaea Harbor on Maui last night as part of the Mālama Hawaiʻi leg of its worldwide voyage. Maui Now.

Kauai
Despite Kauai being ranked No. 2 on Trip-Advisor’s 2013 list of “Top 10 Islands” in the United States, the latest report from Hospitality Advisors LLC shows a decline in occupied hotel rooms during the month of April. Garden Island.

State and county officials expect the number of emergency medical response calls to rise as the elderly population on Kauai grows. Garden Island.

Molokai
‘Bureaucratic abuse’: Hawaii vets wait a decade for center, services. Hawaii Reporter.

Hawaii fishermen lament development, new law gives beekeepers a break, Abercrombie praises Ellison, Tesoro sale saves jobs, pro-rail group snags Inouye aide, Dems file suit over primary, Kauai mulls raises, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Hawaii shore fishermen (c) 2013 All Hawaii News

Hawaii fishermen asked policymakers to address how runoff caused by land development harms reefs, fisheries and oceans when they consider how to cope with the effects of climate change. Associated Press.

The Democratic Party of Hawaii filed a lawsuit Monday in federal court challenging the state's open primary system as an unconstitutional violation of the First Amendment right to free association. Star-Advertiser.

It’s a honey of a bill for local beekeepers. Starting today, small beekeepers can produce up to 500 gallons of honey a year and sell it to retail establishments, as well as directly to the consumer, without having to get a Department of Health permit or use a certified kitchen. West Hawaii Today.

The state has made it easier for at-home honey producers to package and sell their product, enacting a law that exempts small operators from obtaining a Department of Health permit if they sell fewer than 500 gallons of honey per year. Star-Advertiser.

Sweet! A new law will make room on supermarket shelves for locally produced honey. Garden Island.

Governor Neil Abercrombie signed a proclamation to designate Pollinator Week and a related piece of legislation into law today to bolster the honeybee industry in Hawai’i. Hawaii Public Radio.

The Hawaii Public Utilities Commission is many things: underfunded, understaffed, ineffectual, indecisive and absolutely essential. The commission marks its 100th anniversary this year at one of the most critical times in its existence. Civil Beat.

With air travel vital for getting between the islands, local airline officials and U.S. Sen. Brian Schatz are pushing to give many interisland commuters new options to zip through airport security. Star-Advertiser.

Today, the Hawaii Government Employees Association (HGEA) announced it has unanimously endorsed Brian Schatz for United States Senate in 2014. HGEA joins a fast-growing list of grassroots organizations, now totaling 24, supporting Schatz’s candidacy. Hawaii Independent.

Lt. Gov. Shan Tsutsui has received the endorsements of the Ironworkers Union Local 625 and Sheet Metal Union Local 293 as he seeks re-election in 2014. Maui News.

Sen. Daniel K. Inouye, who died last year, was posthumously awarded the U.S. Army Pacific Mana O Ke Koa “Spirit of the Warrior” award during the U.S. Army Pacific’s birthday commemoration ceremony Friday. Star-Advertiser.

State roundup for June 18. Associated Press.

Oahu

The non-profit pro-rail group Move Oahu Forward, whose job is to galvanize support for the 20-mile elevated rail line, has just named Inouye’s former chief of staff, Jennifer Sabas, as its new executive director. The group played a lead role in promoting rail during the 2012 mayoral election. Civil Beat.

Tesoro's Corp.'s 18-month quest to find a buyer for its Kapolei oil refinery finally paid off with the company announcing Monday that it will sell the facility and preserve at least 165 jobs that were scheduled to be eliminated. Star-Advertiser.

Tesoro Corp. said Monday that it has signed an agreement to sell Tesoro Hawaii, LLC, which operates the 94,000 barrel-per-day Kapolei refinery as well as dozens of retail gas stations to a subsidiary of Texas-based Par Petroleum Corp. called called Hawaii Pacific Energy LLC for close to $400 million. Pacific Business News.

The city of Honolulu's Department of Community Services is holding a series of mandatory workshops to ensure nonprofit groups who receive taxpayer grants know exactly what's expected of them as well as the paperwork involved. KITV4.

Farrington auditorium rebuild will go out to bid by year's end. Hawaii News Now.

Hawaii

A bill before the Hawaii County Council to restrict the use of genetically modified crops will be the subject of a meeting next week held by GMO Free Hawaii Island. Tribune-Herald.

The lava rocks on this narrow, irregular pathway are hundreds of years old and are part of the 175-mile Ala Kahakai, “trail by the sea,” that linked communities, temples, fishing areas and other important locations along Hawaii Island’s western coast. West Hawaii Today.

Volunteers with the Volcano Community Association and Cooper Center Council invite folks of all ages and locales to join in the village’s annual Fourth of July celebration. Tribune-Herald.

Maui

‘The steals are gone’: Real estate market improving. Maui News.

A council committee today recommended a formal investigation into the potential misuse of county funds for the demolition of the Old Wailuku Post Office. Maui Now.

Kauai

In its first meeting of 2013, the Kauai Salary Commission got a short message Monday from Boards and Commissions Administrator Paula Morikami: Get ready to discuss potential pay raises for elected and appointed officials. Garden Island.

More than two hours into a passionate discussion, the Kauai County Council by a 4-3 vote deferred for 90 days a resolution to prompt an investigation into the handling of non-conforming use permits for transient vacation rentals operating outside visitor destination areas. Garden Island.

Molokai

Hawaiian Airlines is now hiring Molokai personnel for its new flight service, `Ohana by Hawaiian, which will serve Molokai and Lanai later this year. Positions will include part time ramp service clerk/agents and a full time supervisor for ramp and passenger services. No start date for launching the new service has been released by Hawaiian, but Worldwide Flight Services, handling Molokai hiring, announced the local positions would tentatively start in mid-August. Molokai Dispatch.

The Molokai Community Health Center is in the midst of transforming its facility to better serve the Friendly Isle’s underserved populations as it nears the end of a three-phase, $8.5 million capital campaign. Pacific Business News.
Lanai

A year after software billionaire Larry Ellison purchased the island of Lanai, Gov. Neil Abercrombie praised what he called Ellison's "very successful" first year as owner of the former Pineapple Island. Hawaii News Now.

Hawaii wants presidential library, tax collections up 10%, state auditor broke procurement laws, lobbyist laws weak, Oahu crash leads to proposed ban on passengers in pickup beds, Hawaii County council considers staff raises, NASA to test Mars craft on Kauai, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Obama reflection, courtesy file photo

The underlying question about how to woo the president is a real one for the Hawaii-based team that is pushing for the creation of the Barack Obama Presidential Center on seven acres of prime waterfront real estate in Kakaako. Obama’s political identity is so intensely linked to his adopted city of Chicago that it would be more than a little surprising if the Windy City doesn't get some lasting reminder of his presidency, like a presidential library, but the islands are angling for their piece, as well. Civil Beat.

Lobbyist disclosures in Hawaii may be a misnomer — the records don't disclose much. Hardly any individual lobbyists reported spending even $1 schmoozing Hawaii lawmakers early in the recent legislative session, making it all but impossible for state residents to tell from the filings how special interest groups are affecting state legislators. Associated Press.

The state Department of Taxation says Hawaii general excise tax revenue rose nearly 10 percent during the first 11 months of the current fiscal year. Associated Press.

The state agency tasked with making sure other agencies follow the law when it comes to spending taxpayer money also violated state procurement practices for years, the state's chief procurement officer wrote in a letter to legislative leaders earlier this year. Civil Beat.

A bill pending before Gov. Neil Abercrombie would remove charitable donations from on itemized deductions by higher-income taxpayers, which are scheduled to remain in place until January 2016. The exception for charitable donations would cost the state about $12 million a year, but Abercrombie, who is expected to sign the bill into law, has said the state is in a better financial position than it was two years ago. Star-Advertiser.

It might be a hard sell given that unions like the Hawaiian Government Employees Union will likely use its resources to push their members to support Sen. Brian Schatz. But in response to the HGEA’s endorsement of Schatz today, Rep. Colleen Hanabusa, who is running for Schatz’s seat, appealed on the rank and file to back her anyway. Civil Beat.

A University of Hawaii John A. Burns School of Medicine research group working to prevent chronic disease by advocating healthy behaviors may be forced to shut down half of its social service programs this year when its grant funding expires. The group, known as the Health Behavior Change Research Workgroup, is seeking private funding to prevent the closure of half of its 10 community intervention programs, which address issues including childhood obesity, cancer, oral health and substance abuse. Star-Advertiser.

University of Hawaii scientists analyzing a Martian meteorite have found a chemical necessary for the formation of genetic material. Star-Advertiser.

Friday night, a military jury found former Pacific Command officer Maj. Seivirak Inson guilty of espionage for passing classified intelligence assessments about Cambodia to people who were not entitled to receive them between 2009 and 2012. KITV4.

For the first time, a woman is taking over as commander of Navy Region Northwest. Associated Press.

State roundup for June 17. Associated Press.

Oahu

The question of whether there should be any restrictions on people riding in the back of a pickup truck is on the minds of many people including lawmakers. The fiery crash near Makua cave that involved 16 people piled in a pickup truck continues to raise more questions. Some lawmakers say it is time to ban people from riding in the back of pickup trucks all together. KHON2.

Honolulu City Councilman Ron Menor is proposing a new website where the homeless can post personalized donation requests for food, shelter or clothing. Civil Beat.

Saks Fifth Avenue plans to enter the Hawaii market as the anchor tenant for the planned redevelopment of the International Market Place in Waikiki, developer Taubman Centers Inc. and landowner Queen Emma Land Co. said Friday. Pacific Business News.

Hawaii

Hawaii County Council members will consider giving their staff a 4 percent raise Tuesday. Tribune-Herald.

The County Council’s planned acceptance Tuesday of the Kohanaiki coastal park is a landmark event for Kohala Councilwoman Karen Eoff. West Hawaii Today.

A new, $1.2 million, two-story retail center and office building is going up at the intersection of East Kawili and Hinano streets in Hilo. Tribune-Herald.

Waikoloa Development Co. is seeking a U.S. Army Corps of Engineers permit to rebuild the Kuualii fishpond rock wall, dredge sand from the pond and restore the beach at Anaehoomalu Bay in South Kohala. West Hawaii Today.

Maui

Members of a local tea party group targeted by the IRS asked Congress Thursday to appoint a special prosecutor to determine whether the federal agency used its powers unfairly to target conservative groups. Tea Party Maui was the subject of a 26-month IRS investigation following the group’s application for a 501-c-4 tax-exempt status. Hawaii Reporter.

Maui County wants to sell eight of its smaller six- to eight-passenger buses that have "outlived their useful lives," according to Department of Transportation Director Jo Anne Winer. Maui News.

Lowering customer bills, pushing toward a clean energy future, modernizing the existing power grid and creating fairness for all customers were the four priorities that Maui Electric Co. officials discussed at their Integrated Resource Planning public meeting Thursday night. Maui News.

Navy Cmdr. Eric Johnson was pleased with the reception that military personnel were receiving on Maui as they delivered free medical and dental care and exams to Maui residents at six locations throughout Maui County on Lana'i, Molokai and Hana from June 4 to 12. Maui Weekly.

For more than 17 years, members of Hui O Wa'a Kaulua have been building Mo'okiha o Pi'ilani, their 62-foot, double-hulled canoe, at Kamehameha Iki Park in Lahaina. Now the canoe is more than 90 percent complete, and the group is aiming to get it into the ocean in December. Maui News.

Kauai
Next summer, NASA plans to send a saucer-shaped Mars entry vehicle aloft by balloon from Kauai, boost it from 120,000 feet to as high as 180,000 feet by rocket, then, as it hurtles through the thin air at 2,600 mph, deploy a speed-reducing inflatable doughnut around the craft, followed by a big parachute, until it plops into the water for pickup. Star-Advertiser.

The Kauai County Housing Agency is moving forward with plans for the county’s first affordable senior housing project in Lihue after an environmental assessment found no significant adverse cultural or environmental impacts. Garden Island.

The latest development plans for Makahuena Point on the island’s southern tip will be reviewed at 6:30 p.m. Thursday at the Koloa Neighborhood Center. Garden Island.

No surprise: Hawaii more than half Asian, accused Army spy faces court martial, Honolulu rail could have double the cars, fewer trips, drones on the Big Island, federal court rules against Department of Education in Maui disabled student case, dead monk seal found on Kauai, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Honolulu Spam Jam (c) 2013 All Hawaii News

A state analysis of U.S. Census data released Thursday shows Hawaii has by far the largest share of Asians and the smallest share of whites in any U.S. state’s total population. Associated Press.

Immigrant families from Asia, a relatively high rate of interracial marriage and the fact that many white people who move to the islands are retirees are likely factors behind Hawaii leading the nation, by far, in the portion of residents of Asian ancestry, a population expert says. John Butler, associate dean of academic affairs at the University of Hawaii at Manoa's Shidler College of Business, said the U.S. Census Bureau figures won't surprise most people here. Star-Advertiser.

Census: Hawaii Has Largest Share Of Asian Population. Civil Beat.

Asians account for more than half of Hawaii’s population, according to information released today by the US Census Bureau. Big Island Now.

An Army officer who worked for U.S. Pacific Command is on trial in Hawaii, accused of illegally possessing and passing classified national defense information, the Army revealed Thursday. Major's case is third in Hawaii. Star-Advertiser.

As a high-ranking Army intelligence officer, accused spy Seivirak Inson had immense access to the military secrets of the U.S. Pacific Command in Hawaii. Now, the 43-year-old Major is facing court-martial proceeding for attempting to hand over some of those secrets to the Cambodian government. Hawaii News Now.

Hawaii plans to undergo a substantial energy efficiency initiative that aims to more than double the energy efficiency in state and county buildings through additional energy savings performance contracting with the private sector. Pacific Business News.

An intensive year-long community planning process to assist the electric utilities in coming up with five-year energy plans for Oahu, the Big Island and Maui County needs more time, some members of the planning committee say. Civil Beat.

State roundup for June 14. Associated Press.

Oahu

Rail officials are considering doubling the capacity of Oahu's future passenger trains to accommodate more people per stop — but the proposal would also halve the number of trains planned for the line. Star-Advertiser.

Beneath the feet of attendees at the historic Kawaiahao Church, there is a basement full of baskets, many of which are stacked atop one another. They contain the exhumed human remains of 660 long dead believers, and many of them have been there for years. The bones, or iwi, believed to date from the 19th century, were dug up from a broad plot of land on the side of the church. Civil Beat.

One dollar. That is the amount of compensation private contractor AC Kobayashi Inc. billed the University of Hawaii each month under a “Pre-Construction Services Agreement” to build the university’s new West Oahu campus. That’s $1, plus as much as $60,000 a month for reimbursable expenses over 18 months ending Dec. 31, 2010. Hawaii Reporter.

Two managers at Kapiolani Community College, including the woman who used to be in charge of investigating personnel complaints at UH's second-most-populated campus, have filed discrimination complaints against KCC Chancellor Leon Richards. Hawaii News Now.

Completing a two-year, $135 million construction project, Michaels Development Co. has delivered on its promise to renovate the once-dilapidated Kuhio Park Terrace, which even has a new name, the Towers at Kuhio Park. The mammoth face-lift — awarded to Michaels and its development partner Vitas Group in September 2009 — marks the first mixed-financed, public-private housing partnership in the state. Star-Advertiser.

A former Waianae public charter school clerk pleaded not guilty in Circuit Court on Thursday to felony charges that she stole $19,750 from the school. Star-Advertiser.

Plans to build a Foodland in Hawaii Kai suspended. KHON2.

Hawaii

A county project estimated to cost $50,000 ballooned to $146,913, leaving one would-be bidder crying foul. West Hawaii Today.

The highest bid at a foreclosure auction for more than 5,800 acres of sugar plantation land on the Big Island was $12.2 million and now a confirmation hearing for sale of the WWK Hawaii Holdings land is scheduled for June 27. Pacific Business News.

Hamakua Springs volunteering hundreds of acres for testing drones. KITV4.

There’s less than a month remaining until Independence Day festivities kick off in Kailua-Kona, culminating with a community parade and fireworks display over Kailua Bay. However, the Kailua-Kona Community Parade Association, the group that makes it all possible, still needs to raise about $5,000 to put on the annual parade and fireworks display for a fifth straight year, said Barbara Kossow, the association’s Independence Day activities and sponsorship coordinator. West Hawaii Today.

The future of Hawaii’s Volcano Circus remains to be determined six months after the Windward Planning Commission last tabled the matter of revoking a permit for its location in Kalapana Seaview Estates. Tribune-Herald.

Maui

The state Department of Education failed to provide a Maui special-needs student with a free appropriate public education when it excluded the boy's father from participating in a meeting that changed the student's school placement for the first time in six years, a 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals panel ruled Thursday. Star-Advertiser.

The Hawaii Department of Education can't put the burden on parents to ensure that children with learning disabilities get what is due to them from the state’s public schools, according to a significant U.S. Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals decision issued Thursday. Civil Beat.

Kaho'olawe Island Reserve Commission members approved a nearly $2.9 million budget Wednesday for the fiscal year beginning July 1. And, while the spending plan continues operations for another year at a "bare minimum," according to commission Executive Director Michael Naho'opi'i, the budget doesn't address a new source of funding. That would be needed to stem the rapidly depleting remainder of a $44 million trust fund established for commission operations in 1994 during the federal government's cleanup of Kahoolawe. Maui News.

After months of searching for a qualified candidate to fill the newly created county auditor position, members of the Maui County Council Budget and Finance Committee on Wednesday unanimously supported the appointment of the man they think is right for the job. Maui News.

The Halemau'u trailhead parking lot will be closed Tuesday through June 25 while work is done on disabled accessibility improvements, Haleakala National Park officials announced. Maui News.

Kauai

A Hawaiian monk seal found dead on Kauai’s Westside appears to have died of natural causes, according to Jamie Thomton of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Garden Island.

The Kauai Humane Society is closing on Saturdays, starting July 7, a move to help reduce operating costs, which have increased over the last three years. KHS is also laying off one position, and cutting back on part-time hours. Garden Island.

Hawaii to announce $300M energy plan, Navy stops Ford Island solar plan, syphilis outbreak in Kona, Microsoft opens Honolulu store, Maui gets auditor, police officers sued, coral reefs, tropical fish in jeopardy, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Honolulu night skyline (c) 2013 All Hawaii News

A $300 million plan to be unveiled today to more than double the energy efficiency in state and Honolulu County buildings could add 5,000 new jobs to Hawaii's economy by 2015 and bolster efforts to meet aggressive clean-energy goals. The state planned to make a commitment to more energy efficiency at the Clinton Global Initiative America meeting in Chicago hosted by former President Bill Clinton. Star-Advertiser.

Over the last couple of months, Neil Abercrombie has played Santa Claus, sans the red hat and coat. The Hawaii governor has been releasing tens of millions of dollars for capitol improvement projects across the state. Civil Beat.

U.S. Sens. Brian Schatz and Mazie Hirono are among 13 senators calling for an investigation into the legality of recently uncovered National Security Agency surveillance programs that collect data on millions of Americans. Star-Advertiser.

Oahu
A new five-year Oahu energy plan released by Hawaiian Electric Co. on Wednesday calls for reducing costs to consumers and increasing the utility's use of renewable energy. Civil Beat.

The Honolulu Planning Commission on Wednesday approved a proposed condominium tower at the site of the YMCA of Honolulu on Atkinson Drive that would rise 350 feet, or more than double the current height limit. Star-Advertiser.

The Navy has stepped away from a controversial plan — at least for now — to blanket the historic Ford Island runway in photovoltaic panels, a new environmental assessment reveals. Star-Advertiser.

A lawsuit has stopped the city and county of Honolulu from auctioning off a piece of public parkland on the North Shore. Last year, a group of North Shore citizens formed the Save Hale’iwa Beach Park Coalition to fight a city plan to sell 3.5 acres of city-owned land near Haleiwa Beach Park. Civil Beat.

Kamehameha Schools has shelved its plan to develop a shopping center anchored by a Foodland supermarket on preservation-zoned land in Hawaii Kai, City Councilman Stanley Chang said. Star-Advertiser.

A private association of National Guard members plans to hold its annual conference in Honolulu this year even though some at the Pentagon have questioned the wisdom of meeting in a vacation destination. Associated Press.

Microsoft will open its first store in Hawaii today at 11 a.m. at Ala Moana Center. Star-Advertiser.

Lawmakers have been raising red flags over a proposed high-rise housing project on Waimanu Street in Kakaako. Civil Beat.

Hawaii
The Hawaii County Council last week authorized Corporation Counsel to represent five police officers facing a federal lawsuit on claims of excessive force during a 2010 arrest. West Hawaii Today.

The discovery of five syphilis cases in the past five months in West Hawaii — more than the past five years on Hawaii Island combined — has the state Department of Health warning the public to take precautions in their sexual activities. West Hawaii Today.

An East Hawaii resident is suing Hawaii County over a shoreline setback for homes at Pepeekeo Point. Tribune-Herald.

A recent Hawaii Department of Land and Natural Resources study of reef fish at Puako and Pauoa shows a “drastic decline” in the populations of both bays, a marine biologist says. West Hawaii Today.

Following the removal of Dennis Simonis as president, CEO and director of Royal Hawaiian Orchards LP, Hawaii’s largest macadamia nut producer is focusing on working closely with other growers and farmers in the state and reviving the Hawaii Macadamia Nut Association to ensure the industry has a strong future in Hawaii. Pacific Business News.

Tropic Care 2013 was a massive, joint military training exercise that brought free health, vision and dental care to Big Island, Lanai, Molokai and Maui residents. On Hawaii Island, this Innovative Readiness Training Program targeted those living in Ka‘u and Ocean View — rural, largely underserved and geographically isolated communities. West Hawaii Today.

Maui

The Maui Council’s Budget and Finance Committee unanimously recommended Lance Taguchi as its selection to the newly created county auditor position. Maui Now.

A Maui organization is getting more than $300,000 in federal money to help migrant and seasonal farmworkers. The U.S. Department of Labor on Wednesday announced $9 million in grants to seven organizations through the National Farmworkers Jobs Program. Associated Press.

More than 65 years after the end of World War II, Gov. Neil Abercrombie signed a bill last week that will establish a "Civil Liberties and the Constitution Day" to recognize more than 110,000 Japanese-Americans who were put in internment camps during the war. Among those interned was the late Rev. Masao Arine of Maui, who was a detainee at the Haiku Detention Center. Maui News.

Three varieties of tree snails and 37 species of herbs, shrubs, trees and ferns in Maui County have been added to the Endangered Species list. Maui News.
 
Kauai

Two studies intended to promote production and consumption of local foods and products were updated for the Kauai County Council on Wednesday. The message was that locally produced and processed foods feed more than just people; they also feed the economy. Backing this up, local cattle ranchers and producers of value-added products came to the council chambers in support of a meat processing facility and a commercial kitchen and agri-business incubator. Garden Island.

Red rice coral hit by blue-green algae off Kauai’s North Shore has responded well to a treatment involving marine epoxy, according to state and federal scientists, but they’re still trying to find out what is causing skin problems in nearby Hawaiian puffer fish. Associated Press.

The Hoouluwehi Sustainable Living Institute was at the heart of the 2013 Second Nature Prestigious Climate Leadership Award presented to Kauai Community College. Garden Island.