Hawaii Senate wants Superferry reconsidered, shark fin ban upheld, Mauna Kea telescope foes ask OHA to intercede, Tulsi Gabbard is wed, Big Island mulls panhandling laws, Honolulu workers injured by exploding ordnance, Molokai solar on hold, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Hawaii Superferry, courtesy Wikipedia

Senators are asking the state to explore whether it's time to take another swing at creating a statewide interisland ferry system. Associated Press.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration has officially upheld Hawaii’s state shark fin ban. Civil Beat.

Senate lawmakers advanced a bill Wednesday that would, among other things, give greater access to media personnel covering natural disasters, amending it to include language recommended by the Hawaii Department of Defense. Tribune-Herald.

Congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard is now officially off the market after she and fiance Abraham Williams tied the knot Thursday at a historic site in Kahaluu. Hawaii News Now.

Oahu

Big Island Mayor Billy Kenoi’s questionable purchases on a county charge card has prompted the Honolulu Mayor’s Office to release information on how Hawaii’s largest city handles the special charge cards. On Thursday, Mayor Kirk Caldwell’s spokesman Jesse Broder Van Dyke issued a lengthy fact sheet outlining the city’s purchasing card policies. Civil Beat.

Two homeless woman claim that city crews didn't allow them to retrieve identification documents when their homeless camps were cleared recently. But the city says its policy should have allowed them to get the ID's. Hawaii News Now.

A pilot project in San Francisco that rolled out three portable restrooms to problem areas has proven to be such a success that city officials in Honolulu are taking a close look. KITV4.

One groundskeeper has been released but another remained hospitalized after unexploded ordnance apparently detonated and injured the men as they cut grass at the Army's Makua Military Reservation on Monday, officials said. Star-Advertiser.

The Honolulu Police Department is inviting the public to share comments on its policies, procedures, administration, operations and services. The department says the comments will be part of an assessment conducted by the Commission Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies. Associated Press.

Guy Kaulukukui was nominated by Honolulu Mayor Kirk Caldwell Thursday to head the city Department of Enterprise Services. Star-Advertiser.

A partially submerged boat has been sitting in Honolulu Harbor for months and people want to know what is it still doing there. KHON2.

Hawaii

Foes of the controversial Thirty Meter Telescope asked the Office of Hawaiian Affairs Board of Trustees on Thursday to reverse itself and come out against the $1.4 billion project on the summit of Mauna Kea. Star-Advertiser.

Armed with signs and songs, people protesting the Thirty Meter Telescope that’s set to be built on Mauna Kea took their pleas to the Office of Hawaiian Affairs on Thursday. Star-Advertiser.

Opponents of the Thirty Meter Telescope planned for Mauna Kea brought their concerns to the Office of Hawaiian Affairs Thursday. Hawaii Public Radio.

Attorney David Kimo Frankel of the Native Hawaiian Legal Corporation believes the Thirty-Meter Telescope planned for Mauna Kea can be stopped because it isn't consistent with criteria in the state's administrative rules. Hawaii News Now.

Changes to Hawaii County’s panhandling laws are scheduled to be considered Tuesday, as two County Council committees tackle bills responding to a federal judge’s opinion that the local ordinances violate First Amendment rights. West Hawaii Today.

Hawaii County Councilwoman Margaret Wille said she can no longer use her county-issued purchasing card — or pCard — after she was questioned two weeks ago by the county clerk about two first-class flights and a hotel upgrade to a room with an ocean view. Star-Advertiser.

The Hawaii State Teachers Association alleges that teachers at Honokaa High and Intermediate School have been assigned to teach classes next year for which they are not qualified. Tribune-Herald.

This Saturday, Hilo High School will officially recognize the grand opening of its new, 1,350-seat gymnasium — five months after the facility opened its doors for regular use. Tribune-Herald.

Maui

The Senate Ways and Means and Judiciary and Labor committees advanced House Bill 1075 on Wednesday, setting up a full Senate vote Tuesday on the measure to allow a public-private partnership to take over management of Maui Memorial Medical Center and the Kula and Lanai Community hospitals. Maui News.

Improvements to water and photovoltaic systems and trails in the Kipahulu District will be discussed at a meeting organized by Haleakala National Park from 5 to 6:30 p.m. Wednesday at Kalena Triangle in Kipahulu. Maui News.

Kauai

As Jalissa Rapozo-Carveiro filled out job applications and visited employers at Kauai Community College’s job fair, she was hopeful she would find work. Garden Island.

Molokai

Sixty-five applications for rooftop solar on Molokai currently remain in limbo at the hands of Maui Electric Company (MECO), according to company Communications Director Kau`i Awai-Dickson. Molokai Dispatch.

Honolulu rail to run over burials, Tulsi Gabbard to wed on Oahu, beaches eroding, Kauai pesticide dispute in court, VA delays longest on neighbor islands, Ige, Hirono address Big Island concerns, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Honolulu rail transit map, courtesy HART

Rail workers have reportedly uncovered 14 distinct sets of iwi kupuna, or ancestral human remains, in the path of Oahu's future rail transit line so far. This week island burial leaders endorsed a plan for most of those remains to stay protected where they lie. Star-Advertiser.

The state Department of Land and Natural Resources is inviting the public to comment on a draft of its updated recreation plan. The department reviews the plan every five years to assess Hawaii's outdoor recreation needs and priorities. The review helps ensure Hawaii is eligible to receive federal grants. Associated Press.

Delays for medical appointments at Veterans Affairs facilities are shorter than the national average across much of Hawaii, but that's not true of the neighbor islands. Associated Press.

The Senate Water and Land Committee, chaired by Sen. Laura Thielen, has set a hearing for 2:45 p.m., April 17, to consider the appointment of Suzanne Case to lead the Department of Land and Natural Resources. Unlike Gov. David Ige’s last nomination for that job, Carleton Ching, this one is expected to clear the committee with ease and go on to pass the full Senate. Civil Beat.

A state House bill that aims to create a regulated medical marijuana dispensary system throughout Hawaii made progress Wednesday. West Hawaii Today.

If your state tax refund is taking longer this year, you have plenty of company. The state says processing those refunds is taking longer this year because there are new procedures to prevent tax fraud. KHON2.

Liquefied natural gas, which is scheduled to be shipped into Hawaii in bulk amounts for power generation purposes as a replacement to oil, is not economical for the state, the head of Par Petroleum, which owns Hawaii’s largest oil refinery, told Pacific Business News on Wednesday.

Oahu

Oahu has lost one-fourth of its beaches and of those remaining, about 70 percent are eroding. If state and county officials don’t start working to conserve what’s left of the sandy shoreline, most of the island’s beaches could disappear by the end of the century, say scientists. Civil Beat.

Wedding bells will ring as U.S. Rep. Tulsi Gabbard and fiance Abraham Williams tie the knot Thursday at a historic site in Kahaluu. Hawaii News Now.

Relocating Hawai’i’s largest prison is gaining support at the State Capitol.   Lawmakers are proposing land swaps and partnerships to minimize the use of taxpayer money. Hawaii Public Radio.

On Tuesday, the Senate Ways and Means Committee voted 8-2 to advance House Bill 134, which would extend the rail tax by five years, through 2027. It would also limit those tax dollars to building the project; the money wouldn't be used for operations. Star-Advertiser.

Humanity amid the savagery of war demonstrated 70 years ago in the Battle of Okinawa is being re-emphasized by the Battleship Missouri Memorial with a new exhibit on the kamikaze pilots whose suicide runs wreaked havoc on Allied ships late in World War II. Star-Advertiser.
 
Hawaii

The Honolulu-based Coalition for a Tobacco-Free Hawaii was cleared of wrongdoing by the Hawaii County Board of Ethics on Wednesday after the executive director apologized for what she called an oversight when she and two other employees failed to register as lobbyists. West Hawaii Today.

A Hawaii County ethics complaint filed against Mayor Billy Kenoi and Finance Director Deanna Sako over Kenoi's use of his county-issued purchasing card will be handled by the Maui County Corporation Counsel's Office "to avoid even the appearance of a conflict of interest," Hawaii County Corporation Counsel Molly A. Stebbins said Wednesday. Star-Advertiser.

“I want to take full responsibility of the issues of the government pCard,” Kenoi started off during this 16 and a half minute press conference, shared with us courtesy Hawaii News Now. The press conference was held on April 1, 2015 on Oahu. Big Island Video News.

Gov. David Ige panned state management of the Keauhou aquifer, called for quicker action on federally funded highway projects and praised his most recent pick to head the department that oversees state lands on Wednesday. Speaking at a Kona-Kohala Chamber of Commerce luncheon, Ige also explained that he’ll use a weeklong “time-out” on the construction of the Thirty Meter Telescope to carefully listen to all sides. West Hawaii Today.

U.S. Agriculture Deputy Secretary Krysta Harden and U.S. Sen. Mazie Hirono got a firsthand look Wednesday at two major problems facing Hawaii Island’s forests as they stood on a dirt road near Pu‘u Kali‘u in Puna. Tribune-Herald.

The principal of Honokaa High and Intermediate School is under fire from some teachers and parents and is the target of a rare-but-significant class-action grievance filed by the public school teachers' union. Hawaii News Now.

The first phase of construction for 118 Department of Hawaiian Homelands’ units in Kona will take a few months longer to finish than originally expected. The Lai Opua Village 4 Akau Subdivision project in Kealakehe should be complete by September as opposed to this summer, DHHL project manager Jeff Fujimoto said. Fujimoto said the delay is due to the discovery of lava tubes in the area. West Hawaii Today.

Maui

A Hawaii Senate joint committee on Wednesday approved an amended House bill that would allow Maui state hospitals to enter a business partnership with a private entity. Pacific Business News.

The Maui Native Hawaiian Chamber of Commerce hosts Maui Police Chief Tivoli Faaumu this Tuesday at the Maui Tropical Plantation. MauiTime.

Kauai

A trial is underway in a lawsuit by a group of Kauai residents who are suing a major seed company over genetically modified crop fields they say blow pesticide-laden dust onto their homes. KITV4.

It's all about dust — red dust. That's the focus of a dispute between some Waimea, Kauai, residents and GMO seed producer DuPont Pioneer, the residents' lawyer said Wednesday in opening statements of a civil trial. Star-Advertiser.

Libraries are never out of date, said Lani Kawahara, branch manager at the Kapaa Public Library. Garden Island.

Ige declares time out for Thirty Meter Telescope, Nature Conservancy director named DLNR chair, Maui mayor proposes electricity takeover, Honolulu rail tax clears committee, lawmakers mull marijuana dispensaries, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Mauna Kea telescope protesters file photo courtesy Occupy Hilo Media

Protesters on Mauna Kea welcomed a weeklong moratorium on construction of the world's largest telescope Tuesday but said they aren't letting their guard down and will continue to keep vigil at the 9,200-foot level. Star-Advertiser.

Construction of the Thirty Meter Telescope atop Mauna Kea is on hold for at least a week as protests over the $1.4 billion project continue to mount. Hawaii Gov. David Ige told reporters Tuesday that there will be a “timeout” to facilitate a dialogue. Civil Beat.

Gov. David Ige announced Tuesday that the nonprofit corporation behind the Thirty Meter Telescope atop Mauna Kea agreed to his request for a weeklong halt of construction. The stand down came five days after law enforcement officials arrested 31 people who participated in an ongoing protest of the $1.4 billion project. Tribune Herald.

Hawai‘i Governor David Ige has announced a week-long "time out" for construction of the Thirty Meter Telescope on Mauna Kea. In a press conference Tuesday afternoon, Governor Ige says he came to this decision after speaking with major stakeholders in the project. Hawaii Public Radio.

Governor David Ige announced at a press conference Tuesday that construction of the Thirty Meter Telescope atop Mauna Kea will ‘pause' for a week. He's hoping the next seven days will ease tensions and increase dialogue between stakeholders over the construction of the thirty meter telescope. Hawaii News Now.

Gov. David Ige announced Tuesday that construction of the Thirty Meter Telescope atop one of the most sacred sites for native Hawaiians would come to a halt, at least temporarily. Ige characterized the one-week pause in construction as a “timeout.” KITV4.

In a seemingly abrupt about-face after the first major controversy of his administration, Gov. David Ige nominated longtime conservationist Suzanne Case on Tuesday as the new chairwoman of the state Board of Land and Natural Resources — a selection that quickly won praise from members of the state's environmental community. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii Gov. David Ige has appointed Suzanne Case to head the state Department of Land and Natural Resources, ending weeks of speculation. The governor withdrew his previous nominee, Carleton Ching, three weeks ago amid mounting public opposition over his ties to developers and lack of experience for a job that requires leading a department comprised of 10 divisions and nearly 900 employees. Civil Beat.

Gov. David Ige on Tuesday nominated Suzanne Case, the longtime head of The Nature Conservancy in Hawaii, to lead the state Department of Land and Natural Resources after withdrawing his first nomination, Castle & Cooke Hawaii executive Carleton Ching, due to backlash from environmental groups. Pacific Business News.

Today Governor David Ige announced his new nomination to lead the Department of Land and Natural Resources (subject to confirmation by the Senate), Suzanne Case, and the widespread opposition to Ige’s previous choice, developer-lobbyist Carleton Ching, is calling the choice a win for Hawaii. Hawaii Independent.

Governor David Ige on Tuesday announced his nomination to lead the Department of Land and Natural Resources and his choices for the Board of Education. The appointments are subject to confirmation by the Senate. Hawaii News Now.

Gov. David Ige announced Tuesday his nomination to lead the Department of Land and Natural Resources and his choices for the Board of Education. KITV4.

Gov. David Ige on Tuesday appointed a banking executive and two former public-school educators to the state Board of Education. Ige named Lance Mizumoto, president and chief banking officer of Central Pacific Bank, to the board along with longtime Kauai educator Margaret Cox and former teacher Hubert Minn. Star-Advertiser.

Spending by special interest groups lobbying lawmakers during the first part of the current legislative session is running well below last year’s pace, according to reports filed last week with the Hawaii State Ethics Commission. The more than 200 interest groups with registered lobbyists reported spending a total of $832,808 during the period from Jan. 1 to Feb. 28. Civil Beat.

Student lunch prices will to go up by 25 cents in the fall to $2.75 for high-schoolers and to $2.50 for elementary and intermediate students, the first price increases since 2011. Breakfast prices will go up by 10 cents to $1.10 and $1.20 for elementary and secondary students, respectively. Department of Education officials cited increases in food and labor costs, which have pushed up meal expenses by more than 17 percent in the last five years. The move is expected to raise an additional $1.7 million a year for the food services branch. Star-Advertiser.

A state House bill attempting to create a regulated medical marijuana dispensary system throughout Hawaii will be reviewed by its final committees today. House Bill 321 establishes a system of medical marijuana dispensaries in the state and puts limits on the amount that can be purchased. The legislation also prohibits counties from enacting zoning regulations that prevent the use of land for licensed dispensaries. West Hawaii Today.

More than 4,000 charge cards under the pCard program are in the hands of government workers, ranging from secretaries to department heads and politicians. But the oversight of the pCards is left largely to individual agencies — something that the state auditor raised questions about when examining the program in 2010. Star-Advertiser.

Aiming to reduce the 55 million gallons of raw sewage that enters the ground daily — and makes its way into Hawaii’s drinking water — state lawmakers are pressing forward with a bill that would ease the financial pain of converting to modern waste disposal systems. West Hawaii Today.

Hawaii legislators’ efforts to address the state’s affordable housing crisis may barely make a dent in the huge demand for homes. Civil Beat.

In June, former Governor Linda Lingle begins her new job as COO for Illinois. As for Hawaii politics, Lingle believes the Republican Party will eventually cut into Democratic dominance, the way it did when she was GOP chair and then governor. Hawaii News Now.

A new report says foreign students studying in Hawaii are contributing hundreds of millions to the state's economy. The report released Tuesday by the state Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism says foreign students made a direct economic impact of more than $205 million during the current school year. Associated Press.

Oahu

The Senate Ways and Means Committee on Tuesday voted to extend a 0.5 percent General Excise Tax surcharge for Honolulu’s rail project another five years beyond its Dec. 31, 2022 expiration. The vote on House Bill 134 indicates that lawmakers are supportive of helping the city complete it’s $6 billion driverless commuter rail project despite cost overruns and questions of lax oversight. Civil Beat.

Deputy Prosecutor Jon Riki Karamatsu announced his resignation on Tuesday following his second DUI arrest over the weekend. Hawaii News Now.

Honolulu Prosecuting Attorney Keith Kaneshiro has accepted the resignation of Deputy Prosecutor Jon Riki Karamatsu. Civil Beat.

Hawaii

Hawaii Volcanoes National Park on Tuesday announced upcoming flight plans for the remainder of April through May 7. West Hawaii Today.

Maui

Mayor Alan Arakawa wants to explore the possibilities of making Maui Electric Co. a public utility, one that could even compete against Florida-based Next-Era Energy Inc., which is seeking Hawaii Public Utilities Commission approval to acquire MECO's parent company, Hawaiian Electric Industries. Maui News.

Hawaiian Electric and NextEra held the first in a series of public meetings. Two meetings were held on Maui on Tuesday. Senior leaders and other employees from both NextEra and Hawaiian Electric were on hand to talk about how they plan to increase renewable energy and lower customer bills. NextEra says it wants input from the community. KHON2.

NextEra Energy Inc. and Hawaiian Electric Industries will host a series of open house meetings statewide to acquaint the public with NextEra and share details on the upcoming merger between the two energy companies. Maui Now.

The Makawao Fourth of July Parade plans to carry on, unchanged, with its longtime parade organizer vowing Tuesday night to "dig my heels in" against the state Department of Defense. Maui News.

Kauai

A contractor has been hired to remove a sailboat that ran aground in a secluded area on a reef at Moloaa Bay April 1. Garden Island.

The state Department of Land and Natural Resources has hired a contractor to remove a 55-foot sailboat that ran aground off Kauai earlier this month. The department says it's expected to cost $185,000 to remove the Kikimo from the reef at Moloaa Bay. Associated Press.

Just how famous are Kauai’s chickens? Enough for the New York Times to write a lengthy report about them. Garden Island.

Molokai

Maui County Council members took a first step Tuesday toward providing a government subsidy to keep the Molokai ferry afloat, but it remains to be seen whether it will be too little too late. Maui News.

Ige gets more time to fill Cabinet, Senate minority budget trims $1.6B, Sen. Schatz father dies, Maui council says there's waste in waste program, ethics complaint targets Mayor Kenoi, Finance Department, Japanese cultural program brings cheap labor to Waikiki, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

 

Hokulea voyage honored in Hawaii Legislature, courtesy Hawaii Senate Majority

The Hawai'i Senate honored the 40th anniversary of legendary voyaging canoe Hōkūle'a and the members of the first crews who sailed her between Hawaii and Tahiti in 1976.

 The Hawaii Senate has voted to give Gov. David Ige more time to fill important positions in his cabinet. The move comes after Ige faced a public backlash for nominating developer Carleton Ching to lead the Department of Land and Natural Resources. Associated Press.

The Hawaii Senate Minority budget proposal, released Monday, calls for $1.59 billion in cuts to Gov. David Ige’s initial submittal. Civil Beat.

A legislative deadline is looming and supporters of a number of bills are rallying at the Capitol to let lawmakers know they want their measures heard and passed. Hawaii Public Radio.

When the Hawaii State Teachers Association withheld support from two resolutions that asked the state to increase teachers’ salaries and pay them overtime, some teachers were surprised and disappointed. Civil Beat.

Lawmakers want cap on interest rate for payday loans. Hawaii News Now.

Gov. David Ige, the four county mayors, the Office of Hawaiian Affairs, University of Hawaii and Hawaii Green Growth launched the Aloha+ Challenge dashboard last week. It features indicators for two of six targets — clean energy and solid waste reduction — that were set, according to a release from the governor’s office Monday. Civil Beat.

A major report that aims to tackle Hawaii’s transportation energy issues with more than 50 different strategies, including an effort to significantly reduce gas and diesel usage in the state, is expected to be unveiled in June, the head of the state’s energy office told Pacific Business News.

Hawaii needs up to 66,000 homes if it expects to satisfy demand for housing over the next decade. That's the conclusion of a new report, "Measuring Housing Demand in Hawaii, 2015-2025," by the state Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism. Star-Advertiser.

Dr. Irwin Schatz, father of U.S. Sen. Brian Schatz, has died. The cardiologist was a former chair of the University of Hawaii Department of Medicine and led the medical school’s residency program for over 20 years. Civil Beat.

Oahu

Plans to purchase the ritzy 25-story Alii Place office building to provide office space for state workers won support from a key state Senate committee Monday, with lawmakers suggesting the purchase will save the state tens of millions of dollars in the years ahead. Star-Advertiser.

A Cultural Exchange Program or a Ticket to Sweatshop Labor? A Japanese woman's poor working conditions as a Waikiki pastry chef illustrate the dark side of a visa program that brings thousands of temporary foreign workers to Hawaii each year. Civil Beat.

Despite the negative impact that seawalls have on surrounding coastlines, a South Korean billionaire has been allowed to build a new one in Kahala after his application for a shoreline setback variance was approved unanimously last month by the City Council. KITV4.

A Los Angeles Times investigation found that the huge golf-ball-like radar craft that spends a lot of time at Pearl Harbor has failed to perform its important mission: detecting missiles in a sneak attack against the United States. Hawaii News Now.

Should a city deputy prosecutor keep his job after second DUI arrest? Hawaii News Now.

Makiki residents say they’re getting more frustrated over a city construction project that continues to face delays. It’s been nearly a year since the city started the Prospect street rock fall mitigation project. KHON2.

University of Hawaii law school students will get to watch the state Supreme Court hear oral arguments in a criminal case. The state Supreme Court will hear arguments in the case Thursday at the William S. Richardson School of Law. Associated Press.

Hawaii

A West Hawaii man filed an ethics complaint Monday against Mayor Billy Kenoi and Finance Director Deanna Sako, saying both should be removed from office for his misuse of a county credit card and her complicity in it. West Hawaii Today.

A Hawaii County audit of government-issued purchasing cards wasn't launched for nearly a year after Mayor Billy Kenoi used his in December 2013 to pay for an $892 tab at a hostess bar, and despite the fact that he had been warned repeatedly about using it for personal items. Star-Advertiser.

The Hawaii Department of Education announced Monday it plans to reopen Keonepoko Elementary School, a Hawaiian Beaches school closed because it was int he path of a lava flow, next school year. West Hawaii Today.

Monday came and went without construction crews attempting to reach the Thirty Meter Telescope site on Mauna Kea, according to opponents who have continued to maintain a constant presence on the mountain they consider sacred. When TMT plans to resume work on the $1.4 billion project remains unclear. Tribune-Herald.

As protests against the Thirty Meter Telescope continue on Mauna Kea, it remains unclear when the $1.4 billion project’s most recent legal challenge will be resolved. Six plaintiffs who challenged the project’s conservation district use permit in 3rd Circuit Court filed an appeal to the state Intermediate Court of Appeals on June 3 after Judge Greg Nakamura ruled in favor of the project. Tribune-Herald.

The Pacific International Space Center for Exploration Systems, known commonly as PISCES, is one of several partners that will execute a four-year, $4.2 million Mars research project to help prepare for future human and robotic missions to the Red Planet. West Hawaii Today.

Maui

Maui County Council members said Monday that money is available for landfill operations and trash pickup services without interruption through June 30 but that mismanagement by the Department of Environmental Management's Solid Waste Division is putting employees, as well as services, "at risk." Maui News.

Opinion: First auditor report criticizes County of Maui investment policies. MauiTime.

Kauai

Erosion has taken a toll on a portion of the walking trail between the visitor center and Daniel K. Inouye Kilauea Point Lighthouse at the Kilauea Point National Wildlife Refuge, but relief should be coming. Garden Island.

Medical marijuana dispensaries, super PACs, budget on Legislature's plate, no free trips for teachers, state investigating Lhaina boatyard, Ige mum on tax increase, Hawaii County mayor under investigation, NASA flying saucer to test parachute off Kauai, sandbar booze ban could be permanent, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Interior of Hawaii state Capitol © 2015 All Hawaii News

The Hawaii Legislature is heading into its final month and lawmakers are making deals in hopes of keeping their most important bills alive. The committees that handle the money have thick agendas this week as they plow through every proposal that results in spending or revenue. Associated Press.

The state Senate Committee on Public Safety, Intergovernmental and Military Affairs (PSM) amended a House bill aimed at mitigating hazardous situations by inserting word-for-word language from a separate measure which sought to ease restrictions on news media covering events, such as the June 27 lava flow. And it did it to a bill sponsored by none other than the very House representative who refused to give the media access measure a hearing. Tribune-Herald.

New financial disclosure database puts latest government officials' disclosures on one easy-to-read website. Civil Beat.

Deadline Looms for Ige to Pick New DLNR Chair. With the Carleton Ching appointment behind him, the governor has until Monday to nominate someone else if the Senate is to confirm him or her this session. Civil Beat.

Teachers who organize educational trips for students should not travel free as chaperones, courtesy of the tour company, according to new advice from state Ethics Commission attorneys. The directive flies in the face of longstanding practice in Hawaii's public schools and quickly ran into resistance. Star-Advertiser.

Ten years ago frustrated Hawaii residents waved signs, held town hall meetings and raised a chorus to demand a war on "ice" — crystal methamphetamine. Today, while the problem doesn't make the headlines it used to, officials say crystal meth, or ice, continues to torment Hawaii. Star-Advertiser.

The Hawaii Public Utilities Commission is shaking up the way Hawaiian Electric Co. makes money by limiting costs that are simply passed through to customers without appropriate regulatory scrutiny, according to public documents filed this week. Pacific Business News.

A local businessman with University of Hawaii athletics fundraising ties was arrested for theft and money laundering. Patrick Oki, age 45, was picked up by authorities just before 11 a.m. Sunday at the Honolulu International Airport. He’s the managing partner of PKF Pacific Hawaii, a company that provides auditing, accounting, and advising services. KHON2.

Police arrested the managing partner of local accounting firm PKF Pacific Hawaii on Sunday on suspicion of first-degree theft and money laundering. Star-Advertiser.

In our series this week “Trashing Paradise” we’ve been looking at a number of issues involving waste in Hawaii, and many of them differ from island to island. Hawaii Public Radio.

Oahu

Hawaii Gov. David Ige isn’t saying whether he will approve or veto any extension of a General Excise Tax surcharge that is being earmarked for Honolulu’s $6 billion rail project. But he does acknowledge that he’s worried an estimated $910 million shortfall in construction costs will continue to balloon. And he’s not sure taxpayers should be penalized for potential mismanagement. Civil Beat.

The Senate Ways and Means Committee is scheduled Monday to discuss a proposed draft of a bill that would instruct the state Department of Land and Natural Resources to engage in buying Alii Place, a 25-story building Ewa of the state Capitol on the edge of downtown Honolulu. The price could be close to $90 million. And that doesn't include the land under the building. Star-Advertiser.

The state is currently paying more than $10 million to rent private office space in downtown Honolulu. Some lawmakers believe money can be saved by buying a downtown high-rise office building. Hawaii News Now.

The electronic door locking systems for the state's largest prison have begun to fail after 28 years of use, and prison officials plan to replace them next year with a new high-tech, $9.9 million security system. The state plans to move about 250 inmates from Halawa Correctional Facility to a prison on the mainland early next year to clear out portions of Halawa so work can start on the replacement of the obsolete Hawaii locking system. Star-Advertiser.

For the last three years the state has banned drinking alcohol on certain weekends at Ahu O Laka, or the Kaneohe Sandbar. Now the time has come for the Department of Land and Natural Resources to decide whether to make that rule permanent. Hawaii News Now.

Developers of the 11,750-home Hoopili project in West Oahu say they are OK with being required to offer more homes at lower prices as sought by Hono­lulu City Council members. Star-Advertiser.

According to HPD records, Sergeant Anson Kimura was arrested and released Sunday on suspicion of second degree assault. The incident happened Friday morning when it is said Kimura shot a 40-year old woman in the torso at King's Sports Bar. KITV4.

A Honolulu deputy prosecutor and former state legislator has been arrested on suspicion of operating a vehicle under the influence of alcohol or drugs. Associated Press.

Hawaii

A state attorney general investigation and an ethics complaint are following this week’s revelations that Mayor Billy Kenoi regularly used a county-issued credit card for personal purchases ranging from a $1,200 surfboard to visits to Honolulu hostess bars.West Hawaii Today

Hawaii County finance officials had warned Mayor Billy Kenoi several times that his personal purchases on a county credit card were improper, but the spending practice did not stop until December 2013 when he charged $892 at a Honolulu hostess bar, the finance director says. Star-Advertiser.

A new sound study shows that the proposed Kona Motorsport Park won’t be a noise nuisance to its neighbors. The park, which has been in discussions for two decades now, won’t become reality until a number of hurdles are cleared. But Paul Maddox, president of the Hawaii Racing Association, said the study should help convince detractors who worry their peace of mind will be ruined by engine noise. Tribune-Herald.

Hawaii County Councilman Greggor Ilagan has drafted legislation that he says will bring clarity to a county ordinance dealing with neighborhood watch signs. Tribune-Herald.

Maui

The state has started an investigation into a Lahaina boatyard’s practice of collecting storage fees from boaters near the Mala boat ramp. The Department of Land and Natural Resources is investigating whether the owner of the Mala Boat Yard is allowed to collect rent from boaters under his revocable month-to-month lease with the state. Associated Press.

A Lahaina business is under investigation for collecting storage fees from boaters on land leased from the state near the Mala boat ramp for more than three decades. Maui News.

Haleakala National Park is celebrating the kick-off of a national public awareness and education campaign celebrating the centennial anniversary of the National Park Service. Haleakala joins parks, programs and partners across the country to launch the FindYourPark.com website, marking the milestone Park Service anniversary in 2016. MauiTime.

Schools weigh attendance against risk of spreading lice. Maui News.

Kauai

A NASA flying saucer will be sent aloft by balloon from Kauai in June in a second test of braking technology intended for use in landings on Mars. Star-Advertiser.

A recent initiative completed by the Kauai Civil Defense Agency is a signage project that directs people along evacuation routes and guides them safely out of evacuation zones. Along island roads, 128 tsunami advisory signs were placed. Garden Island.

A Kauai man is among Gov. David Ige’s nominations to the University of Hawaii Board of Regents. The appointments are subject to confirmation by the Senate. David Iha, Kauai County, will serve upon confirmation through June 30, 2017. Garden Island.

Mauna Kea telescope protesters arrested, Google mulls statewide wireless plan, $5M released to study jail move on Oahu, school trips could violate ethics laws, Maui loses $12M interest for failing to pay state, Kenoi may face charges for pCard use, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Telescope roadblock demonstrators on Mauna Kea, courtesy Occupy Hilo Media

Shouts of “ku kiai mauna” — the guardians of the mountain — reverberated off ancient cinder cones and dome-shaped telescopes Thursday at Mauna Kea’s summit as police led 12 arrested protesters away from the Thirty Meter Telescope construction site. They were among about 30 arrested on the mountain by Hawaii County Police and state Department of Land and Natural Resources officers as opponents of the $1.4 billion project staged another dramatic protest on a mountain they say is sacred ground. Tribune-Herald.

Demonstrators vowed to continue their protest on Mauna Kea even though 31 people were arrested and charged Thursday with trespassing and blocking work vehicles from reaching the construction site of the planned $1.4 billion Thirty Meter Telescope. Star-Advertiser.

Arrests were made yesterday on Mauna Kea Access Road. Protesters who oppose the construction of the Thirty Meter Telescope have been on the mountain for the past week, blocking access to construction crews. Hawaii Public Radio.

Big Island police arrested twelve protestors Thursday. They were accused of blocking construction vehicles access to the summit of Mauna Kea. The crews were trying to get to the site to work on what will be the world's biggest telescope. Hawaii News Now.

Scientists hoping to see 13 billion light years away, giving them a look into the early years of the universe, are facing opposition from Native Hawaiian groups who say the construction site of a new telescope is on sacred land. Associated Press.

Four individuals were arrested today by DLNR enforcement officers on the Mauna Kea summit while protesting the construction of the Thirty-Meter Telescope. Hawaii Independent.

Google may launch a new wireless phone service in Hawaii that seamlessly blends Wi-Fi and cellular networks together as part of a major plan aimed at shaking up the U.S. mobile phone industry, according to public documents. Pacific Business News.

Trips by hundreds and perhaps thousands of Hawaii public school students could be in jeopardy after the state Ethics Commission said teachers are breaking the ethics law by accepting free trips from travel companies. Hawaii News Now.

Parents seeking an "opt-out" for their children from standardized testing now underway in Hawaii public schools are being told that the state cannot grant the requests, according to new guidelines issued to schools. Star-Advertiser.

Supporters of Uber, a ride-hailing service that allows customers to use smartphones to contact independent drivers, rallied Thursday against the state Legislature's first attempt to regulate the new industry. Star-Advertiser.

A state House bill that would have set up a system for designating certain agricultural products as specifically Hawaii grown has been deferred following opposition from several Kona coffee farmers. The state Committee on Commerce and Consumer Protection deferred House Bill 1051 Wednesday. West Hawaii Today.

The Hawaii Public Utilities Commission has set a timetable for the 29 intervenors and the Hawaii Consumer Advocate to follow in the major case involving NextEra Energy’s $4.3 billion acquisition of Hawaiian Electric Co., according to a public filing. Pacific Business News.

A new state report estimates that Hawaii needs nearly 66,000 new homes to meet demand over the next 10 years. Civil Beat.

A securities law compliance expert from a Honolulu investment advisory firm has been named Hawaii's securities commissioner. State Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs Director Catherine Awakuni named Ty Nohara to the post. The department said Thursday the appointment is effective April 16. Associated Press.

Oahu

Gov. David Ige has agreed to release $5 million for planning and to solicit proposals to relocate the Oahu Community Correctional Center, an idea that has been promoted by Kalihi residents and their elected officials for years. Star-Advertiser.

Dan Grabauskas, who serves as executive director of the Honolulu Authority for Rapid Transportation, on Thursday asked the agency's board to forgo any consideration of the $35,000 annual performance bonus that he's eligible for under contract. Star-Advertiser.

State officials do not know how many state workers were allowed to leave early Wednesday to avoid a repeat of Tuesday's horrific H-1 freeway traffic jam, but likely hundreds of both state and city employees got paid to go home. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii

Hawaii County Prosecutor Mitch Roth is evaluating whether there are grounds for criminal charges against Mayor Billy Kenoi stemming from allegations of unauthorized use of his county credit card, state Attorney General Doug­las Chin said Thursday. Chin said he and Roth have been in talks regarding the matter. Star-Advertiser.

More troubles are emerging for Big Island Mayor Billy Kenoi. The Hawaii County prosecutor’s office has launched a criminal investigation into Kenoi’s misuse of a government-issued credit card. KHON2.

Already in political hot water for his $900 night at the Club Evergreen, Hawaii News Now has learned that Big Island Mayor Billy Kenoi also took the county credit card to the Camelot Restaurant & Lounge on Sheridan Street, dropping $400 at the hostess bar. Hawaii News Now.

Hawaii County will need 19,610 new housing units over the next 10 years, as it leads the state in the rate of household growth over the decade. West Hawaii Today.

Keauhou residents miffed about lack of cell service following tower removal. West Hawaii Today.


Maui

Maui County lost out on more than $21 million in interest earnings when the county Finance Department failed to send payments from fiscal years 2010 to 2014 to the state agency that provides health and life insurance benefits to county employees, according to an independent audit of the department's Treasury Division released Thursday. Maui News.

Maui Mayor Alan Arakawa said he is considering turning Maui Electric Co. into a publicly owned utility. Star-Advertiser.

Maui Tomorrow Foundation is losing its executive director, Irene Bowie, who successfully assisted challenging the legality of the Hawaii Superferry operations, helped advocate returning more water to Central Maui streams and pushed for more environmental awareness overall. Maui News.

This year’s annual Hawaii STEM Conference takes place April 17-18 at the Wailea Marriott Resort. The event is sponsored by Maui Economic Development Board’s Women in Technology project in partnership with the County of Maui. MauiTime

Two of Maui’s beaches were featured in TripAdvisor’s 2015 Travelers’ Choice Awards for the best beaches in the US. Maui Now.

Kauai
Following the success of last year’s Hawaii on the Hill, plans are underway for another campaign June 9-10 in Washington, D.C. Sen. Mazie Hirono, who spearheaded last year’s event attended by more than 1,000 people, spent part of her Kauai itinerary Thursday visiting with local businesses that participated and made the gathering a hit. Garden Island.

The Navy has underestimated the threat maritime exercises and the use sonar poses on marine life around Hawaii and California, a federal judge ruled Tuesday. Garden Island.

Senate trims Ige budget, police ticket cellphone users in traffic jam, clean energy initiative ends, teachers allowed to campaign at school, Mauna Kea telescope protests continue, Kenoi releases credit card records, Maui council to cut budget, treasures return to Kauai museum, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Hawaii state Capitol © 2015 All Hawaii News

A Hawaii Senate panel has passed a version of the state budget that restored some funding that the House had stripped out, but the panel left several departments wanting more money. Associated Press.

The state Senate unveiled a new two-year budget Wednesday that would slightly cut back on Gov. David Ige's proposals, but would still increase state spending to record levels next year. The Senate budget draft would shave about half of 1 percent from the $13 billion budget proposed by Ige for the year that begins July 1, and would trim a bit more than half of 1 percent from Ige's proposal for the following year. Star-Advertiser.

The Hawaii Senate Ways and Means Committee on Wednesday restored $212 million in general funds that the House had cut last month from Gov. David Ige’s proposed $13.28 billion state spending plan for the next two years. Civil Beat.

Gov. David Ige has made six appointments to the University of Hawaii Board of Regents, including a former community college provost, accountant and attorney, and hospital executive. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii Senate to Post Résumés of Nominees on Website. President Kim decides it's important to provide "important information to the public" about gubernatorial appointments to boards and commissions. Civil Beat.

The Hawaii state Senate has formed a special committee after questions were raised about whether Sen. Brickwood Galuteria lives in his district. Hawaii News Now.

Teachers running for union offices in an internal election now underway will be allowed to distribute their campaign materials in school mailboxes, according to the terms of a temporary restraining order issued last week by the Hawaii Labor Relations Board. Civil Beat.

The Hawaii Department of Agriculture said Wednesday that it has posted on its website some data showing what restricted-use pesticides were sold in the state last year. The data only specifies what kinds of pesticides were purchased and in what amounts, and doesn’t state who bought them. Civil Beat.

The Hawaii Clean Energy Initiative — a series of agreements created in 2008 under the leadership of then-Gov. Linda Lingle that are critical to shaping the state’s energy future, including achieving 70 percent renewable energy by 2030 — has officially ended, according to public documents. Pacific Business News.

One of the top clean-energy nonprofits in Hawaii sharply criticized the state Public Utilities Commission on Wednesday over its much anticipated order on decoupling, which separates Hawaiian Electric’s revenues from its sales. Blue Planet Foundation, headed by Jeff Mikulina, said the commission failed to adopt proposals to tie the utility’s revenues to clean energy performance. Civil Beat.

A federal judge ruled on March 31 that the National Marine Fisheries Service acted illegally in approving testing and training activities by the US Navy in the Pacific Ocean that threatens widespread harm to whales, dolphins, sea turtles and other marine mammals. Maui Now.

Oahu

Members of the Honolulu City Council had more harsh words Wednesday about the direction of the island's rail project — but then the group signaled its support of a rail tax extension with key votes. Star-Advertiser.

Honolulu City Council members voted yes on two rail-related measures during a special meeting Wednesday, indicating their support for extending an island-wide tax hike to pay for estimated cost overruns on the $6 billion project. Civil Beat.

Lawmakers on both sides of Punchbowl Street are weighing a handful of nonbinding resolutions that would call for piecemeal reforms to the Honolulu rail project. Star-Advertiser.

Honolulu police issued 65 tickets to motorists for illegally using cellphones and other electronic devices Tuesday during the height of the traffic standstill touched off by ZipMobile troubles. Star-Advertiser.

Officials from the Honolulu Police Department explained in a press conference on Wednesday that there was a preplanned electronic device enforcement event in Pearl City on Waimano Home Road on the same day that a broken ZipMobile caused traffic gridlock on the H-1 Freeway. KITV4.

At least one state lawmaker has written a letter to Honolulu City Prosecutor Keith Kaneshiro, asking him to dismiss any traffic citations that were issued for cell phone or shoulder lane use during Tuesday's traffic nightmare. Hawaii News Now.

Tuesday's carmageddon cost residents an estimated $1 million in lost time and gas, rendered cabdrivers and delivery trucks motionless, caused travelers to miss flights, and had caregivers working overtime when family members couldn't arrive to take their keiki or kupuna home. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii

A $1,219.69 surfboard at a Honolulu store, $1,909.47 worth of equipment at a Kailua-Kona bike shop and $78.27 in sportswear from a Honolulu Quiksilver shop were among personal purchases Mayor Billy Kenoi made on his county charge card since being elected in 2008. Kenoi also paid a $700 tab at a karaoke bar across the street from his Hilo office, and his $566 state bar association dues, and he bought an $89.86 garment bag at a Kailua-Kona big box store, among many other personal purchases. West Hawaii Today.

Hawaii County Mayor Billy Kenoi revealed Wednesday he has reimbursed the county for a total of $26,000 in charges and interest on a county credit card — roughly half of which went for personal purchases. Star-Advertiser.

What was supposed to be a night out with friends at a local hostess bar has turned into a political crisis for one of the Democratic Party's rising stars. Hawaii News Now.

Big Island Mayor, Billy Kenoi spent nearly 900 dollars at Club Evergreen, a hostess bar in Honolulu. Kenoi says he paid the money back,but those weren’t the only unauthorized purchases on what is called his county pCard. KHON2.

With the exception of two members, the Hawaii County Council is choosing to remain tight-lipped concerning Mayor Billy Kenoi’s personal use of a county-issued credit card. Tribune-Herald.

Protesters of the Thirty Meter Telescope, who call themselves protectors of Mauna Kea, say they will continue to take a stand against the $1.4 billion project even if it means facing arrest. Tribune-Herald.

Protesters continued their vigil against the planned $1.4 billion Thirty Meter Telescope without incident Wednesday as no work crews attempted to travel up to the construction site at the summit of Mauna Kea for the second day in a row. Star-Advertiser.

Opinion: The long-standing overtly contentious face off between Native Hawaiians and the University of Hawaii’s aggressive advocacy of maximizing Mauna Kea as a premier site for astronomical observatories is heading into its most serious period of conflict. Civil Beat.

Funding for the Kona Judiciary Complex passed intact through key Senate committees on Wednesday. The $55 million needed to round out the $90 million price tag for the complex was approved by the Ways and Means and Judiciary committees. West Hawaii Today.

Two critically endangered Hawaiian monk seals were recently returned to Papahanaumokuakea Marine National Monument after being rehabilitated at The Marine Mammal Center’s Ke Kai Ola Hawaiian Monk Seal Hospital in Kailua-Kona.West Hawaii Today.

Maui

"We are in cutting mode," said Maui County Council Budget and Finance Committee Chairman Riki Hokama on Tuesday as council members began their review of Mayor Alan Arakawa's proposed nearly $700 million budget for fiscal 2016. Maui News.

More than 100 supporters of the Sustainable Hawaiian Agriculture for the Keiki and the Aina Movement or SHAKA join hands in front of the Kalana O Maui Building on Tuesday morning at the close of a rally demanding implementation of last year's voter-approved moratorium on genetically modified organisms. Maui News.

The Maui Police Department will soon equip at least some of its officers with body cameras, the department announced on Mar. 20. MauiTime.

With former mayoral candidate Nelson Waikiki Jr. saying Wednesday that he wants to represent himself in his criminal case, his sentencing was delayed until May 1 on securities fraud charges. Maui News.

Kauai
The Kauai Museum on Wednesday opened two of four large crates of artifacts received from the Smithsonian Institution of National Museum of American History.  The antiquities, which went down with a ship almost 190 years ago, have a storied history. Garden Island.

The public is invited to attend a meeting on the role that electric vehicles play in Kauai’s clean energy future. Among the topics that will be covered are the benefits of EV usage; access to charging stations; and EV trends in Hawaii and beyond. Garden Island.

Molokai

A resolution urging the mayor to seek a half-million-dollar appropriation for the Molokaʻi Ferry is scheduled to surface on the council agenda next Tuesday, April 7, 2015. Maui Now.

Navy war games violated federal law, flood insurance rates rising, Honolulu traffic jam underscores poor road planning, fired judge fires back, telescope protests continue, psychologists want to prescribe drugs, Kauai library celebrates 60th, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

RIMPAC 2014 in Hawaii file photo, courtesy U.S. Navy

A federal judge in Honolulu says the National Marine Fisheries Service violated federal law in issuing a permit to the U.S. Navy to conduct sonar testing, underwater detonations and other activities over millions of square miles of ocean between Hawaii and the West Coast. U.S. District Court Judge Susan Oki Mollway sided with the Conservation Council for Hawaii, the Natural Resources Defense Council and a number of other environmental organizations in issuing her ruling Tuesday afternoon. Civil Beat.

A federal judge on Tuesday said the National Marine Fisheries Service violated environmental laws when it approved the Navy’s plans for training in waters off Hawaii and Southern California. The agency failed to support its finding that the training would have a “negligible impact” on marine life, U.S. District Court Judge Susan Oki Mollway wrote in her ruling. Associated Press.

Thousands of Hawaii property owners are about to be hit with a flood of higher premiums. About 20,000 people who carry flood insurance will see their annual policies increase an average 19.8 percent beginning today under changes to the National Flood Insurance Program. Star-Advertiser.

Civil Beat Database: Checking Up on Top State Officials Just Got a Lot Easier. Financial disclosures for top Hawaii officials are now available on a new searchable site to help the public identify potential conflicts of interest. Civil Beat.

About a dozen mental health advocates gathered Tuesday outside the fourth-floor office of Senate Health Chairman Josh Green at the state Capitol to demand that Green hold a hearing on a measure they believe would significantly improve mental health treatment in Hawaii, particularly in rural communities. Star-Advertiser.

Supporters of a bill to allow psychologists to prescribe medications in Hawaii gathered Tuesday at the state Capitol to plead with lawmakers to hear the measure. Tribune-Herald.

Hawaiian Electric Co. and Florida-based NextEra Energy Inc., which is buying the Honolulu-based utility for $4.3 billion, are urging the Hawaii Public Utilities Commission to not extend the deadline for the acquisition case, according to public documents. Pacific Business News.

A total of 420,409 firearms were registered in Hawaii from 2000 to 2014. And that’s on top of the 1 million firearms that were already in the state, according to an estimate by the Hawaii Attorney General’s office and the Honolulu Police Department in the late 1990s. That means there could be more guns in Hawaii than residents, according to data from the Attorney General’s office. Civil Beat.

From plastic bottles on the beach to trash along trailsides, illegal dumping can be seen around Hawaii. Hawaii Public Radio.

When plastic is washed or dumped into the ocean, it doesn’t completely break down…instead it adds to a dangerous plastic soup. Hawaii Public Radio.

Opinion: When it finally came down to it, the Chess Club, a faction of senators loyal to Gov. David Ige, decided not to support Carleton Ching, the governor’s choice to head the Department of Land and Natural Resources. Those senators don’t deserve sympathy for having to make an agonizing choice. That’s their job. What they deserve is criticism for doing that job so badly. Civil Beat.

Oahu
State Department of Transportation officials hope that Wednesday morning's commute will go smoothly — with the H-1 ZipperLane still open for town-bound traffic — but there's no guarantee that pau hana drivers won't see a repeat of Tuesday's carmageddon that caused widespread gridlock. Star-Advertiser.

Honolulu ranks No. 3 in the country when it comes to traffic congestion. That’s according to the annual TomTom Traffic Index, which was released Tuesday. Civil Beat.

Honolulu was recently ranked the third worst city for traffic congestion in the nation but Tuesday evening’s traffic jam brought frustrations to new heights. As drivers heading westbound remained stuck for hours due to a broken ZipMobile, some took to Twitter to vent about #Zipnado aka #Carmageddon. Civil Beat.

Officials say both of the state's ZipMobiles are likely to remain broken until at least Wednesday afternoon as the transportation department await the arrival of replacement parts and a repair technician from the U.S. mainland. Hawaii News Now.

A state judge who was rejected by the Judicial Selection Commission has fired back, saying the commission's proceedings were unfair. In a March 21 letter obtained by Hawaii News Now, Circuit Judge Randal Lee alleged that commission members did not review his full record but relied heavily on a last-minute complaint by a city deputy prosecutor, whom he had removed from a case for misconduct.

Honouliuli Internment Camp closed 69 years ago, but shame, sorrow and regret still haunt the gulch called Jigoku-Dani, or Hell Valley, by the Japa­nese-Americans who were held there during World War II. The Kunia site, kept out of sight during the war and out of the American consciousness for decades after that, was dedicated in an emotional ceremony Tuesday as Hono­uli­uli National Monument. Star-Advertiser.

Two Honolulu City Council members want D.R. Horton to include cheaper housing in its planned 11,750-home development between Ewa and Kapolei. The Council’s Zoning and Planning Committee is planning to take up two amendments on Thursday when it considers Bill 3, a measure to rezone nearly 1,300 acres of prime farmland to make way for a new mixed-use community. Civil Beat.

A state judge has refused to order the forfeiture of 77 arcade sweepstakes machines Hono­lulu police seized in 2012 because the city prosecutor took too long to file the request. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii

Implementing a “pay as you throw” garbage plan, allowing more East Hawaii garbage to be sent to the West Hawaii landfill and banning recyclables and compostables from both landfills are among Kohala Councilwoman Margaret Wille’s plans to bring the county closer to the goal of zero waste. West Hawaii Today.

Preventing the spread of little fire ants and other invasive species could add as much as $600,000 a year to county mulching operations. The council Finance Committee on Tuesday unanimously advanced county administration’s request to solicit contracts for up to $2.4 million annually for operations turning green waste into mulch at the county landfills in East and West Hawaii. West Hawaii Today.

Construction crews made no attempt Tuesday to reach the Thirty Meter Telescope site on Mauna Kea following a human blockade the day before as officials try to find a resolution to the standoff. Tribune-Herald.

Protesters who this week interrupted work on what's expected to be the world's largest telescope were put on notice Tuesday that they face arrest if they continue to block crews from reaching the Mauna Kea summit construction site. Star-Advertiser.

A Hawaii County fire battalion chief and captain are under investigation for criticizing the leadership of Fire Chief Darren Rosario in a story on Hawaii News Now earlier this month.

Maui

The cabins at Waiʻānapanapa State Park will close for approximately a year beginning today as a $2.3 million cabin renovation and wastewater treatment project gets underway. Maui Now.

A project to double the size of the Department of Motor Vehicle and Licensing satellite office in Kihei - the county's fastest-growing satellite office - has gone out to bid. Maui News.

Kauai

The Kapaa Public Library is celebrating its 60th anniversary on Tuesday starting at 1 p.m. with cake, refreshments and entertainment by the Kapaa Senior Center Ukulele Band. Garden Island.