Russian spy ship watching RIMPAC war games, Ige signs murder, rape crime bills, Honolulu City Council reorg fails, affordable housing breaks on Honolulu and Kauai, solar industry falters, homeless turnaround plan a success, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Gov. Ige signs Joel's Law, courtesy governor's office

Gov. David Ige on Wednesday signed “Joel’s Law,” or Act 214, an amendment to the state’s narrow first-degree murder law adding anyone who knowingly causes a death while restraining or holding a person for ransom or reward, or using a person as a shield or hostage. Star-Advertiser.

Gov. David Ige signed a bill into law Wednesday that broadens the offense of first-degree murder. KHON2.

Gov. David Ige signed a bill into law that broadens the offense of first degree murder. Previously, the offense has been narrowly defined and limited to rare cases in which there are multiple victims, the victim is killed by a hired killer or the victim was under the specific protection of the courts or law enforcement system. Press release.

A parent of a child conceived through rape in Hawaii could lose parental rights if they’re accused of sexual assault. Gov. David Ige signed a bill today which aims to deprive rapists of parental rights. Associated Press.

Gov. David Ige on Tuesday signed into law a bill requiring insurers cover a year’s worth of birth control at one time. The signing of Senate Bill 2319, which the governor’s office touted as “a groundbreaking bill that will dramatically expand access to birth control in Hawaii,” makes Hawaii the first state in the nation to require all public and private insurance providers to cover 12 months of birth control at a time, meaning that women will only have to pick up their prescription once a year. West Hawaii Today.

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The U.S. Navy has confirmed that a Russian spy ship has been stationed in international waters off Hawaii, but says its presence is not affecting military exercises. Associated Press.

State senators are taking their first legal steps in a fight with the governor over a Public Utilities Commission appointment. KHON2.

After unexpectedly high construction bids delayed the state’s efforts to cool 1,000 classrooms before 2017, the Hawaii Department of Education is seeking new bids for the project, according to a July newsletter. Civil Beat.

More than 1,500 scientists from around the world have signed a letter urging President Obama to use his executive authority to expand Papahanaumokuakea Marine National Monument in the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands. Civil Beat.

A large majority of Hawaii solar energy industry companies are reporting job losses. Star-Advertiser.

Islandwide Solar is in the midst of a “restructuring,” central to which is the liquidation of assets totaling more than $800,000 in wholesale value from the company’s operations on Hawaii Island, Kauai and Oahu. West Hawaii Today.

Friends In High Places Helped HECO Tighten Its Grip On Hawaii. The federal government’s takeover of Hawaii proved extremely fortuitous for Hawaiian Electric. So was the involvement of leading local. Civil Beat.

Oahu

The Honolulu City Council green-lighted a bill Wednesday that waives building permit and sewer hookup fees for homeowners who want to build accessory dwelling units — secondary rental units on their property. Civil Beat.

The Honolulu City Council on Wednesday confirmed John Henry Felix to a seat on the board of the Honolulu Authority for Rapid Transportation. Pacific Business News.

A move to oust Honolulu City Councilman Ikaika Anderson as Council vice chairman was shelved just before a vote on the maneuver was to happen Wednesday. Star-Advertiser.

The Honolulu City Council shelved a resolution today to reorganize its committee leadership positions. But they did pass a few measures relating to the Rail Transit Project. Hawaii Public Radio.

The Honolulu City Council voted Wednesday to shelve a bill that would have given the position of vice chair to Joey Manahan from Kalihi instead of Ikaika Anderson from Waimanalo. Civil Beat.

Kakaako’s state-owned Mauka and Makai Gateway parks, home to a persistent group of homeless encampments, are now closed indefinitely for repairs and a cleanup. Star-Advertiser.

Housing First rental units didn’t work out for five homeless people out of 166 placed in the program on Oahu last year. Star-Advertiser.

A future wave of new homes in Kakaako could be subject to dramatically different affordable-housing rules based on a report presented Wednesday to the state agency governing development in the area. Star-Advertiser.

Sewage Spill Closes Kewalo Basin. The Hawaii Department of Health advises the public to stay clear of the area because it may have been affected by a sewage spill over the Fourth of July weekend. Civil Beat.

Two Honolulu police officers have been charged in the past week with felonies — one for allegedly assaulting a truck driver during a road rage incident and another, now retired, for allegedly shooting a bartender in a mishap. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii

The envisioned Puna Makai Alternate Route, or PMAR, has become a political issue in the primary election. Big Island Video News.

Senior’s striptease a hit on TV: Hilo woman, 90, competes on ‘America’s Got Talent’ Tribune-Herald.

Maui

The Paia Courtyard, a proposed mixed-use retail, office and residential project along with senior living apartments, is now on its way to seek further county approvals. Maui News.

State Department of Land and Natural Resources officers issued 46 criminal citations and impounded 10 off-road motorcycles as evidence after observing illegal dirt biking Sunday in the Kula Forest Reserve. Maui News.

A live snake was captured by a Maui coffee farm worker on Friday afternoon, July 1, 2016. Maui Now.

Kauai

The Kauai County Council unanimously voted Wednesday to give a tax break to people who rent their homes as long-term affordable housing. Garden Island.

Citing the need to get input from the administration, the Kauai County Council unanimously voted Wednesday to refer to committee a bill that would allow additional rental units in the Lihue Planning District. Garden Island.

Shuttle systems, parking reservations, and rearranging the layout of the welcome buildings are all part of the newly released comprehensive conservation plan for the Kilauea Point National Wildlife Refuge. Garden Island.

Hawaii last U.S. state to ban sex trafficking, RIMPAC war games kick off with 26 nations, employees' marijuana use rises, he said, she said in Kenoi ethics case, Maui doctors leaving, Kauai police body cameras at issue, Kilauea lava marches to the sea, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

USS America at Pearl Harbor (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Jacob Holloway)

Hawaii has become the last state in the nation to explicitly ban sex trafficking. Gov. David Ige signed the bill into law Tuesday. It makes sex trafficking a violent crime and class A felony, expands the statewide witness protection program to include sex trafficking and provides victims access to criminal injury compensation. Associated Press.

County police departments have until Sept. 1 to report to the Hawaii attorney general’s office the number of untested rape kits that they have in storage under legislation signed into law Tuesday by Gov. David Ige. The measure is among seven bills that Ige signed into law Tuesday that were backed by the Hawaii Women’s Legislative Caucus, a bipartisan group composed of female legislators in the House and Senate. Star-Advertiser.

Starting in January, moped owners in Hawaii will need to pay for annual registration and inspections, plus get plates for their vehicles — similar to the state’s existing requirements for cars, trucks and motorcycles. Star-Advertiser.

U.S. Pacific Fleet commander Adm. Scott Swift said Tuesday he wants all 26 nations participating in RIMPAC military exercises in Hawaii to leave better prepared to respond to humanitarian crises. Associated Press.

The head of U.S. Pacific Fleet opened the big Rim of the Pacific exercise Tuesday by downplaying a South China Sea rift with China and talking not about what divides navies in the region, but what unites them. Star-Advertiser.

RIMPAC is the largest international maritime exercise and it happens right here in Hawaii waters. KITV.

The use of marijuana among Hawaii workers is the highest it’s been in three years, a new study shows. Star-Advertiser.

Friends In High Places Helped HECO Tighten Its Grip On Hawaii. The federal government’s takeover of Hawaii proved extremely fortuitous for Hawaiian Electric. So was the involvement of leading local families. Civil Beat.

Commentary: Two of Gov. David Ige’s most decisive moments are not winning legislative praise and both may be in trouble. Star-Advertiser.

Commentary: The Hawaii Ethics Commission has been through some tough times recently. It’s had to deal with hostile public reaction to an unpopular ruling that had effectively blocked educational trips for public school students, the departure of its executive director and continued pressure from legislators who believe several commission rulings improperly impinge on legislative prerogatives. And two recent court rulings — one local, one federal — indicate more troubles ahead for the commission. Civil Beat.

Oahu

On July 1, Kirk Caldwell received a 5 percent pay increase as Honolulu mayor. His base salary is now $164,928 a year. But the mayor draws his biggest paycheck not from city and county taxpayers but from a major financial institution in the state. Civil Beat.

Faced with huge weekend crowds and growing piles of rubbish at Makua Beach, state parks officials say they plan to impose restrictions on camping at the remote coastal area near Kaena Point. Star-Advertiser.

Median prices hit record highs for both single-family homes and condominiums sold on Oahu during June, according an analysis by the Honolulu-based real estate company Locations LLC. Pacific Business News.

Honolulu is the ninth-most expensive rental market in July among the 100 largest U.S. cities. The average monthly rent payment in Honolulu is $1,840 for a 1-bedroom apartment, down 1.1 percent from June, and $2,600 for a 2-bedroom apartment, up 1.2 percent. Pacific Business News.

A global conference with thousands of dignitaries and attendees will be hosted by the state in less than 60 days.   As HPR’s Wayne Yoshioka reports, the City and County unveiled its general plans today. Hawaii Public Radio.

Hawaii

An ethics complaint was filed against one of Hawaii County’s Board of Ethics members. Kapaau resident Lanric Hyland, who is pursuing a separate ethics complaint against Mayor Billy Kenoi for misuse of his county purchasing card, is alleging board vice chairman Ken Goodenow has not been impartial on the issue. Tribune-Herald.

Developers of a 58-home subdivision planned for Alii Drive are asking for a pass on some of the conditions that were set when they first applied for rezoning. West Hawaii Today.

Lava is less than 1.1 miles from the ocean as the 61g flow has crossed half way across the coastal plain near Kalapana. Big Island Video News.

The lava flow from Kilauea’s Pu‘u ‘O‘o vent doesn’t appear to be wasting much time getting to the ocean. As of Tuesday afternoon, the flow had traveled about halfway across the coastal plain with about a mile of terrain separating it from the island’s edge, according to the Hawaiian Volcano Observatory. Tribune-Herald.

Maui

The future of Maui Medical Group's obstetrics and gynecology department grew more uncertain last week, with a third, part-time physician now scheduled to leave by July 31, Maui Medical officials said Thursday. Maui News.

Maui Medical Group is scrambling to fill positions in its obstetrics and gynecology department in response to the loss of yet another doctor. Associated Press.

Ka Hale A Ke Ola Homeless Resource Centers has launched a new phone line for community members who need to inquire about homeless services. Maui News.

Gov. David Ige has ordered that US and state of Hawai‘i flags today will be flown at half-staff out of respect for the late former Maui County Mayor Elmer Cravalho, who died on June 27, 2016. Maui Now.

Kauai

The Office of the Mayor is examining a ruling by the Intermediate Court of Appeals which said that the Kauai Police Commission — not the mayor — has the power to suspend and discipline the police chief. Garden Island.

Hawaii’s police union is taking its fight over officer-worn body cameras to state court, in a case that could have ramifications for how the technology is used by county police departments across the islands. Civil Beat.

Lanai

Habitat for Humanity Maui has extended its reach across the Auau Channel to enable low-income Lanai residents to own homes through their "sweat equity" and help from their neighbors. Maui News.

New law requires schools to generate own electricity, prison negotiations extended, how Hawaiian Electric shaped a state, Honolulu bike-share struggling, Lahaina Bypass contract awarded, Kauai affordable housing bills to be mulled,more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Hilo schoolchildren © 2016 All Hawaii News

Within the next two decades Hawaii public schools will need to produce as much renewable energy as they consume under legislation signed into law last week by Gov. David Ige. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii Extends Negotiation On New Private-Prison Contract. The Hawaii Department of Public Safety has signed a short-term deal with Corrections Corporation of America, the largest for-profit prison company in the country, to extend an existing contract letting the state house up to 1,926 Hawaii prisoners in Arizona. Civil Beat.

How One Company Turned ‘Darkness Into Day’ From its beginning in 1891, Hawaiian Electric Co. has been deeply entwined with the economic, political and social history of Hawaii. Civil Beat.

Could Native Hawaiian independence movements gain momentum following the so-called Brexit vote that has convulsed the European Union? Civil Beat.

Hawaii’s medical marijuana dispensaries could generate between $12 million and $38 million in revenue in their first year of operations and as much as $80.5 million in 2018. Star-Advertiser.

State officials say they have yet to inspect Hawaii’s eight licensed medical marijuana businesses, making it unlikely that the dispensaries will open by July 15, the earliest date legislators had allowed them to begin selling their products. Associated Press.

Hawaii No. 6 For Patriotism. The WalletHub study measures metrics like military numbers, voting patterns and civic education. Civil Beat.

Oahu

Honolulu’s long-anticipated bike-share system, which had originally been pegged to launch in 2015 and then pushed to 2016, no longer has an official start date. Nonetheless, its organizers say they’re making progress. Star-Advertiser.

Honolulu’s last attempt at a city-sanctioned tent city — between 1990 and 1993 — ended in failure after a night of “wilding” that included an attempted murder and a trail of crime scenes. Star-Advertiser.

Community leaders hope rededicating the hula mound at Kapolei Regional Park on Saturday and erecting a sign there at a later date will raise public awareness about the area’s cultural significance.Star-Advertiser.

Douglas Emmett Inc., the owner of one of the largest office complexes in Downtown Honolulu, is embarking on a multimillion-dollar effort to build nearly 500 more units at the Moanalua Hillside Apartments in Honolulu, Pacific Business News has learned.

A laboratory explosion at the University of Hawaii that resulted in a researcher losing her arm was likely caused by static electricity, according to an independent investigation. Associated Press.

Hawaii

Members of the Hawaii County Band would officially get the status they’ve held unofficially for a decade, under a charter amendment making its way to the Nov. 8 ballot. West Hawaii Today.

Maui

Maui’s future as a destination was shaped by Elmer Cravalho. By going after high-end visitors instead of volume, infrastructure was less strained and Maui escaped many of the challenges of Waikiki. Maui News.

The Hawaii Department of Transportation awards the $38.6 million Design-Build contract for the Lahaina Bypass 1B-2 phase, in cooperation with the Federal Highway Administration – Central Federal Lands Highway Division, to Hawaiian Dredging Construction Company, Inc. Maui Watch.

Kauai

The Kauai County Council will be considering measures to combat the housing crisis on Kauai on Wednesday. Two bills, one regarding the the Lihue Planning District and one seeking to provide a tax benefit for residents who use their homes for long-term affordable housing, are slated for second reading. Garden Island.

Friends of Mahaulepu is hosting a meeting at the Koloa Neighborhood Center from 4-9 p.m. July 14 to discuss the draft environmental impact statement recently released by Hawaii Dairy Farms. Garden Island.

The state of Hawaii has secured a $763,000 grant to complete a Supply Chain Map for the state’s defense contracting community, but representatives from Kauai’s naval base aren’t expecting changes to their bottom line. Garden Island.

Lucky 7 awards. Where All Hawaii News brags about its awards and asks for your help

2015 awards from Society of Professional Journalism

Lucky 7.

That's how many awards All Hawaii News has won from the Society of Professional Journalists, Hawaii chapter since this blog's inception in 2008.

Last week's Excellence in Journalism awards gave us two more.

Top awards for solo news blog. Smaller finalist awards for best overall news website in Hawaii, right alongside HuffPost Hawaii. All Hawaii News will never be more than a finalist in this category as long as our friends at Civil Beat keep doing their good work. Don't forget to send them some loving too.

Awards are wonderful. They tell me I'm on the right track, providing your daily recap of government and political news. I rely on news outlets throughout the state for the top news that is curated starting at 5 a.m. weekdays. No webscraping or automatic processes can handle the job that needs to be done by hand. The posts are usually supplemented with my own photography, from as many islands as I can visit given my limited time and budget.

But unfortunately, awards don't pay the bills. I'm using the cut-rate Blogger platform, but there are still expenses.

All Hawaii News is a labor of love. I've been doing this day in and day out for almost eight years now. Advertising is kept to a minimum. And, so far, I've managed to stave off the dreaded popup ads. No guarantees though.

Contributions from loyal followers help pay to keep All Hawaii News online. A donation no matter how modest is seen as a vote of confidence in my efforts.

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Happy Fourth! Beach bacteria, fireworks safety top holiday concerns; DOT postpones highway projects; ACLU lawyer to head state Ethics Commission; lava awes spectators; special ed students sought for lawsuit; Honolulu hepatitis scare, Omidyar dairy opposed, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Beach baby wash © 2016 All Hawaii News

Despite some short-term spikes in fecal bacteria, waters around Hawaii Island show levels well below those considered unsafe. But most of the average readings for enterococci — the primary measure of contamination used by the U.S. Environmental Management Agency — have been steadily increasing over the past 10 years. West Hawaii Today.

Where to see the fireworks on July Fourth. Fire officials across the state are reminding the public that the safest way to enjoy fireworks on Independence Day is to leave it to the professionals. Hawaii News Now.

State Department of Transportation officials plan to defer hundreds of millions of dollars in long-awaited, major highway construction projects across the islands that were supposed to relieve traffic congestion so that they can focus more highway funding on maintaining existing roads. Star-Advertiser.

ACLU Lawyer To Be State Ethics Chief. A longtime legal director of the American Civil Liberties Union of Hawaii, Daniel Gluck will oversee enforcement of the state’s ethics and lobbyists rules. Civil Beat.

Frustrated Champley ‘Considering Options’ After Removal From PUC. Gov. David Ige replaced him on the Public Utilities Commission just before it rules on the NextEra merger, raising legal questions. Civil Beat.

Attorneys representing special-education students in a 2010 class action lawsuit against the state are still trying to track down about 800 former students who “aged out” of Hawaii’s public school system at 20 years old under a state law that was later overturned. Star-Advertiser.

Oahu

The Waikiki Natatorium War Memorial could be restored to its former glory — but with a high-tech touch — by 2019, exactly 100 years after the land was first acquired to construct the site, according to the senior field officer and attorney for the National Trust for Historic Preservation. Star-Advertiser.

Recent cutbacks in Institute for Human Services Waikiki outreach efforts have led to complaints that homelessness is growing again in the state’s top tourism district, but Hawaii visitor industry officials vow to shore up the program, which would have closed next month without a cash infusion. Star-Advertiser.

Councilman Calls For Audit Amid Honolulu Ethics Commission Chaos. Events leading to the dismantling of the agency staff require scrutiny to restore public trust, Councilman Trevor Ozawa contends. Civil Beat.

Honolulu City Councilman Ikaika Anderson is being stripped of his positions as the Council’s second-in-command and chairman of the influential Zoning and Planning Committee following a shake-up at Honolulu Hale. Star-Advertiser.

Michael McGrane, a budget analyst for the Honolulu Authority for Rapid Transportation, was offered and accepted the chief financial officer position before the current CFO rescinded her resignation. Pacific Business News.

The Hawaii Department of Health is conducting an investigation into at least 12 adults on Oahu infected with hepatitis A. Civil Beat.

Honolulu was one of two major U.S. cities named “most livable” by the U.S. Conference of Mayors in Indianapolis last week. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii

Cascading rivers of molten rock are attracting hundreds of awed spectators to Kalapana for a close look at a force that continues to shape Hawaii Island. Tribune-Herald.

At the end of the three mile trek along the Hawaii County-side of the Highway 130 emergency route, lava enthusiasts can get a good look at the 61g lava flow as it slides down the Pulama pali. Big Island Video News.

Kilauea’s fireworks show continues as lava slowly advances to the ocean on a coastal plain. The Hawaiian Volcano Observatory released new photos and a video from a visit to the flow on Saturday. Star-Advertiser.

State Sen. Kai Kahele is selling his beachfront Milolii home back to the family he purchased the leasehold from, after questions arose about his residency qualifications for his Hilo-area Senate seat. West Hawaii Today.

Jen Ruggles, a candidate for Hawaii County Council, says she paid a delinquent $379.44 property tax bill Thursday after a reporter inquired about missed payments during the past two years. Tribune-Herald.

The state’s consumer advocate is siding with Ocean View residents in criticism of a plan to build acres of commercial solar panels in a residential area. Consumer advocate Jeff Ono’s statement of position released Thursday said the developers gamed the system by breaking the project up into smaller farms so it wouldn’t have to follow the bidding protocol that normally accompanies commercial solar operations. West Hawaii Today.

On Saturday, an estimated 8,000 island residents will gather in Hilo for the fourth annual gay pride parade, which organizers hope will bring awareness to the Big Island’s LGBT community. Tribune-Herald.

Maui

A spirit of compromise pushed the Lanai Community Plan update over the Maui County Council's finish line Friday. Maui News.

Two-term state House member Kaniela Ing faces a Democratic primary challenge from an opponent who is a former gubernatorial appointee and has the backing of several construction-related labor unions. Challenger Deidre Tegarden served as chief of protocol under Gov. Neil Abercrombie and in the same capacity with Gov. David Ige before stepping down to seek the 11th District (South Maui) seat occupied by Ing since 2012. Star-Advertiser.

Adam Radford takes over as the new manager of the Maui Invasive Species Committee today. Maui News.

With the closure of the three-decade-old Makena Beach & Golf Resort on Friday, construction will begin later this year on the $240 million Makena Golf & Beach Club, a high-end condominium project with a private beachfront community and club. Maui News.

As July 4th approaches, many Maui residents will head to Lahaina to watch the firework show on Monday. Other residents, however, will provide their own firework show. Maui Now.

Kauai

Billionaire Pierre Omidyar's plans for Kauai dairy is facing new criticisms over its waste management plan. Hawaii News Now.

The 1,300-acre Kekaha Game Management Area might be closed to hunters if the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands and the Department of Land and Natural Resources do not extend a licensed agreement to allow hunting on the Hawaiian home land area before the current agreement expires at the end of August. Garden Island.

The more than 1,600 registered medical marijuana patients on Kauai may not be getting their medicine at a licensed dispensary in July. Garden Island.

Sabra Kauka, a Kauai kumu and environmental educator, will be presenting at the 2016 Environmental Education Symposium for the Hawaii Environmental Education Alliance (HEEA) July 13-15. Garden Island.

RIMPAC brings controversy, currency, to Hawaii; Honolulu City Council shuffle; Hawaiian Electric Co.'s stock falls after Public Utilities Commission change; plastic bag ban increases shoplifting; Supreme Court: Kauai mayor can't suspend police chief; Crabbe kept at OHA; zika battle renewed; more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Fire Controlman 2nd Class Michael Klimek mans the rails aboard the guided-missile cruiser USS Mobile Bay on June 28, 2016 at Pearl Harbor, courtesy Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Ryan J. Batchelder, U.S. Navy

Twenty-six nations, 45 ships, five submarines, more than 200 aircraft and 25,000 personnel will participate in the biennial  Rim of the Pacific  exercise, which got underway Thursday and wraps up Aug. 4, mostly in and around the Hawaiian Islands but also in Southern California. Ships from participating nations are flooding into Pearl Harbor this week. Expect noise, risk to marine life, garage door glitches and $52.5M from RIMPAC. Star-Advertiser.

This summer’s Rim of the Pacific military drills in Hawaii will bring an initial $52.5 million to the Aloha State with tens of millions of more coming to the state by the end, according to a study from the state Department of Business and Economic Development. Pacific Business News.

Dozens of ships from 26 nations are arriving in Pearl Harbor this week for the biennial Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) exercise. RIMPAC 2016 will be held in and around the Hawaiian islands and off the coast of Southern California through Aug. 4. It officially began Thursday. Associated Press.

Starting today, the largest international maritime exercise begins in Hawai‘i. The Rim of the Pacific, also known as RIMPAC, is in its 25th year since the military training exercise begin in 1971. Parts of it involve explosives and underwater sonar -- a point of concern for environmental groups. Hawaii Public Radio.

A tale of two navies is emerging from this year’s Rim of the Pacific exercises: Chinese and U.S. cooperation in Hawaii, and Chinese and U.S. suspicion in the South China Sea. Star-Advertiser.

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Hawaiian Electric Industries Inc. saw its stock price tumble nearly 5 percent, or about $1.70 per share, on Thursday, the day after Hawaii's governor named a new member to the the state regulatory commission expected to issue on the $4.3 billion sale of HEI subsidiary Hawaiian Electric Co. to Florida's NextEra Energy Inc. Pacific Business News.

The Attorney General’s Office said Gov. David Ige had the right to make an interim appointment to the state Public Utilities Commission before Ige exercised that right Wednesday. The governor announced he had selected Tom Gorak, the commission’s chief legal counsel, to replace Commissioner Mike Champley, whose term expired Thursday. Civil Beat.

State lawmakers are firing back and threatening legal action against Gov. David Ige after he decided to replace a utility commissioner before the panel decides whether or not to allow the Hawaiian Electric-NextEra Energy merger. KHON2.

The state Thursday filed an appeal of a court decision requiring the state to sufficiently fund administrative and operating expenses for the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii Attorney General Doug Chin said the state would appeal a ruling regarding funding of the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands. Three Native Hawaiian beneficiaries sued the state in 2007, alleging that it had inadequately funded DHHL. The department is tasked with placing qualified Hawaiians on their own land. Civil Beat.

Kamanaʻopono Crabbe, the CEO of the Office of Hawaiian Affairs, received a new three-year contract Thursday. Civil Beat.

The state and counties are ramping up efforts to prevent the mosquito-borne Zika virus from taking hold in Hawaii in spite of a congressional impasse over $1.1 billion in emergency funding to combat the virus, which can cause devastating birth defects, including microcephaly, a condition in which babies are born with abnormally small heads. Star-Advertiser.

In a move that Gov. David Ige described as unprecedented, the mayors of four islands and other key staff flanked the state’s top executive on Thursday at a news conference in Honolulu, pledging to take mosquito control to the community with a relaunch of education efforts as Hawaii Island’s dengue outbreak disappears in the rear view mirror but the state faces the possibility of new diseases and outbreaks. West Hawaii Today.

Despite rising homelessness in Hawaii, a bill that’s on track to become law may force emergency homeless shelters to cut more than 200 beds and turn away people who want to get off the streets. Civil Beat.

KHON2 found out the state lawmakers who had the most full-day absences during the session of 60 days: Rep. Sam Kong, D, Aiea, with 12 days; Rep. Cynthia Thielen, R, Kailua, Kaneohe Bay with 11; and Rep. Marcus Oshiro, D, Wahiawa, Whitmore Village with nine. We asked all of them about their absences.

The state Department of Education is expected to spend nearly $1 billion on electricity by 2035, but can save hundreds of millions through progress toward clean energy goals established by House Bill 2569, signed by Governor David Ige today. Maui Now.

Oahu

Ikaika Anderson will be leaving his post as vice chair of the Honolulu City Council. Council members are scheduled to vote next week on a resolution that would replace him with Councilman Joey Manahan from Kalihi. Civil Beat.

A senior couple filed a federal civil rights lawsuit Thursday seeking to invalidate state laws that prevent them from living together in the same licensed care home. State licensing laws and related administrative rules prohibit community care foster family homes from having more than one private-pay client, like the Kawamotos. Spouses on Medicaid, however, may live in the same home. Star-Advertiser.

A year after Oahu’s single-use plastic bag ban took effect July 1, 2015, prices have increased, and shoplifting is on the rise as thieves find more ways to walk out of stores without paying for their goods. Star-Advertiser.

A major real estate deal in Windward Oahu could have ramifications for Downtown Honolulu. Hawaii Public Radio.

Hawaii

Jen Ruggles, a candidate for Hawaii County Council, says she paid a delinquent $379.44 property tax bill Thursday after a reporter inquired about missed payments during the past two years. Tribune-Herald.

Lava Spectacle Filmed From Above. Incredible views of lava rushing down the Pulama pali in bright orange channels were recorded during an overflight on Thursday morning. Big Island Video News.

Maui

The State Attorney General Doug Chin and the United Public Workers union today announced that the parties are discussing settlement of the union’s appeal regarding the transfer of Maui Memorial Medical Center, Kula Hospital and the Lānaʻi Community Hospital to a new Kaiser Permanente entity. Maui Now.

Water development and sewer fees and water rates will be going up Friday, the first day of the new Maui County fiscal year, two county departments said. Maui News.

A professor who was one of 20 people arrested during a protest over the construction of a solar telescope on Maui last year has been ordered to pay a $200 fine for disorderly conduct. Associated Press.

A University of Hawaii Maui College assistant professor would not apologize Wednesday to a Wailuku District Court judge for protesting last July against the Daniel K. Inouye Solar Telescope being built at the Haleakala summit. Maui News.

County-manager idea shelved, for now. On a slim 5-4 vote, council members believed proposal not ready for voters. Maui News.

Kauai

Only the Kauai Police Commission and not the mayor can suspend that county’s police chief, according to a long-awaited ruling from the Hawaii Supreme Court. The case stems from a bitter 2012 dispute in which Kauai Mayor Bernard Carvalho suspended Police Chief Darryl Perry for his handling of a hostile workplace complaint. Civil Beat.

Human activities can impact reef health, making it less resilient, according to a recent study conducted by researchers with The Nature Conservancy, and Kauai-based marine biologist Katie Muzik thinks that’s the case on the island. Garden Island.

Hawaii homelessness creeps up, new Public Utilities Commission pick as NextEra deal looms, audit to probe Hawaii County hiring practices, no 'strong mayor' government for Maui, Zuckerberg to build home as well as wall, Ige signs ivory sales ban bill, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Homeless man reading © 2016 All Hawaii News

Hawaii, which already has the highest per capita rate of homelessness in America, saw its homeless population jump another 4 percent between January 2015 and January 2016, but officials revealing the data see signs of progress. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii is seeing a stubborn rise in homelessness, despite the concerted efforts of state and county officials to address the issue. According to the “point in time” count released Wednesday, the state’s homeless population stood at 7,921 when the annual survey was conducted during the week of Jan. 25. Civil Beat.

The Hawaii Point-In-Time Count, an annual survey of the state’s homeless population, was released Wednesday, and the results were a mixed bag of both encouraging and disconcerting numbers. West Hawaii Today.

© 2016 All Hawaii News

The results of this year’s statewide Homeless Point in Time Count were released today. Hawaii Public Radio.

A report on the number of homeless who live in Hawai‘i, called the “Statewide Point In Time Count,” revealed an overall increase in the number of homeless in the state compared to last year. Maui Now.

According to the annual Point in Time count released Wednesday, the number of Kauai’s homeless population increased by about 30 percent in 2016 compared to last year. Garden Island.

The latest "Point In Time" homeless count showed that on January 24, 2016, there were nearly eight thousand homeless statewide, with more than half on Oahu. Hawaii News Now.

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Hawaii, one of the top visitor destinations in the world, is bucking a trend now that Gov. David Ige said he intends to veto a bill that would allow online lodging services like Airbnb to collect state and local taxes. Associated Press.

Ige Signs Act Prohibiting Most Ivory Sales in Hawaii. Retailers of products made out of endangered species have one year to purge their inventory before the sales are banned. Civil Beat.

Gorak

Gov. David Ige is booting Mike Champley from the state Public Utilities Commission just days before the three-member body was expected to release its final decision on the $4.3 billion deal to sell Hawaiian Electric Industries to Florida-based NextEra Energy. Ige has made an interim appointment of Tom Gorak, the commission’s chief legal counsel, who will take over starting Friday. Civil Beat.

Gov. David Ige shuffled the deck Wednesday with a new Public Utilities Commission member just days before the three-person panel is expected to vote on whether NextEra Energy Inc. may purchase the state’s largest electric utility for $4.3 billion. Star-Advertiser.

The biggest business deal in state history is in a new state of limbo as the governor makes a new appointment to the Public Utilities Commission that some are calling illegal and unethical. KHON2.

Hawaii Gov. David Ige on Wednesday named Thomas Gorak, chief counsel of the Hawaii Public Utilities Commission, as the replacement for Michael Champley, whose term on the three-member commission charged with making key energy and other utility decisions, ends on Thursday. Pacific Business News.

Gov. David Ige is appointing a new member to the commission that’s expected to rule on Florida energy company NextEra’s proposed purchase of Hawaiian Electric Industries. Ige is naming Thomas Gorak to the state Public Utilities Commission. Gorak is now the commission’s top legal adviser, a job he’s had since 2013. Associated Press.

Since June 23, Tulsi Gabbard of Hawaii and more than a dozen of her Democratic colleagues have not been able to use their official websites. Civil Beat.

Rising sea levels bring a wave of worry for many residents of our island state. Wednesday evening, experts showed how bad the increase in the ocean could be, while also detailing what some cities are already doing to prepare. KITV.

Oahu

There may be suspense in a hotly contested mayor’s race, but don’t expect changes in the Honolulu City Council after this year’s election. Civil Beat.

Hawaii

It’s not what you know; it’s whom you know. That lament has a long history on Hawaii Island, where a county government job ranks right up there with a college degree for many parents’ aspirations for their children. West Hawaii Today.

Somewhere between 38 and 92 percent of West Hawaii’s reefs will be declared bleached and dead, once scientists are comfortable enough with their figures to release final results this summer. West Hawaii Today.

Hilo residents got their first chance to weigh in on proposed redevelopment plans for the Banyan Drive area on Tuesday afternoon. More than 60 people attended the standing-room only informational meeting at the Aupuni Conference Center, where county planners gave an overview of possible new land uses and revitalization efforts for the peninsula, which was declared “blighted” earlier this year. Tribune-Herald.

Hawaii County Planning Director Duane Kanuha presented a future vision for Banyan Drive to a crowd of business representatives and enthusiasts on Tuesday night. Big Island Video News.

Hawaii County officially is opening a lava viewing area near Kalapana today after the Pu‘u ‘O‘o lava flow reached the base of Pulama pali. Tribune-Herald.

Big Island residents armed with a cellphone camera and a $1 magnifying glass are becoming science sleuths, contributing to research that would have been handled by a drove of scientists a decade ago. Thanks to a crowdsourcing initiative launched in May 2015 to map the distribution of “yellow fever” mosquitoes on the island, scientists and health officials will have more information to go on when they are deciding how to combat mosquito-borne diseases like dengue and Zika — scourges which will appear sooner or later. West Hawaii Today.

Maui

One of the most controversial charter amendments of the Maui County Council’s 2016 calendar, which would have allowed a fundamental change in county governance from a “strong mayor” to council-manager, died in committee Wednesday. Maui Watch.

Despite taking no action Tuesday on several of Mayor Alan Arakawa's bills seeking funding for homeless programs and temporary shelters, council Budget and Finance Committee Chairman Riki Hokama said he and the mayor are working to "find more common ground on the homeless issue" and are moving forward. Maui News.

State Pulls Plug On Mbloom, But Still Wants To Help Tech Startups. The venture capital fund sputtered from the start, with questions about conflict of interest in its investments. Civil Beat.

The contract for construction of the next phase of the Lahaina bypass, a 2.7-mile stretch that runs from Hokiokio Road toward Launiupoko, has been awarded to Hawaiian Dredging Co., the state Department of Transportation announced Tuesday. Maui News.

Kauai

Kauai County Council unanimously voted to defer a bill on Wednesday that would allow vending on county-owned streets. Garden Island.

The Center for Biological Diversity is threatening to take legal action to protect rare seabirds that it says are being harmed by bright lights at an Air Force radar facility in Kokee, Kauai. Star-Advertiser.

Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg apparently has plans to build a home on his Hawaii estate on the North Shore of Kauai, in addition to that six-foot-high wall that has irked some of his neighbors and caught the attention of websites around the world, Pacific Business News has learned.

For the past two weeks, Tabitha Smith has been camping in a spot dubbed “The Cage” at the Lihue Civic Center. Garden Island.

One inmate costs more than $50k annually, Tulsi Gabbard won't debate, Ige may veto bill protecting employees on social media, feds may grant Honolulu rail plan extension, more on Zuckerberg's wall, lava rises on Big Island, late Maui mayor remembered, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Corrections officer oversees inmates © 2016 All Hawaii News

The amount it takes to house one prison inmate for a year is more than many Hawaii residents make in a year. According to the Hawaii Department of Public Safety, the state spends about $140 per inmate per day, which includes program services, food, health care, and administrative costs. When you add it up, that amounts to $51,100 per year per prisoner locked up in Hawaii. KHON2.

Nearly half of the states in the U.S. have adopted laws to prevent employers from accessing their employees’ private social-media accounts. But Gov. David Ige this week announced his intent to veto such a bill for Hawaii. Civil Beat.

The state Department of Land and Natural Resources is seeking public input on sea level rise adaptation in Hawaii. The DLNR will hold its first public informational meeting on this topic on Wednesday night. Hawaii News Now.

U.S. Rep. Tulsi Gabbard is being taken to task by her opponent in the Democratic primary for refusing to debate her after the congresswoman blasted the leadership of the Democratic National Committee last year for limiting the number of debates in the presidential primary. Star-Advertiser.

One day after 170 Democrats ended their sit-in on the House floor over a lack of movement on gun control, a bipartisan group of representatives that included Tulsi Gabbard sprang into legislative action. Gabbard (D-Hawaii) joined eight other House members Friday, including four Republicans, in the introduction of legislation aimed at restricting the sale of firearms to individuals placed on the No-Fly list and Selectee list, subsets of the broader Terrorism Screening Database. West Hawaii Today.

A typical household in the County of Kauai spends more than an average household on the Big Island and Oahu, according to a new study by the state Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism. The County of Kauai results include survey data from the islands of Kauai and Lanai. Pacific Business News.

A favorable settlement has been reached for Volkswagen owners in 43 states including Hawai’i. Hawaii Public Radio.

Oahu

Federal officials said Tuesday they’re weighing whether to give the city an additional 10 months to deliver its rail recovery plan, an extension that would buy Honolulu Mayor Kirk Caldwell and rail leaders more time to pursue the dollars they hope will be enough to finish the full 20-mile line. Star-Advertiser.

Less than two weeks after Honolulu Mayor Kirk Caldwell backed a focus on getting rail to Middle Street, he’s telling the feds he still wants to get it all the way to Ala Moana and asking for more time to find the funds to get there. KHON2.

City contractors have successfully bored a 3-mile tunnel beneath Oneawa Hills, a critical component of the $371 million Kaneohe-Kailua Waste Water Conveyance and Treatment Facilities Project, Mayor Kirk Caldwell announced Tuesday. Star-Advertiser.

The tunnel boring machine called "Pohakulani" is expected to complete its 3-mile journey from Kailua to Kaneohe on Tuesday in an underground sewer tunnel. KITV4.

Nearing its one-year anniversary, a program in Kalihi that helps Micronesians connect to health, social, education and employment services has now served more than 2,000 people. But it has also come in for some criticism lately. Civil Beat.

As many as 100 working-yet-homeless families across the islands will each be eligible for up to $9,000 over the next year, beginning July 15, with the funds aiming to get them off the street and into rental housing as fast as possible. Star-Advertiser.

The Honolulu Charter Commission is holding a series of community meetings this week to accept testimony on proposed city charter amendments. Civil Beat.

Hawaii officials are asking websites and blogs to stop pointing people to the off-limits crumbling remains of a Hawaiian monarchy palace. Officials said last week vandals etched crosses on 180-year-old walls of King Kamehameha III's former summer palace in Honolulu. Associated Press.

Castle Medical Center plans to buy Hawaii Pacific University’s sprawling Windward Oahu campus to expand its health-care offerings. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii

Smoke from burning trees and open channels of lava could easily be seen Tuesday from Kalapana as the lava flow from Kilauea’s Pu‘u ‘O‘o vent traveled down Pulama pali. Tribune-Herald.

The nonprofit company trying to build the Thirty Meter Telescope is continuing with its pledge to donate $1 million annually for educating students on Hawaii Island, where the project is planned, even though its future in the state is in limbo. Associated Press.

Eight candidates for Hawaii County Mayor – Eric Drake Weinert Jr., Timothy Waugh, Shannon McCandless, Wally Lau, Harry Kim, Pete Hoffmann, Marlene Hapai, and Paul Bryant – are asked about how they would handle the Big Island’s budget, including personnel and capital improvement projects. Big Island Video News.

If poverty is an island, Hawaii Community College Chancellor Rachel Solemsaas said she wants to be captain of the boat sailing over to help. Tribune-Herald.

Maui

Local politicians and others remembered former Maui Mayor and House Speaker Elmer Cravalho as a strong negotiator and great businessman who will be dearly missed. He died Monday at age 90. Civil Beat.

Maui’s first mayor, Elmer Cravalho, who moved the Valley Isle from plantations to a top visitor destination and served as speaker of the Territorial House of Representatives during the fight for statehood, died Monday afternoon. Star-Advertiser.

Elmer F. Cravalho, who served as Maui County chairman and mayor for 12 years, died Monday afternoon under hospice care after a long illness. He was 90 years old. Maui News.

Food Network’s popular "Diners, Drive-ins and Dives" will premiere its "Soakin’ Up Maui" episode on July 1 featuring Da Kitchen in Kahului, Fat Daddy’s Smokehouse in Kihei and the Like Poke? food truck, the owner of Fat Daddy’s Smokehouse told Pacific Business News.

The installation of the 24 streetlight fixtures on Maui Lani Parkway is part of a three-month pilot project by the utility. Maui News.

Kauai

An assistant chief of police with more than 20 years with the Kauai Police Department filed a civil lawsuit Monday against the police chief, the department and the county of Kauai. Garden Island.

Some of Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg’s neighbors are grumbling about a rock wall he’s having built on his property on the north shore of Kauai. Associated Press.

Facebook’s billionaire founder Mark Zuckerberg made a big splash on Kauai two years ago when he bought about 700 verdant acres for more than $100 million, but now he’s begun to change the landscape on his property and some neighbors don’t like it. Star-Advertiser.

With demolition of Coco Palms underway, officials turned their attention to permitting for the $175 million hotel. Garden Island.

Ige signals veto of social media, Airbnb tax, seven other bills, signs Maui stream diversion bill, Maui's first mayor dies, Djou gets rare union endorsements for Honolulu mayor, Hawaii Island police switching to Glocks, Kauai police files lawsuit, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Gov. David Ige singles vetoes, courtesy photo

Gov. David Ige said he plans to veto nine bills. Among the nine is a bill that would prohibit employers from accessing or obtaining employees’ social media accounts and passwords. Associated Press.

The Governor today released the list of bills he intends to veto or needs more time to look over. Hawaii Public Radio.

Hawaii Gov. David Ige announced Monday that he intends to veto nine bills, including a measure that would allow vacation-rental companies to collect taxes on behalf of the state. Civil Beat.

Gov. David Ige expects to veto a hotly contested bill that would allow transient accommodations brokers, such as Airbnb, to act as tax collection agents for the state, as well as eight other bills that he’s determined to be legally questionable, fiscally unsound or generally problematic. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii Gov. David Ige said Monday he intends to veto a bill that would allow Airbnb, HomeAway, VRBO and other alternative accommodations companies to act as tax brokers on behalf of the state. Pacific Business News.

Gov. David Ige detailed his "Intent To Veto" list in a press release Monday.  On the list are nine bills. KITV4.

Gov. David Ige notified legislative leaders and key lawmakers Monday that he intends to veto nine bills. KHON2.

Gov. David Ige notified legislative leaders and key lawmakers that nine bills are on the Intent to Veto list. The Hawai‘i State Constitution requires the governor to give notice to the Legislature by Monday’s deadline. Maui Now.

Young Brothers, Hawaii’s largest interisland cargo service provider recently invested tens of millions of dollars in four new tugs — the first to be delivered to the state in 2018 and the fourth by 2019. Garden Island.

Oahu
The city wants 10 additional months to submit to federal transit officials a plan for how it intends to proceed with its increasingly expensive rail project. Star-Advertiser.

Officials overseeing Oahu's billion-dollar rail project have expressed concern in recent months about staffing issues that could potentially delay progress on the rail. Associated Press.

The images of the mural taggers left on the rail cars were jaw dropping not just because they're elaborate... But for the apparent easy access to Honolulu's very expensive train. KITV4.

Rail officials hope the cleanup of a rail car vandalized by graffiti is done by the end of the week. KHON2.

A 1st Circuit Court of Hawaii judge ruled Monday that state Sen. Laura Thielen properly filed her nomination papers for re-election this year. Civil Beat.

Officials with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency said Monday that the Navy’s plan to secure and prevent future leaks at the Red Hill Bulk Fuel Storage Facility is moving forward and making progress. Star-Advertiser.

Three monitoring wells will be built near where 27,000 gallons of fuel spilled from the U.S. Navy’s Red Hill fuel storage tanks in January 2014. Civil Beat.

In seven months the Hale Mauliola homeless shelter on Sand Island has managed to get 61 individuals into permanent housing, but perhaps the greatest benefit is the lessons learned from the first-of-its-kind project that can be translated to other homeless projects in the future, according to Mayor Kirk Caldwell. Star-Advertiser.

Honolulu mayoral candidate Charles Djou scored endorsements Monday from five organized labor unions that had backed incumbent Mayor Kirk Caldwell in two previous bids. Star-Advertiser.

Charles Djou’s campaign acknowledged the novelty of the occasion of having received union endorsements in his campaign for Honolulu mayor. After all, the Republican politician had not received labor backing since 2006, and Democrats have historically sided with Democrats. Civil Beat.

The owner of a company that sells Hawaiian-themed souvenirs was sentenced to six months in jail this afternoon and fined $40,000 for smuggling walrus ivory and whale teeth into and out of the country and for importing black coral without a permit. The company, Hawaiian Accessories Inc., was also fined $50,000. Star-Advertiser.

Column: A Rare Chance To Explore Chinatown’s Mysterious Lofts. History is preserved in the apartments and businesses that most people will never see above street level in Honolulu’s Chinatown. Civil Beat.

Hawaii

The Hawaii Police Department is going the way of many federal, state and local law enforcement agencies, and exchanging officers’ clunky old Smith &Wessons for sleek, new Glock 9 mm semiautomatic handguns. West Hawaii Today.

The latest lava flow from Kilauea’s Pu‘u ‘O‘o vent has begun to peek over the pali, providing curious onlookers an early glimpse of its glow from Kalapana. Tribune-Herald.

Things just got a lot louder at Kahaluu Beach Park, not to mention safer, thanks to a recently gifted long-distance communication system. The system lets lifeguard messages reach surfers 300 yards away from the north tower. West Hawaii Today.

Construction on the Waimea District Park continues, with the frame of the initial structure visible from Ala Ohia Road. A metal roof in nearly completed on one side of the covered play courts building that can be seen from the southeast side of town, atop exposed beams. West Hawaii Today.

Hawaii County consumers spent an average of $51,700 per household in 2014, with the bulk of those expenditures falling in three categories: housing, transportation and food. The number is less than both Oahu’s average ($62,280) and the nationwide average ($53,495). Hawaii County spends more on housing and food, but less on transportation as compared to the U.S. average. Tribune-Herald.

Maui

Elmer F. Cravalho, who served as speaker of the state House, Maui County chairman and mayor for 12 years, died Monday afternoon under hospice care after a long illness. He was 90 years old. Maui News.

Elmer Cravalho, Maui’s first mayor, has died, county officials confirmed. Hawaii News Now.

Gov. David Ige on Monday signed a bill allowing Alexander & Baldwin to continue its more than century-old practice of diverting water from East Maui streams for at least three more years under current lease terms to the jeers of East Maui taro growers and environmentalists. Maui News.

Among the nine bills Gov. David Ige put on his list of potential vetoes Monday is one that aims to help Maui County public hospital employees as the facilities move to become privately operated by Kaiser Permanente. Maui News.

With some using Brexit as a cautionary tale of rushing a vote, dozens of testifiers made their case to a Maui County Council committee on Monday on a new form of county governance, which could be placed on the general election ballot in November depending on what council members decide in the coming weeks. Maui News.

California-based U.S. Realty Partners Inc. said Monday that it has acquired the Lahaina Cannery Mall in West Maui from an affiliate of Safeway for an undisclosed price. Pacific Business News.

Kauai

An assistant chief in the Kauai Police Department is suing the department and Kauai County. The civil court filing by assistant chief Mark Begley claims he was harassed and intimidated for following department procedures after a female officer accused another assistant chief of inappropriate behavior. KHON2.

Salvaging of the Coco Palms property is wrapped up, and demolition has begun. On Monday, heavy demolition equipment took to the 46-acre lot, tearing down the former cottages. Garden Island.

With Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump the presumptive presidential nominees for the Democratic and Republican parties, many voters on Kauai have mixed feelings on who they’re supporting to be the next president of the United States. Garden Island.