Friday, October 26, 2012

Native Hawaiian evicted from Hawaii County land, state tops in multigenerational households, TV news lacks government info, illegal ballots don't matter, UH selling land to pay bills, Maui approves growth plans, gas average $4.41/gal, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

copyright 2012 All Hawaii News
Kawa Bay activist Abel Simeone Lui (c) 2012 All Hawaii News
Hawaii County officials on Thursday evicted Native Hawaiian activist Abel Simeone Lui, whom state courts ruled — after years of challenges — was illegally occupying the land at Kawa Bay. West Hawaii Today

U.S. Census Bureau figures released Thursday show multigenerational families make up 11.1 percent of all households in Hawaii. That's by far the highest rate in the nation, and well above the national average of 5.6 percent. Star-Advertiser.

A new study by local citizens groups shows that Hawaii residents see more ads than information when watching local TV news programs, raising questions about whether local news stations are doing enough to educate voters before they head to the polls. Civil Beat.

More than one-half million Hawaii ballots were printed with the presidential candidates in no particular order, despite a state law that says all candidates must be in alphabetical order within their respective races. West Hawaii Today.

U.S. Rep. Colleen Hanabusa said Thursday that success in Congress depends on how well you get along with your colleagues, but reflecting your political party's values is also important. Former U.S. Rep. Charles Djou said he would work closer to the political center than the extremes. Star-Advertiser.

The Tax Review Commission met Thursday at the No. 1 Capitol District Building to hammer out a draft of revenue evaluation and policy recommendations to make to the Hawaii Legislature in December. The report is expected to be finalized when the commission meets again in late November. Civil Beat.

Ray L'Heureux, assistant superintendent for the Office of Facilities and Support Services, told the Board of Education last week that the district could spend its entire annual capital improvement projects budget on just one of the state's 15 complex areas and still fall far short. Civil Beat.

Gas prices drop in Hawaii for first time in 11 weeks. Star-Advertiser.

The Queen's Medical Center is suing Kaiser Foundation Health Plan Inc. for more than $4 million, saying Kaiser underpaid Queen's for care given to Kaiser members. Star-Advertiser.

State roundup for October 26. Associated Press.

Oahu

The city of Honolulu sold $913 million of bonds this week at historic low interest rates and refinanced older bonds to save taxpayers more than $75 million, officials said Thursday. Star-Advertiser.

House Finance committee Chairman Marcus Oshiro says the state won't easily give up the general excise tax surcharge that’s currently being collected for the city’s $5.26 billion rail project, he has another think coming. Civil Beat.

In an exclusive interview on Hawaii Reporter Television today, former Governor Ben Cayetano blasts Pacific Resource Partnership for its latest attack ad targeting his record as governor. Hawaii Reporter.

Transportation alternatives … rail or buses … are at the epicenter in the race for Honolulu Mayor. Hawaii Public Radio.

Tom Berg's strident political persona and some well-publicized controversies have made Berg a well-known political figure on Oahu, but that fame may also make him vulnerable to a challenge by four-term state Rep. Kymberly Marcos Pine. Star-Advertiser.

The newly opened UH West Oahu campus is facing future financial shortfalls, and Hawaii News Now has learned that university officials are selling a large portion of land at the campus to the Catholic Church to help make ends meet. Hawaii News Now.

Japanese-based Seibu Group intends to keep its three Hawaii hotels after an unsuccessful effort earlier this year to sell the Hawaii Prince Hotel, Mauna Kea Beach Hotel and Hapuna Beach Prince Hotel. Star-Advertiser.

Repairs to pedestrian bridge over Moanalua Freeway to begin Nov. 1 State will shut down exits from freeway to Moanalua Road overnight. KITV4.

East Oahu residents complain about it and the City is aware of it. So what's being done to stop an over-population of feral cats in the heart of Hawaii Kai? KHON2.

Hawaii

Negative campaigning seems to be commonplace in the 2012 elections, however, mudslinging should have no place in Hawaii politics, Democratic candidate for U.S. Senate Mazie Hirono said Thursday during a party rally in South Kona. West Hawaii Today.

Pohakuloa Training Area will open several areas to bow hunting on Saturday, Oct. 27, and Sunday, Oct. 28. Tribune-Herald.

Maui

The Maui County Council is getting closer to approving boundaries for future growth after a committee OK'd maps this week that will guide development for the next 20 years. Pacific Business News.

A decadelong process neared an end Wednesday afternoon as a Maui County Council committee recommended approval of maps that will guide future growth and development on the island over the next two decades. Maui News.

Waihee School Principal Leila Hayashida has been tapped as acting complex area superintendent for the Central Maui complex, according to Sandy Goya, spokeswoman for the state Department of Education. Maui News.

An appeal has been filed with the Intermediate Court of Appeals seeking a stay on the County sponsored Halloween event in Lahaina Town. Maui Now.

Kauai

There are three simple ways to improve electric sustainability, according to County Energy Coordinator Ben Sullivan. Garden Island.

After learning last week that the contract between the county and Hale ‘Opio’s Teen Court had expired, Kaua‘i County Council Chair Jay Furfaro introduced Wednesday a bill to appropriate $31,000 to fund the long-standing youth diversionary program. Garden Island.

The Koloa Post Office closed briefly on Thursday after an elderly man crashed his car through the front of the building. Garden Island.

Lanai

The grass may soon be greener on the island of Lanai. New owner Larry Ellison has already set into motion changes around town but there are even bigger plans in store for the future. KHON2.

Molokai

A new county Department of Public Works baseyard will bring upgrades for both the department and Molokai’s emergency response capabilities. Molokai Dispatch.

Thursday, October 25, 2012

Hawaii DLNR sued over tropical fish-collecting, tax office loses records, Maui, EPA settle landfill pollution case, and plenty politics from all the Hawaiian Islands

copyright 2012 all Hawaii News
Hawaii Moorish Idols (c) 2012 All Hawaii News
The Department of Land and Natural Resources should have conducted environmental reviews before issuing aquarium fish collecting permits, environmental groups and several Hawaii residents say in a lawsuit filed Wednesday in Oahu’s 1st Circuit Court. West Hawaii Today.

Lawsuit: DLNR Must Study Effects of Aquarium Fish Trade on Hawaii Reefs. Civil Beat.

The nonprofit environmental-law organization Earthjustice on Wednesday filed a civil complaint in First Circuit Court in Honolulu against the state of Hawai‘i and the state Department of Land and Natural Resources, seeking to stop all commercial collection of aquarium fish until the industry complies with the Hawai‘i Environmental Police Act. Garden Island.

U.S. Rep. Colleen Hanabusa and former U.S. Rep. Charles Djou have different philosophical approaches to reducing the federal deficit and national debt, with Hanabusa favoring steps already taken by Congress and President Barack Obama and Djou preferring more structural guarantees. Star-Advertiser.

The only Native Hawaiian ever elected to the U.S. Senate is about to retire. Civil Beat.

Candidates for Hawaii’s U-S Senate seat cast their ballots today during early walk-in voting. Hawaii Public Radio.

Honolulu's press corp waited patiently outside Honolulu Hale midday Wednesday for U.S. Sen. Daniel K. Inouye and U.S. Rep. Mazie Hirono to arrive for scheduled interviews. Civil Beat.

One after the other, the candidates for U.S. Senate filed in to Honolulu Hale on Wednesday, joining the line of walk-in voters, followed by cheering fans and well-wishers. KITV4.

A 1994 Chevy Silverado, the only vehicle in the state with an "OBAMA" personalized license plate will be auctioned off this weekend. KHON2.

Oahu

Unlike some of his predecessors, it’s doubtful Ben Cayetano will kiss the ring of U.S. Sen. Dan Inouye if he’s elected Honolulu mayor. Civil Beat.

In urban Oahu’s storied Distr. 20, a Green Party candidate who refuses corporate contributions is seeking to unseat the veteran Speaker of the state House of Representatives. Honolulu Weekly.

A World War II veteran who inspired many with his determination to vote even though he had end-stage liver cancer died Wednesday. Associated Press.

What's the in waters off Makua Valley, where the U.S. Army held live-fire military exercises for several years? The Army is now trying to find out by asking those who actually live in the area. Hawaii News Now.

The Hawaii Department of Transportation has released a draft environmental assessment detailing its $600 million plan for modernizing Honolulu International Airport. Pacific Business News.

A state agency has decided to give the public an early look at tentative proposals from two developers competing to build a 650-foot residential tower in Kakaako that would soar above Honolulu's tallest existing buildings. Star-Advertiser.

A Coast Guard aircrew was forced to return to Barbers Point late Tuesday after someone shone a laser at their MH-65 Dolphin helicopter when it was two miles offshore of Oahu, officials said. Star-Advertiser.

Chinatown businesses are asking for increased police presence after a spate of burglaries in recent months. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii

A contracted courier recently lost a bag containing tax documents filed by businesses and individual taxpayers with the Hilo and Kona state tax offices. Tribune-Herald.

Car trouble: Kenoi ticketed for talking on cellphone while driving Kim’s 2009 accident cost county $100K. West Hawaii Today.
Big Island hunters may soon be granted permission to kill axis deer. Tribune-Herald.

Geophysicists in Hawaii and Texas have come up with a mathematical model that could explain how Mauna Loa and Kilauea volcanoes are linked yet have distinct, separate eruptions. Star-Advertiser.

Maui
Maui County has agreed to a $5.1 million settlement with federal officials about alleged clean air violations at its major landfill, including uncontrolled release of gases from rotting garbage. Star-Advertiser.


The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced today a $5.1 million settlement with the Maui County to address alleged air pollution violations at the Central Maui Landfill in Puunene, including the construction of new gas-collections systems and a wind farm. Maui News.

Maui Mayor Alan Arakawa today called a settlement reached between the county and the Environmental Protection Agency a “win-win.” Maui Now.

Dozens of luxury condominiums and hundreds of time-share interests at the financially troubled Ritz-Carlton Club and Residences at Kapalua Bay are headed for the auction block in December. Maui News.

Kauai

The Kaua‘i County Council on Wednesday took a few minutes to give its final approval to a bill setting bulk rates for bus passes for Kaua‘i Community College students. Garden Island.


Molokai

Hawaiian Airlines announced last week that their parent company, Hawaiian Holdings, Inc., will begin service to Molokai and Lanai sometime next year. Molokai Dispatch.

Molokai's iconic Kanemitsu Bakery remains closed, now for nearly four months, but the 75-year-old establishment's owner said work is nearly complete on improvements aimed at correcting health violations, and he hopes to reopen in time for the busy Thanksgiving holiday. Maui News.

Wednesday, October 24, 2012

Hawaii DOE proposes a computer for every student, Maui cane-burning opponents seek study, OHA candidate Pomroy dies, Big Island roads twice as deadly, UH gets low rankings, Hawaiian Airlines' profits fly high, more news from all the Hawaian Islands

Gov. Abercrombie at K-9 retirement, courtesy photo
A special ceremony was held today at Washington Place for one of the Public Safety Sheriff Division’s finest canines. Sheriff Deputies along with other law enforcement officials gathered for the retirement of Deputy Canine Drikus who served in the Sheriff Division from 2002 until last month. Hawaii Reporter.

The Department of Education wants to provide every public school student with a laptop or computer tablet by 2015 as part of an initiative that would also include training teachers on the devices and buying digital materials that reflect new national Common Core standards for math and reading. Star-Advertiser.

Native Hawaiian, Pacific Islander and mixed-race youth are disproportionately represented in Hawaii's juvenile justice system, a recent study concludes. Civil Beat.

The American Civil Liberties Union of Hawai‘i Foundation (“ACLU”) has filed an amicus curiae brief (also known as a “friend of the court” brief) in United States District Court supporting the Constitutional rights of attorneys and their clients to speak privately, without monitoring and eavesdropping by prison personnel. Hawaii Reporter.

Early walk-in voting for the general election began on Tuesday. KHON2.

Voter apathy in Hawaii is getting national attention with a new CNN report that places the state rock-bottom when it comes to election day turnout. Hawaii News Now.

Fund for Freedom Committee, a Washington, D.C.-based super PAC, has reserved television advertising time in Hawaii to help former Gov. Linda Lingle's Republican campaign for U.S. Senate. Star-Advertiser.

Ed Case loaned his campaign $50,000 in the final days leading up his loss in the Aug. 11 primary election, then used that money to refund contributions earmarked for the general election run that never happened. Civil Beat.

Hawaiian Holdings Inc., parent of Hawaiian Airlines, reported a third-quarter profit Tuesday of $45.5 million, or 86 cents per diluted share, which was a 77 percent increase over the same quarter in 2011, when the airline posted a profit of $25.6 million, or 50 cents per diluted share. Pacific Business News.

State roundup for October 24. Associated Press.

Oahu

The number of Oahu early walk-in voters Tuesday — 1,729 — topped first-day totals for the August primary and the 2010 general elections, which were 983 and 1,261, respectively. Star-Advertiser.

A day after Honolulu mayoral candidate Ben Cayetano sued a third-party business and labor group for libel, opponent Kirk Caldwell said he's also seen enough of negative campaigning and wants to focus on issues affecting the city. Star-Advertiser.

Off the Beat: New Low In Political Ads. Civil Beat.

QS World University Rankings has the University of Hawaii at Manoa No. 283 out of 400 top universities for 2012, an improvement from its ranking of 295 last year. Pacific Business News.

Canoe paddlers rallied at the Capitol to speak out against a proposed development on Sand Island. KITV4.

Before a recall had been issued for ground beef from Higa Foodservice due to concerns about possible E. coli contamination, two elementary schools on Oahu had served students the suspect meat. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii

Thirty-five people have been killed on Big Island public roads through Tuesday — more than double the 16 fatalities recorded during the first 297 days of 2011. West Hawaii Today.

The Army said it is considering basing Stryker armored vehicles at Pohakuloa Training Area on Hawaii island as part of a larger plan to pre-position equipment, on land or on ships, around Asia and the Pacific to improve training, engagement and response times, and to keep costs down. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii Electric Light Co. is reviewing offers by two of its power producers to stop tying energy costs to the price of oil. Tribune-Herald.

Ka‘u residents and island hunters took the state Department of Land and Natural Resources to task earlier this year during meetings to discuss the proposed Ka‘u Forest Reserve Management Plan. West Hawaii Today.

Naniloa Volcanoes Resort owner Ken Fujiyama is in default of a $10 million loan he used to purchase the hotel in 2006. Tribune-Herald.

Maui

As anti-cane burning activists don gas masks during protests and sugar workers line roadways in support of the industry, Maui’s district health officer is pushing to finish what he feels could be a definitive look at the health effects of cane smoke on the island. Maui Now.

The Krausz Cos. plans to build a 250,000-square-foot multiuse community on Maui adjacent to the Safeway-anchored Piilani Village Shopping Center in Kihei, which the California company acquired nearly a decade ago. Pacific Business News.

A fourth-generation member of Hana's iconic Hasegawa General Store that soon will be rebuilt at the site of a fire that claimed the storied establishment years ago was honored Saturday with the Tiny Malaikini Mea Kokua Award, the community's recognition for public service. Maui News.

After a criminal complaint against former police officer Christopher Kealoha was received at the Maui Police Department in February, the document went missing before it was served on him more than five months later. Maui News.

Kauai

Sharon Pomroy passed away Tuesday morning. She never regained consciousness after suffering a seizure and heart attack last Wednesday during a candidates meet and greet event in Wailua. Garden Island.


Tuesday, October 23, 2012

Hawaii top retirement state, Hawaii could lose Pro Bowl, online travel booking firms freed from hotel taxes, Cayetano sues over negative ads, federal agent wants murder charge dismissed, Kauai OHA candidate off life support, Big Island plastic bag ban rules released, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

copyright 2012 All Hawaii News
Hawaiian hula (c) 2012 All Hawaii News
Hawaii was rated the best state for retirement in a study done MoneyRates.com, a financial information website. Star-Advertiser.

Travel booking companies that sell Hawaii hotel rooms online do not have to pay the state hotel room tax, a state judge ruled Monday. Star-Advertiser.

The NFL will consider dropping the Pro Bowl if the level of play doesn't improve, Commissioner Roger Goodell said Monday night. Associated Press.

The two women running to replace Dan Akaka in the U.S. Senate faced off in their fifth and final live broadcast debate Monday night on Hawaii News Now. Hawaii News Now.

U.S. Rep. Mazie Hirono said Monday that she supports President Barack Obama's jobs initiative to help spur economic recovery, but former Gov. Linda Lingle said it would further expand the national debt. Star-Advertiser.

The U.S. Chamber of Commerce has spent about $1 million to convince people not to vote for Congresswoman Mazie Hirono. Hawaii News Now.

Monday night, the Democratic and Republican nominees for Hawaii's First Congressional District squared off in a live televised debate, in our KHON2 News studio. KHON2.

Hawaii is getting a turn in the national limelight, but CNN's latest project calls attention to a glaring lowlight: the state's voter turnout rate. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii Gas wants to bring liquefied natural gas to Hawaii to help lower the cost of energy. But environmental groups oppose the move and are working to prevent it for environmental reasons. Civil Beat.

The U.S. Treasury Department and Internal Revenue Service are looking into the possible misuse of a federal solar rebate program by at least one mainland solar company that operates in the Hawaii market. Star-Advertiser.

After receiving more than 800 emails from residents in three days last week, the Hawaii State Association of Counties joined the chorus of opponents asking for the repeal of Act 55, the law that established the Public Land Development Corp. Maui News.

State roundup for October 23. Associated Press.

Oahu

Attorneys for mayoral candidate Ben Cayetano said the former governor's libel lawsuit against Pacific Resource Partnership aims to stop not just one group from its current campaign, but to prevent organizations from mounting similar attacks in the future. Star-Advertiser.

Ben Cayetano said he always knew he’d be fighting big money in the race for the Honolulu Mayor’s Office. Civil Beat.

Former Hawaii Gov. Ben Cayetano filed a lawsuit Monday accusing the Pacific Resource Partnership, its executive director, John White, the Hawaii Carpenters Union Market Recovery Fund and the CEOs of several Hawaii general contractors of defamation over advertisements the PRP has run against his campaign for Honolulu mayor. Pacific Business News.

Ben Cayetano, a candidate for Honolulu mayor and former two-term Democratic governor, filed a libel suit Monday against a trade group that hopes to sway next month's election where rail transit has become the central issue. KITV4.

Candidate for Honolulu Mayor Ben Cayetano filed a lawsuit Monday morning accusing The Pacific Resource Partnership of attacking his character and reputation. KHON2.

Political candidates all across the country are targets of negative advertising from third parties that want to influence the November general election. Hawaii Reporter.

Candidates for Honolulu Prosecutor Attack Each Other's Motives. Civil Beat.

Circuit Judge Karen Ahn has set Jan. 22 for a hearing on federal agent Christopher Deedy’s request asking for the dismissal of his murder charge in the shooting of a Kailua man at a McDonald’s restaurant in Kailua last year. Star-Advertiser.

Waikiki's public restrooms have been a long course of complaints. The city is now responding with a almost $1 million dollar makeover. KITV4.

Hawaii
With just under three months before Hawaii County begins phasing out plastic bags at the store checkout, the Department of Environmental Management has created new rules for retail merchants and the public to follow. West Hawaii Today.

The Connections Public Charter School is facing fines for its new proposed campus in Hilo and what its attorney calls “harassment” and “bullying” tactics by some of its opponents. Tribune-Herald.

Island resident pitches hotel give-back program. West Hawaii Today.

Maui
The star of "Iron Chef" and "Iron Chef America" will be opening a restaurant at the Andaz Maui at Wailea Resort & Spa when the hotel opens in the summer. Maui News.

After dozens of witnesses saw a shark attack a sea turtle, Maui County ocean safety officers closed a portion of Kanaha Beach Park on Monday afternoon. Maui News.

Kauai

Sharon Pomroy, a candidate for Office of Hawaiian Affairs Kauai and Niihau trustee, has been taken off life support after her collapse at an OHA meet-and-greet event on Kauai last week, her family has confirmed. Star-Advertiser.

Family continued to sit in vigil Sunday as they made the decision to take Sharon Pomroy off a respirator. Garden Island.

The Elections Division of the Office of the County Clerk will begin early voting services today in the Historic County Annex building in Lihu‘e. Until Nov. 3, properly registered voters of the County of Kaua‘i will be able to cast their votes from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday through Saturday. Garden Island.

Work began earlier this month to identify and restore sections of a popular nine-mile section of Kalalau Trail. Garden Island.



Monday, October 22, 2012

WWII vet voting photo tugs at heartstrings, bitter U.S. Senate, Honolulu mayoral races enter homestretch, officials foresaw Hawaii County election day problems, Dems rally on Kauai, Ellison's Lanai plans draw biz buzz, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Associated Press/Irene Tanabe - In this Oct. 17, 2012 photo provided by Irene Tanabe, Frank Tanabe, center, gets help from his daughter Barbara Tanabe, left, to fill out his absentee ballot in Honolulu while his wife Setsuko Tanabe sits in the foreground. The photo of the 93-year-old World War II veteran casting what will likely be his last ballot has captured the hearts of tens of thousands of Internet users. (AP Photo/Irene Tanabe)






A photograph of a 93-year-old World War II veteran casting what will likely be his last ballot has captured the hearts of tens of thousands of Internet users. Associated Press.

A state agency responsible for protecting Hawaii's historic and cultural sites, including construction sites where Hawaiian burials are found, is declaring success fixing serious deficiencies the federal government flagged two years ago amid chronic struggles to properly carry out its mission. Star-Advertiser.

Native Hawaiian groups from across the country convened this past week to talk about some of the key issues facing their community. But rather than gather in the place of common ancestry, the Association of Hawaiian Civic Clubs held its annual convention here in the nation's capital, just steps from the seat of the government many Hawaiians still distrust as an illegal occupier. Civil Beat.

A once-in-a-generation open seat for U.S. Senate. A Honolulu mayor's race that could decide the fate of a $5.26 billion rail project. A rematch for Congress in urban Honolulu. A favorite son who wants another four years in the White House. Star-Advertiser.

The U.S. Senate race between Democrat Mazie Hirono, a member of the U.S. House of Representatives, and Republican Linda Lingle, the former Hawaii governor, has been dominated by strong attacks on each other's campaign. Civil Beat.

Press Secretary Donalyn Dela Cruz, who has been handling media liaison duties for Abercrombie since he took office, departs at the end of this month for a new job with the state Department of Education. Hawaii Reporter.

A contingent of Hansen's disease patients, nuns, priests, Catholic pilgrims and hula dancers from across Hawaii traveling on a nearly 10,000-mile pilgrimage to Rome attracted crowds wherever they went — from San Francisco to Syracuse, N.Y., to Rome. Star-Advertiser.

State roundup for October 22. Associated Press.

Oahu

Kirk Caldwell wants to change the face of Honolulu. Ben Cayetano doesn’t. Civil Beat.

A feisty Ben Cayetano attacked Honolulu's former Mayor, Mufi Hannemann, for a letter Hannemann wrote last week to his supporters asking them to back his previous managing director, Kirk Caldwell, in the November mayor's election. Hawaii Reporter.

On Tuesday, Honolulu International Airport will join dozens of airports across the country already part of the TSA pre check expedited screening program. KHON2.

The Waikiki 20/20 conference recently wrapped up at the Hawaii Convention Center, and this year, transportation, pedestrians and building on what began decades ago are taking center stage. KITV4.

Thanks to a unique partnership, a special place just for homeless women veterans is about to open up. KITV4.

The Karsten Thot Bridge reopened to traffic early Friday morning, but this was the first weekend that Wahiawa area businesses have had a chance to see if things are returning to normal. Hawaii News Now.

Hawaii

Two days before the Aug. 11 primary, state and county officials were aware that a “blue flu” was about to hit the Hawaii County Elections Division, resulting in the election day absence of more than half of the permanent division staff — including the top administrator. West Hawaii Today.

Robert K. Lindsey Jr. will face a pair of challengers for his seat on the Office of Hawaiian Affairs board of trustees. Tribune-Herald.

Hawaii Volcanoes National Park is preparing for an influx of visitors as lava lake levels in Halemaumau Crater continue to rise to their highest point since since its formation following an explosive eruption on March 19, 2008. Tribune-Herald.

The bank holding the mortgage on the Naniloa Volcanoes Resort is moving to foreclose on the beleaguered Hilo hotel. Big Island Now.

The picture-wing fly, anchialine pool shrimp and certain plants are among 15 species on Hawaii island that are in danger of becoming extinct in the foreseeable future, according to the agency, which is proposing that they be protected under the Endangered Species Act. The agency is soliciting information from the scientific community and the public until Dec. 17 to help make a final determination. Star-Advertiser.

Gov. Neil Abercromie on Friday announced the release of $91.9 million for various capital improvement projects across the state, including numerous projects on the Big Island — with $10 million earmarked for electrical and telecommunications improvements at several Big Island schools. Tribune-Herald.

Maui

A former Maui liquor control officer claims in a lawsuit against the county that he was fired for reporting that several supervisors received free food and drinks from various establishments and had sexual contact with hostess bar employees. Star-Advertiser.

Maui County residents are being asked to watch out for seabirds that may get disoriented in bright lights at night and collide with wires or structures and fall to the ground, officials said. Maui News.

Push to Resume Hunting of Hawaiian Turtles Underway. Maui Now.

Mother Marianne Cope, who came to Hawaii more than 100 years ago to care for leprosy patients, is now a saint. Maui News.

Kauai

Several hundred Democrats filled Chiefess Kamakahelei Middle School cafeteria Saturday for the Kaua‘i Democratic Party Grand Rally. Garden Island.

Work began earlier this month to identify and restore sections of a popular nine-mile section of Kalalau Trail. Garden Island.

A giant sea turtle is still alive thanks to a Washington state couple visiting Kaua‘i on vacation. Garden Island.

Lanai

Larry Ellison’s sustainability/renewable energy plan for Lanai has sent shock waves through this “green” part of Hawaii’s business community. Pacific Business News.

Molokai

When Mayor Alan Arakawa and his team of county officials visited Molokai last week, they did what many Molokai residents do every day–they waited for a ride from the Maui Economic Opportunities (MEO) bus. Molokai Dispatch.

Friday, October 19, 2012

Special report -- Naming Names: all the documents behind the 7 Hawaii Boy Scout 'Perversion Files'


Here are the links to the documents behind the Boy Scouts 'Perversion Files' for the seven Hawaii cases, courtesy of Kelly Clark Attorney at Law, a longtime advocate for sexually abused children.

Because sunlight is the best disinfectant.


Last    First    Date    State    City    Link

Dunham    Edward P.    1982/10/06    Hawaii    Wahiawa    Download PDF

Green    William L.    1966/04/12    Hawaii    Honolulu    Download PDF

Kamp    Michael William    1968/04/04    Hawaii    Honolulu    Download PDF

Kubic    Jerome W.    1965/09/13    Hawaii    Barber's Point    Download PDF

Strain    Gary L.    1983/06/16    Hawaii    Mililani Town    Download PDF

Wilson    Dale Edmund    1971/11/03    Hawaii    Honolulu    Download PDF

Zottoli    Joseph    1983/06/16    Hawaii    Honolulu    Download PDF


Hawaii lures Japanese tourists, 3 Hawaii Boy Scout leaders in 'Peversion Files,' 817 voters get double ballots, fired Maui liquor officer sues alleging officers took bribes, Honolulu mayor sells affordable housing complex, Big Island radio personality 'Mynah Bird' dies, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

copyright 2012 All Hawaii News
Waikiki Spam Jam (c) 2012 All Hawaii News
The Hawaii Tourism Authority and the Japan Association of Travel Agents are committed to returning visitor arrivals from Japan to Hawaii to 2 million per year by 2016. Star-Advertiser.

Three Hawaii residents are identified in a just-published database that documents thousands of sexual abuse allegations in the Boy Scouts of America. Civil Beat.

At least three adult Boy Scout leaders in Hawaii resigned or were forced out of the organization in the 1970s and '80s because of alleged improprieties involving children, according to documents released Thursday. Star-Advertiser.

Six documents relate to six men who worked with Boy Scout troops in Hawaii in the 1960s, 70s and 80s. Hawaii News Now.

More than 14,000 pages of "confidential" files kept by the Boy Scouts of America  on suspected pedophiles are now public. KITV4.

Hawaii cases in the file -- link here.

Former Gov. Linda Lingle challenged U.S. Rep. Mazie Hirono on Thursday to explain why she voted for the Budget Control Act of 2011, which raised the debt ceiling and avoided a government default but also created the possibility of automatic spending cuts to national defense. Star-Advertiser.

In Tuesday's U.S. Senate debate, Democratic Congresswoman Mazie Hirono and the Republican candidate Linda Lingle once again butted heads over who is more bipartisan. Civil Beat.

Former Gov. Linda Lingle has flatly denied ever describing President George W. Bush as the "greatest president," but she acknowledged making the statement in an email a decade ago.Star-Advertiser.

The consultant the Hawaii Department of Education hired to clean up its student transportation services mess has figured out why the cost of busing kids to and from school has skyrocketed in recent years — and what school officials must do to fix the problem. Civil Beat.

The University of Hawaii Board of Regents met for about 2 1⁄2 hours behind closed doors Thursday, continuing a discussion on the future of embattled UH President M.R.C. Greenwood. Star-Advertiser.

University of Hawaii regents went into executive session again this afternoon to discuss UH President M.R.C. Greenwood’s employment contract, but no resolution of the matter was expected today. Hawaii Reporter.

UH Board of Regents approve biennium budget. KHON2.

The Public Land Development corp. Will Vote to Finalize Rules Next Month. Hawaii Public Radio.

Retail gas prices across the state have increased for the 10th straight week. KHON2.

Hawaii’s unemployment rate fell to a seasonally adjusted 5.7 percent last month, its lowest rate in nearly four years. Associated Press.

Oahu

The 817 voters in upper Manoa who received two absentee ballots in the mail this week are being told to destroy them and wait for another envelope to show up in the mail next week, city election officers said Thursday. Star-Advertiser.

Honolulu elections officials said Thursday that 817 voters in the city’s Manoa neighborhood received duplicate absentee ballots for the upcoming election because of a printing error. Associated Press.

With less than three weeks to go until the election, the Honolulu City Clerk's office has flagged a problem. A processing error led to duplicate absentee ballots being mailed out to hundreds of registered voters in Manoa. Hawaii News Now.

Mayor Peter Carlisle signed an agreement Thursday clearing the way for the lease of the city's 12 affordable housing complexes to a private group for $142 million, carrying out the goal of several mayoral administrations to get the city out of the affordable rental management business. Star-Advertiser.

SaveOurHonolulu.com, a new independent expenditure committee dedicated to stopping the $5.26 billion Honolulu rail project, has begun airing two commercials that bash the pro-rail mayoral candidate Kirk Caldwell. Civil Beat.

Hawaii

The absentee ballots have been mailed, the precinct cans are being packed and phone lines at the control center are being connected. Tribune-Herald.

A marine salvage company contends a sunken sailing vessel it found off Hawaii island may contain valuable cargo and is hoping to claim the wreckage. Star-Advertiser.

Progress on the long-sought Laaloa Avenue extension was delayed again after Leeward Planning commissioners on Thursday deferred voting on a special management area permit to determine whether an area resident can contest the case. West Hawaii Today.

Seventeen people have been apprehended in connection with the recent crime spree in South Kona, and a majority of them are facing their share of 61 felony charges, area residents learned Thursday evening in Kealakekua. West Hawaii Today.

Melvin “Mynah Bird” Medeiros, both beloved and controversial as the signature voice of Hilo’s radio airwaves for more than five decades, died Thursday morning in Fremont, Calif. He was 72. Tribune-Herald.

Maui

A fired Maui County liquor control officer is alleging liquor control officers overlooked violations and received free food, drinks and gifts from liquor establishments they were charged with inspecting, in a lawsuit against Maui County and four Department of Liquor Control employees. Maui News.

A Maui paddler escaped injury Thursday morning after an encounter with an 8-foot shark that took a bite of his paddleboard. Star-Advertiser.

Officials closed beaches around Kanaha Beach Park Thursday morning after a shark bit a stand-up paddle board around 7:30 a.m. off of an area known as "Kite Beach," or Kaa Point. Maui News.

A California-based retail investment trust is moving ahead with buying the bankrupt Lahaina Gateway Center from Central Pacific Bank, which foreclosed on the shopping center last year. Maui News.

Kauai

Kauai Island Utility Cooperative said Thursday that it will build a $40 million solar-energy facility that will generate 12 megawatts of electricity on 67 acres leased from Grove Farm near Koloa on Kauai’s South Shore. Pacific Business News.

Kaua‘i will soon have three solar facilities under construction or in development. Garden Island.

The Kaua‘i County Council’s five-member Transportation Committee by a 4-1 vote approved a bulk rate for bus passes at an 80 percent discount for Kaua‘i Community College students. The entire student body will have to pay for the passes, which will be included in the tuition. Garden Island.

Thursday, October 18, 2012

Hawaii flower sales at 14-year low, ballot problems spread to Oahu and state, OHA candidate collapses at Kauai meet and greet, Hannemann endorses Caldwell for Honolulu mayor, Maui opens self-help justice center, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

copyright 2012 All Hawaii News
Hawaii ginger flowers at farmers market (c) 2012 All Hawaii News
Sales of flowers and nursery plants grown in Hawaii dipped 2 percent last year, but the small slip marked a fourth consecutive year of decline to a 14-year low. Hawaii's 970 flower and nursery plant farms reported $69.6 million in sales last year, down from $71.1 million the year before, according to a report released Tuesday by the National Agricultural Statistics Service. Star-Advertiser.

The value of Hawaii’s flower and nursery products sector fell 2 percent to $69.6 million in 2011, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Agricultural Statistics Service’s Hawaii Field Office. Pacific Business News.

A pair of ballot blunders are surfacing with less than three weeks to go until the general election. KHON2.

A "significant" number of registered voters in upper Manoa who requested absentee ballots were mailed two of them erroneously, city elections officer Glen Takahashi said Wednesday. Star-Advertiser.

The weeks are winding down to Election Day, and some Oahu voters are scratching their heads why they received two absentee ballots in the mail instead of one. KHON2.

Gov. Neil Abercrombie has asked one of his closest political advisors to head a working group created to fend off attacks on the controversial Public Land Development Corporation. Civil Beat.

The National Marine Fisheries Service has agreed to settle a lawsuit filed by environmentalists and says it will issue new rules aimed at preventing Hawaii fishermen from accidentally hooking a rare dolphin species when they’re fishing for tuna and swordfish. Associated Press.

With less than three weeks to go before Election Day, Linda Lingle's U.S. Senate campaign has released a memo from its pollster saying the race against Mazie Hirono "is a very close race." Civil Beat.

Colleen Hanabusa outraised Charles Djou in the three-month period ending Sept. 30 on the strength of contributions from political action committees on the mainland. Civil Beat.

The faculty senate at the University of Hawaii at Manoa voted Wednesday to delay a vote of no confidence against UH President M.R.C. Greenwood. Hawaii News Now.

University of Hawaii President M.R.C. Greenwood says UH independence is at stake because of the fallout from the failed Stevie Wonder concert. Star-Advertiser.

Before the University of Hawaii Board of Regents talks about President M.R.C. Greenwood’s future at UH and a task group presents its first report on what went wrong in the Stevie Wonder concert fiasco, regents will hear today from an expert on college boards about the best practices in governing a university. Star-Advertiser.

Local, local, local. Here it is: Our first special issue devoted to local food, its importance, its place today and its future tomorrow. Honolulu Weekly.

State roundup for October 18. Associated Press.

Oahu

Former Honolulu Mayor Mufi Hannemann is putting his support behind Kirk Caldwell in the mayor’s race. Civil Beat.

The Pacific Resource Partnership has brought a new level of sophistication to this year’s Honolulu mayoral race, one that is unprecedented in Hawaii politics. Civil Beat.

An effort by a losing rail bidder to overturn the largest contract in city history has been rejected for a second time by the courts. The Hawaii Intermediate Court of Appeals ruled Wednesday that a proposal submitted by Bombardier Transportation (Holdings) USA Inc. in an effort to win a contract to build rail cars for the Honolulu train system was "unresponsive" to city requirements. Star-Advertiser.

A state appeals court is upholding Honolulu's handling of a half-billion dollar contract for the construction of a commuter rail line. Hawaii News Now.

Oahu’s Board of Water Supply must replace hundreds of miles of pipes connecting Oahu’s 2,100-mile aging water system. Hawaii Reporter.

The state is asking the owner of the vehicle that sheared off a 30-foot section of the Aiea pedestrian overpass on Tuesday to pay for the repairs. Star-Advertiser.

A state judge has permitted a media organization called the Hawaii Guerrilla Video Hui to videotape a petty misdemeanor trial of a woman charged with disorderly conduct at Kapiolani Park on May 1. Star-Advertiser.

At least three surface ships are being retired, a new destroyer named after a Hawaii-based SEAL commando is on its way, a destroyer from San Diego will be traded for one here in a "hull swap," and more of the Navy's latest-generation Virginia-class attack subs will be sent to Hawaii. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii

Hawaii County Council members approved several amendments to a bill that would allow agricultural tourism on ag land, including one that would prohibit such tourist activities in Waipio Valley. West Hawaii Today.

A proposal to prohibit geothermal drilling at night ran into a snag Wednesday when the Hawaii County Council opted to hold a public hearing on the issue rather than take a final vote. Tribune-Herald.

A Hawaii Electric Light Co. official today told the County Council that a second independent power producer may be willing to reduce what it charges the utility for electricity. Big Island Now.

Waikoloa is a working community that can’t afford to see water and sewer rates more than double, scores of residents told members of the Public Utilities Commission Wednesday evening in South Kohala. West Hawaii Today.

Rep. Bob Herkes, a committee member who spearheaded the creation of the Interagency Task Force on Vog, said public turnout has been lower than expected for the quarterly gatherings, possibly leaving the group with little to report when the state Legislature reconvenes in January. Tribune-Herald.

New gun shops open in Hilo as demand for firearms surges. Tribune-Herald.

Big Island based telescopes have confirmed the discovery of a far-off planet that receives light from four stars. KPUA.

Maui

Hawaii Supreme Court Chief Justice Mark Recktenwald called the opening of a Self Help Center at Hoapili Hale "a huge step forward for the cause of justice" during a ceremony Tuesday afternoon at the state courthouse building. Maui News.

Kauai

Candidate collapses at OHA meet and greet. Garden Island.

The Kaua‘i County Office of the Prosecuting Attorney announced Wednesday that it has updated its website. Garden Island.

Lanai

The Hawaii Public Utilities Commission has denied a request from PBN reporter Duane Shimogawa for an unredacted copy of the Lanai sales agreement between David Murdock and Larry Ellison. Civil Beat.

Molokai

At the end of Seaside Place in Kaunakakai, tucked behind a string of houses along Molokai’s southern shoreline, is what might appear to be a large, vacant lot. Molokai Dispatch.

Wednesday, October 17, 2012

Hirono paints Lingle with the Romney brush, hotel industry urged to treat Chinese like Japanese, Honolulu sewer work 5x estimates, Lanai residents say Ellison flouts boating law, Hawaii County election spurs ethics complaint, state fights public records penalty, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Hawaii
U.S. Senate candidates Linda Lingle, Mazie Hirono
U.S. Rep. Mazie Hirono focused on Linda Lingle’s ties to Republicans in a televised U.S. Senate debate Tuesday night, linking the former Hawaii governor to Mitt Romney and other GOP figures whenever given the chance. Associated Press.

Three weeks before the Nov. 6 general election, Linda Lingle and Mazie Hirono are still trying to convince voters they are the most able to work with the other party — even if they can't get along with each other. Civil Beat.

Former Gov. Linda Lingle said Tuesday that she, like most people in Hawaii, was proud of Hawaii-born President Barack Obama but that the president has not done enough to improve the economy. Star-Advertiser.

Rep. Mazie Hirono and former governor Linda Lingle squared off in the KITV studio in a live debate for the U.S. Senate seat currently held by Daniel Akaka. KITV4.

Link to full debate video.

The almost $70,000 awarded to the Honolulu Star-Advertiser for attorney fees and costs for prevailing in its lawsuit seeking the release of the names of judicial finalists from Gov. Neil Abercrombie should be reduced, state lawyers said in an appeal of the award. Star-Advertiser.

It looks like it will be try, … again for the Public Land Development Corporation. Maui Now.

LETTER: Former Senator Explains Legislative Subterfuge of PLDC. Big Island Now.

The Hawai‘i State Association of Counties at its monthly meeting Friday voted to approve a resolution requesting the repeal of Act 55 to be submitted to each of the Hawai‘i’s four counties for approval. Garden Island.

Kaiser Permanente Hawaii said it has fired 20 management and nonunion workers in an effort to streamline operations at the state's largest health maintenance organization. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii Board of Education members spent hours Tuesday grilling Superintendent Kathryn Matayoshi and Chief Financial Officer Amy Kunz over the district's proposed operating budget for the next two years. Civil Beat.

University of Hawaii faculty unhappiness with President M.R.C. Greenwood is on the agenda of a Manoa campus faculty senate meeting tomorrow and Greenwood “is tentatively planning” to attend the session, her office said today. Hawaii Reporter.

The Senate Special Committee on Accountability, chaired by Sen. Donna Kim, created a fascinating spectacle with its public probe of “the operational and financial management” of the University of Hawaii, triggered by the athletic department’s failed Stevie Wonder concert and the suspension of popular former athletic director Jim Donovan. Civil Beat.

If the Hawaii tourism industry wants to grow the China market, it needs to start catering to Chinese the way it does for Japanese visitors. Pacific Business News.

The state is taking steps to catch up on elevator inspections, but says it will take another year to do so. KHON2.

State roundup for October 17. Associated Press.

Oahu

Three major sewage construction projects the City & County of Honolulu administration planned to complete for $88 million, actually cost the taxpayers $473 million. Hawaii Reporter.

An oversized load on a truck trailer tore down a 30-foot, 5-ton section of a pedestrian overpass in Aiea, just a half-hour before dozens of schoolchildren would have been walking home on it. Star-Advertiser.

The community of Hawaii Kai has been almost completely developed over the last 60 years. But venture just a little bit off of Lunalilo Home Road and you'll find one of the last remaining farms in the area, owned by 74-year-old Edwin Otsuji. Civil Beat.

Immigrants accounted for almost one of every five residents in Honolulu and in Kapaa on Kauai last year, according to a new analysis of U.S. Census Bureau data. Pacific Business News.

Hawaii

Two Puna residents have filed an ethics complaint against Puna Councilman Fred Blas, alleging he lied about a polling place not opening on time for the Aug. 11 primary. West Hawaii Today.

Lawmakers on Tuesday punted on a bill that would allow Big Island residents to raise hens in residential areas, ensuring that the proposed law’s fate will rest with the new Hawaii County Council. Tribune-Herald.

Big Island police will hold a second South Kona community meeting to update area residents on actions to defuse a rash of property crimes and burglaries there. West Hawaii Today.

The trail to Papaikou Mill Beach took another step toward becoming public on Tuesday. Tribune-Herald.

Fifteen Big Isle species could receive federal protection based on a proposal expected to be published today by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Tribune-Herald.

New video from the U.S. Geological Survey shows the lava lake at the Kilauea summit at it's highest level ever. KITV4.

Maui

The humpback whales are back in Maui waters. Maui News.

West Maui state Rep. Angus McKelvey is hoping to pool state and federal funding to acquire Lipoa Point from landowner Maui Land & Pineapple Co. in an effort to preserve the coastal land in perpetuity. Maui News.

Readers of the Conde Nast Traveler magazine have named Maui the number one island in the world for the 18th year in a row. Maui Now.

Kauai

Matson Navigation recently donated two 40-foot shipping containers to the Kaua‘i Habitat for Humanity. Garden Island.

The public is invited to participate in safe beekeeping events at Kaua‘i Community College starting Friday. Garden Island.

Lanai

Larry Ellison’s luxury yacht has no boundaries, including, apparently, prohibited nature preserves. Some angry Lanai residents say the island’s new billionaire owner dropped anchor in the Hulopoe Bay nature preserve this past weekend, but skipped out before state boating enforcement officers got out there. Civil Beat.


Tuesday, October 16, 2012

Hawaii drought lingers, Alaska Republicans stump for Lingle, voter rolls swell, elevators go uninspected, free flu shots for keiki, military to inspect for efficiencies, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

copyright All Hawaii News all rights reserved
Hawaii drought (c) 2012 All Hawaii News
Farmers and ranchers, especially in parts of Maui and Hawaii island, are hunkering down to survive a prolonged drought as federal weather officials forecast drier-than-normal weather through early 2013. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii added 18,168 voters to its rolls between the Aug. 11 primary and the Oct. 8 general election registration deadline, a 2.6 percent increase that brings the number of registered voters to 705,668. West Hawaii Today.

Alaska Congressman Don Young, who endorsed Mazie Hirono in the Democrat primary, is now endorsing Governor Linda Lingle, for Hawaii's open U.S. Senate seat. Hawaii Reporter.

Rep. Don Young, R-Alaska, Monday endorsed fellow Republican Linda Lingle for Hawaii's open U.S. Senate seat in the general election Nov. 6. The Alaska representative previously endorsed Democratic U.S. Rep. Mazie Hirono in Hawaii's Democratic primary. Associated Press.

U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski said Monday that a bipartisan approach to governing is possible despite the political gridlock in Washington, D.C. The moderate Alaska Republican is campaigning in Hawaii for former Gov. Linda Lingle's Republican drive for U.S. Senate. Star-Advertiser.

U.S. Rep. Colleen Hanabusa has kept her fundraising advantage over former U.S. Rep. Charles Djou in their campaigns for Congress. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii Rarely Prosecutes for Campaign Spending Violations. Civil Beat.

The Hawaii State Association of Counties reports receiving more than 800 emails in opposition to the state’s Public Land Development Corporation. Tribune-Herald.

Hilo and Kapaa residents are the most stable people in Hawaii in terms of where they live, while residents of the Kahului and Wailuku area on Maui are slightly more transient, according to a new analysis of data from the U.S. Census Bureau. Pacific Business News.

There are up to 5,000 elevators, escalators and similar equipment in Hawaii that haven't undergone safety inspections this year. That’s more than 70 percent of the 7,000 such machines that the state is supposed to check annually for compliance with safety regulations. Civil Beat.

Hawai’i traffic laws have not kept pace with technological advancements to develop zero-emission vehicles. Hawaii Public Radio.

Hawaii's Department of Health is once more offering free flu vaccinations at hundreds of public, private and charter schools. Hawaii News Now.

The state Department of Health expects to vaccinate more than 60,000 students through its Stop Flu at School program, which began Monday and continues in more than 300 schools statewide through Dec. 7. West Hawaii Today.

The Faculty Senate at the University of Hawaii at Manoa is considering a no-confidence vote on UH President M.R.C. Greenwood at its meeting Wednesday. Star-Advertiser.

Miss a payment on your solar electric bill? You could be slapped with a bill for $28,000. That’s what Vivint Solar can charge customers who miss a payment on the electricity generated by a typical 4,000-watt solar system installed on their roof. Civil Beat.

Military installations’ electrical systems in Hawaii, Alaska, the mainland and U.S. Territories will be evaluated for efficiency, and recommendations for conservation will be made under new contracts awarded today. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii's time-share industry is growing despite the severe visitor industry downturn from 2007 to 2009, according to Howard Nusbaum, CEO of the American Resort Development Association, who will present an overview of the time-share industry today at the Waikiki 20/20 planning conference at the Hawai‘i Convention Center. Star-Advertiser.

State roundup for October 16. Associated Press.

Oahu

The city of Honolulu lost about $366,000 in camping permit fee revenues because it installed an online camping system last March that is not capable of collecting fees, according to an audit of the Department of Parks and Recreation's camping operations. Star-Advertiser.

Mayoral candidate Ben Cayetano says he would use revenue from the state general excise tax surcharge currently designated for rail to fund a new Bus Rapid Transit system, and do it without seeking special permission from the state Legislature. Star-Advertiser.

The Honolulu City Council wants the authority to create special funds to ensure fees and taxes paid by the public are spent for the proper purposes, such as requiring fuel tax revenue to pay for road improvements. Star-Advertiser.

New wrinkle in natatorium volleyball plans. Land ownership of lands mauka of arch may limit state options. KITV4.

A drab low-rise office building put up 52 years ago in Kakaako is almost done being transformed into modern apartment lofts as the first major piece of a master plan by Kamehameha Schools to redevelop 29 acres in the area. Star-Advertiser.

Three executive positions need to be filled at the University of Hawaii. The UH Manoa Office of the Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs started the formal search for the appointment of the Director and Publisher of UH Press; Dean of the School of Pacific and Asian Studies/Assistant Vice Chancellor for International and Exchange Programs; and University Librarian. KHON2.

Hawaii

The National Defense Center of Excellence for Research in Ocean Sciences, also known as CEROS, announced Monday it had ended operations at the Natural Energy Laboratory of Hawaii Authority. West Hawaii Today.

Work to finish the Mamalahoa bypass should begin in fall 2013. West Hawaii Today.

Hawaii Island is expected to see at least some relief this winter from the ongoing drought conditions that have produced lower than average rainfall since at least 2008. Tribune-Herald.

West Hawaii residents will have a chance Oct. 24 to weigh in on a six-year-old Ocean Resources Management Plan to see how to limit the impacts growth will have on the state’s marine areas. West Hawaii Today.

Maui


Some drought recovery is expected on the Big Island of Hawai’i and in Maui County, but a full recovery may not occur due to the intensity and longevity of existing drought conditions, forecasters said. Maui Now.

The proposed West Maui Hospital and Medical Center appears to be arising as promised after the project was shelved about a year ago when the economic meltdown knocked down the hospital's champion. Maui News.

The Pacific Cancer Institute on Maui began use of a new form of radiation treatment today. Maui Now.

Kauai

During the next two days, elementary school students will release protected Hawaiian seabirds back into the wild. Garden Island.

With energy prices continuing to rise on Kaua‘i, businesses are committing to reduce their energy footprint in various ways. Garden Island.