Hawaii cattle quarantined, UH President Greenwood-Senate President Kim feud turns personal, five inmate deaths in two months, DHHL called to Senate hearing, GMO group meeting on Kauai, solar farm in Ka'u, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Cattle and calves at pasture (c) 2013 All Hawaii News

All beef and dairy bulls coming into the state or moved between herds here must be tested for bovine trichomoniasis, under a quarantine order issued by the state Department of Agriculture Tuesday. Star-Advertiser.

Officials from the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands are to address concerns of lawmakers raised by a state auditor's report in April that said the agency lacks clearly defined roles and responsibilities for trust administration and kept insufficient data on loan delinquencies and other programs. Star-Advertiser.

The string of five inmate deaths — including four suicides — in Hawaii correctional facilities in just over two months is indeed a crisis, as Ted Sakai, the state’s director of public safety said recently. Civil Beat.

State Senate President Donna Mercado Kim acknowledged Tuesday that she called University of Hawaii President M.R.C. Greenwood last spring to ask about the status of her son's application to law school, but she denied that she was angry or claimed law school administrators were incompetent. Star-Advertiser.

State Senate President Donna Kim Tuesday denied allegations by UH President MRC Greenwood that Kim threatened to hold hearings into the UH William Richardson School of Law when Kim asked Greenwood last spring about whether UH had received her son's law school application. Hawaii News Now.

Now that it is law for all passengers in cars to wear a seat belt some also want to ban riding in the back of pickup trucks. Hawaii News Now.

A former state judge has been suspended from the practice of law for a year and a day for violating rules governing lawyers’ conduct. Star-Advertiser.

Oahu

An emerging condominium development boom in Kakaako got a lot bigger Tuesday, with the owner of Ward Centers announcing it will build 900 units in three towers — at the same time. Star-Advertiser.

For more than two decades, the Ala Wai canal has regularly failed state and federal water quality standards for recreational bodies of water, limits that are in place to keep people from getting sick. Civil Beat.

It appears fiscal catastrophe has been averted at Honolulu Hale, despite some budgetary posturing by the Caldwell administration. Civil Beat.

Bring your luggage and be ready to leave your fingerprint. That could be the future of air travel for foreigners visiting Hawaii. KHON2.

Hawaii

A University of Hawaii-Hilo spokeswoman insists a $28 million dorm project will be ready by August, but a report obtained by Hawaii Reporter and Watchdog.org outlines numerous flaws in the taxpayer-funded project. Hawaii Reporter.

Construction on a series of solar panels in Ka‘u could begin as soon as 60 to 90 days, a solar company official said Tuesday. West Hawaii Today.

One of the most important duties of those who care for Hawaii's highest peak is conserving the natural resources. That includes both keeping invasive species out, and replanting endangered species. Hawaii Public Radio.

Maui

Maui County filed a lawsuit against Wailuku Main Street Association Inc./Tri-Isle Main Street Resource Center on Monday afternoon claiming that the organization violated its county grant agreement and that the agency should return more than $11,000 worth of personal property bought with county funds and any remaining funding obtained under the agreement. Maui News.

The removal of the wreckage and debris of three vessels that were grounded Friday and Saturday by high surf off Mala Wharf in West Maui continued. Maui News.

Kauai

For the first time in its 42-year history, the Hawai‘i Crop Improvement Association will hold its annual meeting on Kaua‘i. The HCIA is composed of five member companies — Syngenta, BASF, DOW, Pioneer and Monsanto. Garden Island.

The traditional fireworks show will not be included in this year's Freedom celebration at the Pacific Missile Range Facility because of budget constraints. Garden Island.

Hawaii gets No Child waiver, transgender official wins White House recognition, Honolulu council sets $2B budget, Ala Wai pollution investigated, Kauai military range could be expanded, Maui sues Mainstreet Association, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Hawaii school, courtesy Department of Education

Hawaii's public schools will be allowed to ignore parts of the federal No Child Left Behind law in favor of a state-developed accountability system, under a waiver granted Monday by the U.S. Department of Education. Star-Advertiser.

The Obama administration on Monday approved Hawaii’s request for a waiver from provisions of the federal No Child Left Behind education law. Associated Press.

Everyone riding in an automobile in Hawaii must now use a seat belt, under one of two traffic safety bills Gov. Neil Abercrombie signed into law Monday. The second new law bans drivers from holding cellphones and other electronic devices, in effect replacing various county ordinances. Star-Advertiser.

Car wheel boots may soon be banned in Hawaii — depending on whether Gov. Neil Abercrombie signs into a law a bill to outlaw the devices. Star-Advertiser.

Iwamoto

The White House will honor Hawaii Civil Rights Commission member Kim Coco Iwamoto, a transgender, on Wednesday as one of 10 LGBT elected or appointed officials who are "Harvey Milk Champions of Change." Star-Advertiser.

University of Hawaii President MRC Greenwood's sudden decision to step down with two years remaining on her contract caught many by surprise, even those closest to her. She has not addressed on camera her decision or what led up to it, until now. Hawaii News Now.

The University of Hawaii spent more than $53,000 hiring well-known Honolulu attorney Bill McCorriston to represent the UH Board of Regents after UH President MRC Greenwood sent the regents a letter offering to leave the university for a payment of $2 million. Hawaii News Now.

Oahu

The Honolulu City Council will take a final vote in two weeks on a balanced, $2 billion operating budget that neither raises property tax rates nor fees and makes no cuts in services. Star-Advertiser.

Taxpayers Pay When Ala Wai Pollution Hits Waikiki. Civil Beat.

State officials haven’t regularly monitored contaminants in the Ala Wai canal since 1999, according to the Hawaii Department of Health, which is responsible for enforcing the federal Clean Water Act that sets standards and limits on contaminants. Civil Beat.

Civil Beat Lab Tests: Ala Wai Canal Seafood Is Contaminated.

A vacationing U.S. Border Patrol agent died Sunday attempting to save a woman in distress in a pool at Waimea Falls. Star-Advertiser.

Organizers of an annual conference for people who manage more than $3 trillion in public sector pension funds in the U.S. and Canada say a significant number of administrators are skipping this year’s meeting in Hawaii to avoid the perception they’re wasting money by heading to the island paradise. Associated Press.

Hawaii

A late effort to buy Hawai'i Nui Brewing LLC, the bankrupt Hilo microbrewery, postponed a court auction Monday and has set up a potential bidding contest between a former Hawai'i Nui partner and a rival beer producer in Honolulu. Star-Advertiser.

A University of Hawaii-Hilo spokeswoman insists a $28 million dorm project will be ready by August, but a report obtained by Hawaii Reporter and Watchdog.org outlines numerous flaws in the taxpayer-funded project. Hawaii Reporter.

Hilo is at the end of the line but is finally about to get a full serving of Hawaii Public Radio. Most of the state — everywhere but East Hawaii — now gets the full array of HPR programming, said Michael Titterton, president and general manager of Hawaii Public Radio. Tribune-Herald.

At nearly the last minute, the Hawaii County Democratic Party was forced to find a new location for its convention this past weekend. Civil Beat.

Maui
Maui County filed a lawsuit against Wailuku Main Street Association Inc./Tri-Isle Main Street Resource Center on Monday afternoon claiming the organization violated its county grant agreement and should return more than $11,000 worth of personal property bought with county funds and any remaining funding obtained under the agreement. Maui News.

Maui County is looking for solar photovoltaic firms to install, operate, maintain and own solar PV systems, and then sell the energy generated to the county under a power purchase agreement. Pacific Business News.

After nine months of hosting public discussion meetings and working with county planners, the Lahaina Restoration Foundation is putting the finishing touches on a number of community-based projects to improve the Lahaina harbor front. Maui News

Kauai

The Army Corps of Engineers is proposing to establish a “new danger zone” in waters near the Kekaha Range Facility, on Kaua‘i’s Westside. If passed, a six-mile wide section of the Pacific Ocean will be occasionally closed to public access during scheduled weapons firing. Garden Island.

The gates to the Hanalei Pier canopy are once again open. “The Rotary Club of Hanalei Bay, thanks to the generous support of the entire community, has just finished the rebuilding of the canopy at the end of the Hanalei Bay Pier,” said Branch Lotspeich, Rotary Club of Hanalei Bay spokesman. Garden Island.

The public is invited to share their ideas at community meetings regarding places on Kaua’i that they feel should be preserved and protected. Garden Island.

Abercrombie to sign seatbelt, cellphone bills; medical marijuana overhaul in the works; GOP says it will rise again; Caldwell demands budget cuts or tax hikes; Tarnas to head Hawaii County Dems; Kauai mulls vacation rental regs, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Gov. Abercrombie with new Hawaii County Democratic Party Chairman David Tarnas (c) 2013 All Hawaii News

Gov. Neil Abercrombie will sign two significant traffic safety bills into law Monday, one requiring all front- and back-seat occupants of a vehicle to buckle up. The other will establishes consistent statewide requirements for the use of mobile electronic devices while driving. Star-Advertiser.

Two bills approved this year by the Legislature are Hawaii's first steps toward handling medical marijuana as a health issue rather than a law enforcement problem. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii taxpayers have a heavy burden to bear when it comes to covering "other post-employment retirement benefits" for their public employees. The Aloha State leads the nation in per-capita debt for these benefits. Hawaii Reporter.

The state Department of Education is scaling back a move to provide extra learning time for students at struggling schools. Associated Press

Hawaii GOP: 'Republicans Will Rise Again' Civil Beat.

The private sector, not government, is driving the increase in jobs in Hawaii. Pacific Business News.

State officials want to create a National Estuarine Research Reserve in Hawaii where scientists can study wetland ecosystems to help our coastal communities take better care of our seaside homes. Civil Beat.

In Hawaii’s crystalline waters, some cetaceans get all the attention — usually the charismatic humpback whales and spinner dolphins known for their stunning displays of acrobatics. West Hawaii Today.

Oahu

Honolulu Mayor Kirk Caldwell has warned the City Council that it will need to cut spending or raise either property taxes or bus fares to balance the city's $2.09 billion operating budget. Star-Advertiser.

President Barack Obama's nominee for transportation secretary has pledged a "seamless transition" of continued federal support for the city's elevated rail project, U.S. Sen. Brian Schatz said. Star-Advertiser.

In the 1920s, Walter Dillingham’s Ala Wai Canal project helped Waikiki grow into the business and tourist mecca that it is today, where high-rise hotels crowd the skyline and attract more than 4 million visitors a year. But it might have been Hawaii’s biggest mistake. Civil Beat.

A city employee or official on a business trip who incurs expenses for personal activities must pay for those expenses, the Honolulu Ethics Commission said in an advisory opinion issued last week. Star-Advertiser.

NBC's popular Today Show descended upon the Royal Hawaiian Hotel overnight, broadcasting live between 1 a.m. and 4 a.m. just feet from the crashing waves of a lingering south swell that kept hundreds of fans on their toes—and even wet, at times. Hawaii News Now.

Hawaii

Former state Rep. David Tarnas on Saturday took the helm of the Hawaii County Democratic Party, replacing Steve Pavao, who is stepping down after four years. West Hawaii Today.

According to the state Department of Transportation Airports Division, Kona International Airport has about twice the number of passengers that Hilo International Airport has. Pacific Business News.

The Hilo International Airport lost power for about 90 minutes Sunday, causing headaches for weekend travelers. Tribune-Herald.

The attorney representing two county elections workers suing former county officials for defamation is asking a 3rd Circuit Court judge to require the additional release of documents and information. West Hawaii Today.

The state Legislature's denial of $38 million for a College of Pharmacy building at the University of Hawaii at Hilo is expected to lead to the college being found "noncompliant" in one of 30 criteria for accreditation, a top school official said. Star-Advertiser.

Ambitious plans to build a three-story commercial building on the site of the Hilo Farmers Market were shelved when the Great Recession put a serious damper on the nation’s economy. Tribune-Herald.

Maui

With the state Legislature approving $3.6 million for preliminary work on the Kihei-Upcountry highway earlier this month, it appears the project is finally moving ahead, more than 30 years after the new highway was first conceived. Maui News.

What started as an unpleasant encounter between a family and a few kitesurfers at Kanaha Beach Park last month has escalated to a feud that has been a center of heated debate on local and social media outlets. Maui News.

Kauai

A resolution to establish a committee to investigate management and implementation of the transient vacation rental law stalled at the Kaua‘i County Council Wednesday, after stumbling upon potential legal issues. Garden Island.

The pre-World War II era Hanapepe Historical Building, which has served as the backdrop for several Hollywood films, is for sale on the island’s “biggest little town.” Garden Island.

One of the largest groups since the opening of the Grand Hyatt Kaua‘i Resort and Spa in 1990 rolled in Thursday. Garden Island.

Lanai

The Lanai Community Health Center is planning to build a new $7 million facility in the heart of Lanai by the end of the year, officials said. Maui News.

Officials search for hooked monk seal, Hawaiian hawks wounded, Board of Regents bails out athletics department, mulls new UH president, military tests missile, business groups give Legislature good grade, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Hawaiian monk seal with fish hook courtesy NOAA

State conservation officials on Maui are looking for an injured Hawaiian monk seal with a fishhook lodged in its neck. Star-Advertiser.

Two endangered Hawaiian hawks were found wounded on the Big Island after apparently being shot with a pellet gun, and federal wildlife officials want to know who is responsible. Associated Press.
http://hawaiitribune-herald.com/sections/news/state/endangered-hawks-shot-big-island.html

The Missile Defense Agency and US Navy sailors completed a successful test of a missile defense system by destroying a target launched in the Pacific Ocean. Hawaii News Now.

Hawaii isn't at the bottom of the list anymore when it comes to voter turnout, according to a new study. West Virginia now occupies that spot. Civil Beat.

Hawaii’s unemployment rate dropped to 4.9 percent in April, the state’s lowest rate since October 2008, officials said Thursday. Associated Press.

State legislators earned some decent grades for the session that ended last week, as much for what they didn’t do as what they passed. Pacific Business News.

Nearly two weeks after University of Hawaii President M.R.C. Greenwood announced she would be retiring in September, the university’s Board of Regents is deciding the best way to go about looking for her successor. Star-Advertiser.

The University of Hawaii Board of Regents spent at least an hour and a half meeting behind closed doors in executive session Thursday afternoon to discuss the departure of UH President MRC Greenwood and efforts to find her successor. And the only thing the Regents' leader could say for sure afterwards was that none of the regents wanted her job. Hawaii News Now.

It was the first meeting since MRC Greenwood announced her retirement, and the first chance for board members to talk about a replacement. It began with a call to look for a good communicator in our own back yard. KITV4.

Hawaii vehicle registrations were up 9.8 percent in the first quarter of the year, besting the 8.7 percent national figure. The forecast of 45,750 sales for the year has brightened from a record annual low of 32,668 vehicle registrations in 2010. Star-Advertiser.

July 1 the Hawaii Public Housing Authority begins enforcing smoking restrictions at its 85 properties. From then on smoking will only be allowed in designated areas. Hawaii News Now.

Oahu

The 15-member Board of Regents gave unanimous approval Thursday to plans to retire a $13 million accumulated net deficit, allow the University of Hawaii athletics department to award scholarships to out-of-state athletes based on in-state rates, and receive help from the Manoa chancellor’s office in paying staff salaries. Star-Advertiser.

The University of Hawaii athletic program will have its $13-million dollar accrued deficit absorbed by the Chancellor's office at the end of the fiscal year, June 30, following a unanimous vote by the schools Board of Regents Thursday. Hawaii News Now.

The UH Board of Regents agreed to give the Athletic Department a fresh-start, zeroing out millions in debt after sports lost money for years. But KHON2 found that will not be a one-time cost to the campus — because sports will continue to rely on operational subsidies.

The state tax director assured transit officials Thursday that the city’s rail project, which relies heavily on tax dollars generated on Oahu, will receive its fair share even if the cash does not arrive in steady amounts. Star-Advertiser.

Former Hawaii Gov. Ben Cayetano and other plaintiffs in a federal lawsuit that aims to stop Honolulu’s rail project filed their opening brief in their appeal to 9th Circuit Court of Appeals. It’s 3,785 pages with attachments. Civil Beat.

Questions about a controversial North Shore development have kept Honolulu Mayor Kirk Caldwell’s campaign chairman from sitting on a city land use board. Civil Beat.

The number of Oahu’s homeless people is growing at a higher rate than last year, and an important metric, the number living on streets instead of shelters, rose 11 percent, according to the latest Homeless Point-in-Time Count. Star-Advertiser.

For as long as we can remember, Chinatown has been notorious for drugs, homelessness and filthy streets. Some claim nothing has changed–and that it never will. But many Downtown merchants and workers say things have gotten markedly worse starting in January of this year, and key government officials are pushing for change. Honolulu Weekly.

Hawaii

Hilo businessman Ken Fujiyama and Ken Direction Corp. have been ordered to pay almost $10.7 million to a North Carolina bank holding a mortgage on the Naniloa Volcanoes Resort. Tribune-Herald.

Locally, 16 of the 34 fatal crashes that resulted in 38 deaths on Hawaii Island roads in 2012 were attributed to alcohol-impaired driving, according to Hawaii Police Department Traffic Services Section Sgt. Robert Pauole. That equates to nearly half — 47 percent — of fatal crashes here having alcohol as a contributing factor. Sen. Josh Green, D-Kona, Ka‘u, said he plans to bring legislation before the 2014 Legislature to reduce the legal limit in Hawaii to 0.05. West Hawaii Today.

Geothermal relocation requests would be limited to existing homeowners under a bill before the Hawaii County Council. The bill, introduced by Puna Councilman Greggor Illagan, would limit eligibility for the program to anyone who owns a home near Puna Geothermal Venture within 90 days of the bill’s adoption. Tribune-Herald.

State Department of Transportation officials are asking the public to write letters to the Federal Highways Administration in support of funding for the last section of the Saddle Road extension. West Hawaii Today.

Maui

As media mogul Oprah Winfrey goes public in her magazine about her thriving Upcountry organic farm, some Maui farmers expressed mixed feelings about her farm's vision and whether they will have to compete with Winfrey's fame and fortune for a place in an already tough agricultural market. Maui News.

Guy Kaulukukui, senior vice president and Hawaii director of Bio-Logical Capital, said the company is "pleased and flattered" to be mentioned in the June edition of O, The Oprah Magazine that offers details about Winfrey's farm on Maui. Maui News.

After three years and an estimated $15 million in funding by a state and federal partnership, almost all the upgrades to Ma'alaea Harbor are in place and operating. Maui Weekly.

The Kalama'ula Homesteaders Association is anticipating a finding of no significant environmental impact for a project to build a new pavilion and restrooms at Kiowea Park, next to Molokai's historic Kapuaiwa Coconut Grove and about a mile west of Kaunakakai. Maui News.

The Maui Solar Summit 2013 will be taking place on Friday, May 24 at the University of Hawaii Maui College campus. Maui Now.

Kauai

Kaua‘i Chief of Police Darryl Perry says that when a dismissed officer is ordered back by arbitration it presents a problem to the department. Garden Island.

Study seeks solutions to Po‘ipu Road woes. Garden Island.

Audit slams Honolulu International Airport contracts, Abercrombie mulls bills to sign/veto, Hawaii County elections face audit, Oahu Democrats craft platform, Molokai loses electricty, Sears to leave Kauai, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Honolulu International Airport courtesy Hawaii DOT

Hawaii’s state auditor says Transportation Department officials improperly shifted buying power to a contractor managing a $1.7 billion renovation of the Honolulu airport as part of a pattern of repeat violations. Associated Press.

The state auditor released a scathing report Wednesday slamming the Department of Transportation's Airports Division for a "pattern of recurring violations and questionable practices" as it moved forward on a 12-year, $1.7 billion overhaul of Honolulu Airport. Star-Advertiser.

More than half a million dollars in office renovations. That’s just one example of questionable spending for the state’s billion dollar airport improvement project. KHON2.

Gov. Neil Abercrombie wants the public’s input on what bills he should sign into law or veto. The Legislature passed 293 bills this past session, which ended May 2. Those measures are now on the governor’s desk and he has until June 24 to let lawmakers know which one he plans to veto. His deadline to veto bills is July 9, according to the Hawaii Public Access Room. Civil Beat.

Nonprofit executives are applauding action by the state Legislature that could generate tens of millions of dollars for local charities. Pacific Business News.

Six weeks before Hawaii’s media shield law expires, U.S. Sen. Charles Schumer of New York says he plans to revive federal legislation that would protect journalists from being forced to disclose confidential sources and information. Civil Beat.

The Hawaii Medical Service Association said Wednesday that premiums have not kept up with rising health care costs, leaving the state's largest health insurer with a $3.6 million loss in the first quarter. Star-Advertiser.

A former civilian defense worker accused of passing national defense secrets to his Chinese girlfriend will have to wait a little longer for his release from custody pending trial. Star-Advertiser.

This Friday is Bike to Work Day in Hawaii. The annual event promotes bike safety and encourages more people to think about the possibility of commuting by bike. Hawaii Public Radio.

Oahu
Two years after the state began charging tourists $3 to park at the Pali Lookout, Hawaii News Now found many visitors aren't paying the fee because they don't know they're supposed to pay or they can't understand English when attendants ask them to pay.

Honolulu Mayor Kirk Caldwell says the burden to pass a balanced budget has shifted to the City Council after his proposal to increase the county fuel tax by a nickel per gallon suffered a speedy defeat back in March. KITV4.

Admissions that the Internal Revenue Service improperly targeted tea party groups in Hawaii and 17 other states for scrutiny when they filed for tax-exempt status should be troubling to anyone, regardless of party affiliation, says one member of an isle tea party group that was among those singled out. Star-Advertiser.

Oahu Democrats, at the party's annual state convention last weekend, approved resolutions calling for the decriminalization of pot, the legalization of same-sex marriage, the raising of the minimum wage and the public financing of elections. Civil Beat.

Both city officials and (de)Occupy Honolulu members are hoping a U.S. district judge will make a ruling Friday on the protest group's encampment on the sidewalks near Thomas Square and the city's efforts to remove them. Star-Advertiser.

The number of recruiters attending the largest job fair in the state Wednesday was up sharply from a similar event just four months ago, illustrating the continued strengthening of the labor market in Hawaii. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii

What started as an attempt by Hilo Councilman Dennis Onishi to find out how much overtime was paid during the 2012 election has blossomed into an audit by an outside firm comparing election expenditures for the last three election cycles. West Hawaii Today.

Queen Liliuokalani Trust officials want to protect and preserve threatened plant and animal species on their property, Vice President LeeAnn Crabbe said Wednesday. But the trust needs to find the balance between land preservation and serving Hawaiian children, Crabbe said after a public meeting on the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s proposal to designate nearly 19,000 acres as critical habitat for three endangered plant species endemic to Hawaii Island. West Hawaii Today.

Hawaii County Council members urged the county’s lawyers not to file an appeal in a South Kona planning case, but Corporation Counsel has already lodged one request with the 3rd Circuit Court seeking clarification on its ruling. West Hawaii Today.


Maui
Maui County will demonstrate Thursday a "first of its kind in Hawaii" wireless remote controlled streetlighting system that can be dimmed late at night to save energy, the county announced last week. Maui News.

The county Department of Water Supply has completed a final environmental assessment and has issued a finding of no significant environmental impact for the reopening of two Hamakuapoko water wells. Maui News.

Tea Party Maui was among hundreds of groups targeted by the Internal Revenue Service for extra scrutiny when it applied for tax-exempt status in May 2010, said Bill Doyle, the group's president in 2012. Maui News.

A tea party group on Maui says it was among those targeted by the IRS for special scrutiny when it petitioned for tax-exempt status. Civil Beat.

Kauai

Kaua‘i legislators ended this year’s session with $51.9 million approved for capital improvement projects across the island. Garden Island.

Sears is bidding aloha to the Garden Isle, and putting more than 40 employees out of work. Garden Island.

Molokai

Power has been restored on Molokai after an islandwide outage Wednesday morning, Maui Electric Co. officials said. Maui News.

An island-wide power outage on Molokaʻi affected some 3,200 customers, according to officials at Maui Electric Company. Maui Now.

The Department of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR) proposed increased protection for the Papohaku dune system. While the changes will not likely bring enforcement of stricter development rules, officials said they hope the protection would raise awareness of the dunes’ value. Molokai Dispatch.

Group sues for Obama Hawaii vacation records, Oprah's Maui garden spotlighted, GMO ban heard in Hawaii County, $5M for rapid transit art, senator gives lobbyist his parking space, teachers withdraw complaint, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Obama with Hawaii troops, courtesy photo

Aloha, U.S. Secret Service - you've been served. About those vacations to Hawaii, we want to know how much they're costing taxpayers. Watchdog Group files lawsuit to obtain records detailing taxpayers’ cost for Obama Family’s Hawaiian vacation. Hawaii Reporter.

The Hawaii State Teachers Association has officially withdrawn its complaint with the Hawaii Labor Relations Board, but it didn’t go as smoothly as Gov. Neil Abercrombie would have liked. Civil Beat.

The Abercrombie administration’s push to modernize the state’s online services is showing results in two agencies that are keys to assuring accountability in government. Civil Beat.

The hottest item on the University of Hawaii Board of Regents’ agenda Thursday will be discussed behind closed doors. Planned talks about the university’s presidency are scheduled for executive session — the part of the meeting when members of the public are asked to leave the room. Civil Beat.

John Radcliffe, one of Hawaii's biggest lobbyists with 30 clients — including the American Chemistry Council, the Hawaii School Bus Association and Corrections Corporation of America — has an "in" that most members of the public don't: Sen. Josh Green lets Radcliffe park in his Senate-assigned stall. Civil Beat.

Two erroneous mailings to 250,000 Quest health insurance members will cost state taxpayers $176,254. Star-Advertiser.

The baggage fees paid to Hawaiian Airlines last year turned out to be the difference between a profit and loss for the state's largest carrier. Star-Advertiser.

Oahu

Honolulu City officials, with $5 million to spend, formally launched a search Tuesday for artists to create original, Hawaiian-themed works for display along Honolulu's future rail transit line. Star-Advertiser.

Labor costs are rising for the city of Honolulu, putting Mayor Kirk Caldwell at odds with the City Council over whether to cut costs or raise revenues. Civil Beat.

City Council members are saying “thanks, but no thanks” to a Salary Commission recommendation to raise their pay. Star-Advertiser.

State Department of Education  blames consultant for school building slowdown. Hawaii News Now.

City Council members want the Honolulu Police Department to look at the idea of allowing gun owners to obtain firearm registrations and permits at the Kapolei and Kaneohe police substations to reduce long lines. Star-Advertiser.

The Pentagon said Tuesday that shipyard employees, including several thousand workers at the Pearl Harbor Naval Shipyard, are excepted from 11 furlough days that other civilian defense employees must take between July 8 and the end of September. Pacific Business News.

Well-known local musician, Weldon Kekauoha, a Grammy-nominated and Na Hoku Hanohano Award-winning musician, says he and his family were discriminated against at a luxury Waikiki hotel. KHON2.

The Hawaiian Humane Society rescued  Tuesday more than 40 purebred Pomeranian puppies and adults from "extremely filthy" living conditions at a longtime breeder's Halawa house. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii

Hawaii Island residents are likely to see their property taxes rise more than 10 percent this year, but only seven came out Tuesday evening to voice their opinion at the only public hearing on the issue. West Hawaii Today.

Genetic engineering opponents turned out in force Tuesday before the Hawaii County Council to support a bill that could determine the future of agriculture on the Big Island. Tribune-Herald.

Hawaii Volcanoes National Park announced Tuesday that it has adopted a finalized plan to protect the park’s ecosystem from damage by non-native ungulates, or hoofed species. Tribune-Herald.

A second former Department of Environmental Management employee pleaded not guilty Tuesday morning to felony and petty misdemeanor charges for allegedly stealing diesel fuel from pumps at the Waimea baseyard. West Hawaii Today.

Work on Queen Kaahumanu Highway isn’t likely to start until September now, Rep. Denny Coffman said Tuesday. West Hawaii Today.

Maui

Some Maui residents have gotten a taste of fresh organic produce from a farm started by Oprah Winfrey. Now a broader audience has gotten a taste (visually) of the operation that Winfrey representatives would say little about six months ago. Star-Advertiser.

Oprah Winfrey enlisted Bio-logical Capital's Hawaii operation to create a sustainable farm on some 16 acres of land she owns in Upcountry Maui last summer, and now she's showing off her harvest in next month's issue of O, the Oprah Magazine. Pacific Business News.

While some public high schools in Maui County have seen significant improvements over the past few years in the number of graduates enrolling in a two- or four-year college, most high schools in the county still fall below the state average, according to a recent study. Maui News.

Kauai

Church building sports center for youth, adults. Garden Island.

Kauai Chamber Directory 2013. Garden Island.

Earmarks hit Honolulu Hale, state twice flubs Quest mailings, douple-dippers pull in the paychecks, Molokai students learn ukulele making, TMT opponents file last-ditch appeal, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Honolulu Hale (c) 2013 All Hawaii News

Millions of dollars in taxpayer funds are being funneled to nonprofits and other special interest groups with little public vetting or oversight through a series of earmarks placed in Mayor Kirk Caldwell’s budget by Honolulu City Council members. Civil Beat.

In a mistake that could prove costly for taxpayers, the state will be forced to send a third mailing to 250,000 Quest health insurance members next month because of problems with two earlier correspondences. Star-Advertiser.

The state Department of Human Services has postponed open enrollment for 250,000 low-income people in the QUEST medical coverage program for a second time, a move that will cost taxpayers tens of thousands of dollars. Hawaii News Now.

Hundreds of people across Hawaii work in state and city government, while collecting a public-sector pension at the same time. It’s called “double-dipping” and it’s legal, but at what cost? KHON2.

A bill sitting on Gov. Neil Abercrombie's desk could increase competition for Hawaii pharmacies and make it easier for some residents to receive their medications. Associated Press.

Rep. Colleen Hanabusa, who may benefit from her ties to the late Sen. Daniel Inouye as she runs for his old seat against Sen. Brian Schatz, invoked Inouye’s name earlier today at the Walter Reed Army Institute of Research. Civil Beat.

Oahu

Advocates for Hawaiian sovereignty and other Native Hawaiian causes, the homeless and the (de)Occupy Hono­lulu movement dominated a community forum on the future of Thomas Square at the Hawaii Museum of Art on Monday night. Star-Advertiser.

The downtown park has been the central battleground in debates over free speech and homelessness for nearly two years after protesters set up camp as part of a movement that became known as (de)Occupy Honolulu. Civil Beat.

Mark Wong, who founded Hawaii-based Commercial Data Systems and was CEO for 26 years until selling the company last year, was named director of information technology for the City and County of Honolulu. Pacific Business News.

A Leilehua High teacher accused of distributing methamphetamine was the person designated by her school to turn in confiscated drugs to police, a federal prosecutor said in court Monday. Star-Advertiser.

Lengthy gun registration lines at the Honolulu Police Department on Beretania Street have City Councilman Ron Menor looking for a solution. Civil Beat.

HPD memorial salutes officers who died on duty. For their families, friends and fellow officers, the service is an emotional recollection. Star-Advertiser.

A former newswoman's arduous solo journey around Oahu proves a test for both body and mind. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii

Despite a tight economic year that could require tax hikes to pay for basic services, the Hawaii County Council’s budget includes an extra $900,000 so each council member can have $100,000 to spread around his or her district. West Hawaii Today.

Opponents of the proposed Thirty Meter Telescope to be built atop Mauna Kea filed a last-minute notice of appeal Monday afternoon with Hawaii’s Third Circuit Court. Tribune-Herald.

The former chief of the county’s Highways Division is suing the county and Public Works Director Warren Lee, alleging defamation of character. Tribune-Herald.

Hawaii County previously turned down an opportunity to take over a Kailua-Kona affordable housing complex that is now likely to be transferred from a state agency to a private religious school, a county official said Monday. West Hawaii Today.

Big Island members of the state Legislature say the island will benefit from more than $292 million in capital improvement projects secured during the past legislative session. Big Island Now.

Maui

While occupancies at Maui hotels remained flat in the first quarter of the year and in March, money generated at island accommodations continued its upward climb, according to Hospitality Advisors figures released over the weekend. Maui News.

The Maui Visitor Industry Charity Walk held in Wailuku over the weekend raised $701,716, according to preliminary figures released by event organizers. Maui Now.

Kauai
Kaua‘i has now joined the rest of the island counties in placing the county code online. Garden Island.

A hiker missing for nearly two days with little food and water was found Monday morning off the Kaluapuhi Trail in Koke‘e. Garden Island.

Molokai

Nearly 75 third and fourth graders at Kaunakakai Elementary School took a break from regular classes last week for three days. But far from slacking off, they were engaged in the learning experience of a lifetime — building their own ukulele. Molokai Dispatch.

Award winning writer, storyteller, educator, Makia Malo, was diagnosed with Hansen’s disease at age 12, and exiled to Kalaupapa in 1947.  HPR’s Noe Tanigawa spoke with Malo about experiences included in his new memoir. Hawaii Public Radio.

Poor oversight at Department of Hawaiian Home Lands, tax revenues up, University of Hawaii in upheaval, Democrats have all the power, lax oversight over food funds, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Department of Hawaiian Home Lands property (c) 2013 All Hawaii News

The federal government more than 90 years ago gave Hawaii the responsibility to administer a newly created trust designed to provide homestead lots for eligible Native Hawaiians. But the government never gave Hawaii the federal regulations to govern how the roughly 200,000-acre trust should be administered. Star-Advertiser.

Department Responds To Star-Advertiser Articles. The following is the un-edited opinion piece which was submitted to the Honolulu Star-Advertiser in response to their recent series of articles critical of our Department of Hawaiian Home Lands.

State tax revenues through the first 10 months of Hawaii's fiscal year were 8.4 percent higher than the same period a year ago, the state Department of Taxation said. Pacific Business News.

Hawaii’s economy will likely grow faster than the national average, but not as quickly as previously predicted for 2013 and 2014, state economists said Friday. Associated Press.

As History Is Made, Hawaii Studies Gay Marriage. Civil Beat.

Coming off a turbulent year, the University of Hawaii Board of Regents is preparing to select the next UH president, and observers say the board must take a new tack if it wants to avoid more angst. Star-Advertiser.

As she prepares to end her tenure as the University of Hawaii's 14th president, M.R.C. Greenwood said she is still trying to figure out how consequences from a botched Stevie Wonder benefit concert grew into "a full investigation of all the things the university does." Star-Advertiser.

Deferred compensation and other benefits lift the pay packages for University of Hawaii President M.R.C. Greenwood and UH-Manoa Chancellor Tom Apple past the half-million-dollar mark. Star-Advertiser.

The Democratic Party of Hawaii thoroughly dominates elective office and government at the county, state and federal level. It looks to continue that dominance in 2014, despite contested races for the U.S. Senate and one seat in the U.S. House of Representatives. Civil Beat.

Youth in Hawaii should have a better chance of getting the help they need with the launch of an online database of youth services that is easily searched by counselors, court officers, parents and the kids themselves. Star-Advertiser.

Oahu

The pilot student transportation program that the Hawaii Department of Education plans to roll out to some Oahu schools next school year is expected to do more than just test out an innovative way of buying school bus routes — officials say it'll also restore rides for many of the 2,000 kids who lost out when routes were cut this past school year. Civil Beat.

Pearl Harbor Naval Shipyard said it is seeking to fill about 100 apprenticeship jobs. Those hired for the new class will begin their employment in January, with an average starting pay of $19 an hour, the shipyard said. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii

When the Hawaii County Council last year took the unprecedented step of dipping into the county’s disaster fund to give the nonprofit Food Basket Inc. an emergency $200,000 appropriation, strict reporting standards were put into place to ensure full accountability of taxpayer money. But a West Hawaii Today investigation has found that none of the reporting requirements in the May 3, 2012, contract were met, despite $199,000 of the emergency money given to the Food Basket, as well as $74,000 from a separate council action.

A state-owned affordable rental apartment complex on Hawaii island where more than half the units are vacant and need major renovations will be given to a Christian missionary training school after an unsuccessful attempt to sell the project about 18 months ago. Star-Advertiser.

Dean John Pezzuto conveyed Friday a sense of determination paired with lingering shellshock as he updated students and faculty on the Daniel K. Inouye College of Pharmacy’s failed campaign to fund a permanent building this Legislative Session. Tribune-Herald.

Two South Kona residents are proposing to turn the late Herb Kane’s Honaunau home into a bed and breakfast. West Hawaii Today.

Rob and Cindy Pacheco founded Hawaii Forest & Trail back in May 1993 with a vision to share Hawaii’s natural history while educating about the importance of conserving the environment. Stephens Media.

Maui

House Speaker Joe Souki almost quit after his first term as a lawmaker in 1982. Maui News.

As Maui County's first lady, Ann Arakawa leads a very public life, often seen at her husband's side as Mayor Alan Arakawa appears in parades, gives speeches and meets dignitaries. Maui News.

No unexploded ordnance, discarded military weapons or ammunition were found during a 2011 U.S. Army Corps of Engineers investigation of Kanahena Point, a former military bombing site on Maui's south shore that is now located in a natural area reserve. Maui News.

The state Department of Land and Natural Resources today told Maui Now that it would enforce swimming zones at Ka’a Point, following public concerns that kite surfers were endangering beachgoers.

Kauai

Gov. Neil Abercrombie announced last week he will seek a second term, and started campaigning almost immediately, visiting three islands, including Kaua‘i on Monday, in a span of a few days. Garden Island.

Only one election-reform law passes Hawaii Legislature, new laws strengthen sex trafficking protection, military to send out humanitarian ship, new license requirements for security guards, Honolulu seeks homeless solutions, big trees honored, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Hawaii election (c) 2013 All Hawaii News

This year’s legislative session wrapped up May 2 with only one significant election-reform bill passing. Good-government groups celebrated the Legislature’s passage of Senate Bill 827. It prohibits employers, unions, candidates or their agents from assisting voters with completing absentee ballots. Civil Beat.

Legislators strengthened Hawaii laws against human trafficking this session, passing bills to criminalize solicitation of minors, make solicitation of prostitution offenses ineligible for deferred acceptance of guilty pleas and to clarify that sex and labor trafficking are reportable cases of child abuse and neglect. However, advocates say there is more to do. Star-Advertiser.

Beginning July 1, all security guards, bouncers and lost prevention officers in Hawaii must be at least 18 years old, have a high school diploma or equivalent, have no psychiatric or psychological disorder and complete a nationwide background check. KITV4.

If Hawaii consumers think health care reform will lower costs, especially in the short term, then they should brace themselves for "rate shock," said Michael Gold, president and chief executive officer of the Hawaii Medical Service Association. Maui News.

The U.S. Pacific Fleet said Thursday it will send an amphibious dock landing ship to six Pacific island nations over the next several months to provide humanitarian assistance and help people better prepare for disasters. Associated Press.

The Hawaii Health Connector posted online grant applications on Thursday for organizations and individuals interested in joining its Hii Ola marketplace assister program. Pacific Business News.

The U.S. dollar broke through the important 100-yen level Thursday for the first time in four years. That may be good news for the export-centered Japanese economy, but it's bad news for Hawaii's tourism industry. Star-Advertiser.

SLIDESHOW: Solar Eclipse in Hawaii. Hawaii News Now.

Oahu

Mayor Kirk Caldwell on Thursday detailed a Housing First pilot project to provide shelter for up to 100 chronically homeless people across Oahu. Star-Advertiser.

Honolulu Mayor Kirk Caldwell has a new plan for housing the island’s homeless, and it won’t necessarily be cheap. Civil Beat.

The City and County of Honolulu unveiled a plan for a 2-year demonstration project that could ease homelessness on O’ahu starting next year. Hawaii Public Radio.

Honolulu Mayor Kirk Caldwell banked on his proposed gas tax to help bail him out when union contracts came due and salary increases were expected to strain city resources. Now the administration is forced to look elsewhere for money to help cover the estimated $26 million it must pay out next year in union pay raises.  Civil Beat.

Most of Honolulu’s multibillion-dollar rail project will be paid for by a half-percent surcharge on top of general excise tax for goods and services on Oahu. But is that money going where it’s supposed to, and are all businesses even complying with the payments in the first place? KHON2.

An overwhelming amount of interest from the public has caused decision-making to be delayed on a planned 192-unit workforce housing project in Honolulu’s Kakaako neighborhood. Pacific Business News.

Maunalua Communities Foundation said it will hold the sixth annual Independence Day at Maunalua Bay Festival, although no fireworks are planned unless a donor steps forward. Star-Advertiser.

The head of the company that inspected the helicopter that crashed in downtown Honolulu Wednesday told Hawaii News Now that he was negligent for not making sure the aircraft was safe.

Hawaii

The FBI held a passenger for questioning Wednesday when he tried to check in at Hilo Airport luggage containing what appeared to be a modified pressure cooker. Star-Advertiser.

The University of Hawaii has spent nearly $3 million in legal fees on its controversial effort to build the world's largest telescope on Hawaii Island's Mauna Kea summit. Hawaii News Now.

A total of 272 Hawaii Island residents have called upon Gov. Neil Abercrombie to put an immediate halt to all plans for expanding Hawaii’s geothermal industry until better means of oversight can be put in place. Tribune-Herald.

Hawaii County officials are considering converting Alii Drive to one-way traffic in downtown Kailua-Kona. West Hawaii Today.

On a recent inspection requested by the Department of Land and Natural Resources, the county found multiple electric and plumbing violations at the Naniloa Hotel -- including elevators that don't work and the discovery of an acupuncture school operating illegally on the fifth floor. KITV4.

Forty new Big Tree champions were added to this year’s American Forests National Register of Big Trees, including five Hawaii Island trees. West Hawaii Today.

West Hawaii Today won eight awards at the Hawaii Publishers Association’s 28th Annual Pai Awards Thursday.

The Hawaii Tribune-Herald won six awards for outstanding journalism during the 28th annual Pa‘i Awards held Thursday in Honolulu.

Maui

There appears to be a lot of interest among west side residents in a proposed 2-mile-long county highway that will run parallel and between Honoapiilani Highway and the under-construction Lahaina bypass in the Lahaina town area. Maui News.

Lehman Brothers Holdings has hired Jones Lang LaSalle's Hotels & Hospitality Group to sell The Ritz-Carlton, Kapalua. Maui News.

Maui Health Centers Eligible for Federal Funds to Help Uninsured. Maui Now.

Kauai
The first solar eclipse of 2013 was visible for Hawai‘i residents starting at about 2:20 p.m. Thursday. Garden Island.

Three new Habitat for Humanity homeowners recently accepted the keys to their new homes during a key passing and dedication ceremony at the Department of Hawaiian Homes Pi‘ilani Mai Ke Kai subdivision in Anahola. Garden Island.

The Garden Island was honored with six awards at the 28th annual Pa‘i Awards Thursday.

Honolulu mayor to unveil homeless plan, another priest molestation lawsuit, Hawaii ranks 15th in hospital safety, Oahu jail deaths spur investigation, Kauai mayor seeks budget hike, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Honolulu homeless (c) 2013 All Hawaii News

The first draft of a sweeping plan to battle homelessness heads to the Honolulu City Council from Mayor Kirk Caldwell today. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii was ranked 15th in the nation for hospital safety, according to Hospital Safety Scores from The Leapfrog Group, which assigned a top grade of “A” to a third of the Isle hospitals on its list. Pacific Business News.

Hospital charges vary widely within Hawaii. Medical institutions say the disparities result because patients get individual treatment, depending on their health. Star-Advertiser.

A powerful state senator is blocking efforts to strengthen Hawaii’s ethics and campaign spending laws, state officials and nonprofit leaders say. They point to Sen. Clayton Hee, chair of the Judiciary and Labor Committee, as the major roadblock to good government and political reform laws. Civil Beat.

Hawaii lawmakers took modest steps to address the state’s record $25-billion in unfunded liabilities during the 2012 and 2013 legislative sessions. Hawaii Reporter.

A New Jersey man filed a lawsuit Wednesday alleging that he was sexually molested when he attended St. Anthony's parish and school in Kailua from 1978 to 1981 when he was about 10 to 13 years old. Star-Advertiser.

Two lawmakers skipped 10 days of the 60-day session Hawaii Legislature. Civil Beat.

Fifty-four percent of Hawaii's 2012 public school graduates enrolled in two- and four-year colleges — up from 53 percent the year before.  Star-Advertiser.

Civil Beat political reporter Chad Blair gets a visit from Office of Hawaiian Affairs Washington D.C. Bureau Chief Kawika Riley, who talks about a new OHA program aimed at putting more Native Hawaiians in federal government.

Over the past several years, the University of Hawaii has shelled out nearly $800,000 to Mainland executive search firms to recruit more than half a dozen top executives. Hawaii News Now.

A young woman was persuaded to board a plane from Oregon to Hawaii with the promise of a job. When she got here, her belongings were taken from her and she was told she would have to be a prostitute. KHON2.

SolarCity has started work on its largest project in Hawaii — the installation of solar photovoltaic panels on 6,500 military homes. Star-Advertiser.

Oahu

The third inmate death at Oahu Community Correctional Center in two months has prompted state Public Safety Director Ted Sakai to say "we have a crisis on our hands." Star-Advertiser.

A third inmate death in the holding unit at Oahu Community Correctional Center in the past two months is raising serious questions about the Hawaii Department of Public Safety's oversight of the facility. Civil Beat.

The Office of Hawaiian Affairs is receiving $400,000 in federal grants to look for petroleum and hazardous substances on several former industrial sites in Kakaako that are among land parcels the state gave the agency to settle a ceded land claim. Associated Press.

Iwi stalls construction plans for Kailua Target. KHON2.

A helicopter pilot and her passenger walked away from a crash landing on a busy downtown street Wednesday afternoon, and no pedestrians or drivers were injured. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii

A former county employee who designed the bid specifications and helped choose the contractor for the first phase of the Kaloko Housing program got clearance Wednesday to submit a proposal for an expanded second phase in his new job with the nonprofit organization that won the first bid. West Hawaii Today.

A drug and alcohol abuse treatment program is closing its offices in Kealakekua, Waimea and on Oahu, its CEO said Wednesday. West Hawaii Today.

The state is moving forward with plans to build two water tanks that will feed diptanks for helicopters to use while fighting fires on the southwestern slopes of Mauna Kea. West Hawaii Today.

More Big Island high schoolers are taking Advanced Placement exams, but they’re not scoring as high as in previous years. West Hawaii Today.

A former Department of Environmental Management employee pleaded not guilty Wednesday morning to a felony theft charge for allegedly stealing diesel fuel from pumps at the Waimea baseyard. West Hawaii Today.

Hawaii County police deny that they are investigating five local judges for “war crimes,” as an Oahu attorney asserted in a media release sent to the Hawaii Tribune-Herald on Tuesday.

Maui

Maui County Council members approved a council communications director, changes in land-use conditions for a rock-crushing facility in Kihei and funding for two nonprofit affordable housing projects on Tuesday. Maui News.

Results of a remedial investigation of the ‘Āhihi Kīna‘u Natural Area Reserve in South Maui will be discussed during a public meeting tonight, officials said. Maui Now.

The Maui County Council unanimously voted on Tuesday to override Mayor Alan Arakawa's veto of a County Council bill that would target abuse in the "circuit breaker" property tax program developed to help those with limited incomes from being taxed out of their homes due to rising assessments beyond their control. Maui News.

A broken force main sewage line in West Maui on Tuesday afternoon that closed beaches and forced residents to halt dish washing and showers was repaired about five hours later, according to county officials. Maui News.

Kauai
Mayor Bernard Carvalho Jr. sent a revised county budget proposal of $211.2 million to the Kaua‘i County Council on Wednesday. Garden Island.

False information was presented to the public during a meeting last month regarding the proposal for a high-elevation horizontal well on Kaua‘i, according to the manager of the Kaua‘i Department of Water. Garden Island.

A new bacterial disease off Kauai's North Shore is quickly killing coral, federal biologists say. Star-Advertiser.

Over the last few months, The Garden Island’s editorial team has increased coverage of our island. We’ve hired an editor and reporter to cover more events, meetings and hard news stories both in print and online.

Molokai

The state Department of Land and Natural Resources is planning to hold a public hearing this week about a proposal to increase protections for environmentally and culturally important sand dunes in west Molokai. Associated Press.