Revenue Council upgrades forecast, shield law in peril, corrections officer recruitment halted in wake of prison problems, state overpays workers $1.5M, feds investigate deaf/blind school, CIO lauded, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Hawaii economic workshop (c) 2013 All Hawaii News

The state Council on Revenues predicted Wednesday that private-sector economic growth in Hawaii would offset the drain from federal budget cuts due to sequestration, boosting the state's revenue forecast. Star-Advertiser.

A resurgent construction industry and booming tourism market have spurred the Council on Revenues to slightly upgrade its fiscal forecast for the state despite the uncertain impacts of pending federal budget cuts. Civil Beat.

The state Council on Revenues revised its forecast for Hawaii’s economic growth Wednesday upward by 1.6 percentage points to 6.7 percent for the current fiscal year. Pacific Business News.

The Hawaii House has passed its version of a $23.25 billion state budget for fiscal years 2013-2015 that secures funding for state departments and capital improvements but falls about $600 million short of Gov. Neil Abercrombie’s proposal. Associated Press.

A coalition of media outlets set out in January to simply make the state’s Shield Law permanent by removing its sunset provision. But three months and a few House amendments later, the group is faced with a watered-down version of the original bill and an uncertain future in the Senate. Civil Beat.

A Native Hawaiian filmmaker who was one of the first non-traditional journalists to use Hawaii’s 2008 journalism shield law to protect his work, is asking Hawaii lawmakers to make permanent the journalism shield law before it sunsets this year. Hawaii Reporter.

Steven Tyler can feel more comfortable at his favorite vacation spot now that Hawaii's Senate has passed a bill known as the "Steven Tyler Act." USA Today.

State lawmakers will not prevent an increase in the unemployment insurance tax, a choice that will cost businesses $66 million for the next year but could strengthen the unemployment reserve. Star-Advertiser.

The state House Education Committee on Wednesday advanced a pair of bills intended to help the Department of Education regain control of skyrocketing school bus costs. Star-Advertiser.

Third- and fourth-graders in Hawaiian language immersion programs could soon be taking state assessment tests developed in Hawaiian — instead of controversial English translations — under a bill moving through the Legislature. Star-Advertiser.

The ability for the public to access the track record of adult care homes got a boost this week from a state Senate committee. Civil Beat.

The Hawaii House Committee on Health has voted to push forward a bill to stop people under the age of 18 from buying electronic cigarettes. Associated Press.

State Public Safety Director Ted Sakai has suspended recruitment of new corrections officers and postponed the start of the latest recruit class to beef up testing and training of the people who work in state prisons. Hawaii News Now.

Hawaii residents and businesses, rushing to take advantage of a solar tax credit before it was reduced, added 108.7 megawatts of solar energy generating capacity to the grid last year, up 169 percent from 40.4 megawatts installed in 2011. Star-Advertiser.

Despite decades of efforts to trim the tab on costly payroll mistakes, some have still been able to walk away with a bundle. The state is chasing more than $1.5 million from its own staff who got paid too much. KHON2.

Gov. Neil Abercrombie’s office announced today that Hawaii’s Chief Information Officer Sanjeev “Sonny” Bhagowalia would be receiving a “Federal 100 Award” by Federal Computer Week magazine. Big Island Now.

Recent moderation in bunker fuel prices has prompted Matson to decrease its fuel-related surcharge by 3.5 percentage points. Tribune-Herald.

There is debate over a new energy experiment that could start on Oahu next month. According to Hawaii Gas, formerly The Gas Company, liquefied natural gas (LNG) will reduce the state's dependence on imported oil. Hawaii News Now.

University of Hawaii astronomers are using a $5 million federal grant to build a giant camera they say will be able to snap pictures of asteroids headed for Earth and warn of impending danger. Civil Beat.

Oahu

The Justice Department is conducting an investigation of allegations of assaults at the Hawaii School for the Deaf and Blind, the state Attorney General says in federal court records. Star-Advertiser.

The University of Hawaii John A. Burns School of Medicine moved up 17 places on a list of the nation's top medical schools to tie with four other schools at No. 66 in U.S. News and World Report's 2014 best graduate schools rankings. Pacific Business News.

The Honolulu Police Department will begin issuing a new type of semiautomatic pistol to its officers for the first time in more than two decades, Police Chief Louis Kealoha told the Honolulu City Council's Budget Committee on Tuesday. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii

Hawaii County firefighters worked Wednesday evening to assess whether any threat was posed to area residents in Kapoho after the Puna Geothermal Venture plant went offline and vented steam for 15-20 minutes. Tribune-Herald.

Puna Geothermal Venture’s geothermal power plant released about 125,000 pounds of steam, resulting in a brief power outage in the Puna area this afternoon, a spokesman said. Star-Advertiser.

For the last four years, a Big Island doctor received more money in speaking fees than any other Hawaii physician from drug manufacturer GlaxoSmithKline. West Hawaii Today.

After discussing whether a Hawaiian name would be more appropriate and if the public would ever break its habit of calling it anything but “Saddle Road,” the County Council on Wednesday unanimously passed a resolution in support of renaming the island’s east-west connector “Daniel K. Inouye Memorial Highway.” West Hawaii Today.

Big Island commercial operators disposing scrap metal and those getting rid of motor vehicles will have to find another outlet starting March 28. West Hawaii Today.

Maui

The $72 million Downtown Kihei project cleared its environmental review Tuesday. Maui News.

The Maui Planning Commission granted a special use permit Tuesday for a bed-and-breakfast business in Launiupoko to host weddings, although the panel set more than a half-dozen restrictions. Maui News.

Several key Capital Improvement Projects on Maui were included in a budget appropriation approved today by the state House. Maui Now.

Maui hit a new high for the month of January with an average daily room rate of $289.98, which was in keeping with a record-setting month statewide, Hospitality Advisors and Smith Travel Research reported. Maui News.

Real estate, construction, politics and the development of Maui. Maui Weekly.

Kauai

Workers have removed an altar built two years ago where a shoreline path is being constructed in Wailua, Kauai. Star-Advertiser.

The sacredness of Wailua Beach is now gone, according to James Alalem, 55, of Wailua. Garden Island.

As the Lihu‘e Town Core Urban Design Plan moves forward, Lihu‘e will slowly change to accommodate more pedestrian traffic. Some of the changes just around the corner will include the elimination of parking alongside Rice Street, giving way to bicycle lanes. Garden Island.

The Electronics Benefits Transfer program will be back at select participating sunshine and farmers markets as early as March 25, said Frank Ranger, director of the Kaua‘i Independent Food Bank, Tuesday. Garden Island.

Molokai

A Talking Circle for Molokai practitioners, mediators, family members and anyone else interested will be March 19 from 10 a.m. until 1 p.m. at the Molokai Community Health Center. The Talking Circle will allow everyone to share and compare different ideas related to the broad spectrum of problem-solving methods available in our multi-cultural community. Molokai Dispatch.

Hawaii tax collections rise; Hirono dubbed a 'silent senator'; Legislature advances campaign spending, minimum wage, environmental bills; state to get money from Google snooping; UH spending scrutinized; no need for new Oahu landfill; Hawaii County defies impact fee law; Maui dogtags returned 70 years later, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Waikiki shoppers (c) 2013 All Hawaii News

State tax collections are up 12 percent through the first eight months of the fiscal year, the state Department of Taxation reported Tuesday.The revenue is coming in higher than the 5.1 percent growth projected by the state Council on Revenues, which is scheduled to update its forecast on Wednesday. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii Sen. Mazie Hirono is part of a new bipartisan group in the Senate. Call it the Talk To My Press Secretary Caucus. Politico.

Proposals aimed at decreasing the influence of private money on state elections are making headway in the Hawaii Legislature. Associated Press.

Hawaii is one of 38 states that, along with the District of Columbia, will share in a $7 million settlement from Google Inc. over its collection of personal data from unsecured wireless networks while taking photos from its Street View vehicles. Pacific Business News.

The body that accredits the University of Hawaii says fallout from last year's Stevie Wonder concert debacle included inappropriate external interference from government officials and "revealed the fragility" of the university's autonomy. In a strongly worded four-page letter to UH President M.R.C. Greenwood on Monday, the Western Association of Schools and Colleges also raised concerns about the effectiveness of the Board of Regents, overlapping and "confusing" lines of authority at UH and a series of policy gaps. Star-Advertiser.

University of Hawaii Procurement Under Fire for Wasting Millions of Dollars on Fraud and Corruption. Hawaii Reporter.

Lawmakers advanced a bill Monday that would provide a tax credit to public and private school teachers for out-of-pocket classroom expenses. Star-Advertiser.

The House Committee on Labor and Public Employment advanced a measure today to raise the minimum wage in Hawai’i.   The president …governor and local labor unions all support it … employers and their organizations by in large oppose it … and low-wage earners are caught in the middle. Hawaii Public Radio.

Members of the state House energy committee are moving forward several of Gov. Neil Abercrombie’s environmental initiatives. Associated Press.

Rock climbers and their supporters attended a public hearing in Hale­iwa on Tuesday night, saying they support a legislative bill to give the state immunity from lawsuits involving their recreational activity. Star-Advertiser.

This year lawmakers have introduced some 270 resolutions, and as usual the range is broad: some are congratulatory, some express condolences and some — called concurrent resolutions — request action or state a position. Civil Beat.

Souki-led House majority has delivered solid agenda. Star-Advertiser.

Bank of Hawaii Corp.’s top executives, including CEO Peter Ho, have voluntarily reduced proposed salary increases that would have boosted their pay between 6 percent and 20 percent, the bank said Tuesday in a regulatory filing. Pacific Business News.

State roundup for March 13. Associated Press.

Oahu
Mayor Kirk Caldwell said Tuesday he does not believe another landfill on the island will be needed because technology is advancing at a rate that the city will soon be able to get rid of the most objectionable, if not all, solid wastes without putting them into the Waimanalo Gulch Sanitary Landfill at Kahe Point. Star-Advertiser.

When the Senate Ways and Means Committee deferred action on Senate Bill 51 late last month, effectively killing the bill for this legislative session, it marked the quiet end to yet another chapter in a classic 25-year power play by a small group of well-connected local business owners who control the Sand Island Business Association. Civil Beat.

The cost of food, gasoline and education in Honolulu rose moderately during the second half of 2012, but overall inflation remained relatively muted, according to a government report. Star-Advertiser.

The Army said it found about $495,000 to prevent the layoff of nearly 300 contract workers at Schofield Barracks through the end of March with the hope that Congress will address a militarywide funding shortfall by then, officials said. Star-Advertiser.

The city Tuesday suspended permits issued to developer Jeff Stone to build two single-family houses in Aina Haina after state officials said a historic site might exist or had existed on the site. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii

Impact fees for West Hawaii schools — a state law largely ignored for almost three years — will be postponed a little longer following a heated, but ultimately fruitless, discussion Tuesday by the County Council Planning Committee. West Hawaii Today.

A parade of county department heads made its way through council chambers Tuesday, as the County Council Finance Committee heard explanations for hundreds of thousands of dollars in contract changes. West Hawaii Today.

Government officials have been eyeing Ka‘u for a spaceport as far back as the 1960s. But the latest proposal — revealed by Rep. Cindy Evans, D-North Kona, Kohala, at a community meeting last week — may be a hard sell, particularly in a county where the top executive wrote the legal brief that brought down the last spaceport plan. West Hawaii Today.

Maui

A state Department of Agriculture informational meeting on plans for the release of a moth to combat fireweed, a plant toxic to most livestock, will be held at 6 p.m. Wednesday at the Mayor Hannibal Tavares Community Center in Pukalani. Maui News.

The first double-decker bus of the Maui Bus fleet was dedicated this morning, with the vehicle set to start servicing the Kihei Islander route by the end of March or beginning of April, said county officials. Maui Now.

Dog tags lost in Hawaii returned to family 70 years later. Hawaii News Now.

A male humpback whale with small-gauge line wrapped around its tail was totally freed on Monday, following the efforts of multiple agencies and organizations, according to a news release from the Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary. Maui News.

Kauai

Kaua‘i’s drinking water is safe and free of the chemical herbicide atrazine, according to David Craddick, manager of the Kaua‘i County Department of Water. Garden Island.

A trial date was set in the theft case against former state representative Roland Sagum. Garden Island.

More than a handful of Kilauea residents on Tuesday let the Kaua‘i Planning Commission know they don’t want an 80-foot cell phone tower next door, even if the federal government has already established that health hazards cannot be argued against the tower. Garden Island.

The county’s Building Division is scheduled to launch a Web-based permitting system by the end of April. Garden Island.

Hawaii hotels raking it in; Legislature mulls Medicaid gap, minimum wage, reapportionment, rock climbing; Hirono's gay joke goes viral; Hawaii County seeks to buy more land; tsunami debris washes up on Maui, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Hawaii hotel pool (c) 2013 All Hawaii News

Hawaii’s hotel industry kicked off 2013 in record-setting fashion, reaching new highs for average room rates and total revenue. Star-Advertiser.

The House Judiciary Committee is planning to consider a bill today to include all military members when drawing district lines for state Senate and House seats. Associated Press.

Roughly 21,000 people in Hawaii who were previously covered under Medicaid will need to buy their own health insurance once President Barack Obama’s sweeping federal health care overhaul takes effect next year, the chief executive of the Hawaii Primary Care Association told a state Senate committee Monday. Associated Press.

Allowing Hawaii residents who earn up to 200 percent of the federal poverty level to return to the state’s Medicaid program could save more than $20 million in health care costs, health care providers told state senators Monday. West Hawaii Today.

The state House of Representatives’ Labor and Public Employment Committee will vote today on a bill that would raise the state’s minimum wage by $2 over the course of two years, with the first increase in July 2014. Garden Island.

One third of the tsunami warning buoys that Hawaii and others rely on for advance notice of impending waves aren't working or sending data, federal officials say. Civil Beat.

Hawaii Gets a C on Transparency Report Card. Hawaii Reporter.

In 1995, the Hawaii Legislature passed a bill that made secret the names of county police officers who had been suspended for misconduct. Less than two years later, the Hawaii Office of Information Practices wrote a formal opinion that undercut that law, saying the public has a fundamental right know about cops who were getting in trouble. Civil Beat.

A state lawmaker is now launching Senate hearings into whether the Department of Public Safety is capable of keeping inmates like Cyril Chung safe. Hawaii News Now.

Dangers at Hawaii's correctional facilities are hurting not just the inmates involved, but also are racking up costs for taxpayers. KHON2.

A student dressed as an Oompa Loompa from "Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory" was seen walking the state Capitol halls Monday, encouraging legislators to limit youth access to tobacco products. Star-Advertiser.

The state Legislature hit halftime last week, sealing the fate of bills that failed to pass the House or Senate by mid-session. Tribune-Herald.

The Department of Defense could start furloughing civilian employees April 26, including 19,000 people in Hawaii. Pacific Business News.

Federal budget cuts affect military jet flyovers. Hawaii Air National Guard forced to trim Memorial Day flybys. KITV4.

State Legislature Focus on Rock Climbing. Hawaii Public Radio.

Months after cracking a joke on the campaign trail, that joke has launched Hawaii's newest U.S. senator to ‘viral status' in the world of social media. Hawaii News Now.

State roundup for March 12. Associated Press.

Oahu

The USS Freedom, an aluminum-and-steel warship that will chart the Navy's future in the shallows where shipping and people are prevalent, pulled into Pearl Harbor on Monday on its way to history as the first ship in its class to head to Singapore on rotational deployments. Star-Advertiser.

The long-awaited Ewa Mahiko Gym opened to park-goers over the weekend, more than 18 months behind schedule and $600,000 over budget. Star-Advertiser.

Graduate students at UH Manoa haven’t received a raise in nearly a decade. This low pay combined with Hawaii’s high cost of living is making life for graduate students in Hawaii a struggle … forcing many to get second jobs to supplement their income. Hawaii Public Radio.

A report issued last month by the city's Department of Facility Maintenance pinpoints which Honolulu City Council districts have the worst roads on Oahu. KITV4.

Down to Earth Organic & Natural said its five stores in Hawaii will begin requiring foods with ingredients containing genetically-modified organisms to be labeled as such by 2018, following Whole Foods Market's announcement last week that it will do the same. Pacific Business News.

Hawaii

Having acquired almost 1,000 acres for protection since its inception in 2006, the Public Access, Open Space and Natural Resources Preservation Commission is asking the public to nominate more parcels for consideration. West Hawaii Today.

The Hawaii Farmers Union is asking state legislators to restore $1 million to fund research into the coffee berry borer situation on Hawaii Island. West Hawaii Today.

Stop calling it "the Big Island." That's the request of the Hawaii Visitors and Convention Bureau, the top marketing arm of the state's Hawaii Tourism Authority. Civil Beat.

The Mokupapapa Discovery Center in downtown Hilo is getting a new home just in time for its 10th anniversary in June. Big Island Now.

The Three Fat Pigs and The Thirsty Wolf, a new restaurant and gastropub by 24-year-old Waimea chef Philip “Ippy” Aiona, is a foodie fairy tale come to life. West Hawaii Today.

Maui

Council committees on Maui are finalizing items this week before the Fiscal Year 2014 Budget Session begins at the end of the month. Maui Now.

The state Senate has approved a bill to establish a daily, around-the-clock special emergency services medical response vehicle based at Maalaea, but the amended version includes no specified funding and wouldn't go into effect until 2050. Maui News.

A refrigerator-sized piece of ocean debris, possibly from the Japanese earthquake/tsunami two years ago, was removed by helicopter from the Ahihi-Kinau Natural Area Reserve shoreline Monday. Maui News.

Kauai

A trial date has been set for former state Rep. Roland Sagum III, accused of stealing rocks from a heiau on Kauai. Star-Advertiser.

What do they wish you to do? The question was posed by the Rev. Noriaki Fujimori of the Waimea Higashi Hongwanji Sunday during the Japan Disaster Memorial Service and Concert, in memory of the 2011 tsunami in Japan. Garden Island.

Collective bargaining bogs down in Labor Board, Gabbard opposes domestic drones, Hawaii House to vote on state budget by Wednesday, atrazine in drinking water, elevator inspections lag, public opposes Kauai biofuel plant, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Hawaii teachers protest, Hawaii State Teachers Association courtesy photo

The state agency charged with enforcing and protecting collective bargaining rights says its "skeleton crew and bare-bones budget" hamstring its ability to rule on dozens of labor complaints filed each year by public and private employees and their unions. Star-Advertiser.

The Hawaii state House and Senate are holding several hearings this week to vet each other’s proposals. Last week, both chambers passed hundreds of bills and sent them over to the other chamber, marking a new phase in the legislative session. Associated Press.

In Hawaii, additional gun regulation faces the fact that the state has among the most stringent gun laws in the nation, and unlike the mainland, little public urgency to make them tougher. Civil Beat.

The state House Committee on Finance passed Friday a nearly $23.3 billion budget for fiscal years 2014 and 2015, about $590 million shy of Gov. Neil Abercrombie’s request for $23.8 billion. Associated Press.

Hawaii lawmakers have trimmed Gov. Neil Abercrombie’s proposed biennium budget by almost half a billion dollars due to uncertainty over pending contract negotiations with public unions and looming federal budget cuts.Civil Beat.

Many of the state's 7,000 elevators are behind on inspections. KITV4.

U.S. Rep. Tulsi Gabbard reiterated her stance against the use of drones on domestic soil during an appearance on NBC’s “Meet the Press” Sunday. Star-Advertiser.

Civil Beat's chief political writer, Chad Blair, and, in his debut appearance, our fedora-topped D.C. bureau chief, Kery Murakami, talk about the implications of a rare split in the Hawaii Congressional delegation. And much more.

A mainland company that supplied a key component for many commercial and utility-scale solar photovoltaic projects in Hawaii has gone out of business, leaving its customers scrambling to come up with contingency plans for servicing the devices, which are critical to the operation of PV systems.Star-Advertiser.

Along with hockey sticks, canoe paddles should be included in the Transportation Security Administration's list of approved carry-on items on flights, local paddlers argue. Star-Advertiser.

Monday marks the second anniversary of the devastating earthquake and tsunami that hit Japan. Hawaii News Now.

State roundup for March 11. Associated Press.

Oahu

Thousands of Schofield Barracks soldiers who have been hard at training for months for a pair of deployments to Afghanistan might not go, officials say. Star-Advertiser.

The Honolulu Authority for Rapid Transportation said Friday that it has received $67.5 million of an expected $1.55 billion in federal funding from the Federal Transit Administration for the $5.16 billion Honolulu rail transit project. Pacific Business News.

U.S. State Department special agent Christopher Deedy will withdraw his request for dismissal of his murder charge that was based on his contention that he was acting as a federal law enforcement officer when he fatally shot a Kailua man at a Waikiki restaurant in 2011. Star-Advertiser.

A new survey of conditions and costs of driving in America's 50 most populated cities documents what drivers in Honolulu already know: Gas prices and congestion are high. Hawaii Reporter.

Hawaii

Police Chief Harry Kubojiri has disciplined a Hilo Patrol Division sergeant for misconduct over an incident that took place in the Hilo police cellblock on May 31 last year, according to a letter to the complainant. Tribune-Herald.

For years, Hilo residents’ drinking water has been contaminated with the chemical atrazine — a popular weed killer used on thousands of acres of sugar cane fields that lined the landscape up until a couple of decades ago. Civil Beat.

Goodfellow Bros. Inc. Regional Manager Ed Brown guided a tour along the 11-mile stretch that will bring Saddle Road closer to Kona by about seven miles. West Hawaii Today.

Maui

The House Finance Committee has included $65 million for the Kihei high school in the 2015 fiscal year of the state's biennium, an amount that's half of what Gov. Neil Abercrombie, the state Department of Education and South Maui's lawmakers have sought to complete the project all at once. Maui News.

Expected growth in the rental car industry at Kahului Airport drives the need for the proposed Consolidated Rental Car Facility, according a draft environmental report. Maui News.

Kauai

The Department of Hawaiian Home Lands is proposing to lease more than 2,000 acres of Anahola lands to Green Energy Team, LLC of Kaua‘i for the purpose of clearing existing albizia trees for its planned biomass-to-energy facility near Koloa. Garden Island.

It was sprinkling between periods of downpour, but several hundred demonstrators marched from the Grand Hyatt Kaua‘i Resort and Spa to Mano‘okalanipo Park on Saturday. Garden Island.

County officials told the Kaua‘i County Council Wednesday an anonymous tip that sensitive documents may have been secretly buried at Kekaha Landfill is too broad, and an internal investigation produced no results. Garden Island.

The original version of a bill progressing at the state Legislature would give the shrimp farm owner, Sunrise Capital, up to $1.3 million in state special purpose revenue bonds to protect the company’s hatchery facility and its salt water well, relocating them further inland to avoid shoreline erosion. Garden Island.

Hawaii Senate confirms Jobie Masagatani as chairwoman of the Hawaiian Homes Commission.

New Hawaiian Homes Commission Chairwoman Jobie Masagatini with the Hawaii Senate

(News release)

The Hawaii State Senate today confirmed Jobie Masagatani as the Chairperson of the Hawaiian Homes Commission.  Upon confirmation, Masagatani had been serving as the Commission’s Chairperson Designate.

“Jobie is well qualified to serve the people of Hawaii and the constituents of the Hawaiian Homes Commission,” said Senate Majority Brickwood Galuteria, who serves as chair of the Senate Committee on Hawaiian Affairs and Tourism.  “I am confident that she has the vision and commitment to carry out the mission of the Department of Hawaiian Homelands.”

She began her career as a Budget Examiner in the Office of Management and Budget, Executive Office of the President of the United States. She returned to Hawaii in 1990 and worked as a Land Investment Analyst for the Kamehameha Schools/Bishop Estate.  In 1993, she became a Project Manager for Hawaii Real Estate Research and Education Center at the University of Hawaii.  Masagatani then served as Deputy to the Chairman of the Hawaiian Homes Commission from 1995-2002.

Subsequently, she took a position as Assistant to the President and Chief Executive Officer of The Queen's Health Systems where she was instrumental in developing the strategic plan to address Native Hawaiian health issues. Masagatani eventually returned to public service when she was hired as the Public Policy Program Manger at the Office of Hawaiian Affairs.

She obtained her Bachelor of Science degree in Education from the School of Education at Northwestern University and continued on to earn a Master's degree in Public Affairs/Urban and Regional Planning from Princeton University.

Abercrombie's priorities moving in Hawaii Legislature at session midpoint, Honolulu rail contractor addresses concerns, Speak pidgin and get a good job? No can. Lanai wind farm advances, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Hawaii Legislature

Hawaii Gov. Neil Abercrombie is seeing his legislative proposals for statewide preschool, natural resources and other issues gain momentum as House and Senate lawmakers hit a key deadline. Associated Press.

Gambling didn't make it this time around, but hundreds of other bills -- like same day voter registration -- still have a chance at becoming state law. Hawaii News Now.

The state Senate on Thursday brushed off another flare-up over the Public Land Development Corp. and moved a bill that would set up a new authority to coordinate development projects between government and the private sector. The Public-Private Partnership Authority would work with state and county agencies and private developers on projects that could bring revenue to the state. Star-Advertiser.

The Hawaii Legislature in 2013 is poised to do something that it has failed to do for more than a decade: pass legislation ensuring that female sexual assault victims have access to emergency contraception. Civil Beat.

A bill that would prohibit employers from social media snooping passed the state House of Representatives this week and advanced to the state Senate. Maui News.

Hawaii lawmakers are considering two unusual bills unique to Hawaii that have scientists and environmentalists raving – one has to do with an indigenous bat and the other with a locally discovered microbe. Hawaii Reporter.

State hires private firm to defend against expected indictment over seabirds. State transportation lights affecting protected shearwater birds. KITV4.

Federal scientists have postponed plans to temporarily transfer some young Hawaiian monk seals from the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands to the main Hawaiian Islands as part of a population recovery program. Star-Advertiser.

Like it or not, Pidgin — the local creole language that traces back to Hawaii’s plantation era — has no place in the professional world, critics say. They argue that students need to speak English to get by in life. Civil Beat.

State roundup for March 8. Associated Press.

Oahu

Executives of the firms awarded the largest contract in state history assured Honolulu transit leaders Thursday that they have the financial muscle to deliver a train operating system and rail cars on time and on budget despite recent hurdles confronted by their Italian parent company. Star-Advertiser.

Honolulu Authority for Rapid Transportation (HART) Board Members were given a financial update from Ansaldo Honolulu Joint Venture, the Italian company that will build all the train cars and communication system. Hawaii News Now.

Hilton Hawaiian Village will play host to this year's annual National Conference on Public Employee Retirement Systems. But some of its members won't be coming to Waikiki, worried what image it will send in such tough economic times. KHON2.

A plan by the state Department of Transportation to rebuild two aging bridges on Farrington Highway could have cars driving right through Makaha Beach. Civil Beat.

A ban on spiked lug nut covers and other sharp objects that stick out from the wheel of a car is among the legislative proposals being pushed by the Hono­lulu Police Department this year. Star-Advertiser.

Honolulu Mayor Kirk Caldwell nominated Donna Y.L. Leong to be the city’s top attorney and take over the department of Corporation Counsel. Civil Beat.

The Honolulu Board of Water Supply …which relies almost entirely on water rate charges and fees … got a head start in 2011 and will be embarking on an even more ambitious schedule of improve the city’s water delivery system. Hawaii Public Radio.

Oahu's condominium market last month was hot, but the single-family home market was not. Star-Advertiser.

The Howard Hughes Corp. expects to make a profit of $66 million from the ONE Ala Moana ultra-luxury condominium tower under construction behind Hawaii's Ala Moana Center shopping mall, the developer's CEO told shareholders on Tuesday. Pacific Business News.

Hawaii

The state Senate has passed a bill that would change how public funds are distributed to Hawaii County Council candidates. Tribune-Herald.

Several county department heads and purchasing agents have some ’splaining to do to the County Council next week. The council’s Finance Committee agenda shows change orders were authorized for five contracts during the first two weeks of January alone, extending completion dates and increasing contract amounts to the tune of $829,322. West Hawaii Today.

Windward Planning Commission members opted Thursday to prolong the debate over the proposed Kaumana campus for Connections Public Charter School. Tribune-Herald.

Hawaii County officials are aware of apparent duplications and a discrepancy contained in Bill 40, which includes the county’s proposed capital budget and six-year capital improvement program. West Hawaii Today.

The Hawaii Tourism Authority is working to have Japan Airlines fly 10 flights from Tokyo’s Narita airport to Kailua-Kona this summer in hopes strong ticket sales will lead the carrier to restore regularly scheduled service to the Big Island, an official said Wednesday. Associated Press.

Maui

Maui Mayor Alan Arakawa will join Council Chair Gladys Baisa in lobbying state lawmakers tomorrow in an effort to retain the county’s hotel room tax revenue. Maui Now.

Former South Maui Rep. George Fontaine was elected chairman of the Maui County Republican Party on Saturday at the party's county convention. Maui News.

Real estate, construction, politics and the development of Maui. Maui Weekly.

A bill to require county liquor commissions to define the term "dancing" in establishments that serve alcohol advanced Tuesday from the state Senate to the state House of Representatives. Maui News.

Kauai

When Mayor Bernard Carvalho Jr. gives the Kaua‘i County Council on March 15 the budget for Fiscal Year 2014, he may not have to include a reserve fund in his proposal. Garden Island.

A 5th Circuit Court judge disqualified himself from the state’s case against Roland Sagum, after he was arraigned Thursday on second-degree theft charges. Garden Island.

Jennifer Luck, Kaua‘i Island Director for the Hawaiian Islands Land Trust, will discuss what the future may have in store for the decaying Coco Palms Resort during the Wailua-Kapa‘a Neighborhood Association’s upcoming meeting. Garden Island.

When it comes to the fight against invasive plants and animals, the island of Kaua‘i is turning heads. Garden Island.

Lanai

Castle & Cooke Inc. CEO David Murdock — who kept the rights to build a wind farm capable of producing up to 400 megawatts of renewable energy when he sold the majority of Lanai to Oracle Corp. CEO Larry Ellison last June — is apparently moving ahead with his plans. Pacific Business News.

Baby Obama at the beach photo surfaces

Baby Obama at the beach campaign courtesy photo

You can definitely see the family resemblance in this photo of a baby Barack Obama at the beach with his grandfather, Stanley Dunham.

I'm just wondering if the duo is about to get beaned with a stick by the lad behind them?

Hawaii Tourism Authority predicts record year for tourists, teachers and state agree to mediation, marijuana advocates aim for respectability, pidgin taught in schools, military warn Legislature about budget cuts, $10M fairground coming to Kakaako, former Kauai lawmaker in court over rock removal, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Polynesian Cultural Center (c) 2013 All Hawaii News

The Hawaii Tourism Authority expects a record 8.5 million visitors will come and spend $15.8 billion in 2013, according to new projections released Wednesday. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii is unlikely to see growth in visitors from China like it did in 2012. Pacific Business News.

The Hawaii Tourism Authority highlighted the importance of the state’s meetings, conventions and incentives business, particularly to be held at the Hawaii Convention Center, during its 2013 spring marketing update on Wednesday. Pacific Business News.

The Hawaii State Teachers Association and the state have agreed to enter into mediation talks to help reach a new contract agreement for public school teachers. Star-Advertiser.

The Hawaii Department of Education doesn't have a policy governing the use of Pidgin in the classroom, leaving it up to teachers to decide how to approach Pidgin. Civil Beat.

The Army, Navy, Marines, Hawaii National Guard and business leaders laid out for state lawmakers Wednesday the harmful effects sequestration and other budget cuts could have on a U.S. military that pumped $14.7 billion into the local economy in 2011 and accounted for more than 102,000 jobs. Star-Advertiser.

Military leaders and contractors say automatic federal spending cuts will have a snowball effect on Hawaii businesses and taxpayers. Associated Press.

New Democratic Congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard broke ranks with Democratic leaders on Wednesday, voting for a House Republican budget proposal that authorizes funding for the rest of the fiscal year but leaves large sequestration cuts in place for now. Civil Beat.

Marijuana advocates in Hawai’i have announced the launch of two statewide coalitions to support the reform of local marijuana laws. Maui Now.

Lightening Up On Cannabis. The changing landscape of marijuana laws. Honolulu Weekly.

The Department of Land and Natural Resources has obtained the state procurement officer’s approval to purchase a herbicide that can target remote stands of Australian tree ferns, kahili ginger, and banana poka. What makes it even more unusual is the method of delivery: paintballs, shot from airguns by marksmen in helicopters or on the ground. Civil Beat.

Hawaii’s longline fishing industry could lose the right to fish for tuna in a large swath of ocean south of the islands under new federal rules limiting the number of accidental catches that kill or seriously injure false killer whales. Star-Advertiser.

Oahu

The Hawaii Community Development Authority's board of directors Wednesday approved a proposal for a year-round fairground in Kakaako with go-kart racing, a zip line, indoor skydiving and a surfing wave pool. Star-Advertiser.

An amusement park between downtown Honolulu and Waikiki is one step closer to becoming a reality … as the Hawai’i Community Development Authority approved the project’s permit application. Hawaii Public Radio.

FACT CHECK — Pine: Leeward Coast Has Longest Commute Times. Mostly True. Civil Beat.

The University of Hawaii is launching a new first-in-the world master of public health program concentrating in Native Hawaiian and Indigenous people, as its public health office takes steps to become a stand-alone school once again. Hawaii News Now.

More than 200 members of the union representing Kaiser Permanente Hawaii workers rallied Wednesday across the street from its Honolulu Clinic to protest the elimination of jobs. Star-Advertiser.

Japanese-American soldiers who fought in the Pacific and Europe during World War II will be honored over the next six weeks in a special Congressional Gold Medal exhibit and series of panel discussions beginning Saturday at Bishop Museum. Star-Advertiser.

Tenants at the Ala Wai Boat Harbor are in an uproar over the temporary shutdown of its only fueling dock. Hawaii News Now.

Hawaii

New clerk positions on both sides of the island are aimed at reducing wait times for people seeking to obtain or renew driver’s licenses, state identification cards and vehicle registrations. West Hawaii Today.

The Hawaii Tourism Authority is working to have Japan Airlines fly 10 flights from Tokyo’s Narita airport to Kailua-Kona this summer in hopes strong ticket sales will lead the carrier to restore regularly scheduled service to the Big Island, an official said Wednesday. Associated Press.

Bills supporting the privatization of Hawaii public hospitals on Hawaii Island and Maui continue to advance in the Legislature, making it through the halfway point in the session on Tuesday. Tribune-Herald.

The Hawaii Police Department is keeping the South Kona Police Station on the books with requests for nearly $6 million in general obligation bonds through 2015. West Hawaii Today.

Old Kona Airport Park users may soon have more places to escape the glaring sun and heat. West Hawaii Today.

Maui

The saga of the troubled Montana Beach house is continuing, but perhaps there's an end in sight. Maui News.

Central Maui’s first leash-free dog park will officially open on Saturday, March 16 at Keopuolani Park in Kahului. Maui Now.

Kauai

The theft charge against former state Rep. Roland Sagum III, accused of taking rocks from an archaeological site on Kauai, stems from some misunderstandings, according to his attorney. Star-Advertiser.

The attorney representing former state Rep. Roland Sagum said he believes the rock-theft charges against his client are based on “some misunderstandings,” and Sagum would plead not guilty at his arraignment in 5th Circuit Court today. Garden Island.

A former Kauai politician will head to court Thursday to answer charges of disturbing and damaging a historic Native Hawaiian site. KITV4.

The County of Kaua‘i has given Serge and Jennifer Marcil the green light to move forward with producing a reality TV series about the Kaua‘i Junior Lifeguards program. Garden Island.

Hawaii Supreme Court mulls laptops, cellphones in state courtrooms, Legislature advances Steven Tyler paparazzi, minimum wage, marijuana decriminalization, emergency contraception, preschool bills, global warming seen on Mauna Loa, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Hawaii Supreme Court (c) 2013 All Hawaii News

The Hawaii Supreme Court is seeking comments on a proposed rule that would allow the public, members of the media and lawyers to use laptops, cellphones and other electronic devices in state courtrooms. Star-Advertiser.

The Hawaii state House and Senate have approved separate proposals to raise the state minimum wage. Associated Press.

The state House and Senate on Tuesday endorsed a new state-funded preschool initiative, a loan program that may help consumers afford solar-energy devices, an increase of the minimum wage and an unemployment insurance tax break for businesses. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii lawmakers moved on a host of good government measures Tuesday. Civil Beat.

The Hawaii state Senate passed the so-called Steven Tyler Act Tuesday, a bill that seeks to protect celebrities from overeager paparazzi by creating a civil violation if people take unwanted photos or videos of others in their private moments. Associated Press.

The Hawaii State Senate on Tuesday, March 5, passed the Steven Tyler Act, legislation that Tyler and other celebrities said will protect them from overzealous journalists and paparazzi. Hawaii Reporter.
http://www.hawaiireporter.com/steven-tyler-act-passes-full-hawaii-senate/123

A bill that would decriminalize the possession of under one ounce of marijuana has been approved by the state Senate and moved to the House. Big Island Now.

The Hawaii state Senate has voted for a bill that would require hospital emergency rooms to offer emergency contraception to victims of sexual assault. Associated Press.

The state Senate on Tuesday passed a bill that seeks to raise state revenue by developing public school lands. Associated Press.

Hawaii is still trying to get up to speed on spending its $75 million Race to the Top grant. As of Feb. 1, school officials say, the state has spent about $27 million — or 36 percent of the award — on sweeping reforms it pledged to achieve by next year. Star-Advertiser.

The amount of heat-trapping carbon dioxide in the air jumped dramatically in 2012, making it very unlikely that global warming can be limited to another 2 degrees as many global leaders have hoped, new measurements from Mauna Loa in Hawaii show. Associated Press.

The state is promoting this week as "Hawaii Invasive Species Awareness Week" to bring attention to a problem that costs residents and businesses millions of dollars each year. Star-Advertiser.

A Civil Beat review of state records and interviews with local regulators shows that that Hawaii’s rivers, streams and coastal waters are not being tested for the herbicide Atrazine even though the EPA established water safety levels a decade ago and last year required states to regulate pesticides under the Clean Water Act.

As policy makers in Washington continue to struggle with budget issues, Hawaii residents are still wondering what the precise impacts will be on the state. One important area of federal spending for Hawaii: the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration—or NOAA. As HPR’s Bill Dorman reports, the specific cuts to Hawaii’s NOAA operations are still not clear. Hawaii Public Radio.

U.S. Rep. Colleen Hanabusa and U.S. Sen. Mazie Hirono introduced bills Tuesday that would reunite Filipino World War II veterans with their families, many of whom live in the Philippines. Star-Advertiser.

After years of waiting, Hawaii's Filipino World War II veterans like 89-year-old Artemio Caleda are again raising their hopes for a change in immigration law that would make it easier to bring their relatives to be near them in their old age. Civil Beat.

Hawaii’s state Insurance Division is expanding the kinds of rate comparisons state residents can find online. West Hawaii Today.

State 3/6. Associated Press.

Oahu

The city ramped up pressure on supporters of the (de)Occupy Honolulu movement Tuesday afternoon, tagging 15 of their tents, chairs, tables, pallets, signs and other items placed on the sidewalk on the makai side of Thomas Square. Star-Advertiser.

The deployment of a Navy ship out of Pearl Harbor was put on hold last week because of budget uncertainties that threaten to undermine the "rebalance" of U.S. forces to the Pacific, Adm. Samuel Locklear III, head of U.S. Pacific Command, told the House Armed Services Committee on Tuesday. Star-Advertiser.

Billionaire's arrest could affect Hawaii property. Hawaii News Now.

Gaudy. Cheap. Offensive. Dozens of statues that Japanese real estate tycoon Genshiro Kawamoto erected on four of his sprawling estates along Kahala Avenue have been described by observers in these terms. Star-Advertiser.

Genshiro Kawamoto has been called many things — eccentric, mysterious, a nuisance. You can add one more to the list: suspected criminal. Civil Beat.

We investigated Genshiro Kawamoto's tax bills here in the islands and found he's by and large a model taxpayer. KHON2.

Turtle Bay Resort is willing to negotiate with the state to protect land around the North Shore landmark from development. Star-Advertiser.

The Hawaii Independent spoke with entrepreneur and philanthropist Henk Rogers to discuss his new project: accelerating the creation of a new cadre of Hawaii tech companies via his new organization, Blue Startups. The accelerator provides mentorship and seed funding for teams over a three-month process, at the end of which is a business that can seek greater funding.

Hawaiian Electric Co. said Tuesday that it has improved its online Oahu map to help customers and contractors plan new solar photovoltaic systems. Pacific Business News.

Hawaii

Marriott International has notified Hawaii labor officials that the Waikoloa Beach Marriott Resort and Spa is being sold and the hotel's 315 employees could lose their jobs in early May if the new owner does not retain Marriott as the property's manager and operator. Pacific Business News.

The capital improvement budget submitted late last week by Mayor Billy Kenoi is 37 percent higher than last year’s. But don’t expect all those projects to be started right away. West Hawaii Today.

Hawaii County Fire Department’s request to add an ambulance at Makalei Fire Station was denied this year because of the state’s fiscal situation, Fire Chief Darren Rosario said. West Hawaii Today.

The state Senate, following the House’s lead, adopted a resolution renaming Saddle Road connecting East and West Hawaii the Daniel K. Inouye Legacy Highway after the late U.S. senator. Tribune-Herald.

Michael Madoff was in Honolulu on Tuesday to hear his lawyers plead with a federal judge to let his lawsuit involving the death of his son be resolved in Hawaii. A large wave washed the New York teenager into the ocean at the Kaawa­loa lighthouse near Kealakekua Bay on Hawaii island July 4. Star-Advertiser.

Maui

Maui Film Studios LLC began leasing the new warehouse in Central Maui on Friday. In the coming months, Maui Film Studios will be outfitting the warehouse as a 21,000-square-foot soundstage, "the largest film studio in Hawaii," said Socrates Buenger, owner and chief executive officer of the company, on Monday. Maui News.

The Maui County Council on Friday unanimously passed a bill that would officially subject properties used for converting wind to usable energy to real property taxes. Maui News.

A special grass that curbs erosion and absorbs substances such as lead and arsenic from the soil and water through its roots is part of a Maui County pilot project that begins today. Maui News.

Kauai

Former state Rep. Roland Sagum III has been charged with allegedly taking rocks from a 15-acre archaeological preserve in Poipu, Kauai, in 2011. Star-Advertiser.

Two bills that would enable the state Public Utility Commission to consider the Kaua‘i Island Utility Cooperative's status as a member-owned, nonprofit co-op when reviewing regulatory issues have made considerable progress in both chambers of the state Legislature, with ample support from some state agencies and every member of the Kaua‘i County Council. Garden Island.

Arrivals to Kaua‘i grew 10.6 percent to 92,163 visitors in January 2013 with increased arrivals from the top four visitor markets, according to a Hawai‘i Tourism Authority report. Garden Island.

Hawaii restricts kayaking, Steven Tyler paparazzi bill up for Senate vote, teachers fear for pay hikes, Legislature mulls arcane Maui dance ban, big Puna marijuana bunker busted, 220,000 barrels of Kona beer, Japanese billionaire Genshiro Kawamoto arrested, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Hawaii kayakers (c) 2013 All Hawaii News

There are more fees and restrictions on kayaking. The Department of Land and Natural Resources said it's to protect the wildlife, but kayak companies say it's hurting their business. KITV4.

The state Senate is expected to vote Tuesday  on a bill that would give celebrities in Hawaii a new legal tool against paparazzi. Star-Advertiser.

The state treasury has gotten itself out of a $1 billion investment pickle. The Department of Budget and Finance has arranged to cash out its remaining position in a huge investment that was hard to exit and attracted withering criticism from the state auditor three years ago. Star-Advertiser.

Citigroup Inc. has agreed to buy back from the state of Hawaii the last $231 million of $1.1 billion in auction-rate securities that it had sold to the state five years ago, before the market began to collapse. Pacific Business News.

The union for public school teachers says contract talks are at a critical point as a deadline for budget legislation looms at the state Capitol. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii’s old schools need more than a fresh coat of paint to make them new again, state officials say. The facilities need to be overhauled to ensure students are learning in a 21st century environment, which involves flexible floor plan designs and advanced technology. Two school land bills, which face a big test Tuesday, propose public-private partnerships to help the district upgrade existing facilities and build new schools. Civil Beat.

The federal government has started sending out furlough notices that may affect tens of thousands of workers in Hawaii as a result of sequestration. Pearl Harbor Naval Shipyard, the state's largest industrial employer, held a town hall meeting Monday to discuss the issue, the first of about 10 such meetings scheduled for this week with more than 4,000 affected civilian workers, officials said. Star-Advertiser.

Budget fights are continuing in Washington this week. The jury’s still out on what the impact of Friday’s so called sequestration will be for Hawaii. But it’s left many of the state’s non-profits worried about the loss in federal funding. Hawaii Public Radio.

As more people vote absentee, the potential for voter fraud and voter intimidation also grows. There are at least two bills moving through the Legislature that bar candidates from handling ballots or helping voters fill them out. Civil Beat.

Flooding and drought hit Hawaii taro farmers hard last year, reducing estimated production of the crop to its lowest level in at least 20 years. Star-Advertiser.

Lanai’s owner, Larry Ellison, wasn’t the only billionaire with strong Hawaii ties to make Forbes magazine’s annual list of the world’s richest people this year. eBay founder Pierre Omidyar, the only full-time Hawaii resident on the list, tied for No. 123 with four other global tycoons. Pacific Business News.

State roundup for March 5. Associated Press.

Oahu

Japanese billionaire Genshiro Kawamoto was arrested in Tokyo on Tuesday, Japan time, on suspicion of violating corporate tax law, the Japanese television network NTV reported. The money was used to buy art for the museum Kawamoto was building in Hawaii, the network reported. Star-Advertiser.

Plans to develop the Ala Wai Boat Harbor will shut down its one and only fueling dock. KHON2.

U.S. District Judge Leslie E. Kobayashi says the sweepstakes machines that police seized from six Oahu arcades in September appear to be gambling devices prohibited under state law. Star-Advertiser.

Honolulu Liquor Commission Administrator Greg Nishioka told his investigators to refrain from arresting people and stop using handcuffs and other gear following an incident of alleged excessive force by two investigators about one year ago. Hawaii News Now.

Mayor Kirk Caldwell and supporters of the (de)Occupy Honolulu movement agree on at least one thing: The trees in Thomas Square should be trimmed and other park improvements made. Star-Advertiser.

Under Mayor Kirk Caldwell's newly proposed budget, Old Stadium Park and dozens of other areas around Oahu would get new life. Hawaii News Now.

Despite a series of construction delays and concern about risking NCAA certification, the University of Hawaii said the $13 million Clarence T. C. Ching Athletic Complex will be completed by its end-of-December deadline. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii

Despite an annual budget of only $12,600 for travel-related costs for three county professional associations, five County Council members are currently attending the National Association of Counties convention in Washington, D.C., a trip that is likely to cost $3,000 per council member. West Hawaii Today.

A two-year investigation ended with the dismantling of an elaborate underground bunker used to grow marijuana in Glenwood, the confiscation of more than 500 marijuana plants, about 10 pounds of dried marijuana and some hashish and the arrest of two people. Star-Advertiser.

A mainland-based developer has completed the purchase of 52 lots from The Club at Hokulia. West Hawaii Today.

A former Hakalau man is being accused in a lawsuit of sexually abusing boys he had adopted and using them for cheap labor on his farm. Tribune-Herald.

Attorneys have filed a lawsuit on behalf of two men accusing Father George DeCosta, a revered Big Island priest, of sexually abusing two boys while he worked as a chaplain at a Catholic school on Oahu. Tribune-Herald.

Kona Brewing Co.’s shipments totaled 220,000 barrels of beer in 2012, an increase of 27.3 percent from the 172,800 barrels that were shipped in 2011, the Hawaii-based company said. Pacific Business News.

Maui

Establishments that serve alcohol on Maui are required to limit dancing to dance floors, which have to be at least 100 square feet, clearly designated and alcohol-free. The Senate is planning to vote today on a bill that would require county liquor commissions to define the term “dancing” in response to many complaints about the regulations. Associated Press.

About 25 state Department of Land and Natural Resources employees and volunteers from the Maui Community Action Committee joined together to plant more than 50 Haleakala silverswords within the Kahikinui Forest Reserve on Saturday morning. Maui News.

Four small-town projects have been awarded an estimated total of $67,000 in the county Planning Department's first round of "small town planning" grant program awards, the county announced. Maui News.

The state House unanimously passed a bill out of its chamber for the purchase of land at Lipoa Point on Maui for permanent preservation. Maui Now.

A talk show will focus on Maui County's recent efforts to convert the island's solid waste into energy in an effort to cut down on the amount of trash that ends up in the Central Maui Landfill in Puunene. Maui News.

Kauai

More than 300 hundred people gathered at Waimea Canyon Middle School Sunday afternoon for a presentation about the effects of Atrazine, a herbicide used in agricultural fields near Waimea — a town described by Hawaiian activist Walter Ritte as the “central battle ground” in a fight against biotech companies and genetically modified organisms. Garden Island.