Search for UH president begins, Feds reveal Honolulu kickback scheme, Oahu ratepayers to shoulder all of Big Island electricity project, Maui passes $559M budget, former supermodel Kathy Ireland owes Honolulu thousands in fines, two development giants merge, officials seek comment on $2.6B rail project, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

UH President MRC Greenwood (c) 2013 All Hawaii News

The University of Hawaii Board of Regents could name an interim president for the 10-campus system as early as next month as the board begins searching for a permanent replacement for President M.R.C. Greenwood — a process that could take months. Star-Advertiser.

Several business leaders, including a former governor and a former University of Hawaii regent, are urging the UH Board of Regents to hire an interim UH president from outside the university system who can make changes before a permanent president is hired. Hawaii News Now.

The University of Hawaii Board of Regents Thursday voted unanimously to appoint a presidential selection committee to begin looking for a replacement for UH President MRC Greenwood, who plans to step down on Aug. 31. Hawaii News Now.

Public discussions among University of Hawaii regents about the future of the university's presidency Thursday turned into deep deliberations about the UH's mission and whether its priorities and values are in need of some fine-tuning. Civil Beat.

On Thursday, the university’s Board of Regents named two committees to begin the search for an interim and permanent president of the university system. KHON2.

Each year since 1986, PAYCHECKS HAWAII, the private, independent, non-partisan political action affiliate of SmartBusiness Hawaii, rates each of the 76 state legislators on support for small business in collaboration with other small business associations, individuals, and those actively participating at the Capitol during the legislative session. Hawaii Reporter.

Alexander & Baldwin Inc. said Thursday it will buy Grace Pacific Corp. for $277 million, putting together two kamaaina powerhouses in the real estate and construction fields. Star-Advertiser.

Alexander & Baldwin, Inc. and Grace Pacific Corp. jointly announced Thursday that they have entered into an agreement for A&B to acquire the privately held general contractor for $235 million. Pacific Business News.

State roundup for June 7. Associated Press.

State 6/7. Associated Press.

Oahu

Honolulu transit officials are working to finish additional court-ordered studies for the city's planned elevated rail project, even as they prepare to defend the $5.26 billion effort later this summer in federal court against opponents looking to stop the project. Star-Advertiser.

The Honolulu Authority for Rapid Transportation and the U.S. Federal Transit Administration are taking public comments on a draft supplemental environmental impact statement for the city’s $5.16 billion elevated-rail project that concludes a tunnel beneath Beretania Street would be feasible, but not “prudent.” Pacific Business News.

The president of a group that helps the elderly and disabled asked a Pearl City contractor for a $90,000 donation as she was giving the company a job worth millions of dollars, a request that appears to violate anti-kickback laws. Civil Beat.

The city of Honolulu's failure to properly enforce compliance with requirements of an $8 million federal grant issued to a controversial nonprofit group could affect what it receives in Community Development Block Grant dollars in the future. Star-Advertiser.

Former super model Kathy Ireland's Oahu business is under scrutiny and it owes the city hundreds of thousands of dollars. KITV4.

The notorious Mayor Wright public housing facility isn't nearly as bad as it used to be, but it is still far from perfect. Civil Beat.

YouTube on Thursday removed a video posted by Kalihi Shinto shrine officials of four Japanese nationals allegedly taking $1,000 worth of amulets, claiming the content violated the website's privacy guideline. Star-Advertiser.

A surfer in his 50s died Thursday after an accident at Ala Moana Bowls as a south swell battered Oahu. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii

Hawaii Island electricity customers may not have to pay a surcharge on their bills for the proposed $450 million Aina Koa Pono biodiesel refinery outside Pahala, but the county will continue to oppose the plant on other grounds, Energy Coordinator Will Rolston said Thursday. West Hawaii Today.

Kailua-Kona resident Ulrich Bonne noticed something missing from Hawaii Electric Light Co.’s draft integrated resources plan. West Hawaii Today.

Proposed spearfishing ban dropped. West Hawaii Today.

Opponents of a plan to build the world's largest optical telescope at the summit of Hawaii's Mauna Kea volcano are appealing their case in the state courts. Associated Press.

NASA is giving more money to a Hawaii project studying what foods astronauts might eat during a manned mission to Mars. Associated Press.

Maui

The Maui County Council unanimously passed its $559 million budget on second and final reading today. Maui Now.

The Mala ramp, West Maui's only boat launch ramp facility, has become so degraded that the concrete ramp and two loading docks need to be replaced, an $892,000 project that will require a 60-day closure. Maui News.

Kauai

Some affordable housing advocates say a proposed Department of Water fee increase could add hundreds of thousands of dollars in additional costs to proposed low-income developments or altogether halt some planned projects. Garden Island.

A year after the last Koloa Camp residents were evicted, a mess remains. Garden Island.

Japan chips in $12M for Mauna Kea telescope, Gabbard celebrates Mink, Army studies sex assaults, native groups want Hawaiian sovereignty, Honolulu passes $2.2B budget, rail boss takes European tour, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Mauna Kea telescopes courtesy photo

A group building what will be the world's largest and most advanced optical telescope atop Mauna Kea says the Japanese government has allocated key funding for the construction of the project. The Thirty Meter Telescope said Wednesday the Japanese parliament last month approved a budget including more than $12 million for the telescope. Associated Press.

Alaska natives and American Indians, groups recognized by the federal government as indigenous people with the right to self-determination, reaffirmed support for Hawaii officials' efforts to gain similar status for Native Hawaiians as congressional delegations from both states met Tuesday to discuss ways to continue working together for the mutual benefit of the only two noncontiguous states. Star-Advertiser.

U.S. Army Pacific leadership says preventing sexual assault is their number one priority.  They say commanders have been instructed to investigate every allegation, so that all soldiers know victims will be taken care of and their perpetrators will be held accountable. Hawaii News Now.

Work area inspections and renewed emphasis on prevention are some of the initiatives that the U.S. Army Pacific is taking to combat sexual assaults. A panel of experts held a news conference at Fort Shafter on Wednesday to discuss increased efforts by the command to combat the problem. Star-Advertiser.

US Rep. Tulsi Gabbard paid tribute Tuesday to one of her predecessors at an event celebrating this month’s 41st anniversary of the signing of Title IX legislation. The late Rep. Patsy Mink, a Democrat from Hawaii, was a co-author and the driving force behind the landmark legislation that opened the door to gender equality in sports. Big Island Now.

More local teachers are able to attend a nationally recognized training conference because it's being hosted in Hawaii for the first time. Associated Press.

Lawmakers sneaked a bill through this past session to extend a law that critics say compromises the health and safety of Hawaii’s elderly and disabled. Civil Beat.

State roundup for June 6. Associated Press.

State 6/5. Associated Press.

Oahu

A $2.16 billion operating budget for the coming 2014 fiscal year approved by the City Council on Wednesday is the largest ever for Honolulu. The budget includes no increases in property tax rates and nearly all fees will remain the same. Star-Advertiser.

The Honolulu City Council approved a budget of more than $2 billion for the upcoming fiscal year. It includes all the money Mayor Kirk Caldwell wanted for sewer and road work. KHON2.

The back-and-forth budget battle between key members of the Honolulu City Council and Mayor Kirk Caldwell wrapped up Wednesday, with much of the focus centered on additional funding for nonprofit groups. KITV4.

A private detective firm has been hired by Mayor Kirk Caldwell's administration to help city officials with an internal review into an $8 million federal grant issued to a controversial nonprofit company. Star-Advertiser.

Dan Grabauskas, the executive director and CEO of the Honolulu Authority for Rapid Transportation, just returned from a business trip to Europe that he said could save the city millions of dollars on the rail-transit project and help the transit agency make better decisions when it comes to building it. Pacific Business News.

This week’s edition of the Honolulu Weekly contains a letter from the publisher announcing the end of the popular newspaper.  The Weekly’s editor and others, however, are banding together for a new venture. Hawaii Public Radio.

Read Honolulu Weekly's closing letter here.

High surf combined with summer school break and thousands of visitors contributed to a high number of rescues along Oahu's South Shore Wednesday, city Ocean Safety Division officials said. More than 120 people were rescued in Waikiki alone, including multiple numbers who were carried to safety on personal watercraft. Star-Advertiser.

On Wednesday, lifeguards rescued 123 people from high surf in Waikiki and conducted 739 preventative actions. Hawaii News Now.

Hawaii

Hawaii County Council members on Wednesday clashed over, but eventually approved, new contracts for unionized county employees. West Hawaii Today.

Condominium prices on the Big Island jumped by 37.5 percent last month, while single-family home prices remained the same, compared to last year, according to statistics released Wednesday by the Hawaii Information Service. Pacific Business News.

The 133,000-acre Army facility between Mauna Kea and Mauna Loa has made its land much more available to hunters over the last year, allowing sportsmen greater access to areas not being used for military training. West Hawaii Today.

It may have hit a few snags along the way, but project managers say that the sewer rehabilitation project along Kalanianaole Avenue in Hilo should be complete by the end of the month. Tribune-Herald.

High waves that flooded part of the Kona coastline Tuesday were not the result of any tsunami generated by the earthquake that struck off Hawaii Island's Southeast side about the same time, experts said. Hawaii News Now.

The waves just kept bumpin’ Wednesday providing young and old with plently of swell times in West Hawaii. West Hawaii Today.

Maui

Kahului Airport has received $6 million from the state - $4.75 million for construction and $1.25 million for environmental impact statement studies - to repave a portion of its main runway. Maui News.

Maui Electric Co. will hold meetings in Maui County this month to seek public comment on a draft five-year action plan for the utility to meet future energy needs. Maui News.

More than 500 people received free health services in the first day of the Tropic Care Maui clinic that is being offered to individuals across the county through June 12, county officials said. Maui Now.

A 3-day-old fire at the EKO Compost facility was mostly contained Tuesday, with officials estimating that the blaze caused several hundred thousand dollars in damage. Maui News.

Kauai
A 1997 ordinance intended to facilitate the timely rebuilding of structures following the devastation of Hurricane Iniki should be repealed, according to Mayor Bernard Carvalho Jr. Garden Island.

County Planning Director Michael Dahilig outlined to the Kauai County Council Wednesday the Planning Department’s plan to step up enforcement of Transient Vacation Rentals. Garden Island.

Kauai’s North Shore will soon be home to a predator-proof fencing system, similar to the one found at Kaena Point on Oahu. Garden Island.

Hawaii legislators attendance spotty, Honolulu owes $8M in mismanaged federal funds, Honolulu Weekly suspends publication, former Hawaii County officials cleared in defamation suit, rail company losing contracts, Maui residents get electricity rebate, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Hawaii Legislature sine die 2013 courtesy photo

Hawaii voters elect their legislators to represent them at the state capitol, but are they showing up to work? The House and Senate have just released their attendance records for the 2013 legislative session. Hawaii Reporter.

Millions spent on out-of-state travel by Dept. of Education. KHON2.

Many ranking administrators at the University of Hawaii will no longer be able to routinely request and receive free tickets to football games and other athletic events under policy guidelines adopted by the Hawaii State Ethics Commission last week. Civil Beat.

Local authorities are split on whether the Supreme Court ruling on DNA sampling requires Hawaii lawmakers to amend the law that covers the genetic sampling of arrestees. In its opinion, the high court said police can obtain DNA samples for a "serious offense." KITV4.

U.S. Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel has invited the defense ministers from the 10 countries in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations to Hawaii for their annual meeting next year. Star-Advertiser.

Former Hawaii Republican Party Executive Director Dylan Nonaka has a notable, but certainly not relished, distinction. Nokaka, a 31-year-old former U.S. Marine and current U.S. Army reservist, believes he is one of the few individuals in the country to be named by the Internal Revenue Service in its probe of local tea parties. Hawaii Reporter.

The Hawaii Department of Transportation plans to resume providing translations of drivers license tests in eight languages by the end of the year. Civil Beat.

State roundup for June 5. Associated Press.

State 6/5. Associated Press.

Oahu

A scathing 15-page report by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development calls on the city to return nearly $8 million in Community Development Block Grant funds it issued to a Wahiawa-area nonprofit organization. Star-Advertiser.

Mismanagement of federal grant funds and how the city will come up with $8 million to repay the feds is expected to be part of Honolulu City Council budget talks on Wednesday. Civil Beat.

How Civil Beat Covered a Scandal City Officials Wanted to Avoid.

The Honolulu City Council will consider today whether the top nonprofit employees overseeing the city's TheBus and TheHandi-Van services should be subject to the same ethics training, ethics policies and civil penalties as city employees. Star-Advertiser.

People can tell the city how they feel about the appeals process for the city's new sidewalk nuisance ordinance at a hearing today in Kapolei. A hearing officer will receive spoken testimony from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. in the first-floor conference room of Kapolei Hale, 1000 Ulu Ohia St. Star-Advertiser.

After months of dealing with technical troubles, Belgian and Dutch railway operators have canceled their contract for high-speed trains from the company hired to provide the trains for the city of Honolulu's planned rail transit system. Star-Advertiser.

The Honolulu Weekly plans to stop publishing today and resume in the fall. The break in publication is due to "financial reasons," according to a posting on the Weekly's Facebook page. Star-Advertiser.

Honolulu Weekly announced Tuesday that it will go on a “hiatus” for financial reasons, likely until the fall. Wednesday’s issue will be the newspaper’s last issue for the foreseeable future. Pacific Business News.

Lifeguards made more than two dozen ocean rescues Tuesday in Waikiki as waves rose to 6 feet in seasonal South Shore high surf. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii

A 3rd Circuit Court has dismissed another portion of the defamation lawsuit against two former county officials. Judge Elizabeth Strance, in a ruling issued Tuesday morning, said the attorney representing Elections Division Chief Patricia Nakamoto and former elections employee Shyla Ayau failed to prove former County Council Chairman Dominic Yagong and former County Clerk Jamae Kawauchi acted in a “willful and wanton” way in investigating and firing four county elections workers last year. West Hawaii Today.

The Hawaii County Council will consider tightening its rules on public drinking today in response to an apparent loophole in the county code. Tribune-Herald.

The Hawaii County charter to the contrary, Mayor Billy Kenoi said Tuesday that his appointee to head the Department of Environmental Management doesn’t need an engineering or related degree to qualify for the position. West Hawaii Today.

County finance committee advances vehicle fee hikes. West Hawaii Today.

Big Island nurseries could soon receive a seal of approval from groups trying to control the spread of invasive species. As part of a pilot program, the Big Island Invasive Species Committee will provide “plant pono” certifications to nurseries that follow certain procedures to prevent the importation of unwanted plants and pests. Tribune-Herald.

Maui

Maui Electric Co. residential customers will be receiving a refund of about $39 to $49 in the form of a credit on upcoming electric bills, according to a statement from the utility on Monday. Maui News.

Maui Electric Company has been ordered to refund customers due to “inefficient performance” and customer dissatisfaction, following a decision by the Public Utilities Commission. Maui Now.

About 400 United States military personnel have flown to Maui to provide free medical services through the "Tropic Care" program, beginning today and continuing through June 12 at locations throughout Maui County. Maui News.

Lanai Resorts' concept of developing a new resort and building large-lot and company housing at the old Club Lanai location recently was approved by the Lanai Community Plan Advisory Committee, despite some concerns by committee members. Maui News.

Maui firefighters were working through a "slow process" Monday afternoon to extinguish a compost fire that started Sunday afternoon, closed the Central Maui Landfill and recycling operations there and delayed collections of residential trash on most of the Valley Isle. Maui News.

Kauai

EBT concerns cloud skies over farmers markets. Program ends, worries some shoppers. Garden Island.

An exhibit opened its doors Monday afternoon in the Kauai Society of Artists gallery at Kukui Grove Center. Garden Island.

Making medical marijuana mainstream, Hawaii tradewinds less frequent, electric rates increase, special funds scrutinized, Honolulu on the hook for mismanaged nonprofit money, Hawaii Island courts lack sheriffs, Closed for 20 years, Coco Palms still a tourist draw, Godzilla, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Hawaii medical marijuana roadside sign (c) 2013 All Hawaii News

Gov. Neil Abercrombie is likely to sign two bills on his desk aimed at making marijuana a more mainstream medicine, according to Sen. Josh Green, D-Kona, a physician who, as chairman of the Senate Health Committee, has been working on reforming the state’s 13-year-old medical marijuana law. West Hawaii Today.

The Hawaii Supreme Court has overturned the conviction of a Hookena medical marijuana patient who was arrested at Kona International Airport when he tried to take his pakalolo on a flight to Honolulu. In a 30-page ruling issued Friday, the Supreme Court majority ordered a lower court to acquit Geoffrey Woodhall, stating that state law, while unclear and contradictory, nonetheless allows for the transport of marijuana by individuals carrying a state “blue card” certifying they are medical marijuana patients. West Hawaii Today.

Experts say the island breezes, called tradewinds, are declining, a drop that's slowly changing life across the islands. Associated Press.

Hawaii regulators have issued three orders affecting rates and the ratemaking process for Hawaiian Electric Co. and its subsidiaries, Maui Electric Co. and Hawaii Electric Light Co., in response to increased frustration by ratepayers for high electric rates and poor customer service. Pacific Business News.

The typical monthly electric bill on Oahu went up $3.13 and $3.17 on Hawaii Island as Hawaiian Electric Co. increased a supplemental fee it gets to pay for a shift to more renewable energy and greater energy efficiency. Star-Advertiser.

The state House Finance Committee is re-evaluating the use of special funds in the months leading up to the next legislative session. Associated Press.

State health officials say they're looking into hepatitis A infections that have struck at least three adults, including one person on Oahu who was hospitalized. All three consumed frozen berry products from Costco and became ill sometime between early and late May, officials said. Star-Advertiser.

Since retiring from the Senate, Daniel Akaka has largely stayed out of the public eye. However, he issued a statement today mourning the passing of former colleague, Sen. Frank Lautenberg, with whom he served for over three decades. Civil Beat.

More than a dozen Hawaii public schools are receiving state of the art lab equipment, thanks to a program out of UH Manoa’s John A. Burns School of Medicine. Hawaii Public Radio.

State roundup for June 4. Associated Press.

Oahu

Potential kickbacks, conflicts of interest and mismanagement of federal grant funds mean the city of Honolulu will have to pay back nearly $8 million it gave to an embattled nonprofit in Central Oahu that serves the elderly and developmentally disabled adults. Civil Beat.

How much in city operational dollars should go to Oahu nonprofit groups and how such funds should be divvied up are at the core of a clash between Mayor Kirk Caldwell and City Council leaders before Wednesday's final vote on the city's $2 billion operating budget. Star-Advertiser.

Two bills Honolulu City Councilman Joey Manahan is pushing would require helmet wearing when skateboarding on city streets and sidewalks, malls, parks and public places.  One of the measures carries a $25 fine per citation. Hawaii News Now.

A Shinto shrine in Kalihi is being threatened with legal action for posting a YouTube video of what it calls the brazen theft of $1,000 worth of amulets representing good fortune. Star-Advertiser.

Tesoro Hawaii's plan to lay off most of its Kapolei refinery workers, which was delayed last month as the company negotiated with a potential buyer, was set in motion Monday with a first group of employees getting notices that they would lose their jobs within three weeks. Star-Advertiser.

Warner Bros. Pictures and Legendary Pictures confirmed Monday what local actors, hopeful extras and industry insiders have been whispering about for months: The latest remake of the "Godzilla" franchise will be filming in July at several Oahu locations. Star-Advertiser.

This summer, if you want to know whether the Ala Wai Canal meets the state’s standards for safe recreational use, you'll probably have to test it yourself. That is because the city plans to stop testing one of the most heavily used inland bodies of water in the state for dangerous bacteria levels even though the canal is among the most polluted. Civil Beat.

Hawaii

A combination of vacations and sick workers left West Hawaii’s four courts with just one sheriff Monday morning. The severity of the shortage Monday was just indicative of a broader problem, West Hawaii attorneys and court officials said. Department of Public Safety officials said they were bringing sheriffs from Hilo to Kona to fill in the gaps, but acknowledged that they have had trouble for years filling all of the West Hawaii vacancies. West Hawaii Today.

Waikoloa has been put on the map, literally. The West Hawaii community was added to the Federal Aviation Administration’s flight maps last month, after previously being designated as a settlement. Tribune-Herald.

Utility customers will see a 1.6 percent increase to their Hawaii Electric Light Co. (HELCO) bills as the result of annual adjustments approved last week by the Hawaii Public Utilities Commission. Tribune-Herald.

Maui

An Army Explosive Ordnance Disposal team safely removed a grenade on Monday from the shoulder of Hansen Road, which was reopened after being closed for about a day, police said. Maui News.

Firefighters remained at the Central Maui Landfill Monday morning, battling a compost fire reported Sunday afternoon that has delayed residential trash collections and closed the landfill and recycling operations. Maui News.

Maui County fire fighters are still on the scene at the Central Maui Landfill Refuse & Recycling Center, where a blaze at the EKO Compost site has closed down operations today and possibly tomorrow. Maui Now.

At first glance, it isn't readily apparent how Maui County's reviving economy is affecting the islands' real estate market, which struggled through the recession with low prices and a glut of foreclosed properties. Maui News.

Kauai

In an effort to increase awareness about its recycling programs, Kauai County launched its “What Goes Where” campaign Monday. Garden Island.

Armed with a machete and a heck of a sense of humor, Bob Jasper gives visitors and locals a snapshot of the property that helped put Kauai on the forefront of Hawaii’s visitor industry decades ago. “Coco Palms has got to be the most famous hotel in the South Pacific,” he said. “It has been shut down for over 20 years and folks still want to see it.” Garden Island.

Molokai

Big Wind was the nickname for the state’s energy plan that included 200-megawatt wind farms on both Molokai and Lanai to supply energy to Oahu via an undersea cable. In the latest plan, Molokai Properties Limited , also known as Molokai Ranch, had planned to lease 11,000 acres of land to wind company Pattern Energy to build 70 400-foot tall wind turbines. But that plan fell through when the Ranch called off the deal in February, announcing their decision not to renew the lease agreement. Molokai Dispatch.

Young Brothers, Limited, the intrastate cargo company serving Hawaii, released its numbers for their first quarter of this year, and the findings could reflect how Molokai is doing economically. Molokai saw a slight increase in its general and agricultural outbound cargo and a minimal decrease in inbound freight.  Meanwhile, larger islands showed more notable decreases. Molokai Dispatch.

15K Hawaii civilian defense employees face furloughs, hepatitis alert from Costco, Honolulu fixing sewers, Hawaii County faces fee hikes, Godzilla movie cast call draws hundreds, Maui hires deer expert, Lt. Gov. Tsutsui opening Maui office, Kauai to hire cops, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

U.S. Navy Marching Band in Hilo parade (c) 2013 All Hawaii News

Nearly 15,000 civilian Department of Defense employees in Hawaii are expected to receive furlough notices by Wednesday, while employees of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration won't face any furloughs at all. Pacific Business News.

U.S. Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel has invited the defense ministers from the 10 member states of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations to meet in Hawaii next year. Pacific Business News.

The state Department of Health is investigating two cases of hepatitis A that may be linked to a frozen organic berry drink that was pulled from Costco shelves on Wednesday. DOH spokesperson Janice Okubo said one case was reported on Oahu, the other on Kauai. Star-Advertiser.

Next year's congressional elections represent the first time in 55 years that Dan Inouye won't be directly involved, either as a candidate or kingmaker. Civil Beat.

A private mainland health care provider remains interested in a possible takeover of Hawaii Island public hospital facilities, according to Hawaii Health Systems Corp. — but legislators will have to clear the way if such a public/private partnership is to occur. Tribune-Herald.

The gap between supply and demand of medical doctors in Hawaii is only going to widen in the next few years, according to University of Hawaii researchers. Garden Island.

It will have a huge impact on the future of Hawaii's farming industry. There are only a few days left for farmers to fill out the 2012 Agriculture census. KITV4.

Hawaii Gov. Neil Abercrombie is releasing more than $21.8 million for capital improvement projects for airports and highways statewide. Associated Press.

Less than five years ago, Hawaii ranked number one in the nation for the rates that youth considered suicide, planned a suicide, and actually attempted suicide. But no more, said Elaine de Mello, who helped develop a program that’s increased awareness of the crisis and lowered the rate of suicide among Hawaii’s youth. Tribune-Herald.

State roundup for June 3. Associated Press.

Oahu

Mayor Kirk Caldwell says the city is making good progress on a federal agreement requiring a major overhaul to Oahu's sewer system. Civil Beat.

Oahu skateboarders would be required to wear helmets under two separate bills scheduled to get their first airings by the Honolulu City Council on Wednesday. Star-Advertiser.

Honolulu City Council members and Mayor Kirk Caldwell have been arguing for weeks over how much public money should be set aside for nonprofit special interest groups in the new city budget. Civil Beat.

Condo Mania! The nearly 5,000 units planned for Honolulu’s urban core are expected to meet pent-up demand — or could even fall short. Star-Advertiser.

A "community paramedic" program intended to reduce overuse of ambulances by chronic 911 callers has been dropped by the new city administration, but the state hopes to start a similar effort. Star-Advertiser.

Hundreds of aspiring actors and film extras braved long hours and lines Sunday along Pohukaina and Keawe streets for a shot at being cast in the "Godzilla" remake reportedly planned to be filmed this summer on Oahu. Star-Advertiser.

More than 1,000 people vie for a chance to be in Godzilla movie. KHON2.

After seven years, the city of Honolulu is set to remove the large black sewage pipe that snakes along the bottom of the Ala Wai Canal and out toward the mouth of the boat harbor, adjacent to Waikiki’s famous beaches. Civil Beat.

A metallic graduation balloon is to blame for a power outage that affected nearly 2,000 customers in Waipahu overnight, according to the Hawaiian Electric Company. Hawaii News Now.

It wasn't the 95-percent-off, everything-must-go sale that brought 57-year-old Ray Feguis to the Ala Moana Center Sears last night. It was the opportunity to say goodbye to an old friend. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii

The Hawaii County Council signed off on Thursday on Mayor Billy Kenoi’s proposed operating budget for next year, but county residents get another chance to weigh in on proposed tax and fee increases. On Tuesday, the council’s Finance Committee picks up Kenoi’s recommended increases to the vehicle weight tax, minimum vehicle tax and yearly registration fee. West Hawaii Today.

Hawaiian Electric Companies are targeting four goals in their latest round of long-term planning: lowering customers’ bills, creating a clean energy future, modernizing the companies’ grids and fairness. West Hawaii Today.

Sections of wall, about 12 feet high and 8 feet wide, slotted together like pieces in a jigsaw puzzle Thursday morning, as construction workers erected the main building at Kaiser Permanente’s new Kona clinic. West Hawaii Today.

Maui

A Maui County Council committee held off hiring private attorneys Friday to look into an allegation brought forward by a council member over the potential misuse of public funds to demolish the Old Wailuku Post Office. Maui News.

Perhaps as early as this week Lt. Gov. Shan Tsutsui will officially have an office on Maui in the county's Kalana O Maui building. Maui News.

Lieutenant Governor Shan S. Tsutsui formally announced his candidacy to continue serving the state of Hawaii in his current capacity. Maui Now.

In the struggle against one of the island's most disruptive animals, the Maui Axis Deer Working Group has hired a full-time coordinator to lead the charge against the invasive species. Maui News.

Last month, the Women's Health Center at Molokai General Hospital received a $133,232 grant from the state Office of Hawaiian Affairs to fund a new prenatal program to focus on promoting care in the first trimester of pregnancy. Maui News.

The Central Maui Landfill caught fire Sunday afternoon. Hawaii News Now.

Kauai

More than 20 years after Hurricane Iniki blew the life out of the iconic Coco Palms Resort, its property owners are still hopeful of finding the right developers to return the former Wailua beachfront hotel to its former glory. Garden Island.

A plan to replace future police vacancies along with a plan to fill remaining open spots was an issue raised at the County of Kauai Police Commission meeting on Friday. Garden Island.

Hawaii tourism falters, military focus on Pacific, GMO seeds the new plantation, Hawaii council passes $394.3M budget, OSHA fines Kauai beach resort, Tsutsui launches election bid, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Hawaii tourists (c) 2013 All Hawaii News

Hawaii's top industry is grappling with market softening less than a month after the Hawaii Tourism Authority projected a huge influx of visitors would come to the state this year. Star-Advertiser.

Tourism officials say Hawaii visitors spent $1.1 billion in the state in April, up 1.8 percent from the same month last year. KITV4.

The U.S. Army is back in the Pacific region after more than a decade of deploying soldiers to Afghanistan and Iraq, the outgoing top Army commander in the region says. Associated Press.

Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel met Thursday with troops at Hickam Field in Hawaii on the way to his first visit to Asia as defense chief. Associated Press.

During a brief stopover en route to international security talks, Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel fielded questions Thursday from troops in Hawaii worried about how budget cuts might affect their retirement and future benefits. Star-Advertiser.

The State Ethics Commission is recommending that the University of Hawaii revamp its complimentary ticket policies because UH has been breaking ethics laws by giving away too many freebies to staff and family members. Hawaii News Now.

Colleen Hanabusa scored a nice little PR splash this week by introducing legislation to make May 30 the day to observe Memorial Day. Civil Beat.

Congress is being asked to help save the state about $20 million a year. The savings would come in the form of an Immigration Reform Bill that hits the senate floor in June. KHON2

Genetically engineered (GE) crops are Hawaii’s new plantation agriculture, and Hawaii is the world’s leading producer of GE seed corn. According to a 2013 study commissioned by the Hawaii Farm Bureau Federation, with funding from the biotech-supported Hawaii Crop Improvement Association, the Hawaii GE seed crop is not only the state’s fastest-growing agricultural commodity, but the largest. Honolulu Weekly.

Four of the state's 17 public charter schools with Hawaiian-focused programs have gained full accreditation from the Western Association of Schools and Colleges. Star-Advertiser.

Lt. Gov. Shan Tsutsui is asking voters to keep him on the job — one that he has yet to be elected to. Star-Advertiser.

Lt. Gov. Shan Tsutsui went online to announce his bid to run for lieutenant governor next year. The announcement came via ElectShan.com and a Facebook page. Civil Beat.

The eldest child of state Sen. Mike Gabbard was arrested this week in Las Vegas on suspicion of battery, according to law enforcement officials, the latest in a string of arrests over the past few months. Star-Advertiser.

Longtime Starwood executive Karen Hughes has joined the Hawaii Visitors and Convention Bureau as vice president of Meet Hawaii and travel industry partnerships, the HVCB said Thursday. Pacific Business News.

State 5/30. Associated Press.

State roundup for May 31. Associated Press.

Oahu

Honolulu City Councilman Joey Manahan wants to bring a little clarity to who’s in charge of TheBus, and has introduced legislation to shine a brighter light on those who oversee its operations. Civil Beat.

Dozens of Kakaako residents turned out for a meeting with lawmakers to express concerns over development plans, and ended up hearing from Gov. Neil Abercrombie. Hawaii News Now.

A company that specializes in booting cars is hit with a civil lawsuit. The state is seeking a temporary restraining order to stop what it calls an illegal practice. Hawaii News Now.

More than 16 months after its closing, St. Francis Healthcare System of Hawaii has settled on a plan for its former hospital in Liliha. Star-Advertiser.

There's still a "coming soon" sign in front the empty Peet's Coffee shop but work on that project was halted months ago when the school ran out of money. It's one of the more glaring reminders of the cost-overrun at the University of Hawaii West Oahu. Hawaii News Now.

Homeless cleanups taking cash from state road repairs. KHON2.

Effective June 1, the cover price of the Honolulu Star-Advertiser will be increased by 25 cents daily and Sunday. Civil Beat.

A helicopter that crash-landed downtown May 8 lost all power minutes before the incident, the preliminary findings of a National Transportation Safety Board investigation said Thursday. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii

A beefed up $394.3 million county budget passed by the Hawaii County Council on Thursday will pay for 28 additional staff, a new videoconference site for North Kohala, the continuation of the Ka‘u videoconference site in Ocean View and millions of dollars worth of new computers and equipment. West Hawaii Today

The County Council approved a double-digit raise in property taxes Thursday — the first increase in three years — citing a need to provide better services in areas that have taken a hit following the last recession. Tribune-Herald.

Planning Director Bobby Jean Leithead Todd is returning to her old job as head of the county Department of Environmental Management in a reshuffling of Mayor Billy Kenoi’s Cabinet announced late Thursday. West Hawaii Today.

Maui

Maui County has completed a final environmental impact statement for an estimated $6 million rock revetment extension to protect the Wailuku-Kahului Wastewater Reclamation Facility and its eight underground injection wells from tsunamis. Maui News.

South Maui’s Water Disconnect. Experts offer solutions to problems resulting from inequity in area’s water use vs. precipitation. Maui Weekly.

More Wailuku residents will be without water tonight because of an overnight waterline improvement project, according to an updated announcement today from the county Department of Water Supply. Maui News.

The Nature Conservancy of Hawaiʻi hosts a public talk this weekend featuring Thomas “Tommy” Remengesau, the President of the Republic of Palau. Maui Now.

Kauai

Hawaii has rebounded from a financial crisis, with tax revenues going up and unemployment rates dropping, according to Gov. Neil Abercrombie. Garden Island.

A popular Kauai hotel received 14 workplace safety and health standards violations on Thursday, and nine of them were serious enough for the U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration to take action. Garden Island.

The Kauai Beach Resort in Lihue could be fined as much as $48,000 for 14 safety and health violations cited by the federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration. Star-Advertiser.

Molokai
Three years ago, a fire truck was earmarked for Kalaupapa’s airport. But it still has not arrived on the settlement’s annual barge.  Instead, it sits unused, waiting for a proper garage that will protect the $300,000 truck from the elements and salt spray. Molokai Dispatch.

Hawaii seniors healthy; Defense secretary rallies troops, Caldwell, council spar over $2B Honolulu budget; improvements coming to Kona International Airport; new cop cars for Kauai; more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Hawaii kupuna hula (c) 2013 All Hawaii News

Elderly people in Hawaii are among the nation's healthiest, with low rates of obesity, hip fractures and preventable hospitalization, according to a ranking of states released Wednesday. Star-Advertiser.

Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel is in the midst of his first visit to Hawaii since taking office in February, defense officials say, as part of a round-the-globe trip that includes stops in Singapore and Brussels. Star-Advertiser.

United States Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel will address 200 service members from Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam Thursday, according to the Department of Defense. Hawaii News Now.

A public university on Chicago's South Side is vying to become the home of President Barack Obama's presidential library after he leaves office, a prize also sought by the University of Hawaii. Associated Press.

About $570,000 in federal funding is heading to Hawaii to help veterans who are struggling with homelessness. Associated Press.

More than half of Hawaii schools don't have reliable Internet access, and the Hawaii Department of Education can't afford to give every student a digital device. Civil Beat.

August 5 is normally a payday for educational assistants in Hawaii's public schools. However, some 200 of them in Leeward Oahu schools won't be getting a paycheck this coming August 5. And according to the state, it's because they got that paycheck nearly a year ago. Hawaii News Now.

Lawmakers say a new Hawaii law could help the state develop commercial harbors faster and more efficiently. Associated Press.

The American Center for Law and Justice filed a federal lawsuit Wednesday in Washington, D.C., on behalf of The Honolulu Tea Party, Hawaii Tea Party and nearly two-dozen conservative groups across the country. Hawaii Reporter.

Federal regulators are pressing ahead with their decision to slash government subsidies used by Sandwich Isles Communications to provide telephone and high-speed Internet service to customers living on Hawaiian Home Lands, saying the Honolulu-based company was not able to justify “significant and wasteful expenses totaling many millions of dollars.” Star-Advertiser.

When Hawaii residents purchase groceries and other goods in the islands, they typically encounter prices 30 percent above what U.S. mainland shoppers will pay in their stores. Hawaii Reporter.

The Huffington Post and subscription-based news website Honolulu Civil Beat announced Wednesday that they plan to partner in a new site dedicated to Hawaii news. Associated Press.

Huffington Post Partnership Takes Hawaii Global. Civil Beat.

Hawaii’s political leaders are praising the latest state revenue forecast which shows growing revenue over the next two years and say Hawaii residents and businesses should be optimistic about the improving economy. Associated Press.

Hawaiian Airlines Inc. said Wednesday that it has closed on $444.5 million in Enhanced Equipment Trust Certificates to finance the acquisition of six new Airbus A330-200 aircraft over the next 18 months. Pacific Business News.

The electric utilities on Oahu, Maui and the Big Island are seeking public comment on five-year energy plans. Civil Beat.

State roundup for May 29. Associated Press.

State 5/29. Associated Press.

Oahu

The Honolulu City Council's proposed $2 billion city operating budget, which includes $14 million for nonprofit groups, is "fiscally irresponsible" and is balanced through a combination of debt and money grabs that could risk the city's high bond rating, Mayor Kirk Caldwell charged Wednesday. Star-Advertiser.

Honolulu Mayor Kirk Caldwell has put some of Oahu’s nonprofits on notice. Don’t expect a handout from the city. Civil Beat.

It’s a fight to the finish as Honolulu’s mayor and City Council battle over the budget. KHON2.

Wal-Mart Stores Inc. paid $25.9 million to purchase the 80,000-square-foot former Macy’s department store and parking garage in Downtown Honolulu, according to City and County of Honolulu property tax records. Pacific Business News.

The Coast Guard is proposing voluntary tsunami evacuation zones on either side of Honolulu Harbor. KITV4.

With well wishes from Gov. Neil Abercrombie and others, the double-hulled sailing canoe Hokule‘a on Wednesday began a nearly yearlong shakedown cruise through the Hawaiian Islands before embarking next May on a deep-sea global journey, "Malama Honua Worldwide Voyage." Star-Advertiser.

This time of year brings a rainbow of events to Honolulu highlighting Hawai’i’s gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender community.  The Gay Pride parade runs through Waikiki this Saturday, and the Rainbow Film Festival begins at the Doris Duke tomorrow. Hawaii Public Radio.

Hawaii

Property tax scofflaws got a reprieve Wednesday, when a County Council committee declined to shorten the time the county has to wait before foreclosing on property. West Hawaii Today.

Hawaii County Council members will have another month to digest a bill that would restrict the use of genetically modified crops on the Big Island. Tribune-Herald.

DOT breaks ground for new fire station, dedicates air tower at Kona International Airport. West Hawaii Today.

Hilo Medical Center alone will account for nearly $2 million of the state hospital system’s $7.2 million shortfall forecast for the coming fiscal year. Tribune-Herald.

Kealakekua Bay is now open to the public — as long as the public applies for a special use permit and promises not to land at Kaawaloa. West Hawaii Today.

U.S. Sen. Brian Schatz has two new field representatives, George “Robby” Robertson and Michael Zola. They will join Marlena Castro Dixon as regional liaisons for Hawaii Island. West Hawaii Today.

The USDA announced last week that nearly a dozen small watersheds on Hawaii Island will benefit from an influx of a little more than $433,000 to make assistance available this year to farmers, ranchers and forest owners to keep water sources on their property free of foreign matter, like sediment or bacteria. The funding comes through the agency’s National Water Quality Initiative. Tribune-Herald.

Maui
The Maui County Council gave initial approval of a $559 million county budget Tuesday, with the spending plan including water and property tax rate increases along with more funding for most nonprofit organizations and a new reduced monthly bus pass rate for people with disabilities. Maui News.

A controversial lottery for admission into the Hawaiian Immersion kindergarten at Pāʻia Elementary School was officially canceled during a stakeholders meeting at the campus on Tuesday morning.Maui Now.

The state Department of Agriculture's Animal Industry Division has ordered all beef and dairy bulls to be tested for bovine trichomoniasis prior to entry into and before movement between herds within the state, the department said. Maui News.

Kauai
The Kauai Police Department expects to spend nearly $2 million to replace an aging fleet over two years. Garden Island.

Changing out windows at the Lihue Public Library is one of the milestones of the renovation project. Garden Island.

Chinese fast food giant Panda Express, Inc. has agreed to pay $150,000 to settle a sexual harassment lawsuit filed last year by three former employees who worked at the restaurant chain’s Kapaa franchise. Garden Island.

HuffPost coming to Hawaii, Construction to drive economy, Maui council advances $559M budget, Kauai council passes $209M budget, Native Hawaiians fight easing of development laws, Honolulu police short of ammunition, more news from all the Hawaian Islands

 The Huffington Post and Honolulu Civil Beat today announced a partnership to create HuffPost Hawaii, a site that will bring together the resources of The Huffington Post and CivilBeat.com.

The state Council on Revenues on Tuesday left the growth forecast for this fiscal year unchanged but increased the projection for next fiscal year because of an expected improvement in the construction industry. Star-Advertiser.

The Hawaii Council on Revenues on Tuesday left the forecast for the state’s economic growth unchanged at 6.7 percent for the fiscal year that ends June 30, but raised the forecasts for the next two years. Pacific Business News.

Big construction projects in Hawaii like the Honolulu rail project could have an easier time moving forward under a new law signed by Gov. Neil Abercrombie. Abercrombie signed a bill last week to allow the State Historic Preservation Division to approve state projects in phases rather than all at once, depending on circumstances. Associated Press.

Lawmakers say a new Hawaii law could help the state develop commercial harbors faster and more efficiently. Associated Press.

After racking up a $16 billion tab and alarming creditors, Hawaii is finally getting serious about fundamentally transforming the way it finances the post-employment benefits of thousands of public workers. But county leaders argue that the new legislation will tie their hands in budget decisions and will likely lead to higher property taxes. Civil Beat.

Native Hawaiian activists said Tuesday they will ask the state Legislature next year to repeal a new law that allows for the phased review of the impact of development projects on historic preservation. Star-Advertiser.

Led by Walter Ritte, a group of Native Hawaiian activists are demanding the repeal of a new law they claim weakens Hawaii’s legal apparatus to protect historic properties, which includes native Hawaiian burials. KITV4.

A Honolulu telecom company that has enjoyed exclusive rights to provide phone and Internet services to residents on Hawaiian Home Lands is under fire by the Federal Communications Commission for questionable business practices. Civil Beat.

President Barack Obama dug deep into his Hawaii roots and invoked the memory of the late U.S. Sen. Daniel Inouye as he pushed his immigration reform proposal Tuesday evening at a White House event marking Asian-American Pacific Islander Heritage Month. Star-Advertiser.

UH president sheds light on governor's interference. Star-Advertiser.

Senate President Donna Mercado Kim has been under fire in recent weeks after University of Hawaii President MRC Greenwood acknowledged during an exclusive May 20, 2013, television interview on Hawaii News Now that Kim called her last spring to check on the status of her son’s application to the University of Hawaii law school. Hawaii Reporter.

Oahu
A nationwide ammunition shortage is having an impact on the training of Honolulu Police officers. Some firearm training is being scaled back at HPD and the department is having to plan ahead so they don’t run out of bullets. KHON2.

Online petitions are seeking to remove or retain Kapaa Middle School Principal Nathan Aiwohi, who was placed on paid leave last month while the Department of Education investigates complaints against him. Star-Advertiser.

An open-air lounge and tapas bar featuring unobstructed views of Diamond Head Crater and Waikiki Beach will debut next spring on the 19th floor of the Waikiki Business Plaza. Star-Advertiser.

The owner of the former Gold Bond Building in Kakaako said Tuesday the company will spend $14 million to renovate the 12-story building on Ala Moana Boulevard, including adding a new facade. Star-Advertiser.

The University of Hawaii is continuing to pay $1 million a year in rent for office space that's nearly one third empty just two blocks away from its new Cancer Center, which is about 25 percent unfilled. Hawaii News Now.

Hawaii

A proposal to raise parks fees — in some cases doubling the rates — drew a tepid community response in hearings on both sides of the island Tuesday evening. West Hawaii Today.

A hurdle to residential development in downtown Hilo would be removed under a proposal before the Windward Planning Commission next week.Tribune-Herald.

Hawaii Community College at Palamanui reached another long-awaited milestone Tuesday as officials broke ground for the long-promised institution of higher education in North Kona. West Hawaii Today.

Gov. Neil Abercrombie praised former County Council Chairman Pete Hoffmann Tuesday for the Waikoloa resident’s dedication to the island and to community service. West Hawaii Today.

Maui

The Maui County Council unanimously passed the $559 million fiscal year 2014 budget on first reading today. Maui Now.

Parking at the Haleakala Visitor Center will be drastically reduced through June 6 as construction to improve park accessibility continues, according to a National Park Service announcement. Maui News.

In the ongoing battle against thousands of acres infested with Madagascan fireweed, Maui ranchers will be able to pick up buckets of moth larvae to feast on the problem this summer, said officials from University of Hawaii's College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources. Maui News.

Kauai
The Kauai County Council on Wednesday approved Kauai’s $209 million budget for fiscal year 2014. Garden Island.

The leader of the Atooi nation resolved two cases involving rocks from Hawaiian Homeland and obstruction during Hawaii Superferry protests in 2007. Garden Island.

According to the University of Hawaii Economic Research Organization, visitor arrivals in 2013 will see the largest gains on the neighbor islands as Oahu fills up and international arrivals continue to grow. Garden Island.

Hawaii Big Wind moving forward, Jones Act under fire, military retreats from Kauai weapons range expansion, China to launch nonstop Taiwan-Honolulu flights, Hawaii business tourism a hard sell, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Hawaii Island wind farm, courtesy courtesy Green Travelers Guide

One half of Hawaii’s controversial 400-megawatt “Big Wind” project — in which large wind farms on Lanai and Molokai would pump electricity to Honolulu via an undersea cable — is still moving forward. Pacific Business News.

Hawaiian Electric Co. residential customers on Oahu will pay an average of 13 cents more a month over the next three years to cover the cost of preliminary studies HECO completed as part of its plan to generate wind energy on the neighbor islands and transmit it to Oahu via an undersea cable. Star-Advertiser.

With the help of Gov. Neil Abercrombie's administration, the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands has begun reforming its controversial revocable permit program and evaluating other aspects of its operation. But Native Hawaiian beneficiaries already are raising questions about the process, saying they are not being allowed to participate from the start. Star-Advertiser.

Even though Hawaii's business travel fell 20 percent after the Great Recession and hasn't completely recovered, John Mona­han, president and CEO of the Hawaii Visitors and Convention Bureau, said he is confident that changing the way the state markets business travel will build success. Star-Advertiser.

China Airlines will launch regular nonstop flights between Taiwan and Hawaii on June 2, the airline said Friday. Pacific Business News.

High-profile Hawaii economists, professors and businessmen last week called on Congress to repeal the Jones Act, the 1920s federal law requiring that cargo shipped within the U.S. be moved only by American-made, American-manned and American-owned vessels. Hawaii Reporter.

Lawyer and former U.S. Senate candidate John Carroll has sued the United States of America for the second time in hopes of exempting Hawaii from the Merchant Marine Act of 1920. Better known as the Jones Act, the statute requires all ships traveling between U.S. states to be manned, built, owned, and flagged by Americans. Critics say the regulations inflate the cost of shipping, which makes everything from eggs to electricity more expensive. Civil Beat.

Hawaii Bromance: Honolulu Mayor Kirk Caldwell and Gov. Neil Abercrombie. Civil Beat.

In its second quarter 2013 economic report, the Department of Business, Economic Development & Tourism predicts continued positive economic growth in 2013, outpacing the national growth rate. DBEDT also expects to see continued positive growth in 2014. West Hawaii Today.

Next month, the Hōkūle‘a and its sister canoe, the Hikianalia , will set sail on a 46,000 mile trip across the globe. And joining the crew will be a team of Hawaii teachers and researchers, who will play a key role in bringing the Worldwide Voyage back into the classroom. Hawaii Public Radio.

State roundup for May 27. Associated Press.

Oahu

Four firms are vying to operate the state-owned Hawai‘i Convention Center, which for more than a decade has routinely underperformed at filling Hawaii hotel rooms with high-spending business visitors. Star-Advertiser.

Honolulu officials don’t appear to be in any rush to scrub the mold, lead and asbestos from Honolulu Hale. The city contracted for $250,000 with Unitek in 2012 for some lead paint clean-up, but now officials say the building is on a fix-it-as-we-go approach. Civil Beat.

A tenant association at a Chinatown affordable-housing complex is calling for more openness from the city of Honolulu as it moves forward with the sale of all 12 of its affordable-housing properties to a California-based private group. Star-Advertiser.

The city of Honolulu this week is restoring more bus service, part of a plan Mayor Kirk Caldwell and transit officials rolled out earlier this year to reverse many of last year's widely unpopular cuts in TheBus routes. Star-Advertiser.

Three months after the official opening of the University of Hawaii's Cancer Center in Kakaako, Hawaii News Now brought a construction problem and potential design flaw to the attention of its director.

Hawaii
West Hawaii’s three County Council districts, comprising roughly one-third of the county’s population, will continue shouldering 70 percent of the property tax burden under a 10 percent rate hike proposed by Mayor Billy Kenoi. West Hawaii Today.

Kamehameha Schools is suing the HSC Inc. and Realty Investment Co., alleging the Hilo companies are in default of a five-decade-plus lease of commercial property on Kekuanaoa Street near the Hilo Shopping Center. Tribune-Herald.

Hundreds of Big Islanders came together Saturday in Kailua-Kona for one of many March Against Monsanto events held worldwide to call attention to the dangers posed by genetically modified foods. West Hawaii Today.

Maui
The Maui County Council will hear a proposal that would give partial protection to an estimated 1,250 additional applicants on the Upcountry Water Meter Priority List. Maui Now.

The number of photovoltaic and other renewable energy systems in Maui County keeps growing each year. Maui News.

The Maui Chapter of the Korean War Veterans Association was once open only to those who served during the Korean War, but the aging members of the association have opened its doors to all veterans who served in Korea during the war and since. Maui News.

Kauai

The gun jammed on the National Guard’s proposal for an expanded “danger zone” in the waters fronting the Kekaha Rifle Range. “The Army Corps of Engineers, at the request of the Hawaii Army National Guard, will be rescinding the current public notice in regards to a proposed new danger zone at Kekaha Range Facility,” Lt. Col. Charles Anthony, director of public affairs for the Hawaii National Guard, wrote in a statement Friday. Garden Island.

The Kauai County Council approved Wednesday an additional $10,000 for legal fees associated with a civil rights complaint filed by councilman Tim Bynum against former County Prosecutor Shaylene Iseri-Carvalho, county planner Sheila Miyake and the county of Kauai. Garden Island.

A Kauai firefighter is suing the county for alleged discriminatory compensation claims. Garden Island.

Molokai

Molokai General Hospital has received a $133,232 grant from the Office of Hawaiian Affairs to support the hospital's Women's Health Center's prenatal program. Maui News.