Tourists still flocking to Hawaii, Schatz out-raises Hanabusa in Senate race, Hawaii youth don't vote, Civil Beat takes on government records costs, surf threatens Sunset Beach homes, Kauai councilwoman opts for manager job, Maui mulls windmills at landfill, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Hula girls file photo (c) 2013 All Hawaii News

Hawaii set a record for the number of tourists in 2012 and will most likely set another one this year. Star-Advertiser.

Sen. Brian Schatz raised nearly $678,000 during the July-September fundraising cycle, according to his re-election campaign. He now has more than $2 million in cash on hand. His Democratic primary challenger, Rep. Colleen Hanabusa, raised about $441,000 for the third quarter, according to her Senate campaign. Hanabusa has raised more than $1.1 million to date and has about $772,000 in cash on hand. Civil Beat.

U.S. Sen. Brian Schatz has expanded his fundraising edge over U.S. Rep. Colleen Hanabusa in their Democratic primary for U.S. Senate, as Hanabusa struggled through a subpar quarter. Schatz raised more than $677,900 from July through September, according to a draft of his campaign finance report, and has brought in $2.7 million overall. Hanabusa raised more than $440,800 for the quarter and has brought in $1.1 million, her campaign announced, including money transferred from her House account. Star-Advertiser.

Fewer than one third of people in the islands between the ages of 18 and 29 bothered to vote in the presidential election that pitted Hawaii native Barack Obama against Republican John McCain. It was by far the worst youth turnout in the country. Such numbers got teachers wondering whether more young people would have capitalized on their democratic duty if they had gotten a more substantive dose of Civics 101 before becoming adults. Civil Beat.

Attorneys representing churches being sued over renting Hawaii public school buildings for services said last week that the churches aren't doing anything wrong and the state knows how the facilities are being used. Star-Advertiser.

The state of Hawaii has enacted a temporary hiring freeze for vacant positions within the executive branch, effective immediately, according to a memorandum signed by Acting Gov. Shan Tsutsui on Friday afternoon. Pacific Business News.

Neil Abercrombie’s job as Hawaii governor takes him around the world. Tourism meetings in Tokyo. A trade show in Los Angeles. A forum in Beijing. Those kinds of trips sound pricey. But independently reviewing the travel expenses to see if they are worth taxpayers’ money is definitely cost-prohibitive. Civil Beat.

The arguably unreasonable cost to check up on where our governor has been traveling and what he’s been doing while he’s away was the final straw for us in the often frustrating pursuit of public information. Civil Beat.

State roundup for October 13. Associated Press.

Oahu
The transportation company responsible for a molasses spill that killed more than 26,000 fish and other marine life in Hawaii said Friday that it had been subpoenaed by a federal grand jury for documents relating to the spill. Associated Press.

Bureaucratic snags continue to stall attempts to reach a long-term solution to the city's Haiku Stairs disagreement. On one side are hiking groups and environmental interests who want to see the long-stalled hiking path reopened so hikers can once again see the panoramic views at the top of the 2,800-foot path. On the other are Haiku residents who in recent years have seen their properties trashed and trespassed on by hikers visiting the stairs illegally at night to avoid detection by a security guard. Star-Advertiser.

With a multimillion-dollar land sale to the Roman Catholic Church gone sour, the University of Hawaii-West Oahu says it's moving away from the school's original concept of selling or leasing lands surrounding its Kapolei campus to pay for operations. It instead will seek more public funds from the state Legislature next year. Star-Advertiser.

A professional surfer's Sunset Beach home is now threatened by the very waves he learned to surf on. And the man's father says that ten other homes in the neighborhood remain threatened by the surf and that the state is doing nothing to protect them. Hawaii News Now.

New York, Chicago and about 30 other cities across the United States already offer public bike-share programs, through which bicycles can be rented to get around and dropped off at various stations. Now, grass-roots advocates have teamed with city and state leaders, hoping to bring bike-sharing to Hono­lulu's urban core by the summer of 2015. It would not be Oahu's first bike-share program. A pilot program in Kai­lua that started in 2011 already pays for itself through user fees, state Department of Health officials say. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii

This month, for the first time, Hawaii will join an international effort to prepare citizens for the impact of a large earthquake. Known as The Great Hawaii Shakeout, the informal, statewide event is an opportunity for schools, businesses and individuals to practice what to do in the event of an earthquake. Tribune-Herald.

A 6-month-old male seal, called Kamilo and known by the bleach mark on his back, H05, was relocated after nipping two triathletes who were swimming in Kamakahonu Bay on Tuesday. West Hawaii Today.

With a bill to restrict genetically modified crops passed out of committee, the Hawaii County Council will have only a few more chances to decide whether it wants to adopt the legislation, and, perhaps just as important, how it would be implemented. Tribune-Herald.

Business for contractors working on big jobs is up on Hawaii Island, a labor union organizer said. West Hawaii Today.

Shark victim makes triumphant return to water. Tribune-Herald.

Maui
Whale season in Hawaii officially started with a splash with sightings of two whales off Maui less than one week into October, and two more Wednesday. Star-Advertiser.

Maui County is planning to build three wind turbines at the Central Maui Landfill to offset thousands of dollars in energy bills at the site and is looking for prospective bidders. Maui News.

Officials with Hawaiian Commercial & Sugar Co. are apologizing for what residents are saying is an excessive amount of ash from sugar cane fields burning. Associated Press.

Furloughed workers at Haleakala National Park have been "glued to the news" and eager to get back to work as the government shutdown ended its second week, park workers said. Maui News.

Kauai

Kauai County Council Vice Chair Nadine Nakamura, who topped the council elections last year, announced Friday she is leaving her position to replace county Managing Director Gary Heu. Garden Island.

Kauai heading down a slippery slope. Garden Island.

Several events supporting traditional marriage are scheduled on Kauai. Garden Island.

Molokai

Oceanic Time Warner Cable’s franchises to provide cable service in Maui County expire at the end of 2013. The current franchises were issued by the State of Hawaii more than 15 years ago, and the cable company has filed an application with the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs (DCCA) to continue providing cable service in Maui County for the next 20 years. Molokai Dispatch.

Hawaii's $205M health exchange has security holes, newspaper involvement; gay marriage battle burns; safety check changes blasted at public hearing; National parks still closed; Honolulu loses $1.8M in taxes; Maui seeks film commissioner; more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Hawaii Health Connector website

Even though it's not yet selling health plans, the Hawaii Health Connector is collecting personal information from people who fill out forms online. KHON2 asked computer experts to look over the site with us, and what we found was surprising -- a Wordpress website platform the industry considers entry-level, along with what they call some “amateur” mistakes that could have opened the site to real hacker risks.

Ten days after the Hawaii Health Connector was scheduled to be up and running, the Obamacare virtual exchange is still unable to provide users any pricing or other health care plan details. Hawaii Reporter.

Hawaii's health insurance marketplace is hoping to turn around a stalled start by providing plans and pricing to consumers by Tuesday - but there are no guarantees, its executive director said Wednesday. Associated Press.

The U.S. Department of Interior announced Thursday it will consider letting states reopen national parks if they put up the funds. All national parks have been closed as a result of the government shutdown. So far, Hawaii has not joined Utah, South Dakota, Arizona, and Colorado in asking permission to reopen national parks under state jurisdiction. KHON2.

Under pressure from governors, the Obama administration said Thursday it will allow some shuttered national parks to reopen — as long as states use their own money to pay for operations. While at least four governors have asked for authority to reopen national parks within their borders because of the economic impact of keeping them closed, Hawaii so far is not one of them. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii Delegates Frustrated by Federal Shutdown Gridlock. Civil Beat.

State Rep. Marcus Oshiro, who wants to slow the drive toward marriage equality, is reminding lawmakers they do not have to take any action when they meet in special session this month. Gov. Neil Abercrombie has called a special session starting Oct. 28 to consider a gay marriage bill. But neither the House nor the Senate is obligated to hear or vote on legislation, and could simply meet and adjourn. Oshiro's message, which has been privately likened by some to a Hail Mary pass, is meant to unsettle House leaders who are trying to steer a wobbly majority in favor of gay marriage toward a final vote. The Senate overwhelmingly supports marriage equality. Star-Advertiser.

Hawai'i News Now was the first to report on an anonymous flyer targeting lawmakers and urging recipients to ask them to vote no on same-sex marriage.  We have learned the First Assembly of God is behind the mysterious mailers, which has grown to focus on another legislator, and now the Hawai'i State Ethics Commission is getting involved.

Testifiers at a statewide public hearing Thursday generally took a dim view of the Department of Transportation’s plan to hike fees and create an electronic system for annual vehicle safety checks. West Hawaii Today.

Hawaii officials are celebrating the opening of state-funded immigrant resource centers. The Office of Community Services on Thursday announced opening celebrations that will take place at four centers on Oahu, Kauai and the Big Island. The office's Executive Director Mila Kaahanui says restoration of state-funded, comprehensive services for Hawaii's immigrant communities comes after two decades of gaps in services. Associated Press.

Hawaii is a natural American business and security bridge to Asia and the state would benefit from a possible trade agreement between the U.S. and the European Union, the EU's ambassador to Washington says. Civil Beat.

Attorneys representing two churches being sued over renting Hawaii public school buildings for services say the churches aren't doing anything wrong and the state knows how the facilities are being used. A lawsuit filed in March by Hawaii Citizens for the Separation of Church and State founder Mitchell Kahle and public advocate Holly Huber claims the churches owe more than $5.6 million in unpaid or underpaid fees. Associated Press.

The state Department of Health has ordered stores to pull a dietary supplement from shelves while it investigates a growing number of cases of liver damage. As of Thursday the Health Department is investigating 32 cases of acute hepatitis or sudden liver failure (up from 30 reported Wednesday): 21 cases on Oahu, seven on Hawaii island, two on Kauai, one on Maui and another in which the location has yet to be identified. Of the 32 cases, 24 reported using OxyELITE Pro before their illnesses. Star-Advertiser.

Oahu
The city of Honolulu could have collected more than $1.8 million had it done a better job of following tax procedures, such as keeping assessments updated and accurate and toughening enforcement of historic-property dedication requirements, a report this week from city Auditor Edwin Young concluded. Star-Advertiser.

Habitual no-show riders of the city's Handi-Van para transit service will be temporarily banned from getting rides under a policy set to begin November 1. Hawaii News Now.

A tower of up to 350 feet on Atkinson Drive across from Ala Moana Center and the expansion of the Kapaa Industrial Park next to Kawai­­nui Marsh were given final approvals by the Hono­­lulu City Council on Wednesday. Each project faced opposition but also had its share of supporters. Star-Advertiser.

City prosecutors are opposing a request by the Honolulu Star-Advertiser and other news organizations asking the Hawaii Supreme Court to unseal transcripts of closed proceedings in federal agent Christopher Deedy's murder case. The newspaper and Hawaii News Now also asked the high court to prohibit Circuit Judge Karen Ahn from closing future court proceedings in the case without first giving the public a chance to object. Star-Advertiser.

New Age Toilet Paper Clogging Honolulu's Sewer Pipes, Causing Headaches. Civil Beat.

The wonder and promise of the 21st century has landed big time on the tradition-rich campus of ‘Iolani School. It's called the Sullivan Center for Innovation and Leadership, a modern 40,000-square-foot building dedicated to high-tech innovation and hands-on learning using state-of-the-art technology and experts in cutting-edge fields as teachers. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii

The ongoing partial federal shutdown is providing helicopter operators, and some tourists, with nowhere to go but up. While other tourist-oriented businesses are being hit, the closure of Hawaii Volcanoes National Park during the shutdown is causing visitors hoping to get a view of the park and the lava flowing from Pu‘u ‘O‘o to flock to helicopter tours. Tribune-Herald.

The state has released $1.8 million to train more primary care physicians in an attempt to alleviate a shortage of more than 30 percent on the Big Island. The funds go toward the Hilo Medical Center's primary care training program that will prepare a dozen new residents over three years to enter the field. Star-Advertiser.

Monk seal captured

Big Island photographer Doug Perrine captured people getting too close to a monk seal pup on Sunday-- one day before it bit two Kona Ironman Triathletes. Hawaii News Now.

Maui

As Maui County continues the search for its next film commissioner, Hawaii State Film Commissioner Donne Dawson stressed the importance of finding someone who will be able to "bridge the gap" for industry producers while still respecting the sensitivities of Hawaiian culture. Maui News.

The non-profit Hale Makua Health Services on Maui will benefit from fuel sales at participating ʻOhana Fuels gas stations through the end of the year, under a partnership announced today. Maui Now.

Participants in Wednesday evening’s candlelight vigil against domestic violence listen as 101 names of fatal victims of domestic abuse in Hawaii are read aloud in front of the Kalana O Maui building. Maui News.

Kauai
Although nothing short of spectacular, the Na Pali Coast State Park — home of the Kalalau — is also a persistent headache for the state Department of Land and Natural Resources. Garden Island.

Several human remains were uncovered at the Kauai Sands Hotel in Waipouli while workers were digging to install utility lines near the resort’s swimming pool. An archeologist on site Thursday afternoon, who asked to remain anonymous, said the discoveries included “human burials — less than 10, (but) more than four.” Garden Island.

Hawaii lawmakers grill Obamacare health exchange head, Trump developer sued, campaign finance in federal court, Awana fined again, truancy can't be stopped, Oahu charities get grants, Hawaii County can't help department head, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Hawaii Health Connector briefing courtesy House majority

The head of the $205 million Hawaii Health Connector pledged to get medical plans and prices on the state’s health insurance exchange by Tuesday, two weeks after the Oct. 1 scheduled start of open enrollment. Executive Director Coral Andrews apologized Wednesday for the software problems that continue to plague the website where consumers were supposed to be able to compare policies, get rates and enroll as of last week. Star-Advertiser.

It's been more than a week since the Hawaii Health Connector launched with a major glitch -- no way yet for consumers to compare and buy health insurance and avoid federal penalties. On Wednesday, lawmakers grilled them about what went wrong, while the Connector says a fix should be up within a week. KHON2.

One week after the debut of the Hawaii Health Connector, its Executive Director sat before a Senate Health Committee, apologizing and asking for understanding. KITV.

A three-judge federal appeals panel on Wednesday heard a challenge to Hawaii's campaign-finance law, questioning lawyers about the ban on political contributions by state and county contractors and the spending threshold for triggering disclosure requirements. Legal experts caution against reading too much into the judges' questions at such hearings. But the judges did appear skeptical about claims that the contribution ban on contractors, passed by the state Legislature in 2005 in response to the "pay to play" scandals, is unconstitutional. Star-Advertiser.

Awana

The state Campaign Spending Commission voted unanimously Wednesday to fine state Rep. Karen Awana $8,590 for campaign finance violations. The fine — Awana's fourth since 2011 — was for filing false or inaccurate disclosure reports, untimely deposits of campaign contributions and failure to keep campaign finance records. The representative was urged to pay the fine within a year. Star-Advertiser.

The Hawaii Campaign Spending Commission on Wednesday fined state Rep. Karen Awana for the fourth time since 2011. The four-term Oahu Democrat had just paid off the last $800 that she owed from previous fines, completely draining her campaign account this week and paying a portion out of pocket. Civil Beat.

Hawaii Campaign Spending Commissioners sanctioned Rep. Karen Awana on Wednesday, issuing the maximum fine of $8,590 against her for 54 violations of the state’s campaign spending law. Hawaii Reporter.

Teachers, in many cases, can't do much about frequently truant students. That is because few schools have a mandatory attendance requirement and teachers are expressly prohibited from grading students based on attendance. It might seem surprising, but the Hawaii Department of Education doesn’t specify a minimum number of instructional days that middle and high school students must be present in order to be eligible to pass their courses. Civil Beat.

In 2043, Honolulu will probably be off-the-charts hot — permanently. Oahu’s residents and its unique, fragile ecosystem will likely enter a scorching new reality with grave impacts to the natural environment. That’s according to a University of Hawaii study on global warming that started as a graduate-level course project and now is getting national attention. It pinpoints the probable dates for when cities and ecosystems around the world will regularly experience hotter environments the likes of which they have never seen before. Star-Advertiser.

Climate change will begin within a generation, according to a study published Wednesday by researchers at the University of Hawaii. The UH group determined that the world's climate will change sometime in the year 2047. Hawaii News Now.

University of Hawaii’s Michael Liu said his team of astronomers’ latest discovery of an exotic young planet not orbiting around a star will lead to more discoveries in the future. Tribune-Herald.

The number people in Hawaii suffering liver damage linked to taking a dietary supplement for weight loss or muscle gain is now at 30, with the majority of cases on Oahu, state Department of Health officials said Wednesday. Star-Advertiser.

Some 20,000 civilian Department of Defense employees in Hawaii -- and more than 350,000 workers nationwide --- shouldn't have been ordered off the job last week due to a new law that provided for funding for their pay, according to Congresswoman Colleen Hanabusa. Hawaii News Now.

Members of the military have been neighbors in the islands since long before Hawaii was a state. And today, they continue their presence around the islands. Hawaii Public Radio.

Oahu

Eleven Oahu nonprofit agencies learned Wednesday they will get a slice of the city’s $5.1 million grants-in-aid pie because of a City Council decision to increase the number of organizations selected to benefit from the new fund. Forty-one other nonprofits that had already been awaiting grants found out their slices of the pie will be considerably smaller than expected under the plan proffered by City Council Chairman Ernie Martin and approved Wednesday with a 7-1 vote. Star-Advertiser.

Donating to charity is supposed to be a fuzzy, feel-good experience. This hasn’t been the case at Honolulu Hale. A protracted political debateover which nonprofits are worthy of taxpayer subsidies has soured relationships inside city hall. It’s also raised questions about equity and fairness. Civil Beat.

One month after 233,000 gallons of molasses spilled into Honolulu Harbor, Department of Land and Natural Resources officials are continuing to evaluate the full scope of damage to coral, fish and other marine life. Star-Advertiser.

One month after 233,000 gallons of molasses spilled into Honolulu Harbor, researchers have learned a little more about its impact on the coral and underwater ecosystem, but studies are ongoing to determine the full scope of damage. Hawaii News Now.

The buyer of four units at the Trump International Hotel Waikiki Beach Walk is suing the developer, Los Angeles-based Irongate, for breach of contract, claiming the developer failed to return the excess deposits and refused to instruct the escrow company to release the funds, according to a lawsuit filed recently in 1st Circuit Court in Honolulu. Pacific Business News.

Last night members of the Ko‘olau Loa communities from Kahuku to Ka‘a‘awa came to the Kahuku Intermediate School cafeteria to give testimony on Bill 47 before the Honolulu City Council Zoning and Planning Committee, chaired by Ikaika Anderson. If passed, the bill would put the Ko‘olauloa Sustainable Communities Plan into place. Hawaii Independent.

Hawaii

Although the mayor appointed her and the County Council confirmed her to head the Department of Environmental Management, Bobby Jean Leithead Todd must go it alone defending her qualifications for the position before a 3rd Circuit Court judge. Judge Ronald Ibarra on Sept. 26 denied Hawaii County’s motion to intervene in the challenge to Leithead Todd’s job that was filed by Councilwoman Brenda Ford, who represents South Kona and Ka‘u. West Hawaii Today.

A possible burial site is likely the cause of the latest delay in the Kawaihae Road intersection work at Queen Kaahumanu Highway. West Hawaii Today.

Maui

August's continuing trend of lower occupancy coupled with higher daily room rates in Maui resorts is part of a "stabilization" of the tourism market on the island, said the executive director of the Maui Visitors Bureau. Maui News.

County officials have announced a fall schedule for restroom repairs at four park facilities 0n Maui. The repair work will result in the closure of restrooms at respective locations, with portable toilets provided for public use during the repairs. Maui Now.

Kauai

Mayor Bernard Carvalho Jr.’s recommendation that the Kauai County Council defer Bill 2491 for two months stirred up a wide range of reactions Wednesday. If passed in its current form, the bill would require Kauai’s largest agricultural companies to disclose the presence and use of genetically modified crops and pesticides. It would also establish buffer zones around schools, hospitals, homes and other areas, and require the county to conduct a study on the health and environmental impacts of the industry. Provisions deleted from the bill last month include those that would have prohibited open-air testing of experimental pesticides and genetically modified organisms, established a permitting process and placed a temporary moratorium on the expansion of GMO fields. The Kauai County Council will resume its discussion of Bill 2491 at 9 a.m. Tuesday in the History County Building. Garden Island.

Representatives for CVS Longs Drugs overcame public opposition and a 13-hour meeting Tuesday to secure a set of permits from the Kauai Planning Commission to build a 23,200-square-foot retail store in Kapaa. Garden Island.

The coastal and nearshore areas surrounding the privately-owned island of Niihau may be considered for inclusion in the Hawaiian Island Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary. Garden Island.

Molokai

Five members from Sisters of the Sacred Hearts from Rome, Italy — the same Catholic congregation as St. Damien — arrived on Molokai Thursday, Sept. 27, as part of their trip to visit other Sacred Heart provinces across the world. Molokai Dispatch.

Hawaiian monk seal captured after biting Kona Ironman contestants, Honolulu one step closer to rail transit, Kauai postpones GMO vote, gay marriage symposium canceled, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Hawaiian monk seal watches Ironman contestants, photo by Ironman Greg Welch

Two marine biologists and a veterinarian have removed a young Hawaiian monk seal from the wild after it bit two triathletes swimming in Kamakahonu Bay Tuesday. The 6-month-old seal, weighing 100 pounds, was reportedly following and swimming circles around the triathletes prior to nipping them. Both men had minor injuries and were treated on site. One man was bitten on a knee and the other was bitten on the side of his abdomen, said Michelle Barbieri, a veterinarian with The Marine Mammal Center. West Hawaii Today.

Honolulu transit officials filed court documents Tuesday asserting that they've complied with a federal judge's instructions to study the alternative routes and impacts of the city's rail project. If Judge A. Wallace Tashima accepts the city's "notice of compliance," filed in District Court, the move could lift his order blocking rail construction in the heart of Honolulu. Star-Advertiser.

Honolulu is one step closer to putting to rest a federal lawsuit that aimed to stall the city’s $5.26 billion rail project. On Tuesday, the city’s attorneys filed paperwork with the U.S. District Court that answered Judge A. Wallace Tashima’s questions regarding the city’s compliance with federal transportation and environment requirements. Civil Beat.

A symposium on the religious exemption in a gay marriage bill that was scheduled for Wednesday evening at the state Capitol has been cancelled. Organizers from the University of Hawaii law school said there was a misunderstanding about whether the symposium would only focus on the religious exemption or whether other issues related to the bill would be discussed. Star-Advertiser.

Marriage Equality Could Make Hawaii Schools More Gay-Friendly. Civil Beat.

State Rep. K. Mark Takai, a congressional hopeful who voted against civil unions and had been undecided on gay marriage, said Tuesday that he supports marriage equality. Star-Advertiser.

Ahi lovers could face a price hike for fresh sashimi and poke next year because of a proposal that would slice the bigeye tuna limit for Hawaii's longline fleet. The overfishing of bigeye tuna is a problem across the Pacific Ocean. The issue is managed at an international level, and the U.S. is hoping to keep the current quota in place. Hawaii News Now.

The Hawaii Department of Labor and Industrial Relations is warning the public about unauthorized websites that appear to be trying to get personal information from those seeking unemployment benefits. The department said Tuesday the sites bear the state of Hawaii seal and are targeting those wanting to file unemployment benefits online. Associated Press.

Twenty-nine confirmed cases, 11 hospitalizations, two liver transplants and one death later, the state Department of Health on Tuesday finally confirmed the name of the dietary supplement linked to a surge in acute liver inflammation and liver failure in the isles, asking that sale of the product come to a halt. Health Department staff traveled store to store Tuesday appealing to local retailers to voluntarily remove all formulas of the marketed "fat burner" OxyELITE Pro from their shelves while the agency continues to work with the Food and Drug Administration and Centers for Disease Control to investigate the precise cause of the rash of cases. Star-Advertiser.

The Hawaii Department of Health and federal agencies are warning the public to stop using a diet supplement and have asked retailers to take the product off the shelves after reports of hepatitis and liver failure around the state. Associated Press.

Some Hawaii Army National Guard soldiers will soon be flying missions in unarmed civilian turboprop aircraft over battle zones in Afghanistan. The Detachment 55 soldiers will be using Super King Air 300s loaded with high-resolution sensors and cameras to support troops on the ground. Star-Advertiser.

The state Department of Health reported Tuesday afternoon that it had linked a single case of salmonella poisoning reported in Hawaii to multiple other illnesses on the mainland that have been connected to a California-based chicken farm. Tribune-Herald.

Chad Blair: A Postcard From Washington, D.C. Civil Beat.

Nationwide, Hawai`i has the second-largest percentage of its agriculture land held by foreign investors, according to a recent survey by the US Department of Agriculture. Maui Now.

Oahu
Hundreds turned out at Kahuku High School where the Honolulu City Council heard a controversial plan that could pave the way for new housing and hotel developments to the North Shore and Windward Oahu communities. The Koolau Loa Sustainable Communities Plan, or Bill 47, sets the blue print for future growth in the rural community that first coined the term "Keep the Country Country." Hawaii News Now.

State conservation officers continue to monitor waters off Oahu for large illegal fishing nets after several were confiscated in Kaneohe Bay this summer. The Department of Land and Natural Resources this week reported that its enforcement officer retrieved two illegal lay nets in Kaneohe Bay this summer that totaled more than 1,200 feet long and also removed several derelict net balls comprised of different types of tangled net whose weight can destroy coral reefs as they roll around in the waves. Star-Advertiser.

Federal agent Christopher Deedy has joined in the Honolulu Star-Advertiser's request for an order from the Hawaii Supreme Court prohibiting a state judge from holding closed court sessions in his murder case without giving the public a chance to object. Star-Advertiser.

A veteran police officer who's the member of an elite Honolulu Police Department unit is facing a criminal trial and an internal investigation after being accused of assaulting a man arrested for beating up the officer's adult daughter. Hawaii News Now.

Aloha Tower Marketplace would look less like a retail center and more like a university campus under the latest plan proposed by Hawaii Pacific University a year after it took control of the shopping and dining complex fronting Honolulu Harbor. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii

County Public Works crews expedited a Kuakini Highway-Kaiwi Street intersection repaving project this month, partially at the request of Ironman World Championship officials, Public Works Director Warren Lee said. West Hawaii Today.

A measure asking the state Legislature to fund the Daniel K. Inouye College of Pharmacy Building at the University of Hawaii at Hilo — one of 14 bills being circulated among the four counties for approval before the January legislative session — is apparently not getting much support outside Hawaii County. West Hawaii Today.

Hawaii County and the state are quickly running out of patience with the operators of the Naniloa Volcanoes Resort. Both the county and state Attorney General’s Office submitted filings in federal bankruptcy court late Monday requesting that the hotel’s bankruptcy trustee be unable to assume its lease on Oct. 21, a step needed to proceed with a sale, citing more than $1.6 million in unpaid bills and other problems with the beleaguered operation on Hilo’s Banyan Drive. Tribune-Herald.

For the second time in less than two weeks, a breakdown at an East Hawaii wastewater treatment plant has resulted in ocean discharge of partially treated but disinfected sewage. The latest event occurred at the Papaikou Wastewater Treatment Plan located near Waipahi Point several miles north of Hilo. Big Island Now.

Maui
The second of two stakeholder meetings to discuss a plan for the proposed transition of Pāʻia Elementary School into an entirely Hawaiian speaking, immersion site, takes place tonight. Maui Now.

A workday Saturday at the Kalakupua Playground at the 4th Marine Division Park in Haiku will literally help lay the groundwork for the rebirth of the community-built play structure that had deteriorated to the point where it was no longer safe for children. Maui News.

Kauai

Kauai Mayor Bernard Carvalho wants to put the brakes on a controversial bill that would increase county oversight of biotech companies and heavy agricultural users of pesticides. Carvalho and his staff testified Tuesday during the Kauai County Council’s hearing on Bill 2491, that the county is ill-equipped to implement the measure, lacking qualified staff and sufficient funds. Civil Beat.

The Kauai County Council will reconvene Tuesday after the administration asked for more time to tackle a bill that would regulate use of pesticides and genetically modified crops by large agribusinesses. The Council heard testimony on Bill 2491 from community members, Mayor Bernard Carvalho Jr., Managing Director Gary Heu and Deputy County Attorney Mauna Kea Trask. Star-Advertiser.

Mayor Bernard Carvalho Jr. and his administration recommended Tuesday that the Kauai County Council consider another deferral of Bill 2491. Garden Island.

Kauai Island Utility Cooperative officials say they will break ground next month on the state’s largest photovoltaic facility aimed at curbing the island’s dependence on imported fossil fuels. The 12-megawatt array, which will be built on 67 acres of leased land owned by Grove Farm Company affiliate Haupu Land Company LLC, is scheduled Nov. 6 following nearly a year of work.  Garden Island.

Furloughed federal workers back on the job, Hawaii-Alaska space partnership announced, judge mulls open primary law, contract dispute stalls beach cleaners, second hospital coming to Maui, Kauai tackles GMO bill, Honolulu roads repaved, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Waikiki pigeons (c) 2013 All Hawaii News

There are some ruffled feathers over a new ban on the excessive feeding of feral birds. Some families believe the state isn't doing enough to enforce the law, but health officials said their hands are tied. Hawaii News Now.

A federal judge indicated Monday that the Democratic Party of Hawaii’s lawsuit challenging the state’s open primary election will rise and fall on whether allowing all voters to choose the party’s candidates places a “severe burden” on the party’s right to free association. Judge J. Michael Seabright said he will likely rule in favor of the party if he finds that the open primary is a “severe burden” on the First Amendment right to free association. Star-Advertiser.

Thousands of furloughed civilian defense workers in Hawaii filed back to work Monday after the Pentagon recalled them during the weekend. That included almost all of the roughly 970 federal technicians working for the Hawaii National Guard who were sent home Oct. 1. Star-Advertiser.

The state Department of Agriculture has only one employee assigned to review pesticide inspection reports and follow up on possible violations. And she says she hasn't gotten around to reviewing most reports in several years so there's been little if any action against pesticide misuse. Civil Beat.

Representatives from NASA, the defense and technology industries, and state government are gathering in Honolulu today in hopes of lighting a booster rocket under Hawaii’s small but growing aerospace industry. There was futuristic talk of helping to colonize Mars and launching private spaceships during a news conference kicking off the Hawaii Aerospace Summit on Monday, but officials insisted it wasn’t just pie-in-the-sky dreaming or the unrealistic fantasy of sci-fi geeks and space nerds. Star-Advertiser.

Alaska and Hawaii on Monday agreed to work together to develop satellites, rockets and other aspects of space launches. The two Pacific states will also share designs for rockets and satellites, cross-train personnel and share business and market development opportunities. Associated Press.

Hawaii hotels brought in a record $1.4 billion in total revenue during the three months of summer, up 8.5 percent from last year’s previous record of $1.3 billion. Occupancy averaged 80.2 percent statewide in August, down from 81.2 percent a year ago but enough for hotels to charge more per room and post a room revenue record. Star-Advertiser.

The University of Hawaii Economic Research Organization on Monday released the Hawaii Jobs Explorer, an interactive snapshot of occupations and salaries in the state that shows the 588,210 jobs in the state have a median salary of $36,350. Pacific Business News.

Cabanilla

Hawaii state Rep. Rida Cabanilla is replacing Rep. Karen Awana as Majority Floor Leader in the House. Associated Press.

State Rep. Karen Awana is out as Democrat House majority leader. But her political career isn’t over and her pocketbook may be significantly lighter. Awana stepped down Friday, just five days before the Hawaii State Campaign Spending Commission will decide whether to levy as much as $8,590 in fines for dozens of violations of the state’s campaign spending law, including “filing false or inaccurate reports.” Hawaii Reporter.

Fee hikes for annual vehicle safety checks are a balancing act between covering the administrative and inspection costs while not overburdening a public that often resists increases in state fees and taxes, a state Department of Transportation spokeswoman said Monday. Statewide public hearings are set for 11 a.m. Thursday to take public comment on the proposed fee increases. West Hawaii Today.

A study of drug abuse nationwide says overdose deaths in Hawaii increased 68 percent between 1999 and 2010, to 10.9 deaths per 100,000 residents. Associated Press.

Next year will be a year of consolidation for Hawaii’s solar photovoltaic industry, one of the fastest growing sectors in the state, with a number of major players disappearing or at least becoming substantially diminished, according to Marco Mangelsdorf, president of Hilo-based ProVision Solar. Pacific Business News.

Living Hawaii: Big Island Beer Can Cost More Here Than in Manhattan. Civil Beat.

The balmy tropical isles here seem worlds apart from the expansive cornfields of the Midwest, but Hawaii has become the latest battleground in the fight over genetically modified crops. New York Times.

Hawaii Island and the rest of the state was built mainly by extrusion — lava traveling up and spilling out onto the island’s surface, each level stacking itself atop the last like layers on a cake — according to new research performed by scientists with the University of Hawaii and University of Rhode Island. Tribune-Herald.

One out of four Hawai’i residents claims a multi-ethnic heritage, the highest proportion in the nation, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. In his first installment in HPR’s “Neighbors: An Island Story” series, HPR’s Wayne Yoshioka visited with one local family for a baby luau, a celebration of diversity and the melting pot Hawai’i has become. Hawaii Public Radio.

State roundup for October 8. Associated Press.

Oahu

Road crews have repaved 317 lane miles of crumbling city roads on Oahu so far in 2013, already more work done than in any previous year on the books, city officials say. Star-Advertiser.

People under 16 years old would need to wear helmets if they want to ride skateboards, roller skates, in-line skates or similar devices on Oahu under a bill introduced at the City Council. Bill 62 will get its first airing before the Council at its monthly meeting at 10 a.m. Wednesday. Star-Advertiser.

In 2009, two veteran Honolulu police officers were arrested in Las Vegas on drug charges. Officers Shayne Souza and Kevin Fujioka were eventually convicted on charges stemming from the incident but only Souza lost his job. Fujioka was initially fired by the Honolulu Police Department. But he was recently reinstated after Hawaii’s police union pushed back against his termination. Souza wasn’t so lucky. Civil Beat.

Oahu's beaches are considered among the best in the world. But, what many do not know is they haven't been cleaned in several months after a dispute between the city and company contracted to clean the beaches began in July. KHON2.

Tomorrow at 6pm the Honolulu City Council Zoning and Planning Committee will hear testimony on Bill 47, the Ko‘olau Loa Sustainable Communities Plan (KLSCP) at the Kahuku High School cafeteria. We take a look at some of the key elements of the plan. Hawaii Independent.

A developer whose plan for a condominium tower called 803 Waimanu in Kakaako received an unfavorable response from a state agency in July has returned with a new plan for a smaller residential building on the site. Star-Advertiser.

Neighbors call it the haunted house. The Department of Hawaiian Homelands boarded up this Nanakuli home two decades ago and it's remained vacant ever since. It's one of about 40 DHHL homes around the state that sits empty just as tens of thousands of Hawaiians wait years for a homestead lease. Hawaii News Now.

Hawaii

A federal bankruptcy judge in Honolulu has approved a preliminary plan to bring the 1,500-acre Hokulia resort development on the Big Island of Hawaii out of Chapter 11 bankruptcy under the control of a group that includes Rob Walton, chairman of Wal-Mart Stores Inc. Pacific Business News.

The state will release $100,000 today for studying the establishment of an aeronautics program at the University of Hawaii at Hilo and Hawaii Community College. The money will be spent on hiring a program coordinator and technical support staff to complete studies and plans for the proposed international flight training center. Tribune-Herald.

Security will be a little tighter at this year’s Ironman World Championship. West Hawaii Today.

Legalizing camping at Keawaiki Bay may not be a good idea, a handful of community members told planners working on the Kiholo State Park master plan and environmental assessment. West Hawaii Today.

Maui

A California developer is moving forward with plans to build a second hospital on Maui after securing financing from an undisclosed lender. Star-Advertiser.

Financing has been secured for the long-awaited West Maui Hospital and Medical Center, clearing the way for California-based developer Brian Hoyle to seek land entitlements and government permits for the project. Maui News.

A workday Saturday at the Kalakupua Playground at the 4th Marine Division Park in Haiku will literally help lay the groundwork for the rebirth of the community-built play structure that had deteriorated to the point where it was no longer safe for children. Maui News.

A cruise ship headed for an anchorage off Lahaina today received a U.S. Coast Guard airdrop of blood and medical supplies Sunday to treat an ailing passenger. Maui News.

Kauai

Bill 2491, dealing with genetically modified organisms and pesticide disclosure, enters its final phase today, likely attracting both sides of the issue — red shirts for the bill and blue shirts against it — to the Kauai County Council chambers. The full council will pick up last month’s recommendation (4-1) of the council’s Economic Development (Agriculture) Committee to pass a watered-down version of the bill. Garden Island.

Members of the Kauai County Council know that when it comes to genetically modified organisms, or GMOs, passions on both sides of the issue tend to run high. KITV4.

A developer behind a 357-acre beachfront property in Waipake on Kauai’s North Shore wants to give the county public beach access as part of a trade off for a proposed residential project. Garden Island.

Volunteers sought for space-travel isolation study, Golden Week for Chinese tourists, first whale sighting of the season off Maui, anti-gay marriage rally draws 500, Kauai Mayor Carvalho to seek re-election, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

University of Hawaii isolation dome on Mauna Loa (c) 2013 All Hawaii News

University of Hawaii researchers are looking for volunteers to act as crew members for a new series of space exploration studies scheduled to take place in an isolated research dome on Mauna Loa. Star-Advertiser.

The special session on same-sex marriages is a little more than three week away but the lobbying efforts are already in high gear. More than 500 people attended a rally the state Capitol today to oppose the legalization of same sex marriages. The rally was organized by the United Fellowship of Churches, which wants the issue decided at the ballot box and not by the state Legislature. Hawaii News Now.

News organizations throughout the state are asking the Hawaii Supreme Court to make it clear that a judge can't close a criminal trial or hear arguments in secret unless the press and public are first given a chance to object. Hawaii is the only state that has not expressly asserted the First Amendment right to attend criminal judicial proceedings, according to a "friend of the court" brief expected to be filed Monday in a case that seeks the release of transcripts from closed sessions of the recent murder trial of U.S. State Department special agent Christopher Deedy. Civil Beat.

Hawaiian Telcom officials told the Federal Communications Commission last month that the company needs a larger subsidy than what the agency is proposing to underwrite the cost of providing broadband service to rural areas in Hawaii. The FCC is providing ratepayer funds to Hawaiian Telcom and other telecommunications companies as part of its new "Connect America" program designed to extend the reach of high-speed Internet into underserved areas of the country. Star-Advertiser.

No need to cry over spilled milk. In Hawaii, just pouring the stuff can make us wince. Milk is expensive here. Civil Beat.

If you see more Chinese tourists than usual in the islands this week, it might be because this is China’s “Golden Week.” It’s one of the country’s semi-annual set of holidays—the other one comes in the spring. Hawaii Public Radio.

Facing thousands of dollars in additional penalties for breaking state campaign finance laws, Hawaii Rep. Karen Awana stepped down from her House leadership position Friday. House Speaker Joe Souki accepted her resignation as majority floor leader, effective immediately. But he also assured her that he would give her a new leadership position if she took care of her fines. Civil Beat.

The University of Hawaii John A. Burns School of Medicine has been awarded $18.4 million over five years to foster biomedical careers among students at the UH-Hilo College of Pharmacy, Chaminade University, Hawaii Pacific University and UH community colleges. Star-Advertiser.

A high-level University of Hawaii executive remains in her job — at the same pay — following the conclusion of a university investigation into whether she misrepresented herself as a certified public accountant. University officials refuse to say why she’s still on the job or whether or not they concluded that she illegally misrepresented herself on her resume. Civil Beat.

The Hawaiian Electric Cos. unveiled a new logo Friday, developed by noted Hilo designer Sig Zane, that aims to represent the state’s largest public company’s roots in the Islands as well as its role in helping Hawaii reach its renewable energy goal. Pacific Business News.

Do you feel rich? The Wall Street Journal claims you are, as a fiscal watchdog group says the opposite, citing crushing amounts of government debt. Hawaii’s median household income is $66,000 a year, up $3,000 over last year. The state has a relatively low unemployment rate of 5.8 percent, and the percentage of population below the poverty line is 11.6 percent, the eighth lowest in the country. Hawaii Reporter.

Nearly 1,000 federal technicians around Hawaii have been recalled after being furloughed due to the government shutdown. A spokesperson for the Hawaii National Guard says the technicians, who are based at various military installations throughout Hawaii, will start reporting to work on Monday and Tuesday. KHON2.

State roundup for October 7. Associated Press.

Oahu

The University of Hawaii was scammed out of $200,000 for a Stevie Wonder concert last year, but Oracle Corp. CEO Larry Ellison pulled the right strings for the artist to perform in a private concert for his company employees that will take place in Waikiki on Saturday night. The outdoor concert will only be open to Oracle Club Excellence 2013 members, but anyone in the area should be able to enjoy the sounds of Stevie Wonder, although they might not be able to catch a glimpse of him on stage. Pacific Business News.

BOUNCE houses dotted the state Capitol lawn, dancers gyrated in the Capitol courtyard and makeshift tennis courts occupied Punchbowl Street. Since 1993 families have flocked to the Capitol and environs on the first Sunday of October to celebrate Children and Youth Day, and Sunday's festivities were no different. Star-Advertiser.

A site where heroes are laid to rest in Hawaii is running out of space. The National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific is moving ahead with expansion plans while trying to balance the concerns of Native Hawaiians. The cemetery opened to the public in 1949, but it's expected to run out of room in three years. Hawaii News Now.

The state is releasing $3.85 million to build a long-awaited ambulance facility in Waipio and more than $4.2 million for other priority projects at hospitals around the state, acting Gov. Shan Tsu­tsui's office announced today. The funds will cover planning, design, construction and equipment costs for the Central Oahu facility, which will also be the emergency operations center for Oahu's Emergency Medical Services. Star-Advertiser.

It's back to work Monday for nearly 3,000 of Hawaii's federal workers, despite the government shutdown. KITV.

At least four warships in the Naval Inactive Ship Maintenance Facility at Pearl Harbor — a sort of mothball fleet — are taking on some patchy sandy-pink hues. The culprit is "low solar absorbance" paint developed in the mid-1990s — and tested in Hawaii — to reflect the hot Middle Eastern sun, according to Naval Sea Systems Command in Washington, D.C. Star-Advertiser.

Today is Hina‘i Eugenio’s birthday. And while he’s celebrating his 11th year with his friends at Kahuku elementary, his family is waiting for state sheriffs to evict them from their home in Kahuku. Hawaii Independent.

The year isn't over yet, but an annual record for the median price of previously owned homes sold on Oahu is more poised to fall following strong results in September for the local residential real estate market. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii

Hawaii County is considering legal action against the Naniloa Volcanoes Resort, including closure of the troubled Banyan Drive hotel, after it failed a series of building inspections, Mayor Billy Kenoi said. Tribune-Herald.

Oral arguments are scheduled to begin Dec. 13 for a legal case challenging Hawaii's decision to grant a permit for the construction of the world's largest optical telescope at the summit of Mauna Kea. Associated Press.

More than 2,000 triathletes from around the world will embark on the grueling 140.6-mile Ironman World Championship Saturday, when they’ll be presented the ultimate test of body, mind and spirit.  West Hawaii Today.

Maui

The first whale sighting off Maui for the 2013 season was reported on Saturday morning, about two miles from Molokini, officials said. Maui Now.

Kauai

Mayor Bernard P. Carvalho, Jr. said he will seek re-election in 2014. The incumbent announced his decision Saturday evening during a fundraiser at Kilohana. It would be Carvalho’s second full term to the four-year seat. Garden Island.

Kauai officials are set to consider a proposal to regulate pesticide use and farming of genetically modified crops. The Garden Isle's county council is slated to vote Tuesday on a bill that has provoked emotionally charged public hearings and a march against GMO's that attracted large crowds. Associated Press.

In three months, state legislators will return to the state Capitol to mow through thousands of proposed bills in a four-month period. Many of those bills are introduced by request of the Hawaii State Association of Counties, which sends a package approved by all four county councils. The Kauai County Council’s Intergovernmental Relations Committee reviewed Wednesday 14 proposals to be included in the 2014 HSAC Legislative Package, approving support for 11 bills — two were voted down and one got stuck on a tie. Garden Island.

Honolulu sidewalk sleeping ban advances, prosecutor wants new prison, state preps for gay marriage special session, Health Department mulls liver failures, Applebee's may open island restaurant, Puna hot pond reopens, Maui fishing rules mulled, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Honolulu homeless (c) 2013 All Hawaii News

A bill making lying down on city sidewalks illegal was given initial approval by the Honolulu City Council Public Safety and Economic Development Committee on Thursday despite concerns by members of the public and a city official. Star-Advertiser.

Religious leaders have met privately with state lawmakers to strengthen a religious exemption in a gay marriage bill, but they do not want to publicly undermine their main objective, which is to somehow persuade the Legislature to reject the bill in special session later this month and put the issue before voters. The scope of the religious exemption — and how it intersects with the state's public accommodations law — has been the dominant policy question tied to the gay marriage bill. Star-Advertiser.

In light of the upcoming special legislative session scheduled to start on October 28, a symposium on the religious exemptions to the proposed marriage equity bill will be held on Wednesday, October 9, 2013 at the Hawai‘i State Capitol Auditorium beginning at 5:30 p.m. The symposium will broadcast live on ‘Olelo channel 49. Hawaii Reporter.

Hawaii State Salaries 2013: Pay Inches Up in Office of Hawaiian Affairs. Civil Beat.

Hawaii lawmakers plan a briefing Wednesday to look into problems related to the Hawaii Health Connector services. Hawaii residents also are frustrated because the connector website has no information on the 95 medical plans that will be offered beginning Jan. 1, as Hawaii Health Connector previously advertised. Hawaii Reporter.

Some Hawaii residents are turning directly to health insurance companies to find out about plans being offered under the state's online health exchange. Associated Press.

Honolulu's prosecutor is proposing that the state build a new prison in an effort to reduce crime rates -- a proposal that drew applause from Kailua residents concerned about an increase in criminal activity. Hawaii News Now.

Does Hawaii need another prison? That’s what Honolulu City Prosecutor Keith Kaneshiro says would help curb crime including the incidents in Kailua. KHON2.

Statewide hotel occupancy growth is forecast to moderate in 2014, but room prices are expected to hold up and propel hotel, resort and retail transactions higher. Star-Advertiser.

State Rep. Karen Awana is in hot water with the Hawaii Campaign Spending Commission again. The Nanakuli Democrat faces an $8,500 fine for failing to account for 50 expenditures made by her campaign since 2011. Hawaii News Now.

Hawaii is one of only 17 states that does not have a law that requires critical congenital heart defect screenings at birth. Now, Hawaii lawmakers say they will consider legislation in the coming year to require the test. Civil Beat.

Alerted late last month to a likely link between several cases of liver failure and the use of dietary supplements, doctors in Hawaii have since reported roughly two dozen more suspected cases from the past six months, the state's epidemiologist said. The onset of the most recent case came just days before a warning from the state Department of Health on Sept. 26, but Dr. Sarah Park said no new cases have developed since then. The number of suspected cases is now in the 30s. Star-Advertiser.

State roundup for October 4. Associated Press.

Oahu
A Honolulu City Council committee Thursday advanced bills requiring stricter reporting of transactions by pawnbrokers and secondhand dealers even though they no longer include the most significant proposal: forcing all transactions to be filed electronically. City officials determined that such a requirement is against a state law that says the dealers can file either electronically or by paper. Star-Advertiser.

Juvenile assault and drug-related arrests on Oahu declined during the 2009-2010 school year when Hawaii furloughed teachers and canceled classes on 17 Fridays to save money during the economic downturn, a University of Hawaii economist said Thursday. The results confirm research by other scholars showing assaults by juveniles tend to drop when school’s not in session. Associated Press.

Capitalizing on the temporary closure of the USS Arizona Memorial and hoping to bolster its own government-shutdown drop in visitors, the Battleship Missouri Memorial today will launch a new tour from its own pier highlighting the Dec. 7, 1941, attack on Pearl Harbor and the sinking of the Arizona. Star-Advertiser.

Applebee’s, one of the most talked about restaurant brands that has yet to open in Hawaii, will open its first establishment in Hawaii in the Pearl Harbor area, according to job postings on Craigslist. Pacific Business News.

Hawaii

Hawaii Island’s first commercial distillery could be operating in Keaau within a few years, after getting the nod Thursday from the Windward Planning Commission. West Hawaii Today.

The Hu Honua Bioenergy project was back before the Windward Planning Commission briefly Thursday. The commission voted 5-0 to adopt supplemental conditions submitted by Hu Honua Bioenergy LLC requiring the company to follow a final archaeological inventory survey completed in May rather than a three-year-old preliminary document. Tribune-Herald.

Parks officials announced Thursday afternoon that the “hot pond” at Ahalanui Park in lower Puna was scheduled to reopen at 7 a.m. this morning. The popular recreation area has been closed since Thursday, Sept. 26, to allow testing of the water after a Maui man was reported to have contracted a rare, flesh-eating disease after swimming in the pond. Tribune-Herald.

Maui

Maui County's public schools' enrollment grew by 211 students this school year, or 1 percent more than last year, according to a Department of Education announcement of official enrollment figures. Maui News.

An additional $10.7 million has been released by the state to move the Kahului Harbor Maui District Office from the waterfront to the historic Old Kahului Railroad Building. Maui News.

The state will hold several meetings in Maui County this month to discuss proposed new rules for Maui and Lanai fisheries. The Department of Land and Natural Resources said Thursday the changes would involve bag and size limits for popular nearshore fish, including goatfish, parrotfish and jacks. Associated Press.

Hawaii Pacific Solar LLC of Lahaina has been selected by Maui County to install photovoltaic panels atop county facilities at 18 sites on Molokai and Maui, according to an announcement. Maui News.

Kauai

A new nonprofit campground on eight acres of beach at Anahola Bay is open to the public. Developed by native Hawaiians from the Anahola Hawaiian Homes Association, Kumu Camp has been in the works since 2010. Garden Island.

The Lihue Airport is in line for $8 million in improvements. A key to the project is enlarging the boarding lounges where passengers wait for their flights. Garden Island.

A group of community organizations, including the Kauai chapter of Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays, will host a one-day conference next week that aims to curb bullying incidents on the island. This year’s conference, titled What Goes Around Comes Around Doesn’t Have to Come Around: Be Someone’s Hero, will take place from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Monday, October 7 at the Aston Aloha Beach Resort. Garden Island.

Molokai

Air carrier Island Air is once again decreasing the number of flights the carrier offers to Molokai — this time to two per day, starting in November. Molokai Dispatch.