Hawaii flower sales wilt, homeless could be sent to Mainland, Biden stopping in Hawaii, state to get two new cutters, county shorted HI-5 funds, Maui wind turbines removed, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Tropical flowers at farmers market (c) 2013 All Hawaii News

Dry weather, pests, vog and lackluster customer demand took a toll on commercial growers of ornamental plants in Hawaii last year, pushing the sector of the state's farm industry into a fifth straight year of lower sales. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii lawmakers hope to save taxpayers millions of dollars in welfare costs by shipping some of the state’s estimated 17,000 homeless back to their families on the mainland. Civil Beat.

Vice President Joe Biden will reportedly stop in Hawaii this weekend after a six-day trade and diplomatic trip to India and Singapore. Associated Press.

Al Gore has endorsed Brian Schatz for U.S. Senate. Who cares? When it comes to the media, at least, quite a lot of people. Civil Beat.

In Hawaii, there are certain instances when someone can legally stand their ground, but generally the state’s self-defense law is in agreement with the sentiments expressed by U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder, who said citizens have a duty to retreat from an attacker if they can do so safely. KITV4.

More than 70 cost-free charging stations for electric and hybrid vehicles – that were installed with the help of about $580,000 in federal stimulus funds – cannot be used by thousands of early adopters of emissions-free vehicles. Civil Beat.

A new study by the University of Hawai'i Cancer Center finds young people who want to quit smoking are turning to e-cigarettes. Hawaii News Now.

Oahu

The Coast Guard's seventh and eighth new National Security Cutters — ships whose construction was in doubt last year — will be funded and based in Honolulu, U.S. Sen. Brian Schatz said Monday. Star-Advertiser.

The nonprofit company dedicated to helping those with developmental disabilities and now under scrutiny by the federal government currently has contracts to run janitorial and cafeteria services in Hawaii with the Navy and the Army totaling more than $9 million, the two military branches told the Star-Advertiser.

Oahu is on pace to record more pedestrian fatalities than in any year since 2008. Star-Advertiser.

Christopher Deedy’s former college roommate testified Monday that the State Department special agent ordered five beers at five different bars before the 2011 fatal shooting at a McDonald’s restaurant in Waikiki. Star-Advertiser.

Call volume over water bills hits 1,200 a day. KITV4.

The fees from the small number of city employees who park in the city's nearly-empty new parking garage fail to bring in enough revenue to pay for the building's annual upkeep, never mind its expensive mortgage, Hawaii News Now has learned.

The state agency regulating development in Kakaako has scheduled two additional public comment sessions on two condominium towers planned for Ward Centers. Star-Advertiser.

Friends, colleagues and fans are pouring out their aloha and sharing stories of Don Gordon, a former Hawaii Public Radio jazz show host and impresario who died Sunday afternoon. Star-Advertiser.

The median sales price of an existing business in Honolulu during the second quarter was $265,000, a drop of 14 percent from the same quarter last year, according to BizBuySell.com. Pacific Business News.

Hawaii

Hawaii County residents are paying an extra half-cent fee every time they buy a drink in a HI-5 bottle or can, but the county is seeing less of its money coming back from the state to operate its redemption centers. West Hawaii Today.

A combination of federal and state belt-tightening — as well as increased competition from other nonprofit organizations for vital grants, with the number of applicants in Hawaii roughly doubling — served to cut various sources of program funding for the Big island Substance Abuse council this year, resulting in the organization shutting down on July 1 three of its offices in Kealakekua, Waimea and Oahu. Tribune-Herald.

A U.S. Geological Survey scientist has adapted a Hawaii-born method of measuring coral growth. West Hawaii Today.

At $1,833 Hilo residents pay the highest average amount of rent than anywhere else in the country. A family of four needs a combined income of more than $87,000 a year to live comfortably. Hawaii News Now.

Maui
After nearly five years of operation, the wind turbines atop the Maui Ocean Center building in Māʻalaea have since been removed, company officials announced. Maui Now.

With boxes of bike helmets, an electrocardiography machine and pairs of vision-impaired goggles - adults and children alike, were educated and entertained Saturday during the 2nd annual Summer Safety Fair at Maui Mall. Maui News.

The Haleakalā park road and summit area above the 9,740 foot elevation will be closed to vehicles, pedestrians, horses and bicyclists through Thursday, July 25, park officials said. Maui Now.

Kauai
Traffic violation numbers have dipped this past year and Kauai Police Department officials attribute the decline to effective enforcement and safer driving habits. Garden Island.

Koloa Plantation Days in full swing. Garden Island.

Cruise ships help float Hawaii economy, Al Gore endorses Schatz, Espero announces congressional bid, Honolulu mayor signs smoking ban, Kauai to revamp tax code, learning about Micronesians, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Cruise ship in Kona, Hawaii

Hawaii received $386 million in direct spending from the cruise industry in 2012, according an independent study commissioned by the Cruise Lines International Association. Pacific Business News.

For the last couple of weeks, Rep. Colleen Hanabusa has been railing against sequestration in campaign emails. But they haven't told the whole story about her history with the automatic budget cuts. Civil Beat.

Al Gore has endorsed U.S. Sen. Brian Schatz in his push to keep his seat. Associated Press.

State Sen. Will Espero has officially declared himself as a candidate to replace Colleen Hanabusa in Hawaii's first congressional district. Hawaii News Now.

State Sen. Will Espero (D) announced Sunday he’ll throw his hat in the ring for the seat being vacated by current Representative Colleen Hanabusa. KHON2.

The state Department of Land and Natural Resources is naming an interim administrator for its historic preservation division. The department is also forming a committee to find a long-term replacement for the previous administrator who resigned earlier this month. Pua Aiu stepped down after a federal report criticized the way her office responded to operational problems threatening funding. Associated Press.

M.R.C. Greenwood will earn a little less than $25,000 a month after she resigns as University of Hawaii president. It’s part of a new deal reached Thursday in a closed-door meeting of the university’s Board of Regents. Hawaii Reporter.

Jesuit priest Francis X. Hezel's latest book, “Making Sense of Micronesia,” just published by the University of Hawaii Press, aims to help Americans decode Micronesian customs and attitudes as more migrants make their way to Hawaii and the mainland. Star-Advertiser.

Civil Beat interviewed Hezel about his work and his views on what Hawaii and the United States can – and should – do for Micronesians, and why. Civil Beat.

Legislation that would have eliminated $34 million in funding for native Hawaiian education programs has since been amended in the US House of Representatives on Thursday, but still faces an uncertain future. Maui Now.

The Hawaii Department of Education has selected eight schools to participate in a pilot program that will equip every student and teacher with a digital tablet and laptop. Associated Press.

Improving public education in Hawaii a passion for Kaneohe Ranch CEO Mitch D'Olier. Pacific Business News.

State roundup for July 22. Associated Press.

Oahu

All bus stops and city-run outdoor recreational areas in Honolulu — to include beaches, parks, playgrounds, swimming pools and athletic fields — will officially be smoke-free Jan. 1. With world-famous Waikiki Beach at his back and his paddleboard by his feet, Mayor Kirk Caldwell signed two City Council bills Sunday that ban smoking at the city's nearly 300 Hono­­lulu parks and about 4,000 bus stops. Star-Advertiser.

In July, the city council passed two smoking ban bills. On Sunday, Mayor Caldwell signed them into law. From now until January 1, city officials will post signs and spread the word about the smoking ban, educating residents and visitors about what happens if they get caught. KHON2.

A family of four must earn nearly $78,000 a year just to live modestly in Honolulu, a new study showed. The 2013 Family Budget Calculator released by the Economic Policy Institute, a Washington, D.C.-based nonprofit, estimates a household with two adults and two children would need to earn more than triple the federal poverty level of $23,283 "to attain a secure yet modest living standard" in Honolulu. Star-Advertiser.

An $80,000 private investigator and hundreds of hours of scrutiny by attorneys have left key questions unanswered in the ongoing scandal involving the City and County of Honolulu and a Central Oahu nonprofit that received nearly $8 million in federal grants to serve the elderly and the developmentally disabled. Civil Beat.

The Mayor’s new Chief Information Officer has been on the job for about a week following his confirmation by the Honolulu City Council. Hawaii Public Radio.

Crews and divers started pulling a mile-long temporary sewer line from the murky depths of the Ala Wai Canal last week, seven years after persistent rain ruptured a Waikiki pipe and leaked millions of gallons of raw sewage into the water there. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii

It represents nearly three decades of a man’s work and passion — an exhaustive photographic record of the daily lives of Hawaii Island residents during the 1950s, ’60s and ’70s. Containing between 40,000 and 50,000 images in negatives and prints, the John Howard Pierce Photograph Collection is a treasure trove of local history that is just beginning to yield its secrets. Tribune-Herald.

Unraveling the mysteries presented by the Pierce photo collection requires a determined approach, and the skills of a private eye. Tribune-Herald.

A Big Island-based teacher preparation program that focuses on developing educators to work with Native Hawaiian students in charter schools recently earned national accreditation, allowing it to soon begin recruiting students. Associated Press.

Maui

A shiny new aluminum channel will soon replace the rotting and aging redwood of the Waikamoi Flume, a piece of Maui's history built in a forest on the ridges and valleys above Haiku more than 70 years ago. Maui News.

Governor Neil Abercrombie announced the release of a $364,000 allocation for Health Department facilities across the state, including health and safety improvement projects at the Maui District Health Office and the Wailuku Health Center on Maui. Maui Now.

It's no news that dogs have a keen sense of smell, but researchers on Maui are engaged in a cutting-edge medical scent detection study that involves training dogs to detect life-threatening infections. Maui News.

Kauai

The Kauai County Council unanimously approved on first reading a bill that would shake up the county’s real property tax system. Draft Bill 2495 proposes a revision on property tax exemptions and caps that would affect resident homeowners, nonprofit organizations, Hawaiian homesteaders, credit unions, senior citizens, transient vacation rental owners and others. Garden Island.

The Kauai County Council introduced a bill to fix a glitch on an “exceptional tree” designation for a coconut grove planted 103 years ago. Garden Island.

Endangered birds on Kauai are singing the praises of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Last week, the federal agency awarded a pair of grants totaling nearly $1 million to local conservation projects. Garden Island.

Molokai
Oceanic Time Warner Cable broadband Internet customers on Molokai have waited for years, filed dozens of complaints and wrung their hands in frustration as hundreds streaming Netflix movies failed to load — all because of Internet speeds many called substandard. Finally, the wait is over. Molokai Dispatch.

Molokai is already home to two saints — Damien and Marianne — and if efforts continue, the island might be known for a third: Brother Joseph Dutton. Molokai Dispatch.

Lucky we live longer in Hawaii! Elders enjoy longer lives; unemployment falls, tax revenues rise, last frigate retired, Pfleuger guilty of reckless endangerment in Kauai dam burst, state to consider thrill-craft rules, Honolulu homeless sweep, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Hawaii kupuna hula (c) 2013 All Hawaii News

If you’re 65 and living in Hawaii, here’s some good news: Odds are you’ll live another 21 years. And for all but five of those years, you’ll likely be in pretty good health. Hawaii tops the charts in the government’s first state-by-state look at how long Americans age 65 can expect to live, on average, and how many of those remaining years will be healthy ones. Associated Press.

Hawaii tops the charts in the government's first state-by-state look at how long Americans age 65 can expect to live, on average, and how many of those remaining years will be healthy ones. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii tax revenues deposited in the general fund rose nearly 10 percent during the most recent fiscal year to $5.5 billion. The state Department of Taxation said Thursday general excise tax revenue rose just over 9 percent to $2.9 billion during the 12 months ended in June. Associated Press.

Hawaii's unemployment rate fell in June to its lowest level in nearly five years as local businesses continued to ramp up hiring, the state Department of Labor and Industrial Relations reported Thursday. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii's seasonally adjusted unemployment rate last month was the lowest since September 2008.Associated Press.

Reflecting the visibility of her race against Sen. Brian Schatz, Rep. Colleen Hanabusa was named one of Politico’s Top 50 Politicos to Watch. Civil Beat.

A former aide to the late U.S. Sen. Daniel Inouye has chosen U.S. Rep. Colleen Hanabusa's Democratic primary campaign for Senate over a corporate government relations job. Peter Boylan, a former deputy chief of staff to Inouye, has resigned as a senior manager for Time Warner Cable in Washington, D.C. He will serve as communications director for Hanabusa's campaign against U.S. Sen. Brian Schatz. Star-Advertiser.

USS Reuben James courtesy photo

The Navy started the day with 18 frigates in the fleet. It ended it with 17 after the retirement of the USS Reuben James at Pearl Harbor. The last remaining frigate home-ported in Hawaii was decommissioned Thursday after 14 deploy­ments and 27 years of service — including some tense moments in the Persian Gulf region. Star-Advertiser.

Drones are garnering increasing attention in the islands, whether in reaction to President Obama’s defense of his extensive use of remote-controlled aerial surveillance and bombing overseas, or as a result of peace-minded protests against drone usage and testing at Pohakuloa on the Big Island, at Wheeler Air Force Base and at UH-Manoa on Oahu. Civil Beat.

What began as a look at the unregulated use of water-propelled jet packs around Oahu has turned into a state review of thrill-craft operations overall. State Land Board Chairman William Aila Jr. said he was broadening his review to include the impact of thrill craft on traditional fishing and on fish and coral larvae. Star-Advertiser.

The time for new leadership to step up at Hawaiian Electric Co., the state’s largest electric utility and part of the biggest public company in Hawaii, took a big step on Wednesday after Robbie Alm, who has been the public face of the company, announced he is leaving his executive vice president post on Aug. 30, after a little more than a decade with the utility. Pacific Business News.

Father Francis X. Hezel, a Catholic priest who has lived and worked in Micronesia for more than four decades, visited Hawaii this week to meet with government officials and others to discuss what the state and federal governments can do to help Micronesians. Civil Beat.

The University of Hawaii Board of Regents is in talks with a candidate to temporarily replace outgoing President M.R.C. Greenwood but isn't ready to make the person's name public. Star-Advertiser.

The University of Hawaii Board of Regents on Thursday elected John Holzman as its new chairman, along with Vice Chair Saedene Ota and returning Vice Chair James Lee. Pacific Business News.

The state Department of Hawaiian Home Lands has an ambitious plan to build more than four thousand new homes for Hawaiian homesteaders. It's something that will take them 20 years to do. Hawaii News Now.

There were 15,258 hybrid vehicles registered in the state of Hawaii, according to a June state energy trend report. The number of electric vehicles was 1,551 — an uptick of 83 percent compared to the same time last year. Civil Beat.

Oahu

Greg I. Nishioka will resign Aug. 30 as administrator of the Honolulu Liquor Commission, six months after admitting to the  Disciplinary Board of the Hawaii Supreme Court he commingled and misappropriated funds in his law practice. Star-Advertiser.

The administrator of the Honolulu Liquor Commission has resigned, months after admitting to dozens of legal ethics violations through his law practice. Hawaii News Now.

Thursday's sweeps dispersed dozens of homeless who camp overnight around the Kakaako Makai Gateway Park area and the Ala Wai Promenade. Star-Advertiser.

During the eighth day of testimony in State Department special agent Christopher Deedy's murder trial, a witness for the first time noted that Deedy did not appear to be intoxicated in the early-morning hours of Nov. 5, 2011, after he fatally shot a 23-year-old Kailua man at a Waikiki McDonald's. Star-Advertiser.

Retired Honolulu Police Department Sgt. Kenneth Schreiner was in charge when Christopher Deedy was arrested on Nov. 5, 2011. He saw Deedy kneeling over Kollin Elderts. Both men were covered in blood. A worker at the Waikiki McDonald's told him Deedy was the shooter. Hawaii News Now.

A Waikiki hotel is accused of discriminating against a combat veteran and his service dog. Hawaii News Now.

Beachgoers are breaking out in a blistering rash, and it’s not because of jellyfish or Man o’ War. KHON2 heard from several people who reported getting stung by “stinging seaweed.”

The Historic Hawai’i Foundation cites up to four heiau in Kaimuki, one up Sierra Drive, two on Kaimuki Hill and another at Leahi hospital. Hawaii Public Radio.

Hawaii
Sandra Dawson has been shepherding plans for the Thirty Meter Telescope through Hawaii's regulatory labyrinth for the past five years, and now, pending resolution of one last appeal, construction of the estimated $1.4 billion astronomy endeavor near the top of Mauna Kea is poised to begin. Star-Advertiser.

The Hawaii County Department of Parks and Recreation may have found a colorful solution to the issue of illegal activity at Kalakaua Park. Parks and Recreation Director Clayton Honma said he will look at adding flower boxes along a wall on the makai side of the downtown Hilo park that nearby businesses complain is used too frequently as a hangout spot for the homeless and vagrants. Tribune-Herald.

Leeward Planning Commissioners are asking for more information from county departments and the developer of a proposed Hualalai Road subdivision before deciding whether the land should be reclassified as urban and rezoned. West Hawaii Today.

Hawaii County will get a new public shoreline access easement as part of a 1999 special management area permit, as a luxury development begins to take root on one of the few remaining large private holdings on Kohala’s Gold Coast. West Hawaii Today.

Hawaii Medical Service Association plans to open one of its new neighborhood centers in Hilo’s Waiakea Center. Tribune-Herald.

The Hawaii Supreme Court ruled today that a wrongful death lawsuit against Ala Moana Center can move forward. The high court said Ala Moana had a duty to aid 22-year-old Jasmine Fry, who died in 2005 after she fell into an exhaust vent above the center's food court. Hawaii News Now.

Maui

In light of a looming investigation over the Old Wailuku Post Office demolition, Mayor Alan Arakawa has proposed directives that limit communication between council members and county department heads that he admits could bring the county to "a grinding halt." Maui News.

The Maui County Civil Defense Agency has updated tsunami evacuation zone maps - with major changes in the Kahului area and the addition of new maps for two areas on Maui. Maui News.

Maui police will be increasing speeding enforcement, education and patrols during a week-long campaign that runs from July 22-26 on all major Maui roadways, police said. Maui Now.

It takes a community to build a food forest. That was the message delivered by Paul Massey to a receptive crowd of both seasoned permaculture enthusiasts and self-proclaimed "greenhorns" at a recent talk at the University of Hawai'i Maui College. Maui Weekly.

Kauai
In a nearly empty courtroom, retired auto dealer James Pflueger was found guilty of reckless endangering in the Ka Loko dam tragedy after pleading no contest Thursday and ending years of denying that he had any responsibility in the 2006 disaster that left seven people dead. Star-Advertiser.

A retired car dealer pleaded no contest Thursday to reckless endangering in a dam breach in Hawaii that swept seven people to their deaths in 2006. Associated Press.

The defendant involved in the 2006 Ka Loko dam failure pleaded no contest to first-degree reckless endangering Thursday in 5th Circuit Court. Garden Island.

James Pflueger, the owner of the land under the dam, was indicted on seven counts of manslaughter and one count of reckless endangerment in the first degree in November 2008 after witnesses said he illegally graded around the dam and covered its main safety feature, a concrete spillway, causing it to overtop and breach during heavy rains. Pflueger, an 87-year-old retired auto dealer with assets of $71 million, was able to use his power, wealth, influence and political connections to delay his criminal trial for years through multiple appeals. Hawaii Reporter.

Kauai now has its first 320-slice computed tomography scanner, an X-ray imaging machine. Now installed and in operation at Wilcox Memorial Hospital, the CT scanner is the fastest and most advanced scanner in the state, according to hospital officials. Garden Island.

Tulsi in the spotlight, Honolulu arrest death ruled homicide, electricity bills double, Hawaii state counties conference gets rowdy, Honolulu council sets sights on tax hikes, Maui aims to save the trees, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Tulsi Gabbard at 2012 Democratic National Convention

U.S. Rep. Tulsi Gabbard will have a leading role in a bipartisan coalition to reduce government waste and inefficiency as the freshman Hawaii Democrat positions herself as a problem solver in Congress. No Labels is expected to announce a package of reform legislation this morning backed by more than 70 House and Senate Demo­crats and Republicans. Star-Advertiser.

Freshman Rep. Tulsi Gabbard on Wednesday expressed deep disappointment with Congress even as she urged more women, young people and diverse candidates to run. Politico.

Electric bills have doubled over the past decade in Hawaii as state regulators search for sustainable ways to provide power to thousands of homes and businesses. Meantime, utility executives are banking millions of dollars in annual salaries and benefits while they bemoan declining sales due to more people going off the grid. Civil Beat.

Robbie Alm is leaving his post as executive vice president of Hawaiian Electric Co. as of Aug. 30 after more than a decade at Hawaii’s largest utility, HECO said Wednesday. Pacific Business News.

Robbie Alm, who has been the public face of Hawaiian Electric Co. for the past decade, will be leaving the company August 30, according to a company press release. Civil Beat.

More than 27,000 U.S. and Australian forces are taking part in military training exercises for the next two and a half weeks. Most of the drills are off the coast of Australia—but the Navy says some activities will take place in Hawaii. Hawaii Public Radio.

The University of Hawaii has signed a new five-year contract with the U.S. Navy for a controversial research lab even though anticipated revenue is significantly less than expected and officials will reveal little about the lab's operations. Civil Beat.

Ever since KHON2 did a story about a state hummer, the questions keep on coming about the state using everything from fancy SUVs to brand new Harley Davidsons. People are asking KHON2 to dig deeper about what the state sheriffs are driving, and at what cost.

State roundup for July 18. Associated Press.

Oahu

Nine bills designed to curb property tax exemptions and create new tax categories that would make it easier for the City Council to raise rates on some targeted groups of owners were passed by the Council Budget Committee on Wednesday. Star-Advertiser.

The Honolulu Medical Examiner's Office has ruled as a homicide the death in June of Stephen Dinnan, who was restrained by a police officer investigating a stolen vehicle report in Waimanalo. Star-Advertiser.

A rapidly growing network of police cameras is capturing, storing and sharing data on license plates, making possible a stitching together of people's movements whether they are stuck in a commute, making tracks to the beach or up to no good. And Honolulu police plan to get on the nationwide bandwagon. Star-Advertiser.

The head of the police officers union in Hawaii told City Council members on Wednesday that officers are given a standard of conduct differential pay allowance because officers are expected to carry their firearms and confront danger 24 hours a day, unlike other government workers. Star-Advertiser.

Kakaako is envisioned to become Oahu's "third city" as it is redeveloped with thousands of homes, more retail, parks and upgraded roads and sewers. But no one, including the state agency regulating development in the area, plans to add any schools. Star-Advertiser.

Ewa Beach homeowners sue over scrapped marina. Homeowners in Ewa Beach's Hoakalei Resort and Ocean Pointe communities say they bought their properties because developer Haseko Inc.'s government-approved master plan project included as the main physical attraction a small boat marina that connects to the ocean. Star-Advertiser.

It Wasn't Magic — a Real Estate Developer Made an Entire Marina Disappear. Civil Beat.

Some Kahala homeowners say the city hasn't done enough to enforce a new property blight law in their neighborhood, but city leaders say they've gone so far as to begin the process of putting up a lien on one particular repeat offender. Hawaii News Now.

A prosecution witness testified Wednesday that U.S. State Department special agent Christopher Deedy smelled of alcohol the morning of the 2011 fatal shooting of Kollin Elderts at a McDonald’s restaurant in Waikiki. Star-Advertiser.

Day 7: Jury shown police photographs of Deedy after arrest. Hawaii News Now.

Hawaii Pacific University and the Oceanic Institute plans to merge in a move that would make the Waimanalo-based nonprofit research and development organization the research arm of the state’s largest private university, HPU has confirmed to PBN. Pacific Business News.

The Howard Hughes Corporation envisions a 38-story tower at the old Dixie Grill location on the corner of Ward and Halekauwila streets. KITV4.

About 300 people were seen running down Lewers Street in a panic Wednesday night. But those people were extras in the latest motion picture production of "Godzilla," which wraps up its filming early Thursday morning. Hawaii News Now.

Monster on Lewers street! Moviemakers producing “Godzilla” place film extras in Waikiki for a scene in which they flee in panic from the terrible lizard. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii

Hotel security shut down a loud hospitality suite hosted by a lobbyist whose client list includes a GMO company, but most Hawaii County Council members attending the Hawaii State Association of Counties conference on Kauai last month said there was more county business than partying going on. West Hawaii Today.

Hawaii Island public school buses will begin using high-tech routing software and global positioning system (GPS) tracking in the 2015-16 academic year, as the state Department of Education expands a plan to overhaul its transportation system. Tribune-Herald.

Speed limit signs will soon become more than an advisory in Hawaiian Paradise Park. Tribune-Herald.

Ka’u radio station closes. West Hawaii Today.

Maui

It likely will be more difficult to remove trees on public and private property under bills proposed by Maui County Council Vice Chairman Robert Carroll. Maui News.

Year after year, Maui veterans have fought to update and relocate several offices to create a one-stop medical complex in Central Maui. Over the next few years, their dream may finally come true. The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs approved earlier this year a 15,000-square-foot facility with a budget of just under $10 million. Maui News.

In response to complaints about its paratransit service, Maui Economic Opportunity Inc. announced that it is hiring more qualified drivers to meet the demands of its hundreds of new disabled clients. Maui News.

Maui County will work with three Hawaii affordable housing experts to make recommendations on how to handle the more than $10 million owed to the county by the nonprofit agency that runs the low income housing project Hale Makana O Waiale in Wailuku. Maui News.

A man who was awarded a state contract to start a recycling business on Maui has been charged with forgery and theft for allegedly submitting false invoices and obtaining more than $200,000. Maui News.

Kauai

Over the last two months, the Open Space Commission has held meetings around the island to gather input regarding places on Kauai that community members feel should be preserved and protected . The last in this round of meetings will be held from 6 to 7:30 p.m. July 24 at The Hanalei Community Center. Garden Island.

The Department of Education is continuing to investigate a complaint filed against Kapaa Middle School Principal Nathan Aiwohi. Garden Island.

Four years after the demise of the Hawaii Superferry, the ghosts of the interisland ocean route that sank millions of dollars of public money still linger. Garden Island.

Hawaii political landscape shaping up early; more school buses for Oahu; Deedy made death threats, jury learns; lava photo catches fire; more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Hawaii state public library

The state Legislature has appropriated $700,000 for the Hawaii State Public Library System to enhance its collections of e-books and other library materials. West Hawaii Today.

The agency that represents poor defendants in federal cases faces such severe budget cuts that Hawaii's chief federal judge worries she may have to dismiss some cases if no one is available to represent the defendants. Civil Beat.

With her frequent appearances on national political talk shows and a splashy feature in Vogue magazine, Rep. Tulsi Gabbard has had the look of someone gunning for higher office. But a leap into the U.S. Senate race against Sen. Brian Schatz and Rep. Colleen Hanabusa seems unlikely based on her latest campaign contribution report, national analysts say. Civil Beat.

Honolulu City Councilman Ikaika Anderson has filed paperwork with the Federal Election Commission to explore a run for the 1st Congressional District seat being vacated by U.S. Rep. Colleen Hana­busa, but stopped short of declaring his candidacy. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii Sen. Mazie K. Hirono has unveiled a new virtual office with the aim of improving service to constituents. Maui News.

Kamuela community activist Karen Cobeen is "totally frustrated" with her elected officials. She is coordinating an online petition that seeks to amend the constitution to create a legal framework to recall Hawaii elected officials. Civil Beat.

Time to Question Inouye's 'Last Wish' Civil Beat.

William Nhieu has been appointed the Deputy Director of Communications for the Hawaii State House of Representatives. Hawaii Reporter.

State roundup for July 17. Associated Press.

Oahu
It’s never too soon to start thinking about the future. And when it comes to raising campaign cash Honolulu Mayor Kirk Caldwell seems to be a strong believer in that mantra. Civil Beat.

The Department of Education will reinstate bus service next month for about 1,000 Oahu students whose routes were slashed last school year as the department faced a multimillion-dollar budget shortfall. Star-Advertiser.

The new school bus transportation system that’s being tested at 30 schools in the Pearl City, Aiea and surrounding areas will restore rides for about half of the 2,000 students whose routes were cut last school year. Civil Beat.

A former Kaneohe Marine testified Tuesday that he did not hear or see U.S. State Department special agent Christoper Deedy identify himself as a law enforcement officer, but heard him repeatedly threaten to shoot a 23-year-old Kailua man who moments later was fatally shot in the chest. Star-Advertiser.

Day 6: Eyewitness says Deedy threatened to shoot Elderts in the face. Hawaii News Now.

The state Department of Land and Natural Resources will conduct a public meeting Thursday to discuss problems and concerns brought on by unregulated use of water-propelled jet packs around Oahu. Star-Advertiser.

Every time Oahu residents get their water-sewer bill, you have to pay a billing charge of $7.70.  It used to be about every 60 days, now it’s every month. The Honolulu Board of Water Supply says that helps to cover current and future costs of its new customer care and billing system, meter maintenance, and staffing. KHON2.

Last week's fatal stabbing at Kailua District Park has fueled an already hot topic that one legislator calls the "Kailua Crime Wave," including a range of property crimes. Star-Advertiser.

The new recreation center being built at the University of Hawaii's Campus Center on its flagship Manoa campus is about ten months behind schedule. Instead of opening last December during the school year, it is not projected to open until October. Hawaii News Now.

Unite Here Local 5 workers and community members from the AiKea Movement will hold a rally in front of the Ilikai Hotel today to protest the trend of widespread condominium conversions, which they say is damaging Hawaii's economy. Star-Advertiser.

An upstart local company co-founded by big-wave surfer Brian Keaulana hopes to bring to Hawaii what a Spanish company claims is the world's longest artificial surfing wave. Star-Advertiser.

Kaneohe Ranch Co. LLC and the Harold K.L. Castle Foundation are expected to make a decision in the next three months on the potential sale of the Kaneohe Ranch commercial real estate portfolio, according to Mitch D’Olier. He is president and CEO of the two entities that own the properties in question, including the highly coveted Kailua town center in Windward Oahu. Pacific Business News.

Apartment-dwellers David and Melissa Falgout spent 17 months on a waiting list for the chance to rent a precious plot of dirt at Makiki District Park community garden next to the H-1 freeway. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii

While almost the entire county government, from Mayor Billy Kenoi to legislative clerical staff, took furloughs or pay cuts last fiscal year to help balance a tight county budget, six incoming County Council members opted out. West Hawaii Today.

It was simply meant to be a risky yet artsy photo shared among friends — a way to get a few extra "likes" on his Facebook page. But after Kailua-Kona resident Kawika Singson posted a photo of himself atop a Puu Oo lava flow while peering through a camera lens — flames leaping from the camera tripod and the soles of his shoes — the July 4 image swiftly went viral on the Internet. Star-Advertiser.

A Big Island-based teacher preparation program that focuses on developing educators to work with Native Hawaiian students in charter schools recently earned national accreditation, allowing it to soon begin recruiting students. Associated Press.

For decades, West Hawaii community members have complained there is not enough road connectivity. There's also been concern about the lack of evacuation routes in case of a tsunami. Starting this week, work is underway to add one new option. Hawaii Public Radio.

Tsunami sirens tested. Tribune-Herald.

Maui

The West Maui Mountains between Kahakuloa and Makamakaole may be quiet now, but habitat conservationists working on the Makamaka'ole seabird mitigation project are hoping that by this time next year they will be filled with the song of native Hawaiian seabirds. Maui News.

Maui Economic Opportunity is seeking to hire qualified para-transit drivers for its senior and limited-mobility transportation programs, officials announced today. Maui Now.

Some Kihei residents are without water Tuesday morning and a portion of South Kihei Road is open to one-lane traffic only as the County Department of Water Supply repairs a leaking 12-inch main line along South Kihei Road, a county release said Tuesday morning. Maui News.

Molokai

The "largest humanitarian effort" ever to come to Molokai is already arriving in large shipping containers at Kaunakakai Wharf in preparation for Convoy of Hope Hawaii's Day of Compassion on Saturday, organizers of the event said. Maui News.

Honolulu may offer homeless washrooms, fired DOE administrator files whistleblower lawsuit, Christian lawmakers to discuss marriage, wait staff can sue for tips, witnesses say Deedy was drunk, parking garages galore, more about Larry's Lanai, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Honolulu homeless (c) 2013 All Hawaii News

The Honolulu City Council is looking at a proposal to establish places where the homeless and others can take showers, use toilets and wash their clothes. Associated Press.

Setting up places where the homeless and others can take a shower, use a toilet and wash their clothes will be discussed by a City Council committee Thursday. Star-Advertiser.

On Wednesday, four Oahu pastors will meet with a handful of lawmakers at a fellowship luncheon, and the luncheon's co-organizer plans to bring up the ruling on the federal Defense of Marriage Act. Civil Beat.

Flawed bid would cost state $284M, whistle-blower says. Sarah McCann filed a whistle-blower lawsuit in state court Friday against schools Superintendent Kathryn Matayoshi and the DOE. She contends she was fired in June for writing an audit critical of the preferred vendor's bid and for refusing a superior's order to destroy the report. Star-Advertiser.

The state Department of Education's website's first makeover in more than a decade was unveiled Monday with the launching of hawaiipublicschools.org. The website — built using $1.7 million in federal Race to the Top funds — is part of the department's strategic plan that calls for improved communications and community engagement to keep parents, students, teachers, staff and the public informed. Star-Advertiser.

A new, redesigned version of the Hawaii State Department of Education website was released Monday as a part of a $1.7 million effort to increase transparency and communication with community members. Garden Island.

Hawaii hotel workers can sue their employers for money the hotels collected as service charges but didn't pass on to the employees, the Hawaii Supreme Court ruled Monday. Star-Advertiser.

The Hawaii Supreme Court ruled Monday that hotels or restaurants that apply a service charge for the sale of food or beverage services allegedly violate state law by not distributing the full service charge directly to its employees as tip income. Pacific Business News.

The U.S. Department of Labor has awarded Hawaii more than $700,000 to continue implementing a program to help the unemployed find work. Associated Press.

Blue Planet Foundation is rolling out four programs by the end of the year to further support its mission of reducing Hawaii’s dependency on fossil fuels. Pacific Business News.

State roundup for July 16. Associated Press.

Oahu

The state is looking to build a parking structure and other public facilities that could include an innovation and technology park on a 5-acre lot in Kakaako where the University of Hawaii originally planned to build its cancer center. Star-Advertiser.

It’s been nearly a year since the Hawaii Supreme Court stopped construction on Honolulu’s $5.26 billion rail project because of the city’s failure to follow established law when seeking out Hawaiian burial sites along the proposed 20-mile route. Civil Beat.

Eight months after it opened, a new multi-million dollar city parking garage sits virtually empty in spite of a city employees' parking crunch near City Hall, Hawaii News Now has learned.

Two customers and the first police officer to arrive at the 2011 fatal shooting scene at a Waikiki McDonald's restaurant testified Monday that they thought State Department special agent Christopher Deedy was intoxicated. Star-Advertiser.

Day 5: Officer says Deedy looked drunk on night of shooting. Hawaii News Now.

The Christopher Deedy murder trial continued on Monday and a witness to the deadly shooting took the stand. KHON2.

Waikiki's International Market Place is a shopping mecca for souvenirs and Hawaiiana, wedged between high end retailers, but its days are numbered. Land owner Queen Emma Land Company is developing a shopping center there anchored by Saks Fifth Avenue. Hawaii News Now.

Kaneohe Ranch and the Harold K.L. Castle Foundation's holdings of more than 60 properties are expected to sell for as much as $600 million. Star-Advertiser.

Nicknamed the Black Noodle it's been a reminder of one of the dirtiest days in state history. Now the City of Honolulu has started removing a sewage pipe from the Ala Wai Canal. Hawaii News Now.

The city is in a sticky situation as some residents from Ewa to Makaha deal with a stinky mess. Trash has been piling up all weekend after two routes were missing. KHON2.

Hawaii
As many as 10 “top priority” emergency warning sirens may be upgraded or installed on the Big Island by the end of the year. Hawaii Civil Defense is embarking on a statewide $25.6 million siren modernization program that is expecting to make the system more reliable. Tribune-Herald.

A Hualalai Road development, which its owner withdrew two years ago after significant negative community reaction, is headed back to the Leeward Planning Commission Thursday. West Hawaii Today.

A Big Island-based teacher preparation program that focuses on developing educators to work with Native Hawaiian students in charter schools recently earned national accreditation, allowing it to soon begin recruiting students. Associated Press.

A few recurring issues pop up when Hawaii Island farmers talk about the challenges of going organic. West Hawaii Today.

Maui

The Hawaiian Islands Land Trust and Hawaiian Legacy Hardwoods have formed a partnership to further restore Hawaii's koa forests and assist other native forests across the state. Maui News.

A Draft Environmental Assessment has been prepared for the proposed replacement of the Kūlanihākoʻi Bridge in Kīhei, with public comment being accepted through August 7. According to the document, the existing four-cell concrete box culvert system is “structurally deficient” and in “advanced stages of deterioration.” Maui Now.

Kauai

Local residents are asking the Kauai County Council to pass a new law to circumvent a ruling by a federal judge in Honolulu. The ruling found initiating zoning amendments is the government’s business rather than a voter’s right. Garden Island.

Signs announcing the road closure of Eiwa Street at the Rice Street junction were put in place Monday. The closure is expected to last six months and is part of the Lihue Civic Center master plan. Garden Island.

Lanai

The Lanai Airport, one of the few places on Lanai that Oracle Corp. CEO Larry Ellison does not own, is nearing a $25 million to $30 million runway safety improvement project, according to a request for proposals from the state. Pacific Business News.

Lanai's billionaire owner hasn't given local media interviews and has stayed under the public radar, putting his chief operating officer and Lanai native, Kurt Matsumoto, in the spotlight instead. But the California software guru, who bought the island for "hundreds of millions of dollars" last year, has been around, many Lanai residents say. Maui News.

Most businesses in the heart of Lanai City are pleased with new island owner Larry Ellison's efforts to rejuvenate the economy and his work on sprucing up the town square and company-owned buildings. Maui News.

Molokai

The remote Kalaupapa settlement is normally the epitome of peace. But once a year on barge day, its wharf becomes as busy as a city intersection. Hawaii Public Radio.

Hawaii mulls water-powered jetpack rules, audit finds schools overcounting students, Dems bicker over marriage amendment, Ed Case leaves politics, Lanai likes Ellison, Ala Wai sewer pipe coming out, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

water-powered jetpack, photo courtesy boatbloggings

The Department of Land and Natural Resources is holding a public meeting this week to discuss possible state rules for water-powered jet packs. The department says it called the meeting in response to public concerns about the jet packs, which can appear to make people fly over water. Associated Press.

A recent internal audit by the Hawaii Department of Education finds that schools are exaggerating their enrollment counts. That's a serious issue because it skews how the state distributes the funding among the schools and ultimately reduces how much money schools receive for staffing and equipment. Civil Beat.

Some state House and Senate Democrats have asserted legislative immunity against accusations they violated the Demo­cratic Party of Hawaii's platform on equal rights by proposing a constitutional amendment on traditional marriage. The lawmakers say they were acting within their official legislative duties when they introduced or co-sponsored bills last session that would let voters decide whether marriage should be reserved for heterosexual couples. Star-Advertiser.

More than 13,000 Hawaii property owners — including businesses, owners of vacation homes, and those whose properties have had major problems with flooding could see their annual federal flood insurance premiums climb by 25 percent before the end of the year.  Civil Beat.

Former U.S. Rep. Ed Case is joining Outrigger Enterprises Group as senior vice president and chief legal officer later this month, and said Friday that he will no longer seek political office as long as he is with the Hawaii-based hotel chain. Pacific Business News.

POW/MIA recovery unit defended in wake of critical internal report. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaiian Airlines said Friday that its flight from Taipei to Honolulu this weekend has been delayed once more because of Typhoon Soulik, which made landfall in Taiwan before turning toward China. Pacific Business News.

State Sen. Glenn Wakai is serving as the Republic of Palau's honorary consul to Hawaii. Associated Press.

A Kaneohe Bay boating enthusiast is floating a proposal to have Hawaii's harbor masters and agents on duty when he says they're most needed: on the weekends. Star-Advertiser.

A new mobile application helps the public locate electric vehicle charging stations in Hawaii. Associated Press.

State roundup for July 15. Associated Press.

Oahu

Crews are scheduled to begin work to remove a 5,000 foot long pipe from the Ala Wai Canal on Monday. Hawaii News Now.

The ‘Ewa Development Plan is based on a more-than-thirty-year-old vision of a “second-city;” a new urban center in Kapolei and the ‘Ewa plains – long before “sustainability,” “urban sprawl” and “food security” were terms on people’s lips. Hawaii Independent.

Jeffrey Mahon, who has worked as a curator at underwater facilities and aquariums in Asia and the Mainland, has been named director of the Honolulu Zoo, Mayor Kirk Caldwell announced Friday. Pacific Business News.

Looking to get space for those with green thumbs in Honolulu. A dig for more community gardens is underway KITV4.

Hundreds of families came out to Kualoa Ranch this weekend to enjoy the Hawaii State Farm Fair. KHON2.

Hawaii

Construction is booming at the Natural Energy Laboratory of Hawaii Authority. West Hawaii Today.

Hawaii County Council Chairman J Yoshimoto has given the Food Basket Inc. a deadline to account for how it spent almost $200,000 in county disaster funds. West Hawaii Today.

The state Department of Land and Natural Resources has not forgotten about a game management plan drafted for Hawaii County three years ago but never enacted, says the agency’s Forestry and Wildlife chief. Tribune-Herald.

Three years after a Mountain View hunter was critically injured in an accidental shooting on private property in Keaau, illegal hunting remains a big problem according to landowners and law enforcement authorities. Tribune-Herald.

Maui
The Public Utilities Commission is taking a close look at tying together the power grids of Maui and Oahu with a two-way flow of energy. The commission's decision to open "an investigation to determine whether an Oahu-Maui Interisland Transmission System is in the public interest" was one of several key rulings made Thursday that could affect power acquisition and transmission in Maui County and Oahu. Maui News.

First Wind, the renewable energy company that operates the Kaheawa Wind farms above Māʻalaea on Maui, unveiled a newly constructed bird enclosure on Thursday. Maui Now.

Kauai

The Kauai Police Department is near full-strength with the graduation of its 83rd Police Recruit Class on Friday. Garden Island.

Tuesday will offer an opportunity for local residents to view new footage of Hawaiian monk seals in their natural habitat. Garden Island.

Charles Roessler still remembers purchasing his 3-acre piece of agriculture land on Kuawa Road in 1977 shortly after Big Five sugar cane giant C. Brewer sold off much of their land in Kilauea. Garden Island.

Lanai

So far, Lanai residents give billionaire Larry Ellison a thumbs up for the improvements and changes he has brought to the island since buying the vast majority of it a year ago. Maui News.

Although most of Larry Ellison's plans will probably take years to reach fruition, the man who owns the vast majority of Lanai has already taken some concrete steps by beginning work on a desalination plant on the island's dry southern end. Maui News.

Hawaii reapportionment upheld, federal judges oppose Honolulu rail route, race becomes issue in Deedy trial, Schatz and Hanabusa raise campaign cash, roving state reps get free trips, police raise to cost millions, Kauai missile range greets new commander, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

The Hawaii Reapportionment Commission’s justification in redrawing legislative districts so Hawaii Island received a fourth Senate seat embodied “rational, legitimate and substantial state policies,” a federal court panel said Thursday in dismissing a lawsuit challenging the new maps’ constitutionality. West Hawaii Today.

A federal three-judge panel has ruled in favor of the reapportionment plan Hawaii used during the most recent general election. Associated Press.

The 2012 reapportionment and redistricting plan does not violate the Equal Protection Clause of the U.S. Constitution, a three-judge panel of the U.S. District Court said in upholding its previous decision to deny an injunction sought by a group of voters that challenged the plan. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii does not have to count some 108,000 “nonpermanent residents" — mostly students and military — when drawing the boundaries of state districts, according to a federal court order issued today. Civil Beat.

A typhoon is barreling toward Taiwan where a group of Hawaii residents are visiting this week. Governor Neil Abercrombie was on that tour, but cut his trip short and raced home a day earlier to miss the storm. KHON2.

U.S. Rep. Colleen Hanabusa opened her Democratic primary campaign against U.S. Sen. Brian Schatz with $500,000 in fundraising, her campaign announced Thursday, well below the mark set by Schatz. Star-Advertiser.

Gift disclosure statements filed last month by two state lawmakers revealed an unexpected and intriguing donor from half a world away: The Republic of Azerbaijan. The thriving oil-fueled nation just north of Iran flew Reps. Rida Cabanilla and Mark Takai halfway across the world for the U.S.-Azerbaijan Convention in May. Civil Beat.

State employees and legislators receiving free golf perks from companies that do business with the state have caught the attention of the Hawaii Ethics Commission. Associated Press.

CNBC has released its report America's Top States for Doing Business 2013. No surprise to business owners in Hawaii that the 50th state came in dead last in the annual ranking and is considered the worst place to do business in the country. Hawaii Reporter.

Occupancy dipped a little at Hawaii hotels in May, which hoteliers say will probably be their worst-performing month of the year. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii hotels experienced double-digit increases in occupancy during the week of July 4 when compared to the same week last year, while occupancy changes were mixed across the four major islands, according to the latest report from Hospitality Advisors LLC and Smith Travel Research. Pacific Business News.

Hiroshima Still Echoes in Hawaii Nearly 70 Years After Atomic Bomb Blast. Civil Beat.

State roundup for July 12. Associated Press.

Oahu

The federal District Court in Hawaii took renewed aim this week at the planned route for the city's rail line, saying it fails to meet the $5.26 billion project's stated purpose by ending at Ala Moana Center — a shopping mall — instead of the University of Hawaii's Manoa campus. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii Chief U.S. District Judge Susan Oki Mollway has blasted the Honolulu Authority for Rapid Transportation’s decision to run the proposed rail transit route to Ala Moana Center and urged the agency to reconsider an alternate route that would include a tunnel under Beretania Street. Pacific Business News.

All 11 of Hawaii’s federal judges have submitted a letter to The Federal Transit Administration and the city’s Honolulu Authority for Rapid Transportation that opponents of the city’s elevated steel rail project are calling a “bombshell” and “unprecedented.” Hawaii Reporter.

In a time of tight budgets, a new Hawaii police union contract will cost the City and County of Honolulu an additional $200 million over the next four years, according to a memo Mayor Kirk Caldwell sent to the city council earlier this week. Civil Beat.

An unanticipated expense in the arbitrated four-year contract awarded the police officers union will cost Oahu taxpayers about 36 percent more than city officials had originally anticipated. Star-Advertiser.

Prosecution raises race as issue in Deedy trial. Hawaii News Now.

Racial overtones surfaced during State Department special agent Christopher Deedy's murder trial Thursday with testimony from a McDonald's restaurant customer who supposedly was racially harassed and a fellow agent who testified that he told Deedy some "locals" don't like mainlanders. Star-Advertiser.

Audit of UH Culinary Arts programs uncovers lax accounting, oversight of food inventory. KITV4.

Hawaii

The USDA will spend $1 million to combat coffee berry borer on Hawaii Island, officials said Thursday morning. West Hawaii Today.

Hawaii island coffee farmers are getting a $1 million boost from the federal government to help in their fight against the coffee berry borer, an invasive species that is "devastating" their operations. Star-Advertiser.

A spokesman for Mayor Billy Kenoi said the county will “have to find the money within the current year’s budget” to fund raises for police officers. Tribune-Herald.

The state Department of Human Services has suspended the operating license of a Kailua-Kona day care center for the second time this year, the state announced Tuesday. Star-Advertiser.

There's been lots of discussion throughout the state about the need to have more farmers and to have more of our food grown right here at home. On Hawaii Island, there's a program to develop new farmers--and they're looking for candidates. Hawaii Public Radio.

Hilo nurse honored for efforts to curb infections. Tribune-Herald.

Maui

Many of Maui's nonprofit social and human service agencies are facing uncertainty as they move into the fifth month of the federal budget cutbacks--known as "sequestration"--that went into affect on March 1. Maui Weekly.

Both Hawaiian Commercial and Sugar Company on Maui, and Monsanto Company on Molokaʻi were cited by the Hawaiʻi Department of Health Clean Air Branch after the agency received dust complaints, officials said. Maui Now.

Mayor Alan Arakawa recently visited Hangzhou, China, capital of eastern China's Zhejiang Province, where he attended the Second Annual World Cultural Forum from May 17 to 19. Maui Weekly.

After a morning of presiding over court cases, 2nd Circuit Judge Richard Bissen walked across the street from the courthouse to his doctor's office for his regular checkup. Just hours later, after undergoing an electrocardiogram at the doctor's office and being sent to Maui Memorial Medical Center for more testing to examine his heart activity, Bissen was taken to the operating room for emergency heart surgery. Maui News.

Kauai

In grand style, the Pacific Missile Range Facility welcomed its new commander — and bid farewell to his predecessor — Thursday inside the facility’s base operations hangar. Garden Island.

The three defendants named in the civil rights lawsuit filed by Kauai County Councilman Tim Bynum have filed motions to dismiss the case this week, according to county officials. Garden Island.

Attorneys Kyle Smith and Gerard Jervis, who represent the Kauai’s Westside community in an ongoing lawsuit against Pioneer Hi-Bred International, have compiled a list of chemicals used by the company. They will disclose the information during a public meeting beginning at 2 p.m. Saturday at Waimea Canyon Middle School. Garden Island.

A few hours after being posted online Wednesday afternoon, the “Save Coco Palms” petition was pulled without explanation. Garden Island.

Molokai

A year after a fire destroyed Hotel Molokai’s kitchen , Hula Shores restaurant and bar is one step closer to repairing and reopening its dining facilities. Hotel Molokai was approved for repairs at the June 26 Molokai Planning Commission meeting, securing their ability to begin construction soon. Molokai Dispatch.

Kahoolawe

Funds for the cleanup and restoration of Kahoolawe are expected to run out in 2016, yet only 13 percent of the job has been done, according to a report issued Thursday by the state legislative auditor. Star-Advertiser.