Hawaii economy up, 'alarming' increase in Army DUI, more on Obama family visit, Honolulu preps for marathon, Kakaako condo approved, Molokai could be 100% renewable, Hawaii County advances $61M bond, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Waikiki shoppers (c) 2013 All Hawaii News

Hawaii’s state economists are forecasting a higher economic growth rate of nearly 3 percent for 2014, despite lowering the 2013 growth rate in a quarterly economic report released on Wednesday. Pacific Business News.

The White House hasn't officially announced its plans yet, but Hawaii News Now has learned the Obamas will vacation here over the holidays.  This will be the First Family's sixth Christmas in Hawaii since he was elected president, and keeping with tradition they are expected to spend it in Kailua.

The Army is reporting an "alarming increase" in drunken driving by soldiers in Hawaii as the military continues to struggle with the consequences of war and a return to "garrison" life. Star-Advertiser.

Dozens of upset individuals have taken to social media to express anger over a major airline's alleged treatment of a World War II veteran believed to have been on his way to Hawaii for a remembrance ceremony at Pearl Harbor. We have received unconfirmed reports that despite telling employees that he was a veteran on his way to Hawaii for a memorial at the Arizona Memorial on December 7, a war veteran named Ewalt Shatz was bumped off of United Airlines flight 1226 from Los Angeles International Airport to Honolulu on Wednesday because the plane was overweight. Hawaii News Now.

The Hawaii Supreme Court upheld a lower court ruling on Wednesday that said the state violated its own rules in allowing construction of a $17 million activity center at Kawaiahao Church to proceed without requiring the church to do an archaeological inventory survey first.  Some 660 dug-up human remans have languished in the church’s basement while the project has remained stalled for months amid court proceedings. The burials were expected to be reinterred in another part of the church property, but last year’s ruling by the Intermediate Court of Appeals on the AIS halted the project and left the fate of the remains in limbo. Civil Beat.

Oahu

The Honolulu Marathon, which will be run for the 41st year on Sunday, is on pace to bolster the state's $15 billion visitor industry during the seasonal lull right before the winter holidays. While entries for this year's race were flat going into the Honolulu Marathon Expo, organizers say that this year could still pull ahead of 2012. Before the opening of late registration on Wednesday, 29,575 runners had entered the race compared with 29,937 at the same point last year. Another 2,000 to 4,000 runners are expected to enter before Saturday's 5 p.m. cutoff, topping last year's total of 31,083 racers.Star-Advertiser.

Due in part to what happened at the Boston Marathon, there will be added security at the beginning, end, and on the route of the Honolulu Marathon on Sunday. There will be more uniformed and plain clothes police officers on the scene. KHON2.

Donors to Mayor Kirk Caldwell's transition committee which raised $400,000 for an inauguration party and to help install him in office had significant business interests with the city, according to a list of the donors released Wednesday by the Honolulu Ethics Commission. Some donors, who were implicated in an ethics investigation of the committee, also included registered lobbyists and cabinet members Carolee Kubo and Chris Takashige. Civil Beat.

A memorandum this week from city Corporation Counsel Donna Leong telling department heads that her office will advise city employees about ethical issues has drawn the ire of Ethics Commission Executive Director Chuck Totto. Totto told members of the seven-member commission on Wednesday that Leong's position could confuse employees and the public about where they should turn for advice on ethical issues, noting that he has already received calls from perplexed workers about the Dec. 2 memo. Star-Advertiser.

Subpoenas could be on the way for Honolulu Mayor Kirk Caldwell’s top executives if the administration continues to stonewall the Ethics Commission and its investigations into possible corruption at city hall. On Wednesday, at the third meeting on what's become a fast-disintegrating relationship between the commission and the administration, commissioners made it clear that they could soon take legal action to pry information loose in ethics investigations, including cases involving nepotism and political favoritism. Civil Beat.

Sales are expected to begin early next year for a second "workforce housing"condominium tower in Kakaako aimed at moderate-income residents after a state agency approved the project at the mauka end of South Street on Wednesday. The 410-unit tower representing a second phase of a project called 801 South St. won unanimous approval from the nine-member Hawaii Community Development Authority, the agency regulating development in Kakaako. Star-Advertiser.

The Hawaii Community Development Authority has given Downtown Capital LLC permission to develop a second residential tower in Kakaako at 801 South St. despite the vocal opposition of hundreds of local residents. Civil Beat.

A largely empty, five-story parking structure on South King Street just makai of the Alapai Street police station should soon be filling up and earning some cash for the city. The city reached an agreement with the Federal Transit Administration in September to allow city employees who don't have transit-related jobs to park at the location at least until the entire $100 million Joint Traffic Management Center is completed in late summer or early fall of 2016. Star-Advertiser.

California developer Champlin Windpower is proposing to add a second wind farm here next to the current Kahuku wind farm, called Na Pua Makani. KHON2.

A Mainland biomass company with ties to Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen could shake up the energy scene in Hawaii by providing a quick, environmentally-friendly, lower-cost solution to fossil fuels such as fuel oil and liquefied natural gas to power up Hawaiian Electric Co.’s power stations. Pacific Business News.

Hawaii

Kailua-Kona is the top U.S. Destination on the Rise for 2013, the world’s largest travel website, TripAdvisor.com, announced this week. The West Hawaii town earned the title based on the reviews and opinions of millions of TripAdvisor travelers. Anchorage, Alaska, took second and Destin, Fla., placed third on the 2013 Travelers’ Choice Top 10 Destinations on the Rise in the U.S. list. West Hawaii Today.

Unlike his last omnibus bond authorization request before a prior County Council, it was full steam ahead Tuesday for Mayor Billy Kenoi’s request to borrow $61 million for 23 projects countywide. The council Finance Committee, meeting into the evening, unanimously agreed to forward Kenoi’s bond package to the County Council with a positive recommendation. West Hawaii Today.

A software vendor is scrambling to get Hawaii County’s online building permit system back online, three weeks after the county took down the public portal because it wasn’t working right. West Hawaii Today.

A former case manager at CARE Hawaii filed suit against the mental health care provider, claiming she was wrongfully terminated after reporting other case managers illegally billed the state and private health insurance companies for work they didn’t do. Tribune-Herald.

The Hawaii County Council has cleared the way for the completion of the Mamalahoa Highway bypass in South Kona. The council approved a resolution Wednesday allowing for the county to acquire portions of nine parcels through eminent domain. Tribune-Herald.

Maui

A two-mile stretch of coastal waters off South Maui was closed Wednesday after two divers reported aggressive behavior by a shark that followed them to shore near Little Beach -- just two days after a fatal attack on a kayak fisherman nearby. State officials said the divers told lifeguards that an 8- to 10-foot Galapagos shark made several passes at them while they were spearfishing close to shore off Black Sand Beach at Makena about 11:20 a.m. Star-Advertiser.

Residents who qualified for the circuit breaker tax credit last year but would not qualify under the stricter criteria passed by the Maui County Council earlier this year are encouraged to still submit their applications as the council continues to deliberate on which criteria to make, county officials said Tuesday. Maui News.

Two appraisals ordered by the Maui County Council last month for 186 acres in Launiupoko came back with "significantly different" values, further convoluting a yearlong effort to sign a deal that would preserve open space along the West Maui coastline. Maui News.

A grand opening celebration will be held this Friday night, Dec. 6, at the new The Outlets of Maui shopping center in Lahaina. Maui Now.

Kauai

The Garden Isle recently earned a No. 2 ranking on TripAdvisor’s list of the 10 best islands in the United States, according to the website’s 2013 Travelers’ Choice awards. Kauai was bested only by San Juan Island, Wash., but placed ahead of Maui, 5, and Hawaii Island, 8, as the top Hawaiian island to crack the list. Garden Island.

Kauai County is moving forward on a $9.2 million project aimed at improving Hardy Street to meet the county’s newly-implemented Complete Streets policy. That policy seeks to create walkable, commuter-friendly communities. According to proposed Department of Public Works plans, two travel lanes with a landscaped median, turn lanes, bike lanes on both sides of the street, on-street parking, planter strips and continuous sidewalks will run the length of Hardy Street. Garden Island.

Molokai

A proposed renewable energy project for Molokai combines solar and stored hydroelectric power with the goal of 100 percent renewable energy for the island and lowered electric rates for local customers. The project, called Ikehu Molokai, is still in the early stages of discussion. It would be a joint endeavor between California-based Princeton Energy Group and landowner Molokai Ranch. If completed, Molokai would become the first grid in the world to be converted completely to renewable energy, said Princeton CEO Steve Tabor. Molokai Dispatch.

Obama family again to vacation on Oahu, Hawaii Supreme Court upholds Hawaiian blood quantum, Bloomberg to campaign for Schatz, DOE tests school bus routes, Honolulu mulls bus ads, warden named for Kulani prison, bill to allow 16-year-olds to vote, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Hawaii Supreme Court (c) 2013 All Hawaii News

The Hawaii Supreme Court has upheld the dismissal of a lawsuit contending that the Office of Hawaiian Affairs should spend its trust funds on people with 50 percent or more Hawaiian blood. The high court's ruling on Tuesday affirms OHA's use of funds for the benefit of those with any amount of Hawaiian blood. Star-Advertiser.

Read the entire Kealoha opinion here.

Hawaii News Now has learned that the President, First Lady Michelle Obama and daughters Sasha and Malia will travel to Honolulu sometime around December 20.

Sen. Suzanne Chun Oakland intends to introduce a bill at the Legislature next session that would trigger a ballot initiative to let the people decide on whether the minimum age for voting should be on par with the minimum age for driving solo. Civil Beat.

U.S. Sen. Brian Schatz, D-Hawaii, has landed a big name to help him with his reelection campaign. Michael Bloomberg, the mayor of New York City, will headline a reception for Schatz Jan. 2 in Honolulu. A ticket for the event, to be held at the Kahala home of developer Duncan MacNaughton, is $1,000. Civil Beat.

After more than a decade as New York City's mayor, it looks like Michael Bloomberg has decided which sunset he'll ride off into when his third and final term is over on the first of the year. Hawaii Sen. Brian Schatz, who is up for re-election in 2014, has landed the venerable mayor to headline a fundraising reception in Honolulu on Jan. 2. HuffPost Hawaii.

Financial disclosure requirements for Hawaii Supreme Court justices rate a grade of D, according to a nonprofit digital news organization. But the requirements for the highest state courts in 42 states received an F, the Center for Public Integrity said in a report issued Tuesday. That leaves Hawaii, even with a D, with the sixth-best disclosure requirements among all states, the center said. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii’s health exchange violates the National Voter Registration Act, says the state’s League of Women Voters. The voter act requires all states to provide residents access to voter registration when applying for a driver’s license, welfare, unemployment benefits and a host of public programs. But the Hawaii Health Connector, established by the Legislature as a nonprofit to run the Obamacare exchange and funded with $200 million in federal money, fails to provide information about voting on its website or in other materials. Hawaii Reporter.

The State Department of Health is proposing changes to food sanitation rules. They're holding public hearings statewide to get input on the 172 pages of new regulations. The Department is concerned with food safety.  But there may be consequences for nonprofit agencies that feed those who need help. Hawaii Public Radio.

The new student transportation system that the Hawaii Department of Education is testing out at about 30 schools in the Pearl City and Aiea areas has the potential to significantly slash costs within a few years, preliminary results from the pilot program suggest. Civil Beat.

The state Department of Education announced Tuesday that Roberts Hawaii and Ground Transport Inc. will provide bus service for Oahu schoolchildren in the 2014-2015 school year. At a cost of nearly $21 million, contracts were awarded Nov. 27 following a request for proposal process that began in July. Star-Advertiser.

State roundup for December 4. Associated Press.

Oahu

Allowing paid advertising on the sides and backs of city buses is the latest money-raising plan being proposed by Honolulu Mayor Kirk Caldwell. Caldwell, who forwarded Bill 69 to the City Council late Tuesday, said the plan could bring in as much as $8 million annually and that all of the money would go to bus operations. Star-Advertiser.

Honolulu Mayor Kirk Caldwell’s administration continues to flout the city Ethics Commission, this time with a not-so-subtle memo that went to all municipal agencies. On Dec. 2, Corporation Counsel Donna Leong said her department will now begin providing ethics advice to all city employees, particularly as it relates to standards of conduct, conflicts of interest and fair treatment. Civil Beat.

The community group Keep the North Shore Country says the plan to deal with environmental impacts caused by the expansion of Turtle Bay Resort is deficient and that the city Department of Planning and Permitting should not have accepted it from the resort owners. Star-Advertiser.

A widely used Diamond Head seawall is old and deteriorating. Now, after a 10-year fight, we finally know who's responsible for taking care of the wall. What we don't know is what the state will do now that it's been deemed the owner. KHON2.

Kamehameha Schools is putting up for sale two of Oahu's largest shopping centers, which combined could fetch upward of $400 million. The trust said Tuesday that it intends to offer for sale the buildings and other improvements at Windward Mall in Kaneohe and Hawaii Kai Towne Center while holding onto the underlying land. Star-Advertiser.

St. Francis Healthcare System of Hawaii expects it will cost $20 million to turn a portion of the former Hawaii Medical Center East into a 119-bed skilled nursing facility, double the original estimate reported last spring. Pacific Business News.

The aircraft carrier USS Nimitz pulled into Pearl Harbor on Tuesday after an extended deployment that saw the big ship positioned for support of a possible strike on Syria in September. The crew and air wing totaling about 5,000 are in port for a few days before the carrier heads to San Diego and then to its home port of Everett, Wash., by Christmas. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii

Ruth Coller Forbes has been hired as the new warden for the Kulani Correctional Facility. Forbes, who most recently worked as a corrections supervisor for Hawaii Community Correctional Center, took the new job effective Sunday, the state Department of Public Safety said. She will be responsible for overseeing the minimum-security prison and getting it ready for re-opening July 1. Tribune-Herald.

The County Council’s Finance Committee postponed action on a resolution to accept a public easement through a proposed Kohala Coast development Tuesday while questions over the existence of a historical trail continued to be raised. Tribune-Herald.

A proposed 43-lot Kona subdivision got bogged down Tuesday in the County Council Planning Committee after a disagreement between the developers and the Department of Public Works about how much of Hualalai Road the developer is responsible for. After 2 1/2 hours of discussion, the Planning Committee agreed to postpone the rezoning until Dec. 17 to allow several amendments to clarify how much of the improvements will be credited to fair share requirements and how much of Hualalai Road should be improved and to address density and drainage issues. West Hawaii Today.

The Hawaii Supreme Court, taking a rare road trip, Tuesday in the case at the University of Hawaii at Hilo Performing Arts Center as part of the state Judiciary’s Courts in the Community outreach program. About 300 people, including high school and UH-Hilo students — and a plethora of lawyers — were in the audience. Tribune-Herald.

Maui

The recent shark attacks are prompting calls for action, including a renewed debate about culling  the creatures. Some people want the state to kill tiger sharks. Hawaii News Now.

Two Maui residents were included in the latest round of governor-appointed positions to fill vacancies within the state’s board and commissions. A&B Properties Vice President, Grant Chun, was appointed to a seat on the state Board of Education; and Kula resident, Doreen Nāpua Gomes assumes the Maui seat on the Hawaiian Homes Commission. Maui Now.

Policy and business leaders will explore the electric power generation transition from fossil fuels to renewable energy during a conference March 26-28 at the Maui Arts & Cultural Center. Maui News.

Already burdened with the nation's highest electricity bills, Hawaii residents are paying even more for renewable energy development, and what they pay depends on whether they're among the "haves" or the "have-nots." Maui News.

Kauai

Sunday marked the beginning of the Hawaii Department of Agriculture’s “Good Neighbor Program” on Kauai. And each large agricultural company — the same five mentioned in controversial Article 22 (formerly Bill 2491) — has expressed its willingness to comply. Those companies include DuPont Pioneer, BASF, Dow AgroSciences, Syngenta and Kauai Coffee. Laurie Yoshida, communications manager at Pioneer, said her company — as well as others — believe Article 22 related to pesticides and genetically modified organisms is legally flawed, and that regulation and oversight of the industry should remain at the state level. Garden Island.

The Kauai County Council will hold a public hearing today on a bill that could waive waste disposal fees for approved cleanup efforts on county land. It is a move that some say will help cut the red tape associated with doing volunteer work for the county. Garden Island.

Japanese WWII sub found off Oahu, year's 2nd shark-bite death on Maui, DOT employee lives high life off contractors' dime, foster parents want more money, Omidyar group plans Kauai dairy, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Unidentified scuttled vessel discovered by Hawaii Undersea Research Laboratory

A World War II-era Imperial Japanese Navy mega-submarine, the I-400, lost since 1946 when it was intentionally scuttled by U.S. forces after its capture, has been discovered in more than 2,300 feet of water off the southwest coast of O‘ahu. The discovery resolves a decades-old Cold War mystery of just where the lost submarine lay, and recalls a different era as one war ended and a new, undeclared conflict emerged. Hawaii Reporter.

Japanese I-400

This is a photo of the Japanese crew and its submarine, the I-400. KITV.

A class-action lawsuit is expected to be filed today against the state, alleging it has failed to pay foster parents enough to adequately care for their foster children. The suit will be filed by a sole foster parent, Raynette Nalani Ah Chong of Kaha­luu, on behalf of more than 1,000 Hawaii foster parents, who haven't had their reimbursement payments increased since 1990. The federal Child Welfare Act requires that reimbursements cover the expenses of children in foster care, but the $529 monthly payment does not come close, said Victor Gemi­ni­ani, executive director of Hawaii Appleseed Center for Law and Economic Justice. Star-Advertiser.

A handful of companies consistently cash in on lucrative contracts in Hawaii, a Civil Beat analysis of 10 years of federal contracting data indicates. The federal government spent $159 billion in contracts in Hawaii over the past 10 years. From that pool of money, the top 10 corporate contractors secured at least $200 million apiece since 2003, with two of them crossing the $1 billion threshold. That's according to eight years of data from the Census Bureau's Consolidated Federal Funds Report and two years of data from USASpending.gov, a government-run website that replaced the Census reporting system. Civil Beat.

The Hawaii State Department of Education will place its sex education program, Pono Choices, on hold after the completion of the 2013 Fall semester to conduct a review of the pilot curriculum. The DOE calls the program a “medically accurate” program that informs teens about pregnancy and Sexually Transmitted Diseases and gives students greater knowledge of the risks associated with unsafe sexual behaviors and be more likely to report safe sex practices, including abstinence. Parents were concerned their children in sixth, seventh and eighth grade, were learning to put condoms on dildos and about performing oral sex, vaginal sex, and anal sex. Hawaii Reporter.

The state has awarded a $17.4 million contract to a mainland company to undertake energy efficiency improvements and install solar panels at 33 government buildings on five islands. The project is expected to cut energy costs by more than $1 million in the first year and $28 million over two decades, according to Ameresco Inc., the Massachusetts-based company that was awarded the contract by the Department of Accounting and General Services.Star-Advertiser

The Hawaii Ethics Commission has charged a state employee for improperly accepting gifts from businesses doing business with the state and failing to report them. The Department of Transportation engineer, identified only as John Doe, has agreed to pay $7,500 to resolve the charge. He apparently accepted a number of invitations to play in charity golf tournaments and recreationally at places like Mauna Lani Resort from 2007 to 2010. His entry fees, which ranged from $150 to $800, were paid for by DOT vendors directly subject to his official action as an engineer, according to the commission’s Nov. 20 resolution of the charge. Civil Beat.

After decades of sound and fury, the first same-sex marriages early Monday morning happened in almost complete silence and intimacy. Standing in huddles on a stage in a Waikiki lounge, the couples read their vows and their officiants performed an act which had only minutes-before become legal. Hawaii Independent.

Retired professors Rod Powell and Bob Eddinger have been partners in life since they met at the University of Hawaii in 1977. On Monday, they joined in marriage on the first day their home state allowed same-sex couples to form such unions. Associated Press.

Hawaiian Airlines is launching a codeshare program with Taiwan’s China Airlines this month that will extend its network in Asia and allow members of both airlines’ frequent flyer programs to earn and redeem miles on both airlines. Pacific Business News.

Another hurricane season came and went in the Central Pacific this year without unleashing destruction on the Hawaiian Islands. The season was, however, twice as active as scientists initially predicted in May. Star-Advertiser.

The Legislature wants the public to take part in the process of creating the laws and policies that govern Hawaii. With the next session set to start in January, the House communications office has put together a public service announcement that encourages people to get informed and get involved. Civil Beat.

State roundup for December 3. Associated Press.

Oahu

Trial will remain in Honolulu for a North Carolina man accused of scamming the University of Hawaii out of $200,000 in a failed concert that was supposed to feature Stevie Wonder, a federal judge ruled Monday. Associated Press.

Kakaako Rising: Is This Community Development? Civil Beat.

Hawaii

Is a waste-to-energy plant a done deal for Hawaii County? A resolution urging Mayor Billy Kenoi to consider other alternatives comes back before the County Council Waste Management Committee today after being panned by both the Environmental Management Commission and the director of the Department of Environmental Management. West Hawaii Today.

The Hawaii Electric Light Co. says awarding a contract for another 50 megawatts of geothermal power will take more time. But how long remains unclear. The utility was initially expecting to make a selection among the six companies that submitted proposals by September. It later pushed that timeline to the end of November. That deadline was missed, and HELCO Administration Manager Rhea Lee said Monday that a new date is in the process of being determined. Tribune-Herald.

The Big Island is expected to have at least seven warning sirens upgraded or installed over the next few months. State Civil Defense spokeswoman Shelly Kunishige said work orders are being released for the department’s $25.6 million statewide siren upgrade project. Priority locations are being addressed first, and work should occur over the next three months, she said. Tribune-Herald.

If the old adage “Practice makes perfect” holds true, then the union of the first same-sex couple to tie the knot Monday in Hilo is likely to be perfect indeed. Tribune-Herald.

Maui

A visiting kayaker from Washington state died Monday morning after part of his right leg was bitten off by a shark about a half-mile off Little Beach in Makena, state and county officials said. Maui News.

Maui police have since identified the victim who sustained fatal injuries in a shark attack offshore of Mākena, Maui on Monday as 57-year-old Patrick A. Briney. Police say Briney, who is from Stevenson, in Washington State, was kayaking with a friend when the incident occurred. Maui Now.

Maui County police identified a kayak fisherman killed in a shark attack Monday morning as Patrick A. Briney, 57, from Stevenson, Wash. This is the eighth shark attack off Maui and the second death statewide this year. Star-Advertiser.

A kayaker died on Monday morning after a shark attacked him in the waters off of Maui. Hawaii experienced strong rains over the weekend, and murky waters are known to both attract and confuse sharks who often can't tell the difference between prey and humans. HuffPost Hawaii.

Hawai’i made international news yesterday with another fatal shark attack on Maui. Makena State Recreation Area was closed after the attack that happened before 10:30 am. Hawaii Public Radio.

Typically Hawaii will see four shark attacks a year, but this year there have been 13 in the state and eight of them around Maui. The most recent killed Patrick Briney, 57, as he was kayak fishing half mile off Makena Beach on Maui. Hawaii News Now.

The phrases "now I pronounce you husband and husband" and "wife and wife" were heard at same-sex marriages around Maui on Monday, the first day that gay marriages in Hawaii were legal. Maui News.

The county's proposed integrated waste conversion project may have the potential to double the amount of trash currently diverted from the Central Maui Landfill, but a couple of longstanding local recycling companies are worried that they will be displaced. Maui News.

The US Army Corps of Engineers hosts a public meeting this Wednesday, Dec. 4, to gather public input on its proposal to perform an environmental cleanup of the former Maui Airport Landfill. Maui Now.

Kauai

A socially minded investment organization is moving ahead with plans to establish a new model of dairy farming in Hawaii: a $17.5 million venture on Kauai called Hawai‘i Dairy Farms projected to start milk production in 2015. The farm would be the biggest dairy in the state and roughly double the supply of local milk, according to Ulu­pono Initiative, the local investment firm that announced the project Monday. Star-Advertiser.

EBay founder Pierre Omidyar’s Ulupono Initiative is investing $17.5 million to build a grass-fed dairy farm on Kauai on 583 acres of pasture land leased from Grove Farm. Pacific Business News.

The ballot question is crafted. But before going out to vote, Kauai Island Utility Cooperative wants to know what its members think of how to word the yes-or-no decision point. Beginning next week, the public will have two opportunities to provide input on ballot language for KIUC’s special election related to smart meters. The upcoming election — expected to cost co-op members $63,000 — will take place in January, although exact dates have not been determined. Garden Island.

Couples wed as Hawaii gay marriage law takes effect, public records priced out of public range, new film commissioner for Maui, new publisher at Big Island media, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Hawaii's first gay marriage, courtesy Equality Hawaii

Same-sex couples are taking advantage of Hawaii's new-found aloha for gay weddings. Associated Press.

Forty-five minutes past the stroke of midnight today, six couples became Hawaii’s first same-sex couples to marry. The New Civil Rights Movement.

Same-sex marriage took more than two decades of activism to reach Hawaii, but the first ceremonies only took a few minutes. Forty-five minutes after midnight Monday — the moment state marriage license applications became available online — six same-sex couples began to exchange their vows at a festive, historic celebration on the 30th floor of the Sheraton Waikiki. Civil Beat.

Today the wait is over for local same sex couples looking to get married in the Aloha State. Hawaii recently became the latest to legalize marriage equality and the law will go into effect starting today. Hawaii Public Radio.

Same-sex couples marry on historic first day in Hawaii. Associated Press.

Supporters of gay marriage were set to celebrate their impending midnight unions Sunday afternoon with bouncy castles, food trucks and musical performers, but Honolulu Mayor Kirk Caldwell's Marriage Equality Family Day and Celebration at Thomas Square had to be canceled because of inclement weather. Star-Advertiser.

Pacific Business News reports that a major private corrections company is "very interested" in helping Hawaii solve its prison overcrowding problem by building new prisons here. It's the same company, Corrections Corporation of America, that houses hundreds of Hawaii prisoners in its Arizona facilities. Civil Beat.

One way to keep tabs on the public’s money is to review the governor’s travel records. That’s pretty standard procedure for journalists in most states, especially when an incumbent is up for reelection. But it’s tough to do in Hawaii. The cost of public records effectively invalidates the state public records law in many instances. It’s just too expensive for the public to pay the price the agencies charge to review records that are legally available under the Uniform Information Practices Act, Hawaii’s decades-old public records law. Civil Beat.

On the morning of Dec. 7, 1941, Robert Lee saw the battleship USS Arizona turn red hot and heard it hiss like a tea kettle after it was hit. He shot at Japanese warplanes with a .22 rifle, and joined the Hawaii Territorial Guard the next day for fear the island would be invaded. Star-Advertiser.

Oahu

Budget talks for Fiscal Year 2015 are already taking place inside Honolulu Hale, and the conversation isn’t pretty. The city is facing a projected $156 million shortfall in the coming year, which has caused Mayor Kirk Caldwell to institute a strict spending cap on all departments. There’s already a $28 million deficit in the current fiscal year, which began July 1, and that has already resulted in some cuts. Civil Beat.

Hawaii

Almost a year after county Legislative Auditor Colleen Schrandt resigned, the position has not yet been filled and it’s unclear how much, if any, auditing has actually gone on. West Hawaii Today.

Work on a Hawaii biomass facility that was expected to generate 10 percent of the Big Island’s electricity needs has been halted until developer, Hu Honua Bioenergy, receives the final regulatory permits and approvals, leaving up to 20 workers, a mix of contract workers and employees, off the job, according to John Sylvia, the company’s CEO. Pacific Business News.

David Bock takes over today as publisher of the Hawaii Tribune-Herald. Bock, 47, succeeds Ted Dixon, who is retiring. Dixon was publisher since 2003. Bock, who is editor of the Tribune-Herald and director of news services for Stephens Media Hawaii, will retain his news-related responsibilities. Stephens Media Hawaii.

Maui

Newly selected Maui County Film Commissioner Tracy Bennett is looking to "really push hard" over the next few months to bring a television series to the island next year. Maui News.

Already burdened with the nation's highest electricity bills, Hawaii residents are paying even more for renewable energy development, and what they pay depends on whether they're among the "haves" or the "have-nots." Maui News.

Kauai

A $12 million energy project is underway  at Kauai schools. In the first phase, four schools will be fitted with 22 photovoltaic energy systems through a $1.2 million state initiative. Garden Island.

Kauai Chief of Police Darryl Perry said that with the County Council’s approval of the CrimeNtel intelligence sharing program, the department has an enhanced ability to prevent criminal or terrorist acts by working in conjunction with state and national intelligence and law enforcement networks. Garden Island.

The state Department of Health's Clean Water Branch has issued a brown water advisory for the east-northeast areas of Kauai from Nawiliwili to Hanalei. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii lawmakers launch bipartisan Future Caucus, state offers preschool subsidies, Hawaii one of 13 'Turkey States,' Big Island seeks auditor, hunter reality show in DLNR crosshairs, Niihau residents want fishing limits, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Hawaii peschoolers, courtesy photo

Families should be able to apply in March for a slice of the $6 million in additional preschool subsidies state lawmakers approved earlier this year to help a set of children who will be too young to enter kindergarten next year. Star-Advertiser.

For the next school year, kindergartners must be at least 5 years old by July 31. Roughly 5,000 children who will mark their fifth birthdays later than that will have to wait a year before starting kindergarten. Star-Advertiser.

A group of Hawaii lawmakers announced Wednesday the creation of a bipartisan caucus composed of county and state elected officials under age 40 that will work to improve government transparency and political involvement for young people. Hawaii Future Caucus members said in a news conference at the state Capitol that they hope to work on "common-sense" legislation to make the political system more inviting and accessible for younger generations. Star-Advertiser.

A new report from Truth in Accounting’s State Data Lab names Hawaii one of 13 “Turkey States” because the state spent more money than it received and racked up more debt for future taxpayers. Hawaii Reporter.

The countdown for Hawaii’s first same-sex marriages is fast approaching. And state officials are gearing up for some changes. As HPR’s Molly Solomon reports, several couples are expected to wed on Monday -- the first day Hawaii’s marriage equality law goes into effect.

Oahu

Honolulu Mayor Kirk Caldwell has approved a zone change for a project that would add 3,500 new houses to Koa Ridge in central Oahu. Civil Beat.

Hawaiian Electric Co. and two solar energy trade associations said Wednesday that they’re working together to define criteria that will allow customers who committed to installing solar photovoltaic systems prior to the September rules changes to interconnect their systems at no additional costs for safety upgrades. Pacific Business News.

Hawaii

Almost a year after county Legislative Auditor Colleen Schrandt resigned, the position has not yet been filled and it’s unclear how much, if any, auditing has actually gone on. West Hawaii Today.

A former executive assistant at Big Island Substance Abuse Council has filed suit against the substance abuse treatment organization alleging that she was wrongfully terminated for exposing financial misdeeds by BISAC’s former chief executive officer. Tribune-Herald.

Hawaii officials said Wednesday they are investigating whether any state regulations were broken during the filming of the History channel’s television show “American Jungle.” Associated Press.

Tjaye Forsythe, one of the producers of the reality show, 'American Jungle,' fired back at the Department of Land & Natural Resources on Facebook hours after the state announced a criminal investigation into the show which is shot on the Big Island. Hawaii News Now.

The History Channel’s new series "American Jungle," which depicts clans of Hawaii hunters battling it out as they hunt down pigs, goats and cows, is angering some top state officials, including Gov. Neil Abercrombie, who has threatened legal action. HuffPost Hawaii.

Maui

The Maui Planning Commission recommended approval Tuesday of a change in zoning from interim to public/quasi-public for Lumeria Maui, an educational retreat at the former Fred Baldwin Memorial Home in Makawao. Maui News.

The Maui County Office on Aging will host an open house for the launch of its EnhanceFitness program in South Maui. Star-Advertiser.

Kauai

Will Kauai's Mayor Face Fallout After GMO, Pesticide Battles? Civil Beat.

Fishermen, primarily from Kauai, have been fishing in Niihau waters for decades, steadily depleting its residents of their primary food-source. The senate's Native Hawaiian caucus, along with the DLNR, intend to put a stop to that. Hawaii Independent.

A weather related anomaly that altered night harvesting operations for Kauai Coffee Company meant that neighboring communities heard a little more noise than usual. Garden Island.

Molokai

There are currently 355 registered business owners on Molokai and most of them are home based, according to Jennifer Hawkins, small business specialist at the Kuha’o Business Center. These businesses are regulated by the Maui County Council under a bill currently up for revision. But when the council visited Molokai last week, asking for feedback on how to best tailor these standards and encourage small businesses, many Molokai business owners revealed they never knew the ordinance existed. Molokai Dispatch.

Share of hotel tax biggest issue for Hawaii counties, high shipping costs a growing concern, new consultant for Honolulu rail, Kiss opening Maui restaurant, Molokai feels short-changed by Larry Ellison's Island Air, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Kona hotel pool scene (c) 2013 All Hawaii News

Hawaii’s four mayors and county councils are working to reach unanimous agreement on key tax issues so they can lobby the Legislature next year with a louder and more unified voice, officials said. The counties want to protect their share of the hotel tax revenue and have the state grant them a new taxing power so they can raise more funds, according to interviews with mayors, council members and legislators. The Hawaii State Association of Counties has invited the state's Council of Mayors to its meeting Wednesday in the hopes of reaching consensus on how to approach state lawmakers about the transient accommodations tax, general excise tax and other issues. Civil Beat.

Moving a container here from Los Angeles costs nearly 10 times more than moving that same container from Los Angeles to Shanghai, some three times farther. And that cost for shipping to and from Hawaii from the west coast is set to rise again. Hawaii Reporter.

The Navy’s top submarine commander in the Pacific says budget issues won’t affect his ability to deploy submarines next year. But Rear Adm. Phillip Sawyer said he’s concerned cuts to the civilian workforce at the nation’s naval shipyards will mean submarines won’t be ready to deploy as quickly in 2015 and beyond. Associated Press.

Former State Welfare Worker Charged with Tampering with Government Records and Misapplication of Property. Hawaii Reporter.

Hawaiian Airlines is starting to sell tickets for its first-ever direct flight to China. The airline plans to launch nonstop service from Honolulu to Beijing on April 16. It will operate the flight three times a week. Associated Press.

Oahu

Local transit officials announced Tuesday they have awarded a $46.1 million contract to the consulting firm CH2M Hill Inc. to help oversee the next phase of Honolulu's rail project. Star-Advertiser.

A new contractor is taking over some of the oversight on Honolulu’s $5.26 billion rail project, and will be paid nearly $50 million to do so. On Tuesday, the Honolulu Authority for Rapid Transportation awarded a contract to CH2M Hill, an international engineering firm, to replace Parsons Brinckerhoff. Civil Beat.

'Virtual line' eases wait at satellite city hall. A low-cost system city workers developed lets people sit down rather than stand in queues. Star-Advertiser.

A former city street sweeper fired from his job after admitting to theft in an overtime scam was rehired by a different city department three years after losing his job. Hawaii News Now.

A developer is proposing to build 499 rental loft apartments in downtown Kapolei aimed at young professionals. But some community representatives say the area has plenty of housing and needs more places for young professionals to work. The local office of Ohio-based development firm Forest City Enterprises Inc. presented plans for the project called Kapolei Lofts at a meeting Monday night before the planning and zoning committee of the Makakilo/Kapolei/Honokai Hale Neighborhood Board. Star-Advertiser.

Two Kamiloiki Elementary School students were sent to a hospital Tuesday morning after their Hawaii Kai school was evacuated following reports of a strange odor on campus. Star-Advertiser.

A contract that allows federal workers to trap and capture feral pigs at the city's Hoomaluhia Botanical Garden was allowed to lapse, resulting in increased damage to the grounds. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii

Hawaii County is still grappling with how to develop rules following a new state law exempting nonresidential structures on farms from building permits and plan reviews. The law, which went into effect July 1, allows structures such as sheds, barns, greenhouses and other buildings not intended for living space to be built without permits on commercial farmland within the agricultural district. West Hawaii Today.

After the Thirty Meter Telescope is built on Mauna Kea, it won’t be able to hold onto the title of world’s largest optical telescope for long. Other large observatories, including a telescope with a 39-meter mirror in Chile, are planned and may be completed a few years afterward. But Sandra Dawson, TMT spokeswoman, assured a luncheon of the Japanese Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Hawaii on Tuesday that it will remain the most advanced. Tribune-Herald.

Maui

Rockers Gene Simmons and Paul Stanley of the band Kiss are planning to be on Maui for a late January opening celebration for the Rock & Brews restaurant in Paia. Pacific Business News.

The Outlets of Maui, a retail and restaurant center under construction in the space once occupied by the former Lahaina Center, is scheduled for a soft opening Thursday, according to information released by the Maui Visitors Bureau. Maui Now.

The state Public Access Room, a division of the Legislative Reference Bureau, will conduct a series of free workshops on Maui called "We the Powerful!" the first week of December. Maui News.

Kauai

An upcoming election to vote on whether Kauai Island Utility Cooperative should be charging additional fees to customers who choose to keep their old electric meters is pegged to cost about $63,000. Garden Island.

A popular south shore Kauai beach will undergo a small-scale sand replenishment project to address erosion. The county's Department of Parks and Recreation says the Poipu Beach project is scheduled to begin Dec. 9 and is expected to be completed by the end of the week. Associated Press.

Molokai

Because of frequent and seemingly interminable delays, folks who live on the Friendly Island are not feeling very friendly toward Island Air. Dozens of Molokai residents who spoke with Civil Beat said they feel like the company is giving them short shrift, perhaps in favor of routes to Lanai. That island's owner, billionaire Larry Ellison, bought Island Air in March.

Hawaii shipping costs climb, University of Hawaii halts projects, first female lieutenant governor dies, more windmills for Oahu, Maui Mall for sale, HMSA raising some rates, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Matson courtesy photo

For a third consecutive year, the cost to ship goods by Hawaii's dominant ocean cargo transportation company will rise about 5.5 percent, adding to the cost of most things consumed in our isolated island state. Matson Inc. let customers know Monday that it will raise shipping rates effective Jan. 5. The cost to ship a container to Hawaii from the mainland will rise by $175. An associated terminal handling charge will rise by $50 per container. Star-Advertiser.

Matson Navigation Company, Inc., is planning to raise its shipping rates for containers moving to and from Hawaii by about 5.5 percent next year. The company is tacking on an extra $175 for each westbound container and $85 for each eastbound container starting on January 5. Civil Beat.

The Hawaii Medical Service Association plans to raise rates by an average 7.5 percent for 14,300 individuals who were earlier notified their policies would be canceled at year's end because they did not meet the minimum requirements of the federal Affordable Care Act. Star-Advertiser.

New building projects will be halted across the University of Hawaii system for three years under a moratorium the Board of Regents is imposing to redirect resources toward a repair and maintenance backlog that has swelled to nearly a half-billion dollars. The construction freeze, approved unanimously at a regents meeting held last week on Maui, takes effect immediately. But it comes with several exemption criteria that regents want to apply to 13 planned projects statewide. Star-Advertiser.

The state Campaign Spending Commission is making it easier to follow the money in political campaigns with a greatly enhanced website and an app that shows campaign contributions and expenditures in easy-to-understand graphs and charts. West Hawaii Today.

The Hawaii League of Women Voters wants the state’s new health insurance website to include links and information that encourages residents to register to vote. Civil Beat.

State Rep. Mark Takai won a key endorsement in his bid for Hawaii's 1st Congressional District seat Monday when U.S. Rep. Tammy Duckworth threw her support behind her former student government colleague. Star-Advertiser.

The woman charged with implementing the Affordable Care Act in Hawaii through the insurance exchange Hawaii Health Connector will step down amidst controversy over its failed launch. Coral Andrews, executive director of Hawaii Health Connector for the past two years, said Friday she will not seek to renew her contract. She will leave her post Dec. 6. Hawaii Reporter.

The Public Safety Department started serving so called “Heart Healthy” meals to Hawaii inmates last year. Prisons director Ted Sakai says the new diet was adopted to address soaring medical costs in the prisons. Civil Beat.

JEAN Sadako King, Hawaii's first female lieutenant governor and one of the state's most prominent political activists, died Sunday evening, according to family and friends. She was 87. Star-Advertiser.

Jean Sadako King, the first woman elected lieutenant governor in Hawaii, has died. She was 87. King passed away Sunday at her home in Honolulu after a bout with pancreatic cancer, said her granddaughter Tina Lance. Associated Press.

Oahu

Champlin-GEI Wind Holding’s wind farm, named Na Pua Makani, could add 15 additional turbines to those already installed around Kahuku. But since Champlin, based in Santa Barbara, Calif., lost its original 2008 bid, 42 towering wind turbines have been erected in an area of Oahu famous for big waves and rural lifestyles. Turbines from the new project, along with the existing wind farm, would hem the small town of Kahuku in on three sides. Civil Beat.

Forest City Hawaii is planning to build a $140 million, 499-unit mixed-use apartment rental complex in West Oahu, near the Foodland-anchored Kapolei Village Center, Jon Wallenstrom, president of Forest City Hawaii, told Pacific Business News.

If you think your water bill is soaring, take a look at what the Honolulu Board of Water Supply had to pay a consultant for its customer billing system. Hawaii News Now has learned that the board is paying contractor EMA Inc. of Minnesota nearly $3.5 million, even though the company was initially hired in 2008 for about $800,000.

When Does an Attack Become a Hate Crime? Civil Beat.

Lyle Galdeira, former TV newscaster and reviewer on the popular television show "Cheap Eats," died early Monday morning. Galdeira, 59, awoke Monday shortly after midnight complaining of difficulty breathing. City Emergency Medical Services Division personnel tried to revive him, but he died, his family said. Star-Advertiser.

Former Hawaii television anchor/reporter Lyle Galdeira died Monday morning following health complications at a Honolulu hospital. Hawaii News Now.

Hawaii
The successful bidder for the Naniloa Volcanoes Resort has complained about hotel property being removed prior to the sale being finalized. Tower Development Inc. President Ed Bushor wrote in federal bankruptcy court that he witnessed “truckloads” of items being taken on Nov. 18 from the Hilo hotel, including lamps, paintings and boxes of files. Tribune-Herald.

Real Estate Brokers have called it the third largest privately-owned old-growth koa forest on the planet, and its up for sale, listed at $22 million. Big Island Video News.

A 19-year-old female student who claimed she fought off an attempted knifepoint sex assault in a bathroom on the University of Hawaii at Hilo campus has recanted her story, police said Monday. Capt. Robert Wagner of the Hilo Criminal Investigation Division said an investigation was opened Monday into possible charges of filing a false police report, but the young woman, who is from Oahu, had not been charged. Tribune-Herald.

Maui

Alexander & Baldwin announced that it has agreed to sell Maui Mall in a transaction anticipated to be finalized by early 2014. Maui Now.

The Kaho'olawe Island Reserve Commission announced Thursday a new collaboration with the University of Hawaii Maui College as part of an ongoing sustainable energy program for the island. Maui News.

Kauai

County officials announced Monday that Kauai-based Pacific Blue Construction, LLC will begin refurbishing all the structures at Lydgate Beach Park. Garden Island.

Hawaii trailing in quest for Obama library, new VP, regent for University of Hawaii, Honolulu transit dinged for not accounting for $83.8M in federal funds, coqui frogs winning Big Island battle, TV stations slammed for political coverage, ocean debris spotted off Na Pali coast, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Baby Obama in Waikiki

The competition to host President Barack Obama's presidential library intensified Sunday as the University of Illinois at Chicago announced its official bid and revealed a team of specialists to boost the school's campaign. Obama's birthplace of Hawaii has also expressed interest, but the speculation in Chicago has sparked debates about how to best preserve the 44th president's legacy and his place in the city's history. Associated Press.

Can Politics and Journalism Mix? An odd little detail of state Rep. Bob McDermott's failed lawsuit challenging same-sex marriage in Hawaii is that it involved Joe Moore and Michael W. Perry. Civil Beat.

Joanne Itano has been named the University of Hawaii's interim executive vice president for academic affairs and provost, the second-highest post under the president, at an annual salary of $225,000. Star-Advertiser.

Gov. Neil Abercrombie has appointed Honolulu attorney Jeffrey Portnoy to the University of Hawaii Board of Regents. Associated Press.

A new study of Honolulu television news coverage of the 2012 general election finds that local TV stations didn't do a very good job of covering last year's most important political campaigns. In fact, the University of Delaware study concludes, TV news stations let the candidates and campaigns set the agenda for political coverage, failing to explore even the most basic campaign issues unless they were raised at a debate or in a press release first. And then the coverage was only about what the candidates said. Civil Beat.

Coral Andrews, the head of the non-profit quasi-governmental agency in charge of implementing the Affordable Care Act in Hawaii, announced Friday that she will be resigning Dec. 6. Civil Beat.

State roundup for November 25. Associated Press.

Oahu

A recent independent audit done for Honolulu's rail transit project found its finances to be in order with one exception: Rail finance officials failed to properly record $83.8 million in federal funds received for the project. Star-Advertiser.

Manoa Falls, Kawela Bay and other scenic points on Oahu will be starring on big screens around the nation Friday when “The Hunger Games: Catching Fire” is released in movie theaters. “The Hunger Games: Catching Fire,” the sequel to “The Hunger Games,” filmed for several weeks on Oahu between Thanksgiving and Christmas last year. Pacific Business News.

Hundreds of people came to a Kahala Avenue mansion to bid on items that once belonged to Genshiro Kawamoto. But many others came Saturday just for a look. Hawaii News Now.

Hawaii

Has the state given up trying to battle the issue of coqui frogs on the Big Island? Depends on whom you ask. Tribune-Herald.

Researchers from the University of Hawaii at Hilo are taking an innovative approach to forestry in an urgent attempt to save low-elevation forests in Hawaii threatened by human activity and invasive non-native flora. Star-Advertiser.

A Hawaiian sovereignty advocate who has questioned the legitimacy of land titles in the state was removed from his home last week after ignoring an eviction notice. Tribune-Herald.

The Hawaii County Council approved zoning changes to accommodate a new shopping center in Pahoa, assuming that it does not open before road improvements are completed. In two 9-0 votes Wednesday, the council approved changing zoning for the 9.93-acre property at 15-2714 Pahoa Village Road from agriculture to village commercial and urban. Tribune-Herald.

Maui

An agreement to sell Maui Mall has been made, according to a news release from A&B Properties Inc. on Friday. Maui News.

The Honolulu-based Clarence T.C. Ching Foundation donated $50,000 to Hospice Maui on Thursday in a ceremony adjacent to the site of a planned residential five-bedroom hospice hale. Maui News.

Kauai

Will Kauai's Mayor Face Fallout After GMO, Pesticide Battles? Civil Beat.

The state's largest private landowner is dipping its toes into a state program that provides incentives for protecting productive farmland for perpetual agricultural use. Kamehameha Schools filed a petition with the state Land Use Commission earlier this month to designate 190 acres on Kauai as "important agricultural land" under laws created by the Legislature in 2005 and 2008 to preserve farmland. Star-Advertiser.

One of the biggest and most important county agencies on Kauai is making it harder for the public to access government records — all in the name of accountability. Civil Beat.

Swath of debris spotted off Na Pali Coast. Garden Island.

State may pre-empt county GMO, pesticide laws, Hanabusa lags Schatz in fund-raising, Kauai police probe Bieber security attack on cameraman, homeless up 8.6%, Hawaiian Affairs, Home Lands, under fire, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Christmas tree goes up at Honolulu Hale, courtesy of Georgette Deemer

A Christmas tree need not come from the Pacific Northwest to be beautiful. Locally grown Christmas trees are plentiful on Oahu and Maui, and state officials and online searches identified additional growers on Oahu and Hawaii island. Star-Advertiser.

State lawmakers are considering legislation affecting genetically modified crops and pesticides now that several counties have taken steps to regulate them. Senate Agriculture Committee Chairman Sen. Clarence Nishihara said he hopes the governor will make clear the state has the authority to pre-empt the county initiatives. But Nishihara said he will likely propose a state pre-emption bill next year if Gov. Neil Abercrombie doesn’t take the lead. Associated Press.

Colleen Hanabusa, a U.S. representative, is far behind Brian Schatz, a U.S. senator, in the chase for campaign contributions. According to their most recent filings with the Federal Election Commission, Schatz has a 3-to-1 cash-on-hand advantage over his 2014 Democratic primary challenger. Civil Beat.

Clayton Hee, the chairman of the Senate committees on Judiciary and Labor revealed he was wearing a Kevlar vest during the first day of hearings on Senate Bill 1, which would eventually become the Marriage Equality Act. Civil Beat.

A national lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender civil rights organization released a report Thursday that rates four Hawaii cities above the national average in LGBT inclusion in municipal law. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaiian Airlines said Thursday it will begin allowing customers to use their own personal portable electronic devices on "airplane mode" during all phases of domestic flights, from takeoff through landing, and during more phases on international flights. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaiian Airlines passengers will now have the opportunity to snap photographs of world-famous Waikiki Beach and other scenic aerial views of Hawaii with their smartphones, tablets and other electronic devices during takeoff and landing. Pacific Business News.

Hawaiian Airlines on Thursday announced it has completed the certification process with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and is now allowing customers to use their own personal Portable Electronic Devices (PED) on "airplane mode" during all phases of domestic flights, from takeoff through landing, and during more phases on international flights. Hawaii News Now.

Federal officials say the number of homeless people in Hawaii is up 8.6 percent since 2010 to more than 6,000, despite a drop in the national estimate. Star-Advertiser.

If the Office of Hawaiian Affairs doesn't get its act together and do a better job of fulfilling its mission, the Legislature will take action. That's the message from a legislative hearing on Thursday where officials from OHA sought to defend their management of the agency's land and grants in the wake of a scathing audit released in September. Civil Beat.

The state Department of Hawaiian Home Lands has initiated a variety of measures intended to improve its lending program, including lowering interest rates for the first time in 17 years and launching a pilot program to address the most severely overdue loans on the east side of Hawaii island, an area with a particularly acute delinquency problem. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii Rep. Tom Brower might have put his sledgehammer back in the tool shed, but there’s still one question we haven’t seen answered. How many laws did Brower actually break while on his wheel-bashing crusade against the homeless and their shopping carts? Civil Beat.

Assaults on workers at the Hawaii State Hospital are all too common, and taxpayers are picking up the tab for the cost of treatment and workers compensation. Hawaii Reporter.

Honolulu

Honolulu City Council members will have to make key decisions in the coming year about how users of TheBus, Handi-Van and, eventually, the new elevated rail system will all pay their fare under the same system. Star-Advertiser.

It's the nightmare before Christmas at Ala Moana Center, where this year's busiest shopping season is colliding head-on with the mall's largest redevelopment project. Star-Advertiser.

The former operator of the now-closed Senor Frog's restaurant and bar in Waikiki will pay $350,000 to settle a sexual harassment lawsuit on behalf of 13 female workers, including three teenage girls. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii

The Hawaii County Leeward Planning Commission on Thursday approved a special management area use permit for the Alii Kai park, allowing the long-promised project to move forward. West Hawaii Today.

An ambitious plan released late last week includes a new prison for West Hawaii and a new East Hawaii correctional complex that would combine the Hawaii Community Correctional Center, Kulani Correctional Facility, Hale Nani and associated facilities. West Hawaii Today.

A Hawaii island man who claims he was forced to get a liver transplant after taking the diet supplement OxyELITE Pro is suing the manufacturer and the retailer that sold it to him. Lawyers for Kenneth Wai­kiki, 22, of Kailua-Kona filed the lawsuit against Dallas-based USPlabs, company principals Jonathan Vincent Doyle and Jacob Geissler, and GNC Corp. in U.S. District Court in Hono­lulu on Thursday. Star-Advertiser.

Lawyers for the family of a New York teen killed during a kayak excursion at Kealakekua Bay last year said Tuesday that the trip’s organizers didn’t properly vet or train its leader. Associated Press.

Maui

Maui Mayor Alan Arakawa’s office has announced the signing of a “Memorandum of Understanding” agreement with the biotech giant Monsanto. HuffPost Hawaii.

Maui Mayor Alan Arakawa announced that he has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Monsanto, “obtaining assurances from the company that they will engage in safe practices involving restricted-use pesticides.” Maui Now.

Rare dolphin carcass washes up on Maui's north shore. KITV.

Maui Memorial Medical Center has been certified as a level 3 trauma center, meeting standards that should improve care and survivability of injured patients, Health Department and hospital officials said. Maui News.

An 18-year veteran police officer on Maui was arrested and released after being charged with abuse of a family or household member, for an incident involving the injury of his 13-year-old daughter, police said. Maui Now.

Kauai

A pair of Kauai residents claim they watched one of Justin Bieber’s security guards assault a man trying to take pictures of the 19-year-old celebrity Wednesday at Shipwreck’s Beach in Poipu. Garden Island.

Kauai County officials say they are no longer considering an area near Isenberg Park as a potential site for an adolescent drug treatment center first envisioned nearly seven years ago by former Mayor Bryan Baptiste. Instead, now Mayor Bernard Carvalho, Jr. said he and other county officials identified a site along Maalo Road in Kapahi and currently owned by Lihue-based Grove Farm Company as the best site for the facility. Garden Island.