Hawaii vets denied VA loans, Inouye awarded Medal of Freedom, UH makes glow-in-the-dark rabbits, Honolulu Humane Society stops animal pickups, crowded congressional race, Kauai's Coco Palms sold, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Hawaii vets denied VA loans (c) 2013 All Hawaii News

For Caleb Churchill, and many vets like him, the American Dream of home ownership almost washed down the drain, when he learned he couldn’t qualify for the Veterans Affairs loan he had counted on. A rule change in late 2011 prohibited VA loans for properties relying on rainwater catchment systems. West Hawaii Today.

Former U.S. Sen. Daniel Inouye, who overcame racism, earned a Medal of Honor for his bravery in World War II and became a legend in Congress, will posthumously receive the Presidential Medal of Freedom later this year, President Barack Obama announced Thursday. Star-Advertiser.

The late Sen. Daniel Inouye of Hawaii is one of 16 people President Barack Obama will honor later this year with the Presidential Medal of Freedom. Associated Press.

U.S. Sen. Brian Schatz announced Thursday the introduction of major legislation that seeks to expand Social Security benefits while extending the life of the program to 2049. Star-Advertiser.

With Social Security benefits often the primary source of income for the elderly, thousands of state residents have supported protection and expansion of the program. U.S. Sen. Brian Schatz of Hawaii and State Rep. Chris Lee held a press conference Thursday in Honolulu as part of a rally with activists to urge other state and federal leaders to support seniors and promise not to cut benefits. Garden Island.

U.S. Rep. Colleen Hanabusa, D-Hi, a candidate for U.S. Senate in 2014, is the target of a Federal Elections Commission complaint filed by attorney Daniel Hempey on Tuesday. Hawaii Reporter.

Doing the Math on Hawaii's 1st District Race. Civil Beat.

Calling himself someone who will fight for the middle class, City Councilman Ikaika Anderson joined the race for Congress in the Democratic primary. Anderson, 35, joins a field of three other declared Demo­crats in the race to represent urban Oahu in the U.S. House. Star-Advertiser.

A Hawaii Reporter inquiry has led  to the resignation of Hawaiian Homelands Commissioner Perry Artates. In June, Artates and his wife, Ronnette, pleaded guilty to federal wire fraud and false loan application charges, court records show.

Hawaii is well on its way down a strong expansion path, a new report says. While federal tax increases and sequestration-driven budget cuts have curtailed growth in the first half of the year, progress in construction and the service sector will maintain forward momentum, according to the University of Hawaii Economic Research Organization. Pacific Business News.

Last year, Hawaii spent more than $175 per person — $244 million in all — just to fund its interest payments, the third highest rate per person in the country. Hawaii Reporter.

Hawaiian Electric Industries Inc. said its utility is ahead of schedule to generate 15 percent of its electricity from renewable sources by 2015. The holding company for the state's largest utility and American Savings Bank gave a progress report on its clean-energy target Thursday while announcing that second-quarter earnings rose 4.6 percent from the year-earlier quarter. Star-Advertiser.

When it comes to environmental issues addressed by the 2013 Legislature, repeal of the Public Land Development Corporation grabbed headlines. But aside from the PLDC’s repeal, the environmental measures passed by the 2013 Legislature, for better or worse, generally flew under the radar. Civil Beat.

It's something that must be seen to believe. UH research doctors, in conjunction with staff at a university in Turkey, have found a way to make rabbits glow in the dark. Hawaii News Now.

Thrill-seekers eager to try the next new watersport are rushing to strap on jetpacks that propel people into the air with the help of pumped water. But the devices are meeting calls for regulation in Hawaii, where fishermen, scientists and state officials are questioning their safety and how they may affect fish and coral in the state’s heavily trafficked tropical waters. Associated Press.

In Brief | State 8-9-13. Associated Press.

State roundup for August 9. Associated Press.

Oahu

The Hawaiian Humane Society will no longer pick up stray animals or respond to complaints of barking dogs under a new city contract that went into effect Thursday. Star-Advertiser.

The University of Hawaii unveiled its revamped Edmondson Hall on Thursday. The 42,000 square-foot, four-story building underwent a $15 million renovation and now features state-of-the-art teaching laboratories, lab storage, offices and meeting rooms. KHON2.

New Year's Day. Superbowl Sunday. Manti Te'o day. Those were the three days from January to June when the largest number of guards at Oahu Community Correctional Center called in sick. Star-Advertiser.

A look at the current state of Kaka‘ako development in the context of HCDA's past, present and future plans for the area. Hawaii Independent.

The Hawai’i Housing Finance and Development Corporation estimates the state needs more than 30,000 affordable “for-sale units” or rentals to meet current demand. One state-backed venture in Kaka’ako, in the heart of O’ahu’s construction boom, is nearly half way to being completed. Hawaii Public Radio.

Closing arguments were scheduled for next week in the murder trial of State Department special agent Christopher Deedy after the defense rested its case, with Deedy's lawyer asking him only one final question Thursday. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii

West Hawaii residents will have two opportunities a month to meet with a Social Security representative without driving to Hilo. West Hawaii Today.

The Puainako Street widening project is tentatively scheduled to begin in 2016, a consultant announced at a community meeting Thursday. Tribune-Herald.

The principal of a Big Island public charter school says he’s been left scrambling after receiving last-minute notice from the Hawaii Department of Education that his school would no longer be eligible for basic student bus services. Civil Beat.

Maui

The Hawaiʻi Public Housing Authority was awarded more than $9 million in federal grant funds for large-scale improvements to public housing units. Maui Now.

Kauai

The iconic Coco Palms Resort in Wailua received a new breath of life. An Oahu-based group of investors announced Thursday the property is in escrow, and they have already secured demolition permits. Garden Island.

The vast majority of Kauai’s transient vacation rentals operating outside visitor destination areas — in residential neighborhoods and ag lands — have incomplete application files, and about a quarter of them have none of the required documents, according to county Planning Director Michael Dahilig. Garden Island.

Kauai police arrested a 74-year-old Kapaa man Thursday morning for Operating a Vehicle Under the Influence of an Intoxicant (OVUII) after he crashed a school bus into a boat. Hawaii News Now.

Rare table coral sighting in Hawaii, employment to grow 4%, Hanabusa aide quits after FEC complaint, Takai, Anderson run for Congress, state hospitals seek millions, Kona courthouse site rejected, Maui tourism wants gay marriage, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Table coral in Hawaii NOAA photo

A coral species that all but disappeared from waters off the main Hawaiian islands thousands of years ago could be making a comeback to the area, a recent surprise discovery off the southern shore of Oahu indicates. A group of coral ecology scientists with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration stumbled upon what one of them called a "sizable" table coral colony during a routine training dive last November, roughly a mile from the Ewa Plain. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii’s employment rolls will grow by more than 26,000 between the third quarter of last year and the third quarter of next year, the state predicted on Wednesday. The construction industry, which suffered the most during the Great Recession, is driving the approximately 4 percent total growth, according to the Hawaii Department of Labor and Industrial Relations. Pacific Business News.

Jobs in construction, retail sales and tourism will be among the fastest growing areas of employment through next year as Hawaii's economy hits its stride, according to a forecast released Wednesday by the state Department of Labor and Industrial Relations. The overall labor market is expected to add 26,690 jobs between the third quarter of 2012 and the third quarter of 2014, a gain of 4 percent, the DLIR reported. Star-Advertiser.

Sen. Brian Schatz is expected to announce at a press conference Thursday that he’s backing a bill that would strengthen Social Security by boosting taxes on rich people. The legislation faces an uphill battle and seems like a long shot to pass in the Republican House. Civil Beat.

Christopher Raymond, the deputy chief of staff to U.S. Rep. Colleen Hanabusa who sparked an FEC complaint by offering to act as a go-between between Hanabusa's U.S. Senate campaign and the drug industry, has resigned. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii state Rep. Mark Takai says he plans to join a growing field of Democrats hoping to replace Colleen Hanabusa in the U.S. House. Star-Advertiser.

After almost two decades in the state House of Representatives, Rep. Mark Takai on Wednesday announced he would forgo re-election to his seat in the Legislature for a chance to represent Hawaii in Congress. Star-Advertiser.

Takai Bid Puts Hawaii's Military Role at Campaign Center. Civil Beat.

Two more Democrats are joining the race for Congress. State Rep. Mark Takai and Honolulu City Councilman Ikaika Anderson said Wednesday they are running for the seat in the First Congressional District representing urban Oahu. Star-Advertiser.

Squeezed by rising labor costs and declining reimbursements for patient services, Hawaii's public hospital system is seeking a $14 million emergency appropriation from the state. Maui News.

While Gov. Neil Abercrombie backs a proposed $14 million emergency appropriation to cover a projected shortfall for Hawaii Health Systems Corp., the governor maintains that such a cash infusion is a "Band-Aid approach" and wants a long-term strategy for the fiscal health of Hawaii's public hospital system, the governor's press secretary, Louise Kim McCoy, said Wednesday. Maui News.

Public school is back in session this week, with more than 13,000 teachers trusted to do their best with our kids. But what happens when they don’t, and find themselves accused of misconduct? A KHON2 investigation found out just how long these cases can drag on.

State prisons officials said they tried to crack down on sick leave abuse by corrections officers but were thwarted by a federal medical leave law for which 40 percent of guards statewide qualify. Hawaii News Now.

The most recent commander of U.S. submarines in Asia and the Middle East took command on Wednesday of the entire Pacific Fleet submarine force. Rear Adm. Phillip Sawyer succeeded Rear Adm. James Frank Caldwell Jr. during a ceremony on a platform atop the hull of the USS Jacksonville submarine. Associated Press.

Oahu

The nine members of the Honolulu City Council criticized Mayor Kirk Caldwell and his administration on Wednesday for asking the Council to approve two last-minute measures that would spend $48.1 million on housing projects. Star-Advertiser.

The Hawaii Community Development Authority approved another permit application today, marking the 8th high-rise in Kaka’ako to be granted a green light by the state agency in less than one year. Hawaii Public Radio.

Two pieces of a master plan for redeveloping nine blocks in Kakaako owned by Kamehameha Schools got the go-ahead Wednesday, including a high-rise condominium that has upset residents of two neighboring towers. Star-Advertiser.

There's more fallout from the sex assault scandal at the Hawaii School for the Deaf and Blind. A lawsuit filed by a Honolulu woman says that students were allowed to sexually abuse her daughter repeatedly not just at the Kapahulu school, but also at McKinley High School. Hawaii News Now.

Deedy Trial — Should A Federal Agent Have Left Before Violence Erupted? Civil Beat.

A state judge ruled late Wednesday that Kollin Elderts' 2008 disorderly conduct conviction can be introduced in the murder trial of Christopher Deedy, the State Department special agent who shot him. Star-Advertiser.

Get ready to say goodbye to the Ala Wai pipe. The temporary sewer pipe has been raised and cut, to prepare for its removal. KITV4.

Hawaii

The Judiciary’s preferred site for the new Kona Judiciary complex is off the table, an administrator told House Finance Committee members Wednesday. West Hawaii Today.

As the beginning to a new academic year approaches, administrators at the University of Hawaii at Hilo’s Daniel K. Inouye College of Pharmacy are once again ramping up efforts to garner legislative support for a permanent building to house the program. Tribune-Herald.

Hawaii County on Wednesday moved one lot closer to completing the long-sought Mamalahoa bypass, but the administration won’t make its mid-2013 target date to begin construction of this phase of the highway. West Hawaii Today.

A proposal to list nearly 19,000 acres between Palani Road and Waikoloa as critical habitat for three plant species could hardly have come at a worse time, said some residents who attended a U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service meeting Wednesday. West Hawaii Today.

KTA is giving Puna another shot. Jon McElvaney, a consultant working on a proposed commercial development for Pahoa, confirmed that he has been in talks with the Big Isle supermarket chain, which he referred to as being “first in line” to fill the 40,000-square-foot area reserved for a large grocery. Tribune-Herald.

Maui

In light of a recently updated University of Hawaii report that suggests legalizing same-sex marriages may boost Hawaii's tourism industry by an estimated $217 million over a three-year period, Maui tourism officials and industry professionals say that legalizing same-sex marriages would bring benefits to more than 150 businesses on the Valley Isle as well. Maui News.

Kayak and snorkeling company Maui Ocean Activities has been ordered to cease unauthorized beach activities by the Board of Land and Natural Resources. Maui Now.

Kauai

The state Intermediate Court of Appeals on Wednesday vacated a judgment that let 17 insurance companies out of a Ka Loko Dam disaster civil suit and remanded the case to the 5th Circuit. Garden Island.

You know those rescue tube stations, more than 200 of them, you see around the beaches of Kauai? The ones credited with saving more than 50 lives in the last five years? They were illegal. Not anymore. Garden Island.

Molokai
When today’s kupuna were growing up, they remember being told that the Kapuaiwa Coconut Grove was a sacred place. It was kapu, or forbidden, and their kupuna told them not to play in the grove or freshwater springs that open up in the ground beneath the towering trees. But today, those kupuna are concerned because they often see trucks driven into the grove, children swimming in the pools, tourists oblivious to the dangers of falling coconuts and rubbish littering the springs and grove. Molokai Dispatch.

Hawaii, Kauai counties retreat on GMO bills, state backs off fly homeless to Mainland plan, Schatz 'vulnerable,' DOE mismanagement hurts neighbor island schools, Deedy takes stand, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Hawaii County GMO protest (c) 2013 All Hawaii News

The Hawaii County Council plans to start from scratch on legislation to regulate genetically modified crops. Kohala Councilwoman Margaret Wille withdrew Bill 79 on Tuesday following a lengthy discussion and pledged to introduce an entirely new, fine-tuned version. Tribune-Herald.

The Kauai County Council will wait for legal opinions before deciding whether to approve a measure that would require agricultural operations to disclose if they are growing genetically modified crops and their use of pesticides. Associated Press.

It’s not an honor Sen. Brian Schatz wants. The National Journal ranked the top ten incumbents in Congress who could lose their seats. And Schatz was second on the list. Civil Beat.

Outdated policies and a lack of staff have hamstrung the Department of Education's ability to efficiently manage school construction and repair projects, according to an internal audit released Tuesday. As a result, some neighbor island schools have been using general education funds to pay for urgent campus repairs, essentially taking money away from academics and other educational uses. Other inefficiencies have led to delays and cost overruns for school projects. Star-Advertiser.

Dozens of media outlets around the world want to know more about a pilot program to send homeless in Hawaii back to their families on the mainland. On Tuesday, the Department of Human Services decided not to implement the program. The money — $100,000 — will go back to the general fund. Civil Beat.

A program that would help fly homeless people in Hawaii back to the mainland is being greeted with skepticism by the state’s human services officials and groups that help the homeless. Associated Press.

Left as it is, the new state law authorizing airfare for homeless people heading back to the mainland could cause more problems than it solves. Star-Advertiser.

A project of the Native Hawaiian Roll Commission, created by the legislature in 2011, seeks to rekindle momentum for Hawaiian self-governance after the Akaka Bill stalled in Congress. This latest push via the roll commission was originally seen as a one-year effort that was to have been wrapped up by now, but it has been extended through January 19, 2014. Civil Beat.

A Hawaii task force of archeologists, lawyers and others are planning to meet to figure out how to deal with thousands of homes turning 50 years old. Associated Press.

Oahu

State Department special agent Christopher Deedy portrayed Kollin Elderts on Tuesday as an aggressive and belligerent man who challenged Deedy to a fight before the agent kicked him to ward off an assault. Star-Advertiser.

Honolulu attorney James H. Ashford was unanimously confirmed by the state Senate on Tuesday to a six-year term as a district judge on Oahu. Star-Advertiser.

City officials hope a pilot program started last week at the Division of Motor Vehicles office in Kaneohe will eventually help ease the frustrating, excessive waits that residents encounter at motor vehicle branches across Oahu. Star-Advertiser.

The three days when the highest numbers of corrections officers at Oahu Community Correctional Center called in sick during the first six months of the year coincided with a major holiday, a major sports game and a parade for a local football star, according to an investigation by Hawaii News Now.

Three major development projects will get their first airing today before the Honolulu City Council. Star-Advertiser.

Oahu's housing market reached a new height in July, setting a price record for condominiums. The record $345,500 median price for condos was reported by the Hono­lulu Board of Realtors, which also said sales volume and median prices for single-family houses rose in July. Star-Advertiser.

Honolulu Seawater Air Conditioning LLC, which has a plan to cool downtown Honolulu buildings with a revolutionary air-conditioning system, has received $1 million investment from the Ulupono Initiative, a Honolulu-based impact investment firm founded by eBay founder Pierre Omidyar, the two organizations said Monday. Pacific Business News.

Ala Moana Center’s owner will sign a second major anchor for the redeveloped Ewa end of the mall soon and add 1,000 new parking stalls as part of the project to be completed in 2015. Star-Advertiser.

Sister cities forever linked by warfare came together Tuesday as a sign of peace. Honolulu and Hiroshima are essentially the bookends of World War II. And just as Dec. 7 is Hawaii's day of infamy, Aug. 6 marks Hiroshima's. KITV4.

Hawaii

The county administration may have to dip into other departments’ funding to find almost $4 million for police raises that weren’t in the budget. West Hawaii Today.

An Oahu representative offered Kona residents a glimpse at a possible major energy overhaul in the next few years. State legislators, with the Public Utilities Commission’s approval, are looking to push energy providers away from energy creation and toward energy distribution, said Rep. Charles Lee, who represents Windward Oahu, during a meeting with state House leaders Tuesday at Kealakehe High School. West Hawaii Today.

A 25-year-old Mountain View man is suing the county and three police officers for a beating he alleges he received in the Hilo police cellblock after being arrested for drunken driving. Tribune-Herald.

Maui

During a recent visit to Maui, Governor Neil Abercrombie stopped at Camp Maluhia, located along the Kahekili Highway, below the Waiheʻe Ridge Trail. Maui Now.

Kauai

A recent change in the county’s real property tax system has upset some residents when they realized their annual tax bill more than doubled. Meanwhile, the Kauai County Council is working on a bill that could potentially alleviate some of the issues. Garden Island.

The Kahuaina Plantation, a 357-acre beachfront estate on Kauai’s North Shore, is back on the market with a slightly higher asking price of $70 million, according to owner Falko Partners. Pacific Business News.

Marine biologist Katherine Muzik has a dream of the Kapaa Swimming Pool becoming a coral garden. Garden Island.

Drones coming to Hawaii, Kauai postpones GMO vote, man fights to take driver's test in Hawaiian, group sues for prison program, state procurement chief says he's being forced out, 34 groups get Obamacare grants, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

RQ-7B Shadow drone, courtesy photo AAI Corp.

Surveillance drone use and development is on the rise in the military and civilian sectors, and the Marine Corps in Hawaii said it is expected to get a dozen RQ-7B Shadows followed by 45 RQ-21A Integrators with the relocation of Marine Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Squadron 3 from California to Kaneohe Bay. Star-Advertiser.

The Marine Corps in Hawaii is conducting an environmental assessment in anticipation of receiving additional surveillance drones. Associated Press.

Eight months after the passing of Inouye, arguably the most important figure in Hawaii politics since statehood, Hawaii's four congressional delegates are busy carving out strong identities of their own. Civil Beat.

Michael Golojuch, Jr., the gay activist who filed complaints against 11 state House and Senate Democrats who sponsored or co-sponsored a constitutional amendment on traditional marriage, said Monday that he has dropped the complaints against all but two of the lawmakers. Star-Advertiser.

The administrator of the State Procurement Office says the policy board that oversees the office is manipulating the hiring process for a new administrator. Aaron Fujioka, who has applied for reappointment to his position, has raised questions about the board's procedures and actions and is seeking a legal opinion. Civil Beat.

Hawaii’s health insurance marketplace has awarded grants to 34 community organizations to help uninsured people learn about insurance options under President Barack Obama’s signature health care law. Associated Press.

A Hawaii man has waged a court battle centered on his right to speak and write Hawaiian, saying his inability to take a driver’s license exam in the language represents discrimination that violates the state constitution. Associated Press.

The state agency responsible for ensuring that Sandwich Isles Communications used tens of millions of dollars of ratepayer money appropriately signed off year after year on its operations even though the Federal Communications Commission was picking apart the company's financial management and raising serious questions. Civil Beat.

Hawaii will be receiving a federal $1.8 million early childhood education grant. Associated Press.

Hurricane hunters are scrambling to track threats with sequestration cuts at the worst possible time, the height of hurricane season. Hawaii News Now.

On Bishop Street there's only one Robbie, and he's leaving his job as executive vice president of Hawaiian Electric Co. on Aug. 31. This is huge. Star-Advertiser.

State roundup for August 6. Associated Press.

Oahu
The Honolulu City Council would get the last word on the Honolulu Board of Water Supply's budget under a plan voters could be asked to consider in the 2014 election. The appointed, seven-member water board would be stripped of other powers as well under a charter amendment proposal, Resolution 13-177. Star-Advertiser.

Honolulu attorney James H. Ashford is poised to succeed Dean Ochai to a six-year term as a district judge on Oahu, after a Senate panel recommended his nomination be approved by the full Senate. Star-Advertiser.

Farrington High School teachers and students kicked off the school year on Monday in a newly renovated wing designed by Bowers + Kubota and funded by $2.3 million from the state of Hawaii’s capital improvement fund. Pacific Business News.

Farrington high big school gets 'smaller' design. A redesigned wing reflects students' needs for more focused vocational education programs. Star-Advertiser.

As public school students headed back to classes, the state began restoring bus service for hundreds of children on Oahu. The Hawaii State Department of Education is also rolling out other changes to overhaul its troubled transportation system. Hawaii News Now.

Hawaiian Telcom through the past year more than doubled the number of subscribers to its television service on Oahu to 13,600 households and has expanded the reach of its fiber-optic lines to about one-third of the island’s homes. Star-Advertiser.

The Royal Hawaiian Market Place, a two-story, 5,723-square-foot retail center being redeveloped in Waikiki, has been sold to City Hill Co. Hawaii Ltd., an entity with ties to Guam, for $7 million, according to records from the Hawaii Information Service. Pacific Business News.

State Department Special Agent Christopher Deedy might testify today in his trial on a charge of murdering Kollin Elderts at a McDonald's Waikiki restaurant early on Nov. 5, 2011. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii
Ohana Ho‘opakele, a group seeking to promote rehabilitation programs based on Hawaiian cultural practices, is challenging the state’s environmental assessment for the re-opening of the Kulani Correctional Facility. Tribune-Herald.

A Hawaii-based researcher with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration took an item collected by many travelers as a souvenir and turned it into a data source to provide insights on Hawaii’s fish populations. West Hawaii Today.

The majority of public school students across the Big Island hoisted their bookbags, steeled their nerves, and dove back into a new academic year on Monday morning, leaving their frazzled parents to heave sighs of relief. Tribune-Herald.

Maui

Nearly $60 million for improvements at Kahului Airport, ranging from repairing the apron fronting the main terminal to replacement of aging passenger loading bridges, was released by Gov. Neil Abercrombie late last month. Maui News.

The Maui Department of Water Supply plans to convert the Wailuku Well from an exploratory well to an actual water source. Maui Now.

The 30 public schools in Maui County had their first day of school Monday. Maui News.

Kauai

After a full day of work Monday, the Kauai County Council unanimously deferred to September a controversial proposal to demand disclosure of pesticide use and genetically modified crops, and to create buffer zones for large agricultural operations. Garden Island.

United States Postal Service officials are considering several options that would restore some services to Hanamaulu residents but say it is unlikely the town’s freestanding post office destroyed in a fire last year will be rebuilt. Garden Island.

The Office of Hawaiian Affairs has awarded a $7,000 grant to the Breadfruit Institute of the National Tropical Botanical Garden to help support “Breadfruit Festival Takes Root.”Garden Island.

Hawaii children head back to school, Schatz, Hanabusa differ on Medicare, UH applicants have military ties, GMO debate hurting papaya farmers, Fukushima children visit, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Hawaii schoolchildren (c) 2013 All Hawaii News

It's back to school for most of Hawaii's public school students. The new school year for students begins Monday. Teachers headed back to the classroom last week. Hawaii is the nation's 10th largest school system and the only statewide district in the country. Associated Press.

As the new school year kicks off today, more than 180,000 public school students face new, more rigorous academic standards in language arts and math as Hawaii and about 40 other states roll out what's known as the Common Core standards. Star-Advertiser.

Back in April, the Hawaii State Teachers Association ratified a new four-year deal that includes annual pay raises tied to performance evaluations. It's the pilot year for the new grading system and HSTA head Wil Okabe says members are eager to move forward. Hawaii News Now.

With the first day of school right around the corner, "big changes" in how teachers, students and schools are evaluated will go into effect statewide Monday, state Department of Education officials said. Maui News.

Hanabusa, Schatz differ on Medicare drug rebates. The senator and his challenger, who generally share the same views, disagree on this matter of policy. Star-Advertiser.

A program that would help fly homeless people in Hawaii back to the mainland is being greeted with skepticism by the state's human services officials and groups that help the homeless. A provision allowing the state Department of Human Services to coordinate a voluntary "return-to-home" program is included in a new state law. The department said it doesn't have any plans to implement the program at this time, but publicity surrounding it has officials worried nonetheless. Associated Press.

Three of the five finalists being considered to head the University of Hawaii's research efforts, including the UH initiative to create a $1 billion-per-year research industry in the state by 2022, have close ties to the military. Civil Beat.

Six children who lived through the largest nuclear accident since Chernobyl are on their way to Oahu for play and respite after a longer stop on Hawaii island. The children, who were affected by the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear disaster, landed on Hawaii island June 24 and will visit Oahu from Aug. 16 to 20. Star-Advertiser.

The more than $50 million in salaries and other benefits paid to around 350 non-academic staff have caught the attention of prominent legislators who say they’re concerned Hawaii’s only state university is becoming too administratively top heavy. Hawaii Reporter.

Official language unusable for official business? Native Hawaiian speaker says restrictions on language. KITV4.

This year’s Made in Hawaii Festival will feature more than 100 new vendors, an indication the annual event is growing in popularity. Associated Press.

What was Tropical Storm Gil has weakened to a depression as another storm behind it intensified into Tropical Storm Henriette this morning and could become a hurricane in two to three days. Star-Advertiser.

State roundup for August 5. Associated Press.

Oahu

Residents in Nuuanu Valley form a co-op to share their garden bounty and to nurture a neighborhood. Star-Advertiser.

A report ordered by Congress on the Pearl Harbor cruiser USS Port Royal shows that the ship's condition is not as bad as the Navy portrayed in its attempts to retire it early to save money. Star-Advertiser.

Mahealani Richardson, a longtime news anchor for KITV News This Morning, is leaving the Honolulu ABC affiliate to do public relations for Shriner’s Hospital. Pacific Business News.

Hawaii

About 70 showed up Sunday afternoon at Hawaii Academy of Arts and Sciences to discuss the state Department of Education’s decision on Friday to discontinue bus service for students of the Pahoa public charter school. Tribune-Herald.

Ohana Ho`opakele, the group seeking to create a pu’uhonua at the soon to be reinstated Kulani Correctional Facility, has filed a complaint challenging the state’s Final Environmental Assessment on the reactivation of the prison. Big Island Video News.

Papaya Nightmares: A Farmer Struggles Amid Hawaii's GMO Debate. The fruit still clings to the branches on this 100-acre papaya farm because sales have plummeted in recent weeks, says the owner, Alberto Belmes, and the fruit is likely to rot where it is. Civil Beat.

Amid an impassioned debate about legislation that aims to restrict genetically modified crops on the Big Island, Civil Beat's Brad Watanabe and Sophie Cocke traveled to the Puna district to check out the papaya fields and talk to the fruit's savior. Civil Beat.

A new bill would make it easier for farmers markets to be set up in private subdivisions. Introduced by Puna Councilman Zendo Kern, the legislation allows homeowner associations to establish markets without obtaining a special use permit. Tribune-Herald.

An expanding swap meet is a growing source of contention in Ocean View. Ocean View Partners LLC filed in March for a new special permit for their farmers market, referred to more often as a swap meet. West Hawaii Today.

Maui

The local variety of pineapple known as Maui Gold was almost lost when Maui Land & Pineapple Co. decided to cease its century-old pineapple production in 2009. However, thanks to a handful of the industry's "old-timers" - including former Maui Pineapple Co. President Doug Schenk, who lobbied with other executives to start their own pineapple business on Maui - residents, visitors and pineapple lovers may still enjoy one of the island's sweetest icons. Maui News.

Maui County is seeking bids from contractors for a project to install a street crossing and sidewalks to help students from Kamalii Elementary School walk safely to school in Kihei. Maui News.

Roberts Hawaiʻi celebrated the launch of its new Maui Airport Shuttle on Thursday, officially taking over management of the contract for the walk-up service in Kahului. Maui Now.

Kauai

A mostly residential North Shore town is at a loss on how to handle a lack of public restrooms, and the problem is escalating as more visitors are attracted to a growing commerce in the area. Garden Island.

Hula good for your health, Abercrombie staff donates to campaign, federal court won't consider judge letter in rail lawsuit, Obama names Punahou classmate ambassador, Maui Ritz-Carlton timeshare going hotel, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Hawaii hula (c) 2013 All Hawaii News

Learning hula can lower blood pressure for people with persistent hypertension and help rehabilitate patients after heart attacks or cardiac surgery, according to research presented Thursday at the American Psychological Association's convention at the Hawai‘i Convention Center. Star-Advertiser.

President Barack Obama on Thursday nominated a former classmate from Punahou School as an ambassador of the United States to the Office of the United Nations and other international organizations in Geneva. Star-Advertiser.

Since taking office to fanfare in the United States and in India, U.S. Rep. Tulsi Gabbard’s Hindu faith hasn’t been a prominent part of her national image. Civil Beat.

Three dozen employees of the Abercrombie administration, including a lot of cabinet directors and their deputies, have donated money to their boss's re-election. Civil Beat.

Hawaii hotel rates climbed 10 percent higher across the Islands last week in comparison to the same week last year, while occupancy changes were mixed, according to the latest report from Hospitality Advisors LLC and Smith Travel Research. Pacific Business News.

National Weather Service officials in Hawaii say preliminary data shows the center of Tropical Storm Flossie never hit land when it passed through the state this week. Associated Press.

State roundup for August 2. Associated Press.

Oahu

As a pivotal hearing on the city's planned rail project approaches, the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals announced Thursday that it won't consider a recent, eyebrow-raising letter from federal judges in Hawaii critical of the project. Star-Advertiser.

The state Department of Land and Natural Resources is addressing two hot button hiking trails Lanikai Pillbox and Maunawili Falls in windward Oahu. Residents living at the foot of both trails have complained about excessive crowds, illegal parking, vandalism and safety concerns. KHON2.

Some well-meaning and creative additions to the graves of loved ones at the orderly Hawaii State Veterans Cemetery are resulting in some undignified disorder at the final resting place for 10,411 veterans and dependents. Star-Advertiser.

A McDonald’s security guard testified Thursday that Kollin Elderts bullied and irritated a customer before the confrontation that escalated to State Department special agent Christopher Deedy fatally shooting Elderts at the Waikiki fast-food restaurant. Star-Advertiser.

Here are two indisputable facts: Kollin Elderts is dead. Christopher Deedy shot him. But whether Deedy, a U.S. State Department special agent, gets convicted of murder is a question that largely centers on Hawaii’s self-defense law. Civil Beat.

Hawaii

Changing requirements by Medicare and insurance companies are putting burdens on hospitals to prove the care they provide is high quality, North Hawaii Community Hospital Board Chairman Bob Momsen said Thursday evening. West Hawaii Today.

The University of Hawaii at Hilo moved a step closer Thursday to a rezoning that would make it easier to erect housing and commercial facilities on 312 acres that includes the campus and surrounding land, despite concerns over the county surrendering a future connector road slated to run through the campus. West Hawaii Today.

The Windward Planning Commission voted in support of a new commercial development proposed for Pahoa on Thursday. Tribune-Herald.

Maui
Just a week before he was scheduled for spinal fusion surgery, Baraka Kanaan was ordered off of an airplane on his hands and knees. The Maui native, partially paralyzed from a 2000 car accident is suing Delta Air Lines aftr it refused to provide him with a lift and other wheelchair accommodations, even after he arranged for those services ahead of time. Hawaii News Now.

A 50-room hotel will replace unsold time-share units at Maui’s former Ritz-Carlton time-share and condominium resort in Kapalua under a plan by the property’s new owner and management firm. Star-Advertiser.

Hana Ranch Partners’ proposed sale of thousands of acres of Hana Ranch land on Maui to Bio-Logical Capital for some $35 million is in serious doubts after a lawsuit was filed by one of the owners against his partners to stop the sale from closing. Pacific Business News.

A court hearing has been postponed until September on a motion to judicially dissolve the embattled nonprofit Wailuku Main Street Association Inc./Tri-Isle Main Street Resource Center. Maui News.

If anyone has suffered storm-related damage from Tropical Depression Flossie, they are asked to report it to the Maui County Civil Defense Agency to ensure the county has complete information on damage. Maui News.

A contract dispute between DISH Network and Raycom Media has led to the loss of CBS and NBC channels for DISH customers in Hawaii, according to an announcement. Maui News.

Kauai

Bill 2491, the GMO bill, goes to the council’s Economic Development Committee Monday, when council members will begin working on the bill, discussing flaws and strengths, and potentially propose amendments. Garden Island.

The U.S. Department of Energy announced Thursday that it will invest $5 million in a Kauai-based biofuels energy project. Hawaii BioEnergy, established in 2006 by three of the state’s largest landowners, will use the funding to develop and test a cost-effective photosynthetic open-pond system to produce algal oil at its research facility near Lihue, according to a DOE release. Garden Island.

Abercrombie builds campaign coffers, state IT behind the times, more than 1,000 attend Kauai GMO hearing, Honolulu Police to try license-plate scanners, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Gov. Neil Abercrombie reelection campaign courtesy photo

Gov. Neil Abercrombie brought in more than $859,450 over the past six months for his re-election campaign, swelling his total to $3.3 million overall. The Democrat had $2.1 million in cash on hand at the end of June, according to his latest campaign-finance report. Star-Advertiser.

Neil Abercrombie’s re-election campaign raised $860,000 in the first six months of 2013, according to a statement from his gubernatorial campaign Wednesday afternoon. Civil Beat.

Why has Hawaii's state government relegated itself to a 20th-century business model, clinging inefficiently to paper as other states dive into digital? Sonny Bhagowalia, who has been Hawaii’s IT czar for two years, has laid out a comprehensive plan to propel the state into the 21st Century. But he said it won’t come to fruition without funding — or at least not as fast as it should. Civil Beat.

The Hawaii Invasive Species Council is allocating more than $2.5 million for dozens of projects during the current fiscal year, including efforts to eradicate axis deer on the Big Island and detect mongoose on Kauai. Associated Press.

Oahu

After one unsuccessful attempt Honolulu Police plan to try again to use cameras capable of reading multiple license plates a second. Police Department's in other cities across the country say the technology has helped recover stolen cars and catch wanted criminals. But opponents say it also catches too much information. Hawaii News Now.

Honolulu Mayor Kirk Caldwell and other officials joined Hawaiian civic club members in celebrating the 170th anniversary of Hawaiian Flag Day, the day the Hawaiian monarchy was restored, and the founding of Thomas Square at the Honolulu park on Wednesday — with a backdrop of supporters of Hawaiian sovereignty and (de)Occupy Honolulu protesting behind them. Star-Advertiser.

It’s a problem some Oahu residents say happens too often. Garbage is overflowing, trash pickup routes are missed, and the city is paying out tens of thousands of dollars to make up for the trash trouble. KHON2.

The appointed Grants In Aid Advisory Commission this week submitted to the City Council a list recommending that 41 Oahu nonprofit agencies divvy up $5.1 million in grants. Star-Advertiser.

The National Football League and the NFL’s Players Association is giving the annual Pro Bowl all-star game, which is being held on Jan. 26 at Aloha Stadium in Honolulu, an overhaul. Pacific Business News.

A friend of State Department special agent Christopher Deedy testified Wednesday she saw the agent pull out his wallet before the 2011 fatal shooting in Waikiki and show Kollin Elderts what the defense asserts was Deedy’s law enforcement identification and badge. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii

The Environmental Management Department is getting lots of pitches for waste-to-energy technologies, Director Bobby Jean Leithead Todd told Environmental Management Commissioners Wednesday morning. The problem is, she added, most of those technologies aren’t a good fit for Hawaii County. Stephens Media.

Hawaii County Council members got off to a slow start raising money for their next campaigns, with only one councilor, Hilo Councilman Dennis Onishi, reporting any contributions at all, according to disclosures filed with the state Campaign Spending Commission by Wednesday’s deadline. Stephens Media.

The Pacific Islands Parks Act was given an important hearing at a key Senate committee today. The legislation, which was introduced by Hawaii Senator Brian Schatz, would direct the National Park Service to complete studies of three designated sites in the state of Hawai‘i. That includes a special resource study along the Ka‘u Coast on Hawaii Island, as well as the northern coast of Maui, and the southeastern coast of Kauai. Big Island Video News.

Maui

Updates to the Maui County Code relating to subdivisions, including one that could help the county regulate speeding on Eha Street, were signed into law by Mayor Alan Arakawa on Tuesday. Maui News.

Maui police issued a total of 634 tickets, 530 of them for speeding during the Operation SPEED traffic enforcement campaign last week. Maui Now.

Habitat for Humanity Maui announced the start of construction on a 16 unit condominium project on Kahawai Street in Happy Valley. Maui Now.

Kauai

More than 1,000 people came to Kauai Veterans Center Wednesday to attend a public hearing on a proposal that has put Kauai on the spotlight across the state and has sharply divided island residents. Garden Island.

Supporters and opponents of a controversial bill to regulate pesticides and genetically engineered crops crowded the Kauai Veterans Center Wednesday to testify before a County Council committee. More than 1,000 people attended the hearing Wednesday on Bill 2491. Star-Advertiser.

Although relatively peaceful — other than the occasional snicker, laugh or boo from the audience — testimony during Wednesday’s public hearing on County Bill 2491 was full of emotion from both sides. Garden Island.

The public is invited to provide input on the proposed update of the Kauai County Area Plan for Oct. 2011 to Sept. 2015, which serves as a blueprint for senior programs and services. Included in the update are proposed changes to the Agency on Elderly Affairs’ services and several of its programs including: Better Choices, Better Health; EnhanceFitness; and the Kauai RSVP (Retired Seniors Volunteer Program). Garden Island.

Lanai

If someone were to play Larry Ellison in a movie, the Oracle Corp. CEO thinks it should be Robert Downey Jr. Pacific Business News.

Hawaiian Kingdom restoration marked, Gabbard dubbed 'Hawaiian Heartbreaker,' UH names Lassner interim president, Kauai GMO hearing today, Hawaii County mulls incinerator, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

King Kamehameha statue (c) 2013 All Hawaii News

Honolulu is celebrating the 170th anniversary of the restoration of the Hawaiian Kingdom. Wednesday's events at Thomas Square Park recognize the significance of Restoration Day in Hawaiian history. Associated Press.

Fresh data from the U.S. Census Bureau reveals distinctions, breaking the state's two congressional districts down by who lives there, what jobs they hold, how much money they make, their educational attainment and what it costs to live there. Hawaii doesn't require its U.S. House representatives to reside in their respective district. Judging from the new census information, perhaps it should; when it comes to income, housing, work and health, it's a tale of two Hawaiis. Civil Beat.

Michael Golojuch Jr., chairman of the Hawaii Democratic Party's gay caucus, brazenly declared himself the "new sheriff in town" after he initiated sanctions against 11 Demo­cratic legislators who proposed a constitutional amendment on traditional marriage. Star-Advertiser.

‘Hawaiian Heartbreaker’ Tulsi Gabbard Named Sixth Most Attractive Person on the Hill. Civil Beat.

David Lassner

The University of Hawaii Board of Regents this afternoon unanimously agreed on naming UH Chief Information Officer David Lassner as interim president of the 10-campus system, effective Sept. 1. Star-Advertiser.

David Lassner says he hopes to help re-establish trust in the University of Hawaii while touting its accomplishments in his new role as interim president of the 10-campus system. Star-Advertiser.

A federal court lawsuit alleges that the state contributed to the death of a 14-year-old boy. The suit says Roosevelt High School student Charlie Lee was depressed and suicidal when the state began to reduce mental health services for the teen. Hawaii News Now.

Oahu

Lately there’s been a lot of angst about Kakaako’s future, not only because Honolulu’s $5.26 billion rail line intends to slice through its midsection, but also because the latest plans call for buildings as tall as 700 feet. By comparison, the tallest building in the state is currently the 429-foot-tall First Hawaiian Center on Bishop Street. Diamond Head, one of Oahu’s most recognizable landmarks, only has an elevation of 761 feet. Civil Beat.

Developer Stanford and Kamehameha Schools on Friday formally announced plans for Keauhou Lane in Kakaako, a project that includes a 40-story tower consisting of 600 residential units as well as a low-rise mixed-use residential project with 200 workforce rental apartments. Pacific Business News.

Delays Plague Student-Funded Recreation Center at UH Manoa. Civil Beat.

A retired Honolulu police detective testified Tuesday that police didn't obtain a blood alcohol reading from State Department special agent Christopher Deedy because he refused to take a breath test. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii

The Hawaii County Council wants plenty of time for its own input and approval before the county chooses a waste-to-energy contractor, despite Mayor Billy Kenoi’s vow to have a plant “on the ground” by the time he leaves office in late 2016. Stephens Media.

Construction projects planned or underway at the Natural Energy Laboratory of Hawaii Authority in Kailua-Kona on the Big Island are generating about 500 jobs and nearly $5 million in tax revenue during the next two years. The 12 projects are scheduled to have a total value of more than $50 million. Pacific Business News.

A Hawaii County Council committee will conclude its hearing on Bill 79, relating to genetically modified organisms, at 1:30 p.m Aug. 6 at the Council Chambers in Hilo. Council members will discuss the bill. No additional testimony will be taken. The council received more than 700 written testimonies on the bill. Stephens Media.

Maui

Maui Mayor Arakawa today signed revisions to the County Subdivision Code in an effort to streamline the approval process for both applicants and county staff, a county announcement said. Maui Now.

Mayor: Preparation pays off. Maui News.

Reports of a Haiku man who was struck by lightning Monday evening during Tropical Depression Flossie's brief but furious rampage on Maui have been all the talk on news and social media outlets, but a family member of the man said Tuesday that the incident may have been exaggerated. Maui News.

Kauai

County Bill 2491, requiring commercial agricultural entities to disclose the use of pesticides and the presence of genetically modified crops to the county. It specifically targets companies that purchase or use more than five pounds (or 15 gallons) of restricted use pesticides annually goes to a public hearing at 1:30 p.m. today. Garden Island.

Out of a bag full of proposals introduced at this year’s Legislature, a House resolution — a policy with no teeth — was the only law passed, according to a search in the state Capitol’s website. Garden Island.

Flossie downgraded after flustering Hawaiian Islands, schools lose high-risk status, Maui News erecting paywall, Hanabusa aide allegedly broke campaign law, artists sought to honor Mink, Inouye, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Hawaii County emergency operations center, courtesy Mayor Billy Kenoi

The worst of what is now Tropical Depression Flossie has now passed through most of the state, bringing thunderstorms and dangerously high surf but sparing most islands from serious storm related damage. Hawaii News Now.

Strong wind and heavy rain from Tropical Depression Flossie resulted in more than 80 flight cancellations to and from the islands Monday, preventing some visitors from starting their Hawaii vacations and keeping others from going home. Star-Advertiser.

Airlines have canceled flights in and out of Hawaii due to Tropical Storm Flossie. Powerful winds and heavy rains have left many visitors stranded or unable to get here. Hawaii Public Radio.

Even as Flossie drifts away and dissipates to a remnant of a tropical storm, she leaves behind ample moisture to cause thunderstorms this afternoon and heavy rain Wednesday in Honolulu, forecasters said. Star-Advertiser.

Although the state received a drenching and strong winds, Hawaii benefited, as it has in the past, from high-altitude wind shear that took the top off the storm along with some of its dangerous punch, experts say. Star-Advertiser.

A week before most of Hawaii’s students return to school, the state education department was cleared from its “high-risk” status that had threatened a $75 million grant targeted for reforming struggling schools. Associated Press.

The U.S. Department of Education has lifted a restriction on a $75 million federal grant that had raised doubts about Hawaii’s ability to improve low-performing public schools. Star-Advertiser.

The Hawaii State Department of Education’s four-year, $75 million Race to the Top grant is no longer considered high risk after a recent evaluation from the U.S. Department of Education, according to a Monday announcement. Pacific Business News.

Hanabusa Aide May Have Mixed Campaign and Congressional Work. Civil Beat.

The Hawaii State Foundation on Culture and Arts is putting out an international call for artists to create art in honor of the late U.S. Sen. Daniel Inouye and U.S. Rep. Patsy Mink. The foundation says the state Legislature passed a measure to commission sculptures honoring Inouye and Mink to go near the state Capitol. The Legislature instructed that $250,000 be spent for each work. Associated Press.

State Rep. Karen Awana still owes $800 in fines for failing to keep campaign spending records and filing false reports dating back to 2008. The four-term Democrat has $16,000 in her campaign account, which she could have used to complete the delinquent payments months ago. Civil Beat.

A Hawaiian Electric Co. report outlining its strategy for meeting the energy needs of its customers fell short in several areas and did not adequately address the impact of the rapid growth of rooftop solar photovoltaic systems on the utility's grid, according to consultant hired by state regulators to oversee the planning process. Star-Advertiser.

The independent expert hired by state regulators to oversee Hawaiian Electric Co.’s energy planning process is refusing to certify the utility's five-year energy plans, saying the company's work was shoddy despite what's expected to be an $11 million effort. Civil Beat.

State roundup for July 30. Associated Press.

Oahu

Paradise lost: Honolulu taxpayers drowning in crystal clear sea of debt. Hawaii Reporter.

The Naval Facilities Engineering Command, Hawaii's Wastewater Treatment Plant at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam has reported that a clogged sand filtration polishing system touched off two partial bypasses — one last night and one today — at the effluent sand filtration system overflow weir. During the bypass incidents, the plant discharged a total of about 18,000 gallons of fully treated and disinfected secondary effluent through its deep multiport outfall without polishing effluent sand filtration. Star-Advertiser.

A defense attorney suggested Monday that a key prosecution witness knew that State Department Special Agent Christopher Deedy was a law enforcement officer when the witness said he initially thought the agent was carrying a Taser electronic stun gun. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii

Tropical Storm Flossie is expected to continue to fizzle as it moves westward after barely brushing the Big Island on Monday. Stephens Media.

The threat of Tropical Storm Flossie cost taxpayers more than $350,000 in lost worker productivity and it inconvenienced residents when garbage transfer stations were closed and public bus service suspended, but Mayor Billy Kenoi on Monday afternoon maintained a “better safe than sorry” stance. Stephens Media.

A federal judge indicated she will rule by Wednesday whether she or the jury should allow Hawaii island cannabis advocate Roger Christie to use a religious freedom defense at his marijuana trial. U.S. District Judge Leslie Koba­ya­shi heard arguments Monday by federal prosecutors who want her to rule that the defense under the Religious Freedom Restoration Act doesn't apply. Star-Advertiser.

Researchers at the University of Hawaii and the U.S. Department of Agriculture try to resolve vexing questions about how to deal with coffee berry borer beetles, an unwelcome new species that came to the state and quickly began to devastate Kona’s coffee crop. Civil Beat.

It was around 11 p.m. Sunday, and the dozens of families camping in tents at Keaukaha Beach Park had largely packed up and gone home in anticipation of Tropical Storm Flossie’s expected arrival. Stephens Media.

Maui

Maui Electric Company officials say 4,400 customers were brought back online overnight following multiple power outages reported across the island. Maui Now.

The Maui News set to launch all-digital access next month. Nonsubscribers will be able to view the beginning of each story.

Haleakala National Park is in the midst of repairing all seven visitor parking lots after "decades of wear," but the project is creating challenges for those who make the trek up the 10,000-foot mountain. Maui News.

Celebrating its fourth year of protecting fish along 2 miles of West Maui coastline, dozens of volunteers and officials with the Kahekili Herbivore Fishery Management Area gathered Sunday morning for food, entertainment and a seaweed-eating competition. Maui News.

Kauai

Kauai’s Westside could feel the most of what remains of the diminishing power of Flossie as it passes west of the island today. At about 5 p.m. Monday, the tropical storm was downgraded to a tropical depression, but a flash flood watch remained in effect for Kauai and Niihau. Garden Island.

On the eastern edge of Hanalei Bay, next to the St. Regis Princeville Resort, lies a hidden piece of ancient Hawaiian history — the remnants of a 600-year-old fishpond. Garden Island.

Tropical Storm Flossie updates

Tropical Storm Flossie at 10 a.m. Monday., July 29

Tropical Storm Flossie crosses the Hawaiian Islands. See most recent storm maps here.

A full range of maps and more here.

Hawaii braces for Tropical Storm Flossie: Abercrombie issues emergency proclamation, courthouses, government buildings closed, bus service canceled on Hawaii Island, more storm news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Tropical Storm Flossie at 2 a.m. Monday

Gov. Neil Abercrombie signed an emergency proclamation Sunday in preparation for Tropical Storm Flossie, which is expected to spread rain, wind, flooding and high surf throughout the state over the next two days. Star-Advertiser.

Residents and tourists across Hawaii were bracing for Tropical Storm Flossie, which forecasters said was weakening as it approached the state but still could bring heavy rains, strong winds and possibly even tornadoes. National Weather Service officials said they expect people on the Big Island and Maui to see the brunt of the storm Monday morning, with wind gusts up to 60 mph, possible flooding and waves up to 18 feet high. Associated Press.

Tropical Storm Flossie has weakened since the last update.  As of 5 a.m. on Monday, maximum sustained winds were measured at 45 miles per hour, according to the Central Pacific Hurricane Center (CPHC) in Honolulu. Hawaii News Now.

Tropical Storm Warning remains in effect for Maui, Oʻahu, and Hawaiʻi Counties.  At 5 a.m., Kauaʻi and Niʻihau were added to the Warning area. Maui Now.

Hawaii iIsland and Maui are in the cross hairs this morning as the isles face the first direct hit from a tropical storm in more than 20 years. Star-Advertiser.

Forecasters at the Central Pacific Hurricane Center issued a tropical storm warning for Oahu Sunday and a tropical storm watch for Kauai as Tropical Storm Flossie closes in on Hawaii. Big Island and Maui County remain under a tropical storm warning. A statewide flash flood watch is also set to begin at 6 a.m. Monday. Civil Beat.

The U.S. Coast Guard closed ports on the Big Island and Maui and Hawaii Gov. Neil Abercrombie signed an emergency proclamation Sunday as Tropical Storm Flossie continued on a path that forecast to take it through the Islands on Monday. Pacific Business News.

Here is the text of the Federal Emergency Management Agency's statement for Hawaii on Tropical Storm Flossie. Star-Advertiser.

Oahu

The city Department of Emergency Management is advising Oahu residents that the just-issued tropical storm warning for the island means it is the time to get prepared for Flossie's expected arrival this afternoon. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii

As rain began to fall in Hilo, Hawaii island Mayor Billy Kenoi and acting Civil Defense administrator Darryl Oliveira urged residents to stay vigilant as Tropical Storm Flossie began to weaken as it neared the Big Island. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii island Mayor Billy Kenoi announced all non-essential county workers are to stay home today as Tropical Storm Flossie sets its sights directly on the island. Kenoi made the decision Sunday afternoon after consulting with acting Civil Defense Administrator Darryl Oliveira at the Hilo Emergency Operations Center. Star-Advertiser.

Tropical Storm Flossie's impending arrival on Hawaii island this morning has forced the closure of the county bus system and state courthouses on the island. Mayor Billy Kenoi decided to shut down the county's Hele-On bus system as of midnight Sunday as a safety precaution. Star-Advertiser.


Tropical Storm Flossie was expected to make landfall along the Hamakua Coast around 6 a.m. today, bringing with it high winds, heavy surf, and torrential rains. Stephens Media.

About 85 families who were part of a Department of Hawaiian Home Lands-sponsored camping event at South Hilo’s Keaukaha Beach Park — many of whom have been there since the first week of June —  were told to vacate Sunday afternoon. Star-Advertiser.

Maui

The County of Maui activated its Emergency Operations Center at 7 a.m. on Sunday, July 28, 2013, in anticipation of Tropical Storm Flossie, which is due to reach the Hawaiian Islands on Monday morning. Maui News.

Kauai

State officials are urging residents across the state to be on alert and take immediate storm precautions as Tropical Storm Flossie takes a direct aim at Maui and the Big Island. Garden Island.