Tuesday, August 13, 2013

Video shows secret lives of Hawaiian monk seals, DLNR seeks director, Pearl Harbor to lose cruisers, Hawaii councilwoman sues county, Maui council joins social media, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

copyright 2013 All Hawaii News all rights reserved
Hawaiian monk seal (c) 2013 All Hawaii News
For years, scientists have tried to understand the secret lives of Hawaiian monk seals. A new video may answer some questions and help in the ongoing efforts to recover and protect them. KHON2.

Casting a nationwide net, the state Department of Land and Natural Resources put out a call Monday for applicants to fill the position of administrator of the troubled State Historic Preservation Division. Star-Advertiser.

Researchers who have spent nearly four months simulating what it's like to live on Mars are emerging from their experiment on a barren Hawaii lava field. The NASA-funded study is researching what foods astronauts might eat during a mission to Mars. Associated Press.

U.S. Reps. Colleen Hanabusa and Tulsi Gabbard, both Hawaii Democrats, were part of a 37-member House delegation that traveled to Israel and the West Bank earlier this month, a trip that concluded Sunday. Civil Beat.

Honolulu City Councilman Breene Harimoto is looking at a new political office. On Monday, Harimoto told Civil Beat he is “seriously considering” a run at Hawaii Sen. David Ige’s seat at the Capitol.

Should Hawaii Education Officials Do More To Ensure Safe Bus Drivers? Civil Beat.

UH's Neon Rabbits, Pigs and Sheep Fetuses Spark Ethics Debate. Civil Beat.

Allegiant Air's flight attendants union has asked the Federal Aviation Administration to conduct a complete audit of the company's scheduling, crew rest and fatigue procedures. Star-Advertiser.

State roundup for August 13. Associated Press.

Oahu

Pearl Harbor is expected to lose all three of its cruisers in coming years but gain four more destroyers and a troop- and equipment-carrying Joint High Speed Vessel similar to the defunct Hawaii Superferry, the chief of naval operations said during a stop here Monday. Star-Advertiser.

Federal budget cuts may force the service to defer $80 million of maintenance work on Hawaii-based ships in the upcoming fiscal year, the Navy’s top uniformed officer said Monday. Associated Press.

Honolulu began enforcing its Sidewalk Nuisance Ordinance early in July. As for the homeless affected by the sweeps, operators of homeless shelters have seen a small bump in the number of homeless seeking help.Hawaii News Now.

An attorney for ORI  Anuenue Hale Inc. says Mayor Kirk Caldwell and the city "caved in" to the demands of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development in coming up with a proposed settlement of HUD demands to return about $8 million used to help construct the embattled Wahiawa nonprofit's Aloha Gardens project. Star-Advertiser.

The U.S. Department of Labor has cited a Hawaii refrigerated food warehouse with 63 health and safety violations and proposed fines of $251,330. The agency claims the Honolulu warehouse occupied by Unicold Corp. and nine tenants sealed exit doors and blocked emergency exit routes to gain additional storage space, placing workers in jeopardy. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaiian Airlines has apologized to an Oahu couple more than a month after their 11-year-old daughter was barred from boarding a flight back home to Honolulu in Los Angeles and ended up being sent back to Dallas, where her voyage started. Hawaii News Now.

Whole Foods Market is in negotiations to open a store at Ala Moana Center, as part of the mall’s $572 million redevelopment plan for the now vacant Sears space, sources tell Pacific Business News.

Hawaii

Councilwoman Brenda Ford is asking a judge to rule that Department of Environmental Management Director Bobby Jean Leithead Todd is not qualified to hold that position because she doesn’t have an engineering degree. West Hawaii Today.

Parker Ranch officials are still deciding where the long-awaited extension of a Waima connector road would run. West Hawaii Today.

A Hilo cannabis minister who’s been jailed for three years without bail while awaiting trial will be able to use religion as a defense to federal marijuana distribution charges. Tribune-Herald.

A Hilo man has spent a year trying to do something about a fast-growing, invasive tree that looms over his home. Associated Press.

Maui

The Maui County Council has joined the social media age with its own blog, Facebook page and Twitter account, Council Chairwoman Gladys Baisa said Tuesday. Maui News.

Hiking and equestrian trails and bike paths for beginner and advanced riders are among the state Na Ala Hele Trails & Access Program's plans for a 452.6-acre Kahakapao Recreational Area on state land in the Makawao State Forest Reserve. Maui News.

Apparently the departure of an Israel-based company that installed various electric vehicle charging stations on Maui has not created a "major problem" in Maui County, where at least 235 electric vehicles are registered, said the head of the Maui Electric Vehicle Alliance. Maui News.

Kauai

Seven years later, and less than a month after dam owner Jimmy Pflueger was convicted of reckless endangerment, he's not only still blaming the state, he's demanding it pays up. KITV4.

A year-long study finds a proposed adolescent county residential drug treatment and healing facility on Kauai is feasible, and the mayor said he plans to select the preferred site for the facility by the end of the year. Garden Island.

Changes will be coming soon to a few Kauai public parks over the next few months as county-contracted workers install new lights aimed at curbing electricity costs and impacts on protected birds. Garden Island.

Last week, a military-grade ocean marker — or flare — used in air and sea rescue operations washed up on Marine Camp beach, on Kauai’s Eastside. Despite its hazardous warning label, the spent device remained on the beach until late Monday afternoon. Garden Island.

Molokai

Cinder — a porous, low-density rock material — is used commonly on track and road surfaces and for landscaping. In high demand on Molokai, there’s currently no cinder harvesting operation on the island. That could change soon, however. Last week, Tri-L Construction was granted a permit that will allow them to operate the Waieli cinder pit in West Molokai. Molokai Dispatch.

Lanai

Larry Ellison’s Pulama Lanai, which oversees development the Pineapple Island, has officially hired its legal team, consisting of Randall Ishikawa as senior vice president and general counsel and Harrilynn Kameenui as associate general counsel, the company said Monday. Pacific Business News.


Monday, August 12, 2013

Military seeks to exhume Punchbowl cemetery unknowns, Oahu Democrats want gay marriage session, Honolulu preps for rail hearing, tons of taxpayer-purchased food go to waste, Lanai gets new emergency room, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific
Punchbowl cemetery courtesy photo
The Joint POW/MIA Accounting Command wants to take the unprecedented step of exhuming all of the Dec. 7, 1941, casualties of the USS Oklahoma buried as "unknowns" at Punchbowl cemetery — more than 330 crew members — to help it reach a higher number of annual identifications mandated by Congress. But the Hawaii-based military command, known as JPAC, is getting resistance from the Navy, which prefers to maintain the "sanctity" of the graves at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific, officials said. Star-Advertiser.

After one of its best first quarters ever, Hawaii's hot hotel industry cooled off some in the second quarter, allowing New York to reclaim the distinction of having the nation's costliest nightly hotel rate. Star-Advertiser.

Oahu Democrats on Saturday moved to temper an intraparty fight over traditional marriage and focus on persuading Gov. Neil Abercrombie and the state Legislature to return in special session to consider marriage equality. Star-Advertiser.

The fight in Congress over eliminating sugar subsidies has been good to members from Hawaii. The delegation has raked in tens of thousands of dollars in the past couple years as the U.S. sugar industry spends millions to convince Congress that it needs help in order to compete with foreign producers. Civil Beat.

Hawaii struggles to keep new teachers. Associated Press.

Top U.S. Navy commanders in the Asia-Pacific region have formed a task force to discuss sexual assault issues as the branch fights to stem a military-wide problem within its ranks. Associated Press.

The Hawaii State Judiciary is warning the public to be on the alert for an apparent telephone scam by a person claiming to be a court employee. Associated Press.

State roundup for August 12. Associated Press.

Oahu

Heading into Thursday's hearing before the U.S. 9th Circuit Court of Appeals, proponents and opponents of the city's $5.3 billion rail system expressed confidence in their positions. Hawaii News Now.

The multi-billion dollar Honolulu rail project was only minimally stunned by the U.S. District Court for the District of Hawaii for its failure to adequately study the project’s possible effects on Chinatown and Mother Waldron Park (an old urban park/playground), and for its failure to articulate the reasons why a tunnel under Beretania Street (a major city arterial) was rejected.  But bumpy track still looms ahead. Hawaii Reporter.

A proposal to give the City Council more power over the Honolulu Board of Water Supply remains alive, but the board has gained some breathing room. Star-Advertiser.

Trying not to smell the stench from the Ala Wai is becoming a challenge. Residents say ever since the city began working on removing the temporary sewer pipe from the canal the smell is almost too much to bear. KITV4.

Teenage Girl to State: Clean Up the Ala Wai and Comply With Law. Civil Beat.

Where there once was a flat and empty rooftop, there now grows a garden. The 4,400-square-foot garden atop the Institute for Human Services' service center on Kaaahi Street is expected to provide healthy meals, training opportunities and an escape from the industrial setting of Iwilei. Star-Advertiser.

When it comes to recycling…Hawaii has struggled with a lack of resources and funding. But a new hands-on project in Oahu is taking a do-it-yourself approach. Hawaii Public Radio.

Hawaii

The Hawaii Island Food Basket had to throw out more than 19,000 pounds of food — almost 10 tons — because it couldn’t distribute it fast enough after the County Council declared a food emergency and gave it $275,000 last year. That’s according to a report the Food Basket sent Monday to Council Chairman J Yoshimoto after a West Hawaii Today investigation revealed the nonprofit had not met the reporting requirements in the May 3, 2012, contract where the council took the unprecedented step of dipping into the county disaster fund for the money.

A series of amendments that would ban scuba spearfishing and limit aquarium fish collecting in West Hawaii waters is set to go to Gov. Neil Abercrombie next week, Department of Land and Natural Resources Chairman William Aila said Friday. West Hawaii Today.

A University of Hawaii research program that involved six people living in a Mars-like habitat on the slopes of Mauna Loa volcano is about to come to an end after four months. The press is invited to a media conference later this week with the researchers who have been living in the habitat and emerging only in space suits. Civil Beat.

The fast-growing albizia trees, an invasive species, have earned a reputation in Hawaii as “junk trees,” due to their propensity for spreading and growing like weeds and posing a danger to people, power lines, vehicles and homes due to their brittle nature and tendency to collapse. Tribune-Herald.

Maui
The Hawaii Supreme Court ruled Thursday that the Maui County Council violated the state open meetings "Sunshine Law" in approving a Wai­lea development, but declined to invalidate the county's approval for the residential community. The court instead sent the case back to Maui Circuit Court to determine the amount of attorney fees for the five residents who filed the lawsuit contending the law was violated. Star-Advertiser.

The plaintiffs in a "Sunshine Law" challenge to the Maui County Council's approval of the Honua'ula project in 2008 claimed victory Friday in a ruling on the case Thursday by the Hawaii Supreme Court. Maui News.

The third of four wells that aim to space out pumping on the south side of the Iao aquifer to help protect the main water source for Central and South Maui could go out to bid soon and possibly be operational in a year, said the deputy director of the Department of Water Supply on Thursday. Maui News.

Native Hawaiian community and Maui labor leader Perry Artates resigned last week from his post as a Hawaiian Homes Commission member after pleading guilty to federal wire fraud and false loan application charges in June, according to state officials and federal court documents. Maui News.

Kauai
Intermediate Court Ruling Could Lead to Substantial Cash Settlement for Victims of Ka Loko Dam Breach. Hawaii Reporter.

The Department of Land and Natural Resources, Division of Boating and Ocean Recreation is holding a public information meeting next week to discuss the upcoming Kikiaola Small Boat Harbor Sand Bypass System and Breakwater root repair projects. Garden Island.

Kauai County officials say vandalism is the reason behind a decision to close a popular beach park at night. Starting Monday, Hanamaulu Beach Park will be closed from 10 p.m. until 6 a.m. Associated Press.

Kauai County Mayor Bernard Carvalho, Jr. says he plans to select a site for a proposed residential adolescent drug treatment center by the end of the year. Garden Island.

The Kauai County Council’s Finance Committee deferred for two weeks a proposal that represents the last stage of a three-year property tax reform to address inequities and create a fair system going forward. Garden Island.

Lanai

The blessing of its new emergency room and diagnostic lab Friday may be just the beginning of Lanai Community Hospital's efforts to further satisfy the health care needs of island residents and the plans of billionaire Larry Ellison's Pulama Lana'i. Maui News.


Friday, August 9, 2013

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

copyright 2013 All Hawaii News all rights reserved
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.


Thursday, August 8, 2013

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

NOAA
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.



Wednesday, August 7, 2013

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

copyright 2013 All Hawaii News all rights reserved
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.

Tuesday, August 6, 2013

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

Hawaii military drones
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.


Monday, August 5, 2013

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

copyright 2013 All Hawaii News all rights reserved
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.

Friday, August 2, 2013

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

copyright 2013 All Hawaii News
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.


Thursday, August 1, 2013

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

Hawaii governor reelection bid 2014
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.