State works toward clean energy goals, Big Island may up tobacco sale age, Hawaiian woman's name too long for drivers license, Honolulu looks for more taxes from $1M homes, molasses spill killing fish, controversial Japanese investor sells prime Oahu real estate, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Hawaii wind farm courtesy  Green Travelers Guide

To hear Hawaii's governor tell it, the state is making tremendous progress in moving toward an energy independent future. But has the administration really made good on its promises on alternative and renewable energy, as detailed in his New Day in Hawaii Plan, his state of the state addresses and his legislative packages? Civil Beat.

You have heard these figures before: Hawai’i burns five billion dollars worth of fossil fuel each year for 85% of the state’s energy needs. But, the Blue Planet Foundation has set a goal of transitioning to 100% clean energy by 2030, more than double the state’s clean energy objective. Hawaii Public Radio.

President Barack Obama has nominated Hawaii Department of Land and Natural Resources Deputy Director Esther Kiaaina to be assistant secretary for insular affairs at the U.S. Department of Interior. Associated Press.

Hawaiʻi state and congressional delegates today applauded the president’s announcement of his intent to nominate Esther Kia‘āina to serve as the assistant secretary for insular areas at the US Department of the Interior. Maui Now.

Kia’aina currently serves as the First Deputy Director of the Hawai’i Department of Land and Natural Resources. Appointed by Governor Neil Abercrombie to oversee the management of 1.3 million acres of public lands and near shore ocean resources in the State of Hawai’i, Kia’aina has worked on watershed management protection initiatives, threatened and endangered species protection, invasive species control, land and ocean preservation, and strengthening public-private and enforcement partnerships. Hawaii Independent.

Legislators have been slow to incorporate digital delivery into the law. Hawaii’s Sunshine Law still requires “mail” delivery. And although “mail” isn’t defined, the law was written before email existed, and this provision hasn’t been amended since. Civil Beat.

The Memorial Task Force, co-chaired by David Brostrom and Allen Hoe, the Gold Star Fathers of Army 1st Lieutenants Jonathan Brostrom and Nainoa Hoe, are seeking input from the public on the design and location of a newly planned memorial honoring Hawaii veterans. Hawaii Reporter.

As two more of the nation's wars begin to fade from the forefront of American consciousness, two fathers who lost their sons in Iraq and Af­ghani­stan hope it won't be the same for their sons' sacrifices. Star-Advertiser.

DonorsChoose.org is a Kickstarter for public education. Much like the giant crowdfunding site that helps people raise money for creative endeavors, on DonorsChoose.org teachers across the country collect donations for classroom projects. One study suggests that U.S. public school teachers spent on average about $485 of their own money last year on school supplies and other classroom materials, a tendency that local educators have highlighted in their rallies to secure higher wages and increased investment in the state’s public schools. Civil Beat.

State roundup for September 11. Associated Press.

Oahu
The Honolulu City Council will vote today on a proposal to establish a new tax classification for houses and condominiums valued at $1 million or more, allowing the city to tax them at a higher rate than other residential parcels. Bill 42, however, would shift into a new "Residential A" class only those properties that do not have home exemptions. Star-Advertiser.

A molasses spill dumped an estimated 233,000 gallons of the dark, syrupy liquid into Honolulu Harbor on Monday, killing thousands of fish so far and prompting beach closures. State officials said they are still trying to assess the scope of the “severe” environmental damage. A corroded, faulty pipe that runs under Pier 52 at Sand Island and pumps molasses exports onto Matson Inc. cargo ships likely caused the spill, company representatives and state officials said Tuesday. Star-Advertiser.

A massive molasses spill at Honolulu Harbor that Hawaii News Now first reported on Monday is killing fish and the State has no way to clean up the sticky substance.

Japanese investor and real estate tycoon Genshiro Kawamoto has sold his collection of 27 Kahala Avenue properties and four other parcels in Windward Oahu and on Maui to local real estate firm Alexander & Baldwin Inc. in a $98 million deal announced Tuesday. A&B said it plans to clean up, refurbish and resell the parcels, some of which look like ruins with little more than the foundations of former homes, untended vegetation and swimming pools piled with rubble. Star-Advertiser.

Alexander & Baldwin announced Tuesday that it has purchased 31 properties from Japanese billionaire Genshiro Kawamoto for $98 million. Civil Beat.

Alexander & Baldwin’s property arm said Tuesday that it has acquired 27 residential properties in Honolulu’s oceanfront Kahala neighborhood, along with properties in Windward Oahu and on Maui, from Japanese billionaire Genshiro Kawamoto for $98 million. Pacific Business News.

A company seeking to develop what would be Hawaii's second seawater air-conditioning project said it has received letters of intent from some of Waikiki's biggest hotels and other businesses interested in the electrical savings promised by the plan. Kaiuli Energy has received authorization from the state to issue $200 million in special-purpose revenue bonds for the project that could replace conventional air-conditioning systems in an area stretching from Kaka­ako to Waikiki by 2018. Star-Advertiser.

The notice of violation issued to a trucking company owner under fire for apparently hauling dredged material from a Hawaii Kai marina to a private Wai­anae property last week was the second citation received in recent years. Star-Advertiser.

A century-old bronze statue of President William McKinley is making waves in some circles in the native Hawaiian community. KITV.

Hawaii

The legal age to buy tobacco products on Hawaii Island would increase from 18 to 21 under a bill set to be discussed next month by the County Council. West Hawaii Today.

State alters woman’s name after it fails to fit on driver’s license. For the past 20 years, Janice “Lokelani” Keihanaikukauakahihuliheekahaunaele has had to carry two identification cards. KHON2.

The man who swam to the aid of a fellow surfer after he was repeatedly bitten last month by an estimated 10-foot tiger shark at Pohoiki will be recognized next week by the Hawaii County Council. Tribune-Herald.

A Hawaii Island school that four years ago was close to losing its charter amid financial troubles and lagging test scores was recognized Tuesday as one of the state's top-performing public schools. Na Wai Ola, formerly Waters of Life, was among 14 schools awarded more than $1 million in prizes for academic performance on a new accountability system the state Department of Education is calling Strive HI. Star-Advertiser.

The response to a special legislative session called to act on a gay marriage bill from Big Isle legislators interviewed Tuesday ranged from enthusiastic to tepid, with some not quite willing to show their cards yet. Tribune-Herald.

Maui

State crews were on site this morning, monitoring the Pacific Whale Foundation’s Ocean Odyssey vessel that had run aground near McGregor Point in Māʻalaea on Maui. Company officials advised that the grounding is being investigated by the US Coast Guard. Maui Now.

Kahului firefighters assisted the Coast Guard with evacuation of a Pacific Whale Foundation catamaran that grounded near McGregor Point Tuesday morning, Maui County fire officials said. Star-Advertiser.

Kauai

The Kauai Planning Commission unanimously approved permits Tuesday for the county Department of Water to go ahead with an $8 million project to construct a new administration building twice the size of its existing headquarters at Pua Loke Street in Lihue. Garden Island.

Hawaii governor calls special session on gay marriage, Honolulu council clears way for rail, Kauai council defers GMO vote, Maui-Oahu electric pipeline possible, media asks Hawaii Supreme Court for lower court transcripts, more news from all the Hawaii Islands

Hawaii Deputy Attorney General Anne Lopez, Attorney General David Louie, Gov. Neil Abercrombie announce gay marriage special session, courtesy photo

Saying he believes the votes are there to pass a bill to legalize gay marriage, Gov. Neil Abercrombie is calling the Legislature into a special session next month. The bill, as proposed, would take effect Nov. 18, when the state would begin issuing marriage licenses for same-sex couples. Star-Advertiser.

The state where the same-sex marriage movement began some 20 years ago is poised to grant full marriage rights to gays and lesbians. On Monday Gov. Neil Abercrombie ordered the Hawaii Legislature into special session Oct. 28. Shrugging off any political consequences to his 2014 re-election, Abercrombie said "marriage equity" is "the right thing to do." Civil Beat.

Gov. Neil Abercrombie on Monday called for a special legislative session to move forward on a bill that would legalize gay marriage. If lawmakers pass a bill, Hawaii would join 13 U.S. states and the District of Columbia in allowing gay marriage. The special session is scheduled to begin Oct. 28. Associated Press.

Gov. Neil Abercrombie on Monday called the Hawaii Legislature back in for a special session next month to consider legalizing same-sex marriage. Abercrombie made the announcement about the Oct. 28 special session during a news conference in his office at the state Capitol in Honolulu, accompanied by state Attorney General David Louie and Deputy Attorney General Anne Lopez. Pacific Business News.

Months of speculation are over, Governor Abercrombie called a special session on same-sex marriage Monday afternoon. The Governor says it's the right thing to do and he believes he has the support needed in both the House and Senate to pass a bill that would make Hawai'i the 14th state in the nation to legalize same-sex marriage. Hawaii News Now.

Get ready: the Governor is calling the legislature into special session on October 28 to consider same-sex marriage. Hawaii Independent.

After decades of discussions, the stage has been set for Hawaii lawmakers to legalize same-sex marriage. “Virtually every angle, virtually every variation of a view with regard to marriage and equitable treatment for those engaged in marriage has been aired,” Gov. Neil Abercrombie said. KHON2.

Governor Neil Abercrombie called for a special session to begin Oct. 28 to address the issue of marriage equity. The announcement was made during a news conference that was streamed live on the governor’s website this afternoon. Maui Now.

The State House and Senate have been called to a Special Session next month to deliberate and address a bill on marriage equity. Hawaii Public Radio.

Hawaii Gov. Neil Abercrombie has called a special legislative session next month in an attempt to move forward a bill that legalizes gay marriage.KITV.

The same-sex marriage debate has been going on for more than two decades and is likely to heat up between now and Oct. 28, when a special legislative session will begin. KHON2.

Under Section 10 of Article III of the State Constitution, Gov. Neil Abercrombie has called both houses of the state Legislature to convene in a special session on Oct. 28 to address the issue of marriage equity. Governor's Office.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) regarding the special session on marriage equity. Governor's Office.

A $1.5 million grant that the 2013 Legislature agreed to set aside for a private Hawaii Catholic school is unconstitutional, according to a recent memo from the state deputy attorney general addressed to Senate President Donna Mercado Kim. Civil Beat.

The Hawaii Energy Office plans to strengthen its case for connecting the Oahu and Maui electrical grids via an undersea cable by submitting a study to the Hawaii Public Utilities Commission on Monday, which points out that this grid-tie is, without a shadow of a doubt, strongly in the public interest for the state to pursue. Pacific Business News.

After several years of record high enrollment, the number of students at the University of Hawaii's 10-campus system dropped this fall to 59,288, echoing an overall national decline in college attendance in 2012. The university said 1,345 fewer students enrolled for the current semester, down 2.2 percent from last fall. The decrease, UH said, follows rec­ord-breaking enrollments in each of the last five years. Enrollment had grown by 17 percent since 2007. Star-Advertiser.

State roundup for September 10. Associated Press.

Oahu

A pair of overnight H-1 freeway closures later this month will kick off a massive, nearly yearlong project to repair and repave the state's most heavily used highway through the heart of Hono­lulu, state officials announced Monday. Crews will completely close the H-1 eastbound from Likelike Highway to Ward Avenue from 8 p.m. Sept. 22 to 4 a.m. Sept. 23, according to the state Department of Transportation. Star-Advertiser.

Two Honolulu City Council committees held separate special meetings Monday to push out two resolutions that would allow construction of the city's $5.26 billion rail project to restart as early as Monday. The Council Zoning and Planning Committee unanimously approved Resolution 13-208, giving the Honolulu Authority for Rapid Transportation a special management area use permit and shoreline setback variance to proceed with construction. The Council Intergovernmental Relations and Human Services Committee, meanwhile, approved Resolution 13-203, authorizing an agreement among the state Department of Transportation, the city and HART that allows the city to develop sections of the rail line on state property from the Kamehameha Highway portion of the project in Pearl City to the Ala Moana area. Star-Advertiser.

Students say portable P-1 is the hottest classroom on Campbell High School's campus. At mid-morning the thermometer had already hit 90 degrees. Hawaii News Now.

A state development permit granted last month for a high-rise condominium on a former Comp­USA store site in Kakaako is being challenged by condo owners in a neighboring tower who say that land is reserved primarily for commercial use. The association of owners at One Waterfront Towers petitioned the Hawaii Community Development Authority, which regulates development in Kakaako, to hold a quasi-judicial review contesting the agency's approval of the proj­ect called The Collection. Star-Advertiser.

The judge in U.S. State Department special agent Christopher Deedy’s murder trial is once again coming under fire for how she handled the high-profile case. The  Honolulu Star-Advertiser and Hawaii News Now are asking the state Supreme Court to force Ahn to release those transcripts, saying the judge violated the U.S. Constitution by holding closed-door court proceedings. Civil Beat.

Hawaii

Puna Councilman Greggor Ilagan is relocating his district office to the old Pahoa Police Station, a move that will save the county $22,000 annually but displaces community groups and eliminates for several months a satellite site for public council meeting participation. West Hawaii Today.

State officials aren’t planning to open up wide swaths of Kiholo State Park to the public, a planning document says. West Hawaii Today.

Deutsche Bank and Kennedy Wilson, the lenders in control of the Kona Village Resort’s insurance payout, are refusing to pass that cash along to the resort, CEO Pat Fitzgerald said Monday. The move forced Fitzgerald and the Kona Village Investors to notify the resort’s remaining two dozen employees their last work day would be Sept. 17. West Hawaii Today.

Hawaii’s at-risk teens should have a variety of new opportunities available to them by this time next year, says Hawaii Youth ChalleNGe Academy Deputy Director Gary Thomas. That’s because work at the state- and federally-funded program’s new campus within the Keaukaha Military Reservation National Guard Facility is now under way and is expected to be complete by July 2014, he said, making it possible for the academy to relocate from its current home on the grounds of the Kulani Correctional Facility. Tribune-Herald.

If efforts to control the little red fire ant on Hawaii stay as they are, the island could see damages of nearly $170 million a year, as well as 33 million sting incidents a year. That’s according to University of Hawaii planning student Mike Motoki, a presenter at the 21st annual Hawaii Conservation Conference held recently in Waikiki. Civil Beat.

Maui

Enrollment at the University of Hawaiʻi Maui College dropped 6.3% in the fall 2013 semester compared to the same time last year, officials said. Maui Now.

While most children look forward to the weekends, some may not. There may be no school — but there may be no food as well for those children Saturdays and Sundays, a Maui Food Bank official said. Maui News.

Kauai

A Kauai County Council committee clashed Monday with representatives of seed companies over the disclosure of the types and use of pesticides. The Economic Development, Sustainability, Agriculture & Intergovernmental Relations Committee heard testimony on Bill 2491, which would regulate pesticide use and genetically modified crops by agribusinesses. The committee deferred a vote on the bill until Sept. 27 for further review. Star-Advertiser.

A day after a march in Lihue drew several thousand people in support of Bill 2491, the Kauai Economic Development Committee resumed working toward a compromise between the blue shirts, opposed to the bill, and the red shirts, supporting the bill. Garden Island.

Bill 2491 went through the first round of amendments at the Kauai County Council Wednesday. The bill passed first reading June 28, and has since gone through a lengthy public hearing, one committee meeting and a few executive sessions. By late afternoon, the council’s Economic Development Committee threw a slew of potential amendments up for discussion. Garden Island.

The state of Hawaii has effectively forsaken its responsibility to ensure that biotech companies are not risking public and environmental health, several members of the Kauai County Council said Monday, so it was up to the county to pick up the slack. Basically, the state has done a bad job of enforcing landmark federal environmental laws, according to the councilmembers who spoke at a hearing on a bill before the council’s Economic Development and Intergovernmental Relations Committee that would increase regulation of genetically altered crops and pesticides. Civil Beat.

Thousands march against GMO, Big Island to mull fracking, malls block voter registration, Hawaii taxpayers subsidize religious schools, Honolulu bill bans lying down on sidewalks, lobbyist law flouted, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Kauai anti-GMO march courtesy photo

Thousands of Kauaians — doctors, environmentalists, farmers, parents and concerned citizens from all walks of life — poured into the streets of Lihue in a sea of red Sunday to participate in what organizers are calling the largest march in the island’s history. Garden Island.

On the normally placid main street on Sunday afternoon, thousands of people marched in protest. As they snaked down Rice Street, toward the Kauai County Building, they chanted, "No More GMO! No More GMO!” Civil Beat.

Thousands on Kauai marched the streets to show their support of the “Right to Know” Bill, a bill that would require agricultural companies working with genetically modified organisms (GMOs) to disclose the chemicals they’re using and take extra steps to keep the chemicals contained. KHON2.

Much attention has been turned in recent months to the fact that the agro-chemical/GMO industry -- corporate giants Dow, Pioneer DuPont, Syngenta, Monsanto, BASF -- have been using Hawaii since the 1990s as one of their main testing grounds for experiments engineering new pesticide-crop combos. On the "Garden Island" of Kauai, the industry controls over 15,000 acres of prime agricultural land, which they drench with over 17 tons of restricted-use pesticides each year, and likely at least five times that amount in non-restricted pesticides that may be equally as harmful (such as glyphosate). HuffPost Hawaii.

The Hawaii Legislature is contributing $1.5 million to a private Roman Catholic school to help fund construction of a new athletic complex, library and student services building, among other renovations. The allocation to Kalihi’s Damien Memorial School is one of roughly three dozen private capitol improvement projects that the 2013 Legislature agreed to subsidize through what are known as grants-in-aid. Civil Beat.

The rapid growth in residential solar power systems could mean Hawaiian Electric Co. will have to pass on to customers the cost of upgrades that allow the energy into the grid. The utility is contacting contractors and customers who plan to install solar panels to make sure they know about equipment upgrades they might have to pay for. The utility is asking to be contacted before customers make arrangements to install the panels. Associated Press.

Hawaii Electric Light Co. customers looking to install solar panels on their homes may no longer have to pay for an interconnection study. Hawaiian Electric Industries, HELCO’s parent company, announced the change Friday as one step toward making it easier and less expensive for customers on the Big Island, Oahu and Maui to install rooftop photovoltaic systems generating 10 kilowatts or less. West Hawaii Today.

With three members of Hawaii's all-Democrat congressional delegation having already spoken out against a military intervention in Syria, the fourth, Sen. Mazie Hirono, told Hawaii News Now on Monday that she was still undecided about how she will vote when asked to authorize an attack on the Assad regime. Hawaii News Now.

State roundup for September 9. Associated Press.

Oahu

Lying down on Oahu's public sidewalks would be banned except in certain circumstances under a bill introduced by a Honolulu City Council member last week. Bill 59, introduced by Councilman Stanley Chang, will get its first airing before the Council at its meeting Wednesday. Star-Advertiser.

Sleeping on a public sidewalk in Honolulu could soon result in a $50 fine. Honolulu City Councilman Stanley Chang has introduced a bill that will make sleeping, lounging or otherwise lying on the city’s walkways illegal. Civil Beat.

Malls refuse to allow voter registration on site. Pearlridge and Ala Moana seem to be confused on the difference between politics and civic duty. Hawaii Independent.

An international conference on clean energy in Honolulu is expected to draw 1,200 attendees from more than 30 countries. The 5th annual Asia Pacific Clean Energy and Expo begins Monday at the Hawaii Convention Center. Associated Press.

Hawaiian Electric Co.’s property that is the site of its soon-to-be-deactivated Downtown Honolulu power plant isn’t for sale and won’t be for a “large amount of time,” despite sitting on some prime piece of waterfront real estate, a HECO spokesman tells PBN. Pacific Business News.

Hawaii Kai residents have tolerated a messy stinky dredging operation in the Hawaii Kai Marina for months. Hawaii Reporter.

Construction is set to resume soon on the controversial Honolulu rail project and rail officials have been making the rounds of editorial boards and reporters to talk about the biggest public works project in Hawaii history. Civil Beat.

A price peak for Oahu's housing market has stood tall for six years, but increasingly the record appears poised to fall. The latest home sales data set to be released today by the Hono­­lulu Board of Realtors shows that August was a hot month for the market, adding further momentum to topple the annual median price peak for single-family houses and condominiums set in 2007. Star-Advertiser.

The Makakilo-Kapolei Neighborhood Board vote rescinding support for the Ho‘opili development project and ‘Ewa Development Plan highlights the fact that the six new members of the board all ran on anti-development platforms and do not intend to break their promises. Hawaii Independent.

A smoking ban has been enforced at Kapiolani Beach, Kuhio Beach, Duke Paoa Kahanamoku Beach, Sandy Beach, sandy areas of Ala Moana Beach Park, and Kapiolani Park. KITV.

Hawaii

A West Hawaii Today analysis of records kept at the County Clerk’s Office found that only two of the county’s 34 registered lobbyists filed the required expenditure disclosure by the most recent deadline. And an untold number of the lobbyists meeting with county officials on controversial issues such as zoning, land use and genetically modified organisms haven’t registered as lobbyists at all.

The Hawaii County Council took its first bite out of legislation on genetically altered crops Friday, voting down an overall ban but deferring a more limited bill to another day during a lengthy and at times contentious discussion. Tribune-Herald.

First, there were GMOs. And now there’s fracking. The Hawaii County Council will take on another controversial issue this month when it discusses a proposed ban on hydraulic fracturing, better known as fracking. Tribune-Herald.

Looking to create a hedge against rising electricity prices, Parker Ranch has hired a team of consultants to determine whether the 130,000-acre ranch could meet its energy needs with renewable sources and have enough power left over to supply the neighboring town of Wai­mea and possibly other parts of Hawaii island. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaiian Electric Companies has again increased the amount of home photovoltaic systems that can be used by its net-metering customers before triggering interconnection studies. Big Island Now.

Saddle Road realignment -- renamed the Daniel K. Inouye Highway -- opens to the public. West Hawaii Today.

A Hawaii Island middle school teacher will take the ride of a lifetime this week aboard the world's only flying astronomical observatory — which also houses the world's largest flying telescope. Star-Advertiser.

Maui
Maui mayor launches effort to curb feral cats, chickens. A public forum will be held Wednesday in a Wailuku auditorium. Star-Advertiser.

A new study says that Maui could see some of its beaches completely disappear over the next few decades due to sea-level rise, following a trend of erosion at more than three-quarters of Valley Isle beaches in the last century. Maui News.

The County of Maui website was recognized with a second place award in the County Portal category of the 2013 Best of the Web awards. Maui Now.

Tattered smokestacks spewing thick ribbons of steam hint at life inside Hawaiian Commercial & Sugar Co.'s nondescript factory, where sugar has been made for more than a century. At the HC&S plantation, generations of Maui residents helped shape the island's economy. And it's still one of the largest employers today, with an annual payroll exceeding $35 million for 800 full-time employees ranging from field and irrigation workers to lab technicians and mechanics. Star-Advertiser.

A $15 million settlement has been reached in a products liability and medical malpractice lawsuit brought by the family of a Kahului man who died after he received about two and a half times the appropriate dose of radiation to treat his cancer. Maui News.

Citing the declaration of a drought watch Upcountry, the U.S. Geological Survey in its "National Drought Summary" released last week said that very dry trade winds the previous three weeks had lowered stream flow diversions from the northeast-facing slopes of Haleakala that feed water supply reservoirs. Maui News.

The business outlook for Maui is positive in the next year, according to economists who spoke at the 39th Annual Maui County Business Outlook Form, held Thursday, Sept. 5, at the Maui Beach Hotel in Kahului. Maui Now.

Kauai
More than 200 people from four seed companies who turned out for a beach cleanup, which spanned the area from MacArthur Park through the Second Ditch. Garden Island.

The State Department of Health says the 100-gallon tank that washed ashore last week on Kauai’s Eastside contained trace amounts of kerosene, a fuel commonly used for heating and cooking. Garden Island.

Homegrown teachers Program provides support for locals seeking career in education. Garden Island.

Tiger sharks come to Hawaii to give birth, House Democrats meeting on gay marriage, school superintendent to get raise, OHA slammed in audit, Honolulu solar reaching limits, judge dissolves Maui Main Street association, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

University of Hawaii tiger shark study

A new study has found female tiger sharks migrate from the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands to the main Hawaiian islands during fall pupping season — a period that historically coincides with a higher frequency of shark bites in Hawaii. Star-Advertiser.

A recent University of Hawaii and University of Florida study backs up what Hawaiians knew for centuries about sharks. Hawaiian oral tradition held that the number of sharks in waters around the main Hawaiian Islands increased in late summer and early fall. The study, which will be published in the November issue of Ecological Society of America’s journal Ecology, tracked tiger sharks for seven years, noting where the animals moved between the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands and the main islands. West Hawaii Today.

A quarter of the mature female tiger sharks near the remote coral atolls of the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands leave for the Main Hawaiian Islands in the late summer and fall, swimming as far as 1,500 miles, according to new research from the University of Hawaii at Manoa and the University of Florida. Associated Press.

A new study shows that female tiger sharks depart from the remote Northwestern Hawaiian Islands toward the main Hawaiian islands in the late summer and fall, during pupping season, researchers said. Maui Now.

Matayoshi

The Board of Education plans to ask lawmakers to lift the salary cap that has kept schools Superintendent Kathryn Matayoshi's annual pay at $150,000 since her hiring three years ago. Star-Advertiser.

Democrats in the state House plan to meet with Gov. Neil Abercrombie and the attorney general today to discuss a draft of gay marriage legislation as Abercrombie considers whether to call a special session on the issue. Associated Press.

Governor Neil Abercrombie can call a special session on gay marriage and expect to pass it, according to a detailed Civil Beat analysis of conversations with legislators and a look at secondary sources. But it will be a close call. Civil Beat.

Economic growth in the current fiscal year is expected to remain steady but could slow down due to uncertainties over looming military action in Syria, a potential federal government shutdown and impact of the Affordable Care Act on small businesses, state economists said Thursday. Although a specific numerical forecast from the state Council on Revenues was awaiting final calculations, the panel's new chairman said the overall tenor of discussions indicated a conservative approach for the coming year. Star-Advertiser.

An audit of the Office of Hawaiian Affairs says the agency needs to improve management of real estate holdings and do a better job of monitoring grants it awards. Associated Press.

The Office of Hawaiian Affairs' vote in favor of buying the Gentry Center violated the agency's own investment policy, the State Auditor says. The audit, released Wednesday, hits the agency pretty hard for its inability to manage its own land holdings to make money and to ensure oversight of its grant program. Civil Beat.

The state auditor is looking into Hawaii’s 13th largest landowner, the state Office of Hawaiian Affairs. The land management infrastructure of the agency charged with serving native Hawaiians is “inadequate, unable to support the office’s growing portfolio nor any future land involvements,”acting State Auditor Jan Yamane said in a 64-page report to the Legislature. Hawaii Reporter.

As President Barack Obama continues to press his case for punitive U.S. military action in Syria, at least two of Hawaii's four-member, all-Democratic congressional delegation say they are opposed to such intervention, while the others are skeptical that the move would accomplish its intended goals or advance U.S. interests. U.S. Rep. Colleen Hanabusa and U.S. Sen. Brian Schatz have gone on record this week opposing U.S. action against the regime of Syrian President Bashar Assad, which the U.S. has blamed for an alleged Aug. 21 chemical weapons attack in a rebel-held suburb of Damascus. Star-Advertiser.

The introduction of an Oahu-based president for Phoenix-based Mesa Air Group Inc.’s interisland subsidiary airline go! may be a sign the airline is solidifying its Hawaii operations. Pacific Business News.

State roundup for September 6. Associated Press.

Oahu

Hawaii's solar energy boom has grown to the point where rooftop photo­voltaic panels are providing all of the electricity consumed during some daylight hours in about 13 percent of Oahu neighborhoods, the Hawaiian Electric Co. said. While HECO is taking steps to integrate more solar energy, that could result in added costs for some new solar customers. Star-Advertiser.

The nonprofit Hawaii Agriculture Research Center in Kunia on Oahu plans to build a 500-kilowatt solar photovoltaic facility on two acres of land owned by the center and Pioneer Hi-Bred International Inc., according to a City and County of Honolulu Planning Commission public hearing notice. Pacific Business News.

Honolulu motorists will no longer be able to phone in payments when parking at stalls equipped with the city's "smart" meters. Star-Advertiser.

Disturbing surveillance video of babies falling onto train tracks greeted board members of the Honolulu Authority of Rapid Transportation today. Civil Beat.

An exasperated crowd of more than 200 North Shore residents crammed into a school cafeteria Thursday night in hopes of hearing immediate answers to the growing Laniakea Beach traffic woes. But with no state Department of Transportation officials in attendance and no clear way forward presented to fix the problem, the community meeting, organized by state Rep. Richard Fale, quickly devolved into a chaotic series of outbursts from frustrated residents. Star-Advertiser.

The city's biggest ever sewer tunneling project will soon cut an underground hole from Kaneohe to Kailua. The ten-foot-wide pipe meets the mandate ordered by federal agencies to upgrade Oahu's wastewater collection. Hawaii News Now.

Anyone passing through the Ala Moana area can’t miss the rumble of demolition at what used to be the Sears wing. We wanted to know where the large piles of rubble end up, and what’s the plan for an even bigger building boom ahead? KHON2.

A Waipahu High School track coach never sexually assaulted a member of his team, but became the target of "teenage revenge" by a girl upset that he stopped coaching her, a defense attorney said Thursday in the opening of the coach's trial. The prosecutor, however, told the jury that Erik Tamura violated the girl's trust and the teenager testified that Tamura molested her at school and once at her home during her sophomore and junior years in 2010 and 2011. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii

The Hawaii County Council passed a bill Thursday expected to help increase housing in downtown Hilo. The bill allows apartment buildings with a unit density higher than 1,000 square feet per unit to get away with fewer parking spaces. Tribune-Herald.

The state Department of Transportation is anticipating construction of a new cargo yard for Hilo Harbor to resume later this month. Work on the $10 million cargo yard, to support a new 602-foot-long pier, was suspended last spring after petroleum-based contaminates were found in the soil. Tribune-Herald.

Generous public support and an untiring effort by the Daniel R. Sayre Memorial Foundation has led to more than $100,000 for the Hawaii County Fire Department. West Hawaii Today.

A long day of testimony on two proposed laws prohibiting Genetically Modified Organisms on Hawaii Island was held on Wednesday. A crowd filled the chamber at the Hawaii County Council’s Public Safety & Mass Transit Committee meeting. Hours of passionate discussion stretched the hearing into the evening hours; some of the most interesting discussion happened outside, after the meeting was over. Big Island Video News.

Maui

The embattled nonprofit Wailuku Main Street Association Inc./Tri-Isle Main Street Resource Center was dissolved Wednesday morning by a 2nd Circuit judge. Maui News.

Although plans for two controversial South Maui malls have been scrapped, developers of former ranch property in north Kihei still want some retail development on the site, including national clothing stores and restaurants currently not found on the island. Maui News.

Similar to what is occurring on other islands, gains in Maui's visitor industry are now filtering through the rest of the island's economy, a top local economist said Thursday. Star-Advertiser.

While tourism remains the driving factor in Maui County’s economy, continued growth in commercial construction, real estate and jobs will further assist the county in its economic recovery. Maui News.

The business outlook for Maui is positive in the next year, according to economists who spoke at the 39th Annual Maui County Business Outlook Form, held Thursday, Sept. 5, at the Maui Beach Hotel in Kahului. Maui Now.

Kauai

The Kauai County Council met with county attorneys Thursday morning behind closed doors to discuss legal aspects of Bill 2491. The bill requires disclosure of pesticide use and genetically modified organisms, creates 500-foot buffer zones for large ag operations and imposes a temporary halt to the expansion of fields of GMO crops. Garden Island.

The big news to report in our first column of the school year is that Kauai Community College has been honored with a ranking of 16th in the country among 700 community and junior colleges by Washington Monthly, a prestigious journal of public policy based in the nation’s capital. Garden Island.

Interior Secretary discusses Hawaiian recognition, homelands; overlooked gates add $27M to Honolulu rail project, Kauai Planning Commission chair allowed to work as private lobbyist; Hanabusa, Schatz split labor backing; GMO hot topic; HuffPost Hawaii draws fans, critics, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Native Hawaiian protest file photo (c) 2013 All Hawaii News

Interior Secretary Sally Jewell said Wednesday the Obama administration is exploring possible administrative options for pursuing federal recognition of Native Hawaiians. But she stopped short of saying the president supports going that route if it's doable. Star-Advertiser.

On federal recognition, which has never made it through the U.S. Senate despite the decade-long effort of Sens. Daniel K. Inouye and Daniel Akaka, U.S. Interior Secretary Sally Jewel said the Obama administration was "looking at different options to move on a path forward." Though she did not elaborate, one of those options could be recognition of Hawaiians through the Interior Department, the path taken by many Native American tribes. Civil Beat.

It’s time to assess the Hawaiian homelands trust and think about where it should be when the centennial of the Hawaiian Homes Commission Act arrives in eight years, Interior Secretary Sally Jewell said Wednesday. It’s been 30 years since a federal task force addressed the topic in 1983, Jewell said while delivering the keynote address at the 12th annual Native Hawaiian Convention. Associated Press.

Three Chinese navy warships will pull into Pearl Harbor Friday on the first such visit in seven years, the U.S. Navy said. The visiting ships include the Qingdao, a Luhu-class destroyer; Linyi, a Jiangkai-class frigate; and Hongzehu, a Fuqing-class fleet oiler. Star-Advertiser.

One of the state's largest public worker unions, the United Public Workers, is backing U.S. Rep. Colleen Hanabusa in the Democratic primary for U.S. Senate. The 13,000-member union announced its endorsement at a news conference Wednesday, along with those of six smaller labor unions. Star-Advertiser.

Hoping to dent early labor support for her Democratic primary opponent, Sen. Brian Schatz, Rep. Colleen Hanabusa received the endorsement of a half-dozen unions Wednesday (Sept. 4), including the United Public Workers AFSCME Local 646. Civil Beat.

From the weather and the beaches to the aloha culture of extended families looking out for one another, Hawaii is a pretty good place to be a kid. But when you consider the state’s record on educating its youngest, most vulnerable residents, it doesn’t look quite so much like paradise. HuffPost Hawaii.

HuffPost Hawaii only adds to the world’s distorted view of Paradise. Pacific Business News.

How Come So Many Teachers Bail on Hawaii's Public Schools? Civil Beat.

A federal program to speed up airport security screenings for certain travelers is expanding to airports on Maui, the Big Island and Kauai. The U.S. Transportation Security Administration said Wednesday it will expand faster screening lanes to 100 airports by year end, up from 40 now. Associated Press.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's Marine Debris Program announced Wednesday that it provided $967,000 through NOAA's Restoration Center to support locally driven, community-based marine debris prevention and removal projects. KITV.

Oahu

Today board members overseeing Honolulu’s rail project will consider approving an additional $27.1 million to add safety gates at the 21 stations along the route. Called platform screen gates, they would help prevent passengers from falling onto the tracks. However, the safety feature was not budgeted for Oahu’s planned elevated rail system. Star-Advertiser.

Most residential real estate brokers who are experts in Honolulu’s Kahala market hope that the rumors are true regarding the possible sale of some or all of the more than two dozen properties owned by Japanese billionaire Genshiro Kawamoto, but no one could confirm reports that the rundown homes in the luxury oceanfront neighborhood are being sold. Pacific Business News.

Ho‘opili, some of the best land for farming in the State, has been arbitrarily exempted from Important Agricultural Land protection and seems doomed to be paved over and turned into a housing development. Hawaii Independent.

The planned expansion of an industrial park next to Kawainui Marsh is drawing the ire of the Kailua Neighborhood Board and environmental groups worried about the project's impact. Star-Advertiser.

The head of the Hawaii Kai association that's dumping tons of sludge in a Waianae neighborhood says there nothing unsafe in the materials and lashed out at residents who oppose the dumping. Hawaii News Now.

West Oahu seniors and those with disabilities will no longer have to spend two hours on the road for help with their Social Security needs. KHON2.

Hawaii

The battle over the future of crop biotechnology on the island of Hawaii escalated with the opening of hearings this week on two measures designed to end crop biotechnology. Forbes.

The debate over genetically modified crops and food is a serious one. But it can be easy to lose sight of that, especially amid the feisty — some might say volatile — Hawaii County Council Public Safety and Mass Transit committee's debate Wednesday about a pair of bills to ban GMOs on the island. Civil Beat.

The crowds were smaller but no less determined Wednesday as the Hawaii County Council started over with testimony on legislation to ban or restrict genetically altered crops. The meeting was the first in a month on the controversial issue, and one of many since the ongoing discussion of genetically modified organisms, or GMOs, started again last May. Tribune-Herald.

The County Council’s Committee on Public Safety & Mass Transit today heard nearly five hours of testimony on proposed legislation that would limit the growing of genetically modified crops on the Big Island. Big Island Now.

The backers of the Thirty Meter Telescope are taking a small yet significant step as they began seeking contractors to start land clearing on the top of Mauna Kea. The approximately $6 million contract would allow for grading the 4.85-acre site, paving a 0.61-mile road and installation of drainage and utility conduits. Tribune-Herald.

Preapproved travelers will be able to skip some security measures at Kona International Airport by the end of this year. The Transportation Security Administration on Wednesday announced the Kona airport was one of 60 being added to the TSA’s PreCheck Program, which allows frequent fliers to submit some personal information, then be subjected to limited security inspections once at preapproved airports. West Hawaii Today.

Maui

The state's new Community Fisheries Enforcement Unit has issued 12 citations for fishing violations in waters off Maui since it launched operations in the spring. The state Department of Land and Natural Resources said Wednesday the violations including the use of prohibited lay nets, catching undersized opihi, kumu and hee and using a prohibited net in the Kahului Fisheries Management Area. Associated Press.

Thanks to a few operational changes, Maui Electric says it is now using 91 percent of the Valley Isle’s available wind energy. The nearly 20 percent improvement is expected to trim $22 annually off a typical Maui home’s electric bill, MECO said Wednesday. The company expects to push it up to 98 percent — another $7 to $10 in savings — with additional changes over the next several years. Civil Beat.

Kahului Airport will be added to a list of airports with TSA PreCheck service, enabling low-risk passengers to move more quickly through checkpoint screening, officials said. Maui Now.

While all Maui County Council members agreed that acquiring 186 acres at Launiupoko in West Maui would be a boon for the community, some members expressed concern with the proposed deal's $13 million price tag. Maui News.

The Maui County Council Budget and Finance Committee approved on Tuesday a measure that would allow the Department of Water Supply to secure a $9 million appropriation of state revolving loan funds to develop the West Maui Mahinahina water well, instead of using its own generated revenue and county-issued general obligation bonds. Maui News.

Sea-level rise has been identified as a principal cause of coastal erosion in Hawaiʻi, according to a study released this week by the University of Hawaiʻi. The study notes that Maui beaches are eroding at 13cm per year, with 78% of beaches on the island’s beaches showing erosion over the past century. Maui Now.

Kauai

The county Board of Ethics voted Tuesday to allow a member of the county’s Boards and Commissions to testify on behalf of a private company before a government body. Garden Island.

Supporters of a bill that proposes to regulate genetically modified crops and pesticide use by large agricultural operations on Kauai will march this weekend to show solidarity before a County Council committee takes action Monday. Thousands are expected to participate in the Mana March at noon Sunday, a day before the Council’s Economic Development, Agriculture, Sustainability and Intergovernmental Relations Committee reconvenes to discuss Bill 2491. Star-Advertiser.

A Capitol mess, more liability for party hosts under new Hawaii Supreme Court rule, HuffPost-Civil Beat venture goes live today, HECO to shut Honolulu plant, Maui to tackle feral cats and chickens, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Hawaii state Capitol (c) 2013 All Hawaii News

A $4.5 million repair job is causing more problems along with concerns over public safety at the state capitol. Hawaii News Now.

A party host can be held liable for serving alcoholic drinks to a minor who dies from alcohol poisoning, the Hawaii Supreme Court ruled Tuesday in announcing a new rule of law for Hawaii. Star-Advertiser.

Over the next year, Civil Beat will examine the reasons behind the high cost of living and how it affects Hawaii's submerged middle class. There are those who say don't worry. Be happy. Lucky you live Hawaii. But others note there are real impacts. Even for a middle-class that manages to scrape by, the cost of paradise often catches up to us late in life.

The federal government plans to have administrative rules in place by April to help clarify its oversight role of the Hawaiian Homes Commission Act, a top Obama administration official said Tuesday. If adopted, the rules would be the first established since the law creating the Hawaiian home lands trust was enacted by Congress and signed by President Warren G. Harding nearly a century ago. Star-Advertiser.

The state Department of Hawaiian Home Lands has reached the point — passed it long ago, some would say — at which outside intervention is required to force a fix of its myriad problems. Star-Advertiser.

Organizers say for the first time in 12 years since the Native Hawaiian Convention began, the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands is not a partner and isn't present either. Hawaii News Now.

Perhaps underestimating the public's skepticism about diving into another potential quagmire in the Middle East, Sen. Brian Schatz in the course of a weekend embraced the idea of doing something about Syria, then downshifted to join the ranks of those calling for debate. Civil Beat.

After a heat wave led schools in the Midwest to shut down last week, teachers and students in Hawaii are renewing their call for air conditioning the state's public schools, gearing up for a rally on Sept. 26. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii Health Systems Corp. General Counsel Alice Hall has been named acting president and CEO of the state’s public hospital system. Pacific Business News.

For University of Hawaii researcher Angel Yanagihara, a painful encounter with box jellyfish 16 years ago, during a swim off Oahu, ultimately led to a journey this week with Diana Nyad for the renowned distance swimmer's historic trek across the Florida Strait. Star-Advertiser.

Three months ago we announced Civil Beat’s partnership with the Huffington Post. Today, we are proud to introduce HuffPost Hawaii. (The site will go live at 6 a.m. Hawaii time.)

Our colleagues at HuffPost Hawaii are recruiting bloggers to write on a new website. The interest from AOL (owner of the Huffington Post) in the Hawaii market is recognition of the relevance of our local community, the importance of local voices, and the viability of local advertising. Our intellect and ideas, however, are valuable. Although it’s a $2.9 billion company, AOL’s policy is to not pay Huffington Post bloggers. Hawaii Independent.

Aloha! I'm here for the launch of our newest edition, HuffPost Hawaii. We are delighted to be partnering with Honolulu Civil Beat, a beacon of journalism in Hawaii focusing on public affairs and investigative reporting, with deep roots in the local culture.

State roundup for September 4. Associated Press.

Oahu
Hawaiian Electric Co. will deactivate its 59-year-old Honolulu Power Plant in January as part of its strategy to increase the use of renewable energy and reduce Hawaii's dependence on imported fossil fuel, company officials said Tuesday. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaiian Electric Co. said Tuesday that it plans to shut down its Honolulu power plant on Jan. 31 as part of its strategy to ramp up the use of renewable energy and decrease the state’s dependency on imported fossil fuel. Pacific Business News.

Kapiolani Community College Chancellor Leon Richards, whose campus has faced a number of recent management problems, spent nearly four and a half months traveling out of state on official business in the last year and a half, a Hawaii News Now investigation has found.

There was no permit to dispose of the dredging material spilled on a key section of the westbound side of the H-1 freeway in Aiea on Saturday afternoon, causing a four-hour traffic jam, city officials said Tuesday. Honolulu City officials are investigating SER Silva Equipment Rental for the spill. Star-Advertiser.

The trucking company that spilled its load on the H1 Freeway on Saturday is being cited by the city -- but not for the crash. Hawaii News Now.

A group of University of Hawaii students is weeks away from launching their own satellite. KITV.

Hawaii

Tourism and agriculture. Two of the island’s economic engines that work well together. That’s according to proponents of a measure that would create a “minor” agritourism classification to make it easier for small farmers to engage in a practice already enjoyed by large agricultural operations — giving tours to visitors, usually for a fee, and selling related agricultural and nonagricultural products at a gift shop. West Hawaii Today.

A Hawaii Island educator is set to hitch a ride aboard the world’s largest flying telescope. Randi Brennon, a teacher at Hawaii Academy of Arts and Sciences in Pahoa, will participate in a weeklong program that will allow her to observe research aboard NASA’s Stratospheric Observatory for Infrared Astronomy (SOFIA), which is essentially a modified Boeing 747 jet carrying a 17-ton, 2.7-meter telescope. Tribune-Herald.

Hokulia developers resumed some construction work at the project earlier this year without hiring an archaeological monitor and in violation of several agreements and preservation plans, according to a July letter from the state Historic Preservation Division. Development officials are back on track to resolving the issues, though, Hawaii Island Archaeological Branch Chief Theresa Donham said Tuesday. West Hawaii Today.

Hawaii County is a step closer to replacing large-capacity cesspools in the Lono Kona subdivision along Kalani Street, thanks to a $4 million grant and a $2.4 million loan from the U.S. Department of Agriculture. West Hawaii Today.

A protest was held outside the DLNR building on Kilauea and Kawili in Hilo on Wednesday. About 20 to 30 hunters and other recreation users of Mauna Kea demonstrated against the state’s policy of eradicating sheep on the mountain. Big Island Video News.

Hawaii County Mayor Billy Kenoi is in Taiwan promoting business, agricultural, educational and cultural ties. Big Island Now.

Maui

A public forum focusing on issues surrounding feral cats and chickens on Maui, will take place from 6 to 8 p.m. on Wednesday, Sept. 11, at the J. Walter Cameron Center Auditorium in Wailuku. Maui Now.

Maui Electric Company hosts the first of two community meetings tonight to provide information and updates on the Māʻalaea to Kamaliʻi 69kV Transmission Line Project, company officials said. Maui Now.

Kauai

Kauai residents will take to the streets of Lihue Sunday to march in support of county Bill 2491. If passed, the controversial bill — co-introduced in June by Kauai County Council Members Gary Hooser and Tim Bynum — would allow the county to govern the use of pesticides and genetically modified organisms on the island. Garden Island.

Ke Kula Niihau O Kekaha, a Hawaiian language charter school on Kauai’s Westside, will soon be powered by the sun. The school’s nonprofit organization, Aha Punana Leo, recently received a $180,060 capital improvement grant to plan, design and construct a new 30-kilowatt photovoltaic system at the school. Garden Island.

Only about 1 percent of Kauai is above the ocean surface, states Dr. Chuck Blay, who co-authors an updated edition of “Kauai’s Geologic History.” Garden Island.

Lanai

The company managing billionaire Larry Ellison's investments on Lanai is matching Maui County grants in support of small businesses on the island. The Mayor's Office of Economic Development said Tuesday Pulama Lanai's chief operating officer offered to match the office's small business revitalization grants to Lanai businesses. Associated Press.

Hawaii's healthy ocean, Fukushima risks, pollution countering global warming, celebrating end of WWII, Queen Liliuokalani's 175th, union power and more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Four-spot butterflyfish (c) 2013 All Hawaii News

Researchers working on a government-funded project said they've figured out a more accurate method to analyze animal movements in the ocean, including fish migration. The new method could help provide researchers and marine managers with better analysis to support marine conservation activities for threatened species. Star-Advertiser.

Surveys of the undersea canyons around Hawaii show high levels of bio­diversity among small invertebrates in seafloor sediments, making the canyons the equivalent of oases in the desert, Hawaii scientists report. And the vitality of these small organisms are likely key to the livelihood of larger fish, they conclude. Star-Advertiser.

University of Hawaii scientists are seeking to lessen anxieties about the potential health risks from Japan's Fukushima nuclear disaster in the wake of recent international reports warning that dangerous levels of radiation could hit the west coast of the United States next year. Civil Beat.

Global warming’s effect on rainfall distribution so far has been limited by an unexpected source: airborne pollutants, according to a new study by researchers at the University of Hawaii’s International Pacific Research Center and the Scripps Institution of Oceanography. But as greenhouse gases increase, they will overwhelm the influence of aerosols — that is, airborne dust, soot and other pollutants, the researchers say. Their paper was published online Sunday in the journal Nature Geoscience. Star-Advertiser.

A Civil Beat analysis of recently released data on student absenteeism in the state’s elementary schools suggests that problems with attendance are strongly linked to poverty and where pupils live.

Starting in the fiscal year that begins in July, the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands will receive the last of the $30 million in payments the state has made annually for the past 19 years. That installment will bring the two-decade total to $600 million — the amount agreed to by the state to settle breach-of-trust claims from 1959 to 1988 involving the 203,000-acre trust that DHHL oversees. Star-Advertiser.

As millions of American workers took time off Monday to celebrate Labor Day, the state of organized labor in Hawaii remains among the strongest in the country. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, Hawaii's union participation rate of 21.6 percent is bested by only Alaska (22.4 percent) and New York (23.2 percent). KITV.

Initial reports after Wednesday's meeting between Speaker of the House Joseph Souki and the minority caucus indicated that there were only 26 votes in favor of a Special Session. Our own sources put that number closer to 30. Hawaii Independent.

The former Hawaii resident who threatened to decapitate Hawaii Congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard made an uneventful initial appearance Friday in a San Diego court after being captured Wednesday in Tijuana, Mexico, by Policia Estatal Preventiva, Baja California State Police Fugitive Unit. Hawaii Reporter.

A number of major hospitals have agreed to share patient data through a nonprofit that aims to connect Hawaii's health providers with electronic medical records. Star-Advertiser.

Interisland cargo volumes rose during the second quarter of this year at five of six ports that receive shipments from Honolulu. Kawaihae Harbor was the lone exception, with a 1.9 percent decline compared to the same quarter last year, Young Brothers officials said in their quarterly report, issued Friday. The company releases the report as a snapshot of economic activity within the state. West Hawaii Today.

Monday marked the 175th birthday of Hawaii’s last reigning monarch. Dozens turned out to commemorate the birth of Queen Lili’uokalani, who is buried at the Royal Mausoleum. KHON2.

With the growth of eco-tourism in Hawaii, there is now a push to make sure tour companies show off spectacular natural resources without making a big impact on the environment. KITV.

Bloomberg had an item earlier this summer asking If Politics Is So Easy, Why Can't Journalists Do It? It linked to a study showing that only 20 current members of Congress have worked in journalism at some point in their careers. Civil Beat.

In brief | State 090213. Associated Press.

State roundup for September 2. Associated Press.

Oahu

The $5.16 billion Honolulu rail transit project could resume construction as early as next month following the Hawaii state Historic Preservation Division’s approval of the archaeological survey reports, which clears the way for permit applications to be submitted for the system, the Honolulu Authority for Rapid Transportation said Friday. Pacific Business News.

A year after a Hawaii State Supreme Court ruling halted construction on Honolulu's controversial $5.2 billion elevated steel on steel rail project, construction will likely resume in a matter of weeks, according to a statement issued Friday by the Honolulu Authority for Rapid Transportation. Hawaii Reporter.

The fired chief financial officer of a Honolulu tug and water taxi company has filed a whistleblower and wrongful termination lawsuit, claiming she was let go after raising questions about unethical and illegal practices involving disability fraud and improper donations to members of Hawaii's congressional delegation. Hawaii News Now.

Historians would like to solve one of the remaining mysteries of the Pearl Harbor attack: What happened to the approximately 29 Japanese airmen and four sailors still missing in action? The majority are thought to have been lost at sea around the isles and in Pearl Harbor, but four aircrew members may still lie buried in unmarked graves in Ewa Beach and in the hills above Aiea. Star-Advertiser.

On Sept. 2, 1945, peace was restored as World War II came to an end with Japan’s surrender on the decks of the battleship USS Missouri in Tokyo Bay. On Monday, the Battleship Missouri — now a memorial and museum in Pearl Harbor — hosted a special “End of World War II” commemoration to mark the 68th anniversary of that historic occasion and the sacrifice that made it possible. Star-Advertiser.

Kaiser Permanente Hawaii is unveiling its new $12 million clinic today at Pearlridge Center in Aiea. The 7,000-square-foot center will open Oct. 4 and offer family medicine and pediatrics, as well as a pharmacy and laboratory services. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii

The power of water: Hamakua Springs aims to cut energy dependence. Tribune-Herald.

The parent company of Hawaii Electric Light Co. today announced a search for suppliers of “cleaner” types of diesel to power electrical plants on the Big Island and in Maui County. Big Island Now.

Maui

A bill to permit and regulate home-based businesses in Maui County will be reviewed Thursday morning by the Maui County Council's Planning Committee in the eighth-floor Council Chambers of the Kalana O Maui building. Maui News.

A few "birthday bash" political fundraisers are signaling the beginning of Maui County's election season, more than a year before voters cast general election ballots on Nov. 4, 2014. Maui News.

A new study by the University of Hawaii shows the state is on pace to lose 100 feet of beach in the coming decades and Maui is most at risk. Kailua beach has been fighting erosion for years but now a new study finds that Maui beaches are disappearing even faster. Hawaii News Now.

Haleakala Ranch Co., with its origins dating back to the Hawaiian monarchy, will celebrate its 125th anniversary with an exhibit that includes hand-woven rawhide lariats and traditional boots worn by its original Spanish-trained "paniolo" cowboys. Maui News.

Kauai

Without an explanation, the Kauai County Council deferred a bill that would bring significant increases to dog licensing fees. After passing the council’s Finance Committee last week, the bill was up for second and final reading Wednesday. Garden Island.

Kauai officials are stepping up efforts to teach visitors how to enjoy the Garden Isle without falling prey to its natural dangers. Pacific Business News.

The comfort station at the west end of the Poipu Beach Park is open following several months of renovations. The only evidence of the row of blue portable toilets is the overgrown grass marking the boundaries where the temporary facilities were located. Garden Island.

Molokai

U.S. Department of Agriculture Molokai inspector Chevy Levasa said it was just a regular day at work for her, but a finding a fungi last year landed her some recognition. She now holds the first report in the U.S. of a strain of fungi called frog-eye spot, or P. morindae, on a noni leaf on Molokai. Molokai Dispatch.

A small team in Kalaupapa is changing the way people think about trash with their award winning solid waste management program. Hawaii Public Radio.