Government shutdown to hurt Hawaii tourist economy, health exchange not ready, convicted Honolulu police officer reinstated, fifth candidate enters wide-open congressional race, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Hawaii Volcanoes National Park file photo

The partial government shutdown would put 25,000 federal employees out of work in Hawaii; delay military pay; close national parks, including Hawaii Volcanoes National Park and the USS Arizona Memorial; and halt applications for passports and visas, weakening tourism, among other impacts. Star-Advertiser.

The failure of Congress to complete one of its most fundamental tasks will have grave consequences across the nation, and especially in Hawaii where tens of thousands of federal employees are slated to stop working — and stop getting paid — as of Tuesday. In a state where tourism is the largest industry, people will not be able to visit sites such as the Arizona Memorial at Pearl Harbor or any of the state’s national parks. Civil Beat.

Hawaii's all-Democrat congressional delegation reacted angrily to the partial government shutdown that took effect at midnight in Washington, placing the blame squarely on House Republicans for refusing to compromise. Star-Advertiser.

The federal government has shut down, despite a long day and night of back-and-forth legislative action by the House and Senate. Pacific Business News.

Hawaiʻi leaders voiced concerns over a federal government shutdown as Congress failed to resolve differences relating to a Continuing Resolution to fund government operations beyond today’s midnight deadline. Maui Now.

Many people are wondering how widespread the local effects of the government shutdown will be. KHON2.

The state’s health insurance exchange, a key provision of the Affordable Care Act, will not be ready for consumers to shop and compare health plans at the start of open enrollment today. The online marketplace known as the Hawaii Health Connector is having software problems that will prevent consumers from comparing the various plans. But officials hope to solve those problems by Friday, sources involved with the Connector told the Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii is launching its new online marketplace for health insurance as part of President Barack Obama’s health care law, in an attempt to get as many people covered in the state as possible. The Hawaii Health Connector was expected to go live today, offering tiered plans for individuals and small businesses with an eye toward a key deadline at the start of 2014. Associated Press.

Hawaii lawmakers started seeing fatter paychecks July 1 thanks to the Salary Commission’s recommendation and the end of the voluntary cuts they took during the recession. Fifty House reps and 24 senators will each earn $55,896 this year, $9,600 more than 2012. House Speaker Joe Souki and Senate President Donna Mercado Kim will have annual salaries of $63,396, a $10,000 bump. Civil Beat.

Kathryn Xian opened her campaign Monday for the urban Honolulu seat in Congress with a populist theme of income equality. Star-Advertiser.

On the same day the U.S. government neared a shutdown because a dysfunctional Congress cannot agree on how to fund it, a fifth candidate entered the race for Hawaii's 1st Congressional District. Civil Beat.

Hawaiian Airlines averted a third straight quarterly earnings loss by collecting $17.8 million in baggage fees during the April-to-June period, according to data released Monday by the U.S. Department of Transportation. The fees helped Hawaiian make a previously reported $11.3 million in profit. Star-Advertiser.

State roundup for October 1. Associated Press.

Oahu

One of two Honolulu police officers fired after being convicted of marijuana-related charges in Las Vegas in 2009 has been reinstated to HPD, Hawaii News Now has learned.

Rising sea levels mostly caused by man-made climate change will likely leave the edges of Waikiki — and possibly more of the densely developed tourist district — underwater by the year 2100, University of Hawaii climate researchers say. Star-Advertiser.

There are nearly 4,400 civilian employees at the Pearl Harbor Naval Shipyard. Roughly two-thirds of them are now furloughed because of the government shutdown. Hawaii News Now.

A rich — but perhaps not famous — buyer has acquired a luxurious Oahu home built by the late producer of the "Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous" TV show, Al Masini. An unidentified buyer paid $10 million for the home on Hawaii Loa Ridge in East Honolulu, according to local real estate firm Sachi Hawaii, led by Sachi Braden.Star-Advertiser.

The dozens of statues that once covered Japanese billionaire Genshiro Kawamoto’s Kahala Avenue properties in East Honolulu are being removed and will be sold, according to a source close to the situation. Pacific Business News.

Hawaii
With little doubt, Kilauea will continue to erupt today as it has for more than 30 years. But Pele’s awe-inspiring glow and her one-of-a-kind display of the planet’s inner power will go mostly unseen as Hawaii Volcanoes National Park — the Big Island’s main tourist attraction — is closed to visitors as a result of the government shutdown that began this morning. Tribune-Herald.

Oral arguments are scheduled to begin Dec. 13 for a legal case challenging Hawaii’s decision to grant a permit for the construction of the world’s largest optical telescope at the summit of Mauna Kea. Opponents of the Thirty Meter Telescope appealed a Board of Land and Natural Resources decision to the Third Circuit Court in Hilo in May. Tribune-Herald.

The Department of Land and Natural Resources is looking to fence about 8,500 acres of the Puuwaawaa Forest Reserve and Puuanahulu Game Management Area, according to a letter sent to about 115 stakeholders last month. West Hawaii Today.

Maui

Carmen Electra held a record release party for "I Like It Loud" at a private estate in Lahaina on Sunday. Maui News.

Kauai

The federal government shutdown would affect Kauai in many ways although the primary federal agencies here, Civil Defense and the airport would continue operating. State and county services including public safety would not be affected except behind the scenes where ongoing federal interaction would cease in the interim, authorities said. Garden Island.

Theft of koa is a problem that continues to persist in Kokee State Park. And finding a solution has not been easy. Garden Island.

Hawaii government officials make big salaries, Honolulu mothers hold nurse-in, Obamacare to raise some insurance premiums and lower others, papaya vandalism won't stop GMO vote, Kauai Head Start loses slots, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Hawaii state Capitol (c) 2013 All Hawaii News

Hawaii State Salaries 2013: More Employees Making More Money. Civil Beat.

Hawaii's booming economy could face setbacks under a prolonged federal government shutdown, economists and lawmakers said. With Tuesday's looming deadline, Hawaii's 23,000 civilian federal workers are bracing themselves for furloughs and wage cutbacks. Hawaii News Now.

Obamacare will mean higher premiums for thousands of Hawaii individuals and small businesses and lower premiums for thousands of others when major provisions of the federal health reform law begin Jan. 1. The state's dominant health insurer, Hawaii Medical Service Association, notified individuals and small groups in recent weeks of the changes they will see in premiums under the new federal Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. Star-Advertiser.

State roundup for September 30. Associated Press.

Oahu

A four-year degree from the University of Hawaii at Manoa is likely to yield a starting salary almost three times the state's minimum wage, new figures in a national salaries report show. Manoa graduates entering the workforce with a bachelor's degree typically earn $41,000 a year within five years, according to a report by Seattle-based PayScale, an online salary and compensation information service. After 10 years in their field, Manoa graduates generally make $73,000 a year. Star-Advertiser.

On Friday, close to 30 moms gathered at Target to hold a nurse-in protest. All moms breastfed their babies in the Target store. The store’s manger spoke to the mothers and said she was going to have a staff meeting to address the issue. KHON2.

Hawaiian Telcom says it's bought a Honolulu data center services company for $16 million in cash. SystemMetrics Corp. provides cloud computing and highly secure data center services to small and medium-sized businesses. Hawaii News Now.

Dawson Technical LLC of Honolulu has been awarded a $10.2 million contract, with options for the renovation of the Aloha Center, Building 690 at Schofield Barracks in Central Oahu. Pacific Business News.

Hawaii

Calling the incident “very unfortunate,” Hawaii County Councilwoman Margaret Wille said Saturday the debate over genetically modified organisms should not be sidetracked after a farmer had about 100 papaya trees slashed, possibly by anti-GMO activists. Tribune-Herald.

Maui

As the years go by and the number of World War II Japanese-American veterans dwindles, remembering their life stories and their tales of valor have become all the more important to the members of Maui's Sons and Daughters of the Nisei Veterans. Maui News.

Kauai

Child and Family Service officials say they lost six slots in Head Start classrooms on Kauai after the Oahu-based nonprofit was forced to trim tens of thousands of dollars from its budget. The nonprofit, which solely administers Head Start programs on Kauai, cut $58,923 from its Head Start programs on the island for this fall school year after a total of $85.4 billion in federal budget cuts — known as sequestration — took effect March 1. Garden Island.

Pesticide tests in streams to begin, Abercrombie goes abroad, Capitol security upgraded, Oahu kids want cool school, students lag on SAT tests, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Hawaii stream (c) 2013 all Hawaii News

The Hawaii Department of Health has received $75,000 to begin testing for pesticides in streams and waterways throughout the state. Garden Island.

Lt. Gov. Shan Tsutsui will be acting governor for the next few weeks as Gov. Neil Abercrombie travels out of state for meetings and vacation. The governor's office said Wednesday Abercrombie is in Los Angeles and New York to meet with credit agencies about the state's economy and fiscal condition. After the meetings wrap up on Friday, the governor will join his wife in France for personal travel. Associated Press.

The state is spending $450,000 in federal grant funds upgrading security systems at the State Capitol in what officials call a "modest upgrade." Since Hawaii has one of the most open Capitol buildings in the country, public safety officials are trying to make it more secure without cutting off access to the public. Hawaii News Now.

Major advances in battery storage technology, not to mention sharp cost reductions, could help light the way for Hawaii’s troubled solar industry. The path forward could, it seems increasingly plausible, involve do-it-yourself solar users disconnecting themselves from the power grid altogether, and still flourishing. Civil Beat.

The solar photovoltaic sector, one of Hawaii’s fastest growing industries and one that has been experiencing a recent slowdown, may lose hundreds of jobs if issues such as the changes to building permit fees and the state solar PV tax credit as well as the increasing saturation of some key geographic areas aren’t resolved, according to members of an industry trade group. Pacific Business News.

Students in Hawaii continue to underperform on the SAT compared to the national average, according to scores released Thursday by the College Board. Tribune-Herald.

Arrivals from Hawaii's largest visitor market contracted in August after 20 straight months of increases — and spending declined as well — but state tourism officials stopped short of saying the drop-off in the U.S. West signified a trend. Star-Advertiser.

State roundup for September 27. Associated Press.

Oahu

Toting handmade signs to "Cool Our School," nearly 500 students from Campbell High School in Ewa Beach converged on the state Capitol with their teachers and principal Thursday to rally for air conditioning in the public schools. Star-Advertiser.

Nearly 500 frequently overheated students from Campbell High School came together at the Capitol Thursday morning to send a loud message to Hawaii lawmakers: It is too hot to learn well in their school. Civil Beat.

Molasses fish kill now turned into farm fertilizer. 26,000 dead fish sent to processing plant, not landfill. KITV

Large concrete barriers will likely go up by the end of the year to block cars, buses and vans from parking at Lani­akea Beach, transportation officials announced at a meeting this week to address the traffic problems there. The state Department of Transportation considers those 20-foot-long barriers the best possible fix for the growing safety hazards and congestion at Lani­akea, where some 600,000 tourists and local residents venture each year to encounter Hawaiian sea turtles in their natural environment. Star-Advertiser.

It was a sunset marked by star power, a singing boy band and thousands of screaming fans of “Hawaii Five-0.” For the fourth year in a row, the cast of the state’s most celebrated TV show dressed up to walk a red carpet on the sand and say mahalo to fans who had come to see the crime drama’s Sunset on the Beach premiere. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii

The county Department of Parks and Recreation closed Ahalanui Park today after a park-goer apparently became sick after swimming in its hot pond. Big Island Now.

The Leeward Planning Commission is sending a controversial Hualalai Road development to the Hawaii County Council with a positive recommendation. West Hawaii Today.

Hawaii Island cannabis advocate Roger Christie will spend about another six months behind bars after pleading guilty today in his marijuana trafficking case, according to his lawyer. But Christie will continue his quest to become the first legal marijuana minister by appealing the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals pretrial rulings denying his bid to dismiss the charges, attorney Thomas Otake said Thursday in an email statement. Star-Advertiser.

Maui

Maui County Auditor Lance Taguchi probably won't know until January if his office will be able to commit to an audit over the county administration's handling of the Old Wailuku Post Office demolition. Maui News.

State officials are seeking a $1,000 fine and $580 in administrative costs from Maui Kayaks Inc. for allegedly conducting unauthorized commercial activity at a state beach reserve at Olowalu. Maui News.

Contractors will open a portion of road today that runs through the Maui Business Park under construction in Kahului. Maui Now.

Kauai

The state Department of Health and the University of Hawaii Cancer Center reported that the rates of cancer on Kauai aren’t higher than throughout the rest of the state. The one exception, according to a joint report released Thursday, was the rate for skin melanoma, a cancer related to ultraviolet exposure. Garden Island.

The state's intent to address health and environmental concerns tied to the use of pesticides and genetically modified crops is being met with caution by supporters of a bill that would impose regulations on large agricultural biotech companies on Kauai. Gov. Neil Abercrombie announced earlier this week that the state will create standards and guidelines for biotech companies to voluntarily disclose use of pesticides and genetically modified crops, and will implement buffer zones near schools and hospitals. Star-Advertiser.

Super Senator(?) Schatz, OSHA turns inspections back to Hawaii, builder tapped for Coco Palms, former state senator dies, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

U.S. Sens. Brian Schatz and Mazie Hirono file photo

Brian Schatz, Hawaii's Super Senator? The Hawaii politician has a slick PR machine. But can he lead? Civil Beat.

A new Nissan Pathfinder, two power saws, tickets to a trendy nightclub and a full sized male mannequin. Those were some of the pricier – or more unusual items – found in the campaign expenditure reports of Hawaii lawmakers. Hawaii Reporter.

OSHA turns manufacturing back over to the Hawaii Occupational Safety and Health Division just as Federal funding is again in jeopardy. Hawaii Independent.

Cal Kawamoto, who served in the state Senate for a decade and was a tireless advocate for Waipahu, died on Sunday after suffering a heart attack earlier this month. He was 73. Star-Advertiser.

Kona Brewing Co.’s Longboard Island Lager bottle was recently honored by the Glass Packaging Institute for its “innovation, package design and consumer appeal” during the group’s annual Clear Choice Awards at Pack Expo. Pacific Business News

Oahu

An Oahu grand jury returned an indictment Wednesday charging a former teacher's aide at the Hawaii School for the Deaf and the Blind with sexually assaulting a student at the school. Star-Advertiser.

Homeless advocates have filed the first legal challenge to the city's sidewalk nuisance law which went into effect in July. Brian Brazier, an attorney for De Occupy Honolulu which has set up camp at Thomas Square, said the confiscation of personal belongings constitutes an unreasonable seizure. Hawaii News Now.

It is no surprise that Lex Smith, a well-connected attorney, has been a key player in the contentious efforts to develop the rustic Kahuku Village on the North Shore into a multi-million dollar real estate development. Civil Beat.

The new owners of Tesoro Corp.'s Kapolei oil refinery say they are poised to take advantage of a boom in North American crude supplies that could allow the facility to ramp up its production of gasoline, jet fuel and other products. Star-Advertiser.

North Shore residents told state transportation officials that barricading the parking lot at Laniakea Beach is not the solution for traffic problems in the area. More than a hundred area residents attended a meeting Wednesday night at Haleiwa Elementary School of the Department of Transportation's Task Force on re-aligning Kamehameha Highway at Laniakea, with about two dozen airing their concerns. Hawaii News Now.

Homeless leave Pawaa as city closes down park. Officials say the area needs cleaning for visits by South Korean groups. Star-Advertiser.

A Hawaii Kai man is getting ready for a battle with the city in court over a pothole. Donald Fehlmann is suing the city because he says it’s refusing to pay for damage to his car. KHON2.

Kaiser High School Principal John Sosa has been placed on paid leave as the Department of Education conducts an investigation. It's unclear what the investigation entails. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii

Funding for the second phase of the Queen Kaahumanu Highway widening project isn’t in any danger of lapsing, at least not on the federal end, officials assured the Kona Community Development Plan Action Committee Wednesday. West Hawaii Today.

“Get a grip; we are zero ‘frightened,’” wrote jailed cannabis minister Roger Christie in an email sent to the Tribune-Herald on Wednesday in the wake of news that he and his wife, Share Christie, had accepted a plea deal with prosecutors in their federal marijuana distribution case. Tribune-Herald.

A Keaukaha man says he plans to continue to protest Hawaii Electric Light Co. online and on the street after chaining himself to the utility’s Hilo office door earlier this month. Tribune-Herald.

Maui

A finding of no significant environmental impact has been issued on the proposed consolidated car rental facility for Kahului Airport, and officials hope construction can begin in March. Maui News.

Famed rocker Gene Simmons from KISS and his wife Shannon Tweed were in Hawaii in January 2008 to film two episodes of their television reality show, Family Jewels. While they were in town, Simmons was the keynote speaker at the Smart Business Hawaii Annual Business and Investment Conference. Hawaii Reporter.

An activities booking business, The Maui Fun Co., has closed, leaving behind possibly more than $100,000 in debts to activity providers, from downhill bike operations to luaus. Maui News.

Kauai

Kauai-based Unlimited Construction Services has been chosen as the design-build contractor for the redevelopment of the iconic Coco Palms Resort on Kauai’s Eastside, the developers said Wednesday. Pacific Business News.

The owners of Coco Palms Resort in Wailua announced Wednesday they have sent most of the reconstruction permits to the county and have picked their team to rebuild the hotel. Garden Island.

In an effort to take the guesswork out of what container a recyclable should be placed in, the county’s Recycling Office has developed image-based signage with a local flair for the public’s use. Garden Island.

The revised master plan for Kokee and Waimea Canyon state parks is back with the Department of Land and Natural Resources. Garden Island.

Native Hawaiians' lifespan shorter, pot minister to plead guilty, Hawaii inmates in prison gang probe, counties worry about GMO home rule, more news from all the Hawaiian Island

Native Hawaiian poi pounding (c) 2013 All Hawaii News

Native Hawaiians and Pacific Islanders still have shorter life spans than other Hawaii residents and a higher proportion suffer from diabetes, heart disease and obesity. A new study released today by the University of Hawaii John A. Burns School of Medicine found that Native Hawaiians typically die six years earlier than other populations. This is an improvement from 1970 when the life expectancy of Native Hawaiians was 13 years less than that of other residents. Star-Advertiser.

Life expectancy for Native Hawaiians is 6.2 years lower than the state average, though life expectancy has increased by nearly 12 years since 1950.While much progress has been made to improve the health and quality of life of Native Hawaiians and other Pacific Islanders living in Hawaii, their lives are still shorter than whites and Asians. The "big three" killers are diabetes, obesity and heart disease. Civil Beat.

Researchers from the John A. Burns School of Medicine presented a landmark, 20-year health study on Native Hawaiians and Pacific Islanders to an audience of four legislative committees at the state capitol Tuesday. Hawaii News Now.

Hawaii BioEnergy, which has a signed agreement with Alaska Airlines to provide the Seattle-based carrier with locally-grown biofuel, is “intending to” approach Hawaiian Airlines about providing the state’s flagship carrier with biofuel as well, Joel Matsunaga, executive vice president and chief operating officer for Hawaii BioEnergy told Pacific Business News.

Seventeen Hawaii inmates are accused by federal prosecutors of running a prison gang that bribed personnel, distributed drugs and assaulted other inmates. Star-Advertiser.

Up until now, there have been just four Congressional candidates vying to fill the vacancy that will be left by Rep. Colleen Hanabusa when she runs for U.S. Senate in 2014. Now Kathryn Xian has entered the race. Xian, who has never been elected to office, is nevertheless well known at the state capitol for her advocacy for human trafficking victims and her work to stop violence against women and children. Hawaii Reporter.

Amid congressional bickering in the 11th hour of fraught federal budget deliberations, officials at all levels of education in Hawaii say they’re bracing for painful funding cutbacks and delays to crucial grants that support the neediest students. Civil Beat.

State roundup for September 25. Associated Press.

Oahu

A proposal to ask Oahu voters whether they want to give the City Council oversight of the Honolulu Board of Water Supply's budget was shelved Tuesday by a key Council committee. Several Council members indicated that instead of seeking to change the governing structure of the semiautonomous water board, they were more inclined to support an audit of the agency. Star-Advertiser.

Federal environmental regulators are teaming with state health officials to investigate whether Matson, the shipping company that has taken responsibility for the Hono­lulu Harbor molasses spill, committed any violations that helped cause the disaster. Star-Advertiser.

Honolulu Community College has taken action to address concerns raised by an accrediting committee that put the campus on a "warning" status earlier this year, its chancellor says. Star-Advertiser.

Honolulu police have arrested a man suspected of using duct tape to steal goats from a Hawaii farm under the light of a full moon. Associated Press.

Hawaii

Gov. Neil Abercrombie’s announcement Monday that he and the Kauai legislative delegation had negotiated some temporary, volunteer rules regarding pesticide use on that island has some Hawaii Island legislators wondering if similar moves are coming for the county’s genetically modified organism debate. West Hawaii Today.

Hawaii Island cannabis advocate Roger Christie is scheduled to plead guilty Friday to marijuana trafficking, charges that have kept him behind bars for more than three years awaiting trial. Christie’s wife, Sherryanne, is also scheduled to plead guilty, the two having reached a plea agreement in the case. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii Island lost one of its trailblazers Monday, with the death of 78-year-old Harold T. Tanouye Jr., CEO and founder of Panaewa’s Green Point Nurseries Inc. Tribune-Herald.

A Big Island man claiming that he had been billed incorrectly by Hawaii Electric Light Co. took his objections to the utility’s front door. In chains. Big Island Now.

Maui

A power distribution control system that could shut down appliances or lower air-conditioning thermostats for participating customers to meet power demands during peak periods, a battery storage system and smaller fuel-powered generation units have been thrown into the mix of options as Maui Electric Co. considers alternatives to a proposed 69-kilovolt transmission line in South Maui. Maui News.

The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs has awarded a $1.1 million grant to improve the appearance of Maui Veterans Cemetery in Makawao. Star-Advertiser.

Shark deterrent device savior for record swim feat. Maui News.

Kauai

Thanks, but no thanks. That has been the reaction of several key supporters of County Bill 2491 to Gov. Neil Abercrombie’s announcement that the state will begin paying closer attention to community concerns about pesticide use on Kauai. Garden Island.

Gov. Neil Abercrombie is trying to cool the heated debate over GMOs and pesticides on Kauai by promising that the state will increase its oversight of pesticide use. Yet the governor’s sudden entry into the escalating fight over biotech, which comes just as the Kauai County Council is considering tough restrictions on pesticides, has angered GMO opponents more than it has pacified them.  Civil Beat.

The Salary Commission approved a resolution last week to reinstate an annual $6,000 cell phone and car allowance  to each Kauai County Council member, but it would only affect the council after the next elections. Resolution 2013-1 also confirms the same allowance to the mayor, and gun-cleaning and uniform allowances to some high-ranking public safety officers. Garden Island.

Abercrombie jumps into GMO debate as Hawaii County Council mulls bills, goat-rustler hits Oahu, Mexican immigrants need Hawaii consulate, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Kauai GMO protest filephoto

The state will create standards and guidelines for seed companies to voluntarily disclose the types of restricted pesticides they use and will set up buffer zones near schools and hospitals, Gov. Neil Abercrombie announced Monday. But backers of a bill on Kauai to regulate pesticide use and genetically modified crops say the governor's initiative doesn't fully deal with their health and environmental concerns. Star-Advertiser.

Gov. Neil Abercrombie announced Monday that the state will put forth standards and guidelines for seed and diversified agricultural companies to voluntarily comply with certain health and safety requests of the Kauai community. Garden Island.

The state is setting guidelines for farmers on Kauai after community concerns over pesticides. Agriculture companies are being asked to disclose the types of pesticides they are using and create a buffer zone around schools and hospitals. KHON2.

People of Mexican descent are unfairly targeted by local police and federal agents in Hawaii, according to the authors of a new study that was unveiled Monday. Although most unauthorized immigrants in the Aloha State are Asian, half of all those detained in and deported from Honolulu immigration facilities are Mexican, the study found. Civil Beat.

As more people of Mexican heritage settle in Hawaii, many feel targeted by immigration enforcement even though nearly 9 out of 10 are here legally, according to a new report by the Migration Policy Institute. The study made public Monday calls for establishing a Mexican consulate here to better serve the needs of the growing population, and for the local government to add Spanish to the languages in which documents are translated. Star-Advertiser.

Researchers from a Washington think tank and the University of Hawaii at Manoa are recommending that Mexico’s government open a permanent consulate in Hawaii to serve a small but growing population. The Migration Policy Institute and the university included the recommendation in a study presented Monday that said people of Mexican origins in Hawaii have different experiences on the islands than in other U.S. states. Associated Press.

The number of food stamp recipients here has nearly doubled over the last six years. Civil Beat.

Kathryn Xian, an activist who has pushed the state to address human trafficking and has sought to empower women through Girl Fest, said Monday that she will run for Congress. Xian will seek the Democratic nomination in urban Honolulu's 1st Congressional District, which is being vacated by U.S. Rep. Colleen Hanabusa, who is challenging U.S. Sen. Brian Schatz in the Democratic primary. Honolulu City Councilman Stanley Chang, Honolulu City Councilman Ikaika Anderson, state Sen. Will Espero and state Rep. K. Mark Takai are the other declared candidates for Congress. Star-Advertiser.

As Congress scrambles to come up with an emergency funding plan and avoid a government shutdown before Oct. 1, coordinators of federal programs with big chunks of money on the line are crossing their fingers that the congressional gridlock doesn’t lead to another round of cutbacks on top of already devastating sequestration. Civil Beat.

For the first time, the Hawaii Department of Education is looking into the numbers of chronically absent students. Chronic absenteeism is defined as a student that misses 15 or more school days in a in a school year. It's the only way elementary schools performance is judged in the new Strive HI “Readiness” category. KITV.

Words Before Dying — a Micronesian Oral History, from Hawaii. Civil Beat.

Oahu

More than 20 purebred Boer goats— most of them pregnant — were stolen from a Hawaii farm on the night of a full moon, with duct tape used to keep the animals from making noise, their owner said. Star-Advertiser.

Matson Navigation Co. is picking up the cost of more than 10 days of cleanup and containment efforts following the 233,000-gallon molasses spill off Sand Island earlier this month, but the shipping company isn't committing to covering any of the tab on the long road to restoration and revival of Hono­lulu Harbor's underwater ecosystem. Star-Advertiser.

The Environmental Protection Agency will conduct its own investigation into the Matson molasses spill, Hawaii News Now has learned. Sources say that EPA's investigation will be conducted separately from the state Health Department's investigation, which has been the lead investigative agency since the spill was discovered.

Honolulu Community College has been placed on warning accreditation status by the Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges, the only of the University of Hawaii's ten campuses to get such a warning. The accrediting panel gave the 4,400-student campus the warning after an evaluation visit to the Kalihi school last fall. Hawaii News Now.

Hawaii

A day of fact-finding by the Hawaii County Council on genetically altered crops ended without a resolution Monday, ensuring that the marathon debate would continue at least another week. The council adjourned until Oct. 1, following nearly eight hours of discussion regarding Bill 113, during which council members pored over questions while addressing experts on topics ranging from the plight of bees to the use of pesticides and herbicides. Tribune-Herald.

The new self help desk in the Keakealani Courthouse in Kealakekua isn’t a full center like some courthouses have, but it will give West Hawaii residents access to assistance when serving as their own attorney in some Family and District Court cases, Judiciary officials said Monday. West Hawaii Today.

West Hawaii residents from Pahala to Waikoloa spent nearly 20 hours without phone and Internet service, after a tree damaged a Hawaiian Telcom fiber optic cable near Waikoloa. West Hawaii Today.

Maui

Those planning Hawaii's future power system believe Oahu might have something to offer Mauians other than business, shopping and a big city getaway - cheaper power and a more stable power grid. The Public Utilities Commission has launched a study of the feasibility of a Maui-to-Oahu power interconnection. Maui News.

Texas-based Sarofim Realty Advisors has submitted an environmental impact statement preparation notice to the state outlining plans for its Piilani Promenade mixed-use project on Maui that would include about 200 apartment units along with light industrial and business and commercial uses on around 75 acres in Kihei. Pacific Business News.

A planned photovoltaic facility that would provide enough renewable energy to power up the Maui High Performance Computing Center in Kihei would be able to move ahead, according to a a draft environmental assessment that said the project wouldn’t have a significant impact on the environment. Pacific Business News.

A portion of Wakea Avenue in Kahului is closed as construction crews continue work on an asphalt rehabilitation project. Maui News.

Kauai

The Kauai Charter Review Commission on Monday amended a proposal to divide elections for Kauai County Council members into seven districts, which could mean less votes but potentially more power to constituents. Final decision on the proposed Charter Amendment, however, was deferred to October. Garden Island.

The Kokee State Park Advisory Council will meet tonight to continue talks on the revised master plan — including the controversial entry station — for Kokee and Waimea Canyon state parks. The discussion begins at 5 p.m. at NTBG headquarters in Kalaheo. Garden Island.

Tsunami debris washing up, molasses spill to cost millions, H-1 rehab program beings, Maui taxpayers to pay $200k for police sex assault, Hawaii Mayor Kenoi favors geothermal health study, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Hawaii tsunami debris file photo

Two-and-a-half years after an earthquake and tsunami devastated parts of Japan, suspected debris from the disaster continues to quietly wash ashore in Hawaii and along the West Coast of North America. Officials in Hawaii have confirmed seven items of tsunami debris this year alone, including a blue plastic bin that had a live bird inside. Associated Press.

The state's smaller health insurers are countering the aggressive marketing campaign of the Hawaii Health Connector, the state's insurance exchange established as part of the federal law known as Obamacare. Star-Advertiser.

More on the FBI Inouye file. Civil Beat.

It’s not cheap to live in Hawaii. It wasn’t 20 years ago and it’s still not today. In the early 1990s, two volumes of "The Price of Paradise" asked tough questions about Hawaii's cost of living and sought to figure out what we can do to make it better. Star-Advertiser.

The nation once again faces the possibility of a federal government shutdown. What could it mean for Hawaii? Civil Beat.

State roundup for September 23. Tribune-Herald.

Oahu

State officials have released new information on the Matson spill that leaked 1400 tons of molasses into Honolulu harbor earlier this month. A state inspector reported seeing molasses dripping from the same pipe last year. Hawaii Public Radio.

Environmental advocates say that the penalties from the molasses spill disaster will likely be in the tens of millions of dollars. More than 26,000 fish have been killed from the accidental dumping of 233,000 gallons of molasses into Honolulu Harbor by Matson Inc. The spill has also resulted in untold damage to the coral reef and other wildlife. Hawaii News Now.

The massive yearlong "H-1 Rehabilitation" project got underway Sunday with a complete shutdown of the highway's eastbound lanes from Likelike Highway to Ward Avenue. Star-Advertiser

After months of advance notice to the public, work has begun on a year-long project to resurface and make other improvements to a busy stretch of the H-1 Freeway. Hawaii News Now.

Hawaii

Mayor Billy Kenoi says he intends to implement the recommendations of the Geothermal Public Health Assessment, including a comprehensive health effects study for Puna. Such a study on the impacts of geothermal development has been lacking, the group that put together the report on behalf of Hawaii County concluded, with insufficient monitoring also complicating efforts to understand if the public’s health is at risk. Tribune-Herald.

Palamanui developers want to get out of building one connector road within the North Kona project, and switch the burden of completing a regional park to Hawaii County, according to a request for amendments filed late last month. County officials on Friday indicated the developer will face tough scrutiny for the requests. West Hawaii Today.

Maui

Maui County has paid $200,000 to settle a lawsuit filed by a woman who was sexually assaulted in August 2008 by a police officer after her release from custody at the Lahaina Police Station. Star-Advertiser.

A push to privatize Hawaii's public hospitals, including Maui Memorial Medical Center, is still alive, but the state Legislature needs to pass enabling legislation before negotiations can resume between the state hospital system and a potential partner. Maui News.

Kauai

A prosecuting attorney says that a convicted murderer is playing with court rules in an attempt to remain at the county jail and slow his transfer to a state prison. Garden Island.

Obamacare explained for Hawaii, controversial Honolulu mural to be unveiled, sex harrassment charged in Oahu prison, more news fromall the Hawaiian Islands

Hawaii keiki (c) 2013 All Hawaii News

Hawaii residents could pay as little as $120 per month for medical coverage on the new state-based health insurance exchange set up as part of the federal health care reform law known as Obama­care. The state Insurance Division released for the first time Thursday average premiums for individuals purchasing plans on the Hawaii Health Connector, the online marketplace designed to match qualified individuals with health plans. Star-Advertiser.

The state on Friday revealed rates for the 95 health-insurance plans that will be offered for individuals and small businesses on the Hawaii Health Connector starting Oct. 1 that start at an average of $120 for a 21-year-old nonsmoker choosing the most basic plan. Pacific Business News.

The man accused of threatening to cut off Rep. Tulsi Gabbard’s head will be sent to Washington, D.C. where he'll face charges in federal court there. Aniruddha Sherbow is being held in San Diego but is expected to be transferred to the nation's capital. Last week, federal magistrate Judge William McCurine Jr. found probable cause to believe Sherbow committed the crime.  Civil Beat.

Oahu
In July, Honolulu Mayor Kirk Caldwell introduced 10 bills that could have raised tens of millions of dollars in property tax revenues for the city. The proposed laws aimed to change Honolulu’s tax code in ways that would allow the city to rake in more money, either by eliminating certain exemptions or reclassifying certain properties so they could be taxed at a higher rate. Civil Beat.

A lot more vehicles will soon fill up spaces at the mostly vacant, 410-stall parking garage on South Street that some have criticized as a symbol of government waste and inefficiency. About 400 city employees will be able to park there under an agreement reached this month between the Federal Transit Administration and the city. Star-Advertiser.

From manini issues like complaining about moped noise to territorial Kailua residents protesting their town's touristic appeal, Oahu's neighborhood boards are often a hotbed of anger and unrest. And sometimes, all that translates into real change. Civil Beat.

Plans for a "Free the Mural: Stop the Censorship" protest this weekend have been dropped after the state agreed to remove a black curtain shrouding the "Forgotten Inheritance" mural at the Hawai‘i Convention Center. Star-Advertiser.

A female prison guard accepted a social media "friend" request from a male colleague only to receive naked pictures of the man and a request for sex minutes later, according to a lawsuit filed in First Circuit Court in Honolulu Aug. 9. The lawsuit accuses Tahn Kakaio, an adult correctional officer at the Oahu Community Correctional Center, of sexual harassment and other charges, including sexual assault, over an eight-month period.  Civil Beat.

Hawaii

More than a year before Towne Development of Hawaii Inc. submitted a draft environmental assessment for a proposed condominium project above Kahaluu Bay, Kamehameha Investment Corp. officials tried to stop it from happening. West Hawaii Today.

Maui
Maui County Council Member Don Couch and mayoral Executive Assistants John Buck and Zeke Kalua will join Mayor Alan Arakawa at a "County on Your Corner" event from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday at the Piilani Village Shopping Center. Maui News.

Kauai

 Looking for something new to pump up that backyard garden? The 12th Kauai Community Seed and Plant Exchange is set for Sunday and will celebrate the growth of the Kalihiwai Food Forest and Community Garden. Garden Island.

Honolulu's Occupy movement still going strong, Superfund to aid in molasses spill cleanup, Kaui shearwaters face pet threat, another name too long for bureaucracy, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Iolani Palace (c) 2013 All Hawaii News

‘Iolani Palace will be the recipient of a $65,000 grant from the Institute of Museum and Library Services to plan new exhibits for its basement galleries.  IMLS recently announced nearly $30,000,000 in grants to museums across the nation. Hawaii Reporter.

Will the Mormon Church Sit Out Hawaii’s Gay Marriage Vote? Civil Beat.

Does U.S. Rep. Tulsi Gabbard represent the future? That remains to be seen, but there are signs that the fast-rising attention-grabbing young congresswoman is positioning herself to do so. Civil Beat.

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. Maui Now.

The U.S. House of Representatives recognized all living Medal of Honor recipients Wednesday, reciting the acts of bravery that went far above and beyond the call of duty. Hawaii is down to just one still living here: retired Marine Corps Sgt. Maj. Allan Kellogg Jr. of Kailua. Star-Advertiser.

One of the highest-paid administrators at the University of Hawaii is being investigated for lying on her resume, UH officials confirmed Wednesday. If true, such a deception would be illegal. Civil Beat.

Oahu
On the second anniversary of the original Occupy protests in New York City’s Zucotti Park Sept. 17, Honolulu protesters marked their 682nd continuous day of 24-hour vigil at the corner of Ward and Beretania avenues, making it the longest-running Occupy encampment in the U.S. Civil Beat.

University of Hawaii-Manoa students would see a bigger chunk of their tuition dollars go toward repairs on the 107-year-old flagship campus under a plan to eliminate two decades' worth of backlogged repairs. Star-Advertiser.

U.S. Sen. Brian Schatz says federal Superfund dollars can help with the response to the massive molasses spill in the Honolulu Harbor that has killed thousands of fish and put Hawaii in the national spotlight for the past week. Civil Beat.

A Hawaii state official in charge of cleaning up the spill of 1,400 tons of molasses in Honolulu Harbor says no endangered species have been hurt in the accident. Associated Press.

One of the state's worst environmental disasters was plugged up with wood and cloth.  Matson Inc. said today that it installed the temporary fix last Tuesday after it discovered the fist-sized hole in its pipeline that leaked 233,000 gallons of molasses into Honolulu Harbor. Hawaii News Now.

Kamehameha Schools said Wednesday it is selling two Kakaako blocks fronting Ala Moana Boulevard to MK Development, a joint venture of Koba­ya­shi Group and The MacNaughton Group, to develop two luxury condominium towers with a combined 500 units. Star-Advertiser.

MK Development — a joint venture of well-known Hawaii developers the Kobayashi Group and The MacNaughton Group — is purchasing six acres in Kakaako from Kamehameha Schools for an undisclosed price with plans to develop two luxury mixed-use residential projects totaling about 500 units along the mauka side of Ala Moana Boulevard, a source close to the situation tells Pacific Business News.

Hawaii

Calling geothermal a taonga — or treasure — a representative of a Maori trust in New Zealand promoted the use of the earth’s heat to produce electricity Tuesday evening while highlighting ways it can help indigenous people. Tribune-Herald.

KHON2′s report about a Big Island woman whose name would not fit on her driver’s license gained international attention. It also got the attention of another Big Island woman who is at her wit’s end because of a similar problem.

Maui

Hawaiian Commercial & Sugar produces so much molasses that the veteran Maui company says it likely would find another way to export the thick liquid off-island if Matson ceases to ship it. Star-Advertiser.

 South Maui's "inadequate infrastructure" may not be able to shoulder the effects of large-scale future development projects like the expansion of the Makena Resort, the Honua'ula project in Wailea and the Kihei high school, especially if the community does not have a voice in the planning process, retired college professor Dick Mayer said Tuesday. Maui News.

Although a drought watch has been declared for Upcountry, the current conditions would not trigger a water shortage declaration and higher rates under a bill pending before the Maui County Council's Water Resources Committee.  Maui News.

Kauai

State wildlife officials are appealing to dog and cat owners to keep their animals away from coastal paths on Kauai's south shore after a large colony of native wedge-tailed shearwaters was decimated in two attacks this summer. More than 80 uaua kani were killed by dogs and cats in their nesting areas in July and August, state officials said Wednesday. Their burrow was abandoned. Star-Advertiser.

 A large colony of Hawaiian uau kani, or wedge-tailed shearwaters, along Kauai’s South Shore has been decimated in a pair of attacks this summer by dogs and feral cats. Garden Island.

The recent anti-GMO march did cost Kauai’s taxpayers. While the county has not yet tallied all of the costs related to the event, Tokioka said overtime pay to manage the two-hour road closure on Sept. 8 cost $5,627 — $4,602.26 for KPD officers and another $1,024.95 for Public Works Department personnel. Garden Island.

Teriyaki Spam coming to Hawaii, Gabbard creates Future Caucus, big raises for DOE administrators, molasses cleanup continues, fracking big topic on Big Island, Lanai airport upgrades, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Spam Jam file photo (c) 2013 All Hawaii News

Minnesota-based Hormel Foods LLC has formulated Spam Teriyaki and has chosen Hawaii to be its exclusive launch point. Star-Advertiser.

U.S. Rep. Tulsi Gabbard and U.S. Rep. Aaron Schock, two of the youngest members of Congress, are forming a new bipartisan Future Caucus. The Hawaii Democrat and Illinois Republican, both 32, hope the Future Caucus will channel a national discussion on technology and innovation to encourage economic growth. Star-Advertiser.

State, federal and local agencies have created a command post near the site of last week's massive molasses spill in Hono­lulu Harbor to help better respond to the disaster, officials announced Tuesday. Star-Advertiser.

The fate of a controversial and long-worked-on fishery rules package now lies in Gov. Neil Abercrombie’s hands. West Hawaii Today.

The Department of Education's six assistant superintendents will see their six-figure salaries go up an average 3.6 percent while the deputy superintendent will see a 16.6 percent boost under raises approved by the Board of Education on Tuesday. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii is trying to find out whether its public school teachers are making the grade. This year's Hawaii public school teachers are being evaluated under a new, controversial performance evaluation system that takes into account in-classroom observations, student surveys, academic growth and other measures that determine the size of raises that teachers will get during the next school year and beyond. Civil Beat.

Leaders from the executive and legislative branches of all four counties agreed on a coordinated action plan for the 2014 Legislative Session, officials announced. Maui Now.

Oahu

Nearly 100 people received their naturalization certificates during a ceremony aboard the USS Missouri in conjunction with Constitution Day and Citizenship Day, recognizing the 1787 signing of the Constitution. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii

The next time there is a food shortage emergency, the county will handle it better, several County Council members vowed Tuesday after hearing how a council action last year overwhelmed the Hawaii Island Food Basket with too much food to distribute in too short a time. West Hawaii Today.

County residents got their first chance to weigh in Tuesday on the future, or lack thereof, of hydraulic fracturing — a process also known as “fracking” — on Hawaii Island. Tribune-Herald.

Maui
Hawaii Chief Justice Mark E. Recktenwald on Tuesday named six nominees to the District Court for Maui County. Pacific Business News.

Kauai

After a four-month time out, the wheels are again turning on the Kauai Department of Water’s proposal for a high-elevation well near Mount Kahili. Whether they are turning fast enough — or should be turning at all — was up for debate Tuesday. Garden Island.

Lanai
The state is receiving millions of dollars from the U.S. Transportation Department to bring runways at the island of Lanai's only airport into compliance with safety requirements. The runways there do not meet current Federal Aviation Administration safety standards. Hawaii News Now.

FBI releases files on Sen. Daniel Inouye, Matson to pay for molasses cleanup, Honolulu rail restarts, Omidyar only Hawaii resident on Forbes wealthy list, Kauai investigates auditor, Sam Choy returning to Maui, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Sen. Daniel Inouye (c) 2013 All Hawaii News

Newly released FBI files on Dan Inouye show that the Hawaii senator was subject to several anonymous death threats during his long service in Washington. He was also accused of accepting bribes to help Matson Navigation control shipping to Honolulu, and to secure a military research center at the University of Hawaii. Civil Beat.

The FBI on Monday publicly posted its documents on the late Hawaii senator in The Vault, the bureau's online reading room, which also contains once-private files on other prominent politicians, celebrities, gangsters and fugitives. The trove provides a fascinating window into the FBI's intelligence operations and reveals the kinds of threats Ino­uye experienced during his remarkable political career. Star-Advertiser.

Newly released FBI files reveal numerous death threats against Senator Daniel Inouye dating all the way back to the 1950s. Hawaii News Now.

FBI Files: Honolulu Agents Kept On Short Leash During 1989 Investigation Into Senator Daniel Inouye’s Alleged ‘Payoff’ From Matson. Mauitime News.

Download and read the 22 documents on Daniel Inouye at the FBI Vault.

Articles following Inouye's death in December at All Hawaii News.

Congress has just a few voting days left to pass a budget plan that will avert a government shutdown before it faces another major hurdle — the looming debt ceiling — in mid-October. This double-whammy could have major implications for Hawaii, including for local schools and universities that are highly dependent on federal funding.  Civil Beat.

Forbes on Monday released its annual list of the top 400 richest Americans, which included one Hawaii resident: eBay founder Pierre Omidyar. While most of the top names and rankings didn't change from a year ago, the majority of the elite club's members saw their fortunes grow over the past year, helped by strong stock and real estate markets. Star-Advertiser.

State roundup for September 17. Associated Press.

Oahu

After a nearly 13-month delay caused by a lawsuit, construction restarted on the state's largest public works project following a blessing in the Ewa fields. The columns are the most visible sign that the rail line is advancing. Sixteen of 422 columns planned for the East Kapo­lei-Aloha Stadium segment had been erected when work was halted. There will be about 50 between East Kapolei and Fort Weaver Road. Star-Advertiser.

Matson Inc. will pay for the cleanup of a 1,400-ton spill of molasses into Honolulu Harbor that killed thousands of fish and other marine life, CEO Matt Cox said Monday. Pacific Business News.

Matson will not pass on cleanup and damage costs for last week's spill of 233,000 gallons of molasses into Honolulu Harbor to its customers or to taxpayers, according to the shipping company's president. Star-Advertiser.

The same day Hawaii lawmakers opened up their investigation into the massive molasses spill that has killed more than 25,000 fish, the head of the company responsible for the environmental disaster said Matson Inc. is footing the bill. Civil Beat.

Matson Inc., the shipping company that spilled 233,000 gallons of molasses into Honolulu Harbor earlier this month, has pledged to pay all the costs stemming from the disaster that has devastated marine life there. Hawaii Public Radio.

One week after 233,000 gallons of molasses leaked into Honolulu Harbor, the sticky intruder is sticking around, still visible and killing fish. Hawaii News Now.

Two Oahu Community Correctional Center guards face a criminal trial next month over the beating of an inmate. Adult Corrections Officer Kevin Ignacio is accused of repeated punching prisoner Jeffrey Diaz in the head and face while fellow prison guard Ismael Castro is accused of kicking Diaz. Hawaii News Now.

Businesses sink in aftermath of molasses spill. KHON2.

There are 168 hours in a week. But in Honolulu, a minimum wage worker would need an extra nine to afford housing. Hawaii Independent.

Hawaii

One employee is under investigation and another has apparently quit his moonlighting real estate practice after a summer of turmoil in the county Real Property Tax Division. Finance Director Nancy Crawford, who oversees the division, said Monday that procedures have always been in place to ensure there is no conflict of interest between the public duties of the 43 staff members and their professional and personal lives. But a formal conflict of interest policy was not put into writing until June. West Hawaii Today.

Last week, the National Park Service took a step toward getting permanent protections for the Keauhou aquifer by requesting the state’s Commission on Water Resource Management to give the area a water management designation. The aquifer runs from just north of Kona International Airport to south of Keauhou, and from the coastline to Hualalai’s summit. West Hawaii Today.

Naniloa Volcanoes Resort intends to seek support in federal bankruptcy court to continue business operations with the intent of eventually finding a buyer for the Hilo property. David Farmer, bankruptcy trustee for Hawaii Outdoor Tours Inc., which holds the state lease and operates the resort, said that he has received two letters of intent to purchase the 65-acre property for $12 million and $14 million, respectively. Star-Advertiser.

Maui

Maui shopping center Lahaina Gateway has been repossessed by a lender for a second time in two years, giving the property its fourth owner since opening five years ago. Lahaina Gateway is the largest retail complex in West Maui and is anchored by Foodland Farms, Barnes & Noble Booksellers and Office Max. Star-Advertiser.

Celebrity local chef Sam Choy has not had a restaurant on Maui in more than a decade, but he is planning his return. Maui News.

More than $3 million for runway drainage improvements at Molokai Airport and more than $1 million for runway lighting at Lanai Airport are part of a package of grants for Hawaii from the Federal Aviation Administration and the Federal Transit Administration, Hawaii U.S. Sens. Mazie Hirono and Brian Schatz said last week. Maui News.

A Final Environmental Assessment was filed with a finding of no significant impact for the proposed Kahoma Village Project in West Maui. According to the FEA, the 203-unit project was proposed by Stanford Carr Development, on behalf of The Harry and Jeanette Weinberg Foundation. Maui Now.

Kauai
The Kauai County Council met with county and private attorneys behind closed doors Monday  to discuss an investigation of personnel matters and to consider disciplinary measures involving County Auditor Ernesto Pasion. The executive session was one more in a string of sealed meetings held by the council on the matter. While official details have been shrouded under personnel issues and attorney/client privileges, Pasion has received much support lately from some community members. Garden Island.

The Pacific Missile Range Facility was under heightened security after Monday’s shooting rampage at the Washington Navy Yard in D.C. that left 13 people dead. Garden Island.