Break-in at Iolani Palace, Hawaii Legislature targets smoking, governor's travel records sketchy, state Supreme Court reaffirms shoreline access, HECO mulls liquefied natural gas, Honolulu owes feds $8M, appeals court rejects county's lowest priority marijuana law, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Iolani Palace (c) 2014 All Hawaii News

A woman, accompanied by a man, walked up the front steps of Iolani Palace at about 8 a.m. Saturday and kicked the door, cracking the glass of one of two left-side doors as they made their way into the historic building, said Kippen de Alba Chu, palace executive director. Star-Advertiser.

Authorities are investigating a break-in at Iolani Palace in which one of the original glass doors of the historic landmark was destroyed. The incident happened at around 8:10 a.m. Saturday.Hawaii News Now.

Plywood now covers the door where the glass was broken. Honolulu police say around 8 a.m. Saturday, a woman kicked the glass door in and shattered it. Palace officials can’t understand why. KHON2.

When the governor and his staff travel to places where they can advocate for deals to boost Hawaii’s economy or otherwise improve the lives of people in the Aloha State, there is a real potential value. But it’s hard to know if our taxpayer dollars are being spent wisely on these trips because there is so little public accounting. Civil Beat.

House lawmakers are again considering a bill that would ban smoking in all of the state's public housing units. The state came close to enacting a public housing smoking ban in 2012, but the housing agency asked Gov. Neil Abercrombie to veto the bill in order to give it more time to implement a ban as part of its administrative rules. Star-Advertiser.

A Senate bill that would raise the legal age to buy cigarettes in Hawaii — both tobacco products and electronic cigarettes — to 21 from 18 is moving through the Legislature, but another bill that would have placed an excise tax on e-cigarettes has stalled. Pacific Business News.

State legislators are looking for ways to regulate popular electronic smoking devices by treating them like the product they were modeled after: cigarettes. Star-Advertiser.

It’s no secret that electricity in Hawaii is expensive. But Robert Harris, the executive director of the Sierra Club’s Hawaii Chapter, raised eyebrows when he spoke at a Feb. 4 hearing at the Legislature. "Since 2009, the average electric rate has gone up 50 percent in Hawaii; the business model needs to be examined," Harris said. Civil Beat.

Hawaii would post cameras on state property and hire someone to coordinate anti-graffiti programs if lawmakers pass a bill they are considering. The bill, SB2602, says graffiti on buildings, walls, bridges, bus stops, trees, mail boxes and other surfaces is a blight on Hawaii. Associated Press.

The Hawaii Supreme Court reaffirmed its decades-old stance that the public is entitled to own and use as much of the beach as possible. The Jan. 27 opinion, issued in a case brought by Kauai residents, orders the state to consider historical evidence in determining shorelines, which become the starting line for building setbacks. Garden Island.

Is Tulsi Gabbard Hawaii's Invincible Rep.? Civil Beat.

Lt. Gov. Shan Tsutsui has $357,086 available as he enters this election year and attempts to retain the state's second-highest elected office. Maui News.

Human-Manned Subs Are Being Phased Out — But at What Cost for Hawaii? Civil Beat.

Big crowds flooded committee hearings last week at the Hawaii legislature to stump for better regulation of solar power and to push against taxes on electronic smoking devices. The bills that roused them to action (SB 2656 and SB 2495) will come up again in hearings this week. Other highlights of the fourth week of the session will include committee hearings on measures aimed at protecting against beach erosion and increasing the state’s minimum wage. Associated Press.

On Tap at the Hawaii Legislature: Feb. 10. Civil Beat.

State roundup for February 10. Associated Press.

Oahu

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development is expected to put the squeeze on the city to return about $8 million in disputed grant money after the Caldwell administration's announcement late Friday that negotiations with Wahiawa nonprofit ORI Anue­nue Hale have ended. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii civil defense officials said Friday they’re launching a project to improve the security and resiliency of Oahu’s electrical grid. The state Department of Defense will work with Hawaiian Electric, IBM, U.S. Pacific Command and other entities on a study exploring options. Associated Press.

Hawaiian Electric Co. is in talks with the Navy about a plan to build the state's first liquefied natural gas import terminal at Pearl Harbor as part of the utility's effort to find a cheaper source of fuel for power generation. HECO has been seriously considering LNG as a potential fuel source since at least mid-2012 when Gov. Neil Abercrombie asked utility officials to investigate the feasibility of using natural gas as a replacement for fuel oil during the utility's transition to renewable energy. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii

An appeals court has sided with a lower court’s ruling that the county’s voter-approved initiative making adult personal use of marijuana on private property the lowest law enforcement priority is unenforceable. The ruling opinion issued Friday by the state Intermediate Court of Appeals affirms the Jan. 28, 2013, ruling by Hilo Circuit Judge Greg Nakamura, who dismissed a civil lawsuit against the numerous county officials, which alleged they failed to implement and enforce the initiative passed in 2008 by a vote of 35,689 to 25,940. Tribune-Herald.

When NASA spacecraft phone home in the next decade, they could be communicating directly with one of Hawaii’s tallest mountains. The space agency is looking to replace radio communications with laser technology, and believes Mauna Loa could be the best location for one of its new ground stations, according to state officials. Tribune-Herald.

Downtown Hilo’s latest paint job ended right on time and is receiving mixed reviews. Tribune-Herald.

Maui

Last year, there appeared to be little hope that taxpayers would see repayment of even a portion of the millions of dollars Ka Hale A Ke Ola Homeless Resource Center owes Maui County for construction of the nonprofit's low-income housing projects. Maui News.

A lawsuit has been filed in federal court alleging First Amendment violations against Maui County. The suit stems from an incident reported in October of 2013 in which a pastor and his wife were distributing religious materials to the public on a sidewalk outside of the Maui Fair. Maui Now.

Kauai

Kauai residents continue to lighten the ecological footprint on the island. Kauai Island Utility Cooperative reported Friday that home energy use has dropped again for the sixth straight year. Residents have cut average monthly electric use by 10 percent in seven years. Garden Island.

Legislature mulls tax break for food and meds, aerospace caucus looks up, lawsuits galore at Kauai Community Correctional, lawmakers want to take over Health Connector, cellphone law could loosen, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Hawaii grocery clerks (c) 2014 All Hawaii News

Hawaii would exempt groceries and medical services from its general excise tax if bills advancing through the Legislature become law. Lawmakers heard a chorus of support Thursday from policy analysts, poverty advocates and the food industry for the proposal to stop taxing groceries. Associated Press.

Several House Democrats want the state to take over the Hawaii Health Connector, set up last year as a private, nonprofit. Amid an outpouring of public complaints and scathing reviews, the rollout was called an “epic fiasco.” Hawaii Reporter.

A typical charter school in Hawaii doesn't have much of a campus. Unlike regular Hawaii Department of Education schools, charter schools can’t dip into state capital improvement funds to finance things like building construction and repair. Their operating budgets have to cover every expense — overhead costs, construction, transportation and everything in between. But efforts are underway to solve the nearly two-decade-old facilities dilemma. Among other proposals, a trio of bills advancing through the Legislature would subsidize the schools’ brick-and-mortar needs in one way or another. Civil Beat.

State lawmakers Thursday announced the formation of a caucus that aims to support the development of Hawaii’s aerospace sector and foster the potential for a burgeoning drone industry. In a news conference at the state Capitol, members of the Hawaii State Legislative Aerospace Caucus pledged their support for 12 bills that address a variety of aerospace-related issues, including concerns over unmanned aerial vehicles, or drones. Star-Advertiser.

Lying to police who are investigating a crime would become at least a misdemeanor under a bill state lawmakers are advancing. Honolulu police officers told members of the House Public Safety Committee on Thursday that they support the measure because witnesses who mislead police can hamper investigations and can get innocent people thrown in jail. Associated Press.

A new Justice Department study shows that allegations of sex abuse in the nation's prisons and jails are increasing — with correctional officers responsible for half of it  — but prosecution is still extremely rare. Civil Beat.

Hawaii drivers would be able to check their cellphones for traffic or weather information while driving, under a bill state lawmakers are considering. Associated Press.

An arrogant disregard for government integrity and the public trust is on full display in House Bill 2287, through which the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands seeks to conceal vital information about its operations. It's shameful that Gov. Neil Abercrombie, who promised transparency in his administration, has included this bill in his legislative package, at the request of the DHHL. Star-Advertiser.

The problem is that for our very different new media, old rules and laws still apply. One sign of this is how lawmakers continue to wrestle with out-dated questions about who is and who isn't a journalist. Civil Beat.

Oahu

The ongoing legal fight over rail in U.S. District Court now boils down to one key issue -- and it could make or break the project. Did rail officials follow proper procedure in selecting the route to Ala Moana Center instead of a route to the University of Hawaii-Manoa campus as originally envisioned? Star-Advertiser.

The Hawaii Community Development Authority has been under fire for months by residents who worry about whether the agency has been managing development properly in the urban district of Kakaako. Now, state and city lawmakers are grappling with questions about whether they should curb the authority of an agency some critics describe as "rogue." Civil Beat.

The contractor that runs the state's zipper lane on the H-1 freeway was warned to change the brakes five months before brake troubles sidelined a ZipMobile, causing a major traffic jam. Hawaii News Now.

Hawaii

The parents of a New York teen swept out to sea during a Kealakekua Bay hiking and kayaking tour plan to use money from settling their wrongful death lawsuit to fund first responders who helped search for the boy. West Hawaii Today.

Maui

For the second time in a year the Maui Police Department is embroiled in a first amendment lawsuit. The plaintiffs filed a lawsuit claiming they were on a public sidewalk passing out religious pamphlets in front of the Maui County Fair. Hawaii News Now.

Momentum was the recurring theme of Mayor Alan Arakawa's State of the County address Wednesday night. Maui News.

Kauai

The Honolulu investment group that has plans to restore the iconic Coco Palms Resort on Kauai to its original glory plans to select a “nationwide” hotel operator in two weeks, and start demolition and construction on the site as early as the third quarter of this year, the investors told Pacific Business News.

A short form bill introduced Thursday, and passed by a Senate committee about an hour later, proposes to make the privately owned and “Forbidden Island” of Niihau an independent county from Kauai. Garden Island.

A former psychiatric social worker at Kauai Community Correctional Center is suing Warden Neal Wagatsuma and the Department of Public Safety for retaliation and violations of the whistleblowers act. Carolyn Ritchie was employed at KCCC from April 2009 until she left in November 2012, citing “serious abuses and wrongdoing.” Garden Island.

A female inmate is suing the Kauai Community Correctional Center warden on grounds that a prison warden sexually shamed her and other female inmates while she was incarcerated. Garden Island.

Kilauea lava lake puts on a show, bill prohibits eating cats and dogs, tasered man dies in police custody, carpenters union to endorse Schatz, Senate committees mull solar credits, lawsuit alleges sex abuse by Kauai prison warden, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Kilauea lava lake

Like a moving jigsaw puzzle, the lava lake at the summit of Kilauea Volcano continues to glow and gurgle, while the Puu Oo vent is feeding a flow largely hidden from public view. Star-Advertiser.

House Bill 2368 would prohibit the slaughtering or trafficking of dogs or cats for human consumption. Civil Beat.

About 20 people testified their support, some while fighting back tears, for a bill that could lead Hawaii’s electric utilities to better accommodate homeowners who make their own renewable energy. Impassioned power customers and an out-of-work solar panel installer, among others, urged members of the Senate committees overseeing energy and commerce to push Hawaii’s utilities to set out clearer guidelines for incorporating solar into the state’s power grid. Associated Press.

People in Hawaii could see more micro apartments, housing for elderly people and rental properties if bills that lawmakers approved in committee Wednesday become law. Associated Press.

Hawaii’s small producers of beer, liquor and wine would see relief from some of the nation’s highest alcohol taxes under legislation state lawmakers are considering. Associated Press.

The Hawaii Regional Council of Carpenters is expected to announce today that the union will endorse U.S. Sen. Brian Schatz over U.S. Rep. Colleen Hanabusa in the Democratic primary for U.S. Senate. The 6,300-member union is among the most politically influential private-sector labor organizations in the state. Star-Advertiser.

Oahu

A federal grand jury has indicted a 31-year-old Halawa prison guard on charges of conspiracy to smuggle methamphetamine into the prison, bribery and  drug-related counts. James "Kimo" Sanders III, a Kailua resident, was indicted on one count of conspiring to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine from October 2013 and Jan. 12. Star-Advertiser.

University of Hawaii athletic department is staring at the possibility of a $2 million deficit this fiscal year and may have to lay off some part-time and temporary workers, a Board of Regents committee was told Wednesday. Star-Advertiser.

The state Department of Health is notifying the public that "very low" levels of lead and other chemicals have been detected in the Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam water system. The lead levels are within federal and state compliance levels for drinking water in a water distribution system (below the lead "action level") and do not represent a health threat, the Health Department said in a news release issued today. Star-Advertiser.

The planned seven ultra-luxury condominium towers to be built on what is now a parking area of Ala Moana Center fronting Ala Moana Boulevard will include 215 units with 109 two-bedroom units, 65 three-bedroom units, 36 one-bedroom units and five five-bedroom penthouses, according to a permit filed recently with the City and County of Honolulu. Pacific Business News.

Hawaii

The Hawaii County Council appeared to settle a conflict regarding powers of the council chair Wednesday. Council Chair J Yoshimoto proposed a resolution clarifying his authority after an apparent disagreement with Kohala Councilwoman Margaret Wille. Tribune-Herald.

The issue was over whether Yoshimoto could decide whether presentations and other non-legislative matters are put on the agenda for council meetings. Tribune-Herald.

Hawaii County police used an electronic weapon, commonly known as a Taser, in an attempt to subdue a 39-year-old Kailua-Kona man who died Tuesday while in police custody. Star-Advertiser.

Right-to-farm legislation that could have threatened Hawaii County’s law restricting the use of transgenic crops appear to have been defeated in the state Legislature. Tribune-Herald.

Maui

Maui Mayor Alan Arakawa delivered his 2014 State of the County Address from the McCoy Studio Theater at the Maui Arts and Cultural Center on Wednesday night, Feb. 5, 2014. During his address, the mayor highlighted the county’s achievements in 2013, outlined plans for the coming year, and discussed issues presently facing the County of Maui. Maui Now.

University of Hawaii researchers have attached satellite transmitters to six more sharks in the second phase of a project to observe the movements of tiger sharks after a surge in the number of shark attacks recorded off Maui. Star-Advertiser.

A total of 14 tiger sharks are now being tracked via satellite transmitters as researchers round out phase two of a project to observe their movement in Maui waters. Maui Now.

Kauai

The Kauai County Council approved a measure Wednesday redefining the tasks and requirements for a group charged with framing a study on pesticides and genetically modified organisms on Kauai. When the 12-member committee, called the Pesticide and Genetic Engineering Joint Fact Finding Group, does meet, they will determine a number of research topics ranging from scientific studies to project cost estimates and timelines. Garden Island.

Two federal court lawsuits alleged that a Kauai prison warden forced female prisoners to watch violent pornography and confess their darkest sexual secrets in front of male prisoners. Hawaii News Now.

A male prison warden filmed his “public sexual shamings” in which female inmates had to disclose their “rape, childhood sexual abuse … sexual preferences [and] sexual deviations,” while he called them “whores” in front of male inmates, a woman claims in a federal class action. Alexandria Gregg sued Hawaii’s Department of Public Safety, its director Ted Sakai, and the allegedly abusive warden of the Kauai Community Correctional Center, Neal Wagatsuma. Civil Beat.

Rats! All over Waikiki. GMO state override bill fails, tour company death lawsuit settled, Hawaiian Home Lands wants pass from public records laws, greenhouse gas, toxic emissions regulations mulled, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Waikiki (c) 2014 All Hawaii News

Waikiki's rodents in residence. Budget cuts have let rats proliferate in the tourist mecca, much to residents' dismay. Star-Advertiser.

The Department of Education will again review Pono Choices after complaints from a state House lawmaker and several parents that the sex education curriculum is medically inaccurate and not age-appropriate for middle-schoolers. The department informed the state Board of Education on Tuesday that it is in the final stages of putting together a working group of educators, medical and public health professionals, parents and community leaders to review the curriculum. Star-Advertiser.

A bid to override county regulations on genetically modified crops failed to make it past a crucial Senate committee Tuesday. Hawaii Sen. Clarence Nishihara, who chairs the Senate Agriculture Committee, originally introduced the bill amending the state's Right to Farm Act through Senate Bill 3058 last month. That bill would bar counties from enacting laws that limit farmers’ use of certain biotechnology. Both the Big Island and Kauai approved laws last year that, among other things, imposed regulations on genetically modified crops. Civil Beat.

Right-to-farm legislation is likely dead for this session after the chairman of the Senate Agriculture Committee on Tuesday failed to get enough votes for a procedural move to keep the idea afloat. Sen. Clarence Nishihara, the committee's chairman, tried to insert right-to-farm language into a bill that was carried over from last session, a tactical move intended to get a public hearing. But the committee was split 3-3, so the move failed. Star-Advertiser.

With little or no warning, a second bill aimed at stripping the ability of counties to restrict farming beyond state and federal law popped up in the Hawaii Senate this week. Same language. Different approach. Both pushed forward by Sen. Clarence Nishihara. But the new measure, which some quickly called political maneuvering, died just as quickly as it was introduced. Garden Island.

The Senate committee on agriculture held a public decision-making session on whether to “insert substantive provisions” into short-form bill SB110 earlier today. The vote ended in a tie, meaning the measure died in committee. By amending the Hawaii’s Right to Farm Act to “ensure that counties cannot enact laws, ordinances, or resolutions that limit the rights of farmers and ranchers to engage in modern farming and ranching practices,” SB110 would have prevented any county legislation that would prevent biotech companies from creating GMO seeds and growing plants from them from being passed. Hawaii Independent.

A bill that would allow Hawaii lawmakers and citizens to better scrutinize police officer misconduct in annual reports to the Legislature cleared its first hurdle Tuesday. But there were also glimpses of possible future barriers to the measure, particularly from the state’s powerful police union. The Senate Public Safety Committee passed Senate Bill 2591 late Tuesday afternoon 3-1, with Republican Sen. Sam Slom the only dissenting voice. Civil Beat.

Nearly two months ago, new rules that would curb the state's greenhouse gas emissions landed on Gov. Neil Abercrombie's desk for his signature. The rules are still waiting on the Democratic governor. And so are environmentalists, who worry that Abercrombie's slowness to pick up his pen might be the result of pressure from influential companies that would be affected by the legislation. They're also concerned about two bills introduced last month by state lawmakers that could, they argue, help gut Hawaii’s greenhouse gas law. Civil Beat.

A total of 37 facilities in Hawaiʻi reported a combined 2.7 million pounds of toxic chemical releases during 2012, according to new information provided by the US Environmental Protection Agency. Maui Now.

The Department of Hawaiian Home Lands is asking the Legislature to create a special exemption to the state's open-records law, making all government documents related to the agency's homestead lessees and applicants confidential if the records include personal information. Star-Advertiser.

A bill to shield most documents and correspondence relating to residential leases issued by the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands from public disclosure will get a second look from the Senate Committee on Hawaiian Affairs on Wednesday. Senate Bill 2837, which would prevent public disclosure of most lease records except for the actual lease documents, was proposed by DHHL and is included in Gov. Neil Abercrombie's legislative package. Civil Beat.

Hawaii may be getting ready to spend half a million dollars to remind its aging population: start saving now for long-term care. Lawmakers on Tuesday considered SB2346, a $7.1 million Senate bill for elder care and education. If passed, it will put $4.2 million toward the state’s kupuna care program and $1.9 million toward the disability resource center. It will also pay for a $500,000 public education campaign to encourage Hawaii residents to plan for their long-term care. Associated Press.

State Rep. Mark Takai's campaign distributed an election video last week. He's running in a crowded field for the 1st Congressional District seat being vacated by Rep. Colleen Hanabusa. Civil Beat.

At least 10 U.S. states, including Hawaii, are considering bills to legalize or expand Internet gambling this year, according to a group that tracks gambling-related legislation worldwide. Associated Press.

CVS Caremark, the parent company of Longs Drug Stores in Hawaii, is kicking the habit of selling tobacco products at its more than 7,600 drugstores nationwide as it focuses more on providing health care. The company said today that it will phase out cigarettes, cigars and chewing tobacco by Oct. 1 in its 7,600 stores nationwide, in a move that will help grow its business that works with doctors, hospitals and others to improve customers' health. Star-Advertiser.

The state's public middle and high schools will be legally required to provide at least 990 hours of instruction beginning next school year, the first time in history Hawaii has implemented a minimum number of student learning hours for secondary schools, according to a state Department of Education report presented to lawmakers Friday. Maui News.

State roundup for February 5. Associated Press.

Oahu

About a half dozen federal employees at the historic U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement building downtown blame mold there for asthma and other life-threatening health problems they have suffered for nearly three years.  While federal ICE officials denied there are serious environmental problems with the building, some employees said they have faced retribution for filing illness claims. Hawaii News Now.

It's a neighbor's nightmare, hoarders living right next door and the Honolulu City Council is looking to clean up the problem but they're finding it's a sensitive area. Hawaii News Now.

UPS once used it as storage space. Now part of a nondescript Kaka­ako warehouse is slated to be transformed into a pavilion for artistic events and a public gathering place. Star-Advertiser.

Nordstrom, which on Monday confirmed its move to the Ewa end of Ala Moana Center in Honolulu, is expected to have a Whole Foods Market below its new store, sources close to the situation told Pacific Business News.

Hawaii
Mayor Billy Kenoi has a plan to take out the trash. Kenoi told the County Council on Tuesday he will soon begin to pursue a waste-elimination project to address the Hilo landfill’s capacity problems. That could include a waste-to-energy incinerator, an idea the council rejected in 2008 under a previous administration. But Kenoi said he doesn’t intend to pursue any particular technology, an approach that appeared to receive the full support of the council members. Tribune-Herald.

With oo in hand, nine dignitaries, government officials and future homesteaders turned fresh dirt Tuesday signaling the start of construction of infrastructure that will eventually become the home for 117 Hawaiian Home Lands beneficiaries in Kona. West Hawaii Today.

A wrongful death lawsuit filed by the parents of a New York teenager swept out to sea during a Kealakekua Bay hiking and kayaking tour has been settled. Michael Madoff, the father of 15-year-old Tyler Madoff, said Tuesday he hopes tours will be run more carefully in the future. Associated Press.

Maui

Kaupo, Kahikinui, Kapalua and the Paia-Haiku areas have been identified by an "internationally recognized" energy resource consultant to be potential wind farm sites on Maui. Maui News.

Kauai

The Maui-based attorney who filed a protest against Kauai County’s search for pro-bono legal services to defend Ordinance 960 is taking his case to a state agency after a county official rejected his complaint. That protest, filed by Lance D. Collins of Wailuku last week, claimed legal cost requirements outlined in a solicitation to defend the county’s law on genetically modified organisms and pesticides use were unethical and violated state law. Garden Island.

Hawaii boosts net worth, state Legislature tries to preempt county GMO laws, UH faculty complaint delays smoking ban, push for cool schools, design errors delay new UH Hilo building opening, state's first private Post Office to open on Maui, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Hawaii cattle (c) 2014 All Hawaii News

Introduced by Sen. Clarence Nishihara, the Agriculture Committee chairman, and backed by several powerful senators, SB 3058 appears to be an attempt to exert state control over counties like Kauai and Hawaii that have moved to dramatically curb the use of pesticides and GMOs. But the bill faced referral to three joint committees as well as a fourth referral — a high hurdle — and as of Monday SB 3058 did not have a hearing scheduled before Thursday's triple-referral deadline. Solution? Take the key language of SB 3058 and place it into another bill related to ag — in this case, Senate Bill 110, a short-form bill held over from last year. And give it a hearing at the last minute. Civil Beat.

The state closed the last fiscal year with a net gain in assets for the first time since 2006, another mark of the state's economic recovery. Star-Advertiser.

Gov. Abercrombie Monday announced the first increase in state government's net worth in years as two top state senators – including one challenging Abercrombie's re-election – said lawmakers also deserve credit for the state's improving financial situation because they rejected Abercrombie's tax hike proposals and cut his budget. Hawaii News Now.

The push to cool public school classrooms got a boost Monday as the state House Education Committee advanced a bill that would dedicate $25 million to air-condition schools next school year. The measure still faces the House Finance Committee, which will need to prioritize a long list of competing interests for state funds this year. Star-Advertiser.

State Rep. Bob McDermott, who enrolled his eight children in Hawaii’s public schools, doesn’t want his 11-year-old son exposed to a controversial taxpayer-funded sex education program. That program is taught in 12 public schools across the state, and the Hawaii Department of Education is planning to expand the curriculum to others. Hawaii Reporter.

State lawmakers have scheduled a hearing today on a bill aimed at putting pressure on Hawaiian Electric Co. to be more responsive to its customers' demanding lower electricity prices. The measure, HB 1999, would empower the Legislature to review the franchise granted by the state that allows the HECO companies to operate as a regulated monopoly on all major islands except Kauai. Star-Advertiser.

People who work but are still homeless would get help moving into rooms for rent in private homes if Hawaii lawmakers pass a bill expanding a state housing program. A bill before the state House (HB1841) could widen Housing First, a program that aims to find permanent housing for homeless people. Associated Press.

State Sen. Suzanne Chun Oakland wants to boost Hawaii’s affordable housing stock by convincing the Legislature to spend hundreds of millions of dollars to subsidize rentals for low-income Hawaii residents. Sen. David Ige, who leads the Senate’s budget committee, says there’s not a chance that her bill will receive that level of funding. But Chun Oakland is still pushing the ambitious proposal, reflecting her efforts over two decades to make housing for the poor into a legislative priority. Civil Beat.

The Hawaii Health Connector launched a new statewide enrollment drive Monday in preparation for the March 31 deadline to sign up for insurance under the Affordable Care Act. The state-based online insurance marketplace has created new advertisements and online tools and will host a number of events to encourage uninsured residents to sign up for coverage through the Connector's community outreach partners known as Kokua. Star-Advertiser.

Oahu

A smoking ban at the University of Hawaii Manoa that was supposed to start in February has been delayed because of a complaint filed by the University of Hawaii Professional Assembly. KITV4.

Chancellor Tom Apple wanted the campus-wide smoking ban to begin Jan. 1, but the faculty’s union filed a complaint about it late last year. KHON2.

U.S. Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia told law students at the University of Hawaii on Monday that the nation’s highest court was wrong to uphold the internment of Japanese-Americans during World War II, but he wouldn’t be surprised if the court issued a similar ruling during a future conflict. Associated Press.

Loathed by oh-so-many liberals, U.S. Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia waded into the deep-blue Aloha State Monday for a talk with law students at the University of Hawaii. The surprise for much of the audience wasn't that the supremely self-confident Scalia stated his constitutional judicial philosophy with authority; it was his edgy wit. Civil Beat.

Affordable housing slated for Hawaii Kai site. Hawaii News Now.

Less than six years after opening its store at Ala Moana Center, Nordstrom Inc. announced Monday it is moving to another location in the mall. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii

The stalled Hu Honua Bioenergy project in Pepeekeo ran into more trouble, as three creditors say they’re owed delinquent unpaid bills, including one for more than $35 million. Three applications for mechanic’s and materialman’s liens were filed last month in Hilo Circuit Court. The largest, filed Jan. 30 by the project’s main contractor, Hawaiian Dredging Construction Co., claims Hu Honua owes $35,166,862.50. Another, claiming an unpaid bill of $1,303,976.45, was filed Jan. 29 by American Electric Co. The third, filed Jan. 16 by General Supply and Services, dba Gexpro, seeks payment of $53,286. Tribune-Herald.

The University of Hawaii at Hilo’s new Student Services Building has appeared to be complete for months now, but it has yet to open for business. Administrators and staff hoped to move into the building in the fall of 2013, after primary construction was completed during the summer. But in an email sent Friday in response to questions, Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs Luoluo Hong reported the university now expects full occupancy not to occur until late this summer. Tribune-Herald.

Maui

The US Postal Service will open its first Village Post Office in the state this week at Hanzawa’s Variety Store in Haʻikū on the island of Maui. Village Post Offices are owned and operated by third party businesses and “complement the Postal Service’s own network” of service locations. Maui Now.

Maui professor Kaleikoa Ka‘eo delivered this alternative to the Governor's State of the State address at the "People Not Profits" rally. Hawaii Independent.

Servco Automotive has purchased Maui’s Island Subaru dealership in Kahului from Kitagawa Motors, the company said Monday. Pacific Business News.

Kauai

Smart Growth America announced that the County of Kauai was selected to receive free smart growth technical assistance through a grant from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Building Blocks for Sustainable Communities program. The county is one of 18 communities out of 100 applicants and the only Hawaii community that will receive a one- or two-day training session with an expert from Smart Growth America. Garden Island.

Support strong for Kokee council. Bill to end advisory group runs into opposition. Garden Island.

Honolulu rail gets on track, Schatz, Abercrombie lead in money races, candidate filing begins, Hawaii income distributed more evenly, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Honolulu rail project, HART courtesy photo

Until recently, Oahu's rail transit project was little more than a big idea — a concept debated for years on Internet comment boards, via the voting booth and in the courtroom. But in 2014, construction work is making rail a reality. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii lawmakers this week will consider a bill that could make lying to police illegal, and another that would give adopted children full access to their birth records once they turn 18. The highlights of the third full week of the legislative session, however, will focus on Hawaii’s position as a place susceptible to the ravages of heat, aging and climate change. Associated Press.

Unlike about half of the states, the 50th does not allow for initiative, referendum and recall, ways in which citizens can directly enact major changes in governance. We also don't place term limits on legislators, and we haven't had a constitutional convention in 36 years — the last time Hawaii dramatically overhauled its government. Civil Beat.

The state Senate launched a statewide videoconferencing testimony program last week that's designed to make it easy for residents to testify at a legislative hearing -- even from the comfort of home. But when the program debuted Monday at an Education Committee meeting, no one showed up on the video screen. Star-Advertiser.

Court hearings involving children whose parents are accused of neglect or abuse would be open to the public under a bill headed for a hearing Tuesday. Family Court cases in Hawaii, as in most states, are closed to protect the confidentiality of the children involved and to avoid stigmatizing them. But a growing number of states have opened them to the public while giving individual judges discretion to close hearings if it would be in the best interest of the child and the community.Star-Advertiser.

Proposed legislation would amend state requirements to allow undocumented residents to qualify for a driver’s license in the interest of public safety, identification and insurance coverage. Garden Island.

Ready or not, the 2014 election season officially kicks off Monday. Candidates can start filing to run for office. Paperwork will be available from the state elections office and through the county clerks. Candidates have until 4:30 p.m. on June 3, 2014 to get their paperwork done before the Aug. 9, 2014 Primary Election. KHON2.

Gov. Neil Abercrombie and state Sen. David Ige take pride in Hawaii's economic turnaround, but they have competing storylines about exactly how state government was able to climb back into the black. Abercrombie has framed his re-election campaign on a recovery marked by an $844 million budget surplus, replenished emergency reserves, and the political will to confront the long-neglected unfunded liabilities in the public-worker health care and retirement funds. Ige, the chairman of the Senate Ways and Means Committee who is challenging Abercrombie in the Democratic primary, insists that it was the state Legislature that had the prescription to close the projected deficit Abercrombie faced when he took office in 2010. Star-Advertiser.

Gov. Neil Abercrombie raised 10 times as much money as his Democratic primary challenger David Ige in the six months since the state senator announced his candidacy. From July 1 through Dec. 31, the governor reported $528,000 in campaign contributions, compared with just $56,226 raised by Ige, who unexpectedly announced he was joining the race on July 9. Civil Beat.

In the most heated Senate Democratic primary of 2014, Sen. Brian Schatz (D) has established himself as the financial pace-setter, and Rep. Colleen Hanabusa is doing little to show she'll be able to close the gap. She raised $455,000 to Schatz's $705,000. Over the course of the entire cycle, Schatz has raised twice as much as Hanabusa. The Fix.

Hawaii Senate President Donna Mercado Kim made a splash in the 1st Congressional District's Democratic primary race, outpacing her opponents in campaign fundraising during the period from Oct. 1 to Dec. 31, according to federal filings released over the weekend. Six candidates, so far, are vying for the chance to represent the party and try to retain the congressional seat that Colleen Hanabusa is vacating in her quest to oust Brian Schatz from the U.S. Senate. The winner of the Aug. 9 primary will face the eventual Republican candidate in the Nov. 4 general election. Kim hauled in nearly three times as much as anyone else in the CD1 race during the last quarter of 2013, banking $330,133. Civil Beat.

It was a little surprising to find U.S. Census Bureau data showing that income is distributed more evenly across the state than it is across the country as a whole. In other words, "you have less income inequality in Hawaii than you have nationally," Census survey statistician Kirby Posey told Civil Beat.

A long-awaited version of the farm bill is heading for the Senate this week. Hawaii Public Radio reports on the 5 year, $500 billion package, and how it will be felt here in Hawaii.

Dug-up bones and unidentified remains of Native Hawaiians may be reburied on an uninhabited island if a proposed law passes. Hawaii’s Senate is considering a bill that would designate the island of Kahoolawe as the resting place for unknown or “inadvertently discovered” Hawaiian bones when those remains can’t be reburied nearby. Associated Press.

Oahu

Attorney Linda Chu Takayama has been appointed to lead the city Office of Economic Development. She will be joined by Peter Tomo­zawa, who was appointed as executive director of Business Development; and Minnie Ko, executive director of international affairs. Star-Advertiser.

Two forested ridges in Aiea could become part of the growing zip line industry in Hawaii under a plan by a real estate development company for a site once eyed for residential development. An affiliate of Towne Development of Hawaii Inc. has filed a draft environmental assessment with the state laying out plans for a zip line attraction in Waimalu above the existing Royal Summit neighborhood. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii
The 2014 election season kicks off today with the beginning of the candidate filing period, which runs through June 3. Tribune-Herald.

This year, Hawaii Island voters will have their work cut out for them as they will be called upon to weigh in on a number of federal, state and county posts. Tribune-Herald.

Businesses on Hawaii's Big Island, education and state officials are working with the officials from the $1.3 billion Thirty Meter Telescope project to create a "workforce pipeline program" to create a path for isle residents and students seeking careers in technology and other jobs related to the planned observatory atop Mauna Kea. Pacific Business News.

Reducing the coffee berry borer population at the get-go and keeping the pesky bug at bay with a once-a-month spray of Beauveria fungus appears to give the best bang for the buck, a scientist told coffee farmers at an expo Friday in Kailua-Kona. West Hawaii Today.

Organic farmers could see some more green, and not just in their fields. Puna makai Councilman Greggor Ilagan introduced a bill that would give certified organic farms a break on their property taxes. Tribune-Herald.

Maui

Campaign spending reports show that some politicians are faring better than others as the 2014 election season officially gets underway this week. Maui News.

A bill requiring the state Department of Education to name the planned Kīhei High School in honor of the late US Representative Patsy Takemoto Mink will surface for a hearing before the Senate Committee on Education this Wednesday, Feb. 5, 2014. Maui Now.

Kauai

Pacific Missile Range Facility members and equipment participated in the integrated maritime exercise Koa Kai 14-1, Jan. 24-31. PMRF’s airfield was used as a forward staging base for the U.S. Army’s 25th Cavalry Artillery Brigade and Marine Corps units conducting helicopter operations. In addition, portions of the water range were used by Navy surface ships, and PMRF’s Seaborne Powered Target boats played a key role in the weeklong training. Garden Island.

Hawaii tourism peaks, lobbyists hard to track, lawmakers tackle minimum wage, invasive pests, police oversight, trail liability, more top political and government news from the Hawaiian Islands

Hawaii pool party (c) 2014 All Hawaii News

Hawaii's visitor industry set records for visitor spending and arrivals in 2013 despite a leveling off of growth in the second half of the year. Nearly 8.24 million travelers came to Hawaii in 2013, surpassing the 2012 record of nearly 8.03 million visitors by 2.6 percent, according to the Hawaii Tourism Authority. Visitor expenditures rose to $14.5 billion, a 2 percent gain over 2012. When adjusted for inflation, total visitor expenditures in 2013 still set a record but rose by only 0.3 percent. Star-Advertiser.

It's been months since same-sex marriage became legal in Hawaii, but taxpayers still don't know how much money supporters or opponents spent to influence the decision. Lobbyists are supposed disclose how much money they're spending to influence lawmakers, but critics say the state disclosure system is among the weakest in the nation and prevents a timely and complete tally. Associated Press.

Is it fair that minimum-wage workers in the most expensive state in the nation earn only $7.25 an hour? To put it in perspective, an employee who works 40 hours per week, earns just $290 — before the tax bite. Monthly, that averages out to a little more than $1,200 — again, before taxes. So it isn't entirely surprising that the minimum wage issue is among the big questions facing Hawaii legislators this year. Civil Beat.

Hawaii lawmakers want to swat down a pair of invasive pests: the coffee berry borer and the little fire ant. Despite their quaint names, the insects pose considerable threats to Hawaii's fragile environment. House lawmakers are proposing to spend $3 million next year to control coffee berry borers, up from $250,000 last year. Lawmakers also want to put more than $306,000 into a pilot project to study the threat and possible eradication of little fire ants. Associated Press.

Massage therapists, boxing promoters, doctors and lawyers all have to be licensed to work in Hawaii. So too do private detectives and security guards. But Hawaii’s police officers, whether they’re patrolling the streets of Waikiki or tracking down poachers on the Big Island, do not. Civil Beat.

SB 1007 would expand current law to further protect the state from liability in the case of accidents or injuries on public lands or on “voluntary trails” created by hikers and climbers. Largely ignored by the media, this bill certainly was on the radar of Hawaii's hiking and rock climbing communities. Civil Beat.

The University of Hawaii's presidential selection committee will forgo hiring an outside search firm but will move ahead with its own national search — a process that committee members say they want to complete within a year. Star-Advertiser.

Major changes, including a new name and management approach, could be on the horizon for the Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary, according to an internal draft management plan obtained by The Garden Island.

Oahu

A city leasing program is coming under fire — and some increased scrutiny — after a concessionaire with contracts at two major parks was recently arrested in an alleged real estate scheme. Questions about how the program screens its applicants and manages its multimillion-dollar assets began surfacing this month with the arrest of 38-year-old Sakara Blackwell, president of Optimum Marketing and Management Corp., the company that holds long-term city contracts to run the Barefoot Beach Cafe at Kapiolani Park and the concession stand at the Diamond Head end of Ala Moana Beach Park. Star-Advertiser.

Rare coral found off Hawaii, judge strikes gay marriage challenge, police misconduct kept secret, health exchange to get cheaper, GOP wants people power, Kauai passes cat license bill, 100 testify on Maui GMO bill, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Rare coral, courtesy Hawaii DLNR

A state research team has discovered a coral species that's new to the main Hawaiian islands. The state Department of Land and Natural Resources said Wednesday that a team of divers along the Kona coast came across a large number of coral colonies they had never seen before. Associated Press.

DLNR coral image

A research team with the state Department of Land and Natural Resources Division of Aquatic Resources discovered off the South Kona Coast a species of coral new to the main Hawaiian Islands. Tribune-Herald.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service said it removed nearly 1 million pounds of decades-old shipwreck debris from two remote national wildlife refuges in the Pacific. The agency said Wednesday the removal is the first phase of coral reef restoration work at Palmyra Atoll and Kingman Reef National Wildlife Refuges. Associated Press.

A state House committee deferred a series of bills backed by Niihau residents to sustain fishing and other marine life for future generations. The Committee on Ocean, Marine Resources and Hawaiian Affairs plans to submit a short-form bill relating to ocean resources to provide funding to the Department of Land and Natural Resources. Chairwoman Rep. Faye Hanohano said the state agency needs money to study coastal resources statewide. Star-Advertiser.

Between 500 and 800 lanternfish and squid were found dead or dying in the Nawiliwili Harbor area on Monday, prompting in investigation by state and federal officials into what caused the die-off. Star-Advertiser.

A state Circuit Court judge on Wednesday sided with the state and threw out a House lawmaker's legal challenge to gay marriage. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii is the only state without any form of referendum, recall and initiative on a statewide level, so House and Senate Republican leaders are asking the public to rally behind legislation they’ve jointly introduced to change that. But will they get enough backing from the public to sway the state’s majority Democratic party, which holds all but one Senate seat and seven House seats in the 76 member body? Hawaii Reporter.

The cost of running Hawaii’s health insurance marketplace is likely to fall below its original projection of $15 million annually because of low enrollment, its executive director told lawmakers Wednesday. Associated Press.

As high-profile deliberations over whether there should be publicly funded preschool resume, some Hawaii educators and parents are growing frustrated with the limited attention that policymakers are giving to imminent changes to the state’s kindergarten age requirement. The changes are expected to shake up the entire public school system and leave thousands of families without a place for their children to study. Civil Beat.

Hawaii had one of the lowest rates of home “flips” in the United States in 2013, according to figures released by RealtyTrac. A “flip” is when someone buys a home and sells it in six months or less. Pacific Business News.

Oahu

On Sept. 23, 2011, Honolulu police officer James Easley was fired after a woman accused him of raping her on the hood of his patrol car. Easley's case illustrates how difficult it is for the public to check on police misconduct and whether police officials are effectively addressing it, including removing bad cops from the street. But some lawmakers hope to change that situation. They have submitted companion bills in the House and Senate that would require more detailed disclosure of police disciplinary records, although the bills maintain an exemption in Hawaii's public records law that protects cops from having to reveal details of most disciplinary actions. All other public employees are required by law to disclose information relating to suspensions and terminations. Civil Beat.

The state Attorney General’s office is asking for $1 million from the Legislature to pay for past and ongoing lawsuits and to investigate Matson for last September’s destructive molasses spill in Honolulu Harbor. Attorney General David Louie and First Deputy Attorney General Russell Suzuki submitted testimony to House Finance Committee on Wednesday afternoon, estimating that the total cost of “extraordinary litigation” in the next year and a half could exceed $3 million. Civil Beat.

Attorneys for a Virginia boy with cerebral palsy say his family and the Honolulu military hospital where he was born reached a tentative $9 million settlement. The amount, put on the record in federal court in Honolulu on Monday, is subject to final approval by the U.S. Department of Justice, said Loretta Sheehan, one of the family’s attorneys. Associated Press.

There were more employers competing for a shrinking pool of job seekers Tuesday at the state's largest job fair. The 161 companies and government agencies that manned booths at the Job Quest job fair was up from 150 that turned out for the same event a year ago. The job fair drew 3,400 job seekers, down from 3,500 in January 2013. Star-Advertiser.

Condominium towers could sprout in Kakaako just makai of Ala Moana Boulevard if a bill sought by the state Office of Hawaiian Affairs is approved by the Legislature. Star-Advertiser.

As has often been the case, there was a surge of hope when General Motors officials arrived in Honolulu in December 2010 to announce a partnership with The Gas Co. — now known as Hawaii Gas — that would "make hydrogen available to all of Oahu's one million residents by 2015." As part of the plan, as many as 25 hydrogen fueling stations would be built on Oahu to support as many as 10,000 hydrogen fuel cell vehicles. Civil Beat.

Hawaii

Development of a public shooting range at Puuanahulu has slowed while organizers work out noise concerns with some of the neighbors. West Hawaii Today.

The winch for lifting boats at Mahukona in North Kohala has been out-of-service since being damaged by high surf in December, forcing some boaters to find alternate locations from which to launch their vessels. West Hawaii Today.

Maui
Nearly 100 people testified before a Maui County Council Committee on Tuesday on a hot topic bill to regulate pesticide and genetically modified organisms. Maui News.

Maui County Council Member Riki Hokama, the current first vice president of the National Association of Counties, is in line to become the group's president in the summer, a news release from NACo said. Maui News.

Haleakala National Park is implementing a plan to cut back on the number of commercial visitors that aims to ensure preservation of the resources at the park, Maui’s most popular attraction. Associated Press.

The governor announced the release today of $500,000 in funds for land acquisition at Līpoa Point on Maui. Maui Now.

Cultural practitioners working to restore and preserve traditional Hawaiian fishponds don't simply need to wrestle heavy rocks into place in waist-deep water. First, government agencies have them navigate a bureaucratic maze of permits and regulations. Maui News.

Kauai

Cat owners on Kauai would be required to get a license for their pet under a new program passed by the Kauai County Council. The Council voted 4-2 Wednesday to pass Bill 2517 to establish a cat licensing program to help tackle the overpopulation of free-roaming cats on the island. The measure will be sent to the mayor's office for consideration. Star-Advertiser.

The Kauai County Council approved a bill that will require pet owners to license their cats and set up spaying and neutering requirements for cats allowed to roam outside. The 4-2 vote was made during the seven-member board’s Wednesday meeting. Garden Island.

A slew of House bills aimed at prohibiting outsiders from fishing and harvesting opihi around the island of Niihau died in committee Wednesday. However, the discussion will continue. Garden Island.

Monsanto reaches out; Maui ponders GMO limits; guns up, gun crimes down; House committee wants more oversight over UH repairs; Kauai may get dairy; more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Monsanto courtesy chart

The GMO debate is considered one of the most controversial and confusing issues facing our state. Supporters say the technology behind genetically modified organisms is feeding the world at a time when the population keeps exploding and space to farm is getting scarcer.  Opponents say it poses health and environmental risks – the full scope of which is unknown, because its application is too new. Hawaii News Now.

Hawaii firearms registrations have increased 72% since 2000 – but gun-related violence has dropped. Hawaii Independent.

At Hawaii Legislature, Access Equals Privilege. At the start of every annual session of the Legislature, lawmakers are invited to meals, drinks, talks and other activities sponsored by groups with business at the Capitol. Civil Beat.

Legislator jousts with U.S. high court over political spending. House Bill 1499 is state Rep. Karl Rhoads' symbolic response to Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission, the landmark 2010 ruling by the U.S. Supreme Court which held that corporations and labor unions can spend unlimited amounts of money on elections as long as the spending is not coordinated with political candidates. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii Gov. Neil Abercrombie capitalized on President Barack Obama’s State of the Union speech on Tuesday to emphasize his proposals to raise the state’s minimum wage and expand access to early childhood education. Civil Beat.

State House Higher Education Chairman Isaac Choy says legislators would be putting the University of Hawaii "on steroids" to help eliminate its massive repair backlog under a bill that advanced out of his committee Tuesday, over the objections of UH officials. Star-Advertiser.

Manoa Chancellor Tom Apple surprised members of the UH Manoa faculty senate earlier this month when he told them a plan to quell public controversy surrounding the director of the UH Cancer Center by restructuring its administration is a temporary solution to “calm the waters.” Civil Beat.

Gov. Neil Abercrombie and state education leaders pledged their commitment today to significantly boost the number of adults earning college degrees in the islands over the next decade. Star-Advertiser.

Gov. Neil Abercrombie is set to make his third appointment to the Hawaii Supreme Court, making him the first governor in about two decades to select a majority of the five-member court. Associated Press.

How to Get High in Hawaii Without Breaking the Law. Civil Beat.

A selective list of bills, resolutions, hearings, briefings and events for Wednesday at the state Capitol. Civil Beat.

Oahu

First Wind, which has focused on wind-energy projects in Hawaii, is diving into solar energy with its first plans to build three separate major solar farms totaling 82 megawatts in Central Oahu, the chairman of the neighborhood board where the projects will be located, told Pacific Business News.

A report commissioned by Castle & Cooke, which has plans to build a major wind energy farm on Lanai, has identified three potential wind resource areas on Oahu and six other areas on Maui that would total 813 megawatts of capacity. Pacific Business News.

Hawaii

Placing liens against property when water or sewer bills are overdue, and shutting off water service for past-due sewer bills were two collection avenues discussed Tuesday by the county Water Board. West Hawaii Today.

A new electronic vehicle inspection system aimed at reducing fraud, errors and time spent on manually processing Hawaii licensed drivers’ data has made the procedure easier on the state and inspection stations, but some residents say it’s costing Big Island drivers time and money. Tribune-Herald.

Hawaii County officials, employees and residents celebrated the completion of a long-awaited repair project in Captain Cook. The renovated Yano Hall at Greenwell Park was rededicated Tuesday morning with speeches, prayer, music, food and pride. West Hawaii Today.

Maui

A bill that seeks to implement disclosure and use restrictions on pesticides and Genetically Modified Organisms in Maui County was introduced before the Council’s Policy and Intergovernmental Affairs Committee today. Maui Now.

Maui Mayor Alan Arakawa is requesting two additional personnel within the Department of Agriculture to conduct pesticide inspections and alien species screening for Maui County. Maui Now.

The owner of the Pagoda Hotel, a popular and affordable rooming spot for many Mauians visiting Oahu for many years, plans to bring the brand to Maui with the prospective purchase of the Maui Beach Hotel. Maui News.

In an effort to promote open dialogue and greater understanding of its farming practices and products, Monsanto Hawaii said Monday that it is increasing its farm tours, holding community meetings and forums and having programs to promote a better understanding of the company. Maui News.

Kauai

A dairy farm could be operating on Kauai next year. Jim Garmatz, manager for Hawaii Dairy Farms, said their conservation plans have been approved by the Natural Resources Conservation Service. They are waiting approval and permits from the Department of Health. Garden Island.

Officials with the Kauai Department of Water came out Monday in hopes of discussing the cost-savings analysis report for the Kahili Horizontal Directional Drilled Well Project. Garden Island.