Hawaii candidates are off and running, Mufi wants to bring back Superferry, pro surfer vies for Kauai mayor, Molokai fishing fight turns ugly, $2.4M settlement in Thai farmworker abuse case, hands-off at Halawa prison, no jail time for former Hawaii County councilman, Kauai council takes up GMO amendment, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Hawaii campaign season takes off

With just two months left until the primary election, Hawaii’s political season has officially kicked into high gear. Tuesday was the last day for candidates to file for this year’s political races. KHON2.

See full list of primary candidates here.

Use this guide to track the 2014 Hawaii elections. Civil Beat.

What will the Hawaii State Legislature look like after the 2014 elections? Probably a lot like the 2013-2014 Legislature. Most incumbents will likely coast to re-election, as they typically do. That means Democrats are favored to retain majority control of both the Senate and the House of Representatives. Civil Beat.

Former Honolulu mayor Mufi Hannemann says, if elected as Governor, one of his top priorities in office will be to restore the Superferry. Hawaii News Now.

Former Honolulu Mayor Mufi Hannemann has tapped Les Chang, the city's former parks and recreation director, as his running mate in his independent campaign for governor. Star-Advertiser.

If Mufi Hannemann is elected governor he will bring back the Superferry. That’s the promise the former Honolulu mayor made Tuesday after taking his nomination oath and introducing his running mate, Les Chang. Civil Beat.

Two real estate associations have endorsed U.S. Sen. Brian Schatz for Senate and U.S. Rep. Tulsi Gabbard for re-election to the 2nd Congressional District of the House. Associated Press.

The state Board of Education voted unanimously Tuesday to retain schools Superintendent Kathryn Mata­yo­shi for another three years, but before her contract is finalized she has to come back to the board with steps she will take to address concerns raised in a scathing independent survey of pubic school principals. Star-Advertiser.

The Hawaii school board renewed Department of Education Superintendent Kathryn Matayoshi’s contract Tuesday, essentially guaranteeing her another three years on the job starting June 30. Civil Beat.

Inmates at Halawa Correctional Facility can no longer touch or kiss their loved ones now that the medium-security prison has become the state's first no-contact prison. Star-Advertiser.

A multi-million dollar settlement was announced today in the federal discrimination lawsuit on behalf of hundreds of immigrant Thai workers who were abused and mistreated by a labor contractor and local farms for 4 years. Hawaii Public Radio.

Four Hawaii farms are settling a discrimination lawsuit for a total of $2.4 million for allegations they exploited hundreds of Thai workers. Associated Press.

Four Hawaii agricultural concerns have agreed to pay a combined $2.4 million to their former Thai laborers in a settlement of a lawsuit that named the farms as accomplices in worker harassment, racial discrimination and retaliation, federal officials announced Tuesday. Star-Advertiser.

The University of Hawaii's next president will likely be paid less than the last three UH presidents, but several key provisions of his contract still must be negotiated that could leave taxpayers on the hook. Hawaii News Now.

The 35th America’s Cup may turn into a bidding war for prospective venue hosts such as Hawaii and San Francisco, where the last event was held, according to the protocol released this week between the Golden Gate Yacht Club, which is the current holder of the America’s Cup won by Larry Ellison’s Team Oracle USA last year, and Team Australia’s Hamilton Island Yacht Club. Pacific Business News.

U.S. Rep. Tulsi Gabbard, D-Hawaii, an Army veteran who has served two tours in the Middle East, asked President Barack Obama on Monday to use his executive power to allow veterans to access private medical care outside of the Veterans Affairs system without VA pre-approval and bureaucratic red tape. Hawaii Reporter.

First Hawaiian Bank, the largest financial institution in the state by assets, is assuring customers that the potential $10 billion fine that its Paris-based parent is facing will not affect local operations. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaiian Electric Co. and its subsidiaries are seeking regulatory approval to modify a rule that deals with connecting renewable energy systems, namely rooftop solar photovoltaic systems, to their grids, according to a 438-page filing this week with the Hawaii Public Utilities Commission. Pacific Business News.

Oahu

The Honolulu City Council is scheduled to vote Wednesday on the city’s 2015 fiscal year budget, capping off three months of debate that has included adjustments to Mayor Kirk Caldwell’s funding priorities. Civil Beat.

Residents would have to pay the city to take away sofas, refrigerators and other bulky trash from their curbside, under a bill scheduled to get its first airing before the Hono­lulu City Council on Wednesday. Star-Advertiser.

A lengthy environmental battle over a planned oceanfront hotel and condominium tower next to the Moana Surfrider Hotel in Wai­kiki is moving to the Hawaii Supreme Court. Star-Advertiser.

A four-year-old fight between the city and a hui of environmental groups over a 2010 variance granted to Kyo-ya Hotels and Resorts for a 26-story hotel and condo tower in Waikīkī is expected to be taken up by the Hawaiʻi Supreme Court later this year. Hawaii Independent.

In the next 100 days advocates will assess 1,000 homeless people in urban and leeward Oahu and put 15 of them in an apartment. The overall goal is to have the chronic homeless, the most difficult with the highest needs, in a home in just two years. Hawaii News Now.

Tom Rounds, a legendary broadcasting executive and one of the original "Poi Boys," who helped put island station KPOI on the map, died Sunday in Los Angeles. He was 77. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii

Six County Council members will ask voters for another two-year term. Following a deadline Tuesday, more than half of the nine-member panel filed for re-election. Two council members — Brenda Ford and J Yoshimoto — face term limits, while one freshman representative is choosing not to run again. Tribune-Herald.

Thirty-two candidates are seeking to represent Big Island residents at the state Capitol. Ten of the isle’s 11 state House and Senate seats will be on the Aug. 9 primary ballot, with all but one contested. Tribune-Herald.

Environmental Management Director Bobby Jean Leithead Todd will have to justify in court her authority to head the department, following a ruling by 3rd Circuit Court Judge Ronald Ibarra. West Hawaii Today.

Former County Council member Kelly Greenwell won’t serve jail time after all. Greenwell, 74, was sentenced to five days in jail in 2010 on a charge of resisting arrest during a traffic stop in Kailua-Kona. Greenwell appeared before 3rd Circuit Court Judge Ronald Ibarra Tuesday afternoon, on a motion by the county’s Prosecuting Attorney’s Office to see Greenwell’s sentenced imposed. West Hawaii Today.

A 3rd Circuit Court judge issued a temporary restraining order to halt construction work at Keauhou Bay, pending a hearing on a lawsuit filed late last month. West Hawaii Today.

The public is invited to a meeting tonight in Hilo about a National Park Service study about World War II internment sites in Hawaii. The session is set for 6-8 p.m. at the Hawaii Japanese Center at 751 Kanoelehua Ave. Tribune-Herald.

Maui

Maui County will see several competitive races in the upcoming elections as veteran council members try to reclaim their old seats relinquished because of term limits and as former Maui Mayor James "Kimo" Apana seeks to get back into politics at the state level. Maui News.

It is still yet to be seen if a citizens' initiative calling for a moratorium on genetically modified organisms in Maui County will be placed on the general election ballot on Nov. 4, Maui County Clerk Danny Mateo said Tuesday. Maui News.

Maui Electric Co. customers who are not on solar power will see their rates rise following the Public Utilities Commission's approval Friday of "sales decoupling" tariffs for the utility. Maui News.

A resort condominium in Lahaina plans to replace an old seawall to protect the property from winter storms. Associated Press.

Kauai

The window for candidates to file for public office in this year’s election has closed. Thirty-three Kauai residents have thrown their hat in the ring to run for 11 state and county seats up for re-election this year, including all 11 incumbents. Garden Island.

Professional surfer, environmental activist, mixed martial arts fighter and North Shore native Dustin Barca filed Monday to run for Kauai County mayor in the 2014 election. Garden Island.

The Kauai County Council will consider today whether the proposed charter amendment to further regulate genetically modified organisms and pesticides on the island should be amended or put to voters in its current form. Garden Island.

Kapaa will lose a piece of its history when doors to the Kojima Store close at the end of the month. Garden Island.

Molokai

The state Dept. of Land and Natural Resources is investigating a confrontation that turned ugly between Molokai residents and a group of Honolulu divers. The state said the incident apparently stems from a long-running dispute between residents and outsiders who come to fish and hunt at the island. KHON2.

Lassner picked as UH president, electric bills rise statewide, Maui injection wells violate Clean Water Act, court clears way for Waimanalo landfill expansion, Hawaii County Council passes $416.9M budget, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Board of Regents courtesy Hawaii Public Radio, Molly Solomon

The University of Hawaii’s regents selected David Lassner as the institution’s next president Monday after lengthy debate about whether the board should delay selecting a candidate. Associated Press.

After a nearly year-long search, David Lassner was chosen as the new president of the University of Hawaii by the school’s Board of Regents on Monday. Lassner, UH’s longtime information technology executive, has been serving as the university’s interim president since September 2013. Civil Beat.

The University of Hawaii Board of Regents voted Monday to hire its longtime information technology chief to lead the university as its 15th president, saying David Lassner will be able to hit the ground running and help mend the university's bruised reputation while working toward strategic goals to improve UH's delivery of higher education. Star-Advertiser.

In a split vote, the University of Hawaii Board of Regents selected Interim UH President David Lassner as the permanent UH president Monday, while two regents abstained from the vote saying they wanted the university to re-open the presidential search. Hawaii News Now.

David Lassner, courtesy UH

Dr. David Lassner will be the next University of Hawai'i president.  The UH Board of Regents selected interim president Lassner over retired Army Lt. General Frank Wiercinski in a 11 - 2 decision, with two other abstaining from the vote -- insisting instead that UH should start over and re-open the search. Hawaii News Now.

The University of Hawaii Board of Regents voted Monday to choose David Lassner as the next president of the state's 10-campus university system. Pacific Business News.

The University of Hawaii Board of Regents by a vote of 11 to 2 with 2 abstentions appointed David Lassner as the next President of the University of Hawaii System at a special board meeting today.  The board discussed extensively its thoughts on the 11-month search process for the next president, which involved extensive community outreach and feedback from the public on what it wants to see in the next university leader. Hawaii Reporter.

The University of Hawaii has a new president. David Lassner was selected by the Board of Regents on Monday, winning by a vote of 11 to 2 with two abstentions. Hawaii Public Radio.

Electricity bills for most Hawaii residential customers will increase by nearly $5 a month, starting immediately. On Friday the state Public Utilities Commission approved the increase requested by Hawaiian Electric Co., the Hawaii Electric Light Co. on Hawaii island, and Maui Electric Co. as part of an annual adjustment designed to compensate the utility for increased capital expenditures and declines in sales over the past year. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii officials will have millions of dollars less than expected to run state government services over the next several years if the Council on Revenues’ latest fiscal forecast holds true. Civil Beat.

Hawaii is ahead most other states in accomplishing President Barack Obama's goals to cut carbon levels. Associated Press.

As Hawaii's humpback whale and green sea turtle populations have bounced back, a Big Island lawmaker has called on the federal government to take them off of the endangered species list. Hawaii News Now.

Chronic overcrowding and an inappropriate infrastructure have put a strain on the staff at the Hawaii State Hospital and added to the risks of working there, hospital officials say. Star-Advertiser.

U.S. Rep. Colleen Hanabusa sticks up for her stance on Social Security and Medicare, resurrecting an issue she previously downplayed. Civil Beat.

Commentary: OHA’s controversial and heavily contested strategy to “facilitate [Kānaka Maoli] self-governance” has manifested itself in a number of questionable endeavors; most recently, Kana‘iolowalu (the Native Hawaiian Roll Commission established through Act 195 of the ‘State of Hawai‘i’) and a “re-establishment of a government-to-government relationship” under the Obama administration and without congressional approval. Civil Beat.

Houston-based Par Petroleum, which acquired Tesoro Corp. Hawaii last year, is buying the parent company of Mid-Pac Petroleum, the exclusive licensee of the “76” brand in the state and owner of more than 80 retail sites and four terminals across Hawaii, for $107 million, the companies said Monday. Pacific Business News.


Oahu

The state Intermediate Court of Appeals has determined that the final environmental impact statement the city filed for expansion of the Waimanalo Gulch Sanitary Landfill is valid, clearing one of the legal issues clouding continued operations at Oahu's only municipal and solid-waste dump. Star-Advertiser.

U.S. Rep. Colleen Hanabusa has lost another battle in her decade-long fight to shut down the Waimanalo Gulch Sanitary Landfill on Oahu’s Leeward coast, where the city dumps the bulk of its garbage. Civil Beat.

West Oahu-bound drivers will get a reprieve this week from the latest round of nightly roadwork shutting down Ewa-bound lanes on the H-1 freeway. Star-Advertiser.

Many neighborhoods across Oahu deal with the same problem — piles of junk sitting on the curb, sometimes for weeks. Honolulu City Councilwoman Ann Kobayashi has introduced Bill 41, which is aimed at solving the bulky item problem. KHON2.

Private equity giant Blackstone and a team of undisclosed financiers plan to invest $415 million to add a 350-foot time-share tower to the Hilton Hawaiian Village, which is the state's largest single resort property. Star-Advertiser.

Honolulu Mayor Kirk Caldwell says a new law would help get homeless off the streets in Waikiki. Civil Beat.

Hawaii
Facing very little testimony from an apparently apathetic public, the Hawaii County Council made quick work Monday of an operating budget for the new fiscal year, unanimously passing the $416.9 million spending plan Mayor Billy Kenoi proposed to them. West Hawaii Today.

A Native Hawaiian group suing two state agencies over plans to reopen Kulani Correctional Facility has filed a motion in an attempt to prevent the state from enacting its plans to reopen the prison. Tribune-Herald.

Maui

A federal judge in Honolulu has ruled that Maui County's use of injection wells at its Lahaina sewage treatment plant violates the federal Clean Water Act, setting up the county for potential fines reaching into the millions of dollars. Associated Press.

The county’s use of injection wells at the Lahaina Wastewater Reclamation Facility in West Maui violates the federal Clean Water Act according to a federal district court ruling on Friday, the environmental law firm Earthjustice announced. Maui Now.

Hana Water Co. and Hana Water Resources have submitted their application to Hawaii regulators regarding the transfer of ownership of the two utilities as part of the thousands of acres bought by a subsidiary of Colorado-based Bio-Logical Capital earlier this year. Pacific Business News.

The final environmental assessment for a project to construct a replacement seawall, drainage improvements and a beach access path at Kahana Sunset has been accepted and published by the state. Maui News.

Officials with the Federal Aviation Administration have released an audio recording that features a Hawaiian Airlines pilot talking to air traffic controllers after realizing a teen had stowed away on a flight from San Jose to Maui. Hawaii News Now.

Kauai

Congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard met with about 40 veterans at the Kauai Veterans Center Monday to discuss what she described as “deep and systematic issues” affecting the Department of Veterans Affairs. Garden Island.

There will be no launch Tuesday of a saucer-shaped test vehicle from the Pacific Missile Range Facility on Kauai, NASA announced. Star-Advertiser.

Homeless overtake Waikiki, rail not creating promised jobs, UH president to be picked today, Maui's Buzz's Wharf closes, Honolulu plastic bag ban lags, Maui not enforcing smoking ban, GMO discussed in Hilo, Kauai, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Waikiki homeless © 2014 All Hawaii News

There are more homeless in Waikiki than ever before, and it’s presenting a problem for both government and businesses that count on return visitors to keep the tourism engine humming. KHON2.

Homelessness has put Honolulu Mayor Kirk Caldwell in an unenviable bind. He says it’s important to empathize with and support those who are living on the streets by providing them with stable housing. At the same time, he understands that as mayor he must respond to community angst over an increasingly visible crisis by clearing out the homeless from parks and sidewalks. Civil Beat.

The deadline for candidate filing for state and county offices is at 4:30 p.m. on Tuesday. Associated Press.

Closing Hawaii's open Democratic primary could all but eliminate competition from other political parties, which would be "bad for democracy," the state warned in a new legal filing in federal appeals court. Star-Advertiser.

The Hawaii Republican Assembly's letter criticizing the Hawaii Republican Party leadership already caused Colleen Meyer to quit the assembly. As she prepares to take on the HIRA-friendly candidate for Clayton Hee's senate seat, Richard Fale, we wonder what else this internal bickering could lead to. Hawaii Independent.

To retain his seat as lieutenant governor, former Maui state Sen. Shan Tsutsui will need to win the Democratic primary and beat two contenders who enjoy more name recognition statewide - longtime Oahu state Sen. Clayton Hee and former TV news reporter Mary Zanakis. Maui News.

The person selected to be the University of Hawaii's next president is expected to be announced soon. The university Board of Regents is scheduled to make a selection between two finalists at a meeting on Monday. Associated Press.

Oahu

The Honolulu light rail project is generating far fewer local jobs than originally projected, partially due to legal delays and the hiring of out-of-state workers. Civil Beat.

A Honolulu City Council committee is holding up a plan to make changes to the impending plastic bag prohibition on Oahu. Star-Advertiser.

The superintendent of the USS Arizona Memorial has reversed his stand on the diversion of "walk-up" tour tickets — which are supposed to be free — for sale to commercial operators. Paul DePrey now says the practice, carried out over a period of about seven months, was in fact against National Park Service policy. Star-Advertiser.

A Hawaii judge has halted construction of the second affordable condominium tower on the site of the former Honolulu Advertiser building after finding the Hawaii Community Development Authority did not follow state historic preservation laws and state burial laws when it approved the second building in developer Downtown Capital LLC's 801 South St. project. Pacific Business News.

The Navy has awarded a contract to drill monitoring wells near its Red Hill Underground Fuel Storage Facility to gauge whether leaked fuel may be migrating toward the county’s drinking water supply. Civil Beat.

Businesses near Honolulu's proposed $5.2 billion, 20-mile rail line may be eligible for Brownfields grant funding to assess whether their commercial or industrial property requires removal of toxic substances. Star-Advertiser.

City Council members appear ready to give the Caldwell administration the OK to find a new buyer for the city's housing proj­ects, but want to limit the number of units that can be converted to accommodate low-income and very-low-income occupants in the Downtown-Chinatown district. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii

Hawaii County set itself apart from much of the rest of the state in December by effectively banning the large biotech seed companies that have become a major, though controversial part of Hawaii agriculture. But with a ban also on the outdoor testing of transgenic crops, can the Big Island, home to genetically modified papaya, still be a place for genetic research? Tribune-Herald.

A sailboat that ran ashore at Old Kona Airport Park did not damage the reef there, a state biologist said. West Hawaii Today.

El Nino could create more frequent, stronger storms for Hawaii. West Hawaii Today.

Before Apollo astronauts went to the moon, they came to Hawaii to train on the Big Island's lunar landscapes. Now, decades-old photos are surfacing of astronauts scooping up Hawaii's soil and riding across volcanic fields in a moon buggy vehicle. Associated Press.

Maui

The bill to ban smoking in Maui County parks, recreational facilities and beaches was signed into law more than a month ago, the day the County Council passed the measure in April, but full implementation and enforcement will require a little more time, county officials said. Maui News.

President Barack Obama's half sister, Maya Soetoro-Ng, Hawaiian music legend Robert Cazimero and NASA astronomer and researcher of extra terrestrial life Svetlana Berdyugina will be among the 19 speakers from Maui and the Mainland at TEDxMaui, from 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Sept. 28 in the Maui Arts & Cultural Center's Castle Theater. Maui News.

After being in business for 47 years, Buzz's Wharf has closed, according to its Facebook page. Maui News.

Late this morning, Buzz’s Wharf Restaurant at Ma’alaea Boat Harbor confirmed that they’ve closed their doors… permanently. Maui Now.

Kauai

The skies off Kauai will be a stand-in for Mars as NASA prepares to launch a saucer-shaped vehicle in an experimental flight designed to land heavy loads on the red planet. Associated Press.

NASA officials are planning a test launch of a developmental spacecraft at the U.S. Navy's Pacific Missile Range Facility on Kauai that could happen on one of six days between Monday and June 13. Hawaii News Now.

A petition with more than 4,000 signatures has been submitted to the Kauai County Clerk's office to put a proposed charter amendment on the ballot that would regulate the use of pesticides and genetically modified organisms by commercial agricultural operations. Star-Advertiser.

A project designed to revitalize Kauai’s rich cultural heritage utilizing signage and state-of-art technology was launched today with the ceremonial placement and blessing of signs identifying the borders of the six moku on the islands of Kauai and Niihau. Garden Island.

A media whirlwind followed Wednesday’s sentencing of a Kilauea man who made his 8-year-old son walk home from school as a form of punishment. Garden Island.

Tourism dims, Hawaii loves Tulsi, officials want to delay Hawaiian sovereignty, Kauai considers GMO amendment, Big Island nursing program lags, dust-up over Pearl Harbor tickets, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Waikiki Beach © 2014 All Hawaii News

Hawaii's record tourism numbers of the past two years are turning into a distant memory. For eight months in a row, visitor spending has slipped below the year-ago level. Star-Advertiser.

Visitors to Hawaii spent $1.1 billion in April — or 2.2 percent less than they spent during the same month last year. About the same number of travelers came to the islands at nearly 640,000 people. Associated Press.

Officials at the Office of Hawaiian Affairs are asking for a six-to-nine-month postponement of a Native Hawaiian convention to determine self-governance, in order to educate the public and construct a parallel roll for those who refuse to sign onto a roll ordered by state government. West Hawaii Today.

The Office of Hawaiian Affairs' top administrator Thursday recommended a six- to nine-month delay in OHA's nation-building process to allow time for further education about the issues surrounding the proposed creation of a Hawaiian government. Star-Advertiser.

Office of Hawaiian Affairs CEO Kamana’o Crabbe urged OHA trustees on Thursday morning to extend the timeline for nation-building and consider opening up a second roll for those Native Hawaiians who disagree with the current process. Civil Beat.

The chief executive of the Office of Hawaiian Affairs said Thursday the agency should delay its nation-building process by at least six months and reassess options amid questions about the legal existence of the Hawaiian Kingdom and the federal government considering a renewed relationship with Native Hawaiians. Associated Press.

U.S. Rep. Tulsi Gabbard is popular in the islands — very popular. Sixty percent of registered voters statewide say they have a favorable opinion of the Democrat. Civil Beat.

U.S. Rep. Colleen Hanabusa is telling supporters her campaign for a seat in the U.S. Senate will be outspent by her primary opponent, Sen. Brian Schatz. Associated Press.

The next University of Hawaii president will be an at-will appointment without the benefit of a multiyear contract that past UH presidents have enjoyed. The move signals a major shift for a university with a history of pricey -- and embarrassing -- contract buyouts. Star-Advertiser.

Oahu

The National Park Service and its fundraising organization diverted a portion of what are supposed to be free tickets to the USS Arizona Memorial to tour companies for a fee, making it harder for "walk-up" visitors to take the national landmark tour, a former park guide said. Star-Advertiser.

City Council Chairman Ernie Martin wants to build permanent and temporary housing for the homeless by diverting $32 million from the $132 million pot that Mayor Kirk Caldwell set aside for road repaving. Star-Advertiser.

New dogfight brewing over Waikiki Natatorium complex. Long-awaited EIS to be released in June. KITV4.

Two Visions of Laie: Plans for North Shore Growth Debated. Supporters say expansion plans serve local residents by making housing more affordable; opponents see the area's rural character at risk. Civil Beat.

Honolulu Design and Construction Director Chris Takashige is leaving the city to join the state Department of Land and Natural Resources. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii

Lake Waiau’s water levels are almost back to normal, a state official said. Department of Land and Natural Resources Natural Area Reserve System Specialist Ian Cole credited the winter’s rains for the improvement. West Hawaii Today.

Only three students, from an initial cohort of 10, graduated from the nursing program in West Hawaii this year. The low numbers are threatening the nursing program’s accreditation and could put the University of Hawaii at Hilo program in jeopardy as well. West Hawaii Today.

Repairs are beginning at West Hawaii boating facilities damaged by tsunami from the magnitude-9 earthquake that struck off northern Japan in 2011. Associated Press.

Maui

Maui Mayor Alan Arakawa says the county is considering two potential options for acquiring property as it faces the end of a lease at its Service Center site located at the Maui Mall in Kahului. Maui Now.

A joint agency search and rescue training exercise will be conducted in waters off of South Maui this Friday, May 30. Maui Now.

SHAKA GMO Movement: Criticism is ‘Wholly Unjustified and Untrue' Maui Weekly.

Kauai

A crowd of about 200 gathered at the Sheraton Kauai Resort for the 16th annual governor’s luncheon Thursday. In the next 30 minutes, Gov. Neil Abercrombie delivered a fiery, forceful, pointed speech with a main theme: The economy was in bad shape when he was elected in 2010, but through his leadership and tough decisions, it bounced back and is doing well today. Garden Island.

The county’s 2014-2015 operating budget, to the tune of $179.2 million, has been set. All that’s missing is Mayor Bernard Carvalho Jr.’s signature. Garden Island.

The Kauai County Council shot down a measure on Wednesday that would have declared no confidence in County Attorney Al Castillo and asked him to resign amid, what some members said, was their ire with his performance. Garden Island.

A group of Kauai residents has been busy collecting signatures in an effort to get its proposed charter amendment aimed at regulating the island’s genetically modified crop industry on the Nov. 4 ballot. The problem: Kauai Rising’s proposal may not be a charter amendment at all. Garden Island.

A judge sentenced a Kauai man to one year of probation and a $200 fine for making his son walk a mile home from school as a form of discipline. Associated Press.

Kauai father explains why he made his son walk a mile home. KHON2.

The Department of Water has announced that a full restoration of the Kalaheo well could take up to four to six weeks to complete. Garden Island.

Congressional candidate debate canceled for lack of interest, Honolulu may ban foam, plastic take-out containers, Abercrombie may veto disclosure bill, Maui sets high bar for police chief, development follows rail, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Fourspot butterflyfish with coral © 2014 All Hawaii News

UH Biologists Use Super Coral to Build a Better Reef. Hawaii Public Radio.

Tonight's debate between the state's top Democratic contenders to become Hawaii's next Congressional representative has been canceled. The reason: the Chamber of Commerce Hawaii couldn't get enough people to attend. Hawaii News Now.

A bill hailed by good government advocates as a way to increase transparency and public confidence in government operations may face a veto by Hawaii’s governor. The Legislature unanimously passed Senate Bill 2682, which would add 15 state boards and commissions to the list of government officials and agency members required to have their financial disclosures made public. Civil Beat.

So far this year, Gov. Neil Abercrombie has signed into law 77 bills from this year’s Legislature, while another 161 await action. Big Island Now.

Gov. Neil Abercrombie says he’s built a solid financial foundation for Hawaii that has put the state in a position to move ahead at “flank speed” on important issues like early childhood education, renewable energy and sustainable agriculture. Civil Beat.

Kakaako developers co-sponsor fundraiser for Gov. Neil Abercrombie. Hawaii News Now.

Former state Sen. Melodie Aduja, who was booted by voters 10 years ago after a scandal involving her campaign spending account, wants another shot in the Legislature. Hawaii Reporter.

What promises to be a heated debate among Native Hawaiians over what kind of government they want will be aired today at a meeting of the board of trustees for the Office of Hawaiian Affairs. West Hawaii Today.

The federal government is considering re-establishing a government-to-government relationship with Native Hawaiians, just weeks after the head of the Office of Hawaiian Affairs sought clarity on whether the Hawaiian Kingdom still exists in the eyes of the United States. Associated Press.

An inspection of Department of Veterans Affairs clinics on Oahu and some neighbor islands was conducted last week and “there were no scheduling practice issues brought to light,” said Patricia Matthews, spokeswoman for the VA Pacific Islands Health Care System. Star-Advertiser.

The University of Hawaii’s athletics department expects to post a $2 million loss when the fiscal year ends June 30, its director said. Associated Press.

Oahu

Those foam and plastic containers that have become synonymous with plate lunches and bentos over the past few decades may become a thing of the past on Oahu under a Honolulu City Council bill that would require food containers to be compostable. Star-Advertiser.

City leaders and developers have inked an agreement to proceed with what aims to be Oahu's first transit-oriented design project — at the site of the former Kam Drive-In — along the island's future rail transit line. Star-Advertiser.

Anthony Aalto, a former journalist, chairman of the Sierra Club’s Oahu Group and now a documentary filmmaker, insists that his film “Railroading Paradise” isn’t a slam dunk either for or against Honolulu’s $5.16 billion elevated rail project. Pacific Business News.

The City and County of Honolulu is taking action to stop a growing problem of fraud when it comes to riding the public bus. KHON2.

An alien invader that threatens Hawaii's iconic coconut palms appears to be spreading on Oahu and may have established a breeding population, state officials say. Star-Advertiser.

The highest percentage of park land in the country wasn't enough to offset relatively low parks spending as Honolulu scored in the middle of the pack in an annual survey of U.S. urban park systems unveiled Wednesday. Star-Advertiser.

A proposal to encourage mixed-use housing in three affordable housing projects the city is trying to sell is prompting opposition from advocates for low-income residents. Civil Beat.

Kakaako is in the middle of a residential tower development wave that builders see as meeting overwhelming homebuyer demand, but some area residents see as crowding their quality of life. Star-Advertiser.

Most recent Kakaako town hall shows continued division between stakeholders. Hawaii Independent.

Hawaii

A judge has dismissed a lawsuit brought by a group of Country Club-Hawaii apartment owners who challenged the Banyan Drive building’s board of directors for control of the condominium-hotel property. Tribune-Herald.

Before they landed on the moon, they walked the Big Island’s volcanic landscape. Astronauts in NASA’s Apollo program visited the island in the 1960s and early ’70s as they learned to take rock samples and practiced driving lunar buggies over the moon-like fields of lava rock. Tribune-Herald.

State transportation officials are looking to replace three Big Island bridges. The bridges cross small streams but each is on major traffic routes. Tribune-Herald.

A South Kohala resort must finish an intersection with Queen Kaahumanu Highway, a federal judge ruled last week. West Hawaii Today.

Project managers anticipate Hilo High School’s new gymnasium will be ready for use by late July — just in time for volleyball season. Tribune-Herald.

Maui

In its search for a new Maui County police chief, the Maui Police Commission is setting requirements greater than those outlined for the job by the Maui County Charter. Maui News.

Restroom, park and playground repairs will shut down facilities in five parks in Central and South Maui in projects that run through July 2. Maui News.

Kauai
A Kauai lawmaker introduced a bill Wednesday which seeks to establish “agronomics” as a new and separate real property tax class and exclude lands used primarily for crop research or parent seed production from the county’s definition of “agricultural use.” Garden Island.

Kauai officials say Kalaheo residents should prepare for intermittent water outages going forward as it works to fix a damaged shaft. Associated Press.

It’s hard to operate without water, so Birdie’s Cafe is closing its doors in the midst of a water shortage in Kalaheo. Garden Island.

Ige, Abercrombie differ on preschool funding, Maui GMO foes submit more signatures, church-state lawsuit advances, Kim leads #HI01 race, Kauai talks trash, Hawaii County's traveling mayor, regents interview UH presidential prospects, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

David Ige, Neil Abercrombie © 2014 All Hawaii News

In a stark policy difference with Gov. Neil Abercrombie, state Sen. David Ige said Tuesday he opposes a constitutional amendment that would allow public money to be spent on private preschool. Ige, who had been undecided on the issue, said he has philosophical concerns about taxpayer money going to private preschools. Star-Advertiser.

An activist group that focuses on issues of separation of church and state won a judge's approval Tuesday to continue its lawsuit against two churches accused of underpaying by more than $1 million for use of Hawaii public school facilities. Star-Advertiser.

A lawsuit accusing two churches of underpaying rent for school facilities is moving ahead. But an attorney for the churches says the suit only hurts the schools and its students. Hawaii News Now.

Donna Mercado Kim continues to lead the crowded contest for Hawaii’s 1st Congressional District, according to a Civil Beat Poll. But Mark Takai remains in the hunt, trailing Kim 30 percent to 24 percent among voters who said they intend to vote Democrat in the primary.

The Primary Election is less than 75 days away and the once “sleepy” contest for Lieutenant Governor has been energized by a veteran Democratic challenger now in the race. Hawaii Public Radio.

The first state Democratic Party chairwoman from Maui and the first Neighbor Island woman to hold the post said Tuesday that "we'll have to wait and see" on the party's legal challenge to Hawaii's open primary system. Maui News.

The two men vying to become the next University of Hawaii president interviewed for the job Tuesday, amid criticism over one of the finalists’ qualifications and the search process. The university’s Board of Regents interviewed the finalists, retired Lt. Gen. Frank Wiercinski and interim President David Lassner, during a meeting that was open to the public. Associated Press.

The two finalists vying to be the next University of Hawaii president tried to distinguish themselves as the better candidate for the job Tuesday in separate public interviews before the Board of Regents. Star-Advertiser.

The search for the University of Hawaii’s next president could end as early as next week. David Lassner and Frank Wiercinski are the remaining candidates competing for the job. Hawaii Public Radio.

The Office of Hawaiian Affairs and other supporters of federal recognition for Native Hawaiians are applauding a proposal that came down from the Secretary of the Interior. The advanced notice explores the possibility of a government-to-government relationship between the federal government and the Native Hawaiian community. Hawaii News Now.

The new We Vote Hawaii has a new logo. An online voting process was held to select a design to represent the nonprofit organization formerly known as Kids Voting Hawaii. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaiian Electric Company’s CEO Richard Rosenblum says he will retire from the company within a year. Associated Press.

Hawaiian Electric Co. President and CEO Richard Rosenblum has notified the company that he plans to retire within a year.  Rosenblum, 64, has headed up the state's dominant utility since 2009. Star-Advertiser.

A Hawaii-based military command responsible for finding, recovering and identifying missing-in-action service members is being investigated for money spent on a gravel road in Papua New Guinea. Associated Press.

State roundup for May 28. Associated Press.

Oahu

Honolulu Police Department reports on officers’ use of force suggest that such incidents have increased in recent years. Among those affected are some of the most disenfranchised citizens in the islands, including Native Hawaiians, the homeless and the mentally ill. But the reports, obtained by Civil Beat under a public records request, are heavily redacted and police officials refuse to explain the increased use of force and what, if anything, is being done about it.

City officials say they're close to reaching an agreement with the union representing roughly 200 emergency services workers on a scheduling plan that they hope will curb staff shortage and overtime problems that forced them to shut down shifts at four ambulance stations during Easter weekend last month. Star-Advertiser.

The Honolulu Board of Water Supply, under fire in recent years for rate hikes and errors in customer billing, is fighting back against an effort by the Honolulu City Council to exert greater control over its operations and change the composition of its policy-making board. Civil Beat.

The surfing world's first billionaire has charged into the lineup of landowners with prime oceanfront views of Oahu's North Shore surf mecca. Nicholas Woodman, the surfer who founded camera maker GoPro Inc., has bought two properties in the Sunset Beach area — including one parcel that has set a rec­ord price for residential property on the North Shore. Star-Advertiser.

The city will have to pay a Palolo woman $25,000 after she hit a pothole while riding her bicycle. But that’s actually a small amount compared to what the city pays every year to settle lawsuits. KHON2.

Air Canada said Tuesday that its leisure carrier subsidiary, Air Canada rouge, is expanding to Hawaii with what will be the only nonstop flight between Toronto and Honolulu. Pacific Business News.

Hawaii

As he has in recent years, Mayor Billy Kenoi spent on average one day a week someplace other than in the county he governs. West Hawaii Today.

Hawaii County Civil Defense will test its ability to communicate during disasters as part of this year’s statewide hurricane drill, said Administrator Darryl Oliveira. Tribune-Herald.

Faced with a petition for state management of water taken from the Keauhou aquifer, the Hawaii County Water Board is putting money into measures that would shore up its own monitoring of the resource. West Hawaii Today.

Maui

The Maui County Clerk's Office has 10 days to verify 9,376 additional signatures submitted Tuesday in support of a citizens' initiative for a moratorium on genetically modified organisms in Maui County. Maui News.

Members of the SHAKA Movement rallied in front of the county building in Wailuku today before delivering a final list of signatures to the County Clerk’s office in support of a moratorium on the cultivation of genetically-engineered organisms or GMOs in Maui County. Maui Now.

Maui Mayor Alan Arakawa is keeping a neutral stance on the GMO debate as a petition has surfaced seeking a moratorium on the cultivation of genetically-engineered organisms or GMOs in Maui County. Maui Now.

Holding stacks of papers, members of the SHAKA Movement (an anti-genetically modified organism or GMO group) confidently marched into the Maui County Clerk's office Tuesday afternoon. The effort marks the final push to get a proposed GMO ban on the general election ballot in November. Hawaii News Now.

The Maui County Council on Tuesday unanimously passed on first reading a $604 million budget for the fiscal year beginning July 1. Maui News.

A proposal to redevelop Makena Beach & Golf Resort cleared a major hurdle Tuesday as the Maui Planning Commission voted to grant owner ATC Makena Holdings LLC a special management area use permit for the proposed project. Maui News.

Kauai

The Environmental Protection Agency announced Tuesday that it has reached a legal settlement with Tahiti Nui Enterprises for its “longstanding failure” to close three large capacity cesspools at its Hanalei restaurant and bar nearly eight years after discovering the violations. Garden Island.

There was a bit of trash talk exchanged between county and state officials during a state Board of Agriculture meeting held Tuesday. the discussion focused on how county officials are seeking to address the island’s disposal needs for the next several decades as space in the county’s landfill in Kekaha gradually shrinks. Garden Island.

Schatz has 5% lead over Hanabusa in poll, Democrats name surprise leader, Morita fined for illegal B&B, Arakawa seeks reelection as Maui mayor, UH president interviews to be public, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Hokulea in Hilo © 2014 All Hawaii News

The winds off Hawaii Island still haven't shifted in their favor to sail, so Hoku­le‘a and Hiki­ana­lia will wait at least one more day before launching into the open sea. The two voyaging canoes will leave Hilo for Tahiti no earlier than midweek as their crews continue to wait for the winds they need to launch the first international leg of the Polynesian Voyaging Society's "Malama Honua" (Care for Our Earth) worldwide journey. Star-Advertiser.

The upcoming worldwide voyage of Hōkūleʻa and Hikianala was celebrated on Saturday in Hilo. Big Island Video News.

The Voyaging Canoe Hokule'a is preparing to leave Hilo for Tahiti, along with its sister ship Hikianalia.   The two vessels will depart Hilo on Tuesday, wind and weather permitting, for a 26-country, multi-year journey around the world. Hawaii Public Radio.

With less than two months to go before the first votes will be cast, Brian Schatz leads Colleen Hanabusa by 5 percentage points in the Democratic primary for Senate, a new Civil Beat Poll shows. Schatz, the incumbent, has the support of 44 percent of Hawaii voters who say they will pull the Democratic ballot in the Aug. 9 primary. Hanabusa, a U.S. representative, polled 39 percent, with 16 percent saying they were undecided.

The National Committee to Preserve Social Security and Medicare, an influential nonprofit advocacy group for seniors, will endorse U.S. Sen. Brian Schatz on Tuesday in the Demo­cratic primary for U.S. Senate. Star-Advertiser.

Major candidates for the soon-to-be vacant Hawaii 1st Congressional District seat are calling for reforms at the troubled Department of Veterans Affairs but are stopping short of calling for the resignation of Hawaii-born Secretary Eric Shinseki. Star-Advertiser.

At the Democratic Party of Hawaii’s convention Sunday, delegates rejected the scion of a prominent Oahu family in favor of a Maui delegate to lead the party for the next two years. Stephanie Ohigashi, a Maui County Democratic Party vice chairwoman active in politics for three decades, defeated labor attorney Tony Gill in a lopsided vote. Ohigashi succeeds Dante Carpenter, who did not pursue a third term. Civil Beat.

A bill that raises Hawaiʻi’s minimum wage from the current $7.25 an hour to $10.10 an hour in 2018, was signed into law Friday by Governor Neil Abercrombie. Senate Bill 2609, now Act 82, increases the state’s minimum wage by establishing four incremental increases, starting with a 50 cent increase to $7.75 per hour starting on Jan. 1, 2015. Maui Now.

Hermina Morita, chair of the Hawaii Public Utilities Commission, and her husband have been fined for illegally building and operating their Hanalei bed and breakfast and were ordered to tear down the existing structures. Garden Island.

Residential electrical rates fell on Oahu in May from the previous month but rose on all other islands, the state's two power companies reported. Star-Advertiser.

Interviews of two men vying to become the next University of Hawaii president will be open to the public. The university Board of Regents will be interviewing the two finalists on Tuesday during a special meeting. Associated Press.

A battle could be brewing when it comes to obtaining hemp seeds here in Hawaii. KITV4.

Oahu

Tens of thousands of people lined the shores at Ala Moana Beach Park this Memorial Day for the 2014 Lantern Floating Hawaii ceremony. Hawaii News Now.

Hawaii Pacific University’s multi-million-dollar plan to redevelop the Aloha Tower Marketplace into student and faculty residences, classrooms, a fitness center, retail and other uses, has received its final environmental approval. Pacific Business News.

About 100 guests and workers at the Royal Hawaiian Hotel fell sick from an infectious virus — called norovirus — about two weeks ago, and hotel officials said the number appears to have decreased significantly. Star-Advertiser.

Software experts are unveiling preliminary results of the first comprehensive digital survey of the USS Arizona Memorial in hopes 3-D computer models of the historic ship will one day help the National Park Service tell the story of the attack on Pearl Harbor. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii

Ten thousand men of Japanese descent volunteered just in Hawaii to serve in the military during World War II, Evan Matsuyama said. His grandfather, Noburu “Don” Seki was the keynote speaker at the Memorial Day ceremony at the West Hawaii Veterans Cemetery. West Hawaii Today.

Maui

Mayor Alan Arakawa filed nomination papers Friday as a candidate for a third term as mayor of Maui County. Maui News.

The 310-room Makena Beach & Golf Resort may be redeveloped into 46 apartment units, part of a new diversified resort community at Makena that will also include a new 76-room hotel, 12 multifamily condominium units, five spa hale and nine beach cottages. Maui News.

Kauai
Felicia Cowden makes Kauai County Council bid. Garden Island.

The BLNR voted Friday to approve public hearings regarding the adoption of a new rule that would create a subsistence fishing area on Kaua‘i. Hawaii Independent.

Waikiki beach named best in the U.S., Maui GMO foes struggle with signatures, Kauai campers evicted, gubernatorial candidates weigh in on UH president search, preschool plan falls short, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Duke Kahanamoku Beach © 2014 All Hawaii News

A tourist-friendly beach named for a Hawaii surfing legend has been dubbed the best public beach in the United States in this year’s Dr. Beach ranking. Duke Kahanamoku Beach, a well-groomed crescent of blond sand and palm trees near the Hilton Hawaiian Village Waikiki Beach Resort, beat out more than 600 other beaches for the distinction. Associated Press.

The Duke Kahanamoku Beach in front of the Hilton Hawaiian Village Waikiki Beach Resort has topped this year's list of the nation's best beaches, according to "Dr. Beach," the self-proclaimed foremost beach expert in America. Pacific Business News.

The two leading Democrats in the governor's race weighed in on the University of Hawaii Board of Regents' search for a new UH president Thursday, after questions were raised about the search process and its outcome. Hawaii News Now.

State Sen. David Ige said Thursday that if voters elect him governor this fall he will work to change how public schools are managed, starting with the statewide Board of Education, whose members are appointed. The Democratic gubernatorial candidate fielded an array of questions before an audience of about 60 concerned citizens and campaign supporters who attended Civil Beat’s monthly Civil Cafe event.

After watching Kentucky's hemp seed importation quandary unfold last week, Hawaii plans to apply for a Drug Enforcement Administration permit to prevent delays in its own plan for industrial hemp. Star-Advertiser.

The reduced funding lawmakers set aside this session for Gov. Neil Abercrombie’s universal preschool plan will serve 220 fewer 4-year-olds than planned, establishing prekindergarten classes at 18 instead of 30 public schools next school year. Star-Advertiser.

Equality Hawai‘i Foundation, hoping to spark more efforts to prevent bullying, released poll data Thursday showing that voters think it's an important issue and that Caucasians in Hawaii are the ethnic group most likely to report being bullied. Star-Advertiser.

U.S. Rep. Colleen Hanabusa touts her local roots and sympathy for the middle class in her first ad of the 2014 Senate campaign season. Civil Beat.

Bryan Earl Jeremiah has been campaigning as a Republican for state House District 41, but after learning he had an extensive criminal rap sheet, elected Republican leaders asked the 51-year-old on Wednesday to withdraw. Hawaii Reporter.

The neighbor islands, which lagged behind Oahu in economic growth for much of the past five years, have closed the gap and are poised for continued improvement this year and next, according to a report scheduled for release Friday by the University of Hawaii Economic Research Organization. Star-Advertiser.

Mike Gold, president and CEO of Hawaii Medical Service Association, says that despite drawing criticism from some lawmakers in the past few weeks, he’s received largely positive responses since recommending that the state do away with the Hawaii Health Connector’s health insurance exchange for small business owners. Tribune-Herald.

Meetings will be held statewide to receive public input on the potential inclusion of the Honouliuli Internment Camp into the National Park System. Star-Advertiser.

Oahu

Federal officials propose spending $200 million to erect walls around the Ala Wai Canal and build upland detention ponds to protect Waikiki and other areas from a major rainstorm that could cause catastrophic flooding. Civil Beat.

The city received 14,316 applications for Section 8 rental assistance during a one-week open application period that ended at 11:59 p.m. Wednesday, officials said. Star-Advertiser.

The City and County of Honolulu is moving forward with building bike-friendly infrastructure to coincide with the arrival of rail transit in the urban core in less than 5 years. Hawaii Public Radio.

The state is reminding the public that it will be enforcing a ban on alcohol at the popular Kaneohe sandbar this Memorial Day weekend. Star-Advertiser.

The Honolulu market probably won’t see a new office tower built anytime soon, according to one local real estate expert, who noted that this will cause existing landlords to enjoy this next upswing in the market. Pacific Business News.

Navy officials said Thursday they are still not certain that 27,000 gallons of jet fuel leaked from an underground storage tank at Red Hill in January, noting that other factors may have caused a discrepancy in what they had expected to find in the tank and what was actually measured. Star-Advertiser.

The historic former Marks Estate is losing its steward and two 90-something sisters who call the stately Nuu­anu property home, after a tangled financial affair that involves what the property owner claims is a $40 million masterwork painting that he can’t sell to save his beloved estate. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii

Slow but steady wins the race seems the motto for Hawaii County’s economy, as it builds incrementally toward levels lost during the Great Recession. That’s according to a report being released today by the University of Hawaii Economic Research Organization, known as UHERO. West Hawaii Today.

Burglaries, drivers speeding in residential neighborhoods and Tasers were among concerns voiced by citizens to police commanders during a meeting Thursday at the Hilo Police Station. Tribune-Herald.

The new owners of 252 acres of South Kohala land hope to have the utilities in place for the first 195 home sites in 2015. West Hawaii Today.

Maui

The Maui County clerk has rejected more than half of the 9,768 signatures on an initiative petition submitted by the SHAKA Movement seeking a moratorium on genetically modified crops. Star-Advertiser.

The SHAKA Movement is about 3,700 signatures shy of placing a citizens' initiative on the Nov. 4 ballot for a moratorium on genetically modified organisms in Maui County. Maui News.

The National Park Service's plan to cut down the number of tour bus companies allowed in Haleakala National Park from 18 to four may have upset commercial operators, but one Upcountry resident said the downsizing is "long overdue." Maui News.

The Maui Humane Society's board of directors announced that it has appointed Sandra "Sandy" Shelby as its new chief executive officer. Maui News.

Hāmoa Beach Among Top 10 on Dr. Beach’s 2014 Picks. Maui Now.

Kauai

Campers at Anahola Beach Park were told to vacate or face arrest on Thursday. Garden Island.

For nearly four decades, a long-term plan for a bypass road located mauka of Lihue and Hanamaulu was spelled out on the county’s books. Garden Island.

A 107-year-old metal siphon running along the Kekaha Ditch has seen better days. Garden Island.