Monday, September 15, 2014

Mauna Loa grumbles, Maui utility opposes undersea cable, Kakaako at center of governor debate, investor may save Maui Sugar Cane Train, plan to eliminate cesspools, Land Board OKs Sand Island homeless camp, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

copyright 2014 All Hawaii News all rights reserved
Hiking Mauna Loa © 2014 All Hawaii News
As Kilauea continues to threaten lower Puna, geologists are also keeping their eye on the volcano’s much larger cousin — Mauna Loa. According to the Hawaiian Volcano Observatory, Mauna Loa, the largest active volcano on the planet, has been rumbling and showing signs of awakening for over a year. Tribune-Herald.

As Puna residents brace for the approaching lava flow from Kilauea Volcano, its larger sibling continues to show signs of awakening. Star-Advertiser.

Former Honolulu Mayor Mufi Hannemann wants Hawaii voters to do something they have never done before: elect an independent as governor. After embarrassing, lopsided losses in Demo­cratic primaries for Congress in 2012 and governor in 2010, Hannemann has reinvented himself with the new Hawaii Independent Party. Star-Advertiser.

Rivals differ on strategies for Native Hawaiians. Charles Djou vows to get his party to take up sovereignty, and Mark Takai would focus on preserving federal benefits. Star-Advertiser.

A new report on the nation’s growing income gap finds that stagnant wages for most Americans have dampened consumer spending, and that’s bad for states like Hawaii that depend heavily on sales taxes to keep their governments running. Associated Press.

A draft plan by the state Department of Health is raising a stink among local real estate agents and builders who say proposed rules requiring that septic tank systems replace cesspools could add $10,000 to the price of a new home and make buying and selling existing homes less affordable. West Hawaii Today.

Come November, voters will decide whether to change Hawaii’s constitution and allow the state to spend public money on private preschool programs. Civil Beat.

State roundup for Sept. 15. Associated Press.

Oahu

Three Candidates, Three Views on Future of Fast-Growing Kakaako. Mufi Hannemann, David Ige and Duke Aiona discuss housing, infrastructure and the governor's influence on the area under control of state redevelopment district. Civil Beat.

Hawai‘i’s Board of Land and Natural Resources gave the green light for the city’s plan to temporarily create a homeless site on Sand Island. The board voted 5 - 1 to approve a three-year lease of the land, free of charge. Hawaii Public Radio.

The Hawaii Board of Land and Natural Resources voted 5-1 on Friday to approve a city petition to lease about 5 acres of state land to the city rent free for a temporary homeless encampment on Sand Island. Civil Beat.

A single-family home on the waterfront in Honolulu costs 335 percent more than its inland counterpart, according to a study by the online real estate company Zillow. Pacific Business News.

Hawaii

The lava flow threatening Pahoa and surrounding areas shifted to a more northerly direction this weekend, and showed signs of having slowed between Friday and Sunday. Tribune-Herald.

Kilauea Volcano's June 27 flow shifted to the north Sunday, moving the front away from Kaohe Homesteads but toward Pahoa Village and the area's main highway. Star-Advertiser.

Four West Hawaii prosecutors made the list of six finalists to replace retired District Court Judge Joseph P. Florendo. On the list are prosecutors Jeffrey Burleson, Michael Schlueter, Cynthia Tai and Kimberly Taniyama, Deputy Public Defender Wendy DeWeese and Deputy Corporation Counsel Margaret Masunaga. West Hawaii Today.

Maui

Efforts to save and revive the Sugar Cane Train remained on track with a Hawaii investor "seriously pursuing the acquisition" of the 45-year-old attraction and continuing its operation in West Maui, according to members of a nonprofit group being formed to save the train. Maui News.

A high-voltage undersea cable between Maui and Oahu, estimated to cost $700 million or more, is not needed and would not be cost effective, Maui Electric Co. has concluded. Maui News.

A former chef and Lahaina citrus grower is being honored this weekend with an award from the Hawaiʻi Tropical Fruit Growers organization. Maui Now.

Kauai

Embattled retired car dealer James Pflueger reportedly was scheduled to finalize the sale Friday of 383 acres near the Kilauea Point National Wildlife Refuge on Kauai's north shore where a massive mudslide occurred in 2001 because of reckless and unauthorized grading and landscaping. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii Dairy Farms’ revised plan for 578 acres in Mahaulepu continues to cause a stink for one South Shore resort and a number of local residents. Garden Island.

Friday, September 12, 2014

NOAA probes grant fund misuse in efforts to delist green sea turtle, University of Hawaii could lose deep-sea submersibles, cost of militarization, affordable housing mulled for Honolulu, lava forces plans for new road routes, new sirens for Kauai, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

copyright 2014 All Hawaii News all rights reserved nclauer@gmail.com
Green sea turtle in Hawaii © 2014 All Hawaii News
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration has directed the Western Pacific Fishery Management Council (Wespac) to investigate the extent to which federal grant funds might have been misused by council staff members involved in preparing the pending petition to remove the Hawaiian green sea turtle from the federal list of threatened and endangered species. Civil Beat.

The University of Hawaii at Manoa is in danger of losing its two deep-water submarines unless the Hawaii Undersea Research Laboratory, the program that runs the subs, can come up with $3 million in the next month. Pacific Business News.

Opinion: The true cost of Hawaiʻi’s militarization. A thorough examination of the costs and benefits of housing the U.S. military dispels the mythos that Hawaiʻi would not survive without it. Hawaii Independent.

Creating homeless encampments to alleviate the state’s growing problem of homelessness is a bad idea, according to a 2012 report submitted to the Legislature by the Hawaii Interagency Council on Homelessness, a 24-member task force created by Gov. Neil Abercrombie and composed of state and city officials, homeless providers and community leaders. Civil Beat.

Oahu

Honolulu Mayor Kirk Caldwell wants to revamp the city’s affordable housing policy to provide more rental spaces and more units that low-income people can afford. Civil Beat.

Honolulu Mayor Kirk Caldwell's ambitious plan to bump up Oahu's affordable-housing count by more than 4,000 in the next five years is already generating myriad questions and a lot of discussion from City Council members and homebuilders alike, just as he predicted. Star-Advertiser.

14 years of disciplinary data compiled and analyzed by Civil Beat shows the Honolulu Police Department has a long history of leniency with cops found to have threatened, beat or otherwise hurt significant others and family members.

A group of lawmakers chided the Honolulu Police Department on Thursday for its handling of a possible domestic abuse case involving a police sergeant that was captured on video. Star-Advertiser.

The Board of Water Supply is getting heat after a city audit report said rates should go down. KHON2.

The State Department of Health is investigating the underground release of thousands of gallons of oil on Sand Island. It was found in a construction trench on the street that leads to the Keehi Boat Harbor. Hawaii News Now.

Hawaii

Crews started building two alternate routes Thursday as a lava flow continued its advance toward Pahoa and Highway 130. Tribune-Herald.

Lava concerns on Hawaii's Big Island are shifting from it reaching a sparsely populated subdivision to it crossing over a heavily used highway. Associated Press.

Work crews began clearing the first of two little-used dirt roads on Hawaii island that may be pressed into service if lava should overrun the main highway into and out of the lower Puna district, where 8,000 people would otherwise be trapped. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii County officials are considering issuing an evacuation notice for Kaohe Homesteads after the June 27 lava flow changed direction Wednesday. Kevin Dayton, executive assistant to Mayor Billy Kenoi, said Thursday morning such an order could come within the next 24 hours. Tribune-Herald.

As the lava flow from Kīlauea Volcano’s Pu’u ‘O’o Vent continues to advance toward Ka’ohe Homestead and Pāhoa Village, Hawai'i County Civil Defense is addressing some basic infrastructure needs. Hawaii Public Radio.

Marijuana ministry advocate Roger Christie emerged from four years in federal custody Thursday and said he's looking forward to his first hit of marijuana -- "when I'm legally allowed to do so." Star-Advertiser.

Saturday’s grand opening of the new Hilo High School gymnasium has been put on hold as one of the final parts of the project has yet to be completed. Big Island Now.

Maui

A group that supports GMO farming on Maui has filed a lawsuit in Second Circuit court seeking the removal of a GMO initiative from the November ballot. Maui Now.

Kauai

Timeshare owners on Kauai will receive a temporary reprieve from higher property taxes, at least for the next year. Garden Island.

Kauai has nine new civil defense sirens thanks to a statewide modernization program. Star-Advertiser.

Thursday, September 11, 2014

Homeless activities outlawed in Waikiki, medical marijuana dispensaries sought, Honolulu police secrecy explored, Maui and Kauai GMO fights mulled, Big Island merchants fear lava advance, pot minister freed, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

copyright 2014 All Hawaii News all rights reserved
Waikiki homeless © 2041 All Hawaii News
The Honolulu City Council approves bills targeting homeless. The "sit-lie" measure and "urination-defecation" ban await the mayor's pen. Bills designed to clean up Waikiki sidewalks were approved Wednesday by the Honolulu City Council. Star-Advertiser.

A bill to prohibit sitting or lying on Waikiki sidewalks at all times was approved by the Honolulu City Council on a 7-2 vote Wednesday. Council members also voted in favor of two bills to prohibit urinating and defecating in public. One bill applying just to Waikiki passed unanimously, and a second bill to make the ban island-wide passed 8-1. Civil Beat.

In Hawaii's popular Waikiki neighborhood — a renowned destination for surfing and mai tais — people were lying down near the entrance to Macy's, human waste was on the sidewalk, and parents had to explain to their children why people were begging for money. Associated Press.

The number of U.S. gubernatorial elections that are too close to call has nearly doubled over the past few months, and they include Hawaii’s. That’s according to Governing Magazine. Civil Beat.

Honolulu residents will have a chance to voice their opinion on establishing a statewide system to dispense medical marijuana during a public hearing before the Hawaii Medical Marijuana Dispensary Task Force. Hawaii Reporter.

Alan Oshima has been named president and chief executive officer of Hawaiian Electric Co. Oshima, 67, will take over Oct. 1 for Dick Rosenblum, 64, who has served as CEO since 2009. Star-Advertiser.

Opinion: Why Does Hawaii Government Fail So Often? As you listen to our political candidates, remember how little they accomplish. Civil Beat.

Oahu

Newly released campaign spending data show the Pacific Resource Partnership did not report more than $360,000 in expenditures during the 2012 election. Almost all of that money — about $260,000 — went to three consultants who were instrumental in taking down former Hawaii Gov. Ben Cayetano, who was running for Honolulu mayor on an anti-rail platform. Civil Beat.

Honolulu Mayor Kirk Caldwell is proposing what he calls a "game-changing" shift in the way city officials determine how many and what type of affordable housing units developers and landowners must provide. Star-Advertiser.

The state Department of Transportation has been fined $1.2 million and ordered to correct federal Clean Water Act stormwater violations at Honolulu and Kalaeloa harbors, it was announced Wednesday. Star-Advertiser.

Several community members criticized city plans to build a homeless "transition center" at Sand Island, accusing officials at a public meeting Wednesday of poor planning. Star-Advertiser.

Dozens of people crowded into a small cafeteria at Puuhale Elementary School in Kalihi Wednesday evening to hear city officials discuss recently announced plans to relocate as many as 100 of the city’s most troubled homeless people to a vacant parcel of land on Sand Island.  Civil Beat.

A groundbreaking and blessing ceremony was held Wednesday for a historic building in Kakaako that will be transformed into a senior community resource center. Star-Advertiser.

The accidental shooting by an off-duty police officer inside a Target store brings up questions regarding what police are telling the public. KHON2.

A Kalihi police sergeant has been stripped of his gun and badge after restaurant surveillance video surfaced showing him apparently attacking his former girlfriend. Star-Advertiser.

How do police handle abuse cases when the suspect is one of their own? Police chief Louis Kealoha reiterated Wednesday that there is specific protocol for when an officer is a suspect in any crime. But is that protocol always followed and what are the consequences when it’s not? KHON2.

Hawaii

Medical marijuana patients told a legislative task force Wednesday evening in Hilo they want a safe, legal, economical way to procure their cannabis. About 60 attended the first public hearing of the Medical Marijuana Dispensary System Task Force chaired by state Rep. Della Au Belatti, an Oahu Democrat, at the Aupuni Center. Tribune-Herald.

Businesses in a small Hawaii town are facing a slow-motion disaster as lava from Kilauea volcano oozes toward roads connecting them to the rest of the Big Island. Associated Press.

Pahoa merchants were assured Wednesday that efforts will be made to maintain some sense of normalcy should the June 27 lava flow cover Highway 130. Tribune-Herald.

Hawaii island cannabis advocate Roger Christie, who pleaded guilty in September 2013 to federal charges of marijuana trafficking and failing to file tax returns, is being released to a halfway house. Star-Advertiser.

Maui

A group of Maui County residents and organizations are suing in an attempt to stop a county voter initiative to ban GMO farming from appearing on the November ballot. Civil Beat.

A lawsuit seeking to remove the proposed genetically engineered organism farming moratorium from the Nov. 4 ballot has been filed in 2nd Circuit Court. Maui News.

With the primary over, Maui County voters are getting a clearer picture of their choices in the Nov. 4 election, which is less than eight weeks away. If the trends set by the primary are any indication, more than half of the votes cast will come in absentee ballots or early walk-ins and Maui will finish dead last in voter turnout. Maui Weekly.

Pro-development interests are flooding the West Maui county council race with political cash, hoping to topple incumbent Elle Cochran. The Carpenters union's super PAC, Forward Progress, has spent more than $50,000 on the race while the Maui Timeshare Ohana PAC's spending has topped $80,0000. Hawaii News Now.

Maui Mayor Alan Arakawa joined Council Chair Gladys Baisa today in announcing the immediate restoration of regular and holiday landfill hours and trash pickup operations. Maui Now.

Kauai

Billionaire Thai-Chinese businessman Chanchai Ruayrungruang’s Reignwood International has purchased 1,103 acres at the Princeville Resort in Hanalei, including the Prince Golf Course, on the North Shore of Kauai for $343 million. Pacific Business News.

In two weeks, county taxpayers will have a say in renewed property tax reform efforts. The Kauai County Council on Wednesday approved the first step of five separate measures that aim to provide relief to some residents who saw noticeable increases on their real property tax bills for the current fiscal year. Garden Island.

The Kauai County Council will take another week to weigh its options before voting on whether to appeal a federal judge’s recent ruling that Ordinance 960 (formerly Bill 2491) related to pesticides and genetically modified crops is preempted by state law. Garden Island.

Wednesday, September 10, 2014

Preschool plan controversial, medical marijuana panel meets, rail contract redo, ACLU sues over Hawaii Island panhandling law, lava may isolate Puna, ethnic tensions between Samoans, Micronesians, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

bill signing for preschool funding
Hawaii preschoolers sing at bill signing, courtesy Governor's Office
The debate over universal preschool is heating up with the launch of competing campaigns to rally support for and against a proposed constitutional amendment that would allow public funds to be spent on private early childhood education programs. Star-Advertiser.

There is “no one model” to follow in establishing medical marijuana dispensaries, a state task force was told Tuesday. The task force, which is examining Hawaii’s medical marijuana program, discussed a new report comparing programs in other states. Civil Beat.

Any system of medical marijuana distribution centers in Hawaii would likely incorporate policies and programs that have proved successful in other states, but also accommodate the unique needs of the state's roughly 13,000 medicinal cannabis patients, officials say. Star-Advertiser.

A class-action lawsuit filed in U.S. District Court seeks to require the state to cover the cost of applied behavior analysis, or ABA, treatment for children with autism who are on Medicaid. Star-Advertiser.

The Office of Hawaiian Affairs and the Native Hawaiian Roll Commission have relaunched the drive to add names to the list of Native Hawaiians participating in the nation-building process. Star-Advertiser.

Oahu

City officials are starting over in their search for a company to build the first rail stations, hoping to curb construction costs that are $110 million over projections, but risking a one-year delay in the system's initial opening. Star-Advertiser.

Aggressive cost containment is necessary if Honolulu plans to stay within budget on its $5.2 billion rail project, according to a recent report from a federal contractor hired to oversee design and construction progress. Civil Beat.

The Honolulu Board of Water Supply's plan to put in a new customer care and billing system was "fraught with problems" that not only caused the agency to "back-bill" a number of its customers, but contributed to the eventual cost skyrocketing to more than three times its original price tag, according to a city auditor's report released Tuesday. Star-Advertiser.

A dusty plot of land in the heavily industrial area of Sand Island that the city is proposing as a homeless encampment could have hazardous levels of contaminants such as arsenic and lead left over from solid waste and ash dumps that were operated nearby for decades, according to Hawaii Department of Health records. Civil Beat.

Honolulu residents will get an opportunity to sound off on a new plan to temporarily move homeless people to Sand Island. The city will hold a community meeting tonight to discuss the proposal…one of several aimed at dealing with Hawai‘i’s growing homeless problem. Hawaii Public Radio.

Photovoltaic system permits on Oahu declined to their lowest level in three years in August despite the island leading the nation at midyear for the highest percentage of customers with rooftop solar. Star-Advertiser.

Crews have just begun sifting through 230 truckloads of dirt at Radford contaminated with mercury, lead and arsenic. KITV4.

A dispute involving wild ducks has divided a downtown condo. A management decision about their future has definitely ruffled some feathers. Hawaii News Now.

Construction is expected to start Oct. 1 to convert a former military barracks at the old Barbers Point Naval Air Station in Kalaeloa into affordable rental apartments following state approval of the plan Tuesday. Star-Advertiser.

Ethnic tension between Samoans and Micronesians leads to huge street fight in Honolulu, 4 injured. Hawaii News Now.

Hawaii

A homeless Hawaii Island man has joined the American Civil Liberties Union to file suit against Hawaii County officials, claiming the county code provisions regarding panhandling are unconstitutional. West Hawaii Today.

County Civil Defense Administrator Darryl Oliveira said Tuesday night officials are “looking at multiple other ways to create connectivity” in the event lava from the June 27 flow crosses Highway 130 and isolates lower Puna. Tribune-Herald.

County officials spent another evening reassuring the public that their government is working on all contingency plans in the face of advancing lava, even as new flow projections disturbed residents. Big Island Video News.

Hawaii County expects to begin improving Government Beach Road early next week or possibly sooner as a lava flow threatens to cut off access to lower Puna, said Public Works Director Warren Lee. Tribune-Herald.

Fresh from restoring power to thousands of lower Puna residents after Tropical Storm Iselle, Hawaii Electric Light Co. is prepping for the possibility of outages wrought by lava from Kilauea volcano. Tribune-Herald.

Residents: Hawaii lava part of living in paradise. Associated Press.

Maui

Hawaii Gov. Neil Abercrombie has released $5 million to fund the construction of the Central Maui Regional Sports Complex just a week after Maui homeowners filed a lawsuit to stop the project. Civil Beat.

Governor Neil Abercrombie today announced the release of $5 million that will be used toward the construction of the Central Maui Regional Sports Complex, currently under construction in Waikapū. Maui Now.

West Maui residents will be able to recycle glass, cardboard, newspapers and other materials currently not easily recyclable on the west side, during a series of events organized by two Maui County council members from September to December at the Lahaina Cannery Mall parking lot. Maui News.

The Grand Wailea, A Waldorf Astoria Resort, will undergo a $30 million renovation to the Maui resort's guestroom interiors, meeting areas and pools, with a completion date set for early 2015. The rooms were last renovated in 2009. Pacific Business News.

Kauai

The Kauai County Council will consider five measures today that seek to provide relief for residents who, in some cases, saw their real property tax bills increase over the last two months by hundreds of dollars, if not thousands. Garden Island.

Despite recent headlines, encounters between dogs and Hawaiian monk seals are actually quite rare. Garden Island.

Tuesday, September 9, 2014

Delays cost Honolulu rail $75.4M, candidates and PACs face fines, Hannemann struggles to raise money, senior high-rise may come to Waikiki, lava continues northward trek, Kauai struggles with GMO ruling, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

photo courtesy Honolulu Authority for Rapid Transportation
Rail column construction, courtesy Honolulu Authority for Rapid Transportation
In a Friday communication with the Honolulu City Council, the Honolulu Authority for Rapid Transit says it lost $75.4 million in change orders for the West Oahu Guideway, the Kamehameha Guideway and the Maintenance and Storage Facility. KITV4.

Dozens of Hawaii candidates for elected office and political action committees are facing fines Wednesday before the state Campaign Spending Commission for various violations. In all, the commission’s agenda — its longest in years — includes 20 proposed conciliation agreements, mostly over failing to file campaign finance reports on time, and 19 dockets for complaints including the use of campaign money for personal expenses. Civil Beat.

Independent candidate for governor Mufi Hannemann, who has raised six percent of the money this year compared to his last gubernatorial race four years ago, is getting some big financial help from his multi-millionaire sister and brother-in-law. Hawaii News Now.

Despite being among the first states to approve the use of medical marijuana, certified patients in Hawaii still face challenges tied to access and transporting the drug in the isles, according to a new report to the state Legislature. Star-Advertiser.

A federal appeals court in San Francisco waded again into the debate over the constitutionality of gay marriage, with attorneys for both sides arguing over whether legalizing it would harm children. The three judges on the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals — two of whom have ruled in previous cases in favor of gay rights — reserved many of their most pointed questions for the defenders of state bans in Idaho, Nevada and Hawaii. Associated Press.

Mark Takai Says He Wants to ‘Knock Some Sense’ into Congress. Democratic candidate for 1st Congressional District discusses a variety of topics, including the military and Hawaii's high cost of living. Civil Beat.

Opinion: What’s interesting about HECO’s recently released Power Supply Improvement Plans is what is not in them. After 2,731 pages and $17 million in taxpayer-funded studies, there is not a single mention of Big Wind on Lanai or Molokai, and the vaunted undersea cable is barely mentioned. Civil Beat.

Oahu

A plan by the Honolulu City Council to provide tax breaks for homeowners in the so-called Residential A category who live in the properties they own but do not receive a homeowner exemption could cost city coffers more than $700,000, finance officials said in a release issued late Monday. Star-Advertiser.

The per capita rate of homelessness in Hawaii already tops all other states, and service providers and advocates here say it will get worse without immediate steps to create more affordable housing so that homeless people can rapidly be placed in permanent residences. Star-Advertiser.

Seniors seeking assisted-living options might get another option near Waikiki if a developer can pull off plans to acquire land and build a high-rise complex on Kala­kaua Avenue. Star-Advertiser.

Kamehameha Schools said it's nearly completed with the first stage of its clean up of an alleged illegal landfill site at its Kapalama Heights campus. Hawaii News Now.

The Navy's Red Hill fuel storage farm has "inadequate" fire protection infrastructure, and operations in the underground complex create a "high potential for a fire," the Pentagon's logistics agency said in a $50 million request for fire protection upgrades. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii

The June 27 lava flow could reach Pahoa Village Road in 16 to 18 days, according to Hawaiian Volcano Observatory. That’s based on one of several potential directions the flow could take. One path could take the lava to the area where the road and Highway 130 meet on the Hilo side, Babb said, which is why HVO’s latest update posted Monday evening references the village’s main road. Tribune-Herald.

The June 27 lava flow continues to move north in the Wao Kele o Puna Forest Reserve, and could reach the government road in Pāhoa within 16-18 days. A new Volcanic Activity Notice was issued by the USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory on Monday evening. Big Island Video News.

Kaohe Homestead residents are learning some valuable lessons as lava from the June 27 flow sizzles and glows less than a mile away. Star-Advertiser.

A task force focused on updating county property tax policies is taking a dim view of special tax breaks for organic farms. The county Real Property Tax Stakeholders Task Force said Monday that organic produce falls into one of four current categories qualifying for lower land evaluation and there’s no need to create another just for organic farms. West Hawaii Today.

Maui

More than a hundred thousand American troops were stationed on Maui at the height of World War II. In their leisure time they would watch movies, drink with locals and take their girls to Giggle Hill in Haiku, where the giggles of young women could be heard into the night. Maui News.

Kauai

Whether the county should — or can legally — move forward with the Environmental and Public Health Impact Study portion of Ordinance 960, in light of a court ruling that struck down the county law, is up for debate. Proponents said that nothing in Kurren’s decision invalidates the fact-finding and research initiated by the County Council and authorized and funded by two council actions independent of Ordinance 960 that appropriated $100,000 for the process. County administration, however, sees things differently. Garden Island.

Monday, September 8, 2014

Appeals court to hear gay marriage bans today, medical marijuana problems outlined in new report, lava veers away from homes, Maui to audit Solid Waste Division, new GMO group spends thousands on TV ads, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

courtesy photo
Gay in Hawaii, courtesy photo
The federal appeals court in San Francisco has already issued two significant gay rights rulings: In 2012, it struck down California's same-sex wedding ban and this year it extended protections against discrimination to gay and lesbians. Now, three judges on the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals -- all appointed by Democrats and two of whom joined in the civil rights ruling this year -- are set to hear arguments Monday on gay marriage bans in Idaho, Nevada and Hawaii. Associated Press.

Three judges on the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals are expected to hear arguments on Monday on gay marriage bans in Hawaii, Idaho and Nevada. Civil Beat.

A new report released Sunday details some of the difficulties that 13,000 medical marijuana patients go through trying to obtain the drug because there are no dispensaries or legal ways to buy pot in Hawaii, 14 years after passage of legislation to help suffering patients. Hawaii News Now.

Medical Marijuana Program Marked By ‘Glaring Uncertainties’. Dispensary task force report details recommendations to Hawaii Legislature; public testimony sought. Civil Beat.

The Hawaii Medical Marijuana Dispensary Task Force has just released a report on ways to fix the system governing medical marijuana. The 87-page report could decide the future of a dispensary system for medical marijuana. KHON2.

Pat Saiki, the chairwoman of the Hawaii Republican Party, told party leaders on Saturday that the Republican National Committee has invested in the islands to help Republican candidates win in November. Star-Advertiser.

Former Lt. Gov. James "Duke" Aiona has reintroduced himself to voters this year in a softer hue of Republican red, as a former judge, youth basketball coach, substitute teacher and grandfather who would restore trust, respect and balance to Washington Place. Star-Advertiser.

The Hawaii State Department of Education will reinstate the controversial “Pono Choices” sex education curriculum, but after pressure from some parents and lawmakers, the program for middle school students will include some key revisions. Hawaii Reporter.

Hawaii regulators have given the state approval to issue $150 million in bonds to provide low-cost capital for a proposed loan program that would expand access to solar energy systems and other clean energy improvements for Hawaii consumers who have had a hard time getting financing for such projects. Pacific Business News.

Oahu

Operations at the city's Emergency Medical Services Division appear to be running smoothly following a conversion to 12-hour shifts that took place Aug. 31 for most of the roughly 200 paramedics and emergency medical technicians, EMS officials said. Star-Advertiser.

Work to carve out a lane of South King Street reserved only for bicyclists is set to begin Monday and be open by the end of the year, city officials said. Star-Advertiser.

There is a high risk of a fire at the Navy’s Red Hill Underground Fuel Storage Facility in Halawa, according to Department of Defense budget documents. The federal agency wants nearly $50 million for the 2015 fiscal year to make improvements to the facility’s fire suppression and ventilation systems. Civil Beat.

The University of Hawaii is reviving plans to lease excess land surrounding its West Oahu campus for commercial development in hopes of both generating revenue and preventing other interests from cashing in on the lucrative real estate. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii

Lava advance continues, still no threat. County Civil Defense said in a Sunday morning message the June 27 lava flow advanced about 200 yards in the previous day and was continuing to move very slowly northward. Tribune-Herald.

Lava flow takes a northern turn away from Ka'ohe. Lava about 0.7 miles away from Ka'ohe Homesteads. KITV4.

Lava flow creeps north, no threat to Puna homes. Star-Advertiser.

A flyover on Sunday morning shows that lava from Kilauea is still slowly advancing. Hawaii News Now.

As the June 27 lava flow continues its advance on populated areas in lower Puna, one question consistently pops up during community discussions on the subject: Is there anything we can do to stop or redirect nature’s fury? Tribune-Herald.

Turns out you can fight City Hall after all. That’s the experience of Arlene Kimata, a petite middle-aged Hilo woman who single-handedly waged a successful campaign against the operation of an industrial baseyard in her residential neighborhood. West Hawaii Today.

State biologist Bill Walsh offered two slightly different takes Thursday on the state of reef fish in West Hawaii at the Symposium on Kona’s Marine Ecosystem. West Hawaii Today.

A conflicted Windward Planning Commission, faced with two dozen speakers asking it to slow down a study of health impacts of the Puna Geothermal Venture plant, on Thursday told the county administration to seek input from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. West Hawaii Today.

Maui
Maui County’s debate over genetically modified farming hit the airwaves last week as a new organization ran its first TV spots. Citizens Against the Maui County Farming Ban spent more than $80,000 last week running ads on four local TV stations during news hours and shows like “Criminal Minds” and “Hawaii 5-0,” according to data from the Federal Communications Commission. Civil Beat.

Maui County Council Member Mike White says Mayor Alan Arakawa wants voters in November to elect a more compliant County Council to advance his agenda in another four-year term. Maui News.

The Maui Police Commission has selected Tivoli Faaumu as the new Police Chief for Maui County. Maui Now.

Tivoli Faaumu, a 29-year police veteran who won support from both police officers and the community as captain of the Kihei Patrol District, was selected Friday as the new Maui County police chief. Maui News.

The Maui County Council voted Friday to conduct a performance audit of the Solid Waste Division in light of what some council members are calling a "crisis" situation created by a reduction in trash collection and landfill services in a clash with Mayor Alan Arakawa over staffing and budgeting for the division. Maui News.

Kauai

The Kauai County Planning Commission, during a recent meeting, unanimously gave its initial stamp of approval to a proposed subdivision, which would be built on one of the last vacant lots on Makahuena Point. Plans by Anchorage, Alaska-based company Cook Inlet Region, Inc. would develop 10 homes on the now vacant 14-acre property on Makahuena Point. Garden Island.

The Kauai Chamber of Commerce has scheduled a series of political forums leading up to the Nov. 4 general election. Garden Island.

Friday, September 5, 2014

Hawaii mayor signs emergency proclamation as lava advances, Mauna Loa volcano grumbles with earthquakes, Council on Revenues lowers forecast, sex ed curriculum approved, FEMA releases Maui flood maps, state Senate power struggle underway, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

USGS
Lava flow seen in deep cracks, courtesy USGS
Mayor Billy Kenoi signed an emergency proclamation Thursday as residents of Hawaii Island's Kaohe Homesteads subdivision learned that lava from Kilauea Volcano was just 0.8 of a mile away and could reach them within a week. Star-Advertiser.

With a lava flow potentially days from reaching Kaohe Homesteads, several Puna residents pressed Hawaii County officials at a meeting Thursday evening to try to divert or stop its advance. And just as many in the crowd responded — leave Pele alone. Tribune-Herald.

courtesy USGS
Lava flow, courtesy USGS
Lava from Kilauea continues to inch its way closer to homes in Puna. Hawaii County Mayor Billy Kenoi signed Thursday an emergency proclamation for the advancing lava flow in the Wao Kele O Puna area after the flow extended to less than a mile from the edge of the Kaohe Homesteads subdivision. KHON2.

Rural Hawaii residents still recovering from a recent tropical storm are keeping a nervous eye on slowly advancing lava that may reach their community within a week. Lava from Kilauea volcano is within less than a mile of Kaohe Homesteads, authorities said. Lava could reach the community in five to seven days if it continues on its current path, geologists with the Hawaiian Volcano Observatory said. Associated Press.

Scientists have recently recorded increased seismic activity at Mauna Loa volcano on the Big Island of Hawaii. In their most recent monthly report, United States Geological Survey scientists noted the largest swarm of small earthquakes in almost a decade. Hawaii News Now.

The state will have at least $100 million less than expected to fund government programs and pay public workers over the next year, based on the Hawaii Council on Revenues’ latest forecast. It was the fifth quarterly meeting in a row that the council has downgraded its revenue forecast. Civil Beat.

The Council on Revenues sharply lowered its forecast for Hawaii economic growth. Hawaii News Now.

Former Lt. Gov. James "Duke" Aiona said Thursday that he supports an Early College program that would help set low-income public school students on paths toward college and business careers. Star-Advertiser.

Republican gubernatorial candidate Duke Aiona told a group of supporters Wednesday in Hilo that he expects a close finish in the Nov. 4 general election. Tribune-Herald.

Even with the general election still eight weeks away, maneuvering for top positions and chairmanships in the Hawaii state Senate is already under way. Civil Beat.

Hawaii is too small of a market to be a test bed for energy innovation, and the rest of the world should take the lead in this crucial area, according to an internationally-known energy expert. Pacific Business News.

The controversial Pono Choices sex education program can again be taught in public middle schools, the Department of Education announced Thursday, saying several revisions have made by the program's developers at the University of Hawaii at Manoa to improve the curriculum and address public concerns. Star-Advertiser.

A federal judge on Thursday approved $2.4 million in settlements between the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission and four Hawaii farms as co-defendants in a discrimination suit filed against Global Horizons, an employment agency that managed and mistreated 500 Thai farmworkers. Garden Island.

Oahu

A scathing audit of the city Department of Customer Services' Motor Vehicle, Licensing and Permits Division found the often-criticized agency lacking -- largely in the area of customer service. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii

The U.S. Department of Agriculture designated Hawaii County on Wednesday as a primary natural disaster area because of damage and losses caused by Tropical Storm Iselle. Tribune-Herald.

Federal disaster loans and other assistance are available for farmers who suffered losses from the wind, rain, and flooding from Tropical Storm Iselle. Star-Advertiser.

A conflicted Windward Planning Commission, faced with two dozen speakers asking it to slow down a study of health impacts of the Puna Geothermal Venture plant, on Thursday told the county administration to seek input from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. West Hawaii Today.

Four independent scientists say they see no impact from freshwater pumping on resources within Kaloko-Honokohau National Historical Park, a former Department of Land and Natural Resources chairman said Thursday. West Hawaii Today.

Maui

The Federal Emergency Management Agency has released new flood insurance rate maps that have been revised for areas of Molokaʻi and Maui. Maui Now.

Kihei police Capt. Tivoli Faaumu is the top choice to be the next police chief among Maui County police officers who want to see change, a police union official said Wednesday. Maui News.

As promised, Mayor Alan Arakawa's administration submitted a proposed budget amendment Wednesday afternoon requesting four expansion positions for the Environmental Management Department that were previously denied by the Maui County Council to end the reductions in landfill and trash pickup services. Maui News.

Construction has just begun on a large sports development in central Maui. But while young athletes and their coaches may be excited about the project, a group of local homeowners in Kahului is not. And they’re suing the county and the state to stop it. Hawaii Public Radio.

Kauai

Brigitte D’Annibale has lived in Puhi for the past 15 years and said she has seen the heavily-traveled thoroughfare in front of her home, Puhi Road, gradually fall apart. Garden Island.

Thursday, September 4, 2014

Hawaiian paradise eroding, Puna to get federal ag relief for Tropical Storm Iselle, lava within a mile of homes, Oahu sends mulch to incinerator, solar power backlog tops 4k, Maui mayor storms out of meeting amid trash gripes, Kauai council debates ag-research land tax, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

copyright 2014 All Hawaii News all rights reserved
Ka'u coastline © 2014 All Hawaii News
The look of paradise is changing: Rising seas mowing over reefs that were once able to slow and break the swells are starting to swallow Hawaii’s iconic white beaches. Civil Beat.

Red Cross urges climate change preparedness. The disaster relief organization is calling on governments and international organizations at the Conference on Small Island Developing States to take concrete actions to reduce climate-change related disaster risks. Hawaii Independent.

The Hawaii Civil Rights Commission is holding a research organization and its CEO liable for religious and sexual harassment and discrimination of a former executive director. Associated Press.

Oahu

About 4,400 rooftop solar applications on Oahu are waiting to be approved by Hawaiian Electric Co. while the utility and solar companies blame each other for the stall in photovoltaic installations. Star-Advertiser.

Hoopili Decisions Loom: ‘Prime Farmland’ May Give Way in West Oahu. While tractors roll along in the shadows of rail pillars, a huge housing development awaits Supreme Court and City Council action. Civil Beat.

Mulch to be incinerated in attempt to eradicate coconut rhinoceros beetle. KHON2.

After the state installed concrete barriers at Laniakea Beach last December, a new wooden barrier has appeared literally overnight along the beach. But both the city and the state said they have nothing to do with it. Hawaii News Now.

After years of complaints and thousands of dollars in fines, City and County of Honolulu councilmembers are moving forward on a plan to clean up a neglected house in Kaimuki. But some fear the proposed solution may go too far. KHON2.

Hale Kula Elementary School's librarian beat out 91 other public and private school librarians nationwide to be named School Librarian of the Year by School Library Journal. Star-Advertiser.

Since the University of Hawaii Shidler College of Business began admitting freshmen its undergraduate program three years ago, the college has seen interest from new students increase each year. Pacific Business News.

Hawaii

FEMA said no but the USDA says yes to a disaster declaration for the Big Island in the wake of Tropical Storm Iselle. The U.S. Agriculture Department's Farm Service Agency has declared a "primary natural disaster" for Hawaii County, triggering the availability of emergency loans for some qualifying farmers. Hawaii News Now.

Hawaii County Civil Defense could elevate the lava threat level for Puna residents to a warning from a watch Thursday. Star-Advertiser.

State and county officials on Wednesday visited with residents within the 40-or-so households in Kaohe Homesteads in advance of a possible evacuation because of encroaching lava. Tribune-Herald.

Hawaii County Civil Defense crews are making the rounds in Puna. They're warning people to make their exit plans, in case the lava reaches their homes. Hawaii News Now.

Hawaii County is moving forward on the final phase of converting 10,000 street lights to energy-saving light-emitting diode, or LED, lights. West Hawaii Today.

Maui

Mayor Alan Arakawa stormed out of a Maui County Council Budget and Finance Committee meeting Tuesday afternoon while council members discussed recent cutbacks in landfill hours and trash pickup services. Maui News.

The Maui County Council Budget and Finance Committee recommended passage of a resolution Tuesday that would allow the county to move forward with its proposal to buy about 4 acres in Alexander & Baldwin's Maui Business Park II in Kahului. Maui News.

Maui Memorial Medical Center (MMMC), the only acute care hospital on the island, with approximately 200 beds, has financial difficulties again. It has problems as part of the Hawai'i Health Systems Corporation (HHSC). It has problems with collective bargaining. And it has problems with getting adequate funds from the state Legislature. Maui Weekly.

A national meeting to address coral reef issues will be held on Maui next week. Maui Now.

Seventeen individuals were added to the Maui Police Department’s Crisis Intervention Team during the program’s fourth graduation ceremony, held on Friday. Maui Now.

Kauai

After circulating several amendments, and following a spirited discussion, a Kauai County Council committee on Wednesday deferred for another two weeks a bill that seeks to tax crop-research land separate from other agricultural land. Garden Island.

A small but outspoken group was on hand for the Lihue Community Plan meeting Wednesday at the War Memorial Convention Hall. Garden Island.

Molokai

Molokai residents can learn how to transform scrap lumber into a powerful soil amendment at a Biochar Production Workshop on Friday, Sept. 5. Molokai Dispatch.

Wednesday, September 3, 2014

Arizona Memorial ticket scam probed, Aiona would perform gay marriage, teamsters endorse Hannemann, medical marijuana dispensaries mulled, lava threat increases, Chinatown to house homeless, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

courtesy photo
USS Arizona Memorial courtesy photo
A report by the National Parks Service shows that commercial tour operators have been taking advantage of the Arizona Memorial's free passes policy to make a profit, while under the less-than-watchful eyes of the memorial's operators. Hawaii Independent.

The state Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism is surveying Hawaii residents this month to gather data on how much it costs to live in Hawaii. Civil Beat.

Hawaii bankruptcy filings plunged 18.5 percent in August to their second lowest level of the year. Star-Advertiser.

Republican gubernatorial candidate Duke Aiona, a same-sex marriage opponent and former judge who's performed weddings for 24 years, told Hawaii News Now he would reluctantly marry a same-sex couple as required by law. Aiona is a Catholic who's been clear that he opposes gay marriage, but it's not a major part of his campaign for governor. Hawaii News Now.

Should Hawaii follow the lead of some other states and restrict medical marijuana to large state-run dispensaries and massive growing operations? Or should it allow small farmers to obtain licenses to grow enough for themselves and a few other patients? West Hawaii Today.

The Hawaii Teamsters & Allied Workers Union, Local 996, representing more than 6,000 members in Hawaii and Guam, has endorsed gubernatorial candidate Mufi Hannemann. Civil Beat.

This year marked the first time there was a primary contest for the Office of Hawaiian Affairs, the idea being to obtain a larger pool of candidates instead of the same trustees who seem to win election after election. Civil Beat.

Hawaii has about four times as many vacation rentals for travelers than the state’s tourism agency previously believed. Associated Press.

Island Air said Tuesday that David Pflieger will take over as president and CEO of the Hawaii interisland airline, effective Oct. 1. Pacific Business News.

The Hawaii State Department of Health has a newly renovated lobby and marriage license office. The department says the renovation was the vision of the department's former director Loretta Fuddy, who died after the plane she was a passenger in crashed-landed in the ocean off Molokai in December. Associated Press.

Oahu

Residents of Pauahi Hale, a low-income high-rise in downtown Chinatown, will be getting new neighbors in the coming months. The city plans to use a substantial portion of the building to house homeless people struggling with mental illness and alcohol and drug abuse. Civil Beat.

A busy 2.3-mile stretch of South Beretania Street, from University Avenue to Alapai Street, will get a major overhaul from the city during the next 13 months starting Monday, leaving area businesses and residents bracing for some delays and inconveniences. Star-Advertiser.

In the grand scheme that has become Honolulu’s $5.3 billion rail project, spending $223,000 on time-lapse video cameras may not seem like such a big deal. KITV4.

A recently retired career Army engineer was nominated to lead the city's Department of Design and Construction by Honolulu Mayor Kirk Caldwell Tuesday. Star-Advertiser.

The price tag for a new $2.3 million all-weather track at Radford High School ballooned to $10.3 million after the discovery of both contaminants and munitions in the soil of the athletic field it surrounds. Star-Advertiser.

It’s an ongoing challenge for state officials. How do you to stop contraband from getting into the hands of prisoners? KHON2.

New guests at a Waikīkī hotel are creating some buzz. 80,000 honey bees have taken up residence at the beachfront resort. Hawaii Public Radio.

Prominent East Oahu Realtor Sentenced for Money Laundering Scheme. Hawaii Reporter.

Hawaii

The Hawaiian Volcano Observatory plans to soon increase the lava threat level from a watch to a warning as a lava flow could be a week away from reaching Kaohe Homesteads. Tribune-Herald.

It was the question on everyone's mind Tuesday: Where will the lava go next? Star-Advertiser.

While Hawaii County Civil Defense announced its plans to give homeowners at least five days notice should evacuation be necessary because of the June 27 lava flow, that might not leave much time for residents looking to relocate large numbers of animals. Tribune-Herald.

Gov. Neil Abercrombie announced Tuesday the release of $2.8 million for renovation projects on Hawaii Island as part of a larger $9.2 million allotment of capital improvement funds to upgrade and improve state hospital facilities and fund water treatment projects across the state. Tribune-Herald.

The Marine Mammal Center's Ke Kai Ola, a new hospital dedicated to the rescue and care of critically endangered Hawaiian monk seals, was blessed and its grand opening celebrated Tuesday. West Hawaii Today.

Maui

Maui Electric Co. has signed a 15-year agreement with FortisBC Energy to buy liquefied natural gas capacity, MECO has disclosed. Maui News.

Haleakalā National Park marks the 50th anniversary of the Wilderness Act tomorrow, a measure that gave public lands their highest level of protection when it was signed into law in 1964, park officials announced. Maui Now.

The Maui County Cultural Resources Commission will continue its discussion on proposed revisions to design guidelines for signs in the Lahaina Historic District at its Thursday meeting. Maui News.

The Maui Ocean Center in Māʻalaea welcomes six baby green sea turtles during a traditional Hawaiian blessing ceremony today, aquarium administrators announced. Maui Now.

Kauai

A total of 20 Hawaii Health Systems Corp. employees — 12 at Kauai Veterans Memorial Hospital in Kawaihau and eight at Samuel Mahelona Memorial Hospital in Kapaa — received layoff notices. Three other positions slated to be reduced were vacant when the layoffs were handed out on Tuesday and will be eliminated instead. Garden Island.

Anticipating ag ads. Hawaii Farm Bureau to spend $400K on PR campaign. Garden Island.

Kauai residents are invited to attend community meetings to ask questions and address concerns with the Kauai Fire Department. Garden Island.

State officials are testing emergency sirens on Kauai this week. The Hawaii Emergency Management Agency says testing will be conducted Wednesday through Friday. Associated Press.

Tuesday, September 2, 2014

Thousands comment on Native Hawaiian recognition, land reform recommended, Abercrombie thinks gay marriage sunk re-election bid, Maui group forms to save GMOs, counties seek hotel tax, lava continues slow march toward Puna homes, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

copyright 2014 All Hawaii News all rights reserved
State Rep. Faye Hanohano sings at July 2014 Department of the Interior hearing © 2014 All Hawaii News
More than 5,000 comments about Native Hawaiian recognition are being processed by the U.S. Department of the Interior, according to a government website. West Hawaii Today.

A governor's task force has recommended sweeping changes to the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands' controversial month-to-month land leasing program, addressing flaws that the Honolulu Star-Advertiser exposed in a series of articles last year.

Maui, Kauai, Hawaii and Honolulu counties want more money from the state — tens of millions of dollars more — to help offset the cost of providing services that visitors use, ranging from roads to rescue. Council members and mayors are already ramping up for the next legislative session, which starts in January, strategizing how they might grab a bigger slice of the state’s hotel tax revenue. Civil Beat.

Attorney General David M. Louie announced Friday that the Hawaii Supreme Court dismissed three separate challenges to the primary election that was held on August 9, 2014 and August 15, 2014. Hawaii Reporter

Democratic gubernatorial candidate David Ige has won the endorsement of the state's largest union, which will help him compete with two better-known candidates but brings criticism from Republicans that he's too close to organized labor. Hawaii News Now.

Hawaii state Sen. David Ige surprised political observers when he pulled off a historic upset, beating incumbent Gov. Neil Abercrombie in the Democratic primary for governor. Now, Ige is heading into the General Election in November, when even a pollster who predicted he would trounce Abercrombie in a landslide won’t call him the front-runner despite the state’s heavy Democratic leanings. Associated Press.

5 things to know about Hawaii elections. Associated Press.

Hawaii Gov. Neil Abercrombie said he lost his bid for re-election in a Democratic primary because of his decision to call a special session to legalize gay marriage. Associated Press.

Opinion: Abercrombie the Martyr. Hawaii's governor blames his electoral fall on the gay marriage special session. But is he just trying to make himself feel better after a crushing defeat? Civil Beat.

Opinion: Democratic gubernatorial candidate David Ige was barely known to Hawaii voters when he trounced Gov. Neil Abercrombie last month in the biggest upset of an incumbent governor in a primary election in U.S. history. Civil Beat.

Poor school attendance resulted in lower test scores for Hawaii fourth- and eighth-graders who missed more days than their peers, according to a national study released Tuesday linking school attendance to student achievement and learning. Star-Advertiser.

Oahu

Honolulu’s motor vehicles department shrugged off concerns about long wait times for obtaining driver’s licenses, state identification cards and other services and failed to implement improvements put forward by Mayor Kirk Caldwell’s administration, according to a city audit released late Friday afternoon. Civil Beat.

Authorities on Thursday approved spending additional money for a study that will determine whether to replace or renovate the aging Aloha Stadium. Associated Press.

Labors of love help save seals. Volunteer DB Dunlap has kept an eye on Hawaiian monk seals for 13 years. Star-Advertiser.

Disaster preparedness fairs will be held in both Ewa Beach and Manoa over the next two weekends. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii

In addition to a wealth of candidates on the Nov. 4 General Election ballot, Hawaii County voters will have five state constitutional amendments and one county charter amendment to vote up or down. West Hawaii Today.

Lava continued to advance northeast Sunday through the Wao Kele o Puna Forest Reserve, and was about 1.2 miles from a rural neighborhood on the reserve’s eastern boundary, according to the Hawaiian Volcano Observatory. Tribune-Herald.

Maui

A group of some 1,500 farmers, ranchers, residents and others has formed to support genetically modified organism operations in Maui County, and rival the anti-GMO group SHAKA Movement. Maui News.

The Maui Police Commission will hold a meeting to interview and discuss Maui police chief candidates at 9:30 a.m. Wednesday in the Maui Beach Hotel's Elleair Rainbow Room in Kahului. Maui News.

Maui County is partnering with a Canadian company to use an assessment analysis program that uses digital photographs, building sketches and analytics to expedite and more accurately assess property in the county, the company and Maui County have confirmed. Maui News.

Kauai

There will be one new class on the county’s real property tax rolls next year. A divided Kauai County Council approved a measure Wednesday that would create a new tax class called residential investor, which would apply to improved properties without tax exemptions that are worth at least $2 million. Garden Island.

Kauai’s recyclables, for the most part, don’t stick around. Instead, they are shipped as near as Oahu and as far as China. Garden Island.

Marriott Vacations Worldwide is in negotiations to sell its Kauai Lagoons project, one of the largest Hawaii construction projects to be stalled by the Great Recession, to Hawaii developer Ed Bushor for $60 million. Pacific Business News.