Hawaii Island tent city a microcosm of native governance, Ige mulling GMO, Maui GMO foes advance amendment, lieutenant governor candidates campaign, $604M budget for Maui, state pension examined, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Native Hawaiian camp at Puhi Bay © 2014 All Hawaii News

What do Native Hawaiians want? It depends whom you ask. West Hawaii Today.

© 2014 All Hawaii News

The squeals of children just released from school and thuds of hammers tightening tent poles fill the Puhi Bay shoreline in Keaukaha. It’s summer, and Native Hawaiian families are moving to the sea. West Hawaii Today.

State Sen. David Ige said Saturday that he would reconsider his opposition to GMO labeling in Hawaii and look to a Vermont law signed in May as a possible solution. Star-Advertiser.

Clayton Hee officially opened his campaign headquarters Sunday in the race for lieutenant governor. Dozens of supporters, including former Gov. Ben Cayetano and Honolulu City Prosecutor Keith Kaneshiro, greeted the candidate at the headquarters in Nuuanu. Hawaii News Now.

Lt. Gov. Shan Tsutsui, a Democrat, has spent nearly $40,000 to run two ads nearly 100 times in the past two weeks, according to Civil Beat research. Both ads aim to remind voters who he is. Civil Beat.

As the incumbent, Lt. Gov. Shan Tsutsui finds himself in the position of campaigning for a job he never sought in the first place. Star-Advertiser

Many of the top-notch Hawaii teachers who work with the state’s most struggling students will no longer get the annual bonuses they have long received as a perk for helping turn around underperforming schools. Civil Beat.

Hawaii is making its sex education classes for middle school students opt-in, responding to critics by giving parents responsibility to affirm they want their children to be taught the course. Associated Press.

Will Hawaii Ever Climb Out of Its $27 Billion Hole? Taxpayers could see important services cut or higher taxes if they have to pay even more for pensions and health care benefits for retired public workers. Civil Beat.

Hawaii pension officials aren’t the only ones promising taxpayers increased openness when it comes to the financial condition of the state’s public retirement system. Civil Beat.

Hawaii’s pension and retiree health care funds are like a giant black hole in the state’s future. It’s growing bigger, getting closer and threatening to swallow important public services if we don’t figure out how to get rid of it. Civil Beat.

Drug poisonings, or overdoses, have overtaken motor vehicle accidents in recent years as the leading cause of fatal injuries in Hawaii. Star-Advertiser

Nearly one in five of Hawaii’s waitlisted patients—that is, those remaining in a hospital after the need for acute care ceases—have an infectious disease, according to discharge data analyzed by the Hawaii Health Information Corporation (HHIC), the state’s premier healthcare data collector and analyzer. Hawaii Reporter.

The so called “Stevie Wonder Blunder” case in which Marc Hubbard, 44, of Mecklenburg, N.C., and Sean Barriero, 44, of Miami were charged with conning the University of Hawaii out of $200,000 after falsely claiming to be Stevie Wonder’s agents, is taking two of Hawaii’s top law enforcement to Spain next week. Hawaii Reporter.

Oahu

The Honolulu Ethics Commission is recommending a city employee be suspended up to three days for operating a side business expediting building permits. Associated Press.

City transit officials appear to finally be gaining speed in approving Honolulu's much-anticipated new Handi-Vans — months after the vehicles first started arriving on island, and as clients voice concerns about a recent fire that destroyed a van minutes after its passengers escaped. Star-Advertiser.

The median price of a single-family home on Oahu rose 8 percent in May, while the median price for a condominium increased 13 percent, according to statistics released Saturday by the Honolulu Board of Realtors. Pacific Business News.

Hawaii

Unemployment is inching downward and construction and other markets are showing signs of life. But the number of people lining up to receive state supplements for food purchases just keeps increasing. West Hawaii Today.

A report published in this month’s issue of GSA Today notes the presence of plastiglomerate on Kamilo Beach, formed by melted plastic mingling with beach sediment, basalt fragments and other types of debris. Tribune-Herald.

Maui

Citing their willingness to compromise and save taxpayers money, Maui County Council members Friday approved a $604 million county budget for fiscal 2014-15, with it set to take effect July 1. Maui News.

A Maui group that wants to ban genetically modified crops has been given a green light by election officials to advance their proposal. Associated Press.

A petition calling for a moratorium on the cultivation of genetically engineered organisms in Maui County has received the required number of signatures to advance for potential placement on the upcoming election ballot, county officials announced today. Maui Now.

While he awaits sentencing on four felony charges, Nelson Waikiki Jr. is among candidates who have filed to run for Maui County mayor. Maui News.

Kauai

As head of an agricultural group, Jerry Ornellas said he's aware of the challenges of maintaining a more than 20-mile-long ditch and tunnel water system in East Kauai — a system formerly operated by East Kauai Water, a business associated with Lihue Sugar Plantation. Star-Advertiser

Kauai County Councilman Ross Kagawa admits the past year and a half has been a tough one. Garden Island.

Turk Tetsuo Tokita, who earned two Purple Hearts fighting for the 442nd Regimental Combat Team during World War II and became a trusted political ally on Kauai to four Demo­cratic governors, died Saturday in Lihue. He was 94. Star-Advertiser.

Chinatown to get an entrance, first stretch of Honolulu elevated rail erected, Hawaii Supreme Court to mull Big Island marijuana laws, Superferry docks linger in harbor, endorsements for candidates, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Honolulu Chinatown © 2014 All Hawaii News

Despite being one of the oldest Chinatowns in the country, Honolulu's lacks an entry arch or any other significant landmark. That will soon change.Hawaii News Now.

Gov. Neil Abercrombie on Thursday picked up the endorsement of the Iron Workers Union Local 625 and the Iron Workers Stabilization Fund. The union represents 2,000 workers statewide. Star-Advertiser.

An ironworkers union is endorsing Gov. Neil Abercrombie in his bid for re-election as Hawaii governor. Associated Press.

Former Honolulu Mayor Mufi Hannemann was endorsed by two unions in his bid to become Hawaii’s next governor. The Hawaii Independent Party candidate was endorsed Thursday by the State of Hawaii Organization of Police Officers and the Hawaii Sheet Metal Workers Union Local 293. Associated Press.

The State of Hawaii Organization of Police Officers on Thursday endorsed former Honolulu Mayor Mufi Hannemann for governor, a show of confidence in Hannemann's independent campaign. Star-Advertiser.

U.S. Sen. Brian Schatz is stepping up his television ad buys as the Aug. 9 primary draws closer. Schatz spent nearly $80,000 in just two weeks, buying hundreds of spots on all Hawaii’s major TV stations and Time Warner Oceanic Cable, according to public records kept by the stations. Civil Beat.

Ad Watch: Duke Aiona Plays the Ohana Card. The GOP gubernatorial hopeful says leadership is about the next generation. Civil Beat.

The Office of Hawaiian Affairs continues to push forward with its state mandate to guide the process to establish self-governance for Native Hawaiians. Hawaii Public Radio.

Five hundred laborers brought to Hawaii from Thailand over four years beginning in 2003 by the Beverly Hills-based farm labor contractor, Global Horizons, Inc. to work on six farms will see some financial relief. The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission on Tuesday announced a multi-million dollar settlement reached in a class action national origin and race discrimination lawsuit the agency filed in 2011 against six farms. Hawaii Reporter.

Oahu

The first stretch of guideway for the island's elevated rail system is now up between columns, offering a clearer glimpse of what the project will eventually look like as it takes shape in the farmlands of West Oahu. Rail officials, state and local elected leaders, and construction managers gathered Thursday at the site of the proposed controversial Ho'opili community development in Ewa to laud the new guideway work. Star-Advertiser.

A bill in the U.S. Senate would enable Hawaii to open a new veteran health care facility on Oahu. Associated Press.

Hawaii's two U.S. senators are co-sponsors of legislation that would give Hawaii another health care facility for veterans, possibly built in Leeward Oahu and named after retired Sen. Daniel Akaka. Star-Advertiser.

Almost one year after they were sold to an equipment dealer, three barges that once were used to load and unload passengers on the now-defunct Hawaii Superferry are still floating in Honolulu Harbor, but they could be on their way out. Pacific Business News.

Federal officials are in Honolulu to help decide whether they will give a standard recertification to a somewhat obscure local transportation planning agency -- and if they don't, the move could cost traffic-plagued Oahu up to $15 million in annual federal highway dollars, local officials have warned. Star-Advertiser.

Honolulu police gave out more tickets-per-mile along King Street in the last four years for drivers using cell phones or texting than any other roadway on Oahu, according to data uncovered by Hawaii News Now.

Hawaii

There have been at least two recent victories in what electric car advocates say has been a long uphill battle to make the vehicles viable on Hawaii Island. West Hawaii Today.

Circumnavigating Hawaii Island is something many residents and visitors might take for granted, soaking in the views and experiences in a wide range of landscapes unlike anywhere else in the world. But for those who drive the most popular and affordable types of electric vehicles (EVs), it’s a trip that can’t be done. Tribune-Herald.

The Hawaii Supreme Court agreed Wednesday to consider an appeal of a lower court’s rejection of a lawsuit over the Hawaii County ballot initiative making  personal use of marijuana the “lowest law enforcement priority.” Big Island Now.

The Hawaii County Council took a step toward expanding Ahalanui Park in Puna and Kipapa Park in North Kona earlier this week. Tribune-Herald.

Curbside garbage pickup is coming to Hawaiian Ocean View Estates within the next few weeks, following approval of a special permit Thursday by the Windward Planning Commission. West Hawaii Today.

Hawaii Island builder Scott Watson and his partner had big dreams when they purchased a coastline property in Ninole and set about building what they called “the ultimate playground for the rich and famous” Tribune-Herald.

Maui

Amid of the recent scandal surrounding the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs and subsequent resignation of VA Secretary Eric Shinseki last week, ongoing dissatisfaction with VA services on Maui also is coming to light. Maui News.

Incumbent Office of Hawaiian Affairs Maui Trustee Carmen "Hulu" Lindsey will be challenged by Mahealani Wendt, the former head of the Native Hawaiian Legal Corp. in the fall election. Maui News.

A Maui man who sued the county over allegations he was pressured to stop working on a Facebook page is running for mayor. Associated Press.

Volta Industries LLC has opened two electric vehicle charging stations at the Whalers Village in Kaanapali, the company announced Thursday. Maui News.

Kauai

A coalition of concerned Kauai organizations and individuals will kick off a series of public events Saturday in protest of Rim of the Pacific — the biennial international military war games — which returns to Hawaiian waters later this month. Garden Island.

The Department of Water has installed a temporary low-capacity submersible pump to its Kalaheo deep well, to provide supplemental water service to the Kalaheo area until full restorations are completed. Garden Island.

Saving Hawaii's native duck, HECO denies buyout rumors, Abercrombie and Ige set debate, USEEOC: Kauai police discriminated, Honolulu Council approves $2.14B budget, new corp counsel on Hawaii Island, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Koloa maoli duck pair on Hawaii Island © 2014 All Hawaii News all rights reserved

State, federal and University of Hawaii wildlife experts are undertaking a yearlong campaign aimed at ensuring the survival of the Hawaiian duck, or koloa. The chocolate brown koloa maoli is an endangered species largely due to its cross-breeding with the introduced common mallard duck. Star-Advertiser.

The native Hawaiian duck, koloa maoli, is being pushed out of existence. The population of the duck has been declining for years, and experts said they believe only about 2,500 are left in the wild. KITV4.

Even wildlife biologists have a tough time telling the difference between the endangered koloa maoli (Hawaiian duck) and the common mallard. Cross-breeding or hybridization between the two species is the primary reason the endemic koloa is endangered. West Hawaii Today.

Two Democratic candidates for Hawaii governor plan to debate later this month at the Honolulu Japanese Chamber of Commerce. The chamber said Wednesday that incumbent Gov. Neil Abercrombie and state Sen. David Ige would be featured at a lunchtime forum at the Japanese Cultural Center June 24. Associated Press.

Hawaiian Electric Industries was never approached by any companies, nor did it receive any offers whatsoever to buy all of its shares, the head of one of the company’s subsidiaries told Pacific Business News on Wednesday, disputing a first-hand report this week to the contrary.

The university's longtime information technology chief says he's open to the possibility of dialing back scheduled tuition increases, but recognizes that many of the goals laid out in an agenda set by the Board of Regents come with a hefty price tag. Star-Advertiser.

August 9 is primary election day in Hawaii, so televised political debates will begin very soon. If the past is any guide, that is not a good thing unless you have an exceptional sense of civic duty, an enormous capacity for boredom or your remote is broken. Civil Beat.

The Race for Nationhood. Umi Perkins on what he sees as the race shaping up between Federal recognition and independence. Hawaii Independent.

Despite 88 percent of Hawaii’s public school principals reporting in a recent survey that they are dissatisfied with the leadership of Department of Education Superintendent Kathryn Matayoshi, the state Board of Education reappointed her to another three-year contract on Tuesday that goes into effect July 1. Hawaii Reporter.

Oahu

The Honolulu City Council has passed a $2.1 billion budget and more than $48 million is going to the homeless. Hawaii News Now.

The Honolulu City Council voted Wednesday to approve a $2.14 billion operating budget and $708.9 million package that avoids tax rate increases for most residential property owners, a fee for curbside garbage pickup and advertising on the sides of buses but directs $40 million toward homeless shelters and programs. Star-Advertiser.

The Honolulu City Council has boosted funding to combat homelessness for the 2015 fiscal year to $47.2 million. That marks, council members say, a new high. Civil Beat.

The Honolulu City Council passed the executive spending plan for the upcoming fiscal year that starts July 1st. Hawaii Public Radio.

The Navy said it will fly only two P-8A sub-hunting and surveillance jets out of Kaneohe Bay instead of the 18 it had contemplated at one time — meaning less jet noise for area residents. Star-Advertiser.

When the Honolulu City Council approved a $1.4 million settlement last month in the death of Aaron Torres, it was the largest payout in recent history involving the police department or its officers. Civil Beat.

Honolulu City Council member Carol Fukunaga wants to make sure that there is a mix of incomes among residents in three high-rise buildings in Chinatown that the city wants to sell to a private developer as part of a major public housing deal. Civil Beat.

The developer of the planned 801 South St. Building B condominium tower does not have to seek a new development permit for the project in Kakaako under a court order clarification issued Tuesday, but does have to halt construction. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii

An attorney pulled from within the ranks of the Office of Corporation Counsel is now the county’s top civil lawyer, following the County Council’s confirmation Wednesday of Molly Stebbins. West Hawaii Today.

The county clerk would serve for six years, under a charter amendment that squeaked through the Hawaii County Council on Wednesday. West Hawaii Today.

Hilo Medical Center is cutting staff positions and taking other cost-saving measures as it confronts a $9 million budget shortfall. Tribune-Herald.

Commentary: It looks like Puna Rep. Faye Hanohano has stirred up considerable interest in the Democratic primary race in District 4 in Puna. Hanohano, a Democrat whose controversial comments got her in hot water with her state House colleagues twice in the past 16 months, faces no less than five challengers in her primary. Big Island Now.

The estimated cost of decommissioning for what’s poised to be one of the world’s largest telescopes atop a sacred Hawaii mountain is $17.1 million. Tribune-Herald.

A judge on Wednesday lifted part of a temporary restraining order for construction work at Keauhou Bay, but left the order in place for a later phase of the project. West Hawaii Today.

Hawaii Island veterans had a chance to air long-standing dissatisfaction with the health care they’ve received through the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs on Wednesday night with Congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard. West Hawaii Today.

The owners of a 25-acre Pepeekeo site of an electrical power plant under construction are looking to be dismissed from a $35 million mechanic’s lien filed by the former construction contractor. Tribune-Herald.

Maui

Neldon Mamuad said he is not an angry man, but he believes he's found an opportunity to deny Mayor Alan Arakawa a third term in office. Maui News.

A Maui property management firm has reached a settlement with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency over lead-paint disclosure violations. The company, Destination Maui, failed to notify its tenants about the potential hazard. But what’s unusual is the terms they’ve agreed to. Hawaii Public Radio.

The state elections office released an uncertified list of candidates running in the 2014 election after the filing deadline passed on Tuesday afternoon. Maui Now.

Kauai

The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission has determined the Kauai Police Department retaliated against a veteran police officer after she reported alleged sexual harassment by an assistant chief. Star-Advertiser.

A round of Kauai County furloughs, imposed in response to the lingering economic crisis in 2010, may not have been necessary and was not planned or executed as well as it could have been, according to a county auditor’s report released Tuesday. Garden Island.

JoAnn Yukimura seeks 10th term on Kauai County Council. Garden Island.

The Kauai County Council Planning Committee opted Wednesday to defer action on a bill that would amend the county’s shoreline setback ordinance. Garden Island.

Kauai's electric utility will issue refunds to its members this month. The Kauai Island Utility Cooperative said Wednesday the money comes from funds the cooperative has left over after paying all its expenses and meeting lender expectations for financial stability. Hawaii News Now.

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.