Police probed on Oahu and Kauai, WWII-style planks may bridge lava flow, salary hikes nixed on Kauai, nene geese close rifle range, no corporate taxes for REITs, Carroll steps down as committee chair, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Hawaii police © 2015 All Hawaii News

Honolulu police Chief Louis Kealoha on Wednesday dismissed a recommendation issued by four state senators that calls for assembling a team of co-chiefs to run the department. Star-Advertiser.

Four state lawmakers are calling on the Honolulu Police Commission to appoint someone to help Police Chief Louis Kealoha run his department in light of recent events involving his mailbox, a mistrial, his prosecutor wife and her estranged uncle. Civil Beat.

Four state senators say Honolulu Police Chief Louis Kealoha needs help running the department. Hawaii News Now.

A handful of our states senators are challenging Honolulu Police Chief Louis Kealoha. They're questioning whether the chief can do his job alone, or if he needs some help. KITV4.

A Multimillion-Dollar Tax Loophole Bigger Than Ala Moana Center. Real Estate Investment Trusts don't pay corporate income tax in Hawaii, despite benefiting from local infrastructure. Civil Beat.

Hawaii state Rep. Mele Carroll has relinquished her chairmanship of the Committee on Human Services in the Hawaii House of Representatives. Carroll said Wednesday that she asked House Speaker Joseph Souki to reassign the chairmanship because she's having health issues. Associated Press.

Maui Representative Mele Carroll, D–13th District, is stepping down as chairwoman of the House Human Services Committee, according to a news release just sent out from the state House of Representatives communications office. Her reason: undefined “health issues.” Maui Time

A University of Hawaii Cancer Center researcher on Wednesday joined the American Association for Cancer Research and the American Society of Clinical Oncology in calling for federal, state and local governments to not only regulate e-cigarettes but also to ban all youth-oriented e-cig advertising and marketing. Star-Advertiser.

Oahu
Despite grim statistics, industry representatives remain optimistic for 2015 as Hawaiian Electric Co. begins to approve customers who have been waiting to install rooftop photovoltaic systems. The City and County of Hono­lulu issued 6,554 rooftop solar building permits in 2014, compared with 13,303 in 2013. Star-Advertiser.

A local ice rink is tapping into the sun to keep its facilities cool. Ice Palace Hawai‘i announced the completion of a rooftop solar power project that could cut down their energy bill by 25%. Hawaii Public Radio.

Hawaii

The Hawaii County Council on Wednesday voted in favor of borrowing up to $20 million for emergency road projects in lower Puna as the county waits to see how much disaster relief the federal government will provide. Tribune-Herald.

The state Department of Transportation is considering using the same material that allowed the military to rapidly build airstrips in World War II to reopen Highway 130 if it’s covered by lava. Tribune-Herald.

After an hour-long closed-door session Wednesday, the Hawaii County Council unanimously agreed to settle a lawsuit filed by a homeless panhandler who said his civil rights were violated when police officers cited him for “aggressive solicitation.” West Hawaii Today.

A man affectionately known as Hilo's welfare doctor for aiding the underserved stands accused of fraud. But many on the Big Island are rallying to his defense. In September, the state cut off Medicaid reimbursements to Dr. Frederick Nitta, saying he overbilled the program more than $1.2 million when he gave drug screening tests to patients. Hawaii News Now.

The dean of Hilo’s College of Pharmacy plans to remain at the school until the end of the academic year. Tribune-Herald.

Maui

The Maui region of the state public hospital system wants to engage in formal talks with Hawaii Pacific Health to address its financial difficulties. Hawaii Health Systems Corp. Maui Region and Hawaii Pacific Health must seek the state Legislature's approval to enter partnership discussions and provide solutions. Associated Press.

A Civil Air Patrol plane that had been stationed at Kahului Airport for missions hasn't been on Maui since March, leaving an empty hangar and concerns about providing adequate tsunami and hurricane warnings to remote areas of Maui County. Maui News.

A nesting nene goose has prompted the closure of the rifle range at Maui's Ukumehame Firing Range. The county Department of Parks and Recreation said the goose, a member of an endangered species, was spotted wandering around the rifle range Sunday by a firearms instructor. Star-Advertiser.

Maui’s only public rifle range is temporarily closing after an endangered goose was spotted wandering around the property. A biologist also found a nene nest in the area. Associated Press.

Kauai

The Kauai County Council on Wednesday narrowly rejected a Salary Commission proposal that would have increased the maximum salary limit for 22 department heads, including Mayor Bernard Carvalho Jr., County Engineer Larry Dill and County Attorney Mauna Kea Trask. Garden Island.

Police body cameras are getting support, but there are privacy concerns and labor contract issues to deal with before they become a reality. The Kauai Police Department briefed the Kauai County Council Wednesday on the department’s $134,000 request to purchase 142 police body cameras, and the committee said it was in favor of equipping officers with electronic surveillance. Garden Island.

Deadly pedestrian crash involving Kauai police vehicle under investigation. KHON2.

Local dive companies say the state Department of Land and Natural Resources cost them tens of thousands of dollars by implementing — prematurely, and with little or no notification — a new rule requiring businesses to obtain permits for commercial shoreline operations. Garden Island.

Lanai

Life on Lanai: Still a Good Place to ‘Just Be’. On this island, it's the small things that count most toward a good life. Civil Beat.

Consumer spending fattens state budget, Obama vacation costs Honolulu police $277K in overtime, Hawaii banker named to federal reserve, schools lag under decentralization, manta rays suffer fin damage, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Shoppers in Waikiki © 2015 All Hawaii News

Increased consumer spending, spurred by savings from lower gasoline and heating fuel prices, should help the U.S. economy overall and in turn have a positive impact on Hawaii's economy, state economists predicted Tuesday. The improved economic outlook prompted the state Council on Revenues to revise upward its forecast for the current fiscal year, predicting revenue growth of about 4.5 percent, up from the 3.5 percent growth predicted in September. Star-Advertiser.

Gov. David Ige’s administration and state lawmakers have a little more money to work with as they develop the next biennium budget for the state in the coming months. The Hawaii Council on Revenues decided Tuesday to increase its revenue forecast for the current fiscal year, which started July 1. Its previous projection of a 3.5 percent increase in revenue was raised to 4.5 percent, which translates to roughly $53.7 million in additional revenues for the general fund. Civil Beat.

No new day for school empowerment. A pair of new studies show decentralization of the DOE saw little progress over the past four years. Will our new governor have more success? Hawaii Independent.

Allan Landon, the unflappable and unpretentious former head of the state's second-largest bank, is being summoned for another challenge. On Tuesday, President Barack Obama said he will nominate Landon, 65, to a seat on the seven-member Federal Reserve Board. If approved by the Senate, he would become the first banking executive from Hawaii to ever serve on the prestigious committee. Star-Advertiser.

President Barack Obama said Tuesday he plans to nominate retired Bank of Hawaii Chairman and CEO Allan R. Landon to the Federal Reserve's Board of Governors. Pacific Business News.

Hawaii’s largest health insurer says it’s still having substantial problems with the state’s health exchange. The staff at Hawaii Medical Services Association has spent 27,940 hours working on technical issues with the Connector, and a fifth of those hours were spent in the last two months. Associated Press.

Obesity task force seeks fee for sugar-sweetened drinks. KITV4.

FBI: Investment Scams on the Rise in Hawaii. Hawaii Reporter.

Oahu

The bill has come in for President Barack Obama and his family's holiday vacation in Hawaii. According to Honolulu police, the cost for HPD officers' overtime pay during the first family's visit was more than $277,000. Hawaii News Now.

President Barack Obama left Oahu over the weekend, but he left Honolulu taxpayers with the bill. KHON2.

The state has lost its appeal of a judge's ruling in which the state Department of Human Services was found negligent, along with a Navy diver based at Pearl Harbor, in the 2009 death of the sailor's 14-month-old boy. Star-Advertiser.

Developers of a wind farm set to break ground later this year in Kahuku are boasting of its low-priced energy, but Oahu residents will still be paying six times the national average for the wind energy produced from the 10 turbines. Civil Beat.

It was pretty certain before 2014 was over that Oahu home prices would set a record. And they did. Yet there also was a dip in the number of sales as limited inventory clashed a bit with buyer demand. The Honolulu Board of Realtors released for publication Wednesday its latest monthly sale report with December data that rounded out a year during which record prices were broken. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii

Creating more housing by allowing people to live in industrial-commercial mixed districts is proving a tough pill for the Hawaii County Council to swallow. The council Planning Committee on Tuesday lauded the goal of a measure advanced by the county administration, but said there are too many concerns to allow Bill 4 to go forward without more work. West Hawaii Today.

A Tuesday morning overflight of the June 27 lava flow showed that breakouts upslope of the stalled front advanced another 150 yards to the north in the past day. Hawaii County Civil Defense said the breakouts were about 1-1.5 miles upslope of the front, which has remained quiet for about a week. Tribune-Herald.

Lava flowing from Kīlauea’s Pu‘u ‘Ō‘ō Vent has left the lower Puna community in a state of limbo. The slow moving disaster has prompted one researcher to look at how residents are coping with the flow. Hawaii Public Radio.

Earl Bakken, the 91-year-old inventor of the pacemaker and a longtime Big Island resident, already has his 9-acre Kona Coast estate off the grid but now wants to power it without any fossil fuels. Now Bakken has started building one of the largest private residential photovoltaic systems in Hawaii not connected to a utility electrical grid. Star-Advertiser.

Big Island employers began paying the state’s new increased minimum wage last week, and the change is either long overdue or an unwelcome hardship, depending on whom you talk to. Tribune-Herald.

Opinion: Could an Airship Ferry Residents Stranded by the Lava Flow? A Hilo attorney and entrepreneur has a plan for the "Lava Ferry" if Highway 130 in Pahoa is taken out. Civil Beat.

Maui

A Maui research and conservation group says 10 percent of the more than 300 manta rays in waters south of Lahaina have amputated or severely damaged fins. The Hawaii Association for Marine Education and Research says the manta rays are injured when they get caught in fishing lines. Associated Press.

About 10 percent of 330 manta rays identified off Olowalu have an amputated or severely damaged fin used in eating, caused by entanglement in fishing lines. Maui News.

Coffee growers on Maui are bracing for a destructive beetle to eventually make its way to the island. Star-Advertiser.

Maui coffee growers are taking measures to belay the arrival of the coffee berry borer beetle that has been brewing trouble for farmers on the Big Island for years and that made its way to Oahu in December. Maui News.

Kauai

Kauai legislators are preparing district and shared concerns as they get ready for their first session Jan. 21. Garden Island.

Community meetings will be held around the island next week to discuss the county’s Multi-Hazard Mitigation Plan update. The discussions will be led by the Kauai Civil Defense Agency and two researchers from the University of Hawaii’s Social Science Research Institute, Dr. Cheryl Anderson and Dr. Sarah Henly-Shepard. Garden Island.

Honolulu Zoo loses another director, panhandler civil rights lawsuit settlement nears, Ige names more top staff, Maui harbor drains $7M from state budget, lava follows new path, state arts foundation audited, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Honolulu Zoo © 2015 All Hawaii News

Jeffrey Wilkinson, director of the Honolulu Zoo since April, announced his resignation to zoo staff Sunday. Wilkinson is the fourth zoo director to resign in the past five years, and the third since March 2013. Star-Advertiser.

Elizabeth Kim, part of a senior leadership team that advises the U.S. secretary of labor, has been named state labor director, Gov. David Ige's office announced Monday. The governor also announced the hiring of Hono­lulu public relations professional Cindy McMillan as his administration's director of communications. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii Gov. David Ige has chosen Elizabeth Kim to head the Department of Labor and Industrial Relations and Cindy McMillan to be his communications director. Civil Beat.

The state agency responsible for helping the public access government-controlled information and ensure public meetings remain as open as possible has been mired in a backlog so big its rulings are often irrelevant by the time they’re issued. Yet relief appears nowhere in sight for the Hawaii Office of Information Practices as Gov. David Ige’s term begins and the Legislature gets set to work on his proposed biennium budget, which despite a modest increase only gives the agency half the resources it had 20 years ago. Civil Beat.

The Hawai‘i Health Connector — beset by delays, computer malfunctions and low enrollment since its inception in late 2013 — expects to be self-sufficient by 2022. Star-Advertiser.

On the eve of the 2015 legislative session, Hawaii Public Radio’s Noe Tanigawa takes a look at a recent auditor’s report on the State Foundation on Culture and the Arts.

Oahu

State regulators have approved a wind farm planned for Kahuku despite objections from members of the North Shore community and concerns from Hawaii’s consumer advocate that the developer should have completed its environmental review of the project first. Civil Beat.

A Honolulu city councilman is looking for ways to boost regulation on vacation rentals on Hawaii’s most populous island. Associated Press.

For years, Kapaa Quarry Road has been used as an illegal dump site by people getting rid of trash, equipment, even furniture. Residents and lawmakers say it’s long been a problem with no clear solution and it sits right next to the Kawainui Marsh. KHON2.

The lei sellers at the Honolulu International Airport say their daily struggle to stay in business would be eased if they had 15-year leases like they did in the past, and more respect. Civil Beat.

Hawaii

A settlement is in the works in a civil rights lawsuit filed against the county by a Kailua-Kona man cited for panhandling last year. West Hawaii Today.

The June 27 lava flow could begin following a new path as breakouts upslope of the stalled front advance to the north. Darryl Oliveira, Hawaii County Civil Defense administrator, said the most active breakout was located about 1.5 miles from Pahoa Marketplace as of Monday morning. It had advanced about 200 yards to the north in 24 hours. Tribune-Herald.

Daily nonstop flights between Kona and Haneda, Japan, could begin as early as June 1, if Hawaiian Airlines Inc. is successful in its application with the U.S. Department of Transportation. West Hawaii Today.

Hawaii Island health care providers are seeing a recent spike in cases of the flu. Hilo Medical Center reports that in the last month its influenza rate has risen about four times higher than normal, and Kona Community Hospital said Monday it has already confirmed 24 cases of the flu since New Year’s Day. Tribune-Herald.

Maui

It was supposed to be a part of the state's plan to revitalize the Maalaea Harbor on Maui. But for the past 20 years, the 1.1-acre dirt lot has remained undeveloped with Hawaii taxpayers footing the bill. The state Department of Land and Natural Resources has paid more than $7 million -- or about $1,000 a day -- to lease the property that's used only to store old boats, buoys and other ocean equipment. Hawaii News Now.

The new year brought entirely new Maui County Council leadership–exactly what was predicted shortly after the November 2014 election. Mike White is the new Council Chairman and Don Guzman is the new Vice Chairman. Maui Time.

Kauai

Ulupono Initiative, the same investment company backing Hawaii Dairy Farms’ proposed dairy in Mahaulepu Valley on Kauai’s south side, has its sights on purchasing the last locally owned and operated large-scale dairy in the state. Garden Island.

Record low temps chill Hawaii, climate change studied, Ige plans belt tightening, Kauai police run over pedestrian they were sent to help, Obama has left the islands, $90M wind farm cleared for Oahu, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Snow-topped Mauna Kea on Saturday © 2015 All Hawaii News

Temperatures in Hawaii dropped into the 50s, setting records on three islands and tying a record in Honolulu Sunday morning. Star-Advertiser.

Snow blanketed the summit areas of Mauna Kea and Mauna Loa on the Big Island of Hawaii while morning temperatures dipped into the 50's Sunday. Hawaii News Now.

Last month, as he submitted his budget for the next two-year cycle, Gov. David Ige noted that government spending would grow over the next two fiscal years due primarily to nondiscretionary spending requirements such as health benefits and raises negotiated by the previous administration. To him, that means one thing: The state will have to live within its means. Star-Advertiser.

New rules regarding dentists and sedatives were put into place shortly after her daughter's death, But Ashley Boyle has started a web site, finleys-law.org. She's pushing for a law allowing parents to be in the treatment room with their children during dental procedures, or at least to have a window available so they can observe. She also wants a law that says any drug must be administered by the dentist or an equally-certified staff member. Hawaii News Now.

President Barack Obama and family left Honolulu Saturday evening following a two-week vacation. Star-Advertiser.

President Obama and his family departed from Oahu’s Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam at 9:43 p.m., marking the end of their annual Hawaiian winter vacation to the islands. The President and the First Lady arrived to the take-off zone at 9:27 p.m. on Saturday and were greeted by state dignitaries, including Gov. David Ige, Senator Mazie Hirono, Mayor Kirk Caldwell, and General Vincent Keith Brooks. KHON2.

The U.S. Department of the Interior announced that its Pacific Islands Climate Science Center will award universities and other partners over $600K for studies that will assess the potential effects of climate change in and around Hawai‘i. Maui Now.

A University of Hawaii researcher has received a $104,477 grant to see whether resources from Hawaii waters can be used to ward off sepsis, an often fatal complication of infection. Star-Advertiser.

Oahu

Honolulu City Council Chair Ernie Martin has made no secret of his aspirations to be mayor and political insiders say he’s worked to undermine Caldwell’s political agenda — something Martin denies — as he positions himself to challenge Caldwell in the 2016 mayoral race. Civil Beat.

The $90 million Na Pua Makani wind farm being built by California's Champlin Hawaii Holdings LLC on public and private lands on Oahu's North Shore has been approved by Hawaii regulators this week, according to a public filing. Pacific Business News.

Diamond Head, the extinct volcano that has become synonymous with Waikiki Beach, isn’t going anywhere, but much of the sand that both locals and visitors enjoy has vanished. Associated Press.

Opinion: Urban Hawaii: What Does the Future Hold for Honolulu — and Us? It is time to explore what the transformation of Kakaako says about the evolution of our city. Civil Beat.

Hawaii

One of the three bond rating firms has reaffirmed Hawaii County’s solid financial status, even as the County Council is poised Wednesday to add $20 million to the debt to  pay for lava-impacted Puna roads. West Hawaii Today.

Motorists fuming about changes to the acceleration lanes on Queen Kaahumanu Highway may only have to drop it in neutral and wait a bit; things could change yet again. State Department of Transportation engineers are returning to the drawing board on a restriping project between Makala Boulevard and Henry Street — a redesign of traffic flow that eliminated acceleration lanes and drew protest from not just motorists but also some cyclists. West Hawaii Today.

Maui

In his third and final term as mayor of Maui County, Alan Arakawa hopes to work with the state to expand airport facilities in Kahului, to create a facility for the mentally disabled and drug and substance abusers at the Old Maui High School in Hamakuapoko and to work with the Maui County Council amicably over the next four years. Maui News.

Doug McLeod has stepped down as Maui County's energy commissioner and appears to be on the verge of working as a consultant to Florida-based NextEra Energy, which announced plans last month to absorb Hawaiian Electric in a multibillion-dollar merger deal. Maui News.

The Maui County Council on Friday welcomed the new year with new leadership. Maui News.

Kauai

A pedestrian who was struck by a vehicle, then struck again by the police officer responding to the accident, died Saturday night. Garden Island.

Commercial businesses operating in the ocean are now required to have a permit. But some Kauai companies lost money when they were forced to close unnecessarily during the holidays. Hawaii News Now.

A Westside company is suing the Office of Hawaiian Affairs for breach of contract and fraud in its operation of the former Makaweli Poi Mill that it purchased and operated from 2008 until it ceased operations in 2012. Garden Island.

With the first phase of the Rice Camp Senior Apartments set for completion in March, rental applications are now being accepted by the project’s management company, EAH Housing. Garden Island.

New faces lead GOPs in Hawaii Legislature, governor's administration, Honolulu City Hall, Obama library competition intensifies as Obama Hawaii vacation nears end, Puna senator seeks lava relief, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Hawaii state Capitol © 2015 All Hawaii News

House Republicans have organized behind Rep. Beth Fukumoto Chang as minority leader for the upcoming legislative session. New Rep. Andria Tupola was chosen as minority floor leader, the caucus announced Wednesday. Star-Advertiser.

Just in time for 2015, Gov. David Ige has announced seven new members of his Cabinet. The governor named Col. Arthur “Joe” Logan from the Hawaii Army National Guard as adjutant general. Nolan Espinda, the warden at the Halawa Correctional Facility, is the new director for the Department of Public Safety. Carty Chang, an engineer from the Department of Land and Natural Resources, will serve as the acting director for department. Civil Beat.

Snorkeling and shave ice filled the first family's 13th day of their holiday vacation Thursday. President Barack Obama and his family began the New Year under mostly sunny skies as they left their rental home in Kailua for a snorkeling excursion. Star-Advertiser.

In the contest to host his presidential library, two public universities that serve needy communities are pitted against a pair of elite, private schools with seemingly endless money. Associated Press.

Two Chicago universities competing to host President Barack Obama’s presidential library are scrambling to address major concerns raised by the foundation picking the future site, with Chicago’s mayor stepping in to ensure his city stays competitive. Associated Press.

Medical marijuana production centers and dispensaries could become part of the Hawaii landscape as soon as 2017, under recommendations a task force is sending to the state Legislature. West Hawaii Today.

The Affordable Care Act's temporary payment-increase program for Medicaid physicians is set to expire nationwide on Jan. 1, but Hawaii plans to extend the primary care rate beyond Dec. 31, according a study released by the Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation. Pacific Business News.

Bigeye Tuna Remains on Hawaii’s Menu — But for How Long? There's been a lot of talk among power players about dangerously declining fish stocks in the Pacific, but action has been insubstantial. Civil Beat.

Oahu

Incoming Honolulu City Councilman Trevor Ozawa will head the Executive Matters and Legal Affairs Committee, and fellow freshman Councilman Brandon Elefante will lead the remixed Business, Economic Development and Tourism Committee under new committee leadership assignments announced in a memorandum this week by Council Chairman Ernie Martin. Star-Advertiser.

A longtime city refuse worker alleges that employees at the Pearl City baseyard were allowed to drink at the workplace during holiday events. Hawaii News Now.

Mayor Kirk Caldwell has released a request for proposals for a contractor to replace approximately 52,000 low pressure sodium (LPS) city streetlights with light-emitting diode (LED) streetlights.  A 2013 pilot project by the city demonstrated that retrofitting streetlights to LEDs provides significant cost savings, greater efficiency and increased visibility. Hawaii Independent.

Hawaii

Legislation to provide insurance relief for Puna homeowners and emergency funds for Puna Community Medical Center and two charter schools are among the lava-related bills state Sen. Russell Ruderman says he will pursue this session. Tribune-Herald.

Maui

A judge Wednesday dismissed all claims except one brought by a group of Maui Lani homeowners who sued over development of the Central Maui Regional Sports Complex. Maui News.

This was a year of great storms, both political and climatic. Maui Time.


Kauai

The calendar has turned to 2015, and County of Kauai officials are looking at the new year with a list of fresh — and sometimes ongoing — goals. Tackling drug use, citing a new landfill, creating more job opportunities, funding sustainable transportation alternatives and reforming the county’s real property tax system are just a few that individual officials say they want to tackle over the next year. Garden Island.

Kauai will host 900 of the world’s leading information technology specialists this week as they converge for the Hawaii International Conference on System Sciences. Garden Island.

Hawaii tourism hot, audit finds University of Hawaii funds lacking, Obama meets with school chums, task force recommends medical marijuana dispensaries, $100M for Oahu roads, shopkeepers want to return to Pahoa despite lava threat, gaming company sues Honolulu prosecutor, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Girls at Waikiki surfboard rental © 2014 All Hawaii News

Hawaii's tourism industry is on track to reach another record number of visitors and spending in 2014, for the third year in a row. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii’s tourism industry is on track to contribute nearly $300 million more to the state’s economy compared with last year, according to data from the Hawaii Tourism Authority. Civil Beat.

More than a quarter of the so-called special funds and revolving funds maintained by the University of Hawaii — including the Manoa athletics special fund — do not meet legislative criteria and should be repealed or reclassified, a state audit released Tuesday concluded. Star-Advertiser.

The state auditor’s office, led by Jan Yamane, has found that 17 of 65 funding sources for the University of Hawaii have at least one thing wrong with them and some should be repealed altogether because they no longer serve their original purpose. Civil Beat.

Since returning to his childhood home this month on vacation, President Barack Obama has spent a good part of most days cloistered with three people whose company puts him at ease. They're not his wife and daughters, who came with him, but a trio of pals whose friendship dates back to Obama's high school days in Hawaii. Star-Advertiser.

The Medical Marijuana Dispensary Task Force has finished its work and recommended that the state establish dispensaries to make it easier for patients with certain conditions like cancer, glaucoma and HIV, among others, to get the drug legally. KHON2.

Management of individually owned vacation units is handled differently statewide, but their spread has created similar controversy across the islands. The one exception is Hawaii island, where officials say creating extra places for visitors to stay is mostly welcomed. Star-Advertiser.

Blake Oshiro is rejoining the law firm of Alston Hunt Floyd & Ing to work on its government relations team. Oshiro spent the past three years as deputy chief of staff to Gov. Neil Abercrombie. Civil Beat.

2014 in review: Top news was Ige's election and No. 2, Pele's projection. Star-Advertiser.

Honolulu

City officials are spending more than $100 million annually to dig out from years of road-repair neglect, and new data show that paving crews are sustaining their scheduled pace to fix the worst of the island's city-owned roads. Star-Advertiser.

The Honolulu City Council will inaugurate new members this week. Hawaii Supreme Court Associate Justice Sabrina McKenna is scheduled to administer the oath of office on Friday. Associated Press.

Honolulu's controversial $5.16 billion elevated rail project saw some highs and lows in 2014, the former when courts cleared the way for the project, the latter as the agency charged with overseeing the project reveals mounting costs beyond what was budgeted. Pacific Business News.

The lead defendant in a state case regarding gambling machines is suing the city, Honolulu Prosecutor Keith Kaneshiro, the two deputies Kaneshiro assigned to the case and a department investigator for allegedly knowingly presenting false information to the grand jury that returned an indictment against him. Star-Advertiser.

It was one of the largest white-collar crime cases in Hawaii history. But one month after a state judge tossed the case, the main defendant is suing. In a Circuit Court lawsuit filed today, Tracy Yoshimura accuses Honolulu Prosecutor Keith Kaneshiro of malicious prosecution. Hawaii News Now.

Neighbors of the 7000 Hawaii Kai Drive project by Avalon are beginning to get a sense of what they have to look forward to by the summer of 2016. Civil Beat.

Hawaii

Lava continues to close in on Pahoa Marketplace, but some businesses that fled earlier this month already inquired with Hawaii County Civil Defense about returning. Tuesday morning’s overflight of the June 27 lava flow revealed the leading edge crept 40 yards further downslope within 24 hours, bringing it to within a half-mile of Highway 130 and 660 yards from the rear of the marketplace. Tribune-Herald.

The only Hawaii-owned and operated large-scale dairy left in the state is in the process of being sold to Ulupono Initiative, Hawaii News Now has learned. Ed Boteilho, whose family has owned and operated Cloverleaf Dairy in the Big Island's Kohala district since 1962, said he's in the process of selling his nearly 900-acre dairy to Ulupono Initiative, the investment company financed by eBay founder, billionaire Pierre Omidyar.

The Nature Conservancy has purchased a 222-acre property at the southern end of Hawaii Island. The conservation organization announced the purchase of the parcel, known as Kahuku Iki, in a Tuesday afternoon news release. West Hawaii Today.

The number of people visiting Hawaii Island rose 4.8 percent and spending climbed 6.8 percent in November compared to the same month in 2013, the Hawaii Tourism Authority reported Tuesday. West Hawaii Today.

The average statewide price of gas has declined 43 cents from New Year’s Eve a year ago. Still, paying an average $3.51 a gallon for regular while the national average stands at $2.27 may have Hawaii drivers wondering why prices here haven’t fallen more quickly than they have. And West Hawaii drivers may be wondering why they’re still having to pony up an average of $3.78 a gallon for regular. West Hawaii Today.

A strong ahi catch late in the year should help East Hawaii residents ring in 2015 with plenty of sashimi and poke on their plates and perhaps a few extra dollars in their pocket. Tribune-Herald.

Maui

Based on the 30 or so private Lear, Gulfstream and Falcon jets parked earlier this week on the Haleakala side of Kahului Airport, there are quite a few of the rich and famous spending their holiday season on Maui. Maui News.

Kauai

A bill relating to additional dwelling units recently passed by the Kauai County Council, was signed into law by Mayor Bernard Carvalho, Jr. The new law, Ordinance 981, extends the deadline for obtaining a building permit from Dec. 15, 2014, to Dec. 15, 2024, for property owners that obtained an ADU facilities clearance form before June 16, 2007. Garden Island.

Molokai

After a nearly yearlong closure, Kaunakakai's main hub will reopen Tuesday with new renovations completed. Maui News.

New milk rules worry ranchers, rare House Republican defects to Democrats, new Cray computer for UH, Obama golf game forces wedding move, nesting nene killed, Puna residents in lava path surveyed, more money for health exchange, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Waimea Naked Cow Dairy courtesy photo

Hawaii's milk industry has new price rules after the state's only processor, Meadow Gold, privately warned that it would quit buying milk from local dairies as of Thursday unless it could pay less than what regulators permitted. The state Board of Agriculture voted 7-0 at an emergency meeting Monday to amend state Department of Agriculture rules governing wholesale prices paid to Hawaii farmers for fresh milk. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii’s only milk processor has convinced a regulatory board to relax a price floor for locally produced milk to help the company compete with mainland imports. But one dairy producer is afraid that the decision will put him out of business. Civil Beat.

Less than two months after winning election as a Republican in a traditionally Republican district, Rep. Aaron Ling Johanson on Monday announced his switch to the Democratic Party in a move he maintains will allow him to seek common ground and best policies over partisan politics. Star-Advertiser.

Republicans, voters react to losing Rep. Aaron Johanson to Democrats. Rep. Aaron Johanson defects to Democratic Party. KITV4.

Hawaii’s troubled health insurance exchange needs state taxpayers to shore up an estimated $2.5 million deficit next year. Hawaii Health Connector CEO Jeff Kissell, who just took over the state-created nonprofit in October, told a legislative oversight committee Monday that the state appropriation should be viewed as an investment that will produce $500 million in federal tax subsidies within the next decade. Civil Beat.

Governor David Ige has appointed Catherine Awakuni Colón to serve as director of the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs. Hawaii Independent.

The University of Hawaii has installed a new high performing computing system produced by American supercomputer manufacturer Cray Inc., and is inviting researchers to start working with it. Pacific Business News.

Oahu

Obama golf game forces Army couple to move wedding. Associated Press.

The widespread proliferation of mostly illegal vacation rentals on Oahu is pitting neighbor against neighbor, highlighting the city of Honolulu's inability to enforce its own laws, and likely leaving millions of tax dollars uncollected. Star-Advertiser.

Opinion: It’s hard to put a positive spin on a shortfall of up to $700 million shortfall, but Honolulu Mayor Kirk Caldwell and top officials from the Honolulu Authority for Rapid Transportation sure tried when publicly announcing the bad news that now hangs over the city’s $5.2 billion rail project. Civil Beat.

Rising property taxes a concern for Oahu home owners. KHON2.

What to do About Chinatown’s Stinking Streets. Merchants are frustrated with the homeless, but a little help is on the way with plans to open a public restroom and shower facility next month. Civil Beat.

Hawaii

A new survey reveals the needs and concerns of Puna-area residents as they continue to wrestle with a threatening lava flow. Tribune-Herald.

Air quality, lost business and access to basic needs are among the top concerns of about 800 Hawaii island residents contending with a lava flow inching toward Pahoa's main highway. Star-Advertiser.

Individuals will no longer have to provide “competent, efficient, loyal and ethical service to the public” to qualify for employment with Hawaii County. Instead, people will be hired based on their “fitness and ability for public employment,” and be retained based on their “demonstrated appropriate conduct and productive performance.” West Hawaii Today.

Maui

The National Park Service says a nesting nene was killed by a car at Haleakala National Park. The endangered Hawaiian goose was killed Friday. Associated Press.

With his lawyer saying a man was trying to be a good Samaritan when he punched a suspected shoplifter in Lahaina last year, the defendant was spared a jail term and was given a chance to keep an assault conviction off his record. Maui News.

Kauai

So far, Kauai seems to be escaping an alarming trend happening across the islands. Scammers who fraudulently advertise Hawaii rental properties have ripped off hundreds if not thousands of visitors to the state, according to Honolulu police, who say it’s difficult to prosecute the con artists because most of them operate out of state. Associated Press.

POW/MIA ID program cut, Ige seeks new DLNR chairman, state seeks tourism chief, Honolulu prosecutor bungles gambling probe, telescopes net $91.5M for Big Island, Hawaiian Electric/NextEra Energy merger more a sale, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Pearl Harbor © 2014 All Hawaii News

A program that provides dozens of scientists and other experts to the Hawaii-based Joint POW/MIA Accounting Command is being sharply cut. The move comes at the same time that Congress is seeking more recoveries and identifications from JPAC, whose headquarters and main lab are at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam. Associated Press.

There had been great interest in whether William Aila would be retained by Gov. David Ige as chairman of the Board of Land and Natural Resources and head of the Department of Land and Natural Resources. Neil Abercrombie, the governor who Ige defeated in the Democratic primary, was among those who urged the new governor to keep the popular Aila. Turns out that Ige is keeping Aila, but not on the Land Board. Civil Beat.

Gov. David Ige appointed five new cabinet members. Ige says all of the appointees have a leadership style that will move Hawaii forward for the benefit of the public. Some are staying on from the previous administration. Associated Press.

Almost two dozen Hawaii media outlets and nonprofit organizations have come together to start a dialogue with Gov. David Ige’s administration about government transparency and accountability issues. Brian Black, the executive director of The Civil Beat Law Center for the Public Interest and the organizer of the effort, delivered a jointly signed letter to Ige’s chief of staff, Mike McCartney, on Friday. Civil Beat.

The Hawaii Tourism Authority has chosen a search committee to establish the search process and qualifications for a permanent president and CEO of the state agency. Pacific Business News.

On the ninth day of President Barack Obama's vacation in Hawaii, he went to the Kaneohe Klipper Marine Corps Base Hawaii golf course. Star-Advertiser.

How President Barack Obama spent the ninth day of his family’s holiday vacation on Sunday. Associated Press.

Are Hawaiian Electric and NextEra Energy Getting Married? Company officials are describing the proposed deal in many ways, including a "marriage," "partnership" and "combination," blurring the true nature of the acquisition. Civil Beat.

Oahu

Judge criticizes city's bungled prosecution in tossing indictment. Misconduct by two government attorneys scuttles a trial about gambling machines. Star-Advertiser.

Cleaner air and less litter at beaches and parks. That’s what some Oahu residents say is the result of a smoking ban that went into effect almost one year ago. KHON2.

Vacation cons take their toll. Police often can't solve the crimes because many occur out of state, leaving travelers with a loss of cash and no place to stay. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii

Hawaii Island raked in $91.48 million in 2012 thanks to direct and indirect impacts of the astronomy sector, according to a recent study by the University of Hawaii Economic Research Organization. Tribune-Herald.

The front of the lava flow coming from the Kilauea Volcano advanced another 10 yards Sunday. Hawaii County Civil Defense said the front of the flow remains active but sluggish, moving 15 yards on Saturday after stalling for five days. Star-Advertiser.

According to Hawaii County Civil Defense their Sunday morning flyover of the June 27 lava flow from Kilauea volcano showed the flow front, which had been stagnant for several days, had advanced about 10 yards since Saturday afternoon, and about 25 yards in the previous 48 hours. Tribune-Herald.

They say bad news comes in threes, but in the case of the Department of Water Supply, it’s come in fours. Four water wells in West Hawaii experienced breakdowns in rapid succession, leaving the department scrambling to repair them, even as meteorologists predict a drier than normal winter. West Hawaii Today.

Hawaii's supply of locally grown tomatoes has gotten considerably smaller after one of the state's biggest producers decided to exit the business. Hamakua Springs Country Farms on Hawaii island ceased tomato production at the end of November, leaving stores around the state such as Costco, Foodland, Safeway and Whole Foods without the company's hydroponically grown varieties, which included cocktail, beef and heirloom tomatoes. Star-Advertiser.

As the end of 2014 draws near, a prominent construction project in Kona is on schedule for completion. Traffic circulation and public safety will improve when the extension of Laaloa Avenue, a mauka-makai connector road, opens next month, said Warren Lee, Hawaii County Department of Public Works director. West Hawaii Today.

The county Department of Public Works Traffic Division will begin internal testing today of a traffic camera on the Keaau bypass portion of Keaau-Pahoa Road (Highway 130) at the intersection of Milo Street. Tribune-Herald.

Maui

Maui County is sending notices of violation to several hundred unpermitted vacation rental operators who've been doing business under the radar but now have been targeted for enforcement because their online advertising is evidence of illegal activity. Maui News.

Maui, Oʻahu, and Kauaʻi are the three islands that are no strangers to experiencing frequent housing shortages. Maui Now.

A $12 million retail/office, residential apartment and independent senior living development with more than 170 additional public parking spaces is proposed for a 9-acre site within the Baldwin Avenue-Paia Mini Bypass pocket of former sugar cane fields. Maui News.

A piece of ordnance found by a diver in waters off of Maui on Saturday, has since been safely removed and detonated. Maui Police say the ordnance, identified as a M301A3 81 millimeter mortar illumination round was safely transported to the Ukumehame Firing range for safe detonation. Maui Now.

Kauai

Mochi making, a traditional New Year’s practice, got in the way of the first visit by Gov. David Ige and his family to Kauai since being elected governor in early November. Garden Island.

Tensions bubbled to the surface during a Wailua-Kapaa Neighborhood Association meeting on Saturday, where one of the main topics of the day was HoKua Place, a planned 769-home community behind Kapaa Middle School. Garden Island.

Two luxury condo owners are claiming they were mislead and overcharged as their development surrounded by blight was converted into a timeshare resort. Garden Island.

Lanai

Lanai's only movie theater reopened Dec. 20 as Hale Keaka - "theater" in Hawaiian - after being closed since the 1990s. The Pineapple Isle landmark underwent a $4 million renovation and features a modern interior and exterior reflecting the character of the island in the 1930s. Maui News.

How to fix Waikiki beach, Obama addresses troops, minimum wage going up, new geothermal well coming to Puna, 10,500 more people, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Waikiki Beach © 2014 All Hawaii News

The City and County of Honolulu  is considering creating a Special Improvement District to maintain and restore Waikiki Beach. Half of the $1.3 million budget to do the first part of renovation would come from the state legislature. The other half would come from a special assessment to commercial landowners. KHON2.

Diamond Head, the extinct volcano that has become synonymous with Waikiki Beach isn’t going anywhere, but much of the sand that both locals and visitors enjoy has vanished. KITV4.

President Barack Obama and first lady Michelle Obama greeted military service members and their families at a holiday dinner held Thursday afternoon at Marine Corps Base Hawaii. Star-Advertiser.

After a day at the beach, Barack and Michelle Obama go to the Marine base at Kaneohe, where they visit with hundreds of service members and their families. Civil Beat.

President Barack Obama marked the end of more than a decade of combat in Afghanistan by paying tribute to America’s military, telling troops on Christmas Day that their sacrifices have allowed for a more peaceful, prosperous world to emerge out of the ashes of 9/11. Associated Press.

How President Barack Obama and first lady Michelle Obama spent the sixth day of their holiday vacation in Hawaii on Thursday. Associated Press.

More Hawaii residents moved to the mainland than came the other way, but the state still added more than 10,500 people in the past year ending July 1, according to a census report. Births and foreign migrants largely accounted for Hawaii's population boost from 1,408,987 in 2013 to 1,419,561 in 2014, according to Census Bureau estimates released this week. Star-Advertiser.

The state Department of Labor and Industrial Relations announced Wednesday that per Act 82, Session Laws of Hawaii 2014, the minimum wage will increase to $7.75 per hour beginning Jan. 1, 2015. West Hawaii Today.

Civil Beat’s 10 Most Read Stories of 2014. Hawaii's cost of living, GMO farming and homelessness were among the issues that attracted a lot of attention from our readers.

One Christmas present of sorts that came early for consumers in Hawaii and across the country: cheaper gas prices. That fall in fuel prices has also made a difference for a number of publicly-held companies based in Hawaii. Hawaii Public Radio.

Oahu

Honolulu’s current affordable housing rules produced only 68 units in fiscal year 2014. That’s despite a housing shortage that helped drive up the median cost of a home to $719,000 last month. Civil Beat.

The University of Hawaii Cancer Center is facing an uncertain future as revenue streams shrink and financial losses mount at the research facility. At the same time, federal requirements call for operations to expand. Star-Advertiser.

Gov. David Ige said the state has not done a good job coordinating what public facilities should be built on state property along the rail transit line but he said affordable housing and a new state office building are two important needs. Hawaii News Now.

The Hawaii Supreme Court has rejected Tommy Waters’ challenge of the election results in the Honolulu City Council District 4 race, in which Trevor Ozawa won by just 41 votes. Civil Beat.

Hawaiian Electric Co. is asking Hawaii regulators for more time to negotiate an updated power purchase agreement with AES Hawaii, the owner and operator of the state's only coal-fired power plant, as well as the single-largest generating plant on Oahu. Pacific Business News.

Hawaii

Puna Geothermal Venture plans to drill a new geothermal well to maintain production levels. Mike Kaleikini, director of Hawaiian Affairs for Ormat, PGV’s parent company, said drilling could begin in January and take about three months to complete. Tribune-Herald.

Two University of Hawaii at Hilo students are being called the "champions of freedom" for their efforts to protect First Amendment rights on campus. Star-Advertiser.

Visitors to the Hilo Naniloa Hotel will find major renovations, long talked about, have begun in earnest. Tribune-Herald.

Maui

What began as a civics lesson for a Maui Preparatory Academy student in April became a new ordinance banning smoking in Maui County parks and on its beaches. Maui News.

Maui leads the state in estimated number of vacation rental units advertised on the Internet, according to an SMS Research study conducted at the end of 2013 and between August and September of this year. Maui News.

Kauai

A Hawaii vacation rental market study shows that alternative renting models continue to make inroads on hotels — and on Kauai, it’s about even on how visitors are choosing to overnight. Garden Island.

Vacation rentals proliferate in Hawaii, DLNR scales back Obama protection, body cameras for Kauai police, Maui family sues state over sexually abused foster children, Hawaii County buys Ebola gear, snowy Mauna Kea predicted, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Waikoloa ocean and mountain view © 2014 All Hawaii News

Thousands of illegal vacation rentals have been allowed to proliferate throughout the islands, likely contributing to a reduction in state tax revenue and a tightening of local rental markets, a new report by the Hawaii Tourism Authority suggests. Civil Beat.

A recent study commissioned by the Hawaii Tourism Authority has identified tens of thousands more home-based vacation rentals advertised online than the agency thought were available. The HTA said the home-based rentals now represent 25 percent of all lodging units, with hotels accounting for 50 percent. Time shares and condo hotels contribute 12 percent each. Star-Advertiser.

The Hawaii Health Connector is allowing residents more time to sign up for health insurance coverage that would begin Jan. 1. The original deadline to enroll for coverage that begins at the start of the new year was Dec. 15, but they've extended the deadline to noon on Dec. 31. Associated Press.

Local telecomunications executive Albert Hee appeared in U.S. District Court on Tuesday to face federal tax evasion and tax fraud charges. Hee pleaded not guilty. Hee is the president of Sandwich Isles Communications, which along with its two subsidiaries provides telephone and high-speed Internet service to customers living on Hawaiian homelands. Star-Advertiser.

Oahu

As hundreds of Hawaii law enforcement officer take part in President Obama's security detail on Christmas and New Year's Day, one state agency will be conspicuously absent. Hawaii News Now has learned that the Department of Land and Natural Resources has pulled back its ocean safety officers for those two key dates because it does not want to pay for overtime.

Hawaiian Electric Co. is asking Hawaii regulators for more time to negotiate an updated power purchase agreement with AES Hawaii, the owner and operator of the state's only coal-fired power plant, as well as the single-largest generating plant on Oahu. Pacific Business News.

The city has sent its real property assessment notices for 2015, and the total assessed valuation of all taxable real property on Oahu has increased from $200.74 billion to $214.90 billion, an overall increase of 7.1 percent. Hawaii Independent.

Local communities struggling to battle crime are in danger of losing the money they depend on to carry on the fight. The Weed and Seed program — overseen by the U.S. Department of Justice — can be found in areas including Ewa and Ewa Beach, Waipahu and in an area that combines the communities of Kalihi, Palama and Chinatown. KHON2.

A coconut crab that somehow made its way to Oahu is causing concern about whether there could be others around. Star-Advertiser.

An outbreak of Porcine Epidemic Diarrhea virus appears to have spread on Waianae pig farms. Star-Advertiser.

Derrick DePledge, the state government and politics reporter for the Honolulu Star-Advertiser, is leaving the newspaper. Civil Beat.

A California real estate investment firm, which owns the 2,742-acre Dillingham Ranch on Oahu's North Shore that was founded more than a century ago by Hawaii railroad tycoon Benjamin Franklin Dillingham, plans to develop 934 acres of the Waialua ranch into a 91-lot agricultural subdivision at a cost of $30 million. Pacific Business News.

Hawaii

County Finance Director Nancy Crawford, who had a hand on the county purse strings for two mayors, is retiring at the end of the month. West Hawaii Today.

The Hawaii County Fire Department was given permission Tuesday to purchase better equipment to protect emergency medical services workers from the Ebola virus, even though the equipment will cost more than that offered by the lowest bidder. West Hawaii Today.

It’s weather Santa would approve of. The Big Island’s two summits are braced for Hawaii’s answer to that proverbial howling nor’easter — with wind gusts to 90 mph expected to drive up to a foot of snow hard into the mountain faces by today. Temperatures on the peaks were forecast to dip to a frosty 23 degrees tonight, according to the Mauna Kea Weather Center. West Hawaii Today.

The June 27 lava flow, after stalling less than a half-mile from businesses just in time for Christmas, is giving merchants a much appreciated holiday reprieve. Tribune-Herald.

Maui

The state Department of Human Services is facing a lawsuit after placing two minors in the custody of a foster parent who sexually assaulted them from 2009 to 2011. Maui News.

A pilot project on Maui that allows primary care physicians to send photos of suspicious moles, lesions and rashes to dermatologists for evaluation has been expanded to all patients of Kaiser Permanente. Maui News.

Watching whales from the shoreline will have a unique spin this year—and you can win a prize. Starting now through mid-May, Pacific Whale Foundation will have trained naturalists stationed at key points along Maui’s coastline to help nature enthusiasts locate and learn about whales from the shore. Maui Time.

Kauai

The Kauai Police Department could become the first law enforcement agency in the state to use body cameras next summer. The department plans to buy 141 cameras for $134,000 and begin using them by June or July, Police Chief Darryl Perry said. Star-Advertiser.

Kauai is set to receive one of the 30 deputy sheriffs that graduated Friday in a ceremony on Oahu. Garden Island.

With the annual return of humpback whales to the Hawaiian Islands comes a need for fresh sets of eyes to monitor their behavior. Registration is now open for the 2015 Sanctuary Ocean Count, themed “Keep Calm and Count Whales.” Garden Island.

Seven media takes on Ige's proposed budget, huge invasive coconut crab makes first appearance since 1989, Obama vacations in the rain, Health Department can't find Kauai's pollution source, Kenoi asks Obama to visit lava flow, Oahu's wealthiest to pay more property taxes, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Honolulu's Chinatown © 2014 All Hawaii News

After two weeks of handing out warnings, Honolulu police officers Monday began enforcing the city's expanded sit-lie ordinance in Chinatown. Star-Advertiser.

The cost of state government will rise to $12.6 billion in the fiscal year that starts July 1, an increase of about 4 percent over the current year, due largely to contractual requirements such as health benefits and raises negotiated by the previous administration, Gov. David Ige said Monday in unveiling his proposed budget for the next two-year cycle. Star-Advertiser.

Gov. David Ige unveiled his administration’s first biennium budget Monday, seeking almost $1.5 billion in new spending over the next two years. The governor said most of the increased costs are beyond his control — a result of contractual agreements with public-worker unions and actions the state made before he took office Dec. 1. Civil Beat.

Gov. David Ige has released the first draft of Hawaii’s $25.7 billion budget that covers the next two fiscal years. Ige released the budget Monday, which is the deadline to submit the document to the Legislature. Associated Press.

The Governor delivered the first draft of his 2015-2017 Biennium Budget today to the state Legislature as required by law. Hawaii Public Radio.

Gov. David Ige submitted his first budget draft to the state Legislature Monday three weeks after taking office. The $25.7 billion biennial budget maintains state programs at current spending levels without raising taxes. However, if not for a $665 million projected carryover from the current fiscal year, the budget would be in the red. KITV4.

No job cuts and no tax increase —  that’s according to Gov. David Ige who unveiled his first projected state budget Monday for the next two fiscal years. KHON2.

On a rain-swept Monday unfit for even the most avid golfer, President Barack Obama whiled his third day of vacation taking to the lanes rather than the links. Obama started the day by signing a disaster declaration for upstate New York, clearing the way for federal funds to be used to help the area recover from a major storm that deposited more than 7 feet of snow. Star-Advertiser.

How President Barack Obama spent the third day of his holiday vacation in Hawaii on Monday. Associated Press.

Hawaii County Mayor Billy Kenoi is inviting President Barack Obama to view lava from an active volcano heading to Pahoa. Associated Press.

Mark Takai, the former state representative who will be Hawaii’s next congressman, has named Rod Tanonaka to be his chief of staff. Tanonaka will be based in the Hawaii District Office at the Federal Building in Honolulu. Civil Beat.

A federal judge has ruled that a California-based labor contractor must pay $8.7 million in damages to Thai workers who were exploited while working at Hawaii farms, but it’s not clear whether any of them will get the money. Associated Press.

Opinion: Hawaii is the healthiest state in the nation for the third year in a row — at least if you believe the United Health Foundation, the group that released its annual nationwide survey. Civil Beat.

Oahu

Oahu roads funnel about 112,000 residents into urban Honolulu daily for work, according to a state analysis of U.S. Census data that shows where jobs and residences intersect on the island. Star-Advertiser.

The state Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism on Monday released data on “commuter adjusted” daytime population on Oahu. Civil Beat.

A bill that lets the city repave and maintain a new series of Oahu's private roads was allowed to become law by Mayor Kirk Caldwell without his signature Monday. But Caldwell administration officials, who had raised strong objections to the bill as it was moving through the City Council, said they won't be jumping at every opportunity to take on more responsibility when they've still got some 800 miles of standard city roads they've promised to pave over. Star-Advertiser.

As the City and County of Honolulu begin mailing out real property tax assessment notices this week, owners of non-owner occupied residential properties assessed at more than $1 million will pay near twice as much in taxes next year because of a new rate class. Pacific Business News.

According to Department of Agriculture officials, a recent coconut crab sighting is the first since 1989. The crustaceans can grow up to three feet in length. KHON2.

Hawaii

While the Big Island is expected to benefit from statewide expenditures in operating and capital improvement budgets proposed Monday by Gov. David Ige, there are just two specific projects, one in East Hawaii and one in West Hawaii, earmarked in his first spending plan. West Hawaii Today.

The June 27 lava flow hasn’t quite given Pahoa Marketplace merchants the Christmas miracle they are hoping for but it is giving them more time to prepare, watch and wait. The lava flow front remained about 0.4 miles from the shopping center and 0.6 miles from Highway 130 on Monday morning after advancing 70 yards in 24 hours. Tribune-Herald.

The end of the month will see a changing of the guard for a Big Isle school system complex that has seen more than its fair share of challenges lately. Mary Correa, the longtime Department of Education complex area superintendent for Ka‘u, Keaau and Pahoa, will retire Dec. 31 after 10 years in the position, and Keaau Elementary Principal Chad Keone Farias was tapped to fill her shoes. Tribune-Herald.

The summit areas of Mauna Loa and Mauna Kea on the Big Island of Hawaii have been placed under a Blizzard Watch from Tuesday morning through Wednesday afternoon. Hawaii News Now.

Maui

More public education and enforcement of stricter fishing regulations appears to be working, according to the supervisor of the nearly year-old Community Fisheries Enforcement Unit and Makai Watch volunteers. Maui News.

Kauai

After three rounds of testing, the state Department of Health says it has been unable to pinpoint the source of pollution ending up in Waiopili Stream in Mahaulepu. Garden Island.

Cameras on drones have provided spectacular videos from Kauai, but residents are filing complaints when the unmanned aircraft fly too close. Associated Press.