Astronomers to gather amid Mauna Kea protests, military kids shortchanging school system, Hawaii Health Systems Corp. workers on Kauai lose jobs, Maui neighbors oppose homeless camp, Honolulu mulls charter changes, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Stars over Mauna Kea, courtesy Case Western University

Forget the lei and mai tai greeting. When more than 2,500 astronomers from around the world converge on Honolulu for their triennial convention Aug. 3-14, they are likely to be welcomed by demonstrators. Star-Advertiser.

The International Astronomical Union will hold its triennial general assembly in Hawaii next month, attracting astronomers from around the globe to discuss science and international collaboration. The 11-day assembly will be held at the Hawaii Convention Center in Honolulu and will attract roughly 2,500 to 3,000 people from more than 75 countries. Pacific Business News.

Convention center preparing security plan for possible protests at upcoming astronomy conference. Ian Lind blog.

Hawaii Schools Missing Out on Aid They’re Due for Serving Military Families. The state relies on federal funding to partially offset the cost of educating the children of service members, but difficulties with tracking how many such students are enrolled could be costing it millions of dollars. Civil Beat.

Oahu
Oahu residents interested in making the government of the City and County of Hono­lulu operate better are asked to participate in the work of the 2015 Honolulu Charter Commission. Star-Advertiser.

The Save Ka Iwi Coast Coalition has raised more than half of the remaining funds needed by Aug. 30 to purchase 182 acres above the seven-mile Ka Iwi coast. The coalition has raised $268,000, or 54 percent of private funding required from the community to protect and preserve the south shoreline on Oahu. Pacific Business News.

The Hawaii Community Development Authority gave its final approval Wednesday on The Howard Hughes Corp.’s Kakaako residential project at 988 Halekauwila St. Pacific Business News.

It's not permanent housing, but people who are homeless in Kakaako may finally be getting a place of their own. KITV4.

The Honolulu Ethics Commission has rescinded its restrictive news media policy, and adopted a new version that allows its executive director to speak to the press without needing permission and to comment on the potential impact of advisory opinions. Civil Beat.

Hawaii

Plans to fast-track changes to the county concurrency law to accommodate a Hilo judge’s rezoning have come to a screeching halt. West Hawaii Today.

Hawaii County Councilman Greggor Ilagan plans to introduce legislation aimed at further clarifying the county law prohibiting the use of public funds for personal purposes. The bill was drafted in response to a recent audit report detailing misuse of county purchasing cards, or pCards, by Mayor Billy Kenoi’s office and the county Department of Liquor Control. Tribune-Herald.

After years of planning and months of lava-related postponement, construction work on a roundabout at one of the most dangerous intersections in the county is set to begin in August. Tribune-Herald.

Maui

A Maui-based outreach organization is proposing to build a new campground facility in Lahaina as a way to help with the island's growing homeless population, but residents are fighting the project. Associated Press.

Kauai

Mayor Bernard Carvalho Jr. may be open to the possibility of serving a third term in office, but councilmembers aren’t planning to give him that chance. Garden Island.

Thirty employees in the Hawaii Health Systems Corp., Kauai Region were notified of their pending layoffs on Friday. Garden Island.

A new ordinance allows the Kauai County Fire Department to bill reckless hikers who have to be rescued. But Kauai Fire Chief Robert Westerman said it’s unclear whether the department ever will do so. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii representatives fight GMO labeling override in Congress, state officials ignore ethics law, Native Hawaiian roll to be published, Brower presses charges against homeless, no bag-tag for Hawaii County, Mauna Kea rules not enforced, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

sign in Hilo organic grocery © 2015 All Hawaii News

Those at the forefront of Hawaii’s movement against genetically modified organisms reacted strongly Thursday against a U.S. House of Representatives measure to block state and local governments from requiring food companies to disclose whether their products contain GMOs. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii Congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard and Congressman Mark Takai voted against a bill that seeks to stop states from requiring companies to label genetically engineered food. The measure introduced by Rep. Mike Pompeo, a Republican from Kansas, passed the U.S. House of Representatives Thursday with a vote of 275-150. It goes next to the Senate. Civil Beat.

A bill that would allow federal policy on labeling of foods containing genetically modified organisms to supersede local efforts passed the U.S. House of Representatives on Thursday. Tribune-Herald.

Congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard on Thursday went to the floor of the U.S. House of Representatives to speak against legislation that blocks local attempts to require mandatory labeling of foods made with genetically engineered ingredients. Garden Island.

If passed by Congress, the bill that’s aimed at lifting GMO labeling requirements would become federal law, which also means it would supersede any local laws that are made in Hawaii. KITV4.

The Hawaii State Ethics Commission is chasing down state employees and board members who have failed to file their financial disclosure statements for 2015. s of Tuesday, there were 67 state employees and 321 members of boards and commissions who have yet to file their disclosure statement for this year. That’s about 21 percent of everyone who’s required to file by law. Civil Beat.

The Native Hawaiian Roll Commission will soon make public a certified list of names of nearly 100,000 people of Hawaiian ancestry who could form the voting base to create a Native Hawaiian government. Star-Advertiser.

Overcrowding and safety concerns highlight bigger issues the state hospital is looking to address. KHON2.

A Hawaii lawmaker, who chairs the House Committee on Energy and Environmental Protection, said that he, along with other lawmakers, are quietly looking at other alternatives should the NextEra Energy Inc. $4.3 billion acquisition of Hawaiian Electric Co. not go through. Pacific Business News.

Venture accelerators have only been in Hawaii for two years, but they’re already having an impact on the local startup and investment community. Pacific Business News.

At $7.75 per hour, Hawaii’s minimum wage is higher than two dozen states. But when you adjust for the high cost of living in the islands, that wage is only worth $6.67, according to a new analysis by the Washington Post. Civil Beat.

Oahu

City emergency officials joined Honolulu Mayor Kirk Caldwell on Thursday to unveil broadened tsunami evacuation maps for the island, which now include large inland swaths of Oahu vulnerable to rare, extremely strong tsunamis. Star-Advertiser.

Tsunami experts warn if a 9-plus magnitude earthquake occurs in the Eastern Aleutian islands, a tsunami heading to Hawaii could be worse than the 1946 tsunami that ravaged Hilo and killed 159 people. Hawaii News Now.

The Honolulu Ethics Commission voted Thursday to rescind a strict media policy that severely curtailed what its executive director and even the commissioners themselves could say, opting for new guidelines that would allow a little more freedom. Star-Advertiser.

The homeless encampment in Kaka’ako, reportedly with more than 200 tents, was the focus of the state representative who claims he was attacked there and the Honolulu City Council. Hawaii Public Radio.

The city plans to open a “safe haven” in the next month to accommodate the growing homeless population in Kakaako, Honolulu Managing Director Roy Amemiya said Thursday. Star-Advertiser.

A Hawaii lawmaker said Thursday he will press charges against whoever assaulted him in a homeless encampment in Honolulu last month. Associated Press.

State Rep. Tom Brower announced Thursday that he’s pressing charges against the homeless teens who allegedly attacked him last month in Kakaako. Civil Beat.

After state Rep. Tom Brower told reporters that he plans to pursue criminal charges against at least one of the two cousins who allegedly started the attack June 29, he agreed to speak to Rose Pu‘u at the same street corner of Ohe and Olomehani streets where the attack began. Star-Advertiser.

The state Department of Education and several contractors have been fined $1.45 million for violating solid-waste laws during the renovation of Radford High School’s track field last year. Star-Advertiser.

State Sen. Breene Harimoto (D, Pearl Harbor-Pearl City-Aiea) says he will undergo surgery soon after he was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer last week. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii

A pay-as-you-throw bag-tag bill for garbage was trashed by the County Council Environmental Management Committee on Thursday, following public opposition. West Hawaii Today.

More than a week after going into effect, the new emergency rules restricting access on Mauna Kea, which protesters of the Thirty Meter Telescope say unfairly target them, have yet to be enforced. Tribune-Herald.

The Department of Hawaiian Home Lands is proposing to subdivide five 10-acre parcels in the Panaewa area of Hilo into approximately 80 half-acre lots for native Hawaiian beneficiaries who are on the wait list “and/or to existing lessees who need to relocate due to lava or other hazards.”  Big Island Video News.

There’s still plenty of room for students in the first classes to be held at Hawaii Community College — Palamanui, but those who want to register better hurry. Registration deadline is Aug. 1. West Hawaii Today.

With one deadline passed and a second looming, a nonprofit organization is a few hundred thousands dollars away from owning a 47-acre swath of sacred and historical grounds in Keauhou. West Hawaii Today.

Maui

The Maui County Council Land Use Committee recommended first reading approval Wednesday of zoning changes for Ka Lima O Maui to move ahead with an eight-unit rental housing project in Wailuku for adults with disabilities. Maui News.

Aloha House has agreed to pay $45,000 to 19 employees in back wages, damages and penalties, according to the U.S. Department of Labor. Maui News.

A pygmy sperm whale was found beached at Keawakapu in South Maui on Wednesday morning, July 22, 2015, according to representatives with the non-profit Ocean Defender Hawaiʻi group. Maui Now.

Kauai
After nearly 20 years of operating Puhi Sewer and Water Co., Kauai engineering firm Aqua Engineers purchased the wastewater treatment facility from Grove Farm Co. Inc. for an undisclosed price, officials from both firms said Thursday. Garden Island.

Kilauea Point National Wildlife Refuge is seeking public comment on proposed management actions aimed at preventing the local extinction of the Hawaiian petrel, also known as the ‘Ua’u, a federally endangered seabird that is endemic to Hawaii. Garden Island.

Kauai residents have three chances to catch a panel discussion about the dangers of Roundup weed killer featuring experts from the United Nations and Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Garden Island.

Hawaii low in greenhouse gas emissions, seven schools to get free lunch, monk seals to be vaccinated, Ethics Commission mulls class trips, Maui Council considers water plan, UH research brings in $425M, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Hawaii Rep. Cynthia Thielen with hemp, file courtesy photo

University of Hawaii researchers are poised to start their first harvest of industrial hemp in Waimanalo, while crop advocates explore opportunities to tap into the multimillion-dollar demand for the plant’s products in the United States. Star-Advertiser.

The status of future educational trips for Hawaii’s public school students remains murky following a marathon meeting of the State Ethics Commission on Wednesday. More than half of the nearly four-hour meeting was devoted to attempts to solve a messy clash between several provisions of the ethics code that applies to state employees, including teachers, and the Department of Education’s goal of encouraging educational trips to complement, extend, and broaden classroom experiences. Civil Beat.

A new pilot program launching next week at seven Hawaii public schools will provide lunches free of charge to more than 1,600 students regardless of their family’s ability to pay. Star-Advertiser.

Educators were asked this week to identify measurements of achievement for young Native Hawaiians in the coming decade. The answer had nothing to do with standardized test scores. Civil Beat.

External funding for research and instruction projects at the University of Hawaii surged to more than $425 million in the recently completed fiscal year — a jump of $33 million or 8.5 percent over last year and the first increase after three consecutive years of funding declines, UH officials disclosed Wednesday. Civil Beat.

Hawaii is in the bottom half of rankings in the United States when it comes total greenhouse gas emissions, according to a new report. Pacific Business News.

NOAA Prepares for Hawaiian Monk Seal Vaccinations. Hawaii Public Radio.

Models to mitigate coastal hazards related to climate change. New research using wave modeling helps explain the effects coral reefs have on preventing coastal hazards like flooding.  Hawaii Independent.

Oahu

The state Department of Health is issuing a $1.1 million fine against the Department of Education and several companies over the alleged dumping of toxic soil from Radford High School. Hawaii News Now.

Major metal recyclers on the island would once again enjoy a substantial discount in disposal fees under a plan making its way through the Honolulu City Council despite objections from Mayor Kirk Caldwell’s administration. Star-Advertiser.

Honolulu’s Council chairman on Wednesday proposed the city consider using some of the hundreds of millions of dollars from a five-year rail tax extension to help Oahu businesses hard-hit by rail construction. Star-Advertiser.

Population growth and concerns over crime have prompted some residents and officials to call for a greater police presence on the Leeward Coast. Star-Advertiser.

The state agency regulating development in Kakaako has acknowledged that its rule governing the opaqueness of glass on new condominium towers may need to be modified to achieve a better balance between reflectiveness and energy use. Star-Advertiser.

A Bloomberg analysis has found that Honolulu ranks fourth among American cities that lost the most residents between July 2013 and July 2014. Civil Beat.

A Honolulu city council committee has approved a settlement in a lawsuit filed against the city by a Waipahu man who claimed he was beaten by an off-duty police officer. Hawaii News Now

The Hawaii Community Development Authority finalized an amended development permit Wednesday requiring construction to start on the moderate-priced 988 Halekauwila condominium tower in Kakaako before an initial luxury tower can be occupied at Ward Village. Star-Advertiser.

Owners in the Royal Capitol Plaza condominium tower in Kakaako have dropped their lawsuit challenging a state permit for a tower under construction next door. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii

The state land board has agreed to consider on Aug. 14 a request for a contested case hearing, which seeks to reverse a recently approved emergency rule limiting access to Mauna Kea. Pacific Business News.

Hawaii County is among the lengthy list of parties urging the Public Utilities Commission not to approve the proposed $4.3 billion merger of Hawaii Electric Industries to Florida-based NextEra Energy. Tribune-Herald.

The State Historic Preservation Division has given the state transportation department a green light to break ground on the Queen Kaahumanu Highway widening project. West Hawaii Today.

Maui

Hundreds of Upcountry residents have waited a decade or more for a water meter. And in recent years a lucky few have been offered a meter by the Department of Water Supply, but there's been a catch - the staggering cost of paying for fire protection improvements required to connect with the municipal water system. Maui News.

A substance abuse treatment center on Maui was ordered to pay an estimated $45,000 in back wages, damages and penalties to employees for violating the federal fair labor standards act, according to the Department of Labor. Maui Now.

Kauai
It looks like the barking dog ordinance could be repealed. A 4-3 committee vote Wednesday signaled that Bill 2590 will succeed on final passage if the sides hold when the council meets Aug. 5 to decide its fate. Garden Island.

Ige reiterates opposition to Hawaiian Electric-NextEra sale, Hawaii Obamacare vendors seek $2.7M, term limits on Kauai, the forbidden island of Niihau, University of Hawaii muzzles anti-GMO researcher, Honolulu battles homeless, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Hawaii state Capitol © 2015 All Hawaii News

NextEra Energy Inc. is holding its ground as it faces criticism from the state. The Florida-based company said Tuesday it is committed to its proposal to buy the state’s largest electric utility despite Gov. David Ige recommending the sale be rejected. Star-Advertiser

Hawaii lawmakers are quietly looking at other alternatives should the NextEra Energy Inc. $4.3 billion acquisition of Hawaiian Electric Co. not go through, the state representative overseeing the House Committee on Energy and Environmental Protection told Pacific Business News Tuesday.

Gov. David Ige said he’s opposing the proposed sale of Hawaiian Electric Industries to Florida-based energy giant NextEra Energy, saying the mainland company has failed to explain how it would align with the state’s renewable energy goals. Hawaii News Now.

Hawaii Gov. David Ige and two key state agencies are not convinced that it would be in the public’s best interest for Hawaiian Electric Industries to sell itself to Florida-based NextEra Energy. Civil Beat.

Gov. David Ige explained why his administration is opposing the proposed NextEra-Hawaiian Electric merger Tuesday. KHON2.

Gov. David Ige said Tuesday he doesn’t support the sale of Hawaiian Electric to Florida-based NextEra Energy. The sale was approved by Hawaiian Electric’s shareholders in June but still needs approval from the state Public Utilities Commission. Associated Press.

The Governor conducted a news conference today to outline the state’s position in opposing the proposed merger of Hawaiian Electric Industries with NextEra Energy, Incorporated. Hawaii Public Radio.

Two vendors continue to seek a total of $2.7 million in reimbursement for services provided to the Hawaii Health Connector, the nonprofit health insurance exchanged confirmed Monday. Pacific Business News.

Oahu

The biggest encampments are getting the most publicity as Honolulu grapples with homelessness, but it’s the smaller enclaves that a city crew clears away repeatedly in response to complaints. A Civil Beat analysis found 164 sweeps occurred in the latest two-month period.

State Rep. Tom Brower says he will make an announcement early next week pertaining to whether he will press charges against two homeless teenagers who allegedly attacked him last month near an homeless encampment in Kakaako. Star-Advertiser.

The Honolulu Ethics Commission may backtrack on its recently adopted news media policy that prohibited Executive Director Chuck Totto and other staff members from interpreting or commenting on the commission’s decisions and advisory opinions. Civil Beat.

Sixty faculty members at the University of Hawaii at Manoa have signed a letter sent to Manoa Chancellor Robert Bley-Vroman, the vice-chancellor for academic affairs, and Maria Gallo, Dean of the university’s College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources asking that the university acknowledge the restrictions and violations of academic freedom imposed on CTAHR Professor Hector Valenzuela. Hawaii Independent.

State education officials hope a new public school set to open next week in Kapolei can serve as a model for fast-tracking construction projects while containing costs. Star-Advertiser.

City issues fines for North Shore 'junkyard' property. Land manager says he's building a 'state of the art' farm. KITV4.

A contractor hired by the city began cleaning a Kaimuki home which neighbors have been complaining about for years. Star-Advertiser.

Veteran Honolulu journalist Denby Fawcett is headed to Washington, D.C., to participate in an interesting presentation sponsored by the national museum of journalism history, the Newseum. “Eyewitness to History: Women Reporters Who Covered Vietnam” features Fawcett and three other female former Vietnam war correspondents discussing their experiences. Civil Beat.

Hawaii

Hawaii County Council members say they are prepared to take action on a recent audit recommendation that the nine-member body address gaps in the county’s purchasing card policy. Tribune-Herald.

A project to bring water to a Ka‘u coffee farm, generate electricity to run it and have extra power left over to create a hydrogen filling station has caught the attention of the county Agriculture Advisory Commission. West Hawaii Today.

Opinion: As the protests and civil disobedience against the planned Thirty Meter Telescope on Mauna Kea continue, and those arrested are being processed through the courts, one of the repeated themes is the belief the mountain’s self-described “protectors” can’t be charged with violating state law because the State of Hawaii has no jurisdiction over them. Civil Beat.

Maui

Members of the Maui Native Hawaiian Chamber of Commerce recently elected an all-female executive team to lead the board of directors. MauiTime.

Kauai

Mayor Bernard Carvalho, Jr. on Tuesday told The Garden Island that he supports the Kauai County Council’s efforts to give voters the opportunity to repeal term limits, but said the plan should be expanded beyond just council members to also include the executive branch.

Kauai has the largest nene population. It’s home to 90 percent of the world’s Newell shearwaters. And it’s a refuge for many other threatened and endangered birds, thanks to the work of conservationists. Garden Island.

Niihau
A single family has owned the island for more than 150 years and — even though it’s only 17 miles from resort-lined Kauai — Niihau remains surprisingly insulated from the outside world. Civil Beat.

Ige opposes Hawaiian Electric/NextEra deal, medical marijuana permits to be fast-tracked, Honolulu rethinks ethics policy, neighbor island lawmakers' allowances studied, homeless sweep planned, pay-as-you-throw trash deal considered, Maui mulls surf spot land buy, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

courtesy NextEra Energy

Gov. David Ige said Monday he is opposed to NextEra Energy Inc.’s purchase of Hawaii’s largest electric utility and is recommending the state Public Utilities Commission reject the deal. Star-Advertiser.

The Hawaii Island Energy Cooperative has — for the first time — urged state regulators to seriously consider the cooperative model as an alternative to the proposed merger of Hawaii Electric Industries with Florida-based NextEra Energy. Tribune-Herald.

The Hawaii Island Energy Cooperative, which formed earlier this year to explore the possibility of cooperative utility ownership, is in the process of doing a 10-year financial analysis to quantify the potential savings of this type of business model, one of its co-founders said Monday. Pacific Business News.

State health officials say they’re looking to streamline the application process for medical marijuana patient cards — which some local physicians say is unduly burdensome — ahead of the first pot dispensaries to open in Hawaii next year. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii taxpayers write a check every year to neighbor island legislators for more than $400,000 to cover expenses the lawmakers don’t have to account for. Civil Beat.

Hawaii ranks in the middle of the pack nationally in child well-being, with almost all keiki covered by health insurance but many families burdened by housing costs, according to the 2015 KIDS COUNT Data Book. Star-Advertiser.

An Oahu educator has been appointed director of the Executive Office on Early Learning. Star-Advertiser.

If a child’s classroom gets extremely hot, should they remain in class? The new leader of the Hawaii State Teachers Association says they shouldn’t, and believes education officials should consider canceling school when the heat is unbearable. KHON2.

Opinion: Nearly eight months into Gov. David Ige’s tenure, it’s clear that the low-key technocrat’s deliberative, slow-to-judgment approach is serving Hawaii well in most cases. Civil Beat.

Opinion: Hawaii Fails the Elderly When It Cuts Long-Term Care Services. The looming cutbacks at state-run nursing homes have residents worried. And mainstream hospitals may have cause for concern as well. Civil Beat.

Oahu

The Honolulu Ethics Commission is poised to rescind a controversial media policy one month after passing it. Star-Advertiser.

The Honolulu Ethics Commission may backtrack on its recently adopted news media policy that prohibited Executive Director Chuck Totto and other staff members from interpreting or commenting on the commission’s decisions and advisory opinions. Civil Beat.

The administration of Mayor Kirk Caldwell has refused to renew the contract of the city Ethics Commission's only investigator, bringing some politically sensitive ethics cases to a halt at the end of June. Hawaii News Now.

The mayor and governor have agreed on a plan to shut down the huge Kakaako homeless camp and move its residents to a managed 'safe zone' elsewhere in the area. Hawaii News Now.

State officials are gearing up for a major sweep of homeless camps next month and the focus will be on the growing shanty towns that have sprung up on state land under control of the transportation department. KITV4.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration is moving forward with a joint federal-state plan to manage Hawai’i shorelines. The current draft is creating quite a stir in Hawai’i Kai. Hawaii Public Radio.

Oahu’s only construction and demolition debris facility could run on 100 percent renewable energy, including solar and biofuel, by 2017, the landfill’s general manager confirmed to Pacific Business News this week.

Hawaii

Would people recycle more if they had to pay to throw out their trash? That’s a concept the County Council Environmental Management Committee is scheduled to discuss Thursday, under Bill 32, sponsored by Kohala Councilwoman Margaret Wille. West Hawaii Today.

A huge business opportunity has opened up in the commercial core of Kailua-Kona, with the proposed sale of the 243-acre West Hawaii Business Park, along with the option to include any of 14 nearby parcels. West Hawaii Today.

After 17 months in operation, Hospice of Hilo’s Hawaii Palliative Care Center has closed its doors and begun restructuring after having financial trouble. Tribune-Herald.

Maui

The Maui County Council included in the current budget a $3 million appropriation to buy almost 268 north shore acres overlooking the famed "Jaws" big wave surfing site, but Mayor Alan Arakawa said last week that it'll actually cost the county more than $10 million to acquire the oceanfront land. Maui News.

It's been six years since the state established the Kahekili Herbivore Fisheries Management Area in north Kaanapali, and experts say key species of herbivores, such as parrotfish (uhu), rudderfish (nenue), surgeonfish and urchin, have shown signs of recovery. Maui News.

Kauai
The nonprofit whale conservation group Kohola Leo — Hawaiian for “whale’s voice” — will host a feature film night at Kapaa Library at 7 p.m. Friday. The event is free and open to the public. Garden Island.

Scientists study Hawaiian birds, monk seals, Trans Pacific Partnership talks coming to Maui, pCard audit shows misuse not widespread, cannabis convention draws hundreds, state flirts with hydrogen, Honolulu council mulls second homes on properties, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Koloa maoli native duck © 2015 All Hawaii News

 Global climate change could further imperil indigenous Hawaiian bird populations over the next century as rising temperatures and increased rainfall draw malaria-bearing mosquitoes into protected avian habitats, according to researchers at the U.S. Geological Survey and the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Star-Advertiser.

Marine officials are readying for the possibility of a disease outbreak in Hawaiian waters, hoping to protect the dwindling Hawaiian monk seal population from morbillivirus. The disease has killed thousands of dolphins and seals around the world. Associated Press.

Hydrogen-powered vehicles are beginning to roll onto Hawaii’s transportation scene. Two 25-seat hydrogen-powered buses will soon be shuttling tourists between the visitors center and the Thurston Lava Tube at Hawaii Volcanoes National Park and hydrogen might someday fuel the Wiki-Wiki shuttles at Honolulu Airport. Star-Advertiser.

In a move likely to irk China, the new U.S. commander of the Pacific Fleet joined a seven-hour surveillance flight over the disputed South China Sea aboard one of America’s newest spy planes. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii Cannabis Business Expo attracts many. KITV4.

Applying for a license to run a Hawaii medical marijuana dispensary under the state’s new system will take serious investment, but it could be well worth the reward. Pacific Business News.

Hawaii’s Public Access Room Gets Swiss Broadcasting Attention. The legislative service, now in its 25th year, is recognized for practicing the concept of “direct democracy.” Civil Beat.

When the Hawaii Department of Education released the details of its new teacher evaluation system three years ago, veteran teacher Mireille Ellsworth made a radical decision: She would simply refuse to do part of it. Civil Beat.

The Hawaii State Ethics Commission plans to welcome its newest member Wednesday. Reynaldo Graulty will be replacing Ed Broglio, whose term ended June 30. Civil Beat.

Oahu

A proposal to make it easier for Oahu's residential property owners to set up a second dwelling on their lots might become reality soon. Bill 20, if it moves out of the City Council Zoning and Permitting Committee on Thursday, would be positioned for a final vote of the full Council in August. Star-Advertiser.

State legislative leaders say Mayor Kirk Caldwell was not as forthright as he should have been in helping them best decide what to do about Honolulu's cash-strapped rail project, with one key lawmaker calling for the mayor to apologize to help rebuild trust between the city and state. Star-Advertiser.

Applicants are being sought for a vacant post on the Honolulu Authority for Rapid Transportation's board of directors. Those interested have until 4:30 p.m. Aug. 7 to submit to HART a completed application form, cover letter and resume. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii

Misuse of county credit cards is not widespread in Hawaii County government, but is confined to Mayor Billy Kenoi’s office and one other department, according to an audit report released Friday by Legislative Auditor Bonnie Nims. West Hawaii Today.

Over the past two years, Mayor Billy Kenoi has spent more than $1.5 million on contracted employees, using an exemption to sidestep state civil service laws that require employees be hired based on merit. West Hawaii Today.

Former Mayor Harry Kim used his Hawaii County purchasing card less often than Mayor Billy Kenoi, who is embroiled in a pCard scandal, at least during Kim’s last 18 months in office. Tribune-Herald.

A private attorney for the Thirty Meter Telescope was allowed in on state and county officials’ conversations about jurisdictional issues on Mauna Kea, according to documents obtained by the Tribune-Herald.

Rumors of the Hawaii National Guard being thrust into the middle of the Thirty Meter Telescope conflict bring back disturbing memories for Noa Emmett Aluli. Star-Advertiser.

A miniature version of an ages-old plan to improve traffic flow between Waimea and Kawaihae has raised its head. West Hawaii Today.

A June report from the U.S. Department of Agriculture found that since 2008, nationwide SNAP redemptions at farmers markets and farm stands have increased sixfold, totaling $18.8 million in the last fiscal year. Tribune-Herald.

Maui

Out here on Maui, it’s relatively easy for big international news stories like the ongoing negotiations over the proposed Trans Pacific Partnership (TPP) free trade zone to get lost. Between locals just trying to find out why the Pali is backed up and visitors more concerned about scheduling their luau, few people out here want to find out the latest in free trade zone talks. MauiTime.

The Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) is a massive international treaty being negotiated, in secret, by 12 Pacific Rim countries, side-by-side with 500 corporate advisers. After five years, they are aiming to wrap-up the deal on Maui at the end of this month. Hawaii Independent.

Kauai

Sides are starting to form in the debate over whether to repeal term limits. But before the Kauai County Council decides whether to put the issue before voters in the 2016 election, members of the public will have an opportunity to offer their opinions on an issue voters decided in 2006. Garden Island.

As of June, Kauai police have issued 539 tickets to violators operating hand-held mobile electronic devices while driving, according to KPD reports. Garden Island.

It’ll be another two to three months until Green Energy Team’s $90 million biomass-to-energy facility in Koloa starts producing steam. Garden Island.

State budget office imposes 10 percent cutbacks, marijuana expo this weekend, UH's Lassner's term extended, lawmakers ask EPA involvement in Red Hill storage tanks, families feel burden of elder care, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Hawaii Capitol interior © 2015 All Hawaii News

The Hawaii state Office of Budget and Finance is imposing a 10 percent restriction, amounting to some $200 million, on discretionary general fund spending across all state departments, including the University of Hawaii’s 10-campus system, for the fiscal year that started July 1, state officials said Thursday. Pacific Business News.

Hawaii’s first cannabis expo opens this weekend at the Hawaii Convention Center. Hawaii News Now.

David Lassner will continue serving as president of the University of Hawaii system after receiving high marks Thursday from the Board of Regents on his first one-year performance evaluation. Star-Advertiser.

Advocates for the elderly in Hawaii are hoping a new study puts additional pressure on state lawmakers to pass legislation next session that helps overloaded family caregivers. Civil Beat.

One in four Hawai’i residents provides home care for elderly relatives, friends or neighbors.  That, according to state lawmakers who convened a working group today to look at care-giver training. Hawaii Public Radio.

The new U.S. commander of the Pacific Fleet assured allies Friday that American forces are well equipped and ready to respond to any contingency in the South China Sea, where long-seething territorial disputes have set off widespread uncertainties. Associated Press.

The result of almost two decades of jellyfish research in Hawaii waters has produced a product to provide relief from their painful and sometimes life-threatening stings. KITV4.

Oahu

Nineteen state lawmakers are calling for the Environmental Protection Agency to force the military to take more aggressive action to prevent further leaks at 20 underground jet fuel storage tanks at Red Hill that sit 100 feet above a major water aquifer. Star-Advertiser.


Wheeler Army Airfield expects to get 24 AH-64 Apache attack helicopters starting next spring amid ongoing budget uncertainty and a fight over Apaches the Army wants to pull from U.S. National Guard units to outfit active-duty units. Star-Advertiser.

It’s been a bumpy road recently for Nan Inc. in its bids to secure work on the Honolulu rail project, but the local firm has been awarded the latest contract to build stations for the island’s future transit line. Star-Advertiser.

Mayor Kirk Caldwell says he is moving ahead with nine key projects to renovate and improve sections of Ala Moana Beach Park. The mayor says the city’s plans do not involve commercializing the park. Civil Beat.

The state Department of Land and Natural Resources is postponing closures of the Makapuu Lighthouse Trail, but that means trail improvement work will also be delayed. Hawaii News Now.

Traffic worries along the west side of Oahu are nothing new. State legislators as well as administrators from a number of agencies want to hear from you about how to ease traffic along the busy Leeward corridor. KHON2.

A number of Hawai’i Kai business and community groups are outraged over a federal proposal to regulate Maunalua Bay.   And they expressed their disapproval at a meeting Tuesday night. Hawaii Public Radio.

Hawaii
Asked if they could see a single redeeming quality in a plan for a massive solar project in a residential area, a room full of Ocean View residents gave a resounding no on Thursday night. West Hawaii Today.

Hawaii Community College - Palamanui will be open for the first day of class on Aug. 24, Director Kenneth “Marty” Fletcher said Thursday. West Hawaii Today.

Several participants of the Mauna Kea movement that were arrested for blocking construction workers from reaching the Mauna Kea summit on June 24 appeared in court Thursday morning. Big Island Now.

Maui

Hundreds of South Maui residents will have their "3 Can Plan" curbside recycling reinstated next month, though they'll have to pay an extra $6 a month for the service, county officials confirmed Thursday. Maui News.

Maui Memorial Medical Center's cardiac unit got off to a slow, bumpy start and has not reached the volume of open-heart surgery patients initially projected when it received a permit from the state to operate in 2007. Maui News.

Kauai

A local marine biologist’s documentation of green sea turtles with torn and tattered flippers prompted state and federal scientists to gather on the North Shore this week to take a closer look. Garden Island.

Payment standards to accommodate Kauai veterans who are seeking affordable housing opportunities have risen slightly, according to The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development on Thursday. Garden Island.

Kahoolawe

An international group of environmental scientists is calling on the federal government to provide much-needed funding for Kahoolawe. Maui News.

A group of international environmental scientists is asking the federal government to provide funding for the Kahoolawe Island Reserve Commission restoration project. Associated Press.

General excise tax hike, medical marijuana dispensaries become law in Hawaii, Thirty Meter Telescope foes contest Land Board ruling, National Guard trains for civil disobedience, dune buggy biz approved for Oahu's North Shore, Liberty Dialysis charged with over-billing the state, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Medical marijuana sign © 2015 All Hawaii News

Gov. David Ige has signed a bill establishing a system of medical marijuana dispensaries in Hawaii. Civil Beat.

On Wednesday, Governor David Ige signed into law HB 321 (now Act 241) Relating to Medical Marijuana, which establishes a licensing system for medical marijuana dispensaries. Big Island Video News.

Governor David Ige today signed Hawaiʻi’s medical marijuana dispensary bill into law. Maui Now.

Gov. David Ige approved a five-year extension of the half-percent excise tax surcharge on Tuesday to raise more money to cover cost overruns on Honolulu's $6 billion Oahu transit project, and also put his personal stamp of approval on a plan to establish a statewide network of dispensaries to distribute medical marijuana. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii Gov. David Ige signed a bill Wednesday to extend Honolulu’s rail tax for another five years to help pay for cost overruns. Civil Beat.

Hawaii Gov. David Ige signed into law House Bill 134, which extends the 0.5 percent general excise tax surcharge on Oahu for another five years to fund the City & County of Honolulu’s rail transit project. Pacific Business News.

A bill aimed at taking a closer look at real estate investment trusts in Hawaii has become law without Gov. David Ige’s signature. Pacific Business News.

The proposed $4.3 billion sale of Hawaiian Electric Co. to NextEra Energy Inc. is expected to generate $109 million in economic activity for Hawaii in the first four years, according to public documents. Pacific Business News.

Liberty Dialysis, a company that operates kidney dialysis facilities throughout the state, owes Hawaii $7 million that the company allegedly overbilled in Medicaid payments from 2006 to 2010, a state lawsuit says. Star-Advertiser.

The new director of a streamlined program to identify the missing remains of war veterans says he’s optimistic that goals will be reached this year. Associated Press.

Oahu

City officials have approved the registration of gas-powered, low-speed vehicles on Oahu after initially denying a startup dune buggy rental business on the North Shore the license to begin operations. Star-Advertiser.

More park workers, a smoothed-out beach and a playground are in. Increased commercialization and newfangled restrooms are out. Those are some of the highlights of a nine-point, short-term community action plan for the 119-acre Ala Moana Beach Park released by Mayor Kirk Caldwell on Wednesday. Star-Advertiser.

You could still dump aunty’s ashes into Maunalua Bay but there’s debate over whether building a sand castle on the shore would be allowed under a proposed federal management plan. Civil Beat.

Hawaii

Lawyers representing two men opposed to building the Thirty Meter Telescope are challenging a recently enacted emergency rule restricting access to the mountain where it will be built. Associated Press.

A request for a contested case hearing was filed with the state Board of Land and Natural Resources on Wednesday, seeking to upend the emergency rule limiting nighttime access on Mauna Kea. Star-Advertiser.

Civil disobedience training for more than 100 Hawaii National Guard troops during the weekend was unrelated to the ongoing unrest atop Mauna Kea because of the Thirty Meter Telescope, according to officials. Tribune-Herald.

A state Board of Land and Natural Resources member had no conflict of interest when he voted to restrict access to Mauna Kea last week, as erroneously claimed in an opinion piece written by University of Hawaii law school student Zuri Aki. Civil Beat.

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and its contractors have completed a plan for addressing the threat of unexploded ordnance at four sites in the former Waikoloa Maneuver Area, as cleanup efforts reach the $200 million mark in what is expected to be a 70-year, $723 million effort. West Hawaii Today.

An Ocean View community is rallying today to oppose a massive solar energy project in its neighborhood. West Hawaii Today.

Maui

Although 10 million gallons of water per day has been returned to Iao Stream since October, it is hard to tell so far if more freshwater species are flourishing, said Skippy Hau, an aquatics biologist with the state Department of Land and Natural Resources. Maui News.

Kauai

Opinions are sharply divided between dog owners who oppose the current barking ordinance and want to repeal it, and upset neighbors who want to keep it in place as a way to hold owners accountable for incessant barking. Garden Island.

County officials announced that guardrail and other safety improvements are being made to Koloa Road. The project is expected to be completed by the beginning of September. Garden Island.

The County of Kauai Housing Agency is holding a public hearing to receive comments on the proposed Administrative Rules for the Administration of Chapter 7A of the Kauai County Code, pertaining to the housing policy for the County of Kauai. Garden Island.

Honolulu rail on track, Ige vetoes eight bills, Tongan, Micronesian and Native Hawaiian students most likely to be suspended, Hawaii council chairman takes lobbyist's gifts, Kauai police settle sexual harassment case, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Honolulu rail project, courtesy HART

Rail leaders gathered Tuesday to tout progress on one of the most complicated and dramatic maneuvers needed to complete Oahu's rail transit system, but they also acknowledged that construction is taking its toll on many businesses in Leeward Oahu. Star-Advertiser.

O’ahu’s 6-billion dollar rail transit project marked a major milestone today as construction moves toward Pearl City. Hawaii Public Radio.

There’s a bit of relief when it comes to construction of the city’s $6.2 billion rail project. The Honolulu Authority for Rapid Transportation announced Tuesday, the elevated guideway for the driverless train has crossed all of the westbound lanes of the H-1 Freeway near the H-2 merge.  KITV4.

Gov. David Ige vetoed eight bills Tuesday, including measures that would have created a new crime of sex trafficking and allowed University of Hawaii graduate students to unionize to bargain for better pay and working conditions. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii Gov. David Ige has followed through on his previously announced plans to veto eight bills. That includes measures to combat sex trafficking, allow University of Hawaii graduate students to unionize and clarify the order of succession for lieutenant governor. Civil Beat.

Hawaii Gov. David Ige has vetoed a total of eight bills passed during the 2015 legislative session, including one that would have doubled the monetary value of retail goods that suspected thieves can steal before they are charged with a felony. Pacific Business News.

Hawaii Gov. David Ige has vetoed a bill that would have created a victim-centered approach to combating sex trafficking in Hawaii, citing concerns that changes to the law could make it more difficult to prosecute pimps, a claim that advocates for sex trafficking victims dispute. Associated Press.

A bill to establish Hawaii’s first medical marijuana dispensary system will become law at midnight Tuesday, without Gov. David Ige’s signature. Pacific Business News.

Opinion:  What killed Hawaii’s sex trafficking bill? A step in the right direction toward combating sex trafficking in Hawaii has been torpedoed by some of the very people trying to end the exploitative practice; the evidence points to internal political squabbling as the reason.  Hawaii Independent.

In 2013-14, Tongan, Micronesian and Native Hawaiian students were suspended at four times the rate of their Japanese peers and were twice as likely to be suspended as white and Filipino students. Civil Beat.

The state Department of Hawaiian Home Lands has been awarded an $8.7 million grant from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, according to a press release from Hawaii’s congressional delegation. Civil Beat.

Oahu

The Waikiki Neighborhood Board and community members applauded state Rep. Tom Brower on Tuesday, his first appearance at their monthly meeting since an attack by homeless youth on him during a walk though the growing Kakaako encampment last month. Star-Advertiser.

Tackling the homeless issue in Kakaako requires a coordinated response by various landowners and government agencies, Gov. David Ige said Tuesday at the Hawaii Publishers Association's quarterly meeting. Star-Advertiser.

Just four months after Honolulu City Councilman Ikaika Anderson said he wouldn’t agree to allowing a new residential community at Malaekahana, City Council Chair Ernie Martin has introduced a planning document that would permit 875 homes in the area despite opposition from community groups like the Defend Oahu Coalition. Civil Beat.

Environmentalists are calling it one of the worst cases of stream pollution they've seen in years. A new report says that a 1,000-foot long drainage canal that runs from Barbers Point Beach Park to Island Recycling's Kapolei facility is heavily contaminated with lead, arsenic and petroleum products. Hawaii News Now.

It was a packed house Tuesday night as hundreds showed up at a town hall meeting to discuss the future of Maunalua Bay. KHON2.

Hawaii

County Council Chairman Dru Kanuha accepted $536 worth of airfare from unregistered lobbyists while sponsoring a bill benefiting them, according to gift disclosures filed with the county Board of Ethics. West Hawaii Today.

Gov. David Ige on Tuesday signed the new emergency rule that prohibits camping and restricts public access on Mauna Kea, the site of ongoing protests against the Thirty Meter Telescope. Ige said in a statement that the rule, which will remain in effect for 120 days, gives the state an additional tool to keep the road safe for all. Tribune-Herald.

The University of Hawaii at Hilo soon will fly the U.S. and Hawaii state flags at equal heights following protests late last year from students and community members. Tribune-Herald.

The Hawaii County Department of Water Supply finds that there will be no significant impact from a proposed water production well in North Kona, even though its located in the contentious Keauhou Aquifer. Big Island Video News.

A Hilo native who has run for Congress multiple times announced Monday his plans to run for Mayor of Hawai’i County in 2016. David “Kawika” Crowley, 64, said he will be setting up an exploratory committee in the upcoming weeks to secure his decision, but is confident he’ll be running next year. Big Island Now.

Maui

Maui County Council members will consider Thursday whether to authorize the settlement of two multimillion-dollar tax appeal cases, both involving wind farm companies alleging that the county improperly assessed their properties by including the value of wind turbines and towers as part of the tax assessment. Maui News.

Skippy Hau, an aquatics biologist with the state Department of Land and Natural Resources Division of Aquatic Resources has dedicated much of his career to studying the life cycles and movements of fresh water fish, shrimp, and snails. Maui Now.

Although 10 million gallons of water per day has been returned to Iao Stream since October, it is hard to tell so far if more freshwater species are flourishing, said Skippy Hau, an aquatics biologist with the state Department of Land and Natural Resources. Maui News.

Kauai

An audit of Kauai County’s payroll system found a lack of proper documentation, overpayments, and process flaws that create the potential for fraud. Garden Island.

The Kauai Police Department will pay $100,000 to settle a case alleging retaliation against a police sergeant who claimed she was sexually harassed. Garden Island.

Lanai

A fishpond on the coastline of Lanai that is believed to be 800 years old is being restored this summer by children and adults. Associated Press.

A fishpond believed to be some 800 years old is being restored on the eastern coastline of Lanai by children and adults and will hopefully encourage future stewardship of the island's forgotten cultural resources. Maui News.

Transgender birth certificates easier in Hawaii, Mauna Kea access reopened, pCard audit almost complete, Laniakea Beach barriers coming down, Honolulu taxi companies fight Uber, telecom exec stole $4M, solar panel woes on Molokai, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Hawaiian fishponds © 2015 All Hawaii News

Governor David Ige signed three bills into law today relating to Water Resource Management that deal with hydroelectric facilities, water scalping and Native Hawaiian fishponds. Maui Now.

Gov. David Ige signed a bill Monday that will allow transgender men and women in Hawaii to more easily change the gender on their birth certificate. The new law eliminates the requirement that someone must undergo gender reassignment surgery before officially making the switch. Associated Press.

Gov. David Ige signed a bill Monday that will allow transgender men and women in Hawaii to more easily change the gender on their birth certificate. Star-Advertiser.

Gov. David Ige signed a bill Monday that will allow transgender men and women in Hawaii to more easily change the gender on their birth certificate. Garden Island.

Gov. David Ige has appointed Central Pacific Bank President Lance Mizumoto as the new chair of the Board of Education. Civil Beat.

A federal jury in Hawaii has found the president of a telecommunications company guilty on charges that he illegally used $4 million in corporation money over a decade and underreported his income tax. Associated Press.

A federal jury found Honolulu businessman Albert S.N. Hee guilty Monday of concealing from the Internal Revenue Service that his company deducted as legitimate business expenses money it paid to cover his personal expenses and of filing false tax returns for not claiming the payments as personal income. Star-Advertiser.

Oahu

A court order issued last week gives the state until Aug. 7 to remove the concrete barriers that block access to an unimproved parking area across from Laniakea Beach. Star-Advertiser.

The investigation of the June 29 assault on state Rep. Tom Brower at a growing Kaka­ako homeless encampment has moved from the state attorney general's office to the Honolulu Police Department, but Brower still has not decided whether to pursue criminal charges. Star-Advertiser.

The Honolulu City Council’s history is pockmarked with ethical lapses when it comes to how members spend their annual contingency allowances. A Civil Beat review of nearly $180,000 in expenses during the 2015 fiscal year, which ended June 30, shows significant improvements have been made.

Honolulu’s largest taxi dispatch companies are gearing up for what’s expected to be a protracted fight to convince the City Council to make Uber and other ride-booking companies adhere to the same regulations all cabs must follow. Civil Beat.

A company is slowing down its proposal for a new thrill ride on Oahu's south shore. Waikiki Beach Activities is delaying its plan to install two zip lines over the lagoon at the Hilton Hawaiian Village. Hawaii News Now.

Hawaii state and local policymakers are holding a town hall meeting Tuesday to discuss new restrictions on Maunalua Bay proposed by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Civil Beat.

A town hall meeting will be held Tuesday to discuss the future of Maunalua Bay. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) is proposing that the bay become part of an expanded Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary. KHON2.

Honolulu officials are calling for stricter enforcement of Oahu's new plastic bag bans as environmentalists complain the law has too many loopholes. Associated Press.

Hawaii

The Office of Mauna Kea Management on Monday afternoon reopened the Mauna Kea Access Road, which was shut down last month following protests against the Thirty Meter Telescope. Additionally, Gov. David Ige is planning to sign the new emergency rule that prohibits camping and restricts public access on the mountain, according to spokeswoman Cindy McMillan. Tribune-Herald.

The access road leading to the summit of Mauna Kea was reopened Monday afternoon after damage caused by protesters forced officials to shut down the road for more than two weeks. Star-Advertiser.

The University of Hawaii reopened the road leading up to the summit of Mauna Kea at 3 p.m. Monday after finishing remedial work and grading, according to a press release. Civil Beat.

The State is moving to restrict activities on Mauna Kea in response to Native Hawaiian protests over the Thirty Meter Telescope project. Hawaii Public Radio.

Cynthia Marlin, the 47 year old resident of Pahoa who was arrested Sunday after allegedly striking an Office of Mauna Kea Management ranger vehicle with her own car, was back on the mountain Monday evening. Big Island Video News.

Hawaii County officials are working against a Wednesday deadline to respond to findings of a draft audit into their use of county credit cards, known as pCards. West Hawaii Today.

In response to numerous complaints about squatters living in vacant, bank-owned homes in Puna, Hawaii County Councilman Greggor Ilagan formed a task force and is seeking public input in an effort to find a solution. Tribune-Herald.

Maui

A $2.8 million project to remove and replace a badly deteriorated pier adjacent to the Māʻalaea Small Boat Harbor new ferry terminal building began on Tuesday. Maui Now.

Public comments are being solicited for a proposal to continue allowing catamaran boarding at Maluaka Beach fronting the Makena Beach & Golf Resort. Maui News.

Jeffrey Pearson, an engineer and water official with the County of Maui, got a big boost to his resume last week when Governor David Ige announced that he’d soon take over as deputy to the chairperson of the state Commission on Water Resource Management as well as chief executive officer to the Commission. MauiTime.

Maui's drinking water quality is "very, very good" and is "much, much cleaner" than regulations require, Maui County Department of Water Supply Director David Taylor says. Maui News.

Wailuku businessman Joe Blackburn is launching his third campaign for the Maui County Council's Wailuku-Waihee-Waikapu residency seat. Maui News.

Kauai
Members of the public will have an opportunity to weigh-in on whether to repeal Kauai County’s barking dog ordinance. Ordinance No. 967, which went into effect in March 2014, provides penalties for dog owners who fail to keep their animal quiet. Garden Island.

Kauai County will pay a police sergeant $100,000 in damages under a conciliation agreement that settles a case in which the sergeant said she suffered retaliation after alleging sexual harassment by an assistant chief. Star-Advertiser.

A blessing to mark the completion of Kekaha Gardens’ Kaleimanu Park was held last Friday. Garden Island.

Molokai

The Hawaiian Island of Molokai is facing serious issues when it comes to the inability of the utility’s grid to accommodate more rooftop solar photovoltaic systems. Pacific Business News.