Gov. Ige clarifies Syrian refugee stance, state Supreme Court temporarily blocks Thirty Meter Telescope work on Mauna Kea, Honolulu rail bids within budget, Maui pCards under criminal investigation, Native Hawaiian convention foes meet on Kauai, Hawaii County wants say over medical marijuana dispensaries, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Ige explains Syrian refugee stance, screenshot of governor's video conference

   Hawaii Gov. David Ige said Tuesday afternoon, after hundreds of emails and phone calls about whether or not Hawaii should accept Syrian refugees, that his position remains the same: The state should keep its doors open to Syrian refugees as long as the proper security precautions are taken. Civil Beat.

Hawaii has one of the lowest rates of refugee resettlement in the country, receiving only 0.6 refugees per 100,000 residents between 2012 and 2014, according to a Honolulu Star-Advertiser analysis of federal refugee and population data.

Gov. David Ige said Tuesday he doesn’t know of any specific plans to relocate Syrian refugees in Hawaii, one day after he said the state would welcome refugees from the war-torn country. Associated Press.

In an attempt to squelch the fervor over his welcoming of Syrian refugees to Hawaii, Gov. David Ige said he should have been more thoughtful about comments he made on Monday. KITV4.

Governor David Ige is clarifying the comments he made Monday about accepting Syrian refugees to Hawaii. While he defended his position, the governor says his top priority is to tackle issues that Hawaii is facing. KHON2.

Gov. David Ige’s office has been flooded with more than 500 phone calls and about 300 emails from constituents in response to his statements Monday that Hawaii would welcome refugees fleeing a brutal civil war in Syria. Star-Advertiser.

Governor Ige further addressed his position on Syrian refugees during a press conference this afternoon in which he reiterated that his, “first and foremost priority, as always – as it is President Obama’s and virtually every other governor across the country – is the safety and security of our people.” Maui Now.

Hawaii Republican Party Chair Fritz Rohlfing said Tuesday that the state’s “over-taxed social safety net” can’t handle Syrian refugees. Civil Beat.

Commentary: Ige says refugees welcome, state track record disagrees. Star-Advertiser.

The Board of Education on Tuesday unanimously approved a trio of annual rate hikes that will ultimately raise the monthly fee for its A+ after-school program to $120 per student from $85, marking the first increase in five years. Star-Advertiser.

Allegiant Air’s expansion into Hawaii turned out to be short-lived. Star-Advertiser.

Oahu

Bids by companies vying for a contract to build three rail stations near Pearl City and Aloha Stadium were opened Tuesday, with the apparent low bidder submitting a proposal to build the stations for $112.7 million. Star-Advertiser.

Honolulu received more welcome news Tuesday when transit officials opened bids to build three rail stations along the city’s $6.6 billion project corridor from East Kapolei to Ala Moana Center. Three of the four bids came in within the Honolulu Authority for Rapid Transportation’s estimated range of $100 million to $125 million, allowing officials to rest a little easier about their plans to fight skyrocketing costs. Civil Beat.

Landlords heard tearful pleas to open their hearts and homes — along with the practical realities of renting to low-income and homeless tenants — as Gov. David Ige and Mayor Kirk Caldwell teamed up at Tuesday’s Landlord Summit to try to sway property owners to house the homeless. Star-Advertiser.

Landlords at a conference on Hawaii’s housing crisis learn about voucher programs, but wonder where to turn when there’s trouble. Civil Beat.

The State and City hosted a Landlord Summit today to ask O’ahu property owners and managers to rent more of their housing units to the homeless. Hawaii Public Radio.

For more than a decade, dozens of homeless families and individuals have quietly called The Harbor home, their presence largely tolerated or simply ignored by the public, including the state Department of Land and Natural Resources which owns the 19-acre parcel. Civil Beat.

Hawaiian Electric Co. and AES Hawaii Inc., the owner of the state’s only coal-fired plant, have reached agreement on a power-purchase agreement with more favorable pricing that is passed on to the Honolulu-based utility’s customers, according to a regulatory filing this week. Pacific Business News.

Hawaii

The state Supreme Court on Monday granted a request for an emergency stay that blocks crews from working at the Thirty Meter Telescope construction site through Dec. 2. Star-Advertiser.

The TMT International Observatory agreed to stand down on the eve of another confrontation on Mauna Kea after the Hawaii Supreme Court issued a temporary suspension of its construction permit. The nonprofit organization was planning to send workers back to the mountain this month for equipment maintenance and repairs. Tribune-Herald.

The Hawaii Supreme Court has partially granted a group’s request to stall construction of the $1.4 billion telescope on Mauna Kea. Pacific Business News.

The Hawaii Supreme Court has granted an emergency motion to halt construction on the Thirty Meter Telescope atop Mauna Kea. According to Tuesday’s ruling, “The Conservation District Use Permit HA-3568 is temporarily stayed until Wednesday, Dec. 2, 2015, or until further order of the Court.” KHON2.

The Hawaii Supreme Court has issued an order that will temporarily prevent construction of the Thirty Meter Telescope on Mauna Kea. Hawaii News Now.

The Hawaii State Supreme Court has granted a last minute Emergency Motion for Stay Upon Appeal, filed by opponents of the Thirty Meter Telescope project, putting a temporary suspension on the observatory’s Conservation District Use Permit. Big Island Video News.

Ku’uipo Frietas, Mauna Kea Protector and Mauna Media representative, tells Big Island Now that the State of Hawai’i Department of Land and Natural Resources has confirmed that Division of Conservation and Resource Enforcement officers would not ascend Mauna Kea Wednesday.

Hawaii County Council members want greater home rule over medical marijuana dispensaries and they want the chance to levy a tax on marijuana sales. West Hawaii Today.

State health officials plan to begin spraying insecticide at Big Island schools this weekend as the fight against Hawaii Island’s dengue fever outbreak enters its fourth week. The outbreak, which was announced Oct. 27, now encompasses a total of 65 confirmed cases, including 55 residents and 10 visitors who have contracted the illness. Tribune-Herald.

Critics say the Hawaii Island Humane Society has an unacceptable kill rate, and they want its $1.9 million annual county contract tightened. Supporters say the society is an open admission shelter required to take in all animals, and its euthanasia rate shouldn’t be compared with the so-called “no-kill” shelters that cherry-pick the most adoptable dogs. West Hawaii Today.

Maui

Maui County pCard Expenditures Under Criminal Investigation. Maui Now.

Acquiring a Houston consulting firm helped boost revenue for fledgling Maui software developer Code Rebel Corp. in the third quarter, though the Kahului-based company also suffered a bigger net loss in the period. Star-Advertiser.

Kula Botanical Gardens, a farm frequented by many Mauians seeking freshly cut Christmas trees, has been forced to chop down one of its fields due to the wet and humid weather in late summer and early fall, but the hundreds of trees that will be sold this holiday season will be greener and fuller because of the rain. Maui News.

Single-family home sales were up both in volume and in sales prices in October, although condominiums didn't fare quite as well, according to statistics released last week by the Realtors Association of Maui. Maui News.

Kauai

Critics of the ongoing Na‘i Aupuni election for Native Hawaiian self-governance will gather at Wilcox Elementary School Friday for a public panel discussion. Garden Island.

A master plan that maps Black Pot’s future was the topic of a community meeting attended by more than 100 people at Hanalei Elementary School. The master plan will set a vision for Black Pot Beach Park over the next 20 years. Garden Island.

Hawaii to study reef health but allow aquarium trade, Ige will welcome Syrian refugees, electricity at 5-year low, feds could cut off rail funding if tax not extended, police and protesters gird for Wednesday battle over Mauna Kea, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Yellow tang amid bleached coral ©2015 All Hawaii News

With Hawaii plagued by widespread coral bleaching for the second year in a row, state officials Monday announced plans to fight back. Officials said they are launching the development of a statewide coral reef management plan for nearshore waters but are not imposing a moratorium on aquarium fish collecting. Star-Advertiser.

The state of Hawaii is gathering information from the scientific community and local stakeholders to create a comprehensive coral reef management plan, but officials said Monday they will not yet impose a requested moratorium on collecting aquarium fish. Associated Press.

The Department of Land and Natural Resources has rejected a recent demand from environmental groups for a temporary ban on the collection of aquarium fish in Hawaii waters as a response to unprecedented coral bleaching. Civil Beat.

The state's efforts to fight coral bleaching is getting stronger. Plans to launch a statewide reef management program are underway. There's a call to action to come up with a defense plan to combat the growing problem in Hawai'i's waters. KITV4.

Gov. David Ige said Monday that he would welcome Syrian refugees to Hawaii — in contrast to more than two dozen other governors who have come out in opposition to relocating the refugees in their respective states in the wake of last week’s Paris bombings. Star-Advertiser.

Gov. David Ige says the state would welcome refugees from Syria with aloha. Ige said in a statement today Hawaii and the U.S. have a long history of welcoming refugees affected by war and oppression. Associated Press.

As Republican governors react to the deadly attacks Friday in Paris by trying to close their states’ doors to Syrian refugees, Democratic Gov. David Ige said Monday that he will not be abandoning Hawaii’s “tradition of welcoming all people with tolerance and mutual respect.” Civil Beat.

The Navy is seeking public comment on a new environmental impact statement for future training and research, including sonar that might harm whales and dolphins, in what’s known as the Hawaii-Southern California Training and Testing Study Area. Star-Advertiser.

While operational funding for public schools in Hawaii has remained virtually flat over the last seven years, the cost for nearly everything, including school supplies, has gone up. That’s resulted in schools and teachers asking donors in crowdfunding sites for basic supplies such as pencils, paper and staples. Hawaii News Now.

Hawaii receives $13 million to fight rampant drug problem in schools. KHON2.

Hawaiian Electric Co., Maui Electric Co. and Hawaii Electric Light Co. customers are seeing their lowest monthly electric bills in more than five years this month, mainly due to the continued dip in fuel prices. Pacific Business News.

Hawaiian Electric Co. customers’ electrical bills in November will be the lowest in more than five years, as oil prices continue to pull down rates across the isles. Star-Advertiser.

Customers of Maui Electric and Hawaiian Electric this month are seeing the lowest monthly electric bills in more than five years, according to company representatives. Maui Now.

Marriott's $12B acquisition of Starwood brings together 26 Hawaii hotel properties. Pacific Business News.

Oahu

Honolulu Mayor Kirk Caldwell on Monday urged the Honolulu City Council to move quickly to approve a bill that would extend the 0.5 percent surcharge on the general excise tax after he made public a recent letter from a top federal transit official threatening to cut off funding for the city’s $6.57 billion rail project. Star-Advertiser.

Honolulu Mayor Kirk Caldwell is ramping up the pressure on the Honolulu City Council, and particularly Chairman Ernie Martin, to pass a five-year extension of a 0.5 percent general excise tax surcharge and to do it quickly. Civil Beat.

The U.S. Inspector General for the federal Department of Transportation started auditing the Federal Transit Administration’s oversight of Honolulu’s rail project earlier this year. KHON2.

The addition of eight hybrid buses to TheBus fleet is expected to save diesel fuel consumption, reduce emissions and cut down on noise, city officials announced Monday. Star-Advertiser.

Kids In The Harbor: Lessons From The Edge Of Life. Learning to survive in The Harbor involves a kind of independence and resourcefulness that mainstream children aren’t exposed to. Civil Beat.

More than 350 people have signed up to attend today’s Landlord Summit to learn what role landlords can play in reducing Hawaii’s homeless population, which is the largest per capita in America.. Star-Advertiser.

What is rooftop solar power worth to homeowners in Honolulu? In recent years, a cocktail of high electricity bills, generous government incentives and increasingly cheap photovoltaic panels have made the shift to solar so appealing that top electricity executives in the islands acknowledge that homeowners who can afford rooftop systems should probably buy them. Civil Beat.

Hawaii

Protesters and law enforcement appear headed for another showdown on Mauna Kea.  Hawaii News Now has learned that hundreds of officers from several state and county law enforcement agencies are expected to be on hand to ensure TMT crews have safe access to the construction site.

Law enforcement sources confirm with Hawaii News Now that construction crews for the Thirty Meter Telescope project will return to Mauna Kea Wednesday morning.

State health officials so far identified a total of 56 people infected with dengue fever on Hawaii Island. Tribune-Herald.

Standing on the sun-kissed slopes of Parker Ranch, you could almost hear the happy sounds of future children at play, as a group of community, county and state officials came together Monday for a groundbreaking ceremony for the county’s newest planned park. West Hawaii Today.

The community gathered on Monday morning to break ground on the future Waimea District Park. Big Island Video News.

East Hawaii continues to experience bouts of heavy rain, despite long-term predictions the island has a dry winter ahead. Tribune-Herald.

Maui

Moving toward a sustainable and local model of agriculture was a recurring theme at the fifth annual Hawaii Farmers Union United convention at Maui Tropical Plantation. Maui News.

Sugar cane was once Hawaii’s most important crop - but today only one sugar plantation remains in the state.  That’s Hawaiian Commercial & Sugar on Maui, but they are now considering changing their crop. Hawaii Public Radio.

The state Land Use Commission will consider acceptance of a proposed final environmental impact statement for the Olowalu Town and Olowalu Ekolu projects this week. Maui News.

This week, the state Land Use Commission will discuss the final Environmental Impact Statement of the proposed Olowalu Town, which has been in development for the last decade by Bill Frampton and Dave Ward. MauiTime.

Smoking is banned at all Maui County bus stops. KITV4.

The Maui Food Bank can double the distribution of produce, and rice, bread and dry goods will have an extended shelf life, thanks to a nearly $500,000 renovation project. Maui News.

Kauai

Kauai needs to work together at all levels to make headway toward ending homelessness on the island. That was the theme of Monday night’s Homelessness Awareness Vigil hosted by the Kauai Community Alliance at the Lihue United Church. Garden Island.

The sugar monument is still there — sans one of the bronze sculptures. Garden Island.

Ige seeks EPA waiver on pollutants, Caldwell fund-raises in Washington while on city trip, prevailing wage rule snarls rail work, Maui cemetery work halted, groups want NextEra-Hawaiian Electric documents published, state issues media guidelines for Mauna Kea, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Gov. Ige and Mrs. Ige briefed by on-site engineer of the Tidal Power Plant, courtesy photo

Gov. David Ige is asking the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to postpone or waive new regulations that restrict the amount of mercury and other toxic pollutants that Hawaii’s power plants can release into the air, arguing that the rules will distract from Hawaii’s push to convert to clean energy. Star-Advertiser.

Gov. David Ige returned Thursday from his second official trip to Asia, where he continued to promote tourism, intercultural student exchange and collaboration on renewable-energy technology. Star-Advertiser.

Sierra Club, Friends of Lanai and other groups are calling on the state Public Utilities Commission to post online the transcripts of the upcoming 12-day evidentiary hearing on the proposed $4.3 billion sale of Hawaiian Electric Industries to NextEra Energy. Civil Beat.

Hawaiian Electric Co. has unveiled new voluntary time-of-use rates for residential customers aimed at encouraging the use of power during times when solar and wind resources are most productive, the Honolulu-based utility said Friday. Pacific Business News.

Several key lawmakers said they plan to introduce legislation in the coming session to address concerns about the state’s oversight of physicians and other licensed professionals. Star-Advertiser.

Carleton Ching has a new job, just not the one he had been expecting earlier this year. Ching will take the position of director of land development for the University of Hawaii on Nov. 30, the university announced Friday. Civil Beat.

Carleton Ching has been selected as the director of Land Development for the University of Hawaii. His appointment will be effective on Nov. 30. Garden Island.

In response to protests against the Na‘i Aupuni election for Native Hawaiian self-governance, the nonprofit organizing the voting process is emphasizing that the end result is not predetermined. Garden Island.

Pidgin, the local lingua franca that emerged so the people of many different ethnicities who toiled on sugar plantations could converse with each other, now is recognized as one of Hawaii’s official languages by the U.S. Census Bureau. Tribune-Herald.

It seems like someone flipped the storm off-switch in the Central and Eastern Pacific basins. However, meteorologists say, the threat of a hurricane could be far from over despite the season’s ending slated for Nov. 30. West Hawaii Today.

Oahu

The Honolulu Authority for Rapid Transit has encountered other complications in its dealings with Hawaiian Electric Co., beyond the 50-foot clearance requirement: HECO’s union contract with its employees does not meet the requirements of the Davis-Bacon Act, which requires that laborers and mechanics on federally funded construction projects must be paid the prevailing local wage. Star-Advertiser.

The “most significant risk” today to Honolulu’s rail project is a complex knot of technical challenges involving power lines along the transit route that could dramatically increase costs and delay the project, according to an outside consultant that monitors the project for the federal government. Star-Advertiser.

Honolulu Mayor Kirk Caldwell says $250 million out of $1.5 billion dollars will not be given to the project until the Honolulu City Council approves the general excise tax surcharge extension. But KHON2 found out the rail meeting wasn’t the only thing on his agenda during his trip to Washington, D.C.

Only a few tents and shacks are visible from the dirt parking lot that borders the Waianae Boat Harbor, where more than 200 people have found a relatively undisturbed refuge on the rocky edge of the Leeward Coast. The true size of Oahu’s oldest and now largest homeless encampment is obscured by a heavy cover of overgrown kiawe trees and thick underbrush. Civil Beat.

Plans are advancing to improve a major road in Kalaeloa. An agreement would transfer a portion of Franklin D. Roosevelt Avenue from the state Department of Transportation to the Hawaii Community Development Authority, which would be tasked to improve the road based on the city’s standards. Roosevelt Avenue from West Perimeter Road to Enterprise Street would then be dedicated to the city upon completion of the improvements. Star-Advertiser.

City and state officials are making efforts to extend traffic camera coverage past Kapolei as residents call for solutions to the traffic backlog on Farrington Highway in Waianae. Star-Advertiser.

Voting is open for the representatives running for the Maunalua Bay Recreation Advisory Committee. KITV4.

Hawaii

A new hospital or free-standing emergency facility in North Kona, more programs for the homeless and a hard look at alternative ways to structure the state’s utilities — those are just some of the plans West Hawaii lawmakers will discuss at a legislative outlook to be held in Kailua-Kona Thursday. West Hawaii Today.

There are hundreds of acres of state land just across the highway above Kona International Airport that would make a convenient home for a new Kona hospital — one which could serve a teaching function. That’s according to Naalehu Rep. Richard Creagan, a retired physician who says he has the support of House leadership for pursuing the funds it would take to build such a facility. West Hawaii Today.

Two West Hawaii lawmakers are taking the state Department of Health to task for saying it is beyond the agency’s purview to launch mobile dengue testing units that could go deep into rural areas and ferret out the disease. West Hawaii Today.

The state Dept. of Health confirmed on Saturday, Nov. 14, that there were 49 cases of dengue fever on Hawaii Island, up 11 from Friday, Nov. 13. KHON2.

The Department of Land and Natural Resources is conducting aerial eradication of feral ungulates in four Maui state forest reserves — and that’s making some hunters on the Big Island and Maui uneasy. Tribune-Herald.

State Issues New Guidelines On Media’s Mauna Kea Access. The Department of Land and Natural Resources says it wants to keep everyone safe, but some First Amendment advocates worry the guidelines go too far. Civil Beat.

Maui Pacific Solar installed a 100-kilowatt, $376,000 photovoltaic project at the Gemini Observatory atop Mauna Kea in early September, a project that took about six weeks to complete, according to an announcement from the observatory. Maui News.

Hilo isn’t the only county recycling facility experiencing overflows as Big Island residents increasingly embrace recycling rather than landfilling their waste. West Hawaii Today.

Board members for a neighborhood association in North Kona’s Nalani Street subdivision have become a mini-water department, reading the single meter and allotting shares of the bill to residents in some 30 homes. They’re also the collections department, collecting the checks and making sure everyone pays his or her fair share. West Hawaii Today.

Maui

Construction work at the Maui Veterans Cemetery has come to a halt after the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs was found to be noncompliant with federal historic preservation laws, a state attorney said. Maui News.

The Maui County Liquor Control Commission will go through the formal selection process to find the next director of the Department of Liquor Control. Maui News.

Maui candidates vying for three seats to a constitutional convention to draft a document allowing Native Hawaiians to govern themselves spoke about their vision and skills to about 50 people Wednesday night at the Queen Lili'uokalani Children's Center. Maui News.

The Maui Department of Public Works will be closing down a portion of Central Avenue in Wailuku for one day only on Nov. 23, 2015. The repairs are slated for Central Avenue between Loke and North streets. Maui Now.

Kauai

Driving in Kauai is a challenge, that’s no secret — and the county’s transportation department wants to hear your ideas for solutions in a series of open-house meetings it’s holding this week. Garden Island.

Navy studying sonar effects on sea life, Honolulu contractors decline to roust homeless, Big Island councilwoman wants marijuana tax, Maui Electric seeks rate hike, Molokai plan complete, after-school program price increase, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Navy dolphin, 2003 courtesy photo, U.S. Navy

The U.S. Navy on Thursday started a three-year environmental review process that will examine its use of sonar and explosives during training in the Pacific. Environmental groups are calling on the public to comment on the effects such activities have on whales, dolphins and other marine life. Civil Beat.

One day after Civil Beat reported Hawaii received a D-minus from the Institute for Justice for having some of the worst asset forfeiture laws in the U.S., state Sen. Will Espero took to Twitter and Facebook to say he plans to introduce legislation to reform the practice. Civil Beat.

The state is proposing to raise the price for the A+ after-school program by $35 a month over the next three years, bringing the monthly fee to $120 per child. Hawaii News Now.

The A+ program currently costs $85 per month per child, but the DOE is proposing a price increase starting next year to $100, $110 in 2017 and $120 in 2018. KHON2.

Hawaiian Electric is proposing that the Hawaii Public Utilities Commission allow new, lower daytime power rates for the state Department of Education to allow public schools to better manage their electricity costs as they add more air conditioning to cool classrooms and offices. Maui News.

Hawai‘i 's Department of Human Services projects it will save about 29-million dollars a year by not providing insurance coverage for so-called able-bodied Micronesians of working age. Hawaii Public Radio.

Oahu

The state for weeks warned homeless people camped out along the Kakaako shoreline that they would be removed in sweeps that were to begin as soon as Thursday, but it's now unclear when or how that will happen after no takers were found in the search for contractors to come in and do the work. Star-Advertiser.

The Honolulu office of Anasaldo, the company that has the $1.4 billion contract to build and operate the cars for the city's rail transit system, expects to complete the designs for the project and move on to the next phase of the project in the next few months. Pacific Business News.

With the pace of construction picking up and major new contract awards on the horizon, the Honolulu Authority for Rapid Transportation on Thursday launched its plan to borrow up to $350 million to help cover the ongoing cost of the city's 20-mile rail project. Star-Advertiser.

The recent purchase of Italian train car-maker Ansaldo by Hitachi Group has Honolulu Authority for Rapid Transportation Chairman Don Horner excited about the future of the city’s $6.6 billion rail project. Civil Beat.

There's been another major development in the federal investigation of Honolulu Police Chief Louis Kealoha and his prosecutor wife, Katherine. Police sources say FBI agents met with Honolulu Police Department brass recently to deliver subpoenas in the case against the department's top cop. Hawaii News Now.

For aspiring homeowners, housing prices on Oahu just seem to keep rising up, up and away. Civil Beat.

A British citizen who is a legal permanent resident of the United States alleges in a lawsuit that the Honolulu Police Department discriminates against non-U.S. citizens by making it difficult for them to obtain firearm permits. Associated Press.

University of Hawaii President David Lassner is recommending longtime university executive Doris Ching to lead the UH-West Oahu campus on an interim basis after the scheduled retirement of Rockne Freitas at the end of the year. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii

Kohala Councilwoman Margaret Wille wants the county to be able to levy a sales tax on medical marijuana, and she wants the counties to have authority over where it can be grown. West Hawaii Today.

The Hawaii Department of Health reports one new, confirmed case of locally acquired dengue fever on Hawaii Island, bringing the total number to 34. Of the confirmed case, 26 are Hawaii residents and 8 are visitors. 30 cases have been adults; four have been children. Big Island Video News.

County and state employees leading a meeting about dengue fever Thursday gave ways to recognize and combat the disease, kill mosquitoes and find further information. But more needs to be done to get the word out across language barriers, said Angela Dean of Comunidad Latina de Hawaii. West Hawaii Today.

Maui

Maui Electric Co. customers would pay approximately 28 cents more per month on Maui Island and 22 cents more on Molokai and Lanai under a rate adjustment proposed late last month to the Hawaii Public Utilities Commission. Maui News.

A final environmental assessment has been filed for a fast track affordable housing project in Māʻalaea, proposed for development mauka of the Honoapiʻilani Highway. Maui Now.

The Papakea condominium resort in Kaanapali received approval Tuesday for an emergency special management area permit to repair three sinkholes on its property along Lower Honoapiilani Road. Maui News.

Kauai

A master plan that maps the future of Black Pot Beach Park is the topic of discussion at a community meeting on Tuesday. The meeting is set for 6 to 8:30 p.m. at the Hanalei Elementary School cafeteria. Garden Island.

Donations of at least $100 or more to the Kauai Independent Food Bank will be matched up to $10,000, thanks to the start of the Hale Uluwehi Kauai Funds administered by the Hawaii Community Foundation. Garden Island.

Molokai

The Molokai Community Plan Advisory Committee has completed a draft community plan it hopes will guide decisions made on and for the island over the next decade. Maui News.

More military money for Hawaii, tensions rise over Honolulu rail costs, latest Kakaako homeless sweep begins, protesters gird for next Thirty Meter Telescope bout, Neil Young sells $20M Kohala home, dengue fever reaction slow, Kauai food bank clears audit, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Soldiers at Pohakuloa Training Area ©2015 All Hawaii News

A new Military Construction and Veterans Affairs Appropriations Bill for federal fiscal year 2016 won approval in the U.S. Senate Tuesday, and includes $444 million for military construction projects in Hawaii. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii’s U.S. senators were quick to point out the benefits to the islands of a 2016 National Defense Authorization Act approved by the Senate on a 91-3 vote Tuesday. Civil Beat.

The state Department of Transportation’s Airport Energy Savings Program is expected to result in nearly $500 million in energy cost savings during a 20-year period, the state’s Energy Office said this week. Pacific Business News.

Hawaii has some of the worst civil asset forfeiture laws in the U.S., according to a report released this week by the Institute for Justice. The state was given a grade of D-minus. Civil Beat.

Island Air, which in June slipped into third place among interisland carriers with a 3 percent market share, is focusing on improving its operational performance. Star-Advertiser.

Oahu

A high-stakes game of chicken is playing out at Honolulu Hale over the city’s increasingly controversial $6.6 billion commuter rail project, whose costs have skyrocketed almost 25 percent in a year. Civil Beat.

City Council Chairman Ernie Martin said he’s tired of being told that the $6.57 billion rail project cannot be changed because the city is being “held hostage” by the conditions of a $1.55 billion federal grant. So Martin wants the Honolulu Authority for Rapid Transit to consider saying, “Thanks, but no thanks” to approximately $1 billion in unused federal funding if it frees the city from constraints over routing or other project details. Star-Advertiser.

Tension escalates over rail’s power supply and who will pay for it. KHON2.

Federal Judge Susan Oki Mollway has rejected a bid by telecommunications entrepreneur Al Hee to have his seven federal tax convictions vacated, and has also rejected Hee’s request for a new trial. Star-Advertiser.

Wednesday evening was another anxious and worry-filled night for about 130 homeless campers who are currently living at Kakaako Waterfront Park and Kewalo Basin. Last month, Gov. David Ige announced the state would begin clearing the homeless from both locations by Nov. 12 and begin enforcing park closure hours. KITV4.

Starting Thursday, if you're caught in Kakaako Waterfront Park or Kewalo Basin after hours you'll be cited for trespassing. Problems at the parks started within days of the city completing its high-profile homeless sweep near the Children's Discovery Center. Hawaii News Now.

Landlords who want to help alleviate homelessness in veterans and others can learn more about the voucher programs available at a conference next week. The state and city have organized the November 17 summit in partnership with the Hawaii Association of Realtors and the nonprofit Partners in Care. Civil Beat.

A 27-year-old disabled woman said she worked two years as an unpaid volunteer at a Makiki clothing store with the hopes of getting a job there some day. Now, the U.S. Labor Department is looking into whether federal wage laws were violated. Hawaii News Now.

Hawaii

Three people arrested for blocking telescope construction crews on a mountain held sacred by Native Hawaiians want to testify at their upcoming trials in Hawaiian. Associated Press.

Thirty Meter Telescope opponents can expect to be alerted before contractors return to Mauna Kea later this month, according to a state Department of Land and Natural Resources spokesman. But how that notice will be given and when remains to be seen. Tribune-Herald.

Thirty Meter Telescope opponents are strategizing their future plan of action in the wake of Tuesday’s announcement that a TMT crew would be sent up to the Mauna Kea construction site to “conduct site preparation activities.” Big Island Now.

The state is telling people to “Fight the Bite” to prevent the spread of dengue fever, but some residents see gaps in how the state is handling reported cases. West Hawaii Today.

Officials say a tree-killing fungus that covered more than 16,000 acres on the eastern part of the Big Island has now been discovered in the western areas of Holualoa and Kealakekua. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaiian Paradise Park’s neighborhood board wants Hawaii County to reconsider building a community park for the large subdivision about four years after the organization last rejected the idea. Tribune-Herald.

Singer-songwriter Neil Young has sold his Waialea Bay Estate oceanfront estate for $20 million after being on the market for only about a month, according to the broker who listed the property. Pacific Business News.

Maui

The next commercial-free day at Haleakalā National Park will occur on Thursday, Nov. 12, 2015 (Makali’i, Hilo Moon). As specified in the park’s Commercial Services Plan, commercial-free days are opportunities for Kanaka Maoli to conduct traditional cultural practices in the park without commercial tours present. Maui Now.

The Maui Planning Commission on Tuesday advanced Victory Development's proposal to build a 39-unit hotel-condominium project in Kihei, but commissioners cited concerns they hope will be addressed before the project receives its final approvals. Maui News.

There’s been a lot of talk recently about making some radical changes to the County of Maui’s system of government. MauiTime.

The University of Hawaii Maui College is one of four University of Hawaii campuses to be named a "military friendly" school for 2016 by Victory Media, the university announced. Maui News.

Kauai

Food and health safety was the focus of the American Institute of Baking International audit in which the Hawaii Foodbank-Kauai Branch received high scores. Garden Island.

Veterans Day commemorated in Hawaii, Congressman Takai resting after cancer surgery, state yanks bridge plan opposed by Roseanne Barr, Waikiki Landing off the table, Public Utilities Commission beefs up for electricity battle, $30M for Pacific Missile Range, work to restart on Thirty Meter Telescope, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Hawaii military on parade © 2015 All Hawaii News

What’s open and closed, plus events and freebies for Veterans Day. KHON2.

As state regulators gear up for the trial-like phase of one of the biggest business deals in Hawaii’s history — the proposed $4.3 billion purchase of Hawaiian Electric Industries by NextEra Energy — they are also looking for more office space. For years criticized as woefully understaffed, the Public Utilities Commission has lawyered up and hired new policy researchers, a compliance chief and executive officer, among other positions. Civil Beat.

NextEra Energy Inc.’s recent statement that it would take $30 billion for Hawaii to achieve the goal of 100 percent renewable energy by 2045 was criticized Tuesday as an extreme estimate that would place a heavy burden on ratepayers. Star-Advertiser.

U.S. Rep. Mark Takai had surgery to remove a small, cancerous tumor in his pancreas Tuesday and was resting after the operation at the National Institutes of Health in Bethesda, Md., according to a spokesman. Star-Advertiser.

Oahu

The state is finally pulling its lease with Honey Bee USA Inc., the developer of the planned Waikiki Landing at the Ala Wai Small Boat Harbor, for nonpayment of more than $500,000 in back rent and a $1 million performance bond. Star-Advertiser.

The Hawaii agency that owns the land for the long-delayed $35 million Waikiki Landing mixed-use project at the Ala Wai Small Boat Harbor is canceling the developer’s proposal and drafting a new request for proposals for the project. Pacific Business News.

Tuesday’s Building Industry Association conference provided more evidence that many in the industry aren’t happy with Mayor Kirk Caldwell's proposal to require every large development on Oahu to set aside a certain percentage of units for low-income or moderate-income people, and that’s delaying the mayor’s plan to roll out the change this year. Civil Beat.

Council members Ann Kobayashi and Kymberly Pine believe the time has come for some out of the box thinking to raise revenue, and that’s why they introduced Bill 78, which would allow companies and organizations to sponsor city facilities for a fee. KITV4.

Online voting begins Thursday for anyone interested in serving on the Maunalua Bay Recreation Advisory Committee, or M-RAC. The state Department of Land and Natural Resources says it is establishing the committee in response to concerns of community members regarding the status of ocean regulations in the Oahu bay. Civil Beat.

On this Veterans Day, outreach workers are still trying to get the last 55 homeless military veterans on Oahu into a system that’s designed to take them from the streets and into a shelter within 30 days and find them a permanent place to live within 90 days. Star-Advertiser.

Thousands of people visit Diamond Head Monument State park every day, but the state fears several problems are putting a black eye on the popular tourist attraction. KHON2.

The city is planning to crack down on some bus riders who leave items on the sidewalk at the Alapai Transit Center to reserve their spot in line. Hawaii News Now.

Hawaii

A day after releasing a poll showing support from a majority of Hawaii residents, the developers of the stalled Thirty Meter Telescope on Tuesday announced that construction would begin later this month on the initial stages of the $1.4 billion project. Star-Advertiser.

A small crew will return this month to the Hawaii Island mountaintop construction site of a hotly debated giant telescope project. Workers will go to Mauna Kea for equipment maintenance and repairs, Thirty Meter Telescope officials announced Tuesday. An exact date hasn’t been identified, spokesman Scott Ishikawa said. Associated Press.

It’s back to the drawing board for plans to replace the Waiaka Stream Bridge, opposed by actress Roseanne Barr. The state Department of Transportation has yanked its final environmental assessment and finding of no significant impact because of “new circumstances and information that require additional studies,” according to an Oct. 16 letter from DOT Director Ford Fuchigama that was released Saturday by the state Office of Environmental Quality Control. West Hawaii Today.

The number of confirmed cases of dengue fever on Hawaii Island grew by six Tuesday, totaling 33 in all. West Hawaii Today.

State health officials said Tuesday the number of confirmed locally acquired dengue fever cases has climbed to 33 from 27 in Hawaii County. Star-Advertiser.

A public information meetings on the mosquito-borne dengue fever outbreak was held in Na’alehu on Tuesday night, the second in a series of meetings scheduled by state and county officials. Big Island Video News.

In a last-minute move, the health department hired private public relations company The Bennett Group for $75,000 to help spread the word about the dengue outbreak. KHON2.

As West Hawaii contends with dengue fever and the possibility that the disease could become endemic, a researcher has revealed that the another scourge is spreading on leeward slopes — rapid ohia death. West Hawaii Today.

Maui

Retired 2nd Circuit Judge Boyd Mossman will moderate a panel discussion on the Na'i Aupuni process to create a governing document for an eventual Native Hawaii sovereign entity beginning at 6 p.m. Wednesday at the Queen Lili'uokalani Children's Center. Maui News.

Zen Honeycutt, founder of Moms Across America, will speak about "the danger of GMOs and Glyphosate" at 7 p.m. Thursday at the Maui Arts & Cultural Center's McCoy Studio. Maui News.

The state Department of Health has cited Hawaiian Commercial & Sugar Co. and assessed a $3,300 penalty for a dust violation last year, the department announced. Maui News.

Kauai

Many veterans won’t be able to physically attend today’s Veterans Day observance at the Hanapepe Veterans Cemetery where Congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard will deliver the keynote address. Garden Island.

The U.S. Senate passed a revised version of the 2016 National Defense Authorization Act on Tuesday by a vote of 91-3. The updated bill authorizes $444 million in funding for programs important to Hawaii’s economy and military community, including $30 million for a grid consolidation project at Kauai’s Pacific Missile Range Facility at Barking Sands. Garden Island.

Nominations and elections for seats on the Aha Moku Advisory Committee will take place from 6 to 8 tonight at the Kapaa library. Department of Land and Natural Resources Executive Director Leimana DaMate will be on hand to provide information and answer any questions. Garden Island.

Most support Thirty Meter Telescope, Hawaii gets D+ in anti-corruption measures, state Libertarians gather, dengue fever outbreak slows, Honolulu rail bosses warn project needs half-cent tax, Kauai wants state bond money, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Mauna Kea telescopes as seen from Hilo ©2015 All Hawaii News

A majority of Hawaii residents support the stalled Thirty Meter Telescope and say construction should move forward on the summit of Mauna Kea. That’s the conclusion of a new statewide poll commissioned by the TMT International Observatory Corp. and released Monday. Star-Advertiser.

A majority of Hawaii residents support building the Thirty Meter Telescope on Mauna Kea, according to a poll commissioned by TMT International Observatory. Tribune-Herald.

About half of the Native Hawaiian and part-Hawaiian respondents to a poll released Monday on the Thirty Meter Telescope project oppose moving ahead with construction of the telescope atop Mauna Kea. Civil Beat.

Hawaii earned a grade of D+ when it comes to integrity, but that was still the fourth-highest rating in the country, according to the recently released State Integrity Investigation. Civil Beat.

Hawai’i’s third largest political party, the Libertarians, conducted its state convention over the weekend and marked the official start of its 2016 election season. Hawaii Public Radio.

The Defense Department on Monday recovered for identification and return to families the last of 388 sailors and Marines killed on the battleship USS Oklahoma on Dec. 7, 1941, and later buried as “unknowns” in the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific at Punchbowl. Star-Advertiser.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture National Agricultural Statistics Service announced that starting in January 2016, the agency will do a “green bean pricing valuation” for all coffee grown in Hawaii. This, according to Hawaii’s congressional delegation, is a better way to “reflect market values.” It also makes reporting easier on the growers. MauiTime.

Over the next six years, roughly 6,000 inmates will be released early from prisons nationwide. Some 279 of those prisoners are from the islands, and 55 have already been released. The early releases are meant to address growing criticism over the practice of strict mandatory sentences for drug offenders with no prior records. Hawaii News Now.

Rent has increased statewide 10- to 12-percent since 2012, while the housing inventory is way down -- and real estate experts those two factors are contributing to a housing crisis that's only forecast to get worse. Hawaii News Now.

Oahu

Uneasy about giving the OK to extend the 0.5 percent surcharge on general excise tax on Oahu consumers for five years to build the contentious rail project, City Council members continue to press transit officials for alternatives. Star-Advertiser.

Honolulu Mayor Kirk Caldwell reiterated his support Monday to build a 20-mile, 21-station commuter rail line from East Kapolei to Ala Moana Center, and said that a five-year extension of a half percent general excise tax surcharge from 2022 to 2027 should provide enough money to do so. Civil  Beat.

The city has reached a development agreement with a private company to put up a minimum of 151 senior rental units in two midrise towers along River Street near Vineyard Boulevard, the Caldwell administration announced Monday. Star-Advertiser.

The Minnesota developer of a long-planned $39 million affordable rental housing project for artists in the Honolulu neighborhood of Kakaako could start construction in the summer of 2016. Pacific Business News.

Who Is Sticking Up for Tenants in Honolulu? Unlike in many American cities, there is no organization here dedicated to advancing the rights of renters. Civil Beat.

Hawaii businessman Duane Kurisu and his son, Robert, have purchased a commercial unit at the Pacificana Atlas condominium in Honolulu for $11.8 million. Pacific Business News.

Hawaii

Dengue fever on Hawaii Island appears to be limited to older cases, the state reports, but the number of confirmed cases continues to climb. West Hawaii Today.

Presenting a unified front, State and County officials held a press conference on Monday to launch a statewide “Fight the Bite” public education campaign that seeks to end the spread of dengue fever in Hawaii. Big Island Video News.

The Hawaii State Department of Health Monday launched “Fight the Bite,” a statewide public education campaign that seeks to end the spread of dengue fever in Hawaii. KHON2.

State Department of Health officials met Monday with residents of South Kona, a hot spot of dengue fever exposure, with 23 of the 27 cases on Hawaii island so far. Star-Advertiser.

Two North Kohala properties are at the top of the county’s purchasing list for next year, according to a report finalized Monday by the county Public Access, Open Space and Natural Resources Preservation Commission. West Hawaii Today.

A nearly 30-year Hilo holiday tradition is in danger of coming to an end. Funding and manpower woes led the Lehua Jaycees to cancel this year what would have been the 30th annual Hilo Christmas Light Parade. But, in what might turn out to be a holiday miracle, a group of interested community members is working to save the beloved event. Tribune-Herald.

Maui

Hawaiian Commercial and Sugar Company was cited for an alleged “fugitive dust violation” that state Health Department officials say occurred on Dec. 13, 2014. Maui Now.

More than 10,000 people passed through the gates of the second annual Made in Maui County Festival at the Maui Arts & Cultural Center, topping last year's attendance and causing some vendors to sell out of their products early. Maui News.

Kauai

The County Council is discussing a list of projects that will go before the state Legislature for potential general obligation bond funding opportunities. Garden Island.

Hawaii BioEnergy AlgaeCo, LLC aka Hawaii BioEnergy, LLC was cited by the state Health Department for late submittal of a 2013 monitoring report on their algae farm in Lihue. Garden Island.

USS Arizona Memorial closed for repairs, doctors' records kept secret, dengue informational meetings set on Big Island, longtime legislator Takamine dies, Hanalei Stream restored, county settles 2008 honeymoon drowning lawsuit, housing costs and homelessness rise, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

USS Arizona Memorial, courtesy national Park Service

The National Park Service is indefinitely suspending visits to the USS Arizona Memorial while engineers study a potential safety issue with its dock. The park service said Thursday officials noticed bolts connecting the dock to the memorial were stressed. Associated Press.

Policies block out full picture. Consumers can’t easily find potentially troubling information on doctors because state law and practices limit what’s public. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii’s housing shortage now has a number — nearly 66,000 housing units are needed over the next ten years. What happens next? Hawaii Public Radio.

Homelessness in Hawaii has grown in recent years, leaving the state with 487 homeless per 100,000 people, the nation's highest rate per capita, above New York and Nevada, according to federal statistics. Associated Press.


Homelessness in Hawaii grows, defying image of paradise. Associated Press.

Raising marine animals for sale was a record- breaking business in Hawaii last year, according to a new federal report, though the major driver of the growth in local aquaculture farming is murky. Star-Advertiser.

The Trans Pacific Partnership and its corresponding and supporting military "pivot" have been impacting the lives of Pacific peoples for years through military-industrial buildups, the removal of indigenous self-determination, environmental degradation and wealth extraction. Hawaii Independent.

Oahu

A Honolulu Authority for Rapid Transportation board member serves as a director at the law firm that will be paid to defend the city in a challenge to the validity of key votes on the rail project. Star-Advertiser.

The median price of a single-family home on Oahu rose 4.3 percent in October to $720,000 as sales jumped by 5 percent, while the median price of a condominium increased by 5 percent to $370,000 on a smaller bump in sales, the Honolulu Board of Realtors reported Saturday. Pacific Business News.

Honolulu doesn’t just coincidentally have some of the highest-priced median homes, condos and rents in the country. A panoply of intertwined public policies, rules and regulations have helped to drive prices up and, recent data suggests, they continue to do so. Civil Beat.

The Institute for Human Services had one year to test the Housing First concept and find 115 permanent homes for clients — helping to alleviate Oahu’s homeless crisis. Star-Advertiser.

The number of sexual assault reports on the University of Hawaii at Manoa campus remained unchanged in 2014 compared to the previous year. Hawaii News Now.

State officials say they hope the Aiea Public Library’s photovoltaic solar panels will be activated early next year, nearly a year and a half after the facility opened at the former Aiea Sugar Mill site. Star-Advertiser.

Weeks of wet weather may have left Oahu a greener place, but it’s causing headaches for city crews trying to keep up with the out-of-control growth. But now the city thinks it may have a solution, but some in the public are not too happy about it. KHON2.

Tammy Mencel has been named publisher and market president of Pacific Business News, effective immediately, Whitney Shaw, president and CEO of American City Business Journals, PBN's parent company, announced Thursday. Pacific Business News.

Hawaii

Department of Health: Late information hampered fight against dengue. West Hawaii Today.

Public informational meetings have been scheduled throughout the island to update residents on the recent dengue fever outbreak. Big Island Now.

Hawaii County has closed the book on a negligence lawsuit stemming from a 2008 honeymoon tragedy at Punaluu Black Sand Beach. West Hawaii Today.

The results of Bleachapalooza, the recent statewide attempt to survey coral bleaching, shows that it’s been more severe on West Hawaii compared to the east side of the state — with some species showing nearly 100 percent bleaching, one of the organizers reported. West Hawaii Today.

Yoshito Takamine, a longtime advocate for Hawaii labor laws and one of the architects of the groundbreaking Hawaii Prepaid Health Care Act, died Tuesday, October 27, at his home in Honokaa surrounded by family. He was 89 years old. Hawaii News Now.

Maui

Maui state Rep. Angus McKelvey pleaded no contest Friday in Honolulu District Court for failing to file a complete and accurate candidate spending report with the state Campaign Spending Commission and for allowing an unauthorized person to receive and disperse campaign funds, according to an announcement from the state Department of the Attorney General. Maui News.

Heavy rainfall this summer caused Hawaiian Commercial & Sugar Co. to sustain significant losses in the third quarter, furthering a trend that could spur drastic changes for Hawaii's last sugar plantation. Maui News.

Kauai

On Kauai, 480 homeless people received services last fiscal year from the state homeless outreach program the Care-A-Van, a mobile outreach program operated by Kauai Economic Opportunity, Inc. That number, according to KEO, is the best and most up-to-date estimate of the total number of homeless people on the island. Garden Island.

State officials joined local taro farmers on Friday to commemorate the completion of an extensive, $2.1 million restoration of Hanalei Stream on Kauai. Star-Advertiser.

A multi-million dollar stream restoration project of Hanalei Stream is finished, according to the Department of Land and Natural Resources. Garden Island.

Anahola is now home of the largest solar array in the state. And the solar panels contributing to that designation — all 59,000 of them — were celebrated Saturday at a dedication ceremony attended by about 60 people. Garden Island.

Lanai

Maui County Council members adopted a resolution Friday to extend by approximately three months the amount of time they have to finish the Lanai Community Plan update. Maui News.

DLNR chief vows to protect Thirty Meter Telescope builders as two Mauna Kea protesters sentenced, state Senate panel confirms judges in special session, possible dengue on Oahu as Big Island battles spread, Honolulu rail strife continues, former Maui parks director spared criminal charges for taking free golf, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Thirty Meter Telescope protester file photo courtesy Occupy Hilo Media

The contractors building the $1.4 billion Thirty Meter Telescope on Mauna Kea have a right to be up there, the chairwoman of the state Department of Land and Natural Resources said Thursday, adding that the state will enforce the laws over which it has jurisdiction to ensure they are unmolested by protesters. West Hawaii Today.

Two people were convicted Thursday in the first two trials against protesters of the Thirty Meter Telescope atop Mauna Kea. Star-Advertiser.

The Senate Judiciary and Labor Committee on Thursday unanimously approved two nominations by Gov. David Ige to the the state Circuit Court and a third nomination by Chief Justice Mark Recktenwald to the Honolulu District Court. The judicial nominees — Shirley M. Kawamura, Melvin H. Fujino and James C. McWhinnie — now face a full floor vote by the Senate today, part of a two-day special session. Star-Advertiser.

Lawmakers Thursday heard yet another description of a state agency that is struggling to promptly spend its federal grant money, with Transportation Director Ford Fuchigami detailing challenges the state Airports Division faces as it tries to spend about $40 million a year it receives from the Federal Aviation Administration. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii Gov. David Ige is looking to fill well over 300 empty seats on dozens of different state boards and commissions, some of which can barely hold meetings due to lack of quorum. The governor’s office sent out a release Thursday asking for qualified volunteers to apply. Civil Beat.

The question of whether state Sen. Brickwood Galuteria really lives in the Kakaako legislative district he has represented since 2008 just won’t seem to go away. Two hearings on the issues are scheduled this month, and the ultimate answer could help determine if he is allowed to retain his Senate seat. Civil Beat.

Sen. Breene Harimoto back on job after battling pancreatic cancer. KITV4.

Scientists at a research center on Oahu’s Coconut Island have embarked on an experiment to grow “super coral” that they hope can withstand the hotter and more acidic oceans that are expected with global warming. Associated Press.

Hawaii’s native forest birds will need a substantial helping hand if they are to survive the growing impacts of climate change, a new study has concluded. Star-Advertiser.

The Hawaii Public Utilities Commission has been trying for over a year to get the electric utilities on Maui, Oahu and Big Island to each come up with a power supply improvement plan that can serve as a “strategic basis” for resource acquisition and system operation decisions. In a new order issued Wednesday, the PUC said there are still “substantial concerns” and the proposals are unacceptable. Civil Beat.

The state Public Utilities Commission scolded Hawaiian Electric Co. for its “repeated failures to properly plan” a path to lower electrical rates using renewable energy. Star-Advertiser.

Oahu

Kalama Valley residents warned of potential dengue case. Hawaii News Now.

Members of the Honolulu City Council’s Budget Committee got an earful from supporters and opponents of the city’s $6.57 billion rail project during an evening meeting at Kapolei Hale on Thursday. Star-Advertiser.

Honolulu City Council Chairman Ernie Martin is questioning whether there needs to be a shake-up at the Honolulu Authority for Rapid Transportation to get the $6.6 billion rail project back on track. Martin broached the subject during a special Budget Committee meeting in Kapolei on Wednesday to consider a bill that would extend by five years a general excise tax surcharge to cover most rail costs. Civil Beat.

Mayor Kirk Caldwell’s administration will seek new proposals for a project to convert nearly 52,000 streetlights to light-emitting diode technology, administration officials said Tuesday. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii Public Radio President and General Manager Michael Titterton will step down at the end of June, and a nationwide search is underway to find a successor. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii

Hookena Beach Park remained closed Thursday as the number of confirmed dengue fever cases on the Big Island rose to 19. West Hawaii Today.

The Windward Planning Commission approved permits Thursday for a Hele-On bus base yard in Hilo and a cell phone tower in Hawaiian Paradise Park. The $11.2 million base yard on Hoolaulima Road will include a 26,500-square-foot building and a 19,500-square-foot warehouse. It will consolidate the Hawaii County Mass Transit Agency’s administration and maintenance facilities. Tribune-Herald.

The Hawaii County Council has given final approval to a $6 million funding request for a new fire station on Kawailani Street in Hilo. The 8-0 vote Tuesday brings total funding for the project to $12 million. Tribune-Herald.

On the face of it, both a fledgling Hawaii Island energy cooperative and the mainland giant NextEra Energy want the same things — lower rates for island residents, more renewable energy and care of an aging grid. The real questions seem to revolve around how to get there and who is most likely to succeed. West Hawaii Today.

The issue of squatters has been discussed at length in the community, especially in Puna where business leaders, community organizations and elected officials have been brainstorming solutions to the problem. Big Island Video News.

Maui

The state Department of the Attorney General has decided not to pursue a complaint involving free rounds of golf that led to the resignation of former county Department of Parks and Recreation Director Glenn Correa. Maui News.

The Maui County Council Budget and Finance Committee on Tuesday recommended approval of a land purchase that would add 373 acres and double the size of the Kula Agricultural Park. Maui News.

Local leaders, businesspeople and community activists were identified Wednesday to serve on a special committee to study the possibility of having a county manager form of government for Maui County. Maui News.

Maui senator recalls ‘intense pain’ with dengue fever. KHON2.

Members of the group Stop CaneBurning.org took issue Wednesday with a report from Hawaiian Commercial & Sugar Co. that there were only two complaints arising from Central Maui cane harvesting on Tuesday. Maui News.

Kauai

A small island in the middle of the Pacific is doing some big things for renewable energy. By the end of this year, 37 percent of the electricity generated on the Hawaiian Island of Kauai will come from a mix of renewable resources, including solar, hydropower and biomass. Civil Beat.

The first 12 homes for the Eleele Iluna neighborhood project by Kauai Habitat for Humanity are getting closer to rising from the ground. Garden Island.

Defense attorneys for the police officer charged in the death of a man struck on Kaumualii Highway said no evidence exists to prove the state’s probable cause argument. Garden Island.