Offshore windmills could power Oahu, Honolulu rail may pass $10B mark, Osprey coming for RIMPAC, Maui hits solar electric buyback limit, public meets 8 of 13 Hawaii County mayoral candidates, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Offshore windmill, courtesy U.S. Bureau of Ocean Energy Management

Massive windmills floating miles off the coast of Oahu may power tens of thousands of homes and businesses within the next decade if projects go forward as planned. Civil Beat.

The Obama administration took the first step Wednesday toward leasing two offshore Oahu areas to the wind industry for renewable energy projects. Star-Advertiser.

As part of President Obama’s Climate Action Plan to create American jobs, develop clean energy sources and cut carbon pollution, U.S. Secretary of the Interior Sally Jewell today announced the first step to support wind energy development in federal waters offshore Hawaii, by issuing a call for information and nominations to gauge the wind industry’s interest in commercial wind leases in two areas offshore Oahu. Press release.

The first Marine Corps tilt-rotor Osprey aircraft to be based in Hawaii will be arriving by the end of the month to take part in Rim of the Pacific exercises, the Marines said. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaiian Telcom experienced a technical issue that intermittently impacted voice calls statewide Wednesday, including calls to 911. Tribune-Herald.

As of 2 p.m. Wednesday, Hawaiian Telcom says they have resolved the issue that caused intermittent phone service issues across the state. The problem stemmed from a glitch in the call routing equipment, which allowed only some voice calls to complete. Hawaii Public Radio.

Some of the most powerful people in Hollywood are working in or have projects set in Hawaii, according to The Hollywood Reporter’s new list of the 100 most powerful people in entertainment, including the executive at the top of the list, Bob Iger, chairman and CEO of The Walt Disney Co. Pacific Business News.

Scientists using facial recognition technology and 360-degree underwater photos said Wednesday they have developed new software to quickly assess coral bleaching and other damage to the world’s imperiled reefs. Associated Press.

Oahu
Statistical models done by the firm tasked with management oversight of Honolulu’s rail project show that a 20-mile line from East Kapolei to Ala Moana could cost as much as $10.79 billion, significantly more than the $8 billion figure that federal and city officials have been using in recent weeks. Star-Advertiser.

The FTA has asked HART to submit by Aug. 7 a recovery plan outlining how much of the 20-mile rail route HART expects it can complete with its current amount of funding. Pacific Business News.

The Waikiki War Memorial was recently designated as a national treasure even though it has been closed for almost 50 years. Its last major face-lift was 16 years ago. Next week, the natatorium becomes the focus of a week-long series of meetings in an effort to decide what to do with it. KITV4.

The Honolulu Police Department’s newest batch of police officers is much smaller than usual, in part due to a cheating scandal at the police academy. KHON2.

Hawaii

Eight of the thirteen candidates for Hawaii County mayor introduced themselves to Kona on Wednesday evening. Big Island Video News.

The lengthy process of revitalizing one of Hilo’s most recognizable locations took another step forward Wednesday as members of the newly formed Banyan Drive Hawaii Redevelopment Agency board met to review a draft conceptual plan for the area. Tribune-Herald.

The nonprofit group Friends of the Future is hoping to change the conversation, or at least make it more civil and productive, with a new initiative — EnVision Maunakea. Tribune-Herald.

At 85, Ed Olson says he’s ready to step down and hand the reins of the Edmund C. Olson Trust, which owns 16,500 acres of land in Hawaii, to someone else. Pacific Business News.

Maui

Maui Electric Co. said Wednesday that the county has hit the limit of rooftop solar systems that can send power to its grid. After this week, the Maui utility will not approve any new rooftop solar systems on Maui, Lanai or Molokai that send power to the grid. Star-Advertiser.

Democratic South Maui House candidate Deidre Tegarden will hold a talk-story event from 5 to 6:30 p.m. today at her campaign headquarters in the Azeka Makai shopping center, according to an announcement. Maui News.

Kauai

Work has finally begun on rebuilding the storied resort where Elvis Presley's character got married in the 1961 film "Blue Hawaii," decades after a major hurricane heavily damaged its buildings and forced its closure. The company redeveloping the Coco Palms Resort began demolishing structures this week. It hopes to reopen the hotel in mid-2018. Associated Press.

Feral cats are the culprits in the deaths of a half-dozen endangered seabirds that nest on Kauai. Star-Advertiser.

The Hawaiian green sea turtle has been on the endangered species list since 1978, but with populations rebounding, some experts are calling for their removal from that list. Garden Island.

Avoiding beach driving for the nesting season, which runs from May through July, and the July through September hatching season, is only one of the tips for helping the honu, or green sea turtle.  Garden Island.

Honolulu airport rated best, DLNR chief canned for probing waste and abuse, cool schools plan falls to hot construction market, cats killing endangered petrels on Kauai, EPA closes Army cesspools, Big Island gambling sweep, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Honolulu International Airport © 2016 All Hawaii News

Honolulu International Airport is the best airport in the nation for the summer travel season, according to a new study from NerdWallet. Pacific Business News.

The state’s ambitious goal of cooling 1,000 public school classrooms by the end of the year is facing a major setback: All construction bids have come in over budget, meaning completion of the project will likely be delayed until next year, members of the Board of Education were told Tuesday. Star-Advertiser.

Plans to cool off classrooms throughout Hawaii have been delayed, an assistant superintendent told state Board of Education members Tuesday. The department’s initiative to add air conditioning to 1,000 classrooms has been slowed by high costs resulting from increased construction demand and a shortage of skilled labor, said Dann Carlson, assistant superintendent for the Office of School Facilities and Support Services. Civil Beat.

Thomas “Tommy” Friel, chief of enforcement for the state Department of Land and Natural Resources, said he is resigning from his position after only six months on the job because he wasn’t getting the support from above to clean up “a culture of waste, fraud and corruption” in the department. Star-Advertiser.

Just six months on the job, the new Chief of Hawaii's DLNR enforcement division is suddenly forced out. After gushing praise for conservation officer Thomas Friel at his hiring, the state has quickly changed its tune. KITV4.

Enforcement Chief Leaves DLNR. Land Board Chair Suzanne Case thanked Thomas Friel for his brief tenure but offered no explanation for the abrupt departure. Civil Beat.

Legislation establishing an industrial hemp pilot program to allow its cultivation and distribution of its seed in Hawaii for research purposes unanimously passed the Legislature last month and awaits Gov. David Ige’s signature. Civil Beat.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has forced the Army to close 12 illegal cesspools on Oahu and the Big Island and ordered it to pay a $100,000 fine, the first time the EPA has imposed a civil penalty against a federal government facility for operating banned cesspools. Pacific Business News.

The Army has agreed to pay a $100,000 penalty for operating 12 large-capacity cesspools on Oahu and Hawaii island beyond a ban that went into effect on April 5, 2005, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced Tuesday. Star-Advertiser.

The U.S. Army has been fined by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and will have to close eight illegal large capacity cesspools on the Big Island. Big Island Video News.

Scientists working to prevent coral reef destruction have stumbled onto some good news. In one of the largest global studies reef studies, researchers discovered fifteen “Bright Spots” where reefs were doing better than expected. Hawaii Public Radio.

As our oceans become warmer and more acidic, scientists need to act to make sure their research spurs policies and action that can reverse environmental decline, Aulani Wilhelm told hundreds of scientists, policy makers, cultural practitioners and others Tuesday at the International Coral Reef Symposium. Civil Beat.

Oahu

The city plans to turn a four-story industrial building in Iwilei into the first all-in-one homeless project of its kind in the islands that will provide showers, laundry machines, two floors of permanent housing, and social services pertaining to mental illness and alcohol and drug abuse. Star-Advertiser.

Legal experts are weighing-in after the Honolulu Police Chief, Louis Kealoha, and his Deputy Prosecutor wife, Katherine, sued the city's Ethics Commission -- claiming they are victims of "vindictive" attacks that have damaged their professional and personal reputations. Hawaii News Now.

Honolulu’s police chief and his wife say a federal grand jury targeting them can be traced in part to what they call “vindictive and illegal investigations” by the Honolulu Ethics Commission, and they’re suing to set the record straight. KHON2.

The owners of a papaya farm on Oahu are seeking help from the community in catching the thieves who struck their Punaluu property, resulting in a loss of thousands of dollars. Associated Press.

A total of 75 luxury single-family homes and condominiums on Oahu were sold during May, a drop of 13.8 percent from the 87 homes that sold for $1 million or more in May 2015, according to a report by Coldwell Banker Pacific Properties. Pacific Business News.

Hawaii

With the addition of a few ramps and rails, a Bayfront parking lot could soon double as Hilo’s only skate park. Tribune-Herald.

They gave it their best shot. But at least one organizer of a proposed Puuanahulu shooting range, after biting the bullet trying to get it built for more than a decade, said Tuesday he’s about ready to cease fire. West Hawaii Today.

Several koa-oriented initiatives are ongoing on the Big Island, including breeding disease-resistant trees and helping private landowners develop best practices for managing their own acreage. Tribune-Herald.

Four Hilo men were arrested Thursday in connection with nine search warrants served March 1 on seven Big Island establishments and two homes police say harbored illegal gambling operations. Tribune-Herald.

Maui

As Maui's affordable housing crisis mounts, local property owners said they're willing to help - but that the county also needs to adjust some of its laws on housing. Maui News.

Undeterred by early-morning rain, about 30 farmers and residents from Hana to Waihee gathered at the Honomanu bridge Saturday to protest House Bill 2501. Maui News.

Maui Medical Group, one of the island's largest health care providers, is referring 100 pregnant patients to other island doctors because its obstetrics and gynecology department will be down to one part-time physician and one nurse practitioner on Aug. 1. Maui News.

Tenants and landlords are being pointed to resources designed to prevent disputes from escalating to eviction. Maui Now.

cat kills petrel, DLNR

Kauai

A cat was caught on camera picking off two Hawaiian Petrels last week, but researchers say the feral feline is actually responsible for recently killing six of the endangered birds. Garden Island.

Feral cats have been blamed for the recent deaths of endangered seabirds found only in the Hawaiian Islands. Associated Press.

North Shore residents and visitors will have another way to get around this summer. Kauai County received $160,000 from the Hawaii Tourism Authority to bring back the North Shore Shuttle program, said George Costa, Kauai County director of the Office of Economic Development. Garden Island.

Coral bleaching to continue, Hawaii teens well-behaved, Caldwell lets rail budget pass without signature, HGEA union wants Dems, GOP squabbles, Honolulu police chief sues, Big Island loves theirs, Coco Palms comes down, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Damaged coral with ornate butterflyfish © 2016 All Hawaii News

Hawaii is expected to experience coral bleaching a third year in a row, as the globe is experiencing the most widespread coral bleaching event on record, scientists said Monday at the 13th International Coral Reef Symposium in Honolulu. Star-Advertiser.

Palau President Tommy Remengesau added his voice Monday to those calling on President Barack Obama to expand the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands Marine National Monument fourfold so that it protects nearly 600,000 square miles. Civil Beat.

Not much relief for our coral reefs. Scientists provided troubling information Monday that coral bleaching and death rates over the past two years have been the worst, most widespread they've seen. KITV4.

After the most powerful El Nino on record heated the world’s oceans to never-before-seen levels, huge swaths of once vibrant coral reefs that were teeming with life are now stark white ghost towns disintegrating into the sea. Associated Press.

Here’s a look at what coral is, what role it plays in human life and what might happen if more of these important ecosystems are lost. Associated Press.

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More of Hawaii’s children are growing up in poverty, but island teens are making healthier choices, with far fewer getting pregnant or abusing alcohol and drugs in recent years, according to a report issued today by the Annie E. Casey Foundation. Star-Advertiser.

All public elementary, middle and high schools in Hawaiian Electric Co.'s service area will receive new technology to monitor their energy levels through a collaboration involving the utility company, the Hawaii State Department of Education, Energy Excelerator and Stem Inc., a California software company. Pacific Business News.

Hawaii’s biggest labor union overwhelmingly wants Democratic incumbents to keep their seats this election, but was silent on several state races. The Hawaii Government Employees Association, which represents more than 42,000 state and county workers, announced its picks Monday for the Aug. 13 primary. Civil Beat.

Commentary: Sticking Up For GOP Values Or Tearing The Party Apart? The Hawaii GOP’s deep divisions are driven by frustration and disagreement over how to overcome Democrats’ stranglehold on power in the islands. Civil Beat.

Hawaii Gov. David Ige on Monday signed a fifth proclamation on homelessness, extended the crisis status until August. Civil Beat.

Commentary: Is There No Hate In The 808? Hawaii and Alaska are the only states with no organized hate groups. That doesn’t mean they are free of hate crimes. Civil Beat.

Oahu

Mayor Kirk Caldwell on Monday allowed key fiscal bills to become law without his signature, citing a disagreement with the Honolulu City Council over whether it has authority to oversee the budget for the contentious rail project. Star-Advertiser.

From Leis To World Travel: The City Council’s Invisible Spending In addition to their allowances of $20,000 apiece, Honolulu City Council members can access a protocol fund controlled by Ernie Martin. It’s not easy to find out how that money’s spent. Civil Beat.

O’ahu’s escalating 8.3 billion dollar rail transit project is in deep financial trouble.  Now, lawmakers controlling the City’s budget are weighing-in. Hawaii Public Radio.

Embattled Honolulu Police Chief Louis Kealoha and his city deputy prosecutor wife, Katherine Kealoha, are suing the city, the Honolulu Ethics Commission and the commission’s former executive director and former investigator. Star-Advertiser.

Honolulu’s police chief and his wife say a federal grand jury targeting them can be traced in part to what they call “vindictive and illegal investigations” by the Honolulu Ethics Commission, and they’re suing to set the record straight. KHON2.

Coping with ongoing issues tied to homelessness in the state’s tourism hub is a primary focus of a three-way Democratic primary for the District 22 House seat, which includes Waikiki and Kakaako. Star-Advertiser.

The city, cracking down on unauthorized activities at an off-the-grid agriculture development in Kunia, recently issued a dozen citations to owners of the 854-acre project and expect to send out more in the coming weeks, including those for illegal residential use. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii

It was another stellar year for Police Chief Harry Kubojiri, according to his annual performance evaluation released Monday by the Hawaii County Police Commission. West Hawaii Today.

The Hilo Women’s Imaging Center has resumed regular mammogram procedures after receiving provisional certification from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Tribune-Herald.

Maui

Maui County Council members gave final approval Friday to bills that would provide the Department of Water Supply with enough money to build a new Iao water treatment plant. Maui News.

Haleakala National Park's next commercial-free day will be Tuesday, allowing Native Hawaiians to conduct traditional cultural practices in the park, Haleakala park officials said. Maui News.

Man seeks to build wheelchair-accessible camp. Maui News.

Kauai

On Monday, a bulldozer and a construction crew replaced cars and tourists as they took to the 46-acre property, cleaning up overgrown trees and salvaging the inside of cottages. The long-awaited demolition of Coco Palms Resort, which was destroyed by Hurricane Iniki in 1992, is under way. Garden Island.

Three baby Hawaiian monk seals have entered the world on Kauai’s shores this year, and Jamie Thomton, Kauai’s marine mammal response coordinator, said there shouldn’t be any more this season. Garden Island.

National parks boost Hawaii tourism, Chinese investors coming, coral reef symposium this week, judge allows 20 to participate in Thirty Meter Telescope case, Kaiser curbs Medicaid patients, Kauai mulls smoking ban in cars with kids, Gabbard hasn't embraced Clinton, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Crater in Hawaii Volcanoes National Park © 2016 All Hawaii News

 In 2015 visitors spent an estimated $364.5 million in local areas while stopping at National Park Service lands in Hawaii — a total up $24 million from the previous year, the U.S. government said. Star-Advertiser.

A 2015 ban on free travel for public school teachers who organize out-of-state field trips was essentially lifted Friday, after a Circuit Court judge invalidated advice given by the Hawaii State Ethics Commission. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii is only beginning to see a trickle of what will be coming, in terms of Chinese commercial real estate investments, although developers need to do more to attract these types of key investments, an international real estate expert tells Pacific Business News.

Recent Chinese investments in Hawaii real estate total nearly one billion dollars. Hawaii Public Radio.

The International Coral Reef Symposium convenes Monday to try to create a more unified conservation plan for coral reefs. Associated Press.

After the most powerful El Nino on record heated the world’s oceans to never-before-seen levels, huge swaths of once vibrant coral reefs that were teeming with life are now stark white ghost towns disintegrating into the sea. Associated Press.

Kaiser Permanente Hawaii has stopped accepting new Medicaid patients, making it more difficult for those on the government-backed health insurance program that in Hawaii is known as "Quest," to find doctors willing to admit them. Star-Advertiser.

Allegations of wrongdoing by University of Hawaii employees and officials can now be confidentially reported by students, faculty, staff and the public through a whistleblower website and hotline the university has launched. Star-Advertiser.

Almost a year after Hawaii’s Environmental Court made its debut, it received high marks last week at a conference in Honolulu on environmental law. Civil Beat.

A group that sued to stop a Native Hawaiian election is persisting with its lawsuit because it fears another race-based vote will happen. Star-Advertiser.

Here’s the harsh truth about the roughly 900 prisoners released each year in Hawaii: The odds are, more than half of them will end up back in trouble. Civil Beat.

Man’s efforts to find birth parents leads to legislation that eases access to adoption records. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii’s top supporter of Bernie Sanders is not prepared to endorse Hillary Clinton in the presidential election. “I’m not prepared to do that,” Rep. Tulsi Gabbard told CNN anchor Wolf Blitzer Friday when asked if she would back Clinton. Civil Beat.

The yearly “Hunger Doesn’t Take a Vacation: Summer Nutrition Status Report,” compiled by the Washington, D.C.-based Food Research and Action Center, ranks Hawaii No. 47 in the country for the percentage of students who ate free federal meals last summer in comparison to the school year. Tribune-Herald.

Oahu

An unprecedented and acclaimed Hawaiian feather work show that was years in the making and originally scheduled to appear at Bishop Museum in Honolulu has instead opened in Los Angeles. While the Bay Area show went off as planned, Bishop Museum apparently backed out because of the expense to bring the exhibit to Hawaii and stage it here. Star-Advertiser.

There are more than $20 billion worth of transit oriented developments planned along the rail line from Kapolei to Ala Moana Center.  But experts said that stopping it at Middle Street is going to be devastating for some of these projects.  Hawaii News Now.

One-half of 1 percent of all city general fund collections are set aside for Oahu nonprofit groups each year under a Honolulu City Charter amendment approved by voters in 2012. Star-Advertiser.

Plantation housing in Ewa will be redeveloped by city. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii

Riki May Amano is giving everyone a seat at the table as she prepares to start a new contested case hearing for the Thirty Meter Telescope’s land use permit. During her first pre-hearing conference in Hilo on Friday, the hearings officer accepted 14 new parties, essentially everyone who applied and showed up to the cramped meeting room at the State Building on Aupuni Street. Tribune-Herald.

There are now 20 participants in permit proceedings for a giant Mauna Kea telescope. The retired Big Island judge overseeing the contested case hearing on Friday allowed the nonprofit company building the Thirty Meter Telescope to participate. Associated Press.

Attorney arguments recorded inside the cramped pre-hearing conference cut together with moments captured outside the old courthouse, as the TMT contested case proceedings begin in Hilo. Big Island Video News.

For many of the 75 or so community members and real estate agents who grabbed lunch at the Kona Elks Lodge on Friday, it was their first good look at eight mayoral candidates in the same room. West Hawaii Today.

Kekaualua steps down from campaign as DOT investigates. West Hawaii Today.

Maui

About 2,800 displaced workers on Maui received some good news on Friday as Gov. David Ige signed two bills into law that will help them during the transition. Pacific Business News.

About 30 farmers and residents gathered at Honomanū bridge along the Hāna Highway on Saturday in an effort to draw attention to their objection of House Bill 2501, which defines water rights on the island. Maui Now.

Kauai

Bill No. 2629 was drafted in an effort to address the potential harmful health risks to children who are exposed to nicotine in cars. On Wednesday, the Kauai County Council hosted a public hearing on the bill. Garden Island.

The conversation about turning Kauai Humane Society into a no-kill shelter will renew next weekend with a conference hosted by Nathan Winograd, director of the National No Kill Advocacy Center. Garden Island.

Recently, eight North Shore community members applied for a $10 million grant through XQ Super School Project, a national competition founded by Laurene Powell Jobs, widow of Steve Jobs. Garden Island.

Train to nowhere: Honolulu rail could stop miles short of destination, Chinese RIMPAC warships on the way, Thirty Meter Telescope hearing today in Hilo, Kauai seeks road repair fund without GET, Schatz wants expanded marine sanctuary, Ige signs CARE Act, other bills, lawsuits challenges Thielen candidacy, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

HART rail transit map, with edits

With rail facing a more than $1 billion budget hole, Honolulu’s top elected leaders now aim to stop construction four miles and eight stations short of what was planned, leaving crews to build the most challenging, expensive and critical stretch at some future date, if possible. Star-Advertiser.

In an abrupt turnaround, Honolulu Mayor Kirk Caldwell said Thursday he supports cutting the city’s rail line nearly five miles short and stopping the elevated guideway at Middle Street in light of an estimated $1.5 billion budget shortfall and pressure from the feds. Civil Beat.

In a significant shift, Honolulu Mayor Kirk Caldwell says the city must live between "revenue boundaries" and should focus on shortening the rail route so that it ends at Middle Street rather than Ala Moana Center. Hawaii News Now.

Honolulu Mayor Kirk Caldwell is urging the Honolulu Authority for Rapid Transportation to hold a public meeting that would consider ending rail at Middle Street, at least for now. KHON2.

Buildings have been knocked down and businesses have moved to make way for the rail. So now that it looks like rail will not make it past Middle Street, businesses that have already been bought out or forced to leave are left wondering what happens now. KHON2.

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A Chinese flotilla participating in the upcoming Rim of the Pacific maritime exercises left port Wednesday and will meet up with two U.S. Navy destroyers for the sail back into Pearl Harbor later this month, the Navy said. Star-Advertiser.

The Governor signed  the so-called Care Act into law, making Hawai'i the 31st state to mandate caregiver requirements for hospitals. Hawaii Public Radio.

Gov. David Ige Thursday signed Senate Bill 2453 authorizing alternative sentencing for aquatic violations. The new law provides clear legal authority to judges, allowing them to more effectively tailor sentences when aquatics statutes are violated. Associated Press.

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U.S. Sen. Brian Schatz made the proposal to expand the Papahanaumokuakea Marine National Monument official Thursday in a letter to President Barack Obama. Schatz called for the monument to grow to 582,578 square miles, which would make it the world’s largest marine protected area. Civil Beat.

U.S. Sen. Brian Schatz on Thursday joined Native Hawaiian groups and environmentalists working to expand Papahanaumo- kuakea Marine National Monument and make it the largest marine sanctuary on Earth. Star-Advertiser.

U.S. Sen. Brian Schatz is proposing to expand one of the world’s largest marine conservation areas in a way that preserves some fishing grounds for local fishermen. Associated Press.

U.S. Sen. Brian Schatz threw his support behind the expansion of the Papahanaumokuakea Marine National Monument Thursday in a proposal sent to President Barack Obama. Garden Island.

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Hawaiian Airlines’ pilots union, claiming that further mediation would be futile in its contract negotiations with the company, has petitioned the federal government to be released from mediation and instead be offered arbitration. Star-Advertiser.

The head of the military agency that searches for and identifies the remains of missing servicemen is resigning after just one year to take over a troubled nonprofit that cares for wounded troops. Associated Press.

Alternate Energy Inc., the Honolulu solar energy company that recently reached a $38,000 settlement with state regulators for allegedly misrepresenting information related to requirements for interconnecting solar energy systems, is blaming Hawaiian Electric Co. for creating the issue, one of its executives told Pacific Business News on Thursday. Pacific Business News.

Oahu

A Democratic state senator is the target of a lawsuit that seeks to keep her name off the 2016 election ballot. Sen. Laura Thielen, who represents a district that includes Kailua, Lanikai, Waimanalo and Hawaii Kai, is accused of submitting incomplete nomination papers to the state Office of Elections. Civil Beat.

Djou Challenges Mayor To Call For Return of Honolulu Ethics Director. The mayoral challenger says Chuck Totto’s resignation was “the direct result of political pressure from the administration.” Civil Beat.

Portable toilets, public showers, better coordination between businesses and even a government-sanctioned tent city were among the ideas proposed by lawmakers Thursday to address concerns about a growing — and increasingly hard-core — homeless population in Iwilei. Star-Advertiser.

BIC Tacos will open its second location on June 27 in the former Bistro! Downtown ground-floor space at the Davies Pacific Center office building in Downtown Honolulu, its owner told Pacific Business News.

Hawaii

More than 80 demonstrators waved signs in support of the Thirty Meter Telescope in Hilo on Thursday. This comes just a day before DLNR is scheduled to hold a hearing in Hilo to decide whether or not to allow the telescope to be built atop Mauna Kea, land Native Hawaiians deem sacred. Hawaii News Now.

The management of a charter school on the Big Island faced criticism from the state teachers’ union and state education officials during a State Public Charter School Commission meeting Thursday. Civil Beat.

Ka‘u Learning Academy’s first year of operations was “very challenging” for the school and the state’s Public Charter School Commission, staff monitoring the school’s operations and finances said this week. Tribune-Herald.

The Hawaii County Council passed a resolution Wednesday that authorizes the administration to negotiate for the purchase of land at Hakalau Point. Big Island Video News.

Internship program relies on Thirty Meter Telescope: Loss of key contributor would impact aspiring scientists, engineers. Tribune-Herald.

Maui

A joint filing with the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals by the state and the United Public Workers on Wednesday reports "productive discussions" on a possible settlement of a dispute stemming from Kaiser Permanente taking over operations of Maui County public hospitals. Maui News.

Testifiers urged the Maui County Council's Water Resources Committee Wednesday not to go forward with amendments that would revise water allocation standards in the "Show Me the Water" bill and to halt any related action until the water department's Water Use and Development Plan is completed. Maui News.

The Metropolitan Planning Organization will be meeting at 9 a.m. Monday to discuss its purpose and operational document and its budget. Maui News.

Kauai

Kauai residents may decide how they want the county to pay for road repair. During the Kauai County Council meeting Wednesday, the council unanimously voted to approve a resolution that proposed putting a County Roads Resurfacing and Reconstruction Backlog Fund on the charter, for residents to vote on in November. Garden Island.

Federal court hears GMO arguments, Honolulu ethics chief steps down, cesspool tax credit unpopular, Kauai council kills county manager plan, Ige asks courts to allow Maui hospitals room to breathe, one ballot initiative survives Hawaii County Council, residency complaint in Maui council race, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Screenshot of GMO hearings in U.S. District Court in Honolulu

A federal appeals court is weighing whether Hawaii counties have the right to regulate genetically modified crops and impose restrictions on how farmers apply pesticides. Three California-based judges flew to Honolulu to hear oral arguments Wednesday in a string of cases involving regulations on genetically engineered agriculture in Kauai County, Hawaii County and Maui County. Civil Beat.


Observers packed a federal courtroom in downtown Honolulu on Wednesday to watch attorneys for several of the world’s agricultural giants and opponents of genetically engineered farming battle over three county laws that target GMO crops and pesticide use. Star-Advertiser.

The fight over regulating genetically engineered crops in three Hawaii counties was back in a federal courtroom Wednesday as some agricultural giants look to protect their farms from bans against modified food. Associated Press.


Fern Rosenstiel said Wednesday’s 9th Circuit Court of Appeals hearing has been a long time coming. That’s because the federal appellate court heard three cases dealing with pesticide labeling and GMO laws created by Hawaii, Maui and Kauai counties. Garden Island.

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State efforts to phase out use of cesspools and encourage use of other wastewater systems are off to a slow start. A statewide ban on new cesspool construction began in March, two months after a law providing tax credits to help homeowners upgrade cesspools to a septic system or an aerobic tank system went into effect. Tribune-Herald.

The U. S. House of Representatives has approved an amendment to the Department of Defense 2017 appropriations bill that would provide $5 million to “initiate planning and design for a new ballistic missile defense radar in Hawaii,” Rep. Tulsi Gabbard said in a press release Wednesday. Civil Beat.

The embattled head of electrical workers union faces new allegations that he oversaw an improper union vote that doubled dues for hundreds of Hawaii union members. Hawaii News Now.

Scientists believe they found two new species of colorful reef fish and for the first time collected a male Hawaiian pigfish during a 25-day expedition to the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands. Star-Advertiser.

Researchers in Hawaii have discovered three probable new species of fish while on an expedition in the protected waters of the Papahanaumokuakea Marine National Monument. Associated Press.


Oahu

Chuck Totto’s decision Wednesday to step down under duress as the city’s longtime ethics director ends a years-long saga of his butting heads with Mayor Kirk Caldwell’s administration, Caldwell’s recently appointed city Ethics Commission members, and even members of Totto’s own staff. Star-Advertiser.

The longtime executive director of the city agency responsible for ethics enforcement resigned Wednesday. Civil Beat.

The embattled executive director of the Honolulu Ethics Commission, Chuck Totto, has resigned, effective immediately. Totto had led the commission since April 2000. Hawaii News Now.

After more than 16 years, the head of the Honolulu Ethics Commission has resigned. KHON2.

Honolulu Mayor Candidate Profiles: Kirk Caldwell. Hawaii Public Radio.

A desire to kick Kirk Caldwell out of office brought three top Hawaii Democrats together Wednesday at a press conference to voice their support for Charles Djou for mayor. Civil Beat.

Since November, the city has purchased and gutted a former private school in Makiki and plans to open it early next year as the first project of its kind in which the city will serve as landlord to as many as 75 low-income and homeless people. Star-Advertiser.

Howard Higa, president of The Cab taxi company, said Wednesday he has had enough of Hawaii politicians dillydallying when it comes to the regulation of app-based ride-hailing companies Lyft and Uber. Civil Beat.

Biotech startup Cardax Inc., seeking additional capital as losses mount, has increased the pay of two of its top officers who previously had seen their compensation reduced to minimum wage of $8.50 an hour. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii businessman Duane Kurisu to partner with city, state on homeless housing project. Pacific Business News.

Hawaii

A charter amendment giving the County Council more control over department heads is unlikely to make it to the Nov. 8 ballot, following its postponement Wednesday in the face of scattered opposition and several proposed changes. West Hawaii Today.

Petitioners say the Thirty Meter Telescope, as well as the newly incorporated PUEO group, should not be allowed to intervene in the upcoming contested case hearing. Big Island Video News.

Persistent questioning Wednesday by County Council members eventually arrived at the cost of perks a developer is seeking to build affordable housing and a senior care facility on Hualalai Road: $1.8 million. West Hawaii Today.

Maui

For now, Maui Memorial Medical Center and its staff continue to cover shortages and to deal with uncertainties created by a federal appeals court injunction halting the operational transition of the public hospital to the private Kaiser Permanente, but the hospital's CEO warned that those efforts cannot be sustained for long and "will fall apart." Maui News.

The Maui Planning Commission approved plans Tuesday for a hybrid seawall and rock revetment fronting the Hololani Resort, where residents, like many of their neighbors, fear for the safety of their homes perched precariously on the West Maui shore. Maui News.

The Maui County clerk's office is investigating a complaint about the residency qualification for Maui County Council candidate Alan Kaufman, an Upcountry veterinarian. Maui News.

South Maui Rep. Kaniela Ing's announcement of his endorsement by the Sierra Club of Hawaii has led to a political tit-for-tat with his Democratic primary opponent, Deidre Tegarden. Maui News.

The Maui Police Department advises motorists that the speed limit between has been temporarily reduced on the Mokulele Highway between the Maui Humane Society animal shelter and North Kīhei Road. Maui Now.

Kauai

Arguing that a council-manager form of government would not solve the county’s problems, the Kauai County Council unanimously voted Wednesday to kill a resolution that would have let the people decide. Garden Island.

Four council members voted to approve a bill that allows additional dwelling units to be built on ag land. Bill No. 2601 amends the county code relating to ADU’s by removing the deadline for those units to be built. Per the code, ADUs had to be built by 2024. Garden Island.

June snowfall in Hawaii, Honolulu rail project short on cash, South Korean destroyers arrive ahead of RIMPAC, Island Air resumes Kona route, new Hilo pier advancing, Kauai affordable housing project commences, Maui citizen initiative fails to reach ballot, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Snow atop Mauna Kea, courtesy National Weather Service Honolulu

Mauna Kea had a white cap once again this week, if only briefly. A moisture-rich weather system brought a dusting of snow to the summit Monday as it drenched lower elevations on the windward side. Tribune-Herald.

About a dozen candidates are running for seats in the state Legislature this year who political observers say make up an emerging progressive faction within the Democratic Party. What constitutes a progressive agenda isn’t easy to define, but for John Bickel, one of the movement’s leaders, it means “standing up for the little guy against the corporate interests.” Star-Advertiser.

Two South Korean destroyers arrived at Pearl Harbor on Tuesday for the Rim of the Pacific war games, while other ships are also heading to Hawaii from around the region for the world’s largest international maritime exercise. Star-Advertiser.

The only Republican woman who Hawaii voters have ever sent to represent them in Washington, D.C., believes she has found the right candidate to follow in her stead. On Tuesday at GOP headquarters in Honolulu, Pat Saiki announced her pick: Shirlene Ostrov, a retired U.S. Air Force colonel. Civil Beat.

The fee Hawaiian Electric’s residential customers pay to finance clean-energy installations for low-income residents will decrease slightly starting in July. Star-Advertiser.

Honolulu solar energy company Alternate Energy Inc. has reached a settlement with state regulators after allegedly misrepresenting information related to requirements for interconnecting solar energy systems, according to public records. Pacific Business News.

Kenneth Uemura, former vice president and chief financial officer at Hawaii Pacific University, has been appointed by Gov. David Ige to the state Board of Education. Civil Beat.

Federal judges from the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals are in town this week and will hear oral arguments Wednesday for three lawsuits challenging county regulations on genetically modified farming. Civil Beat.

The Public Utilities Commission is considering Young Brothers Ltd.’s application to raise shipping rates by 4.36 percent, which will generate an increase in revenue by $3.13 million for the shipping company, according to a PUC public docket. Garden Island.

Oahu

The Honolulu Authority for Rapid Transportation is about to hit a cash crunch, and wants to borrow money that puts taxpayers on the hook. KHON2.

The rail isn’t going to make its way to Dillingham Boulevard any time soon, but HART is already meeting with businesses in the area to talk about what impact the project could have. KHON2.

Honolulu Mayor Candidate Profiles: Peter Carlisle. Hawaii Public Radio.

Honolulu Mayor Candidate Profiles: Charles Djou. Hawaii Public Radio.

The founder of a former Hawaii organization that encouraged the adoption of foster children has been sentenced to 30 years in prison for sexually assaulting two girls. The girls were 11 and 16 at the time of the assaults in 2011. Associated Press.

A special investigator's report on sex assaults at the Hawaii School for the Deaf and Blind provided chilling accounts of the way children were being treated and how the school's principal allegedly tried to cover up the scandal. Hawaii News Now.

It is the small Oahu village that time seemed to forget, and it looked like the city did too...until now. Varona Village was originally built for sugar plantation workers, but now its residents wonder who will live there in the future. KITV4.

Hawaii

Island Air flew from Honolulu to Kona on the Big Island of Hawaii for the first time in about four years on Tuesday, signaling an expansion plan that’s beginning to heat up. Pacific Business News.

Optimism blew in with Island Air’s first flight to Kona on Tuesday morning. West Hawaii Today.

The state initiative to upgrade Hilo’s port by constructing an additional pier remains on schedule, with the next significant construction step expected later this summer. Tribune-Herald.

A federal appeals court has upheld the convictions of Hawaii island marijuana advocate Roger Christie and his wife, Sherryanne, who contend that U.S. drug laws violate their right to freely exercise their religion. Star-Advertiser.

Attorneys for the county and for Kukuihaele residents opposing the county’s planned improvements — especially a fenced baseball park — argued Tuesday before Hilo Circuit Judge Greg Nakamura. Tribune-Herald.

Pahoa Village Road will be closed next week between Apa‘a Street and Post Office Road in order for the Hawaii Electric Light Company to relocate utility infrastructure and remove five utility pole protection measures that were installed in response to the June 27, 2014 lava flow. Big Island Video News.

Maui
There will be no citizen-driven initiative on the Nov. 8 general election ballot. Farmland voter initiative falls short on signatures. Maui News.

A partnership led by a Dallas-based real estate investment firm has purchased the 304-acre Pulelehua working-class housing community in West Maui from Maui Land & Pineapple Co. for $15 million. Maui News.

About 80 acres of sugar cane burned Sunday afternoon in an unscheduled fire in Haliimaile, fire and Hawaiian Commercial & Sugar Co. officials said Monday. Maui News.

Kauai

A 54-acre piece of land near the intersections of Kuhio and Kapule highways is being converted into a housing development. D.R. Horton, a national home construction company, is partnering with Kauai County to develop Ho‘oluana at Kohea Loa, a neighborhood that offers both affordable housing options and single-family homes. Garden Island.

The Ocean Course at Hokuala, a Jack Nicklaus-designed golf course on Kauai, is undergoing a multimillion-dollar renovation. Pacific Business News.

About five months ago, the Hanalei Watershed Hui and several partners created Ahupua’a Explorations as way to engage, entertain, and teach the children of the North Shore when they weren’t in class. Garden Island.

Hawaii hotel revenues at record high, opinion: struggling GOP eats its young, Hee must report to prison, Kenoi trial scheduled for October, Honolulu nixes neighborhood board changes, Big Island land going to farm bureau, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Hapuna Prince resort © 2016 All Hawaii News

April business showered Hawaii’s hotel industry with monthly records for revenue, average daily rate and revenue per available room. Star-Advertiser.

A federal judge denied Hawaii businessman Albert S.N. Hee’s request Monday for more time to turn himself in to begin serving his prison sentence for tax fraud. In 1995 the Hawaiian Homes Commission awarded Waimana a nonbid, exclusive license to provide telephone and telecommunications services on state Department of Hawaiian Homelands properties. Star-Advertiser.

Opinion: There is nothing sadder than watching Hawaii’s struggling Republican Party sink lower and lower. Everyone wants a healthy two-party system. But it looks like that’s not going to happen here anytime soon. Civil Beat.

Seeking Third Term, Tulsi Gabbard Focuses On Defense, Foreign Policy. The Hawaii congresswoman continues to oppose “regime-change wars,” and pushes for better defense against North Korean missiles. Civil Beat.

When the filing deadline for Hawaii elections closed Tuesday, it turned out that Brian Schatz was facing 11 challengers in his re-election to the U.S. Senate. But many of the candidates are political also-rans who have lost previous races for a variety of seats or they are first-time contenders. And none currently holds office, let alone much of a campaign fund. Civil Beat.

In the months leading up to the December 2014 announcement that Hawaiian Electric Industries had reached a $4.3 billion merger deal with Florida-based NextEra Energy, Hawaii Gas officials said they were noticing an “unusual chilling” of the conversation they had been having with the state’s biggest electric utility about importing liquefied natural gas. Civil Beat.

As coral reefs disappear at a record pace in Hawaii and abroad, scientists and leaders from across the globe will meet on Oahu later this week to discuss potential solutions at what’s billed as the largest coral reef symposium ever. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaiian, Delta airlines lead in on-time arrivals; Spirit last. Associated Press.

Oahu

The Honolulu Charter Commission voted to not advance a proposal that would have asked Oahu voters to consider scrapping neighborhood boards and redirecting a portion of funding to other efforts aiming to increase civic participation. Star-Advertiser.

Honolulu’s fire chief picked up high marks in his third annual performance evaluation from the Honolulu Fire Commission last month, according to the Fire Department. Chief Manuel P. Neves was appointed by the Fire Commission in February 2013. The chief is evaluated annually. Star-Advertiser.

A 10-year-veteran of the Honolulu Police Department, who triggered a manhunt last week, was released from the hospital Friday and charged today with sexually assaulting a 14-year-old girl. Star-Advertiser.

Court papers allege deaf and blind school principal tried to cover up sex assault scandal. Hawaii News Now.

Shirokiya opened the doors to its long-awaited, $35 million Japan Village Walk on Monday for a preview at Ala Moana Center. The 44,860-square-foot space housing 56 shops and 900 seats will open next week. Star-Advertiser.

Shirokiya Holdings Inc. will open its new Shirokiya Japan Village Walk retail and restaurant complex on the ground floor of the Ala Moana Center’s new Ewa wing on June 25. Pacific Business News.

Hawaii

Jury selection in the trial of Hawaii County Mayor Billy Kenoi will start the week of Oct. 10, a clerk for Honolulu Circuit Judge Dexter Del Rosario said Monday. Tribune-Herald.

The county is poised to lease 440 acres of improved grazing land for $1 a year to the Hamakua County Farm Bureau. West Hawaii Today.

A longtime marijuana activist facing criminal charges of selling marijuana for running a now-defunct medical marijuana collective is suing in an attempt to stop the opening of state-licensed medical marijuana dispensaries. Tribune-Herald.

Homeless man attacked; Incident unites Pahoa to help victim find justice. Tribune-Herald.

Maui

Hawaii Gas buys Maui property primed for development. Pacific Business News.

Get Out and Vote at the Queen Ka`ahumanu Center this Saturday, June 18. Register to vote, meet Maui County candidates and prepare yourself for the upcoming elections. MauiTime.

Pavement marking, sign installations and traffic signal improvements will cause alternating lane closures on Kaahumanu Avenue and Main Street this week, according to the state Department of Transportation. Maui News.

Kauai

When the Kauai County Council meets Wednesday, it will discuss two resolutions which propose taking two pieces of legislation to the people, including a county manager form of government. Garden Island.

Three different county laws are going before the federal appeals court, including Kauai’s pesticide disclosure law, in a hearing that will decide how much authority Hawaii counties have within their own borders. Garden Island.

Organizers of a benefit concert to raise money for cancer treatment say police intimidated attendees by setting up a roadblock barricading the event and checking each car that passed through, ultimately affecting their ability to raise money. Associated Press.

Thomas Oi of Lihue filed his papers to be included on the ballot for the office of State Representative of District 15. Garden Island.

Kauai’s Kokee State Park is home to the Alaka‘i Wilderness Preserve. At an elevation of one mile, it’s the world’s highest rainforest swamp. Hawaii Public Radio.

GMO bans slated for federal court, union to appeal Kauai police cameras, lawsuit filed over medical marijuana dispensaries, Oahu redevelopment spurs opposition, Honolulu ethics director under attack, Maui development nears settlement, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

GMO papaya at Hilo farmer's market © 2016 All Hawaii News

Hawaii County’s failed ban on outdoor cultivation of genetically modified crops will be aired Wednesday in a federal court in Honolulu, one of three county cases being appealed after local laws were struck down. West Hawaii Today.

State officials are planning to amend a law that exempts certain agricultural structures from building permits, after U.S. officials warned that the law could jeopardize federally funded emergency and flood coverage for Hawaii. Maui News.

A $150 million ratepayer-supported renewable energy program remains almost entirely untapped. Associated Press.

About 2,500 people are expected to attend the International Coral Reef Symposium June 19-24 at the Hawaii Convention Center. It will mark the first time the Aloha State has hosted the quadrennial event, and only the third time it’s been held in the United States. Civil Beat.

Researchers with the University of Hawai‘i are measuring the impact of millions of tons of munitions dumped at sea over several decades.  In 1970, an international treaty better known as “The London Convention” stopped the Department of Defense from disposing of chemical weapons in the ocean. Hawaii Public Radio.

The annual removal of debris in the Northwest Hawaiian Islands hauled in the equivalent of six cars of garbage. West Hawaii Today.

Small boat fishermen have nothing to fear from the potential expansion of Papahanaumokuakea Marine National Monument, according to a group of Native Hawaiians. Garden Island.

Hawaii Governor David Ige on Sunday ordered that the Hawaii state flag be flown at half-staff at the state Capitol and at other state agencies and locations until sunset on June 16. The action honors the victims of “the terrible attack” that occurred last night in Orlando, Florida,” the governor’s office said in a statement. Civil Beat.

The Supreme Court rejected an appeal today from a group of American Samoans who say the United States should grant full citizenship to people born in the U.S. territory. Associated Press.

Oahu

The Paradise Park redevelopment plan in Manoa is emerging as a flashpoint in a primary challenge to House Higher Education Chairman Isaac Choy, a Democrat who has represented the state House district that includes Manoa since 2009. Star-Advertiser.

After waiting decades for promised renovations, residents of a former sugar plantation village are being asked for input on redevelopment plans. Star-Advertiser.

Honolulu officials are moving forward with plans to redevelop a former sugar plantation village built in the early 1900s after promising renovations to residents of the largely neglected area decades ago. Associated Press.

Dan Grabauskas, executive director of the Honolulu Authority for Rapid Transportation, and Brennon Morioka, deputy director, recommend that the new elevated rail system terminate Downtown as the board reconsiders options for the over-budget project. Pacific Business News.

A Civil Beat review of Ethics Commission records, meeting minutes, emails, correspondence and interviews with those familiar with the commission’s work show that city Ethics Director Chuck Totto has been under attack by Kirk Caldwell and those he’s appointed ever since the mayor took office in 2013.

Hundreds of people took to the streets of Downtown Honolulu to ‘Iolani Palace on Sunday as part of community rally and cultural event E HUI ANA NA MOKU: ‘Aina Protectors Unite. KITV4.

Hawaii

The embattled president of a now-defunct medical marijuana collective is suing to block the opening of state medical marijuana dispensaries. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii’s medical marijuana dispensary law isn’t perfect — far from it — but it’s a start, and the state needs to begin somewhere. That’s how lawmakers characterized the up-and-coming dispensary system Thursday evening to a fired up crowd in Pahoa, many who pointed out what they called flaws in the way the law was written. Tribune-Herald.

Hawaii County Councilwoman Margaret Wille withdrew her proposal to repeal a section in the Hawaii County Code that allows a real property tax exemption for island credit unions. Big Island Video News.

General contractors on Hawaii Island are staying busy even as the construction sector is easing down from last year’s peak. Tribune-Herald.

Melissa Takahashi said that when she graduated from Waiakea High School on Hawaii island in 2000, she enjoyed chemistry and did well in mathematics but never thought she would be working on cutting-edge research to prevent the spread of global diseases like the Zika virus. Star-Advertiser.

Maui

After a revised archaeological survey and pending approval of a habitat conservation plan, the Honua'ula project is nearing settlement of a more than 3-year-old lawsuit in which the Sierra Club and Maui Unite challenged the adequacy of the South Maui development's final environmental impact statement. Maui News.

Hawaii Commercial & Sugar Co. is not admitting fault under a proposed settlement that reduces a $1.3 million air quality and reporting fine tied to Puunene Mill to $600,000. Star-Advertiser.

Solar companies and industry groups say that the cap on residential rooftop photovoltaic system hookups to the power grid on Maui could be reached by this week "and almost certainly no later than the end of the month." Maui News.

An approximately $26 million renovation of Whalers Village is "timely" and sorely needed for the nearly half-a-century-old shopping center, a Kaanapali resort official said Friday. Maui News.

Kauai

The State of Hawaii Organization of Police Officers said it will appeal a ruling by the Hawaii Labor Relations Board that Kauai police did not need the union’s approval prior to implementing body-worn cameras. Garden Island.

Kauai high school students are making some of the right choices when it comes to their health and well-being, but some improvement is still needed. Garden Island.

Daynette “Dee” Morikawa (D-16, Niihau, Lehua, Koloa, Waimea) is seeking her fourth, two-year term as a state House representative for Kauai. Garden Island.