Grand jury indicts Hawaii County mayor, millions in federal aid for displaced sugar workers, Legislature kill gas tax hike, charter amendment could strengthen Honolulu Police Commission, Kauai council nixes county employee raises, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Hawaii County Mayor Billy Kenoi in happier times © 2016 All Hawaii News

An attorney for Mayor Billy Kenoi said the county’s embattled chief executive won’t resign. A Hilo grand jury on Wednesday indicted Kenoi with two counts of second-degree theft, two counts of third-degree theft, three counts of tampering with a government record, plus making a false statement under oath. Tribune-Herald.

Mayor Billy Kenoi gave a half hour speech to the local business community in Hilo, as a grand jury indicted him for his alleged misuse of a government issued purchase card between 2011 and 2015. Big Island Video News.

A Hawai‘i County grand jury has indicted Mayor Billy Kenoi on seven different counts stemming from the misuse of his county issued purchasing card. Hawaii Public Radio.

A grand jury indicted Hawaii County Mayor Billy Kenoi on theft charges Wednesday in connection with misuse of his county-issued purchasing card. Star-Advertiser.

After months of investigation, a 16-member grand jury indicted Hawaii County Mayor Billy Kenoi on theft charges Wednesday in connection with his alleged misuse of a government credit card. Hawaii News Now.

Hawaii Island Mayor Billy Kenoi has been indicted by a grand jury. The charges come after a nearly-year-long criminal investigation by the attorney general’s office over Kenoi’s improper use of a county-issued credit card, or pCard. KHON2.

The state Attorney General’s office said Wednesday that a Big Island  grand jury has indicted Hawaii County Mayor Billy Kenoi. Civil Beat.

A grand injury has indicted Hawaii County Mayor Billy Kenoi on two counts of felony theft and other charges, the state attorney general's office said Wednesday. Associated Press.

Hawaii island’s homegrown mayor from Kalapana and Hilo seemed on an unlikely path to a bright future in island politics. Instead, two-term Mayor Billy Kenoi — a former Honolulu deputy public defender and disciple of the late U.S. Sen. Daniel K. Inouye — must answer to felony, misdemeanor and petty misdemeanor charges from his time in office from 2011 to 2015. Star-Advertiser.

Many political insiders thought one day Billy Kenoi's career would take him to the governor's mansion. That future is still up in the air as some say his political career is over, but others say he could make a comeback. Hawaii News Now.

Following months of controversy hanging over Mayor Billy Kenoi, Hawaii island officials expressed shock and dismay that the hammer finally came down Wednesday. Star-Advertiser.

The mood on the Big Island on Wednesday is one of shock and sadness. KHON2.

Those who worked with Mayor Billy Kenoi are trying to understand how it all came to this. KHON2.

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Despite a full-court press lobbying effort by Gov. David Ige’s administration, the proposed gas tax, weight tax and vehicle registration fee increases it proposed may be dead for the year. Star-Advertiser.

The House Transportation Committee on Wednesday indefinitely deferred a bill that would have increased taxes and fees on motor vehicles and fuel. Civil Beat.

Hawaii may soon implement what’s become standard practice elsewhere in the country — mandatory unannounced inspections of state-licensed care facilities for the elderly and disabled. Civil Beat.

A measure that would have required drivers working for transportation network companies such as Uber and Lyft to carry a certain level of insurance was killed by the House Consumer Protection and Commerce Committee on Wednesday. Civil Beat.

A bill that would ensure enforcement of crime victims’ rights as an amendment to the state Constitution remains alive at the Legislature. Star-Advertiser.

A Hawaii Senate panel deadlocked 3-to-3 Wednesday over a controversial bill that sought to trim retirement benefits for judges, effectively killing the measure. Civil Beat.

Despite the fact that Hawaii has two official languages, only one of them is offered on voters’ ballots. English and Hawaiian are the state’s official languages, and lawmakers are pushing a bill to offer both on ballots. Right now, English, Japanese, Cantonese and Ilocano must be offered on ballots in some counties. Associated Press.

Union membership has declined nearly 10 percent in Hawaii since 1989, according to the latest figures from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. But despite this downward trend, the BLS reports that Hawaii still has the second-highest percentage of union membership in the nation behind New York. Civil Beat.

Ryan Kalei Tsuji Leaves Government. The aide to Gov. Ige will leave his post at the end of the month to focus on his new video production company. Civil Beat.

Oahu

Oahu voters will have the chance to toughen up the Honolulu Police Commission in light of numerous scandals gripping the Police Department, including a federal investigation of Chief Louis Kealoha. Civil Beat.

Supporters and staff of Wahiawa General Hospital turned out in force Wednesday to ask lawmakers to fund a $3 million bailout of the private, nonprofit facility, which has been struggling to stay afloat during the past nine years of increasing financial strains. Star-Advertiser.

Supporters turned out in force at the state Capitol Wednesday to ask lawmakers to approve of a resolution requesting the governor and the Legislature to provide emergency financial assistance to Wahiawa General Hospital. Civil Beat.

Dozens rallied at the State Capitol Wednesday in support of Wahiawa General Hospital as financial troubles threaten to shut it down. KHON2.

Hawaiian Electric Co. President and CEO Alan Oshima said the electric utility will meet with the company looking to buy three canceled solar farms on Oahu. Star-Advertiser.

The Honolulu Board of Water Supply has struck a $33 million deal with NORESCO, one of the largest energy services companies in the United States, that allows the water agency to implement energy efficiency, renewable energy and operational improvements while guaranteeing enough savings over the next 20 years to pay for the contract, the agency said Wednesday. Pacific Business News.

Hawaii

It will be business as usual at Sheraton Kona Resort Spa at Keauhou Bay amid a proposed merger between the hotel’s owner, Starwood Hotels and Resorts, and Marriott International. West Hawaii Today.

Maui

Hundreds of Hawaiian Commercial & Sugar Co. workers will receive millions of dollars in federal funding as the sugar plantation ends its operations, the U.S. Department of Labor announced Thursday. Hawaii News Now.

The latest vision to alleviate Wailuku Town's parking problem is a multipurpose layout akin to San Francisco's Union Square, members of the Maui Redevelopment Agency said Wednesday. Maui News.

Kaanapali resort managers spoke out against proposed water rate increases, calling them "excessive" and "out of line" during a public hearing held by the Hawaii Public Utilities Commission on Wednesday night at Lahaina Intermediate School. Maui News.

Kauai

Citing bad timing and an uncertainty in the ability to make good on its promises, the Kauai County Council Wednesday voted 5-2 against proposed salary increases for county administers. Garden Island.

Kauai County Councilmember JoAnn Yukimura will host a public workshop titled “How to Have a Voice in County Government” 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday, March 31 at Ha Coffee Bar in Lihue. Garden Island.

When an after-hours medical emergency arises on the rapidly growing North Shore of Kauai, critical minutes can be lost before treatment can be provided. That will soon change. Garden Island.

Honolulu Zoo loses accreditation, sex trafficking bill opposed by sex workers and prosecutors, police body cams advance in Legislature, Kauai farm center created, Hawaiian Electric's Lau makes $2.7M, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Honolulu Zoo © 2016 All Hawaii News

The Honolulu Zoo has lost its accreditation with the Association of Zoos and Aquariums, the organization and the city announced today. Star-Advertiser.

The Honolulu Zoo could lose as many as 90 exotic animals on loan through animal exchange programs after the Association of Zoos and Aquariums this week denied the Waikiki facility’s request for re-accreditation. Star-Advertiser.

© 2016 All Hawaii News

The Association of Zoos and Aquariums has rejected the Honolulu Zoo’s request for re-accreditation. City officials recently met with AZA executive members, and were told their application was denied due to concerns about consistent funding from the city and private partners. Civil Beat.

The Honolulu Zoo has lost its accreditation from the Association of Zoos and Aquariums. Hawaii Public Radio.

© 2016 All Hawaii News

The Association of Zoos and Aquariums has denied Honolulu Zoo’s application for re-accreditation as it is worried about the institution's lack of funding from the city. Pacific Business News.

A panel of Association of Zoos and Aquariums executive members met with a team from the Honolulu Zoo this Monday in Omaha, Nebraska to consider the city’s application for re-accreditation of the Honolulu Zoo. KITV4.

The Association of Zoos and Aquariums has denied the city’s application for re-accreditation of Honolulu Zoo. KHON2.

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A new version of a sex trafficking bill vetoed last year by Gov. David Ige was discussed before the Senate Judiciary Committee on Tuesday, and it drew the same opposition as last year from Honolulu’s prosecuting attorney. Civil Beat.

Advocates for sex trafficking victims are saying Hawaii is long overdue to pass a bill banning sex trafficking. But some sex workers oppose the measure. Hawaii is the only state in the nation without a law that specifically bans sex trafficking. Hawaii News Now.

Body cams and dashboard cameras in police cars moved a step closer on Tuesday to becoming part of police operations in Hawaii. The House Judiciary Committee unanimously passed Senate Bill 2411, with two Republican members voting with reservations. Civil Beat.

Hawaii lawmakers have made changes to a controversial bill aimed at simplifying tax collections for transient vacation rentals to prevent the operations from being run illegally. Associated Press.

Connie Lau, president and CEO of Hawaiian Electric Industries Inc., received total compensation of $2.7 million in 2015, according to a filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission.Star-Advertiser.

Discovery of long-lost Navy vessel ends years of searching. Star-Advertiser.

Scientists from Honolulu's Bishop Museum have helped document the existence of second bat species that once lived in the Hawaiian Islands. Associated Press.

Oahu

A federal jury found Honolulu police officer Landon K. Rudolfo guilty this morning of knowingly buying then selling a stolen vehicle. Star-Advertiser.

Honolulu Mayor Kirk Caldwell’s often-fractious relationship with most members of the City Council appeared to reach a new low last week, with some Council members calling him insincere and disrespectful during a public meeting. Civil Beat.

TheBus, the future rail line and Handi-Van are all moving closer toward sharing a “smart card” fare pass that Oahu riders would use for all public transportation. Star-Advertiser.

The Honolulu Authority of Rapid Transportation and the city’s Department of Transportation Services have awarded a $31 million contract to design, build, operate and maintain a new smart card pass system to INIT Innovations in Transportation, Inc. Pacific Business News.

Pushed out for rail, a Kakaako business owner fears he'll lose everything. Hawaii News Now.

At a time when airport security is at the top of people’s minds, the agency responsible for protecting our nation’s airports is experiencing its lowest staffing levels in years. KHON2.

Hawaii is facing a nearly $6 million funding shortfall to host the International Union for Conservation of Nation World Conservation Congress slated for September in Honolulu, an international event deemed the “Olympics of Conservation.” Civil Beat.

Hawaiian Airlines has received a temporary daytime slot by the U.S. Department of Transportation for travel this winter between Honolulu and Haneda International Airport in Tokyo. Hawaiian currently has less-desirable late-night arrival and departure times because of a 2010 U.S.-Japan Open Skies agreement that limited U.S. flights to between 10 p.m. and 7 a.m. local time. Star-Advertiser.

The commander of the 25th Infantry Division, Maj. Gen. Charles A. Flynn, has been named a deputy commander of U.S. Army Pacific at Fort Shafter, the Pentagon announced last week in a slew of general officer changes for Hawaii. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii

With the announcement of its third class of physician residents last Friday, the Hawaii Island Family Medicine Residency Program has reached a milestone. For the first time since it began in 2014 as a means of addressing Hawaii Island’s doctor shortage, it will have a full complement of doctors: 12 in all. Tribune-Herald.

A new surcharge will hit water bills this summer as the Department of Water Supply strives to reduce its dependence on purchased power. The energy rate surcharge, set at 5 cents per 1,000 gallons of water, goes into effect July 1, and is expected to generate $460,000 the first year. West Hawaii Today.

State Representatives passed two resolutions through committee on Monday requesting stakeholders collaborate on the future stewardship and preservation of Waipi‘o Valley. Big Island Video News.

Burrowing beetles that colonize dead ohia trees and spread wood dust on the wind are being targeted as the likely cause of a swiftly spreading fungus that threatens the island’s forests. West Hawaii Today.

Maui

A bill that would allow Alexander & Baldwin to temporarily hold on to the rights to millions of gallons of water it diverts each day from East Maui streams survived a close vote in a key Senate committee Monday night. Star-Advertiser.

Most charges were dismissed Monday for four college students who had been awaiting trial after being arrested last year during a protest over the Daniel K. Inouye Solar Telescope being built at the Haleakala summit. Maui News.

The wife of Democratic presidential candidate Bernie Sanders came to Maui on Monday and heard about the end of sugar - its lost jobs as well as the harms of cane burning - reached out to Native Hawaiians and offered advice to a community grappling with the issue of genetically modified organisms in food. Maui News.

Public meetings on proposed tuition increases for the University of Hawaii system - including the University of Hawaii Maui College, which would see annual rates rise $150 by the 2019-20 school year - will be held at 2 p.m. May 5 at the college and through Skybridge's two-way video to Hana, Lahaina, Molokai and Lanai. Maui News.

Kauai
Seventy-five acres of prime farmland, ceded by the county to a community-based not-for-profit organization will become an agricultural center. Garden Island.

Democratic voters in Kauai have an opportunity to show their patriotic spirit when they cast votes for their party favorite Saturday as part of the presidential preference poll. Garden Island.

Senate panel approves $28.4M for Hawaiian Home Lands, committee announced to select medical marijuana dispensary vendors, cigarette tax hikes mulled, Thirty Meter Telescope builders check out Canary Islands, Maui water rights at issue, zika in Kauai, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Hawaiian Home Lands homestead © 2016 All Hawaii News

Heeding the complaints of homesteaders and a Hawaii judge, a state Senate committee on Monday agreed to fund the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands in the amount of $28.4 million for the current fiscal year. Civil Beat.

The state Department of Health on Monday released the names of a five-member panel that will help review and select those vying for the state’s first medical marijuana dispensary licenses. The committee is made up of University of Hawaii professor H. David Bess, retired Hawaii Supreme Court Justice James E. Duffy Jr., state Department of Agriculture Deputy Director Phyllis Shimabukuro-Geiser, state Office of Health Care Assurance chief Keith R. Ridley and John Fisher III, a pharmacologist and toxicologist from Alabama. Star-Advertiser.

The state Department of Health has announced the five members of a committee that will review applications to grow and sell medical marijuana in Hawaii. Civil Beat.

The number of registered medical marijuana applicants has surged more than 14 percent since the Department of Health first began administrating the program in Jan. 2015. The DOH said the number could more then double after improvements made to the process last month. Pacific Business News.

A bill is circulating in state legislature that could drastically cut funding to Hawaii's 14 community health centers. Hawaii News Now.

University of Hawaii officials are hoping a bill in the state Legislature that would raise the excise tax on cigarettes and little cigars will help the UH Cancer Center stay afloat despite recurring budget deficits. Star-Advertiser.

State officials contend that drastic changes must be made if the University of Hawaii Cancer Center is to survive, though they have yet to gain consensus on a single plan to lift the organization out of its financial hole. Star-Advertiser.

SB-2561 would create a new task force headed up by the Lieutenant Governor.  The goal:  facilitate the construction of 22,500 affordable rental units over the next 10 years. Hawaii News Now.

Oahu

Waianae residents are hoping the Honolulu Police Department’s newest substation will discourage crime and bring a larger police presence to the Leeward Coast. Star-Advertiser.

The City Council has adopted a resolution that urges the administration to extend the hours lifeguards are on duty. Star-Advertiser.

The rapid development of residential high-rises in Kaka’ako has resulted in legislative solutions to long-standing issues like regulating private roads in the neighborhood. Hawaii Public Radio.

It’s been a year and a half since Honolulu Mayor Kirk Caldwell unveiled a proposal to require every large new residential development on Oahu to include low- or moderately-priced units. Civil Beat.

Construction is slated to begin next month on the Keauhou Lane midrise apartment rental housing project in Kakaako reserved for residents with moderate incomes. Star-Advertiser.

Kamehameha Schools’ $90 million Keauhou Lane mixed-use project is scheduled to break ground next month in the Honolulu neighborhood of Kakaako, the developer said Monday.Pacific Business News.

The Honolulu fire station in Makiki is off limits indefinitely because of what may have been lurking underneath the floor. Officials say they’re testing the building for asbestos. KHON2.

Hawaii

The Thirty Meter Telescope’s leaders don’t appear to be wasting much time finding an alternative site for the next-generation observatory, if a recent post on social media is any indication. On Monday, photos showing TMT’s board members and project leader visiting observatories on the Canary Islands were posted on the telescope’s Facebook page, helping stir speculation about where they might look to if they give up on building on Mauna Kea. Tribune-Herald.

Hawaii County mayor is proving a popular job description, with a baker’s dozen would-be candidates pulling nomination papers for the office more than two months before the filing deadline. West Hawaii Today.

Maui

Opponents turned out in force Monday to testify against a bill that would allow Alexander & Baldwin to temporarily hold on to the rights to millions of gallons of water it diverts each day from East Maui streams. Star-Advertiser.

In a move toward using less paper, the Maui County Council will be streaming video and legislative files of Maui County Council meetings conducted in the Council Chamber. Maui Now.

Maui County Council members have authorized the acquisition of the Waiakoa Gym, better known as Kula Gym, for $1.2 million from the Maui Federal Credit Union. Maui News.

Kauai

A Kauai resident who recently returned from Latin America has been infected with the Zika virus. Garden Island.

Zika Case Reported On Kauai May Still Be Infectious. Big Island Video News.

As transportation frustrations across Kauai continue to rise regarding traffic congestion and deteriorating road conditions, a growing number of state and local officials are addressing the local concerns. Garden Island.

Bernie Sander's wife visits Aloha State as Hawaii Democrats prepare for caucus, public records dispute slows response, Kauai streams contaminated, marijuana patients increase, success of PISCES rocket unclear, new electric substation for Maui, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

School of tropical fish © 2016 All Hawaii News

Sen. Mazie K. Hirono and Rep. Mark Takai have introduced the Coral Reef Sustainability Through Innovation Act, legislation that would jumpstart research related to coral reef conservation. Garden Island.

Hawaii Democrats will gather for their presidential preference poll this weekend in what is expected to be a large turnout driven in part by new party members who signed up in recent months to support U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders. Star-Advertiser.

Two enthusiastic Honolulu receptions on Sunday for the wife of Hillary Clinton’s chief opponent, Bernie Sanders, suggests that supporters of the Vermont senator believe the Democratic primary process is far from over, despite the substantial delegate lead for the former secretary of state. Civil Beat.

Battling both a cold and the constrictions of a one-day barnstorm itinerary, Jane Sanders, wife of Democratic presidential hopeful U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders, proved herself a good listener, a well-versed explainer of all things Bernie and, when she could get away with it, an efficient speaker. Star-Advertiser.

A top Hawaii lawmaker is delaying a public records request because of a dispute that could hold up similar requests for years. The outcome will likely determine whether legislators can withhold emails, calendars and other information from the public, which watchdog groups see as crucial to government accountability. Associated Press.

Lawmakers are pursuing a bill aimed at the state’s largest health insurer’s new imaging exam rule that is frustrating physicians. Associated Press.

Hawaii already prohibits employers from discriminating against workers based on their gender, but some legislators think more needs to be done to promote equal pay between men and women. Civil Beat.

What really happened at the ʻAha, part III. Impediments to carrying out the people’s business continue throughout the final days of the Native Hawaiian convention. Hawaii Independent.

At the end of February, there were more than 1,800 additional people registered as medical cannabis patients than in January 2015, the first month the DOH began overseeing the program. Broken down, that’s about a 16 percent increase between last month, when 13,244 unduplicated patients were registered, and 14 months ago, when the registry was about 11,402 people. Tribune-Herald.

Oahu

With the primary election now a scant five months away, acrimony between Mayor Kirk Caldwell and City Council Chairman Ernie Martin’s leadership team amped up last week, with accusations flying both ways. Star-Advertiser.

Wahiawa General Hospital is in danger of closing if it doesn’t find the funds to keep its doors open. KHON2.

The UH Cancer Center has made significant strides in its fight against one of the world’s most deadly diseases, targeting research and clinical trials specifically to Hawaii’s diverse population. But the center is struggling to secure long-term funding from the state Legislature to help offset this year’s $7 million operating deficit and future shortfalls. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii Kai housing plan is criticized as ‘incursion’ Star-Advertiser.

As Stephan Jost departs the Honolulu Museum of Art for a new job in Canada, he’s leaving behind a number of achievements. Hawaii Public Radio.


Hawaii
Researchers at the Pacific International Space Center for Exploration Systems say it’s back to the drawing board after a test Sunday showed its lunar landing pad’s interlocking mechanism wasn’t quite up to par. Tribune-Herald.

The Pacific International Space Center for Exploration Systems, or PISCES, conducted a successful rocket engine firing test at its Lunar Landing Pad Site today. Big Island Video News.

The state House was kind to Hawaii Island this year, almost doubling its proposed spending for capital improvement projects compared to last year. West Hawaii Today.

Who will it be? Hillary, Bernie or Rocky? That’s what Hawaii Democrats will decide when they cast their ballots Saturday in the Hawaii Democratic Party Presidential Preference Poll, or caucus, at an array of locations around Hawaii Island.  West Hawaii Today.

A Hawaii Island doctor specializing in anti-aging medicine was arrested Thursday on allegations he violated the state Uniform Controlled Substances Act. West Hawaii Today.

Maui

A citizens group much like the one that led Maui County's first successful ballot initiative for a moratorium on genetically engineered crops has new goals - an initiative for the county to take over sugar cane lands and convert them into the world's "largest diversified organic farms" and a voter-led charter amendment to make way for district voting for Maui County Council members. Maui News.

The Hawaii Public Utilities Commission has approved Maui Electric Co.'s request to build a new substation to meet a growing demand for electricity in Central Maui, according to a commission decision and order filed last week. Maui News.

Plans for a new power substation near the intersection of Kuihelani Highway and Maui Lani Parkway include overhead power lines to connect it with Maui Electric Co.'s Maalaea-to-Puunene 69,000-volt line in a sugar cane field. Maui News.

Kauai

Some waterways on Kauai are chronically contaminated with the bacteria Enterococcus, according to findings released recently by Surfrider Kauai Chapter’s Blue Water Task Force. Garden Island.

Group shares pesticide fears with Ige. Kauai residents call on governor to implement study suggestions. Garden Island.

Kauai could see a little more than $141 million in Capitol Improvement Project money if the Hawaii House of Representatives’ proposed state budget cruises through the Senate and the rest of the legislative process. Garden Island.

Lanai

Lanai plane crash survivor Doug Miller told a Maui County Council committee Friday to "do the right thing" and allow the survivors and families of the deceased to keep their settlement money from a lawsuit with the airline, Maui Air. Maui News.

Popular tourist attraction to reopen following dengue scare, inter-island ferry bill advances, police power at issue in Honolulu, $37.5M for Maui high school, researcher loses arm in UH lab explosion, lifeguards to get watercraft on Kauai, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Waipio Valley lookout © 2016 All Hawaii News

Hawaii County officials are considering reopening Waipio Valley to the public as the Big Island’s dengue fever outbreak continues to subside. Civil Defense Administrator Darryl Oliveira said he might know today whether the valley is safe to reopen after two months of limited access. Tribune-Herald.

The Hawai’i Democratic Presidential Preference Poll is less than 10 days away.   Mainland campaign organizers are now in town to help with the last minute push to get more votes. Hawaii Public Radio.

Hawaii’s hotel industry ushered in the new year by setting a trifecta of monthly records for revenue, average daily rate and revenue per available room. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii is one step closer to getting serious about an interisland ferry system again. Senate Bill 2618, which would require the Department of Transportation to look into the feasibility of bringing back a ferry, cleared the House Transportation Committee on Wednesday. Civil Beat.

It appears that Hawaii will continue to lag behind the rest of the country when it comes to setting minimum training requirements for state and county law enforcement officers. Civil Beat.

The Office of Hawaiian Affairs employs 164 people to help it achieve its mission of improving the conditions of Native Hawaiians. Ten of those employees earn salaries in the six-figure range. Another four earn from $91,000 to $99,000. Civil Beat.

Dozens of public school employees remain under investigation by the Hawaii Department of Education over allegations of misconduct, with some cases having been open for longer than a year. Associated Press.

The Big Island Press Club‘s Lava Tube dishonor this year goes to DLNR Chair Suzanne Case for “setting up roadblocks to the media who have tried to gather information and gain access on matters large and small.” Civil Beat.

Civil Beat was at the Capitol on Thursday for Apathy and Influence, a panel discussion on how good government bills are faring in the legislative session.

Whether it’s utility executives or state regulators who are to blame, renewable energy projects often take years to come to fruition in Hawaii, something that’s deterring investors and hampering efforts to stop producing electricity from oil and coal. Civil Beat.

Oahu

A Honolulu Charter Commission subcommittee wants Oahu voters to decide whether the Police Commission should be given more authority over the Honolulu Police Department and its chief. Star-Advertiser.

The agency overseeing Honolulu’s rail project has agreed to help out the state by replacing outdated traffic signals along the future transit system’s western half, as construction proceeds there. Star-Advertiser.

The Air Force unit that defends Hawaii skies will get experimental energy technology that uses trash to generate power and relies on its own small electrical grid — a system intended to keep the unit operating if a bomb, cyberattack or natural disaster knocks out the local utility. Associated Press.

A longtime, local musician says he felt surprised and embarrassed after he was told to stop playing his guitar at Honolulu International Airport. KHON2.

Residents in a densely packed Ewa Villages neighborhood would be able to park less than 4 feet from their driveways under a pilot project approved by the Honolulu City Council on Wednesday. Star-Advertiser.

A structural engineer deemed the 20-year-old ocean sciences building at the University of Hawaii at Manoa safe Thursday, a day after an explosion rocked the basement laboratory, badly injuring a researcher, according to a UH official. Star-Advertiser.

Post-doctoral fellow Thea Ekins-Coward lost an arm and suffered other injuries in the explosion, which happened about 6 p.m. Wednesday in a basement lab at the Pacific Ocean Sciences and Technology Building. Hawaii News Now.

The state has agreed to pay $1.25 million to settle a lawsuit involving an eighth-grade science teacher at Kailua Intermediate School who accidentally drove his truck over a student on campus in 2012. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii

Two West Hawaii battalion chiefs who said they were stripped of their badges after they publicly criticized their boss failed in their appeal for lost overtime pay and benefits. West Hawaii Today.

A permit issued a quarter century ago to construct six 18-hole Championship golf courses, a golf teaching academy and five clubhouses at Aina Lea on 3,000 acres in South Kohala is no more after Hawaii County Leeward Planning Commissioners voted unanimously Thursday to revoke the document. West Hawaii Today.

Maui
Proposed hikes in water rates and fees are coming, and a shortage of five engineers in the Department of Water Supply will probably mean there won't be faster movement of applicants off the Upcountry water meter list, Water Director Dave Taylor told Maui County Council members Wednesday. Maui News.

The House Finance Committee voted to appropriate $37.5 million for the second phase of construction on the upcoming Kīhei High School, marking the single largest Department of Education appropriation in the House Budget. Maui Now.

The state House of Representatives approved a $13.5 billion supplemental budget Wednesday that included $37.5 million for construction of the Kihei high school and $200.7 million for a new Maui jail. Maui News.

Maui County was dethroned as the healthiest county in Hawaii, but retained its five-year run of providing the best quality of life, according to an annual study released Wednesday by a national health foundation and the University of Wisconsin Population Health Institute. Maui News.

Maui and Hawaii are at the forefront of a nationwide "energy revolution," but everyone will have to evolve - consumers in their behavior, businesses in their practices and governments in their policy to continue to be leaders in the energy field, said experts on the opening day of the Maui Energy Conference on Wednesday. Maui News.

Kauai

In a speech marked by energy and optimism, Kauai Mayor Bernard Carvalho, Jr. delivered his eighth State of the County address Thursday, acknowledging strides made in the past year and looking ahead to a vibrant future. Garden Island.

Three roving Jet Skis designated to preventing drownings could be on waters around Kauai next year. In his State of the County speech on Thursday, Mayor Bernard Carvalho, Jr. said the Jet Ski patrols would perform daily periodic checks on unguarded beaches with relatively high rates of incidents. Those beaches include Lumahai, Anini, Larsen’s, Wailua, Kalapaki, Shipwreck’s, Mahaulepu, and Kekaha. Garden Island.

Lawful Hawaiian Government fights for signs. After losing court battles, DLNR has not released evidence. Garden Island.

Native Hawaiian group bows out of ratification vote, House passes $30.7B budget, Honolulu pays $4.7M to settle police cases, $200M for Maui jail, hearing officer to be picked for Thirty Meter Telescope, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Former Rep. Faye Hanohano at 2014 Hawaiian recognition hearing © 2016 All Hawaii News

The Na‘i Aupuni board announced Wednesday that it will forgo bankrolling the ratification vote for the newly adopted Native Hawaiian constitution and instead let the convention participants take on that responsibility. Star-Advertiser.

Nai Aupuni said Wednesday it will not be conducting a ratification vote on the proposed Native Hawaiian constitution produced by a convention process, or aha, last month. Instead, Nai Aupuni — a private nonprofit organization supported through funds from the state Office of Hawaiian Affairs — said it believes that it is the aha participants that can “best advance the ratification vote and conduct the important process of educating our communities about the constitution.” Civil Beat.

The group that organized a gathering of Native Hawaiians to draft a constitution for self-governance said Wednesday it won't hold a vote to ratify the document, in an apparent move to avoid further legal rulings against its efforts. Associated Press.

The organization that convened a gathering of Native Hawaiians last month to draft a constitution document announced Wednesday that the delegates themselves will be responsible for finding a way to arrange a ratification vote. Tribune-Herald.

The Hawaii House of Representatives passed the state’s $30.7 billion two-year spending plan, after a heated debate about which schools should get construction funding and how much money should go to Hawaiian Home Lands. Associated Press.

The Hawaii House of Representatives passed a $13.5 billion budget bill  Wednesday for the operating expenses of the executive branch for the supplemental fiscal year that begins July 1. Civil Beat.

The state House Transportation Committee on Wednesday unanimously approved a bill that would prohibit smoking in a motor vehicle when a minor is present. Star-Advertiser.

Oahu

The Honolulu City Council has approved a subsidy for recycling firms that’s estimated to cost taxpayers $600,000, overriding a veto by Mayor Kirk Caldwell. Civil Beat.

More than 300 uniformed Hawaiian Airlines pilots, carrying signs that read “Fully Qualified, Partially Paid!” and “Mr. Dunkerley, What does Ohana mean to you?” picketed at Honolulu Airport’s interisland terminal Wednesday to bring public awareness to the slow pace of labor negotiations with the company. Star-Advertiser.

The University of Hawaii John A. Burns School of Medicine dropped off U.S. News & World Report’s 2017 list of the top medical schools in the nation after moving up last year, while the William S. Richardson School of Law dropped 10 places from last year’s list. Pacific Business News.

Lloyd Pendleton, known for his no-nonsense efficiency in addressing homelessness in Utah, is in talks with Mayor Kirk Caldwell about a move to Oahu to help reduce the highest per capita homeless rate in the country. Star-Advertiser.

A dispute over the overcrowded Campbell High School flared up again during debate on the floor of the state House of Representatives on Wednesday, with Rep. Bob McDermott saying House Democrats were guilty of a “grotesque misfire” for funding a new high school on Maui instead of a new Kapolei high school. Star-Advertiser.

The Honolulu City Council has approved spending $4.7 million to settle two lawsuits brought by three city police officers who alleged they were victims of racial and sexual discrimination, retaliation and a subsequent cover-up by top police brass. Civil Beat.

Former Honolulu police officer Roddy Tsunezumi testified in U.S. District Court on Wednesday that he and officer Landon K. Rudolfo negotiated the sale of a stolen SUV while they were on the job at the Honolulu Police Department’s main headquarters. Star-Advertiser.

A female graduate student was in serious condition tonight after a blast in a basement laboratory at the University of Hawaii at Manoa. Star-Advertiser.

With several high-rise condominiums on the way, Kaka‘ako is a place in transition. As many as 30,000 new residents are expected to move in to the developing area over the next 15 years, with Honolulu’s rail project running right through the neighborhood. But there’s a problem with one basic piece of infrastructure: its roads. Hawaii Public Radio.

Saks Fifth Avenue is planning to open a second department store in Hawaii in a building originally built for Nordstrom at Ala Moana Center in Honolulu. Pacific Business News.

Hawaii
Selection of a hearings officer to oversee the next contested case for the Thirty Meter Telescope’s land use permit will not be brought before the state’s Land Board. Instead, Suzanne Case, who leads the state Department of Land and Natural Resources, will make the decision based on the recommendations of a screening committee, according to Dan Dennison, DLNR spokesman. Tribune-Herald.

Crops and livestock are so plentiful on the Big Island, one councilor thinks it should have its own Department of Agriculture. West Hawaii Today.

A proposal to create a department of agriculture under the County of Hawaii was postponed after getting a lukewarm reception from the Hawaii County Council. Big Island Video News.

The Panaewa play court is not even 4 years old, but it’s already having its floor replaced after some users complained of cuts and scrapes from a surface described as a “cheese grater.” Tribune-Herald.


Maui

The state House of Representatives has inserted $200 million in capital improvement funds into the 2017 fiscal year budget for a new Maui jail — a project that dates back to 2004. Star-Advertiser.

The state house today approved more than $200 million in funds for renovations at the Maui Community Correctional Center in Wailuku, according to an announcement from the Hawaiʻi House of Representatives. Maui Now.

Officials with the company that conducted the audit on the county's Solid Waste Division said Tuesday that they would be "hard pressed" to find the $1 million a year in cost savings the county says exists in a proposed waste-to-energy project. Maui News.

Maui farmers are ramping up opposition to a bill in the state Legislature that they maintain would allow Alexander & Baldwin to continue accessing millions of gallons of stream water from East Maui watersheds, despite its recently invalidated permits. Maui News.

Vision met reality on the first day of the Maui Energy Conference, which featured a series of panel discussions on how Hawaii can — or can’t — reach its goal of getting 100 percent of its electricity from renewable sources by 2045. Civil Beat

Kauai

University of Hawaii officials are considering a tuition hike of up to 2 percent that would affect Kauai Community College. Garden Island.

Anybody who has attended Kauai County municipal meetings or watched them on television recently is most likely familiar with Matt Bernabe. Garden Island.

The Kauai Humane Society is now offering feral cat surgeries six days a week, and the extra day is appreciated by the trap, neuter, release operations on the island. Garden Island.

Ige pushes early inmate release, 16% pay raise for lifeguards, Honolulu mayor, council battle over recycling fees, Big Island lead cleanup to cost $6M, Kauai mayor seeks 3.4% budget bump, federal money for displaced Maui sugar workers, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

ohia flower © 2016 All Hawaii News

In years past, hula students would make pilgrimages into ohia forests on Hawaii’s Big Island to gather blossoms and leaves from the trees to adorn dancers’ lei, hair, hands and feet for the world’s most prestigious hula competition. But at this year’s upcoming Merrie Monarch Festival, the red and yellow blossoms that normally adorn dancers will be missing. Associated Press.

Gov. David Ige is asking legislators to allow the state correctional system to grant “early release” to misdemeanor criminal offenders as a way to ease overcrowding in Hawaii jails. Star-Advertiser.

Hundreds of Hawaii inmates could be released from jail to help ease overcrowding issues. That’s if a bill making its way through the State Legislature becomes law. KHON2.

Hawaii lifeguards are set to receive a 16 percent pay raise starting July 1 under a new two-year union contract. Negotiations between the Hawaii Government Employees Association and state and county officials reached an impasse, but a neutral arbitrator took up the matter and issued an award in February. Civil Beat.

Industry experts say there are a lot of chemicals that could contaminate Hawaii's medical marijuana. Dispensaries are set to open in Hawaii in July, and state lawmakers are pushing a broad bill to address many of the obstacles the industry is facing. One is how to regulate marijuana testing. Associated Press.

A statewide series of public hearings will be held from March 28 to May 5 on proposed University of Hawaii tuition increases of up to 6 percent over three years. Star-Advertiser.

The number of public school employees on leave after being accused of misconduct has dropped substantially after a push to ensure cases are resolved faster and discipline is appropriate. Star-Advertiser.

Three major problems with the ʻAha Native Hawaiian constitution. Hawaii Independent.

Oahu

Honolulu Mayor Kirk Caldwell on Tuesday again urged the City Council to stop a bill that he describes as a form of “corporate welfare” because it would largely help one recycling company: Schnitzer Steel Hawaii Co. The Council is scheduled to hold an override vote today on Bill 50, which would give metal recyclers a 25 percent discount on refuse disposal fees at the landfill or the city’s HPOWER waste-to-energy incinerator plant. Star-Advertiser.

Honolulu Mayor Kirk Caldwell wants the City Council to consider a proposal aimed at helping locally owned recycling companies instead of overriding his veto of another measure that would subsidize all recycling businesses that bring large amounts of solid waste to the landfill. Civil Beat.

Honolulu rail project's chief architect departs, warns of project's future. Pacific Business News.

Across the board, Oahu residents have fewer preventable deaths than the rest of the state — especially compared to Hawaii County. Civil Beat.

Rising Seas Could Displace Thousands Of Ewa Beach Residents. A new report demonstrates the vulnerability of the Oahu coastline from climate change and beach erosion. Civil Beat.

The State is relocating its Data Center from the flood-zoned Kalanimoku Building in Downtown Honolulu to one on higher ground. Hawaii Public Radio.

More than 200 emergency planners and government officials from across the Pacific are attending a conference on natural disaster planning this week at the Hawai‘i Convention Center. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii’s Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism has announced the 2016 season of its Creative Lab Hawaii Accelerator Program after receiving $550,000 in funding. Pacific Business News

Hawaii

According to the monitor of a bid process for a Big Island geothermal facility, poor planning by Hawaiian Electric may have undermined the idea from the start. Pacific Business News.

The bad news is, it’s going to cost at least $6 million to clean lead from the Kealakehe scrap yard. The good news, Hawaii County can borrow the money at a 1 percent interest rate. West Hawaii Today.

A former county employee who embezzled more than $30,000 from the Department of Finance Vehicle Registration and Licensing Division will serve a short jail sentence and her conviction will be wiped clean if she stays out of trouble for five years. Tribune-Herald.

State and federal wildlife agencies are creating an “encyclopedia” of sorts they hope will guide future efforts to control invasive mongooses and rodents in Hawaii and better protect native species. But first, they want input from the public. Tribune-Herald.

The man involved with the “Freedom Ride” movement, which holds that licenses and registration are not needed for private vehicles, did not show up to court regarding his traffic ticket on Tuesday. West Hawaii Today.

Maui

Maui County Mayor Alan Arakawa called the state of Maui County "one of perpetual change" Monday night, as he lauded recent developments in parks and transportation and laid out plans for dealing with new issues, such as the end of the sugar industry, as well as recurring issues such as affordable housing. Maui News.

Maui Mayor Alan Arakawa delivers his 2016 State of the County Address tonight before a full house at the McCoy Studio Theater at the Maui Arts and Cultural Center saying the state of Maui County “is one of perpetual change.”  The address highlights the County’s achievements in 2015, as well as plans for the coming year. Maui Now.

In Monday night's State of the County address, Maui Mayor Alan Arakawa highlighted the Valley Isle's growing homeless problem. Help for some could be on the way---a proposal to purchase housing units is awaiting council approval. KITV4.

Millions in federal dollars are expected to be available soon to displaced Hawaiian Commercial & Sugar Co. workers to help them support their families while they train and educate themselves for new jobs, U.S. Sen. Brian Schatz and Gov. David Ige announced Monday. Maui News.

Maui Electric Co.'s fossil-fuel generation costs, lowered by declining oil prices worldwide that have benefited customers, have dipped below the fixed price the utility pays for wind power. Maui News.

Kauai

A preliminary 2016-17 county budget released this week by Kauai Mayor Bernard Carvalho, Jr. proposes a $188.8 million spending plan — an increase of about 3.4 percent from the current $182 million budget. Garden Island.

Island Air bid farewell to Kauai nine months ago amid a companywide restructuring. On Tuesday the state’s second-largest carrier returned with a new ownership group to a festive welcome. Star-Advertiser.

Welcome Flight 109. Cheers, praise greet Island Air’s return to Kauai. Garden Island.

Hawaii legislators may loosen campaign spending law, grand jury to mull Hawaii mayor's pCard use, Honolulu Ethics Commission director put on leave in investigation, secret Kauai committee meeting focuses on feral cats, Maui water rights spurs Capitol rally, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Money in politics

Hawaii law prohibits political candidates from using their own campaign funds to support the campaigns of other candidates. But some state legislators and other officeholders have long gotten around the ban through a loophole that lets them buy up to two tickets to another politician’s fundraiser for an amount often equal to the maximum allowable individual campaign contribution. Now the Legislature is considering a bill that would remove the need to hold a fundraiser and simply allow direct campaign donations between candidates — something critics contend amounts to buying influence. Civil Beat.

Gov. David Ige promised in January his administration would install air conditioning and other equipment to cool 1,000 classrooms before the end of 2016, but state lawmakers apparently aren’t moving quickly enough on that initiative to suit the governor. Star-Advertiser.

The Hawaii Tourism Authority repeated Monday its stance against legislative measures that could reduce its $82 million annual budget. Star-Advertiser.

Recycling snafu: 1.2 million Kirkland water bottles mislabeled. Hawaii News Now.

Oahu

Honolulu Ethics Commission executive director Chuck Totto is on leave following an internal personnel investigation and won’t be back until April 4. Chairwoman Victoria Marks said the commission received an internal complaint regarding Totto’s management of staff and hired an outside investigator to evaluate the situation. Civil Beat.

The latest report from traffic-data firm INRIX will likely leave many Oahu drivers scratching their heads: In the past couple of years, the company found, Honolulu has gone from having the second-worst traffic in the United States to having the 10th worst, just behind Atlanta. Star-Advertiser.

The application from a company seeking to bring a 400-megawatt floating wind farm with up to 50 turbines to a site 15 miles off Oahu’s South Shore is available for public review. Star-Advertiser.

Political analysts say the mayor should ask the police chief to put himself on administrative leave during an ongoing FBI probe, or risk appearing weak during an election year. Hawaii News Now.

Nestor Garcia Returns To KHON2. The former Honolulu City Council member who was fined thousands of dollars for ethical violations will be the TV news station’s assignment editor. Civil Beat.

Residents of the Waikiki condominium Canterbury Place have been declared the winner in a fight against the tower’s developer over disputed utility and maintenance fees. Star-Advertiser.

Pete Cooper, the former top executive for SolarCity in Hawaii, plans to develop a six-home project that will be located in a private gated community in Windward Oahu, he confirmed to Pacific Business News.

The last piece of a more than 30-year-old vision to build affordable housing on state land in Pearl City has been completed in tribute to Hansen’s disease patients forcibly removed from their state-run care home on the same site in 1983. Star-Advertiser.

The owner of a Hawaii jewelry and gift retail business pleaded guilty Thursday to a federal conspiracy charge, admitting he smuggled Alaska ivory to the Philippines, where they were carved into fish hooks then shipped back and passed off as made in Hawaii by local artisans. Associated Press.

Hawaii

A Hilo grand jury will meet March 23 to investigate potential theft charges against Big Island Mayor Billy Kenoi. Hawaii News Now.

A statewide ban on new cesspool construction approved Friday by Gov. David Ige came despite protests from seven Hawaii Island legislators, who claimed the ban would place undue financial burdens on local homeowners who might not be able to afford more expensive sewage systems. Tribune-Herald.

The University of Hawaii sublease to the Thirty Meter Telescope on Mauna Kea is being sent back to the state for reconsideration. Judge Greg Nakamura of the Environmental Court of the Third Circuit Court remanded the sublease back to the Board of Land and Natural Resources on Friday. Big Island Video News.

A modified version of a massive condominium plan has resurfaced for 43 acres of culturally significant land above Kahaluu Beach Park. Should it come to fruition, the timeshares project by Ocean Villas at Kahaluu Bay, LLC would have 306 units in multiple three-story buildings mauka of Alii Drive and Kahaluu Beach Lots. West Hawaii Today.

It’s been two dozen years of false starts and lawsuits for Aina Lea, where a series of massive development plans have come and gone for 3,000 acres in South Kohala. Now, the latest rendition of the struggling project is set to lose the permits that would have theoretically allowed the development of six 18-hole championship golf courses on the land. West Hawaii Today.

Police are asking that residents tell them how well the department is doing. There is an anonymous Community Satisfaction Survey for the department running through the end of this month. West Hawaii Today.

Maui
More than 50 farmers, lawyers, Native Hawaiians and conservationists rallied Monday morning to call on state lawmakers to reject a bill related to water rights. Civil Beat.

About 60 people, including farmers, Native Hawaiian advocates, attorneys and environmentalists, gathered at the state Capitol on Monday to voice their opposition to a bill advancing at the Legislature that would allow Alexander &Baldwin to hold on to the rights to millions of gallons of water that it diverts daily from East Maui streams even as it plans to shut down its water-intensive sugar cane plantation and lay off more than 600 workers. Star-Advertiser.

A statewide coalition came to the State Capitol today to demand lawmakers restore East Maui streams. Hawaii Public Radio.

The Hawai‘i House of Representatives voted Tuesday to pass a highly contested measure that would allow former sugar giant Alexander and Baldwin to continue diverting up to 400 million gallons of water per day from East Maui streams, notwithstanding a court order that found it in violation of state laws relating to revocable permits and water licenses. Hawaii Independent.

Hawaiian Commercial and Sugar Co. employees who lose their jobs will be able to get money through a federal program to help replace lost wages, U.S. Sen. Brian Schatz announced today. Associated Press.

Mayor Alan Arakawa laid out his vision for Maui County in his State of the County address Monday night. KHON2.

Mayor Arakawa: State of the County is “One of Perpetual Change” Maui Now.

Increasing environmental management efforts and a growing staff have prompted the Department of Land and Natural Resources to propose the development of a new baseyard for its Division of Forestry and Wildlife operations on Maui. Maui News.

The Maui County Council Budget and Finance Committee voted Thursday, March 10 to defeat a controversial proposed measure that would have drastically restructured the way agricultural properties on Maui are assessed and raised taxes on agricultural home sites. The legislation also   added multiple layers of paperwork, dedication requirements and a substantial increase in government authority to regulate and control the business of farming here. Maui Watch.

At least two of Maui's Democratic state House members will face primary challenges Aug. 13, while potential challengers in a third House race pulled nomination papers but had not filed them officially as of Friday. Maui News.

Kauai
A Kauai committee tasked with coming up with solutions for the island's feral cat problem has been holding its meetings behind closed doors, which Councilwoman JoAnn Yukimura says allows members to express their ideas more freely. Hawaii News Now.

$700,000 repair work on the state Department of Health Kauai District Health Office involved reflooring the entire building, new disabilities development facilities, a secured entryway to the building as well as the DD area, new bicycle racks, handicapped parking and draining of the exterior landscaping. Garden Island.

Kauai County officials share residents' hopes about recycling and would like to hear from residents during a public meeting Wednesday on construction of an estimated $10.9 million Materials Recycling Facility near the county’s resource center by the Lihue Airport. Garden Island.

On the heels of winning a guilty verdict for a sexual assault case, Prosecuting Attorney Justin Kollar on Monday announced his plans to file for a second term in officer with more than a dozen suporters on hand. Garden Island.

Lanai

Maui County Council members failed to reach agreement Saturday on the final wording of the Lanai Community Plan update. Maui News.

We interrupt our daily aggregate news blog post to ....

Gone fishing

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