National Park fees increase, Hawaii GOP convention exposes schism over Trump, Honolulu charter amendment could erase neighborhood boards, state and federal lawmakers fight homelessness, Kauai's Rapozo seeks 7th term, unemployment rate drops, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Hawaii Volcanoes National Park lava glow © 2016 All Hawaii News

Beginning June 1, daily entrance fees at all national parks in Hawaii, including Haleakala National Park and Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park, will increase. Star-Advertiser.

Flush with an extra $3 million it never requested to address island homelessness, Gov. David Ige’s administration is being pressured to better coordinate the state’s homeless efforts as impatient legislators await progress. Star-Advertiser.

The U.S. Senate has approved an appropriations bill that includes “additional money for homelessness and affordable housing programs which will help Hawaii, Sen. Brian Schatz said in a statement Friday. Civil Beat.

Officials say a staff shortage in the state’s Child Welfare Services agency has resulted in social workers juggling twice as many as cases of child abuse and neglect as they should. Associated Press.

A large banner reading “Defeat Hillary, Vote Trump!” expressed the sentiments of many of the several hundred people who attended Hawaii’s Republican state convention Saturday at the Filipino Community Center’s Casamina Flores Ballroom in Waipahu. But not every local Republican backs the New York businessman-turned-politician, and that led to turmoil when state Rep. Beth Fukumoto Chang took the stage. Civil Beat.

Hawaii lawmakers were reluctant again this year to strengthen the state ethics code or to tighten the rules lobbyists must follow. The Hawaii State Ethics Commission tracked more than 16 bills related to ethics and lobbying this past legislative session, which ended May 5. Each and every one died, many without so much as a public hearing. Civil Beat.

Hawaii’s unemployment rate dropped to 3.2 percent, seasonally adjusted, in April, from 3.8 percent during the same month last year, as the state’s labor force grew to nearly 690,000, according to the state Department of Labor and Industrial Relations. Pacific Business News.

The most ethnically diverse state in the country, Hawaii also has the highest proportion of non-English speakers. Tribune-Herald.

President Barack Obama on Friday joined the chorus of public officials honoring Hawaii Congressman Mark Takai, who announced Thursday he will not seek re-election but instead focus on his battle with cancer. Civil Beat.

The national retail chain Sports Authority has thanked all its loyalty members and said that “it is with great sadness” that it’s closing the program on Wednesday, May 25. KHON2.

Oahu

The Honolulu Charter Commission might ask Oahu voters to consider eliminating neighborhood boards, using the money saved to fund other means of increasing civic participation. Star-Advertiser.

About a month after the Attorney General's office's charities division opened a civil investigation into questionable spending by the Bishop Museum's former CEO, Hawaii  News Now has learned that the AG's office has launched a separate criminal probe. Multiple sources tell us that the museum is cooperating with the criminal investigation and has handed over a number of documents relating to its former president Blair Collis' use of his museum credit card.

Even though the city and state have been teaming up to clear out the persistent Kakaako homeless encampment, one member of the board that oversees the waterfront parks says the population is growing to dangerous levels. Star-Advertiser.

Two lesbians who were arrested by a Honolulu police officer after he saw them hugging and kissing in a North Shore grocery store were recently awarded $80,000 to resolve a lawsuit they filed last October. Civil Beat.

Plans to redevelop a key section of Haleiwa town won approval from the City Council Zoning and Planning Committee on Thursday, despite opposition from the North Shore Outdoor Circle and others worried it might harm an adjacent Hawaiian fishpond. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii

The telescopes atop Mauna Kea help support a local science and technology industry. But could they also attract more manufacturing jobs? A feasibility study by Hawaii’s High Technology Development Corporation will try to find out. Tribune-Herald.

Not all Native Hawaiians oppose construction of the Thirty Meter Telescope atop Mauna Kea, a group of community leaders said Friday. The group has formed the nonprofit Perpetuating Unique Educational Opportunities Inc. — known by its acronym PUEO, for the endemic owl of Hawaiian myth and legend — and has filed a motion to intervene in the contested case currently underway. West Hawaii Today.

Kalani Flores, an appellant in the Thirty Meter Telescope court case, made his case in opposition to new rules that will regulate cultural practices on Mauna Kea. Big Island Video News.

For several years, a small office in the state’s Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism has been pursuing a spaceport certification for Kona International Airport, which would make it one of the few hubs for proposed commercial flights into suborbit. Tribune-Herald.

Two firefighters who claim they were stripped of their badges by Fire Chief Darren Rosario for publicly criticizing him are suing the chief and the county. Tribune-Herald.

Hawaii Island farmers in line for permits to begin experimental industrial hemp production say the crop could be a major boon for agriculture. West Hawaii Today.

Sayonara, Japanese? Despite dramatic decrease of speakers in Hawaii, some vow to keep it alive. Tribune-Herald.

Maui

Hawaii’s attorney general has asked a federal appeals court to lift or modify an injunction halting the transfer of three state-owned hospitals in Maui County to private control under Kaiser Permanente, saying the time frame does not allow the state to reverse course and run the facilities as public hospitals. Pacific Business News.

Hawaii's attorney general is asking the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals to lift or change an order issued Tuesday that suspended work to transfer Maui County's three public hospitals from the state to Maui Health Systems, a subsidiary of Kaiser Foundation Hospitals. Maui News.

The Maui County Council passed the fiscal year 2017 budget on first reading Friday, with changes that included eliminating biodiesel fuel taxes and reappropriating housing funds originally targeted for photovoltaic systems. Maui News.

Hawaiian Homes broke ground to celebrate the beginning of construction for the first phase of the Keokea-Waiohuli subdivision in Kula on Thursday. The subdivision will be the future home for 46 Hawaiian Home Lands beneficiaries and their families. Hawaii News Now.

"The Last Harvest" is a series chronicling the various aspects of Hawaiian Commercial & Sugar Co.'s final harvest as it shuts down at the end of the year after a 145-year run. The shutdown of HC&S represents the end of sugar in Hawaii. The installments will run periodically throughout the year. Maui News.

Kauai

Keeping the administration in check, maintaining the budget and fighting for the safety of hard-working families is what Mel Rapozo wants do to if elected to a new term on the Kauai County Council. Garden Island.

Over the decades, Mother Nature has been pretty tenacious about breaking down the three bridges that cross Wainiha Stream on Kuhio Highway. Once again, there’s talk about replacing them. Garden Island.

Construction of a beachfront timeshare slated to be built on the Eastside is expected to begin in the fall.Coconut Beach Resort, owned by Symmetry Property Development and SPD II Makaiwa Development Resort Development LLC, will begin construction of its 330-unit resort in the Coconut Plantation Resort Area in Kapaa in September. Garden Island.

Dozens of people waved signs along Kuhio Highway in Kapaa Saturday, supporting organic farming and condemning genetically engineered food. The rally was part of the global March Against Monsanto event. Garden Island.

Takai's decision not to run leaves rare vacancy in U.S. House, Maui study shows shallow ocean shelf attracts sharks, Pro Bowl likely moving to Orlando, medical marijuana scores released, Kauai bans smoking in cars with minors, National Park Service fights to limit Kona water use, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Gov. David Ige, left, with U.S. Rep. Mark Takai, courtesy governor's offie

Saying he needs to focus on recovery instead of re-election, U.S. Rep. Mark Takai announced Thursday he will not seek a second term in Congress. Takai was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer seven months ago, and his decision to step down touched off much speculation about who will run to succeed him. Star-Advertiser.

Citing health concerns, U.S. Rep. Mark Takai, the Democrat of Hawaii, announced Thursday that he will not seek re-election this year. Civil Beat.

Freshman U.S. Rep. Mark Takai said Thursday he will not seek re-election this fall and will step down when his term ends, because his cancer has spread. Pacific Business News.

U.S. Rep. Mark Takai has announced he will not seek a second term in Congress due to health problems. Associated Press.

US Congressman Mark Takai (HI-01) today announced his decision to step down after serving out the remainder of his term due to health concerns. Maui Now.

===============================

Consumers and businesses in Hawaii risk getting ripped off in routine business transactions because the state agency tasked with inspecting gas pumps, weight scales such as those at supermarkets, and taxi meters still isn’t inspecting those devices as often as it should, according to a new state report. Star-Advertiser.

The Hawaii State Ethics Commission has yet to receive a single application from anyone interested in replacing Les Kondo as executive director. The commission has been advertising for the position since May 3. Civil Beat.

The economy in Hawaii’s four counties has been strong in recent years and prospects remain good for the near future, although growth rates will start trending lower, according to the annual county-by-county forecast released Friday by the University of Hawaii Economic Research Organization. Pacific Business News.

The president of Hawaii’s Local 5 Unite Here, Hernando Ramos Tan, filed a lawsuit Thursday morning in U.S. District Court against the labor union’s secretary-treasurer, Eric Gill. Civil Beat.

The Hawaii Department of Health has released the application scores for the eight companies who were awarded licenses to grow and sell medical marijuana. Civil Beat.

Hawaiian Airlines unveiled its new seating that allows passengers to lie down completely flat and drift to sleep. Hawaii News Now.

Oahu

Once more Orlando, Fla., thinks it has won the tug-of-war with Hawaii for the Pro Bowl, only this time others are saying so as well. Star-Advertiser.

The City and County of Honolulu is moving one its busiest satellite city halls after more than a year delay. Hawaii Public Radio.

With the cost of Honolulu’s rail project doubling, transit officials are scrambling to figure out how much more of it they can afford to build, where it will have to stop short, and what to do from there. KHON2.

The head of the local electrical workers union is now the target of dueling investigations. Earlier this week, criminal investigators with the state Attorney General's office subpoenaed financial records from the IBEW Local 1260. That follows a separate federal investigation that was launched after the union was placed under trusteeship and its Business Manager Brian Ahakuelo was put on leave. Hawaii News Now.

Hawaii

The National Park Service didn’t provide a requested gallon figure for how much water it needs at Kaloko-Honokohau National Historical Park to sustain its ecosystems and the cultural practices that surround them. But the Park Service did bring the state Commission on Water Resource Management up to speed Thursday on the species that it feels would be threatened by any changes in water salinity due to future pumping of the Keauhou aquifer, which drains to the sea beneath it. West Hawaii Today.

Lawsuits against the county over a Kawa Bay police action and a zip line death are on their way to being settled, with votes earlier this week by the Hawaii County Council. West Hawaii Today.

Hu Honua Bioenergy LLC, the developer of a $225 million biomass plant on the Big Island of Hawaii that is about 50 percent complete, is asking state regulators to investigate a Hawaiian Electric Co. subsidiary’s attempts to cancel the power purchase agreement with the two companies. Pacific Business News.

Dust, noise, health problems, lower property values and lawyers. Mix prime real estate and subdivisions with a plan for a commercial gravel crushing operation, and that’s what you get, said 20 residents who testified against a Bolton Inc. plan for that activity off of Hualalai Road above Queen Kaahumanu Highway. West Hawaii Today.

Maui

There’s a reason Maui sees more shark attacks than any other Hawaiian island, according to the results of a new study: It’s the large and protected shallow ocean shelf that acts as a magnet for tiger sharks near and far. Star-Advertiser.

Tiger shark bites peaked in 2012 and 2013, including two fatal attacks that spurred the state Department of Land and Natural Resources — working with the Pacific Islands Ocean Observing System, a data collection project — to commission a nearly $200,000 two-year study of shark spatial behavior on Maui. The University of Hawaii’s Institute of Marine Biology conducted the research, which culminated this week in a report finding that the spike most likely isn’t due to changes in what humans are doing. Civil Beat.

New research released Thursday shows tiger sharks naturally favor waters near Maui that are close to some of Hawaii’s most popular beaches for humans. Associated Press.

A spike in shark bites off Maui in 2012 and 2013 prompted the Department of Land and Natural Resources, with additional support and funding from the Pacific Islands Ocean Observing System, to commission a two-year-long study of shark spatial behavior on Maui. Maui Now.

Scientists are getting a better idea of how sharks behave and why so many attacks have occurred off Maui. Hawaii Public Radio.

A rising tide of shark bites off the Maui coast over the previous two decades appeared to indicate that sharks in the area had acquired a disturbing affinity for the taste of human flesh. West Hawaii Today.

=============

Buildings are being eliminated and the color scheme and other aesthetics are being altered in development plans to address public opposition to the Makena Resort's proposed 47-acre, 158-home and commercial project. Maui News.

A day after a 9th Circuit Court of Appeals order temporarily halted work to transfer Maui public hospital operations from state to private control, administrators first had to stop the momentum of what's been a "massive" effort to make the transition as of July 1, said Wesley Lo, Hawaii Health Systems Corp. Maui Region chief executive officer. Maui News.

Days after the US 9th Circuit Court of Appeals granted a preliminary injunction to halt the transfer of Maui hospital operations from the state-operated hospital system to private contractor Kaiser Permanente, Maui Memorial Medical Center’s Chief of Staff, Dr. Ron Boyd, characterized the delay as an “unfortunate expectation.”  Maui Now.

Kauai

The Kauai Council unanimously voted Wednesday to approve a bill that prohibits smoking in cars with children under the age of 18. Garden Island.

A resolution that seeks to institute a county manager was postponed until June 15 during the Kauai County Council meeting Wednesday. Garden Island.

Genetically modified food has been cleared of connections to health problems in a 388-page report released Tuesday from the National Academies of Science. Garden Island.

The Board of Education’s vote to change a policy that required principals to consider test results in teacher evaluations is a win for educators, said several local teachers. Garden Island.

Hawaii economy pumping, Board of Education no longer links teacher pay to test scores, Honolulu ride-sharing rules advance, Hawaii Council approves mayor's $462.9M budget, Kauai kills general excise tax hike, Ala Moana hotel sold, new stamp for Maui, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Hilo zoo volunteer feeds bananas to rescued feral donkeys © 2016 All Hawaii News

The days of the Waikoloa nightingales are almost over, as the last 50 of the feral donkeys left in the area are prepared for adoption. West Hawaii Today.

Hawaii’s economy was pumping in the first quarter, according to the state Department of Business, Economic Development & Tourism. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii’s economy experienced an excellent first quarter, according to a new report by the state Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism. Pacific Business News.

The state Board of Education on Tuesday unanimously approved revising its teacher evaluation policy to remove student test scores as a required measure of student learning and growth. Star-Advertiser.

Student test scores may no longer be linked to a teacher’s job performance. The Hawaii State Board of Education unanimously approved recommendations that would get rid of standardized testing from the evaluation process. That’s a big deal for educators, who say the evaluations are unfairly tied to teacher pay and impact retention. Hawaii Public Radio.

The Hawaii State Board of Education unanimously approved recommendations Tuesday effectively removing standardized test scores as a requirement in the measurement of teacher performance, according to a press release from the Hawaii Department of Education. West Hawaii Today.

Did Hawaii Lawmakers Do Enough To Protect The Elderly? The state Health Department got only a fraction of what it sought, and now the online posting of care home inspection reports may stop. Civil Beat.

Hawaiian Electric officials announced Wednesday that they’ve negotiated a huge deal to import liquefied natural gas from Canada that could mean slightly lower utility bills for customers on Oahu, Maui and Big Island. Civil Beat.

The Hawaii Attorney General’s office has begun an inquiry into the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 1260 after the parent union started its own investigation into the local organization’s finances. Star-Advertiser.

Slom Sorry For Campaign Error. The Republican state senator said he did not intend to announce his re-election using state resources. Civil Beat.

University of Hawaii researchers say there's a 9 percent chance that an earthquake measuring magnitude 9 or greater will strike Alaska's Aleutian Islands within the next 50 years and send large tsunami waves to Hawaii. Associated Press.

Oahu
A City Council bill requiring drivers of both taxis and ride-hailing companies to obtain “private transportation services” certificates appears to be gathering support. Star-Advertiser.

Honolulu Mayor Kirk Caldwell still wants the rail project to go all the way to Ala Moana Center. KHON2.

Honolulu Police Commission Chairman Ron Taketa said Wednesday that the commission can suspend Honolulu Police Chief Louis Kealoha if he is indicted after a federal grand jury investigation into alleged corruption. Star-Advertiser.

Totto Tells Ethics Commission To Scrap ‘Silly’ Time Sheet Rules. The Honolulu Ethics Commission forced its executive director and staff to start filling out time sheets to show what they do every six minutes. Civil Beat.

A Hawaii beachfront estate that’s located near President Barack Obama’s winter vacation rental home has been sold for $17.4 million, one of the highest-priced sales of an Oahu home in recent years. Pacific Business News.

Mantra Group Ltd., the largest hotel and resort operator in Australia, is buying Outrigger Enterprises Group’s interest in the Ala Moana Hotel in Honolulu for $52.5 million. Pacific Business News.

An alleged Honolulu brothel owner tried to bribe federal agents in exchange for protection from raids, help with the U.S. citizenship test and recruitment of prostitutes, Homeland Security investigators said. Associated Press.

A woman awaiting trial in state court for allegedly operating a prostitution business is now also accused of bribing a federal agent. Star-Advertiser.

They’re a key component in saving lives, but we’ve learned the city’s ambulance fleet is now stretched thin. KHON2.

Hawaii

The topic of the day Wednesday was Hawaii County’s nearly half a billion dollar annual budget. But the issue most on the mind of testifiers was the removal of a dozen trees from Kamehameha Park in North Kohala. West Hawaii Today.

The Hawaii County Council got an earful from residents of North Kohala who are upset about the work done at Kamehameha Park in Kapa'au. Big Island Video News.

Regulars at the Hilo Municipal Golf Course once again can play a full 18-hole round. Play at the course, which has been undergoing renovations since last summer, was restricted to the front nine holes and a temporary green since February. Tribune-Herald.

Maui

Organizers of the Maui Community Organic Farmland Initiative are laying out their vision for Maui's post-sugarcane future, one in which a network of farmers turns Central Maui into a self-sustaining organic farming operation. Maui News.

The very first US Postal Service stamp to ever depict a Maui locale, will be unveiled at a special event on June 2, 2016. The Forever Stamp will depict Maui’s famed Haleakalā National Park, featuring an image of a rainbow within the crater. Maui Now.

The Stop Cane Burning group announced Tuesday that it has settled its lawsuit against the state Department of Health and Alexander & Baldwin. Maui News.

A 9th Circuit Court of Appeals order put the brakes Tuesday on the transition of three Maui County public hospitals to Maui Health System, a subsidiary of Kaiser Foundation Hospitals. Maui News.

Kauai

An increase of the General Excise Tax will not be imposed on Kauai residents. In a 4-3 vote Wednesday, the Kauai County Council voted against a bill that would have increased the 4 percent GET by a quarter of a percent. Garden Island.

The federal government is taking a look at how the island’s population of ‘a‘o (Newell’s shearwater), an endangered seabird found only in Hawaii, is being managed. Garden Island.

The U.S. Missile Defense Agency successfully tested the Aegis Ballistic Missile Defense System’s tracking capabilities Tuesday night on Kauai in an exercise that MDA representatives said went “very well.” Garden Island.

Federal court temporarily halts hospital privatization, Native Hawaiians want more cultural tourism, lone Republican Slom to seek another Senate term, Hawaiian Airlines pilots threaten strike, new civil defense chief for Hawaii County, missile test successful off Kauai, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Native Hawaiian tourism © 2016 All Hawaii News

Tourism is Hawaii’s largest industry, but Pohai Ryan, executive director of the Native Hawaiian Hospitality Association, fears only half of those employed in the industry are sufficiently versed in Hawaiian culture. Pacific Business News.

The 9th Circuit Court of Appeals on Tuesday temporarily blocked Gov. David Ige’s plans to turn over three state-run hospitals on Maui and Lanai to Kaiser Permanente, a decision that effectively stalls the largest privatization initiative in state history. Star-Advertiser.

The 9th Circuit Court of Appeals on Tuesday ordered the state to hold off on its plans to privatize three public hospitals on Maui until Sept. 30 unless a judge terminates the injunction sooner. Civil Beat.

The 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals issued an order Tuesday temporarily blocking the July 1 transition of three Hawaii state-owned hospitals on Maui and Lanai to Kaiser Permanente until the end of September. Pacific Business News.

The 9th Circuit Court of Appeals entered an order on Tuesday temporarily stopping activities related to the transition of Maui Memorial Medical Center, Kula Hospital & Clinic, and Lanai Community Hospital to a private operator. KITV4.

The 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals temporarily suspended the transfer of the state-run medical system to a private health provider, pending the submission of a status report. Star-Advertiser.

The 9th Circuit Court of Appeals entered an order temporarily stopping activities related to the transition of Maui Memorial Medical Center, Kula Hospital & Clinic, and Lānaʻi Community Hospital to a private operator. Maui Now.

=====================

Hawaii Keeps Secret What Happens In Its Private Prison. Even when prisoners are murdered, state officials and their private contractor shield themselves from the public eye. Civil Beat.

Sam Slom, the Hawaii Senate’s sole Republican, announced Tuesday that he is seeking another four-year term this fall. Civil Beat.

Hawaiian Airlines pilots have voted to allow their union representatives to call for a strike if contract talks don’t end in a new collective bargaining agreement. Associated Press.

Hawaiian Airlines pilots represented by the Air Line Pilots Association International voted today to authorize their elected union representatives to conduct a lawful withdrawal of service if contract talks do not result in a new collective bargaining agreement.  Maui Now.

The Pentagon agency that recovers missing American war dead said it is proceeding at a record pace with about 100 identifications made nearly eight months into the fiscal year. Star-Advertiser.

Commentary: Whether it involves advocating for repeal of the federal Jones Act on maritime law, opposing tax increases at the Hawaii Legislature or litigating against Native Hawaiian self governance, Kelii Akina, the president and CEO of the Grassroot Institute of Hawaii, is a familiar figure in print, online and on air. Civil Beat.

Oahu

Two sisters who are principal and vice principal of the Myron B. Thompson Academy state charter school and have been under investigation by the state attorney general for more than two years turned themselves in to state sheriff deputies today. Star-Advertiser.

Twelve Moanalua High School seniors will be banned from taking part in the school’s graduation ceremony on Friday after the campus was vandalized overnight Monday. Star-Advertiser.

As enrollment continues to climb at the two high schools serving Ewa Beach and Kapolei in West Oahu, the Department of Education says its immediate priority is to expand existing facilities over building a new campus to relieve crowding. Star-Advertiser.

While Waipahu has seen significant growth and change over the decades, one constant remains in the former plantation town: the sugar mill’s 175-foot smokestack, a symbol of the once-thriving sugar cane industry. Star-Advertiser.

Honolulu Civil Beat won two first-place awards in the 2016 Best of the West journalism contest for its special series, The Micronesians.

Hawaii

Ed Teixeira, former Hawaii State Civil Defense vice director, is now directing the emergency management operations of the Hawaii County Civil Defense Agency as interim administrator. West Hawaii Today.

Another two years for County Council members, a larger Board of Ethics and an expanded scope for the general plan are among changes to the county charter considered Tuesday by the County Council. West Hawaii Today.

The Banyan Drive Hawai‘i Redevelopment Agency now has a board of directors. The Hawaii County Council voted unanimously Tuesday to accept the five nominees. Tribune-Herald.

Hawaii County Council wants the governor to declare a state of emergency, as the tree-killing fungus rapid ohia death continues to spread across Big Island native forests. Big Island Video News.

Maui

The state’s lone sugar plantation — in the midst of its 144th and final harvesting season on Maui — will be subject to new restrictions on cane burning under a legal settlement announced Tuesday. Star-Advertiser.

The owners of Hawaii's last sugar plantation have agreed to cut back on burning cane, ending a lawsuit challenging the practice. Hawaii News Now.

Makila Land Co. has withdrawn its proposal for a rural community in Launiupoko that would have included up to 75 single-family affordable units in addition to 150 rural-residential lots. Maui News.

Though the filing deadline for the Maui County candidates in the 2016 election is still a couple weeks away (June 7), a few races already loom large on the political radar. There are a lot of candidates out there and a ton of issues. But the Kula Community Association wants to help you this Wednesday, May 18 with a candidate forum. MauiTime.

Kauai

The signs posted Tuesday by Friends of Mahaulepu warning the public of water contamination in the Waiopili Stream were yanked out of their cement before it could fully dry, but Bridgette Hammerquist, president of the organization, said that won’t slow their roll. Garden Island.

A missile launch test was successfully conducted on Kauai late Tuesday, the Missile Defense Agency said. Hawaii News Now.

Carol Bain, who was recently elected to her fourth three-year term on the Kauai Island Utility Cooperative’s board of directors, has died, the utility co-op said Tuesday. Pacific Business News.

Carol Bain: A woman of vision. KIUC board member, former KCC professor, community advocate, will be missed. Garden Island.

Hawaii drought expected to worsen, rail estimate spikes upward to $8.1B, massive wind turbines planned for Oahu coastline, judge gets first look at Thirty Meter Telescope controversy, polystyrene ban advances, bonds for University of Hawaii, Maui groups plan for sugarcane lands, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Kona drought © 2016 All Hawaii News

Little rainfall and an ongoing drought suggests that Hawai‘i is in for a hot, dry summer. It’s also stoking concerns that the islands will experience a busy fire season. Hawaii Public Radio.

It’s only May and wildfires have burned more than twice as much land in Hawaii as they did in all of 2015. More than 60 percent of the state is experiencing moderate drought conditions, and parts of the Big Island are facing extreme drought, according to the U.S. Drought Monitor. Civil Beat.

After several unsuccessful attempts, the University of Hawaii says it expects to finally begin whittling down its massive repair backlog now that lawmakers have agreed to let UH float revenue bonds that would be repaid in part with tuition. Star-Advertiser.

Oahu

Honolulu rail’s federal partners say they estimate the transit project won’t be completed until December 2024 — about five years behind the original schedule — while costing $900 million to $1.2 billion more than local rail officials’ latest price estimate. Star-Advertiser.

The city Department of Transportation Services would operate and maintain the Honolulu rail line, not the semi-autonomous Honolulu Authority for Rapid Transportation, under a plan that Oahu voters might be asked to approve this fall. Star-Advertiser.

City officials are considering their next move with Honolulu’s rail project after federal officials informed them Wednesday that the construction could ultimately cost taxpayers up to $8.1 billion. Civil Beat.

Local businessman Colbert Matsumoto, who was recently appointed to the Honolulu Authority for Rapid Transportation board by Mayor Kirk Caldwell, has significant financial interests in several properties along the future rail line. Civil Beat.

Republican Rep. Gene Ward announced Monday that he is seeking his 10th term, ending conjecture that he would leave his seat representing Hawaii Kai to run for the state Senate against incumbent Sam Slom in the Aug. 13 primary. Civil Beat.

Today, almost every school in the state has at least one homeless student, the state Department of Education reports. By far the hardest hit communities are on Oahu's Leeward coast, where 754 students don't have a permanent place to live. Hawaii News Now.

Hawaiian Electric Co. customers on Oahu saw an uptick of more than a dollar in their electrical bills in May, following a smaller increase in April. Star-Advertiser.

Massive wind turbines could end up floating in deep ocean waters off Oahu’s shores under proposals to bring more renewable energy to the island. Associated Press.

A federal agency is reviewing three proposals from two companies who want to build floating wind farms in waters off Oahu. Hawaii News Now.

As a federal grand jury considers corruption and abuse of power allegations involving the police chief and his county prosecutor wife, they spoke exclusively to Always Investigating about key episodes that started it all. KHON2.

Demanding more staffing and better working conditions. Local 5 union members of the Hale Nani Rehabilitation and Nursing Center began a 3-day strike Monday outside the facility in Mo'ili'ili. KITV4.

Hawaii chef Andrew Le is opening a second Honolulu location of his modern Vietnamese restaurant, The Pig & The Lady, at The Howard Hughes Corp.’s Ward Village in Kakaako. Pacific Business News.

Hawaii

The retired Big Island judge overseeing a contested case hearing for the Thirty Meter Telescope project said Monday she wants a fresh look at the issue. Associated Press.

The Thirty Meter Telescope contested case hearing started in Honolulu on Monday with a show of opposition from a standing-room-only group of Native Hawaiians who oppose the $1.4 billion project. Star-Advertiser.

Even as a judge called Monday for a fresh start in considering whether to let a huge telescope project on Mauna Kea proceed, protests and legal maneuvering pointed to a rocky road to a key hearing in June. Civil Beat.

A divided County Council on Monday advanced a bill banning polystyrene takeout containers starting in 2018, but only after a heated discussion about potential health hazards and environmental damage from the breakdown of the containers. West Hawaii Today.

A plan for a commercial gravel crushing operation off of Hualalai Road is drawing fire from neighbors. West Hawaii Today.

Residents participating in a public review of the draft Hamakua CDP bristled at a proposed land use map for Hakalau Point that appears to favor residential development over open space preservation. Big Island Video News.

A memorial dedicated to the four Hawaii Police Department officers who gave their lives in the line of duty was unveiled Monday during Police Week ceremonies at the Hilo police station. Tribune-Herald.

A case about some cabbage on the highway in Hamakua made it all the way to the Hawaii Supreme Court, which reversed a Waimea judge’s decision on May 9. West Hawaii Today.

Maui

A group spearheading a voter initiative for legislation to take over sugar cane lands and turn them into organic farms has gathered around 11,500 signatures and turned them into the Maui County Clerk's Office for verification, Community Farmland Council spokesman Bruce Douglas said Saturday. Maui News.

Findings of a nearly two-year long tagging and tracking study of tiger sharks off Maui and Oʻahu will be unveiled during a press conference later this week, with new information to be released on shark behavior around the Valley Isle. Maui Now.

Free informational sessions are being offered through June 19 for Maui residents interested in purchasing an affordable home at the new Kamalani residential community in north Kihei. Maui News.

Maui County, state and private groups have launched a campaign to raise awareness of the threats of wildfires and drought. Maui News.

Kauai

The Kauai County Council recently trimmed $350,000 from the proposed fiscal year 2017 budget. The proposed budget, which begins July 1, is about $190 million. After Thursday and Friday discussions, council members came up with $355,160 in cuts, said Yvette Sahut, legislative assistant. Garden Island.

Kauai Police Chief Darryl Perry cited national statistics during a short ceremony where Hawaii’s fallen law enforcement officers were honored before the ranks of Kauai Police Department officers and members of the 87th Recruit Class. Garden Island.

Malama Kauai is offering 25 paid agriculture internships for exploring careers in farming this summer through two organizations, AmeriCorps and Alu Like, and they’re only open to Kauai residents. Garden Island.

The risk of contracting rat lungworm disease on Kauai is small, according to the state Department of Health — there has only been one documented exposure to the parasite in the last few years, and it was a visitor to the island. Garden Island.

Capitol reflection pools still not fixed, condo protection bill dies in Legislature, hospital privatization taxes pension fund, HIV tenants face eviction from government housing, Maui property tax rate drops, Kauai downsizes GET increase, Thirty Meter Telescope case advances, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Hawaii Capitol reflecting pool, Wikipedia photo by Marshman

Dead fish are floating in two reflecting pools at the Hawaii State Capitol that are supposed to symbolize the ocean waters surrounding the islands. It’s the latest in a series of maintenance issues that have arisen since the Capitol was completed in 1969. Civil Beat.

The ‘Brutal Reality’ Of Owning A Condo In Hawaii. They’re often the only homes people can afford, but maintenance fees can suddenly explode. Should the state do more for owners? Civil Beat.

The state’s decision to privatize three neighbor island hospitals is having some unexpected fiscal fallout, with experts in the public-employee pension system estimating that privatizing Maui Memorial Medical Center and two other facilities will add $213 million to the unfunded liability of the public-employees pension fund. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii became the first state Friday to sue Takata, the Japanese auto parts maker ordered to recall millions of its airbags because of a deadly defect. Honda Motor, the automaker most affected by the recalls, is also named as a defendant. Pacific Business News.

When major earthquakes happen in the Pacific "Ring of Fire," Hawai'i is always on alert for potential tsunami threats, but researchers say we may have been underestimating the chance of a mega-tsunami affecting Hawai'i. KITV4.

Oahu

Honolulu rail’s federal partners believe it will cost $700 million to $1.2 billion more than local rail officials’ most recent estimates to complete Oahu’s elevated transit system — a revelation that throws the future scope and design of the largest public works project in state history into question. Star-Advertiser.

Honolulu’s rail project is now expected to cost taxpayers $6.9 billion, about $1.6 billion more than the original price tag for the 20-mile rail line. Civil Beat.

Peter Carlisle is running for mayor of Honolulu, seeking to take back the office he lost to Kirk Caldwell four years ago. At a press conference Friday morning held downtown at the law offices of O’Connor Playdon & Guben, where Carlisle is an attorney, the former mayor said rail is his top priority. Civil Beat.

A Hawaii Supreme Court decision is forcing the city to continue trash collection for scores of apartments, condominiums and nonprofit buildings, a service city officials have been trying to put the brakes on for more than a year. Star-Advertiser.

A U.S. district judge has dismissed a former Ansaldo safety manager’s whistleblower suit, ruling that he did not show sufficient evidence that the local rail operator forced him to leave his job. Star-Advertiser.

The City Council Budget Committee, making its last pass on 2017 budget bills, restored about $4 million aimed at programs to help the homeless but again refused funding for a new housing office requested by Mayor Kirk Caldwell. Star-Advertiser.

Shoulders slumped and faces fell as 10 formerly homeless people with HIV and AIDS were told that the federal government will no longer pay for their housing after Aug. 31. Star-Advertiser.

Just 100 feet from the ocean, a two-bedroom home in Kekaha is supposed to serve as the IBEW's Local 1260's Kauai office. But it also serves as a retreat for union members.  At a time when the local was raising dues for hundreds, it paid more than $680,000 for the beachfront home on the Garden Isle.  Critics say it's just another example of lavish spending by the IBEW's embattled business manager Brian Ahakuelo. Hawaii News Now.

Former leader of contractors association sentenced to 42 months in prison. Pacific Business News.

This corpse flower is no shrinking violet. And anyone who caught a whiff of it in bloom this week at Foster Botanical Garden certainly knows the pungent blossom lives up to its name. Hawaii Public Radio.

Hawaii

Five Native Hawaiians are asking to participate in a hearing for the construction permit of the Thirty Meter Telescope on Mauna Kea. Their requests, submitted this week to the state Land Board, say they have cultural and traditional rights to Mauna Kea and that their participation will help the board make a decision. Associated Press.

The Thirty Meter Telescope’s land use permit isn’t the only thing the state Land Board is being asked to reconsider for the $1.4 billion project. In April, 3rd Circuit Court Judge Greg Nakamura officially remanded the project’s Mauna Kea sublease to the panel for additional review.Tribune-Herald.

Gov. David Ige last week signed into law a measure that requires certain contested case hearings, including the one about to get underway for the TMT, to be appealed directly to the Hawaii Supreme Court. Star-Advertiser.

Coping with Cohabitation: Micro housing project pushes homeless, business to coexist. West Hawaii Today.

Homeless ranks swell, frustrate business sector in Kona Old Industrial Area. West Hawaii Today.

From the beginning of 2014 until mid-April this year, the Hawaii Police Department issued a total of 5,904 citations for the use of a mobile electronic device while driving. Tribune-Herald.

Na Wai Ola, a Puna-based public charter school, needs to make some big decisions — and soon — in order to keep its charter and ultimately stay open. Tribune-Herald.

A Kailua-Kona couple’s plans to replace a 50-year-old wall fronting their Alii Drive property has run afoul of county permitting laws. West Hawaii Today.

Maui

Most property tax rates will be dropping next fiscal year with others remaining flat after Maui County Council members passed a resolution Friday to set the tax rates that will take effect July 1. Maui News.

A group spearheading a voter initiative for legislation to take over sugar cane lands and turn them into organic farms has gathered around 11,500 signatures and turned them into the Maui County Clerk's Office for verification, Community Farmland Council spokesman Bruce Douglas said Saturday. Maui News.

With more than three weeks to go before a deadline for candidates to file their nomination papers, it's becoming increasing clear some incumbents will face tough challenges while others may win re-election simply because they're unopposed. Maui News.

Maui researchers at the Pacific Disaster Center have tracked many of the major disasters that have hit the world over the past decade from Hurricane Katrina to super typhoons in the Philippines. Maui News.

Maui County Corporation Counsel Patrick Wong has again reported gambling winnings in his required financial disclosure statement to the Maui County Board of Ethics. Maui News.

Kauai

Bills relating to the General Excise Tax and homestays are scheduled for a second reading during the Kauai County Council meeting Wednesday. Bill No. 261o proposes raising the GET a quarter of a percent, as a way to raise funds for tackling just over $100 million worth of backlogged road repairs. Garden Island.

Nawiliwili Harbor and the Port Allen Harbor are included in The Energy and Water Appropriations Act of more than $3 million which was supported by Sen. Mazie K. Hirono. Garden Island.

A $70,000 project aimed at improving pedestrian safety on Waikomo Road was deferred in committee by the Kauai Council Wednesday. Garden Island.

Hawaiian Airlines gets second Tokyo flight, rail costs increase again, IBEW head won't retire during investigation, more on Honolulu police chief probe, Kauai to regulate homestays, Maui struggles to name liquor chief, tourism president touts millennial market plan, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Visitor captures Akaka Falls © 2016 All Hawaii News

The University of Hawaii was awarded $20 million to combine Native Hawaiian knowledge with modern geological data to figure out exactly how fresh water flows in Hawaii. The grant from the National Science Foundation will give the university funding to study water sustainability throughout the state. Associated Press.

University of Hawaii Gets $20 Million To Study Fresh Water Aquifers. The award, from the National Science Foundation, will be used to better map the flow of water through Hawaii’s aquifers. Civil Beat.

Barack Obama’s decision to make a first-of-a-kind presidential visit to Hiroshima, Japan, later this month prompted U.S. Rep. Mark Takai to invite Japan’s prime minister, Shinzo Abe, to make a similar first-of-a-kind visit to Pearl Harbor for the 75th anniversary of the attack on Oahu. Star-Advertiser.

The U.S. Department of Transportation on Friday announced that Hawaiian Airlines has been awarded a second route from Haneda International Airport in Tokyo to Hawaii, potentially bringing more visitors to the state. Hawaii News Now.

Hawaiian Airlines has been awarded an additional route to Haneda International Airport in Tokyo. The U.S. Department of Transportation made the announcement Friday morning, according to a statement from Sen. Brian Schatz. KITV4.

A national report released Wednesday ranked Hawaii's state court system No. 1 in the country for providing support to those with limited English proficiency. Associated Press.

U.S. Rep. Mark Takai of Hawaii has introduced legislation that would provide money for families to increase accessibility in their homes for kupuna who may need wider hallways for wheelchairs, handlebars in showers or ground-floor bathrooms. Civil Beat.

Young Brothers Ltd.’s interisland cargo shipments keep showing incremental growth. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii’s blood supply is particularly vulnerable should there be a widespread outbreak of mosquito-borne illnesses such as Zika or dengue fever on the islands. Civil Beat.

Hawaii hotel occupancy fell statewide by 1.9 percentage points during the first week of May, taking Hawaii hotels to 73.2 percent occupied, according to Hospitality Advisors and STR’s weekly report. Pacific Business News.

Oahu

The official cost estimates for Honolulu’s rail transit system have grown by nearly $350 million in recent months, raising more concerns that the city’s new five-year rail tax extension won’t be enough to finish the project. Star-Advertiser.

Drivers should start mentally preparing for lane closures because rail construction crews are nearing their work to extend the concrete guideway over the H-1 Freeway in Aiea. Hawaii News Now.

Mayor Kirk Caldwell received his first major endorsement for his re-election campaign from the Hawaii Construction Alliance. Hawaii News Now.

The criminal defense attorney hired by the Honolulu police chief and his prosecutor wife said he expects a federal grand jury to return indictments in the ongoing investigation surrounding possible wrongdoing within the Honolulu Police Department. Star-Advertiser.

The key witness in the federal probe into the police chief and his wife, a deputy city prosecutor, is a police officer who was related by marriage to the power couple. Hawaii News Now.

Brian Ahakuelo, head of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 1260, used union funds for personal expenses over the last three years, according to a list of allegations assembled by the parent union. Star-Advertiser.

The embattled head of a Hawaii electrical workers union is being accused of using union money on personal first-class travel, hotel accommodations, and to pay for his son's attorney fees in a felony case. Hawaii News Now.

Two days after announcing his retirement, the head of the IBEW Local 1260 has changed his mind. KHON2.

Honolulu Mayor Kirk Caldwell announced Thursday that he has appointed local businessman Peter Adler to serve on the city and county’s Ethics Commission. Civil Beat.

The parking crunch in Kakaako could be getting a lot worse. There’s a plan in the works to create a lot of new housing, but it may not come with a lot of parking stalls. KHON2.

Hawaii

A Hawaii County budget review held Thursday evening at the West Hawaii Civic Center was part numbers for future spending, part update covering ongoing projects and partly a look back on eight years of West Hawaii priorities. West Hawaii Today.

The Hawaii Island Community Development Corporation recently submitted permit applications for a 30-unit expansion to the Mohouli Heights Senior Neighborhood, according to its executive director. Tribune-Herald.

New tourism chief looks to millennials for growth. West Hawaii Today.

Scuba diving is popularly connected with the Navy SEALS, not the Marines and Army. But two veterans from each service have become skilled divers, exploring this week the Kona Coast through the Soldiers Undertaking Disabled Scuba, or SUDS. West Hawaii Today.

Maui

The Liquor Control Commission is scheduled to re-interview four candidates for director of the Department of Liquor Control on May 24, an official said Wednesday. Maui News.

A request for an additional $1.9 million this fiscal year for the county Department of Fire and Public Safety received initial approval Wednesday from the County Council's Budget and Finance Committee. Maui News.

With Kaiser Permanente set to take over three public hospitals in Maui County in less than two months, the national health care provider announced new leadership Wednesday for its Maui Health System. Maui News.

The Maui County Council's Budget and Finance Committee voted Wednesday to recommend adoption of a resolution giving county ocean safety officers a 16 percent pay raise as part of an arbitration decision earlier this year. Maui News.

A Maui High School English teacher who had also served as head football coach pleaded no contest Thursday to five counts of indecent electronic display to a child. Star-Advertiser.

A former teacher and head football coach at Maui High School, David Bui, pleaded no contest today to five counts of indecent electronic display to a child. Maui Now.

Maui County residents and tourists are being advised to stock up on mosquito repellent because of an expected increase in the number of people infected by the Zika virus coming to the county this summer, said the state Department of Health county district health officer. Maui News.

Kauai

Council members voted to recommend passing a bill that aims to define and regulate homestay operations on the island during a planning committee meeting Wednesday. Garden Island.

The developers of a planned beachfront time-share resort on Kauai say they would like the project to open under a Hyatt Hotels Corp. brand. Pacific Business News.

Some of these kids have never ridden an escalator before, said Trisha Page, special events and bookings manager at the Kauai Marriott Resort and Beach Club Thursday morning. Garden Island.

Indictment likely for Honolulu police chief, Kauai kills general excise tax increase, China still set for RIMPAC, attorney general had investigated former state auditor, lawmakers quietly oppose marine protection expansion, state Supreme Court to hear 2014 election case, new rules for Hawaiian Home Lands, Maui lets lifeguards get raises, Honolulu's rising middle class, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Uptown shops in Waikiki © 2016 All Hawaii News

In cities across America, the middle class is hollowing out. However, Honolulu’s middle class appears to be increasing. Associated Press.

Amid the flurry of final votes on hundreds of bills last week, Hawaii lawmakers privately weighed whether to sign a letter to President Obama that Rep. James Tokioka was circulating during the last few days of the legislative session. The letter called on the president not to consider expanding the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands Marine National Monument, stating that “there is no scientific justification or conservation benefit in doing so.” Civil Beat.

Hundreds of the world’s top ocean scientists will gather in Honolulu next month for the 13th International Coral Reef Symposium. It’s the first time the conference will be held in Hawai‘i. Hawaii Public Radio.

Hawaii Senate President Ron Kouchi has a confidential report in his possession that involves possible wrongdoing in the state Auditor’s Office. The report is the result of a Hawaii Attorney General’s Office investigation. Civil Beat.

The federal government for the first time has developed an administrative rule to provide more clarity in implementing the Hawaiian Homes Commission Act, the federal law that established a land trust to benefit Native Hawaiians. Star-Advertiser.

Gov. David Ige announced Wednesday that he has signed House Bill 1581 to help expedite the resolution of disputes on actions by state agencies. The new law, which takes effect Aug. 1, allows contested case hearings before the commissions on Water Resource Management, Land Use, Public Utilities, the Hawaii Community Development Authority and cases involving conservation districts to be directly appealed to the Hawaii Supreme Court, according to a release from the governor’s office. Civil Beat.

The U.S. invitation allowing China to participate in the upcoming Rim of the Pacific maritime exercises off Hawaii appears to be holding — even as American accusations fly that China is militarizing the South China Sea, while China maintains America has no business “provoking the new maritime order.” Star-Advertiser.

Struggling U.S. and international stock markets are dragging down Hawaii’s largest public pension portfolio. The state Employees’ Retirement System fund eked out a 0.6 percent gain in the first three months of 2016 but is in danger of finishing the fiscal year ending June 30 with its first loss since 2012, according to a report presented to ERS trustees Tuesday by Portland, Ore.-based Pension Consulting Alliance Inc. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii’s judicial system ranks among the top three in the country when it comes to access to justice, according to the National Center for Access to Justice’s latest state-by-state ranking. Civil Beat.

Oahu

Honolulu Police Chief Louis Kealoha and his wife, deputy city Prosecutor Katherine Kealoha, have hired a prominent criminal defense attorney to represent them in the potential federal criminal case against them. In an interview Wednesday with Hawaii News Now, attorney Myles Breiner said he and the Kealohas expect there will be a grand jury indictment in the case.

Extra-tall towers are out, but the density of buildings could double and include less parking in some parts of Kakaako under new proposed rules for development tied to the city’s rail project. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii regulators unveiled an update Wednesday for the Honolulu neighborhood of Kakaako’s transit-oriented development plan calling for diverse residential building types, ground-oriented family housing near transit stations, additional reserved housing, grocery stores, cultural and community amenities, food trucks and spaces for artists. Pacific Business News.

Ross Dress for Less on Ward Avenue in Honolulu is expected to be displaced by the Honolulu rail transit project that’s being built from West Oahu to Ala Moana Center. Pacific Business News.

Hawaii lawmakers sent a strong message last week to two brothers who claim to own portions of eight streets in Kakaako where they started charging for parking six years ago after decades of free public use. Star-Advertiser.

Repairs to a collapsed pier at Waianae Boat Harbor have finally been approved. KHON2.

Hawaii

The Hawaii Supreme Court has agreed to hear a complaint questioning the residency status of Ron Gonzales, who in 2014 unsuccessfully challenged Kohala Councilwoman Margaret Wille for the District 9 council seat. West Hawaii Today.

What started as a bill to increase County Council terms from two years to four has morphed through a series of compromises into a bill adding one more two-year term, so council members would be eligible to serve 10 consecutive years before being term-limited. West Hawaii Today.

Native Hawaiian activists drew closer to their goal of barring further geothermal development on Hualalai, following a hearing Wednesday in the Environmental Court. West Hawaii Today.

The design, engineering and potential capabilities of the Thirty Meter Telescope were front and center Wednesday at the West Hawaii Civic Center. Telescope system scientist Warren Skidmore walked about two dozen people through the technical aspects of the 180-foot tall, $1.4 billion project, which, if built, would be the second largest telescope on Earth, behind a 39- meter scope being constructed by European interests in Chile. West Hawaii Today.

For almost 16 miles of coastline stretching north from South Point, there is no public access to the shoreline. West Hawaii Today.

Maui

After hearing more than an hour of testimony from lifeguards and their supporters, the Budget and Finance Committee today recommended approval of funding for the ocean safety labor contract by a unanimous 6-0 vote. Maui Now.

Pay raises awarded to hundreds of lifeguards and law enforcement officers statewide cleared a major hurdle on Wednesday. Hawaii News Now.

The 70 unit Waiʻale Affordable Housing project proposed for development on 10.36 acres just north of the Waikapū Gardens subdivision on Maui, surfaces for consideration at the Maui County Council’s Land Use Committee meeting at 1:30 p.m. on Wednesday, May 18, in the Council Chamber. Maui Now.

The Maui Planning Commission advanced two proposed Kihei projects Monday, approving the 129-unit Kamaole Pointe workforce housing complex and recommending a zoning change for the 22,000-square-foot Kihei Wellness Center. Maui News.

Maui County has agreed to pay $24,000 in damages and to enter into a three-year consent decree to settle an age discrimination lawsuit that alleged the Maui Police Department failed to hire a qualified 45-year-old Hawaii resident as a police officer. Maui News.

Kauai

After two hours of discussion during committee Wednesday, Kauai council members voted 4-3 to recommend killing a proposed bill that would increase the General Excise Tax. Garden Island.

Mason Chock is seeking re-election to the Kauai County Council. Garden Island.

Paul Cienfuegos, a community activist from Portland, Oregon, is on Kauai for one reason: he says there’s another way to shut the door on unwanted corporate industry. Garden Island.