Rail funding unresolved after 7-hour hearing, dog kills Kauai shearwaters, marijuana dispensaries plan reopening, employee retirement system rebounding, Kona well failure, no jail time for manager in deadly fireworks blast, Maui family sues Las Vegas police over deadly chokehold, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Rail construction June 15, 2017, PC: HART

With the special session on rail looming in two weeks, legislators still don’t have a deal. But leaders from both chambers appeared open to raising the state’s hotel room tax to help rescue the beleaguered transit project during a marathon hearing Monday. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii Lawmakers Not Sold On Rail Tax Extension. Legislators attending a briefing Monday appeared more favorable to tapping hotel tax money to help pay for the $10 billion rail line. Civil Beat.

Joint Legislative Hearing on Honolulu Rail Transit Project Conducted. Hawaii Public Radio.

With a funding plan due to the Federal Transit Administration in just about a month, state lawmakers held a marathon hearing Monday to consider different ways of paying for the Honolulu's controversial rail project. Hawaii News Now.

Hawaii's tourism industry is finally getting a chance to sound off on a plan to raise the hotel room tax. It's one solution to generating money to complete the city's rail system to Ala Moana. KITV.

A special session on how to pay for the rest of Honolulu’s rail project may be in jeopardy. State lawmakers told us they were committed to holding one, but now things are up in the air. KHON2.

Neighbor Island rail taxes still on the table. West Hawaii Today.

=====

The state Employees’ Retirement System, Hawaii’s largest public pension fund, chipping away at a $12 billion shortfall, nearly doubled the investment return targeted by its trustees and posted its best fiscal year performance since 2014. Star-Advertiser.

Marijuana dispensaries that ran out of product within days of opening are blaming the state Department of Health, which in turn is blaming the only marijuana testing lab, Steep Hill Hawaii. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii’s only two medical marijuana dispensaries plan to reopen on Wednesday with more inventory. Civil Beat.

Roughly 900 people have drowned over the past 10 years in Hawaii, with the rate of visitor deaths continuing to far outpace that of local residents, according to the latest data from state and county officials. Civil Beat.

Oahu

The Kahala Hotel &Resort is withdrawing its request to obtain a rare nonexclusive easement to use about an acre of public shoreline for commercial enterprises. Star-Advertiser.

Construction on the Airport Guideway and Stations segment of the Honolulu Rail Transit Project will begin Tuesday night near Aloha Stadium. Hawaii News Now.

Will Native Hawaiians Be The Victims In This Fight Over A Royal Fortune? The legacy of a Hawaiian princess who has spent her life supporting Hawaiian causes is at stake in a struggle over control of her $200 million estate. Civil Beat.

Six years after a deadly explosion at a Waikele bunker that killed 5 people, a company manager tied to operations at the site of the blast won't spend any time behind bars. Hawaii News Now.

The former project manager of a munitions storage and disposal company was sentenced Monday to probation and a fine of $250 for improperly storing explosive material. Star-Advertiser.

Honolulu-based BAE Systems Hawaii on Monday received a $24 million modification to a previously awarded contract for scheduled maintenance on the USS Port Royal, the U.S. Department of Defense said. Pacific Business News.

Hawaii Island

Hawaii County Department of Water Supply has grappled with the question of why deepwell failure has been so widespread and simultaneous across North Kona over the last year, a development that has resulted in usage restrictions and sparked public fear and frustration. West Hawaii Today.

For the second time this year, water supply customers are under an emergency water restriction following the failure of the Honokohau Deepwell located in North Kona. It is the fifth off-line water well serving the Kona area. Big Island Video News.

Among the tenants at Hawaii Island's new homeless safe zone: The mayor's executive assistant. Hawaii News Now.

Maui

A stay that temporary blocks Maui Lani Partners from conducting sand mining and excavation work at its development in Central Maui, remains in place as a hearing resumes next week. Maui Now.

Hawaii family sues Las Vegas police department after fatal officer chokehold. Hawaii News Now.

Some suspended school bus routes in West Maui could be back in service as soon as Monday. KHON2.

Employment in the arts, entertainment and recreation segment in Maui County grew around 33 percent in the second quarter as compared to the same time last year, resulting in 700 more jobs, according to state figures. Maui News.

The Central Maui Landfill and Olowalu Recycling and Refuse Convenience Center were operating normally Monday, following a stubborn fire at Maui EKO Systems green waste and composting operations that began Friday. Maui News.

According to a recent housing report by the Realtors Association of Maui, year-to-date closed sales for condominiums on Maui are up 7.3 percent, with the median price up 10 percent, while single-family home sales inched up only 1.6 percent. Pacific Business News.

Kauai

A stray dog killed 33 adult wedge-tailed shearwaters in a colony at the Pacific Missile Range Facility on Kauai’s Westside in early August. Garden Island.

Kauai Island Utility Cooperative said Monday it asked the state Public Utilities Commission to approve new ways to credit solar system owners on the island. Star-Advertiser.

Kauai’s Shifting Sands Offer Clues To Beach’s Future. A local scientist is trying to understand how development might affect Wailua beach near the Coco Palms resort site. Civil Beat.

Lihue Airport reported a temperature of 90 degrees Fahrenheit that broke the Aug. 12 record of 88 set in 2007. Garden Island.

Hawaii growth slows, Hanabusa mulls gubernatorial bid, lab bottleneck closes marijuana dispensaries, battle over Kawananakoa's $200M estate, monk seal moved from Waikiki, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Undersea cable, Hawaiian Telcom

Testing for the $250 million Southeast Asia–United States undersea fiber cable system is complete, according to Hawaiian Telcom, one of seven investors in the 9,300-mile long cable connecting Indonesia to California, via Hawaii. Pacific Business News.

The state’s top economists are a little less bullish on Hawaii’s economy. The Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism cut its growth forecast for Hawaii this year by a half-percentage point and projected the economy will continue to grow at a slower pace for the rest of 2017 and the three subsequent years. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii’s economy is experiencing positive growth, but at a slower pace than during previous years, according to report by the Department of Business and Economic Development. Pacific Business News.

Leadership from both the state House of Representatives and Senate have been meeting over the last several months to discuss the over-time and over-budget Honolulu rail project, but lawmakers now want to hear from the public as they work toward an agreement on financing. Hawaii News Now.

U.S. Rep. Colleen Hanabusa said Friday she may mount an election challenge to Hawaii Gov. David Ige in 2018. Civil Beat.

A years-long effort to begin taxing dividends paid out to investors by some of the largest commercial property owners in Hawaii was blocked this year by state Sen. Rosalyn Baker, a lawmaker who has received substantial campaign donations from lobbyists and executives who represent some of those same investors. Star-Advertiser.

New Hawaii Salary Database: How Much Do We Pay Our Public Servants? Here’s the first installment of our new Hawaii public employee salary database for fiscal year 2018. Civil Beat.

Growing up in low-income public housing in the Bronx and attending New York City public schools, Christina Kishimoto experienced firsthand the effects of learning in an uneven school system, where resources vary greatly between neighborhoods. Star-Advertiser.

With two medical cannabis dispensaries now selling products, the Hawaii Department of Health is bracing for a surge of patients signing up for the state's medical cannabis registry. Hawaii News Now.

After a one-day delay because of bad weather, a NASA rocket containing experimental payloads from 15 collegiate institutions — including four University of Hawaii community colleges — launched Sunday from the Wallops Flight Facility in Virginia. Star-Advertiser.

Oahu

Kaimana the monk seal was swept off to her new home Saturday morning with only a few barks of protest. Star-Advertiser.

A Hawaiian monk seal pup born on a Waikiki beach has been moved so that it can remain a wild animal and won't become accustomed to interacting with people. Associated Press.

Video from Civil Beat's live camera, of Kaimana being removed from the beach at around 8am Saturday morning by NOAA officials. KITV.

First rail land trial ends in condemnation. Star-Advertiser.

The state Department of Transportation is proposing to make several safety improvements along Farrington Highway, including eliminating and relocating some bus stops and crosswalks. Hawaii News Now.

Aloha Green Holdings Inc., one of Oahu’s three licensed medical cannabis dispensaries, said it has sold out its initial stock after just three days in business. Pacific Business News.

If a bill requiring older residential towers to install sprinklers becomes law, the city could offer no-interest loans to condominium owners who might need help to pay their share, Mayor Kirk Caldwell said last week. Star-Advertiser.

Marco Polo get-together like ‘big hug’ after tragedy. Star-Advertiser.

The Honolulu Police Department is finally ready to begin testing body cameras. The pilot project will be rolled out in mid-September. KHON2.

Ex-Cop Sues Honolulu For Not Paying To Defend Him In Assault Lawsuit. The Police Commission rejected Nelson Tamayori’s request for legal aid, but approved it for another officer facing the same allegations. Civil Beat.

With Hawaii’s unemployment rate so low, finding workers can be hard to come by, but the struggle isn’t just felt by employers. KHON2.

An increasingly bitter legal battle over the $200 million estate of Abigail Kawananakoa intensified over the weekend as the 91-year-old Campbell Estate heiress, in a letter transmitted by her longtime partner, accused her former attorney of ignoring her wishes and mismanaging her financial affairs. Star-Advertiser.

The $200 million estate of a 91-year-old descendant of Hawaiian royalty has become the topic of a legal dispute between her lawyer and her longtime partner. Associated Press.

In an explosive letter sent to Hawaii News Now, Abigail Kawananakoa says her longtime attorney is improperly trying to take control of her fortune. Hawaii News Now.

A new tribute to iconic island musician Don Ho was unveiled at the International Market Place Sunday.  Hawaii News Now.

Hawaii Island

Hawaii County Department of Water Supply has lost yet another water source in North Kona, prompting a revised water usage restriction with the most stringent mandates the department has issued since the saga began in January. West Hawaii Today.

Once again, a fifth water well is down in West Hawaii, leading to a new Emergency Water Restriction notice for North Kona. Big Island Video News.

Hawaii County officials say they could be a year away from relaunching an online building permit tracking system. Tribune-Herald.

The County of Hawaii is on the hook for improvements at a Kailua-Kona housing project years after discovering that sidewalks and showers aren’t compliant with federal accessibility guidelines. West Hawaii Today.

David Tarnas, who last year suffered a whisker-thin primary loss in his campaign to unseat state Rep. Cindy Evans, is ready for a rematch. West Hawaii Today.

About a dozen food and bike vendors have set up shop each night at the county-maintained parking lot at the end of Chain of Craters Road, located near the start of the more than 4-mile-long gravel emergency road that leads to the lava flow. Tribune-Herald.

Additional pavilions are in the works for Wailoa River State Recreation Area. Tribune-Herald.

Daughter of deported coffee farmer trying to keep operating afloat while waiting for dad’s return. West Hawaii Today.

Maui

Anti-tobacco activists are hoping Maui County will follow Hawaii and Kauai counties in outlawing smoking in vehicles when children are present. Maui News.

Maui’s first state-licensed medical marijuana dispensary to open for business will be closed Monday and Tuesday and will change its operating hours. Associated Press.

Representatives with Hawaiʻi’s first medical cannabis dispensary say lab delays are forcing the business to suspend sales. Maui Now.

‘Bottleneck’ temporarily closes pot dispensary. ‘High demand’ leads to sold-out first batch of certified product. Maui News.

Maui school bus driver Cheryl Kuanoni was recently forced to leave five children behind because of a shortage of buses. KITV.

Traffic congestion and parking in Paia still generate headaches for residents and visitors of the bustling former plantation town hugging Maui’s north shore, but now property crime — especially vehicle break-ins — are a rising concern. Maui News.

Kauai

If Pierre Omidyar gets his way, 699 dairy cows will soon enjoy a glorious view of the Pacific Ocean, framed by a pristine beach. Omidyar, the founder of eBay, wants to build a dairy farm on Kauai. New York Times.

There are 106 vacant positions at the County of Kauai. However, 12 of them are dollar- funded, meaning 94 are vacant funded positions. Almost 30 of them are posted on the county’s website. Garden Island.

The Kauai County Council voted Wednesday to approve an access easement in Koloa. Garden Island.

The Kapaa Public Library will be reopening on Tuesday and resuming its normal public service hours. Garden Island.

Changes coming to Hawaii airports, 1k National Guard troops face deployment, CEO leaves Pearl Harbor nonprofit, sewer spill closes Maui beaches, Ige's fundraising slow, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Honolulu airport © 2017 All Hawaii News

The Department of Transportation Airports Division expects the number of passengers boarding planes at state airports to exceed the 2007-2008 peak this year and is continuing major initiatives, including a $2.7 billion airline modernization project. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii DOT plans to resurrect airport authority bill as modernization projects move forward. Pacific Business News.

State to create new police force for Honolulu's airport, ports. Hawaii News Now.

Gov. Ige’s Campaign Cash As Low As His Poll Numbers. The incumbent, who has held just three fundraisers, has raised far less than most sitting governors at this point. Civil Beat.

Political Analyst Boylan: Governor David Ige Will Be Hard to Beat in 2018. Hawaii Public Radio.

The Hawaii Army National Guard has been told that about 1,000 of its citizen soldiers should be prepared to deploy to the Middle East and Europe starting in the spring and with those departures continuing into 2019. If the mobilizations occur as planned, the combined deployments would be the biggest in a decade. Star-Advertiser.

Approximately 1,000 Hawaii Army National Guard soldiers have been notified they should be prepared to deploy to the Middle East and Europe starting next spring. West Hawaii Today.

The Hawaii Army National Guard says it has been notified by the Department of Defense about possible deployments in spring 2018. KITV.

The Hawaii Army National Guard has just been notified by the Department of Defense about upcoming unit deployments to the Central and European Command’s areas of operation starting in the spring of 2018. KHON2.

A plan to tax drivers by how much they drive instead of how much gas they use is moving forward. KHON2.

County clerks in Hawaii are releasing limited voter information to President Donald Trump’s commission investigating alleged voter fraud, but the clerks from Honolulu, Kauai and Hawaii counties said today they’re providing far less information than what the commission wants. Associated Press.

The Western Pacific Regional Fishery Management Council is crafting new definitions that could allow more fishing in restricted waters around the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands and American Samoa. Civil Beat.

The buying power of $100 in the islands is just $84.18. That's the lowest purchasing power of any state, and $1.44 less than it was last year, according to a Tax Foundation analysis. Hawaii News Now.

The University of Hawaii Foundation, the fundraising arm of the UH system, attracted more than $77.6 million in donations for the year that ended June 30, officials announced Thursday. Star-Advertiser.

Oahu

A nonprofit that supports National Park Service operations at Pearl Harbor said Thursday its CEO is no longer with the organization. Associated Press.

State lawmakers can expect another request for some kind of facility for racing enthusiasts on Oahu. Hawaii News Now.

A wayward bullet from his .38 Smith and Wesson could cost former Honolulu police officer Anson Kimura $300,000, according to recently filed court records. Civil Beat.

The Honolulu Fire Department announced Thursday that it received confirmation that the Marco Polo building contained asbestos at the time of the fatal July 14 fire, and it is taking additional precautions to ensure that any and all firefighters’ gear that may have been exposed to the hazardous material is safe. Star-Advertiser.

Nearly a month after more than 120 Honolulu firefighters responded to the city's largest-ever highrise fire, many are being asked turn in their jackets, hoods, and pants because of potential asbestos contamination. Hawaii News Now.

Nearly a month after Honolulu firefighters were exposed to asbestos at the fatal Marco Polo high-rise blaze, some of the protective gear they wore is just now being taken out of service. KHON2.

A day after the state health department confirmed Oahu's first case of Rat Lungworm disease in seven years, island farmers are already seeing an impact on their businesses. Hawaii News Now.

A single-engine, Beech 19A plane that fatally crashed in the Waianae Mountains above Kunia was traveling at an altitude of 2,000 feet before it disappeared from radar, according to a preliminary report by the National Transportation Safety Board. Star-Advertiser.

A legal battle has erupted over control of the $200 million estate of Abigail Kawananakoa after the Campbell Estate heiress suffered a recent stroke. Star-Advertiser.


Two women were arrested in the aftermath of a law enforcement raid of a massage parlor in the Kukui Plaza Mall on Thursday. Star-Advertiser.

The National Endowment for the Humanities will give more than $200,000 to the Manoa Heritage Center and East-West Center to support the understanding of Native Hawaiian and East Asian history and culture. Pacific Business News.

Honolulu-based water purification startup Hawaiian Cool Water is getting ready to add staff after scoring a contract to become the sole water provider for one of Hawaii’s largest employers. Pacific Business News.

The Boiling Crab will open its first Hawaii location in October at Kamehameha Schools’ Salt at Our Kakaako restaurant and retail complex. Pacific Business News.

Hawaii Island

The Hawaii Supreme Court has agreed to hear a 2012 defamation lawsuit by Elections Administrator Pat Nakamoto against former County Clerk Jamae Kawauchi and former Council Chairman Dominic Yagong. West Hawaii Today.

New hotel proposed for Henry Street. West Hawaii Today.

After months of planning, Hawaii County began the long-awaited cleanup of Old Airport Park Wednesday. West Hawaii Today.

Cyanotech Corp., a Hawaii island producer of nutritional supplements made from algae turned higher sales into a $501,000 profit in its fiscal first quarter after having a $691,000 loss in the same period last year. Star-Advertiser.

Maui

The public is advised to stay out of the waters of Kahului Harbor from Kanaloa Avenue to Linekona Street because of a 25,000 gallon sewage spill. Maui Now.

The state Health Department advised the public Thursday afternoon to stay out of the ocean from outside the Kahului Harbor breakwater to Linekona Street in Paukukalo because of a sewage spill. Maui News.

The Maui County Liquor Commission voted unanimously Wednesday to consider streamlining single-event liquor licenses for nonprofits next month via rule amendments proposed by Maui County Council Member Yuki Lei Sugimura and the Department of Liquor Control. Maui News.

Maui’s Kula Elementary School was selected as one of five state-funded Pre-K classrooms for the 2018-2019 school year. Maui Now.

Frustrations and worries mounted Wednesday among parents and even a West Maui lawmaker as 383 students at three Maui schools continued to deal with temporary bus route suspensions. Maui News.

Filipino residents and groups are rallying to restore a traditional Filipino country hut honoring immigrant sugar cane workers at Kepaniwai Park after it was nearly destroyed by September’s torrential downpour and floodwaters in Iao Valley. Maui News.

Kauai

The Department of Education still has a shortage of school bus drivers on Kauai and Maui a week into the school year. Garden Island.

Council considering changing school bus stop application process. Garden Island.

Students at King Kaumualii Elementary School are being turned away from the after-school A+ program because of a shortage of staff members. Garden Island.

Some rainfall levels for Kauai in July were the lowest they’ve been since 2006, but experts say the island isn’t in extreme drought. Garden Island.

Hawaii to send minimal voter list to Trump commission, rat lungworm hits Oahu, Kaui rodenticide drop to go forward, experts downplay North Korea threat, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Ala Wai boat harbor © 2017 All Hawaii News

The memory of the state’s failed public-private partnership at the Ala Wai Small Boat Harbor was still fresh enough to elicit strong opposition Tuesday in Waikiki to any attempt at a new partnership. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii’s county election officials will send President Donald Trump’s election advisory commission their public voting lists by the end of this week. West Hawaii Today.

Isle expert dismisses ‘barking’ by N. Korea, U.S. The ongoing frenzy spread fears in Guam and rekindled an ongoing discussion over whether Hawaii needs missile interceptors in the state to better protect against a growing North Korean intercontinental ballistic missile threat. Star-Advertiser.

Hot Talk Between Trump, North Korea Could Put Hawaii On The Front Line. How might growing tensions affect Hawaii? In addition to risks of missile attacks, local military bases would likely serve as staging areas in a conflict. Civil Beat.

Why Hawaii Won’t Join Battle Against Trump’s ‘Sanctuary City’ Crackdown. While Hawaii has led the legal charge against the administration’s travel ban, Gov. David Ige is not supporting the sanctuary movement. Civil Beat.

Hanabusa Rethinking Pro-Israel Bill After Taking Heat At Town Halls. Vocal opponents of the Israel Anti-Boycott Bill say it threatens free speech and is being pushed by an influential pro-Israel lobbying group. Civil Beat.

Hawaiian royalty descendant and Campbell Estate heiress Abigail Kawananakoa’s recent medical problems are triggering a legal battle over her $200 million trust, and some say that's placing her charitable and social causes for Native Hawaiians in jeopardy. Hawaii News Now.

Hawaii is getting $90,000 in federal funding to help bring back the Native Hawaiian language. KITV.

Oahu

Medicinal marijuana users thrill to ‘historic day’ on Oahu. Star-Advertiser.

A medical cannabis dispensary is now open on Oahu. KHON2.

A bill that would require older residential high-rise towers to be retrofitted with sprinkler systems received the first of three necessary approvals Wednesday from the Honolulu City Council. Star-Advertiser.

City lawmakers are taking action to update Honolulu's fire code in light of a devastating and deadly high-rise fire last month. Hawaii News Now.

An adult is hospitalized with rat lungworm disease on Oahu, the first case of the disease reported on the island since 2010, the Health Department announced today. Star-Advertiser.

The Hawaii Department of Health announced Wednesday that a case of rat lungworm disease was confirmed on Oahu for the first time since 2010, bringing the year-to-date total of the parasitic infection statewide to 16. Civil Beat.

Rat lungworm disease may affect Hawaii farmers following Oahu confirmed case. Pacific Business News.

The state Department of Health has confirmed its first rat lungworm disease case on Oahu in 2017. KITV.

Resolution to remove controversial sidewalk extensions passes city council. The Honolulu City Council unanimously passed a resolution Wednesday that would remove eight of the bulbouts on Pauahi Street, between Mauna Kea and Smith Street. Hawaii News Now.

Some cemeteries on Oahu are running out of space, but the Honolulu City Council took action Wednesday that may provide some relief. Civil Beat.

The Hale Mahana Collegiate Apartments, the first new-construction student housing project in Honolulu, is rising from a site at the corner of South King Street and University Avenue, just down the street from the University of Hawaii. Pacific Business News.

Cardax Inc. is going national with its new anti-inflammatory dietary supplement ZanthoSyn. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii Island

Higher fuel taxes that began this month are expected to generate an additional $4.6 million for the rest of the fiscal year, according to a report from the Hawaii County Department of Public Works. Tribune-Herald.

The beloved blond zebra at Kailua-Kona’s Three Ring Ranch Animal Sanctuary died peacefully at the age of 19 early Sunday morning from old age, officials confirmed Tuesday. West Hawaii Today.

Maui

Ground Transport Inc., the state’s new school bus contractor on Maui, says it’s slowly making progress in hiring bus drivers on the island, but hundreds of Maui students still will need to find alternative rides to school for at least a few more weeks. Star-Advertiser.

Facing a shortage of school bus drivers on Maui, state education officials say the company that operates many of the island’s routes is working on a fix: bringing drivers in from Oahu. Civil Beat.

A Maui lawmaker is weighing in and asking the governor to step in and solve a school bus service shortage on neighbor islands. KHON2.

Pointing out that the disputed liquor rules had already been reversed, a judge ruled in favor of the county Liquor Control Department and Liquor Control Commission on Tuesday in a lawsuit that challenged the transparency of the rule changes. Maui News.

Hawaii’s first medical marijuana dispensary opened for business on Maui yesterday. The dispensary is one of two licensed to serve patients in Maui County. But what about patients living on Molokai and Lanai? Hawaii Public Radio.

Seventeen years from law to dispensaries. Maui News.

Patients rejoiced with smiles and shouts Tuesday after making the first legal purchases of medical cannabis at a licensed dispensary in the state at Maui Grown Therapies in Kahului. Maui News.

Maui Land & Pineapple Co. earned a $6.5 million profit in the second quarter on the value of land improvements tied to some real estate the company sold to a developer nearly a decade ago. Star-Advertiser.

Kauai

The Department of Land and Natural Resources says it’s moving forward with the plan to drop more than 10 tons of rodenticide on Lehua Island, as soon as permits are approved. Garden Island.


County Council approves tax break for long-term affordable housing. Garden Island.

The Kauai County Council and administration plan to be in sync the next time money to fund the Climate Action Plan is made available. Garden Island.

To help maintain its idyllic setting, the state Department of Land and Natural Resources plans to renew its request for permanent on-site staff at Kalalau Valley within the 6,175-acre Napali Coast park to help deter illegal camping and reduce heaps of rubbish left behind. Star-Advertiser.

Work on a $1.1 million repair project to the Kapaia Tunnel will start in September, said David Hinazumi, vice president of the Grove Farm Company. Garden Island.

Officials, residents worry over North Korea threat, first marijuana dispensary opens, gag order rescinded in foster care death, endangered monk seal pup to be moved, Honolulu homeless sweeps continue, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

North Korea missile test, photo released by government

As the heated rhetoric between President Donald Trump and North Korea reaches a boiling point, the chances of Hawaii, with its large military bases, being pulled into the conflict are increasing as well. Civil Beat.


Two members of Hawaii’s congressional delegation expressed faith in the head of U.S. Pacific Command and the U.S. military Tuesday and called for diplomacy as North Korea threatened a missile strike on Guam. Star-Advertiser.


In a live interview with Hawaii News Now Tuesday, U.S. Congresswoman Colleen Hanabusa said she believes the threat from North Korea to Hawaii is minimal. Hawaii News Now.


Concern from former residents of Guam about what the threat from North Korea could mean for their family still living there. KITV.

Hawaii bankruptcy filings remained at historically low levels last month as they fell 8.3 percent to the smallest July total in 10 years. Star-Advertiser.

Matson Inc. said Monday that it will introduce service to Tahiti, providing twice a month arrivals from the U.S. Mainland and Honolulu to French Polynesia. Pacific Business News.


Oahu

The City Council is expected to vote Wednesday on making it easier for the Honolulu Board of Water Supply to transfer the Haiku Stairs to another government agency — a key step if the popular but legally off-limits trail atop the Koolaus is to be saved. Civil Beat.

A bill that would create a new, low-cost spaying and neutering option for feral or community cats is scheduled for a final vote by the Honolulu City Council today. Star-Advertiser.

Honolulu’s Neuter Now program helps pet owners sterilize their cats and dogs at reduced rates and costs taxpayers $500,000 annually. Now some members of the Honolulu City Council want a portion of that money to fund the effort to sterilize Oahu’s feral cat population. Civil Beat.

Government officials have decided to relocate an endangered Hawaiian monk seal pup from a popular beach in Waikiki to a remote, undisclosed shoreline on Oahu amid safety concerns for the animal and the public. Civil Beat.

Kaimana, the Hawaiian monk seal pup officially known as PO3, will be moved to a “remote, undisclosed shoreline area” so she can grow up wild and with less human interaction than she’s having in Waikiki, state officials announced today. Star-Advertiser.

Kaimana, the monk seal to be relocated to remote Oahu beach. KITV.

A Hawaii marine park's purchase of Kina, a 40-year-old false killer whale long used in echolocation research, has reignited a debate about captive marine mammals and the places that care for them. Associated Press.

At the Waikiki Neighborhood Board Meeting Tuesday night, community members voiced concerns over the future of the state's largest boat harbor. Hawaii's Land and Natural Resource's Division of Boating and Ocean Resources is looking at ways to redevelop the Ala Wai Small Boat Harbor and generate additional revenue. Hawaii News Now.

A North Shore preservation group initiated state hearings this week to force the developer of a 25-megawatt wind facility to improve its habitat conservation plan for the endangered Hawaiian hoary bat. Star-Advertiser.

A special city clean-up crew Tuesday began dismantling dozens of homeless encampments on Navy land fronting Blaisdell Park from Hawaiian Electric Co.’s Waiau power plant to Waimalu Stream. Star-Advertiser.

The City began clearing homeless encampments along the Pearl Harbor Bike Trail today fronting Neal Blaisdell Park. Hawaii Public Radio.

City says Topgolf interested in possible partnership at Ala Wai Golf Course. KHON2.

Hawaii Island

A family court judge has rescinded a gag order in the case involving 3-year-old Fabian Garett-Garcia, who died while in foster care last month. West Hawaii Today.

Several Hawaii Island lawmakers are opposed to having neighbor island taxpayers shoulder some of the burden for Honolulu’s cash-strapped rail system. Others are taking a wait-and-see approach. West Hawaii Today.

A Hu Honua Bioenergy official says construction of its biomass power plant near Pepeekeo is moving “full speed ahead” and is on track to be complete in December 2018. Tribune-Herald.

Hilo is on pace to have one of its drier years on record, and July’s rainfall totals brought little if any relief to drought-affected areas of the Big Island, according to the National Weather Service in Honolulu. Tribune-Herald.

Efforts to maintain and restore the Kawaihae watershed will get a funding boost from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Big Island Video News.

Hilo Hattie is returning to the Big Island of Hawaii next month with a new store in Kailua-Kona. Pacific Business News.

Maui

Hawaii history was made today with the first legal sale of marijuana, nearly two decades after the state approved the use of pot for medical purposes. Star-Advertiser.

First Hawaii Dispensary Approved For Medical Marijuana Sales. Maui Grown Therapies gets the green light from the state Department of Health. Civil Beat.

Dispensary sales of medical marijuana in Hawaii are beginning after patients waited 17 years for a legal way to purchase the drug. Associated Press.

Hawaii’s first medical cannabis dispensary has received the green light from the state Department of Health to begin selling products to registered patients, 17 years after its legalization. Pacific Business News.

Maui Wellness Group, LLC dba Maui Grown Therapies is the first licensed medical cannabis dispensary in the state to receive the green light from the Hawai‘i Department of Health to begin selling medical cannabis to registered patients and their caregivers. Maui Now.

=====

Maui Judge Rhonda Loo today ruled against plaintiffs in a lawsuit that challenged the handling of rule changes made by the Liquor Control Commission. Maui Now.

Parents with children attending Lahainaluna High School on Monday called the suspended school bus service “messed up” and wondered how long it would last. Maui News.

Maui police responded to 77 burglaries, 87 vehicle thefts and 140 vehicle break-ins in Maui County for the month of July. Two of the burglaries happened on Lānaʻi and one of the vehicle thefts and break-ins occurred on Molokaʻi. Maui Now.

Kauai

Shorelines change on Kauai throughout the year as currents and other factors move the sand around, raise tides and cause occasional flooding. But these routine changes in the environment are getting turbocharged, according to scientists. Garden Island.

Governor Ige attends NTBG fundraiser. Gov. Ige attends Moonlight & Music at McBryde Garden. Garden Island.

The Kapaa Public Library is temporarily closed until further notice, due to the unexpected death of one of its staff members. Garden Island.

Neighbor Islands could help pay for Honolulu rail, new undersea cable connects Hawaii to Asia, U.S. mainland, endangered bat at center of Oahu windfarm fight, Trump administration says Pacific bluefin tuna not endangered, more news from all the Hawaii Islands

Undersea cable installation

This month web, data and voice traffic will begin flowing through a new $250 million undersea fiber cable connecting Hawaii, the U.S. mainland and Asia. Star-Advertiser.

Lawmakers Consider Having Neighbor Islands Help Pay For Oahu’s Troubled Rail Project. Hawaii lawmakers are weighing five options to provide funding to complete Honolulu’s over-budget rail line from Kapolei to Ala Moana, including a statewide increase in the general excise and hotel taxes, according to a state Senate presentation. Civil Beat.

The state Legislature is hosting a public informational briefing on state funding for the City & County of Honolulu’s rail project at 10 a.m. Aug. 14 in the State Capitol auditorium. Garden Island.

The Trump administration on Monday announced that a sushi restaurant staple — Pacific bluefin tuna — is not in danger of becoming extinct, despite historically low numbers. Star-Advertiser.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Fisheries branch has determined that Pacific bluefin tuna are not endangered and do not need protection under the federal Endangered Species Act. Garden Island.

Hawaii will receive around $477,000 as part of a multi-state settlement with pharmaceutical manufacturer Celgene Corp. over its alleged illegal marketing activities. Pacific Business News.

Oahu

Mayor Kirk Caldwell said he supports the idea of barring adults from smoking in vehicles when children are present, and would likely sign such a measure should it make it to his desk. Star-Advertiser.

An endangered native bat is at the center of a fight over a controversial wind farm proposal on Oahu's North Shore. Concerned residents showed up for Monday's contested case hearing for the Na Pua Makani project in Kahuku. Hawaii News Now.

Crews begin work on clearing homeless at Pearl Harbor bike path, Neal Blaisdell Park. Hawaii News Now.

Safety check system goes down, bringing inspections to a halt. KHON2.

State leaders are highlighting their latest efforts to help ease the island’s back-to-school traffic, which this year is expected to bring an estimated 53,000 students onto the roadways. Star-Advertiser.

A delegation from Honolulu -- made up of representatives from the city, tourism industry, and business owners -- recently traveled to Nagaoka, Japan to discuss possible partnerships between the two cities.  Hawaii News Now.

The Waianae Neighborhood Board isn’t buying into the idea of a proposed subdivision near Pokai Bay. Civil Beat.

Hawaiian Electric Company is proposing updates to Oahu's power grid that could cost about $205 Million. KITV.

Close to $150 million in condominium sales revenue from four towers in Kakaako helped the developer of Ward Village turn a profit in the second quarter. Star-Advertiser.

Howard Hughes Corporation Shifts to Build for Families in Kakaako. Hawaii Public Radio.

Valley of the Temples Memorial Park held a ceremonial groundbreaking Monday for a new mortuary and chapel to be created by expanding a historic main building at the Kaneohe cemetery. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii Island

Mayor Harry Kim has renewed his transit consultant’s $9,584-a-month contract after the county Human Resources Department deemed Kim’s pick ineligible for the permanent civil service position of transit administrator. West Hawaii Today.

Mayor Harry Kim is nearly ready to bring his plan to attack the problem of homelessness to the Hawaii County Council. Tribune-Herald.

Life At Camp Kikaha. Big Island Video News.

The lawyer for a Kona coffee farmer who was deported back to Mexico despite being called a “pillar of his community” by a U.S. judge plans to file an appeal with the Board of Immigration Appeals on the grounds that he was legitimately married to a U.S. citizen and should not have been deported. Star-Advertiser.

Hilo Hattie’s is returning the Big Island with the soft opening of a scaled-back storefront tentatively planned for some time around Labor Day. West Hawaii Today.

The Big Island’s eucalyptus trees have been a financial albatross for two decades. Now there may finally be a use for the trees: burn them for electricity. Civil Beat.

The state is seeking an operator for its planned initiative selling carbon offset credits for reforestation and recovery of 4,700 acres of Hawaii island pasture land. Star-Advertiser.

Maui

The Department of Education continues to modify Maui school bus routes as its new bus vendor works to recruit more drivers during what the DOE is calling a critical shortage. Star-Advertiser.

Kauai

Fishermen and conservationists on Kauai are leading a rally against the proposed aerial drop of rodenticides on Lehua Island. Garden Island.

The Democratic Party of Kauai is looking for people to take the helm. Garden Island.

The number of single-family homes sold on Kauai jumped last month, but the median price dropped 25 percent, according to statistics from the Kauai Board of Realtors provided by Hawaii Information Service. Pacific Business News.

Parole administrator reassigned pending investigation, Kauai study shows glyphosate in honey, Maui school bus shortage reaches crisis, Big Island council members fly high on pCards, Ellison describes Lanai ag plans, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Wiki bikestand in Waikiki, courtesy U.S. Sen. Brian Schatz

You’ve seen the new Biki bikeshare stations around town but who are the people pedaling them? Hawaii Public Radio.

The state Department of Public Safety has temporarily reassigned longtime Paroles and Pardons Administrator Tommy Johnson pending the outcome of an internal investigation, according to Public Safety Director Nolan Espinda. Star-Advertiser.

The Hawaii Department of Public Safety has temporarily reassigned longtime Paroles and Pardons Administrator Tommy Johnson pending the outcome of an internal investigation. Associated Press.

Robert K. Masuda has been appointed as First Deputy Director of the Department of Land and Natural Resources by Gov. David Y. Ige on Friday. Pacific Business News.

Gov. David Ige has joined 38 other governors in signing a cybersecurity compact in an effort to enhance state cybersecurity and develop the cyber workforce. Star-Advertiser.

As summer winds down, thousands of Hawaii students return to school. Hawaii News Now.

Nearly 40 Hawaii public school graduates have received the state’s first round of awards signifying they have mastered two languages. Star-Advertiser.

John H. Radcliffe, a retired Hawaii lobbyist who became, as he puts it, the “poster child” for legalizing medical aid in dying in Hawaii, got some astounding news last month. His inoperable cancer was deemed operable. Star-Advertiser.

Oahu

Former city Community Services Director Pam Witty-Oakland returns to the post effective Oct. 1, Mayor Kirk Caldwell’s office announced Friday. Star-Advertiser.

Junk Cars Are Piling Up On Oahu. As scrap yards close or start charging to take derelict vehicles, it’s often cheaper to ditch a worn-out car than legally dispose of it. Civil Beat.

Couple OK’d as foster parents despite marred past. Star-Advertiser.

A judge ruled Friday that statements an Army medic made to an investigator after his wife was found dead were coerced. Star-Advertiser.

Cleanup of Ala Wai has start in Manoa. Star-Advertiser.

Oahu condo prices climb: Previously owned Oahu condos sold for a median $425,000, increasing 6.3 percent from $400,000 in July 2016, according to resale figures released Sunday by the Honolulu Board of Realtors. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii Island

Some County Council members are flying high on the taxpayers’ dime. The council spent $58,453 on travel during the first seven months of the two-year term, almost twice the monthly average of prior years, according to a West Hawaii Today analysis of purchasing card and travel records. West Hawaii Today.

Mayor Harry Kim claims to be a “pretty dull guy,” and his purchasing card and travel expenses seem to reflect he’s no social butterfly. West Hawaii Today.

The Big Island Invasive Species Committee has declared victory in its effort to remove axis deer from Ka‘u, nearly eight years since they were introduced. Tribune-Herald.

It's official. Axis Deer are no more on Hawaii Island. Big Island Video News.

Lance Niimi, the Hawaii County's assistant housing administrator, has been sleeping among the homeless at the Hale Kikaha tent-city. Big Island Video News.

The Hilo Drag Strip is set to reopen by the end of 2017 after being closed nearly two years for renovations. Tribune-Herald.

It didn’t take long for a mishap to befall the beleaguered Mass Transit department’s new buses, which were just donated to the Big Island from the City and County of Honolulu. Big Island Video News.

A Hawaiian Paradise Park woman and her two young children were uninjured after being involved in a minor collision with a reportedly stolen Hele-On bus in Hilo Saturday afternoon. West Hawaii Today.

State emergency officials want public schools to be prepared for a possible North Korea missile attack, though Hawaii’s education leaders aren’t planning any drills specific to nuclear detonations just yet. Tribune-Herald.

The state land department is accepting proposals to move forward with a carbon credit system that will fund forest restoration on the Big Island. Hawaii News Now.

Maui

Maui Mayor Alan Arakawa, the Department of Education, and one of Hawaii’s largest school bus providers met Friday to try to fix the Valley Isle school bus crisis, but to no avail. KHON2.

Maui Mayor Alan Arakawa said the county's bus service can't accommodate the 250 students whose school bus service has been cut because of a driver shortage. Hawaii News Now.

The Hawaii State Department of Education advises parents and guardians of students at Lahainaluna High and Baldwin High who depend on school bus routes exclusively serving grades 9 to 12 to find alternate rides. Maui Now.

Power grid showing its age as more renewable energy produced. Maui News.

Community input is being sought on a proposed light industrial and commercial business park at Pulehunui in Central Maui, the state Department of Land and Natural Resources announced. Maui News.

The Iao Valley State Monument has reopened, at least temporarily, after sustaining severe damage from a massive flood in September. Associated Press.

Kauai

Another study looking at pesticides in beehives is underway in Hawaii. And results are showing a connection between agriculture-dense areas and an increase in the chemical glyphosate — the active ingredient in Roundup — in honey. Garden Island.

Taxes and establishing bus stops will be discussed at the Kauai County Council meeting Wednesday. Councilmembers are expected to approve two bills relating to taxes. Garden Island.

The project to eradicate the rats on Lehua Island won’t be starting on Tuesday, according to Scott Enright, director of the state’s Department of Agriculture. Garden Island.

Forum ends with consensus: Seek ways to preserve marine species. Garden Island.

Lanai

Tech billionaire Larry Ellison sees potential for agriculture on Lanai. Star-Advertiser.

Polystyrene foam ban resurfaces in Honolulu, Maui police deny excessive force in telescope protester arrests, Big Island mayor cancels geothermal health studies, Kona homeless get new tent city, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Polystyrene lunch plate © 2017 All Hawaii News

An effort to bar Oahu businesses from using foam takeout containers has been renewed, this time by a Honolulu City Council member who said she opposed a similar proposal in 2004. Star-Advertiser.

‘Biocontrol Agents’ Could Be Used To Kill Albizia In Hawaii. Moths, mites, weevils, beetles, even a fungus, are under consideration as a way to stop the spread of the invasive tree in the islands. Civil Beat.

Hawaii’s college graduates are managing student debt better than their peers anywhere else in the country, according to a new WalletHub report released this week. Tribune-Herald.

More than eight months after issuing a request for landowners in Hawaii willing to host renewable energy projects, Hawaiian Electric Co. said this week that it has compiled a list of potential sites, but it’s not saying where they are. Pacific Business News.

Hawaiian Electric Industries Inc.’s earnings fell 12 percent in the second quarter, as its utilities saw a decrease in profits. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaiian Electric Industries Inc. reported second-quarter net income of $38.7 million, or 36 cents per diluted share, compared to net income of $44.1 million, or 41 cents per diluted share, for the same quarter a year ago. Pacific Business News.

Oahu

The number of mumps cases at Oahu Community Correctional Center has more than doubled in less than a month, accounting for nearly 10 percent of the state’s outbreak, which now tops 200 cases. Star-Advertiser.

Fast-acting work crews prevented a mainland bat from escaping a container ship docked at Honolulu Harbor on Monday, according to state officials. Star-Advertiser.

The Honolulu City Council has sided with an advisory board and an overwhelming community view to reject a developer’s proposal to rezone farmland on the fringe of Haleiwa town for residential use. Star-Advertiser.

A midrise rental apartment building reserved for residents with incomes up to the median in Honolulu will begin accepting tenant applications Aug. 18 in preparation for an opening by the end of this month. Star-Advertiser.

Howard Hughes Corporation Kakaako Development Update. Ward Warehouse in Kakaako closed earlier this week and is scheduled to be torn down by the end of the year. Hawaii Public Radio.

City transportation officials told a Honolulu City Council committee Thursday they are looking at redesigning and reducing the size of 11 traffic bulb-outs in Chinatown that merchants, customers and residents have complained about. Star-Advertiser.

A pedestrian safety measure in Chinatown is irking area businesses, who say it's hurting their bottom line. Hawaii News Now.

A nonprofit wants turn a former fishing shed at Kewalo Basin into a cultural and educational center. Hawaii News Now.

The median price for condominiums on Oahu hit an all-time high of $425,000 in July, rising 6 percent from the same month a year ago, according to a report by Honolulu-based real estate firm Locations. Pacific Business News.

Dozens of community members gathered Thursday inside Kapolei High School's cafeteria to have their questions and concerns heard, as Congresswoman Colleen Hanabusa discussed the latest news out of the nation's capital. KITV.

The University of Hawaii Manoa student newspaper is hoping for a student fee increase to help it survive in the digital age. Civil Beat.

Former Honolulu police officer Jessie Laconsay,  who is already serving a 10 year sentence for sexually assaulting a teen, faces even more punishment. Hawaii News Now.

Hawaii Island

A bill that would allow Hawaii County to spend its geothermal royalties on “community health and safety projects” will be sent to the Planning Commission for review. Tribune-Herald.

Mayor Harry Kim has canceled two geothermal studies previously approved by the Windward Planning Commission. The studies would have looked at health impacts of geothermal development in Puna and dispersion of hydrogen sulfide during steam releases. Tribune-Herald.

Hawaii County Department of Parks and Recreation maintenance crews had their hands — and their trucks — full Wednesday, as they cleared out rubbish from the Old Airport Park in preparation for a cleanup effort set for Aug. 9-10. West Hawaii Today.

Some of those who were previously camping at Old Kona Airport have been relocated under tents next to Hale Kikaha. Big Island Video News.

There's nothing fancy about the Big Island's new homeless safe zone. It's just a row of pop-up tents, a few portable toilets and some showers. Hawaii News Now.

Maui

Roads leading to the summit of Haleakala are once again open to the public today. Park officials say the construction convoy delivering equipment for the new Daniel K. Inouye Solar Telescope was successful. This follows the latest round of protests against the solar telescope under construction. Hawaii Public Radio.

Maui police said a preliminary review of reports and video from the arrest of a protester on Haleakala Wednesday shows that officers acted within department policy in forcibly restraining him before he fell unconscious in handcuffs. Star-Advertiser.

Police force on Maui has been questioned following an injury reported during an arrest of one of the demonstrators during the Kāko’o Haleakala protest early Wednesday morning. Maui Now.

Some are claiming that Maui officers used excessive force during a protest of the controversial Haleakala telescope project, and are pointing to cell phone video circulating online as evidence of their charges. Hawaii News Now.

The Maui County Council’s Land Use Committee unanimously voted against approval for a conditional permit to allow special events at the “Lona Ridge” property in Wailuku. Maui Now.

A shortage of bus drivers on Maui has forced state officials to suspend bus rides for students at three schools and limit rides for students at one school. Associated Press.

Frustration is mounting on Maui as parents learn new bus pickup times for their kids still aren’t set or are set too late. KHON2.

Kauai

Days from the first potential drop of 10 tons of rodenticide on Lehua Island, some are still demanding the state respond to unanswered questions. Garden Island.

The Navy announced today that it successfully tracked a medium-range ballistic missile target in flight off Kauai with the new AN/SPY-6(V) Air and Missile Defense Radar on July 27. Star-Advertiser.

When some Kauai County Councilmembers voted against funding to develop a Climate Action Plan, it was because they did not know what it hoped to accomplish. Garden Island.

Group sinks teeth into General Plan Update. Garden Island.

A Lihue man awaiting trial on charges of producing child pornography told Kauai police that he had sexually assaulted seven boys and girls over a span of eight or nine years, according to a recently unsealed U.S. District Court document. Star-Advertiser.