Hawaii urges mumps shots, native rite causes Kauai brushfire, Gabbard banned from Azerbaijan, Big Island HR chief resigns following critical audit, who's selecting Honolulu police chief, infant contracts rat lungworm, Akaka supports Thirty Meter Telescope, judge halts Maui sand-mining, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Mumps symptoms, Hawaii Department of Health

State health officials, continuing to investigate the growing number of mumps infections statewide, are urging most Hawaii residents to get an extra mumps vaccination. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii among 8 states questioned on Medicaid spending surge. Federal data shows Hawaii’s spending on new Medicaid enrollees increased by almost 76 percent in one year, and the chairman of the U.S. Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs wants to know why. Star-Advertiser.

Are Hawaii’s Nursing and Senior Care Homes Prepared For Disasters? Recent tragedies elsewhere raise questions about preparedness here, which can vary dramatically depending on the size of the facility. Civil Beat.

Open-government advocates are slamming a proposal that would triple the fees to access public information, saying a draft of rules unveiled this month add vague terms that could make it harder to obtain public documents from state and county agencies. Civil Beat.

U. S. Rep. Tulsi Gabbard has been banned from entering Azerbaijan, a formerly Soviet country in the South Caucasus region, adjacent to Russia, Iran and Armenia. Gabbard went to the conflict-ridden region last week on what was billed as a fact-finding trip with a congressional delegation. Civil Beat.

Oahu

The closely watched search for a police chief enters its final phase when the Honolulu Police Commission gathers today to come up with a list of finalists from a semifinalist roster of nine. Star-Advertiser.

Former HPD chief among those narrowing the candidates for that job. The panel includes former HPD chief Lee Donahue and former United States Attorney Flo Nakakuni.  Also assessing the nine finalists at a Waikiki hotel, is former Honolulu Managing Director Bob Fishman and one time Assistant Chief for HPD, Mark Nakagawa. Hawaii News Now.

State to examine regulations around Red Hill storage tanks. An environmental court judge says he'll decide next month whether to require new state rules for underground fuel tanks. Hawaii News Now.

After years of complaints, the city is dramatically changing a busy Kailua intersection. A roundabout is coming to the triangular intersection of South Kalaheo Avenue and Kailua Road. Hawaii News Now.

Some Mililani residents are upset and confused as to why the city would remove crosswalks at a busy intersection. KHON2.

Planning officials OK Maunawili Valley rezoning request. Former Kamehameha Schools trustee Oswald Stender resides on four acres zoned for agriculture and wants to add more homes to his family estate through rezoning. Star-Advertiser.

Some Oahu charities say they're scrambling to ensure services for seniors are not impacted by a delay in federal funding -- and they blame the city for not stepping in. Hawaii News Now.

A federal fire captain is facing a handful of charges after being accused of sexually assaulting a girl under the age of 14. Hawaii News Now.

Hawaii Island

County Human Resources Director Sharon Toriano resigned suddenly Wednesday, following a critical audit that showed “questionable hiring practices,” and a West Hawaii Today article Monday indicating preferential treatment of job applicants through her use of sticky notes on official hiring documents. West Hawaii Today.

Former U.S. Sen. Daniel Akaka has endorsed the construction of the controversial Thirty Meter Telescope in his new autobiography, saying the cutting-edge observatory will generate “huge” educational opportunities and jobs for the Hawaiian community. Star-Advertiser.

The latest victim of rat lungworm disease in the state is a Pahoa infant thought to have eaten a slug or snail. Tribune-Herald.

The tenth laboratory-confirmed case of rat lungworm disease contracted on Hawaii Island this year, and the 17th in the state, has been contracted by an infant from the Puna District. Big Island Video News.

The state has confirmed that an infant in the Puna district of the Big Island has contracted the rat lungworm disease. Hawaii News Now.

Hawaii County warned residents Wednesday of the possibility of being cut off from the water supply temporarily after tank levels declined in the past few days. West Hawaii Today.

As the Emergency Water Restriction remains in effect for North Kona, officials have started to see a decline in the water level in some tanks. Big Island Video News.

Helicopter Noise On The Big Island Has Residents Buzzing. Protesters decry “dirty tourism” during a demonstration outside the Hilo airport. “It’s never been this bad,” said a County Council member. Civil Beat.

Fewer Hawaii Island charter school students met state testing standards last year, though leaders at some of those schools said results aren’t the best indicator of their students’ progress. Tribune-Herald.

Maui

A 2nd Circuit Judge ordered Maui Lani Partners to halt earthmoving work at its Phase IX site in Kahului, saying that the facts show “at least preliminarily” that the company did not follow a state-approved archaeological monitoring plan. Maui News.

A judge ordered a preliminary injunction Wednesday to protect Valley Isle sand dunes from being mined for export and construction, but allows some work at Maui Lani to continue if properly supervised. KHON2.

A “skill-based” video game arcade with cash returns quietly opened over the weekend at Maui Harbor Shops in Maalaea, but it has caused residents and law enforcement to question if it is gambling, a county official said Tuesday. Maui News.

The County of Maui Mayor’s Office of Economic Development announced it won the Gold Excellence in Economic Development Award for its 2017 Made in Maui County Festival. Maui Now.

Kauai

The Kauai Island Utility cooperative is moving ahead with a renewable energy project on the Garden Isle's west side. Hawaii News Now.

Kauai Island Utility Cooperative's board of directors on Tuesday approved expenditures of up to $350,000 to conduct preliminary work for a project on the island's west side. Pacific Business News.

No seabirds were grounded during the first night football game during fledgling season in seven years on Kauai. Garden Island.

A fire-throwing ceremony on Makana mountain on Monday was being blamed for sparking the wildland fire still burning along the cliffs on the North Shore. Garden Island.

A wildland fire that closed large portions of Kauai's North Shore on Tuesday is believed to have been accidentally ignited during an ancient Hawaiian fire-throwing ceremony, according to a state Department of Land and Natural Resources spokesperson. Hawaii News Now.

Some residents are asking what Kauai’s General Plan can achieve. Tuesday, they received some possible answers. Garden Island.

Beer tax could be slashed, commercial fishing fees double, tourism could benefit from others' troubles, audit slams Honolulu homeless program management, Maui condo war, Princeville founder dies, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Hops to it! Beer making in Hawaii © 2017 All Hawaii News

A new bill could slash beer taxes in half, bolster Hawaii's hops industry. Hawaii Rep. Kaniela Ing will introduce the bill, which would slash taxes that Hawaii residents pay for beer by more than half, from 93 cents per gallon to 42 cents per gallon. Pacific Business News.

Maui Rep. Kaniela Ing plans to introduce a bill during the next legislative session that would cut taxes Hawaii residents pay for beer by more than half, from 93 cents a gallon to 42 cents a gallon. Maui Now.

Democratic South Maui state Rep. Kaniela Ing wants to introduce legislation next year to cut state beer taxes by more than half, from 93 to 42 cents per gallon. Maui News.

The state Department of Land and Natural Resources wants to triple license fees for commercial fishermen and charter captains while requiring more paperwork for dealers in fish and other marine life. West Hawaii Today.

A devastating Atlantic hurricane season, along with concerns about safety in Mexico and Europe, could propel Hawaii’s visitor industry to an even stronger finish in 2018, which was already anticipated to be tourism’s best year. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii Gov. David Ige on Tuesday announced the appointment of Catherine Betts as deputy director of the state Department of Human Services, effective Oct. 3. Pacific Business News.

Hawaii schools not prepared to shelter children in event of nuclear strike. As tensions continue to rise between the United States and North Korea, Hawaii's Emergency Management Agency has instructed residents to prepare for a nuclear strike by stockpiling 14 days worth of food, water and supplies – a standard the Department of Education says Hawaii's public schools cannot fulfill. Hawaii News Now.

The number of public school students taking and passing Advanced Placement exams jumped by double-digit percentages over last year, a step forward in college readiness in Hawaii. Star-Advertiser.

Punahou teens all earn top AP calculus score. Star-Advertiser.

Oahu

A report by city Auditor Edwin Young gives the city’s initiatives to fight homelessness a lukewarm grade and slams Mayor Kirk Caldwell and his administration for lacking benchmarks and mismanaging programs aimed at sheltering people. Star-Advertiser.

A Circuit Court judge will hear arguments on Wednesday in the Sierra Club’s lawsuit over the underground fuel tanks at Red Hill. The Sierra Club is suing the state Department of Health, saying it did not enact underground storage rules to protect Hawaii’s groundwater. Hawaii News Now.

Some Honolulu High Rises Don’t Need Sprinklers, Fire Safety Panel Says. Residential buildings could each be evaluated to determine if a sprinkler retrofitting is necessary, a City Council committee is told. Civil Beat.

Following summer’s deadly Marco Polo fire, city leaders continue to grapple with how to make hundreds of Honolulu high-rises safer without overburdening owners and tenants. Star-Advertiser.

The secrecy and confusion continue over how Honolulu is choosing its next police chief. Tuesday, a group of local residents -- whose names are being kept confidential -- began the process of ranking the top nine candidates at a Waikiki hotel. Hawaii News Now.

The departure of Luella Costales from the Honolulu Police Commission means the oversight agency will need to collaborate more on future decisions, including the selection of a new chief. Civil Beat.

The battle over beach access in the Portlock community may soon come to an end after the city took its first step in resolving the conflict Tuesday. Hawaii News Now.

Gentrification for Chinatown?  Honolulu's Chinatown has been a center of revitalization, but there are concerns too many improvements could change the character of the district. KITV.

A startup is using former sugar cane land on the North Shore to “grow oil” — pongamia trees whose seeds can be turned into biofuel. Can pongamia, an obscure plant agriculture startup TerViva is growing on 50 acres of former sugar cane land near Haleiwa, really be Hawaii’s next big cash crop? Civil Beat.

The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission is suing the owners of Pacific Fun Enterprises LLC, dba Snappers Sports Bar and Grill and Snap-ette Beach and Liquor Store for sexual harassment of female employees. Star-Advertiser.

Federal lawsuit claims owner of Waikiki bar sexually harassed female workers over the course of 7 years. Hawaii News Now.

A 58-year-old Pearl City man is in custody at the Federal Detention Center on charges that he accepted and hid more than $2.8 million in bribes that he solicited to steer more than $400 million worth of engineering and construction work to a particular South Korean-based multinational company when he worked as a contracting officer for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. Star-Advertiser.

Residents in Makakilo say they've been cited for having plants and objects other than grass in the planting strips fronting their homes. The citations are causing confusion as many say they had no idea they were breaking the city's building code. Hawaii News Now.

Private concert draws dozens of noise complaints in Kakaako. KHON2.

Hawaii Island

The only solar program available that credits residents for the excess energy their solar systems send into the grid on Hawaii Island has hit its limit. Star-Advertiser.

In unanimous floor votes, members of the Hawaii State Senate Tuesday confirmed the appointments of 3rd Circuit District Family Court Judge Henry T. Nakamoto to the Circuit Court of the 3rd Circuit (Hilo) and attorney Robert D.S. Kim to the Circuit Court of the 3rd Circuit (Kona). West Hawaii Today.

Ocean View resident Raina Whiting announced over the weekend that she’ll run for the District 5 House seat being vacated by Rep. Richard Creagan. West Hawaii Today.

Real estate development company Meridian Pacific Ltd. says about two-thirds of storefront spaces at its planned Puna Kai shopping center are spoken for. Tribune-Herald.

Outside the aisle: Local grocery store launches online shopping, delivery service. West Hawaii Today.

Nine months after its last attempt ended in failure, the state and its conservation partners Tuesday released another six captive-born Hawaiian crows into the East Hawaii wilderness, hoping to re-establish a species that hadn’t been seen in the wild since 2002. Star-Advertiser.

Maui

Condo War Breaks Out On Maui When Homes Become Hotels. When people were required to wait in line at the front desk to check into their own units, they started complaining. Civil Beat.

Panel moves to allow north shore vacation rentals. County Council will need to amend current Paia-Haiku Community Plan, which prohibits short-term rentals. Maui News.

The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs has awarded more than $1.9 million to Hawaii for improvements at veterans cemeteries on Maui and Lanai, U.S. Sen. Brian Schatz announced Friday. Maui News.

St. Anthony School has a new statue of the Blessed Father William Joseph Chaminade in the same location as one damaged in late March 2016, the school announced. Maui News.

Women Helping Women’s new executive director has firsthand knowledge of how the domestic crisis agency can help victims. Maui News.

Kauai

Harry Trueblood, the pioneer developer of Princeville, died in Denver on Sept. 14 at the age of 92. Garden Island.

Wildland fire on Kauai's Na Pali Coast highlights drought conditions statewide. Hawaii News Now.

A wildland fire burning adjacent to Haena State Park on Kauai’s North Shore closed the park and the popular Kalalau Trail in Na Pali Coast State Wilderness Park Tuesday. Garden Island.

New boss at Honolulu Zoo, Pflueger dies, Big Island state rep has testicular cancer, Honolulu police commissioner resigns over chief selection process, $6M grant for UH Ebola study, 3rd director leaves Hawaii County administration, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Elephants at the Honolulu Zoo © 2017 All Hawaii News

Longtime Honolulu Zoo curator Linda Santos was named the troubled facility’s new director by the city today. Star-Advertiser.

Honolulu Zoo appoints first female director. Linda Santos has been promoted to Honolulu Zoo director from assistant zoo director. Pacific Business News.

The Honolulu Zoo has named its next director, who will be tasked with reclaiming the zoo's accreditation after it was stripped in March 2016. Associated Press.

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The state Department of Transportation's attempt to create its own police force is facing resistance. Hawaii News Now.

Hawaii is one of the worst states for teachers, new report says. Hawaii News Now.

$6M grant aids UH with Ebola vaccine. After years of studying one of the world’s deadliest viruses, the University of Hawaii is making headway on an Ebola vaccine. Star-Advertiser.

The University of Hawaii Manoa has received a $6.4 million federal grant to continue development of a promising Ebola vaccine. Civil Beat.

Tourism is currently the largest employer in Hawaii but its making way for other job opportunities for residents. Hawaii Public Radio.

The head of U.S. Pacific Fleet at Pearl Harbor said today he has submitted a request to retire after being passed over for the position of commander of U.S. Pacific Command. Star-Advertiser.

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James “Jimmy” Pflueger, a prominent Hawaii car dealer who later served several months in jail for his role in the 2006 failure of Kauai’s Ko Loko dam that killed seven people, died Sunday night in Honolulu. He was 91. Star-Advertiser.

James “Jimmy” Pflueger, founder of Hawaii's first Honda automotive dealership, Pacific Honda in Honolulu, has died. He was 91. Pacific Business News.

James Pflueger, who was sentenced to seven months in jail for his part in the Ka Loko Dam failure on Kauai’s North Shore that killed seven people on March 14, 2006, died Sunday in Honolulu. Garden Island.

A man who established the nation’s first Honda dealership in Hawaii and later become a controversial Kauai landowner has died. Hawaii News Now.

Oahu

A member of the Honolulu Police Commission is resigning after raising concerns about a lack of diversity in the process of selecting the department’s next chief. Associated Press.

Just weeks before the Honolulu Police Commission is scheduled to pick a new police chief, one of its members resigned abruptly Monday, citing her opposition to the selection process. Star-Advertiser.

Mayor Kirk Caldwell says dealing with Honolulu's housing crisis is one of his top priorities. But at the same time, the city just lost millions of dollars for housing programs and need-based rental assistance. Hawaii News Now.

Councilman promises solution for frustrated residents along crash-prone stretch of Windward Oahu road. KHON2.

The Board of Water Supply has completed repairs to a water main break in the Waikiki area. Hawaii News Now.

The entrance to Ala Moana Regional Park off Atkinson Drive will remain closed for at least another week due to a sinkhole. KHON2.

A nonprofit is offering free youth suicide and bullying prevention training in public and private schools across Oahu, courtesy of a grant from the City and County of Honolulu. Star-Advertiser.

Located in a volcanic crater, Punchbowl is a distinctive cemetery, and now it has a new administration office and visitor center to match that character. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii Island

With the resignation Friday of Parks and Recreation Director Charmaine Kamaka, Mayor Harry Kim has lost his third department head in almost as many months. West Hawaii Today.

State Rep. Chris Todd, D-Hilo, a local high school football coach, said he's been diagnosed with testicular cancer. Tribune-Herald.

The Big Island’s First Legal Homeless Camp: Safe Zone Or Shanty Town? Mayor Harry Kim wants several encampments around the island, but critics say the focus should be on finding permanent housing. Civil Beat.

Maui

The Kula Forest Reserve, Waipoli Access Road, Kahikinui Forest Reserve – Papaanui Tract, and Polipoli Spring State Recreation Area will be closed for two weeks, officials with the Department of Land and Natural Resources, Division of Forestry and Wildlife announced today. Maui Now.

Food entrepreneurs on Maui help build economic future. Hawaii is looking seriously at agriculture and value-added agricultural products as a future growth sector for our economy. Star-Advertiser.

State Department of Education Superintendent Christina Kishimoto will join Board of Education members for a community meeting Friday in Pomaikai Elementary School’s library in Kahului. Maui News.

Kauai

The Waimea swimming pool will be closed on Sunday, Oct. 1, and Sunday, Oct. 8, due to a staffing shortage. Additionally, the Kapaa swimming pool will be closed on Sunday, Oct. 8, also because of a staffing shortage. Garden Island.

Too many tourists, not enough doctors; lawsuit over abortion choices; Honolulu police chief drama drags on; Hawaii County hiring questioned; black band coral disease resurfaces, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Honolulu Spam Jam © 2017 All Hawaii News

Too many tourists? Sustainability was the theme of this week’s “global summit” put together by the Hawaii Tourism Authority. Hawaii Public Radio.

Hawaii anti-abortion pregnancy centers went to court to argue that a new law violates their right to free speech and religion. Associated Press.

Hawaii’s doctor shortage is worsening, except on the island of Kauai, according to the most recent data by the University of Hawaii Physician Workforce Assessment. Star-Advertiser.

Oahu

The Honolulu Police Commission is expected to whittle its list of police chief candidates down to a handful when it meets Thursday. Star-Advertiser.

Morale a major problem at embattled police department, some say. Star-Advertiser.

Commentary: It rankled when former police Chief Louis Kealoha, facing a federal corruption investigation for allegedly involving the department in a family legal dispute, was paid $250,000 by the Police Commission to go away. It stings even worse to see that while the taxpayer money went away, Kealoha really didn’t. Star-Advertiser.

Sgt. Kim Buffett, one of the high-profile faces of the Honolulu Police Department as the head of CrimeStoppers, will retire at the end of the month after 29 years and 10 months on the job and take her experience dealing with criminals, cops and journalists to Hawaiian Airlines as Hawaiian’s new head of guest services operations. Star-Advertiser.

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Ten years and $1 billion. That’s what it likely will take to replace the state’s aging Mayor Wright Homes low-income public housing complex in Kalihi with seven times as many rental apartments in a new high-rise community for residents earning a broad range of incomes. Star-Advertiser.

The trick, says Sharon Schneider, is to keep Kaimuki “cool and funky, but not scruffy.” So some merchants are sprucing up the storefronts along the community’s Waialae Avenue business district — in some cases, beautifying those strips of land between sidewalks and curbs that belong to the city. Civil Beat.

Could permits to park on the street help curb trespassers entering the Haiku Stairs trail, also known as the Stairway to Heaven? KHON2.

Kiewit Construction has won the bid contract for the first construction phase of Honolulu Harbor’s Kapalama Container Terminal. Pacific Business News.

Oahu is booming with murals, but two recent disputes have highlighted the legal issues and bad feelings that can arise when building owners that originally allowed artwork later decide to do something different with their property. Star-Advertiser.

Aiea Intermediate will be closed Monday, Sept. 25, due to a power outage. KHON2.

Hawaii Island

‘POI’ creates sticky situation for HR: Merit Appeals Board to take up critical audit. For some county job seekers, the word “POI” — short for “person of interest” — represents their worst fears come true. The acronym on a request-to-fill form means there’s already a preferred candidate for the job, even before the position is advertised in an open recruitment. West Hawaii Today.

A recent federal court ruling allows criminal defendants who have not been proven guilty to appear in court without shackles, saying the restraints go against their constitutional rights. West Hawaii Today.

The state has fined a businessman who claims to have pioneered commercial sales of the bitter fruit noni, after he bulldozed a road to harvest a noni orchard planted illicitly on state land while claiming to own the property under authority of a nonexistent federal court. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii County Mayor Harry Kim plans to sign a bill passed by the County Council that would ban the use of polystyrene foam food containers on the island in two years. Star-Advertiser.

Fewer Hawaii Island public school students met grade-level standards on state tests last year than their counterparts statewide, according to new data from Hawaii’s Strive HI Performance System. Tribune-Herald.

The Merrie Monarch Festival is close to finding solutions for housing hula halau displaced after Mayor Harry Kim informed the festival the troupes would no longer be allowed to sleep in county gyms. Tribune-Herald.

The friends and family of Peter Boy Kema got some closure on the Big Island this weekend. Hawaii News Now.

Maui

A little over 200 snails from a dozen sites in West Maui, Upcountry, Kihei and Hana are being tested for rat lungworm disease in an attempt to track and combat the mollusks that caused an unparalleled outbreak on the island earlier this year. Maui News.

About 200 snails on Maui Island are being tested for rat lungworm disease in an attempt to track the mollusks that caused an unparalleled outbreak on the island this year. Associated Press.

Baldwin Beach – ‘back to its natural state’ With homeless camp gone, beach is available for parkgoers — but work is still needed. Maui News.

NOAA Fisheries announced it had released the 1,000th sea turtle (honu) that was rescued and rehabilitated in Hawai‘i at Tavares Beach on Maui’s North Shore. Maui Now.

Federal fisheries officials released the 1,000th sea turtle rehabilitated in the Hawaiian Islands, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Maui News.

The Department of Land and Natural Resources, Division of Forestry and Wildlife will have application forms for the 2018 Lanai axis deer hunting season available at all DOFAW offices statewide beginning Monday, Oct. 2. Maui Now.

U.S. Sen. Brian Schatz will be the keynote speaker at the 11th annual Hui Holomua Business Fest, which will take place Oct. 11 at the King Kamehameha Golf Club in Waikapu, the Maui Native Hawaiian Chamber of Commerce announced Tuesday. Maui News.

Kauai

Black band disease is once again spreading through some corals around Kauai, according to Hanalei researcher Terry Lilley. Garden Island.

Retail Shops On Hawaii Farmland: Kauai Dispute Could Set A Precedent. A company points to a 2012 state law as it sues for the right to sell its coffee beans and cigars on agricultural land. Civil Beat.

Proposed changes to commercial marine license fees will be explained by the Department of Land and Natural Resources in public hearing meetings set for Oct. 5 and Oct. 10 on Kauai. Garden Island.

Crime statewide lowest since 1975. Rape rises on Kauai; unclear if due to reporting change or actual increase. Garden Island.

The Deadliest Beach On Kauai Might Surprise You. A researcher analyzed drownings over 42 years. The beach with the most fatalities isn’t considered the most hazardous. Civil Beat.

Legislature mulls response to possible North Korea attack, $163M upgrade for Honolulu Harbor, lawsuit over water use in Kauai general plan, swimming warning after Maui sewage spill, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Native dancers at Kona luau © 2017 All Hawaii News

Culture and commerce are often seen as forces in conflict. But here in Hawaii, the culture is one of the driving forces of the state’s largest commercial sector – tourism. Hawaii Public Radio.

Hawaii has ratcheted up its planning for a possible — but still very unlikely — North Korean nuclear attack on the isles to 100 kiloton yield from 15 kiloton as the threat from the rogue nation seems to escalate by the week. Star-Advertiser.

The State Emergency Management Agency provided a briefing on what residents and visitors should do in the event of a North Korean nuclear attack targeting Honolulu and Pearl Harbor. Hawaii Public Radio.

An informational meeting was held Thursday to brief the public on preparations and instructions in the event of a foreign attack. KITV.

Here's what the state wants you to do if North Korea attacks Hawaii. Get inside, stay inside and stay tuned. Hawaii News Now.

Attack siren tests on hold: More specific sound considered as part of state’s nuclear threat response. Tribune-Herald.

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The latest Republican move to repeal the Affordable Care Act and instead pay states to shape their own systems would hit Hawaii particularly hard, according to health care analysts. Civil Beat.

One big driver of Hawaii’s economy — construction — has been on a fairly consistent seven-year growth run. But that run is likely done this year, and some coasting near the current high level is expected for the next three years. Star-Advertiser.

Controversial Pesticide Remains Unregulated In Hawaii. The chemical dicamba appears to have caused widespread crop damage on the mainland but in Hawaii you can’t even find out whether it’s being used or where. Civil Beat.

OHA considers changing contract to award charter school funds, unsettling many. Hawaii News Now.

The man behind an in-flight scare in May has been deemed mentally fit for trial, the Associated Press reports. Hawaii News Now.

Airline capacity to Hawaii is projected to keep growing, but the number of seats being added is expected to slow and fares are projected to come down as carriers strain the limits of what the airport and hotels can handle. Star-Advertiser.

Oahu

Oahu’s second medical marijuana dispensary will open in early October, one block away from the island’s first cannabis retailer. Star-Advertiser.

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State invests millions for Honolulu Harbor upgrade. State officials said Thursday they plan to spend $163 million on phase one of the Kapalama Container Terminal Project. Hawaii News Now.

Space in congested Honolulu Harbor will be cleared to allow a prospective third major ocean cargo carrier to launch a new service from the mainland in 2020. Star-Advertiser.

Pasha Hawaii will be the exclusive operator of Honolulu Harbor's yet to be constructed Kapalama Container Terminal and TOTE Maritime will move in to Piers 1 and 2, currently operated by Pasha’s Hawaii Stevedores, which handles APL and NYK, according to the Hawaii Department of Transportation. Pacific Business News.

Harbor upgrades on track with new shipper. KITV.

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An Oahu grand jury today indicted a 69-year-old woman for stealing more than $5.7 million from the nonprofit Arc of Hawaii. Star-Advertiser.

A grand jury Thursday indicted a 69-year-old woman for allegedly stealing more than $5.7 million from Honolulu-based nonprofit Arc of Hawaii. Pacific Business News.

A farm on Oahu's west side is getting a major financial boost from the Economic Development Administration that is expected to bring hundreds of jobs to Waianae. Hawaii News Now.

Dozens of descendants of Japanese soldiers killed in World War II visited Pearl Harbor on Thursday to pay respects to fallen American soldiers. Civil Beat.

MyGoCenter, a co-working space in Kapolei, is opening an expanded suite at the Kapolei Marketplace on Sept. 28. Pacific Business News.

Hawaii Island

Former County Councilwoman Brenda Ford announced her candidacy Thursday for the state House District 5 seat being vacated by Rep. Richard Creagan. West Hawaii Today.

The Kohala Ranch Water Company was hoping by Wednesday to have water running to the several developments it supplies exclusively. After suffering equipment issues, the new target date is sometime Saturday night. West Hawaii Today.

Maui

State Department of Health officials are advising people to stay out of the ocean north of Kahului Harbor because of a Wednesday morning sewage spill. Maui News.

About 62,500 gallons of wastewater overflowed Wednesday morning off of Kahului Beach Road in Wailuku, the county Department of Environmental Management reported. Maui News.

Ninety-one percent of students at Kamalii Elementary School in Kihei are meeting or exceeding science standards, one of the highest percentages of student subject-area proficiency in the state, according to a performance report released Tuesday by the state Department of Education. Maui News.

Commentary: The announcement Thursday by County Council member Don Guzman that he will seek the office of mayor in 2018 adds yet another dynamic to that race. Maui News.

Kauai

Kauai County is creating a roadmap for the next decade of growth on the garden island, and it’s drawn a lawsuit claiming the plan doesn’t protect public trust resources. Garden Island.

The Hanapepe Stadium will be fully lit for Friday night football tonight, and the County of Kauai could be taking a legal risk doing it. Garden Island.

Land Board to decide Thirty Meter Telescope permit, Big Island to ban foam food containers, firefighters' union blasts Honolulu chief for actions in deadly high-rise blaze, low-income seniors get $800 rent hike, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Telescopes on Mauna Kea © 2017 All Hawaii News

The fate of the Thirty Meter Telescope is in the hands of the state Board of Land and Natural Resources following a lengthy and sometimes emotional final hearing Wednesday to conclude the project’s contested case proceeding. Star-Advertiser.

The Thirty Meter Telescope is again in the hands of the state Board of Land and Natural Resources. After a full day of testimony, and time to ask its own questions of supporters and opponents, the seven-member panel ended a hearing Wednesday in Hilo without making a decision regarding whether the next-generation telescope should be built on Mauna Kea, leaving that for an undetermined date. Tribune-Herald.

The final public hearing over the proposed Thirty Meter Telescope kicked off Wednesday in Hilo. Hawaii News Now.

Hawaii’s land board is hearing arguments for and against building a giant telescope on a mountain some consider sacred. Associated Press.

The Hawaii State Board of Land and Natural Resources began hearing oral arguments in the Contested Case Hearing for the Conservation District Use Application for the Thirty Meter Telescope at the Mauna Kea Science Reserve on Wednesday, Sept. 20, 2017, beginning at 9 a.m. in the Crown Room of the Grand Naniloa Hotel in Hilo. Big Island Now.

VIDEO: University of Hawaii Final Argument In TMT Case. Big Island Video News.

VIDEO: Kahookahi Kanuha Final Argument In TMT Case. Big Island Video News.

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Hawaii stands to lose $5 billion in federal funding for health insurance within a decade if the latest Senate GOP health care bill becomes law. Hawaii News Now.

State to brief people on what to do if NKorea launches attack. Hawaii News Now.

How Some Hawaii Officials’ Paychecks Compare To The Mainland. Some of the islands’ top public employees stack up well, even with our high cost of living. Others, not so much. Civil Beat.

Report: Hawaii among 14 states making strides to combat climate change. Hawaii News Now.

Hawaii’s first two medical marijuana dispensaries sold a combined 57 pounds of buds totaling more than $426,000 in sales since opening in early August. Star-Advertiser.

For the first time in a decade, there’s new management on the way for a $1.5 million annual grant provided by the Office of Hawaiian Affairs to Hawaiian-focused public charter schools, and not everyone is happy about that. Civil Beat.

Global Tourism Summit: Japan #1 for Hawaii. One-point-five million Japanese Tourists visit Hawaii and spend more than 2 billion dollars. Hawaii Public Radio.

Hawaiian Airlines has no plans to drop its money-making fees for checked baggage and reservation changes when Southwest Airlines enters the Hawaii market. Star-Advertiser.

Island Air hopes for profit next year after costly upgrades. Star-Advertiser.

Commentary: Make It Easier, Not Harder, To Access Hawaii’s Public Records. Gov. David Ige and his Office of Information Practices are sending very different messages about openness and accountability in state government. Civil Beat.

Oahu

The head of the firefighters’ union took his complaints against Honolulu Fire Chief Manuel Neves and his top lieutenants over their handling of the July 14 Marco Polo condominium fire to the city Fire Commission on Wednesday. Star-Advertiser.

The president of Hawaii Firefighters Association criticized Honolulu Fire Department's response to the deadly Marco Polo high rise fire that killed three people on July 14. KITV.

Firefighters Union Protests Lack Of Information On Marco Polo Investigation. The Honolulu Fire Department knows the cause of the fire, but is refusing to reveal it — even to their own firefighters — until reports are finalized. Civil Beat.

A complaint from a decorated police officer who is urging the Honolulu Police Commission to scrutinize police chief applicants who might be involved in the corruption case against former Police Chief Louis Kealoha and his wife was taken up behind closed doors Wednesday. Star-Advertiser.

Tensions flared at Wednesday’s Honolulu Police Commission meeting as former Police Chief Louis Kealoha continued his quest to have taxpayers foot his legal bills. Civil Beat.

Monthly rent for several kupuna at a low income senior apartment complex in Honolulu is expected to shoot up by about $800. KITV.

The U.S. Department of Commerce is investing in a new agricultural produce processing and farmer training facility on Oahu through a $1.6 million grant to the Waianae Community Redevelopment Corp. Pacific Business News.

Community concerns prompt landowner to scale back North Shore food truck hub. Hawaii News Now.

Kahuku Medical Center is searching for a new chief executive officer to replace Stephany Nihipali Vaioleti, who is leaving the North Shore hospital in October to join Hawaii Medical Service Association. Star-Advertiser.

The Honolulu-based Coast Guard cutter Sherman returned Wednesday after a 94-day, 16,000 mile patrol in the Arctic Ocean and Bering Sea in a region where melting sea ice is causing commercial and military activity to heat up as well. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii County

Mayor Harry Kim said Wednesday he plans to sign a foam food container ban that passed the County Council by a 7-2 vote earlier in the day. West Hawaii Today.

Rep. Richard Creagan, who has represented South Kona and Ka‘u for the past four years, announced Wednesday his candidacy for the state Senate, recommitting in his announcement to an earlier goal of getting a new hospital and teaching institution for West Hawaii. West Hawaii Today.

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Hawaiian Electric Industries Inc. announced Wednesday that the owner of an oil-fired power plant on Hawaii Island has agreed to sell the facility to a private subsidiary of HEI. The purchase comes after the state Public Utilities Commission stopped Hawaii Electric Light Co., an HEI subsidiary, from purchasing the power plant. Star-Advertiser.

Pacific Current, a newly created subsidiary of Hawaiian Electric Industries, has reached an agreement with ArcLight Capital Partners to buy Hamakua Energy Partners' 60-megawatt power plant on the Big Island for an undisclosed price. Pacific Business News.

One of the “highest efficiency, lowest emission power plants in the state” is being sold to a new subsidiary of Hawaiian Electric Industries Inc. Tribune-Herald.

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Big Island Tourism: Fastest Growing in the Islands. Hawaii Public Radio.

The Food Basket Inc., Hawaii Island’s food bank, is teaming up with KTA Super Stores and farmers markets to help SNAP-EBT cardholders purchase more island-grown produce. Tribune-Herald.

Child porn, trafficking suspect sues his home surveillance company. Star-Advertiser.

Maui

A nearly 29 percent property tax hike could be in store for Maui homeowners who rent out their non-primary residences as transient vacation rentals. Associated Press.

The state Department of Land and Natural Resources will hold a public meeting Monday to discuss maintenance dredging scheduled for October at the Lahaina Small Boat Harbor and Mala Boat Ramp. Maui News.

The newly renovated and rebranded Goodwill Store and Donation Center in Kahului will celebrate its grand reopening Saturday, Sept. 30, and Sunday, Oct. 1. Maui Now.

Kauai

Maui Kupono Builders will be conducting roadwork repairs on Maluhia Road, from Kaumualii Highway to Ala Kinoiki, from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday through Friday. Garden Island.

Three citizens are being acknowledged for making a difference with aloha in their actions. The Kauai Chamber of Commerce will be presenting the 2017 Mea Ho‘omana‘o Awards to recognize and honor those who demonstrate the importance of aloha with respect and civility in their interactions. Garden Island.

Hawaii lawmakers huddle on North Korea threat, iiwi honeycreeper named threatened species, students show slight STRIVE test improvement, tourism v. natural resources, Maui mulls steep tax hike for vacation rentals, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Pacific Iiwi at Hakalau Forest National Wildlife Refuge USFWS

Hawaiian iiwi bird named to list of threatened species. With its bright red plumage and down-curved bill, the iiwi is a living symbol of Hawaii that for so long seemed to resist the tide of extinction that overcame so many of its native Hawaiian cousins. Star-Advertiser.

Facing extinction due in large part to the effects of climate change, the iiwi — a scarlet honeycreeper only found in Hawaii — will receive federal protection as a threatened species, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service announced Tuesday. Civil Beat.

Dozens of legislators and their staffers met behind closed doors Tuesday to hear a briefing by state Emergency Management Agency officials on preparedness for a North Korea nuclear strike on Hawaii. Civil Beat.

Students in Hawaii’s public schools did better in science this year, but their English and math performance stagnated, according to the Strive HI report presented to the Board of Education on Tuesday evening. Star-Advertiser.

In a new report released by the DOE Tuesday, numbers of students meeting or exceeding Strive HI benchmarks continues to grow. Hawaii News Now.

Tourism in 2018 is expected to surpass 2017, which so far is shaping up to be the best tourism year on record, according to experts at the annual Global Tourism Summit, which kicked off Tuesday at the Hawaii Convention Center and is expected to attract some 1,689 attendees through Thursday. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii’s annual visitor-industry conference is being expanded to the first-ever Global Tourism Summit.  About 25-hundred attendees are registered for the 3-day event. Hawaii Public Radio.

Global tourism leaders look at balancing surging industry with preserving natural resources. Hawaii News Now.

From hiking trails to beaches, the feeling of being overrun by visitors can be inescapable on some weekends here in Hawaii. Hawaii Public Radio.

Hawaii’s only cannabis laboratory received approval Tuesday from the state Health Department to begin testing cannabis-­infused concentrates and tinctures so that patients who don’t want to smoke the drug can buy alternative products. Star-Advertiser.

Two federal class-action lawsuits were filed this week against consumer credit reporting giant Equifax on behalf of Hawaii consumers. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii has joined a coalition of states in seeking documents and information from manufacturers and distributor of prescription opioids. Pacific Business News.

Hawaii has been declared one of the most diverse states in the United States, according to a new report by personal-finance website WalletHub. Pacific Business News.

Oahu

In the only recovery plan they ever hope to write, Honolulu rail officials say it’s “realistic and achievable” to build the full line to Ala Moana Center with the $9 billion total they now expect to receive. Star-Advertiser.

Full report: rail recovery plan can be found here.

Firefighters Union Protests Lack Of Information On Marco Polo Investigation. The Honolulu Fire Department knows the cause of the fire, but is refusing to reveal it — even to their own firefighters — until reports are finalized. Civil Beat.

Diamond Head Cliffs, one of Hawaiiʻs most iconic surfing areas, was the scene of a homeless sweep involving the Honolulu Police Department and 20 groundskeepers from the city Department of Parks and Recreation on Tuesday. Civil Beat.

The mother of Peyton Valiente, the toddler who was severely abused more than two years ago while under the care of his baby sitter, is seeking a federal investigation of the way the state Department of Human Services handled her son’s case. Star-Advertiser.

The mother of a Honolulu toddler who almost died from apparent abuse while under the care of a babysitter in 2015 is seeking a federal agency’s help in figuring out whether the sitter was ever put on the state’s child abuse and neglect registry. Civil Beat.

A proposal to build an emergency bypass road through a section of Nanakuli is meeting strong resistance that could derail the plan. Hawaii News Now.

The wheels are beginning to turn on a $1.3 billion project to transform a rundown federal public housing complex in Kalihi. On Wednesday, the state plans to sign a master development agreement for Mayor Wright Homes with a development team led by Hunt Companies Inc. Hawaii News Now.

Costco is expanding the gas station across from its warehouse store in Honolulu. Pacific Business News.

Costco members will need to find a new place to fill up their tanks for the next month. Signs posted at the almost always crowded Iwilei location say the station will be closed from Thursday Sept 28 and reopen on Friday Nov. 3. Hawaii News Now.

American Fast Freight has purchased a 26,153-square-foot warehouse in West Oahu from Kraft Heinz Foods Co. for $7.1 million. Pacific Business News.

Caught on camera: Strange lights spotted floating over Oahu. KHON2.

An attorney defending a man accused of inflight behavior that prompted military fighter jets to escort an airplane wants a hearing on his mental competency and detention to be closed to the public. Associated Press.

Pamela Burns, president and CEO of the Hawaiian Humane Society, died at her home Monday night. She was 65 years old. Star-Advertiser.

Pamela Burns, the longtime president and CEO of the Hawaiian Humane Society, has died, the nonprofit said Tuesday. She was 65. Pacific Business News.

Hawaii Island

One audit of the North Kona water system isn’t enough, at least not for the county government. West Hawaii Today.

On Tuesday, September 19 at the West Hawaii Civic Center, the Hawaii County Council Finance Committee will take up a resolution requesting the Legislative Auditor conduct a review of the Department of Water Supply. Big Island Video News.

An igloo village could pop up in Kona over the next few years, as Hawaii County works on a homeless settlement across from the West Hawaii Civic Center. West Hawaii Today.

Dozens of East Hawaii hospital patients got eye-popping medical bills last week. Nearly 200 patients served by Hawaii Health Systems Corp. received the “incorrect billing statements” in the mail from third-party billing vendor Healthcare Resource Group. Tribune-Herald.

The Kailua Village Design Commission on Tuesday gave its approval for a proposed new hotel on Henry Street. West Hawaii Today.

The Hawaii Department of Education’s new superintendent on Monday said delivery of special education services is among the areas eyed for improvement this year. Superintendent Christina Kishimoto, who took the reins in August, spoke about her plans for those programs and others to parents and faculty at Kealakehe High School. West Hawaii Today.

Maui

Based on current rates, a nearly 29 percent property tax hike could be in store for homeowners who rent out their non-primary residences as transient vacation rentals. Maui News.

The state is proposing improvements to the Lower Waiohuli Trail that would heighten public safety and allow for bicycle use on the 1.5-mile path on Haleakala’s western slope. Maui News.

The Maui County Department of Public Works invites the South Maui community to a public meeting on the Kihei Drainage Master Plan on Thursday, Sept. 21, at 6 p.m. at the Kīhei Community Center. Maui Now.

The Kihei drainage master plan will be discussed at a public meeting at 6 p.m. Thursday at the Kihei Community Center. Maui News.

The state Department of Land and Natural Resources will hold a public information meeting on Monday, Sept. 25, 2017, from 5 to 6:30 p.m. at the West Maui Senior Center, 788 Pauoa St. in Lahaina. Maui Now.

Coaches, league organizers, school athletic directors and other sports officials will need to start applying for recreational facilities months before each season begins as part of the county’s new triennial permit process, the county has announced. Maui News.

An official with Maui County has confirmed that the rumor regarding a fee at Kihei Aquatic Center is untrue. Maui Now.

The Fairway Shops at Kaanapali on Maui recently sold for nearly $14 million in a leasehold transaction. Pacific Business News.

Kauai

Hawaii representatives toured Kauai Tuesday and liked what they saw. Members of the House Finance Committee, chaired by Rep. Sylvia Luke, visited sites to see projects and programs supported by the Legislature. Garden Island.

The Kauai Police Department’s Fugitive Apprehension Strike Team conducted a special mission on Monday in the Lihue and Kapaa areas, which led to arrests, the removal of illegal campsites and the removal of abandoned property. Garden Island.

Stadium lights could once again come to life for a few night football games on Kauai this season, if the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service signs off. Garden Island.

Hawaii Legislature holds secret meeting today on military threat response, Sea-Based X-Band Radar returns to Pearl Harbor, HART submits rail recovery plan, SBA seeks small R&D companies, monk seal dies on Molokai, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Sea-Based X-Band Radar, PC: U.S. Missile Defense Agency

The Sea-Based X-Band Radar returned to Pearl Harbor on Friday after spending months at sea likely watching for any North Korean missiles that would have come across the Pacific in the direction of Hawaii and the mainland. Star-Advertiser.

Internal memo shows HI legislators to hold secret meeting Tuesday to discuss recent military threats (AKA N. Korea) and planned responses. Civil Beat.

Sen. Mazie K. Hirono, a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, added provisions to the National Defense Authorization Act that direct the U.S. Department of Defense to evaluate additional steps that can be taken to protect Hawaii and the Indo-Asia-Pacific region from growing threats, including recent actions taken by North Korea. Maui Now.

Helber Hastert and Fee Planners Inc. Monday received a $20 million architect and engineering contract from the U.S. Department of Defense for the preparation of Navy and Marine Corps National Environmental Policy Act, along with related documents. Pacific Business News.

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The University of Hawaii is tackling Hawaii’s chronic teacher shortage with a public campaign to attract more people to the profession, dubbed “Be a hero. Be a teacher.” Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii’s emergency rooms see more than 500,000 patients annually, and the most common complaint is long wait times. Star-Advertiser.

Armed with a $400,000 grant, a University of Hawaii researcher is launching a new initiative to find ways to prevent the transmission of the Zika virus between pregnant women and the fetus they carry. Star-Advertiser.

U.S. Small Business Administration Looking for Small Company Innovators. Federal agency representatives are on a road tour, visiting Hawaii to offer funding for smaller companies doing research and development. Hawaii Public Radio.

A recent report from the US Drought Monitor showed that 90.65% of the State was abnormally dry or drier than year-ago data. Maui Now.

Oahu

The city announced last week it has sold $767 million in general obligation bonds, including $350 million that the Honolulu Authority for Rapid Transportation deemed significant to keep construction going for the 20-mile, East Kapolei-to-Ala Moana project. Star-Advertiser.

The Estimated Cost Of Honolulu Rail Just Dropped By $1 Billion. A $10 billion figure was often cited as rail’s total cost, but HART tells the feds it thinks it can finish the project for $9 billion. Civil Beat.

The Honolulu rail authority says the cost of the rail system is now at $9 billion. Hawaii News Now.

Honolulu rail officials said Monday they submitted their recovery plan to the Federal Transit Administration last week, which includes an updated financial plan, following the state Legislature’s special session last month. Pacific Business News.

The Honolulu Authority for Rapid Transportation (HART) has released its recovery plan for the Honolulu Rail Transit Project. KHON2.

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Condominium sales in Waikiki jumped 40 percent in August, while Kakaako condo sales increased 33 percent, according to a local market update by the Honolulu Board of Realtors. Pacific Business News.

Head of model homeless village: State told me to turn people away. Twinkle Borge oversees the homeless camp at Waianae Small Boat Harbor known as Puuhonua o Waianae. Hawaii News Now.

AEG Facilities has appointed Lee Conching, previously the director of sales, service and support for the Hawaii Convention Center, as vice president of Meet Hawaii citywide sales. Pacific Business News.

Hawaii Island

The 23 parties that sparred and skirmished for more than four months during the Thirty Meter Telescope contested case hearing replay will get one last opportunity to argue their case before the state Board of Land and Natural Resources on Wednesday. Star-Advertiser.

Private wells fail in North Kohala: Situation demands Department of Water Supply resources, creates setbacks in North Kona. West Hawaii Today.

The County Council is proposing to audit the water department as five wells remain offline in North Kona, while the Water Board OK's a permitted interaction group. Big Island Video News.

Manpower and budget issues continue to plague the Hawaii Police Department. Police described to commissioners during the Police Commission’s monthly meeting held Friday of the struggles they face in filling vacancies on the force as well as dispatch. West Hawaii Today.

Updates to Hawaii Island's Flood Maps. The Federal Emergency Management Agency, or FEMA, has taken a new look at the island’s flood zone maps and that could have an impact on your flood insurance. Hawaii Public Radio.

Maui

Maui County Council committee members want to protect minors from secondhand smoke but have questions regarding enforcement and privacy issues surrounding a bill to ban smoking in cars when minors are present. Maui News.

The state is proposing improvements to the Lower Waiohuli Trail that would heighten public safety and allow for bicycle use on the 1.5-mile path on Haleakala’s western slope. Maui News.

A Hawaii nonprofit has found a use for Puunene Mill's leftover sugar cane stalks that dot the Maui landscape. Associated Press.

Sugar cane may no longer be processed at the Puunene Mill, but one Hawaii island nonprofit found a use for the leftover stalks still dotting the Maui landscape. Maui News.


Kauai

County looks to bolster use of The Kauai Bus. The County Council is scheduled to review transportation plans at its Wednesday meeting, including a resolution accepting and endorsing the Short-Range Transit Plan. Garden Island.

Another group of Newell’s shearwater chicks took their first flight in mid-September, safely tucked in cardboard carriers aboard a much bigger bird. Garden Island.

Endangered birds left Kauai's Friday night football games in the dark — but not anymore. Kauai Mayor Bernard Carvalho announced some nighttime games would be brought back after he signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Hawaii News Now.

The county announced Monday it was able to work out a solution with officials from the state and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to play four games at night this season. KHON2.

The Western Pacific Regional Fishery Management Council’s Scientific and Statistical Committee will be meeting Oct. 10-12 at the Aqua Kauai Beach Resort. Garden Island.

Office of Hawaiian Affairs Kauai/Niihau Trustee Dan Ahuna will be meeting with the public at 6 tonight at Ko‘olau Hui‘ia Church in Anahola to hear how OHA can serve Kauai and Niihau. Garden Island.

Molokai

The federal government is investigating what it calls a suspicious monk seal death on Molokai. KITV.