USS Arizona Memorial employee took gifts from tour company seeking tickets, 5-8 tropical cyclones predicted, state sues car makers on airbags, Maui rousts homeless, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

USS Arizona Memorial, courtesy National Park Service

A National Park Service employee at the USS Arizona Memorial accepted gifts from tour operators in violation of ethics regulations, U.S. Department of Interior investigators said Wednesday. The U.S. Attorney's Office declined to prosecute. Star-Advertiser.

Investigators: USS Arizona Memorial Employee Took Improper Gifts. Tour operators gave the worker a jacket and golf course green fees, the U.S. Department of Interior found. Civil Beat.

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The Central Pacific Hurricane Center today predicted five to eight tropical cyclones for the 2017 hurricane season. Star-Advertiser.

After two busy hurricane seasons, brace yourselves for an encore: Forecasters are expecting another above-average year for tropical cyclones in the Central Pacific. Hawaii News Now.

The Central Pacific Hurricane Center released its outlook for the 2017 Central Pacific Hurricane Season, which begins June 1 and runs through Nov. 30. KHON2.

Climate conditions point to a near to above-normal hurricane season in the Central Pacific basin this year, forecasters announced today. Big Island Video News.

On the 25th anniversary of the season that brought devastating Hurricane Iniki to the islands, National Weather Service forecasters are warning of another possible busy hurricane season. Star-Advertiser.

A developing El Nino could result in a slightly busier than normal hurricane season this year, forecasters said today. West Hawaii Today.

For 2017, the outlook calls for a 40% chance of an above-normal season, a 40% chance of a near-normal season, and a 20% chance of a below-normal season, with 5 to 8 tropical cyclones expected to affect the Central Pacific. Maui Now.

Another cyclone season is winding up, and forecasters are predicting more storms than last year. Garden Island.

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Scientists studying sea level rise at the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa need your help. Impacts of some of our highest tides of the year are predicted to be seen this week. And the general public is being summoned to document those impacts along the thousand or more miles of coastline across the island chain. Hawaii Public Radio.

More than a dozen settled claims against the state of Hawaii will be paid under legislation signed into law Tuesday by Gov. David Ige. The claims total $17.9 million, an increase of almost $7 million from a similar claims bill last year. Civil Beat.

Hawaii has filed a lawsuit against three major automobile manufacturers for selling cars with dangerous air bags. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii is suing auto manufacturers Ford, Nissan and Toyota over air bags that can spew shrapnel when they deploy. Associated Press.

The Hawaii Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs Office of Consumer Protection filed a lawsuit against automakers Toyota, Nissan and Ford for unlawful practices in connection with the marketing and sales of vehicles with Takata airbags to Hawaii consumers. Pacific Business News.

UH Regents want to ensure coaches' salaries don’t go out of bounds. Star-Advertiser.

Maui and Big Island beaches make Dr. Beach's top 10 list. Associated Press.

Oahu

Mayor Kirk Caldwell released his strategy to increase affordable housing on Oahu on Wednesday, packed with new regulations and incentives for developers. Hawaii News Now.

A City Council committee deferred a bill Wednesday that would place tighter restrictions on private sponsorships of parks and other city facilities after the Outdoor Circle raised concerns that the measure does not go far enough to prevent sign clutter and preserve Oahu’s natural beauty. Star-Advertiser.

The Hawaii Sierra Club is pressuring state officials to require massive underground fuel storage tanks operated by the Navy be upgraded faster to protect a critical source of drinking water for Oahu residents. Star-Advertiser.

The Kailua Neighborhood Board passed a motion recently asking the city to revise its feral chicken removal program to focus on trapping roosters. Civil Beat.

The Board of Water Supply wanted feedback on the future of the Haiku Stairs -- and it got it. Nearly 700 suggestions poured in, about two-thirds of them just before Tuesday's close of the public comment period. Hawaii News Now.

The Hawaii Department of Agriculture on Wednesday declared little red fire ants eradicated from a Mililani Mauka neighborhood. Star-Advertiser.

Aloha Green will become the first medical marijuana dispensary in Hawaii to have a “soft opening” in June, but customers won’t be able to buy products that elicit a high. Civil Beat.

A Hawaii technology startup will receive a federal grant of more than $1 million to research and develop a low-cost data acquisition system. Pacific Business News.

HDOT warns Honolulu airport travelers of limited parking during Memorial Day weekend. KHON2.

A king tide appeared to reign Wednesday along sections of Oahu’s south shore. Star-Advertiser.

Lifeguards and Hotels along Oahu's tourism hot spot are preparing for impacts from an incoming 'king tide' and south swell. Hawaii News Now.

One of the casualties of the King Tides was Hilton’s Friday night fireworks show. KITV.

A street in Mapunapuna is already flooded as businesses prepare for effects from a king tide. Hawaii News Now.

Hawaii Island

Power’s future taking shape: BioEnergy Hawaii’s waste-to-energy plans clearer. West Hawaii Today.

Hu Honua Bioenergy reached a settlement in its federal antitrust lawsuit against Hawaiian Electric Light Co. and its parent companies, Hawaiian Electric Co. and Hawaiian Electric Industries, over a terminated power purchase agreement. Tribune-Herald.

An election challenge pending since 2014 will have to wait a bit longer before it’s resolved, now that a three-member panel charged with hearing it has eroded to a single member. West Hawaii Today.

The National Science Foundation is sponsoring an ecological observatory that will connect research sites throughout the United States for the next three decades, with one proposed for the Pu‘u Maka‘ala Natural Area Reserve. Tribune-Herald.

Beach-goers and oceanfront residents should keep an eye out over the holiday weekend for tides that could rise more than foot higher than normal. Hawaii County Civil Defense spokeswoman Kanani Aton said Wednesday no county park or beach closures are planned, though that could change if warranted. Tribune-Herald.

Maui

Police and park rangers cleared out the homeless encampment Tuesday at Baldwin Beach Park that they said had become one of the largest on island. Maui News.

Maui Grown Therapies is aiming to open as early as July, selling lotions, tinctures, oils, capsules and concentrates at its first dispensary in the Maui Lani Village Center, a spokeswoman said Wednesday. Maui News.

Alexander & Baldwin, the parent company of Hawaiian Commercial & Sugar Co. that shut down in December, continues to negotiate with prospective buyers of the Puunene Mill. Maui News.

Two school bus companies — one new to the island — will be transporting public school students in Maui’s largest complexes beginning next school year. Maui News.

The Maui News reporters and photographers captured five awards — three of them first-place honors — in the 32nd Hawaii Publishers Association Pa’i Awards that recognizes works of Hawaii’s newspapers and publications. Maui News.

Kauai

The United States Postal Service hasn’t yet scheduled another meeting to talk with the public about closing and relocating the Rice Street post office. Garden Island.

Mayor Bernard Carvalho Jr. recently attended the first Japan-Hawaii Economic Summit on the Big Island along with other Hawaii and Japanese leaders. Garden Island.

The Kapahi Bridge is scheduled to reopen this afternoon. Garden Island.

Prepare for ‘King Tides’. Predicted high tides for Kauai. Garden Island.

Hawaii Democrats pan Trump budget, UH seeks to commercialize research, Board of Education OKs rail route impact fees, Caldwell to unveil affordable housing plan today, Kaui councilman fails to disclose marijuana business, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Hawaii road construction © 2017 All Hawaii News

For a second year in a row, lawmakers have blocked the DOT's request to increase taxes for Hawaii drivers, even though the tax hikes were backed by Gov. David Ige. The proposal would have increased the state fuel tax from 16 cents to 26 cents per gallon, bumped up annual registration fees from $45 to $50 and raised the motor vehicle weight tax by a quarter of a cent. Hawaii News Now.

In a move designed to strengthen the University of Hawaii’s position as a hub for economic development, the state is on the verge of adopting a program designed to help commercialize intellectual property created at UH. Civil Beat.

State confirms new timeline for medical marijuana as dispensaries harvest first crops. KHON2.

Members of Hawaii’s congressional delegation slammed President Donald Trump’s proposed budget Tuesday, saying it cuts critical programs for the poor and working class, such as Medicaid and food subsidies, to fund tax breaks for the rich, echoing a chorus of criticism from Democratic colleagues in Washington. Star-Advertiser.

The federal administration’s full budget proposal for 2018 drew strong criticism from Hawaii’s state representatives who called the plan "cruel" and "dangerous." Pacific Business News.

Hawaii legislators pan Trump budget. Garden Island.

The federal government’s full budget proposal for 2018, which it released on Tuesday, includes over $258 million in construction work a for various projects at Hawaii’s military bases. Pacific Business News.

A man acted strangely long before he caused a disturbance on a plane that prompted fighter jets to accompany it to Hawaii, but a lack of communication and an airline’s hesitancy to be caught on video booting a passenger could have played a role in allowing him to fly, experts say. Associated Press.

Oahu

After more than two years of analysis, number-crunching and talks with developers and housing advocates, the details of Mayor Kirk Caldwell’s affordable-housing strategy package is expected to go public today. Star-Advertiser.

The Honolulu City Council is urging the formation of a Task Force to clear illegal homeless camps. Hawaii Public Radio.

A City Council committee on Tuesday revived a bill that would make it illegal for O'ahu residents to look at their phones while crossing a street or highway. KITV.

To accommodate an estimated 10,000 students expected to enroll in urban Honolulu schools as development swells along the city’s rail route, the Board of Education on Tuesday unanimously approved establishing a so-called school impact fee district from Kalihi to Ala Moana. Star-Advertiser.

Despite opposition from developers and the city, the Hawaii Board of Education voted Tuesday to establish a new school impact fee district along the planned Honolulu rail line from Kalihi to Ala Moana to help cover the cost of school services for the area’s anticipated population increase. Civil Beat.

Businesses along Waikiki's famous shoreline are prepping for a big high tide and incoming south swell that could bring coastal flooding later this week. Workers at Hawaiian Oceans Waikiki expect the elevated water levels will force them to alter their operations Thursday and Friday. Hawaii News Now.

At Ala Moana Beach Park, boards and sandbags have been put up to protect against the tides. KHON2.

A circuit judge Tuesday sentenced a former Honolulu police officer to 60 days in jail on multiple drug charges including the promotion of cocaine, marijuana and powerful painkillers. Star-Advertiser.

The Kahala Hotel and Resort is asking permission to use more state land for more weddings. Hawaii News Now.

Hawaiian Electric Co. has approved 420 residential rooftop solar systems attached to batteries on Oahu, but the city Department of Planning and Permitting has given building permits to only 33. Star-Advertiser.

Despite relatively low spending on parks, Honolulu scored in the top third in an annual ranking of urban park systems in the 100 largest U.S. cities. Star-Advertiser.

Urban Honolulu is among the worst places to live in the U.S. if you're trying to save money, according to GOBankingRates.com. KITV.

Hawaii Island

Hawaii Island’s low-income, elderly population could be hit particularly hard under President Donald Trump’s budget proposal, which would deeply cut a federal food assistance program throughout the next decade as well as other “safety net” programs for low-income people. Tribune-Herald.

Shunichi “Shun” Kimura, the Big Island’s last county chairman, its first mayor and a retired Hilo Circuit judge, died Saturday in California after a lengthy battle with cancer. He was 87. Tribune-Herald.

West Hawaii dedicates Purple Heart Memorial. West Hawaii Today.

Papaikou retirees seeking patent for little fire ant bait stations. Tribune-Herald.

Maui

A Department of Land and Natural Resources enforcement officer is accusing his own agency of covering up the alleged misuse of a state-funded helicopter. Hawaii News Now.

More buses and routes could be ways to ease traffic along the congested Honoapiilani Highway between Maalaea and West Maui, community leaders told the Maui Metropolitan Planning Organization on Monday. Maui News.

Kauai

Kauai County Council Chairman Derek Kawakami owns more than 14 percent of a company that’s hoping to grow medical marijuana in Hawaii. But you wouldn’t know that if you looked at the financial disclosure form he filed in January with Kauai County. Civil Beat.

A $5 million project to allow development of a substance abuse treatment and healing center for adolescents was unanimously approved by the Planning Commission Tuesday. Garden Island.

After Kauai’s only racetrack was repaved in 2013 thanks to capital improvement plan funds, the drag strip will now add electricity and a scoreboard for its 2018 season. Garden Island.

About 25 percent of Kauai’s keiki are not kindergarten-ready, according to the 2017 Kauai Early Childhood Care and Education Report under the Keiki to Career Kauai Initiative. Garden Island.

Kunoa Cattle Co. which manages a herd of 2,000 cattle on Kauai, has partnered with all Times Supermarkets locations on Oahu and Maui to sell its ground beef. Pacific Business News.

A decline in the price of scrap metal prompted Puhi Metals Recycling Center to start charging commercial haulers for dropping off their recyclables. Garden Island.

Hawaii has high consumer debt, Oahu airport fees to increase, Waimanalo landfill sparks debate, attorneys blamed for loss of lifeguard liability protection, counties react to king tides, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Ala Moana Center © 2017 All Hawaii News

Hawaii’s high cost of living has given residents the dubious honor of having the second-highest consumer debt per person in the nation. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii’s total consumer debt per capita increased from $51,810 in 2005 to over $67,000 in 2015, making it the second highest in the nation, according to a new report released by the Department of Business and Economic Development. Pacific Business News.

Hawaii residents are rising in the ranks of the indebted. Tribune-Herald.

County officials are blaming a group of prominent personal injury lawyers with strong ties to House leaders for thwarting an effort to extend most liability protection to lifeguards who might face lawsuits related to their jobs. Civil Beat.

It seems every few weeks yet another pundit predicts who Democrats might field for president in 2020. And in more and more cases, Hawaii’s Tulsi Gabbard makes the cut. Civil Beat.

New movie ‘The Islands’ looks for Native Hawaiian to play King Kamehameha. KHON2.

Parents challenge Hawaii's ukus, or head lice, policy in public schools. Hawaii News Now.

Scientists have issued a warning that Hawaii faces the threat of serious coastal flooding this week and in June because a rare convergence of rising sea levels and some of the highest tides of this year. Associated Press.

Oahu

A final decision on the fate of the Waimanalo Gulch Sanitary Landfill likely will be delayed again due to possible procedural errors by the Honolulu Planning Commission. Star-Advertiser.

A representative from the state Department of Transportation told a room full of pilots and private aviation owners on Monday they are facing double-digit rent increases at Honolulu airports. Hawaii News Now.

The Honolulu Board of Water Supply is seeking final public input on options for the future of the precarious Haiku Stairs hiking trail, with all comments due at the end of the day Tuesday. Civil Beat.

The controversial Haiku Stairs have been the subject of debate for years. Now, the Board of Water Supply wants to know what you think the future of the "Stairway to Heaven" should be. Hawaii News Now.

From the wife of the richest man in South Korea to the husband of the CEO of Hawaii’s largest publicly traded company, the first closings of the luxury condominium units at Park Lane Ala Moana appear to be to a mixture of international and local buyers. Pacific Business News.

The city wants to hear from you about a proposal to build a multi-tower, mixed-use development across from Ala Moana Center. KHON2.

The latest homeless point-in-time count indicates an increase among veterans on Oʻahu. Hawaii Public Radio.

Last year, Honolulu EMS responded to about 86,000 emergencies. EMS officials say that number will likely climb up as Oahu's population grows. KITV.

State officials have launched a project to study the pueo in an effort to better understand the owl’s ecology on Oahu and to develop standardized surveying methods and management practices. Star-Advertiser.

Honolulu is among the top 10 destinations for this upcoming Memorial Day weekend. Pacific Business News.

Hawaii Island

A planned clean up of the Old Airport Park, set to coincide with the permanent relocation of the some 50-70 homeless individuals that reside there, has been a top priority of the administration since Mayor Harry Kim assumed office.  West Hawaii Today.

Homeless in North Hawaii: part one of a two-part series on how the homeless population in Waimea and throughout North Hawaii is growing. West Hawaii Today.

Hawaii County is hiring staff to fill empty positions at Kona Community Aquatic Center. West Hawaii Today.

Co-op launches effort to make Big Island pork industry viable. Tribune-Herald.

Maui

Maui officials react to king tide predictions. Maui News.

Kauai

A swell will be arriving with the highest water levels of the summer late this week, and experts say tides could rise up to a foot above normal. On Kauai, that means low-lying areas like Hanalei and Kukuiula could be at risk for flooding, according to experts. Garden Island.

School bus contracts given. The Hawaii State Department of Education reached the final phase of its “Get on Board” initiative with new contracts on Kauai for the upcoming school year. Garden Island.

Honolulu Zoo struggling; schools superintendent, tourism officials, PUC appointee named; Maui and Kauai advance budgets; tropical storms, high seas expected for summer; Caldwell, Honolulu officials to get 5% raise, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Honolulu Zoo © 2017 All Hawaii News

A year after the Honolulu Zoo suffered an embarrassing loss of accreditation from the Association of Zoos &Aquariums, three zoo exhibits are shuttered and the facility lacks a permanent director. Star-Advertiser.

A rare convergence of rising sea levels with some of the highest tides of the year could cause episodes of serious coastal flooding in Hawaii over the next few months, scientists are warning. Star-Advertiser.

More than 30,000 online public comments have already poured into the U.S. Department of Interior’s web-based docket system since the agency opened a review of more than two dozen federally protected areas, including the Papahanaumokuakea Marine National Monument and Pacific Remote Islands, at the direction of President Donald Trump. Star-Advertiser.

After years of legal wrangling, the state and advocates for foster parents thought they had a deal to help cover the cost of caring for foster children — but one state lawmaker torpedoed the settlement. Star-Advertiser.

An Arizona school district superintendent was tapped to serve as Hawaii’s next chief of public schools. Tribune-Herald.

The state Board of Education said Friday it has selected Christina Kishimoto as the new superintendent to lead the Hawaii State Department of Education. Pacific Business News.

Christina Kishimoto, superintendent of a public school district in Arizona, has been selected as the new Hawaii public schools superintendent, the state Board of Education announced Friday. Maui News.

Rep. Beth Fukumoto is expected to face tough questioning from members of the Democratic Party as she seeks their acceptance after ditching the Republican Party earlier this year amid a political dust-up over critical comments that she made about President Donald Trump. Star-Advertiser.

Gov. David Ige on Friday appointed James “Jay” Griffin, a natural energy researcher at the University of Hawaii Manoa, to an interim seat on the Hawaii Public Utilities Commission. Pacific Business News.

Two business and tourism veterans will join the Hawaii Tourism Authority, the government agency responsible for statewide tourism marketing. The state Legislature has confirmed Sherry Menor- McNamara, president and CEO of the Chamber of Commerce Hawaii, and Kelly Sanders, area managing director of Marriott Hotels and Resorts Waikiki, as HTA’s newest board members. Star-Advertiser.

Investigators Try To Figure Out Why Man Tried To Disrupt Flight. The man who created a disturbance on an American Airlines flight from Los Angeles to Honolulu faces possible federal charges of interfering with a flight crew. Associated Press.

A University of Hawaii faculty member is causing a stir in conservative media circles by suggesting that white men need to quit their jobs to make room for minorities and women. Civil Beat.

Commentary: Souki’s House career lasted 35 years for good reason. Star-Advertiser.

Oahu

The Honolulu Salary Commission is recommending 5 percent raises for the mayor, police chief and other top city officials. Civil Beat.

Even with the official number of homeless people soaring in their communities, some state and city lawmakers on Oahu say the latest homeless census gives them a better idea of how to plan for possibilities that could include hygiene centers and even tent cities. Star-Advertiser.

A former employee of DuPont Pioneer on Oahu is suing the company, claiming she was retaliated against for raising concerns about its use of pesticides. Civil Beat.

A planned public school envisioned to be a “vertical” prototype for urban Honolulu areas near transit stations is on track to be built sooner rather than later as part of a Kakaako project with two residential apartment towers. Star-Advertiser.

The City Council is advancing a bill aimed at addressing long-standing concerns about foul odors emanating from waters around the Honolulu Country Club in Salt Lake. Star-Advertiser.

Public comments wanted for study on future of Haiku Stairs. KHON2.

A $300 million waterfront retail village would be a welcome amenity for many Hoakalei Resort and Ocean Pointe homeowners in Ewa Beach, but some of them still want something else: $27 million from a jury award two years ago and more in pending claims. Star-Advertiser.

The state Department of Transportation plans to begin resurfacing Farrington Highway from Kili Drive to Kaena Point in Makaha in the coming weeks. Star-Advertiser.

The Honolulu International Airport’s name will be officially changed to Daniel K. Inouye International Airport at a ceremony on Memorial Day weekend, but the new sign is already up on the main airport building. Star-Advertiser.

AT&T workers in Hawaii continued their three-day strike on Sunday to fight for better wages and benefits. Four of Oahu's nine AT&T stores remained closed while workers rallied near Ala Moana Beach park. Hawaii News Now.

Resort Fees: A Hidden Pain For Tourists, A Windfall For Hotels. While consumer advocates decry costs for amenities like swimming pool access and in-room safes, the fees bring in an estimated $2.6 billion annually for hotels. Civil Beat.

Natives are recolonizing urban Honolulu. Native birds, that is. The white tern or Manu O Kū is thriving in Hawaiʻi’s most populous city, and so is its fan base – the Hui Manu O Kū. Hawaii Public Radio.

Commentary: Rail debacle should prompt developers, bankers to step up. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii Island

Chlamydia infections are circulating unchecked in Hawaii County, state Department of Health data shows. Tribune-Herald.

Kona led Hawaii Island in auto thefts in 2016 and is on track to do so this year, as well, according to data from the Hawaii Police Department. Tribune-Herald.

Dr. Sharon Bintliff left county councilmembers smiling after a vote in support of her nomination to sit on the ethics board. Big Island Video News.

In a case of justice grinding slowly but exceedingly fine, the Hawaii Island Board of Registration on Tuesday is scheduled to pick up a 2014 election dispute that first took a trip to the Hawaii Supreme Court. West Hawaii Today.

Hilo’s state senator says it “is really, really unfortunate,” that Hawaii County is still without an East Hawaii representative on the University of Hawaii Board of Regents. Big Island Video News.

The state Land Board rejected a petition from a Thirty Meter Telescope opponent seeking an online transcript of the project’s contested case hearing. Tribune-Herald.

The Hawaii County Office of Housing and Community Development has prepared its list of projects it plans to fund with allocations from a long-standing federal initiative, but it’s not clear how long that program will continue. Tribune-Herald.

After the rescue of more than 80 dogs from a South Kona property, the Hawaii Island Humane Society is looking to the community to give the animals temporary homes. West Hawaii Today.

Maui

The Maui County Council passed on first reading Friday an approximately $705.2 million fiscal 2018 budget. Maui News.

The Maui Planning Commission will hold a hearing Tuesday on ATC Makena Holding’s application for a special management area permit, but under a court order last week the panel will only acknowledge and accept petitions to intervene. Maui News.

The National Weather Service is expecting an “above-average year” for tropical cyclones, which could destroy huge sections of Honoapiilani Highway and isolate West Maui residents from the rest of the island for months — possibly a year, a senior forecaster and hurricane specialist said. Maui News.

A pesticide-free pilot program will launch in four Maui parks over the coming year in the county’s quest to find greener measures that won’t break the bank. Maui News.

Kauai

The Kauai County Council voted 6-1 to approve $201 million for the next fiscal year on May 12. Oahu, Maui and the Big Island councils are expected to make decisions on their respective budgets by mid-June. Highlights of Kauai County budget, which is the highest in a decade, include reducing the mayor’s original proposal by $2 million without increasing property taxes. Garden Island.

Even with the threat of being open to lawsuits, lifeguards will continue to man their respective towers this summer. Garden Island.

Seventeen health-care professionals on Kauai are adding their voices to a request that Gov. David Ige ban the pesticide chlorpyrifos in Hawaii. Garden Island.

Kauai’s lawmakers will recap the legislative session at the Lihue Business Association’s Thursday meeting at Duke’s Canoe Club. Garden Island.

Scientists to announce captive dolphin study results today, Maui passes 'Styrofoam' takeout ban, Saiki unveils House leadership, feds watch rail finance plan, Honolulu seeks police, tax hikes unpopular, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Captive dolphins at Hilton Waikoloa © 2017 All Hawaii News

Scientists tout value of studying dolphins in captivity as Dolphin Quest and other captive dolphin attractions are growing increasingly controversial. Star-Advertiser.

Newly elected House Speaker Scott Saiki unveiled his leadership team Thursday — a bigger, younger and more diverse group than his 84-year-old predecessor Joe Souki had in place during his tenure. Civil Beat.

House Speaker Scott Saiki, who took over House leadership earlier this month after members effectively ousted Rep. Joe Souki, has announced his leadership team, emphasizing its inclusion of women and a younger generation of leaders. Star-Advertiser.

House Rep. Cindy Evans, a Democrat who represents North Kona, North Kohala and South Kohala, has been promoted to House Majority Leader. West Hawaii Today.

Paying double? Public on the hook twice as state workers collect incentive some didn’t earn. KHON2.

Democratic attorneys general in more than a dozen states, including Hawaii, announced today they would attempt to intervene in a federal lawsuit that threatens to undercut funding for the Affordable Care Act. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii on Wednesday honored 13 businesses and eight events for pursuing energy efficiency and sustainable business practices with this year's Hawaii Green Business awards. Pacific Business News.

Hawaii’s unemployment rate didn’t change in April, but more people were working and fewer were without jobs, according to state data released Thursday. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii's seasonally adjusted unemployment rate fell to 2.7 percent in April, a 0.4 percentage-point decline from 3.1 percent in April 2016. Pacific Business News.

Oahu

The Honolulu rail transit project’s top official said Thursday that the federal government is anxious for more details on how the city plans to pay for its partially built $8.2 billion rail line. Associated Press.

Honolulu rail board members spent much of their Thursday meeting — the first since state lawmakers adjourned without a funding deal — debating how to cover the project’s short-term construction costs. Star-Advertiser.

Mayor Kirk Caldwell has tapped former Hawaiian Airlines’ executive Hoyt Zia to replace Colbert Matsumoto on the Honolulu Authority for Rapid Transportation board. Star-Advertiser.

New numbers show an alarming number of vacancies within the ranks of the Honolulu Police Department – and a decline in the size of average recruiting classes is doing little to fix the problem. Hawaii News Now.

Two former officers charged with similar crimes and sued for identical reasons got very different treatment from the Honolulu Police Commission. Civil Beat.

University of Hawaii President David Lassner has called for a “systematic paydown” of a $14.7 million net accumulated athletic department deficit with Manoa campus funds. Star-Advertiser.

Prime property in Honolulu is taking a step toward development. Back in 2012, in a settlement with the state, OHA acquired 30 acres of land in Kakaako Makai, valued at $200 million. KITV.

The weather wasn’t a deterrent to the nearly 200 parents and children who cozied up under blankets, and camped out on beach chairs and in tents on the sidewalks to land a coveted spot at the Manoa Valley District Park’s Summer Fun program. Civil Beat.

The U.S. Department of Defense has awarded Honolulu-based INK Arch LLC with a contract worth a potential $15 million over five years to conduct architectural and other related products at various Navy, Marine Corps and government facilities across the state. Pacific Business News.

Hawaiian Electric Co. said it is awaiting approval by the state Public Utilities Commission for its annual “decoupling” rate adjustment that would raise a typical customer’s bill by 60 cents. Star-Advertiser.

A new lawsuit claims dozens of people have been tricked into renting filthy apartments at an Oahu complex infested with rats. Hawaii News Now.

Canoes at Maunalua Bay were vandalized for the third time this week before sunrise Thursday, when culprits cut lashings to 16 canoes that had been lined up at the water’s edge at the Diamond Head side of the bay. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii Island

Everything was on the table but little was decided Thursday during a marathon County Council meeting on the budget, as local lawmakers took their first good look at a $491 million spending plan that includes expenses largely out of county control. West Hawaii Today.

Hawaii County’s tax exemptions should help long-timers, not just old-timers, several County Council members said Thursday. Tribune-Herald.

Proposed tax increases for Hawaii County home owners are on the table, as the Hawaii County Council held a special session on Thursday to go over the proposed operating budget for fiscal year 2017-18. Big Island Video News.

Big Island tourism had another strong showing in the first quarter of 2017, with one market in particular seeing a boost. Tribune-Herald.

A local lawmaker and fire chief said they will continue to advocate for state funds to put lifeguards at Kua Bay. West Hawaii Today.

Residents who wanted their voices heard on the Saddle Road extension project, which is moving expeditiously toward final design and construction, got their platform Wednesday night. West Hawaii Today.

Maui

The Maui County Council on Thursday evening unanimously passed a bill to ban the sale and use of polystyrene foam containers — a staple of takeout food eateries — throughout Maui County. Maui News.

Kaiser Permanente is on target to take over operations of Maui Memorial Medical Center on July 1, promising increased coverage of orthopedic and neurological surgeries in the coming months, officials said Wednesday night at the Kula Community Center. Maui News.

During Hawaii’s mass coral bleaching event in 2014 and 2015, the reefs of leeward Maui were among the hardest hit. Now, they’ve been marked as a “priority site” in a recovery plan put together by environmental agencies. Maui News.

A University of Hawaii report shows Maui County’s recent economic peaks and valleys, forecasting favorable conditions but slower growth. Maui News.

Maui County’s 3% unemployment rate for April was up slightly from the 2.9% reported a month earlier, and down slightly from the 3.1% reported at the same time last year. Maui Now.

Kauai

Kanani Fu, county housing agency director, was among a large crowd that celebrated the blessing of the Hanamaulu housing project, which will eventually have more than 150 homes — single-family and duplexes — including 32 affordable housing units by D. R. Horton. Garden Island.

Kauai legislators secured more than $181 million in capital improvement project funds for the Garden Isle for fiscal years 2018 and 2019. Garden Island.

Economists upbeat about Hawaii, judge allows Native Hawaiians to occupy Coco Palms site, Honolulu kills property tax hike for resorts and hotels, police chief citizen panel axed, Maui among least affordable, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Waikiki street © 2017 All Hawaii News

State economists revised Hawaii's economic outlook upward Wednesday, saying the economy is expected to grow by 1.9 percent this year, while the state's unemployment rate is set to remain at less than 3 percent. Pacific Business News.

The state’s top economists nudged up expectations for Hawaii’s growth for the year because of improved performance in the tourism industry. Star-Advertiser.

The Education Commission of the States said on Tuesday that the Hawaii State Department of Education is the 2017 recipient of the Frank Newman Award for State Innovation. Pacific Business News.

Out of surgery after having her right kidney removed, U.S. Sen. Mazie Hirono was already weighing in on the latest political developments, according to a Twitter message from her staff Wednesday. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii Sen. Mazie Hirono is recovering after having surgery to remove a kidney. Associated Press.

Hawaii Rep. Tulsi Gabbard is one of several co-sponsors for a bipartisan bill aimed at decriminalizing marijuana at the federal level. Tribune-Herald.

Representative Tulsi Gabbard of Hawaiʻi joined Rep. Tom Garrett (VA-05) in hosting a press conference today, urging Congress to pass H.R.1227, the Ending Federal Marijuana Prohibition Act. Maui Now.

Navy Adm. Harry Harris Jr., the commander of the Hawaii-based U.S. Pacific Command, said Wednesday that North Korea's recent military tests could lead to a disaster and called on the international community not be complacent as tensions on the Korean Peninsula rise. Pacific Business News.

The top American military officer in the Pacific said Wednesday that North Korea's recent military actions are "a recipe for a disaster" and warned against a sense of complacency in the face of increasing tensions on the Korean Peninsula. Associated Press.

The Green Party of Hawaii will hold its annual party convention at the Kailua-Kona Elks Club on Maui on June 10. Garden Island.

Southwest Airlines has officially confirmed its intention to offer flights to Hawaii, with service launching as early as 2018. Pacific Business News.

Southwest Airlines CEO Gary Kelly said Wednesday that Hawaii is a priority destination for the carrier, according to a report from the The Arizona Republic. Star-Advertiser.

Oahu

Riders of TheHandi-Van are being spared a fare hike and owners of hotel and resort properties won’t get hit with a tax increase as a result of decisions made by the Honolulu City Council’s Budget Committee on Wednesday. Star-Advertiser.

The Honolulu City Council Budget Committee rejected a proposed property tax increase for hotels and resorts Wednesday. Civil Beat.

The Honolulu Police Commission on Wednesday scrapped the idea of forming a citizens selection panel to help evaluate candidates seeking to become the city’s next police chief. Civil Beat.

The Honolulu Police Commission on Wednesday ditched its plan to use a citizen advisory panel to help pick a new police chief after receiving flak for its initial list of volunteers. Star-Advertiser.

Commission scraps citizens panel that would have aided search for next police chief. KHON2.

Plans by the city to acquire more land along Dillingham Boulevard is getting backlash from the Blood Bank of Hawaii. Hawaii News Now.

The Native Hawaiian Legal Corp. is suing to temporarily halt a $115 million renovation of the Pacific Beach Hotel in Waikiki after two human burials were unearthed below an elevator shaft. Star-Advertiser.

The discovery of human remains at a construction site of a Waikiki hotel is prompting some Native Hawaiian activists to call for a halt to the development. Hawaii News Now.

A Native Hawaiian plaintiff known for high-profile litigation protecting Native Hawaiian burial sites has filed a lawsuit asking a state court to stop construction at a Waikiki hotel where bones have been discovered. Civil Beat.

Honolulu welcomes new citizens, but holds off on becoming a sanctuary city. Hawaii News Now.

The state and the city, for the first time, will jointly hold a May 29 Memorial Day ceremony at the National Cemetery of the Pacific at Punchbowl to honor Vietnam veterans for their service 50 years ago. Star-Advertiser.

Bikeshare Hawaii will launch the state's first bikeshare program, called Biki, this summer in Honolulu. Pacific Business News.

The developer of a residential and resort community in Ewa Beach has decided what it wants to anchor much of its 52-acre man-made lagoon, and it is a retail village that looks as if it was built over a century stretching from Hawaii’s plantation era to today. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii Island

County administration has a bit more explaining to do before the County Council is ready to approve a $20 million bond issue creating a closure plan for the Hilo landfill. West Hawaii Today.

The process to finally close the South Hilo Sanitary Landfill has begun. Big Island Video News.


Puna Councilwoman Jen Ruggles was unable to find support from a single councilmember for her resolution asking the county and the state to acknowledge they have “historically discriminated against low income and native Hawaiian communities of the Puna and Ka`u districts, as established by the Office of Civil Rights’ September 28, 2000, ruling.” Big Island Video News.

There’s a suspected case of mumps in Puna. Tribune-Herald.

Maui

Testifiers expressed mixed views of the proposed 49-unit Makila Kai project in Launiupoko on Wednesday, with supporters saying the project’s workforce housing is needed while critics worried about more traffic on busy West Maui roads, among other concerns. Maui News.

Maui has joined the ranks of Los Angeles, New York and San Francisco, cities famous for their movie star residents, company tycoons and the wealthy. The Valley Isle is one of the least affordable places to live in the United States. Maui News.

New emergency siren testing began on Wednesday in Maui. Department of Defense officials say residents may hear the sound of the siren for about thirty seconds to one minute on Thursday and Friday. KITV.

Alexander &Baldwin has entered the ranching business on Maui, forming Kulolio Ranch in Hamakuapoko in a diversified agriculture venture on 4,000 acres of old Hawaiian Commercial &Sugar lands. Maui News.

Kauai

A motion that would have ordered two Hawaiians — who claim 17 acres of Wailua land as theirs via royal patent — to stay away from property was denied by a Fifth Circuit judge Wednesday. Garden Island.

The Kauai County Council is considering acquiring two plots of land on opposite sides of the island. On Wednesday, the council discussed a .27-acre property in Wainiha and a 2.1-acre piece of land in Kekaha, both of which the Open Space Commission is proposing the county take charge of before they are sold. Garden Island.

The Kauai County Council unanimously approved Wednesday establishing no parking zones along a stretch of Ho’onani Road in Koloa. Garden Island.

Dr. Gerald McKenna says the policies regarding medical marijuana in Hawaii are getting ahead of themselves. McKenna was a guest speaker at the Kauai Rural Health Association’s “Medical Marijuana Law and Impact on Businesses” conference Wednesday at Kauai Community College. Garden Island.

Hirono battling stage 4 kidney cancer, Honolulu vehicle tax, parking fees advance, Kim defends Big Island property tax hikes, rail authority condemns Blood Bank land, Maui sugar lands going to cattle, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

U.S. Sen. Mazie Hirono © 2017 All Hawaii News

U.S. Sen. Mazie Hirono has been diagnosed with advanced kidney cancer and is scheduled to undergo surgery today to remove one of her kidneys. Hirono, 69, says she expects to make a full recovery and plans “without question” to run for re-election in 2018. Star-Advertiser.

U.S. Sen. Mazie Hirono on Tuesday announced that she has kidney cancer. Civil Beat.

U.S. Sen. Mazie K. Hirono, D-Hawaii, said on Tuesday that she will undergo treatment for kidney cancer. Pacific Business News.

Hawaii Sen. Mazie Hirono is undergoing treatment for kidney cancer and says she has a favorable prognosis from her doctor in Washington. Associated Press.

Sen. Mazie Hirono, D-Hawaii, has been diagnosed with kidney cancer, according to a statement she released Tuesday morning. Garden Island.

Hawaii U.S. Senator Mazie Hirono announced plans to undergo treatment for kidney cancer. Big Island Video News.

Recently diagnosed with renal cell cancer, Senator Mazie Hirono will have her kidney removed Wednesday. KITV.

US Senator Mazie Hirono today announced plans to undergo treatment for kidney cancer.  Maui Now.

The incidence of kidney cancer in Hawaii has been rising steadily since the 1970s, and today more than 200 people are diagnosed with the disease annually in Hawaii, according to the National Cancer Institute. Hawaii News Now.

How House Leaders Scuttled Better Pay For Foster Parents. House Speaker Scott Saiki said attorney fees were too high in a multi-million-dollar settlement of a lawsuit challenging foster care payment rates. Civil Beat.

The agency in charge of the Honolulu rail project has filed a lawsuit to take property where the state’s non-profit blood bank manufactures, stores and distributes Hawaii’s blood supply. Civil Beat.

Delta Air Lines had an on-time arrival rate of 86.9 percent in March, besting Hawaiian Airlines by 2.2 percentage points, according to the Department of Transportation’s Air Travel Consumer Report. Pacific Business News.

Oahu

The City Council Budget Committee on Wednesday restored funding for seven staff positions in the new Office of Climate Change, Sustainability and Resiliency, and agreed to do away with two of three planned rate increases for TheBus and TheHandi-Van riders. But in order to balance the city’s $2.45 billion operating budget, the committee also agreed to raise the city’s motor vehicle weight tax as well as metered parking rates. Star-Advertiser.

Proposed increases in parking meter fees, bus fares and the vehicle weight tax were moved ahead Tuesday by the Honolulu City Council Budget Committee. Civil Beat.

Higher downtown parking fees, increased vehicle weight taxes and a fare hike for Handi-Van users were among the proposals approved by the Honolulu City Council's budget committee Tuesday. Hawaii News Now.

In a City Council meeting held Tuesday, one of the topics on the table was whether or not to raise Hawaii's vehicle weight tax. KITV.

A new gate blocking a path to the beach at Portlock has renewed a decades-old dispute over access to the ocean. Star-Advertiser.

Aloha Green Holdings is the first medical marijuana dispensary in Hawaii to harvest its first crop. Pacific Business News.

Who’s on furlough? New decision favors public’s right to know. On Tuesday, years after our initial filing and back-and-forth, submitting additional points and requests for review, the OIP instructed public safety to release the list of furloughed inmates. KHON2.

The state’s chief executive addressed Rotary Club of Honolulu members today during their weekly meeting in Waikiki. Hawaii Public Radio.

West Oahu residents are calling for solutions to curb speeding and reckless driving following recent accidents on the Leeward Coast. Hawaii News Now.

Howard Hughes’ Ward Village was recently named the "Best Master Planned Community in the Nation” by Architectural Digest, which applauded the Kakaako community for its design, materials and location. Pacific Business News.

After selling food at the 2017 Waikiki Spam Jam without a Temporary Food Establishment permit, Kona Grill operated under Kona Macadamia Inc. is facing a fine from the Department of Health. Hawaii News Now.

A Hawaii company gained ground in the first quarter selling what it promotes as a new synthetic remedy for inflammation after years of research and development that has consumed $56 million of investment capital. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii Island

Mayor Harry Kim, a self-described fiscal conservative, spent the afternoon in Kona explaining reasons behind tax hikes set to accompany Hawaii County’s budget for next fiscal year. West Hawaii Today.

Last June, at a mayoral campaign event in Kailua-Kona, then-candidate Harry Kim criticized property tax increases by his predecessor. West Hawaii Today.

Hawaii County Council members slammed a resolution claiming discrimination against Puna and Ka‘u, saying Tuesday they found it unnecessarily divisive. Tribune-Herald.

The chief financial officer of an international nondenominational Christian school in Kona admitted Monday in U.S. District Court to stealing more than $3 million from the school. Star-Advertiser.

The state Department of Transportation now expects a road improvement project at Shower/Pohaku Drive and Highway 130 in Puna to resume in late June after a storm water discharge permit expired. Tribune-Herald.

Schofield Barracks officials have identified the soldier who was killed in a training incident on the Big Island. The soldier was identified as Sgt. Terrence Hinton of the 3rd Brigade Combat Team in the 25th Infantry Division. KITV.

Maui

Alexander &Baldwin Inc. announced Tuesday that it is moving ahead with a long-range plan to establish a cattle ranch on Maui after shutting down Hawaii’s last sugar cane plantation there in December. Star-Advertiser.

Alexander &Baldwin Inc. has established a grass-fed cattle pasturing operation on the 36,000-acre Hawaiian Commercial and Sugar Co. plantation on Maui, which closed in December of last year. Pacific Business News.

Alexander &Baldwin Inc. today announced the establishment of Kūlōlio Ranch, a grass-fed cattle pasturing operation that is situated on approximately 4,000 acres of former sugar lands in Central Maui. Maui Now.

A grease blockage in a sewer lateral caused a 1,237-gallon wastewater overflow in Kahului on Sunday morning, the county Department of Environmental Management reported. Maui News.

Maui veterans are hoping the World War II Veterans Memorial will be up at the Maui Veterans Cemetery in Makawao by next week. Maui News.

Kauai

A $500,000 project to add electricity and infrastructure to the island’s drag racing strip is on the agenda for a May 23 Planning Commission meeting. Garden Island.

Taps played in the background while flags flew at half mast and people bowed their heads to honor police officers around the nation who died on the job. Garden Island.

Kauai police on Tuesday recognized the retirement of K-9 Simon, a 10-year-old Belgian malinois who has been a part of the K-9 unit since 2008. Garden Island.

Federal appeals court panel hears Hawaii's travel ban lawsuit, bill gives Hawaii unions more power, Hawaii insurer benefits from Obamacare battle, homeless count questioned, mumps hits 16-year high, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Albatross at Papahanaumokuakea, courtesy NOAA

The Trump administration’s review process for 29 national monuments, including the Papahanaumokuakea Marine National Monument, is sparking some outrage during the public comment period. Civil Beat.

An executive order signed by President Donald Trump directs Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke to review 27 national monuments established or expanded by three other presidents since 1996. Associated Press.

An attorney for Hawaii told a federal appeals court Monday that President Donald Trump’s revised travel ban on citizens from six predominantly Muslim countries amounts to establishing Islam as a disfavored religion. Star-Advertiser.

The Trump administration faced tough questioning from a panel of the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals for the second time in four months as it defended its revised executive order on immigration. A 9th Circuit Court of Appeals panel Monday heard arguments in Hawaii’s lawsuit to block key parts of the executive order restricting travel and immigration from countries. Civil Beat.

Trump confident travel ban is lawful. Associated Press.

Did Hawaii Lawmakers Just Give Public Worker Unions Too Much Power? Government officials fear a bill sitting on Gov. Ige’s desk will strip them of their ability to tell their employees what to do without union interference. Civil Beat.

The state launched a public hearing schedule today to determine the feasibility of growing industrial hemp in Hawai’i. Hawaii Public Radio.

The state has taken $10 million away from a successful energy program -- Hawaii Energy -- to give it to a failing one-- Green Energy Market Securitization. Star-Advertiser.

The Supreme Court has turned away challenges to open primaries in Hawaii and Montana that allow voters to take part in party primary elections regardless of their political affiliations. Star-Advertiser.

Obamacare hasn’t been repealed and replaced yet under the administration of President Donald Trump, but the suspension of an Affordable Care Act fee for insurers greatly benefited the state’s largest health insurer, Hawaii Medical Service Association. Star-Advertiser.

The number of people infected during the current mumps outbreak in Hawaii jumped to 39 Monday with the confirmation of eight new cases on Oahu and another on Kauai. Star-Advertiser.

The Hawai‘i State Department of Health today confirmed nine additional cases of mumps in Hawai‘i residents, bringing the total number of cases in 2017 to 39. Maui Now.

Kamehameha Schools graduates and teachers are criticizing a list of finalists for a $165,000-a-year trustee position that includes the names of two individuals without any Hawaiian heritage. Hawaii News Now.

Following the bloodiest World War II battle of the Pacific at Okinawa, the United States brought some 3,000 prisoners of war to Hawaii, where they were held in detention camps between July 1945 and December 1946. Early next month those POW days will be formally remembered when a delegation from Okinawa, led by a pair of elderly camp survivors, returns to Hawaii to retrace their steps. Star-Advertiser.

The U.S. Department of Defense on Monday awarded contracts totaling $129 million to several companies for various medically related administrative and programmatic support services across the country, including Hawaii. Pacific Business News.

Oahu

Looking around the disheveled homeless encampments on Oahu, it’s difficult to reconcile some of the more extraordinary numbers that came out of the latest homeless census last week — specifically, a 29 percent reduction in homelessness in Waikiki and East Honolulu. Star-Advertiser.

48 fallen officers remembered during 'Police Week' in Honolulu. Hawaii News Now.

Why even the state’s smallest fix-its are facing big delays. KHON2.

Planned Parenthood said Monday it will open a new location in Honolulu. Star-Advertiser.

The chimpanzee exhibit at the Honolulu Zoo is closed indefinitely after an ape escaped late Sunday morning. Hawaii News Now.

Hawaii Island

The Hawaii County Council will get a crack this week at Mayor Harry Kim’s proposed $491.2 million budget and tax increases that go with it. Tribune-Herald.

The budget proposed by Mayor Harry Kim will add seven new positions to county government. West Hawaii Today.

The hydrologist who studied potential impacts that a development in Kahaluu could have to groundwater said Monday that while the proposed timeshare project could slightly decrease the flow rate of groundwater and slightly increase its salinity, it would also lead to a decrease in the level of unwanted nutrients in the water that discharges at the shoreline. West Hawaii Today.

After years of planning and months of delay, the Hawaii Island Meat Cooperative has started processing local meat at its mobile slaughterhouse unit. Tribune-Herald.

A 36-year-old U.S. solider has died during a training incident on Hawaii island. Star-Advertiser.

University of Hawaii’s John A. Burns School of Medicine announced last week that it plans a residency rotation in obstetrics and gynecology via a partnership with Bay Clinic and Hilo Medical Center, which already hosts primary care medical residency. Tribune-Herald.

Hawaii Island landowner and entrepreneur Edmund C. Olson was recognized by the Hawaii Small Business Administration on Monday with a special lifetime award for his work stimulating the state’s economy, protecting the environment and helping train a generation to follow in his footsteps. West Hawaii Today.

The many friends and family of the late State Senator Gilbert Kahele gathered Monday to dedicate “Kahele Point” on the small, oceanfront dock of the Grand Naniloa Hotel on Banyan Drive. Big Island Video News.

Maui

The 39th annual Visitor Industry Charity Walk set a new record for Maui County with events on Maui, Lanai and Molokai bringing in $1,159,053, an increase of $125,670 from last year, the Maui Hotel & Lodging Association announced. Maui News.

Kauai

A recent flurry of activity on social media about illegal goings on in the Kalalau Valley has stirred anti-squatter sentiment on Kauai, and some are calling for a change in the area’s management. Garden Island.

After years of planning and deliberation, Island School’s efforts to reclassify 38.4 acres of land to urban usage could be decided in July. Garden Island.

No evidence tree fungus is here. Garden Island.