Green energy money may go to schools, donated swim gear stolen from soldiers, Waikiki fireworks revived, 47 want to be Honolulu zookeeper, grant award questioned, Maui reconsiders liquor law, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Hawaii beach scene © 2017 All Hawaii News

Wondering if your favorite beach is safe for a swim? You’ll know a lot sooner now that the state is implementing new public notification procedures that require signs posted as soon as test results show the water quality does not reach safety standards. West Hawaii Today.

The state might pull one-third of the money from its stagnant $150 million green energy loan program to help lower electrical bills at Hawaii’s public schools. Star-Advertiser.

Lawmakers this year approved a grant worth hundreds of thousands of taxpayer dollars to a privately owned Hawaii island well-drilling company through a process usually used to fund nonprofit social service organizations, and some lawmakers are wondering why. Star-Advertiser.

Governor to explore possibility of special session for rail. KHON2.

VIDEO: Officials Testify On Hawaii Missile Defeat Programs. Big Island Video News.

Hawaii had the eighth-fastest growing solar market in the United States in the first quarter of 2017, adding 76.4 megawatts of solar capacity between January and March, according to a new report. Pacific Business News.

XLR8UH, the University of Hawaii’s accelerator program, was named one of the nation's best startup accelerators of 2017. Pacific Business News.

Oahu

The latest report card shows that homeless people placed into market-rate apartments through the city’s Housing First program continue to do better than their counterparts on the street — and are far less likely to use drugs and alcohol, get arrested or rely on hospital emergency rooms. Star-Advertiser.

Demand for farm land is so great in Hawaii, Aloun Farms is trying to speed up its sale of acres in Central Oahu. Hawaii Public Radio.

The Sorry State Of Many Honolulu Parks. Millions of dollars have been spent on Oahu parks in the past decade, but some have fared better than others. Civil Beat.

Members of the state Land Use Commission last month threw the question of keeping open Oahu’s only public landfill back to the Honolulu Planning Commission to clear up technical errors, but not before criticizing city officials for foot-dragging. Star-Advertiser.

The city received applications from 47 people hoping to be the next director of the Honolulu Zoo, but only 10 were deemed qualified, city Human Resources Director Carolee Kubo said Friday. Star-Advertiser.

The city is moving forward on plans to shore up a portion of the crumbling sea wall that protects Kapiolani Park between the Queen’s Surf groin and the Waikiki Aquarium. Star-Advertiser.

Twenty-five years of weekly fireworks in Waikiki almost came to an indefinite end Friday after a disagreement over how much money the show’s organizer should pay for impeding public use of the beach fronting Hilton Hawaiian Village during the event. Star-Advertiser.

Kaimuki High School is the latest-starting public school in Hawaii, and according to a preliminary study, students there think the later morning bell may make for better health and academic performance. Civil Beat.

Supporters of LGBT rights gathered at the state capitol on Sunday for the Honolulu Equality March for Unity and Pride. Hawaii News Now.

Survey Of Homeless Kids To Include Sexual Orientation Information. A national survey found 40 percent of homeless youths identify as LGBTQ. Service providers will soon have data for Oahu. Civil Beat.

After a man allegedly damaged glass doors at Iolani Palace late May, appraisers said the price tag of the doors is $375,000. Hawaii News Now.

Hawaii Island

Members of a nonprofit group were disheartened over the theft of swim gear donated to soldiers, training on the Big Island, for their rest and relaxation. West Hawaii Today.

Two Hilo colleges are divided over stone altars, or ahu, with inverted Hawaii flags constructed on campuses by students. Associated Press.

Hilo colleges are taking different approaches to two on-campus ahu — or stone altars — which a student group claims it constructed to bring attention to “124 years of genocide continuing on the Hawaiian community.” Tribune-Herald.

Entries for a lottery that will determine the waiting list order for two local affordable housing projects are being accepted online through June 14. The lottery is scheduled for June 20. West Hawaii Today.

The days of Pagoda Hilo Bay Hotel — formerly known as Uncle Billy’s Hilo Bay Hotel — are coming to an end. Tribune-Herald.

A Hawaii island lava tour boat operator was fined $15,000 Friday for three violations of state boating rules. Star-Advertiser.

Though the enthusiasm and passion for getting involved in Hawaii’s young hemp industry was on display during Saturday’s conference, many in attendance also expressed concern about potential stumbling blocks in the path. Tribune-Herald.

Doctors at the Queen’s Medical Center in Honolulu have begun making virtual rounds to treat the most critical intensive care patients on Hawaii island. Star-Advertiser.

Graham Ellis, who made headlines this week after he was picked up by the Department of Homeland Security and subsequently given 45 days to depart the country voluntarily, will leave a few loose ends on Hawaii Island when he returns to England on July 20. West Hawaii Today.

Turtle monitoring efforts ramp up: Nesting season is a busy time for researchers. Tribune-Herald.

Maui

The Maui Liquor Commission will meet on July 12 for a public hearing to consider proposed changes to the existing rules that were implemented in February. Maui Now.

Simply put, there isn’t enough federal and state money to pay for all of Maui County’s highway maintenance and expansion needs — now projected to cost $3.1 billion through 2035, members of the Maui Metropolitan Planning Organization heard last week. Maui News.

Maui Police Department Chief Tivoli Faaumu has received high marks in all categories in his annual review and evaluation by the Maui Police Commission. Maui News.

Chemical farming’s impacts on Maui’s environment and the public will be the topic of discussion at a gathering at 6 p.m. Tuesday at the Paia Community Center. Maui News.

Median prices for single-family houses and condominiums on Maui increased by double-digit percentages in May as low inventory prompted buyers to snap up properties at a rapid pace. Star-Advertiser.

Kauai

The Kauai County Council is expected to discuss several requests from the county to apply for grants for services at its meeting Wednesday beginning at 8:30 a.m. at the Historic County Building. Garden Island.

The environmental law group Earthjustice is asking for better survey methods for finding marine mammals in target areas for military weapons testing around Kauai. Garden Island.

After almost 20 years since legalization, medical marijuana patients on Kauai may be able to purchase state-approved cannibas by October. Garden Island.

County cemeteries are filling up. KHHA president is seeking additional land for Kekaha Hawaiian Cemetery. Garden Island.

Waioli Corporation gets $550,000 to build interactive park featuring Hawaii locomotives. Garden Island.

Ige mulls aquarium collecting ban bill, no charges yet for airport dog shooting, Hawaiian actors vie for Kamehameha movie, shipping firm considers Hawaii route, 40 apply for Kauai auditor, 30-day reprieve for immigrant coffee farmer, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Manini and other fish © 2017 All Hawaii News

A bill that would place a moratorium on all aquarium fishing in Hawaii — except for those operators already in possession of permits — is awaiting the signature of Gov. David Ige. West Hawaii Today.

According to the latest "Out of Reach" report by the National Low-Income Housing Coalition, Hawaii's average two-bedroom renter needs to earn $35.20 per hour. Hawaii News Now.

Another company said it is making a run at starting a Hawaii cargo shipping service that would break up a market duopoly and could benefit consumers. Star-Advertiser.

Workers at a Philadelphia shipyard are building vessels for a new shipping line that will soon enter the Hawaii market. Hawaii News Now.

Dozens of professional and aspiring Native Hawaiian actors answered a casting call Thursday night in hopes of playing the role of King Kamehameha in an upcoming movie called “The Islands.” Star-Advertiser.

Auditions for the upcoming movie "The Islands" were held at the Japanese Cultural Center Thursday night. Hawaii News Now.

Oahu

Criminal charges will not be filed, at least “for now,” against a private security officer who fatally shot a family dog at Daniel K. Inouye International Airport on March 28, state Attorney General Doug Chin said Thursday. Star-Advertiser.

Pedestrians caught looking at mobile electronic devices, including cellphones, while crossing the street could be fined under a bill before the Honolulu City Council.  Star-Advertiser.

A state board trying to overhaul affordable-housing requirements in Kakaako will hold a new round of public hearings after suggesting additional tweaks to proposed rule changes at a meeting Wednesday. Star-Advertiser.

Under pressure from developers and other opponents, a state board charged with managing development in Kakaako has rejected rule changes intended to make sure certain housing units always remain affordable. Civil Beat.

People Who Have The Most to Gain From Rail Are Still Skeptical. Even at the route’s western edge, where residents face daunting traffic congestion to get downtown, the transit project’s support is spotty. Civil Beat.

Repaving work on Date Street near Kapahulu is almost complete, but a few intersections are missing important markings like crosswalks. KITV.

Residents say removal of crosswalks makes busy street dangerous for pedestrians. KHON2.

Turning seven acres agricultural land into residential lots, to build homes. That's the plan for a property owner in Haleiwa. KITV.

State health officials confirmed seven more cases of the mumps on Oahu this week. This brings the 2017 total to 96. KITV.

What was touted for decades as 20 of the “finest lanes in Hawaii” for bowling could soon become someone’s new dining table, butcher block, workbench or something else made from the alley floors of Waialae Bowl. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii

The former Uncle Billy’s Hilo Bay Hotel could again be up for grabs. The state Land Board will consider today whether to auction the land lease for the Banyan Drive property at a later date. Tribune-Herald.

A Hawaii island coffee farmer who entered the United States illegally from Mexico nearly three decades ago has been granted a 30-day reprieve on a deportation order. Associated Press.

The government gave Andres Magana Ortiz 30 more days in the U.S, but there is a possibility the father of three could still be sent back to Mexico. KITV.

Starting today, about 100 companies from around the globe will be represented on the Big Island as part of a four-day event aimed at selling Hawaii as a prime spot for meetings, conventions and incentive trips. Tribune-Herald.

It’s likely the sentencing of Peter Kema Sr. for the 1997 death of his 6-year-old son, Peter Kema Jr., won’t happen today as scheduled because authorities continue to look for the boy’s remains and because Kema hasn’t yet been given a polygraph test to determine if he told the truth about where he left the boy’s body. Tribune-Herald.

A magnitude-5.3 earthquake centered near the 61g lava flow on Hawaii Island startled a tour group Thursday morning, as they hiked out to see the volcanic activity. Big Island Video News.

Maui

The Pukalani Country Club has put up 455 solar panels that can generate 220-megawatt hours of power for the Maui Electric Co. grid, the golf course general manager said. Maui News.

Wailuku Water Co. hopes the state Public Utilities Commission approves its proposed sale of about 4,500 acres in the next two to three months to survive mounting losses that threaten to close the company, its president said Tuesday. Maui News.

Kauai

Despite advertising in multiple publications and online and interviewing applicants, the county auditor position has remained empty for nearly two years. Garden Island.

The Planning Department is recommending the Planning Commission approve the General Plan Update when it meets Tuesday. Garden Island.

An energy project on the Hawaii island Kauai could set the island on a track to surpass the new goal of 70 percent energy generation from renewable resources by 2030. Associated Press.

Tropic Care Kauai 2017 gets underway Monday. Garden Island.

Molokai

E. coli bacteria has been detected in an East Molokai water source, the Ualapue Shaft, according to the county Department of Water Supply. Maui News.

Rail bonds approved, Honolulu council hikes bus, parking, weight fees, Big Island gas tax hike advances, interim schools superintendent named, Maui mulls sand mining moratorium, Kauai studies landfill, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Rail construction, courtesy Honolulu Authority for Rapid Transportation

Construction of Honolulu’s beleaguered rail project likely will proceed past January, now that it’s squeaked out a sixth, pivotal City Council vote required to float bonds and help keep the work on track. The Council’s 6-3 decision on Wednesday, which hinged on Councilman Trevor Ozawa’s swing vote, authorizes up to $350 million in city general obligation bonds for rail. Star-Advertiser.

The Honolulu City Council approved a measure Wednesday to ensure construction of the rail project can continue through June 2018 by issuing up to $350 million in bonds, although there is still no long-term revenue source to finish the $10 billion, 20-mile line. Civil Beat.

The city's controversial rail project survived a crucial vote Wednesday at Honolulu Hale -- one that could have shut down all construction and operations within a couple months. Hawaii News Now.

Honolulu's financially troubled rail transit project will be able to issue bonds to keep it afloat through the end of the year. KITV.

The city council voted on a number of measures Wednesday night that could bring in much needed funding to the Honolulu rail project. KHON2.

Hawaii’s newly appointed schools superintendent says she has her sights set on raising student achievement in the islands above the rest of the country’s public schools. Star-Advertiser.

The future superintendent of Hawaii schools — and the high school principal who will serve as interim schools chief for a month until she starts her job Aug. 1 — spoke briefly to the media Wednesday. Civil Beat.

Keith Hayashi, Waipahu High School’s principal who has been serving as interim deputy superintendent since March, has been tapped to lead the public school system as interim superintendent until Aug. 1, the Department of Education announced Wednesday. Star-Advertiser.

A new report from Pew Research Center shows that Hawaii had the most multiracial and multiethnic births in the nation at 44 percent in 2015. Civil Beat.

Only four restaurants from the entire state of Hawaii were recognized on OpenTable's 100 Best Al Fresco Dining Restaurants in America, a list of the best outdoor dining restaurants in the country. Pacific Business News.

Oahu

Motor vehicle weight taxes, bus fares and parking rates will go up under a 2018 budget package approved by the Honolulu City Council on Wednesday. Star-Advertiser.


Honolulu residents will have to pay more to drive and park as the result of City Council action Wednesday to balance the 2018 fiscal year budget. Civil Beat.

In Wednesday's Honolulu City Council meeting, the council approved a bill for a one-time increase on city bus fares. KITV.

The City Council voted Wednesday to override Mayor Kirk Caldwell’s veto on a bill that would block the transfer of Thomas Square to the Department of Enterprise Services from the Department of Parks and Recreation, citing concerns that the move could commercialize much-needed green space. Star-Advertiser.

The City Council advanced a measure Wednesday that would allow a Waikiki nonprofit group to set transportation policies, handle curb and parking enforcement, and build parking garages and other transportation-related structures in the state’s No. 1 tourist destination. Star-Advertiser.

The Honolulu City Council chose not to pass a bill Wednesday to close a loophole in the city’s plastic bag ban. Civil Beat.

The Honolulu City Council has decided it needs more time to decide whether to strengthen Oahu’s plastic bag ban. KHON2.

A controversial measure to ban all plastic shopping bags has been shelved by the Honolulu City Council. Hawaii News Now.

The Honolulu City Council has again deferred action on a bill that would require retailers to charge a fee for checkout bags and ban so-called compostable plastic bags. Star-Advertiser.

Libraries are popping up across the country, but they’re not lending books. They’re lending tools. The HNL Tool Library is part of a nationwide movement prioritizing access to tools over ownership. Hawaii Public Radio.

Hawaii Island

A gas tax hike is probably coming to a pump near you, but there will be less of an immediate sticker shock following the County Council’s 8-1 vote Wednesday to spread Mayor Harry Kim’s requested increase more evenly throughout the next three years. West Hawaii Today.

The Hilo landfill isn’t closed yet, but Hawaii County already was approached about using it for a solar farm once it’s capped, officials told the County Council on Wednesday. Tribune-Herald.

Hawaii County Council members on Wednesday rejected for a second and final time a controversial resolution claiming historical discrimination against low-income and Native Hawaiian residents of Puna and Ka‘u. Tribune-Herald.

Millions of dollars will be spent upgrading Hilo International Airport throughout the next two years. Tribune-Herald.

As Hawaii’s congressional delegation rallies around Kona coffee farmer and undocumented immigrant Andres Magana Ortiz as he faces deportation to Mexico, Rep. Tulsi Gabbard took the effort a step further on Wednesday, taking the cause to the floor of the House and urging Congress to pass a ‘private bill’ she introduced this week to help Magana Ortiz. Big Island Video News.

The Waimea family and community man facing deportation was given 45 days to take care of his affairs before he has to leave Hawaii Island. West Hawaii Today.

Maui

The Maui County Council is taking steps on a sand mining moratorium. KHON2.

Department of Liquor Control Director Glenn Mukai said Wednesday that the department isn’t changing any of its rules for nonprofit liquor licenses — it’s just complying with state laws that have been in place since 2008. Maui News.

Members of the Maui Police Department Traffic Section along with assistance from patrol officers conducted a two week operation from May 22 to June 4, 2017 targeting seatbelt, child restraint and pick-up truck restriction violations. Maui Now.

For weeks, Minerva Martinez dreaded Wednesday, a day of reckoning for the 47-year-old Mexican immigrant who was ordered to report for possible deportation. Civil Beat.

Kauai

Consulting group presents findings on makeup of Kekaha Landfill. Garden Island.

Sen. Brian Schatz has a list of items he wants to help fund on the Garden Isle. Garden Island.

Two important ocean safety communication pieces are available to businesses on Kauai. Garden Island.

Navy corruption probe widens in Hawaii, state is first to sign onto elements in Paris Accord, Hawaii County property taxes raised, Maui first to ban 'Styrofoam' containers, Honolulu mayor wants plastic bag ban, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

U.S. Navy Cmdr. Dave Kapaun, right, with Republic of Singapore Navy Major Danny Tan, left, and Republic of Singapore Major H .C. Lim at a reception on board the U.S. Navy dock landing ship USS Rushmore, July 4, 2001, Kevin H. Tierney/U.S. Department of Defense

 Navy’s Widening Bribery And Sex Scandal Has Many Hawaii Connections. A former Seventh Fleet commander from Oahu pleads guilty in Honolulu for concealing his relationship with a Malaysian defense contractor. Civil Beat.

A retired U.S. Navy commander in Hawaii charged in a growing corruption scandal pleaded guilty today to lying about his relationship with a Malaysian defense contractor known by the nickname “Fat Leonard.” Associated Press.

Two distinctive missile telemetry ships are in Honolulu Harbor after participating in a first-of-its-kind test intercept of an intercontinental ballistic missile target high over the Pacific on May 30. Star-Advertiser.

=====

Gov. David Ige today signed a bill into law to document sea level rise and set strategies to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, aligning the state’s goals with the Paris climate accord. Associated Press.

Hawaii became the first state in the nation to enact portions of the Paris climate agreement into law Tuesday with Gov. David Ige signing Senate Bill 559. Star-Advertiser.

Hawai‘i’s elected officials gathered in Honolulu on Tuesday to show their support for the Paris Climate Accord, following President Trump’s announced withdrawal from the international agreement. Big Island Video News.

Hawaii is the first state in the nation to implement parts of the Paris Climate Agreement. Hawaii Public Radio.

In a show of support for the Paris climate agreement, Gov. David Ige and Hawaii’s county mayors and representatives gathered for the signing of two bills and a mayors’ agreement that support the commitments and goals of the Paris climate accord. KHON2.

Gov. David Ige  and the county mayors gathered Tuesday for the signing of two environmental bills and a mayors' agreement that support the commitments and goals of the Paris climate accord. KITV.

Hawaii's governor said Tuesday that the state has become the first in the nation to enact legislation that implements portions of the Paris climate accord, which the Trump administration rejected last week by pulling the United States out of the multi-nation agreement. Pacific Business News.

Hawaii was the first in the nation to commit to goals outlined in the Paris agreement Tuesday. Garden Island.

=====

Gov. David Ige gives himself a seven out of 10 for his work since taking office in 2014. Garden Island.

Nearly two-thirds of Hawaii voters who responded to The Civil Beat Poll want the Legislature to pass a bill next year to legalize medical aid in dying for terminally ill adults. Civil Beat.

Hawaii public school students are expected to spend less time taking standardized assessments next school year under efforts announced Tuesday to move away from a testing culture some educators have called toxic. Star-Advertiser.

Oahu

The city’s troubled $10 billion rail project faces another critical vote today in the Honolulu City Council. Star-Advertiser.

City council to hold final vote on several tax, fee increases. KHON2.

Mayor Kirk Caldwell today urged the Honolulu City Council to pass a bill banning all plastic bags from retail checkout counters, and threatened to veto any measure that falls short of that. Star-Advertiser.

Get ready drivers: Rates for street parking are poised to go way up starting this summer. Hawaii News Now.

City Prosecutor Keith Kaneshiro's request for $75,000 to fund a retrofitted van for his office won't be approved any time soon. Hawaii News Now.

A federal jury found the company and its top manager involved in a deadly 2011 fireworks explosion in a Waikele bunker not guilty today of permit violations for storing and treating hazardous waste. Star-Advertiser.

Medical Marijuana Dispensary To Open Without Any Marijuana. Licensed companies are still waiting for the Department of Health to certify labs to test the products before they can start selling. Civil Beat.

The Kahala Hotel’s New Shoreline Plan Could Reduce Public Beach Access. The high-end resort wants a long-term easement allowing it to hold more weddings and other events that could take up more of the public beach. Civil Beat.

Former Kapolei raceway becomes illegal, potentially toxic, dump site. Hawaii News Now.

Permit numbers for solar systems on Oahu continue to fall, dropping 62 percent in May compared with the same month last year. Star-Advertiser.

The Hawaii Tourism Authority and the Hawaii Convention Center recognize University of Hawaii for securing over $170M in convention business. Pacific Business News.

Sales of single-family homes and condominiums on Oahu rose by double digits in May, as prices posted single-digit gains, according to statistics release Monday by Honolulu real estate firm Locations. Pacific Business News.

Aiming to replicate the water quality impact of oysters on places such as Maryland’s Chesapeake Bay, the state Division of Aquatic Resources on Tuesday announced the expansion of its own oyster-growing experiment with the target of helping to clean up Pearl Harbor. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii Island

Property tax rate hikes passed by the Hawaii County Council late Monday pack a wallop for residential and apartment properties, while sparing homeowners and affordable rentals from increases. West Hawaii Today.

Hawaii County Council members spent an entire day, working deep into the night, trying to find the right mix of Big Island property tax increases across the different classes in order to balance the budget for the 2017-18 fiscal year. Big Island Video News.

As Hawaii County considers large increases to the fuel tax, should any of that extra revenue go to help improve substandard private roads? That was a question raised Tuesday as the Hawaii County Council considered a resolution seeking to authorize grants for private roads used as main thoroughfares, such as in large subdivisions, during a Finance Committee meeting. Tribune-Herald.

The Hamakua Soil and Water Conservation District voted Tuesday to rescind the conservation plan for Big Island Dairy and others that weren’t signed by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Natural Resources Conservation Service. Tribune-Herald.

The Hawaii County Wastewater Division posted warning signs near the Pua sewage pump station and the Pacific Aquaculture and Coastal Resource Center in Keaukaha after tests with dye suggested repairs made to pipe joints were ineffective. Tribune-Herald.

Alexander & Baldwin Inc. said Tuesday it has paid $10 million to acquire five multi-tenant industrial buildings within the Honokohau Industrial Park, the Honolulu-based company’s first industrial properties on the Big Island. Pacific Business News.

Police have wrapped an internal probe into an Aug. 4, 2016, police pursuit of a stolen vehicle in Hilo that concluded with a two-car crash that resulted in the deaths of a 17-year-old boy and a 20-year-old woman in the stolen car and critical injuries to a 39-year-old woman driving the other vehicle. Tribune-Herald.

Sales of homes on the Big Island rose last month, with the number of condominiums sold jumping by 40 percent, even as prices dropped by 20 percent, compared to the same month last year, according to statistics provided by Hawaii Information Service on behalf of Hawaii Island Realtors. Pacific Business News.

Maui

Maui County Mayor Alan Arakawa signed into law Monday a bill banning foam polystyrene food service containers, which include the popular plate lunch container and certain types of coffee cups. Maui News.

Maui Mayor Alan Arakawa signed Bill 127 into law on Monday relating to restricting the use and sale of polystyrene foam containers in Maui County.  The law is set to go into effect on Dec. 31, 2018. Maui Now.

Polystyrene foam containers will be banned on Maui beginning Dec. 31, 2018. Maui Mayor Alan Arakawa signed a bill on Tuesday making the sale and use of polystyrene food containers illegal. Maui is the first Hawaii county to ban foam containers. Associated Press.

County prepares as liability coverage for lifeguards ends. Maui News.

Maui Grown Therapies will hold an open house and a job fair this week to answer questions and recruit employees for the company’s production center and dispensary. Maui News.

Kauai

After five years of renovations, Diamond Resorts International is re-opening The Point at Poipu Resort on Kauai. Pacific Business News.

The median price of a single-family home on Kauai shot up by nearly 50 percent in May, compared to last year, while the number of sales rose by nearly as much, according to statistics provided by Hawaii Information Service on behalf of the Kauai Board of Realtors. Pacific Business News.

Four-hundred-year-old coral fragments in Kauai’s Makauwahi Cave appear to have been left there by a tsunami generated by a magnitude 9 earthquake in the Aleutian Islands, according to a team who recently re-examined the cave. Garden Island.

Gov. Ige's popularity tanks in poll, Kauai poi mill nets OHA employee ethics complaint, Hawaiian men unhealthy, Big Island council dithers over tax hikes, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Gov. David Ige during 2014 election campaign © 2017 All Hawaii News

Civil Beat Poll: Gov. David Ige Could Be In Trouble In 2018. Hawaii voters responding to our poll prefer “someone else” over the incumbent by a wide margin. Civil Beat.

The health of Native Hawaiian men is considerably worse than their counterparts in Hawaii’s general population, according to a new report that found higher rates of obesity, asthma, deaths from cancer, mental health problems and the shortest life expectancy, among other disparities. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii’s visitor industry is joining nationwide partners in protesting President Donald Trump’s proposed fiscal 2018 federal budget, which would eliminate investment in Brand USA, the nation’s international travel marketing arm. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii U.S. Representative Tulsi Gabbard is gaining popularity as a possible presidential candidate in 2020. But her approval rating continues to drop here at home. KITV.

Hawaii political leaders, including Gov. David Ige, have joined a growing coalition of governors, mayors, business leaders and academics throughout the country who have pledged to continue combating climate change despite President Donald Trump’s announcement last week that he was pulling the United States out of the Paris climate agreement. Star-Advertiser.

The Hawaii State Department of Health’s Alcohol and Drug Abuse Division has received a $3 million federal grant to provide funding over four years for the treatment of adolescents with substance abuse and mental health issues. Pacific Business News.

Hawaii ranks in the bottom half of a new study comparing the economies of the 50 U.S. states and the District of Columbia. Pacific Business News.

Hawaii ranks 38th out of 50 states and the District of Columbia in terms of “innovation potential,” according to WalletHub, a personal finance and credit research firm based in Washington, D.C. Civil Beat.

Clearer laws on collecting in and access to the forest are among changes the state is proposing for the rules that govern state Department of Land and Natural Resources Division of Forestry and Wildlife lands. Garden Island.

May was an extraordinary month for housing markets on Kauai and Hawaii island, with industry trade associations reporting several gains of at least 40 percent in sales volume and median prices. Star-Advertiser.

Oahu

Within a few hours of the city sweeping homeless from a grassy median along busy Nimitz Highway on Monday morning, at least one homeless person returned as city officials vowed to continue clearing the state-owned land. Star-Advertiser.

City crews cleared out homeless camps on Nimitz Highway medians Monday without giving the customary 24-hour notification. Hawaii News Now.

Honolulu Deputy Prosecuting Attorney Katherine Kealoha, who is under federal investigation for corruption and abuse of power, is asking a state judge to block city officials from releasing documents about her employment history to Civil Beat. Civil Beat.

Prosecutor's $75K request for 'mobile command' unit questioned. Hawaii News Now.

Construction is underway to transform the former longtime Bank of Hawaii building on Kapahulu Avenue into one of the state’s first medical marijuana dispensaries. Star-Advertiser.

A big celebration is being planned for Hōkūleʻa’s homecoming at Magic Island a week from Saturday – marking the end of the Mālama Honua voyage. Hawaii Public Radio.

Hawaii Island

The Hawaii County Council was working into the night Monday sifting through a combination of budget cuts and tax increases, trying to arrive at a number acceptable to two opposing economic philosophies. West Hawaii Today.

Hawaii’s congressional delegation is urging U.S. Department of Homeland Security Secretary John Kelly to stop the deportation of a Big Island coffee farmer. Associated Press.

Hawaii’s congressional delegation is joining the fight to stop the deportation of a respected Kona coffee farmer. KHON2.

Waimea man Graham Ellis seeks postponement of deportation. West Hawaii Today.

East Hawaii’s major provider of services for homeless residents is shifting strategies. Tribune-Herald.

At least eight employees at North Hawaii Community Hospital have been given notice or terminated since late March alone. West Hawaii Today.

The Department of Public Works inspected a dirt road in Waimea, Monday, to determine whether or not it was a county road. West Hawaii Today.

Maui

After six months, the Pools of Oheo in the Kīpahulu District of Haleakalā National Park remain closed following a rock slide reported on Jan. 3. Maui News.

The last day that Kmart will be open to the public is June 18, a manager at the Kahului store said Monday. Maui News.

Sewer pipe installations will prompt alternating lane closures in both directions of Waiehu Beach Road at the intersections with Nukuwai Place this week, according to the state Department of Transportation. Maui News.

Kauai

OHA staffer faces conflict of interest allegations over Kauai poi mill venture. Hawaii News Now.

New school bus contracts awarded, concern over student safety a factor. Garden Island.

An update on the proposed Pu’u Opae Pumped Storage Hydro Project from Kauai Island Utility Cooperative is set for today at Waimea Theatre. Garden Island.

The Kilauea Neighborhood Association will hold its first summer meeting at 7 tonight at the Kilauea Neighborhood Center. Garden Island.

Ige may face challengers, line forms for Lt. Gov., Tulsi loses popularity, Honolulu council to tackle plastic bags, Kahaluu development stalls, Wailuku workforce housing coming, Kauai council defends defunding auditor, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

University of Hawaii's James Brewbaker in field of seed corn, courtesy photo

Industrial agriculture companies producing seeds in Hawaii mainly for corn research and reproduction had a second consecutive season of steady operations after three years of declines, according to a preliminary government estimate. Star-Advertiser.

More than a year out from the 2018 election, Gov. David Ige presents a tempting but also formidable target for some ambitious Democrats, and several are weighing the possibility of a run against him. Star-Advertiser.

At least a half-dozen politicians are already eyeing the race for Hawaii lieutenant governor next year, including Maui’s mayor and a number of state legislators. Star-Advertiser.

Civil Beat Poll: Tulsi Gabbard’s Surprising Plunge In Hawaii. Statewide, Brian Schatz and Mazie Hirono are viewed more favorably than Gabbard while Colleen Hanabusa’s numbers are slightly lower. Civil Beat.

Hawaii’s wealthy make up the majority of residents who have rooftop solar, and two programs the state created to change that are floundering. Star-Advertiser.

More than a year after the state awarded its first eight medical marijuana dispensary licenses, three companies have each harvested their first crop, but not a single bud has been sold. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii’s Tech Sector Is Suffering From A Lack Of Top Business Execs. There is marketable technology in the islands, but commercial success requires talented entrepreneurs who are hard to find. Civil Beat.

Hawaii has received $4.1 million for AmeriCorps projects from the federal agency that oversees volunteering and service programs. Star-Advertiser.

Native Hawaiians face a greater risk of developing, and dying from cancer-associated sepsis. Experts at the University of Hawai'i Cancer Center made this discovery from analyzing decades of research. KITV.

Honolulu-based Matson Inc. will increase the frequency of its South Pacific Express service to Samoa and American Samoa from 28 days to 14 days. Pacific Business News.

Oahu

Honolulu City Council members Wednesday will consider two different versions of a bill aimed at closing loopholes in Oahu’s existing plastic bag ban: one supported by business interests and the other by environmental groups. Star-Advertiser.

The city plans to take a new approach this week to clear out a handful of persistent homeless encampments on state-owned, grassy medians along Nimitz Highway that thousands of tourists drive past on their way from Daniel K. Inouye International Airport to Waikiki. Star-Advertiser.

Developer Wants To Convert Farmland To Housing In Haleiwa. He calls it “working class housing.” Opponents decry more traffic congestion and the loss of agricultural space. Civil Beat.

The mayor’s representative erred when he told attendees at Tuesday’s Hawaii Kai Neighborhood Board meeting that the city dropped previous efforts to condemn a certain private lane for beach access in the late 1990s after the state Supreme Court overturned the condemnation. Star-Advertiser.

The city intends to refund nearly $500,000 in property taxes that it inappropriately collected over two years from farmers for a controversial off-the-grid agriculture development in Kunia. Star-Advertiser.

NOAA researchers are mourning the death of a Hawaiian monk seal that some have known for years. KHON2.

Henry B. Clark, who retired as chairman, president and CEO of Castle & Cooke more than 30 years ago after a 40-year career, has died. He was 101. Pacific Business News.

Hawaii Island

Second homes, commercial and industrial property and hotel/resorts would bear more of the property tax burden in order to give homeowners and farmers less of a rate hike, under proposals to be heard Monday as the County Council takes its final vote on the budget. West Hawaii Today.

Evans: Raises the reason for tax increase. West Hawaii Today.

Citing a “need for a deeper awareness and understanding” of historically and culturally significant sites in a Kahaluu parcel eyed for development of a 306-unit condominium, the county’s planning director is asking the officer overseeing the contested case to reopen the hearing to hear more evidence and testimony from himself and other potential witnesses. West Hawaii Today.

The Kamehameha Schools are accusing two companies of illegally harvesting eucalyptus trees on its properties along the Hamakua Coast. Associated Press.

On May 25, Kamehameha Schools filed a complaint in the 3rd Circuit Court requesting the court grant immediate and permanent injunctive relief against defendants Jonathan P. Spies and his companies Hamakua Renewable Enterprises, LLC, and Golden Lion Hawaii, LLC, for trespassing and the illegal harvesting of eucalyptus trees on the school’s property in the Kapulena area. West Hawaii Today.

Money for a joint state-county planning effort to revitalize the Banyan Drive resort area appears to be drying up. Big Island Video News.

Parker Land Trust, a sister entity of Parker Ranch, claims in a foreclosure lawsuit that German industrialist and biofuel pioneer Michael Saalfeld owes more than $50 million for 3,500-plus acres of land he bought from the Waimea ranch in 2010. Tribune-Herald.

Reforms could be on the way for the Hawaii Island Humane Society, where high euthanasia rates have frustrated Big Island residents. Civil Beat.

Debbie Cravatta, president and founder of the nonprofit Kohala Animal Relocation and Education Service, was working with the veterinarian of the Molokai Humane Society, and the only veterinarian on that island, to sterilize a total of 30 animals Wednesday in Ocean View when conversation turned to a separate ongoing effort to rescue dozens of dogs from another property in the area and how her group could help. West Hawaii Today.

The University of Hawaii at Hilo is increasing marketing efforts to spread the word about its new dorm repricing plan, which will knock the annual cost of its most underused residence hall by about $1,400 next year. Tribune-Herald.

On the heels of the state Legislature approving funding for continued development of an industrial hemp program, Hawaii Island hosts the first Hawaii Hemp Conference next weekend. Tribune-Herald.

A Hilo food business has issued a recall of frozen ahi that tested positive for hepatitis A. Tribune-Herald.

Maui

Two real estate firms are close to submitting an application to the county to build a 324-unit workforce rental apartment project along Waiale Road in Wailuku. Maui News.

The world of Korean natural farming is like a glimpse into a mad scientist’s lab. Garden Island.

The County Council’s Policy, Economic Development and Agriculture Committee will meet Monday at 9 a.m. in the Council Chambers to discuss the Federal Food Safety Modernization Act, or FSMA. Maui News.

Maui’s first two utility-scale solar power projects in South and West Maui, which could supply up to 6 megawatts of power, are expected to come online by the second half of this year, a Maui Electric Co. spokeswoman said last week. Maui News.

Kauai

Kauai Council Chairman Mel Rapozo responds to news reports of the council eliminating the auditor's office: The council partially funded the office, using a term referred to in government accounting as “dollar funding.” With the exception of the building lease and electricity costs, which received three months of funding, and the copier machine under contract, $1 of funding was left as a placeholder for each salaried position and related benefits and other office expenses in place. Garden Island.

Council Chair Mel Rapozo said he can’t approve a request to apply for state funds to relocate the Hanalei National Wildlife Refuge overlook because of a lack of community participation. Garden Island.

The Kauai Humane Society needs your help. As of Friday, KHS had 71 dogs and puppies, 75 cats and kittens, six guinea pigs and a rabbit up for adoption. Garden Island.

Hawaii dislikes Trump's climate accord withdrawal, bill banning aquarium fish taking on Ige's desk, health worker benefit bill signed, Maui mayor signs $705M budget, mumps cases reach 81, Kauai rose-ringed parakeet bill signed, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Golden dawn over Hawaii © 2017 All Hawaii News

Hawaii’s Democratic congressional delegation quickly panned President Donald Trump’s decision Thursday to withdraw from the 2015 Paris agreement on climate change, describing it as sad, irresponsible, shortsighted and an abandonment of American leadership. Star-Advertiser.

Disgusted by President Trump’s decision Thursday to pull the United States out of the Paris climate accord, elected officials and nonprofit leaders in Hawaii said they are not backing down from their commitments to combat global warming. Civil Beat.

Local scientists are reacting with anger and dismay after President Trump's decision Thursday to pull the United States out of the Paris accords aimed at slowing global warming and climate change. Hawaii News Now.

President Donald Trump’s decision to withdraw the United States from the 2015 Paris climate accord drew sharp criticism from Hawaii’s congressional delegation on Thursday. Tribune-Herald.

Hawaii lawmakers and members of the state's Congressional delegation railed against President Trump's decision Thursday to pull the United States out of a global agreement aimed at slowing the pace of global warming. Hawaii News Now.

President Trump’s decision to withdraw the United States from the Paris Climate Accord was universally criticized by Hawaii Democrats in the hours following the announcement made from the White House’s Rose Garden. Big Island Video News.

US Senator Brian Schatz of Hawai‘i, co-chair of the Senate Climate Action Task Force, said he is “appalled and disappointed” with President Donald Trump’s decision to withdraw from the Paris Agreement.  Maui Now.

President Donald Trump’s decision Thursday to withdraw the United States from the Paris climate accord will hamper efforts to stem global warming throughout the world — the primary cause of rising ocean temperatures that pose the single greatest threat to Hawaii’s marine ecosystems. West Hawaii Today.

=====

The Trump administration has asked the Supreme Court to immediately reinstate its ban on travelers from six mostly Muslim countries, saying the U.S. will be safer if the policy is put in place. Associated Press.

A bill awaiting Governor Ige's signature would end the commercial collecting of Hawaii reef wildlife for the aquarium trade. Hawaii Public Radio.

Civil Beat Poll: Voters Dislike Trump, Support Lawsuit Against Travel Ban. The president’s approval rating of 32 percent is actually higher than the percentage of the state vote he received in November. Civil Beat.


Madison, Wis.-based Hartung Brothers Inc. is expected to acquire Syngenta’s Hawaii operations, which include about 100 full-time employees and 4,000 acres of land on Oahu and Kauai. Star-Advertiser.

Maui Land & Pineapple Co., Inc. has seen its stock price more than double since the beginning of the year, while the majority of Hawaii's publicly traded companies suffered losses in May. Pacific Business News.

Oahu

The Hawaii Supreme Court heard oral arguments Thursday in a lawsuit brought by Honolulu Civil Beat against the City and County of Honolulu after city officials denied access to budget documents and material that Honolulu Mayor Kirk Caldwell used to shape his spending plan for fiscal year 2016. Civil Beat.

Rail officials will receive $900,000 in federal grant funds to revitalize “brownfields,” which is name for the contaminated properties in need of an environmental cleanup. Pacific Business News.

A new freeway lane from the Red Hill area to Aiea is expected to open in a few months in an effort to ease westbound traffic congestion. Star-Advertiser.

Could Oahu’s West Side Be The New Vacation Hot Spot For Millennials? The Hawaii Food & Wine Festival is promoting island agriculture by taking travel writers to the Leeward Coast. But will it sell? Civil Beat.

Aloha Green Holdings Inc. said Thursday it is dropping plans to sell non-THC products at its King Street medical marijuana dispensary starting next week. Star-Advertiser.

So far, 81 cases of the highly contagious respiratory disease mumps have been reported, all but two of them on Oahu. The total is far beyond any annual tally in Health Department records dating back to 1990 — and the year isn’t even half over. Star-Advertiser.

Federal law makes city’s struggle to get abandoned cars off streets even harder. KHON2.

An Oahu grand jury Thursday indicted a 57-year-old man who allegedly broke etched glass panes on three doors at historic Iolani Palace and a glass door at the state Capitol. Star-Advertiser.

A school name change on Oʻahu is raising awareness in that community about the origin of place names in Hawaiʻi. Hawaii Public Radio.

Searider Productions produces Emmy Award winning stories and animation. With the $10.7 million they received from the state Legislature, they're hoping to produce more awarding projects out of a much better facility. KITV.

Deep in the quiet Manoa Valley, the fight to protect the ohia plant plays on. Hawaii News Now.

Unusual 6-foot-long fish rescued after washing up in Ko Olina lagoon. KHON2.

Hawaii Island

County employee survey: Morale mostly high, but employees afraid to speak out West Hawaii Today.

A federal civil lawsuit alleges that a dorm mother at an elite Hawaii boarding school had sex with a male student in her campus apartment. Associated Press.

A former Hawaii island boarding student and his parents are suing Hawaii Preparatory Academy, alleging the private school failed to protect the minor from repeated sexual abuse by a female dormitory supervisor and concealed evidence of the inappropriate relationship. Star-Advertiser.

The parents of a former Hawaii Preparatory Academy student on Wednesday filed suit against the school, alleging it failed to prevent or investigate a relationship between that student and a former employee. West Hawaii Today.

A longstanding, Hilo-based Hawaiian immersion public charter school is vacating Keaukaha Elementary School’s campus next year after three decades accommodating students there. Tribune-Herald.

Maui

Maui County Mayor Alan Arakawa on Thursday signed into law a $705.2 million county budget for the fiscal year that begins July 1 that keeps the Waiehu Municipal Golf Course open and imposes a new $3 per vehicle tipping fee for residential dumping at the Central Maui Landfill. Maui News.

Gov. David Ige has signed into law a bill that would provide severance benefits to employees affected by the privatization of three Maui County public hospitals. Maui News.

How Anne Morrow Lindbergh Battled Maui’s Wild Side. Today, the famous author’s granddaughter faces similar struggles keeping the critters and climate at bay in remote Kipahulu. Civil Beat.

Kauai

Gov. David Ige signed House Bill 655 on Thursday aimed at reducing the rose-ringed parakeet population. Garden Island.

In front of a crowd of nearly 300 people at the 19th annual Governor’s Luncheon at Koloa Landing Resort, Gov. David Ige said collaboration with county and state officials and the Legislature made a difference. Garden Island.

The county is considering creating a university district for Kauai Community College. Garden Island.

Japan Airlines returns to Kona, Honolulu Mayor Caldwell unpopular in poll, Kauai cuts auditor funds to balance $202M budget, murderers among work-release inmates, Portlock owner wants $2M for surf spot access, Big Island testifiers oppose gas tax hike, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Ige, state and Japan Airlines officials, courtesy photo

Japan Airlines will resume daily nonstop service between Tokyo’s Narita International Airport and Kona International Airport at Keahole this fall — a move that is expected to add millions of dollars to the state’s economy and shore up Kona’s status as an international port of entry. Star-Advertiser.

Japan Airlines will resume nonstop flights between Tokyo and the Kona airport on Hawaii Island this fall after a seven-year absence, providing $84.2 million in annual visitor spending. Pacific Business News.

Direct flights from Japan to Ellison Onizuka Kona International Airport at Keahole will be re-established after a seven-year absence. West Hawaii Today.

The Federal Aviation Administration is providing more than $10 million in federal funding to two of Hawaii's airports to enhance operations and runway safety. The two airports that will receive the money are Kahului Airport on Maui and Hilo International Airport on the Big Island. Pacific Business News.

The U.S. Missile Defense Agency released video footage today of the successful intercept of an intercontinental ballistic missile target during a test over the Pacific Tuesday, the agency said. Star-Advertiser.

Sentencing set for Navy officer formerly stationed in Hawaii who shared military secrets. Associated Press.

Convicted murderers are among the inmates who are out in the community working while finishing their sentence. KHON2.

The state has received a $2.5 million payment from Volkswagen as part of a national settlement with the automaker. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii will receive a direct payment of $2.5 million from Volkswagen as part of a multi-state settlement, state Attorney General Doug Chin and state Office of Consumer Protection Executive Director Stephen Levins said on Wednesday. Pacific Business News.

The 2017 Central Pacific hurricane season gets underway today. West Hawaii Today.

The state’s largest carrier of interisland ocean cargo extended a more than four-year stretch of fairly level delivery volumes with roughly flat first-quarter results. Star-Advertiser.

Young Brothers, Ltd.’s intrastate cargo volumes between Honolulu and six Neighbor Island ports were flat for the first quarter of 2017, up only 0.2 percent compared to the same period in 2016, according to the company’s quarterly cargo volume report. Pacific Business News.

The Hawaii Bankers Association elected its officers for the new fiscal year, beginning Thursday. Pacific Business News.

Oahu

In Hawaii, an island oasis for Democrats, Honolulu Mayor Kirk Caldwell is about as popular as Republican President Donald Trump. And it looks like Caldwell might have the rail project to blame for it. Civil Beat.

Former U.S. Rep. Mark Takai was remembered Wednesday as a “true Pacific warrior, a true patriot and a true statesman” at a ceremony renaming the Pacific Warfighting Center on Ford Island in his name. Star-Advertiser.

The owner of a gate blocking access to a lane that leads to a popular Portlock beach estimates the city would need to pay more than $2 million to condemn the lane to keep it open. Star-Advertiser.

Corals Are Dying At Hawaii’s Most Popular Snorkeling Spot. Climate change is heating the ocean and causing stronger and longer coral bleaching events at Hanauma Bay. Civil Beat.

A state board overseeing real estate development rules in Kakaako decided Wednesday to take more time to analyze proposed changes to a long list of affordable-housing production requirements. Star-Advertiser.

The decades-long erosion of the shoreline just outside the city’s Sand Island Wastewater Treatment Plant leaves the facility’s outfall pipeline in a precarious situation where “failure or damage to the outfall could have catastrophic health, environmental and economic consequences,” according to an environmental report made public by the city last month. Star-Advertiser.

The Department of Health's Clean Water Branch is advising the public to avoid waters near a Punaluu stream due to a contamination alert. Hawaii News Now.

In an effort to accommodate the growth of Waianae High School’s Searider Productions, the state Department of Education plans to expand the program’s facilities into a full-fledged complex. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii Island

Almost every one of the more than dozen residents addressing the County Council at a public hearing Wednesday on a gas tax increase was opposed to the idea. West Hawaii Today.

Roughly twenty Hawaii Island residents testified Wednesday at a public hearing on a possible series of fuel tax increases on the Big Island. Big Island Video News.

Smuggled into US as a teen, respected Kona farmer now faces deportation to Mexico. Hawaii News Now.

Several years ago, Hawai'i County Prosecutor Mitch Roth started a program on the east side of the Big Island aimed at working with young offenders. It links actions and consequences – and it’s been so successful he wants to start a similar program on the west side. Hawaii Public Radio.

A group of 25 conservation managers, cultural practictioners and government representatives in the Kulani tract of the Pu‘u Maka‘ala Natural Area Reserve for a ceremony to offer the Hawaii creeper a boost: its traditional name, rediscovered after decades. Tribune-Herald.

Maui

The Maui County Liquor Commission may hear public comments this month about how the Department of Liquor Control processes permits for one-day fundraising events, while commission action on repealing controversial rules changes has been put off until July at the earliest. Maui News.

Kahului Airport and Hilo International Airport will receive over $10 million in federal funds from the Federal Aviation Administration to enhance airport operations and runway safety on Maui and the Big Island of Hawaiʻi. Maui Now.

Maui’s Kapalua Bay Beach in West Maui earned the number 2 spot on Dr. Stephen P Leatherman’s 27th Annual Top 10 Beach List. Maui Now.

South Maui rescue tubes ready. Maui News.

Hawksbill and green (honu) sea turtles begin their 2017 nesting season along Maui beaches in June. Maui Now.

Kauai

Auditor’s office, overtime cut from spending plan. The Kauai County Council unanimously approved a $201.5 million budget for fiscal year 2017-2018 Wednesday. Garden Island.

A Kauai judge has ruled in favor of a Southside resident after a decade’s long tussle over a new subdivision. Judge Kathleen Watanabe recently ruled that the state, County of Kauai and the Eric A. Knudsen Trust violated laws preserving and protecting Hawaiian rights and cultural resources when the developer’s Village at Poipu Phase One subdivision was approved in 2009, according to a release from the Native Hawaiian Legal Corporation. Garden Island.

Two of Kauai’s endangered seabird species are in peril, according to a study released Wednesday by the Kauai Endangered Seabird Recovery Project. Garden Island.