Kakaako park to close for homeless sweep as Ige touts successes, Honolulu police chief selection hearing today, Kauai doctor sues over abortion pill, Big Island council critiques hiring audit, flight disruptor saw butterfly, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Kakaako homeless, Hawaii News Now screen grab

Kakaako Waterfront Park will be closed to the public indefinitely — starting at 10 p.m. Sunday — because park officials say they can no longer ensure the safety of park users following a recent series of dog bites, fires and vandalism attributed to an estimated 180 homeless people living along the Kakaako shoreline. Star-Advertiser.

Following a series of dog attacks, fires and vandalism blamed on homeless people lining the waterfront, state officials plan to indefinitely close Kakaako Waterfront Park and the adjacent Gateway and Kewalo Basin parks starting at 10 p.m. Sunday. Star-Advertiser.

Gov. David Ige on Tuesday touted the state's success housing homeless families — in a Kakaako park overrun with squatters. And a half hour before the news conference, workers plastered Kakaako Waterfront Park with signs saying that come Sunday night the area (including parking for Point Panic) will be off limits to the public — indefinitely. Hawaii News Now.

Kakaako Waterfront Park will be closed for clean-up and to clear out homeless campers. That is also the same park, where a state shelter was showcased for its high rate of success re-housing Hawaii's homeless residents. KITV.

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Republican lawmaker hints at run for Hawaii governor. It's a hot question in Hawaii politics: Is Representative Andria Tupola running for Governor? Well, she sure is hinting at it. Hawaii News Now.

Congressman Blasts Fishery Council For ‘Improper Lobbying’ The Northern Marianas lawmaker demands an investigation of the Hawaii-based Western Pacific Regional Fishery Management Council. Civil Beat.

The state Department of Land and Natural Resources, in partnership with the State Office of Planning, will hold the first-ever Hawaii Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation Commission meeting in mid-October. Maui Now.

A Turkish man pleaded guilty today to interfering with a flight crew and blamed his inflight behavior that prompted fighter jets to escort the plane to its Honolulu destination on a hallucination that he was chasing a butterfly. Associated Press.

New routes in works as Hawaiian Air beefs up fleet. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii is back on Singapore’s radar for the first time in 25 years. Scoot, the low-cost, long-haul subsidiary of the Singapore Airlines Group, said Tuesday it plans to fly to Honolulu at the end of this year to mark its first foray into the United States.  Star-Advertiser.

The Hawaii Dental Association launched the Hawaii Dental Association Foundation on Tuesday. The HDA said planned programs for the foundation include scholarships for individuals who wish to enroll in the oral healthcare field, free oral care events for children and community disaster relief assistance. Pacific Business News.

Oahu

City Must Find $160 Million To Pay For Rail Agency’s Employees. Those costs had been covered by general excise tax revenue, but the legislative bailout requires that money to be used only for construction. Civil Beat.

The recovery plan for the embattled rail project was approved Tuesday by the Honolulu City Council’s budget and transportation committees. Hawaii News Now.

The final phase of the search for a new Honolulu police chief begins at 2 p.m. today when the Honolulu Police Commission takes public testimony on its seven finalists. Star-Advertiser.

Police commissioners are meeting Wednesday afternoon to take public testimony on the seven finalists they are considering to become the next Honolulu Police Chief. Hawaii News Now.

Generators running 24/7 to power parts of Kapiolani Medical Center for Women & Children. KHON2.

Investor Shidler’s gift could bring UH business school $7 billion over time. Jay Shidler has donated a collection of mainland commercial properties to UH, representing the largest single gift ever made to the 110-year-old university. Star-Advertiser.

The median price of condos on Oahu last month hit $425,000 — up 10 percent from a year earlier. Hawaii News Now.

Oahu's housing market is so tight, developer D.R. Horton says people have camped out overnight for a chance to buy market priced homes at Hoopili. A single family home at Hoopili starts at about $640,000. Hawaii News Now.

Hawaii Island

Legislative auditors on Tuesday defended their report sharply criticizing county hiring practices before a County Council committee that said the audit doesn’t go far enough. West Hawaii Today.

The Hawaii County Council is poised to become the third in the state to send a resolution to the Legislature, asking that body to comply with the state Sunshine Laws governing open meetings. West Hawaii Today.

Council members agreed on Tuesday that state lawmakers should be subject to the same open meeting requirements and sanctions that they are subject to at the county level. Big Island Video News.

After nearly two months of severe water restrictions, the Department of Water Supply has turned the taps back on in North Kona. West Hawaii Today.

The Hualalai and Palani Wells have been repaired, water officials announced Tuesday, but a 25% reduction in water use remains in effect. Big Island Video News.

A Hilo legislator who underwent surgery Sept. 27 to remove a cancerous testicle was told Tuesday the surgery was successful. Tribune-Herald.

Inaugural MoonBase Summit brings cutting edge science minds together at Mauna Lani. West Hawaii Today.

Eighteen stories of tsunami victims and survivors are the centerpiece of a new exhibit at the Pacific Tsunami Museum highlighting Hilo’s relationship with the natural disasters. Tribune-Herald.

A tricky mission is underway to free an ocean predator entangled in rope near Honokohau Harbor on the Big Island. The 12-foot female tiger shark was first spotted a couple of weeks ago. Hawaii News Now.

Maui

A man and woman were released pending further investigation after being arrested in a police raid Monday at Temple of the Pharaohs video arcade in Maalaea, according to police records. Maui News.

The University of Hawaii Maui College is looking for ways to boost enrollment by two groups that show promise as potential students: returning adult students between the ages of 25 to 44 and high schoolers who want to enroll early. Maui News.

Kauai

Dr. Graham Chelius, who estimates he has delivered 820 babies on Kauai over the last nine years, filed a lawsuit Tuesday in federal court in Honolulu against the Food and Drug Administration that he hopes will prevent unwanted pregnancies around the country by giving everyone access to the so-called abortion pill that’s currently unavailable on the Garden Isle. Star-Advertiser.

The American Civil Liberties Union filed a lawsuit representing a Kauai doctor that challenges restrictions on the drug known as Mifeprex. KHON2.

The Kauai Fire Department is reminding the public to keep drones away from emergency situations. KHON2.

University of Hawaii enrollment drops, bankruptcy filings rise, Honolulu Fire Department fined in Marco Polo fire, 91-year-old heiress Kawananakoa marries partner, gambling devises seized in Maui raid, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

University of Hawaii at Hilo © 2017 All Hawaii News

Enrollment at most University of Hawaii campuses dropped this year, as some community colleges appear to be losing students to the workforce in a tight labor market. Star-Advertiser.

Enrollment at the University of Hawaii at Hilo and Hawaii Community College is down again this fall, though HCC’s Palamanui extension campus in Kailua-Kona saw a slight increase. Tribune-Herald.

Hawaii bankruptcy filings increased in September for the second time in three months as evidence continued to mount that growth in the economy is slowing. Star-Advertiser.

Special Interests Spend Big On Their Lobbyists. Ethics Commission reports provide some details about what Hawaii’s professional persuaders spend, and what they earn. Civil Beat.

Hawaii’s Surprising Number Of Lobbyists. It doesn’t take a whole lot to satisfy the state’s legal definition of a lobbyist. Civil Beat.

The State Of Coral In The Northwestern Hawaiian Islands. A scientific expedition that just wrapped up collected information expected to help understand how reefs are faring in the face of climate change. Civil Beat.

Oahu

The Honolulu Fire Department said Monday it is working with the state to ensure workplace safety after it was cited for not following proper safety procedures and exposing firefighters to asbestos in the deadly blaze at the Marco Polo condominium. Star-Advertiser.

The state has cited and fined the Honolulu Fire Department thousands of dollars in connection with the deadly Marco Polo fire. KHON2.

A toxic mix of severe overcrowding and frequent lockdowns was apparently at the heart of a melee involving as many as 18 inmates at the Oahu Community Correctional Center over the weekend. Civil Beat.

North Shore Food Trucks Are Under Fire From Environmentalists. A petition seeks to force the city to enforce land use and coastal zone management laws designed to protect marine areas from overuse. Civil Beat.

The Princess Bride: Hawaiian Heiress Gets Married Amid Legal Dispute. Abigail Kawananakoa, 91, weds Veronica Gail Worth, who is at the center of a battle over control of millions of dollars. Civil Beat.

Campbell Estate heiress Abigail Kawananakoa, 91, married her longtime partner and private secretary, 64-year-old Veronica Gail Worth, in a private ceremony in Manoa Sunday. Star-Advertiser.

A police officer who accidentally shot a bartender at a King Street Kings Sport Bar two years ago has settled a lawsuit by the victim. Hawaii News Now.

Displeased with a change in hours at the University of Hawaii at Manoa's Sinclair Library, a student group protested the new hours early Monday morning. Hawaii News Now.

Two separate reports on apartment rents have stated the obvious – that Honolulu has some of the highest rents in the nation for one- and two-bedroom apartments – but Apartment List and Zumper differ on where Hawaii’s largest largest city ranks. Pacific Business News.

The highest price paid for a residential condominium in Hawaii has now topped $20 million. A buyer on Friday closed on a purchase at Park Lane Ala Moana for a record $22 million. Star-Advertiser.

An attorney representing Brigham Young University-Hawaii tells a federal judge the school will pay $5,000 to settle a former student’s lawsuit alleging her campus job supervisor sexually assaulted and harassed her. Associated Press.

Outrigger Enterprises Group has appointed Michael Shaff as vice president of hotel operations in Waikiki and Guam. Pacific Business News.

American Savings Bank is closing its Ala Moana Center location next week, and it will consolidate the branch with its Kapiolani branch. Pacific Business News.

Hawaii Island

Well permit fees to increase tenfold.  Permit fees for drilling water wells and installing and repairing pumps will surge under new rules being considered by the state Commission on Water Resource Management. West Hawaii Today.

Keaau business owners are scrambling as the Keaau Village Market prepares to move to a new a location, with the current location to be demolished. Tribune-Herald.

The Big Island Invasive Species Committee states that rapid ohia death has been detected in North Kohala. Associated Press.

Maui

Dozens of illegal gambling machines were seized by police in a raid on Maui Monday. Hawaii News Now.

Maui police executed a search warrant, seized 25 gaming machines and arrested two people Monday morning at the Temple of the Pharaohs, whose owner has said that his Maalaea establishment is a legal skill-based video arcade that pays off in cash. Maui News.

UPDATE: Two Arrested as Result of MPD Arcade Raid. Maui Now.

Kauai

The number of residents concerned about Kauai’s General Plan has prompted the county to relocate the discussion to a larger facility. Garden Island.

Locally grown foods are popping up in school cafeterias across the state as farm-to-school programs start taking hold, and this month there’s a chance to help at Kauai’s school gardens. Garden Island.

Tropical crops valued at $7.5M, Trump coming to Hawaii, many Big Island sex offenders don't register, Maui top U.S. fall travel destination, nursing home inspections lagging, Papahanaomokuakea coral thriving, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Tropical fruit at Hilo Farmers Market © 2017 All Hawaii News

Tropical crops reaped $7.5M for isle farmers, survey finds. For the first time in nine years, the Hawaii field office of the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Agricultural Statistics Service conducted a survey of tropical crop growers statewide. Star-Advertiser.

The farm gate value for Hawaii’s tropical fruit and specialty crops is estimated at $7.5 million, according to new federal data for the year 2016. All told, 4.4 million pounds of tropical crops were produced in the state last year, according to the USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service. Garden Island.

The state last year failed to meet more than half of the federal performance standards for inspections of nursing homes and other health care facilities, continuing a history of poor marks that patient advocates say could signal worsening care. Star-Advertiser.

The state agency charged with providing homesteads for Native Hawaiians produced no new housing units during the year that ended June 30, and closed out the fiscal year with $30 million in unspent federal housing funds. Star-Advertiser.

Airport authority trying again for self-control. Representatives from local airlines and the state Department of Transportation continue to support legislation that would move the state’s 15 airports out from under the DOT and into its own governing body, the proposed Hawaii airport corporation. West Hawaii Today.

The Disturbing State Of Mental Health Care In Hawaii’s Prisons. Despite gains made under Justice Department oversight, care of mentally ill inmates has slipped to troubling levels in recent years. Civil Beat.

Hawaii’s new schools superintendent will face an evaluation process that aims to be more fluid and include more input from both education administrators and members of the public. Civil Beat.

President Donald Trump is scheduled to stop in Hawaii during an upcoming trip to Asia. The trip is scheduled to last from Nov 3 through Nov. 14. No further details about the Hawaii stop were released. KITV.

Many details of the Republicans’ proposed overhaul of the federal tax code remain murky, but one piece of the plan that emerged last week would eliminate a deduction worth $2 billion for 200,000 Hawaii taxpayers in 2015. Star-Advertiser.

Hurricane Maria left Puerto Rico in the dark — 95 percent of the island remained without power Saturday — and Hawaii’s energy industry is taking notes on how to prepare the state’s energy system to bounce back if a similar storm were to hit. Star-Advertiser.

Scientists on a 24-day expedition to the Papahanaumokuakea Marine National Monument in the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands found most of the coral reefs thriving, but documented a distinct shift from a coral-dominated reef to an algae- dominated reef in an area where several hundred meters of coral bleaching was discovered three years ago. Star-Advertiser.

Updates on activities within the Papahanaomokuakea Marine National Monument will be presented at a public meeting on Oct. 12 in Honolulu. Garden Island.

A 17-year study reveals primary cause of reef fish decline in Hawaii. The findings suggest fishing is more detrimental to reef fish populations than pollution or any other human influences. Hawaii News Now.

Oahu

Failure to spend money in a timely manner cost the city nearly $2.4 million in federal HOME funds, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development told the Caldwell administration in a letter last month. Star-Advertiser.

Motorists in Kailua can expect to see major slow downs this week as the city begins construction on a new traffic project. On Monday, crews will start reconstructing a busy intersection into a roundabout design. Hawaii News Now.

Watchdog group wants to reconfigure Kapiolani Park trustees. Commercial activity growth in Kapiolani Park is one of the reasons the nonprofit watchdog Kapiolani Park Preservation Society is taking on the city again. Star-Advertiser.

Three guards at Hawaii's largest jail suffered facial and head injuries Saturday night after being attacked by a mob of inmates. Hawaii News Now.

Inmates attacked several staffers at the Oahu Community Correctional Center Saturday night. KHON2.

Noa Botanicals, one of Oahu’s two certified medical marijuana dispensaries, held an open house on Friday. The public was invited to tour the 6,000 square foot space, located at 1308 Young St., before it houses cannabis products. Pacific Business News.

New online archive spans 177 years of isle newspapers. Thanks to a new partnership between the Honolulu Star-Advertiser and Newspapers.com, readers can now access a fully searchable online archive of the Honolulu newspapers The Polynesian, The Pacific Commercial Advertiser, The Daily Bulletin, The Hawaiian Star, The Evening Bulletin, the Honolulu Star-Bulletin, The Honolulu Advertiser and the Honolulu Star-Advertiser. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii Island

Almost 1 in 5 Big Island sex offenders is noncompliant with state sex offender registry requirements. As of Sept. 11, 73 of 402 “covered offenders” — those required to register — weren’t in compliance with the state’s registry law, according to figures from the Department of the Attorney General’s Hawaii Criminal Justice Data Center. Tribune-Herald.

Proponents of sex offender registries cite public protection and deterrence of repeat sex offenses as justification for sex offender registries that publish the offenders’ names, photographs, home addresses and information about their past convictions. But an Aug. 31 ruling by a federal judge in Denver could, at some point, have implications for how state sex offender registries operate nationwide. Tribune-Herald.

Starting Monday, the 3rd Circuit will fully implement a new procedure that allows criminal defendants who have not been proven guilty to appear unrestrained in court. West Hawaii Today.

If Council Chairwoman Valerie Poindexter has her way, Hawaii County will be the third county in the state to send a non-binding resolution to the state Legislature asking that body to also be governed by the state Sunshine Law, requiring open meetings. West Hawaii Today.

Hawaii County has big plans for its mass transit system, and it’s time for the public to weigh in. The county has scheduled its first series of public meetings to get input on how best to implement an overhaul that includes a “hub and spoke” design for the Hele-On bus system. West Hawaii Today.

Maui

Maui was rated the most popular domestic destination for Fall travel bookings and beyond, according to the 2017 Fall Travel Trends Survey released by Travel Leaders Group. Maui Now.

Second medical marijuana dispensary opens on Maui. Pono Life Sciences Maui LLC opened its dispensary for appointments after receiving state approval Friday to begin medical marijuana sales. Star-Advertiser.

Maui’s medical cannabis patients will soon have two options to purchase products after Pono Life Sciences Maui LLC was given the green light by the Hawaii Department of Health to begin selling medical marijuana. Pacific Business News.

Maui police responded to 811 Front Street in Lahaina on Friday, Sept. 29, 2017, at approximately 10p.m., in response to witnesses who reported that two males approached a monk seal that was sleeping on the shoreline south of the address and attempted to push it back into the water. Maui Now.

Maui police are investigating an incident involving a Hawaiian monk seal. The seals are endangered and protected by federal and state laws. KHON2.

Kauai

No takers for federal funds for cesspool upgrades in Hanalei. Little interest shown in financial program to upgrade cesspools, septic tanks in Hanalei. Garden Island.

Homeless in Lihue police themselves. No solutions reached at county homeless meeting, although all agree action is needed. Garden Island.

Sterilization clinic exceeds expectations. Animal Balance clinic sterilized 657 animals in six days. Garden Island.

Land Board approves Thirty Meter Telescope permit, Honolulu police chief candidates narrowed to seven, tourism above expectations, Jones Act debated, Kona water woes continue, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Artist's conception of Thirty Meter Telescope

The state Land Board will require the University of Hawaii to remove three telescopes atop Mauna Kea and create new educational programs as conditions for allowing construction of the Thirty Meter Telescope. Tribune-Herald.

In a 5 to 2 vote, the Hawaii Board of Land and Natural Resources concurred with the recommendation of contested case hearing officer Riki May Amano, approving a Conservation District Use Permit to build the Thirty-Meter Telescope on Mauna Kea. Big Island Video News.

The Hawaii Board of Land and Natural Resources has approved the application for a permit to build the Thirty Meter Telescope atop Mauna Kea, a move that was vehemently opposed by some environmentalists and Native Hawaiians who consider the mountain sacred. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii’s Board of Land and Natural Resources on Thursday granted a construction permit for a giant telescope on a mountain that some Native Hawaiians consider sacred, a project that has divided the state. Associated Press.

The state Land Board voted 5 to 2 in favor of approving the construction permit for the controversial telescope. Hawaii Public Radio.

The Hawaii Board of Land and Natural Resources on Thursday approved a permit that will allow construction of the controversial Thirty-Meter Telescope to continue near the summit of Mauna Kea. Hawaii News Now.

The Hawaii Board of Land and Natural Resources on Thursday said it has voted 5-2 to approve a conservation district use permit for the Thirty Meter Telescope, which would allow the $1.4 billion project to begin construction near the summit of the Big Island’s Mauna Kea volcano. Pacific Business News.

A major decision on the controversial Thirty Meter Telescope, the State Land Board says "build it". KITV.

Advocates of the Thirty Meter Telescope applauding the state land board's decision Thursday to move forward with construction atop Mauna Kea. Meanwhile, those against the project vow to continue their fight. Hawaii News Now.

Opponents of the Thirty Meter Telescope vowed Thursday to take their case to the Hawaii Supreme Court following the approval of the project’s construction permit by the state Board of Land and Natural Resources. Star-Advertiser.

Full DLNR news release and order on the Thirty Meter Telescope here.

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Hawaii tourism celebrated its best month ever in July, but the fireworks continued into August, which was another boom month for the key state industry. Star-Advertiser.

Monthly visitor spending increased by 6.1 percent year-over-year to $1.39 billion last month as Hawaii welcomed a total of 818,581 visitors, an increase of 4.8 percent, according to preliminary statistics released Thursday by the Hawaii Tourism Authority. The figure represents an increase of 6.1 percent compared to August 2016. Pacific Business News.

University of Hawaii economists have weighed in on the state’s economy, and the story is a familiar one: Slowing growth, a tourism industry exceeding expectations and a once-booming construction sector that appears to be leveling out. Star-Advertiser.

Typically, it’s been limited to debate in Hawaii, Alaska and U.S. island territories — but this week the rest of the country is suddenly getting a crash course in the Jones Act. Star-Advertiser.

Nearly 300 species of fish, mussels and other sea critters hitchhiked across the Pacific Ocean on debris from the 2011 Japanese tsunami, washing ashore alive in the United States, researchers reported Thursday. Associated Press.

Hawaii’s public school students continue to show growth on Advanced Placement Program Exams. Garden Island.

How Hawaii Schools Are Rethinking Social Studies. Teachers supplement history lessons with real-world projects that encourage students to take action in their communities. Civil Beat.

Undercover stings help health officials enforce new age limit for smokers. KHON2.

Oahu

Seven candidates are now left in the closely watched search for Honolulu’s next police chief, a post that’s been vacant since the end of February. The finalists are retired Drug Enforcement Agency Agent Thomas Aiu, current HPD Maj. Susan Ballard, retired HPD Maj. Kurt Kendro, retired HPD Assistant Chief Kevin Lima, retired Pennsylvania State Police Maj. Mark Lomax, current Arlington (Texas) Police Department Deputy Chief Jim Lowery and retired HPD Deputy Chief Paul Putzulu. Star-Advertiser.

The Honolulu Police Commission announced Thursday it will interview seven candidates to become the city’s next police chief, a process that will take place behind closed doors. Civil Beat.

The list of candidates considered for the next Honolulu police chief have been narrowed down to seven, the Honolulu Police Commission announced on Thursday. Hawaii News Now.

The Honolulu Police Commission has narrowed the field of candidates for Honolulu's top cop down to seven. KITV.

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A judge has at least temporarily blocked the city from releasing the names of current and past undercover officers at the request of the statewide police union. Civil Beat.

Starting Sunday, Honolulu’s bus system will no longer accept paper transfers, asking riders who seek transfers to purchase a 1-Day Pass instead, city officials said. Star-Advertiser.

2 years after Accessory Dwelling Units law passes - little to show. To date the city program has produced only 67 units. KITV.

Three nonprofit groups that rely on federal funding administered by the city worry their money could be delayed this year, affecting clients as soon as Monday. Star-Advertiser.

Working to help get Hawaii's homeless off the streets. KITV.

The Army said today that operations to retrieve wreckage and crew from a UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter that crashed at sea off Kaena Point Aug. 15 have ended with only trace remains of the five soldiers aboard recovered. Star-Advertiser.

Honolulu-based Alutiiq General Contractors LLC Thursday received a nearly $26.9 million construction contract from the U.S. Department of Defense. Pacific Business News.

The Pacific Beach Hotel will reopen next month as the Alohilani Resort Waikiki Beach following a $115 million redevelopment that began in 2016. Pacific Business News.
https://www.bizjournals.com/pacific/news/2017/09/28/pacific-beach-hotel-transforms-into-the-alohilani.html

The Hawaii Convention Center's new wooden basketball court has a shiny look and smells of fresh lacquer. Hawaii News Now.

Hawaii Island

Water service disruptions threaten North Kona as two deep well repairs progress. West Hawaii Today.

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

Hawaii County is ramping up awareness next month about the threat of little fire ants. Tribune-Herald.

The state Public Utilities Commission announced the end of a popular solar energy incentive program on the Big Island last week. Tribune-Herald.

Maui

A community meeting is planned to discuss community design as part of the update of the West Maui Community Plan on Saturday, Sept. 30, 2017, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the West Maui Senior Center at 788 Pauoa Street, Lahaina. Maui Now.

Ground is scheduled to be broken this morning for the Kalama Kai residential workforce housing condominium project in Kihei. Maui News.

Maui’s visitor arrivals and spending were up in August, one of the state’s traditionally busy summer months, compared with August 2016, the Hawaii Tourism Authority reported Thursday. Maui News.

Space surveillance experts convene at 18th AMOS conference in Wailea. Maui News.

Gov. David Ige said he’s none too worried about the threat of nuclear attack, but said that as a state, “it’s better to be prepared than not.” Maui News.

Due to crowded conditions at the Maui Humane Society, the organization is seeking immediate short-term foster homes for dogs. Maui Now.

Kauai

Kauai continues to enjoy a strong tourism season. According to the Hawaii Tourism Authority, visitor arrivals on Kauai totaled 111,904 for August, a 6.7 percent increase over last August. Garden Island.

Sustainable Food Movement Flourishes On Kauai’s North Shore. A community garden and incubator lots are just the beginning, say organizers looking to answer “big questions about things like food security.” Garden Island.

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

Mumps symptoms, Hawaii Department of Health

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

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

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

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

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

Oahu

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Hawaii Island

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Maui

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

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

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

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

Kauai

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Oahu

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Hawaii Island

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

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

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

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

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

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

Maui

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

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

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

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

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

Kauai

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

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

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

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

Elephants at the Honolulu Zoo © 2017 All Hawaii News

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Oahu

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Hawaii Island

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

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

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

Maui

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

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

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

Kauai

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

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

Honolulu Spam Jam © 2017 All Hawaii News

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

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

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

Oahu

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Hawaii Island

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Maui

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Kauai

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

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

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

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

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