Hawaii reacts to travel ban ruling, Matson workers could strike, more than 5k welcome Oprah, Honolulu airport woes continue, Punaluu dredging draws ire, more news fro all the Hawaiian Islands

Hawaii Attorney General Doug Chin courtesy photo

Students, visiting professors and others from six predominantly Muslim countries with legitimate ties to the United States will be allowed to travel to Hawaii but face an uncertain future once they arrive, state Attorney General Doug Chin said Monday following a decision by the U.S. Supreme Court on President Donald Trump’s travel ban. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii Attorney General Doug Chin on Monday said "immigration into the United States should not be restricted due to religion or national origin" after the U.S. Supreme Court decided to reinstate part of Donald Trump's travel ban. Pacific Business News.

Both President Trump as well as officials from the State of Hawaii are seeing positives in today’s U.S. Supreme Court order on the second travel ban issued by the White House in March. Big Island Video News.

The Supreme Court is allowing President Donald Trump to forge ahead with a limited version of his ban on travel from six mostly Muslim countries to the U.S. Associated Press.

The Supreme Court's decision to partially reinstate President Donald Trump's temporary travel ban has left the effort to keep some foreigners out of the United States in a murky middle ground, with unanswered questions and possibly more litigation ahead. Associated Press.

The U.S. Supreme Court on Monday announced it would partly reinstate President Donald Trump's controversial travel ban, a decision the White House called a "victory", but one that Hawaii's attorney general is calling a "compromise." Hawaii News Now.

State Attorney General Doug Chin was encouraged that the compromise decision does not block those with direct ties to the US from traveling from those six mostly Muslim countries. KITV.

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Hawaii will soon have less influence in setting national policies that affect everything from commercial fishing to endangered species in nearly 1.5 million square miles of the Pacific Ocean. Gov. David Ige’s administration twice missed deadlines to submit to federal officials a list of names to fill two at-large terms that expire in August on the Western Pacific Regional Fishery Management Council. Civil Beat.

Despite a steady drumbeat of negative news surrounding President Donald Trump and his policies, Republicans in Hawaii remain steadfast in their support for him. Civil Beat.

Matson Inc. sailors and firemen are threatening to strike if they are unable to reach a contract agreement with the company. Star-Advertiser.

Oahu

State officials are trying to involuntarily transfer the sheriff’s lieutenant overseeing law enforcement at Daniel K. Inouye International Airport, according to two sources with knowledge of the situation. Star-Advertiser.

Newly released records show that Honolulu Police Commissioner Loretta Sheehan was an early target of police chief Louis Kealoha and his wife, Katherine, a city prosecutor, who has described Sheehan as being “racially insensitive.” Civil Beat.

The Navy is extending the public comment period on a proposal to spend $1.2 million to reduce potential exposure to chemicals at a Barbers Point landfill where asbestos and burned waste were dumped between 1942 and 1997. Star-Advertiser.

Ige’s veto could delay stadium plan even further. The bill, which would create the Office of Public-Private Partnerships within the state Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism, was supposed to be part of a bold statement about changing the way the state does some of its business and Aloha Stadium was seen as a showcase example. Star-Advertiser.

Group pushes for closer look at impacts to Haunama Bay, one of Oahu’s top tourist destinations. KHON2.

A Kapolei High School counselor who pleaded guilty to soliciting a minor for prostitution is scheduled to be sentenced in court on Tuesday. Hawaii News Now.

One Man’s Quest To Revive A Forgotten Kalihi Park. Robert Silva has spent two years restoring a taro patch in a small park that was once a gathering spot for Hawaiian royalty. Civil Beat.

Fireworks on the Fourth is a quiet affair in contrast to noisy New Year’s Eve celebrations in Hawaii. With so few buying firecrackers, only one retailer will be selling them for Independence Day celebrations. Star-Advertiser.

A former employee of a company whose subsidiary publishes Hawaii Business, Honolulu Magazine and other periodicals stole more than $3.8 million from her former employer by depositing checks from advertisers into accounts of phony businesses she created, according to a federal grand jury indictment. Star-Advertiser.

Fidelity National Financial Inc., one of the nation’s largest title insurance companies, is the new majority owner of Honolulu-based Title Guaranty. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii Island

A boat tour operator is being accused of unpermitted excavation at Punalu‘u that includes damage to the remnants of a historical pier. Tribune-Herald.

The Ka’u community is in disbelief after managing to prevent a man’s apparently unpermitted effort to create new boat ramp over a historic structure along the shoreline of Punaluu beach. Big Island Video News.

Some Hawaii island residents are outraged after a tour operator apparently started demolition work at a boat ramp along a historic shoreline in Punaluu without permission. KHON2.

Aina Lea Inc., developer of The Villages at Aina Lea, has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy reorganization. West Hawaii Today.

Maui

More than 5,000 people welcomed Oprah Winfrey to her very first appearance on Maui as she lead a special conversation designed to inspire Hawaiʻi residents – already ranked the healthiest state in the nation by the Gallup-Sharecare Well-Being Index – to lead even healthier, happier, more productive lives. Maui Now.

‘How do you shift the paradigm?’: Oprah Winfrey shares her philosophy for healthy living. Thousands flock to MACC to hear from former talk show host. Maui News.

Maui County officials are looking for historical artifacts that help tell the story of the county's government. KITV.

The county clerk is asking for the public’s assistance to help gather artifacts and materials that tell the history of the County of Maui government. Maui Now.

Kauai

Principal Mahina Anguay and her staff are celebrating Waimea High School’s six-year accreditation following a positive report from the Western Association of Schools and Colleges. Garden Island.

Some Kauai lawmakers aren’t surprised Gov. David Ige is thinking about vetoing a bill that will take away lifeguards’ protection against lawsuits who protect state beaches. Garden Island.

Lanai

After rolling layoffs for the last few years during hotel renovations, Lanai residents are enjoying 3.4% unemployment, three points lower than this time last year.  This weekend will be a particularly exciting on Lanai, priming for the July fourth holiday with the Pineapple Festival  on Saturday. Hawaii Public Radio.

Aquarium bill, 14 others, face Ige veto; Onizuka memorabilia moving to Honolulu; Kona crab catch limits mulled; Kauai mayor returns budget unsigned; Big Island chief judge Ibarra retiring, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Yellow tang © 2017 All Hawaii News

Gov. David Ige said Friday he will likely veto a bill that would severely curtail and eventually end the aquarium fish collecting trade in Hawaii, stating it would be premature to consider a ban before more studies are done. Star-Advertiser.

Gov. David Ige plans to veto 15 bills, including a proposal backed by environmental groups seeking to phase out the catching of aquarium fish in Hawaii. The governor similarly intends to veto a bill that critics feared would give public worker unions too much power. Civil Beat.

Governor Has Signed 48 Bills Into Law. Hawaii Public Radio.

Hawaii Gov. David Ige plans to veto a bill that would forbid issuing new aquarium fishing permits. Associated Press.

The Western Pacific Regional Fishery Management Council recommended lowering the 2017 annual catch limit for main Hawaiian Islands Kona crab of 3,500 pounds. The previously recommended ACL for this fishery was 27,600 pounds. Maui Now.

Travel agents named Hawaii as the “destination with the highest client satisfaction” in TravelAge West’s Western Agents’ Vote of Excellence competition. Star-Advertiser.

A politically connected ship repair company has finally succeeded in a years-long lobbying campaign to get lawmakers to sweeten a special tax credit to subsidize the company’s relocation from state-owned waterfront land to make way for a new container terminal. Star-Advertiser.

The Board of Education has set aside $114,500 to cover merit-based raises ranging from 2 to 3.75 percent for senior Department of Education executives. Star-Advertiser.

On Saturday, pediatricians will be the last of the Hawaii Medical Service Association’s primary care doctors to undergo a change by which they will be paid a fixed monthly rate per patient in a practice instead of being reimbursed for each procedure or patient visit. Star-Advertiser.

The state unveiled a new website Friday aimed at helping track the hundreds of sex assault kits that still haven't been tested for DNA. Hawaii News Now.

Oahu

The agency overseeing the island’s financially troubled rail transit project is losing another key leader. Brennon Morioka, who’s worked nearly 4-1/2 years as the Honolulu Authority for Rapid Transportation’s deputy executive director, submitted his resignation earlier this month. Star-Advertiser.

In a countersuit filed Thursday, the Blood Bank of Hawaii accuses the Honolulu Authority for Rapid Transportation of acting “in bad faith” and “recklessly subjecting Hawaii’s blood supply to grave but unnecessary risks.” Star-Advertiser.

The Navy agreed it needs to do more to evaluate fuel and water flow modeling beneath and around the Red Hill fuel storage facility before a Dec. 8 deadline for a finalized fuel tank upgrade plan. Star-Advertiser.

Houses and condominiums here are being snapped up at a feverish pace as the summer home-buying season kicks off.  Star-Advertiser.

Oahu youths holding golf identification cards will be able to play golf for free at any of the six city-owned courses starting July 1 under a bill expected to be signed by Mayor Kirk Caldwell in the coming days. Star-Advertiser.

A year after the Ellison Onizuka Space Center closed its doors in Kona, the country's first Asian-American astronaut's legacy lives on through a new exhibit in Moilili. Hawaii News Now.

Japanese Cultural Center to get Onizuka memorabilia moved from Kona after airport expansion. Star-Advertiser.

The Board of Water Supply is responding to multiple main breaks that happened early Sunday morning. Hawaii News Now.

Several coastal areas were inundated with water Saturday as this month's round of king tides reach close to record levels. Hawaii News Now.

Hawaii Island

Chief Judge Ibarra to retire after 28 years on bench. West Hawaii Today.

Should tourism helicopters fly only over the ocean instead of neighborhoods to decrease their noise? Or will that endanger lives — and the tourism industry? Tribune-Herald.

Fear of rat lungworm disease impacts Hawaii Island produce market. West Hawaii Today.

UniEnergy Technologies is planning to install a grid-scale energy storage system on the Big Island of Hawaii later this year. Pacific Business News.

Officials with Hawaii island’s Department of Water Supply said this week that North Kona consumers are largely ignoring the notice for mandatory 25 percent reduction in water use issued in January. Associated Press.

Maui

Five new contracts totaling nearly $8.3 million were awarded last month for air-conditioning and ventilation projects at Maui County public schools. Maui News.

An environmental impact statement preparation notice has been posted for a renewable energy conversion and sludge processing project at the Wailuku-Kahului Wastewater Reclamation Facility. Maui News.

The sustainability of the Waiehu Municipal Golf Course is on the agenda of the County Council’s Parks, Recreation, Energy and Legal Affairs Committee at 10 a.m. Tuesday in Council Chambers in Wailuku. Maui News.

VIDEO: Count Down to July 1st Maui Hospital Transition. Maui Now.

Kauai

County budget returned unsigned; council version goes into effect July 1. Mayor Bernard Carvalho Jr. said the newest version of fiscal year 2017-2018 budget does not adequately prepare the county for a sustainable future. Garden Island.

Two Hawaiian men at the center of a dispute to determine rightful ownership of 17 acres of Coco Palms resort property will be in court on Wednesday to hear the state’s response to their claim of kuleana land. Garden Island.

A lack of resources and a change in monitoring criteria caused the Environmental Protection Agency to mandate the state Department of Health’s Hawaii Beach Monitoring Program. The newly formed Beach Monitoring Program was aired out Wednesday at a meeting on Kauai. Garden Island.

Hawaii Gov. David Ige releases list of bills he may veto

Hawaii Gov. David Ige

(Press Release) Gov. David Ige has notified legislative leaders and key lawmakers of the 15 bills that are listed on his Intent to Veto list. The Hawaii State Constitution requires the governor to notify the Legislature of the bills he intends to veto by June 26.

On July 11, any measure that the governor has not signed or vetoed will become law.

Links to bills can be found here.

INTENT TO VETO LIST:

SB 1240        RELATING TO AQUATIC LIFE

This bill requires the Department of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR) to define “sustainable” and establish a policy for sustainable collection practices through take limits. This bill also prohibits the DLNR from issuing new aquarium fish permits to use fine meshed traps or fine meshed nets and prohibits the transfer of permits after five years.

Rationale: There is concern that the science does not support the claims made by the bill. It will be premature to ban aquarium collection before doing the necessary studies. The DLNR is committed to working with all stakeholders to come up with a better solution.

SB 410          RELATING TO COLLECTIVE BARGAINING

This measure broadens the scope of collective bargaining negotiations by requiring negotiations on the implementation of terms and conditions of employment, including making these violations grievable by employees who disagree with such working conditions.

Rationale: This bill directly impacts the ability of state departments to effectively manage its workforce by negating management rights to direct its workforce and requiring union consent on such matters as assignment, transfer and discipline.

SB 562          RELATING TO TORT LIABILITY

This measure requires the Attorney General to defend any civil action or proceeding brought in any court against a county, based on any negligent or wrongful act or omission of a lifeguard who provides lifeguard services at a state beach park.

Rationale: This bill is objectionable because it requires the Attorney General to defend the counties for any civil action or proceeding, without exception.

HB 1414       RELATING TO THE DEPARTMENT OF TAXATION

This bill requires the auditor to investigate and report on problems with the Department of Taxation’s tax system modernization project.

Rationale: The Department of Taxation is awaiting findings and results of an independent verification and validation of the tax system modernization project. The audit would be redundant. The auditor stated that the audit may not yield useful results due to the difficulties tied to investigating a project that is incomplete and undergoing implementation.

HB 1309       RELATING TO GRANTS

This measure requires the Director of Finance to seek repayment of operating grants appropriated by the legislature if the grantee discontinues the activities or services approved in the grant.

Rationale: This bill is contrary to the intent of Chapter 42F, Hawai‘i Revised Statutes, which authorizes the legislature to appropriate general funds to nongovernmental organizations through various state agencies. The Director of Finance does not have the capacity to monitor all grantee programs, and relies on each state agency to enforce the provisions of the grant application and contract between the agency and grantee.

SB 722          RELATING TO EFFICIENCY MEASURES

This measure requires the Director of Finance and a selected state department to develop and implement the efficiency measures pilot project as part of the state’s budget system.

Rationale: Imposing additional requirements for data collection on our state budget system requires re-programming older software on mainframe computers at a time when the state is upgrading its IT systems to cloud-based applications. Limited state resources would be better spent updating our budget IT programs into cloud-based applications.

SB 713          RELATING TO BUDGET DOCUMENTS

This measure requires the six-year program and financial plan and budget to include information on tax expenditures.

Rationale: There is uncertainty in quantifying future revenue loss attributed to certain tax expenditures as changes to tax laws usually elicit changes to taxpayer behavior. Further, there is a lag in the availability of certain tax expenditure data, which would not align with the preparation of the annual budget documents submitted to the Legislature.

HB 1588       RELATING TO GENERAL OBLIGATION FUNDS

This measure prohibits the issuance of general obligation bonds to finance the repair and maintenance of capital assets where the repair and maintenance costs incurred add value to, and prolong the life of the assets for a period of less than ten years.

Rationale: This measure aims to more closely align the financing of debt with the depreciation of the state’s assets. However, like many other state and county governments, Hawai‘i is faced with a growing number of deferred maintenance projects and a limited pool of operation funds for such projects. Further, the record-keeping necessary to ensure compliance with the tiered structuring of the debt could not be done within existing resources, and would therefore increase the costs of the state’s debt management program.

SB 1074        RELATING TO THE FIFTIETH ANNIVERSARY OF THE HAWAII STATE CAPITOL

This measure appropriates funds to the State Foundation on Culture and the Arts to plan and coordinate the celebration of the fiftieth anniversary of the Hawai‘i State Capitol.

Rationale: Current provisions of state law establishing the Works of Art Special Fund under 103-8.5, Hawai‘i Revised Statutes, are very specific and do not allow for the financing of a celebration of this nature.

SB 1073        RELATING TO THE STATE FOUNDATION ON CULTURE AND THE ARTS

The measure appropriates funds to the State Foundation on Culture and the Arts to support its artist fellowship program.

Rationale: Current provisions of state law establishing the Works of Art Special Fund under 103-8.5, Hawai‘i Revised Statutes, are very specific and do not allow for the financing of an artist fellowship program.

HB 523         RELATING TO RECYCLING

This measure authorizes the Department of Accounting and General Services (DAGS) to establish a recycling pilot program for the onsite collection of recyclable materials at buildings and facilities.

Rationale: The amount of waste produced is insufficient to merit having an onsite recycling pilot program. The Department of Accounting and General Services regularly recycles cardboards and paper, and janitors recycle the limited amount of bottles and cans produced.

HB 2              RELATING TO AGRICULTURE

This bill authorizes the placement of “tiny homes” of 500 square feet or less of living space within the state agriculture district of Hawai‘i County. These “tiny homes” will be used by farm workers or their immediate families on land currently being used for agricultural production.

Rationale: The Hawai‘i County Zoning Code (HCC Chapter 25) already allows for a “farm dwelling” as a permitted use of agricultural-zoned lands. By Zoning Code definition, a “farm dwelling” means a single-family dwelling located on or used in connection with a farm, or if the agricultural activity provides income to the family occupying the dwelling.

HB 727         RELATING TO MOTORCYCLES

This measure allows the operator of a motorcycle or motor scooter to proceed cautiously between stopped lanes of traffic and on the shoulder lane of highways. The intent is to alleviate congestion and reduce the risk of injury or loss of life.

Rationale: There is concern that this will compromise road safety. The shoulder lane is designed to accommodate stopped vehicles and emergency vehicles on highways, and bicycles on arterial roadways. While the intent of the bill is to reduce risk or injury or loss of life, there is concern that allowing shoulder lane use to these types of vehicles will instead create more danger for the operators of these vehicles.

HB 575         RELATING TO PUBLIC LANDS

This bill establishes a process for the re-leasing or re-negotiation of a lease for public lands classified as commercial or industrial use near the end of the lease. The bill permits the Department of Land and Natural Resources to extend public land leases to school or government entities without recourse to auction, with certain exceptions.

Rationale: There is concern that section 2 of this bill is special legislation and is in violation of Section 5 of Article XI of the Hawai‘i State Constitution. It limits application of the bill to commercial and industrial lands only, without distinguishing these lands from other public lands under lease.

HB 627         RELATING TO PUBLIC-PRIVATE PARTNERSHIPS

This measure establishes the Office of Public-Private Partnerships within the Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism, and appropriate funds for a state public-private partnership coordinator position.

Rationale: There is concern that the lone position of a state public-private partnership coordinator will not be sufficient to adequately coordinate interagency collaboration, maintain analysis reports, and develop future public-private partnership opportunities. Having one office manage all public-private partnership contracts, proposals, and negotiations for the state may create a bottleneck that will slow the progress for agencies already involved in these partnerships.

Tsunami's effect on seabirds, Hirono to undergo second cancer surgery, Kauai missile test fails, Honolulu rail budget approved, Kona homeless camp nears sweeping, Maui golf course under review, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Albatross in Northwest Hawaiian Islands, NOAA

A new study takes a closer look at the tsunami’s devastation in the islands suggests the episode is a window into the future of what seabird populations face in a world of climate change, sea level rise and increased storm surges. Star-Advertiser.

A recent study examined the impacts of a 2011 tsunami on birds in the Pacific -- and the results aren't favorable for wildlife. Hawaii News Now.

Gov. David Ige is facing a political quandary as he nears Monday’s deadline for deciding the fate of a bill that would eventually end the catching of aquarium fish in Hawaii. Civil Beat.

Hawaii is experiencing another round of king tides, the highest tides of the year, which usually occur around the winter and summer solstices. Star-Advertiser.

Sen. Mazie Hirono invited Island News to talk about her health issues as she deals with stage four kidney cancer. She'll soon undergo surgery to remove a rib where a second tumor was found. The senator expects a full recovery. KITV.

U.S. Sen. Mazie Hirono will undergo surgery Tuesday to remove a lesion on her seventh rib where a second tumor was found by doctors. Star-Advertiser.

U.S. Sen. Mazie Hirono is preparing to undergo another surgery in her ongoing battle with stage four kidney cancer. Hawaii News Now.

A lawmaker is asking the state attorney general to consider litigation against pharmaceutical manufacturers over the opioid crisis that has resulted in overdose deaths and addictions. Hawaii News Now.

Lawmaker urges Hawaii to take action against makers of addictive painkillers. KHON2.

The Department of Education says there’s currently no policy on how schools are told to deal with a student with head lice. KHON2.

Hawaii continued to see drops near or above 20 percent in new foreclosure lawsuit filings during March and April, according to the latest data from the state Judiciary. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii-based nutrition and health products company Cyanotech Corp. on Thursday reported a net loss of $1.2 million, or 21 cents per diluted share, for the fiscal year that ended March 31, compared to a loss of $4.4 million, or 79 cents per diluted share, for the previous year. Pacific Business News.

Oahu

The Honolulu rail’s operating budget will increase 11.5 percent to $34.9 million from $31.3 million for the next year, according to a budget approved Thursday by the board that oversees the troubled development. Civil Beat.

In 2015, amid mounting costs, Honolulu rail leaders boasted that their efforts to obtain lower bid prices were paying off. A decision to break up a big nine-station construction contract into three smaller ones trimmed the price of that work by more than $40 million. Star-Advertiser.

At a Honolulu Authority for Rapid Transportation board meeting Thursday, members were confronted by critics about inflated ridership projections. Hawaii News Now.

Honolulu is paying back $1.45 million in federal funds spent to upgrade a senior housing complex after an audit raised questions about how the money was spent. Civil Beat.

Sandwiched between a couple homes off Ohai Street in Wahiawa is a homeless encampment with a notorious reputation. Hawaii News Now.

Bikeshare Hawaii will launch Biki, Honolulu’s new bikeshare program, on Wednesday at the state Capitol. Pacific Business News.

Hawaii Island

Word of a county plan to permanently relocate homeless from the Old Kona Airport Park has made its way down the beach and into the bush, falling on the ears of many who would be made unwilling wayfarers by the proposal’s execution. West Hawaii Today.

A bill allowing farmers markets at several Hawaii County parks needs more time to ripen, the County Council decided Thursday. Tribune-Herald.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency EPA requires the County of Hawaii to close large cesspools in Pahala and Naalehu. Big Island Video News.

Big Island low-income senior citizens will no longer receive fresh weekly produce deliveries. Civil Beat.

A Big Island Juggler With Leukemia Faces Deportation. Graham Ellis has been teaching circus skills to island children since 1981. Now he’s being swept up by Trump’s tougher new immigration rules. Civil Beat.

Maui

The Council’s Parks, Recreation, Energy and Legal Affairs Committee will host a meeting next week to consider options for the Waiehu Municipal Golf Course. Maui Now.

A project to install a recycled wastewater irrigation system at Waipuilani Park in Kihei is concerning condominium residents, who irrigate a portion of the park themselves and say that the project is a needless cost to the county. Maui News.

Kauai

A new defensive missile that could one day defend Hawaii against North Korean attack failed to intercept a target Wednesday night in a test off Kauai, the U.S. Missile Defense Agency said. Star-Advertiser.

The U.S. Missile Defense Agency said it failed to intercept a ballistic missile during a test off Hawaii. Associated Press.

Five projects with a combined price tag of nearly $70 million are on tap with the state’s Department of Transportation that may alleviate some congestion in the Wailua/Kapaa Kuhio Highway Corridor. Garden Island.

The Hawaii State Department of Health issued a Notice to Proceed to Acquire and Cultivate Marijuana to Green Aloha Ltd. Wednesday, becoming the first and only production center on Kauai to receive the go-ahead. Garden Island.

The Department of Land and Natural Resources announces the dates for the opening of the black-tailed deer hunting season on the island of Kauai. Garden Island.

Hawaii still tops for homeless, Obama in town, Honolulu police chief selection delayed, monk seal in road slows Maui traffic, no cool schools for Big Island, Maui hospital lawsuit dismissed, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Homeless in Hawaii © 2017 All Hawaii News

Hawaii still has the highest per capita homeless population in the country “but things have started to gel” in the islands, according to the western regional coordinator for the U.S. Interagency Council on Homelessness. Star-Advertiser.

The state Department of Health gave the green light Wednesday for two more production facilities to begin growing medical marijuana, despite not being able to sell the drug to consumers yet. Star-Advertiser.

Expert: Amid delays, patient died waiting for medical marijuana relief. Hawaii News Now.


Legislation to ban certain sunscreen chemicals in Hawai’i stalled in the final days of the 2017 session.  But, state lawmakers are already starting their push to pass the bills next year. Hawaii Public Radio.

Former President Barack Obama in the islands for unannounced visit. Hawaii News Now.

Hawaii’s congressional delegation on Wednesday introduced federal legislation to reinstate Medicaid coverage for eligible Micronesians living and working in the United States. Civil Beat.

Hawaii will experience another round of exceptional king tides Friday and Saturday as some of the highest tides of the year will again be enhanced by higher-­than-normal sea levels. Star-Advertiser.

How HECO Is Trying To Modernize Its Electric Grid. Hawaiian Electric is drafting a new strategy after regulators rejected an earlier $736 million proposal in part because it didn’t serve solar users well. Civil Beat.

Hawaiian Airlines’ baggage fee revenue declined in the first quarter even though the state’s largest carrier transported more passengers than in the year-earlier period. Star-Advertiser.

Island Air is suffering through growing pains as it continues to reinvent itself with new aircraft and additional routes. Star-Advertiser.

Oahu

The selection of a new police chief has been delayed again, this time because the entity initially selected to help the Honolulu Police Commission make the pick backed out, Commission Chairman Max Sword said Wednesday. Star-Advertiser.

Ex-Honolulu Police Chief’s Fight For Legal Fees Turns Nasty. Police Commissioner Loretta Sheehan says the former chief’s attempt to have her removed from the case is “baseless.” Civil Beat.

Search for Honolulu’s next police chief delayed after consultant backs out. KHON2.

Retired police Chief Louis Kealoha wants Honolulu Police Commissioner Loretta Sheehan disqualified from considering any matters that involve him, arguing she’s been critical of him and the police department in the past. Star-Advertiser.

The Hawaii Department of Public Safety on Wednesday released a report on the latest on where to replace the current Oahu Community Correctional Center. Civil Beat. Report here.

A homeless camp that had been hidden in the mangroves along the Ala Wai Canal is beginning to emerge as more and more people are moving in. Hawaii News Now.

The Environmental Protection Agency, state Department of Health, the Navy and the Defense Logistics Agency are holding an “open house” tonight to update the public on the status of the Red Hill Underground Fuel Storage Facility. Star-Advertiser.

North shore residents are fed up that nothing is being done to fix the heavy traffic near the famous "Turtle Beach" at Laniakea. Now, a campaign is shifting blame for the congestion to the turtles. Hawaii News Now.

Attorney General’s office seeks answers to city’s new Bikeshare program. KHON2.

Biki bike pushback at Kapiolani Park. KITV.

A woman whose pet store was connected to a Waimanalo puppy mill owned by her father is getting the chance to avoid conviction for tax evasion. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii Island

The state’s plan to cool 1,000 classrooms by this fall won’t initially benefit many schools on the Big Island. Tribune-Herald.

The cleanup at Old Airport Park is posing more of a logistical challenge than the new administration anticipated when it made the project a priority soon after assuming office. West Hawaii Today.

Lottery decides waiting list for Kona housing development. West Hawaii Today.

The Hawaii Island Family Medicine Residency Program has done exactly what planners hoped — its graduates now plan to practice medicine in Hawaii; two in Hilo, one in Honolulu. Tribune-Herald.

Maui

A renewable energy startup company will break ground on old sugar land this summer. Star-Advertiser.

A new energy crop will soon be tested on former sugar plantation lands in Central Maui. Alexander & Baldwin is teaming up with a California-based business to grow pongamia trees on 250 acres near Kihei. Hawaii News Now.

The state Employees’ Retirement System and the Hawaii Health Systems Corp., which operates the state’s public hospitals, formally agreed to drop a lawsuit this week over benefits for about 1,500 employees at three Maui County hospitals. Star-Advertiser.

Lawsuit dismissed, clearing the way for transfer of hospitals. Maui News.

A monk seal came up partially on the road on the Honoapiilani Highway in Olowalu Wednessday afternoon, slowing traffic on the busy thoroughfare that connects West Maui to the Central Valley.  Police and volunteers responded to the report in an effort to protect the animal from oncoming traffic. Maui Now.

Gov. David Ige on Wednesday announced the nomination of Mr. Lee A. Ohigashi to the Maui County seat on the State Land Use Commission for a term beginning June 21, 2017 and ending June 30, 2020. The appointment is subject to confirmation by the Senate. Maui Now.

Kauai

Congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard will host a telephone town hall at 4 p.m. Monday on hurricane and disaster preparedness. Garden Island.

'Cool Schools' funds coming from green energy program, legislative leaders see rail as Honolulu's problem, $50M for Maui medical upgrades, Ellison to spend $75M on Lodge at Koele improvements, 3k free Oprah tickets from HSMA, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Gov. Ige visits school, courtesy photo

Gov. David Ige will sign a bill Thursday that pulls one-third of the money from the state’s dormant $150 million green energy loan program to help lower electric bills at Hawaii’s public schools. Star-Advertiser.

Board of Education members expressed frustration Tuesday that the Department of Education has yet to take advantage of a law passed four years ago authorizing development of underused public school lands to pay for campus upgrades. Star-Advertiser.

The Hawaii Board of Education on Tuesday unanimously approved a plan to qualify for federal funding under the Every Student Succeeds Act, the Obama administration law that hands more control to the states for measuring student achievement. Civil Beat.

House Speaker Scott Saiki made it clear. The City of Honolulu is responsible for completing the rail transit project. Hawaii Public Radio.

Hawaii on Tuesday filed a supplemental brief with the U.S. Supreme Court, arguing that a new memo issued by President Trump renders his controversial travel ban both unnecessary and unlawful. Hawaii News Now.

The CEO of Cardax Inc. said the selection  of the company's astaxanthin compound CDX-085 to take part in the National Institute on Aging's anti-aging interventions testing program will have positive implications for the Hawaii-based business. Pacific Business News.

Oahu

FBI probe investigating police chief now zeroing in on city prosecutor, too. Hawaii News Now.

The future of state deputy sheriffs at Honolulu's airport is unclear, but officials said they're committed to trying to work out a new deal. Hawaii News Now.

State transportation leaders say they want deputy sheriffs to keep working at Daniel K. Inouye International Airport — but that they’ll need to reach a new deal with public safety officials in the next six months to accomplish that. Star-Advertiser.

The Hawaii Department of Transportation is speaking out about its decision to release deputy sheriffs from patrols at Daniel K. Inouye International Airport. KHON2.

Renters are the newest group trying to cash in on the profitability of Oahu’s vacation rental market by subleasing all or part of their units to visitors. Star-Advertiser.

A nonprofit organization that runs a state park on Kaneohe Bay is continuing to offer kayak rentals to paying customers of all ages despite being told to stop by the state. Civil Beat.

When enterococci bacteria levels go beyond a safe limit, the State Department of Health puts up signs warning beachgoers of the contamination. But, some environmentalists want an improvement in the warning system. Hawaii News Now.

New water-quality rules will affect developers, contractors, designers, businesses and homeowners planning to file grading or building permit applications, according to city officials. Star-Advertiser.

Authorities are investigating a diesel spill in the Ala Wai Small Boat Harbor on Tuesday. Hawaii News Now.

Alexander & Baldwin Inc. is seeking to cut energy consumption at three of its commercial buildings on Oahu through a partnership with energy efficiency company Carbon Lighthouse. Pacific Business News.

The Waikiki Aquarium is looking for marine life enthusiasts to share their passion and knowledge with young keiki. KHON2.

Hawaii Island

A former Kamehameha Schools Hawaii administrator is suing Kamehameha Schools, the trustees of the estate of Princess Bernice Pauahi Bishop and one of the school’s senior administrators, alleging she was wrongfully terminated after 23 years of employment. Tribune-Herald.

The Big Island community showed its aloha spirit when it came together to replace stolen swim gear donated to soldiers who train at Kawaihae harbor. West Hawaii Today.

Maui

A health care provider plans to spend more than $50 million on three Maui hospitals in the biggest privatization effort in Hawaii history. Star-Advertiser.

HMSA and Sharecare are giving away 3,000 tickets to see Oprah Winfrey at a “Live Your Best Life” event Monday at the Maui Arts & Cultural Center to promote Sharecare’s health and wellness digital platform. Star-Advertiser.

Maui was ranked number four best places to visit, behind first place New York City, 2nd place Philadelphia, and third place Honolulu on a list compiled by US News and World Report. Maui Now.


Kauai

A mongoose--an unwelcome visitor--was reported on Kauai’s North Shore over the weekend, and it’s triggered an investigation from the Kauai Invasive Species Committee. Garden Island.

Hawaii’s new beach water quality monitoring program will be presented to the public at a meeting at 6 tonight at the state Department of Health Kauai District Health Office conference room. Garden Island.

Kauai Junior Lifeguard program nearly full. Garden Island.

Lanai

Pulama Lanai, the company created by billionaire Larry Ellison to manage his Hawaii operations including two Four Seasons Resorts on Lanai, plans to spend $75 million on an expansion and upgrade of The Lodge at Koele, which has been closed for two and a half years, that will reduce the hotel’s room count and expand its restaurant while adding spa and fitness facilities. Pacific Business News.

Pulama Lanai is seeking approval for a $75 million project to upgrade and “refresh” the nearly 25-acre Lodge at Koele, located northeast of Lanai City on Keomuku Highway. Maui News.

Special session for rail funding looming, Ige signs bill giving more tech oversight, $1M from nonprofit for homeless vets, HART study finally public, farmers market comes to Ala Moana Center, Oprah to speak on Maui, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Rail plan for Honolulu transit, courtesy HART

Lawmakers haven’t yet agreed on the details, but leaders in the state House and Senate announced Monday they plan to hold a special session this summer to try to resolve their impasse over how to provide more funding for the city’s 20-mile rail project. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii lawmakers plan to convene a special session in July or August to again try to reach a deal on how to fund the remainder of Honolulu’s 20-mile rail project, which is now billions of dollars over budget. Civil Beat.

Hawaii lawmakers on Monday told the Federal Transit Administration that they will hold a special session this summer to find a solution for the funding issue surrounding Honolulu's rail project. Pacific Business News.

More than two months after lawmakers wrapped up the legislative session with no deal on how to fund Oahu's beleaguered rail project, state lawmakers are trying to reassure the federal government that they'll hold a special session on the issue by August. Hawaii News Now.

House Speaker Scot Saiki and Senate President Ron Kouchi have sent a letter to the Federal Transit Authority assuring they intend to meet in special session this summer. KITV.

Hawaii State legislative leadership says there will be a special session before the end of the summer in order to take on funding for Honolulu’s rail project. Big Island Video News.

Hawaii lawmakers plan to hold a special session this summer to discuss funding for Honolulu’s troubled rail line. Garden Island.

Hawaii Gov. David Ige on Monday signed into law a bill that provides increased oversight and third-party verification of state information technology projects within the executive branch. Pacific Business News.

Rep. Beth Fukumoto was accepted into the Democratic Party on Saturday with the unanimous vote of the Oahu county executive committee. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii, led by Governor David Ige, is staking out an increasingly combative stance in opposing Trump administration policies. Civil Beat.

MacNaughton Group donates $1 million to help Hawaii’s homeless veterans. Star-Advertiser.

Scores of homeless vets to be housed thanks to $1M donation to Hawaii nonprofit. Hawaii News Now.

Commentary: Candidates so far for LG fail to spark voter enthusiasm. Star-Advertiser.

Oahu

The Honolulu Authority for Rapid Transportation in 2013 spent $35,000 on a peer review that yielded fairly routine findings. Its attorneys fought to keep the report secret for four years. Civil Beat.

Lawmaker demands answers after state boots deputy sheriffs from Honolulu airport patrols. KHON2.

The owner of Valley of the Temples Memorial Park will preserve and enlarge its historic main building, which includes Hawaiian heiau references, under a plan to establish mortuary services and a bigger chapel at the Windward Oahu property. Star-Advertiser.

Ala Moana Center is getting its own weekly farmers market. KHON2.

East Oahu neighborhoods experienced strong sales in May, with closed sales of single-family homes in the Aina Haina and Kuliouou area more than tripling, according to the Honolulu Board of Realtors monthly local market update.Pacific Business News.

Hawaii Island

A Kona coffee farmer whose fight against deportation has played out publicly in recent weeks is thanking Hawaii residents and lawmakers for their support. Hawaii News Now.

Researchers can now look with a bird’s-eye view at rapid ohia death in an entire forest and also microscopically within a single tree. Collaborating researchers showcased their wide-ranging technology for journalists Monday at the Hilo Air Patrol. Tribune-Herald.

The Department of Water Supply reported last week that North Kona consumers are largely ignoring the mandatory 25 percent reduction in water usage the department first issued in January. West Hawaii Today.

Drought conditions on Hawaii Island are improving, according to the latest Drought Information Statement issued by the National Weather Service in Honolulu. Big Island Video News.

Hawaii County’s unemployment rate increased a fraction last month but remains near 10-year lows, according to recent figures from the state Department of Labor and Industrial Relations. Tribune-Herald.

Maui

Global media leader and philanthropist Oprah Winfrey will appear for a special conversation at Maui Arts & Cultural Center’s outdoor Alexander & Baldwin Amphitheater on Monday, June 26. Maui Now.

Haleakalā National Park is still seeking cultural practitioners from local communities for is Hana Noʻeau program, a series of cultural demonstrations that is offered in the park’s Kīpahulu and Summit Districts. Maui Now.

The county’s electronics recycling program on Maui and Molokai will be suspended for five weeks beginning July 1 in order to implement new processing and Mainland shipping systems, the Department of Environmental Management has announced. Maui News.

Kmart’s last day of business on Maui drew many loyal customers for the same reason it always has over the past two decades: all the great deals. Maui News.

Kauai

County and industry leaders said Monday investments in renewable energy systems are key to lowering dependence on fossil fuels while strengthening the economy. Garden Island.

Sunday was a day when the more than 350 people involved with Tropic Care Kauai 2017 could let their hair down and enjoy the hospitality and gratitude of a grateful island at a luau put on by the Smith’s Tropical Paradise family. Garden Island.

Hokulea homecoming celebrations continue, universal basic income studied by Legislature, anti-aging drug begins trials, Maui sugarmill sale begins, Honolulu lobbyists spent $200k, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Greeting Hokulea in Honolulu, courtesy Hokulea crew

No modern navigation instrumentation guided a Polynesian voyaging canoe as it followed the horizon during a three-year journey around the globe. On Saturday, thousands welcomed double-hulled canoe Hokulea home to Hawaii when it entered a channel off the island Oahu and tied up to a floating dock at Magic Island. Associated Press.

Hokulea homecoming celebrations continued on Sunday, one day after thousands welcomed home the voyaging canoe. Hawaii News Now.

Hokulea is home, but its mission continues. The Malama Honua Summit kicked off Sunday -- highlighting the world-wide voyage. KITV4.

Three-quarters of the world’s inhabitants, including those living in Hawaii, will be exposed to deadly heat waves by the end of the century unless greenhouse gases are not substantially reduced, according to a study published today in Nature Climate Change. Star-Advertiser.

A resolution adopted by the Legislature last session calls for a “basic economic security working group” to study universal basic income. Civil Beat.

The National Institute of Health has chosen a compound developed by a Hawaii-based business for an anti-aging research program. Hawaii News Now.


Hawaii spends slightly more on each public school student than the national average each year but far less on general administration than the national norm, according to a new report from the Census Bureau. Star-Advertiser.

The state Department of Taxation’s new computer system has generated so many complaints from taxpayers and raised so many concerns among lawmakers that the Legislature this year stepped in to halt the flow of new funding into the project. Star-Advertiser.

Rear Adm. John Fuller will relinquish command of Navy Region Hawaii and Naval Surface Group Middle Pacific at 1 p.m. Friday to Rear Adm. Brian Fort. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii's seasonally adjusted unemployment rate dropped to 2.7 percent in May, a decline of 0.4 percentage points from 3.1 percent in May 2016. Pacific Business News.

About 49,000 Hawaii Medical Service Association members covered by small-business health insurance plans will see an average 2.1 percent rate hike July 1, the smallest increase since 2012. Star-Advertiser.

Oahu

Companies spent more than $200,000 to sway Honolulu’s elected officials last year, according to lobbying reports filed with the city Ethics Commission in January. Civil Beat.

 The state Department of Transportation has ended its agreement with the Department of Public Safety to have deputy sheriffs handle law-enforcement duties at the Daniel K. Inouye International Airport, and state Sen. Will Espero is questioning whether the move is payback for a lawsuit filed by the sheriffs’ union to block the state’s new contract with a private airport security firm. Star-Advertiser.

A landowner’s plan to develop 29 lots in the heart of Haleiwa town won its first approval from the City Council last week, and a community hearing is likely next for the contentious project. Star-Advertiser.

A developer calls it Serenity Gardens, but community reaction to a cemetery planned in a residential Kaneohe neighborhood has not been calm or soothing. Star-Advertiser.

The most expensive homes on Oahu are in the neighborhood of Kāhala. And the priciest ones of all are on Kāhala Avenue, a street of some changes over time. Hawaii Public Radio.

Winners of the Make the Ala Wai Awesome contest were announced Saturday at the opening ceremony of the World Youth Conference at the Hawaii Convention Center. Hawaii News Now.

The Honolulu Police Department and the city Prosecutor’s Office have seen an increase in their domestic violence caseloads in recent years but without a corresponding increase in successful prosecutions, a report released last week by city Auditor Edwin Young concludes. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii Island

Renters and owners of second homes, especially those in West Hawaii, are about to feel the sting of changes the County Council made to Mayor Harry Kim’s proposed property tax hikes. West Hawaii Today.

Time could be running out for The Villages at Aina Lea. After more than a quarter-century of false starts and litigation, all work at the South Kohala site has been ordered again stopped and Hawaii County has notified developer, Aina Lea Inc., it plans to start the county process of reverting the land’s zoning “to its original” (unplanned) or a “more appropriate designation.” West Hawaii Today.

The state Department of Transportation’s reconstruction project on Saddle Road is nearing completion. Tribune-Herald.

A contested case hearing on whether to let a proposed 306-unit timeshare development in Kahaluu move forward is unlikely to get resolved this year. West Hawaii Today.

Recent sewage leaks and high bacteria counts along the Keaukaha shoreline are the topics of discussion at this community meeting Thursday night. Big Island Video News.

When the Big Island Invasive Species Committee’s field crew heads out to take samples from ohia trees, no news is good news. Tribune-Herald.

Following the recommendation of Hawaii County inspectors, the state Department of Land and Natural Resources has made the decision to close Pagoda Hilo Bay Hotel immediately and vacate the hotel. Tribune-Herald.

Maui

An inspection for potential buyers of the former Hawaiian Commercial & Sugar Co.’s processing plant will be held from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday. Maui News.

A Lahaina Department of Public Works crew defied its supervisor following September’s torrential rains and flooding and risked further environmental damage from brown-water runoff, the department’s former chief of field operations and maintenance charges in her federal whistleblower lawsuit filed this week against Maui County. Maui News.

Kaiser Permanente Hawaii plans to spend more than $50 million on three Maui County hospitals as the biggest privatization effort in state history finally comes to fruition following a one-year delay. Star-Advertiser.

Having adequate doctors, access to services for non-Kaiser Permanente members and the possibility of reopening adolescent mental health services were some of the issues brought up during a public meeting Friday. Maui News.

The Maui County Council approved the 49-unit Makila Kai project in Launiupoko on a 6-2 vote Friday. Maui News.

The county Department of Water Supply has announced the winners of its eighth annual Water Conservation Poster Contest and of its first Source Water Protection Video Contest. Maui News.

Experts say elder abuse is happening in all settings. Conference focuses on signs of a problem, prevention tactics. Maui News.

Kauai

Mayor Bernard Carvalho Jr. sent the upcoming year’s budget back to to the council unsigned. Garden Island.

Kauai County Council Chair Mel Rapozo will give an overview of the county’s fiscal year 2017-18 budget at the Lihue Business Association meeting, 7:30 to 9 a.m. Thursday at Duke’s Canoe Club. Garden Island.

The Kauai County Council will host the annual Hawaii State Association of Counties conference Monday and Tuesday at the Koloa Landing Resort at Poipu. Garden Island.

The public has a chance to hear about the new approach to recreational water quality in a meeting set for 6 p.m. Wednesday at the Kauai District Health Office Conference Room in Lihue. Garden Island.

Kauai residents are grateful for Tropic Care services. Between Monday and Wednesday, 1,661 patients visited the clinics, and Tropic Care provided 8,015 procedures. Those numbers already surpass those from last year, said Lauren Guest, public health preparedness planner for the Hawaii State Department of Health. Garden Island.

DLNR app enlists citizen enforcement, schools superintendent gets big contract, Kawauchi loses license to practice law, Maui pCard audit finds waste and abuse, Thirty Meter Telescope back before Hawaii Supreme Court, Oahu condo owners face new property tax law, Caldwell sells bank shares, Kauai lawsuit names Syngenta, DLNR, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Man approaching honu ©  2017 All Hawaii News

Citizens armed with smart phones are being enlisted to help State Conservation Officers enforce rules on all islands. Hawaii Public Radio.

The state land board unveiled a new smartphone app Wednesday for members of the community to submit anonymous tips to report wildlife and natural resource violations to the Department of Land and Natural Resources. Hawaii News Now.

Hiking in Hawaii: Managed vs. Unmanaged Access. Supplying enough recreation for its residents and the revolving door of tourists is an official task of the state Nā Ala Hele program. The trail and access program manages the state's hiking inventory and maintains all state-sanctioned trails across the island chain. Hawaii Public Radio.

Incoming Hawaii public schools Superintendent Christina Kishimoto will be eligible for incentive bonuses on top of her annual $240,000 base salary, according to her employment contract with the state. Star-Advertiser.

Christina Kishimoto, chosen to lead Hawaii's Public Schools,  is at the center of a nearly $1 million controversy with her current district, located just outside of Phoenix, Ariz. Hawaii News Now.

More students in Hawaii took advantage of free summer meals last year, according to a national report released this week. Tribune-Herald.

United Airlines said Wednesday its plan to add flights to Hawaii will result in more than 400,000 additional seats coming to the islands next year. The extra seats could boost state tourism by about 5 percent in 2018. Star-Advertiser.

More than 6,000 sailors with the USS Carl Vinson strike group are in town with the carrier and escort ships pulling into Pearl Harbor following a five-month deployment. Star-Advertiser.

As the USS Carl Vinson pulled into Pearl Harbor, it was a long anticipated homecoming for some of the sailors on board. KITV.

Hawaii’s longline fishermen will hit their annual 3,138-ton limit for bigeye tuna in the western and central Pacific by early September, according to a forecast Wednesday by federal fishery biologist Christofer Boggs. Civil Beat.

Oahu

Owners of about 8,000 condominiums on Oahu face a Sept. 1 deadline to tell the city whether their property should be taxed at a residential rate or much higher commercial rate as part of a property tax reform initiative. Star-Advertiser.

Mayor Kirk Caldwell sold 2,250 of his shares in Territorial Bancorp Inc. for about $72,000 last week, according to a filing with the Securities Exchange Commission. Star-Advertiser.

The city expects to begin work next spring on a two-year, $80 million project to install a major new sewer line that will run the length of one of the busiest thoroughfares in the Kalihi business district. Star-Advertiser.

Police and prosecutors are taking on far more domestic violence cases, yet still can’t seem to secure more successful convictions due to various inefficiencies in their departments and the courts in general, according to a report released Wednesday by the Honolulu Office of the City Auditor. Civil Beat.

Audit claims new law fails to reduce domestic violence while increasing police workload. KHON2.

The Blood Bank of Hawaii is encouraging the public to give blood after losing 30 percent of its Dillingham Boulevard location’s donors following that collection site’s closure last year. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii-based Toell USA Corp., a bottled water company, is opening a new manufacturing plant on Nimitz Highway in Honolulu. Pacific Business News.

Hawaii Island

Former County Clerk Jamae Kawauchi has been suspended from practicing law for misusing client funds. West Hawaii Today.

A former Hawaii County clerk who came under fire for her handling of the 2012 primary election was suspended from the practice of law for 150 days by the Hawaii Supreme Court. Tribune-Herald.

The Thirty Meter Telescope project is headed back to the state Supreme Court. The high court on June 5 accepted an appeal of a lower court ruling that vacated TMT International Observatory’s sublease for 6 acres on Mauna Kea. Tribune-Herald.

Kailua Bay will remain closed to water activities for the rest of the week, although a spill caused by a sewer pipe rupture Monday has been stopped. West Hawaii Today.

Elevated bacteria levels have been recorded at a popular Keaukaha-area beach park. Big Island Video News.

A massive piece of land in Kaʻu is up for sale and the future of the area is likely tied to the person or entity that ends up making the purchase. West Hawaii Today.

The Growing Meat Market On The Big Island. Bolstered by a mobile slaughterhouse and new butcher shops, the fledgling industry is trying to keep it all local in Hawaii County. Civil Beat.

Maui

An audit of county-issued “pCards” or procurement credit cards found that fraud, waste, or abuse may have occurred. Maui Now.

Fraud and abuse. Personal and side-job spending. These are just a handful of findings by Maui County’s auditor after an extensive review of charges on government credit cards. KHON2.

As seas rise, calls grow to move major Maui highway inland. Maui activists say the conditions on Honoapiilani Highway need to be addressed -- before the highway is washed away completely. Hawaii News Now.

Kauai

A lawsuit filed in environmental court June 13 alleges Syngenta Corporation broke Hawaii law by failing to conduct an environmental review before starting operations on the island. Garden Island.

A community group on Kauai is filing suit against the state Department of Land and Natural Resources and seed company Syngenta to protect crown lands on Kauai's West Side. Hawaii News Now.

Kauai County Prosecutor Justin Kollar received the OK Wednesday from the Kauai County Council to apply for a $156,285 grant to fund another year of the Sex Assault Prosecution Unit, which is in its second year. Garden Island.

An affordable housing project that may provide the community with 550 residential units will be on the table at a Land Use Commission meeting later this month. Garden Island.

County approves stewardship agreement with Westside nonprofit group. Garden Island.

Another hui has been formed to ensure thriving environmental, social and economic conditions in Hawaii; and its focus is the political arena. Garden Island.

Five businesses from Kauai are at Hawaii on the Hill. Garden Island.