Hawaii's worker shortage, state at odds over voter info, Schofield soldier in court, 'Peter Boy' father gets 20 years, Kauai seeks to save native birds, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Waikiki restaurant worker © 2017 All Hawaii News

There Just Aren’t Enough Workers To Go Around In Hawaii. The state labor director calls it a “perfect storm” as restaurateurs and retailers struggle to recruit — and keep — employees. Civil Beat.

A federal judge has cleared the way for President Donald Trump’s commission on election fraud to resume collecting detailed voter roll information from the states, but at least one election official in Hawaii says he won’t comply with the federal request. Star-Advertiser.

A U.S. Army soldier based in Hawaii pleaded not guilty Monday to charges of attempting to support the Islamic State group. Associated Press.

A Schofield soldier accused of trying to provide support for ISIS has pleaded not guilty. KHON2.

A federal judge Monday scheduled a trial date in September for Wheeler Army Airfield soldier Ikaika Erik Kang on four counts of trying to provide support to the Islamic State, also known as ISIS. Star-Advertiser.

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A trustee with the Office of Hawaiian Affairs has accepted nearly $16,000 from a Native Hawaiian heiress to pay for legal fees in her battle against fellow trustees. Civil Beat.

Native Hawaiian waterman Malama Chun of Maui filed a petition with the state Board of Land and Natural Resources on April 12, 2017, challenging the DLNR Division of Aquatic Resources’ practice of issuing licenses to foreign fisherman who have been refused permission to land in Hawai’i by US authorities and have been ordered deported. Maui Now.

Royal Hawaiian Macadamia Nut Inc. said Monday that the company’s petition to claim that consuming macadamia nuts can help reduce the risk of coronary heart disease under certain circumstances has officially been approved by the U.S. Food & Drug Administration. Pacific Business News.

Two of the three storms in the Eastern Pacific strengthened overnight. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaiian Airlines said Monday it will add three new daily routes between the neighbor islands and the U.S. West Coast in early 2018. Star-Advertiser.

A robust economy continued to boost Bank of Hawaii’s double-digit loan growth in the second quarter, with earnings per share exceeding analysts’ expectations. Star-Advertiser.

Wailuku artist Kirk Kurokawa’s “most significant” project in his artistic collection — the official painting of former Gov. Neil Abercrombie — was unveiled last week on Oahu. Maui News.

Oahu

Mayor Kirk Caldwell on Monday signed into law a bill that bans nearly all plastic bags distributed at Oahu retail checkout counters starting Jan. 1, 2020. Star-Advertiser.

The Honolulu City Council is considering a bill that would expand the city’s sit-lie ban another few blocks in the Ala Moana-Sheridan area. Civil Beat.

Honolulu’s Potholes Cost Drivers — And Taxpayers — Millions. A 2016 study found the city had the 11th-worst roads among large urban areas, and residents pay more than the national average for related car repairs. Civil Beat.

The police presence in Oahu’s main tourist hub could be getting a boost thanks to a gift that puts more boots on the ground. A Waikiki business group wants to give $85,000 to the city. KHON2.

The July Fourth Waikiki “floatilla” attracted a crowd of about 9,000 partyers, led to at least 30 alcohol-related injuries and cost the city and state more than $12,000 to police, so it’s little wonder officials want to halt alcohol use at future floatillas. Star-Advertiser.

The executive director of the Hawaii Community Development Authority said since April the number of illegal campers in Kakaako parks under HCDA supervision has nearly doubled. Hawaii News Now.

Bill to ban electronic devices for crossing pedestrians represents latest push to make roads safer. Bill 6, which is awaiting the mayor’s approval, would make it illegal to look at a phone, tablet, gaming device, or anything electronic while crossing the street. KHON2.

The Queen Kapiolani Hotel, a 312-room property across the street from Kapiolani Park, is starting a $30 million makeover. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii Island

Peter Kema Sr. was sentenced Monday in Hilo Circuit Court to 20 years in prison for the 1997 death of his 6-year-old son, Peter Kema Jr. Tribune-Herald.

Peter Kema Sr. was sentenced to 20 years in prison this morning for the manslaughter of his 6-year-old son, Peter Boy, whose fate remained a mystery for two decades until his parents recently acknowledge their roles in his death. Star-Advertiser.

20 years. That is how long it's been since Peter Boy Kema's death. It's also the sentence handed down to his father on Monday, for killing the Big Island boy. KITV.

Hawaii County Prosecutor Mitch Roth said he’s using lessons learned from the Peter Kema Jr. case to propose changes in the laws governing child abuse and home schooling and to advocate for a longer statute of limitations period for manslaughter. Tribune-Herald.

A lawyer for the estate of the late Peter Kema Jr. and the siblings of “Peter Boy” sent a cease-and-desist letter to a senior vice president of Amazon.com, attempting to persuade the online merchandising giant to pull the Kindle book series “Peter Boy: Hawaii’s Most Notorious Case of Child Abuse and Murder” from its website. Tribune-Herald.

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Major changes are coming to boating and harbor rules, but those most affected say the state hasn’t consulted with them, or even made the rules readily available prior to public hearings scheduled for Thursday and Friday. West Hawaii Today.

PA system installed at popular Kailua-Kona beach park. West Hawaii Today.

Hawaiian Airlines will add a new year-round flight from Los Angeles to Kona starting early next year. West Hawaii Today.

Maui

Ulupalakua Ranch on Maui is best known for its winery and cowboy culture, but not its Hawaiian dry forest. A 20-year forest restoration project on Ranch lands is changing that. Hawaii Public Radio.

Maui Electric Co. is seeking approval by the state Public Utilities Commission to refurbish one of its 21-megawatt petroleum-fired turbines at the Maalaea Power Plant, which will cost an estimated $2.6 million. Maui News.

Three months after being forced to vacate its longtime dance studio in the Old Kula Community Center, the Alexander Academy of Performing Arts has found a new home in Haliimaile that will allow it to add classes, teachers and more studio space in the coming months. Maui News.

Maui’s electronic recycling program should reopen August 5th after being closed for several weeks. Hawaii Public Radio.

Hawaiian Airlines will add a new non-stop daily route between Portland and Maui, starting Jan. 18. Maui Now.

Move over, Kona. Maui coffee is getting much stronger. Maui News.

Kauai

Noisemakers and motion sensors are just a few of the new tools scientists and conservationists are combining with traps to reduce predators in remote endangered seabird nesting areas. Garden Island.

There are nearly 400 predator traps scattered throughout Kauai's Hono O Na Pali Natural Area Reserve. Hawaii News Now.

The county Housing Agency will be hosting a community meeting Thursday from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Koloa Neighborhood Center to discuss plans for a new workforce housing development. Garden Island.

Boardwalk from Kawaihau Road to highway is open. Garden Island.

Niihau

State officials say they're moving ahead with a second attempt at eradicating rats from a tiny island near Niihau, but critics of the plan say they're worried about the potential risks to the marine environment. Hawaii News Now.

Grant to fund coral reef education, feral cats topic at Conservation Congress, human rights organization seeks help for Hawaii's foreign fishermen, sewer capacity slows Honolulu housing plan, Kona mulls homeless cleanup, Tropical Storm Greg fizzles, Hurricane Hillary forms, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Coral and fish © 2017 All Hawaii News

Those who study Hawaii’s coral reefs are hoping a recent $715,000 federal grant awarded to the state of Hawaii will amp up both the education and conservation of the underwater ecosystems. Associated Press.

Attorney General Doug Chin joined California Attorney General Xavier Becerra and 18 attorneys general in sending a letter to President Trump urging him to maintain and defend the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program. Maui Now.

A human rights complaint has been filed with an international commission to investigate claims of human rights violations in Hawaii’s commercial fishing industry.Associated Press.

We Do Practically Nothing To Control Feral Cats Threatening Rare Seals And Birds. While Hawaii’s animal rights and environmental groups are sharply divided on solutions, there’s little government support even for steps the two sides agree on. Civil Beat.

State officials have granted hundreds of thousands of dollars in discounts to a family of companies affiliated with Navatek Ltd. as part of a deal to settle claims that included alleged “loss of business opportunity” on state-owned waterfront land where the companies operate under a month-to-month permit. Star-Advertiser.

A federal grand jury in Hawaii indicted a U.S. soldier Friday for attempting to provide material support to the Islamic State group. Associated Press.

Carilyn Shon, an energy efficiency program manager at the Hawaii State Energy Office, has been named the agency’s administrator. Pacific Business News.

 The remnants of Fernanda will continue moving west today, across Oahu and Kauai, as two tropical storms and a hurricane continue heading toward the Central Pacific.  Star-Advertiser.

Oahu

Lack of adequate sewer capacity is the key reason most of 344 preliminary applications for accessory dwelling unit permits have been denied by the city since the ADU program began in 2013, a problem that’s spurred Honolulu City Councilman Ernie Martin to urge Mayor Kirk Caldwell to speed up expansion of Oahu’s sewer system. Star-Advertiser.

Some urge sprinkler mandates across US after Honolulu fire. Associated Press.

To pay or not to pay? That is the question owners and boards of older Honolulu high-rise condos have grappled with for decades as they considered retrofitting their buildings with automatic sprinkler systems. Star-Advertiser.

Honolulu Mayor Kirk Caldwell on Monday will sign Oahu's latest plastic bag ban into law. KITV.

On Monday, Honolulu Mayor Kirk Caldwell will sign Oahu’s plastic bag ban expansion into law. KHON2.

The new upscale International Market Place opened nearly a year ago with 30 shops and restaurants in the heart of Waikiki, unrecognizable from the previously cluttered maze of kiosks selling cheap souvenirs and trinkets. Star-Advertiser.

About 300 Royal Kunia residents in Central Oahu have some new neighbors, and that’s not sitting well with the community that long expected manicured golf fairways and putting greens to grace a vacant piece of land bordering its homes. Star-Advertiser.

After five straight years of sliding enrollment at the University of Hawaii’s flagship Manoa campus, university President David Lassner has set an ambitious goal to hold enrollment flat for the upcoming fall and boost it back up to 20,000 students by 2020. Star-Advertiser.

Commentary: Mayor Kirk Caldwell, the City Council, the Honolulu Authority for Rapid Transportation and the state Legislature have made a culture of looking the other way when it comes to the financial and managerial lapses that have doubled the cost of Oahu rail to $10 billion and delayed its opening by six years. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii Island

Offenses such as bullying and harassment were on the decline last year in Hawaii Island public schools, though the number of more serious misconduct cases — such as fighting and use of illicit drugs — increased slightly. Tribune-Herald.

As plans move forward to clean up homeless camps at Old Kona Airport Park, the results could be a template for how law enforcement and community agencies respond to homeless issues in the future. West Hawaii Today.

Taking the bus: Cost an issue as Hele-On management strives to improve. West Hawaii Today.

Federal housing officials have withdrawn a voucher for Phase 2 of the Mohouli senior housing project, prompting Hawaii County to help cover rent subsidies for future tenants of the 30-unit development in Hilo. Tribune-Herald.

Saving South Point: Implementation of resources management plan still years away. Tribune-Herald.

Results of a recent survey of Hilo Medical Center employees will be used to help improve the hospital’s work environment. Tribune-Herald.

A skate park won’t be built at a Hilo Bayfront parking lot after all. Tribune-Herald.

Puna’s La Hoolokahi Ka La Hui 2017 was held at Uncle Robert’s ‘Awa Club in Kaimu-Kalapana on Saturday evening; one of several events striving to unite various Hawaiian organizations across the islands. Big Island Video News.

The father of “Peter Boy” Kema is set to be sentenced Monday, bringing some closure in one of Hawaii’s most notorious murder mysteries. Hawaii News Now.

Maui

Maui County Council Member Yuki Lei Sugimura and local nonprofit groups will propose to the Liquor Control Commission next month further changes to single-event liquor license procedures that would streamline the application process to prevent burdensome requirements that threaten the groups’ fundraising events. Maui News.

A major portion of the Old Makena-Ulupalakua Road in South Maui would be reopened as a historic trail under an out-of-court settlement between the landowner and various organizations, including Maui Tomorrow. Star-Advertiser.

A settlement in the fight over a south Maui community modifies development plans by allowing for fewer buildings and more open space. Hawaii News Now.

After high-rise blaze, property managers mull fire suppression. Cost to retrofit older Maui complexes with sprinklers considered too expensive by some. Maui News.

Maui coral bleaching in spotlight at free screening. Maui News.

Maui District Health Officer Dr. Lorrin Pang sees firsthand how bad the opioid pain reliever epidemic has become. Maui News.

Kauai

Proposed changes to state boating rules will be up for discussion at a meeting on Monday from 6 to 8 p.m. at Wilcox Elementary School Cafeteria. Garden Island.

The county Parks and Recreation Department has partnered with Kauai Beer Company to spruce up Kalena Park. Garden Island.

Education is important, but doesn’t necessarily determine your ability to advance in the workplace, said Steve Yoder, Kauai County Republican chair. Garden Island.

Hawaii preps for North Korea missile, more Honolulu homeless sweeps planned, Land Use Commission rejects Maui development, rules mulled after condo fire, Tropical Storm Fernanada no longer threat, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Minuteman intercontinental ballistic missile, U.S. Air Force

The state of Hawaii is rolling out a preparedness plan in the unlikely event that North Korea launches an intercontinental ballistic missile at the Aloha State. Star-Advertiser.

The Hawaii Emergency Management Agency is kicking off an educational campaign aimed at helping residents and visitors figure out what to do if the state is the target of a nuclear missile attack from North Korea. Hawaii News Now.

Hawaii Plan Prepped for N Korea Missile Threat. Maui Now.

Hawaii is beginning an education campaign to prepare islanders for what to do in the event of a North Korean missile attack. CNBC.

In the wake of North Korea's ongoing nuclear tests, Hawaii will begin rolling out an educational campaign on Friday hoping to teach residents and visitors what to do should a missile launch from the reclusive country reaches the island’s shores. NBC.

The Trump administration will ban American citizens from traveling to North Korea, U.S. officials said Friday. Associated Press.

U.S. Sen. Brian Schatz has nearly twice the amount of campaign cash as his colleague from Hawaii, Sen. Mazie Hirono. And yet, Schatz’s name won’t be on the ballot again until 2022, while Hirono’s first six-year term is up next year. Civil Beat.

Hawaii consistently ranks among the healthiest states, but a federal survey found Native Hawaiians are in unusually bad health. Associated Press.

Hawaii’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate dropped in June to 2.7 percent, from 3.1 percent during the same month a year ago, the state Department of Labor and Industrial Relations said Thursday. Pacific Business News.

Hawaii employers added 1,200 jobs in June, but the unemployment rate remained stuck at 2.7 percent for the fourth month in a row, according to data released Thursday by the state Department of Labor and Industrial Relations. Star-Advertiser.

A summer of resistance is the overarching theme to protest the Trump and Pence Administration in Hawaii. Hawaii Public Radio.

Tropical Storm Fernanda is slowly weakening as it moves further west, but it will still have some weather impacts to the Hawaiian islands over the weekend. Hawaii News Now.

Billy Beane, the Oakland A’s executive who was the inspiration behind the best-selling book and Oscar-­nominated film “Moneyball,” will give the opening-day keynote at the 2017 Global Tourism Summit. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii tourism officials have tapped Billy Beane, whose statistical methodology inspired the best-selling book and Oscar-nominated film "Moneyball," to deliver the opening keynote address at the 2017 Global Tourism Summit in September. Pacific Business News.

Oahu

The state Department of Transportation will use $4 million in funding to bolster homeless sweeps — using sheriff’s deputies as early as Monday in a new approach to keeping encampments dismantled as it begins clearing parts of Nimitz Highway and the H-1 freeway. Star-Advertiser.

An agreement reached with the Navy will allow the city to enforce its sidewalk laws — and thus clear the homeless — along the scenic Pearl Harbor bike path from Aiea to Pearl City, starting the second week of August. Star-Advertiser.

After years of complaints, the massive homeless encampment that spans the Pearl Harbor Bike Path will soon be torn down. Hawaii News Now.

A Honolulu City Council committee will consider a resolution Tuesday asking the state Board of Land and Natural Resources to ban alcohol and disorderly behavior at holiday “floatillas” off Waikiki Beach, as the state has done for similar events on the Kaneohe Bay sandbar. Civil Beat.

A Honolulu city councilwoman is concerned about the the cost of added regulations in the wake of the deadly Marco Polo fire. Hawaii News Now.

The panic, stress, and heroism on the day of Honolulu’s biggest fire in decades is revealed in hours of Marco Polo fire incident logs Always Investigating has obtained. KHON2.

Location is key. A pool is a plus, as are views and new appliances. But whether a condominium has a fire sprinkler system suddenly has become a top-of-mind issue in Honolulu’s real estate market. Star-Advertiser.

Insurance May Not Be Enough For Some Marco Polo Condo Owners. Civil Beat.

Clean up still underway at the Marco Polo high rise following Friday's fire. Island Insurance companies shedding light on its claims Thursday. KITV.

A state judge has dismissed felony marijuana possession charges against a former Waiawa Correctional Facility prison guard and her husband because the prosecutor took too long to take the case to trial. Star-Advertiser.

Some summer session students at the University of Hawaii at Manoa have been living in a dorm without hot water for two weeks. KHON2.

Sears Holding Corp. is closing its last Kmart store on Oahu, which will leave the retailer with just two Kmart locations in Hawaii. Pacific Business News.

Hawaii Island

The University of Hawaii Board of Regents on Thursday approved UH-Hilo Chancellor Don Straney’s reassignment to a new position within UH leadership. Tribune-Herald.

A Marine officer was critically wounded after being shot during night live-fire training this month at Pohakuloa Training Area, officials said. Tribune-Herald.

An ambulance was brazenly stolen from the emergency room entrance of Hilo Medical Center on Thursday afternoon. Tribune-Herald.

The search for Peter Boy: A 20-year murder mystery, a family that never gave up. Hawaii News Now.

Maui

State Land Use Commission members rejected by a 6-0 vote Thursday a final environmental impact statement for the Piilani Promenade project, but the panel’s action didn’t necessarily put an end to the development proposed for 75 acres in north Kihei. Maui News.

Iao Valley State Monument, which has been closed since September due to record flooding in the valley, will remain off limits to the public a bit longer, until early August, the state Department of Land and Natural Resources said Wednesday afternoon. Maui News.

The public is advised of a water quality exceedance of enterococci at Honolua Bay, Maui. Maui Now.

The Department of Veterans Affairs has approved new lease agreements to build two outpatient clinics in Hawaii, on Maui and Kauai. Pacific Business News.

Kauai

Education and conservation are priorities for those who study Kauai’s coral reefs, and they’re hoping a recent $715,000 federal grant awarded to the state will amp up both. Garden Island.

Sen. Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii) announced Monday that Hawaii will receive over $2 million in funding from the Federal Aviation Administration to enhance airport operations and runway safety at the Lihue, Kahului and Molokai airports. As part of the grant funding, Lihue Airport will receive $1,057,500. Garden Island.

On Thursday afternoon, Edward Myers, Anthony Chavez Jr., Kinsey Gregory, Kevin Kamakahi, Alexander Lacson Jr. and David Phillips, from the 88th Police Recruit Class, were sworn in as the newest officers of the Kauai Police Department. Garden Island.

Superferry project still costing taxpayers millions, Hanabusa war chest dwindles, Police Commission won't pay officer's legal tab, Big Island condo development yanked after public opposition, Tropical Storm Fernanda weakens, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Superferry docked in 2010 in Honolulu © 2017 All Hawaii News

The Hawaii Superferry has been kaput for about eight years, but a new audit shows the state won’t finish paying off its more than $70 million in harbor upgrades and interest for the privately owned service until 2028. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii’s interisland ferry was shut down eight years ago, but the state still owes $33 million for the costly failure. Associated Press.

Eight years after the Superferry ceased operations in Hawaii, the state is still paying off more than $70 million it incurred from harbor improvements and interest, according to a recent report by the State Auditor’s office. Pacific Business News.

Eight years after the Hawaii Superferry shut down, the State Office of the Auditor says Hawaii must pay $32.6 million in expenses for the ship that once traveled between islands. KITV.

The Hawaii Superferry stopped operations over eight years ago and yet, the state auditor says, Hawaii continues to pay the exorbitant costs incurred to support it. KHON2.

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Tulsi Gabbard Rakes In Far More Campaign Cash Than Colleen Hanabusa. The latest federal campaign finance reports indicate very different strategies by Hawaii’s congresswomen, and reinforce the notion Hanabusa may run for governor. Civil Beat.

The state Department of Health expects to certify Hawaii’s first medical marijuana testing laboratory by the end of the month. Star-Advertiser.

Groups have filed a human-rights complaint that aims to jump-start an investigation into conditions among foreign workers in Hawaii’s commercial fishing industry. Associated Press.

International students studying in Hawaii spent $225 million in the 2016-17 school year, a 25 percent dip from the year before, according to a report released Wednesday by the state’s resource center for economical and statistical data. Civil Beat.

A new report has found that international students have contributed more than $225 million to Hawaii's economy during the 2016-17 school year. Pacific Business News.

A state agency is seeking a buyer for 1,221 affordable rental apartments in an effort to improve the quality of the homes and maintain affordability for most of the existing tenants. The Hawaii Housing Finance and Development Corp. published a request for proposals last week to solicit bids from private investors for its portfolio of six rental projects on Oahu, Maui and Hawaii island. Star-Advertiser.

New Database Of Severe Worker Injuries In Hawaii. The federal government began requiring reporting of certain severe injuries in 2015, in hopes of improving worker safety. Civil Beat.

More than 1,300 people are taking part in the 3-day World Conservation Conference in Honolulu this week. Hawaii Public Radio.

Tropical Storm Fernanda continues to weaken as it inches closer to the Central Pacific. The cyclone, which has maximum sustained winds at 65 mph, is forecast to become a tropical depression by Friday. Hawaii News Now.

Oahu

Since a city task force looked at the issue in 2005, estimating that about 300 residential high-rises did not have automatic sprinkler systems, not a single one of those projects has voluntarily installed the equipment, according to an informal survey of industry officials and a review of city building permit records. Star-Advertiser.

The Honolulu Police Commission voted 4-2 Wednesday against providing legal counsel to a police officer who’s named in a high-profile civil lawsuit. Star-Advertiser.

Police commission votes against covering officer’s legal fees in lawsuit involving former chief’s wife. KHON2.

Police Commissioners Clash Over “Unconstitutional” Secret Hearings. Despite vehement objections from a former federal prosecutor and retired supreme court justice, the commission voted to hold hearings behind closed doors. Civil Beat.

Two Oahu-based community health centers will receive a combined total of nearly $3 million in federal grants to expand their health services. Pacific Business News.

State officials say a video of monk seal “Rocky” on Kaimana Beach protecting her pup from a nearby male monk seal should serve as a caution to ocean-goers to stay clear of Waikiki’s latest residents. Star-Advertiser.

 The number of homes sold at $1.5 million or higher decreased 16 percent in June, though sales were up 18 percent during the first half of 2017, according to a luxury Oahu housing report by Coldwell Banker Pacific Properties. Pacific Business News.

SolarCity cofounder Peter Rive has quit Tesla Inc., just one month after his brother, Lyndon, exited the company. Pacific Business News.

Hawaii Island

A plan to build a 306-unit condominium in Kahaluu died Wednesday after the developer withdrew its application for a needed permit. Ocean Villas at Kahaluu Bay LLC filed its official withdrawal of their special management area permit application with the county’s planning department, bringing to an end all efforts to develop the 42-acre parcel. West Hawaii Today.

A controversial 306-unit condo development planned for Kahaluu has been terminated. Big Island Video News.

Hawaii County is not going to fight an appeals court ruling invalidating a South Kona development and requiring the county to treat Community Development Plans as law. West Hawaii Today.

A developer recently shut shoreline access through their property at Pepeekeo Point following a dispute with Hawaii County. Tribune-Herald.

A Marine officer was critically wounded after being shot during night live-fire training this month at Pohakuloa Training Area on Hawaii island, officials said. Star-Advertiser.

The public is invited to a launch event today to learn more about the Hawaii Island Business Plan Competition, an islandwide contest designed to help small businesses get started and/or grow. Tribune-Herald.

A residential estate on the slopes of Hualalai Mountain has been named the Best Outdoor Retreat in HGTV's 2017 Ultimate House Hunt. Hawaii News Now.

Maui

State Land Use Commission members heard from more than three dozen testifiers Wednesday afternoon, and testimony ran roughly 3-to-1 against approving the Pilani Promenade’s final environmental impact statement. Maui News.

Authorities with the Maui Emergency Management Agency say waves generated by distant Hurricane Fernanda are expected to lead to increasing surf along east facing shores the next couple of days, and this may lead to greater wave run-up along exposed windward coastlines. Maui Now.

Applications continue to be accepted for the one- and two-bedroom apartments at the County of Maui’s 56-unit Kulamalu Hale apartment rentals in Pukalani. Maui Now.

Maui veterans, who fought for years to consolidate medical, psychological and administrative services into a single location to reduce confusion, travel and overcrowding, claimed a significant victory Wednesday with the announcement of the approval of a new lease for a facility near Maui High School in Kahului. Maui News.

Kauai

An experiment in community-based fishery management is underway on Kauai’s north shore. Hawaii Public Radio.

Kumano I Ke Ala, a nonprofit group whose aim is to empower a sustainable West Kauai and restore its resources, is hosting a community work day to remove the slit that has built up in the middle of the Waimea River. Garden Island.

Rotary Club names new president. Garden Island.

Hawaii Gov. Ige unpopular in poll, state tries to grow teachers, Hurricane Fernanda weakening, Honolulu condo fire investigation continues, Hawaii County cracking down on alcohol at beaches, Police Commission secrecy, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Hawaii Gov. David Ige © 2017 All Hawaii News

A new state-by-state poll ranks Hawaii’s governor among the least popular chief executives in the country. Gov. David Ige, according to a Morning Consult poll, has an approval rating of just 48 percent in the islands. Civil Beat.

To help address the state’s perennial shortage of qualified public school teachers, the Department of Education is launching a pilot program aimed at encouraging educators already in classrooms, such as educational assistants, to become licensed teachers with a stipend incentive. Star-Advertiser.

The state Department of Education closed out 11 employee misconduct investigations during the past three months, resulting in five terminations and one resignation in lieu of termination, according to data shared Tuesday with the state school board. Star-Advertiser.

Hurricane Fernanda continues to weaken as the forecast brings it close to the Hawaiian islands. At 5 a.m. Wednesday, the storm was still a Category 1 hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 85 mph. Hawaii News Now.

Last week, Gov. David Ige officially vetoed 13 bills that were passed during the 2017 legislative session, including one that takes away lifeguards’ protection against lawsuits. Garden Island.

Cameron Nekota, a Hawaii real estate veteran who helped to spearhead D.R. Horton-Schuler Homes’ 11,750-home Hoopili project, has joined First Hawaiian Bank, overseeing the bank’s real estate and government affairs. Pacific Business News.

Oahu

Fire Sprinkler Retrofit Mandate Will Hit Affordable Housing. City Lawmakers will be considering a bill next month that could require the installation of fire sprinkler systems in older residential condominiums. Hawaii Public Radio.

The high-rise fire that killed three residents and seriously injured five others damaged more than a third of the apartments in the 36-story Marco Polo, the Honolulu Fire Department said Tuesday. Star-Advertiser.

Investigation into fatal Marco Polo fire expands to include other agencies. Hawaii News Now.

Fire investigators from Hawaii island arrived in Honolulu today with an arson dog to search for ignitable liquids in the apartment where a deadly high-rise blaze broke out last week. Star-Advertiser.

Fire investigators from the Big Island have arrived in Honolulu with an arson dog to search for ignitable liquids in the apartment where a deadly high-rise blaze broke out last week. Associated Press.

New details from fire officials paint the dangerous, and ultimately deadly, scenario at Marco Polo as changes are considered that could prevent a future disaster. KHON2.

Local musicians to host benefit concert for displaced Maro Polo residents. Hawaii News Now.

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The Honolulu Police Commission is scheduled to hold closed-door hearings Wednesday to decide whether taxpayers should pay the legal fees of two officers who were sued in relation to an ongoing U.S. Justice Department corruption investigation tied to former Chief Louis Kealoha. But legal experts, including the only two lawyers who sit on the commission, say the public and the media should not be barred from the proceedings. Civil Beat.

Several petitions are circulating urging the Caldwell administration to remove 11 traffic bulb-outs or curb extensions that were installed along key intersections of Chinatown several weeks ago. Designed as a traffic-calming measure, a bulb-out extends the sidewalk at an intersection, thus shortening the distance a pedestrian needs to cross. Star-Advertiser.

State enforcement officers say Hawaii's booming tourism industry is encouraging more and more illegal commercial activity in state ocean waters. Hawaii News Now.

In June, sales of single-family homes in the Windward Oahu neighborhoods of Kaneohe and Kailua increased by 60 percent and 23 percent, respectively, while the median price decreased, according to a local market update by the Honolulu Board of Realtors. Pacific Business News.

Hawaii Island

The Hawaii County Council advanced a bill Tuesday banning alcohol at James Kealoha Beach Park in Hilo. Tribune-Herald.

As the county considers a crackdown on drinking at a popular Hilo park, some West Hawaii residents say they don’t think the issue’s out of control at parks and beaches on their side. West Hawaii Today.

Hawaii Island drivers are guaranteed to see a boost in gas prices Aug. 1 as higher fuel taxes take effect. Tribune-Herald.

A 9-year-old Hilo girl whose parents and grandmother are alleged to have starved her to death last year was on the radar of Child Welfare Services since at least 2007, according to court documents. Tribune-Herald.

Hawaii’s state-funded aerospace center will share a $118,690 NASA Small Business Technology Transfer grant with New York-based Honeybee Robotics Ltd. to develop an in-situ resource utilization technology to convert natively sourced materials into usable resources, according to the state Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism. Pacific Business News.

The Daniel K. Inouye College of Pharmacy will start the new school year for the first time with a full eight-year accreditation under its belt, though completion of its new building could be pushed back further into 2018. Tribune-Herald.

The developer of a more than $1 billion planned residential community on Hawaii Island filed for bankruptcy last month in the face of two foreclosure actions that threaten to repossess land slated for the 2,300-home project called Villages of Aina Lea. Star-Advertiser.

A Big Island resort hotel has been named "Best Hotel in Hawaii" by price comparison platform HotelsCombined. Kolea at Waikoloa Beach Resort beat out four other Hawaii finalists to win the top honor. Pacific Business News.

Maui

Maui County Mayor Alan Arakawa, who has been playing softball since the 4th grade, recently came under fire from the state Campaign Spending Commission for using campaign funds to support senior softball teams he played on, managed and sponsored. Maui News.

Critics of a controversial development proposed in South Maui plan to voice their concerns when the state Land Use Commission meets on Wednesday and Thursday to review the Final Environmental Impact Statement. Hawaii News Now.

A Stage 1 water shortage declaration for Upcountry, which calls for voluntary cutbacks by consumers, goes into effect today due to drier-than-normal trade wind flows so far this summer. Maui News.

A man broke into a Makawao store early Monday morning, stealing hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of shell lei, handmade by Niihau residents, the store owner said Tuesday. Maui News.

Kauai

Pilot stops on Kauai while retracing Earhart’s final voyage. Garden Island.

The West Kauai Business Association will host a community meeting Monday at the Waimea Historic Theatre. Justin Kollar, prosecuting attorney, and representatives from the YWCA will be on hand to talk about domestic violence. Garden Island.

The Kauai-based owners of Brick Oven Pizza are selling their four Oahu restaurants — including one opening next month at The Howard Hughes Corp.’s Ward Village in Honolulu — in order to focus on their Garden Isle business. Pacific Business News.

State and county high-rise laws face changes in wake of fatal condo fire, Hurricane Fernanda threat lessens, Maui mayor cleared, Kauai salt makers react to climate change, Big Island couple pleads not guilty to starving 9-year-old, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Hurricane Fernanda track NOAA

Fernanda continued to weaken overnight but remained a Category 2 hurricane. Hurricane Fernanda is packing maximum sustained winds near 100 mph while moving northwest at 9 mph. It’s located about 1,460 miles east of Hilo. Star-Advertiser.

Hurricane Fernanda continues to weaken as it churns toward the Central Pacific. Hawaii News Now.

The fire at the Marco Polo has put the spotlight on Act 53, formerly known as Senate Bill 611, which makes it illegal for any county to require single-family homes or duplexes to have sprinklers for the next 10 years. It’s a question of whether homeowners should be required to spend thousands of dollars to prevent potential tragedies, and whether raising the already-high price of housing in Hawaii is worth preventing loss of life. Civil Beat.

The Building Industry Association of Hawaii planned, then canceled, a celebration of a bill that prevents counties from mandating single-family homes have sprinklers. Civil Beat.

Lawmakers on the state and county level, as well as Honolulu Mayor Kirk Caldwell, want to make sure a deadly high-rise fire, like the one that broke out Friday in the Marco Polo building, doesn’t happen again. KHON2.

Hundreds of older high-rise apartment buildings in Honolulu aren’t required to have sprinkler systems, but city officials are pushing for change in the wake of Friday’s deadly 26th-floor blaze. Associated Press.

Three days after a major fire killed three people at the Marco Polo condominium complex, Mayor Kirk Caldwell has sent the City Council a proposal to require high-rise residential buildings without automatic fire sprinklers to install them. Star-Advertiser.

Honolulu Mayor Kirk Caldwell today introduced a bill that would require all residential buildings over 75 feet high to install sprinkler systems. The Honolulu Fire Department estimated there are about 300 highrise apartment buildings on Oahu that don't have sprinkler systems. Hawaii News Now.

Fire investigators said Monday the apartment where a deadly fire began in a Honolulu high-rise was near the two units on the 26th floor where the bodies of three victims were found, but they’re still working to determine the cause. Associated Press.

The Marco Polo fatal high-rise fire did not begin in the condominium units of the three people who died in the Friday five-alarm blaze, Honolulu fire investigators have determined. Star-Advertiser.

Commentary: Does The Risk Justify The Cost Of Sprinklers In Older High-Rises? Until now, the answer has been “no.” But the tragic fire in the Marco Polo condominiums could change the equation. Civil Beat.

Commentary: There are no easy answers to draw from Friday’s tragic fire that killed three people at the Marco Polo condominium tower. There is, however, one necessary answer: Heed the calls to retrofit older buildings with fire sprinkler systems. Star-Advertiser.

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The State Department Monday expanded its definition of “close family” to include grandparents and other relatives that constitute a bona fide U.S. relationship for visa applicants and refugees from six mainly Muslim nations, in response to a Hawaii federal judge’s order last week. Associated Press.

Medical Aid In Dying Dealt Another Blow In Hawaii. An Oahu circuit judge on Friday dismissed a lawsuit asking the court to prevent existing Hawaii criminal laws from being applied to medical aid in dying practices. Big Island Video News.

The state Public Utilities Commission has accepted an updated plan submitted by Hawaiian Electric Cos. detailing how it will reach the state’s goal of 100 percent renewable energy five years ahead of schedule. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaiian Electric rates could rise 44% under plan OKed by state regulators. Pacific Business News.

Costco Wholesale Corp. paid a fine last week of nearly $5,000 for violating Hawaii's beverage container deposit requirements, the Hawaii State Department of Health said Monday. Pacific Business News.

They can’t quite top Bernie Sanders, but Hawaii U.S. Sens. Brian Schatz and Mazie Hirono both rank among the three most popular senators in the nation, according to a recent poll by survey research company Morning Consult. Star-Advertiser.

Food safety inspectors will begin stepping up enforcement of a new law that bans the use of latex gloves in restaurants. KHON2.

Oahu

Kaimuki charter school finds site to share. SEEQS — the School for Examining Essential Questions of Sustainability — will be sharing a campus with Kaimuki High School, 2 miles away. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii Island

Hawaii County is taking another crack at property tax reform. Fresh from raising taxes on most property types, county officials say they are convening an internal working group to recommend changes to the tax code. Tribune-Herald.

Public Works Director Frank DeMarco has decided to retire. West Hawaii Today.

Keith Okamoto, Hawaii County Department of Water Supply manager and chief engineer, came to Kona on Monday to offer a presentation on the area’s water emergency to the Hawaii County Council’s Agriculture, Water and Energy Sustainability Committee. West Hawaii Today.

Both parents accused of starving a 9-year-old Hilo girl to death last year pleaded not guilty Monday to second-degree murder. Tribune-Herald.

Maui

State officials are dropping a complaint against Maui Mayor Alan Arakawa that accused him of using campaign funds for personal purposes by sponsoring a softball team. Star-Advertiser.

A bill aiming to regulate and look into sand extraction in Maui County is undergoing changes, as a Maui County Council committee continues to mull the measure that arose from an uproar over a recent sand excavation and export case in Maui Lani. Maui News.

A new system will help forecast the effects of sea level rise and waves in West Maui. The University of Hawaii at Manoa’s Pacific Islands Ocean Observing System has received a grant from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration to develop the model. Hawaii Public Radio.

A Stage 1 water shortage declaration for Upcountry, which calls for voluntary cutbacks by consumers, goes into effect today due to drier-than-normal trade wind flows so far this summer. Maui News.

Trilogy Excursions announced it has outfitted all six of its sailing catamarans with sunscreen that is free of reef damaging chemicals. Maui Now.

Kauai

A community of traditional salt makers on Kauai is navigating the impacts of climate change on the generations-old practice. Hawaii Public Radio.

Swells could reach 8 feet on the Eastside today as the initial impacts of Hurricane Fernanda begin to reach Kauai. Garden Island.

The Department of Land and Natural Resources is seeking new projects for its Hawaii Forest Legacy Program that will protect important working forest lands from the threat of conversion to non-forest uses. Garden Island.

Call for sprinkler law follows five-alarm high-rise fire, former President Clinton visits Hawaii, no tech in high tech park, Oahu medical marijuana patients increase, Kauai studies bus plan, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Civil Beat YouTube video

 A five-alarm fire Friday at the Marco Polo condo is expected to spark renewed debate over a long-standing question of whether the city should require Oahu condo projects built before sprinklers were mandated in the mid-1970s to install them. Star-Advertiser.

The deadly fire at the Marco Polo building sparks a renewed push for sprinkler systems to be installed at condos and apartments. KITV.

If Honolulu is to require owners to install fire sprinklers in all pre-1975 residential buildings, it will involve heavy lifting to persuade the state Legislature to update the state’s fire code, according to a retired Honolulu fire official. Star-Advertiser.

Honolulu Mayor Kirk Caldwell on Friday called for legislation requiring the retrofitting of older residential high-rises with fire sprinklers after a blaze in Honolulu killed three people. Civil Beat.

The fire that killed three people at the Marco Polo Apartments condominium tower in Honolulu could have been less severe if the building had a sprinkler system in place. Pacific Business News.

At least three people died and 12 were injured Friday in a fire at a Honolulu high-rise that was not equipped with sprinklers, authorities said, and hundreds fled the giant condominium complex as smoke billowed from the upper floors. Associated Press.

Relatives of the three people killed in Friday's highrise fire are opening up about their devastating loss. Hawaii News Now.

Twenty six stories up. Island News got a first look inside the Honolulu high rise that was on fire for nearly 10 hours. KITV.

Estimated 40-50 units "total losses" following Marco Polo high-rise fire. Fire investigators were still on scene at the Marco Polo Apartments on Sunday, working to determine what caused the massive high-rise fire that injured dozens, and killed three. KITV.

How you can help victims of Marco Polo highrise fire. KHON2.

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Why Is A High-Tech Agency Building A Center For Cops And Rescue Workers? The project raises questions about whether the Hawaii Technology Development Corp. is stepping away from its mission and legislative mandate. Civil Beat.

Hawaii’s unemployment rate remains below three percent. And while that’s good news for the state’s economy, it’s creating a challenge for many businesses that are struggling to find good help. Hawaii Public Radio.

New care home law is called ‘a facade’. When Gov. David Ige held a bill-signing ceremony last week for a new law that aims to cut through the red tape that blocked certain elderly couples from living together in the same licensed care home, the one couple it was specifically designed to help was conspicuously absent. Star-Advertiser.

Officials, community say defunding tsunami detection system penny wise and pound foolish. West Hawaii Today.

Former U.S. President Bill Clinton toured the Hokule‘a at Sand Island Sunday, about a month after the Hawaiian voyaging canoe’s return from its three-year journey around the globe. Star-Advertiser.

The 42nd President of the United States, Bill Clinton, was seen on Oahu this weekend giving a speech, dining at a presidential favorite spot, and touring the Hokulea. Hawaii News Now.

Former President Bill Clinton is in the islands. KHON2.

Fernanda remains a category 3 hurricane according to forecasters at the National Hurricane Center. The storm is churning in the East Pacific as gradual weakening is expected over the next 48 hours. Hawaii News Now.

Big Island still has most medical marijuana users, but Oahu’s percentage grows. Hawaii Island historically has contained the lion’s share of medical marijuana patients, but that trend could gradually be changing, data released Friday by the state Department of Health indicates. Tribune-Herald.

Hawaii teens who use e-cigarettes are more likely to have asthma, according to the latest research by the University of Hawaii. Star-Advertiser.

Oahu

Honolulu rail leaders are laboring to maintain public confidence in the project, yet their decision to defer an audit that would investigate how its price tag nearly doubled and its schedule got pushed back six years has critics crying foul. Star-Advertiser.

Honolulu inflation is heating up as the state’s economy continues to grow. Star-Advertiser.

This Group Is Helping The Needy By Rescuing Tons Of Food. Though the nonprofit typically relies on grants, Aloha Harvest is looking to the city of Honolulu in hopes of a contract. Civil Beat.

Statue to bring the aloha of Don Ho back to Waikiki. Don Ho, Hawaii’s best-known entertainer, is returning to the International Market Place on Aug. 13 — what would have been his 87th birthday. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii Island

The latest chapter in the ongoing audit review of the management of Mauna Kea arrived in the form of a new report this month. Big Island Video News.

Court dates have been set for the 48 adults cited July 8 for trespassing into the closed Kohala Forest Reserve and Kohala Restricted Watershed. Tribune-Herald.

A father, mother and maternal grandmother are in custody for allegedly starving a 9-year-old Hilo girl to death. Tribune-Herald.

Big Island Crime Problems Seem Bigger On Social Media. Hawaii County crime isn’t on the rise. But the prosecutor says residents are justifiably upset by a clogged criminal justice system. Civil Beat.

While signs have been posted at some beaches in recent months warning beachgoers of high bacteria levels in the water, those counts don’t necessarily mean waters are contaminated with sewage. West Hawaii Today.

Hawaii County real estate trends continued ticking upward as the first half of the sales year came to a close, with the busy market leading to increases in new construction as existing inventory is bought up. Tribune-Herald.

Maui

Unlike some politicians who’d grab the center of attention at a public event, shaking every hand within reach, Gov. David Ige was characteristically laid-back recently when he visited Maui for a senior housing groundbreaking ceremony in Pukalani and a visit to Kula Hospital. Maui News.

Portions of the Kanaio Natural Area Reserve will be closed on dates in August and September while the state Department of Land and Natural Resources’ Division of Forestry and Wildlife conducts animal control via aerial shooting from helicopters. Maui News.

After serving under eight Maui County prosecuting attorneys and appearing before 13 2nd Circuit judges during a career that spanned 40 years, Deputy Prosecutor John Tam has retired. Maui News.

The Mayor’s Office of Economic Development announced that it has issued more than $2 million in grants to various local organizations during the second half of fiscal year 2017. Maui Now.

Sen. Rosalyn Baker inducted the Maui Chamber of Commerce’s new and existing board members for the 2017-18 term on June 2 at the Sheraton Maui Resort & Spa in Kaanapali. Maui News.

Kauai

The County of Kauai’s Transportation Agency will be holding islandwide, public information and community comment sessions on the Kauai Bus Short-Range Transit Plan starting this week. Garden Island.

The County of Kauai’s Transportation Agency will be holding islandwide, public information and community comment sessions on the Kauai Bus Short-Range Transit Plan starting this week. KHON2.

Soon, folks will have a way to get from Kawaihau Road to the rest of Kauai’s coastal path via a 1,000-foot boardwalk. Garden Island.

$6.6M for Mahelona hospital projects. Remodeled rooms for residents, upgrades to nurse stations are among the plans. Garden Island.

New enclosure last step to recovery for native seabirds. Garden Island.

Big boost planned for military spending in Hawaii, Honolulu judge expands family members on travel ban immigrant list, Hurricane Fernanda still far away, solider pledging IS support claims mental illness defense, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Pohakuloa Training Area, Hawaii Island © 2017 All Hawaii News

Schatz Announces Big Increase In Military Spending For Hawaii. If a subcommittee’s Thursday vote holds up, the islands would see $266 million in spending in fiscal year 2018, up from $197 million. Civil Beat.

Hawaii is set to receive more than $266 million in federal funding for military construction and upgrade projects across the state after the Senate Appropriations Committee passed the Military Construction and Veterans Affairs appropriations bill for fiscal year 2018. Pacific Business News.

A federal judge in Honolulu has expanded the Trump administration’s list of family relationships needed by people seeking new visas from six mostly Muslim countries to avoid a travel ban. U.S. District Court Judge Derrick Watson ruled Thursday that the travel ban exemptions should include grandparents, grandchildren, uncles, aunts and other relatives. Star-Advertiser.

In another setback for President Donald Trump, a federal judge in Hawaii has further weakened his already diluted travel ban by vastly expanding the list of family relationships with U.S. citizens that visa applicants can use to get into the U.S. Associated Press.

A federal judge in Honolulu on Thursday expanded the list of family relationships needed by people seeking new visas from six mostly Muslim countries to avoid President Donald Trump’s travel ban. Associated Press.

The Hawaii judge who blocked President Donald Trump’s revised executive order on immigration in March placed limits Thursday on how the scaled-back version of the travel ban should be enforced. Civil Beat.

Fernanda strengthens into major hurricane far east of islands. It is still too early to tell what kind of effects, if any, this storm will have on Hawaii, but early computer models show a track that moves in a direction toward the islands. Hawaii News Now.

Hurricane Fernanda in the Eastern Pacific continued strengthening today, reaching major hurricane status. Star-Advertiser.

Fernanda reached hurricane strength Thursday and the storm’s expected to continue rapidly strengthening as it marches west toward the Hawaiian Islands. West Hawaii Today.

The lawyer for an Army soldier accused of pledging his support and allegiance to the Islamic State says the government knew or should have known that Sgt. 1st Class Ikaika Erik Kang was suffering from mental illness but, instead of helping him, continued to exploit Kang’s condition until he committed a crime. Star-Advertiser.

A U.S. soldier accused of wanting to commit a mass shooting after pledging loyalty to the Islamic State group believed the moon landing was faked, questioned the assassination of President John F. Kennedy and thought the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks were an inside job coordinated by the U.S. government, according to a former Army bunkmate. Associated Press.

Hawaii’s public school system, which employs more than 13,000 teachers, has struggled for years with a chronic teacher shortage. A licensed first-year teacher in Hawaii makes $47,443. A new contract signed in April provides for a cumulative salary increase of 13.6 percent over four years. Civil Beat.

No Relief In Sight For High Cost Of Prison Phone Calls. After a federal court overturned a national limit on the price of the calls, activists turn to state and local governments. Civil Beat.

Oahu

Plans to modernize Blaisdell Center could cost upwards of $500M. Hawaii News Now.

Big, expensive changes are proposed for the Neal S. Blaisdell Center. On Thursday, nearly 150 people attended the city's second workshop to weigh-in on the city's "Master Plan" for the center. KITV.

Public weighs in on the future of Neal S. Blaisdell Center. KHON2.

A proposed charter school to serve Ewa Beach families got the green light Thursday from the state Public Charter School Commission, but two other Oahu schools were rejected. Star-Advertiser.

Oahu residents saw a dime shaved off their electricity bills in July primarily due to lower fees collected for energy efficiency programs. Star-Advertiser.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has reached an agreement with Matheson Tri-Gas to close three cesspools at its Kapolei facility on Oahu. Pacific Business News.

A fallen chunk of concrete is raising safety concerns under the H-1 viaduct. State Department of Transportation officials say they checked out the site and believe it is structurally safe. Hawaii News Now.

Hawaii Island

Audits of county hiring and cash-handling practices should be completed in the next few months, legislative Auditor Bonnie Nims said Thursday. West Hawaii Today.

East Hawaii residents had the chance to discuss the impacts of upcoming changes to the region’s flood insurance rate maps during an open house session Wednesday evening. Tribune-Herald.

After a malfunction at the recently repaired Keahuolu Deepwell put North Kona on the edge of water service disruptions, Hawaii County Department of Water Supply has pulled the system back from the brink. West Hawaii Today.

The former Uncle Billy’s hotel is attracting its last customers — for a liquidation sale. Tribune-Herald.

Maui

The Maui Planning Commission was split Tuesday on a proposed construction materials recycling facility in South Maui, which some say would help handle future projects on island but that others think should be located elsewhere. Maui News.

One by one, the island’s eucalyptus trees are dying. Maui News.

The Maui Chamber of Commerce will hold its annual Luncheon with the Mayor from noon to 2 p.m. July 28 at the Maui Beach Hotel. Maui News.

Lloyd Loope, who became Haleakala National Park’s first research scientist in 1980 and went on to become one of the state’s leading advisers in the war against invasive species, has died at the age of 74. Star-Advertiser.

The cane is long gone but the sugar museum continues to grow. Maui News.

Kauai

The Land Use Commission will vote this month on changing the land designation at Kauai Community College from ag to urban, and officials say the recently approved university district will help streamline that process. Garden Island.

Nawiliwili Yacht Club is fighting for its lease of the Nawiliwili Small Boat Harbor, set to expire in September and go up on the block for public auction. Garden Island.

There is no date set for the next community meeting regarding the proposed change of address for the Lihue post office, according to Duke Gonzales, USPS spokesman. Garden Island.