AG Chin to step down to seek congressional seat, foster parents lawsuit seeks higher pay, Hawaiian overthrow commemoration set for Legislature's opening day, Honolulu loses almost $5M federal grants due to inertia, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Doug Chin, Mazie Hirono at Aug. 30, 2017 DACA press conference file photo

Attorney General Chin will step down to run for Congress. The decision by state Attorney General Douglas Chin to resign March 15 and begin full-time campaigning for the 1st Congressional District seat is probably a “politically smart move,” according to a University of Hawaii political scientist. Star-Advertiser.

Chin To Step Down As Hawaii AG In Run For Congress. The attorney general was pressured to resign by the person he hopes to succeed, U.S. Rep. Colleen Hanabusa. Civil Beat.

Hawaii Attorney General Doug Chin on Sunday announced he will step down to focus on his congressional campaign. Associated Press.

Seeking a seat in U.S. Congress, Hawaii's Attorney General Doug Chin announced Sunday he will step down. Hawaii News Now.

Doug Chin announced Sunday that he is leaving his Attorney General post to concentrate on his campaign for the First Congressional district seat in the U.S. House of Representatives. KITV.

Attorney General Doug Chin will step down to run for Congressional seat. KHON2.

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Overthrow observance to shadow Legislature’s opening day. 125 years after the overthrow of Hawaii’s last monarch, a new group of organizers is planning a march and observance ceremony expected to draw thousands to Iolani Palace and to the Capitol courtyard next door. Star-Advertiser.

Ige seeks pay raises for foster parents amid legal battle. A drawn-out legal battle over how much families are paid to care for foster children is headed to court, where attorneys say the dispute could end up costing the state significantly more than a multimillion-dollar settlement that was rejected last year by the Legislature. Star-Advertiser.

A legal battle over how much families are paid to care for foster children could cost Hawaii millions of dollars, state officials said. Associated Press.

More than 800 cases of child sex abuse reported in 2017, likely only a fraction of victims. KHON2.

Navy likely to keep long-standing grip on Pacific Command. here’s been some extra drama attendant to the Pentagon’s selection of the next head of U.S. Pacific Command on Oahu — and not only because that person will have to counter a runaway North Korean nuclear program and a militarily assertive China. Star-Advertiser.

Judge clears way for sale of Island Air operating certificate. Bankruptcy Judge Robert Faris, declaring that something is better than nothing, gave the green light Friday for Island Air’s trustee to take the necessary steps to proceed in the sale of the company’s operating certificate to a subsidiary of Hawaiian Airlines’ corporate parent. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaiian Airlines is likely to exceed $100 million for a second consecutive year in baggage, reservation and change fees. Star-Advertiser.

Oahu

How Mismanagement Cost Honolulu Nearly $5 Million In Federal Aid. The unspent money was intended to help ease the city’s critical problems with homelessness and affordable housing. Civil Beat.

The Oahu Real Property Tax Advisory Commission on Thursday passed its final report to the Honolulu City Council, recommending a host of changes aimed at making the tax burden more equitable among the island’s property owners. Star-Advertiser.

The Honolulu Liquor Commission has delayed a decision over a license application for a new Denny’s restaurant in Waikiki due to community opposition. Star-Advertiser.

Court ends first year of decriminalized homelessness. As Oahu’s so-called “homeless court” moves into its second year, the chief justice of the Hawaii Supreme Court wants legislators to know that “it has brought life-changing experiences” to some of its homeless defendants. Star-Advertiser.

Prosecutors say Ransen Taito was a victim of Katherine Kealoha’s financial crimes, but he helped her cover them up anyway. When Ransen Taito walked into the U.S. District Court of Hawaii on Friday to plead guilty to felony conspiracy, he was about to roll over in a big way on his “aunty,” someone he trusted since childhood: Honolulu deputy prosecuting attorney Katherine Kealoha. Civil Beat.

Frustration grows over delay in state takeover of Hawaii's only volunteer-run public library. Hawaii News Now.

Kapiolani Community College has opened its search for a new chancellor and expects to have a hire in place by July. Star-Advertiser.

Diamond Head Theatre redevelopment plan moves forward. Plans are to upgrade the building to a 500-seat venue with improved stage mechanics and enhanced theatre experience. Hawaii News Now.

Oahu’s 2017 housing market finished strong with gains in both condominium and single-family home sales and median prices, and experts from the real estate industry expect the momentum to continue this year, but possibly at a slower pace. Star-Advertiser.

Oahu home prices may reach just under $800K in 2018, Locations says. The median price of a single-family home rose by 3 percent to $760,000, from $735,000 in 2016, while the median price of a condo rose 5 percent to $410,000, from $390,000 in 2016, according to the sales data analyzed by Locations. Pacific Business News.

Hawaii Island

DLNR shuts down aquarium fishing in West Hawaii pending environmental review.  For the first time in decades, West Hawaii waters are off-limits to aquarium fishermen. West Hawaii Today.

2017 a deadly year on Big Island roads. Speed kills. Obvious as it sounds, that’s the lesson to be learned from the majority of the 32 official traffic fatalities that occurred on Hawaii Island in 2017 — the same official total of traffic deaths that took place in 2016. The deaths occurred in 30 collisions. Tribune-Herald.

Criteria To Determine Pre-Existing Lots Discussed. The Hawaii County Council Planning Committee sat down with planning department administrators recently to discuss a new bill to amend the Subdivision Code. Big Island Video News.

Wendell Kaehuaea is hoping the 23rd time will be the charm. After 22 unsuccessful campaigns for local political office, Kaehuaea is shooting for his first statewide race, and this time he’s aiming high. All the way to governor. West Hawaii Today.

Amy B.H. Greenwell Ethnobotanical Garden nonprofit lands $750K. West Hawaii Today.

A climate for coffee: Researchers work to get ahead of potential threats to Hawaii’s signature crop. West Hawaii Today.

Condo sales on Hawaii's Big Island jump 20% in 2017, single-family sees single-digit gains. The 853 condo units sold on the Big Island in 2017 was 19.97 percent more than the 711 units that sold in 2016. The median price of a Big Island condo in 2017 was $310,000, which was an increase of 1.64 percent from $305,000 in 2016. Pacific Business News.

Maui

LPN shortage leads to higher patient care costs. Hale Makua is working with UH-Maui College on an educational program just for LPNs. Maui News.

Catholic charities planning a senior housing development. Proposed affordable project would have 164 apartments. Maui News.

Three mumps cases reported on Maui. Out of 770 confirmed cases of mumps statewide as of Jan. 4, three cases were on Maui. Maui News.

Kauai

Defendants continue Coco Palms claim. The heated civil trial over 17 acres of land in Wailua where the famed Coco Palms Resort once stood before it was damaged by Hurricane Iniki continued Friday with testimony from Noa Mau-Espirito, one of the two defendants in the matter.  Garden Island.

The Kauai Island Utility Cooperative Nominating Committee has confirmed six candidates for its Board of Directors election on March 10. Garden Island.

Home sales on Kauai dip in 2017 as condo sales take off. There were a total of 450 condo units sold on the Garden Island last year, an increase of 19.05 percent from 378 units sold in 2016. The median price of a condo on Kauai in 2017 rose 9.23 percent to $435,000 from $398,250 in 2016. Pacific Business News.

Hawaii braces for federal marijuana crackdown, 500 volunteers needed to count homeless, feral wallaby spotted in Kalihi Valley, should AG Chin resign to run, Maui fights resorts in beach access dispute, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Pot doc advertisement in Keaukaha, file photo ©2018 All Hawaii News

Isle pot industry braces for crackdown. Hawaii’s fledgling medical marijuana industry was dealt a blow Thursday with the Trump administration rescinding a policy that kept federal authorities from prosecuting people for legal pot sales. Star-Advertiser.

Federal Anti-Pot Move Derided As A ‘Reckless Prohibition-Style Decision’. Hawaii leaders oppose stronger federal enforcement. But one cannabis advocate sees a possible “silver lining". Civil Beat.

Lawmakers, dispensary chief react to decision to rescind Obama-era marijuana policy. A Big Island lawmaker says Hawaii should legalize recreational marijuana even if the Trump administration clamps down on sales in states that already took that step. Tribune-Herald.

Non-Interference Policy on Marijuana Reversed. The Department of Justice today issued a memo on federal marijuana enforcement policy announcing “a return to the rule of law and the rescission of previous guidance documents". Maui Now.

Gabbard looking to remove marijuana from federal controlled substances list. Rep. Tulsi Gabbard denounced the decision of U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions to rescind the Obama-era, non-interference policy and target states that have legalized medical or recreational marijuana use. KITV.

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Chin should resign to run, Hanabusa says. U.S. Rep. Colleen Hana­busa says Attorney General Douglas Chin should resign from his job as the state’s top law enforcement officer to make his run for Congress, and Gov. David Ige on Thursday said he expects Chin will resign if that would be “in the best interest of the people of Hawaii.” Star-Advertiser.

The state needs 500 volunteers for their annual homeless count – and have only 50 so far. Every year, during the last week of January, volunteers canvas the state to get a tally of how many homeless people are living in Hawaii. Hawaii News Now.

2018 kicks off with the highest gas prices Hawaii has seen since 2014. Experts said the price at the pump will continue to go up. KHON2.

Hawaii timeshare properties had higher occupancy than hotels during the third quarter. Hawaii timeshare properties were 90.1 percent occupied during the third quarter of 2017, nearly 9 percentage points more than hotel properties, according to a report released Thursday by the Hawaii Tourism Authority. Pacific Business News.

Timeshare properties in Hawaii continued to demonstrate their importance to the state’s lodging portfolio in the third quarter of 2017, averaging a 90.1% occupancy rate statewide. By comparison, hotel properties averaged an 81.4% occupancy rate for the quarter. Maui Now.

New commander takes the reins at Schofield as Pacific tensions flare. About 5,000 Schofield Barracks soldiers stood at attention Thursday on Weyand Field as Maj. Gen. Ronald P. Clark took over command of the 25th Infantry Division from Maj. Gen. Christopher Cavoli. Star-Advertiser.

Oahu

Conspiracy charge is brought in fraud case against Kealoha. A man who federal prosecutors say had his and his sister’s trust fund money stolen by Deputy Prosecutor Katherine Kealoha was scheduled to admit in U.S. District Court this morning that he helped Kealoha cover up the theft and lied when he told a grand jury that Kealoha did not rip him off. Star-Advertiser.

New charges brought in Honolulu corruption case. The deputy city prosecutor wife of a Honolulu police chief convinced a man whose trust she allegedly stole from when he was a child to lie for her before a grand jury looking into corruption allegations against the couple, according to court documents filed Wednesday. Associated Press.

Board of Water Supply looks to raise rates to replace aging water mains. Another possible rate hike is in the works, this time from the Board of Water Supply. KHON2.

Justice Coalition Urges Alternative to New Jail.  A proposal to replace the aging Oahu Community Correctional Center by building a new jail has been on the table since last fall. Hawaii Public Radio.

Concerns raised over whether new Waikiki Denny's should serve alcohol. A new Denny's restaurant is nearing completion on what was a vacant corner at the Diamond Head end of Kuhio Avenue. Hawaii News Now.

SBA offers $600K in Marco Polo assistance loans. The U.S. Small Business Administration’s Hawaii District Office has approved more than $600,000 in federal disaster loans for Hawaii businesses and residents affected by the Marco Polo fire in Honolulu that occurred July 14. Star-Advertiser.

Spotted: Elusive wallaby makes rare appearance in Moanalua. Wallabies, which are native to Australia, are actually believed to exist in Kalihi Valley. In 1916, three of the animals escaped into the area and bred after they were shipped to Hawaii and delivered to a private zoo nearby. Hawaii News Now.

Hawaii Island

Hele-On routes expanding with new grant. Hilo-Kona bus routes will be expanded, as well as routes in Hawaiian Paradise Park and elsewhere in Puna, thanks to a larger-than-anticipated federal grant. West Hawaii Today.

Andy Levin, Mayor’s Lobbyist, Before Council. The Hawaii County Council's Governmental Relations and Economic Development Committee had the chance to question the administration's legislative assistant on Wednesday. Big Island Video News.

North Kona approaches full year under mandatory water usage reduction. West Hawaii Today.

Feral donkeys in West Hawaii seeking good homes. After once numbering in the hundreds, the feral donkey population in West Hawaii now hovers at about 30, thanks to successful adoption drives during the past few years, according to a rancher who looks after them. Tribune-Herald.

Wheelchair-Friendly Mauna Loa Lookout Opens. The Mauna Loa Lookout shelter was reconstructed and repaved, and a new accessible vault toilet was installed, park officials say. Big Island Video News.

Maui

Maui lawmaker denounces 'privatization of the public beaches' at Kaanapali. Photos taken Wednesday morning, fronting the Kaanapali Alii resort on Maui, show empty cabanas lining the sandy beach between the hotel and the Pacific Ocean. Hawaii News Now.

McKelvey wants resorts cited for ‘reserved’ beach space. Unused cabanas, chairs and umbrellas are crowding out public access to residents. Maui News.

Staffing woes hinder­ movement on water meter list. A shortage of engineers, difficulty recruiting and a lack of affordable housing are some of the reasons the county Department of Water Supply is struggling to fill staffing positions to help tackle the Upcountry water meter list, the department said Wednesday. Maui News.

Kauai

Kauai mayor's holiday gift of paid leave for county workers draws criticism from council chair. A decision by Kauai's mayor to offer all full-time county employees two paid days off during the holidays is drawing major criticism from some council members. Hawaii News Now.

Kauai War Memorial Convention Hall closed. The community stage isn’t scheduled to reopen until June 30 due to an asbestos removal project. Garden Island.

Families facing underage drug and alcohol abuse issues will soon have the option to seek treatment on island, instead of having to send loved ones elsewhere. A Thursday groundbreaking for the roughly 15,000-square-foot Adolescent Treatment and Healing Center on the north end of Maalo Road was attended by about 100 people. Garden Island.

Audit blasts state energy office, Hanabusa more popular among business leaders, new U.S. attorney named, dialysis clinics vacant as inspections awaited, rats return to Lehua Island, Kealoha accused of coercing witness, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Waikiki king tides July 2017, courtesy UH Sea College Grant program

For the past two years, the University of Hawaii Sea Grant Program has been recruiting citizen scientists from across the Pacific. They were trained to document high water levels or King Tides in an effort to understand and adapt to sea level rise. Hawaii Public Radio.

State Auditor’s report blasts energy office. The Hawaii State Energy Office awarded a contract for more than $250,000 to plan a “state-of-the-art” energy innovation center last year, and then seven months later commissioned another consultant to assess whether that center is actually needed, according to an audit of the office. Star-Advertiser.

Read full audit here.

Auditors couldn't figure out what this state office does — or plans to do. Hawaii News Now.

Audit: State Energy Office ‘Is Not Doing Its Job’ A scathing report cites the office’s failure to document what it’s doing to help Hawaii’s transition to renewable energy resources. Civil Beat.

Why Colleen Hanabusa Can’t Sit Still. The Hawaii congresswoman talks about ambition, office-hopping and her quest for the Hawaii governor’s office. Civil Beat.

BOSS Asks Business Leaders: Ige or Hanabusa? Hawaii Business.

Kenji Price — a former federal prosecutor and Army Ranger who is now a director at the Honolulu law firm of Alston Hunt Floyd & Ing — has been appointed Interim U.S. Attorney for Hawaii by Attorney General Jeff Sessions, the Justice Department announced today. Star-Advertiser.

Ex-Army Ranger Named Temporary US Attorney For Hawaii. Kenji Price has been focusing on white collar criminal defense and commercial litigation at a Honolulu firm. Associated Press.

Delays in clinic inspections hurt dialysis patients. Lawmakers are trying to find solutions to a three-year delay in inspections for some dialysis clinics that largely remain closed as the number of residents with kidney failure continues to climb. Star-Advertiser.

One aspect of the homeless crisis: State realizes policing encampments is pricey. DLNR is requesting $330,000 in related funds. Gov. David Ige's administration also wants $419,302 to pay for eight new deputy sheriffs that could respond to complaints about illegal camping and trespassing on state lands. There is also a $5 million lump sum request in the state Department of Human Services' budget. Hawaii News Now.

Hawaii joins 'tele-abortion' pilot amid debate about procedure's safety. Hawaii is one of only four states taking part in a "tele-abortion" pilot project, and the politically-charged issue is riling up abortion foes. Hawaii News Now.

Preschool Open Door Program Open for Enrollment. Low and moderate-income families in Hawaii can tap a state subsidized program to give their keiki a head start in early learning. Hawaii Public Radio.

No end in sight for mumps outbreak. In addition to containing clusters of mumps cases, the state is gearing up for the peak of flu season. KITV.

Mumps booster needed to avoid virus. Even if you had a mumps vaccination, you are being urged to get a booster shot. KITV.

Foreign fishermen settle human trafficking suit. Two Indonesian fishermen who say they were enslaved on an American fishing boat have settled their lawsuit against the vessel’s owner seven years after escaping and receiving special U.S. visas as victims of human trafficking. Associated Press.

Kmart to pay over $84K for overbilling Hawaii Medicaid customers. Pacific Business News.

Hawaiian Airlines awarded share of $227M federal contract. Hawaiian Airlines Inc. on Friday received a share of a $227 million federal contract for international commercial scheduled air cargo transportation services. Pacific Business News.

Oahu

Katherine Kealoha coerced man to lie to grand jury, charges say. The deputy city prosecutor wife of a Honolulu police chief convinced a man whose trust she allegedly stole from when he was a child to lie for her before a grand jury looking into corruption allegations against the couple, according to court documents filed today. Associated Press.

An alleged victim in the case against former Honolulu police chief Louis Kealoha and his deputy prosecutor wife, Katherine, is now a suspect. KHON2.

Police Commission Loosens Rules On Legal Fees For Officers. For years, city attorneys have been strict when it comes to paying an officer’s attorney fees in lawsuits and criminal complaints. Civil Beat.

Rise in attacks by state hospital patients prompts call for change. KHON2.

Medical Pot And Veterans: Groups Offer Free Evaluations. The cost of getting evaluated usually far exceeds the price of the actual registration process for cannabis users. Civil Beat.

Honolulu EMS announces the need for more money. KHON2.

Warning signs posted after big sewage spill into Kaneohe Bay. The public is being told to stay out of Kaneohe Bay after a spill sent 30,000 gallons of sewage into the water. Hawaii News Now.

Kaimana the monk seal is hooked again. Kaimana the monk seal got hooked — a second time. This time, she needed help getting it out. Star-Advertiser.

$500K-plus micro condo units to hit Kakaako market. About 200 studios range from 277 square feet to 373 square feet, with the smallest of those starting between $500,000 and $600,000. Star-Advertiser.

Howard Hughes to open sales office for new Honolulu tower. Pacific Business News.

Petitioners want to preserve monkeypod trees at Manoa Marketplace. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii Island

Ige releases additional $1.3M for outreach, research in battle against rapid ohia death. Tribune-Herald.

Mayor Harry Kim’s lobbyist to the state Legislature appeared before a more local body Wednesday, where he defended his track record and pledged better communication with the County Council. West Hawaii Today.

The traffic signals are in place, but it may take until the end of the month before intersection improvements at Shower Drive and Highway 130 in Puna are complete. Tribune-Herald.

A former driver for The Arc of Hilo who sexually assaulted a physically and mentally disabled woman last year in a van owned by the nonprofit organization was sentenced Wednesday to 20 years in prison. Tribune-Herald.

Maui

Makawao is Highest Priority Area for Cesspools, Public Meeting Announced. Maui Now.

Water Director Taylor remains at home. Water Department leadership in limbo following council vote in support of director. Maui News.

Kauai

Rats! signs of life. A rapid assessment team flew to Lehua Island Tuesday after checks of motion-detecting field cameras showed the presence of two rats. Garden Island.

Housing crisis lingers as additional rental unit bill deferred. A bill aimed at allowing homeowners to build small rental units on their land in order to help meet an affordable housing shortage was deferred to the end of February during a Kauai County committee meeting Wednesday. Garden Island.

Legislative panel grills economists as state surplus grows, Ige hedges re-election bet, Honolulu homeless park-hop, rental prices drop, few appeal property assessments, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Senate and House money committee hearings kickoff Tuesday, courtesy House Democrats

Economists: Financial Challenges Are Looming For Hawaii. Economists caution legislators about the housing shortage, the possibility of lower tax revenue and reduced tourist spending. Civil Beat.

Housing push would boost state’s economy, expert says. If Hawaii were to spur the development of 33,000 additional new homes between now and 2025 to address the state’s housing shortage, that extra economic activity would increase the number of construction jobs by 13 percent and boost the gross state product by more than 0.5 percent, according to a University of Hawaii economist. Star-Advertiser.

The state's surplus has grown to $893M. Here's what lawmakers plan to do with it. Hawaii News Now.

Governor asks Legislature to cover possible transition, vacation payouts. The governor’s office is asking the state legislature for $742,285 in case Gov. David Ige is not re-elected later this year. KHON2.

Department of Health Audited Over Disease Response. Hawaii wrestled with three big public health scares linked to mosquitos, bad scallops, and bad seaweed. A legislative audit uncovered weaknesses in record keeping and the state’s response to the outbreaks. Hawaii Public Radio.

Local Stocks Had a Mixed 2017. Hawaii Public Radio.

Kaiser, HMSA hike insurance premiums. Most health insurance policyholders began paying higher premiums this week. The increases range from 5.9 percent to nearly 25 percent. Tribune-Herald.

Matson increases Neighbor Island barge capacity. Matson Inc. Tuesday said it replaced one of its three barges dedicated to serving Hawaii's Neighbor Island ports with a newer, larger barge in order to improve service levels. Pacific Business News.

Kamehameha Schools releases video apology to sex abuse victims, outlines plans to make school safer. Hawaii News Now.

Oahu

Mother Waldron Park closure prompts homeless to return to Kakaako waterfront. The city planned to shut down Mother Waldron Neighborhood Park in Kakaako for a month beginning late Tuesday night, prompting some homeless people like Al Saenz to try to sneak back into the shuttered Kakaako Waterfront Park where he started from. Star-Advertiser.

Authorities are closing another Kakaako park amid complaints about homeless encampments. Hawaii News Now.

Honolulu city officials are asking residents to give panhandlers a special business card instead of cash. Associated Press.

Honolulu falls out of the top 10 cities with highest apartment rents. The median asking rent for a two-bedroom apartment in Honolulu has fallen by 7.1 percent since January of last year, knocking Hawaii’s largest city out of the top 10 for cities with the highest rents, according to a new report by the online real estate site Zumper. Pacific Business News.

Analysis suggests Honolulu rents could be cooling off. Hawaii News Now.

Hunt, Hawaii public housing officials ink master development agreement for Mayor Wright project. Hunt Cos. and the Hawaii Public Housing Authority have signed a master development agreement for the $1.3 billion redevelopment of the Mayor Wright Homes in Honolulu, putting the 2,500-unit project on a path to a groundbreaking by the end of 2019. Pacific Business News.

Beachgoers encountered vast heaps of marine debris at Kailua Beach early Tuesday, and volunteers jumped into action to clean it up while the state and city pondered jurisdictional questions. Star-Advertiser.

Kualoa Ranch wants to expand visitor activities. After 32 years of tours and activities, Kualoa Ranch wants to make major changes to its special use permit under proposed expansion plans. KITV.

What’s Up With All The Fake Brides On Hawaii Beaches? Honolulu is full of Japanese tourists in wedding attire, but many are there just for the photos. Civil Beat.

Hawaii Island

Appeals of property values at all-time low. The Real Property Tax Review Board heard just 195 appeals last year, compared to 399 in 2016. The count hovered at about a thousand before that, with an all-time high of 1,516 cases in 2008. West Hawaii Today.

Hawaiian Springs LLC, which distributes natural artesian water from the Big Island, filed for Chapter 11 reorganization Friday as the state was wrapping up a seventh straight year of declining bankruptcy cases. Star-Advertiser.

Sex assault victim sues DLNR, fired state cop. A woman who was a minor when she was sexually assaulted by an on-duty state Department of Land and Natural Resources enforcement officer two years ago on a Hilo beach is suing the officer, since fired, and the state agency. Tribune-Herald.

The Hazards Of Swimming Near A Sewage Plant. A Big Island group documented at least 10 cases of infections contracted by people swimming near industrial sites. Civil Beat.

Tenants move into Kamakana Villages as master developer moves on. West Hawaii Today.

Leading IT professionals to descend on Big Island for HICSS conference. Pacific Business News.

Maui

Maui beachgoers say they're being pushed out — by beach chairs and cabanas. Now the state Land Department is investigating after multiple complaints. Hawaii News Now.

Popular Junk Vehicles Program On-Hold, More Funds Needed. County officials say that due to the popularity of the program, budgeted funding has been expended. Maui Now.

Commentary: The best thing you could say about Maui Mayor Alan Arakawa in 2017 was that he clearly loved his job and was willing to give it his undivided attention 24/7. MauiWatch.

Kauai

County reconsiders rental housing bill. A committee will consider adding a new article to the Lihue planning code that will encourage and accommodate the construction of additional rental units in the Lihue Planning District. Garden Island.

Making Desolate Downtown Lihue Cool Again. A $13.8 million makeover is planned for Kauai’s center of industry and government, and at least one private investor is on board in a big way. Civil Beat.

Prosecutors investigate claims Kauai homeowner killed 4 nene with BB gun. The nene are federally protected and are native to Hawaii. Hawaii News Now.

Native fishponds threatened by climate change, state budget explained, food stamp decrease on Big Island, police property seizures audit delayed, drones for Maui police, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Hawaiian saltwater fishponds ©2018 All Hawaii News

Climate change poses a looming threat to Hawaiian fishponds, which have undergone a renaissance in recent years, University of Hawaii researchers have concluded. Star-Advertiser.

Sea Level Rise Report Accepted by New State Climate Commission. Maui Now.

Hawaii tourism outlook already looking strong based on airlift numbers. 2018 will come in like a lion for the Hawaii tourism industry, based on how many airline seats will fly here just in January. Hawaii News Now.

Hawaii Is Still Waiting For An Audit Of Police Property Seizures. A report that was due before the 2017 legislative session is now expected sometime during the 2018 session. Civil Beat.

The new year is pivotal for rail, politics and the TMT. Sudden shifts at the top of the government hierarchy in Hawaii will ripple across the political landscape in 2018, starting with the marquee races for governor and lieutenant governor. Star-Advertiser.

An Inside Look At Ige’s Request For Millions More In Education Spending. It’s far less than the DOE sought, but there’s hope for “more of a focus on education” in state government. Civil Beat.

Hawaii's minimum wage went up up to $10.10 per hour starting New Year's Day. Hawaii News Now.

Commentary: Trying to understand state budget involves a whole lot of dollars, but little sense. Star-Advertiser.

Strong Close for Hawaii Bank Employees, Not Shareholders. The top five banks in the state are giving their employees bonuses of a thousand dollars or more—and boosting their minimum wages to at least 15 dollars an hour. But for shareholders, it’s a different story. Hawaii Public Radio.

Hawaii to participate in AT&T public safety network. The project, called FirstNet, will provide first responders with their own dedicated network to help them connect to the critical information. Pacific Business News.

In addition to the regular monthly test of the outdoor emergency siren on Tuesday, the state will also be conducting its attack warning siren test for the second time. Hawaii News Now.

Oahu

Kualoa Ranch plans to expand operations. A local ranch popular for its recreational activities and scenic tours wants to expand but needs city approval to lift restrictions on its operations. Star-Advertiser.

The number of building permit requests for large-scale houses on Oahu has grown in the last two months, according to an informal count provided by the city Department of Planning and Permitting. Star-Advertiser.

Why Isn’t Honolulu Helping Businesses Hurt By Rail Construction? The City Council passed two measures to aid businesses along the rail line but never provided any money. Civil Beat.

Happy New Year! Prepare to pay more in 2018 to register your car, ride the bus. Hawaii News Now.

The price of a city bus ride will rise in the new year. Effective New Year's Day, the one-way fare for adults will go up by a quarter to $2.75. Hawaii News Now.

Petitions are circulating in the community of Kailua to save Pali Lanes, a bowling alley slated for demolition early next year. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii Island

The number of food stamp recipients on Hawaii Island dropped slightly in 2017, continuing an ongoing trend for the federal program. While 37,964 people in on the Big Island benefited from the federal Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program — often referred to as food stamps — by the end of November 2016, only 37,349 did so by the same time in 2017. Tribune-Herald.

Sea level forecast alarming: Report predicts hundreds on Big Island would be displaced, great economic loss. Tribune-Herald.

Maui

The Maui Police Department received funding from the FY16 Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant to implement a Small Unmanned Aircraft Systems program. Maui Now.

The state Real Estate Commission will hold its monthly committee meetings Jan. 10 on Maui as part of its Neighbor Island outreach program. Maui News.

Kauai

Tiny houses could bring big relief. Tiny houses could be a solution for Kauai’s tense rental market, as both landlords and renters on Kauai are stressed out about keeping a roof over their heads. Garden Island.

Kauai Film Academy opens new training facility. Bright fuchsias and shades of blue are dancing out of the once-empty space next to the Kauai Society of Artists’ gallery at Kukui Grove Center. Garden Island.

Hawaii tourism setting records, audit blasts Health Department handling of disease outbreaks, U.S. Appeals Court rules fishery feds erred in allowing turtle takings, minimum wage increases, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Hula on Waikiki beach ©2017 All Hawaii News

State visitor arrivals to break 9 million mark for year. With just three days left in the year for visitors to step off planes, it’s expected that about 9.3 million tourists — a record — will have come to the state this year. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii visitor spending increases to $1.3B in November. Visitor spending in Hawaii increased 4.5 percent in November to $1.29 billion, while year-to-date spending rose 6.6 percent to $15.2 billion, according to preliminary statistics released Thursday by the Hawaii Tourism Authority. Pacific Business News.

Hawaii visitor spending, traveler numbers went up this November. Whether it's to escape the cold on the mainland or just to relax on the beach, travelers continue to choose Hawaii as their vacation destination. KITV.

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The state auditor is slamming the Health Department for failing to properly communicate with its own divisions, health responders and the public during three major disease outbreaks in Hawaii. Star-Advertiser.

Audit: Hawaii Needs To Get Its Act Together In Responding To Outbreaks. When it comes to communication and record keeping, the Health Department seems to start from scratch with each disease outbreak. Civil Beat.

Audit blasts outbreak responses. A breakdown in communication reported throughout the dengue fever outbreak on Hawaii Island between October 2015 and April 2016 were included in an audit of the Department of Health’s Disease Outbreak Control Division that was critical of several issues in the way the agency handled that and other outbreaks across the state. West Hawaii Today.

State Health Officials Criticized For Dengue Outbreak Response In Audit. The State Auditor details confusion and discord in the Department of Health during the 2015 Big Island dengue fever outbreak, as well as other outbreaks. Big Island Video News.

Audit slams state's fumbled response to 3 major outbreaks. The state Health Department experienced "communication breakdowns" and "inconsistent processes and procedures" in its response to three disease outbreaks in 2015 and 2016, a scathing new audit found. Hawaii News Now.

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Report: Most sirens worked during Hawaii warning test. A report on a Hawaii siren test that drew international attention amid a North Korea missile threat shows that 28 sirens statewide played the wrong sound or had other technical problems. Associated Press.

Come Jan. 1, Hawaii's minimum wage workers will earn more. Hawaii's minimum wage will go up to $10.10 per hour starting on New Year's Day. Hawaii News Now.

Swordfishing permit review ordered. Environmental groups that sued to protect migratory birds and endangered sea turtles are claiming victory in their challenge to the federal government’s authorization to expand the swordfish fishery for Hawaii-based longline fishing vessels. Star-Advertiser.

US Appeals Court: Feds Erred In Hawaii Fishery Expansion. Conservation groups had challenged a rule that doubled limits on how many endangered sea turtles could be accidentally hooked. Associated Press.

Hawaii Looks To Spur School Creativity With ‘Innovation Grants’. Up to $250,000 will be available for the right idea and a two-year plan to implement it. Civil Beat.

Kamehameha Schools invests $24M in community programs. Kamehameha Schools has awarded $24 million in community investment grants to support collaboration partners in more than 100 programs and projects during current fiscal year, which began July 1. Pacific Business News.

USS Wasp with F-35B makes stop on way to Japan. The amphibious assault ship USS Wasp pulled into Pearl Harbor on Thursday for a port visit on its way to Japan and the introduction of an F-35B ship-based joint strike fighter capability in the highly charged region that includes North Korea and China. Star-Advertiser.

A report on sea level rise vulnerabilities and adaptation has been released by the Hawaii Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation Commission, known as the Climate Commission, and the 304 pages are available online.  Garden Island.

Climate Change's Impact on Hawaiian Fishpond Aquaculture. New research is shedding light about what needs to be done as the cultural resource is under threat by climate change. Hawaii Public Radio.

Young Brothers names Gas Co. executive to take over as president. Young Brothers Ltd., the state’s largest interisland cargo carrier, said today it has selected Joseph Boivin as its new president. Star-Advertiser.

Oahu

New Year’s means higher taxes, fees, bus fares and minimum wage. The state and city are ringing in the new year by lightening your pocketbooks through new laws or rule changes that take effect Monday. Star-Advertiser.

Rush is on to prepay property taxes. Dozens of people waited in line for more than an hour Thursday at Honolulu Hale trying to beat an end-of-the-year deadline to save money by paying their 2017 property taxes early. Star-Advertiser.

City and County of Honolulu says bond refinancing saves taxpayers $20.7M. The City and County of Honolulu’s Department of Budget and Fiscal Services said it closed on $253 million of tax-exempt advance refunding bonds last week that will be used to refinance existing debt for improvements to Oahu’s wastewater system. Pacific Business News.

Leaky roofs still a problem at Honolulu airport, some say it’s getting worse. KHON2.

Kualoa Ranch plans include expanding visitors center, new buildings. Kualoa Ranch, a Windward Oahu visitor attraction that has also served as a filming location for such movies as “Jumanji” and “Jurassic World,” is planning to build a number of improvements, including an expanded visitors’ center, a new retail building, new tour depots and more than 7,000 square feet of office space. Pacific Business News.

Diamond Head Theatre redevelopment moves ahead with revised plan, new architect. Two years after launching a capital campaign to fund a redevelopment, Diamond Head Theatre is moving ahead with plans to build a new 500-seat theater building and has hired a Houston-based architecture firm that specializes in theater design. Pacific Business News.

Commentary: Did Hawaii Really Try To Thwart CNN’s Homelessness Report? The DLNR explains its reasons for not granting a permit for access to an encampment near the Waianae Boat Harbor. Civil Beat.

Hawaii Island

Allure of isle boosts tourism. Tourism numbers were strong in November — and for the year overall statewide — particularly for the Big Island. Tribune-Herald.

Kamehameha Schools Invests Nearly $7M in Hawaii Island Programs. Big Island Now.

An endangered seabird is nesting 7,000 feet above sea level on the slopes of Mauna Loa on the Big Island. Hawaii Public Radio.

Maui

Maui Visitor Spending and Arrivals Surpass 2016 Numbers. Visitor spending on Maui rose (+2.7% to $359.4 million) in November 2017, boosted by growth in visitor days (+5.8%), and visitor arrivals (+9.3% to 215,266), according to preliminary data released today by the Hawaii Tourism Authority. Maui Now.

Maui close to record-breaking visitor arrival, spending totals. Maui visitor arrivals by air were up 9.3 percent in November to 215,266 and up 3.7 percent to 2,483,686 for the year’s first 11 months. Maui News.

Reef Safe Sunscreen on Maui. There’s now a movement in Maui County to ban sunscreen containing chemicals that scientists say are harming the reefs. Hawaii Public Radio.

Kamehameha Schools Invests $1.7 M in Maui Programs. Kamehameha Schools has awarded more than $1.7 million in community investment grants to support collaboration partners on Maui, Molokai and Lanai for the current fiscal year which began July 1. Maui Now.

November home sales sizzle with strong demand. Low inventory makes it a hot sellers’ market. Maui News.

More fish, lower sashimi prices predicted. Retailers say there should be plenty for New Year’s parties. Maui News.

Kauai

Visitor spending continues climb. Kauai saw 95,900 visitors in November, an increase of 9.8 percent over November 2016. Through the first 11 months of 2017, Kauai has had 1.16 million visitors, a 7.5 percent increase over the same time frame last year. Garden Island.

Canines latest tool in effort to curb avian botulism. Avian botulism has been dropping ducks in outbreaks that have been sweeping the population since 2011 — and it’s not just koloa ducks. Garden Island.

UH pay hikes questioned, Honolulu suffers sewage spills, renters may purchase solar power, former state officials join HMSA, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

University of Hawaii at Hilo ©2017 All Hawaii News

Lawmakers question big pay hikes at UH. Some lawmakers are blasting a decision by the University of Hawaii to award $800,000 in pay raises and merit-based bonuses to university executives. Star-Advertiser.

End of tax write-off for premium seats may hit hard at UH. In good years UH has grossed as much as $4.4 million annually from its premium seat contributions and parking initiatives, or as much as 10 percent of the revenue it takes to run the 21-team athletic program in Manoa. Star-Advertiser.

The Hawaii Department of Education is thinking up new ways to attract teachers to the state to address an ongoing teacher shortage, starting with looking at teacher-exchange programs with other countries. Civil Beat.

Hawaii Medical Service Association has hired two high-profile former state employees. Kathryn Matayoshi, former superintendent of the Department of Education, was hired to lead the sales team, and former state representative Pono Chong is joining Hawaii’s largest health plan as a lobbyist. Star-Advertiser.

A new Community-Based Renewable Energy program is designed to open the door for people previously shut out of the solar market. Hawaii’s long-awaited Community-Based Renewable Energy Program is designed to let residents, including renters, buy their electricity from off-site producers of renewable power. Civil Beat.

Rental Housing Report. A recent study that tracks rental housing across the country throws some light on the plight of families in Honolulu and Hilo as they struggle to make rent spending more than a third of their salary for housing. Hawaii Public Radio.

Filing error overvalues Island Air's assets. Hawaiian Holdings Inc. (Nasdaq: HA), the parent of Hawaiian Airlines, last week agreed to pay $750,000 for the assets of its now defunct competitor. Due to the filing error, Hawaiian will now only have to pay $625,000. Pacific Business News.

The Rat Lungworm Task Force. The State Department of Health has created a Rat Lungworm Task Force to look at this daunting disease. Hawaii Public Radio.

Oahu

Suits Against Honolulu Cops Cite ‘Culture Of Silence’ At HPD. An attorney says the incidents that injured his clients could have been prevented if officers had been disciplined in the past. Civil Beat.

About 6,200 gallons of raw sewage spilled into Honolulu Harbor today after a clogged pipe caused waste water to seep out of a manhole near Pier 38, a Department of Environmental Services spokesman said. Star-Advertiser.

Oahu grapples with 3 large sewage spills over 2 days. Hawaii News Now.

Homeowner at center of Portlock beach access debate suffers stroke and wife blames city. Hawaii News Now.

A former employee at Waianae's largest medical facility has been indicted for the alleged theft of thousands of boxes of diabetic test strips that were later sold on the black market. Hawaii News Now.

A 69-year-old woman accused of stealing millions of dollars from an Oahu non-profit pleaded not guilty in court Tuesday. Lola Jean Amorin is accused of taking $7 million from stealing millions of dollars from an Oahu non-profit pl The Arc in Hawaii, a non-profit that provides services for those with intellectual and developmental disabilities. KITV.

Efforts are underway to save the Falls of Clyde. A year and a half after she was impounded by the state Harbors Division, the historic Falls of Clyde may be heading home to her birthplace of Scotland this summer. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii DLNR

Albatross colony at Kaena Point gets new life. Conservationists last week teamed up with the U.S. Navy to translocate 21 Laysan albatross eggs to Kaena Point Natural Area Reserve from the Pacific Missile Range Facility on Kauai. Star-Advertiser.

For aircraft safety (and theirs), 21 albatross eggs relocated to Oahu. Twenty-one fertilized Laysan albatross eggs have been taken from a colony on Kauai, where the protected birds are an aircraft strike hazard. Hawaii News Now.

One of the state’s largest charities is worried it will have less money to help those in need next year because of tax changes that take effect next month. KHON2.

Honolulu-based Hawaiian Islands Land Trust will honor Henk Rogers and Blue Planet Foundation, the clean energy nonprofit he founded, at its 17th annual Buy Back the Beach: Malama Kipuka Benefit Luau on Jan. 20. Pacific Business News.

Paradise Park founder had knack for numbers and real estate. James Wong is probably most known for establishing Paradise Park in Manoa Valley. But he also developed real estate on Oahu, taught accounting at Chaminade College and in recent years lobbied for bills at the Legislature to improve affordable-housing production. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii Island

Five Big Island regions are especially vulnerable to contamination from cesspools, a state report says. The Dec. 19 report to the Legislature by the Department of Health says the Big Island is home to more than half of the state’s 87,900 cesspools, and has five of the 14 areas prioritized for cleanup. West Hawaii Today.

A driver’s insurance policy should cover the cost of replacing approximately 15 headstones damaged or destroyed after a vehicle plowed into Hilo’s Alae Cemetery last week, according to the Hawaii County Department of Parks and Recreation. But the department is still asking family members to call so they can help replace the grave markers. Tribune-Herald.

Maui

Adult Correction Officer Recruitment Opens on Maui. Maui Now.

November home sales sizzle with strong demand. Low inventory makes it a hot sellers’ market. Maui News.

Lost funding has put brakes on local Read Aloud program. Cost cutting has led to loss of vans, use of U-Haul vehicles. Maui News.

1,275 Rocks Returned to Haleakala in 2017. Letters of apology to Pele, the Hawaiian goddess of fire and volcanoes, often accompany these rocks. Maui Now.

Kauai

Coastline changes. While geologists say shifting sands aren’t unusual, it’s a prediction of what could be coming in the next few decades and scientists say long-term studies of the area are necessary. Garden Island.

Expedia Travel featured Lihue as one of the best vacation destinations in America to escape the winter, mainly because its average temperatures in January reach a warm 78 degrees and drop to a comfortable 65 degrees. Garden Island.

Officials mull private prison partnerships, Finance Director Machida to retire, local banks share tax savings with employees, entangled humpback freed off Maui, homeless problems persist, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Hawaii Community Correctional Center ©2017 All Hawaii News

State prison officials consider private partnerships. State prison officials are asking lawmakers for $1 million to study the potential for forming “public-private partnerships” that could be used to help expand and modernize the crowded state correctional system. Star-Advertiser.

State Finance Director Machida to retire, following 2 surgeries. State Director of Finance Wesley Machida, who has served as the state’s budget director since 2014 and previously led the state’s $16 billion public employees pension fund, will retire effective New Year’s Eve. Star-Advertiser.

Gov. Ige Makes Two Cabinet Appointments. The governor named a temporary replacement for the outgoing State Budget Director, and a new head for the Human Resources Development Department. Civil Beat.

‘From Bad To Worse:’ Hawaii’s $1.75 Billion Cesspool Problem. The risks posed by the state’s 88,000 remaining cesspools will likely be amplified by climate change. Civil Beat.

Reducing liability for rescue tube landowners. The threat of being sued may be stopping lifesaving equipment from getting to the waters edge, where it is needed the most. KITV.

Local banks to save millions from corporate tax cut. Hawaii’s four largest banks gave unexpected stocking stuffers to employees over the long holiday weekend in the form of bonuses and minimum wage increases. Star-Advertiser.

Four Hawaii banks raise minimum wage, award cash bonuses. Pacific Business News.

Price for Island Air’s assets to be reduced by $125,000. The sale of Island Air’s operating certificate and other assets is not going to generate as much money from Hawaiian Airlines’ parent company as initially expected. Star-Advertiser.

Oahu

Obama a sight on Oahu this holiday season. Unlike the eight years Obama spent in the Oval Office, there are no machine gun-mounted boats patrolling the waters off of Kailua this year. And there have been no presidential motorcades to snarl Oahu traffic. Star-Advertiser.

HECO asks for $6 million more from the state PUC. Hawaiian Electric Co. is asking the state Public Utilities Commission for slightly more than the 2.5 percent base-rate increase that was approved Dec. 15. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaiian Electric files motion with state regulators to recover pension contributions. Pacific Business News.

Honolulu Police Try Building More Trust With The Homeless. In a new program, officers work with outreach workers to help steer the homeless to services rather than just write tickets. Civil Beat.

In just two years Christina Bush has solicited donations through Facebook and Instagram that have generated thousands of dollars’ worth of new and used donations for hundreds of homeless and low-income children and families across Oahu while building a small but loyal group of volunteers. Star-Advertiser.

Can Hawaii end homeless crisis for good? There's a new push to make affordable housing a reality. It's called the Puuhonua Villages Bill -- and the idea would tackle the homeless crisis head-on. KITV.

Councilwoman: Giant treehouse in Manoa is site of illegal 'retreat'. A Christmas Day accident at a Manoa treehouse is renewing calls by neighbors to investigate the landowner. Hawaii News Now.

Wastewater discharges prompt advisories for Pauoa, Kailua. The state health department advises the public to stay out of the waters of Pauoa Stream from Olomana Lane to Hialoa Street bridge due to wastewater discharge. Star-Advertiser.

The badly decomposed carcass of a humpback whale that nearly washed ashore at Haleiwa on Christmas Day, is in the process of being towed out to deep ocean waters this afternoon, according to the state Department of Land and Natural Resources. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii Island

County negotiates state approval to move forward with permanent homeless development. Hawaii County continues to move forward with plans to relocate Camp Kikaha out of the Old Kona Industrial Area and expand it to accommodate several hundred homeless on a permanent basis — but both the process and pace of that change have been altered in recent weeks. West Hawaii Today.

Rarest of the rare: Colony of endangered seabirds discovered at PTA. In a discovery that surprised researchers, a nest of the endangered band-rumped storm-petrel has been found at nearly 7,000 feet above sea level on Mauna Loa, making it the seabird’s only confirmed colony in the state. Tribune-Herald.

Rat lungworm disease can be devastating. The overwhelming majority of cases have been on Hawai'i Island. State legislators on that island have made several requests to fund ongoing research and outreach efforts at the UH Hilo College of Pharmacy and Hilo Medical Center. In the last legislative session, funds WERE allocated—but not to institutions on the Big Island. Hawaii Public Radio.

UH-Hilo pharmacy study could have nationwide impact. A University of Hawaii at Hilo study designed to decrease medicine-related re-hospitalizations of older adults is garnering national attention. Tribune-Herald.

Maui

Maui Ag Shipments Down 65% in Third Quarter. Young Brothers, Limited announced that intrastate cargo volumes between Honolulu and six neighbor island ports increased 0.3% in the third quarter of 2017, compared to the same time last year. Maui Now.

Meeting to discuss administrative rules for harbors planned. Maui News.

Unemployment rates in county at historic lows. Maui News.

Whale freed off Lahaina. Adult humpback had been entangled in 340 feet of heavy line. Maui News.

Entangled Humpback Whale Freed Off Maui. An entangled adult humpback whale was freed by a team of trained responders off Lahaina, Maui on Christmas Day. Maui Now.

Kauai

Debris threatens whales. A buoy is floating about 200 yards offshore at Ahukini Landing, seemingly snagged on something in the water below. Garden Island.