Kilauea ponds rising, Coast Guard getting two new ships, solar wing to soar above Lanai, newspaper charged $1M for public records, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Geologist studies water found at Kilauea volcano PC:USGS

Water ponds observed at the bottom of Kilauea's Halemaumau crater are now joined, as scientists keep a close watch on the activity. Observations on Saturday afternoon (Aug. 10) show that the water level at the bottom of Halemaumau continues to slowly rise, enlarging the area of the pond, scientists reported. Big Island Video News.

More Hawaii Students Are Leaving The State For College. The percentage of Hawaii kids choosing out-of-state schools is significantly higher than the national average. Civil Beat.

Hawaii bankruptcies reach highest level in 5 years. The 142 filings last month were 37.9% higher than 103 in the year-ago period, according to recent data from the U.S. Bankruptcy Court District of Hawaii. Star-Advertiser.

Agency sets high price for inmate release records. Hawaii’s Department of Public Safety said it would cost more than $1 million for it to release data related to its long-standing problem with keeping inmates locked up beyond their scheduled release dates. Star-Advertiser.

State IT Team Receives National Achievement Award. The tech support office team at the Hawaii House of Representatives was recognized with a national award last week for outstanding performance on the job. Big Island Now.

Coast Guard ramps up in Hawaii with 2 new ships. The Coast Guard in Honolulu is getting a second new $670 million national security cutter, a third new fast-response cutter and is taking part in a new operating concept in American Samoa that the service’s commandant said is part of a “doubling down” of capability in Oceania between Hawaii and Australia. Star-Advertiser.

Oil is the reason for the biggest changes this year in the Top 250 Hawaii businesses. The annual ranking of Hawaii’s largest organizations is based on gross sales during the previous year. Hawaii Business Magazine.

Oahu

Car sharing expanding on Oahu. The city plans to start dedicating the first of 80 on-street and another 80 municipal parking lot spots next year for an infant “carshare” industry that’s gaining traction in Honolulu. Star-Advertiser.

Tourists Scramble As Oahu Vacation Rentals Disappear Under New Law. Amid mass Airbnb cancellations, one local bride said two of her bridesmaids can no longer attend her wedding. Civil Beat.

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Work would desecrate Waimanalo site, foes say. Activists opposed to the construction of a new playground and sports field at Waimanalo Bay Beach Park are now tying their struggle to the protests against the proposed Thirty Meter Telescope on Mauna Kea. Star-Advertiser.

Dozens rally to "Save Our Sherwoods". Members of Save Our Sherwoods rallied Sunday to remind the city they're upset about a plan to convert part of Sherwood Forest into a sports complex. KITV.

Protest at ‘Turtle Beach’ underscores tensions between residents, tour buses. A group of residents from Oahu’s North Shore held homemade signs along Kamehameha Highway at Laniakea Beach, saying that heavy traffic and unsafe conditions there must come to an end. Hawaii News Now.

Some North Shore residents hold protest at Laniakea, ask for safety and solutions. Lawmakers and residents say they want solutions for the traffic situation and are urging the state to make the area safe. KHON2.

North Shore residents rallied for more safety measures along Laniakea Beach. They want to stop cars from parking on Kamehameha Highway fronting the beach and have concrete barriers re-installed. KITV.

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‘Safe house’ to become affordable housing for abused. The keys to Honolulu Prosecutor Keith Kaneshiro’s controversial “safe house” in Makiki will soon be turned over to the city Department of Community Services, ending a rocky three-year existence for a facility that became a lightning rod of controversy from the time it opened. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii Island

Gabbard pays visit to protest site, questions TMT plans. U.S. Rep. Tulsi Gabbard toured the protest camp on Mauna Kea on Sunday, embracing activists and visiting with kupuna, or elders, who have been camped in the roadway for four weeks. Star-Advertiser.

Nearly five weeks after leaving Mauna Kea’s summit, telescope workers rejoiced this weekend after a long-awaited return to the mountain. This weekend, researchers say they were able to collect data for the first time since July 16 when they came down due to safety concerns. Hawaii News Now.

TMT Opponents Refute Observatories After Announcement. During a news conference held on the Mauna Kea Access Road, Lanakila Mangauil responded to Friday's news that observatories would be returning to work at the summit. Big Island Video News.

Raises planned for off-duty police. Hawaii Island police officers who provide services for private companies or other government agencies on their off-time could see payment for their services go up by as much as 50% over the next two years, under a special duty pay schedule that’s the focus of upcoming public hearings. West Hawaii Today.

How Hawaii County Is Dealing With A Shortage Of Police Dispatchers. Police dispatch positions are hard to fill on the Big Island. Retaining them is a perpetual problem. Civil Beat.

Engineer: Restoration of water to lower Puna not feasible. The county Department of Water Supply has no current plans to restore water service to Kapoho and the area around Pohoiki as lower Puna continues to recover from the 2018 eruption of Kilauea volcano, but was not “shutting the door” on a possible restoration in the future. Tribune-Herald.

With new law in effect, albizia fight continues. A spokeswoman for the Big Island Invasive Species Council said the first explorers of a new law allowing landowners to remove potentially dangerous albizia trees from neighboring properties could be community associations in Puna. Tribune-Herald.

Maui

New affordable rental community in Kihei will take applications. Kaiwahine Village holds 120 units, amenities. Maui News.

Two Maui Forest Birds Critically Endangered, Agencies Report. Populations of two native endangered species endemic to Maui have been reduced by over half spanning the past two to three decades, according to an interagency report. Hawaii Public Radio.

Kauai

‘Namahana’ gathering support. On Saturday night before a capacity crowd at Anaina Hou’s Porter Pavilion in Kilauea, a North Shore community group announced the name of the public charter middle and high school it hopes to open in three to five years. Garden Island.

Energy storage earns more awards for KIUC. Kauai Island Utility Cooperative led the nation again in 2018 for interconnection of energy storage watts per customer, and ranked second in annual energy storage capacity, according to the Smart Electric Power Alliance. Garden Island.

Lanai

Big solar wing made to expand cellphone coverage may soar above Lanai in November. A business venture aiming to launch a fleet of solar- powered flying wings into the stratosphere to one day deliver 5G cell connectivity has received permission from the Federal Aviation Administration to conduct a test flight from Lanai, possibly as early as November, officials said. Star-Advertiser.

Public asked to weigh in on Honolulu rail fares, Saiki named NCSL president-elect, Waikiki pavilions to be locked down, tilapia invasion off Kauai, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Honolulu rail construction PC:HART

HART Served More Subpoenas, Council Defers Abolishing Agency, Public Asked About Rail Fares. A few Honolulu rail employees have been served federal subpoenas, the latest in several rounds issued in the ongoing probe of the $9.2 billion rail project. Hawaii Public Radio.

Honolulu Rate Commission seeks public input on rail transit fares. Some of the topics to be covered include whether bus and rail fares should be the same, with no charge for transfers, as well as whether there should be flat rates or distance-based rates and the categories for rates. Star-Advertiser.

Honolulu Rail Officials Won’t Say Much About New Round Of Subpoenas. The latest federal orders were served to an unspecified number of HART employees. The rail agency won’t say who or how many staff members got them. Civil Beat.

State comptroller refuses to pay for setbacks blamed on the rail authority. State Comptroller Curt Otaguro is refusing to authorize payments for delay claims on the city’s rail project if the city rail authority or its consultants were to blame for the circumstances — rejecting already a total of $11.2 million in invoices. Star-Advertiser.

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China tariff increases take effect on local businesses. Tina Yamaki, president of the 200-member Retail Merchants of Hawaii, said the tariffs will affect almost every consumer product, which is especially bad for an island state where most things are imported. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii House Speaker Scott Saiki was named president-elect of the National Conference of State Legislatures in Nashville this week. Civil Beat.

Speaker Saiki Named President-Elect of NCSL. Big Island Now.

Oahu

Proposal to curb crime at Waikiki pavilion gets mixed reviews. To clean up the pavilions in the heart of Waikiki, the city plans on putting gates around them that would be locked at night. Hawaii News Now.

Former Honolulu Prosecutor Wants Court To Decide If He Can Run Again. Under the city charter, Peter Carlisle has been out of the prosecutor’s office too long to qualify for the ballot. Civil Beat.

Katherine Kealoha: Sentencing must be finalized before finding out if new trial is granted. Last month, she filed a motion for a new trial claiming her court-appointed lawyer was ineffective. KITV.

Judge Puts Chill On Lawsuit Over Pesticides At Kaneohe Marine Base Housing. Hundreds of service members alleged they should have been warned about pesticide problem at the Marine Corps Base Hawaii in Kaneohe. Civil Beat.

Legal battle over rundown Waikiki hotel comes to a head. The so-called “Ebbtide Hotel” on Kuhio Avenue has been a Waikiki eyesore for years. Hawaii News Now.

Millions more to be spent on Kakaako parks after state hands off to city. One of Hawaii’s largest transfers of park land is about to take place, when the state turns over a large portion of Kakaako makai to the city. KHON2.

Hawaii Island

Mauna Kea Scientific Toll: 2,000 Observing Hours For 400 Projects Lost. Maunakea Observatories have been been closed for three weeks now – resulting in a loss of more than a year’s worth of discoveries. Scientists say unreliable access to telescopes is preventing them from resuming operations on the summit. Hawaii Public Radio.

$1.1 million grant will help boost UH telescope. The National Science Foundation awarded a $1.1 million grant to a University of Hawaii scientist to install an advanced secondary mirror onto the university’s 2.2-meter telescope. Tribune-Herald.

The University of Hawaii’s senior adviser on Mauna Kea has another title. Greg Chun has been named executive director of Mauna Kea stewardship for UH. Hawaii News Now.

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PONC money for nonprofit boards heads to 2020 ballot. A charter proposal allowing the county to pay nonprofit board members to help maintain open space cleared its final hurdle Thursday and is headed to the 2020 ballot. West Hawaii Today.

Disciplined officer reason for closed case dismissal request. Officer misconduct apparently sidelined a police witness in a drug case, and now a judge is set to rule today on whether the defendant in the case will stand trial. West Hawaii Today.

‘Carmageddon’: Peak-hour roadwork without prior notice causes major traffic snarl. Lack of public notice about a lane-striping project that started during rush hour Thursday morning on Highway 130 between Shower Drive and Kaloli Drive in Hawaiian Paradise Park caused a massive traffic snarl that frustrated and angered Hilo-bound motorists. Tribune-Herald.

Highway 130 Restriping Brings Traffic Delays To Puna. Big Island Video News.

Maui

Police sent to Mauna Kea accumulate $68,105 in overtime. During today's city council meeting on the Valley Isle, MPD Police Chief Tivoli Faaumu testified the state is reimbursing the county to cover overtime expenses. KITV.

At a Maui County Council meeting Thursday, Maui’s police chief defended his decision to send 27 MPD officers to the Big Island last month to assist with the TMT conflict. Maui police chief defends decision to send officers to Mauna Kea. Hawaii News Now.

The administration’s long-awaited “strategic plan” for affordable/attainable housing was greeted with ridicule and dismay by several members of the Maui County Council attending the Aug. 7th meeting of the council’s Affordable Housing Committee. Maui Watch.

State working on repairing water leak at Maalaea. Harbor users concerned about lost water, also say leak a hazard. Maui News.

Community Meeting on Wailuku Town Improvements, Aug. 19. During this meeting, the department will provide information on the latest construction schedule, updates on temporary parking locations and shuttle transportation, status on the re-examination of Phase 2 of the Civic Complex, planned construction mitigation and communication efforts, and ways the public can support Wailuku Town’s businesses. Maui Now.

Kauai

Kealia subdivision EIS approved. A proposed subdivision is one step closer to fruition in Kealia, after the Land Use Commission accepted the project’s Final Environmental Impact Statement Thursday. Garden Island.

Tilapia invasion along Napali Coast concerns state officials. State officials announced Thursday they are working to stop an invasion of black-chin tilapia in the near-shore waters of the Napali Coast State Wilderness Park on Kauai. Star-Advertiser.

Introduced Tilapia Invade Kauai’s Napali Coast. The state is investigating its fish removal options in order to protect the pristine region. Civil Beat.

Tilapia invade Napali Coast. Thousands of black-chin tilapia have invaded near-shore waters in the Napali Coast State Wilderness Park on Kauai. Garden Island.

Huge schools of tilapia crowd near-shore waters on Napali Coast. Hawaii News Now.

The state calls tilapia invasion an emergency. KHON2.

Sanders out-raising Gabbard in her home state, HART employees questioned in federal probe, Mauna Kea roadblock protest costs taxpayers, Kauai advances guest house bill, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Bernie Sanders, Tulsi Gabbard campaign photos

It’s Gabbard’s Home Turf, But Sanders Is Raising More Money From Hawaii Donors. The Hawaii congresswoman is second and President Donald Trump comes in third, but many of his contributions are too small to be tallied. Civil Beat.

Lawmakers’ Financial Disclosures Don’t Always Paint A Complete Picture. Sen. Russell Ruderman, who owns health foods stores, was the only lawmaker to report more than $1 million in outside income last year. Several of his colleagues reported no income beyond their legislative salaries. Civil Beat.

Hawaii's CBD Industry Grows As State Opts To Educate Before It Imposes Fines. It's illegal in Hawaii to manufacture, distribute or sell products containing cannibidiol or CBD but that hasn't stopped businesses from setting up shop in the islands. Civil Beat.

Want To Serve On Hawaii’s Land Board? The governor is recruiting for the state Board of Land and Natural Resources. Civil Beat.

Oahu

HART employees to be questioned in federal probe. The agency overseeing construction of the city’s $9.2 billion rail system already was slammed with three federal subpoenas for records, and now several employees have been served subpoenas and asked to meet with federal investigators about possible wrongdoing and irregularities. Star-Advertiser.

Council Chair’s Proposal To Kill HART Dies Its Own Early Death. The proposed resolution would have allowed voters to decide whether to end HART, but it didn’t clear its first reading. Civil Beat.

HART budgeting to fix cracks found in West Oahu rail stations. Honolulu’s embattled rail project is already in need of repairs, and it isn’t even fully operable yet. The rail authority says it’s setting aside $10 million to fix cracks discovered at canopy arms at its West Oahu rail stations. Hawaii News Now.

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City Council once again looking at banning styrofoam containers and plastic utensils. The City Council is looking at banning single-use plastic utensils and bags. The bill passed its first reading Wednesday. If adopted, the ban could take affect as early as January. KHON2.

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Efforts re-launched to impeach Kaneshiro after e-signatures denied. If the impeachment is accomplished by December 31, the vacancy is filled by special election. KITV.

Katherine Kealoha will not get a new trial for now. U.S. District Chief Judge J. Michael Seabright on Wednesday decided not to hear a motion for a new trial before Kealoha is sentenced in October for conspiracy and obstruction of justice. Star-Advertiser.

Kealoha Suit Against City, Ethics Commission Cost Over $355K. The invoice represents only some of the city’s Kealoha-related legal costs. Civil Beat.

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Financial impacts of short term rental law. While inventory goes up, prices could be going down. KITV.

Kailua woman on a fixed income fears new vacation rental rules will have a domino effect. For the past several years, Fabienne Melchior has rented the top floor of her Kailua home to tourists, charging $160 a day. Hawaii News Now.

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Police hunting for arsonist. An arsonist, who is believed to have set three Waikiki hotel fires in three days, is still on the loose and police are asking the public’s assistance to help find a “person of interest,” whose image was captured on surveillance video taken at the scene of the crimes. Star-Advertiser.

Honolulu Authorities Seek 'Person of Interest' In Arsons At 3 Waikiki Hotels. Associated Press.

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Another Hawaiian monk seal accidentally hooked by a fisherman has been rescued, treated and released, according to federal wildlife officials. Star-Advertiser.

Local fisherman reports accidental monk seal hooking, saves the endangered animal. Once he cut the line, he called the Hawaiian monk seal response team. KITV.

Hawaii Island

More complete numbers coming for TMT-related costs. The Hawaii County Council Finance Committee on Tuesday discussed a possible financial report of the county’s expenses relating to the ongoing standoff on Maunakea, but meaningful numbers will not be available until later this month. Tribune-Herald.

Law enforcement costs associated with TMT conflict are mounting. The costs of assigning law enforcement to a protest at the base of Mauna Kea are mounting, leaving some concerned about how taxpayers will cover the tab. Hawaii News Now.

Mauna Kea Observatory’s New Instrument Stuck In Hilo. The East Asian Observatory had hoped to install its new Namakanui instrument on Mauna Kea by now, but the conflict over the Thirty Meter Telescope has altered that plan. Big Island Video News.

Frustration mounts for Mauna Kea telescopes. The existing 13 telescopes atop Mauna Kea remain shuttered and unable to function as the Thirty Meter Telescope protest continues into its fourth week at the base of the mountain. Star-Advertiser.

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Eruption recovery manager faces questions and criticism from council members. An interim strategy to help the county recover after the 2018 Kilauea volcano eruption is still being developed, but the recovery process has frustrated and concerned some county leaders and community members. Tribune-Herald.

Hawaii Council Losing Patience With Lava Recovery Process. Puna councilwoman Ashley Kierkiewicz said she is tired of the process, tired of the system, and tired of the apologies. Big Island Video News.

Council advances changes to Kona CDP. The County Council on Wednesday tightened government oversight before unanimously moving to a final reading a package of changes that some community members say will weaken the Kona Community Development Plan. West Hawaii Today.

Maui

All proceeds from former sugar land sale invested. Alexander & Baldwin’s second quarter report last week contained information on a couple of Maui projects, including the sale of the final 22 units in the 170-unit Kamalani workforce development in Kihei and the near completion of the first phase of the Hookele Shopping Center in the Maui Business Park. Maui News.

Panel: More money, more problems with wage hikes. Economic experts discuss living wage at chamber installation. Maui News.

Arson Investigation Launched, $20K Damage at Wailuku Parole Facility. Maui Now.

Kauai

Bill revising ‘guest house’ definition advances. Homeowners and landlords are one step closer to being allowed to contain kitchens in their guest houses. Garden Island.

PMRF Change of Command set for Friday. Pacific Missile Range Facility, Barking Sands, will hold a change-of-command ceremony Friday at the hangar bay on base. Garden Island.

Capt. Vincent Johnson leaves as commander of PMRF. Sitting on the shady Shenanigan’s patio days before the change of command at Pacific Missile Range Facility, Capt. Vincent Johnson said he’s not ready to say goodbye to the island he’s grown to love. Garden Island.

Poll: Majority support Thirty Meter Telescope, Air China suspending Hawaii flights amid trade war, state Democratic chairwoman resigns, Honolulu to mull single-use plastics ban, Kauai judge to rule on vacation rental ban, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Tourists view telescopes on Mauna Kea ©2019 All Hawaii News

Civil Beat Poll: Strong Support For TMT But Little Love For Ige. Two-thirds of Hawaii voters polled want the telescope built on Mauna Kea. But Native Hawaiians and residents under 50 were more likely to oppose the project. Civil Beat.

Exploring the Native Hawaiian Belief in the Sacredness of Mauna Kea. According to some Hawaiians, Mauna Kea is the gateway to the heavens. Hawaii Public Radio.

Employees of existing telescopes say they’re ‘collateral 'damage’ in TMT conflict. For a fourth week, the existing telescopes atop Mauna Kea are sitting idle. Technicians say they can’t get reliable access to them. Hawaii News Now.

Local contractors lose revenue during Mauna Kea demonstrations. Local construction companies are seeing a slump in business since demonstrations began on Mauna Kea. According to Mauna Kea Observatories scheduled projects on the summit are on hold for now. KITV.

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Air China to suspend Beijing-Hawaii flights amid escalating US-China trade war. The announcement came at a sensitive time in U.S.-China relations as the world’s two biggest economy are locked in a year-long trade war. KITV.

Tough Laws, Cultural Differences Give Hawaii A Low Rate Of Gun Violence. A recently passed “red flag law” is expected to help keep Hawaii’s per capita rates of gun deaths one of the lowest in the country. Civil Beat.

Caldwell, other mayors across the nation ask Senate for stricter gun safety legislation They're calling for stronger background checks for anyone buying a firearm. KITV.

Gov. Ige Extends Homelessness Disaster Emergency. Homelessness is still cause for a state of emergency in Hawaii, as declared again by Gov. David Ige on Tuesday, Aug. 6, 2019. Big Island Now.

Tulsi Gabbard’s presidential campaign is interrupted by National Guard service. Hawaii Congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard will be in Indonesia for two weeks for National Guard training, ABC News reported, disrupting her campaign for the presidency at a time when Gabbard is struggling to make the third Democratic primary debates in September. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii Democratic Party Chair Leaves To Run AARP. Kealii Lopez took over running the party last year, winning the election over the progressive’s choice. Civil Beat.

The US Military Wants To Coordinate Health Care Solutions In Pacific Islands. The Indo-Pacific Command is partnering with the University of Hawaii to improve health care outcomes in the Pacific islands. Civil Beat.

Oahu

City Council bill aims to ban single-use plastics. Expect Oahu business organizations and environmental groups to once again battle it out over a proposal to rid food service establishments of single-use plastics — from takeout containers, utensils and straws to carry-out bags. Star-Advertiser.

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Vacation rental citations coming, Mayor Caldwell says. City officials Tuesday said they will be issuing notices to violators of the new vac­ation rental law, despite saying Monday that no notices had been issued due to a pending lawsuit. Star-Advertiser.

'We Are Going To Be Enforcing,' Says Caldwell On Vacation Rental Law. The City and County of Honolulu will enforce its new vacation rental law, despite an ongoing legal challenge. Hawaii Public Radio.

City: Number of illegal vacation rentals has dropped sharply in wake of new law. Since the city approved a new law aimed at regulating short-term vacation rentals, the number of illegal rentals on Oahu has dropped sharply, city officials say. Hawaii News Now.

City cites problem in sending short-term rental notices of violation. The city is in the process of issuing notices of violation for those breaking the new vacation rental law. KHON2.

Hickam airman rebuffs flak for speaking Spanish in uniform. A 27-year-old Air Force senior airman’s shock at getting a rebuke for speaking Spanish in uniform in a Starbucks near Hickam and her subsequent stand against discrimination have gained some fervent support on social media. Star-Advertiser.

State to install 4 raised crosswalks on Farrington Highway in Waianae. The state will install four raised crosswalks on Farrington Highway near Waianae High to slow traffic in the area. Hawaii News Now.

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Oahu home prices hit new highs. New median sale price high marks were set for single-family houses at $835,000 and for condominiums at $461,500, according to Honolulu Board of Realtors data released Tuesday. Star-Advertiser.

Median price of single-family home on Oahu shatters old record. Hawaii News Now.

Single-family home sales, prices rise in July. KHON2.

Hawaii Island

One Year After Eruption End, Residents Still Find Recovery Difficult. People from Leilani Estates and Kapoho shared their frustration during public testimony before the County Council on Tuesday. Big Island Video News.

Scientists say water in Halemaumau crater heated by volcano. Temperature readings taken during the weekend show that a growing pool of water in the crater, the former home of a popular lava lake, is about 158 degrees. Associated Press.

Maui

Meeting in Paia on Short-Term Rental Home Limits. The Planning and Sustainable Land Use Committee will meet Wednesday at 6 p.m. at the Paiia Community Center regarding transient accommodations on Maui’s North Shore, Committee Chair Tamara Paltin announced. Maui Now.

UPW places ad that is critical of current hospital management. Maui Health System ‘surprised’ by union action, says its hospitals providing ‘excellent care. Maui News.

Maui businesses and agencies add up losses after recent wildfires. Maui’s recent wildfires are taxing county resources while also taking a toll on businesses and community groups that suffered serious damage. Hawaii News Now.

Kauai

Judge to rule in TVR case. The Kauai County Planning Department may be on the verge of losing its legal battle against the owners of vacation rental homes who refused to stop operations after their permits were revoked two years ago. Garden Island.

Chinese tourism drops, Kauai missile range preps for action, college credit for protesting, Thirty Meter Telescope readies Mauna Kea alternative, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Tourists visit rocky Hawaii beach ©2019 All Hawaii News

Chinese Tourism To Hawaii Is On The Decline, Is The Trade War To Blame? Recently released data from the Hawaii Tourism Authority shows that Chinese visitor arrivals dropped 25 percent in the first half of 2019. Hawaii Public Radio.

The Aloha State holds the lowest rate of gun violence in the nation. Hawaii also has some of the strictest gun laws. KITV.

Civil Rights Groups Call Out Hawaii DOE. Two local civil rights organizations have called upon the Hawaii Department of Education to reform its suspension policies after alleging a suspension pattern unfavorable toward students with disabilities. Big Island Now.

Teacher shortage: About 600 classrooms staffed by long-term substitutes. DOE is working with the University of Hawaii to retain local graduated and teachers. KITV.

Wet and humid conditions expected as Flossie passes north of the state. Wet and humid conditions are anticipated across the state through midweek due to a combination of light winds and deep tropical moisture pooling northward from Post-Tropical Cyclone Flossie. KHON2.

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UH Will Allow Students To Earn Credit While Protesting TMT. Professors are still working out the details, such as whether students will be allowed to Skype into class discussions. Civil Beat.

List of UH professors offering courses at TMT protest camp on Mauna Kea grows. The list of University of Hawaii professors offering classes at a TMT protest camp on Mauna Kea started last week ― and is rapidly growing. Hawaii News Now.

TMT not giving up on Hawaii. Thirty Meter Telescope officials insisted Monday that news of their Canary Islands building permit application does not mean they’re giving up on Hawaii. Star-Advertiser.

Giant Telescope Consortium To Seek Spain Building Permit. The director of a Spanish research center says an international consortium that planned to build a giant telescope on Hawaii's tallest peak has decided to seek a permit for an alternative site in the Canary Islands. Associated Press.

TMT moves forward with building permit request for ‘plan B’ site. The group behind the Thirty Meter Telescope plans to apply for a permit to build on the Canary Islands, its second choice for the project after Maunakea. Tribune-Herald.

Environmentalists in Canary Islands: We’ll seek legal action to stop TMT from coming here. Ben Magec - Ecologistas en Acción, an environmentalist group based in the Canary Islands, says it plans to seek legal action to stop the $1.4 billion telescope from being built on the island La Palma. Hawaii News Now.

Mauna Kea Day 22 – Canary Islands TMT Option Stirs Debate. Big Island Video News.

2 state senators urge TMT to abandon Mauna Kea. State Sens. Kai Kahele and Kurt Fevella each made formal offerings to show their respect for the kupuna, or senior protesters, on Mauna Kea Monday, and both said the Thirty Meter Telescope should give up on the effort to build on the mountain. Star-Advertiser.

Exploring the Native Hawaiian Belief in the Sacredness of Mauna Kea. Many native Hawaiians who oppose the construction of the planned Thirty-Meter Telescope on Mauna Kea say the mountain is sacred. Hawaii Public Radio.

Oahu

City not issuing vacation rental violations. The city Department of Planning and Permitting has not issued any violation notices tied to the new vacation rental ordinance due to a pending lawsuit, a city official said Monday. Star-Advertiser.

Kealoha corruption case exposes lack of available court-appointed attorneys. Katherine Kealoha has had a long list of attorneys since the FBI started investigating the former Honolulu deputy prosecutor. Hawaii News Now.

Who Is Earle Partington And What’s He Doing In The Kealoha Case? The longtime Honolulu attorney reveals his colorful — some say questionable — legal style and substance in an interview. Civil Beat.

Prices for Oahu homes, condos hit new records in July.  The single-family home price, an increase of 6% from July 2018, eclipsed the previous record of $813,000 set in September, according to the report by Locations. Pacific Business News.

Hawaii Island

Pond of water is found in Kilauea crater for first time. For the first time in recorded history, a pond of water has been discovered inside the summit crater of Hawaii’s Kilauea Volcano, a development that could signal a shift to a more explosive phase of future eruptions. Associated Press.

The Office of Environmental Quality Control has received a draft analysis for the county’s planned emergency shelter and an affordable rental project in Kailua-Kona. The assessment covers both Kukuiola, the homeless emergency shelter formerly called Village 9, as well as an affordable rental community. West Hawaii Today.

500 new computers coming: Council to vote Wednesday on PC purchase plan. West Hawaii Today.

Draft general plan review to come out Friday. The county’s Planning Department said it will release a draft of the general plan, which is used to guide land use and development on the island, this Friday. West Hawaii Today.

Maui

Maui Is Taking This Clean Water Legal Fight All The Way — Some Say Too Far. The Maui wastewater case has far-reaching ramifications for the nation’s rivers, lakes and oceans. And it’s headed to a Trump-packed Supreme Court. Civil Beat.

Second Circuit Court Expands Self-Help Center Hours.  The center located at Hoapili Hale in Wailuku will be open Mondays and Thursdays from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Maui Now.

Kauai

Kauai might host missile tests. The Pacific Missile Range Facility on Kauai could play a key role in the testing of multiple versions of the missiles — possibly as early as November — as well as with hypersonic missiles also being developed, defense experts said. Star-Advertiser.

Navy Commander visits Kauai. Rear Adm. Robert Chadwick, commander, Navy Region Hawaii, visited the sailors at Pacific Missile Range Facility, Barking Sands, Kauai, for the first time, July 26. Garden Island.

Meeting to review definition of ‘guest house’. The County Council Planning Committee on Wednesday will review a draft bill updating the definition of a guest house to include a kitchen. Garden Island.

Kauai condo prices jump 33% in July. The median price of a condo on Kauai in July was $630,000, which was 32.63% higher than the median price a year ago, which was $475,000. Pacific Business News.

Thirty Meter Telescope almost 20% done, UH Board of Regents approves group to study Mauna Kea management, money in politics, police salaries, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Tropical Depression Flossie at 5 a.m. Aug. 5 NOAA

Tropical Depression Flossie Continues to Weaken. At 5 a.m., Tropical Depression Flossie was located about 155 miles E of Hilo and 225 mile ESE of Hana, Maui (near latitude 19.7 North, longitude 152.7 West). Maui Now.

Tropical Depression Flossie expected to bring high surf, heavy rain and thunderstorms. KHON2.

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TMT almost 20% done: Despite ongoing protest on Maunakea, work continues around the world. Although no construction equipment has been able to ascend Maunakea for three weeks due to the ongoing protest by some Native Hawaiians, the Thirty Meter Telescope is nearly 20% complete. Tribune-Herald.

UH Board of Regents Approve Forming Investigative Group For Mauna Kea. A new University of Hawaiʻi Board of Regents group will be investigating the school's role in managing Mauna Kea. Hawaii Public Radio.

Fact-Checking Environmental Concerns About The Thirty Meter Telescope. TMT officials say the world’s largest telescope will be a zero-waste facility, while the state has determined  it doesn’t pose a risk to the Big Island’s water supply. Civil Beat.

Claims about TMT’s impact on watershed are just plain false, according to expert, EIS. The most vocal opposition to the Thirty Meter Telescope project has come from the perspective of the rights of indigenous people and the cultural significance of the site. Tribune-Herald.

Mauna Kea protests seen as generational shift, pivot point. As they enter their fourth week, the protests against the Thirty Meter Telescope are beginning to look like something new and powerful in Hawaii politics, a magnetic and growing movement that has captivated thousands, including even some committed Hawaiian supporters of the TMT. Star-Advertiser.

Mauna Kea Radio Broadcasts Defy FCC. A low power radio station broadcasting from the base of Mauna Kea is just one of the many media efforts supporting the opposition to the Thirty Meter Telescope. Big Island Video News.

Conflict on Mauna Kea 'Where it Stands’ mini-documentary. The conflict on Mauna Kea is about to enter its fourth week with no end in sight. Hawaii News Now.

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Hawaii’s homegrown teachers step up to the plate as efforts target teacher shortage. As students head back to public schools across Hawaii today, the first cadre of newly licensed teachers in the “Grow Our Own” initiative are stepping to the front of their classrooms. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii Efforts To Stop Youth Vaping Stalls As Use Increases. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention ranks Hawaii number two among states for children grades 6 to 12 who are vaping. Hawaii Public Radio.

$2.7B Weinberg Foundation re-balancing Hawaii real estate empire. Recently, leaders of the Baltimore-based Harry & Jeanette Weinberg Foundation have made major changes to the organization’s Hawaii operations, leading some local business leaders to worry whether the foundation’s historic role in the state would be diminished. Star-Advertiser.

Oahu

Councilwoman’s use of city funds to pay PR firm is scrutinized. Honolulu City Councilwoman Heidi Tsuneyoshi is using her taxpayer-funded Council contingency account to pay a Honolulu public relations and advertising firm for community and media outreach and marketing. Star-Advertiser.

Rail Faces More Uncertainty As Council Leader Tries To Abolish HART. After years of missteps it’s time for the rail agency to be replaced by city control, Honolulu’s City Council chairman argues. HART says that’ll only make things worse. Civil Beat.

DHHL land deal under fire. Two parties are raising questions about the commission practice of turning over land from the department’s 203,000-acre land trust to nonbeneficiaries, typically through long-term leases or short-term rights of entry. Star-Advertiser.

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In wake of pedestrian crash, state to look at building parking for Laniakea Beach Park. Under pressure from the North Shore community, the state Department of Transportation said it will now look at moving parts of Kamehameha Highway near Laniakea Beach inland to provide limited parking on the makai side of the highway. Hawaii News Now.

Laniakea task force urges state to improve pedestrian safety. Members of the Laniakea Task Force are urging the state to prioritize adjustments to Kamehameha Highway to help avoid future accidents like the one involving a 10-year-old boy just days ago. Star-Advertiser.

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Hawaii Salary Database 2020: We’re Kicking Off This Year’s Report With HPD. A legal challenge by the police union held up release of officers’ names for years but a recent court ruling found disclosure is required under public records law. Civil Beat.

Fort Street Mall satellite city hall relocating to bigger location. The city says the location will close this coming Friday and will reopen Monday around the corner at the Chinatown Gateway Plaza. Hawaii News Now.

Hawaii Island

Money in politics: Lawmakers fundraise during legislative session. Elections are more than a year away — and for some senators three years away — but that hasn’t kept state lawmakers from holding fundraisers during the legislative session and collecting money from the very people who are trying to influence their votes. West Hawaii Today.

DLNR declines settlement offer for grave damage. More than a year after the state Department of Land and Natural Resources sought to fine the Edwin C. Olson Trust No. 2 for damage allegedly done to a plantation camp cemetery by heavy machinery, a settlement still has not been reached. Tribune-Herald.

New marketplace to open next year. A larger Safeway being built as part of the Niumalu Marketplace is on track to open up in summer 2020, the project’s developers said Wednesday. West Hawaii Today.

More than the mountain: New tours offered to fill stargazing gaps. Big Island tour companies are increasingly learning not to put all their eggs in one basket, as even temporary closures of Hawaii Volcanoes National Park and the Maunakea summit play havoc with tour groups’ plans. West Hawaii Today.

University of Washington starting physician assistant program in Hawaii. The UW School of Medicine’s MEDEX physician assistant program is investing up to $1 million to open a training center at the former Kaiser Permanente Clinic in Kailua-Kona. Star-Advertiser.

Maui

HIOSH ordered Maui Police Department to conduct internal investigation. The letter states that MPD had until July 30th to conduct an internal investigation. KITV.

New Partner Joins Maui-Based Consulting Firm. Skog Rasmussen LLC, a Maui-based consulting firm, announced that Melissa Unemori Hampe has joined the firm as a partner. Maui Now.

Fire fully contained; work to quell hot spots in 5,300-acre Pukalani blaze will continue. Maui News.

Kauai

An infrastructure project to replace the Hanapepe River Bridge is well behind schedule, and construction has been at a virtual standstill for months. Garden island. Construction on a replacement for the 80-year-old bridge began earlier this year, and already the project has been delayed five or six months, said Larry Dill, district engineer with the state Department of Transportation. Garden Island.

Bridge meeting set. The state Department of Transportation, in cooperation with the Federal Highway Administration and WW Clyde and Co., has scheduled a public meeting to provide an update on the construction of the Hanapepe River Bridge replacement. Garden Island.

One tropical storm down, one to go, Honolulu vacation rental law spurs lawsuits, wildfire scorches 2,500 acres on Maui, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Tropical Storm Flossie 5 a.m. Aug. 2 NOAA

Tropical Storm Erick passes south of Big Island as Flossie nears Central Pacific. though Tropical Storm Erick continued to weaken overnight on its path south of the islands, it brings with it a plethora of adverse weather conditions. Star-Advertiser.

Flossie maintained strength as a tropical storm and is expected to cross into the Central Pacific on Friday, forecasters say. At 5 a.m. Friday, the National Hurricane Center said Flossie — still packing winds of 70 mph or higher — was about 1,145 miles east of Hilo and moving west-northwest near 17 mph. Hawaii News Now.

Tropical Storm Erick weakens while Tropical Storm Flossie maintains strength. KHON2.

Tropical Storm Flossie moving fast but will slowly weaken as it approaches the islands. Flossie has winds at 70 mph. KITV.

Erick rapidly weakening south of the Big Island. Moisture associated with Erick will spread over portions of the Hawaiian Islands through Saturday. KITV.

Experts say look long term when taking precautions for upcoming storms. That will keep you prepared for the long hurricane season. KHON2.

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‘Success’ bonus sparks criticism about use of taxpayer money. The board of the Hawaii Strategic Development Corp. approved a “success bonus” of at least $52,827 for the government agency’s outgoing President Karl Fooks in June, raising concerns in the Legislature as to whether the unusual payment for a public-sector worker was an appropriate use of government funds. Star-Advertiser.

Head Start Preschool Program In Hawaii Gets Federal Boost. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services will award nearly $10 million to three Hawaii nonprofits that operate the Head Start preschool program. Civil Beat.

Thirty Meter Telescope supporters Thursday rallied at the state Capitol for the second week in a row, and like last week, they were greeted by a sizable group of TMT opponents. Star-Advertiser.

Oahu

City’s new vacation rental law faces at least 2 legal challenges. The city’s new law regulating the vacation rental industry went into effect Thursday and is already facing two legal challenges. Hawaii News Now.

Vacation rental operators file suit against the city. The Hawaii Vacation Rental Owners Association filed a lawsuit in U.S. District Court today against the city over its new law prohibiting advertising of unpermitted short-term vacation rentals. Star-Advertiser.

Oahu new law in effect, banning unpermitted short-term vacation rentals. A group of vacation rental owners calls the rule 'unconstitutional' and filed a lawsuit against the city. KITV.

Short-Term Rental Owners Consider Options: Lease, Sell Or Leave It Vacant? Early indications suggest the legislation is working as intended to limit tourists in residential areas and make units available to residents. Civil Beat.

Measuring Tourism Impacts in Windward  Oahu. University of Hawaii researchers are asking how precisely are visitors affecting local neighborhoods – like those in Windward Oahu. Hawaii Public Radio.

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City and state officials missed a Wednesday deadline to reach an agreement that would have given them access to $220 million in federal funding to shore up the Ala Wai Canal and its watershed to protect Waikiki and several other Oahu neighborhoods from flooding. Star-Advertiser.

Moderately priced units in a planned Kakaako condo is attracting many buyers. All the affordable condos — one- and two-bedroom units with 511 to 799 square feet of living space — are reserved for Hawaii residents with moderate incomes and are priced from $312,600 to $657,100. Star-Advertiser.

Hale Nani health care workers to strike Friday. About 200 health care workers at Hale Nani Rehabilitation & Nursing Center are expected to participate in a one-day strike Friday over low wages and understaffing. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii Island

UH regents to discuss Maunakea group. The University of Hawaii Board of Regents is expected to hear a motion this morning to consider the formation of a group that would advise the board on issues related to the university’s governance of Maunakea. Tribune-Herald.

University of Hawaii President David Lassner has been one of the Thirty Meter Telescope’s most vocal supporters. But in a recent interview Lassner said he’s struggling with how the project is dividing the university and broader community. Hawaii News Now.

Puna community mulls six possible bus hub sites. More than two dozen people gathered Wednesday night in Pahoa to discuss the merits of six locations identified around the community for a proposed bus hub. Tribune-Herald.

Maui

Pukalani Fire Scorches 2,500 Acres, Pulehu Still Closed. Maui Now.

Maui firefighters were battling flames and difficult weather conditions Thursday night as they scrambled to bring a large brush fire in Pukalani under control. Hawaii News Now.

Brush fire near Pukalani, more than 2,500 acres burned. Pulehu Road is closed at Hansen Road and at Omaopio Road due to the fire. KITV.

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All 19 West Maui beaches sampled are ‘impaired’. All 19 sampled beaches in West Maui are “impaired” and exceed the state standard for allowable amounts of sediment and potentially harmful runoff nutrients in coastal waters, according to data collected by the Hui O Ka Wai Ola program. Maui News.

County is now taking applications for its first-time homebuyers program. The County of Maui currently is accepting applications for its First-Time Home Buyers Down Payment Assistance Program. Maui News.

Kauai

14 Days Of Emergency Supplies? Who Has That? Health department surveys provide the most detailed assessment yet of how people are responding to new state preparedness recommendations. Civil Beat.

King Tides, black moon. Another set of the year’s highest tides reached the archipelago Wednesday and Thursday, combined with swells from incoming Tropical Storm Erick and the beginning of a “black moon.” Garden Island.

Storms sandwiching Hawaiian Islands, Gabbard attacks Harris in debate, vacation rental law spurs Honolulu controversy, celebrities support Mauna Kea protest, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Hurricane Erick, Tropical Storm Flossie projections NOAA storm tracker

Erick slowly weakening, but hanging on as Category 1 hurricane. Hurricane Erick continues to lose strength as it churns southeast of the Big Island, but forecasters are warning it could bring heavy rains and high surf to the islands starting Thursday. At 5 a.m. Thursday, Erick was packing winds of 85 mph, making it a Category 1 storm. It was moving west-northwest near 15 mph. Hawaii News Now.

Tropical Storm Flossie continues to charge toward the state on Thursday morning. At 5 a.m., the National Hurricane Center said Flossie was located 1,515 miles west-southwest of the southern tip of Baja California ― or 1,580 miles east of Hilo. Hawaii News Now.

UPDATE: Big surf of 15-20 ft arriving on the Big Island today as Hurricane Erick passes south. Erick continues as a hurricane but not for long. KITV.

UPDATE: Tropical Storm Flossie will slowly weaken as it approaches the islands. Flossie has winds at 65 mph. KITV.

11p Wednesday Update: Hurricane Erick continues to weaken while Tropical Storm Flossie’s track shifts slightly farther away to the north. KHON2.

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Tulsi Gabbard Attacks Kamala Harris In Presidential Debate. The Hawaii congresswoman has yet to qualify for the third round of Democratic debates, which made her performance Wednesday crucial. Civil Beat.

On debate stage, Gabbard skewers Harris over her criminal justice record. Hawaii Congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard engaged in a heated exchange with fellow presidential contender U.S. Sen. Kamala Harris on the debate stage Wednesday, claiming that Harris should apologize to the people she impacted with her criminal justice policies. Hawaii News Now.

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More Federal Dollars Are Flowing To Hawaii’s Rural Clinics. In just three years, nine more health clinics acquired Rural Health Clinic status from the federal government, allowing them to get higher reimbursement for Medicaid and Medicare patients. Civil Beat.

Feds: Hawaii Still Coming Up Short In Meeting Special Education Needs. Hawaii still needs assistance in implementing provisions of a federal law designed to improve services for special education students. Civil Beat.

Oahu

Crackdown on vacation rentals could hurt tourism. Oahu’s more restrictive short-term rental rules, which take affect today, have come to the attention of investors and economists who warn the county is in danger of not having enough lodging for visitor arrivals to continue to grow. Star-Advertiser.

City works to refine search for illegal vacation rentals as new regulations roll out. As Honolulu officials prepare to start “digital stings” on Aug. 1 to curb illegal short-term vacation rentals, they’re also working to improve their search for potential violators. Hawaii News Now.

Waikiki condo owners will sue to stop new law. the owners of at least one Waikiki condominium complex are preparing to ask a state judge to stop the city from enforcing the new vacation rental law against them. Star-Advertiser.




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Showdown Looms With Howard Hughes Over Parcels On Rail Route. Negotiations to compensate the Kakaako landowner for properties critical to the project have broken down, with the parties as much as $100 million apart. Civil Beat.


State to tow dozens of abandoned cars from Honolulu airport lots. The state says 60 cars that were abandoned at Honolulu's airport will be removed over the next several weeks. Hawaii News Now.

60 abandoned cars will be removed from Daniel K. Inouye International Airport. KHON2.


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Rapid ohia death found on Oahu for first time. Rapid ohia death, the fungal disease that has killed millions of ohia trees across Hawaii, has been detected for the first time on Oahu. Star-Advertiser.


Devastating Rapid Ohia Death now found on Oahu. The Oahu Invasive Species Committee made the discovery in a remote area in the Koolau Mountains above Pearl City. Hawaii News Now.

Hawaii Island

Actor Momoa lends star power to protests. Actor Jason Momoa added some star power to the daily noontime protocol for theThirty Meter Telescope protesters Wednesday, walking up the closed Mauna Kea Access Road to present an offering in front of a crowd of about 600. Star-Advertiser.

‘Aquaman’ star meets with TMT opponents; camp, telescopes prep for approaching storms. Tribune-Herald.

Mauna Kea Day 17 – Press Conference. On Day 17 of the scheduled start of construction on the Thirty Meter Telescope, opponents of the project – including Hollywood actor Jason Momoa – gathered to hold a press conference at the base of the Mauna Kea Access Road. Big Island Video News.

Hawaii actor Jason Momoa visited the TMT protest at the base of Mauna Kea on Wednesday, becoming the latest celebrity to do so. Hawaii News Now.

Scientists Report Missed Opportunities, Equipment Near Failure as a Result of TMT Protest. The telescopes on Mauna Kea are billion-dollar instruments that require daily maintenance to stay in good working order. As access restrictions continue for a third week, many are developing serious problems. Hawaii Public Radio.

Mauna Kea Hunting Closure Concerns Commission. The temporary closure of hunting on Mauna Kea was a topic of discussion Tuesday night at the Hawaiʻi County Game Management Advisory Commission meeting in Hilo. Big Island Video News.




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Shark finning persists off Big Island. Marine biologists say they are alarmed by recent shark finning incidents on Hawaii island, citing photographs of two oceanic whitetip sharks with their fins hacked off, and that of a dead and gutted whitetip reef shark. Star-Advertiser.


Endangered sharks with fins cut off found gutted, dead off Hawaii Island. Hawaii News Now.

Concern raised over recent shark finning incidents. KHON2.

Sharks spotted finned and gutted around West Hawaii. Dive operators spotted two oceanic white-tip sharks alive with some of their fins cut off. KITV.

Maui

Still no evidence of big leak in Waikapu system. Spike in consumption could be due to higher usage. Maui News.

F-22 Raptor Training on Maui Aug. 1-3, Exhibit Aug. 2. The Hawaiʻi Air National Guard is flying over four F-22 Raptors from Oahu to Kahului Airport on Maui between Aug. 1 and 3, 2019. Maui Now.

Maui man charged, accused of buying young Thai girl and forcing her to have sex. A 76-year-old Maui man is in federal custody after he was accused of buying a 9-year-old girl in Thailand in 2014 and trying to smuggle her to Hawaii. Hawaii News Now.

Kauai

Kauai’s Ocean Safety Bureau will extend hours for Roving Patrol Units. Starting on Thursday, August 1, Ocean Safety officials will implement extended hours for its lifeguard patrol services islandwide. KHON2.

Building for the future. There’s a new building on Kauai made out of plastic marine debris and plastic household waste. Garden Island.

Tourism numbers down. Through six months, visitor spending on Kauai was a reported $961.9 million, down 5.7% compared to the same period in 2018. Visitor arrivals through June on Kauai totaled 686,236, down 1.7% compared to the first six months of 2018. Garden Island.

Kapaa medical clinic opens. Kauai Medical Clinic opened its new location at Kauai Village shopping center on Tuesday. Garden Island.