Hawaii drops to No. 2 in homelessness, HUD funds to buy out lava victims, Westboro Baptist Church to picket Maui high school, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Homeless in Honolulu ©2020 All Hawaii News

Hawaii drops to No. 2 in homelessness as trends improve, officials say. Hawaii no longer holds the ignominious title as the country’s leading state in per capita homelessness. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii Is No Longer No. 1 For Homelessness. New York Is Worse. Civil Beat.

Get Ready For An Economic Slowdown, State Economist Says. It’s not a recession yet but government should consider picking up some of the private sector’s slack as the construction industry wanes. Civil Beat.

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Rep. Chris Lee to seek Windward Senate seat. State Rep. Chris Lee has become the first prominent politician to announce plans to run for the soon-to-be- vacated state Senate seat held by Laura Thielen (D, Hawaii Kai-Waimanalo- Kailua), creating a fourth vacancy on the Windward side. Star-Advertiser.

Chris Lee Leaving House Seat For State Senate Run. The lawmaker is seeking the Kailua to Hawaii Kai seat being vacated by Laura Thielen. Civil Beat.

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Fighters and other aircraft will train over Hawaii for the Hawaii Air National Guard’s exercises. A dozen or more fighter jets are expected to roar off the reef runway at Daniel K. Inouye International Airport twice a day for the latest iteration of the Hawaii Air National Guard’s “Sentry Aloha” fighter exercise. Star-Advertiser.

OHA Returned $2M Of Ceded Land Revenue In 2019. The Office of Hawaiian Affairs has previously pushed to have a cap on their ceded land revenues raised. Civil Beat.

Pushing to halt all aquarium fishing. Some conservation groups and Native Hawaiians are concerned the state isn’t following court orders for the environmental review of aquarium fishing and permit issuance in Hawaii. Garden Island.

Medicare Trims Payments To 8 Hawaii Hospitals. Medicare docks hospitals on an annual basis for too many patients returning to the hospital within a month. Civil Beat.

Hawaii Medical Service Association, the state’s largest health insurance company, has agreed to pay $180,000 and provide injunctive relief to settle a disability discrimination lawsuit filed by the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, the federal agency announced Tuesday. Tribune-Herald.

Assistant Superintendent Retires From DOE. Another assistant superintendent in the Hawaii Department of Education has left, marking the third departure from the core leadership team within a span of six months. Civil Beat.

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Hawaiian Telcom announced Tuesday that its chief of staff, and former broadcast journalist, Su Shin has been promoted to president and general manager effective Feb. 10. She replaces John Komeiji, who resigned as president and general manager. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaiian Telcom names new president and general manager. Hawaiian Telcom today announced that Su Shin, its Chief of Staff, has been promoted to President and General Manager effective February 10, 2020. KHON2.

Oahu

Audit: Honolulu Can’t Meet Building Industry Demands For Permits. Low pay, insufficient training and high turnover contribute to a permitting department that can’t keep up, the auditor found. Civil Beat.

City officials say new audit findings show help is needed at the Department of Planning and Permitting. A new audit found the department isn't keeping up with the demands of the building industry. KITV4.

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Oahu Grapples With Where To Place Its Next Landfill As It Confronts Its Waste Dilemma. About 30 trucks roll down Farrington Highway on the west side of Oahu every day to dump waste at the City and County of Honolulu's only municipal landfill, Waimanalo Gulch. Hawaii Public Radio.

Auditor: Handi-Van Software – And Perhaps Its Operator – Need An Overhaul. The Honolulu auditor’s latest update on Handi-Van performance finds some progress, but the busy paratransit service still needs a lot of improvement. Civil Beat.

City issues 260 citations for illegal short term vacation rentals across the island. Despite the crackdown, hundreds of short term vacation rentals are still operating on the Windward side of O'ahu. KITV4.

Vacation Rentals Are Still Thriving In Kailua. Critics warned that a bill to crack down on illegal vacation rentals would doom Kailua’s economy. But months later, the town still bustles with tourists and hundreds of vacation rentals. Civil Beat.

1 year later, city touts success of Punawai Rest Stop for homeless. One year after it first opened its doors, city officials say the Punawai Rest Stop for homeless on Kuwili Street is a big success. Hawaii News Now.

Punawai Rest Stop homeless program recognizes one year anniversary. The city’s Punawai Rest Stop is a homeless program that is working. KHON2.

Hawaii Island

Property buyouts mulled: County will use HUD funds to purchase land from those wanting to leave areas impacted by eruption. Tribune-Herald.

Contract awarded for road and trail repairs in Hawaii Volcanoes National Park. Hawaii Volcanoes National Park announced Tuesday that it has awarded a $3.3 million contract to a construction company to repair roads and trails that were damaged during the 2018 eruption of Kilauea. Tribune-Herald.

Eruption-Damaged Road Repairs In HVNP Set To Begin. Repairs to roads and paved trails in Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park that were damaged during Kilauea Volcano’s 2018 eruption and summit collapse are set to begin in February. Big Island Video News.

Making housing affordable: Council panel advances resolution to reach solution. Government officials agree Hawaii County needs to construct more affordable housing, and there’s also agreement on the steps that can be taken to do it. But how to pay for it is open to debate. West Hawaii Today.

Audit sought for subdivision, zoning statutes. A Hawaii County Council committee voted in support of an audit that would be the first step in rewriting two chapters of the county code. Tribune-Herald.

Council members give thumbs down to Kim nominee. A Hawaii County Council committee voted against recommending a nominee to the Leeward Planning Commission Tuesday after a vetting process failed to discover a disciplinary complaint against him. Tribune-Herald.

Maui

In election year, search for new county clerk underway. New Maui County Council Chairwoman Alice Lee hopes to have candidates lined up for the Maui County clerk and deputy clerk positions — the county’s top two elections officials — in about two weeks. Maui News.

Westboro Baptist Church plans to picket at Maui High on Friday. Maui Baptist churches are denouncing and disassociating themselves from the Kansas-based Westboro Baptist Church, a widely recognized hate group that has announced plans to protest at Maui High School on Friday. Maui News.

Public Meetings to Discuss Hana Highway Bridge Updates. The Hawaiʻi Department of Transportation will host a series of public meetings to discuss a project to improve six of the historic bridges along the Hāna Highway (Route 360), located between Huelo and Hana town. Maui Now.


Kauai

Cat kills Hawaiian petrel. A cat has been terrorizing Hawaiian petrel burrows in the mountains of the Hono NaPali Natural Area Reserve, and its latest kill was a chick involved in a scientific tracking project. Garden Island.

Molokai

Power slowly being restored to Molokai after island-wide outage. Most on Molokai were without electricity for much of the day Tuesday. Hawaii News Now.

Hawaii's growing garbage heap, Honolulu police kill escapee, billionaire Ellison wants to buy Lanai electric grid, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Garbage at Hawaii landfill ©2020 All Hawaii News

Trashing The Islands: Tossing, Forgetting No Longer Viable. While some conditions have changed for the better, each county continues to struggle with this reality: that we’re producing more trash than we can reasonably handle. Our trash is quite simply eating up scarce tax dollars and harming the environment. Hawaii Public Radio.

Legislature to Hold Hawaiʻi Homelessness Summit. In an effort to address homelessness, the Hawaiʻi State Legislature will convene at the state capitol on Tuesday for the Hawaiʻi Homelessness Summit 2020. Maui Now.

Hawaii Board Of Education Wants More Transparency In School Construction Projects. The Department of Education is expected to identify the criteria it uses in deciding how to divide the money it gets to repair and maintain school facilities. Civil Beat.

Shipping company looking to raise rates by 34%, asking for public input. The company says it would generate $27 million in revenue to maintain operations and make a profit. KITV4.

Rare plant protection is up for debate at the U.S. Senate, thanks to Sen. Mazie Hirono (D-HI) and a team of other legislators that have introduced the Extinction Prevention Act. Garden Island.

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TMT takes center stage at astronomy conference as talks with Ige planned. Officials with the Thirty Meter Telescope are slated to meet with the governor this week to discuss the stalled project. Hawaii News Now.

Thousands gather for American Astronomical Society conference at Hawaii Convention Center. The meeting is a joint gathering with the AAS Historical Astronomy Division and High Energy Astrophysics Division. KITV4.

Oahu

Man fatally shot by police in Kailua was work furlough escapee, sources say. A man fatally shot by police in Kailua on Monday afternoon was a work furlough escapee who had been on the run since November, sources said. Hawaii News Now.

Man fatally shot by police in Kailua. KITV4's sources tell us he was an escapee of a work-furlough program and was being hidden by his girlfriend. KITV4.

Police shoot, kill man after Kailua traffic stop. Honolulu police shot and killed an apparently armed man Monday afternoon during a traffic stop in Kailua. Star-Advertiser.

Honolulu Police Shoot Man In Kailua. A woman who was in the car with the suspect has been arrested. Civil Beat.

Man dies in officer involved shooting in Kailua. A witness says police surrounded a Silver PT Cruiser in a parking lot of Aikahi Gardens. KHON2.

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Shakeup afoot at the federal office that exposed the Kealohas’ criminal behavior. Peter Wolff, the head of the federal public defender’s office is being pushed out after 24 years, in a move many in the legal community are questioning. Hawaii News Now.

Hauula road collapse is a glimpse into the future. Officials say Friday’s collapse of Kamehameha Highway in Hauula from coastal erosion is merely a preview of what’s to come as climate change and rising sea levels accelerate into the future. Star-Advertiser.

Oahu home and condo prices rose in December. Oahu’s housing market ended 2019 with moderate gains in median sale prices for December but fell just short of producing a full-year gain in part of the market. Star-Advertiser.

Vacation Rentals Are Still Thriving In Kailua. Critics warned that a bill to crack down on illegal vacation rentals would doom Kailua’s economy. But months later, the town still bustles with tourists and hundreds of vacation rentals. Civil Beat.

Former SHOPO President Sues Over Police Chief Comments In A Civil Beat Story. Tenari Maafala left the Honolulu Police Department in 2018 after he was moved to another assignment by the new police chief. Civil Beat.

Shoddy window installation at center of new UH lawsuit. UH is suing an architect and contractors over faulty window installations at the school’s $133 million dollar Cancer Center. Hawaii News Now.

Volunteers wanted for annual homeless Point-in-Time count. The annual homeless point-in-time count is set to begin and volunteers are needed. Hawaii News Now.

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Dogs and their owners get new park in Moiliili. Moiliili has a new park where dogs can run free while their human caretakers mingle in the great outdoors. Star-Advertiser.

Public-private partnership helps bring new dog park to area near UH Manoa campus.  Oahu’s newest off-leash dog park, which opened Monday in Moiliili, was created with the help a public-private partnership involving the Hawaiian Humane Society ― a partnership that city officials hope can be used as a model for other projects moving forward. Hawaii News Now.

Off-leash dog park opens at Kalo Place Mini Park. KITV4.

Hawaii Island

Rat lungworm disease at the focus of an international Hilo workshop. A Big Island man who was diagnosed with rat lungworm disease gave a presentation about his excruciating experience to the crowd at an international workshop in Hilo on Monday. Hawaii News Now.

Big Island man’s battle with rat lungworm kicks off workshop. Mark LeRoy and his wife, Maya Parish, were the first to present at the sixth international workshop on rat lungworm, a three-day program that kicked off Monday morning, drawing more than 250 participants from eight countries to Hilo. Tribune-Herald.

Health food store apologizes after woman bites into slug on her sandwich. A Big Island woman has filed a complaint with the state Health Department after she says she bit into a slug in a deli sandwich. Hawaii News Now.

Council to vote on breakwater resolution. The Hawaii County Council will vote next week whether to approve a state and federal study of potential modifications to the Hilo Bay breakwater. Tribune-Herald.

Routes canceled as Hele-On bus shortage intensifies. The wheels on the bus aren’t going ‘round the island as frequently as before, as the county Mass Transit Agency struggles with a shortage of Hele-On buses to cover all the routes. West Hawaii Today.

Works begins on farmers market canopy. Visitors to Hilo Farmers Market on Monday found the produce area moved from its usual spot adjacent to Reuben’s Mexican Food to the Keaukaha side of Mamo Street. Tribune-Herald.

Maui

County population up slightly, graying. Officials gearing up for census gathering, coming in the spring. Maui News.
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Hearings to be held on Young Brothers rate hikes. Public hearings to discuss interisland shipper Young Brothers’ 34 percent rate hike will be held at 6 p.m. Tuesday at the Velma McWayne Santos Community Center in Wailuku. Maui News.

Maui County’s ‘Section 8’ waiting list to re-open for limited period. Maui County is reopening the waiting list for the federal rental housing subsidy program formally known as “Section 8.” Hawaii News Now.

Housing Choice Voucher Program Re-Opens Wait List. Applications for the Housing Choice Voucher Program Waiting List will be accepted later this month, the county announced today. Maui Now.

Kauai

Weigh in on KIUC’s water diversions. Those wanting to weigh in on the Kauai Island Utility Cooperative’s bid for a long-term lease of water used for the Waiahai hydropower plants have until midnight tonight to comment on the draft environmental assessment. Garden Island.

Kauai condo prices tied record in 2019. Condominium prices on Kauai last year tied a more than decade-old record that stood out as a highlight in data from two neighbor island housing markets released Sunday. Star-Advertiser.

Median price of Kauai condominiums jumps 23% in 2019. The median price of a condominium on Kauai jumped by more than 20% in 2019 as sales of both condos and single-family homes declined when compared with 2018, while the median price of a single-family home on the Garden Isle rose 14% in December, according to statistics provided by Hawaii Information Service on behalf of the Kauai Board of Realtors. Pacific Business News.

Lanai

Billionaire Larry Ellison is looking to buy more of Lanai. The tech industry titan, who already owns 98% of the former Pineapple Isle, wants to buy Lanai’s power plant and grid from the state’s largest utility company, Hawaiian Electric. Star-Advertiser.

Lanai In Talks To Buy Grid From Hawaiian Electric. The move, the parties say, aims to help create micro grids powered by renewable energy and lower electricity costs. Civil Beat.

LGBTQ+ students added to Hawaii Title IX, high-tech economy boosted by cyber spies, Sensei Farms transforms Lanai agriculture, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Gay pride parade in Hawaii ©2020 All Hawaii News

Hawaii's new Title IX law includes protection for LGBTQ+ students. Hawaii's new Title IX law is the first in the nation to include protection for LGBTQ+ students. Activists say this addition is a positive step forward in expanding rights in educational programs. KITV.

State senators grill University of Hawaii on salary funding details. University of Hawaii officials Friday were unable to answer pointed questions from state senators about who should pay for what could be more than $14 million worth of “fringe” employee benefits for an estimated 1,076 UH salaried positions paid through tuitions rather than the state’s general fund. Star-Advertiser.

Cyber Spies Are Quietly Boosting Hawaii’s High Tech Economy. Can the state build on a massive base of National Security Agency and other government cyber jobs? Civil Beat.

Hawaii's New Asset Forfeiture Rules Take Effect Jan. 17. New requirements will apply to local enforcement authorities in seizing cars and other property of criminals under long-awaited asset forfeiture rules issued by the Hawaii attorney general on Dec. 31. Hawaii Public Radio.

Hawaii bankruptcies in 2019 hit highest level in 5 years. The U.S. stock market had a record bull run in 2019. But not everyone shared in the wealth. Star-Advertiser.

Pay Hikes for Special Ed, Hawaiian Language, Rural School Teachers Start On Tuesday. Pay increases for public school teachers in hard-to-fill positions, including those for special education, rural areas and Hawaiian language immersion, start on Tuesday. Hawaii Public Radio.

A $75,000 Settlement Is Scaring Hawaii Charter Schools. A recent legislative directive that forces state agencies to cover the costs of legal claims could have a big impact on charter schools. Civil Beat.

New law on reporting inmate deaths exposes alleged prison homicide. A new law that requires prison officials to report to the governor each time an inmate dies in custody has already revealed the case of a prisoner who died on Christmas morning after being assaulted at Oahu Community Correctional Center.  Star-Advertiser.

Maunakea Looms Over American Astronomical Society Meeting. The Thirty Meter Telescope controversy will be a major topic of discussion during the four-day conference being held at the Hawai‘i Convention Center on Oʻahu. Big Island Video News.

TMT supporters rally at Hawai‘i Convention Center. Supporters of the Thirty Meter Telescope waved signs and flags Sunday outside of the Hawai‘i Convention Center while a major astronomy conference was being held inside. Star-Advertiser.

Oahu

Honolulu Board Of Water Supply Fined For Stream Pollution. The Board of Water Supply failed to notify state health officials about a sediment discharge for 15 days, according to the state health department. Civil Beat.

Honolulu Board of Water Supply faces $420K penalty for polluting Nuuanu Stream. The Honolulu Board of Water Supply and a trio of contractors face a possible $420,000 fine for polluting the Nuuanu Stream over an 18-day period last year. Star-Advertiser.

Dead Koi fish led to a $420K fine from the Department of Health. The Department of Health announced a notice of violation for the Board of Water Supply and some of its consultants and contractors carrying a $420K fine. KITV.

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Hauula residents want long-term fix for collapsed road. Repair crews began work Sunday morning along a portion of Kamehameha Highway that collapsed into the ocean in Hauula, but some residents questioned why the state allowed the road’s condition to deteriorate to that extent. Star-Advertiser.

Traffic in Hauula still impacted as crews make emergency repairs to crumbling roadway. A lane of Kamehameha Highway in Hauula remains closed Monday morning as crews make emergency shoreline repairs to the crumbling roadway. Hawaii News Now.

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Development firms to build affordable housing through state resolution. A development partnership is positioned to start building a low-income housing tower in Pawaa later this year following a recent tentative endorsement by the state to finance the $89 million project. Star-Advertiser.

New rules for tent installers impact vendors at Aloha Stadium Swap Meet. Vendors of the popular Aloha Stadium Swap Meet say they were caught off guard when trying to set up Saturday, leading to tensions over the market. Hawaii News Now.

Hawaii Island

Herbicide ban not a sure thing. While the County Council had voted 6-3 to approve Bill 101 — the same number of affirmative votes needed to override Mayor Harry Kim’s veto — there’s no guarantee all six council members who previously voted yes on the bill will also agree to override the veto. West Hawaii Today.

Kim to meet with governor, TMT officials this week. Although the protesters at Maunakea Access Road have physically changed their position, their philosophical position remains the same as in July. Tribune-Herald.

Charges dropped against retired police captain. Charges against a retired Hawaii Police Department captain accused of tipping off arcade owners prior to a gambling raid have been dropped. Tribune-Herald.

Charges in a 2-year-old drug case have been dropped because of officer misconduct, a judge ruled. ose Miranda was charged in December 2017 with 11 counts of first-degree promoting a dangerous drug, class A felonies punishable by up to 20 years in prison. West Hawaii Today.

Councilwoman seeks affordable housing fund. The Big Island’s shortage of affordable housing is reaching the crisis stage, says a County Council member sponsoring a nonbinding resolution pushing for the creation of an affordable housing fund. West Hawaii Today.

Hilo Woman Pulls Slug From Mouth After Eating Island Naturals Sandwich. A Hilo woman will have to wait about two weeks to find out if she’s contracted rat lungworm disease after nearly ingesting a half-inch slug on New Year’s Eve. Big Island Now.

Maui

Mahi Pono: ‘We are not profiting off water’. Officials offer details of approach to vital resource. Maui News.

New Self-Service Kiosk for Vehicle Registrations at Maui County Building. A new self-service DMV kiosk was installed and blessed today at the county’s Kalana O Maui Building, bringing to five, the total number available in Maui County. Maui Now.

Crab, lobster hearings next week. Hearings are set on Molokai, Lanai and Maui next week on a housekeeping consolidation of rules regulating the take, possession and sale of Samoan crab, Kona crab and lobsters in state waters. Maui News.

Maui fires burned 25,000 acres in 2019. Brush fires took their toll on Maui in 2019, setting ablaze more acres of land last year than in recent years, and in the process destroyed utility poles, amassed hundreds of thousands of dollars in costs by the county and displaced hundreds of people. Star-Advertiser.

Kauai

Hawaii Tour Helicopter Owner Rejects Congressman’s Criticism. Richard Schuman says the industry is safe and does not need increased federal regulation. Civil Beat.

Forums target climate change. The National Tropical Botanical Garden is holding another series of forums on climate change, starting in February, titled “Climate Crisis 2020.” Garden Island.

Lanai

Lanai undergoes agricultural transformation using hydroponic greenhouses. Lettuce, tomatoes and cucumbers are lined up to be part of the first commercial harvest from a pioneering hydroponic greenhouse farm on Lanai developed by technology billionaire Larry Ellison and envisioned for expansion to serve the state and potential replication beyond Hawaii. Star-Advertiser.

Sensei Farms Lanai’s greenhouses mix old and new technology. Paving over red dirt that was once part of the most productive pineapple plantation in the world might not seem like the way to start a positive transformation of agriculture on Lanai. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaiian hawk removed from endangered species list, Olive Garden files to enter state, TV Executive Blangiardi weighs run for Honolulu mayor, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

'Io Hawaiian hawk at Panaewa Rainforest Gardens & Zoo ©2020 All Hawaii News

Hawaiian Hawk No Longer Endangered. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has removed the ‘io from the list of endangered or threatened species. Civil Beat.

ʻIo No Longer Considered Endangered or Threatened. The ʻio or Hawaiian hawk will be removed from the Federal List of Endangered and Threatened Wildlife on Feb. 3, 2020. Big Island Now.

Hawaiian hawk removed from federal list of endangered wildlife. The io or Hawaiian hawk has been removed from the federal list of endangered and threatened wildlife. Hawaii News Now.

Hawaiian Hawk, or ʻio, to be removed from the Federal List of Endangered and Threatened Wildlife. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service published a final rule removing the ʻio, or the Hawaiian hawk, from the Federal List of Endangered and Threatened Wildlife. KHON2.

Read the Fish and Wildlife Service final rule delisting the 'io here.

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Hawaii Senate Health Chair Plans To Introduce Bills Targeting Youth Vaping. Hawaii Senate Health Chair Rosalyn Baker plans to propose several bills in the coming legislative ssession aimed at reducing youth vaping, but she wants to add e-cigarettes and vaping products to existing tobacco laws. Hawaii Public Radio.

Astronomers to assemble as telescope discord looms. An event described as the Super Bowl of astronomy kicks off Saturday in Honolulu as thousands of scientists descend on the Hawai‘i Convention Center for the biggest meeting of the year for American astronomers. Star-Advertiser.

More vets gain access to commissaries. More than 27,000 veterans with a service-connected disability in Hawaii and over 430 Purple Heart recipients can now shop at commissaries and exchanges and take advantage of greater recreational opportunities under legislation co-authored by U.S. Sen. Brian Schatz that went into effect Wednesday. Star-Advertiser.

Judge Puts Hawaii Taser Case On Hold. A lawsuit over the right to carry a stun gun for personal protection will wait on the outcome of a seemingly unrelated weapons case before the U.S. Supreme Court. Civil Beat.

USS Missouri reaches 9 million visitors. The nine millionth visitor stepped aboard the USS Missouri today, ringing in the 75th year after World War II officially ended on its decks. Star-Advertiser.

Olive Garden files to do business in Hawaii. Could Olive Garden be coming to Hawaii? According to state business records, the company recently filed to do business here in the islands. KHON2.

Samoan crabs, Kona crabs & lobster proposed rule updates. In an effort to facilitate compliance with the rules regulating the take, possession, and sale of Samoan crab, Kona crab, and lobsters in State waters, the DLNR Division of Aquatic Resources has scheduled public hearings this month. KITV.

Oahu

TV executive Blangiardi plans mayoral run. Television executive Rick Blangiardi surprised his staff and simultaneously shook up Oahu’s political community Thursday when he announced he is retiring from his job and intends to join the race for Honolulu mayor. Star-Advertiser.

HNN General Manager Rick Blangiardi announces he’s retiring, considering run for mayor. After more than four decades in the broadcasting industry, Hawaii News Now President and General Manager Rick Blangiardi has announced he will retire this month and is considering a run for Honolulu’s mayor. Hawaii News Now.

TV Executive Blangiardi Weighing Running For Honolulu Mayor. The longtime general manager will leave his Hawaii News Now post Jan. 15. Civil Beat.

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Maili group sues city, developer in bid to stop affordable housing project. Construction on a $23 million affordable rental project in West Oahu called Hale Makana O Maili started in October. But neighbors calling themselves Na Kiai O Maili — protectors of Maili — have filed a suit against the city and developer Laulima Development in a bid to stop construction at the end of Kulaaupuni Street. Hawaii News Now.

Plans move forward to rebuild the old P-3 Orion monument. The last remnants of a P-3 Orion monument erected by the Navy in 1999 to commemorate Naval Air Station Barbers Point’s 57 years of fleet service have been demolished, but a local American Veterans post commander said plans are proceeding to completely rebuild the memorial near the Kalaeloa Airport control tower. Star-Advertiser.

Honolulu Businessman Files Federal Complaint In Prosecutor Impeachment Effort. Tracy Yoshimura has asked a federal court to clear up an e-signature issue that has stalled his initiative to oust Keith Kaneshiro. Civil Beat.

HPD Swears In New Deputy Chief. Deputy Chief Jonathon Grems retired in December. Clyde Ho took over. Civil Beat.

Tougher inspections at Honolulu ports could aid in crackdown against illegal fireworks according to former state lawmaker. While you can set off small sparklers and poppers without a permit, those aerial fireworks we saw thousands of on New Year's Eve are illegal. KITV.

City erects fence blocking shoreline access near Diamond Head, irking park users.  Park users of the Makalei and Leahi Beach Parks near Diamond Head are protesting the city’s decision to block off access to parts of the shoreline. Over the holidays, the city suddenly erected fences at both ends of a walkway on a seawall between the two beaches. Hawaii News Now.

New rules at Honolulu Zoo parking lot irks nearby businesses. It’s a popular parking lot for locals who venture into Waikiki. But changes are coming to prevent anyone from parking outside the Honolulu Zoo late at night. KHON2.

TheBus Redux: A City Transit Leader Responds To Riders’ Questions. Lags in TheBus’ tracking data can cause angst for riders trying to predict when their bus might arrive. Civil Beat.

Hawaii Island

State orders updated traffic assessment for Pepeekeo power plant. Honua Ola Bioenergy will have to update a traffic assessment submitted for the project in March 2011 before the power plant under construction in Pepeekeo can deliver logs to its facility. Tribune-Herald.

HELCO seeks new power agreement with PGV. Hawaii Electric Light Co. is seeking approval of an amended power purchase agreement with Puna Geothermal Venture, according to documents filed Tuesday with the state Public Utilities Commission. Tribune-Herald.

Chemical sunscreens restricted at Big Island park, a year ahead of statewide ban.  Sunscreens containing chemicals have now been banned for use by commercial vessels in Kealakekua Bay on the Big Island. The restrictions took effect on Jan. 1, a year before a similar statewide ban takes effect. Hawaii News Now.

Changes to Pana‘ewa complex miff equestrians. Extensive accessibility renovations are scheduled for the Pana‘ewa Recreational Complex this year, but several users of the attached Pana‘ewa Equestrian Center are pushing back against some of the proposed changes. Tribune-Herald.

Maui

Police seek help in locating families of unclaimed bodies. The Maui Police Department is asking for assistance in contacting family members of eight people whose bodies weren’t claimed after their deaths this year. Maui News.

Staff Shortages Affect Pool Hours in Kahului, Wailuku, Upcountry and Kihei. The Department of Parks and Recreation apologizes for any inconvenience this may cause the community. Maui Now.

Kauai

Removal of ill-fated helicopter on Kauai begins. A National Transportation Safety Board spokesman said the wreckage removal process began Thursday of a tour helicopter that crashed Dec. 26 in a remote area of Kokee, killing all seven on board. Star-Advertiser.

Drones documenting wreckage. Investigators aren’t going to physically set foot on the crash site of the tour helicopter that collided with a ridge on Kauai in December, killing all seven passengers. Garden Island.

Hanalei highway lane closure set. The Hawaii Department of Transportation reminds the public there will be a single-lane closure on Kuhio Highway at Mile Marker 1 (the hill approaching Hanalei Bridge) seven days a week starting today. Garden Island.

New laws coming, Oahu rents dropping, vote by mail cards AWOL, fireworks injuries around the state, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Hawaii state Capitol PC:Danny de Gracia

New laws you could see in the 2020 Legislative Session. The start of the year means lawmakers will soon be convening at the state Capitol to pass what could be a new set of laws for the islands. KHON2.

New state laws focus on justice system, guns, marijuana. Hawaii residents and visitors caught with small quantities of marijuana can rest assured they won’t be charged with criminal offenses under a new law that takes effect this year. Star-Advertiser.

National Weather Service To Reduce Number Of Emergency Alerts Sent To Phones. Alerts for the most serious events will be prioritized over flooding events that are not expected to have a major impact on the public. Hawaii Public Radio.

Growing air tours crowd isle skies. A growing number of people are calling for tougher restrictions on Hawaii’s tour helicopter and small aircraft industry, particularly as the volume of traffic has increased in recent years over residential communities, national parks and other areas. Star-Advertiser.

Why Hawaii Won’t Stop Setting Off Fireworks. A new report from the Legislative Reference Bureau highlights failed attempts by law enforcement and lawmakers to deal with the recurring issue. Civil Beat.

Oahu

New year brings new ban on plastic bags on Oahu. Oahu retailers can no longer distribute plastic bags at checkout counters under the latest phase of the city’s plastic bag ban ordinance that took effect Wednesday. Star-Advertiser.

Honolulu Mayor Kirk Caldwell signed into law one of the strictest disposable plastic bans in the country. People are no longer allowed to buy plastic bags at check-out stands. KITV.

Rents Are Dipping on Oahu, At Least For Some People. Experts say some apartment rental rates have been coming down even before a crackdown on Oahu vacation rentals. Civil Beat.

Residents: flooding problem in Hauula getting worse. Flooding in Hauula has been a problem for years but residents say the problem is getting worse. Hawaii News Now.

Teenager hospitalized after firework blows off in his hand. As many celebrated the new year, one teenager spent the beginning of 2020 in the hospital. KITV.

Hawaii Island

Dozens Say Vote by Mail Cards Never Came. Concerns of disenfranchisement have cropped up recently on the Big Island, as residents and state officials alike have pointed to a potential flaw in Hawai‘i’s new vote by mail system that could leave some voters without a ballot come election day. Big Island Now.

New Hilo facility for homeless off to a good start, according to nonprofit. More than two months after accepting its first clients, Keolahou — an emergency homeless shelter established at the old Hilo Memorial Hospital — is a refuge for the Big Island’s homeless men. Tribune-Herald.

Maui

16 Fireworks Citations Issued, 68 Documented Cases in Maui County. Maui Now.

Man Critically Injured On Maui When Firework Explodes in Face. Maui Now.

Injuries, damages due to fireworks on Maui. Adam Cio said he was driving through a residential part of Kahului on his way home from work when an aerial firework burst through the passenger-side window of his pick-up truck. KITV.

Maui man left bloody after stray firework rips through the cab of his pick-up. A Maui man is recovering after an illegal aerial firework blasted through the cab of his pick-up truck minutes into the New Year. Hawaii News Now.

Maui man injured after a firework blasts through his car. KHON2.

Holiday Express reaches end of line. The Christmas-themed Sugar Cane Train made its final 4-mile round trip of the year Monday, traveling to Kualapa Loop and back, after the owners were unable to reach an agreement with Kaanapali Land Management over the future of the steam locomotive. Maui News.

Kauai

Feds Plan To Extract Kauai Tour Helicopter Wreckage. The National Transportation Safety Board plans to have a preliminary report from its investigation in three weeks and the final report within two years. Civil Beat.

Hawaii population slips in latest estimate, auditor suspends OHA audit, most mental patients used meth, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Food court at Ala Moana Center ©2019 All Hawaii News

State's Continuing Population Decline Raising More Concerns About Economic Impacts. A new report from the Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism highlights the migration of residents during a five-year period using data from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey. Hawaii Public Radio.

Amid ongoing cost of living woes, Hawaii’s population shrinks for third year. New Census estimates show that Hawaii’s population dropped by more than 4,700 people ― to 1,415,872 ― from July 2018 to July 2019 when births, deaths and migration were accounted for. Hawaii News Now.

Full Hawaii Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism press release and report can be found here.

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State suspends Office of Hawaiian Affairs audit over refusal to release records. State Auditor Les Kondo announced Monday that the Office of the Auditor has suspended its audit of the Office of Hawaiian Affairs’ limited liability companies because the OHA Board of Trustees is denying access to complete and unredacted minutes of its meetings. Star-Advertiser.

State Auditor Suspends Review Of OHA LLCs. State Auditor Les Kondo said Monday that his office has suspended its audit of the Office of Hawaiian Affairs’ limited liability companies after the OHA Board of Trustees decided “to deny his office access to complete and un-redacted minutes of its meetings.” Civil Beat.

Auditor: Secrecy forced him to suspend lawmaker-requested review of OHA. Hawaii’s state auditor announced Monday that he is suspending his audit of non-profit Limited Liability Companies established by OHA. Hawaii News Now.

OHA audit suspended. State Auditor Les Kondo announced Monday that he has suspended an audit of the Office of Hawaiian Affairs’ limited liability companies, after the OHA Board of Trustees refused to turn over complete and unredacted minutes of its meetings. Garden Island.

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Hawaii joins a growing number of states enacting ‘Red flag’ gun law. A new gun law will go into effect in Hawaii on New Year’s Day. Hawaii News Now.

Case On Congress: ‘I Lived In Two Parallel Universes’ In 2019. The Hawaii congressman needed to balance the growing partisan divide with his desire to get work done for the state he calls home. Civil Beat.

63% Of Hawaii State Hospital Patients Have Used Meth. Methamphetamine also was a factor in repeat hospitalizations. Civil Beat.

Tax changes coming up. On Jan. 2, 2020, taxpayers can begin filing all returns due in 2020, including Individual Income Tax, on Hawaii Tax Online. Garden Island.

State Grant-in-Aid Process Opens to Nonprofits. Senate Ways and Means Committee Chair Donovan M. Dela Cruz and House Finance Committee Chair Sylvia Luke announced that qualified nonprofit and other organizations can now apply for GIA for the 2020 Legislative Session. Big Island Now.

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A look back at the top 5 Hawaii news stories of 2019. From one of the largest public corruption cases in state history to a new airline entering the Hawaii market, these are the top five Hawaii news stories of 2019. Star-Advertiser.

The Year In Photographs. The fall of Honolulu’s law enforcement power couple. A resurgence of Hawaiian activism. The fading star power of Tulsi Gabbard. And the islands’ unstable future in the face of a changing climate. Civil Beat.

From record heat to TMT protests, these were some of the biggest stories of 2019. Hawaii News Now.

These are the 10 most clicked HNN stories of 2019. Here’s a look at the 10 most clicked stories on Hawaii News Now’s digital platforms in 2019. Hawaii News Now.

Oahu

Full Plastic Bag Ban Starts in 2020 With More Restrictions On The Way. All plastic bags, including compostable ones, will be banned in Oahu stores beginning in 2020, and that's just the start of the city's coming restrictions on plastics. Hawaii Public Radio.

Stricter plastic bag ban starts Jan. 1 on Oahu. Another change is coming to Oahu’s plastic bag ban in the new year. KHON2.

Waimea Native Forest Acquired For Conservation. The 3,716 acres of mountain watershed on Oahu will be used for management and recreation. Civil Beat.

Hawaii Island

A retired Hawaii County police detective is under investigation for allegedly assaulting another county official while still a member of the department in the vicinity of a building that houses government offices. Ian Lee Loy, who’s married to Hilo Councilwoman Sue Lee Loy, is being investigated in the incident, according to official sources. West Hawaii Today.

Task force sets sights on Pahoa albizia. The island’s war against albizia will continue into the new year as the Big Island Invasive Species Committee prepares to clear the trees from a street in Pahoa. Tribune-Herald.

Maui

State looks to expand space at Kahului Harbor. Demand at harbor’s cargo storage yard expected to increase. Maui News.

“Ground Truthing” Set to Begin Today at Maui Lani Phase 6 Development. Members of the group Malama Kakanilua and other individuals that identify themselves as iwi protectors gathered in front of the Towne Realty Parkways Subdivision in Maui Lani this morning to voice their concerns regarding “ground truthing” at the site. Maui Now.

Hawaiian Telcom paints over unsolicited Wyland mural on Maui. Hawaiian Telcom on Monday painted over an unauthorized mural that well-known marine artist Robert Wyland had painted on its Dickenson Street building in Lahaina over the weekend. Star-Advertiser.

New wasp could help to protect crucial native trees. State hopes to deploy second insect to fight destructive galls. Maui News.

Hawaii Water Service to acquire Maui water, waste treatment company. Hawaii Water Service has entered into an agreement with Maui Land and Pineapple Company to acquire its Kapalua Water Company and Kapalua Water Treatment Company assets, the water utility company announced last week. Pacific Business News.

Kauai

FAA records show Kauai pilot wasn’t certified for instrument flight. National Transportation Safety Board investigators on Monday flew over the site of a fatal sightseeing tour helicopter crash on Kauai, and will try, among other things, to get “boots on the ground” today, the lead investigator said. Star-Advertiser.

Feds: Crash investigation ‘challenging’. Four investigators from the National Transportation Safety Board have landed on Kauai, taking over the investigation into Thursday’s helicopter crash that killed seven people. Garden Island.

New $50 registration fee for electric vehicles, NTSB investigating fatal Kauai tour helicopter crash, Honolulu officials enjoy contractor-paid lunches, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Electric vehicle at Hawaii charging station ©2019 All Hawaii News

Hawaii joins states charging more for electric cars as new laws kick in. The new year will bring new charges for some owners of electric vehicles, as an increasing number of states seek to plug in to fresh revenue sources to offset forgone gas taxes. Associated Press.

Sun shines for solar PV, despite tax credit step-down. Solar companies are rushing to finish up installations as part of the usual end-of-year crunch, but are particularly busy this year due to a step-down in federal tax credits for residential solar PV systems set to begin in 2020. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii Congressman Ed Case Renews His Crusade Against The Jones Act. Case’s attempt to exempt Hawaii from the 1920 maritime law isn’t supported by others in the state’s federal delegation. Civil Beat.

$30 million in ‘ohana zone’ funding has led to multiple state projects. In the 2018 legislative session, lawmakers approved a whopping $30 million to fund a homeless concept that started out as tent cities, then morphed into undefined “safe zones” and finally became law under the banner of “ohana zones.” Star-Advertiser.

Oahu

Free Lunch From A Contractor Is Annual Tradition at Honolulu Hale. The Ethics Commission is considering a zero-tolerance policy on “tokens of aloha.” Civil Beat.

ACLU says Honolulu's "midnight homeless sweeps" unconstitutional, cruel during holidays. Civic groups call for end to enforcements they say are ineffective, inhumane and illegal, citing a federal ruling that applies to Hawaii. KITV.

Barbers Point air museum files suit to stay in business. The nonprofit Naval Air Museum Barbers Point, which maintains that it is being wrongfully evicted by state airport officials over a convoluted contract history, has filed a lawsuit claiming it has an “implied agreement” with the state to occupy certain space at what is now known as Kalaeloa Airport. Star-Advertiser.

Kaneohe Cemetery Expansion Threatens Rare Damselfly. State officials will decide at a hearing that starts next month if the developer’s mitigation plan adequately protects this endangered species. Civil Beat.

Wahiawa residents say planned homeless shelter is unsafe. Alea Bridge’s Resource and Navigation Center will provide showers, hygiene and laundry facilities. Hawaii News Now.

Kaimuki residents: City isn’t doing enough to rein in monster home builder. Kaimuki residents are up in arms about another monster home proposed in their neighborhood. The city is still investigating but neighbors said it isn’t doing enough. Hawaii News Now.

Hawaii Island

GET increase to take effect Jan. 1. For the second time in two years, the new year will bring another increase to the county’s general excise tax. Tribune-Herald.

Mauna Kea road cleared as protesters shift focus. The Mauna Kea Access Road was finally cleared of tents and protesters Saturday for the first time since mid-July, but the opponents of the Thirty Meter Telescope vowed to shift the focus of their protest campaign to the mainland during a two-month pause in the standoff on the mountain. Star-Advertiser.

$90M penciled in for Saddle extension. State transportation officials are targeting a new source of funding to help cover some of the cost of extending Daniel K. Inouye Highway to Queen Kaahumanu Highway. West Hawaii Today.

$4 million for Kukuiola, Village 9 road project. The county is poised to receive $4 million from the Hawaii Housing Finance &Development Corp. to build a road accessing the Kukuiola emergency shelter project and Village 9 affordable rental community project on Kealakehe Parkway. West Hawaii Today.

Plotting the road to recovery: Disaster task force to review strategies at meeting. Hawaii County’s Disaster Recovery Task Force will begin reviewing proposed strategies related to recovery efforts from the 2018 eruption of Kilauea volcano at its meeting next month. Tribune-Herald.

Inaba to run for County Council. A contender for the County Council District 8 seat being vacated by Karen Eoff is poised to announce his candidacy. West Hawaii Today.

Maui

Alice Lee new council chairwoman. Committees reorganized in wake of King's resignation as chair. Maui News.

King’s Term as Chair Cut Short: Lee Pledges “Unifying” Style. The Maui County Council voted 7-2 on Friday in favor of changing council leadership from the current chair, Kelly King, to the selection of Alice Lee, who will take over chairmanship on Jan. 2, 2020. Maui Now.

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County Council overrides Victorino’s property tax veto. New classifications to take effect July 1. Maui News.

Extra care goes into Iao Valley grounds. Maui Native Hawaiian Club members and volunteers worked on the grounds surrounding the foundation of the Hawaiian Hale at Kepaniwai Heritage Gardens in Iao Valley on Saturday morning. Maui News.

Kauai

NTSB arrives on Kauai to investigate fatal tour chopper crash. An NTSB team arrived on Sunday to launch their investigation of what caused the tour helicopter crash on Kauai’s Na Pali Coast that left no survivors. Hawaii News Now.

No survivors in Kauai helicopter crash; tours scrutinized. Tour helicopter operations in Hawaii have come under increased scrutiny after the deadly crash this week, one of several recent accidents in the state, with a congressman calling the trips unsafe and lacking proper oversight. Associated Press.

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Park limitations having impact. One of the sure signs of the new management paradigm for this state park and the adjoining Ha‘ena State Park on Kauai is a truer wilderness experience for people hardy enough to hike 11 miles one-way from Ke‘e Beach to Kalalau Beach. Garden Island.

Rise of EVs. Two sleek cars — one red and the other blue — sit in adjoining parking spaces at Kukui Grove Center in Lihue. They are testimony to the speed with which Kauai is embracing electric vehicles. Garden Island.

Lanai

Lanaʻi Veterans Cemetery Improvements Complete. State dignitaries gathered on Saturday to mark the completion of a nine-year, $600,000 project at the Lanaʻi Veterans Cemetery. Maui Now.

Two-month truce on Mauna Kea, tour helicopter missing off Kauai, new Oahu vacation rental form spurs more complaints, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Mauna Kea scene showing road-blocking tent in July, 2019. ©2019 All Hawaii News

Officials reach a truce with Mauna Kea protesters. Hawaii County Mayor Harry Kim has struck a deal with the protesters on Mauna Kea, with Kim pledging there will be no construction activity by the Thirty Meter Telescope on Mauna Kea and no police action to clear out the protesters during January and February provided the protesters move off Mauna Kea Access Road. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii County, TMT Protesters Agree To Clear The Road To Mauna Kea. Activists will move their encampment off the mountain’s access road in exchange for a county promise not to start more work on the telescope until February. Civil Beat.

Protesters, Kim reach agreement to reopen Maunakea Access Road. For the first time since July, demonstrators opposing the construction of the Thirty Meter Telescope will vacate the Maunakea Access Road, thanks to an agreement with Mayor Harry Kim. Tribune-Herald.

Mauna Kea Summit Road Closed Ahead Of Clearing It To Open Access. Hawaii County is temporarily closing the Mauna Kea Access Road on Hawaii Island until Saturday as the road is cleared and made completely accessible to the public, Mayor Harry Kim announced Thursday. Hawaii Public Radio.

TMT opponents are declaring Thursday's agreement a victory. Thirty Meter Telescope opponents have agreed to move the kupuna tent to the side and allow full public access on the Mauna Kea Access Road, at least for the next two months, as the planned observatory project has no immediate plans to start construction on the mountain. Big Island Video News.

In major deal, TMT protesters agree to temporarily clear Mauna Kea Access Road. Thirty Meter Telescope protesters say they’ve agreed to move their “kupuna tent” from Mauna Kea Access Road until February under a deal with Hawaii County. But they stressed they’re not leaving their encampment ― or the mountain. Hawaii News Now.

Under agreement with protectors, Mayor Kim announces temporary closure of Maunakea Access Road. Mayor Harry Kim announced on Thursday that the Maunakea Access Road is temporarily closed to the public as the road is being cleared to make it completely accessible to the public. KHON2.

Kia‘i to Move off Road, Remain on Maunakea. Kia‘i, or the self-dubbed protectors of Maunakea, on Thursday responded to an offer from Hawai‘i County Mayor Harry Kim proposing both sides of the Thirty Meter Telescope dispute stand down through the end of February. Big Island Now.

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Hawaii Doctor Shortage Persists But More Training Programs Could Help. Hawaii is gaining doctors, but not enough to keep up with the patient demand, according to a University of Hawaii report on the state’s continuing physician shortage. Hawaii Public Radio.

New Bill Aims to Require Invasive Species Screenings For All Hawaiʻi-Bound Cargo, Baggage. Congressman Ed Case (HI-01) recently introduced a bill to require that all baggage and cargo transporting into Hawai’i by air or sea be inspected for invasive species and high-risk agricultural materials. Maui Now.

Hawaii is almost certain to pass the 10M visitors mark by the end of 2019. The number of visitors to Hawaii grew 4% in November compared to the year before. Hawaii News Now.

Oahu

City Gets 40 Complaints On Possible Illegal Rentals As Online Tip Form Launches. Honolulu officials have received 40 complaints of suspected illegal short-term rentals this week, most of them in Kailua. Hawaii Public Radio.

City Launches Online Short-Term Rental Complaint Form. It was mandated by a new law that Honolulu officials expect will increase violation notices. Civil Beat.

With over 17K firecracker permits sold on Oahu, HFD reminds public of laws and safety on New Year’s Eve. Sales of firecrackers on Oahu began Thursday and so far 17,804 firecracker permits have been issued, according to the Honolulu Fire Department. Star-Advertiser.

The Future Of Koko Crater Stables Remains In Limbo. It’s still not clear who will run the island’s last remaining public equestrian center long-term — or whether they’ll even stay in existence. Civil Beat.

Some Kipapa Gulch residents blame development next door for heavy flooding. Some people KITV4 spoke with say they've lived there for more than 30 years and it was the worst flooding they've ever seen. KITV.

Hawaii Island

County considering Naalehu Theater gift. It’s a gift Hawaii County isn’t sure quite what to do with. The Naalehu Theater, a colorful Art Deco landmark built in 1940 along Mamalahoa Highway in Naalehu, needs a lot of TLC. West Hawaii Today.

State deploys new tactic in bid to get suit over Peter Boy Kema’s death tossed. The state appears to be relying on a technicality in a bid to avoid a civil lawsuit over the death of Peter Kema, Jr., known as Peter Boy. Hawaii News Now.

Fissure 8 names to be mulled next month. The question of what to call the most prominent remaining feature from the 2018 Kilauea volcano eruption will not be answered for several more months. Tribune-Herald.

Maui

New Partnership Aims to Increase Understanding of Marine Ecosystems. Maui Nui Marine Resource Council has launched a new partnership with the Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary, located in Kihei. Maui Now.

Two visitor reports show strong November for Maui County. County led the state in revenue per room, average daily rate. Maui News.

Kauai

Coast Guard searching off Kauai for overdue tour helicopter with 7 people aboard. Coast Guard crews are searching by air and in the water for an overdue helicopter with seven people aboard that failed to return from a tour off Kauai’s Na Pali coast. Hawaii News Now.

Coast Guard searching for overdue helicopter off Kauai. The Coast Guard is searching tonight for a tour helicopter overdue on Kauai with seven people aboard. Star-Advertiser.

Coast Guard searching for overdue tour helicopter on Kauai, 7 on board. The Coast Guard is searching for seven people overdue aboard a tour helicopter on Kauai, Thursday. KITV.

Coast Guard searching for tour helicopter off Kauai’s Na Pali Coast. The Coast Guard is searching for seven people overdue aboard a tour helicopter on Kauai, Thursday. Maui Now.

Kauai visitors spend $1.7B. The tourism industry held steady statewide and on Kauai in November, according to the latest report from the Hawaii Tourism Authority. Garden Island.