Legislature seeks to slash solar tax credit, House wants to defer raises, medical marijuana users fear loss of cropland, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Solar panels in Hawaii ©2021 All Hawaii News

The state Senate is looking to slash a popular solar tax credit. But environmentalists and clean energy advocates say the measure will not only hurt the economy but will make it more difficult for the state to achieve its clean energy goals. Hawaii News Now.

House aims to suspend raises for Hawaii legislators, governor, judges. Pay raises of 10% that were scheduled to go into effect for state legislators July 1 were tentatively suspended Tuesday, pending another House floor vote on Thursday. Star-Advertiser. Hawaii News Now.

HMSA’s Mark Mugiishi To Chair State Redistricting Panel. The decision came after a 6-2 vote Tuesday with some concerns raised about the process. Civil Beat.

Patients fear losing access to medical cannabis amid push to restrict amateur grow operations. Since the day medical cannabis was legalized in Hawaii more than two decades ago, the program has centered around the rights of patients and caregivers to grow their own marijuana. But now, state health officials want to create new rules that would drastically restrict the number of people who could use the same grow site. Hawaii News Now.

Budget cuts may be on the horizon for HTA, its community programs. Tourism is ramping back up just as House Bill 862 could cut the Hawaii Tourism Authority’s budget and some of its key programs. KHON2.

State, city leaders still considering business rent assistance. A coalition representing Hawaii commercial landlords and tenants announced Tuesday that difficulty paying rent is subsiding as the state economy improves but that government aid is still sorely needed. Star-Advertiser.

American Civil Liberties Union of Hawaii wants scrutiny of prisons’ virus response to go on. The American Civil Liberties Union of Hawaii has called for continued judicial supervision of COVID-19 safety measures in Hawaii correctional facilities, arguing that the state’s incarcerated population remains at risk of contracting the virus and causing clusters in jails, prisons and the community. Star-Advertiser.

Ige sees public schools being able to fully reopen for in-person learning by this fall. Gov. David Ige said Tuesday he anticipates public schools to be fully reopened for in-person learning this fall. Tribune-Herald.

Johnson & Johnson vaccine pause will have little effect on isles, health director says. Despite a nationwide pause on the use of the Johnson &Johnson COVID-19 vaccine due to six cases of serious blood clots, including one death, Hawaii remains on track to open up COVID-19 vaccinations by Monday to those 16 and over. Star-Advertiser. Civil Beat. Hawaii Public Radio. Associated Press. Garden Island. Maui Now.  Hawaii News Now.

April 13, 2021 COVID-19 Update: The state Department of Health reports that there were 64 additional COVID-19 cases reported in Hawai‘i on Tuesday, including 38 on O‘ahu, 18 on Maui, six on Hawai‘i Island, and one in a Hawai‘i resident diagnosed while out of state. Maui Now.

Oahu

Another $800M For Rail? Don’t Count On It, Schatz Says. Hawaii’s senior senator says there’s little appetite in Washington to appropriate more federal funds for Honolulu’s troubled and overbudget rail. Civil Beat.

Honolulu building inspector is 4th to plead not guilty to federal bribery charges. The last of the five former and current city Department of Planning and Permitting employees who were federally charged for accepting bribes has pleaded not guilty and will proceed to trial. Star-Advertiser.

Mountain Of Evidence Weighs Down Defendants In Miske Racketeering Case. Defendants ask the court how they’re supposed to review gigabytes of digital evidence without special access to prison computers. Civil Beat.

Honolulu Mayor Rick Blangiardi’s pick for Police Commission withdraws nomination. Mayor Rick Blangiardi, who had nominated Benjamin Mahi, sent a memo to the Honolulu City Council on Tuesday of the decision. Star-Advertiser. Civil Beat. Hawaii News Now.

City seeks input on redesign of Ala Wai Boulevard. The city is looking for input from members of the public for a project to improve safety and enjoyment of Ala Wai Boulevard, the one-way, three-lane corridor that traces the makai banks of the Ala Wai Canal from Kapahulu to Kalakaua avenues in Waikiki. Star-Advertiser.

Despite potential flooding threat, Wahiawa dam owners get more time to make repairs. Dole Food Company Hawaii, one of the owners of the Wahiawa Dam at Lake Wilson, has been given more time to make improvements to the aging facility. Hawaii News Now.

Gov. David Ige’s ‘powering past coal task force’ to track projects replacing Oahu’s coal plant. Gov. David Ige has established a new task force to help move Oahu’s renewable projects along in a more timely manner. Star-Advertiser.

Demand, Bellows closure make Honolulu camping reservations scarce. One of Hawaii’s most popular camping spots, Bellows, will be closed for camping starting April 19 as nesting sea turtles have moved into the area. KHON2.

Aggressive takeoff caused 2019 skydiving plane crash at Dillingham Airfield that killed 11. A pilot’s aggressive takeoff led to an aerodynamic stall, causing the 2019 crash of a skydiving plane in Mokuleia that killed all 11 people on board, government safety investigators have determined. Associated Press. KITV4.

Hawaii Island

Mayor, council settle down to budget business. The county’s finances are in a “precarious” position and the administration and County Council need to put aside “petty politics” and work together, Mayor Mitch Roth said Tuesday in his first budget presentation before the council’s Finance Committee. West Hawaii Today.

Hawaii Island residents driver’s license renewal deadline extended. Hawaii Island residents with a driver’s license that expires on or after March 16, 2020 can have until June 8 to renew. KHON2.

HCCC remains in quarantine: Inmate COVID-19 test results pending, court operations affected. No new positive COVID-19 tests were reported Tuesday among inmates or staff at Hawaii Community Correctional Center, which remains in quarantine after an employee recently tested positive for the novel coronavirus, the Department of Public Safety confirmed. West Hawaii Today.

Future of Keauhou Shopping Center post office in the air. The contract holder for the Post Office in the Keauhou Shopping Center must vacate the space he has run since 2015 by Friday, and it’s unclear what services will be offered — if any — beyond then. West Hawaii Today.

Maui

March rain erases remaining drought for Maui County. The wettest March on record since 2006 for many areas of the state helped eliminate remaining severe drought areas for Maui County, according to the National Weather Service. Maui News.

Seabury Hall to Host In-Person and Virtual Summer School. Seabury Hall on Maui announced the return of its summer school for students who will be entering grades 4-12 during the upcoming 2021-2022 school year. Maui Now.

Kauai

Revitalizing the hog industry. ‘Aina Ho‘okupu O Kilauea received two Innovation Grants from the county recently, one a Kaua‘i pigpen system that will hopefully revitalize the industry, and another grant for new farm technology that can be used on small farms by tracking trends and detecting disease. Garden Island.

Ige signs abortion bill, details coming on vaccine passport, Honolulu battles corruption, 40% of public schools full-time in-person, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Gov. David Ige signs abortion bill. From video

 Nurses allowed to perform abortions in Hawaiʻi. Governor David Ige signed House Bill 576 into law on Monday. Previously, only physicians were allowed to provide abortion. Maui Now. Hawaii News Now. Associated Press.

Hawaii Is Working Out The Details Of A COVID-19 Vaccine Passport. Soon, travelers may be able to upload vaccination documents to Hawaii’s online travel health form to skip the mandatory quarantine. Civil Beat. Star-Advertiser. Tribune-Herald.  KHON2.

After more than a year, Hawaii economy slow to diversify. After more than a year of talk about diversifying Hawaii’s tourism-dependent economy, little progress has been made as isle tourism comes roaring back. Star-Advertiser.

Isolated Economy Presents Challenges, Opportunities For Diversification. Isolated economies such as Hawaii, New Zealand and Western Australia are dominated by one major industry, thus leaving it open to external shocks. A new look explores these vulnerabilities and how economic diversification might be possible. Hawaii Public Radio.

Price to pay: Increased price for goods sets up challenges for Hawaii restaurants and retailers. One of those reasons includes factories overseas and on the mainland shutting down for good. Retail Merchants of Hawaii also points out, shipping inter-island is up 50%. KHON2.

Kids back full time at nearly 40% of Hawaii’s public elementary schools. Nearly 4 in 10 public elementary schools have welcomed back all students who want daily in-person classes, and the rest have kids on campus at least some days, as do virtually all secondary schools. Star-Advertiser.

Just 3 Hawaii public schools are still on full distance learning. Those campuses are Lanai High and Elementary, Maui Waena Intermediate and Pahoa High and Intermediate on Hawaii Island. Hawaii News Now.

Green: Hawaii to cross milestone of 1 million vaccine doses by week’s end. Lt. Gov. Josh Green anticipates Hawaii will reach the one million COVID-19 vaccine dose mark by week’s end. West Hawaii Today.

April 12, 2021 COVID-19 Update: The state Department of Health reports that there were 70 additional COVID-19 cases reported in Hawai‘i on Monday, including 48 on O‘ahu, 15 on Maui, five on Hawai‘i Island, and two in Hawai‘i residents diagnosed while out of state. Maui Now.

Oahu

A Building Inspector Took Money From A Homeowner. Her Punishment: 2 Years Paid Time Off. The 2018 investigation was supposed to wrap up in a few weeks but dragged on for two years. No criminal charges have been filed. Civil Beat.

Attorney for Kaneshiro campaign donors disputes report connecting clients to corruption probe. The attorney representing a powerful Hawaii businessman has issued a public denial following a report that connected her clients to a federal corruption probe into former city Prosecutor Keith Kaneshiro. Hawaii News Now.

Lawyers for man framed by Kealohas seek former Mayor Kirk Caldwell’s testimony. Attorneys for the man framed by former high-ranking deputy city Prosecutor Katherine Kealoha want former Mayor Kirk Caldwell to testify under oath. Hawaii News Now.

Search for next Honolulu police chief to begin. A nationwide search will begin to find the 12th chief of the Honolulu Police Department when the Honolulu Police Commission is scheduled to meet Monday and discuss retaining a recruitment firm to hire HPD’s second boss in four years. Star-Advertiser. KHON2. KITV4.

Rush is on to get Hawaii’s renewable energy online. There’s a growing sense of urgency as the slated retirement of AES Hawaii, Oahu’s coal-fired plant at Campbell Industrial Park, grows near. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii Island

Ethics Board OKs Richards’ vote. It’s not a violation of the ethics code for a County Council member to serve as a reference for someone seeking a county job and then voting on that person’s confirmation, the Board of Ethics ruled Monday on a 3-1 vote. West Hawaii Today.

Alaka‘i Academy moving forward: Preschool looking to build campus of its own. Alaka‘i Academy is moving forward with plans to build a preschool campus of its own off Queen Kaahumanu Highway in Kailua-Kona. West Hawaii Today.

HCCC in quarantine after positive COVID test. Hawaii Community Correctional Center has been placed in quarantine after a staffer tested positive for COVID-19, the state confirmed Monday. West Hawaii Today.

Maui

Mayor Extends Condolences to Councilmember Kama Amid Double Tragedy. Mayor Michael Victorino released a statement today expressing condolences to Councilmember Tasha Kama and her ʻohana on the passing of her husband, David. He updated his condolences today after learning about the death of her daughter on Sunday. Maui Now.

Coronavirus cluster at Maui church climbs to 77 cases. The coronavirus outbreak at King’s Cathedral & Chapels on Maui has now been linked to 77 cases, according to the Department of Health’s weekly cluster report issued today. Star-Advertiser.

Maui Jail Clear of COVID-19 Cases. The Maui Community Correctional Center is now clear of all active COVID-19 cases, according to the state Department of Public Safety. Maui Now.

Residents ‘take back the beach’ over frustrations with tourism. Demonstrators gathered peacefully on Wailea Beach on Saturday to send a message to government and tourism officials that tourism management is sorely needed. Maui News. Hawaii News Now.

Kauai

Visitor entrance fees to start at Koke‘e, Waimea Canyon. Starting next week, non-Hawai‘i resident visitors to Waimea Canyon State Park and Koke‘e State Park will be required to purchase both entrance and parking permits. Garden Island.

Project Vision Hawai‘i blesses mobile shower for houseless. Access to free, hot showers is now available at the remaining open county-beach parks on a rotating basis for the homeless community thanks to Project Vision Hawai‘i. Garden Island.

Hawaii vaccine passport to start inter-island as soon as next month, Honolulu police chief quits, Hokulea navigator Baybayan dead at 65, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Native Hawaiians guarding the Hokulea ©2021 All Hawaii News

Crews Mourn The ‘Unreal’ Death Of One Of Hawaii’s Greatest Navigators. Kalepa Baybayan, a longtime Hokule‘a captain who helped rekindle traditional navigation in the Pacific, died suddenly in Seattle on Thursday. Civil Beat. Big Island Video News. Hawaii News Now.

Ige Details Plans For A Hawaii Vaccine Passport. The governor’s latest emergency proclamation also extends an eviction moratorium through June. Civil Beat. Hawaii Public Radio. Hawaii News Now. KHON2.

In newest emergency proclamation, Ige extends eviction moratorium through June. Through extending the eviction moratorium through June 8, tenants are prohibited from evicting residents for failure to pay all or a portion of rent, maintenance fees, utility charges, and taxes. Hawaii News Now.

Some businesses are facing a new challenge: Hiring workers back. Businesses said they want to hire more people, but some managers report they’re having a hard time convincing folks to come back to work. Hawaii News Now.

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Automatic voter registration bill nears passage. Senate Bill 159 would make voter registration part of the application process for a driver’s license or identification card. West Hawaii Today.

Bans On High Capacity Magazines For Guns Fail At Legislature. Bills to legalize recreational marijuana and collect more data on police use of force also stall. Civil Beat.

State lawmakers advance bill on rise in sea level. House Bill 243, which unanimously passed the Ways and Means Committee on Wednesday, would require the Office of Planning to work with state departments to identify existing and planned facilities that are vulnerable to the increased flooding and more powerful storms that are anticipated with climate change, and assess options such as flood-proofing or relocating buildings and infrastructure inland. Star-Advertiser.

Legislation proposes dramatic increases to fines for Hawaii tour buses that continue illegal activity. Under Senate Bill 766 the Hawaii Public Utilities Commission, which regulates motor carriers, would be able to significantly increase fines for tour buses that repeatedly flout Hawaii’s laws. Star-Advertiser.

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ACLU Hawai'i pushes to continue early-inmate releases. The fight over releasing inmates in the name of the pandemic continues. The ACLU of Hawai'i filed an amicus brief on Wednesday, appealing to the Hawai'i Supreme Court. KITV4.

Police Shootings Board Is Still Doing Nothing As Cases Pile Up. The eight-member board is now down three members and still has no clear plan on when to resume business. Civil Beat.

Ige Withdraws Land Board Nominee Sam Gon. Gov. David Ige has pulled back on one of his picks for the state land board who has generated some community opposition in the past for his support of controversial projects, including the Na Pua Makani wind farm in Kahuku and the Thirty Meter Telescope. Civil Beat.

State ordered to pay $370K in attorneys fees in Hawaiian land trust case. The state is poised to pay $370,418 in attorneys fees after losing a class-action lawsuit filed on behalf of more than 2,700 Native Hawaiians who spent years languishing on the waitlist for homestead land. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii Senate VP Says Ige Is ‘Skirting’ Board of Education Nomination Process. The statement came after the governor didn’t submit enough nominees for consideration for upcoming vacancies. Civil Beat.

Home schooling rates soar during pandemic in Hawaii and nationally. Nearly twice as many families in Hawaii decided to home-school their children this academic year as last year, according to new data from public schools and the Census Bureau. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii schools report 47 new cases of COVID-19. Coronavirus cases among public school staff and students have been on the rise in recent weeks as more campuses have returned to in-person instruction. Star-Advertiser.

Oahu’s vaccine eligibility expands this week, but the state isn’t getting more doses. Over the next couple weeks, hundreds of thousands more Oahu residents will become eligible for the COVID vaccine. But at the same time, health officials say the federal government will be sending fewer shots. Hawaii News Now.

Some islands have open appointments despite vaccine eligibility increasing. To date, about 20% of Hawaii and Oahu residents have received two doses of the vaccine. Kauai leads the way with 30% of residents with two doses, and Maui is at 18%. KHON2.

April 11, 2021 COVID-19 Update: The state Department of Health reports that there were 92 additional COVID-19 cases reported in Hawai‘i on Sunday, including 72 on O‘ahu, 11 on Maui, six on Hawai‘i Island, and three in Hawai‘i residents diagnosed while out of state. Maui Now.

Oahu

Embattled Honolulu Police Chief Announces Retirement. Chief Susan Ballard said she had lost the support of the Honolulu Police Commission and Mayor Rick Blangiardi’s administration. Civil Beat. Associated Press. Hawaii News Now.

Pay to Play: Some who have dealt with Honolulu’s Department of Planning and Permitting say bribes helped smooth approval process. The U.S. Attorney’s Office charged current and former building plan examiners, a data access and imaging employee, and a building inspector with soliciting thousands of dollars to move building permits through the city approval process. An architect also was charged. Star-Advertiser.

Why One Developer Is Banking On More Digital Nomads Coming To Hawaii. With people flocking to Hawaii to work remotely, a local builder known for affordable green homes is creating a co-living space in an Ala Moana penthouse. Civil Beat.

Bikeshare Hawaii regroups to cut costs, starts removing some stations. Bikeshare Hawaii, the nonprofit organization that manages the Biki bikeshare business, said it will decommission many stations over the next few months as part of an urgent cost-saving plan to survive pandemic-related losses. Star-Advertiser.

Permit challenges paint a grim picture for the future of a beloved Oahu art exhibit. Organizers of the ‘Art on the Zoo Fence,’ a popular venue for local residents and tourists since 1953, said they may be forced to fold if the city doesn’t reissue permits for them to reopen. Hawaii News Now.

Hawaii Island

Council set to scrutinize budget: Department heads to plead their case in three days of hearings. The County Council, sitting as the Finance Committee, is poised to take a deep dive into the county budget Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday. West Hawaii Today.

BLNR fines Ka‘u dam owner: Edmund C. Olson Trust ordered to pay $7,500 for unaddressed deficiencies. The Board of Land and Natural Resources Friday fined the Edmund C. Olson Trust, owner of the Keaiwa Reservoir above Pahala, for failure to comply with a notice of deficiency issued in February 2020. West Hawaii Today.

Thirty Meter Telescope still on hold as it deals with pandemic, funding issues. TMT officials Friday said construction near the summit remains on hold as the project continues to assess a number of factors affecting its timeline and schedule. Star-Advertiser.

Rent at housing project on Big Isle starts at $350. A nonprofit developer has started to build an affordable rental housing complex for families on Hawaii island where monthly rents are projected to be as low as $350. Star-Advertiser.

Maui

Frustrated residents push back as Hawaii tourism resurges. Saturday’s “Take Back Our Beach” event calling on residents to pack the beach fronting the Four Seasons and the Grand Wailea resorts was a clear line in the sand. Star-Advertiser.

Preliminary Data: 6,441 Passengers Arriving Daily to Kahului, Maui. The Hawaiʻi Department of Transportation encourages people planning to fly to or from Hawaiʻi’s Airports to prepare for a busy summer travel season. Maui Now.

Maui County has highest California variant cases in state. Maui County has the largest amount of the highly transmissible California variant among specimens analyzed by the state Department of Health’s Laboratories Division. Maui News.

Health centers look to fill gaps in vaccination efforts. Providers navigate transportation, language barriers to connect with patients. Maui News.

Kauai

Bill seeks to clarify allowed campgrounds. A bill to define the types of campgrounds allowed on Kaua‘i is moving into the realm of the Planning Commission. Garden Island.

Waipouli residents against acquisition of land for path. Coastal erosion, disrupting shearwater seabirds and a waste of taxpayer dollars are reasons cited for resident protest against possible action by the county to acquire private land for the bike and pedestrian path, Ke Ala Hele Makalae. Garden Island.

Kikiaola harbor improvements begin. Work on the Kikiaola Small Boat Harbor improvement project got underway Friday as workers from Cushnie Construction Company secured fencing for areas of the facility that will be getting concrete applications. Garden Island.

Gas prices going up, House shelves worker relief bills, Oahu opens vaccine to 50+ as COVID cases continue to rise, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Gas prices were very high 10 years ago ©2011 All Hawaii News

AAA Hawaiʻi: State Gas Price Average Reaches 17-Month High. On Thursday, April 8, the statewide average price for regular unleaded is $3.71 a gallon, which is up two cents from last Thursday, April 1, 22 cents higher than a month ago and 40 cents higher than the average last year on the same date. Maui Now. KITV4.

State House leaders shelve bills that would help workers. House leaders are resisting union pressure to revive bills this year that would raise the minimum wage and exempt jobless benefits from state income taxes.  Star-Advertiser.

Gut-and-replace bill threatens Tourism Authority funding. The Hawaii Tourism Authority, the agency responsible for leading tourism recovery across the islands, is at risk of losing funding again due to 11th-hour maneuvering at the state Legislature. Star-Advertiser. Tribune-Herald.

Hawaii Bill Would Make Superintendent Hiring Process More Local. House Bill 515 HD1 SD2 would make a "working understanding" of Hawaii's education system a "desired qualification" for the Superintendent position. KITV4.

‘Mismanaged and dysfunctional’: DOH official calls out alleged corruption in department. A longtime Department of Health manager is blowing the whistle on his own department, alleging corruption and mismanagement that is fleecing taxpayers and jeopardizing sanitation and health inspections. Hawaii News Now.

Report: Hawaiʻi Tech Sector has Direct Impact of $3.4 Billion on State’s Economy. The Cyberstates 2021™ report by CompTIA showed that the state is home to nearly 2,300 tech business establishments and the sector has a direct impact of $3.4 billion on the state economy. Maui Now.

Commander of Pearl Harbor destroyer removed from duty. Cmdr. Kathryn Dawley, commanding officer of the Pearl Harbor destroyer USS Hopper was relieved of her duties Tuesday “due to a loss of confidence in her leadership,” the Navy said. Star-Advertiser. Civil Beat.

How People Across Hawaii Are Creating Spaces To Grow Their Own Food. Locally grown vegetables are expensive, so communities are coming together to grow fresh produce. Civil Beat.

Hawaii will receive far fewer doses of the Johnson and Johnson COVID-19 vaccine next week. Fewer shots mean fewer appointments available at vaccination sites. KITV4.

April 8, 2021 COVID-19 Update: The state Department of Health reports that there were 122 additional COVID-19 cases reported in Hawai‘i on Thursday, including 70 on O‘ahu, 40 on Maui, 10 on Hawai‘i Island, one on Kaua‘i, and one in a Hawai‘i resident diagnosed while out of state. Maui Now.

Oahu

Oahu opens COVID-19 vaccinations to those age 50 and over starting Monday. State Health Director Libby Char, in a news release, called the wider eligibility a great opportunity for residents 50 and older on Oahu to register before vaccine eligibility opens to everyone 16 and older on April 19. Star-Advertiser. Civil Beat.  Hawaii Public Radio.  Maui News Now Hawaii News Now. KHON2.

State investigators raid Honolulu airport baseyard, investigation ongoing. State investigators executed a search warrant Thursday at a baseyard at the Honolulu airport. The state Attorney General’s office raided the airport’s Maintenance Section Airfield and Grounds Maintenance Unit Facility, which is located off Aolele Street. Hawaii News Now. Star-Advertiser.

Aloha Stadium Plan Will Burden Taxpayers. Sources of funding for the $350 million worth of public investment in the new stadium would put more burden on the state’s general fund, and therefore tax dollars, under a proposal moving through the Legislature, House Bill 1348. Civil Beat.

Deadline to use expired licenses quickly approaching. Tuesday, April 13, is the last day a driver’s license or state ID that has expired since March, 2020 will be considered valid. The City and County of Honolulu says thousands of motorists are behind on their renewals. KHON2.

More Oahu retailers close permanently, creating a surge in vacant space. Collateral damage from COVID-19 in Oahu’s retail industry has multiplied greatly in recent months and likely will get worse before the year is over, according to a new report. Star-Advertiser.

Doris Duke breakwater demolition is opposed. Testimony was heard Thursday evening at an online public hearing on the state’s plan to demolish the Diamond Head Breakwater, which forms one wall of a swim basin beneath Doris Duke’s Shangri La, and use the rubble to fortify the seawall and walkway along the shoreline. Star-Advertiser. Hawaii News Now.

Hawaii Island

Senate version of state budget includes funding for lifeguards at Kua Bay, Hapuna. Full funding for lifeguard services at two Big Island state beach parks has been restored by the state Senate in its draft of the proposed state budget. West Hawaii Today.

DOH investigates three Big Island COVID clusters. Three COVID-19 clusters have been investigated on the Big Island in the past 14 days, according to a weekly cluster report issued Thursday by the state Department of Health. Tribune-Herald.

Maui

Hotly debated housing bill passes council. Measure requires fast-tracked projects to have at least 75% affordable units. Maui News.

New homes to be sold at near cost on Maui. Local real estate developer Peter Savio unveiled plans Thursday for 81 townhomes and single-family homes on condominium land lots exclusively for Maui residents who have more or less moderate incomes. Star-Advertiser. Maui Now. Hawaii News Now.

Kauai

Rep. Kahele tours Kaua‘i, meets nonprofits, talks proposed Radar system. U.S. Rep. Kai Kahele spent the past week on Kaua‘i, analyzing coastal erosion along the Wailua corridor, touring Hanalei and meeting with nonprofits and officials, including walking through the site of a proposed missile-defense radar at the U.S. Navy Pacific Missile Range Facility at Barking Sands near Kekaha. Garden Island.

Gayagas named deputy county engineer. Mayor Derek Kawakami announced the appointment of Boyd Gayagas as deputy county engineer in the Department of Public Works. Garden Island.

Maui travelers face mandatory second COVID test, Honolulu plans examiner admits taking bribes, Kauai business mandates employee vaccinations, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Waikiki Aquarium ©2021 All Hawaii News

Still-closed Waikiki Aquarium holds Earth Month celebration. The Waikiki Aquarium, which has been closed for more than a year due to the coronavirus pandemic, might reopen in June, said Dr. Andrew Rossiter, director of the 116-year-old institution. Star-Advertiser.

What The Pandemic Taught Hawaii Hospitals About Their Capacity To Handle Calamity. Hospitals made do with existing space and invested in some new equipment, but the pandemic exposed a heavy reliance on out-of-state traveling nurses. Civil Beat.

Bill creating statewide Hawaii travel policy dies in House. House Speaker Scott Saiki has requested to kill a bill that he introduced that would have mandated state-wide travel rules, saying COVID-19 conditions have since changed. Star-Advertiser. Civil Beat. Tribune-Herald.

Tourism: Hawaii residents’ reaction to rebound from pandemic. With bookings up, it’s uncertain how island residents will respond to tourism’s sudden rebound, House Speaker Scott Saiki said Wednesday. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii’s Transgender Community Pushes For Better Health Insurance Coverage. Experts say getting access to transition services is important, but there’s the debate over how much insurance companies should cover. Civil Beat.

Schatz: Relief package will fend off ‘economic scarring’. Federal coronavirus aid on its way to Hawaii will help the state avoid a prolonged economic downturn caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, said U.S. Sen. Brian Schatz on Wednesday. Tribune-Herald.

COVID-19 Vaccines Now Available For All Veterans In Hawaii. The Department of Veterans Affairs Pacific Island Healthcare System is now offering vaccines to all veterans, as well as their spouses and live-in caregivers in Hawaii. Civil Beat.

Although millions of doses of the Johnson &Johnson vaccine manufactured on the mainland had to be destroyed because of quality concerns, state health officials do not yet know how the production issues will affect allocations to Hawaii. Tribune-Herald.

April 7, 2021 COVID-19 Update: The state Department of Health reports that there were 76 additional COVID-19 cases reported in Hawai‘i on Wednesday, including 51 on O‘ahu, 15 on Maui, five on Hawai‘i Island, two on Kaua‘i, and three in Hawai‘i residents diagnosed while out of state.  Maui Now.

Oahu

Honolulu building plans examiner admits to taking bribes. A Honolulu building plans examiner admitted during a court hearing today that she expedited a local architect’s projects in exchange for bribes. Associated Press.  Civil Beat. Hawaii News Now.

Gov. David Ige, Honolulu Mayor Rick Blangiardi agree to leave Tier 3 in place for now. Honolulu will remain in Tier 3 of the city’s COVID-19 reopening framework for at least the next four weeks under an agreement between Mayor Rick Blangiardi and Gov. David Ige that will allow Oahu businesses and activities to maintain current levels of operation. Star-Advertiser.  Hawaii News Now.  Civil Beat. KHON2. KITV4.

Oahu to join other counties that opened vaccine eligibility to 16 and older on April 19. The state says it will meet the President’s mandate to allow all adults to sign-up for a COVID-19 vaccine by Monday, April 19. Hawaii is going a step further and including 16- and 17-year-olds statewide. KHON2. KITV4.

Police Commission Slams Chief For Leadership Failures, Puts Her On Improvement Plan. In a stinging performance review, the Honolulu Police Commission said on Wednesday that Honolulu Police Chief Susan Ballard has failed to adequately lead her department by embracing a “culture of blame” in which she shirks accountability and neglects to communicate clearly with officers and the public. Civil Beat. Star-Advertiser. Hawaii News Now. KHON2.

New Honolulu Police Policy On Using Force Aims To Defuse Tense Situations. HPD has new rules about when officers can shoot at moving vehicles, use vascular neck restraints and deploy other uses of force. Civil Beat.

Lawmakers seek to honor beloved senator with upcoming veteran clinic in Leeward Oahu. Hawaii’s congressional delegation announced plans to name the Advanced Leeward Outpatient Health Care Access, or “ALOHA” Project after the late Senator Daniel Kahikina Akaka. Hawaii News Now.

Citing safety concerns, state seeks $20,000 fine against owners of Wahiawa dam. The state Department of Land and Natural Resources is seeking a $20,000 fine against the owners of the Wahiawa Dam at Lake Wilson. Hawaii News Now.

Kamehameha Schools wants to adjust second phase of largely high-rise housing development in Kakaako. The trust is primarily seeking to extend a deadline to carry out development, to shift building densities between blocks and to produce more affordable housing than required if such homes don’t count toward a total maximum density limit for 29 acres in its master plan for the area. Star-Advertiser.

Servco Pacific is said to be planning a big auto lot on land in Kalaeloa. Servco Pacific Inc., which says it is Hawaii’s largest private company and one of the top 15 largest automobile dealer groups based in the United States, is planning to lease acreage at the former Naval Air Station Barbers Point for what could eventually be a huge auto lot, according to officials and business owners there. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii Island

Chun reiterates UH support of astronomy on Maunakea is not a conflict of interest. During a meeting of the Maunakea Management Board, Greg Chun, UH’s executive director of Maunakea Stewardship, advised the board that an upcoming working group to explore possible alternative management structures for the mountain could present “issues” for UH and suggested that fellow board members preemptively discuss those issues ahead of time. Tribune-Herald.

Council rejects Leeward Planning Commission nominee. The County Council on Wednesday rejected a Mayor Mitch Roth appointee to the Leeward Planning Commission in what the mayor called “retaliation” over his attempt to have a commission member removed in an unrelated action. West Hawaii Today.

Research suggests correlation between earthquake signatures, magma viscosity could help predict impact of future eruptions. A new study released Wednesday suggests researchers might be able to predict the potential impact of future volcanic eruptions before they happen. Tribune-Herald.

Hawaiʻi County Covered Play Courts To Reopen. The covered play courts at Pana‘ewa Park and Pāhoa District Park reopened on Monday, and Waimea will reopen next week. Tribune-Herald. Big Island Video News.

Maui

Maui to Implement Mandatory Secondary Test Upon Arrival for Trans-Pacific Flights. Proposed changes have been approved by the governor for the state’s Safe Travels program in Maui County. Trans-Pacific travelers arriving at Kahului Airport will soon be required to undergo a mandatory secondary COVID-19 rapid test upon arrival, or face a mandatory 10-day quarantine. Maui Now.

Court Rules In Favor Of A&B, Land Board In Maui Water Dispute. In a setback for environmentalists and some Native Hawaiian farmers, a First Circuit Court judge on Tuesday sided with the state, Maui County and Alexander & Baldwin in a case regarding the use of stream water from East Maui. Civil Beat. Maui Now. Hawaii News Now.

Bill would reserve half of all beach parking for residents. As tourism numbers and frustrations with overcrowding continue to rise, the Maui County Council is considering measures that would reserve at least half of all public beach access parking for residents and tack on parking fees for visitors. Maui News. Associated Press.

Kauai

MDA briefs Kaua‘i Council on proposed Hawai‘i defense radar. An estimated 200-400 people may be necessary to construct a proposed $1.9 billion federal Homeland Defense Radar – Hawai‘i, and then more than 100 personnel to work there. Garden Island.

Kauai Councilwoman In The Hot Seat After Accepting Paid Trip To Russia. Kauai County Councilwoman Felicia Cowden says a Board of Ethics complaint against her is politically motivated. Civil Beat.

Tiki Iniki mandates employees receive vaccine. In March, Michele Rundgren, owner of Tiki Iniki, made the decision to mandate all employees have a COVID-19 vaccine, including servers, bartenders and cooks. Garden Island.

Lanai

Unexploded munitions dating back to WWII found off Lanai’s south shore. The munitions were reported by two recreational divers. Maui Now. Hawaii News Now.

University of Hawaii football team quarantined, contact tracing chief resigns, state 50th in work from home rankings, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

University of Hawaii football, courtesy photo

Entire UH Football Team Heads to Quarantine Following Eight Positive Tests. The football team directed 81 players to quarantine in their homes "out of an abundance of caution after UH medical officials consulted with the Hawaiʻi Department of Health," the school said in a statement. Hawaii Public Radio. Big Island Now. Star-Advertiser. KHON2. KITV4.

CDC finds spread among youth sports, Hawaii pediatrician says play on. While the Rainbow Warriors are regularly tested for COVID-19, youth sports in Hawaii are generally not. This as the Centers for Disease Control says that they’re finding spread of the virus from youth sports. KHON2.

Official In Charge Of Hawaii’s COVID-19 Contact Tracing Resigns. Emily Roberson, an epidemiologist hired last year to revamp Hawaii’s COVID-19 contact tracing efforts, has resigned, she told Civil Beat Tuesday. Department of Health spokeswoman Janice Okubo said that Roberson left her position April 1.  Civil Beat.

Report: Hawaiʻi Ranks 50th in Work from Home Rankings. With 71 percent of people — whose jobs can be done remotely — working from home all or most of the time during the COVID-19 pandemic, the personal-finance website WalletHub released its report on the Best States for Working from Home. Hawai’i was ranked 50th, with only Alaska ranking lower. Maui Now.

Here’s How Hawaii’s New State Budget Is Shaping Up. With just a few weeks left in session, both the House and Senate plan to bail out Hawaii employers and pass some tax increases. Civil Beat.

Hawaii closer to declaring a ‘climate emergency’. A series of symbolic — but widely supported — climate resolutions, including one declaring a climate emergency, continued to move through the Legislature on Tuesday. Star-Advertiser.

Dark Clouds Are Looming Over Hawaii Even As The Economy Appears To Be Improving. Economic experts say many people are worse off than they were before the pandemic and a lower unemployment rate is simply masking deeper problems. Civil Beat.

Transition to 10-Digit Dialing (Area Code + Number) to Begin on April 24. Beginning April 24, 2021, callers in Hawai‘i will be encouraged to dial the area code (808) plus the telephone number when making local calls, six months before this will be required for local calls to complete. Maui Now.

Hawaii Expects To Meet Biden’s New Goal Of Offering Vaccines To All Adults By April 19. Hawaii health officials say they can meet a new deadline set by President Biden Tuesday of offering COVID-19 shots to all adults by April 19, supplanting an earlier goal of May 1. Civil Beat. Hawaii News Now.

April 6, 2021 COVID-19 Update: The state Department of Health reports that there were 61 additional COVID-19 cases reported in Hawai‘i on Tuesday, including 30 on O‘ahu, 21 on Maui, three on Hawai‘i Island, and seven in Hawai‘i residents diagnosed while out of state. Maui Now.

Oahu

Mayor Rick Blangiardi makes request to change Oahu’s tier criteria. Blangiardi on Tuesday said he sent a request to Gov. David Ige asking that the criteria for Tier 3 be increased to a seven-day average case count of 50 to 100, which is what it currently is for Tier 2. Star-Advertiser. Hawaii Public Radio.

Business owners say they are disappointed in the lack of clarity surrounding COVID guidelines. Business owners are seeking clarity on tier system as Oahu’s averaging 57 daily COVID cases clearly meeting the criteria to move back to Tier 2 Thursday at 12:01 a.m. Hawaii News Now.

Public reviews proposed rules for short-term rentals. A public hearing Tuesday on the city’s plan to give permits to about 1,700 Oahu homeowners to operate bed-and-breakfast units raised the question of whether the city’s Department of Planning and Permitting can be trusted to distribute the permits fairly. Star-Advertiser. Hawaii News Now.

Home prices on Oahu surge closer to $1 million median. Oahu’s housing market had another breakout month in March with a record $950,000 single-family home median sale price and an eye-popping number of condominium sales. Star-Advertiser.

City starts fixing Kakaako streets owned by state. Two oversize city pothole patching crews descended on perhaps the worst streets in Kakaako on Tuesday to smooth over a problem that has vexed area residents and business owners for several years. Star-Advertiser. Hawaii News Now. KITV4.

State crews clear out more than 30 homeless camps at Diamond Head. More than 30 homeless camps on both sides of Diamond Head are being cleared out this week by state Department of Land and Natural Resources crews. Hawaii News Now. KHON2.

State again proposes removing seawall that forms Doris Duke swimming hole. A state Department of Land and Natural Resources proposal to remove the 83-year-old Diamond Head Breakwater, which parallels the seawall beneath Doris Duke’s Shangri La to form a popular ocean swimming hole, will be discussed Thursday at a public hearing. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii Island

A reprieve for Van Pernis: Council Planning Committee postpones action on ouster of commissioner. Mark Van Pernis was called rude, crusty, insulting, confrontational and condescending, among other adjectives, during a grueling three-hour Tuesday evening session of a County Council panel that ended with a recommendation to not immediately remove him from the powerful Leeward Planning Commission. West Hawaii Today.

Plan calls for 6 low-income housing projects to begin this year. The county will spend nearly $6 million in federal funds on six low-income housing projects this year, according to an action plan presented to a County Council committee. Tribune-Herald.

USA Women’s Water Polo Team donates lane course, valued at $5,500, to county. A gift from the USA Women’s Water Polo Team could result in the County of Hawaii Department of Parks and Recreation implementing a youth water polo program on the Big Island. West Hawaii Today.

Resolution for lava zone insurance study gets lukewarm support. Hawaii County Council members were lukewarm Tuesday about a proposal to investigate ways to manage home insurance rates in Lava Zones 1 and 2. Tribune-Herald.

West Hawaii Veterans Cemetery slated for expansion. The West Hawaii Veterans Cemetery is slated to receive funds for expansion in the Hawaii State Legislature’s Capital Improvement Project proposed budget. West Hawaii Today.

Maui

Maui County population could decline with job losses. With Maui suffering some of the worst pandemic-induced job losses in the state, one of Hawaii’s top economists is predicting the Valley Isle will also be hardest hit in 2020 population decline as people move away for better work opportunities. Maui News.

Maui County Economic Development Office Hosts Virtual Grant Training Workshop April 21. Businesses and nonprofit organizations that administer viable projects that positively impact the economy of Maui County are urged to participate in a virtual grant training workshop Wednesday, April 21, at 1 pm. Maui Now.

Kauai

Cowden fined $500 for ethics violations. A 2019 county Board of Ethics complaint alleged that Councilwoman Felicia Cowden had used her role and position as a councilmember to secure the benefit of an expense-paid trip to attend a conference in Vologda, Russia, in 2019, and for having county staff use council letterhead to urge others to attend the conference, “which gave the impression attendance at the conference was being promoted by the Kaua‘i County Council,” according to the complaint. Garden Island.

Kauai coronavirus rental, utility assistance program applications open in May. The Kaua’i Government Employees Federal Credit Union (KGEFCU) will be administering the program. KHON2.

Koke‘e Nature Trail trampled Easter weekend. Easter celebrations in Koke‘e State Park over the weekend left native plants destroyed along a trail that runs behind the Koke‘e Museum. Garden Island.

Timbers embraces community throughout pandemic. Timbers Kaua‘i at Hokuala is one of the many resort properties on Kaua‘i now accepting trans-Pacific visitors through the Hawai‘i Safe Travels program. Garden Island.

Hawaii vaccine passports on hold, Honolulu mayor 'dead set' against tightening restrictions in wake of coronavirus upsurge, Kauai joins Safe Travels program, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Hawaii Gov. David Ige from Zoom

Vaccine passports for Hawaii on hold, Gov. David Ige says. Gov. David Ige said the state is testing the technology needed for a vaccine passport with CommonPass and CLEAR but that they still aren’t ready. Star-Advertiser. Civil Beat. Tribune-Herald. Big Island Video News. KHON2.

Hawaiian Airlines Hopes State Reconsiders Safe Travels Program Amid New CDC Guidelines. Hawaiian Airlines hopes the state will reconsider its Safe Travels Program after new guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said that fully vaccinated people can travel domestically at low risk to themselves. Hawaii Public Radio.

Officials wait to see how Easter weekend gatherings will impact COVID cases. Authorities got an uptick in complaints about illegal gatherings over the long Easter weekend. Some feel it was a mix of complacency over COVID, pandemic fatigue and mixed messaging over what’s allowed. Hawaii News Now.

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Labor Leaders Urge Lawmakers To Move Minimum Wage Increase. Teamsters, ILWU and Local 5 leaders ask House Speaker Scott Saiki to schedule a floor vote by Wednesday. Civil Beat.

Lawmakers Consider Adding ‘Coercive Control’ In Domestic Violence Cases. Supporters say the bill will make it easier to prosecute domestic abusers, but critics including law enforcement say its definition is far too broad. Civil Beat.

State parks seek input to update 5-year recreational plan. This spring, for the first time, the division will focus on how to manage competing cultural and recreational interests as part of its regular, five-year reevaluation and updating of its Statewide Comprehensive Outdoor Recreation Plan, and is seeking public participation in meetings Wednesday and Saturday. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaiian stilt could shed endangered status. Agency proposing to downlist bird to threatened category. Survey data and a recent population viability analysis indicate that the population of the ae’o, or Hawaiian stilt, has been “stable to increasing for several decades” across the state, with the trend expected to continue as long as conservation efforts are ongoing, according to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Services, which is proposing the change in the bird’s status. Maui News.

Hawaii businesses have taken in $1.26 billion from federal program this year. Nearly 16,000 Hawaii businesses have benefited so far this year from potentially forgivable federal loans aimed at maintaining jobs amid the coronavirus pandemic. Star-Advertiser. Maui Now.

COVID-related unemployment eligibility disputes on the rise, Hawaii lawyers say. When Kailua resident Carol’s workplace reopened in July, she still felt it was too unsafe to return. Hawaii News Now.

April 5, 2021 COVID-19 Update: The state Department of Health reports that there were 95 additional COVID-19 cases reported in Hawai‘i on Monday, including 54 on O‘ahu, 23 on Maui, 14 on Hawai‘i Island, and four in Hawai‘i residents diagnosed while out of state. Maui Now.

Oahu

Honolulu Mayor Blangiardi is ‘dead set against’ city going back to Tier 2 despite rise in cases. Mayor Rick Blangiardi is “dead set against” rolling the city’s reopening plan back to Tier 2 as the number of new cases in Honolulu continue to approach the designated limit of a two-week average of 50 new cases a day. Star-Advertiser. Civil Beat. Hawaii News Now. KHON2.

Under New Leadership, HART Purges Nearly Half Its Staff. The move aims to streamline HART, but some worry such severe cuts could hurt the struggling transit project in the long term. Civil Beat.

Honolulu Mayor Rick Blangiardi working with legal adviser on agency abuses. In response to the federal bribery charges of five Honolulu Department of Planning and Permitting employees, Mayor Rick Blangiardi is working with Dana Viola, one of Honolulu’s new chief legal advisers, to curb abuses within the department. Star-Advertiser.

Applications closed for rent relief 4 hours after city program launches. In less than four hours, the city received 8,000 applications for its Rental and Utility Relief Program, maxing out the amount it was willing to accept in this first round. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii Island

No big changes recommended in 10-year solid waste master plan. As the county grapples with a pandemic economy, closure of the Hilo landfill and loss of overseas markets for recyclables, there are more general priorities than specific recommendations in a 395-page 10-year solid waste plan slated for consideration by the County Council. West Hawaii Today.

EHCC suit seeks removal of endowment trustees. The board of directors of the East Hawaii Cultural Center filed a lawsuit in Hilo Circuit Court asking that a judge remove five trustees of an endowment trust set up in 2009. Tribune-Herald.

Maui

List of Maui COVID-19 Vaccination Sites and Registration Information. The Department of Health Maui District Health office is currently offering Moderna vaccinations to anyone 18-years and older on Maui. Meantime Maui Health is offering the Pfizer vaccine to individuals ages 16 and older. Maui Now.

Covered bus stop for Kahikinui keiki. A new covered bus stop was installed off Piilani Highway near Mile Marker 23 east of Ulupalakua for seven of the children living in the remote community who attend Punana Leo o Maui and Kula Kaiapuni schools. Maui News.

Kauai

County rejoins state’s Safe Travels. Kaua‘i re-entered the state’s Safe Travels program for Trans-Pacific travelers, meaning both out-of-state and inter-island fliers can bypass the 10-day travel quarantine by providing a negative COVID-19 test taken within 72 hours of departing to Kaua‘i. Garden Island. KHON2. KITV4.

Kauai elementary schools back to in-person learning. King Kaumuali‘i Elementary School’s Principal Jason Yoshida said they had 466 students returning to face-to-face learning with approximately 100 students still selecting distance learning yesterday. Garden Island.