Tourism management bill advances, Captain Cook name change clears House, Bezos tours Maui food bank, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Kailua-Kona pool party pre-COVID ©2022 All Hawaii News

State tourism management bill advances. Anticipating resident backlash against over-tourism as the industry rebounds, state lawmakers today advanced a bill that would set money aside to study and implement tourism management. Maui Now.

No legislation after months of Hawaii land management hearings. Six months of special House investigative hearings — ostensibly over mismanagement of state agricultural lands — have failed to produce any legislation addressing problems identified in two state audits that were amplified during the hearings. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii Sheriffs Training Chief Arrested On Charges Of Falsifying Records. J. Marte Martinez, who oversees training for the state Department of Public Safety, also is accused of perjury and lying to authorities. Civil Beat. Star-Advertiser. KHON2.

Homeless Survey Reveals Pandemic Effects On Neighbor Islands. The 2022 point-in-time count shows a decrease in homelessness on Maui, while the Big Island and Kauai saw an uptick in people living on the streets or in shelters. Civil Beat.

Order of political parties on ballot announced. The state Office of Elections has announced the order in which political parties will appear on the 2022 primary ballot. The order was determined at random in a drawing on Wednesday. Maui News.

Candidate familiarity overshadows policy details in race for Hawaii governor. The three Democratic Party candidates for governor agree on some key challenges facing Hawaii and provide differing levels of specifics in an election that will ultimately come down to favorability over details, according to longtime political observers. Star-Advertiser.

Bill commemorates 1843 restoration of Hawaiian kingdom. A bill at the state Legislature would declare July 31 an official state day of observance commemorating King Kauikeaouli Kamehameha III’s accomplishments in restoring the Hawaiian kingdom after a British navy captain seized control in 1843. Star-Advertiser.

Oahu

Ige considers emergency water order as conflicting statements cloud contamination issue. Both the Navy and state Health Department have said there’s no indication that the Navy’s fuel contamination at Red Hill is spreading. But at a meeting last month of the state Commission of Water Resource Management, Navy engineers revealed data shows there is a possibility. Hawaii News Now.

Hawaii Senate Budget Proposal Puts $350M Toward New Stadium. The Legislature is looking to speed up development of the new Aloha Stadium. Civil Beat.

DOT proposes plan for roundabout at a busy Kahaluu highway intersection. The state Department of Transportation has announced plans to build a traffic roundabout at the intersection of Kahekili and Kamehameha highways in Kahaluu. Hawaii News Now.

Laniakea parking reopens, but some residents say long-term solution needed. For decades, North Shore residents and visitors have complained about a traffic bottleneck at popular Lania­kea Beach, where beach­goers darted haphazardly across two-lane Kameha­meha Highway. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii Island

Captain Cook Name Change Adopted By Hawaiʻi State House. The Hawaiʻi House of Representatives voted on Thursday to adopt a resolution, HCR27 HD1,  which requests “the United States Census Bureau to re-designate the census-designated place known as Captain Cook on the island of Hawaii as Ka‘awaloa.” Big Island Video News.

Prosecution calls law enforcement witnesses on Day 3 of drug trial for Big Island doctor. The prosecution in the federal drug trafficking trial of Dr. Rudy Puana, the brother of former Honolulu deputy prosecutor Katherine Kealoha, called several members of law enforcement to the stand on Thursday. KITV4. Civil Beat.

Coast Guard identifies victim of fatal boating incident; nearly $29K raised to support victim’s family. Theresa “Reesa” Butts, a crew member aboard the vessel 40-foot Uhane Nui o Naia, which is operated by Sunlight on Water, died in an accident reported about 6 p.m. in waters about 10 minutes out of Honokohau Small Boat Harbor in Kailua-Kona, U.S. Coast Guard officials said Thursday morning. West Hawaii Today.

Maui

Amazon founder Jeff Bezos tours Maui Food Bank. Amazon founder, Jeff Bezos was spotted earlier this week at the Maui Food Bank, one of the many organizations he made personal donations to in the second half of 2021. Maui Now.

Maui Resort, Earthjustice Look To Resolve Lawsuit Over Lights Injuring Seabirds. Jay Penniman, who manages Maui Nui Seabird Recovery Project, is advocating for the creation of an islandwide seabird habitat conservation plan like Kauai has. Civil Beat.

Kīhei roundabout sparks Maui residents’ traffic, project concerns. Construction on the Kīhei roundabout — the first multilane roundabout on a state highway — is sparking several concerns among area residents. Maui Now.

Traffic Is A Mess In South Maui. Residents Say These 2 Projects Could Help. With the new Kihei high school set to open its doors next year, community members worry things will only get worse if nothing is done. Civil Beat.

Kauai

Brun associate, Haidee Sueyasu, pleads guilty. The final associate named in the federal indictment against former Kaua‘i County Councilman Arthur Brun pled guilty to a drug charge Wednesday. Garden Island.

Homeowner assistance programs expand on Kauaʻi. Island homeowners in financial hardship can apply to an expanded assistance program. Garden Island.

Income tax rebate back on the table, Big Island dangerous dog penalties increased, Maui tackles record $1B budget, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Money in hand  PC:Alexander Mils via Unsplash

Lawmakers revive, enlarge tax rebate plan for Hawaii taxpayers. Hawaii taxpayers may still yet get tax rebates this year, and the amount for many could be $300 instead of the $100 that Gov. David Ige proposed in January. Star-Advertiser. Civil Beat. Hawaii News Now.

Firefighters get pay raise. Pay raises are coming for Hawaii firefighters, after an arbitration ruling. Police  officers will likely get a similar deal when their contract is renewed. KHON2.

‘Homesick’ Navy Officer Files Lawsuit After Being Denied Hawaii Gun Permit. Two attorneys are hoping to change a Hawaii gun law after a Navy officer was forced to give up his personal firearms because he had sought psychological counseling after feeling depressed and homesick. Civil Beat. Hawaii News Now.  Associated Press.

Hawaii Health Department confirms 3rd case of Legionnaires’ disease in Waikiki. The Hawaii Department of Health today confirmed an additional case of Legionnaires’ disease in a guest who stayed at The Grand Islander by Hilton Grand Vacations in Waikiki. Star-Advertiser. Hawaii News Now. KHON2.

Japan Association of Travel Agents Surge of Japanese visitors expected. The arrival of a delegation from the Japan Association of Travel Agents in Hawaii this week is a positive sign that the recovery of tourism from Japan, the state’s top international market, is finally on an accelerated timeline. Star-Advertiser.

March 31-April 6, 2022 COVID-19 update: 3 deaths, 1,194 new infections in Hawaiʻi. The latest weekly count includes 109 cases on Maui, 107 on Hawaiʻi Island, 37 on Kauaʻi, three on Molokaʻi, -1 on Lānaʻi, and 56 out of state.  There are 883 new COVID-19 cases on Oʻahu. Maui Now.

Oahu

Murder suspect, son of Honolulu police officers, did not receive special treatment, Chief Rade Vanic says. There is no indication that a 19-year-old murder suspect, who is the son and stepson of Honolulu police officers, received special treatment after he allegedly shot and killed an 18-year-old man on Round Top Drive during a failed robbery March 18, interim Police Chief Rade Vanic told the Honolulu Police Commission on Wednesday. Star-Advertiser. KHON2.

Commission Says Honolulu Should Fund Defense For Cops In Lindani Myeni Killing. Police officers Garrick Orosco and Brent Sylvester are named in a wrongful death lawsuit filed the week after Myeni was killed. Civil Beat. Hawaii News Now.

‘Nobody Knows What’s Going On’: Kalihi Is Transforming Despite Uncertainty About Rail. Commercial property values have spiked along the rail line since the tax to build the project went into effect. But rail didn’t create that new value, local analysts say. Civil Beat.

Lead contamination detected at school, home at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam. The Navy and state Department of Health are working to validate the detection of lead contamination at a school and a house at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam. Star-Advertiser. Civil Beat.

The clock is ticking on the Waimanalo landfill in West Oʻahu. Here are the city's options. The main garbage dump for the island is supposed to close by March 2028 and the city has to decide on a new site by the end of 2022, as ordered by the state Land Use Commission. Hawaii Public Radio.

State’s first tiny home project addressing homelessness welcomes first residents. A ceremony to officially welcome new residents to Kama‘oku Kauhale, a tiny-home village for people experiencing homelessness, was held Wednesday in Kalaeloa. Star-Advertiser. KITV4.

Median price of single-family home on Oahu soars to new record high: $1.15M. The median price of a single-family home on Oahu soared to a new record high of $1,150,000 in March — a 21.1% increase from last year. Hawaii News Now.

Move to 4-day workweek allows Oahu’s most elite lifeguards to expand their reach. A team of Honolulu’s most elite lifeguards are part of a growing trend happening at workplaces across the country: They’re shifting to a four-day week. Hawaii News Now.

Hawaii Island

‘The details are frightening’: Results of Access to Care survey presented to council. Doctors on the Big Island can’t afford to take patients who have Medicare and Medicaid due to low reimbursement rates. West Hawaii Today.

Council approves harsher penalties for owners of dangerous dogs. The Hawaii County Council on Wednesday passed a bill that would impose steeper penalties on owners of dangerous dogs. Tribune-Herald.

Commission authorizes amended power agreement for PGV, Hawaiian Electric. Amendments to a power purchase agreement between Puna Geothermal Venture and Hawaiian Electric have been approved by the state, with some conditions. Tribune-Herald.

Waikoloa timeshare project wins council approval. Some 900 new timeshares are expected to be popping up at the Waikoloa Resort starting within five years, following County Council votes Wednesday approving rezoning that will do away with nine holes of golf and add affordable housing for workers. West Hawaii Today.

Maui

Council begins review of billion-dollar budget. The committee on Tuesday morning began its review of county departments under Mayor Michael Victorino’s record-setting $1.045 billion proposed fiscal year 2023 budget. Maui News.

Maui Councilmember King proposes funding for wastewater solution in Māʻalaea. If approved, the proposed funding of up to $9.5 million will be used to construct a wastewater treatment facility for the Māʻalaea community that  currently relies on 24 outdated injection wells. Maui Now.

Maui Police Department achieves CALCEA re-accreditation. The Maui Police Department announced its re-accreditation by the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies. On April 2, 2022, CALEA awarded accreditation status to the department for the ninth time. Maui Now.

Kauai

KIUC touts lowest rate increase, at forefront of renewables. For the third straight year, Kaua‘i Island Utility Cooperative leads the state in renewables, reporting 69.5% of electricity production coming from renewable sources in its annual filing for 2021. Garden Island.

Everything’s On The Table As Kauai Writes Its First Climate Change Action Plan. Kauai County planners say public input will guide the process of drafting an islandwide climate change mitigation strategy. Civil Beat.

Minimum wage bill heads to Senate floor, Blangiardi signs commercial beach activity ban, Big Island council pans gas tax cut, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Waikiki restaurant worker ©2022 All Hawaii News

Minimum wage bill heads to full Senate for final vote. The state Senate Committee on Ways and Means on Tuesday passed a bill that would raise the minimum wage to $18. West Hawaii Today. Big Island Now. Maui Now.

Proposed $30 million tax revenue shift aims to help protect Hawaii aina, waters. Some Hawaii lawmakers want to channel $30 million annually from state visitor accommodation taxes to benefit local natural resources including parks, beaches and marine habitat. A joint House of Representatives committee voted unanimously Tuesday for a bill that would do this through a proposed new commission, led by the Hawaii Tourism Authority’s CEO, by distributing the money via grants to nonprofit organizations and county and state agencies. Star-Advertiser.

Bill would allow police to arrest those who refuse to provide identification during a traffic stop. A bill moving through the Legislature would elevate the offense to a petty misdemeanor, giving police the power to arrest someone who refuses to provide his or her name, address, and proof thereof during a traffic stop. KITV4.

Are Lawmakers ‘Testing The Boundaries’ Of The Ban On Gut And Replace? Some wonder if a rewritten bill to fund Hawaii Tourism Authority and distribute $30 million in grants has run afoul of last year’s Supreme Court ruling. Civil Beat.

Senate Requests Study On Cost Of Mental Health Examinations. A resolution up for a vote Wednesday asks the state auditor to study the benefits of mandating health coverage for mental health examinations. Civil Beat.

Commentary: A Line Forms To Replace Kai Kahele In Congress. If the congressman runs for Hawaii governor as expected, there are candidates eager to take his place in D.C. Civil Beat.

DOE announces high school commencement ceremony schedules. Following two years of virtual and hybrid ceremonies, this will be the first time all graduation events will be in person. Everyone attending must be fully vaccinated or provide a negative COVID test. Hawaii News Now. KITV4.

Oahu

Mayor Rick Blangiardi signs commercial activity ban for Waimanalo beaches. Mayor Rick Blangiardi on Tuesday signed into a law a measure that bans all commercial activities, except those involving the film industry, on city-managed beach parks from Waimanalo to Makapuu. Star-Advertiser. Civil Beat. Hawaii Public Radio.

Department of Planning and Permitting Director recuses himself from working on short-term rental bill. Department of Planning and Permitting Director Dean Uchida recused himself from working on the controversial short-term rental bill after guidance from the Honolulu Ethics Commission advised against his involvement, although they found it unlikely that he violated any of the city’s ethics laws. Star-Advertiser. Civil Beat.

Rail May Not Make It To Ala Moana, But Developers Have Already Cashed In. Landowners got lucrative zoning perks and fast-track approvals to build luxury towers in the busy neighborhood all based on rail. Since 2016, city leaders have granted special fast-track permits to a handful of major developers to help build denser, more walkable communities, assuming that Ala Moana Center would soon host a busy rail station with some 17,300 passenger boardings a day. Civil Beat.

Hawaii Female High School Athletes May Pursue Class-Action Case, Court Says. The case stems from a lawsuit filed on behalf of the students by the American Civil Liberties Union of Hawaii in late 2018 alleging gender inequities at Campbell High School on Oahu. It named the state Department of Education and the Oahu Scholastics Association as defendants. Civil Beat. Associated Press. Maui Now. KHON2.

Navy removes officer over handling of latest Red Hill spill. The Navy officer who oversaw operations at the Red Hill fuel storage facility was relieved of duty Monday after another fuel leak. Star-Advertiser. Hawaii Public Radio.

Hawaii Island

Council committee pans gas tax cut. Measure proceeds to public hearing despite negative vote.  The County Council is likely to stomp on the brakes on a resolution cutting the county gas tax 10 cents a gallon to help alleviate drivers’ pain at the pump. West Hawaii Today.

New trial date set for ex-cop in missing drug evidence case. It will be another 19 months before a former Hawaii Police Department officer will stand trial on charges stemming from a May 2019 indictment for allegedly stealing cocaine in 2014 from a police evidence locker in Hilo. West Hawaii Today.

Ige: Mauna Kea stewardship bill would ’end astronomy’ on Hawaii Island. The governor says he’s worried a much-debated Mauna Kea stewardship bill could end the $100 million astronomy industry on Hawaii Island and with it, the stalled TMT project. Hawaii News Now.

Maui

Maui council moves to settle lawsuit by visitor injured on Haleakalā bike tour. Maui County Council voted recently to settle a lawsuit that claims the county was negligent in allowing an unguided, unpermitted Haleakalā bike tour that left a visitor paralyzed from the waist down. Maui Now.

Maui County Is Seeking Its First Director Of Agriculture. The voter-created Maui County Department of Agriculture needs leaders. And the mayor is hiring. Civil Beat. Maui Now.

Rep. Wildberger says she will not run for re-election or seek further political office in 2022. State House District 11 Representative, Tina Wildberger announced that she will not be running for re-election, and will not seek further political office for the 2022 election cycle. Maui Now.

Report: Maui home, condo median sales prices set new highs in March. Single-family home median sales price rose 19.5% year over year to $1,177,500. The previous record was set in January at $1.16 million. Maui Now.

Kauai

Federal agents, police target fugitives and sex offenders in joint operation on Kauai. A joint operation between U.S. Marshals and Kaua‘i Police Department yielded three fugitive arrests last week. Garden Island. Hawaii News Now. KHON2. KITV4.

Potential futures for COVID-19 on Kaua‘i told. State Department of Health Kaua‘i District Health Officer Dr. Janet Berreman was unequivocal when asked to forecast the future of COVID-19 on Kaua‘i during a Kaua‘i Chamber of Commerce webinar Tuesday. Garden Island.

Hawaii in search of statewide schools superintendent, Honolulu landfill committee rejects all proposed sites, state hospital may soon open, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Hawaii student in class PC:Hawaii Department of Education

Deadline extended to apply for schools superintendent post. The application period has been extended in the search for Hawaii’s next permanent superintendent of public schools because only a little over a dozen candidates have applied, and only two are from Hawaii. Star-Advertiser. Maui Now.

Hawaii’s Interim School Chief Wants The Job Permanently. Is He Up To It? Keith Hayashi has been running the statewide school system for nearly a year, dealing with a pandemic, staffing shortages and other problems. Civil Beat.

New Hawaii State Hospital to open after lengthy delay. Officials overseeing the Hawaii State Hospital told state lawmakers Monday that their new 144-bed psychiatric facility is expected to open its doors to patients in about two weeks after more than a year of delays caused by a lack of policies and procedures, difficulty recruiting staff and flaws in shower floors, door handles and hinges. Star-Advertiser. Civil Beat. KITV4.

Hawaii Lawmakers Propose Raising OHA’s Share Of Ceded Land Revenue. The Office of Hawaiian Affairs is poised to get more money generated by the use of lands once held by the Hawaiian Kingdom. Civil Beat.

Nearly half of isle keiki in financially insecure households, report finds. Nearly half of all children in Hawaii lived in financially struggling households three years ago, before the COVID- 19 pandemic surfaced, according to Aloha United Way. Star-Advertiser. Hawaii News Now.

State spent $37-million on Safe Travels Hawai'i program. While the final cost of the Safe Travels Hawai'i program is still being tallied, MG Kenneth Hara estimates the total cost will be about $37-million. KITV4.

Developers face lawsuit over lack of accessibility features at Maui, O'ahu housing properties. On Monday, the Department of Justice added eight new defendants to an existing lawsuit that alleges developers built five condo and apartment complexes without proper accessibility features. KITV4.

Oahu

Landfill Advisory Committee rejects proposed sites for new Oahu landfill. The city’s Landfill Advisory Committee voted Monday not to recommend any of the six proposed locations to replace the island’s only municipal landfill at Waimanalo Gulch on the West side of Oahu. Star-Advertiser.

Three Honolulu Homeless Shelters Are Closing, Leaving Clients With Uncertainty. The service providers are vacating their current locations in Chinatown and Kakaako without a plan for where to go next.  Civil Beat.

Navy Captain Fired After Latest Red Hill Fuel Leak. The Navy admiral who relieved the captain touted “accountability for safety” in a staff email on Monday. Civil Beat.

Flesh-Eating Bacteria In The Ala Wai Canal May Triple Due To Climate Change. UH researchers said infections are rare, but officials and residents should start now trying to mitigate contamination in the canal to keep it that way. Civil Beat. Maui Now. Hawaii News Now. KITV4.

Hawaii Island

E-waste program suspended due to lack of funds. A county program to recycle electronic waste has been discontinued until at least July. Tribune-Herald. Big Island Now.

DHHL to break ground on Honomu ag project Friday. The Department of Hawaiian Home Lands will break ground this week on a new subsistence agriculture project in Honomu. Tribune-Herald.

Candidate filing for House seats gains momentum after a late start. Hawaii Island’s newly redefined and open District 6 seat in the state House of Representatives has so far attracted two Republican candidates seeking to represent the Kona district. West Hawaii Today.

Maui

State clears top Maui health official who faced widespread backlash over his COVID statements. Dr. Lorrin Pang, the state Department of Health’s Maui district health officer, faced major backlash last year for his support for controversial COVID-19 treatments. Hawaii News Now.

Maui Now Survey: 70% very concerned with the increase of out-of-state Maui homebuyers, 83% think Maui County should cap transient accommodations. Maui Now received 544 verified responses with 90% identifying as Maui County residents and 10% identifying as non-residents. A total of 86% of respondents identified as registered voters and 14% as non-registered voters. Maui Now.

Winners announced for small business awards. A baker, a farmer and the head of an equipment rental company were among the business owners honored at the 2021 Mayor’s Small Business Awards on Wednesday. Maui News.

Kauai

County, state set fair housing webinars. April is National Fair Housing Month, and the Kaua‘i County Housing Agency, along with other state and county agencies, is providing free training opportunities for landlords and tenants to learn about current federal and state fair housing laws. Garden Island.

Kona coffee brand protections fail, Ala Wai decontamination advances, lawsuit filed against stun gun restrictions, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Red coffee cherry in Kailua-Kona ©2022 All Hawaii News

Hawaii coffee labeling bill gets relabeled. Hawaii coffee farmers may have to wait until 2024 to know whether it makes good economic sense for the state to require more locally grown beans in coffee blends branded with Hawaii geographic names. Star-Advertiser. West Hawaii Today.

Hawaii leaders review future of Safe Travels Hawaii program. State leaders have begun convening to determine the next generation of Safe Travels, Hawaii’s $37 million-plus pandemic-era travel policy, which ended March 25. Star-Advertiser.

Legislators consider allowing foreclosure on problem properties without court proceedings. HB 1434 passed second reading in the Senate in March after crossing over from the House of Representatives. It is scheduled for a hearing in the Senate Judiciary and Ways and Means Committee on Tuesday. Star-Advertiser.

Bill to control feral chicken population advances. A bill to manage the feral chicken population is moving through the legislative session, but the departments that would be tasked with coming up with the solution said the proposal should not fall under their purview. KHON2.

Hawaii's FEMA nurses leave the state as federal funds dry up. Hospitals are scrambling to contract more workers as the union representing nurses sounds the alarm about dangerous staffing shortages. KITV4.

Oahu

Hawaii lawmakers look at preventing investor schemes on Affordable housing projects. An ostensible $80 million financial shakedown at an Oahu public housing project has led to a legislative effort to prevent similar schemes, which are spreading on the mainland, from happening in Hawaii. Star-Advertiser.

Thousands of ‘genki balls’ dropped into Ala Wai. More than 200 people threw balls of mud and helpful bacteria into the Ala Wai Canal Saturday morning to help clean up sludge in the water. Star-Advertiser. Hawaii News Now.

Ala Wai watershed flood risk study invites public input. The public is getting another chance to weigh in on work being done by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers on a flood control project for Honolulu’s Ala Wai Canal. The Army Corps of Engineers is revising a study looking at what the community can do to improve resilience in the case of intense rain and extensive flooding. Hawaii Public Radio.

Fuel And Water Spilled From Facility Pipeline, Navy Says. The leak is the first to be reported at the World War II-era fuel complex since the water contamination crisis began. A mixture of fuel and water spilled from a maintenance line at the Navy’s Red Hill fuel facility on Friday afternoon, the Navy announced on Friday evening. Civil Beat. Hawaii News Now.

Where Is The Red Hill Contamination Moving? Experts Are ‘Working Blind’ The contamination crisis exposed how little regulators know about how groundwater – and fuel pollution – flow under the Red Hill facility. Civil Beat.

Hawaii Island

Council to consider 10 cent gas tax reduction: Decrease from 23 cents to 13 cents on Tuesday Finance Committee agenda. A County Council panel is poised to consider a resolution aimed at taking some of the sting out of rising gas prices. West Hawaii Today. Big Island Video News.

Water costs rising: High oil prices spur 16% increase in water power charge. Increases in oil costs that raised the cost of electricity are in turn having a big impact on the county Department of Water Supply, which is proposing a 16% increase in the power cost adjustment on local water bills. West Hawaii Today.

County Council reopens its doors: Public allowed back in after two-year pandemic pause. The council committees, meeting Tuesday and the council, meeting Wednesday, will offer the public a range of ways to monitor the meetings and provide testimony. West Hawaii Today.

Judge dismisses remaining cases involving kupuna arrested during TMT protests. The remaining cases involving kupuna arrested in July 2019 for obstructing the Mauna Kea Access Road during Thirty Meter Telescope protests were dismissed Friday. Hawaii News Now.

Hawaii Consumer Advocate Opposes Bioenergy Power Plant On Big Island. Critics say there are too many outstanding questions for the Public Utilities Commission to approve the Hu Honua project. Civil Beat.

Buyouts will begin soon: 289 homeowners in first phase of Kilauea eruption recovery program await funds. To date, the county’s Voluntary Housing Buyout Program — which allows property owners to have their eruption-damaged properties bought out by the county for up to $230,000 — has received 467 applications over the course of two phases. Tribune-Herald.

Maui

Molina approved as new county public works director. Jordan Molina’s appointment as the new director of the Public Works Department was approved by the Maui County Council on Friday, even as community members called for his disapproval amid frustrations over a large home being built in Napili. Maui News.

Mokulele to expand fleet for Molokai, Lanai. Mokulele Airlines hopes to bring in two 30-passenger planes by the middle or end of May that will help transport high school athletic teams, wheelchair-bound residents and passengers of size from Molokai and Lanai to Oahu. Maui News.

Suit claims proposed restrictions on stun guns in Maui County violate 2nd Amendment. A new lawsuit claims Maui County is trying to violate their Second Amendment rights by making it harder for businesses to sell stun guns. Hawaii News Now.

Kauai

Saving Kauai’s Kalihiwai Reservoir Is An Expensive Problem. In a last-ditch effort, some farmers and wildlife enthusiasts are trying to raise funds to save this relic of the plantation era. Civil Beat.

Kaua‘i DMV to close early every other week beginning April 4. The County of Kaua‘i Department of Finance Driver License Division and Motor Vehicle Division in the Lihu‘e Civic Center Mo‘ikeha Building closes early daily, at 3 p.m., every other week, beginning today. Garden Island.

14 bills offered in quest for honest government, Chinatown soup kitchen leaves area after neighbor complaints, fireworks bills fizzle, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Hawaii House opening day 2022 PC:House Republicans

Hawaii legislative report calls for ‘better, honest’ government. A recently formed commission is recommending passage of 14 bills at the Legislature largely aimed at combating public corruption, improving government transparency and changing fundraising and campaign spending rules. Star-Advertiser. Civil Beat. Hawaii Public Radio. Associated Press.

Hawaii state Legislature bills to combat illegal fireworks fizzle out. Bills aimed at cracking down on illegal fireworks in Hawaii have essentially died this legislative session. Star-Advertiser.

Senate Set To Vote On Making State Police Shooting Board Permanent. A bill that would make the Law Enforcement Officer Independent Review Board a permanent state fixture cleared its final committee vote on Thursday, setting it up for a full Senate vote. Civil Beat.

Hawaii to receive $3.6M to help working families lower energy costs. The state of Hawaii is slated to receive more than $3.6 million in federal funding to help lower-income households increase energy efficiency in their homes, U.S. Sen. Mazie Hirono announced, thanks to the bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act signed into law last year. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii Tourism Is Rebounding But Japan Remains A Barrier. Japan, which is Hawaii’s third-largest market, has eased most restrictions on travel, raising hopes a significant return of tourists may be near. Civil Beat. Hawaii News Now.

Oahu

Honolulu rail project gets estimated time arrival. The Honolulu Authority for Rapid Transportation has three months to submit its revised plans for the rail to federal officials for funding. KHON2.

River of Life serves up final meal at longtime Chinatown site. River of Life Mission, which has been offering free meals to homeless and other needy people for some 35 years, on Thursday served up its last dishes at its Chinatown location. Star-Advertiser. Hawaii News Now. KITV4.

DOH investigates after piles of construction material are dumped at property. The Department of Health said it is actively investigating a property on 20th Avenue in Kaimuki after neighbors raised concerns about piles of construction material. Hawaii News Now.

Hawaii Island

Katherine Kealoha to be a witness in case targeting her brother. The trial of a Hawaii Island doctor accused of writing opioid prescriptions for his friends to sell or trade to fuel their cocaine consumption opened Thursday with federal prosecutors labeling him a drug dealer and the defense arguing he was an addict legally treating people in pain. Star-Advertiser. Hawaii News Now. KHON2.

Tsunami museum reopens in Hilo: Today marks anniversary of devastating 1946 wave. Just in time for Tsunami Awareness Month, the Pacific Tsunami Museum has reopened after being shuttered for two years because of the pandemic. Tribune-Herald.

Lightning likely ignited brush fires in South Kohala. Hawaii Fire Department personnel and volunteers responded about 3 p.m. Wednesday to two separate brush fires about 1.5 miles west mile marker 3 on Highway 190, also known as Mamalahoa Highway.  West Hawaii Today.

Maui

DOE plans to open Kihei high school with ‘hybrid model’. DOT ‘hopeful’ roundabout can help open school; LUC says pedestrian crossing condition remains. The state Department of Education plans to open the new Kihei high school through a “temporary hybrid model” that will allow incoming freshmen to use space at Lokelani Intermediate this fall before transitioning to the high school’s new campus in January. Maui News.

Maui visitors in February more than double from same month last year. February’s visitor arrivals jumped nearly 109% year over year: There were 193,232 visitors last month compared to 92,608 visitors in February 2021, according to the state Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism’s preliminary visitor statistics report released today. Maui Now. Maui News.

Arrests made in connection with theft that preceded deadly crash involving MPD employee. Maui police arrested two suspects in connection with a theft, that preceded a deadly crash which claimed the life of the Chief’s Executive Secretary Terry Jones last month. Maui Now. Hawaii News Now. KHON2. KITV4.

Kauai

Kaua‘i Creative Technology Center granted $650K. The Kaua‘i Creative Technology Center, a long-planned facility to build a local creative industry, is projected to break ground sometime next year. Garden Island.

Capitol no longer requires vax cards for entry, federal transit officials visit Honolulu, complaints dismissed against Maui doctors pushing unproven COVID remedies, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Hawaii Capitol ©2022 All Hawaii News

Proof of vaccination or negative test no longer required at Hawaiʻi State Capitol. Visitors to the Hawaiʻi State Capitol will no longer have to show their vaccination card or proof of a negative COVID test, state officials announced Tuesday. Mask rules differ in the state House and Senate. Masks are optional but requested in House chambers and rooms, but are mandatory in Senate chambers and rooms. Hawaii Public Radio.

Omicron Subvariant Now Responsible For 40% Of New Hawaii Infections. Cases of the highly contagious BA.2 Covid strain have been confirmed in every county, prompting fears of a new surge. Hawaii’s daily Covid count has risen slightly in recent weeks, with the state logging a seven-day average of 129 cases Wednesday after hitting a post-omicron surge low of 89 cases March 18, according to the state’s newest numbers. Civil Beat. Star-Advertiser.

Local COVID forecasters say eased restrictions will result in small case increase. The Hawaiʻi Pandemic Modeling Working Group says it expects the lifting of COVID restrictions in all counties to result in a small increase in cases, but nothing like the past omicron and delta variant surges. Hawaii Public Radio.

Two Years Into The Pandemic, Hawaii Is Finally Poised To Test Its Sewage For Covid. After a series of short-lived efforts by state and county agencies, Hawaii is finally primed to launch its own program to test sewage for coronavirus this summer – nearly two and a half years into the pandemic. Civil Beat. Hawaii News Now.

Producer responsibility bill hanging on in the Legislature: Bill seeks to reduce packaging waste in landfills. A bill paving the way to make producers of certain goods take greater responsibility for their packaging waste has cleared the state House and is making progress in the Senate. West Hawaii Today.

UH Faculty Leadership Votes To Condemn Donna Mercado Kim. The University of Hawaii faculty are considering asking Senate leadership to remove Sen. Donna Mercado Kim from the Higher Education Committee. In a rare move, seven of the 10 campus faculty leadership groups issued a public rebuke of Kim condemning her “inappropriate legislative actions,” which they say includes introducing several measures taking aim at the university’s decision-making authority as well as faculty tenure. The votes have been going on all month. Civil Beat.

Gov. Ige Makes New Board of Ed Appointments. The appointees include N. Makana McClellan, the director of business development and community relations at Shriners Children’s Hawaii; Lauren Moriarty, former dean of academics at Daniel K. Inouye Asia-Pacific Center for Security Studies; and Ken Kuraya, a retired DOE administrator. Civil Beat. Big Island Now.

Ige Names Two To UH Board Of Regents. American Savings Bank Vice President Gabriel Lee and EPIC Ohana Executive Director Laurie Tochiki will assume the Board of Regents seats, pending Senate approval. Civil Beat.

Late kumu hula Edith Kanakaʻole to appear on US quarter. The late Native Hawaiian hula teacher Edith Kanakaʻole is among five women who will be individually featured on a U.S. quarter next year as part of a program that depicts notable women on the flip side of the coin. Associated Press. Garden Island. Hawaii News Now.

Oahu

Federal transit officials are in Honolulu for rail project risk analysis amid invasion of Ukraine. Officials from the Federal Transit Administration are in Honolulu this week to do some risk analysis for the latest version of the city’s rail project. Hawaii Public Radio.

Judge Awards $1.375M In An Inmate Suicide At Halawa Correctional Facility. The state admitted liability in the case of a 28-year-old prisoner who was on ‘observation status’ in the medical unit, but hanged himself anyway. Civil Beat. Star-Advertiser. Hawaii News Now.

Proposal For Waiawa Correctional Facility Aims To Keep Families Together. A new family resource center comes with a price tag of about $420,000. Civil Beat.

$10 million gift for Mid-Pacific Institute to expand educational opportunities within and beyond campus. An anonymous donor has given $10 million to Mid- Pacific Institute, the largest gift in the Manoa private school’s history. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii Island

Waiaka Bridge replacement project picks up steam. A long-stalled project to replace the 90-year-old Waiaka Bridge on Highway 19 in Waimea is moving again. West Hawaii Today.

Two mumps cases detected in South Kona area. The state Department of Health confirmed that two people had been identified, and they are both members of the same household. Tribune-Herald.

Maui

State dismisses complaints against Maui doctors over controversial COVID-19 treatments. Two doctors who stirred controversy last year for promoting the anti-­parasitic drug ivermectin and hydroxychloroquine as treatments for COVID-19 have escaped disciplinary action after the enforcement arm of the state Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs declined to pursue complaints against them. Star-Advertiser.

‘Give us access’: Hunters want to help with Maui County deer overpopulation. House Bill 1872 requires the Department of Land and Natural Resources to recognize that game mammals provide a food source. Hawaii News Now.

Sonic Drive-In latest big-name chain headed for Hookele. Fast food eatery holds groundbreaking, could open by end of year. Maui News. Maui Now.

$18.5M home becomes Maui’s most expensive sale this year. Originally listed at $19.9 million, the six-bedroom, seven-bathroom home on about an acre in Wailea-Mākena saw high interest and sold in about three weeks. Maui Now.

Kauai

Kawakami files for reelection. Wednesday, Mayor Derek Kawakami officially filed for reelection. Garden Island.

Kamokila Hawaiian Village forced to close on Kauai. For generations William Kihei Fernandes' 'ohana cultivated native plants, built thatched-roof hale and educated thousands of keiki at the Kamokila Hawaiian Village. The Department of Land and Natural Resources said it allowed the lease to expire in December as the agency reevaluates the use of the four-acre property. KITV4.

Joint Chiefs Chairman Milley honors Vietnam vets in Honolulu, Smith & Wesson sues over public records costs, Mexican Consulate assists hundreds on Maui, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Mark Milley, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff speaks in Honolulu PC:DOD

Vietnam veterans commemorated at Punchbowl. National Vietnam Veterans Day was observed Tuesday at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific at Punchbowl in a ceremony attended by the country’s top military leader, Gen. Mark Milley, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. Star-Advertiser. KITV4.

Hawaii Health Department adopts CDC guidance, authorizes 2nd COVID booster for some. Effective immediately, people who received their first booster shot at least four months ago may receive a second booster shot of a Pfizer or Moderna vaccine if they are over the age of 50. Star-Advertiser. Civil Beat.

Ige’s New Attorney General Faces Senate Questions Over Employee Complaints. The Senate Judiciary Committee plans to vote on the nominee’s appointment on Friday. Civil Beat.

New Hawaii law clarifies procedures for filing criminal complaints. A newly enacted law that clarifies the process for filing criminal complaints will give prosecutors across the state a chance to refile charges in more than 1,000 misdemeanor cases that were dismissed in the wake of a December ruling by the Hawaii Supreme Court. Star-Advertiser. KITV4.

Bill To Limit Public Access To Government Records Is Dying In The Senate. A bill that would make it more difficult for the public to get access to “pre-decisional” government records is quietly dying in the state Senate, but lawmakers want to establish a working group to consider when those records should be made public, and when they should be kept secret. Civil Beat.

Smith & Wesson Sues Hawaii Over The High Cost Of Public Records. The AG’s office wanted more than $20,000 for records related to firearms issues. Civil Beat.

Commentary: Hawaii Is The Latest State To Get Hit With Claims Of Election Fraud. The state elections commission is looking into a complaint about the accuracy of voter registration rolls. Civil Beat.

Oahu

Honolulu Prosecutors office pushes for more funding. Honolulu Prosecutor, Steve Alm, wants to hire about 15 more attorneys to help with the caseload. Currently, Alm says there are 89 deputy prosecutors on staff, but keeping them on the job is proving to be a challenge. KHON2.

Resolution calls for completing long-delayed land deal. In 1991, an act of Congress called on the secretary of the Army to hand over to the state 87 acres of land that makes up the western end of Dillingham Airfield, a section of property that also includes the adjacent shoreline, locally known as Army Beach. But the conveyance, for unknown reasons, never happened. Star-Advertiser. KITV4.

Menor To Run For Honolulu City Council, Not Lieutenant Governor. The former councilman and state representative wants to return to Honolulu Hale. Civil Beat.

BWS chief engineer worries Red Hill fuel contamination could be spreading. A state Department of Health spokesperson wasn’t aware of any changes. Hawaii News Now.

Feds checking new rail plan for potential problems. Federal transit officials are on Oahu this week asking questions about reducing rail construction to 19 stations over 18.75 miles at a cost of $9.8 billion. Star-Advertiser.

‘Complete Streets’ beacon aims to improve safety on Kailua Road. City officials Tuesday morning unveiled a new crosswalk with a flashing beacon to help pedestrians cross a busy thoroughfare in the heart of Kailua town more safely. Star-Advertiser. Hawaii News Now.

Hawaii Island

Hilo anesthesiologist, Honolulu ex-prosecutor’s brother, pleads guilty to one charge before drug trial. The brother of former Honolulu prosecutor Katherine Kealoha imprisoned in a corruption case pleaded guilty to one charge in an indictment alleging the doctor prescribed drugs to friends so they could sell them for cash. Rudolph Puana’s drug-dealing trial on 53 other counts began today with jury selection. Star-Advertiser. Civil Beat. Associated Press. Hawaii News Now.

Groundbreaking for new HVO facility within the University of Hawaii at Hilo’s campus could happen next year. A new Hilo home for the Hawaiian Volcano Observatory is slowly getting closer to reality. Tribune-Herald.

‘The Flash’ Ezra Miller creates a stir in Hilo: TRO filed against the actor a day after arrest at Hilo bar. A Hollywood actor who was arrested in Hilo on Monday had a restraining order filed against them Tuesday after a series of erratic incidents over the last few weeks. Tribune-Herald. Big Island Now. Hawaii News Now. KHON2.

Maui

Hundreds on Maui assisted during Mexican Consulate visit. The Mexican Consulate handled about 480 appointments on March 26 and 27, helping individuals and families with their passports and other documentation. This was the first visit by the Consulate in two years due to the pandemic with brisk demand for appointments. Maui Now.

Kihei roundabout causing headaches and concerns. A new project is underway to make crossing a busy highway in Kihei safer for pedestrians. Construction on the state’s first two-lane roundabout started last week. KHON2.

Kuau landowner fined $60K over shoreline violations. Company must also install sand berms as part of agreement with county. Kuau Cove Properties, the landowner of Mama’s Fish House, will pay the county a $60,000 fine and conduct a project expected to cost upwards of $165,000 to resolve violations that occurred on the shoreline fronting the restaurant in 2019. Maui News.

Lahainaluna boys’ dorm to reopen Sunday. Facility has been closed since late February due to lack of staffing. Maui News.

Kauai

County seeking funds for Po‘ipu infrastructure projects. The county is taking another crack at a federal grant which would provide $26 million in funding for road projects in Po‘ipu. Garden Island.

CAP plane was off-course when it crashed. Witnesses say fatal Kauai flight was flying near mountain. U.S. safety regulators said today that a small plane that crashed on Kauai earlier this month and killed two men on board had been flying close to a mountain in poor weather. Associated Press. Garden Island. Hawaii News Now.

Honolulu delays plastic, polystyrene ban, Maui hospital seeks more state aid, 'The Flash' actor Ezra Miller arrested in Hilo bar, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Man checks out Hawaii lunch plate ©2022 All Hawaii News

Honolulu’s Ban On Plastic And Polystyrene Containers Is On Hold For 6 Months. Implementation of Honolulu’s ban on plastic and polystyrene containers is being further delayed after businesses said supply chain challenges are preventing them from complying. Civil Beat.

Bill To Ban Male Jail Guards From Strip Searching Female Inmates Advances. Senate Bill 2777 faces another hearing in the House Judiciary and Hawaiian Affairs Committee on Wednesday. Civil Beat.

Lawmakers call on exploring a four-day work week. Some lawmakers said a four-day work week may not be such a bad idea, and now there is a proposal to create a task force to explore this possibility. KHON2.

Citizen whale counts wrap up for 2022 season. This season’s totals for the three days were higher than last year’s and almost equivalent to 2019. The one-day volunteer counts provide a snapshot of humpback whale sightings and activity from the shoreline across multiple sites, as distinguished from deeper research into population trends. Star-Advertiser.

Oahu

Water use on Oahu continues rising. Water use on Oahu has continued to increase since November, despite the Honolulu Board of Water Supply urging residents to implement conservation measures after a fuel leak at the Navy’s Red Hill fuel facility resulted in the closing of three municipal wells. Star-Advertiser.

$1B to defuel Red Hill in budget proposal. President Joe Biden included $1 billion to defuel the Red Hill Bulk Fuel Storage Facility in his annual budget proposal. This is on top of the hundreds of millions already directed toward dealing with the water contamination crisis. KHON2.

Punawai Hale hoping for full occupancy. Punawai Hale studio apartments hopes to finally fill its 20 units with once-homeless residents by the end of the month after opening in November 2020. Star-Advertiser.

Planning for new Oahu jail hits snag over state funding. Hawaii’s 50-member House of Representatives recently passed a state budget draft that rejects a request from Gov. David Ige to allocate $15 million for continued planning and procurement work to build a new Oahu Community Correctional Center in Halawa. Star-Advertiser.

City expands homeless outreach response team to Kailua. The city’s Crisis Outreach Response and Engagement units, or CORE, made contact with 10 unsheltered individuals living across Kailua last week. Hawaii Public Radio.

Hawaii Island

$600 million DHHL bill advances. A bill that would allocate $112 million to Big Island housing projects on Hawaiian Home Lands is still alive and moving through the Senate. Tribune-Herald.

‘The Flash’ actor Ezra Miller arrested at Hawaii Island bar. Actor Ezra Miller, who has prominent roles in the Justice League and Harry Potter “Fantastic Beasts” film franchises, was arrested for suspicion of disorderly conduct and harassment early Monday after allegedly becoming belligerent at Margarita Village on Silva Street. Star-Advertiser. Tribune-Herald. Big Island Video News. Hawaii News Now. KHON2.

Maui

Maui’s Private Hospital System Is In Need Of More State Aid. The hospital group is expected to request a state subsidy increase for the first time since Kaiser took over five years ago. Civil Beat.

Kaiser Permanente’s clinic in Kīhei reopens April 4. After being closed for more than a year due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Kaiser Permanente Hawaiʻi’s clinic in Kīhei will reopen April 4. Maui Now.

College enrollment still trails pre-pandemic levels. There was a slight recovery in college-bound enrollment by Maui County’s 2021 graduating high school seniors compared to the previous graduating class, but efforts to continue higher education are still being hampered by the lingering effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on education. Maui News.

Online public meeting to discuss South Maui budget priorities Wednesday. Hosted by Maui County Council Member Kelly Takaya King, a virtual town hall at 6 p.m. Wednesday will discuss South Maui budget priorities for fiscal year 2023. Maui Now.

Former Maui DWS employee says he was fired for pointing out contamination concerns. One year after filing a whistleblower lawsuit against Maui County, a former Department of Water Supply employee is still fighting for his job back. Ashley Hooks’ lawsuit claims he was retaliated against and unlawfully fired in 2020 after he alerted the state that Maui’s largest surface water treatment facility had been contaminated. Hawaii News Now.

Kauai

DeCosta’s agriculture bills get pushback from local lawyer. A trio of proposed bills that would eliminate tax exemptions for large-scale tree farms, orchards and wasteland was met with some resistance at a public hearing last week. Garden Island.

How cuts in state mental health care affect Kaua‘i. On Kaua‘i, one clinical psychologist, one social-service assistant and six human-service professionals were laid off as part of the 2020 cuts. Now, despite a state budget surplus, whether or not these positions will be restored remains an open question. Garden Island.

Kauaʻi County to temporarily suspend rental relief program during April. Kauaʻi County will temporarily suspend its rental relief program next month. But government officials will still be accepting new applications for assistance. Hawaii Public Radio.

Lawmakers want Kauai’s Russian Fort Elizabeth to have a new name. Resolutions moving through the state Legislature urge the Board of Land and Natural Resources to restore the eastern shoreline of Kauai’s Waimea Valley, currently called Russian Fort Elizabeth Park, to its former Hawaiian name, Paulaula. Star-Advertiser.