Lawmakers advance bills fighting felony fraud, Elon Musk Starship may land near Kauai, homeless relocation bill advances, measles spotted on Oahu, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Bribery scandal that rocked state Capitol could inspire powerful new laws aimed at fighting fraud. A sprawling government bribery scandal may lead to powerful new state laws against fraud based on the same federal statutes that sent two lawmakers in prison. Three proposed new laws would make it much easier to prove felony fraud or lying to government or in business transactions.  Hawaii News Now.

Priced-out Hawaii residents check out of paradise. Gov. Josh Green and state lawmakers frequently cite the ongoing threat of losing residents and are pushing legislation to help residents stay. With less than a month before the end of the legislative session, several measures designed to lower Hawaii’s cost of living remain alive. Star-Advertiser.

Proposed homeless relocation program flies to Senate floor for consideration. A bill at the state Legislature would create a three-year pilot program at the Department of Human Services to help people experiencing homelessness return to the continent, or other parts of the state, to rejoin their families. Hawaii Public Radio.

Fragments in Republican caucus lead to more bipartisan work for one state lawmaker. Republicans in the state House of Representatives tripled in size this session, from two to six members. In title, state Rep. Kanani Souza of Kapolei and Makakilo is the minority caucus whip, but she hasn’t attended minority caucus meetings since the end of January. Hawaii Public Radio.

Condo Management Giant’s License Is Reactivated By Hawaii Regulators. Following a regulatory compliance problem that rendered Associa Hawaii unable to practice in the state, the property management giant has come into compliance with state laws governing such firms, state records indicate. Civil Beat.

Hawaiʻi teens lead second youth climate change trial in US history. A climate change lawsuit brought by a group of Hawaiʻi's youth against the state Department of Transportation is moving ahead. It's now scheduled for a fall trial. Hawaii Public Radio.

Hawaii Health Department confirms measles in Oahu resident. State health officials are investigating a case of measles in an unvaccinated Oahu resident upon returning from international travel.  Star-Advertiser. Tribune-Herald. Maui Now.  Hawaii News Now. KHON2.  KITV4. 

 Oahu

Honolulu City Council studying its own tax-relief measures. A slew of real property taxation measures that might offer tax credits, tax exemptions or other means to aid homeowners affected by the approximately 10% or greater increase in real property assessments on Oahu is under consideration by the Honolulu City Council. Star-Advertiser.

Why Does It Take So Long To Fire Bad Cops In Honolulu? Recent national stories report officers involved in shootings and other serious incidents are quickly fired. But in Hawaii final discipline can take years. Civil Beat.

Military to provide health care to civilians affected by Red Hill water. The Defense Health Agency announced Monday that it will begin evaluating — and potentially providing medical treatment to — civilians affected by the Red Hill water crisis from now until March 10 on a “space available” basis. Star-Advertiser. Hawaii News Now.

Bishop Museum seeks recurring funding. State officials are working to establish annual funding for Bishop Museum to support and help stabilize Hawaii’s flagship repository of Hawaiian culture, science and community as it moves forward under its fourth CEO in the past seven years. Star-Advertiser.

Cirque du Soleil planning new show in Waikiki. Cirque du Soleil Entertainment Group and Outrigger Hospitality Group have some high- flying news: They’ve entered into a joint venture that will add Hawaii next year to Cirque’s shortlist of destinations with shows in residence. Star-Advertiser. KHON2.  KITV4.

DOE Looking Into Financial Records Of Kailua School Composting Program. Proceeds from compost sales to the public are kept by the partner schools. Civil Beat.

Hawaii Island

Grand Naniloa woes linger: Owners again seek permission to refinance loan. The beleaguered owners of the Grand Naniloa Hotel are once again requesting to refinance its mortgage to the tune of $54 million. Tribune-Herald.

Merrie Monarch Festival attendees urged not to transport ‘ohi‘a. Merrie Monarch Festival attendees are urged to not transport ‘ohi‘a in order to prevent the further spread of rapid ‘ohi‘a death. Tribune-Herald.

Maui

Council committee to hear from Upcountry Maui residents on county budget Wednesday. The Budget, Finance and Economic Development Committee will receive testimony from Upcountry Maui residents on the county’s fiscal year 2024 budget Wednesday, April 12, at 6 p.m. at Mayor Hannibal Tavares Community Center. Maui Now.

Draft EA filed for Hālau of ‘Ōiwi Art, construction expected to start in 2024. The Hālau is designed to be a Hawaiian cultural and community center to help advance hula and native and local arts.  Maui Now.

Kauai

Elon Musk Starship may land near Kaua‘i this month. The most powerful rocket ever built could splash down off the coast of Kaua‘i within the next two weeks, according to Elon Musk’s Twitter account. Garden Island.

Hawaii short health-care workers, teachers, corrections officers; cash flows to legislators during session, coffee labeling bill advances, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Lawmakers Consider Higher Bar For Labeling Hawaii Coffee. The label “Kona Coffee” could no longer used by coffee distributors unless more than half of the blended beans were in fact from Kona if a bill moving through the Legislature becomes law. Civil Beat.

Campaign Cash Flowed To Hawaii Senators Just Before An Energy Bill Vote. Reform Measures Won’t Stop It. A bill would prohibit lobbyists from cutting checks to lawmakers during the legislative session, but wouldn't prevent other people with an interest in legislation from writing checks. Civil Beat.

Bills to repeal Hawaii Tourism Authority advance. Two bills are moving forward to repeal the embattled Hawaii Tourism Authority this legislative session, which could prove one of the more contentious for the agency since state lawmakers gave it life in 1998. Star-Advertiser.

Lawmakers Are Focusing On Hawaii’s Youngest Residents As Other Education Measures Stall. Proposals to increase preschool attendance and stabilize child care centers are receiving the most attention in this legislative session. Civil Beat.

To stem exodus of preschool teachers, lawmakers consider using taxpayer dollars to boost their pay. Hawaii preschools say a shortage of qualified teachers is making Hawaii’s childcare crisis even worse. Now, lawmakers are considering using taxpayer money to give some underpaid educators a raise. Hawaii News Now.

Resurrected afterschool proposal gets approval from Senate committee.  House Bill 69 would give an additional $2.5 million to the DOE's Resources for Enrichment, Athletics, Culture, & Health (REACH) program for middle and intermediate school students. Hawaii Public Radio.

Reports show more healthcare workers leaving Hawaii. According to a recent survey from the Healthcare Association of Hawaii, vacancy rates went from 10% in 2019, to 17% in 2022. KHON2.

Waitlists grow for Hawaii’s long-term care facilities. For years, Hawaii’s long-term care facilities, which include nursing homes, have been dealing with staffing shortages, even before the COVID-19 pandemic. Today the situation has only gotten worse, with long-term care facilities operating in crisis mode. Star-Advertiser.

Labor conflict in Hawaii’s shipping industry playing out at Legislature.  The dispute is largely, or at least partly, between different factions of organized labor, and it could affect the prices and availability of goods. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii’s state prisons face severe staff shortages. The confirmation hearing for Tommy Johnson to lead the state Department of Public Safety revealed a deep and complex rift between guards and the department over chronic staff shortages, absences and overtime. Star-Advertiser.

Oahu

DOH: Fecal bacteria in Kailua Bay exceeds permitted levels; Stay out. The public is advised to avoid Kailua Bay until further notice after wastewater was discharged into the ocean, according to the Hawaii Department of Health. Star-Advertiser. KHON2.

State considers closing financial gap to buy Maunawili Valley. More than a thousand acres of Maunawili are privately owned, and for years community members have been raising funds to buy it. Now, with the state’s help, they hope to restore agricultural land and preserve cultural and historical sites. Hawaii News Now.

Hawaii Island

Permit granted for Ka‘u-based satellite receiver array. The Academia Sinica Institute of Astronomy and Astrophysics plans to install a system of 10 satellite dishes 20 feet in diameter on a two-acre site on a larger 10.7-acre parcel in Wood Valley in order to observe faint radio pulses from deep space. Tribune-Herald.

60th Annual Merrie Monarch Festival kicks off with Ho‘olaule‘a. Seven halau and a taiko drum group were to entertain an anticipated crowd of hundreds, perhaps thousands, starting at 9 a.m. at the Afook-Chinen Civic Auditorium. Tribune-Herald. Hawaii News Now.  KITV4.

Merrie Monarch Week: The ‘unofficial’ events.  The action during the upcoming 60th Annual Merrie Monarch Festival in Hilo on the Big Island isn’t just confined to the official events at Edith Kanaka‘ole Multi-Purpose Stadium and Afook-Chinen Civic Auditorium. Big Island Now.

Maui

Bissen’s Spending Plan For Maui Targets Affordable Housing And A Rainy Day Fund. His $1.23 billion spending plan for Maui, Lanai and Molokai is only slightly higher than fiscal year 2023’s $1.21 billion spending plan — the largest budget in county history.  Civil Beat.

Maui experts hope to catch up in battling coquis, Little Fire Ants, miconia. Christy Martin and Teya Penniman have spent more than 20 years successfully leading the fight against alien species on Maui, including the coqui frogs and Little Fire Ants. But they warn budget cutbacks in recent years have hurt their efforts. Maui Now.

Mokulele Airlines struggles to win the trust of its kamaʻāina passengers. Mokulele Airlines serves as a lifeline for the Molokaʻi and Lānaʻi communities, especially for critical medical appointments and off-island work. However, residents say they can no longer depend on Mokulele to get them there.  Hawaii Public Radio.

Kauai

Kaua‘i police warn of Craigslist apartment rental scams. The already herculean task of finding an affordable apartment on Kaua‘i has been made more difficult by a recent rash of fake listings aimed at scamming tenants. Garden Island.

Therapists to analyze ‘climate psychology’ at next Kaua‘i Climate Action Forum. The Kaua‘i Climate Action Forum – made up of local environmental groups Zero Waste Kaua‘i, Kaua‘i Climate Action Coalition and the Surfrider Foundation Kaua‘i Chapter – will discuss “climate psychology” at its next online meeting. Kauai Now.

Ex-lawmaker gets 2 years in federal prison for taking bribes, child climate change lawsuit advances, public records bill morphs into document withholding measure, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Former Hawaii legislator Ty Cullen receives 2 years in federal prison. A federal judge rejected an ex-lawmaker’s request for a 15-month sentence Opens in a new tab after he pleaded guilty to taking $30,000 in bribes in casino chips and cash over a seven-year period and sentenced him to two years in federal prison and fined him $25,000. His sentence was reduced for providing assistance to the federal government in an ongoing investigation involving public corruption. Star-Advertiser. Civil Beat.  Hawaii News Now.

Dirty money: Corruption case highlights Hawaii cesspool mess. Cesspools — in-ground pits that collect sewage from houses and buildings not connected to city services for gradual release into the environment — are at the center of the criminal case against former Democratic state Rep. Ty Cullen.  Associated Press.

Bill Allowing Agencies To Withhold Draft Documents Slipped Into Another Bill Late In The Session. House Bill 719 to cap copying fees for public records was abruptly amended to allow agencies to withhold certain pre-decisional records from the public. Two Senate committees signed off on a privately negotiated deal Thursday that would create a new “deliberative process privilege” that allows government agencies in Hawaii to withhold certain government records from the public, at least temporarily. Civil Beat.

Climate change suit by Hawaii keiki advances.  A Circuit Court judge ruled Thursday in favor of a lawsuit by 14 Hawaii youths claiming the state Department of Transportation is violating their constitutional rights by not doing enough to curb the emissions that are contributing to climate change. Star-Advertiser. Hawaii News Now.

NOAA: Hawaii And Alaska Are Showing The Effects Of Climate Change. In Alaska, Hawaii and the Pacific’s many nations and territories, climate change is no longer the wolf at the door, “the wolf is in the house right now.” That metaphor for the immediate risk that climate change poses, was evoked by a panel of U.S. government representatives speaking at the final day of the 20th Pacific Risk Management Ohana Conference in Honolulu.  Civil Beat.

Guidry appointed as Intermediate Appellate Court Judge. Governor Josh Green M.D. announced that Kimberly Tsumoto Guidry has been appointed as the next Intermediate Appellate Court Judge. KHON2.

Luxury home sales tax to fund affordable housing killed. After the chair of the House Finance Committee did not schedule the bill for a hearing by the Thursday deadline, the legislation appears to be dead in the water. Garden Island.

Proposed measure could relieve teachers of out-of-pocket classroom expenses. The Senate's Ways and Means committee approved a version of House Bill 1327 on Wednesday. It would give educators a tax credit for expenses such as books, computer equipment and classroom supplies for keiki. Hawaii Public Radio.

Bill to expand some blind vocational services to a neighbor island advances. The state has several programs through the Department of Human Services to assist those who are blind or visually impaired, and one measure moving through the state Legislature would create a pilot program and expand some of the services on Oʻahu to a neighbor island. Hawaii Public Radio.

Oahu

Office of Hawaiian Affairs rejects $100M Kakaako Makai deal. The Office of Hawaiian Affairs has dismissed a buyout proposal from a legislative leader to make permanent an existing residential development ban on land the agency owns in Kakaako Makai. Star-Advertiser.

DPP reevaluating its ‘one-stop permit center’.  The City’s Department of Planning and Permitting director said it is improving turnaround time for permit applications but said they could be even faster if the department delegated some of the permit processes back to certain state agencies. KHON2.

Oʻahu parks proposal will 'increase activity' by tour operators, residents say. The Honolulu City Council's parks committee took its first steps in discussing a controversial measure that would allow commercial activities to resume at several parks, with restrictions. Hawaii Public Radio.

Honolulu Council considers extending law encouraging more affordable rentals. A measure meant to continue greater private development of affordable rental housing on Oahu is under consideration by the Honolulu City Council. Star-Advertiser.

Honolulu City Council committee reviews Land Use Ordinance. The land use ordinance is over three decades old so the council is reviewing the regulations based on societal changes. This document covers everything from agriculture, tourism, eating at restaurants, drinking at bars and cabarets, mixed use developments, wind farms, affordable housing, the use of industrial lands, and more. KITV4.

Bodycams Are Becoming ‘Second Nature’ For Cops But Piling On Work For Prosecutors. HPD is reupping and possibly expanding its body camera program to more officers. Body cameras are now widely embraced by agencies initially reluctant to adopt the technology, but they’ve also increased the workload on prosecutors who have to process the footage. Civil Beat.

Oahu’s Historic Preservation Commission Finally Gets Members – 30 Years After Launch. The appointments are all volunteers and will still need to be confirmed by council. Civil Beat.

Hawaii Island

Wrongful death lawsuit filed in Kona police shooting. The family of a 32-year-old Kailua-Kona man who was shot and killed in a car he was driving by Hawaii police during a manhunt for an attempted murder suspect filed a wrongful death lawsuit against the two officers and the county this afternoon. Star-Advertiser. Hawaii News Now.

Undercover sting for child sexual predators nets 4 Kona men. Four Kona men have been indicted for child sex solicitation as part of a multi-agency undercover operation designed to identify and arrest individuals using the internet to facilitate sexual crimes against children. Star-Advertiser. Tribune-Herald.  West Hawaii Today.

Practice run planned for the removal of telescope’s mirror. The California Institute of Technology, which operated the Caltech Submillimeter Observatory on Maunakea until it was shut down in 2015, is preparing to dismantle the facility this year and eventually rebuild it in Chile. Tribune-Herald. Big Island Video News.  Big Island Now.

Maui

Maui County saw population decline during pandemic. A net total of more than 1,300 residents moved out of Maui County over the first two years of the COVID-19 pandemic, with most of the decline coming from people who packed up and headed to other states, according to data released last week by the U.S. Census Bureau. Maui News.

Data breach reported at the University of Hawaiʻi Maui College. Notification letters are being sent out to about 10,500 individuals who may have been impacted. Maui Now. Hawaii News Now.  KITV4.

Informational meeting planned on Molokaʻi for 58 Nāʻiwa Homesteaders. Hawai‘i Community Lending will host an informational meeting for the 58 Nā‘iwa Homestead Project lessees who were selected back in 1986. The meeting will take place on Monday, April 17, from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. at the Moloka‘i Lanikeha Center.  Maui Now.

Kauai

Kaua‘i County Council, mayor’s administration clash over homelessness solutions. Stark differences in opinion between the mayor’s administration and Kaua‘i County Council were made apparent this week, as a request for a $19.3 million County Housing Agency budget dissolved into a debate over homelessness solutions. Garden Island.

Giant condo management company lacks state license, newspaper clarifies Green nominee story, Supreme Court sides with OHA in dispute with auditor, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Hawaii Property Management Giant Under Scrutiny. State officials have begun an investigation of one of Hawaii’s major condominium management firms, Associa Hawaii, which state records indicate has been operating without an active broker’s license required by law. Civil Beat.

Correction: Green plans different nominees to lead DBEDT, Office of Planning. Gov. Josh Green.  is prohibited by Senate rules to name replacements for Chris Sadayasu and Scott Glenn this session after they failed to win Senate confirmation. But he plans to replace them sometime in May once the legislative session adjourns on May 5. An earlier article indicated otherwise. Star-Advertiser.

Bill seeking to double the earned income tax credit in the state advances. The Senate’s Ways and Means committee approved a new version of House Bill 1049 Tuesday. The version increases the food excise tax credit, doubling it from its current rate. It also increases the earned income tax credit from 20% to 40% of the federal rate.  Hawaii Public Radio.

Governor’s plan to address homeless crisis includes construction of more than a dozen tiny home villages. A total of 24 sites are currently under consideration. A list of those sites is expected to be released in about a month. Hawaii News Now.

Corrections Nominee Tommy Johnson Clears Committee Vote, Advances To The Full Senate. A Senate committee voted 4-0 on Wednesday in favor of Gov. Josh Green’s appointment of Tommy Johnson to run the state’s prisons and jails despite bitter resistance from the union that represents Hawaii correctional officers. Civil Beat.

State Supreme Court rules with OHA in dispute. A legal dispute between two Hawaii state agencies came to an end Wednesday with a state Supreme Court ruling in favor of the Office of Hawaiian Affairs over the Office of the Auditor. Star-Advertiser.

Ruling opens path for UH grad students to unionize.  A Hawaii Supreme Court ruling issued Wednesday has opened the way for a group of University of Hawaii graduate assistants to petition to be classified as public employees with collective bargaining rights. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii COVID hospitalizations, cases on the rise again.  The Health Department today warned the rate of COVID hospitalizations is on the rise, with an 89.7% jump in the number of patients over the past week to 75 today.  DOH reported 1,047 new COVID-19 infections over the past week, bringing the total number of cases since the start of the pandemic to 383,880. Star-Advertiser. Big Island Video News.  Hawaii News Now.

Oahu

Kūpuna could receive a large property tax break under proposed Honolulu bill. The Honolulu City Council’s budget committee met Tuesday to discuss four bills, including one that would raise the tax exemption for older homeowners still living in their primary residence. Hawaii Public Radio.

IRS grants tax relief to families affected by Red Hill water crisis. Civilians whose drinking water was contaminated by jet fuel from the Navy’s Red Hill storage facility in November 2021 will not have to pay federal or state income taxes on reimbursements they received from the military to cover expenses such as temporary lodging, meals and personal property damage, following guidance released Wednesday by the Internal Revenue Service. Star-Advertiser. Hawaii News Now.

Alleged Miske co-conspirator jailed for witness tampering. An alleged co-conspirator of reputed Hawaii crime boss Michael Miske was charged with witness tampering Monday after he allegedly threatened a woman not to cooperate with the U.S. Department of Justice’s ongoing investigation. Star-Advertiser.
 

Thief swaps out QR code for one of their own. The Honolulu Department of Transportation Services said  in a news release today that some of the 1,700 city parking meters configured to accept payments via the Park Smarter phone app reportedly have fraudulent stickers on them. Star-Advertiser. Hawaii News Now. KHON2. KITV4.

$26M for 2019 Likelike Hwy. tow truck crash victim. State taxpayers are on the hook to pay $26 million to a man critically injured by a runaway tow truck on the Likelike Highway. KHON2.

Hawaii Island

Downtown Hilo plan rejected: A majority of business owners not on board with revitalization plan. The Downtown Hilo Business Improvement District — which was officially proposed by a Hawaii County Council bill in late 2022, but has been a topic of discussion for years — would allow property owners to fund infrastructure maintenance and other upgrades between Ponahawai Street, Wailuku Drive, Kapiolani Street and the Hilo Bayfront using assessments levied against member businesses. Tribune-Herald.

How A Reverse Mortgage Lender Took A Hawaii Man’s Home Over A $500 Repair. The Hawaii Supreme Court ruled last week that Joseph B. Nutter & Co. and its lawyer committed fraud on the court by failing to give a full picture of their foreclosure on Elton Namahoe's Big Island house. Civil Beat.

Sweep at once iconic Uncle Billy’s resort in Hilo: 2 arrested, 10 cited for trespassing. More than three dozens officers from three law enforcement agencies conducted a dawn sweep of the condemned and dilapidated former Uncle Billy’s Hotel and Resort on Banyan Drive in Hilo. The result: two people arrested on outstanding warrants and 10 citations issued for simple trespass. Big Island Now. Star-Advertiser.

Maui

Hawaiian men imprisoned for hate crime agree to pay $25,000. Two Native Hawaiian men sentenced to prison for a hate crime in the brutal beating of a white man have agreed to pay more than $25,000 in restitution, according to court documents.  Associated Press.

How Much Is Too Much? Lawmakers Move Forward With Plan To Study Capacity Of Popular Maui Beach. State officials says they already have a plan to tackle parking woes at Makena State Park, but many on Maui are calling for more action. Civil Beat.

Hawaiian Electric to give update on renewable energy on Maui. Hawaiian Electric will hold a community meeting April 13 on Maui to provide an update on the renewable energy transition and recent developments on the status of the island’s existing power generation resources. Maui News.

Kauai

Kaua‘i Police Department budget hearing highlights vacancy problem. Amid national trends and a series of retirements, the Kaua‘i Police Department has struggled recently to fill a number of vacant positions. Garden Island.

Gun bill seeks limits in ‘sensitive’ areas. A Kaua‘i gun control advocate and a gun store manager are speaking out with contrasting opinions on recent gun control legislation, as a bill aimed at restricting who can carry firearms, and where, continues to make its way through state Senate chambers. Garden Island.

Rejected nominees continue to head departments, Green proposes tiny homes at state Capitol for homeless, Obama school renaming deferred, $165M Kakaako deal offered, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Chris Sadayasu, left, nominated to lead the Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism. Scott Glenn, right, nominated to lead the Office of Planning and Sustainable Development.

Gov. Green’s failed nominees could stay in place. Two of Gov. Josh Green’s Cabinet nominees who failed to win Senate confirmation — and any others who also might lack Senate support — will remain in place until the May 5 end of the legislative session and possibly for the rest of 2023 and even longer. On March 24, Green’s nominees to lead the state Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism — Chris Sadayasu — and the Office of Planning and Sustainable Development — Scott Glenn — failed to win Senate confirmation. Star-Advertiser. (Publisher's note: This story has since been corrected here)

Two more of Gov. Green's cabinet picks move forward after unanimous committee support. Both DOTAX director Gary Suganuma and Budget and Finance director Luis Salaveria received unanimous support Monday. Hawaii Public Radio.

DOH nominee Kenneth Fink gets initial committee approval on road to becoming director. Dr. Kenneth Fink, nominated to serve as the director of the state's Department of Health, received a positive advise and consent recommendation from the Senate’s Health and Human Services committee on Monday. Hawaii Public Radio.

To address homelessness in his backyard, Green proposes pop-up homeless village near state Capitol. Tiny homes for the homeless could start going up near the Capitol as early as this summer as part of a Green Administration plan. Gov. Josh Green says the so-called pop-up “kauhale village” will temporarily house some of the people currently camping in front of the state Library and Iolani Palace. Hawaii News Now.

A bill to raise taxes on luxury housing investments had plenty of support. Until it didn’t. A proposal to double taxes on high-end real estate investments is in trouble at the state Legislature, and now housing and homeless advocates are scrambling to get it a hearing. Hawaii News Now.

Changes could be coming to Hawaii Tourism Authority. The Hawaii Tourism Authority could be forced to make a major change, because of bills advancing this legislative session. KITV4.

Final hearing set for ‘clean elections’ measure. A state Senate bill that would establish a program for publicly funded elections, also known as “clean elections,” will face its final hearing at 2 p.m. today by the House Committee on Finance. Tribune-Herald.

Lawmakers Are Keeping Pressure On DOE For School Meal Plans. Farmers and ranchers see an opportunity for ongoing collaboration. Civil Beat.

As Mental Health Crisis Worsens In Hawaii, Psychiatrist Shortage Takes Heavy Toll On Kids. State leaders are working to bring some relief to exhausted parents, especially on the neighbor islands. Civil Beat.

Bill aims to attract UFC to Hawaii. A bill state lawmakers hope will attract the Ultimate Fighting Championship to Hawaii by creating a Combat Sports Commission has passed its final committee hurdle. Tribune-Herald.

Oahu

Kakaako Makai deal proposed. The leader of the state House of Representatives wants to make a deal with the Office of Hawaiian Affairs to keep housing from ever being developed on land the agency owns in Kakaako mainly in exchange for $165 million. Star-Advertiser. Civil Beat.

Council panel approves Honolulu’s rail safety plan. The City Council’s Committee on Transportation voted unanimously Tuesday to report for adoption a federally mandated rail safety plan that identifies the city’s transit agency as the final responsible party of the rail system, which is still under construction by the Honolulu Authority for Rapid Transportation. Star-Advertiser.

Rail is full steam ahead for its summer opening. That’s according to the Honolulu Authority for Rapid Transit and the Department of Transportation Services who updated the Honolulu City Council on Tuesday afternoon. KHON2.

Effort to rename elementary school after Barack Obama put on hold. A push to rename a Manoa elementary school after former President Barack Obama has been put on hold. Noelani Elementary School will keep its name for now. Hawaii News Now.

Oahu traffic-related fatalities remain high. Traffic-related fatalities in Hawaii in roughly the first three months of this year were fewer than at the same time last year.  Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii Island

Hawai‘i County seeking board, commission applicants to fill vacancies. The County of Hawaiʻi is inviting applications from eligible individuals to fill vacancies in several boards and commissions, including Fire Board of Appeals, Youth Commission, Board of Appeals, Committee on People with Disabilities, County Voters with Special Needs Advisory Committee, Kailua Village Design Commission, Transportation Commission, Pension Board, Tax Board of Review, Leeward Planning Commission and Veterans Advisory Committee. Big Island Now.

Kahalu‘u Beach To Close For Coral Spawning In May. The closure, from May 5 to May 12, aims to "enhance the spawning of cauliflower coral, a vital process for rejuvenating the coral reef ecosystem." Big Island Video News.

Maui

Teacher housing proposal on Maui closer to becoming a reality. Senate Bill 1596 allocates $15 million to the School Facilities Authority to create on-campus or nearby housing for teachers. The program would build units in either the Lahainaluna or Kūlanihākoʻi complex areas on Maui. Hawaii Public Radio.

Grand Wailea’s plans not yet up to legal standards, report says. Resort’s 137-room proposal still in limbo as groups push for more details on impacts. Maui News.

Molokaʻi Real Property Assessment office closing temporarily due to staff shortage. The County of Mauiʻs Molokaʻi Real Property Assessment office located at Mitchell Pauole Center in Kaunakakai will close temporarily from Tuesday, April 4 to Friday, April 14 due to a staffing shortage. Maui Now.

Kauai

Kaua‘i man sentenced to probation for government theft.  Scott Poland, who illegally spent $35,000 in public money,  pleaded guilty in November 2022 to two counts of government theft for making dozens of unauthorized purchases while working for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service on Kaua‘i. Garden Island.

U.S. senator meeting Kaua‘i veterans and business owners Wednesday. Democratic U.S. Sen. Mazie K. Hirono, a member of the Senate Small Business and Entrepreneurship Committee, will be on Kaua‘i on Wednesday, April 5, to meet with veterans and visit local businesses that have received federal assistance. Kauai Now.
 

HECO launches electric grid plans, Oahu school may be named after Obama, ex-lawmaker seeks reduced sentence in bribery case, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Hawaiian Electric seeks public comment on draft Integrated Grid Plan. The draft plan for its island grids was filed with the Public Utilities Commission, outlining steps the company will take in the coming years to ensure its system will achieve net zero carbon emissions and use 100% local, renewable resources. Maui Now.

Ex-Hawaii lawmaker in bribery case seeks 15-month sentence. Ty J.K. Cullen, the former vice chair of the state House Committee on Finance who pleaded guilty to taking bribes from a wastewater executive is asking a judge to sentence him to 15 months in federal prison, citing his yearlong “substantial assistance” with the U.S. Department of Justice’s public-corruption investigation. Star-Advertiser.

First wave of pre-K classes planned to open ahead of schedule.  Eleven free preschool classrooms for 3- and 4-year-olds are scheduled to open a year ahead of schedule in August to help low-income families across the islands, Lt. Gov. Sylvia Luke said Monday. Star-Advertiser.

Efforts to fund public after-school programs cut short by lawmakers. Despite overwhelming support at the Legislature this session, the Senate Ways and Means Committee deferred House Bill 69 on Thursday. It was the last surviving measure that would have provided additional funding to public after-school programs.  Hawaii Public Radio.

Sick and tired of that road racket? Bills to muffle mufflers advance at state Capitol. Lawmakers say they are getting a lot of noise about noise this year ― and are responding with new technology and police tactics. Hawaii News Now.

Spiraling housing prices spark worry about Hawaii’s future. Currently, housing construction is not keeping up with demand. Only 1,000 to 2,000 new housing units are being built in Hawaii each year. Those numbers are dwarfed by the 50,000 new units a 2019 state-commissioned study estimated would be needed by 2025. Associated Press.

Visitors to Hawaii would be charged $50 to visit state parks, other areas. Senate Bill 304 would require nonresidents aged 15 or older to obtain an environmental license to visit state parks or other “natural areas on state land.”  Tribune-Herald.

Hawai‘i Tourism Authority launches new site to share Destination Management progress. The Hawai‘i Tourism Authority has launched a new website, “Holomua,” an online platform for sharing collective updates and progress on each of its community-based Destination Management Action Plans. Big Island Now Big Island Video News.

Oahu

In ‘hard to compete’ labor market, city to test flexible work schedules and telework options. The city is launching a pilot program in an effort to entice more workers and fill thousands of vacancies Among the options being promoted: Telework and flexible schedules for many employees. Hawaii News Now.

Rain causes leaks, disruptions at Hawai‘i Convention Center.  Heavy rain that caused pockets of flash flooding in the southern and eastern areas of Oahu on Sunday soaked through the Hawai‘i Convention Center roof, affecting the Kawaii Kon event and removing another five meeting rooms from service. Star-Advertiser.

In heavy rains, an upstream dumping problem triggers a trashy situation on exclusive Kahala Beach. Shopping carts, clothes, and other debris littered Kahala Beach on Monday following heavy rains over the weekend. Hawaii News Now.

Honolulu Rail Cost On The Rise As Electric Hookups To Customers Along The Line Are Factored In. More than $700 million in contracts were awarded to relocate utilities in the urban area, but that did not include transformers or electrical lines to homes and businesses. Civil Beat.

City readies for opening of Kapolei to stadium rail segment. The Honolulu Department of Transportation Services is gearing up to take over the coming rail line this year — handling ridership, fares and bolstering the system’s security. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii Senate considers name change for local elementary school. The Senate Committee on Education heard testimony from those both in support of and against the name change of Noelani Elementary School to President Barack Obama Noelani Elementary School. KITV4.

Booze Battle Heats Up As Judge Slaps Liquor Commission Critic With Court Order. Controversies surrounding the beleaguered Honolulu Liquor Commission have taken an unusual turn, with a commission investigations supervisor obtaining a temporary restraining order against a critic who the supervisor says has bombarded the agency with public records requests.  Civil Beat.

Mayor confirms Waipahu District Park pool reopening date. Mayor Rick Blangiardi announced in a town hall meeting on March 30 that the pool is scheduled to reopen to the public on Monday, May 1. KHON2.

Hawaii Island

Army official addresses PTA, concerns about China in the Pacific. Maj. Gen. Joe Ryan, commanding general for the Army’s 25th Infantry Division in Hawaii, provided updates about the Pohakuloa Training Area on Monday at an event held by the Hawaii Island Chamber of Commerce. Tribune-Herald.

Hawaiʻi County IT Director Moves To Civil Defense Position. Information Technology Director Scott Uehara has accepted a position within the Hawaiʻi County Civil Defense, where he will focus on emergency communications systems. Big Island Video News.

False active shooter call prompts lockdown of 3 Hawaii schools. Waiakea High, Waiakea Intermediate School and Waiakea Elementary School were placed on lockdown as a precautionary measure due to the seriousness of the call. Star-Advertiser. Big Island Video News.  Big Island Now. Kauai Now.  Hawaii News Now.

Hawaii County finalists named for UH Board of Regents seat. The finalists for the Hawaii County seat are Michael Miyahira, Kona Moran, Alapaki Nahale-a and Steven Pavao. Tribune-Herald.

Maui

Bill seeks a carrying capacity study for Mākena State Park due to increased visitors. The state House Finance Committee will hear a bill this week that requests a carrying capacity study for Mākena State Park, also known as Oneloa Beach. Maui Now.

Finding of No Significant Impact for Puʻunēnē Ave. road widening and improvement project. The project aims to increase roadway safety and capacity by adding two additional vehicle lanes and shared shoulders.  Maui Now.

Protectors of ancestral remains rail against planned expansion of Maui luxury resort. The Grand Wailea, a Waldorf Astoria Resort, has been wanting to expand for years. But protectors of ancestral bones, or iwi kupuna, say enough already. Hawaii News Now.

Kauai

Kaua‘i Fire Department seeking $450k to reduce drownings. If secured, the funds would pay for an additional 12 full-time lifeguards, and would allow the department to safeguard all monitored beaches 10 hours a day, seven days a week, through a new “Dawn to Dusk” program. Garden Island.

Understanding alcohol use disorders is key to prevention. A proclamation by Mayor Derek Kawakami states the importance of learning about the behavioral and physical signs of alcohol addiction, child abuse and neglect, and sexual assault, and in working to reduce the incidence of these public health crises from taking place on Kaua‘i. Garden Island.
 

Hawaii leads nation in preventing COVID deaths, Green signs transparency bills, committee approves Chang to lead DLNR, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Open government laws aim to restore public trust. Seven bills requiring greater transparency from lawmakers and state boards were signed into law Friday by Gov. Josh Green. Star-Advertiser. Maui News. Big Island Video News. Kauai Now.

Hawaii ranks first in preventing COVID deaths. Hawaii had the lowest death rate in the nation, at 147 per 100,000, when age and underlying illnesses were taken into account, four times less than states such as Arizona, which had the highest, at 581 per 100,000, according to a study recently published in The Lancet. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii's Longest-Serving State Lawmaker Talks About The True Power Of Legislators. Sen. Les Ihara believes rank-and-file lawmakers could be asserting themselves in committees and on the floor. Civil Beat.

Here's What Hawaii Can Learn From Other States On Publicly Funded Elections. The system needs to be legally sound, properly regulated and substantially funded so candidates can compete with private money. Civil Beat.

Dawn Chang endorsed to head Department of Land and Natural Resources.  The Committee on Water and Land voted 5-0 to recommend that the 25-member Senate confirm Dawn Chang as DLNR’s director and chair of the Board of Land and Natural Resources. Star-Advertiser. Civil Beat. Hawaii News Now

Senate earmarks housing projects and tax relief in two-year $38B budget. The state Senate Ways and Means Committee has built out portions of the state’s biennium budget for fiscal years 2024 and 2025. Hawaii Public Radio.

Subsidy program would help mid-income Hawaii residents buy homes. Households earning 80% to 120% of a county’s median income could qualify for subsidies of about $100,000 toward the purchase of a new home, under a pilot program that would be established by a bill advancing at the Legislature. Star-Advertiser.

GET bill: One last hurdle. The House Committee on Finance is the last hurdle for two key bills that could determine the future of health care in Hawaii. Senate Bill 1035 would exempt medical providers from the state’s general excise tax, or GET, for treating patients with Medicare, Medicaid and TRICARE. Senate Bill 397, would increase Medicaid reimbursement rates and match them to Medicare rates. Tribune-Herald.

Hawaii may soon ban thousands of everyday items containing toxic chemicals. State lawmakers are considering a ban on intentionally added polyfluoroalkyl or “forever chemicals,” that make up an array of items from certain cosmetics to water-resistant clothing, food packaging and more. KHON2.

Hawaii’s fireworks measures fizzle out. Bills increasing fines, limiting consumer fireworks, providing technology to search shipping containers and allowing county police departments to track explosions all failed to cross over to their opposite chambers for further consideration. Star-Advertiser.

 ‘Nobody Gets To Run A State For 50 Years Anymore’: Hawaii Political Life After Dan Inouye. Ten years after the political giant's death, power is more fragmented — but politics has become more inclusive. Civil Beat.

Outlook for Hawaii tourism from Japan not so ‘golden’. This year’s Golden Week, which runs April 29-May 5, is expected to be the best one since the pandemic started in 2020. However, it isn’t shaping up to be that “golden,” and a more significant pickup of Japanese arrivals to Hawaii is not forecast to occur until summer or beyond. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii working on Regenerative Tourism. The Local2030 Islands Network kicked off its inaugural conference on Sunday at the Hawaii Convention Center. KITV4.

President Lassner fighting for $24M for University of Hawaii budget. University of Hawaii President David Lassner is fighting to maintain $24 million in state funding for UH that disappears July 1, while facing “antipathy” from three state senators, including the chairs of the Senate’s finance and higher education committees. The money, part of a restoration of cuts made during the COVID-19 years, will disappear unless it’s specifically added to the next fiscal year budget. Star-Advertiser.

University of Hawaii Board of Regents candidates announced. The Candidate Advisory Council has presented the list of candidates to Gov. Josh Green to fill one Honolulu County seat, one Maui County seat and one Hawaii County seat for five-year appointments.  Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii Hospitals Are Struggling To Meet The Needs Of The Chronically Homeless. Emergency rooms are on the front line of caring for Hawaii's most medically vulnerable homeless people, yet they lack many of the resources needed to have a lasting impact. Civil Beat.

Oahu

Honolulu City Council questions Blangiardi's budget and tax credit proposal. The Honolulu City Council is plunging into what looks like a turbulent budget season amid a potentially acrimonious debate over sky-high assessments for property taxes. Civil Beat. Hawaii Public Radio.

Mayor Signs Bill That Bans Guns In ‘Sensitive Places,’ Including Schools And Hospitals. Under the new law, concealed-carry weapons won’t be allowed at a hefty list of “sensitive places.” Civil Beat.

$100M for first responder campus project flatlining. A controversial and costly state plan to build a vast campus for state, county and federal first responders in Mililani may have hit a funding snag for a second straight year. Star-Advertiser.

Shidler donates $5M more to University of Hawaii business school. Jay H. Shidler, the Honolulu businessman who has donated more than $230 million in cash, land leases and in-kind donations to the University of Hawaii at Manoa, has given an additional $5 million to the business school. Star-Advertiser.

Ex-state official joins Honolulu housing, homeless office. Denise Iseri-Matsubara, a former state housing official, has been hired to lead the Mayor’s Office of Housing and Homelessness as its executive director. Star-Advertiser.

Navy seeks public ideas about repurposing Red Hill. The Navy has launched an online survey Opens in a new tab to solicit public ideas about repurposing the Red Hill underground fuel facility once its tanks are drained and it’s closed for fueling operations. Star-Advertiser.

Aloha Stadium plan shift may extend timeline for completion. State planners, under the new administration of Gov. Josh Green, had hoped to send out requests for proposals by the end of January for the New Aloha Stadium Entertainment District. Star-Advertiser.

Waimanalo Health Center using grant to expand services. The Hawaii Dental Service Foundation has given the Waimanalo Health Center a $500,000 grant to expand its services with a new clinic in Kaneohe and to renovate its existing offices in Waimanalo. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii Island

Roth vetoes Planning Commision zoning bill. Bill 194, introduced last summer by North Kona Councilman Holeka Inaba, would replace the current practice of administrative time extensions approved by the Planning Department, and require the council in a public forum to make that decision. West Hawaii Today.

Kona Community Hospital at risk of closure due to outdated utilities. Hospital leaders have been attending 2023 State Legislature sessions to bring attention to their urgent needs and advocate for approximately $17 million over the next two years to address the cooling and ventilating system problems as well as install campus-wide lighting and security cameras. Big Island Now.

Puna roads restoration project delayed; EA assessment still not complete. Hawaii County is urging patience as a long-awaited eruption recovery project in lower Puna is delayed yet again. Tribune-Herald. KITV4.

Swath of Hawaii Island rife with old munitions prompts push for special construction protocols. Eight decades after the military battered parts of Hawaii Island with grenades, mortars, and bombs, lost munitions remain scattered across several communities ― all with the potential to explode. Hawaii News Now.

Spinner dolphin harassment investigated using recent rule.  In October 2021, a new federal regulation went into effect requiring people to keep 50 yards from Hawaiian spinner dolphins in an effort to better protect them from human disturbance. Star-Advertiser.

Maui

Departments scheduled to discuss budget plans throughout April. Decision-making meetings on the county budget for the fiscal year that begins July 1, 2023 are planned for later in the month. Maui Now. Maui News.

Clinic to end OB care, shrinking Maui options. Saying that continuing obstetric care would be unsustainable moving forward, Maui Lani Physicians and Surgeons will no longer be taking any new pregnancy cases.  Maui News.

On Lanai, impacts of strike spill over to other services. Situation highlights struggle that comes with island’s limited health worker pool. Maui News.

Gas leak at Maui Prep prompts concerns from parents. The state Department of Health has launched an investigation after being notified by “multiple sources” of the situation, according to Maui District Health officer Dr. Lorrin Pang. Star-Advertiser.

Kauai

New Kaua‘i Representative Luke Evslin adapts to state politics. It’s been a whirlwind month for the newest member of the state House of Representatives, Luke Evslin, who has been learning the ropes of state politics since his mid-session appointment to the Legislature. Garden Island.

Visitor spending soars on Kaua‘i in February. Tourists proved willing to dig deep into their bank accounts while visiting Kaua‘i in February, as spending surged more than $50 million over the same period last year. Garden Island.

Oahu, Maui lose population while Hawaii Island and Kauai grow, Aloha Stadium consultant bills to be audited, Green's DLNR pick up for confirmation today, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Latest census data for Hawaii reflective of pandemic exodus. The Census Bureau estimates the statewide population at 1,440,196 as of July 1, a decline of 1.0%, or 15,077 fewer residents.  Oahu lost 20,868 residents, while Hawaii County gained 5,684, Kauai gained 516 and Maui lost 411, bringing a net loss statewide of 15,077. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii Senate Budget Committee Embraces Tax Breaks For Working Families. The Senate will support a sizable slice of Gov. Josh Green’s proposed state tax changes, including adjustments to Hawaii’s income tax structure and enhanced tax credits to help working families, the Senate Ways and Means Committee chairman Donovan Dela Cruz said Thursday. Civil Beat.

Hawaiʻi pay transparency bill advancing to House floor. A measure that would require Hawaiʻi employers to disclose hourly and salary ranges in job postings s a move that studies have shown to narrow pay disparity gaps. Hawaii Public Radio.

Hawaii On Course To Join States Where Gun Companies Can Be Sued. A bill that would allow people to sue gunmakers cleared a key Senate committee Thursday. Despite a federal law that protects firearms manufacturers and dealers, the proposed statute would allow people harmed by firearms to hold the companies accountable in state court. Civil Beat.

Proposal to extend mandatory retirement age for judges fails. The current law requires them to retire at age 70. The new law would have allowed them to serve five more years — to age 75. Hawaii News Now.

DLNR director nominee faces 1st confirmation hearing. Department of Land and Natural Resources Chairwoman Dawn Chang faces her first round of Senate confirmation hearings on Friday, March 31.  KHON2.

Strong Hawaii tourism might fade into summer. February was a month to love for Hawaii’s visitor industry with arrivals recovering to 96.5% of pre-pandemic times — but the momentum might not continue into what looks to be a much softer summer than expected. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii Hospitals Are Struggling To Meet The Needs Of The Chronically Homeless. Emergency rooms are on the front line of caring for Hawaii's most medically vulnerable homeless people, yet they lack many of the resources needed to have a lasting impact. Civil Beat.

Hawaiʻi's demand for social workers will climb over the next decade, report says. The "Social Work in Hawaiʻi: A Workforce Profile" report from UH's Thompson School of Social Work and Public Health evaluated the status of social workers in Hawaiʻi in terms of salary, labor force and demand. Hawaii Public Radio.

Oahu

Oahu tax relief bill gains in Council amid skepticism. Members of the Honolulu City Council’s Budget Committee remained skeptical Thursday but advanced Mayor Rick Blangiardi’s plan to give property tax relief to nearly 152,000 qualifying homeowners in the form of a one-time $300 tax credit. Star-Advertiser. Hawaii News Now.

Aloha Stadium Consultant’s First-Class Flights Will Be Audited, State Says. A portion of the planning contract went to paying for air travel that appears to violate state rules. Civil Beat.

US Army to host a 2-day public meeting on modifications to Honolulu Harbor. The Army Corps of Engineers is hosting a public meeting Thursday and Friday to better understand how to improve ship navigation and reduce transportation costs at the harbor. Hawaii Public Radio.

Lawmakers close to approving millions for teacher housing. Senate Bill 941 is moving along in the State Legislature proposing to fund housing developments near three schools with $185 million. The breakdown of the funding would go as follow: $65 million for Mililani High School. $60 million for Waipahu High School . $60 million for Nanakuli High and Intermediate School.  KHON2.

Mo'ili'ili residents soon to be displaced to make way for residential tower. Dozens of families at Kapiolani Village Apartments are being displaced in six months for a new residential tower and some of them still have nowhere to go. KITV4

Oahu town hall addresses deadly fentanyl use impacting Hawaii's youth. At today’s town hall meeting in Ewa Beach, members of the community gathered to hear from officials and experts on the dangers of fentanyl and its current impact on Hawaii. KITV4.

Hawaii Island

Despite decades-long cleanup, threat of unexploded ordnance on Hawaii Island remains high. Eighty years after the military battered parts of Hawaii Island with grenades, mortars, and bombs, officials estimate thousands of unexploded ordnances remain scattered throughout several West Hawaii Island communities ― a reality that impacts everything from daily life to future planning. Hawaii News Now.

Likely delays along Kilauea Avenue and Keawe Street throughout April. The County Department of Public Works is warning of likely delays along Kilauea Avenue and Keawe Street throughout April as a lengthy road rehabilitation project begins. Tribune-Herald.

Study seeks to identify early signs of diabetes among Native Hawaiian  and Pacific Islander young adults. On Saturday between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m., those between the ages of 20 and 50 will have an opportunity to take part in the study at the Pahoa Recreational Center. Tribune-Herald.

Maui

Visitors to Maui in February up 14% from last year, spending up 34%. Tourism continued to recover across the state in February, with Maui County reporting double digit increases visitors and spending over the same time last year.  Maui Now.

$1M in upgrades proposed for Helene Hall wastewater system. Current equipment is ‘not functioning’ right, cesspools also lack capacity. Maui News.

Maui Police Department mourns passing of former Chief Howard Tagomori. The Maui Police Department confirmed the passing of former Chief Howard Tagomori on March 3, 2023.  Maui News.

Kauai

County considers nearly $5M for Kaua‘i landfill issue. County of Kaua‘i council members considered proposed funding to address the ongoing Kekaha landfill crisis during its annual budget meeting on Tuesday, as representatives from the county Department of Public Works broke down how requested funding would confront the questionable future of Kaua‘i’s only landfill. Garden Island.

Raising awareness about disabilities. The excitement of holding a sign advocating for developmental disability awareness was the same whether on the lawn of the Historic County Building on Rice Street in Lihu‘e or under the eaves of the Mo‘ikeha Building of the Lihu‘e Civic Center.  Garden Island.