Bills Would Protect Reefs, Bar Military Live-Fire Training, Expand Robotics

Hawaiʻi’s watersheds and coral reefs would be recognized as “legal persons” with legal rights; high school robotics could become an interscholastic sport; military live-fire training would be banned on state land; and a new fee would be charged on any “sugar-sweetened” beverages under new House and Senate bills to be considered during the legislative session that’s scheduled to adjourn May 8.

Star-Advertiser.

Green’s Tax Cut Freeze Plan Repeals Five Years of Additional Savings for Taxpayers

Hawaiʻi taxpayers stand to receive dramatically stunted financial savings under a plan by Gov. Josh Green to cancel future state income tax cuts. A single person earning $75,000 a year would miss out on $3,855 in estimated tax savings over the next five years, and $1,103 a year after 2031 if Green’s legislation is approved by the Legislature, according to calculations by the state Department of Taxation.

Star-Advertiser.

Hawaiʻi Lawmakers Look to Ban Popular ‘Prediction Market’ Wagering

Ahead of Gov. Josh Green’s annual State of the State address last week, online betters placed $448,667 in “prediction market” wagers on whether he would say phrases that included “affordable,” “affordability,” “mainland,” “cost of living,” “aloha,” “kauhale,” “housing,” “health care,” “tourism” and “volcano” as part of an online gambling phenomenon that would be prohibited under House Bill 2198.

Star-Advertiser.

Ending Aquarium Collecting Doesn’t Lead to Recovery of Reef Fish, Analysis Finds

A new analysis of state and federal monitoring data finds that yellow tang populations on Hawaiʻi reefs failed to recover — and, in some cases, declined — after commercial aquarium fish collecting ended, contradicting long-standing claims that the practice was sustainable.

Maui Now.

New UHERO Report Finds Hawaiʻi’s Economy Has “Lagged Behind the Rest of the U.S. for Years”

According to a new report from the University of Hawaiʻi’s Economic Research Organization, Hawaiʻi residents earn average incomes compared to the rest of the United States, but the money earned doesn’t go nearly as far compared to other parts of the country. This economic disadvantage makes it harder to maintain a good quality of life.

KHON2.

O‘ahu Headlines

Honolulu City Council’s Affordable Housing Bills Face Strong Resistance

A trio of Honolulu City Council measures is drawing opposition from building developers and housing advocates alike over an effort by some Council members to potentially roll back existing incentives related to affordable housing development on Oʻahu.

Star-Advertiser.

Meet the Oʻahu Woman on a Mission to Stop the Ala Wai Canal Bridge

Mōʻiliʻili resident Laura Ruby has over the years organized substantial and vocal opposition to a proposed pedestrian bridge over the middle of the Ala Wai Canal. Her opposition has spawned several community meetings, an amendment to the city budget, changes in the construction plan and additional federal historical review. Even as construction inches closer, she has no plans to stop.

Civil Beat.

Booming Market for Local Data Storage Space

Hawaiʻi tech company Servpac is adding a new building to its data center in the Mililani Technology Park. Despite the additional space, most Hawaiʻi data is stored on the continent.

Hawaiʻi Public Radio.

Road Rehabilitation Project to Take Place in Kāneʻohe

The city said construction will begin on an 18-month-long project on Monday along Kamehameha Highway from Haiku Road to Likelike Highway and Kāneʻohe Bay Drive.

Hawaii News Now.

Hawai‘i Island Headlines

Operation Reverse Robinhood: Big Island Lawyer Gets 6 Years for Scam

Gary Zamber is the first of the four defendants to be sentenced for conspiring to take advantage of loopholes in the Big Island’s system for handing out affordable housing credits to developers. Zamber is one of four men who fraudulently obtained almost $11 million worth of credits. His sentencing marks a pivotal moment in the downfall of a scheme that prosecutors say stretched from 2014 to 2021.

Civil Beat.

Reed Mahuna Tapped to Serve as Hawaiʻi County’s Next Police Chief

The 28-year veteran cop was born and raised on the Big Island. The Hawaiʻi County Police Commission unanimously chose longtime Big Island cop Reed Mahuna as the department’s next police chief after a two-day hearing that wrapped up Friday.

Civil Beat. Star-Advertiser.

Tram Collision at Hilton Waikōloa Village Prompts Suspension of Service

Two trams at the Hilton Waikōloa Village on Hawaiʻi crashed Saturday night. No one was hurt, and the hotel said emergency services were called to the scene.

Hawaii News Now. Big Island Now.

Spittlebug Threatens Hawaiʻi’s Cattle Industry

The tiny black bug has destroyed an estimated 320,000 acres of ranchlands from Pu‘u Wa‘awa‘a to South Point.

Star-Advertiser.

Kāwili Street Paving Project Begins This Week

The project will be carried out in phases, totaling 1.6 miles between Kanoelehua Avenue and Pūʻainakō Street. All work will take place from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday through Friday, weather permitting. Paving is expected to be completed by the end of February.

Big Island Video News. Big Island Now.

Maui Headlines

PUC to Hold Public Hearing on Proposed Hawaiʻi Water Rate Increase in Kapalua

The Hawaiʻi Public Utilities Commission will conduct a public hearing Monday on Hawaii Water Service Company, Inc.’s request for a rate increase for its Kapalua Water and Wastewater Divisions. Hawaii Water is asking the commission to approve a 59% increase over revenues at current effective rates, including a 7.46% rate of return, a power cost charge pass-through, a water purchase rider and refunds of excess 2021-2025 revenues.

Maui Now.

Bezos Donation Boosts Lahainaluna Scholarships and Wildfire Research

A $3.5 million donation from Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sanchez includes $1.5 million for Lahainaluna High School graduates affected by the fires and $2 million for vegetation management and land stewardship research.

Star-Advertiser.

Kaua‘i Headlines

Hawaiʻi Health Officials Investigate Chickenpox Outbreak at Kauaʻi School

The Hawaiʻi Department of Health today said it is investigating an outbreak of chickenpox at Kīlauea Elementary School on Kauaʻi. To date, five cases have been reported among four students and one household member. Health officials said none of the individuals were vaccinated against chickenpox, also known as varicella.

Star-Advertiser.

Found Human Remains Ends Search for Missing 19-Year-Old Fisherman on Kauaʻi

The massive multi-agency search for a 19-year-old Kapaʻa man was suspended after three days when human remains were found in the waters off Kāhili Beach on Saturday afternoon.

KITV4.