Hawaii is number 2 in homelessness

OHA returned $2 million of ceded land revenue in 2019
The The Office of Hawaiian Affairs returned to the state more than $2 million owed to it from various departments that use certain ceded lands in Hawaiʻi. The returned funds exceeded an annual cap of $15.1 million. Civil Beat.

Medicare trims payment to 8 Hawaiʻi hospitals
The hospitals will receive less money from Medicare this year because of too many readmissions. The annual deductions have been conducted since 2012 to incentivize hospitals to improve patient care as part of the Affordable Care Act. Civil Beat.

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

Assistant superintendent retires from DOE
Donna Lum-Kagawa, who was assistant superintendent in the Office of Curriculum and Instructional Design, retired at the end of 2019. Her retirement marks the third departure from the core leadership team within a span of six months. Civil Beat.

Hawaiian Telcom promotes its chief of staff, Su Shin, to president and GM
Hawaiian Telcom announced Tuesday that its chief of staff, Su Shin has been promoted to president and general manager effective Feb. 10. She replaces John Komeiji, who resigned as president and general manager. Komeiji will be moving to Kamehameha Schools and serve as general counsel and vice president. Honolulu Star-Advertiser. KHON2.

Rep. Chris Lee to seek Windward Senate seat
State Rep. Chris Lee has become the first prominent politician to announce plans to run for the soon-to-be- vacated state Senate seat held by Laura Thielen, creating a fourth vacancy on the Windward side. Honolulu Star-Advertiser. Civil Beat

Oʻahu grapples with where to place its next landfill as it confronts its waste dilemma
About 30 trucks roll down Farrington Highway on the west side of Oʻahu every day to dump waste at the City and County of Honolulu’s only municipal landfill, Waimānalo Gulch. Now after 30 years, the State Land Use Commission has ordered the landfill to close its doors for good by 2028. Hawaii Public Radio.

One year later, city touts success of Pūnāwai Rest Stop for homeless
Since December 2018, the one-stop hygiene center on Kuwili Street helped place a total of 92 homeless people into housing; 35 were able to get jobs; and 10 entered into substance abuse treatment. Hawaii News Now. KHON2.

Auditor: Handi-Van software – and perhaps its operator – need an overhaul
The Honolulu auditor’s latest update on Handi-Van performance finds some progress, but the busy paratransit service still needs a lot of improvement. Civil Beat.

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