Welcome to the Hawaii Island News update from Hawaii News Digest.
Top Story: A West Hawaii mother, whose daughter was removed from school and taken to Kauai, is suing several state agencies and the school’s principal for kidnapping.
Content supplied by the “Hawaii Tribune-Herald.”
Views expressed in this Hawaii News summary are those of the reporters and correspondents.
Accessed on 18 January 2020, 1555 UTC, Post 20143.
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https://www.hawaiitribune-herald.com/category/hawaii-news
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State agencies, school sued for kidnapping
KAILUA-KONA A West Hawaii mother whose daughter was removed from school and flown to Kauai to live with her father is suing several state agencies and the schools principal for kidnapping.
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State: Tax collections up
Total state tax collections were up almost 5% in Fiscal Year 2019, which ended June 30.
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Judge hands down maximum sentence to Waiki accomplice Malia Lajala
KAILUA-KONA A fifth accomplice was sentenced Friday to six years in jail for her role in assisting Justin Waiki after the July 2018 murder of Hawaii County Police Officer Bronson Kaliloa.
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Demand high for final phase of Hilo senior housing project
The third and final phase of the Mohouli Heights Senior Neighborhood in Hilo is nearly finished, months ahead of schedule.
State briefs for January 18
Navy to name aircraft carrier for Pearl Harbor hero Miller
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Bakken Estate gifts $100K to West Hawaii Veterans Cemetery
KAILUA-KONA The West Hawaii Veterans Cemetery Association received a generous donation from the estate of Dr. Earl Bakken earlier this month.
HVNP closes Holei Sea Arch overlook
The Holei Sea Arch overlook in Hawaii Volcanoes National Park was closed Wednesday afternoon until further notice because of new cracks and instability observed on the coastal cliffs.
Hawaiian Telcom back online in South Kona, Ka‘u
A landline, cellular phone and internet outage affecting Hawaiian Telcom customers in South Kona and Kau was repaired at 2:20 p.m. Thursday, according to company spokeswoman Ann Nishida Fry.
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County fast-track land buy raises questions
HILO A fast-tracked bill to buy land owned by a distant relative of Puna Councilwoman Ashley Kierkiewicz is raising questions after her relationship was disclosed when the County Council was asked to approve a $1.45 million appropriation for the purchase and construction of a bus depot there.
Parts of Kona coffee belt received most rain since ’93
Although East Hawaii is known for its prodigious rainfall, 2019 will be remembered as a year in which rain reigned in West Hawaii, especially in the Kona coffee belt.
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Rough Sunday for victims of alleged robbers
A Canadian couple left Kehena Beach Sunday with a Pahoa man theyd just met.
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New path forward: Diversion program focuses on behavioral health services over jail
KAILUA-KONA The first graduate this year from a Jail Diversion program that offers offenders a new path in life was praised for his success in following through with the plan.
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39th annual Dr. King celebration Sunday at Old A
KAILUA-KONA Nearly 40 years after it began, the gathering has grown, but the message remains the same.
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One lane of Old Saddle Road, Highway 19 to be closed Saturday for race
The Hawaii Police Department said one lane will be closed Saturday on Old Saddle Road and Mamalahoa Highway in South Kohala for the Revel Race Marathon.
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Pahala intersection to become all-way stop
The county will convert the intersection of Pikake and Kamani Streets in Pahala to a four-way stop.
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Hawaii lawmakers vow to address high cost of living
HONOLULU Lawmakers opened a new session of the Hawaii Legislature on Wednesday with vows to address the states punishingly high cost of living so families dont have to abandon the islands for cheaper places.
Numerous complaints but not citations for fireworks
The Hawaii Police Department received 171 complaints islandwide about fireworks between Christmas Eve and New Years Eve, according to a department spokesman.
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Mysterious objects discovered at the center of the galaxy
A Maunakea observatory has discovered four mysterious objects at the center of the galaxy that defy previous classifications.
Police arrest 24 for DUI
During the week of Jan. 6-12, Hawaii Island police arrested 24 motorists for DUI. Six of the drivers were involved in a traffic accident. None was younger than 21.
Transportation issues top priorities of Council of Mayors
A $25 increase in vehicle registration fees to pay for removing abandoned vehicles, a charge to drive on certain roads during peak hours and a surcharge on ride-sharing services such as Uber and Lyft are three of a largely transportation-related package the Hawaii Council of Mayors presented Wednesday to legislative money committees.