Welcome to the West Hawaii News update from the Hawaii News Digest.
Top Story: A new law allows more veterans than ever to military services such as exchanges, commissaries, and recreational facilities.
Views expressed in this Hawaii News summary are those of the reporters and correspondents.
Content supplied by the “West Hawaii Today.”
Accessed on 03 February 2020, 1415 UTC, Post 20219.
Source:
https://www.westhawaiitoday.com/category/hawaii-news/
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Benefits expanded for disabled vets, Purple Heart vets, former POWs
A new law that took effect Jan. 1 allows more veterans than ever privileges to military service exchanges, commissaries, and military recreational facilities such as golf courses, bowling alleys and movie theaters.
Lane closures planned for road, landscaping work in West Hawaii
Work to repair a sinkhole that formed late last year on Alii Drive continues this week in Kailua Village.
Lego Masters: South Kona woman pairs up with Texas friend to appear on Fox TV show
Did you unleash your inner architect and play with Legos as a child?
Vacation rental denials appealed
Appeals are pouring in from vacation rental owners who were denied permits, with the county Board of Appeals agenda including 25 contested cases for its Feb. 14 meeting in Kona.
27th annual Cherry Blossom Festival: Food, culture, fun
Entertainment, food and vendors were abundant at the 27th annual Cherry Blossom Festival Saturday in Waimea.
Jensen named West Hawaii Today editor
Chelsea Jensen has been promoted to editor of West Hawaii Today.
League of Women Voters seeks smooth transition to mailed ballots
Although Hawaii Island, along with the rest of the state, has been voluntarily transitioning from walk-in voting to mail-in ballots over the past 20 years, the local chapter of the League of Women Voters is concerned some voters may be left behind in an election offering only two locations for on-site voting.
Man sentenced to 8 years for crash that killed firefighter
In a courtroom wrought with emotion, the man responsible for the May 2019 traffic death of a Hawaii Fire Department captain was sentenced on Friday.
Senator wants probe of Hawaii FAA office after 3 crashes
HONOLULU A whistleblower has told a Senate committee that a manager in the Federal Aviation Administrations Hawaii field office improperly let a helicopter tour company owner certify pilots for flight on behalf of the agency.
Man sentenced to 8 years for crash that killed firefighter
In a courtroom overwrought with emotion, the man responsible for the May 2019 traffic death of a Hawaii Fire Department captain was sentenced on Friday.
Senator wants probe of Hawaii FAA office after 3 crashes
HONOLULU A whistleblower has told a Senate committee that a manager in the Federal Aviation Administrations Hawaii field office improperly let a helicopter tour company owner certify pilots for flight on behalf of the agency.
Demand for Hawaii housing high while supply remains low
HONOLULU Hawaii is unlikely to build the more than 50,000 new homes for sale and rental needed to meet demand over the next five years, a new study said.
Slain Honolulu officer honored by colleagues and community
HONOLULU Law enforcement officers from around the country gathered in Honolulu for a ceremony to honor one of two officers killed while responding to a call in which a suspect and his landlord died and nearby homes were leveled by fire.
‘It’s not just a Kona problem’: Another year, another fight over coffee-labeling law
The latest effort to change labeling requirements for Hawaiian-grown coffee blends is making its way through the state Legislature.
Kung Hee Fat Choy! North Kohala’s Tong Wo Society opens Sunday for Chinese New Year
Once a year, the 136-year-old Tong Wo Society in North Kohala opens its doors to the public, and on Sunday the community is invited to tour the historic building and celebrate Chinese New Year.
Hilo man charged with drug, firearms offenses
A 43-year-old Hilo man is facing an array of drug and firearm charges stemming from a traffic stop last week in Hilo.
Ninth case of rat lungworm disease in 2019 confirmed on Kauai
The Department of Health on Thursday announced it has confirmed a case of angiostrongyliasis, or rat lungworm disease, in an adult on Kauai.
Senate committee passes bill to assist home buyers
HONOLULU A Hawaii state Senate committee has approved a bill that would provide up to $50,000 for down payments for first-time home buyers.
High-tech observation: Aerial crew mapping Hawaii’s coral reefs
A crew from Arizona State University is mapping Hawaiis coral reefs in the wake of a mass bleaching event in Hawaiian waters last fall.
Ethics Board to take on Maunakea road block
The fences blocking Maunakea Access Road came down more than a month ago. But the debate over whether the government applied the law discriminately by not removing protesters and reopening the road is as robust as ever.