Feral cats blamed for diseased monk seals

Study finds marine monuments are not hurting Hawai‘i’s tuna fishing industry
President Barack Obama’s expansions of two marine national monuments did not cause any of the alleged financial harm that Hawaiʻi’s longline tuna fishermen had threatened would happen, according to a first-of-its-kind study released Thursday. The Honolulu-based fleet actually caught more fish and made more money after the expansion of Papahanaumokuakea in 2016 and Pacific Remote Islands in 2014. Civil Beat.

Lawmakers again propose raising car rental tax to fund highway projects
The House Finance Committee on Tuesday approved House Bill 1930, which would increase the daily surcharge from the current $5 per day to an as-yet unspecified amount. The original draft of the bill would have set the new fee at $8 per day, but lawmakers have not made a final decision on how much the fee should be increased, if at all. Honolulu Star-Advertiser.

Uber and Lyft oppose parts of a house bill giving the DOT more power to regulate them
Uber and Lyft, two of the most popular ride-hailing companies in the U.S., support Hawaiʻi lawmakers’ efforts this session to tighten regulations — so long as those new laws don’t affect their business too much. But Hawaiʻi’s taxi and private bus tour companies feel the proposed regulations don’t go far enough to clamp down on these relative newcomers to the industry. Civil Beat.

Officials ponder what the coronavirus’ economic impact will be
State officials, alarmed about the rapidly spreading new coronavirus, are grappling with how to prevent an outbreak in the islands as tourists from Japan and other countries continue to travel to Hawaiʻi. Honolulu Star-Advertiser. Hawaii News Now.
Number of people being monitored for coronavirus in Hawaiʻi is dropping. Civil Beat.

Schatz: Repeated delays of coronavirus test kits for Hawaiʻi ‘unacceptable’
The botched coronavirus test kits that were sent to Hawaiʻi now have to be re-manufactured. U.S. Sen. Brian Schatz says he’s been told by CDC that the new test kits won’t be ready until mid-March. Hawaii News Now.

Officials seek input on setting rates to ride rail
The Honolulu Rate Commission is asking for input and testimony from the public on the future policies and rates for the Honolulu Rail Transit Project once the system begins operations. Civil Beat. KHON2.

Applicants sought for affordable rental complex for seniors in Kapolei
Lottery applications are being accepted online for an affordable rental housing complex for seniors in Kapolei. A random drawing for units at Hale Moena Kupuna will be held March 5. Hawaii News Now.

Catch up on all the events happening around Hawaiʻi this month, including a big surprise for one Bank of Hawaii employee, the 150th anniversary of Alexander & Baldwin and more… view now.

Date for removal of two Mauna Kea telescopes pushed back to 2023
At a meeting of the University of Hawaiʻi’s Board of Regents Thursday, the California Institute of Technology’s Submillimeter Observatory and UH-Hilo’s Hoku Ke‘a teaching telescope were given a tentative schedule for their removal. Tribune-Herald. Big Island Video News.

Kona hospital unveils $6M renovation project Kona Community Hospital unveiled its newly remodeled state-of-the-art operating rooms Thursday morning. Over two years of planning and construction went into the complete renovation and upgrade of the Kealakekua-based facility’s three operating rooms. West Hawaii Today.