Waikiki Beach Facelift

Travel company cancels group tours from Japan through March
Citing rising coronavirus cases, JTB Hawaii — one of Hawai‘i’s largest Japanese travel companies — is canceling group and package tours at least until March, in another blow to Hawai‘i’s economy. Hawaii News Now.

Details of DOE finances released after long tug of war
After four years of requests and a lawsuit, the Education Institute of Hawaii obtained electronic financial data from the state Department of Education. The nonprofit hopes to use the 2016 and 2017 records to understand how money is distributed, which could be helpful as public schools deal with budget cuts. Honolulu Star-Advertiser.

Hawaiian Electric bills to drop under new PUC rules
Hawai‘i is set to see shrinking utility costs and growing renewable energy after the state Public Utilities Commission’s landmark decision to change the way Hawaiian Electric makes its money. Honolulu Star-Advertiser.

Nearly a quarter of Hawai‘i’s vaccine shipments are delayed, health officials say
The state now expects it will receive a reduced total of 61,450 doses of the Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna COVID-19 vaccines by year’s end. Civil Beat.

Plans for seawater air conditioning dropped
Costs have killed a plan to cool many commercial and government buildings in Honolulu using cold deep-sea water. After spending $25 million, obtaining regulatory approvals and signing up customers, Honolulu Seawater Air Conditioning LLC said that its $275 million construction cost estimate had risen to an unsustainable $400 million. Honolulu Star-Advertiser.

A genuine civic center is slated for Wahiawā after decades of planning
Central O‘ahu and North Shore communities will get a new state courthouse in the not-too-distant future as part of a $76 million redevelopment project in Wahiawā. Honolulu Star-Advertiser.

Are open-book tests making it too easy to become a Honolulu police officer?
The HPD says the change emphasizes critical thinking, but others argue police must know some things by heart. Civil Beat.

Koa is important for the environmental health of Hawai‘i: Its beautiful spreading canopy catches rain and mist, protecting watersheds and aquifers and sustaining the health of… read more.

Tour company reports more buyers after eruption
At least one tour company, Paradise Helicopters, has seen a substantial rise in bookings, after enduring months of pandemic-related slowdown. Hawai‘i Public Radio.

Thousands turn out for the Food Basket’s 100th distribution event
The Hawai‘i Food Basket celebrated its 100th ‘Ohana Food Drop last Wednesday in Honoka‘a. The group has helped nearly 175,000 people across the county since April. Tribune-Herald.

New 178-unit affordable rental project proposed
Catholic Charities Hawai’i is proposing a $66 million affordable rental project in Kahului on the heels of its senior affordable rental development, also in Kahului. Maui News.

Billionaire owner of Lāna‘i to develop affordable housing
Pūlama Lāna‘i, established by Larry Ellison after he bought 97% of the island in 2012, plans to develop 150 rental homes starting next year. Just over half the homes would be reserved for low-income households, with rents anticipated to be as low as $603 a month. Honolulu Star-Advertiser.

Could this housing project be a model for addressing homelessness on Kaua‘i?
The complex is still under construction, but is already housing most of the homeless families who had been living in four county beach parks. Civil Beat.