Legislators Accused Of Taking Bribes

Bribery stymies efforts to fix Hawai‘i’s massive cesspool problem
Those affected by the alleged bribery schemes against two lawmakers include people working in good faith to solve one of Hawai‘i’s most pressing environmental threats: cesspools and their 53 million gallons-a-day of untreated sewage. KHON2.

Governor to appoint representative to fill House District 39 seat following bribe allegations
Former Rep. Ty Cullen resigned on Feb. 8. The work to replace him comes as the legislative session is underway, causing concern for some residents. KHON2.

Hawai‘i governor, citing drop in Covid-19 cases, will not mandate booster for travelers
The state, will, however, keep its indoor mask mandate in place, along with other rules that have helped Hawai‘i manage the pandemic while reopening the economy. Star-Advertiser. Civil Beat. Maui Now. Garden Island. Hawaii News Now.

Hawai‘i residents weigh in on limiting tourism, minimum wage increase
Hawai‘i voters are divided over whether they want to cap tourism arrivals, but overwhelmingly want to charge visitor fees at certain state parks, according to the Honolulu Star-Advertiser’s Hawaii Poll. Star-Advertiser.
Hawai‘i residents strongly back minimum wage increase, poll finds. Star-Advertiser.

Bill proposes funding for DOE to make surfing a statewide interscholastic sport
House Bill 2277 would provide an unspecified dollar amount to the state department to promote and support surfing as an interscholastic sport in all the state’s high school athletic leagues. West Hawaii Today. Star-Advertiser.

Hawai‘i inmate deaths are the highest in 10 years, but the state can’t say why
Corrections officials still aren’t providing a cause of death for 20 of the 23 prisoners who died in Hawai‘i prisons and jails last year. Civil Beat.

OHA delegation travels to Germany to bring ancestral remains back to Hawai‘i
The body overseeing Berlin’s museums this week began the process of handing over over Hawaiian ancestral remains collected by a German naturalist in the 19th century to authorities in Hawai‘i. Star-Advertiser. Hawaii Public Radio. Big Island Video News. Maui Now. Hawaii News Now. KHON2.

Chronic water pollution found in Honolulu, Kāneʻohe and Haleʻiwa
The Surfrider Foundation’s Blue Water Task Force found high concentrations of bacteria in fresh water sources and beaches around Honolulu, Kāneʻohe and Haleʻiwa. Hawaii Public Radio.

The global accelerator Hatch uses its Kona branch as part of its mission to reduce the footprint of farmed and alternative seafood. Co-founder and partner Wayne Murphy calls Hatch the world’s first aquaculture accelerator. “There’s an amazing array of aquaculture technologies… read more.

Roth, Magno explain response to last month’s tsunami threat
Hawai‘i County Civil Defense and Mayor Mitch Roth on Tuesday defended the county’s response last month to a tsunami threat triggered by the eruption of a volcano in Tonga. Tribune-Herald.

County rolls out new Covid testing program for businesses
The county will administer the program in partnership with Community First Hawaiʻi through its Our Kuleana Pledge Partners to help prevent workplace spread of Covid-19 through travel-related testing. Big Island Now.

Maui saw nearly 2.3 million visitors in 2021
Maui saw nearly 2.3 million visitors last year who spent a total of $4 billion, closer to pre-pandemic numbers but still lagging behind 2019, according to a recent report of preliminary visitor statistics. Maui News.

First Rapid ʻŌhiʻa Death reported on Kauaʻi’s Alakaʻi Plateau; beetle repellent may help
The first case of Rapid ʻŌhiʻa Death in the Alakaʻi Plateau forest on Kauaʻi was found in a dead tree during a helicopter survey by the state Department of Land and Natural Resources. Maui Now. Garden Island. Hawaii News Now.