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State settling 23-year litigation over Hawaiian homelands for $328 million.

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Locally Owned, Locally Committed Since 1955

4.27.22

TOP STORIES

State settling 23-year litigation over Hawaiian homesteads for $328 million
Leona Kalima and two other named plaintiffs filed the lawsuit in state court alleging that the state Department of Hawaiian Home Lands had breached its fiduciary duty by not awarding homestead lots on a timely basis to qualified applicants. Star-Advertiser. Civil Beat. Hawai‘i Public Radio. Hawaii Tribune-Herald. Big Island Now. Maui Now. Hawaii News Now. KHON2. KITV4.

Hawai‘i Supreme Court: State must release ‘explosive’ report on state auditor
The Attorney General’s investigative report details wrongdoing by then-State Auditor Jan Yamane and her top assistants. Civil Beat.

Search for Hawai‘i public schools superintendent is down to 7 candidates
The state Board of Education has released a revised timeline, plus a proposed selection process meant to shed light on how the finalists would solve problems and lead. Star-Advertiser.

Hawai‘i’s federal delegation brought more than $265 million to the state
Fiscal year 2022 was the first budget cycle in more than a decade in which lawmakers were able to secure funding for pet projects in their states and districts. Civil Beat.

Ex-Sen. Jill Tokuda to challenge U.S. Rep. Kai Kahele for Congress
Former state Sen. Jill Tokuda — who had been running for lieutenant governor in the upcoming Aug. 13 Democratic primary — disrupted state and federal races Tuesday by filing federal election papers to run for the congressional seat held by U.S. Rep. Kai Kahele. Star-Advertiser. Hawaii News Now.

Hawaiian Airlines is taking off as travel restrictions ease
After bleeding more than $4 million per day during the pandemic, the state’s dominant air carrier and linchpin of the tourism industry forecast a positive cash flow by summer. Civil Beat.

Pandemic modeling group: Daily Covid case count in Hawai‘i likely 7 times official figure
Covid infections are on the rise in Hawai‘i, but home testing means it’s hard to get a true picture of the daily case count. Hawaii News Now.

Michal-Anne Rogondino, Founder of CEO of Rocket Communications. | Photo: Aaron Yoshino

HAWAII BUSINESS MAGAZINE
Rocket Communications: 2022 SmallBiz Editor’s Choice Award Winner – Women Owned
Rocket Communications was formed in 1992 by Michal-Anne Rogondino after she developed a passion for user experience design during a college internship at Apple. UX design accounts for what a person is thinking, feeling or accomplishing while using a digital product… read more.

OʻAHU

Mayor Rick Blangiardi signs short-term rental bill
The measure will lengthen the minimum stay in most cases to three months from 30 days — making Honolulu among the toughest cities in the country for vacation rentals. Star-Advertiser. Civil Beat. Hawai‘i Public Radio. Hawaii News Now. KITV4.

City to offer interest-free loans to help residents cover home down payments
Those eligible must be earning 80% or below of the area median income, which is just over $77,000 for a couple and roughly $96,600 for a family of four. Hawaii News Now.

Burglars smash windows to four Kailua stores, taking empty drawers and hundreds of dollars
The perpetrators smashed windows to Pieology and Mahaloha Burger on Hekili Street and to Aloha Salads and Paniolos at Kailua Shopping Center. Star-Advertiser. Hawaii News Now. KITV4.

Several Oʻahu private schools report receiving bomb threats via email
The emails were identical and appeared to be sent from the same address. The Honolulu Police Department has opened five cases of first-degree terroristic threatening. Hawai‘i Public Radio.

SPONSORED BY G70

Food Sustainability, What can we do as individuals? │ G70’s Sheryl Seaman, AIA, IIDA, LEED AP, Vice Chairman and Principal.

I am an informed consumer and not an expert but strongly believe that a commitment to food and water sustainability is crucial to the future of our state. I hope we will all contribute to the best of our ability to address this essential… read more.

HAWAIʻI ISLAND

Mauna Kea proposal now pushes UH away from oversight
A proposed draft compromise creates an 11-member Mauna Kea Stewardship and Oversight Authority with responsibility over the entire mountain, including the astronomy precinct. Star-Advertiser. Tribune-Herald.

Water bills to increase
Water rate increases are on tap for Big Island customers, with consecutive 9.5% increases in standby and usage charges this year and next. West Hawaii Today.

Future of ‘critical’ military training area on Hawai‘i Island is subject of debate
The Army wants to retain up to 23,000 acres of state-owned land for continued training at the Pohakuloa Training Area. But it’s facing increased scrutiny because of the Navy’s tainted water crisis at Red Hill on O‘ahu, and concerns over its treatment of the environment and use of ceded lands. Hawaii News Now.

New barracks unveiled at Pohakuloa Training Area
The result of a $17 million contract, the 10 new barracks replaced the Quonset huts originally constructed as easy-to-assemble, temporary buildings during the early 1950s. Tribune-Herald.

Stacey Katakura, founder and president of Accumulus. | Photo: Aaron Yoshino

HAWAII BUSINESS MAGAZINE
How and Why This Accumulus Executive Mentors
Do the right thing and lead with authenticity. Stacey Katakura says that advice, passed down from her many mentors through the years, guides her. “One of my core values is continuous improvement and continuous growth. I really believe in providing my employees ample opportunities to continue to learn and grow in their career... read more.

MAUI COUNTY

Proposals call for tax cuts for some homeowners
Maui County families who reside in their own home could potentially see property tax cuts under proposals being hammered out in the budget in the coming weeks. Maui News.
The Maui County Council will hold a public hearing on property tax rates at 6 p.m. Wednesday. Maui News.

County to handle improvements fronting affordable project in Kīhei
Maui County will be responsible for building sidewalks and other improvements fronting the 40-unit Hale Kaiola affordable housing project after the requirement was originally imposed on the developer. Maui News.

50,000 more Hawaiʻi locations getting ultra fast internet, including on Lāna‘i and Moloka‘i
Fioptics is Hawaiian Telcom’s ultra-fast fiber-to-the-premises internet service. More than 215,000 homes and businesses have access to Fioptics service today. Maui Now.

KAUAʻI

Increased KPD budget proposed
Kaua‘i Police Department Chief Todd Raybuck presented the proposed KPD budget before the Police Commission Friday, requesting an increase of more than $1.4 million over last year. Garden Island.

Supercell thunderstorms caused 2018 record rainfall, flooding
In a published study, atmospheric scientists at the University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa revealed that severe supercell thunderstorms were to blame. They also found that the rainfall was associated with a Kona low and not a tropical cyclone as featured in previous U.S. rainfall records. Garden Island. KHON2.

APRIL 2022 ISSUE