County can deny STVRs on agricultural land: State Land Use Commission unanimously upholds county vacation rental ban
Short-term vacation rentals do not belong on agricultural land, the state Land Use Commission ruled Thursday in upholding Hawaii County’s authority to deny that use.
Maunakea protest camp spurs ethics complaint: Ethics Board debates jurisdiction, postpones action until September
The Board of Ethics considered a citizen petition Wednesday asking why Hawaii County isn’t enforcing laws on Maunakea ranging from last year’s blockade of the mountain’s access road to the construction of unpermitted structures near the protest site.
CARES money hitting the streets: County awards $43 million of its $80 million coronavirus relief grant
With less than five months left to use it all or lose it, Hawaii County has been just chipping away at spending $80 million in federal coronavirus relief funds, but the pace is expected to quicken over the coming months as grants are distributed among community organizations and individuals.
Roth sweeps most Big Island precincts: Kim doesn’t win a single precinct, analysis shows
Mayor Harry Kim didn’t prevail in a single one of the Big Island’s 43 voting precincts while coming in third behind two of the 14 challengers for the county’s top elected post.
Roth, Marzo face runoff after defeating Kim for mayor
A countywide elected official with experience running a large government agency, or a fresh face with no government experience at all? That’s the choice facing Hawaii County voters in the Nov. 3 general election when they decide who will be the county mayor.
Council members get $100,000 CARES money each to give to constituents
A fast-tracked resolution unanimously approved Wednesday gives each County Council member $100,000 in federal coronavirus relief money to distribute to constituents, without competitive bids or public notice.
Council passes construction code: New framework makes one permit for building, electric, plumbing and energy codes
Factory-built housing will continue to be allowed in Hawaii County’s new construction code, but with extra restrictions following a unanimous vote Wednesday by the County Council after a protracted discussion.
Ballots pouring in: Elections Division machines sort, count ballots
Deep in the basement of the county building in Hilo, a mammoth machine whizzes through up to 18,000 ballot envelopes an hour, slices them open, time- and date-stamps them, checks the thickness to ensure they contain ballots, verifies signatures and sorts them by precinct.
Inside the operation: HPM touts modular housing as controversial bill comes up for final reading
The old carpenters’ adage, “measure twice, cut once” is taken to a new level at HPM Building Supply’s Keaau factory, where computers do the measuring and lasers show where to make the cuts and attach the hardware.
Only the names have changed: Honolulu super PAC resurfaces in West Hawaii races
In a replay of a 2014 West Hawaii council race, a powerful Honolulu pro-construction political action committee has targeted a sitting councilwoman by standing up a well-financed challenger in an attempt to unseat her.
Kim’s friends, employees chip in, Roth maintains strong money lead as election draws nigh
Mayor Harry Kim’s reelection campaign is getting by with a little help from his friends. And his employees.
County purchases Puapuaa acreage in Kona
The Puapuaa properties located makai of Alii Drive will now officially belong to the people of Hawaii County following the purchase of more than 12 acres in North Kona.
Coalition to consider legal action if state does not increase number of polling places
Three voting rights groups have given the state and counties a Friday deadline to commit to increasing the number of voter service centers or face legal action.
State Land Use Commission takes up Hawaii County’s STVR law
The question of whether Hawaii County can prohibit short-term vacation rentals on land classified as agriculture is now in the hands of the state Land Use Commission.
Ready, set, vote! Several options for casting your ballot
Ballots have arrived in Hawaii voters’ mailboxes. Now it’s decision time.
Honolulu opens ballot dropoffs early, neighbor islands protest
Voters on Oahu have greater access to the polls than those on the neighbor islands, as the City and County of Honolulu has already opened its ballot dropoff boxes to the public while neighbor island counties are using the Aug. 3 date set in state law.
Council moves new construction code forward: No building permit needed for window AC
Window air conditioners will no longer need a building permit, and stricter standards will be applied to factory-built homes under amendments to the building code considered Wednesday by the County Council.
‘Geofence’ could help tourists roam: County explores allowing ‘resort bubbles’ to allow quarantiners out of hotel rooms
Hawaii Island is joining Maui and Kauai in exploring a new concept in gradually reopening their doors to tourists — a “resort bubble” where quarantining visitors would be allowed freedom to roam within the confines of a “geofence.”
State won’t be ready to reopen Sept. 1, Kim says
The state isn’t ready to reopen to tourists Sept. 1 and it’s not ready to bring out-of-state college students back to campus Aug. 24, Mayor Harry Kim said in an hour-long interview Thursday.
County seeks proposals to spend $80 million: Fast-tracked bid request to get money on the street
Feed the hungry while supporting local farmers, fishers and restaurants is one goal of millions of dollars worth of grants being offered by the county.
