The 2016 session of the Hawai`i Legislature will not go down as one notable for its environmental achievements. On the whole, few bills having a significant impact on the environment made it through to the finish line. Still, several measures … Continued
Spinner Dolphin Protection: Popular though the swim-with-dolphin tours in Hawai`i may be, they are believed by scientists to pose a threat to spinner dolphins themselves, disturbing their rest patterns and making them more vulnerable to predation by sharks. More than … Continued
An outdated and overpriced tariff scheme. An entrepreneur who exploited loopholes in a law intended to benefit small farms. And a residential community that is seething over the prospect of more than two dozen photovoltaic arrays, intended to generate more … Continued
The state of Hawai`i has settled a lawsuit brought by Bridge `Aina Le`a, LLC, which had claimed more than $30 million in damages as a result of a decision by the Land Use Commission to downzone acreage the company had … Continued
In the press release it issued at the conclusion of its June meeting, the Western Pacific Fishery Management Council led off with comments from former council chair Manny Duenas. For years, Duenas represented Guam on the council. When he stepped … Continued
The Western Pacific Fishery Management Council had its 166th meeting last month on Saipan and Guam. While council actions were generally limited in scope – for example, requesting council staff to convey its sentiments to various federal agencies on a … Continued
In late 2011, Hawai`i longliners were about to reach their catch limit of bigeye tuna under an international quota system on the cusp of the busy holiday season. Congress rushed in and saved the day by passing a law allowing … Continued
The Magnuson-Stevens Act gives wide leeway to members of the eight regional fishery management councils when it comes to voting on matters in which they, their spouses, or their minor children might have a financial interest. It does, however, … Continued
Ka`a`awa Collapse: Every O`ahu resident knows Kamehameha Highway is the main and, in places, the only road that takes you around the island. At several points, the road runs alongside the ocean, with waves overtopping and undercutting it during high … Continued
The Public Utilities Commission staff investigated Hawaiian Electric’s cancellation earlier this year of contracts for three utility-scale solar farms on O`ahu, all owned by subsidiaries of the financially troubled SunEdison, Inc., and the resulting report casts Hawai`i’s electric utility giant … Continued