Backlash surrounding new Royal Mausoleum curator continues

HONOLULU — Frustration surrounding the hiring process for the curator of the Royal Mausoleum State Monument at Mauna Ala continues, even after the state announced the creation of a second, “culturally focused” position earlier this month.

A note to our loyal readers

LIHU‘E — The Garden Island newspaper will not be delivered on Wednesday, June 19, because the U.S. Postal Service does not deliver mail on a federal holiday.

Haiku Stairs group files appellate case

HONOLULU — The Friends of Haiku Stairs’ recent legal injunction to stop the city’s demolition of the World War II-era staircase, above Haiku Valley and the H-3 freeway in Kaneohe, will be decided upon in a different state-level court.

CNHA releases new Maui recovery statistics

HONOLULU — New data released by the Council for Native Hawaiian Advancement on Thursday illustrates the continued recovery status and community needs of families affected by the Aug. 8 wildfires that killed 101 and displaced thousands.

Lane closures scheduled on Kaua‘i

LIHU‘E — A number of lane closures are in store next week with the most work scheduled in Lihu‘e, the Hawai‘i Department of Transportation said in a weekly update on Friday.

June water quality report released

LIHU‘E — A monthly analysis of streams, rivers and surf spots around the island found high concentrations of enterococcus bacterium, a federally recognized indicator of fecal presence in water, at a number of locations.

Whale carcass washes ashore in Waipouli

WAIPOULI — United States Air Force Major Angela Honora, of the Tropic Care Kaua‘i group, said on Friday that they were discouraged from swimming because sharks were sighted in the water close to the beach fronting the Sheraton Kaua‘i Coconut Beach Resort.

EPA moves to disband Red Hill advisory board

HONOLULU — The Environmental Protection Agency is making moves to disband the elected community advisory board it established as part of a federal consent decree regarding the closure of the Navy’s underground Red Hill fuel storage facility. As it does, it’s facing pushback by the board as well as from Hawai‘i’s congressional delegation.

New solar farm celebrated on Ewa plain

EWA BEACH, Hawai‘i — More than 1 gigawatt hour of electricity has flowed into O‘ahu’s utility grid over the past week from a new solar farm in Ewa Beach.