State briefs for February 26

2nd subpoena issued for info on Honolulu rail line

HONOLULU — A second federal subpoena was issued for information about the 20-mile rail line under construction on Oahu.

The Honolulu Authority for Rapid Transportation received the grand jury subpoena, but a spokesman for the project declined to answer questions last week.

U.S. investigators demanded tens of thousands of documents last week, including consultant contracts and a list of contractors.

The agency previously said the first demand for documents largely duplicated the records the agency already provided to the state auditor.

The agency pledged to cooperate with the first subpoena, saying work will continue on the project to have it ready for limited passenger service next year.

The agency expects to finish the roughly $9.2 billion project in late 2025.

Hawaiian seeks additional flights to Tokyo’s Haneda airport

HONOLULU — Hawaiian Airlines wants to more than double its daily service from Tokyo’s Haneda airport to Hawaii.

The airline applied to the U.S. Department of Transportation for three of 12 Haneda slots being made available to U.S. carriers.

If selected, Hawaiian plans to begin the new flights about a year from now. The airline estimates the additional flights would bring 85,000 new visitors to the state.

Hawaiian began flying from Haneda to Honolulu in 2010.

It added a second daily service in 2016, which flies nonstop to Honolulu four days a week and nonstop to Kailua-Kona three days a week.

Haneda is one of two major airports serving Tokyo.

It is closer to many parts of Japan’s capital city than the alternative, Narita International Airport.

Typhoon moves northwest, away from Guam

HAGATNA, Guam — Authorities on Saturday evening declared Guam clear of the danger of a powerful typhoon.

Acting Gov. Joshua Tenorio said the U.S. territory will assess the damage caused by winds from Typhoon Wutip.

People didn’t wait for the government’s announcement to leave their homes Sunday. Restaurants in the towns of Tamuning and Tumon were packed with people, Catholic Masses went on and the shopping centers were full of early morning shoppers.

Wutip moved northwest, away from Guam.
Source: Hawaii Tribune Herald