Gov. Linda Lingle’s first veto of the year kills a measure that would have exempted the University of Hawaii from permitting requirements when doing work to protect the marine refuge at Kaneohe Bay.

Lingle wrote in her veto message Tuesday that the Hawaii Institute of Marine Biology should have to get permits just like everyone else.
The governor says these permitting requirements help protect and preserve Hawaii’s natural public trust resources.
She also objected to a provision of the bill allowing the university to use Department of Land and Natural Resources staff without charge.
Lingle says the department doesn’t have spare staff to loan out to the university.