Three DoE superintendent finalists revealed
Are we on the verge of a historic change in state tourism policy?
Legislature Burns $1B on 'Affordable Housing'
Money Laundering: Feds Begin Targeting Sister Isle Real Estate Purchases
Gut-n-Replace HB1147: Lawmakers keep tourism agency funding alive
SA: … Lawmakers kept the Hawaii Tourism Authority alive by amending House Bill 1147, originally a capital improvements bill, just after Friday’s deadline for fiscal bills.
Passage of HB 1147, which was relabeled as a supplemental appropriations act in a legislative conference committee, was a surprise turnaround for HTA. The agency and its supporters worked late Thursday and Friday to secure their funding, which was not in the state’s budget bill…
HB1147: Text, Status
read … Lawmakers keep tourism agency funding alive
Miske co-defendant asks for end to home detention
ILind: … For the second time in just over a month, a co-defendant in the federal prosecution of the alleged racketeering conspiracy prosecutors say was controlled and directed by former Honolulu businessman Michael J. Miske, Jr., is asking the court to reduce the restrictions on his movements while released on bond pending trial.
Jason Yokoyama, a former partner with Miske in several businesses, including the M Nightclub in downtown Honolulu, named in a second superseding indictment handed down by a federal grand jury in July 2020, and was charged with being a member or associate of a criminal organization prosecutors refer to as the Miske Enterprise. The racketeering conspiracy charge carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison, as well as a subsequent period of supervised release.
Yokoyama, 36, worked as operations manager for Miske’s Kamaaina Termite as early as 2011, court records show, and was listed at the same time as a co-owner of the company that owned and operated Miske’s M Nightclub.
A hearing on the curfew request is scheduled on Wednesday, May 4, before Magistrate Judge Kenneth Mansfield.
There is precedent for moving from home detention to curfew. Another of Miske’s co-defendants, Preston Kimoto, was released on bond, subject to home detention and GPS tracking, soon after their arrest in July 2020. In November 2021, the court approved a switch to the less restrictive curfew.
Last month, Kimoto’s attorney, Cynthia Kagewada, asked Mansfield to remove both the curfew and GPS requirements, citing Kimoto’s track record of complying fully with all restrictions. Manfield denied the request, but said it was “a close call”, and commented that “demonstrated compliance with the current conditions is something I have to factor in terms of the history and characteristics.”
UPDATE: Court approves fewer restrictions for Miske business partner
read … Miske co-defendant asks for end to home detention
Hawaii Changes How to Measure Percent of Renewable Energy
IM: … Cities and states have passed laws requiring 100% renewable energy. They all have different definitions of “renewable energy,” and “percent,” and many have different carve-outs, loopholes, and escape clauses. Some lack interim targets. Many, like Hawai`i, have no link to climate change. But they all are used for political bragging rights as the climate crisis goes downhill.
read … Hawai`i Changes How to Measure Percent of Renewable Energy
HSTA Member arrested for theft, criminal tampering
HTH: … A Kohala High School employee was arrested Thursday on suspicion of theft and criminal tampering. The state Department of Education on Friday confirmed Athletic Director Laurie Koustic was arrested and released pending investigation for fourth-degree theft and two counts of second-degree criminal tampering.
In a letter sent to parents, Principal Amy Stafford said the administration was aware of an “alleged employee misconduct incident” that took place on campus….
The DOE said Koustic has been placed on leave pending an investigation into the allegations….
read … Kohala AD arrested for theft, criminal tampering
Military tracks Russian vessel near Hawaii
KHON: … The United States military is tracking a Russian vessel near Hawaii’s waters, according to the U.S. Indo-Pacific Command….“The tactics, techniques, and procedures that we saw the Soviets doing back in the Cold War seem to be resurfacing again under the Russian banner,” Kempfer said. “This looks like one of those issues that I would point to Russian intelligence ships potentially off the shore of Hawaii.”…
read … Military tracks Russian vessel near Hawaii
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