Volta Securities Fraud: Did Latest Hawaii High Tech Fail Take a Bite out of ERS?
Kamehameha: The Founding of the Hawaiian Kingdom
Mayors Blangiardi, Roth, Victorino, and Kawakami urge Governor Ige to veto HB 1567
Nago, Trumpsters Conspire to Suppress Republican Vote on Oahu
SA: … This year Honolulu is adding (only) two more in-person “voter service centers” — at Kaneohe District Park and George Fred Wright Wahiawa District Park — in addition to the two 2020 in-person polling sites at Honolulu Hale and Kapolei Hale.
(Yes. For 1M people on Oahu there will be only four places to vote in person. And this is being touted by the Star-Advertiser as a plan to ‘avoid long lines’ because it is up from two locations in 2020. Meanwhile, there will be plenty of same-day voting locations on the Sister Isles. There is no need to suppress GOP voters outside of Oahu because Republicans haven’t been able to elect a Sister Isle candidate since 2010. On Oahu, the GOP’s five legislative incumbents are being whittled down to three this year with the departure of Bob McDermott and Val Okimoto.)
A list of “voter service centers” and “places of deposit” across the entire state is available at the Office of Elections website ….
Hawaii’s record voter turnout in 2020 was the result of a confluence of forces: mail-in ballots sent to all registered voters; a divisive presidential election; and candidate Donald Trump urging supporters to vote in person on Election Day to prevent voter fraud, which contributed to election results in Hawaii being delayed by four hours.
Republican gubernatorial candidate and former mixed martial arts fighter BJ Penn is repeating Trump’s message ahead of the Aug. 13 primary election. A message on his campaign website encourages supporters to vote in person at polling sites “to make sure your vote counts.”…
(Translation: Rhetoric from Trump and Penn is helping steer Republican voters into Nago’s trap. Since Trump was encouraged by Bill Clinton to lead the Republicans, this outcome should not be surprising.)
REALITY:
read … Plans are underway to prevent delays at Hawaii voting sites
People could be riding the Honolulu rail by the end of 2022, HART’s CEO says
HNN: … In an interview with Hawaii News Now on Thursday, HART CEO Lori Kahikina also said that discussions are still underway on the recovery plan.
She added they are currently in testing and commissioning with Hitachi. Once the plans are completed, they will submit documentation to HART.
The state and city would need to approve the documents before a mandatory 90-day trial run would begin.
“We’re shooting for the trial run to start in July,” said Kahikina.
“We went through board approval, we went through City Council approval, and we submitted it about a month early to FTA last week, Friday,” said Kahikina.
“So now they’re reviewing it, and we have to probably negotiate with them to see if they will approve it.” ….
read … People could be riding the Honolulu rail by the end of 2022, HART’s CEO says
Gambling: Ige Should Sign HB2197
SA: … The Legislature passed House Bill 2197 this year, toughening criminal penalties against those who work in gaming rooms, in positions such as security, cashiers and card dealers. The bill also lowers the bar for charging landlords who allow gambling on their properties, by changing the requisite state of mind for promoting gambling to “recklessness” for a first-degree felony, or “criminal negligence” for a second-degree felony. It’s a step in the right direction, and should be signed by Gov. David Ige.
Civil claims could increase deterrence with landlords, as well. In August, Honolulu Prosecuting Attorney Steve Alm’s office filed a nuisance abatement claim in civil court against the property owners of an alleged illegal gambling den — a move that hasn’t been tried in Honolulu for more than 40 years….
read … Editorial: Get tougher on organized crime
NTSB: Pilots At Fault For Fatal Hawaii Air Tour Crashes, But So Is FAA
CB: … The decision by an experienced Kauai pilot to fly his helicopter and six sight-seeing passengers into fast-deteriorating weather during his last scheduled flight of the day — weather that three other tour pilots chose to avoid — clearly played a role in the 2019 crash that killed everyone aboard, federal investigators say.
But the National Transportation Safety Board also lays much of the Safari Aviation crash’s blame on the agency that regulates Hawaii’s air tours and their pilots: the Federal Aviation Administration.
The FAA has failed to take key steps in response to previous fatal crashes in Hawaii that would make local tour flights safer, the board says.
“Real safety change comes when our recommendations are implemented, and in this case we talk about several recommendations we’ve issued that could have prevented this accident,” NTSB Chair Jennifer Homendy said bluntly last month during the group’s meeting to discuss the agency’s findings into the crash….
SA: Feds to investigate Big Island tour helicopter crash
read … NTSB: Pilots At Fault For Fatal Hawaii Air Tour Crashes, But So Is FAA
Soft on Crime: Molester teacher gets 30 days in jail, probation for 2014 sex assault on girl
MN: … In accordance with a plea agreement, 2nd Circuit Court Judge Adrianne Heely handed down the sentence for Casey Brummel of Lahaina, who was an English teacher at Baldwin High School in 2014. The victim in the case was a 15-year-old student.
Brummel, who was fired from his teaching position, pleaded guilty to one charge of first-degree unlawful imprisonment. The charge was amended in a plea agreement in March, according to court documents. Brummel was initially indicted on four counts of third-degree sexual assault in 2017 for alleged sexual contact.
The student was in a classroom doing a makeup test alone, said Heely, reading details of the incident from a police report which alleged that he inappropriately touched the student and exposed himself to her….
But the victim said she needed to speak up knowing she had a younger sister who was also going to attend Baldwin.
“I had to say something for all the girls,” she said. “If I hadn’t said something, it still would be going on right now.”
In a previous court hearing, a deputy prosecutor said that other students also alleged Brummel contacted them and made inappropriate comments….
“There were signs. There were things going on,” Hupp said, noting Brummel was warned about having girls in his classroom….
Brummel, who coaches in a gym, said he works out around 6 a.m. to avoid others. Parents who know him feel comfortable with him as a coach even knowing his “legal situation,” Brummel said….
(Translation: He is in a position to do it again and he believes the parents are OK with this…. But he avoids people….)
2017: Former English teacher arraigned on sexual assault charges
read … Former teacher gets 30 days in jail, probation for 2014 incident with student
Grand jury to target HPD officers role in near-fatal Makaha crash
HNN: … Retired Deputy Chief John McCarthy said the officers acted improperly.
“There’s definitely a policy violation because the policy clearly states that officers should pursue with lights and siren,” said McCarthy. “By definition, you’re not an emergency vehicle unless you’re running with lights and siren.”
Dayten Gouveia, who was 14-years-old at the time, was paralyzed in the crash. HNN has learned that Gouveia is recovering but will require millions of dollars in medical treatment for the rest of his life….
The grand jury will have to decide whether the alleged illegal chase caused the accident. They could also pursue charges against the officers for leaving the scene….
read … Grand jury to target HPD officers role in near-fatal Makaha crash
Gerard Puana's terroristic threatening case dismissed without prejudice
KITV: … The second-degree terroristic case against Gerard Puana was dismissed without prejudice in court on Thursday upon the request of the Hawaii Attorney General's (AG) office.
The Honolulu Prosecutor's office told KITV4 it turned over the case to the AG's office last week after conflicting out of the case….
On Thursday in court, Puana's attorney, Eric Seitz, requested the case be dismissed with prejudice, but Judge Ken Shimozono denied that request.
Since the case was dismissed without prejudice for further investigation, it can be filed again ….
read … Gerard Puana's terroristic threatening case dismissed without prejudice
Police Stake out Store Arrest Five Shoplifters in Day
KHON: … Five individuals were arrested for theft and trespassing on Wednesday in an anti-theft operation targeting people shoplifting from a Hilo department store.
According to Big Island police, as they worked in partnership with the store management, they performed an undercover operation after multiple reports of shoplifting….
read … $1.6K in merchandise theft stopped by Big Island police
‘Glamping’ Tent Set up next to Homeless Tent City
HNN: … A business at the center of a “glamping” controversy is facing harsh scrutiny from the community after setting up a luxurious campsite just yards away from homeless families in Waimanalo last Friday.
…The business, Glamping Hawaii, specializes in glamorous camping services. They’re now under investigation by the city for illegally operating in a county beach park — a violation of the newly enacted law banning commercial activities at beaches from Makapuu to Bellows.
”This was not just a camping outfit. This was glamping in it’s full hewa source. I mean, it was a bar, a tall bar, set up with bar stools,” Waimanalo Neighborhood Board Member Kapua Medeiros said…..
read … ‘Glamping’ business scrutinized for luxurious setup just yards from homeless Waimanalo families
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