Hoping for the best, preparing for the worst
Trial Set: Felony charges in Sovereignty Activist takeover of OHA offices
ILind: … It’s been 3-1/2 years since a dozen men wearing red shirts identifying themselves as federal marshals from the Kauai group known as the Polynesian Kingdom of Atooi, stormed into the main office of the Office of Hawaiian Affairs, assaulted at least two OHA employees and threatened others, and announced they were there to seize the agency’s assets and arrest “corrupt” trustees. There was a two-hour standoff before police finally gained control of the situation.
Now, after several delays, the trial of six men facing felony charges stemming from the January 17, 2019 incident is scheduled to get underway on September 19.
Five–Sadhu-Bhusana Bott, Jordan Faletogo, Ene Faletogo, also known as Ene Faletoga, Rheece Kahawai, and Peter Laban, also known as Peter Laman–
are each charged with two counts of kidnapping, a Class A felony, and a single count of 2nd degree assault, a Class C felony.
A sixth person, Remedio Dabaluz, is charged with 2nd degree asssault, also a Class C felony….
Background:
read … Two facing felony charges in 2019 takeover of OHA offices likely to raise a sovereignty defense
County mulls lower retirement age to help recruit police
MN: … A proposal to eliminate the requirement that police officers be 55 years old before they can retire is gaining support as a way to help recruit and retain police officers….
Under current law, officers must both have 25 years of service and be 55 years old to qualify for retirement. Officers must be age 60 to retire with less than 25 years on the job. The requirements apply to police officers hired after June 30, 2012.
Officers hired before then can retire at any age after serving for 25 years….
read … County mulls lower retirement age to help recruit police
FCKBLM? Honolulu’s Subjective Rules on Personalized License Plates
CB: … But Odquina, whose plate bears the message “FCKBLM,” has refused or ignored the city’s repeated requests to turn over the plate. The city’s Customer Services Department, which issues plates, won’t disclose its next steps, but legal action appears imminent….
An anecdotal survey of that system conducted by Civil Beat shows just how arbitrary it can be when deciding what to approve and reject. While the system rejected some words as offensive, it often approved similar words or said they were already in use.
For instance, while “FKNFKA” and “FUCKAH” were denied as offensive, “PHUKAS” and “FCUKYU” were fine, according to the system. While “KILLER” was out, “KILLAH” was fine — and already in use, the system said. Multiple variations of the N-word were approved and available. And while the system indicated Odquina couldn’t replace his FCKBLM plate with one saying “FCKHNL,” it said it would be OK to get a plate saying “FKHNL.” ….
read … Why Honolulu Is Trying To Put The Brakes On Some Personalized License Plates
Many Pacific Islander Patients Have To Move To Get Life-Saving Access To Dialysis
CB: … One in five Indigenous Chamorros in the Northern Mariana Islands has diabetes, and the demand for dialysis is growing. But the only dialysis centers are on the capital island of Saipan….
read … Many Pacific Islander Patients Have To Move To Get Life-Saving Access To Dialysis
Kilauea buyout program commences final phase
SA: … Hawaii County’s Voluntary Housing Buyout Program for properties affected by the 2018 Kilauea eruption has moved into its third and final phase, focusing on eligible properties that are undeveloped or vacant.
The program already is processing more than 450 applications for primary and secondary residences, officials said, with the first five buyout properties acquired in June.
When the Phase 3 application period opened July 18, just over 200 undeveloped properties had registered in the program, seeking possible buyouts of up to $22,000.
The latest application period runs through Oct. 31, but applications for eligible primary and secondary homes and long-term rentals are still being accepted….
read .. Kilauea buyout program commences final phase
Election News:
QUICK HITS: