Lives Matter
Paranoia Will Destroy Ya: Maui Police CIU 'Kidnaps' one of its own officers
Sea Level: Updated Hysteria for a New Year
Hawaii Congressional Delegation How They Voted December 31, 2022
Department of Public Safety Names Four New Wardens
Another Sovereignty Mortgage Scammer loses law license
ILind: … Dexter K. Kaiama announced his resignation from the state bar in a sworn declaration filed in the Hawaii Supreme Court on Thursday, December 29, at 6:54 p.m.
His resignation came in response to an order by the Supreme Court to “show cause…informing this court of any reasons as to why he should not be suspended from the practice of law immediately” for failing to cooperate with an active investigation of alleged misconduct carried out by the Office of Disciplinary Counsel.
The court, in its December 19 show cause order, said Kaiama “knowingly and wilfully failed to obey a lawful subpoena, issued by ODC under the authority of this court,” contrary to his duty, as an attorney licensed to practice law, to cooperate with the Disciplinary Counsel. He was given ten days to answer or face immediate suspension.
Kaiama, 63, also claims the title of appointed attorney general of the “Hawaiian Kingdom” headed by David Keanu Sai, one of several competing sovereignty groups that claim to represent a resurrected, reinstated, or reestablished Hawaiian Kingdom government.
He was admitted to the practice of law in Hawaii in October 1986.
In multiple cases and court filings over a number of years, Kaiama has used the legally-discredited notion that Hawaii’s annexation to the U.S. in 1898 wasn’t legal, the Hawaiian Kingdom continues to exist as a state pursuant to international law and has been under a prolonged and illegal occupation, leaving Kingdom law still in effect. As a result, Kaiama has argued federal and state courts have no jurisdiction in civil or criminal matters.
Although this legal argument has never succeeded in court, Kaiama has nonetheless continued to push it in a number of criminal and civil cases in both state and federal courts, which has brought him into conflict with the Disciplinary Counsel and other agencies.
In 2019, the Supreme Court approved an ODC recommendation that Kaiama be publicly censured for accusing Circuit Court Judge Greg K. Nakamura of being a “war criminal.” Kaiama argued Hawaii is an “occupied territory” under the international laws of war and disputes properly belong in a military courtroom, and that Nakamura therefore was a war criminal for allowing the foreclosure case to go forward.
In June 2020, Kaiama was permanently barred from providing “legal services or any other assistance” to any homeowner whose property is facing actual or threatened foreclosure. The action came after the State Office of Consumer Protection filed a civil lawsuit alleging Kaiama had been part of a foreclosure defense scheme that violated the state’s Mortgage Rescue Fraud Prevention Act….
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read … Attorney known for arguing Hawaiian Kingdom sovereignty gives up his law license
Kouchi: Green is a Lightweight and Will be Dealt With as Such
Borreca: … Kouchi and Saiki appear ready to run the state, clearly indicating that Green’s proposals will be disposed of according to the Legislature’s will.
(Translation: The Carpenters Union is not the only union that owns politicians in Hawaii.)
Even before Green could move proposals to lower taxes and restructure how Hawaii treats and charges tourists, Kouchi warned the new governor that his Cabinet must be confirmed by the Senate.
It messaged that although Green was a legislative committee chairman (Health), he was not a major political operator at the state Capitol and he and his potential Cabinet will have to prove their leadership qualities.
Saying he does not know about a third of Green’s nominees, Kouchi predicted a somewhat awkward get-to-know-you legislative session….
Green’s early pledge to scrap the general excise tax on food and medicine was immediately questioned by lawmakers familiar with the GET’s history….
(Translation: We legislators are owned and operated by HGEA, not by Carpenters Union.)
Kouchi and Saiki said in last week’s interview that Green will have much to learn….
SA: Will Hawaii officials fall into the same ruts and general inertia that always seem to obstruct progress?
CB: Hat Trick
read … Lawmakers set guardrails — or obstacles? — for Gov. Green
Governor Doogie Howser MD
Shapiro: …>> Sen. J. Kalani English and Rep. Ty Cullen were convicted of taking cash bribes from a cesspool executive. It was a shocking surprise — to exactly nobody.
>> Rep. Matthew LoPresti was the latest state legislator arrested on suspicion of drunken driving and, like fellow Rep. Sharon Har before him, refused a field sobriety test. Our legislators can’t walk a straight line even when they’re sober.
>> New Gov. Josh Green said he and Lt. Gov. Sylvia Luke “broke the mold” with a ticket comprising a doctor and lawyer. Responsibilities are clear: He drives the ambulance and she chases it.
>> Green still flaunts he’s a doctor with stationery that bills him as Gov. Josh Green, M.D. It’s like we’re led by Doogie Howser….
read … It was a year to remember — for all the wrong reasons
Guns, housing, cannabis are on legislative agenda
SA: … Green’s idea for new visitor fees of $50 to $100 …. how to proceed on a new Aloha Stadium; whether to legalize recreational marijuana… creating statewide laws on concealed-carry firearms instead of a patchwork of county regulations…
read … With economic growth slowing in Hawaii, economists put hope in tourism in 2023
Pandering to the Ignorant: Brenton Awa Bill would ‘prevent nonresidents from buying our homes’
CB: … No. 1 was housing. I did a story on Laie and everybody was saying, “Well, the housing prices are skyrocketing, property taxes are going up, we can’t afford it. Nobody can buy, we can’t even rent because rents are going up” — all this stuff. And so that was their No. 1 issue. I ran into so many people whose sister and his uncle, brother, mom, grandma, they moved to Utah, Vegas, Oregon, California. There are a lot of different reasons, but cost of living was most of them. We did a big rally in Kahaluu and my first thing was (to talk about) preventing nonresidents from buying our homes. We have a bill to do that….
(IQ Test: Are you laughing?)
(CLUE: Absolutely unconstitutional--‘Commerce Clause’. If this bill were actually enacted it would be thrown out by the courts in a heartbeat. This is just Awa pretending to do something.)
Related: Mafia News: Newly elected state senator hires Makua Rothman
read … A Conversation With Hawaii’s Newest GOP State Senator
NIMBYs Push back Against Affordable Housing
SA: … Section 201H-38 grants Hawaii Housing Finance and Development Corporation (HHFDC) — and its eligible developers — exemptions “from all statutes, ordinances, charter provisions, and rules of any governmental agency relating to planning, zoning and construction standards” to develop affordable housing projects….
A growing number of controversial 201H-38 development projects have sprung up in Manoa (Manoa Banyan Court), Kailua (Kawainui Street Apartments), Kahuku (Kahuku Manager’s Ridge), Waipahu (Keawalau at Waipahu), McCully-Moiliili (Kuilei Place) and Lahaina (Kahoma Village). These pit developers and land owners against long-time local residents/communities and neighborhood boards who are concerned (and often surprised) that long-standing regulations and community development/zoning plans meant to guide development and protect environmental and community well-being may be for naught….
read … Fix law to hold developers accountable
Honolulu EMS reports long list of fireworks-related injuries in ‘brutal’ start to new year
HNN: … Oahu first responders reported one of the busiest starts to the new year in recent memory, with at least eight people seriously injured by illegal fireworks.
There were also dozens of calls for difficulty breathing and 15 assaults, including a stabbing. Authorities didn’t immediately say how many of the assault victims were linked to New Year’s celebrations.
Honolulu Emergency Services Director Dr. Jim Ireland described it as a “pretty brutal night.”
Altogether, Honolulu EMS responded to 12 calls for fireworks-related injuries….
In Nanakuli, two men were injured when they lit fireworks near a fuel drum. Officials said they were left with deep lacerations and shrapnel injuries….
HNN: Honolulu police: 17-year-old run over while lying in street
read … Honolulu EMS reports long list of fireworks-related injuries in ‘brutal’ start to new year
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