May 28, 2024 News Read > Hawaii Free Press

Hawaii Daily News Read

Tuesday, May 28, 2024

May 28, 2024 News Read
By Andrew Walden @ 5:01 PM :: 2496 Views

Rape and Death: State Pays $1.8M to Settle Foster Care Suit

SA: … According to the complaint, the three children were in the Kipapas’ foster home and subjected to severe and continuous sexual and physical abuse by Michael Kipapa and others with the knowledge and encouragement of George Kipapa.

It also alleged, “At the direction and/or with the acquiescence of Defendant George Kipapa, physical beatings, starvation, theft and destruction of personal property, and failure to provide medical care, clothing and medicine often accompanied the sexual abuse.” George Kipapa also allegedly kept the children home from school to hide evidence of the abuse, according to the lawsuit.

Some of the actions by Michael Kipapa and George Kipapa are criminal offenses, the plaintiffs contend, but no criminal complaint was filed against them.

When C.K. reported the abuse to Wendall Omura, a DHS social worker assigned to the plaintiffs, he accused C.K. of lying, the lawsuit alleged.

Omura also had developed a social relationship with George and Jolyn Kipapa, and allegedly funneled more foster children to the couple to increase their monthly stipend, the plaintiffs alleged. They also alleged that Omura was also aware that J.M. and T.M. had reported physical and sexual abuse to the court- appointed psychologist, but failed to investigate the reports or remove them from the Kipapa household….

C.K. requested a new social worker years later and informed the new social worker of the abuse, and was removed from the Kipapa home, according to the lawsuit….

Jolyn Kipapa was killed July 5, 2014….

The two-story Waimanalo house at Hunananiho, also known as Waimanalo Bay Beach Park and Sherwoods, where the fatal stabbing happened and where the family lived, burned down Feb. 4, 2016.

George Kipapa was the park’s caretaker. Kaanoi Kipapa was in custody at the time of the fire…. Fire investigators found a gasoline can near the home ….

On June 26 the state and DHS filed a third-party complaint against Michael Kipapa, who turned 18 in 2004. They alleged that since he was an adult from 2004 or thereafter, he should be liable for those injuries and damages if plaintiffs prove they sustained injuries from sexual abuse perpetrated by him for his relative degree of fault….

Background: Rape and Death: HB2340 pays $2.5M to Coverup Foster Care Disasters

read … State pays $1.8M to settle former Hawaii foster kids’ lawsuit

Working Group to Reform Child Welfare Services?

CB: … The upcoming community meetings will kick off with gatherings in Waianae at Kalanihookaha Community Learning Center on Wednesday, and at Keaukaha Elementary School in Hilo on Friday. Both meetings begin at 5:30 p.m. Additional meetings will be held across the state in June and July.

So far, the group has produced a catalogue of more than 70 preliminary recommendations, ranging from complex ideas that could alter the dynamics of Family Court proceedings to some simple, heartfelt pleas from youth.

One recommendation from a group focused on the needs of children in foster care declares the system must “never, ever trick a young person into doing things or lie to youth.” Another urges the system to grant children and youth more of a voice in decisions about where they are placed.

Yet another suggests that when Child Welfare Services investigates a home, the system must “require transparency with youth about why and how to seek help in the future if investigation does not proceed.”

Keala Kaopuiki-Santos, project manager for the governor’s Office of Wellness and Resilience, said some common themes about flaws in the existing system emerged from the discussions along with some promising proposed solutions.

One idea is to shift the system from its current “child welfare services” approach to focus on ohana or family support services, she said. Another urges creation of “safe havens” where struggling families can seek help before abuse or neglect happens, and before CWS becomes involved, she said.

“There has been a big call for that, ensuring that while it’s crucial for keiki to get the support, it’s also crucial for the birth parents, or the caregivers of the kin, for the entire ohana to get support,” Kaopuiki-Santos said.

There have also been calls for more support for social workers and for guardians ad litem, who are the official legal advocates for children in the system. CWS staff say they often carry excessively large caseloads, in part because the system has far too many vacant social worker positions.

Another proposal urges the state to find ways to remove accused offenders from a household rather than the children, allowing children to stay put in their homes with guardians deemed to be safe. ….

News Release: Mālama ‘Ohana Working Group Announces Listening Session Schedule

REALITY: The Delphi Technique: Let’s Stop Being Manipulated!

read … A Working Group That Emerged From A Tragedy Sets Out To Reform Child Welfare Services

Police Cover up Assault at Illegal Fireworks Party

KITV: … Coby Lynn's son told Island News that his father was swarmed, all for knocking over one of the 25 shot cakes that the neighbors insisted on firing in the middle of the Ewa Beach intersection. His injuries are serious.

"His cheek is broken, it hangs down. He's gonna have to have reconstructive surgery. His lip was hanging down and they caused a hole in between his throat and his face," Eileen Lynn said. "And so now he has to stay there because they have to stitch him up, maybe 10 on the outside and four inside."

Eileen Lynn says police were pre-emptively called by the neighbors who instead questioned the victim and that nothing was done. The Lynn family says that the party continued after the beating ….

(CLUE: Friends of the police.)

KHON: Fevella is a long-time friend of Coby. “Hearing what had happened is really disturbing to me,” said Sen. Kurt Fevella (R) Ewa Beach, Iroquois Point, Ewa Villages. “Why wasn’t the party shut down when there were people busting or popping off illegal fireworks?”

HNN: ‘Stop the violence’: Ewa Beach family pleads for perpetrators to come forward after assault

read … Ewa Beach father beaten after complaining about illegal fireworks | News | kitv.com

Accused Hawaii island drug trafficker was deported 4 times

SA: … On April 27, the U.S. Marshals Service, Hawaii Police Department and Homeland Security Investigations personnel were looking for fugitives with outstanding warrants in Ocean View, according to an affidavit authored by a Homeland Security Investigations special agent.

As law enforcement officers arrived at a home on Pueo Road, two police officers saw Lopez “fleeing from the rear of the residence in the direction of a lava field towards the rear of the property.”

The officers ran after Lopez and told him to stop.

Lopez was seen carrying “a red and white thermos and a plastic bag before running behind a group of trees,” according to the complaint.

Lopez “emerged from behind the trees with his hands up” and was detained. A language barrier prevented officers from immediately identifying him.

During a field interview it was determined that Lopez is a “citizen of Mexico and does not have lawful status” to be in the U.S.

Officers searched the lava field, and about 65 feet from where they found Lopez, a bag with about 188.5 grams of methamphetamine was allegedly found. In the thermos, 206 grams of heroin was allegedly stored.

Officers found a car key, and Lopez acknowledged it was for his car.

Officers searched the home on Pueo Road and allegedly found a black Colt AR-15 A2 rifle loaded with a magazine containing 27 .223-caliber bullets….

read … Accused Hawaii island drug trafficker was deported 4 times

Banks agree to lend Hawaiian Electric $250M

SA: … HEI, parent of Hawaiian Electric Co., said in a filing with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission that the credit agreement was made with several banks May 17.

Under the arrangement, if approved by the state Public Utilities Commission, Hawaiian Electric will be able to borrow up to $250 million secured by revenue from substantially all of its customers….

PDF: HEI SEC Filing

read … Banks agree to lend Hawaiian Electric $250M

Lahaina Fire News:

Legislative Agenda:

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