Hundreds of public school teachers still unpaid
Hawaii Water Service Operations Manager Recognized Nationally for Response During Lahaina Fire
Warning Labels on Social Media: Hawaii AG Joins 41 States
Two Finalists for UH President named, public forums scheduled
Despite 2021 threat, police chose not to arrest suspect accused in deadly Waianae shooting
HNN: … “Shining right into our yard. Never does this — only tonight one big light He just when threaten us saying he going kill us all — Hiram Silva,” she said. The video was taken on March 23, 2021. It was three nights after an illegal concert on Silva’s property caused a traffic wreck and a fight.
Silva may have seen a news crew investigating the concert visiting the family the night of the threat.
On the video he calls out to the family.
“All queers! All mahus! One man. One man by himself. Come on down, only one man – come on down…stop hiding…I tired of (inaudible) with you guys already. You guys all dead. Not today or tomorrow…you think I don’t know people?” …
The family called police and officer reports show officers after looking at the videos were instructed to arrest Silva for felony Terroristic Threatening. But, when confronted behind his gate, Silva said his gate was broken so he couldn’t let them in, sarcastically denied his identity and said the neighbors had tried to kill him.
In the end, the report said, officers on the scene decided there was not enough danger, no “exigent circumstances,” to arrest him….
read ... Despite 2021 threat, police chose not to arrest suspect accused in deadly Waianae shooting
Hawaii condo owners begin to feel insurance rate increases
KHON: … The Gardens at Launani Valley in Mililani has 238 units. Each owner received a letter from the association dated Aug. 27, saying they’ll all have to cover the 325% increase in insurance coverage for the complex, which is more than $570,000, due Oct. 1…. Curtis’ portion comes out to a one-time payment of about $2,700. That’s on top of the $600 monthly maintenance fee…. On top of the assessment, Curtis said homeowners had to pay for a $900 plumbing upgrade at the beginning of the year….
read … Hawaii condo owners begin to feel insurance rate increases
Maui Whistleblower Lawsuit Could Cost Taxpayers Up To $450,000
CB: … A Maui County Council committee has voted in favor of paying as much as $450,000 to a Honolulu law firm to defend the county against allegations of wrongful termination and government corruption by a former mayoral aide.
The Government Relations, Ethics and Transparency Committee went into executive session during its afternoon meeting on Tuesday to discuss how to move forward with longstanding litigation brought by Chris Salem, a Napili resident who once worked for then-Mayor Mike Victorino.
Salem filed suit against the county in 2021 after Victorino fired him as legislative liaison. He’s representing himself in court.
At the heart of Salem’s case are a suite of allegations alleging the departments of planning and public works, with the assistance of Corporation Counsel, colluded with private developers to avoid having to comply with Special Management Area and shoreline permit conditions. Salem points to the property at 5385 Lower Honoapiilani Road, which some residents refer to as the Greg Brown monster house.
It’s a massive structure that was allowed to be built despite exceeding county restrictions for height and size for a single-family home, prompting calls for an investigation that died in a committee chaired by council member Tamara Paltin, a Napili resident. The Brown house is currently on the market for just under $13 million.
Since the lawsuit was filed, Salem has amended his complaint to expand its scope. For example, Salem recently asserted in court papers that the county auditor was “grossly negligent and failed to uphold professional auditing standards” for failing to track thousands of developer deferral agreements.
These agreements, in effect from 1974 to 2007, allowed developers of small subdivisions consisting of three or fewer lots to defer installing roadway improvements such as sidewalks, curbs, drainage and other features. Salem alleges developer deferral agreements cost taxpayers, who end up footing the bill for roadway infrastructure. Minutes from Planning Commission discussions dating to 2010 indicate there was concern back then about the financial consequences to the county of such agreements….
Besides authorizing up to $450,000 to be spent on legal fees, the GREAT Committee also voted 5-0 in favor of a resolution that would allow for settlement of the case. Four members of the nine-person committee were excused from Tuesday’s meeting….
MN: Ignoring corruption in county for decades?
MN: Ethics committee meets Tuesday, approves $450,000 to take civil suit to trial against former county employee
read … Maui Whistleblower Lawsuit Could Cost Taxpayers Up To $450,000
‘We need a solution’: Hawaii parents frustrated over school bus shortage
HNN: … Abraham and her children lost everything in the Lahaina fire and relocated to Wailuku.
They now live on one of 69 school bus routes that is still suspended a month into the fall semester.
“It’s hard for us single parents to get them to and from school. They have our older students on the Maui bus, which have people with mental health issues like addicts, and we just don’t feel safe,” Abraham said.
Abraham says her oldest daughter, a Lahainaluna High student, was driving her younger siblings to school last week when someone hit them.
“They all ended up in the hospital. They all had concussions. My middle daughter’s arm is in a sling,” she said. “My daughter’s traumatized now. She doesn’t ever want to drive again.”
Abraham believes that would not have happened if they were on a school bus.
She said her other daughter tried to get on a school bus one day because she could not find a ride and was turned away.
“Stranded … they wouldn’t allow her to get on the bus.”
Mother of two Kalae Vasconcellos said a solution is needed immediately.
“Our kids bus passes are being denied because the busses are at full capacity, but my daughter sent me a video and there are so many open seats on the bus,” Vasconcellos said.
Kihei resident Will Mason Bailey works long hours and depends on school buses to get his son, Evan, to Maui High School.
“Today my day started at 1:00 a.m. I cater for ocean activity companies. My son has to get to school at 8:00 a.m., and so sometimes I’m dropping him off at 6:30, 6:45,” Bailey said….
read … ‘We need a solution’: Hawaii parents frustrated over school bus shortage
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