HIDOE holds community meeting to gather feedback on possible new site to rebuild King Kamehameha III Elementary School
Bridging Academia and Defense Innovation at USARPAC
Lahaina: “You are not bringing justice to the people of Lahaina. You have a problem with Chief Pelletier? Take it out with him.”
HNN: … The Maui Police Commission heard passionate testimony Wednesday about the handling of human remains after the Lahaina wildfire along with concerns about transparency at the Maui Police Department.
HNN Investigates sources confirm the head of Common Cause Hawaii received multiple messages, including threats of violence and racial slurs, overnight.
Those apparent threats could explain why program manager Camron Hurt was absent from Wednesday’s Maui Police Commission meeting after spearheading a public campaign for transparency.
Several dozen people were in attendance. Many stood in the hall because there was not enough space in the room.
Whistleblower Greyson Abarra, Grey Tech LLC owner and the MPD’s former morgue contractor, was first to testify.
“The Maui Police Department, an institution meant to uphold the highest ideals of service and protection, has faltered under the weight of absent leadership. The public responses from the chief’s office glosses over critical issues and ignore the very real consequence of the omissions, actions, and inactions resulting in compounded suffering of those who lost loved ones, leaving families in agonizing limbo and a community traumatized,” he said.
Maui Police Commission Chair Stacey Moniz asked Abarra, “Why did you wait so long to bring these concerns to the community?”
Abarra said, “I didn’t. I reported on it immediately through proper channels.”
“During the after-action with the police department?” Moniz asked.
“Correct,” Abarra replied. “Throughout the whole process, any mishandling reported, like I said, they have all gone ignored.”
Moniz asked, “Did you tell this to the attorney general’s office when they did their after-action as well?”
Abarra responded, “I reached out to the attorney general’s office, the lieutenant governor’s office, Maui County Council, many other platforms as well.”
Commissioner Frank De Rego Jr. said, “I was the chair at the time the fires happened, and at no time did I see any communication from you.”
Abarra said he was under contractual confidentiality until June 17. “That’s when my contract was excused out of the convenience clause,” he explained.
At one point, Moniz asked, “You don’t feel like you have any role or responsibility in this mishandling of remains if you were right there, every step of the way?”
Abarra replied, “By the results, yeah, it shows that trying to speak up and correct the wrongs, this is my result.”
Testimony brought commissioner Kekoa Mowat to tears.
Mowat said, “You are not bringing justice to the people of Lahaina. You have a problem with him (Maui Chief of Police John Pelletier)? Take it out with him. You say you’re going to have litigation. Why are you dragging the commission into this?”
Abarra is in the process of filing a civil lawsuit against the Maui Police Department. He claims MPD owes him more than a quarter million dollars for work he was never paid for.
Mowat said, “They did what they had to do. They never followed protocol. Who has a protocol for 100 people dying and losing a city? What, is there a list where we go, okay, my town got burnt, everybody died, what we going do? Follow this protocol? Make sure you get one body bag. Don’t use a plastic bag.” ….
read … Emotions run high as Maui Police Commission hears testimony over handling of fire remains
DHHL Haseko Deal Requires Another $70M for Infrastructure
SA: … The state Department of Hawaiian Home Lands wants to buy 211 acres approved for housing in Kunia for about $60 million from developer Haseko (Hawaii) Inc. with a preliminary development agreement to produce 1,200 residential lots for beneficiaries, including 500 lots in an initial increment where infrastructure already exists.
(TRANSLATION: I got $600M and I’m going to give it to my developer buddies.)
Developing another 700 house lots on the parcel would require an investment in infrastructure up to $100,000 per lot, or about $70 million, according to the agency.
(TRANSLATION: The rationale for buying the Haseko land is bunko. This land still needs lots of money for infrastructure.)
If the land acquisition happens, DHHL officials see potential to acquire adjacent land zoned for agriculture from other owners with the idea to use the agency’s zoning exemption authority to develop more housing and dramatically reduce a backlog of roughly 11,000 beneficiaries on a waitlist for homesteads on Oahu.
Kalani Fronda, acting DHHL land development division director, presented the plan to the Hawaiian Homes Commission Monday as part of the latest proposed revision to the department’s plan to spend $600 million appropriated by the state Legislature in 2022 through Act 279, also known as the Waitlist Reduction Act….
read … Hawaiian Home Lands pursues Royal Kunia housing plan | Honolulu Star-Advertiser
Buntenbah to be sentenced today
ILind: … Buntenbah remained free on bond pending sentencing until January 2024, when he was involved in the assault of several people in a bar in Waikiki’s International Marketplace. He was arrested for violating the terms of his parole, and his release was revoked by Judge Watson.
In addition, Watson order that the mortgage put up to secure his bond be forfeited. It had previously been reduced to $250,000 from the original $500,000, and Watson ordered the entire amount to be forfeited….
read … Buntenbah to be sentenced today
West Side crackdown is reducing crime
SA: … The Honolulu Police Department’s Major Events Division is coordinating the saturation operation of West Oahu that started with a Friday afternoon news conference Aug. 16 following shootings that left two men dead….
Between Oct. 10 and Nov. 5, Honolulu police patrol officers, backed by reserve units and supported with overtime allotments, made two felony assault arrests, two robbery arrests, two burglary arrests and three car-theft arrests, according to statistics kept by HPD.
Officers made five weapons offense arrests, seven firearm arrests, three gambling offenses and issued citations for 105 traffic crimes, 627 moving violations and 100 parking violations.
Other HPD elements and state law enforcement officers made 2,742 public contacts and issued 44 citations for moving or traffic violations.
On Oahu through Tuesday, violent crime is down 4% compared with the same time last year, according to HPD statistics.
There have been 909 arrests for felony assault so far this year, compared with 967 at this time last year. HPD officers arrested 727 people for rape, 536 for robbery and 23 for murder or nonnegligent manslaughter, according to HPD’s online data dashboard.
That compares to 754 rape arrests, 543 robbery arrests, and 22 murder arrests at the same time in 2023….
SA: More police cameras sought for West Oahu | Honolulu Star-Advertiser
read … West Side crackdown is reducing crime
Hawaii Ban on Teen Gun Purchases Draws Constitutional Challenge
B: … Hawaii’s laws that prohibit adults under the age of 21 to purchase a firearm are unconstitutional, a new federal district court lawsuit says.
The plaintiffs, which include federally licensed firearms dealers, say Hawaii’s firearm prohibition for adults between the ages of 18 and 20 makes it impossible for individuals to exercise their rights under the Second Amendment, according to their their complaint filed Wednesday at the US District Court for the District of Hawaii.
This lawsuit follows a 2023 trial court ruling in Brown v. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives ...
read … Hawaii Ban on Teen Gun Purchases Draws Constitutional Challenge
Top UH booster cuts university funding over firing of athletics director Craig Angelos
HNN: … One day after the abrupt firing of University of Hawaii athletics director Craig Angelos, questions remain on exactly why he was suddenly let go.
The decision has upset many UH supporters and they’re making their feelings known.
Longtime UH supporter and businessman Mike Kawazoe founded the Rainbow Collective in April of last year as a way to raise funds for the department and Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) money for student-athletes.
In that time, the collective raised over $1 million, and Kawazoe applauds Angelos’ work in generating revenue and securing successful business ventures for the program.
He says he was shocked at the firing and says no one from the university has reached out to him explaining the decision.
“I think that if there was an egregious reason for this to occur, I think that everyone would get on board and say we understand why this move was made. It’s been crickets,” he said.
“If you’re using performance as the excuse, that makes zero sense from anyone close to the program,” said Kawazoe.
Kawazoe said while the collective will still donate funds for individual student-athletes and NIL opportunities, he will personally no longer donate any money directly to the university…
Attorney Jeff Portnoy is the former athletics committee chair for the university’s Board of Regents. He says this kind of sudden dismissal shows dysfunction, and can damage a program for years.
“It’s just another nail in what has been, unfortunately, the building of a coffin and under what circumstances, can Hawaii maintain a Division I football program when you have this kind of discord, which is being played out not only locally, but nationally? No one can say it’s a good thing,” he said.
The university has had five athletics directors since 2008. When the search for Angelos' replacement begins early next year, Portnoy is worried that the current state of the department will ward off any serious candidates….
Big Q: Was Craig Angelos-effective-as University-of Hawaii athletic-director?
KITV: Questions endure following ouster of UH Manoa Athletic Director | News | kitv.com
KITV: UH Associate Athletics Director Lois Manin releases statement about Angelos’ firing
HNN: UH associate athletics director will not apply for top position, plans to end career in ‘second chair’
HNN: Head coaches react to sudden dismissal of UH athletics director
read … Top UH booster cuts university funding over firing of athletics director Craig Angelos
Kawakami for Governor?
CB: … Kawakami has indicated that he will run for the state Senate in 2026, when his second and final term as mayor ends. But he is also thinking of higher office….
The chief executive discussed the county's landfill, wastewater infrastructure, disaster response, affordable housing and more. He's also interested in running for governor or lieutenant governor, should the opportunity arise….
Sept 12 2024: Kouchi not running for reelection in 2026—Kawakami to take seat
read … The Civil Beat Editorial Board Interview: Kauai Mayor Derek Kawakami - Honolulu Civil Beat
New Building Codes May Impact Hawaiʻi
KWXX: … A month after wildfires ravaged Maui in August 2023, Gov. Josh Green issued an emergency proclamation to postpone the adoption of any new building codes that might exacerbate a housing shortage that had just gotten worse.
The governor’s office is now moving to fast-track adoption of new codes and bring Hawaii into compliance with the latest national building standards as the state and counties have struggled to keep up with the pace of change.
The administration’s move comes as Hawaii contends with both the ever-present risk of devastating natural disasters, which vigorous building codes can mitigate, and a 50,000-unit housing shortage, which they can exacerbate due to a higher cost of compliance….
read … New Building Codes May Impact Hawaiʻi | KWXX - Hilo, HI
Public Utilities Commission Lacks Deadlines
IM: … Peter and Ann Bosted filed a complaint to address whether a large solar project was divided up into numerous small projects to circumvent the competitive bidding process, docket 2016-0224.
The proceeding is on course to be finally ruled on by the Hawai`i Public Utilities Commission in 2025, nine years after the complaint was made.
The Hawai`i Public Utilities Commission has several dockets that are currently open that were initiated in 2007-08.
The record for idle dockets is probably the first wheeling proceeding which lasted from 2007-19 without resolution. Now a second wheeling docket is open.
Finding information on old proceedings is complicated. ….
read … Public Utilities Commission Lacks Deadlines
Conservationists sue the County of Maui to protect native seabirds from streetlights
KITV: … To minimize threats against native seabirds, conservationists filed a lawsuit against the County of Maui and Hawaiian Electric, claiming streetlights countywide are harming the endangered and threatened animals. …
Earlier this year, Earthjustice reached a settlement with the Grand Wailea Resort, with the hotel promising to reduce the brightness of its outdoor lights.
Then last week, the group struck an agreement with Hawaiian Electric to lower the risks to native birds that collide into power lines. …
MN: Lawsuit filed to change Maui’s street lighting citing its effect on endangered birds | News, Sports, Jobs - Maui News
read … Conservationists sue the County of Maui to protect native seabirds from streetlights
More than $1.2M in PONC funds awarded to nonprofits
HTH: … More than $1.2 million in Hawaii County grants was awarded to various Big Island nonprofits to maintain over 3,400 acres of conservation land….
read … More than $1.2M in PONC funds awarded to nonprofits - Hawaii Tribune-Herald
Secret Map Reveals 900 Feral Cat Colonies—each managed by ‘protectors’
CB: … In recent months, he’s compiled a first-ever feral cat map for Hawaii pinpointing some 900 colonies across the state — valuable information that could help state land managers and conservation outfits get a handle on which colonies pose the biggest threat to the islands’ native birds and other species.
So far, though, Lerma has kept the map to himself.
That’s because much of the crowd-sourced information on colony locations and size comes from the cat advocates themselves, the so-called “colony managers” who regularly care for and monitor feral groups.
Concerned about the colonies’ impact on native species, those managers agreed to share details with Lerma with one caveat: He could not make it public. Their fear, Lerma said, is that local government might move in to trap and euthanize the cats where their terrain overlaps with native species habitat.
Further, he added, some private landowners might block access to feed the colonies. That’s what happened at an Alexander and Baldwin-owned shopping center in Waikoloa last year, prompting outcry from cat colony feeders and their supporters.
“Any time we try to better understand the problem, folks feel threatened that we’re going to kill all the cats,” Lerma said….
read … New Feral Cat Colony Map Could Save Hawaii's Native Birds — But It's Secret - Honolulu Civil Beat
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