Can New Legal Angle Beat Jones Act in Court?
Green to Testify Against RFK Nomination: ‘Uninformed and Dangerous’
KHON: … Gov. Green, who is a medical doctor, will use his experience as an ER physician to provide insight into the implications of Kennedy’s controversial nomination.
In 2019, when Gov. Green was the lieutenant governor, he traveled to Samoa to aid in their widespread measles epidemic. There, he worked to vaccinate thousands of residents, curbing the outbreak and demonstrating the importance of science-based public health responses.
Kennedy has been met with opposition from numerous public health experts due to his controversial opinions such as his desire to make raw milk more accessible.
His views have even been criticized by some of President-elect Donald Trump’s closest allies, such as Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, who described Kennedy’s anti-vaccine efforts “not just uninformed — they’re dangerous.” …
Big Q: Should Gov. Josh Green lobby against Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s Cabinet nomination? | Honolulu Star-Advertiser
NR: Governor Josh Green, M.D. | Gov. Josh Green, M.D., Going to Wash., D.C. to Discuss RFK Jr. Nomination
SA: Gov. Green to lobby in D.C. against RFK Jr. nomination | Honolulu Star-Advertiser
CB: Green Heads To DC To Lobby Against RFK Jr. Appointment - Honolulu Civil Beat
read … Gov. Josh Green to travel to Washington to consult on controversial RFK nomination
Will Tragedy Change How Hawaiʻi Polices Illegal Fireworks?
CB: … A task force created to find and stop shipments has seized more than 100 tons of explosives — but no criminal charges have followed….
Big Q: Can much be done to reduce Oahu’s illegal aerial fireworks? | Honolulu Star-Advertiser
NR: Governor Josh Green, M.D. | Office of the Governor – Statement – Gov. Green Issues Statement on Salt Lake Fireworks Tragedy
CB: Honolulu Fireworks Blast Victims Are Identified - Honolulu Civil Beat
SA: Medical examiner identifies 2 of 3 women killed in Aliamanu explosion | Honolulu Star-Advertiser
read … Will Tragedy Change How Hawaiʻi Polices Illegal Fireworks? - Honolulu Civil Beat
Lawsuit threatens Kaanapali ocean permits
SA: ..DLNR’s request, filed Tuesday by the state Department of the Attorney General, asked Cahill to lift the injunction or modify it to only affect the renewal of the six commercial use permits that were challenged in the lawsuit rather than “encompassing all commercial use permits issued for Ka‘anapali waters, which will have significant negative impacts on thirty businesses in Ka‘anapali.”
“Without these permits, many businesses that operate in Ka‘anapali waters will likely need to shutter their doors,” DLNR’s motion said.
Moreover, DLNR said it did not have sufficient time to determine whether an exemption applies or prepare an environmental assessment before any of the permits expire as the first permit expired Tuesday.
The state’s motion included supporting declarations from Bryan Shaw, owner of Absolute Charters Inc.; Denver Coon, owner of Trilogy Excursions; Peter O’Riordan, owner of Fun Charters Inc.; Gabriel Miranda, general manager of Island Scuba Inc; Michael Kelley, owner of Ka‘anapali Kai Charters Inc.; Peter Wood and Inca Julia Robbin, owners and operators of Kapalua Kai Sailing Inc.; Philippe Le Blanc, partner and chief operating officer of Sea Maui LLC.; Thomas Brown, president of ‘Au‘Au Ka Inc.; and Sands Dyer, owner of Sailing Shipps Ltd.
Collins filed a motion Thursday for the court to find the DLNR in contempt of court for renewing at least four commercial use permits in open defiance of Cahill’s injunction. Court documents show that permits were issued to Alihilani Yacht Charters Inc., Diver Dan’s Specialty Charters Inc. and Sailing Shipps Ltd.
The parties are expected to come before Cahill again on Feb. 12 in Courtroom 2 in Wailuku at 8:15 a.m….
MN: State officials seeks delay in Kaanapali injunction | News, Sports, Jobs - Maui News
read … Lawsuit threatens Kaanapali ocean permits
DLNR STATEMENT ON COMMERCIAL USE PERMITS IN KĀʻANAPALI
Ness Release from DLNR, January 2, 2025
HONOLULU – The Department of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR) is seeking reconsideration of a Second Circuit Court order which has enjoined the issuance and renewals of all Commercial Use Permits (CUP) in Kāʻanapali Ocean Waters.
DLNR is looking into a solution that addresses the environmental concerns of the plaintiffs and concerned community members, while recognizing the economic impact the court’s order has on Kā’anapali permittees and those businesses that rely on these activities to support their families and employees, as they recover from the Lahaina wildfires.
The department has every intention of following the recent court order but is hoping the court will reconsider or stay its injunction. This would give the DLNR more time to find solutions that comply with the law.
Act 91: Teens Eligible for STD Prescriptions without Parental Notification
KITV: … With further options in place, a new law in effect this year, authorizes minors as young as 14 years old to consent to medical care and services, plus prevention of sexually transmitted infections.
It's through Act 91, SLH 2024 (SB3125 HD2).
It'll require confidentiality policies and practices for insurers and health care providers.
If a teen has a boyfriend or girlfriend contending with syphilis, gonorrhea or other similar concerns, they'll be able to get a prescription without parental consent….
HPR: New law expands STD prevention options for minors ages 14 to 17 | Hawai'i Public Radio
read … Hawaii teens have increased ability to protect themselves from STIs in 2025 | News | kitv.com
Housing assistance was top request for 211 resource hotline in 2024
HPR: … Aloha United Way received over 29,000 calls to its 211 resource hotline in 2024.
Close to a third of all callers last year were seeking some form of housing assistance. Within that category, help with rent payments was the top request.
211 tracks the types of requests that come into its hotline. It also classifies whether or not a caller's need has been "met," meaning that 211 was able to connect the caller with a given resource….
read … Housing assistance was top request for 211 resource hotline in 2024 | Hawai'i Public Radio
How many homeless pedestrians were run over?
SA: … Statewide, 12 of the 37 pedestrians fatally struck by vehicles in 2024 were homeless, according to data posted by the state Department of Transportation. It does not say how many of those victims were prone in the street, but “lying in the road” is listed among contributing factors in a summary of fatal crashes for the year….
read … Kokua Line: How many homeless pedestrians were run over? | Honolulu Star-Advertiser
Fireworks Deaths:
QUICK HITS: