Hawaii State Commission on Fatherhood Announces Awards, Scholarship Opportunities
Gabbard Resignation Demanded After Yemen Battle Plans Accidentally Leaked to Reporter
SA: … The Trump administration sought today to contain the fallout after a magazine journalist disclosed he had been inadvertently included in a secret group discussion of highly sensitive war plans, while Democrats called on top officials to resign over the security incident.
(Cult airhead) Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard and CIA Director John Ratcliffe — both of whom were in the chat — testified before the Senate Intelligence Committee that no classified material was shared in the group chat on Signal, an encrypted commercial messaging app.
(Wow. That didn't take long. Gabbard was approved by Senate vote Feb 12.)
But Democratic senators voiced skepticism about that claim, noting that the journalist, The Atlantic Editor-in-Chief Jeffrey Goldberg, reported that Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth posted operational details about pending strikes against Yemen’s Iran-aligned Houthis, “including information about targets, weapons the U.S. would be deploying, and attack sequencing.” …
“It’s hard for me to believe that targets and timing and weapons would not have been classified,” Sen. Angus King, an independent who caucuses with Democrats, said at the contentious hearing, which featured several sharp exchanges.
The extraordinary revelation on Monday triggered outrage and disbelief among national security experts and prompted Democrats — and some of Trump’s fellow Republicans — to call for an investigation of what they described as a major security breach.
“I am of the view that there ought to be resignations, starting with the national security adviser and the secretary of defense,” Democratic Sen. Ron Wyden said at the hearing.
Democratic Sen. Jon Ossoff appeared to grow frustrated after Ratcliffe answered “I don’t recall” to a series of questions about the content of the Signal chat….
“Director Ratcliffe, surely you prepared for this hearing today,” Ossoff said. “You are part of a group of principals, senior echelons of the U.S. government, and now a widely publicized breach of sensitive information.”
“We will get the full transcript of this chain, and your testimony will be measured carefully against its content,” he added.
A former U.S. official told Reuters that operational details for military actions are typically classified and known to only a few people at the Pentagon. Such top secret information is usually kept on computers that use a separate network, the official said.
Earlier today, President Donald Trump expressed support for his national security adviser, Michael Waltz, who had mistakenly added Goldberg to the Signal discussion.
“Michael Waltz has learned a lesson, and he’s a good man,” Trump told NBC News in a phone interview….
TNR: Tulsi Gabbard Fumbles Key Question on War Plans Group Chat Debacle -- "Gabbard, who recently railed against leaks from the intelligence community, was reportedly one of the many high-ranking Cabinet officials in the group chat who lacked the basic due diligence to check the members of the group before spouting off about war plans."
TA: The Trump Administration Accidentally Texted Me Its War Plans - The Atlantic
read … Democrats call for Trump officials to resign over Yemen chat leak
Honolulu City Charter Commission 100% Connected Insiders
SA: … After a decadelong absence, a 13-person panel charged with proposing ballot amendments to potentially change the City and County of Honolulu’s constitution officially convened Monday.
In doing so, the newly sworn Honolulu City Charter Commission formally starts its term of service through the end of 2026.
The commissioners — six appointed by the mayor, six by the City Council and one appointed by the mayor and approved by the Council — are now expected to offer “proposed amendments” for voter approval to the Revised City Charter of Honolulu….
The commissioners include:
>> Jacob Aki — a senior public affairs manager with Alaska Airlines and Hawaiian Airlines.
>> Davin Aoyagi — a manager at San Francisco-based peer-to-peer car-sharing company Turo Inc.
>> Cedric Duarte — a communications specialist with the marketing firm The Kalaimoku Group.
>> Gerald “Trey” Gordner — a data scientist and housing researcher at University of Hawaii Economic Research Organization, or UHERO.
>> Brandon Marc Higa — an attorney and lecturer at the William S. Richardson School of Law.
>> Diane Kawauchi — a retired lawyer formerly employed by the city Department of the Corporation Counsel.
>> Jacce Mikulanec — a director at The Queen’s Health Systems.
>> Scott Power — president of Oahu Mortuary.
>> Sandra Simms — a retired District and Circuit Court judge.
>> Summer Sylva — an attorney and policy adviser for the Office of Hawaiian Affairs.
>> Dawn Szewczyk — civil engineer at HDR Engineering Inc.
>> April Woofter — chief operating officer at the Fertility Institute of Hawaii.
>> Sommerset Yamamoto — a senior project manager at Kamehameha Schools.
The City Charter establishes the principles by which the city government operates.
The Charter also requires that every 10 years, the mayor and Council appoint a commission to review the Charter and submit proposed amendments to Oahu voters. If approved, those questions will be placed on the November 2026 general election ballot for voter consideration, the city said.
The Charter Commission — with a term that runs through December 2026 — has until August 2026 to offer those ballot amendments, the city said….
NR: Ho'omaika'i (Congratulations) to... - Honolulu City Council | Facebook
read … Honolulu City Charter Commission officially convenes | Honolulu Star-Advertiser
DPP: Six Years to Get a Permit
CB: … “Roughly six years ago,” Hawaiʻi Gas communications director Maggie Engebretson wrote in an email, “we identified and secured a gas leak from a corroded pipeline on Kalākaua Avenue, which intersected a City and County drain.”
The plates, which the company leases, were laid after the repair, she said.
Since then, Hawaiʻi Gas been working with the Honolulu Departments of Planning and Permitting and Facility Maintenance on plans to relocate the utility gas line to the east side of Kalākaua Avenue. (Smaller road plates mark the spot there.)
Last month, finally, the permit came through, and Hawaiʻi Gas plans to resume work on the project later in March. The company is targeting a completion date in early June….
read … Fix It! Temporary Road Plates Are Still Rattling Drivers Six Years Later - Honolulu Civil Beat
Rail Ridership is about 3% of TheBus
ASD: … Ridership counts fluctuate from month to month, but data from DTS shows that in February the number of riders totaled 97,819 compared to 93,427 in February 2024. The number of riders per day in February 2025 ranged from 1,708 to 4,330. More ridership statistics can be found here.
For comparison, TheBus reported total ridership islandwide in January 2025 of 3,356,745, with an average weekday ridership of 124,719.
(DO THE MATH: 4,330 / 124,719 = 3.5%)
A May 2024 report on commuting patterns by the state Department of Business, Economic Development & Tourism quantified the number of people in O‘ahu neighborhoods who commute elsewhere for work. It identified, for example, just over 19,028 out-commuters in Pearl City, nearly 15,300 in Waipahu, just over 9,000 in Kapolei, more than 13,600 for Ewa Gentry, more than 9,200 for Makakilo, among the largest neighborhoods near the rail line.
read … New rail segment to open later this year | Aloha State Daily
It costs more to use an electronic medical device in Hawaiʻi than in any other state
HPR: … About 15,000 Hawaiʻi utility customers had their power disconnected last year as a result of missed payments. Having an electronic medical device can make you more vulnerable to utility disconnections….
A new study conducted by Carley and her colleagues shows that the electricity costs associated with medical devices in Hawaiʻi are higher than in any other state.
Residents with these devices pay 40% more on their bills each month, though the exact costs vary by device.
The use of a home oxygen concentrator, which assists people with low blood oxygen levels, can cost more than $500 per year. The annual cost of using a home peritoneal kidney dialysis machine can be more than $850 per year….
Carley presented her research before the Public Utilities Commission, which is investigating possible reforms to utility disconnection practices.
read … It costs more to use an electronic medical device in Hawaiʻi than in any other state | Hawai'i Public Radio
Decision from Hawaii Supreme Court Amplifies Reasoning for its Prior Order in Maui Fire Cases
ILH: … Following its order dated February 10, 2025, the Hawaii Supreme Court issued its full opinion, explaining its answers to the reserved questions addressed in the order. In the Matter of the Petition for the Coordination of Maui Fire Cases, Haw Sup. Ct., SCRQ-24-0000602 (March 17, 2025) [Prior post on order here].
The global settlement reached by the individual and class plaintiffs and defendants required, as a condition precedent, either a release by insurance carriers of all subrogation claims against the defendants, or a final, unappealable order and judgment that the insurers' exclusive remedy for all subrogation claims would be a lien against the settlement under Haw. Rev. Stat. 663-10. …
These answers to the reserved questions provided a framework for the circuit court to evaluate the proposed settlement, consistent with the principles established by the legislature in Haw. Rev. Stat. 663-10 and 431:13-103. …
read … Insurance Law Hawaii: Decision from Hawaii Supreme Court Amplifies Reasoning for its Prior Order in Maui Fire Cases
Federal actions impact $90M meant for Hawaiʻi and Pacific farmers, food organizations
HPR: … Federal cuts and actions have already had “significant impacts” on the local food supply chain, as an estimated $88.5 million in federal funds meant for Hawaiʻi and Pacific region farmers and food system organizations have been frozen or eliminated, or have an uncertain future.
That’s according to a recent report from the Oʻahu Resource Conservation and Development Council, which is conducting a survey to assess the effects of recent or pending executive orders from the Trump administration.
And the total funding in jeopardy is “likely to be much higher,” it said, as the administration continues its efforts to slash federal spending.
Its findings come from 87 individuals who have been surveyed so far. Two-thirds of that group are farmers and food producers, and the rest do related research, provide outreach and extension services, and work in nonprofit or food system organizations.
About 55% of them say that federal payments have been frozen, and nearly half of those in that group have already delayed or stopped work….
read … Federal actions impact $90M meant for Hawaiʻi and Pacific farmers, food organizations | Hawai'i Public Radio
$2.1M of Federal Funds Still Behind useless Hawai‘i County program aimed at collecting, washing, reusing takeout containers
BIN: … Hawai‘i County is seeking proposals from the community for the launch of a new program that aims to reduce waste and save businesses money by collecting, washing and reusing takeout containers.
The selected applicant from the Request for Proposals process will oversee the Hilo Reusable Foodware Program, which will be a community-scale system, is funded by $2.12 million from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and $600,000 in private foundational support and is done in partnership with Zero Waste Hawaiʻi Island, the University of Hawaiʻi Sea Grant College Program, and Perpetual.
(CLUE: Trump has more waste to cut.)
“This program serves as a city-scale demonstration that aims to cut waste and save money for local businesses,” said Hawai‘i County Mayor Kimo Alameda. “By creating a voluntary system for reusing foodware, we are implementing important sustainable practices that can serve both our environment and economy.”
The operator will receive access to reusable foodware inventory and washing equipment, as well as funding for one-time setup and customization of the program’s software and digital infrastructure platform….
read … Hawai‘i County seeks to start program aimed at collecting, washing, reusing takeout containers : Big Island Now
DoE Retaliation Games: School Harassment Case Could Cost Hawaiʻi Taxpayers $150K
CB: … The state of Hawaiʻi is preparing to pay $150,000 to settle a lawsuit filed by a middle school principal who claimed the education department didn’t take safety threats against her seriously and retaliated against her for filing a sexual harassment complaint.
Katherine Balatico began receiving threats over social media in May 2020, when she was the principal at Stevenson Middle School in Honolulu….
Balatico reported the incidents to the Honolulu Police Department and her supervisors at the Hawaiʻi Department of Education, according to the suit. She also filed a complaint under Title IX — a federal law that prohibits gender discrimination and harassment in schools that receive federal dollars — formally requesting that the department investigate the sexual harassment she said was a part of the emailed threats.
After little happened, Balatico sued the education department in 2022 claiming that DOE didn’t take her safety concerns seriously and failed to protect her family from the threats she faced as a principal. The lawsuit also alleges that department leaders retaliated against her for filing a harassment complaint….
Around the same time, the department opened an employee misconduct investigation over allegations that Balatico had engaged in an inappropriate relationship with another DOE employee and was storing alcohol in her office, according to the lawsuit….
Balatico is still a DOE employee, although she has been on medical leave since 2021 because of the stress she experienced from the harassment. If the Legislature and governor sign off on the $150,000 settlement, Balatico said she plans to leave the DOE and start vocational rehabilitation to transition to a new career. …
HNN: Principal who received disturbing threats says DOE isn’t taking her safety seriously
read … It's Your Money: School Harassment Case Could Cost Hawaiʻi Taxpayers $150K
State To Open Prisons And Jails For Inspection Of Mental Health Services
CB: … The experts will produce a plan to improve the state’s correctional mental health system, which has been falling far short of filling critical positions such as psychologists, psychiatrists and advanced practice registered nurses.
Twenty of the department’s 23 psychologist positions are vacant, and one of the three filled positions is held by a provider who has not yet passed the psychologist licensing examination, legislators were told recently by Tommy Johnson, director of the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation.
There were five suspected or confirmed suicides by Hawaiʻi inmates in 2024 — four men and one woman — the largest number since corrections officials reported five confirmed suicides in 2016, data compiled by Civil Beat shows….
Nationally, 41% of federal and state prisoners have a history of mental health problems, according to the Bureau of Justice Statistics.
Attorney Eric Seitz filed the 2019 class-action lawsuit against the state, alleging corrections officials “subject people with serious mental illnesses to extreme isolation with little or no mental health treatment.” The suit was originally filed on behalf of the family of an inmate who killed herself while in a state correctional facility two years earlier, and another who was rendered a paraplegic in a suicide attempt.
Seitz said Thursday the suit followed a rash of suicides inside Hawaiʻi prisons and jails nearly a decade ago….
The U.S. Department of Justice sued in 2008, alleging “deliberate indifference” to the mental health needs of prisoners at the Oahu Community Correctional Center – the state’s largest jail with nearly 1,100 inmates.
A settlement in that case required reforms in dozens of areas, including increasing staffing levels, providing programs for the mentally ill and improving screening at intake. DOJ supervision of the correctional center ended in 2015, and former employees have said staffing levels soon declined again….
read … State To Open Prisons And Jails For Inspection Of Mental Health Services
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