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April 4, 2025 News Read
By Andrew Walden @ 6:33 PM :: 1350 Views

Hawaii DoH: Get Measles Vax Without Losing Religious Exemption

Report: 34% of DoE Students 'Chronically Absentee'

Hawaii AG Sues Trump Admin over Voting Rules

Green Appoints Nakasone ICA Chief Judge

Gene Ward dies after serving in Hawaii’s Legislature for nearly 30 years

SA: … Veteran Hawaii lawmaker Gene Ward died this morning after a prolonged illness that led him to retire as of Monday.

Ward was 82 and had served as a Republican in the state House of Representatives for nearly 30 years serving constituents in an east Honolulu district that included Hawaii Kai and Kalama Valley.

Rep. Diamond Garcia, who once worked as Ward’s office manager, said on Facebook that Ward died peacefully early this morning.

“Gene Ward was more than just a legislator,” said Garcia (R, Ewa-Kapolei). “He was a true statesman. He devoted his life to serving others, and though we mourn his loss, we celebrate a life well-lived in the service of God, country, and community.”

Gov. Josh Green ordered that the United States flag and state flag be flown at half-staff at the state Capitol and other state facilities from today to sunset on Monday in recognition of what Green described as unwavering service of Ward ….

From Hawaii Firearms Coalition -- "We are deeply saddened to share the news of the passing of Representative Gene Ward. His loss is felt not only by his colleagues and constituents, but by all who valued his unwavering dedication to public service.

"Throughout his time in office, Rep. Ward was a steadfast defender of constitutional rights, particularly the Second Amendment. He consistently stood up for law-abiding gun owners His efforts were instrumental in stopping the advancement of numerous anti-gun bills in recent years, helping to preserve the freedoms that many in our community hold dear.

"Beyond his advocacy for gun rights, Rep. Ward was known for his integrity, thoughtfulness, and a genuine commitment to representing the voices of his constituents. He brought both conviction and compassion to the legislative process, leaving a lasting impact on the people of Hawaii and the causes he championed.

"He will be remembered with deep respect and gratitude. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family and friends."

RELATED: Rep Gene Ward Retires from House--Republicans Must Nominate Successor (retirement was effective Mar 31, 2025)

read … Gene Ward dies after serving in Hawaii’s Legislature for nearly 30 years

Hurricane Fund to Provide Insurance Relief for Condos?

HNN: … at a joint briefing by the state House and Senate Consumer Protection committees Thursday, representatives of the state-owned hurricane and volcano insurance funds told lawmakers they can begin to insure condos who can’t afford full coverage by June….

The hurricane fund has not been issuing policies for years, because after years without damage from a hurricane, private insurers began offering the coverage. As a result, the hurricane fund has $170 million in the bank.

Eaton said that was enough for at least 300 condo projects and $10 billion in coverage, potentially enough to cover the first year in operation….

The two insurance funds were asking for $200 million in state credit from reimbursable bonds so they could offer policies to any condo with either unaffordable or unavailable insurance, even high-end, new high rises.

But committee chairs Sen. Jarrett Keohokalole and Rep. Scot Matayoshi want the program to focus on smaller, older properties that often house older people on fixed incomes unable to afford the premiums.

“This program may need to be regeared to focus on the people who are really suffering here rather than rich people,” Matayoshi said.

Keohokalole added, “Make sure that the people who eat first are the ones who are hungry.”

They suggested that the market for the state policies could be managed by setting a cap on how much could be offered to individual properties. The insurers had proposed $350 million, but the lawmakers argued that was too high, and Eaton agreed.

“I think it is a noteworthy suggestion to say let’s start with smaller policies,” he said….

SA: Hawaii condo insurance relief on horizon | Honolulu Star-Advertiser

read … Insurance relief may come soon for condos in crisis

SB281: Hawaiʻi Legislature Moves To Define And Criminalize Torture

CB: … A state legislative committee has unanimously approved a bill that defines and prohibits torture, making the crime — which is not addressed in current state law — a class A felony.

Senate Bill 281 states that Hawaiʻi’s criminal law does not adequately address extreme acts of cruelty and sadistic abuse.

Torture would be defined to include a range of physical and mentally harmful acts including strangling, burning, cutting, electrocuting and deprivation of food, water and clothing.

Police officers and prosecuting attorneys who testified in support of SB 281 Wednesday said children are especially the targets of behavior that far exceeds what is seen in typical child abuse and neglect cases….

While it first needs approval of the full House, Tarnas said he expected that House and Senate negotiators would need to work on SB 281 when it is taken up during conference committee later this month….

read … Hawaiʻi Legislature Moves To Define And Criminalize Torture

Council committee confirms Emergency Services director after supporters come out in force

HNN: …Okimoto and council member Andria Tupola – who is not a voting member of the committee – pushed Ireland to address complaints about his management. Tupola said many of the concerns she heard weren’t about call volume, but instead “management, wanting communication, asking for transparency — it sounds like a lot of managerial things.”

Ireland acknowledged that some employees have complained about sexual harassment, bullying and a hostile workplace. “We’re not immune to that,” he said. Those complaints are investigated according to city procedure and perpetrators are disciplined when warranted, he said.

In an unusual show of support, Gov. Josh Green came in person to testify on Ireland’s behalf. Both men are medical doctors, and they work closely on homelessness initiatives.

Green said he has no doubt Ireland “pisses people off” from time to time, given the challenges that come with running a city EMS department. Still, he trusts Ireland’s leadership.

“He can be a bulldog,” Green said, “but he is a bulldog to positive ends for our people.”

The full, nine-member council will take up Ireland’s reappointment on April 16….

SA: City Council advances Honolulu EMS leader’s reappointment | Honolulu Star-Advertiser

CB: Honolulu EMS Director On Track To Keep Job Despite Complaints About Management

read … Council committee confirms Emergency Services director after supporters come out in force

Maui Council To Take Up Bill Phasing Out Vacation Rentals This Summer

CB: … Maui Mayor Richard Bissen’s plan to convert thousands of temporary vacation rentals into long-term housing for locals may start moving forward again as soon as next month.

Maui County Council member Tasha Kama announced in a release Thursday that she intends to have the housing and land use committee she chairs take up the proposal after the council finishes its deliberations of the county budget for the upcoming fiscal year, which starts July 1.

“The earliest possible consideration by the committee would occur in mid-May or early June,” she said in the release ….

MN: Maui County’s proposed short-term rental ban is still awaiting a decision, but already business in the industry is falling : Maui Now

REALITY: Meet the Meth Gang Behind ‘Lahaina Strong’

read … Maui Council To Take Up Bill Phasing Out Vacation Rentals This Summer - Honolulu Civil Beat

84 Illegal Weed Stores in Hawaii

SFG: … A resolution introduced in Hawaii’s House of Representatives this session said there are “allegedly over eighty-four illegal dispensary operators” in Hawaii and “the number continues to grow exponentially,” while some lawmakers accuse law enforcement of not doing enough to shut the stores down.

“The surge of illegal dispensary operators selling cannabis labeled as hemp is a public health and safety epidemic,” the resolution said….

Shrooms Next: Another Hawaii House Panel Approves Bill To Support Psychedelic-Assisted Therapy Research - Marijuana Moment

read … Hawaii wants to ban these stores popular with tourists

Legislature: No funding for Makakilo emergency route

HPR: … State Rep. Kanani Souza wants an emergency route built in Makakilo, a community with only one way in and one way out.

However, none of the measures she introduced this legislative session got a hearing in the Transportation Committee.

During a committee hearing Wednesday, Rep. Kim Coco Iwamoto alleged that Transportation Committee Chair Darius Kila said he would not hear any measures introduced by Souza.

“I heard a very clear statement that he was not intending to hear any bills or resolutions from member Souza,” Iwamoto said….

Besides Kila, Souza introduced the most measures with Transportation as the primary committee — all 10 did not get a hearing.

“Makakilo and Kapolei have a lot of transportation-related issues. So it's an issue if what Rep. Iwamoto is saying is true, then it's detrimental to my community,” Souza said….

He added that he did not hear one of the resolutions Souza introduced because the state should not be taking on the financial responsibility of extending Makakilo Drive to the H-1 Freeway, a city project estimated to cost $200 million….

Souza also introduced measures that would create a task force to examine the delays of the Makakilo Drive extension and another that asks the Department of Transportation to look for other emergency routes out of Makakilo besides Makakilo Drive….

read … Accusation of committee power play highlights broader issue at Legislature

Fence held up by wooden posts at OCCC raises concerns

KHON: … A photo showed a fence at Oahu Community Correctional Center (OCCC) leaning at a 45 degree angle held up precariously with wooden posts. It’s not something you’d expect to see at the state’s largest jail facility….

They added that it’s not just concerns over escape and potential contraband being tossed in, it’s a safety issue cause if a fence falls on anyone, the state would be liable

And they’ve said they’ve been warning administrators for years….

“A powerful storm on Jan. 30, 2025 caused damage to a portion of the OCCC perimeter fence on the makai side. An engineering consultant arrived the next day to assess the damage. The wooden posts have been used since the storm. The repair project is on a DCR’s priority list.” –DCR Statement

they said that fence isn’t the only one that needs repair.

“These fences were put back in the 1980s and water and corrosion and rust has got to them, and the bases are being loosened every time by the rust,” they explained.

According to DCR, the only fence repairs in the works are for the one damaged by the storm in January….

read … Fence held up by wooden posts at OCCC raises concerns

Hawaii County police detective found guilty of perjury

HNN: … Following a bench trial, William Brown was found guilty Wednesday of knowingly making a false statement while under oath, to a grand jury proceeding before the Circuit Court of the Third Circuit, while employed as a Hawaii County police detective, the attorney general’s office said.

The false statement involved his interview with a suspect in a case where drugs were found in a vehicle, officials said.

Brown was arrested and charged in December 2023.

He is scheduled to be sentenced on May 23 and faces a maximum sentence of five years in prison….

“On April 2, 2025, after receiving word of a guilty verdict in Brown’s criminal Perjury case, he was placed on administrative leave. As in all criminal cases, Brown is not considered to be ‘convicted’ until he is sentenced. Brown will remain on administrative leave until his May sentencing at which point he will be processed out of the Hawaii Police Department.”

read … Hawaii County police detective found guilty of perjury

Kauaʻi mayor seeks exemption from possible state ban on landfills near aquifers

HPR: … Kauaʻi Mayor Derek Kawakami is suggesting an exemption for the island if state lawmakers pass a measure to ban the placement of landfills over aquifers.

The measure, Senate Bill 438, is largely a response to the City and County of Honolulu's plans to site its next landfill in Wahiawā — on farmland and near a drinking water aquifer.

Kauaʻi's landfill in Kekaha is also reaching capacity ….

read … Kauaʻi mayor seeks exemption from possible state ban on landfills near aquifers

Filmed in Thailand, ‘The White Lotus’ May Cost Hawai‘i Taxpayers $550,000

CB: … The third season of “The White Lotus” was filmed at the Four Seasons in Koh Samui, Thailand, a luxury resort more than 6,000 miles from the Hawaiian Islands.

But Hawai‘i taxpayers are set to pay out more than $550,000 to support the show’s production, which airs its season finale Sunday on Max.

“The White Lotus” post-production team edited the show from a timeshare on Kaua‘i, entitling it to a 27% refund of roughly $2 million in Hawai‘i-based filmmaking costs. It’s all part of the state’s $50 million film tax credit program aimed at supporting the film and television industry….

read … ‘The White Lotus’ May Cost Hawai‘i Taxpayers $550,000

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