Defeated SB401 Would Have Been Most Extreme Gun Law in USA
HB1422: Nonprofits Exempt from Motor Carrier Law
Feds Bust Honolulu Massage School Owner in $9.1M VA Scam
Founder of a Kaneohe biker gang and former stagehand union official to be sentenced next week
ILind: … While in prison, Norman Akau eventually joined the USO Family prison gang ….
In May 2009, Akau was initiated into the local chapter of the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees, and in 2013 was elected to the union local’s executive board. He served on the board until his indictment and arrest in July 2020.
Akau was serving on the union’s executive board in 2016 when he accepted an offer of $50,000 to an official of the International Longshore and Warehouse Union (ILWU) in Honolulu, who had reportedly blocked an arrangement that gave Miske direct access to jobs on the docks for his associates.
At around the same time, Akau was a founder of the Nakipi Motorcycle Club….
Akau testified that he committed a number of types of crimes for Nakipi, including assaults, stabbing, and shootings. The group also carried out several armed robberies of other drug dealers.
Akau is scheduled to appear in Judge Watson’s court for sentencing at 9 a.m. on Tuesday, May 6….
BACKGROUND: Miske Mob Were All Union Drivers on Set of Hawaii 5-0
read … Founder of a Kaneohe biker gang and former stagehand union official to be sentenced next week | i L i n d
Hawaiʻi Legislature Adjourns - For Now
CB: … The Legislature adjourned its 2025 session on Friday with a promise to return in the months ahead to aid programs facing federal funding cuts from the Trump administration.
To accomplish that, lawmakers have set aside a $200 million fund that can be tapped for resources should federal dollars run dry. Federal funds account for about 19% of the state’s $20 billion annual operating budget, or about $3.8 billion.
In addition, lawmakers have allocated $50 million to aid nonprofits that rely on federal funding.
Voting on hundreds of bills was completed Wednesday, leaving lawmakers just a handful of measures that required last-minute amendments to make technical fixes before they adjourned Friday ….
read … Hawaiʻi Legislature Adjourns - For Now
Hawaii Legislature ends with Souza Squabbling With Republicans (again)
SA: … The last day of the legislative session ended Friday just like it did in 2023: with House Republicans snapping at one another on the House floor shortly after senators walked across the state Capitol, held hands with House members and sang “Hawai‘i Aloha.”
Then, moments later, Republicans began squabbling openly among themselves over the latest version of Senate Bill 1434, which provides state funding for “universal” immunization, which prompted Republican Reps. David Alcos III (R, Ocean Pointe-Barbers Point) and Garner Shimizu (R, Moanalua-Aliamanu-Foster Village) to speak about other immunization bills that already died this session.
Their Republican colleague, Rep. Kanani Souza (R, Kapolei-Makakilo), twice rose to say that their comments had nothing to do with SB 1434, which she voted for and the House ultimately passed.
The second time Souza spoke in support of SB 1434, Shimizu interrupted and said, “Is this referring to the bill?” prompting Souza to say, “Excuse me, sit down. I’m speaking. You’re out of order,” prompting laughter.
House Speaker Nadine Nakamura then struck her gavel and called for another recess to bring the House to order.
During two recesses, House Majority Leader Sean Quinlan (D, Waialua-Haleiwa-Punaluu) strode across the House floor in an unusual move to talk to some of the eight members of the Republican caucus.
Following the dust-up among Republicans, majority caucus leader Rep. Chris Todd (D, Hilo-Keaau-Ainaloa) then rose to make one of the last comments of the legislative session and said that his speech “was not intended to be funny, but it is a little funny now.”
Before Todd could elaborate, Nakamura cut him off, pounded her gavel again and said, “Recess,” leading Nakamura and Quinlan to speak quietly to Todd as people laughed.
Todd did not finish his comments….
SOUZA REALITY: Miske Lawyer Behind Campaign to Unseat OHA Trustee Keli’i Akina
read … Hawaii Legislature ends 2025 session on sour note | Honolulu Star-Advertiser
Ex-UH athletic director Craig Angelos applies for AD again
SN: … Former University of Hawaii-Manoa Athletic Director Craig Angelos has reapplied for the job five months after being fired by then-President David Lassner, he confirmed to Spectrum News on Friday morning.
Spectrum Sports play-by-play man Kanoa Leahey first reported on his morning talk show, Let's Talk Sports on ESPN Honolulu, that Angelos had reapplied.
“Yes. I did apply,” Angelos subsequently messaged Spectrum News in reply to a question. “But don’t have anything to say. Just going to see how it all plays out.”
Angelos has remained on Oahu since he was dismissed.
"Never left," he said….
SA: Angelos applies to return as Hawaii athletic director | Honolulu Star-Advertiser
HNN: Former UH athletics director Craig Angelos reapplies for position
read … Ex-UH athletic director Craig Angelos applies for AD again
Hawaii legislature passes bill to limit police ability to chase criminals
SFC: … The legislation is poised to place Hawaii ‘ahead of’ much of the country, where officers operate under often permissive rules that vary by department. It was sent this week to Hawaii Gov. Josh Green for his signature….
(TRANSLATION: Criminals can now escape police by driving fast. The result is more criminals fleeing, thus more risk to the public.)
The bill would become the first statewide pursuit policy that draws on new model state rules from the New York University School of Law’s Policing Project. The school developed the model rules in response to “Fast and Fatal,” the Chronicle’s investigation, among other sources of inspiration.
(NYU and SFC together, what could go wrong?)
The Chronicle’s investigation revealed that most chases begin with a low-level crime – or no crime at all. Additionally, passengers and bystanders account for most of those killed. There is no binding national standard governing whether and how police should chase suspects. Few officers are held accountable for reckless pursuits….
(CLUE: If criminals are running, there’s a reason. Now they will get away more often.)
read … Hawaii legislature passes bill to limit police chases following Chronicle investigation
Hawaii Department of Education seeks input on cell phone use in classrooms
KITV: … The Hawaii State Department of Education is looking to students, staff and family members for input on cell phone use in schools.
The survey results will be used to shape cell phone policies in the classroom. The DOE's Cell Phone Use Survey comes to an end on Monday, May 5. …
read … Hawaii Department of Education seeks input on cell phone use in classrooms | Local | kitv.com
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