Another 8a Disaster: NIH Halts Operations at US Biolab After Sabotage Incident
BLNR Rejects Army Pohakuloa EIS
State Court Shakedown Extracts $700M over Mis-labeled Blood Thinners--oil companies next
CWS Disasters Bring No Reform: How many Dead Babies Before Legislature Acts?
CB: … The year leading up to the 2025 legislative session saw a series of tragedies that seemed certain to force lawmakers to pay close attention to Hawaiʻi’s troubled child welfare system.
Two children died in alleged abuse cases on Oʻahu in the year before session began, and an adoptive mother was arrested in March in mid-session in a third child death in 2023.
The state auditor issued an alarming report in the spring of 2024 criticizing placements of foster children in unlicensed homes, and an organization called the Mālama ʻOhana Working Group produced a separate report describing deep flaws and suffering in the child welfare system.
Yet in the final days of the session that ended last week, the last two major bills designed to address some of the problems in the state’s Child Welfare Services failed to pass. Both bills were introduced by Gov. Josh Green’s Office of Wellness and Resilience as part of the governor’s package, but even that was not enough to get them through. ….
(CLUE: HGEA.)
read … Progress Report: A Series Of Child Abuse Deaths Failed To Spur Major Reform - Honolulu Civil Beat
HB103: Young Murderers Deserve a Chance to Do it Again
ASD: … Hawai‘i's most severe prison sentence will no longer apply to convicted criminals below 21 years old.
House Bill 103, which is on the verge of becoming law, prohibits offenders younger than 21 from being sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole. Currently, that sentence is prohibited for offenders 18 or younger.
Life imprisonment sentences in Hawai‘i are reserved for those convicted of first- and second-degree murder, or attempted first- and second-degree murder. In the case of second-degree murder, those sentences allow for the possibility of parole after 20 years in prison; first-degree murder cases do not.
The ban is absolute. While provisions within state statutes allow for life without parole to be imposed on second-degree murder convicts in the case of “especially heinous” crimes — as determined by the court — that allowance still only applies to convicts 21 years old or older. …
read … Ban on life sentences without parole could be extended
Power Play: After Looting HTA, CNHA reaches back in and ousts Choy
HNN: … Gov. Josh Green confirmed he directed Attorney General Ann Lopez and the Department of Human Resources and Development “to thoroughly investigate these allegations, determine the facts and identify any appropriate next steps.”
In a statement, Caroline Anderson, HTA interim president and CEO, said:
“Isaac Choy has been placed on leave at the direction of the Department of the Attorney General and the Department of Human Resources Development pending the outcome of an ongoing investigation.
We remain committed to ensuring the well-being of our dedicated staff and maintaining a safe, respectful, and transparent workplace. HTA will stay focused on our important work of uplifting Hawai‘i’s communities and supporting our visitor industry.”
Choy denied the allegations and told Hawaii News Now that he welcomes an investigation by the attorney general.
“The term that has just been bandied around is a term ‘dumb Hawaiian.’ Two years ago we were in contract negotiations, and I could have said that,” said Choy.
“I apologize profusely for that and it was very inartful of me of saying something like that and since that time, I don’t think I’ve been accused of saying that ever again,” said Choy….
2023: CNHA Inside Track: Robin Danner Snags Gig in Governor's Office
read … Hawaii Tourism Authority executive placed on leave during investigation
Former police chief Kealoha released from federal prison
HNN: … Former Honolulu police chief Louis Kealoha has been released from the Oregon prison he’s been confined to since 2021.
Kealoha is back home after serving most of his seven-year sentence.
His official release date is set for May 18, 2026. He will serve the remainder of his time under home monitoring.
Kealoha got credit for good behavior, which is about two months off for every year….
Katherine was sentenced to 13 years in prison. She was the mastermind of the schemes.
She is set to be released on July 24, 2029, and will likely also be allowed to finish the last months on home monitoring….
Seitz said the Kealohas owe his client about $500,000 in restitution and for the civil case.
Seitz said they got some restitution over the past few years, but not nearly the full amount.
“We got little dribs and drabs of checks, apparently that came from his retirement benefits,” he said.
Seitz said he will work to get the rest collected….
KHON: Former Honolulu police chief returns to Hawaii | KHON2
read … Former police chief Kealoha released from federal prison, but he’s not a free man yet
Realtors Association of Maui opposes Bill 9, urges a ‘balanced approach’ to housing crisis
MN: … The Realtors Association of Maui (RAM) formally announced its opposition on Friday to Mayor Richard Bissen’s proposed Bill 9, which seeks to eliminate approximately 7,000 short-term rentals (STRs) in apartment-zoned areas by 2026.
RAM reports the opposition comes following a careful review process and unanimous vote by its Board of Directors, saying the measure has raised major concerns about its potential impacts on Maui’s housing market, economy and property rights.
RAM’s leadership said: “while the housing crisis demands urgent solutions, Bill 9 is not the answer.”
“RAM supports real, sustainable solutions to expand affordable housing for local residents,” said Lynette Pendergast, RAM President. “This proposal risks trading one crisis for another that damages our economy, undermines small businesses, and threatens the livelihoods of local residents without producing truly livable, affordable homes for families.”…
RAM says its concerns are backed by economic projections. A March 2025 report from the University of Hawaiʻi Economic Research Organization estimates the phase-out could result in the loss of nearly 1,900 local jobs, a $900 million drop in annual visitor spending, and a $60 million reduction in property tax revenue. RAM argues that losing this critical funding would be detrimental to Maui’s public services and future housing projects….
“Most of the affected units were never designed for full-time family living and remain financially out of reach for local households. They’re typically small, often studios or one-bedrooms, with limited outdoor space, minimal storage, and sometimes no parking,” RAM argued, calling the setups “impractical” for long-term living, especially for families with children or pets. “In addition, the high carrying costs – mortgage, HOA dues, maintenance, and property taxes – can easily exceed $6,000 per month, far exceeding the affordable rental cap of $2,500 per month for a family earning Maui’s median income of $101,000,” according to a RAM news release….
read … Realtors Association of Maui opposes Bill 9, urges a ‘balanced approach’ to housing crisis : Maui Now
In effort to force Fire Victims Out, Urban Design Review Board hears opposition to ‘modern’ homes in Lahaina
MN: … Facing ‘strong’ ‘public’ ‘opposition’ to ‘modern’ home designs for (an opportunity to obstruct) rebuilding in Lahaina, the Urban Design Review Board on Tuesday began scrutinizing a lengthy draft guide outlining post-wildfire building standards for the historic town devastated by a deadly wildfire in August 2023.
Off the cuff, board members expressed reservations about its 187-page length and a lack of clarity in the post-wildfire residential design standards for the Lahaina National Historic Landmark District. Ultimately, they decided to take more time to review the draft guide and submit written comments to the board secretary before their next meeting on June 3.
(CLUE: 187 pages designed to keep fire victims from rebuilding what they lost.)
Moving forward, the board’s recommendations will be reviewed by the State Historic Preservation Division and the Maui County Cultural Resources Commission, which will ultimately adopt the guidelines.
In public testimony, (relentless social climber) Tiare Lawrence, who has family roots in Lahaina, (is a superior being) said her 84-year-old kūpuna barely survived the wildfire, and “my family and I were raised in the heart of old Lahaina town when our town was truly a plantation town, rich with community, culture and humility.”
(TRANSLATION: You are arrogant for living here. I am not. I just climbed another rung by stepping on you.)
She noted (alleged, based on her unwritten rules of aesthetics) that earlier in its meeting Tuesday, board members reviewed designs for a home “that looks more Malibu than Maui.”…
(TRANSLATION: Move to Vegas.)
read … Urban Design Review Board hears opposition to modern homes in historic Lahaina : Maui Now
Hawaiian Electric: SB897 key to future financial strength
SA: … For all of 2024, HEI recorded a $1.43 billion loss, which mainly represented the company’s whole Maui wildfire settlement obligation. In 2023, HEI earned a $199 million profit.
Looking ahead, HEI expects financial benefits will flow from a bill recently passed by the state Legislature if it becomes law and is implemented.
Senate Bill 897 directs the state Public Utilities Commission to determine a monetary liability limit for any future catastrophic wildfire damage caused by an electrical utility that has an approved wildfire mitigation plan. This cap could be a fixed amount per event, or a total that covers a period of time regardless of the number of wildfire disasters.
The bill awaits potential enactment by Gov. Josh Green. If SB 897 becomes law, the PUC would conduct a quasi-judicial proceeding that allows public input to produce such a liability cap, which Seu said is something that exists or is being considered in other states.
SB 897 also would allow an electrical utility to pledge ratepayer revenue for repayment of bonds that finance up to $500 million in capital improvements that reduce wildfire risk.
This mechanism, referred to as securitization, should allow Hawaiian Electric to borrow money for such improvements at a lower cost than traditional financing, and therefore result in a lower cost that gets passed on to ratepayers.
Seu said a lot of work lies ahead to implement the legislation if enacted but that it is expected to be part of HEI emerging from the wake of the Maui disaster as a stronger and more resilient company.
“With resolution of the wildfire tort litigation expected over the next year, our simpler business model focused solely on regulated operations, our strong and improving safety profile, and earnings improvement opportunities on the horizon, we’re very optimistic about our future,” he said….
read … Hawaiian Electric parent touts financial strength | Honolulu Star-Advertiser
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