October 1, 2025 News Read > Hawaii Free Press

Hawaii Daily News Read

Wednesday, October 1, 2025

October 1, 2025 News Read
By Andrew Walden @ 7:03 PM :: 1729 Views

Supreme Court Orders Disclosure of Adoption and Foster Records in Kalua Murder Case

'You Take What You Can Get': Hawaiʻi Brushed Off Signs Of Abuse At Foster Home

CB: … In 2003, the state got a report that something had gone wrong in the foster home of John Teixeira….

It was a chance for CWS to reconsider the rosy picture it had painted of Teixeira and to discover the many stories about physical and sexual abuse beneath the surface — older boys victimizing the younger ones, and Teixeira abusing some of them himself.

But that’s not what happened. …

… Hoku reported to a Honolulu police officer that he had run away two years earlier because Teixeira molested children, according to a report an expert witness wrote based on CWS documents as part of a later lawsuit. Teixeira had been planning to move to the Big Island with the boys for several months. Hoku said he was afraid that, there, they’d be so isolated that if something happened, he wouldn’t be able to get away….

Hoku said that Teixeira had shared his bedroom with a foster boy, who had since aged out of the system at 18, and got mad when the teen showed an interest in girls….

In 2007, Teixeira decided to move with the boys to the Big Island, to a house he bought in Kurtistown, near Hilo. …

In 2008, Van flew to the Big Island and took Rahiem to the police station in Hilo so he could make a report.

Rahiem told the police that Teixeira had struck him three times in the face with his open hand, bloodying his lower lip. It wasn’t the first time. Teixeira had hit him with hangers, extension cords and sticks.

Police arrested Teixeira and he was charged with abuse of a family member. But nine months later, for reasons not fully explained in the record, the Big Island prosecutor’s office would drop the case….

She had only one conversation with a social worker.

“It was very brief,” Van testified later. “I don’t think she even came into the house.”

Van said she tried to tell the social worker that she didn’t think the boys were being treated right in Teixeira’s home.

She testified that she vividly recalls the social worker’s response.

“When you’re looking for a foster home for teenage boys, you take what you can get.”…

read … 'You Take What You Can Get': Hawaiʻi Brushed Off Signs Of Abuse At Foster Home - Honolulu Civil Beat

PUC Corruption? DCCA says Nothing to See Here, Just Move Along

SA: … “In sum, it was specifically found that Randy Baldemor and Leo Asuncion, as well as the PUC Personnel officer who oversaw the hiring process related to Randy Baldemor’s hiring, had not violated any DCCA or state policies. DCCA, therefore, considers the matter closed.”…

The anonymous letter, titled “Whistleblower Complaining About the Public Utilities Commission,” alleged that Baldemor was hired by PUC Chair Leo Asuncion, who announced at a December 2024 holiday party that he was hiring Baldemor as his top aide and that “Randy also lives in Hawaii Kai and they barbeque together with HECO (Hawaiian Electric Co.) executives.”

The letter to lawmakers alleged that Baldemor had “zero experience working in electric, gas, water, wastewater, and/or telecommunications industries” or with Young Brothers.

He was accused of using his position at the PUC to create programs that benefited his former private sector employer. The anonymous letter led to a hearing before the Senate Committee on Commerce and Consumer Protection.

In the Sept. 11 letter from DCCA director Nadine Y. Ando, she wrote that during the two-month probe into the allegations the investigator had identified “20 issues based on the allegations” made in the complaint….

Baldemor previously held public service leadership positions at the Hawai‘i Tourism Authority… He resigned as HTA’s chief operating officer in March 2018 after an ethics investigation resulted in a $6,000 fine.

In December 2017, the Hawaii State Ethics Commission fined Baldemor and three other HTA executives a combined $12,000 for violating the state ethics code by accepting, and sometimes soliciting, airline upgrades for business trips between 2014 and 2016.

Baldemor accepted six business-class flight upgrades during official travel to Japan, China and Europe and a hotel upgrade from Starwood and “did not report any of the above flight upgrades that he accepted by filing a Gifts Disclosure Statement with the Commission by the statutory deadline of June 30, 2016,” according to the commission’s Oct. 17, 2017, findings….

June, 2025: FULL TEXT: Whistleblower Exposes PUC Parties with HECO Execs--“We are setting ourselves up for the largest cost increase to consumers in history"

PUC: Investigation Clears State Utility Official In Toxic Workplace Case - Honolulu Civil Beat

read … Whistleblower claims leveled against PUC exec unfounded, inquiry finds | Honolulu Star-Advertiser

County unveils draft designs for Lahaina’s commercial district

HNN: … For those who were unable to make the open house in person, street design options are available to view online and open for feedback through October 10th.

“The local owners, we want to rebuild, and we need to have direction. We need to have support. We need to eliminate the red tape,” Untermann said.

They hope to have these plans finalized by the end of the year….

MN: Lahaina businesses took a ‘backseat’ in fire recovery. Now the focus is turning to rebuilding Front Street : Maui Now

MN: Lahaina’s Front Street to remain two lanes | News, Sports, Jobs - Maui News

read … County unveils draft designs for Lahaina’s commercial district

Maui Plans To Redraw Its Coastal Development Lines

CB: … Depending on where the lines are drawn, coastal developments could require more — or less — oversight to build on Maui.

The county has started the long process of reevaluating the Special Management Area maps that govern which parts of the island are subject to enhanced protections for environmental, cultural and historic resources.

The boundaries haven’t been updated in 50 years while sea levels have risen, rainfall patterns have changed and the demand on housing and supporting infrastructure has increased. …

(QUESTION: How much has sea level risen in the last 50 years? Answer: THREE INCHES per NOAA.)

MN: Request for proposals issued to evaluate Maui’s Special Management Area boundary : Maui Now

read … Maui Plans To Redraw Its Coastal Development Lines

Rail Opens to Middle Street Starting Oct 16th

KHON: … Phase two runs from Aloha Stadium to the Kalihi Transit Center on Middle Street. It’s been in testing since the end of July….

TheBus is starting three new express routes from the Lagoon Drive Skyline stop – to Waikiki, the University of Hawaii at Manoa, and through Chinatown and Downtown – all to give people a better option to get around….

Skyline officially opens to the public on Oct. 16. Rides will be free that weekend….

SA: HART turns over Skyline’s new segment to the city | Honolulu Star-Advertiser

read … City set to take over Skyline phase 2

MECO New Firm Power Plant—Suuurrrprise, it’s a Diesel!

IM: … Maui Electric will supply the land at Waena, Maui. Hawaiian Electric will supply the fuel. Ameresco will build or subcontract for building the infrastructure. Ameresco subsidiary ‘Ūkiu Energy will convert the fuel into electricity and sell it to Maui Electric. Hawaiian Electric will be first in line to purchase the facility at the end of the contractual term.

(CLUE: Diesel.)

Fuel for the generation facility will be fossil fuel, ~~biodiesel, renewable diesel, blended fuel, biogas, renewable hydrogen~~, or “any other type of fuel as may be agreed upon.”

(Clue: Diesel.)

Hawaiian Electric Company issued its third Request for Proposal (RFP-3) for new generaion. Independent Power Producers had to submit proposals on April 20, 2023. Hawaiian Electric creeated a Priority List of winners on July 6, 2023 and selected the Final Award Group on December 1, 2023….

(CLUE: Diesel.)

read … New Maui Firm Power Plant Under Public Utilities Commission Review | Ililani Media

Judge frees drug defendant on cashless bail

HTH: … Hilo District Judge Kimberly Tsuchiya on Friday granted supervised release to Joel Paaquao Gorai…

Gorai is charged with two counts each of second-degree promotion of a dangerous drug, attempted second-degree promotion of a dangerous drug, first-degree promotion of a harmful drug and fourth-degree promotion of a harmful drug, plus second-degree promotion of a detrimental drug and possession of drug paraphernalia.

According to court documents filed by police, officers on Thursday executed three search warrants — on Gorai, his Waimea residence, and his maroon 2019 Infiniti.

The search allegedly turned up 21.7 grams of cocaine, 24.16 grams of crystal methamphetamine, 381.77 grams of marijuana, 37.21 grams of THC diamond concentrate, 11 prepackaged and labeled 1.57-ounce THC gummies, a 2.0 gram THC vape and a 50 gram magic mushroom, or psilocybin micro-dose blend bar. Also seized were a digital scale and $582 in cash.

Documents state that Gorai doesn’t have a medical marijuana license.

read … Judge frees drug defendant on cashless bail - Hawaii Tribune-Herald

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