Corruption trial witness can pursue conspiracy claims against Honolulu officials
City: Sewer Bill too high? Don't use so much water Brushing Your Teeth
Family argues helicopter maker is liable in fatal Hawaii crash
Chief Justice Appointment: Stuck on Three
SA: … “I do think that the Judicial Selection Commission’s rule in which they publicize the names of all applicants discourages people in private practice from applying.
(TRANSLATION: McKenna wants to go back to the bad old days of secrecy.)
(CLUE: After blowing her Kaneshiro gambit, McKenna is still trying to prove she can carry water for the mafia.)
“You’re talking about more experienced lawyers. If their name is out there, that they applied to an appellate position, whether it’s the ICA (Intermediate Court of Appeals) or the Supreme Court, your clients are probably not going to be that happy.
“It’s not really an issue for sitting judges or government lawyers, but it’s a big issue for private practitioners.”
McKenna, 68, has applied for the chief justice position….
(TRANSLATION: Out in 2 years and we do this all over again.)
…a new law that reduces retirement benefits for future judges will not directly affect the appointment of a new chief justice. That law, signed into law July 3, will greatly reduce retirement benefits for judges appointed on or after July 1, 2031.
Recktenwald wrote Gov. Josh Green in May that the measure would adversely affect recruitment of judges, and “this singling out of judges is especially concerning while judges have become lightning rods nationally for interpreting and applying constitutions and laws.”
He also wrote there has been a downward trend in applications for judicial positions statewide from 2019 through the summer of 2024, with 30% of vacant judgeships statewide, and 79% on the neighbor islands….
When the names of the applicants are published on the Judicial Selection Commission’s website, the public will be invited to provide comments to the commission for a specified period of time.
A Judiciary spokesman said that until that time, the commission will neither provide the number of applicants nor the names of the applicants it has.
The Honolulu Star-Advertiser, however, reported in July that there were three applicants for the top jurist position.
The commission will then provide the names of not less than four and no more than six applicants to the governor.
The governor will then select a nominee, who must be confirmed by the Senate….
read … Chief justice vacancy short on qualified applicants | Honolulu Star-Advertiser
Mayor dropped from key claims in former police chief’s wrongful termination lawsuit
HNN: … A circuit court judge delivered a significant victory to Honolulu Mayor Rick Blangiardi on Tuesday, ordering him dropped from two of the three counts in the wrongful termination lawsuit filed by former Honolulu Police Chief Arthur “Joe” Logan.
The now-retired Logan is suing the city and Blangiardi both personally and professionally, but the court narrowed the scope of claims.
Blangiardi was ordered removed from the whistleblower retaliation count, in which Logan alleges the mayor pressured him to engage in illegal activities, including conducting more homeless sweeps.
The mayor was also dropped from the wrongful termination claim. Logan said Blangiardi threatened him with bad press if he didn’t resign.
Attorney Megan Kau, who is not part of the lawsuit, said the court made the right decision, “The court is confirming that under the law, the mayor is not the employer of the chief of police and therefore the chief cannot bring these claims against the mayor.”
The Honolulu Police Commission is the only entity that can hire or fire the chief.
Blangiardi is not out of the lawsuit completely though. He will remain a defendant in the third count. Logan accuses him of intentionally inflicting emotional distress….
Aug 1, 2025: Logan: Blangiardi Threatened my Family
KITV: Mayor Blangiardi's role in Police Chief Logan lawsuit is limited, but city is liable | News | kitv.com
read … Mayor dropped from key claims in former police chief’s wrongful termination lawsuit
Hawaii faces growing OB-GYN shortage, leaving many women waiting months for care
KITV: … Across Hawaii, women say finding an OB-GYN is becoming increasingly difficult, with some waiting months for appointments or being told care is only available if they’re pregnant.
From Honolulu to Hilo, several clinics are booked far in advance, while others aren’t accepting new patients at all. It’s part of a larger issue: the state’s ongoing physician shortage.
According to the Healthcare Association of Hawaii, the islands are short nearly 800 full-time doctors, and OB-GYNs are among the hardest to find. Many providers are retiring, leaving fewer physicians to handle growing patient demand….
read … Hawaii faces growing OB-GYN shortage, leaving many women waiting months for care | News | kitv.com
1 In 4 Hawai‘i Students Are Chronically Absent From School
CB: … Five years after the pandemic upended attendance, many schools are still struggling to get kids to show up regularly….
read … 1 In 4 Hawai‘i Students Are Chronically Absent From School - Honolulu Civil Beat
Resorts Use Most Water on Maui, will Activists help them get more?
CB: … The agrochemical company formerly known as Monsanto has (seed farming operations owned by Bayer have) in recent years remained among Maui County’s top water customers, using millions of gallons (but not nearly as much as the combined usage of) more per year than major resorts and residential developments, county data shows.
(CLUE: We’re using the old name ‘Monsanto’ because it has been demonized in your eyes, unlike the new name ‘Bayer’.)
While the genetically modified seed industry has overall declined across the state, (thanks to hysterical chemophobes) information provided by the Department of Water Supply in response to a public records request shows that two Kīhei farms run by Monsanto — now owned by the pharmaceutical and agroscience company Bayer — have increased their water consumption on Maui by about 13% since 2021….
(TRANSLATION: Hotels Hope Meth-Connected Lahaina Strong Will Target Agriculture for Elimination.)
read … Major GMO Seed Company Is Maui County's Top Water Customer - Honolulu Civil Beat
Kauai: Its where the antivaxxers are
CB: … Religious waivers for student vaccinations on Kauaʻi soared to 9.5% last school year from 5.7% during the 2018–2019 school year, leaving hundreds of school children at risk, state data shows….
Leading the pack is Hanalei Elementary School, where 42.5% of the public school’s 181 students had a religious waiver. At Alakai O Kauai, a charter school in Kōloa, 36.6% of the school’s 243 students were not vaccinated due to religious reasons….
The religious exemption rate is 9.1% for Hawaiʻi County, 3.3% for the City and County of Honolulu, 9.5% for Kauaʻi County, and 6.8% for Maui County….
(CLUE: Jill Stein antivaxxerism, not Trump antivaxxerism. It follows the pattern of anti-GMO protests and anti-Superferry protests. Same people, just a different manifestation of their psychoses.)
read … Religious Waivers Soar For Child Vaccines On Kauaʻi - Honolulu Civil Beat
Campaign Commission Will Push Again For Reforms Lawmakers Keep Rejecting
CB: … It will reintroduce measures that were killed late in the last session with no public explanation. …
read … Campaign Commission Will Push Again For Reforms Lawmakers Keep Rejecting - Honolulu Civil Beat
Traffic violators beware: $270 tickets will be issued for speeding or running the red light
KITV: … In a few weeks there will be real consequences for people speeding or running the red light here at S King Street and Ward Avenue.
That's one of 10 intersections authorities will be watching for traffic violators and issuing $270 tickets to vehicle owners, whether or not they're the ones driving.
That's after giving out tens of thousands of warnings under a pilot program since March.
"Going from 11 miles per hour over the speed limit and beyond," said Ed Sniffen, director of the state Department of Transportation. "During that timeframe, kind of concerning we saw some max speeds at about 111 miles per hour in 30 mile per hour zones. So we'll start up with sending out real infractions in on Nov. 1, just to make sure that everybody understands the citations are coming." …
read … Traffic violators beware: $270 tickets will be issued for speeding or running the red light | News | kitv.com
HPD wants more surveillance cameras at popular attractions
HNN: … At all three lookouts, the Honolulu Police Department reported it would receive calls for about 50 to 80 break-ins a month.
But the rampant crimes came to a sudden halt after HPD began using a surveillance camera at each location at the end of August, the department claims….
read … HPD wants more surveillance cameras at popular attractions
HPD credits new operation with permanently shutting down illegal game rooms
HNN: … For years, HPD has been raiding illegal game rooms on Oahu, but dozens still persist, partly because of some landlords are willing to accept their huge rent payments.
“The rule of thumb generally was when you shut one down, one, maybe even two open up somewhere else,” said retired HPD deputy chief John McCarthy.
“There’s a game room on School Street up until a few years ago that was paying $14,000 a month to their landlord, simply to rent this tiny space,” said Dos Santos-Tam.
“That kind of money makes it really lucrative for the landlord,” he added.
But the city is now increasing the risk for those landlords, and it’s paying off.
HPD said two years after it launched “Operation Follow Through” in Kalihi -- partnering with several other agencies, including prosecutors, the city Department of Planning and Permitting, and federal Homeland Security -- more landlords are being hit with property violations.
“If we start to make things hurt for the landlords who have, up until this point, been getting thousands of dollars under the table, if we start to make it hurt for them, we can finally get them to say, well, it’s not worth it,” said Dos Santos-Tam, who represents the Kalihi area.
HPD said nine game rooms were shut down in Kalihi in 2023. That number jumped to 16 last year. And so far this year, 37 illegal game rooms have been shuttered.
HPD also says none of those game rooms have reopened….
read … HPD credits new operation with permanently shutting down illegal game rooms
Hawaii County Council pushing plastic foodware bill again
HTH: … environmental advocates supported the proposal, while several business owners expressed concern over increased costs and compliance issues.
Council members adopted a series of amendments during Wednesday’s meeting. Among them was a clarification that the measure applies to commercial uses, a requirement for the director of Environmental Management to collaborate with a sustainability manager, and a more detailed definition of reusable foodware to help close enforcement loopholes….
One amendment, which would have more clearly defined “prepared” versus “pre-packaged” food, was withdrawn in favor of similar language adopted through another amendment. The discussion raised questions about how the rules would affect local businesses — for example, a fried rice bowl from 7-Eleven would be considered pre-packaged, while a mixed plate from L&L Hawaiian BBQ would be considered prepared and would require compostable packaging.
Other approved changes included eliminating the option for customers to request plastic utensils or pick them up at self-service stations, and expanding the bill’s coverage to include events funded by county grants….
(CLUE: H-Power is recycling plastic on Oahu by burning it to produce electricity.)
read … Council members make numerous amendments to plastic foodware bill - Hawaii Tribune-Herald
Hawaii: Where the Cesspools Are
EOS: … A recent study published in Frontiers in Marine Science identifies sewage-contaminated submarine groundwater discharge (SGD) sites, pinpointing specific locations that stakeholders may want to prioritize for mitigation efforts….
In response to pollution concerns from the local community, a team from Arizona State University, with the support of the Hawaiʻi Marine Education and Research Center, used airborne mapping to identify locations where SGD reached the ocean along the western coastline of the Big Island….
read … Pinpointing Sewage Seeps in Hawaii - Eos
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