March 6, 2026 News Read > Hawaii Free Press

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Friday, March 6, 2026

March 6, 2026 News Read
By Andrew Walden @ 3:09 PM :: 213 Views

Feds: Sovereignty Tax Scam Drew 200 Criminals from 19 States

'Central Kitchens'? State Auditor Debunks Rationale for $150M DoE Pork Project

Knives Out: Maui Wildfire Lawyers fight each other for slice of $1 Billion Payday

CB: … Lawyers for Maui wildfire victims are lining up for a potential $1 billion payday, pending a ruling by Circuit Court Judge Peter Cahill. But the judge may have a say in the matter, and could reduce the amount paid to those lawyers who represented individual fire victims.

A key issue: how to reward the lawyers who ~~spent enormous time~~ (got in line first) and ~~resources on their own dime~~ (now expect to be paid megabucks) .... without unfairly rewarding plaintiffs’ lawyers who may have done scant work, including some who did little more than sign up victims as clients only after other plaintiffs’ lawyers had already done the bulk of legal work and investigations — and negotiated a $4.037 billion settlement….

(TRANSLATION: 25% to the shysters—0% to the insurers who actually paid victims)

Cahill will hold a hearing on Friday where the lead plaintiffs’ lawyers are expected to make their case justifying a big payday….

Cahill can choose to limit their fees. But (he’s a lawyer, too) ….

read … Maui Wildfire Lawyers Vying For $1 Billion Payday - Honolulu Civil Beat

Future of 4,500 Maui vacation rentals uncertain following planning commission’s ‘no’ vote

MN: … A proposal to establish new hotel zoning districts — a move that would allow roughly 4,500 short-term vacation rentals to survive a looming phase-out — faces an uncertain future after the measure was resoundingly rejected last month by the Maui Planning Commission.

On Feb. 24, the commission voted 5-1 to recommend denial of a Maui County Council resolution, introduced by Council Member Tom Cook, to establish the new H-3 and H-4 hotel zoning districts. These districts are being proposed to accommodate thousands of short-term rentals currently operating in apartment-zoned districts.

On Thursday, Cook said he was “truly disappointed” with the commission’s vote.

“This was the first step in implementing the Council’s recommendation to allow appropriate properties to continue transient vacation rental use,” he said, noting that the Council advanced his proposal to the planning commissions by a vote of 8-1. That vote reflected “broad legislative support for a structured solution,” he said.

Cook also pointed out that Mayor Richard Bissen, who introduced the vacation rental phase-out bill, “expressed support of this proposal as an accompanying measure to the implementation of Bill 9.”

“The H3 and H4 hotel districts were drafted to specifically align with the existing A1 and A2 apartment standards,” Cook said. “This framework was recommended by the Temporary Investigative Group as a viable path for properties to continue transient vacation rental use.”

He added that the bill does not automatically rezone any property.

“It simply establishes a zoning district that is necessary for the Council to transition properties that are appropriate to continue TVR use,” Cook said….

read … Future of 4,500 Maui vacation rentals uncertain following planning commission’s ‘no’ vote : Maui Now

Kauai Visitors Shocked By $20 Opaekaa Falls Stop

BH: … Instead of a booth or gate at the entrance, visitors describe workers walking through the parking lot with mobile credit card readers and approaching cars directly. Several visitors reported they had barely opened their doors before being told there was now a fee, while others learned about it only after walking back to their car to leave. One woman said she had pulled in only to check maps on her phone and was immediately asked for $20….

read … Kauai Visitors Shocked By $20 Opaekaa Falls Stop

Bill 7: Council defers affordable rentals measure pending further study

SA: … Bill 7 projects have also received flak from critics concerned over the projects’ overall slowness to develop.

“According to (city Department of Planning and Permitting) Director Dawn Apuna there are six projects that have been completed and received certificates of occupancy,” said Tupola, during the Council’s Housing, Homelessness and Parks Committee meeting Tuesday. “This totals 189 units.”

Tupola, the committee’s chair, noted 16 affordable rentals projects are currently under construction, while 41 projects remain under city review. But according to DPP documents, the Bill 7 program, as it stands today, has a total potential to create 1,563 housing units.

“Bill 7 showed that when we remove unnecessary barriers, affordable housing can get built,” Tupola said in a statement after the meeting.“Bill 18 builds on that progress by refining the program so more projects can move forward faster.”

As originally drafted, Bill 18 would allow higher unit densities near bus routes located in the city’s Primary Urban Center Development Plan; allow affordable rentals in areas zoned for business; and eliminate lot size restrictions for lots 5,000 square feet to 20,000 square feet.

The bill, as drafted, also would remove limits on affordable rental housing maximum building heights, now at 60 feet, and allow the maximum height for the underlying zoning district “provided that in a special district, the maximum height allowed in the special district will apply.”

The initial measure sought to impose an elevator requirement for affordable rental housing buildings over 60 feet in height. That elevator mandate would not affect buildings 60 feet or lower, “unless required by applicable federal accessibility laws.” ….

read … Council defers affordable rentals measure pending further study | Honolulu Star-Advertiser

HPD Has Never Used ‘Red Flag’ Gun-Seizure Law

CB: … Anyone with a close connection to someone in crisis — family members, roommates, coworkers, medical professionals — can file a red flag petition if they are concerned that a gun owner poses a threat to themselves or others, though experts say law enforcement officers are often best-positioned to request such an order.

The Honolulu Police Department has never filed a red flag request and, as of last year, wasn’t training all officers on how and when to use the petitions. …

… A proposed bill in the state House would give money to the state’s Department of Law Enforcement to increase public awareness about the orders and provide support to the state judiciary to make the process more efficient.

read … People In Crisis Still Keep Their Guns. Can Hawaiʻi Change That? - Honolulu Civil Beat

State Agrees To Settle Lawsuit Over Oʻahu Jail Suicide

CB: … Another mystery is the rope, said Myles Breiner, a lawyer who is also representing the Gatioan family.

“How did he get a rope in there?” Breiner asked. “It’s not like shoelaces, which you’re not supposed to have anyway. It raises all kinds of questions.”…

read … State Agrees To Settle Lawsuit Over Oʻahu Jail Suicide - Honolulu Civil Beat

Hawaii gets 2028 trial date in addictive design suit against TikTok

MLEX: … Hawaii state court Judge Kevin T. Morikone has given the Hawaii attorney general a February 2028 date for the start of a four-week jury trial against TikTok over the AG's addictive design….

read … Hawaii gets 2028 trial date in addictive design suit against TikTok

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