June 8, 2026 News Read > Hawaii Free Press

Hawaii Daily News Read

Monday, June 8, 2026

June 8, 2026 News Read
By Andrew Walden @ 9:26 AM :: 228 Views

Oahu Man Charged with Threatening to Kill Governor of Michigan and Shoot Up Michigan State Capitol

Poll: Sugimura 47% - Bissen 33% in mayoral primary race

MN: … Bissen could be “in real trouble” if the results hold from two recent polls.

In one poll of 400 likely Maui County primary voters conducted by Tulchin Research from May 11-17, 47% of voters said they would choose Sugimura and 33% would go for Bissen, with 20% undecided.

(CLUE: Sugimura can put this away on Primary Day with 50%.)

Sugimura’s position “has strengthened significantly” since Tulchin’s last poll in December when it tested the waters for a potential mayoral run by the council member. At the time, she had polled 37% to Bissen’s 33%, with 31% undecided.

In the May poll, 62% of the participants said Maui County was headed in the wrong direction, with the cost of housing and rent, inflation and rising costs, and government corruption listed as the top three issues. Sixty-three percent said they disapproved of the job Bissen had done to make Maui more affordable, and 50% said they disapproved of his work to reduce corruption. …

Tulchin did not respond to an inquiry as to who had requested and paid for the poll, which was posted on the website For a Better Tomorrow, a super PAC that spent heavily on political ads for the 2024 Maui County races in favor of candidates including Sugimura.

Sugimura said her campaign did not commission or fund the poll.

Another poll by Honolulu-based Ward Research surveyed 407 registered adult Maui County voters from March 23 to April 23 and found that Sugimura led with 46% to Bissen’s 35%, with 15% undecided and 5% saying neither. …

REALITY: Meet the Meth Gang Behind ‘Lahaina Strong’

REALITY: Sentry Tourney News: Free Private Jet to Green Bay for Bissen Admin Official?

Read … Polls show incumbent Bissen, challenger Sugimura dueling for top spot in 10-candidate mayoral primary race - Hawaii Journalism Initiative

Medicaid Fraud Enforcement: Clock is Ticking

SA: … In the next month, the state must demonstrate that it’s on a path toward improved enforcement against Medicaid fraud. A progress report like this would help safeguard a critical part of the social safety net….

In a statement from the office of Gov. Josh Green, state officials said they were assured that Hawaii’s Medicaid program was still in good standing and not in danger of losing Medicaid funds, which provided some immediate relief. But the state must hit some key marks in order to maintain that funding security.

A second letter from Bell laid out the process for the Hawaii fraud unit to regain certification, and access to the federal funds: Develop an action plan over the remaining few months of the fiscal year, which ends Sept. 30. If the state can demonstrate it has “remediated the compliance concerns,” the suspension of certification can be lifted.

To navigate toward that goal, Michael M. Purpura, an Army veteran and former federal prosecutor has been enlisted to lead Hawaii’s strike force. The governor’s office credits him with “expertise in complex investigations, fraud enforcement and coordination” with federal law enforcement agencies.

Purpura will need to lean on that background to diagnose the problems, which have been noted in three site reviews of the fraud unit since 2014. Among other flaws, findings included that few referrals for investigation were sent by the Medicaid agency here….

PDF: FULL TEXT OF HHS OIG LETTER June 4, 2026

PDF: SECOND LETTER June 4, 2026

Read … Editorial: Accelerate actions against Medicaid fraud | Honolulu Star-Advertiser

Skyline average daily ridership drops: Stuck below 12,000, about equal to one bus line

KHON: … In April, the total amount of monthly rides was 311,800. Weekly ridership averaged at ‘nearly’ 12,000, the Department of Transportation Services reported.

The day with the highest amount of rides was 13,983 on April 21.

State and city offices were closed on April 10 due to the severe weather conditions and had a 7,450 ridership.

Officials said on-time performance was rated at 99.02 percent for April.

The amount of rides for May increased from the previous month by almost 800 with a total of 312,588.

(CLUE: May has 31 days. April has 30.)

Weekly ridership averaged at 11,643 and May 6 was the day with the highest amount of rides at 12,315.

The last day of the University of Hawaii’s Spring 2026 semester had 11,381 rides.

Memorial Day, on May 25, saw a ridership of 7,332 ….

Oct 2025: Even on Fare-Free Weekend, Rail Ridership falls short of Blangiardi's 25,000 (11,879 on Thur Oct 16, 2025)
Feb 2026: After burning $10B, rail is roughly equal to a single bus line (11,798 weekday riders)
FLASHBACK: Remember 313,000? A look at HART's shifty ridership projections

Read … Skyline ridership averages more than 300K in April, May

Waters 3^rd Term: Will Voters Remember the 80% Pay Hike?

CB: … the controversial 64% raise he and his colleagues received in 2023 after he cleared the way for it to occur. Subsequent raises mean Waters now makes 80% more than he made in 2022…. Waters will also have to defend himself against political and legal challenges to his eligibility for the office. Council members are term-limited to two consecutive four-year terms, and Waters says his first term was slightly less than four years, making him eligible for another….

SA: 2024 House recount shows importance of every vote | Honolulu Star-Advertiser

Read … Honolulu Council: Powerful Incumbent Faces Challengers Old And New - Honolulu Civil Beat

ILWU Boss: Remember all those who were beaten and killed?

SA: … Makai Freitas, the new chair of the Hawaii Democratic Party and an incoming University of Hawaii regent, said Hawaii voters need to engage in the electoral process because “we’re in a pivotal time in our lives, across the world and especially here in Hawaii. You’ve got to get out there and make a difference.”

Freitas grew up in a union family and now works as the head of government affairs for the Hawaii Longshore Division of the International Longshore and Warehouse Union.

He wants voters to respect the sacrifices of prior generations of union members who were beaten and killed fighting for ~~their right to vote~~ (control of drugs and gambling) to be represented by labor unions.

Read … Primary elections unlikely to stir voter enthusiasm, turnout | Honolulu Star-Advertiser

HPD: Rade Vanic to be Lazar’s Assistant Chief?

SA: … Vanic has been working on the transition from his team to David Lazar, who was selected as the new police chief by the commission by a 5-2 vote on May 20. He hopes Lazar has a role for him on his leadership team but stands ready to lead in whatever capacity comes his way. Lazar is the first chief in the history of HPD to never work in Hawaii. Vanic said the most important part of the leadership transition is ensuring Lazar connects with the officers and the community….

Vanic believes connecting with the officers and civilian staff, learning Hawaii, it’s culture, and people are critical to fortifying the community’s trust in law enforcement….

Police Commission Chair Laurie Foster told the Star-Advertiser that Vanic has spent hours working with Lazar … to “get him up to speed to ensure a smooth transition.”

Foster said it is Lazar’s decision, but she would be “surprised” if Vanic is not a part of Lazar’s leadership team…

Blangiardi said the city needs Lazar to be a great success.

“We absolutely do not need a high-profile failure. You have somebody with Rade’s experience …with his detailed knowledge of the department, having him put his support behind Chief Lazar being successful is very important. I would hope that some of our senior-ranking officials (in HPD) would feel the same way,” he said.

Blangiardi thanked Vanic for making “one hell of an effort” to step up and demonstrate his leadership abilities….

Read … HPD’s interim chief ready for next chance to protect community | Honolulu Star-Advertiser

Solar is Diesel: Electricity Prices Fluctuate with Oil Price

SA: … A typical residential bill on Oahu is edging down 2.5% for June after a 14.4% increase in May that followed a 14% increase in April, according to Hawaiian Electric.

(TRANSLATION: Solar is diesel.)

On Kauai, the decrease for June is 3.9% after a 2.5% increase in May and a 12.2% increase in April, according to Kauai Island Utility Cooperative.

(TRANSLATION: Solar is diesel.)

For Maui County and Hawaii island where power is produced by Hawaiian Electric, June bills for typical residential customers are still higher because of the timing of oil purchases for power plants serving those neighbor island customers. But the utility company said Maui and Hawaii island bills may go down a bit in July and August with possible additional small decreases for Oahu if recent oil price trends continue.

(TRANSLATION: Solar is diesel.)

“If current trends hold, there may be some slight decreases in July and continuing to August, dropping (bills) between $10 to $15 depending on the island,” Darren Pai, a Hawaiian Electric spokesperson, said in a statement….

(TRANSLATION: Solar is diesel.)

Read … Many Hawaii electric bills dipping in June | Honolulu Star-Advertiser

Dying At Home Is Harder For Molokai Hospice Patients Stuck On Oʻahu

CB: … Decades of anti-development politics and activism have squashed Moloka’i’s economic growth, making it more difficult to recruit healthcare workers to the island of 7,400 residents, where housing is expensive and career options are narrow….

Even for those who hope Moloka’i stays this way, there are plenty of reasons to leave: a college degree, a good-paying job, a doctor appointment, a nursing home, even childbirth. Transportation on and off the island is limited to a single, generally unreliable airline….

Read … Dying At Home Is Harder For These Hospice Patients Stuck On Oʻahu - Honolulu Civil Beat

Hawaii eyes first foreign office in Ilocos Norte

PNA: … The State of Hawaii is eyeing to set up its first foreign office in Ilocos Norte province to boost trade and investment while strengthening global partnerships with Ilocanos.

Fresh from an official visit to Hawaii and California in the United States, Ilocos Norte Governor Cecilia Araneta-Marcos confirmed this on Monday, citing “this is unique for a U.S. state to establish an office outside its federal jurisdiction.”

To be known as the State of Hawaii Office in the Philippines-Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism, the office will be located at the newly constructed, government-owned Dap-ayan Center in the province, near the Ilocos Norte Capitol.

Read … Hawaii eyes first foreign office in Ilocos Norte | Philippine News Agency

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