July 17, 2026 News Read > Hawaii Free Press

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Friday, July 17, 2026

July 17, 2026 News Read
By Andrew Walden @ 11:41 AM :: 176 Views

UPDATE: AG Investigators "work toward completing" bribery investigation

Soft on Crime: Lifelong Criminal Busted Again in $1.2M Fraud

Kauai CASPER Survey Results

Green Vetoes One, Line-item Another

Soft on Crime Hawaii Supreme Court Gives Maui Rapist a Second Chance

Hidden in Plain Sight: Aloha Stadium Will be on November Ballot

CB: … The law appropriating the $350 million included a drop-dead date of June 30, 2024. No contract was signed by then. By the statute’s plain language, the money is gone….

Facing financing issues, the project has turned to unconventional funding. A 2025 bill would have allowed casino gambling on site. Carr warned that the gap had grown to $550 million and that without casino revenue, AHDP might “walk away.” It didn’t pass.

A 2026 bill allowing digital outdoor signage, called “a vital step” for viability by the Stadium Authority, also failed.

One financing idea took a step forward, although property taxpayers may not welcome it. It combines Tax Increment Financing and Community Facilities District bonds, under which the City and County of Honolulu would issue bonds for infrastructure, which would be repaid through increased property taxes from the Stadium District site.

This requires a constitutional amendment, which will be decided by voters at the next general election, then uncertain county approval. The concept is troubling because the Stadium District would receive county police and fire services without contributing to the tax base that funds them, meaning everyone else who pays property tax would subsidize those services.

Through it all, the public has been kept in the dark. No stadium design, no disclosed contract terms, no accounting of whether AHDP has financing in place for a deal that is already more than a year overdue.….

Read … It’s Time To Re-Envision The Aloha Stadium District - Honolulu Civil Beat

The $30K Question: Will Waikiki-McCully-Moiliili HD24 Democratic primary Voters Dump Tam?

HNN: … In the Democratic primary for House District 24, covering Waikiki, McCully and Moiliili, challenger Bulla Eastman is facing incumbent Rep. Adrian Tam. Eastman received a sudden wave of support from Texas billionaire Douglas Scharbauer, who also owns thoroughbred racehorses.

Hawaii Campaign Spending Commission documents show Scharbauer and the Patriot Action Political Action Committee spent $30,000 on ads supporting Eastman at a local media outlet….

Read … Texas billionaire money flows into Waikiki Democratic primary race | Hawaii News Now

Hawaii to DOJ on election help: No thanks

SA: … In a response letter on Tuesday, Deputy Solicitor General Thomas Hughes at the state Department of the Attorney General, declined the offer.

“At this time, we have no reason to believe that any discussion or assistance is necessary to ensure Hawaii’s compliance with federal law,” Hughes wrote. “As with every election, the State of Hawaii and its election officials will continue following every applicable federal and state law.”

The response letter from Hughes also said, “Having served as Hawaii’s Chief Election Officer for over 16 years, Mr. Nago is well aware of the federal laws cited in the letter and its attached memorandum, including the legal obligations those laws impose on him, the Hawaii Office of Elections, and local election officials in Hawaii. … If you have specific information about any violation of federal or state law, we encourage you to bring it to our attention.”

Under the U.S. Constitution, states carry out elections. Under federal and state law, it is illegal for noncitizens to vote or register to vote, and there have been no widespread substantiated instances of noncitizens voting in Hawaii, where state law requires people who register to sign an affidavit stating under penalty of a felony that they are a U.S. citizen as well as a Hawaii resident and at least 18 years old.

President Donald Trump claims that noncitizens voting in elections have produced “massive” cheating and are part of “rigged” elections.

The seven-page letters to top election officers in states follow attempts by the Trump administration to obtain state voter lists and to prohibit the U.S. Postal Service from delivering ballots by mail unless it receives lists of eligible voters derived from data compiled by federal agencies — two initiatives held up in federal court.

On Thursday, Trump said in a public address that the Department of Homeland Security identified about 278,000 noncitizens on registered voter rolls around the country, and that the “real number” is much higher because six states led by Democrats, including Hawaii, refused to share voter roll information….

VIDEO: President Trump Delivers an Address to the Nation, Jul. 16, 2026

Trump brings full weight of government to bolster false election claims | Honolulu Star-Advertiser

What Trump’s newly declassified documents do – and don’t – say about threats to US elections | News | kitv.com

Hawaii Congressional members react to President Trump’s address on election security | Politics | kitv.com

Hawaii officials defend local election security | Election 2026 | Hawaii News Now

Read … Hawaii to DOJ on election help: No thanks | Honolulu Star-Advertiser

Belatti Files Campaign Spending Report A Week Late

CB: … Kristie Cruz Chang, the campaign spending commission’s associate director, confirmed that the Belatti campaign worked with her office to fix the problem. As of Thursday, she said the campaign “was still indicating there is a glitch.”

But Chang said she saw no evidence that the technical problem might have occurred on her end. Chang also said that no other campaign reported a filing challenge.

Belatti’s report, which covers Jan. 1 through June 30, shows her receiving $28,615 in contributions. But Belatti did not officially enter the race for lieutenant governor until May 28, when she dropped her bid for Hawaiʻi’s 1st Congressional District.

In her joint appearance with Kawakami on the HNN Spotlight program Tuesday — the only time the two candidates are expected to face each other before the Aug. 8 primary — Belatti faulted Kawakami for not returning a $15,000 contribution from Milton Choy, a Honolulu businessman convicted of bribing state and county officials who died in federal custody in January 2024….

Read … Belatti Files Campaign Spending Report A Week Late - Honolulu Civil Beat

Crackdown on illegal game rooms includes arrests, millions in fines and liens

HNN: … New laws that took effect last year are targeting property owners who allow illegal game rooms to operate, hitting them with daily fines and liens.

That, combined with law enforcement efforts, have resulted in 30 game rooms being raided so far this year by Honolulu police officers. Four individuals have been arrested and charged with gambling-related crimes, and 451 devices have been seized.

On the civil side, Honolulu’s Department of Planning and Permitting has targeted 34 properties under the new laws, involving violations for building, zoning, electrical, and housing codes.

In total, DPP has issued approximately 50 violation notices across these properties. Of those, 14 have advanced to notices of order, because the violations were not corrected.

Altogether about $6.65 million in fines have been levied, with more accruing each day.

So far, only $13,000 have been collected but Honolulu City Council member Tyler Dos Santos-Tam said it is progress. Liens have also been placed on some properties.

“Using these tools, they’ve been able to shut down and keep these game rooms shut down,” Dos Santos-Tam said….

To report illegal gambling, call the Narcotics/Vice 24-hour hotline at (808) 723-3933 or use the online form: rb.gy/4066m5

KITV: Jury indicts man in connection with 2024 game room bust in Haleiwa | Crime & Courts | kitv.com

Read … Crackdown on illegal game rooms includes arrests, millions in fines and liens | HNN Investigates | Hawaii News Now

Hawaii businesses weigh 'no guns' signs after court ruling

KHON: … Jewel or Juice, owner Geri Hirata said she’s not for or against guns, and won’t be putting up any “no guns allowed” signs.

She said business is already tough with rising costs for goods and labor.

“We try to welcome everybody,” said Hirata.

“We wouldn’t try to keep anybody out in general, whether there’s guns or not but hopefully again, main thing is safety. So hope everyone would be safe.” …

KITV: 'No Guns' signs policy now up to Hawaii businesses after court ruling | News | kitv.com

Read … Hawaii businesses weigh 'no guns' signs after court ruling

Hawaii governor signs ‘clean’ fuel standard into law

EPM: … The bill, S.B. 2999, requires the Hawaii Department of Transportation to adopt rules creating a CFS by Jan. 1, 2028, and implement those rules by Jan. 1, 2029. The CFS aims to phase in CI reductions, achieving a reduction of no less than 10% below 2019 levels by 2035 and ramping up to at least a 50% CI reduction by 2045. The Hawaii DOT is tasked with setting specific annual CI reduction standards.

Information released by the governor’s office explains that the new CFS aims to encourage innovation without mandating any single technology. The performance-based system gives way to public engagement, regular reporting and stakeholder input to ensure accountability throughout the development of the program.

The CFC will be crafted as a credit-based system where alternative fuel that have a CI score below the annual CI standard generate a credit and diesel or gasoline that have a CI score above the annual CI standard generate a deficit. Gasoline, diesel and other fuels used by aircraft, railroad locomotives, military vehicles and interstate waterborne vessels would be exempt from the program. These exempt end-users, however, could opt into the CFS to generate credits for the use of alternative fuels.

Under the bill, lifecycle greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions will be calculated using the most recent version of the U.S. Department of Energy’s GREET model. The technology-neutral program defines alternative fuel as any fuel that is not fossil fuel-based and is used for transportation purposes.

Read … Hawaii governor signs clean fuel standard into law | Ethanol Producer Magazine

City Council urges review of rising energy costs

SA: … According to the resolution, the city Department of Budget and Fiscal Services estimates electricity and fuel costs across the general, highway, sewer and transportation funds will increase by about 25% during the fiscal year that began July 1 compared with the previous fiscal year.

The measure also cites testimony from the city Department of Transportation Services during the Council’s May budget hearings concerning fuel prices that have risen by about $1.40 per gallon, for the roughly 5 million gallons the department consumes annually. That increase, according to the resolution, adds an estimated $7 million in costs….

Read … City Council urges review of rising energy costs | Honolulu Star-Advertiser

Twenty Years to Fix a Tennis Court?

CB: … The tennis court at Herbert Shipman Park in Kea‘au is dull, cracking and growing weeds. The county has had it on its to-do list for at least the past four years but still hasn’t gotten around to it.

Mountain View resident Holly Zimmerman, who has been using the park for over 20 years, said the courts have been in disrepair for as long as she can remember.

“I would like to see the county move faster,” she said. “I don’t see why we can’t.”

Read … Crumbling Big Island Tennis Court Has Needed Repaving For Years - Honolulu Civil Beat

103 Former Lahaina Residents Come Back for a Visit

HNN: … More than 100 former Lahaina residents are being flown back to Maui this weekend for the Lahaina Homecoming, a three-day celebration focused on healing, reconnection and hope for the future.

Some families arrived Thursday morning at Kahului Airport, where community members gathered to welcome them as they deplaned from Hawaiian Airlines and Alaska Airlines flights.

Chaunsey Chen was born and raised in Lahaina but now lives in Oregon with her family.

Her family home burned down in the 2023 disaster, and she is among the 103 former residents being flown in for the event….

Read … Lahaina Homecoming event flies more than 100 former residents back to Maui | Hawaii News Now

Maui County adopts new accessory dwelling rules to expand housing opportunities

MN: … Maui County has adopted new rules that allow qualifying residentially zoned properties to build up to two accessory dwellings, also known as ʻohana units, in addition to a primary residence….

Read … Maui County adopts new accessory dwelling rules to expand housing opportunities : Maui Now

15 Waianae homeless holdouts could be removed any day

SA: … For the 15 others who were issued trespass warnings last week, “They may be escorted out personally, or we may conduct the removals in coordination with the demolition of structures, which will take place gradually throughout the summer,” Andrew Laurence, communications director for the state Department of Land and Natural Resources, wrote in a statement to the Honolulu Star-Advertiser.

“Demolitions must be carefully planned,” Laurence wrote. “Some of the non-POW (Pu‘uhonua O Wai‘anae) encampments are interspersed with camps of POW members who are awaiting the ~~completion~~ (installation) of their new housing units at the mauka ‘Farm Village’ (built by magic Chinese elves) as part of the phased move-out authorized by the State Board of Land and Natural Resources at its March 27, 2026, meeting.”

The boat harbor encampment was erected around anchialine pools that are home to a rare, half-inch-long “Waianae lineage” of red shrimp that live in the water-filled sinkholes.

“Some of these encampments were set up near the anchialine pools, so DLNR and its Division of Aquatic Resources are working on plans to perform demolition work in these sensitive areas,” Laurence wrote. “Big machinery cannot be used in those areas.”

Once residents and contractors using heavy equipment clear out and clean up the boat harbor, DLNR plans to restrict access to the anchialine pools but plans to use them for cultural and environmental education.

There were as many as 250 homeless people living in Pu‘uhonua O Wai‘anae in 2018 while then-Gov. David Ige was considering sweeping the encampment as Hawaii had America’s highest per capita rate of homelessness.

But Pu‘uhonua O Wai‘anae’s late leader, Twinkle Borge, helped create a nonprofit organization, Dynamic Community Solutions, which has raised $12 million to build permanent homes for the mauka community to house as many as 250 residents in their own permanent homes….

Read … 15 Waianae homeless holdouts could be removed any day | Honolulu Star-Advertiser

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