Hawaii Daily News Read

Wednesday, October 21, 2026

October 21, 2026 News Read

By Andrew Walden @ 9:24 AM :: 191 Views

Complete Statewide List of General Election Voter Service Centers and Ballot Drop Boxes

Oil giants say Hawaii’s climate suit belongs with lawmakers

Hawaii Supreme Court to Hear Latest Anti-Hunting Elephant ‘Personhood’ Push

Honolulu: Price of Eggs Up 11%

Permitting Delays Kalaeloa Desalination Boondoggle

Another Day in the DoE: “It was well-known among the coaches and athletes that he was spending time alone with her”

HNN: … Former Moanalua High School head wrestling coach Sean Sakaida, 44, appeared in federal court Monday and pleaded not guilty to multiple federal charges, including child pornography and child sex trafficking.

The indictment alleges Sakaida communicated with a minor victim using WhatsApp between 2025 and 2026, sending multiple videos of him engaging in sexual acts with the teen.

Sakaida was also charged with enticing a second minor victim to engage in a commercial sex act.

A source with knowledge of the Moanalua High School wrestling team, who asked not to be identified, told Hawaii News Now the relationship between Sakaida and a teen athlete raised red flags, and that he allegedly gave her rides. “It was well-known among the coaches and athletes that he was spending time alone with her, taking her home after practices and after tournaments,” the source said….

On Tuesday, a Family Court judge granted a 20-year protection order against Sakaida requested by his ex-girlfriend and their children….

(TRANSLATION: This was exposed only because the gf blew the whistle because he was cheating on her.)

HNN asked the state Department of Education (DOE) if any current coaches or administrators are under review because of this case and is awaiting a response….

(CLUE: ‘No.’)

Yesterday, October 20, 2026: Child Sex Abuse: DoE Waiting to be Sued Again

read … Source: ‘No coach should be alone with a minor athlete’ | Hawaii News Now

Hawaii Legislative races where Republicans may make gains

SA: … Just about half of all seats in Hawaii’s Legislature are being contested by at least two candidates in the Nov. 3 general election…

Thirty-seven of the 76 legislative seats will be on the ballot, with more choices for voters picking between candidates in the House, where 31 of 51 seats are contested. In the 25-member Senate, occupants for six seats are being decided.

As always, incumbents typically have an advantage at winning and retaining their positions. But some close races are expected, and could result in upsets that put new lawmakers into the Legislature where Democrats dominate….

Rep. Joe Gedeon (R, Hawaii Kai-Kalama Valley) and Democratic challenger Jamie Wataru, a state-employed journeyman plumber and former Hawaii president of the (deeply corrupt) United Public Workers union….

…there’s also a ‘risk’ that the three-way race is ‘captured’ by Cochran if Patel and (the meth dealers’ son) Kiakona split too many votes from independents and Democrats….

In Leeward Oahu, Rep. Elijah Pierick (R, Royal Kunia-Waipahu-Honouliuli) is vacating his House seat to run for the Senate, and Moore anticipates a tight race to succeed Pierick.

This matchup in House District 39 features Democrat Corey Rosenlee, a public school teacher and former Hawaii State Teachers Association leader who lost to Pierick in each of the prior two elections, and Republican Danny Degracia, an ordained minister and unionized state Department of Health program specialist.

The general election also features two House rematches from past elections where Moore expects Republican incumbents to prevail. One involves Rep. Garner Shimizu (R, Moanalua-Aliamanu-Foster Village) defending his seat against Democrat Micah Aiu. In 2022, Aiu beat Shimizu. Then Shimizu beat Aiu in 2024.

In the other rematch, Rep. Julie Reyes Oda (R, Ewa Beach-Iroquois Point) faces Democrat Rose Martinez, who served one term before losing to Reyes Oda in 2024.

One last House race where Moore expects a potentially close finish is between incumbent Rep. Chris Muraoka (R, Waianae-Makaha) and Democrat Kalehua Kaopua, a mother of four….

The Senate seat at risk of being lost by Republicans in Moore’s view is to be vacated by Sen. Kurt Fevella (R, Ewa Beach-Ocean Pointe- Iroquois Point), who tied primary election challenger Bob McDermott, a Republican who served 16 years in the state House from 1996 to 2002 and from 2012 to 2022.

McDermott won a tie-breaking random draw to move onto the general election where he faces first-time Democratic candidate Markus Owens, a former University of Hawai‘i baseball player and game broadcast commentator….

One potential pickup for Republicans in the Senate is the seat sought by Pierick, who is challenging incumbent Sen. Rachele Lamosao (D, Pearl City-Waipahu-West Loch).

Lamosao was first elected to the Legislature in 2022 when she became a member of the House. In December, Gov. Josh Green appointed her to fill the Senate District 19 seat vacated by then-Sen. Henry Aquino, who resigned to become a lobbyist….

Another possible Republican pickup could be the Senate District 18 seat where Sen. Michelle Kidani (D, Mililani Town-Waipio Gentry-Royal Kunia) resigned on June 30 for health reasons….

read … Lopsided mix of Democrats, Republicans in Hawaii Legislature could shift | Honolulu Star-Advertiser

Bill 11: Will Council Shed Light on Secret Housing Subsidies?

SA: … In spite of opposition from Mayor Rick Blangiardi’s administration, a Honolulu City Council committee Tuesday advanced legislation requiring public disclosure of city incentives for affordable housing developers on Oahu.

The panel’s Housing, Homelessness and Parks Committee recommended a committee draft of Bill 11, which seeks greater transparency over publicly funded incentives for affordable housing projects, to receive a third and final reading by the full Council.

The next full Council meeting is scheduled for Nov. 5….

SA: Council to revisit housing incentives bill | Honolulu Star-Advertiser -- Bill 11 would require the city Department of Housing and Land Management to submit semiannual reports detailing incentives awarded, received, authorized or approved for affordable housing projects….

read … Council advances affordable housing transparency bill | Honolulu Star-Advertiser

Planned new Oahu jail being downsized

SA: … A smaller facility, which reduces the previously envisioned 1,000-bed jail’s roughly estimated $1.1 billion cost, is envisioned in conjunction with a tentative arrangement for DCR to lease 300 beds at the Federal Detention Center Honolulu, up from 100 currently.

Johnson told the House panel that a memorandum of agreement for such use is up for review by federal attorneys, and that availability of space is not an issue.

“The FDC has never been fully operational,” Johnson said, explaining that the high-rise complex that opened in 2001 can hold up to 1,100 detainees but currently houses about 300 and has never held more than 500.

Some operational changes that would need to be made with DCR’s added use of the federal facility include increasing medical staff and adding programs that OCCC provides, such as substance abuse treatment and academic education.

Johnson told members of the House Committee on Public Safety that private consultants and the state Department of Accounting and General Services involved with design work on the new jail have not yet determined how much less an 800-bed facility might cost.

DCR intends to seek $287.5 million as part of its budget request to lawmakers during the next legislative session, which begins in January, to pay for some of the construction….

read … Planned new Oahu jail being downsized | Honolulu Star-Advertiser

HPD reevaluates shuffle of 100 officers after pushback

SA: … The Honolulu Police Department is reevaluating its planned Nov. 1 reassignment of 100 officers to bolster patrol staffing after community backlash over the shutdown of the Junior Police Officer program, Police Activities League, and other initiatives.

In a statement to the Honolulu Star-Advertiser, HPD officials did not say if the JPO and PAL programs would be saved permanently or how the Nov. 1 reassignment of officers to patrol would change….

read … HPD reevaluates shuffle of 100 officers after pushback | Honolulu Star-Advertiser

Honolulu's New Police Chief Unveils 5-Year Plan — And Wants Your Input

CB: … Members of the public can submit feedback on the department’s strategic plan through Oct. 29. …

read … Honolulu's New Police Chief Unveils 5-Year Plan — And Wants Your Input - Honolulu Civil Beat

Plea deal in the works for former Kamehameha Schools employee accused of stealing $360k

HNN: … A plea deal is reportedly in the works for Zachary Heltz, 32, who allegedly stole more than $360,000 from Kamehameha Schools….

read … Plea deal in the works for former Kamehameha Schools employee accused of stealing $360k

Lines Drawn In Princeville Battle: Golf Course Views Vs. Luxury Development

CB: … Cops have been called, lawsuits have been filed and a global investment company is trying to secure more seats on the community association’s board to help push its housing proposal through….

read … Lines Drawn In Princeville Battle: Golf Course Views Vs. Luxury Development

‘We can’t manage much longer’; PUC holds meeting regarding broken Punalu‘u water system

HTH: … The Punalu‘u Water and Sanitation company is under scrutiny from the Hawaii Public Utilities Commission and its customers after failing to restore water access and wastewater treatment services following damage from Hurricane Lala – leaving the approximately 100 condominiums in its service area without drinking water or flushable toilets….

read … ‘We can’t manage much longer’; PUC holds meeting regarding broken Punalu‘u water system | Hawaii Tribune-Herald

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