Judge in a bribery case against Honolulu's former top prosecutor is suddenly recusing himself
A month before the start of a trial against Honoluluโs former top prosecutor for allegedly taking campaign donation bribes in exchange for prosecuting an employee of an engineering and architectural firm, the judge who has been presiding over the case for several years is unexpectedly recusing himself.
Hawaii economists say Lahaina locals could be priced out of rebuilt town without zoning changes
Economists in Hawaii warn that residents who survived the wildfire that destroyed much of the Maui community of Lahaina might not be able to afford to live there after it is rebuilt unless officials alter the zoning laws and make other changes.
Beach birth: Hawaii blocks some Waikiki sands for seal pup
The birth this week of an endangered seal at Hawaiiโs most popular tourism hubs highlights the tension between protecting the islandsโ fragile ecosystems and maintaining access to the pristine white-sand beaches that attract millions of visitors each year.
Dirty money: Ex-lawmaker gets 2 years for cesspool bribes
A former Hawaii lawmaker has been sentenced to two years in prison in a federal corruption case thatโs drawn attention to a perennial problem in the islands: the tens of thousands of cesspools that release 50 million gallons of raw sewage into the stateโs pristine waters every day.
Prosecutors: 2 Hawaii lawmakers took bribes to steer bills
Federal prosecutors say a Hawaii state senator and a state representative took bribes including cash, hotel rooms and casino chips in exchange for shaping legislation that would benefit a company involved in publicly financed cesspool conversion projects.
Hawaii gets tourism surge as coronavirus rules loosen up
When quarantine rules were put in place early in the pandemic, arrivals plummeted and the state's tourism-dependent economy tanked. In October, state officials launched a pre-travel testing program that allowed visitors to sidestep quarantine rules. With a few exceptions, people in Hawaii are still required to wear masks while in public. โI think weโre all going to have to be prepared for a potential surge in tourism,โ said Hawaii state Rep. Scott Saiki, a Democrat. โThese banners provide a tool to help Honolulu Police officers do their jobs in gaining compliance with COVID-19 rules,โ Sakahara said.
Kevin Na has a big finish and wins the Sony Open
Chris Kirk putts on the 13th green during the third round at the Sony Open golf tournament Saturday, Jan. 16, 2021, in Honolulu. Na finished one shot ahead of Joaquin Niemann and Chris Kirk, and only one of them got a consolation prize. Niemann chipped in for birdie from 55 feet on the par-3 17th and got up-and-down with a long bunker shot on the 18th hole for a 66. Needing nearly 150 FedEx Cup points at the Sony Open, his tie for second was worth 245 points. He looked comfortable even when the Sony Open appeared to be slipping away.
Steele takes lead with 61 to get another chance in Sony Open
Brendan Steele lines up his putt on the ninth green during the third round at the Sony Open golf tournament Saturday, Jan. 16, 2021, in Honolulu. (AP Photo/Marco Garcia)HONOLULU โ Brendan Steele knows he can play well at the Sony Open whether it's windy or calm, in sunshine or rain. One year after Steele lost a late lead at Waialae and lost in a playoff, he delivered the lowest score of his career Saturday in ideal conditions with a 9-under 61 that gave him a two-shot lead going into the final round. โYou hope that you come back and you play well and erase whatever negative memories there are,โ Steele said. It was wide open on Saturday, and it's not likely to be any different in the final round.
Stewart Cink, Webb Simpson share early lead at Sony Open
Stewart Cink follows his shot from the first tee box during the second round of the Sony Open golf tournament Friday, Jan. 15, 2021, at Waialae Country Club in Honolulu. (AP Photo/Jamm Aquino)HONOLULU โ Stewart Cink could not remember a more ideal day in Hawaii, and he had a round that matched the occasion. Enjoying a surge in the twilight of his career, the 47-year-old Cink putted for birdie on all but one hole Friday on his way to a 7-under 63 that gave him a share of the early lead with Webb Simpson. Cink already won the season-opener in the Safeway Open in September, his first victory since the 2009 British Open at Turnberry. Simpson holed a 40-foot birdie putt on the par-3 seventh hole, hit it tight on No.
Niemann finishes with eagle and shares the lead at Sony Open
(AP Photo/Jamm Aquino)HONOLULU โ Joaquin Niemann had no regrets about the 18th hole at the Sony Open. โSpent a few days thinking about that last hole, but taking all the positives from the week and pull it out for this week.โThey weren't easy days for Niemann. The 22-year-old from Chile is still too young to have experienced the inevitable losses that pile up in this sport. Niemann's only bogey was when he fell asleep on a 25-foot birdie putt above the hole at No. We talked for an hour about the whole tournament, not for that 18th hole.
Lava spatters, flows inside crater of Hawaii volcano
This Monday, Dec. 28, 2020, photo released by the U.S. Geological Survey shows continuing eruption of Hawaii's Kilauea volcano. Geological Survey via AP)HONOLULU โ Lava spattered and flowed over the weekend inside the crater of a Hawaii volcano that began erupting in December. The Hawaiian Volcano Observatory said the lava is confined to the summit crater of Kilauea, the Honolulu Star-Advertiser reported Sunday. Vents on the northwest side of the crater spattered Saturday while erupting lava flowed through crusted-over channels into a lava lake that has formed in the crater. A small island of cooler, solidified lava floated in the lava lake, rising about 20 feet (6 meters) above the surface, scientists said.
Hawaii volcano gushes lava from vents in summit crater
Lava is rising more than 3 feet per hour in the deep crater of a Hawaii volcano that began erupting over the weekend. The U.S. Geological Survey says Kilauea volcano within Hawaii Volcanoes National Park on the Big Island was gushing molten rock from at least two vents inside its summit crater. Kilauea volcano began spurting lava Sunday after two years of relative silence. About 700 homes were destroyed when lava surged through volcanic vents in a residential neighborhood during the last year of that episode. The lava bursting out of the ground during the latest eruption is contained within Halemaumau, a massive crater within Hawaii Volcanoes National Park.
Volcano erupts on Hawaii's Big Island, draws crowds to park
In this photo provided by the National Park Service, people watch an eruption from Hawaii's Kilauea volcano on the Big Island on Sunday, Dec. 20, 2020. In the first hours of the eruption, lava mixed rapidly with water in the summit's crater lake to create steam. The water was the first ever recorded in the summit crater of Kilauea volcano. Hawaii Volcanoes National Park spokeswoman Jessica Ferracane said in a telephone interview that the volcanic activity is a risk to people in the park and that caution is needed. Last night's eruption was contained to the summit caldera within the national park.
Hawaii certifies Biden's win of state's presidential vote
HONOLULU โ Hawaii on Tuesday certified the results of its presidential vote after the state Supreme Court dismissed an elections complaint challenging the entirety of the Nov. 3 general election in the islands. President-elect Joe Biden won 63.1% of Hawaiiโs vote, compared to President Donald Trumpโs 34%, according to the final summary report from the state Office of Elections. The pending court case had held up certification of the presidential vote for more than two weeks. The plaintiffs alleged the stateโs non-partisan Office of Elections violated state law when they implemented the stateโs new vote-by-mail system this year. Hawaiiโs elections are administered by the Office of Elections, a state agency that reports to the bipartisan Hawaii State Elections Commission.
Police: Couple flew to Hawaii despite positive COVID tests
HONOLULU โ A couple were arrested at a Hawaii airport after traveling from the U.S. mainland despite knowing they were infected with COVID-19, authorities said. The couple took a COVID-19 test in Seattle after returning from abroad, police said, then received their positive results while flying between Seattle and San Francisco. โOfficials notified the couple of positive test results and directed them to isolate.โBut the two, who had a layover in San Francisco, decided to continue on to Hawaii over the weekend. โThey knowingly boarded a flight aware of their positive COVID-19 test results, placing the passengers of the flight in danger of death,โ Kauai police said. Effective Wednesday, all travelers to Kauai must spend 14 days in quarantine regardless of whether they obtain a negative COVID-19 test.
Hawaii seeks to be seen as a remote workplace with a view
A group of Hawaii leaders is trying to attract more people like Matsui to work remotely in Hawaii during the pandemic. (Ashley McCue via AP)HONOLULU โ Software engineer Raymond Berger begins his work day at 5 a.m., before the sun comes up over Hawaii. Lifelong Kauai resident Jonathon Medeiros felt uncomfortable when he saw an airline ad luring remote workers to Hawaii. Many Hawaii neighborhoods are overrun with illegal short-term vacation rentals, and having those properties occupied legally by longer-term tenants is appealing, said Ryan Ozawa, communications director for local tech company, Hawaii Information Service. โWe want to do our part in keeping Hawaii safe.โWhile the Millers plan to stay four to six months, others are looking at Hawaii as a longer-term remote workplace.
Long wait for Hawaii vote spurs call for more voter centers
FILE - In this Nov. 3, 2020, file photo, a long line of people waiting to vote stretches around City Hall on Election Day, in Honolulu. Voter advocates say Hawaii should set up more voter service centers after a last-minute surge of voter interest led to hours-long lines for in-person voting on Election Day even as the state shifted to a vote-by-mail system for casting ballots. Overall, the stateโs vote-by-mail election appears to have been a big success, leading to record numbers of voters participating. The law also gives voters the option to vote in person at voter service centers, where people may also register to vote or get help with casting a ballot. Ma said people waited between two to four hours on Tuesday at the two voter centers on Oahu, an island with about 549,000 registered voters.
US surgeon general to plead not guilty in Hawaii virus case
Surgeon General Jerome Adams said Wednesday that his client, who is charged with illegally entering a Hawaii public park that was closed because of the coronavirus, will plead not guilty. The rural park offers a view of the famed Mokolii island, also known as Chinamanโs Hat for its cone shape. Adams told a police officer who cited him that he was visiting Hawaii to work with Gov. Honolulu Mayor Kirk Caldwell had closed them at the time to try to prevent crowding that could spread the virus. Itโs important that we all do the right things right now, even if we donโt feel we are personally at risk.โ
Lives Lost: Hawaii football coach who prepped kids for life
A Honolulu community is mourning the loss of Talamoa, a mentor, football coach and father figure who died after contracting COVID-19. (Ke'ala Aki via AP)HONOLULU โ Honolulu football coach Willie Talamoa bought his players cleats, drove them to practice and often stayed late to talk with those having trouble in school. โNext thing you know, the kidโs asking to try out for the football team,โ Aki said. If Millare was slacking in school, Talamoa prodded him to do better. โI can hear him honking his horn and thatโs a sign for me to know, โOh, Coach Willie is here.
Tourists return to Hawaii amid ever-changing pandemic rules
Coronavirus weary residents and struggling business owners in Hawaii will be watching closely as tourists begin to return to the islands on Thursday without having to self-quarantine upon arrival. The new testing program is an effort to stem the devastating downturn the pandemic has had on Hawaiiโs tourism-based economy. But gaps in the pre-travel testing program coupled with increasing cases of COVID-19 across the U.S. have raised questions about whether Hawaii is ready to safely welcome back vacationers. David Ige on Wednesday to talk about a new restaurant debit card that will give some unemployed Hawaii residents a $500 to spend at local restaurants over the next 60 days. โThis second test upon arrival to Hawaii island will provide an extra layer of protection for our community," said Big Island Mayor Harry Kim in a statement Monday.
Pearl Harbor shooting probe finds mental health care flaws
The Navy said Tuesday, Sept. 29, 2020, its investigation into a shooting at Pearl Harbor last December was unable to determine what caused a submarine sailor to kill two civilian workers before fatally shooting himself. Romero was assigned to the USS Columbia submarine, which was in dry dock at the Pearl Harbor Naval Shipyard at the time of the Dec. 4 shooting. The report singled out shortcomings by the submarine force's mental health program, which diagnosed Romero with โphase of life problems.โ Romero met with a licensed provider at the program's Pearl Harbor clinic once. A forensic psychiatrist who reviewed Romero's case for the investigation said Romero showed signs of an undiagnosed mental disorder. The psychiatrist said the most probable diagnoses for Romero, in order of likelihood, were as follows: autistic spectrum disorder, attention deficit and hyperactivity disorder, social anxiety disorder, personality disorder, anxiety disorder, depressive disorder and adjustment disorder.
Hawaii to allow travelers to skip quarantine with virus test
David Ige said Wednesday that starting Oct. 15, travelers arriving from out of state may bypass a 14-day quarantine requirement if they test negative for COVID-19. Travelers will have to take the test within 72 hours before their flight arrives in the islands. Earlier this year Ige planned to start a pre-travel testing program on Aug. 1 only to have to postpone it as COVID-19 cases spiked on the U.S. mainland and in Hawaii. Hawaii leaders are hopeful that pre-travel testing will encourage people to return to a Hawaii in a way that keeps residents safe. โI want to emphasize that this pre-travel testing will allow us to add a greater element of safety for travel into our state,โ Ige said at a news conference.
Kahele wins Hawaii Democratic primary for Congress
FILE -- In this Jan. 15, 2020 file photo, is state Sen. Kai Kahele at the opening day of the Hawaii Sate Legislature in Honolulu. Kahele is favored to win the Democratic Partys nomination to represent Hawaiis 2nd Congressional District in the primary election. The seat is currently held by U.S. Rep. Tulsi Gabbard, a Democrat who decided not to run for reelection so she could focus on her presidential campaign, which was ultimately unsuccessful. (AP Photo/Audrey McAvoy, File)