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September 5, 2025 News Read
By Andrew Walden @ 7:33 PM :: 1419 Views

More Lawsuits to Challenge Kamehameha Schools Admissions Policy?

DBEDT: More Slow Growth for Hawaii

Hawaii Joins Anti-anti-vaxxer Alliance with California, Oregon, and Washington

Feds, State Cooperate in Labor Trafficking Bust

Will Feds Shut Down Hawaii ‘Stop-Big-Oil’ Suits?

NYT: … The Trump administration is escalating its attacks on “polluter pays” laws and lawsuits that try to force fossil fuel companies’ (customers) to help cover the (illusory) costs of (illusory) climate change.

There are dozens of these legal fights playing out nationwide. They have become increasingly significant as the Trump administration weakens federal efforts to ~~fight~~ (spread) global warming (hysteria).

The latest move came Friday, when the Justice Department asked a judge to permanently block New York state from enacting its new Climate Change Superfund Act, a law requiring oil companies to pay billions of dollars to fund (make-work) projects to ~~protect against intensifying~~ (peddled by hucksters who falsely claim that) heat, floods, wildfires and other damage (come) from climate change.

“New York has declared war on those responsible for supplying our nation with reliable and affordable energy,” lawyers for the Justice Department wrote ….

(QUESTION: Hawaii next?)

The Justice Department had sued New York over its law this year, and also Vermont, the only other state with a climate superfund law. Similar laws have been proposed in California, Maryland, Massachusetts and New Jersey.

In other actions, the Justice Department this year also took aim at Hawaii and Michigan with a highly unusual legal tactic: It preemptively sued both of those states to try to prevent them from suing oil companies.

Many legal experts were especially taken aback by these two lawsuits, which represented a particularly unorthodox attempt to stop the growing number of suits filed by state and local governments. Suing to block another party from suing is an extraordinary move.

It may not have gone as planned. Hawaii filed its lawsuit the very next day, while Michigan’s attorney general vowed not to “be bullied” as she decides whether to do so. In the Hawaii lawsuit, the state alleges that BP, Chevron, Exxon Mobil and other companies covered up what they knew about climate change and should help bear the costs of the resulting damage. Numerous other states and communities have filed similar lawsuits.

The defendants have asked the court to stop the proceedings while the Justice Department’s lawsuit unfolds.

When the suit was announced, Gov. Josh Green of Hawaii said that it was about “shifting the costs of surviving the climate crisis back where they belong, and protecting Hawaii citizens.” The complaint noted the state’s vulnerability to flooding and the increased risk of blazes like the deadly 2023 Maui wildfires.

Theodore J. Boutrous, Jr. a lawyer for Chevron, said that Hawaii’s lawsuit “ignores that Hawaii is the most petroleum-dependent state in the country,” according to federal data, and noted that a state law deems adequate supplies of petroleum “essential” for the health and safety of its population. Elise Otten, a spokesperson for Exxon Mobil, struck a similar note, calling Hawaii’s suit “a real head scratcher” because of the state’s reliance on petroleum-powered ships to import goods….

read … Inside Trump’s unorthodox climate attacks in courts nationwide - Hawaii Tribune-Herald

PGA Tour Cancelled? Bissen orders Water Dumped Down Streambeds instead of watering golf course

SA: … The Sentry is scheduled to be played at Kapalua Golf’s Plantation Course Jan. 8-11. The PGA Tour has started its season on Maui for 27 years and funnels an estimated $50 million annually into the local economy.

In January, Hideki Matsuyama won The Sentry, breaking the PGA Tour record for 72 holes by shooting a 35-under 257, breaking by one the 34-under par by Cameron Smith set at Kapalua in 2022.

The Kapalua Plantation and Bay courses closed Tuesday for two months while groundskeepers attempt to revive and repair the grass.

In a statement to the Honolulu Star-Advertiser, the PGA Tour said it is closely monitoring the ongoing water conservation requirements affecting Kapalua Resort.

“We are engaged with our partners at Sentry Insurance, Kapalua Resort, Maui County and the State of Hawaii to assess any potential impact on staging The Sentry at The Plantation Course in January,” said Rachel Noble, manager of golf communications for the PGA. “We will provide updates as appropriate.”

TY Management, the Honolulu-based business of Japanese billionaire Tadashi Yanai, alleges that its Kapalua Golf operations were told Saturday that Maui Land & Pineapple’s irrigation system reverted from “Tier 2 restrictions” that allows 60% of normal irrigation at the course, back to “Tier 4” which shuts irrigation water off completely.

Kapalua stopped irrigation starting Aug. 29 and golf course groundskeepers have not watered since, according to the company.

“We warned previously that another Tier 4 shutdown would be devastating to turfgrass already depleted from months without irrigation. With the course’s recovery already uncertain under Tier 2, a second forced dormancy makes preparing the Plantation Course to PGA TOUR standards for January even more painstaking and tenuous,” read the statement.

MLP has said it is navigating a historic West Maui drought by adhering to the guidance from the Commission on Water Resources Management to prioritize stream flow and traditional and customary uses, followed by delivery to the County of Maui to provide drinking water for Lahaina….

PDF: COMPLAINT

May 2025: Bissen names Meth Dealer’s Son to Maui County Board of Water Supply

May 2025: Missing Meth Money a Conflict of Interest for Bissen Appointee?

Aug 2025: Kapalua Sues Maui Land & Pineapple Over West Maui Water Shortage

MN: Kapalua golf course without irrigation for 7 days under worsening water restrictions | News, Sports, Jobs - Maui News

read … Water restrictions put starting of 2026 PGA Tour in question | Honolulu Star-Advertiser

Katherine Kealoha’s Drug-Dealer brother gets ‘compassionate release’

HNN: … Convicted Big Island pain management doctor Rudy Puana was granted compassionate release by a federal judge Wednesday morning.

Puana, 53, recently had surgery to remove a tumor, but no other details about his condition were revealed during the hearing.

His attorney, Andrew Kennedy, said Puana was moved to a rehabilitation center and medical staff determined that he doesn’t need to be there for long.

But Kennedy told the court they didn’t want him going back to prison, because “you could have the risk of infection.”

Puana has been in a low-security federal prison in Littleton, Colorado. His release date was originally set for September 2027.

He would have been eligible to move to a halfway house as soon as next month, and that played a role in the judge’s decision.

Retired federal public defender Alexander Silvert said compassionate release is unusual, and Puana’s illness didn’t actually fit the legal definition.

“It’s supposed to be terminal or long term and unable to be cured. In this case, it’s probably given the shortness of time that Mr. Puana has before he goes to the halfway house,” said Silvert…

read … Convicted doctor wins bid for compassionate release after tumor removal

Counties advance resolution for cruise ship tax agreement

HTH: … Hawaii County Council’s committee on governmental operations and external affairs has approved a resolution allowing Mayor Kimo Alameda to join an agreement with the state to implement a new statewide tax on cruise ship fares.

The resolution, which also involves the counties of Kauai, Maui, and Honolulu, authorizes the mayor to enter an intergovernmental agreement to carry out Act 96, signed into law by Gov. Josh Green in May. The law subjects gross rental proceeds from cruise ship fares to the state’s transient accommodations tax….

read … County committee advances resolution for cruise ship tax agreement - Hawaii Tribune-Herald

County likely to delay STVR registration law until March

HTH: … There have been three separate bills introduced attempting to regulate vacation rentals in Hawaii County. Of these, only one was adopted — related to accessory dwelling units — bringing the county into compliance with a new state law requiring at least two accessory dwelling units on residentially zoned property. However, the county was not successful in adopting the regulations specifically for STVRs….

Kierkiewicz also noted that the Planning Department is not yet in a position to implement the registration process. The county will amend the code to push the effective date to March 2026.

Kimball said, “I have a bill in review that would amend the ordinance, including the effective date to the end of March. To be clear that has not been passed yet so as of right now, the effective date is still December, but the proposal is to extend that out with this new bill that is still being drafted.”

“We are still getting a lot of questions for folks that are operating hosted rentals and we just want to make sure that it’s clear that folks that operate hosted rentals are not impacted by ordinance 50, other than that they will now need to register,” she added.

To provide further information, a webinar discussing the ordinance and recent economic impact study results will be held today from 5 to 6 p.m. Council Members Kimball and Kierkiewicz will explain the registration process and answer questions. Residents and property owners interested in attending can register online at https://www.hawaiicountytar.com.

The future bill associated with short-term vacation rentals in Hawaii County will be posted and made available on https://www.hawaiicountytar.com, along with a recording of the webinar….

read … County likely to delay STVR registration law until March - Hawaii Tribune-Herald

Oahu homeowner shares costly eviction process after dealing with tenants who refuse to pay rent

HNN: … He advertised the place on Facebook Marketplace for $8,500 a month and rented to New York natives Todd and Missy Brewer in March. But he says they refuse to pay any rent.

Had Choy checked public court records on eCourt Kokua before signing a lease, he would have found out the Brewers were in eviction proceedings on their previous rental in Aina Haina and had a history of legal disputes with landlords.

The Brewers were asked to vacate their last rental, where the landlord was stuck with at least $30,000 in lost rent, property damage and attorney’s fees.

They were also evicted from a house in Kapolei in 2023 and were ordered to pay that homeowner $30,000 in rent, damages and fees.….

read … Oahu homeowner shares costly eviction process after dealing with tenants who refuse to pay rent

Kauaʻi Wants Robinson Resort Downzoned Back To Agriculture

CB: … Kauaʻi’s largest private landowner first set out to build a resort on the island’s rural Westside more than 20 years ago, and the county gave the storied Robinson family the green light it needed to proceed.

Permits were approved, zoning designations were changed and supporters touted how the project would help diversify the local economy amid the looming collapse of the sugar industry. The Gay & Robinson plantation had served as a primary source of employment in West Kaua‘i for more than a century.

But the plan to convert the old Robinson family mansion into a 250-room plantation-style inn on the 170-acre Kapalawai site hit a series of stumbling blocks and never materialized. New Dubai-based developers are still trying to make it happen, but now the county is reversing course….

read … Use It Or Lose It? Kauaʻi Wants Robinson Resort Land Back To Agriculture - Honolulu Civil Beat

Hawaii Retail Wheeling Law Excludes Residential Customers

IM: … The new state law (SB589) requires a one-to-one connection between the buyer and the seller.

The law was written as: "`Wheeling` means the transmission of renewable electric power from a storage or energy generation system through the utility meter for consumption by a separate utility account holder."

The law could have been written as: "`Wheeling` means the transmission of renewable electric power from a storage or energy generation system through the utility meter for consumption by a separate utility account holder(s).

This simply change would have enabled communities to build community solar farms that would reduce the electric bills for all of their community members.

Instead, the law is aimed at enabling the military, large corporations, and big businesses, but not residents, to reduce their energy bills….

read … Hawaii Retail Wheeling Law Excludes Residential Customers | Ililani Media

Honolulu EMS Director Still Defending Decision To Drive Wrong Way On H-1

CB: … A video of a white SUV driving the wrong way on H-1 last week elicited thousands of reactions on social media as users tried to figure out who was behind the wheel. …

The driver, it turned out, was Honolulu Department of Emergency Services Director Jim Ireland.

Ireland was driving an official EMS vehicle toward Thomas Square and the Blaisdell Center to follow up on homeless complaints when he witnessed a man get hit by a car on Ward Avenue at around 11 a.m. on Aug. 27, Ireland said Thursday….

read … Honolulu EMS Director Defends Decision To Drive Wrong Way On H-1 Freeway - Honolulu Civil Beat

East-West Center to receive federal funds before end of fiscal year

HNN: … The East-West Center (EWC) is set to receive some of its federal funding that was previously held by the Trump Administration.

The center said $6.5 million in funding that was allocated by Congress is expected to arrive before the end of the fiscal year.

“We are grateful to Hawaii’s Congressional delegation and other advocates in Congress and the federal administration for continuing to recognize and support the importance of the Center in advancing regional stability and economic security,” said Celeste Connors, EWC president, in a statement.

EWC leaders said that with the money, they’re hopeful that no mandatory staff reductions will be necessary….

read … East-West Center to receive federal funds before end of fiscal year

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