Hurricane Kiko Emergency Proclamation Issued
JSC Names Applicants for ICA Judge
Ariel Sellers Murder Case: Four Years Later, State Still Allows Adoptive Parents Rights over other Children
SA: … The judge denied bail based on the seriousness of the crime, but there must be other factors, he said. He cited details from the grand jury testimony, including Lehua Kalua’s placing the girl in a dog cage, putting tape over her hands, feet, mouth and nose because she was sneaking food at night because the defendant did not want to feed her.
After she placed tape over her mouth and nose, she stopped breathing, then placed her in a tub of water, then in her room.
After she went missing, Kalua cleaned pots and pans at beaches on numerous occasions, and cleaned the house.
“After the victim died or was missing, the defendant got a dog for the cage.
“Past behavior is the best predictor of future behavior,” he said.
Wong said she presents a serious risk of obstruction or risk of engaging in illegal activity.
The state opposed setting bail based on the above reasons and said Kalua poses a serious risk she will obstruct justice because she is charged with hindering prosecution for destroying evidence and cleaning up a crime scene.
Higa said the family court order shows the court has no intention of allowing the adoptive mother contact with the minors.
Deputy Prosecutor Tiffany Kaeo said the language of the order was not enough, and merely says, “no contact between the mother and the children until further order of this court.”
(CLUE: This does not prevent the Kaluas from directing their lawyer to interfere in the lives of the surviving children.)
“Given the confidentiality of the family court case, the state’s not entitled to be given notice should that change; and so the permanency of this, while our criminal case is pending, doesn’t sufficiently resolve the state’s concerns,” she said.
Steve Lane, who served as a court- appointed special master on behalf of the children, said the Kaluas “still retain their parental rights and in so doing it prohibits their surviving children to seek and receive a forever home placement whether through foster or adoption,” despite having several grounds for termination based on state law.
He said the parents, having been in prison for four years, are free to object to the children being placed in a permanent home and opportunities including educational plans or even seeing a psychologist….
(QUESTION: Will the State now act to strip the Kaluas of parental rights?)
read … Adoptive mom denied bail in Isabella Kalua murder case | Honolulu Star-Advertiser
Scapegoats? Two Red Hill workers plead not guilty to lying about scope of fuel spill
HNN: … Two civilians accused of lying about the scope of the Red Hill fuel disaster pleaded not guilty in federal court Friday.
John Floyd and Nelson Wu arrived separately to federal court in downtown Honolulu. Both pleaded not guilty to charges of conspiracy and making false statements….
Clean water advocates who attended the hearing say the alleged conspiracy is much deeper….
It’s a sentiment echoed by attorney William Harrison, who is representing Floyd: “I have a suspicion that these two gentlemen may be scapegoats in this case.” …
The indictment said “multiple Navy officers” were involved in approving Floyd and Wu’s report, and that the defendants “conspired with each other and others unknown to the grand jury.”….
SA: 2 Navy workers face October trial over Red Hill fuel spill | Honolulu Star-Advertiser
CB: Red Hill Workers Plead Not Guilty Of Covering Up Fuel Leak - Honolulu Civil Beat
read … Two Red Hill workers plead not guilty to lying about scope of fuel spill
As Usual, State’s high court rules in favor of Sierra Club over Maui water rights case
HNN: … The Hawaii Supreme Court has ruled that the state Board of Land and Natural Resources violated the state constitution when it denied a contested case hearing of East Maui water rights.
The unanimous decision upheld a claim by the Sierra Club Hawaii Chapter in a case from 2020.
“What’s at stake is streams, streams that are drained dry,” said Sierra Club attorney David Kimo Frankel. “What’s at stake is the public’s right to meaningfully participate when the Board of Land and Natural Resources makes decisions that affect streams.”
The Sierra Club asked the BLNR for a contested case hearing when the board renewed Alexander and Baldwin’s permit to divert water from East Maui streams to irrigate their crops. But the board turned down the request and only granted a public hearing, which didn’t allow the organization or the public to cross-examine A&B…
REALITY: Enviros win 90% in Hawaii Supreme Court
SA: State violated due process in Maui water case, Hawaii justices rule | Honolulu Star-Advertiser
read … State’s high court rules against land board over Maui water rights case
Burying power lines along Lahainaluna Road part of Hawaiian Electric’s grid hardening plan
MN: … The plans include burying 2.5 miles of power lines along Lahainaluna Road, which could be done in conjunction with Maui County’s plan to widen the major thoroughfare in Lahaina, said Colton Ching, senior vice president of planning and technology for Hawaiian Electric. …
…Hawaiian Electrics grid hardening also includes replacing bare conductors with covered conductors; replacing transmission poles with higher strength poles; and replacing aged conductors. Wooden electric poles along vital egress routes also will be replaced with more durable steel or composite poles.
There had been plans to underground the power lines at Lahainaluna High School at the top of Lahainaluna Road, but after a meeting with a “working group” of select members of the community about a month ago those plans changed.
“We had a meeting with the working group, including the administration from Lahainauna, and they asked us to not underground the circuit as it goes through the high school because the construction … would be disruptive to the campus as well as to the classes,” Ching said. “So we’re looking to keep the circuits overhead, but harden those poles and conductors in the area.” …
read … Burying power lines along Lahainaluna Road part of Hawaiian Electric’s grid hardening plan : Maui Now
Council cool on proposed bus fare hike
ASD: … Fare increase not worth the expected $2 million in revenue, say Council members ….
read … Council cool on proposed bus fare hike
Bill 51: Improvement District for Downtown Honolulu
KHON: The Honolulu City Council is working on implementing a new downtown business improvement district.
Bill 051 is being considered and has a second reading scheduled for Sept. 3. If it passes, it would require downtown businesses to contribute to a fund that provides supplemental city services for the area.
The bill was introduced by Councilmember Tyler Dos Santos-Tam, who represents the downtown district.
“Downtown is at a crossroads after the pandemic. Fewer workers are in the office, and as a result, the businesses catering to them are having a tough time. The other issues facing downtown are still there: homelessness and security, just to name a few,” Dos Santos-Tam said. “We want to do what Waikiki has done, which is to have a successful Business Improvement District, which would help to pay for additional security programs, maintenance and power washing, event coordination and more. This will really help to refresh and revitalize Downtown.”…
read … Honolulu City Councilmember pushes for revitalized downtown plan
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