November 6, 2025 News Read > Hawaii Free Press

Hawaii Daily News Read

Thursday, November 6, 2025

November 6, 2025 News Read
By Andrew Walden @ 3:24 PM :: 192 Views

Ex-Justice Wilson: Hawaii Judiciary Believes Courts have duty to protect future generations from Climate Change

Hawaii remains the only state in the nation to impose a complete prohibition on firearm ownership by adults aged eighteen to twenty

AI Tool Helps You Keep Track of Hawaii Government Actions

Hawaii Household Debt Highest in USA

Coverup: Hawaii House leaders conceal name of Legislator who allegedly took $35,000 bribe

HNN: … “In the case of an ongoing investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, it’s both appropriate and necessary for the House to refrain from any action that could be seen as interference.”

Nakamura’s statement continued, “Federal investigations are under the sole authority of federal law enforcement, and any premature involvement could compromise the integrity of the process and its participants.”

Watchdog groups rejected that explanation pointing out that state laws or ethical standards may have been violated, so the legislature shouldn’t wait.

“Essentially, what they’re saying is we don’t care what the public thinks. We don’t care how many people sign their name to the petition,” said Alexander Silvert, a retired federal public defender who started the petition. “We’re taking the out that this is a federal investigation. And by the way, they don’t even know if the investigation is active or not.”

Camron Hurt, director of Common Cause Hawaii, said the lawmakers should move forward for the sake of transparency.

“If I’m an elected official and my integrity is on the line, I’m more curious as to why they’re not pushing for this name to come out, why they’re not pushing for a more thorough investigation,” Hurt said, “We’re running up on a state statute of limitations. Should the state not have the opportunity to press charges?”…

SA: Column: Sign petition to investigate alleged legislator corruption

LINK: Petition: Investigate Legislator who took $35K Bribe

read … Hawaii House leaders reject petition to investigate bribery scandal

DOE Superintendent 60% pay hike approved by board

KHON: … Under the new contract, Hayashi’s annual salary will increase to $294,000. He would also be eligible for a performance increase between five and eight percent each year….

“Superintendent Keith Hayashi’s salary could increase by 60% by 2029 under a contract up for approval on Wednesday,” said Osa Tui, Jr., HSTA President. “Meanwhile, our educators, whose work product makes the superintendent shine, were asked to extend the contract that we currently have for another two years, for only four percent for the next three years; our educators get nothing for the work that they’ve done through COVID, not even a retention bonus that the administrators got.”

The full board approved the contract this afternoon…..

SA: Hawaii schools chief Keith Hayashi gets 18% raise in new 4-year deal | Honolulu Star-Advertiser

CB: Hawaiʻi Schools Chief Gets $45,000 Raise As 4-Year Contract Renewed - Honolulu Civil Beat

read … DOE Superintendent four-year contract approved by board

Teacher says DOE response to Charlie Kirk class discussion violates her rights

HPR: … "This is just a student making a quick comment that the teacher, of course, agreed with: Charlie Kirk was murdered. The teacher agreed with that, and then gave students other examples of people who had been murdered for the things they said, then continued the rest of the lesson," Moelker said.

Moelker said a parent of a student — who was not in the class — reported the interaction.

"Our client, she was actually issued a formal letter finding that what she did was improper, that she needs to shut down controversial student speech," Moelker said. "So she's kind of left at an impasse of not knowing what to teach, because the school has now said no controversial topics."

Moelker said that the teacher did not endorse Kirk's or a political party's views….

BACKGROUND: Hawaii DoE Disciplines Teacher for Student-Initiated Charlie Kirk Free Speech Discussion on Constitution Day

read … Teacher says DOE response to Charlie Kirk class discussion violates her rights | Hawai'i Public Radio

Maui Water Shortage is an Artificially-Created Illusion—Maui Council Votes to Make it Go Away for one developer

MN: … A Maui County Council committee tried to breathe life Wednesday into the languishing 304-acre Pulelehua development in West Maui, a “shovel ready” housing project with the promise of hundreds of affordable units but long dying of thirst.

Chaired by West Maui Council Member Tamara Paltin, the Disaster Recovery, International Affairs and Planning Committee voted 7-1, with Council Member Yuki Lei Sugimura dissenting, to recommend first-reading passage of Bill 132.

The measure could enable the allocation of 75,000 gallons of water per day, and support 240 affordable homes within a few years as temporary housing phases out, Paltin said in opening remarks.

(TRANSLATION: The water shortage is fake. We can just vote to make it go away.)

The measure would allow developer Paul Cheng of Maui Oceanview LP to begin seeking construction permits, despite ongoing concerns over water scarcity in arid Māhinahina near the Kapalua Airport ….

(REALITY: Maui is not short on water. It is short on wells. Drill a well.)

Meanwhile: Residents provide key East Maui water priorities at three County EMWA meetings : Maui Now

read … Pulelehua zoning condition amendment gains Council committee approval, despite West Maui water scarcity concerns : Maui Now

Solar Industry: Barrel Tax on Oil to Subsidize Us

CB: … Solar has been the escape hatch. Combined with Hawaiʻi’s 35% state tax credit (capped at $5,000), the federal credit made solar affordable for middle-class families. A typical $15,000 system would cost just $5,700 after both credits ….

Starting Jan. 1, 2026, that same system will cost $10,000 — an 75% increase in out-of-pocket costs….

First, absolutely protect and preserve Hawaiʻi’s 35% state solar tax credit. There have been disturbing rumblings about reducing or eliminating this credit, including House Bill 1369 introduced earlier this year that would have repealed it outright. Such proposals must be rejected completely. With the federal credit gone, the state credit becomes even more critical. The Legislature should actually consider increasing it to partially offset the federal loss.

Second, reinstate and expand a direct rebate program for low and middle-income households, funded by the barrel tax. The environmental response, energy, and food security tax currently generates roughly $27 million annually. A portion of these funds — perhaps $10 million per year — should be allocated to provide direct rebates of $3,000-$5,000 for households earning below 140% of area median income.

Unlike tax credits, which only help those with tax liability, direct rebates would make solar accessible to renters and lower-income families who need relief from high energy costs most desperately.

Third, further streamline permitting and interconnection processes. If financial incentives become less generous, we must make up ground by reducing bureaucratic friction and delays that add unnecessary costs to every installation.

The barrel tax funding mechanism is particularly appropriate. We’re literally taxing the problem — fossil fuel imports — to fund the solution: clean energy adoption….

read … Trump Killed Solar In Hawaiʻi. The Legislature Must Act Now - Honolulu Civil Beat

Honolulu airport on FAA list for cuts in air traffic

SA: … The Trump administration announced Wednesday that it would cut 10% of air traffic at 40 of the nation’s busiest airports, including Honolulu’s Daniel K. Inouye International Airport, in a move that analysts said would force airlines to cancel thousands of flights while the administration tries to push Democrats to end the government shutdown.

Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said the reductions were an attempt to “alleviate the pressure” on air traffic controllers, who have been working without compensation since the start of the shutdown and have not received a paycheck since mid-October. He said the administration would announce the affected markets today, as the year’s busiest travel season approaches….

HNN: HNL reportedly on list of airports where FAA will reduce flights

read … Honolulu airport on FAA list for cuts in air traffic | Honolulu Star-Advertiser

ICE raids on Kauai lead to dozens of arrests

HNN: … “I could kind of hear them, like they were transcribing everything in Spanish and English. They came in really loud, basically saying like, you know, we have a federal warrant, come out with your hands up. And then that was really loud for a while before the first blast happened and they kind of brought people out in chunks,” Holland said.

Holland said she saw more than a dozen people lined up and arrested. Hawaii News Now learned the detainees work for a cleaning company that services the hospitality industry.

“Obviously like what we’re seeing across the country, a lot of people are really concerned and so it was extremely stressful,” Holland said.

The U.S. Coast Guard flew the detainees to Oʻahu, where they were taken in white vans to the Federal Detention Center near Honolulu’s airport….

KITV: ICE raids on Kauai results in 44 arrests | News | kitv.com

read … ICE raids on Kauai lead to dozens of arrests

Maui: Homeless Drug Addicts are a Fire Risk--police called 118 times

MN: … As part of its ongoing Wildfire Risk Reduction program, the project on approximately 52 acres near Maui Lani Parkway and Waiʻale Road intersection is anticipated to be completed by the end of this month. The parcels have been identified as high-risk wildfire areas due to kiawe, haole koa and grasses, which are susceptible to ignition and rapid fire spread. The accumulation of derelict vehicles, automotive fluids and other flammable materials increases the danger of wildfire and environmental hazards, according to department officials.

Calls for service in the mapped area (attached) have increased over the last year by 174% (43 calls from Jan. 1 to Oct. 9, 2024, versus 118 calls from Jan. 1 to Oct. 9, 2025), according to Maui Police Department. Reports include terroristic threatening, theft, suspicious activity, warrant arrests, criminal property damage and promoting dangerous drugs, among others….

(IDEA: Amend Bill 9 to require Lahaina Strong to provide free methamphetamines to the homeless so they don’t have to steal anymore.)

Meanwhile: Complaints of living conditions at Maui public housing facility

read … Wildfire Risk Reduction Project set to start Nov. 12 off Waiʻale Road in Wailuku : Maui Now

Queen Emma Land Co. Wants Former Tenant To Tear Down Historic Building

CB: … When Title Guaranty of Hawaiʻi’s lease on its downtown headquarters building expired in January, the company packed up its belongings and personnel and moved next door.

There was just one problem: The title company left its building behind, contrary to a provision in its lease.

Now, the dispute between Title Guaranty and its former landlord, Queen Emma Land Co., has wound up in state court. Queen Emma wants a judge to order Title Guaranty to remove its former headquarters.

Title Guaranty’s response to Queen Emma: Get pono — and real….

read … Queen Emma Land Co. Wants Former Tenant To Tear Down Historic Building - Honolulu Civil Beat

Mom, daughter face extortion charge in alleged assault of special needs student

SA: … The state filed a motion Tuesday in Circuit Court to consolidate the case of assault, theft and kidnapping of a 21-year-old special needs student allegedly by an 18-year-old Leilehua High School senior, with a theft and extortion case against both the teen and her 44-year-old mother.

The state detailed in the motion how the two cases are intertwined due to the months-long, repeated theft of numerous gift cards and multiple attacks on Carly Ng allegedly by the 18-year-old Jasmine Keola and a group of younger teens.

Prosecutors say the events culminated in the mother, Anela Vierra, and daughter scheming to and successfully extorting cash from Ng, who rode the bus daily to attend Leeward Community College….

read … Mom, daughter face extortion charge in alleged assault of special needs student | Honolulu Star-Advertiser

State Sen. Awa contests election ethics violation

HPR: … The Hawaiʻi Ethics Commission is considering a violation against Oʻahu North Shore state Sen. Brenton Awa that could result in a nearly $1,000 fine.

Awa appeared before the commission Monday to contest the violation regarding a video he posted on his official Instagram account. In issuing the violation notice, the commission said Awa's video used government resources for campaign purposes, which is against the law.

The October 2024 video was filmed in Awa’s office during working hours and focused on now-elected West Oʻahu Sen. Samantha DeCorte. At the time, she was Awa’s chief of staff, running for the District 22 Senate seat. The video ends with DeCorte and Awa.

"... getting Sam in as Waiʻanae senator would unlock our full potential in both communities to represent not just there, but represent the entire State of Hawaiʻi. Sam, any last words?" Awa says toward the end of the video.

“This Tuesday, Election Day, Kapolei Hale,” DeCorte responds….

read … State Sen. Awa contests election ethics violation over social media video | Hawai'i Public Radio

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