January 30, 2026 News Read > Hawaii Free Press

Hawaii Daily News Read

Current Articles | Archives

Friday, January 30, 2026

January 30, 2026 News Read
By Andrew Walden @ 5:43 PM :: 227 Views

Kaneshiro-Mitsunaga Conspiracy: Judge Allows Lawsuit to Proceed

Money Laundering: Keanu Sai Flunky Gets Nine Years in Federal Penitentiary

Census Bureau: Hawaii Population Decline 2nd-Fastest in USA

2025: Tourist Count Down Spending Up

Hawaii court blocks state’s satire censorship law

Even with Massive Jam on H1, Skyline Ridership a pathetic 12,902

KHON: … The record was broken on Tuesday, Jan. 27, where 12,902 individuals chose to take the elevated rail system instead of sitting in Oʻahu’s infamous traffic ….

(CLUE: People got off the bus and took the train past the jam and got on another bus. And in spite of a 4-hour shutdown of the H1, 12,902 is all they got. This is the traffic scenario which allegedly justifies rail and the result is pathetic.)

KHON: 'Good' problem hitting Skyline - lack of parking

read … Skyline sets record with nearly 13K riders in one day

Seething Scrum of Grifters in Fight for Green Fee Dollars

KITV: … To gather public input, the Green Fee Advisory Council created an online portal that allowed ~~residents, organizations~~ (grifters, con-artists,) and state departments to submit ideas and project proposals. According to council members, the response was extensive.

“In total, over 620 projects (‘worth’ $2B) we have had to evaluate,” said Dr. Jack Kittinger, a member of the Green Fee Advisory Council. “Over 100 were submitted by state departments, the majority by the Department of Land and Natural Resources.”

Council members said they have spent the past several months reviewing submissions and narrowing down recommendations that will be presented to lawmakers, who will ultimately decide how the funding is allocated.

Council member Carmela Resuma said the group worked with roughly $120 million in projected funding…

read … Public ideas help shape recommendations for Hawaiʻi’s new Green Fee | News | kitv.com

Hawaii governor supports bill to protect Kamehameha Schools admissions policy

KITV: … As part of his administration's package of bills, Governor Josh Green is supporting House Bill 2304, which clarifies free tuition at private schools as gifts, not contractual obligations. Its intent is to defend Kamehameha Schools' admission policy and tuition-free plan starting this year….

(CLUE: Won’t work. The Legislature, a judge, and the KSBE Trustees combined cannot make a contract into a non-contract.)

REALITY: Kamehameha Admissions: Without Affirmative Action Defense, Who Needs Victimology?

read … Hawaii governor supports bill to protect Kamehameha Schools admissions policy | News | kitv.com

SHOPO Endorses Mahuna for Hawaii County Police Chief

KITV: … Many spoke in support of interim Chief Reed Mahuna, pointing to his decades of experience, local roots and leadership style.

"Our members want a leader who understands the unique challenges of policing this aina, from the rural stretches of Kau to the urban center of Hilo and Kona,” Don Faumuina, State of Hawaii Organization of Police Officers President, said at the meeting. “Chief Mahuna has earned the respect of the rank and file."

Commissioners questioned the finalists about crisis management, accountability and community-centered policing.

The Hawaii Police Commission plans to reconvene on Friday to deliberate and make a final selection….

read … Hawaii County Police Commission close to selecting next police chief | News | kitv.com

Socialist Legislators propose banning LNG use for electricity because it is too clean and too cheap

SA: … Gov. Josh Green’s administration is facing legislative push-back against a 2025 energy policy reversal recommending interim use of (clean, cheap) liquefied natural gas, instead of (dirty, expensive) oil, to make electricity on Oahu.

Eight (socialist) members of the state House led by (socialist) Rep. Amy Perruso have introduced a bill aiming to prohibit development of infrastructure to run any power plant on LNG while also banning importation or storage of the fuel after June 30.

The measure, House Bill 1568, contends that investment required to produce electricity from LNG poses “serious economic risks” (TRANSLATION: Solar can’t compete is electricity is cheaper) and undermines a state goal to produce 100% of power statewide using renewable resources by 2045 (TRANSLATION: Solar can’t compete is electricity is cheaper.) ….

(REALITY: LNG conversion sharply reduced US CO2 output. Even COVID shutdowns did not reduce CO2.)

REALITY: Amy Perruso - KeyWiki

read … Hawaii lawmakers propose banning LNG use for electricity | Honolulu Star-Advertiser

SB3326: Senator Wakai Proposes Breaking Up Hawaiian Electric Company

IM: … Senator Wakai introduced Senate Bill 3326 “to require the separation of ownership and control of electric energy generation services from transmission and distribution services to promote efficiency, innovation, transparency, and competition in the electric energy generation sector while protecting ratepayers and ensuring reliable, affordable, and sustainable electric service.”….

read … Senator Wakai Proposes Breaking Up Hawaiian Electric Company | Ililani Media

Hawaii DoE is Next: ‘San Jose State broke the law by allowing a transgender volleyball player’

AP: … The department offered San Jose State a deal that would resolve the case. The university, located in California, would have to accept the administration’s definition of “male” and “female,” restore titles and records that Trump officials say were “misappropriated by male athletes,” and issue an apology to female athletes.

(CLUE: On May 31, 2017, the AP began calling males female.)

A statement from the university said officials are reviewing the proposal and “remain committed to providing a safe, respectful, and inclusive educational environment for all students while complying with applicable laws and regulations.”…

The Education Department has taken action against a series of states, schools and colleges that allow transgender athletes, something President Donald Trump has promised to end. If San Jose State rejects the proposed deal, it could face a Justice Department lawsuit and risk losing federal funding.

Earlier this month, the Trump administration announced the Hawaiʻi education department was under a Title IX investigation for allowing transgender students to participate in sports based on their gender identity. Hawaiʻi public schools currently allow transgender students to join sports teams of their choice. The Hawaiʻi High School Athletic Association has previously estimated that fewer than 10 transgender athletes participate in sports every year.

Roughly 11% of funding for the Hawaiʻi education department comes from the federal government….

Emily Hills, a senior staff attorney at the ACLU of Hawaiʻi, said it’s still unclear what the San Jose State deal means for Hawaiʻi and the state’s ongoing Title IX investigation. A key difference is that the Title IX investigation at San Jose State dealt with college athletics, whereas the current investigation into the Hawaiʻi education department looks at K-12 sports, she said.

(REALITY: It IS clear. The Hawaii DoE is next.)

“This is a very nuanced issue, and there are a lot of different factors that go into how a student performs in sports,” she said (without snickering). “I think that whether or not a situation is fair depends on so many other factors.”

Hawaiʻi law prevents schools from discriminating against students based on their gender identity, said Michael Golojuch Jr., vice chair of the Hawaiʻi State LGBTQ+ Commission. If Hawaiʻi faces a similar deal to San Jose State, Golojuch, (not quivering with delight) said, he hopes state leaders reject the proposal or any policy changes….

US DoEd:

read … San Jose State broke the law by allowing a transgender volleyball player

Department of Education employee accused of sexually assaulting minor

HNN: … The 40-year-old pleaded not guilty to 21 counts of sex assault, including nine counts of first-degree sex assault involving a victim between 14 and 16 years old, electronic enticement, and child pornography.

According to court documents, Chang began inappropriately messaging a teenage girl on Snapchat late last year and offered to give her money for photos.

Documents say Chang, a Hawaii State Department of Education employee, later began a sexual relationship with the teen….

The HIDOE said Chang was not working at a school when he was arrested two weeks ago, and was placed on (paid???) leave immediately.

read … Department of Education employee accused of sexually assaulting minor

Farmers complain about shootings, retaliation

SA: … Farmers described encounters with aggressive dogs, theft of fruits and flowers, and repeated incidents involving firearms — including people shooting pigs on or near farms. In some cases, they said, gunfire has been directed into agricultural properties where families live.

Several farmers said they are reluctant to report incidents to police out of fear of retaliation, particularly when cases do not result in charges and personal information becomes public through court records….

read … Farmers cite critical threats to Hawaii food system | Honolulu Star-Advertiser

Two Hawaii care home operators fined by the state for leaving seniors with unqualified caregivers

KITV: … The separate incidents are unrelated and substantially violate Hawaii Administrative Rules 11-800. They were both fined $500 each ….

read … Two Hawaii care home operators fined by the state for leaving seniors with unqualified caregivers | News | kitv.com

Could Hawaiʻi Landfills Create Junkets?

CB: … around 1.2 million tons of solid waste were generated on Oʻahu in the 2025 fiscal year, according to the latest data available from the city’s Department of Environmental Services. Every year a quarter of that –– 280,000 tons of construction and development waste and ash from H-Power –– ends up being buried at Waimānalo Gulch….

Tupola wants to establish a council working group to investigate closure options, motivated by a recent city funded overseas trip during which she inspected waste disposal technology in China, Denmark and Spain. ….

read … Could Hawaiʻi Be The First State To Dump Landfills? - Honolulu Civil Beat

LEGISLATIVE AGENDA:

QUICK HITS: