April 1, 2026 News Read > Hawaii Free Press

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Wednesday, April 1, 2026

April 1, 2026 News Read
By Andrew Walden @ 6:35 PM :: 388 Views

SCOTUS Overturns Ban on so-called 'Gay Conversion Therapy'

Case: Jones Act Waiver 'shines spotlight on the crippling effects of the Jones Act on the cost of living'

EPA Concludes Drinking Water Has Been Free of Fuel Contamination Since 2022, in Wake of Red Hill Release

In Hawaii trial, Navy fights claim of ongoing fuel spill risk

Green Names Judges for Kauai, Maui

Hawaii Voters to Receive Voter Registration Notices Ahead of 2026 Elections

30% Increase About To Show Up In Your Electric Bill

CB: … ~~Despite~~ (Because) efforts to transition to 100% renewable energy in the future (focused on worthless intermittent wind and solar instead of base-load LNG and geothermal), Hawaiʻi is still the most oil-dependent state, relying on burning oil to generate nearly three-quarters of its electricity. With global oil prices spiking due to the near total closure of the Strait of Hormuz, it was only a matter of time before those costs were passed on to island ratepayers.

Jim Kelly, spokesman for Hawaiian Electric Co. — which provides electricity to a majority of the state — said rates are forecast to increase 20% to 30% starting this month on Oʻahu, then in May and June for the neighbor islands. …

CB: Let’s Have An Open, Honest Debate About Energy In Hawaiʻi - Honolulu Civil Beat

read … Trump’s War In Iran Is About To Show Up In Your Electric Bill - Honolulu Civil Beat

Solar Lobby Desperately Flails Away at LNG because LNG is cheap and clean

Expensive dirty diesel provides a better competitive position for solar.

Natural Gas PRICE Today | Natural Gas Spot Price Chart | Live Price of Natural Gas per Ounce | Markets Insider

HECO's "Renewable Energy" Workshops Are a Trojan Horse for New High-Voltage Transmission Lines | Ililani Media

LNG & Geothermal -- A Community Perspective on the 2026 Hawaii Energy Conference | Ililani Media

Column: Shared energy grid calls for lowering costs for all | Honolulu Star-Advertiser

Column: Vet LNG plan rigorously, transparently, briskly | Honolulu Star-Advertiser

Letter: Hawaii too vulnerable to pursue LNG transition | Honolulu Star-Advertiser

Column: At pivotal power crossroads, resist LNG ‘bridge’ for isles | Honolulu Star-Advertiser

Hawaii officials eye lawsuit to overturn Trump Election Order

SA: … President Donald Trump attempted Tuesday to put federal controls on mail-in voting handled by states including Hawaii, where the vast majority of votes were cast by mail in recent elections.

Trump signed an executive order requiring that lists of eligible voters, derived from data compiled by federal agencies, be provided to election officials in all states, and that ballots may only be sent through the U.S. Postal Service to registered voters on the federal lists in specially designed ballot envelopes approved by USPS.

Scott Nago, Hawaii’s chief elections officer, said he was reviewing the order closely and how it may or may not impact elections scheduled for Aug. 8 and Nov. 3.

(TRANSLATION: I am preparing evidence to be used in the AG’s lawsuit.)

“We’re not sure yet,” he said.

(TRANSLATION: I haven’t finished compiling the evidence.)

State government leaders in California on Tuesday vowed to fight Trump’s order in court, according to the Los Angeles Times.

Hawaii’s Department of the Attorney General did not go that far Tuesday, and instead said it is carefully reviewing the order.

“Administration of elections is primarily a state responsibility under the U.S. Constitution,” department officials said in a statement. “Hawaii has well-established laws to ensure secure and accessible voting.”

(TRANSLATION: Maybe we will sign on to California’s suit.)

U.S. Rep. Ed Case (D-Hawaii) said courts should reject the order as illegal and unconstitutional.

“I welcome good faith efforts to both assure our elections are reserved to American citizens and maximize the vote,” Case said in a statement. “The President’s executive order is not a good faith effort but is instead aimed squarely at suppressing mail-in and absentee voting, one of our most effective means to maximize voting.” ….

MEANWHILE EVERYBODY AVOIDS TALKING ABOUT THIS >>> “Long Lines Suppress Votes on Election Day: Election Officials Plan to do it Again in 2026”

read … Trump’s executive order targets mail-in voting in all states | Honolulu Star-Advertiser

Carpenters Union Paying for Kawakami Commercials

CB: … In the last few months of 2025 the Hawaii Carpenters Market Recovery Program Fund contributed more than $2 million to the super PAC For A Better Tomorrow, which seems to have replaced the union’s other super PAC, Be Change Now, as the big-money bank for candidates they like — or dislike (here’s looking at you, Sylvia Luke.)

For A Better Tomorrow reported more than $12 million in cash on hand at the end of the year, according to the latest filing with the Campaign Spending Commission. Now it is beginning to spend some of that kālā to help Kawakami win the Democratic primary for lieutenant governor. The two-term Kauai mayor is prohibited by law from running for another term.

For A Better Tomorrow paid more than $65,000 to $70,000 to KGMB, KITV and KIKU to air television commercials beginning March 24 and running through April 6. With such deep pockets, TV viewers statewide can expect to see a lot more of Kawakami in the weeks and months ahead of the Aug. 8 primary….

read … The Sunshine Blog: The Cash Is Starting Flow In Race For LG - Honolulu Civil Beat

Another 8(a) Bribery Scandal: Texas man charged in alleged military IT bid-rigging scheme in Hawaii

SA: … A 51-year-old Texas man is accused of orchestrating a near decade-long conspiracy with companies and people in Hawaii to rig information technology contracts from the U.S. Department of Defense by bribing a “federal public official.”

Alan Hayward James was charged March 20 with bribery, conspiracy to commit wire fraud and conspiracy to rig bids, according to a charging document filed in federal court.

The federal official whom James allegedly bribed, the companies and co-conspirators allegedly involved, and specific details of how much money was stolen were not immediately made public.

James is scheduled to make his initial appearance and waive his arraignment and plea today before U.S. District Judge Shanlyn A.S. Park in Honolulu….

In October 2024, six people were charged with rigging bids, stealing from the federal government and paying bribes and kickbacks in connection with the sale of IT products and services to federal government purchasers.

The conspiracy resulted in “overcharges of millions of dollars to the U.S. government, including the U.S. Department of Defense,” according to an Oct. 29, 2024, news release from the U.S. Department of Justice.

Victor M. Marquez, a Maryland resident and owner of two IT companies with “significant government contracts,” was charged in 2024 in a four-count indictment with wire fraud conspiracy, wire fraud and major fraud for allegedly rigging bids and “inflating the amount of money obtained” from valuable IT contracts.

Antwann C.K. Rawls, an on-site government IT consultant who worked for Marquez, and Scott A. Reefe, an IT sales executive, pleaded guilty in January 2025.

According to federal court records, from 2018 until May 2019, Rawls, Reefe and their co-conspirators used their positions to learn “sensitive, confidential procurement information, including procurement budgets for large U.S. government IT contracts.”

They shared their bids in advance of submitting them to the government, with one co-conspirator emailing that he would submit a “high price third bid.” …

UPDATE: Pacific Air Force: $37M Fraud Scheme Paid 'Godfather'

DOJ: Six Charged in Scheme to Defraud the Federal Government

read … Texas man charged in alleged military IT bid-rigging scheme in Hawaii | Honolulu Star-Advertiser

Missing Members and Muscle, Hawaiʻi County Ethics Board Struggles To Function

CB: … The Hawaiʻi County watchdog for government ethics has been on life support for years, and there’s no sign of help on the way.

The Board of Ethics has canceled at least six of its regular monthly meetings since 2024 due to a lack of quorum, including one in February. At least one member was missing from every meeting in 2025, and three of the board’s seven seats are currently empty. Four members — who are appointed by the mayor and confirmed by the County Council — must be present to hold a meeting.

Managing to meet is just part of the challenge. The volunteer board lacks a paid staff or independent executive director like some of the other counties have to help sift through all the complaints, hear potential violations and give advice to county employees on whether certain actions violate the Code of Ethics. The board also evaluates hundreds of financial disclosures from county employees, including elected officials and department heads, to ensure there aren’t conflicts of interest….

2020: Ethics Board: Harry Kim Violated 'Fair Treatment' Rules by Letting Telescope Protesters Violate Laws

read … Missing Members And Muscle, Hawaiʻi Ethics Board Struggles To Function - Honolulu Civil Beat

9th Circuit rejects Stancil appeal

ILind: … A three-judge panel of the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals completely shut the door on John B. Stancil’s appeal of his 20-year sentence, the maximum for the crime of racketeering conspiracy. The court’s decision granting a government motion to dismiss was posted in late February.
The court ruled Stancil’s plea agreement included valid waiver of his right to appeal his case or sentence except under very limited circumstances.

Stancil’s attorney, Boise-based William Miles Pope, argued that comments by Federal Judge Derrick K. Watson during Stancil’s plea hearing opened the door to one of those limited exceptions, but the Ninth Circuit wasn’t buying it. The court concluded Watson’s choice of words simply “did not negate the written waiver of the right to appeal.” …

read … 9th Circuit rejects Stancil appeal | i L i n d

Maui Police Department employee arrested for alleged off-duty sexual assault

KITV: … A Maui Police Department (MPD) employee was arrested on Monday following allegations of sexual abuse and was placed on administrative leave.

A 26-year-old Makawao man, who’s a probationary employee of MPD, was arrested on Monday, March 30, 2026, on suspicion of sexual assault in the second, third and fourth degrees. Police said the incident took place while he was off duty.

The suspect remains in custody and was placed on administrative leave without pay. He has worked with MPD as an early hire since Dec. 16, 2025 ….

MN: New hire at Maui Police Department arrested on suspicion of sexual assault while off duty : Maui Now

read … Maui Police Department employee arrested for alleged off-duty sexual assault | Crime & Courts | kitv.com

Hawaii still awaits word on Presidential Disaster Declaration request

HNN: … U.S. Rep. Jill Tokuda says the U.S. Department of Homeland Security already had a backlog of disaster requests from other incidents around the country. It also had a leadership change.

If and when the request is approved, it would unlock Federal Emergency Management Agency support, including funding for debris removal, hazard mitigation, infrastructure repairs, and even individual assistance.

With that, families could get help with housing, unemployment, crisis counseling, and legal services.

While the state awaits approval, FEMA’s damage assessments are crucial for moving forward.

“Those assessments that are happening right now, probably wrapping up shortly, that FEMA is doing with state and local officials is critically important because once you get that disaster declaration, you need to know exactly what we need in terms of support, and those assessments will provide us with that pathway,” Tokuda said….

read ... Hawaii still awaits word on Presidential Disaster Declaration request | Hawaii News Now

Who says “Honolulu wants an anti-ICE police chief?”

ASD: … Advocacy journalism from Civil Beat last week asserts that the whole city wants the next HPD chief of police to be a political warrior. Does it? ….

read … Pipikaula Corner: Who says “Honolulu wants an anti-ICE police chief?”

The budget that doesn't grow

ASD: … Honolulu Mayor Rick Blangiardi did something remarkable early this month in releasing a city budget that came in $133 million under the previous year's budget. ASD columnist Sterling Higa looks at all four county budgets to see which counties are living within the means of their citizens….

read … The budget that doesn't grow

Hokulani Elementary moves to Palolo, Aliiolani for the rest of school year due to storm damage

SA: … Hokulani Elementary School teachers had to carry some students out as floodwaters surged across the campus on March 23, with some younger children crying and frozen in fear.

“There’s definitely some trauma,” Hokulani Elementary School Principal Ervin Pasalo said.

About 270 students were displaced when muddy water from nearby Manoa Stream surged across the campus during school hours that afternoon.

With 12 of its 18 classrooms heavily damaged, the campus has been forced to close for the remainder of the school year.

Students will resume in-person learning Thursday at nearby campuses while repairs are underway. Pre-K through second grade students will attend Palolo Elementary School, while third through fifth graders will go to Aliiolani Elementary School. All students will remain with their original teachers….

(GOOD: No ‘distance learning’.)

read … Hokulani Elementary closed for the rest of school year due to storm damage | Honolulu Star-Advertiser

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