May 24, 2026 News Read > Hawaii Free Press

Hawaii Daily News Read

Current Articles | Archives

Sunday, May 24, 2026

May 24, 2026 News Read
By Andrew Walden @ 12:04 PM :: 155 Views

Children's Rights: Hawaii Ranks 48th

A good lesson in curtailing government growth

Case, Tokuda Introduce Measure To Crack Down On Interstate Trafficking Of Illegal Fireworks

Hawaii Congressional Delegation How They Voted May 22, 2026

Changes to the Solar Credit

Hawaii Among First to Adopt 'Trump IRA' Accounts

Addressing Hawaii’s affordability crisis

County Councils: Taxes on Agenda Right Now

Corruption: Thickening Plot Closes in on Green

Shapiro: … we have the thickening plot in the AG’s bribery investigation that caused Lt. Gov. Sylvia Luke to take unpaid leave and now has led Gov. Josh Green to force the retirement of his human services director, former state Rep. Ryan Yamane.

Luke, former House Finance chair, received a target letter from the AG after admitting she may have been the lawmaker recorded by federal authorities in 2022 taking $35,000 from a bribery suspect, though she says it was only $10,000 in campaign donations.

Yamane was reportedly questioned by the AG about millions in allegedly fraudulent COVID-19 testing contracts involving Tobi J. Solidum, the lobbyist Luke said gave her money along with his daughter.

Luke and Solidum were recorded by former Rep. Ty Cullen, who had made a secret plea deal with federal authorities on corruption charges and was working as an FBI informant. Cullen was also a close legislative ally of Yamane.

It’s baffling the state wasn’t on to this until its hand was forced by the feds.

Finally, there’s the state auditor’s preliminary alert to legislators about loose spending in the governor’s kauhale homeless shelter project.

Auditor Les Kondo said spending under controversial emergency orders signed by Green “create an ongoing and substantial risk of improper use of public funds.”

Kondo said reviews of contracts with HomeAid Hawaii, the no-bid kauhale developer, found “almost $1.7 million that appears to be unsupported, unallowable, duplicative, or not clearly consistent with the contract terms or applicable state requirements.”

Green went Shakespearean in response, accusing the auditor of a political vendetta and dismissing legitimate concerns about inappropriate public spending as “feuds over receipts.”

Kondo isn’t the first to raise concerns about kauhale spending.

Green’s own homelessness coordinator, John Mizuno, complained of a $21,000 monthly electricity bill for one small array of tiny homes. Mizuno was soon ex-coordinator.

Civil Beat has reported on questionable kauhale spending including big no-bid landscaping contracts to the spouse of HomeAid CEO Kimo Carvalho.

Green seems to think kauhale are too virtuous to be bound by spending niceties, which spotlights the central question: Why can’t we have both good services and careful spending free of insider dealing?....

Read … Column: Smart money turns stupid when it’s in the state’s hands | Honolulu Star-Advertiser

Green Claims ‘No Involvement’ in Crooked COVID Testing Contracts

SA: … During the pandemic, then-Lt. Gov. Green, who is a medical doctor, was at the forefront of the Ige administration’s response to the crisis, but his spokesperson stressed he was not involved in contracts for COVID-19 testing.

“As lieutenant governor, he served in a clinical liaison role during the pandemic response, but had no involvement in the procurement or administration of COVID testing contracts being reviewed,” McClellan said Thursday.

In response to Star- Advertiser questions, she said: “Gov. Green’s only known connection to Mr. Solidum dates back more than a decade through healthcare-related community work involving the Hawaii Kidney Foundation and patient-centered medical home initiatives. He does not have a meaningful personal or professional relationship with the individuals (Solidum, Choy and Pae) referenced.”

Green and his team do not have information regarding “investigative activity involving other individuals or agencies,” McClellan said. “Questions regarding subpoenas or investigative procedures should be directed to the Attorney General’s office.”

Solidum owned and operated Geopolicy Development Group LLC, the only Hawaii-based shareholder of Capture Diagnostics, an Ohio-based company contracted to handle 10,000 to 15,000 COVID-19 tests a day in Hawaii during the pandemic. Capture Diagnostics filed for bankruptcy in federal court in 2025.

Solidum worked as a lobbyist for the National Kidney Foundation of Hawaii starting in 2015 and was working for it during the pandemic, which began in 2020.

Capture Diagnostics’ first major contract in Hawaii in 2020 was with the foundation and Synergy Med Global Design Solutions to provide a mobile COVID-19 laboratory for the City & County of Honolulu at the airport for $166 a test, according to a court filing.

Solidum’s Geopolicy Development Group performed “contractual work” in Hawaii for Capture Diagnostics between 2021 and 2023, according to court records. Honolulu contracted directly with the National Kidney Foundation of Hawaii to manage and operate the mobile testing lab, and the foundation, in turn, subcontracted with Synergy for the mobile lab and supplies.

On Friday, Mari Martin, vice president of development for the National Kidney Foundation of Hawaii told the Star-Advertiser that the group started an “independent, third-party review of the COVID testing program” this year after the controversy broke.

The review is ongoing and the foundation is committed to providing updates once “findings can be responsibly shared,” she said in a written statement.

In response to a question about the ongoing state and federal investigations and federal bankruptcy proceedings, Martin said the foundation “would be willing to provide supporting documentation in connection with any federal or state investigation, subject to applicable contractual, legal, and confidentiality obligations.” …

Read … State political investigation continues after 2nd Cabinet member leaves | Honolulu Star-Advertiser

Leadership Turmoil – With Yamane Chased out by COVID Crookedness, Four Top Execs gone from Child Welfare System

CB: … Former Rep Ryan Yamane, (1-who just quit) a former social worker who led DHS for almost two years, last summer took on direct oversight of the troubled CWS branch in the wake of high-profile reports by the Mālama ʻOhana Working Group and the Hawaiʻi State Auditor that were sharply critical of the agency.

Under Yamane the agency (pretended to) launched a new system of unannounced, after-hours visits to foster homes to provide additional checks on foster children, and pushed for improvements in foster home licensing. It is unclear exactly how much his efforts accomplished, or where they stand now….

State Sen. Joy San Buenaventura, who is chair of the Senate Health and Human Services Committee, told Civil Beat she regarded Yamane as an important player in the child welfare system.

Problems in CWS have been so severe that San Buenaventura floated the possibility of creating a commission to oversee child welfare and press for improvements, but she deferred action on that idea to give Yamane time to make changes.

“When you try to shake up norms, and people are used to keeping status quo, it takes a while for people to accept new norms,” she said. San Buenaventura still isn’t ready to pursue the commission idea yet, but said the department needs to fill key management positions and step up recruitment of its line staff….

More recently, there has also been an exodus and planned retirements of several high-level managers that play various roles related to CWS.

There is still no permanent replacement for 2-Daisy Hartsfield, a longtime human services professional who oversaw the CWS branch as social services division administrator from 2020 until she resigned Oct. 1. Gov. Josh Green later appointed Hartsfield to represent Waipahu in the state House.

The position of assistant social services administrator, another management position above the CWS branch, has been filled with temporary appointees since before Hartsfield left, and two more retirements of key players were announced in recent weeks.

Child Welfare Services Branch Administrator 3-Elladine Olevao and CWS Assistant Administrator 4-Tonia Mahi both told colleagues they are retiring, with Mahi’s departure scheduled for June 30, staff said. Those departures would remove the two top leaders in the CWS branch….

CWS had an overall vacancy rate of about 30% in early 2025 according to the most recent public data, which was about the same vacancy rate as a year earlier. The vacancy rate for caseworkers was even higher at 39%, while 46% of positions for caseworker aides were vacant….

Read … Leadership Turmoil And Staffing Shortfalls Plague Child Welfare System - Honolulu Civil Beat

Keith Kaneshiro Demands City Pay Cost of his Criminal Defense

CB: … Former Honolulu County Prosecuting Attorney Keith Kaneshiro wants taxpayers to reimburse him for the cost of his defense against criminal charges alleging that he prosecuted a woman who worked for a political ally in exchange for $50,000 in campaign contributions.

Kaneshiro, of course, beat the rap. As did the rich businessman friend and everyone else charged in the federal bribery case. A jury found them all not guilty in 2024.

Now, Kaneshiro has filed a lawsuit in state court seeking an unspecified amount of money from the City and County of Honolulu to cover years worth of legal fees he incurred. He was, after all, a county employee just doing his job when he brought charges against Laurel Mau, an employee of Mitsunaga & Associates, who had sued her by-then-former boss….

PDF: Kaneshiro complaint | DocumentCloud

Read … The Sunshine Blog: Keith Kaneshiro Wants The City To Pay Up - Honolulu Civil Beat

OHA to buy KITV?

SA: … KITV was purchased by Allen Media Group, the broadcasting division of Byron Allen’s Entertainment Studios, for $30 million in 2020. The acquisition included satellite stations KHVO in Hilo and KMAU in Wailuku, along with carriage of four digital networks: MeTV, Hawai‘i TV, Start TV and Heroes &Icons.

AMG purchased KIKU-TV in a separate 2022 transaction.

The company announced in June that it had hired Moelis &Co. to advise on selling stations in 21 markets, including Honolulu.

“Six years ago, Allen Media Group began the process of investing over $1 billion to acquire big four network-affiliated television stations,” Byron Allen, AMG founder, chairman and CEO, said in a statement at the time of the announcement. “We have received numerous inquiries and written offers for most of our television stations and now is the time to explore getting a return on this phenomenal investment.

“We are going to use this opportunity to take a serious look at the offers, and the sale proceeds will be used to significantly reduce our debt.”

Earlier this month, AMG sold 10 stations to Gray Media for $171 million, but KITV-KIKU was not included….

(TRANSLATION: Fortunately, AMG will find a buyer for KITV long before OHA can get its ducks in a row.)

On March 20, OHA issued a request for proposals seeking a media brokerage firm to conduct a valuation and full review for “potential acquisition of local broadcast television assets that operate within the Hawaii media market. These assets include television stations, digital platforms, and related media infrastructure.”

The RFP outlines a 90‑ to 120‑day assessment of finances, advertising, digital platforms, Federal Communications Commission licenses, infrastructure, staffing and “opportunities for public interest and culturally grounded programming.”

OHA’s Board of Trustees will take up a proposed media brokerage and advisory services agreement at its meeting Thursday.

According to the agenda, the board will consider a $172,500 request from its Budget and Finance Committee for confidential due‑diligence work on a possible acquisition of assets and real estate from a Hawaii‑based production or broadcast company.

OHA Board Chair Kaiali‘i Kahele declined to comment for this story, but at a May 13 Budget and Finance Committee meeting, he alluded to the potential acquisition while identifying the funding as an emerging need in the fiscal year 2027 budget.

“As discussed in executive session previously and to be coming up at a future board meeting will be the potential acquisition of assets and real property controlled by a production or broadcast company serving the Hawaii market,” he told trustees.

Kahele also presented a slide outlining the rationale for exploring the deal, which read, “From due diligence, OHA would fully assess the cost, scope, risks and strategic value of the opportunity, including potential benefits related to job creation, greater influence over Native Hawaiian storytelling and public messaging, and diversification of OHA’s asset portfolio.”

OHA has previously considered purchasing local broadcast properties. In 2006, the Board of Trustees rejected a proposal to buy KGMB and its 41,000‑ square‑foot property at 1534 Kapiolani Blvd., voting against even funding due‑diligence efforts. At the time, media observers raised concerns about a government agency potentially controlling a locally owned news outlet….

Read … OHA weighs purchase of KITV-KIKU from Allen Media Group | Honolulu Star-Advertiser

Veterans want a voice in lantern floating ceremony

SA: … the ceremony is held on Memorial Day, one of America’s most sacred observances, specifically dedicated to honoring the men and women who gave their lives in service to our nation and the Gold Star families who continue to carry that loss forever.

For more than five years, Hawaii’s veteran community has attempted to engage respectfully with Floating Lantern Festival spokespersons, Shinnyo-en Temple leadership, Na Lei Aloha Organization and Shinnyo-en Hawai‘i leadership. Initially, veterans sought compromise by proposing the ceremony be held on the Sunday before or after Memorial Day rather than directly on the holiday itself. That proposal was repeatedly refused.

Recognizing that reality, veterans shifted to a far more modest request: inclusion and collaboration. We simply asked for a seat at the table and opportunities to place greater emphasis on Memorial Day remembrance, fallen service members, and Gold Star families within the existing ceremony.

Unfortunately, repeated outreach over the past several years has been met with silence….

Read … Column: Veterans want a voice in lantern floating ceremony | Honolulu Star-Advertiser

Political Pundits Pontificate On The 2026 Elections

CB: … Q: Why do people like Brenton Awa? I agree with you. What’s his game, his charm?

Milner: Well, I know why I like him and I knew him from KITV days (where he was a former reporter and anchor). The reason I like him is he’s a real piece of work. The guy does everything in an unorthodox manner. And I remember him calling me when he first declared (for state Senate) and he asked what I thought his chances were. And I was kind of politely saying not too much. And then, of course, he called me afterwards to mention what a fool I am ….

Read … The Sunshine Interview: Political Pundits Pontificate On The 2026 Elections - Honolulu Civil Beat

Sand Island: The Multi-Billion Dollar Question

CB: … Honolulu’s Sand Island Wastewater Treatment Plant is one of Hawai‘i’s most important infrastructure disputes. The surface question is technical: Should the city upgrade its largest wastewater plant from primary to secondary treatment? The real controversy is broader. It involves environmental science, federal law, public trust, multibillion-dollar costs and Honolulu’s compliance path.

For decades, Hawai‘i argued that its deep-ocean discharge conditions differed from the mainland. Sand Island sends treated effluent offshore through an ocean outfall, where dilution and marine mixing were said to reduce environmental risks. Earlier monitoring in the 1980s did not consistently show major ecological damage from primary-treated discharge. That helped sustain the view that Hawai‘i deserved special treatment under federal wastewater rules.

But that argument failed. Federal regulators concluded that Honolulu had not shown that continued primary treatment would protect marine life and public health. The result was a binding 2010 consent decree requiring the city undertake secondary treatment by 2035.

The issue now is how Honolulu can meet its legal and environmental duties without imposing unnecessary costs on ratepayers.

Read … Honolulu Needs Wastewater Compliance, Not Blind Spending - Honolulu Civil Beat

Honolulu Ethics Commission Violating Ethics Law?

CB: … The Sunshine Blog is scratching its head over the latest agenda sent out by the Honolulu Ethics Commission about its upcoming meeting this week. Unbelievably, the commission is notifying us it plans to violate the Sunshine Law by meeting behind closed doors to interview, discuss and vote on the hire of its new executive director.

The Blog has to ask: Are they just not paying attention? How does someone get to be on a high-level public board like this and apparently not know anything about Hawaiʻi’s open meetings law? Especially an ethics panel.

The Blog suggests the commissioners review the Hawaiʻi Supreme Court decision in 2019 when the high court ruled that hiring, firing and job reviews of high-level public officials (that would be an executive director of a major city agency) must be done in open public session. Only issues relating to personal privacy (like health or mental health concerns) can be discussed out of public view….

Read … The Sunshine Blog: Keith Kaneshiro Wants The City To Pay Up - Honolulu Civil Beat

North Shore homeowners fined nearly $2M for shoreline barriers

SA: … “They want to see us fail,” he said….

CLUE: “Excessive bail shall not be required, nor excessive fines imposed, nor cruel and unusual punishments inflicted.” - 8^th Amendment to US Constitution

Read … North Shore homeowners fined nearly $2M for shoreline barriers | Honolulu Star-Advertiser

LEGISLATIVE AGENDA:

QUICK HITS: