June 4, 2026 News Read > Hawaii Free Press

Hawaii Daily News Read

Thursday, June 4, 2026

June 4, 2026 News Read
By Andrew Walden @ 9:51 AM :: 126 Views

'Enough is Enough' -- After 12 Years Feds Lose Patience, Decertify Hawaii Medicaid Fraud Unit

Election 2026: 310 Candidates File by Deadline

Convicted: FBI Catches Maui Dude Pointing Laser at Airplanes

Council passes budget over mayor’s veto threat

HNN: … The council’s 6-3 vote to pass the budget is enough to override any veto. The mayor may still have the power to save the staff jobs and fund them from other sources….

The Honolulu City Council approved a $5 billion budget Wednesday that includes a $1.4 million cut to the Office of Economic Revitalization, prompting the mayor to threaten a veto.

The mayor’s proposed budget and the council-approved plan differ little overall, but the reduction to the economic office created conflict between the two branches of government....

The Office of Economic Revitalization was conceived as a planning and coordination office for growth of ag tech and small business. During the pandemic and after recent floods, it became the agency with flexibility to get hundreds of millions in federal aid to families, small business and farmers. City auditor Troy Shimasaki found that role delayed meeting most of its primary goals….

(IDEA: ‘Defend Hawaii’ -- Close it now and burn all its COVID loan records before the Feds get them. Yes, I know the CO2 emissions from the bonfire will contribute to Global Warming. But sacrifices must be made.)

Interim Honolulu Police Chief Rade Vanic raised concerns that restrictions meant to reduce vacancies would make it harder to maintain patrols.

(TRANSLATION: HPD wants ‘vacant positions’ as slush fund to pay for OT for pension-maxxing ‘Top Three’ years.)

“Last year, a similar unfunded requirement forced the department to redirect funding from core patrol and operational priorities. Those impacts were real,” Vanic said.

Council chair Tommy Waters said the budget still directs money to pay for 460 vacant police officer positions….

BACKGROUND:

Auditor: Not Much to Show for $324.3M Burned by City Office of Economic Revitalization

VIDEO: Hawaii COVID Schemers ‘Caught Inside’

KITV: Mayor to veto budget bill after 6-3 council vote, looks to save Office of Economic Revitalization | News | kitv.com

KHON: Honolulu City Council approves $5 billion budget

CB: Honolulu Council Passes Budget Mayor Vows To Veto - Honolulu Civil Beat

Read … Council passes budget over mayor’s veto threat | Hawaii News Now

Incoming police chief provides timeline on transition to Oahu

HNN: … Incoming Honolulu Police Chief David Lazar appeared virtually at the Honolulu Police Commission meeting Wednesday.

Exactly two weeks ago, the commission chose Lazar to be the department’s next chief.

He said preparations to move to the islands have been going very well.

Lazar is in California now but will arrive on Oahu on June 14.

On Monday, June 15, he will be considered a “volunteer” with the Honolulu Police Department, learning the ropes, meeting people, and preparing to be officially onboarded.

He cannot officially step into his role as chief until his background check clears and he passes physical exams.

But Lazar told commissioners he’s ready to start the process and is aiming for a swearing-in ceremony set for early July.

Among some of his preparations is learning how to lead a department in Hawaii.

“Assistant Chief Nishibun has scheduled me for leadership training,” Lazar said. “There’s a popular course titled Leadership Island style for newcomers… I’m excited about it."

The online leadership course is five hours, and the incoming chief will take it live on Zoom.

“I’ve been staying up with the department through media and social media,” he added. “I’ve been attending community events and meetings with the community and my soon-to-be former city to say goodbye.”

Lazar said he’s already been introduced to and is meeting with key stakeholders in the city, including council members, other county chiefs, and even federal partners like the FBI….

FUN READ: Meet Your new Chief: David Lazar and Chesa Boudin—a timeline

KHON: Honolulu police chief transition plans revealed

Read … Incoming police chief provides timeline on transition to Oahu | Hawaii News Now

Hawaii cost of incarceration -- $300/day

HNN: … Hawaii spends about $112,000 a year, more than $300 a day, to lock up one person, nearly double the national average. Nearly half of those released are back behind bars within three years (because they are professional criminals) ….

Read … Covering the Cost: The cost of incarceration and Hawaii’s prison system

HPD officer accused of sex assault by woman he pulled over seeks dismissal of charges

HNN: … A Honolulu police officer accused of sexually assaulting a woman he pulled over in Waikiki has filed a motion to dismiss the sex crimes charges, arguing the alleged actions happened after the traffic stop ended.

HPD Officer Christopher Oallesma pleaded not guilty to 11 counts, including misconduct, obstruction and using a computer in the commission of a separate crime. The majority of counts are for sexual assault in the third and fourth degree over the incident that allegedly happened on April 6.

His attorney, Alen Kaneshiro, has now filed a motion to dismiss those charges, claiming the plain language of the law requires the sexual contact by a law enforcement officer to occur during the traffic stop, not after it has concluded….

Read … HPD officer accused of sex assault by woman he pulled over seeks dismissal of charges | Hawaii News Now

Ghetto Lottery juices Honolulu's $46M Claims Bill

CB: … Taxpayers are on the hook for more than 90 claims a year on average, from minor property damage to major injuries ….

Eight of the 10 highest individual payments were related to the Honolulu Police Department, which made up just 16% of the number of payments but 56% of the total bill.

After HPD, the Department of Environmental Services racked up the highest bill of any single department over the last five years. Many of the claims against it involved sewer problems, car accidents or lawsuits brought by employees. But it was a $3.25 million settlement covering two dozen grievances and lawsuits related to trash collection disputes stretching back to 2012 that put the department over the top. …

Read … Honolulu's $46M Claims Bill: HPD Chases, Bike Accidents, A Tossed Surfboard - Honolulu Civil Beat

‘Blatant land grab’ Hawaii Co General Plan approved despite opposition

HTH: … The Hawaii County Council voted 5-3 on Wednesday in favor of passing a long-term public planning document described by opponents at the meeting as “treason,” an “act of war,” a “blatant land-grab,” “brainwashing,” “immoral” and the product of “blackmail.”

Council members Dennis Onishi, Ashley Kierkiewicz and Holeka Inaba all cast “no” votes. Puna Councilman Matt Kaneali‘i-Kleinfelder was absent.

Before the vote, the Hilo council chambers swelled with testifiers eager to speak on Bill 66, the vast majority of whom stood in opposition. The bill adopts the Hawaii County General Plan 2045 — a 20-year comprehensive policy document guiding land use, growth, public services and transportation on the island. Wednesday’s meeting marked the legislation’s second and final reading.

The bill now heads to the desk of Mayor Kimo Alameda. Alameda has indicated that he would neither sign the measure nor veto it, effectively letting it pass but demonstrating his “reservations.”

“I’m not happy with it as-is,” he told the Tribune-Herald after the vote, criticising the plan as “too prescriptive” and needing amendments, saying it should “move itself back to more of the middle and not be so one-sided.”

The 2045 Plan has been available for public review for over a year, and calls for climate change adaptation, sets goals for net-zero carbon emissions, and restricts growth to urban areas in order to protect rural, agricultural land. It calls for stricter land use rules, provisions for mass transit expansion, and mandates for adopting renewable energy technology.

The plan has had the support of many county officials, including current Planning Director Jeff Darrow and former planning director Chris Yuen.….

Read … General Plan approved despite fervent opposition - Hawaii Tribune-Herald

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