July 23, 2026 News Read > Hawaii Free Press

Hawaii Daily News Read

Thursday, July 23, 2026

July 23, 2026 News Read
By Andrew Walden @ 9:30 AM :: 161 Views

How politicians manipulate data to take credit

AG Sues to Force Shutdown of HECO's oldest Oil Burners on Maui, Big Island

Maui can't delegate environmental assessment to property owners

DPP: ‘We Process Affordable Housing Projects in 592 Days’

SA: … A recent Honolulu Star-Advertiser editorial concludes that a principal obstacle to Bill 7’s success is the city Department of Planning and Permitting (DPP), citing a University of Hawaii Economic Research Organization (UHERO) draft study reporting median permit processing times of 518 to 1,000 days. It further suggests DPP should give higher priority to projects applying under Bill 7, a city law that aims to incentivize affordable rentals on small apartment-zoned lots (“Bolster effort to boost home supply,” Our View, July 14).

Unfortunately, the editorial and UHERO analysis present only part of the permitting picture. Total permit time tells us how long a project took — not what caused the delay. To understand delay, we must examine where projects spent their time.

Excluding eight legacy paper applications that cannot be reliably tracked, DPP analyzed all 16 electronically submitted Bill 7 projects that have been permitted.

Excluding prescreening (basic plan formatting), the average time from application to permit issuance was 592 days. Of that time, 260 days (44%) were spent with DPP and other reviewing agencies, while 332 days (56%) were spent with applicants responding to review comments, revising plans and resubmitting. More than half of the total permit time occurred while projects were outside city review awaiting applicant revisions.

On average, reviewing agencies concurrently completed each review cycle in 36 days, while applicants took 46 days to respond….

(CLUE: Applicants are shadow-boxing with DPP process because they fear accidentally doing something which causes DPP to freeze up.)

Read … Column: Consider all aspects of permitting woes | Honolulu Star-Advertiser

Congressional candidates split on support for Israel

HNN: … The issue is also dividing Democrats in Washington. In a test vote last week, House Democrats split evenly on whether to ban $3 billion in security aid to Israel.

Keohokalole said he would have voted with the roughly 100 Democrats — including U.S. Rep. Jill Tokuda — backing the ban….

Case said Iran cannot be allowed to possess nuclear weapons, to control shipping or to support terrorism. But he argued Congress should decide when war is necessary — a push that could depend on a Democratic majority.

“That would certainly be on the top of the list if we’re still involved in Iran,” Case said. “That’s number one: to assert Congress’ power and obligation to decide when we do and don’t go to war.” …

Read … Congressional candidates split on support for Israel and war with Iran | Hawaii News Now

Green and Kawakami: Two PRP Peas in a Pod

HNN: … When questioned about the Lt. Gov. race, Green warmly complimented Derek Kawakami’s performance as Kauai Mayor and said that Belatti’s promise to play an oversight role and openly disagree with him on policies may make it difficult to be partners.

“I do have pauses about her, though, because any partner I have really needs to be ready to work with me, again, if I’m chosen,” Green said on Spotlight Now. “[Belatti] hasn’t suggested that’s what her goal is. She suggested instead she wanted to be a watchdog on me. And I’ve asked myself this question several times, like, watch what?”

On Wednesday, Belatti said she has called the governor to clear the air, but also defended her plan to be an independent voice.

“Those perspectives may not always win the day, but it’s important that someone brings up those concerns. I’m especially worried about concerns of working-class people who are being drowned out by those interest groups that are supported by dark money,” Belatti said.

That is a reference to Green and Kawakami’s support from a political committee operated by the Pacific Resource Partnership.

Belatti said she does support the governor’s initiatives on housing, homelessness, and mental health….

Read … Belatti responds to Gov. Green’s criticism | Hawaii News Now

High blank ballot rates in OHA races

SA: … Chief Elections Officer Scott Nago said roughly 49% of voters did not cast ballots in OHA races during the 2024 primary election, while 42% skipped those contests in the general election…

BEST COMMENT: “The trustees don’t understand that this is a message of what the voting public thinks of them. Candidates like Kai Kahele (now Ikaika Anderson is trying the same thing) who get voted out of their offices run and get into OHA seats. Then they act like big shots with stupid ideas like buying television stations. OHA has a lot of money but these trustees aren’t using it to better the lives of those it’s supposed to help.”

Read … High blank ballot rates prompt OHA voter education effort | Honolulu Star-Advertiser

Abercrombie jealous because Ed Case actually accomplishes things

SA: … The email describes Case’s bills, votes “and personal awards across four terms in Congress,” (a rueful) Abercrombie (jealously) told the Honolulu Star-Advertiser on Wednesday….

(TRANSLATION: “I was there for 20 years and all I ever did was manage the House gym and co-author a novel in which all the other Congressmen are killed. Then I got elected Governor and my true nature was revealed for all to see. What does Case have that I don’t?”)

Case told the Star-Advertiser on Wednesday in an email that his Monday email was “official business” and “part of my duties as a member of Congress which I undertake regularly with my constituents, and official resources can and should be devoted to that purpose.”

The email, he said, was directed at “Hawaii’s critical small business community. It summarized my official efforts on behalf of small business, offered my further assistance and asked for input. It especially focused on my efforts to maintain and fund through my Appropriations Committee the federal Small Business Administration 8(a) program for veteran, women and minority- owned small businesses, including Native Hawaiian businesses, which are key to much of Hawaii’s overall small business.

“The rules of the House impose a ‘blackout period’ in the sixty days prior to any election during which official mass communications to more than 500 addressees are restricted,” Case told the Star-Advertiser. “My July 20, 2026, letter was addressed to 434 small business organizations, interested small businesses and state and local entities focused on our small businesses, and so not subject to the restriction.

“Unfortunately, Neil appears to have forgotten what he himself knew and I assume did as a member of Congress himself. I specifically ask Neil to withdraw his unfounded late-campaign attack complaint. I specifically ask my opponent (Keohokalole) to clearly and publicly reject it.”…

Read … Abercrombie alleges Ed Case violated House campaign rules | Honolulu Star-Advertiser

Hawaiʻi millionaire tax: Why the new 13% bracket won’t be the last

ASD: … The partisans of envy are running the same play … Hawaiʻi already carries one of the heaviest state-and-local tax burdens in the country. The needy are not much better off for it. The burden of our state shows up in the rent, in the grocery bill, in the exodus of local families headed to Las Vegas. ….

Read … Hawaiʻi millionaire tax: Why the new 13% bracket won’t be the last

Kauai Island of Retaliation: Rent Jacked up on Niʻihauan Language School

CB: … The charter school Kula Aupuni Niʻihau A Kahelelani Aloha, known as KANAKA, has served students in West Kauaʻi for roughly two decades. The school provides bilingual education that community members say is crucial to preserving the language and culture of Niʻihau, also known as Hawaiʻi’s “Forbidden Isle.” …

The nonprofit initially entered into a lease with the school that was supposed to last until 2032, according to court documents. …

KAANA’s principal officer is Steven Sullivan, according to its annual filings to the IRS. Steven is the husband of Hedy Sullivan, who served as the long-time principal of KANAKA charter school before she died in late 2024.

Sullivan served as KANAKA’s principal following Hedy’s death, according to school documents from fall 2025. But around the same time, Sullivan filed a request for a temporary restraining order against KANAKA’s governing board chair, alleging that he was verbally abused and harassed while working as principal.

“I feel like I can no longer go to work to do my job in a peaceful manner with safety,” he said in his request.

The court denied the restraining order in September, citing insufficient allegations of harassment. Sullivan is no longer listed as the school’s principal, but he still serves as a director and treasurer on the nonprofit’s board.

Since then, Sullivan has made it difficult for the school to exist on campus, said Siu, one of KANAKA’s lawyers. In addition to raising the rent, Siu said, Sullivan also denied KANAKA access to a safe that houses confidential school files.…

(Typical retaliation story. But then it gets weird….)

The Hawaiʻi Attorney General’s office has filed a complaint to prevent the school’s eviction and allow KANAKA to pay the rent it originally agreed to in 2023.

“There will be irreparable harm done to the students if they’re not able to attend school on August 3,” Deputy Attorney General Carter Siu said Wednesday during a Circuit Court hearing in Līhuʻe.

Judge Stephanie Char put the rent increase and eviction notice on pause until another hearing could be held next month. …

(Weird huh? Why is the AG suddenly doing the right thing here when they have ignored so many other cases?)

PDF: Niʻihau Language School At Risk Of Losing Kaua‘i Campus - Honolulu Civil Beat

Read … Niʻihau Language School At Risk Of Losing Kaua‘i Campus - Honolulu Civil Beat

California family ‘totally overwhelmed’ after mob of locals attack at Kaanapali resort

HNN: … A California family says a vacation in West Maui turned traumatic after a large fight at a Kaanapali resort left several people injured, including one man who suffered a severe head wound that required 13 staples.

The incident happened Friday night at the Kaanapali Alii resort.

Maui police said approximately 30 people were involved in a disturbance in the resort’s barbecue area, and at least six people suffered injuries serious enough to require medical treatment.

Police have pretend-arrested one person, a 20-year-old Makawao man, on suspicion of assault. (He’s already been ‘released pending investigation….’)

Family members who spoke exclusively with Hawaii News Now said the violence began earlier in the evening near Whalers Village, where they allege a group of Maui youths began harassing visitors.

“There were three females, one of which was the ringleader,” said family member Joseph Headfield. “She got up in people’s faces, said, ‘We’re going to beat up your boys tonight. We’re going to beat up the haole boys.’”

Relatives said two teenagers later ran to a family asking for help, but the group allegedly followed them back to the resort and began attacking people.

… I saw one individual just getting beaten up on the ground, defenseless, by multiple people. And maybe 20, 30 seconds later, they were all running away.”

He said multiple family members were “slapped, punched, kicked” during the chaos.

One of the most seriously injured victims was a man whose family members said was trying to protect relatives when he was struck in the head with a chair….

Photos provided to Hawaii News Now show a large gash on the man’s head. Family members said he also suffered injuries to other parts of his body….

“..they’re like, ‘Oh, we got the old man,’” she said. “So they were doing it intentionally. They were looking for trouble, did it on purpose, followed, picked out a group, I guess.”

The family believes the attack was racially motivated and should be investigated as a hate crime.

“Our group consisted of ages from 85 to 11,” Daniel said. “We were just not expecting any of this. We were on a private resort property, and we were just overwhelmed, completely, totally overwhelmed.” …

BACKGROUND:

Read … California family ‘totally overwhelmed’ after large fight at Kaanapali resort | Hawaii News Now

Another Video of Another Road to Hana confrontation shows another local attacking another tourist family

HNN: … Hawaii News Now decided not to show or name the man, because (insert excuse here)….

Hana Highway Regulation is a community organization started by residents to ~~remind~~ (attack) visitors ~~not to park illegally, trespass, or swim in flood-prone waters.~~

“I think that although this resident used strong words and resorted to verbal profanity, he was communicating the problem at hand and how the visitor needed to correct,” said East Maui resident Napua Hueu, who is part of Hana Highway Regulation….

“Our organization is constantly de-villainizing our community members for the burden placed upon us of having to educate visitors in the field,” Hueu said (without smirking)….

(Of course) the Maui Police Department has no record of last Tuesday’s interaction….

2020: Maui residents use signs, checkpoints to stop highway travel

2024: ‘Defend Hawaii’ – Maui PD and EMTs Conspire to Chase ‘Hunted’ Tourist-Victims Away

2024: Hana Highway Regulation—Another Tourist Attack: 'We're going to kill you, get out of the car, you're not getting away from us, you're dead."

Read … Video of Road to Hana confrontation renews calls for traffic solutions | Hawaii News Now

After Torturing Woman to Death, Molokai Murderer Hopes Soft on Crime Supreme Court will give him Another Chance

HNN: … The attorney for a Molokai man sentenced to life in prison for murdering his girlfriend says he should have never been convicted in the first place.

(He’s 63. A few more years in Arizona and the problem will solve itself.)

Mariano Garces was sentenced to life in prison with the possibility of parole in 2024 after a jury found him guilty of murdering Amie Kaholoaʻa on Molokai....

“Nothing on this form tells my client that he could stop once he starts, that he can refuse to answer a particular question, or that in the middle of this interview, at some point, he may decide that he want a lawyer and he could request one at that time,” Segal argued.

Deputy Prosecuting Attorney for the County of Maui Gerald Enriques said additional advisements are unnecessary.

“The plain language of the Miranda advisement, as the court has noticed, is that the defendant has a right to remain silent. Keyword: remain,” Enriques said.

Enriques said the interviewing detective did not use threats, coercion, force or promises to obtain Garces’ confession.

“There was no indication of the defendant wanting to not make a statement,” Enriques said.

Segal said he expects the Hawaii Supreme Court to issue a ruling in a couple of months….

Read … Convicted Molokai murderer fights for freedom | Hawaii News Now

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