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Friday, July 24, 2026

July 24, 2026 News Read
By Andrew Walden @ 4:50 AM :: 241 Views

The island without childcare for babies

BWS Agrees to Waste $6M on Useless Kalaeloa Desal Plant

When safety becomes exclusion: The hidden cost of building codes

How rigid land-use rules are holding back wildfire recovery in Lahaina

Indian National Arrested in Hawaii for Role in Gold Bar Elder Fraud Scheme

Hawaiʻi AG Investigation Into Political Bribery Case Goes Before Grand Jury

CB: … Witnesses were brought before a grand jury Friday in Honolulu as the Hawaiʻi Attorney General’s Office appears to be nearing the end of its investigation into $35,000 given to a state lawmaker in 2022….

On Friday morning, the witnesses were quietly ushered into the grand jury witness room, not speaking to reporters waiting in the hallway. Many of the witnesses were lined up near the back entrance to Kaʻahumanu Hale, the First Circuit Court, before the doors opened to the public.

Disgraced politician Ty Cullen arrived alongside his attorney Birney Bervar. A string of other witnesses followed including Tony Baldomero, a former staff member at the Hawaiʻi Campaign Spending Commission.

Former FBI agent Darrin Sakanoi, now working for the state, was among those who accompanied witnesses. Sakanoi previously worked on the federal prosecution of Honolulu’s former prosecutor Keith Kaneshiro, who was tried and acquitted on corruption charges in 2024. Heavy hitter defense attorney Tommy Otake accompanied a female client.

An unidentified employee of the Department of Health showed up early, represented by attorney Eric Seitz.

Sources identified Seitz’s client as Cathy Ross, a former deputy health director whose division oversaw an office that handled procurement and contracts. As of February, Ross was still employed by the state as a human resource specialist, according to salary data.

The health department granted millions of dollars in COVID testing contracts to the National Kidney Foundation of Hawaiʻi. The City and County of Honolulu similarly awarded millions in contracts to the kidney foundation to help prop up mobile testing labs. Those contracts were arranged by businessman Tobi Solidum, who is the suspected giver of the $35,000….

read … Hawaiʻi AG Investigation Into Political Bribery Case Goes Before Grand Jury - Honolulu Civil Beat

‘Just holding on for the settlement money’--FEMA rent increase to hit 600 Maui fire survivors still in temporary housing

HNN: … FEMA is raising rents for hundreds of Maui wildfire survivors still living in federally subsidized temporary housing, leaving a senior citizen and Army veteran worried about his future.

Keith Hunter currently pays $500 a month to live at Kilohana, a FEMA temporary housing complex.

His neighbor recently received a letter stating that rent will double starting Sept. 1….

FEMA confirmed the rent hike is the second increase since March. The agency said the increases are intended to raise monthly payments to 50% of the Fair Market Rent for Maui County. The change applies to approximately 600 wildfire survivors who have not yet found permanent housing.

Residents can appeal the increase. However, the FEMA subsidies — which have been extended several times — are set to expire in February….

He said he has been unable to find work and his unemployment benefits have run out. He is relying on settlement money to pay for permanent housing.

“I’m speaking in behalf of others here who want to move forward. We’d like to get our settlement, but we understand the wheels of justice move slowly,” Hunter said….

Read … FEMA rent increase to hit Maui fire survivors still in temporary housing

Hawaii County auditor provides homeless audit update

HTH: … Turning her attention to internal probes, McAdam told council members her office is “currently conducting an audit of the Office of Housing and Community Development’s management of the Housing and Homeless Fund, as requested by yourselves.”…

Kona Councilwoman Rebecca Villegas asked McAdam about the timeline for the results of the audit of OHCD’s Housing and Homeless Fund, a program in which OHCD spent $33 million in federal grant money over three years to buy several homes to lease at $10 a year to nonprofit organizations for what the county described as “affordable long-term housing” for at-risk residents.

“We’re in the middle of it …,” McAdam replied, adding that she’s still meeting with department officials. “Hopefully, we’ll be in a better position on it towards the end, the middle of August.”

“I would also put a call out to the grantees to get the information that they need to them, posthaste,” Villegas told McAdam. “I think it is vital and it is a huge part of this audit that the grantees are completely and authentically included in all this information and everything you get to look at.

“… I know it’s a heavy lift, but we all are anticipating having a report and being able to more effectively review the program and these plans, as well as the grantees.”

The OHCD audit was listed as “proposed audits.” Other potential audits on that list include the Department of Environmental Management’s Wastewater Division and the Hawaii Police Department’s evidence-storage facilities….

Read … County’s auditor provides update to council committee - Hawaii Tribune-Herald

Bio-Fuel Scam: Hawaii becomes fifth US state to adopt ‘Clean Fuel Standard’

BI: … The bill, SB 2999, follows a two-year advocacy and rulemaking process and was welcomed by the RNG Coalition, which provided testimony throughout. The other four states with CFS programmes in operation are California, Oregon, Washington and New Mexico ….

... An increased share of bio-based fuels in its road transportation mix is expected to reduce that dependence over time.

The state currently has one operational renewable natural gas project, at the Honouliuli Wastewater Treatment Plant, alongside a ~~planned~~ (never-to-be-built scam) facility that would (pretend to) convert bana grass into RNG ….

Read … Hawaii becomes fifth US state to adopt Clean Fuel Standard - Bioenergy Insight Magazine

In Puna, It Takes Years To Get A Mail Box At The Post Office

CB: … In the fastest growing part of Hawai‘i, a post office box shortage has made voting, shopping online, accessing important paperwork and sending packages an ongoing challenge….

Read … In Puna, It Takes Years To Get A Mail Box At The Post Office - Honolulu Civil Beat

Duplicate, deceased ballots spark Hawaii election concerns

KHON: … (Trumpster activist) Payton (who claims to have invented the Miske ‘Defend Hawaii’ slogan) said he and his mom received five ballots between them — only two were theirs, and the others had names they did not recognize.

He posted about it on social media and was surprised with the response.

“A lot of people are just saying, ‘Oh, this happened to me, I got five, I got two, I got four.’ You know, ‘My son moved away 20 years ago. My my mom passed away ten years ago,'” he said….

Read … Duplicate, deceased ballots spark Hawaii election concerns

Facing A Competitive Reelection, Honolulu Council Chair Pitches Tax Breaks

CB: … Honolulu City Council Chair Tommy Waters campaigns for a third term, he is floating the idea of tax breaks for island homeowners and drivers that would save residents money but could reduce city revenue by too much for the city administration’s liking.

The cost savings for residents would be modest — about $65 per year for drivers of Toyota Tacomas, $70 per year for homeowners — but Waters is arguing it would help people drowning under rising costs….

These kinds of proposals tend to crop up during election time, said Honolulu Budget and Fiscal Services Director Andy Kawano.

“He’s campaigning,” Kawano said of Waters….

Read … Facing A Competitive Reelection, Honolulu Council Chair Pitches Tax Breaks - Honolulu Civil Beat

Eight-Time Loser Busted in Crypto Scam—already out and travelling

SA: … Franco’s criminal record includes eight prior state convictions, including for felony criminal property damage and driving with a suspended license….

Originally from Maui, Franco was arrested Sept. 29 in Montgomery, Texas, and was originally freed on a $20,000 unsecured bond ahead of trial. In October, his conditions of release were modified to a $50,000 unsecured bond and a third-party custodian, according to federal court records.

Franco’s travel is limited to Oahu court appearances and his lawyer’s offices in California and Texas, where he is being monitored by GPS and the third-party custodian….

(IDEA: Since he is indigent, let’s provide secure accommodations with free room and board.)

2025: Feds Seek $848K Forfeiture in Honolulu Crypto Scam

Read … Accused Maui cryptocurrency scammer is ‘indigent,’ attorneys say | Honolulu Star-Advertiser

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