August 11, 2026 News Read > Hawaii Free Press

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Tuesday, August 11, 2026

August 11, 2026 News Read
By Andrew Walden @ 10:26 AM :: 350 Views

How Alleged Corruption Blocks Hawaii Dialysis Access

Hawaii Agribusiness Development Corporation Reorganizes (again)

Gabbard Threats: FBI Arrests Escaped Lunatic in Hawaii

9th Circuit Issues Hawaii Gun Ruling

Ongoing roadblocks to rebuilding in Lahaina

Airports Division: If Projects are Moving, Bribes are Paying

CB: … Ford Fuchigami, who is on leave pending a review of his work, had “an extraordinary career as a public servant” before being charged in Hawaiʻi’s latest political corruption case….

Ford Fuchigami, the administrator of state airports, was long known as a get-it-done bureaucrat, one who could make rapid progress on projects. …

An examination of Fuchigami’s record reveals he was in proximity to many of the key figures in recent corruption cases.

Emails from 2014 show he had been helping convicted briber Milton Choy secure funding for a wastewater project on Maui. Years later, a photo on social media placed them together at a Waiʻanae homeless camp where they were reportedly working to resolve issues around water access.

Under his tenure as transportation director, the DOT awarded millions of dollars in airport work to companies whose executives made political donations through clandestine fundraisers hosted by a high-ranking airport official. Choy and lobbyist Tobi Solidum, Fuchigami’s co-defendant in the current pending case, were among the attendees and donors at those gatherings. …

In 2024, a New York Times and Civil Beat investigation found that more than $131 million worth of airport consulting contracts went to companies whose executives and employees made political contributions to candidates through those parties hosted by Wes Yonamine, a high-ranking airport official and a subordinate of Fuchigami….

Midway through 2019, he went back to the airports division, an area for which former colleagues said he always had an affinity….

That job put him in charge of implementing the state’s Safe Travels program during the pandemic. It was intended to screen incoming passengers for Covid-19 to help stem the spread of the disease…

The screening program was one he kept a tight fist on and was keen to personally oversee, according to administration officials.

Under that program, the state began a $24 million contract to install thermal screening cameras that could also scan faces at state airports. It was panned by civil rights groups…

(CLUE: Since no bribe has been alleged on this particular contract, it must be out there, somewhere, undiscovered.)

But, in one hearing in 2020, Fuchigami explained to senators how the thermal cameras actually could be used in conjunction with other airport cameras to aid law enforcement in tracking and finding potential Covid rulebreakers.

State officials later canceled the contract. The DOT paid $6.1 million on the contract, according to testimony to state lawmakers….

as part of the Safe Travels program, Honolulu hired the National Kidney Foundation of Hawaiʻi to set up mobile testing labs at airports, according to emergency procurement requests from the city.

Solidum, the primary defendant in the current bribery case, brought together the mobile testing lab consortium and pitched the project to the city. The kidney foundation would later be awarded pricey testing contracts from the state health department that have become a key part of the new criminal indictments.

Fuchigami left the DOT and started work for the Senate in 2022, where prosecutors allege he took a bribe from Solidum.

According to the indictment, Solidum gave Fuchigami a $7,000 check while he was on the staff of the Senate Ways and Means Committee. Fuchigami later cashed the check and met with Rep. Ryan Yamane, a co-defendant in the case, and Solidum to discuss an emergency appropriation to the health department that was to fund the kidney foundation’s testing labs….

2026: The Curious Career of Ford Fuchigami

2024: Naming Names: Airports Division Ran Late-Night Parties Where Hawaii Politicians Raked In Money

Read … He Oversaw Airports And Billions Of Dollars. Now He’s Accused Of Taking Bribes - Honolulu Civil Beat

Hawaiʻi Democrats hear warning -- voters are 'angry'

HPR: … some leaders at the party’s traditional post-election gathering on Sunday also acknowledged they face challenges keeping the support of voters deeply dissatisfied with the cost of living and housing.

“No Democratic candidate anywhere should take a general election for granted,” U.S. Rep. Ed Case, who won his primary, said in a speech. “The voters today are angry at government in general, and they are — they want us to address the concerns that they have from the cost of living to general functioning of government.” …

Read … Hawaiʻi Democrats unite after primary and hear warning voters are 'angry' | Hawai'i Public Radio

Recount set for Tuesday in two state Republican primary races

HNN: … An automatic recount has been triggered in two state Republican primary races following results so close that one contest was separated by a single vote.

The recount is scheduled for Tuesday from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Because two races are involved, the process could stretch into Wednesday.

In the Republican primary for Senate District 20, incumbent Kurt Fevella trails challenger Bob McDermott by seven votes. In the Republican race for House District 43, incumbent Kanani Souza leads challenger Sheila Medeiros by just one vote.

Because both races fall within half a percentage point, state law requires an automatic recount….

SA: 2 Republican races head for recount after slim margins | Honolulu Star-Advertiser

Read … Recount set for Tuesday in two state Republican primary races | Election 2026 | Hawaii News Now

Maui Police corruption case shows why Hawaiʻi needs federal law enforcement

ASD: … A Maui police lieutenant allegedly arranged his bribes over burner phones and Instagram, certain no one could read them. The FBI read every word. ASD columnist Sterling Higa on why corruption is only ever answered from the rung above….

SA: Maui police disband unit led by officer accused of corruption | Honolulu Star-Advertiser

Read … Maui Police corruption case shows why Hawaiʻi needs federal law enforcement

Soft-on-Crime Maui: 18 Time Loser Allegedly Beats Kupuna to death

HNN: … Johnathan Koko-Kong and Richard Kealoha-Kaauwai are charged with murder, robbery and assault.

A woman also arrested in connection with the case has since been released pending investigation.

Kealoha-Kaauwai has 18 prior convictions, eight of which are felonies.

Koko-Kong has two felony convictions.

Deputy Prosecuting Attorney Chloe Kaleileihua Cabanas argued both men are a danger to the Maui community.

“The allegations here involve an unprovoked attack whereby the defendants are strangers to the complaining witnesses,” Cabanas said. “In this case, they effectively blocked the complaining witnesses in with their two vehicles, parking one in front and one behind, getting out of their vehicles and striking the complaining witnesses multiple times.”

Read … ‘Unthinkable’: Suspects in fatal beating of Maui kupuna held without bail | Hawaii News Now

FBI most-wanted fraudster behind $10M Shriners theft spotted in Philippines

GPDN: … The convicted ringleader of the $34 million Hafa Adai Bingo fraud scheme was seen and photographed by the Pacific Daily News in Manila while remaining a fugitive from U.S. authorities seeking his arrest.

On March 15, PDN photographed Michael L. Marasigan, 49, sitting inside and later leaving what appeared to be a café during the afternoon in the city.

The PDN reported the sighting, and was contacted by the U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation in June. To date, there has been no public announcement of Marasigan’s arrest by U.S. or Philippine law enforcement….

HNN: FBI most-wanted fraudster behind $10M Shriners theft spotted in Philippines | Hawaii News Now

Read … Fugitive Hafa Adai Bingo ringleader, FBI's most wanted Marasigan spotted in Manila | News | guampdn.com

Honolulu Sells Bonds to Fund Rail Line

B: … Honolulu is selling about $196 million of municipal bonds this week, with about $9.4 million funding its Skyline rail system….

Risks associated with the project include federal funding, as Honolulu awaits $244 million from a federal grant commitment, according to bond documents. Plus, delays and escalating material prices could push the final price tag higher.

The bonds carry AA+ ratings from Fitch Ratings and S&P Global Ratings, both with stable outlooks.

Beyond the light rail funding, the remainder of the sale will finance capital projects around the city and refinance outstanding debt. The city borrows annually every summer to finance its capital and equipment needs, said Scott Humber, Honolulu’s director of communications….

Read … Hawaii Sells $196 Million in Bonds to Fund First US Driverless Rail Line - Bloomberg

Hawaiʻi Schools’ New Cellphone Ban Is Here. What Are Teens Saying?

CB: … Sophomore Olena Aleka-Hanohano has already noticed a change at McKinley High School. Students seem friendlier, they are treating their teachers with more respect and staying better focused in the classroom.

The biggest difference from her first year of high school: Students are no longer allowed to use their phones during class.

“When I walk into class now, I don’t see everybody glued to their phones anymore,” she said. “It’s honestly kind of heartwarming to see everybody getting along.”

This school year marks the start of Hawaiʻi’s statewide cellphone policy, which bans the devices during the school day for elementary and middle school students. In the high schools, students can’t use their phones during class but can check them during recess, lunch and passing periods….

Read … Hawaiʻi Schools’ New Cellphone Ban Is Here. What Are Teens Saying? - Honolulu Civil Beat

Civil rights groups protest Palantir surveillance software in Honolulu

HNN: … Civil rights groups rallied in downtown Honolulu Monday to protest Palantir Technologies.

The demonstration was held outside the Pacific Guardian Center, where protesters voiced concerns over the company’s government surveillance software.

Groups involved included the ACLU of Hawaii, Indivisible Hawaii Statewide Network, Oahu Rapid Response Coalition and Hawaii J20+.

Organizers said they are concerned about the use of Palantir technology by federal agencies, including U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Customs and Border Protection….

ACLU: ACLU of Hawaiʻi Opposes HPD’s Drone As First Responder Program, Calls for Independent Oversight and Civil Liberties Safeguards - ACLU of Hawaii

ASD: Community Voices: Punahou student raises concerns about Palantir Technologies in Honolulu

Read … Civil rights groups protest Palantir surveillance software in Honolulu | Hawaii News Now

Hawaii High Court Says Booking.com Can Challenge Tax Rule

L360: … Booking.com can challenge a Hawaii administrative rule that resulted in a $19 million tax bill for the company when its income was sourced to that state if the booking was located there,...

Read … Hawaii High Court Says Booking.com Can Challenge Tax Rule

Skepticism as Maui Weighs $53M Kīhei Desalination Plant

CB: … The gathering at the Kīhei Community Center focused specifically on the idea of a $53 million desalination plant in Kīhei. And while most of the community members who attended didn’t shut the idea down entirely, many shared skepticism about the cost and the disposal for the brine that would be a byproduct of the process.

Community members said they wanted the department to prioritize other strategies first, such as conservation and water reuse, and to look to desalination only if those approaches fail….

(GENIUS LEVEL IDEA: Drill a well upcountry. Gravity. It’s a thing.)

Maui isn’t the first county to consider adding desalination as a way to produce more potable water. On Oʻahu, one desalination plant is already ~~moving forward~~ (faking it to make it). The Kalaeloa Seawater Desalination Facility will (never actually) provide an initial 1.7 million gallons per day to the ʻEwa area. …

Other community members raised the fact that infrastructure to put the highest-grade recycled water being produced in Kīhei is lagging behind, and could be put to better use to reduce the need for potable water. The Kīhei plant can produce up to 8 million gallons of this so-called R-1 water every day, but an extension planned to transport it to Wailea has never been built.

“We have 3 million gallons of available wastewater that could be generated in South Maui, and used in South Maui to free up irrigation water that could be used for potable water,” said County Council member Tom Cook, who represents South Maui and is chair of the Water and Infrastructure Committee.

“The challenge is we don’t have the tanks and all the pipes to utilize all the waters, but that’s in progress,” he said. “It is actively, aggressively being implemented.”…

She said the department is considering applying for funding from the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation to embark on a planning and design process based on recommendations of that study….

(IDEA: Stop chasing every federal dollar.)

REALITY: Desalination is an expensive energy hog

REALITY: Next Boondoggle: Useless $204M Kalaeloa Desalination Plant

Read … 'Dangerously Close To Capacity': Maui Weighs $53M Kīhei Desalination Plant - Honolulu Civil Beat

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