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Wednesday, August 12, 2026

August 12 2026 News Read
By Andrew Walden @ 7:42 AM :: 161 Views

Lahaina: Three Years Later, Return Slows to a Trickle

Building Permits: Maui County doesn’t seem to want to solve the problem

Two Arrests for labor trafficking from Guatemala to Maui

Office of Hawaiian Affairs to Produce Statewide Televised Candidate Forums for 2026 Board of Trustees Election

Federal Justice: No Bail for Maui Police Lt. Accused Of Taking Bribes

CB: … Speaking during a detention hearing Tuesday morning, Assistant U.S. Attorney Jeannette Graviss outlined allegations against Vaituulala dating back to 2019 when he was accused of helping a man avoid arrest after he was stopped for driving under the influence. …

he criminal complaint against Vaituulala also describes an incident involving illegal fireworks that occurred early on New Year’s Day. A firework coming from a party at a home on Puʻumakani Street in Kahului blasted through a neighbor’s wall, causing $36,000 in damage, Hawaii News Now reported.

The party was hosted by Glenn Awong, the Hawaiian music star known as Maoli. Awong was issued a criminal citation, but the case was later dropped due to lack of evidence, according to HNN.

The complaint does not name Awong, but it references a New Year’s party at “Person 3’s home on Maui,” where illegal fireworks were being displayed and a neighbor’s house caught fire as they were being set off.

The complaint also says Person 3 was a “methamphetamine source of supply” for a drug dealing suspect who is described in the complaint as a cooperating defendant.

Dozens of commenters took to social media in recent days to speculate about Awong’s connection to the case.

The comment section of a recent post on Awong’s music Instagram page, @maolimusic, was deactivated Tuesday. The clip of Awong singing his hit “Every Night Every Morning” on stage attracted dozens of comments from Instagram users who digitally heckled him about his alleged involvement with Vaituulala.

Awong could not be reached by phone. He did not respond to messages sent on Instagram and Facebook. His music management company did not respond to an email seeking comment.

The owner of the home where Awong lives, Homan Farrokhmanesh, did not return a voicemail seeking comment. …

KHON: Judge orders Maui lieutenant held in federal custody

HNN: Judge denies release of Maui police commander accused of taking bribes from drug traffickers

HNN: Federal judge denies bail for Maui police lieutenant arrested on bribery charges | Hawaii News Now

Read … Maui Police Leader Accused Of Taking Bribes Will Stay In Jail For Now - Honolulu Civil Beat

Entertainer is linked to Maui officer accused of corruption

SA: … On Jan. 1, one of the aerials allegedly launched from Awong’s party caused $35,000 in damage to Dennis Galloway’s house on Puumakani Street in Kahului. The blast broke a water pipe, cracked concrete, snapped studs, blew a hole through a fence and landed Galloway and his daughter in counseling for PTSD, he testified before commissioners in March.

(TRANSLATION: My neighbor shot an RPG into my house.)

Galloway called police but responding officer refused to approach anyone at the party launching illegal aerials because Vaituulala was there, he alleged.

Vaituulala was suspended without pay after Galloway went before the Maui Police Commission on March 18 and accused Vaituulala of covering for the party at Awong’s house. Galloway shared Vaituulala’s wife’s Instagram story regarding the party at Awong’s house. It allegedly showed Vaituulala’s wife and daughter dancing in front of illegal aerials while Vaituulala stands in the background.

“Why didn’t the lieutenant stop the use of illegal fireworks at that time?” Galloway asked commissioners March 18. “I”m at a loss why a … MPD officer wouldn’t immediately stop the situation.”

Galloway said his family got stuck with a $9,000 deductible and higher insurance premiums. Commissioners were told by MPD at the March 18 meeting that Vaituulala had been suspended without pay.

Vaituulala was charged Wednesday with conspiracy to commit wire fraud by devising a scheme to defraud and deprive another of the intangible right of honest services after he allegedly worked for organized crime on Maui since at least 2019.

The nearly 18-year MPD veteran was head of the now disbanded Criminal Intelligence Unit Opens in a new tab.

On page 28 of the federal criminal complaint that was amended Tuesday, prosecutors note that on “Jan. 1 multiple witnesses confirmed that Vaituulala was present at Person 5’s home on Maui where illegal fireworks were being displayed. A neighbor’s house caught fire as the fireworks were being set off.”

Vaituulala “approved the use of illegally transported fireworks” at a cooperating defendant’s graduation party and at “an event for Person 5.”

“We are not confirming or denying the identities of any unidentified/anonymized persons in the (Vaituulala) complaint,” read a statement to the Star-Advertiser from the U.S. Attorney’s Office. “As a matter of DOJ policy, we generally cannot comment on the existence (or nonexistence) of any ongoing investigation.”

Maoli has recorded “nine independent albums and over a half-billion global streams” over a nearly 15-year recording and touring career, according to the group’s website. The renewed spotlight on Awong’s Jan.1 fireworks citation and its mention in a federal criminal complaint prompted one streaming reggae service to drop Maoli from its rotation.

On Sunday, the Hawaii Reggae Network, an internet radio station dedicated to reggae music from Hawaii, citing “public developments” elected to remove Maoli from “our rotation, effective immediately.” …

Maoli’s next concert is scheduled for Aug. 29 in Hilo. …

(CLUE: In Hilo, these events will boost Maoli ticket sales.)

Read … Entertainer is linked to Maui officer accused of corruption | Honolulu Star-Advertiser

Candidates monitor recounts in tight primary races

KHON: … “People talking about it like man, I didn’t make it, or I should have,” said Medeiros, House Dist. 43 candidate. “So people are now thinking, really thinking hard, that was one vote I could’ve made the difference.”

Election officials and volunteers opened up the boxes where the ballots were stored, to be fed through the counting machines, and then immediately sealed and secured.

“This is the way it should be done – out in the open, so everybody can see what’s going on and we don’t have this 20,000 missing ballots,” said McDermott.

“Our goal is really to support all our candidates and ensure that the election was counted fairly and that the results do reflect the will of our party members,” said Scott Smart, Hawaii Republican Party.

Both races are Republican, and while some said the situation was unfortunate for the party, others are looking at the positive.

“That speaks to the growth of the Republican Party on the west side,” said McDermott. “Before we couldn’t fill a puka. Now, we got two, three people. In my race, three people trying to fill that puka. So it’s great for us going into the future.” …

Results from the recount are expected later Tuesday night or Wednesday at the latest. But there are still the dozens of invalid votes in both races that could turn the tide. Those won’t be finalized until Friday….

Fevella declined to be interviewed….

Read … Candidates monitor recounts in tight primary races

Waters’ Case Clown Show Continues: Five judges recuse themselves from ineligibility appeal

SA: … On Tuesday, ICA associate judges Daniel M. Gluck, Keith K. Hiraoka, Sonja M. P. McCullen and Clyde J. Wadsworth, as well as Chief Judge Karen T. Nakasone, each filed a one-page “Certificate of Recusal” stating, “I hereby recuse myself from sitting on this case.”

The Hawaii State Judiciary declined to further explain.

“The judges do not provide a reason for recusal,” a Judiciary spokesperson said Tuesday.

Waters, a lawyer who previously served as a Circuit Court law clerk and deputy public defender, did not immediately comment on the recusals.

Trevor Ozawa, a lawyer and former Council member who successfully challenged Waters’ eligibility in Saturday’s primary election, said he too did not know why the five judges had removed themselves from the case.

“We have no idea and we may never know,” he added. “But this means that the Circuit Court has to bring in judges to fill in if they don’t transfer to the Supreme Court.”

The recusals come as Ozawa and small-business owner Tara Malia Gregory prepare for the Nov. 3 general election for the District 4 Council seat, which stretches from Waikiki to Hawaii Kai….

Read … Five judges recuse themselves from Tommy Waters’ ineligibility appeal | Honolulu Star-Advertiser

‘Big Beautiful’ School Choice Program Offers Tuition Money for Students: Will Green keep your kid trapped in the failing Hawaii DoE System?

CB: … Part of President Donald Trump’s One Big Beautiful Bill Act, the federal Education Freedom Tax Credit is a first-of-its-kind initiative to expand school choice across the country. It promises to help pay for school expenses like tutoring or after-school care and could even help cover private school tuition beginning next year. That may entice Hawaiʻi parents who pay thousands, or even tens of thousands, of dollars per year for education in a state with one of the highest private school usage rates in the nation.

But Hawaiʻi Gov. Josh Green has not yet decided whether the state will participate….

…As of late July, Hawaiʻi was one of 20 states that has yet to commit to the initiative, and only a handful of Democratic governors have supported the program at this time.

Under the program, taxpayers could donate to any nonprofit dedicated to distributing educational scholarships to students. Donors receive a dollar-for-dollar match in federal tax credits, which are capped at $1,700. In essence, the program costs donors nothing at all if they give less than that threshold.

The nonprofits must distribute taxpayer donations to public or private school students in the form of scholarships, which can cover expenses ranging from tuition to books and uniforms. Nonprofits can decide how much their scholarships are worth and what student groups can benefit, meaning that organizations could target kids attending private Catholic schools or those who are homeless or in the foster care system. …

Over 91% of Hawaiʻi students meet the broad financial requirements for the scholarships, according to an analysis from the American Federation for Children, a school choice advocacy organization. Income limits are set at 300% of the local area median gross income. That comes out to $400,200 for a family of four in Honolulu. Families do not need to donate to a nonprofit and use the tax credit to receive a scholarship.

Gov. Josh Green initially said Hawaiʻi would not participate in the scholarships, but he is now waiting for the federal government to release program regulations in September before consulting with other state agencies, Director of Communications Makana McClellan said in an emailed statement….

Ernest, the mom at Hoʻāla School, was able to cover her daughter’s tuition with the help of ACE Scholarships, a Colorado-based nonprofit that supports private school students in 13 states, including Hawaiʻi.

Micah Hirokawa, president of Hawaiʻi’s branch of ACE Scholarships, said families’ demand far exceeds the scholarships he can provide. Last year, nearly 300 qualified families applied for ACE scholarships and had an average household income of $17,615. But Hirokawa only had enough funds to award 50 scholarships to students at Oʻahu schools.

Hawaiʻi’s participation in the federal tax credit program would open the door for ACE Scholarships to reach more students, Hirokawa said. He currently awards scholarships to families with the greatest financial need at certain private schools but would be open to serving public school students if the state opted into the tax credit.

The federal tax credits could incentivize everyday taxpayers to contribute to organizations like ACE, said Brandy Ann Sato, president of Sacred Hearts Academy, an all girls private school in Kaimukī. Sacred Hearts Academy is partnering with ACE Scholarships for a second year to provide scholarships to families, with awards running from roughly $3,000 to $4,000 depending on students’ ages. …

“Some less fortunate children can benefit, but overall, it’s opening the door to just so many problems,” said Lois Yamauchi, a professor in the College of Education at the University of Hawaiʻi Mānoa. “I think we should be supporting public education, not trying to chip away at it.”…

(TRANSLATION: Useless DoE bureaucrats are more important than your children.)

BACKGROUND: New Analysis Estimates Nearly 52 Million Children Nationwide Qualify for Federal Education Freedom Tax Credit Scholarships - American Federation for Children

Read … Trump-Backed Program Offers Money For Students. Will Hawaiʻi Take It? - Honolulu Civil Beat

State opposing county plan for East Maui water system

HNN: … The county has been seeking state approval to negotiate a takeover of that system and create a unified county water distribution system. The state is now opposing that move….

Mahi Pono, which operates the East Maui Irrigation system through a subsidiary, used the same OHA meeting to defend its position that the state should retain oversight of the ditch system.

Mahi Pono general manager Grant Nakama said the state is better positioned to manage it.

“I think where we disagree is that we feel that that’s the state’s purview — they have the experience and resources to continue to do that job,” Nakama said….

During his presentation, Nakama said Mahi Pono would not receive water until other users are satisfied first.

“Mahi Pono doesn’t get any water until every other use is satisfied, and I think that is important to remember,” Nakama said….

Read … State opposing county plan for East Maui water system | Hawaii News Now

‘Hawaiian Council’ buys Sea Life Park

SA: … The council closed the deal with Herschend Family Entertainment on Tuesday for an undisclosed amount. Kuhio Lewis, CEO of Hawaiian Council (fka CNHA), said operations will continue uninterrupted, with no planned layoffs and all existing reservations and annual passes remaining valid. He said the council intends to invest in cultural programming, landscaping, food offerings and visitor experiences.

(TRANSLATION: ‘COVID been very very good to me.’)

Lewis said the council has tapped former Sea Life Park General Manager Valerie King, who retired in 2023, to lead the transition. Sea Life Park Hawai‘i will be operated by Attractions Hawai‘i, a wholly owned subsidiary of Hawai‘i Holdings & Investments, a for-profit holding company that oversees the commercial enterprises that support the organization’s broader community initiatives….

The council closed the deal with Herschend Family Entertainment on Tuesday for an undisclosed amount. Kuhio Lewis, CEO of Hawaiian Council, said operations will continue uninterrupted, with no planned layoffs and all existing reservations and annual passes remaining valid. He said the council intends to invest in cultural programming, landscaping, food offerings and visitor experiences.

Lewis said the park employs about 100 people, bringing Hawaiian Council’s total workforce to roughly 600 across its business enterprises, which have expanded more aggressively into tourism, destination stewardship and entertainment since 2023.

Lewis said the council has lost millions in federal funds through Trump administration cutbacks and because it has chosen not to pursue some funding opportunities in the current environment.

“We’re almost 100% free of federal money and we’re sustaining ourselves and growing,” he said. “It’s been three years since we’ve really taken on this model of economic sovereignty where we’re creating our own resources to support our programs and services.”

The council’s tourism arm, Kilohana, secured a multiyear, $27 million tourism stewardship contract from the Hawai‘i Tourism Authority in 2023. It expanded further in 2024, acquiring Hawai‘i Stage and launching Na Lei Aloha Luau at the Hyatt Regency Waikiki Beach. In 2025, it acquired Na Mea Hawai‘i, a retailer featuring local artists and crafters. Through a broader cultural activation agreement with Ko Olina Resort, the council also opened Kaula Lu‘au at Ko Olina in February and is targeting a December debut for the Broadway-style musical Hawaiian Goddess: The Epic Tale of Hi‘iaka.

He said Sea Life Park and the council’s other business ventures operate through a for-profit subsidiary, and that a portion of the revenue they generate is intended to support programs focused on housing, job creation, workforce development, lending capital and emergency assistance….

Read … Hawaiian Council buys Sea Life Park, assumes stewardship | Honolulu Star-Advertiser

Maui Riot: How the outrage machine works

SA: … it was an ugly picture. But it’s also a picture — meaning somebody drew the outlines and someone else colored it in. How about we pause our mental Identi-Kits and throw our “Law & Order: Special Haole Unit” preconceptions aside for a moment? Slow our roll over what went down in Maui. Because the reactions to the violent incident have quickly become disproportionate, fueled by our bread and circuses culture and political moment.

Since we’re all experts in how the outrage machine works, let’s stop and admire the handiwork, because this one is textbook: The incident starts with initial rumors and comments on the internet, of course. Television news strikes next: raised eyebrows, “concerned” voices. Day Two gets the juicy tidbits, highlights such as chairs being thrown and a bloody scalp wound. On Day Three, the bated- breath news media can boast they have the real red meat with the solemn announcement that “the FBI is involved.” ….

Read … Column: Maui riot throws spotlight on tourism | Honolulu Star-Advertiser

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