September 28, 2026 News Read

By Andrew Walden @ 6:55 AM :: 168 Views

Complete List of All Hawaii 2026 Ballot Questions State and County

Maui’s new grant rules are good first step, but more transparency needed

Who the Cowards are: Hawaii Politicians private weaseling

CB: … A new book details the spineless power players in the Trump world. But Hawaiʻi has its own cowardly behavior, rooted in a culture of avoidance….

Hawai‘i has a different kind of cowardice, though. Hawaiʻi’s cowardice is about things not spoken, under the surface, not talked about, wished away.

The quiet cowardice of saying nothing, doing nothing, and avoiding conversation about all of this not-saying and not-doing.

To understand what Hawai‘i’s quiet, under-the-surface cowardice is all about, we can use Weisberg as a guide.

Weisberg goes beyond the label of “coward” and shows how the Trump collaborators actually behaved. Actually, Weisberg is more convincing that his subjects acted wrongly than they acted cowardly.

They acted badly for reasons beside fear: greed, insecurity, self-protection, power, for some at least, a little naïvete….

Trump cowardice = public groveling.

Hawai‘i cowardice = private weaseling. …

Hawaiʻi’s government is terrible at implementation, administrative transparency, and getting things completed on time. The public treats stated deadlines as fairy dust. And why not?

Hawai‘i’s civic cowardice is much about that. Quiet incompetence, concealed reasons, saying nothing and doing nothing while evading the heart of the matter when things go south. Relying on private networks concealed from the public eye….

Since the state is so heavily one-party controlled, Democrats can easily get away with this civic cowardice because there is no opposition party strong enough to call them on it. The Dems can get away with being opaque….

How Can We Inspire More Bravery?

In Hawai‘i, we can’t do this simply by making sweeping, angry accusations typical of readers’ comments: “Who cares? They’re all cowards.”

Those are just words without actions, anger without commitment and an excuse for giving up….

Hawaiʻi cowards are ordinary folk.

They’re your friends and neighbors operating in and not resisting a deeply engrained political culture of avoidance, incompetence and acceptance….

read … Neal Milner: Cowardice Isn't Limited To Trump Sycophants - Honolulu Civil Beat

Deliberations continue in trial over former HTA exec Isaac Choy’s firing

SA: … A First Circuit Court jury is expected to return today for a second day of deliberations after hearing conflicting accounts of why former Hawai‘i Tourism Authority executive Isaac Choy lost his job with Choy’s attorney arguing he was retaliated against for whistleblowing and the state contending he was fired for workplace misconduct substantiated by an independent investigation.

Choy, HTA’s former vice president of finance and interim chief administrative officer, alleges state officials violated public policy and the state’s Whistleblower Protection Act by retaliating against him after he raised concerns about procurement, contracting and spending practices. He is suing the Hawai‘i Tourism Authority, Gov. Josh Green’s chief of staff Brooke Wilson, and Caroline Anderson, HTA interim president and CEO.

Judge Taryn Tomasa will decide Choy’s whistleblower and wrongful termination claims, while the jury will determine whether Anderson and Wilson are liable for damages. Closing arguments were heard Friday in the case, which began Sept. 10….

read … Deliberations continue in trial over former HTA exec Isaac Choy’s firing | Honolulu Star-Advertiser

At Issue In Tokuda Vs. Awa: Who’s Better for Native Hawaiians?

CB: … Awa is attempting to make history as the first-ever Republican to represent Hawaiʻi’s 2nd Congressional District, which encompasses rural Oʻahu and the neighbor islands. A former KITV News anchor with an unconventional approach to politics, Awa has consciously distanced himself from the Democratic establishment that has long controlled the levers of power in Hawaiʻi and eagerly boasts of his more than 1,000 “no” votes in the Legislature. …

read … At Issue In Tokuda Vs. Awa: Who’s Better for Native Hawaiians? - Honolulu Civil Beat

The Latest Challenge For Honolulu Police: Hire More Women

CB: … Police departments in Hawaiʻi have been increasing the number of women in their ranks at a glacial pace over the last decade, but the Honolulu Police Department is making a push for progress.

HPD, where female officers make up 14% of the ranks, signed a pledge earlier this month aiming to have 30% of its force made up of women by 2030 — doubling over the next three years.

The pledge is part of a nationwide initiative called 30×30 launched in 2021 with the goal of increasing the representation of women in law enforcement across the country. The Hawaiʻi Department of Law Enforcement also signed the pledge, but no other county department in Hawaiʻi has. …

read … The Latest Challenge For Honolulu Police: Hire More Women - Honolulu Civil Beat

Hawaii Tourist Accused of Hurling Rock at Seal Has Restrictions Eased

NW: … He faces up to one year in prison for each charge, a term of supervised release, as well as fines of up to $50,000 under the Endangered Species Act, up to $20,000 under the Marine Mammal Protection Act, and up to $100,000 under the Criminal Fine Improvements Act.

The endangered Hawaiian monk seal is one of the rarest marine mammals in the world, and has a total wild population of only around 1,600 individual seals.

After being released on bond, Lytvynchuk’s travel was initially restricted to the western district of Washington and the island of Oahu to attend court only.

However, in an order on September 25, a federal magistrate judge in Hawaii expanded these restrictions to include the entire state of Washington, following earlier discussions about permitting work-related travel in the state. This is in addition to his being permitted to travel to Oahu for court purposes.

Lytvynchuk’s trial is scheduled to begin on November 16 before Magistrate Judge Rom Trader in Honolulu. He has pleaded not guilty to the charges.

U.S. Attorney Ken Sorenson previously said in a statement about the case: “Today’s charges against Igor Lytvynchuk demonstrate our solemn commitment to not only protect Hawaii’s endangered monk seals, but all of our unique and endangered wildlife species from those who illegally harass, injure, or attempt to take them in defiance of federal law.” ….

read … Hawaii Tourist Accused of Hurling Rock at Seal Has Restrictions Eased - Newsweek

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