Hawaii Daily News Read

Friday, October 9, 2026

October 9, 2026 News Read

By Andrew Walden @ 12:21 PM :: 231 Views

VIDEO: Brenton Awa vs Jill Tokuda at CD2 Candidate Forum

400 Flock Cameras on Hawaii Roads? HGEA questions 'surrender of privacy'

Phony Success: DoE Numbers Creep Up as COVID Era Students Age Out of System

Number of teens who identify themselves as gay or bisexual is in ‘free fall’ as 9th grade girls lose interest in fad

WaPo: … In 2021, 30 percent of ninth-grade girls identified as lesbian or bisexual. Last year, 17 percent did….

The “free fall,” Twenge found, mostly comes from a huge drop in the number of freshmen girls who identify as bisexual. While 26 percent of ninth-grade girls identified as bisexual in 2021, only 13 percent — half as many — did in 2025….

2024: A consensus no longer “Journal of the American Medical Association reported 3,125 cases of ‘breast or chest procedures’ in patients ages 12 to 18 between 2016 to 2020”

2026: “Gender Affirming Care” -- What would George Orwell Say?

read … Number of teens who identify themselves as gay or bisexual is in ‘free fall’ - The Washington Post

Mainland Kanye West Campaigner Funnels Money to Missen Bissen

CB: … In addition to supporting Ozawa, the PAC bought more than $20,000 in ads ahead of the primary election to support a House candidate named Bulla Eastman, who lost to Rep. Adrian Tam. And it reported donating $2,000 to Maui Mayor Richard Bissen’s reelection campaign, though Bissen’s campaign team denied receiving the funds. …

For weeks leading up to this year’s elections, listeners of radio stations such as 102.7 Da Bomb have heard ads promoting Honolulu City Council candidate Trevor Ozawa followed by a disclosure: The advertisements were supported by an “America First” themed group.

A Civil Beat review of public records show the ads were purchased by a new local political action committee called Hoʻoulu Hawaiʻi. With more than $55,000 in reported receipts as of late September, the organization is largely supported by a West Virginia-based business called TAB America First Action Fund Inc. A website for a super PAC by the similar name — TAB America First — promotes conservative values, including parental rights and border control.

Public records show the TAB America First business and the PAC are run by the same person: Patrick Krason of West Virginia, a political operative who was campaign treasurer for rapper and former presidential candidate Ye, better known as Kanye West.

“Our citizens, our neighborhoods, our national identity come before any foreign interest or global agenda,” the PAC website states….

Of the three candidates, Eastman appears to be the most politically aligned with Krason.

He said he ran as a conservative Democrat when he challenged Rep. Tam for his Waikīkī House district seat, and he also spoke at a small talk story event last Friday evening for Gregory, Ozawa’s conservative opponent. Gregory was one of three options the Republican Party put forward to replace Rep. Gene Ward when he died last year.

“It is strange, though,” Eastman said. “But you know, when you look at the political process as a whole, the whole process is strange.”…

Read … Ex-Kanye West Campaigner Funnels Thousands To Hawaiʻi Candidates - Honolulu Civil Beat

HD32: Aiu “Trying to buy votes”

CB: … At a rally scheduled for Sunday in Oʻahu, a candidate for the Hawaiʻi House of Representatives is enticing potential voters with more lucrative attractions: a free 55-inch Samsung television and a roundtrip airfare to Las Vegas.

(Donna Mercado Kim’s son) Micah Aiu, a Democrat seeking to regain his House District 32 seat (Fort Shafter, Moanalua, Āliamanu, Foster Village, portions of ‘Aiea and Hālawa), promotes the prizes in a mailer sent to area voters….

Rep. Garner Shimizu, the Republican incumbent in the race, who defeated Aiu two years ago, said the mailer raises ethical concerns. “It was kind of surreal and kind of out of place,” said Shimizu, who heard about the mailer from a friend. “We are supposed to be honorable. I felt like it was inappropriate.” …

Kristin Izumi-Nitao, the executive director of the Hawaiʻi Campaign Spending Commission, said her office is aware of the mailer and is looking into it.

“The Campaign Spending Commission was recently made aware of the talk story event that will take place this weekend for Micah Aiu,” Izumi-Nitao said in an email.

“We note that this event has not occurred yet, Mr. Aiu has not contacted our office, and a review of his current campaign finance reports do not show expenses such as the purchase of a TV or a round-trip airfare to Las Vegas. If campaign funds were used to purchase these items for a door prize drawing, we believe that it could be a violation of the use of campaign funds.”…

“I have heard that he is trying to buy votes,” said Shimizu, who declined to make that charge himself….

BACKGROUND: The Secret History of the Mercado Kim Crime Family – “Kim’s son, Micah Po'okela Kim Aiu, finally did go to UH Law school in 2013--a year after lying to his mommy about it. After graduating, he got the kind of job all brand new lawyers get--general counsel for Nan Inc--where he today 'earns' $100-150K per year. In 2022, he was elected to ‘represent’ HD32, encompassing Aloha Stadium. Nan Inc, led by convicted bid-rigging felon Patrick Shin, is a partner in the 'Wailoa' group competing to redesign Aloha Stadium.”

Read … Chili Isn't Enough: Hawaiʻi Candidate Lures Voters With TV, Vegas Trip - Honolulu Civil Beat

Anti-Telescope Circus Over: Maunakea board opts to take no position as Mountain is Prepared to Revert to UH Control

HTH: … During a MKSOA Board meeting Thursday, Chair John Komeiji emphasized that the board was only serving in an advisory capacity with regard to the potential amendment, and the decision is ultimately up to the UH Board of Regents.

“We’re giving input, but the actual decision is made by the University of Hawaii Regents, and that is not the meeting today,” he said.

He said the board had received written testimony on the topic from about 80 people, split relatively evenly in support and against.

The proposed amendment was first presented to the MKSOA board for input last month by Gregory Chun, the executive director of the UH Hilo Center for Maunakea Stewardship. He said the primary goal was to more closely align the university’s plan with Act 255. The board voted to defer the topic to its October meeting to allow more time to review the changes.

MKSOA Board Vice Chair Noe Noe Wong-Wilson questioned the motive for the change and the need for such an amendment ahead of the impending transition, which prohibits the university from extending, renewing or issuing new leases for observatories in the meantime.

“Even if they choose to change their plan, I don’t think they can do anything,” she said at Thursday’s meeting. “I think it’s either to show somebody something — I don’t know what — or, in the awful circumstance that 2028, 2029 comes along, and we, Maunakea Stewardship and Oversight Authority, aren’t able to meet our legal obligations, and it reverts back to the university… .”

She also said she felt like the amendment created unnecessary confusion and alarm in the community by causing concern that the change could facilitate the construction of the Thirty Meter Telescope, a proposed new observatory that was put on hold following large protests in 2019. Recently, TMT management has said it would explore utilizing a decommissioned site instead of its originally intended location.

“Our concern is that we maintain open communication and trust with ‘our community’, and that is our focus in creating our plans, and this is a distraction, it’s unnecessary … ,” Wong-Wilson said. “Now, we find ourselves in the uncomfortable place of having to deal with a, you know, kind of imaginary situation that has a real impact on the community that stood up to protect Maunakea.”

MKSOA board member (and former anti-telescope protester) Lanakila Mangauil echoed this concern.

“Looking at a lot of the testimonies and the vibe in the community, is that this is a special favor action as a favor to particular constructions,” he said. “And, as for myself, you know, I think that this is a distraction as well … .” (blablabla)

Several members of the public spoke at the meeting in-person and via Zoom, both for and against the amendment….

Leinani Lozi, another community member, who also works with one of the observatories on Maunakea, spoke in favor of the amendment and said she felt it was possible for astronomy and caring for the land to go hand in hand.

“As a kanaka maoli wahine and kamaaina, I strongly believe that Maunakea is a sacred site, and the human practice of observing the cosmos and answering questions like, ‘Where do we come from?’ and ‘Are we alone?’ is a sacred science … ,” she said. “In order for astronomy on Maunakea to be truly grounded in our values, specifically that of aloha aina, and to continue to be world-leading in astronomical research, the reuse of already developed sites is necessary.”

Community member and Windward Planning Commissioner JoNelle Fukushima also provided testimony.

“TMT’s willingness to explore a previously disturbed footprint deserves fresh assessment, not automatic approval, but not automatic rejection either,” she said. “Prioritize reuse, require cultural and environmental review, water safeguards, restoration and transparency.”

The MKSOA Board ultimately decided Thursday not to take a stance on the amendment and instead opted to pass along the testimony that was received to the Board of Regents, along with a recording of comments made during the meeting.

Komeji said that while he personally was supportive of the amendment, he was frustrated (blablabla) …

REALITY: HB2592: Maunakea authority has 2 years to fail—then telescope area goes back to UH control

read … Maunakea board opts to take no position on controversial amendment - Hawaii Tribune-Herald

Failing Upwards: Hawaii Department of Education seeks $150M more in funding

SA: … The state Department of Education is seeking $80.6 million in additional general funds for fiscal 2028-29, largely to maintain existing school services, cover rising operating costs and address needs the department says are underfunded or unfunded.

The request would represent a net increase in funding, rather than an entirely new set of programs, and comes after the Legislature reduced the DOE’s general-fund base budget by $1.71 million for fiscal 2026-27.

The proposed budget for the 2027-29 fiscal biennium calls for $69.45 million in additional general funds for fiscal 2027-28 and $80.62 million for fiscal 2028-29, according to a budget request submitted Thursday by DOE Superintendent Keith Hayashi to the state Board of Education’s Finance and Infrastructure Committee….

(DO THE MATH: $69.45M + $80.62M = $150.07M)

The request comes as the state continues to fund a public school system with billions of dollars in annual operating expenses. The DOE’s operating budget for fiscal 2026-27 is $2.37 billion, covering day-to-day expenses such as teacher salaries, classroom resources and school operations.

The department’s latest per-pupil expenditure report, covering fiscal 2024-25, found adjusted expenditures of $23,935 per student, based on an enrollment of 167,076 students. …

The DOE’s operating budget is separate from its capital improvement program budget, which funds school construction, maintenance and facility upgrades and is funded largely through state bonds….

REALITY: Hawaii DoE Schools, 73% of 11th Graders can’t do the Math

REALITY: DoE Loses Another 1.6%--Charter Schools Continue to Grow

read … Hawaii Department of Education seeks $80.6M more in funding | Honolulu Star-Advertiser

These Hawaiʻi Agencies Have Withheld the Most From the Public

CB: … The Public First Law Center keeps track of which agencies are the most and least responsive every year. Its latest report on Fiscal Year 2025 notes numerous agencies that disclosed nothing more than half the time….

LINK: Reports – Public First Law Center

Read … These Hawaiʻi Agencies Have Withheld The Most From The Public - Honolulu Civil Beat

Man convicted of first-degree murder in officer’s death

MN: … A jury has convicted Clembert Alii Kaneholani, 39, of first-degree murder in the August 2025 shooting death of Maui Police Officer Suzanne O.

In addition to first-degree murder, Kaneholani was also convicted of first-degree reckless endangerment, being a felon in possession of a firearm and other lesser charges….

The jury began its deliberations Tuesday afternoon. Jurors are scheduled to return to Maui Circuit Court on Friday to hear attorneys’ arguments regarding whether Kaneholani should be sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole….

ASD: Hamada: Remember Officer O, not her killer

HNN: Man convicted of first-degree murder in Maui police officer’s death

read … Man convicted of first-degree murder in officer’s death - Maui News

Keeno pleads 'not guilty' of Malone shooting

ASD: … Strand also submitted on Wednesday a request for discovery, asking the Honolulu Police Department to provide communications logs and other records pertinent to how they investigated the shooting.

Among those records Strand requested were phone records of a witness who was named in police records as the person who positively identified Keeno as the shooter. He also requested that witness’ financial records between Sept. 26 and Thursday, to look for any transaction of money between the witness and Malone’s family “in exchange for his false statements to law enforcement.”

Strand’s request also sought Malone’s mother’s complete phone records “regarding her threats to ‘take out’” [Keeno] or otherwise harm [Keeno] in retaliation.”

Johnson scheduled Keeno’s trial for December of this year. Keeno remains in custody at the Women’s Community Correction Center….

Members of Malone’s family packed the courtroom, with some holding up photos of the deceased throughout the proceedings. Malone’s father, Mike Malone, declined to speak to reporters, but led a prayer circle with other family members after the hearing concluded….

Read … Keeno pleads 'not guilty' of Kailua shooting

2nd Time for Att Murder 2? Man turns himself in after allegedly shooting man in chest in Ewa Beach

KITV: … HPD determined through their investigation that the victim and a 33-year-old man (HPD Blotter: Makai Somera, 33) were involved in an altercation on Papipi Road in Ewa Beach. The suspect threatened to kill the victim before he allegedly shot him once in the chest and drove away…. The suspect turned himself in to police at the main police station in Honolulu at 1:26 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 8. He was arrested for second-degree attempted murder….

2012: Man charged after allegedly ramming car into girlfriend's vehicle | Honolulu Star-Advertiser (Makai Somera) had faced a second-degree attempted murder charge after he allegedly rammed his car into the woman’s sport utility vehicle after the couple argued at about 1:30 p.m. Monday. Police did not release information on any injuries to the woman. The attempted murder charge was dropped, the city prosecutor’s office said.

read … Man turns himself in after allegedly shooting man in chest in Ewa Beach | Crime & Courts | kitv.com

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