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Hawai'i Free Press

Weekly News Read

April 5 2026

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Floods – Just Like Lahaina: Calls to 911 Ignored by Emergency Operations Management

… Formby described the Emergency Operations Center as both “extremely structured” and “chaotic,” with more than 100 personnel ‘processing information’ ….

Defacto Eminent Domain: Maui County prepares land buyback roll out for Lahaina

… The agenda has always been to exploit the Lahaina fire to wipe out the makai side of Front Street. The purpose is to re-make Lahaina to maximize the tourist experience. Here is how it is being done ….

86% Pay Hike for Honolulu Council--Third Raise in Three Years for Honolulu Politicians (and they got YOU to vote for it)

… In Nov, 2024 General Election, 90.6% of voters were tricked into voting for this pay hike. ….

Kamehameha Schools lawsuit plaintiffs “to suffer mob-style execution”

… Kamehameha Admissions: Without Affirmative Action Defense, Who Needs Victimology? ….

Green Names Andy Winer's Law Partner Chief Justice

... Vladimir Devens to serve as Chief Justice of the Hawaiʻi Supreme Court ....

HECO: Electric Bills Will Jump 30%

... Hawaiian Electric is forecasting that typical residential bills may rise between 20% and 30% over the next several months. Oahu customers will start seeing higher April bills, followed by Hawaii Island and Maui County customers who will see increases in May and June. ...

Carbon Credit Scheme Drives Gunstock Ranch into Bankruptcy

... The Sierra Club’s favorite Hawaii carbon credit scheme is run by a former penny stock tout listed in the ‘Panama Papers.’ It isn't going well ....

Schatz opposes housing bill after getting tens of thousands from Blackstone, other groups

... Schatz received at least $131,500 from organizations that oppose the bill ....

Hawai ʻ i residents are simultaneously being priced out and left behind

… 87% of residents want housing to be the legislature’s top priority. Only 8% strongly approve of how the Legislature has handled it ….

HB2049: Another Massive Tax Increase on Housing

… Legislators ‘affordable’ housing plan? Tax housing ….

City Office of Economic Revitalization was just a Scam to Burn up COVID Money

… COVID-era American Rescue Plan Act funds are expected to run dry at the end of 2026 so OER must go too ….

Will Legislators Rescue $55M from Hawai’i Convention Center Money Pit? Dancing Roof Job Magically Leaps to $87M

… “$100M, $64M, $36M, $87M, $55M, $34M, $21M.” ….

Convention Center Money Spins out of Control

… HTA Whistleblower Isaac Choy Illegally Fired by Governor’s Chief of Staff ….

Hawaii bill aims to shield foster care nonprofits from crushing liability after repeated child torture deaths

… House Bill 1645, now under consideration in the Hawaii Senate ….

Following the golden rule … of budgeting

... Hawaii’s county mayors have released their proposed budgets for the next fiscal year, and most appear to be fiscally responsible....

Pacific Air Force: $37M 8(a) Fraud Scheme Paid 'Godfather'

... The Nine-Year Scheme Defrauded the Military of $37 Million for Information Technology Contracts Serving U.S. Air Force Installations Across the Pacific ....

New Lawsuit Challenges Native Hawaiian Health Scholarship

... Do No Harm v. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services et al. ....

SCOTUS Overturns Ban on so-called 'Gay Conversion Therapy'

... the law only prohibited counseling conversations in one direction. It allowed conversations that push young people toward a gender identity different from their sex ....

Honolulu DMV Recalls '4-MAGA' License Plate

... too Trumpy for Hawaii roads? ....

VIDEO: Fake ICE Agent Beaten in Waikiki

... multiple people take the guy down to the ground and they wail on him with fists and feet ... including one woman who kicks him in the face several times ....

WSJ: “Hawaii Democrats are trying to silence opponents so unions can coerce workers to keep funding progressive political causes”

... The decision is now on appeal to the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals ....

SB3055: Censor Union Opt-Out Efforts

... Oregon enacted virtually identical legislation along party lines in 2025, and the Freedom Foundation filed a federal First Amendment lawsuit challenging it. ...

Hawaii's Good Friday Holiday - What's Up With That?

...If you ask how "a religious holiday observed primarily by Christians commemorating the crucifixion of Jesus Christ and his death at Calvary" squares with the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment, let us explain ....

Hawaii bill to ban commercial reef fishing stalls

... The Hawaii Senate Committee on Commerce and Consumer Protection voted 2-2, leaving the recommendation to ban commercial aquarium fishing on Oahu unadopted ....

Case: Jones Act Waiver 'shines spotlight on the crippling effects of the Jones Act on the cost of living'

"...to waive the Jones Act to try to hold down skyrocketing fuel and other energy costs is a blanket admission of the Jones Act’s crippling effects on our economy...."

In Hawaii trial, Navy fights claim of ongoing fuel spill risk

... officials say past spills ended and sweeping fixes have made recurrence unlikely ....

EPA Concludes Drinking Water Has Been Free of Fuel Contamination Since 2022, in Wake of Red Hill Release

... Following rigorous assessment of public water systems impacted by 2021 Red Hill fuel release, EPA issues final drinking water report ....

UHERO: Economic Impact of Post-Fire Maui Tourism Downturn

...the extraordinary losses from the 2023 wildfires in Lahaina and Kula continue to dampen tourist numbers....

February Tourist Spending Up 10.3%

...total spending by visitors in February 2026 was $1.91 billion, an increase of 10.3 percent.... 787,024 total visitors came to the Hawaiian Islands, up 3.6 percent...

Election 2026: 251 Candidates Pull Papers to Run

... For legislative seats, 75 Democrats and 40 Republicans have pulled papers ....

Hawaii Voters to Receive Voter Registration Notices Ahead of 2026 Elections

...In the coming weeks, Hawaii voters will receive their voter registration notice in the mail. The notice confirms that you’re properly registered....

When Healthcare Feels Like an Ocean Away

... For a pregnant mother on Molokaʻi, giving birth can mean having to leave home weeks before her due date ....

After the Storm: The Hidden Threat to Hawaii's Homes

"...After the Storm: Keli'i Akina & Lance Luke discuss The Hidden Threat to Hawaii's Homes...."

Hawaii Family Forum Legislative Week in Review

... This Week at the Capitol: Resolutions, Resolutions, Resolutions ....

Complete List: 2026 High School Graduation Ceremonies

... graduation ceremony dates, times and locations for the Class of 2026 ....

Hawaii Woman Sentenced for Lahaina Fire Fraud

... Daylyn Harris, 34, and Chelsea Johnson, 32, of Honolulu, Hawaii, were arrested on July 15, 2025 ....

COVID Fraud: Former USDA Official Pleads Guilty to Receiving an Illegal Gratuity

"...the FSA issued the woman a payment of $65,745, to which she was not entitled...."

USDA Announces SNAP Food Replacement for victims of KONA Low 2 Storm

... approve automatic mass replacements of 50% benefits for residents of ZIP codes of 96712 and 96791 ....

Green Names Judges for Kauai, Maui

... Judge Annalisa Bernard Lee, Maui and Judge Michael Soong, Kauai ....

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