Email from Hawaii Free Press

Weekly News Read

June 7 2026

'Enough is Enough' -- After 12 Years Feds Lose Patience, Decertify Hawaii Medicaid Fraud Unit

...The numbers show Hawaii AGs Claire Connor and Anne Lopez kept Medicaid fraud enforcement at or near zero just as COVID fraud was spiking, thus allowing a massive wave of crooked COVID money to lubricate the system....

Medicaid Fraud: Green Orders DHS to Create 'Strike Force'

“The findings outlined by the Office of Inspector General are serious and deserve a serious response,” said Governor Green.

Lawsuit: Hawaiian Homelands Will Win Because OHA Lost

... SCOTUS ruling against OHA in 2009 means special protection for Hawaiian Homelands today ....

Lawsuit: Hawaii 'Corporate Personhood' law silences nonprofits and civic groups

... The Institute for Free Speech has filed a lawsuit on behalf of the Grassroot Institute to challenge Act 11, which stands to block the nonprofit’s civic advocacy efforts ....

DHS Fail: Hawaiʻi Is The Only State Not Tracking Abuse In Childcare

… the last time data was published was 2016 ….

Maui Fire Legal Fees: Lawyers to get $222M of fire victims money

… “By asking for $1B, I made $222M look like peanuts. And I made the act of taking $222M from fire victims seem like a 'sacrifice.'” ….

Dr No: HMSA Denies 44.4% of 'Prior Authorization' Requests

... HMSA’s same-day denial rate is 22 times higher than Kaiser ....

Hawaii Healthcare Directory: 69% Ghost Listings

...The Directory Is Lying to You: What ghost networks actually cost Hawaiʻi patients and why no one is held accountable....

Lawsuit Challenges DHHL as 'Race-Based'

... Why This Suit Will Fail: 2009 Supreme Court ruling shields Hawaiian Homelands and ceded lands revenue ....

Green, Lopez: We will defend DHHL

...Solicitor General Kalikoʻonālani Fernandes, who has extensive experience handling complex constitutional litigation on behalf of the state, will lead our legal team in defending this challenge....

Some of our statehood deal is starting to seem frazzled

… The current Washington administration, citing the “woke” ideology of the past, is moving aggressively to classify Native Hawaiians as a racial minority instead of an Indigenous people….

$35K Bribe: AG Issues Another Update

... The current update makes no mention of "review(ing) records, conduct(ing) interviews and evaluat(ing) information obtained through subpoenas" ....

Election 2026: 310 Candidates File by Deadline

... for legislative seats, 104 Democrats, 43 Republicans, and 7 others have filed papers ....

Green vs Cordery for Governor tops list of 100 contests on November Ballot

… The battle for Maui mayor features incumbent Richard ‘Missen’ Bissen vs Maui County Council member Yuki Lei Sugimura ….

21 Hawaii incumbents already reelected with no opponents

… Candidates who have no challengers include Senate President Ron Kouchi and House Speaker Nadine Nakamura ….

Honolulu Officials Accept Raises Without Hearing Public Opposition

… their fourth pay raise in four years ….

Council passes budget over mayor’s veto threat

… a $1.4 million cut to the mis-named Office of Economic Revitalization prompts mayor to threaten a veto ….

Trump Administration Foolishly Gives HART another $125M

… a $125 million federal reimbursement connected to last year’s opening of the more than $10-billion Skyline project’s second segment past the airport, ….

Simplifying Permitting for Enhanced Economic Development Task Force

...The findings and recommendations will be presented during the SPEED Summit, scheduled for January 15, 2027....

Hawaii 8th-Worst Economy in USA

... Hawaii Ranks 45th for Annual Median Household Income adjusted for cost of living ....

Report Ranks Hawaii Teachers Union 5th Strongest

... the proportion of teachers holding HSTA membership has dropped only 0.32% since 2012 ....

Hawaii: 2nd Poorest Rich People in USA

...Hawaii has the second-poorest rich people, and the 10th-poorest poor people -- but the 2nd-richest middle class. And yet middle class families still can't afford their first home and are fleeing Hawaii by the thousands. ...

Targeting High Earners is Misguided and Will Worsen States’ Fiscal Positions

... Hawaii's new 13 percent tax bracket is likely to affect around 3,000 taxpayers ....

Navigating the NIL(e)

... college athletes to be compensated for their name, image, and likeness (referred to as NIL) ....

Kauaʻi, PMRF, and the Road Ahead

"...the world’s largest instrumented multi-environment range...."

Secret Rules: Court Says Hawaiʻi House Violated State Constitution

... the House Advisory Committee on Rules met in secret and made decisions ....

Can refusing a sobriety test be used against you? Hawaii high court weighs in

... She was arrested anyway, taken to the station and blew a 0.140 on a breath test, well above the legal limit ....

After Bribery Scandal, Hawaii County Auditor Looks at Affordable Housing Credits

... Follow-Up Report: Office of Housing and Community Development Affordable Housing Credits | Hawaii County, HI ....

Guns, drugs, and money seized by FBI Honolulu Field Office during Operation Spring Cleaning

... 27 warrants, 8 kilograms of methamphetamine, 5 kilograms of cocaine, 4 kilograms of other miscellaneous illegal drugs, 10 firearms, 11 firearm accessories, and $150,000 in U.S. currency ....

After 175 State Cases, Lifelong Criminal Catches Federal Kiddie Porn Case

... Some of the videos were of girls potentially as young as 5 years old ....

After 32 State Cases, Lifelong Criminal Finally Catches Federal Drug Case

... After 32 useless State cases, with Federal Justice Domingo faces up to life imprisonment, including a mandatory minimum sentence of twenty years, and fine of up to $20,000,000 ....

Saddle Road: HDOT Declares 'Traffic Emergency Zone' After Latest Fatal Crash

...A traffic emergency zone declaration pursuant to Hawaii Revised Statutes (HRS) §264-1.5 allows HDOT to accelerate procurement and permitting for additional engineering mitigations....

After storm repairs, Ukumehame Firing Range Reopens

... The County facility was forced to close after being inundated with strong floodwaters from back-to-back Kona low storms in March ...

Convicted: FBI Catches Maui Dude Pointing Laser at Airplanes

"...Shortly after the incident, FBI agents intercepted Kong and his associate...."

Kailua Man Pleads Guilty to Fentanyl Conspiracy

...distribution of heroin and fentanyl from a hotel in Waikiki....

Filipino National Charged with Unlawfully Voting as an Alien

... Alasaas came to the United States in or around 2014 on an immigrant visa and registered to vote soon thereafter ....

City Celebrating Transsexual Pride Month

... The annual flag raising reflects the City and County of Honolulu’s continued commitment ....

Hawaii Congressional Delegation How They Voted June 5 2026

... votes cast and bills introduced in Congress ....

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