Hawaii

Hawaii County Nears Settlement in Lawsuit Over Honokohau Harbor Pollution

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Honolulu, Hawaii – A Honolulu federal court was informed of a preliminary agreement between a local citizens’ group and Hawaii County concerning a longstanding issue of sewage discharge into Honokohau Harbor, North Kona. The settlement, which hinges on the approval of the County Council, seeks to address allegations of environmental pollution stemming from local wastewater management practices. The group, Hui Malama Honokohau, represented by Earthjustice, has been embroiled in a lawsuit with the county over what they claim are violations of the federal Clean Water Act at the Kealakehe Wastewater Treatment Plant. The plant reportedly … Read more

Hawaii Supreme Court Upholds Election Results, Rejects Maui Candidate’s Signature Dispute Claim

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Honolulu, Hawaii — The Hawaii Supreme Court recently handed down a ruling that upheld the general election results for a Maui County Council seat, dismissing a challenge by candidate Kelly King. King, who lost her bid for the council position last month by a narrow margin of 97 votes, had contested the legitimacy of the election process. In her lawsuit, King argued that an excessive number of ballots were improperly discarded due to issues with signatures being missing or deemed invalid. She claimed that the voters affected were not provided adequate assistance to rectify these … Read more

Mystery Deepens Around Disappearance of Hawaii Woman as Family Challenges ‘Digital Detox’ Narrative

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Los Angeles—The enigmatic disappearance of 30-year-old Hawaii native Hannah Kobayashi, who vanished in early November after arriving in Los Angeles, has garnered national attention and triggered a slew of online speculations regarding her marital status and personal life. Kobayashi was last seen on November 8, and her puzzling trajectory soon led her over the U.S.-Mexico border just a few days later, intensifying concerns about her safety and sparking a multifaceted investigation. Sara Azari, a criminal defense attorney representing Kobayashi’s family, has fervently disputed circulating images that suggested Hannah was married to an Argentine man, potentially … Read more

“Moloka’i Bound” Shines with Dual Wins at 44th Hawaii International Film Festival, Highlighting Indigenous Talent and Local Narratives[embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R0mRPMX-WCc[/embed]

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Honolulu, Hawaii – The stunning backdrop of Oahu set the stage for the 44th annual Hawai‘i International Film Festival (HIFF) held from October 3-13 at Consolidated Theatres Kāhala. The festival spotlighted a mix of local and international films, closing with a private awards gala at the illustrious Halekūlani Hotel on October 12. The winners of the festival’s juried awards were announced during the gala, signaling a successful competition especially for films made in Hawai‘i. A highlight of this year’s festival was the impressive showing of Hawai‘i films. Local filmmakers particularly shone brightly, taking home a … Read more