(Media release) — A South Kona man is in police custody after setting himself on fire and attempting to do the same to his ex-girlfriend.

Police initially received a 1:21 a.m. report Tuesday (February 14) that a man was walking on Tobacco Road in Hōnaunau with a knife. En route, Kona patrol officers received updates that a house at that location was on fire.

Upon arrival, the officers determined that the suspect, 27-year-old Robert York of Hōnaunau, had reportedly gone to the home of his ex-girlfriend, poured a flammable liquid on the front porch and lit it on fire.

After the 26-year-old victim escaped from the house by climbing out a window, the suspect reportedly restrained her and poured the flammable liquid onto both her and himself.

The victim’s relatives, who live in another house on the same property, heard the commotion, exited their house and pulled the suspect away from the victim. As one of the relatives was fighting the flames on the porch with a garden hose, the suspect set himself on fire.

The relatives helped the suspect [corrected party] extinguish the flames. The suspect [corrected party] then fled from the property on foot.

A short time later, the suspect called 911 and was taken by ambulance to Kona Community Hospital for treatment of burns.

Police made contact with York at the hospital. When he was discharged from the hospital at 10:15 a.m. Wednesday, officers arrested him on suspicion of abuse, terroristic threatening and arson. He is being held at the Kona police cellblock while detectives from the Area II Criminal Investigations Section continue the investigation.

The victim did not require medical attention for the injuries she received during the struggle with the suspect.

(Submitted by Hawaii Police Department via Nixle.)

Click here to see PunaKeli'iho'omalu's rendition of He Aloha Ku'uipo.

Puna Keli’iho’omalu, a famed musician and entertainer and son of legendary Hawaiian patriarch Uncle Robert Keli’iho’omalu died Wednesday, Feb. 15, 2012 at the family’s compound in Kalapana.  He was 44.

(Editor’s note: Following is an open letter from the head of Big Island’s Safe Access, regarding medical marijuana legislation.)

Aloha Big Island ASA members…

I wanted to update you on the hearings from the past two days.

Unfortunately the House Judiciary did pass with amendments HB2600. The vote was 11 to 1, with the Big Island Rep Herkes the only “no” vote. The amendments have not been posted yet, so perhaps Section 4 will be removed. We did win the battle of testimony, as there were 57 letters opposed versus only 7 in support (and 5 of those were marked incorrectly). Despite the overwhelming opposition from patients, the bill moves on to the House Finance committee. We have to keep at it.

On to some good news…SB2262 adding medical marijuana to the Pain Patient’s Bill of Rights passed with amendments the Senate Health Committee 6 to 0 (Senator Green was one of the “yes” votes) and the Senate Public Safety, Government Operations and Military Affairs 4-0. Yeah! And, the testimony was 94 in support against 5 opposed (and those also were marked incorrectly). What a fantastic effort! There were many, many personal stories, each sincerely written and explaining the benefits of medical marijuana. Thank you one and all! The bill moves next to the Senate Judiciary and Labor Committee, where we hope it will be promptly  be scheduled by Chair Clayton Hee. This is a great result! But…we have to keep at it!

The legislative process is long and drawn out, and we will be needing your testimony again in the days and weeks ahead. We have to keep growing our numbers as things move along. 

Finally, if you haven’t done so yet, please use that MPP action alert. It is super easy to use, and it will send letters to your specific Senator and Representative. It is not testimony, but it tells them that you are a constituent and that certain legislation impacts you. You can certainly add personal comments in the space provided, and that always carries greater impact. Forward it on to other patients and supporters of medical marijuana.

Please let me know if you have any questions!

Thank you again for all your efforts.

Matt Rifkin

To:​Big Island Chronicle
From: ​State Representative Robert Herkes – Chair, Committee on Consumer Protection and Commerce
This is in response to a recent post by Baron Sekiya, President of Na Leo ‘O Hawaii Public Access Television, regarding a public hearing on House Bill 2652 relating to PEG Access.  
1. I want to assure Mr. Sekiya that the bill was not filed with the purpose of avoiding public scrutiny.  HB2652 was filed on an agenda with a dozen other bills within the 48-hour public notice requirement.  The fact that the Super Bowl happened to take place between the date the notice was posted and the hearing had absolutely nothing to do with this issue.  Those who follow the legislative process and keep track of bills that they are interested in should be able to meet the testimony deadlines, especially now that testimony can be submitted online.  I urge Mr. Sekiya and others interested in following legislation on public access television to participate in the process, and by using the capitol website is has become even easier to alert people in your community, submit testimony and to keep up with the bills as they go through the process.
2. In the case of HB2652, the committee heard testimony, and the contents of the bill were fully discussed in public.  After reviewing the testimony, the committee members voted to hold the bill on February 13, 2012.
3. Mr. Sekiya failed to note that I am not in favor of splitting the PEG  functions and was actually looking to have the neighbor island public access organizations exempt.  Mr. Sekiya also failed to note that I did not initiate the introduction of the bill, but did so by request.  
4.  I do strongly believe that public access television should be held accountable to the public.  It is funded by money collected from local consumers.  We are obligated to ensure the public that the money is being spent appropriately, and that the three components of PEG (public, education and government) are governed fairly and equally.
5.  Your readers should be aware that the bill does question the accounting practices and accountability of the public access organizations.  For example, on the island of Hawaii, Na Leo ‘O Hawaii has chosen to build their own facility with the user fees collected.  I don’t think many people are aware of this, even though it may be a very legitimate use of the funds; the point is that the bill proposed a way to create greater accountability of the funds.
6.  Other islands have other issues.  On Maui, the PEG access group purchased a shopping center with user fees.  They now receive income from rentals with no public exposure.  On Oahu, the PEG purchased a building with user fees and they now have rental income, again outside public scrutiny.  Olelo on Oahu also tried to extract $16 million from Oceanic.  Again without any public scrutiny.  There would be an impact on cable user fees.
7.  The PEGs have resisted any public examination of their spending habits, which in the audit, was called excessive.  There needs to be a full disclosure of the PEG financial activities for public information.  If there is nothing to hide, I see no reason to object to a close look on how the PEGs spend money collected from consumers to provide a service to the public.
 
8.  I think we can all agree that these are important questions that need to be answered in the future.  I am currently focused on greater priorities this session, such as protecting homeowners from mainland banks with their illegal activities.  I am also working on changing the building codes so that there is a balance between public health and safety and cost.  I want to put people to work and building homes people can afford.  These are just some of the issues I am working on this session.
I hope this addresses some of the concerns raised over House Bill 2652 and how it was handled.

Fran Kaniho

(Media release) — Big Island police are renewing their request for help in located a 43-year-old woman who has been missing since August 1988.

Fran Uilani Kaniho was last seen at her home on Wright Road in Volcano.

At the time she was reported missing, Kaniho was 19 years old, 4-foot-9, about 150 pounds with a tan complexion and brown hair.

Police ask that anyone with information about her whereabouts call Detective Norbert Serrao at 961-2383 or the Police Department’s non-emergency line at 935-3311.

Tipsters who prefer to remain anonymous may call Crime Stoppers at 961-8300 in Hilo or 329-8181 in Kona and may be eligible for a reward of up to $1,000. Crime Stoppers is a volunteer program run by ordinary citizens who want to keep their community safe. Crime Stoppers doesn’t record calls or subscribe to caller ID. All Crime Stoppers information is kept confidential.
(Submitted by Hawaii Police Department via Nixle.)

Chye Galante, of Puna, has not been seen since Jan. 26.

Media release — Big Island police are searching for a 17-year-old boy reported as missing from Puna since Jan. 26.

Chye Robert Kulakauka Galante is described as 5-foot-9, about 130 pounds with short black hair and brown eyes.

Police ask that anyone with information on his whereabouts call the Police Department’s non-emergency line at 935-3311. Tipsters who prefer to remain anonymous may call Crime Stoppers at 961-8300 in Hilo or 329-8181 in Kona. All Crime Stoppers information is kept confidential.

(Submitted by Hawaii Police Department via Nixle.)

Biti Biti Jr.

(Media release) — Big Island police have charged 35-year-old Biti Biti Jr. of Ocean View in connection with a stabbing Monday evening at a convenience store at the Ocean View Town Center.

At 1 p.m. today, Biti was charged with second-degree assault, driving under the influence and driving without a license. His bail was set at $6,500.

Biti remains at the Kona police cellblock pending his initial court appearance scheduled for tomorrow, Thursday, Feb. 16.

The victim, a 44-year-old Ocean View man, was released from Kona Community Hospital Wednesday after receiving treatment for his injuries.

(Submitted by Hawaii Police Department via Nixle.)

Chalk it up as one of the many perils of blogging, I suppose.

I just got off the telephone with a police officer telling me that Tom Lackey has initiated a criminal harassment complaint against me for my blog entry about his March 20 bench trial for drunk driving. This is the same man who, since November, has regularly published on his website libelous, salacious, and emotionally disturbing cartoons depicting me being raped, sodomized and committing adultery.

Suffice it to say — with two young children who I will not allow to be victimized as a course of my writing life — I truly have to wonder if this website is worth all the trouble.  I don’t make much money doing this; it has been a labor of love of writing and publishing that I embarked on this venture — and there are generally way more headaches than feelings like I’m doing any public good with this.

In recent days, there have been people justifying Lackey’s emotionally disturbing cartoons, suggesting I am a “public figure” because I regularly publish news and commentary.  Say what you will, but I don’t think the fact that I am a public personality justifies the cyber rape and ensuing distress I have had to endure the past three months.

So, now I’m off to visit with a lawyer and pay a retainer fee, which is pretty much going to wipe out all the money I have saved in my Tiffany Edwards Communications bank account. If you have any interest in this website, you might want to donate to my CU Hawaii bank account or push the “donate” button to the right. To truly resolve the Tom Lackey matter, I’m going to have to pay a good amount in legal fees.

As I have stated elsewhere, if you have seen Lackey’s cartoon depictions of me and you find them as emotionally disturbing as me, I kindly ask you to write a letter addressed to the following:

Tiffany Edwards Hunt

P.O. Box 557

Kurtistown, HI  96760

Mahalo.

Photo by Tiffany Edwards Hunt. All rights reserved. Use with permission only.

Linda Rowell Stevens is the painter of the Lady of the Twilight, who is depicted on the necklace you see here.  According to Hawaiian legend, La’ieikawai endured a lot of heartache in her life and ultimately transformed into Kawahineliula, Lady of the Twilight.  This jewelry set and the artwork of Linda Rowell Stevens were found Volcano Art Center (VAC) last month, at the opening for the Observation Inspiration exhibit.  Learn Kawahineliula’s story by studying her eyes, as captured by Stevens, who consciously seeks to perpetuate Hawaiian heritage and culture.

“I want my work to say, ‘don’t let it slip away.’ May they forever be proud people who believe in who they really are.  If in any way I can help to show how they shine through my work, I am content.”

You can find Linda Rowell Stevens’ work on her website, at VAC, or at Puna Style in Pahoa.

Fred Blas

(Editor’s note: Kenneth Long, whose letter is publiahed below, alleges council members violated the Sunshine Law when taking up Bill 270. He has filed a complaint with the State Office of Information Practices.)

Dear editor,
In Friday’s local paper the article covering the approval of the new Building Code, Fred Blas commented that he felt targeted when R.J. Hampton, aide to former Puna Councilwoman Emily Naeole, singled him out in a diatribe from the testifiers’ table saying he was a cancer with an agenda to benefit his own property holdings and letting his constituency down by not advocating on their behalf.
Yes R. J. Hampton did point a finger at Fred, but for good reasons.  Fred is her councilman so rightfully she can address him as a constituent.  Fred is the Chairman of the Public Works Committee which has the responsibility to hear and vet out the Bill.  This bill never went through Committee since it always was waived through the Committee.  As Chairman of the Committee, if he was doing his job, he would have made sure that this complex and important bill would have had its proper Committee reviews, vetting, and public hearings.
When asked, his staff did not know Fred’s position on the Bill only a few days prior to its passage and, after 7 drafts, he should have been totally familiar with the Bill.  He didn’t even have a copy of the International Building Code, 2006 edition, the code to be amended and adopted, in his office that would have been essential if he were to have performed with due diligent in vetting out this complex Bill. Read the rest of this entry »

"What can I do when both parties insist on kicking?" — Benjamin Harrison, 1889

Puna Councilman Fred Blas was among the seven Hawaii County Council Members who voted in favor of passing Bill 270 on Feb. 1.  This was in spite of a reportedly unruly crowd chanting “kill this bill” and allegedly threatening testimony to Blas, in particular, which brought a half-dozen police officers to the County Building.

Blas explained his vote was chiefly for “health and safety for the community,” and put both “health” and “safety” in all capital letters in an email offering his perspective on Bill 270. He noted that the bill has gone through seven drafts.

“This bill has been amended 7 times at the peoples’ request,” Blas wrote. “We had one meeting on the Hilo side & NO ONE from the community showed up.”

According to news reports, on Feb. 1, Blas was specifically targeted by RJ Hampton, former aide to Emily Naeole, who Blas defeated in the last election. As Hampton offered public testimony against Bill 270, she singled out Blas to describe him as “a ‘cancer’ with an agenda to benefit his own property holdings and letting his constituency down by not advocating on their behalf,” Cook Lauer reported. Big Island Chronicle has yet to hear from Hampton for her firsthand account of the incident.

Public outbursts such as Hampton’s were the reason for two Council meeting recesses, and one of them reportedly lasted for two hours.

When council members reconvened, Kona Councilman Angel Pilago was said to have called for the question, meaning he wanted council members to vote on Bill 270 without any more discussion.  Council Chairman Dominic Yagong and Brenda Ford were the only two council members to vote against the measure.

“We need more discussion,” said Yagong of his vote.

“I will bring back amendments that will be beneficial to the public,” he promised.  ”Although Bill 270 passed, it’s a living document.”

Council members needed to pass Bill 270 before April 15, or the state Building Code would go into effect here, Yagong noted.

Both Yagong and Blas dismissed a rumor that Yagong encouraged Blas to vote in favor of Bill 270 during one of the Feb. 1 meeting recesses.

“Yagong mentioned, not urged, that we should vote on Bill 270. He did not tell me how to vote.”

“I don’t encourage anyone to vote a certain way,” Yagong said.

“The whole idea was to postpone for another week,” he said. “If it failed, we didn’t have discussion; we need continued discussion on the bill,” Yagong said, adding that this is “real political football.”

Yagong pointed to State Rep. Bob Herkes, D-Puna, Ka’u and Kona, who he said is “on the right track” with House Bill 2358, which will give counties more flexibility in creating their own building codes.  Yagong noted he has met with Herkes twice and will by lobbying in support of HB 2358.

“The administration has been saying you can’t amend the Code to make it more restrictive,” Yagong maintained.  ”I went to the State Building Council and learned the only caveat is, if the State or the County of Hawaii has a project, they will apply the State Building Code.  When I got that (information), it turned this whole thing on its ear.”

Yagong was reassuring to those feeling frustrated by Bill 270′s passage.  ”There will be relief amendments,” he said, promising amendments he said are coming from those in the construction industry.

Thank you, Tiffany, for offering to help me qualify for public funding with your signature and $5 contribution to Hawaii Election Campaign Fund.

It is an opportunity to share some highlights about the public campaign funding program. This is a pilot, being conducted in the Hawaii County Council elections of 2010, 2012, and 2014. Legislation authorizing this pilot was passed by the State Legislature in 2008 under the banner of ‘Clean Elections.’

The official name is Hawaii County Council Comprehensive Public Funding Program.

Participation is voluntary.

There are strict campaign finance reporting requirements.

Candidates choosing to participate in this program may not accept any private monetary or non-monetary campaign contributions.

The 200 signatures and $5 contributions must be from registered voters in the district where the candidate is seeking office.

The purpose here is to establish that the candidate has support in the district.

After the collection of signatures and contributions is complete, the candidate certified and receives campaign funding. Prior to receiving that funding, campaign expenditures are prohibited.

As you indicated, in accordance with the legislation, the available funding varies by district. The allocation is based on previous campaign expenditures by successful candidates.

Importantly, the campaign funds used by public funded candidates may only be used for this purpose, are not a budget line item, and are not being taken away from other government programs. The funds come from the Hawaii Election Campaign Fund, for which the primary source of revenue is a state income tax voluntary check-off system. Additional revenues to the fund are from fines, penalties, and other sources that are collected by the Hawaii Campaign Spending Commission.

More information about comprehensive public funding can be found at:

http://hawaii.gov/campaign/comprehensive/comprehensive-public-funding

January 3 was the first day that candidates could begin collecting the signatures and $5 “qualifying contributions”. To date, I have collected more than 100 signatures and contributions, with commitments for several more.

As many candidates in 2010 and this year have noted, this is a very tedious and laborious process. Nevertheless, it is also a valuable one in that it requires considerable one-on-one contact with constituents at an early stage in the campaign.

Anyone able to help me qualify for public funding can contact me through my website jamesweatherford.com .

James Weatherford

Candidate for Hawaii County Council – District 4
(Pohoiki, Leilani Estates, Nanawale Estates, Kapoho, Waa Waa, Hawaiian Beaches, Hawaiian Shores, Hawaiian Paradise Park, Makuu Homesteads makai of highway 130, Pahoa makai of Pahoa Village Road)

(Editor’s note: At 2:30 p.m., Monday, Feb. 13, 2012, the State Senate’s Committee on Economic Development and Technology will take up SB 2104, which provides that the making of an electronic communication, as defined in section 711-111 (2) of Hawaii Revised Statutes, that is directed at a specific person and causes that person emotional distress and serves no legitimate purpose, together with the required specific intent, is harassment.  Big Island Chronicle urges readers to email testimony of SUPPORT to the chair of the Economic Development and Technology Committee, Sen. Carol Fukunaga, via email at senfukunaga@capitol.hawaii.gov.  Following is an open letter to the senator and her colleagues in the State Legislature.)

I am writing to express my wholehearted support for SB 2104.  We are in desperate need of cyberharassment legislation in this state.