(Media release) — An autopsy was conducted Friday Jan. 20 on a body found Jan. 17 in the vicinity of Isaac Hale Beach Park in Pohoiki. 

The victim was identified as 62-year-old Dennis Eugene White of Papaya Farms Road in Kapoho. The cause of death was a head injury. 

Although police have not ruled out play, the case is currently classified as a coroner’s inquest. Detectives from the Area I Criminal Investigations Section are continuing the investigation. 

Detectives are also looking for White’s car, described as a black or dark green 1998 Jeep Wrangler with a tan soft top and bearing license plate HDY 926. White was last seen driving the Jeep alone in the area of Papaya Farms Road in the early evening hours of Jan. 16. 

Police ask that anyone with information about this case or the location of the Jeep call Detective Norbert Serrao at 961-2383 or email him at nserrao@co.hawaii.hi.us. 

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.)

Image courtesy of Freshome

This legislation will allow  people who own a dairy goat, cow, or sheep to consume the raw milk produced by that animal.
This is especially important for people who would buy a share in the dairy animal so as to have a regular supply of raw milk even if they do not have a place to keep the animal. The animal is owned through shares by multiple people and stays on a farm where it is milked, in a type of arrangement similar community supported agriculture.

These are the legislators to contact ASAP and simply state support for SB2417 and HB 2076:

rephanohano@Capitol.hawaii.gov
senkahele@Capitol.hawaii.gov
repyamane@Capitol.hawaii.gov
repmorikawa@Capitol.hawaii.gov
sengreen@Capitol.hawaii.gov
sennishihara@Capitol.hawaii.gov

The Sentate Bill is attached, and states: “Milk produced by a hoofed animal shall not be required to be pasteurized if the milk is intended for consumption or personal use by the owner or by the milk producer of the hoofed animal producing the particular milk.”

Thank you for your help.
–
James Weatherford, PhD
Keaau, Hawaii

Mr. President, Mr. Speaker, former Governors, distinguished justices of the courts, mayors, representatives of our Congressional Delegation, members of the Hawai’i State Legislature, other elected officials, honored guests, family and friends.  Aloha.

One year ago, I stood before you to present the sobering fiscal reality facing Hawai’i.  At that time, we faced an enormous deficit and the effects of fractured government services.  The discussion was not about “whether” we needed to find additional revenues, but about “where” we needed to find them.

But by working together and through shared sacrifice, we have started to turn the corner.  This past year has not been easy but we have accomplished our purpose.

I want to thank the Legislature for your collaboration.

Thank you to the public for weathering through those difficult choices.

Thank you, especially to our state employees, who agreed to labor savings and additional payments for health benefits.

There was no way for us to have balanced our budget and achieved today’s fiscally favorable outlook without the commitment of everyone.   Read the rest of this entry »

Did anyone attend the meeting at the Pahoa Community Center on the 17th about money for park improvements? I missed it and would like to hear more about what went on.

I’ve been told that the Kenoi Administration has a proposal for some expensive covered structures (tennis courts?) that have absolutely zero to do with all the community input that’s been generated over the years.

Actually this would not surprise me but I would like to hear from anyone that attended… perhaps I was told incorrectly.

Rob Tucker

Hilo attorney Ted Hong will represent Election Division administrator Pat Nakamoto and elections division worker Glen Shikuma in a wrongful termination lawsuit against the County of Hawaii.  The lawsuit seeks damages of $500,000 for each Elections Division worker for “false and defamatory statements made about them as the basis for firing them, the infliction of emotional distress and the unconstitutional withholding of their personal property.”

“There has been a steady leak of mis-information to the local media, not so cleverly intended to put my clients in a bad light and influence potential jurors in this case,” Hong said in announcing a press conference today outside the County Clerk’s Office.  ”We will find out who is leaking this false information to the media, expose their lies and hold them personally responsible for their abuse of the personnel process and injury to my clients’ reputation and standing in the community.”

Following is a statement Hong released at today’s press conference:

Read the rest of this entry »

This week Ted Braxton’s family has been in town, having come from Pennsylvania for the sentencing of Keolaokalani Kailianu.  Remember Kailianu was the drunk driver of the armored vehicle that killed the University of Hawaii Hilo student who was a staff writer for Ke Kalahea that I advise.  Kailianu was sentenced to 10 years imprisonment Tuesday after a deal with the Prosecuting Attorney’s Office to plead guilt to negligent homicide and leaving the scene of an accident that causes death or serious injury.  Not only did Ted work at the newspaper, he was a performing artist.  Today performing arts students put together a potluck for the family, and DVDs offering snippets of Ted’s life and performances.  I felt like I was getting to know my student throughout the videos.  It was deeply moving to see someone alive on screen after grieving for his loss the last 8 months.  The videos were so enlightening of Ted’s character — we saw him in a video a week before he died singing in a community choir, and we saw him sit down at the piano and play Beethoven (IMG_5306) in a clip from his Flip video camera posted on his Facebook the morning of his death.

County of Hawaii dispatchers sent the above card to the family of Ted Braxton, the University of Hawaii-Hilo student fatally struck on his moped by drunk driver Keolaokalani Kailianu last May.  Ted’s mother, Sarah, shared this card, wondering if is common practice for dispatchers to send such a card.  As far as I know, it is not.  Sarah thought so too; she and the rest of Ted’s family here this week for Kailianu’s sentencing decided to pay the dispatchers a visit today to express their gratitude for their kind gesture with a box of chocolates.

I would like to personally express my appreciation to the dispatchers who took the time to sign and send the card above to the Braxton family. I wonder if similar cards have been sent to other families that have had to endure the loss of a loved one after horrible tragedies such as Ted’s.  Being a dispatcher has got to be pretty thankless, and must make you feel so depleted at times.  To reach out and offer such compassion as expressed above is truly selfless.  I find that very heartwarming.  I am glad to know such kindhearted people are answering 911 calls.  Thank you so much to those of you who signed this card.  Your impact was far reaching.  And you have truly been inspirational. You have my respect, that’s for sure.

Noticed the articles on the sentencing of “the bombmaker” (Christopher Robinson) in the Trib and WHT were
almost identical except that the Trib left out the following (which was in WHT):

“Investigators also found notes about marijuana sales and documents about Robinson’s participation in the Hawaii
Cannabis Ministry.”

Selective editing?

Rick Castberg

HanShiYiquan Health Presentation System will be taught in Liliuokalani Park the next two Saturdays at 9:30am. Teacher is master Han jing chen from mainland China. Yiquan health system is an ancient movement state derived from the Jian wu. Master Han has 40 years teaching experience. His father is the late master han xing qiao, the adopted son of yiquan founder master Wang jiang zhai. $10. Call (808)557-1379.
(Submitted by Andrew Plack.)

Following is a statement the Department of Human Services released tonight regarding the apparent beating and drowning death of a 3-year-old in Waimea this weekend:
“Any death of a child is a tragedy.   The Department of Human Services, Child Welfare Service, and the police, are investigating the death of 3-year-old Marley Makanani, who died Sunday while in the care of her uncle.  Marley’s two siblings are in foster care.  We are unable to comment further at this time due to this being an ongoing criminal investigation.”