Pine blames Trump for her departure from GOP

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City Councilwoman Kymberly Pine confirmed Monday that she resigned from the Hawaii Republican Party the day after President Donald Trump took office.

Pine spoke about her move after former U.S. Rep. Charles Djou announced he was quitting the GOP.

With the rise of Trump, “having a president that disrespects women so openly is something that I could not support any longer after giving birth to a daughter,” Pine said. Her daughter was a year old when Trump was elected. “I just went back to my Democrat roots where my family started on the plantation,” she said.

Pine, 47, did not try to publicize her decision at the time because “when I leave a relationship I want it to be peaceful and respectful. There are still a lot of people in the Republican Party who are sweet and kind and good people, and also care about working families, but unfortunately their voices have been lost to the national Republican Party.”

Hawaii island

Man charged with setting Hilo acquaintance on fire

A 24-year-old man has been charged after he allegedly set a 30-year-old man on fire in Hilo.

Prosecutors charged Dalston Cortez on Monday with first-degree assault. His bail was set at $10,000.

Police said the victim was visiting a mutual friend at an Akolea Road home at about 1:30 p.m. Friday when a suspect, later identified as Cortez, arrived.

Cortez reportedly threw an unknown flammable liquid on the victim and set him on fire. The assault is believed to stem from a previous disagreement between the two men, who know one another.

The 30-year-old man sustained second- and third-degree burns to his lower torso and thighs. He was transported by private vehicle to Hilo Medical Center and flown to Oahu.

Police said he is in fair condition at Straub Medical Center.

Cortez turned himself in at the Pahoa police station Saturday night.

Anyone who witnessed the assault is asked to call the Police Department’s nonemergency line at 935-3311. Individuals also may call Detective Todd Pataray of the Area I Criminal Investigation Section at 961-2382 or email Todd.Pataray@hawaiicounty.gov.