Honolulu Police Chief Susan Ballard suspends use of vascular neck restraints by officers

• By Gordon Y.K. Pang
• June 8, 2020

The use of that move is now under review by a committee and she expects a recommendation will be made in about a month, she said. Read more

Mayor Caldwell nominates Michael Broderick, Doug Chin to Honolulu Police Commission

• By Gordon Y.K. Pang
• June 8, 2020

Both said they support police reform in the wake of the recent death of Minneapolis resident George Floyd. Read more

Hawaii State Teachers Association endorses Colleen Hanabusa for Honolulu mayor

• By Gordon Y.K. Pang
• June 8, 2020

This is the first time the teachers union is throwing its endorsement behind a candidate for a city or county race, HSTA President Corey Rosenlee said. Read more

Hawaii Supreme Court lifts order requiring the release of inmates to prevent spread of COVID-19

• By Gordon Y.K. Pang
• June 6, 2020

Since the initial order was issued in April, more than 650 inmates have been released. Read more

Hawaii Supreme Court ends its inmate-release program meant to curb coronavirus spread

• By Gordon Y.K. Pang
• June 5, 2020

Since the initial order was issued in April, more than 650 inmates have been released. Read more

Mayoral hopefuls Mufi Hannemann, Colleen Hanabusa split labor endorsements

• By Gordon Y.K. Pang
• June 5, 2020

Half an hour apart and 2 miles away, two candidates for Honolulu mayor won endorsements from five different labor worker unions Thursday. Read more

Honolulu Zoo opening its doors to the public with limited hours

• By Gordon Y.K. Pang
• June 5, 2020

The Honolulu Zoo reopens today on a smaller scale and with limited hours in order to combat the spread of COVID-19. Read more

Honolulu Mayor Kirk Caldwell signs watered-down Energy Code revision, changes to affordable rental law

• By Gordon Pang
• June 5, 2020

Caldwell on Thursday signed a bill that overhauls the city’s Energy Code to include, among other things, a requirement that builders set aside a certain number of its parking stalls to accommodate the charging of electrical vehicles. Read more

Mufi Hannemann wins mayoral endorsement of Teamsters 996, 3 other labor unions

• By Gordon Y.K. Pang
• June 4, 2020

The announcement was made at the Kalihi headquarters of Hawai‘i Teamsters and Allied Workers Local 996, which represents 1,239 city bus and HandiVan drivers. Read more

Local laborers’ union endorses Colleen Hanabusa for Honolulu mayor

• By Gordon Y.K. Pang
• June 4, 2020

The endorsement was made at a press conference today at the union’s Kalihi headquarters. Read more

Honolulu mayoral race is set with 15 candidates

• By Gordon Y.K. Pang
• June 3, 2020

The election battles for Honolulu mayor have at times been dramatic over the last few decades, but none come close to the uncertainty and unpredictability of this year’s contest. Read more

Institute for Human Services nixes homeless triage center for Chinatown building

• By Gordon Y.K. Pang
• June 2, 2020

Plans for IHS to use $2.6 million in federal grant money to purchase and renovate a three-story building drew immense opposition from Chinatown businesses, residents and politicians. Read more

Sheehan, Levinson voice frustration as they resign from Police Commission

• By Gordon Y.K. Pang
• June 1, 2020

The two most vocal members of the Honolulu Police Commission are resigning, voicing frustration at the limited power the commission has to oversee the Police Department and its chief, Susan Ballard. Read more

Calvin Say files to run for Honolulu City Council post as deadline nears

• By Gordon Y.K. Pang
• May 30, 2020

State Rep. Calvin Say filed nomination papers to run for Honolulu City Council this week, forgoing a reelection bid for the seat he’s held more than four decades. Read more

Virtual town hall to discuss proposed Chinatown homeless center related to COVID-19

• By Gordon Y.K. Pang
• May 29, 2020

Plans for what’s being called a Homeless Triage and CARES Center in Chinatown will be the subject of a “virtual town hall” being held this afternoon by the Institute for Human Services, the project’s sponsor. Read more

HGEA endorses Keith Amemiya for Honolulu mayor

• By Gordon Y.K. Pang
• May 28, 2020

It’s the first big endorsement for Amemiya, until recently an insurance executive and the one-time executive director of the Hawaii High School Athletic Association. Read more

Glitches overshadow first 2020 Honolulu mayoral forum

• By Gordon Y.K. Pang
• May 28, 2020

The 2020 election season’s first Honolulu mayoral candidates forum on Wednesday was marred by technical glitches that prevented most of the public from viewing the event live on their electronic devices. Read more

9 candidates for Honolulu mayor to participate remotely in live online forum

• By Gordon Y.K. Pang
• May 27, 2020

COVID-19 pandemic or not, nine candidates for Honolulu mayor will face off — digitally, anyway — at a Kokua Council “Q&A” forum today. Read more

Popularity of relief programs causes early glitches

• By Gordon Y.K. Pang
• May 26, 2020

Grant programs developed by the city to help those businesses and families most affected financially by the COVID-19 pandemic drew a good number of responses in their first week, despite some glitches due in part to a rush of applications overwhelming existing computer systems, city officials said. Read more

Honolulu delays new stormwater fee program for 1 year

• By Gordon Y.K. Pang
• May 25, 2020

With the unanticipated onset of the coronavirus pandemic wreaking havoc on the pocketbooks of Oahu residents, officials with the Caldwell administration this week said they will delay a planned stormwater utility fee and fund until Hawaii’s economy improves. Read more

Oahu’s appointment-based bulky item pickup system goes islandwide starting July 1

• By Gordon Y.K. Pang
• May 23, 2020

The city’s appointment-based bulky item pickup system goes islandwide starting July 1, the Department of Environmental Services announced Friday. Read more