A cause and origin report from Maui County and the federal government concluded the Lahaina fire started when downed power lines were reenergized in overgrown vegetation that violated the county fire code. Read more
Raita Fukusaku, 59, was convicted in 1995 of shooting and killing well-known Japanese fortuneteller Toako “Kototome” Fujita and her son Goro. Read more
State law enforcement officials entered into a $3.14 million contract with Microsoft to use artificial intelligence to “accelerate the digital transformation” of the department and use new technologies to improve operations and public safety. Read more
Honolulu police arrested a 44-year-old homeless man on murder charges Friday after the decomposing body of his girlfriend was found in a storm drain in Manoa on Sept. 13. Read more
“The Gun Tip Line offers another way the public can assist law enforcement in protecting our neighborhoods,” said DLE Director Jordan Lowe, in a statement. Read more
The City Council deferred making a decision on the proposed $1.5 million settlement of a wrongful death lawsuit brought by the widow of an unarmed 29-year-old Black man who was shot and killed by police following a fight with officers responding to a 911 call at a Nuuanu home in April 2021. Read more
Stay in touch with top news, as it happens, conveniently in your email inbox. It's FREE!
City attorneys are proposing to pay $1.5 million to settle a wrongful death lawsuit brought by the widow of a 29-year-old citizen of South Africa who was shot and killed by Honolulu police officers after a bloody fight at a Nuuanu home on April 14, 2021. Read more
The Honolulu Police Department is looking for a 2021 black Jeep with license plate WDU838 because it may be involved in a kidnapping, according to police. Read more
Cheney’s bail is set at $1 million. Read more
The three men — ages 21, 19 and 18 — were arrested by HPD officers at 2929 Round Top Drive, a scenic spot overlooking Honolulu and Diamond Head, at 10:40 p.m. Read more
A Waipahu man was ordered held without bail Monday after he allegedly admitted to taking and keeping sexually explicit pictures of two girls under the age of 13. Read more
A 60-year-old homeless man remained in police custody Monday after he allegedly stabbed a 22-year-old Wendy’s worker to death and wounded his 44-year-old colleague Sunday morning in Nanakuli. Read more
In 2023, HPD officers made 200 gambling arrests, 108 for operating, promoting or assisting gambling and 92 for gambling equipment violations. Read more
A 47-year-old Kahului man pleaded guilty Wednesday to possessing an improvised explosive device July 23 to avoid charges related to ammunition, explosives and firearms found in his house as part of a plea agreement with the U.S. Department of Justice. Read more
The Aug. 8 wildfire started in “overgrown vegetation at or surrounding utility pole 25 on Lahainaluna Road,” according to the 289 pages of findings detailing the inferno that killed 102 people and caused $5.5 billion in damage. Read more
The U.S. Department of Justice’s Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco Firearms and Explosives deemed the fire to be accidental. The ATF declined to comment on whether anyone would be held criminally liable for the fire. Read more
The Maui Department of Fire and Public Safety will make public today the cause and origin of the Aug. 8, 2023, Lahaina wildfires that killed 102 people, left thousands homeless and crippled Maui’s visitor industry. Read more
A 60-year-old Hawaii man pleaded guilty Monday to violating the Atomic Energy Act by transferring equipment containing regulated radioactive material from a licensed former employer to another, unlicensed company during a takeover attempt without making a record of the transfer or declaring his ownership stake in the company that got the gear. Read more
An ex-Army soldier was sentenced to three months in federal prison Thursday and must pay $202,309 in restitution after conspiring with a woman to evade U.S. immigration laws, enter into a fake marriage and steal federal benefits. Read more
Stephen Timothy Wells owned and operated Ehukai Kapolei LLC and Healthcare Partners Inc., which did business on Oahu as Oahu Spine and Rehab. Read more
A state lawmaker and animal advocates are urging Honolulu police and the Department of the Prosecuting Attorney to reopen an animal cruelty case connected to the death of a 14-year-old terrier mix named Max. Read more
