Homeowners, renters are now liable for aerial fireworks under new law

• By Rob Perez
• Dec. 22, 2019

Homeowners and renters, beware. Read more

Coaches’ shoving of Star-Advertiser photographer wrong, UH says

• By Rob Perez
• Dec. 5, 2019

University of Hawaii football coach Nick Rolovich and a staff member were wrong to push a Honolulu Star-Advertiser photographer in the chaotic moments near the end of the San Diego State game last month, a UH spokesman said Wednesday. Read more

Child abuse registry case to go before high court

• By Rob Perez
• Dec. 2, 2019

A Tennessee woman has asked the nation’s highest court to intervene in a case that highlights what one federal judge called “a glaring hole” in Hawaii’s regulations for its child abuse registry. Read more

Off-the-grid Maui homestead marred by conflict

• By Rob Perez
• Dec. 1, 2019

Multiple controversies have stoked anger, frustration and division within Kahikinui, the only homestead in DHHL’s 203,000-acre land trust in which leases were issued for raw land and management of the area was placed in the hands of homesteaders. Read more

Maui community divided over feral animal eradication effort

• By Rob Perez
• Dec. 1, 2019

Feral animals — mainly cattle, deer, goats and pigs — have wrecked havoc with the forest in the Kahikinui uplands, endangering a watershed vital to the region. Read more

Volunteers and diners return regularly to the Salvation Army’s Thanksgiving lunchtime spread, now in its 49th year

• By Rob Perez
• Nov. 29, 2019

Each Thanksgiving for the past seven years, Kayla Hernandez and members of her extended family have met at the Neal S. Blaisdell Center to help feed the homeless, poor and those just looking for a hot meal and good company. Read more

Teen boy stabbed at Makaha bus stop

• By Rob Perez
• Nov. 28, 2019

A teenage boy was stabbed at a Makaha bus stop Wednesday night by a man who stole his gold chain after they both got off a bus, police said. Read more

Man who died while working on Makiki water pump identified

• By Rob Perez
• Nov. 28, 2019

A 55-year-old man working on a pump in a water catchment system at a Makiki apartment complex died after a co-worker found him in the water, according to the Honolulu Fire Department and the Honolulu Medical Examiner’s Office. Read more

DHHL pursues subsistence farming project on Big Island

• By Rob Perez
• Nov. 17, 2019

The state Department of Hawaiian Home Lands took another step toward developing its first project for Native Hawaiian beneficiaries interested in subsistence farming on small lots. Read more

Public tab rises for Kealoha defense costs

• By Rob Perez
• Nov. 16, 2019

Nearly $700,000 in public money has been spent on attorney fees and other related expenses for the court-appointed defenses of Katherine and Louis Kealoha and a police officer in their public corruption prosecutions. And the total is expected to climb higher. Read more

Unregistered, cash-only Honolulu massage parlors raising red flags for law enforcement

• By Rob Perez
• Nov. 10, 2019

Nearly two-thirds of Honolulu massage parlors reviewed by customers on a popular website within the past year were not registered to do business in Hawaii. Read more

Feds called to resolve rail land dispute

• By Rob Perez
• Nov. 4, 2019

The Department of Hawaiian Home Lands and the city are turning to the federal government to help resolve a years-long stalemate over how to value land in a property exchange involving the rail project. Read more

City to seek repayment of $250K from Louis Kealoha

• By Rob Perez
• Oct. 24, 2019

The city said Wednesday it plans to demand that former police Chief Louis Kealoha repay the $250,000 severance he received upon retirement in 2017 now that Kealoha has been convicted of multiple felonies and waived his right to appeal. Read more

Katherine and Louis Kealoha admit guilt

• By Rob Perez
• Oct. 23, 2019

Once one of Oahu’s preeminent power couples, Louis and Katherine Kealoha’s stunning fall from grace continued Tuesday with both pleading guilty to additional federal charges. Read more

Katherine and Louis Kealoha plead guilty to felonies to end 3 separate cases

• By Rob Perez
• Oct. 22, 2019

A federal jury in June found the Kealohas and two HPD officers guilty of conspiracy and obstruction of justice in a separate case. Read more

Kealohas are expected to plead guilty as part of plea deals

• By Rob Perez
• Oct. 22, 2019

Louis and Katherine Kealoha are scheduled to appear in court today to plead guilty to federal felony charges as part of separate plea agreements, ending a years-long prosecution that toppled one of Oahu’s most prominent power couples. Read more

Louis and Katherine Kealoha scheduled to plead guilty to federal charges Tuesday

• By Rob Perez
• Oct. 21, 2019

As part of the plea deals, the Kealohas are agreeing to cooperate with investigators. Read more

Katherine Kealoha plans to sign plea deal, her attorney says

• By Rob Perez
• Oct. 19, 2019

Former Deputy Prosecutor Katherine Kealoha intends to sign a plea deal with federal prosecutors in which she will admit to three felony criminal offenses from two pending prosecutions, one of her attorneys said Friday. Read more

Katherine Kealoha agrees to plea deal, will cooperate with federal investigation

• By Rob Perez
• Oct. 18, 2019

As part of the plea deal, Kealoha has agreed to cooperate in the ongoing federal investigation, her attorney said. Read more

Katherine Kealoha still considering plea deal

• By Rob Perez
• Oct. 17, 2019

Katherine Kealoha is taking another day to consider a proposed plea deal from federal prosecutors, one of her attorneys said today. Read more

Federal prosecutors offer Katherine Kealoha plea deal

• By Rob Perez
• Oct. 17, 2019

Federal prosecutors have offered to reduce their recommendation for the length of Katherine Kealoha’s imprisonment by a few years and will dismiss multiple charges against her if she agrees to plead guilty to two felony counts. Read more