The way fish are handled stirs debate in aquarium trade

• By Rob Perez
• March 4, 2019
• 9

Do fish feel pain? Scientists still debate that question. Read more

Aquarium trade still triggers fierce debate, even dividing a fishing village

• By Rob Perez
• March 3, 2019
• 17

Hawaii’s aquarium trade is a small but controversial industry that has supplied millions of colorful tropical fish to saltwater aquariums the world over. Read more

Fishing village wants more DLNR enforcement on aquarium trade

• By Rob Perez
• March 3, 2019
• 2

For the entire time they have lived on the coast, they have seen a state Department of Land and Natural Resources boat in the area only once. DLNR oversees the aquarium trade. Read more

Timeline of the battle over Hawaii reef fish

• By Rob Perez
• March 3, 2019
• 1

Environmental and industry advocates have been battling for years over whether the state should end the commercial collection of aquarium fish from Hawaii reefs. Read more

Katherine Kealoha seeks to delay corruption trial so she can get cancer treatment

• By Rob Perez
• March 2, 2019
• 50

Former Deputy Prosecutor Katherine Kealoha is asking a federal judge for a two-month postponement of a public corruption trial. Read more

Katherine Kealoha cites cancer treatment to seek trial delay

• By Rob Perez
• March 1, 2019
• 65

Former deputy prosecutor Katherine Kealoha is asking for a two-month postponement in the start date of her trial this month so she can receive immediate treatment for cancer, according to a motion her lawyer filed today in federal court. Read more

Woman killed in Liliha crash ID’d, 20-year-old man arrested

• By Rob Perez
• Feb. 17, 2019
• 5

A 20-year-old Kalihi man was arrested for negligent homicide, drunken driving and driving without a license in connection with a Saturday morning traffic accident that claimed the life of a 32-year-old woman. Read more

Woman, 66, extricated from vehicle after crash

• By Rob Perez
• Feb. 17, 2019
• 1

A 66-year-old woman was seriously injured this morning in a two-vehicle crash at the corner of Piikoi and Young streets, according to authorities. Read more

Aquarium-fish bill would put 2-year moratorium on fine-mesh nets

• By Rob Perez
• Feb. 14, 2019
• 1

Anyone caught with a fine-mesh net along the shoreline or in the water where aquarium fish can be taken would be subject to a $5,000 fine under a two-year moratorium proposed in a Senate bill that advanced Wednesday. Read more

State Senate panel defers decision on aquarium bill

• By Rob Perez
• Feb. 9, 2019

A Senate panel Friday deferred a decision on whether to advance a controversial bill that would shut down the commercial collection of aquarium fish in Hawaii. Read more

Judge rejects postponement of Kealoha trial

• By Rob Perez
• Jan. 19, 2019
• 2

A federal judge Friday denied a request by former Deputy Prosecutor Katherine Kealoha to postpone her upcoming trial because of the partial government shutdown, even guaranteeing that everybody working on the case will get paid. Read more

Judge rejects Katherine Kealoha’s request to postpone trial

• By Rob Perez
• Jan. 18, 2019
• 34

Almost all the bills submitted to date in the case have been paid, and lawyers tend to be paid on a lagging basis anyway, the judge says. Read more

HPD officer tied to Kealoha case pleads guilty, agrees to help prosecutors

• By Rob Perez
• Jan. 12, 2019
• 24

Daniel Sellers, 40, pleaded guilty in exchange for prosecutors dropping felony charges alleging that he unlawfully entered and searched the home of Katherine Kealoha’s uncle, lied about it to a grand jury and lied to the FBI. Read more

Hawaii Department of Education seeks parents’ help for Medicaid reimbursements

• By Rob Perez
• Jan. 12, 2019
• 2

The state is asking parents of nearly 10,000 special-needs students for help in seeking possible reimbursements from Medicaid. Read more

HPD officer pleads guilty in Kealoha probe, cooperates with investigators

• By Rob Perez
• Jan. 11, 2019
• 8

Sellers said he wanted to “own up to what I’ve done wrong” and take responsibility for that. Read more

Hawaii Department of Land and Natural Resources funds mishandled, audit finds

• By Rob Perez
• Jan. 8, 2019
• 33

A multimillion-dollar state fund to acquire private land for conservation purposes has been poorly managed by the Department of Land and Natural Resources, hampering its effectiveness, accountability and transparency, according to a state audit. Read more

Impeachment process unclear for Honolulu Prosecutor Keith Kaneshiro

• By Rob Perez
• Dec. 15, 2018
• 59

An online petition to remove the city’s top elected law enforcement officer has gathered enough signatures, but laws are vague on the next steps. Read more

Honolulu prosecutor’s deputy takes leave amid federal inquiry

• By Rob Perez
• Dec. 14, 2018
• 28

In a major development in the controversy that has engulfed Prosecutor Keith Kaneshiro’s office, his second in command went on leave Thursday, acknowledging that he received a letter linking him to a federal investigation on government corruption. Read more

Honolulu Prosecutor Keith Kaneshiro’s deputy takes leave

• By Rob Perez
• Dec. 13, 2018
• 25

Chasid Sapolu, one of Honolulu Prosecutor Keith Kaneshiro’s top deputies linked to a federal investigation of government corruption, is taking a leave of absence, effective immediately. Read more

Keith Kaneshiro’s silence fails constituents, defense attorneys say

• By Rob Perez
• Dec. 13, 2018
• 69

Prosecutor Keith Kaneshiro is free to disclose that he is a target of a federal investigation into government corruption and owes it to the people who elected him to do so, several criminal defense attorneys told the Honolulu Star-Advertiser Wednesday. Read more

Prosecutor’s office refuses to comment on job status of Keith Kaneshiro, 2 deputies

• By Rob Perez
• Dec. 12, 2018
• 69

The City Prosecutor’s Office on Tuesday declined to say whether three top prosecutors who reportedly have been linked to an ongoing federal investigation of government corruption have taken leave or are still on the job. Read more