HONOLULU, Hawaii (HawaiiNewsNow) - Embattled Schools Superintendent Christina Kishimoto told the Board of Education she will not seek to renew her contract when it expires in July.Speculation swirled over whether she’d be offered a new contract amid harsh criticism from the Hawaii State Teachers Association over her leadership during the pandemic.“What I am seeing is an unnecessary distraction to what we need to be focused on,” she said. “It’s really in the interest of not having my contract be a distraction to keeping our eyes on the work that has to happen for students that’s leading to...…HONOLULU, Hawaii (HawaiiNewsNow) - Embattled Schools Superintendent Christina Kishimoto told the Board of Education she will not seek to renew her contract when it expires in July.Speculation swirled over whether she’d be offered a new contract amid harsh criticism from the Hawaii State Teachers Association over her leadership during the pandemic.“What I am seeing is an unnecessary distraction to what we need to be focused on,” she said. “It’s really in the interest of not having my contract be a distraction to keeping our eyes on the work that has to happen for students that’s leading to...WW…

HONOLULU, Hawaii (HawaiiNewsNow) - People getting vaccinated could soon have the option to pick which brand of COVID shot they want.“You won’t be in a situation where you go to a POD where you can pick one, two or three there on the shelf. It’s going to be offered at certain PODs (points of dispensing),” said Dr. Sarah Kemble, acting state epidemiologist.“You can look online or call ahead to the site to see which vaccine is being offered and make your selection in that way.”That appointment system would allow people to choose between the Moderna, Pfizer or Johnson & Johnson brands,...…HONOLULU, Hawaii (HawaiiNewsNow) - People getting vaccinated could soon have the option to pick which brand of COVID shot they want.“You won’t be in a situation where you go to a POD where you can pick one, two or three there on the shelf. It’s going to be offered at certain PODs (points of dispensing),” said Dr. Sarah Kemble, acting state epidemiologist.“You can look online or call ahead to the site to see which vaccine is being offered and make your selection in that way.”That appointment system would allow people to choose between the Moderna, Pfizer or Johnson & Johnson brands,...WW…

HONOLULU, Hawaii (HawaiiNewsNow) - Government workers who commit felony crimes could lose more than their freedom if a measure currently moving through the state Legislature passes.The proposal allows for half of the individual’s pension benefits to be taken away upon conviction.The Kealoha scandal is fueling momentum for the bill.Disgraced ex-Police Chief Louis Kealoha collects $9,700 a month from his pension.He is preparing to serve a seven-year sentence in federal prison for obstruction, conspiracy and bank fraud ― all crimes committed while he was heading up the Honolulu Police...…HONOLULU, Hawaii (HawaiiNewsNow) - Government workers who commit felony crimes could lose more than their freedom if a measure currently moving through the state Legislature passes.The proposal allows for half of the individual’s pension benefits to be taken away upon conviction.The Kealoha scandal is fueling momentum for the bill.Disgraced ex-Police Chief Louis Kealoha collects $9,700 a month from his pension.He is preparing to serve a seven-year sentence in federal prison for obstruction, conspiracy and bank fraud ― all crimes committed while he was heading up the Honolulu Police...WW…

HONOLULU, Hawaii (HawaiiNewsNow) - before killing himself and a respected physician at a Texas medical center this week had a stormy legal past in Hawaii.Bharat Narumanchi, who was also a medical doctor, was prosecuted for family violence in the islands.He was also banned from submitting court filings because he abused the state’s legal system.In 2014, Narumanchi was declared a vexatious litigant by a Honolulu judge after making false and racist claims. The court barred him from filing any new family court cases, including complaints, lawsuits, claims, cross-claims, counterclaims and third...…HONOLULU, Hawaii (HawaiiNewsNow) - before killing himself and a respected physician at a Texas medical center this week had a stormy legal past in Hawaii.Bharat Narumanchi, who was also a medical doctor, was prosecuted for family violence in the islands.He was also banned from submitting court filings because he abused the state’s legal system.In 2014, Narumanchi was declared a vexatious litigant by a Honolulu judge after making false and racist claims. The court barred him from filing any new family court cases, including complaints, lawsuits, claims, cross-claims, counterclaims and third...WW…

HONOLULU, Hawaii (HawaiiNewsNow) - A 33-year-old woman who plays a major role in the Kealoha corruption scandal is now wanted by police in connection with another crime.According to the a warrant has been issued for Tiffany Masunaga. She’s wanted for theft and computer fraud.Masunaga is in the 2019 that charged former deputy city prosecutor Katherine Kealoha and her brother, Dr. Rudolph Puana, with drug crimes.Kealoha has since made a deal and is expected to testify against her brother, a Big Island anesthesiologist and pain doctor accused of illegally distributing powerful prescription...…HONOLULU, Hawaii (HawaiiNewsNow) - A 33-year-old woman who plays a major role in the Kealoha corruption scandal is now wanted by police in connection with another crime.According to the a warrant has been issued for Tiffany Masunaga. She’s wanted for theft and computer fraud.Masunaga is in the 2019 that charged former deputy city prosecutor Katherine Kealoha and her brother, Dr. Rudolph Puana, with drug crimes.Kealoha has since made a deal and is expected to testify against her brother, a Big Island anesthesiologist and pain doctor accused of illegally distributing powerful prescription...WW…

HONOLULU, Hawaii (HawaiiNewsNow) - Rick Blangiardi’s first piece of legislation as Honolulu’s mayor calls for grant money to help fund more affordable rental units.What makes this plan different is the units would be constructed or remodeled specifically as workforce housing ― renters making close to the area median income.”The gap” is what Christine Camp, president of Avalon Development Company, calls that group.“This is the gap which funding isn’t available,” she said.Camp said while there are many federal and state programs for the very low income, there are few housing assistance...…HONOLULU, Hawaii (HawaiiNewsNow) - Rick Blangiardi’s first piece of legislation as Honolulu’s mayor calls for grant money to help fund more affordable rental units.What makes this plan different is the units would be constructed or remodeled specifically as workforce housing ― renters making close to the area median income.”The gap” is what Christine Camp, president of Avalon Development Company, calls that group.“This is the gap which funding isn’t available,” she said.Camp said while there are many federal and state programs for the very low income, there are few housing assistance...WW…

HONOLULU, Hawaii (HawaiiNewsNow) - A federal judge sentenced Katherine Kealoha to 13 years last month, but the Bureau of Prisons has since set her release date at July 24, 2030.The reason: “You get credit for all the time you were in jail,” said Alexander Silvert, a former federal public defender who triggered the FBI case against Kealoha.Kealoha, once a high-ranking deputy city prosecutor, was detained and has been in the Federal Detention Center since June 28, 2019, the day after a jury found her guilty of obstruction and conspiracy.Her husband Louis Kealoha, Honolulu’s former police...…HONOLULU, Hawaii (HawaiiNewsNow) - A federal judge sentenced Katherine Kealoha to 13 years last month, but the Bureau of Prisons has since set her release date at July 24, 2030.The reason: “You get credit for all the time you were in jail,” said Alexander Silvert, a former federal public defender who triggered the FBI case against Kealoha.Kealoha, once a high-ranking deputy city prosecutor, was detained and has been in the Federal Detention Center since June 28, 2019, the day after a jury found her guilty of obstruction and conspiracy.Her husband Louis Kealoha, Honolulu’s former police...WW…

HONOLULU, Hawaii (HawaiiNewsNow) - Over the course of the pandemic, thousands of renters who couldn’t pay their monthly bills applied for help from the state’s Rent, Relief & Housing Assistance Program.Nearly 13,000 renters actually received the benefit, which was funded by CARES Act money and was paid out directly to their landlords.In all, more than 18,000 people applied for relief ― and many of them inadvertently exposed landlords who didn’t have General Excise Tax licenses and had likely been able to avoid paying taxes on rent revenue.Not only did that discovery disqualify the...…HONOLULU, Hawaii (HawaiiNewsNow) - Over the course of the pandemic, thousands of renters who couldn’t pay their monthly bills applied for help from the state’s Rent, Relief & Housing Assistance Program.Nearly 13,000 renters actually received the benefit, which was funded by CARES Act money and was paid out directly to their landlords.In all, more than 18,000 people applied for relief ― and many of them inadvertently exposed landlords who didn’t have General Excise Tax licenses and had likely been able to avoid paying taxes on rent revenue.Not only did that discovery disqualify the...WW…

HONOLULU, Hawaii (HawaiiNewsNow) - Some are calling on Honolulu’s police chief to bring back its COVID-19 enforcement unit, which was .“I hope that the HPD chief will reconsider the department’s decision,” said Councilman Ron Menor, chairman of the Legal Affairs Committee.Menor said Police Chief Susan Ballard should only ban the officers under investigation from the team. He wants the rest to continue the work, calling it now more critical than ever.He said with the holidays here “there are going to be those people who choose to disregard our public health guidelines and thereby jeopardize...…HONOLULU, Hawaii (HawaiiNewsNow) - Some are calling on Honolulu’s police chief to bring back its COVID-19 enforcement unit, which was .“I hope that the HPD chief will reconsider the department’s decision,” said Councilman Ron Menor, chairman of the Legal Affairs Committee.Menor said Police Chief Susan Ballard should only ban the officers under investigation from the team. He wants the rest to continue the work, calling it now more critical than ever.He said with the holidays here “there are going to be those people who choose to disregard our public health guidelines and thereby jeopardize...WW…

HONOLULU, Hawaii (HawaiiNewsNow) - Honolulu’s police chief is on the defensive after officers were told they had to meet a weekly quota ― or face possible disciplinary action.Law enforcement experts say the policy is cause for deep concern and comes as the department is also said to be grappling with low morale.Officers in all the patrol districts were notified of the quota requirements recently and some were told it came from Honolulu Police Chief Susan Ballard.But in an internal video message Thursday, the chief denied that.“That information was sent out without my approval or any...…HONOLULU, Hawaii (HawaiiNewsNow) - Honolulu’s police chief is on the defensive after officers were told they had to meet a weekly quota ― or face possible disciplinary action.Law enforcement experts say the policy is cause for deep concern and comes as the department is also said to be grappling with low morale.Officers in all the patrol districts were notified of the quota requirements recently and some were told it came from Honolulu Police Chief Susan Ballard.But in an internal video message Thursday, the chief denied that.“That information was sent out without my approval or any...WW…