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Kady Pascual

Hawaiʻi Scene on Social

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<title>Hawai‘i Scene on Social: Hula skirt</title>

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Hawai‘i Scene on Social: Hula skirt

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Michael Brestovansky

Crime & Courts

A Waimānalo volleyball coach and firefighter arrested last year producing child pornography of a student has been charged in federal court.

Ken Sorenson, U.S. Attorney for the District of Hawai‘i, announced Friday afternoon that Elias David, a Waimānalo 37-year-old reportedly arrested in July 2024 for second-degree sexual assault, has been charged in U.S. District Court with producing child pornography.

According to a criminal complaint, the Honolulu Police Department was informed in July 2024 that the family of a then-17-year-old girl had discovered a sexual relationship between the girl and David, her volleyball coach.

The victim told an FBI special agent that David had been her coach since she was 13, and he had begun a sexual relationship with her when she was 16. She said the two would meet at the fire station where David worked and a warehouse next to the fire station.

HPD later found pictures in David’s work locker that appeared to be screenshots of a video of him and the victim having sex. That video, and about 30 others, were taken at David’s encouragement on her cell phone, the victim said — although she added that David had recorded some videos on his phone, but David’s wife had discovered them in 2023.

David told the special agent following his 2024 arrest that he and the victim had “fallen in love” while he had coached her, and that he had not made sexual advances on other minor students.

While state law places the age of consent at 16, federal law states that any sexually explicit photo or video of a person under the age of 18 is considered child pornography.

The charge carries a maximum possible sentence of 30 years in prison, and a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years.

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Courtfed

<title>Waimānalo volleyball coach charged with producing child porn</title>

Elias David charged in U.S. District Court for producing videos of him having sex with a 17-year-old student.

Waimānalo volleyball coach charged with producing child porn

Government & Politics

Lawmakers in the U.S. House of Representatives voted Wednesday and Thursday to crack down on potential Chinese influence in U.S. Schools.

Hawai‘i Reps. Jill Tokuda and Ed Case were split on three bills this week, beginning with the 

Combating the Lies of Authoritarians in School Systems Act

 prohibits any public elementary or secondary school that receives federal funding from accepting any funds or contracts with the Chinese government or any organization acting on behalf of China or the Chinese Communist Party.

Transparency in Reporting of Adversarial Contributions to Education Act

Promoting Responsible Oversight to Eliminate Communist Teachings for Our Kids Act 

 that any school receiving federal funds notifies parents of their right to request information about “foreign influence” in schools. Said influence could include any donations or contracts between the school and a foreign country or agency.

 for any school that has any partnership with a cultural or language institute that is funded by the Chinese government. The bill specifically refers to “Confucius Classrooms,” language and cultural programs funded by the Chinese International Education Foundation.

All three bills passed with similar votes — CLASS passed 242-176, TRACE passed 247-166 and PROTECT passed 247-164. Votes on all three measures were largely split down party lines, although a cadre of about 30 Democrats broke with the rest of the party to support each bill, Case among them.

Meanwhile, the House also voted on another two bills on Wednesday, both related to small businesses.

 the Small Business Administration to ensure that its annual small business regulatory budget — the cost to a small business resulting by any new federal rulemaking — is zero. This vote was largely split on party lines, with 15 Democrats — none of whom were Case or Tokuda — breaking with the party majority to pass the bill 223-190.

Destroying Unnecessary, Misaligned and Prohibitive Red Tape Act

 the SBA to continue to maintain a Red Tape Hotline, through which small businesses can notify the SBA about prohibitive rules, regulations and policies imposed by a federal agency. This bill garnered more bipartisan support, with 59 Democrats — including Case — voting in favor of the bill, which passed 269-146. Tokuda voted against the bill.

[{"type":"text","text":"ASD reached out to Case's office for comment."}]

Repz 16x9

<title>CONGRESS WATCH: Case splits with Dems on Chinese education bills</title>

Three bills cracking down on Chinese influence in schools got limited Democrat support this week, including from Rep. Ed Case.

CONGRESS WATCH: Case splits with Dems on Chinese education bills

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Christian Shimabuku

Sports

[{"type":"text","text":"Has it really been 20 years? "}]

That was the most common sentiment shared on Thursday night among members of the 2005 West O‘ahu Little League team, the first from Hawai‘i to win a Little League World Series title. 

The All-Star team from ‘Ewa Beach was among the inductees in the Hawai‘i Sports Hall of Fame's Class of 2025, along with world champion weightlifter Anthony Leiato, former University of Hawai‘i football star 

 and Olympic sailing medalists David McFaull and Michael Rothwell. 

Players from the 2005 West O‘ahu Little League team, now in their early 30s, created a legacy that continues to be perpetuated by Hawai‘i's best Little League teams. Back in 2005, they were making Hawai‘i's third appearance in the Little League World Series since 1988. 

Since West O‘ahu's victory in 2005, eight teams from the state have made it to Williamsport, Pa., with Waipio Little League winning the 2008 title and Honolulu Little League winning it all in 2018 and 2022. Honolulu Little League is back in the 2025 tournament, led by manager 

The recent and massive influx of Hawai‘i teams making the Little League World Series followed a trail blazed by West O‘ahu Little League. The entire state was captivated and galvanized by the team's unbeaten summer 2005 run, capped by 

 against defending LLWS champion Curacao in the title game. 

"Looking back at it, man, 20 years is something crazy," Memea told Aloha State Daily on Thursday. "It feels like yesterday that we were there."

Memea's baseball journey continued at Damien before transferring to Campbell. He then played one season at Linn-Benton Community College in Oregon before ultimately calling it a career. 

Memea moved to North Las Vegas five years ago, where he works in the security department of a local high school. He briefly coached baseball, but now coaches wrestling. On the Mainland, he says "not too many" people recognize him from his championship moment on national television.

After flying back to the Islands for Thursday's induction banquet, Memea says he remains in touch with some of his former teammates via social media. 

"People remind me all the time about the World Series. I try not to talk about it too much," Memea said. "I try to keep humble, but it feels like yesterday that we were playing, especially when we watch other Hawai‘i teams playing."

With Honolulu Little League's run at the 2025 LLWS set to get underway on Friday against Connecticut's 

Fairfield National Little League, Memea says he'll be tuning in. 

"Not just for the Little League World Series, but any team from Hawai‘i, any sport I usually follow," Memea said. "I got my Spectrum (cable), I got ESPN. So, I watch Hawai‘i sports all the time. It's awesome, just cheering for them."

When 2005 West O‘ahu Little League All-Star manager Layton Aliviado gave a brief speech following the team's induction, he attributed the team's success to "practicing until dark." Every player on the roster is done playing baseball competitively, though some play recreationally. Some, such as Maryknoll head baseball coach Alaka‘i Aglipay, continue to give back to the game. 

Ever the competitor, when Memea was asked how the 2005 team stacks up against the other Hawai‘i teams that have won the Little League World Series, he still gives the boys from ‘Ewa Beach the edge. 

"Being kind of biased because it's our team, but I feel like we would (win) because of all that running, all that extra stuff we did just to even get there," he said. "Our coaches made sure we stayed in top shape. Just to the team that's in Williamsport right now: good luck with everything. Listen to your coaches. Just go out there and have fun."

Hawai‘i Scene on Social: Hula skirt

Kady Pascual

Social Media Editor

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Hawai‘i Scene on Social: Hula skirt

Authors

Kady Pascual

Social Media Editor

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