Crime & Courts
News
Slip-and-fall case goes to state Supreme Court over 'systemic bias'
State judicial system prejudiced against non-English-speaking litigants, claims plaintiff.
Michael BrestovanskyNovember 13, 2026
Hawaiʻi Supreme Court elephant case: Nonhuman Rights Project, the Kumulipo and who counts as a person
On Monday at Punahou School, five Hawaiʻi Supreme Court justices heard a lawyer argue that two elephants are persons under Hawaiʻi law. ASD opinion columnist Sterling Higa on the bright line the law needs and where it comes from.
Sterling HigaNovember 11, 2026
Man faces life in prison after fatal Kalihi stabbing
Alexis Aquino reportedly stabbed a 66-year-old woman to death in a Kalihi convenience store.
Michael BrestovanskyNovember 11, 2026
Elephant rights go to Hawai‘i Supreme Court
Hundreds in attendance in case over whether Honolulu Zoo elephants Mari and Vaigai are entitled to human rights
Michael BrestovanskyNovember 10, 2026
HFD battalion chief accused of sexual assault
A woman identified as Jane Doe in a civil case alleges that a Honolulu Fire Department battalion chief sexually assaulted her in February 2025.
Haley LehmanNovember 04, 2026
Elephants go to court next week
Hawai‘i Supreme Court to hear arguments over whether Honolulu's elephants have legal personhood.
Michael BrestovanskyNovember 04, 2026
Election commissioners prevail in state Supreme Court dispute
After five months of inactivity, the Elections Commission can reconvene after the state Supreme Court determines that the Office of Elections must provide administrative assistance to the Commission.
Michael BrestovanskyNovember 03, 2026
Hawai‘i gets $2.8 million in General Motors data-selling settlement
Multi-state lawsuit against GM gives Hawai‘i a small piece of a $220 million pie.
Michael BrestovanskyOctober 31, 2026
Kailua man charged with attempted murder
Sean Warnet reportedly fired at police officers responding to a domestic assault report at his Kailua residence.
Michael BrestovanskyOctober 29, 2026
Attempted kidnapper arrested near Diamond Head
Man who reportedly attempted to drag a woman to his car on Monday charged with kidnapping.
Michael BrestovanskyOctober 29, 2026
Community Voices: Our right to speak under Act 11
The solution in Act 11, which was passed by the last legislature and set to go into effect in July 2027, is to make all artificial entities within the state powerless to engage in election activity or ballot-issue activity. But some of the phrasing is open to interpretation, writes Tom Yamachika of Tax Foundation of Hawaiʻi.
Tom YamachikaOctober 26, 2026
Honolulu man charged for allegedly shooting ‘Aiea school building
Joseph Chester Brown faces 15 years in federal prison over road rage incident.
Michael BrestovanskyOctober 24, 2026
Sunset Beach surf family sues over pedestrian-vehicle collision
A lawsuit filed by the Briley family alleges that the City and County of Honolulu and the state of Hawaiʻi knew about an unsafe parking area on the North Shore and failed to do anything about it. In 2025, 20-year-old Dakota Briley was hit by a car and sustained serious injuries.
Haley LehmanOctober 21, 2026
HPD youth programs to remain amid staff shuffle
While 100 HPD officers are shifted to patrol, programs for keiki will remain.
Michael BrestovanskyOctober 21, 2026
Federal lawsuit alleges racketeering, fraud, by Maui Land & Pineapple
Lawsuit claims Maui landowner doctored records to defraud TY Management Corp. for hundreds of thousands of dollars.
Michael BrestovanskyOctober 20, 2026
Deadlocked state election organizations go to Hawai‘i Supreme Court
Hawai‘i Supreme Court hears arguments in dispute between Hawai‘i Election Commission, Hawai‘i Office of Elections. At least one justice was stunned that the dynamic between the two groups had reached this point.
Michael BrestovanskyOctober 17, 2026
Pipikaula Corner: What Oregon should teach Hawai‘i
The Oregon school shooter was stopped by one thing and one thing only — a good, brave man with a gun. Hawai‘i offers its students and teachers only "gun-free zone" signs and some training that they run for their lives. But note this: Oregon's Silver Rail Elementary was a "gun-free zone" school, too.
A. Kam NapierOctober 17, 2026
Nakasato, Bode sworn in as HPD deputy chiefs
Brandon Nakasato, who oversees field operations, and Parker Bode, who oversees administrative operations, were sworn in as deputy chiefs of Honolulu Police Department Friday morning at Honolulu Hale.
Haley LehmanOctober 17, 2026
Act 11 challenge goes to court
A verdict is pending on whether Grassroot Institute of Hawai‘i has standing to challenge Hawai‘i's corporate election spending ban.
Michael BrestovanskyOctober 16, 2026
100 HPD officers to be reassigned to patrol
Scores of officers will be reallocated to patrol duties next month, HPD Chief David Lazar announced Thursday.
Michael BrestovanskyOctober 16, 2026
Hamada: McKinley High School sex assault case appalling
The State of Hawai‘i and its Department of Education fought off accountability for 15 years until the State Supreme Court decision confirmed the worst: Officials knew a student was vulnerable, was assaulted, and they did nothing to prevent it or stop it.
Rick HamadaOctober 16, 2026
Maui man sentenced to 60 years in prison for child sex assault
Roberto Omar Andrade, 49, to serve three consecutive 20-year sentences after sexually abusing a child for four years.
Michael BrestovanskyOctober 14, 2026
Lawsuit over Maui voter records settled, while Kaua‘i suit continues
The Public Interest Legal Fund sued two county clerks after they failed to provide voter records on request.
Michael BrestovanskyOctober 10, 2026
Hamada: Remember Officer O, not her killer
On Thursday, a jury convicted a man for the murder of Maui Police Officer Suzanne O, a young woman who based her life on service and courtesy.
Rick HamadaOctober 09, 2026