Crime & Courts

Moanalua won four state titles: Who paid?

In 2012, a parent accused a Roosevelt coach of kissing a 13-year-old wrestler. The next year, Moanalua hired him and he won four state titles. ASD columnist Sterling Higa on idolatry, mandated reporting, and the trophy case nobody wants to look inside.

Sterling HigaSeptember 30, 2026

UPDATED: Woman arrested for weekend Kailua shooting

Photos and videos from the Kailua Fall Festival have helped identify alleged shooter Sunday at the Target in Kailua. On Monday, HPD also named the victim: 30-year-old Thomas Malone, the son of Michael Buntenbah, who owns the Defend Hawai‘i clothing brand. Malone had a decorated athletic career during high school, having played football, soccer and track and field at Kaiser High School.

Michael BrestovanskySeptember 29, 2026

Former wrestling coach arrested for child porn

Sean Sakaida, 44, was arrested Thursday for receiving and possessing explicit photos of one of his former wrestling students, after someone tipped off the FBI about a possible inappropriate relationship between an adult and a minor earlier this year. If convicted, Sakaida faces a minimum sentence of five years in prison, and a maximum of 20 years, along with possible fines of up to $250,000.

Michael BrestovanskySeptember 29, 2026

$830,000 in debt forgiveness available for Hawai‘i residents after settlement

Multi-state settlement with Credit Acceptance Corp. offers Hawai‘i borrowers a piece of a $694 million pie

Michael BrestovanskySeptember 26, 2026

Community Voices: Getting into tax court

The moral of the story is this: if you have, or think you may have, a dispute with the Tax Department over taxes, get yourself a good tax practitioner who knows the rules and traps so you can skirt the edges and avoid falling into the pitfalls. And then, of course, lawmakers need to take a look at these rules and change them to get rid of the unfairness.

Tom YamachikaSeptember 25, 2026

Honolulu, state Land Use Commission, battle in Supreme Court

Decade-old attempt to change zoning leads to procedural debate.

Michael BrestovanskySeptember 24, 2026

UH to pay $500,000 in settlement over mismanaged funds

Public officials embezzled federal grant money. UH could have stopped it, the DOJ alleges.

Michael BrestovanskySeptember 22, 2026

Hawai‘i joins multi-state lawsuit against DHS over immigration

Immigration rule changes reduce availability of public benefits for immigrants.

Michael BrestovanskySeptember 19, 2026

Hawaiʻi Supreme Court affirms decision to re-do House District 43 primary

Kanani Souza and Sheila Medeiros will remain on the general election ballot in November under a section labeled “Republican Party Voters Only” in House District 43, while the Senate District 20 tiebreaker result will remain in place.

Haley LehmanSeptember 18, 2026

Traffic fatalities down over the summer, HPD reports

"Safer Roads, Together" initiative sees traffic fatalities on O‘ahu cut by more than half compared to 2025.

Michael BrestovanskySeptember 18, 2026

Maui fire settlement back in court over lawyers' fees

Attorneys challenge $4 billion settlement to victims of the 2023 wildfires

Michael BrestovanskySeptember 16, 2026

Hawai‘i sued over illegal immigrant tuition law

U.S. Department of Justice challenges state policy allowing illegal immigrants to be eligible for in-state tuition.

Michael BrestovanskySeptember 11, 2026

Hawai‘i joins lawsuits over endangered species protections

Federal agencies rescissions of endangered species protections led 21 states to sue the federal government Wednesday.

Michael BrestovanskySeptember 10, 2026

Maui man pleads guilty to 2025 bank robbery

Justin Nelson reportedly robbed a Kīhei bank for $4,885 last August.

Michael BrestovanskySeptember 07, 2026

Luke corruption trial pushed to 2027

Trial of Lt. Gov. Sylvia Luke and her alleged associates blows past previous September date.

Michael BrestovanskySeptember 07, 2026

Pamela Cisneros, Lindsay Clancy, and the voice that said ‘kill’

A woman pulled two kitchen knives from a shopping bag on Seventh Avenue and used them on two strangers. By nightfall everyone knew why, and no one argued. ASD opinion columnist Sterling Higa on the explanation for mental illness that every culture but ours took for granted.

Sterling HigaSeptember 06, 2026

“The primary is not pau:” The Hawaiʻi Supreme Court orders new primary election in tied Makakilo race

The Hawaiʻi Supreme Court ruled Friday that the House District 43 primary race will go back to the voters in November.

Haley LehmanSeptember 05, 2026

Supreme Court to decide future of House District 43 primary

The Hawaiʻi Supreme Court heard arguments Wednesday in the election contest of the Makakilo primary race that was settled by a tiebreaker in August.

Haley LehmanSeptember 03, 2026

Air Force lieutenant colonel gets 20 years for child enticement

Ross Brown of Kailua was busted earlier this year for sending sexual messages to an undercover agent posing as a 14-year-old girl.

Michael BrestovanskySeptember 03, 2026

Community Voices: When do judges have free speech?

Hawaiʻi Supreme Court Justices must follow federal interpretations of federal laws and the U.S. Constitution, but are in no way subordinate to the U.S. Supreme Court on issues of state law or the state constitution. That is part of the way our government was set up.

Tom YamachikaSeptember 01, 2026

DAGS seeks assistance in Maui school vandalism incident

Unknown people caused "thousands" of dollars in damage at Maui High School restroom construction site.

Michael BrestovanskyAugust 29, 2026

Waters out of council race after Supreme Court verdict

The Hawai‘i Supreme Court found Waters ineligible to run for reelection this year.

Michael BrestovanskyAugust 28, 2026

Commercial aquarium fishing question may be resolved after three years

After years of a statewide pause on commercial aquarium fishing, the BLNR could vote to resurrect the industry or kill it permanently on Friday.