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Friday, August 18, 2023

Kaʻū News Briefs, Friday, August 18, 2023

 State flags were not only flown half-staff in Hawai‘i on Friday, in honor of those lost on Maui. In addition, governors in Nebraska, Pennsylvania, and New Jersey also ordered flags half-staff to honor the victims. Friday was also Admissions Day for Hawai‘i, which became a state in 1959. 
Photo by Bob Martin
Kapua Sproat writes about the Lahaina fires
in The Guardian. Photo from U.H.
KAPUA SPROAT, A UNIVERSITY OF HAWAI‘I LAW PROFESSOR AND ATTORNEY FOR EARTH JUSTICE, has worked on water justice around the state. She co-authored a story for the British newspaper The Guardian this week regarding the risk of fires and the lack of water throughout Hawai‘i, giving Lāhainā as an example. See                                https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2023/aug/17/hawaii-fires-maui-water-rights-disaster-capitalismfbclid=IwAR3ORq0NXYLuktwFNNPVEcjTXb0tFYfgUPebLQWD4t9YjU5FbAowrmfgcwI_aem_AY5Nh5uATaTYQakZb1Vymj22S99M5EVlFTgbFfjmujuruTU8C4jcak-WQ1-b8__eZNs
    The article was recommended by Marsha Hee, of Volcano.


NĀ ‘OHANA O LELE, a coalition of community leaders in Lāhainā, held a press conference Friday. Tiare Lawrence said the group has issued three demands to Gov. Josh Green.
    ONE: Give our community time to grieve. The fire occurred only ten days ago and many people are still in shock and mourning. The governor should not rush to rebuild the community without first giving people time to heal, especially without including the community itself in the planning.
Tiare Lawrence read the demands issued by Na ‘Ohana o Lele
 to Gov. Josh Green. Photo from Maui Now
    TWO: Put the community first in any planning process for rebuilding Lāhainā. The governor should work with the community to develop a plan that meets the needs of the people. Fast-track development cannot come at the cost of community control.
    THREE: Amend the Emergency Proclamation to ensure that Chapter 92 Sunshine Law remains in full force. This law guarantees the public's right to know about the government's decision-making and the discussions and information used in that process. The governor should ensure that all decisions about the rebuilding of Lāhainā are made in the open and with full participation of our Lāhainā community. We need time to gather all of us together to engage in the important conversations that will be needed.
     Lawrence asked that the governor meet with Lāhainā people. "The governor's plans to rebuild the community must be based on the needs of the people, not the interests of developers." She called on the governor to meet the three demands.  See the press conference at https://www.youtube.com/watch?app=desktop&v=vLPvWd1FwcA.

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GOV. JOSH GREEN AND THE FIRST LADY JAIME KANANI GREEN RELEASED A VIDEO FRIDAY SAYING LĀHAINĀ PEOPLE WILL DETERMINE LĀHAINĀ'S FUTURE. Through sweat and tears, they talked about the loss of life and pain to the community. The Governor said, "We will rebuild Lāhainā. Lāhainā belongs to its people and we are committed to rebuilding and restoring it the way they want it. The land in Lāhainā is reserved for its people as they return and rebuild. And I have instructed the Attorney General to impose enhanced criminal penalties on anyone who tries to take advantage of victims by acquiring properties in the affected areas."
Lahaina banyan tree behind shells of historic buildings where
Gov. Josh Green said Lahaina will reemerge "like shoots 
from the ashes." Photo from NPR
   He said, "Lāhainā will rise again. It will be a symbol of our resilience, our values and our sacred bonds of ‘ohana. When it is rebuilt it will be a living memorial to the loved ones we have lost, the native Hawaiian culture that founded it centuries ago, and the values that will enable us to endure this tragedy and flourish again, like the great banyan tree that survived the fire and still stands among the ruins today.            
     "We will set an example for the world, on how we will protect and preserve our culture, our history and our values as we navigate the challenges of sustainable development, extreme weather and global climate change in this century. We will never forget what we have lost in Lāhainā and we will never abandon the survivors or our commitment to help them recover and heal. We will mourn those we have lost, honor their memories, and support the survivors and we will nurture our hope for the future that will emerge again like shoots from the ashes." 

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Police Officer Mark Kealoha
Kaili, Jr. arrested. Photo from HPD
TWO MASKED MEN ROBBED A HOME IN NĀ‘ĀLEHU TUESDAY. ARRESTED WAS OFF-DUTY POLICE OFFICER Mark Kealoha Kaili, Jr., 32, of Kea‘au, along with Cody Kuaili‘aimoku Kanahele, 27.  According to Hawai‘i Police Department, early Tuesday morning two masked men reportedly entered a 20-year-old victim’s residence in Nā‘ālehu and assaulted him. During the altercation, the victim’s grandfather attempted to intervene, and in the process unmasked one of the suspects, later identified as Kaili, who was off-duty during the alleged incident, as well as at the time of his arrest. Kanahele, cousin of the victim, was arrested a short time after this incident was reported. Later that same day he was charged with first-degree burglary and third-degree assault.
     Kaili was arrested Friday morning at his residence in Hawaiian Paradise Park, on suspicion of first-degree burglary and third-degree assault. Some folks in Ka‘ū say they remember him serving as a lifeguard at Punalu‘u Black Sand Beach.

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5,000 in the mail, 2,500 on the street.







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