Kealoha power couple found guilty in conspiracy trial, new law blocks firearms for emotionally unstable, tourism up but spending down, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Katherine and Louis Kealoha, from Facebook

Kealohas are found guilty on all counts of conspiracy and obstruction. Honolulu’s former Police Chief Louis Kealoha and his wife, former Deputy Prosecutor Katherine Kealoha, once trusted leaders of the city’s law enforcement system, were found guilty Thursday of using their positions and power to frame a family member and enrich themselves. Star-Advertiser.

Kealohas, 2 Honolulu officers found guilty of conspiracy in massive public corruption trial. After deliberating for less than nine hours, a jury of seven men and five women found former law enforcement power couple Louis and Katherine Kealoha guilty Thursday of conspiracy and other counts in one of Hawaii’s most closely-watched public corruption trials. Hawaii News Now.

Jury Convicts Kealohas And 2 HPD Officers Of Conspiracy. Honolulu’s former police chief and his prosecutor wife, along with two police officers, were found guilty Thursday in one of the biggest corruption cases in Hawaii history. Civil Beat.

Verdict In: Louis and Katherine Kealoha Guilty In Corruption Case. A jury has found a former Honolulu prosecutor and her now-retired police chief husband guilty in a plot to frame a relative to silence him from revealing fraud that financed their lavish lifestyle, a case that shook the top levels of law enforcement. Associated Press.

Jury finds Kealohas guilty of conspiracy in Kealoha Trial, KHON2.

Jury finds Katherine and Louis Kealoha guilty of conspiracy. A verdict has been reached in the Kealoha corruption trial. KITV.

Here’s why prosecutors want Katherine Kealoha behind bars as she awaits sentencing. In a strongly-worded brief Thursday, the government argued newly-convicted felon Katherine Kealoha should be placed in custody immediately as she awaits sentencing this fall. Hawaii News Now.

Reaction pours in after Kealoha guilty verdicts. Star-Advertiser.

Verdicts help restore faith in the system, many say. The quick guilty verdicts in one of the state’s largest public corruption trials brought a wide range of reaction Thursday, with some saying the case underscored the inability of local officials to police themselves. Star-Advertiser.

Legal troubles not over for Kealohas. Thursday’s verdict is not the end of the legal troubles for Louis and Katherine Kealoha. The couple faces two more trials. Star-Advertiser.

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Gov. David Ige has approved a new law that enables family members, co-workers or police to obtain court orders blocking access to firearms for people who show signs they could pose a danger to themselves or others. Star-Advertiser.

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State Auditor Dings DLNR’s Special Land Fund. Absence of long-range planning leaves staff without “expertise, resources, and options” to effectively manage portfolio. Civil Beat.

Audit: DLNR mismanaged state land. A division of the state Department of Land and Natural Resources responsible for millions of acres of state-owned property is being run without coherent policies or guidelines by a staff that is incompetent to the point that it misunderstands its own funding, according to a report released Thursday by the Hawaii State Auditor. Garden Island.

Audit conducted of DLNR's Special Land Development Fund. The Hawaii State Auditor says, "absence of long-range planning has left the Land Division staff without the expertise, resources, and options to actively and effectively manage its land portfolio." KITV.

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More tourists visit Hawaii but they spend less. May marked the seventh month in a row that more visitors came to Hawaii than in the previous year while creating less economic benefit. Star-Advertiser.

Disappointing declines in visitor spending continue in May. The takeaway from May’s tourism numbers was a familiar one: Visitors came in droves but spent less on average. Hawaii News Now.

Hawaii visitor statistics released for May 2019. Visitors to the Hawaiian Islands spent a total of $1.39 billion in May 2019, a decrease of 2.1% compared to the same month last year, according HTA. KITV.

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Mayors at summit in Honolulu commit to electric vehicles. Dozens of mayors gathered in front of an electric bus at the University of Hawaii-Manoa campus Thursday to announce a collaborative commitment to purchasing electric vehicles for their city fleets. Star-Advertiser.

Filling A ‘Massive’ Need To Provide Glasses For Hawaii’s Kids. The state law requiring regular hearing and vision screening has been ignored for nearly 25 years, leaving nonprofits to cover at least part of the gap. Civil Beat.

Oahu

Kym Pine: ‘Strongly Considering’ Running For Mayor. The Honolulu City Councilwoman is reaching out for support and donations. Civil Beat.

Following a recent trip to Singapore, State Senator Stanley Chang remains committed to adapting the island nation’s public housing model for Hawaii. The idea, which would use state land along the planned Honolulu rail transit line, aims to build low-cost, high density, residential developments. Hawaii Public Radio.

Ward Village developer Howard Hughes Corp. considers shake-up and sale. The Ward Village community in Kakaako could see a new master developer under a possible shake-up of Howard Hughes Corp. Star-Advertiser.

State to charge for street parking next to Kalihi school. People have been parking on a side street in Kalihi for a number of years. Now the state will be charging them for it. KHON2.

Hawaii Island

Salary Commission weighs pay hikes, other incentives to keep top officials. The county Salary Commission is considering bonuses as one way to attract quality candidates to head county departments. West Hawaii Today.

Will This Year’s Confrontation At Mauna Kea Become Hawaii’s Standing Rock? Protestors say they’ll remain nonviolent, but fear the state and county’s response to their planned activism. Civil Beat.

Mauna Kea Land Set Aside Draws DU, Land Title Concerns. A public hearing was held on a proposal to withdraw lands in the Mauna Kea Forest Reserve and set aside to the County of Hawaii and the DOT. Big Island Video News.

AC installation for dorm moves forward. The University of Hawaii at Hilo’s newest dormitory, Hale Alahonua, is closer to being cooler with the upcoming installation of an air conditioning system. Tribune-Herald.

Maui

Maui traffic livestreamed. Real-time traffic cameras installed at 10 intersections. Maui drivers won’t have to guess about travel times on some state highways with new real-time traffic monitoring cameras going up at 10 state roadway intersections. Maui News.

Mayor prepares to release housing plan. Mayor Michael Victorino declared Wednesday that there’s a dire need for housing units in Maui County and that all options are open as his administration is poised to present its Strategic Housing Plan to the Maui County Council. Maui News.

Shoreline access pact reached with Napili condos. Lawsuits claim trails not being maintained per permits. Community groups who sued three condominium complexes over beach access have reached a settlement with the final two condos that will restore a public access trail to the Napili shoreline. Maui News.

Settlement Reached to Restore Beach Access at Honokowai. Maui Now.

Kauai

A new deal. There is a new collective bargaining agreement for Kauai firefighters through 2021 as the Kauai County Council passed a bill that will usher in a new area for first responders with a 5-2 vote Wednesday during the council meeting at the Historic County Building. Garden Island.