Honolulu homeless dying in the streets, telemedicine for abortion, Honolulu and Hawaii councils pass budgets, Kealoha uncle denies stealing mailbox, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Honolulu homeless man sleeps along the Ala Wai ©2019 All Hawaii News

A ‘startling’ number of homeless are dying on Oahu streets, new numbers show. Exactly 373 in five years. That’s the amount of homeless people who have died on Oahu from 2014 through 2018, according to Honolulu’s Medical Examiner. Hawaii News Now.

373 homeless people died on Oahu from 2014-2018. The combination of drugs, alcohol, poor health, lack of hygiene and medical attention mean Oahu’s homeless population has an average lifespan potentially decades shorter than the population in general. Star-Advertiser.

Over 5 Years, 373 Oahu Homeless People Died. Honolulu’s mayor says the new statistics show the need to help vulnerable populations. Civil Beat.

Honolulu Medical Examiner Warns Homeless Dying Early. Living on Oahu's street leads to early death, the Honolulu medical examiner said Wednesday in releasing a report analyzing the deaths of 373 homeless people over a five-year period. Hawaii Public Radio.

See where Oahu's homeless residents are dying. KITV.

Hawaii Doctors Turn To Telemedicine As Number of Abortion Providers Dwindles. Hawaii was the first state to recognize a woman’s right to terminate her pregnancy, but women in rural Hawaii who wish to exercise that right face plenty of hurdles. Civil Beat.

Oahu

Council OKs tax hikes for hotels, other properties. Owners of hotels, resorts and most higher-end residential properties will need to pay more in taxes under a budget plan approved by the Honolulu City Council on Wednesday. Star-Advertiser.

Honolulu City Council Approves Hotel Real Property Tax Hike, Budget Increases. The Honolulu City Council on Wednesday approved increases in property taxes for hotels/resorts and residential condos and houses over $1 million not used as primary residences -- all to help cover a $12.8 billion operating budget for the next fiscal year. Hawaii Public Radio.

=====

City Council OKs Court Challenge Over Louis Kealoha Legal Fees. The council wants to overturn the Police Commission’s decision to pay for the former police chief’s defense in a public corruption trial. Civil Beat.

Katherine Kealoha’s uncle describes his deteriorating relationship with niece. Gerard Puana was convinced that a team of Honolulu police officers was following him — to a party in Kailua, to Manoa Marketplace, and constantly driving around his house. Star-Advertiser.

'We Were The Best Of Friends': Gerard Puana Testifies In Kealoha Trial. The man allegedly framed in a mailbox theft that’s turned into a massive corruption case talks about the ups and downs of his relationship with his niece, Katherine Kealoha. Civil Beat.

Uncle Denies Theft In Kealohas' Corruption Trial. U.S. prosecutors say framing Puana was key to a conspiracy by ex-Honolulu chief Louis Kealoha and his wife Katherine Kealoha, a former deputy city prosecutor. Hawaii Public Radio.

‘Absolutely not’: Relative who Kealohas alleged stole their mailbox tells jurors he’s innocent. Hawaii News Now.

KEALOHA TRIAL: More cross-examination is expected Thursday, June 6. KHON2.

=====

'More ghetto’: Maili residents turn out to protest 52-unit affordable housing project. Maili residents who opposed an affordable housing project in their neighborhood turned out in force at the City Council on Wednesday. Hawaii News Now.

Kakaako street dispute headed for hearing. A state board decided Wednesday to retain a legal expert to officiate a dispute over poor pavement conditions and parking restrictions on several privately owned streets in Kakaako. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii Island

Council passes expanded budget. The County Council on Wednesday added $1.6 million and two more positions to the 93 new positions in Mayor Harry Kim’s $583.9 million spending plan, while moving money around in other accounts to give the legislative body more oversight. West Hawaii Today.

Foes blast Maunakea rules. More than 100 people showed up Tuesday evening at Waiakea Elementary School for a public hearing on a revised draft of administrative rules regulating public and commercial activities on Maunakea. Tribune-Herald.

The Department of Parks and Recreation announces the Pahoa Community Aquatic Center is now open 7 days a week, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Big Island Video News.

Maui

Panel backs commercial activity ban at Hanakao'o. Canoe clubs say beach last place for them in West Maui. Maui News.

United Airlines CEO on Maui: Terminal Upgrades and Infrastructure Challenges. United Airlines CEO, Oscar Munoz visited with Maui employees on Wednesday, as part of a Hawaii visit that includes stops at major airports across the state. Maui Now.

Fundraising halfway there for Lahaina Fourth of July. LahainaTown Action Committee has “special and exciting” ideas for the annual Fourth of July fireworks and is about halfway to its fundraising goal of $50,000 with about a month left to go. Maui News.

Kauai

Kauai condo prices doubled in May. Homebuyers last month shelled out much more money for condominiums on Kauai - so much that it caused the median sale price for such homes to more than double, according to a report released Wednesday. Star-Advertiser.

Black Pot opening delayed. County officials are now hoping to reopen the park at the end of June. Garden Island.