Honolulu officials consider easing city’s fireworks ban ADVERTISING Honolulu officials consider easing city’s fireworks ban HONOLULU (AP) — Oahu residents may be able to celebrate with certain types of fireworks this New Year’s Eve, thanks to a bill being considered
Honolulu officials consider easing city’s fireworks ban
HONOLULU (AP) — Oahu residents may be able to celebrate with certain types of fireworks this New Year’s Eve, thanks to a bill being considered by the Honolulu City Council.
A council committee voted 8 to 1 to allow adults to purchase and set off up to 60 non-aerial fireworks. The full council will likely consider the bill next month and it is expected to pass.
Only certain types of fountain fireworks are covered by the proposal and residents will need a permit to use them.
A 2010 law made all consumer fireworks except firecrackers illegal in Honolulu.
Firecrackers can be purchased by adults with a city permit. If the new law is passed, the same permit will allow them to purchase fountain fireworks.
Electrical workers union now supports Hawaiian Electric deal
HONOLULU (AP) — An electrical workers union is now saying it supports NextEra Energy Inc.’s proposed purchase of Hawaiian Electric Industries after being in opposition of the sale since it was announced in December.
The International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 1260 had previously opposed HEI’s sale to NextEra because the Florida-based company hadn’t committed to training union workers for new jobs.
Local 1260 said Tuesday that it has changed its stance after reaching an agreement with NextEra. The company in a written statement said it would recognize the union as the exclusive bargaining agent for its members and train union workers for new technology jobs. Next Era also promised that there would be no layoffs for two years after the sale’s closing.
Local 1260’s backing of NextEra has come after months of negotiations that began when the company announced in December its plans to buy HEI.
“I am very proud to see that this lengthy and exhaustive process has culminated in an agreement that best serves not only Local 1260 and NextEra Energy, but also provides protections for our members and their families, has great benefits for our communities, and will deliver both short- and long-term cost benefits to energy consumers across this state,” said Brian Ahakuelo, the union’s business manager and financial secretary, in a statement.
Ahakuelo said the union will submit the agreement to the Public Utilities commission, which has to approve NextEra’s proposal before the sale can be finalized.
Hawaii family sues police, city over stun gun-related death
HONOLULU (AP) — The family of a Hawaii man who died after he was arrested in an incident involving a stun gun is filing a lawsuit against Honolulu police and city officials.
The lawsuit was filed in federal court Tuesday on behalf of the family of Sheldon Haleck, the 38-year-old father who died in March. The complaint says that police officers used excessive force and that authorities covered up the events surrounding Haleck’s death.
“The police murdered our client and have subsequently refused to release any information, in fact we believe have attempted to cover up the fact that this occurred,” Seitz said. “In our view, this case is at least as outrageous as cases that have drawn national attention from Baltimore, from Staten Island, from the St. Louis area, and in other parts of the country.”
On the night in question, Haleck was running erratically in the road in downtown Honolulu, and police used pepper spray and a stun gun because he was uncooperative, according to police. At some point Haleck became unresponsive and was taken to Queen’s Medical Center, where he later died, authorities said.
Seitz disputed that account, saying a video of the incident showed that Haleck was cooperating with police.
“There was absolutely no justification to use violence in this case,” Seitz said. “And yet our client, who was not committing anything more than perhaps the crime of jaywalking, was not resisting arrest, was repeatedly shot with a Taser, was then manhandled on the ground, and died essentially from what took place that evening.”
The Honolulu Police Department and city officials would not comment on pending litigation.
Methamphetamine was found in Haleck’s blood and urine, according to an autopsy report from the Honolulu Department of the Medical Examiner. The cause of death was multiple metabolic and cardiac complications because of a physical altercation with police by an individual acutely intoxicated with methamphetamine, and the death was ruled as a homicide because of the actions performed by police, the report said.
Seitz questioned the accuracy of the report, saying it was likely influenced by police. He said city officials weren’t forthcoming with information about the case.
“In other parts of the country, thousands if not tens of thousands of people would be out on the streets demanding some sort of justice for Sheldon Haleck,” Seitz said. “In this case, unfortunately, I think people are somewhat immune in our community to this kind of police conduct.”
New curator named for Honolulu’s Royal Mausoleum
HONOLULU (AP) — The burial place of Hawaiian royalty has a new curator.
The state Department of Land and Natural Resources announced Tuesday William “Kai” Bishop Kaiheekai Maioho has been chosen as curator of the Royal Mausoleum.
He replaces his father, who died earlier this year. He’ll be the 15th curator of the Royal Mausoleum.
The mausoleum in Honolulu’s Nuuanu neighborhood was established in 1865 as the final resting place for the ruling monarchs of the Hawaiian kingdom, their families and close advisers.
