Bill seeks to modify state’s trespassing laws ADVERTISING Bill seeks to modify state’s trespassing laws HONOLULU (AP) — Gov. David Ige’s administration wants to make it a crime to trespass on all state lands. Homeless advocates worry that as a
Bill seeks to modify state’s trespassing laws
HONOLULU (AP) — Gov. David Ige’s administration wants to make it a crime to trespass on all state lands.
Homeless advocates worry that as a result, homeless people could end up with a criminal record.
Attorney general spokesman Josh Wisch says right now, it’s unclear whether the state’s trespassing laws apply to state land under freeways or in boat harbors. He says a bill in the state Legislature would apply criminal trespassing laws evenly across state lands.
Wisch says officials are trying to combat problems such as copper theft and arson. He says the state wouldn’t arrest a homeless person for trespassing if there wasn’t available shelter nearby.
Mandy Finlay of the ACLU of Hawaii says the bill targets homeless people. She says until there’s adequate housing the state shouldn’t expand criminal trespassing laws to target homelessness.
$25M project will honor saints
HONOLULU (AP) — A Honolulu church has a $25 million project in the works that would expand its building to include a new museum honoring Hawaii’s two saints.
St. Augustine Catholic Church was recently awarded a permit for the project to build the Damien and Marianne of Molokai Museum.
The museum will feature virtual and interactive exhibits that detail the stories of the two saints, who both served thousands of Hansen’s disease, or leprosy, patients quarantined in settlements at Kalaupapa, Molokai. St. Damien is a priest with the Congregation of the Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary who was canonized in 2009.
The canonization of St. Marianne, formerly a Sister of St. Francis of the Neumann Communities, took place in 2012.
To make space for the two-story building, the church’s parish hall and back parking lot will be demolished and replaced.
Construction is set to start in 2017.
A new multipurpose building and parking deck for the church will cover a 17,775-square-foot area.
The Rev. Lane Akiona, who leads the Waikiki church, said members of the church, visitors and other supporters raised enough money to pay for construction, but more funds are needed to complete work on the inside of the building and sustain the museum once it is up and running.
Maui police take part in ‘U Drive. U Text. U Pay’
WAILUKU, Maui (AP) — Maui police will issue citations to drivers who use cellphones while driving through April 13 as part of a national campaign.
Officers issued 764 citations during last year’s “U Drive. U Text. U Pay” campaign.
State law says drivers using mobile devices in school and construction zones can earn fines up to $347.
Mobile devices include electronics such as tablets, digital cameras and gaming devices.
Officer Timothy Hodgens said in a news release that distracted drivers risk causing crashes.
Police say drivers should use hands-free devices and wait to use electronic devices until they’ve pulled over or reached their destination.
