State briefs for July 9

Hawaii takes another shot at Trump’s travel ban

HONOLULU (AP) — Hawaii has returned to federal court with a new motion in its challenge to Trump administration travel ban rules regarding citizens from six majority Muslim countries.

In the motion filed late Friday, Hawaii officials asked U.S. District Judge Derrick Watson to enforce or modify the injunction he issued in March blocking the ban altogether.

On Thursday, Watson denied a request to clarify who is exempt from the restrictions, saying that question was best for the U.S. Supreme Court, which has allowed parts of the ban to go into effect until it considers legal challenges.

A panel of the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals said Friday it did not have jurisdiction to address or clarify the Supreme Court ruling, but Watson could interpret and enforce it. That appeared to give Hawaii an opportunity to reframe its request.

Hawaii contends the Trump rules improperly omit grandparents, aunts and uncles of U.S. citizens from the list of people who can travel to the U.S.

Man gets jail for boat confrontation

WAILUKU, Maui (AP) — A Hawaii man was sentenced to six months in jail for his role in a confrontation on a boat.

Floyd Kumukoa Kapuni also was ordered Thursday to pay $8,250 in restitution as part of four years’ probation.

Kapuni is among four Molokai residents indicted after fishing equipment was damaged and one person was pushed overboard May 25, 2014, during the boarding of a boat.

Deputy Prosecutor Johann Smith alleges Kapuni “robbed and terrorized five innocent people who were just trying to enjoy a day on the water.”

Kapuni had pleaded no contest to second-degree robbery. In exchange, the prosecution dismissed counts of second-degree robbery, first-degree unauthorized entry into a motor vehicle, first-degree terroristic threatening and harassment.

Kapuni says he made a “poor decision” that day.