Group seeks
to protect sand dunes from mining ADVERTISING Group seeks
to protect sand dunes from mining WAILUKU, Maui (AP) — A judge ordered a preliminary injunction to protect Valley Isle sand dunes from being mined for export and construction. A Maui
Group seeks
to protect sand dunes from mining
WAILUKU, Maui (AP) — A judge ordered a preliminary injunction to protect Valley Isle sand dunes from being mined for export and construction.
A Maui judge Wednesday issued an order that no ground can be disturbed at the Maui Lani development’s Phase 9 without extensive outside oversight and an advance notice of work.
The action comes after community group Malama Kakanilua sued, claiming historic preservation laws were being violated and iwi burials were at risk.
Maui Lani partners said in a statement that it will continue to fully comply with archaeological monitoring.
The ruling still allows the company to proceed with permitted work on the property, the company stated.
The case is expected to be in litigation for as long as a year or more.
7 finalists for Honolulu police chief move on
HONOLULU (AP) — Seven finalists will vie to be the next chief of the Honolulu Police Department, and they moved on to the next round Thursday.
The beleaguered department needs a new chief to replace Louis Kealoha, who agreed to retire after receiving notice he’s the target of a federal investigation. A federal grand jury is looking into allegations of civil rights abuses and corruption. Kealoha’s lawyers deny any wrongdoing.
Finalists include Honolulu PD Maj. Susan Ballard, a former Pennsylvania police major, a retired chief in Texas and Thomas Aiu, a retired U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration agent.
Names of the finalists were announced after the police commission agreed that the top seven semifinalists will advance to the next round, which includes background checks, psychological evaluations and interviews with commission members.
Nine semifinalists were chosen based on how they performed on a written exam. This week, the consultants hired to help select the new chief put the semifinalists through a series of assessments.
The semifinalists conducted simulated news conferences and mock meetings with neighborhood board members, Joe Hinish, a senior consultant with Pennsylvania-based firm EB Jacobs, told the commission.
They were scored on their “ability to know what to release and what not to release” and how well they put the neighborhood board members at ease, Hinish said.
Volunteer assessors including Hawaii’s former U.S. Attorney Florence Nakakuni helped evaluate the semifinalists, Hinish said.
The commission aims to name a new chief by the end of next month.
