Four individuals were arrested today by DLNR enforcement officers on the Mauna Kea summit while protesting the construction of the Thirty-Meter Telescope.
The four are UH student Kahoʻokahi Kanuha, Skippy Ioane, Moanikeala Akaka and Craig Neff.
Kanuha is a UH student and a member of HauMANA. Skippy Ioane is a longtime advocate for Hawaiian rights. Moanikeala Akaka was part of the original protest against Kamehameha School’s development of pig farms at Kalama Valley, which sparked the modern sovereignty movement. Craig Neff is the owner of Hawaiian Force, a fashion retailer in Hilo.
Laura Pitolo, age 37, was charged yesterday with 6 felony theft counts for improperly diverting more than $500,000.00 in state funds from Waianae Community Outreach for use by herself, family members and friends, Attorney General Doug Chin announced.
“The charges against Pitolo are the result of over seven months of investigation conducted by special agents for the Attorney General into the misuse of state funds at Waianae Community Outreach,” said Deputy Attorney General Michael Kagami of the Criminal Justice Division. “The evidence uncovered indicates Ms. Pitolo diverted a substantial amount of state funds for personal use.”
“Hawaii citizens trust that their hard-earned tax dollars will be used to make communities better and not help one person get rich,” said Chin. “The amount allegedly stolen here is extremely serious.”
Waianae Community Outreach received funding from the state of Hawaii to serve homeless individuals. Pitolo was the program director at the time the thefts occurred. Pitolo was charged with five counts of first degree theft, each punishable by up to 10 years in prison and a $25,000 fine, and one count of second degree theft, punishable by up to five years in prison and a $10,000 fine. Pitolo is presumed innocent unless and until she is found guilty of the charges beyond a reasonable doubt.
Unlike the Carleton Ching nomination for the director of DLNR, the confirmation of the director and deputy director for the Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism passed committee and the full senate with no hang-ups.
Regardless of whether you think Carleton Ching would fix the DLNR or favor developer interests that jeopardize our resources, the results of this strange confirmation process show that our voices can, and do, matter. We must stay engaged.
Governor Ige instigated a political crisis by nominating a developer's lobbyist to watch over Hawaii's natural resources. Here are some of the lessons that this crisis taught Hawaii about our political culture.
Community members on the north shore led by anthropologist Malia Evans are claiming that a Waimea area land owner has damaged an ancient Hawaiian fishing heiau by stacking boulders up against it.