Feb 9 – State lawmakers are considering bills to create official campgrounds for the homeless in Honolulu. The Senate Human Services Committee on Wednesday gave tentative approval to Senate Bill 1243, which would authorize the state to use part of Sand Island State Recreation Area and to seek out an unspecified property in Hawaii Kai as homeless campsites. Prior to the recommendation of Hawaii Kai as a homeless safe haven, Mike Goodman, director of the Hawaii Kai Homeless Task Force, voiced favor of the campsite idea and said he drafted an early version of the bill. [Star-Advertiser]
Feb 6 – Oahu housing inventory continues to shrink in January. The median sales price for a single-family home in East Oahu was $1.2 million in January, up 41 percent from the same month last year. [HNN]
Feb 6- KHON produced a multi-part exposé on the mysterious 2013 investigation of John Sosa, former award-winning Kaiser HS Principal. No charges were ever brought against him, nor others seemingly under investigation, such as Kaiser Football Coach Rich Miano or Athletic Trainer Chad Ikei. Kathryn Matayoshi, departing School Superintendent, signed off on the investigation and further referred it to the Attorney General which declined to pursue action. To date, no apology has been offered to any of the affected parties. [KHON] [KHON]
Feb 6 – Strong winds hindered extinguishing of a brush fire that broke out near Sandy Beach. The fire initially started at about 12:30 p.m. Saturday near Sandy Beach on the mauka side of Kalanianaole Highway, impeding traffic in the Koko Villas neighborhood and forcing the evacuation of two dozen animals from Koko Head Equestrian Center. About 60 firefighters brought the 60-acre blaze under control by 3:46 p.m. Saturday, and firefighters stayed overnight to monitor the area, Jenkins said. [Star-Advertiser, library card required]
Feb 6 – The Star-Advertiser elaborates on House Bill 1595 proposed by Rep. Gene Ward of Hawaii Kai. The bill would fine public urinators $2,500 or give offenders the option of completing court-approved drug or alcohol treatment or mental health treatment programs in lieu of paying the fines. [Star-Advertiser, library card required]
Feb 5 – Heavy winds caused widespread outages throughout Hawaii Kai and the rest of Oahu. A number of residents also lost power during the broadcast of Super Bowl LI [KHON]