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Pacific Legal Foundation Challenges Native Hawaiian Programs, Citing Ancestry-Based Discrimination

Pacific Legal Foundation Challenges Native Hawaiian Programs, Citing Ancestry-Based Discrimination

The Pacific Legal Foundation (PLF), a conservative public interest law firm, is actively challenging programs designed to benefit Native Hawaiians, arguing that these initiatives are unconstitutional due to their ancestry-based requirements. Two lawsuits have been filed by PLF. One seeks to block the eviction of David Kalahiki and Linda Twitchell from their apartments in a Department of Hawaiian Home Lands (DHHL) property, contending that removing residents based on ancestry is unconstitutional. The second, broader lawsuit aims to dismantle the Hawaiian Homes Commission Act's blood quantum requirements entirely, which would open up leases to all Hawaii residents regardless of Native Hawaiian ancestry. PLF asserts that the U.S. Constitution mandates a 'colorblind' approach to government benefits and burdens, citing the Equal Protection Clause of the 14th Amendment. This legal strategy is part of a larger national campaign by conservative and libertarian groups to challenge diversity, equity, and inclusion p...
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Senator Murray Condemns Trump Administration's NIH-DOD Research Agreement

Senator Murray Condemns Trump Administration's NIH-DOD Research Agreement

Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), Vice Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, has strongly condemned an agreement between the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and the Department of Defense (DOD) that could allow the DOD to access up to $2 billion in federal research dollars originally designated for biomedical research. Senator Murray stated that the Trump administration is attempting to 'rob NIH of billions of dollars' to 'pad the Pentagon’s budget,' characterizing the move as detrimental to lifesaving medical research and clinical trials. While an NIH spokesperson clarified that transfers would occur on a project-by-project basis and remain within NIH's mission, with no blanket transfer of funds, the agreement aims to shift biodefense research projects from the infectious diseases institute to the DOD. NIH Director Jay Bhattacharya stated on social media that no funds would be transferred to the DOD in the current fiscal year, ending September 30, and that the partnership focuses on discoveries to i...
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Hawaii Teen Discovers Coconut Fungi Can Filter Ocean Plastic and Sunscreen, Wins Science Fair

Hawaii Teen Discovers Coconut Fungi Can Filter Ocean Plastic and Sunscreen, Wins Science Fair

Vera Wang, a senior at Kaiser High School in East Honolulu, has discovered that fungi found in coconut husks possess the ability to biodegrade plastic and sunscreen. This breakthrough earned her multiple awards at the Hawaiʻi State Science & Engineering Fair and qualified her for the International Science & Engineering Fair. Wang's research began during her sophomore year when she designed an ocean filter made from coconut byproduct waste, inspired by traditional Polynesian weaving, to remove pollutants from surface water. Realizing the need for responsible disposal of these pollutants, she explored the fungal communities within coconut husks. Her experiments in Anthony Amend’s lab at the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa revealed that these fungi can decompose sunscreen and plastic. Genetic testing further indicated that some of these fungal species might be previously uncharacterized, as they did not match any entries in the world's largest reference database of known genes and genomes. The presence of tann...
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Hawaii residents told to expect tropical storm conditions as Hurricane Lowell passes to the west

Hawaii residents told to expect tropical storm conditions as Hurricane Lowell passes to the west

Officials in Hawaii are urging residents to prepare for heavy rains and flooding as Hurricane Lowell, a major Category 3 storm, prompted forecasters to issue a tropical storm warning for two islands
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U.S. Navy Submarine Fleet Faces Extensive Maintenance Delays, Impacting Operational Readiness

U.S. Navy Submarine Fleet Faces Extensive Maintenance Delays, Impacting Operational Readiness

The U.S. Navy's submarine fleet has experienced over 15,000 lost operational days in the last decade due to maintenance delays and downtime, according to a new Government Accountability Office (GAO) study. These delays have resulted in an estimated $3.4 billion in crew and ship costs. The GAO report highlights that government-operated shipyards, responsible for nearly all submarine maintenance, completed only 11% of the work on time over the same period. A significant contributor to this issue is 'inactive idle time,' where submarines awaiting decommissioning spend thousands of days waiting for dry dock space, with crews still required to remain aboard. U.S. Representative Joe Courtney, a ranking member of the House Armed Services committee’s Seapower Subcommittee, acknowledged the delays but stated that the Navy had initiated corrective measures prior to the report's release, and the GAO report does not fully reflect ongoing improvements.
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U.S. District Court Upholds Hawaii's Age-21 Gun Purchase Law, Citing Historical Precedent

U.S. District Court Upholds Hawaii's Age-21 Gun Purchase Law, Citing Historical Precedent

U.S. District Court Judge Jill Otake has upheld a Hawaii state law requiring individuals to be at least 21 years old to purchase firearms. The ruling came in response to a challenge filed by Juda Roache, who is between 18 and 21 and sought to purchase firearms, along with federally licensed firearms dealers Aloha Strategics (doing business as Danger Close Tactical) and JGB Arms, and the Second Amendment Foundation. Judge Otake's 43-page opinion delved into historical common law and societal norms dating back to the nation's founding. The court found substantial evidence from the Founding era indicating that society restricted the ability of individuals under 21 from acquiring goods, including firearms, due to concerns about their judgment and maturity. The ruling also noted that as society industrialized in the 19th century and firearms became more lethal, states began restricting gun acquisition by those under 21, with such laws largely going unchallenged.
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Hawaiian Man Becomes Face of Anti-Homelands Campaign Challenging Native Hawaiian Programs

Hawaiian Man Becomes Face of Anti-Homelands Campaign Challenging Native Hawaiian Programs

David Kalahiki, a Hawaiian man with a quarter Hawaiian blood quantum, has become a central figure in a legal campaign challenging programs designed to serve Native Hawaiians. Kalahiki, facing eviction from an apartment complex purchased by the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands (DHHL) because he does not meet the 50% blood quantum requirement, sought assistance from the Pacific Legal Foundation. This right-leaning law firm is now representing Kalahiki and another resident, Linda Twitchell, in a lawsuit to block their evictions. Concurrently, the foundation has filed a broader lawsuit aiming to dismantle the homestead program's blood quantum requirements entirely, which would open up leases to any Hawaii resident regardless of ancestry. This action is part of a larger effort by conservative and libertarian groups to challenge programs promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion, arguing they are race-based and unconstitutional.
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U.S. House Approves Bill to Withhold Federal Funds from Academic Institutions Boycotting Israel

U.S. House Approves Bill to Withhold Federal Funds from Academic Institutions Boycotting Israel

The U.S. House of Representatives has passed HR 4795, a bill that would prevent federal funds from being allocated to academic institutions engaging in commercial boycotts against Israel. The 'Protect Economic and Academic Freedom Act' passed with 237 votes to 169, with support from 203 Republicans, 33 Democrats, and one independent. If enacted, the bill would amend the Higher Education Act of 1965, requiring universities to certify that they do not participate in non-expressive commercial boycotts of Israel to maintain access to certain federal funds. The legislation also mandates that institutions certify students are not unreasonably hindered from participating in academic programs in Israel. Co-sponsored by North Carolina Republican Virginia Foxx and New Jersey Democrat Josh Gottheimer, the bill aims to counter the Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions (BDS) movement on college campuses. A 2022 U.S. Court of Appeals ruling clarified that economic boycotts are considered non-expressive commercial conduct, ...
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UFC Plans Inaugural Hawaii Event Following New Aloha Stadium Entertainment District Opening

UFC Plans Inaugural Hawaii Event Following New Aloha Stadium Entertainment District Opening

UFC Plans Inaugural Hawaii Event Following New Aloha Stadium Entertainment District Opening
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Woody Harrelson's Hawaii Home Showcases Advanced Sustainable Living Technologies

Woody Harrelson's Hawaii Home Showcases Advanced Sustainable Living Technologies

Woody Harrelson's Hawaii Home Showcases Advanced Sustainable Living Technologies
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Pedestrian Seriously Injured in Waianae Hit-and-Run, HPD Investigates

Pedestrian Seriously Injured in Waianae Hit-and-Run, HPD Investigates

A 57-year-old pedestrian sustained serious injuries after being struck by a hit-and-run driver in Waianae, Hawaii, on Friday night. According to the Honolulu Police Department’s Traffic Division, the incident occurred just before 9 p.m. on Farrington Highway near Waianae Valley Road. The pedestrian was reportedly walking in the road outside of a marked crosswalk when a motorist, traveling westbound, struck her. The driver failed to stop at the scene to render aid or provide information and continued driving west on the highway. Honolulu Emergency Medical Services personnel treated the victim at the scene before transporting her to a hospital in serious condition. Authorities have not yet determined if speed, drugs, or alcohol were contributing factors in the collision.
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Attorney General Todd Blanche Expresses Concern Over 'Pandemic' of Gender Transitions in Schools, Justice Department Files Lawsuit

Attorney General Todd Blanche Expresses Concern Over 'Pandemic' of Gender Transitions in Schools, Justice Department Files Lawsuit

U.S. Attorney General Todd Blanche has voiced significant concern regarding what he termed a 'pandemic' of gender transitions occurring in schools across the United States. During an appearance on Fox News, Blanche stated that parents, regardless of their location, would not want schools to change their child's name without parental notification. He announced a partnership with the Department of Education to address this trend. This statement follows a 'first-of-its-kind lawsuit' filed by the Justice Department against a Kansas school district. The lawsuit aims to prevent the district from 'facilitating secret 'gender transitions' for children at school without their parents’ knowledge or consent.' The district denies any wrongdoing and faces the potential loss of nearly $70 million in federal funds if found in violation of federal law. The core of the lawsuit revolves around internal school guidelines, which were never formally adopted as policy, suggesting that requests from transgender students to keep ...