There was a “Free the Streams” march and rally today outside Alexander & Baldwin headquarters in downtown Honolulu. HPR’s Wayne Yoshioka was there and filed this report.
Wayne Yoshioka is an award-winning journalist who has worked in television, print and radio in Hawaiʻi. He also has been on both sides of politics as a state departmental appointee and political/government reporter. He covered Hurricane Iwa (1982) as a TV reporter; was the State Department of Defense/Civil Defense spokesperson for Hurricane Iniki (1992); and, commanded a public affairs detachment in Afghanistan (2006). He has a master's degree in Communication from the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa and is a decorated combat veteran (Legion of Merit, Bronze Star and 22 other commendation/service medals). He resides in Honolulu.
The Board of Land and Natural Resources’ ongoing practice of issuing temporary permits to divert water from East Maui streams was upheld in a decision by the Hawaiʻi appeals court. HPR's Kuʻuwehi Hiraishi reports.
The newly stood-up Navy Closure Task Force-Red Hill appears to be off to a rough start. A community group maintains the Navy is trying to strong-arm a process agreed to under a work order issued by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. The Navy said it would look to meetings in February and March, indicating it wants to restructure the gatherings to make them more productive.