The State of Hawai’i said goodbye today to Congressman K. Mark Takai who passed away at age 49 last month from Pancreatic Cancer. HPR’s Wayne Yoshioka reports.
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.
Next year Oʻahu voters could be asked if the city’s mayor should be given the ability to hire and fire the chief of the Honolulu Police Department, which is currently something only the commission can do.
The Hawaiʻi Department of Transportation has requested a full waiver from the air traffic reduction at all Hawaiʻi airports. If it’s granted, the state says it will pay for the essential staff needed to maintain full flight schedules.