Good evening, Hawaii. The City and County of Honolulu has purchased some properties that will play key roles in the expansion of affordable housing and transit-oriented development; our partners at Honolulu Civil Beat report on the calls for strengthening temporary restraining orders in the aftermath of a deadly shooting and Maui County Mayor Richard Bissen pledged that the Olowalu location that was selected for Lahaina debris will be only temporary. Read about the important stories you need to know.
Your Weather Planner
The weekend will bring comfortable and sunny conditions. Temperatures will remain warm in the 80s. We’ll see little change in our wind pattern over the next couple days as high pressure remains anchored northeast of the island. Winds will gradually ease over the eastern end of the state Saturday night and Sunday. We could see some shower activity late Sunday over Kauai and Oahu. A front will sweep through the islands early next week, increasing our chance for unsettled weather.
Watch the latest news from across the country.
Today's Big Stories
1. City completes purchase of two strategic properties
The city has completed acquisition of a pair of properties in Iwilei and downtown that will play key roles in its plan to expand affordable housing, complete streets and new connectivity to the Kuwili Skyline station in Honolulu.
In what the mayor’s office hailed as a “momentous” transaction, the city closed on $51.5 million deal for the Iwilei Center, located on a 3.8 acre parcel at 866 Iwilei Road, 850 Iwilei Road and 505 Kaaahi Street. The property, identified as an “activity node” in the Downtown Neighborhood Transit-Oriented Development Plan, sits adjacent to the planned Kuwili Skyline station.
In a news release, the administration said the property will stimulate and guide development of the Iwilei area.
The city also completed a $8.4 million purchase of the First Hawaiian Bank building at 445 N. King Street, which was identified in the Downtown Neighborhood TOD Plan as a site of “critical infrastructure” that will support future affordable housing and TOD projects.
2. Honolulu Civil Beat: Deadly shooting calls for better protection for victims
The deadly shooting of 33-year-old Theresa Cachuela by her estranged husband days before Christmas shocked Hawaii and left friends and family members mourning.
But the killing has also shed light on deficiencies in systems designed to protect victims of domestic violence from their abusers.
Cachuela obtained a temporary restraining order against her husband, Jason Cachuela, two weeks before the shooting. Loved ones say the legal document did nothing to shield her.
While thousands of temporary restraining orders and protective orders are granted each year in district courts around Hawaii, advocates say they aren’t always strong enough to sufficiently protect victims.
Steps must be taken to strengthen the orders themselves as well as enhance alternative security measures, such as creating safety plans for those trying to leave abusive relationships, relocating victims and children away from abusers and tightening gun laws, advocates say.
“It’s not a bulletproof vest,” Monique Ibarra, CEO of the Domestic Violence Action Center, said of protective orders. “They do have their mechanisms to attempt to keep victims of domestic violence safe, but they’re certainly not all-inclusive.”
The Maui County mayor said Thursday that a site selected to hold debris from last year's deadly wildfires that devastated the city of Lahaina will not store it permanently.
Instead, the debris will be at the Olowalu site south of Lahaina only until a permanent spot is identified, and a landfill built there, Mayor Richard Bissen said during a County Council committee meeting, according to a statement from his office.
Some residents have objected to using the Olowalu site, and a protest was staged last week.
Bissen said there is an estimated 400,000 cubic yards of debris that needs to be removed, equivalent to five football fields stacked five stories high.
4. Hawaii women's basketball stifles Cal State Bakersfield in Big West home opener
The Hawaii women’s basketball team welcomed itself back to the Stan Sheriff Center by posting its best defensive performance of the season.
UH, playing at home for the first time since Dec. 3, stifled Cal State Bakersfield, 67-43, on Thursday night to improve to 2-0 in Big West play. It was UH’s seventh straight win over BWC opposition going back to last season.
“This is home,” guard Daejah Phillips said after scoring seven points and matching her career best of 10 rebounds in her return from a one-game absence. “We know we kind of have a target on our backs, so anybody we play we have to give them our best effort because they’re giving us their best effort. We played with a purpose.”
5. Supreme Court agrees to review Trump Colorado ballot disqualification
The Supreme Court said Friday it will decide whether former President Donald Trump can be kept off the ballot because of his efforts to overturn his 2020 election loss, inserting the court squarely in the 2024 presidential campaign.
The justices acknowledged the need to reach a decision quickly, as voters will soon begin casting presidential primary ballots across the country. The court agreed to take up a case from Colorado stemming from Trump's role in the events that culminated in the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol.
Arguments will be held in early February.
The court will be considering for the first time the meaning and reach of a provision of the 14th Amendment barring some people who "engaged in insurrection" from holding public office. The amendment was adopted in 1868, following the Civil War. It has been so rarely used that the nation's highest court had no previous occasion to interpret it.
Your Notes for the Weekend
Saturday, Jan. 6
- Third anniversary of U.S. Capitol attack
- Miss America competition begins in Orlando
- 30th anniversary of U.S. figure skater Nancy Kerrigan being attacked before Olympic selections
Sunday, Jan. 7
- NFL regular season ends
- Golden Globes
- Media Days for Consumer Technology Tradeshow (CES)
- 90th anniversary of the first Flash Gordon strip published
- 25th anniversary of impeachment trial of President Bill Clinton
Monday, Jan. 8
- President Biden delivers remarks at Mother Emanuel AME Church in Charleston, South Carolina
- Michigan vs. Washington in College Football Playoff National Championship
- ULA Vulcan Centaur launch, carrying Peregrine lunar lander to the moon and Enterprise Flight including the remains of Star Trek creator
- Court hearing for man charged in shooting of woman killed when car turned into wrong driveway
- Facebook owner Meta faces UK damages claim
- Dean Phillips and Marianne Williamson participate in Democratic presidential primary debate
- What: Comic Jam Hawaii
- Where: Pearlridge Center, Wai Makai, second level | 98-1005 Moanalua Rd., Aiea | 808-488-0981
- Details: Local artists (professionals and hobbyists) create collaborative cartoons, illustrations and sketches while talking story, 1-4 p.m. Jan. 7 and 21, Feb. 4 and 18. Keiki and their families are invited to participate or just watch.
- What: Dre Scot
- Where: da Playground Maui | 300 Maalaea Rd., Wailuku | 808-727-2571
- Details: Two-time “American Idol” finalist takes to the stage, 8 p.m. Jan. 6. Tickets.
- What: Big Mountain
- Where: Hilo Town Market | 69 Waianuenue Ave., Hilo
- Details: First charting in 1992 with the song “Touch My Light,” the globally acclaimed reggae band Big Mountain hit it big with Peter Frampton’s timeless, “Baby, I Love Your Way,” one of the most well-known love songs of all time, the group performs, 3-9 p.m. Jan. 7. Tickets.
- What: Old Kapaa Town 1st Saturday Art Walk & Hoʻolauleʻa Multi-Cultural Celebration
- Where: Old Kapaa Town | Kuhio Highway, Kapaa
- Details: Stretching from the First Hawaiian Church to Kela’s Glass on Kuhio Highway, this event brings the community together to enjoy food, shop for crafts and treasures from local artisans, see live cultural performances, and find products and services offered by local nonprofits, 5-9 p.m. Jan. 6.
For more on these and other events, see this week's HI Out & About.
In Case You Missed It
(Google Street View)
HDOT: Nightly closure of Likelike Highway on Jan. 7 and 16
The Hawaii Department of Transportation warns motorists that Likelike Highway will be closed during the night on Jan. 7 and 16.
The closures will allow crews to carry out road repairs on punch list items that include remedial and over branding work in order to complete the Likelike Highway Resurfacing Project, according to a HDOT news release.
The first closure of the Likelike Highway will occur in the Honolulu-bound direction between the Wilson Tunnel and Nalanieha Street from 7 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 7, until 5 a.m. Monday, Jan. 8.
The second closure of the Likelike Highway will occur in the Kaneohe-bound direction between Nalanieha Street and the Wilson Tunnel from 9 p.m., Tuesday, Jan. 16 until 7 a.m. Wednesday, Jan. 17.
Special duty police officers will be on-site to help with safety procedures.