Good evening and Happy St. Patrick’s Day, Hawaii. Sen. Mazie Hirono demanded to know why service members stationed in Hawaii were facing a 50% reduction in their cost-of-living allowance, Honolulu prosecutors filed charges against four police officers alleging a cover-up in connection with a high-speed car chase they say resulted in a crash and traumatic brain injury, and the International Criminal Court issued an arrest warrant for Russian President Vladimir Putin for war crimes. Read more about it and other important stories you need to know.
Your Weather Planner
Rain is still in our forecast. Our shower activity will favor interior/south and southwest facing slope areas. Our winds will be light southerly winds, which will help usher in drier conditions for the weekend. However, our rain chances could increase again early next week as we track another system to our west.
Today's Big Stories
1. Hirono questions defense official on COLA reduction
Service members stationed in Hawaii, home of the country’s highest cost of living, are facing a 50% reduction in their cost-of-living allowance and at a U.S. Senate Armed Services Committee meeting on Thursday, Sen. Mazie Hirono, D-Hawaii, demanded to know why.
Military personnel stationed in Hawaii and other posts outside the continental United States receive an Overseas Cost of Living Allowance to offset higher prices for goods and services.
The change could cost service members hundreds of dollars per month depending on pay grade, years of service, number of dependents and other factors.
Hirono asked Under Secretary of Defense Personnel and Readiness Gil Cisneros how the department justified the impending cut.
Cisneros explained that the OCOLA allowance is intended to ensure that service members have the same spending power regardless of where they are stationed. And while he said inflation is not factored into the calculation for OCOLA, the cut reflects a narrower difference in cost of living between Hawaii and other states.
2. Honolulu police officers charged after alleged crash coverup
Honolulu prosecutors on Thursday filed charges against four police officers alleging a cover-up in connection with a high-speed car chase they say resulted in a crash and a traumatic brain injury to the driver of another car.
Honolulu Prosecuting Attorney Steve Alm said the charges result from an exhaustive investigation and review of the evidence.
“These charges demonstrate that it is important to seek justice even when those believed to have committed crimes are the very people we expect to uphold the law,” Alm said in a statement.
Prosecutors charged Officer Joshua Nahulu with a felony, saying he drove a vehicle involved in a collision resulting in serious bodily injury and failed to stop at the scene. He faces up to 10 years in prison if convicted.
The prosecutor’s office charged Officers Erik Smith, Jake Bartolome and Robert Lewis, each with one felony count for hindering prosecution and another felony count for conspiracy. The first charge is punishable by up to five years in prison, the second by up to one year.
3. ICC issues arrest warrant for Putin over alleged Ukraine war crimes
The International Criminal Court said Friday that it has issued an arrest warrant for Russian President Vladimir Putin for war crimes, accusing him of personal responsibility for the abductions of children from Ukraine.
Although world leaders have been indicted before, it was the first time the global court has issued a warrant against a leader of one of the five permanent members of the U.N. Security Council.
The court said in a statement that Putin "is allegedly responsible for the war crime of unlawful deportation of (children) and that of unlawful transfer of (children) from occupied areas of Ukraine to the Russian Federation."
It also issued a warrant for the arrest of Maria Alekseyevna Lvova-Belova, the commissioner for Children's Rights in the Office of the President of the Russian Federation.
The move was immediately dismissed by Moscow — and welcomed by Ukraine as a major breakthrough. Its practical implications, however, could well be limited as the chances of either facing trial at the ICC are extremely unlikely.
4. State working to restore Hapuna Beach water service
The Department of Land and Natural Resources’ Division of State Parks continues to work on a restoration of water service to Hapuna Beach.
The park’s aging water system has experienced recurring leaks over the last several years. DSP is undertaking three separate but simultaneous projects to execute temporary, short-term fixes and arrive at a long-term solution.
DSP administrator Curt Cottrell said the division’s top priority is establishing a temporary water system.
The temporary system will feature above-ground piping to deliver potable water for use at a pair of restrooms and showers at the beach. The system is expected to be completed and ready for use in July.
The new, permanent system is scheduled for completion by April 2024.
5. Biden cheers for Irish bonds, unity on St. Patrick's Day
Sporting a green tie and shamrocks for St. Patrick's Day, President Joe Biden on Friday voiced his support for a recent economic accord affecting Ireland as he hosted the republic's prime minister, a longstanding meetup scuttled by the COVID-19 pandemic the past two years.
While the annual Washington tradition is about celebrating the historic bonds of Ireland and the United States, Biden also took time to reflect on the approaching 25th anniversary of the U.S.-brokered Good Friday accord — the agreement that helped end sectarian violence that had raged for decades over the question of Northern Ireland unifying with Ireland or remaining part of the United Kingdom.
The president also underscored a more recent agreement, known as the Windsor Framework, that aims to ease tensions over Northern Ireland's trading status in the aftermath of the United Kingdom's exit from the European Union and to maintain the quarter century-old peace accord.
Biden, who often speaks of his Irish heritage and is fond of quoting Irish poets, declared March Irish-American heritage month. The White House even dyed the water of the South Lawn fountain green for the occasion.
Biden has said he plans to soon visit both the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland, which is a part of the United Kingdom, to mark the 25th anniversary of the big peace accord. In addition to his praise in that area, Vradeker saluted Biden and the U.S. for helping Ukraine defend itself against Russia.
Your Notes for the Weekend
Saturday, March 18
- Vision '24 National Conservative Forum, hosted by the Palmetto Family Council. Attendees include Republican presidential candidates former South Carolina Governor and U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley and businessman Vikek Ramaswamy, former Arkansas Governor Asa Hutchinson, Republican Sens. Tim Scott, Marsha Blackburn, John Kennedy, and Lindsey Graham, and Independent Rep. Tulsi Gabbard
- NCAA March Madness Second Round
- NCAA Women's March Madness First Round continues
- 20th anniversary of Dan Brown's 'The Da Vinci Code' being published
- 5th anniversary of Russian President Putin being elected for his fourth term
- Digital Cleanup Day, which encourages people to help the environment by cleaning up their digital waste such as unnecessary emails, files, apps, duplicates of photos and videos
Sunday, March 19
- NCAA Women's March Madness Second Round
- World Baseball Classic semifinal: Venezuela/U.S. @ Cuba
- Boston St. Patrick's Day Parade
- Mark Twain Prize for American Humor presented to Adam Sandler
- 10th anniversary of Pope Francis' inauguration
- What: Kalo Fest 2023
- Where: Key Project | 47-200 Waihee Rd., Kaneohe
- Details: Families are invited to celebrate the life and heritage of kalo, taro, and its connections at this event sponsored by the Key Project offering family activities, craft vendors, local farmers, live music, food and more, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. March 18.
- What: ‘Yakamashii’ with Kathy Collins
- Where: Nisei Veterans Memorial Center | 665 Kahului Beach Rd., Kahului | 808-244-6862
- Details: Enjoy an hour of laugher and lots of conversation hosted by Maui storyteller Kathy Collins featuring guest Lee Imada, 1:30 to 2:30 p.m. March 18. Register for in-person attendance by calling the number above. Click Zoom or Facebook Live to register.
- What: Sue Foley in ‘One Guitar Woman’
- Where: Palace Theater | 38 Haili St., Hilo | 808-934-7010
- Details: Award-winning blues guitarist, singer, songwriter Sue Foley performs varied guitar styles and musical genres interspersed with her personal narrative, 7 p.m. March 18. Tickets.
- What: Kauai Psychic Fair
- Where: Kauai Memorial Convention Hall | 4191 Hardy St., Lihue
- Details: Enjoy two days of tarot card, astrology, numerology and medium readings, items for sale, mandala making and other activities at the Kauai Psychic Fair, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. March 18-19.
For more on these and other events, see this week's HI Out & About.
Watch Live
- It's an OIA softball doubleheader with Kaiser vs. Kalani at 5 p.m., followed by Kapolei vs. Mililani at 7 p.m., Saturday, on OC16 or streaming on the Spectrum News app.
- The Beach returns to the Stan when Long Beach State takes on the University of Hawaii in Rainbow Warrior volleyball at 6:30 p.m. Friday on Spectrum Sports or streaming on the Spectrum News app.
In Case You Missed It
The University of Hawaii will add bleacher seating to areas of the Clarence T.C. Ching Athletics Complex that includes the corner of the field seen behind safety Peter Manuma in the 2022 home finale against UNLV. The seating is projected to be ready by the 2023 season home opener against Stanford on Sept. 1. (Spectrum News/Brian McInnis)
Ching Complex video board uncertain for Hawaii football 2023 opener; seating on track
The University of Hawaii remains on track to expand the seating of the Clarence T.C. Ching Athletics Complex to over 15,000 seats by the 2023 football home opener, according to UH Athletic Director David Matlin.
However, the other main component of the university’s latest refurbishment of its makeshift football venue, the installation of Aloha Stadium’s 75-foot-wide video screen, is not guaranteed to be ready by the Sept. 1 game against Stanford, he told Spectrum News.