Good evening, Hawaii. Shawn Schweitzer, who was convicted in the '91 Dana Ireland murder case, will cite the same evidence that freed his brother when he seeks exoneration; and Department of Transportation director, Ed Sniffen, was approved for confirmation yesterday, but not after some tough questions. Nationally, Vice President Kamala Harris met with the "Tennessee Three" today in Nashville, a day after two of state representatives were ousted from the state legislature for their part in a gun control protest. Read about the important stories you need to know.
Your Weather Planner
Trade winds will decrease slightly through today, but on-and-off showers will continue through today and the weekend, favoring windward areas. Rainfall should be light. High pressure moves in early next week and helps strengthen the trade winds again.
Today's Big Stories
1. 2nd man convicted in '91 Hawaii killing seeks exoneration
The brother of a Hawaii man recently released after more than 20 years in prison for the killing and rape of a tourist has filed a similar request seeking exoneration.
An attorney for the California Innocence Project, which is representing Shawn Schweitzer, filed a petition Thursday in one of Hawaii's biggest murder cases. Schweitzer, his brother and a third man were indicted for the death of Dana Ireland, who was found barely alive in the bushes along a fishing trail in Puna, a remote section of the Big Island in 1991.
After seeing a jury find his brother guilty, Schweitzer and his family decided he needed to take a plea deal, his former attorney has said. He pleaded guilty to manslaughter and kidnapping in exchange for credit for about a year served in jail.
In January, a Big Island judge ordered his brother, Ian Schweitzer, released immediately after his attorneys presented new evidence, including DNA that belongs to an unknown male and not the three men who were convicted.
Shawn Schweitzer's petition cites the same evidence.
2. Senate committee recommends Sniffen for confirmation
After nearly two hours of glowing testimony from a Who’s Who of state administrators and tough questions from its own members, the state Senate Committee on Transportation and Culture and the Arts unanimously recommended Ed Sniffen’s appointment as director of the state Department of Transportation on Thursday.
The full Senate will now vote on whether to advise and consent on Sniffen’s appointment.
In addition to more than 100 written testimonies submitted in support of the nomination, dozens of state department heads and representatives appeared in person to vouch for Sniffen, who served as DOT’s deputy director for highways before assuming the director’s position in December.
While no one testified in opposition to the appointment in person, both Sen. Joy San Buenaventura and Sen. Jarrett Keohokalole said committee members received anonymous letters alleging that Sniffen was “out of control and unmanageable” as a deputy director and that he was the subject of two complaints by two senior managers of harassment.
San Buenaventura asked the nominee what assurances he could offer that he will be a “kinder, nicer Ed Sniffen.”
“None,” Sniffen responded, noting that the one grievance he knew about had been investigated by the attorney general’s office with no findings.
Sniffen said that work is compromised by 1% of employees that do not put forth the same effort and feel that “the world revolves around them.”
“If somebody is not performing, if someone is lagging behind, the last thing I want to do is tell them it’s O.K.” he said.
3. Green taps Tsumoto Guidry for appellate court
Gov. Josh Green has appointed current state solicitor general Kimberly Tsumoto Guidry to serve in a newly created judge position in the Hawaii State Intermediate Appellate Court.
“This appointment is long overdue, and we welcome the experience and commitment to public service that Kimberly will bring to the court system,” Green said at a news conference announcing the appointment on Thursday. “Her more than two-decade long career of working as a deputy attorney general demonstrates her commitment to public sector law and her familiarity with the appellate courts has prepared her well for the work necessary for this position.”
The governor emphasized not only Guidry’s individual qualifications but the significance of her appointment to the cause of achieving gender equity within the state judiciary.
If Guidry is confirmed, there will be 40 sitting female judges and 40 sitting male judges. If Michelle Drewyer, an earlier Green appointee, is also confirmed, it would mark the first time in Hawaii history that there were more female than male judges and justices in the state.
4. Nine appointed to new Oahu Historic Preservation Commission
Honolulu Mayor Rick Blangiardi has appointed nine initial members of the newly established Oahu Historic Preservation Commission.
The commission was created via Bill 44, introduced by Honolulu City Council member Esther Kiaaina and co-sponsored by council chair Tommy Waters.
The appointees, who will serve staggered terms, are a mix of Native Hawaiian cultural experts and practitioners, historians, archaeologists, architects and other experts in historic and cultural preservation.
Once in place, the commission will assist federal, state and city agencies in carrying out historic preservation responsibilities contained in Bill 44.
5. Honolulu Star-Advertiser: Office of Hawaiian Affairs rejects $100M Kakaako Makai deal
The Office of Hawaiian Affairs has dismissed a buyout proposal from a legislative leader to make permanent an existing residential development ban on land the agency owns in Kakaako Makai.
OHA’s nine-member board of trustees voted unanimously Thursday during a special meeting to reject the offer made Monday by House Speaker Scott Saiki after a discussion in executive session with legal counsel.
Saiki proposed for the state to pay OHA $100 million and provide $65 million to fix damage to a wharf area on part of the agency’s property in return for a perpetual easement prohibiting residential development and limiting building height and density on 31 acres OHA owns makai of Ala Moana Boulevard between Kewalo Harbor and Honolulu Harbor.
OHA trustees in a statement said Saiki’s offer represents a “small fraction” of what it characterized as a “total make-whole value owed to OHA.”
6. Washington, Texas judges issue conflicting rulings on abortion pill
Federal judges in Texas and Washington on Friday issued conflicting rulings within minutes of one another regarding federal approval of the abortion medication mifepristone.
The Texas ruling throws into question access to the nation’s most common method of abortion in a ruling that waved aside decades of scientific approval, while the Washington ruling asserts that the federal government must maintain the "status quo" relating to mifepristone access.
For now, the drug that the Food and Drug Administration approved in 2000 remains at least immediately available in wake of the separate rulings.
U.S. District Judge Matthew Kaczmaryk, a Trump appointee, ordered a hold on federal approval of mifepristone in a decision that overruled decades of scientific approval.
But that decision was quickly followed by U.S. District Judge Thomas O. Rice, an Obama appointee, essentially ordering the opposite and directing U.S. authorities to not make any changes that would restrict access to the drug.
The extraordinary timing of the competing orders revealed the high stakes that surround the drug a year after the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade and curtailed access to abortion across the country.
7. VP Harris meets with expelled Democratic Tenn. lawmakers, leads rally
Vice President Kamala Harris on Friday traveled to Nashville, Tenn., to meet with, and attend a rally supporting, the “Tennessee Three” — a trio of Democratic lawmakers who faced expulsion from the state’s legislature over their protest following a deadly school shooting.
“We are here because they and their colleagues … they chose to show courage in the face of an extreme tragedy,” Harris said. “They chose to lead and show courage. To say that a democracy allows for places where the people’s voice will be heard and honored and respected.”
The trip came one day after two of the lawmakers — Reps. Justin Jones, who represents Nashville, and Justin Pearson, who represents Memphis — were expelled from the GOP-controlled body as a direct result of their pro-gun control protest on the State Assembly floor. A third Democrat who also participated in the protest, Gloria Johnson, who represents Nashville, survived the expulsion measure by one vote. Jones and Pearson are Black. Johnson is white.
Harris first met with the three lawmakers, as well as the rest of the state legislature's Democratic caucus and protesters who have led gun control demonstrations, at Fisk University, a historically Black college in Nashville, before taking to a rally in support of both the three lawmakers and gun control legislation.
Harris was part of the growing chorus of voices condemning Tennessee Republicans for voting to expel the lawmakers, calling their actions "undemocratic and dangerous."
Your Notes for the Weekend
Saturday, April 8
- The Masters golf continues
- Jerry Seinfeld performs 100th show at Beacon Theatre
- Pope expected to mark Easter at the Vatican
Sunday, April 9
- Easter Sunday
- Pope expected to hold Easter Sunday Mass at the Vatican 4 a.m. ET (8 p.m. Saturday, Hawaii Time)
- The Masters golf reaches climax on final day
- Final day of NBA regular season
- What: ‘Art in the Park’ Weekend Celebrations
- Where: Sea Life Park Hawaii | 41-202 Kalanianaole Hwy., Waimanalo | 808-259-2500
- Details: Sea Life Park invites families to celebrate spring with Art in the Park every weekend in April starting at 10 a.m. There will be keiki-friendly activities, local artists showcasing their products, drawings from Digitoons, tricks by Honolulu Magic Company and more. Easter weekend, April 8-9, will have extra special events — breakfast with Shaka Bunny, brunch, egg hunt and prizes. Tickets and info.
- What: Emma Donovan & The Putbacks
- Where: Maui Arts & Cultural Center, Castle Theater | One Cameron Way, Kahului | 808-242-7469
- Details: Acclaimed Indigenous vocalist Emma Donovan and Melbourne rhythm combo The Putbacks bring their Australian soul music to Maui, 7:30 p.m. April 8. Tickets.
- What: Rainforest Mele Series
- Where: Volcano Art Center, Niaulani Campus| 19-4074 Old Volcano Rd., Volcano | 808-967-8222
- Details: Big Island’s own musical group, The Brown Boys, kicks off Volcano Art Center’s musical program featuring songs from their self-titled breakout album, as well as island favorites, 5:30-7 p.m. April 8. Tickets.
- What: 2nd Annual Easter FUNdraiser
- Where: Kauai Animal Education Farm | 1234 Uilama Rd., Kapaa | 808-822-0881
- Details: Bring the family to enjoy hourly egg hunts, live music, food, crafts, visits by the Easter Bunny, thrift store and all the adorable animals, 9 a.m.-1 p.m. April 9. Tickets.
For more on these and other events, see this week's HI Out & About.
Watch Live
- It's Moanalua vs. Kalani at 4 p.m., followed by Pearl City vs. Campbell at 6:30 p.m., in an OIA baseball doubleheader on Saturday on Spectrum Sports or streaming on the Spectrum News app.
- UC Irvine vs. University of Hawaii in Rainbow volleyball, 6:30 p.m. Saturday on Spectrum Sports or streaming on the Spectrum News app.
In Case You Missed It
The Hele for Autism in 2022. (Photo courtesy of the Autism Society of Hawaii)
April is Autism Acceptance Month
The Autism Society of Hawaii is observing Autism Acceptance Month by holding a walk and resource fair on April 8 on Oahu and April 22 on Hawaii Island.
Learn more about the “Hele for Autism and Resource Fair” on the Autism Society of Hawaii’s website.