Good evening, Hawaii. The UH Board of Regents approved Craig Angelos as the new athletic director for the University of Hawaii at Manoa and eight former and current inmates at the Halawa Corrections Facility are now college graduates thanks to Chaminade University's Second Chance Pell Grant program. Nationally, President Biden is in Japan preparing for the G7 summit, where he told reporters that he's confident that he and congressional leaders can come to an agreement on the debt limit. Read about the important stories you need to know.
Your Weather Planner
It’s going to continue to be a soggy end to the week with deep tropical moisture moving in over the western half of the state. Southeast winds and humid conditions will continue with flood watches in effect through Friday afternoon for Niihau, Kauai and Oahu. Elevated rain and storms chances will last into early Saturday before rainfall coverage tapers off. Southeast winds will continue into the weekend until easterly trades and drier weather take back over Saturday night into next week.
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Today's Big Stories
1. University of Hawaii Board of Regents confirms Craig Angelos as Manoa athletic director
Craig Angelos was confirmed by the University of Hawaii Board of Regents as the new athletic director at UH Manoa in a meeting at Honolulu Community College on Thursday.
After a lengthy private discussion, the 11 regents voted 8-2 in favor with one member abstaining to ratify President David Lassner’s pick that was announced last Friday.
Regents Gabriel Lee and Laurie Tochiki voted no while Abigail Mawae abstained. Several of the regents voiced concerns about the hiring process.
“In the final analysis, I believe that based on the work the selection committee … we have a person who will take us where we need to go in terms of having an athletic program that I think all of us in Hawaii can be proud of,” said board vice chair Ernest Wilson.
UH hopes to have him on the job on June 5, the Monday after David Matlin completes his eight-year tenure leading the department on Friday, June 2.
2. Pioneering Halawa inmates graduate behind bars
Eight current and former Halawa Correctional Facility inmates graduated this month from a new college degree program offered by Chaminade University.
Seven of the inmates — Kelson Akeo, Albert Batalona, Anthony Chatman, John Granger, Raphael Holley, Ronald Page and Keola Rapoza — participated in a commencement ceremony at the facility on Wednesday.
Chaminade University launched the Second Chance Pell Grant program for Halawa inmates in 2021. Tuition, learning materials and textbooks are fully covered by Pell Grant financial aid and donations from Chaminade’s community partners.
Each graduate earned the 60 credits required for an associate degree in business administration.
The two-year program brings Chaminade professors to the facility to teach classes in history, poetry, drama, criminal justice and communications as well as more advanced business administration courses that include accounting, statistics, introduction to business and macroeconomics.
3. The last of 5 workers in Honolulu permitting bribery scandal pleads guilty
An employee in Honolulu’s planning and permitting department is the last to plead guilty after a federal investigation alleged that five city workers took bribes in exchange for favors, including expediting building permits, in a scandal that prompted the department to overhaul its permitting process.
Jocelyn Godoy pleaded guilty Wednesday to one count of honest services wire fraud. According to a plea agreement with prosecutors, she admitted to accepting “gifts, payments and other things of value totaling at least $820.25” from an architect while she was working in the department’s data access and imaging branch from Sept. 2019 through Nov. 2020. In return, she provided favors, including emailing the architect copies of documents, which saved the architect “time and expense” of appearing in person to obtain hard copies, the court document said.
Godoy and four other former employees of the department were charged in 2021. Prosecutors said they took thousands of dollars in bribes from architects, contractors and others in exchange for expediting or approving projects.
4. Honolulu Civil Beat: A rough-and-tumble Oahu park is finally getting some love as rail opening looms
Makalapa Neighborhood Park had seen better days.
Its baseball field was overgrown. An entrance chain meant to block off vehicles lay clipped.
After its bathroom and playground had apparently been commandeered and vandalized, the City and County of Honolulu responded by removing both.
At Aiea’s April neighborhood board meeting, Meredith Speicher of the National Park Service described it candidly.
“There’s no playground anymore, there’s no benches, there’s no water, there’s no tables, there’s nothing. There’s broken glass,” she said.
But the park’s days in the doldrums may be over.
It’s within walking distance from the Halawa station, where officials recently announced the opening date of the city’s rail project.
The city’s plans to encourage lively walkable communities around rail stations mean Makalapa Neighborhood Park, with its view of nearby Aloha Stadium, is primed to become a thriving outdoor asset.
Prodded in part by council member Radiant Cordero, outside groups are now stepping up to engage the community in revitalizing the park.
Click the link above to read more.
5. Biden says he’s ‘confident’ debt limit deal will be reached
"I'm confident that we'll get the agreement on the budget and America will not default,” Biden said one day after his meeting with House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., and other congressional leaders, which he described as “civil and respectful.”
“Everyone came to the meeting, I think, in good faith,” Biden said, later adding: "Every leader in the room understands the consequences of the failure to pay our bills, and it would be catastrophic for the American economy and the American people if we didn't pay our bills."
Biden's remarks came days after Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen warned that the U.S. could reach a first-ever default “as early as June 1.” Experts, both inside the White House and out, have warned that the U.S. defaulting on its obligations could devastate the global economy.
Your Notes for Tomorrow
Friday, May 19
- Pres. Biden attends G7 Summit in Japan
- 5th anniversary of Prince Harry and Duchess Meghan's wedding
- Federal Reserve chair speaks at the Thomas Laubach Research Conference
- WNBA season begins
- State Employment and Unemployment, Apr
- NATO Parliamentary Assembly Spring Session opens
- Black Music Honors
- What: Ka Wai Kupuna Fundraiser Kick-Off
- Where: Waimea Valley | 59-864 Kamehameha Hwy., Haleiwa | 808-638-7766
- Details: Enjoy an evening of cocktails, dinner catered by Ke Nui Kitchen, live music, hula and a live auction to support the upgrade to Waimea Valleyʻs water system, 5-9 p.m. May 19. Tickets.
- What: ‘White Hawaiian’ Starring Eric Gilliom
- Where: ProArts Playhouse | Azeka Shopping Center, 1280 S. Kihei Rd., Kihei | 808-463-6550
- Details: This entertaining autobiographical stage show based on Eric Gilliom’s life is back by popular demand, May 19-21 and June 15-18. Tickets.
- What: Coffee with a Cop
- Where: Various venues
- Details: The community is invited to stop by and talk story with district police officers, 8-10 a.m. There’s no agenda — share stories, concerns or issues in your community or just sit down and get to know each other. Upcoming dates: May 19, 8-10 a.m., at Kona Mountain Coffee Co., 73-4038 Hulikoa Dr., Kailua-Kona; May 19, 7-10 a.m., at Mauna Lani Coffee Co., 68-1330 Mauna Lani Dr., #300, Mauna Lani; May 26, 8-10 a.m., at Kona Coffee & Tea, Kona Coast Shopping Center, 74-5588 Palani Rd., Kailua-Kona; and May 26, 9-10:30 a.m., at Starbucks adjacent to Prince Kuhio Plaza, 111 E. Puainako St., Hilo.
- What: Amy Hānaiali‘i
- Where: Porter Pavilion, Anaina Hou Community Park | 5-2723 Kuhio Hwy., Kilauea | 808-828-2118
- Details: Award-winning Hawaii singer/songwriter Amy Hānaialiʻi pays tribute to her Na Hoku Hanohano award-winning song, Palehua, one of Hawaii’s most famous songs, 6 p.m. May 19. Tickets.
For more on these and other events, see this week's HI Out & About.
In Case You Missed It
Kamehameha's Kainoa Wade solo roofed Punahou's Kahale Clini in the HHSAA Division I championship on Saturday night. (Spectrum News/Brian McInnis)
After title game loss, Kainoa Wade resolves Kamehameha boys volleyball will return
Disappointment took about 15 minutes to transform into resolve for Kainoa Wade.
Kamehameha led Punahou two sets to none in Saturday’s HHSAA Division I boys volleyball championship, then by a score of 22-20 in the fourth — three points shy of clinching its first state title since 2011. But the Buffanblu, as they made a habit of doing all season, refused to stay down and rallied for their 10th straight championship in a classic five-setter.
Wade, the Warriors’ star hitter, had 30 kills on a whopping 88 swings with 10 blocks, 10 digs and three aces in a losing effort. He became the rare player to lose out on a championship but still receive a tournament Most Outstanding Player honor.
That was likely not much consolation, but Wade was collected in an interview with Spectrum News on the Cannon Activities Center floor right after the defeat.
He was asked what he thought he showed in a breakout sophomore year after an injury kept him out much of his freshman season.
“I think we showed that this team is going to be here for the next couple of years, and we’re going to be back, better than ever,” he replied.