Steve Alm

City and County of Honolulu Prosecuting Attorney Steve Alm said no charges would be filed against the six officers and one sergeant who shot at and killed 44-year-old Sidney Tafokitau.

City and county leaders rallied against recreational marijuana legislation introduced in the state Legislature on Wednesday. HPR's Ashley Mizuo has more.

The Safe and Sound Waikīkī initiative is entering its second year as a partnership between the City and County of Honolulu, nonprofits and the Office of the Prosecuting Attorney to restrict repeat criminal offenders from the area and establish routes for care. HPR's Sabrina Bodon reports from the press conference.

Gov. Josh Green signed a bill into law for the first time on Wednesday. SB 36, now Act 1, allows felony prosecutions to be made through a preliminary hearing.

Safe and Sound Waikiki plans on convicting serial offenders and helping those with bigger problems, like substance abuse and chronic homelessness. HPR’s Sabrina Bodon reports.

On Nov. 12, 2019, Michael Kahalehoe was shot 12 times by three HPD officers. Kahalehoe and his partner Melvin Spillner were suspected of robbing a blue Subaru with a firearm two days before the shooting. Both had outstanding bench warrants.

A U.S. grand jury has indicted Honolulu’s former top prosecutor and four others. The charges allege that employees of an engineering and architectural firm bribed Keith Kaneshiro with campaign donations in exchange for Kaneshiro’s prosecution of a former company employee. All five defendants pleaded not guilty and were released on $50,000 bail.

Government officials and nonprofits hosted a “Safety in Waikīkī” town hall last week. HPR’s Sabrina Bodon reports on efforts to mitigate crime and homelessness in the area.

Recent street crime in Waikīkī and elsewhere on Oʻahu has drawn the attention of local leaders seeking to improve public safety. Meanwhile, Honolulu Prosecutor Steve Alm says progress is being made with another challenge on the streets: homelessness in Chinatown.

Oʻahu has seen some violent crimes in the first few months of 2022. Some people have chalked it up to more guns on the street or mental health problems or drugs and gambling. Honolulu Prosecuting Attorney Steve Alm joined The Conversation to discuss efforts to address violent crime and homelessness, particularly in Waikīkī.