“It was like a tidal wave just hit our family.”

The mother of a 14-year-old who wishes to be anonymous remembers the hell she went through when her teen ran away from home. Read Full Article

WAIKIKI (HawaiiNewsNow) - A clean energy movement.

Hawaii residents joined the rest of the nation to send a message that the U.S. should move away from its dependence on oil.

An estimated 35,000 to 60,000 barrels of oil have been spewing for 67 days now, while BP collects about half of that amount. Read Full Article

Punahou Top School Choice For State Officials

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Civil unions advanced at the state legislature on Friday, but the issue could run headlong into election-year politics before coming up for final passage. Read Full Article

State Senator Mike Gabbard is criticizing the state's distribution of the H1N1 flu vaccine. Read Full Article

The latest visitor numbers show arrivals and spending are down again, but those who are coming are staying longer.

April is the first time to compare year-to-year numbers since Aloha Airlines and ATA shut down. It was supposed to have been rosier -- but proved to have few bright spots. Read Full Article

HONOLULU - Before the sun came up they were there waving and waving signs. The lineup of about a dozen people along Farrington Highway was a small section of a larger group who say no to civil unions.
Alan Spector's one of many who say yes. Read Full Article

HONOLULU - The decade-old battle lines over same-sex marriage in Hawaii are being redrawn as lawmakers consider civil unions.

Opponents of civil union measures say it's just same-sex marriage in a different package. Supporters say public opinion has shifted since Hawaii became the first state to ban gay marriage in its constitution.
Read Full Article

Gabbard Wants Answers On Cause, Length Of Outage

HONOLULU -- Some powerful state senators are seeking an explanation for why the power went out the day after Christmas and why it took so long to restore it. The chairman of the Senate committee on energy and environment announced Sunday he'll hold a hearing later this month to look into the power outage.
Parts of Oahu were without electricity all night Dec. 26 and into the next day.

HONOLULU - December 26th is still fresh on the minds of many across Oahu. The blackout didn't just leave thousands in the dark...it left business and restaurant owners in the red.

"All in all it probably cost me six-eight thousand dollars in losses," says Win Schoneman, Bubbies Franchise Owner.

"The economic repercussions are huge," says Senator Mike Gabbard, Energy Committee Chair.
Read Full Article

HONOLULU - More than a week after the lights went out across Oahu unanswered questions are prompting a deeper investigation.

State lawmakers will hold a special briefing to find out exactly what caused the blackout why it took so long to restore power and what can be done in the future. Read Full Article

HONOLULU - It's been just over a week since an island wide blackout left businesses and residents without power for more than day in some parts of Oahu.

Many are still in the dark as to what caused the outage, and why it took so long to have power restored. Lawmakers are hoping to get answers from Hawaiian Electric officials. Read Full Article

HONOLULU - They rallied from our nation's capital to the steps at San Francisco City Hall. Then to the streets of Honolulu. Here, more than 300 people crowded the lawn near Honolulu Hale, in protest of California's newly passed ban on same sex marriage.
"We're out for everybody and it's equality for all," Thomas Larabee said.

Proposition 8 passed on election night with 52 percent of the vote, just five months after the California Supreme Court overturned the ban against gay marriage. Read Full Article

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HONOLULU -The question now is...will California's supreme court ruling set a precedent for the rest of the country?

One thing that most seemed to agree on is that times are changing especially when it comes down to the issue of civil unions.

Marriage is a gift they want everyone to be able to experience...

And in 30 days, same-sex couples in California will be able to make that commitment.

. .... Read Article

HONOLULU - The rainbow papaya is pumped-up to be more powerful, genetically modified to resist the destructive ringspot virus. It's a stronger fruit, but it looks the same as an organic papaya. Some said that is the problem.

"I just think it makes sense that people have a choice in what they buy," said Shelly Wilkinson, a concerned Big Island resident. .... Read Article

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HONOLULU (KHNL) - The Democrats in Hawaii now have a new member to add to its party list. Senator Mike Gabbard announced Thursday he is switching parties to become a Democrat.

Gabbard says his decision was made after discussing his intentions with his daughter who served as a former State Representative.

With supporters by his side, Gabbard says.... Read Article

HONOLULU -- State Sen. Mike Gabbard officially joined the Democratic Party on Thursday, switching from the Republican Party he had been a part of since 2000.

Gabbard signed his party card at the Hawaii Democratic Party headquarters with Chairman Mike McCartney, Senate President Colleen Hanabusa, other Democratic leaders and his family.

The former Republican said his decision took a lot of soul searching.

"Some people have told me that my move could damage me politically, but I can't make my decision based on politics. I have to make my decisions based on my conscience, on how I can best serve the people of Hawaii," Gabbard said.

This year's state legislative session has reached the half-way mark, with the last handful of bills crossing between the House and Senate.

Senators wrapped up measures about rural health care, the Hawaii Superferry and recycling today. The House took action taken on health benefit rights for those government employees in non-married relationships.

One of the last measures to make crossover extends state and county health benefits to what are called "reciprocal beneficiaries." That can mean an auntie or grandfather, and same sex..... Read Article

You use force against a burglar entering your home only to find out months later that you’re the target of a civil lawsuit by the very criminal you stopped. It’s not a joke or a bad dream – it’s happening all across the country as criminals try to cash in on homeowners who defend their life and property with firearms or their bare hands.

State Senator Mike Gabbard, a republican who represents the communities of Waikele, Makakilo and Ko 'Olina says it’s time for Hawaii citizens to feel empowered when facing down would-be burglars.... Read Article

HONOLULU (KHNL) - The debate over same-sex marriage in Hawaii heats up once again, with a new senate bill re-visiting the issue. If passed, SB-1062 would give gay couples the same rights and benefits as heterosexual married couples. It's a controversial topic and each side is poised for a major battle.

The Snyder-Rivers family lives in Wahiawa. For the most part, they're typical except two moms lead this household. Under a new senate proposal, families like this would get the same rights and benefits as straight married families .... Read Article

Democratic Candidates State Senate District 19
Chuck Anthony 283 12%
Janice Salcedo Lehner 737 31%
George S. Yamamoto 887 38%

Republican Candidates State Senate District 19
Robert Fong 114 20%
Mike Gabbard 413 72%

HONOLULU -- Several politicians on Wednesday called for changes or an investigation at the highest levels of the state Office of Elections. There were numerous problems at the polls on Tuesday.

A newly elected state senator and the chairman of the Republican Party said all that trouble is causing Hawaii voters to lose faith in the state's election system. Problems started before the polls opened and continued until after they closed. .... Read Article

HONOLULU -- Hawaii Democrats and Republicans saw a few seats change parties in the state Legislature on Tuesday night.

Democrats picked up two additional seats in the state House and maintained their hold on the Senate.

Two political newcomers: Della Au Bellati won a seat representing the Makiki and Tantalus area and Karl Rhodes in the Kakaako and Waikiki area. .... Read Article

Kapolei is represented by Brian Kanno in the senate - he is not seeking re-election. All five candidates agree traffic is the number one issue facing the residents of their district. Community activist and entrepreneur Mike Gabbard said the solution may still be waiting.

Gabbard says, "get the players involved - the landowners, the developers, the city and county, state and federal officials, the environmental groups, the business leaders and of course, the transportation engineers and experts. Lock them in a room and say, come together, what is the solution for this?"

HONOLULU -- The Federal Election Commission has cleared former Councilman Mike Gabbard of a complaint that he received improper campaign donations in 2004, when he ran unsuccessfully against Rep. Ed Case to represent Hawaii 's 2nd Congressional District.

Big Island resident Alex Achmat made the complaint, claiming Gabbard was receiving large campaign donations from people with modest incomes. Achmat claimed that those people were then reimbursed by others who wanted to circumvent campaign spending limits.

The FEC dismissed Achmat's complaint as meritless, saying he did not offer any proof that Gabbard's donors were being reimbursed by others... Read Article

HONOLULU -- Honolulu Prosecutor Peter Carlisle said on Wednesday that he is considering making a run for the congressional seat being vacated by Democratic Rep. Ed Case.

Carlisle is the only potential candidate for Congress who's already been elected to island-wide office on Oahu. That's a good place from which to start a campaign for the nation's capital. Case will not run for re-election. Instead, he chose to run for the U.S. Senate against Sen. Daniel Akaka. .... Read Article

HONOLULU -- The announcement by Rep. Ed Case to for go re-election to the U.S. House for a chance at the Senate has sparked a flurry of political activity. A number of politicians are now throwing their names into the race for Congress.

State Sen. Ron Menor walked to the federal building with his wife, Patricia, to announce on Friday that he will run for Case's seat. Menor ran unsuccessfully against Patsy Mink for the same congressional seat 15 years ago. .... Read Article