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Closure and courage: Man faces justice following teen’s abduction from West Hawaii beach

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Closure and courage: Man faces justice following teen’s abduction from West Hawaii beach


HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) – A Hawaii Island man accused of abducting a 15-year-old girl and holding her captive in a bus on his Hilo property two years ago pleaded no contest to multiple charges in a Kona courtroom Tuesday morning.

Cher Angelel spoke on behalf of her daughter, Mikella, after the hearing.

The family expressed deep gratitude, thanking everyone who had a part in not only bringing the teen home, but also those who have helped to deliver justice in this years-long case.

“Today is the beginning of the end,” Angelel said. “There aren’t enough thanks for people that really stepped up. Way too many people to name. But you know who you are and we are so endlessly grateful for your support and help.”

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Duncan Mahi pleaded no contest to two counts of kidnapping and one count of sexual assault in connection with the two-day crime spree that spanned Hawaii Island before the teen managed to escape in Hilo with the help of two good Samaritans who recognized her at a restaurant.

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Attorney Jeffrey Foster said, “A plea of no contest basically means that the defendant does not plead guilty, but he also agrees not to contest the charges against him.”

According to the plea agreement, Mahi will spend no less than 20 years behind bars.

It also means Mikella and the boy who was with her at the time of the abduction won’t have to testify at a trial.

“They are seniors in high school and ready to get on with their lives and not having a trial will definitely be a good thing for all of us,” said Angelel.

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Today, Mikella is about to turn 18. Angelel said she is doing phenomenal.

“She has risen above it,” Angelel said. “She’s gotten on with her life. She’s a straight-A student. She’s applying for colleges, applying for scholarships. She’s going places in life.”

Angelel credits her daughter’s intelligence for helping bring her captor to justice.

“And I really want young women to really know what my daughter did to save herself and learn from her,” she said. “Memorizing his license plate from the very get-go. She left hair in the school bus he was keeping her in for DNA. She really did things that helped out the police.”

Mahi’s sentencing is scheduled for March 14 at 8:30 a.m. in Kona.

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Comet Lemmon and Milky Way spotted over Hawaii | Space photo of the day for Dec. 12, 2025

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Comet Lemmon and Milky Way spotted over Hawaii | Space photo of the day for Dec. 12, 2025


Comet C/2025 A6, better known as Comet Lemmon, was one of the latest icy visitors to swing through our neighborhood of the solar system, leaving astronomers and casual skywatchers equally delighted. For observers in Hawaii, the glow of the Milky Way didn’t dim the streak of light made by this comet passing through.

What is it?

Where is it?

This image was taken atop the volcanic peak Mauna Kea, on the Big Island of Hawaii.

Comet Lemmon could be seen with the naked eye as it streaked across the sky. (Image credit: International Gemini Observatory/NOIRLab/NSF/AURAImage processing: M. Rodriguez (International Gemini Observatory/NSF NOIRLab) & M. Zamani (NSF NOIRLab))

Why is it amazing?



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Hawaii senator introduces bill to reunite, protect immigrant families

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Hawaii senator introduces bill to reunite, protect immigrant families


WASHINGTON, D.C. (HawaiiNewsNow) – U.S. Senators Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii) and Tammy Duckworth (D-Illinois) reintroduced a piece of legislation on Thursday to strengthen protections for immigrant families and address long-standing problems in the family immigration system.

The Reuniting Families Act aims to reduce visa backlogs, boost efficiency across the immigration process, and ensure a fairer, more humane process for immigrant families.

“Immigrant families currently experience unnecessary obstacles and delays due to our country’s broken immigration system, keeping families separated for potentially long periods of time,” Hirono said. “By reducing family-based immigration backlogs and making common sense updates to how we treat families, the Reuniting Families Act will help take the first step in the right direction to keeping families together as they navigate our immigration system.”

According to the senators behind this bill, nearly four million people with approved visa applications are currently trapped in a massive immigration backlog, with many waiting more than a decade to reunite with their loved ones.

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“As Donald Trump’s inhumane mass deportation campaign rips apart families and communities across the country, it’s paramount we address the unnecessary barriers in our immigration system that have created backlogs and kept families apart for years,” Duckworth said. “Our legislation would implement commonsense reforms to help end family-based backlogs, which keep too many with approved green card applications stuck in bureaucratic limbo, and help get more families where they belong—together.”

The Reuniting Families Act would shorten delays by recapturing unused visas, rolling them into future years, expanding who qualifies as a family member to include permanent partners, and increasing both the total number of available family preference visas and per-country limits.

The bill would also put a time limit on visa processing, so no applicant has to wait more than 10 years for a visa if they have an approved application.

Click here to read the full bill.

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Rouhliadeff scores 16, Hawaii beats D-II Hawaii Hilo 98-46

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Rouhliadeff scores 16, Hawaii beats D-II Hawaii Hilo 98-46


HONOLULU (AP) — Henry Rouhliadeff scored 16 points to lead six Hawaii players in double figures and the Rainbow Warriors beat Division-II Hawaii Hilo 98-46 on Wednesday night.

Rouhliadeff made 6 of 9 from the field and finished with nine rebounds and five assists. Dre Bullock scored 12 points for Hawaii (9-2) and Hunter Erickson, Aaron Hunkin-Claytor, Gytis Nemeiksa and Isaac Finlinson added 11 points apiece.

Jamal Entezami led Hawaii Hilo with 11 points and Jessiya Villa scored 10.

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Hawaii shot 51% overall and made 13 3-pointers. The Rainbow Warriors, who went into the game averaging 13.4 assists per game, had a season-high 25 assists on 35 made field goals.

The 52-point margin of victory was Hawaii’s largest since a 106-49 win over Redlands on Jan. 28, 1972, and the third largest in program history. The Rainbow Warriors beat BYU Hawaii by 67 (106-49) in the 1962-63 season.

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