Hawaii
Covering the Cost: The cost of consumer fraud, deceptive business practices
In HNN’s new livestream show “Covering the Cost with Annalisa Burgos,” we break down the numbers behind Hawaii’s affordability crisis in candid conversations with financial experts, entrepreneurs and community leaders.
HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) – Coming up on today’s episode at 12:30 p.m. Hawaii time, Annalisa Burgos talks with the state Dept. of Commerce and Consumer Affairs (DCCA) Deputy Director Dean Hazama about the cost of consumer fraud and how residents can protect themselves against deceptive business practices.
“At DCCA, consumer protection is not just enforcement. It’s education, outreach, and prevention,” Hazama said. “Our goal is to ensure that residents, businesses, and especially vulnerable communities have the tools they need to make informed decisions. We believe the best defense against fraud is awareness, access to information, and responsive government services.”
Hazama says the DCCA aims to be proactive, rather than reactive, by focusing on outreach and partnering with community organizations, industry groups, and other state and federal agencies to share consumer protection information.
Topics include:
- Scam prevention and fraud awareness
- Identity theft protection
- Financial literacy
- Disaster-related scams
- Understanding consumer rights under Hawaii law
National Consumer Protection Week is on March 1-7, and DCCA is hosting its annual 21st annual Consumer Protection Fair on March 5 from 11 a.m. – 1:30 p.m. at the Hawaii State Capitol, 4th Floor Lanai.
DCCA divisions and partner agencies will be available to answer questions, including AARP, BBB, FBI, Social Security, IRS, Red Cross, etc. and City and County and other state agencies.
Military service members and their families are also often targeted by scams that specifically exploit their military benefits or relocation situations.
The DCCA Military Consumer Guide is designed to help service members and their families make informed financial decisions, increase their awareness of local laws and available resources, and reduce financial stress during transitions.
“Hawaii is home to approximately 44,000 active duty service members and 5,500 National Guard personnel. Many military families experience frequent relocations, deployments, and permanent changes of station,” Hazama explained.
The DCCA says it’s also undergoing its IT Modernization Initiative, which focuses on accessibility, efficiency, and transparency through a redesigned website with improved navigation tools and eventually an AI-assisted customer support chatbot
Residents can also call a centralized call center at its new dedicated department-wide number: 1-844-808-DCCA (3222).
Hazama says this allows the DCCA to better track inquiries through a case management system and reduce missed or lost calls. Because cases remain active until resolved, it aims to improve accountability and responsiveness.
The DCCA also offers post-storm consumer guidance and insurance support.
“Following the recent high winds and heavy rain, DCCA’s Insurance Division issued a reminder to residents about how to protect their property and navigate the insurance claims process,” Hazama said.
“Natural disasters and severe weather events can create stress and confusion, and unfortunately can also open the door to fraud and misinformation. Our message to residents is simple: act promptly, document thoroughly, and know your rights.”
Remember to:
- Contact your insurance company or agent immediately to report damage.
- Document all damage with clear photos or videos.
- Keep detailed records.
Residents can contact the Insurance Division at 1-844-808-DCCA (3222) or visit the Insurance Division’s website for additional claim-filing tips and recovery resources.
Visit DCCA‘s website cca.hawaii.gov for more information and resources.
Catch “Covering the Cost with Annalisa Burgos” Wednesdays at 12:30 p.m. online, on HNN’s streaming app and anywhere you get your podcasts.
From skyrocketing housing prices to the country’s highest tax burden, Annalisa is covering the cost of aloha in America’s most expensive state and offering practical strategies, policy insights, and honest talk about what it really takes to call Hawaii home.
Copyright 2026 Hawaii News Now. All rights reserved.
Hawaii
First 5 Hawaii is a comprehensive online resource that helps families with young children find and connect to state and federal programs and services.
Honolulu (KHON2) – Navigating the many programs and services available for young children can be overwhelming, but First 5 Hawaii is making it easier for families to find the support they need.
Designed for families with children from birth to age 5, First 5 Hawaii is the state’s first comprehensive online resource that helps connect parents and caregivers with state and federal programs they may qualify for.
By answering a few simple questions, families can quickly discover resources tailored to their specific needs.
The website serves as a one-stop shop, partnering with 18 state and federal programs to help connect families with services such as preschool, child care assistance, health coverage, nutrition programs including WIC and SNAP, parenting support, developmental screenings, and special needs services.
Parents can also explore age-appropriate activities, child development information, and helpful parenting resources.
What sets First 5 Hawaii apart is its personalized eligibility screening tool.
Instead of searching multiple websites and applying for programs one at a time, families can use a single resource to identify benefits they may qualify for across early learning, health care, nutrition, housing assistance, and more.
Even families who aren’t sure they qualify are encouraged to give it a try. The online eligibility screener is free, confidential, and only takes a few minutes to complete.
Many families are surprised to learn they may be eligible for programs they didn’t know existed.
By bringing trusted resources together in one convenient location, First 5 Hawaii helps remove barriers for busy parents and makes it easier to access services that support healthy child development during the most important early years of life.
To learn more or complete the eligibility screener, visit the First 5 Hawaii website.
Three convicted sex offenders were arrested on Hawaii Island last week for allegedly failing to comply with sex offender registry requirements.
Multiple law-enforcement agencies conducted checks in Kona on registered sex offenders who had been identified as potentially out of compliance with the state’s Sex Offender Registry laws, according the Department of the Attorney General.
As a result of the three-day operation, several individuals were brought back into compliance, and three West Hawaii men were arrested for allegedly failing to comply with the requirements.
The three men who were arrested are Joseph Debus, 56, of Kailua-Kona, Garth Coleman, 53, of Holualoa and Alexsandr Skelcey, 34, of Kailua-Kona.
Debus was convicted of second-degree sex assault in Hawaii in 1993 and sentenced to five years probation with a year in jail. Coleman was sentenced to 20 years in prison for first-degree assault in 2000 after a jury trial in Hawaii. And Skelcey was convicted in Michigan in 2012 of assault with intent to commit sex assault.
“Sex offender registration requirements exist to protect our communities and ensure law enforcement knows where convicted offenders are living,” Tom Alipio, chief of the AG department’s Investigations Division, said in a press release. “Compliance operations like this send a clear message that we will actively monitor the registry, investigate violations and work closely with our law enforcement partners to hold offenders accountable when they fail to meet their legal obligations.”
HPD Chief Reed Mahuna said, “Operations like this allow us to verify that offenders are maintaining strict compliance with registration laws and those who aren’t will be addressed immediately. We will continue to leverage these multi-agency partnerships to keep our island communities safe,”
Members of the public can look up publicly available offender information and subscribe to notifications at sexoffenders.ehawaii.gov/coveredoffender/.
Anyone with information regarding a registered sex offender who may be violating registration requirements is encouraged to contact the Department of the Attorney General’s Investigation Division at (808) 586-1240 or their local law enforcement.
A brush in North Kona, near the Ulu Wini Apartments, has closed a portion of Hina Lani Street, between Route 190 and Ane Keokalole Highway.
According to Hawai‘i Island police, the road is expected to be closed for the next three hours and motorists are advised to avoid the area.
Hawai‘i Fire Assistant Chief Chris Carvalho confirmed at least two engines, two brush trucks, Chopper 2 and a medic vehicle responded to the blaze that started in some bushes.
No evacuations or injuries have been reported at this time.
At 11:09 a.m., an AlertWest camera, installed by Hawaiian Electric in wildfire-prone areas, showed smoke billowing above the Keahuolu Courthouse. As of 12:06 p.m., that smoke appears to have dissipated.
This is a developing story. More information will be provided as it becomes available.
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