Hawaii
Hawaii gun permit ruling sides with ‘homesick’ Navy officer
HONOLULU — A U.S. Navy officer stationed in Hawaii can’t be denied a firearms allow solely as a result of he sought counseling for feeling depressed and homesick, a federal choose dominated.
Michael Santucci, a cryptologic warfare officer from Fort Myers, Florida, noticed a medical supplier at a navy hospital for emotions of melancholy and homesickness a number of months after arriving in Hawaii final 12 months, in accordance with his lawsuit, filed in April.
He wasn’t recognized with any disqualifying behavioral, emotional or psychological dysfunction, the lawsuit stated.
He later stuffed out types to register his firearms with the Honolulu Police Division and indicated that he had been handled for melancholy, however famous it was “not critical.”
Hawaii legislation requires registration of all firearms. Previous to buying a gun, an applicant should apply for a allow. Santucci wanted such a allow though he legally owned his firearms earlier than arriving Hawaii.
As a result of Santucci answered “sure” on a kind indicating he had sought counseling, the allow course of was halted and his firearms had been seized, his attorneys stated.
Honolulu should return Santucci’s firearms and full the registration of the weapons, U.S. District Decide Derrick Watson’s order issued Wednesday stated.
“The Metropolis is evaluating the choice and its impression on our processes,” Honolulu Company Counsel Dana Viola stated in an announcement Friday.
Kevin O’Grady, one in all Santucci’s attorneys, stated the case was “illustrative of Hawaii’s robust opposition to something that approaches the free train of the Second Modification.”
The lawsuit was filed earlier than a U.S. Supreme Courtroom ruling increasing gun rights throughout the nation pressured Hawaii to start issuing hid carry permits. Beforehand, these permits had been virtually inconceivable to acquire.
Santucci’s lawsuit targeted solely on the allow to accumulate firearms.
However Honolulu and the state might want to take the excessive court docket determination into consideration when overhauling the method to make sure others aren’t precluded from acquiring permits based mostly on disclosing earlier psychological well being counseling, stated Alan Beck, one other lawyer representing Santucci.
“What the choose is saying is Honolulu is misapplying the legislation. They’re getting Hawaii legislation improper,” Beck stated. “Should you marked ‘sure’ on counseling, you then’ve misplaced your gun rights.”
Hawaii
Hawaii Deploying Drones to Kill Hated Frog
Kermit the Frog better watch out!
Drone Wars
Wildlife officials in Hawaii are using aerial drones to wage chemical warfare on coqui frogs by dumping citric acid on these invasive creatures, thereby killing them — along with any tadpoles and eggs.
The officials are using drones to eradicate the frogs because they recently found a population of the amphibians in a mountainous strip of land on the island of Oahu that’s inaccessible to pest control crews, according to a statement from the state’s Department of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR).
It’s a wild scenario that somehow encapsulates the environmental problems many fragile ecosystems are facing — the introduction of foreign species — along with how us humans are turning to technology, like drones, to solve them.
The infestation of coqui frogs, so named because of the distinctive sound they make, was detected by a resident who heard them noisily croaking in the island’s Kuliʻouʻou Forest Reserve, according to the DLNR, a spectacular and mountainous tropical forest with scenic views.
Wildlife experts following up on that tip then discovered that about 13 acres of forest were plagued by these frogs, setting off a mad scramble to deploy the drones.
The drones are dumping a watery solution with a citric food additive on infested areas, according to the DLNR. Non-toxic to humans, the frogs are fatally susceptible to this solution because they absorb the liquid through their porous skin.
Frog Sothoth
Hawaii officials want to kill off these cute-looking frogs because they have no natural predators in the island state, hence why their population has exploded over recent decades. They also have an incredible appetite, devouring native insects and spiders that indigenous animals like birds rely on for food.
The frogs originally came to Hawaii from their native Puerto Rico in the 1980s while hitching aboard nursery plants as stowaways.
Since then, wildlife officials have been pushing a campaign to kill them off, and not just for the benefit of native fauna and flora. These frogs are piercingly loud, with males reaching 90 decibels, or about the noise level of a lawn mower. Basically, they’re noise pollution nightmares.
Since the problem was caused by humans, it seems only fitting local authorities are turning to a human-engineered solution to help them in killing off these slimy, beady-eyed pests.
Hopefully the drones will prove to be effective in controlling these plague of frogs so that places like Oahu preserve their pristine beauty.
More on frogs: Scientists Surprised to Find Mushroom Growing Out of Frog
Hawaii
Artist Jasper Wong joins “Upfront with Guy Hagi” to check out the new art in “Hawaii Walls 2024”
HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) – In this month’s episode of “Upfront with Guy Hagi,” professional artist and Kalani graduate Jasper Wong takes Guy on a tour of this year’s “Hawaii Walls” mural festival.
Formerly known as ‘Pow Wow,’ the annual event aims to uplift under-served communities in Hawaii through public art.
This year, 40 murals were painted on the walls of three school campuses in Kalihi.
Wong is the co-organizer of the event and hopes the art will help inspire and have a positive impact in the community.
“The reason why we started it was to one, beautify communities because we feel like walls are just walls. Like no one cares about them when they’re just painted a color, but you add art to it, they become alive,” said Wong.
For more about the event and the roster of artists, visit worldwidewalls.com.
Copyright 2024 Hawaii News Now. All rights reserved.
Hawaii
Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii – Official Combat Gameplay Trailer – IGN
Join Goro Majima on a new adventure and check out the latest Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii trailer to see fast-paced combat gameplay from this upcoming action-adventure RPG. Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza will be available on PS5, PS4, PC, Xbox Series X/S, and Xbox One on February 28, 2025.
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