Hawaii
Hawaii-Japan summit focuses on tourism recovery
The Hawai‘i-Japan Sister State and Sister City Summit brought together roughly 400 senior government officials and business and civic leaders split about evenly between Japan and Hawaii.
From left, moderator Michelle Kauhane, Daniel Nahoopii, chief administrative officer, Hawaii Tourism Authority, Junichi (Jack) Kumada, chief consultant for global tourism agenda and sustainability, JTB Tourism Research and Consulting, Kurt Matsumoto, president of Pulama Lanai, and Blaine Miyasato, managing director for state and local government affairs for Hawaiian Airlines, participate in a panel discussion on sustainable tourism during the second day of the Hawaii-Japan Sister Summit at Hilton Hawaiian Village on Friday.
Masato Aso, second from left, sales manager for Iichiko Shochu, talks about product with Joyce Naruse, right, of Maui County Sister City.
Kanta Hibino, back, chief of International Exchange for the Hokkaido Government, speaks with guests.
Tsugumasa Muraoka, governor of Yamaguchi Prefecture, speaks during the second day of the Hawaii-Japan Sister Summit at Hilton Hawaiian Village.
Maki Kobayashi, left, chief of International Exchange for Shirahama Prefecture, talks with potential visitor Grace Carmichael.
Blaine Miyasato, right, managing director for state and local government affairs for Hawaiian Airlines, participates in a panel discussion on sustainable tourism.
A man walks past the Hiroshima Prefecture vendor stand.
Moderator Michelle Kauhane, Sr. VP of Grants and Investments for the Hawaii Community Foundation, speaks during the second day of the Hawaii-Japan Sister Summit at Hilton Hawaiian Village.
Kanta Hibino, left, chief of International Exchange for the Hokkaido Government, speaks with Robyn Furuya, president and owner of KZOO Media Group.
Masato Aso, left, sales manager for Iichiko Shochu, pours samples for Joyce Naruse, second from right, of Maui County Sister City, and Mamiko Reeves, right, of Northwood University.
Daniel Nahoopii, chief administrative officer, Hawaii Tourism Authority, participates in a panel discussion on sustainable tourism.
Kurt Matsumoto, middle, president of Pulama Lanai, Junichi (Jack) Kumada, left, chief consultant for global tourism agenda and sustainability, JTB Tourism Research and Consulting, and Blaine Miyasato, right, managing director for state and local government affairs for Hawaiian Airlines, participate in a panel discussion on sustainable tourism.
Kanta Hibino, left, chief of International Exchange for the Hokkaido Government, speaks with Robyn Furuya, president and owner of KZOO Media Group.
Kanta Hibino, back, chief of International Exchange for the Hokkaido Government, speaks with guests.
People listen as Tsugumasa Muraoka, governor of Yamaguchi Prefecture, speaks during the second day of the Hawaii-Japan Sister Summit at Hilton Hawaiian Village.
From left, moderator Michelle Kauhane, Daniel Nahoopii, chief administrative officer, Hawaii Tourism Authority, Junichi (Jack) Kumada, chief consultant for global tourism agenda and sustainability, JTB Tourism Research and Consulting, Kurt Matsumoto, president of Pulama Lanai, and Blaine Miyasato, managing director for state and local government affairs for Hawaiian Airlines, participate in a panel discussion on sustainable tourism.
From left, Daniel Nahoopii, chief administrative officer, Hawaii Tourism Authority, Junichi (Jack) Kumada, chief consultant for global tourism agenda and sustainability, JTB Tourism Research and Consulting, Kurt Matsumoto, president of Pulama Lanai, and Blaine Miyasato, managing director for state and local government affairs for Hawaiian Airlines, participate in a panel discussion on sustainable tourism.
Masato Aso, left, sales manager for Iichiko Shochu, pours samples for Joyce Naruse, second from right, of Maui County Sister City, and Mamiko Reeves, right, of Northwood University.
From left, Daniel Nahoopii, chief administrative officer, Hawaii Tourism Authority, Junichi (Jack) Kumada, chief consultant for global tourism agenda and sustainability, JTB Tourism Research and Consulting, Kurt Matsumoto, president of Pulama Lanai, and Blaine Miyasato, managing director for state and local government affairs for Hawaiian Airlines, participate in a panel discussion on sustainable tourism.
From left, moderator Michelle Kauhane, Daniel Nahoopii, chief administrative officer, Hawaii Tourism Authority, Junichi (Jack) Kumada, chief consultant for global tourism agenda and sustainability, JTB Tourism Research and Consulting, Kurt Matsumoto, president of Pulama Lanai, and Blaine Miyasato, managing director for state and local government affairs for Hawaiian Airlines, participate in a panel discussion on sustainable tourism.
Hawaii
Low world-wide participation drives HIBT cancellation – West Hawaii Today
The organizing committee of the Hawaiian International Billfish Tournament (HIBT) regretfully announced the cancellation of the 2024 tournament scheduled for July 27 through August 3, 2024. Despite extensive efforts to attract participants from around the globe, including robust outreach campaigns and promotional initiatives, the desired level of interest necessary to uphold the tournament’s standards has not been achieved. The 2024 billfish tournament would have been the 62nd annual.
Hawaii
‘Still a threat’; Victim decries decision to release one of Hawaii’s most notorious serial rapists
HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) – One of Hawaii’s most notorious serial rapists is set to be released Thursday, prompting concern about whether the so-called “Manoa rapist” is still a danger to the community.
John Freudenberg was flown back to Oahu on a charter flight last week from Hilo’s minimum security prison.
The transport was in preparation for his release on Thursday.
One of his victims told HNN Investigates that she believes he should remain behind bars.
“John Freudenberg is still a threat to public safety,” said the woman, who asked that her name not be released. The woman is credited with helping to catch Freudenberg after she picked him out of a line-up.
“He broke into my house and held me hostage in my home and held a knife to my throat, raping me and telling me he was going to kill me,” the woman said. She added that before he left, he said something to her that made her realize he had no self control. “He said, ‘I’m sorry, this had to happen to you,’” she said.
Freudenberg served more than 40 years behind bars for a series of attacks against 15 women in Manoa in the 1980s. He was 23 when he pleaded guilty to crimes, including rape, sodomy, sex abuse and burglary.
The woman who spoke to HNN said Freudenberg cannot be trusted and pointed to his own words at a parole hearing, in which he could not guarantee that he wouldn’t reoffend.
Freudenberg’s attorney, Myles Breiner, said he understands why victims feel that way, but said his client has served his time and deserves a chance to live outside prison walls.
Breiner pointed out that Freudenberg completed multiple sex offender treatment programs.
Breiner added his client recognizes the terrible things he has done, but has taken all steps necessary to be reformed. “He has spent 40 years in prison without a misconduct, which is extraordinary,” Breiner said.
The attorney said Freudenberg did not have one infraction while behind bars.
Freudenberg was a University of Hawaii Manoa honors student and president of his fraternity when he committed the crimes over a 14-month period.
He was sentenced to life in prison with the possibility of parole, and was denied parole repeatedly until last year. After his release, Freudenberg will live in a halfway house with an ankle monitor.
The Hawaii Paroling Authority said Freudenberg “will be closely supervised by the HPA’s Sex Offender Supervision Unit. He will be under the highest level of supervision that includes a strict curfew, electronic monitoring, reporting in-person to his parole officer at least once a week and other stringent rules he must adhere to.” Breiner also said Freudenberg will have to go out and find a job.
Freudenberg became an electrician while in prison.
Copyright 2024 Hawaii News Now. All rights reserved.
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