U.S. Rep. Kai Kahele says he’ll return to his job as a Hawaiian Airways pilot and proceed his Nationwide Guard service when he leaves workplace Tuesday. Kahele is seen right here at a February information convention on the Hawaii State Capitol.
U.S. Rep. Kai Kahele says he’ll return to his full-time job as an airline pilot and proceed his Nationwide Guard service when he leaves workplace on Tuesday.
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Former state Sen. Jill Tokuda will substitute Kahele when the Congress begins its 2023 session on Tuesday. Kahele selected to not run for reelection for a second time period, as a substitute launching an unsuccessful bid for the Democratic gubernatorial nomination.
Kahele thanked his constituents in a written and video assertion launched as we speak.
“It has been my biggest honor to function your United States Consultant for Hawaii’s 2nd Congressional District,” Kahele mentioned. “I’m extraordinarily pleased with the work Staff Kahele completed and the aloha spirit we delivered to our nation’s capital.”
Kahele’s workplace mentioned he’ll instantly return to full-time employment as a Hawaiian Airways Airbus A330 captain and proceed to function a lieutenant colonel within the Hawaii Air Nationwide Guard, the place he’s a graduate scholar within the U.S. Military Battle Faculty at Carlisle Barracks in Pennsylvania.
Kahele famous that in his time period in workplace he delivered over $26 million in neighborhood mission federal funding to his district, which covers the neighbor islands and rural Oahu. He mentioned the cash will assist nonprofits, county and state precedence initiatives, and federally certified well being facilities on each island
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The doctor accused of trying to murder his wife while on a scenic hike in Hawaii had suspected her of having an affair months earlier and allegedly told his adult son he “tried to kill” her in a phone call after the near-fatal attack, according to reports.
Gerhardt Konig, a 46-year-old anesthesiologist, was charged Wednesday with second-degree attempted murder after he allegedly attacked his wife, Arielle Konig, 36, at the Pali Lookout, a famous panoramic vista on Oahu.
The couple had been married for six years, but over the months leading up to the attack, their marriage had started to fall apart, Island News reported.
Hawaii doctor Gerhardt Konig (right) is accused of attempting to murder his wife, Arielle. Facebook / Gerhardt Konig
Arielle, a renowned nuclear engineer, filed a restraining order against her husband Thursday and told the court that he had become prone to “extreme jealousy” and “has attempted to control and monitor all of my communications.”
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She claimed that her husband, whom she wed in 2018, had accused her of cheating on him in December.
However, in an attempt to salvage their marriage, Arielle said they had been “participating in both couples and individual therapy and counseling.”
The couple’s relationship started to improve from the therapy, she said, and they decided to plan a weekend getaway to Oahu to celebrate Arielle’s 36th birthday with just the two of them, leaving their two young children, ages 2 and 5, at home.
The day after arriving on the island from their home in Maui on March 23, Konig suggested they hike the trail near Pali Lookout — where he allegedly flipped because his wife refused to take a picture with him.
Konig has been suspended by his employer after the alleged attempted murder of his wife, a prominent nuclear scientist. KHON2 News
He allegedly tried to push his wife off the trail, then punched her and hit her with a rock, and at some point, even tried to jab her with two syringes.
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“I do not know what was in the syringe, but Gerhardt is an anesthesiologist and has access to several potentially lethal medications as part of his employment,” she wrote in the filing.
Konig was stopped when two women on the trail heard Arielle’s screams for help and intervened.
Arielle was rushed to The Queen’s Medical Center in critical condition with multiple facial and head injuries.
Konig was arrested later that evening near Pali Highway after a brief foot pursuit, cops said.
The couple had been married since 2018. Facebook / Gerhardt Konig
The nuclear engineer told the court that following the attack, she had learned that her husband had called one of his adult children from a previous marriage on FaceTime and allegedly confessed to trying to kill her, the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reported.
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“I just tried to kill Ari, but she got away,” Arielle claims in the filing that Konig told his child.
Konig is currently being held at the Oahu Community Correctional Center.
Konig is currently being held at the Oahu Community Correctional Center. Honolulu Police Department
His bail had previously been set at $5 million, but Arielle wrote to the court she is afraid for herself, her children, and the rest of her family if her husband is released and a judge ordered him to be held without bail on Friday.
Konig, who previously worked as a University of Pittsburgh professor and UPMC anesthesiologist, was employed by an independent contractor to provide medical services as an anesthesiologist in Maui.
“Maui Health is committed to patient safety and upholding the highest standards of care,” Maui Health said in a statement last week.
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“We have been made aware of the allegations against Gerhardt Konig, MD. Dr. Konig has been suspended from the Medical Staff pending investigation. Dr. Konig is employed by an independent entity contracted to provide medical services at various medical facilities on Maui, including Maui Memorial Medical Center.”
Michele Malani Momi Arakaki, 80, of Hilo died Feb. 17 at Hale Anuenue Restorative Care Center. Born in Hilo, she was a manager for McDonalds and the former Karaoke Box and a YMCA member. Visitation 9-10:30 a.m. Saturday (April 5) at Dodo Mortuary Chapel. funeral service at 10:30 a.m. Cremation to follow. Casual attire. No flowers or koden (monetary gifts). Survived by husband, Garfield Arakaki of Hilo; children, Dyson (Michelle) Arakaki of Keaau and Lou-Ann (Channing) Tokeshi of Mountain View; brothers, Molyneaux “Joe” Henderson of Hilo, Ivan (Carol) Nakashima of Maui, Alden (Susan) Henderson) and Elden “Rocko” (Rob Coutts) Henderson of Oahu, Aaron (Iris) Henderson of Honolulu, Marvin “Pee Wee” Henderson, Darrin (Jenelle) Henderson and Shane (Shari) Henderson of Oahu; sisters, Maureen “Mona” (Michael) Oliver of California, Alison Uehara and Jamie (Paul) Dunlap of Oahu, Sharon Graves of Florida, Carmella (Earl) Long of Washington, Dawnzy Ogo of Guam; sister-in-law, Helen Henderson of Hilo; brother-in-law, Carey (Mary Look) Arakaki of Kurtistown; three grandchildren and a great-granddaughter; an aunt, nieces and nephews. Arrangements by Dodo Mortuary.
Alan Kiyomori Arakaki, 64, of Hilo died Feb. 21. Born in he retired from Oahu Sales, was a member of the Plumbers-Fitters UA Local 675 and taught refrigeration classes at Honolulu Community College. Celebration of life at a later date. Online condolences: homelanimemorialpark.com. Survived by wife, Debra “Debi” Arakaki; stepdaughters, Heather Clarke and Stephanie (Nathaniel “Nate”) Letro; brother, Alton (Lisa) Arakaki; sisters, Joy Arakaki and Jayne (Rick) Arakaki; three grandchildren. Arrangements by Homelani Memorial Park.
James “Kimo” Stanley Hodgins Jr., 82, of Waimea died Feb. 25. Born in Lihue, Kauei, he was retired from Hawaii Electric Light Co., member of Lions and Civitan Clubs blood donor for the Blood Bank of Hawaii; volunteered for the Liquor Commission, was on the delivery collection team for the Office of Elections and a U.S. Navy and U.S. Coast Guard veteran. Private services held. Survived by wife, V. June Hodgins; sons, Kimo (Rose) Hodgins and Peter (Kayla) Hodgins; sister, Deborah (Gus) Garcia; three grandchildren. Arrangements by Dodo Mortuary.
Craig Alexander Kuegler, 71, of Pahoa died March 17 at home. Born in Glen Cove, N.Y., he was a farmer. Private services held. Survived by sons, Waylon (Abigayle) Kuegler of Pahoa, Jesse (Danielle Kealoha) Kuegler of Montana, Ace Baldwin of California and Gulliver Brown of Kona; hanai sons, Soloman (Jessica) Swart of Hilo and Adam McAnish of Oregon; hanai daughter, Maggie (Jon) Roberts of Keaau; sister, Carol (Jerry) Blackburn of New York; six grandchildren; nephews. Arrangements by Dodo Mortuary.
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Harue Ono, 94, of Hilo died March 8 at Hale Anuenue Restorative Care Center. Born in Hilo, she was a retired registered nurse for the former Hilo Hospital. Private services held. No koden (monetary gifts). Survived by son, Rodney (Sunok) Ono of Hilo; daughter, Arleen (John) Ono-Desa of Hilo; four grandchildren and six great-grandchildren; nieces and nephews. Arrangements by Dodo Mortuary.
Dustin O’Toole, 56, of Hawaii Island died March 16. No known family. Survivors are asked to call Hilo Benioff Medical Center at (808) 932-3500, option 4.
Robert Pratt, 76, of Hilo died Feb. 8 at Hilo Benioff Medical Center. Surviving relatives please call Ballard Family Mortuary Hilo at (808) 935-8445.
Catherine V. Zamora, 53, of Kailua-Kona, died March 11 at Kona Community Hospital. Born in the Philippines, she was a food and beverage cashier at Hilton Waikoloa Village. Visitation 4-6 p.m. Thursday (April 3) at Dodo Mortuary Chapel. Wake service at 6 p.m. Visitation 8-9 a.m. Friday (April 4) at St. Joseph Catholic Church. Mass at 9:30 a.m. Burial to follow at Hawaii Veterans Cemetery No 2. Light-colored casual attire. Survived by husband, Almar Zamora of Kailua-Kona; son, Alika Zamora of Kailua-Kona; parents, Nicanor and Nancy Valiente of Philippines; brother, Noel Valiente of Waimea; sisters, Noeme Valiente of Waikoloa and Lilly (Keith) Germain of Waimea; aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces and nephews. Arrangements by Dodo Mortuary.
A bill that would provide funding for Hawaii Island Community Health Center to expand the reach of its services to about 55,000 patients yearly is making its way through the state Legislature.
The $80 million in special purpose revenue bonds sought by House Bill 341 would help HICHC purchase or lease land to develop four additional health care facilities.
The additional 32 new primary care exam rooms across the four new sites would offer the ability to serve 15,000 more patients a year, according to HICHC estimates.
“By issuing special purpose revenue bonds, the state of Hawaii can facilitate the construction of much-needed new primary care infrastructure without imposing undue financial strain on taxpayers,” said HICHC President and CEO Richard Taaffe.
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Currently, HICHC serves 40,000 patients annually — 60% of whom are Medicaid beneficiaries — through the 25 sites it operates islandwide, the nonprofit said in its statement of support for the bill.
“Hawaii Island Community Health Center plays a pivotal role in providing comprehensive, affordable and accessible primary health care to residents who often face significant barriers to receiving timely medical attention,” Taaffe said. “The current limitations in health care infrastructure — whether due to geographic isolation, financial constraints or other shortages — underscore the necessity of supporting this expansion effort.”
The bill — which was introduced in the House by Rep. Nicole Lowen of Kona in mid-January and transferred to the Senate on the last day of February — received support from the Hawaii Primary Care Association and Aloha Care at multiple readings, along with a private citizen, Daisy Chung, who provided additional testimony in support on Friday.
“This is particularly important for underserved areas on Hawaii Island, where access can be limited,” Chung said. “By supporting HB 341, we are investing in the health and well-being of our community, reducing health care disparities, and promoting a healthier future for all.”
According to HICHC’s expansion goals, the first proposed development would be a new 45,000-square-foot facility in North Kona offering medical, dental, behavioral health, specialty care and a pharmacy. Additionally, a new 10,000-square-foot primary health facility serving Pahoa and neighboring Puna communities would be built with the funds.
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The funding also would allow for a 10,000-square-foot building in Hilo to be converted from an administrative space into a “one-stop primary health care facility for women’s health, pediatric care and family medicine,” according to HICHC.
Finally, a building in Na‘alehu that was a six-bedroom plantation house would be repurposed using the funds to offer housing for health care workers at HICHC’s medical and dental clinic there, Taaffe said.
The funding potentially obtained through this legislation also would support additional projects HICHC plans to establish in the future, such as the expansion of school-based clinics, an expansion of a dental clinic in Keaau, and renovations to other existing facilities, Taaffe said.
“Our goal is to increase access to primary care islandwide,” Taaffe said.
Email Kyveli Diener at kdiener@hawaiitribune-herald.com.