The staff at the Hilo zoo is urging visitors to keep their objects and hands away from the animals at all times after a rising number of foreign items have found in some enclosures.

The zookeepers at the Pana‘ewa Rainforest Zoo and Gardens have reported seeing an uptick in hazardous items like food, trash, small objects, hats and more that were most likely left by guests and placed in zoo habitats.

“It’s disturbing to see some of the items we find in the enclosures that present serious risks to the animals, which are like family to us,” said zoo Administrator Mindy Runnells. “This has been pretty consistent lately and something we’re constantly struggling with. It’s hard, because one of the first rules we have is to not feed the animals.”

According to Runnells, staff recently found onions and coins in one of the primate habitats, both of which could not have been dropped by accident.

“Onions can be toxic to primates, and coins are a choking hazard and can block the digestive system,” Runnells said. “I’m sure there are people coming form a good place, but there is a lot of finesse when it comes to feeding the animals in the zoo. We have to monitor what they are eating, when they eat and how much they eat.”

The animals at the zoo are on monitored diets carefully designed by zoo staff for each species, and much work goes into balancing the diets of the animals, finding quality foods, and preparing the food to the animals’ liking.

Foreign foods can cause a variety of health problems in animals, including nausea, diarrhea and poisoning. Fruits and vegetables that are healthy for people can be toxic for certain animals. While onions are toxic to primates, avocados are toxic to parrots, and processed foods can cause digestive issues in almost all animals.

Other items such as ketchup packets, bottle caps, hats and plastic bottles have been found in animal habitats.

“While some things can be accidental, a lot of the items found in enclosures are dropped when a guest is past a barrier and too close to an animal, which we see often,” Runnells said. “I’ve seen kids trying to give an animal an iPad, and I’ve heard kids reminding the adults about the rules themselves. It’s a lot.”

The staff wants everyone to have fun, but is more concerned with the safety of guests and animals. Visitors are urged to read the zoo rules and to be a good example for young keiki.

“If anyone wants to get rid of coins, the Wishing Well at the front of the zoo is a great place to deposit them,” said Runnells. “These funds go to The Friends of the Pana‘ewa Zoo and are used to support the zoo and its wonderful animals.”

For those interested in watching the zookeepers feed the animals, the best time to visit the zoo is in the morning. Feeding times can be found at hilozoo.org/events.

The zoo also has curated a new list of donations needed for the animals. Some of the items include older towels, sheets, plastic children’s toys and pet carriers. The list can be found at hilozoo.org/wishilist.

The zoo is open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. every day. For more information about zoo rules and regulations, please contact Runnells at (808) 959-7224.

Email Kelsey Walling at kwalling@hawaiitribune-herald.com.

HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) – A circuit court judge in Hilo is expected to defend his decision to release new evidence in the Dana Ireland murder investigation to the Hawaii Innocence Project.

Judge Peter Kubota is expected to submit his filing to the state Supreme Court by Thursday, the deadline for filing his response to the Hawaii Police Department’s petition challenging a subpoena for the information.

HPD wants the state Supreme Court to block the release of information about new suspect Albert Lauro, Jr.

Attorney Brian Black of the Public First Law Center said the justices seem ready to move quickly.

“They set a fast track for people to answer and respond,” Black said about the deadlines the court put in for Judge Kubota and the Hawaii Innocence Project to respond to HPD’s claims.

“It will be interesting to see what the court does,” Black said the justices could decline to weigh in at all if they don’t think that the police department has met its burden.

That would leave Kubota’s decision in place to release the information as part of a subpoena filed by the Hawaii Innocence Project on behalf of two men who were wrongfully convicted of killing Dana Ireland in 1991.

Kubota vacated the convictions last year. Now, the two men, brothers Albert Ian and Shawn Schweitzer, want Kubota to declare them ‘innocent’ so they can apply for compensation.

Ian Schweitzer spent 23 years in prison for the murder.

The new information at stake comes from the investigation into Lauro, who was recently identified as Ireland’s attacker using DNA technology. Lauro was a match to the sperm, skin, and sweat recovered from various pieces of evidence found at the crime scene and from Ireland’s rape kit.

HIP believes the evidence will help prove the Schweitzer brothers are innocent.

“You got a man that’s dead who can’t be prosecuted, but they’re using that as an excuse not to allow us to see what he said and other evidence that further goes to exonerate our clients,” said Ken Lawson of the HIP.

Among the items HIP seeks in the subpoena are recordings HPD made of Lauro’s interview on July 19, four days before he killed himself.

Also, there are recordings of police interviews with family members.

Lauro was first identified as a possible match using genetic testing earlier this year.

In its efforts to sway the Hawaii Supreme Court to take action, HPD said in its petition that the new developments are part of “the underlying and ongoing criminal investigation.”

HPD also said the premature release of evidence could “hinder their ability to control or shape the investigation,” as well as enable targets to elude detection, but the department doesn’t mention who these targets are or who else they are investigating now that Lauro is dead.

“They’re claiming that they have a pending investigation. They’re claiming that disclosing it will harm the investigation, but they’re just making blanket statements along those lines,” Black said.

If the Hawaii Supreme Court sides with HPD, the evidence could be secret for many more years.

Black said he was also surprised that HPD cited an exemption under the Uniform Information Practices Act in their petition, which said that releasing evidence would interfere with a “legitimate government function.”

Black doesn’t think the Uniformed Information Practices Act applies in this case because the records are part of litigation and not public disclosure.

The court is not expected to weigh in on the evidence itself but on the “standards,” according to Black.

Copyright 2024 Hawaii News Now. All rights reserved.

Vanessa Lachey and her family are relocating from Hawaii following the cancellation of her hit drama, NCIS Hawaii. 

And the actress, 43, revealed her son’s heartwarming perspective as they prepared to say goodbye to the island life. 

Vanessa, who shares three children with husband Nick Lachey, shared an understated photo of a dainty pink plumeria flower basking in the sunshine. 

‘I showed this pic to my son, he said “Wow Mom, that says so much without showing a lot,”‘ Vanessa wrote in the photo. ‘I said, “What do you see?”

‘He said, “We are moving, but we are not sad. I see happiness and Aloha coming with us.”

She added with an upset emoji, ‘forever with us!!!’ 

It comes after the Love Is Blind co-host revealed their plans to return to the mainland following the cancellation of her CBS hit drama, NCIS Hawaii.  

She shared a carousel of photos of herself, husband Nick, 50, and kids Camden John, 11, Brooklyn Elisabeth, 9, and Phoenix Robert, 7, posing in Hawaiian themed ensembles and floral leis. 

‘”A Hui Hou” ❤️ Home is where the heart is… Hawai’i, you will always have my heart! Mahalo Nui Loa for 3 beautiful, magical years you gave me and my family! Now, on to the next adventure. Off into the sunset we go! #LacheyPartyOf5 #AlohaSpirit,’ she penned in the caption.

She added an adorable photo of herself and Nick joining hands as they walked off into the sunset.

The stunning beachside photos were a hit with the actress’ 1.1million followers, racking up over 34k likes and hundreds of comments supporting her and her family.  

‘Loved NCIS Hawaii! CBS made a mistake!!’ one fan of the series penned. Another chimed in, ‘We will never forget what you have done in our hearts, you leave us with a small void that will be impossible to fill. A Hui Hou.’

One follower joined in sharing, ‘Awww, I’m so sorry. I agree, home is where your family is. But I really wished NCIS Hawaii didn’t get cancelled. We really enjoyed it. Wishing you the best on your next adventure.’

Lachey took to Instagram to share her plans of trading the island life in Hawaii for a home on the mainland on Monday

She shared a carousel of photos of herself, husband Nick, 50, and kids Camden John, 11, Brooklyn Elisabeth, 9, and Phoenix Robert, 7, posing in Hawaiian themed ensembles and floral leis

After learning that her series would not be renewed for a fourth season back in April, Vanessa took to her Instagram Story to express her disbelief and confusion.

‘Gutted, confused, blindsided,’ the leading lady wrote over an NCIS: Hawai’i logo at the time. 

‘Grateful, confident, beloved fans! said the actress who starred as Special Agent in Charge Jane Tenant, continued, adding, ‘Processing this news and still being present with my family. I Love You all,’ and ending with the traditional ‘Mahalo Nui Loa.’

CBS made the announcement just days prior, ending any hope the cast and crew would be able to bring the franchise to a natural end with a fourth and final season.

The show was the first in the NCIS franchise to be lead by a woman and the first to not receive a proper sendoff. 

She added an adorable photo of herself and Nick joining hands as they walked off into the sunset

Her and her family’s big move come after CBS cancelled her hit drama NCIS Hawaii after the release of season three in April; Vanessa seen in 2022

‘Gutted, confused, blindsided,’ the leading lady wrote over an NCIS: Hawai’i logo at the time; seen in 2022

Overall uncertainly about the future of the network may have played a part as well. The parent company Paramount Global is in the process of being sold; Vanessa seen in 2022

Spin-offs NCIS: Los Angeles and NCIS: New Orleans were both allowed to bow out gracefully after 14 and seven seasons respectively.

Although NCIS: Hawai’i had strong ratings, and added Los Angeles veteran LL Cool J to the cast, the network made the decision to cut the show, in spite of producers offering to make big concessions in order to get a fourth season, according to Deadline.

Overall uncertainly about the future of the network may have played a part as well. The parent company Paramount Global is in the process of being sold.