Stories by Bethany Freudenthal

A Westside celebration of peace

At the Storybook Theatre of Hawaii in Hanapepe, there’s a statue of the late U.S. Sen. Sparky Matsunaga pointing into space next to a little girl. Matsunaga was born on Kauai and served in Italy during World War II and would eventually become an advocate for peace, establishing the United States Institute of Peace.

Cody Safadago guilty of theft

A man charged in a crash that killed a 19-year-old girl in Kapaa last year was found guilty in Fifth Circuit Court Thursday on theft charges in a separate case.

Flood benefit concerts this weekend

Omao resident Kathleen Dahill has been writing songs since her early teens, and this weekend music lovers will have the opportunity to hear some of her music at flood-relief concerts.

Developers: Coco Palms project back on track

Developer Tyler Greene said Wednesday that with legal disputes behind them, the project to rebuild the Coco Palms Resort is moving forward with an estimated completion date of late next year.

County calls for DOE audit

The proposed constitutional amendment that would add a surcharge on investment real property to fund public education in Hawaii if approved by voters Nov. 6 would have dire consequences, say Maui County leaders.

Teachers’ union stands behind amendment

In November’s general election, voters will consider a constitutional amendment that would give the Legislature the authority to establish a surcharge on investment real property to support public education.

Man faces first of two juries

A man charged in a fatal crash last year on Kauai is in court this week facing theft charges of over $1,000 worth of goods from a fine art shop on the North Shore.

Controversial sister city?

Last Monday, Sara Duterte, the mayor of Davao, a city on Mindanao Island in the Philippines, was on Kauai signing a sister-city partnership with Mayor Bernard Carvalho Jr.

Derek vs. Mel

The debate between Kauai’s two mayoral candidates on Thursday was awesome, said Mike Martinez of Kapaa. “It’s very good. What I like about it is they were actually debating and getting their points of view,” he said.

Opposition rises to tax proposal

When voters cast their ballots in November, one of the issues they’ll be deciding on is a Constitutional Amendment that would establish a surcharge on investment real property.

You can’t be too prepared

Dr. Melinda Menezes is ready for trouble. The Lihue woman said her business created a disaster preparedness checklist for the office.

Hawaii GOP shakeup

The Hawaii Republican Party’s Finance Committee Chair resigned abruptly Thursday, stating complaints against key officials in the party as his reason.

Gas prices keep climbing

Despite another increase in gas prices this week, Koloa resident Ashley James said she’s OK with it because they’re not as high as they were about five years ago.

Probation given in sex assault case

A man was sentenced to one year of probation Wednesday in Fifth Circuit Court on a charge of sexual assault in the fourth degree, a misdemeanor, and was ordered to register as a sex offender. Barry Thomas, 42, of Kapaa, listened quietly as his attorney Samuel Jajich addressed the court on his behalf.

‘There is hope’

If there’s one thing Michele Kimura will tell you about her son, it’s that he was too good for this earth. On Aug. 2, four years ago, her son’s life ended and her nightmare began when she witnessed him jump from their 14th-floor Washington, D.C., apartment window to his death.