Here are some thoughts on some Hawaii news from the last few months
1.) Diamond Head shooting & fire
On January 19, 2020, near Diamond Head, 2 cops (Tiffany Victoria Enriquez and Kaulike Kalama) were killed when answering an emergency call when a disgruntled tenant (Jaroslav “Jarda” Hanel) was believed to kill a landlord (Lois Cain) who was attempting to evict him. The house was burned, with the fire spreading to nearby houses.
In the following days, many in Hawaii expressed the thought that "this wasn't the Hawaii we knew". But really, I think most of the surprise had to do with the fact that the incident took place in an upper-class community. Not much shock would be expressed if the incident happened in a lower-income area like Leeward Oahu. Money can buy you a greater likelihood of safety, but it can't guarantee your safety.
on officer Tiffany Victoria Enriquez
https://www.khon2.com/tragedy-at-diamond-head/community-family-and-friends-remember-officer-tiffany-victoria-enriquez/
on officer Kaulike Kalama
https://www.khon2.com/tragedy-at-diamond-head/remembering-officer-kaulike-kalama/
an eyewitness account of the Diamond Head shooting & fire
Stephanie Sofos, “The Murder of My Neighborhood,” Sofos Hawaii, January 22, 2020,
https://www.sofoshawaii.com/blog/the-murder-of-my-neighborhood
on Lois Cain, the landlord who was murdered attempting to evict Mr. Hanel from her property
Denby Fawcett, “It Was Lois Cain’s Stubborn Loyalty That Likely Got Her Killed,” Honolulu Civil Beat, January 23, 2020,
https://www.civilbeat.org/2020/01/denby-fawcett-it-was-lois-cains-stubborn-loyalty-that-likely-got-her-killed/
2.) Fear of coronavirus
FDR once said "you have nothing to fear but fear itself".
It's time to fear the fear.
So many events have been canceled due to the fear of coronavirus.
Examples include
- Honolulu Festival
- Festival of the Pacific Arts & Culture (FESTPAC)
- Mariah Carey concert
- LA Clippers exhibition that is months away
All the fear is causing people to stay home in fear. This fear is going to hurt the economy much more than the disease itself!
On the bright side, the media hype is finally forcing our local bus system (called TheBus) to clean all the buses daily.
Nina Wu, “Thebus Will Be Disinfected Nightly Amid Coronavirus Concerns,” Honolulu Star-Advertiser, March 6, 2020,
https://www.staradvertiser.com/2020/03/06/breaking-news/thebus-will-be-disinfected-nightly-amid-coronavirus-concerns/
On the bright side, the media hype is finally forcing our local bus system (called TheBus) to clean all the buses daily.
Nina Wu, “Thebus Will Be Disinfected Nightly Amid Coronavirus Concerns,” Honolulu Star-Advertiser, March 6, 2020,
https://www.staradvertiser.com/2020/03/06/breaking-news/thebus-will-be-disinfected-nightly-amid-coronavirus-concerns/
3.) School employee fired for being pregnant outside of marriage
Maryknoll School, a Catholic school located in Honolulu, has fired Michelle Gabriel (middle school director PE teacher) for being pregnant but not married.
I worked as a substitute teacher at that school (via Kelly Services) several times, and I met Michelle Gabriel when she was one of the school's PE teachers. I was subbing for another PE teacher at the time.
I noticed in some of the other classrooms on that campus that there were pro-life (anti-abortion) flyers.
But when one of the school's staff members chooses life for her unborn child, the school punishes that?
It was reported that Gabriel had in vitro fertilization, but even if she did get pregnant from having sex outside of marriage .. so what?
A person who had sex outside of marriage could've easily cover-up by having an abortion in a discreet location.
If the school was serious about "choose life", they would've accepted her pregnancy and her choice to raise that child, even if they did prefer people only have sex within marriage.
Gabriel also happens to be a graduate of that school (hurts worse if you get fired by the school you graduated from), and her former classmates rallied in her support outside the campus last month.
“Rally Held for Unwed Catholic School Director Asked to Leave Because She’s Pregnant,” Hawaii News Now, February 12, 2020,
