Maui council OKs plastic disposable utensils ban
WAILUKU, Maui (AP) — Nearly all the sales and use of plastic disposable food ware in Maui will be banned under a bill that was given final approval by county officials.
The Maui County Council voted unanimously Friday to approve the measure, which would take effect Jan. 1, 2022.
The bill next heads to Mayor Michael Victorino for his approval and signature.
Food providers in county facilities or county-sponsored or county-permitted events will be prohibited from selling, using and providing plastic disposable food ware, according to the bill.
Nonplastic alternative utensils are permitted upon customer request.
Legislation includes banning forks, knives, spoons, straws, coffee stirrers, cocktail picks and chopsticks, but there are some exceptions to the measure, county officials said.
Exceptions include plastic used for raw or butchered meats, poultry, seafood, unprepared produce or eggs, officials said. Plastic straws for people with disabilities or in hospitals, nursing homes or other care or medical facilities are also exempt.
Prepackaged foods also are exempted.
If there are no reasonable alternatives to plastic usage, food providers are able to seek an exemption from the county.
The bill’s approval comes months after Honolulu Mayor Kirk Caldwell signed a similar bill into law in December. That law prohibits all single-use plastic and polystyrene food service items on Oahu and will take effect Jan. 1, 2021.
State judiciary postpones state court trials
HONOLULU (AP) — Hawaii Chief Justice Mark Recktenwald has announced an order to postpone all state court trials amid the coronavirus pandemic, the state Judiciary said.
The order states all state trials in civil, criminal and family courts be postponed until May 29 or the termination of Gov. David Ige’s state of emergency, whichever is sooner.
The exception would be if the chief judge of a circuit court orders otherwise.
“While our community has responded well to stay-at-home orders and the results of these public health measures have been encouraging, the Judiciary must continue to do our part to protect the health and safety of our court personnel and court users,” Recktenwald said.
The Committee on Operational Solutions was also formed under the order. The committee would accelerate the courts’ capabilities to conduct proceedings remotely due to the pandemic and would plan for the timely transition to return to increased court operations in the coming months.
Recktenwald has encouraged teleconferencing and videoconferencing to address as many cases as possible and appropriate to combat the spread of COVID-19.
For most people, the new coronavirus causes mild or moderate symptoms, such as fever and cough that clear up in two to three weeks.
Man arrested on suspicion of killing his roommate
WAILUKU, Maui (AP) — A Maui man has been arrested in connection with the fatal shooting of his roommate at their residence, police said.
John Lyons, 70, was arrested on suspicion of second-degree murder, use of a firearm in the commission of a felony and a firearm registration violation.
Frederick Bacolini, 77, suffered a gunshot wound around 8 p.m. Tuesday at a home the men shared in Lahaina, authorities said.
The men were heard arguing before a shot was fired, police said.
Bacolini was taken in a helicopter to Maui Memorial Medical Center, where he died, authorities said.
Police arrested Lyons shortly after midnight Wednesday and took him to the Maui Police Department’s Lahaina station, where he was detained as the investigation continued.
It was not immediately clear if Lyons has an attorney who could comment on his behalf.