Hawaii National Guard to deploy 80 troops to Washington
HONOLULU — The Hawaii National Guard said Tuesday it will deploy about 80 members to Washington, D.C., until early May to help support the U.S. Capitol Police.
The state Department of Defense said in a news release that the Guard members will patrol and provide security as part of the National Guard’s “Task Force Capitol.”
Last week, the Pentagon said nearly 2,300 Guard troops would continue to provide security in Washington until May 23, at the request of the Capitol Police.
The Hawaii National Guard in January sent 200 Guardsmen to Washington for two weeks to help with security after rioters attacked the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6.
The department said the latest deployment won’t affect the mission of 800 soldiers and airmen helping the state respond to the coronavirus pandemic. Nearly 4,000 other Guard members will also remain in Hawaii and be available to help respond to disasters at home.
Lawmakers consider changing McKinley school name
HONOLULU — State lawmakers will consider measures that would rename the Hawaii’s oldest public high school to remove President William McKinley’s name.
Two House resolutions seek to acknowledge McKinley’s role in the overthrow of the Hawaiian Kingdom by changing McKinley High School’s name to Honolulu High School.
McKinley signed a resolution annexing Hawaii in 1898. Hawaii became a U.S. territory in 1900 and a state in 1959.
The Hawaii State Teachers Association supports the effort to rename the school.
A House hearing is slated today for the measures.
Kauai chief apologizes after probe finds he mocked Asians
LIHUE, Kauai — The police chief on Kauai apologized after a discrimination investigation found he mocked people of Asian descent.
Kauai Police Chief Todd Raybuck, speaking in a video posted on social media, said his comments were “insensitive and improper as the chief of police.”
“In hindsight, I recognize regardless of my intent, my words have caused people pain,” Raybuck said in the statement. “I look forward to the opportunity to apologize directly to those who have been hurt by my words and I hope that we may repair our relationships moving forward.”
The investigation by the Kauai Police Commission found Raybuck violated county discrimination policies and created a hostile work environment for an officer based on race.
Both are cause for “appropriate corrective action,” said a Feb. 26 letter written by commission chairwoman Catherine Adams. Raybuck said he respects the findings of the commission investigation and will accept any disciplinary action.
Raybuck, hired in 2019, said he has sought guidance and professional assistance during the last few months “to respond better to difficult situations, and I’m committed to the work that I’ve begun to improve myself and my relationships with others.”
“I’ve made my mistakes, but I’ve always looked to learn from them and done my best to get better and not repeat them,” Raybuck said.