Connors approved as US attorney for Hawaii
HONOLULU (AP) — The U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee on Thursday approved President Joe Biden’s nomination of Clare Connors to be the next U.S. attorney for Hawaii.
The nomination now goes to the full Senate.
Sen. Mazie Hirono of Hawaii spoke briefly in support of the appointment before the vote, hailing Connors’ experience as an assistant U.S. attorney, state attorney general and lawyer in private practice.
“So obviously she comes exceptionally well qualified for this position,” said Hirono, a Democrat.
Republican Sens. Josh Hawley of Missouri, Marsha Blackburn of Tennessee and Mike Lee of Utah opposed Connors’ nomination.
Hawley and Blackburn also voted against the other four U.S. attorney nominations up for consideration, for the districts of Colorado, Rhode Island, Vermont and southern Ohio.
Some Native Hawaiians objected to Connors’ appointment, saying she treated dozens of elders like criminals when the office she oversees as Hawaii’s attorney general prosecuted them for blocking a road while protesting the construction of the Thirty Meter Telescope.
Hawaii’s other U.S. senator, Democrat Brian Schatz, previously expressed support for Connors’ nomination, as have Hawaii Gov. David Ige and previous U.S. attorneys for Hawaii.
Surfboard rack fire is 2nd in recent weeks
HONOLULU (AP) — Fire officials are investigating another blaze at a surfboard rack in Hawaii’s tourist mecca, Waikiki.
The Honolulu Fire Department said crews were extinguishing a fire at a magazine rack early Thursday when police alerted them there were surfboards on fire in a nearby alleyway between a shopping center and a hotel.
It was the second time in recent weeks that a Waikiki surfboard rack has burned. A suspect was arrested for arson after last month’s fire burned surfboards stored in racks between a police station and a historic hotel. There was also a fire there less two years ago. The October fire destroyed about 500 surfboards and left behind an estimated $650,000 in damage, the fire department said.