Hawaii News Now

The family of a man who was fatally shot by police in Nuuanu last week has filed a wrongful death lawsuit against the Honolulu Police Department, claiming the agency is “still hiding the facts” in the case and has the burden to explain their actions.

Hawaii reported 101 new COVID cases on Thursday along with two new fatalities.

There was one new fatality on Oahu, and another on Maui.

Of the new cases, 72 were on Oahu, nine were in Maui County and Hawaii Island, two on Kauai and five residents diagnosed out of state. Two cases were also removed from Oahu’s count.

Since the pandemic began, Hawaii has seen 31,658 cases of COVID-19. The death toll from the virus in Hawaii is now 476.

In the last 14 days, there have been 1,133 new infections in Hawaii, the DOH says.

Meanwhile, the state said it has administered 1,087,674 vaccine doses so far.

COVID-19 variants are spreading in Hawaii. The highly-infectious California strain infected seven family members on Kauai.

After an hours-long manhunt Wednesday morning, police pulled a man from the Ala Wai Canal who had jumped into the waterway to evade officers. The man spent nearly six hours in the water, prompting an extensive search of the canal and drainage system under Paoakalani Avenue.

After an hours-long manhunt Wednesday morning, police pulled a man from the Ala Wai Canal who had jumped into the waterway to evade officers.

The man spent nearly six hours in the water, prompting an extensive search of the canal and drainage system under Paoakalani Avenue.

Police sources told Hawaii News Now the man is believed to be a wanted fugitive ― Jerry Andrade. He is wanted on a $25,000 warrant for second-degree burglary, according to Honolulu CrimeStoppers.

He also has at least three other warrants out for his arrest.

The state announced the launch of an inter-island vaccine passport system starting May 11th.

Former Minneapolis Officer Derek Chauvin was convicted Tuesday of murder and manslaughter for pinning George Floyd to the pavement with his knee on the Black man’s neck in a case that triggered worldwide protests, violence and a furious reexamination of racism and policing in the U.S.

Former Minneapolis Officer Derek Chauvin was convicted Tuesday of murder and manslaughter for pinning George Floyd to the pavement with his knee on the Black man’s neck in a case that touched off worldwide protests, violence and a furious reexamination of racism and policing in the U.S.

Chauvin, 45, could be sent to prison for decades.

The verdict set off jubilation around the city. People instantly flooded the surrounding streets downtown, running through traffic with banners. Cars blared their horns. Floyd family members who had gathered at a Minneapolis conference room could be heard cheering and even laughing.

The jury of six white people and six Black or multiracial people came back with its verdict after about 10 hours of deliberations over two days. Chauvin was found guilty on all charges: second-degree unintentional murder, third-degree murder and second-degree manslaughter.

His face was obscured by a COVID-19 mask, and little reaction could be seen beyond his eyes darting around the courtroom. His bail was immediately revoked and he was led away with his hands cuffed behind his back. Sentencing will be in two months.

Defense attorney Eric Nelson followed Chauvin out of the courtroom without comment.

As the judge asked jurors if they reached a verdict, a hush fell on the crowd 300 strong in a park adjacent to the courthouse, with people listening to the proceedings on their cellphones. When the final guilty verdict was announced, the crowd roared, many people hugging, some shedding tears.

An announcement from Gov. Ige on a vaccine passport program could happen Tuesday. The governor hinted at it starting with interisland travel first.

Hawaii joined the rest of the nation Monday in making the COVID vaccine available to everyone 16 and up. While the desire for the shot on Oahu remains high, health officials say that sense of urgency is starting to subside in other parts of the state.