The prosecutor says he has been involved in that case and knows it did not target the mayor.

HPD used physical force against the wrong people during an islandwide manhunt in 2024, costing taxpayers almost $2 million.

UPDATED: The police commission has an obligation to explain why it put the Maui chief on leave, a leader with the state police union — which does not represent police chiefs — said Thursday.

A California cop stonewalled an internal investigation into his handling of an alleged kidnapping while lining up a job in Hawai‘i as an investigator in the prosecutor’s office.

Michael Vaituulala appeared in federal court in Honolulu on Thursday. 

The finalists include the director of the Hawai‘i Department of Law Enforcement, a police chief in Georgia and a retired assistant chief in San Francisco.

A commission subcommittee is pushing forward a major overhaul of the Honolulu Police Commission including how the chief is selected and misconduct investigated.

The state police union’s executive director announced raises for employees without the board’s permission, the union said. The move was quickly undone.

The 28-year veteran cop was born and raised on the Big Island.

O‘ahu-born Rudy Tai describes himself as approachable with a positive attitude and the experience it takes to make demoralized employees feel inspired and valued.