Man gets 25 years in prison - The Garden Island

A Lihue man was sentenced to 25 years in prison Thursday, plus a lifetime period of supervised release, for four counts of manufacturing child pornography, in U.S. District Court in Honolulu.

Michael J. Terui, Lihue, will also be required to register as a sex offender. He pleaded guilty to the offenses on Dec. 12.

Kenji M. Price, U.S. attorney for the District of Hawaii, said that according to court documents and information presented in court, Terui, 38, repeatedly sexually abused numerous young children, ranging in age from 7 to 13, over a period of more than a decade.

Man gets 25 years in prison - The Garden Island

Sexual predator abused children — and treated priests who did th - Hawaii News Now - KGMB and KHNL

Long-hidden documents show how the same man, prominent Honolulu psychiatrist Dr. Robert Browne, played a central role in two of Hawaii's biggest sex abuse scandals.

Browne is accused of sexually assaulting more than 30 former students at Kamehameha Schools over nearly three decades, from 1958 to 1985.

And, the documents show, he was also treating Catholic priests in Hawaii who had been caught abusing children.
Those priests weren't turned into the police, but were often instead sent for psychiatric treatment — to be "cured" of their pedophilia problem. Not surprisingly, one priest in particular who was getting therapy from Browne went on to molest kids for decades.

Sexual predator abused children — and treated priests who did th - Hawaii News Now - KGMB and KHNL

See also::
Part I: Kamehameha Schools sex abuse victims: 'Monster' stole our childhoods  
Part II: 'Cover-up' added to pain, Kamehameha School sex abuse victims say   
Part III: Victims: Kamehameha Schools sex abuse suit is about accountability

Butler's Web: Krishna, Politics, and QNET's International Pyramid Scheme

While I am a bit hesitant to use the "cult" label, IGG does have many of the earmarks for such.  A disturbing piece considering Gabbard's rise in political power, the possible involvement of what could be considered an international crime syndicate, as well as foreign interests.

Butler's "MO was to recruit influential locals who could run for office,” Wehrheim said.

Though the IGG party didn’t formally last, the Butler group’s heavy involvement in Hawai‘i’s politics did. Elected officials who have been Butler devotees include former Hawai‘i State Sen. Rick Reed, former Maui County Councilman Wayne Nishiki, current Hawai‘i State Sen. Mike Gabbard, former Hawai‘i State Board of Education member Carol Gabbard, and current U.S. Rep. Tulsi Gabbard (D-Hawai‘i, daughter of Mike and Carol).

Rep. Gabbard celebrated Butler (now Jagad Guru Siddhaswarupanda Paramahamsa) as her “guru dev” in a video presentation for a 2015 ISKCON anniversary event. She has been recognized as the first Hindu U.S. Congressmember, and she co-chairs the Congressional Caucus on India and Indian Americans. Rep. Gabbard identifies as a Vaishnava Hindu, Karma yogi, and Bhakti yogi.

On the financial front, a key part of the Butler group’s business network - rooted in the Down to Earth vegetarian grocery chain and Hong Kong-based QNET’s alleged international pyramid scheme – is currently being scrutinized in the Supreme Court of India.

 Butler's Web: Krishna, Politics, and QNET's International Pyramid Scheme

Sacred Hearts Academy fires teacher for alleged ‘inappropriate behavior’ with 2 students

Sacred Hearts Academy, an all-girls Catholic school in Kaimuki, has fired a teacher after two high school students reported “inappropriate behavior,” according to a letter sent to alumnae on Friday .

“We immediately investigated and dismissed the teacher on the same day the incidents were reported. We notified authorities, and the parents filed a police report. This is now a police matter, and we are fully cooperating with the investigation,” Betty White, head of school, said in the letter. “We acted quickly and deliberately in responding to our students who were very courageous in reporting the inappropriate behavior of this teacher.”

Sacred Hearts Academy fires teacher for alleged ‘inappropriate behavior’ with 2 students

EXCLUSIVE: Teacher accused of abusing 52 boys now lives in Salt - Hawaii News Now - KGMB and KHNL

The crux of the matter, ",,,the criminal statute of limitations expired for most of these sex crimes, very very few Catholic priests, brothers and other clerics went to jail,,,."  With that in mind, this is now a civil matter being handled by Pfau Cochran Vertetis Amala PLLC who have compiled the attached concerning Courtney.  But as the article states, "[a] mediation process for 40 Hawaii lawsuits brought against the Catholic Church and some Catholic schools by 63 plaintiffs is coming to a close. Sources said settlements in the cases are expected cost the church and schools more than $20 million."

A longtime Catholic school teacher accused of molesting dozens of boys in three states for decades is living on Oahu, but his name and those of priests accused of sexual misconduct are not listed in the state’s sex offender registry.

Catholic schoolteacher brother Edward Courtney is accused of sexually abusing more than 50 boys from New York to Chicago to Seattle over three decades.

"Sadly, while bad, it's not alone.  There are other priests who have molested hundreds of kids," said Michael Pfau, a Seattle-based attorney who has represented hundreds of alleged victims of Catholic clergy and teachers, including 52 men in the Courtney case.

In 2013, Courtney, 81, moved to Oahu and now lives in an apartment on Likini Street in Salt Lake.

But you won't find Courtney's name or that of any priests accused of sexual molestation in Hawaii's Sexual Offender Registry, because they were never convicted of a crime.

“Because the criminal statute of limitations expired for most of these sex crimes, very very few Catholic priests, brothers and other clerics went to jail," said Pfau, who represented 52 men who sued Courtney, claiming he abused them when they were children.

EXCLUSIVE: Teacher accused of abusing 52 boys now lives in Salt - Hawaii News Now - KGMB and KHNL

Former Religious Brother Accused of Sexually Abusing Br. Rice, St. Laurence Students Surfaces in Hawaii

An ex-Catholic brother and teacher who left a trail of sex abuse complaints from New York to Chicago to Seattle, has surfaced in Hawaii.

Throughout his three decades as a member of the Irish Christian Brothers, Br. Edward Courtney was badgered by allegations that he had sexually abused children, including students at Chicago’s Brother Rice High School and St. Laurence High School in Burbank.
,,,

According to the Los Angeles Times, Roman Catholic investigators aided by the FBI, claim to have put in over 1,000 hours compiling a list of 77 priests, brothers, deacons and nuns reported to have abused children in the Seattle Archdiocese. Courtney’s whereabouts were listed as unknown. Nobody knew if he was dead or alive.

Until now. Courtney, who is now about 81, reportedly sold his Seattle-area home in 2013 and signed a sales document notarized in Hawaii, the Los Angeles times revealed.

His name and phone number are also listed in the Honolulu phone book.

“These guys [the Irish Christian Brothers] knew in spades how bad this guy was,” Seattle-attorney Jason Amala said in a 2012 interview with Patch. “It wasn’t a case of ‘Oh, it was the ‘70s, we didn’t know any better.’ These guys knew for sure — sending him for treatment — and kept sending him back to kids.”

Former Religious Brother Accused of Sexually Abusing Br. Rice, St. Laurence Students Surfaces in Hawaii

Hawaii lawmakers: Ban gay conversion therapy for minors – LGBTQ Nation

Hawaii lawmakers have introduced a bill banning a hotly disputed treatment that aims to turn gay teens heterosexual on the basis that being gay is an illness.

The proposed law, which was introduced in both the Senate and the House, says being gay is not a disorder. Supporters of the ban on gay-conversion therapy say it would protect lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender teens from serious harm caused when parents force them into therapy to become heterosexual.

The bill would make it illegal for teachers or professional counselors to try to change someone’s sexual orientation. It would also ban advertising that promotes changing sexual orientation.

“These children, these teenagers are quite vulnerable,” Democratic Rep. Della Au Belatti said. “This is an issue because we don’t want them to be subject to further pressure and stigmatization during their formative years in school.”
,,,
Republican Rep. Bob McDermott, who took the state to court to challenge the same-sex marriage law, said he does not support the ban on conversion therapy and expects the bill to be contentious in the community.

Hawaii lawmakers: Ban gay conversion therapy for minors – LGBTQ Nation

2014 protect state/church separation in Hawaii: Vote “No” on Amendment 4 - Freedom From Religion Foundation

On Nov. 4 voters in Hawaii will decide whether the state should use public money to fund private preschool programs, including religious preschools. The proposed amendment—CON AMEND: Relating to Early Childhood Education—would amend Section 1 of Article X of the Constitution of Hawaii to allow the appropriation of public funds “for the support or benefit of private early childhood education programs,” including religious programs. The state constitution currently prohibits the use of public tax dollars to benefit private schools.

Many Hawaiian preschools are faith-based, housed in places of worship, and include sectarian curricula, teaching, and instruction. In funding these preschool programs, the state, in essence, would be paying private religious institutions to indoctrinate children far too young to decide religious issues for themselves.


2014 protect state/church separation in Hawaii: Vote “No” on Amendment 4 - Freedom From Religion Foundation

Teen Who Survived Flight Stowed Away In Plane's Wheel Well Wanted To Reunite With Mother

Initial reaction when this story came to light, "stupid assed kid." I'm certain it was everyone's reaction as well. But if what is reported is accurate, my reaction is, "the extremes some people will take to be happy."

I feel for this kid and hope they are able to come to some sort of resolution that is helpful to all involved. Although daddy dearest needs a good bitch slap for telling his son that the mother was dead.
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He was young, displaced and frustrated, and he wanted nothing more than to reunite with his mother in their native Africa.

The 15-year-old Somali boy had been arguing at home, and in the kind of impulsive move that teenagers make, he hopped a fence at San Jose International Airport last Sunday and clambered into a wheel well of a Hawaii-bound jetliner.

He survived the trip, and he has not spoken publicly about the ordeal.

But his desperation and frustration — borne from a life in a new country and new culture, all of it without his mother — is becoming apparent through interviews with friends, family and law enforcement agents.

The boy is "struggling adjusting to life in this country," his father, Abdulahi Yusuf, said in a statement issued Sunday through the Council on American-Islamic Relations' San Francisco Bay Area chapter.

"Our situation was aggravated by our displacement in Africa for many years after fleeing our home country of Somalia because of war conditions. As a result, my son was not able to receive any formal education before we immigrated to the United States," the statement said.

Teen Who Survived Flight Stowed Away In Plane's Wheel Well Wanted To Reunite With Mother

Finley Boyle, 3, Dead After Dentist Visit, Parents File Lawsuit

WTH is going on with pediatric medical care? And why is a 3 year getting root canals?

A family in Hawaii is suing a dentist after a visit for a root canal procedure left their three-year-old daughter brain dead. According to mother Ashley Boyle, she only has a few days to live.

On Dec. 3, Boyle took her daughter Finley to Island Dentistry in Kailua to undergo four root canals from Dr. Lilly Geyer. Before the procedure took place, Finley was given a highly potent mixture of sedatives, including Demerol, a fast-acting opioid analgesic. Twenty-six minutes later, the young girl went into cardiac arrest.

Finley's parents say that their daughter did not receive immediate CPR.

Finley Boyle, 3, Dead After Dentist Visit, Parents File Lawsuit