Jennifer Sinco Kelleher, Author at The Rapid City Post

FILE - A sign for the Prince Jonah Kuhio Kalanianaole Federal Building and Courthouse is displayed outside the courthouse on Jan. 22, 2024, in Honolulu. (AP Photo/Jennifer Kelleher, File)

Federal judge in Hawaii rules FDA violated the law by restricting access to abortion medication

October 30, 2025

A federal judge in Hawaii has ruled that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration violated the law by imposing restrictions on a medication used for abortions and miscarriage management. The American Civil Liberties Union argues that the FDA continues to overly restrict access to mifepristone without scientific justification. The judge’s ruling states that the FDA failed to provide a reasoned explanation for its restrictive treatment of the drug. The decision instructs the FDA to consider relevant evidence it allegedly disregarded, but the restrictions remain in place for now. The case has been ongoing since 2017, spanning multiple administrations.

Jason Momoa worked with a coach to speak Hawaiian authentically in ‘Chief of War’

October 18, 2025

Jason Momoa prepared for his role in “Chief of War” with a personal language coach who lived with him for nearly a year. The Apple TV+ series premiered in August. It’s the first major TV production showcasing Hawaiian language and culture. Momoa is Native Hawaiian but didn’t grow up speaking Hawaiian. He and other actors worked with coaches to master their lines. Experts say the series is a successful contribution to the language’s revival. While the first episodes are mostly in Hawaiian, the language is spoken less as the series progresses. Fans are eagerly awaiting news of a second season.

This photo provided by the County of Maui shows a wild fire in Maui, Hawaii, Tuesday, Sept. 23, 2025. (The County of Maui via AP)

Maui officials lift evacuations, close shelters after wildfire threat to north shore town recedes

September 23, 2025

Officials on the Hawaiian island of Maui have lifted evacuation orders for residents living near a wildfire that broke out late Tuesday. Before the situation improved, police went door-to-door evacuating residents and emergency sirens sounded. Emergency shelters are also closing as residents return home. The fire was first reported Tuesday afternoon and grew to about 300 acres. Paia, a former sugar plantation town popular with windsurfers, is on Maui’s north shore. It is on the opposite side of the island from Lahaina, which was destroyed by a deadly wildfire in 2023.

Kapua Ong does math homework at her home in Honolulu, on Thursday, Sept. 11, 2025. (AP Photo/Mengshin Lin)

Affirmative action opponent’s next target: A private school with admissions preference for Hawaiians

September 15, 2025

A private school founded by a Hawaiian princess gives admissions preference to Native Hawaiian applicants. A leading opponent of affirmative action is challenging the admission policy of Kamehameha Schools, arguing it discriminates against non-Hawaiians. Alumni and local leaders have urged the school to defend the policy, which they see as vital for preserving Hawaiian culture and addressing historical injustices. Opposition to the school’s racial preferences is fueled by momentum from President Donald Trump’s fight against diversity, equity and inclusion. Edward Blum, who is leading the challenge, filed lawsuits that led to the Supreme Court overturning affirmative action in college admissions.

A drone view shows petroglyphs carved into the rock surface at Pokai Bay, July 22, 2025, in Waianae, Hawaii. (AP Photo/Mengshin Lin)

Early Hawaiian petroglyphs on a beach are visible again with changing tides and shifting sands

July 24, 2025

Early Hawaiian petroglyphs have resurfaced on a beach in Waianae, Hawaii. This is the first time the entire panel of 26 figures has been visible since they were spotted nine years ago. Native Hawaiian cultural practitioner Glen Kila believes the resurfacing is a message from his ancestors about rising ocean levels. The beach’s fluctuating size and weather patterns likely cause their temporary exposure. Archaeologists identified 26 petroglyphs, mostly of human figures. Officials are considering how to share the petroglyphs with the community while ensuring their protection.

Calvin Endo looks out at private property behind his home where tall grass grows brown during wildfire season on Saturday, July 5, 2025, in Waianae, Hawaii. (AP Photo/Jennifer Sinco Kelleher)

Could this Hawaii community be the next Lahaina? Some residents fear a similar wildfire fate

July 11, 2025

Lahaina Street runs through the heart of Makaha, a neighborhood in a west Oahu community that’s a lot like the Lahaina on Maui that burned down in a deadly wildfire in 2023. Residents on Oahu’s Waianae coast have long known about similarities that make them prone to wildfires, including geography and dry climate. But nearly two years after Lahaina burned, there are no communities in Waianae that are “Firewise.” Communities become Firewise by organizing a committee, creating a hazard assessment, developing an action plan and volunteering time. The nationally recognized program tracks a community’s progress and connects residents with experts, ideas and funding for mitigation events, workshops and training.

FILE - This photo shows the entrance of the Honolulu Police Department in Honolulu, Hawaii, on March 16, 2016. (AP Photo/Marina Riker, File)

A lawsuit says Honolulu police are arresting people for impaired driving even when they are sober

May 29, 2025

The American Civil Liberties Union of Hawaii has filed a lawsuit alleging Honolulu police officers are arresting sober drivers in an overzealous focus on making drunk-driving arrests. The lawsuit says Honolulu officers have arrested “scores” of drivers who show no outward signs of impairment, perform well on field sobriety tests and whose breath tests often show no alcohol. ACLU Hawaii says officers are focusing on arrests even if they don’t result in convictions in an attempt to show they are protecting the public and to use arrest numbers to gain federal funding. In response, Honolulu police said they are reviewing all impaired driving arrests dating to 2021.

Jennifer Sinco Kelleher.