Category Archives: Uncategorized

With Honolulu Prosecuting Attorney Keith M. Kaneshiro at his fundraiser on the evening of Thursday, November 14, 2013 at the Blaisdell Center. Please support Keith in his bid for re-election in 2016. Mahalo!

This evening, November 13, 2013 from 6:30 PM to 8:45 PM, I attended the Pearl City Lions Club meeting at Pearl Country Club. I was their guest speaker and talked about lobbying the legislature. I shared my experience as a legislator and now as a lobbyist for the Department of the Prosecuting Attorney of the City and County of Honolulu. They presented me a certificate of appreciation and some members gave me raffle tickets and their snacks that they won. I had a nice time.

I don’t know if I could ever accept death so I race against it every single day.

Every single one of us can play a role in bettering our world just by being nice to everyone we come into contact, every single day.

In my early twenties, I put aside my work in popular culture and focused on mainly law and politics, but I have come back full circle to the arts, as I feel it can best reach into the souls of the human race since too often, the clouds of anger blinds our efforts in law and politics.

On Thursday, October 10, 2013, I second-chaired a Temporary Restraining Order (TRO) trial litigated by Honolulu Deputy Prosecuting Attorney Katherine “Katie” Lukela in courtroom 8C in Honolulu Family Court located in Honolulu District Court, presided by Judge Dean E. Ochiai. In this case, the Defendant told his mother to tell the petitioner of the TRO (Defendant’s ex-girlfriend) that if she dropped the criminal charges (Burglary and Assault) against him, he would stop bothering her. The State only had the Defendant’s mother and two police officers as witnesses. We didn’t have the petitioner of the TRO. The Defendant’s mother told us she would testify only if we gave her immunity from prosecution from our department in regards to the case in chief. Honolulu Prosecuting Attorney Keith M. Kaneshiro gave us the authority to give immunity to her, which enabled us to go to trial. Katie did an excellent job in litigating the case and the mother testified honestly. As a result, we were able to defeat a motion by the Defense for Judgment of Acquittal on the first day of trial.

On Friday, October 11, 2013, Honolulu Deputy Prosecuting Attorney Lukela did a great job in her closing argument and rebuttal. While the jury was deliberating, I went with four other Deputy Prosecuting Attorneys from the Domestic Violence Misdemeanor Team to a building by Honolulu Hale to see Tammy Hurley, a staff for our team, receive a City and County of Honolulu employee of the year award from the Mayor of Honolulu Kirk Caldwell, a friend and former colleague of mine in the Hawaii State House of Representatives. Just as we were walking back to downtown for lunch, we got a call from Katie saying that the jury had reached a verdict. We returned back to court and was pleased to find out that the State had received a “guilty” verdict. We were extremely proud of Honolulu Deputy Prosecuting Attorney Katherine “Katie” Lukela’s performance. Our team had a great time bonding that day.

On Saturday, September 28, 2013, I finished the 7th draft of my novel, a paranormal romance with 78,305 words.

I was saddened to hear of the passing of Senator Cal Kawamoto. (He passed away on Sunday, September 22, 2013 at the age of 73). He served in the Hawaii State Senate, representing Waipahu and Pearl City from 1994-2004. Senator Kawamoto was a very strong man, a veteran fighter pilot, but once you got to know him, he had a fun side and was extremely loyal to his friends.

I first met Senator Cal Kawamoto in 1997 when I was 22 years old as a member of the Pearl City Neighborhood Board where he would give his legislative updates at the meetings.

In 2002, after I won my House race for the Waikele, Village Park, Royal Kunia, and Waipahu district, I got to know Senator Cal Kawamoto really well. I would put all the money I could for my district in the budget bill as it started in the House first. When the bill crossed over, Senator Kawamoto shoved even more money. Within two years, I achieved all of my priority funding goals for my district with the help of Senator Kawamoto, just in time for the 2004 election.

I remember a meeting I had with the Senator in his capitol office going over some of the bills I drafted that were before the Senate. He walked me out of the office and told his staff, “Pass the kid’s bill out.” I knew he didn’t really care for one of the bills he pushed out of his committee for me, but he did it anyway. That was the kind of man he was. Like many people, I got to see the Senator’s serious side, but my favorite moments with him were when he was smiling and laughing.

My friend, Deputy Prosecuting Attorney Loren Haugen called me tonight and said my dad was on his jury trial for a burglary in the Second Degree case. I voted on the current version of this law when I was in the Hawaii State House of Representatives. The trial started on Monday, September 16, 2013 and ended today, Thursday, September 19, 2013 with a “guilty” verdict by the jury. From what Loren told me, Judge Edward Kubo asked my dad, “How often do you see Riki?” My dad answered, “Once a week, but he comes over more often when he’s hungry.” Everyone in the court laughed. During voir dire, Loren asked my dad, “So what’s the worse thing Jon Riki did?” Just before my dad could answer, Loren told him, “No, I’m just playing.” Everyone in the court laughed again.

For week 2, my fantasy football team in the Prosecutor’s League, 455+349 won for the second game in a row and is ranked 3rd out of 12, up from its 6th place ranking in week 1.

455+349 (2-0, 242.98 points) edged BlkPajamaPrty (1-1, 266.22 points) 116.78 – 116.70 in a back-and-forth battle. They were led by Jamaal Charles who had 24.30 points and Peyton Manning who had 19.98. BlkPajamaPrty was the first to put up points and by Sunday was already out in front 18.20 – 0. That advantage slipped away after the early Sunday games and they trailed by 45.60. After the late Sunday games, the lead swung back the other way to 1.22. Thanks to 13.00 points from the San Francisco 49ers Defense, Sunday night ended with 455+349 on top.

After two days of trial on a child abuse case where the father punched his 13 year-old son over seven times and stabbed him at least three times with a lawn chair on his body, the jury returned a “not guilty” verdict on the afternoon of Wednesday, September 18, 2013. After talking with three members of the jury after the trial, I learned that they felt the discipline of a minor defense applied and they believed the father’s testimony saying that he used open handed backslaps and not closed fisted punches. My overall win-loss record in Domestic Violence Misdemeanor jury trials is now 2-3.

I entered the Prosecutor’s League, my first Fantasy Football League for the 2013 NFL football season with 12 owners from the Department of the Honolulu Prosecuting Attorney, all of whom are friends of mine. For week 1, I am currently in 6th place out of 12 teams with 126.2 points. The leader has 163.12 points and the last place team has 96.52 points.

The following was my starting line-up for Week 1 (I was too late in placing Peyton Manning in as starting quarterback for the Thursday game): QB Eli Manning of New York Giants, WR Vincent Jackson of Tampa Bay Buccaneers, WR James Jones of Green Bay Packers, RB Jamal Charles of Kansas City Chiefs, RB Lamar Miller of Miami Dolphins, TE Jason Witten of Dallas Cowboys, RB DeAngelo Williams of Carolina Panthers; K Blair Walsh of Minnesota Vikings, and DEF San Francisco 49ers.

My week 1 players on the bench were: QB Peyton Manning of Denver Broncos, RB Shonn Greene of Tennessee Titans, RB Mike Leshoure of Detroit Lions, WR Reuben Randle of New York Giants, WR Vincent Brown of San Diego Chargers, and QB Peyton Manning of Denver Broncos.

As of now, my week 2 starting line-up will be: QB Peyton Manning of Denver Broncos, WR Vincent Jackson of Tampa Bay Buccaneers, WR James Jones of Green Bay Packers, RB Jamal Charles of Kansas City Chiefs, RB Lamar Miller of Miami Dolphins, TE Jason Witten of Dallas Cowboys, RB DeAngelo Williams of Carolina Panthers; K Blair Walsh of Minnesota Vikings, and DEF San Francisco 49ers.

For week 2, I put in QB Peyton Manning as the starting QB. I am contemplating on replacing WR James Jones of Green Bay Packers with either WR Reuben Randle of New York Giants or WR Vincent Brown of San Diego Chargers. Any advice?

On Thursday, September 5, 2013, I won my second jury trial in a row in the domestic violence misdemeanor area of law. The trial started on Wednesday, September 4, 2013. The case was a violation of an Order for Protection where the Defendant went to the airport and came within 100 feet of the Complaining Witness, a violation of the Order. I currently have 2 wins, 2 losses, and 1 re-trial. Each star on my name plate represents a win against a motion by defense for judgment of acquittal after the State rests. Our team of attorneys have a 22% winning percentage, which is considered good in the domestic violence misdemeanor area of law.

On Friday, August 23, 2013 at about 6:00 P.M., I participated in my first Fantasy Football draft with 11 other of my friends at the Honolulu Department of the Prosecuting Attorney. It was a live draft at an apartment in town. The next day, Saturday, August 24, 2013, we all had to wake up early for a mandatory training for all attorneys in our department held at the law school in regards to domestic violence. After the training, I was so tired that I fell asleep at about 5:30 P.M. and woke up today, Sunday, August 25, 2013 at about 7:00 A.M.

I had a good meeting today, Thursday, August 22, 2013 with Honolulu Councilman Joey Manahan, along with Deputy Prosecuting Attorney Tricia Nakamatsu, First Deputy Prosecuting Attorney, and the Deputy Prosecuting Attorney who heads our Juvenile Offender Division. Councilman Manahan and I served together in the Hawaii State House of Representatives. I gave him a tour of our two floors of office space in Ali’i Place in Downtown Honolulu that houses close to 300 employees, which includes about 120 attorneys.

After winning my domestic violence misdemeanor jury trial on August 9, 2013, I get to hold on to this trophy in my office until the next win by another deputy prosecuting attorney.

On August 9, 2013, I won my first jury trial, a 2-day trial regarding an adult male who had a proximity and contact violation of a temporary restraining order that protected an adult female. The State’s complaining witness and defendant are… ex-girlfriend and ex-boyfriend. It was a “he said, she said” case with both of them telling different stories, but I was able to win a pre-trial voluntariness hearing to get a statement the defendant said to an officer: “I was there but I never said anything.” I also got evidence showing his proximity and contact violations using testimonial and photographic evidence. On the witness stand, I got the Defendant to say he understood the temporary restraining order. The defendant’s proof of service was stipulated. In my closing argument, I emphasized that the defendant was making excuses in violating the temporary restraining order to overcome his mistake-of-fact defense. My win-loss record in Domestic Violence Misdemeanor law is 1-2. I was told by many attorneys that domestic violence misdemeanor are the most difficult cases to win in criminal law because juries can be forgiving where there’s intimate relationships, minimize the offense, blame victims, and have biases against women victims, and there are the obstacles of having recanting victims, uncooperative victims, no or little visible injuries, “he said, she said” scenarios with opposite stories by both sides, and other challenges. Our team of 6 attorneys in the Domestic Violence Unit has won 3 times in the last 3 weeks, once each week. The belt hanging in front of my office is displayed in front of an attorney’s office who won a trial and is transferred to the next attorney who wins. Each star on my name plate represents every time I won a motion of judgment of acquittal by the defense after the State rests upon finishing its witnesses where we must prove that the State has met all the elements of the offense and has a primary facie case to continue on. I have one trial that must be re-tried.See More

On June 10, 2013, I finished my 6th draft of my writing project #1.

On Wednesday, May 29, 2013 from 8:30 A.M. to 4:30 P.M., I second chaired my first voir dire and trial for abuse of a family or household member with Deputy Prosecuting Attorney Rob Dawson in Family Court of the First Circuit located in Honolulu District Court building, courtroom 8C with Judge Catherine H. Remigio. Voir Dire is where the attorneys select the jury and for the trial, a conviction or acquittal is determined by the jury (jury trial).

On Tuesday, May 28, 2013 from 8:30 A.M. to 1:00 P.M., I called my first trial week calendar for Domestic Violence Misdemeanor with Deputy Prosecuting Attorney Rob Dawson in Family Court of the First Circuit located in Honolulu District Court building, courtroom 8C with Judge Dean Ochiai. This is where cases are pled guilty, continued, dismissed, or set for trial.

On Thursday, May 24, 2013 at 1:30 P.M., I attended my first Domestic Violence Misdemeanor status hearing with Deputy Prosecuting Attorney Chad Kumagai in Family Court of the First Circuit located in Honolulu District Court building, courtroom 8C with Judge Dean Ochiai.

On Friday, May 24, 2013 from 6:00 P.M., I attended the Honolulu Japanese Junior Chamber of Commerce’s Nijikai at Bishop Museum, Great Lawn. It raised funds for the Hawaii Children’s Cancer Foundation.

On Monday, May 20, 2013, I started typing my Writing Project #2 with 400+ words.

Congratulations to Sharmaine and Jenalyn on their graduation from Waipahu High School! I met them when they were in the seventh grade at Waipahu Intermediate School. I first met Jenalyn when I was campaigning door-to-door while I was in the Hawaii State House of Representatives. They interviewed me a number of times on camera for their Olelo video production program. Later, I worked with them on a program we did on Olelo for a couple of years where we interviewed people involved in the community at various events.

On Friday, May 17, 2013, I finished reading “The Notebook” by Nicholas Sparks. This book really got interesting for me in the last chapter.

On May 13, 2013, I finished reading “The Great Gatsby” by F. Scott Fitzgerald for the second time. Last time I read it I was in college. A very good novel.

My sister Mia bought me “For One More Day” by Mitch Albom for my Christmas/Birthday present some years back. On May 7, 2013, I read about 25 pages of the novel in the afternoon and that evening until the early morning, I completed the book as I laid in bed.

It is such a touching story that shows a mother’s unconditional love for her children. The protagonist had regrets on how he treated his mom and had one more day to tell her how much he loved her and missed her when he sees her spirit. This story really makes you appreciate your mom even more. I feel so lucky to have a loving mom like the mom in the book. I also feel grateful to have a dad who has supported my family unlike the protagaonist’s father who betrayed and abandoned his family. It made me think of all the single moms who were betrayed or abandoned by their significant others. I must have teared up a dozen times while reading this.

“When someone is in your heart, they’re never truly gone. They can come back to you, even at unlikely times.” ― Mitch Albom, “For One More Day”

On the early morning of Tuesday, May 7, 2013, I finished reading “5 People You Meet in Heaven” by Mitch Albom, which I started reading last Friday evening. It’s an easy to read book and very moving story that makes you appreciate life and understand that we all touch so many people’s lives.

On Friday, May 3, 2013, I attended the 2013 CTAHR (Univeristy of Hawaii at Manoa’s College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources) Awards Banquet at Ala Moana hotel. It was the 25th annual banquest by the college. I was invited by the Hawaii Farm Bureau Federation. I brought Honolulu Deputy Prosecuting Attorney Allen Yadao as my guest.

I attended the following Spring political events:

5/2/2013 – Hawaii House Party at M in Restaurant Row.

5/1/2013 – Fundraiser for Hawaii Senator Will Espero at Mandalay Restaurant.

4/24/2013 – Fundraiser of Hawaii Senator Clayton Hee at Plaza Club.

4/2/2013 – Fundraiser for Hawaii Representative Ken Ito and Hawaii Representative Sharon Har at Mandalay Restaurant.

3/20/2013 – Fundraiser for Hawaii Representative Kyle Yamashita and Hawaii Representative Clift Tsuji at Mandalay Restaurant.

On April 23, 2013, the Governor signed SB 870 SD1 HD1 related to Discipline of a Minor Defense as Act 31. SB870 SD1 HD1 was part of the Honolulu Prosecuting Attorney’s legislative package since 2012. This law created a list of presumptions that are unjustifiable use of force when parents or guardians discipline their minors such as: “throwing, kicking, burning, biting, cutting, striking with a closed fist, shaking a minor under three years of age, interfering with breathing, or threatening with a deadly weapon.” The legislature made it rebuttable. In the previous law, in order to be able to use the defense, attorneys had to show that the defendant did not use force that was “designed to or known to create a risk of causing substantial bodily injury, disfigurement, extreme pain or mental distress, or neurological damage.” We added lower state of mind language: “The force used does not intentionally, knowingly, recklessly, or negligently create a risk of causing substantial bodily injury, disfigurement, extreme pain or mental distress, or neurological damage.” Thus, the defense can’t be applied if the defendant was reckless or negligent as well in causing the victim subtantially bodily injury.

On Friday, May 3, 2013, I finished my fifth draft of my writing project with 77,698 words. It is the first of four books I am working on since I first came up with the story on October 11, 2006.

On Monday, April 15th, 2013 (Hawaii time) or April 16, 2013 (East Coast time), I submitted and filed my fiction writing project with the U.S. Copyright Office. I’m currently working on my 5th draft. I hope to be completely finished with my work by my 6th draft. We’ll see. Everytime I look at it, there are things I want to change.

On 4/7/2013, I finished my 4th draft of my fictional writing project that includes 78,378 words. The core of my story came to me when I couldn’t sleep on the evening of 10/11/2006 until the morning of 10/12/2006. I completed a great majority of the work in the last two years. However, I’m still not satisfied. I believe I need to go through at least two more drafts.

For the 1st quarter of 2013 ending on March 31, 2013, I achieved 6.7% of my 2013 Resolutions. I am going to keep working hard to increase the amount of goals I achieve by the 2nd quarter.

On Easter – in the evening of Sunday, March 31, 2013, I enjoyed dinner with my extended family at the Akimoto family house in Kapahulu of Honolulu, Hawaii.

On Saturday, March 30, 2013, I saw a couple of movies, went to Ala Moana Beach Park, ate dinner, and talked politics with my friend Brandon Mitsuda.

On Thursday, March 28, 2013, at 2:00 P.M. before the House Judiciary Committee, I testified in support of measure, SB978 that imposes a mandatory sentence of one year of imprisonment on a defendant convicted of cruelty to animals in the second degree involving five or more pet animals in any one instance. I testified in opposition HB68 SD1 that gives the court discretion on the maximum incarceration terms when sentencing drug offenders in certain class B and class C felony cases.

At 2:45 P.M., Deputy Prosecuting Attorney Tricia Nakamatsu attended the joint Senate Committee on Public Safety, Intergovernmental and Military Affairs and House Committee on Public Safety informational briefing for the Council of State Government Justice Center (CSG) to provide an update to the Legislature on their analyses progress on Justice Reinvestment.

At 3:00 P.M., I attended a meeting with Hawaii State Representative K. Mark Takai at his office regarding Veterans Court.

At 3:15 P.M., before the House Finance Committee, I testified SB635 SD1 HD2 that establishes felony and misdemeanor offenses for injuring or killing an animal engaged in law enforcement or corrections activities.

In the evening I had dinner with my friends Brandon Mituda and his wife Ellen Mitsuda at Utage restaurant in Kalihi of Honolulu, Hawaii.

On Wednesday, March 27, 2013, at 4:45 P.M. before the House Finance Committee, I testified in support of our measure, SB879 SD1 HD1 that Amends section 621-7, Hawaii Revised Statutes, to increase the per diem payments for out-of-state witnesses in criminal cases. It provides an additional per diem payment for witnesses from any island other than the island on which the court is located, when that witness is required to stay overnight.

I testified in opposition to SB886 that proposes a constitutional amendment to increase the mandatory retirement age for justices and judges from 70 to 80 years of age. The Department believes the drafters of our state constitution wanted to retire judges at the age of 70 to allow new qualified judges with with good judicial temperament and analytical skills to come onto the bench.

I testified in support of our measure, SB873 SD2 HD1 that will help the state collect restitution from offenders for the injury and/or damage they caused to victims. The measure would allow income withholding, tax refund withholding, and bail to be applied to restitution.

On Monday, March 25, 2013, at 2:20 P.M., I testified in opposition of HB642 HD1 that increases the amount of marijuana a medical marijuana patient can possess from 3 mature and 4 immature marijuana plants to 7 marijuana plants regardless of maturity, and from 1 ounce to 5 ounces of usable marijuana. The bill also increases the amount of patients a primary caregiver can oversee from 1 to 3.

In the evening, I exercised for the 25th time in 2013 by working on my abs, arms, and back for my strength training and running 8.14 miles in Honolulu for my cardio training.

On Sunday, March 24, 2013, from 3:30 P.M., I spent time with my mom, dad, and sister Lara at my parents’ house in Pearl City where my dad cooked prime rib and I cooked side dishes – zucchini and asparagus.

On March 23, 2013 at 9:30 A.M., I exercised for the 24th time for 2013 at Mililani 24-Hour Fitness where I worked on my abs, chest, and triceps, and ran 9.05 miles on the treadmill.

At 2:30 P.M. I watched the Gonzaga University basketball team play against Wichita State at my home in Waikele. Unfortunately Gonzaga lossed but I am proud of their West Coast Conference Championship and 32-3 season. Plus, many of their star players will be able to return next season.

In the evening, I hung out with Lina Han and Katherine Pak at Kissaten and a Korean restaurant in Honolulu.

On March 22, 2013, Deputy Prosecuting Attorney Thalia Murphy won a sexual assault trial in State v. Dewitt Lamar Long in which Defendant Long raped a 13 year old girl. In another case, Long raped another underage girl. Deputy Prosecuting Attorney is seeking an extended term of imprisonment because of Long’s history as a persistent offender.

March 22nd was also the lateral deadline at the Hawaii State Legislature where bills that are passed into the last committee they were referred to remain alive.

7 out of 11 Honolulu Prosecuting legislation are still alive for the 2013 legislative session:

SB418 that increases per diem for out-of-state witnesses;

SB873, SD2, HD1 that expands the ways the State can collect criminal restitution from offenders such as income withholding, tax refund withholding, and bail withholding;

SB880, SD1, HD1 that requires the court to impose a mandatory minimum term of imprisonment without possibility of parole or probation for a person convicted of certain acts of sexual assault against a minor under the age of twelve years.

SB978 that imposes a mandatory sentence of one year of imprisonment on a defendant convicted of cruelty to animals in the second degree involving five or more pet animals in any one instance;

HB231, HD1; SB870, SD1, HD1 that clarifies what acts of parental discipline are not applicable as a defense such as one who intentionally, knowingly, recklessly, or negligently does the following: throwing, kicking, burning, biting, cutting, striking with a closed fist, shaking a minor under three years of age, interfering with breathing, or threatening with a deadly weapon.

HB235, HD1 that amends the definition of “victim” in the victim restitution law to include certain duly incorporated humane societies or duly incorporated societies for the prevention of cruelty to animals; and

HB200, HD1 that includes an appropriation for the Department of the Honolulu Prosecuting Attorney.

In the evening, I hung out with Honolulu Deputy Prosecuting Attorney Allen Yadao and friends from the Hawaii Attorney General’s office.

On March 21, 2013 at 10:00 A.M., before the Hawaii House Public Safety Committee, I testified in support of our Honolulu Prosecuting Attorney bill, SB880 SD1 that requires the court to impose a mandatory minimum term of imprisonment without possibility of parole or probation for a person convicted of acts of sexual assault penetration against a minor under the age of twelve years.

I also testifeid in support of the Law Enforcement Coalition’s bill, SB1016 SD1 that adds comparable foreign convictions and tribal convictions to covered offenses; makes offenders who are subject to sex offender registration or notification in their jurisdiction of conviction, covered offenders under Hawaii law; makes it clear that a covered offender must register and report the offender’s permanent residence, current temporary residence, or if an address is not available, a description of the place or area in which the covered offender resides; amends the definition of “conviction” in section 846E-1, Hawaii Revised Statutes, to clarify that conviction, for purposes of sex offender registration, occurs on the date judgment is entered; creates a tier classification for any covered sexual offenses that are not clearly included within the current tier classification law; addresses the problem of covered offenders who do not have registered residences to which the post office can deliver mail and cannot receive the ninety-day verification mailings by requiring these offenders to report in person during the first weeks of the months of January, April, July, and October; and repeals the definitions of “mental abnormality, “personality disorder,” and “predatory.”

In the evening I exercised for the 23rd time for 2013. For strength training, I worked on my abs, arms, and back. For cardio, I ran 5.45 miles in Honolulu.

On March 20, 2013, at 8:30 A.M., I testified before the Hawaii House Health Committe in opposition of SB642 proposed HD1 that increases the amount of marijuana a medical marijuana patient can possess from 3 mature and 4 immature marijuana plants to 7 marijuana plants regardless of maturity, and from 1 ounce to 5 ounces of usable marijuana. The bill also increases the amount of patients a primary caregiver can oversee from 1 to 3. We believe the medical marijuana law should not be changed.

At 2:15 P.M. before the Senate Health Committee, Honolulu Deputy Prosecuting Attorney Tricia Nakamatsu and I testified in opposition to HB910 HD2, which establishes a 1 year limit to the length of conditional release for petty misdemeanor and misdemeanor charges; clarifies circumstances under which the one-year conditional release may be tolled; and requires information-sharing among public agencies. We opose the 1 year limitation on offenders being treated by the state hospital because any person on conditional releases are still a danger to self or others. Rather then an across the board discharge of offenders after 1 year, there should be a case-by-case analysis in deciding who should be discharged from medical care. I mentioned that if the state hospital does not want to oversee offenders who are deemed dangerous than at least contract an organization that is willing to treat them for their mental illness in order to protect the public.

At 5:30 P.M., together with Deputy Prosecuting Attorney Tricia Nakamatsu, Deputy Prosecuting Attorney Allen Yadao, and Mike Noguchi, I attended Representative Clift Tsuji and Representative Kyle Yamashita’s campaign fundraiser at Mandalay Restaurant in Downtown Honolulu.

On Tuesday, March 19, 2013, at 9:00 A.M., Deputy Prosecuting Attorney Tricia Nakamatsu testified before the Hawaii Senate Ways and Means Committee in support of HB200 HD1 relating to the state budget, supporting an appropriation for the Department of the Prosecuting Attorney of the City and County of Honolulu.

At 2:00 P.M., I testified before the Hawaii House Judiciary Committee in support of our department’s SB873 SD2 that creates standards and procedures for income-withholding, for purposes of enforcing restitution orders; amends the definition of “debt” relating to the recovery of money owed to the State to include court-ordered restitution subject to civil enforcement; provides priority of income withholding orders; removes court’s authority to revoke restitution once ordered; extends victims’ access to adult probation records, to include access to payment compliance records, for purposes of enforcing restitution orders; requires that any bail posted by a defendant be applied toward payment of any court-ordered restitution in the same case; and makes an unspecified appropriation to the judiciary for the purpose of enhancing restitution collection.

In the evening, I exercised for the 22nd time for 2013. I did strength training for my abs and shoulder, and cardio by running 4.77 miles in Honolulu.

In the afternoon of Monday, March 18, 2013, I won my third Assault 3 trial in Honolulu District Court in Courtroom 7B. This was a case where the defendant and two other men punched and kicked a young male victim over twenty times each until he was bloodied and bruised up. They assaulted the victim three times over the course of fifteen to twenty minutes, which occurred at Restaurant Row in Honolulu.

In the meantime, at 2:00 P.M., Honolulu Deputy Prosecuting Attorney Tricia Nakamatsu testified in support of the Law Enforcement Coalition’s HB1059 HD2 that requires the court to advise a criminal defendant of the effects of a guilty or no contest plea on alien status at the defendant’s arraignment and plea hearing, and again prior to the entry of a guilty or no contest plea or the commencement of trial.

On Sunday, March 17, 2013 at 10:00 A.M. I attended Honolulu Jodo Shu’s services. At 11:45 A.M., I chaired Honolulu Jodo Shu’s board of directors meeting. At 3:30 P.M., spent time with my mom, dad, and sister Lara at my parents’ house in Pearl City. We Skyped with my sister Mia and Elyse.