JON RIKI KARAMATSU

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.

On Friday, March 15, 2013, I made a speech to the Hawaii Chapter of the National Association of Social Workers in the auditorium at the Hawaii State Capitol, which had mostly social worker students from the various colleges in Hawaii. I spoke about the legislative process and my experience in trying to get ideas passed into law.

At 10:00 A.M. before the Hawaii House Public Safety Committee, I testified in opposition of SB1141, SD2 that establishes a one-year limit on the length of time an individual may remain on conditional release if charged with a misdemeanor, petty misdemeanor, or violation; clarifies under what circumstances the one-year conditional release status may be tolled pending an individual’s hospitalization; and requires public agencies in possession of information related to a defendant’s fitness to proceed to provide the information to the court. Persons on conditional releases were found unfit to proceed in their criminal trial because of their mental illness and were placed under the care of the state hospital. It is important to note that persons on conditional release are a danger to self or others and need treatment to keep this risk to a minimum. If all such individuals are released into the public after one year, the public is placed at risk. Rather, there should be a case-by-case analysis to ensure dangerous persons are still treated.

At 2:00 P.M. before the Hawaii House Judiciary Committee I had testimony commenting our concerns on SB982 SD1 that proposes a constitutional amendment to determine whether an amendment to the Constitution of the State of Hawaii proposed by the legislature has been ratified by requiring that only yes and no votes be counted and that the total number of yes and no votes tallied upon the question in comparison with the total number of votes cast, including blank and spoiled ballots cast at the general election, constitutes a percentage that is at least equal to the percentage of the total number of yes and no votes on legislatively proposed amendments using the same comparison with the total number of votes cast, including blank and spoiled ballots cast at the general elections of the immediately preceding ten years. We believe that blank votes should continue to be counted as “no votes” because often times people don’t vote in support of an issue they don’t undertsand. Moreover, amendments of the constitution should not be made easier to pass.

In the evening, I enjoyed spending time with fellow Honolulu Deputy Prosecuting Attorneys at Che Pasta restaurant and the downtown area.

On Thursday, March 14, 2013 at 9:30 A.M., before the House Human Services Committee, the Honolulu Prosecutor Victim Witness Director Dennis Dunn testified in opposition of SB60, SD1 that requires victims of crimes and surviving immediate family members to be notified of their right to participate in the restorative justice process.

At 9:30 A.M. before the House Public Safety Committee, Honolulu Prosecutor Victim Witness Director Dennis Dunn testified in support of SB509 that proposes an amendment to the Constitution of the State of Hawaii guaranteeing that crime victims and their immediate surviving family members have specific rights related to information pertaining to and participation in the criminal justice process. Also, Honolulu Deputy Prosecuting Attorney Tricia Nakamatsu testified in support of the Law Enforcement Coalition’s SB1051, SD1 that amends section 306D-4, HRS, to allow for the service of process issued by another state upon a Hawaii recipient and clarifies the following: (1) that the service of process may be upon a person or business, but not a government agency; (2) that the process is for the production of records; (3) that the process must be based upon a pending criminal investigation or prosecution; and (4) that the person or business being served must have conducted business or engaged in transactions occurring at least in part in the issuing state.

At 6:00 P.M., I attended the Annual Cocktail Party hosted by the Diamond Head Hui at Pearl Ultra Lounge.

On Wednesday, March 13, 2013, at 11 A.M., Deputy Prosecuting Attorney Tricia Nakamatsu and I met with an attorney at our office regarding dog breeding issues.

At 12 P.M. I had lunch with my friend Ryan Sanada at a Cuban restaurant in downtown, Honolulu.

At 2:00 P.M. before the Hawaii House Education Committee, I testified in support of the following: SB1084, SD1 that proposes a constitutional amendment to permit the appropriation of public funds for private early childhood education programs, as provided by law; SB1093, SD2 that establishes the school readiness program within the early learning system; and SB1095, SD2 that establishes the early childhood education program within the early learning system. Studies have shown that there is less crime done by those who had early childhood education.

On Tuesday, March 12, 2013 at 1:30 P.M., Deputy Prosecuting Attorney Tricia Nakamatsu and I attended the Law Enforcement Coalition at the Hawaii Attorney General’s conference room to discuss legislation regarding marijuana.

At 2:00 P.M., I testified before the House Judiciary Committee in support of our SB879 SD1 that amends section 621-7, Hawaii Revised Statutes, to increase the per diem payments for out-of-state witnesses in criminal cases; and 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.

Further, I testified in support of SB2 that amends the offenses of terroristic threatening in the first degree and robbery in the first degree to include the use of simulated firearms.

Lastly, I testified in support of our proposed amendment to SB192 to make Deferral of Acceptance of “No Contest” and Deferral of Acceptance of “Guilty” applicable only once.

From March 2 to 11, 2013, I had a wonderful time visiting my sister Mia, brother-in-law Mike, and my niece Elyse with my mom and dad in San Mateo, California. It is good to see Mia doing well with her medical practice in San Francisco and Mike working on his business in Palo Alto. I also enjoyed seeing my cousin Lana and her children: Kayla, Emi, and Brady, as well as Mia’s childhood friends living in the bay area. While there, I helped babysit Elyse, ran 33.2 miles in San Mateo, walked 4.5 miles in San Francisco, and finished my 3rd draft of my novel with 77,723 words. It was a relaxing and productive vacation.

On February 28, 2013, at 12:00 P.M. I attended a Hawaii State Bar Association (HSBA) 1-Hour Seminar on FASTCASE, which is an Internet legal research program for 1 MCPE credit. HSBA requires attorneys to have continuing legal education of 3 MCPE credits a year to remain licensed.

At 2:00 P.M. before the House Judiciary Committee, I testified in opposition to HB667 HD1 regarding medical marijuana. We have concerns on this bill because it creates immunity from searches; allows seven marijuana plants whereas current law allows only three mature plants and four immature plants; does not require patient to disclose on the registry card the location of his or her plant; has no penalties if certified physician prescribing the marijuana does not tell the patient’s primary care physician; and increases the amount of patients allowed for each primary caregiver from one to three.

In the evening, I attended a gathering of friends, many involved in politics under a mango tree.

On March 1, 2013, at 10:00 A.M. the Honolulu Prosecuting Attorney Legislative Team had a meeting with Honolulu Prosecuting Attorney Keith M. Kaneshiro. Today is also the First Decking Deadline for the Hawaii State Legislature in which all bills need to pass out of its final committee to still be alive this year. We have 8 out of 11 of our legislative proposals proceeding in the 2013 Legislative Session.

At 12:30 P.M., our team had a meeting at our office with Maui Deputy Prosecuting Attorney Richard Minatoya, Deputy Attorney General Lance Goto, and we conference phone called Kauai Prosecuting Attorney Justin Kollar to go over legislation that are still moving.

At 2:30 P.M., before the House Judiciary Committee, I testified in support of HB1059, HD1 that requires the court to advise criminal defendants of the effects of a guilty or no contest plea on alien status.

I also testified in opposition of HB910, HD1. One of the primary purposes of this bill is to limit conditional release to a maximum of one year, for anyone granted conditional release after he or she was: (1) committed to the custody of the Director of Health, following an acquittal for physical or mental disease, disorder, or defect excluding penal responsibility; or (2) placed on conditional release pursuant to Chapter 704, then had such conditional release revoked if the original charge against that person was a misdemeanor, petty misdemeanor, or violation. When conditional release is granted, the court makes a specific determination that conditional release is necessary, as the defendant is still affected by physical or mental disease, disorder, or defect and still a danger to self or others. The court grants a conditional release
because it feels that the defendant can be safely released only if he or she is adequately monitored and given proper care, supervision, and treatment. Without such supervision and treatment, the defendant will continue to be a danger to self or others. Rather than apply a set one-year limitation on all conditional releases granted under HRS 5704-412 in which the defendant was charged with a pettv misdemeanor, misdemeanor, or violation, the Department would strongly recommend a case-by-case review by the court, involving a thorough review of all relevant facts and circumstances. Inevitably, some cases will call for supervision and treatment beyond one-year, particularly in cases under HRS §704-412, where the defendant was previously committed and/or had their conditional release revoked. Public safety is the Department’s highest priority, and proper supervision and treatment of defendants is critical to preventing future violence or criminal activity. Instead of placing a set
time limit on conditional release, the Department respectfully suggests a standardized schedule for court review. When a court finds that the defendant may be released into the community without being a danger to self or others, then it is within the court’s powers to discharge him or her at that time. For all the foregoing reasons, the Department of the Prosecuting Attorney of the City and County of Honolulu opposes HB910, HD1.

On Wednesday, February 27, 2013, at about 2:00 P.M., I continued my Assault in the Third Degree trial for a second day where three young men assaulted another young man for about 15 to 20 minutes. I got a conviction for one of the co-defendants in January 2013 when he last-minute pled “no contest.” I’m just amazed how physically violent humans are.

After work I exercised with Tricia Nakamatsu at the Honolulu Club where I did strength training for my abs, chest, and triceps. I also ran 4.12 miles on the treadmill.

In the evening, I went to Waikele McDonald’s to try the Fish McBites. I observed a Haole man probably in his 60s swearing the “F” word because he was waiting for his apple pie. Later another man who was Filipino and probably in his 60s or 70s got upset for waiting for his chocolate sundae. I felt so bad for the young man trying his best at the cashier. Humans get upset for such minor things and it’s unfortunate that some don’t mature with age. These guys are in their 60s and 70s and are such terrible examples for our younger generations.

I wonder about the human race. I try to understand why people are so easily filled with anger and hatred, and lash out at other humans through verbal or physical violence. I’m so disappointed.

It’s lonely nights like this that I wish I could spend time with my late grandpa Tadao Sakai who was the kindest person I have ever known. He passed away in 1999 at the age of 85. Whenever I was with him, I felt at peace. My grandpa didn’t have to say anything – just being with him was comforting. If only I could have one more moment with him. I miss my grandpa so much.

On Monday, February 25, 2013 at 1:30 P.M. before the House Finance Committee, I testified in opposition to HB275 HD1 that proposes a constitutional amendment authorizing the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court to appoint retired judges and justices as emeritus judges, permitting the appointed judges and justices to serve as temporary judges in courts no higher than the court level that they reached prior to retirement and for terms not to exceed three months per appointment. While the Department of the Prosecuting Attorney of the City and County of Honolulu supports judges and justices who are knowledgeable of the law and respectful to attorneys, staff, and witnesses pursuant to the Hawaii Revised Code of Judicial Conduct, the department notes that the mandatory retirement of judges and justices who reach the age of 70 provides opportunity for judicial nominees who have a fresh approach in analyzing the laws and a strong commitment to treating all participants in the court in a professional manner. Moreover, the mandatory retirement of age 70 for justices and judges is sometimes our only opportunity for change. By bringing back justices and judges who were forced to retire upon reaching the age of 70, we slow down this transition of leadership.

I also testified in support of HB1027 HD1 that requires absentee voters to affirm by signature that the ballot was completed in secrecy and without influence from other; requires absentee ballots to include information regarding election fraud, voter fraud, and related penalties; prohibits employers, unions, and candidates or their agents from assisting voters with completing absentee ballots; and subjects special elections by mail to the same voter assistance requirements as for absentee ballots.

In the evening, I exercised for the 14th time in 2013 with strength training for my abs, arms, and back, and I ran 8.51 miles in Honolulu.

On the evening of Saturday, February 23, 2013 at the Ko’olau Ballrooms, my younger sister Lara Karamatsu received the “2013 Young Engineer of the Year Award” from the Hawaii Council of Engineer Societies. Also in attendance was my mom, dad, and Lara’s boyfriend Ross. I am very proud of her.

On Sunday, February 24, 2013 from 10:00 A.M., for the Honolulu Jodo Shu Fujinkai service and membership meeting, I made a welcome speech. After we had a New Year’s party.

On Friday, February 22, 2013 at 2:00 P.M. before the House Judiciary Committee, I testified in support of HB 411 HD1 that establishes a new part in chapter 321, Hawaii Revised Statutes, to ensure that sexual assault victims are provided with medically and factually unbiased information about and access to emergency contraception when receiving emergency medical care at Hawaii’s hospitals.

At about 12:30 P.M., Deputy Prosecuting Attorney Tricia Nakamatsu and I had lunch with Maui Deputy Prosecuting Attorney Richard Minatoya.

In the evening, I socialized with Honolulu Deputy Prosecuting Attorneys in the Traffic and Misdemeanor Division of the department at Indigo Restaurant.

On Thursday, February 21, 2013 at 2:00 P.M. before the House Judiciary Committee, I had testimony in support of HB1066 that makes solicitation of a minor for prostitution a crime; increases the statute of limitations to bring a cause of action for coercion into prostitution from two to six years; clarifies the minimum and maximum fine for a person convicted of committing the offense of prostitution; adds the offenses of solicitation of a minor for prostitution, habitual solicitation of prostitution, and solicitation of prostitution near schools and public parks under the State’s forfeiture laws; and amends the definition of “sexual offense” under the sexual offender registry laws to include acts that consist of the solicitation of a minor who is less than eighteen years of age for prostitution.

I also had testimony in support of HB783, HD1 that includes law enforcement officers among persons having a direct and tangible interest in public health statistics records to facilitate their inspection and acquisition of such records for criminal investigations. This is a Law Enforcement Coalition bill.

Lastly, I had testimony in support of HB785 that amends provisions of Act 325, Session Laws of Hawaii 2012, which allow for the service of process issued by another state upon a Hawaii recipient and clarifies the following: (1) that the service of process may be upon a person or business, but not a government agency; (2) that the process is for the production of records; (3) that the process must be based upon a pending criminal investigation or prosecution; and (4) that the person or business being served must have conducted business or engaged in transactions occurring at least in part in the issuing state. This is a Law Enforcement Coalition bill that amends our 2012 law that was in our 2012 Honolulu Prosecuting Attorney Legislative Package.