Shootz! Acquittals In Court, Genki Balls In The Canal And Shakas Everywhere

It’s high school graduation season, but that’s not the only reason these people are celebrating in the islands.

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Reading time: 3 minutes.

It’s high school graduation season, but that’s not the only reason these people are celebrating in the islands.

Following the Not Guilty verdict in the Kaneshiro/Mitsunaga et al bribery trial most of the defendants appeared outside the courthouse to speak with local press. (David Croxford/Civil Beat/2024)
Dennis Mitsunaga, left, and his attorney, Nina Marino, emerge from the federal courthouse in Honolulu on May 17 after not-guilty verdicts were announced for Mitsunaga and some of his employees after a two-month public corruption trial. (David Croxford/Civil Beat/2024)
Following the Not Guilty verdict in the Kaneshiro/Mitsunaga et al bribery trial most of the defendants appeared outside the courthouse to speak with local press. (David Croxford/Civil Beat/2024)
Former Honolulu Prosecutor Keith Kaneshiro, right, was also upbeat after his acquittal in the corruption case. He had received about $50,000 in campaign donations from Mitsunaga & Associates and some of its employees, and federal prosecutors tried to tie those contributions to a decision by Kaneshiro’s office to prosecute a disgruntled former Mitsunaga employee. (David Croxford/Civil Beat/2024)
Thick clouds from an unseasonable Kona Low storm system sits mauka of Diamond Head Friday, May 17, 2024, in Honolulu. The late-season weather event brought rains, floods and Kona winds to Kauai and Oahu. This view is captured on a flight from Honolulu to Kailua-Kona. (Kevin Fujii/Civil Beat/2024)
Thick clouds from an unseasonable Kona Low storm system congregate near Diamond Head on May 17. The late-season weather brought heavy rain, floods and strong winds to Oahu and Kauai. This view was captured on a flight from Honolulu to Kailua-Kona. (Kevin Fujii/Civil Beat/2024)
Kapolei High School graduation candidate Anahi Villegas, from left, and her grandmother Eva Villegas decorate Anahi鈥檚 senior portrait Tuesday, May 21, 2024, in Kapolei. Graduating seniors portraits line the fence around their campus. Anahi鈥檚 grandparents and younger siblings helped adorn her portrait. (Kevin Fujii/Civil Beat/2024)
Kapolei High School graduate-to-be Anahi Villegas and her grandmother, Eva Villegas, decorate Anahi鈥檚 senior portrait Tuesday in Kapolei. The portraits lined the fence around the campus in advance of Friday’s commencement ceremony. (Kevin Fujii/Civil Beat/2024)
Kapolei High School graduation candidates Bryson Castilio, from left, and Anahi Villegas decorate her portrait with her siblings Keira and Ethan Tuesday, May 21, 2024, in Kapolei. Graduating seniors portraits line the fence around their campus. Anahi鈥檚 grandparents Sam and Eva Villegas brought her younger sister and brother to help decorate her portrait. (Kevin Fujii/Civil Beat/2024)
Kapolei High School seniors Bryson Castilio and Anahi Villegas decorate her portrait Tuesday. They were accompanied by her siblings, Keira and Ethan. (Kevin Fujii/Civil Beat/2024)
Scott and Kristy Dahlquist of Sequim, Wash., emerge from a body surfing session at Alulu Beach Friday, May 17, 2024, in Kailua-Kona. The couple originally planned a vacation on Kauai. But they changed to the Big Island when a Kona low storm system drenched the Garden Isle and the forecast for the Kona Coast offered sunshine. (Kevin Fujii/Civil Beat/2024)
Body surfers Scott and Kristy Dahlquist of Sequim, Washington, emerge from the water May 17 at Alula Beach in Kailua-Kona. The couple originally planned a vacation on Kauai but changed to the Big Island when a drenching Kona Low settled over the Garden Isle. (Kevin Fujii/Civil Beat/2024)
Following some debate regarding whether or not the Haiku Stairs should remain, the City and County of Honolulu will begin their removal of the once famous stairs in June using the Nakoa Companies (David Croxford/Civil Beat/2024)
The Haiku Stairs, also known as the Stairway to Heaven, seen this week from Kuneki Street and Haiku Road in Kaneohe. The City and County of Honolulu will begin removing the famous stairs in June. (David Croxford/Civil Beat/2024)
The Genki Ala Wai Project welcomed members of the Haneda Malama Project from Japan Airport Building Co. Ltd., to make and then toss Genki Balls into the Ala Wai Canal. The Genki Balls are gaining worldwide notoriety as more nations become aware of their potential to eliminate pollution within bodies of water. The Haneda Malay Project is made up of 1700 employees of the Haneda airport who have pledged to send teams almost weekly to Honolulu to make and toss the resulting Genki Balls into the canal to begin the process of cleaning the Ala Wai. Photographed May 22nd, 2024. (David Croxford/Civil Beat/2024)
The Genki Ala Wai Project welcomed members of the Haneda Malama Project from Japan to make and then toss Genki Balls into the Ala Wai Canal on Wednesday in Honolulu. The Genki Balls are gaining notoriety as more nations become aware of their potential to eliminate water pollution. (David Croxford/Civil Beat/2024)
Prepared Genki Balls ready for tossing into the Ala Wai canal as part of the Genki Ala Wai Project. Members of the Haneda Malama Project from Japan Airport Building Co. Ltd., were part of a combined event to make and then toss Genki Balls into the Ala Wai Canal. The Genki Balls are gaining worldwide notoriety as more nations become aware of their potential to eliminate pollution within bodies of water. The Haneda Malay Project is made up of 1700 employees of the Haneda airport who have pledged to send teams almost weekly to Honolulu to make and toss the resulting Genki Balls into the canal to begin the process of cleaning the Ala Wai. Photographed May 22nd, 2024. (David Croxford/Civil Beat/2024)
The Genki Balls are made out of mud and contain a solution that helps digest sludge in the canal. The Haneda Malama Project is made up of 1,700 employees of the Haneda airport in Tokyo who have pledged to send teams almost weekly to Honolulu to make and toss the Genki Balls into the canal. (David Croxford/Civil Beat/2024)
The Genki Ala Wai Project welcomed members of the Haneda Malama Project from Japan Airport Building Co. Ltd., to make and then toss Genki Balls into the Ala Wai Canal. The Genki Balls are gaining worldwide notoriety as more nations become aware of their potential to eliminate pollution within bodies of water. The Haneda Malay Project is made up of 1700 employees of the Haneda airport who have pledged to send teams almost weekly to Honolulu to make and toss the resulting Genki Balls into the canal to begin the process of cleaning the Ala Wai. Photographed May 22nd, 2024. (David Croxford/Civil Beat/2024)
Some of the Japanese visitors and members of the Genki Ala Wai Project throw the balls into the canal Wednesday. (David Croxford/Civil Beat/2024)
Along with a bill that would make the Shaka the official symbol of the Aloha State, headed to the governor脮s desk for signing, the State DOT released the Shaka license/registration plate for vehicles. Kimo Kahoano came in to pick up his plate . So if you脮d like to join them in spreading the aloha while you脮re driving, maybe it脮s worth picking up the new plate from the DOT. Photographed at the Kapalama licensing bureau on Dillingham Blvd., May 23rd, 2024.(David Croxford/Civil Beat/2024)
Kimo Kahoano shows off his new shaka license plate Thursday at the Kapalama Driver Licensing Center on Dillingham Boulevard in Honolulu. The state Department of Transportation just released the license plates.(David Croxford/Civil Beat/2024)
The State DOT released the Shaka license/registration plate for vehicles. Auntie Kela Miller and Steve Sue of ID8, fix her new plate to her vehicle. It's another way for members of the public to spread the aloha! Photographed at the Kapalama licensing bureau on Dillingham Blvd., May 23rd, 2024.(David Croxford/Civil Beat/2024)
Kela Miller and Steve Sue affix her new license plate to her vehicle Thursday. These are heady times for the shaka. The Hawaii Legislature passed a bill recently to make it the official state gesture. (David Croxford/Civil Beat/2024)

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