Off the News: ‘Reprehensible’ behavior by embezzler

Federal Judge Reggie Walton said it succinctly well in sentencing local embezzler Hanalei Aipoalani to 46 months in prison for stealing federal funds meant for the needy: “It’s just reprehensible that somebody would do what you did.”

Aipoalani, 42, used his former positions as city CARES Act administrator and Olelo TV executive to take away funds from needy communities and instead, buy “a life of luxury” for himself and wife, Angelita. Funneling some half-million dollars meant to help others, the couple lavished themselves with fancy cars, travel and hotels, jewelry and expensive meals. “Absolute pure greed,” the government rightly said.

Merrie Monarch spoiler alert

The test of this year’s Merrie Monarch Festival is not the quality of the hula competition — Thursday’s viewers could see that it’s beautiful — but how many people will still be surprised by who wins.

The audience glued to KFVE 6-10:30 tonight and Saturday won’t know the results until the end, but the halau do, since the festival was prerecorded, without the usual throngs watching. Can they keep the secret, or is the coconut wireless pounding it out?

Here’s to the 2022 festival, when the crowds will return. Their energy is part of the show.