Kept losing altitude': Witnesses describe moment plane crashed near airport, killing 2 FOX8 Nicole Napuunoa December 18, 2024 Original Article Editor’s note: The above video contains footage of a deadly plane crash as taken by a driver near the Honolulu International Airport. HONOLULU (KHON ) – Two people aboard a training flight with Kamaka Air have died after their aircraft crashed into an abandoned building near the Honolulu International Airport on Tuesday afternoon, the Department of Transportation has confirmed. The Hawaii DOT, as well as the Federal Aviation Administration and the National Transportation Safety Board, are investigating the crash. Witnesses said they saw the plane going down just before it crashed at around 3:17 p.m. “I saw this plane coming from the south end and going around and losing altitude. Coming down it looked like it was like over the United Cargo and going on towards the main terminal but it kept losing altitude, kept losing altitude and losing altitude until there was a big crash. And that’s when everything was just black,” one witness, who identified herself as Sister Alicia, told Nexstar’s KHON. Hawaii State Sen. Lynn DeCoite also witnessed the crash while waiting for her husband to arrive at Daniel K. Inouye International Airport, aka the Honolulu International Airport. “I’m assuming it had taken off and it was coming back around,” Sen. DeCoite told KHON. “So when it came back around, it literally passed the yellow building that is there. And it, you could just, because I heard the sound of the engine revving as it needed to climb and it just took a nosedive. It clipped the top of the building. So, at that point, we couldn’t see the top of the building because it was still behind Delta Cargo.” In video provided to KHON, thick black smoke was seen billowing out near a building in the industrial area as federal fire trucks were seen heading to the scene from the airport. Honolulu Fire Department Chief Sheldon Hao said most of the wreckage ended up on the ground, in a parking lot. Ed Sniffen of the Hawaii Department of Transportation said early reports showed that the pilot made adjustments during the ordeal, perhaps intent on placing the plane down in a safe place, and avoiding the nearby Skyline track as well as fuel storage tanks. Flight recordings also indicated Kamaka Air 689 was in contact with the air traffic control tower when the plane reportedly lost “control.” “You’re turning right, right?” an air traffic controller could be heard asking the crew. “We are, we have, uh, we’re out of control here,” came the response. “OK, if you can land, if you can level it off, that’s fine. Any runway, any place you can do,” the controller said. Kamaka Air CEO Dave Hinderland read a statement asking for privacy for the grieving families of the two pilots and vowing to assist the Hawaii DOT, FAA and NTSB in the crash investigation. “We will also share appropriate information with the media as it is confirmed over the coming hours and days,” Hinderland said, in part. Kamaka Air specializes in cargo flights throughout the Hawai’ian islands. The company also provides chartered luxury flights, per its website.

Trump’s Actions Prompt Surge In Public Forums As Worries About Cutbacks Climb Honolulu Civil Beat Chad Blair April 6, 2025 Original Article On a muggy night in Makiki in March, as rain clouds darkened the skies above Stevenson Middle School, dozens of residents gathered inside the school’s cafeteria to learn about a more consequential storm brewing nationwide. The occasion was a town hall for the Maikiki-Punchbowl-Papakōlea neighborhoods, organized by state Sen. Carol Fukunaga and featuring two other elected officials, state Rep. Della Au Belatti and Honolulu City Councilman Tyler Dos Santos-Tam. The primary topic that evening was the draconian funding cuts that are coming out of the two-month-old administration of President Donald Trump. As Fukunaga warned in her invite to the town hall, any significant cuts may mean essential programs and services “that our communities rely on every day” could be severely impacted. Town halls are a hallmark of American democracy. Typically, they include discussions of public safety, pending legislation and neighborhood concerns. Of late, many have focused on current crises such as invasive species. But the actions of the Trump administration have raised anxiety and uncertainty to a new level. Constituents are looking to local leaders for answers — and help. Town halls are a direct way to share what local government is doing about it. For the Legislature, that includes possible special sessions the weeks of Aug. 25, Sept. 29 and Nov. 17. Those align with when Congress must approve a new federal budget agreement, which is operating on a continuing resolution until the end of September. Belatti spoke first that night, underscoring Fukunaga’s alert. Hawaiʻi and its people, she said, need to brace themselves for the harsh realities that are likely coming, especially cuts to federal entitlement programs like Medicaid and others that so many in Hawaiʻi depend on. “When we talk about what’s been happening at the federal level, and the chaos and the executive orders and saying people are going to be fired and people are going to lose their jobs over cutting grant funding — when those things come down, it affects directly our community,” she said. “And that’s the kind of thing that the three of us have been monitoring for the last three months.” “It feels like it’s been five years,” she said. Belatti, a progressive Democrat, rejected arguments from the president and his advisor, Elon Musk of the ad-hoc Department of Government Efficiency, that federal funds used locally amount to fraud, waste and abuse. She said she sees firsthand how the monies are helping people get by. “It’s actually going to communities that are doing the work that we tasked them to do,” she said, mentioning especially support for the sick and poor. Belatti choked up a little, her eyes brimming. She asked the audience to give her a second so that she could “get a little emotional, because it’s been very much a whirlwind moment in time I have never seen in my 18 years of government. “I thought Covid was bad,” Belatti said. “This is actually worse than Covid because of the chaos and uncertainty that we’re all living in.” ‘Everyone Is Hands On Deck’ Trump has been in office less than 100 days, but the speed of his executive orders and the shredding of federal agencies by DOGE have been dizzying, disorienting and unending. The biggest threat from Trump-Musk for many legislators is to Medicaid. U.S. Sen. Mazie Hirono, citing data from the U.S. Congress Joint Economic Committee, said in a recent press release that nearly 20% of Hawaiʻi’s population is covered under the health care program for low-income individuals and families. It can be very confusing to keep track of all that is going on. But in a small blue state like Hawaiʻi, lawmakers like Belatti, Fukunaga and Dos Santos-Tam are leveling with constituents, refusing to sugarcoat the seriousness of what they describe as an unprecedented and growing crisis. The idea of holding special sessions later this year, said Belatti, is to be able to respond to any fiscal shortfalls or needs that arise. While the state has set aside several hundred million dollars in emergency funding in the event it has to draw on the money to compensate for federal cuts to programs, the lawmakers said it may not be enough. Belatti said she is on calls with legislators all over the country, comparing votes and planning for what’s next. “That’s how critical this situation is,” she told the crowd at Stevenson Intermediate. “Everyone is hands on deck, because this is going to potentially affect communities.” At The Federal Level Town halls have not been limited to state and county offices. U.S. Reps. Ed Case and Jill Tokuda have been holding their own forums in the islands since Trump’s inauguration, some in person, some by phone, some online. For Case, it included a “talk story” in February where he said that Americans are living in dangerous times. Tokuda’s forums included one on Maui where she said many in attendance expressed fear, anger and frustration at what’s happening in D.C. Hawaiʻi has no Republican representative in Congress, and county offices are nonpartisan. At the Legislature, Senate Minority Leader Brenton Awa said he was not planning any town halls in his district about the Trump cuts. And House Minority Leader Lauren Matsumoto said nothing is planned during session for her caucus. “We are probably going to do our listening tour again this summer but not specifically about Trump,” she said. At the March 18 Makiki town hall some local issues — condo insurance, little fire ants, fireworks, schools — were on some people’s minds. But the Trump-Musk cuts dominated the remarks from the legislators. Belatti said she is worried that the Legislature has not set aside enough money in the event the state has to shoulder more of the costs of federal cuts. “We did put $200 million in the rainy day fund, ” she said. “I will tell you, that’s not going to be enough. It’s just not. The Senate is moving a grant-in-aid bill that’s going to potentially help address kind of the human, medical, health care resources, those kinds of nonprofits that are our partners. But again, I don’t know that that’s going to be enough as well.” Fukunaga also worried that monies set aside by the House and Senate to protect social services may not be enough. Her chamber recently passed the grant-in-aid bill, Senate Bill 933, which she described as a “kind of a catch-all bill” that would temporarily fund nonprofits that have lost federal funding or positions. But it’s only a temporary fix. When it comes to budget decisions, Fukunaga said she and her colleagues are “taking each day one step at a time, and at least trying to put different vehicles in place so that if there are specific emergency areas that we can respond quickly.” She said that the Legislature is in close contact with the congressional delegation and the governor and lieutenant governor. She also encouraged people in the audience to be engaged, and to donate time and money to groups in need. “This is really a time to start thinking about how we all get together so that we can mobilize our communities to survive whatever lies ahead,” she said. Anne Smoke, who lives in a condo in the Punchbowl area, said she was grateful for the Makiki town hall and for the work of her representatives in government. “I’m concerned about what’s happening,” she said in an interview after the forum. “I feel for all of them, because they are really carrying a burden. There isn’t probably a minute that goes by that they’re not watching to see what’s next.” “They’re on it — that was my impression — and they’re trying to prepare.” Concerns At County Level, Too Budget cuts will roll down to county level. Dos Santos-Tam, chair of the City and County of Honolulu’s budget committee, told the audience that 12% of Honolulu’s $4 billion budget comes from federal funds. The Department of Transportation Services, which runs Skyline and the bus system, is among the most dependent on that funding. What “keeps me up at night,” he said, are possible cuts to homeless services. “If they don’t have the staff, if they lose grant funding, there’s just not going to be people to go out and do these sorts of services,” Dos Santos-Tam said. Mayor Rick Blangiardi has set aside about $30 million for stop-gap purposes in case of federal cuts, something Dos Santos-Tam supports. “But I’m also deeply concerned that $30 million is not enough,” he said at the town hall. “What do we do after that $30 million is exhausted? We can’t just sit on our hands and let people in our community suffer, but we don’t have all the answers. We’re limited in terms of our property taxes.” Dos Santos-Tam said he was not trying to scare people, but he made clear at the town hall that constituents should be concerned about possible serious cuts to programs they depend on. Concerns about county funding extend to the neighbor islands, which also receive funding from D.C. Heather Kimball is a Hawaiʻi County Council member and president of the Hawaiʻi State Association of Counties. She and state Rep. Matthias Kusch held a town hall at Honokaʻa People’s Theatre March 30, one of several held recently by area lawmakers on the Big Island. Kimball told Civil Beat that about 10% of Hawaiʻi County’s revenue comes from intergovernmental sources that are the direct result of federal funding that passes through the state to the county. That figure currently is around $96 million, and Kimball said the county officials are concerned “about how much of that is actually going to come through, directly or indirectly.” Like Dos Santos-Tam, she said cuts would primarily strike mass transit, housing and social services. Kimball said she is not yet at a “point of panic.” “I strongly believe in the constitutional protections of a three-branch system and the role of bureaucracy, and it’s getting tested regularly,” she explained. “Let me say that optimism is tested regularly on a daily basis.” Kimball also spoke at an online briefing March 28 sponsored by the Hawaiʻi Alliance of Nonprofits, where she elaborated on her concerns about federal cuts — namely, to Medicaid. “From our standpoint, health services are primarily managed through the state, but the indirect impacts of reduction in funding and SNAP benefits, TANF benefits or other Medicaid services could have an impact on the ability of the state to pass through some critical funding to all four counties.” Kimball’s advice to the counties and nonprofits that received federal funds for Covid relief and under the Inflation Reduction Act is to make sure those monies are encumbered so that they can be used as intended. Up Next Belatti said the Makiki town hall was just one example of community engagement. Up next for her is a forum set for Wednesday evening at Waiwai Collective on University Avenue. “Our Kuleana: Fighting for Hawaiʻi’s Future,” which will focus on federal and state budget cuts, features Kai Kahele, chair of the Office of Hawaiian Affairs Board of Trustees; Deb Zysman, Hawaii Children’s Action Network’s executive director; Noelani Goodyear-Ka‘opua, a UH Mānoa professor; Will White from Hawaii Appleseed; and state Rep. Tina Grandinetti. The forum will be moderated by state Rep. Ikaika Hussey. Echoing other lawmakers, he told Civil Beat the state is not only facing the likelihood of huge cuts to federal monies but also a reduced revenue stream locally. “There’s the revenue that we’re no longer getting because of the tax reforms that were just passed in the last session,” he said. “So there’s a pretty hefty amount that we need to cover.” That conversation, said Hussey, should include discussion of shifting away from depending on imports by growing the size of the local economy.

Honolulu City Council ‘reaffirms’ opposition to landfill over aquifer Honolulu Star - Advertiser Ian Bauer January 11, 2025 Original Article Over 20 years ago a prior Honolulu City Council passed a resolution that stated municipal solid waste landfills should not be located in proximity to Oahu’s underground drinking water sources. In 2003, Resolution 9 was adopted to safeguard Oahu’s important water resources. At the time, the policy was supposedly prompted by concerns that even with the best landfill technologies, the risk of hazardous materials contaminating the island’s freshwater aquifer could, over time, potentially harm public health and safety. The city’s policies, however, also can change over time. On Dec. 10, Mayor Rick Blangiardi’s administration announced its intent to site the city’s next dump on active agricultural land owned by Dole Food Co. Hawaii near Wahiawa. The site — west of Kamehameha Highway and north of Paalaa Uka Pupukea Road — is also about 800 feet above Oahu’s freshwater aquifer, according to Board of Water Supply Manager and Chief Engineer Ernie Lau. To that end, Lau has expressed opposition to the planned landfill site’s location, due to its proximity to the island’s primary supply of drinking water. Others, like Council Vice Chair Matt Weyer and Council member Radiant Cordero, agree. On Jan. 2 the pair introduced Resolution 3, meant to reaffirm the city’s 2003 policy against landfills near underground freshwater sources. Weyer, whose Council District 2 includes Wahiawa as well as the North Shore, told the Honolulu Star-Advertiser that he wants the city administration to revisit its landfill siting decision. “Before we spend taxpayer money, before we go down a path that isn’t workable, we just kind of want to provide the pathway to take this off the table and move on to other locations and have that discussion with the community,” he said. Weyer said he’s had “conversations with the mayor’s administration, and they know my concerns” over the landfill’s siting in Wahiawa. “They feel that they can operate it safely, and they believe it’s the only legal pathway (to have a landfill),” he said. “But when we look at the Board of Water Supply’s position, we definitely stand with them, recognizing that they do have authority to reject a potential landfill site.” Cordero, whose Council District 7 includes Halawa and Red Hill, noted the urgency in preventing more contamination from entering Oahu’s freshwater supply. “Placing a solid waste landfill over our city’s aquifer would be both counterproductive and reckless,” she said in a statement. “After the Red Hill Bulk Fuel Storage Facility leak in my district, our communities across the island are still recovering.” But the city contends a new landfill on Oahu is necessary. And the Wahiawa site, the city argues, allows it to continue to handle the island’s estimated 225,000 tons of solid waste and related materials it puts into its dump each year. City officials say they hope to negotiate a purchase of about 150 acres — the amount of land needed for a solid waste landfill — out of what they described as an approximately 2,360-acre parcel now owned by Dole. Dole has publicly stated opposition to the city locating a landfill on its actively used agricultural lands in Wahiawa. However, the company has indicated to the city it has unused lands for sale nearby. At the state Capitol on Tuesday, city Managing Director Mike Formby and city Department of Environmental Services officials addressed lawmakers with the city’s reasons to have the next dump on Dole lands. City officials said it was due, in part, to a state- imposed Dec. 31 deadline to find an alternate site, ahead of the planned closure of the 35-year-old Waimanalo Gulch Sanitary Landfill in Kapolei, in accordance with a 2019 decision and order by the state Land Use Commission. That West Oahu dump is set to close in 2028, though the landfill will not reach full capacity until 2032, the city said. At the same meeting, BWS’ Lau noted a U.S. Geological Survey study conducted in 2003, which states all landfills eventually leak — often dispersing into the environment harmful chemicals like arsenic as well as PFAS, or so-called “forever chemicals,” linked to illnesses like cancer. BWS must evaluate the proposed landfill site and, based on its proximity to potable water sources, may approve or reject the proposal. Previously, BWS objected to the city siting a landfill within its so-called “no-pass zone,” an area that covers the interior of the island where Oahu’s potable water aquifer is located. During the joint meeting of the House Committee on Energy and Environmental Protection and the Senate Committee on Agriculture and Environment, state Sen. Mike Gabbard, chair of the Senate’s committee, asked, “Who has the final say, the Board of Water Supply, City Council, the mayor? Where does it end?” Formby replied the city has set out a plan “to exhaust as many options as we could, respecting the rule of law.” The city, he said, has not “formally made a recommendation for this proposed site to (BWS) yet.” He added, “Whether or not that gets challenged, and (Chief Engineer Lau) might write us a letter and say, ‘For your specific proposal, I say no,’ in which case, we would appeal that to the (BWS’ board of directors).” Formby said the board also “has the ability to actually override the chief engineer, which would then give us a green light for this proposed site.” Meanwhile, Weyer said a public town hall meeting over the proposed landfill site will be held 6-8 p.m. Wednesday at Wahiawa Elementary School’s cafeteria, 1402 Glen Ave. BWS’ Lau, state officials and Dole company representatives will be in attendance at that meeting, he said. The Council’s Committee on Housing, Sustainability, Economy and Health is also expected to review Resolution 3 at 1 p.m. Tuesday inside City Council Chambers, 530 S. King St.

Bridging Land and People: Creating Connections for a Better Tomorrow The Office of the Governor July 1, 2025 Original Article A new elevated walkway was officially opened on May 22 on Ala Moana Boulevard. “From our perspective, this quintessential pedestrian bridge literally connects Kaka‘ako Mauka to Kaka‘ako Makai, extending the safe walkability of this well-planned live, work, play community for kama‘āina and visitors alike,” said Hawai‘i Community Development Authority Executive Director Craig Nakamoto. The Hawai‘i Department of Transportation (HDOT), with its contractors, built the $26 million bridge with a $17.8 million federal grant and $6 million from Howard Hughes. The state covered the balance. “Connecting our community has always been at the heart of Ward Village, which is why the new elevated walkway is such a meaningful step forward,” said Doug Johnstone, president of the Hawai‘i region for Howard Hughes. “Our collaboration with the state DOT and the Federal Highway Administration has helped create a welcoming, safe link between Ward Village and Ala Moana, expanding access to public parks and improving the pedestrian experience.” Photo courtesy: Ward Village The site was selected, in part, because the Hawai‘i region for Howard Hughes was willing to dedicate land on the mauka side of Ala Moana Boulevard to construct an elevated walkway, and HCDA owns the land on the makai side. “You know, they say it takes the village. No! It doesn’t take a village. It takes committed partners,” said Senator Sharon Moriwaki. “So, thank you, Howard Hughes, thanks to the state DOT. Thank you, Ed, for taking the initiative to get Federal Highway money so that we paid just a small portion.” Jon Nouchi, deputy director of the City and County of Honolulu Department of Transportation Services said, “Our federal, state, city and community partners are aligned and unwavering in their commitment, in our commitment to safety and projects which enhance already great communities.” Construction of the elevated pedestrian walkway began in May of 2022. It was completed and opened on May 22, 2025.

Hamakua Energy Plant sold Hawaii Tribune-Herald JOHN BURNETT March 12, 2025 Original Article The parent company of Hawaiian Electric Co., Hawaiian Electric Industries Inc., has sold the 60-megawatt Hamakua Energy Plant to a subsidiary of Harbert Management Corp. Financial details of the transaction were not disclosed, but HEI said the sale isn’t expected to have a material impact on company finances. The Honokaa power plant was owned by Pacific Current LLC, a subsidiary of HEI. In previous news releases, HECO has referred to Hamakua Energy as the electric company’s “largest independent power producer.” Harbert, based in Birmingham, Ala., is an investment management firm with longstanding holdings of power-generating facilities, including an ownership stake in the 208-megawatt Kalaeloa Partners LP co-generation plant on Oahu since 1997. “We believe Harbert’s depth of experience in owning and operating power plants and being a good partner with utilities, including in our state, will serve the Hamakua Energy Plant and Hawaiian Electric well in their missions to supply power for the people of Hawaii Island and support the island’s transition to an increasingly renewable energy future,” said HEI CEO Scott Seu in a statement. “This sale is a further step toward simplifying HEI’s strategy and regulatory position as we focus on our core utility business.” According to a March 3 blog entry by Henry Curtis, an environmental activist and executive director of Life of the Land, HEI — which had banking, shipping and real estate interests — has been selling off its assets and now owns only HECO, the electric utility for Oahu, Maui and Hawaii Island. In an earnings announcement last month, HECO reported a net loss of $1.4 billion for 2024, partly due to being tagged with a $1.9 billion share in payouts to victims of the August 2023 Maui wildfires that killed 102 people. The power company reported a net income of $199 million in 2023. After its credit rating plummeted to junk-bond status, HECO asked legislators this session for a $1 billion fund as a hedge against future wildfire liability, to be paid for by a small fee on its customers. One measure, House Bill 982, which has passed over to the Senate, would limit amounts customers could collect in lawsuits or administrative settlements. A companion measure, Senate Bill 1201, didn’t receive a hearing from the Ways and Means committee and missed the first crossover. The utility claims it can’t pay another catastrophic wildfire settlement without the requested fund. HECO — which said in a Securities and Exchange Commission filing that it can’t afford to pay a dividend to HEI — compensated Shelee Kimura, HECO’s president and CEO, with $1.25 million in salary and bonuses in 2024. Four HECO vice presidents collected from nearly $600,000 to more than $900,000 in salary and bonuses. The Hamakua Energy Plant, which provides about a third of the Big Island’s 180-megawatt peak electricity demand, went offline in late February 2024. A Hamakua Energy spokesperson attributed the plant’s failure to “mechanical issues with our generators.” The outage occurred at the same time HECO’s Keahole generator — which, according to Hawaiian Electric’s website, contributes 77 megawatts to the grid — was on the mainland being overhauled. On March 25, 2024, the utility asked customers to reduce their power consumption through at least mid-April, a time period that included Hilo’s signature event, the weeklong Merrie Monarch Festival. Low generation capacity forced HECO to initiate forced outages known as rolling blackouts on the Big Island on Jan. 8, Feb. 13 and March 14, 2024. Three state lawmakers wrote the PUC on March 15, 2024, calling for an investigation of HECO, noting that 21,000 customers were affected by the rolling blackouts on the Big Island the previous night and another 13,000 on Oahu who lost power a week earlier. “The lack of reliability due to insufficient energy generation, HECO’s aging equipment, unreliable oil-fired power generation, and immediate and long-term solutions should be investigated,” the letter by Sens. Glenn Wakai, Jarrett Keohokalole and Lynn De Coite, all Democrats, stated. The Merrie Monarch Festival and its signature hula competition were not impacted by outages, and HECO announced a public end to the Big Island’s power shortage on April 25. In early September 2024, former owners Pacific Current announced that Hamakua Energy — which used biodiesel to generate between a quarter and a third of its Honokaa plant’s electrical power — was converting its facility to use 100% renewable fuels. The state has set a goal of 100% renewable energy by 2045. Email John Burnett at jburnett@hawaiitribune-herald.com .

Auto-Enroll for the Hawaii Retirement Savings Program Clears Another Hurdle ASPPA John Lekel April 2, 2025 Original Article Legislation that would shift the Hawaii Retirement Savings Program from one requiring employees to opt in if they want to participate to one in which they instead would be automatically enrolled and would have to opt out if they do not want to participate has the imprimatur of a Senate committee. That’s unanimous imprimatur, actually — the Finance Committee of the Hawaii Senate recommended that SB 855 be passed without amendment in a 14-0 vote on April 1. Assistant Majority Whip Henry Aquino (D-Waipahu) introduced SB 855 on Jan. 17, a measure that would amend the Hawaii Retirement Savings Program, the program out in place to provide retirement plan coverage to private-sector employees in Hawaii whose employers don’t have a plan of their own in place. SB 855 would clarify the definition of "covered employer" under the Hawaii Retirement Savings Act by requiring that covered employers automatically enroll covered employees into the Hawaii Retirement Savings Program unless the covered employee chooses to opt out. It also would repeal the limit on the total fees and expenses that can be spent for the program each year. It also would appropriate funds to the Department of Labor and Industrial Relations for the development and operation of the program. Rep. Jackson Sayama (D-St. Louis Heights) introduced HB 847, the House of Representatives version of S. 855, on Jan. 23. Being Heard The Finance Committee held a public hearing on SB 855 on April 1. Kale Lopez, State Director for AARP Hawaii, in her in-person testimony, called it a “problem” that the Hawaii Retirement Savings Act, the measure that creates the Hawaii Retirement Savings Program, requires people to opt in to the program. “There’s no employer-funded program where you have your employees easily opting in if you want to help them save for retirement,” Lopez said, adding that such an approach enables employees to acknowledge that while the program makes it easy for them to save, but allows them to fall prey to the feeling that they “don’t want to.” Lopez indicated to the committee that an opt-out approach will yield better results, testifying that “across the country, the opt-out program has demonstrated at least 80% of employees who are offered the program choose to actually save.” In Writing Caroline Cadirao Director, Executive Office on Aging (EOA) — an agency that is part of the Hawaii Department of Health — quantified the possible impact of the program, testifying that it “will help about 173,000 private sector workers save money for retirement.” Like Lopez, Cadirao endorsed the opt-out approach, writing that “automatic enrollment in a retirement savings program is considered a ‘best practice’ in the industry and will enable more employees to save for their future.” She added that approach also will allow employees to make informed decisions and “make proactive choices about their financial future.” Not only does “opt-out” boost participation, suggested Gary Simon, a member of the Policy Advisory Board for Elder Affairs (PABEA) — an appointed board that advises the EOA — it also results in higher overall contribution rates than those seen in plans for which enrollment is voluntary. “Automatic enrollment of employees into the program is critical to the feasibility of the program,” wrote Brian Taniguchi, a member of the Hawaiʻi Retirement Savings Board, the body that administers the Hawaii Retirement Savings Program. Lopez struck a similar tone, writing, “it is critical now that the proposed amendments in S.B. 855, SD1, HD1 are adopted by the legislature to ensure the success of the Hawaii Retirement Savings Program.” Small Business Concerns Taniguchi reported that in a survey Hawaii Retirement Savings Task Force conducted, many small business owners agreed that “being able to offer a voluntary, portable retirement savings program would help local small businesses attract and retain quality employees and stay competitive.” Tina Yamaki, President of the Retail Merchants of Hawaii, had a different take on the effect of the measure on small businesses. She said her organization is concerned that the change in enrollment approach could increase burdens on small businesses. “Implementing and managing such programs incurs ongoing costs for businesses, particularly challenging for those with high turnover rates, such as customer service roles. Whether managed internally or through third-party services, the financial strain is considerable, with additional expenses incurred to opt employees in and out of the program,” Yamaki said in her written testimony. Pamela Tumpap, President of the Maui Chamber of Commerce, expressed a similar view. That chamber, she said, supported the Hawaii Retirement Savings Act when the “because we understand the importance of retirement savings” and that they “greatly appreciated that the program required employees to opt in, as it reduced the burden on businesses.” But implementing and managing a program in which employees instead opt-out, she said, would incur costs on small businesses which she said “can be particularly challenging for those with high turnover rates, such as in customer service roles.” The Bottom Line “To secure their finances, retirees must have sufficient savings to cover their living expenses, inflationary costs, as well as medical or other emergencies,” wrote retired human resources manager Merle Minami-Shima, on behalf of AARP Hawaii. She continued, “Without adequate savings retirees will have no choice but to rely on others to help them with their financial needs and may even have to turn to the government to fill in the gaps. Jeff Gilbreath Executive Director Hawaiʻi Community Lending (HCL), a nonprofit community development financial institution that makes grants and loans to help local people build, buy, and save homes from foreclosure, called saving for retirement “crucial to ensure security” against emergencies. He added that it would benefit the state as a whole as well, since it would “collectively slow outmigration of our local people.” “There is an urgent need to provide a viable option for private sector workers to have access to a retirement savings plan,” wrote Taniguchi. Finding out More Previous coverage of SB 855 is available here and here . Written testimony submitted for the April 1 hearing is available here . A video of the April 1 hearing is available here . Information about SB 855 is available here .

New mobile pantry fills gaps in access to kupuna and families The Garden Island Dennis Fujimoto June 26, 2025 Original Article Reminiscent of the “yasai trucks” of the rural plantation camps and towns, the Hawaii Foodbank Kauai held a Mobile Food Pantry blessing by Kahu Jade Waialeale Battad on Tuesday, under weather conditions that started out threatening before ending in a downpour at the Kauai Philippine Cultural Center. The Mobile Food Pantry is designed to expand access to nutritious food in rural and underserved communities across the island. With the attendance of key dignitaries, including Kauai Council Chair Mel Rapozo, Senate President Ron Kouchi, Speaker of the House Nadine Nakamura, and Hawaii Foodbank President and CEO Amy Miller, the blessing and launch of the innovative mobile unit highlights a significant step forward in efforts to reduce food insecurity and improve health outcomes for thousands of Kauai residents. “Food insecurity affects one in four households on Kauai and one in three keiki,” said Wes Perreira, the Hawaii Foodbank Kauai Director. “Filling gaps and reaching all of our families and neighbors on the Garden Island is a major priority for Hawaii Foodbank Kauai. This Mobile Food Pantry is an innovative tool in making sure no family is left behind — no matter where they live.” The fully equipped 16-foot refrigerated vehicle functions as a grocery-style food pantry on wheels, allowing families and individuals to choose the food that best meets their needs. The Mobile Food Pantry will travel to communities with limited access to full-service grocery stores or regular food distribution points, helping remove transportation barriers and ensuring equitable access to fresh, healthy food. The truck will visit partner sites throughout the island on a regular schedule, offering a wide range of food items, including fresh produce, proteins, dairy products, and shelf-stable goods. The vehicle is generator-powered and self-sufficient, enabling Hawaii Foodbank Kauai to respond quickly during times of disaster or emergency. The press release states this new effort is part of Hawaii Foodbank’s broader mission to nourish ohana today and work to end hunger tomorrow. It reflects the organization’s deep commitment to increasing access to safe and healthy foods, broadening the approach to expand food distribution in identified areas of need, and strengthening community resilience. “Food insecurity across Hawaii — and especially on Kauai — is a complex issue, and it is important we understand the challenges uniquely faced by our local families, neighbors, and communities,” Miller said. “Most immediately, this new Mobile Food Pantry allows us to expand our reach and distribute more nutritious food to areas of need. In addition to that, it is a powerful example of our community coming together to create solutions that are centered on dignity, health, and choice.” The Mobile Food Pantry was made possible through Grant-in-Aid funding from the State of Hawaii, along with the generosity of local donors, volunteers, and agency partners committed to ending hunger on Kauai.

Is HECO’s Monopoly Over? New Law Could Change Power Market Civil Beat Stewart Yerton July 8, 2025 Original Article Hawaiian Electric Co.’s century-long hold on Hawaiʻi’s electricity market soon will change in a major way, creating a potential path to lower rates for businesses and residents. Starting in 2027, HECO will be required to let independent electricity producers use its grid to deliver electricity directly to customers for a fee, potentially ending the utility’s standing as the sole choice for most electric consumers in the state. Under the current system, producers must sell electricity at a wholesale price to HECO, which pools it to sell to customers at a higher rate. Gov. Josh Green signed the groundbreaking bill on Thursday, despite having previously signaled his intent to veto the measure. It remains to be seen to what extent the new system will lead to significant savings for residential customers. A previously passed law allowing renters to buy power from community solar farms, for instance, has gone nowhere , hampered by what critics say are untenable rules. But even critics of the new law have said it could generate savings for some customers. State Sen. Glenn Waka i, who chairs the Energy and Intergovernmental Affairs Committee and sponsored the bill , said the measure was meant to introduce competition in Hawaiʻi’s electricity market and reduce costs in a state where customers pay the nation’s highest costs for electricity — more than three times the national average. “We have for more than 100 years been at the mercy of HECO for our electricity needs, and we’ve seen in recent times that the delivery of that electricity has been very unreliable and very, very expensive,” Wakai said. “In the next two years, come 2027, all HECO’s customers will have an option of buying from someone other than HECO.” “I think this is a game changer to benefit the consumers,” Wakai said. Green’s office also expressed optimism. “We believe that the provisions contained within the bill will allow for greater energy choice and hopefully a reduction in costs for Hawai‘i’s consumers,” Green’s spokeswoman, Makana McClellan, said in a written statement. HECO spokesman Jim Kelly declined an interview request. Law Could ‘Really Open Up Our Grid’ The law includes several provisions to break HECO’s hold on Hawaiʻi’s electricity market, but the most important involves what energy experts call wheeling. Under the current system, developers build big wind and solar farms and sell the power to HECO under long-term contracts. HECO pays as little as 8 cents per kilowatt hour for electricity from these independent power producers, said Jeff Mikulina, a renewable energy consultant who was an architect of the law requiring Hawaiʻi to produce all of the electricity sold in the state from renewable resources by 2045. Meanwhile, HECO charges residential customers on Oʻahu almost 43 cents per kilowatt hour . Big Island residents pay 48 cents. Wakai said a goal of the law is to enable customers to pay closer to what the renewable electricity costs HECO to buy and to encourage smaller players to get in the game. The wheeling provision does this by letting independent electricity producers pay a set fee to use HECO’s grid to deliver power to customers. Although wheeling has long been allowed on the mainland, it’s been prohibited by law in Hawaiʻi. The PUC had been investigating a proposal to allow wheeling between government entities only, and Green’s intent-to-veto statement pointed to that as a reason to veto the broader bill. Green decided to sign the broad bill after the PUC said it would cancel the intra-governmental wheeling inquiry, McClellan said. Hawaiʻi’s previous prohibition against wheeling has played out on the ground at places like Green Homes Hanalei, a cluster of seven homes in west Oʻahu built in 2017 around the idea of using solar and storage to make the subdivision as energy self-sufficient as possible. Developer R.J. Martin powered each home with photovoltaic solar cells combined with two Tesla Powerwall batteries. Each home had garages with chargers for electric vehicles. Martin wanted to go further and link the homes with a small power grid that would let homeowners share surplus power with each other. But he quickly learned that would be illega l. Homeowners would have to become regulated utilities to share surplus electricity with their neighbors. “No one in their right mind is going to go through that exercise,” Wakai said. “So now, it just simplifies what has been all these walls and impediments put up by the government as well as by HECO.” Martin hopes the new law will enable him to do something more innovative in the near future: use renewables and perhaps a microgrid to power a larger, workforce housing subdivision he’s planning for West Oʻahu. But much will depend on how the Hawaiʻi Public Utilities Commission implements the law, Mikulina said. “If the PUC does it right, it can really open up our grid to some innovative renewable solutions,” Mikulina said. “This could catalyze renewable growth and really help folks who need access to this.” Critics Say Some Could Be Left Out Critics point to potential unintended consequences. A major issue involves equity. The concern is that HECO customers with the money and wherewithal to partner with an independent power producer will defect from HECO, leaving those less well-off to still deal with higher rates. Testifying against the bill, the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 1260, which works on utility infrastructure, argued the long-term technical effects of wheeling on HECO’s grid are unknown. “Further,” the union wrote, “the fixed-cost of operating and maintaining the system will remain unchanged and passed on to those left in the system, essentially increasing the cost of electricity to those who can least afford it.” Given this risk, it will be key to make sure lower-income residential customers can benefit as the commission creates rules governing the program, said Michael Colón, director of energy for the Ulupono Initiative, which supports the use of renewable energy. To address such concerns, Wakai said, the law limits the size of a wind or solar farm allowed to use the wheeling provision to two megawatts, the size needed to power about 3,000 homes. “We’re not talking about, you know, large 50- to 60-megawatt plants going and selling to all the Waikīkī hotels,” Wakai said. “That’s not going to be possible under this scenario.” “What is possible under this scenario,” he said, “is, if you have let’s say 10 acres of land that can create two megawatts of power, you are free to go and sell to the nearby residents or wheel it across the island to someone who’s willing to take it.” That’s promising news to people like Steve Mazur, director of commercial business development for RevoluSun, one of Hawaiʻi’s largest solar companies. Mazur said he’s encountered business owners with energy hogging cold storage systems but small rooftops located near businesses with huge rooftops but little electricity needs. If implemented well by the PUC, Mazur said, the new law could make way for solar panels on the large roof to power the neighboring business. “These rooftops are sitting there empty,” he said. “There has to be something to entice them.” Civil Beat’s coverage of climate change and the environment is supported by The Healy Foundation, the Marisla Fund of the Hawai‘i Community Foundation and the Frost Family Foundation. “Hawaiʻi’s Changing Economy” is supported by a grant from the Hawaiʻi Community Foundation as part of its work to build equity for all through the CHANGE Framework.

Senate education chair urges families to apply for free and reduced-price school meals Maui Now August 3, 2025 Original Article Hawai‘i families are being encouraged to apply for free and reduced-price meal benefits through the Hawai‘i State Department of Education (HIDOE), as updates to the state’s school meal program go into effect for the 2025-26 school year. State Senate Vice President Michelle N. Kidani, chair of the Senate Committee on Education and author of the legislation behind the changes, said the updates aim to improve food equity by expanding access to free school meals. Under Act 139 (Senate Bill 1300), students who qualify for reduced-price meals are now eligible to receive both breakfast and lunch at no cost each school day. Approximately 11,000 students qualified for reduced-price meals last school year, who would be offered free meal options this year, according to the Hawaiʻi State Senate Majority. The only meal price increases for the upcoming year apply to second meals for students and adult meals. Prices for all other items—including standard student meals and à la carte options—will remain unchanged. Kidani recalled visiting schools in her district where teachers kept snacks in their desks for students who hadn’t eaten. “As a mother and grandmother, I have seen firsthand how hunger affects a child’s ability to focus and learn,” she said. “I still remember visiting classrooms in my district where teachers kept granola bars or crackers in their desks, just in case a student came to school without breakfast. This bill is about more than food —it’s about dignity, equity and ensuring every child has a fair chance to succeed. Well-nourished students learn better. I once again thank Governor Green for signing this bill into law, and I encourage families to take advantage of applying to the program.” Students will still be categorized as “reduced-price eligible” under federal guidelines, but at the point of service, their meals will now be marked as “Reduced – No Charge.” Families are encouraged to apply at EZMealApp for free or reduced-price meal benefits to determine eligibility and take advantage of this new benefit. Further program details are available on the HIDOE website.

Hawaii lawmakers prepare to replenish lost federal funds Hawaii News Now Daryl Huff February 26, 2025 Original Article HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) - The layoffs of nearly 150 fire survivors on Maui may just be the beginning of the end of federal funding for scores of Hawaii nonprofits. Now lawmakers are laying the groundwork to protect the state safety net. Because the state treasury is in relatively good shape, lawmakers are looking into whether they can fill in where the federal government has backed off. More than 200 nonprofits in Hawaii provide direct service to poor, elderly, disabled and disadvantaged communities with federal funds in the hundreds of millions of dollars. So far, only a handful have been directly impacted by Trump administration freezes, but at a hearing Wednesday, senators began planning for a worst-case scenario for essential nonprofits. Ways and Means Chair Donovan Dela Cruz described the kinds of agencies that might qualify “as providing crucial, programmatic aid and outreach in the health and services sector.” Dela Cruz told Hawaii News Now that the bill is a vehicle for a difficult process. “We’re going to have to prioritize,” he said, “because there’s only so much money to go around.” Because it could take months before it’s clear where the cuts have fallen, Dela Cruz wants to be prepared in case the governor has to call lawmakers into an emergency session. “What the bill does is at least it gives us some options to hopefully strategically respond to the cuts at some point,” Dela Cruz said. For many on Maui, that time has come after 27 agencies and nearly 150 jobs were cut after money from a federal Department of Labor grant ran out. The state says it’s looking for funds to replenish the agencies. But Sen. Troy Hashimoto, D-Wailuku, Kahului, Waihee, Waikapu Mauka, Waiehu, said this is an emergency that qualifies for emergency funding. “I think we as a state need to step up,” he said. “I think we will have to work with the governor’s office to see what state resources we can immediately allocate.” The biggest dilemma for lawmakers is that if they step up with state money, they have no idea how deep the Trump budget cuts will go or how long they will last. Hashimoto is a veteran of budget battles at the Capitol, so he is not suggesting this will be an easy or automatic decision. “What becomes the priority, you know? Because we have our state programs that we have to continue,” he said. “Can we pick up all the federal programs?”

County, Hawaiian Dredging host blessing, grounbreaking for Kapa‘a Homesteads Tanks Project Kauai Now July 18, 2025 Original Article Kaua‘i County Department of Water and contractor Hawaiian Dredging Construction Co. hosted a blessing ceremony and groundbreaking July 11 to commence the Kapa‘a Homesteads Tanks Project. 📷Kaua‘i County Department of Water and contractor Hawaiian Dredging Construction Co. hosted a blessing ceremony and groundbreaking July 11, 2025, for the Kapa‘a Homesteads Tanks Project. From left are Kaua‘i Department of Water Manager and Chief Engineer Joe Tait, Hawaiian Dredging Construction Co. Senior Project Manager Ryder Coelho, Kaua‘i County Board of Water Supply Vice Chairman Tom Shigemoto, Hawai‘i Speaker of the House Rep. Nadine Nakamura and Hawaiian Dredging Construction Co. Sr. Vice President Heavy Division Len Dempsey. (Photo Courtesy: Kaua‘i County Department of Water) The $23.3 million project will replace an existing 200,000-gallon water storage tank with the construction of two 500,000-gallon storage tanks, totaling 1 million gallons, along with necessary storm drain improvements. Installation of about 1,700 linear feet of water lines — 16-inch and 12-inch — along with associated appurtenances are also part of the project. “This project has been a long time coming,” Kaua‘i Department of Water Manager and Chief Engineer Joe Tait was quoted in a county release as saying during the ceremony. “These new storage tanks enhance the current on-site storage from the circa 1923 storage tank and will be a tremendous benefit to the surrounding community.” Hawai‘i Speaker of the House Rep. Nadine Nakamura and Hawai‘i Senate President Sen. Ron Kouchi, who both represent Kaua‘i at the state Capitol in Honolulu, played a large role in securing state funds to help finance about one-third of the project. Nakamura was present during last week’s blessing and groundbreaking. She emphasized the positive impact the infrastructure improvements will have for fire protection in the area, particularly for Kapa‘a Elementary and Kapa‘a High schools. Successful implementation of the master plan for Samuel Mahelona Memorial Hospital in Kapa‘a also relies on the establishment a robust water infrastructure. The project’s blessing was officiated by Kahu Jade Waiʻaleʻale Battad. Among those in attendance during the ceremony and groundbreaking were Nakamura, Kaua‘i County Board of Water Supply Vice Chairman Tom Shigemoto, Tait and Hawaiian Dredging Construction Co. Sr. Vice President Len Dempsey. The project is estimated to be completed in 2027. Contact Kaua‘i County Department of Water at 808-245-5455 or via email at publicrelations@kauaiwater.org with any questions or for additional information.

New Digital Hub Opens in Hoʻolehua The Molokai Dispatch Léo Azambuja October 9, 2025 Original Article A new space for Molokai residents to access high-speed Internet, print documents, learn how to use computers and even attend remote healthcare appointments opened last week. “The Molokai Digital Hub has been a dream over the last several years,” said Rosie Davis, executive director of the Maui County Area Health Education Center on Molokai. The grand opening of the facility at Lanikeha Community Center in Ho‘olehua was Sept. 25, during a ceremony attended by Lt. Gov. Sylvia Luke and state Sen. Lynn DeCoite. On Oct. 1, Molokai’s first digital hub opened to the public. The facility was created to help close a digital gap on Molokai by providing residents with tools for online connectivity, learning and development, according to Davis. “We have everything from computer literacy (classes), telehealth skills, digital literacy, everything from one-on-one and social media,” Davis said. “We have five desktops, four laptops and a printer.” The idea of a digital hub at Lanikeha was born during the COVID-19 pandemic, when island residents were asking for a facility where they could learn how to do Zoom meetings, access the Internet for healthcare appointments or just keep in touch with their family members. At that time, she said, the community center offered a class teaching to use iPads to access the Internet. Most of those first students were older residents who only owned a phone, and didn’t even know how to turn on an iPad. That’s when Davis said she found out there was a big need on the island for computer literacy classes and other related services. A year later, AHEC secured a $30,000 grant to hire three contractors to come to the community center and offer one-on-one classes on refurbished laptops. “In about a year-and-a-half, we had 253 people that had attended the classes, and now they were asking for a higher level (of classes),” Davis said. Additionally, telehealth — assessing health care services through the Internet — also became “a big part of helping the community,” and it wasn’t just beneficiaries, she said, it was the entire community. The new Molokai Digital Hub has been “a blessing,” Davis said, possible through a $5,000 donation from Spectrum and another donation of nearly $9,000 from the Department of Hawaiian Homelands. Other partners include Maui County AHEC, Molokai Public Library, Kuha‘o Business Center and Ka‘ala Souza from Māpunawai. Davis said since the facility opened, there has been a good flow of visitors, and there will be more students joining soon. “People love to come to the workshops,” she said. The Molokai Digital Hub is at Lanikeha Community Center at 2200 Farrington Ave. in Ho‘olehua. It is open Monday to Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.