Hawaii’s Medical Cannabis Caregiver Program Set to Expire December 31 Ganjapreneur TG Branfalt December 2, 2024 Original Article Beginning January 1, Hawaii’s network of medical cannabis caregivers will be outlawed under “sunset” provisions included in the state’s medical cannabis law, HawaiiNewsNow reports. House Public Safety Chair Rep. Della Belatti (D) indicated that the sunset provision is a mistake that lawmakers will try to address, but for now the state’s registered caregivers will be forced to stop serving patients by the start of the new year. Registered caregivers are allowed to raise up to 10 medical cannabis plants for patients who cannot cultivate the plants. The system is an alternative to dispensaries, which some say are too expensive or inconvenient. Belatti told HawaiiNewsNow that the impending shut down of the caregiver program is “a failure” that lawmakers did not address which has led to a “crisis.” State Sen. Joy San Buenaventura (D), who chairs the chamber’s Health and Human Services committee, said the deadline would impact thousands of the state’s medical cannabis patients. “Especially for Oahu patients who live in condos where they are dependent upon caregivers to grow their medical cannabis for them,” she told HawaiiNewsNow, “they won’t be able to have that access and that’s huge.”

Sen. DeCoite Honored by Friends of the Library of Hawaii The Molokai Dispatch The Molokai Dispatch Staff February 27, 2025 Original Article Last week, Hawaii Senator Lynn DeCoite was honored as the 2024 Legislator of the Year by the Friends of the Library of Hawaii (FLH) with their Mahalo Award. “Mahalo Sen. DeCoite for all that you do to support libraries and literacy, especially your work to promote the ‘Ohana Readers program,” shared FLH in a social media post. The Mahalo Award by FLH is presented to a Hawaii State Legislator who has shown considerable support for the Hawaii state public libraries in the previous year and throughout their career. “I am truly humbled and honored to be named the 2024 Legislator of the Year by FLH. It’s a privilege to continue supporting our public libraries, and I look forward to all the exciting possibilities ahead for our community,” shared DeCoite on social media. In honor of the award, copies of DeCoite’s favorite book, Curious George, will be donated to the Molokai Public Library and Hawaii State Library.

Sen. Fukunaga and area legislators host community forum on federal funding cuts Maui Now March 18, 2025 Original Article Sen. Carol Fukunaga (Senate District 11 – Mānoa, Makiki/Punchbowl, Tantalus, and Papakōlea) is sponsoring a community forum tonight to discuss the potential impact of federal funding cuts on local services and resources, along with critical topics such as condo insurance, little fire ants, fireworks, schools and public safety. The forum is held alongside fellow area legislators Rep. Della Au Belatti (House District 26 – Makiki, Punchbowl) and Council Member Tyler Dos Santos-Tam (City Council District 6 – portions of Kakaʻako, Downtown Honolulu, Chinatown, Punchbowl, Papakōlea, Pauoa Valley, Nuʻuanu, Iwilei, Liliha, ʻĀlewa Heights, Kalihi, and Kalihi Valley). “As we face potential federal funding cuts, the reality is that essential local programs and services that our communities rely on every day could be severely impacted,” said Fukunaga. Belatti pointed out that cancellation of the Local Food for Schools program would compound Hawaiʻi’s food insecurity issues and said, “This is especially true in Title I schools where school meals for low-income students might be their only reliable source of nutrition each day.” Dos Santos agreed and said, “This forum will be an opportunity to hear from residents, understand their concerns, and work together to find ways to protect the resources that support our families and neighborhoods.” Participants will also receive updates on pending legislation in the Hawaiʻi State Legislature. Todayʻs (Tuesday, March 18, 2025) forum is on Oʻahu at Stevenson Middle School Cafeteria, located at 1202 Prospect Street in Honolulu. It runs from 6 to 7:30 p.m.

Hawaii Filipino Caucus to be honored with “Guardians of Immigrant Justice” award Hawaii News Now Annalisa Burgos April 5, 2025 Original Article HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) - The Legal Clinic (TLC) is honoring immigrant rights champions at its annual benefit event this Thursday. The nonprofit provides free, quality legal services, education and advocacy to ensure justice for low-income immigrants and migrants in Hawaii. Among this year’s “Guardians of Immigrant Justice Award” honorees are the co-chairs of the Filipino Caucus of the State Legislature, state Sen. Henry Aquino and Rep. Greggor Ilagan. The lawmakers joined HNN’s Sunrise to talk about their work. Founded in 1998, the caucus has secured funding to support Hawaii’s Filipino community and other underserved groups, expanding language access and other services. This session, they worked on a number of bills to offset the negative impact of the Trump administration’s immigration crackdown, such as offering legal representation for those in immigration-related proceedings in immigration court, including deportation defense, asylum applications, and other migration relief processes. Due to federal funding cuts and other state priorities, none of the caucus’ proposals passed this session. Yet, they said the need is great amid increased U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) raids, mass deportations, and penalizing policies that separate families. TLC Executive Director Bettina Mok said they have been working on a U Visa resolution for undocumented victims of crime to get police certification of cooperation with police, so they can eventually qualify for green card application. TLC is also honoring the late immigration attorney Clare Hanusz in memoriam. Immigration attorney Danicole Ramos will receive the inaugural Clare Hanusz Award for Emerging Leaders in Immigrant Justice. The pau hana benefit takes place on April 10 at Cafe Julia from 5-7 p.m Ticket information can be found here. Funds raised will help TLC provide free immigration legal services and advocate for fair immigration policies. Donations can be sent here. Past awardees include: 2024: UNITE HERE! Local 5, Dina Shek of Medical Legal Partnership, & Terrina Wong of Pacific Gateway Center. 2023: Amefil “Amy” Agbayani. 2022: John Robert Egan, The Honorable Mazie K. Hirono, & KNDI Radio 1270 AM. 2021: Esther Arinaga, William Hoshijo, & Patricia McManaman. Copyright 2025 Hawaii News Now. All rights reserved.

The Sunshine Blog: How Much Is A Governor Worth? A Mayor? A Judge? Civil Beat The Sunshine Blog February 4, 2025 Original Article Political sticker shock: Gov. Josh Green is squirming a bit at the much-publicized proposal floated by the state salary commission a couple weeks ago that would boost his salary by more than 61% over the next six years. He’d be OK with a 35% to 40% pay hike over his current $189,480 annual wage, his chief of staff, Brooke Wilson, told the commission last week. “Just to cut straight to it — and you know at the end of the day you guys are going to decide, OK? — but his feedback was that he felt more comfortable with a 35% to maximum 40% increase over six years for he and the lieutenant governor,” Wilson said. Commissioners noted Green’s current salary is less than what the Honolulu mayor makes, which they suggested is inappropriate given Green’s expansive statewide responsibilities. Mayor Rick Blangiardi got a raise last year that boosted his pay to $217,392. But Wilson told the salary commission that Green doesn’t think he needs to be paid more than the mayor. After all, he has a car, a driver and housing at Washington Place, perks the mayor doesn’t have. Green, according to Wilson, thinks judges should get a “great increase” in their salaries because competition from the private sector is making it more difficult to attract candidates for judicial appointments. Still, the commission seems intent on a pretty hefty ramping up of the pay scales for the governor and other state officials — including legislators — despite plenty of public outrage that has followed since The Blog and others reported that whopping increases were on the table. On Monday commissioners mapped out a tentative schedule for the governor that includes a 32% raise effective July 1, followed by 4% raises for each of the following five years. That still works out to a total of 52%, or nearly 61% over the six years when compounding of the annual raises is taken into account. Bottom line: The governor’s pay would be $304,301 in 2031. That’s actually a year after Green would be termed out of office if he’s reelected in 2026. The commission is charged with recommending pay increases for the next six years for the governor, the lieutenant governor, state department heads and deputies, Hawai’i judges, and the Legislature. Commission members plan to vote on the package of pay raises at their next meeting on Monday. The raises will automatically take effect unless the state House and Senate both vote to reject them in an all-or-nothing deal. The sun is shining brightly so far: Last week was the Legislature’s first full week of committee hearings and The Blog could hardly keep up with all the sunshine bills that went whizzing through, thanks to the snappy pace set by The Sunshine Boys. That’s the title our cartoonist Will Caron recently gave to Judiciary chairs Sen. Karl Rhoads and Rep. David Tarnas. The Blog would add Senate Government Operations chair Angus McKelvey to that crew; he’s pulled quite a few accountability bills to his hearing calendar, too. It’s early yet and of course conference committee is where everything will die, but many of the key reform measures are getting some actual love from lawmakers: more restrictions on contractor and grantee political donations, more money for partial public financing of campaigns, more requirements for lobbyists’ disclosure. Bill packages requested by the state Ethics Commission, Elections Commission and Campaign Spending Commission — including prohibiting contributions to state elected officials while they’re in session and funding for more investigators — are being heard and largely approved, at least by one chamber or the other. Even a couple of constitutional amendments that would ultimately need to go to the ballot for approval by voters are getting a legislative thumb’s up (so far): increasing the mandatory retirement age for judges to 75, fixing an issue with blank votes and overvotes in Hawaiʻi’s elections, and an end run around Citizens United by declaring that in Hawaiʻi free speech shouldn’t necessarily mean huge campaign contributions. Coming up this week, lawmakers are scheduled to take up more bills related to the public financing of campaigns and a serious effort by Rep. Tarnas to curb one aspect of pay-to-play politics by better tracking contractors and grantees who are getting state funding and restricting the money they have been funneling to elected officials. (That’s at 2 p.m. Wednesday in House Judiciary and Hawaiian Affairs.) Lawmakers also seem interested in changing the law regarding asset forfeiture to make sure authorities only seize property in criminal cases where someone has been actually convicted, and convicted of a felony. Bills making it clear that the public has the right to record law enforcement officers also are moving forward. The House Republican caucus’s Stand Your Ground proposal has yet to be scheduled for a hearing. Bipartisan proposals to ban or restrict cell phone use in schools seem to be going nowhere. The same for bills that would require more voter centers, especially on Oʻahu, to help alleviate long lines for voters who choose to vote in person on Election Day. The Blog could go on and on about some of the other interesting proposals we’re tracking here. But the Legislature’s website is pretty easy to navigate for bills and hearings and it also has easy links to live video streams or recorded hearings. We’ll do our best to keep you updated on the issues we’re following. There’s about a month to go til crossover, when bills must be approved in at least one chamber and they cross over to the other one. Session stretch: A couple of the bills getting some attention this year entertain the notion of putting lawmakers to work year-round — not necessarily every day but spreading the legislative session throughout the year to give policymakers more time to do their jobs in an increasingly complex world. Count Senate Judiciary chair Karl Rhoads as a loyal skeptic on this one. He’s giving some air to Senate President Ron Kouchi’s version of a proposal by House Speaker Nadine Nakamura to create a task force to study how the session could be extended over 12 months (now it’s 60 session days spread over about four months). Senate Bill 1514 gets a hearing Friday at 9:25 a.m. before the Senate Judiciary Committee. Nakamura’s House Bill 1425 is set to go Wednesday at 2 p.m. before the House Legislative Management Committee. “It’s not clear to me that there’s any stomach for extending the session either in the building or amongst voters,” Rhoads told The Blog on Monday. Rhoads made quick work of another proposal for a 12-month Legislature on Friday when he unilaterally deferred Senate Bill 733, which sought to put the question directly to the voters via a constitutional amendment. His Judiciary Committee colleague, Sen. Stanley Chang, was the lead sponsor on that one, along with a few other senators. Chang has frequently pushed for an extended legislative session, and has called the current setup “four months of chaos.” Of course being in charge comes with some privileges. Referring to the Nakamura/Kouchi push for a task force to study the issue, Rhoads said, “since it’s a leadership bill, I think that’s the one that will move if any do.” Gordon Ito out at DCCA: Rumors have been swirling for some time that former House Speaker Scott Saiki is favored by Gov. Josh Green to be Hawaiʻi’s insurance commissioner. In fact, Saiki now has a job at the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs Insurance Division, but not the top spot. Yet. On Monday, the agency announced that Gordon Ito is retiring from the insurance division after 31 years including 10 total as commissioner. Jerry Bump, who joined the division in 2008, has been named acting director. Standing up to Trump and Musk: Meanwhile, 5,000 miles away across the continent — and the ocean — Hawaiʻi’s senior senator vowed to place a “blanket hold” on all of Trump’s nominees to the U.S. State Department until the attempt to shutter the U.S. Agency for International Development is reversed. Just last week Sen. Brian Schatz was named ranking member on the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on State, Foreign Operations and Related Programs. And today … there he was on the steps of the agency with a handful of other Democratic senators and reps promising to put up a fight to keep the Trump administration from dismantling a vital lifeline from the U.S. to other countries. “Dismantling USAID is illegal and makes us less safe,” Schatz said. “USAID was created by federal law and is funded by Congress. Donald Trump and Elon Musk can’t just wish it away with a stroke of a pen — they need to pass a law.” Schatz called the Trump-Musk move “brazenly authoritarian” and “a self-inflicted chaos of epic proportions that will have dangerous consequences all around the world.” Over the weekend, staffers from the new Department of Government Efficiency took possession of classified information held by the agency and then refused to allow employees in the building on Monday, The Wall Street Journal reported. A single senator can hold up nominations under the Senate rules.

City, state respond to deadly explosion in Salt Lake Star Advertiser Victoria Budiono January 2, 2025 Original Article GEORGE F. LEE / GLEE@STARADVERTISER.COM Gov. Josh Green, flanked by Mayor Rick Blangiardi, Police Chief Arthur “Joe” Logan and Fire Chief Sheldon Hao, spoke at an HPD press conference regarding the deaths and injuries suffered earlier on Wednesday, Jan. 1, 2025 on Keaka Drive following a massive fireworks explosion. The call for stricter fireworks laws was immediate in the aftermath of the deadly New Year’s tragedy at 4137 Keaka Drive in Aliamanu. Starting at the top with Gov. Josh Green and Honolulu Mayor Rick Blangiardi, lawmakers and other leaders are again demanding to get a handle on contraband fireworks that each year create massive, illegal blasts that light up the skies in nearly every neighborhood on Oahu. “Right now, people are taking terrible risks with other family members and the community,” Green said at a news conference Wednesday, while also expressing condolences to the loved ones of the victims and imploring residents to prioritize safety. “Soon, you’ll probably be taking a risk with your own freedom,” Green warned. “I don’t think anybody should want to go to jail for five years or pay tens of thousands of dollars of fines.” In addition to the tragedy that killed three women and injured dozens of others in Aliamanu, a 19-year-old man suffered fatal injuries in a separate fireworks-related incident Tuesday night in Kalihi amid dozens of other reported injuries. As the toll climbed Wednesday, authorities turned their focus to tougher enforcement and stiffer penalties. State law establishes times during certain holiday periods — New Year’s, Lunar New Year and the Fourth of July — and other restrictions for the legal use of consumer fireworks such as sparklers and fountains but also allows the counties to set their own stricter rules. Since Jan. 2, 2011, consumer fireworks have been banned on Oahu. State law also prohibits possession of aerial devices, display fireworks or other pyrotechnic articles without a valid license. Unauthorized possession or use of fireworks is a Class C felony carrying a penalty of up to five years in prison and fines up to $10,000. Despite these regulations, fireworks are often set off in residential areas throughout the year, particularly during the holiday season from Thanksgiving through New Year’s Day. According to Honolulu Police Department Chief Joe Logan, a preliminary review of surveillance footage, witness statements and other evidence from the fatal blast suggests that shortly after midnight, a party attendee lit an aerial fireworks “cake” containing multiple smaller fireworks packed in a box in the driveway near the carport of the home. When lit, the cakes fire a series of fireworks into the air in quick succession, creating a display of colorful explosions. In this case, the cake tipped over, causing an aerial firework to ignite two nearby crates containing additional fireworks, triggering a massive and deadly explosion. Blangiardi expressed his anger and frustration with the fireworks-related deaths and injuries, saying, “No one should have to endure such pain due to reckless and illegal activity. This incident is a painful reminder of the danger posed by illegal fireworks. ‘They put lives at risk, they drain our first responders, and they disrupt our neighborhoods. But most heartbreakingly, this tragedy was entirely preventable. New Year’s Eve should be a time of joy, not danger. Yet the growing prevalence of illegal fireworks on our island has turned it into a night of risk and devastation. Year after year, this threat persists, and it must stop.” Blangiardi said he is committed to taking decisive action on illegal fireworks for the sake of public safety. “We will coordinate with federal and state agencies to strengthen law enforcement, impose tougher penalties, explore new technologies because they exist, and implement a united effort to stop the import of illegal fireworks into our harbors and airports,” he said. The state’s Illegal Fireworks Task Force established under Green in 2023 has reported seizing large quantities of illegal fireworks, and its efforts include intercepting shipments of illegal fireworks, often from overseas, and disrupting the supply chain. In its first year, a total of approximately 93.5 tons of illegal fireworks was confiscated, followed by more than 20 tons in 2024. In early December 2023, the task force said it seized about 16 tons of fireworks from a shipping container, primarily containing aerials. Later that month, it confiscated an additional 17 tons from another container. Just before New Year’s Day a year ago, the task force reported making another significant seizure, confiscating 17.5 tons of illegal fireworks during a routine inspection. Illegal fireworks, however, continue to filter in to Hawaii. “Aerial fireworks are a part of our culture,” said state Rep. Gregg Takayama (D, Waiau-Pearl City-Pacific Palisades). “But we have to recognize that they’re also illegal, and that they’re illegal for a reason: They can be dangerous.” Takayama introduced House Bill 2193 that became Act 208, which strengthened Hawaii’s Fireworks Control Law by increasing the authority of the Illegal Fireworks Task Force. He emphasized the need for continued efforts, particularly targeting large-scale offenders. He also called for increased funding for the task force. State Sen. Glenn Wakai, who represents the Salt Lake area where deadly explosion occurred, said the carnage was preventable and urged the community to recognize the risks. “It was more than an accident. An accident would be one of those rockets going off. I mean, these guys had a stash of stuff there,” Wakai said. “So, sure, it was not meant to go off that way. But they had full intention of shooting off way more than they could possibly handle.” He noted that after decades of legislative action, the issue remains a significant problem and the community needs to recognize the problem and say “enough is enough.” However, Wakai said he isn’t confident about seeing meaningful change. “Obviously, (the seizure) wasn’t enough, and I don’t really know what it’s going to take for us as a community to wake up in the new year to see that shooting aerial fireworks is not the right way to bring in a new year. It’s the most tragic way to usher in a new year,” he said. Jordan Lowe, director of the state Department of Law Enforcement, said the seizures by the task force are still under investigation, and fireworks smugglers — and buyers — could face prosecution. “It’s very frustrating, and when you look at this group of criminals who import illegal fireworks with no regard for the community or the safety of the public just to make a profit … like I said, it’s very frustrating, very discouraging,” he said. Fireworks have long been a tradition in Hawaii, rooted in Chinese culture and local celebrations. “It is cultural. We all understand that. But I think we need to start working with the public more in terms of education, because it is dangerous,” Lowe said. “We just saw what happened. And even in the past, regularly, in Hawaii, at least one individual would die as a result of a fireworks mishap. It’s been pretty regular that you might have a house burn down because of a mishap with fireworks, an accident with fireworks. “We don’t deserve that. The public doesn’t deserve that.”

Hawaiʻi’s 5-cent beverage deposit program plagued by fraud and ‘honor system’ failure, State Auditor says Maui Now Brian Perry October 22, 2025 Original Article For two decades, Hawaiʻi’s Deposit Beverage Container program has been run as an “honor system,” reliant on unverified self-reported data and plagued by alleged fraud, State Auditor Leslie Kondo told a state Senate committee during an informational meeting Thursday. Established by the state Legislature in 2002 and administered by the state Department of Health’s Office of Solid Waste Management, the deposit beverage program places a 5-cent deposit on most beverage containers. Distributors pay the deposits to the state and the funds are reimbursed to consumers when they return the containers to certified redemption centers. There are a half-dozen recycling centers on Maui as well as facilities on Lānaʻi and Molokaʻi. The beverage recycling program’s aim has been to reduce litter and encourage recycling statewide. According to the department, the program has helped residents recycle more than 10 billion containers since its inception. The State Auditor reviews the beverage recycling program every two years and has continuously noted problems with the “honor system,” accountability and fraud. “Our prior reviews have repeatedly raised concerns that DOH’s reliance on self-reported information from beverage distributors and redemption centers increases the risk of fraud,” the current audit says. “Specifically, we have pointed out that distributors and redemption centers have financial incentive to under- or over-report the amounts that the former must pay into the Special Fund and the latter may claim for reimbursement from the Special Fund.” The auditor found that the Health Department has not taken corrective action, despite repeated biennial audit findings of deficiencies. “We repeatedly discovered that DOH had done nothing to address the recurring findings and had not implemented any of the recommendations to address those findings,” it says. “We found that the program viewed these biennial audits as a replacement for internal controls, expecting the auditor to perform the program’s job of reviewing records and conducting ‘secret shopper’ activities to identify errors in the amounts received from distributors or claimed by redemption centers.” Now, as the state moves to tighten compliance, a Maui business owner is cautioning that new rules mandating third-party audits of beverage distributors will only punish honest companies. Garrett Marrero, chief executive officer and co-founder of Maui Brewing Company, testified Thursday before the Senate Committee on Health and Human Services that the program “does not work.” Marrero criticized the state’s recent move to mandate expensive third-party audits for distributors — a measure intended to address the long-standing problem of unverified data and non-compliance. Under Act 12, enacted in 2022, beverage distributors must develop and submit an internal control process for Health Department approval, and they are required to obtain independent audits in odd-numbered years. Marrero estimated the cost of the audit to his business at $15,000 to $20,000 per location (multiplied by Maui Brewing’s two locations on Maui and two on Oʻahu, $60,000 to $80,000) while his smallest location pays only $48 in annual fees to the program. “I think this was just an unintended consequence of the legislation, not an intentional hurting of small businessmen,” Marrero said, arguing that the true fraud risk lies with the redemption centers, not the distributors and wholesalers. Citing one instance of alleged fraud, Marrero said he thought it was a “lack of education and guidance from the department, as opposed to actual criminal fraud,” noting that the business involved is a publicly traded company. “I would find it very difficult to believe that they’re engaged in some method to defraud the state of Hawaiʻi,” he said. Act 12 was intended to resolve chronic problems with data integrity in the state’s deposit beverage container program. The law addressed State Auditor recommendations to compel the Health Department to develop and implement robust procedures to verify the accuracy and completeness of data reported by beverage distributors and redemption centers. The key requirements of the Act are: Risk-based audits: The Health Department is required to create a risk-based process to select distributor and redemption center reports for periodic audits, using data analytics and considering factors like transaction amounts and prior findings to target unusual activity. Enhanced reporting: Distributors are required to submit detailed monthly or semi-annual distribution reports and supporting records. The informational briefing, chaired by Sen. Joy San Buenaventura and attended by Sen. Kurt Fevella , focused on the Office of the State Auditor ’s latest review of the program for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2024. Audit finds ongoing fraud and lack of controls Kondo presented findings consistent across multiple audits since the program’s 2002 inception, stating the deposit beverage container program is “a program in name only” with “very little structure” and “no internal controls.” Latest audit findings included: Self-reported data: The Health Department still cannot verify if distributors are paying what they owe, and it reimburses redemption centers based solely on the centers’ own, unverified numbers. Fraud examples: Kondo detailed a 2016 “secret shopper” exercise by a certified public accounting firm that found what appeared to be fraud at a redemption center in Honolulu. On one visit, the center’s reimbursement request to the Health Department was for an additional $52.48 beyond what was paid to the consumer for 12 bottles. The department referred the matter to the Department of the Attorney General, which took no further action because there were “only two instances.” Growing fund balance: Kondo reported that between fiscal 2024 and fiscal 2025 the program’s special fund increased by more than $12 million. The program’s special fund as of June 30, 2024, had a fund balance of $77,860,170. The special fund reported total revenues of $33.57 million and total expenditures of $23.03 million. Fevella, whose wife previously worked at a redemption center, called the program a “failure” and noted that a lack of computerized tracking allows fraud to persist. “People have been getting rich over the taxpayers’ money,” he said. San Buenaventura called the Health Department’s lack of staff and reliance on self-reported data “unacceptable” given the sizable special fund that could be used to hire personnel. Health officials promise improvements, face skepticism “The Department of Health has faced longstanding challenges in its implementation of the deposit beverage container program,” said Kathleen Ho, deputy director for Environmental Health. “I want to assure you that we are committed to addressing these challenges.” The director’s office meets twice a month to try to get the program “back on track,” she said. “We are committed to administering the program responsibly and achieving the statutory objectives and to increase recycling.” Lane Otsu, Solid Waste Management coordinator, said: “We’re working to implement the auditors’ recommendations. We’ve gotten started on much of the actions, and feel that we are making progress and are continuing to move forward.” The department’s plans for immediate improvement include: Audits and controls: Finalizing a request for proposals for a contractor to perform risk-based audits on both distributors and redemption centers and to improve the department’s financial control processes. Compliance: Issuing enforcement letters to the approximately 100 distributors who have failed to submit required internal control process documents. Technology: Developing an electronic reporting system for distributors and redemption centers to reduce manual data entry and increase reporting accuracy. Staffing: Advancing a reorganization plan for the Solid and Hazardous Waste Branch to increase program staff, now with nine dedicated employees, despite the auditor’s long-standing recommendation that the program use its large special fund to hire personnel. Kondo acknowledged the department’s plans, but noted that his office will perform another mandatory audit in two years. He pointed out that his office has been doing “management work” for years because the program lacked structure. The committee gave the Health Department leeway until the next audit, but San Buenaventura said that after two decades of poor performance with the program, the Legislature will look for improvement in the next audit review. Otherwise, “the Legislature needs to seriously look at whether or not there’s better recycling programs,” she said.

New office to coordinate state's broadband expansion efforts Spectrum News Michael Tsai June 11, 2025 Original Article With the signing of House Bill 934 this week, the state’s efforts to achieve universal broadband access will be officially coordinated via a centralized State Broadband Office. What You Need To Know Act 201, formally establishes the State Broadband Office within the Department of Accounting and General Services In addition to coordinating broadband deployment across public and private sectors, the office will be responsible for administering grant programs in support of broadband infrastructure and innovation, overseeing strategic broadband investments and ensuring high-speed internet access is extended to underserved communities statewide Act 201 also provides funding for six digital navigators, who will support digital literacy programs in libraries and other venues across the state The state has opened a request for proposals for the Hawaii Community Digital Navigators Project to hire, train and manage community digital navigators who will be located in 51 public library branches Lt. Gov. Sylvia Luke, serving as acting governor while Gov. Josh Green is in Washington, D.C., to meet with federal officials and attend the annual Hawaii on the Hill event, signed the measure into law on Monday. “With the signing of House Bill 934, Hawaii is taking a necessary step toward a future where every resident, regardless of geography, age or income, can connect to and use affordable, reliable broadband internet to access education, healthcare and economic opportunity,” said Luke, who leads the state’s Connect Kakou high-speed internet initiative. “This law not only lays the groundwork for much-needed services — it also helps ensure keiki through kupuna acquire the skills and support they need to use the internet to improve their daily lives.” The measure, now Act 201, formally establishes the State Broadband Office within the Department of Accounting and General Services. In addition to coordinating broadband deployment across public and private sectors, the office will be responsible for administering grant programs in support of broadband infrastructure and innovation, overseeing strategic broadband investments and ensuring high-speed internet access is extended to underserved communities statewide. “Access to high-speed internet is vital for every aspect of our lives,” said state Rep. Greggor Ilagan, who co-introduced the bill. “There are residents in rural areas who are counting on us to deliver important broadband upgrades and programs. The State Broadband Office gives us the focus and framework to turn vision into action.” Act 201 also provides funding for six digital navigators, who will support digital literacy programs in libraries and other venues across the state. The new positions build on a 2023 pilot program in which community-based professionals, stationed at public libraries, assisted residents with digital skills, internet connectivity, accessing devices, and online services like telehealth and job applications. “I’ve seen firsthand the barriers a rural island community faces when it comes to building computer skills that many take for granted,” said state Sen. Lynn DeCoite. “By connecting people to digital navigators, we’re empowering our residents in countless ways.” State librarian Stacey Aldrich said the 2023 pilot program demonstrated the high demand for digital literacy support. “Digital navigators are trusted guides who will help ensure no one is left behind in the digital age and we are so excited to grow this program,” she said. The state has opened a request for proposals for the Hawaii Community Digital Navigators Project to hire, train and manage community digital navigators who will be located in 51 public library branches. Interested applicants can access the full RFP by visiting connectkakou.org . The deadline to submit a proposal is June 30 at 2 p.m.

Kamānele Park marks 110 years with UH alumni support University of Hawaiʻi News UH News March 27, 2025 Original Article Kamānele Park, a wahi pana (sacred place) in Mānoa, celebrated its 110th anniversary on March 15, 2025, with a special ceremony. The park, located mauka of the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa campus on University Avenue, was originally dedicated on March 15, 1915, by Queen Liliʻuokalani and Mayor John Lane. Many UH Mānoa alumni played key roles in the event and the ongoing preservation of the park. The anniversary event hosted by ʻEhiku Hanauna recreated elements of the original dedication, including a pule (prayer) in ʻŌlelo Hawaiʻi and English by Kuʻulei Serna, a professor in UH Mānoa’s School of Teacher Education. Attendees enjoyed a cappella performance of “Hawaiʻi Ponoʻi” by Aspasia Hong and the hula “Nani Mānoa” by ʻImiloa Borland. In a symbolic tribute, 10 girls offered ʻImiloa hoʻokupu (lei offerings) to the park’s heiau rock feature, proclaiming, “I name thee, o park, Kamānele!” With deep historical ties to the community, Kamānele Park was also the site of UH Mānoa’s Lei Day celebration in 1934. UH alumni, community stewardship The event highlighted the ongoing stewardship of Kamānele Park by ʻEhiku Hanauna, a nonprofit that formally adopted the park through Honolulu’s Adopt-a-Park program. Several of its leaders, including June Rae Hee, Jackie Osumi, Hiʻilei Serna and Hōkū Serna, are UH Mānoa alumni. Sen. Carol Fukunaga recognized founding president Vanessa Distajo for the group’s contributions to preserving the heiau. UH alumni Rosanna Thurman and Catharine Thetford, leaders of OASES (Oceanic Archaeological Science Educational Services), were honored for their archaeological fieldwork and preservation plan. Cultural resource expert Keʻalohi Reppun, another UH alumna, was also recognized. Among the attendees was UH Mānoa archaeology professor James Bayman, supporting his former students. He was surprised to see Jasper Distajo, a freshman in his class, at the event. When Distajo shared that he had volunteered at the site since childhood, someone jokingly asked Bayman if extra credit was in order. Smiling, he replied, “There’s no need when said student is already earning an A.” “Kamānele Park’s anniversary celebration was a testament to the lasting connections between the local community and UH Mānoa,” said Vanessa Distajo. “Through research, cultural preservation, environmental stewardship, and volunteerism, students and alumni continue to honor and safeguard this sacred place for future generations.”

Hawai’i Pharmacists Association and APhA celebrate passage of landmark legislation American Pharmacists Association July 2, 2025 Original Article HONOLULU and WASHINGTON, DC — The Hawai’i Pharmacists Association (HPhA) and the American Pharmacists Association (APhA) are proud to announce the passage of SB 1245 , an historic advancement that will recognize pharmacists as health care providers under Hawai’i law and ensure health plan reimbursement for services they provide within their scope of practice. Signed into law by Gov. Josh Green, this legislation mandates that beginning July 1, 2026, private and public health plans in Hawai’i must reimburse licensed pharmacists for covered health services of contracted pharmacists when those services are delivered within pharmacists’ scope of practice. “This is a major victory for patients and for the pharmacy profession in Hawai’i,” said Corrie Sanders, executive director of the Hawai’i Pharmacists Association. “Hawai’i faces a significant shortage of healthcare providers, particularly in rural and underserved communities. By recognizing pharmacists as providers and enabling reimbursement for the essential services they already deliver, this legislation strengthens the healthcare workforce, expands access to timely care across all islands, and allows pharmacists to ensure our patients and ‘ohana receive the level of care they deserve.” Hawai’i, like many states, faces a shortage of physicians and other primary care providers. SB 1245 addresses this critical gap by leveraging the accessibility and clinical expertise of pharmacists, who are often the most accessible health care professionals in their communities. The law empowers pharmacists to sustainably provide a wide range of services, including chronic disease management, immunizations, point-of-care testing, and medication therapy management, with the assurance that they can be reimbursed when those services are covered for other providers. “This legislation marks a turning point for health care access in Hawai’i,” said Michael D. Hogue, PharmD, FAPhA, FNAP, FFIP, executive vice president and CEO of APhA. “Pharmacists have always delivered high-quality care, but outdated reimbursement rules limited what they could sustainably offer. With SB 1245 , Hawai’i joins a growing number of states recognizing that pharmacists must be supported as paid providers to keep patients healthier and systems more efficient.” HPhA and APhA extend their gratitude to the legislature, Sen. Joy San Buenaventura, Rep. Scot Matayoshi, Gov. Green, and the many health care advocates who supported this effort.

Hawaii senators push bipartisan bill for new state holiday Star Advertiser Andrew Gomes March 10, 2025 Original Article The list of annual state holidays in Hawaii could grow by one under legislation that easily passed a milestone last week. State senators voted 25-0 to approve and send to the House of Representatives a bill that would make Nov. 28 La Ku‘oko‘a, or Hawaiian Independence Day, as Hawaii’s 14th official state holiday. The Legislature in 2023 passed a bill to designate Nov. 28 as La Ku‘oko‘a to celebrate a historical recognition of the kingdom of Hawaii’s independence dating to 1843. But that measure, which became Act 11, did not make the day a state holiday. Now state lawmakers, via Senate Bill 614 , are considering elevating La Ku‘oko‘a to an official holiday. “We celebrate Fourth of July, American Independence Day, as an official state holiday,” Sen. Kurt Fevella, a Republican who introduced the bill with two Democratic colleagues, Sens. Stanley Chang and Carol Fukunaga, said in the Senate chamber preceding Tuesday’s vote. “It’s a day when 13 American colonies separated from Great Britain,” said Fevella (R, Ewa Beach-Ocean Pointe-Iroquois Point). “But why haven’t we celebrated when Hawaii became a sovereign nation as a state holiday? … Colleagues, let’s stand together for the Independence Day of our Hawaii nei.” Testimony on SB 614 has been near-unanimously supportive, with written comments from about 35 people, the state Office of Hawaiian Affairs and the Association of Hawaiian Civic Clubs. Reese Flores, a Native Hawaiian student at the University of Hawaii, told two Senate committees during a Feb. 13 public hearing that La Ku‘oko‘a is an important part of Hawaiian history that deserves recognition. “We should be reminded that our ancestors fought and sought independence to keep our nation sovereign,” she said. On Nov. 28, 1843, Great Britain and France formally recognized, under a joint Anglo-Franco Proclamation, the kingdom of Hawaii as an independent nation — 50 years before the 1893 overthrow of the monarchy that preceded Hawaii’s 1898 annexation by the United States. The intent of SB 614 is stated to “recognize the compelling history of Hawaiian independence and memorialize the injustice of the overthrow of the Hawaiian Kingdom.” According to OHA, La Ku‘oko‘a, which literally means Independence Day, was celebrated as a national public holiday under the kingdom of Hawaii and then later by a provisional government, the republic of Hawaii and the territory of Hawaii. OHA said in written testimony that La Ku‘oko‘a merits joining Prince Jonah Kuhio Kalaniana‘ole Day, celebrated annually on March 26, and King Kamehameha I Day, observed annually on June 11, as Hawaiian cultural state holidays instituted by Hawaii lawmakers. Hawaii also observes Statehood Day as an official holiday annually on the third Friday in August to mark its 1959 admission as the country’s 50th state. Beighlee Vidinha, a Native Hawaiian student at UH, said during the Feb. 13 hearing that La Ku‘oko‘a is part of the identity of Hawaiians as sovereign people before identities as American citizens. “If we can honor Statehood Day and American Independence Day as state or federal holidays, we can honor La Ku‘oko‘a, an important indication of our independence and sovereignty as people,” she said. Kimmer Horsen testified at the same hearing to say in part that La Ku‘oko‘a as a state holiday would help educate children, newcomers and tourists about Hawaii’s history. “A bill for terminating Statehood Day would also be wise, as a suggestion,” she said. “This is a step in the right direction for true Hawaiian kingdom independence.” The only person to testify against the bill was Kenneth Conklin, a longtime opponent of the Hawaiian sovereignty movement. Conklin, in written testimony, characterized the bill as using a “182-year-old historical footnote” to give a small boost to “Hawaiian pride” at a large cost in money and undelivered government services. Luis Salaveria, director of the state Department of Budget and Finance, said in written testimony for a Feb. 28 Senate committee hearing on the bill that the loss of state labor and productivity for one day is valued at about $18.3 million from payroll expenses, including Social Security, Medicare and pension costs. Wilbert Holck, chief negotiator with the state Office of Collective Bargaining, said in written testimony that enacting a law to make La Ku‘oko‘a a state holiday would have no effect on public workers unless such a day off work were negotiated and agreed upon mutually. Nov. 28 is already a state holiday every five to six years when it aligns with Thanksgiving as the fourth Thursday in November. That happened in 2019 and 2024, and will happen again next in 2030. Current official state holidays >> New Year’s Day >> Martin Luther King Jr. Day >> Presidents Day >> Prince Jonah Kuhio Kalaniana‘ole Day >> Good Friday >> Memorial Day >> King Kamehameha I Day >> Independence Day >> Statehood Day >> Labor Day >> Veterans Day >> Thanksgiving Day >> Christmas Day

Plan To Bail Out HECO's Credit Rating Would Cost Customers $48 A Year Civil Beat Stewart Yerton December 31, 2024 Original Article Hawaiian Electric Co. customers would have to pay $4 more per month under a proposal to create a settlement fund meant to bolster the power company’s battered credit rating in an era of catastrophic wildfires. The proposed $1 billion Hawaii Wildfire Recovery Fund, capitalized with the new fees, would be used to pay property damage claims related to future wildfires, according to a draft bill being circulated to Hawaiʻi lawmakers, who reconvene next month. The proposal would also limit HECOʻs liability from property claims due to wildfires, even those which the companyʻs equipment starts, such as the devastating Lahaina fire in 2023. Wall Street once viewed privately owned power companies like HECO as rock solid credit risks. But lawsuits from wildfires, such as the one that killed 102 people and destroyed much of Lahaina in 2023, changed the math. HECOʻs credit rating is now at junk-bond status, in part because it is on the hook to pay out billions to victims of the fire that was started by its equipment. The risk of claims from potential future fires is another factor. HECO’s proposal is far from a done deal. Lawmakers declined to give the utility a blank check to bail it out last session. And at least one key lawmaker briefed on this year’s measure has voiced concerns about raising bills for customers who already pay three times the national average for electricity. A fire sparked by a fallen Hawaiian Electric Co. power line killed 102 people and destroyed most of Lahaina in 2023. The risk of such catastrophic fires has driven up borrowing costs for not only HECO, but scores of electric companies in the U.S. (Kevin Fujii/Civil Beat/2023) The trade publication Utility Dive reported in October that the credit ratings of nearly 100 utilities have been downgraded since 2020 due to wildfire risk. Another stated goal — which HECO poses as a public benefit — is to create an efficient alternative to expensive and time-consuming litigation. Jim Kelly, the company’s vice president for government relations and corporate communications, stressed the bill wouldn’t prevent people from pursuing claims in court instead of accessing the fund. “The fund has been the thing that they have told us was their highest priority to stabilize the company from the beginning,” said Sen. Jarrett Keohokalole, who held hearings on HECO-related bills last session as chair of the Senate Commerce and Consumer Protection Committee. “Absolutely,” HECO’s Kelly said, when asked if the fund was HECO’s top priority. “It’s number one.” The Cost Of Wildfire Risk For HECO customers, the equation is simple: wildfire risk — including mitigation measures to reduce it — will invariably be baked into the cost of electricity. The question is how to keep those costs as low as possible. As HECO sees it, the first step is to rehabilitate its credit rating. After the Maui fires, corporate rating agencies tanked HECO’s credit rating, meaning the company must pay higher interest rates to borrow money. Such costs can be passed to Hawaii ratepayers, who already pay the nation’s highest electricity rates, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration . HECO is in continuing talks with the three main rating agencies — Fitch Ratings , Moody’s and S&P Global — Kelly said. While the agencies aren’t promising anything, they are providing guidance on policies Hawaii and HECO can adopt to shore up the company’s credit rating, Kelly said. “They’re more than willing to share their insight,” he said In fact, the key elements of HECO’s policy playbook for 2025 are outlined in a paper titled “Liability reform will be key to support credit quality of utilities in wildfire-prone states ,” which Moody’s published in November. The paper focuses on the problem that wildfire risks poses for utilities nationally, particularly in U.S. western states. Hawaii’s fund would be similar to a $21 billion fund established in California and a $1 billion fund proposed for Utah. Hawaii Sen. Jarrett Keohokalole says the challenge facing Hawaiian Electric Co. is simple: “Nobody will lend them any money because there’s too much risk.” (David Croxford/Civil Beat/2024) But Moody’s recommends more than merely establishing a fund. It also calls for limiting the utilities’ liability. HECO’s proposed bill would do this by limiting HECO’s liability for damages. The third element of Moody’s risk reduction outline requires utilities to establish operational measures to prevent wildfires from happening in the first place. “When a state establishes definitive fire prevention and response guidelines or certification programs, it is strongly credit positive for regulated utilities because it ensures that their actions can be assessed transparently and reduces the risk of hindsight bias following a fire,” Moody’s says. HECO is seeking to establish this by regulation. It plans to submit a wildfire mitigation plan for review and approval by the Public Utilities Commission in January. The goal, Kelly said, is to enable HECO to borrow money for capital improvements at reasonable rates. The status quo is a recipe for higher costs, he said. “If we don’t get a better credit rating, that is going to impact people negatively,” Kelly said. Keohokalole put it more simply. “Nobody will lend them any money because there’s too much risk,” he said. ‘Just, Just, Just’ Adds Up Still, establishing the fund will cost HECO customers. HECO essentially wants to borrow the $1 billion and pay it back with new fees charged directly to customers, a process called securitization. Such securitized loans wouldn’t be burdened by HECO’s junk-bond credit rating; the debt gets paid back as long as people pay their electric bills, allowing HECO to borrow at lower interest rates. “It’s like having a gold-plated co-signer,” Kelly said. Kelly noted the public utilities commission would have to approve any new fee charged to customers. Kelly also noted that the bill calls for ratepayers to be paid back the fees they had paid, possibly through a bill offset, if HECO hadn’t needed to tap into the fund during its first 10 years. However, Kelly said it was not clear how that would work. Future property damage claims also could be paid quickly, according to a formula, without the need for lawsuits. Kelly noted that a third of the $4.04 billion proposed settlement for the Lahaina fires — more than $1 billion — would likely go to plaintiffs’ lawyers, many of them located outside of Hawaii. Hawaii Sen. Glenn Wakai, who chairs the Energy and Intergovernmental Affairs Committee, said he supports a bill to help HECO bolster its credit rating in concept, but also says, “HECO better have a clear plan on how they’re going to reduce costs for customers.” (David Croxford/Civil Beat/2024) Key lawmakers say they are willing to entertain the bill. Keohokalole helped kill a securitization bill during the last session. That was largely because the company had no clear plan on how it intended to spend the money. “Last year there were just black holes,” he said. “This time is way different.” The company’s proposed, $4.04 billion settlement is pending approval by the Hawaii Supreme Court, which could happen as soon as February. Keohokalole said he would be reluctant to support the bill if HECO can’t get the settlement finalized. But if the settlement is approved and it’s clear the new fund would be used only for future claims, Keohokalole said he would be comfortable supporting securitization. “If we’re at the 2-yard line, I might be willing to bail out HECO,” he said. Sen. Glenn Wakai, who chairs the Senate Committee on Energy and Intergovernmental Affairs, also expressed conditional support for the bill, but would prefer a fund that could protect parties in addition to HECO. He also wants residential customers to get something in return. “If HECO’s going to charge $48 more a year, HECO better have a clear plan on how they’re going to reduce costs for customers as well,” he said. Wakai said he’s aware that HECO’s proposal breaks down to “just $4” a month per household. But he said such seemingly small price increases are what have created Hawaii’s notoriously high cost of living. “After a while, ‘just, just, just’ adds up to ‘big, big, big’ for ratepayers,” he said.