Full-Time Criminal Investigative Unit Proposed To Tackle Illegal Fireworks Honolulu Civil Beat Chad Blair January 7, 2025 Original Article A report submitted to the Hawaiʻi Legislature Friday concludes that illegal fireworks are being smuggled into the state by sea and air on a year-round and possibly daily basis. It’s sustained by a flourishing and well-established black market that local law enforcement has found difficult to disrupt and dismantle. The report from the state’s Illegal Fireworks Task Force urges the Legislature to consider creating a full-time criminal investigation unit within the Department of Law Enforcement to confront the problem on a permanent basis. “Only a full-time approach can bring the necessary cultural changes to confront the fireworks problem at-large in Hawaii,” the report states. The Salt Lake area viewed after midnight from a Honolulu Airport parking structure showed only a small portion of the many aerial fireworks ignited this New Year’s Eve. (David Croxford/Civil Beat/2025) While specific funding, staffing and equipment for the unit are not suggested in the report, it also recommends a new firearms and explosives laboratory — estimated to cost $2 million — within the law enforcement agency. Hawaiʻi has only one forensic lab, housed in the Honolulu Police Department. Sen. Karl Rhoads, chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, welcomed the recommendation for a new criminal unit. “I think it’s the only really viable idea because, as they point out, there’s a lot of similarities between narcotics and fireworks,” Rhoads said. “And they’ve been using the narcotics investigators to investigate fireworks cases. That’s great in the short term, but it’s not going to work in the long term.” An ‘Alluring Attraction’ To Make Money Illegally The task force’s work was ordered by lawmakers in 2023, long before the massive fireworks explosion on New Year’s Eve in a Salt Lake neighborhood on Oʻahu. As of Monday, four people have been reported dead and around two dozen injured from that explosion, while another person was killed in a separate fireworks-related incident on Oʻahu. Now, leaders including Hawaiʻi’s governor, Honolulu’s mayor and several state senators and representatives are stepping up their demands for action. In addition to the Department of Law Enforcement, agencies taking part in the task force include the Honolulu Police Department, the Department of the Attorney General, the Department of Public Safety, Homeland Security Investigations, the U.S. Postal Inspection Service and U.S. Customs and Border Control. Their recommendations are likely to be considered by the Legislature, which convenes Jan. 15. The Illegal Fireworks Task Force, which will conclude its work in June unless the Legislature extends its mission, was required to submit a final report this month. It previously reported that 227,000 pounds of illegal fireworks have been seized . The Friday report says that two people have pleaded no contest to felony indictments and 20 others were issued misdemeanor citations. The report says there are ongoing criminal investigations, so public discussion of tactics, techniques and procedures “would frustrate legitimate government interests.” The report, though only eight pages long, offers several insights into why the illegal enterprise is so popular. It calls the marketplace “an alluring attraction” for those looking to make money illegally. Street sources, according to the report, say that the return on investment for those who smuggle illegal fireworks into Hawaii is at a rate of 5 to 1. That means that if a typical smuggling organization purchases a shipping container of fireworks for $200,000 at wholesale, that same container has a street value of about $1 million once it arrives in the islands. ‘Kingpins, Conspirators’ Run Illicit Networks During the 2023 holiday season the task force found that street prices for illegal fireworks were already “astronomically high.” The Department of Law Enforcement said prices had been expected to be higher during the 2024 holiday season because there was “heat” from law enforcement and risk of loss of investment due to bulk seizures. In short, the task force aims “to price offenders out of the marketplace,” leading to reduced demand. But it will take long-term, comprehensive investigations to not only seize prohibited explosive material but also to find and prosecute the people running the illicit networks — “kingpins, conspirators, and their associated criminal finances and assets.” To do that, a new crime unit is necessary because the task force is only part time. While claiming success from its work, the task force concept in the long term “is not sustainable” the report states. It does not call for increased penalties for possession of contraband. Nor does it accomplish two of its primary purposes: to develop a comprehensive strategic plan to stop illegal fireworks, and to ensure the safety and security of airports, harbors and other facilities from explosive discharges. The first goal requires more work, the report states, which will begin “in earnest” this year. And, while the task force says it has increased awareness and surveillance at Hawaii’s ports of entry and mail distribution systems, “a sustained full-time effort” is needed.

New laws kick off 2025: Some aim to attract more nurses, doctors to Hawaii Hawaii Tribune Herald John Burnett January 7, 2025 Original Article A number of new laws took effect starting Jan. 1. At least four of those laws are related to medicine — with two intended to facilitate the licensing of physicians and nurses, which are in short supply in Hawaii. Act 112, from a bill introduced in 2023 by state Sen. Joy San Buenaventura, a Puna Democrat, makes Hawaii a part of the Interstate Medical Licensure Compact. That affiliation will make it easier for licensed physicians coming to Hawaii from other states. The IMLC currently includes 40 states, including Hawaii, plus the District of Columbia and Guam, and three additional states have introduced legislation to join. “The interstate compact is one of the bills that (Hawaii Medical Service Association), Kaiser, and the military were all hoping would pass, because it will help them recruit more medical providers to Hawaii,” San Buenaventura told the Tribune-Herald while the Legislature was in session last year. “We also know there are doctors here in Hawaii that are retirees who would be more than willing to work part time, but don’t want to go through the effort of having to get re-licensed and re-credentialed.” The state estimates Hawaii has a shortage of 768 physicians statewide, a 21% deficit. Hawaii Island’s physician shortfall is estimated at 40%. Act 95, another new law, allows out-of-state licensed registered nurses and practical nurses who hold a multi-state license issued by another state, territory or country to apply for a temporary work permit simultaneously with an application for a license to practice in Hawaii. The act was one of 22 health care measures signed into law by Gov. Josh Green, a physician, on June 27 last year. Using federal Health Resources and Service Administration methodology, Hawaii this year is estimated to face a deficit of around 3,311 registered nurses alone, representing a 28% shortfall in the nursing workforce statewide. Big Island hospitals, including Hilo Benioff Medical Center, have turned to travel nurses to close the gap. Act 91 authorizes minors who are at least 14 years old to consent to medical care and services for sexually transmitted infections, pregnancy and family planning services, including the prevention of sexually transmitted infections (STIs). It requires confidentiality policies and practices for insurers and health care providers. The law, part of governor’s legislative package introduced by Sen. President Ron Kouchi, closes what’s been described as a critical gap in minor access to medical services related to STIs, including HIV. For decades, Hawaii law has permitted minors aged 14 to 17 to independently consent to medical care for the treatment of STIs but not for prevention. Act 91 will permit minors 14 to 17 who are at risk for exposure to STIs to consent to medical care for the prevention of STIs. There is now medication that can be taken by an individual at risk for HIV in order to prevent infection. On Facebook, the state Department of Health said it “encourages minors to involve a parent or guardian in seeking medical care to prevent STIs.” “However, often minors who could benefit from this medical care do not involve parents or guardians out of fear of disclosing their sexual behavior or sexual orientation,” the post continues. “Act 91 will allow more teens to access medical care to help keep them safe.” And Act 104 allows licensed pharmacists to administer vaccines to persons 3 years of age or older without a prescription from a doctor, if certain requirements are met. Also taking effect on New Year’s Day are laws that: establishes kalo, the Hawaiian word for taro, as the state plant; expands the definition of “beer” to include alcoholic seltzers; requires lobbyists’ expenditures statements to include the identity of the legislative or administrative action that was commented on, supported by, or opposed by the person filing the statement; requires state legislators to include the names of lobbyists with whom the legislator has a relationship; requires public meeting notices to inform testifiers how to provide remote oral testimony allowing the testifier, upon request, to be visible to board members and other meeting participants; establishes judicial procedures to prevent and remedy abusive litigation; requires motion picture and other media productions to provide evidence of reasonable efforts to comply with all applicable requirements to qualify for the income tax credit; and expands the transient accommodations tax law to include certain shelters and vehicles with sleeping accommodations.

Mismanagement Claims: State Tourism Officials Grilled By Lawmakers Civil Beat Stewart Yerton June 23, 2025 Original Article Hawaiʻi lawmakers grilled leaders of the Hawaiʻi Tourism Authority all day on Monday, drilling down on questions about financial management and the overall effectiveness of an organization on the verge of chaos. Lawmakers covered everything from a marketing contract with the Los Angeles Rams to controversies involving a senior financial officer now on unpaid leave to a practice of asking board members to remove agenda items to avoid critical press coverage. Hawaiʻi Tourism Authority board Chairman Todd Apo, left, Hawaiʻi Visitors and Convention Bureau Chief Executive Aaron Salā, acting HTA Chief Executive Caroline Anderson and Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism Director Jimmy Tokioka answered questions from lawmakers on Monday. (Hawaii Legislature/Screenshot/2025) At one point during the marathon hearing, Sen. Lynne DeCoite, who chairs the Senate Committee on Economic Development and Tourism, summed up the theme of the informational briefing. “Houston, we have a problem,” she said. “And we have to fix it.” Gov. Josh Green plans to ask for the resignations of every member of the authority’s board, according to a statement provided by his office to Hawaii News Now. “Because the responsibilities of the board have changed to an advisory role, he feels it best to start with a clean slate,” the statement said. “The HTA board as it was previously established no longer exists, so it makes sense to look at the composition of the new board.” Sen. Lynne DeCoite, chair, Senate Committee on Economic Development and Tourism “Sometimes you’ve got to take just a whole different direction.” The tourism authority’s acting chief executive, Caroline Anderson, spent much of Monday on the hot seat, facing questions from members of DeCoite’s Senate committee and the House Committee on Tourism. While Anderson has implemented a 90-day plan to get HTA back on track, the informational briefing reinforced the image of an agency embroiled in strife. HTA has lacked a permanent chief executive for nearly two years, and the agency has been shaken by defections of key staff. Its interim president and chief executive, Daniel Nāhoʻopiʻi, Chief Stewardship Officer Kalana Ka‘anā‘anā and spokesman T. Ilihia Gionson have all left in the past year. On top of that, the organization’s head of finance and acting chief administrative officer, Isaac Choy, was recently placed on unpaid leave for allegedly creating a hostile work environment for Native Hawaiian employees. He’s fired back with a lawsuit saying he was removed for reporting procurement violations and widespread financial waste within the tourism agency. Meanwhile, the whole organization faces major structural changes thanks to a new law signed by Green in May. For lawmakers, the bottom line was about spending taxpayer money — HTA gets about $63 million a year to market Hawaiʻi and mitigate overtourism — on a flawed agency. DeCoite said the agency is asking the state for more money to run a program that is “literally flawed,” adding that “sometimes you’ve got to take just a whole different direction.” L.A. Rams Lūʻau Cost Taxpayers $80,000 Lawmakers spent significant time asking about procurement policies. A case in point involved a marketing contract with the Los Angeles Rams . The $1.8 million contract calls for the Rams to promote Hawaiʻi in the state’s largest market for visitors and to put on a mini-camp on Maui, including flag football for girls, which was held June 18. DeCoite praised the event and the goodwill it brought the community. So did Sen. Donna Mercado Kim and Jimmy Tokioka, director of the Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism, which oversees HTA. Gov. Josh Green and Los Angeles Rams president Keven Demoff announced a tourism marketing contract between the state and team in June. An ambiguity in the Hawaiʻi Tourism Authority’s contract with the Rams means the state will have to pay an estimated $80,000 for an event on top of the $1.8 million contract. (Courtesy of LA Rams) The issue was an apparent hole in the Rams’ contract. Not clear from the document was how much the state would be on the hook for a 400-person lūʻau with an open bar that was part of the Rams’ visit to Hawaiʻi. That event tacked on at least $80,000 to the costs to the state, Tokioka said. The sole-source contract called for the Rams to pay a maximum of $5,000 for the event, leaving the state to pay the rest. HTA officials couldn’t explain exactly how the provision became part of the contract, which they said was negotiated by Kaʻanāʻanā, who’s no longer on staff. Mercado Kim criticized the tourism agency for overlooking such hidden costs. “This is not just one contract,” she said. “This is inherent in your whole system.” Sens. Donna Mercado Kim, left, and Lynn DeCoite and Rep. Adrian Tam spent Monday questioning state tourism officials about the Hawaiʻi Tourism Authority (Hawaiʻi Legislature/Screenshot/2025) Another issue involved a $780,000 interest charge on late payments to the organization’s main marketing contractors, the Hawaiʻi Visitors and Convention Bureau, which has a $38.6 million two-year contract for marketing, and the Council for Native Hawaiian Advancement, which does destination management under an $18.7 million contract. Anderson, the authority’s acting chief executive, said the state will not be on the hook for the $780,000, which she said will come from the visitors bureau’s existing contract. Not satisfied, Kim asked how the money spent to cover interest was furthering the goal of marketing Hawaiʻi as a tourist destination. That would leave a $780,000 hole somewhere else. Kim also called out Anderson for placing Choy on leave in May when Choy was the one who raised questions about the cost. In May, Anderson placed Choy on unpaid leave for making derogatory remarks about Native Hawaiians. Tokioka has said he heard one such comment, reprimanded Choy and demanded an apology. Choy, a former longtime lawmaker, has shot back with a whistleblower lawsuit saying he’s being retaliated against after reporting procurement violations and other problems at HTA that are wasting millions of dollars. Kim raised questions about the dispute. “We have a qualified person who has a target on his back because he flushed out the deficiencies,” Kim said. “How is that fair?” Sen. Kurt Fevella, who has criticized Choy for using the term “dumb Hawaiian” during contract negotiations with the Council for Native Hawaiian Advancement, said, “Nobody has put a target on anyone’s back.” The issue, he said, was a racial slur “about our people being ‘dumb Hawaiians.’” David Arakawa, chair of the Hawaiʻi Tourism Authority’s Budget, Finance and Convention Center Committee, said he was asked to take items off a meeting agenda to avoid bad press for the agency. (Cory Lum/Civil Beat/2018) Anderson’s time on the hot seat got even more tense at one point when HTA board member David Arakawa joined Anderson at the table. According to Arakawa, who chairs the tourism agency’s Budget, Finance and Convention Center Committee, Anderson asked him to remove items from a committee agenda for a May meeting because they might result in bad press. Anderson explained to lawmakers that staff didn’t have the information to answer the questions and that she was trying to create a spirit of collaboration in the organization. “You’re not collaborating,” DeCoite said. “You’re dictating.” When Anderson denied Kim’s allegation that Anderson was acting like a “gestapo,” Kim shot back, “If you can say, ‘Take something off the agenda,’ then you are one: I’m sorry.” Rep. Adrian Tam, who chairs the House Tourism Committee, offered another suggestion for avoiding critical media attention. “If you want to avoid bad headlines,” Tam said, “I think the better approach would actually be to address the problems head-on instead of putting it under the rug.”

Honolulu launches $5M grant program to support low-income rental housing Star Advertiser Ian Bauer February 7, 2025 Original Article Honolulu Mayor Rick Blangiardi’s administration is offering $5 million in grant funding to stoke the creation of more low- income rental housing on Oahu. Currently, the city Department of Land Management is soliciting proposals from nonprofit entities and public agencies for funding opportunities through the Affordable Housing Fund, or AHF, which typically provides funding to develop and expand affordable rental housing for households earning 60% or less of area median income. The fund also comes with the requirement that funded housing remain affordable for at least 60 years. But in this solicitation, the city is prioritizing projects that serve extremely low-income households — or 30% AMI and below, including those experiencing homelessness — in which a person earns $29,250 a year or a family of four receives $41,750 annually, according to the state Housing Community Development Authority. “This funding opportunity is a key part of the city’s broader strategy to increase the supply of affordable housing, particularly for those in urgent need, including individuals transitioning out of homelessness,” Kevin Auger, executive director of the Mayor’s Office of Housing, said in a statement. In a statement, Catherine Taschner, DLM’s director designate, said the program encourages “organizations to bring forward projects that will have a lasting impact.” “By prioritizing projects that serve extremely low- income households, this initiative underscores our commitment to tackling homelessness and expanding affordable housing opportunities,” she said. The funding cap is $55,000 per unit, meaning the program could support at least 90 units at full funding, according to city officials. They add that the actual unit production will depend on project scope, land acquisition costs and whether funds are used for new construction or rehabilitation. City officials say they won’t know the number of affected units until the completion of the competitive selection process. And while 90 units is the estimated baseline, the final number could be higher depending on how efficiently funds are allocated and whether projects secure additional financing. The proposal submission deadline is scheduled for 3 p.m. March 18. Meantime, the city is also seeking developers willing to build or redevelop four new affordable housing projects on city-owned parcels in urban Honolulu. The properties in question include: >> 1615 Ala Wai Blvd. >> 436 Ena Road. >> 130 S. Beretania St. >> 1421 Pensacola St. Under this program, selected developers will enter into a 75-year ground lease with the city and will be responsible for designing, financing, constructing and operating affordable rental housing on these sites. DLM recently issued a “request for qualifications” to redevelop the four underutilized sites, the city said. The deadline to submit is 1 p.m. March 21. Both of these efforts correspond with the Blangiardi administration’s unveiling earlier this week of its new plan to expand construction of more housing across Oahu. Coinciding with the mayor’s second four-year term, the city’s Office of Housing released its 2025-2028 Strategic Housing Plan, which aims to partner with developers to “activate underutilized” city-owned lands on the island and involve using new types of “financing strategies” to build more housing on the island. The plan, which does not offer an overall number of new housing units the city expects to develop on the island, will supposedly lay the groundwork for such development in the coming years — or at least as long as the Blangiardi administration remains in office. The mayor’s second and final term ends in 2028. During a news conference held Wednesday at the Mayor’s office, a few “special guests” — namely, representatives from large developer firms including Kobayashi Group LLC, Stanford Carr Development LLC and Castle &Cooke Hawaii, among others — appeared. Peter Savio, a longtime real estate developer in Hawaii and president and CEO of the Savio Group of Companies, did not appear at the mayor’s news conference. But afterward, Savio told the Honolulu Star- Advertiser that the city’s approach to building more affordable housing on Oahu misunderstands the real issue at play. “We do not have a supply problem; we have a demand problem,” he said. “As we build affordable units and sales restrictions expire, they get resold at market and become unaffordable.” And most so-called affordable housing units are “unaffordable based on local wages,” he said. “Real estate markets are local in nature, and slow for the building and sale of homes in a community,” he added. “This means homes are sold tied to the income of buyers and sellers in that community.” Savio said if applied to housing in Hawaii, and tied to average wages, a three-bedroom, two-bath fee-simple home should sell for about $450,000. Instead, that home sells for more than $1 million, he noted. “‘Affordable’ projects have studios at $250,000 (and) one-bedrooms at $400,000. They are lower than market prices but still unaffordable,” said Savio. “Outside demand has pushed our market above the local sale price by over $700,000.” “Our wages do not allow us to compete for home purchases. We are priced out of our market because of our demand,” he said. “If demand is the problem, building more supply simply attracts wealthy mainland and foreign buyers.” “If demand is the issue, building more is the worst thing the government can do,” he added. To solve the problem, Savio claimed the government must establish a program to keep housing affordable in perpetuity. “This can be done by creating an affordable local market where homes are sold in a controlled market, where price is determined by increase in wages,” he said. “Wages go up 20% over 10 years, the price goes up 20%.” “All we have done is create a local market for local wage earners, which is what our market would be without the distortion of outside buyers,” he said. To that end, Savio said he supports new state-level legislation introduced by Sens. Les Ihara Jr. and Carol Fukunaga. He said the measures — Senate Bills 1632 and 379, respectively — are meant to establish “a local market” for housing as well as keep so-called affordable housing “affordable forever.” “That’s the real story,” he added. “We have a solution and it will work.” Meanwhile, according to the city and the University of Hawaii Economic Research Organization, or UHERO, the median sales price of a single-family home exceeds $1.1 million, and median rents approach $2,000. In the Honolulu metro area alone, there are nearly 20,000 cost-restricted units, while West Oahu contains approximately 9,000 units, UHERO says. According to the Hawaii Housing Factbook, 58% of Oahu renters are rent-burdened, spending more than 30% of their income on housing. In comparison, 29% are severely rent-burdened, allocating over half their income to rent, the housing report says.

Hawaii urges voluntary pause on bird movement due to avian flu detection Big Island Times Big Island Times December 13, 2024 Original Article In response to the detection of avian flu in Hawaii's wastewater and wild birds, state agencies are recommending a voluntary 90-day pause on the interisland movement of poultry and other bird species. This measure is suggested by Moloka‘i State Senator and farmer Lynn DeCoite as a way to prevent the spread of the virus. Before November, Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) had not been found in Hawaii. Although this strain has been present in the continental U.S., Europe, and Asia, Hawaii was the last U.S. state to confirm infections among birds. The HPAI strain likely arrived via migrating birds from northern regions near Alaska. Transmission occurs through direct contact between birds or through contact with contaminated materials. The state's response involves several agencies working together: While human transmission risk is low, residents are advised to stay alert. Sick pets should be reported to veterinarians. Unusual illnesses in poultry, livestock, or wild birds should be reported to HDOA at 808-483-7100 during business hours or 808-837-8092 after hours. Residents who develop symptoms after exposure to sick birds should contact the DOH disease reporting line at 808-586-4586 for guidance. State experts recognize the difficulty of controlling wild bird movements but believe that limiting domestic bird movement will reduce transmission risks. At Senator DeCoite’s request, data collection is underway to evaluate the need for a formal quarantine while considering economic impacts on local products. State Senator and veterinarian Dr. Tim Richards expressed his support for this precautionary measure, stating:

Hawaii elections commission calls for end to mail-in voting Hawaii News Now Daryl Huff November 4, 2025 Original Article HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) - The state elections commission has voted to ask the legislature to ban mail-in and early voting and return to traditional in-person voting on Election Day. The bipartisan commission, which is half Democrat and half Republican, voted 5-3 over several contentious meetings to recommend voting only on Election Day in person with ID required on paper ballots that would be hand counted in precincts. Under the proposal, only military families and people with special needs would be allowed to vote absentee. Republican concerns over verification Republican commissioners said they have found discrepancies in mail-in voting and claim the movement of absentee ballots and envelopes from homes to post offices to counties for verification and to the state for counting has not been securely controlled or tracked. “No one who is outside the system can verify the results,” said Lindsey Kamm. Dylan Andrion said the commission is “going back to what works.” There was also concern that the emphasis on mail-in balloting made it more difficult for people to vote in person at limited sites. Commissioner Kahiolani Papalimu, from the Big Island, said, “being an incredibly rural island, I’d much prefer voting in our precincts, which is accessible to everyone in their area.” Democrats dispute claims Democrat commissioners and elections officials said the Republican claims are false and that there is no evidence of fraud or miscounting. “It’s just ludicrous. There’s no basis for connecting this supposed unverifiable statement, which is false, to the need to go back to in person voting,” said Jeffrey Osterkamp. Clare McAdam noted that in the 2024 election, 92.5% of voters voted by mail. “It’s 92.5% of the state wants to vote by mail, and I think that’s very important that we bear in mind all the time when we consider this,” McAdam said. Senate Judiciary chair Karl Rhoads, who would have jurisdiction over changing election law, said he believes the chances the legislature will approve the changes are zero. “I don’t even know the last time that Hawaii had one-day voting,” Rhoads said. Rhoads said he believes Republican commissioners are trying to undermine election confidence following President Trump’s lead. “I think they’re doing what they think he’s asking him to do. I think it’s from the top. The irony, of course, is that Trump himself uses mail-in voting,” Rhoads said. In addition to seeking to ban mail-in voting, Republican commissioners have repeatedly tried and failed to fire elections administrator Scott Nago and may try again Wednesday.

Senate Committee on Ways and Means advances executive budget bill Maui Now March 31, 2025 Original Article The Senate Committee on Ways and Means on Monday passed House Bill 300 Senate Draft 1 , which outlines the Executive Branch state budget for the upcoming fiscal years. The bill includes funding for both the State’s operating and capital improvement budgets for fiscal years 2025-2026 and 2026-2027. Following the latest downward forecast from the Council on Revenues and amidst ongoing economic uncertainty, the WAM committee has adopted a budget that it says maintains essential services for the state’s most vulnerable populations and proactively expands the economy through strategic investments in emerging sectors. With potential cuts in federal funding and policy changes that could result in broader economic challenges, the Senate reports it remains committed to fostering economic resilience and advancing meaningful solutions that Hawaiʻi’s communities need to thrive. A summary of totals included in the approved budget are as follows: Operating Budget: For Fiscal Year 2025-2026 , the operating budget totals almost $10.44 billion in general funds and about $19.93 billion across all financing sources. For Fiscal Year 2026-2027 , the operating budget totals around $10.42 billion in general funds and almost $19.74 billion across all financing sources. Capital Improvement Budget: For Fiscal Year 2025-2026 , the capital improvement budget includes about $1.56 billion in general obligation bond funds and around $3.72 billion from all financing sources. For Fiscal Year 2026-2027 , the capital improvement budget includes over $339.5 million in general obligation bond funds and about $2.05 billion from all financing sources. “The Senate continues to prioritize investments that foster systems within our island home to sustain essential services, including access to food, healthcare, and housing,” said Sen. Donovan M. Dela Cruz (Senate District 17 –  portion of Mililani, Mililani Mauka, portion of Waipiʻo Acres, Launani Valley, Wahiawā, Whitmore Village), WAM chair. “This budget makes strategic appropriations to invest into our local regional economies to drive economic growth statewide. This wholistic approach will help to diversify our economy, create high-paying local jobs, and reverse the brain drain. Together, we can make Hawaiʻi a place where locals can live, learn, work, and play.” “In these times of uncertainty, we focused on the essentials: health and safety, compliance, infrastructure, and maintaining and modernizing state assets,” stated Sen. Sharon Y. Moriwaki (Senate District 12 – Waikīkī, Ala Moana, Kaka‘ako, McCully), vice-chair of WAM. “We’ve also focused on our Senate priorities of affordable housing, workforce development, environmental sustainability, and economic development and diversification including agricultural innovations.” Budget allocations in line with this year’s Senate priorities: Education and Workforce Development Add one position and $55,068 in FY26 and $110,136 in FY27 to advance financial literacy education initiatives statewide Add 2 positions and $220,272 in FY26 and FY27 for educational programming for students in residential facilities and for neglected/delinquent youth Add $1,450,000 in FY26 and FY27 to address healthcare workforce shortages in collaboration with DOE Add four positions and $947,736 in FY26 and FY27 to provide career foundations across core and emerging industries, in collaboration with the McKinley Community School for Adults and the Business Development and Support Division Add 11 positions and $1,243,212 in FY26 and $1,468,488 in FY27 to address nursing shortages statewide Add $15,000,000 in FY26 and FY27 for the Healthcare Education Loan Repayment Program to help improve access to quality healthcare in underserved areas Add $1,000,000 in FY26 and FY27 to establish the Aloha Intelligence Institute in UH Community College Systems to develop pathways for workforce development Add $4,000,000 in FY26 and FY27 for the Hoakea Program, in partnership with the Polynesian Voyaging Society Add $465,000 in FY26 and FY27 for differentials for Charter Schools teachers, including for hard-to-fill and Hawaiian Immersion teachers Add 58 positions and $5,027,927 in FY26 and 108 positions and $8,236,302 in FY27 for the Lieutenant Governor’s Ready Keiki initiative, which aims to expand access to pre-school statewide Housing, Homelessness, and Stabilizing Hawaiʻi’s Property Insurance Market Add $4,100,000 in FY26 and FY27 to help offenders reintegrate into society, including by providing replacement vital documents, mental health treatment services, substance abuse treatment services, and transitional housing Add $1,550,000 in FY26 and FY27 for Family Assessment Centers for homeless families with minor children Add $3,750,000 in FY26 and FY27 for Housing First Program to provide transitional housing to individuals who frequent healthcare services and the criminal justice system Add $1,750,000 in FY26 and FY27 for Homeless Outreach Services to collaborate with state agencies to transition individuals into long-term housing solutions Add $5,000,000 in FY26 to support State agencies to address homeless encampments on State lands Add $3,750,000 in FY26 and FY27 for Rapid Re-housing Program which provides supportive services to families Add $250,000 in FY26 and FY27 for State Rent Supplement Program to provide housing subsidies for low-income families Increase State Low-Income Housing revolving fund ceiling to add 2 positions and $160,478 in FY26 and $300,356 in FY27 to assist with Public Housing programs Add one position and $100,000 in FY26 and FY27 for the 99-year leasehold program, which aims to develop low-cost residential condominium units for first-time homebuyers Increase special fund ceiling by $200,000,000 in FY26 and FY27 for distribution of insurance proceeds from the Maui wildfires General Governance and Constitutional Rights Add $200,000 in FY26 and $220,000 in FY27 for IT accessibility implementation in the Office of Enterprise Technology Services, in consultation with the Disability and Communication Assess Board Increase special fund ceiling by $5,000,000 in FY26 and FY27 to expand 911 services to new and emerging technologies Add two positions and $440,000 in FY26 and FY27 to establish the Immigrant Services and Access Unit to promote economic self‑sufficiency, community inclusion, and integration Add $1,500,000 in FY26 to improve paid family and medical leave Add $250,000 in FY26 and $264,000 in FY27 for the Silver Alert Program, which helps protect vulnerable kupuna and persons with cognitive impairments or developmental disabilities Add eight positions and $5,042,937 in FY26 and $2,292,014 in FY27 to create the Explosives Enforcement Section to help stop the importation of illegal fireworks Add one position and $200,000 in FY26 and FY27 to help incorporate language access laws into disaster management plans Add six positions and $876,000 in FY26 and FY27 for the Office of Wellness and Resilience to continue Hawaiʻi’s largest statewide health survey ever, as well as the largest dataset using the Center for Disease Control’s National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health Worker Well-being Questionnaire. Add $125,000 in FY26 for medical transportation across rural Oahu Add two positions and $612,210 in FY26 and $1,694,644 in FY27 to expand critical State services to blind and visually impaired residents of the neighbor islands Environmental Sustainability and Infrastructure Add 44 positions and $13,324,731 in both fiscal years for biosecurity Add 7.5 positions and $422,604 in in both fiscal years to operate and maintain irrigation systems statewide Add $200,000 in FY26 and FY27 to minimize the spread of rat lungworm disease Add $1,500,000 in FY26 and FY27 for overtime payments within the Division of Conservation and Resources Enforcement Add 21 positions and $4,967,103 in FY26 and $2,002,972 in FY27 to protect the natural resources of our State Add one position and $110,000 in FY26 and FY27, and increase special fund ceiling by $5,000,000 in FY26 and FY27 to revitalize plantation-era reservoirs statewide Add $500,000 in FY26 for climate change assessments in community development districts Increase federal fund ceiling by $393,600 in FY26 and $442,800 in FY27 for three positions for the Tribal Broadband Connectivity Program, which aims to expand high-speed internet access to Native Hawaiian households Add $15,000,000 in FY26 for fire mitigation on highways statewide Increase revolving fund ceiling by $11,591,397 in FY26 for National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System Permits Agricultural Innovation and Other Revenue Streams Add $2,058,118 for the Agribusiness Development Corporation to support local farmers, in collaboration with the College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resilience Add $2,000,000 in FY26 to supplement the revolving fund to keep irrigation water rates affordable for local farmers Add $865,000 in FY26 and FY27 to help local entrepreneurs expand to global markets Add $4,150,000 in FY26 and FY27 for the First Lady’s Feeding Hawaiʻi Keiki initiative, in collaboration with the DOE and CTAHR Add $1,500,000 in FY26 to establish the Smart Food Program that will allow Hawaiʻi food producers and retailers to make specific food items available at discounts to SNAP recipients Add $4,000,000 in FY26 and FY27 to cement Hawaiʻi’s position as the gateway between the East and the West Add one position and $35,508 in FY26 and $71,016 in FY27 for the Hawaiʻi Film Office Add two positions and $66,888 in FY26 and $133,776 in FY27 for the Academy of Creative Media Add $126,000 in FY26 and FY27 for the Small Business Coordinator, to help ensure equal opportunity for businesses owned by veterans, Native Hawaiians, and women Add one position and $57,500 in FY26 and $115,000 in FY27 for antitrust laws and the promotion of a fair and competitive economy Budget allocations for State Departments include: Department of Agriculture Add 44 positions and $13,324,731 in both fiscal years for biosecurity Add 7.5 positions and $422,604 in in both fiscal years to operate and maintain irrigation systems statewide Add $2,000,000 in FY26 to supplement the revolving fund to keep irrigation water rates affordable for local farmers Add $100,000 and 1 Grant Writer position to capitalize on extramural funding Department of Accounting and General Services Add one position and $2,550,000 in FY26 and $4,800,000 in FY27 to expand access to Boards and Commissions meetings Add $200,000 in FY26 and $220,000 in FY27 for IT accessibility implementation in the Office of Enterprise Technology Services, in consultation with the Disability and Communication Assess Board Add $1,600,000 in FY26 and FY27 for cybersecurity risk mitigation efforts Add $310,000 in FY26 and $325,000 in FY27 for cloud backup and disaster recovery solutions Add two positions, and $1,088,500 in FY26 and $1,167,000 in FY27 to establish the Cemetery Management Office Add $126,000 in FY26 and FY27 for the Small Business Coordinator, to help ensure equal opportunity for businesses owned by veterans, Native Hawaiians, and women Add two positions and $2,115,000 in FY26 and $380,000 in FY27 for the Campaign Spending Commission to upgrade electronic voting systems Increase special fund ceiling by $5,000,000 in FY26 and FY27 to expand 911 services to new and emerging technologies Increase special fund ceiling by $200,000,000 in FY26 and FY27 for distribution of insurance proceeds from the Maui wildfires Department of the Attorney General Add two positions and $196,863 in FY26 and $271,445 in FY27 for the Hawaiʻi Correctional System Oversight Commission to help ensure a comprehensive offender re-entry program Add two positions and $152,767 in FY26 and $305,531 in FY27 for the Medical Fraud Unit Add one position and $57,500 in FY26 and $115,000 in FY27 for antitrust laws and the promotion of a fair and competitive economy Add one position and $57,500 in FY26 and $115,000 in FY27 to help uphold child protection laws and support the Office of Youth Services Add $3,070,000 in FY26 and FY27 to help ensure pay equity for Deputy Attorney General positions Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism Add $1,450,000 in FY26 and FY27 to address healthcare workforce shortages in collaboration with DOE Add $250,000 in FY26 and FY27 to provide career foundations in collaboration with DOE’s community schools for adults Add $865,000 in FY26 and FY27 to help local entrepreneurs expand to global markets Add $4,150,000 in FY26 and FY27 for the First Lady’s Feeding Hawaiʻi Keiki initiative, in collaboration with the DOE and CTAHR Add $4,000,000 in FY26 and FY27 to cement Hawaiʻi’s position as the gateway between the East and the West Add one position and $35,508 in FY26 and $71,016 in FY27 for the Hawaiʻi Film Office Add $500,000 in FY26 for climate change assessments in community development districts Add $2,058,118 to support local farmers, in collaboration with the College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resilience Department of Budget and Finance Add one position and $983,500 in FY26 and $592,600 in FY27 to safeguard the State’s $24 billion assets for the Employees’ Retirement System Increase trust fund ceiling by 143,719 in FY26 and $287,438 in FY27 for one Investment Officer to help maintain post-employment benefits, including healthcare Add $1,653,691 in FY26 and FY27 to help ensure pay equity for positions within the Office of the Public Defender Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs Increase special fund ceiling by:$12,000,000 to renovate the historic King Kalakaua Building $58,233 in FY26 and $116,466 in FY27 for 1 Auditor for the Public Utilities Commission to address rate payer affordability and renewable portfolio standards Department of Defense Add $230,000 in FY26 for critical telecommunications infrastructure Add $2,037,196 in FY26 and FY27 to help ensure pay equity for positions at the Youth Challenge Academy Add one position and $200,000 in FY26 and FY27 to help incorporate language access laws into disaster management plans Department of Education Add $4,000,000 in FY26 and FY27 for the Hoakea Program, in partnership with the Polynesian Voyaging Society Add $726,100 in FY26 and FY27 to make girls flag football a sport Add $63,082 in FY26 and FY27 for neighbor island student participation in JROTC competition Add two positions and $220,272 in FY26 and FY27 for educational programming for students in residential facilities and for neglected/delinquent youth Add $10,000,000 in FY26 and FY27 for skilled nursing services for individuals with disabilities Add $1,700,000 in FY26 and FY27 to increase access to mental health and well- being support systems Add four positions and $697,736 in FY26 and FY27 to provide career foundations across core and emerging industries, in collaboration with the McKinley Community School for Adults Add $4,125,000 in FY26 and FY27 for the Farm to School mandate, which aims to locally source 30% of DOE school meals by 2030 Add $500,000 in FY26 and $250,000 in FY27 for an automated handing system that utilizes radio-frequency identification for all Public Libraries Add $465,000 in FY26 and FY27 for differentials for Charter Schools teachers, including for hard-to-fill and Hawaiian Immersion teachers Add 58 positions and $5,027,927 in FY26 and 108.00 positions and $8,236,302 in FY27 for the Lieutenant Governor’s Ready Keiki initiative, which aims to expand access to pre-school statewide Department of Hawaiian Home Lands Increase federal fund ceiling by $393,600 in FY26 and $442,800 in FY27 for three positions for the Tribal Broadband Connectivity Program, which aims to expand high-speed internet access to Native Hawaiian households Department of Human Services Add six positions and $876,000 in FY26 and FY27 for the Office of Wellness and Resilience to continue Hawaiʻi’s largest statewide health survey ever, as well as the largest dataset using the Center for Disease Control’s National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health Worker Well-being Questionnaire. Increase special fund ceiling by $225,000,000 in FY26 and FY27 for the Hospital Sustainability Program Increase special fund ceiling by $35,000,000 in FY26 and FY27 for the Nursing Facility Sustainability ProgramThese recurring appropriations sustain public-private partnerships to provide care to the most vulnerable populations in the State Add $750,000 in FY26 and FY27 for the Child Wellness Incentive Pilot Program Add $1,500,000 in FY26 to establish the Smart Food Program that will allow Hawaiʻi food producers and retailers to make specific food items available at discounts to SNAP recipients Add two positions and $612,210 in FY26 and $1,694,644 in FY27 to expand critical State services to blind and visually impaired residents of the neighbor islands Department of Human Resources Development 1. Add $1,750,000 in FY26 to help ensure pay equity for civil service jobs across the State Department of Health Add $125,000 in FY26 for medical transportation across rural Oʻahu Add $8,600,000 in FY26 and $18,400,000 in FY27 for Medicaid home and community-based services waiver for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities Add $5,500,000 in FY26 to expand the number of psychiatric beds at the Hawaiʻi State Hospital Add $1,600,000 in FY26 and FY27 for a second medic station and ambulance on Molokaʻi Add three positions and $192,408 in FY26 and FY27 for the Senior Medicare Patrol Program to protect kupuna from medical fraud and scams Add $1,700,000 in FY26 and FY27 for reproductive health and family planning services Add $15,000,000 in FY26 and FY27 for the Healthcare Education Loan Repayment Program to help improve access to quality healthcare in underserved areas Department of Law Enforcement Add eight positions and $5,042,937 in FY26 and $2,292,014 in FY27 to create the Explosives Enforcement Section to help stop the importation of illegal fireworks Add $825,000 in FY26 to help prevent gun violence Add $250,000 in FY26 and FY27 for de-escalation training for law enforcement officers Add $250,000 in FY26 and $264,000 in FY27 for the Silver Alert Program, which helps protect vulnerable kupuna and persons with cognitive impairments or developmental disabilities Department of Labor and Industrial Relations Add two positions and $440,000 in FY26 and FY27 to establish the Immigrant Services and Access Unit to promote economic self‑sufficiency, community inclusion, and integration Add $1,500,000 in FY26 to improve paid family and medical leave Add two positions and $76,996 in FY26 and $130,592 in FY27 to enforce temporary disability insurance and prepaid healthcare laws Department of Land and Natural Resources Add one position and $110,000 in FY26 and FY27, and increase special fund ceiling by $5,000,000 in FY26 and FY27 to revitalize plantation-era reservoirs statewide Add $1,500,000 in FY26 and FY27 for overtime payments within the Division of Conservation and Resources Enforcement Add 21 positions and $4,967,103 in FY26 and $2,002,972 in FY27 to protect the natural resources of our State Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation Add $112,000 in FY26 and FY27 to provide trauma-informed care training for uniformed and non-uniformed staff Add $4,100,000 in FY26 and FY27 to help offenders reintegrate into society, including by providing replacement vital documents, mental health treatment services, substance abuse treatment services, and transitional housing Department of Taxation Add 338,150 in FY26 and $593,400 in FY27 for the Tax System Modernization Project Department of Transportation Add $15,000,000 in FY26 for fire mitigation on highways statewide Add $5,000,000 in FY26 to support State agencies to address homeless encampments on State lands University of Hawaiʻi Add 11 positions and $1,243,212 in FY26 and $1,468,488 in FY27 to address nursing shortages statewide Add $200,000 in FY26 and FY27 to minimize the spread of rat lungworm disease Add two positions and $66,888 in FY26 and $133,776 in FY27 for the Academy of Creative Media Add $1,000,000 in FY26 and FY27 to establish the Aloha Intelligence Institute in UH Community College Systems to develop pathways for workforce development Add two positions and $210,150 in FY26 and FY27 for Windward Community College’s Mental Health Technician Certificate of Competence Program, in collaboration with the Hawaiʻi State Hospital

Pohoiki Boat Ramp dredging begins HI Tribune-Herald Tribune-Herald staff June 10, 2025 Original Article Dredging work began today to restore access to the lava-barricaded Pohoiki Boat Ramp, eight years after an eruption of Kilauea volcano rendered the structure unusable. Hundreds of people gathered Monday for a community celebration and blessing at the top of the ramp, which by November is expected to be clear of an estimated 42,000 cubic yards of black sand and boulders. That’s about 22,000 full-sized pickup truck beds. “This is a day of celebration to recognize the collaboration of the community, elected officials and (the Department of Land and Natural Resources) working together to support this project,” DLNR Chair Dawn Chang said Monday. “The Pohoiki Boat Ramp is a piko, or focal point for this community. Fishing is a huge part of the greater Puna community and commercial, recreational and subsistence fishers have been waiting patiently for this work to begin.” Even before the 2018 eruption, Finn McCall, the head engineer with the DLNR Division of Boating and Ocean Recreation, made multiple visits to Pohoiki. Immediately after the eruption stopped, McCall continued making further visits to Pohoiki to shift the strategy in addressing ramp needs, according to the DLNR. “Boy, this has been a long journey,” McCall said. “We tried looking at sites from Kapoho all the way to Kalapana. Sand and boulders continued to fill the entire bay, but once that stopped, we began focusing on restoring the Pohoiki ramp.” The state had hoped for more federal support to approve removal of most of the volcanic debris in Pohoiki Bay, but FEMA was only able to approve restoration of the boat ramp entrance channel. Then it took dogged efforts by state lawmakers from the district to convince the rest of the Legislature that opening the Pohoiki Boat Ramp was the top priority for people in the district, according to the DLNR. Chang on Monday singled out the efforts of state Sen. Joy San Buenaventura and state Rep. Greggor Ilagan in getting $5.4 million of state funding for the dredging. The total project cost came in at $9.28 million, which means the $2.9 million shortfall is being covered by the DLNR’s Boating Special Fund, which derives its revenues almost entirely from boating user fees. “We needed people to understand how much it cost in fuel just to bring all our boats from the Wailoa Small Boat Harbor in Hilo, the nearest boating facility, out to Puna to they could fish to feed and support their families,” San Buenaventura said during the blessing ceremony. San Buenaventura and Ilagan often pointed out it was akin to only having one small boat ramp for all of Oahu. According to the DLNR, Chang fielded letter after letter, comment after comment from upset and frustrated fishers, some of whom had to give up their generational livelihoods of fishing because it became too expensive. Family members with lineal connections to the coastline were not able to fish, either. She and every single speaker singled out the community for not giving up and pushing to have Pohoiki restored. As did the consulting company and contractor hired to do the work. “This has been one of the most eye-opening, humbling projects I’ve ever worked on,” said Kyle Kaneshiro of Limtiaco Consulting. “The community made everything so easy. This is not an easy project, but the community got everyone together.” Guy DiBartolo from Goodfellows Bros. Inc., added, “I’ve been to many ground blessings and ceremonies. This one for me, stands out as something unique and special, seeing the community’s involvement over many months and years.” For many people, like DLNR First Deputy Ryan Kanaka‘ole, Pohoiki stirs up fond childhood memories. “Summertime for me was coming down here, making the two-hour drive each way from Kaʻu with my father to dive, surf or just relax. This day makes me remember my dad. He didn’t have a house, but he had a car, and I’ll never forget those days spent at Pohoiki.” The contractor has nine months to complete the project but expects to be finished in November, according to the DLNR.

State preschool program expands to include 2-year-olds with middle-income families now eligible to apply Big Island Now June 24, 2025 Original Article More families will have access to preschool education for their keiki starting in January. Lt. Gov. Sylvia Luke, serving as Acting Governor, today signed into law Act 203 (House Bill 692 ), a major expansion of the state’s Preschool Open Doors tuition subsidy program. Hawai‘i Island Sen. Joy San Buenaventura speaks during bill signing event on expanded Preschool Open Doors program on June 24, 2025. (Photo credit: Office of the Lieutenant Governor) The new law, which takes effect on Jan. 1, 2026, expands eligibility to include 2-year-olds and removes accreditation requirements for child care providers, reducing barriers and increasing child care capacity across Hawaiʻi. “Expanding access to early learning is not just good policy but a commitment to our future, for our children, for our working families, for greater equity,” said Deborah Zysman, executive director for Hawai‘i Childrens Action Network. Administered by the state’s Department of Human Services, the program provides monthly child care and preschool tuition subsidies to qualifying low- to middle-income families. This legislation marks another milestone in the state’s Ready Keiki plan , led by Luke, to ensure universal access to early learning by 2032. In addition to the legislation, Luke signed updated administrative rules (HAR 17-799) that further expand access to the program by raising income eligibility to 500% of the federal poverty level (for example, a family of four earning up to $184,896 is now eligible). “We know that far too many working families fall into the gap—they earn too much to qualify for help but still struggle to afford quality child care. For the first time, a family of four making about $180,000 can qualify for Preschool Open Doors,” Luke said. “This expansion directly addresses that gap and brings us closer to our goal of making early learning truly accessible for all Hawaiʻi families.” The program will also grant presumptive eligibility for families experiencing homelessness or domestic violence, providing temporary support for up to two months while documentation is gathered. It also caps co-payments at 3% of income, or a maximum of $45 per month. These changes take effect Friday, just in time for the open enrollment period starting July 1. Sen. Joy San Buenaventura, who represents Puna, championed the measure in the Senate during the latest legislative session. Following the bill signing, the senator highlighted the new rule that ends annual certification fees for early childhood educator providers, which will increase the pool of providers, hopefully allowing more access. “So long as they are licensed, they don’t need additional certifications,” San Buenaventura said. These updates build on a series of recent improvements to the Preschool Open Doors program. In January 2024, new rules extended eligibility to 3-year-olds, increased income thresholds, and reduced co-pays. In July 2024, the program moved to a year-round application with designated priority and open enrollment periods, making it easier for families to apply when they’re ready. Families across the state are already seeing the real impact of Preschool Open Doors. Scott Morishige, with the Department of Human Services, said the increase in the income limit is critical for impoverished families as child care is the third highest cost behind housing and food. “This helps households make ends meet and helps them to thrive,” he said. Morishige said of the 2,484 kids approved for the 2025-26 school year, 1,357 were 4-year-olds and 1,127 were 3-year-olds. They also received 750 more applications than the department had in prior years. Luke said the increase in enrollment will not come at the cost of larger class sizes, adding: “We’re keeping class sizes low and that will encourage best learning outcomes.” To apply to the Preschool Open Doors program, click here , or request an application from PATCH by visiting patchhawaii.org , calling 808-791-2130, or toll-free at 800-746-5620. PATCH can also help families find a preschool that meets their needs.

Small Group Of Lawmakers To Award $50M To Nonprofits Facing Federal Cuts Civil Beat Kevin Dayton October 17, 2025 Original Article Hawaiʻi lawmakers are inviting nonprofit organizations to seek extra state grant funding under a $50 million initiative to offset recent federal cuts to health and human services programs. In an unusual move, the money will be doled out by a four-member panel instead of the full Legislature. Legislators authorized the extra grants-in-aid funding in the closing days of the last session amid concerns the Trump administration would impose deep cuts in social service programs. Gov. Josh Green approved that plan as Act 310 . Hawaiʻi nonprofits “are facing unprecedented delays and reductions in federal funding,” according to an announcement issued by lawmakers this week. “The cuts in federal funding have impacted areas such as healthcare, human services, education, homelessness, and food security.” In an effort to make up for lost federal funding, the state has begun accepting applications for the Act 310 grants, with a deadline for the nonprofits to submit applications of 4:30 p.m. on Oct. 24. Act 310 says nonprofit applicants for the state grants must be “recipients or providers that have sustained a reduction or termination of their federal funding,” or primarily serve populations that were “negatively affected by reductions or terminations of federal funding.” The $50 million is in addition to $30 million lawmakers directed to nonprofits under the regular grant-in-aid process during the legislative session last spring. A recent report by the University of Hawaiʻi Economic Research Organization concluded 74 federal grants to 59 Hawai‘i nonprofits “are politically vulnerable” to budget cuts by the Trump administration. Programs serving Native Hawaiians account for much of that risk. Those nonprofits are awaiting $126 million in unpaid balances on federal grants, and “more than half of this risk is concentrated in healthcare programs, with significant exposure also in human services, environment, and education,” according to the UHERO report. But it isn’t clear yet how much funding or how many grants to local nonprofits have actually been cut. State Rep. Daniel Holt, who oversees nonprofit grant-in-aid awards for the House, said in an interview Wednesday he was unaware of any local nonprofits that have taken a big financial hit from federal cuts. “We don’t know what to expect,” Holt said of the application process. “We don’t know if we’re going to get overwhelmed, we don’t know if we’re going to have a lot of extra money,” he added. “We honestly have no idea at this point.” The applications will be administered by Aloha United Way, and a panel of four Democratic legislators will decide the amounts awarded to each nonprofit. Those lawmakers include Holt, House Finance Committee Vice Chair Jenna Takenouchi, Senate Ways and Means Chair Donovan Dela Cruz and Senate Majority Leader Dru Kanuha. Act 310 has been criticized by some lawmakers because it empowers just those four legislators to decide which nonprofits will get portions of the $50 million. Grants-in-aid are normally part of state budgets approved in votes by the full Legislature. Other critics pointed out lawmakers exempted that four-member panel from the state public meetings or Sunshine law, raising concerns the awards to the nonprofits could be decided in secret. Holt said the panel plans to meet publicly after all of the applications are received to hear the nonprofits present their requests for funding. The panel will then meet privately to develop a list of awardees, then will approve that list in a public vote, he said. That process is similar to the way regular grants-in-aid are decided, except that under Act 310 only four lawmakers will be voting. Public First Law Center Executive Director Brian Black warned in July there were procedural defects in the adoption of Act 310 that “threaten to invalidate any grants awarded by the committee.”

A slew of new housing laws take effect this month to streamline building, protect tenants Stateline Robbie Sequeira January 9, 2025 Original Article A new row of homes is under construction in a Santa Clarita, Calif., neighborhood in 2023. The state has enacted dozens of new laws to expand housing options and protect tenants — a trend expected to continue nationally this year. (Mario Tama/Getty Images) Read more Stateline coverage of how communities across the country are trying to create more affordable housing. New state laws taking effect this month aim to confront the nation’s ongoing housing crisis in various ways, from expanding housing options, to speeding up the development process, to protecting struggling tenants from eviction. Similar bills are in store for this year’s legislative sessions. The new laws include measures to combat landlord retaliation in Illinois and Minnesota , to seal eviction records in Idaho and, in California , to streamline the process for building backyard accessory dwelling units, known as ADUs. Other states focused on the barriers preventing housing from being built by relaxing zoning laws to allow for new types of development, and put the onus on cities to make affordable housing available. Surveys show most Americans, of all backgrounds , communities and political persuasions, want to see more housing built. The need, experts say, is overwhelming. Freddie Mac estimates the current housing shortage at about 3.7 million homes. For extremely low-income tenants, that shortage is more than 7 million rental homes , according to the National Low Income Housing Coalition. “I expect that it will be a banner year for housing legislation, because many state legislators and governors ran for the first time on a platform that included addressing housing cost inflation,” said economist Salim Furth, a senior research fellow and director of the urbanity project at the Mercatus Center at George Mason University. “Now they need to deliver.” Furth, who is tracking 135 housing-related bills this year, said he expects a return of last year’s popular issues: making it easier to build an ADU, allowing residential development in commercial zones, and streamlining permitting processes. Perhaps no state did more last year than California, which enacted more than 60 housing-related laws . Most encourage more development in a state with an estimated shortfall of 2.5 million homes . Among the new laws in California are measures that eliminate parking requirements for certain residential developments near transit stations, ease the development of more housing in existing neighborhoods, and strip local governments of the power to block some affordable housing in-fill projects except on the grounds of public health or safety. The state also enacted several laws to encourage more construction of ADUs . Among other provisions, the measures offer up-front transparency on ADU regulations, encourage the building of ADUs in coastal zones, and offer flexibility for ADUs on multifamily lots. Accessory dwelling units have gained a lot of bipartisan traction in state legislatures . Gretchen Baldau of the conservative American Legislative Exchange Council praised new laws in Arizona and Nebraska that allow ADUs and modular homes on residential lots, and said she sees momentum for legislation in Delaware and Georgia that could allow for ADUs. “Housing reform can be a tricky issue for lawmakers because the topic literally hits close to home,” Baldau, who is the senior director of the commerce, insurance and economic development task force for ALEC, as the think tank is known, said in a statement to Stateline. ALEC has offered legislatures model legislation that would lower permitting and construction barriers to building ADUs, she noted, along with other model bills that would eliminate discretionary review and approvals and limit most third-party legal challenges to approved developments . Tenant protections Several new laws impose checks on tenant-landlord relationships. New laws in Illinois and Minnesota, for example, prohibit landlords from retaliating against tenants who report code violations, seek repairs or engage in tenant organizing — the latter of which is robust in Minnesota . Minnesota’s law also offers protections for tenants who report issues to the media, or who call for emergency assistance. In Idaho, eviction actions filed on or after Jan. 1, 2025, are automatically shielded from public disclosure if the entire case was dismissed, is not pending appeal or if three years have passed since the filing date. Idaho was one of at least three states, along with Maryland and Massachusetts, to enact laws last year that seal eviction records, according to a Stateline review. The laws have been hailed by housing advocates who say they will prevent a person’s eviction history from being used against them, though landlords argue eviction data is relevant to leasing decisions. ‘Housing isn’t just one issue’ With 26 state legislatures back in session as of Jan. 8, housing bills are slowly trickling in. California, a bellwether when it comes to housing policy, has a few bills introduced that would ban the use of algorithmic devices to set rents , prevent local agencies from placing parking standards on ADUs , and create a new state authority to build and maintain social housing , a public community housing movement gaining momentum in some advocacy circles. In Texas, two Republican lawmakers have filed bills that would override local ordinances restricting or prohibiting accessory dwelling units. And in Maryland, Democrats say they plan to introduce legislation to speed development approvals for new housing, alongside tenant protection proposals such as a bill that would require landlords to have a legitimate cause for evicting a tenant. Affordability, homelessness, economic mobility — they all hinge on whether we can provide enough housing. – Hawaii Democratic state Sen. Stanley Chang Tim Rosenberger, a legal policy fellow at the conservative Manhattan Institute, predicts differing approaches to housing: Red states will focus on increasing supply, while blue states will prioritize rent control, he said. “With rates high and inventory priced far above what most Americans can afford, expect red states to pursue commonsense efforts to increase supply while blue states look at ways to try to curb prices,” he said. “Legislators must reject increased regulation, rent and price controls. They should jump at opportunities to reduce regulation and bureaucracy and unleash building.” In Oregon, lawmakers are considering legislation that would impose rent control on mobile home parks and require indoor cooling in apartments with at least 10 units. The National Apartment Association predicts other states might consider rent stabilization measures as well. Housing will be a chief priority for some state lawmakers going into the next sessions. One of Democratic state Sen. Stanley Chang’s goals when he heads back to Hawaii’s legislative floor on Jan. 15 is to change how quickly the state uses its rental housing revolving fund. Under the current system, Chang said, roughly $519 million the state holds in the fund might not be spent until 2038. “Housing finance reform has been our top priority for years,” he said. “This program alone funds over half of all new housing construction in Hawaii — it’s the primary way we produce housing in the state. If we tweak this program, we could get 10 buildings for the price of one.” Chang added, however, that the scale of the affordable housing problem is too complex to boil down to one or two issues or solutions. “Housing isn’t just one issue: It’s the foundation of everything. Affordability, homelessness, economic mobility — they all hinge on whether we can provide enough housing. It’s time to stop treating this as a side project and recognize it as a central priority,” Chang told Stateline. “This is a solvable problem.”

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.