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.

Decisions await for awarding $50M to Hawaii nonprofits impacted by federal cuts Star Advertiser Andrew Gomes November 1, 2025 Original Article More than 200 Hawaii nonprofits seeking $143 million are competing for $50 million in state emergency grant funding to offset impacts of federal cuts by the Trump Administration. Representatives for nearly 150 of the applicants on Thursday made 60-second pitches to a special committee of four members of Hawaii’s Legislature who will divvy up the appropriation among many of the 213 nonprofits seeking financial assistance often described as dire. “Our food lines are long, and our phones are ringing nonstop,” Lisa Paulson, CEO of Maui Food Bank, told the panel of decision-makers. Most applicants have missions to provide food, health care, housing and education, but also included some organizations focused on work in areas including the arts, public broadcasting, the environment and other things. Maui Food Bank is asking for $895,288 to offset the loss of 537,604 pounds of food assistance this year and next year canceled by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, according to Paulson, who equated the loss to about 380,000 meals for an organization that distributes about 7 million pounds of food annually. To be eligible for the special grants, nonprofits must provide documentation that they lost federal funding, or that the work they do primarily serves a population that has been negatively affected by federal funding cuts. Because so many nonprofits applied, Thursday’s briefing for the committee held in the auditorium of the state Capitol provided each applicant one minute to make their case for funding and did not include any question-and-answer time. Rep. Daniel Holt, one of the evaluation committee members, encouraged presenters to focus on explaining the size and kind of federal funding cuts they face so the panel can figure out which holes in Hawaii’s safety net to plug. “If we can just get straight to it — just your organization’s name and right to how the federal cuts have been affecting you — that would be great,” said Holt (D, Sand Island-Iwilei-Chinatown). Many applicants with indirect connections to federal funding cuts, or those anticipating cuts, tried their best to convince committee members that they deserve a share of the appropriation, which grew out of a blank bill in February and became Act 310 with Gov. Josh Green’s approval in July. For instance, the Pacific Tsunami Museum in Hilo is seeking $400,000 to counteract what museum representative Melanie Ide characterized as the collapse of federal tsunami infrastructure that she said includes cuts to Federal Emergency Management Agency disaster preparedness grants and staff cuts at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center. For many health care providers, planned federal changes to Medicaid are expected to result in service cost reimbursement declines if more patients lose such insurance coverage. Michael Epp, collaborative projects coordinator for community health center Kokua Kalihi Valley, which is seeking $2.5 million, told the committee that an estimated 20% of the organization’s 9,500 active patients may lose Medicaid that results in a $2.5 million revenue decline. “The impact will be felt acutely in Kalihi where many of our residents are immigrants, COFA migrants and low-income public housing residents,” he said. According to an Oct. 2 analysis by the University of Hawaii Economic Research Organization and the Hawaii Community Foundation, $126 million in unpaid balances on 74 federal grants to 59 Hawaii nonprofits were considered “politically vulnerable” to loss. One of the single-biggest grant applications was a request for $6 million submitted by AlohaCare, Hawaii’s second-largest Medicaid plan that covers about 70,000 people and was created in part by community health centers. Mike Nguyen, the organization’s public policy director, told the committee that Hawaii organizations are having to shoulder fallout from federal policy changes to Medicaid and the Affordable Care Act along with an ongoing federal government shutdown slated to halt Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits helping the needy buy food. Nonprofits with direct funding cuts include The Kohala Center, which in part provides assistance for food producers and lost $1.4 million in USDA funding. The center, which has a $3.5 million annual budget, is seeking $1 million. Dynamic Community Solutions, a nonprofit working to relocate about 200 homeless individuals living around Waianae Boat Harbor to a piece of land it owns, is seeking to replace a suspended $3.3 million U.S. Environmental Protection Agency grant needed to provide off-grid power to the site and establish a containerized farm. Elia Herman, director of advocacy for Hawai‘i Foodbank, told the panel that the organization is seeking $5.6 million to purchase millions of pounds of food cut under USDA programs. “Kupuna alone lost nearly 104,000 meals due to cuts to our Senior Food Box Program,” she said. “Our priority is ensuring uninterrupted access to safe, nutritious food for those who rely on us, but we cannot do it alone.” Nonprofits had until Oct. 24 to apply, and decisions could be made fairly soon by the panel, whose other members are Rep. Jenna Takenouchi (D, Pacific Heights-Nuuanu-Liliha), Sen. Donovan Dela Cruz (D, Mililani-Wahiawa-Whitmore Village) and Sen. Dru Kanuha (D, Kona-Kau-Volcano). The committee, which is to review applications and can contact organizations with questions, tentatively plans to reconvene for another public meeting Nov. 20.

Erosion of democratic norms focus of state Senate committee informational briefing Big Island Now September 18, 2025 Original Article Island residents are invited to attend or watch this week as members of the Hawaiʻi Senate Committee on Judiciary learn about the erosion of democratic norms in the United States. Committee members — including Sen. Joy A. San Buenaventura who represents the Big Island — will receive an informational briefing beginning at 10 a.m. on Sept. 18 from Colin Moore , a University of Hawaiʻi Economic Research Organization professor. The director of Matsunaga Institute for Peace will detail how that democratic decay is already happening throughout the nation and in Hawaiʻi, as well as what affects it will have in the future for the island state. Moore received his bachelor’s degree in political science — with high honors — in 2002 from Swarthmore College, a private liberal arts college in Swarthmore, Pa. He earned a master’s of arts degree in 2006 and awarded his doctorate degree in 2009, both through the Department of Government at Harvard, the private Ivy League research university in Cambridge, Mass. The professor and political scientist has been a member of the University of Hawaiʻi faculty since 2011, teaching and serving in the Department of Political Science, Public Policy Center, School of Communications and School of Communication and Information prior to 2023, when he joined University of Hawaiʻi Economic Research Organization. Moore was a member of the Obama Presidential Library Initiative in 2014-15, among serving in several other capacities and roles for the university through the years. You also might have even seen him on TV, as his many civic activities include being a political analyst for Hawai‘i News Now since 2014. The public is reminded that all opinions expressed by Moore during the informational briefing are his own. AGENDA Welcome and Introductions (7 minutes) Professor Moore’s Presentation on the Erosion of Democratic Norms in the United States (30 minutes) Questions from the Committee — 5 minutes per Member for Questions and Answers BRIEFING NOTES When: 10 a.m. Sept. 18 Where: Conference Room 016, Hawaiʻi State Capitol, 415 S. Beretania St., Honolulu Videoconference: Click here — if you can’t make it in person — to watch the briefing on the Hawai‘i Senate YouTube channel. Hearing notice: Click here . The briefing is part of a series of informational briefings about the rule of law in relation to the recent actions of President Donald Trump’s administration and how its decisions are impacting Hawaiʻi. While the public is invited to attend and watch, as is normal with informational briefings, no public testimony will be accepted.

Debate over landfill site is aired before lawmakers Honolulu Star - Advertiser Ian Bauer January 10, 2025 Original Article The benefits and drawbacks of having Honolulu’s next solid waste landfill located in Central Oahu were highlighted at the state Capitol this week. Two joint Legislature committees held an informational meeting over the city’s plan to site its dump on Dole Food Co. Hawaii property near Wahiawa. That site — meant to allow the city to continue to handle the island’s estimated 225,000 tons of solid waste and related materials it puts into its landfill each year — was first announced by Mayor Rick Blangiardi on Dec. 10. At the Capitol, city Managing Director Mike Formby, city Environmental Services Director Roger Babcock and ENV Deputy Director Michael O’Keefe offered reasons to have the next dump on Dole lands. In part, the trio said it was due to a state-imposed Dec. 31 deadline to find an alternate site, ahead of the planned closure of the 35-year-old Waimanalo Gulch Sanitary Landfill in Kapolei, in accordance with a 2019 decision and order by the state Land Use Commission. That West Oahu dump is set to close in 2028, though the landfill will not reach full capacity until 2032, the city said. Conversely, Board of Water Supply Manager and Chief Engineer Ernie Lau noted a landfill not properly sited on the island posed a significant public health and safety risk, as it could affect the potable water supply of Oahu’s underground aquifer. BWS must evaluate the proposed landfill site and, based on its proximity to potable water sources, may approve or reject the proposal. Previously, BWS objected to the city siting a landfill within its so-called “no-pass zone,” an area that covers the interior of the island where Oahu’s potable water aquifer is located. The city’s proposed landfill location — identified as “Area 3, Site 2” in the city’s 2022 Landfill Advisory Committee’s recommendation report — is on agricultural land to the west of Kamehameha Highway, north of Paalaa Uka Pupukea Road, the city said. The city hoped to negotiate purchase of about 150 acres — the amount of land needed for a solid waste landfill — out of what it described as an approximately 2,360-acre parcel now owned by Dole, according to Babcock. “Ninety acres of that is the actual landfill,” he said at the Tuesday meeting. “And the remaining area is for a little bit of a buffer zone as well as storage for equipment, a place for trucks to get off the road, a scale house, etcetera.” Dole has publicly stated opposition to the city locating a landfill on its actively used agricultural lands. Still, Babcock explained that the new landfill — planned for about 800 feet above the island’s aquifer — also offered protections against leakage. He noted the dump site will have “required monitoring wells in the groundwater to detect any unlikely leak” or contamination. “And most importantly, the liner system,” he said, “and the leachate collection system, which together prevent the escape of contaminants from the landfill and prevent contamination of underlying groundwater.” He added that U.S. landfills require “a dual-liner system that consists of both a thick plastic geo- membrane … and it also includes a clay liner.” BUT THE city wants the state Legislature to change a state law, too. Babcock explained the city’s desire to “relax” restrictions under Act 73, which governs where a landfill can legally and safely be located in order to achieve a new, permanent landfill location on Oahu. The 2020 law places restrictions on locating waste-disposal facilities, particularly those close to conservation lands or half-mile “buffer zones” near residential areas, schools or hospitals, as well as near airports or tsunami inundation zones. Babcock said amending Act 73 could do one of two things: reduce buffer zones down to a quarter-mile or eliminate them altogether, thereby opening up more lands for potential city dump sites. Such a legislative change could take time, however. “If that is unsuccessful, then it would be necessary to extend the operations at the Waimanalo Gulch Landfill,” he added. But BWS’ leader expressed his strong reservations over the safety of a landfill being sited above the island’s “freshwater resources.” “Landfills contain contaminants that can enter groundwater if it leaks out of a landfill,” Lau said. “And that leachate is actually pretty contaminated” rainwater. He said “landfills, once constructed, are permanently there.” But cap rock — an area of hard, impervious rock — also rings around Oahu’s coastline like a protective barrier, he added. “The cap rock is a very important geologic feature here because that’s the basis of why the Board of Water Supply over 40 years ago decided to create a ‘no-pass’ area on our island,” Lau said. “Because that cap rock along the coastal areas helps to protect and keep the freshwater inland, and helps to keep large capacities of freshwater inland in these underground, volcanic aquifers.” “And the cap rock is where we would recommend that landfills be considered if they had to be put in,” he said. Noting a U.S. Geological Survey study conducted in 2003, Lau added that all landfills eventually leak — often dispersing into the environment harmful chemicals like arsenic as well as PFAS, or so-called “forever chemicals,” linked to illnesses like cancer. He also noted that USGS’ 1999 “Ground Water Atlas of the United States” showed that groundwater underneath the proposed Wahiawa dump site flows downward, in directions toward Waialua, Mokuleia and Kawailoa. “If leachate were to leak from this area, it might head toward the Waialua-Haleiwa area, and might impact the aquifer down there,” Lau said. “So the contaminant plumes would potentially move to the north.” During the joint meeting of the House Committee on Energy and Environmental Protection and the Senate Committee on Agriculture and Environment, legislators questioned the city’s overall plans for the new landfill site as well as potential changes to Act 73. Among them, state Sen. Mike Gabbard, chair of the Senate’s committee, asked, “Who has the final say, the Board of Water Supply, City Council, the mayor? Where does it end?” Formby replied the city has set out a plan “to exhaust as many options as we could, respecting the rule of law.” The city, he added, has not “formally made a recommendation for this proposed site to (BWS) yet.” “Right now the mayor firmly believes that the city and county can site a landfill over the aquifer safely,” he said. “Whether or not that gets challenged, and (Chief Engineer Lau) might write us a letter and say, ‘For your specific proposal, I say ‘no,’ in which case, we would appeal that to the (BWS’ board of directors).” “And the board then has the ability to actually override the chief engineer, which would then give us a green light for this proposed site,” said Formby. “We’re just not there yet.” Gabbard also asked, “I’ve heard that Dole is not real excited about selling that land. … Is that true? What’s the latest?” “Our understanding of what Dole has said is that particular, specific location that we have identified would affect their operations,” Babcock replied. “But at the same time they did say that they have other land that they have for sale … so that’s a pretty good indication that they’re interested in talking with us and to find a solution.” After the meeting, Dole Hawaii General Manager Dan Nellis said his company believes the city’s proposed landfill on its Wahiawa property is “untenable.” “Particularly because it is right in the middle of our pineapple fields,” he told the Honolulu Star-Advertiser by phone, “and it would create extreme hardship on us, operating our farm.” Nellis confirmed Dole does indeed have other parcels for sale. However, he said the city hasn’t approached his company regarding those available lands. “I just told them initially, ‘Hey, why are you asking to go into our land that we’re farming when we have other land that we’re not farming that is for sale?’” he said, adding the for-sale properties are not far from the proposed landfill site. “They’re pretty close, about a mile away.”

Longtime Rep. Gene Ward Retiring From Hawaiʻi State House Honolulu Civil Beat Chad Blair March 21, 2025 Original Article A veteran Hawaiʻi Republican lawmaker says he will leave the Legislature at the end of the month due to health problems. Rep. Gene Ward, who represents Hawaiʻi Kai, Kalama Valley and Portlock in the state House of Representatives, will step down March 31, more than a month before the end of the current session. “As some of you are already aware, over the past few months I have experienced several health setbacks including anemia and sciatica,” Ward, 82, said in a statement. “Recently, I was diagnosed with pneumonia. The recovery from various health issues has been a slow and painful process.” Ward received praise for his service from Gov. Josh Green and House Speaker Nadine Nakamura, both Democrats, as well as House Republican Caucus Leader Lauren Matsumoto and House Minority Floor Leader Diamond Garcia. “Gene was always up for the good fight and would go the extra mile for any issue he felt strongly about,” Matsumoto said in a statement. “Honestly, he’s been such a fixture here that this session hasn’t been the same without him.” In the Democrat-controlled state Senate, meantime, Sen. Mike Gabbard read Ward’s retirement statement aloud to his colleagues during floor session Friday. Ward is a Vietnam veteran who served as a translator-interpreter, according to his official House biography . He also served in the Peace Corps in East Timor. Ward served in the House from 1990 to 1998, when he ran unsuccessfully for the U.S. Congress. He served as a presidential appointee under the second Bush administration in the USAID Office of Democracy and Governance as a senior democracy adviser from 1999-2004. Ward returned to the state House in 2006. He is a former House minority leader. A holder of a Ph.D. from the University of Hawaiʻi Mānoa, Ward taught at Chaminade and Hawaiʻi Pacific University as an adjunct professor. The vacancy for the District 18 seat will be filled by the governor, who will choose from three area applicants approved by Republicans in the district.

New Housing Unit Dedicated At Hawaiʻi Community Correctional Center - Big Island Video News Big Island Video News Big Island Video News December 21, 2024 Original Article (BIVN) – The new Kaumana Housing Unit at the Hawaiʻi Community Correctional Center in Hilo was dedicated this week. More than 50 people attended the blessing ceremony on Thursday, December 19th. The new building is located on the corner of Komohana Street and Waiānuenue Avenue in Hilo, where the old jail once stood. From a news release by the Hawaiʻi Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation: Plans for the 48-bed medium-security housing unit began in 2017. Construction started in January 2022. The project cost is $19.8 million.DAGS awarded the project to contractor Nan, Inc.The 10,550 square-foot building was designed with a rehabilitative environment that includes maximum use of daylight, viewing garden, an indoor/outdoor recreation yard and modern security systems.The facility aims to house inmates at the Kaumana Housing Unit in the coming months. DCR Director Tommy Johnson thanked Governor Josh Green, M.D. and legislators for their support as well as DAGS and contractors. “This project was critically needed to address severe overcrowding that has plagued HCCC for decades,” Director Johnson said during the ceremony. In addition to the new unit, HCCC recently completed renovations to its administration building to include an intake area, visitation room, records room and administrative offices. HCCC Warden Cramer Mahoe echoed Johnson’s sentiment concerning the new housing unit. “This is a long time coming,” Mahoe said as he addressed attendees. “We are grateful for having such a building like this to help with easing some of the overcrowding.” The total population is 304 inmates, as of Dec. 19, 2024. Currently, HCCC is approximately 135 percent over capacity. In addition to alleviating overcrowding, Mahoe said the new housing unit also has space for programs and training. Sen. Lorraine Inouye, one of the event guest speakers, said, “This is one of the best Christmas presents. We can say that we finally got something that has been done to make sure that we address the needs for the (corrections) system.” Like Inouye, Prosecutor (Kelden) Waltjen said the new Kaumana Housing Unit is “a large step in the right direction,” but more resources and services are still needed on the island such as a correctional facility in West Hawaiʻi. “It’s important to prioritize investments into our correctional facilities, rehabilitation and services here on our island,” Waltjen said at the ceremony.

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.”

Avian flu prompts state to request pause on interisland transportation of birds Hawaiʻi Public Radio HPR News Staff December 16, 2024 Original Article In response to the detection of the avian flu virus in Hawaiʻi, state agencies are asking the public to hold off on moving poultry and other bird species between islands for the next three months to prevent the spread. The state Department of Agriculture made the request in a news release on Friday. It said the ask for a voluntary pause was a suggestion from Moloka‘i Sen. Lynn DeCoite, who is also a farmer. The virus was first detected in Hawaiʻi last month and had not been detected in the islands prior. It is highly pathogenic and can spread between birds through contact or if birds come into contact with contaminated material. The public can report animal illnesses to the agriculture department by calling 808-483-7100. Though human cases are rare, residents can call the state Department of Health at 808-586-4586 if they develop symptoms after being exposed to sick birds.

$3.2M released for axis deer fencing in South Maui to address flood risks, environmental concerns Maui Now N/A February 12, 2025 Original Article State Sen. Angus L.K. McKelvey on Wednesday announced $3.2 million in Capital Improvement Project funds to design and construct axis deer fencing in South Maui. The funds were released by Gov. Josh Green amid a state emergency proclamation to address the growing environmental and safety concerns caused by the overpopulation of axis deer on Maui, which has been identified as a major cause of the conditions leading to previous flooding like that of just last month. “This decision is not just an administrative act—it is a powerful demonstration of responsiveness and a commitment to safeguarding our land, our people and our future,” McKelvey said. “This moment sends a strong message to the people of South Maui that the governor and his administration understands the urgency and are committed to expediting the resources needed to tackle the flooding crisis from mauka to makai.” According to McKelvey, the funding, which was secured through the combined efforts of legislators Rep. Terez Amato, Rep. Kyle Yamashita, Sen. Lynn DeCoite and Sen. Donovan M. Dela Cruz, will be used to mitigate the destructive impact of the axis deer population on agriculture, infrastructure and the general safety of the community. McKelvey expressed his gratitude for the swift action taken by the administration, emphasizing the urgency of the situation. “The unchecked spread of axis deer has led to severe agricultural losses and increased the risk of flooding due to overgrazing, which weakens soil stability,” McKelvey said. “The governor’s commitment to funding this project reflects a proactive approach to preventing further environmental degradation and ensuring the well-being of residents.” The South and West Maui lawmaker explained that the fencing initiative is part of a broader strategy to enhance conservation efforts and long-term sustainability in the region. Leaders and stakeholders emphasize that the project will serve as a foundation for future flood mitigation and environmental preservation efforts. “The funding release marks a significant step forward in addressing one of South Maui’s most pressing ecological challenges,” McKelvey said, adding that, “community members, conservation advocates and policymakers will continue working together to ensure the successful implementation of the project and explore additional strategies for sustainable land management.” “The fences we build today are not just barriers—they are bridges to a safer, stronger and more resilient Maui,” McKelvey said.

Photos: Lawmakers, lobbyists and citizens kick off the 2025 legislative session Hawaiʻi Public Radio Jason Ubay, Mark Ladao, Ashley Mizuo, Sophia McCullough January 15, 2025 Original Article State representatives and visitors attend opening day of the 2025 legislative session at the Hawaiʻi State Capitol on Jan. 15, 2025. Jason Ubay/HPRNew year, new legislative session. Lawmakers, lobbyists and engaged citizens gathered at the Hawaiʻi State Capitol in Honolulu this morning to kick off the 2025 session.Some of HPR's news team spent the day alongside attendees. Here's what they saw. Live mele and hula kick off the 2025 Hawaiʻi House of Representatives on opening day.Jason Ubay/HPR Visitors to the Capitol are required to go through security screening.Jason Ubay/HPR Community members gather in the open-air Hawaiʻi State Capitol courtyard on opening day.Jason Ubay/HPR Members of the United Public Workers union attend opening day.Jason Ubay/HPR From left to right: House Republicans Garner Shimizu, Diamond Garcia, Elijah Pierick, Lauren Matsumoto and David Alcos III on opening day of the 2025 legislative session. (Jan. 15, 2025) Jason Ubay/HPR First-year Rep. Matthias Kusch of Hawaiʻi Island, center, with Gov. Josh Green on opening day. Green appointed Kusch to the position after the death of former Rep. Mark Nakashima.Jason Ubay/HPR Rep. Nadine Nakamura addresses the state House as speaker for the first time on Jan. 15, 2025. Nakamura said investments into more affordable housing will be top of mind for lawmakers as they try to address the cost of living.Mark Ladao/HPR First-year Rep. Kim Coco Iwamoto cast the lone "no" vote against new House Speaker Nadine Nakamura on opening day of the 2025 legislative session. Ashley Mizuo/HPR Hawaiʻi House Speaker Nadine Nakamura speaks to the press. She is the first woman to lead the chamber. Mark Ladao/HPR Attendees wait to enter the House and Senate chambers at the Hawaiʻi State Capitol on opening day of the legislative session on Jan. 15, 2025. Senators and representatives have their offices on the second, third and fourth floors. The governor and the lieutenant governor are housed on the top floor. Jason Ubay/HPR Senate President Ron Kouchi addresses senators and attendees on opening day of the legislative session on Jan. 15, 2025. Kouchi said many of the state’s problems can be traced back to one thing: housing. Mark Ladao/HPR Senate Minority Leader Brenton Awa addresses the chamber on opening day of the legislative session on Jan. 15, 2025. Awa called for more support for locals and Native Hawaiians. He also criticized local leaders, pointing at Gov. Josh Green’s offer to house Los Angeles fire victims in hotel rooms, the Honolulu City Council’s recent 64% pay raise, and Honolulu Mayor Rick Blangiardi’s “ownership” of local media. Mark Ladao/HPR Senate President Ron Kouchi, flanked by Senate Democratic leadership, speaks to the press on opening day. (Jan. 15, 2025) Mark Ladao/HPR Representatives and senators usually open their office doors and offer food to community members roaming the hallways. Mark Ladao/HPR The Hawaiʻi State Capitol building from across S. Beretania Street. Jason Ubay/HPR Tags Local News State Legislature

Sen. Donovan Dela Cruz praises release of 2024 Hawaiʻi Quality of Life Dashboard Maui Now Maui Now December 12, 2024 Original Article Hawaiʻi State Senate Committee on Ways and Means Chair Donovan M. Dela Cruz (Senate District 17 – portions of Mililani, Mililani Mauka, portion of Waipiʻo Acres, Launani Valley, Wahiawā, Whitmore Village) applauded the release of the 2024 Hawaiʻi Quality of Life and Well-Being Dashboard. On Tuesday, the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa and the Office of Wellness and Resilience under the Office of the Governor launched the dashboard, which features in-depth findings on social, economic, and health issues affecting the state’s residents. The Office of Wellness and Resilience was made possible through legislation (Act 291) that the senator championed in 2022. “The state has taken meaningful strides to make Hawaiʻi a trauma-informed state, and I am proud to have continued these efforts by advocating for legislation (Act 106, SLH 2024) that resulted in the largest statewide survey on health in Hawaiʻi ever, as well as the largest dataset using CDC’s National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health Worker Well-Being Questionnaire (NIOSH WellBQ) ,” said Senator Dela Cruz. “The data in this dashboard shows that we must continue to increase the economic opportunities for our residents so they can remain in Hawaiʻi. Diversifying our economy in the areas of creative industries, agriculture, and technology must be paired with investments in workforce development so our residents can fill the good-paying jobs here in Hawaiʻi.” Key findings from the report that populates the dashboard identify main economic stressors, health disparities, community strength and workplace support, within Hawaiʻi’s communities. It also provides recommendations for actions advancing health equity, economic stability, disaster preparedness and workplace innovation. The dashboard’s launch will allow people to access data as a resource for crafting strategies and improving lives. For more details on the interactive dashboard, visit health-study.com .

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.