Statewide Traffic Fatalities surpasses last years total: Changes new and present coming KHON2 Nathan Shinagawa October 25, 2025 Original Article WAIPIO, Hawaii (KHON2) — Statewide traffic deaths recently hit an unfortunate milestone Friday, Oct. 24, with the total deaths on Hawaii’s roads reaching 106, compared to last year’s 102. Now, the state is looking to take action to bring the numbers down, both in the long run and in day-to-day life. “In the past we thought if we just tell everybody how bad things are and everybody will take care of each other and adjust. It’s not happening,” said Director Ed Sniffen of the Hawaii Department of Transportation. “So we’re going to make sure that we start adjusting the system to ensure that we minimize fatalities.” Changes include a variety of projects from the DOT, including red light cameras, multiple speed hump installations, and more, and the DOT says that they’re far from finished. “So far we have about 260 speed humps throughout the state. There’s going to be another 30 more coming in by the end of the year,” said Sniffen. “We’re also adding in rapid flashing beacons with street lights on top of them. We’re putting them in 50 different locations throughout the state.” But the state is also making efforts on safety on a day-to-day scale, including this weekend, by coning off almost the entirety of the portion of Kamehameha Highway, between Waipahu and Waipi’o Uka street, during a joint mural painting project between Mililani, Waipahu, and Pearl City High School. Senator Michelle Kidani partnered with the DOT, Department of Education, local artists, and student interns and volunteers from the three schools to create a three-quarter-long mural on the wall across the portion of Kamehameha Highway. “This project is not only dependent on the artists, but on the DOE and DOT,” said Blythe Yoshikane Simpliciano, one of the lead artists for the project, on the importance of coning off the road. “The community is also playing a huge part in having patience for us right now, and making sure all of our students are safe.” “The students safety comes first,” said Senator Kidani. “So without having that aspect that the road lanes were closed, we could not have done this project at all.” And having this project was an important one, as it not only gives the wall a lot more color, but also helps tell the Mauka to Makai story of the area, and gives the students a chance to be a part of that. “As their families drive up and down the road from now, they can say to their brothers and sisters ‘I was part of that project,'” said Hawaii State Superintendent Keith Hayashi. “Unifying the highway, it’s a win for everyone.” While all the improvements and projects are meant to help reduce the traffic fatalities, the DOT also reminds the community that keeping the roads safe are a two-way street. “93% of the fatalities occur because we make really bad decisions. We drive drunk, we speed excessively, we drive distracted, all of those things,” said Sniffen. “If we take care of those things tomorrow, 93% of the fatalities of the 106 people that died, go home.”

‘The Eddie’ surf competition stokes North Shore’s economy Star Advertiser Allison Schaefers December 23, 2024 Original Article The North Shore economy is projected to ride high during its winter wave season, which kicked off Sunday with the 2024 Eddie Aikau Invitational Big Wave Contest at Waimea — a massive event that Honolulu police estimated drew about 50,000 attendees. Tourists and local spectators lined every available vantage spot to see the North Shore’s Landon McNamara, 28, win first place in the event, where participants battled waves that reached up to 25 feet, with 50-foot faces. McNamara, a professional big-wave surfer who comes from a surfing family, also is a Ford model and a musician who just released an album. Part of the reason for economic boost of “The Eddie,” which mostly comes before or after the event due to the singular focus of bystanders on the bay during the contest, is that it isn’t held often. The lead-up to whether “The Eddie” will go also generates incredible buzz and worldwide news coverage.

Governor seeks clean slate to appoint new Hawai‘i Tourism Authority board Star Advertiser Allison Schaefers June 29, 2025 Original Article Gov. Josh Green asked for courtesy resignations from the entire Hawai‘i Tourism Authority board following its first meeting as an advisory board Thursday — leaving the agency to process through its biggest leadership shake-up since it was created by the Legislature in 1998. The governor’s office said in an email Thursday that he had “formally asked for courtesy resignations from each member of the HTA board of directors.” Green does not have the authority to make the 12-member HTA board comply with his request. However, his stance is related to his May 29 signing of Senate Bill 1571, now Act 132, which downgrades the HTA board to an advisory role and expands oversight of the agency by the state Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism. “Given the board’s new advisory role, the governor’s previously stated goal is to reset the board and make appointments that align with both the new mission and the existing processes that govern all boards and commission appointments,” the email said. “Advisory board members appointed by the governor for HTA do require advice and consent from the Senate. Appointments by the Speaker of the House and Senate President do not.” It’s too early to say if the entire board will comply with Green’s request. However, it was clear at Thursday’s monthly board meeting that many HTA board members viewed it as their swan song. Members were draped in lei and an ukulele performer kicked off the meeting with soothing Hawaiian tunes. Despite the niceties, the meeting included bouts of public infighting between board members. HTA board Chair Todd Apo told the Honolulu Star-Advertiser Friday that, “I think the new law has placed the responsibility at HTA in the governor’s office, and so certainly I respect his request for resignations to be able to reset the board to help set the direction for HTA. As a relatively new board member that has just gotten to start seeing some of the issues that have existed for a while, we have started to try to address them. At this point, it’s up to the next board membership to continue that effort on and bring HTA back to where it needs to be for our island economy and community.” Rep. Adrian Tam (D, Waikiki), chair of the House Committee on Tourism, told the Star-Advertiser on Friday that he thinks Green’s request for resignations was the right move. “Even at yesterday’s HTA board meeting, there was still a lot of confusion, communication issues and more sadly, there was a lot of contention,” Tam said. “There was still a lot of infighting. There continues to be bigger issues with the audit reports, the unpaid interest (to the Hawai‘i Visitors and Convention Bureau), the ethics violations, and now there’s a lawsuit.” In the past several months, HTA has undergone dramatic leadership shake-ups as it has struggled to address significant staffing shortages and problems from allegations of a toxic work environment to inappropriate freebies, procurement violations and late payments to contractors. Named and unnamed HTA officials have even been sued by Isaac Choy, HTA vice president of finance and acting chief administrative officer, who was put on unpaid leave May 9 at the direction of the state attorney general and the Department of Human Resources amid allegations he made racist and sexist remarks on the job. Some of these issues were brought up at Thursday’s board meeting, which also included a closed-door executive session related to personnel. Thursday’s board meeting followed a tourism informational briefing Monday at the Capitol called by Tam and Sen. Lynn DeCoite (D, East Maui-Upcountry-Molokai-Lanai-Kahoolawe), chair of the Senate Economic Development and Tourism Committee. During the briefing, lawmakers expressed frustration as they interrogated some members of HTA’s staff, board and contractors. Caroline Anderson, who was named HTA interim president and CEO in March, and Apo, who became HTA board chair the same month, could not immediately answer all of the lawmakers’ concerns, given that they inherited many of the agency’s current issues. During the briefing, DeCoite noted that HTA had procurement violations and that DBEDT did not, and asked DBEDT Director James Kunane Tokioka’s opinion about putting HTA completely under DBEDT. Tokioka said, “I won’t sit here advocating for that, but what I will sit here and advocate for is to do what 1571 mandated and to make sure that oversight with HTA with Caroline, or whoever is the president and CEO, is done.” He added that, “Some of the mistakes I made as DBEDT director before 1571, I’m not going to make them again, which is going to get approval on things that I did not need to,” he said. “I think what you did with 1571 was because of the frustrations of the trust that was lacking … the things that have happened, many of them that you were talking about today. I’m going to do my best not to let you down because I understand that the Legislature is the bank.” Tokioka, Tam and DeCoite met with HTA staff on Wednesday at their Hawai‘i Convention Center offices. During the visit, which was a follow-up to Monday’s briefing, they conveyed their appreciation for staff and highlighted that recent changes bring an opportunity for a fresh start. However, Tam said state lawmakers do plan to continue pressing HTA for answers and that it will be incumbent on Anderson, her staff and the new HTA board to work on adopting “preventative policies to make sure that these things never happen again. I’m not satisfied that this has happened to the extent needed.” Apo indicated at the briefing that the search for the next HTA president and CEO is progressing again, and that the board hoped to have a nominee to send to Green in the next four months. Tokioka said that as many as 100 candidates had previously applied before the search was paused to amend compensation, benefits and the job description. Some members of the HTA board expressed concern Thursday that changing out the entire board could set the hiring process back as HTA board member Mike White currently heads the selection process through a permitted interaction group. Tam said, “I don’t think it would be helpful for a board heading out to find any CEO and president for the new board. The new board needs to understand at minimum what’s been happening at HTA and the problems, to look at the audits that have come down the line and just come with a fresh perspective and discipline to ensure that infighting doesn’t leak into the staff and the governing of the HTA.” Members of Hawaii’s visitor industry also are closely watching how the HTA board changes play out as well as HTA’s role under Act 132. Many see HTA as necessary to amplify the branding and marketing of Hawaii as a visitor destination, as well as to guide tourism management. The agency is seen as vital to the smallest industry players, who don’t have the budgets to mount campaigns with the same reach that partnering with HTA provides. Rick Egged, who worked on the creation of HTA during his past tenure at the state, provided public in-person testimony. “Over the last 27 years, HTA has done a lot of great things,” said Egged, who was speaking as an individual. “I wanted, first of all, to applaud you for all the accomplishments during this iteration that you currently experience. I realize we are now transitioning into a new direction, and I’m very optimistic that this new direction will be productive as well. Really, it’s kind of coming full circle because when we created HTA, it was really a function of DBEDT.” John Cole, the deputy attorney general representing HTA, emphasized Thursday that the HTA advisory board still has authority in certain areas, including the selection of the HTA president and CEO, although the person selected for HTA’s top job will now report to Green.

Helicopter searching for signs of invasive coconut rhinoceros beetle in Waikōloa Big Island Now Big Island Now Staff December 3, 2024 Original Article If you live in Waikōloa or the surrounding area and noticed a helicopter flying low overhead today, you might have wondered why. Hawai‘i state Sen. Tim Richards, who represents the Big Island’s Senate District 4 (North Hilo, Hāmākua, Kohala, Waimea, Waikōloa, North Kona), explained in a Facebook post that the Spatial Data Analysis and Visualization Labs at University of Hawai‘i at Hilo is conducting a low-altitude helicopter flight over Waikōloa until noon today. The flight, which started at 10 a.m., is part of an effort to collect aerial imagery of palm trees in the Waikōloa area to identify potential damage caused by the invasive coconut rhinoceros beetle. It’s in partnership with the Big Island Invasive Species Committee. The data gathered will help the committee improve its palm surveys and target trees that might need further inspection. What this means for Waikōloa area residents: The helicopter is flying low to capture detailed imagery. If a tree on your property needs further inspection, the Big Island Invasive Species Committee will contact you. Trees found to have coconut rhinoceros beetle damage could qualify for free treatment by the Coconut Rhinoceros Beetle Response Hawai‘i team and Hawai‘i Department of Agriculture. “Thank you for your cooperation in protecting Hawai‘i’s palms!” said Richards in his post. For more information or to get on the list for a free property survey, call/text the Big Island Invasive Species Committee at 808-731-9232 or email to biisc@hawaii.edu .

Legislative measure would have state acquire all West Maui water systems through eminent domain Maui Now Brian Perry January 16, 2025 Original Article Waterfalls could be seen in the hills above Launiupoko in West Maui. A bill introduced in the state Legislature would require the state to acquire all West Maui water systems through eminent domain. File photo (3.13.21) PC: Barbie GreenhalghThe state Department of Land and Natural Resources would be required to acquire all West Maui water systems through eminent domain and then hold them in trust for the management by Maui County, according to a bill introduced this legislative session. Senate Bill 386 has been proposed by Maui Sens. Angus McKelvey (West and South Maui, Mā‘alaea and Waikapū) and Lynn DeCoite (Hāna, East and Upcountry Maui, Moloka‘i, Lāna‘i, Kaho‘olawe and Molokini); Oʻahu Sens. Stanley Chang (Hawai‘i Kai, Kuli‘ou‘ou, Niu, ‘Āina Haina, Wai‘alae-Kāhala, Diamond Head, Kaimukī, Kapahulu), chair of the Senate Housing Committee; Republican Kurt Fevella (‘Ewa Beach, Ocean Pointe, ‘Ewa by Gentry, Iroquois Point, portion of ‘Ewa Villages); and Hawaiʻi Island Sen. Joy San Buenaventura (Puna). The bill’s legislative finding says that “West Maui’s water resources are under significant strain due to prolonged drought conditions, climate change and increased demand from private entities controlling approximately 80% of these resources, supplying water to hotels, golf courses and large estates. The 2023 Maui wildfires, exacerbated by invasive grasses and limited water availability, highlighted the critical need for improved water management and accessibility.” The measure also says that the diversion of streams for private use has negatively affected traditional Native Hawaiian agricultural practices and the ecological health of the region. According to the bill, “it is imperative to assert public control over West Maui’s water systems to ensure equitable distribution, enhance resilience against climate-induced droughts and wildfires, and uphold the public trust doctrine enshrined in the Hawaiʻi State Constitution.”

'Akamai Arrival' takes off: Ag declaration form goes digital KHON2 Jill Kuramoto February 24, 2025 Original Article HONOLULU (KHON2) — Traveling to Hawaiʻi is about to get a high-tech upgrade. A new pilot program aims to ditch the pen and paper currently used to declare plants and animals. For years, travelers to Hawaiʻi have been required to fill out a paper declaration form, listing any live plants or animals they’re bringing to the state, with the goal of protecting the islands’ delicate ecosystem. “These creatures, which are very scary, especially this one, should not be coming into Hawaiʻi,” said Gov. Josh Green while pointing to a tarantula in a tank next to him. Now the paper ag declaration form is getting an overhaul, making fumbling for a pen at 35,000 feet no more. “We all know the best time to let a passenger know what not to bring into the state is before they get on the plane. Not when they’re scurrying through their baggage to look for a pencil and then, oops, I got a ferret. Oops, I brought in live plants,” said Sen. Glenn Wakai, chair of the Senate Committee on Energy and Intergovernmental Affairs. Beginning March 1, select flights on most domestic airlines that fly to Hawaiʻi will participate in the three month long pilot program. “Akamai Arrival” has the same questions as the paper form and will be accessible on both laptops and smartphones. Travelers will fill out the form electronically before landing. State Department of Agriculture inspectors will review the manifest compared to the number of completed declaration forms and similar to the paper form, the data will be deleted. “It’s going to be helpful for our state, but most importantly, it’s our biosecurity weapon,” Green said. Some passengers, like Cheryl Engle from Michigan, welcome the change. “It was a little bit of a pain, we didn’t have a pen on us. We didn’t have anything to write on,” Engle said. The state says it’s hoping the digital form will also help increase compliance, which currently is around a 60% completion rate. As for the effectiveness of the declaration form in stopping invasive species, the Department of Agriculture says about 75% of all flights coming in have something to declare, but it’s not easy to catch everything sneaking into the islands. “We’re getting those types of animals maybe one or two a year. I would say regulated goods, things that require permits or treatments beforehand, you’re probably getting one per day,” said Jonathan Ho, HDOA Branch Manager. Wakai says he hopes to use the approximately $800,000 saved from going paperless to buy ag sniffing dogs to do more to keep invasive species out of the islands. “Zero. Not one person in 79 years has ever been prosecuted. What does that tell you? It tells you that the ag form is really not keeping bad things out of our community,” Wakai said. For now, the state says they eventually plan to add more languages to the form and the valuable tourism survey will be included. For more information, visit the Akamai Arrival website .

Democrats send 3 names to governor for Senate seat Star Advertiser Victoria Budiono October 18, 2025 Original Article The Democratic Party of Hawaii’s Oahu County Committee has selected three nominees for Gov. Josh Green’s consideration to fill the Senate District 19 seat left vacant by the retirement of state Sen. Henry Aquino (D, Pearl City-Waipahu-West Loch). The three nominees are: >> Steven P. Canales, retired from a utility company, former shop steward for a local union, Honolulu lifeguard at Pearl City Recreation, and a community organizer for the Democratic Party’s Region 5. Canales has emphasized his dedication to helping people in his community. >> Rachele F. Lamosao, current state Representative for House District 36, representing Waipahu. She has also served on the Waipahu Neighborhood Board and the Waipahu High School Academy of Natural Resources Advisory Board, highlighting her ongoing commitment to local leadership and community engagement. >> Dr. Inam U. Rahman, a Waipahu-based physician, small business owner, and former legislative assistant. Rahman has served as past president of the Hawaii Medical Association and founded a nonprofit clinic focused on diabetes care, dedicating over 30 years to community health, public service and volunteer medical missions. The three nominees were selected from among six applicants. Their names have been formally transmitted to Green, who will choose one to serve as the next Senator for Senate District 19. “First, I would like to thank Senator Henry Aquino for his service to Senate District 19. I would also like to thank the selection body, and Oahu County Chair, Lynn Robinson Onderko, for their hard work in this process. In addition, I want to express my appreciation to all of the candidates for participating in this process and their commitment to the SD 19 community,” Democratic Party of Hawaii Chair Derek Turbin said. “Lastly, we’re excited for the three nominees. All of them have a history of community service to SD 19, and would do a wonderful job serving their community.” “We thank every candidate who participated in this grassroots process,” Lynn Robinson-Onderko, Oahu County Chair, said. “These Democrats are passionate about their district and committed to having exceptional representation in the State Senate. I am confident that any one of the nominees will step into their position ready to work for their constituents in Senate District 19.” The selection meeting was conducted via Zoom Webinar and open to the public on Tuesday at 6 p.m. Nine members of the selection body participated, with two absent, and each was entitled to vote for up to three of the prospective candidates.

Could Trump run for a third term? Hawaii congressman answers state lawmakers Hawaii News Now Mahealani Richardson September 24, 2025 Original Article HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) - U.S. Rep. Ed Case, D-Hawaii, says the Trump administration is abusing its power and is a threat to the rule of law. He spoke at the state Committee on Judiciary chaired by state Sen. Karl Rhoads. Case gave state senators a long list of actions by the Trump administration that are contrary to the rule of law, including destruction of federal agencies and funding already directed by law; firing of key federal officials from independent agencies; ignoring federal court orders; eroding independence of key federal agencies like the Department of Justice; and abuse of power to intimidate opponents referencing the controversy over comedian Jimmy Kimmel briefly taken off the air. “What are the chances that Trump will be able to run for a third term?” asked state Sen. Stanley Chang. “I think the chances are low, very low. There’s no plausible legal argument for it. For him to gain a third term, it would either be a complete overturning of the foundations of our country or constitution or some corruption,” said Case. “We have unfortunately observed the U.S. president mocking judges and deriding their decisions. He’s threatened judges with impeachment for adverse rulings,” said Rhoads. Republican state Sen. Brenton Awa did not attend the hearing to focus on other priorities. “For Sen. Rhoads, he’s one of those that gets triggered a lot by the president,” he said. Case said Congress is working hard to preserve hundreds of millions of dollars in funding for education, minorities, and social services. He said the rule of law is not the same as agreeing or disagreeing with Trump policies. He said ignoring rule of law is not good for the country in the long term.

UH partners to boost food sustainability, innovation at new Central Oʻahu food hub UH News November 18, 2025 Original Article The University of Hawaiʻi is a key partner in the new Central Oʻahu Agriculture and Food Hub that broke ground in Wahiawā on November 14. Led by the state Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism (DBEDT) and the Agribusiness Development Corporation (ADC), the project brings together the UH Mānoa College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resilience (CTAHR) and the UH Community College System with other state agencies. “The food hub is an important step on the path to Hawaiʻi’s food self-sufficiency and we are honored to contribute,” said CTAHR Dean Parwinder Grewal. “It will be helping farmers and entrepreneurs manufacture their innovative food products from local fruits, vegetables, and proteins.” The Whitmore Village complex will serve as an innovation base to provide manufacturing and industry services at a commercial scale, boost local food sustainability, and enable local entrepreneurs to export globally. “From Kona to Kekaha, and Hilo to Hāna, the Food and Product Innovation Network can strengthen Hawaiʻi’s local food systems and economy for generations to come,” said Senate Ways and Means Chair Donovan Dela Cruz. Other partners in the complex include the Hawaiʻi Department of Education (HIDOE) and the Department of Law Enforcement. As part of the complex in Whitmore Village, HIDOE is constructing a Central Oʻahu Regional Kitchen on ADC–owned land. The facility will serve as a statewide model for regional hubs that connect local farms to school cafeterias as part of the state’s farm–to–school initiative. First Lady Jaime Kanani Green noted how the Central Oʻahu Agriculture and Food Hub and HIDOE kitchen concepts will provide healthy affordable meals to all public school students.

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.