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

The Sunshine Blog: Here’s When It Pays To Be A Doctor — And A Governor Honolulu Civil Beat The Sunshine Blog January 10, 2025 Original Article Dr. Green goes to Washington: Hawaiʻi Gov. Josh Green has become the leading voice — at least for the moment — opposing the nomination of Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to lead the Department of Health and Human Services. Our very own Dr. Gov. Green was all over Washington, D.C., this week, lobbying senators and telling anyone who would listen about the time in 2019 when he led a medical mission to Samoa to fight a raging measles outbreak only to find Kennedy and his anti-vax campaign had gotten there first. The country had experienced a drop in vaccination rates before the outbreak, driven in part by fear after the death of two infants in 2018 who had received a measles, mumps and rubella vaccine that had been improperly prepared. But Kennedy has also been blamed for exacerbating the problem. In 2019, just months before an emergency was declared, he traveled to Samoa and met with prominent anti-vaccination activists on the island. And then during the height of the outbreak, when children were dying, he sent a letter to the prime minister questioning whether it was the MMR vaccine itself that had caused the public health crisis. By the time the outbreak had run its course, thousands of people were sickened and 83 died, many of them children. Green, who is passionate and articulate about the problems that come when people refuse to get vaccinated, had an op-ed published in The New York Times this week and was featured in a Washington Post story and on cable media including CNN and Fox News. And he was trending on social sites. “I have no personal animus toward Mr. Kennedy on a lot of his policies,” Green told Civil Beat’s Washington correspondent Nick Grube, who caught him as he was sitting on a plane waiting to take off back to Hawaiʻi. “I just have an absolute objection to having the secretary of Health and Human Services be against vaccines, and he is. He can say what he wants to try to mitigate the damage, but everyone knows about his vaccine skepticism.” Green met with nearly a dozen senators from both sides of the aisle, including Democrats Dick Durbin of Illinois and Ron Wyden of Oregon. He was reluctant to name anyone else, he told Grube, because they were worried about political fallout. And besides, Green told Grube, he was really there on official state business like checking on federal cash that could and should be headed our way and other things of interest to Hawai‘i. While in town he worked with two different advocacy groups, 3.14 Action and Protect Our Care, to push his message and coordinate meetings with lawmakers. Already 3.14 Action has featured the governor in one of its advertisements opposing Kennedy. Green, who The Blog has heard would really like to be the country’s health secretary himself one day, told Grube he anticipates returning to D.C. in the future to crusade against Kennedy, including testifying before Congress if the opportunity allows. He’ll even talk to Donald Trump. Check, please: Wednesday is Opening Day of the 2025 Hawaiʻi Legislature, so that can only mean one thing: state legislators will rush to hold campaign fundraisers before the opening gavel falls because they’re prohibited by state law from holding organized fundraisers during session. The Blog is referring specifically to Sens. Lynn DeCoite and Jarrett Keohokalole , who asked for donations at Capitol Modern Tuesday night. It’s conveniently located right across Richards Street from the Hawaiʻi State Capitol. On Wednesday night Sens. Chris Lee , Donovan Dela Cruz , Henry Aquino and Troy Hashimoto passed their hats at Bishop Museum. Aquino, DeCoite and Keohokalole are planning ahead — they’re not up for reelection until 2028. House bills proposing to end the acceptance of all campaign contributions during legislative sessions (not just at organized fundraisers) passed that chamber unanimously in the 2023 session but were not heard by the Senate. Civil Beat opinion writers are closely following efforts to bring more transparency and accountability to state and local government — at the Legislature, the county level and in the media. Help us by sending ideas and anecdotes to sunshine@civilbeat.org . The mysterious making of the rules: The rulebook dictating how Hawaiʻi lawmakers conduct the public’s business is a big deal. The Blog has long contended that many of the most urgently needed legislative reforms could be accomplished with simple rule changes . With the start of a new biennium Wednesday, new rules must be adopted. Actually there are two rulebooks, one for the House and another for the Senate . And how they approach the task says a lot about the differences between the two chambers. The House formed a four-member Advisory Committee on Rules and Procedures that has been reaching out to representatives for their suggestions regarding the rules. The Senate, meh, not so much. Here’s how Senate Judiciary Chair Karl Rhoads puts it: “I think the Senate tends to be a little more, what’s the word I’m looking for? You’re a senator. If you have a problem with something, you need to raise it. We’re not necessarily going to go look for you to solicit your concerns.” Rhoads says he’s heard nothing about possible new Senate rules in the lead-up to the new session. Which, come to think of it, is not so different from what the House is doing. Its advisory committee is meeting in private, much to the consternation of reform advocates like Gary Hooser. The former senator writes in his own blog that current House rule No. 20 requires that the committee’s meetings be conducted openly: “Every meeting of a committee of the House … held for the purpose of making decisions on matters referred to the committee shall be open to the public.” But House Judiciary Chair David Tarnas points out that this House advisory committee is just that — advisory. “They’re not making decisions,” Tarnas says. “They’re recommending and they’re advisory. The decision-making itself is when we vote on it.” That will presumably occur soon after the Legislature convenes. That’s when we’ll know if either chamber is serious about limiting the power of conference chairs, preventing the money committees from controlling non-fiscal matters, eliminating anonymous bill introductions and so forth. Hope springs eternal: And speaking of being serious about reform, a hui of good governance groups gathered at the Capitol Thursday to launch what they called “Good Government Lobby Day.” The goal of the Hawai‘i Alliance for Progressive Action, Our Hawai‘i, Common Cause and Clean Elections Coalition is to advocate for government reforms that will strengthen transparency, accountability and fairness in the legislative process. “Welcome to your House of Representatives,” Rep. Della Au Belatti said as she welcomed some two dozen folks to Conference Room 325. She said she had not seen such a level of reform activity in her 20 years in the Legislature, adding that a revived Good Government Caucus at the Legislature is already working on bills. Rep. Della Au Belatti at the Good Governance Lobby Day meeting at the Capitol Tuesday. (David Croxford/Civil Beat/2024) Rep. Kim Coco Iwamoto said the new energy for reform began in 2022 when two lawmakers were arrested for and later convicted on bribery charges. There had been a culture, she said, that allowed Ty Cullen and J. Kalani English to get away with corruption. But there’s a lot of new blood in the Leg today. The groups, which spent half of the day meeting with other lawmakers, are pushing for a range of reforms including making public testimony on bills available early, doing away with anonymous bill introductions, taking non-financial bills out of money committees, enacting term limits and establishing full public financing of campaigns. Women of the house: One-third (or 32.43%) of the total number of state legislators in the 50 states and territories in 2025 are women, a slight increase from just a few years ago. The National Conference of State Legislatures reports that Colorado, New Mexico and Nevada are at or above the 50% mark of women state legislators, the highest representation nationwide. How does Hawaiʻi do? Compared to many other states and territories, pretty good at 40.8%. Alabama, Arkansas, Mississippi, South Carolina, Tennessee and West Virginia, for example, each have legislatures with less than 20% women members. The Hawaiʻi House of Representatives now has its first-ever female speaker, Nadine Nakamura. Two women have led the state Senate, Colleen Hanabusa and Donna Kim.

Gyeonggi Province to Host Climate Tech Conference on 23-24 October... Discussing Climate Crisis Response and More The Asia Business Daily Lee YeongKyu October 16, 2025 Original Article Gyeonggi Province will host the 2025 Gyeonggi-do Climate Tech Conference on October 23-24 at the Gyeonggi Convergence Town in Suwon (3rd floor of the Gyeonggi Credit Guarantee Foundation). The event is designed to promote climate crisis response based on scientific evidence, technological innovation, and the activation of investments. Held under the theme "The Era of Climate Economy: Now Is the Time to Invest in Climate Tech," the conference will bring together domestic and international ambassadors, climate tech companies, investment firms, startups, and residents. The event is organized by Gyeonggi Province and co-hosted by the Gyeonggi Environment & Energy Agency and the Gyeonggi Creative Economy Innovation Center. At the opening ceremony on October 24, Chris Lee (Hawaii State Senator), Andrew Chang (CEO of New Energy Nexus), and Ethan Cohen-Cole (CEO of Capture6, USA) will deliver keynote speeches on the future of the climate tech industry and the climate economy. The following panel discussion will be moderated by Jeon Uichan, Chairperson of the Climate Crisis Response Committee, and will feature domestic and international experts including Roy Torbert (3D), Lucinda Walker (British Chamber of Commerce in Korea), Milen Dyulgerov (World Bank), and Park Gunhoo (NH Investment & Securities). In the Climate Tech Showcase, leading climate tech companies and investment firms from Korea and abroad will gather to share growth strategies for climate tech unicorns and open innovation collaboration cases. Participants include Roy Torbert (D3), Trisana Nagrani (Climeworks), Ham Ilhan (H Energy), Seo Yutaek (Hyundai Engineering & Construction), Lee Gihak (Doosan Enerbility), and Lee Hoseop (Korea CCUS Promotion Team). The session will be chaired by Kim Hyoeun, CEO of the ClimateWorks Foundation. The Climate Tech Seminar will focus on "Investment, Policy, and Market Strategies for Climate Finance and Climate Tech," with presentations on domestic and international climate finance policies and investment strategies by Professor Kim Jongdae (Inha University), the Korea Environment Institute, NH Investment & Securities, and the Gyeonggi Credit Guarantee Foundation. In the Climate Tech Competition, seven teams that passed the preliminary round will present climate tech ideas with proven feasibility, and in the afternoon, a Carbon Neutral Fund Investment Pitch Day will be held. Ten startups that advanced through the preliminaries will compete in the final IR pitching round. At the multipurpose hall on the 3rd floor of the venue, technologies from domestic climate tech startups such as Nubilab, Eight Tech, Fineco, Taiga, GreenContinue, and Enon will be on display. Byun Sangki, Director of the Climate and Environment Policy Division of Gyeonggi Province, stated, "Climate tech is the industry of the future and a new growth engine for the climate economy," adding, "We hope this conference will serve as a starting point for the transformation of the climate tech ecosystem, where technology, finance, policy, and residents come together."

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

Hawaii Leaders Wary After Federal Funding Pause Rescinded Spectrum Michael Tsai January 30, 2025 Original Article Some 48 hours after the Trump administration ordered a freeze on federal grants and loans, the U.S. Office of Management and Budget rescinded its directive on Wednesday, leaving both the administration and its dissenters here and around the country to declare victory at the same time. What You Need To Know On Monday, the U.S. Office of Management and Budget issued a memo directing all federal agencies to pause financial assistance offered under their auspices so they could be reviewed for compliance with the administration’s new initiative to purge progressive programs supportive of diversity, equity and inclusion; LGBTQ+, environmental justice and other causes that do not align with the president’s priorities News of the intended pause was quickly met with a pair of lawsuits. U.S. District Judge Loren AliKhan later issued a stay in response to one of the suits just minutes before the OMB directive was to have taken effect at 5 p.m. Tuesday On Wednesday, OMB officially withdrew the directive without further explanation While the funding pause did not materialize, officials said the long-term threat to programs and services that do not meet Trump’s approval remains real On Monday, the OMB issued a memo directing all federal agencies to pause financial assistance offered under their auspices so they could be reviewed for compliance with the administration’s new initiative to purge progressive programs supportive of diversity, equity and inclusion, LGBTQ+, environmental justice and other causes that do not align with the president's priorities. A subsequent clarification noted that the pause would not affect core assistance programs, such as Social Security, Medicare or Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program. At a news briefing on Tuesday, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said the pause was proof of the Trump administration being “good stewards of taxpayer dollars.” News of the intended pause was quickly met with a pair of lawsuits, one by the National Council of Nonprofits, the American Public Health Association, the Main Street Alliance and the LGBTQ+ elders advocacy group SAGE and another by a coalition of 22 state attorneys general, including Hawaii Attorney General Anne Lopez. U.S. District Judge Loren AliKhan issued a stay in response the first suit just minutes before the OMB directive was to have taken effect at 5 p.m. Tuesday. On Wednesday, OMB officially withdrew the directive without further explanation. The administration contends that the issuance of the initial order achieved its greater purpose in making sure federal agencies were aware of their obligation to understand and adhere to hundreds of executive orders Trump issued in the first week of his return to the White House. And while many federal, state and local leaders remained chagrined at the widespread confusion wrought by the OMB directive, some viewed the action as a necessary shock to the system in line with Trump’s campaign promise to remake the federal government. “This is Donald Trump,” Sen. Kevin Cramer, R-N.D., told The Associated Press. “He throws hand grenades in the middle of the room and then cleans it up afterwards. I just think the guy’s a genius.” Democrats and others opposed to Trump’s wide-net action celebrated OMB’s cancellation of the order, which some attributed to public outcry. “Yesterday, we all woke up to chaos, uncertainty, and confusion as the Trump administration freezes federal funding,” state Rep. Adrian Tam posted on his social media accounts. “This funding is critical to infrastructure, healthcare, education, and wildfire recovery. While I’m happy that the Trump Administration backed off, I want to remind you that he wouldn’t have backed off had it not been for our community leaders raising the alarm on how this funding will hurt us. Pressure works; pushing back when we see bad policies is essential. Thank you to everyone for uniting and voicing their concerns. Today is a win for Hawaii.” Initial news of the intended freeze drew a sharp rebuke from Hawaii's political leaders and prompted state agencies, under the direction of Gov. Josh Green, to mobilize quickly to assess the potential impact and draw alternative plans for maintaining critical programs and services. In a speech on the Senate floor Tuesday, U.S. Sen. Brian Schatz, D-Hawaii, decried the freeze and the violation of the Constitution he said it represents. “The government shutdown that Donald Trump just ordered is illegal and unconstitutional,” Schatz said. “He is not a king and we do not live in a monarchy." Schatz said the freeze would result in “real pain” for many Americans. “If you’re a disaster survivor in North Carolina or Louisiana, or California or Texas or Florida or Maui, you don’t know what happens next,” he said. “If you’re a low-income family that relies on the Women, Infants, and Children Program to get healthy meals for your kids, if you live in a remote area like Waianae or Lanai in Hawaii and you go to a community health center to fill your prescriptions or to get a checkup, this freeze on funding means you don’t get help.” U.S. Sen. Mazie Hirono and U.S. Rep. Jill Tokuda issued a joint statement Wednesday shortly after the order was temporarily blocked. “Eight days into his dictatorship, President Trump has mandated a federal funding freeze that will cost Hawaii hundreds of millions in federal support,” they wrote. “Even a ‘temporary’ freeze will create a lapse in funding for disaster relief efforts in Lahaina, as well as crucial programs like Medicaid, Head Start, nutrition assistance programs like SNAP, WIC, school lunch programs and many more. State Attorney General Anne Lopez, along with a coalition of 21 other attorneys general, filed suit to immediately stop enforcement of the OMB policy and preserve essential funding. “The impacts of this policy withholding federal funds have already been realized in our state," Lopez said. "Neither the president of the United States nor an acting federal budget official can unilaterally upend federal law and cause such mass uncertainty in the Hawaii and our sister states by withholding federal funds authorized by law. The Department of the Attorney General will stand up for the rule of law in this nation.” The coalition argued that jeopardizing state funds will put Americans in danger by depriving law enforcement of much-needed resources and interrupting support for U.S. Department of Justice initiatives to combat hate crimes and violence against women, stop drug interdiction, support community policing and provide services to victims of crimes. The AGs also noted that the OMB policy would halt essential disaster relief funds to places like California and North Carolina, where tens of thousands of residents are relying on FEMA grants to recover after devastating wildfires and floods. In a statement released after the District Court ruling but before the order was rescinded, Gov. Josh Green said the Trump administration’s effort to freeze federal funding “cannot stand.” “My administration is currently assessing the impact of this pause on essential state programs and services, including education, health care, social services and wildfire recovery,” Green said. “For those programs that are found to be impacted, the state of Hawaii will work to develop alternate plans to ensure that key services for local residents are continued.” Hawaii’s legislative leaders also spoke out against the freeze and expressed concern for those who rely on services and programs funded by federal grants and loans. “This latest directive from the federal level comes at a time when many communities are already facing hardships, and it threatens to disrupt the distribution of critical resources to individuals, businesses, and organizations that rely on federal financial assistance,” said Senate President Ronald Kouchi. “These programs — spanning health care, education, infrastructure, housing and more — are lifelines for our Hawaii residents as well as millions of Americans and the temporary suspension of these funds will only exacerbate challenges that are already straining our communities.” House Speaker Nadine Nakamura said legislators were closely monitoring the situation. “This freeze is deeply concerning as it could jeopardize critical services that Hawaii’s communities depend on, including education, healthcare, social services, wildfire recovery and essential federally funded programs,” she said. “Furthermore, it undermines the progress we have made in ensuring representation and support for our Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander communities.” And while the funding pause did not materialize, officials said the long-term threat to programs and services that do not meet Trump’s approval remains real. In a news briefing after the OMB order was rescinded, Leavitt emphasized that while the freeze will not move ahead, federal agencies are still required to comply with Trump’s mandate to review all financial assistance programs to ensure that they follow his executive orders. In that regard, the state’s hurried efforts to assess the potential impact federal grant and loan cancellations would have on its myriad programs and services may have given it a head start in preparing for cuts yet to come. Green said his administration is assessing the impact the funding pause would have on essential state programs and services, including education, health care, social services and wildfire recovery and work to develop alternate plans for keeping key services available. State Comptroller Keith Regan confirmed that the Department of Accounting and General Services has several divisions or attached agencies that would be affected should it lose federal funding. “The main impact would be to our public arts initiatives in the State Foundation of Culture and the Arts,” he said. “Indirectly, it is possible the Archives may need to halt projects funded by its federal grants and our State Procurement Office’s Surplus Property Program may be affected by the pause in funding.” State Department of Labor and Industrial Relations director Jade Butay said his department is “deeply concerned” about potential impacts to its ability to deliver essential services. “A significant portion of our operations, including workforce development, unemployment insurance, job training and workplace safety through our Occupational Safety and Health division, is supported by federal funds,” Butay said. “Any disruption to these critical programs could affect workers, employers and communities statewide. We are actively monitoring the situation and are awaiting further guidance from the U.S. Department of Labor to understand the full scope of the impacts and next steps. We remain committed to serving the people of Hawaii and ensuring the continuity of essential programs.” The Hawaii Department of Defense, which includes the Hawaii National Guard, Hawaii Emergency Management Agency, Office of Veterans’ Services and Civilian Military Programs, is heavily reliant on federal funding, receiving approximately $88 million for its annual operating budget; about $350 million to administer its Hazardous Mitigation Program Grant; and nearly $25 million for its Emergency Management Program Grant. The department further anticipates approximately $56 million in Federal Emergency Management Agency reimbursement for Maui wildfire disaster response and recovery. It also receives federal grant funding for the High Intensity Drug Trafficking Areas program to coordinate its counter-narcotics efforts with federal, state and county law enforcement agencies. “While these federal programs are being reviewed by OMB, there’s no immediate impact to operate, retain qualified personnel, and continue to protect the citizens of the state of Hawaii,” said Maj. Gen. Stephen Logan, the state adjutant general. The Hawaii State Public Library System could also be significantly impacted by the freeze. HSPLA receives about $1.5 million in Library Services and Technology Act funding that enables it to provide access to library materials, technology to connect to the internet, and online databases. “The suspension of this funding will cause our communities to face limited access to information that supports their health, business, education and ability to connect to the world,” HSPLA reported on Tuesday. “Specifically, students will not have free access to test preparation and families will not have easy access to legal forms to support their needs.” HSPLS also is a recipient and partner for two digital equity projects, one that offers basic digital literacy classes statewide and another, funded via the Federal Broadband Equity Access Development program, that supports digital literacy navigators in all public libraries. Meanwhile, the Hawaii Department of Transportation is seeking clarification regarding potential impacts on obligated formula projects and discretionary funds. Likewise, the state Department of Law Enforcement reported that it is still seeking a final determination of the impacts from its federal partners. Michael Tsai covers local and state politics for Spectrum News Hawaii. He can be reached at michael.tsai@charter.com .

State Department of Education sees expanded free meal access for students KHON2 Cameron Macedonio July 31, 2025 Original Article HONOLULU (KHON2) — The Hawaiʻi State Department of Education will see a change in school meal prices this upcoming academic year, which also includes more access to free school meals for keiki. Act 139, which was signed into law in May by Governor Josh Green M.D., provided this expanded free meal access to students beginning in the 2025-2026 school year. Per the act, qualifying students will now receive a free breakfast meal, as well as a free lunch meal daily. “Removing the cost for reduced-price meals ensures more students are fed, focused and ready to learn — no matter their family’s financial situation,” said Superintendent Keith Hayashi. Last school year, approximately 11,000 students qualified for reduced-price meals. Act 139 would make these reduced-price meals completely free for the students this upcoming year. “As a mother and grandmother, I have seen firsthand how hunger affects a child’s ability to focus and learn,” said Senate Vice President and Education Committee Chair Michelle Kidani, who introduced the act to the legislature. “I still remember visiting classrooms in my district where teachers kept granola bars or crackers in their desks, just in case a student came to school without breakfast.” For Kidani, equitable access to nutritious meals is not just a matter of hunger — it’s a matter of ensuring a successful future for keiki. “This bill is about more than food. It’s about dignity, equity and ensuring every child has a fair chance to succeed,” she said. “Well-nourished students learn better, and I am proud to have authored this bill.” The only price increase for meals are for second meals and adult meals, with the prices increasing by just over a dollar for breakfast and two dollars for lunch. Students in the state that receive free meals will be categorized as “reduced-price eligible” per federal guidelines, with their meals being 100% reduced and their state-designated category being “Reduced — No Charge.” Here’s the full list of meal prices for the 2025-2026 academic year: Breakfast PreK through eighth grade$1.10 Ninth through 12th grade$1.10 Reduced-price, PreK through 12th gradeFree Student second meal$3.50 Adult Meal$3.50 Lunch PreK through eighth grade$2.50 Ninth through 12th grade$2.75 Reduced-price, PreK through 12th gradeFree Entree$2.25 Student second meal$7.50 Adult Meal$7.50 To apply for the free and reduced meal program, visit the EZMealApp or the HIDOE website .

From orphan to advocate: state senator shares story of adoption, reunion Hawaii News Now Jonathan Masaki November 1, 2025 Original Article HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) - For State Sen. Glenn Wakai, the 125th anniversary of Okinawans immigrating to Hawaii has a special and personal significance. For most of his life, Wakai knew that he was adopted but kept it a secret. He was one of the few orphans from Okinawa more than 50 years ago to leave when a loving family from Hawaii offered him a new life. “Back in 1967, there were only about 50 Japanese that would go to foreign lands to there’s not like 5000 right so there was only 50 kids that left Japan for a life in a foreign country,” he said. The senator was adopted by Ruth and Calvin Wakai. Together, they provided the young Uchinanchu boy opportunities that he would never have had had he not been adopted. “You think about 125 years of immigration between Okinawa and Hawaii. I think I embody the American dream, an orphan from Japan picked up by a loving family, and is able to chase their dreams,” Glenn said. Sadly, Ruth passed in 2013, followed by Calvin a few months later. Prior to Calvin’s passing, he presented Glenn with his childhood passport that bore his birth name. After a time of mourning, Wakai’s wife, Miki, asked him if he would like her to help him find his biological mother. He obviously said yes. “His born name is Mitsuru Shimabukuro. Shimabukuro was the last name, so I started calling all the Shimabukuros in Tokyo,” Miki said. During one of her calls, Miki said a nice lady suggested she contact the adoption agencies in Japan to see if they had any information. So, she did, and sure enough, one of them did have Glenn’s childhood records. The Wakais hired a lawyer, and a few months later, they received some good news. “I mean, there are 8 billion people on this planet, and Miki needed to help me find one person, and she did,” the senator said. “When we found her, we were so happy,” said Miki. That led to reuniting with Glenn’s biological mom, Yoko Boughton. Sen. Wakai realized that there was a chance that she may not have wanted to meet for various reasons, but was elated when she did. “He had all of the lucky stars lined up, I have to say this is not always the case when you look for birth mom in a foreign country, I think,” Miki said. “I feel like I got a second mom, and keep in mind, she had me up for adoption because she was age 15,” Glenn said. Since their reunion, the Wakais now try to make it back to Okinawa every year to spend time with Glenn’s biological family. This has also prompted the Hawaii lawmaker and his mom to help reform Japan’s policies when it comes to dealing with Japanese orphans. “My mother and I joined that crusade, met with the Diet members, the congressional-level ministers here in Japan, and we changed the law,” he said. When Glenn was adopted, only 12% of all orphans were in foster care. While there is still a long way to go, he said the law now requires that by 2030, 35% of all orphans need to be in foster care rather than a warehouse orphanage. “Every child has value, and I want as best as I can from an outside perspective to pressure Japan to really invest in their children,” Wakai said. After all, the senator is living proof of how an orphan can thrive if given a chance. He said he is forever grateful to his God-given parents, Ruth and Calvin, for adopting him and also grateful for the 125 years of Okinawa and Hawaii relations. “Here I am, a product of the benefits of that close collaboration between our islands, and I really am grateful for the opportunity Hawaii has given me that I wouldn’t have gotten here in Okinawa,” he said.

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

Kokua Line: Is Postal Service Christmas mailer correct? Star Advertiser Christine Donnelly December 3, 2024 Original Article Question : Are the Christmas ship-by dates in the Postal Service mailer correct? I thought Hawaii was earlier. Answer : You are referring to the fold-out card titled “Delivering infinite moments of joy all season long,” which was produced at U.S. Postal Service headquarters with mainland customers in mind but also mailed to Hawaii customers. “In this case, the Priority Express Mail suggested mailing date is actually the same for mainland and Hawaii customers—Dec. 20. But our suggested mailing date for First-Class and Priority Mail for our Hawaii customers, which are the services that most local folks use, is Dec. 18 rather than the Dec. 19 date suggested in the mail piece,” Duke Gonzales, a postal service spokesperson, said Monday in an email. The mail-by dates aren’t hard deadlines for shipping to the mainland, “just suggested dates to give Christmas mail and packages the best chances of reaching their destinations before Dec. 25,” he said. Gonzales issued a news release Monday with other information about holiday shipping: >> Self-service ship and mail centers: Customers can use these kiosks to ship packages, buy stamps and handle other tasks without seeing a mail clerk. They generally are open 24/7 at all locations except for Mililani and Waipahu. Kiosks are available at the Kapahulu Safeway and at these 16 Hawaii post offices: Aina Haina, Downtown, Hawaii Kai, Hilo Main, Honolulu Main/Airport, Kailua, Kailua-Kona, Kaneohe, Kihei, Lahaina, Makiki, Mililani, Waialae- Kahala, Waikiki, Wailuku and Waipahu. >> Priority Mail flat-rate shipping: The box itself is free, while shipping up to 70 pounds to a domestic location costs $19.30 in a medium box and $22.80 in a large box. The large box holds 50% more (with the same 70-pound weight limit). >> Overseas military: Up to 70 pounds can be shipped in the military large flat-rate box to most APO and FPO locations for $26. >> Online service: Use usps.com, where you can create an online account to order free boxes, buy stamps, pay for and print shipping labels (Click-N-Ship) and participate in Operation Santa, the annual program that has donors fulfill children’s Christmas wishes. With Click-N-Ship you can have the post office come pick up your outgoing packages at no extra charge, or drop off the prepaid packages at a post office counter without standing in line. >> Peak days: “We expect customer traffic at our post offices to accelerate beginning the week of Dec. 9, and that the week of Dec. 16 will be our busiest week of the season,” the news release said. Q : How long is the new Leeward bike path? A : The 3.5-mile Leeward Bikeway follows the previous Oahu Railway and Land Co. path and “extends the Pearl Harbor Historic Trail, connecting through the West Loch Community Shoreline Path, to create an 11-mile path that wraps around Pearl Harbor and into Ewa Beach, culminating at the Hawaiian Railway Society’s train yard,” according to the Hawaii Bicycling League. Q : Regarding bird flu, can that spread to feral cats? A : Yes, and to pet cats, too, and to many other mammals, wild, stray (feral) or domesticated. “Although bird flu viruses mainly infect and spread among wild migratory water birds and domestic poultry, some bird flu viruses can infect and spread to other animals as well. Bird flu viruses have in the past been known to sometimes infect mammals that eat (presumably infected) birds or poultry,” according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. In North America, H5N1 bird flu viruses have been detected in cats, dogs, goat kids (juvenile goats) and dairy cows, the agency says. It’s rare for people to catch bird flu from an infected animal, but it is possible, “especially if there is prolonged and unprotected exposure to the animal,” the CDC says. Read more at 808ne.ws/3ZhX9X1 Opens in a new tab (on the CDC website) and 808ne.ws/4fS9k3u Opens in a new tab (on the state Department of Health website).

MEO installs board members for 2025-26, marks 60-year anniversary Maui Now July 9, 2025 Original Article Maui Economic Opportunity’s 60th-year Board of Directors, led again by Carol Reimann, were installed last month with Mayor Richard Bissen, Lt. Gov. Sylvia Luke and state Sen. Lynn DeCoite joining the candle-themed ceremony. “The county deeply values MEO as a key partner,” said Mayor Richard Bissen at the June 26 event in MEO’s Wailuku classroom. “They address our housing insecurity, our economic hardship to our citizens, and, of course, many of the challenges that all of our residents face here. “Over the decades, MEO has grown into a trusted network of care, offering transportation to kūpuna, preschool to keiki, and support for small businesses and much more. The county stands with MEO as we take on this kuleana together. We are guided by aloha, by collaboration and by hope.” About 40 community and business leaders, state and county officials and MEO board members and staff participated in the event with retired Judge Rhonda Loo installing the new officers and board. The annual board installation also marked MEO’s 60th year since establishment in March 1965. Board officers for the 2025-26 fiscal year that runs from July 1 to June 30, 2026, includes Reimann, who will be serving her third term as president; Ned Davis, vice president; Cliff Alakai, treasurer; and Reuben Ignacio, secretary. In their remarks to the gathering, Luke and DeCoite lauded the work of MEO and other nonprofit boards in the community. The lieutenant governor noted that MEO assists “the most vulnerable populations” and “that’s why even more so, boards like this are so important because of the role that you fill in taking care of all our `ohana.” DeCoite said that nonprofit boards operate behind the scenes but “are absolutely essential in our communities.” “They are the stewards of mission, the keepers of vision and protectors of integrity,” she said. “Boards guide our strategy, ensure accountability, and they make the hard decisions that keep organizations, not just running, but thriving.” Director of Council Services David Raatz, an MEO board member who represents the Maui County Council, gave a shout out to MEO leaders and staff. “It’s not just MEO’s programs, but it’s MEO’s people that make a difference,” he said. “And as someone who has been fortunate to be a board member for the last two years, I have seen firsthand that everyone in this organization exhibits professionalism, compassion and ingenuity. “There’s things that come up . . . that are never planned for, and they have the ability to pivot quickly, make best available use of resources and serve the community.” MEO assisted 30,500 individuals and touched nearly 55,000 lives in the last fiscal year, CEO Debbie Cabebe said. Judge Loo installed board officers and members with a candle theme, noting that the candle and its light are symbols of hope, remembrance and connection. “The humble candle holds a timeless significance,” she said. MEO’s board consists of 21 members with seven members each representing government, businesses and community interests and those assisted. In addition to the officers, the board includes: Emmanuel Baltazar, Dawn Bicoy, Mindy Bolo, Arleen Gerbig, Cynthia Lallo, Gemma Medina, Caitlin Musson, Crystal Nakihei, Scott Okada, Kai Pelayo, Bard Peterson, Raatz, Adele Rugg, Sandy Ryan, Tessie Segui, Desi Ting and Glenn Yamasaki. From two programs established in 1965, MEO currently runs more than 30 programs that offer diverse assistance for people in need including transport for persons with disabilities, Head Start preschool for low income residents, rent and utility support, youth alcohol/drug/suicide prevention, business planning classes and more. “As you folks all enter your 60 years of service, we reflect with gratitude, and we look ahead with confidence in your continued mission,” said Bissen. “The county honors our continued partnership, and we are rooted in a shared commitment to serve, to uplift and to empower our entire community.” For information about MEO programs, call (808) 249-2990.

Hawaiʻi senators point to funding and enforcement to combat illegal fireworks Hawaiʻi Public Radio Catherine Cruz January 3, 2025 Original Article Gov. Josh Green's office said it has helped to arrange a medevac flight to send six burn victims from the New Year’s fireworks blast in Āliamanu to the continental U.S. for further medical treatment. Hawaiʻi's only burn unit at Straub Benioff Medical Center cannot handle all of the casualties from the fatal fireworks accident. The Honolulu Department of the Medical Examiner on Friday identified two women killed as Nelie Ibarra, 58, and Jennifer Van, 23. The identity of the third woman has not yet been confirmed. At a news conference on New Year's Day, Green emphasized the need to stop firework shows on neighborhood streets and proposed holding safe firework displays in the community. "Love your family. Avoid this. Let us put on firework displays in the community. Let us spend the monies to have something special for our citizens, which is what we've been proposing," he said at the news conference. "I know that this is a deep and important cultural tradition to many people to have some celebration with minor fireworks on New Year's and Fourth of July, but it's taking the lives of young people." Sen. Glenn Wakai, who represents Āliamanu and sits on the Public Safety Committee, said he thinks Hawaiʻi does not need more laws around illegal fireworks. Instead, he said the state needs better enforcement. "I'm not a big fan of increasing penalties or making more laws. I'm a big fan of funding DLE (Department of Law Enforcement) properly and giving them the tools and resources to go after all the bad actors in our community," Wakai said. Wakai said that he doesnʻt want to ban all fireworks. However, he added that non-permitted, non-professional fireworks need to end. "I just say we need to put the right personnel and fund DLE properly, let them do their job. They've shown us that they can do a good job by taking, what, 200,000 pounds of fireworks off the street. They just need more personnel to be able to investigate as well as prosecute those scoundrels," Wakai said. Law enforcement responding to the scene on Keaka Drive. (Jan. 1, 2025)Courtesy Angelina Bagaforo Sen. Karl Rhoads, the chair of the Judiciary Committee, said that it might be more helpful to raise the penalty to a Class B felony for the importation of illegal fireworks. "There's an awful lot of people who want to buy illegal fireworks and as a result that makes it very difficult. I think there are things that we could do. There's been a number of bills introduced in the last few years... this is a whole new level of tragedy in terms of the consequences. But it's something that many of our constituents have been complaining to us about for years," Rhoads said. However, he said there have been various roadblocks to dealing with illegal fireworks. "You need resources to fight. You need personnel and you need money. I have to think that this tragedy will encourage people at all levels of government to take the issue more seriously," Rhoads said. Rhoads shared that a 2019 law pinned liability on homeowners who allow someone to use their property for illegal fireworks. Act 248 also allows photographs and videos of fireworks to be submitted as evidence in court.

Rally at beach takes aim at development on Maui for wealthy Maui News Eli Pace September 4, 2025 Original Article As protesters demanding better wages took to the streets in cities across the U.S. over the holiday weekend, a small group of Maui residents and activists went to the beach. It wasn’t a day off for Maui Indivisible, which organized Saturday’s rally featuring a handful of keynote speakers and state officials, nor were they there working on a tan. Rather, the group was at Maluaka Beach in Makena hoping to call attention to what they described as the systematic removal of working-class people and Native Hawaiians from the Makena community and beyond. Specifically, the rally took aim at Mākena Mauka, a large proposed luxury development on land owned by the Mākena Golf & Beach Club. “We wanted to have (the rally) the Saturday of Labor Day weekend and really bring folks together to show how the billionaires who live here, at least part time, are an apparatus that supports and funds and even the architects of this fascist regime are right here on Maui,” said Marnie Masuda-Cleveland, the lead for Maui Indivisible who helped organize the lineup of speakers. “Just little by little, working people here on Maui are being displaced, marginalized, beaten down by the needs and wants of the millionaire and billionaire class,” she added. “And it just has to stop.” Groups supporting federal workers and unions marched in Los Angeles, San Francisco, Chicago and other U.S. cities in support of workers’ rights and other causes. One of the nationwide rally organizers, May Day Strong, said on its website that “billionaires are stealing from working families, destroying our democracy and building private armies to attack our towns and cities.” Speakers at Saturday’s rally on Maui didn’t pull any punches on the billionaires either, as they likened what’s happening on Maui to the broader issues of fascism, big-money influence and the need for community solidarity. Moreover, they blasted the planned Mākena Mauka development featuring as many as 900 new luxury homes, a golf course and beach club. According to rally organizers, each home is anticipated to have its own swimming pool and come with a price tag of $10 million or more. After opening in the Hawaiian language, activist, educator and keynote speaker Kahele Dukelow called upon the crowd to fight back as she traced how development has pushed so many local families and Native Hawaiians out of the area while also harming the natural environment and only catering to the uber wealthy. “Whether your ancestors came during the plantation or whether you came and immigrated here later on, there is no better time than now for us to unite and resist and work against the racist and fascist government of America,” Dukelow said. “What is happening in America, what is happening in Palestine and what is happening here on Maui have the same source: unchecked power, insatiable greed, all the evils of settler colonialism.” Dukelow said a small group of people “fought like hell” in the 1980s to prevent much of the development that’s taken place today at Makena and across Maui. She said that group had the foresight to see what was happening decades ago and they successfully fought to preserve beach access that allowed for the rally. “They recognized that what was going to happen was the removal and erasure of Hawaiians and of working-class people from those communities,” she said. ‘They fought in the courts. They fought in our community meetings. They fought down here on the beaches, fighting to maintain access to these shorelines for our people.” Near the end of Saturday’s rally, two large signs were posted on the beach criticizing “Tech Billionaires” and advocating for “People Over Profit.” “What they feared was going to happen has happened, and you would think that it could not get any worse,” Dukelow added. “But like Marnie mentioned, it can get a lot worse. Developers like Wailea 670 and Discovery Land Company that surround us right now, they have plans. They have plans that don’t include us, don’t include people like us, except for exploiting our labor possibly.” Dukelow said she has been organizing her entire life, and it has been hard going up against such deep pockets, but she’s not ready to give up either. “They are not building a community for us,” she said. “Our labor should go into building communities for us. … If they can do this in Makena with no water and no community will for any of it, they can do whatever they want anywhere, and that’s what we have to stop.” Other speakers included state Rep. Terez Amato and state Sen. Angus McKelvey, who took shots at the Trump administration as well as luxury development as they promised to fight for working-class people. Additionally, Laila Popata, one of the founders of Maui For Palestine, called for action against the ongoing genocide in Gaza in a passionate plea for more people to get involved. “This is not about Hamas or about self-defense. This is ethnic cleansing,” she said. “Currently, an entire civilian population — 2.2 million people — are being starved to death and there are aid trucks sitting at the border crossing with much needed food and humanitarian supplies.” The rally was promoted by Maui Indivisible, the same group that’s been holding regular pro-democracy and anti-Trump rallies on Maui. Numbers at Saturday’s event were significantly lower than recent protests on the island, such as a rally in front of the Queen Ka’ahumanu Center in June that drew thousands, but those in attendance were no less adamant that action needs to be taken. On Labor Day, demonstrations in Chicago and New York were organized by One Fair Wage to draw attention to the struggles laborers face in the U.S. Chants of “Trump must go now!” echoed outside the president’s former home in New York, while protesters gathered outside a different Trump Tower in Chicago. Large crowds also gathered in Washington, D.C., and San Francisco. In New York, people gathered outside Trump Tower, and demonstrators waved signs and banners calling for an end to what they said is a fascist regime. In Washington, a large crowd gathered with signs saying “Stop the ICE invasion” and an umbrella painted with “Free D.C. No masked thugs.” Hundreds more gathered at protests along the West Coast to fight for the rights of immigrants and workers. Multiple groups joined together at the protests in Chicago to listen to speeches and lend their voices to the chants. Along the West Coast from San Diego up to Seattle, hundreds gathered at rallies to call for a stop to the “billionaire takeover.”