Hawaiʻi Senate Ways and Means Committee details visit to Kauaʻi Kauai Now August 16, 2025 Original Article Members of the Hawai‘i Senate Ways and Means Committee — including Kaua‘i and Ni‘ihau lawmaker Senate President Ronald Kouchi — spent 2 days this week on the Garden Isle for a whirlwind tour for discussions and meetings with officials with various government agencies and community leaders. Senators during their visit Aug. 12-13 heard from and were updated about activities and work surrounding several issues, including: Development of Hawai‘i’s latest food and product innovations. Health care systems. Education and workforce development pathways. Biosecurity efforts. Language access. Their trip also visited various sites, receiving the latest information about critical projects and initiatives happening on the island. “Our site visits to Kaua‘i provided the committee with a deeper understanding of the innovations taking place across [the] state to address some of Hawai‘i’s most pressing challenges,” Ways and Means Committee Chairman O’ahu state Sen. Donovan Dela Cruz in a release detailing the visit. “From tackling homelessness by creating a continuum of housing to advancing education, workforce readiness and economic opportunity, we’ve seen firsthand how local partnerships are turning ideas into impact.” Initiatives such as the Food and Product Innovation Network demonstrate how investments in education and entrepreneurship can strengthen Hawai‘i’s economy and support homegrown industries. Cultural preservation efforts at Ke Kula Ni‘ihau O Kekaha Learning Center underscore at the same time the importance of protecting the voices and values that make island communities unique. “These insights will be critical as we continue to shape policies and allocate resources that build a more resilient and equitable future for all of Hawai‘i,” said Dela Cruz. Kouchi said it’s always meaningful when Hawai‘i Senate comes to Kaua‘i to see the incredible work local communities, educators and organizations are doing every day to tackle statewide challenges. “From efforts to increase affordable housing and address homelessness, to supporting workforce development and preserving ʻŌlelo Ni‘ihau, these initiatives reflect the deep commitment of our people to building a stronger Hawai‘i,” the Senate president said. “I’m grateful to the Senate Ways and Means Committee for taking the time to engage directly with the people and projects that are making a real difference on the ground.” The Senate Ways and Means Committee conducts neighbor island site visits every 2 years. It uses information members receive from community stakeholders and government officials to guide collective decision-making for legislation and budget appropriations that bolster regional and statewide planning and implementation efforts. The committee’s Kaua‘i visit highlighted the important work and progress by various state and public organizations, allowing members to see the real-life impacts of the policy decisions they craft and deliver to the public. “As the state moves forward and prepares for the upcoming legislative session, the committee will continue to look at ways to support the crucial efforts of these organizations toward economic diversification, protection of the land and natural resources and education of our keiki and future workforce,” says the committee’s post-trip report.

Trump’s order to cut federal funding sends shock waves in Hawaii Star Advertiser Dan Nakaso January 29, 2025 Original Article President Donald Trump’s orders to cut federal funding for a wide range of programs and nonprofit organizations has set off chaos and confusion in Hawaii and around the country. All of Trump’s orders to halt federal funding for multiple programs sent Hawaii officials scrambling Tuesday to pinpoint which programs and services may be at risk. Hawaii departments and agencies rely on 2,600 different federal “accounts,” acting Gov. Sylvia Luke told the Honolulu Star-Advertiser. But state officials do not know whether the list of 2,600 federal accounts used by various state agencies — including the state departments of Health and Human Services and the University of Hawaii — was complete, including how many state workers’ salaries are funded by the federal government, Luke said. She asked anyone who hears about or experiences disruptions in programs to contact their state legislator so the state can get a better picture of the situation. Luke hopes state legislators provide more funding for critical programs that rely on federal funding to continue services across Hawaii. But of the state’s $17 billion budget, Luke said half comes from special and federal dollars. “We don’t have the funds to supplant all of the federal funds that can be lost,” she said. In a statement Tuesday, state Senate President Ron Kouchi (D, Kauai-Niihau), said, “These programs — spanning healthcare, education, infrastructure, housing, and more — are lifelines for our Hawai‘i 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 (D, Hanalei-Princeville-Kapaa) issued a statement saying, “This freeze is deeply concerning as it could jeopardize critical services that Hawai‘i’s communities depend on, including education, healthcare, social services, wildfire recovery, and essential federally funded programs. Furthermore, it undermines the progress we have made in ensuring representation and support for our Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander communities.” The Hawaii Alliance of Nonprofit Organizations said in a statement that Trump’s call for a “temporary” pause on all agency federal grants and loans “will have immediate and devastating impacts to nonprofits that receive federal funding and for our communities at large. The shock waves of this unprecedented action are reverberating throughout the country and our local communities. HANO joins in your concerns and your fears, and we believe this unilateral action taken by President Trump is unconstitutional.” Luke said that in her 10 years as House finance chair before being elected lieutenant governor in 2022, “We have never seen this type of directive out of the White House.” Even more concerning, she said, Trump’s actions are aimed, in particular, at critical issues for Hawaii, including addressing climate change, embracing diversity, culture and inclusion — and at specific communities such as immigrants like herself, various ethnicities, lesbians, gays, bisexuals and transgenders. “They have an agenda,” she said of the Trump administration and his supporters. Luke hopes Trump’s threats to dismantle the Federal Emergency Management Agency do not jeopardize future federal funding to rebuild Maui after the Aug. 8, 2023, wildfires, which killed 102 people and all but wiped out Lahaina. And she also worries that Trump might target the Compact of Free Association, which gives residents from the Federated States of Micronesia, Republic of the Marshall Islands and the Republic of Palau access to the full range of federal benefits available to lawful U.S. residents, including food aid from the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program and Temporary Aid for Needy Families. The agreements were made after U.S. nuclear weapons tests killed, maimed and caused health issues for the people of their islands. On Monday the U.S. Office of Management and Budget issued a directive to federal agencies to pause “all activities related to obligation or disbursement of all federal financial assistance” starting Tuesday to conduct a review of whether government spending “aligns with Trump’s agenda,” Schatz told his Senate colleagues Tuesday. The OMB later clarified that programs would be spared from review that provide direct benefits to people who receive Medicaid, SNAP or Social Security benefits. Gov. Josh Green said in a statement that Trump’s directives have “caused a great deal of chaos, confusion and uncertainty.” “The presidential order seeks to prevent the people of Hawaii from receiving crucial services funded by the millions of dollars they pay to the federal government each year,” Green said. “This 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.” The immediate aftermath of Trump’s flurry of directives will equally effect Republican and Democratic states, U.S. Sen. Brian Schatz and U.S. Rep. Jill Tokuda said separately Tuesday. Schatz rose on the floor of the U.S. Senate and said: “I also would like to select the federal funding, which I agree with and fund that, and select the funding that I disagree with and defund that. But I’m not a monarch and neither is Donald Trump. “We’re hearing from so many constituents across the country, and I had a bit of a time delay because it’s earlier in Hawaii, but all of my colleagues were getting incoming texts and calls and panicked people,” Schatz said. “This isn’t about some arcane government program. This is, like, basic stuff.” Schatz, Tokuda and others including the Hawaii Alliance of Nonprofit Organizations called Trump’s “temporary” pause on all agency federal grants and loans unconstitutional, chaotic and creating confusion across the country, including in red states. Tokuda said Trump “decided in his head that he was just going to do it. And that’s resulted in an onslaught of executive orders. He was just going to put out his mandates, throw noodles to the wall and see what would stick, to see if Republicans in Congress would bow down to him, ultimately making this a government of one and removing the separation of powers that protects all Americans.” Just as the cuts were to take effect Tuesday, U.S. District Judge Loren AliKhan ordered the Trump administration not to block funding to existing programs until Monday after nonprofit and public health organizations filed lawsuits. AliKhan has scheduled a hearing in Washington, D.C., for Monday. However the judge rules, it remains to be seen whether the losing side will appeal — or Trump will simply ignore a decision against his directives, claiming they are the result of executive orders, Luke said. “We really don’t know,” she said. “We won’t know if this will continue a week from now, a month from now, a year from now. But we have an obligation to be ready for the worst-case scenario.”

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.

Senate Judiciary Committee passes wealth asset tax bill for assets above $20M Maui Now N/A February 1, 2025 Original Article The Hawaiʻi State Senate Committee on Judiciary passed Senate Bill 313 in a hearing Thursday morning, which would implement a wealth asset tax for assets valued over $20 million. “SB 313 is a significant step towards creating a fairer, more equitable economy,” said Judiciary Committee Chair Karl Rhoads, who introduced the bill. “This legislation pushes for those with the greatest resources to contribute their fair share to the prosperity of our state. By moving this bill forward, we are tackling inequality head-on and working to build an economy that benefits all, especially those who have been left behind for far too long.” If the bill becomes law, individuals with assets worth more than $20 million would pay a state tax on the value of their assets above that amount. For example, if someone has $25 million in assets, they would pay the tax on the $5 million that exceeds the $20 million threshold. The tax rate would be 1%. The Committee adopted Chair Rhoads’ recommendation to assess the tax every three years. SB 313 would include assets like real estate, stocks, bonds, cash, art and collectibles, in the calculation. Those subject to the wealth asset tax would report their assets to the Department of Taxation and pay the tax at the same time they file their regular state income taxes. If passed, the bill as amended would be applied to taxes due after Dec. 31, 2029. Sen. Rhoads has introduced similar legislation in the past – SB 925 in 2023, and SB 2389 in 2022. Massachusetts has already implemented a similar state wealth tax, with the money collected aimed at funding transportation and education programs, and other states are considering similar legislation.

University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo adding sea, space, pharmacy programs in plan to modernize Big Island Now Kelsey Walling November 8, 2025 Original Article With one of the best locations in the world for astronomy in its backyard, the University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo launched its Space Sciences and Engineering Initiative a year ago to produce homegrown engineers and technicians. And with a unique location for marine science also in its backyard, UH Hilo has plans to build new coral reef research facilities on the Kohala coastline to support UH Hilo’s already well-known undergraduate Marine Science Program. UH Hilo also will offer a new online pathway to break educational barriers for working Hawaiʻi residents with an Extended, Online Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD) degree program that begins in January. This is all part of UH Hilo’s “Renew, Improve, Modernize” vision to upgrade its facilities and programs to better serve students, faculty and the wider community with the help of state funding and a six-year plan. On Monday, state Sen. Lorraine Inouye announced that Gov. Josh Green released $15 million in Capital Improvement Program funds to finance the design and construction of facility improvements at UH Hilo. “Investments like this strengthen our educational infrastructure and ensure our students have access to a modern, high-quality learning environment,” Inouye said in a statement. The state Board of Regents already has approved “Renew, Improve, Modernize” budget requests of $29.6 million for 2026 and $22.6 million for 2027 for UH Hilo, but only the $15 million was appropriated for 2026. And, the University of Hawaiʻi System as a whole did not receive much funding for 2027. “We will be pursuing ‘Renew, Improve, Modernize’ funding through the supplemental budget process for the fiscal year 2027,” UH Hilo vice chancellor Kalei Rapoza said. “We are grateful for the appropriations we have received and hope additional funding will allow us to continue to address these projects on campus.” This table shows the Capital Improvement Project funding plans through 2029. (University of Hawaiʻi System) There are also plans to create additional instructional capacity by improving the use and quality of its existing spaces. According to its six-year plan, UH Hilo will continue to modernize facilities and address maintenance needs. For its new Space Sciences and Engineering Initiative, UH Hilo has invested significantly in the procurement of crucial engineering laboratory teaching materials and is currently developing a new “Maker Space” in the College of Natural and Health Sciences, coordinated by the Pacific International Space Center for Exploration Systems. “The Maker Space is intended to benefit students in the pre-engineering program, providing open access to equipment such as a laser cutter, computer numerical control machine, 3D printer, line plotter, and equipment designed for the design and testing of electrical and structural materials,” said Simon Kattenhorn, dean of the College of Natural and Health Sciences. Kattenhorn. The university now has 20 registered pre-engineering students, enrolled as physics majors. Half of these students began the program the fall of 2024 and another 10 arrived at UH Hilo this fall, mostly as new freshmen. “This reflects tremendous success in the university’s efforts to get information about this new program out to local high school students,” Kattenhorn said. The program is an interdisciplinary collaboration with the University of Hawaiʻi Institute for Astronomy and the Univeristy of Hawaiʻi Mānoa College of Engineering. The goal is to expand Hawaiʻi’s technology sector and educate people qualified to work the 500 jobs at observatories on Maunakea and Maui’s Haleakalā that specialize in optics, software, data science, materials, mechanics, systems and cryogenics. This new program provides students with valuable training in space engineering and instrument development through prerequisite engineering courses at the University of Hawaiʻi Institute for Astronomy’s facility in Hilo, which can then be transferred to the College of Engineering at UH Mānoa. With the new $15 million in state funds for fiscal year 2026, UH Hilo will address the following issues: Renovation and improvement for air conditioning systems in classroom buildings; Renovation and improvement of an agricultural facility for modern instruction; Design for renovation and upgrades to student housing; Design for replacement of built-up roofing at ʻImiloa Astronomy Center. “Addressing deferred maintenance early proactively allows repairs to be completed efficiently, preventing relatively simple issues from escalating and avoiding higher costs and impacts to operations,” Rapoza said. “By prioritizing maintenance investment now in critical areas, operations are safeguarded against disruptive outages, minimizing downtime and protecting critical assets.” The planned Puakō Marine Education and Research Center will provide research and study opportunities for understanding Hawaiʻi’s marine ecosystem by allowing for multi-day research and teaching and providing storage for boats, diving and research equipment currently in storage at UH Hilo. “The Puakō Marine Center would provide an internationally recognized facility for training and support available to UH students and researchers, local island educators and numerous federal, state and out-of-state university students and researchers,” Rapoza said. “Puakō is an ideal location to support a wide range of coastal and marine research activities for faculty and students throughout the UH System.” The facility would complement UH Hilo’s large undergraduate Marine Science Program and is an ideal location given the unique Kona-Kohala coastal resources and the need for additional higher education opportunities in West Hawaiʻi. “Our students and faculty already do substantial work with West Hawaiʻi reefs and this facility would help to showcase our efforts and promote our programs,” Rapoza said. “We also recognize that buy-in from the local community will be vital to our success.” According to the six-year plan, current access to the Puakō coral reefs is currently severely limited due to the lack of laboratories and housing on the west side. UH Hilo also does not have pressurized chamber to prevent decompression sickness for students diving. Rapoza said the facility would be completed in phases, starting with building a pavilion for outdoor training and a boat building for boat storage, an indoor classroom and project staging. Phase 2 would include a dormitory, an academic center with offices, classrooms and laboratories, and faculty and caretaker housing. Once the full funding of $8.5 million for Phase 1 is received, which is expected to be in the fiscal year of 2027, the timeline for building design, permitting and construction is approximately 3 to 4 years. The UH Hilo Daniel K. Inouye College of Pharmacy’s new Extended, Online Doctor of Pharmacy degree program is mostly online with some immersion and laboratory experiences. It will give working adults and caregivers of loved ones more accessibility in pursuing a Doctor of Pharmacy degree. “This is a much-needed resource for our island state, which will allow aspiring pharmacists to continue living and working in their communities while pursuing a Doctor of Pharmacy degree,” said Dr. Rae Matsumoto, dean of the Daniel K. Inouye College of Pharmacy. To learn more about the online, Doctor of Pharmacy program coming next January, visit the UH Hilo website .

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

Tourism briefing reveals unexpected L.A. Rams expense Star Advertiser Allison Schaefers June 24, 2025 Original Article The state legislators in charge of tourism praised the Hawai‘i Tourism Authority’s partnership with the Los Angeles Rams, but cried foul on HTA when it learned that the agency now expects to pick up the tab for the team’s welcome reception, estimated to cost from $80,000 to $100,000. Lawmakers brought to light the issues with HTA’s Rams contract during an informational briefing called by Rep. Adrian Tam (D, Waikiki), chair of the House Committee on Tourism, and Sen. Lynn DeCoite (D, East Maui-Upcountry-Molokai-Lanai-Kahoolawe), chair of the Senate Economic Development and Tourism Committee. Lawmakers also questioned HTA’s accountability and transparency, as well as the ability of Caroline Anderson, its current interim president and CEO, to lead an agency dealing with 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. Sen. Donna Mercado Kim (D, Kalihi Valley-Moanalua-Halawa) highlighted HTA’s latest issue when she asked Anderson if HTA had incurred any expenses for the Rams outside of its expected contract expenses. HTA had contracted with the Rams to pay $1.5 million, and another $300,000 if the Rams make the playoffs, to promote tourism in Maui and Hawaii. But Anderson told Kim that it is possible that HTA might have to pay an additional fee to cover the Rams’ welcome reception as “there seems to be some language in the contract which is not clear about what the Rams are paying for and what HTA is paying for.” James Kunane Tokioka, state Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism director, opined to lawmakers that the state will have to cover most of the reception at the Wailea Beach Resort- Marriott, Maui, which he estimated will cost $80,000 to $100,000. Tokioka told the Honolulu Star-Advertiser, “Why would the Rams’ contract say they are committed to $5,000? They know that a luau is going to cost more than $5,000 so in their mind the state was paying for it.” Lawmakers grilled Anderson, Tokioka and Todd Apo, HTA board chair, on the emerging issues with the latest Rams contract, which they noted was part of a broader pattern of concerns related to accountability, transparency, and effectiveness. Kim was incredulous that Apo said the board had approved the Rams program, but not the contract in detail. DeCoite said HTA needed an attorney, and said the current process, is “like me giving my business to my granddaughter and saying, ‘Hey just go run wild with the checkbook.’” Tokioka told the Star-Advertiser that he sent an email to the Attorney General’s Office for guidance, but that he thinks “somebody made a commitment that they shouldn’t have made and that put a cloud over the Rams’ visit. But it shouldn’t because what they did was incredible. The community embraced them and they embraced the community.” Tokioka said the contract was negotiated by former HTA Chief Stewardship Officer Kalani Ka‘ana‘ana, whose resignation from HTA was effective May 2, and by HTA board member Mufi Hannemann, who was HTA board chair at the time. “They said Mufi told them that the state was going to pay for the reception,” he said. Hannemann was not present at the briefing but told the Star-Advertiser that he “did not authorize to pay for the reception,” and that Tokioka is misrepresenting facts. “It was my expectation that the deal would cover the reception,” Hannemann said, adding that he had heard that Ka‘ana‘ana was putting in a contingency in the budget. While Tokioka and Hannemann disagree on what happened with the most recent Rams contract, they both supported the current partnership and are interested in future partnerships. Hannemann said that the latest partnership with the Rams as well as the reception brought undeniable returns. As part of HTA’s partnership with the Rams, Mauicamp started on June 16 and ended Thursday. On June 17-18, the Rams also hosted on-field team activities that featured players in workout gear at War Memorial Stadium in Wailuku. “As many as 457 people came to Maui including the players, VIPs, the staff and their premium fan base. Everyplace we went people were circulating and spending money,” Hannemann said. “It reinforced the message that Maui is open for business and it welcomes people back. This deal was driven by HTA. The tourism industry shined on behalf of the people of Maui and the state’s economy. The governor and the mayor supported us doing this deal — that’s why this is a head scratcher. “ HTA also will serve as the presenting sponsor of a Rams 2025 home game at SoFi Stadium in the Los Angeles suburb of Inglewood, and as the presenting sponsor of the Rams’ offseason content on therams.com and social channels, including in-depth coverage of the team’s visit to Maui. Tokioka said he was not a part of earlier contract negotiations with the Rams. But he said that he is pursuing a new partnership with the Rams that would allow the University of Hawaii to play UCLA at SoFi Stadium. He said UCLA was supposed to come to Hawaii to play, but that the university currently doesn’t have a stadium available. Tokioka said there are still details to work out, but if the partnership prevails, the University of Hawaii would play UCLA on Sept. 18, 2027, at SoFi Stadium as a home game for Hawaii. “There’s a desire with the Rams to do more with the state of Hawaii than is currently on the table,” he said. “By 2026, we should know if we’ll get to play in SoFi or not. UCLA has never played in SoFi and never has UH. SoFi Stadium is the premier stadium in the NFL right now.” During the briefing, which lasted about six hours, several lawmakers expressed concern that HTA was even necessary given that Senate Bill 1571, which was signed into law May 29, has downgraded the HTA board to an advisory role, and DBEDT now has oversight of most of the board’s previous functions. Sen. Glenn Wakai (D, Kalihi-Salt Lake-Pearl Harbor) discussed the possibility of bifurcating HTA’s marketing and destination stewardship between two state agencies. DeCoite suggested folding HTA into DBEDT. Tam said he has begun working on drafting a bill to implement all of the recommendations in a third-party governance study released last July by Better Destinations LLC, founded by Cathy Ritter. The study, which cost nearly $300,000, recommended that a private, independent, nonprofit Destination Stewardship Organization (referred to as a DSO) replace HTA, which was created by the state Legislature more than a quarter of a century ago. Tam said he was baffled that the study was not presented to lawmakers at the beginning of this year’s session so that they could have had public hearings to discuss the findings. “The first thing in the governance study was that you guys pretty much needed to be replaced. You didn’t like what it says so you guys are just kicking the can down the road … until people forget about it. That’s just appalling,” Tam said.

Hawai'i Leaders and Rams Discuss Mauicamp and Community Impact BVM Sports BVM Sportsdesk May 7, 2025 Original Article Hawai'i Governor Josh Green, State Senator Lynn DeCoite, State Representative Adrian Tam, and Rams President Kevin Demoff announced the Rams' Mauicamp in Maui, from June 16-19. Following devastating wildfires in Maui, the Rams raised significant funds for disaster relief, enhancing their partnership with the state. The event will feature player activities, youth clinics, and community service, with hopes to strengthen ties and grow the Rams' fan base in Hawai'i. Demoff hinted at future collaborations, potentially leading to more Rams events and a stadium in Hawai'i. By the Numbers The Rams raised hundreds of thousands of dollars through fundraising efforts for Maui relief. The Mauicamp will accommodate unique on-field activities over four days, including clinics for 400 local student-athletes. State of Play The Rams will host training activities at War Memorial Stadium alongside local youth clinics. Local government officials are optimistic about fostering an ongoing relationship with the Rams beyond this year's camp. What's Next The Rams and Hawai'i officials aim to explore a longer partnership, potentially leading to more events and a future stadium on the islands by 2028, coinciding with the Los Angeles Olympics. Bottom Line This partnership reflects a growing relationship between the Rams and Hawai'i, emphasizing community support and economic growth while fostering a budding football fan base in the state.

Four agricultural officers coming to Big Island this month for pilot program under new state law Big Island Now Kelsey Walling July 4, 2025 Original Article To protect farmers and ranchers from being victims of crimes, four agricultural officers will be deployed to Hawaiʻi Island this month as part of a pilot enforcement program. The program stems from Act 235, also known as Duke’s Law, which was signed last week by Gov. Josh Green. The law was named by state Sen. Tim Richards in memory of Cranston “Duke” Pia, a 39-year-old Waiʻanae rancher who was fatally shot in 2024 during a confrontation with trespassing hunters. Pia’s death prompted community members, lawmakers and agricultural groups to push for more serious enforcement and tougher penalties for trespassers, thieves and illegal hunters targeting agricultural land. As a rancher in Kohala, Richards said he has experienced a fair share of agricultural crimes and was a passionate advocate for the law. “I feel like we’re finally moving the needle for agriculture because for so long, agricultural crime has not been a concern because ‘it is just trespassing, or they just took a couple of fruits,'” Richards said. “But those fruits are people’s livelihoods, and Pia’s murder began with a trespass.” Agricultural crimes are complex and multifaceted, so the state law is designed to provide a comprehensive response by having clearer definitions and penalties for violations related to agriculture and agricultural lands. The state Department of Law Enforcement initiated the pilot agricultural enforcement program on July 1 and will deploy nine dedicated officers — four on Oʻahu, four on Hawaiʻi Island, and one supervisor overseeing both teams. They will focus on human-related agricultural crimes that involve theft, trespassing, illegal hunting, poaching and vandalism. According to Richards, these crimes jeopardize the lives and livelihoods of farmers, undermine food security, disrupt local economies, and erode public confidence in the protection of vital resources. 📷In this file photo, Craig Burkholder’s horse Onyx, right, walks with her foal, Uhane. In 2022, Onyx was shot at night by a friend of a neighbor who wanted to eradicate wild pigs from his property. The shooting left her 11-weak-old Uhane without a mother. (Photo Courtesy: Craig Burkholder) The Hawaiʻi Farm Bureau estimates that agricultural crimes cost local farmers and ranchers up to $15 million annually. Before the law, agricultural crimes often resulted in small fines. Now, habitual offenders — those with three or more agriculture-related offenses within five years — will face felony charges and jail time. The bill also allows for the seizure of weapons, vehicles and other equipment used in these crimes. “We don’t want to punish the young guy who made a mistake one time, but we do want to target habitual offenders with harsher penalties,” Richards said. “However, no one is under any illusion that we’ll solve all the issues right away. The officers will have to meet with farmers and ranchers to see what problems they face, and new technology and equipment will need to be tested.” The pilot program, with about $2 million in funding, will utilize tools like drones and license plate recognition cameras to help patrol large and remote land. “It could take 30 to 40 minutes for an officer to investigate,” said Mike Lambert, director of the Department of Law Enforcement. “In theory, if we had a drone at the location, it could be out in one minute and begin capturing that violation.” Richards has suggested that the Department of Law Enforcement meet with people working in agriculture to learn about the best spots to place these cameras and implement one database per county for agricultural calls and inquiries. “As a rancher myself, the standalone law enforcement focused on agriculture, in my opinion, will be the most helpful,” Richards said. “Luckily, the law enforcement is wide open when it comes to figuring out how to roll this out and approach crimes. I’m sure there will be tweaks, but the officers will tap into farmers and ranchers as a resource to figure out how to move forward.” For farmers and ranchers interested in meeting with the agricultural officers to discuss pervasive issues they face, Richards said to contact his office at 808-586-6760 or email senrichards@capitol.hawaii.gov .

Community Health Center Unveils New Dental Clinic The Molokai Dispatch Léo Azambuja August 14, 2025 Original Article Friendly Isle residents have a new reason to smile. The nonprofit organization Molokai Community Health Center unveiled Saturday its newly renovated and expanded dental facility in Kaunakakai — almost five months ahead of schedule. “This is going to be huge for the community,” MCHC Board President James Rarick told the crowd attending the grand opening. Like others, he too had been forced to seek dental care off-island. The $2.4 million upgrading and expansion increased the numbers of dental chairs to six from the previous capacity of three. The current full-time dentist, Dr. Paula Gardner, will be joined by a part-time dentist, two full-time dental hygienists, plus specialty-care professionals on an as-needed schedule, allowing for a significant increase in dental services to the community. “The plan is to bring two full time dentists to the practice,” project manager Terry Radi said, adding they have been trying to recruit more staff for the last two years, but the country has been experiencing a shortage of dental service providers. More than 100 people attended the grand opening in Kaunakakai, including many dignitaries who had a role in the project. Besides all the good news, the event offered free shoyu chicken bento plates, drinks from Friends and Coffee, popcorn, dental hygiene kits and raffle tickets. Office of Hawaiian Affairs Chair Kai Kahele was key in securing the initial $1.4 million in federal funds years ago, when he was serving as a congressman. He said he wanted to thank MCHC staff for serving thousands of residents on Molokai. Radi said that initial funding allowed MCHC to start the process of renovating the dental building. The remaining funds came from a $350,000 donation from Hawaii Dental Service and a $660,000 grand from Maui County. “Hawaii Dental Service has been so generous with us over the past few years,” she said. And then County Councilmember Keani Rawlins-Fernandez heard MCHC was expanding the program, and helped to secure funding to help cover expenses attached to doubling operations for the next two years, according to Radi. State Sen. Lynn DeCoite, State Rep. Mahina Poepoe, and Zhantell Lindo, representing Rawlins-Fernandez, also attended the grand opening and spoke to the public. Radi said the actual work on expanding the clinic started four years ago, navigating fund-seeking, permits and design, among other things. Last year, as the construction phase was approaching, she said they were trying to figure out how to keep services open during the renovations. Coincidentally, last November, Dr. Gregory Davis retired from private practice and closed his office near Paddlers Restaurant and Bar in Kaunakakai. “We talked to him about renting his space,” Radi said. “Then he donated his old equipment to us, and we have been operating out of that facility while we have been under construction.” The temporary solution came with challenges; the equipment was limited, and the facility was aged. “We just couldn’t keep up with the number of patients that we have. So, we are all just super excited to get out of that location and into our new location where we have doubled the capacity for seeing the patients,” Radi said. MCHC signed the contract for construction in December 2024, and started construction in early January 2025. The building was planned to be ready by the end of this year, but Radi said MCHC CEO Milton Cortez asked if they could cut the construction time in half. “Unfortunately, it just couldn’t be done in six months. But it was done in eight months, and we are pretty proud of that. So, we did push up the project a good four-and-a-half months,” Radi said. MCHC dental program currently serves about 2,300 patients, according to Radi. Now that the new facility is open, she said the number of patients might increase to up to 3,000. Because MCHC is a nonprofit organization, Cortez said, they cannot refuse service based on financial situation. “Our business model makes sure that we are looking at taking care of people without insurance, people that can’t pay. We can’t, by law, turn them away,” Cortez said.

State calls for pause on interisland movement of birds due to avian flu Star Advertiser Nina Wu December 18, 2024 Original Article State agencies have called for a voluntary pause on the interisland movement of birds in Hawaii for 90 days following the discovery of the H5N1 bird flu in the state. The voluntary pause went into effect Friday, according to a news release from the state Department of Agriculture. State Sen. Lynn DeCoite (D, Lanai-Molokai-Hana) suggested the pause as a measure to stem the spread of H5N1, also known as highly pathogenic avian influenza. DeCoite told the Honolulu Star-Advertiser she actually sought a mandatory, rather than voluntary, pause. “I thought we should be more proactive while putting out public service announcements,” said DeCoite. “I’m basically saying let’s suspend it until they can figure out what’s going on.” Prior to November, HPAI had not yet been detected in Hawaii, which was the last U.S. state to confirm the virus in wild birds. On Nov. 15 the state Health Department said HPAI had been confirmed in an outbreak among a backyard flock of birds, later identified as rescued ducks and geese from Susie’s Duck Sanctuary in Wahiawa. It was the first confirmed detection of the virus announced in Hawaii, days after the department said H5 had been detected in wastewater serving the area. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service also confirmed HPAI in a wild duck at the James Campbell National Wildlife Refuge on Oahu’s North Shore. The duck, which exhibited no symptoms, was swabbed Nov. 1, with the national lab confirming HPAI in the sample Nov. 25. More recently, health officials reported the detection of H5 avian influenza in a sample collected Dec. 2 from the Hilo Wastewater Treatment Plan on Hawaii island. Based on the type of strain found in Hawaii’s detections, officials believe the virus was likely introduced by migrating birds from northern regions around Alaska. DeCoite said she was concerned for many constituents on Molokai, including farmers and small business owners who just started participating in egg-laying programs. She wants more prevention measures in place to protect poultry farms on other isles as well as Hawaii’s endangered native birds, with more urgency on the part of the state Department of Agriculture. At DeCoite’s request the agencies are also collecting data to “assess the feasibility and necessity of a formal quarantine while carefully considering the potential economic impacts of premature restrictions on local products.” State Sen. Tim Richards expressed his support for the precautionary measure as both a senator and a veterinarian. “In light of the ongoing avian flu threat, I fully support a voluntary 90-day stop movement of birds as a precautionary measure,” said Richards in the news release. “Similar actions have been successfully implemented before, such as the voluntary halt in Hawaii’s beef cattle industry approximately 15 years ago, which effectively mitigated risks to trichomoniasis and protected livelihoods until legislation could be brought forward. By taking proactive steps now, we can prevent greater harm to our poultry industry and ensure the health of our flocks and communities.” The U.S. Department of Agriculture said avian influenza spreads through direct, bird-to-bird contact but can also spread via contact with contaminated surfaces and materials such as manure, egg flats, crates, farming equipment — and people’s shoes, clothing or hands. Avian influenza can also be detected in wild bird populations, including birds that do not appear to be sick. Officials are urging poultry farmers and other bird owners to increase their biosecurity measures to reduce the likelihood of infections. HDOA said it is working with the state Department of Land and Natural Resources and state Department of Health on a coordinated response. DOH says the public health risk to humans remains low as there has been no evidence of person-to-person spread. To date, 61 U.S. cases have been reported in humans, mostly among dairy workers. On the mainland, meanwhile, millions of commercial and backyard flocks of birds, and thousands of wild birds, have been affected by HPAI since 2022. In March, HPAI also broke out among U.S. dairy cows, and more than 800 dairy herds in the U.S. have since been infected in 16 states.

A $42.5M education hub broke ground in Wahiawa Hawaii News Now HNN Staff July 29, 2025 Original Article WAHIAWA (HawaiiNewsNow) - The state broke ground on Monday for a new $42.5 million dollar education hub. The 43,000 square-foot facility known as “Wahiawa Center for Workforce Excellence” will serve as the future home of the new Wahiawa Public Library, UH Community College satellite classrooms, and Department of Education offices. “The goal is clear — a space that is central that brings together education and public service,” said Governor Josh Green. The three-story building will be on California Avenue. The project is anticipated to be completed in two years.