Hawaii Farmers Face Risk of Crime Daily. Is A Killing Enough To Spur Reform? Civil Beat Thomas Heaton December 5, 2024 Original Article Cranston Pia came across intruders on the land on Oahu’s Leeward Coast where he raised his cattle. Their dogs, trained to hunt pigs, were attacking Pia’s calf in a pen. Ranchers like Pia know that hunters might kill their cattle to steal meat or sometimes lose control of their dogs. Pia grabbed his rifle and fired a single shot. A 17-year-old boy emerged from the bushes with a pistol and claimed the dogs were his, touching off an argument. Such a stand-off is nightmarish but common in Hawaii’s agricultural community. Farmers and ranchers are in constant battle with trespassers, would-be cattle rustlers, vandals and thieves who largely escape punishment with law enforcement often miles away. If offenders are caught, prosecutions are rare and the penalties are feeble. The confrontation at Ohikilolo Ranch on Feb. 17 ended with another gunshot — a fatal shot to Pia’s temple. Honolulu’s prosecuting attorney called it an “execution-style killing,” and charged 17-year-old Chantston Pila Kokawa. Pia’s death has brought the low-simmering issue of agricultural crime to a boil. After years of inaction and neglect, a handful of lawmakers and state officials now say they want to address it this legislative session. Potential responses include an agriculture-specific stand-your-ground law, allowing ranchers and farmers to defend themselves with lethal force. By one estimate, agricultural theft and vandalism cost farmers and ranchers more than $14 million, both for the cost of crime and preventing it. But that may be a serious undercount. In a 2019 U.S. Department of Agriculture survey, Hawaii farmers and ranchers reported almost 15,000 cases of trespass — yet just 970 cases of vandalism, theft and trespass were reported to the police. Only 8% of those reports led to an arrest. Hawaii’s agriculture industry, worth about $670 million, with about 12,000 producers, faces a host of challenges, including the oldest workforce in the nation and challenging economic conditions. And now farmers and ranchers say crime is on the rise, with reports of pilfered produce, rustled livestock, broken gates or fences and stolen vehicles among them. Trespassing is not as well publicized. “You can’t talk to one rancher that hasn’t been in the same situation as Cranston,” Big Island rancher Lani Cran Petrie said. “They just didn’t get shot.” Petrie has regularly faced off with trespassers on her land, and just over a year before Pia’s killing, she faced a remarkable scenario: She had the police with her when she caught trespassing hunters. The officers, flanking Petrie and husband Bill, responded to the rancher’s call in the early evening with AR-15s and kevlar vests. As the sun set, they surrounded two hunters — armed with a crossbow and rifle — deep in the ranch’s brushy thicket. This time, with the cops present, Petrie thought it was an open-and-shut case. The hunters – poachers as Petrie calls them – were caught in the act. But one year later, the day before Pia’s killing, just one of the hunters was charged with a suspended sentence for five hours of community service. Petrie says it’s scant punishment for someone she alleges is a repeat offender. She is “sure we’re going to catch him again.” Before Pia’s death, ranchers would typically confront trespassers. In Petrie’s case on the Big Island, she says she had encountered one of the hunters before and let them off with a warning. “Now our farmers and ranchers are thinking twice about confrontations,” Hawaii Cattlemen’s Council director Nicole Galase said. Part of the problem, according to both ranchers and law enforcement, is that the laws and enforcement are weak and the logistics of fighting crime in farther-flung agricultural areas are difficult. Trespassing on agricultural land is also classified as a petty misdemeanor that comes with a maximum of 30 days in prison and a $1,000 fine, for example, which officials told lawmakers had never been imposed fully in a hearing following Piaʻs death . That, according to Petrie, means many poachers will treat the fine like a payment to hunt. “You’re playing with fire. The only thing you can get these guys on is trespass. But it’s like a spark around gasoline. It escalates. Fast,” Petrie said. “Cattle are spooked – boom – they’re through a fence. Somebody says ‘F you,’ then suddenly everybody’s looking for their weapon.” Within two weeks of Pia’s killing, ranchers and farmers arrived at the State Capitol building in droves, cramming into a conference room alongside industry advocates, to share stories with lawmakers and officials about the realities of crime in the state’s agriculture. Farmer-friendly lawmakers grilled officials over why they were not paying enough attention to the issue. Pia’s death was at the top of their minds. “Hunting and trespassing in that area have just become normal,” Dustin Griffith, rancher and friend of Pia, told lawmakers on Feb. 29. “We call to get help, the police come out and say ‘Ah, it’s just trespassers, ah it’s just hunters.’ I guarantee it’s a big deal to me and I guarantee it’s a big deal to the Pia family.” Attorney General Anne Lopez told lawmakers that “we clearly have work to do” and that the new Department of Law Enforcement, formed in January, would play an integral role in that work. “Certainly the judges play a huge role in what actually happens … but that doesn’t mean that we can’t, as a group, reassess how assertive or maybe aggressive we are,” Lopez said. Since Pia’s death, senators Tim Richards of Big Island and Lynn DeCoite of Molokai have maintained pressure on those agencies to muscle up, which the Department of Law Enforcement has since said it is serious about. The department has responded positively to the call, despite not having funding for agricultural crime, because the current situation is what department deputy director Jared Redulla has called a “recipe for disaster.” Agricultural crime is more than just ranchers taking issue with trespassers. Farmers are subject to trespassers, vandals and thieves, who often case farms for expensive equipment and prize specialty crops. Less than two weeks ago, Big Island fruit farmer Ken Love once again found his trees stripped of valuable malama avocados, jackfruit and mamey sapote, despite the 6,000-volt fence surrounding them. The fence is tall enough for typical Big Island pests – feral goats or hogs – which means he now needs “a fence for two-legged pigs rather than four,” Love says. Fruit thieves arrive with the harvest of Hawaii’s seasonal fruits statewide, particularly for high-value crops like lychee or mangosteen — often found later in the state’s farmers markets. One thief was caught twice in June 2022, once with 150 pounds of lychee worth $1,200 and again with about $260 worth of mangosteen. He was sentenced to four years probation this year. But tracing stolen fruit once it makes it into the market is difficult, given they will likely be sold on as part of larger bunches. Love routinely reports thefts so that the police have agricultural crime on their minds. Has any one of those reports resulted in anything? “No. Never,” said Love, president of Hawaii Tropical Fruit Growers. “There are people who have caught thieves and nothing happened.” Piecemeal state and county initiatives have focused on the farmers markets, through the vendors who knowingly or unknowingly buy the purloined fruit. But with deep skepticism about law enforcement’s interest in ag crime, Hawaii farmers and ranchers are spending on their own security, up from $7.4 million in 2004 to $11.2 million in 2019, according to surveys. While the cost of security takes up much of the cost of agricultural crime, most farmers and ranchers think those numbers are very low and do not paint a full picture, partly due to a lack of reporting. In 2004, 17% of farms and ranches reported thefts or vandalism on their land — reported or not to police. That fell to 14% in 2019. “Those numbers are grossly underrepresented,” Hawaii Farm Bureau director Brian Miyamoto said. The lack of reporting and enforcement sparked disagreement between the authorities and farmers, with law enforcement claiming theft is either a non-issue or their hands are tied because there’s no tangible data, while farmers and ranchers say they don’t report it because nothing will come of it. Authorities have toyed with tracing produce with invisible ink, detectable with ultraviolet light, akin to how ranchers brand cattle. On the Big Island, the county hired a specialized agricultural inspector to monitor the supply chain between farms and the farmers markets as part of a state pilot study into the issue. But the initiatives tend to be pilot projects with temporary funding, and fade quickly, fueling farmers and ranchers’ frustrations. Richards, the senator and a generational rancher from Kohala on the Big Island, has faced trespassers, poachers, had horses stolen, and, less than two months ago, had one of his cowboys catch three armed hunters within a few hundred yards from his home, where his children were feeding the family’s horses. That poses a safety risk, as an errant bullet or arrow shot towards the house could have devastating consequences — as it did with Cranston Pia. Richards wants to figure out more appropriate trespass statutes for agriculture, laws that do not require fencing and “No Trespassing” signs, which are required to explicitly state that land is private. While Love’s fruit farm has a 6,000-volt fence to deter thieves, it doesn’t have placards to keep them out. “Everybody stole my no-trespassing signs. Four in the last year,” fruit grower Love said. “It’s sad but it’s funny.” Legislation has nevertheless been introduced for at least eight years, aimed at resolving longstanding issues between trespassers, poachers, hunters and ranchers. Fellow senator DeCoite pointed to each of them as a failed opportunity, saying they died because most of the Legislature’s city-dwelling lawmakers did not take it seriously. A 2016 bill would have made it easier to prosecute trespassing on agricultural land by removing a requirement for fencing or trespass warning signs. It failed in the Legislature after opposition from the Office of Hawaiian Affairs, which feared it would impinge on Native Hawaiian gathering rights. Those rights are enshrined in the State of Hawaii’s constitution, allowing Native Hawaiians to gather certain goods on private lands. “Most of you believe that’s a crock of bull,” DeCoite said last month. “As a Native Hawaiian, I don’t have a problem with anyone gathering. Just ask first.” A 2018 pilot program report on the Big Island found that — in addition to providing better education for producers and law enforcement — a longstanding system for certifying ownership and movement forms of agriculture products was particularly effective in clamping down on the crimes, but only if there was enough enforcement of them. Love, the farmer on the Big Island, said the forms are still being used, though they are not very effective, despite authorities banking on them to help stem the flow of stolen produce. Now with the 2025 legislative session looming, Richards is mulling the creation of an agricultural crime commission, and is working with the Attorney General’s Office on a comprehensive bill to centralize and demystify laws that apply to agricultural theft, vandalism and trespass. The most controversial of Richards’ ideas may include a stand-your-ground law, which would allow the use of force in self defense when threatened with death. “Allow agriculture to protect itself,” he said. Stand-your-ground laws exist in about 28 states. Richards said he understands he will face significant pushback and does not want vigilantism to ensue. But Pia’s death lays the issue bare, which Richards believes his fellow lawmakers and the authorities need to take seriously. “You’re forcing it by not enforcing the current law,” Richards said. “What is agriculture supposed to do?” “ Hawaii Grown ” is funded in part by grants from the Stupski Foundation, Ulupono Fund at the Hawaii Community Foundation and the Frost Family Foundation.

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

Here's how the state is moving forward to stabilize the condo insurance crisis Hawaii Public Radio Ashley Mizuo July 3, 2025 Original Article The state has started to accept applications for hurricane insurance from condominium and townhouse associations that have been unable to secure full coverage on the regulated market. Last August, Gov. Josh Green issued an emergency proclamation to stabilize the insurance market after condominium buildings were unable to secure full insurance coverage from one of the three companies operating in Hawaiʻi. While the 2023 Maui fires and other global natural disasters are partly to blame — Chair of the Senate Commerce and Consumer Protection Committee Jarrett Keohokalole cited a key reason: aging buildings. “When you take your car in for service, there are regular maintenance items. Most of the condominium buildings in the state, especially in Honolulu, are over 30 years old,” he said. “So there are basic maintenance items that in some cases haven't been covered.” These are things like replacing water pipes, which insurers have started paying closer attention to. The buildings that haven’t kept up with maintenance and are unable to secure full commercial and hurricane insurance find themselves “stuck in a downward spiral,” Keohokalole explained. “It's harder to secure loans to make the repairs. It's harder to transact title in the building,” he said. “It's harder to sell and buy. That affects values and it affects the assessments.” That’s because lenders don’t want to loan money to buildings without insurance, but without those loans, buildings are unable to fund the needed repairs. Those who lose traditional insurance coverage have had to turn to unregulated surplus lines that can be extremely costly– sometimes doubling the cost of insurance for buildings. That often means skyrocketing homeowner association fees for condo owners. About 1200 associations in Hawaiʻi are without full hurricane insurance coverage. The emergency proclamation allowed the Hawaiʻi Hurricane Relief Fund to issue hurricane insurance again, which it has not done since the early 2000s in the aftermath of Hurricane Iniki in 1992. Now, HHRF is up and running again. So far, it’s received 80 applications. Jerry Bump is the Insurance Commissioner for the Hawai‘i Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs Insurance Division. Hawai‘i Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs Jerry Bump is the acting insurance commissioner for the Hawai‘i Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs Insurance Division. “It is meant to stabilize the market, not replace the market,” Acting Hawaiʻi Insurance Commissioner Jerry Bump said. Associations applying for the state-administered hurricane policy will need to have a commercial insurance policy, which covers things like fire and other situations. It will also need to obtain at least $10 million in hurricane coverage as a base, but has been rejected by at least two of the local insurers for the rest of their building coverage. The state program will cover up to an additional $90 million of coverage. “We don't wanna be competing against those carriers that are still willing to do business,” Bump said. “If they're willing to write the full coverage, they should be able to still write that. Some of those admitted carriers have kind of artificial caps on how much they're willing to write. We've heard anywhere from $10 million to $25 million is where they're comfortable writing. There are some that will write the full, but not very many. HHRF is providing an additional layer of capacity. And ideally at a price point that is less than the surplus lines market.” The hope is that it will attract the traditional market back to the state as the program did in the 2000s. Bump explained that while conditions are similar to the aftermath of Hurricane Iniki, there are a few differences. One is that Hawaii’s property insurance market is tied to global climate risk. That means a fire in California or a hurricane in Florida can impact the insurability of Hawaii properties. “ Today’s challenges are kind of driven by global reinsurance conditions so not just the storm that occurred,” he said. “Reinsurers themselves have pulled back or raised prices along many coastal markets due to climate-related risk inflation.” Additionally, legislators passed a law this session that would get the Hawaii Property Insurance Association funding to start offering commercial insurance policies to those who have also had to turn to surplus lines. It currently is the insurer of last resort for homes in the lava-zone. Bump estimated that the program would come online around mid-fall of this year. That same measure also includes funding to provide loans to condominiums to do needed maintenance repairs so they can obtain regular insurance policies. Both the state-administered commercial and hurricane insurance programs heavily leverage “reinsurance”. That means that the state’s insurance will only keep a percentage of the actual risk on hand. The state’s program pays other insurers to insure the rest of the portfolio. Those reinsurance rates are largely what will drive the cost for buildings to obtain policies through the state-administered programs. Thatʻs why buildings should not expect the rates from the HHRF to be lower than what they can find on the traditional market. “ The state fund is not in the business of making a profit, so we're not intending to build in any kind of profit in our pricing,” Bump said. “Ideally, as the HHRF enters into the market, that will also provide price pressure on the surplus lines carriers to reduce their price point and be more competitive– they don't want all their business going away to the HHRF as well.” The measure is awaiting the governor’s signature, which is likely as it was not included on his intent to veto list.

Harbor dredging project pau Hawaiʻi Tribune Herald Michael Brestovansky December 4, 2024 Original Article Boaters are in deep water at last after a months-long dredging project at Wailoa Small Boat Harbor in Hilo wrapped up last week. The harbor, one of East Hawaii’s last functioning boat launches after the Pohoiki Boat Ramp in Puna was cut off during the 2018 Kilauea eruption, has not been dredged for more than seven years and sediment had accumulated at the harbor mouth. Boats repeatedly went aground attempting to pass the mouth of the Wailoa River, and boaters quickly learned the harbor only was usable at the highest tides. The state Department of Land and Natural Resources’ Division of Boating and Ocean Recreation began a project to dredge the river in July, using $3.2 million in capital improvement funds. That work ended on Nov. 27, the DLNR announced Tuesday, although construction equipment including a barge will remain on site until Saturday. The total cost of the project swelled to $4.8 million, according to a DLNR news release, but the cost overrun was covered through DOBOR’s Boating Special Fund, which is replenished from statewide harbor and boating facility use fees. “We appreciate the public’s patience, understanding and advocacy as DOBOR navigated the permitting and funding hurdles to get this project completed before the end of the year,” DOBOR Administrator Meghan Statts said in a statement. ”We also appreciate the Legislature for recognizing the importance of this project and providing funding.” “It’s definitely better, it’s deeper,” said boater Antoine Debarge on Tuesday, mooring his boat directly across the river mouth from Suisan Fish Market. “This was completely dry land here a few months ago.” Hilo Sen. Lorraine Inouye, who advocated for the initial $3.2 million allocation, said she was happy East Hawaii boaters can finally safely access the ocean again from the harbor, but lamented that the problem persisted for years. “When I became District 1 senator in 2022, that was already a problem, and we embarked on making sure it got fixed,” Inouye said. “I’m happy we were able to do this, but the boaters had to deal with it for so long.” Inouye said she will continue to monitor conditions at the the harbor and will listen to boaters’ concerns to identify other potential issues that need to be addressed. She added she is working on a project to determine the accumulation rates of sediment at the harbor so future dredging operations are more timely. Inouye went on to say that she will try to make additional funds available for additional maintenance projects at the harbor during the 2025 legislative session, which begins in January. Email Michael Brestovansky at mbrestovansky@hawaiitribune-herald.com .

Hawai'i Tourism Authority board in limbo as lawmakers call for briefing Honolulu Star-Advertiser Allison Schaefers June 22, 2025 Original Article The state legislators in charge of tourism are holding a post-session informational briefing Monday on the beleaguered Hawai‘i Tourism Authority that could play out more like an exit interview. Gov. Josh Green’s office said in an email Wednesday that he plans on asking for courtesy resignations from the entire HTA board before the beginning of the next fiscal year, which starts July 1. Green’s stance is related to the passage of Senate Bill 1571, which changed HTA’s governance model when he signed it May 29. “Because the responsibilities of the board have changed to an advisory role, he feels it best to start with a clean slate,” the email said. “The HTA board as it was previously established no longer exists, so it makes sense to look at the composition of the new board.” State Rep. Adrian Tam (D, Waikiki), chair of the House Committee on Tourism, and state Sen. Lynn DeCoite (D, East Maui-Upcountry-Molokai-Lanai-Kahoolawe), chair of the Senate Committee on Energy, Economic Development and Tourism, are holding the joint informational briefing at 10 a.m. Monday in Room 329 of the state Capitol. Tam said the briefing will review HTA’s interim action plans, current projects and recent developments. He said the briefing also will cover contract updates, the community-driven destination management action plans, or DMAPs, and audit findings issued by the state auditor. “The purpose of this is to have an open discussion about the future of HTA and the current plans as well as any open-ended questions that other members of the community and the Legislature may have,” Tam said, adding that legislators from outside the tourism committees are welcome to sit in and ask questions. “A lot of our members are genuinely curious about the future of HTA, and rightfully so. This is our largest industry,” he said. Caroline Anderson, HTA interim president and CEO, said in an email, “Establishing an effective governance structure is essential and will determine how successful HTA can be in fulfilling its mission to balance the economic benefits of tourism with the impacts on our natural resources, culture and community.” DeCoite said Thursday that the idea behind the briefing is to avoid waiting until the end of the year and then scrambling at the last minute to address concerns about tourism, especially since it’s the economic driver for the state. She said she expects Monday’s briefing will be comprehensive. “We just have had challenges with HTA and some of the things that they have been doing. We have tried to solve everything in the past years. There are just a lot of issues. We keep seeing HTA in the newspaper,” DeCoite said. She added that above all, HTA officials have to work together and prioritize its goals and projects. “They have got to be able to justify the funds that they requested for some of the priorities that they have asked for — more so on the destination management, which has been an issue for me,” DeCoite said. “I’m sure you saw the audit on the destination management action plans and it doesn’t look good.” The latest management audit released by State Auditor Leslie H. Kondo determined that HTA’s destination management focus is “not new or effective” and the agency remains unable to gauge its own performance. The state audit was especially critical of HTA’s DMAP effort, which it determined was “poorly planned and executed with key decisions deferred to third-party contractors and island steering committees. The result: many of the actions did not address hot spots, were underway or already achieved, or were impractical.” The DMAPs are HTA’s latest destination management strategy, and the plans approved by the HTA board in 2021 were intended to detail the steps the community, the visitor industry and other sectors deemed necessary to improve tourism management over a three-year period. The DMAPs were an outgrowth of the HTA Strategic Plan, which ran from 2020 to 2025 and was touted as the first strategic plan the agency developed as part of its shift from a mainly marketing focus to a greater emphasis on destination management. Anderson said in an email that the audit “identified areas for improvement, and we have begun assessing the recommendations provided in the report. HTA remains focused on improving its processes and procedures, including how we measure success and effectiveness in accomplishing our mission.” SOME OF the HTA board and staff disagreed with the management audit’s findings, and it’s unclear what tack they will take in the informational briefing. It’s also uncertain how current HTA board members will react to Green’s request or the other coming governance changes. HTA staff already is dealing with several key vacancies, although Anderson has launched a 90-day action plan to shore up the agency. In addition to downgrading the HTA board to an advisory board, SB 1571 lays out new operational and administrative criteria, and sets new standards for the selection of board members. The bill also amends eligibility requirements to serve on the advisory board. It removes the director of the state Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism from the board and requires that board members must be a representative of a tourism-impacted entity. Other provisions allow the House speaker and Senate president to each appoint an HTA advisory board member and allow the advisory board to appoint the HTA president and CEO, subject to the advice and consent of the Senate. Additionally, SB 1571 requires the HTA leader to report to the governor. The measure also clarifies that the Hawai‘i Convention Center must reflect a “Hawaii” sense of place instead of a “Hawaiian” sense of place. HTA board Chair Todd Apo said the board is still processing the changes. Apo added that John Cole, the deputy attorney general assigned to HTA, told the board at its last meeting that the state Department of the Attorney General’s interpretation of the law “does not require the board to get wiped out and restarted now.” Apo said Cole told the HTA board that “nobody has the authority to require any board member to resign, but obviously it can be asked for, and then it is up to each board member.” THE DILEMMA before the board members only adds to the recent uncertainties. In the past several months, HTA has undergone dramatic leadership shake-ups as it has struggled to address allegations of inappropriate freebies at the Hawai‘i Convention Center and inconsistencies in its Hawaii Tourism Conference partnerships. There were also allegations about potential procurement violations and late payments to contractors. Opens in a new tab State Sen. Kurt Fevella (R, Ewa Beach), HTA contractors, former HTA employees and some board members also alleged in a Honolulu Star-Advertiser story Opens in a new tab May 4 that HTA and DBEDT failed to respond promptly to complaints about a hostile work environment, including alleged racist and sexist comments, that they claim contributed to the recent resignations of five Native Hawaiian members of HTA’s leadership team. Isaac Choy, HTA vice president of finance and acting chief administrative officer, 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. Since Choy was the project manager for $100 million in repairs at the convention center, his absence could extend the center’s planned construction beyond two years, putting the state at risk of losing millions of dollars Opens in a new tab in group tourism bookings. Choy, who remains on unpaid leave, has sued named and unnamed HTA officials, alleging they retaliated against him for reporting what he called procurement, spending and other violations.

Senate Ways and Means Committee visits Lānaʻi for updates on local sustainability Maui Now September 9, 2025 Original Article The Senate Ways and Means Committee arrived on Lānaʻi to receive updates on economic development and sustainability efforts from the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism and the Agribusiness Development Corporation. Committee members were first guided through the work of Pūlama Lānaʻi, an organization creating solutions for a sustainable future through cultural preservation and building economic opportunities for Lānaʻi. “Today’s visit to Lānaʻi shows our deep commitment to supporting sustainable growth in our rural communities,” said Senator Lynn DeCoite (D 7 – Hāna, East and Upcountry Maui, Moloka‘i, Lānaʻi, Kaho‘olawe and Molokini), Chair of the Senate Committee on Economic Development and Tourism. “The presentations from DBEDT, ADC, and Pūlama Lānaʻi highlight the incredible work being done to preserve Lānaʻi’s heritage while creating economic opportunities for the future.” “As a State, we must ensure that we are able to keep up with the changing needs of our communities,” said Senator Troy N. Hashimoto (D 5 – Wailuku, Kahului, Waihe‘e, Waikapu Mauka, Wai‘ehu), Vice Chair of the Senate Committee on Housing. “Developing sustainable housing solutions must include building communities with access to economic opportunities and critical services to ensure that residents, on Lānaʻi and across our islands, can stay and live with greater security in the place we call home.” “As we continue shaping policy and budgets, it’s critical we prioritize initiatives that create lasting opportunities for regional economic development,” said Senator Donovan M. Dela Cruz (D 17 – Portion of Mililani, Mililani Mauka, portion of Waipi‘o Acres, Launani Valley, Wahiawā, Whitmore Village), Chair of the Senate Committee on Ways and Means. “Today’s visit demonstrates that food, housing, and workforce are the cornerstones of sustainability and economic opportunity,” said ADC Board Chairperson Jayson Watts. “As ADC explores statewide expansion, we are committed to building the infrastructure and innovation needed for rural communities and families to succeed.” “The work on Lānaʻi highlights how rural communities can thrive when economic opportunities and affordable housing are integrated rather than separated. DBEDT holds critical levers that can be used to support rural communities by connecting food, housing, tourism and workforce opportunities,” said DBEDT Deputy Director Dane Wicker.

‘Not just about farming’: Senate Ways and Means Committee gets update about food and product initiative Kauai Now August 13, 2025 Original Article Members of the Hawaiʻi Senate Committee on Ways and Means on Tuesday received an update from the Hawai‘i Agribusiness Development about plans for a new state initiative aimed at scaling up local farmers and entrepreneurs while increasing economic resilience. Members of the Ways and Means Committee and other officials gathered near the historic Kaua‘i Plantation Railway in Līhuʻe for a site visit and briefing about the strategic plan guiding the Hawai‘i Food and Product Innovation Network. The Kauaʻi facility is part of a larger ecosystem that includes complementary projects on Oʻahu and Maui, integrating food science, equipment access and training partnerships with University of Hawai‘i and Hawai‘i Department of Health. Discussions focused on regional coordination, infrastructure development and launch of a pilot program on Kauaʻi that integrates processing equipment, workforce training and business support services. The Hawai‘i Food and Product Innovation Network initiative draws inspiration from New Zealand’s public-private innovation model and includes strategic investments throughout the islands. Participating in Tuesday’s discussions also were Hawai‘i Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism Deputy Director Dane Wicker and other department officials along with others from Agribusiness Development Corporation, University of Hawaiʻi Community Design Center and the Hawaiʻi Department of Health. “Continuing to invest in agricultural production is a clear step in the right direction,” said state Sen. Glenn Wakai, who represents O‘ahu’s District 15 , in a release following Tuesday’s visit. Recent legislative support includes enactment of: Act 237 , which established the Food and Product Innovation Network. Act 250 , which appropriates $350,000 for program coordination. Act 230 , which dedicates $2 million for a new agricultural processing facility in Kekaha. “The Senate recognizes that agriculture is not just about farming — it’s about food security, economic opportunity and sustaining our way of life,” said Senate President Ronald Kouchi, who represents Kaua‘i and Niʻihau, in the release. Kouchi added that it’s encouraging to see the necessary steps being taken to expand export capacity and provide more locally grown food on plates at schools and hospitals. “These are the kinds of forward-thinking efforts that can transform Hawai‘i’s agricultural economy and create lasting benefits for our islands,” he said in the release. Wicker — whose state agency oversees Hawai‘i Agribusiness Development Corporation — said the intiative is critical to building a resilient and self-sustaining Hawai‘i economy. “The Food and Product Innovation Network is a meaningful investment in Hawai‘i’s future — one that bridges education to export pathways by equipping our schools, colleges and entrepreneurs with the skills and infrastructure they need to bring local innovations to the global marketplace,” said Senate Ways and Means Chairman Sen. Donovan Dela Cruz, who represents O‘ahu’s District 17 , in the release. By investing in the infrastructure, facilities, equipment and wraparound services the state’s local businesses need, small and medium-sized enterprises will be created and existing companies will continue to be supported. Wicker said that will expand the state’s Hawai‘i Made program and strengthen other efforts such as farm-to-school and farm-to-state programs. “This is about more than just economic growth; it’s about food security, community resilience and reducing our dependence on imported food and emergency provisions during natural disasters,” he said in the release. Hawai‘i Food and Product Innovation Network’s vision is to enable Hawaiʻi-based entrepreneurs to develop, scale and export products that strengthen our food system, reduce import reliance and capitalize on Hawaiʻi’s global brand. “By strengthening the entire ecosystem — from classroom learning to commercial-scale production — we’re fostering regional economic development that benefits our communities statewide and elevates Hawai‘i-made products on the world stage,” Dela Cruz added in the release.

Nearly $5 million dredging project completed at Hilo small boat harbor Star Advertiser Michael Brestovansky December 6, 2024 Original Article Boaters are in deep water at last after a months-long dredging project at Wailoa Small Boat Harbor in Hilo wrapped up last week. The harbor, one of East Hawaii’s last functioning boat launches after the Pohoiki Boat Ramp in Puna was cut off during the 2018 Kilauea eruption, has not been dredged for more than seven years and sediment had accumulated at the harbor mouth. Boats repeatedly went aground attempting to pass the mouth of the Wailoa River, and boaters quickly learned the harbor only was usable at the highest tides. The state Department of Land and Natural Resources’ Division of Boating and Ocean Recreation began a project to dredge the river in July, using $3.2 million in capital improvement funds. That work ended on Nov. 27, the DLNR announced Tuesday, although construction equipment including a barge will remain on site until Saturday. The total cost of the project swelled to $4.8 million, according to a DLNR news release, but the cost overrun was covered through DOBOR’s Boating Special Fund, which is replenished from statewide harbor and boating facility use fees. “We appreciate the public’s patience, understanding and advocacy as DOBOR navigated the permitting and funding hurdles to get this project completed before the end of the year,” DOBOR Administrator Meghan Statts said in a statement. ”We also appreciate the Legislature for recognizing the importance of this project and providing funding.” “It’s definitely better, it’s deeper,” said boater Antoine Debarge on Tuesday, mooring his boat directly across the river mouth from Suisan Fish Market. “This was completely dry land here a few months ago.” Hilo Sen. Lorraine Inouye, who advocated for the initial $3.2 million allocation, said she was happy East Hawaii boaters can finally safely access the ocean again from the harbor, but lamented that the problem persisted for years. “When I became District 1 senator in 2022, that was already a problem, and we embarked on making sure it got fixed,” Inouye said. “I’m happy we were able to do this, but the boaters had to deal with it for so long.” Inouye said she will continue to monitor conditions at the the harbor and will listen to boaters’ concerns to identify other potential issues that need to be addressed. She added she is working on a project to determine the accumulation rates of sediment at the harbor so future dredging operations are more timely. Inouye went on to say that she will try to make additional funds available for additional maintenance projects at the harbor during the 2025 legislative session, which begins in January.

Senate committee releases report detailing its September visit to Lānaʻi and Maui Maui Now September 19, 2025 Original Article The Senate Committee on Ways and Means finalized visits with government agencies and community leaders on Lānaʻi and Maui to receive significant updates on education, housing, agricultural innovations, healthcare, workforce development pathways and wildfire management efforts. September 2025 Lānaʻi & Maui Post-Trip Report “Our visits to Lānaʻi and Maui gave the committee a solid understanding of the innovative ways our departments are utilizing resources to preserve, protect, and strengthen our state through workforce development, education, wildfire management, and more, ” said Sen. Donovan M. Dela Cruz (D17– portion of Mililani, Mililani Mauka, portion of Waipiʻo Acres, Launani Valley, Wahiawā, Whitmore Village), Chair of the Senate Committee on Ways and Means. Dela Cruz said the local partnerships the committee saw in action are proving to be critical in developing clear pathways to sustainability. “Pūlama Lānaʻi is creating viable housing options for residents, while DLNR is working alongside our State Fire Marshal to respond to the continuing threat of wildfires. DBEDT is successfully connecting with underrepresented demographics to ensure every economic opportunity is being recognized. The work of these entities will continue to be essential to informing policies and the allocation of resources to build an equitable future for Hawaiʻi,” said Dela Cruz. Sen. Lynn DeCoite (D7 – Hāna, East and Upcountry Maui, Moloka‘i, Lānaʻi, Kaho‘olawe and Molokini), who chairs the Senate Committee on Economic Development and Tourism said investing in rural communities like those on Maui, Moloka‘i and Lāna‘i, is critical. “These visits showcased how collaboration between government agencies, local leaders, and private partners is creating innovative solutions to long standing challenges—from housing and agriculture to wildfire resilience and workforce development,” said DeCoite. “The economic potential we’re seeing across these islands is rooted in community, culture, and resilience—values that continue to guide us as we work toward a more sustainable and inclusive Hawai‘i.” “Coming from Maui, I know firsthand how critical it is that state resources reach our communities effectively and equitably,” said Sen. Troy N. Hashimoto (D5 – Wailuku, Kahului, Waihe‘e, Waikapu Mauka, Wai‘ehu), Vice Chair of the Senate Committee on Housing. “These site visits to Lāna‘i and Maui highlighted the progress being made in key areas like housing, wildfire preparedness, and workforce development—while also showing where we still need to focus our efforts. It’s encouraging to see strong partnerships forming on the ground, and the insights we gained will help guide meaningful investments and ensure our policies are responsive to the real needs of our people.” WAM holds neighbor island site visits every two years to utilize information from community stakeholders and government officials to guide our collective decision-making on legislation and budget appropriations to bolster regional/statewide planning and implementation efforts.

Honolulu Dept. of Parks and Recreation seeks to increase number of city parks Star-Advertiser Jamm Aquino April 23, 2025 Original Article Honolulu Department of Parks and Recreation is going forth with efforts to increase the number of city parks with recreational dog privileges. Currently fewer than 15% of these public spaces allow leashed or unleashed dogs. DPR is proposing a comprehensive change to parks island-wide by allowing leashed animals in more city parks, but while also looking for community feedback. (photos)

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

Hikers who trespass might pay for search, rescue costs Star Advertiser By Talia Sibilla and Dan Nakaso January 22, 2025 Original Article Two Senate bills seek to recover the hefty cost to search for and rescue trespassing hikers who venture onto illegal or closed trails across the state. Senate Bills 130 and 508 do not specify a dollar amount that hikers would have to reimburse any agency that rescues them. Both bills say trespassing hikers who ignore a warning notice or sign of closure would have to pay all or a portion, but not less than half, of all search and rescue expenses, which typically involve county firefighters, helicopters, pilots, ambulances and medical crews. SB 508 specifies that trespassing hikers would be fined if they act with “intentional disregard.” It also proposes that the penalty for criminal trespass rise to a misdemeanor from a petty misdemeanor. The Honolulu Fire Department conducts most search and rescue hiking operations on Oahu and has consistently disagreed with every previous bill that resembles the efforts of SBs 130 and 508. Requiring “payment for certain rescues may cause lost or injured hikers to hesitate or not request assistance from first responder agencies,” Louise Kim McCoy, HFD spokesperson, wrote in an email to the Honolulu Star-Advertiser. “Such a delay in requesting assistance may exacerbate the situation, further endangering the lives of persons involved and their potential rescuers.” HFD helps anyone who calls for rescue and worries that charging them would push them to “make an attempt to self-rescue, further endangering themselves and potentially making a rescue more complex,” McCoy said. Twelve senators introduced SB 130, and most referred questions to state Sen. Lynn DeCoite (D, East and Upcountry Maui-Molokai-Lanai). She did not respond to repeated requests for comment. SB 508 offers illegal hikers a way to avoid paying for the cost of their search and rescue by purchasing a proposed “hike safe card” before going on a hike. The hike safe card would protect hikers even if they were rescued from an illegal site, unless the search and rescue response was caused by behavior that “any reasonable person would consider to be reckless.” Under SB 508, hike safe cards would “cost no less than $25 for an individual and no less then $35 for a family.” The cards would be valid for one year. Proceeds from the sale of the cards would go into a new statewide search and rescue special fund, which would be created by another bill, SB 1177. SB 1177 also would create a new position — Office of the State Search and Rescue Coordinator — to serve as a centralized authority statewide for search and rescue operations. It would be part of the new state Fire Marshal’s Office. The bill also seeks to address a “lack of funding, tools, and technology for state-wide searches.” In 2024 the Diamond Head Summit Trail near Waikiki represented the top site for HFD hiker rescues, followed by Lulumahu Falls, Koko Crater Stairs and Lanikai Pillbox. They’re all legal and popular hikes, especially among tourists. But HFD also regularly rescues hikers from illegal trails including the Stairway to Heaven, which leads to the top of the Koolau Mountain Range above the H-3 freeway in Kaneohe, and Sacred Falls State Park in Hauula, which has been closed since the fatal Mother’s Day 1999 rockslide that killed eight people and injured dozens more. Data collected by HFD between 2022 and 2024 showed 510 rescues from “legal trails” based on a list of trails pulled from the state Department of Land and Natural Resources’ Division of State Parks “Na Ala Hele” trail website. By comparison, there were 282 rescues for hikers on illegal or unlisted trails. But McCoy said that the data may not be a true representation because “there isn’t a complete list of all trails (let alone legal or not) on the island. There are also trails that aren’t technically illegal, but may not have made any state or city lists as ‘legal.’”