Keiki Fest Combines Education with Entertainment The Molokai Dispatch Jack Kiyonaga May 8, 2025 Original Article This year’s annual Keiki Fest was a successful mix of entertaining activities and critical information for Molokai families. Organized by the Molokai Community Action Team, the event focused on ‘ohana well-being, explained Titi Hernandez, lead organizer of Keiki Fest. “It’s for the keiki and their families,” said Hernandez. “We wanted to celebrate the keiki a little bit more as well as have a place for families to hang out.” With over 1,200 Molokai community members in attendance at the Molokai Community Health Center on April 26, Hernandez and the Molokai Community Action Team were busy ushering kids and families between information booths, games, prizes, music performances and more. The Molokai Community Action Team partners with Molokai Child Abuse Prevention Pathways to deliver critical messages and education to families at Keiki Fest. The informational booths with different Molokai services and resources serve as checkpoints for kids to earn prizes, explained Hernandez. “Nobody can get a prize until they get education,” she said. Senator Lynn DeCoite, fresh out of the senate’s final budget discussions, came out with her family to enjoy the day and present special recognitions on behalf of the senate. “This event says a lot about our community,” said DeCoite. “I think this gives us an opportunity to come out and share some of our mana’o on how we can do better for Molokai.” DeCoite presented the Molokai Community Action Team with an award from the senate for their community contributions. Additionally, Jodi Puaoi, branch manager at American Savings Bank, was recognized for her years of contributions to Keiki Fest. “This Keiki Fest wouldn’t be here without you,” said DeCoite to Puaoi as she presented her with the award. The day ended with the highlight to end all highlights – the fire trucks came and sprayed the kids with water hoses. As DeCoite put it, “the kids are happy, the parents are happy, everyone is happy.”

State leaders prepare for SNAP benefit loss KHON2 Nathan Shinagawa October 28, 2025 Original Article HONOLULU (KHON2) — With the federal government shutdown seemingly entering its second month, more than 160,000 Hawaii residents who depend on SNAP benefits will soon see that suspended. What to know about SNAP benefits during the government shutdown “If SNAP households have a balance from October or a prior month, they can still access that balance of SNAP benefits on their card and still use it,” said Scott Morishige of the Department of Human Services Benefit and Employment Services. “It’s just that the ongoing November SNAP benefit that would normally come on the third and fifth of the month will not be paid out, as long as the federal government shutdown continues.” “We are looking at a longer shutdown than expected,” said Senator Joy San Buenaventura. “Hopefully, we are aware that more people are going hungry.” As families approach the first month without the funds, state leaders are actively looking to help ease the suffering as much as possible. “The plan is to scrape together whatever available funds we have in state government to try and feed people,” said Senator Jarrett Keohokalole on what the plan was to help those who depend on SNAP. “The number of people who are not going to have access to their monthly food budget is about six times the size of our local food bank’s capacity, so it’s very disturbing.” “We’re providing $2 million to the Hawaii Food Bank to allow them to address increasing demand,” said Morishige. “In addition, we also have identified federal funds to start up the Hawaii Relief Program, which Governor Green will share more about tomorrow.” Hawaii is one of over two dozen states that are suing the USDA on its decision to withhold contingency money on SNAP benefits, arguing that the federal government has a legal obligation to maintain funding for food stamps. “The whole thing is very frustrating, when there’s $5 billion in contingency money at the federal level that the Trump administration is basically just holding hostage,” said Senator Keohokalole. “I am disappointed that the federal administration isn’t far more proactive,” said Senator Buenaventura. “Like our governor mediates between the Senate and the House in order to push budgetary items that is necessary for the public good, the president also has the power as a mediator to ensure that the shutdown ends by mediating any conflicts. And that does not look like it’s happening.” With no end in sight for the federal government shutdown, state senate members are encouraging that the information about some of these impacts needs to be shared with the public before it’s too late. Hawaiʻi among coalition of 26 states defending SNAP benefits in lawsuit “People consume information in lots of different ways, so it’s important for us to get the message out to as many people as possible in as many languages as possible on as many platforms as possible,” said Senator Keohokalole. “When you can’t eat, then there’s nothing else more important or critical. When your kids can’t eat, you’re in an emergency situation, you’re in a crisis, and so we should be treating it that way,” he added. Resources on Food Information SNAP Outreach Providers Different providers contracted with the DHS statewide to conduct outreach to households eligible for SNAP benefits, and providing assistance with referrals to community food resources. Aloha United Way 2-1-1 SNAP outreach provider which maintains a database to provide referrals to community food resources. Hawai’i Foodbank Service to O’ahu and Kauai’i O’ahu: 808-836-3600 Kauai’i: 808-482-2224 Hawaii Island Food Basket Food bank resource for Hawaii Island 808-933-6030 Maui Food Bank Food bank resource for Maui 808-243-9500 Additional information and updates can be found here on the DHS website.

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

Hawaiʻi Might Finally Put The Bite On Bedbugs In Housing — But Not Hotels Civil Beat Stewart Yerton February 5, 2025 Original Article The first sentence of a bill before the Legislature says it all: Bedbugs are bloodsucking insects that typically hide in bedrooms and come out to feed at night. Anyone with a nightmare hotel experience can tell you that. But what’s surprising about the proposed legislation, which would require landlords to ensure rental properties are free of the pests, is that it’d be the first bedbug regulation in Hawaiʻi, which has one of the highest percentages of renters in the U.S. Hawaiʻi Sen. Stanley Chang, chair of the Senate Housing Committee, which approved a version of the bill Thursday, has his own bedbug story from a time in New York. “I would not wish it on my worst enemy,” he said. Senate Bill 456 puts the presence of bedbugs on par with a lack of running water, electricity or plumbing in a home. Sen. Karl Rhoads, who sponsored the bill , said a property infested with bedbugs “probably rises to the level of uninhabitability” under Hawaiʻi’s landlord-tenant code. The bill, however, doesn’t apply to Hawaiʻi’s sprawling hotel sector, which had $5.5 billion in revenue in 2024, and any effort to include the industry in the legislation is likely to face strong opposition. The latest version of the bill mostly makes landlords responsible for fixing the problem, prompting pushback from the Hawaiʻi Association of Realtors. If the bill passes, Hawaiʻi would join 24 other states and cities with bedbug laws. Some date back decades and bear archaic language indicating how long bedbugs have plagued communities. An Ohio law from the 1940s bans the pests in rail cars, and Wisconsin requires landlords to use “all means necessary” to prevent bedbugs in homes for “orphans, indigents and delinquents.” Nevada requires hotel rooms with bedbugs to be fumigated. Other states and cities protect residential tenants like Hawaiʻi would do. New York City demands that landlords provide new tenants with a bedbug history of the apartment and apartment building for the previous year. A bedbug bill introduced in 2024 died. Rhoads, chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, hopes this can be the year Hawaiʻi finally does something. “I’ve never had them, thank God,” he said. “But I hear they’re horrible.” The Hawaiʻi Department of Health doesn’t keep statistics on bedbugs because they don’t carry or spread disease. But the department says the bugs can cause itching and loss of sleep, and that “excessive scratching can increase the chance of secondary skin infections.” Bedbugs are also sneaky. People generally sleep through bites because the creatures, who like warm, dark spaces, inject an anesthetic and blood thinner into their hosts before feeding, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports . The bugs can hide in box springs and headboards for several months without needing blood. Although overall data doesn’t exist, anecdotes of high-profile incidents abound in Hawaiʻi. In 2014, a bedbug infestation was reported at Oʻahu Community Correctional Center . In 2023, the state Department of Transportation had to shut down a section of Daniel K. Inouye International Airport so exterminators could kill bedbugs that had infested part of a terminal. In March, Hawaiʻi News Now reported that Honolulu’s Joint Traffic Management Center was temporarily shut down after bedbugs were found in the building’s quiet room. It cost $1,800 to fumigate the space. For an unfiltered (and unverified) peek at the local bedbug problem, bedbugreports.com lets travelers anonymously share stories about outbreaks in rental housing and hotels, such as an alleged incident at a landmark Waikīkī hotel. “My husband and I checked into the hotel on 9/11/2024,” the traveler reported. “When I woke up the next morning, I had several red, itchy bumps on my arms. I thought that I was bitten by a mosquito — however, the next morning, I had several more bites on my knee and arms. I then checked for bedbugs (tip from my daughter) and BINGO, in the seam of the mattress, box springs, I found bedbugs.” Hotel executives contacted by Civil Beat were reluctant to speak on the record about bedbug issues. But Tim Lyons, executive director of the Hawaiʻi Pest Control Association, said it’s not uncommon for bedbugs to hitchhike with travelers into hotels. Even the most expensive properties are susceptible, he said. “They’re not discriminatory,” Lyons said of the pests. Eight states have statutes addressing bedbugs at hotels, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures. Rhoads said his bill is aimed only at the pests in residences. As for hotels, he said, in the age of social media and online reviews, it’s easy for word to get out if a property has a widespread problem. “It’s incumbent on them if they want to make money to take care of the problem,” he said. But Rhoads also said, “If the committees that take a look at it decide they want to include hotels, it won’t bother me at all.” But a bill expanded to include the powerful hotel industry could face a tough climb. The Hawaiʻi Association of Realtors testified against the bill, saying “owners or tenants residing in infested units can unknowingly transfer the bedbugs to adjacent properties, and determining the source of the infestation can be complicated.” Alvin Fukuyama, owner of State Termite and Pest Control in ʻAiea, said there’s also a question of fairness. It can cost $200 per room to treat a home for bedbugs, he said. Many exterminators provide no warranty if the bugs come back, but tenants or their guests, not landlords, are usually the ones who bring bedbugs into a home, Fukuyama said. “Whoever’s living there is typically the one who’s bringing it in,” he said.

Hawaiʻi Constitution amendment proposed as protest of unlimited campaign spending Kauaʻi Now Brian Perry January 31, 2025 Original Article A proposed Hawaiʻi Constitution amendment that would be at odds with the controversial 2010 Citizens United Supreme Court decision that took the brakes off campaign spending limits has passed unanimously out of the Hawaiʻi Senate Judiciary Committee on Thursday. Senate Bill 311 would advance a proposed amendment to the Hawaiʻi State Constitution to provide that its freedom of speech protection does not include the expenditure of money to influence elections. In a legislative finding, the bill says that the US Supreme Court’s decision in Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission reversed long-standing campaign finance restrictions and designated corporate spending on elections as free speech protected under the First Amendment of the US Constitution. “The decision removed any limits on the amount of money that corporations, special interest groups, and political action committees (PACs) could spend on an election,” the bill says. “The legislature further finds that the decision in Citizens United is a serious threat to our democracy.” “Corporations enjoy various advantages, including limited liability, perpetual life and favorable treatment in the accumulation and distribution of assets, which allow them to amass and spend an extraordinary amount of money on political messages that often have far greater reach and influence than messages from individuals,” the bill says. The measure notes that there has been a “massive increase in political spending by corporations, special interest groups, and PACs, dramatically expanding their already outsized political influence on election outcomes and policy decisions.” The bill maintains that the people of each state have the power to amend their state constitutions, and “the Legislature believes it is critical that the state express its disapproval of the Citizens United decision.” According to the bill, at least 20 states, including Hawaiʻi in 2016, have taken legislative action to urge Congress to pass a constitutional amendment to overturn the decision. However, “Congress has failed to take any action and appears unlikely to do so.” The bill was introduced by Senate Judiciary Chairman Karl Rhoads of urban Honolulu. He was joined in introducing the measure by South and West Maui Sen. Angus McKelvey; Oʻahu Sens. Stanley Chang, Carol Fukunaga, Michelle Kidani, Sharon Moriwaki and Mike Gabbard (vice chair); and Hawaiʻi Island Sens. Lorraine Inouye of Hilo, Joy San Buenaventura of Puna and Herbert Richards III of North Hilo. Rhoads said the bill was amended Thursday to add language about the Buckley v. Valeo case , which also addressed political speech. The case is a landmark 1976 Supreme Court decision that, among other things, upheld the limitations of contributions to candidates for federal office. Senate Bill 311 is symbolic, Rhoads said, “in the sense it likely won’t have any immediate effect on campaign spending.” “It would be an important statement of what Hawaiʻi residents believe the role of money in politics should be and it is no more symbolic than all the anti-choice states leaving their anti-abortion statutes on the books even after the Supreme Court ruled that a woman’s right to choose was constitutional in the Roe decision. Playing the long game,” he said. Written public testimony submitted on the bill was mostly in support of its passage. Michael EKM Olderr said: “Citizens United’s damage to our country and our state cannot be understated. Time and time again, that ruling has undermined policy-making and real change in this country. It shifted the focus of elected officials from their constituents to special interests, which has led to the Oligarchs who now whisper in our president’s ears. It has eliminated trust in our democracy and the value of our institution and created an air of legal bribery.” Olderr suggested amendments to the bill; for example, tweaking the words “to influence elections” to make them less broad. Victor Ramos opposed the bill, saying that the US Supreme Court has already ruled, and “therefore, any justification to propose a change (amend) to our State of Hawaii Constitution must be more than just a ceremonial gesture.” Andrew Crossland also opposed the bill, saying it would curtail free speech protected by the US Constitution. Stephen Munkelt supported the measure. He said that while it could not have any immediate effect on federal elections, “it may well play a role in state political contests and return some measure of power to the people.” Honolulu resident Josh Frost said the Citizens United decision “can arguably be pointed to as the beginning of an accelerated unravelling of basic democratic principles and systems in our country. “We are becoming an oligarchy. A terrifying drift that has been accelerated by the Supreme Court’s ruling on Citizens United,” Frost said. “The notion that money is speech and that ‘corporations are people’ are equally offensive and maddening. Corporations don’t breathe. They don’t feel pain, don’t need sleep nor sustenance. They have no need for health care and, perhaps most importantly, corporations do not vote. Yet their ‘voice’ drowns out those of ordinary Americans who are actually people. Real people who have no money for campaign contributions or campaign advertising.” Editor’s note: This post was updated from an original version with the addition of comments from Senate Judiciary Chairman Karl Rhoads.

New law cuts retirement benefits for judges Star Advertiser Dan Nakaso July 4, 2025 Original Article A measure enacted Thursday by Gov. Josh Green that reduces by nearly half the retirement benefits for future judges comes at a time when the state Judiciary is struggling to find qualified judges, especially on the neighbor islands, and they are facing an increasing number of threats to their safety. Green initially supported Senate Bill 935 , then told the Legislature last month that he might veto the latest version of it. On Thursday, he ended up signing it into law. The measure reduces retirement benefits for judges appointed on or after July 1, 2031. SB 935 was one of 12 of 20 bills Green signed into law that were also on his intent-to-veto list. In response, both House Speaker Nadine Nakamura and Senate President Ron Kouchi announced they had no plans to hold a special session to consider overriding any of the governor’s vetoes. The number of threats against Hawaii judges is approximately eight times higher than five years ago, according to the Judiciary. So far this year, there have been twice as many threats against them compared to last year. In the latest incident in June, the Honolulu Police Department notified state and federal court officials that a 911 caller said an unidentified man was going to shoot a judge at a Honolulu courthouse. Hawaii Supreme Court Chief Justice Mark Recktenwald plans to retire Sept. 30, about a week before he reaches the mandatory retirement age of 70, after serving for 15 years as head of the high court. The state Judicial Selection Committee must provide Green with the names of at least four candidates to replace Recktenwald, but so far has been able to find only three. So it has extended the application deadline to Sept. 11 for a 10-year term that pays $248,124 annually. Once he gets the final list of applicants from the committee, Green will select his nominee, who then has to be confirmed by the state Senate. In the meantime, Associate Supreme Court Justice Sabrina S. McKenna will fill in as interim chief justice. SB 935 provides no justification for why future judges should receive smaller retirement benefits. It was introduced solely by state Sen. Dru Kanuha (D, Kona-Kau-Volcano), who did not respond to a request for comment. Overall, SB 935 makes other changes in retirement benefits for a variety employees that had general support from some influential labor unions. But only future judges would see the size of their retirements reduced — a provision that was opposed by unions including the Hawaii Government Employees Association, Hawaii State Teachers Association, State of Hawaii Organization of Police Officers, United Public Workers and International Longshore and Warehouse Union. HGEA, the state’s largest public workers’ union, objected to cutting future judges’ retirement benefits, writing in testimony, “We find that this portion is counter intuitive to the general theme of this measure which is intended to help with the recruitment of public servants. This provision will severely impact the recruitment of new judges — specifically, the recruitment of quality attorneys in private practice to apply as judges.” Similar concerns were expressed by the Hawaii State Bar Association and bar associations for Kauai and Maui counties and West Hawaii. Recktenwald wrote to Green in May that the measure “will adversely impact recruitment of judges and thereby the future of Hawai‘i’s judicial branch. This singling out of judges is especially concerning while judges have become lightning rods nationally for interpreting and applying constitutions and laws.” “Since 2019, applications for judicial positions statewide have trended downward overall and downward among women,” Recktenwald wrote. “As a result, numerous application deadlines for these public offices have been extended. Indeed, from 2019 through the summer of 2024, 30% of vacant judgeships statewide and 79% of vacant judgeships on the neighbor islands have required extended application deadlines. The position of Chief Justice, which will be vacated this year due to mandatory retirement, also apparently did not attract the requisite minimum of four qualified applicants. “Recruitment challenges already lead to apparently prolonged vacancies of judicial positions that have in turn impacted the public. Reducing retirement benefits for judges will exacerbate the challenges of attracting the most highly qualified,” he added. An announcement from Green’s office Thursday that he had signed SB 935 into law included a statement from Recktenwald lauding a “very productive” legislative session that included establishment of several new courts and judicial initiatives. “We are grateful that as part of the process, all sides have been able to express their views on SB 935 and we respect the Governor’s decision,” Recktenwald said. “I thank the Governor and legislative leadership for their openness to considering issues relating to recruitment of judges and other important matters going forward.” The Hawaii State Bar Association also wrote to Green in its opposition to SB 935. “It is unclear why judges were specifically singled out; however, it is alarming and will have a detrimental effect on our judiciary,” the attorneys’ group said. “Given the limited pool of qualified judges and candidates for judicial vacancies, HSBA is extremely concerned that reducing the pensions of retiring judges will further disincentivize qualified candidates from pursuing a vacancy. Additionally, the bar is aging, with many individuals either retiring or changing their status to inactive. “Coupled with a mandatory retirement age of seventy years of age, this further impacts the state’s ability to adequately fill the bench with qualified, thoughtful, and independent jurists … especially in light of public disdain for the rule of law, nationwide attacks on the constitution, and extensive threats to an independent judiciary.”

Hawaiian Electric Industries Sells Most Of American Savings Bank Interest Civil Beat Stewart Yerton December 31, 2024 Original Article Hawaiian Electric Industries, Inc., on Tuesday announced the sale of a 90% stake in its American Savings Bank subsidiary to independent investors, through a series of separate agreements, for $405 million in cash. The transaction values the bank at $450 million. The sale of the vast majority of HEI’s ownership in American Savings Bank follows more than a year of speculation about whether the holding company would sell the bank to raise money to deal with costs associated with the 2023 Maui wildfires. Sen. Jarrett Keohokalole. (David Croxford/Civil Beat/2024) The announcement comes just weeks before the Hawaii Legislature kicks off its 2025 session in January and bodes well for the company’s legislative agenda, said Sen. Jarrett Keohokalole, who held hearings on HECO-related bills last session as chair of the Senate Commerce and Consumer Protection Committee. The company’s top priority is a measure to help it raise money by borrowing against a new fee levied on customers. Keohokalole said the deal shows the utility is doing everything it can to help itself before going to customers. He said he plans to introduce a bill on HECO’s behalf this session. “In general, one of the major questions being asked last year when HECO requested securitization authority was, ‘Has the company done everything it needs to do to shore up its position itself?’” Keohokalole said. “So I think this is a significant change.” Under the deal, each investor will have a non-controlling interest in the bank, the company said in a news release. No investor owns more than 9.9% of the bank’s common stock, including HEI, which has retained a 9.9% stake. The Investors also include all of ASB’s executive team and independent directors. “The sale allows HEI to enhance our focus on the utility as we work to help our state recover from the 2023 Maui wildfires and strengthen the financial and strategic position of our company,” said Scott Seu, HEI’s president and chief executive. “We intend to use the proceeds to reduce holding company debt, increasing flexibility for how HEI funds the HEI and Hawaiian Electric wildfire settlement contributions and key utility initiatives.”

State leaders announce digitization of Plants and Animals Declaration Form Maui Now February 24, 2025 Original Article State leaders today announced the launch of “Akamai Arrival,” a pilot program that will digitize Hawaiʻi’s Plants and Animals Declaration Form, streamlining the process for travelers arriving in the islands. The initiative, authorized under Act 196 (2024), marks a significant step toward modernizing Hawaiʻi’s biosecurity efforts, by improving form completion rates and strengthening protections against invasive species. Beginning March 1, 2025, the pilot program under the Hawaiʻi Department of Agriculture (HDOA) will roll out on select domestic flights in partnership with major airlines, including Alaska Airlines, American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, Hawaiian Airlines, Southwest Airlines and United Airlines. Participating airlines will integrate the digital form into their arrival processes, giving passengers a more efficient way to submit required agricultural declarations before landing in Hawaiʻi. “Protecting Hawaiʻi’s unique environment from invasive species is critical to our way of life, our economy, and our future. The ‘Akamai Arrival’ program is a forward-thinking approach that modernizes our biosecurity efforts while making it easier for travelers to comply with our agricultural protections. This initiative is another step toward preserving our islands for generations to come,” said Governor Josh Green, M.D. This concerted effort to modernize and adapt technology is an important step to further protect Hawaiʻi’s natural heritage. Lt. Gov. Sylvia Luke, together with legislators, HDOA, airline partners, and stakeholders, developed the digital agriculture form pilot program. “This is what government should be doing — utilizing technology to improve our state processes and better serve the public. Every one of us, whether coming home or traveling to Hawaiʻi, is very familiar with filling out the paper agriculture form. By digitizing this form, we’re making compliance easier for travelers while using technology to protect what makes Hawaiʻi so special,” said Luke. Airlines participating in the pilot have discretion over flight selection and implementation methods. The ʻAkamai Arrival’ website will serve as a hub for passengers, providing access to the digital form, flight information and an FAQ page to assist travelers. “US airlines play a critical role in connecting travelers to Hawaiʻi, and the transition from paper to digital agriculture declaration forms is a significant step toward modernizing the travel experience. We’re proud to support the Akamai Arrival program, making the arrival process more seamless and efficient for travelers,” said Sean Williams, Airlines for America vice president of State and Local Government Affairs. “The Department of Agriculture has been addicted to paper for nearly 60 years. Five years ago, I advocated for the digitization of the declaration form, but was met with resistance. Lawmakers had to pass a law last year to encourage the migration from paper to an app,” said Sen. Glenn Wakai, who chairs the Senate Committee on Energy and Intergovernmental Affairs. “The ʻAkamai Arrival’ program will inform passengers about what’s not acceptable to bring to Hawaiʻi BEFORE they board the plane, rather than when they’re scrambling for a pen over the Pacific.” “Enhancing our state’s biosecurity efforts and protecting our islands from invasive species requires modern solutions, and the implementation of a digital form is long overdue,” said Rep. Kirstin Kahaloa, chair of the House Committee on Agriculture and Food Systems. “I appreciate the collaboration among stakeholders to streamline the screening process and strengthen our state’s ability to ensure safe arrivals.” The pilot program will run from March 1 through May 31, 2025. Monthly progress updates will be shared with participating airlines and data collected will help determine potential expansions of the program in the future. For more information about the digital declaration form and the Akamai Arrival initiative, visit: https://akamaiarrival.hawaii.gov/

Plan To Bail Out HECO's Credit Rating Would Cost Customers $48 A Year Civil Beat Stewart Yerton December 31, 2024 Original Article Hawaiian Electric Co. customers would have to pay $4 more per month under a proposal to create a settlement fund meant to bolster the power company’s battered credit rating in an era of catastrophic wildfires. The proposed $1 billion Hawaii Wildfire Recovery Fund, capitalized with the new fees, would be used to pay property damage claims related to future wildfires, according to a draft bill being circulated to Hawaiʻi lawmakers, who reconvene next month. The proposal would also limit HECOʻs liability from property claims due to wildfires, even those which the companyʻs equipment starts, such as the devastating Lahaina fire in 2023. Wall Street once viewed privately owned power companies like HECO as rock solid credit risks. But lawsuits from wildfires, such as the one that killed 102 people and destroyed much of Lahaina in 2023, changed the math. HECOʻs credit rating is now at junk-bond status, in part because it is on the hook to pay out billions to victims of the fire that was started by its equipment. The risk of claims from potential future fires is another factor. HECO’s proposal is far from a done deal. Lawmakers declined to give the utility a blank check to bail it out last session. And at least one key lawmaker briefed on this year’s measure has voiced concerns about raising bills for customers who already pay three times the national average for electricity. A fire sparked by a fallen Hawaiian Electric Co. power line killed 102 people and destroyed most of Lahaina in 2023. The risk of such catastrophic fires has driven up borrowing costs for not only HECO, but scores of electric companies in the U.S. (Kevin Fujii/Civil Beat/2023) The trade publication Utility Dive reported in October that the credit ratings of nearly 100 utilities have been downgraded since 2020 due to wildfire risk. Another stated goal — which HECO poses as a public benefit — is to create an efficient alternative to expensive and time-consuming litigation. Jim Kelly, the company’s vice president for government relations and corporate communications, stressed the bill wouldn’t prevent people from pursuing claims in court instead of accessing the fund. “The fund has been the thing that they have told us was their highest priority to stabilize the company from the beginning,” said Sen. Jarrett Keohokalole, who held hearings on HECO-related bills last session as chair of the Senate Commerce and Consumer Protection Committee. “Absolutely,” HECO’s Kelly said, when asked if the fund was HECO’s top priority. “It’s number one.” The Cost Of Wildfire Risk For HECO customers, the equation is simple: wildfire risk — including mitigation measures to reduce it — will invariably be baked into the cost of electricity. The question is how to keep those costs as low as possible. As HECO sees it, the first step is to rehabilitate its credit rating. After the Maui fires, corporate rating agencies tanked HECO’s credit rating, meaning the company must pay higher interest rates to borrow money. Such costs can be passed to Hawaii ratepayers, who already pay the nation’s highest electricity rates, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration . HECO is in continuing talks with the three main rating agencies — Fitch Ratings , Moody’s and S&P Global — Kelly said. While the agencies aren’t promising anything, they are providing guidance on policies Hawaii and HECO can adopt to shore up the company’s credit rating, Kelly said. “They’re more than willing to share their insight,” he said In fact, the key elements of HECO’s policy playbook for 2025 are outlined in a paper titled “Liability reform will be key to support credit quality of utilities in wildfire-prone states ,” which Moody’s published in November. The paper focuses on the problem that wildfire risks poses for utilities nationally, particularly in U.S. western states. Hawaii’s fund would be similar to a $21 billion fund established in California and a $1 billion fund proposed for Utah. Hawaii Sen. Jarrett Keohokalole says the challenge facing Hawaiian Electric Co. is simple: “Nobody will lend them any money because there’s too much risk.” (David Croxford/Civil Beat/2024) But Moody’s recommends more than merely establishing a fund. It also calls for limiting the utilities’ liability. HECO’s proposed bill would do this by limiting HECO’s liability for damages. The third element of Moody’s risk reduction outline requires utilities to establish operational measures to prevent wildfires from happening in the first place. “When a state establishes definitive fire prevention and response guidelines or certification programs, it is strongly credit positive for regulated utilities because it ensures that their actions can be assessed transparently and reduces the risk of hindsight bias following a fire,” Moody’s says. HECO is seeking to establish this by regulation. It plans to submit a wildfire mitigation plan for review and approval by the Public Utilities Commission in January. The goal, Kelly said, is to enable HECO to borrow money for capital improvements at reasonable rates. The status quo is a recipe for higher costs, he said. “If we don’t get a better credit rating, that is going to impact people negatively,” Kelly said. Keohokalole put it more simply. “Nobody will lend them any money because there’s too much risk,” he said. ‘Just, Just, Just’ Adds Up Still, establishing the fund will cost HECO customers. HECO essentially wants to borrow the $1 billion and pay it back with new fees charged directly to customers, a process called securitization. Such securitized loans wouldn’t be burdened by HECO’s junk-bond credit rating; the debt gets paid back as long as people pay their electric bills, allowing HECO to borrow at lower interest rates. “It’s like having a gold-plated co-signer,” Kelly said. Kelly noted the public utilities commission would have to approve any new fee charged to customers. Kelly also noted that the bill calls for ratepayers to be paid back the fees they had paid, possibly through a bill offset, if HECO hadn’t needed to tap into the fund during its first 10 years. However, Kelly said it was not clear how that would work. Future property damage claims also could be paid quickly, according to a formula, without the need for lawsuits. Kelly noted that a third of the $4.04 billion proposed settlement for the Lahaina fires — more than $1 billion — would likely go to plaintiffs’ lawyers, many of them located outside of Hawaii. Hawaii Sen. Glenn Wakai, who chairs the Energy and Intergovernmental Affairs Committee, said he supports a bill to help HECO bolster its credit rating in concept, but also says, “HECO better have a clear plan on how they’re going to reduce costs for customers.” (David Croxford/Civil Beat/2024) Key lawmakers say they are willing to entertain the bill. Keohokalole helped kill a securitization bill during the last session. That was largely because the company had no clear plan on how it intended to spend the money. “Last year there were just black holes,” he said. “This time is way different.” The company’s proposed, $4.04 billion settlement is pending approval by the Hawaii Supreme Court, which could happen as soon as February. Keohokalole said he would be reluctant to support the bill if HECO can’t get the settlement finalized. But if the settlement is approved and it’s clear the new fund would be used only for future claims, Keohokalole said he would be comfortable supporting securitization. “If we’re at the 2-yard line, I might be willing to bail out HECO,” he said. Sen. Glenn Wakai, who chairs the Senate Committee on Energy and Intergovernmental Affairs, also expressed conditional support for the bill, but would prefer a fund that could protect parties in addition to HECO. He also wants residential customers to get something in return. “If HECO’s going to charge $48 more a year, HECO better have a clear plan on how they’re going to reduce costs for customers as well,” he said. Wakai said he’s aware that HECO’s proposal breaks down to “just $4” a month per household. But he said such seemingly small price increases are what have created Hawaii’s notoriously high cost of living. “After a while, ‘just, just, just’ adds up to ‘big, big, big’ for ratepayers,” he said.

Hawaii Senate Bill Would Create New Top Tax Bracket Law360 Jaqueline McCool January 28, 2025 Original Article Hawaii would create a new income tax bracket to impose a higher rate on joint income over $1.9 million beginning in 2030 under a bill that passed first reading in the...

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

Charity dinner raises $50K for mediation center Hawaiʻi Tribune Herald Hawaiʻi Tribune Herald Staff December 5, 2024 Original Article At the 2024 Annual Recognition Dinner & Auction on Nov. 17, Jennifer Zelko-Schlueter was awarded the “Peacemaker Award” by Ku‘ikahi Mediation Center, and Judge M. Kanani Laubach was awarded the “Meritorious Service Award” by the Hawaii County Bar Association. “What a great evening celebrating two very deserving wahine,” Ku‘kahi Executive Director Julie Mitchell said in a press release. “Mahalo to all who contributed of their time, talents and treasures to make this fundraiser the most successful ever!” The event raised $50,000 for the center. “We truly appreciate our honorees, sponsors, ticket buyers, auction bidders, guests, cash and in-kind event donors, auction donors, emcee, introducers, musician, sound operator, special event committee, event volunteers, board and staff,” Mitchell said. The annual dinner and auction provides a significant portion of the funds that Ku‘ikahi needs to provide free and low-cost dispute prevention and resolution services in East Hawaii and beyond. To make a year-end charitable gift to support this local non-profit community mediation center, please visit: https://hawaiimediation.org/donate/.