Aloha, 2024! A recap of the top 10 Big Island news stories of the year West Hawaii Today John Burnett December 31, 2024 Original Article Tribune-Herald file photo From left, Sen. Joy San Buenaventura, Sen. Lorraine Inouye and Lynne Benioff take a photo together in April after the groundbreaking ceremony for the expansion of the newly named Hilo Benioff Medical Center. From left, Mayor Mitch Roth, Rep. Mark Nakashima, East Hawaii Regional Board Chair Jerry Gray, Gov. Josh Green, philanthropist Marc Benioff, Hilo Benioff Medical Center CEO Dan Brinkman and Sen. Lorraine Inouye pose for a photo with o'o sticks after the groundbreaking ceremony to kick off a major expansion of the hospital. (Tribune-Herald/file photo) Tribune-Herald file photo In this file photo, visitors walk through the Sea Mountain Resort in Punalu'u. As part of a proposed development, Black Sand Beach LLC wants to restore the resort and nearby golf course. A view of an encampment of homeless people in June near the corner of Ponahawai Street and Kamehameha Avenue in Hilo. (Tribune-Herald/file photo) In this Tribune-Herald file photo from June 7, grass and brush is overgrown around the house that was mistakenly built on the wrong lot in Hawaiian Paradise Park. A groundbreaking ceremony was held in September for a new affordable rental housing complex in Waikoloa Village. (Courtesy/image) Tribune-Herald file photo Grant Omura receives a bento from a volunteer as she hands them out of the Salvation Army Hilo Temple Corps' Malama 'Ohana Mobile Kitchen during an opening ceremony on Aug. 30 for the 25-cot shelter in Hilo. Former County Council member Emily Naeole speaks to a large crowd gathered outside the County Building on March 7 in Hilo. Hundreds of people, many who drove up from Ka'u, showed up for a meeting of the Windward Planning Commission regarding a permit for a proposed development in Punalu'u. (Tribune-Herald/file photo) Tribune-Herald file photo Kawelle Silva-Kamei holds a sign to protest the proposed development plan for the Punalu‘u area during a Windward Planning Commission Meeting on March 7 in Hilo. Tribune-Herald file photo Mayoral candidate Kimo Alameda answers a question during a forum hosted by the Big Island Press Club on Sept. 21 at the Hilo Yacht Club. In this July photo, a temporary camp for homeless people set up by Hawaii County off of Ponahawai Street in Hilo. (Tribune-Herald/file photo) Kimo Alameda sends his signature "double shaka" during a sign waving event with his Hawaii County mayoral campaign supporters in Hilo. (Tribune-Herald/file photo) With 2025 nearly here, it’s time to review an eventful 2024. Here are Hawaii Island’s the top 10 local stories of the year, as selected by the editorial staff of the Tribune-Herald. 1. Hilo hospital undergoes $100M expansion “It’s a new beginning for health care here on the island.” That observation was made April 10 by billionaire philanthropist Marc Benioff — chairman, CEO and co-founder of the software company Salesforce — during a groundbreaking ceremony for an expansion of Hilo Benioff Medical Center that will include a new 19-bed intensive care unit and 36 additional hospital beds. Benioff and his wife, Lynne, matched $50 million appropriated in 2023 by the state Legislature and released in March by Gov. Josh Green. The $100 million project is intended to help alleviate the bed shortage at Hawaii Island’s largest hospital, which was built in 1984 and where capacity has been outstripped by East Hawaii’s population growth the past four decades. In addition, a draft environmental assessment was released in November for a $60 million outpatient clinic to be built by HBMC on about nine acres of land in Keaau. The Benioffs pledged an additional $25 million for the Puna clinic, with Green pledging to work toward securing an additional $25 million from the Legislature for construction, expected to be completed by 2028. Planners anticipate the facility will serve more than 100 patients daily. 2. Affordable housing remains a hot topic According to County Council Chair Holeka Goro Inaba, the council will continue to overhaul Chapter 11 of the County Code, which addresses housing. A study presented in July of the effectiveness of Chapter 11 — which requires that rezoned housing projects include a certain amount of affordable units, and offers some ways to fulfill that requirement — found its provisions act contrary to their intended use, and it’s not feasible for affordable housing to be built in many of the island’s districts. Affordable housing projects are, however, moving forward. The 92-unit Hale Na Koa ‘O Hanakahi housing project is slated for completion in 2025, with affordable housing targeted toward Big Island seniors and priority given to veterans and their spouses. Once completed, all of the housing complex’s units will be available to residents making less than the Area Median Income. According to move-in qualifications posted online, 10 units will be available to those making 80% of the AMI, 31 to those making 60%, 38 to those making 50% and 12 to those making 30%. Ground was broken in September for Na Hale Makoa, an affordable workforce rental housing development in Waikoloa village. The project will feature 139 one-, two- and three-bedroom units serving households earning up to 140% of area median income, as well as one resident manager’s unit. Construction is expected to take a little over a year, and families are anticipated to begin moving into the units during the first quarter of 2026, according to the county. In addition, land has been acquired or donated with the goal of building affordable housing. Marc and Lynne Benioff in June donated 158 acres near Waimea to the nonprofit Hawaii Island Community Development Corporation for affordable housing at Ouli in Waimea. The land, adjacent to 282 acres the Benioffs donated in December 2023, brings the total land they’ve given for affordable housing to 440 acres. And the nonprofit Council for Native Hawaiian Advancement announced in June the acquisition of 43.08 acres of land in Hilo to be designated for affordable housing, specifically for Native Hawaiians and other Hawaii families. The parcel, located in the Kaumana subdivision of Ponahawai, was purchased for an undisclosed sum from an anonymous landowner. 3. Lava recovery continues in lower Puna Recovery from Kilauea Volcano’s 2018 Lower East Rift Zone eruption continues. Construction began in June on a 3.64-mile section of Highway 137 in lower Puna, between the makai end of Pohoiki Road and the intersection of Highway 132 — also known as “Four Corners.” The price tag to rehabilitate the previously inundated country road is $17.8 million. The lion’s share, $13.35 million, will be funded by the Federal Emergency Management Agency, while the county will kick in $4.45 million. The county remains embroiled in an eminent domain battle with Kapoho Land and Development Co. Ltd. over 0.94 acres of land the county said it needs to reopen Pohoiki Road. Hilo Circuit Judge Peter Kubota on Aug. 15 issued an order putting Hawaii County — which offered KLDC $24,000 — in possession of the land. KLDC, which is the only eminent domain holdout, is challenging the order, arguing the county has violated state laws in its condemnation process. And the state Department of Land and Natural Resources has awarded a contract to dredge part or all of a newly formed beach so Pohoiki Boat Ramp can be reopened. This past month, DLNR announced it had awarded a $9.2 million contract for the dredging project to Goodfellow Bros., with work expected to begin in February 2025 and wrap in November 2025. 4. Ongoing efforts to regulate STVRs The County Council in 2024 continued its yearslong struggle to regulate short-term vacation rentals with no long-term resolution in sight. Bill 121 — under discussion for the better part of a year and amended four times — was shelved in November. After lengthy discussions about five new proposed amendments to Bill 121, Hamakua Councilwoman Heather Kimball, who introduced the bill, asked her colleagues whether the council should continue to tweak the existing bill, or if it should be scrapped and replaced with a new bill that streamlines the now 30-page-long proposal. Another measure, Bill 123, passed the council and became law on its fifth draft. The bill changed the name of “ohana dwellings” to “accessory dwelling units” and increased the number of units allowed on a residential property to three, with one allowed to be used as a STVR. While the new ordinance increases density in residential neighborhoods, the Hawaii Supreme Court ruled unanimously in September that state law doesn’t allow STVRs on agriculturally zoned land. 5. Jaggar Museum, HVO site demolished It’s been six-plus years since earthquakes associated with the 2018 Kilauea eruption damaged both Hawaiian Volcano Observatory and the Thomas A. Jaggar Museum beyond repair. The historic museum, built in 1927, stood on Uekahuna bluff in Hawaii Volcanoes National Park for nearly a century. It was razed along with two buildings used by HVO, the Okamura Building and geochemistry annex at Uekahuna, in May and June. The HVO Tower, the last building standing on the bluff, was demolished on July 26. The iconic tower, adjacent to the Jaggar Museum, provided scientists at HVO with a 360-degree vantage point for studying Kilauea and Mauna Loa until the 2018 eruption and summit collapse severely damaged all of the buildings at Uekahuna, on the edge of Kaluapele, Kilauea’s caldera. HVO’s scientists and technicians have been working in temporary digs in Hilo since. HVNP’s Visitor Center will be closed to the public in February for two years of renovations. Many functions once carried out at the Jaggar Museum will be performed at the HVNP Visitor Center, once it reopens. 6. Help for the island’s homeless The annual, federally mandated Point-In-Time count tallied 718 homeless individuals on the Big Island in 2024. That’s 28% fewer than the 1,003 counted in 2023. But the Point-In-Time is a mere snapshot of a day in the life of the unsheltered, and a casual tour of downtown Hilo and Kailua-Kona will confirm homelessness remains an issue. Two extreme incidents in downtown Hilo in January highlighted the problem. A 41-year-old homeless woman, Ashley Lum, gave birth on a sidewalk at the corner of Mamo and Keawe Streets and reportedly dragged the newborn by the umbilical cord. Fire Department medics cut the cord, sought medical attention for the baby, and transferred it to custody of Child Welfare Services. Lum, who has apparent mental health issues, was arrested for allegedly leaving the infant after the cord was severed, but was released without charges after being booked on suspicion of misdemeanor child abandonment. In the other case, a 34-year-old homeless man, Jimmy Carmichael, died at Mooheau Park Bus Terminal after being beaten. An autopsy turned up no serious skull or brain injuries as a result of the assault, but there was evidence of an “acute cardiac event” prior to his death, police said. Former Mayor Mitch Roth touted his administration’s efforts toward curbing homelessness, including $10 million in grants to organizations providing services to the homeless. The county also conducted sweeps of homeless camps, including in January at Mooheau Park and in February at Kona Aquatics Center. In addition, the county also set up at least two “Safe Spaces” homeless camps during the year — both dubbed “Mitchville” on social media. One was on Ponahawai Street next to the Salvation Army in downtown Hilo. After that camp was disbanded by the county, another was set up on Kuawa Street near the county’s Hoolulu Complex to house those who’d been at Ponahawai. It too has since been closed after most occupants found either homes or a longer-term shelter. And in August, the Salvation Army opened the Hilo Overnight Safe Space, a 25-bed outdoor tent at the Salvation Army’s Ponahawai facility. Homeless individuals seeking shelter are able to check into the Safe Space in the evenings and depart the next day. Through $1 million in state funding, and an additional $800,000 from the county, the facility should be able to operate for two years, said Sam LeMar, Salvation Army Hawaii County coordinator. He added he hopes to be able to expand the shelter into something potentially more permanent. LeMar said he believes the shelter could expand to accommodate 75 beds along with 10 parking stalls “so people can sleep in their cars safely.” 7. The county has a new top executive The Big Island has a new mayor. Kimo Alameda, the former CEO of Bay Clinic who was executive of the county’s Office of Aging under former mayors Harry Kim and the late Billy Kenoi, defeated incumbent Mitch Roth by almost 11% in November’s General Election. It was the first run for public office for Alameda, 55, who holds a doctorate in counseling psychology and also was the former leader of the Fentanyl Task Force. The 60-year-old Roth had the larger campaign war chest, by more than $100,000, and had spent upwards of $75,000 more than his challenger. Alameda, however, had the backing of the two major public workers unions — the white-collar Hawaii Government Employees Association and the blue-collar United Public Workers. They endorsed the challenger in part because Roth wouldn’t authorize COVID-19 hazard pay for public workers during the pandemic, citing fiscal concerns. 8. Punaluu project proposed, opposed A currently stalled proposal by a foreign-born developer to build a 225-acre resort development on a 147-acre parcel adjacent to Punaluu Black Sands Beach Park has raised hackles in the Ka‘u community. Neighboring residents to the proposed Punaluu Village project turned out en masse in March before the Windward Planning Commission to protest the plans of developer Xiaoyuan “Eva” Liu and Black Sand Beach LLC to develop the $350 million project. Three groups of Ka‘u residents have been granted standing in a contested case against an application for a special use permit for the project. In particular, opponents have argued the development of Punaluu Village will have significant negative impacts on the area’s public water, fire suppression and wastewater systems, which they say are in disrepair. A 2020 report about the condition of Punaluu’s water infrastructure noted several leaks and inoperable equipment — notably, six of the 17 fire hydrants in the area were found to not work. Some of the opposition to the project stems from fears it will impact fragile ecosystems and endanger wildlife, such as endangered hawksbill sea turtles. The nearby black sand beach is one of the last nesting sites for the turtles in the state, said Maxx Philips, Hawaii director for the Center for Biological Diversity. However, project consultant Daryn Arai said most of the areas planned to be developed for the project are located away from sensitive areas — and that much of the development would restore the shuttered facilities of the former Sea Mountain Resort that was built in the area in the 1960s and ’70s. 9. DHHL’s huge plan for Keaukaha More than 1,300 acres of land at King’s Landing in Hilo could be developed for Hawaiian homesteads under a state plan. In June, a draft environmental assessment was published for the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands’ “King’s Landing Kuleana Homestead Settlement Plan” — a proposal to take several DHHL-owned parcels near Keaukaha totalling 1,334 acres and allow them to be developed as homestead land. Under the proposal, a large tract of land — stretching from south of Nene Street in Keaukaha to Leleiwi and south along the Kapoho Coast Road — could be used as “kuleana homesteads,” an alternative form of land use that would allow DHHL beneficiaries to live on parcels with minimal development. According to the draft assessment, the land is largely unoccupied, with 24 Native Hawaiian residents known to be living or working on land in the area in compliance with a DHHL right of entry agreement. Under the plan, about 400 acres of the land — largely around the Kapoho Coast Road — would be set aside for kuleana lots, with another 332 acres dedicated toward community agricultural use. Much of the coastal acreage and other scattered parcels would be free for community use, and the last 240 acres would be kept as conservation land. Settlement of the area would take place in a phased process, with the first phase involving up to 38 lots between 3.5 and 15 acres in size along either side of the Kapoho Coast Road. Phase 2 would include up to 35 lots between 1 and 3 acres in size mauka of Kapoho Coast Road. Phases 3 and 4 would establish the conservation, agricultural and community lands. Because kuleana leases require residence on the land, beneficiaries would be living largely off-grid and building their own homes. Homesteads would still be subject to all relevant county and state health and safety codes, although part of the kuleana model allows for some level of grant support for lessees building their homes. 10. House lot snafu in HPP In perhaps the year’s strangest Big Island story, a local contractor for an Oahu-based developer mistakenly built a house on a Hawaiian Paradise Park lot owned by a Northern California woman. Keaau Development Partnership contracted PJ’s Construction to build about a dozen houses on lots the developer owns in the Puna subdivision. PJ’s, however, erroneously built a three-bedroom house on a lot owned by Annaleine “Anne” Reynolds, who bought the one-acre lot in a 2018 tax auction for $22,000. The home was supposed to be built on an adjacent lot owned by KDP, but no survey was done prior to construction. KDP sued both Reynolds and PJ’s, seeking to recoup more than $307,000 it paid to PJ’s and its subcontractors, plus another $300,000 in lost profits, interest, attorneys’ fees and damages. Reynolds declined KDP’s settlement offer of the adjacent lot in a land swap, and KDP rejected her counter offer of a beachfront lot in return for her property. Now-retired Third Circuit Chief Judge Robert Kim granted Reynolds’ request for PJ’s to pay another contractor to demolish the house, and Kona Circuit Judge Kimberly Tsuchiya has selected a proposal by a Hilo contractor to do so. Both KDP and PJ’s are appealing the demolition order in the Intermediate Court of Appeals while Reynolds’ attorney has filed a motion stating the ICA doesn’t have jurisdiction since the demolition order isn’t a final judgment on the lawsuit. Email John Burnett at jburnett at hawaiitribune-herald.com.

Hawaiʻi Lawmakers At Work Year Round? That's Becoming A Real Possibility Honolulu Civil Beat Richard Wiens February 2, 2025 Original Article It was a typical scene at the Capitol: two Kauaʻi legislators getting together to discuss common interests and how they could support each other and the folks back home. The sort of thing that happens at the start of every session. But this was also a high-level meeting between longtime Senate President Ron Kouchi and brand-new House Speaker Nadine Nakamura, and the latter had a special request. “She innocently in her folder slid over a bill,” Kouchi recollected with a smile the next day. It was a proposal that could significantly change how the Legislature operates, and Nakamura wanted Kouchi to join the cause by introducing the same measure in the Senate. “I don’t know if you’d sign it,” Kouchi recalled her asking, “but I said, ‘For you Speaker, I’d be happy to sign it on our side and we’ll see what happens.’” And just like that, the often-proposed but seldom seriously considered concept of converting the Legislature to a year-round enterprise took on new life. “I’m glad you signed that bill,” Nakamura said to Kouchi as the top two legislative leaders headlined Civil Beat’s Civil Cafe at the Capitol on Jan. 22. Then she made her pitch. “All of the county councils in the state are year-round,” Nakamura said. “They have a fraction of the state’s budget and they meet year-round because the work of the counties — and here at the state — is year-round. Emergencies happen year-round.” “We currently have a 60-day session from the middle of January to the first week of May and we have these self-imposed deadlines that require us to not hear a lot of bills,” she said. “It requires us to write very complex bills in a very short period of time. We do not get the time to really work it as we would on the council side.” She noted that she and Kouchi are both former Kaua‘i County Council members. “I really appreciate that process and I think we should move toward that.” Why It Could Actually Happen Nakamura’s House Bill 1425 calls for the creation of a task force to study the logistics and ramifications of a 12-month Legislature. Don’t roll your eyes. This would not likely be one of those longstanding committees that eventually issues a report to be put up on a shelf and forgotten. In addition to the speaker’s sincere interest in the issue, the panel would be required to submit its findings to the Legislature at least 20 days before the start of the 2026 session. More importantly, something occurred just five days after the Civil Cafe that likely removes a big obstacle to a year-round session: State Salary Commission members revealed they were considering bumping up legislators’ pay by 40%. If that happened, there would be no further debate about whether the job is full-time. And If legislators are full-time, why should the session be so short? “It would be good to pay legislators more so we don’t have to have that second job,” Nakamura said at the Civil Cafe. Better pay and no outside employment would reduce conflicts of interest and could also lead to a more diverse group of legislative candidates, the speaker said. “We are excluding caregivers, women especially, who want to come out and do this type of work, from entering state legislative offices,” she said. Lawmaker salaries aside, there would certainly be other costs associated with the move to a 12-month Legislature, such as additional staff resources and travel. “I know it is a big change,” Nakamura said. “The study group would really take a look at what are the different issues, what are the costs.” The current 60 days for floor sessions might still be sufficient — they would simply be spread out over 12 months, she said. Meanwhile, bill-writing and committee hearings could proceed at a less frenzied pace. Nakamura’s bill gets its first hearing Wednesday at 2 p.m. before the Legislative Management Committee. In addition to her bill and Kouchi’s companion measure, Senate Bill 1514 , there are two other bills this session proposing the conversion to a 12-month Legislature. The companion measures would put the question directly to voters via a proposed constitutional amendment. One of them, Senate Bill 733 , was heard Friday by the Senate Judiciary Committee. It was deferred, meaning it probably won’t proceed this session. The other, House Bill 770 , does not yet have a committee hearing scheduled. The Legislature is also waiting on a more modest study of the 12-month option that’s being put together by the Legislative Reference Bureau as the result of a Joint House Resolution approved last session. The LRB was asked to study the pros and cons of a continuous legislative session, what the calendar might look, and the salary needs for full-time legislators and staff. What’s Really On The Table Here Legislative leaders conduct much of the people’s business behind closed doors and wield near-dictatorial powers in open committee meetings and especially during the private negotiations that dominate each session’s final days. They often point to the current tight deadlines (one sponsor of SB 733 has called it “four months of chaos”) to justify secrecy for the sake of expediency. Each election season, legislative candidates are asked in their Civil Beat Q&As if they would support applying the Sunshine Law to the Legislature to stop most of those secret meetings at the Capitol. Many say they would — if the sessions weren’t so darned short. Perhaps the time really has come to take more time. Legislators long ago exempted themselves from the open meeting laws that apply to other government bodies. But a year-round Legislature could not only better oversee the work of 20 state departments and agencies and a $20 billion budget, it could do so in the light of day. If the speaker of the House and the president of the Senate are open to operating more like the county councils on a 12-month schedule, shouldn’t they be willing to conduct their business out in the open just as the councils are required to do? Senate Judiciary Chair Karl Rhoads said as much when he amended a year-round Legislature proposal two years ago to apply the Sunshine Law to state lawmakers. At the time, he noted that Hawaii had almost twice the population it had back in 1968 when the current legislative procedures were enshrined in Article III of the State Constitution . Getting legislators to abide by the Sunshine Law won’t be an easy sell. But if they convert to a 12-month session, they would have plenty of time to do the right thing and allow the public to observe their deliberations, not just their committee hearings. Some will say the Capitol just wouldn’t be the same without the old-fashioned horse-trading that goes on in private. Not the same, but perhaps better. What about the idea that what happens at party caucus meetings stays at party caucus meetings? Again, it wouldn’t be the same if their constituents were watching, but it might be better. Longer Sessions Already Possible Even now, legislative leaders aren’t quite as rushed as they often say they are. The State Constitution spells out when each session begins — the third Wednesday in January — but not when it ends. Those 60 days of floor sessions could already be spread out over a lot more of the calendar instead of ending in early May. And committee hearings could continue in the intervals. If they feel like they have unfinished business — and every session ends with that feeling — legislators can also extend a regular session for an additional 15 days or call themselves into special session for up to 30 days. Either of those options requires the approval of two-thirds of the House and Senate. Still, a cleaner way to convert to a 12-month session would be through voter approval of a constitutional amendment. That’s because the constitution’s current timing requirements for the governor to sign or veto bills is tied to when the Legislature adjourns its regular session. This session’s bills for a full-time Legislature, for instance, would give the governor 90 days to sign or veto measures, with no reference to the date of adjournment. It’s becoming plausible to imagine a future in which better-paid legislators hold no outside employment and are unconstricted by artificial deadlines. However it unfolds, a longer session holds promise for a more effective Legislature Change is coming. Newer lawmakers are raising more questions about the top-down nature of things at the Capitol. The recent hour-long discussion on the House floor of its rules of operation was refreshing evidence of the shift, because those rules traditionally are imposed with no dialogue at the start of each session (as they still are in the Senate). It’s becoming plausible to imagine a near-term future in which better-paid legislators hold no outside employment and are unconstricted by artificial deadlines. Their only jobs would be addressing the many challenges facing Hawaii, which should be full-time work indeed.

Additional Lahaina road development starts to shift into gear KITV Paul Drewes July 15, 2025 Original Article LAHAINA, Hawaii (Island News) -- The road to recovery for Lahaina includes more roads. The first private property has been acquired by Maui County for additional public roads, but this work to expand street connectors and road extensions in Lahaina could take a decade to finish. The demand for more roads in Lahaina is not just about reducing traffic, but about increasing evacuation routes in case fire sweeps through again - like it did in 2023. "It's is very important. The fire itself showed Lahaina is in desperate need of a modernization of evacuation routes and ways to get out," said Senator Angus McKelvey. Maui County is buying up property in Lahaina in order to extend or widen existing roads, and even install new streets. "The first one we've been working on from the Department of Public Works has been our Aki Street connector. And that parcel of land has been acquired from the property owner," said Jordan Molina, Maui County Dept. of Public Works Director. Last week, the Maui County Council also approved money for the Dickerson Street extension. Those are smaller projects, while the Kahua Street extension will stretch 2 miles and not only have 2 travel lanes but also turn lanes at major intersections. But with big projects come big timelines. "Generally, these things, these projects, take one to two years to get the design and permitting process. Then anywhere from three to five years to construct. So we're probably looking at these roads being in operation somewhere in four to seven years or so, depending on complications with permitting, environmental reviews, etc." said Molina. "We passed some bills this year that I hope will speed up the permitting process, especially if a special management area is needed - that these exemptions will kick in. I'm hopeful that we can follow up through both the county and state level with executive orders or other mechanisms to try to eliminate as much of the permitting as possible," added Mckelvey. More properties are expected to be acquired this year, but adding more roads comes at a high cost. "It'll be in the range of $30-80 million. Because that's inclusive of not just your roadway, but your underground utilities with water, sewer that may be needed. A lot of facilities come with a roadway that cause those costs to be high," stated Molina. Depending on what is found once they start digging, it could slow things down further. But many are excited these street developments will put Hawaii on the road to a safer future. "It's a way forward through the storm to provide a safer community for Lahaina. Hopefully, as you've seen in Waianae and other areas, that will spur efforts to look at this type of effort in other neighborhoods, and other areas where this fire risk is very present," said McKelvey.

Kamānele Park marks 110 years with UH alumni support University of Hawaiʻi News UH News March 27, 2025 Original Article Kamānele Park, a wahi pana (sacred place) in Mānoa, celebrated its 110th anniversary on March 15, 2025, with a special ceremony. The park, located mauka of the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa campus on University Avenue, was originally dedicated on March 15, 1915, by Queen Liliʻuokalani and Mayor John Lane. Many UH Mānoa alumni played key roles in the event and the ongoing preservation of the park. The anniversary event hosted by ʻEhiku Hanauna recreated elements of the original dedication, including a pule (prayer) in ʻŌlelo Hawaiʻi and English by Kuʻulei Serna, a professor in UH Mānoa’s School of Teacher Education. Attendees enjoyed a cappella performance of “Hawaiʻi Ponoʻi” by Aspasia Hong and the hula “Nani Mānoa” by ʻImiloa Borland. In a symbolic tribute, 10 girls offered ʻImiloa hoʻokupu (lei offerings) to the park’s heiau rock feature, proclaiming, “I name thee, o park, Kamānele!” With deep historical ties to the community, Kamānele Park was also the site of UH Mānoa’s Lei Day celebration in 1934. UH alumni, community stewardship The event highlighted the ongoing stewardship of Kamānele Park by ʻEhiku Hanauna, a nonprofit that formally adopted the park through Honolulu’s Adopt-a-Park program. Several of its leaders, including June Rae Hee, Jackie Osumi, Hiʻilei Serna and Hōkū Serna, are UH Mānoa alumni. Sen. Carol Fukunaga recognized founding president Vanessa Distajo for the group’s contributions to preserving the heiau. UH alumni Rosanna Thurman and Catharine Thetford, leaders of OASES (Oceanic Archaeological Science Educational Services), were honored for their archaeological fieldwork and preservation plan. Cultural resource expert Keʻalohi Reppun, another UH alumna, was also recognized. Among the attendees was UH Mānoa archaeology professor James Bayman, supporting his former students. He was surprised to see Jasper Distajo, a freshman in his class, at the event. When Distajo shared that he had volunteered at the site since childhood, someone jokingly asked Bayman if extra credit was in order. Smiling, he replied, “There’s no need when said student is already earning an A.” “Kamānele Park’s anniversary celebration was a testament to the lasting connections between the local community and UH Mānoa,” said Vanessa Distajo. “Through research, cultural preservation, environmental stewardship, and volunteerism, students and alumni continue to honor and safeguard this sacred place for future generations.”

City Council requests to restore Sand Island's Native name Honolulu Star-Advertiser Ian Bauer May 12, 2025 Original Article City lawmakers are leading the push to return Sand Island’s name to its Native Hawaiian name Mauliola, which means “breath of life” or “power of healing.” Over 641 acres in size and largely man-made, Sand Island features industrial zone businesses, a U.S. military base, a state-owned recreational park and the city’s prime wastewater treatment facility, all within Honolulu Harbor. But the site also has significant local history, and that’s why the Honolulu City Council’s International and Legal Affairs Committee voted unanimously last week to pass Resolution 63, which urges the Hawaii State Board on Geographic Names (HBGN) to rename the site as Mauliola. The full Council is expected Wednesday to review Resolution 63 for approval. The resolution, introduced by Council member Radiant Cordero, states, “From the mid-1800s through the mid-1900s, this small tidal island grew in size with the dredging and infilling of Honolulu Harbor, altering an area that had once been a large complex of fishponds and reefs.” The resolution says the name Mauliola harks back to the late 1800s and early 1900s, when the rapid urbanization of Honolulu and an increasingly busy harbor brought an influx of disease, which rapidly spread. “Mauliola was utilized to quarantine ships, and the government built a crematorium on the island, which in part led to Mauliola becoming known as Quarantine Island,” the resolution read. Over time, Quarantine Island grew in size with more dredging and infilling of Honolulu Harbor in the 1940s. The island was utilized by the military as a coastal defense station and an internment camp during World War II, for Japanese Americans and other Axis nationals. The resolution states, “Quarantine Island later became known by its present name, Sand Island, which is listed as the island’s official name on the Geographic Names Information System (GNIS), a federal repository for identifying official place names. State governments are given the authority to provide ‘administrative names’ to places, which are then listed in the GNIS.” The state Board on Geographic Names was established to designate the official place names and spellings of geographic features in the state of Hawaii, and to ensure uniformity in the use and spelling of geographic features, the resolution says. “The HBGN uses cultural and historical significance as a criterion for considering a name change, with preference given to names in ‘Olelo Hawaii,” the resolution states. Rhonda Burk, advocacy chair for the Oahu Hawaiian Canoe Racing Association, or OHCRA, during an April 30 committee meeting told the panel that her group had officially requested that Sand Island be renamed Mauliola. She said that name “embodies values of healing, renewal and interconnectedness that resonate deeply within our paddling community.” “Renaming Sand Island to Mauliola aligns with efforts to restore traditional place names and highlights the historical and cultural significance of this location, which was historically used by Native Hawaiians and later became a site of a World War II detention camp,” Burk added. The canoe racing association was not alone in its Sand Island name-change request. In submitted written testimony to the Council, state Sen. Glenn Wakai (D, Kalihi, Mapunapuna, Airport) expressed his support for Resolution 63 as well. “Renaming the island to its original name of Mauliola is a thoughtful and appropriate action to reflect the historical and cultural significance of the area,” Wakai said. “While many know it today as Sand Island, the name Mauliola connects us to the deeper history of the island, particularly its role as a place of quarantine and the meaning behind the name itself, which refers to healing and renewal.” “Recognizing original place names in ‘Olelo Hawaii is one way we can promote awareness of and respect for Native Hawaiian culture,” he added. “It also helps preserve the unique identity of our communities and the stories tied to the land.” At the meeting, Cordero said the resolution’s effort was only “a starting base.” She also stressed that the requested name change will not affect address changes or renaming to actual streets and thoroughfares — including to well-traveled Sand Island Access Road, off North Nimitz Highway.

Hawaii Ethics Commission plans penalty system akin to traffic fines Star Advertiser Dan Nakaso December 22, 2024 Original Article The Hawaii Ethics Commission plans to create a uniform fine schedule — similar to standardized traffic fines — and voted unanimously Wednesday to have a bill introduced in the next legislative session that would speed up the issuance of fines, which now takes up to six months. Accused violators will still have the right to argue why they shouldn’t have to pay a penalty and later challenge any fines, said Ethics Commission Executive Director Robert Harris. But anyone accused of committing offenses would know the size of the fines they face and would have the option of paying them “faster and more efficiently.” “They can have the matter resolved pretty quickly,” he said. The commission ensures compliance with state ethics and lobbying laws. According to the commission’s website, the State Ethics Code requires approximately 1,900 state officials to file annual financial disclosures and that any state official who receives certain gifts report those gifts to the commission. Harris said not every alleged ethics offense would be found on the proposed fine schedule if there are multiple and complicated allegations with “more factors to consider.” Others, such as a simple, single offense, would. “The intent is to make sure there’s consistency between cases,” Harris said. “Some are pretty objectively the same, such as failing to file on time. The facts are pretty clear, so that’s pretty cut and dry.” More serious cases include violating rules against campaign contributions by lobbyists during the legislative session, and elected officials and state employees making social media posts for campaign purposes or in favor of a business on state time or while using state resources such as state social media accounts, Harris said. In 2023, the Ethics Commission took in 329 ethics complaints from sources or anonymous sources, launched 17 formal investigations, issued three formal charges, and assessed $9,500 in penalties, according to its annual report. The panel also closed 360 cases due to lack of jurisdiction, successful settlements or enforcement, and other factors. The commission can make the fine schedule on its own but needs legislative approval to streamline and simplify the enforcement process, Harris said. The commission currently has to approve a charge, give alleged violators time to respond, and perhaps schedule a hearing. Anyone issued a fine may request a contested case hearing to challenge their penalties. Accused violators would still be able to go through the current process. Bills the commission voted to approve Wednesday would ask Senate President Ron Kouchi and House Speaker Nadine Nakamura to introduce bills in their individual chambers that would streamline the process for those who want to resolve their cases quickly. The maximum fine for an Ethics Commission violation is $5,000. The Ethics Commission previously voted to have a separate bill introduced next session that would make it a violation for a lobbyist to request that a contract bid be issued in such a way that most likely would be written only for their client. Similar rules already are in place for the Legislature. A new bill also would apply to lobbying of the state’s executive branch and would include requests for contracts to directors or deputy directors of state agencies, members of the governor’s cabinet, University of Hawaii regents, and boards and commissions. Lobbyists would be required to disclose any attempts to request contract proposals to members of the executive branch that would be “on file in a public database,” Harris said. It would not apply to members of the public or community groups that want specific projects, as long they don’t represent a client who would benefit, Harris said.

Strengthening Hawai'i's Food Security: A Call To Action Honolulu Civil Beat Lauren Zirbel January 28, 2025 Original Article Hawai‘i is the most remote populated place on the planet, making it one of the most vulnerable locations in the world when it comes to food security. The food insecurity crisis has already reached a critical level, with nearly one in three residents experiencing food insecurity. On Hawai‘i island, this rises to an alarming 40%. A single natural disaster or global economic shock could disrupt access to food and essential supplies, underscoring the urgency of addressing our lack of food supply chain resilience. The Legislature must prioritize bold initiatives in 2025 to tackle this crisis before it is too late. One essential step toward resilience is supporting local food production, processing, and storage through targeted tax incentives and streamlined regulations. Proposed legislation focuses on: Establishing refundable tax credits for businesses that invest in food and beverage supply chain infrastructure, such as storage facilities, processing plants and distribution systems. Streamlining permitting processes to reduce unnecessary delays and costs for critical food system projects. These measures are designed to reduce Hawai‘i’s dependence on imports, stabilize food costs and ensure the state is prepared for emergencies. Local businesses already face steep challenges, including some of the highest electricity, shipping and labor costs in the nation. Many companies have opted to shift production to the mainland due to Hawai‘i’s crushing regulatory and tax burdens, leaving the state without critical local food infrastructure. Addressing these barriers will empower local producers, improve food security, and generate economic growth. The vast majority of states already recognize that taxing groceries is regressive. Hawai‘i is one of only a handful of states that still taxes them at the full rate, disproportionately impacting low- and middle-income households. Families here face some of the highest living costs in the nation, and taxing essential items like food only worsens the financial strain. Research highlights the impact: A 1% increase in grocery taxes raises food insecurity among low-income families by 0.84%. States that exempt groceries see lower rates of food insecurity, creating a fairer and more equitable environment for families. Georgia’s elimination of its grocery tax in the 1990s shows the potential economic benefits of such a move. By 2021, the policy had saved households $691.4 million, created over 18,000 jobs, and generated $1.45 billion in economic activity. Hawai‘i can follow this model to provide relief for struggling families while driving economic growth. Food insecurity affects nearly one in three residents in Hawai‘i, with rates climbing to 40% on Hawai‘i Island. Regular delays and high taxes increase operational costs and drive up prices. If the state is serious about doubling local food production, bold action is required. Under the current system, many businesses are opting to leave the state. Eliminating grocery taxes and investing in local food infrastructure would: Provide immediate financial relief to families. Enable local farmers, processors, and distributors to expand their operations. Build a resilient food system capable of withstanding natural disasters and economic disruptions. These critical initiatives are championed by a dedicated coalition of leaders. In the Senate, Sen. Carol Fukunaga, Lynn DeCoite, Stanley Chang, Kurt Fevella, Angus McKelvey and Mike Gabbard are driving these efforts. In the House, Reps. Kirstin Kahaloa, Greggor Ilagan, Rachele Lamosao, Della Au Belatti, Cory Chun, Tina Grandinetti, Jeanné Kapela, Darius Kila, Lisa Kitagawa, Nicole Lowen, Tyson Miyake, Dee Morikawa, Ikaika Olds, Amy Perruso, Mahina Poepoe, Sean Quinlan, Jeanna Takenouchi, Chris Todd, Elle Cochran, Trish La Chica and Adrian Tam are leading the charge. Addressing our food security crisis isn’t just about solving today’s challenges — it’s about safeguarding Hawai‘i’s future. Removing grocery taxes will ease the financial burden on families, while targeted investments in local food infrastructure will make the state more self-sufficient and disaster-ready. These measures reflect the values of aloha and community that define Hawai‘i. Mahalo nui to the legislators who are taking bold steps to create a stronger, healthier Hawai‘i. Your leadership is critical to ensuring that our islands can thrive in the face of future challenges.

Editorial: Reevaluate landfill site restrictions Star Advertiser N/A January 28, 2025 Original Article The search for a new Oahu landfill site, an issue that has roiled city leadership for years, is still unsettled, and lawmaking underway at the Legislature should be aimed at finding a path to a solution. So far, a collection of bills at the state Capitol is not close to achieving that goal. Legislation seems more aligned with the Honolulu City Council’s adamant opposition to placement of a landfill above an aquifer, a noncontroversial and politically safe move. Given the recent history of threats to water supply — the disastrous leak of fuel from the Navy’s underground Red Hill storage tanks leaps to mind — it’s easy to understand why. The city is currently considering acquiring 150 acres of agricultural lands near Wahiawa, located over an aquifer. On Wednesday, the City Council is expected to weigh Resolution 3, which would reaffirm a 2003 Council policy barring siting a dump near sources of fresh groundwater. Members are not expected to reverse that position now. However, Oahu is confronted with a reality check: Strict regulations that seek to safeguard the aquifer have made squaring that circle all but impossible. Keeping guardrails is rational, but the time has come for some reform to Act 73, the state law that put those guardrails in place. Or at the very least, open discussions for reform. Act 73 was passed in 2020 as Senate Bill 2376, which established that “no waste or disposal facility shall be located in a conservation district except in emergency circumstances where it may be necessary to mitigate significant risks to public safety and health.” Even with such circumstances, under the law, the emergency would not be authorized for more than three years. It would be hard to argue with that. If there is any give within Act 73, it may be within the law’s second section, which defines buffer zones that must separate a facility such as a landfill from the conservation district. At least one of the measures introduced this session, House Bill 748, would reduce the buffer zone from one-half mile to one-quarter mile around the landfill. Lawmakers should consider that seriously, among other proposals that could reasonably improve the chances of finding an acceptable landfill site. By contrast, the Senate seems headed in the opposite direction. Senate Bill 550 would add a restriction against siting a landfill “near or above” an aquifer, as determined by state health officials in consultation with county boards of water supply. That makes sense, but the bill also would enlarge the buffer zone set in Act 73 to a full mile away from conservation lands. None of the bills had been scheduled for a hearing as of Monday, but whenever they do come up, lawmakers need to examine what elements of Act 73 could be relaxed and whether that would yield further possibilities for a landfill location. In addition, legislators should seek a public appearance by military representatives to address the issue. In the past, military officials have not shown enthusiasm for making any Department of Defense property available when approached by Mayor Rick Blangiardi’s administration. It is worth a reevaluation now. State Sen. Mike Gabbard rightly is insisting on more precise figures from the Navy specifically about the acreage of its Oahu land holdings, and how much of that is not over an aquifer. Good questions. And even if state lawmakers can’t convince officials to change policy, voters need to know the reasons — particularly given the past history of Navy stewardship of natural resources. Before the city proceeds with the purchase of the Wahiawa site, better used in active farming, it is essential that every landfill alternative site is reviewed — as well as constraints that might be reasonably eased. The public deserves no less.

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

Senate bill would transfer Māla Wharf and Kīhei Boat Ramp to Maui County Maui Now Brian Perry January 29, 2025 Original Article Dissatisfied by state Department of Land and Natural Resources’ management of small boating facilities, West and South Maui Sen. Angus McKelvey has drafted a bill to transfer maintenance and operations of Māla Wharf in Lahaina and the Kīhei Boat Ramp to Maui County. Under the bill, the County could set permit fees to generate revenue for the facilities’ upkeep. Senate Bill 750 , introduced by McKelvey and Oʻahu Sens. Stanley Chang and Kurt Fevella, includes a legislative finding that “state boating facilities on Maui are cherished and important parts of the island’s communities and are critical for fishing, recreation, commerce and transportation.” “However, the Legislature recognizes that Maui’s state boating facilities have descended into complete disarray and are under-functioning in many different aspects,” the bill says. It says repairs and maintenance at the Maui boating facilities are “incomplete” and done on an ad hoc basis. Operations of the facilities are managed through state offices on Oʻahu and communications go through “several layers of personnel.” The bill would also transfer nearby park areas to the county for maintenance. The Department of Land and Natural Resources had no comment on the bill. The measure would allow Maui County to set and collect permit fees from facility users. It also has an unspecified amount included as an appropriation to pay for the transfer. In response to a Maui Now request for comment, Maui County Council Chair Alice Lee said she does not support transferring the boating facilities to Maui County to assume their operation, administration and maintenance, particularly with an undetermined amount of funding support. Lee noted that the boating facilities are in “extremely poor condition” and “yet the bill proposes to give this liability to Maui County when we are still in the thick of recovering from the August 2023 wildfires. The recovery process has our infrastructure agencies, along with other operations, administration, and management, at full capacity – we simply do not have the manpower and financial resources to manage these facilities at this time.” “I am typically a supporter of home rule, and there may be a time in the future when this idea could be discussed thoroughly and responsibly with all relevant agencies and personnel, but now is not that time and this discussion has not occurred,” Lee said. Senate Bill 750 has passed first reading and been referred to the Ways and Means Committee, chaired by Sen. Donovan Dela Cruz and vice chaired by Sharon Moriwaki, both of Oʻahu; and the Water and Land Committee, chaired by Sen. Lorraine Inouye of Hawaiʻi Island and vice chaired by Sen. Brandon Elefante of Oʻahu. No public hearings had been scheduled as of Wednesday morning.

Mismanagement Claims: State Tourism Officials Grilled By Lawmakers Civil Beat Stewart Yerton June 23, 2025 Original Article Hawaiʻi lawmakers grilled leaders of the Hawaiʻi Tourism Authority all day on Monday, drilling down on questions about financial management and the overall effectiveness of an organization on the verge of chaos. Lawmakers covered everything from a marketing contract with the Los Angeles Rams to controversies involving a senior financial officer now on unpaid leave to a practice of asking board members to remove agenda items to avoid critical press coverage. Hawaiʻi Tourism Authority board Chairman Todd Apo, left, Hawaiʻi Visitors and Convention Bureau Chief Executive Aaron Salā, acting HTA Chief Executive Caroline Anderson and Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism Director Jimmy Tokioka answered questions from lawmakers on Monday. (Hawaii Legislature/Screenshot/2025) At one point during the marathon hearing, Sen. Lynne DeCoite, who chairs the Senate Committee on Economic Development and Tourism, summed up the theme of the informational briefing. “Houston, we have a problem,” she said. “And we have to fix it.” Gov. Josh Green plans to ask for the resignations of every member of the authority’s board, according to a statement provided by his office to Hawaii News Now. “Because the responsibilities of the board have changed to an advisory role, he feels it best to start with a clean slate,” the statement 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.” Sen. Lynne DeCoite, chair, Senate Committee on Economic Development and Tourism “Sometimes you’ve got to take just a whole different direction.” The tourism authority’s acting chief executive, Caroline Anderson, spent much of Monday on the hot seat, facing questions from members of DeCoite’s Senate committee and the House Committee on Tourism. While Anderson has implemented a 90-day plan to get HTA back on track, the informational briefing reinforced the image of an agency embroiled in strife. HTA has lacked a permanent chief executive for nearly two years, and the agency has been shaken by defections of key staff. Its interim president and chief executive, Daniel Nāhoʻopiʻi, Chief Stewardship Officer Kalana Ka‘anā‘anā and spokesman T. Ilihia Gionson have all left in the past year. On top of that, the organization’s head of finance and acting chief administrative officer, Isaac Choy, was recently placed on unpaid leave for allegedly creating a hostile work environment for Native Hawaiian employees. He’s fired back with a lawsuit saying he was removed for reporting procurement violations and widespread financial waste within the tourism agency. Meanwhile, the whole organization faces major structural changes thanks to a new law signed by Green in May. For lawmakers, the bottom line was about spending taxpayer money — HTA gets about $63 million a year to market Hawaiʻi and mitigate overtourism — on a flawed agency. DeCoite said the agency is asking the state for more money to run a program that is “literally flawed,” adding that “sometimes you’ve got to take just a whole different direction.” L.A. Rams Lūʻau Cost Taxpayers $80,000 Lawmakers spent significant time asking about procurement policies. A case in point involved a marketing contract with the Los Angeles Rams . The $1.8 million contract calls for the Rams to promote Hawaiʻi in the state’s largest market for visitors and to put on a mini-camp on Maui, including flag football for girls, which was held June 18. DeCoite praised the event and the goodwill it brought the community. So did Sen. Donna Mercado Kim and Jimmy Tokioka, director of the Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism, which oversees HTA. Gov. Josh Green and Los Angeles Rams president Keven Demoff announced a tourism marketing contract between the state and team in June. An ambiguity in the Hawaiʻi Tourism Authority’s contract with the Rams means the state will have to pay an estimated $80,000 for an event on top of the $1.8 million contract. (Courtesy of LA Rams) The issue was an apparent hole in the Rams’ contract. Not clear from the document was how much the state would be on the hook for a 400-person lūʻau with an open bar that was part of the Rams’ visit to Hawaiʻi. That event tacked on at least $80,000 to the costs to the state, Tokioka said. The sole-source contract called for the Rams to pay a maximum of $5,000 for the event, leaving the state to pay the rest. HTA officials couldn’t explain exactly how the provision became part of the contract, which they said was negotiated by Kaʻanāʻanā, who’s no longer on staff. Mercado Kim criticized the tourism agency for overlooking such hidden costs. “This is not just one contract,” she said. “This is inherent in your whole system.” Sens. Donna Mercado Kim, left, and Lynn DeCoite and Rep. Adrian Tam spent Monday questioning state tourism officials about the Hawaiʻi Tourism Authority (Hawaiʻi Legislature/Screenshot/2025) Another issue involved a $780,000 interest charge on late payments to the organization’s main marketing contractors, the Hawaiʻi Visitors and Convention Bureau, which has a $38.6 million two-year contract for marketing, and the Council for Native Hawaiian Advancement, which does destination management under an $18.7 million contract. Anderson, the authority’s acting chief executive, said the state will not be on the hook for the $780,000, which she said will come from the visitors bureau’s existing contract. Not satisfied, Kim asked how the money spent to cover interest was furthering the goal of marketing Hawaiʻi as a tourist destination. That would leave a $780,000 hole somewhere else. Kim also called out Anderson for placing Choy on leave in May when Choy was the one who raised questions about the cost. In May, Anderson placed Choy on unpaid leave for making derogatory remarks about Native Hawaiians. Tokioka has said he heard one such comment, reprimanded Choy and demanded an apology. Choy, a former longtime lawmaker, has shot back with a whistleblower lawsuit saying he’s being retaliated against after reporting procurement violations and other problems at HTA that are wasting millions of dollars. Kim raised questions about the dispute. “We have a qualified person who has a target on his back because he flushed out the deficiencies,” Kim said. “How is that fair?” Sen. Kurt Fevella, who has criticized Choy for using the term “dumb Hawaiian” during contract negotiations with the Council for Native Hawaiian Advancement, said, “Nobody has put a target on anyone’s back.” The issue, he said, was a racial slur “about our people being ‘dumb Hawaiians.’” David Arakawa, chair of the Hawaiʻi Tourism Authority’s Budget, Finance and Convention Center Committee, said he was asked to take items off a meeting agenda to avoid bad press for the agency. (Cory Lum/Civil Beat/2018) Anderson’s time on the hot seat got even more tense at one point when HTA board member David Arakawa joined Anderson at the table. According to Arakawa, who chairs the tourism agency’s Budget, Finance and Convention Center Committee, Anderson asked him to remove items from a committee agenda for a May meeting because they might result in bad press. Anderson explained to lawmakers that staff didn’t have the information to answer the questions and that she was trying to create a spirit of collaboration in the organization. “You’re not collaborating,” DeCoite said. “You’re dictating.” When Anderson denied Kim’s allegation that Anderson was acting like a “gestapo,” Kim shot back, “If you can say, ‘Take something off the agenda,’ then you are one: I’m sorry.” Rep. Adrian Tam, who chairs the House Tourism Committee, offered another suggestion for avoiding critical media attention. “If you want to avoid bad headlines,” Tam said, “I think the better approach would actually be to address the problems head-on instead of putting it under the rug.”

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