A slew of new housing laws take effect this month to streamline building, protect tenants Stateline Robbie Sequeira January 9, 2025 Original Article A new row of homes is under construction in a Santa Clarita, Calif., neighborhood in 2023. The state has enacted dozens of new laws to expand housing options and protect tenants — a trend expected to continue nationally this year. (Mario Tama/Getty Images) Read more Stateline coverage of how communities across the country are trying to create more affordable housing. New state laws taking effect this month aim to confront the nation’s ongoing housing crisis in various ways, from expanding housing options, to speeding up the development process, to protecting struggling tenants from eviction. Similar bills are in store for this year’s legislative sessions. The new laws include measures to combat landlord retaliation in Illinois and Minnesota , to seal eviction records in Idaho and, in California , to streamline the process for building backyard accessory dwelling units, known as ADUs. Other states focused on the barriers preventing housing from being built by relaxing zoning laws to allow for new types of development, and put the onus on cities to make affordable housing available. Surveys show most Americans, of all backgrounds , communities and political persuasions, want to see more housing built. The need, experts say, is overwhelming. Freddie Mac estimates the current housing shortage at about 3.7 million homes. For extremely low-income tenants, that shortage is more than 7 million rental homes , according to the National Low Income Housing Coalition. “I expect that it will be a banner year for housing legislation, because many state legislators and governors ran for the first time on a platform that included addressing housing cost inflation,” said economist Salim Furth, a senior research fellow and director of the urbanity project at the Mercatus Center at George Mason University. “Now they need to deliver.” Furth, who is tracking 135 housing-related bills this year, said he expects a return of last year’s popular issues: making it easier to build an ADU, allowing residential development in commercial zones, and streamlining permitting processes. Perhaps no state did more last year than California, which enacted more than 60 housing-related laws . Most encourage more development in a state with an estimated shortfall of 2.5 million homes . Among the new laws in California are measures that eliminate parking requirements for certain residential developments near transit stations, ease the development of more housing in existing neighborhoods, and strip local governments of the power to block some affordable housing in-fill projects except on the grounds of public health or safety. The state also enacted several laws to encourage more construction of ADUs . Among other provisions, the measures offer up-front transparency on ADU regulations, encourage the building of ADUs in coastal zones, and offer flexibility for ADUs on multifamily lots. Accessory dwelling units have gained a lot of bipartisan traction in state legislatures . Gretchen Baldau of the conservative American Legislative Exchange Council praised new laws in Arizona and Nebraska that allow ADUs and modular homes on residential lots, and said she sees momentum for legislation in Delaware and Georgia that could allow for ADUs. “Housing reform can be a tricky issue for lawmakers because the topic literally hits close to home,” Baldau, who is the senior director of the commerce, insurance and economic development task force for ALEC, as the think tank is known, said in a statement to Stateline. ALEC has offered legislatures model legislation that would lower permitting and construction barriers to building ADUs, she noted, along with other model bills that would eliminate discretionary review and approvals and limit most third-party legal challenges to approved developments . Tenant protections Several new laws impose checks on tenant-landlord relationships. New laws in Illinois and Minnesota, for example, prohibit landlords from retaliating against tenants who report code violations, seek repairs or engage in tenant organizing — the latter of which is robust in Minnesota . Minnesota’s law also offers protections for tenants who report issues to the media, or who call for emergency assistance. In Idaho, eviction actions filed on or after Jan. 1, 2025, are automatically shielded from public disclosure if the entire case was dismissed, is not pending appeal or if three years have passed since the filing date. Idaho was one of at least three states, along with Maryland and Massachusetts, to enact laws last year that seal eviction records, according to a Stateline review. The laws have been hailed by housing advocates who say they will prevent a person’s eviction history from being used against them, though landlords argue eviction data is relevant to leasing decisions. ‘Housing isn’t just one issue’ With 26 state legislatures back in session as of Jan. 8, housing bills are slowly trickling in. California, a bellwether when it comes to housing policy, has a few bills introduced that would ban the use of algorithmic devices to set rents , prevent local agencies from placing parking standards on ADUs , and create a new state authority to build and maintain social housing , a public community housing movement gaining momentum in some advocacy circles. In Texas, two Republican lawmakers have filed bills that would override local ordinances restricting or prohibiting accessory dwelling units. And in Maryland, Democrats say they plan to introduce legislation to speed development approvals for new housing, alongside tenant protection proposals such as a bill that would require landlords to have a legitimate cause for evicting a tenant. Affordability, homelessness, economic mobility — they all hinge on whether we can provide enough housing. – Hawaii Democratic state Sen. Stanley Chang Tim Rosenberger, a legal policy fellow at the conservative Manhattan Institute, predicts differing approaches to housing: Red states will focus on increasing supply, while blue states will prioritize rent control, he said. “With rates high and inventory priced far above what most Americans can afford, expect red states to pursue commonsense efforts to increase supply while blue states look at ways to try to curb prices,” he said. “Legislators must reject increased regulation, rent and price controls. They should jump at opportunities to reduce regulation and bureaucracy and unleash building.” In Oregon, lawmakers are considering legislation that would impose rent control on mobile home parks and require indoor cooling in apartments with at least 10 units. The National Apartment Association predicts other states might consider rent stabilization measures as well. Housing will be a chief priority for some state lawmakers going into the next sessions. One of Democratic state Sen. Stanley Chang’s goals when he heads back to Hawaii’s legislative floor on Jan. 15 is to change how quickly the state uses its rental housing revolving fund. Under the current system, Chang said, roughly $519 million the state holds in the fund might not be spent until 2038. “Housing finance reform has been our top priority for years,” he said. “This program alone funds over half of all new housing construction in Hawaii — it’s the primary way we produce housing in the state. If we tweak this program, we could get 10 buildings for the price of one.” Chang added, however, that the scale of the affordable housing problem is too complex to boil down to one or two issues or solutions. “Housing isn’t just one issue: It’s the foundation of everything. Affordability, homelessness, economic mobility — they all hinge on whether we can provide enough housing. It’s time to stop treating this as a side project and recognize it as a central priority,” Chang told Stateline. “This is a solvable problem.”

Hawaiʻi officials continue to encourage the export of value-added food products Hawaii Public Radio Mark Ladao August 18, 2025 Original Article Hawaiʻi officials continue to encourage the export of value-added foods — which, in turn, would also help local agriculture — after formally creating a framework to support local farmers and business owners. This year, state lawmakers passed House Bill 774 to establish a Food and Product Innovation Network within the state Agribusiness Development Corporation. The purpose of the network is to allow local entrepreneurs to capitalize on “made in Hawaiʻi” branding by supporting the production of value-added products, like ʻulu chips or poi with a longer shelf life. That support is focused on processing capacity and storage facilities to help business owners and farmers scale their operations. “These facilities will enable local producers to create value-added products, increase production capacity, and access larger markets, ultimately strengthening Hawaiʻi’s agricultural sector and boosting economic resilience,” the University of Hawaiʻi Community Design Center said in a report on the FPIN prepared for the ADC. Sen. Donovan Dela Cruz, who’s a proponent of increasing the export of value-added goods made in Hawaiʻi, said they can use off-grade fruits and vegetables that might not be used otherwise. “The whole idea of value-added is to help our agriculture industry. For instance, if you have tomato farmers, they can't sell, sometimes, up to 50% of their product and they end up tilling it back into the soil,” Dela Cruz said. “With value-added (goods), we've created a class of entrepreneurs who will buy the off-grades or seconds from the farmer, and they can process ketchup, tomato sauce, salsa and other products that don’t require the A-grade product.” There’s nothing wrong with those fruits and vegetables — but they are often not sold just because they have minor cosmetic imperfections. “It could just have a discoloration. … For bell peppers, there's three bumps instead of four. It's still good. But if you end up cutting that up and processing it into another product, then you're helping the farmer and you're helping the entrepreneur,” Dela Cruz said. Functionally, there’s already a growing network in the state. Dela Cruz said there are education programs in schools that encourage potential entrepreneurs who may be interested in producing value-added products. Additionally, the facilities like the Wahiawā Value-Added Product Development Center on Oʻahu and the Maui Food Innovation Center — both UH programs — already allow for additional processing and storage for entrepreneurs. There are also plans for more of those facilities across the state. Dela Cruz said HB 774 and the formal creation of the FPIN will help Hawaiʻi develop partnerships with out-of-state groups in areas where locally-made products can be exported. “We can start to partner, we can start to do exchanges. We want to be able to do food and product innovation conferences here, inviting all the different networks — that's the external component,” he said. He said there are similar food networks in countries like New Zealand, South Korea and the Netherlands.

Housing, clean energy bills pass key Hawaii legislative committee Star Advertiser Dan Nakaso February 26, 2025 Original Article The critical state Senate Ways and Means Committee has moved out four bills on the eve of next week’s deadline to keep bills alive, including one that would provide more state funding to improve and upgrade low-income housing projects. Collectively, the four bills that passed the Senate’s finance committee would address some of Hawaii’s “most urgent needs during this legislative session,” Ways and Means Chair Donovan Dela Cruz (D, Mililani-Wahiawa-Whitmore Village) said in a statement. “Through these measures, we are investing in Hawai‘i’s future by building a more resilient, self-sustaining economy and a higher quality of life for our residents,” Dela Cruz said. Legislators in both the House and Senate are working to move out bills ahead of the March 6 deadline to send bills that originate in the House or Senate to the opposite chamber and keep them alive this session — or essentially kill them by the “crossover” deadline. The bills that passed out of WAM this week are: >> The latest version of SB 65, which would fund repair and maintenance needs for residents in low-income housing projects. The upgrades are just one part of the state’s overall strategy to provide affordable housing for virtually all income levels to help make Hawaii more affordable and stem the exodus of residents leaving for states with lower housing costs. Hawaii needs an estimated 50,000 additional affordable housing units. >> The latest version of SB 125, which would create tax incentives for local farmers and businesses that process local farm products, to help them compete with outside markets. >> The latest version of SB 448, which would help maintain agriculture lands involved in food production, especially in Central Oahu. It would allow the state Agribusiness Development Corp. to preserve the lands for food production. >> The latest version of SB 1269, which would provide funding to the state Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism to look at geothermal energy potential in the neighbor islands — particularly Hawaii island, home to the Puna Geothermal Venture, which generates power from geothermal gas from Kilauea Volcano. Exploring more geothermal energy opportunities would be part of Hawaii’s larger effort to find clean, reliable and cost-effective energy and reach its net-zero carbon emissions goal while providing more affordable power. DBEDT Director James Tokioka said in written support of SB 1260 that “Hawaii’s heavy reliance on imported fossil fuels has historically resulted in some of the highest electricity costs in the nation. “Increasing our geothermal capacity presents a strategic opportunity to enhance grid reliability, reduce dependency on volatile global oil markets, and provide cost-effective energy solutions that benefit both businesses and consumers.” Geothermal energy also has the potential to expand a tech industry that, Tokioka said, could spur “future economic growth, particularly in sectors such as advanced manufacturing and data centers. These industries depend on reliable and affordable electricity to remain competitive. Without a stable energy supply, Hawaii risks losing out on investment opportunities that could otherwise diversify our economy, create high paying jobs, and foster technological innovation.” But Keoni Shizuma opposes expanding geothermal technology. He and others submitted identically worded testimony in opposition that said: “Unlike wind, solar, or wave energy generation, geothermal requires permanent damage and desecration to the environment. The drilling into the ‘aina, once done, can’t be undone. “In Hawaiian culture, the surface of the ground is sometimes seen as a body form of our goddess Papahanaumoku. To drill into the ground would be to desecrate parts of her, while if wind, solar, or even wave energy generation was pursued, all the structures would be temporary and merely sit on the surface (or in the ocean). “I would request that out of respect for Hawaiian cultural values and beliefs, Hawaii not pursue geothermal energy generation. We live in the perfect environment for innovations in renewable energy technology. Let Hawaii become a leader in new techniques and technologies in this field, push forth the field at University of Hawaii, and learn from international leaders of energy technology.” Hawaii County Mayor Kimo Alameda said in his written testimony that the Big Island’s early geothermal efforts have “not yet translated into tangible economic outcomes. Now is the time to take the next step, to see if these resources can be developed to power our economy and benefit our communities.” The bill would ensure safeguards for construction of a future geothermal power plant, Alameda wrote. “This roadmap is designed with clear, measurable benchmarks so that legislators can easily assess whether or not the project is on track. If the benchmarks are met, it will demonstrate that this is a wise investment for the state, with the potential for significant returns in the form of reliable, renewable energy. If the benchmarks are not met, the legislature will have the clarity to redirect funds and efforts elsewhere. This approach ensures that we only continue to invest in geothermal if it proves to be a commercially viable and sustainable solution for Hawaii’s energy future.” The latest version of SB 65 has received no written opposition. Its House companion, House Bill 907, has not been scheduled for a hearing and appears unlikely to cross over to the Senate. In written testimony in support of SB 65, Hakim Ouansafi — executive director of the Hawaii Public Housing Authority — wrote, “The age of Hawaii’s public housing inventory presents significant challenges” to house people that include families that earn less than 30% of the area median income, people with disabilities and kupuna. “Many properties were constructed over 50 years ago and require extensive updates to remain safe and habitable, and the HPHA faces a capital needs backlog of approximately $720 million,” Ouansafi wrote. “Additional funding is urgently needed to address this backlog and to ensure public housing units remain safe, decent and sanitary and available to those who need them most. As the HPHA relies on federal funding for approximately 90% of its operations, and as this funding is tied to unit occupancy, the rehabilitation of vacant units is critical to maximizing federal support. The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) does not subsidize vacant units, and HPHA’s administrative fees to pay staff are also tied to occupancy, compounding the urgency of this work.” Catholic Charities Hawaii wrote in support of increased funding, in part because it will make affordable units available “to house homeless persons and many elders who face homelessness. The HPHA offers the most affordable housing available to the community. Tenants pay only 30% of their incomes for rent. This makes these units affordable even to homeless persons, seniors struggling with limited income, and very low-income families. However, many units cannot be occupied due to health and safety issues in the units. These units must be brought into shape ASAP to house our state’s residents with extremely limited incomes. “These units are ‘low hanging fruit’ that should be immediately repaired to add them to our inventory of safe and decent housing,” Catholic Charities wrote. “These units do not need to wait years for permits or construction. Legislative funding could make them available very fast compared with funding for new construction.”

Ala Wai cleanup underway in preparation for heavy rain forecast to start Thursday Spectrum Spectrum News Staff January 28, 2025 Original Article On Tuesday, the Department of Land and Natural Resources’ Division of Boating and Ocean Recreation worked with the state Department of Transportation and the City and County of Honolulu to clean up the mud and debris that had collected in the Ala Wai Canal following heavy rains over the weekend. In addition, the agencies are preparing for another episode of heavy rains that the National Weather Service is predicting for the rest of the week with flash flooding, high south to southwest winds and strong to severe thunderstorms preceding a cold front. In an effort to reduce the amount of rubbish that flows into the canal following heavy rains, a DOBOR contractor worked to clear a “trash trap” located permanently at the outflow of the canal just beyond the Ala Moana Boulevard bridge at the entrance to Waikiki. The trap is used to keep trash from flowing into the Ala Wai Small Boat Harbor and out into the ocean, but DOBOR Administrator Meghan Statts said the trap booms only catch about 20% of the debris. On Wednesday, a temporary second trash trap was installed to divert any rubbish flowing down the canal into the permanent trap located on the opposite side of the Ala Moana Bridge. Statts said, “We are trying to mitigate some of the debris coming down the canal with the big storm that’s predicted to hit us shortly.” The trap will augment the work being done upstream by HDOT. DOT officials were on-site Tuesday afternoon discussing mitigation measures that could be placed in the canal before the predicted rains begin. Additional measures were expected to be put in place by Wednesday morning. State and county officials encourage people who live along the Ala Wai Canal, as well as along streams that flow into the canal, to secure items that could end up in the canal since weekend rains had carried large coolers and a variety of debris into the trash trap. HDOT, DLNR, the University of Hawaii’s College of Engineering and area legislator Senator Sharon Moriwaki are discussing a long-term solution to the chronic problem of reducing trash buildup in the Ala Wai Canal, something that Statts said has been discussed for over 30 years. Statts says “over the years, tons of debris have flowed out into the Pacific unchecked over the years.” This becomes a problem for boaters and recreational users of the Ala Wai Canal, the small boat harbor and the ocean. When the Ala Wai Canal was built as a flood control measure, Statts says people probably thought little about the consequences of storm debris. “I think people need to remember that if you have trash, any kind of ‘ōpala, throw it away properly. Don’t drop it into streams or the canal because much of this stuff ends up in the ocean.” Editor’s note: The article has been updated with information on the second trash trap and the chronic problem of trash buildup. (January 30, 2025)

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

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.

Hawaiʻi Lawmakers Seek Tougher Fireworks Enforcement, But No Statewide Ban Civil Beat Blaze Lovell February 11, 2025 Original Article State senators declined to move forward with a statewide ban on all fireworks on Monday, and instead are working to significantly strengthen law enforcement’s ability to investigate and prosecute fireworks cases. Within the last week, measures to increase fireworks penalties, boost funding for investigations and allow for the random inspection of containers at the ports have all cleared their initial hurdles in the Senate. Together, the measures represent the most significant steps to crack down on illegal fireworks that legislators have taken in more than two decades. Over those years, a series of reports outlined steps that lawmakers, law enforcement agencies and prosecutors could take to curtail fireworks in Hawaiʻi , but those recommendations were rarely acted on. The moves this week in the Senate show how dramatically the politics of policing fireworks changed after an explosion at a neighborhood fireworks display on New Year’s Eve left six dead . Police have so far made 10 arrests . The incident gave lawmakers a new sense of urgency. “I feel like we should have done more in the past,” said Sen. Brandon Elefante, chairman of the committee primarily responsible for advancing fireworks bills this year. Aerial fireworks have been illegal in Hawaiʻi since 2000, and most consumer fireworks except for firecrackers have been outlawed on Oʻahu since 2011. Elefante said that he and other senators are focused this session on giving law enforcement officials the tools they need to pursue fireworks-related cases. Gov. Josh Green’s administration has also proposed rewriting fireworks laws to make it easier for prosecutors to bring criminal cases and enhancing penalties for offenders. The most significant part of the governor’s proposal under Senate Bill 1324 changes various fireworks-related definitions in the state’s laws. For example, the current definition of an “aerial device” is a firework with 130 milligrams or less of explosive material that, when ignited, produces an audible or visible effect. Law enforcement officials said that definition requires forensic testing and the testimony of expert witnesses to prove a crime occured. And that’s assuming there’s anything left of the device to test. It’s particularly a problem “if the firework has already gone up. There’s no evidence to collect,” Deputy Attorney General Tricia Nakamatsu told lawmakers. Under the proposed changes, an aerial device would be defined as anything that shoots at least 12 feet into the air and explodes or emits fireballs. The Attorney General’s Office said the bill creates “common sense” standards that most people would be able to testify about in court if called upon. The bill also increases penalties for some fireworks violations. Under the current law, throwing a firework out of a moving car is treated the same as igniting one outside of designated times. Both could only be punished with a fine of up to $5,000. SB 1324 would create higher penalties for more dangerous acts and raise penalties up to a class C felony, punishable by up to five years in prison. Sonny Ganaden, deputy public defender “We believe that’s frankly unconstitutional.” Honolulu City Councilmembers are also considering stricter penalties for people who have illegal aerials on Oʻahu. Their Bill 7 would make possession of 25 pounds or more of aerial devices a class C felony, punishably by up to five years in prison. It is scheduled for its first committee hearing on Thursday. The state measure under consideration would also allow prosecutors to pursue civil fines in addition to criminal charges. However, that provision drew opposition from the state Office of the Public Defender. Indigent defendants who can’t afford an attorney would be assigned a public defender in a criminal case, but would not get representation in a civil case. “We believe that’s frankly unconstitutional,” said Sonny Ganaden, a deputy public defender. The office instead supported lawmakers’ other efforts to fund initiatives aimed at cracking down on illegal aerials. Lawmakers appear keen to funnel more resources to state law enforcement to stem the flow of illegal fireworks into the state. Senate Bill 1226 , which also cleared its first round of committee hearings last week, would institute a container inspection program at harbors in Hawaiʻi. Under the current draft of the bill, the law enforcement department would have discretion over which containers to inspect. Once a container is selected, it would be sequestered from the rest of the port to avoid disrupting the normal flow of container goods carrying essential items to store shelves. Senators made that change in part because harbor users and shipping companies had objected to past container inspection proposals. The proposed new inspection program would utilize dogs who can smell fireworks within closed containers. In cases where the explosives are hidden at the back of a container, the dogs could detect the scent once the doors are opened. Senators have asked for $750,000 for the program, but the department said that may not be enough. Two more dogs alone could cost more than $600,000, and more costs are expected. Law Enforcement Director Mike Lambert told lawmakers that the state currently spends at least $1 million every time it needs to ship a full container of confiscated fireworks to the mainland for disposal. He asked them to pass those costs on to the fireworks importers and intended in-state recipients. Lawmakers are proposing additional funding for the law enforcement department to create a new explosives unit and continue a task force that has already seized more than 220,000 pounds of illegal fireworks in the last two years. Mike Lambert, law enforcement director “As the issues switch throughout the state, we’d have the latitude to move between fireworks and firearms.” Lambert said that he eventually wants the task force and explosives unit to take up gun violence investigations and envisions its future as a state-level version of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. “As the issues switch throughout the state, we’d have the latitude to move between fireworks and firearms,” Lambert said. Russell Fong, the department’s finance officer, said that the new unit would cost about $5 million in its first year of operation and $3.2 million in its second. The unit would be staffed with eight investigators and one clerk. Included in those first-year costs are $2.1 million for an explosives testing lab. On Monday, state Senators gave preliminary approval to a measure, Senate Bill 999 , that would increase fines for minor fireworks offenses and divert funds from fireworks penalties to the state’s general fund. However, language to outlaw the fountains, sparklers and firecrackers that are currently permitted on Hawaiian islands except for Oʻahu was struck from the bill. The Honolulu Police Department and the state Department of Law Enforcement supported the ban, saying it might deter fireworks users. But the bill was opposed by retailers who say the ban would impact small businesses that sell fireworks around the holiday season. James Fuller, who represents the pyrotechnic industry, said that fireworks producers and retailers support a crackdown on illegal aerials and measures to increase resources for law enforcement. But the original draft of SB 999 went too far. “We’ve go to get illegal fireworks off the streets,” Fuller told Civil Beat. “Banning all fireworks … does not represent a fix to that challenge.” Consumer fireworks give people an alternative to popping aerials, and don’t carry the same risks of fire or the noise that disturbs people and their pets on New Year’s, Fuller said. He encouraged Hawaiʻi officials to instead pursue educational campaigns that remind fireworks enthusiasts to keep sources of water nearby, to not light fireworks near flammable structures and to keep the audience at a safe distance. Elefante, chairman of the Senate Public Safety and Military Affairs Committee, said he proposed changes to the bill after hearing concerns about the original draft from other senators. At the hearing Monday, the public safety committee voted to remove language from SB 999 regarding an outright ban on all fireworks. Senators also included provisions for a new community safety program, which would be run by county police departments.

YWCA ‘Dress For Success’ program empowers local women KITV Megan Bobilin April 16, 2025 Original Article HONOLULU (Island News) – State and City lawmakers, Capitol staffers and community members teamed up this week with one goal, to empower women in Hawaii. With more than 90 bags filled with donations for the annual YWCA O‘ahu ‘Dress For Success’ Program, members of the Hawaii State Legislature took a step towards helping women achieve independence. The annual clothing drive includes gifts of professional attire, including dresses, blazers, accessories, shoes, handbags and brand-new undergarments. Supporting local women as they work reenter the workforce, often overcoming barriers such as poverty, homelessness or incarceration. Hawaii Representative, Gregg Takayama, who helps to organize the annual event highlighted the difference it makes in the community. "Dress for Success has transformed the lives of countless women by helping them to build confidence and prepare for new job opportunities," Takayama said. “Sometimes, all it takes is one outfit to help someone land a job and take that first step toward independence.” Senator San Buenaventura echoed that sentiment, agreeing that professional clothes can be a significant investment with the power to transform lives and therefore, the community. “The YWCA’s Dress for Success initiative goes beyond just professional attire—it represents dignity, opportunity and empowerment,” Buenaventura said. “When we invest in women, we invest in stronger families, stronger communities and a stronger future.” With pride, Buenaventura expressed support for the community initiative – all to give women the tools, confidence and support they need to thrive in the workforce.

Hawaii elections commission calls for end to mail-in voting Hawaii News Now Daryl Huff November 4, 2025 Original Article HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) - The state elections commission has voted to ask the legislature to ban mail-in and early voting and return to traditional in-person voting on Election Day. The bipartisan commission, which is half Democrat and half Republican, voted 5-3 over several contentious meetings to recommend voting only on Election Day in person with ID required on paper ballots that would be hand counted in precincts. Under the proposal, only military families and people with special needs would be allowed to vote absentee. Republican concerns over verification Republican commissioners said they have found discrepancies in mail-in voting and claim the movement of absentee ballots and envelopes from homes to post offices to counties for verification and to the state for counting has not been securely controlled or tracked. “No one who is outside the system can verify the results,” said Lindsey Kamm. Dylan Andrion said the commission is “going back to what works.” There was also concern that the emphasis on mail-in balloting made it more difficult for people to vote in person at limited sites. Commissioner Kahiolani Papalimu, from the Big Island, said, “being an incredibly rural island, I’d much prefer voting in our precincts, which is accessible to everyone in their area.” Democrats dispute claims Democrat commissioners and elections officials said the Republican claims are false and that there is no evidence of fraud or miscounting. “It’s just ludicrous. There’s no basis for connecting this supposed unverifiable statement, which is false, to the need to go back to in person voting,” said Jeffrey Osterkamp. Clare McAdam noted that in the 2024 election, 92.5% of voters voted by mail. “It’s 92.5% of the state wants to vote by mail, and I think that’s very important that we bear in mind all the time when we consider this,” McAdam said. Senate Judiciary chair Karl Rhoads, who would have jurisdiction over changing election law, said he believes the chances the legislature will approve the changes are zero. “I don’t even know the last time that Hawaii had one-day voting,” Rhoads said. Rhoads said he believes Republican commissioners are trying to undermine election confidence following President Trump’s lead. “I think they’re doing what they think he’s asking him to do. I think it’s from the top. The irony, of course, is that Trump himself uses mail-in voting,” Rhoads said. In addition to seeking to ban mail-in voting, Republican commissioners have repeatedly tried and failed to fire elections administrator Scott Nago and may try again Wednesday.

Half Of Hawaiʻi Inmates Leave Prison Without The IDs They Need To Start Over Honolulu Civil Beat Caitlin Thompson February 24, 2025 Original Article Simoné Nanilei Kamaunu left prison in 2022 with a $500 check and no way to cash it. She’d lost her social security card before she was locked up, her driving permit had expired and her prison identification card didn’t count for anything outside of the Women’s Community Correctional Center. Without a state ID, she couldn’t open a bank account to deposit the money she had gotten from a nonprofit for completing her GED while incarcerated for 16 months years for a parole violation. “It’s been super hard because I’ve gotten out with nothing, no social security card, no nothing,” she said. “I had to hit the ground running and hustle myself.” The Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation is supposed to help incarcerated people obtain identification. But more than seven years after the state Legislature passed a law requiring that it do so, the number of people leaving prisons with the documents they need to function in society has barely budged. Almost half of people released from Hawaiʻi’s state prisons between November 2023 and October 2024 did not have a valid state ID, according to data the corrections department reported to the Legislature. About 95% of people released from jail during that same period did not have one. Tommy Johnson, the department’s director, says the inmates are partly to blame. “It’s not from our lack of trying; you can’t make them fill out the documents for a card,” Johnson told Civil Beat. “A lot of the folks don’t want to provide that information to us.” Johnson also noted that the numbers may be inaccurate because people might not have had their IDs with them when they were arrested, and those documents are being held for them by someone on the outside. He also cited challenges coordinating with other government agencies and obtaining the equipment necessary to collect inmates’ photos and signatures for their IDs. It took Kamaunu about three months after her release to get the identification she needed to cash her $500 check, just in time to buy Christmas presents for her baby. “The prison system,” said Kamaunu, “is setting us up to fail.” The slow implementation of the law means that every year hundreds of people are being released without the identification they need to find work, secure housing or open a bank account. More than a dozen states have laws requiring corrections agencies to help inmates obtain identification prior to release. Hawaiʻi’s 2017 law requires the corrections department to inform people in prisons and jails that they can receive help getting identification documents while behind bars, including a state ID, birth certificate and social security card. Corrections staff ask during intake and assessment whether they would like that assistance, Johnson said. But implementation has been full of false starts , stymied by slow-moving conversations between government agencies and a drawn-out process to acquire equipment. It took several years for the corrections department to work set up a game plan and sign the necessary agreements with the Department of Transportation, the Department of Customer Service and the Social Security Administration, said Johnson. Hawaiʻi requires that people apply in person for a driver’s license or state ID — and that’s a big problem for prisoners. It wasn’t until June 2022 — more than four years after the law went into effect — that Halawa Correctional Facility became the first prison to process inmates’ applications for state IDs with a machine on site. In the first year and a half after that machine was installed, the department helped 150 people get IDs, according to a report that the corrections department sent to the Legislature in December 2023. Since then, the agency also has released more than 750 people from all the state prisons without one, according to data that the department sent to lawmakers in 2023 and 2024. In 2022, the Legislature appropriated $100,000 to put ID machines in four other correctional facilities. So far, none have been purchased. Inmates at prisons other than Halawa Correctional Facility can’t get their IDs until they are released or go on furlough, at which point they can leave the facility to go to a DMV appointment. Johnson said the department hasn’t been able to buy the machines for the past few years because it had to wait for The Department of Customer Services’ Division of Motor Vehicles to upgrade its system. “The satellite machines we purchase have to be the exact same with the same specifications as the city and county so the machines can talk to each other for processing ID cards,” he said. Until then, Johnson said the department is helping people get other documents like a birth certificate or social security card, which they’ll need to apply for an ID once they’re released. But there’s been a delay in getting people social security cards too. More than half of the people who left prisons between November 2022 and October 2024 didn’t have one, according to data presented to the Legislature. It wasn’t until early last year that the corrections department signed an agreement with the Social Security Administration to help incarcerated people get social security cards. Johnson attributed the slow process to “hiccups” dealing with the federal agency that lasted two and a half years. The local office was closed during the pandemic and faced a long backlog of work when it reopened, allowing inmates to start getting cards last fall. Tsofit Ohayon entered the Women’s Community Corrections Center with nothing — no driver’s license, no social security card, no documents to prove that, despite being born in Israel, she’s an American citizen. Ohayon knew it would be complicated to get those documents, and she soon realized she wasn’t going to get enough help while she was incarcerated for credit card theft and related charges in 2020. Despite her best efforts, she wasn’t able to get her proof of citizenship until she was on furlough. That set back her timeline for getting other documents that she needed. She wanted to tutor students in math at the community college where she’s now getting an engineering degree. But until she got her ID, she wasn’t able to work. “I was very irritated because I knew that I was going to come out exactly in the same predicament as I went in,” said Ohayon. “I’m going to have to figure out a way to move mountains to get these people to do anything.” Johnson said that part of the reason people leave prison without an ID card is because it takes a long time to get all the necessary supporting documents, like a birth certificate or social security card, especially if they’re starting from scratch. “This process takes months and months,” he said. That means some people start applications while in prison but don’t actually get their IDs until they leave. A proposed bill in the Legislature is meant to address that problem. Senate Bill 224 — introduced by 10 lawmakers including Senators Brandon Elefante, Henry Aquino and Stanley Chang — would launch the process of getting vital documents earlier in a person’s incarceration. The current law requires the agency to start the application when someone is a year or less out from their release. Senate Bill 224 requires that the department begin working on obtaining inmates’ identification as soon as possible. The Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation supports the legislation, but Johnson said his staff is already doing this in the state prisons. However, he said starting earlier in jails won’t make much of a difference, since most people are there for weeks, rather than years. That isn’t sufficient time, according to Johnson. “It’s a really tough nut to crack to try to get them ID cards,” he said. “There’s very little we can do with respect to trying to get it. We can get the application in, and then we need a forwarding address where to send the document when it comes in.” For people who have been incarcerated, the situation remains frustrating. “Why even pass a law if you guys aren’t following it?” said Kamaunu. “You expect us to have integrity and be on it, but … what kind of example are you leading by?”

City, state respond to deadly explosion in Salt Lake Star Advertiser Victoria Budiono January 2, 2025 Original Article GEORGE F. LEE / GLEE@STARADVERTISER.COM Gov. Josh Green, flanked by Mayor Rick Blangiardi, Police Chief Arthur “Joe” Logan and Fire Chief Sheldon Hao, spoke at an HPD press conference regarding the deaths and injuries suffered earlier on Wednesday, Jan. 1, 2025 on Keaka Drive following a massive fireworks explosion. The call for stricter fireworks laws was immediate in the aftermath of the deadly New Year’s tragedy at 4137 Keaka Drive in Aliamanu. Starting at the top with Gov. Josh Green and Honolulu Mayor Rick Blangiardi, lawmakers and other leaders are again demanding to get a handle on contraband fireworks that each year create massive, illegal blasts that light up the skies in nearly every neighborhood on Oahu. “Right now, people are taking terrible risks with other family members and the community,” Green said at a news conference Wednesday, while also expressing condolences to the loved ones of the victims and imploring residents to prioritize safety. “Soon, you’ll probably be taking a risk with your own freedom,” Green warned. “I don’t think anybody should want to go to jail for five years or pay tens of thousands of dollars of fines.” In addition to the tragedy that killed three women and injured dozens of others in Aliamanu, a 19-year-old man suffered fatal injuries in a separate fireworks-related incident Tuesday night in Kalihi amid dozens of other reported injuries. As the toll climbed Wednesday, authorities turned their focus to tougher enforcement and stiffer penalties. State law establishes times during certain holiday periods — New Year’s, Lunar New Year and the Fourth of July — and other restrictions for the legal use of consumer fireworks such as sparklers and fountains but also allows the counties to set their own stricter rules. Since Jan. 2, 2011, consumer fireworks have been banned on Oahu. State law also prohibits possession of aerial devices, display fireworks or other pyrotechnic articles without a valid license. Unauthorized possession or use of fireworks is a Class C felony carrying a penalty of up to five years in prison and fines up to $10,000. Despite these regulations, fireworks are often set off in residential areas throughout the year, particularly during the holiday season from Thanksgiving through New Year’s Day. According to Honolulu Police Department Chief Joe Logan, a preliminary review of surveillance footage, witness statements and other evidence from the fatal blast suggests that shortly after midnight, a party attendee lit an aerial fireworks “cake” containing multiple smaller fireworks packed in a box in the driveway near the carport of the home. When lit, the cakes fire a series of fireworks into the air in quick succession, creating a display of colorful explosions. In this case, the cake tipped over, causing an aerial firework to ignite two nearby crates containing additional fireworks, triggering a massive and deadly explosion. Blangiardi expressed his anger and frustration with the fireworks-related deaths and injuries, saying, “No one should have to endure such pain due to reckless and illegal activity. This incident is a painful reminder of the danger posed by illegal fireworks. ‘They put lives at risk, they drain our first responders, and they disrupt our neighborhoods. But most heartbreakingly, this tragedy was entirely preventable. New Year’s Eve should be a time of joy, not danger. Yet the growing prevalence of illegal fireworks on our island has turned it into a night of risk and devastation. Year after year, this threat persists, and it must stop.” Blangiardi said he is committed to taking decisive action on illegal fireworks for the sake of public safety. “We will coordinate with federal and state agencies to strengthen law enforcement, impose tougher penalties, explore new technologies because they exist, and implement a united effort to stop the import of illegal fireworks into our harbors and airports,” he said. The state’s Illegal Fireworks Task Force established under Green in 2023 has reported seizing large quantities of illegal fireworks, and its efforts include intercepting shipments of illegal fireworks, often from overseas, and disrupting the supply chain. In its first year, a total of approximately 93.5 tons of illegal fireworks was confiscated, followed by more than 20 tons in 2024. In early December 2023, the task force said it seized about 16 tons of fireworks from a shipping container, primarily containing aerials. Later that month, it confiscated an additional 17 tons from another container. Just before New Year’s Day a year ago, the task force reported making another significant seizure, confiscating 17.5 tons of illegal fireworks during a routine inspection. Illegal fireworks, however, continue to filter in to Hawaii. “Aerial fireworks are a part of our culture,” said state Rep. Gregg Takayama (D, Waiau-Pearl City-Pacific Palisades). “But we have to recognize that they’re also illegal, and that they’re illegal for a reason: They can be dangerous.” Takayama introduced House Bill 2193 that became Act 208, which strengthened Hawaii’s Fireworks Control Law by increasing the authority of the Illegal Fireworks Task Force. He emphasized the need for continued efforts, particularly targeting large-scale offenders. He also called for increased funding for the task force. State Sen. Glenn Wakai, who represents the Salt Lake area where deadly explosion occurred, said the carnage was preventable and urged the community to recognize the risks. “It was more than an accident. An accident would be one of those rockets going off. I mean, these guys had a stash of stuff there,” Wakai said. “So, sure, it was not meant to go off that way. But they had full intention of shooting off way more than they could possibly handle.” He noted that after decades of legislative action, the issue remains a significant problem and the community needs to recognize the problem and say “enough is enough.” However, Wakai said he isn’t confident about seeing meaningful change. “Obviously, (the seizure) wasn’t enough, and I don’t really know what it’s going to take for us as a community to wake up in the new year to see that shooting aerial fireworks is not the right way to bring in a new year. It’s the most tragic way to usher in a new year,” he said. Jordan Lowe, director of the state Department of Law Enforcement, said the seizures by the task force are still under investigation, and fireworks smugglers — and buyers — could face prosecution. “It’s very frustrating, and when you look at this group of criminals who import illegal fireworks with no regard for the community or the safety of the public just to make a profit … like I said, it’s very frustrating, very discouraging,” he said. Fireworks have long been a tradition in Hawaii, rooted in Chinese culture and local celebrations. “It is cultural. We all understand that. But I think we need to start working with the public more in terms of education, because it is dangerous,” Lowe said. “We just saw what happened. And even in the past, regularly, in Hawaii, at least one individual would die as a result of a fireworks mishap. It’s been pretty regular that you might have a house burn down because of a mishap with fireworks, an accident with fireworks. “We don’t deserve that. The public doesn’t deserve that.”

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