Hawaii’s governor signs legislation to bolster judiciary Hawaii News Now HNN Staff June 26, 2025 Original Article HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) - Hawaii’s governor signed new legislation in support of the state judiciary into law Thursday. The governor’s office said that the bills fund the judiciary for the next two years and ensure it has the resources to fulfill its mission. House Bill 400 , Act 227, appropriates $214 million for fiscal year 2026 and $212 million for fiscal year 2027. The funding includes a new district court judge and support staff in Kona, and funds the permanent establishment of three specialty courts on Oahu: Women’s Court, Driving While Impaired Court, and Truancy Court and Early Education Intervention Court." “By expanding key programs like the Adult Client Services Branch, Community Outreach Court, and Women’s Court, we are building a more effective justice system that helps keep our communities in Hawaii safer and stronger,” said Senate Judiciary Committee chair Karl Rhoads. House Bill 727 , Act 228, builds off the Mohala Wahine pilot program from 2022 and expands access to trauma-informed, evidence-based practices. The Women’s Court recently celebrated its first six graduates at a special ceremony at the Hawaii Supreme Court. The court aims to help individuals who have been touched by the criminal justice system turn their lives around with drug abuse treatment, counseling, and help to find stable housing and employment. Act 228 also establishes a two-year Women’s Court pilot program in the Third Circuit Court in Kona. “Many of these women are mothers and caregivers, and with personalized, supportive care focused on healing rather than punishment, we can help them rehabilitate,” said Rep. Mahina Poepoe. “Expanding this program to Hawaii Island will strengthen families and communities across our state.” “We have a long-term goal of incarcerating far fewer people and helping many more people get access to health care and some form of healing as they come through their challenges,” Green said. In support of the judiciary, Green also signed: HB 280 , Act 229, relates to the community outreach court. HB 398 , Act 230, relates to compensation for court-appointed representation. HB 399 , Act 231, and HB 401 , Act 232, relate to district court judges. Senate Bill 304 , Act 233, relates to the judiciary.

Friends of the Library of Hawai'i honors State Sen. Lynn DeCoite with Mahalo Award Maui Now February 21, 2025 Original Article Nonprofit The Friends of the Library of Hawai‘i on Wednesday presented the Mahalo Award to State Sen. Lynn DeCoite, recognizing her support of Hawai‘i’s public libraries. The Mahalo Award is given annually to a legislator who has demonstrated exemplary support of Hawaiʻi’s public libraries during the prior legislative session. DeCoite has served in the state legislature since 2015, first representing District 13 in the Hawai‘i State House of Representatives and, since 2021, representing District 7 in the Hawai‘i State Senate. Beyond her dedication to increasing local food production, environmental conservation, affordable housing and transportation, she has been a passionate advocate for libraries and literacy. This includes working to elevate public libraries in her district: the Lāna‘i Public Library, Hāna Public & School Library, Makawao Public Library and Moloka‘i Public Library. DeCoite’s support for the libraries and literacy has extended beyond the 2024 legislative session, said the nonprofit in an announcement Friday. Since 2019 she has promoted childhood literacy through ‘Ohana Readers, an affiliate of Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library, a program that offers free, monthly, age-appropriate books to Molokaʻi, Lānaʻi and Hāna keiki ages under the age of 5. The program was launched as an initiative of then-First Lady Dawn Amano-Ige in partnership with then-State Rep. DeCoite, the Learning to Grow program of the State Department of Human Services, the Hawaiʻi State Public Library System, Friends of the Library of Hawaiʻi and Read to Me International. “It’s been a pleasure to work with Senator DeCoite to bring books into the homes of her constituents through the ‘Ohana Readers program,” said Nainoa Mau, executive director of Friends of the Library of Hawaiʻi. “We are delighted to honor her with the Mahalo Award as our 2024 Legislator of the Year.” DeCoite has also been an advocate for the renovations at the Molokaʻi Public Library to make it a bright and welcoming place for residents to learn and gather. And she has promoted the free employment training resources at the Molokaʻi Public Library, which is a partnership between Goodwill Hawaiʻi, the American Job Center and the Hawaiʻi State Public Library System. “Senator DeCoite cares deeply about her community and the library and works to build bridges to make it a resource for all,” said Stacey Aldrich, a State librarian. DeCoite was honored by Friends of the Library of Hawaiʻi at their Annual Meeting on Wednesday, Feb. 19, 2025 at the Hawai‘i State Library. In her honor, copies of her favorite book, “Curious George” by H. A. Rey, will be donated to the Molokaʻi Public Library and the Hawaiʻi State Library.

Union seeks raises for teachers not credited for out-of-state experience during salary repricing Hawaii News Now December 29, 2025 Original Article HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) - The teachers union is fighting to get pay raises for thousands of public school educators. The Hawaii State Teachers Association (HSTA) says they were denied the money because the Hawaii State Department of Education (HIDOE) said they didn’t have enough experience here in Hawaii. Before coming to Hawaii, David Reid had nine years of teaching on the continental U.S. The HIDOE had credited six of those years in the classroom, but it was not enough to get him a raise that other teachers with more experience in Hawaii received. “It was very at first confusing and then upsetting because you know no one wants to work really hard to go broke, and teachers all work very hard and our value to the workplace is years of experience and education and to have your value just erased,” Reid said. Reid and two other teachers went to the Hawaii Labor Relations Board after being excluded from the HIDOE’s salary increase in 2022. Known as the compression fix, the repricing boosted pay for 72% of teachers by an average of $6,000. “When they passed out raises, they said I didn’t have 11, because I’d been here five years at that point,” Reid said. The board sided with Reid, saying that the years of experience teaching that he and the other two teachers had on the mainland must be considered in the repricing. The HIDOE appealed the ruling, but a state judge affirmed it last month. “I’ve described it as the most frustrating thing I’ve ever done in my life. So to come out on the other side and be successful feels really good,” Reid said. After the decision, Reid’s pay was increased by $3,700 a year. “Considering the cost of living in Hawaii, that’s not nothing,” Reid said. The ruling came as the islands grapple with an ongoing teacher shortage. Hawaii ranks in the top 10 states with the lowest teacher to state population. There are more than 2,000 other teachers like Reid who were not compensated for non-HIDOE teaching experience. The HSTA is asking the HIDOE to raise their pay as well. “Hopefully this could apply to everybody,” Reid said. The HSTA is still waiting on the official written ruling from the court. We reached out to the department and are waiting to hear back. Copyright 2025 Hawaii News Now. All rights reserved.

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.

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.

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

Photos: Lawmakers, lobbyists and citizens kick off the 2025 legislative session Hawaiʻi Public Radio Jason Ubay, Mark Ladao, Ashley Mizuo, Sophia McCullough January 15, 2025 Original Article State representatives and visitors attend opening day of the 2025 legislative session at the Hawaiʻi State Capitol on Jan. 15, 2025. Jason Ubay/HPRNew year, new legislative session. Lawmakers, lobbyists and engaged citizens gathered at the Hawaiʻi State Capitol in Honolulu this morning to kick off the 2025 session.Some of HPR's news team spent the day alongside attendees. Here's what they saw. Live mele and hula kick off the 2025 Hawaiʻi House of Representatives on opening day.Jason Ubay/HPR Visitors to the Capitol are required to go through security screening.Jason Ubay/HPR Community members gather in the open-air Hawaiʻi State Capitol courtyard on opening day.Jason Ubay/HPR Members of the United Public Workers union attend opening day.Jason Ubay/HPR From left to right: House Republicans Garner Shimizu, Diamond Garcia, Elijah Pierick, Lauren Matsumoto and David Alcos III on opening day of the 2025 legislative session. (Jan. 15, 2025) Jason Ubay/HPR First-year Rep. Matthias Kusch of Hawaiʻi Island, center, with Gov. Josh Green on opening day. Green appointed Kusch to the position after the death of former Rep. Mark Nakashima.Jason Ubay/HPR Rep. Nadine Nakamura addresses the state House as speaker for the first time on Jan. 15, 2025. Nakamura said investments into more affordable housing will be top of mind for lawmakers as they try to address the cost of living.Mark Ladao/HPR First-year Rep. Kim Coco Iwamoto cast the lone "no" vote against new House Speaker Nadine Nakamura on opening day of the 2025 legislative session. Ashley Mizuo/HPR Hawaiʻi House Speaker Nadine Nakamura speaks to the press. She is the first woman to lead the chamber. Mark Ladao/HPR Attendees wait to enter the House and Senate chambers at the Hawaiʻi State Capitol on opening day of the legislative session on Jan. 15, 2025. Senators and representatives have their offices on the second, third and fourth floors. The governor and the lieutenant governor are housed on the top floor. Jason Ubay/HPR Senate President Ron Kouchi addresses senators and attendees on opening day of the legislative session on Jan. 15, 2025. Kouchi said many of the state’s problems can be traced back to one thing: housing. Mark Ladao/HPR Senate Minority Leader Brenton Awa addresses the chamber on opening day of the legislative session on Jan. 15, 2025. Awa called for more support for locals and Native Hawaiians. He also criticized local leaders, pointing at Gov. Josh Green’s offer to house Los Angeles fire victims in hotel rooms, the Honolulu City Council’s recent 64% pay raise, and Honolulu Mayor Rick Blangiardi’s “ownership” of local media. Mark Ladao/HPR Senate President Ron Kouchi, flanked by Senate Democratic leadership, speaks to the press on opening day. (Jan. 15, 2025) Mark Ladao/HPR Representatives and senators usually open their office doors and offer food to community members roaming the hallways. Mark Ladao/HPR The Hawaiʻi State Capitol building from across S. Beretania Street. Jason Ubay/HPR Tags Local News State Legislature

Editorial: New opportunities for Hawaiian Islands’ farmers Star Advertiser July 22, 2025 Original Article The thrust of President Trump’s tariff policy is to make American goods more price-competitive, thereby creating the conditions for more domestic manufacture, rather than reliance on U.S. imports. Hawaii has not been a hub of American-made products in most categories, but there is one that could benefit from an environment of some higher prices. That would be agriculture. Hawaii has a year-round growing season, but export potential has been limited by federal regulation as well as competition. It is good to see Hawaii’s high-level state officials working to claim a piece of the “made in America” advantage the islands deserve. In March, Lt. Gov. Sylvia Luke met with Brooke Rollins, the U.S. agriculture secretary, to discuss some of the state’s agricultural industry concerns. This is an opportunity to capitalize on changing conditions — exactly the sort of initiative Hawaii should be pursuing, and that our congressional delegation should be spearheading to work within the system. On a separate yet related front, there is now an improved “shipping” service to and from the islands. One major development was the new Amazon delivery station that opened on Sand Island a year ago, aiding in quick fulfillment of merchandise orders from the online marketplace site. It has also enabled a fast track specifically for Hawaii-grown pineapples, still among the marquee products for visitors to the state and now being made more available to mainland markets. The key was a partnership announced in mid-July between Maui Gold and Amazon that launched a direct cargo route between Hawaii and California. State Sen. Glenn Wakai helped to put the partners together. He said the four cargo planes Amazon sends to Hawaii each day have space on the return flights to be filled by locally made or grown products. The hope should be that this new pipeline expands to include multiple lines of Hawaii-made products, Wakai added. But above all, agriculture should be a primary focus. Whether it’s pineapple or other fruits — or Hawaii’s famous coffee — now is the time to boost their cachet for a wider market. The lieutenant governor said in a Monday phone interview with the Honolulu Star-Advertiser that discussions over these issues actually began under the Biden administration. The back-and-forth accelerated after Trump’s inauguration in January, Luke said, especially when hiring freezes delayed the work of agricultural inspectors at the airports. That issue has receded, but the USDA outreach then expanded to other regulatory concerns. For example, Hawaii is rightly making the case that some fruit-borne insects cannot survive in some colder climates, Luke said; the state is hoping that blanket bans on exports can be lifted in such cold zones. Fruits with softer skins, such as papayas, can harbor fruit flies, she said, but harder-shell produce such as pineapples and avocados are much more resistant and should be regulated differently. Irradiation should not be required across all produce categories, she said. Avocados, with their protective hard shell, can be discolored and essentially ruined through irradiation. Hawaii should want its high-quality avocado crop to be marketable at full advantage. Finally, Luke said, the USDA should help local farmers by selecting their crops to supply Hawaii food banks in its surplus purchase program. This makes sense, and would save federal funds as well: The agency currently ships in mainland produce for this purpose, she added. It’s still unclear when each of the individual barriers to exporting could be lifted — but persisting with the USDA discussions is crucial. Hawaii does have some exceptional products to market more broadly. Keeping this state top of mind among federal officials is mission critical.

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

Bill to construct more ohana units passes Senate committee Star Advertiser Mia Anzalone March 12, 2025 Original Article The state Senate’s Housing Committee deferred a bill Tuesday that would have paid Hawaii homeowners and homebuyers to restrict occupants to locally employed residents, instead approving a bill to promote the construction of more accessory dwelling units, commonly known as ohana units, for workforce housing. House Bill 740 would establish the Accessory Dwelling Unit Financing and Deed Restriction Program to provide funding to the counties to distribute grants to eligible homeowners or homebuyers to construct ADUs with the condition that occupants of the property, including those living in primary or secondary units, must be employed, or use to be employed, at least 30 hours per week at a local business. The amended version of HB 740 defines ADUs as a “second dwelling unit that includes its own kitchen, bedroom and bathroom facilities, and is attached or detached from the primary dwelling unit.” The Senate’s approval of the measure ended the momentum for HB 739, which would have established the Kama‘aina Homes Program allowing counties to pay homeowners or homebuyers a sum of money under the condition that the home be occupied by at least one owner-occupant or tenant who works, or used to work, at a local business for at least 30 hours a week. Sen. Stanley Chang (D, Hawaii Kai-Kahala-Diamond Head), who chairs the Senate Housing Committee, told the Honolulu Star-Advertiser on Tuesday that HB 740 will be the “vehicle” for advancing the goals of both bills to increase the inventory of affordable workplace housing. At Tuesday’s public hearing, Chang said he appreciates the efforts to encourage more ADUs in Hawaii and wants the state to focus on the construction of new units rather than converting existing ones. “We need to shift away from a model where the state gives away money and never gets it back,” Chang said at the hearing. “The state needs to act as an investor that realizes a gain, an appreciation on the investment of its funds, which are, after all, taxpayer funds.” While both bills worked to enable the creation of more housing for the local workforce, Chang told the Star-Advertiser that HB 740 is one potential solution to creating low-cost financing for ADU construction statewide. “If the state spends a lot of money and no new housing is built, then I don’t think we’re getting any closer to solving the housing shortage,” he said. Chang noted during the hearing that similar grant programs already exist, citing Maui County’s ‘Ohana Assistance Pilot Project, which launched in July and provides grants of up to $100,000 to homeowners to design and construct attached or detached ADUs with a 10-year deed restriction to provide workforce housing. HB 740 is supported by a number of organizations, including the Hawaii Appleseed Center for Law and Economic Justice. In written testimony the center’s director of housing policy, Arjuna Heim, said the bill addresses financial barriers to constructing ADUs, which typically cost about $250 to $350 per square foot to build. The deed restriction, which was also a feature of the deferred HB 739, is a key aspect of HB 740, according to Heim. “The deed restriction requirements ensuring occupancy by local workers, maintaining employment within the county, demonstrate a thoughtful approach to preserving housing for Hawai‘i’s working families,” Heim said in written testimony. “This helps prevent the conversion of these units to vacation rentals or investment properties and help establish a locals-only market.” Joshua Wisch, president and executive director of the nonprofit Holomua Collaborative, which focuses on making Hawaii more affordable for working families, was a staunch supporter of HB 739 and said he was disappointed the bill was deferred. “We’ll have to see what was retained in the Senate draft before we can determine any future support,” Wisch said in a statement to the Star-Advertiser. “We still believe (the Kama‘aina Homes Program) can help create a dedicated and permanent housing supply for local working families, and are already exploring ways to lift the program up at a county level, come back to the Legislature next session or find other avenues to pursue it,” he said. A 2023 report by the University of Hawaii Economic Research Organization found that 20% of Hawaii residents had enough income to afford a single-family home costing $875,000. Another recent study by Holomua Collaborative, which surveyed 1,500 local workers with middle- to upper-middle incomes, found that 70% of respondents said they will or might relocate to a less expensive state in the coming years, with housing costs a major issue. Twenty-seven percent said they would move out of Hawaii within the next five years.

Kirstin Downey: Bills Could Speed Up Rebuilding Of Lahaina's Front Street Honolulu Civil Beat Kristin Downey February 21, 2025 Original Article Some of the regulatory mire that has choked Lahaina’s recovery may be clearing up. Pending state legislation would allow buildings anywhere in Hawaiʻi that are destroyed in certain types of disasters to be rebuilt if the replacement structure has the same footprint and overall dimensions. It seems odd that such legislation is needed at all, as it is hard to imagine why fire victims should be doubly victimized — first by the event and then by bureaucratic gridlock. But that has been the situation in fire-ravaged Lahaina, where owners of homes and stores have been left dangling for more than 18 months as beleaguered and overwhelmed Maui County officials drag their feet, seemingly struggling to juggle the conflicting demands of the state’s convoluted regulatory land-use thicket. “All that’s been introduced is a positive for homeowners and commercial property owners,” said Kaleo Schneider, whose family owns several buildings on Lahaina’s Front Street that had housed 20 small retail stores, including Honolulu Cookie Co. and Wyland Gallery. “Anything that happens is a positive.” Senate Bill 830 , introduced by Sens. Troy Hashimoto and Stanley Chang, would narrow the definition of the term “development” in coastal zone management law by excluding some kinds of government oversight when properties are impacted by “certain events.” The legislation defines those events as things — like fires or earthquakes — that are so bad they cause the state’s governor or a county’s mayor to declare a state of emergency. However, the bill specifically excludes properties harmed by “waves, storm surges, high tide or shoreline erosion.” The measure won unanimous support Wednesday in a Senate Ways and Means Committee hearing chaired by Sen. Donovan Dela Cruz. He amended the bill to include proposed language from the state’s Department of Land and Natural Resources that would allow exemptions for structures that had been deemed lawful before the disaster occurred. The DLNR’s testimony suggests that it will permit and promptly process “submerged land leases” that existed along Lahaina’s Front Street seawall, as that “stretch of shoreline has been armored for over a century.” A companion bill in the House, House Bill 1181 , has passed its second hearing before the Water and Land Committee and has moved to the Judiciary and Hawaiian Affairs Committee. The legislation appears to be moving quickly. Another measure that would help speed up reconstruction of Lahaina’s historic core is Senate Bill 1296 , which specifically exempts some structures in the town’s Lahaina Historic Landmark District from being required to obtain what is called a Special Management Area use permit or minor permit, obligations that are ordinarily imposed on proposed new construction. That measure is sponsored by Sens. Angus McKelvey, who represents Lahaina, and Lorraine Inouye of the Big Island. It was approved by the Water and Land Committee, but the Judiciary Committee has not yet scheduled a hearing on it, and there is no companion bill in the House. Lahaina is Hawaiʻi’s treasure box. This remarkably condensed area of about 2 square miles represents almost all of the distinctive periods of Hawaiʻi’s history — from the arrival of the ancient Hawaiians, through the ruling lineages of Maui, to the early Kamehameha dynasty and into the monarchy, to places associated with Hawaiʻi’s adoption of near-universal literacy in the 1830s and also to sites associated with the missionary, whaling and plantation eras. It’s also the single place that most comprehensively draws together the heritage of so many of the demographic groups that make up Hawaiʻi’s unique ethnic mix today . Historically Lahaina has been an economic engine for Maui, and its most popular tourist destination. With the demise of the sugar industry, Maui is almost entirely dependent on tourism as its economic generator. Maui’s mounting financial woes are underscoring the need to push Lahaina’s redevelopment ahead. The island’s hotel occupancy rate has been hovering at the lowest level in 35 years, except for the Covid-19 pandemic era, and its unemployment rate has fallen only because thousands of workers have moved away, according to the December 2024 forecast by the University of Hawaiʻi’s Economic Research Organization . Lahaina’s displaced residents, meanwhile, became increasingly disturbed by the slow pace of rebuilding, with many reporting they have been told by Maui County officials that it could take up to five years before they could move back home, including two years to get through the county permitting process and two more years for construction work. They organized a letter-writing campaign to Gov. Josh Green, pleading for his intervention, and in December, Green issued a proclamation exempting some properties from coastal zone management restrictions. Supporters of the proposed legislation say it will extend the governor’s protections. “We need the bills to pass to be an additional buffer so we are still covered,” Schneider said. Dozens of displaced Lahaina residents and business owners have submitted testimony begging the Legislature to act. “As we struggle to pay our mortgage and condo fees for a home that doesn’t exist, our financial situation gets scarier by the day,” wrote Elise Strong, a Lahaina homeowner forced to move to Montana. “Lahaina has so much recovery to do. It is all so hard. Please help us to be able to come home, and to have a home again, as soon as possible. I don’t know how long we can afford these bills with no home to live in.” The future of the separate historic landmark district bill is more uncertain. The Historic Hawaiʻi Foundation has endorsed the measure. Its executive director, Kiersten Faulkner, said she is also monitoring the other bills to see how they develop. Prompt action by the Legislature is desperately needed, Schneider said. “It’s necessary and a step in the right direction,” Schneider said. “We were sitting in the dark without anyone paying attention.”

Kept losing altitude': Witnesses describe moment plane crashed near airport, killing 2 FOX8 Nicole Napuunoa December 18, 2024 Original Article Editor’s note: The above video contains footage of a deadly plane crash as taken by a driver near the Honolulu International Airport. HONOLULU (KHON ) – Two people aboard a training flight with Kamaka Air have died after their aircraft crashed into an abandoned building near the Honolulu International Airport on Tuesday afternoon, the Department of Transportation has confirmed. The Hawaii DOT, as well as the Federal Aviation Administration and the National Transportation Safety Board, are investigating the crash. Witnesses said they saw the plane going down just before it crashed at around 3:17 p.m. “I saw this plane coming from the south end and going around and losing altitude. Coming down it looked like it was like over the United Cargo and going on towards the main terminal but it kept losing altitude, kept losing altitude and losing altitude until there was a big crash. And that’s when everything was just black,” one witness, who identified herself as Sister Alicia, told Nexstar’s KHON. Hawaii State Sen. Lynn DeCoite also witnessed the crash while waiting for her husband to arrive at Daniel K. Inouye International Airport, aka the Honolulu International Airport. “I’m assuming it had taken off and it was coming back around,” Sen. DeCoite told KHON. “So when it came back around, it literally passed the yellow building that is there. And it, you could just, because I heard the sound of the engine revving as it needed to climb and it just took a nosedive. It clipped the top of the building. So, at that point, we couldn’t see the top of the building because it was still behind Delta Cargo.” In video provided to KHON, thick black smoke was seen billowing out near a building in the industrial area as federal fire trucks were seen heading to the scene from the airport. Honolulu Fire Department Chief Sheldon Hao said most of the wreckage ended up on the ground, in a parking lot. Ed Sniffen of the Hawaii Department of Transportation said early reports showed that the pilot made adjustments during the ordeal, perhaps intent on placing the plane down in a safe place, and avoiding the nearby Skyline track as well as fuel storage tanks. Flight recordings also indicated Kamaka Air 689 was in contact with the air traffic control tower when the plane reportedly lost “control.” “You’re turning right, right?” an air traffic controller could be heard asking the crew. “We are, we have, uh, we’re out of control here,” came the response. “OK, if you can land, if you can level it off, that’s fine. Any runway, any place you can do,” the controller said. Kamaka Air CEO Dave Hinderland read a statement asking for privacy for the grieving families of the two pilots and vowing to assist the Hawaii DOT, FAA and NTSB in the crash investigation. “We will also share appropriate information with the media as it is confirmed over the coming hours and days,” Hinderland said, in part. Kamaka Air specializes in cargo flights throughout the Hawai’ian islands. The company also provides chartered luxury flights, per its website.