City completes first segment of Pearl Harbor bike path renovations KITV Jeremiah Estrada October 1, 2025 Original Article AIEA, Hawaii (Island News) -- The first segment of renovations was completed for the Pearl Harbor Historic Trail bike path, a starting point for the city’s plans to create a southern trail across the island. The City and County of Honolulu’s Department of Transportation Services (DTS) announced on Wednesday, Oct. 1, that construction for the bike path's first segment was completed. Construction began earlier this year on Feb. 3 focusing on replacing asphalt and concrete surfaces with new concrete in order to provide bicyclists and pedestrians with a smoother, safer trail. Other safety improvements include the installation of new bollards, signs, stripes and lights. “The Pearl Harbor bike path is a critical connection in building a safer regional network for people who walk, bike and roll across Oahu,” said Jon Nouchi, DTS deputy director. “By linking neighborhoods along Kamehameha Highway and improving access to Skyline stations from Ewa to Halawa, this project strengthens active transportation as a convenient option for our residents.” This project comes at the heels of the South Shore Trail plan and is a key component of the upcoming inter-community pathway. The South Shore Trail will be a 30-mile bicycle and pedestrian pathway that connects communities from Nanakuli to Manoa and Waikiki. Although each community has their own respective bicycle and pedestrian infrastructure along this corridor, this trail aims to improve regional connectivity by linking these pathways together. “I want to mahalo the DTS team and their partners for their hard work over the past seven months to revitalize this path that links our communities, honors the history of Pu‘uloa and pedals us closer to a future Mobility Hub near Kalauao [Pearlridge] Station,” said District 7 Councilmember Radiant Cordero. “I look forward to the continued progress of the South Shore Shared Use Path, which is an investment in our island’s integrated transit networks that will foster a more sustainable and innovative future through closer connected communities.” “Completing this key segment of the Pearl Harbor Bike Path is a win for our community and the people of Aiea and Pearl City,” said Senator Brandon Elefante. “These improvements enhance safety and make it more enjoyable for people to bike, walk, run and spend time outdoors, while supporting healthier and more sustainable ways of getting around.”

New Digital Hub Opens in Hoʻolehua The Molokai Dispatch Léo Azambuja October 9, 2025 Original Article A new space for Molokai residents to access high-speed Internet, print documents, learn how to use computers and even attend remote healthcare appointments opened last week. “The Molokai Digital Hub has been a dream over the last several years,” said Rosie Davis, executive director of the Maui County Area Health Education Center on Molokai. The grand opening of the facility at Lanikeha Community Center in Ho‘olehua was Sept. 25, during a ceremony attended by Lt. Gov. Sylvia Luke and state Sen. Lynn DeCoite. On Oct. 1, Molokai’s first digital hub opened to the public. The facility was created to help close a digital gap on Molokai by providing residents with tools for online connectivity, learning and development, according to Davis. “We have everything from computer literacy (classes), telehealth skills, digital literacy, everything from one-on-one and social media,” Davis said. “We have five desktops, four laptops and a printer.” The idea of a digital hub at Lanikeha was born during the COVID-19 pandemic, when island residents were asking for a facility where they could learn how to do Zoom meetings, access the Internet for healthcare appointments or just keep in touch with their family members. At that time, she said, the community center offered a class teaching to use iPads to access the Internet. Most of those first students were older residents who only owned a phone, and didn’t even know how to turn on an iPad. That’s when Davis said she found out there was a big need on the island for computer literacy classes and other related services. A year later, AHEC secured a $30,000 grant to hire three contractors to come to the community center and offer one-on-one classes on refurbished laptops. “In about a year-and-a-half, we had 253 people that had attended the classes, and now they were asking for a higher level (of classes),” Davis said. Additionally, telehealth — assessing health care services through the Internet — also became “a big part of helping the community,” and it wasn’t just beneficiaries, she said, it was the entire community. The new Molokai Digital Hub has been “a blessing,” Davis said, possible through a $5,000 donation from Spectrum and another donation of nearly $9,000 from the Department of Hawaiian Homelands. Other partners include Maui County AHEC, Molokai Public Library, Kuha‘o Business Center and Ka‘ala Souza from Māpunawai. Davis said since the facility opened, there has been a good flow of visitors, and there will be more students joining soon. “People love to come to the workshops,” she said. The Molokai Digital Hub is at Lanikeha Community Center at 2200 Farrington Ave. in Ho‘olehua. It is open Monday to Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.

New laws kick off 2025: Some aim to attract more nurses, doctors to Hawaii Hawaii Tribune Herald John Burnett January 7, 2025 Original Article A number of new laws took effect starting Jan. 1. At least four of those laws are related to medicine — with two intended to facilitate the licensing of physicians and nurses, which are in short supply in Hawaii. Act 112, from a bill introduced in 2023 by state Sen. Joy San Buenaventura, a Puna Democrat, makes Hawaii a part of the Interstate Medical Licensure Compact. That affiliation will make it easier for licensed physicians coming to Hawaii from other states. The IMLC currently includes 40 states, including Hawaii, plus the District of Columbia and Guam, and three additional states have introduced legislation to join. “The interstate compact is one of the bills that (Hawaii Medical Service Association), Kaiser, and the military were all hoping would pass, because it will help them recruit more medical providers to Hawaii,” San Buenaventura told the Tribune-Herald while the Legislature was in session last year. “We also know there are doctors here in Hawaii that are retirees who would be more than willing to work part time, but don’t want to go through the effort of having to get re-licensed and re-credentialed.” The state estimates Hawaii has a shortage of 768 physicians statewide, a 21% deficit. Hawaii Island’s physician shortfall is estimated at 40%. Act 95, another new law, allows out-of-state licensed registered nurses and practical nurses who hold a multi-state license issued by another state, territory or country to apply for a temporary work permit simultaneously with an application for a license to practice in Hawaii. The act was one of 22 health care measures signed into law by Gov. Josh Green, a physician, on June 27 last year. Using federal Health Resources and Service Administration methodology, Hawaii this year is estimated to face a deficit of around 3,311 registered nurses alone, representing a 28% shortfall in the nursing workforce statewide. Big Island hospitals, including Hilo Benioff Medical Center, have turned to travel nurses to close the gap. Act 91 authorizes minors who are at least 14 years old to consent to medical care and services for sexually transmitted infections, pregnancy and family planning services, including the prevention of sexually transmitted infections (STIs). It requires confidentiality policies and practices for insurers and health care providers. The law, part of governor’s legislative package introduced by Sen. President Ron Kouchi, closes what’s been described as a critical gap in minor access to medical services related to STIs, including HIV. For decades, Hawaii law has permitted minors aged 14 to 17 to independently consent to medical care for the treatment of STIs but not for prevention. Act 91 will permit minors 14 to 17 who are at risk for exposure to STIs to consent to medical care for the prevention of STIs. There is now medication that can be taken by an individual at risk for HIV in order to prevent infection. On Facebook, the state Department of Health said it “encourages minors to involve a parent or guardian in seeking medical care to prevent STIs.” “However, often minors who could benefit from this medical care do not involve parents or guardians out of fear of disclosing their sexual behavior or sexual orientation,” the post continues. “Act 91 will allow more teens to access medical care to help keep them safe.” And Act 104 allows licensed pharmacists to administer vaccines to persons 3 years of age or older without a prescription from a doctor, if certain requirements are met. Also taking effect on New Year’s Day are laws that: establishes kalo, the Hawaiian word for taro, as the state plant; expands the definition of “beer” to include alcoholic seltzers; requires lobbyists’ expenditures statements to include the identity of the legislative or administrative action that was commented on, supported by, or opposed by the person filing the statement; requires state legislators to include the names of lobbyists with whom the legislator has a relationship; requires public meeting notices to inform testifiers how to provide remote oral testimony allowing the testifier, upon request, to be visible to board members and other meeting participants; establishes judicial procedures to prevent and remedy abusive litigation; requires motion picture and other media productions to provide evidence of reasonable efforts to comply with all applicable requirements to qualify for the income tax credit; and expands the transient accommodations tax law to include certain shelters and vehicles with sleeping accommodations.

Hawaiʻi Shutdown Response: SNAP Recipients To Get $250 Apiece Civil Beat Jeremy Hay Kevin Dayton October 30, 2025 Original Article UPDATE: Two federal judges ruled Friday that the Trump administration must use contingency funds to continue to issue food stamps during the government shutdown. Government assistance programs launched by Hawaiʻi to support SNAP recipients and other residents impacted by the shutdown will continue regardless, officials said after the rulings. Hawaiʻi residents whose November food stamps have been halted by the federal shutdown are eligible to get $250 each from the state through an emergency program Gov. Josh Green announced Thursday. The $42.2 million initiative will fill a gap in food stamp benefits caused by the shutdown and the Trump administration’s decision to not use contingency funds to cover November costs for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP. The Hawaiʻi Food Assistance Program will give $250 to every current food stamp recipient in the state — automatically placing the funds on existing SNAP debit cards by Nov. 14. A family of four that has been getting SNAP would receive $1,000, Green said during a media briefing at his State Capitol office. “This will help people because we do not have any guarantees right now that the federal government is going to open again this week, next week, we just don’t know,” Green said. “And a lot of people are going to be hungry if they don’t get their SNAP benefits.” Hawaiʻi SNAP recipients received an average of $343 a month in September, according to the state Department of Human Services. About $58 million in SNAP benefits are delivered statewide to recipients’ automatic debit cards starting the first of each month. Almost 162,000 Hawaiʻi residents get monthly SNAP benefits, Green said. In a sign of how the shutdown is squeezing people, registration for a Hawaiʻi Foodbank emergency food distribution scheduled for Friday in Waipahu hit its limit in three hours after 400 households signed up. Other distributions are scheduled and the Foodbank plans to add more. ‘Kuleana Awakens The Mana’ The emergency measure — one of three special funds formed in Hawaiʻi to soften financial blows caused by the monthlong shutdown — will take effect even if the impasse in Washington, D.C., ends and SNAP benefits quickly resume, Green said. “Even if the federal government gets their act together and somehow resolves their differences, we’re going forward with this because people are really hurting and it’s been a tough couple months,” Green said. The assistance fund is financed by $28 million from the state’s general fund and $13 million in excess funds for Temporary Assistance for Needy Families, or TANF, the federally funded, state-managed cash aid program for low-income residents. The state has banked more than $400 million in unused TANF funds over the years. A separate $100 million Hawaiʻi Relief Fund announced Wednesday will help eligible residents with dependent children under 18 make housing and utility payments. That program is open to any eligible resident, including people whose paychecks have been interrupted by the shutdown, not only people who get SNAP. To qualify, a household has to also be below 300% of the federal poverty line; for a family of four, that’s an annual income of just under $111,000. The relief fund is entirely financed by TANF funds. The Office of Hawaiian Affairs has also announced a $6.1 million emergency fund for Native Hawaiians affected by the shutdown, including people who get SNAP. About 47,000 Native Hawaiians receive SNAP benefits, according to OHA, and about 5,000 of the nearly 25,000 federal employees in the state are Native Hawaiian. OHA Board of Trustees Chair Kaialiʻi Kahele, who also spoke at Thursday’s press conference, evoked the memory of Twinkle Borge, a Hawaiian activist and homeless advocate who led a large community in Waiʻanae and died in 2024. “Our beloved Twinkle Borge, a fierce advocate for our houseless community, once shared, ‘Kuleana awakens the mana inside us,'” Kahele said. “That’s what we’re seeing today, people awakening their mana, answering the call here to serve.” Full details about that fund, including eligibility and application guidelines, will be announced soon, he said. Program Could Be Extended Green said the emergency food assistance money will benefit the entire state and suggested the program could be extended if necessary. “The monies are going to be spent in our local businesses, in grocery stores and small mom and pop shops almost immediately,” he said. “If we have to, we will come back. We’re not going to let anyone suffer.” The Green administration has also directed $2 million to the Hawaiʻi Foodbank to help support and boost its operations statewide. “I hope to God we’re not still in a shutdown come 2026, because that will change everything for us.” - Gov. Josh Green Green’s move to commit millions to provide emergency funding for SNAP recipients does not include an extra $200 million that state lawmakers set aside this year as a hedge against federal budget cuts. Green would need an appropriation by the Legislature to spend any of that money — which is less likely now because of lower than projected tax revenues — and he said he is not inclined to call the Legislature back to the Capitol for a special session this year. Instead, the relief money comes from state general funds that were appropriated to state departments for various uses but were withheld by the Green administration as a reserve in case it was needed later. “The amount of monies we needed was manageable within our budget,” Green told reporters. “We certainly have adequate monies across departments to carve out this $28,567,000. So, we didn’t need to have a special session, we were able to work it out just in collegial discussions.” Green also observed the Legislature will be back in regular session in about 10 weeks, and can take any further emergency actions that are necessary then. “We’re committed to getting people through the holidays with this resource,” he said, “and then we’ll have the Legislature back in full force, and that empowers us in all sorts of additional ways to bring large amounts of extra resources.” “I hope to God we’re not still in a shutdown come 2026, because that will change everything for us,” he said. Hawaii has joined about 24 states that have sued the Trump administration to force it to pay out November SNAP benefits. That lawsuit is still being heard in federal court. How To Apply For State Aid For more information about either the Hawaiʻi Food Assistance Program or the Hawaiʻi Relief Fund, call 211, a hotline run by Aloha United Way. Green said 250 people are staffing the line from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily. The human services department is partnering with Catholic Charities Hawaiʻi to manage the relief fund and application process on Oʻahu, the county of Hawaiʻi and Kauaʻi. The nonprofit partner for Maui County is Maui Economic Opportunity. Aid payments will go directly to utility companies and landlords or lenders, in the case of mortgages — and will not affect income eligibility for other benefit programs. Applicants will need to provide documents including government-issued identification, proof of income and lease or mortgage statements. For more information, Oʻahu, Big Island and Kauaʻi residents can also reach Hawaiʻi Relief Fund staff at 808-521-4357, extension 1, or hrp.mail@catholiccharitieshawaii.org . To apply online, go here. In Maui County, call 808-243-4357 for information, email Housing.utility@meoinc.org or go to this website. To apply online go here. Civil Beat’s reporting on economic inequality is supported by the Hawaiʻi Community Foundation as part of its work to build equity for all through the CHANGE Framework; and by the Cooke Foundation.

Column: Make land trust, limited-profit developers for homes Star Advertiser Dale Kobayashi and Makana Hicks-Goo March 2, 2025 Original Article Hawaii has a housing crisis that needs no introduction. If you were born here, chances are you were born with it: mentions of our housing crisis started popping up in local papers in the 1930s. Nearly a hundred years on, we’re still trying to sort it out. These days the refrain you’re likely to hear is that it’s simply a matter of supply and demand. By which it’s always meant just supply — concerns about demand are gauche. Supply is the hot topic. Indeed our housing crisis is often described flatly as a “housing shortage.” The conventional wisdom stops here claiming that if we increase supply prices will fall. It’s true that we’ve seen the dire consequences of not building enough. In the 40 years since 1980 production has lagged and home prices (adjusting for inflation) have risen by 161%, according to Census data. But it’s hard to argue that we’ve never built enough. In the 40 years between 1940 and 1980, we built more homes than the rest of the U.S. on a per capita basis. Units per capita increased by 62%, our housing stock by 268%. The results were equally bad as when we didn’t build: home prices rose by 510%, adjusting for inflation. It seems whether we build or don’t, in Hawaii prices rise. This really shouldn’t be surprising. Everyone engaged in building homes in Hawaii benefits when prices go up, and they’re good at their job. The solution to this problem isn’t in the debate we see play out constantly between NIMBYs and YIMBYs (“not in my backyard” and “yes in my back yard”); both have had their crack at the problem. It’s instead something quite different, rooted in how property markets actually work, and our actual problems. Let’s call it LIMBY — locals in my backyard. LIMBYs know we need supply, but think it’s ridiculous to ignore the other side of pricing: demand. LIMBYs also think it’s silly to ignore how markets work and how land is priced to guarantee a return on investment determined more by Wall Street’s requirements than by local incomes. The solution that works through these tangled problems, that can better leverage public investment in housing, that can build a housing market tied to local incomes, is a land trust and limited-profit developers. Land trusts provide a ready mechanism to eliminate land speculation and thereby limit price increases. A limited-profit developer creates competition in the market to price development as a simple percentage of gross costs rather than a return on investment set by capital markets. These aren’t untested ideas. Land trusts underpin affordable housing across the globe — most notably in Vermont. Limited-profit developers are critical for housing development in Singapore and Austria. A raft of other changes are needed to shore up things now and help us build that market. State Sen. Stanley Chang has pending legislation to retool our state financing programs, which are currently giveaways to well-connected developers. Chang wants programs to direct developers toward actually affordable housing, and we agree. State Rep. Tina Grandinetti has introduced a slew of bills to make sure tenants in naturally affordable housing are protected — and they should be. State Rep. Amy Perruso and state Sen. Les Ihara have introduced legislation to study how to better create a housing market for locals, using state resources and trusts based on ideas from local developer Peter Savio. Hawaii ought to be a place where you are more likely to make it here if you were grown here. As our housing crisis has steadily gotten worse, you’re now more likely to own a home in Hawaii if you were flown here. Creating a housing market for locals is the only path forward.

Offenders of minor crimes face revolving door at overcrowded state hospital Hawaii News Now Daryl Huff October 21, 2025 Original Article HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) - Hawaii State Hospital is operating at 30% over capacity, creating a revolving door for homeless people with mental illness who commit minor crimes, officials told state senators Monday. The overcrowded facility has become overwhelmed by non-violent mentally ill people arrested for minor offenses like sleeping in parks or trespassing. A law enacted five years ago set time limits on how long individuals can be held for evaluation, forcing early releases before treatment is complete. “They are expedited and they need to be released after seven days,” said hospital administrator Mark Lindscott. Admissions surge strains system Hospital admissions have increased to over 600 per year, with two-thirds of patients having been hospitalized previously and at least 22% experiencing homelessness. People being evaluated make up 18% of the patient population. “We try to connect them with IHS (The Institute for Human Services), other places so that they actually have a good discharge plan and a safe one. They often self-sabotage,” Lindscott said. The overcrowding prevents people who need commitment but haven’t committed crimes from being admitted. Prison facilities cannot accommodate the overflow due to inadequate mental health resources. “We can’t provide a level of care that they need to have them in an incarceral setting when they need to be in a therapeutic setting only damages them more, I believe,” said Tommy Johnson, Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation director. Johnson reported having an alarming number of mentally ill people at Halawa Prison. “We cannot now take more bodies in when the experts are already telling us that we have 40-something people that need to go somewhere,” he said. Limited solutions explored The Hawaii Department of Health has moved about 100 patients to other facilities, but senators say the measure is insufficient. “I wanted the public to know how dire it was at the Hawaii State Hospital. We are trying to find solutions to decompress what is going on,” said Sen. Joy San Buenaventura. Senators plan to push for more supportive housing in the community and new health department facilities for evaluating people, hoping to open beds for individuals who need commitment but haven’t committed crimes.

Hawaii Leads Nation: Ends Extreme Sentencing & Adult Prison for Kids, Embraces Trauma-Informed Justice The Honolulu Herald Johanna Olivas June 30, 2025 Original Article "As a physician and public servant, I believe we have a moral obligation to protect the well-being of all children—especially those who have experienced trauma, abuse, or hardship," said Governor Josh Green, M.D. "These new laws reflect Hawaii’s deep commitment to treating kids with compassion and dignity, not punishment. By keeping children out of adult jails and prisons, ending mandatory minimum sentences for youth, and ensuring judges consider the full context of a child’s life, we are creating a justice system that sees children as they are: still growing, still healing, and still full of potential." Together, these reforms ban the incarceration of youth in adult jails and prisons, end mandatory minimum sentencing for children, and establish a minimum age of 12 for prosecution—placing Hawaii among a small group of states leading the nation in child-centered criminal justice policy. "These reforms recognize that all children deserve to have their human rights protected even when they make mistakes,” said Senator Mike Gabbard, who championed the legislation. “For our youngest na keiki, that means addressing behavioral issues with treatment and services outside of carceral settings. It also means that if incarceration becomes necessary for older youth, they are treated in an age-appropriate and trauma-informed manner. These laws will ensure our keiki receive that grace and the opportunity to heal from the trauma that often leads to their system involvement.” Highlights of the New Laws: SB 694: Prohibits the housing of children in adult jails, lock-ups, and prisons. This law addresses alarming data showing youth held with adults face dramatically higher risks of sexual abuse, physical assault, and suicide. SB 691: Establishes a minimum age of 12 for prosecuting or adjudicating children delinquent, with no exceptions. Hawaii becomes just the third state in the nation with this level of protection. SB 544: Ends mandatory minimum sentencing for youth and requires judges to consider a child’s full history—including Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs)—before sentencing. Hawaii joins just five other states that have eliminated mandatory minimums for children prosecuted as adults. "We are grateful for the moral leadership of Governor Green and Senator Gabbard in making Hawaii the best state in the country when it comes to protecting the human rights of system-involved youth," said James Dold, Founder and CEO of Human Rights for Kids. “Hawaii is a shining example of how data, science, and compassion can come together to create policies that prioritize healing and opportunity over punishment and harm.” These sweeping reforms come at a critical time. Research shows that children exposed to incarceration, solitary confinement, and harsh sentencing are more likely to experience further trauma, have their brain development disrupted, and face increased risks of recidivism. "Arrest and incarceration are deeply traumatic, punitive, and expensive responses to childhood behavior," said Jolene Forman, Chief Program and Advocacy Officer of The Just Trust, a national funder of youth justice reform. "We applaud any state seeking alternative models of accountability for kids to reduce future harm for individuals, their families, and broader communities." About Human Rights for Kids Human Rights for Kids is a non-profit organization dedicated to the promotion and protection of the human rights of children. We use an integrated, multi-faceted approach which consists of research & public education, coalition building & grassroots mobilization, and policy advocacy & strategic litigation to advance critical human rights on behalf of children in the United States and around the world. Human Rights for Kids is particularly grateful to our partner, The Just Trust, for supporting our state-level advocacy on behalf of children around the country. Johanna Olivas Human Rights for Kids jolivas@humanrightsforkids.org Legal Disclaimer: EIN Presswire provides this news content "as is" without warranty of any kind. We do not accept any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images, videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information contained in this article. If you have any complaints or copyright issues related to this article, kindly contact the author above.

MAHALO SENATOR ELEFANTE – SENATE PUBLIC SAFETY AND MILITARY AFFAIRS COMMITTEE HOLDS SERIES OF HEARINGS ON ILLEGAL FIREWORKS BILLS myPearlCity.com PC Community February 6, 2025 Original Article HONOLULU – The Senate Committee on Public Safety and Military Affairs (PSM), chaired by Senator Brandon Elefante (Senate District 16 – ‘Aiea, ‘Aiea Heights, Hālawa, Pearlridge, Newtown, Royal Summit, Waimalu, Waiau, Momilani, Pacific Palisades, and Pearl City), completed a series of significant hearings today addressing legislation aimed at combatting illegal fireworks in communities across Hawai‘i. Three separate hearings held at the Hawai‘i State Capitol went over several key bills that focus on strengthening enforcement measures and penalties related to illegal fireworks use. A priority for the Senate, these bills aim to enhance public safety and respond to the increasing concerns about the dangerous and disruptive use of fireworks. The following bills were heard today: SB 999 : this bill would ban the use and sale of consumer fireworks, set fines for breaking the law, and create a fund to support safety education programs using money from the fines and seized property; the committees who heard the bill (PSM/CPN) deferred it to Monday, February 10 for decision-making. SB 1226 : this bill aims to create a program to inspect shipping containers, require the Department of Law Enforcement to report on the program’s effectiveness, and provide money to support the program. The TCA/PSM committees passed the bill with amendments. SB 302 : this piece of legislation would limit the use of consumer fireworks to only approved cultural events with a permit, ban selling them without a permit, and add a fee for those permits. The TCA/PSM committees passed the bill with amendments. SB 1324 : this bill would increase penalties for fireworks-related injuries or deaths, create new criminal offenses for illegal fireworks actions, and set up a system to handle fireworks violations. The PSM/TCA committees passed the bill with amendments. SB 227 would create a new division to enforce laws against illegal fireworks. It was passed unamended. SB 476 would raise the fines for certain fireworks violations, starting on July 1, 2025. The bill was deferred. SB 222 : this bill provides more funding for the illegal fireworks task force for the next few years until June 30, 2030. It was passed unamended. Senator Elefante emphasized the critical nature of these discussions, noting that illegal fireworks not only pose safety hazards but also disturb residents, pets, and local wildlife. “Today’s hearings represent a major step forward in ensuring the safety and well-being of our communities,” said Senator Elefante. “By strengthening enforcement and increasing penalties, we are sending a clear message that the unlawful use of fireworks will not be tolerated.” The bills are part of ongoing efforts to address the rising concerns over fireworks-related incidents, including fires, injuries, and public disturbances, especially in light of the tragedies that happened in the state at the beginning of this year. Senate Committee acronyms, for reference: PSM: Public Safety and Military Affairs CPN: Commerce and Consumer Protection TCA: Transportation and Culture and the Arts ABOUT THE HAWAIʻI STATE SENATE MAJORITY The Hawaiʻi State Senate consists of 25 members who serve staggered four-year terms. The Senate Majority consists of 22 Democrats for the 33rd Legislature, which convened on January 15, 2025. For the latest news and updates, follow the Senate Majority on Facebook, Instagram, or visit https://www.hawaiisenatemajority.com .

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.

State legislature hear proposed bills advocating for Hawaiʻi's keiki Kauai Now N/A January 28, 2025 Original Article Hawaiʻi state legislators and community advocates joined together to present the 2025 Keiki Caucus Bill Package and priorities dedicated to improving the lives of Hawaiʻi’s children and families. The Keiki Caucus, established in 1994, is a collaboration between Hawaiʻi state legislators, community leaders, and youth-centered organizations who come together to propose, draft, support, and implement policy changes that will improve the lives of Hawaiʻi’s young people. The Keiki Caucus is co-convened by Sen. Joy A. San Buenaventura representing Puna, Rep. Lisa Marten representing Waimānalo, Keolu Hills, Lanikai and parts of Kailua, and Rep. Ikaika Olds representing McCully-Mōʻiliʻili. Legislators identified five top priority issues impacting Hawaiʻi’s youth and families for the upcoming legislative session. They include: Tax credits for household and dependent care services; Funding for community schools; Paid family leave; E-cigarette regulation; Universal free school breakfast and lunches. “During the interim, we collaborated with community advocates to develop proposals that address top-of-mind issues such as the rising cost of childcare, which significantly impacts the cost of living for Hawaiʻi’s keiki and families,” said Keiki Caucus co-convenor and Representative Lisa Marten. “We also identified ways to support our youth in schools, ensuring they receive a quality education while feeling empowered and supported to succeed.” The 2025 Keiki Caucus Bill Package consists of the following measures: HB753 – Relating to the Household and Dependent Care Services Tax Credit Increases a taxpayer’s applicable percentage of employment-related expenses that is used to calculate the household and dependent care services tax credit. Extends the sunset date of the temporary increase in maximum employment-related expenses that are used to calculate the household and dependent care services tax credit, established by Act 163, SLH 2023, to 6/30/2030. Sunsets 6/30/2030. HB754 / SB821 – Relating to Community Schools Appropriates funds to the Department of Education for community schools and a program manager position. HB755 / SB852 – Relating to Paid Family Leave By 1/1/2028, requires the Department of Labor and Industrial Relations to establish a family and medical leave insurance program and begin collecting payroll contributions to finance payment of benefits. By 1/1/2029, requires the Department to start receiving claims and paying benefits under the program. Specifies eligibility requirements and employee protections under the program. HB756 / SB972 – Relating to Health (E-Liquids) Prohibits the sale of flavored nicotine products and the mislabeling of e-liquids as nicotine-free, Establishes penalties for violations, Authorizes the Department of Health to appoint, commission, or contract for services of inspectors, Establishes two full-time equivalent program specialist positions and one full-time equivalent hearing officer position. HB757 – Relating to Education Beginning with the 2025-2026 school year, requires the Department of Education to provide free breakfast and lunch to all students enrolled in department schools. Community advocates from Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids, Ceeds of Peace, Hawaiʻi Afterschool Alliance, Hawaiʻi Appleseed, and Hawaiʻi Children’s Action Network Speaks! rallied their support for the bills outlined in today’s press conference. The Keiki Caucus, established in 1994, is a collaboration between Hawaiʻi state legislators, community leaders, and youth-centered organizations who come together to propose, draft, support, and implement policy changes that will improve the lives of Hawaiʻi’s young people.

New library underway in Upper Puna Aloha State Daily Katie Helland November 13, 2025 Original Article The community gathered to break ground on a new library that will serve residents in Upper Puna on Monday, Nov. 10. Construction of the 13,885-square-foot building is expected to cost about $20 million and take at least two years, according to representatives of the Hawai’i State Public Library System. The one-story library will go up in the vacant lot adjacent to the existing Keaʻau Public and School Library. It will also include a separate community meeting room with an outdoor lanai. “We’re really happy to begin construction on this new library,” said Stacey Aldrich , the state librarian, in a statement. “This growing community deserves a library that can be a true hub for reading, learning and connecting. We are increasing the space available for collections, adding a tech lab to support current technology, and provide small and larger rooms for community use.” The Hawai’i State Public Library System has more than 50 branches across six islands , including Hawai’i Island, Lānaʻi, Maui, Molokai, Kauai and Oʻahu, according to its website. Library cards are free for kamaʻāina and military personnel as well as their dependents. To get a card, adults must present a valid photo identification card and proof of mailing address, if that is not listed on their identification card. Details.

This Senator Thinks Trump Is A Danger To Hawaiʻi. He Hopes To Convince You Too Civil Beat Chad Blair July 20, 2025 Original Article Frustrated by what he sees as a near existential threat to Hawaiʻi from President Donald Trump, a state senator wants to raise public awareness of the impact of the president’s policies on the islands. Karl Rhoads, the chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, is planning a series of public briefings at the Legislature to hear from congressional leaders and others. The goal is to get real-time updates from the experts on exactly how Hawaiʻi is impacted by the Trump administration, and to strategize what can be done about it. The first informational briefing is set for July 31 and will feature U.S. Rep. Ed Case discussing nothing short of “the Rule of Law,” as the agenda notice promises. In an interview with Rhoads at his State Capitol office last week, the senator elaborated on his views about how Trump is ignoring the rule of law, especially when it comes to immigration, taxes, tariffs and grants — “The whole soup to nuts,” Rhoads said — pointing to ongoing national media reports on the Trump actions as well as Civil Beat’s own reporting. Among his concerns are the gutting of the United States Agency for International Development by Elon Musk, now on life support under the control of Marco Rubio’s State Department, and the cuts to the federal Department of Education, which Trump wants to abolish. Can Trump, Rhoads asks, legally shut down entire programs created or funded by Congress, a separate branch of government? “Now you might be able to downsize it,” he said. “And I think the Trump guys are slowly figuring it out that they can. I mean, they’re pushing the boundaries at every point they can. They’re bleeding them to death, basically.” Adding to his frustration is that, while the courts have frequently blocked many of Trump’s actions, extensive damage has already been done. Rhoads is also baffled by the U.S. Supreme Court’s response on several Trump initiatives, including appearing sympathetic to challenging birthright citizenship. “Even if the courts come back and say, ‘No, you shouldn’t have done that,’ it’s too late, because everybody who worked there has been out of a job for four or six months or whatever it turns out to be at that point,” said Rhoads. It will take organizations years to recreate the same expertise that was lost with all the firings and layoffs, he said. “A lot of them probably won’t come back because they’re like, ‘What’s to keep Trump from doing that again?’” Law And Politics As judiciary chair, Rhoads knows well the responsibility and authority of the courts. His committee evaluates nominations of judges and justices. His education and professional career are also rooted in the law. Rhoads holds a law degree from George Washington University and was a summer clerk for a U.S. Intermediate Court of Appeals judge and practiced law for two years. He also understands how other branches of the federal government work, and he understands politics. Before coming to Hawaiʻi, Rhoads served as a legislative assistant for U.S. Rep. Eliot Engle of New York, as a legislative aide to former U.S. Rep. Louise Slaughter of New York and as an intern for former U.S. Sen. John Kerry of Massachusetts. Rhoads is not shy about his disdain for the current occupant of 1600 Pennsylvania Ave. “Proudly a ‘never-Trumper’,” he said. “From the very moment he set foot on the stage, I was like, ‘He’s a joke’.” Rhoads is well aware that politics has always been “a rough and tumble sport,” as he puts it. Where the country is under Trump, he says, is in many ways a “logical conclusion” from the ugly fights that were going on in the 1990s, like the savaging of Hillary Clinton and her proposal for universal health care and the rise of Newt Gingrich and his slash-and-burn Contract with America manifesto on government reform. But what has transpired over the past six months, in Rhoads’s view, is at a different level, and he worries how it will hurt Hawaiʻi. “As judiciary chair, I’m interested primarily in the legal aspect of it,” he said. “The ‘big ugly bill’ is probably the biggest thing that will affect us. I’ve been told already that 47,000 people will lose Medicaid under Med-QUEST coverage. That’s like the size of my entire district.” To Rhoads, everything that Trump and his team want is “completely opposed” to what Hawaiʻi stands for. His outspokenness has not gone unnoticed. Rhoads received threats for pushing an assault-weapons ban at the Legislature last session, a measure that was scuttled by local politics. At the beginning of session, in January, he also received a call from someone claiming to work for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. “You have no idea what we do for a living,” said the caller, who had a Southern California area code. “You are wholly uneducated on the subject, and maybe you should just focus on the potholes in your district, which are atrocious, and on the level with a Third World country.” Rhoads, who kept that recording and others, said the threats are being investigated by the Attorney General’s Office. Shedding Light Rhoads’ thinks his info briefings, which will be held through the legislative interim, can shed light on critical issues of the day by inviting experts to share what they know and letting lawmakers like him ask questions. No public testimony will be allowed. Other briefings from Rhoads and his committee will examine democratic erosion in other countries. He also would like to bring in Attorney General Anne Lopez or her staff. Rhoads said there is little the Legislature can do about Trump, except for making changes to budget funding and local taxes to cover any cuts. But that does not appear to be a priority for now. Gov. Josh Green and Senate leadership said this month they don’t think a special session will be needed. House Speaker Nadine Nakamura said in an email statement Friday that lawmakers have reserved potential dates for a special session, “but it will not be clear whether we need one until the scope of federal budget cuts are clear.” The deadline for that budget is Sept 30. In the meantime, Rhoads praises Lopez and other Democratic attorneys general for successfully challenging Trump in court on some issues. Just last week Hawaiʻi joined a coalition of 24 states and the District of Columbia suing the administration over its “unconstitutional, unlawful, and arbitrary decision” to freeze billions in federal funding just weeks before the school year in Hawaiʻi is set to start. “I want people to realize that what the federal administration is doing does have an impact on Hawaiʻi,” said Rhoads. “Sometimes people sort of feel like, ‘Yeah, you know, it’s all happening in Washington. Nothing’s going to change.’ It’s just not true. It’s taken a bite out of our budgets.” Ultimately, it’s the courts and Congress that are the first line of defense against this White House. But that doesn’t mean everyone else should just do nothing, Rhoads said. “I think everybody who views Trump as a threat to democracy has to do their part, and that’s why I’m working on this stuff,” he said. “I realize being a state senator from Hawaiʻi in the broad scheme of things isn’t that big a deal, but everybody has to do their part.” Civil Beat’s reporting on the Hawaiʻi State Legislature is supported in part by the Donald and Astrid Monson Education Fund.