MEO installs board members for 2025-26, marks 60-year anniversary Maui Now July 9, 2025 Original Article Maui Economic Opportunity’s 60th-year Board of Directors, led again by Carol Reimann, were installed last month with Mayor Richard Bissen, Lt. Gov. Sylvia Luke and state Sen. Lynn DeCoite joining the candle-themed ceremony. “The county deeply values MEO as a key partner,” said Mayor Richard Bissen at the June 26 event in MEO’s Wailuku classroom. “They address our housing insecurity, our economic hardship to our citizens, and, of course, many of the challenges that all of our residents face here. “Over the decades, MEO has grown into a trusted network of care, offering transportation to kūpuna, preschool to keiki, and support for small businesses and much more. The county stands with MEO as we take on this kuleana together. We are guided by aloha, by collaboration and by hope.” About 40 community and business leaders, state and county officials and MEO board members and staff participated in the event with retired Judge Rhonda Loo installing the new officers and board. The annual board installation also marked MEO’s 60th year since establishment in March 1965. Board officers for the 2025-26 fiscal year that runs from July 1 to June 30, 2026, includes Reimann, who will be serving her third term as president; Ned Davis, vice president; Cliff Alakai, treasurer; and Reuben Ignacio, secretary. In their remarks to the gathering, Luke and DeCoite lauded the work of MEO and other nonprofit boards in the community. The lieutenant governor noted that MEO assists “the most vulnerable populations” and “that’s why even more so, boards like this are so important because of the role that you fill in taking care of all our `ohana.” DeCoite said that nonprofit boards operate behind the scenes but “are absolutely essential in our communities.” “They are the stewards of mission, the keepers of vision and protectors of integrity,” she said. “Boards guide our strategy, ensure accountability, and they make the hard decisions that keep organizations, not just running, but thriving.” Director of Council Services David Raatz, an MEO board member who represents the Maui County Council, gave a shout out to MEO leaders and staff. “It’s not just MEO’s programs, but it’s MEO’s people that make a difference,” he said. “And as someone who has been fortunate to be a board member for the last two years, I have seen firsthand that everyone in this organization exhibits professionalism, compassion and ingenuity. “There’s things that come up . . . that are never planned for, and they have the ability to pivot quickly, make best available use of resources and serve the community.” MEO assisted 30,500 individuals and touched nearly 55,000 lives in the last fiscal year, CEO Debbie Cabebe said. Judge Loo installed board officers and members with a candle theme, noting that the candle and its light are symbols of hope, remembrance and connection. “The humble candle holds a timeless significance,” she said. MEO’s board consists of 21 members with seven members each representing government, businesses and community interests and those assisted. In addition to the officers, the board includes: Emmanuel Baltazar, Dawn Bicoy, Mindy Bolo, Arleen Gerbig, Cynthia Lallo, Gemma Medina, Caitlin Musson, Crystal Nakihei, Scott Okada, Kai Pelayo, Bard Peterson, Raatz, Adele Rugg, Sandy Ryan, Tessie Segui, Desi Ting and Glenn Yamasaki. From two programs established in 1965, MEO currently runs more than 30 programs that offer diverse assistance for people in need including transport for persons with disabilities, Head Start preschool for low income residents, rent and utility support, youth alcohol/drug/suicide prevention, business planning classes and more. “As you folks all enter your 60 years of service, we reflect with gratitude, and we look ahead with confidence in your continued mission,” said Bissen. “The county honors our continued partnership, and we are rooted in a shared commitment to serve, to uplift and to empower our entire community.” For information about MEO programs, call (808) 249-2990.

Legislative measure would have state acquire all West Maui water systems through eminent domain Maui Now Brian Perry January 16, 2025 Original Article Waterfalls could be seen in the hills above Launiupoko in West Maui. A bill introduced in the state Legislature would require the state to acquire all West Maui water systems through eminent domain. File photo (3.13.21) PC: Barbie GreenhalghThe state Department of Land and Natural Resources would be required to acquire all West Maui water systems through eminent domain and then hold them in trust for the management by Maui County, according to a bill introduced this legislative session. Senate Bill 386 has been proposed by Maui Sens. Angus McKelvey (West and South Maui, Mā‘alaea and Waikapū) and Lynn DeCoite (Hāna, East and Upcountry Maui, Moloka‘i, Lāna‘i, Kaho‘olawe and Molokini); Oʻahu Sens. Stanley Chang (Hawai‘i Kai, Kuli‘ou‘ou, Niu, ‘Āina Haina, Wai‘alae-Kāhala, Diamond Head, Kaimukī, Kapahulu), chair of the Senate Housing Committee; Republican Kurt Fevella (‘Ewa Beach, Ocean Pointe, ‘Ewa by Gentry, Iroquois Point, portion of ‘Ewa Villages); and Hawaiʻi Island Sen. Joy San Buenaventura (Puna). The bill’s legislative finding says that “West Maui’s water resources are under significant strain due to prolonged drought conditions, climate change and increased demand from private entities controlling approximately 80% of these resources, supplying water to hotels, golf courses and large estates. The 2023 Maui wildfires, exacerbated by invasive grasses and limited water availability, highlighted the critical need for improved water management and accessibility.” The measure also says that the diversion of streams for private use has negatively affected traditional Native Hawaiian agricultural practices and the ecological health of the region. According to the bill, “it is imperative to assert public control over West Maui’s water systems to ensure equitable distribution, enhance resilience against climate-induced droughts and wildfires, and uphold the public trust doctrine enshrined in the Hawaiʻi State Constitution.”

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

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

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

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

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

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Hawaiʻi officials could borrow from New Zealand's strict, well-funded biosecurity Hawaiʻi Public Radio Mark Ladao December 6, 2024 Original Article Hawaiʻi officials are looking to New Zealand to help shore up its own biosecurity efforts. A group of key state lawmakers and staff, including those from the state Department of Agriculture, visited New Zealand in September to learn more about how the island nation prevents and manages invasive species. At a recent Hawaiʻi Board of Agriculture meeting, Jonathan Ho, the manager for the department’s Plant Quarantine Branch, noted some of the ways New Zealand prevents pests from entering and becoming established. “To compare to New Zealand, I think per capita they spend about 10 times what we do,” he said. “They focus very heavily on pre-entry, so trying to force as much of the inspections, the treatments, compliance agreements — all of that stuff outside the border prior to entry." State Sen. Donovan Dela Cruz was one of the lawmakers who made the September trip, and in a newsletter, he noted that New Zealand has what is “widely considered to be the best biosecurity system in the world.” His newsletter said that New Zealand has a three-tiered biosecurity system that starts with cleanliness requirements for the goods — and the ships carrying the goods — before they enter the country. Detector dogs, physical inspections and disposal techniques also filter out pests and unwanted species at the border before they can spread. After that, the country has rigorous surveillance and response mechanisms in place. Ho said that additional funding would help invasive species management, but that Hawaiʻi’s dependence on imports, one of the primary ways invasive species end up in the islands, coupled with its lack of resources and inadequate regulations makes pest introduction always a possibility. “We import 90% of our goods, and I don't see that changing any time soon. And as long as there is imported goods, there is going to be risks,” Ho said. The state agriculture department only has 89 inspectors to check goods imported into Hawaiʻi, and they only check about 10% to 15% of the goods, Ho said. Pre-border requirements on goods and vessels to ensure that pests don’t even make it to Hawaiʻi would be helpful, but Ho said it’s more difficult for a state to make those rules than it is for a country like New Zealand. Requests for more biosecurity funding and policy changes are likely to come in the upcoming state legislative session.

Lawmakers Worry Hawaiʻi’s Emissions Goals Could Leave Some In The Dust Civil Beat Marcel Honoré June 26, 2025 Original Article State officials have a new roadmap to decarbonize the cars, planes and ships that form Hawaiʻi’s transportation sector, they told legislators on Wednesday – almost exactly one year after they signed a landmark settlement with youth climate activists to ramp up those efforts. That plan, Hawaiʻi Department of Transportation Director Ed Sniffen said, will be released Friday. It largely involves converting those vehicles to cleaner fuels , plus adding more pedestrian paths , bike lanes and public transit options, to help the state hit its goal of phasing out carbon emissions by 2045. It comes after a group of 13 local youths, including many Native Hawaiians, sued Sniffen’s department in 2022, saying transportation remained the state’s largest emissions polluter, was on the wrong track and threatened their traditional ways of life and rights to a clean environment. 📷Vehicles head east bound on H1 Lunalilo Freeway before the Punahou offramp. Vehicles clog the H1 Freeway near the Punahou offramp. The state’s Department of Transportation is ramping up efforts to decarbonize vehicles across Hawaiʻi, but lawmakers want to balance those efforts with local affordability. (Cory Lum/Civil Beat/2022) The parties settled last year, however, and agreed to work together on the state’s ambitious goals. Isaac Moriwake, an EarthJustice attorney who represented the youth in the lawsuit, Navahine v. Hawaiʻi Department of Transportation , helped Sniffen deliver the briefing on Wednesday. Lawmakers lauded their joint efforts under the first-of-its-kind climate settlement, but they also expressed concerns over cost increases to fuel and everyday goods that local residents would face as a result. “I’m all for the decarbonization of Hawaii, but this has always been my main issue,” Nānākuli Rep. Darius Kila said, “You (are) asking folks to move toward a green infrastructure who don’t have green, right? Not everybody can afford an electric vehicle.” “It’s this constant moving forward,” Kila added. “You forget that there are people who are still trying to catch up.” Other legislators echoed Kila, saying the state’s ambitious and aggressive steps to decarbonize had to be equitable and assist many Hawaiʻi residents in that transition, particularly those in rural areas, so that they don’t get left behind. “We don’t just want a transition,” Rep. Tina Grandinetti said. “We want a just transition.” 📷State Rep. Darius Kila holds a West Oahu Town Hall on public safety Monday, Sept. 16, 2024, at Nanakuli High and Intermediate School in Waianae. He was joined by City Council member Andria Tupola, Honolulu Police Department Chief Joe Logan, Major Gail Beckley and Department of Law Enforcement Deputy Director Jared Redulla. Nānākuli Rep. Darius Kila: As the state surges forward with decarbonization goals, “there are people who are still trying to catch up.” (Kevin Fujii/Civil Beat/2024) Cost Of Compliance Remains Unknown It’s not yet clear exactly how the state’s zero-emissions goals might impact local families’ pocketbooks. Laura Kaakua, the transportation department’s energy security and outreach manager, said the agency aims to have some financial figures for the Legislature to review before its session next year. Nonetheless, the cost affiliated with converting Hawaiʻi’s transportation sector are expected to be relatively short-term so that residents can benefit from long-term savings in their fuel and energy costs, Sen. Chris Lee and Rep. Nicole Lowen said during the briefing. They’re among the Legislature’s most outspoken proponents for climate action. Brenton Awa, a Republican senator who represents much of Oʻahu’s Windward side and North Shore, said the decarbonization plan shouldn’t proceed at all if it results in any cost increases, even if those costs are short-term. Awa said he’s particularly worried about the continued, gradual exodus of Native Hawaiians off of the islands. The lawsuit that helped spur the transportation department’s new decarbonization plan, however, was largely brought by Native Hawaiian youth, represented by environmental legal advocacy groups, who fear climate change is already eroding their ability to live in the islands as their families have for generations . Sniffen, meanwhile, said that the aviation industry has reported it would cost about $1 billion more to convert to sustainable fuels by 2045 instead of five years later, in 2050. He told lawmakers that he needs to get a better sense of how locals would be hit by the short-term costs before recommending whether to keep the 2045 goals or push some of those goals out to later years. In the meantime, he said, he’s following the state’s climate goals as laid out by law. “Once I get that opportunity… then I can recommend to you what I would (support) based on getting to that green future that we want,” Sniffen said, “but also making sure that people can actually live here.” “I mean, that’s where I want to get to.” Civil Beat’s coverage of climate change and the environment is supported by The Healy Foundation, the Marisla Fund of the Hawai‘i Community Foundation and the Frost Family Foundation.

Lawmakers OK about 250 bills Honolulu Star-Advertiser Andrew Gomes and Dan Nakaso May 1, 2025 Original Article The state Legislature gave final approval to about 250 bills Wednesday during several hours of voting that included a surprise defeat of a gun-control measure. Approved bills now poised to become law pending decisions by Gov. Josh Green include measures to turn up illegal fireworks pursuit and punishment, regulate future catastrophic wildfire damage liability and fund the state government for the next two fiscal years as risks of an economic downturn loom due to federal government policies. Senate President Ron Kouchi gave the Senate an “I” letter grade for its work this year, meaning incomplete, given that he and other legislative leaders expect there will be a need to call a special session before 2026 to respond to state fiscal landscape changes stemming from federal funding cutbacks, tariffs and other things coming out of the of Trump administration. “With what is looming federally and the uncertainty, we have been trying to make the best decisions that we can without knowing if it’s going to stick,” Kouchi (D, Kauai-Niihau) said at a news conference after the Senate’s roughly four-hour floor session at the state Capitol. Because the federal fiscal year begins Oct. 1, Kouchi anticipated possibly holding a special legislative session in November. House Speaker Nadine Nakamura also is preparing for a special session, which she said could run five days, though she did not project a timetable. The state budget bill, according to House Finance Committee Chair Rep. Kyle Yamashita, is projected to leave the state general fund with a $756 million balance at the end of the next fiscal year on June 30, 2026. But Yamashita (D, Pukalani-Makawao-Ulupalakua) said this amount could change if Hawaii’s economy suffers and state tax revenue collections fall. That, in turn, could require adjustments to state spending, and could be compounded if big federal funding cuts are made to state programs. The state budget bill, House Bill 300, appropriates $19.9 billion in spending on state government operations for the fiscal year beginning July 1, including $10.6 billion from the state general fund sustained by tax revenue. One high-priority issue partly addressed in the budget is to crack down on the importation and use of illegal fireworks as part of a effort to prevent tragedies like the Jan. 1 fireworks explosion at a home in Aliamanu that killed six people and wounded dozens. State appropriations in the budget bill or other bills also include $300 million for affordable housing and $50 million for nonprofits that lose federal funding. Another bill passed Wednesday would increase and expand the state’s hotel room tax, and direct some of the additional revenue to equally pay for natural resource management, climate-related disaster mitigation and mitigating tourism impacts on the natural environment. “We know that our environment is our economy,” said Nakamura (D, Hanalei-Princeville-Kapaa). Nakamura, who became House speaker this year, gave the House an “A” grade for the quantity and quality of bills passed after almost 3,200 bills were introduced in January. “It’s been an incredible first-year experience,” she said at a news conference after the more than six-hour House floor session. “I’m really proud of what we were able to accomplish.” A few bills on Wednesday failed to pass because of flaws. One of those was Senate Bill 1396, the hotel room tax measure, though floor amendments were made so that it can receive final approval Friday, the last day of this year’s regular session. There was critical debate on a few bills Wednesday, including one to toughen Hawaii’s gun-control law. SB 401 aimed to ban the transfer, sale and importation of assault rifles, assault shotguns and .50 caliber firearms beginning Jan. 1. Instead, it was shot down by the slimmest majority of senators after an initial miscount. House and Senate negotiators agreed on a compromise draft of SB 401 Friday. Yet Sen. Lynn DeCoite (D, East and Upcountry Maui-Molokai-Lanai) on Wednesday offered a new draft on the Senate chamber floor to in part grandfather existing owners and add exemptions for subsistence hunting and invasive wildlife control. Sen. Karl Rhoads (D, Nuuanu-Downtown-Iwilei) said that approving the floor amendment would kill the bill because no matching amendment was being considered in the House. The vote to adopt the amendment, by Kouchi’s initial count, failed 13-12, meaning the existing draft of the bill could be passed. Later, however, Sen. Brenton Awa (R, Kaneohe-Laie-Mokuleia) claimed that the vote actually was 13-12 in favor of adopting the floor amendment. Kouchi, who had voted to adopt the amendment, called for everyone to repeat their vote. That confirmed Awa’s claim and triggered loud applause from more than a dozen firearms advocates in the Senate gallery. Jon Abbott, who was dressed as a colonial American Revolutionary War soldier and is a director for the Hawaii Firearms Coalition, celebrated the bill’s failure shortly afterward on the Capitol rotunda with other opponents of SB 401. One of the most emotional arguments during the House floor session centered around a bill to limit where the city can establish Oahu’s next landfill to replace Waimanalo Gulch Sanitary Landfill in Nanakuli, scheduled to close March 2, 2028. If signed into law by Green, HB 969 would prevent a landfill from being built over an aquifer, after the city selected a site above an aquifer northwest of Wahiawa. The city and state Department of Health both opposed HB 969, arguing that the tighter restrictions would force it to expand Waimanalo Gulch and keep it open past its closure deadline. On Wednesday, some West Oahu House members urged their colleagues to kill the bill, but were unsuccessful. Passing HB 969 would ensure that “the Nanakuli landfill will stay open,” said Rep. Darius Kila (D, Nanakuli-Maili). Children are growing up “in the shadow” of the landfill and it needs to close, Kila said. Rep. Christopher Muraoka (R, Waianae-Makaha) was much more blunt. “We don’t need the Nanakuli landfill,” he said. “We’re sick and tired of being the trash can of the island.” The bill passed the House 42-7, and 24-1 in the Senate. Another passionate yet unsuccessful plea to kill a bill took place in the Senate. This measure, SB 897, directs the state Public Utilities Commission to determine an electric utility’s monetary liability limit for catastrophic wildfire damage for which it is responsible, with the cap potentially applying to a time period that could be many years regardless of the number of wildfire disasters in the period. Hawaiian Electric is on the hook to pay $2 billion of a $4 billion settlement over damage claims from the Aug. 8, 2023, Maui wildfire that killed 102 people and destroyed most of Lahaina. Sen. Jarrette Keohokalole urged colleagues to vote down SB 897 in part because the PUC’s role and time-based cap were added by a conference committee Friday and received no public input. Keohokalole (D, Kaneohe-Kailua) said a potential liability cap covering more than one fire is shocking. Keohokalole also said some parts of the bill are good, including allowing Hawaiian Electric to reduce financing costs to pay for wildfire mitigation. Still, he urged colleagues to do better. “What we’re doing here today is wrong, and we all know it,” he said. According to bill supporters, the PUC has more expertise than lawmakers for the task as the existing regulator for utility companies. The three-member commission assisted by staff also is to receive $500,000 via the bill to hire experts and would make decisions in a quasi-judicial process that includes public input. Any cap also would be subject to approval by Hawaii’s governor. SB 897 passed the Senate 20-5 and the House 39-10.

Senate hearing examines federal climate rollbacks and Hawaiʻi response Maui Now November 5, 2025 Original Article Hawaiʻi lawmakers heard stark warnings Monday about the risks posed by federal funding cuts and policy rollbacks to the state’s clean energy and climate initiatives. During a joint informational briefing, the Hawaiʻi State Senate Committee on Judiciary, chaired by Sen. Karl Rhoads, and the Senate Committee on Agriculture, chaired by Sen. Mike Gabbard, received testimony from Hawaiʻi Climate Change Mitigation Adaption Commission Coordinator Leah Laramee and retired Hawaiʻi Supreme Court Associate Justice Michael D. Wilson. The briefing centered on how recent federal policy actions, including the passage of the “One Big Beautiful Bill Act” in July, have jeopardized around $651 million of outstanding clean energy projects across the state. Laramee cautioned that these cuts threaten Hawaiʻi residents’ “right to health, safety and affordability,” linking climate action directly to quality of life. Laramee also listed multiple environmental- and conservation-focused programs that are facing repeal of unobligated balances by the federal goverment, including the $27 billion Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund program, most USDA agricultural conservation programs, ecosystem restoration programs, national parks, among others. She noted that the State Attorney General has had to bring or join numerous climate-related legal challenges — 41 since the beginning of the year — to protect the state’s clean energy, climate and environmental laws and policies. Former Hawaiʻi Supreme Court Associate Justice Michael D. Wilson gave a presentation to the lawmakers, titled, “The Rule of Law, Civilization’s Greatest Tool to Achieve Justice, Is Under Attack in Hawaiʻi.” In it, he discussed the growing wave of climate-related litigation (2,180 lawsuits around the world relating to climate as of December 2022), and applauded the State of Hawaiʻi for being the “bleeding front line of climate change, and the foremost champion among all states of climate rights for the future generations of our country.” He noted that Hawaiʻi’s right to bring such litigation has been threatened by the federal government’s attempts to block such litigation, while the Hawaiʻi Judiciary’s role in addressing climate change has been steadfast: “We rejected the idea that the courts don’t have a duty to protect future generations, our population, from this existential threat.” Other measures taken by the State, including the state constitutional right of every person to a “clean and healthful environment” (Article XI, Section 9) and the adoption of the goals of the Paris climate agreement, provide support when the State needs to respond to inappropriate federal action, he said. Wilson also discussed the potential economic impacts and legal ramifications of climate change in Hawaiʻi. He noted that the loss of Waikīkī Beach could result in an annual loss of $2 billion in visitor expenditures by mid-century, as an example. Both presenters offered recommendations to strengthen Hawaiʻi’s preparedness for emerging climate threats and federal actions. Suggestions included bolstering the State’s energy programs, supporting the Department of the Attorney General in climate-related litigation efforts and developing comprehensive plans to address not only the effects but also the root causes of climate change. Laramee emphasized the importance of embedding climate considerations in all areas of policy and budgeting. “The key thing is to put a climate lens on everything,” she said. “The more money that we can invest in adaptation, mitigation, resilience programs, the more money we’re going to save in the long term.” Sen. Rhoads called the briefing “a sobering reminder that climate change is not a distant or abstract issue,” and said it’s the Legislature’s responsibility to act proactively and challenge “federal actions that are likely unlawful or infringe on matters controlled by the State.” Sen. Gabbard added, “The loss of federal funding for clean energy projects threatens years of progress toward a more sustainable future. Now is the time to double down on renewable energy, local food security and climate adaptation to safeguard our islands.” A video recording of the briefing is available on YouTube. The briefing is part of a series of informational briefings on the rule of law in relation to the recent actions of the Trump Administration and how its decisions are impacting Hawaiʻi. Information about past and upcoming briefings can be accessed on the Senate Judiciary Committee webpage.