HONOLULU,HAWAIʻI —State Senator Angus McKelvey (District 6 – West Maui, Mā’alaea, Waikapū, South Maui) announces the release of $8 million in Capital Improvement Program funds for the reconstruction of the Outer Marginal Wharf at the Lāhainā Small Boat Harbor. “I want to thank the Governor for his expedient release of these funds,” McKelvey said. "With supply chain interruptions, tariffs, and other systemic failures, this is an important step forward in this time of uncertainty." McKelvey acknowledged that it does come with controversy and that he is working with community groups to address concerns they may have. "This isn't just another boat harbor, but a community asset that belongs to all, and as such, I will be working hard to ensure that the cultural and community concerns surrounding the rebuild of the harbor are addressed and that we build the harbor back in a way the Lāhainā community expect and deserve." For more information on the improvements at Lahaina Small Boat Harbor and other community projects, please contact Senator McKelvey’s office at (808) 586-6070 or senmckelvey@capitol.hawaii.gov. ### 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 convenes on January 21, 2026. For the latest news and updates, follow the Senate Majority on Facebook, Instagram, or visit https://www.hawaiisenatemajority.com.

HILO, HAWAIʻI - Senator Lorraine R. Inouye (District 1 – Hilo, Paukaʻa, Papaʻikou, Pepeʻekeo) is proud to announce that $450,000 in Capital Improvement Program (CIP) Grant-in-Aid funds have been released by Governor Josh Green to support improvements at the Boys & Girls Club of the Big Island Youth Resource Center in Hilo.   The funding will support construction, improvements, and maintenance of the youth resource center, helping ensure a safe and supportive space for keiki and families in East Hawaiʻi.   “I thank Governor Green and his administration for releasing these funds to support our youth and strengthen an important community resource,” said Senator Inouye.   The project reflects the state’s continued commitment to investing in community infrastructure and building a stronger, more sustainable future for Hawaiʻi Island. ###

HONOLULU, HAWAIʻI – The Hawai’i Senate Majority today announced its 2026 legislative priorities in advance of the Hawai’i State Legislature’s Opening Day on Wednesday, January 21, 2026.   "As Hawai’i continues to face rising costs and economic uncertainty, the Hawai’i Senate Majority is advancing a legislative agenda centered on affordability, resilience, and equity,” said Senate Majority Leader Dru Mamo Kanuha (District 3 - Kona, Ka’u, and Volcano). “These priorities reflect our responsibility to protect essential services, support working families, and ensure a sustainable future for our State.”   The Hawai’i Senate Majority has identified the following priorities as areas of focus for this year:   Housing and Affordability Housing and affordability remain a key priority for the Senate. The Senate remains committed to addressing the state’s housing crisis by advancing proposals that expand the supply of affordable housing through streamlined development processes. These efforts include providing financial subsidies, tax credits, and general excise tax (GET) exemptions, as well as supporting workforce housing, the Department of Hawaiian Homelands (DHHL), and homeownership programs.   The Senate will pursue measures to make homeownership assistance programs more accessible and attractive to prospective buyers, while strengthening the authority and resources of the Hawai’i Housing Finance and Development Corporation (HHFDC) and the Hawai’i Public Housing Authority (HPHA), including support for staff recruitment and retention. These efforts will be complemented by initiatives to convert underutilized commercial properties into housing, modernize the landlord-tenant code, strengthen housing finance tools, and establish fast-revolving funds to accelerate housing production statewide.   Additionally, the Senate will focus on providing financial relief to residents from rising property insurance and maintenance costs affecting high-rise condominium owners.  The Senate will also work to establish intergovernmental state-county coordination of housing incentives and reports regarding available housing for Hawai’i’s local workforce.   Workforce Development and Economic Diversification The Senate will prioritize investments in workforce development initiatives that strengthen education-to-career pathways and align training with current and emerging workforce needs. These efforts include supporting education and industry partnerships, expanding career and technical education (CTE) pathways, and advancing teacher recruitment and retention programs to ensure a strong and sustainable talent pipeline across sectors.   The Senate will also consider policies that support economic diversification, including Enterprise Zone expansion, advanced manufacturing, and technology-driven industries. The Senate will also prioritize regional economic development initiatives and small business procurement programs to foster local entrepreneurship, expand economic opportunities, and create jobs statewide.     Health Care and Public Safety The Senate will examine policies to safeguard health care and public safety services, including mitigating the impacts of federal funding reductions to programs such as Med-QUEST and emergency management funding through Federal Emergency Management Agency and Hawai’i Emergency Management Agency. The Senate will prioritize supporting provider recruitment and retention efforts, exploring a medical residency program on Maui, and expanding telemedicine services in rural areas. The Senate will also support the development of a health care technology enterprise program to attract research funding and innovation.   In addition, the Senate will address shortages in law enforcement and first responder personnel through recruitment, retention, and streamlined hiring processes, invest in public safety infrastructure and emergency response capabilities, and consider measures to address serious firearm-related offenses.     Education and Higher Education The Senate remains committed to increased funding for K–12 and higher education to improve academic achievement and provide continued support for early learning opportunities. The Senate will support policies to provide optimal learning environments, ensure access to nutritious school meals through expansion of the Hawai’i Farm to School Initiative, and maintain school facilities to reduce deferred maintenance and improve campus safety and functionality. The Senate will also work to mitigate the impacts of federal funding reductions affecting early education, K–12, higher education, and special education programs.   To enhance student engagement and workforce readiness, the Senate will support curriculum and partnerships with local businesses and community organizations that connect education to real-world career opportunities. The Senate will also advance initiatives to strengthen teacher pathways beginning in middle and high school, and support teacher recruitment, retention, and professional development. In higher education, the Senate will consider policies related to name, image, and likeness (NIL) opportunities for University of Hawai’i (UH) student-athletes, explore ways to improve student housing, and evaluate potential reforms to the structure and governance of the UH system.     Food Security, Agriculture and Environment  The Senate will prioritize strengthening food security by supporting farm-to-table programs, maintaining access to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, and providing continued support for food banks statewide. The Senate will also advance measures to enhance biosecurity, improve agricultural infrastructure, and strengthen transportation systems that support local food production and distribution.   To support Hawai’i’s agricultural sector and increase local food production, the Senate will promote workforce recruitment initiatives for young farmers and support policies that strengthen agricultural viability and sustainability. The Senate will also support policies that advance circular economy practices and promote healthy soil initiatives.   In addition, the Senate will explore measures to promote climate resilience and adaptation, including sea-level rise mitigation and nature-based coastal solutions. It will also consider reforms to the functions and structure of the Commission on Water Resource Management (CWRM) and will incentivize increased redemption of the HI-5 program to strengthen recycling efforts and reduce waste.     Infrastructure, Transportation, and Community Support The Senate remains committed to improving the state’s transportation systems, including highways, airports, and airline connectivity, to support economic activity, mobility, and public safety. It will also prioritize increasing transportation support for Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed (ALICE) households to improve access to jobs, education, and essential services.  In addition, the Senate will support transit-oriented development initiatives aimed at reducing transportation costs and improving traffic safety.   The Senate will also continue to prioritize social services and community support by expanding outreach and housing assistance for vulnerable populations, including houseless individuals, kūpuna, and those living with mental illness.  These efforts will leverage federal resources, such as the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) surplus, and foster collaborative partnerships among government agencies, nonprofits, foundations, and ʻohana groups to develop neighborhood-level support systems for houseless residents, those near financial breakpoint, at risk from severe weather, or with limited mobility.   Government Reform and Operations The Senate will continue exploring ways to improve transparency and efficiency in government operations, including insurance regulation, state hiring, energy governance, and oversight of agricultural and aquaculture programs.  It will also review the roles and responsibilities of agencies involved in Mauna Kea stewardship and resource enforcement, seeking clarity and coordination in management.    Additionally, the Senate will consider policies related to naming rights for state facilities, evaluating approaches that balance public benefit, operational needs, and potential partnerships with private or nonprofit entities.   "The Hawai’i Senate Majority’s legislative priorities for 2026 reflect a collective vision grounded in affordability, opportunity, shared responsibility, and trust in our democratic process,” said Senate Majority Leader Kanuha. “We encourage people across Hawai’i to take part in the legislative process and help guide the work ahead.”

The Sunshine Blog: Here’s When It Pays To Be A Doctor — And A Governor Honolulu Civil Beat The Sunshine Blog January 10, 2025 Original Article Dr. Green goes to Washington: Hawaiʻi Gov. Josh Green has become the leading voice — at least for the moment — opposing the nomination of Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to lead the Department of Health and Human Services. Our very own Dr. Gov. Green was all over Washington, D.C., this week, lobbying senators and telling anyone who would listen about the time in 2019 when he led a medical mission to Samoa to fight a raging measles outbreak only to find Kennedy and his anti-vax campaign had gotten there first. The country had experienced a drop in vaccination rates before the outbreak, driven in part by fear after the death of two infants in 2018 who had received a measles, mumps and rubella vaccine that had been improperly prepared. But Kennedy has also been blamed for exacerbating the problem. In 2019, just months before an emergency was declared, he traveled to Samoa and met with prominent anti-vaccination activists on the island. And then during the height of the outbreak, when children were dying, he sent a letter to the prime minister questioning whether it was the MMR vaccine itself that had caused the public health crisis. By the time the outbreak had run its course, thousands of people were sickened and 83 died, many of them children. Green, who is passionate and articulate about the problems that come when people refuse to get vaccinated, had an op-ed published in The New York Times this week and was featured in a Washington Post story and on cable media including CNN and Fox News. And he was trending on social sites. “I have no personal animus toward Mr. Kennedy on a lot of his policies,” Green told Civil Beat’s Washington correspondent Nick Grube, who caught him as he was sitting on a plane waiting to take off back to Hawaiʻi. “I just have an absolute objection to having the secretary of Health and Human Services be against vaccines, and he is. He can say what he wants to try to mitigate the damage, but everyone knows about his vaccine skepticism.” Green met with nearly a dozen senators from both sides of the aisle, including Democrats Dick Durbin of Illinois and Ron Wyden of Oregon. He was reluctant to name anyone else, he told Grube, because they were worried about political fallout. And besides, Green told Grube, he was really there on official state business like checking on federal cash that could and should be headed our way and other things of interest to Hawai‘i. While in town he worked with two different advocacy groups, 3.14 Action and Protect Our Care, to push his message and coordinate meetings with lawmakers. Already 3.14 Action has featured the governor in one of its advertisements opposing Kennedy. Green, who The Blog has heard would really like to be the country’s health secretary himself one day, told Grube he anticipates returning to D.C. in the future to crusade against Kennedy, including testifying before Congress if the opportunity allows. He’ll even talk to Donald Trump. Check, please: Wednesday is Opening Day of the 2025 Hawaiʻi Legislature, so that can only mean one thing: state legislators will rush to hold campaign fundraisers before the opening gavel falls because they’re prohibited by state law from holding organized fundraisers during session. The Blog is referring specifically to Sens. Lynn DeCoite and Jarrett Keohokalole , who asked for donations at Capitol Modern Tuesday night. It’s conveniently located right across Richards Street from the Hawaiʻi State Capitol. On Wednesday night Sens. Chris Lee , Donovan Dela Cruz , Henry Aquino and Troy Hashimoto passed their hats at Bishop Museum. Aquino, DeCoite and Keohokalole are planning ahead — they’re not up for reelection until 2028. House bills proposing to end the acceptance of all campaign contributions during legislative sessions (not just at organized fundraisers) passed that chamber unanimously in the 2023 session but were not heard by the Senate. Civil Beat opinion writers are closely following efforts to bring more transparency and accountability to state and local government — at the Legislature, the county level and in the media. Help us by sending ideas and anecdotes to sunshine@civilbeat.org . The mysterious making of the rules: The rulebook dictating how Hawaiʻi lawmakers conduct the public’s business is a big deal. The Blog has long contended that many of the most urgently needed legislative reforms could be accomplished with simple rule changes . With the start of a new biennium Wednesday, new rules must be adopted. Actually there are two rulebooks, one for the House and another for the Senate . And how they approach the task says a lot about the differences between the two chambers. The House formed a four-member Advisory Committee on Rules and Procedures that has been reaching out to representatives for their suggestions regarding the rules. The Senate, meh, not so much. Here’s how Senate Judiciary Chair Karl Rhoads puts it: “I think the Senate tends to be a little more, what’s the word I’m looking for? You’re a senator. If you have a problem with something, you need to raise it. We’re not necessarily going to go look for you to solicit your concerns.” Rhoads says he’s heard nothing about possible new Senate rules in the lead-up to the new session. Which, come to think of it, is not so different from what the House is doing. Its advisory committee is meeting in private, much to the consternation of reform advocates like Gary Hooser. The former senator writes in his own blog that current House rule No. 20 requires that the committee’s meetings be conducted openly: “Every meeting of a committee of the House … held for the purpose of making decisions on matters referred to the committee shall be open to the public.” But House Judiciary Chair David Tarnas points out that this House advisory committee is just that — advisory. “They’re not making decisions,” Tarnas says. “They’re recommending and they’re advisory. The decision-making itself is when we vote on it.” That will presumably occur soon after the Legislature convenes. That’s when we’ll know if either chamber is serious about limiting the power of conference chairs, preventing the money committees from controlling non-fiscal matters, eliminating anonymous bill introductions and so forth. Hope springs eternal: And speaking of being serious about reform, a hui of good governance groups gathered at the Capitol Thursday to launch what they called “Good Government Lobby Day.” The goal of the Hawai‘i Alliance for Progressive Action, Our Hawai‘i, Common Cause and Clean Elections Coalition is to advocate for government reforms that will strengthen transparency, accountability and fairness in the legislative process. “Welcome to your House of Representatives,” Rep. Della Au Belatti said as she welcomed some two dozen folks to Conference Room 325. She said she had not seen such a level of reform activity in her 20 years in the Legislature, adding that a revived Good Government Caucus at the Legislature is already working on bills. Rep. Della Au Belatti at the Good Governance Lobby Day meeting at the Capitol Tuesday. (David Croxford/Civil Beat/2024) Rep. Kim Coco Iwamoto said the new energy for reform began in 2022 when two lawmakers were arrested for and later convicted on bribery charges. There had been a culture, she said, that allowed Ty Cullen and J. Kalani English to get away with corruption. But there’s a lot of new blood in the Leg today. The groups, which spent half of the day meeting with other lawmakers, are pushing for a range of reforms including making public testimony on bills available early, doing away with anonymous bill introductions, taking non-financial bills out of money committees, enacting term limits and establishing full public financing of campaigns. Women of the house: One-third (or 32.43%) of the total number of state legislators in the 50 states and territories in 2025 are women, a slight increase from just a few years ago. The National Conference of State Legislatures reports that Colorado, New Mexico and Nevada are at or above the 50% mark of women state legislators, the highest representation nationwide. How does Hawaiʻi do? Compared to many other states and territories, pretty good at 40.8%. Alabama, Arkansas, Mississippi, South Carolina, Tennessee and West Virginia, for example, each have legislatures with less than 20% women members. The Hawaiʻi House of Representatives now has its first-ever female speaker, Nadine Nakamura. Two women have led the state Senate, Colleen Hanabusa and Donna Kim.

Four agricultural officers coming to Big Island this month for pilot program under new state law Big Island Now Kelsey Walling July 4, 2025 Original Article To protect farmers and ranchers from being victims of crimes, four agricultural officers will be deployed to Hawaiʻi Island this month as part of a pilot enforcement program. The program stems from Act 235, also known as Duke’s Law, which was signed last week by Gov. Josh Green. The law was named by state Sen. Tim Richards in memory of Cranston “Duke” Pia, a 39-year-old Waiʻanae rancher who was fatally shot in 2024 during a confrontation with trespassing hunters. Pia’s death prompted community members, lawmakers and agricultural groups to push for more serious enforcement and tougher penalties for trespassers, thieves and illegal hunters targeting agricultural land. As a rancher in Kohala, Richards said he has experienced a fair share of agricultural crimes and was a passionate advocate for the law. “I feel like we’re finally moving the needle for agriculture because for so long, agricultural crime has not been a concern because ‘it is just trespassing, or they just took a couple of fruits,'” Richards said. “But those fruits are people’s livelihoods, and Pia’s murder began with a trespass.” Agricultural crimes are complex and multifaceted, so the state law is designed to provide a comprehensive response by having clearer definitions and penalties for violations related to agriculture and agricultural lands. The state Department of Law Enforcement initiated the pilot agricultural enforcement program on July 1 and will deploy nine dedicated officers — four on Oʻahu, four on Hawaiʻi Island, and one supervisor overseeing both teams. They will focus on human-related agricultural crimes that involve theft, trespassing, illegal hunting, poaching and vandalism. According to Richards, these crimes jeopardize the lives and livelihoods of farmers, undermine food security, disrupt local economies, and erode public confidence in the protection of vital resources. 📷In this file photo, Craig Burkholder’s horse Onyx, right, walks with her foal, Uhane. In 2022, Onyx was shot at night by a friend of a neighbor who wanted to eradicate wild pigs from his property. The shooting left her 11-weak-old Uhane without a mother. (Photo Courtesy: Craig Burkholder) The Hawaiʻi Farm Bureau estimates that agricultural crimes cost local farmers and ranchers up to $15 million annually. Before the law, agricultural crimes often resulted in small fines. Now, habitual offenders — those with three or more agriculture-related offenses within five years — will face felony charges and jail time. The bill also allows for the seizure of weapons, vehicles and other equipment used in these crimes. “We don’t want to punish the young guy who made a mistake one time, but we do want to target habitual offenders with harsher penalties,” Richards said. “However, no one is under any illusion that we’ll solve all the issues right away. The officers will have to meet with farmers and ranchers to see what problems they face, and new technology and equipment will need to be tested.” The pilot program, with about $2 million in funding, will utilize tools like drones and license plate recognition cameras to help patrol large and remote land. “It could take 30 to 40 minutes for an officer to investigate,” said Mike Lambert, director of the Department of Law Enforcement. “In theory, if we had a drone at the location, it could be out in one minute and begin capturing that violation.” Richards has suggested that the Department of Law Enforcement meet with people working in agriculture to learn about the best spots to place these cameras and implement one database per county for agricultural calls and inquiries. “As a rancher myself, the standalone law enforcement focused on agriculture, in my opinion, will be the most helpful,” Richards said. “Luckily, the law enforcement is wide open when it comes to figuring out how to roll this out and approach crimes. I’m sure there will be tweaks, but the officers will tap into farmers and ranchers as a resource to figure out how to move forward.” For farmers and ranchers interested in meeting with the agricultural officers to discuss pervasive issues they face, Richards said to contact his office at 808-586-6760 or email senrichards@capitol.hawaii.gov .

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