Hamakua Energy Plant sold Hawaii Tribune-Herald JOHN BURNETT March 12, 2025 Original Article The parent company of Hawaiian Electric Co., Hawaiian Electric Industries Inc., has sold the 60-megawatt Hamakua Energy Plant to a subsidiary of Harbert Management Corp. Financial details of the transaction were not disclosed, but HEI said the sale isn’t expected to have a material impact on company finances. The Honokaa power plant was owned by Pacific Current LLC, a subsidiary of HEI. In previous news releases, HECO has referred to Hamakua Energy as the electric company’s “largest independent power producer.” Harbert, based in Birmingham, Ala., is an investment management firm with longstanding holdings of power-generating facilities, including an ownership stake in the 208-megawatt Kalaeloa Partners LP co-generation plant on Oahu since 1997. “We believe Harbert’s depth of experience in owning and operating power plants and being a good partner with utilities, including in our state, will serve the Hamakua Energy Plant and Hawaiian Electric well in their missions to supply power for the people of Hawaii Island and support the island’s transition to an increasingly renewable energy future,” said HEI CEO Scott Seu in a statement. “This sale is a further step toward simplifying HEI’s strategy and regulatory position as we focus on our core utility business.” According to a March 3 blog entry by Henry Curtis, an environmental activist and executive director of Life of the Land, HEI — which had banking, shipping and real estate interests — has been selling off its assets and now owns only HECO, the electric utility for Oahu, Maui and Hawaii Island. In an earnings announcement last month, HECO reported a net loss of $1.4 billion for 2024, partly due to being tagged with a $1.9 billion share in payouts to victims of the August 2023 Maui wildfires that killed 102 people. The power company reported a net income of $199 million in 2023. After its credit rating plummeted to junk-bond status, HECO asked legislators this session for a $1 billion fund as a hedge against future wildfire liability, to be paid for by a small fee on its customers. One measure, House Bill 982, which has passed over to the Senate, would limit amounts customers could collect in lawsuits or administrative settlements. A companion measure, Senate Bill 1201, didn’t receive a hearing from the Ways and Means committee and missed the first crossover. The utility claims it can’t pay another catastrophic wildfire settlement without the requested fund. HECO — which said in a Securities and Exchange Commission filing that it can’t afford to pay a dividend to HEI — compensated Shelee Kimura, HECO’s president and CEO, with $1.25 million in salary and bonuses in 2024. Four HECO vice presidents collected from nearly $600,000 to more than $900,000 in salary and bonuses. The Hamakua Energy Plant, which provides about a third of the Big Island’s 180-megawatt peak electricity demand, went offline in late February 2024. A Hamakua Energy spokesperson attributed the plant’s failure to “mechanical issues with our generators.” The outage occurred at the same time HECO’s Keahole generator — which, according to Hawaiian Electric’s website, contributes 77 megawatts to the grid — was on the mainland being overhauled. On March 25, 2024, the utility asked customers to reduce their power consumption through at least mid-April, a time period that included Hilo’s signature event, the weeklong Merrie Monarch Festival. Low generation capacity forced HECO to initiate forced outages known as rolling blackouts on the Big Island on Jan. 8, Feb. 13 and March 14, 2024. Three state lawmakers wrote the PUC on March 15, 2024, calling for an investigation of HECO, noting that 21,000 customers were affected by the rolling blackouts on the Big Island the previous night and another 13,000 on Oahu who lost power a week earlier. “The lack of reliability due to insufficient energy generation, HECO’s aging equipment, unreliable oil-fired power generation, and immediate and long-term solutions should be investigated,” the letter by Sens. Glenn Wakai, Jarrett Keohokalole and Lynn De Coite, all Democrats, stated. The Merrie Monarch Festival and its signature hula competition were not impacted by outages, and HECO announced a public end to the Big Island’s power shortage on April 25. In early September 2024, former owners Pacific Current announced that Hamakua Energy — which used biodiesel to generate between a quarter and a third of its Honokaa plant’s electrical power — was converting its facility to use 100% renewable fuels. The state has set a goal of 100% renewable energy by 2045. Email John Burnett at jburnett@hawaiitribune-herald.com .

Auto-Enroll for the Hawaii Retirement Savings Program Clears Another Hurdle ASPPA John Lekel April 2, 2025 Original Article Legislation that would shift the Hawaii Retirement Savings Program from one requiring employees to opt in if they want to participate to one in which they instead would be automatically enrolled and would have to opt out if they do not want to participate has the imprimatur of a Senate committee. That’s unanimous imprimatur, actually — the Finance Committee of the Hawaii Senate recommended that SB 855 be passed without amendment in a 14-0 vote on April 1. Assistant Majority Whip Henry Aquino (D-Waipahu) introduced SB 855 on Jan. 17, a measure that would amend the Hawaii Retirement Savings Program, the program out in place to provide retirement plan coverage to private-sector employees in Hawaii whose employers don’t have a plan of their own in place. SB 855 would clarify the definition of "covered employer" under the Hawaii Retirement Savings Act by requiring that covered employers automatically enroll covered employees into the Hawaii Retirement Savings Program unless the covered employee chooses to opt out. It also would repeal the limit on the total fees and expenses that can be spent for the program each year. It also would appropriate funds to the Department of Labor and Industrial Relations for the development and operation of the program. Rep. Jackson Sayama (D-St. Louis Heights) introduced HB 847, the House of Representatives version of S. 855, on Jan. 23. Being Heard The Finance Committee held a public hearing on SB 855 on April 1. Kale Lopez, State Director for AARP Hawaii, in her in-person testimony, called it a “problem” that the Hawaii Retirement Savings Act, the measure that creates the Hawaii Retirement Savings Program, requires people to opt in to the program. “There’s no employer-funded program where you have your employees easily opting in if you want to help them save for retirement,” Lopez said, adding that such an approach enables employees to acknowledge that while the program makes it easy for them to save, but allows them to fall prey to the feeling that they “don’t want to.” Lopez indicated to the committee that an opt-out approach will yield better results, testifying that “across the country, the opt-out program has demonstrated at least 80% of employees who are offered the program choose to actually save.” In Writing Caroline Cadirao Director, Executive Office on Aging (EOA) — an agency that is part of the Hawaii Department of Health — quantified the possible impact of the program, testifying that it “will help about 173,000 private sector workers save money for retirement.” Like Lopez, Cadirao endorsed the opt-out approach, writing that “automatic enrollment in a retirement savings program is considered a ‘best practice’ in the industry and will enable more employees to save for their future.” She added that approach also will allow employees to make informed decisions and “make proactive choices about their financial future.” Not only does “opt-out” boost participation, suggested Gary Simon, a member of the Policy Advisory Board for Elder Affairs (PABEA) — an appointed board that advises the EOA — it also results in higher overall contribution rates than those seen in plans for which enrollment is voluntary. “Automatic enrollment of employees into the program is critical to the feasibility of the program,” wrote Brian Taniguchi, a member of the Hawaiʻi Retirement Savings Board, the body that administers the Hawaii Retirement Savings Program. Lopez struck a similar tone, writing, “it is critical now that the proposed amendments in S.B. 855, SD1, HD1 are adopted by the legislature to ensure the success of the Hawaii Retirement Savings Program.” Small Business Concerns Taniguchi reported that in a survey Hawaii Retirement Savings Task Force conducted, many small business owners agreed that “being able to offer a voluntary, portable retirement savings program would help local small businesses attract and retain quality employees and stay competitive.” Tina Yamaki, President of the Retail Merchants of Hawaii, had a different take on the effect of the measure on small businesses. She said her organization is concerned that the change in enrollment approach could increase burdens on small businesses. “Implementing and managing such programs incurs ongoing costs for businesses, particularly challenging for those with high turnover rates, such as customer service roles. Whether managed internally or through third-party services, the financial strain is considerable, with additional expenses incurred to opt employees in and out of the program,” Yamaki said in her written testimony. Pamela Tumpap, President of the Maui Chamber of Commerce, expressed a similar view. That chamber, she said, supported the Hawaii Retirement Savings Act when the “because we understand the importance of retirement savings” and that they “greatly appreciated that the program required employees to opt in, as it reduced the burden on businesses.” But implementing and managing a program in which employees instead opt-out, she said, would incur costs on small businesses which she said “can be particularly challenging for those with high turnover rates, such as in customer service roles.” The Bottom Line “To secure their finances, retirees must have sufficient savings to cover their living expenses, inflationary costs, as well as medical or other emergencies,” wrote retired human resources manager Merle Minami-Shima, on behalf of AARP Hawaii. She continued, “Without adequate savings retirees will have no choice but to rely on others to help them with their financial needs and may even have to turn to the government to fill in the gaps. Jeff Gilbreath Executive Director Hawaiʻi Community Lending (HCL), a nonprofit community development financial institution that makes grants and loans to help local people build, buy, and save homes from foreclosure, called saving for retirement “crucial to ensure security” against emergencies. He added that it would benefit the state as a whole as well, since it would “collectively slow outmigration of our local people.” “There is an urgent need to provide a viable option for private sector workers to have access to a retirement savings plan,” wrote Taniguchi. Finding out More Previous coverage of SB 855 is available here and here . Written testimony submitted for the April 1 hearing is available here . A video of the April 1 hearing is available here . Information about SB 855 is available here .

New mobile pantry fills gaps in access to kupuna and families The Garden Island Dennis Fujimoto June 26, 2025 Original Article Reminiscent of the “yasai trucks” of the rural plantation camps and towns, the Hawaii Foodbank Kauai held a Mobile Food Pantry blessing by Kahu Jade Waialeale Battad on Tuesday, under weather conditions that started out threatening before ending in a downpour at the Kauai Philippine Cultural Center. The Mobile Food Pantry is designed to expand access to nutritious food in rural and underserved communities across the island. With the attendance of key dignitaries, including Kauai Council Chair Mel Rapozo, Senate President Ron Kouchi, Speaker of the House Nadine Nakamura, and Hawaii Foodbank President and CEO Amy Miller, the blessing and launch of the innovative mobile unit highlights a significant step forward in efforts to reduce food insecurity and improve health outcomes for thousands of Kauai residents. “Food insecurity affects one in four households on Kauai and one in three keiki,” said Wes Perreira, the Hawaii Foodbank Kauai Director. “Filling gaps and reaching all of our families and neighbors on the Garden Island is a major priority for Hawaii Foodbank Kauai. This Mobile Food Pantry is an innovative tool in making sure no family is left behind — no matter where they live.” The fully equipped 16-foot refrigerated vehicle functions as a grocery-style food pantry on wheels, allowing families and individuals to choose the food that best meets their needs. The Mobile Food Pantry will travel to communities with limited access to full-service grocery stores or regular food distribution points, helping remove transportation barriers and ensuring equitable access to fresh, healthy food. The truck will visit partner sites throughout the island on a regular schedule, offering a wide range of food items, including fresh produce, proteins, dairy products, and shelf-stable goods. The vehicle is generator-powered and self-sufficient, enabling Hawaii Foodbank Kauai to respond quickly during times of disaster or emergency. The press release states this new effort is part of Hawaii Foodbank’s broader mission to nourish ohana today and work to end hunger tomorrow. It reflects the organization’s deep commitment to increasing access to safe and healthy foods, broadening the approach to expand food distribution in identified areas of need, and strengthening community resilience. “Food insecurity across Hawaii — and especially on Kauai — is a complex issue, and it is important we understand the challenges uniquely faced by our local families, neighbors, and communities,” Miller said. “Most immediately, this new Mobile Food Pantry allows us to expand our reach and distribute more nutritious food to areas of need. In addition to that, it is a powerful example of our community coming together to create solutions that are centered on dignity, health, and choice.” The Mobile Food Pantry was made possible through Grant-in-Aid funding from the State of Hawaii, along with the generosity of local donors, volunteers, and agency partners committed to ending hunger on Kauai.

Is HECO’s Monopoly Over? New Law Could Change Power Market Civil Beat Stewart Yerton July 8, 2025 Original Article Hawaiian Electric Co.’s century-long hold on Hawaiʻi’s electricity market soon will change in a major way, creating a potential path to lower rates for businesses and residents. Starting in 2027, HECO will be required to let independent electricity producers use its grid to deliver electricity directly to customers for a fee, potentially ending the utility’s standing as the sole choice for most electric consumers in the state. Under the current system, producers must sell electricity at a wholesale price to HECO, which pools it to sell to customers at a higher rate. Gov. Josh Green signed the groundbreaking bill on Thursday, despite having previously signaled his intent to veto the measure. It remains to be seen to what extent the new system will lead to significant savings for residential customers. A previously passed law allowing renters to buy power from community solar farms, for instance, has gone nowhere , hampered by what critics say are untenable rules. But even critics of the new law have said it could generate savings for some customers. State Sen. Glenn Waka i, who chairs the Energy and Intergovernmental Affairs Committee and sponsored the bill , said the measure was meant to introduce competition in Hawaiʻi’s electricity market and reduce costs in a state where customers pay the nation’s highest costs for electricity — more than three times the national average. “We have for more than 100 years been at the mercy of HECO for our electricity needs, and we’ve seen in recent times that the delivery of that electricity has been very unreliable and very, very expensive,” Wakai said. “In the next two years, come 2027, all HECO’s customers will have an option of buying from someone other than HECO.” “I think this is a game changer to benefit the consumers,” Wakai said. Green’s office also expressed optimism. “We believe that the provisions contained within the bill will allow for greater energy choice and hopefully a reduction in costs for Hawai‘i’s consumers,” Green’s spokeswoman, Makana McClellan, said in a written statement. HECO spokesman Jim Kelly declined an interview request. Law Could ‘Really Open Up Our Grid’ The law includes several provisions to break HECO’s hold on Hawaiʻi’s electricity market, but the most important involves what energy experts call wheeling. Under the current system, developers build big wind and solar farms and sell the power to HECO under long-term contracts. HECO pays as little as 8 cents per kilowatt hour for electricity from these independent power producers, said Jeff Mikulina, a renewable energy consultant who was an architect of the law requiring Hawaiʻi to produce all of the electricity sold in the state from renewable resources by 2045. Meanwhile, HECO charges residential customers on Oʻahu almost 43 cents per kilowatt hour . Big Island residents pay 48 cents. Wakai said a goal of the law is to enable customers to pay closer to what the renewable electricity costs HECO to buy and to encourage smaller players to get in the game. The wheeling provision does this by letting independent electricity producers pay a set fee to use HECO’s grid to deliver power to customers. Although wheeling has long been allowed on the mainland, it’s been prohibited by law in Hawaiʻi. The PUC had been investigating a proposal to allow wheeling between government entities only, and Green’s intent-to-veto statement pointed to that as a reason to veto the broader bill. Green decided to sign the broad bill after the PUC said it would cancel the intra-governmental wheeling inquiry, McClellan said. Hawaiʻi’s previous prohibition against wheeling has played out on the ground at places like Green Homes Hanalei, a cluster of seven homes in west Oʻahu built in 2017 around the idea of using solar and storage to make the subdivision as energy self-sufficient as possible. Developer R.J. Martin powered each home with photovoltaic solar cells combined with two Tesla Powerwall batteries. Each home had garages with chargers for electric vehicles. Martin wanted to go further and link the homes with a small power grid that would let homeowners share surplus power with each other. But he quickly learned that would be illega l. Homeowners would have to become regulated utilities to share surplus electricity with their neighbors. “No one in their right mind is going to go through that exercise,” Wakai said. “So now, it just simplifies what has been all these walls and impediments put up by the government as well as by HECO.” Martin hopes the new law will enable him to do something more innovative in the near future: use renewables and perhaps a microgrid to power a larger, workforce housing subdivision he’s planning for West Oʻahu. But much will depend on how the Hawaiʻi Public Utilities Commission implements the law, Mikulina said. “If the PUC does it right, it can really open up our grid to some innovative renewable solutions,” Mikulina said. “This could catalyze renewable growth and really help folks who need access to this.” Critics Say Some Could Be Left Out Critics point to potential unintended consequences. A major issue involves equity. The concern is that HECO customers with the money and wherewithal to partner with an independent power producer will defect from HECO, leaving those less well-off to still deal with higher rates. Testifying against the bill, the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 1260, which works on utility infrastructure, argued the long-term technical effects of wheeling on HECO’s grid are unknown. “Further,” the union wrote, “the fixed-cost of operating and maintaining the system will remain unchanged and passed on to those left in the system, essentially increasing the cost of electricity to those who can least afford it.” Given this risk, it will be key to make sure lower-income residential customers can benefit as the commission creates rules governing the program, said Michael Colón, director of energy for the Ulupono Initiative, which supports the use of renewable energy. To address such concerns, Wakai said, the law limits the size of a wind or solar farm allowed to use the wheeling provision to two megawatts, the size needed to power about 3,000 homes. “We’re not talking about, you know, large 50- to 60-megawatt plants going and selling to all the Waikīkī hotels,” Wakai said. “That’s not going to be possible under this scenario.” “What is possible under this scenario,” he said, “is, if you have let’s say 10 acres of land that can create two megawatts of power, you are free to go and sell to the nearby residents or wheel it across the island to someone who’s willing to take it.” That’s promising news to people like Steve Mazur, director of commercial business development for RevoluSun, one of Hawaiʻi’s largest solar companies. Mazur said he’s encountered business owners with energy hogging cold storage systems but small rooftops located near businesses with huge rooftops but little electricity needs. If implemented well by the PUC, Mazur said, the new law could make way for solar panels on the large roof to power the neighboring business. “These rooftops are sitting there empty,” he said. “There has to be something to entice them.” 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. “Hawaiʻi’s Changing Economy” is supported by a grant from the Hawaiʻi Community Foundation as part of its work to build equity for all through the CHANGE Framework.

Senate education chair urges families to apply for free and reduced-price school meals Maui Now August 3, 2025 Original Article Hawai‘i families are being encouraged to apply for free and reduced-price meal benefits through the Hawai‘i State Department of Education (HIDOE), as updates to the state’s school meal program go into effect for the 2025-26 school year. State Senate Vice President Michelle N. Kidani, chair of the Senate Committee on Education and author of the legislation behind the changes, said the updates aim to improve food equity by expanding access to free school meals. Under Act 139 (Senate Bill 1300), students who qualify for reduced-price meals are now eligible to receive both breakfast and lunch at no cost each school day. Approximately 11,000 students qualified for reduced-price meals last school year, who would be offered free meal options this year, according to the Hawaiʻi State Senate Majority. The only meal price increases for the upcoming year apply to second meals for students and adult meals. Prices for all other items—including standard student meals and à la carte options—will remain unchanged. Kidani recalled visiting schools in her district where teachers kept snacks in their desks for students who hadn’t eaten. “As a mother and grandmother, I have seen firsthand how hunger affects a child’s ability to focus and learn,” she said. “I still remember visiting classrooms in my district where teachers kept granola bars or crackers in their desks, just in case a student came to school without breakfast. This bill is about more than food —it’s about dignity, equity and ensuring every child has a fair chance to succeed. Well-nourished students learn better. I once again thank Governor Green for signing this bill into law, and I encourage families to take advantage of applying to the program.” Students will still be categorized as “reduced-price eligible” under federal guidelines, but at the point of service, their meals will now be marked as “Reduced – No Charge.” Families are encouraged to apply at EZMealApp for free or reduced-price meal benefits to determine eligibility and take advantage of this new benefit. Further program details are available on the HIDOE website.

Hawaii lawmakers prepare to replenish lost federal funds Hawaii News Now Daryl Huff February 26, 2025 Original Article HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) - The layoffs of nearly 150 fire survivors on Maui may just be the beginning of the end of federal funding for scores of Hawaii nonprofits. Now lawmakers are laying the groundwork to protect the state safety net. Because the state treasury is in relatively good shape, lawmakers are looking into whether they can fill in where the federal government has backed off. More than 200 nonprofits in Hawaii provide direct service to poor, elderly, disabled and disadvantaged communities with federal funds in the hundreds of millions of dollars. So far, only a handful have been directly impacted by Trump administration freezes, but at a hearing Wednesday, senators began planning for a worst-case scenario for essential nonprofits. Ways and Means Chair Donovan Dela Cruz described the kinds of agencies that might qualify “as providing crucial, programmatic aid and outreach in the health and services sector.” Dela Cruz told Hawaii News Now that the bill is a vehicle for a difficult process. “We’re going to have to prioritize,” he said, “because there’s only so much money to go around.” Because it could take months before it’s clear where the cuts have fallen, Dela Cruz wants to be prepared in case the governor has to call lawmakers into an emergency session. “What the bill does is at least it gives us some options to hopefully strategically respond to the cuts at some point,” Dela Cruz said. For many on Maui, that time has come after 27 agencies and nearly 150 jobs were cut after money from a federal Department of Labor grant ran out. The state says it’s looking for funds to replenish the agencies. But Sen. Troy Hashimoto, D-Wailuku, Kahului, Waihee, Waikapu Mauka, Waiehu, said this is an emergency that qualifies for emergency funding. “I think we as a state need to step up,” he said. “I think we will have to work with the governor’s office to see what state resources we can immediately allocate.” The biggest dilemma for lawmakers is that if they step up with state money, they have no idea how deep the Trump budget cuts will go or how long they will last. Hashimoto is a veteran of budget battles at the Capitol, so he is not suggesting this will be an easy or automatic decision. “What becomes the priority, you know? Because we have our state programs that we have to continue,” he said. “Can we pick up all the federal programs?”

County, Hawaiian Dredging host blessing, grounbreaking for Kapa‘a Homesteads Tanks Project Kauai Now July 18, 2025 Original Article Kaua‘i County Department of Water and contractor Hawaiian Dredging Construction Co. hosted a blessing ceremony and groundbreaking July 11 to commence the Kapa‘a Homesteads Tanks Project. 📷Kaua‘i County Department of Water and contractor Hawaiian Dredging Construction Co. hosted a blessing ceremony and groundbreaking July 11, 2025, for the Kapa‘a Homesteads Tanks Project. From left are Kaua‘i Department of Water Manager and Chief Engineer Joe Tait, Hawaiian Dredging Construction Co. Senior Project Manager Ryder Coelho, Kaua‘i County Board of Water Supply Vice Chairman Tom Shigemoto, Hawai‘i Speaker of the House Rep. Nadine Nakamura and Hawaiian Dredging Construction Co. Sr. Vice President Heavy Division Len Dempsey. (Photo Courtesy: Kaua‘i County Department of Water) The $23.3 million project will replace an existing 200,000-gallon water storage tank with the construction of two 500,000-gallon storage tanks, totaling 1 million gallons, along with necessary storm drain improvements. Installation of about 1,700 linear feet of water lines — 16-inch and 12-inch — along with associated appurtenances are also part of the project. “This project has been a long time coming,” Kaua‘i Department of Water Manager and Chief Engineer Joe Tait was quoted in a county release as saying during the ceremony. “These new storage tanks enhance the current on-site storage from the circa 1923 storage tank and will be a tremendous benefit to the surrounding community.” Hawai‘i Speaker of the House Rep. Nadine Nakamura and Hawai‘i Senate President Sen. Ron Kouchi, who both represent Kaua‘i at the state Capitol in Honolulu, played a large role in securing state funds to help finance about one-third of the project. Nakamura was present during last week’s blessing and groundbreaking. She emphasized the positive impact the infrastructure improvements will have for fire protection in the area, particularly for Kapa‘a Elementary and Kapa‘a High schools. Successful implementation of the master plan for Samuel Mahelona Memorial Hospital in Kapa‘a also relies on the establishment a robust water infrastructure. The project’s blessing was officiated by Kahu Jade Waiʻaleʻale Battad. Among those in attendance during the ceremony and groundbreaking were Nakamura, Kaua‘i County Board of Water Supply Vice Chairman Tom Shigemoto, Tait and Hawaiian Dredging Construction Co. Sr. Vice President Len Dempsey. The project is estimated to be completed in 2027. Contact Kaua‘i County Department of Water at 808-245-5455 or via email at publicrelations@kauaiwater.org with any questions or for additional information.

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.

Construction Begins on Farrington Highway Widening Project Hawaii Department of Transportation May 9, 2025 Original Article HONOLULU – The Hawai‘i Department of Transportation (HDOT) today hosted a blessing and groundbreaking to mark the start of construction of the Farrington Highway Widening Project, an approximately three-mile stretch from the Kapolei Golf Course Road near the University of Hawai‘i – West O‘ahu to Old Fort Weaver Road. The widening project will expand the current two-lane road to include a new two-way turn lane, as well as bike lanes and pedestrian sidewalks on both sides from Kapolei to ‘Ewa. The scope of the project will include reconstruction of the Kaloi Stream Bridge and Honouliuli Stream Bridge, as well as construction of drainage structures and culverts; asphalt and concrete pavements; concrete curbs, gutters and sidewalks; gas, water and sewar lines; street lighting, traffic signals and landscaping. The work also will include relocation of water mains, relocation of overhead and underground electrical and telecommunications infrastructure, demolition and removal of structures, clearing, grading and pavement markings and signage. The project is designed to meet future capacity needs, while also balancing multimodal travel for pedestrians, bicyclists, motorists and transit users. The widening will support the development of affordable housing and commercial uses in the area, while also providing connections to four of the city’s Skyline stations, including the Kualakaʻi – East Kapolei, Keoneʻae – UHWO, Honouliuli – Hoʻopili, and Hoʻaeʻae, West Loch stations. The $138 million project, which was awarded to contractor Nan, Inc., is anticipated to take two years, with an estimated completion in Spring 2027. The City and County of Honolulu is committing $15 million towards construction. For more information on the Farrington Highway Widening, please see https://hidot.hawaii.gov/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Farrington-Highway-Widening-TOD-April.pdf A picture of the groundbreaking may be downloaded at https://hidot.hawaii.gov/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/farrington-widening-groundbreaking-scaled.jpg Please credit “Hawaii Department of Transportation” or “HDOT” if you use it. Pictured left to right is Ed Shukri, vice president of Nan Inc.; Representative Darius Kila, chair, House Transportation Committee; Ed Sniffen, director, Hawaii Department of Transportation; Senator Henry Aquino, former House Transportation Committee chair, representing Pearl City, Waipahu, West Loch Estates, Hono‘uli‘uli, Ho‘opili; and Brandi Lasconia an inspector with QRSE, HDOT’s construction management consultant.

South Maui to receive $3.2 million to help control deer The Maui News Gary Kubota February 17, 2025 Original Article Gov. Josh Green has released $3.2 million in capital improvements to design and construct more fencing along the slopes of South Maui to control the overpopulation of axis deer. State Sen. Angus McKelvey said the funding is a powerful demonstration of responsiveness and commitment to safeguarding the land and future of South Maui. The overpopulation of deer was cited as one of the reasons South Maui saw increased flooding in recent months. “This moment sends a strong message to the people of South Maui that the governor and his administration understands the urgency and are committed to expediting the resources needed to tackle the flooding crisis from mauka to makai,” McKelvey said. He said that the unchecked spread of axis deer has led to severe agricultural losses and increased the risk of flooding due to overgrazing, which weakens soil stability. The lawmaker who represents South Maui and West Maui explained that the fencing initiative is part of a broader strategy to enhance conservation efforts and long-term sustainability in the region. According to McKelvey, the funding was secured through the combined efforts of a number of legislators including Reps. Terez Amato and Kyle Yamashita and state Sens. Lynn DeCoite and Donovan M. Dela Cruz. In the past, fencing has been put in downslope of Haleakala as well as horizontally to limit the deer migration and make it easier to cull their numbers. Maui ranchers and farmers say the deer population has caused losses in crops and a lack of forage in unfenced lands amounting to millions of dollars. Some Kula farmers say deer continue to appear in large numbers near the Naalae Road area and often graze around the Kula Hospital. Upcountry Farmers Market owner Neal Coshever said he’s continuing to see large numbers of deer while driving on Calasa Road, including the park below the Kula Fire Station. “I haven’t seen a significant amount of reduction,” Coshever said. A state program offers a dollar amount for each deer killed and has helped ranchers and farmers to reduce the deer numbers and provide some money for fence repairs and the installation of deer fencing. The state Division of Forestry and Wildlife said in November that the deer population on Maui was estimated at 34,000, significantly less than their numbers were years ago. Axis deer were brought to the Hawaiian Islands from India in late 1867 as a gift to King Kamehameha V and released on Maui in 1959.

Pearl City state senator announces retirement KHON2 Cameron Macedonio September 24, 2025 Original Article HONOLULU (KHON2) — State Sen. Henry J.C. Aquino, who represents Pearl City, Waipahu, West Loch Estates, Honoʻuliʻuli and Hoʻopili announced his retirement from the legislature, effective Nov. 30. “It has been an honor to represent residents, neighbors, supporters, friends and family in the Hawaiʻi State Senate. I’ve also had the opportunity to serve with amazing colleagues, past and present, who have worked hard to address the needs of our great state — an absolute privilege to have served with you all,” Aquino said. “I’m grateful for the senate and house staff along with the individuals who have worked in my office during my time in public service.” Aquino went on to detail that the decision to retire was not made lightly and for the best of his constituents. “It is my belief that this best serves the needs and interests of the people of Senate District 19,” Aquino said. After his retirement, Aquino plans to join a locally based consulting firm “that emphasizes non-profit organizations and association management.” Aquino has served for a total of 17 years in both houses of the legislature.

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.