Senate Ways and Means Committee visits Lānaʻi for updates on local sustainability Maui Now September 9, 2025 Original Article The Senate Ways and Means Committee arrived on Lānaʻi to receive updates on economic development and sustainability efforts from the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism and the Agribusiness Development Corporation. Committee members were first guided through the work of Pūlama Lānaʻi, an organization creating solutions for a sustainable future through cultural preservation and building economic opportunities for Lānaʻi. “Today’s visit to Lānaʻi shows our deep commitment to supporting sustainable growth in our rural communities,” said Senator Lynn DeCoite (D 7 – Hāna, East and Upcountry Maui, Moloka‘i, Lānaʻi, Kaho‘olawe and Molokini), Chair of the Senate Committee on Economic Development and Tourism. “The presentations from DBEDT, ADC, and Pūlama Lānaʻi highlight the incredible work being done to preserve Lānaʻi’s heritage while creating economic opportunities for the future.” “As a State, we must ensure that we are able to keep up with the changing needs of our communities,” said Senator Troy N. Hashimoto (D 5 – Wailuku, Kahului, Waihe‘e, Waikapu Mauka, Wai‘ehu), Vice Chair of the Senate Committee on Housing. “Developing sustainable housing solutions must include building communities with access to economic opportunities and critical services to ensure that residents, on Lānaʻi and across our islands, can stay and live with greater security in the place we call home.” “As we continue shaping policy and budgets, it’s critical we prioritize initiatives that create lasting opportunities for regional economic development,” said Senator Donovan M. Dela Cruz (D 17 – Portion of Mililani, Mililani Mauka, portion of Waipi‘o Acres, Launani Valley, Wahiawā, Whitmore Village), Chair of the Senate Committee on Ways and Means. “Today’s visit demonstrates that food, housing, and workforce are the cornerstones of sustainability and economic opportunity,” said ADC Board Chairperson Jayson Watts. “As ADC explores statewide expansion, we are committed to building the infrastructure and innovation needed for rural communities and families to succeed.” “The work on Lānaʻi highlights how rural communities can thrive when economic opportunities and affordable housing are integrated rather than separated. DBEDT holds critical levers that can be used to support rural communities by connecting food, housing, tourism and workforce opportunities,” said DBEDT Deputy Director Dane Wicker.

Hawaiʻi Senate Ways and Means Committee releases informational briefing schedule Maui Now Maui Now December 28, 2024 Original Article The Hawaiʻi State Senate Committee on Ways and Means released its schedule of informational briefings, to be held Jan. 6-28, 2025. The briefings aim to provide state departments the opportunity to present budget requests to the Committee for the upcoming biennium. “Info briefings are essential in ensuring that legislators are equipped with knowledge and insights necessary to make informed decisions that impact our communities,” said WAM Chair Senator Donovan M. Dela Cruz (Senate District 17, portion of Mililani, Mililani Mauka, portion of Waipiʻo Acres, Launani Valley, Wahiawā, Whitmore Village). “It is important that we share information with each other, especially as we rely on the expertise of those who are at the forefront of critical issues.” A full schedule of the informational briefings can be viewed here: https://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2025/hearingnotices/HEARING_WAM_2025_SUMMARY_INFO_.HTM All informational briefings can be viewed live on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/@HawaiiSenate . No public testimony will be accepted at the briefings.

$3.2M released for axis deer fencing in South Maui to address flood risks, environmental concerns Maui Now N/A February 12, 2025 Original Article State Sen. Angus L.K. McKelvey on Wednesday announced $3.2 million in Capital Improvement Project funds to design and construct axis deer fencing in South Maui. The funds were released by Gov. Josh Green amid a state emergency proclamation to address the growing environmental and safety concerns caused by the overpopulation of axis deer on Maui, which has been identified as a major cause of the conditions leading to previous flooding like that of just last month. “This decision is not just an administrative act—it is a powerful demonstration of responsiveness and a commitment to safeguarding our land, our people and our future,” McKelvey said. “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.” According to McKelvey, the funding, which was secured through the combined efforts of legislators Rep. Terez Amato, Rep. Kyle Yamashita, Sen. Lynn DeCoite and Sen. Donovan M. Dela Cruz, will be used to mitigate the destructive impact of the axis deer population on agriculture, infrastructure and the general safety of the community. McKelvey expressed his gratitude for the swift action taken by the administration, emphasizing the urgency of the situation. “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,” McKelvey said. “The governor’s commitment to funding this project reflects a proactive approach to preventing further environmental degradation and ensuring the well-being of residents.” The South and West Maui lawmaker explained that the fencing initiative is part of a broader strategy to enhance conservation efforts and long-term sustainability in the region. Leaders and stakeholders emphasize that the project will serve as a foundation for future flood mitigation and environmental preservation efforts. “The funding release marks a significant step forward in addressing one of South Maui’s most pressing ecological challenges,” McKelvey said, adding that, “community members, conservation advocates and policymakers will continue working together to ensure the successful implementation of the project and explore additional strategies for sustainable land management.” “The fences we build today are not just barriers—they are bridges to a safer, stronger and more resilient Maui,” McKelvey said.

Housing bills vie for state lawmakers’ attention Maui Now Brian Perry January 22, 2025 Original Article With a bill introduction deadline looming on Thursday, state lawmakers already have nearly 150 measures to consider as ways to address Hawaiʻi’s dire housing shortage, a problem even more acute on Maui after the August 2023 wildfires destroyed thousands of homes. Here’s a sampling of some of the measures, all of which have passed first reading in either the state House or Senate and have been referred to committees for further review: House Bill 489 and Senate Bill 1214 would establish a Vacant Homes Special Fund under the Hawaiʻi Housing Finance and Development Corp. for rental assistance programs. Under the bill, residential property owners who allow their property to remain vacant for 180 days, or more than a year, would be subject to an annual general excise tax surcharge. It also requires people who own residential property but don’t live there to obtain a general excise tax license. The bills also require the counties to disclose a list of unoccupied residential properties to the state Department of Taxation, and it requires the state Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism to calculate average annual rental value for the basis for the surcharge amount. The House measure takes aim at owners of second homes in Hawaiʻi, pointing out that the state’s infrastructure enhances property values and development opportunities, but that owners of second homes, who leave them vacant throughout the year, “fail to contribute proportionately to the local economy that sustains their value.” Surcharge income would be used by the state for a rental assistance program similar to the federal Section 8 tenant-based housing assistance program, according to the bill. The amount of the surcharge would be equal to the estimated amount the housing unit would generate in excise taxes if it were rented to a tenant in a comparable real property size and area, indicated by ZIP code. The task of figuring out how to implement such a law would fall to the director of the Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism, who may adopt, amend or repeal rules to carry out the property vacancy surcharge. The bill was introduced by Oʻahu House Reps. Kim Coco Iwamoto and Amy Perruso. Central Maui Rep. Tyson Miyake is co-introducer with Kaua’i Rep. Luke Evslin for House Bill 739 , which proposes to establish a Kamaʻāina Homes Program that would provide funding to the counties to purchase voluntary deed restrictions from eligible homeowners or homebuyers. Established within the Hawaiʻi Housing Finance and Development Corp. at a time when the median single-family home sells for nearly $1.4 million, the Kamaʻāina Homes Program would be modeled after the Vail InDEED program in tourist-Mecca Vail, Colo. According to the bill, Vail implemented in 2018 a voluntary program to allow the town to buy and place deed restrictions in perpetuity on local homes from willing buyers that limited occupancy to owner-occupants or resident tenants who live and work in the town of Vail. Since it began, the program has set aside more than 1,000 deed-restricted residences for local working residents and helped provide more attainable housing for residents. Miyake, Evslin and Oʻahu House Rep. Rachele Lamosao of Waipahu have introduced House Bill 525 , which would clarify that dwelling units eligible for the Rent-to-Own program shall be units that are for sale in fee simple or leasehold on state or county land under a lease with an initial term of no less than 99 years. The bill would increase amount of time that the sales price of dwelling units under the Rent-to-Own Program shall remain fixed from five years to 10 years after the rental agreement is executed. At least a couple of measures would tie the hands of county councils in some cases. For example, Senate Bill 27 would exempt state-financed housing developments from the requirement to obtain approval from the applicable county council. The bill was introduced by Senate Housing Committee Chair Stanley Chang, with support from Vice Chair Troy Hashimoto, of Central Maui. Other senators backing the bill include Republican Kurt Fevella of Ewa Beach, Sharon Moriwaki of urban Honolulu and Glenn Wakai of Central Oʻahu and Senate floor leader. And, Senate Bill 38 would prohibit the legislative body of a county from making modifications to housing development proposals that would increase the cost of the project. That bill was introduced by Sens. Chang, Fevella, Hashimoto and Joy Buenaventura of Puna, Hawaii Island. Calling for a change in Hawaiʻi’s landlord tenant laws is House Bill 464 . For tenants residing in rental units for more than 90 days, the bill would require a landlord to notify a tenant of any intent to raise the rent for any subsequent rental agreement or any intent to terminate a rental agreement 60 days before the expiration of the original rental agreement. It would also mandate a 90-notice to terminate a tenancy for tenants of three years or more and 60 days for tenants of less than three years, with certain exceptions. It also increases the amount of time required to give notice to terminate tenancies that are less than month-to-month. The bill includes a legislative finding that working families in Hawaiʻi face increasing housing insecurity and displacement. “Many renters in Hawaiʻi lose their housing through processes that never register as evictions because they happen at the end of a lease term,” the bill says. “Landlords can decline to renew a lease, even for complying tenants, without cause. These arbitrary lease nonrenewals are highly disruptive to the lives of tenants and are a cause of poverty, financial insecurity and emotional distress.” The bill proposes finding that under the residential landlord-tenant code, fixed term leases –- for example, a one-year lease –- currently have no notice requirement. Instead, landlords are recommended to give notice prior to the lease expiration. Short notice or lack of any notice “imposes serious hardship on many tenants who struggle to locate adequate housing in Hawaiʻi’s increasingly tight rental market and face serious economic burdens to cover the costs of relocation.” Such costs include application fees, safety deposits, rent and taking time off from work to inspect units and move belongings from a former residence to a new one. “Given the realities of Hawaiʻi’s current rental market, the Legislature finds that tenants need additional time to secure adequate housing,” the bill says. The measure was introduced by Maui County Reps. Terez Amato of South Maui and Rep. Mahina Poepoe of Molokaʻi and Oʻahu Reps. Tina Grandinetti, Daniel Holt, Kim Coco Iwamoto, Darius Kila, Trish La Chica, Lisa Marten and Amy Perruso.

City, state closer to condemning Wahiawa property known for illegal activity Hawaii News Now Lynn Kawano August 27, 2025 Original Article HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) - A homeless man was killed Sunday after being attacked by a pack of dogs at an encampment in Wahiawa. The property at 525 Avocado Street overlooks Lake Wilson. It has been a source of community outrage, and lawmakers were already moving to condemn the lot and demolish the two, hollowed-out structures and container on site. “It’s been neglected for years and years,” said Peter Schmall. “I’ve lived in Wahiawa for 20 years and it’s been a constant problem.” The property is near a busy intersection with Kamehameha Highway and is a visible nuisance. When Hawaii News Now was at the location, multiple people were inside and started boarding up the windows. The unidentified man who was mauled by his five dogs this week was treated and transported to a hospital by Honolulu Emergency Medical Services, but died from his injuries. In 2020, police raided the place and said it housed a game room. A city council resolution to demolish the structures is moving forward and will be before the full council in September. The state has also been working to condemn the property. “It’s a public safety concern,” said state Sen. Donovan Dela Cruz, who represents the area. The state wants to eventually use the property as a substation for the Department of Land and Natural Resources because it is along the lake. “In 2023, we added over $1 million in capital improvement money so we could purchase the property,” Dela Cruz said. According to the lawmaker, the state has been trying to work with the landowner so that it could be sold. But Dela Cruz said the owner has refused, “which is why we’re going on the condemnation route.” City Council member Matt Weyer, who represents parts of Wahiawa, said the city has also “struggled” with communication. “That’s really the concern, that the land owner isn’t being responsive enough,” he said. County records list Yiu Wai Lam as the at-will manager. That is the same name as the person arrested on the property during the game room raid. His current address is a home in Kalihi Valley. Hawaii News Now went to the home, but no one answered and a neighbor said they were not home. Weyer said the city and state are working together to get the property cleared for use by both agencies. “The demolition of these structures is really the first step in moving forward,” he said. The Hawaiian Humane Society took the dogs involved in the fatal attack this week. “The Honolulu Police Department called our teams and asked for assistance,” said Brandy Shimabukuro, the agency’s communications manager. “Three of the dogs, when they were brought into our care, could not be safely handled by our staff and that posed an immediate public safety risk, so we had to move forward with a humane euthanasia,” she said. Shimabukuro said that is necessary because the agency cannot adopt out a dangerous animal. The other two dogs are still being evaluated.

University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo adding sea, space, pharmacy programs in plan to modernize Big Island Now Kelsey Walling November 8, 2025 Original Article With one of the best locations in the world for astronomy in its backyard, the University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo launched its Space Sciences and Engineering Initiative a year ago to produce homegrown engineers and technicians. And with a unique location for marine science also in its backyard, UH Hilo has plans to build new coral reef research facilities on the Kohala coastline to support UH Hilo’s already well-known undergraduate Marine Science Program. UH Hilo also will offer a new online pathway to break educational barriers for working Hawaiʻi residents with an Extended, Online Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD) degree program that begins in January. This is all part of UH Hilo’s “Renew, Improve, Modernize” vision to upgrade its facilities and programs to better serve students, faculty and the wider community with the help of state funding and a six-year plan. On Monday, state Sen. Lorraine Inouye announced that Gov. Josh Green released $15 million in Capital Improvement Program funds to finance the design and construction of facility improvements at UH Hilo. “Investments like this strengthen our educational infrastructure and ensure our students have access to a modern, high-quality learning environment,” Inouye said in a statement. The state Board of Regents already has approved “Renew, Improve, Modernize” budget requests of $29.6 million for 2026 and $22.6 million for 2027 for UH Hilo, but only the $15 million was appropriated for 2026. And, the University of Hawaiʻi System as a whole did not receive much funding for 2027. “We will be pursuing ‘Renew, Improve, Modernize’ funding through the supplemental budget process for the fiscal year 2027,” UH Hilo vice chancellor Kalei Rapoza said. “We are grateful for the appropriations we have received and hope additional funding will allow us to continue to address these projects on campus.” This table shows the Capital Improvement Project funding plans through 2029. (University of Hawaiʻi System) There are also plans to create additional instructional capacity by improving the use and quality of its existing spaces. According to its six-year plan, UH Hilo will continue to modernize facilities and address maintenance needs. For its new Space Sciences and Engineering Initiative, UH Hilo has invested significantly in the procurement of crucial engineering laboratory teaching materials and is currently developing a new “Maker Space” in the College of Natural and Health Sciences, coordinated by the Pacific International Space Center for Exploration Systems. “The Maker Space is intended to benefit students in the pre-engineering program, providing open access to equipment such as a laser cutter, computer numerical control machine, 3D printer, line plotter, and equipment designed for the design and testing of electrical and structural materials,” said Simon Kattenhorn, dean of the College of Natural and Health Sciences. Kattenhorn. The university now has 20 registered pre-engineering students, enrolled as physics majors. Half of these students began the program the fall of 2024 and another 10 arrived at UH Hilo this fall, mostly as new freshmen. “This reflects tremendous success in the university’s efforts to get information about this new program out to local high school students,” Kattenhorn said. The program is an interdisciplinary collaboration with the University of Hawaiʻi Institute for Astronomy and the Univeristy of Hawaiʻi Mānoa College of Engineering. The goal is to expand Hawaiʻi’s technology sector and educate people qualified to work the 500 jobs at observatories on Maunakea and Maui’s Haleakalā that specialize in optics, software, data science, materials, mechanics, systems and cryogenics. This new program provides students with valuable training in space engineering and instrument development through prerequisite engineering courses at the University of Hawaiʻi Institute for Astronomy’s facility in Hilo, which can then be transferred to the College of Engineering at UH Mānoa. With the new $15 million in state funds for fiscal year 2026, UH Hilo will address the following issues: Renovation and improvement for air conditioning systems in classroom buildings; Renovation and improvement of an agricultural facility for modern instruction; Design for renovation and upgrades to student housing; Design for replacement of built-up roofing at ʻImiloa Astronomy Center. “Addressing deferred maintenance early proactively allows repairs to be completed efficiently, preventing relatively simple issues from escalating and avoiding higher costs and impacts to operations,” Rapoza said. “By prioritizing maintenance investment now in critical areas, operations are safeguarded against disruptive outages, minimizing downtime and protecting critical assets.” The planned Puakō Marine Education and Research Center will provide research and study opportunities for understanding Hawaiʻi’s marine ecosystem by allowing for multi-day research and teaching and providing storage for boats, diving and research equipment currently in storage at UH Hilo. “The Puakō Marine Center would provide an internationally recognized facility for training and support available to UH students and researchers, local island educators and numerous federal, state and out-of-state university students and researchers,” Rapoza said. “Puakō is an ideal location to support a wide range of coastal and marine research activities for faculty and students throughout the UH System.” The facility would complement UH Hilo’s large undergraduate Marine Science Program and is an ideal location given the unique Kona-Kohala coastal resources and the need for additional higher education opportunities in West Hawaiʻi. “Our students and faculty already do substantial work with West Hawaiʻi reefs and this facility would help to showcase our efforts and promote our programs,” Rapoza said. “We also recognize that buy-in from the local community will be vital to our success.” According to the six-year plan, current access to the Puakō coral reefs is currently severely limited due to the lack of laboratories and housing on the west side. UH Hilo also does not have pressurized chamber to prevent decompression sickness for students diving. Rapoza said the facility would be completed in phases, starting with building a pavilion for outdoor training and a boat building for boat storage, an indoor classroom and project staging. Phase 2 would include a dormitory, an academic center with offices, classrooms and laboratories, and faculty and caretaker housing. Once the full funding of $8.5 million for Phase 1 is received, which is expected to be in the fiscal year of 2027, the timeline for building design, permitting and construction is approximately 3 to 4 years. The UH Hilo Daniel K. Inouye College of Pharmacy’s new Extended, Online Doctor of Pharmacy degree program is mostly online with some immersion and laboratory experiences. It will give working adults and caregivers of loved ones more accessibility in pursuing a Doctor of Pharmacy degree. “This is a much-needed resource for our island state, which will allow aspiring pharmacists to continue living and working in their communities while pursuing a Doctor of Pharmacy degree,” said Dr. Rae Matsumoto, dean of the Daniel K. Inouye College of Pharmacy. To learn more about the online, Doctor of Pharmacy program coming next January, visit the UH Hilo website .

State breaks ground on agribusiness hub Aloha State Daily Michael Brestovansky November 14, 2025 Original Article State officials broke ground Friday on a long-awaited Wahiawā agriculture and food hub. The Agribusiness Development Corporation and Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism held a ceremony Friday to commemorate the start of construction for the Central O‘ahu Agriculture and Food Hub, a facility built on a 34-acre parcel in Whitmore Village that will serve to expand the state's food production base. The hub is intended to provide manufacturing and industry services at commercial scale, allowing local producers to expand and export out of state. On top of workforce housing developments, the facility is planned to include more than 60,000 square feet of greenhouses, a high-pressure processing facility for food preservation, a manufacturing facility, warehouse space and more. Meanwhile, the state Department of Education will also construct a Central O‘ahu Regional Kitchen in the hub, which will connect produce from local farms to school cafeterias, serving as a model for similar regional hubs across the state. Partners in the project — which include DBEDT, the ADC and DOE, as well as the University of Hawaii's College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resilience, UH Community College System, state Department of Accounting and General Services and Department of Law Enforcement — hope the hub will help fulfill a pair of mandates whose deadlines are approaching fast. In 2019, Act 151 required Hawai‘i to double local food production and exports by 2030. Then, in 2021, Act 175 established the state farm-to-school program, with a goal of using locally produced food to make at least 30% of public school meals, also by 2030. Another state deadline is further off, but approaching no less swiftly: Act 176, passed in 2021, requires state departments to use local sources for 50% of their food by 2050. State Sen. Donovan Dela Cruz said the project is a big step to make those state goals more physically real and prompt greater buy-in from the public and other stakeholders. "Depending on the commodity we're trying to scale up, whether that's rice or leafy greens or cattle ... we're going to need facilities like these to help those farmers scale up." ADC Executive Director Wendy Gady said the hub represents about $28 million in water, sewer and utility infrastructure, funded through a DOE grant. A presentation by the ADC suggests that the project has cost upwards of $120 million since the purchase of the land in 2012. "About 40% of all crops grown never make it to market," Gady said. "When it comes to the farmer's market or retail, you want to to look for the homecoming court, the beautiful fruit, the beautiful vegetables, but there's a place for the rest of us not on the homecoming court. This gives an opportunity for the bell peppers to go into chili, to go onto pizza ... and it's a huge economic boost for our farmers and our food distributors." According to a project website, the hub is anticipated to be fully completed in 2029, although individual components of the hub could go online sooner. For example, the high-pressure processing facility has a completion date of Sept. 2026.

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

Senate Committee on Ways and Means advances executive budget bill Maui Now March 31, 2025 Original Article The Senate Committee on Ways and Means on Monday passed House Bill 300 Senate Draft 1 , which outlines the Executive Branch state budget for the upcoming fiscal years. The bill includes funding for both the State’s operating and capital improvement budgets for fiscal years 2025-2026 and 2026-2027. Following the latest downward forecast from the Council on Revenues and amidst ongoing economic uncertainty, the WAM committee has adopted a budget that it says maintains essential services for the state’s most vulnerable populations and proactively expands the economy through strategic investments in emerging sectors. With potential cuts in federal funding and policy changes that could result in broader economic challenges, the Senate reports it remains committed to fostering economic resilience and advancing meaningful solutions that Hawaiʻi’s communities need to thrive. A summary of totals included in the approved budget are as follows: Operating Budget: For Fiscal Year 2025-2026 , the operating budget totals almost $10.44 billion in general funds and about $19.93 billion across all financing sources. For Fiscal Year 2026-2027 , the operating budget totals around $10.42 billion in general funds and almost $19.74 billion across all financing sources. Capital Improvement Budget: For Fiscal Year 2025-2026 , the capital improvement budget includes about $1.56 billion in general obligation bond funds and around $3.72 billion from all financing sources. For Fiscal Year 2026-2027 , the capital improvement budget includes over $339.5 million in general obligation bond funds and about $2.05 billion from all financing sources. “The Senate continues to prioritize investments that foster systems within our island home to sustain essential services, including access to food, healthcare, and housing,” said Sen. Donovan M. Dela Cruz (Senate District 17 –  portion of Mililani, Mililani Mauka, portion of Waipiʻo Acres, Launani Valley, Wahiawā, Whitmore Village), WAM chair. “This budget makes strategic appropriations to invest into our local regional economies to drive economic growth statewide. This wholistic approach will help to diversify our economy, create high-paying local jobs, and reverse the brain drain. Together, we can make Hawaiʻi a place where locals can live, learn, work, and play.” “In these times of uncertainty, we focused on the essentials: health and safety, compliance, infrastructure, and maintaining and modernizing state assets,” stated Sen. Sharon Y. Moriwaki (Senate District 12 – Waikīkī, Ala Moana, Kaka‘ako, McCully), vice-chair of WAM. “We’ve also focused on our Senate priorities of affordable housing, workforce development, environmental sustainability, and economic development and diversification including agricultural innovations.” Budget allocations in line with this year’s Senate priorities: Education and Workforce Development Add one position and $55,068 in FY26 and $110,136 in FY27 to advance financial literacy education initiatives statewide Add 2 positions and $220,272 in FY26 and FY27 for educational programming for students in residential facilities and for neglected/delinquent youth Add $1,450,000 in FY26 and FY27 to address healthcare workforce shortages in collaboration with DOE Add four positions and $947,736 in FY26 and FY27 to provide career foundations across core and emerging industries, in collaboration with the McKinley Community School for Adults and the Business Development and Support Division Add 11 positions and $1,243,212 in FY26 and $1,468,488 in FY27 to address nursing shortages statewide Add $15,000,000 in FY26 and FY27 for the Healthcare Education Loan Repayment Program to help improve access to quality healthcare in underserved areas Add $1,000,000 in FY26 and FY27 to establish the Aloha Intelligence Institute in UH Community College Systems to develop pathways for workforce development Add $4,000,000 in FY26 and FY27 for the Hoakea Program, in partnership with the Polynesian Voyaging Society Add $465,000 in FY26 and FY27 for differentials for Charter Schools teachers, including for hard-to-fill and Hawaiian Immersion teachers Add 58 positions and $5,027,927 in FY26 and 108 positions and $8,236,302 in FY27 for the Lieutenant Governor’s Ready Keiki initiative, which aims to expand access to pre-school statewide Housing, Homelessness, and Stabilizing Hawaiʻi’s Property Insurance Market Add $4,100,000 in FY26 and FY27 to help offenders reintegrate into society, including by providing replacement vital documents, mental health treatment services, substance abuse treatment services, and transitional housing Add $1,550,000 in FY26 and FY27 for Family Assessment Centers for homeless families with minor children Add $3,750,000 in FY26 and FY27 for Housing First Program to provide transitional housing to individuals who frequent healthcare services and the criminal justice system Add $1,750,000 in FY26 and FY27 for Homeless Outreach Services to collaborate with state agencies to transition individuals into long-term housing solutions Add $5,000,000 in FY26 to support State agencies to address homeless encampments on State lands Add $3,750,000 in FY26 and FY27 for Rapid Re-housing Program which provides supportive services to families Add $250,000 in FY26 and FY27 for State Rent Supplement Program to provide housing subsidies for low-income families Increase State Low-Income Housing revolving fund ceiling to add 2 positions and $160,478 in FY26 and $300,356 in FY27 to assist with Public Housing programs Add one position and $100,000 in FY26 and FY27 for the 99-year leasehold program, which aims to develop low-cost residential condominium units for first-time homebuyers Increase special fund ceiling by $200,000,000 in FY26 and FY27 for distribution of insurance proceeds from the Maui wildfires General Governance and Constitutional Rights Add $200,000 in FY26 and $220,000 in FY27 for IT accessibility implementation in the Office of Enterprise Technology Services, in consultation with the Disability and Communication Assess Board Increase special fund ceiling by $5,000,000 in FY26 and FY27 to expand 911 services to new and emerging technologies Add two positions and $440,000 in FY26 and FY27 to establish the Immigrant Services and Access Unit to promote economic self‑sufficiency, community inclusion, and integration Add $1,500,000 in FY26 to improve paid family and medical leave Add $250,000 in FY26 and $264,000 in FY27 for the Silver Alert Program, which helps protect vulnerable kupuna and persons with cognitive impairments or developmental disabilities Add eight positions and $5,042,937 in FY26 and $2,292,014 in FY27 to create the Explosives Enforcement Section to help stop the importation of illegal fireworks Add one position and $200,000 in FY26 and FY27 to help incorporate language access laws into disaster management plans Add six positions and $876,000 in FY26 and FY27 for the Office of Wellness and Resilience to continue Hawaiʻi’s largest statewide health survey ever, as well as the largest dataset using the Center for Disease Control’s National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health Worker Well-being Questionnaire. Add $125,000 in FY26 for medical transportation across rural Oahu Add two positions and $612,210 in FY26 and $1,694,644 in FY27 to expand critical State services to blind and visually impaired residents of the neighbor islands Environmental Sustainability and Infrastructure Add 44 positions and $13,324,731 in both fiscal years for biosecurity Add 7.5 positions and $422,604 in in both fiscal years to operate and maintain irrigation systems statewide Add $200,000 in FY26 and FY27 to minimize the spread of rat lungworm disease Add $1,500,000 in FY26 and FY27 for overtime payments within the Division of Conservation and Resources Enforcement Add 21 positions and $4,967,103 in FY26 and $2,002,972 in FY27 to protect the natural resources of our State Add one position and $110,000 in FY26 and FY27, and increase special fund ceiling by $5,000,000 in FY26 and FY27 to revitalize plantation-era reservoirs statewide Add $500,000 in FY26 for climate change assessments in community development districts Increase federal fund ceiling by $393,600 in FY26 and $442,800 in FY27 for three positions for the Tribal Broadband Connectivity Program, which aims to expand high-speed internet access to Native Hawaiian households Add $15,000,000 in FY26 for fire mitigation on highways statewide Increase revolving fund ceiling by $11,591,397 in FY26 for National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System Permits Agricultural Innovation and Other Revenue Streams Add $2,058,118 for the Agribusiness Development Corporation to support local farmers, in collaboration with the College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resilience Add $2,000,000 in FY26 to supplement the revolving fund to keep irrigation water rates affordable for local farmers Add $865,000 in FY26 and FY27 to help local entrepreneurs expand to global markets Add $4,150,000 in FY26 and FY27 for the First Lady’s Feeding Hawaiʻi Keiki initiative, in collaboration with the DOE and CTAHR Add $1,500,000 in FY26 to establish the Smart Food Program that will allow Hawaiʻi food producers and retailers to make specific food items available at discounts to SNAP recipients Add $4,000,000 in FY26 and FY27 to cement Hawaiʻi’s position as the gateway between the East and the West Add one position and $35,508 in FY26 and $71,016 in FY27 for the Hawaiʻi Film Office Add two positions and $66,888 in FY26 and $133,776 in FY27 for the Academy of Creative Media Add $126,000 in FY26 and FY27 for the Small Business Coordinator, to help ensure equal opportunity for businesses owned by veterans, Native Hawaiians, and women Add one position and $57,500 in FY26 and $115,000 in FY27 for antitrust laws and the promotion of a fair and competitive economy Budget allocations for State Departments include: Department of Agriculture Add 44 positions and $13,324,731 in both fiscal years for biosecurity Add 7.5 positions and $422,604 in in both fiscal years to operate and maintain irrigation systems statewide Add $2,000,000 in FY26 to supplement the revolving fund to keep irrigation water rates affordable for local farmers Add $100,000 and 1 Grant Writer position to capitalize on extramural funding Department of Accounting and General Services Add one position and $2,550,000 in FY26 and $4,800,000 in FY27 to expand access to Boards and Commissions meetings Add $200,000 in FY26 and $220,000 in FY27 for IT accessibility implementation in the Office of Enterprise Technology Services, in consultation with the Disability and Communication Assess Board Add $1,600,000 in FY26 and FY27 for cybersecurity risk mitigation efforts Add $310,000 in FY26 and $325,000 in FY27 for cloud backup and disaster recovery solutions Add two positions, and $1,088,500 in FY26 and $1,167,000 in FY27 to establish the Cemetery Management Office Add $126,000 in FY26 and FY27 for the Small Business Coordinator, to help ensure equal opportunity for businesses owned by veterans, Native Hawaiians, and women Add two positions and $2,115,000 in FY26 and $380,000 in FY27 for the Campaign Spending Commission to upgrade electronic voting systems Increase special fund ceiling by $5,000,000 in FY26 and FY27 to expand 911 services to new and emerging technologies Increase special fund ceiling by $200,000,000 in FY26 and FY27 for distribution of insurance proceeds from the Maui wildfires Department of the Attorney General Add two positions and $196,863 in FY26 and $271,445 in FY27 for the Hawaiʻi Correctional System Oversight Commission to help ensure a comprehensive offender re-entry program Add two positions and $152,767 in FY26 and $305,531 in FY27 for the Medical Fraud Unit Add one position and $57,500 in FY26 and $115,000 in FY27 for antitrust laws and the promotion of a fair and competitive economy Add one position and $57,500 in FY26 and $115,000 in FY27 to help uphold child protection laws and support the Office of Youth Services Add $3,070,000 in FY26 and FY27 to help ensure pay equity for Deputy Attorney General positions Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism Add $1,450,000 in FY26 and FY27 to address healthcare workforce shortages in collaboration with DOE Add $250,000 in FY26 and FY27 to provide career foundations in collaboration with DOE’s community schools for adults Add $865,000 in FY26 and FY27 to help local entrepreneurs expand to global markets Add $4,150,000 in FY26 and FY27 for the First Lady’s Feeding Hawaiʻi Keiki initiative, in collaboration with the DOE and CTAHR Add $4,000,000 in FY26 and FY27 to cement Hawaiʻi’s position as the gateway between the East and the West Add one position and $35,508 in FY26 and $71,016 in FY27 for the Hawaiʻi Film Office Add $500,000 in FY26 for climate change assessments in community development districts Add $2,058,118 to support local farmers, in collaboration with the College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resilience Department of Budget and Finance Add one position and $983,500 in FY26 and $592,600 in FY27 to safeguard the State’s $24 billion assets for the Employees’ Retirement System Increase trust fund ceiling by 143,719 in FY26 and $287,438 in FY27 for one Investment Officer to help maintain post-employment benefits, including healthcare Add $1,653,691 in FY26 and FY27 to help ensure pay equity for positions within the Office of the Public Defender Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs Increase special fund ceiling by:$12,000,000 to renovate the historic King Kalakaua Building $58,233 in FY26 and $116,466 in FY27 for 1 Auditor for the Public Utilities Commission to address rate payer affordability and renewable portfolio standards Department of Defense Add $230,000 in FY26 for critical telecommunications infrastructure Add $2,037,196 in FY26 and FY27 to help ensure pay equity for positions at the Youth Challenge Academy Add one position and $200,000 in FY26 and FY27 to help incorporate language access laws into disaster management plans Department of Education Add $4,000,000 in FY26 and FY27 for the Hoakea Program, in partnership with the Polynesian Voyaging Society Add $726,100 in FY26 and FY27 to make girls flag football a sport Add $63,082 in FY26 and FY27 for neighbor island student participation in JROTC competition Add two positions and $220,272 in FY26 and FY27 for educational programming for students in residential facilities and for neglected/delinquent youth Add $10,000,000 in FY26 and FY27 for skilled nursing services for individuals with disabilities Add $1,700,000 in FY26 and FY27 to increase access to mental health and well- being support systems Add four positions and $697,736 in FY26 and FY27 to provide career foundations across core and emerging industries, in collaboration with the McKinley Community School for Adults Add $4,125,000 in FY26 and FY27 for the Farm to School mandate, which aims to locally source 30% of DOE school meals by 2030 Add $500,000 in FY26 and $250,000 in FY27 for an automated handing system that utilizes radio-frequency identification for all Public Libraries Add $465,000 in FY26 and FY27 for differentials for Charter Schools teachers, including for hard-to-fill and Hawaiian Immersion teachers Add 58 positions and $5,027,927 in FY26 and 108.00 positions and $8,236,302 in FY27 for the Lieutenant Governor’s Ready Keiki initiative, which aims to expand access to pre-school statewide Department of Hawaiian Home Lands Increase federal fund ceiling by $393,600 in FY26 and $442,800 in FY27 for three positions for the Tribal Broadband Connectivity Program, which aims to expand high-speed internet access to Native Hawaiian households Department of Human Services Add six positions and $876,000 in FY26 and FY27 for the Office of Wellness and Resilience to continue Hawaiʻi’s largest statewide health survey ever, as well as the largest dataset using the Center for Disease Control’s National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health Worker Well-being Questionnaire. Increase special fund ceiling by $225,000,000 in FY26 and FY27 for the Hospital Sustainability Program Increase special fund ceiling by $35,000,000 in FY26 and FY27 for the Nursing Facility Sustainability ProgramThese recurring appropriations sustain public-private partnerships to provide care to the most vulnerable populations in the State Add $750,000 in FY26 and FY27 for the Child Wellness Incentive Pilot Program Add $1,500,000 in FY26 to establish the Smart Food Program that will allow Hawaiʻi food producers and retailers to make specific food items available at discounts to SNAP recipients Add two positions and $612,210 in FY26 and $1,694,644 in FY27 to expand critical State services to blind and visually impaired residents of the neighbor islands Department of Human Resources Development 1. Add $1,750,000 in FY26 to help ensure pay equity for civil service jobs across the State Department of Health Add $125,000 in FY26 for medical transportation across rural Oʻahu Add $8,600,000 in FY26 and $18,400,000 in FY27 for Medicaid home and community-based services waiver for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities Add $5,500,000 in FY26 to expand the number of psychiatric beds at the Hawaiʻi State Hospital Add $1,600,000 in FY26 and FY27 for a second medic station and ambulance on Molokaʻi Add three positions and $192,408 in FY26 and FY27 for the Senior Medicare Patrol Program to protect kupuna from medical fraud and scams Add $1,700,000 in FY26 and FY27 for reproductive health and family planning services Add $15,000,000 in FY26 and FY27 for the Healthcare Education Loan Repayment Program to help improve access to quality healthcare in underserved areas Department of Law Enforcement Add eight positions and $5,042,937 in FY26 and $2,292,014 in FY27 to create the Explosives Enforcement Section to help stop the importation of illegal fireworks Add $825,000 in FY26 to help prevent gun violence Add $250,000 in FY26 and FY27 for de-escalation training for law enforcement officers Add $250,000 in FY26 and $264,000 in FY27 for the Silver Alert Program, which helps protect vulnerable kupuna and persons with cognitive impairments or developmental disabilities Department of Labor and Industrial Relations Add two positions and $440,000 in FY26 and FY27 to establish the Immigrant Services and Access Unit to promote economic self‑sufficiency, community inclusion, and integration Add $1,500,000 in FY26 to improve paid family and medical leave Add two positions and $76,996 in FY26 and $130,592 in FY27 to enforce temporary disability insurance and prepaid healthcare laws Department of Land and Natural Resources Add one position and $110,000 in FY26 and FY27, and increase special fund ceiling by $5,000,000 in FY26 and FY27 to revitalize plantation-era reservoirs statewide Add $1,500,000 in FY26 and FY27 for overtime payments within the Division of Conservation and Resources Enforcement Add 21 positions and $4,967,103 in FY26 and $2,002,972 in FY27 to protect the natural resources of our State Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation Add $112,000 in FY26 and FY27 to provide trauma-informed care training for uniformed and non-uniformed staff Add $4,100,000 in FY26 and FY27 to help offenders reintegrate into society, including by providing replacement vital documents, mental health treatment services, substance abuse treatment services, and transitional housing Department of Taxation Add 338,150 in FY26 and $593,400 in FY27 for the Tax System Modernization Project Department of Transportation Add $15,000,000 in FY26 for fire mitigation on highways statewide Add $5,000,000 in FY26 to support State agencies to address homeless encampments on State lands University of Hawaiʻi Add 11 positions and $1,243,212 in FY26 and $1,468,488 in FY27 to address nursing shortages statewide Add $200,000 in FY26 and FY27 to minimize the spread of rat lungworm disease Add two positions and $66,888 in FY26 and $133,776 in FY27 for the Academy of Creative Media Add $1,000,000 in FY26 and FY27 to establish the Aloha Intelligence Institute in UH Community College Systems to develop pathways for workforce development Add two positions and $210,150 in FY26 and FY27 for Windward Community College’s Mental Health Technician Certificate of Competence Program, in collaboration with the Hawaiʻi State Hospital

A Revolving Door For Mentally Ill? Lawmakers Question Diversion Program Civil Beat Caitlin Thompson October 31, 2025 Original Article Lawmakers are expressing concern that a law meant to keep people with mental illness accused of minor crimes from languishing in jail is instead trapping some people in a revolving door at the Hawaiʻi State Hospital without meaningful treatment. In a letter sent earlier this month to state Department of Health Director Kenneth Fink, 11 senators cited Civil Beat’s reporting on the law and asked the department for detailed information on how Act 26 has been implemented and whether it is actually helping people get lasting help. They also ask the department to consider whether changes to the law are needed to prevent people from being readmitted over and over again. Investigation : Hawaiʻi Law Is Diverting Mentally Ill From Jail — But Not Getting Them Help The senators, who include Health and Human Services Chair Joy San Buenaventura and Judiciary Chair Karl Rhoads, expressed support for programs meant to improve outcomes for people with mental illness in the criminal justice system, but questioned whether this five-year-old law has been effective. “One example from the article is a 61-year old man described as homeless who had been sent to the state hospital for a determination of his mental fitness a staggering twenty-two times in a five-year period,” the letter says. Introduced in 2020, Act 26 started out as part of a broader effort to reform the way jails had become de facto mental health treatment centers and to get mentally ill residents accused of petty crimes into community treatment programs. By the time it passed, however, the measure focused primarily on the process for determining whether people with mental illness arrested for low-level crimes have the mental capacity to stand trial. In the past, the process dragged on so long that people were held at the state hospital for longer than the maximum sentence for the charges they faced, which for a petty misdemeanor, is 30 days. Act 26 shortened this timeline from three months to seven days, although lawmakers increased that to 14 days last year. If people facing non-violent petty misdemeanor charges can’t be deemed fit to stand trial within two weeks, they are discharged from the hospital and their case is dropped. More than 150 people were readmitted to the state hospital on petty misdemeanor charges between July 2024 and June 2025, with some admitted half a dozen or more times. About half of those readmitted were back in the hospital within four months, Civil Beat found. In the letter, lawmakers asked the health department to provide detailed information about nearly a dozen areas of concern, including whether patients could be held in less restrictive facilities, what happens when someone is discharged from the state hospital after being found mentally unfit and whether the hospital takes steps to ensure they continue to receive medical care once they leave. Lawmakers also asked health officials to explain whether the state hospital can obtain a court or administrative order for treatment over a patient’s objections and provide data on the number of people who are evaluated for involuntary treatment programs that would enable the hospital to hold them longer. “If they’re not fit to proceed, the court cases drop. And that’s the end of it. And that’s why I think you have the revolving door, because these people are mentally ill, they go back out and do the same thing again, surprise, surprise, and then they come back,” Rhoads said. The Department of Health will respond to senators “as soon as possible,” department spokesman Adam LeFebvre said in an email. ‘It’s About Time We Started Looking At It Again’ Generally, Act 26 has had a positive impact, state hospital administrator Mark Linscott told lawmakers at a Health and Human Services Committee briefing in October. But he said patients cycling in and out of the hospital is a persistent challenge. “It’s about time we start looking at it again,” San Buenaventura said during the briefing. “The revolving door referred to by the Civil Beat article may continue unless hopefully we could have some solutions going forward.” The mandate to release people within 14 days has led to people being discharged without having received much treatment, according to experts at the state hospital and service providers working with people with mental illness. Many patients also struggle with addiction, and the short stays may not be enough to detox. In the letter sent to the health department director, lawmakers are asking whether the current timeline is sufficient to provide people with meaningful treatment. People leaving the hospital are often met with few resources and insufficient options for community-based treatment. It’s not just Act 26 that needs to be reexamined, San Buenaventura said. She wants to take a closer look at other factors, like whether the broader strategy of jail diversion for people with mental illness is working. “I don’t think that it’s Act 26 by itself that is causing this revolving door,” she said. It’s about “ensuring that there is stabilizing treatment that’s out in the community.” Lawmakers also want to know whether the health department is fully utilizing programs that would allow them to take a more forceful approach. The hospital can’t hold someone involuntarily without a court or administrative order if they are not deemed a danger to themselves or others, nor can doctors medicate a patient against their will. But there are initiatives like Assisted Community Treatment, which allows someone to obtain a court order to force a person who is refusing medication into treatment. The program is controversial because it involves people being medicated against their will. Proponents, however, say that it is key to interrupting the revolving door at the state hospital, and lawmakers want to know whether it’s a viable option that the state hospital uses. Even then, there’s the problem of bedspace and a lack of alternatives. Hawaiʻi is heavily reliant on its state hospital for patients with mental illness who are facing charges. “That, I think, is the next big problem: where we put people,” Rhoads said. The health department needs to expand other less acute options, “as opposed to funneling all these guys into the state hospital.”

How Amazon and Maui pineapples could help diversify Hawaii’s economy Hawaii News Now HNN Staff July 16, 2025 Original Article HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) - When you see Maui pineapples, you may think of a garnish for a cocktail or slices of them served on a platter. Now the prickly fruit is taking on a much bigger role: becoming a part of a model for diversifying Hawaii’s economy. “This is a really big game changer for us,” Maui Gold Pineapple CEO John White said. The big change? More Maui Gold Pineapples are making their way to the mainland. Amazon cargo planes are transporting about 1,800 pineapples in bulk each week from Maui to the mainland. Sen. Glenn Wakai thought of the idea when he heard the company’s cargo planes that drop goods to Hawaii leave empty. “So I approached Amazon saying nothing is unacceptable. Let’s fill them with locally made products,” Wakai said. Pallets of pineapples, Wakai added, can reach New York and Miami in about 12 hours, which is four times quicker than usual. “In addition to that, there’s a huge cost savings. Somewhere in the magnitude of 60 percent cost savings,” Wakai said. Because shipping costs are a big barrier for Hawaii manufacturers trying to reach the mainland, Wakai sees Amazon as the ticket for local products to break the market. “So it’s more than just what comes out of the ground or gets picked off a tree. We’re talking ukulele, fashion, cookies, all kinds of things that are manufactured in Hawaii,” Wakai said. “I think this is a huge game changer to help blossom Hawaii manufacturing and help us diversify away from tourism.” White added, “We invite other farmers in Hawaii to tap in to this opportunity to send their products to their customers on the mainland.” Wakai said he is planting the idea of shipping with Amazon to other local companies. Amazon said it is continually seeking innovative ways to strengthen the communities they serve. The company added its cargo capacity helps local businesses reduce costs, increase competitiveness, and expand their market reach.

Hawaii senators push bipartisan bill for new state holiday Star Advertiser Andrew Gomes March 10, 2025 Original Article The list of annual state holidays in Hawaii could grow by one under legislation that easily passed a milestone last week. State senators voted 25-0 to approve and send to the House of Representatives a bill that would make Nov. 28 La Ku‘oko‘a, or Hawaiian Independence Day, as Hawaii’s 14th official state holiday. The Legislature in 2023 passed a bill to designate Nov. 28 as La Ku‘oko‘a to celebrate a historical recognition of the kingdom of Hawaii’s independence dating to 1843. But that measure, which became Act 11, did not make the day a state holiday. Now state lawmakers, via Senate Bill 614 , are considering elevating La Ku‘oko‘a to an official holiday. “We celebrate Fourth of July, American Independence Day, as an official state holiday,” Sen. Kurt Fevella, a Republican who introduced the bill with two Democratic colleagues, Sens. Stanley Chang and Carol Fukunaga, said in the Senate chamber preceding Tuesday’s vote. “It’s a day when 13 American colonies separated from Great Britain,” said Fevella (R, Ewa Beach-Ocean Pointe-Iroquois Point). “But why haven’t we celebrated when Hawaii became a sovereign nation as a state holiday? … Colleagues, let’s stand together for the Independence Day of our Hawaii nei.” Testimony on SB 614 has been near-unanimously supportive, with written comments from about 35 people, the state Office of Hawaiian Affairs and the Association of Hawaiian Civic Clubs. Reese Flores, a Native Hawaiian student at the University of Hawaii, told two Senate committees during a Feb. 13 public hearing that La Ku‘oko‘a is an important part of Hawaiian history that deserves recognition. “We should be reminded that our ancestors fought and sought independence to keep our nation sovereign,” she said. On Nov. 28, 1843, Great Britain and France formally recognized, under a joint Anglo-Franco Proclamation, the kingdom of Hawaii as an independent nation — 50 years before the 1893 overthrow of the monarchy that preceded Hawaii’s 1898 annexation by the United States. The intent of SB 614 is stated to “recognize the compelling history of Hawaiian independence and memorialize the injustice of the overthrow of the Hawaiian Kingdom.” According to OHA, La Ku‘oko‘a, which literally means Independence Day, was celebrated as a national public holiday under the kingdom of Hawaii and then later by a provisional government, the republic of Hawaii and the territory of Hawaii. OHA said in written testimony that La Ku‘oko‘a merits joining Prince Jonah Kuhio Kalaniana‘ole Day, celebrated annually on March 26, and King Kamehameha I Day, observed annually on June 11, as Hawaiian cultural state holidays instituted by Hawaii lawmakers. Hawaii also observes Statehood Day as an official holiday annually on the third Friday in August to mark its 1959 admission as the country’s 50th state. Beighlee Vidinha, a Native Hawaiian student at UH, said during the Feb. 13 hearing that La Ku‘oko‘a is part of the identity of Hawaiians as sovereign people before identities as American citizens. “If we can honor Statehood Day and American Independence Day as state or federal holidays, we can honor La Ku‘oko‘a, an important indication of our independence and sovereignty as people,” she said. Kimmer Horsen testified at the same hearing to say in part that La Ku‘oko‘a as a state holiday would help educate children, newcomers and tourists about Hawaii’s history. “A bill for terminating Statehood Day would also be wise, as a suggestion,” she said. “This is a step in the right direction for true Hawaiian kingdom independence.” The only person to testify against the bill was Kenneth Conklin, a longtime opponent of the Hawaiian sovereignty movement. Conklin, in written testimony, characterized the bill as using a “182-year-old historical footnote” to give a small boost to “Hawaiian pride” at a large cost in money and undelivered government services. Luis Salaveria, director of the state Department of Budget and Finance, said in written testimony for a Feb. 28 Senate committee hearing on the bill that the loss of state labor and productivity for one day is valued at about $18.3 million from payroll expenses, including Social Security, Medicare and pension costs. Wilbert Holck, chief negotiator with the state Office of Collective Bargaining, said in written testimony that enacting a law to make La Ku‘oko‘a a state holiday would have no effect on public workers unless such a day off work were negotiated and agreed upon mutually. Nov. 28 is already a state holiday every five to six years when it aligns with Thanksgiving as the fourth Thursday in November. That happened in 2019 and 2024, and will happen again next in 2030. Current official state holidays >> New Year’s Day >> Martin Luther King Jr. Day >> Presidents Day >> Prince Jonah Kuhio Kalaniana‘ole Day >> Good Friday >> Memorial Day >> King Kamehameha I Day >> Independence Day >> Statehood Day >> Labor Day >> Veterans Day >> Thanksgiving Day >> Christmas Day