Trump’s order to cut federal funding sends shock waves in Hawaii Star Advertiser Dan Nakaso January 29, 2025 Original Article President Donald Trump’s orders to cut federal funding for a wide range of programs and nonprofit organizations has set off chaos and confusion in Hawaii and around the country. All of Trump’s orders to halt federal funding for multiple programs sent Hawaii officials scrambling Tuesday to pinpoint which programs and services may be at risk. Hawaii departments and agencies rely on 2,600 different federal “accounts,” acting Gov. Sylvia Luke told the Honolulu Star-Advertiser. But state officials do not know whether the list of 2,600 federal accounts used by various state agencies — including the state departments of Health and Human Services and the University of Hawaii — was complete, including how many state workers’ salaries are funded by the federal government, Luke said. She asked anyone who hears about or experiences disruptions in programs to contact their state legislator so the state can get a better picture of the situation. Luke hopes state legislators provide more funding for critical programs that rely on federal funding to continue services across Hawaii. But of the state’s $17 billion budget, Luke said half comes from special and federal dollars. “We don’t have the funds to supplant all of the federal funds that can be lost,” she said. In a statement Tuesday, state Senate President Ron Kouchi (D, Kauai-Niihau), said, “These programs — spanning healthcare, education, infrastructure, housing, and more — are lifelines for our Hawai‘i residents as well as millions of Americans, and the temporary suspension of these funds will only exacerbate challenges that are already straining our communities.” House Speaker Nadine Nakamura (D, Hanalei-Princeville-Kapaa) issued a statement saying, “This freeze is deeply concerning as it could jeopardize critical services that Hawai‘i’s communities depend on, including education, healthcare, social services, wildfire recovery, and essential federally funded programs. Furthermore, it undermines the progress we have made in ensuring representation and support for our Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander communities.” The Hawaii Alliance of Nonprofit Organizations said in a statement that Trump’s call for a “temporary” pause on all agency federal grants and loans “will have immediate and devastating impacts to nonprofits that receive federal funding and for our communities at large. The shock waves of this unprecedented action are reverberating throughout the country and our local communities. HANO joins in your concerns and your fears, and we believe this unilateral action taken by President Trump is unconstitutional.” Luke said that in her 10 years as House finance chair before being elected lieutenant governor in 2022, “We have never seen this type of directive out of the White House.” Even more concerning, she said, Trump’s actions are aimed, in particular, at critical issues for Hawaii, including addressing climate change, embracing diversity, culture and inclusion — and at specific communities such as immigrants like herself, various ethnicities, lesbians, gays, bisexuals and transgenders. “They have an agenda,” she said of the Trump administration and his supporters. Luke hopes Trump’s threats to dismantle the Federal Emergency Management Agency do not jeopardize future federal funding to rebuild Maui after the Aug. 8, 2023, wildfires, which killed 102 people and all but wiped out Lahaina. And she also worries that Trump might target the Compact of Free Association, which gives residents from the Federated States of Micronesia, Republic of the Marshall Islands and the Republic of Palau access to the full range of federal benefits available to lawful U.S. residents, including food aid from the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program and Temporary Aid for Needy Families. The agreements were made after U.S. nuclear weapons tests killed, maimed and caused health issues for the people of their islands. On Monday the U.S. Office of Management and Budget issued a directive to federal agencies to pause “all activities related to obligation or disbursement of all federal financial assistance” starting Tuesday to conduct a review of whether government spending “aligns with Trump’s agenda,” Schatz told his Senate colleagues Tuesday. The OMB later clarified that programs would be spared from review that provide direct benefits to people who receive Medicaid, SNAP or Social Security benefits. Gov. Josh Green said in a statement that Trump’s directives have “caused a great deal of chaos, confusion and uncertainty.” “The presidential order seeks to prevent the people of Hawaii from receiving crucial services funded by the millions of dollars they pay to the federal government each year,” Green said. “This cannot stand. My administration is currently assessing the impact of this pause on essential state programs and services, including education, health care, social services, and wildfire recovery.” The immediate aftermath of Trump’s flurry of directives will equally effect Republican and Democratic states, U.S. Sen. Brian Schatz and U.S. Rep. Jill Tokuda said separately Tuesday. Schatz rose on the floor of the U.S. Senate and said: “I also would like to select the federal funding, which I agree with and fund that, and select the funding that I disagree with and defund that. But I’m not a monarch and neither is Donald Trump. “We’re hearing from so many constituents across the country, and I had a bit of a time delay because it’s earlier in Hawaii, but all of my colleagues were getting incoming texts and calls and panicked people,” Schatz said. “This isn’t about some arcane government program. This is, like, basic stuff.” Schatz, Tokuda and others including the Hawaii Alliance of Nonprofit Organizations called Trump’s “temporary” pause on all agency federal grants and loans unconstitutional, chaotic and creating confusion across the country, including in red states. Tokuda said Trump “decided in his head that he was just going to do it. And that’s resulted in an onslaught of executive orders. He was just going to put out his mandates, throw noodles to the wall and see what would stick, to see if Republicans in Congress would bow down to him, ultimately making this a government of one and removing the separation of powers that protects all Americans.” Just as the cuts were to take effect Tuesday, U.S. District Judge Loren AliKhan ordered the Trump administration not to block funding to existing programs until Monday after nonprofit and public health organizations filed lawsuits. AliKhan has scheduled a hearing in Washington, D.C., for Monday. However the judge rules, it remains to be seen whether the losing side will appeal — or Trump will simply ignore a decision against his directives, claiming they are the result of executive orders, Luke said. “We really don’t know,” she said. “We won’t know if this will continue a week from now, a month from now, a year from now. But we have an obligation to be ready for the worst-case scenario.”

Small Group Of Lawmakers To Award $50M To Nonprofits Facing Federal Cuts Civil Beat Kevin Dayton October 17, 2025 Original Article Hawaiʻi lawmakers are inviting nonprofit organizations to seek extra state grant funding under a $50 million initiative to offset recent federal cuts to health and human services programs. In an unusual move, the money will be doled out by a four-member panel instead of the full Legislature. Legislators authorized the extra grants-in-aid funding in the closing days of the last session amid concerns the Trump administration would impose deep cuts in social service programs. Gov. Josh Green approved that plan as Act 310 . Hawaiʻi nonprofits “are facing unprecedented delays and reductions in federal funding,” according to an announcement issued by lawmakers this week. “The cuts in federal funding have impacted areas such as healthcare, human services, education, homelessness, and food security.” In an effort to make up for lost federal funding, the state has begun accepting applications for the Act 310 grants, with a deadline for the nonprofits to submit applications of 4:30 p.m. on Oct. 24. Act 310 says nonprofit applicants for the state grants must be “recipients or providers that have sustained a reduction or termination of their federal funding,” or primarily serve populations that were “negatively affected by reductions or terminations of federal funding.” The $50 million is in addition to $30 million lawmakers directed to nonprofits under the regular grant-in-aid process during the legislative session last spring. A recent report by the University of Hawaiʻi Economic Research Organization concluded 74 federal grants to 59 Hawai‘i nonprofits “are politically vulnerable” to budget cuts by the Trump administration. Programs serving Native Hawaiians account for much of that risk. Those nonprofits are awaiting $126 million in unpaid balances on federal grants, and “more than half of this risk is concentrated in healthcare programs, with significant exposure also in human services, environment, and education,” according to the UHERO report. But it isn’t clear yet how much funding or how many grants to local nonprofits have actually been cut. State Rep. Daniel Holt, who oversees nonprofit grant-in-aid awards for the House, said in an interview Wednesday he was unaware of any local nonprofits that have taken a big financial hit from federal cuts. “We don’t know what to expect,” Holt said of the application process. “We don’t know if we’re going to get overwhelmed, we don’t know if we’re going to have a lot of extra money,” he added. “We honestly have no idea at this point.” The applications will be administered by Aloha United Way, and a panel of four Democratic legislators will decide the amounts awarded to each nonprofit. Those lawmakers include Holt, House Finance Committee Vice Chair Jenna Takenouchi, Senate Ways and Means Chair Donovan Dela Cruz and Senate Majority Leader Dru Kanuha. Act 310 has been criticized by some lawmakers because it empowers just those four legislators to decide which nonprofits will get portions of the $50 million. Grants-in-aid are normally part of state budgets approved in votes by the full Legislature. Other critics pointed out lawmakers exempted that four-member panel from the state public meetings or Sunshine law, raising concerns the awards to the nonprofits could be decided in secret. Holt said the panel plans to meet publicly after all of the applications are received to hear the nonprofits present their requests for funding. The panel will then meet privately to develop a list of awardees, then will approve that list in a public vote, he said. That process is similar to the way regular grants-in-aid are decided, except that under Act 310 only four lawmakers will be voting. Public First Law Center Executive Director Brian Black warned in July there were procedural defects in the adoption of Act 310 that “threaten to invalidate any grants awarded by the committee.”

Senators urge PGA officials to find home for The Sentry in Hawaiʻi Maui Now September 21, 2025 Original Article The Hawaiʻi State Senate is urging PGA officials to find a home for The Sentry in Hawaiʻi after last week’s announcement that the tournament would not hold the event at the Plantation Course at Kapalua in 2026. The decision comes after 27 years on Maui and was attributed to “ongoing drought conditions, water conservation requirements, agronomic conditions and logistical challenges.” Senators note that high-profile events like The Sentry bring up to 3,000 visitors into West Maui who fuel regional economic development by using hotels and vendors. The cancellation is projected to cost Maui roughly $50 million in lost annual economic impact if not replaced with another course in Maui County, according to lawmakers. “This is a real setback for Maui. Our small businesses, workers, and nonprofits depend on the spending and charitable support tied to this tournament,” said Sen. Troy N. Hashimoto (D – 5, Wailuku, Kahului, Waihe‘e, Waikapu Mauka, Wai‘ehu), Vice Chair of the Senate Committee on Housing. “Maui is still recovering from the devastating effects of the 2023 wildfires and losing The Sentry prolongs recovery for Maui residents and local small businesses.” Sens. Donovan Dela Cruz and Troy Hashimoto sent a letter urging PGA Tour and Sentry officials to identify an alternative venue for the tournament either on Maui or elsewhere in Hawaiʻi and are working to meet with officials to discuss future options. These events also support regenerative tourism by spreading benefits to local communities while protecting Hawai‘i’s natural and cultural resources. “With visitor arrivals declining, hotel occupancy down, and our film industry stagnating, we cannot afford to let sports tourism trend in the same direction,” said Sen. 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. “High-spending visitors drawn to major sports events like The Sentry bring in revenue far beyond the event itself—hotels fill up, restaurants are busy, local vendors thrive.”

McKinley High School breaks ground on $24 million athletic complex Spectrum News Spectrum News Staff December 12, 2024 Original Article On Wednesday, McKinley High School broke ground on a $24 million athletic complex. What You Need To Know - The concrete and masonry block athletic facility will provide student-athletes with improved training facilities - While attending games, Tiger fans will enjoy over 2,400 bleacher seats, modern restrooms, a convenient ticket booth and a rooftop press box - Concrete bleachers extend the length of the building, with a tunnel at the center of the football field that will create a processional entry to the football field for players and the marching band - Under the bleachers, the building will include a boy’s PE locker room, a weight training room, and locker rooms for male and female athletes The project is designed by G70, constructed by Nan, Inc. and estimated to be completed by Sept. 2026, according to a news release. Hawaii State Department of Education administrators, legislators and supporters of Hawaii high school athletics attended the groundbreaking. Principal Ron Okamura thanked supporters including former state Reps. Scott Saiki and Scott Nishimoto, and Sen. Sharon Moriwaki, who represents the area, for working to improve McKinley High’s athletic facilities. Kumu Kuaʻanaʻai Lewis, a McKinley High teacher and Hawaiiana educator, blessed the project with an oli. “We hope this facility will inspire student-athletes to go for gold and bring Tiger Pride to their classmates and their ‘ohana,” Superintendent Keith Hayashi said in a statement. “This stadium’s reach goes beyond McKinley. It will be a center of activity for the surrounding neighborhood to be a part of and enjoy.” A rendering of McKinley High's new athletic complex. (Rendering courtesy of HiDOE) The concrete and masonry block athletic facility will provide student-athletes with improved training facilities. While attending games, Tiger fans will enjoy over 2,400 bleacher seats, modern restrooms, a convenient ticket booth, and a rooftop press box. Concrete bleachers extend the length of the building, with a tunnel at the center of the football field that will create a processional entry to the football field for players and the marching band. Under the bleachers, the building will include a boy’s PE locker room, a weight training room, and locker rooms for male and female athletes. Also, the building will include coaches’ offices, storage, and an equipment room that will contain wiring to increase internet capacity for this and future campus buildings. “The McKinley community has been waiting a long time for this facility. It is uplifting to witness everyone’s hard work come to fruition today,” Okamura said. “We are looking forward to seeing how this new complex will enhance not only the sports program but also energize school spirit as well.”

Progress Report: Lawmakers Fund More Housing, Not Special Treatment for Locals Honolulu Civil Beat Jeremy Hay May 9, 2025 Original Article In 2021, Nolan Hong and his wife were trying to buy their first home on Oʻahu. They kept getting outbid with cash offers above the asking price. “It became clear that many of the buyers we were competing against were not in the same boat as us — a local family simply trying to put down roots,” the couple wrote in legislative testimony supporting the Kama’aina Homes Program bill. It was one of two bills proposed in this year’s legislative session that aimed to address the housing crisis by setting aside certain properties for residents. But lawmakers couldn’t hash out their differences, and both bills died. Instead, the Legislature passed bills meant to boost the supply of housing overall. While those bills could address the shortage behind rising home prices, they are likely to take longer — in some cases, years — to have an impact. Although advocates were disappointed by the failure of the Kama’aina Homes bill, they said the session shows that the state is making progress to increase the housing supply and bring down costs. “We’ve had a chronic housing crisis here in Hawai‘i for decades, and so we’re not going to solve it with a simple cure-all,” said Perry Arrasmith, director of policy at Housing Hawaiʻi’s Future, a group that advocates for workforce housing. “Our housing shortage is 1,001 different pieces of a constantly shifting puzzle.” Progress Report A weeklong series looking at some of the state’s most pressing issues and what lawmakers are doing to address them. Environment: Bolder Action Needed To Protect Hawaiʻi’s Environment Native Hawaiians: Help With Housing Continues To Elude The Hawaiian Community Invasive Species: Hawaiʻi Primes Itself To Battle Biosecurity Threats Education: Hawaiʻi’s Working Families Need More Support Fireworks: Hawaiʻi Fireworks Reforms Put Enforcement Onus On Police Insurance: Will Reforms Stabilize Hawaiʻi Condo Insurance Costs? Progress Report: Neighbor Islands Need More State Support On The Job Front Progress Report: A Series Of Child Abuse Deaths Failed To Spur Major Reform No Homes Reserved For Locals The bill that Hong and his wife, Jamie Yamagata, testified in favor of would have funded county programs that give homeowners or homebuyers grants in exchange for agreeing to deed restrictions that limit ownership to people who work in Hawaiʻi. A similar bill would have allocated funds so counties could provide grants to homeowners to construct accessory dwelling units — separate living quarters on the property — in exchange for deed restrictions. The bills were based on a program in the ski town of Vail, Colorado. Since 2018, about 1,000 homes have been taken off the market in Vail for people who don’t live or work there, according to the text of one bill. Advocates said the bills’ failures set back efforts to offer immediate help to residents in a state where the median single-family home price is now just over $1 million , more than half of renters pay upwards of 30% of their income in rent , and a quarter of homebuyers in the last quarter of 2024 lived elsewhere . “We missed a huge opportunity to give counties power to say, you know what, we’re going to give residents money so that right now, when they sell it or when they rent out that property, we can 100% guarantee it’s going to another resident,” said Arjuna Heim, director of housing policy at Hawaiʻi Appleseed, a social justice policy research and advocacy organization. State Sen. Stanley Chang, chair of the Senate Housing Committee, said he supports deed restrictions in theory but believes giving grants to a small number of people is an inefficient use of taxpayer money. He argued that low-interest loans would be better because as they’re paid off, that money can be used to assist others. Chang said lawmakers negotiated the terms of both bills but couldn’t get to yes before the session ended. “We got closer and closer to common ground,” he said. “We just ran out of time.” $200 Million To Lend To Developers Lawmakers appropriated $200 million to a program offering low-interest loans to developers to build affordable rental housing. That’s on top of $300 million provided three years ago. More than 2,000 below-market-value units built with the assistance of the 2022 allocation are expected to come on line this year. The fund has $186 million available for other projects, said Gordon Pang, a spokesperson with the state’s Housing Finance & Development Corporation. Under another bill that passed and that advocates lauded, the fund would also be used to encourage higher density development in neighborhoods around transit stations , like those for Honolulu’s Skyline rail system. Under the bill, counties that want the state to fund mixed-income rental housing in those neighborhoods would have to meet density standards established in the bill. It requires those projects to be approved by planning officials based on objective standards rather than by elected officials. The Legislature has not yet funded that program, said Rep. Luke Evslin, chair of the House Housing Committee, but he said he hopes it will next year. “Now we have the definition of transit-supportive density in statute, and we should over time be tying more and more funding sources to that definition,” Evslin said. Housing advocates acknowledged the impacts of the high-density development program won’t be felt for some time, but they said the bill lays the foundation to pursue such housing in urban areas. “It’s a very forward-thinking bill,” Arrasmith said. Speeding Up Project Approvals Lawmakers also passed bills that aim to break up bureaucratic logjams blamed for holding up projects. Several bills tackle delays at the state’s Historic Preservation Division, which reviews development proposals to determine their impact on historic and cultural properties. The division serves a critical purpose in a state with thousands of Native Hawaiian historic and sacred sites threatened by tourism and development. But housing advocates and developers say those reviews can slow construction because under state law, any structure older than 50 years is potentially historic. A study by the libertarian group Grassroot Institute of Hawaiʻi found that the Historic Preservation Division handled 2,300 projects between 2021 to 2024 and took an average of 94 days to review each one. One bill tightened the state’s definition of a historic structure , adding that it must be eligible for the state’s register of historic places. The bill also excluded certain projects from historic review, including some on existing residential property. Another bill allows the understaffed office to hire outside consultants to conduct reviews . “Obviously there are a lot of things here that need historical review,” said Ted Kefalas, director of strategic campaigns at the Grassroot Institute. But “not everything over 50 years is historical,” he said, and if the preservation division “needs a long time to look at these things, it’s OK to ask for help.” Self-Permitting Bill Weakened Another bill that aims to cut red tape would have allowed architects to sign off on building permits for certain projects themselves if a county doesn’t do so within 60 days. The bill cited a study that found it took Hawaiʻi three times as long to issue building permits than the nationwide average. Justin Tyndall, a University of Hawaiʻi economics professor who co-authored the 2022 study, said the bill had been watered down as it made its way through the Legislature. As introduced, the bill would have required counties to issue a building permit within 60 days if a project met certain conditions. By the time the bill was forwarded to the governor’s desk, it simply said that after 60 days, applicants can apply for an expedited permit that they could sign themselves if certain conditions were met — including that the building is under three stories tall and that the architect is adequately insured and absolves the county of liability. The bill “might result in shorter permitting times, which is probably helpful,” Tyndall said. But it’s “probably not a game changer.” Housing advocates across the ideological spectrum were more hopeful than Tyndall, but they said any impact of the bill would depend on whether counties embrace the process. “It’s a question of whether they play by the spirit of the law or slow-walk it,” Kefalas said. One Honolulu architect whose firm handles multi-family, affordable and workforce housing said he is concerned about the liability that might come with signing permits for the firm’s own projects. “The permitting process is so slow and onerous here, and time is money,” said Grant Chang, a principal at Lowney Architecture. “And something like this could really help. But I think we’re very cautious about it.” Last week, a similar self-certification program developed by the Honolulu City Council was launched, 18 months after it was created. The program’s start was delayed by the same staffing issues that had led to a backlog in building permits, officials said.

Bill to construct more ohana units passes Senate committee Star Advertiser Mia Anzalone March 12, 2025 Original Article The state Senate’s Housing Committee deferred a bill Tuesday that would have paid Hawaii homeowners and homebuyers to restrict occupants to locally employed residents, instead approving a bill to promote the construction of more accessory dwelling units, commonly known as ohana units, for workforce housing. House Bill 740 would establish the Accessory Dwelling Unit Financing and Deed Restriction Program to provide funding to the counties to distribute grants to eligible homeowners or homebuyers to construct ADUs with the condition that occupants of the property, including those living in primary or secondary units, must be employed, or use to be employed, at least 30 hours per week at a local business. The amended version of HB 740 defines ADUs as a “second dwelling unit that includes its own kitchen, bedroom and bathroom facilities, and is attached or detached from the primary dwelling unit.” The Senate’s approval of the measure ended the momentum for HB 739, which would have established the Kama‘aina Homes Program allowing counties to pay homeowners or homebuyers a sum of money under the condition that the home be occupied by at least one owner-occupant or tenant who works, or used to work, at a local business for at least 30 hours a week. Sen. Stanley Chang (D, Hawaii Kai-Kahala-Diamond Head), who chairs the Senate Housing Committee, told the Honolulu Star-Advertiser on Tuesday that HB 740 will be the “vehicle” for advancing the goals of both bills to increase the inventory of affordable workplace housing. At Tuesday’s public hearing, Chang said he appreciates the efforts to encourage more ADUs in Hawaii and wants the state to focus on the construction of new units rather than converting existing ones. “We need to shift away from a model where the state gives away money and never gets it back,” Chang said at the hearing. “The state needs to act as an investor that realizes a gain, an appreciation on the investment of its funds, which are, after all, taxpayer funds.” While both bills worked to enable the creation of more housing for the local workforce, Chang told the Star-Advertiser that HB 740 is one potential solution to creating low-cost financing for ADU construction statewide. “If the state spends a lot of money and no new housing is built, then I don’t think we’re getting any closer to solving the housing shortage,” he said. Chang noted during the hearing that similar grant programs already exist, citing Maui County’s ‘Ohana Assistance Pilot Project, which launched in July and provides grants of up to $100,000 to homeowners to design and construct attached or detached ADUs with a 10-year deed restriction to provide workforce housing. HB 740 is supported by a number of organizations, including the Hawaii Appleseed Center for Law and Economic Justice. In written testimony the center’s director of housing policy, Arjuna Heim, said the bill addresses financial barriers to constructing ADUs, which typically cost about $250 to $350 per square foot to build. The deed restriction, which was also a feature of the deferred HB 739, is a key aspect of HB 740, according to Heim. “The deed restriction requirements ensuring occupancy by local workers, maintaining employment within the county, demonstrate a thoughtful approach to preserving housing for Hawai‘i’s working families,” Heim said in written testimony. “This helps prevent the conversion of these units to vacation rentals or investment properties and help establish a locals-only market.” Joshua Wisch, president and executive director of the nonprofit Holomua Collaborative, which focuses on making Hawaii more affordable for working families, was a staunch supporter of HB 739 and said he was disappointed the bill was deferred. “We’ll have to see what was retained in the Senate draft before we can determine any future support,” Wisch said in a statement to the Star-Advertiser. “We still believe (the Kama‘aina Homes Program) can help create a dedicated and permanent housing supply for local working families, and are already exploring ways to lift the program up at a county level, come back to the Legislature next session or find other avenues to pursue it,” he said. A 2023 report by the University of Hawaii Economic Research Organization found that 20% of Hawaii residents had enough income to afford a single-family home costing $875,000. Another recent study by Holomua Collaborative, which surveyed 1,500 local workers with middle- to upper-middle incomes, found that 70% of respondents said they will or might relocate to a less expensive state in the coming years, with housing costs a major issue. Twenty-seven percent said they would move out of Hawaii within the next five years.

THE HAWAI'I STATE SENATE ANNOUNCES CONFIRMATION OF TWO KEY LEADERS IN DEFENSE AND LAW ENFORCEMENT MyPearlCity PC Community March 21, 2025 Original Article The Hawaiʻi State Senate today confirmed Major General Stephen Logan as the Adjutant General for the State of Hawai‘i Department of Defense and Major Mike Lambert as the Director of the State of Hawai‘i Department of Law Enforcement. Senator Brandon Elefante (Senate District 16 – ‘Aiea, ‘Aiea Heights, Hālawa, Pearlridge, Newtown, Royal Summit, Waimalu, Waiau, Momilani, Pacific Palisades, and Pearl City), chair of the Senate Committee on Public Safety and Military Affairs (PSM) praised the confirmations. “I am pleased to support the confirmation of Major General Logan and Major Lambert, two highly skilled leaders who bring years of dedicated service to our state,” said Senator Elefante. “Major General Logan’s military expertise and Major Lambert’s long-standing dedication to law enforcement will be critical in advancing the safety and security of Hawaiʻi.” Major General Logan brings over 40 years of military experience, including leadership positions such as Commander of the 103rd Troop Command and Assistant Adjutant General. His expertise in disaster management and logistics was key in his unanimous confirmation as Adjutant General. “I am honored by the Senate’s confirmation,” stated Major General Logan. “As Adjutant General, my commitment is to serve Hawai‘i with integrity, dedication, and a focus on enhancing our state’s defense capabilities. I look forward to working alongside our military and community partners to ensure the safety and security of our state and its residents.” Major Lambert has spent over 20 years in law enforcement and most recently served as a major with the Honolulu Police Department (HPD). His leadership and dedication to public safety have earned him widespread support from the community. “I am deeply humbled by this confirmation and excited to take on the responsibility of leading the Department of Law Enforcement,” said Major Lambert. “My focus will be on fostering strong relationships within our communities, ensuring the safety of all residents, and upholding the highest standards of integrity and service in our law enforcement efforts.” During Friday’s Floor Session, the Senate voted unanimously in favor of confirming both leaders to their new positions. ABOUT THE HAWAIʻI STATE SENATE MAJORITY The Hawaiʻi State Senate consists of 25 members who serve staggered four-year terms. The Senate Majority consists of 22 Democrats for the 33rd Legislature, which convened on January 15, 2025. For the latest news and updates, follow the Senate Majority on Facebook , Instagram , or visit https://www.hawaiisenatemajority.com .

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

Rally at beach takes aim at development on Maui for wealthy Maui News Eli Pace September 4, 2025 Original Article As protesters demanding better wages took to the streets in cities across the U.S. over the holiday weekend, a small group of Maui residents and activists went to the beach. It wasn’t a day off for Maui Indivisible, which organized Saturday’s rally featuring a handful of keynote speakers and state officials, nor were they there working on a tan. Rather, the group was at Maluaka Beach in Makena hoping to call attention to what they described as the systematic removal of working-class people and Native Hawaiians from the Makena community and beyond. Specifically, the rally took aim at Mākena Mauka, a large proposed luxury development on land owned by the Mākena Golf & Beach Club. “We wanted to have (the rally) the Saturday of Labor Day weekend and really bring folks together to show how the billionaires who live here, at least part time, are an apparatus that supports and funds and even the architects of this fascist regime are right here on Maui,” said Marnie Masuda-Cleveland, the lead for Maui Indivisible who helped organize the lineup of speakers. “Just little by little, working people here on Maui are being displaced, marginalized, beaten down by the needs and wants of the millionaire and billionaire class,” she added. “And it just has to stop.” Groups supporting federal workers and unions marched in Los Angeles, San Francisco, Chicago and other U.S. cities in support of workers’ rights and other causes. One of the nationwide rally organizers, May Day Strong, said on its website that “billionaires are stealing from working families, destroying our democracy and building private armies to attack our towns and cities.” Speakers at Saturday’s rally on Maui didn’t pull any punches on the billionaires either, as they likened what’s happening on Maui to the broader issues of fascism, big-money influence and the need for community solidarity. Moreover, they blasted the planned Mākena Mauka development featuring as many as 900 new luxury homes, a golf course and beach club. According to rally organizers, each home is anticipated to have its own swimming pool and come with a price tag of $10 million or more. After opening in the Hawaiian language, activist, educator and keynote speaker Kahele Dukelow called upon the crowd to fight back as she traced how development has pushed so many local families and Native Hawaiians out of the area while also harming the natural environment and only catering to the uber wealthy. “Whether your ancestors came during the plantation or whether you came and immigrated here later on, there is no better time than now for us to unite and resist and work against the racist and fascist government of America,” Dukelow said. “What is happening in America, what is happening in Palestine and what is happening here on Maui have the same source: unchecked power, insatiable greed, all the evils of settler colonialism.” Dukelow said a small group of people “fought like hell” in the 1980s to prevent much of the development that’s taken place today at Makena and across Maui. She said that group had the foresight to see what was happening decades ago and they successfully fought to preserve beach access that allowed for the rally. “They recognized that what was going to happen was the removal and erasure of Hawaiians and of working-class people from those communities,” she said. ‘They fought in the courts. They fought in our community meetings. They fought down here on the beaches, fighting to maintain access to these shorelines for our people.” Near the end of Saturday’s rally, two large signs were posted on the beach criticizing “Tech Billionaires” and advocating for “People Over Profit.” “What they feared was going to happen has happened, and you would think that it could not get any worse,” Dukelow added. “But like Marnie mentioned, it can get a lot worse. Developers like Wailea 670 and Discovery Land Company that surround us right now, they have plans. They have plans that don’t include us, don’t include people like us, except for exploiting our labor possibly.” Dukelow said she has been organizing her entire life, and it has been hard going up against such deep pockets, but she’s not ready to give up either. “They are not building a community for us,” she said. “Our labor should go into building communities for us. … If they can do this in Makena with no water and no community will for any of it, they can do whatever they want anywhere, and that’s what we have to stop.” Other speakers included state Rep. Terez Amato and state Sen. Angus McKelvey, who took shots at the Trump administration as well as luxury development as they promised to fight for working-class people. Additionally, Laila Popata, one of the founders of Maui For Palestine, called for action against the ongoing genocide in Gaza in a passionate plea for more people to get involved. “This is not about Hamas or about self-defense. This is ethnic cleansing,” she said. “Currently, an entire civilian population — 2.2 million people — are being starved to death and there are aid trucks sitting at the border crossing with much needed food and humanitarian supplies.” The rally was promoted by Maui Indivisible, the same group that’s been holding regular pro-democracy and anti-Trump rallies on Maui. Numbers at Saturday’s event were significantly lower than recent protests on the island, such as a rally in front of the Queen Ka’ahumanu Center in June that drew thousands, but those in attendance were no less adamant that action needs to be taken. On Labor Day, demonstrations in Chicago and New York were organized by One Fair Wage to draw attention to the struggles laborers face in the U.S. Chants of “Trump must go now!” echoed outside the president’s former home in New York, while protesters gathered outside a different Trump Tower in Chicago. Large crowds also gathered in Washington, D.C., and San Francisco. In New York, people gathered outside Trump Tower, and demonstrators waved signs and banners calling for an end to what they said is a fascist regime. In Washington, a large crowd gathered with signs saying “Stop the ICE invasion” and an umbrella painted with “Free D.C. No masked thugs.” Hundreds more gathered at protests along the West Coast to fight for the rights of immigrants and workers. Multiple groups joined together at the protests in Chicago to listen to speeches and lend their voices to the chants. Along the West Coast from San Diego up to Seattle, hundreds gathered at rallies to call for a stop to the “billionaire takeover.”

Tourism briefing reveals unexpected L.A. Rams expense Star Advertiser Allison Schaefers June 24, 2025 Original Article The state legislators in charge of tourism praised the Hawai‘i Tourism Authority’s partnership with the Los Angeles Rams, but cried foul on HTA when it learned that the agency now expects to pick up the tab for the team’s welcome reception, estimated to cost from $80,000 to $100,000. Lawmakers brought to light the issues with HTA’s Rams contract during an informational briefing called by Rep. Adrian Tam (D, Waikiki), chair of the House Committee on Tourism, and Sen. Lynn DeCoite (D, East Maui-Upcountry-Molokai-Lanai-Kahoolawe), chair of the Senate Economic Development and Tourism Committee. Lawmakers also questioned HTA’s accountability and transparency, as well as the ability of Caroline Anderson, its current interim president and CEO, to lead an agency dealing with significant staffing shortages and problems from allegations of a toxic work environment to inappropriate freebies, procurement violations and late payments to contractors. Named and unnamed HTA officials have even been sued by Isaac Choy, HTA vice president of finance and acting chief administrative officer, who was put on unpaid leave May 9 at the direction of the state attorney general and the Department of Human Resources amid allegations he made racist and sexist remarks on the job. Sen. Donna Mercado Kim (D, Kalihi Valley-Moanalua-Halawa) highlighted HTA’s latest issue when she asked Anderson if HTA had incurred any expenses for the Rams outside of its expected contract expenses. HTA had contracted with the Rams to pay $1.5 million, and another $300,000 if the Rams make the playoffs, to promote tourism in Maui and Hawaii. But Anderson told Kim that it is possible that HTA might have to pay an additional fee to cover the Rams’ welcome reception as “there seems to be some language in the contract which is not clear about what the Rams are paying for and what HTA is paying for.” James Kunane Tokioka, state Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism director, opined to lawmakers that the state will have to cover most of the reception at the Wailea Beach Resort- Marriott, Maui, which he estimated will cost $80,000 to $100,000. Tokioka told the Honolulu Star-Advertiser, “Why would the Rams’ contract say they are committed to $5,000? They know that a luau is going to cost more than $5,000 so in their mind the state was paying for it.” Lawmakers grilled Anderson, Tokioka and Todd Apo, HTA board chair, on the emerging issues with the latest Rams contract, which they noted was part of a broader pattern of concerns related to accountability, transparency, and effectiveness. Kim was incredulous that Apo said the board had approved the Rams program, but not the contract in detail. DeCoite said HTA needed an attorney, and said the current process, is “like me giving my business to my granddaughter and saying, ‘Hey just go run wild with the checkbook.’” Tokioka told the Star-Advertiser that he sent an email to the Attorney General’s Office for guidance, but that he thinks “somebody made a commitment that they shouldn’t have made and that put a cloud over the Rams’ visit. But it shouldn’t because what they did was incredible. The community embraced them and they embraced the community.” Tokioka said the contract was negotiated by former HTA Chief Stewardship Officer Kalani Ka‘ana‘ana, whose resignation from HTA was effective May 2, and by HTA board member Mufi Hannemann, who was HTA board chair at the time. “They said Mufi told them that the state was going to pay for the reception,” he said. Hannemann was not present at the briefing but told the Star-Advertiser that he “did not authorize to pay for the reception,” and that Tokioka is misrepresenting facts. “It was my expectation that the deal would cover the reception,” Hannemann said, adding that he had heard that Ka‘ana‘ana was putting in a contingency in the budget. While Tokioka and Hannemann disagree on what happened with the most recent Rams contract, they both supported the current partnership and are interested in future partnerships. Hannemann said that the latest partnership with the Rams as well as the reception brought undeniable returns. As part of HTA’s partnership with the Rams, Mauicamp started on June 16 and ended Thursday. On June 17-18, the Rams also hosted on-field team activities that featured players in workout gear at War Memorial Stadium in Wailuku. “As many as 457 people came to Maui including the players, VIPs, the staff and their premium fan base. Everyplace we went people were circulating and spending money,” Hannemann said. “It reinforced the message that Maui is open for business and it welcomes people back. This deal was driven by HTA. The tourism industry shined on behalf of the people of Maui and the state’s economy. The governor and the mayor supported us doing this deal — that’s why this is a head scratcher. “ HTA also will serve as the presenting sponsor of a Rams 2025 home game at SoFi Stadium in the Los Angeles suburb of Inglewood, and as the presenting sponsor of the Rams’ offseason content on therams.com and social channels, including in-depth coverage of the team’s visit to Maui. Tokioka said he was not a part of earlier contract negotiations with the Rams. But he said that he is pursuing a new partnership with the Rams that would allow the University of Hawaii to play UCLA at SoFi Stadium. He said UCLA was supposed to come to Hawaii to play, but that the university currently doesn’t have a stadium available. Tokioka said there are still details to work out, but if the partnership prevails, the University of Hawaii would play UCLA on Sept. 18, 2027, at SoFi Stadium as a home game for Hawaii. “There’s a desire with the Rams to do more with the state of Hawaii than is currently on the table,” he said. “By 2026, we should know if we’ll get to play in SoFi or not. UCLA has never played in SoFi and never has UH. SoFi Stadium is the premier stadium in the NFL right now.” During the briefing, which lasted about six hours, several lawmakers expressed concern that HTA was even necessary given that Senate Bill 1571, which was signed into law May 29, has downgraded the HTA board to an advisory role, and DBEDT now has oversight of most of the board’s previous functions. Sen. Glenn Wakai (D, Kalihi-Salt Lake-Pearl Harbor) discussed the possibility of bifurcating HTA’s marketing and destination stewardship between two state agencies. DeCoite suggested folding HTA into DBEDT. Tam said he has begun working on drafting a bill to implement all of the recommendations in a third-party governance study released last July by Better Destinations LLC, founded by Cathy Ritter. The study, which cost nearly $300,000, recommended that a private, independent, nonprofit Destination Stewardship Organization (referred to as a DSO) replace HTA, which was created by the state Legislature more than a quarter of a century ago. Tam said he was baffled that the study was not presented to lawmakers at the beginning of this year’s session so that they could have had public hearings to discuss the findings. “The first thing in the governance study was that you guys pretty much needed to be replaced. You didn’t like what it says so you guys are just kicking the can down the road … until people forget about it. That’s just appalling,” Tam said.

Additional Lahaina road development starts to shift into gear KITV Paul Drewes July 15, 2025 Original Article LAHAINA, Hawaii (Island News) -- The road to recovery for Lahaina includes more roads. The first private property has been acquired by Maui County for additional public roads, but this work to expand street connectors and road extensions in Lahaina could take a decade to finish. The demand for more roads in Lahaina is not just about reducing traffic, but about increasing evacuation routes in case fire sweeps through again - like it did in 2023. "It's is very important. The fire itself showed Lahaina is in desperate need of a modernization of evacuation routes and ways to get out," said Senator Angus McKelvey. Maui County is buying up property in Lahaina in order to extend or widen existing roads, and even install new streets. "The first one we've been working on from the Department of Public Works has been our Aki Street connector. And that parcel of land has been acquired from the property owner," said Jordan Molina, Maui County Dept. of Public Works Director. Last week, the Maui County Council also approved money for the Dickerson Street extension. Those are smaller projects, while the Kahua Street extension will stretch 2 miles and not only have 2 travel lanes but also turn lanes at major intersections. But with big projects come big timelines. "Generally, these things, these projects, take one to two years to get the design and permitting process. Then anywhere from three to five years to construct. So we're probably looking at these roads being in operation somewhere in four to seven years or so, depending on complications with permitting, environmental reviews, etc." said Molina. "We passed some bills this year that I hope will speed up the permitting process, especially if a special management area is needed - that these exemptions will kick in. I'm hopeful that we can follow up through both the county and state level with executive orders or other mechanisms to try to eliminate as much of the permitting as possible," added Mckelvey. More properties are expected to be acquired this year, but adding more roads comes at a high cost. "It'll be in the range of $30-80 million. Because that's inclusive of not just your roadway, but your underground utilities with water, sewer that may be needed. A lot of facilities come with a roadway that cause those costs to be high," stated Molina. Depending on what is found once they start digging, it could slow things down further. But many are excited these street developments will put Hawaii on the road to a safer future. "It's a way forward through the storm to provide a safer community for Lahaina. Hopefully, as you've seen in Waianae and other areas, that will spur efforts to look at this type of effort in other neighborhoods, and other areas where this fire risk is very present," said McKelvey.

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