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

Gov. Green signs landmark legislation pertaining to Maui Wildfires Settlement Maui Now July 8, 2025 Original Article Gov. Josh Green, M.D. has enacted legislation to solidify the global settlement for claims relating to the August 2023 Maui wildfires and to further codify the role of Hawai‘i’s first State Fire Marshal in nearly 46 years. “Today we are re-envisioning the path forward in the roadmap of wildfire prevention and recovery,” said Green. “We are taking action from both ends of the wildfire spectrum — building a more robust fire prevention framework within the state and enacting historic legislation that will aid in timely access to compensation following disaster. This crisis impacts us on many fronts, and it is time we tackle it the same way, from multiple directions.” HB 1001: Relating to settlement of claims related to the Maui wildfires : House Bill 1001 (Act 301) establishes the Maui Wildfires Settlement Trust Fund to provide dedicated funding for those affected by the 2023 Maui wildfires. The bill appropriates $807.5 million to support the state’s contribution in the settlement of claims, which shall be deposited into the trust fund. Additional contributions to the state fund include funding from the County of Maui, Hawaiian Electric, Kamehameha Schools, Charter Communications/Spectrum, Hawaiian Telcom and West Maui Land Company. Green sought to establish this funding to provide timely compensation for survivors’ claims as an alternative to lengthy litigation, ensuring those affected do not have to wait years to rebuild their lives. Recipients of compensation from the settlement trust fund shall agree to release the state and any additional parties that contribute to the fund from all further liability arising from the Maui wildfires. “This legislation is a huge win and sets a new precedent for swift settlement of claims for wildfire victims,” said Green. “It should not take years for people to see compensation or begin rebuilding. This is about healing, restoring trust and helping families recover as quickly as possible in the place they call home.” The measure emphasizes providing meaningful compensation by specifying that property and casualty insurance companies can only recover payments made to a policyholder through a statutory lien. Green said this provision demonstrates the state’s commitment to prioritizing the individuals affected by the wildfire to receive claims directly. The settlement agreement totals $4.037 billion and resolves claims of liability against multiple defendants, including the County of Maui. The agreement aims to reduce the legal load of the judicial system while avoiding the high costs associated with litigation. HB 1064: Relating to fire protection : In accordance with the Fire Safety Research Institute’s three-phase report — developed to improve fire preparedness and response following the August 2023 Maui wildfires — House Bill 1064 (Act 302) effectuates the recommendations provided in “Phase 3” of the report. Phase 3 focuses on the forward-looking portion of the investigation and proposes improvements to the Office of the State Fire Marshal, which was originally established under Act 209, Session Law of Hawai‘i 2024. Under Act 302, the Office of the State Fire Marshal is transferred to the Department of Law Enforcement and will be led by the State Fire Marshal. The legislation further clarifies the roles, duties, and discretionary authority of both the Office and the State Fire Marshal, supporting the state’s efforts to provide coordinated, statewide fire prevention and readiness strategies. To enhance coordination between the Office of the State Fire Marshal and the State Fire Council, the bill outlines responsibilities and the organizational structure related to matters such as reporting and recommending amendments to the state fire code. The bill requires the Fire Chief of each county to investigate and maintain an annual record of fire occurrences. These records must be submitted to the Office of the State Fire Marshal for centralized analysis. The county submissions will assist the State Fire Marshal in compiling biennial statistical reports, including those made available to the public and those submitted to the Legislature. “Last month, I appointed Dori Booth as Hawai‘i’s new State Fire Marshal, reviving a critical public safety position that has been vacant for nearly 46 years,” said Green. “This appointment marks a turning point as we redefine the role — empowering the office with clear authority and resources to better protect our state through fire prevention strategies and analysis.” “My first month in office has been both eye-opening and incredibly encouraging,” said State Fire Marshal Dori Booth. “I’ve had the opportunity to meet with dedicated state and county partners, as well as private stakeholders, who are all working tirelessly to enhance fire prevention, readiness, and resiliency across our islands. These conversations have been instrumental in shaping my initial assessments and understanding the unique strengths each organization brings to the table. The feedback I’ve received has affirmed the vital role the Fire Marshal’s Office can play — not only in supporting these existing efforts, but also in unifying them to build a stronger, more resilient Hawai‘i. HB 1064 is a meaningful step forward, and I’m honored to stand with so many committed partners as we move toward a safer future together.” Lastly, HB 1064 establishes the State Fire Marshal Selection Commission and defines its roles and structure. The selection commission will be given the authority to appoint and remove the State Fire Marshal, evaluate the State Fire Marshal’s performance, and address matters of public interest. “With the State Fire Marshal position re-established for the first time in nearly five decades, this legislation gives the office the structure, authority, and support it needs to succeed,” said Senator Brandon Elefante (Senate District 16 – ‘Aiea, ‘Aiea Heights, Hālawa, Pearlridge, Newtown, Royal Summit, Waimalu, Waiau, Momilani, Pacific Palisades, and Pearl City), who chairs the Senate Public Safety and Military Affairs Committee. “It’s a significant step in building a stronger, more coordinated approach to fire prevention and public safety across Hawai‘i.” There is $2.2 million appropriated in fiscal year 2026 and an equal amount for fiscal year 2027 to support the establishment and operations of the Office and State Fire Marshal.

Gov. Green signs two bills to help with housing Big Island Now Kelsey Walling July 7, 2025 Original Article To help deal with Hawaiʻi’s housing crisis, Gov. Josh Green signed into law one bill that deals with the rising cost of property insurance and another that expands essential resources for youth and young adults facing homelessness. Gov. Josh Green takes a photo with everyone who had a hand in the creation of a bill related to insurance gaps on Monday, July 7. (Courtesy of the Office of Governor Josh Green) With an increase in local and national environmental disasters, Senate Bill 1044 (Act 296) aims to stabilize the state’s property insurance market as premiums skyrocket and coverage options decrease. The law will expand the powers of the Hawaiʻi Property Insurance Association to provide extra insurance options for those unable to obtain coverage. “After the Lahaina fires and the difficulty insuring ourselves, it turned the condo market upside down,” Green said. “We went through a thoughtful process to address the property insurance gap.” The signing comes a day after a 95-acre wildfire on the west side of Oʻahu burned two Māʻili homes and forced the evacuation of residents in area neighborhoods. “These are hard, stressful times for everyone, especially those who have lost everything,” Senate Commerce and Consumer Protection Committee Chair Jarrett Keohokalole said. “It is a reminder of how vulnerable we all are to disaster. “But it also highlights the importance of insurance. I am very grateful to address this silent crisis that is pushing residents to the brink with skyrocketing insurance rates with nowhere else to turn.” Rep. Scot Z. Matayoshi, chair of the House Consumer Protection and Commerce Committee, said insurance companies told him the reason rates for condominiums are so high is due to high-impact repairs needed from water loss and deferred maintenance. The bill contains a pilot program to provide condo owners with low-interest loans to make specific high-impact repairs that should lower insurance premiums and raise unit values. “We targeted this bill to help the average condominium building, not the luxury high-rises,” Matayoshi said. “While the bill is an answer for the short term, the long-term solution comes from the loan program.” The once iconic Coco Palms Resort on Kauaʻi has been in ruins since Hurricane Iniki destroyed it in 1992. (Photo Credit: Scott Yunker) In August 2024, Green issued an emergency proclamation to temporarily reactivate the Hawaiʻi Hurricane Relief Fund, which was formed in 1993 in response to private insurers withdrawing from the hurricane market after the devastation caused by Hurricane ʻIniki. As time passed and private insurers resumed offering hurricane coverage, the relief fund ceased operation and remained dormant. But the Lahaina wildfire renewed the need for it. Now, Act 296 reactivates the relief fund through law to provide insurance coverage in scenarios where the private market fails to do so. Beginning June 24, the relief fund is accepting applications by condominium and townhouse Associations of Apartment Owners. “This is open to any condominium association, not just high-rises. It includes town homes and single-family homes, as long as they get commercial property insurance in the state,” said Jerry Bump, the State Insurance Commissioner. To be eligible, a condo association must have been previously denied hurricane coverage by at least two state-licensed insurance companies operating in Hawaiʻi and have buildings with a total insured value exceeding $10 million. This is excess coverage that can only cover the portion of losses above $10 million. The associations must purchase separate primary insurance to cover hurricane losses up to $10 million. The relief fund has received about 80 applications and has issued 10 policies within the first week. “We’re hearing anecdotes that these associations have seen a considerable amount of savings,” Bump said. The Hawaiʻi Hurricane Relief Fund only applies to hurricane insurance. For all other perils, condo associations must go through the Hawaiʻi Property Insurance Association, which is setting up a program expected to begin accepting applications in the fourth quarter of the year. Gov. Josh Green signs a bill related to resources for youth experiencing homelessness on Monday. (Courtesy of the Office of Governor Josh Green) In other legislation, Green signed House Bill 613 (Act 297) to expand essential resources for youth and young adults facing homelessness. The measure makes the Safe Places for Youth program permanent, providing 24-hour access to shelter, mental health care, education support, and job training for homeless youth. “As everyone knows, we have a homeless crisis in our state, and too often, young individuals suffer the most, especially those in the LGBTQ community,” Green said. “Many have found themselves forced out of the home and struggling with great challenges in life. “Now there will be spots throughout the state, mostly on Oʻahu for now, where youth can find support directly that will guide them through a warm hand-off to services.” Through the joint efforts of state and county departments, those in need of further support will be connected to nonprofit institutions with the expertise to offer long-term support and shelter. Services will expand on Hawaiʻi Island and Oʻahu, with plans to expand statewide so the most vulnerable youth have a lifeline to feel safe. “Youth in need can text or walk in and receive family-strengthening services for reunification or transitional services for youth unable to return to families,” said Rep. Lisa Marten, chair of the House Committee on Human Services and Homelessness. “The program provides behavioral health services and job training, help that all young people need so they can become self-sufficient and thriving members of communities.” Reports on this program will be submitted to the State Legislature, with appropriations of $871,016 for fiscal year 2026 and $1.8 million for fiscal year 2027. “This is how we break the cycle of homelessness, by investing in people, especially our youth,” Green said. “We are shaping a future where everyone has a chance to thrive. This program shows what is possible when a community comes together with a purpose.” Slideshows on the insurance stabilization bill and the bill relating to houseless youth can be found with more details.

Lawmakers rush to pass new law following disturbing animal abuse incident: 'Existing laws did not go far enough' The Cool Down Sam Westmoreland July 12, 2025 Original Article Hawaiʻi has tightened its laws on harming wild animals, after a native hawk was found badly injured on the island of Hawaiʻi in the archipelagic state. According to the Honolulu Star-Advertiser , Governor Josh Green signed Senate Bill 849 into law as Act 98, which will impose fines of up to $20,000 and jail time on each offense against indigenous species, "including aquatic life, wildlife, and land plants." It also makes repeat offenses into Class C felonies, where previously all violations had been misdemeanors. The law came into being due to the discovery of an ʻio, a species of hawk native to Hawaiʻi on the Big Island, which had been badly maimed by an unknown person. According to the Star-Advertiser, the ʻio was found in a chicken coop with a significant portion of its top beak missing, which allowed the bird to hunt and kill prey, but not eat it. It was extremely emaciated as a result of the injury, and the investigation by the Hawaiʻi Department of Land and Natural Resources revealed the ʻio's injuries were done intentionally, likely with the hope of selling the bird. Cutting the beak is often done to deter attacks on livestock or people when keeping birds like this as a pet. "We got a report that somebody was trying to give a hawk away on Craigslist," Raymond McGuire, a wildlife scientist with the DLNR, said, while noting the hawk was found "a few days later." After the incident, Democratic state senator Dru Mamo Kanuha introduced the bill. "We recognized that existing laws did not go far enough to deter harm to our indigenous species—particularly the ʻio," Kanuha wrote. "This is a critical step forward in holding bad actors accountable and deterring future harm. Our ʻio — the Hawaiian hawk — are keystone species in the forests across Hawaii, and especially within my Senate District on Hawaiʻi Island." Hawaiʻi isn't the only state imposing tighter restrictions on cruelty towards animals; Wyoming is debating stricter punishments against people who harm wolves, while New York has imposed stricter punishments against those who face multiple counts of animal cruelty. But the island state clearly takes protecting its beautiful and unique wildlife seriously, and it can now back that up with more severe punishments for those who don't.

Green signs bill aimed at helping kupuna with dementia Hawaii Tribune-Herald Kyveli Diener July 4, 2025 Original Article Gov. Josh Green signed three bills on Thursday to enhance protections for vulnerable citizens in Hawaii, including one measure focused on helping kupuna living with dementia. “We’re working to strengthen our medical workforce by providing extra dementia-informed care,” Green said at a press conference in Honolulu. “On a personal note, my stepmom has very advanced dementia, and this year, my father received a diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease and is in the very early stages. (He’s a) brilliant man, so it’s very difficult to see.” Both Green and one of the senators supporting the bill shared first-hand stories about elderly family members being impacted by Alzheimer’s disease and dementia. Green said that longer lifespans are causing a “Silver Tsunami” that will bring about the largest elder population in history by the 2030s. “The number of kupuna who are going to experience dementia is going to triple in the next 35 years,” said state Sen. Stanley Chang of Oahu, who shared that his father passed away from dementia after his mother served as his primary caregiver for over a decade. “It was very difficult to find help for her … that’s why expanding the workforce capacity of our medical infrastructure here in Hawaii is so critical to addressing this issue.” The senate bill, SB 1252, requires the University of Hawaii to establish a specialized training program to deepen the education for health care providers caring for patients with Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia. The bill appropriates $525,000 in both 2026 and 2027 to the John A. Burns School of Medicine at the University of Hawaii at Manoa to elevate training and education for improved support and care for kupuna with dementia-related challenges, while also adding to the state’s workforce. Additionally, the bill enables UH Manoa’s Department of Geriatric Medicine to add positions to develop and update curricula. This will allow the school to offer training in enhanced care through new comprehensive programs focused on the needs of patients afflicted with Alzheimer’s and dementia. “With the onset of Alzheimer’s disease and dementia on the rise, there are cutting-edge treatments that are becoming available that can actually slow the disease. The key to this, though … is early detection and prevention,” said state Rep. Cory Chun of Oahu at the press conference. “Our kupuna are so important for us: they are our family members, our neighbors, and our friends, and are vital to our communities.” The other kupuna support bill signed at the press conference Thursday was HB 703, which extends the sunset date of the state’s rent supplement program for kupuna from 2026 to 2028 and offers additional housing support for kupuna at risk of homelessness. “SB 1252 strengthens our health care system by investing in dementia training and education, and this helps ensure our aging population will continue to receive compassionate and informed care,” AARP Hawaii Advocacy Associate Director Audrey Suga-Nakagawa said as she commended the dementia care and rent supplement bills. “Together, these bills honor the dignity of Hawaii’s older adults and build a more resilient age-friendly community.” The third bill signed Thursday was SB 1221, also known as “Sharkey’s Law,” which requires increased safety measures and regulation of retention and detention ponds in an effort to decrease the number of drowning deaths among Hawaii children.

Gov. Josh Green signs condo insurance incentives into law Star Advertiser Dan Nakaso July 8, 2025 Original Article Insurance companies now have more incentives to provide condominium coverage after Gov. Josh Green signed a bill on Monday that he hopes will lower rates for condos across the islands — especially after their rates soared and insurance companies left following the 2023 Maui wildfires. By signing the latest version of Senate Bill 1044 into law as Act 296, Green said that Hawaii is now better positioned than other states to see condo insurance stabilize — encouraging insurance companies to return and provide more competitive rates. SB 1044 came out of a task force comprised of representatives of condo boards, actuarials, insurance representatives, state insurance officials and others that began meeting two years ago following the Aug. 8, 2023, Maui wildfires that caused $13 billion in damage and led to $3 billion in insurance payouts and an exodus of insurance companies. Act 296 reactivates the dormant Hawai‘i Hurricane Relief Fund to provide hurricane coverage for condo associations that have been denied hurricane insurance. It requires no additional taxpayer funding because the coverage will come out of revenue already in the Hawai‘i Hurricane Relief Fund, said state Sen. Jarrett Keohokalole (D, Kaneohe-Kailua), chair of the Senate Commerce and Consumer Affairs Committee. The fund was created in 1993 after Hurricane Iniki devastated Kauai, Green said, “so the market didn’t get out of control, so that people didn’t lose the value of their condos, so they didn’t have to leave Hawaii.” Act 296 also creates a pilot, low-interest rate loan program to help aging condos pay for backlogged repairs that make them difficult to insure — or can only find insurance at increasingly skyrocketing rates. It’s focused on helping the “average Hawaii residents living in a condo” over owners of high-rise luxury condos, said state Rep. Scot Matayoshi (D, Kaneohe-Maunawili), who chairs the House Consumer Protection and Commerce Committee. Insurers who were part of a two-year-old task force looking at ways to lower insurance rates said the threat that old water pipes could burst and flood units represented the main risk for insurance companies, Matayoshi said. By upgrading aging buildings, Matayoshi hopes condo associations will be able to purchase less expensive insurance coverage. Just since June 24, the loan program has received applications from 80 condo associations for backlogged repairs and 10 of them already have been accepted, Acting Insurance Commissioner Jerry Bump said at Monday’s bill-signing ceremony. Sen. Keohokalole said that Sunday’s wildfire in Maili represents the ongoing threats to Hawaii and the insurance problems that follow. “All the Lahaina memories came rushing back,” Keohokalole said. “It’s a reminder of how vulnerable we all are to disaster and how important it is to have insurance.” Act 296 was meant to address a “silent crisis that’s pushing thousands of residents to the brink, skyrocketing insurance costs with no alternatives in sight,” he said. It provides relief “especially for seniors with no alternatives that are the most vulnerable to the price spikes or the cancellations that we’ve been seeing throughout the community,” Keohokalole said. Green said, “it has become increasingly clear that our housing market was unstable. After the (Maui) fires, the difference in insuring ourselves was setting the condo market upside down. … It effects tens of thousands if not hundreds of thousands of our citizens.” Green hopes Act 296 and the new, higher increase in the hotel room tax to fund Hawaii’s wildfire and climate change mitigation efforts will combine to convince insurance companies to return and reinvest in Hawaii’s insurance market, especially for condominiums. It will turn “an unstable” insurance market into a “solid” one, Green said. Keohokalole said: “It also sets up a fire wall to potentially protect hundreds of thousands of residents whose lives could be thrown into disarray if there is a broader insurance market cancellation or another catastrophe like Lahaina.” Act 296 was aimed at “a complicated matter that affects a lot of local people,” Keohokalole said, and “to fix something that makes life better for local people.” Keohokalole called the new law “the most complicated bill I’ve ever worked on. But it’s really important.”

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

New law cuts retirement benefits for judges Star Advertiser Dan Nakaso July 4, 2025 Original Article A measure enacted Thursday by Gov. Josh Green that reduces by nearly half the retirement benefits for future judges comes at a time when the state Judiciary is struggling to find qualified judges, especially on the neighbor islands, and they are facing an increasing number of threats to their safety. Green initially supported Senate Bill 935 , then told the Legislature last month that he might veto the latest version of it. On Thursday, he ended up signing it into law. The measure reduces retirement benefits for judges appointed on or after July 1, 2031. SB 935 was one of 12 of 20 bills Green signed into law that were also on his intent-to-veto list. In response, both House Speaker Nadine Nakamura and Senate President Ron Kouchi announced they had no plans to hold a special session to consider overriding any of the governor’s vetoes. The number of threats against Hawaii judges is approximately eight times higher than five years ago, according to the Judiciary. So far this year, there have been twice as many threats against them compared to last year. In the latest incident in June, the Honolulu Police Department notified state and federal court officials that a 911 caller said an unidentified man was going to shoot a judge at a Honolulu courthouse. Hawaii Supreme Court Chief Justice Mark Recktenwald plans to retire Sept. 30, about a week before he reaches the mandatory retirement age of 70, after serving for 15 years as head of the high court. The state Judicial Selection Committee must provide Green with the names of at least four candidates to replace Recktenwald, but so far has been able to find only three. So it has extended the application deadline to Sept. 11 for a 10-year term that pays $248,124 annually. Once he gets the final list of applicants from the committee, Green will select his nominee, who then has to be confirmed by the state Senate. In the meantime, Associate Supreme Court Justice Sabrina S. McKenna will fill in as interim chief justice. SB 935 provides no justification for why future judges should receive smaller retirement benefits. It was introduced solely by state Sen. Dru Kanuha (D, Kona-Kau-Volcano), who did not respond to a request for comment. Overall, SB 935 makes other changes in retirement benefits for a variety employees that had general support from some influential labor unions. But only future judges would see the size of their retirements reduced — a provision that was opposed by unions including the Hawaii Government Employees Association, Hawaii State Teachers Association, State of Hawaii Organization of Police Officers, United Public Workers and International Longshore and Warehouse Union. HGEA, the state’s largest public workers’ union, objected to cutting future judges’ retirement benefits, writing in testimony, “We find that this portion is counter intuitive to the general theme of this measure which is intended to help with the recruitment of public servants. This provision will severely impact the recruitment of new judges — specifically, the recruitment of quality attorneys in private practice to apply as judges.” Similar concerns were expressed by the Hawaii State Bar Association and bar associations for Kauai and Maui counties and West Hawaii. Recktenwald wrote to Green in May that the measure “will adversely impact recruitment of judges and thereby the future of Hawai‘i’s judicial branch. This singling out of judges is especially concerning while judges have become lightning rods nationally for interpreting and applying constitutions and laws.” “Since 2019, applications for judicial positions statewide have trended downward overall and downward among women,” Recktenwald wrote. “As a result, numerous application deadlines for these public offices have been extended. Indeed, from 2019 through the summer of 2024, 30% of vacant judgeships statewide and 79% of vacant judgeships on the neighbor islands have required extended application deadlines. The position of Chief Justice, which will be vacated this year due to mandatory retirement, also apparently did not attract the requisite minimum of four qualified applicants. “Recruitment challenges already lead to apparently prolonged vacancies of judicial positions that have in turn impacted the public. Reducing retirement benefits for judges will exacerbate the challenges of attracting the most highly qualified,” he added. An announcement from Green’s office Thursday that he had signed SB 935 into law included a statement from Recktenwald lauding a “very productive” legislative session that included establishment of several new courts and judicial initiatives. “We are grateful that as part of the process, all sides have been able to express their views on SB 935 and we respect the Governor’s decision,” Recktenwald said. “I thank the Governor and legislative leadership for their openness to considering issues relating to recruitment of judges and other important matters going forward.” The Hawaii State Bar Association also wrote to Green in its opposition to SB 935. “It is unclear why judges were specifically singled out; however, it is alarming and will have a detrimental effect on our judiciary,” the attorneys’ group said. “Given the limited pool of qualified judges and candidates for judicial vacancies, HSBA is extremely concerned that reducing the pensions of retiring judges will further disincentivize qualified candidates from pursuing a vacancy. Additionally, the bar is aging, with many individuals either retiring or changing their status to inactive. “Coupled with a mandatory retirement age of seventy years of age, this further impacts the state’s ability to adequately fill the bench with qualified, thoughtful, and independent jurists … especially in light of public disdain for the rule of law, nationwide attacks on the constitution, and extensive threats to an independent judiciary.”

Here's how the state is moving forward to stabilize the condo insurance crisis Hawaii Public Radio Ashley Mizuo July 3, 2025 Original Article The state has started to accept applications for hurricane insurance from condominium and townhouse associations that have been unable to secure full coverage on the regulated market. Last August, Gov. Josh Green issued an emergency proclamation to stabilize the insurance market after condominium buildings were unable to secure full insurance coverage from one of the three companies operating in Hawaiʻi. While the 2023 Maui fires and other global natural disasters are partly to blame — Chair of the Senate Commerce and Consumer Protection Committee Jarrett Keohokalole cited a key reason: aging buildings. “When you take your car in for service, there are regular maintenance items. Most of the condominium buildings in the state, especially in Honolulu, are over 30 years old,” he said. “So there are basic maintenance items that in some cases haven't been covered.” These are things like replacing water pipes, which insurers have started paying closer attention to. The buildings that haven’t kept up with maintenance and are unable to secure full commercial and hurricane insurance find themselves “stuck in a downward spiral,” Keohokalole explained. “It's harder to secure loans to make the repairs. It's harder to transact title in the building,” he said. “It's harder to sell and buy. That affects values and it affects the assessments.” That’s because lenders don’t want to loan money to buildings without insurance, but without those loans, buildings are unable to fund the needed repairs. Those who lose traditional insurance coverage have had to turn to unregulated surplus lines that can be extremely costly– sometimes doubling the cost of insurance for buildings. That often means skyrocketing homeowner association fees for condo owners. About 1200 associations in Hawaiʻi are without full hurricane insurance coverage. The emergency proclamation allowed the Hawaiʻi Hurricane Relief Fund to issue hurricane insurance again, which it has not done since the early 2000s in the aftermath of Hurricane Iniki in 1992. Now, HHRF is up and running again. So far, it’s received 80 applications. Jerry Bump is the Insurance Commissioner for the Hawai‘i Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs Insurance Division. Hawai‘i Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs Jerry Bump is the acting insurance commissioner for the Hawai‘i Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs Insurance Division. “It is meant to stabilize the market, not replace the market,” Acting Hawaiʻi Insurance Commissioner Jerry Bump said. Associations applying for the state-administered hurricane policy will need to have a commercial insurance policy, which covers things like fire and other situations. It will also need to obtain at least $10 million in hurricane coverage as a base, but has been rejected by at least two of the local insurers for the rest of their building coverage. The state program will cover up to an additional $90 million of coverage. “We don't wanna be competing against those carriers that are still willing to do business,” Bump said. “If they're willing to write the full coverage, they should be able to still write that. Some of those admitted carriers have kind of artificial caps on how much they're willing to write. We've heard anywhere from $10 million to $25 million is where they're comfortable writing. There are some that will write the full, but not very many. HHRF is providing an additional layer of capacity. And ideally at a price point that is less than the surplus lines market.” The hope is that it will attract the traditional market back to the state as the program did in the 2000s. Bump explained that while conditions are similar to the aftermath of Hurricane Iniki, there are a few differences. One is that Hawaii’s property insurance market is tied to global climate risk. That means a fire in California or a hurricane in Florida can impact the insurability of Hawaii properties. “ Today’s challenges are kind of driven by global reinsurance conditions so not just the storm that occurred,” he said. “Reinsurers themselves have pulled back or raised prices along many coastal markets due to climate-related risk inflation.” Additionally, legislators passed a law this session that would get the Hawaii Property Insurance Association funding to start offering commercial insurance policies to those who have also had to turn to surplus lines. It currently is the insurer of last resort for homes in the lava-zone. Bump estimated that the program would come online around mid-fall of this year. That same measure also includes funding to provide loans to condominiums to do needed maintenance repairs so they can obtain regular insurance policies. Both the state-administered commercial and hurricane insurance programs heavily leverage “reinsurance”. That means that the state’s insurance will only keep a percentage of the actual risk on hand. The state’s program pays other insurers to insure the rest of the portfolio. Those reinsurance rates are largely what will drive the cost for buildings to obtain policies through the state-administered programs. Thatʻs why buildings should not expect the rates from the HHRF to be lower than what they can find on the traditional market. “ The state fund is not in the business of making a profit, so we're not intending to build in any kind of profit in our pricing,” Bump said. “Ideally, as the HHRF enters into the market, that will also provide price pressure on the surplus lines carriers to reduce their price point and be more competitive– they don't want all their business going away to the HHRF as well.” The measure is awaiting the governor’s signature, which is likely as it was not included on his intent to veto list.

Governor seeks clean slate to appoint new Hawai‘i Tourism Authority board Star Advertiser Allison Schaefers June 29, 2025 Original Article Gov. Josh Green asked for courtesy resignations from the entire Hawai‘i Tourism Authority board following its first meeting as an advisory board Thursday — leaving the agency to process through its biggest leadership shake-up since it was created by the Legislature in 1998. The governor’s office said in an email Thursday that he had “formally asked for courtesy resignations from each member of the HTA board of directors.” Green does not have the authority to make the 12-member HTA board comply with his request. However, his stance is related to his May 29 signing of Senate Bill 1571, now Act 132, which downgrades the HTA board to an advisory role and expands oversight of the agency by the state Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism. “Given the board’s new advisory role, the governor’s previously stated goal is to reset the board and make appointments that align with both the new mission and the existing processes that govern all boards and commission appointments,” the email said. “Advisory board members appointed by the governor for HTA do require advice and consent from the Senate. Appointments by the Speaker of the House and Senate President do not.” It’s too early to say if the entire board will comply with Green’s request. However, it was clear at Thursday’s monthly board meeting that many HTA board members viewed it as their swan song. Members were draped in lei and an ukulele performer kicked off the meeting with soothing Hawaiian tunes. Despite the niceties, the meeting included bouts of public infighting between board members. HTA board Chair Todd Apo told the Honolulu Star-Advertiser Friday that, “I think the new law has placed the responsibility at HTA in the governor’s office, and so certainly I respect his request for resignations to be able to reset the board to help set the direction for HTA. As a relatively new board member that has just gotten to start seeing some of the issues that have existed for a while, we have started to try to address them. At this point, it’s up to the next board membership to continue that effort on and bring HTA back to where it needs to be for our island economy and community.” Rep. Adrian Tam (D, Waikiki), chair of the House Committee on Tourism, told the Star-Advertiser on Friday that he thinks Green’s request for resignations was the right move. “Even at yesterday’s HTA board meeting, there was still a lot of confusion, communication issues and more sadly, there was a lot of contention,” Tam said. “There was still a lot of infighting. There continues to be bigger issues with the audit reports, the unpaid interest (to the Hawai‘i Visitors and Convention Bureau), the ethics violations, and now there’s a lawsuit.” In the past several months, HTA has undergone dramatic leadership shake-ups as it has struggled to address 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. Some of these issues were brought up at Thursday’s board meeting, which also included a closed-door executive session related to personnel. Thursday’s board meeting followed a tourism informational briefing Monday at the Capitol called by Tam and Sen. Lynn DeCoite (D, East Maui-Upcountry-Molokai-Lanai-Kahoolawe), chair of the Senate Economic Development and Tourism Committee. During the briefing, lawmakers expressed frustration as they interrogated some members of HTA’s staff, board and contractors. Caroline Anderson, who was named HTA interim president and CEO in March, and Apo, who became HTA board chair the same month, could not immediately answer all of the lawmakers’ concerns, given that they inherited many of the agency’s current issues. During the briefing, DeCoite noted that HTA had procurement violations and that DBEDT did not, and asked DBEDT Director James Kunane Tokioka’s opinion about putting HTA completely under DBEDT. Tokioka said, “I won’t sit here advocating for that, but what I will sit here and advocate for is to do what 1571 mandated and to make sure that oversight with HTA with Caroline, or whoever is the president and CEO, is done.” He added that, “Some of the mistakes I made as DBEDT director before 1571, I’m not going to make them again, which is going to get approval on things that I did not need to,” he said. “I think what you did with 1571 was because of the frustrations of the trust that was lacking … the things that have happened, many of them that you were talking about today. I’m going to do my best not to let you down because I understand that the Legislature is the bank.” Tokioka, Tam and DeCoite met with HTA staff on Wednesday at their Hawai‘i Convention Center offices. During the visit, which was a follow-up to Monday’s briefing, they conveyed their appreciation for staff and highlighted that recent changes bring an opportunity for a fresh start. However, Tam said state lawmakers do plan to continue pressing HTA for answers and that it will be incumbent on Anderson, her staff and the new HTA board to work on adopting “preventative policies to make sure that these things never happen again. I’m not satisfied that this has happened to the extent needed.” Apo indicated at the briefing that the search for the next HTA president and CEO is progressing again, and that the board hoped to have a nominee to send to Green in the next four months. Tokioka said that as many as 100 candidates had previously applied before the search was paused to amend compensation, benefits and the job description. Some members of the HTA board expressed concern Thursday that changing out the entire board could set the hiring process back as HTA board member Mike White currently heads the selection process through a permitted interaction group. Tam said, “I don’t think it would be helpful for a board heading out to find any CEO and president for the new board. The new board needs to understand at minimum what’s been happening at HTA and the problems, to look at the audits that have come down the line and just come with a fresh perspective and discipline to ensure that infighting doesn’t leak into the staff and the governing of the HTA.” Members of Hawaii’s visitor industry also are closely watching how the HTA board changes play out as well as HTA’s role under Act 132. Many see HTA as necessary to amplify the branding and marketing of Hawaii as a visitor destination, as well as to guide tourism management. The agency is seen as vital to the smallest industry players, who don’t have the budgets to mount campaigns with the same reach that partnering with HTA provides. Rick Egged, who worked on the creation of HTA during his past tenure at the state, provided public in-person testimony. “Over the last 27 years, HTA has done a lot of great things,” said Egged, who was speaking as an individual. “I wanted, first of all, to applaud you for all the accomplishments during this iteration that you currently experience. I realize we are now transitioning into a new direction, and I’m very optimistic that this new direction will be productive as well. Really, it’s kind of coming full circle because when we created HTA, it was really a function of DBEDT.” John Cole, the deputy attorney general representing HTA, emphasized Thursday that the HTA advisory board still has authority in certain areas, including the selection of the HTA president and CEO, although the person selected for HTA’s top job will now report to Green.

Gov. Josh Green signs bills bettering water safety, kūpuna care KHON2 Cameron Macedonio July 3, 2025 Original Article HONOLULU (KHON2) — Gov. Josh Green signed several measures on July 3, with the measures enhancing water safety and kūpuna care. “This is about the safety and well-being of our ʻohana and setting a chain of positive intention to uplift those in our community,” Green said. “These newly enacted laws will provide members of our communities will tools to secure housing, better understand Alzheimer’s disease and prevent drowning incidents.” According to the governor’s office, the signing of the bills represent the state’s priorities of protecting the most vulnerable communities in the state. SB 1221 : Relating to Stormwater Management Systems Due to high drowning rates in the islands, as well as the cultural significance of water, the Office of the Governor says that water safety is paramount in their eyes. This bill establishes safety measures and regulations for retention and detention ponds. The new law would require counties to regulation these ponds, and requires a permitting process for the construction and maintenance to ensure proper safety standards. Measures will also be put into place, such as enclosed and secured fencing around pond perimeters, signs that indicate no swimming and emergency buoys. The ponds must also be surveyed by the counties, with the findings reported to the state legislature. “This is more than just a water safety bill. [The bill] is a legacy enactment in memory of Charlotte ‘Sharkey’ Schaefers, a brave 5-year-old hero who risked her life to save a friend stuck in a detention pond in 2004,” Green said. “The life of such a young girl should have never been taken that day, and now we can hope that it will never happen again.” HB 703 : Relating to Kūpuna Housing Also known as Act 282, this bill extends the sunset date for the state’s kūpuna rent supplement program. As the program stands, kūpuna who are over the age of 62 who are homeless or at risk of being homeless can qualify for the rent supplement program. The program was originally scheduled to sunset in 2026 — the new sunset date is set for 2028. SB 1252 : Relating to Dementia The signing of this bill appropriated funds for training and educational program at the John A. Burns School of Medicine at the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa. Positions at the school will be established within the Department of Geriatric Medicine so that new and updated curriculum may be developed to pioneer dementia and Alzheimer’s-related care. Over half of a million dollars will be appropriated in both fiscals years 2026 and 2027. “Hawaiʻi’s aging population is growing rapidly and we must prepare our healthcare workforce to meet its unique needs,” Sen. Stanley Chang said. “Investing in JABSOM’s dementia education and training supports our kūpuna and strengthens the future of healthcare in our state. [The bill] helps build a local, informed workforce that can provide compassionate, expert care for individuals living with Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia.”

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