Opportunities to export local goods increased through passage of Act 237 Maui Now August 12, 2025 Original Article The Senate Committee on Ways and Means received a comprehensive update on Tuesday from the Agribusiness Development Corporation on the development of Hawai‘i’s food and product innovation efforts to help scale up local farmers and entrepreneurs and increase economic resilience. The ADC is administratively attached to the Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism. Dane Wicker, Deputy Director of DBEDT, along with other members from ADC, DBEDT, University of Hawaiʻi Community Design Center, and the Hawaiʻi State Department of Health gathered near the historic Kaua‘i Plantation Railway in Līhuʻe for a site visit and briefing on the strategic plan guiding the Food and Product Innovation Network pursuant to Act 237, Session Laws of Hawaiʻi 2025. Discussions focused on regional coordination, infrastructure development, and the launch of a pilot on Kauaʻi that integrates processing equipment, workforce training, and business support services. “Continuing to invest in agricultural production is a clear step in the right direction,” said Sen. Glenn Wakai (D – 15, Kalihi, Māpunpuna, Airport, Salt Lake, Āliamanu, Foster Village, Hickam, Pearl Harbor, and portions of ʻAiea and Pearl City), Vice Chair of the Senate Committee on Economic Development and Tourism. “A month ago, I secured a partnership with Amazon Air Cargo to take Hawaiʻi agricultural products to the mainland – cheaper and faster.” “The Senate recognizes that agriculture is not just about farming — it’s about food security, economic opportunity, and sustaining our way of life,” said Senate President Ronald D. Kouchi (D – 8, Kaua‘i, Niʻihau). “We’ve supported a wide range of agricultural initiatives championed by our farmers, local business owners, and community leaders, and it is encouraging to see necessary steps being taken to expand our export capacity and provide more locally grown food on the tables for our schools and hospitals. These are the kinds of forward-thinking efforts that can transform Hawai‘i’s agricultural economy and create lasting benefits for our islands.” The Hawai‘i FPIN initiative draws inspiration from New Zealand’s public-private innovation model and includes strategic investments across the islands. Recent legislative support includes the passage of Act 237 , Session Laws of Hawai‘i 2025, establishing FPIN, Act 250, Session Laws of Hawai‘i 2025, appropriating $350,000 for program coordination, and Act 230, Session Laws of Hawai‘i 2024, dedicating $2 million for a new agricultural processing facility in Kekaha. FPIN’s vision is to enable Hawaiʻi-based entrepreneurs to develop, scale and export products that strengthen our food system, reduce import reliance, and capitalize on Hawaiʻi’s global brand. The Kaua‘i facility is part of a larger ecosystem that includes complementary projects on Oʻahu and Maui, integrating food science, equipment access and training partnerships with UH and DOH. “The Food and Product Innovation Network is a meaningful investment in Hawaii’s future—one that bridges education to export pathways by equipping our schools, colleges, and entrepreneurs with the skills and infrastructure they need to bring local innovations to the global marketplace,” said Chair of the Senate Committee on Ways and Means, Sen. Donovan M. Dela Cruz (D – 17, portion of Mililani, Mililani Mauka, portion of Waipiʻo Acres, Launani Valley, Wahiawā, Whitmore Village). “By strengthening the entire ecosystem—from classroom learning to commercial-scale production—we’re fostering regional economic development that benefits our communities statewide and elevates Hawai‘i-made products on the world stage.” “The FPIN is critical to building a resilient and self-sustaining economy for Hawai‘i,” said DBEDT Deputy Director Dane Wicker. “By investing in the infrastructure, facilities, equipment, and wraparound services our local businesses need, we are not only creating new small and medium-sized enterprises—we’re supporting existing companies, expanding our Hawai‘i Made program, and strengthening initiatives like farm-to-school and farm-to-state. This is about more than just economic growth; it’s about food security, community resilience, and reducing our dependence on imported food and emergency provisions during natural disasters.”

Gender-affirming healthcare bill passes in Hawaii KITV Jeremiah Estrada February 12, 2025 Original Article HONOLULU (Island News) -- The Hawaii State Legislature passed a healthcare bill which expands protections for and ensures access to gender-affirming care for youth and adults. Senate Bill 1150 was approved on Wednesday morning due in part to the Hawaii Senate Health and Human Services Committee, chaired by Senator Joy San Buenaventura, and the Commerce and Consumer Protection Committee, chaired by Senator Jarrett Keohokalole. This bill comes with amendments from those Senate committees. The bill affirms that patients, doctors and parents have control over medical care without any interference from other states. Testimonies were made over this bill this week including arguments in support of and opposing what rights would be established. Testifiers who backed the bill said that families would benefit from it, whereas critics feared the lengths people on the mainland would take to come to Hawaii to access gender-affirming healthcare for a child. The Stonewall Caucus of the Democratic Party of Hawaii is grateful about the critical legislation as it comes as a victory for transgender people and their families. This bill will advance protection for local healthcare providers and guarantees that certain groups are not prevented from receiving healthcare. “The Stonewall Caucus remains committed to advocating for the passage of Senate Bill 1150 into law.” said Abby Simmons, Chair of the Stonewall Caucus, “We look forward to continuing to work alongside lawmakers, healthcare professionals, transgender individuals and their ohana, as well as community advocates to ensure that Hawaii remains a safe haven for those seeking essential, compassionate medical care.”

Keiki Fest Combines Education with Entertainment The Molokai Dispatch Jack Kiyonaga May 8, 2025 Original Article This year’s annual Keiki Fest was a successful mix of entertaining activities and critical information for Molokai families. Organized by the Molokai Community Action Team, the event focused on ‘ohana well-being, explained Titi Hernandez, lead organizer of Keiki Fest. “It’s for the keiki and their families,” said Hernandez. “We wanted to celebrate the keiki a little bit more as well as have a place for families to hang out.” With over 1,200 Molokai community members in attendance at the Molokai Community Health Center on April 26, Hernandez and the Molokai Community Action Team were busy ushering kids and families between information booths, games, prizes, music performances and more. The Molokai Community Action Team partners with Molokai Child Abuse Prevention Pathways to deliver critical messages and education to families at Keiki Fest. The informational booths with different Molokai services and resources serve as checkpoints for kids to earn prizes, explained Hernandez. “Nobody can get a prize until they get education,” she said. Senator Lynn DeCoite, fresh out of the senate’s final budget discussions, came out with her family to enjoy the day and present special recognitions on behalf of the senate. “This event says a lot about our community,” said DeCoite. “I think this gives us an opportunity to come out and share some of our mana’o on how we can do better for Molokai.” DeCoite presented the Molokai Community Action Team with an award from the senate for their community contributions. Additionally, Jodi Puaoi, branch manager at American Savings Bank, was recognized for her years of contributions to Keiki Fest. “This Keiki Fest wouldn’t be here without you,” said DeCoite to Puaoi as she presented her with the award. The day ended with the highlight to end all highlights – the fire trucks came and sprayed the kids with water hoses. As DeCoite put it, “the kids are happy, the parents are happy, everyone is happy.”

Full-Time Criminal Investigative Unit Proposed To Tackle Illegal Fireworks Honolulu Civil Beat Chad Blair January 7, 2025 Original Article A report submitted to the Hawaiʻi Legislature Friday concludes that illegal fireworks are being smuggled into the state by sea and air on a year-round and possibly daily basis. It’s sustained by a flourishing and well-established black market that local law enforcement has found difficult to disrupt and dismantle. The report from the state’s Illegal Fireworks Task Force urges the Legislature to consider creating a full-time criminal investigation unit within the Department of Law Enforcement to confront the problem on a permanent basis. “Only a full-time approach can bring the necessary cultural changes to confront the fireworks problem at-large in Hawaii,” the report states. The Salt Lake area viewed after midnight from a Honolulu Airport parking structure showed only a small portion of the many aerial fireworks ignited this New Year’s Eve. (David Croxford/Civil Beat/2025) While specific funding, staffing and equipment for the unit are not suggested in the report, it also recommends a new firearms and explosives laboratory — estimated to cost $2 million — within the law enforcement agency. Hawaiʻi has only one forensic lab, housed in the Honolulu Police Department. Sen. Karl Rhoads, chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, welcomed the recommendation for a new criminal unit. “I think it’s the only really viable idea because, as they point out, there’s a lot of similarities between narcotics and fireworks,” Rhoads said. “And they’ve been using the narcotics investigators to investigate fireworks cases. That’s great in the short term, but it’s not going to work in the long term.” An ‘Alluring Attraction’ To Make Money Illegally The task force’s work was ordered by lawmakers in 2023, long before the massive fireworks explosion on New Year’s Eve in a Salt Lake neighborhood on Oʻahu. As of Monday, four people have been reported dead and around two dozen injured from that explosion, while another person was killed in a separate fireworks-related incident on Oʻahu. Now, leaders including Hawaiʻi’s governor, Honolulu’s mayor and several state senators and representatives are stepping up their demands for action. In addition to the Department of Law Enforcement, agencies taking part in the task force include the Honolulu Police Department, the Department of the Attorney General, the Department of Public Safety, Homeland Security Investigations, the U.S. Postal Inspection Service and U.S. Customs and Border Control. Their recommendations are likely to be considered by the Legislature, which convenes Jan. 15. The Illegal Fireworks Task Force, which will conclude its work in June unless the Legislature extends its mission, was required to submit a final report this month. It previously reported that 227,000 pounds of illegal fireworks have been seized . The Friday report says that two people have pleaded no contest to felony indictments and 20 others were issued misdemeanor citations. The report says there are ongoing criminal investigations, so public discussion of tactics, techniques and procedures “would frustrate legitimate government interests.” The report, though only eight pages long, offers several insights into why the illegal enterprise is so popular. It calls the marketplace “an alluring attraction” for those looking to make money illegally. Street sources, according to the report, say that the return on investment for those who smuggle illegal fireworks into Hawaii is at a rate of 5 to 1. That means that if a typical smuggling organization purchases a shipping container of fireworks for $200,000 at wholesale, that same container has a street value of about $1 million once it arrives in the islands. ‘Kingpins, Conspirators’ Run Illicit Networks During the 2023 holiday season the task force found that street prices for illegal fireworks were already “astronomically high.” The Department of Law Enforcement said prices had been expected to be higher during the 2024 holiday season because there was “heat” from law enforcement and risk of loss of investment due to bulk seizures. In short, the task force aims “to price offenders out of the marketplace,” leading to reduced demand. But it will take long-term, comprehensive investigations to not only seize prohibited explosive material but also to find and prosecute the people running the illicit networks — “kingpins, conspirators, and their associated criminal finances and assets.” To do that, a new crime unit is necessary because the task force is only part time. While claiming success from its work, the task force concept in the long term “is not sustainable” the report states. It does not call for increased penalties for possession of contraband. Nor does it accomplish two of its primary purposes: to develop a comprehensive strategic plan to stop illegal fireworks, and to ensure the safety and security of airports, harbors and other facilities from explosive discharges. The first goal requires more work, the report states, which will begin “in earnest” this year. And, while the task force says it has increased awareness and surveillance at Hawaii’s ports of entry and mail distribution systems, “a sustained full-time effort” is needed.

Fireworks task force bill passes out of committee; now headed for final reading Maui Now Brian Perry February 13, 2025 Original Article The Hawaiʻi Senate Ways and Means Committee passed Senate Bill 222 , which would fund an illegal fireworks task force. Although the amount of funding is not specified, the measure is now headed for third reading on the Senate floor before crossing over to the House of Representatives. A committee news release pointed out that Chair Donovan Dela Cruz established the task force in 2021. “The group focuses on intercepting illegal fireworks and addressing the growing problem of homemade explosives in the community, helping to improve public safety and reduce related risks.” On Feb. 5, the Senate Committee on Public Safety and Military Affairs recommended passage of the bill — the same day that Honolulu police announced that a sixth person died from injuries suffered in a New Year’s fireworks explosion in Honolulu. The blast of fireworks initially killed three adults and left more than 20 people in critical or serious medical condition. Most public testimony was in support of the bill. For example, Allen Novak said: “I support this measure as it helps to curb the use of illegal fireworks in Hawai’i. In spite of claims to the contrary, aerial fireworks are not a cultural tradition, and they present a fire, health and nuisance hazard to the community.” The state Department of Law Enforcement reported that the Illegal Fireworks Task Force has successfully removed, so far, more than 200,000 pounds of illegal fireworks from Hawaiʻi’s streets. The bill would extend the sunset clause for the task force from June 30, 2025, to June 30, 2030, which the department said “is critical to maintain this momentum and ensure the long-term effectiveness of the Task Force’s mission.” Earlier written testimony also supported the funding for the task force, its operations and hiring of administrative support staff. Money also would cover reimbursements to law enforcement agencies for personnel, overtime, fuel, equipment and storage and disposal of confiscated fireworks. On Wednesday, 13 members of the Ways and Means Committee voted in favor of sending the bill to the Senate floor, including Chair Dela Cruz, Vice Chair Sharon Moriwaki and Sens. Henry Aquino, Lynn DeCoite, Brandon Elefante, Troy Hashimoto, Lorraine Inouye, Dru Mamo Kanuha, Michelle Kidani, Donna Mercado Kim, Chris Lee, Glenn Wakai and Kurt Fevella. Also Wednesday, the House Judiciary & Hawaiian Affairs Committee unanimously recommended passage of companion House Bill 508 on second reading. Supporting the measure were Chair David Tarnas, Vice Chair Mahina Poepoe and Reps. Della Au Belatti, Mark Hashem, Kirstin Kahaloa, Amy Perruso, Gregg Takayama, Chris Todd and Garner Shimizu. Rep. Diamond Garcia voted “aye” with reservations. In other Ways and Means Committee action, the panel advanced: Senate Bill 327 Senate Draft 1 , which would expand the Hele Imua internship program. The program allows residents to take part in paid internships with private businesses. Funded by the Legislature in 2022, Hele Imua provides opportunities for people to gain valuable work-based experience and support themselves and their families. “Workforce development programs like Hele Imua are critical to reversing the brain drain and keeping residents employed in Hawaiʻi,” according to the committee. Senate Bill 1117 Senate Draft 1 would clarify regulations around electric bikes (e-bikes), requiring helmets, setting age limits for certain types of e-bikes and introducing insurance requirements for electric motorcycles. “The goal is to promote the responsible use of e-bikes, which can help reduce people’s reliance on traditional vehicles,” the committee said. “The bill also expands an existing rebate program to encourage more people to use e-bikes in a safe and sustainable way.” Senate Bill 1044 Senate Draft 1 would address rapidly rising insurance costs for condominiums by expanding the Hawaiʻi Property Insurance Association and the Hawaiʻi Hurricane Relief Fund to offer coverage for properties that are unable to get insurance through private companies. The bill was amended to include a loan program to help condominiums with maintenance issues that have led to higher insurance premiums or made it difficult to get insurance from private companies.

Honolulu Dept. of Parks and Recreation seeks to increase number of city parks Star-Advertiser Jamm Aquino April 23, 2025 Original Article Honolulu Department of Parks and Recreation is going forth with efforts to increase the number of city parks with recreational dog privileges. Currently fewer than 15% of these public spaces allow leashed or unleashed dogs. DPR is proposing a comprehensive change to parks island-wide by allowing leashed animals in more city parks, but while also looking for community feedback. (photos)

Hawaiʻi Lawmakers At Work Year Round? That's Becoming A Real Possibility Honolulu Civil Beat Richard Wiens February 2, 2025 Original Article It was a typical scene at the Capitol: two Kauaʻi legislators getting together to discuss common interests and how they could support each other and the folks back home. The sort of thing that happens at the start of every session. But this was also a high-level meeting between longtime Senate President Ron Kouchi and brand-new House Speaker Nadine Nakamura, and the latter had a special request. “She innocently in her folder slid over a bill,” Kouchi recollected with a smile the next day. It was a proposal that could significantly change how the Legislature operates, and Nakamura wanted Kouchi to join the cause by introducing the same measure in the Senate. “I don’t know if you’d sign it,” Kouchi recalled her asking, “but I said, ‘For you Speaker, I’d be happy to sign it on our side and we’ll see what happens.’” And just like that, the often-proposed but seldom seriously considered concept of converting the Legislature to a year-round enterprise took on new life. “I’m glad you signed that bill,” Nakamura said to Kouchi as the top two legislative leaders headlined Civil Beat’s Civil Cafe at the Capitol on Jan. 22. Then she made her pitch. “All of the county councils in the state are year-round,” Nakamura said. “They have a fraction of the state’s budget and they meet year-round because the work of the counties — and here at the state — is year-round. Emergencies happen year-round.” “We currently have a 60-day session from the middle of January to the first week of May and we have these self-imposed deadlines that require us to not hear a lot of bills,” she said. “It requires us to write very complex bills in a very short period of time. We do not get the time to really work it as we would on the council side.” She noted that she and Kouchi are both former Kaua‘i County Council members. “I really appreciate that process and I think we should move toward that.” Why It Could Actually Happen Nakamura’s House Bill 1425 calls for the creation of a task force to study the logistics and ramifications of a 12-month Legislature. Don’t roll your eyes. This would not likely be one of those longstanding committees that eventually issues a report to be put up on a shelf and forgotten. In addition to the speaker’s sincere interest in the issue, the panel would be required to submit its findings to the Legislature at least 20 days before the start of the 2026 session. More importantly, something occurred just five days after the Civil Cafe that likely removes a big obstacle to a year-round session: State Salary Commission members revealed they were considering bumping up legislators’ pay by 40%. If that happened, there would be no further debate about whether the job is full-time. And If legislators are full-time, why should the session be so short? “It would be good to pay legislators more so we don’t have to have that second job,” Nakamura said at the Civil Cafe. Better pay and no outside employment would reduce conflicts of interest and could also lead to a more diverse group of legislative candidates, the speaker said. “We are excluding caregivers, women especially, who want to come out and do this type of work, from entering state legislative offices,” she said. Lawmaker salaries aside, there would certainly be other costs associated with the move to a 12-month Legislature, such as additional staff resources and travel. “I know it is a big change,” Nakamura said. “The study group would really take a look at what are the different issues, what are the costs.” The current 60 days for floor sessions might still be sufficient — they would simply be spread out over 12 months, she said. Meanwhile, bill-writing and committee hearings could proceed at a less frenzied pace. Nakamura’s bill gets its first hearing Wednesday at 2 p.m. before the Legislative Management Committee. In addition to her bill and Kouchi’s companion measure, Senate Bill 1514 , there are two other bills this session proposing the conversion to a 12-month Legislature. The companion measures would put the question directly to voters via a proposed constitutional amendment. One of them, Senate Bill 733 , was heard Friday by the Senate Judiciary Committee. It was deferred, meaning it probably won’t proceed this session. The other, House Bill 770 , does not yet have a committee hearing scheduled. The Legislature is also waiting on a more modest study of the 12-month option that’s being put together by the Legislative Reference Bureau as the result of a Joint House Resolution approved last session. The LRB was asked to study the pros and cons of a continuous legislative session, what the calendar might look, and the salary needs for full-time legislators and staff. What’s Really On The Table Here Legislative leaders conduct much of the people’s business behind closed doors and wield near-dictatorial powers in open committee meetings and especially during the private negotiations that dominate each session’s final days. They often point to the current tight deadlines (one sponsor of SB 733 has called it “four months of chaos”) to justify secrecy for the sake of expediency. Each election season, legislative candidates are asked in their Civil Beat Q&As if they would support applying the Sunshine Law to the Legislature to stop most of those secret meetings at the Capitol. Many say they would — if the sessions weren’t so darned short. Perhaps the time really has come to take more time. Legislators long ago exempted themselves from the open meeting laws that apply to other government bodies. But a year-round Legislature could not only better oversee the work of 20 state departments and agencies and a $20 billion budget, it could do so in the light of day. If the speaker of the House and the president of the Senate are open to operating more like the county councils on a 12-month schedule, shouldn’t they be willing to conduct their business out in the open just as the councils are required to do? Senate Judiciary Chair Karl Rhoads said as much when he amended a year-round Legislature proposal two years ago to apply the Sunshine Law to state lawmakers. At the time, he noted that Hawaii had almost twice the population it had back in 1968 when the current legislative procedures were enshrined in Article III of the State Constitution . Getting legislators to abide by the Sunshine Law won’t be an easy sell. But if they convert to a 12-month session, they would have plenty of time to do the right thing and allow the public to observe their deliberations, not just their committee hearings. Some will say the Capitol just wouldn’t be the same without the old-fashioned horse-trading that goes on in private. Not the same, but perhaps better. What about the idea that what happens at party caucus meetings stays at party caucus meetings? Again, it wouldn’t be the same if their constituents were watching, but it might be better. Longer Sessions Already Possible Even now, legislative leaders aren’t quite as rushed as they often say they are. The State Constitution spells out when each session begins — the third Wednesday in January — but not when it ends. Those 60 days of floor sessions could already be spread out over a lot more of the calendar instead of ending in early May. And committee hearings could continue in the intervals. If they feel like they have unfinished business — and every session ends with that feeling — legislators can also extend a regular session for an additional 15 days or call themselves into special session for up to 30 days. Either of those options requires the approval of two-thirds of the House and Senate. Still, a cleaner way to convert to a 12-month session would be through voter approval of a constitutional amendment. That’s because the constitution’s current timing requirements for the governor to sign or veto bills is tied to when the Legislature adjourns its regular session. This session’s bills for a full-time Legislature, for instance, would give the governor 90 days to sign or veto measures, with no reference to the date of adjournment. It’s becoming plausible to imagine a future in which better-paid legislators hold no outside employment and are unconstricted by artificial deadlines. However it unfolds, a longer session holds promise for a more effective Legislature Change is coming. Newer lawmakers are raising more questions about the top-down nature of things at the Capitol. The recent hour-long discussion on the House floor of its rules of operation was refreshing evidence of the shift, because those rules traditionally are imposed with no dialogue at the start of each session (as they still are in the Senate). It’s becoming plausible to imagine a near-term future in which better-paid legislators hold no outside employment and are unconstricted by artificial deadlines. Their only jobs would be addressing the many challenges facing Hawaii, which should be full-time work indeed.

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

Avian flu prompts state to request pause on interisland transportation of birds Hawaiʻi Public Radio HPR News Staff December 16, 2024 Original Article In response to the detection of the avian flu virus in Hawaiʻi, state agencies are asking the public to hold off on moving poultry and other bird species between islands for the next three months to prevent the spread. The state Department of Agriculture made the request in a news release on Friday. It said the ask for a voluntary pause was a suggestion from Moloka‘i Sen. Lynn DeCoite, who is also a farmer. The virus was first detected in Hawaiʻi last month and had not been detected in the islands prior. It is highly pathogenic and can spread between birds through contact or if birds come into contact with contaminated material. The public can report animal illnesses to the agriculture department by calling 808-483-7100. Though human cases are rare, residents can call the state Department of Health at 808-586-4586 if they develop symptoms after being exposed to sick birds.

Hawaiʻi Legislature Begins 2025 With High Hopes For Solving Our Toughest Issues Honolulu Civil Beat Kevin Dayton, Chad Blair January 15, 2025 Original Article The state House and Senate are largely on the same page when it comes to priorities for the 2025 session that officially opened Wednesday. Leading the list are stabilization of the condominium insurance market, strengthening enforcement of illegal fireworks, streamlining approval processes so developers can build more affordable housing and improving biosecurity to control and expel invasive species. But House and Senate leaders are not in agreement on issues such as recreational marijuana. And some House members clashed over rules governing their own chamber. Differences between the House and Senate — both of which are overwhelmingly controlled by Democrats — on what issues to enact and how to enact them may not have evaporated. For example, the Senate approved bills for recreational marijuana over the past two sessions but the measures died in the House — something that Senate President Ron Kouchi reminded reporters of at a press conference following the floor session. Rep. David Tarnas said he was working on an omnibus bill that would take into consideration not only recreational marijuana but also adjustments to the state’s medical marijuana program and related issues. “I think the people in the state of Hawaii really would like us to address cannabis policy in a comprehensive manner, which includes medical cannabis, which has been legal for many, many years,” he said. “It includes hemp, which is legal as well. And it includes the adult use of cannabis.” And, while both chambers are generally in sync with the priorities of Gov. Josh Green, a fellow Democrat, they are still not sold on the governor’s proposal for a fee levied on visitors through the hotel tax to pay for climate change mitigation. Rep. Kyle Yamashita, chair of the House Finance Committee, wants to be careful before considering taking interest from the state’s Rainy Day Fund to pay for climate mitigation. (David Croxford/Civil Beat/2025) Rep. Kyle Yamashita said he was cautious about embracing another idea from the governor: to use interest from the state’s Rainy Day Fund to help pay for part of climate mitigation. The state currently enjoys a healthy fund balance, but economic cycles can change, he warned. “I’m kind of hesitant to touch that because I believe we need to build the reserve up,” he said. “My concern is we had over a decade since the Lehman Brothers downturn of prosperity and then we had the pandemic and we had a drop. But the Fed just gave us so much money that it actually spiked and caused inflation.” A better option, said Yamashita, might be to raise visitor fees at popular tourist destinations such as trails, something that Kouchi said he is open to considering. Hanging over the Legislature’s to-list is a shared unease with what might transpire in Washington, D.C., when Donald Trump returns to the White House with a Republican-controlled Congress to support him. House Speaker Nadine Nakamura expressed concerns that Hawaiʻi’s share of federal funding might be reduced. Hawaiʻi’s vulnerability to events out of its control is underscored by the Los Angeles fires that are still burning. Sen. Jarrett Keohokalole, who is working on home insurance legislation, said the increase in severity of natural disasters has made crafting legislative solutions more complicated. Hawaiʻi, he noted, is at risk not only for tsunamis, hurricanes and volcanoes but also wildfires. “We are now seen as a risky state,” he said, pointing out that Hawaiʻi was not considered an insurance concern after 1992’s Hurricane ʻIniki. “But now that these catastrophes are getting so much attention, we have to deal with what’s happening in the marketplace now. So some of it is going to be our responsibility to stabilize.” Jobs Wanted For Locals The Senate plans to focus on workforce development coupled with education. The idea, said Kouchi, is to help young students not only with internships and apprenticeships but to help them find jobs in Hawaiʻi after school. The Senate’s priorities involve advancing technology integration across campuses, aligning curriculum to workforce needs, supporting career and technical education and boosting student test performance. The House is also interested in expanding training and internship programs to better prepare students for public and private sector career paths. “Additionally, we are examining strategies to recruit and retain public workers in the State of Hawaiʻi as we face workforce retirements and prepare for upcoming vacancies,” according to a House press release. Senate President Ron Kouchi made it clear Wednesday that there are a number of important issues for the House and Senate to work on. (David Croxford/Civil Beat/2025) Kouchi said Sen. Donovan Dela Cruz, the Ways and Means Committee chair, would take the lead on education and workforce development. The Senate would also seek to generate new revenue streams, possibly through innovations in agriculture. Kouchi and Dela Cruz also both favor land banking — buying and managing land with the intention of selling or developing it. Kouchi said land banking could lead to developing more housing and agriculture and even help when it comes to siting new jails and prisons. House History, And Rules In the House, Nakamura became the first female speaker in Hawaii history to take charge of a House floor session. Nakamura thanked the new House leaders and her fellow House Democrats, who chose her as speaker for the 33rd Legislature in November. The discussions in the Democratic caucus that resulted in her selection for the top job in the House were not open to the public. Nakamura said she turned to her 97-year-old mother, Mabel Maeda, for advice on how to handle the responsibility and challenges of her new role. Maeda, who watched from the House floor as Nakamura spoke, experienced the full weight of governmental power in Hawai’i during the years following the bombing of Pearl Harbor. She was orphaned at age 6, and her guardian before the war was a Tenrikyo minister who was taken away in the middle of the night and imprisoned in New Mexico, Nakamura said. When she was older, she and other students were required to work at least one day a week in the pineapple fields to support the local wartime economy. Nakamura said she reflected on those experiences because “the decisions we make in this chamber will also reverberate for generations to come.” Nadine Nakamura is the first woman to lead the Hawaiʻi House of Representatives. On opening day Wednesday, she called for her colleagues to work together. (David Croxford/Civil Beat/2025) “So when I asked my mother what advice she’d give me and my fellow legislators, she said that we should try to be humble and respect each other,” Nakamura said. “She said to overlook the faults that we all have, and find the good in each other.” Nakamura introduced the 11 freshmen House members, and called on all of her colleagues to work cooperatively on a House vision for Hawaiʻi that stresses the need for a “healthy, thriving and housed” state population. “If we work together, if we set aside grudges, if we listen to each other, roll up our sleeves, and if we direct our limited resources wisely, we can achieve this vision,” she said. “And when we disagree with each other, which might happen now and then, we do so respectfully and with civility.” Related Articles Solving Hawaiʻi’s Housing Crisis Front And Center In New Legislative Session Green Proposes Spending Another $30 Million On A New Oʻahu Jail Legislature May Take A Stand Against Decades Of Pay-To-Play Politics Will This Be The Year Hawaiʻi Charges Visitors For Their Environmental Impact? Green Says Budget Has Room For Public Worker Pay Raises, Even With Tax Cuts Hawai‘i House Finance Chair Has Plans For Big Changes In The Tax Code Legislators Look To Support Student Recovery From The Pandemic In what may be a sign of political friction to come, freshman Rep. Kim Coco Iwamoto, a Democrat, and Rep. Kanani Souza, a Republican, voted against a routine resolution appointing House caucus leaders and making House committee assignments. Iwamoto, who is a lawyer and a left-leaning Democrat, said the appointment of Rep. Linda Ichiyama as both vice speaker and a voting member of four House committees violates House rules. The most recent House rules allow the vice speaker to serve as a voting member of only one committee. Iwamoto also objected to the makeup of the House Finance Committee, which she said should have included another Democrat, according to the House rules. The committees are supposed to be composed of Republicans and Democrats proportionate to their numbers in the House, which Iwamoto said requires another Democrat on Finance. There are 42 Democrats and nine Republicans in the House. Souza, who is also a lawyer, voted against the resolution because she said there were changes made to the committee lineup and included in the resolution after the committee assignments were announced in a House memo and a news release to the public last year. She did not say what changes prompted her objection. Rep. Kim Coco Iwamoto voted against routine resolutions including committee assignments over what she said were violations of House rules. (David Croxford/Civil Beat/2025) House Democratic Majority Leader Sean Quinlan replied that proportionality is “very poorly defined in our House rules,” and the House is in the process of updating the rules. He also said there is nothing in the rules specifically prohibiting the speaker or vice speaker from serving as committee members. Republican Minority Leader Lauren Matsumoto thanked Nakamura for making an effort to reach out to the minority, and praised the new House leadership for “re-examining how we conduct the people’s work in this chamber.” She called on House members to make fiscal policy changes that include eliminating the state income tax, and eliminating taxes on tips. She also urged public disclosure of how much each bill before the Legislature will cost, a mechanism that in some states is known as “fiscal notes.” That means “we have to know how much something costs before we vote on it. Currently 44 other state legislatures already do this, and it’s time Hawai’i does as well,” she said. Yamashita, the House Finance Committee chair, said in a news conference after the floor session that the House is undertaking a comprehensive review of both state and county taxes. Nakamura noted the Legislature passed an unprecedented state income tax cut last year that will reduce state tax collections by billions of dollars in the years ahead. “I think it would be a stretch” to now entirely eliminate the state income tax, she said. As for fiscal notes, Yamashita said that has been brought up before, but “it takes resources and effort.” He added that “it’s something we, at this time, we don’t have the resources to be able to put something out there.” Gov. Josh Green is slated to deliver his State of the State address Tuesday. The Legislature is scheduled to adjourn May 2.

Democrats send 3 names to governor for Senate seat Star Advertiser Victoria Budiono October 18, 2025 Original Article The Democratic Party of Hawaii’s Oahu County Committee has selected three nominees for Gov. Josh Green’s consideration to fill the Senate District 19 seat left vacant by the retirement of state Sen. Henry Aquino (D, Pearl City-Waipahu-West Loch). The three nominees are: >> Steven P. Canales, retired from a utility company, former shop steward for a local union, Honolulu lifeguard at Pearl City Recreation, and a community organizer for the Democratic Party’s Region 5. Canales has emphasized his dedication to helping people in his community. >> Rachele F. Lamosao, current state Representative for House District 36, representing Waipahu. She has also served on the Waipahu Neighborhood Board and the Waipahu High School Academy of Natural Resources Advisory Board, highlighting her ongoing commitment to local leadership and community engagement. >> Dr. Inam U. Rahman, a Waipahu-based physician, small business owner, and former legislative assistant. Rahman has served as past president of the Hawaii Medical Association and founded a nonprofit clinic focused on diabetes care, dedicating over 30 years to community health, public service and volunteer medical missions. The three nominees were selected from among six applicants. Their names have been formally transmitted to Green, who will choose one to serve as the next Senator for Senate District 19. “First, I would like to thank Senator Henry Aquino for his service to Senate District 19. I would also like to thank the selection body, and Oahu County Chair, Lynn Robinson Onderko, for their hard work in this process. In addition, I want to express my appreciation to all of the candidates for participating in this process and their commitment to the SD 19 community,” Democratic Party of Hawaii Chair Derek Turbin said. “Lastly, we’re excited for the three nominees. All of them have a history of community service to SD 19, and would do a wonderful job serving their community.” “We thank every candidate who participated in this grassroots process,” Lynn Robinson-Onderko, Oahu County Chair, said. “These Democrats are passionate about their district and committed to having exceptional representation in the State Senate. I am confident that any one of the nominees will step into their position ready to work for their constituents in Senate District 19.” The selection meeting was conducted via Zoom Webinar and open to the public on Tuesday at 6 p.m. Nine members of the selection body participated, with two absent, and each was entitled to vote for up to three of the prospective candidates.

Senate bill passes to waive SMA permits for rebuilding in historic Lahaina town Maui Now Brian Perry February 4, 2025 Original Article A bill to help with rebuilding historic Lahaina town advanced Monday afternoon out of the Senate Water and Land Committee, chaired by Sen. Lorraine Inouye of Hilo, Hawaiʻi Island. Senate Bill 1296 would not require special management area permits for structures in Lahaina town if they were destroyed in the deadly Aug. 8, 2023, wildfire disaster and if planned reconstruction stays within the footprint of the structure as it stood before it was consumed by flames. Sne Patel, president of the LahainaTown Action Committee, said the bill is essential for Lahaina’s rebuilding. “The Maui wildfires devastated Lahaina, displacing families, shuttering businesses and halting our local economy,” he said in written testimony . “Without streamlining the permitting process, rebuilding efforts will face unnecessary delays, leaving our community in limbo. While this bill is a step forward, we urge lawmakers to increase the SMA minor permit threshold to $1 million rather than $750,000. With construction costs exceeding $1,000 per square foot, compounded by inflation, labor shortages, and increased tariffs on steel and lumber, a higher threshold is critical to prevent further permitting roadblocks.” The committee advanced the legislation , introduced by West and South Maui Sen. Angus McKelvey , by removing its Part 2 on Page 9 as that section was considered redundant and unnecessary for the bill overall. The committee meeting on the bill and others can be seen on YouTube here . Senate Bill 830 , drafted by Central Maui Sen. Troy Hashimoto , and its companion measure, House Bill 1181 , introduced by Central Maui Rep. Tyson Miyake , would narrow the scope of the definition of the term “development” in coastal zone management law by excluding reconstruction of structures impacted by disasters. No hearings have been scheduled yet on those measures, however. McKelvey’s Senate bill would not exempt properties directly on the shoreline. The bill also increases the valuation threshold of development subject to a special management area permit from $500,000 to $750,000 when it’s located within the area covered by a federal disaster declaration on Aug. 8, 2023. In written public testimony submitted to the committee, Mayor Richard Bissen and Maui County Department of Planning Director Kate Blystone supported the bill. They said it would not only expedite construction for non-shoreline structures, but also increase the SMA minor permit threshold to $750,000 for federal disaster areas, which is appropriate “given high construction costs witnessed after the August Lahaina wildfire. This steep cost increase can be assumed for future disaster events.” Wailuku attorney Jeffrey Ueoka testified in favor of the Senate bill, saying that “while there will be many more challenges and hurdles to overcome while rebuilding, SB1296 provides some desperately needed relief from a very complicated regulatory process.” Ueoka is a land-use attorney assisting with Front Street Recovery, a coalition of business owners dedicated to rebuilding and revitalizing Front Street. Testifying on behalf of the LahainaTown Action Committee and the Front Street Recovery Organization, Haloa Dudoit said: “This bill is critical to helping our community rebuild from the Lahaina wildfires. Property owners within the SMA face not only devastating loss but also an overwhelming, complex rebuild process that threatens their ability to restore their homes, businesses and livelihoods; all essential to Lahaina’s recovery.” Dudoit added that nearly a year and a half has passed since the wildfires, “yet progress is slow, with little beyond debris removal. With a sunset date of August 8, 2028, this bill provides a clear and necessary pathway for rebuilding before it is too late.” The bill acknowledges the necessity, under the Coastal Zone Management law, to control development near shorelines to avoid permanent losses of valuable resources and the foreclosure of management options. The law also has safeguard to ensure adequate public access to publicly owned beaches, recreation areas and natural reserves. Rebuilding efforts in Lahaina will face significant challenges from rapidly rising construction costs, which are expected to escalate in light of the massive Los Angeles wildfires. The bill says SMA valuation thresholds were established in 2014 and are outdated because of significant increases in construction costs. In Maui County, the Department of Planning administers the Coastal Zone Management law, and the Maui, Molokaʻi and Lānaʻi planning commissions are the decision-making authorities for SMA permits. An SMA permit is the first permit required for developments within designated coastal areas. No agency is authorized to issue other development permits within SMA areas unless approval is first received within SMA procedures provided in state law.