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

Education bill funding program that combines culture with academics, continues to advance Maui Now N/A March 7, 2025 Original Article Senate Bill 529 SD1 relating to education seeks to appropriate funds to expand the Hoʻākea Program, an educational initiative that integrates Hawaiian cultural practices with academic subjects to engage students and promote environmental stewardship. Senate Vice President Michelle N. Kidani (District 18 – Mililani Town, Waipi‘o Gentry, Crestview, Waikele, portion of Waipahu, Village Park, Royal Kunia) who chairs the Senate Committee on Education (EDU) announced the Senate’s passage of the bill as it continues on a path forward this legislative session. “Programs like Ho‘ākea create meaningful learning experiences for students that bridge culture, community, and education, fostering a deeper connection to their heritage and building a stronger sense of identity and responsibility,” said Kidani. “By incorporating traditional knowledge with modern curriculum, this initiative empowers our keiki to become the next generation of leaders.” “The impact of Ho‘ākea has truly been profound for our students, our families and our communities,” said Hawaiʻi State Department of Education (HIDOE) Superintendent Keith Hayashi. “Through hands-on learning stations, the mission of Hoʻākea is to inspire students to embrace the ‘Navigator Mindset’ and become the leaders, stewards, and critical thinkers that can navigate us into a better future.” According to Nainoa Thompson, Pwo Navigator and CEO of Polynesian Voyaging Society, “education is everything, it will determine our future of what we teach our children. I’ve seen the impact when there’s a bridge that’s created between the power of communities and families, and Ho‘ākea is that bridge to teachers who are the bridge to our schools.” Amy Hānaialiʻi Gilliom, Hui O Wa‘a Kaulua President, vocalist and songwriter, shared her strong support, writing,“using foundational values and perspectives of waʻa and ʻāina, students learn about, explore, and troubleshoot issues they experience daily – like coastal erosion, water and food security, emergency preparedness, and community resilience. Connecting place, culture, and history to core subjects like math, science, and social studies engage their natural curiosity and excitement to learn.” The bill now moves to the House for consideration.

Hawaii Leaders Wary After Federal Funding Pause Rescinded Spectrum Michael Tsai January 30, 2025 Original Article Some 48 hours after the Trump administration ordered a freeze on federal grants and loans, the U.S. Office of Management and Budget rescinded its directive on Wednesday, leaving both the administration and its dissenters here and around the country to declare victory at the same time. What You Need To Know On Monday, the U.S. Office of Management and Budget issued a memo directing all federal agencies to pause financial assistance offered under their auspices so they could be reviewed for compliance with the administration’s new initiative to purge progressive programs supportive of diversity, equity and inclusion; LGBTQ+, environmental justice and other causes that do not align with the president’s priorities News of the intended pause was quickly met with a pair of lawsuits. U.S. District Judge Loren AliKhan later issued a stay in response to one of the suits just minutes before the OMB directive was to have taken effect at 5 p.m. Tuesday On Wednesday, OMB officially withdrew the directive without further explanation While the funding pause did not materialize, officials said the long-term threat to programs and services that do not meet Trump’s approval remains real On Monday, the OMB issued a memo directing all federal agencies to pause financial assistance offered under their auspices so they could be reviewed for compliance with the administration’s new initiative to purge progressive programs supportive of diversity, equity and inclusion, LGBTQ+, environmental justice and other causes that do not align with the president's priorities. A subsequent clarification noted that the pause would not affect core assistance programs, such as Social Security, Medicare or Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program. At a news briefing on Tuesday, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said the pause was proof of the Trump administration being “good stewards of taxpayer dollars.” News of the intended pause was quickly met with a pair of lawsuits, one by the National Council of Nonprofits, the American Public Health Association, the Main Street Alliance and the LGBTQ+ elders advocacy group SAGE and another by a coalition of 22 state attorneys general, including Hawaii Attorney General Anne Lopez. U.S. District Judge Loren AliKhan issued a stay in response the first suit just minutes before the OMB directive was to have taken effect at 5 p.m. Tuesday. On Wednesday, OMB officially withdrew the directive without further explanation. The administration contends that the issuance of the initial order achieved its greater purpose in making sure federal agencies were aware of their obligation to understand and adhere to hundreds of executive orders Trump issued in the first week of his return to the White House. And while many federal, state and local leaders remained chagrined at the widespread confusion wrought by the OMB directive, some viewed the action as a necessary shock to the system in line with Trump’s campaign promise to remake the federal government. “This is Donald Trump,” Sen. Kevin Cramer, R-N.D., told The Associated Press. “He throws hand grenades in the middle of the room and then cleans it up afterwards. I just think the guy’s a genius.” Democrats and others opposed to Trump’s wide-net action celebrated OMB’s cancellation of the order, which some attributed to public outcry. “Yesterday, we all woke up to chaos, uncertainty, and confusion as the Trump administration freezes federal funding,” state Rep. Adrian Tam posted on his social media accounts. “This funding is critical to infrastructure, healthcare, education, and wildfire recovery. While I’m happy that the Trump Administration backed off, I want to remind you that he wouldn’t have backed off had it not been for our community leaders raising the alarm on how this funding will hurt us. Pressure works; pushing back when we see bad policies is essential. Thank you to everyone for uniting and voicing their concerns. Today is a win for Hawaii.” Initial news of the intended freeze drew a sharp rebuke from Hawaii's political leaders and prompted state agencies, under the direction of Gov. Josh Green, to mobilize quickly to assess the potential impact and draw alternative plans for maintaining critical programs and services. In a speech on the Senate floor Tuesday, U.S. Sen. Brian Schatz, D-Hawaii, decried the freeze and the violation of the Constitution he said it represents. “The government shutdown that Donald Trump just ordered is illegal and unconstitutional,” Schatz said. “He is not a king and we do not live in a monarchy." Schatz said the freeze would result in “real pain” for many Americans. “If you’re a disaster survivor in North Carolina or Louisiana, or California or Texas or Florida or Maui, you don’t know what happens next,” he said. “If you’re a low-income family that relies on the Women, Infants, and Children Program to get healthy meals for your kids, if you live in a remote area like Waianae or Lanai in Hawaii and you go to a community health center to fill your prescriptions or to get a checkup, this freeze on funding means you don’t get help.” U.S. Sen. Mazie Hirono and U.S. Rep. Jill Tokuda issued a joint statement Wednesday shortly after the order was temporarily blocked. “Eight days into his dictatorship, President Trump has mandated a federal funding freeze that will cost Hawaii hundreds of millions in federal support,” they wrote. “Even a ‘temporary’ freeze will create a lapse in funding for disaster relief efforts in Lahaina, as well as crucial programs like Medicaid, Head Start, nutrition assistance programs like SNAP, WIC, school lunch programs and many more. State Attorney General Anne Lopez, along with a coalition of 21 other attorneys general, filed suit to immediately stop enforcement of the OMB policy and preserve essential funding. “The impacts of this policy withholding federal funds have already been realized in our state," Lopez said. "Neither the president of the United States nor an acting federal budget official can unilaterally upend federal law and cause such mass uncertainty in the Hawaii and our sister states by withholding federal funds authorized by law. The Department of the Attorney General will stand up for the rule of law in this nation.” The coalition argued that jeopardizing state funds will put Americans in danger by depriving law enforcement of much-needed resources and interrupting support for U.S. Department of Justice initiatives to combat hate crimes and violence against women, stop drug interdiction, support community policing and provide services to victims of crimes. The AGs also noted that the OMB policy would halt essential disaster relief funds to places like California and North Carolina, where tens of thousands of residents are relying on FEMA grants to recover after devastating wildfires and floods. In a statement released after the District Court ruling but before the order was rescinded, Gov. Josh Green said the Trump administration’s effort to freeze federal funding “cannot stand.” “My administration is currently assessing the impact of this pause on essential state programs and services, including education, health care, social services and wildfire recovery,” Green said. “For those programs that are found to be impacted, the state of Hawaii will work to develop alternate plans to ensure that key services for local residents are continued.” Hawaii’s legislative leaders also spoke out against the freeze and expressed concern for those who rely on services and programs funded by federal grants and loans. “This latest directive from the federal level comes at a time when many communities are already facing hardships, and it threatens to disrupt the distribution of critical resources to individuals, businesses, and organizations that rely on federal financial assistance,” said Senate President Ronald Kouchi. “These programs — spanning health care, education, infrastructure, housing and more — are lifelines for our Hawaii residents as well as millions of Americans and the temporary suspension of these funds will only exacerbate challenges that are already straining our communities.” House Speaker Nadine Nakamura said legislators were closely monitoring the situation. “This freeze is deeply concerning as it could jeopardize critical services that Hawaii’s communities depend on, including education, healthcare, social services, wildfire recovery and essential federally funded programs,” she said. “Furthermore, it undermines the progress we have made in ensuring representation and support for our Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander communities.” And while the funding pause did not materialize, officials said the long-term threat to programs and services that do not meet Trump’s approval remains real. In a news briefing after the OMB order was rescinded, Leavitt emphasized that while the freeze will not move ahead, federal agencies are still required to comply with Trump’s mandate to review all financial assistance programs to ensure that they follow his executive orders. In that regard, the state’s hurried efforts to assess the potential impact federal grant and loan cancellations would have on its myriad programs and services may have given it a head start in preparing for cuts yet to come. Green said his administration is assessing the impact the funding pause would have on essential state programs and services, including education, health care, social services and wildfire recovery and work to develop alternate plans for keeping key services available. State Comptroller Keith Regan confirmed that the Department of Accounting and General Services has several divisions or attached agencies that would be affected should it lose federal funding. “The main impact would be to our public arts initiatives in the State Foundation of Culture and the Arts,” he said. “Indirectly, it is possible the Archives may need to halt projects funded by its federal grants and our State Procurement Office’s Surplus Property Program may be affected by the pause in funding.” State Department of Labor and Industrial Relations director Jade Butay said his department is “deeply concerned” about potential impacts to its ability to deliver essential services. “A significant portion of our operations, including workforce development, unemployment insurance, job training and workplace safety through our Occupational Safety and Health division, is supported by federal funds,” Butay said. “Any disruption to these critical programs could affect workers, employers and communities statewide. We are actively monitoring the situation and are awaiting further guidance from the U.S. Department of Labor to understand the full scope of the impacts and next steps. We remain committed to serving the people of Hawaii and ensuring the continuity of essential programs.” The Hawaii Department of Defense, which includes the Hawaii National Guard, Hawaii Emergency Management Agency, Office of Veterans’ Services and Civilian Military Programs, is heavily reliant on federal funding, receiving approximately $88 million for its annual operating budget; about $350 million to administer its Hazardous Mitigation Program Grant; and nearly $25 million for its Emergency Management Program Grant. The department further anticipates approximately $56 million in Federal Emergency Management Agency reimbursement for Maui wildfire disaster response and recovery. It also receives federal grant funding for the High Intensity Drug Trafficking Areas program to coordinate its counter-narcotics efforts with federal, state and county law enforcement agencies. “While these federal programs are being reviewed by OMB, there’s no immediate impact to operate, retain qualified personnel, and continue to protect the citizens of the state of Hawaii,” said Maj. Gen. Stephen Logan, the state adjutant general. The Hawaii State Public Library System could also be significantly impacted by the freeze. HSPLA receives about $1.5 million in Library Services and Technology Act funding that enables it to provide access to library materials, technology to connect to the internet, and online databases. “The suspension of this funding will cause our communities to face limited access to information that supports their health, business, education and ability to connect to the world,” HSPLA reported on Tuesday. “Specifically, students will not have free access to test preparation and families will not have easy access to legal forms to support their needs.” HSPLS also is a recipient and partner for two digital equity projects, one that offers basic digital literacy classes statewide and another, funded via the Federal Broadband Equity Access Development program, that supports digital literacy navigators in all public libraries. Meanwhile, the Hawaii Department of Transportation is seeking clarification regarding potential impacts on obligated formula projects and discretionary funds. Likewise, the state Department of Law Enforcement reported that it is still seeking a final determination of the impacts from its federal partners. Michael Tsai covers local and state politics for Spectrum News Hawaii. He can be reached at michael.tsai@charter.com .

MAHALO SENATOR ELEFANTE – SENATE PUBLIC SAFETY AND MILITARY AFFAIRS COMMITTEE HOLDS SERIES OF HEARINGS ON ILLEGAL FIREWORKS BILLS myPearlCity.com PC Community February 6, 2025 Original Article HONOLULU – The Senate Committee on Public Safety and Military Affairs (PSM), chaired by Senator Brandon Elefante (Senate District 16 – ‘Aiea, ‘Aiea Heights, Hālawa, Pearlridge, Newtown, Royal Summit, Waimalu, Waiau, Momilani, Pacific Palisades, and Pearl City), completed a series of significant hearings today addressing legislation aimed at combatting illegal fireworks in communities across Hawai‘i. Three separate hearings held at the Hawai‘i State Capitol went over several key bills that focus on strengthening enforcement measures and penalties related to illegal fireworks use. A priority for the Senate, these bills aim to enhance public safety and respond to the increasing concerns about the dangerous and disruptive use of fireworks. The following bills were heard today: SB 999 : this bill would ban the use and sale of consumer fireworks, set fines for breaking the law, and create a fund to support safety education programs using money from the fines and seized property; the committees who heard the bill (PSM/CPN) deferred it to Monday, February 10 for decision-making. SB 1226 : this bill aims to create a program to inspect shipping containers, require the Department of Law Enforcement to report on the program’s effectiveness, and provide money to support the program. The TCA/PSM committees passed the bill with amendments. SB 302 : this piece of legislation would limit the use of consumer fireworks to only approved cultural events with a permit, ban selling them without a permit, and add a fee for those permits. The TCA/PSM committees passed the bill with amendments. SB 1324 : this bill would increase penalties for fireworks-related injuries or deaths, create new criminal offenses for illegal fireworks actions, and set up a system to handle fireworks violations. The PSM/TCA committees passed the bill with amendments. SB 227 would create a new division to enforce laws against illegal fireworks. It was passed unamended. SB 476 would raise the fines for certain fireworks violations, starting on July 1, 2025. The bill was deferred. SB 222 : this bill provides more funding for the illegal fireworks task force for the next few years until June 30, 2030. It was passed unamended. Senator Elefante emphasized the critical nature of these discussions, noting that illegal fireworks not only pose safety hazards but also disturb residents, pets, and local wildlife. “Today’s hearings represent a major step forward in ensuring the safety and well-being of our communities,” said Senator Elefante. “By strengthening enforcement and increasing penalties, we are sending a clear message that the unlawful use of fireworks will not be tolerated.” The bills are part of ongoing efforts to address the rising concerns over fireworks-related incidents, including fires, injuries, and public disturbances, especially in light of the tragedies that happened in the state at the beginning of this year. Senate Committee acronyms, for reference: PSM: Public Safety and Military Affairs CPN: Commerce and Consumer Protection TCA: Transportation and Culture and the Arts ABOUT THE HAWAIʻI STATE SENATE MAJORITY The Hawaiʻi State Senate consists of 25 members who serve staggered four-year terms. The Senate Majority consists of 22 Democrats for the 33rd Legislature, which convened on January 15, 2025. For the latest news and updates, follow the Senate Majority on Facebook, Instagram, or visit https://www.hawaiisenatemajority.com .

Column: Make land trust, limited-profit developers for homes Star Advertiser Dale Kobayashi and Makana Hicks-Goo March 2, 2025 Original Article Hawaii has a housing crisis that needs no introduction. If you were born here, chances are you were born with it: mentions of our housing crisis started popping up in local papers in the 1930s. Nearly a hundred years on, we’re still trying to sort it out. These days the refrain you’re likely to hear is that it’s simply a matter of supply and demand. By which it’s always meant just supply — concerns about demand are gauche. Supply is the hot topic. Indeed our housing crisis is often described flatly as a “housing shortage.” The conventional wisdom stops here claiming that if we increase supply prices will fall. It’s true that we’ve seen the dire consequences of not building enough. In the 40 years since 1980 production has lagged and home prices (adjusting for inflation) have risen by 161%, according to Census data. But it’s hard to argue that we’ve never built enough. In the 40 years between 1940 and 1980, we built more homes than the rest of the U.S. on a per capita basis. Units per capita increased by 62%, our housing stock by 268%. The results were equally bad as when we didn’t build: home prices rose by 510%, adjusting for inflation. It seems whether we build or don’t, in Hawaii prices rise. This really shouldn’t be surprising. Everyone engaged in building homes in Hawaii benefits when prices go up, and they’re good at their job. The solution to this problem isn’t in the debate we see play out constantly between NIMBYs and YIMBYs (“not in my backyard” and “yes in my back yard”); both have had their crack at the problem. It’s instead something quite different, rooted in how property markets actually work, and our actual problems. Let’s call it LIMBY — locals in my backyard. LIMBYs know we need supply, but think it’s ridiculous to ignore the other side of pricing: demand. LIMBYs also think it’s silly to ignore how markets work and how land is priced to guarantee a return on investment determined more by Wall Street’s requirements than by local incomes. The solution that works through these tangled problems, that can better leverage public investment in housing, that can build a housing market tied to local incomes, is a land trust and limited-profit developers. Land trusts provide a ready mechanism to eliminate land speculation and thereby limit price increases. A limited-profit developer creates competition in the market to price development as a simple percentage of gross costs rather than a return on investment set by capital markets. These aren’t untested ideas. Land trusts underpin affordable housing across the globe — most notably in Vermont. Limited-profit developers are critical for housing development in Singapore and Austria. A raft of other changes are needed to shore up things now and help us build that market. State Sen. Stanley Chang has pending legislation to retool our state financing programs, which are currently giveaways to well-connected developers. Chang wants programs to direct developers toward actually affordable housing, and we agree. State Rep. Tina Grandinetti has introduced a slew of bills to make sure tenants in naturally affordable housing are protected — and they should be. State Rep. Amy Perruso and state Sen. Les Ihara have introduced legislation to study how to better create a housing market for locals, using state resources and trusts based on ideas from local developer Peter Savio. Hawaii ought to be a place where you are more likely to make it here if you were grown here. As our housing crisis has steadily gotten worse, you’re now more likely to own a home in Hawaii if you were flown here. Creating a housing market for locals is the only path forward.

Leeward CC cohort entrepreneurs participating in national food showcase University of Hawai'i Thomas Heaton January 15, 2025 Original Article Leeward Community College Contact: Chris Bailey, (808) 927-2025 Manager, Wahiawa Value-Added Product Development Center Tad Saiki, (808) 455-0531 Marketing Specialist, Marketing Posted: Jan 15, 2025 Senator Donovan Dela Cruz with Hawaiian Vinegar Co. Fancy Food Show, Las Vegas Mauka Meats at the WVAPDC Leeward Community College's Wahiawā Value-Added Product Development Center (WVAPDC) will be exhibiting at the upcoming 2025 Winter Fancy Food Show, the kickoff event of the food industry’s annual cycle, produced by the Specialty Food Association and offering thousands of diverse makers, buyers, brokers, distributors, and industry professionals from across the U.S. and the globe three days of delicious product discovery, networking, and business opportunities. The WVAPDC and its participating ʻĀina to Mākeke entrepreneurs will showcase a variety of innovative food and beverage products that highlight the unique flavors of Hawaiʻi. Located in the Incubator Village, a dedicated space for first-time exhibitors, these entrepreneurs will introduce their unique creations to a global audience. Visit us in Booth #IV35 through #IV82 to explore the flavors of Hawaiʻi and learn more about these pioneering businesses. The 49th Winter Fancy Food Show returns to the Las Vegas Convention Center from January 19–21 and will feature more than 90,000 specialty foods and beverages from global makers. Participants will also gain access to real-time insights from the SFA Trendspotter Panel, educational programming and panels on the Main Stage, and the new Debut District area featuring first-time exhibitors, brand-new products, incubators, and startups. “The Winter Fancy Food Show offers an incredible opportunity to showcase Hawaiʻiʻs rich food heritage and innovative spirit on a global stage. Our ʻĀina to Mākeke entrepreneurs represent the best of local creativity, sustainability, and dedication to quality. Leeward Community College is proud to support these businesses as they share their unique flavors of Hawaiʻi with the world,” says Leeward CC Chancellor Carlos Penaloza. The WVAPDC will be exhibiting with eight food entrepreneurs who have completed Leeward CC’s ʻĀina to Mākeke or University of Hawaiʻi Maui College’s Food Innovation Center’s business incubator programs. Any Kine SNAX – Any Kine SNAX is a Hawaiʻi-owned, small family business that was started in 2020 from a desire to share our fun and tasty freeze-dried candies and treats with family and friends. Galleon Chocolates – We are a Maui-based chocolatier specializing in bold and innovative chocolates that celebrate Filipino and Hawaiian flavors. Hawaiian Krunch Company – Our artisanal small batch granolas feature four of Hawaiʻi’s indigenous canoe crops: Kalo (taro), ‘Ulu (breadfruit), ‘Uala (sweet potato), and Niu (coconut). We proudly source 80% of our ingredients from local, Hawaiʻi farmers. Hawaiian Vinegar Co. – Hawaiian Vinegar Co.’s unique, artisanal vinegars and shrubs are crafted from locally sourced seasonal fruits and produce. Our unique Hawaiian flavors support sustainability by upcycling excess and off-grade produce, as well as by-products. Hometown BBQ – Our craft BBQ sauces feature Hawaiʻi-grown fruits and unique local flavors. Island Rayne Gourmet – Our craft hot sauces showcase bold, island-inspired flavors. Island Sausage – Artisanal quality salami and snack sticks with local flavors and flair by Hawaiʻi’s only salami producer. Mauka Meats – Premium, locally sourced meats, sausages and bone broth, with a focus on quality, sustainability, and supporting Hawaiian agriculture. Attendees are invited to visit Leeward CC and the Wahiawā Value-Added Product Development Center and our ‘Āina to Mākeke entrepreneurs at Booths #IV35 through #IV82 to explore these unique products and learn how we’re advancing Hawaiʻi’s food industry on the global stage. About the WVAPDC: The Wahiawā Value-Added Product Development Center (WVAPDC) is a project of the University of Hawaiʻi Leeward Community College and the State of Hawaiʻi, contributing to the growth of Hawaiʻi’s agricultural industry and entrepreneurial community through: Premier educational programming to students and community members, empowering Hawaiʻi’s entrepreneurial ecosystem for generations to come. Increased opportunities for local farmers and growers to sell their products to value-added producers. Supporting local entrepreneurs to incubate their business through access to small business resources, production kitchens and in-house product and process development. The WVAPDC is a 33,000 square foot food manufacturing facility located in Wahiawā in Central Oʻahu in Hawaiʻi. Our center is a resource for food entrepreneurship and education. We offer product development consultation services, lab testing and production kitchens. We serve Hawaiʻi’s processors, entrepreneurs, farmers and students focused on developing and creating food products. This initiative aligns with the State of Hawaiʻi and the Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism’s (DBEDT) efforts to diversify the local economy. By introducing Hawaiʻi-made products to a larger audience, the WVAPDC provides a platform for entrepreneurial growth and fosters export opportunities for Hawaiʻi’s unique agricultural and value-added products. For more information about WVAPDC visit our website , or email vapdc@hawaii.edu and follow us on Instagram . For additional media contact, please contact WVAPDC Manager, Chris Bailey at crbailey@hawaii.edu .

Aloha, 2024! A recap of the top 10 Big Island news stories of the year West Hawaii Today John Burnett December 31, 2024 Original Article Tribune-Herald file photo From left, Sen. Joy San Buenaventura, Sen. Lorraine Inouye and Lynne Benioff take a photo together in April after the groundbreaking ceremony for the expansion of the newly named Hilo Benioff Medical Center. From left, Mayor Mitch Roth, Rep. Mark Nakashima, East Hawaii Regional Board Chair Jerry Gray, Gov. Josh Green, philanthropist Marc Benioff, Hilo Benioff Medical Center CEO Dan Brinkman and Sen. Lorraine Inouye pose for a photo with o'o sticks after the groundbreaking ceremony to kick off a major expansion of the hospital. (Tribune-Herald/file photo) Tribune-Herald file photo In this file photo, visitors walk through the Sea Mountain Resort in Punalu'u. As part of a proposed development, Black Sand Beach LLC wants to restore the resort and nearby golf course. A view of an encampment of homeless people in June near the corner of Ponahawai Street and Kamehameha Avenue in Hilo. (Tribune-Herald/file photo) In this Tribune-Herald file photo from June 7, grass and brush is overgrown around the house that was mistakenly built on the wrong lot in Hawaiian Paradise Park. A groundbreaking ceremony was held in September for a new affordable rental housing complex in Waikoloa Village. (Courtesy/image) Tribune-Herald file photo Grant Omura receives a bento from a volunteer as she hands them out of the Salvation Army Hilo Temple Corps' Malama 'Ohana Mobile Kitchen during an opening ceremony on Aug. 30 for the 25-cot shelter in Hilo. Former County Council member Emily Naeole speaks to a large crowd gathered outside the County Building on March 7 in Hilo. Hundreds of people, many who drove up from Ka'u, showed up for a meeting of the Windward Planning Commission regarding a permit for a proposed development in Punalu'u. (Tribune-Herald/file photo) Tribune-Herald file photo Kawelle Silva-Kamei holds a sign to protest the proposed development plan for the Punalu‘u area during a Windward Planning Commission Meeting on March 7 in Hilo. Tribune-Herald file photo Mayoral candidate Kimo Alameda answers a question during a forum hosted by the Big Island Press Club on Sept. 21 at the Hilo Yacht Club. In this July photo, a temporary camp for homeless people set up by Hawaii County off of Ponahawai Street in Hilo. (Tribune-Herald/file photo) Kimo Alameda sends his signature "double shaka" during a sign waving event with his Hawaii County mayoral campaign supporters in Hilo. (Tribune-Herald/file photo) With 2025 nearly here, it’s time to review an eventful 2024. Here are Hawaii Island’s the top 10 local stories of the year, as selected by the editorial staff of the Tribune-Herald. 1. Hilo hospital undergoes $100M expansion “It’s a new beginning for health care here on the island.” That observation was made April 10 by billionaire philanthropist Marc Benioff — chairman, CEO and co-founder of the software company Salesforce — during a groundbreaking ceremony for an expansion of Hilo Benioff Medical Center that will include a new 19-bed intensive care unit and 36 additional hospital beds. Benioff and his wife, Lynne, matched $50 million appropriated in 2023 by the state Legislature and released in March by Gov. Josh Green. The $100 million project is intended to help alleviate the bed shortage at Hawaii Island’s largest hospital, which was built in 1984 and where capacity has been outstripped by East Hawaii’s population growth the past four decades. In addition, a draft environmental assessment was released in November for a $60 million outpatient clinic to be built by HBMC on about nine acres of land in Keaau. The Benioffs pledged an additional $25 million for the Puna clinic, with Green pledging to work toward securing an additional $25 million from the Legislature for construction, expected to be completed by 2028. Planners anticipate the facility will serve more than 100 patients daily. 2. Affordable housing remains a hot topic According to County Council Chair Holeka Goro Inaba, the council will continue to overhaul Chapter 11 of the County Code, which addresses housing. A study presented in July of the effectiveness of Chapter 11 — which requires that rezoned housing projects include a certain amount of affordable units, and offers some ways to fulfill that requirement — found its provisions act contrary to their intended use, and it’s not feasible for affordable housing to be built in many of the island’s districts. Affordable housing projects are, however, moving forward. The 92-unit Hale Na Koa ‘O Hanakahi housing project is slated for completion in 2025, with affordable housing targeted toward Big Island seniors and priority given to veterans and their spouses. Once completed, all of the housing complex’s units will be available to residents making less than the Area Median Income. According to move-in qualifications posted online, 10 units will be available to those making 80% of the AMI, 31 to those making 60%, 38 to those making 50% and 12 to those making 30%. Ground was broken in September for Na Hale Makoa, an affordable workforce rental housing development in Waikoloa village. The project will feature 139 one-, two- and three-bedroom units serving households earning up to 140% of area median income, as well as one resident manager’s unit. Construction is expected to take a little over a year, and families are anticipated to begin moving into the units during the first quarter of 2026, according to the county. In addition, land has been acquired or donated with the goal of building affordable housing. Marc and Lynne Benioff in June donated 158 acres near Waimea to the nonprofit Hawaii Island Community Development Corporation for affordable housing at Ouli in Waimea. The land, adjacent to 282 acres the Benioffs donated in December 2023, brings the total land they’ve given for affordable housing to 440 acres. And the nonprofit Council for Native Hawaiian Advancement announced in June the acquisition of 43.08 acres of land in Hilo to be designated for affordable housing, specifically for Native Hawaiians and other Hawaii families. The parcel, located in the Kaumana subdivision of Ponahawai, was purchased for an undisclosed sum from an anonymous landowner. 3. Lava recovery continues in lower Puna Recovery from Kilauea Volcano’s 2018 Lower East Rift Zone eruption continues. Construction began in June on a 3.64-mile section of Highway 137 in lower Puna, between the makai end of Pohoiki Road and the intersection of Highway 132 — also known as “Four Corners.” The price tag to rehabilitate the previously inundated country road is $17.8 million. The lion’s share, $13.35 million, will be funded by the Federal Emergency Management Agency, while the county will kick in $4.45 million. The county remains embroiled in an eminent domain battle with Kapoho Land and Development Co. Ltd. over 0.94 acres of land the county said it needs to reopen Pohoiki Road. Hilo Circuit Judge Peter Kubota on Aug. 15 issued an order putting Hawaii County — which offered KLDC $24,000 — in possession of the land. KLDC, which is the only eminent domain holdout, is challenging the order, arguing the county has violated state laws in its condemnation process. And the state Department of Land and Natural Resources has awarded a contract to dredge part or all of a newly formed beach so Pohoiki Boat Ramp can be reopened. This past month, DLNR announced it had awarded a $9.2 million contract for the dredging project to Goodfellow Bros., with work expected to begin in February 2025 and wrap in November 2025. 4. Ongoing efforts to regulate STVRs The County Council in 2024 continued its yearslong struggle to regulate short-term vacation rentals with no long-term resolution in sight. Bill 121 — under discussion for the better part of a year and amended four times — was shelved in November. After lengthy discussions about five new proposed amendments to Bill 121, Hamakua Councilwoman Heather Kimball, who introduced the bill, asked her colleagues whether the council should continue to tweak the existing bill, or if it should be scrapped and replaced with a new bill that streamlines the now 30-page-long proposal. Another measure, Bill 123, passed the council and became law on its fifth draft. The bill changed the name of “ohana dwellings” to “accessory dwelling units” and increased the number of units allowed on a residential property to three, with one allowed to be used as a STVR. While the new ordinance increases density in residential neighborhoods, the Hawaii Supreme Court ruled unanimously in September that state law doesn’t allow STVRs on agriculturally zoned land. 5. Jaggar Museum, HVO site demolished It’s been six-plus years since earthquakes associated with the 2018 Kilauea eruption damaged both Hawaiian Volcano Observatory and the Thomas A. Jaggar Museum beyond repair. The historic museum, built in 1927, stood on Uekahuna bluff in Hawaii Volcanoes National Park for nearly a century. It was razed along with two buildings used by HVO, the Okamura Building and geochemistry annex at Uekahuna, in May and June. The HVO Tower, the last building standing on the bluff, was demolished on July 26. The iconic tower, adjacent to the Jaggar Museum, provided scientists at HVO with a 360-degree vantage point for studying Kilauea and Mauna Loa until the 2018 eruption and summit collapse severely damaged all of the buildings at Uekahuna, on the edge of Kaluapele, Kilauea’s caldera. HVO’s scientists and technicians have been working in temporary digs in Hilo since. HVNP’s Visitor Center will be closed to the public in February for two years of renovations. Many functions once carried out at the Jaggar Museum will be performed at the HVNP Visitor Center, once it reopens. 6. Help for the island’s homeless The annual, federally mandated Point-In-Time count tallied 718 homeless individuals on the Big Island in 2024. That’s 28% fewer than the 1,003 counted in 2023. But the Point-In-Time is a mere snapshot of a day in the life of the unsheltered, and a casual tour of downtown Hilo and Kailua-Kona will confirm homelessness remains an issue. Two extreme incidents in downtown Hilo in January highlighted the problem. A 41-year-old homeless woman, Ashley Lum, gave birth on a sidewalk at the corner of Mamo and Keawe Streets and reportedly dragged the newborn by the umbilical cord. Fire Department medics cut the cord, sought medical attention for the baby, and transferred it to custody of Child Welfare Services. Lum, who has apparent mental health issues, was arrested for allegedly leaving the infant after the cord was severed, but was released without charges after being booked on suspicion of misdemeanor child abandonment. In the other case, a 34-year-old homeless man, Jimmy Carmichael, died at Mooheau Park Bus Terminal after being beaten. An autopsy turned up no serious skull or brain injuries as a result of the assault, but there was evidence of an “acute cardiac event” prior to his death, police said. Former Mayor Mitch Roth touted his administration’s efforts toward curbing homelessness, including $10 million in grants to organizations providing services to the homeless. The county also conducted sweeps of homeless camps, including in January at Mooheau Park and in February at Kona Aquatics Center. In addition, the county also set up at least two “Safe Spaces” homeless camps during the year — both dubbed “Mitchville” on social media. One was on Ponahawai Street next to the Salvation Army in downtown Hilo. After that camp was disbanded by the county, another was set up on Kuawa Street near the county’s Hoolulu Complex to house those who’d been at Ponahawai. It too has since been closed after most occupants found either homes or a longer-term shelter. And in August, the Salvation Army opened the Hilo Overnight Safe Space, a 25-bed outdoor tent at the Salvation Army’s Ponahawai facility. Homeless individuals seeking shelter are able to check into the Safe Space in the evenings and depart the next day. Through $1 million in state funding, and an additional $800,000 from the county, the facility should be able to operate for two years, said Sam LeMar, Salvation Army Hawaii County coordinator. He added he hopes to be able to expand the shelter into something potentially more permanent. LeMar said he believes the shelter could expand to accommodate 75 beds along with 10 parking stalls “so people can sleep in their cars safely.” 7. The county has a new top executive The Big Island has a new mayor. Kimo Alameda, the former CEO of Bay Clinic who was executive of the county’s Office of Aging under former mayors Harry Kim and the late Billy Kenoi, defeated incumbent Mitch Roth by almost 11% in November’s General Election. It was the first run for public office for Alameda, 55, who holds a doctorate in counseling psychology and also was the former leader of the Fentanyl Task Force. The 60-year-old Roth had the larger campaign war chest, by more than $100,000, and had spent upwards of $75,000 more than his challenger. Alameda, however, had the backing of the two major public workers unions — the white-collar Hawaii Government Employees Association and the blue-collar United Public Workers. They endorsed the challenger in part because Roth wouldn’t authorize COVID-19 hazard pay for public workers during the pandemic, citing fiscal concerns. 8. Punaluu project proposed, opposed A currently stalled proposal by a foreign-born developer to build a 225-acre resort development on a 147-acre parcel adjacent to Punaluu Black Sands Beach Park has raised hackles in the Ka‘u community. Neighboring residents to the proposed Punaluu Village project turned out en masse in March before the Windward Planning Commission to protest the plans of developer Xiaoyuan “Eva” Liu and Black Sand Beach LLC to develop the $350 million project. Three groups of Ka‘u residents have been granted standing in a contested case against an application for a special use permit for the project. In particular, opponents have argued the development of Punaluu Village will have significant negative impacts on the area’s public water, fire suppression and wastewater systems, which they say are in disrepair. A 2020 report about the condition of Punaluu’s water infrastructure noted several leaks and inoperable equipment — notably, six of the 17 fire hydrants in the area were found to not work. Some of the opposition to the project stems from fears it will impact fragile ecosystems and endanger wildlife, such as endangered hawksbill sea turtles. The nearby black sand beach is one of the last nesting sites for the turtles in the state, said Maxx Philips, Hawaii director for the Center for Biological Diversity. However, project consultant Daryn Arai said most of the areas planned to be developed for the project are located away from sensitive areas — and that much of the development would restore the shuttered facilities of the former Sea Mountain Resort that was built in the area in the 1960s and ’70s. 9. DHHL’s huge plan for Keaukaha More than 1,300 acres of land at King’s Landing in Hilo could be developed for Hawaiian homesteads under a state plan. In June, a draft environmental assessment was published for the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands’ “King’s Landing Kuleana Homestead Settlement Plan” — a proposal to take several DHHL-owned parcels near Keaukaha totalling 1,334 acres and allow them to be developed as homestead land. Under the proposal, a large tract of land — stretching from south of Nene Street in Keaukaha to Leleiwi and south along the Kapoho Coast Road — could be used as “kuleana homesteads,” an alternative form of land use that would allow DHHL beneficiaries to live on parcels with minimal development. According to the draft assessment, the land is largely unoccupied, with 24 Native Hawaiian residents known to be living or working on land in the area in compliance with a DHHL right of entry agreement. Under the plan, about 400 acres of the land — largely around the Kapoho Coast Road — would be set aside for kuleana lots, with another 332 acres dedicated toward community agricultural use. Much of the coastal acreage and other scattered parcels would be free for community use, and the last 240 acres would be kept as conservation land. Settlement of the area would take place in a phased process, with the first phase involving up to 38 lots between 3.5 and 15 acres in size along either side of the Kapoho Coast Road. Phase 2 would include up to 35 lots between 1 and 3 acres in size mauka of Kapoho Coast Road. Phases 3 and 4 would establish the conservation, agricultural and community lands. Because kuleana leases require residence on the land, beneficiaries would be living largely off-grid and building their own homes. Homesteads would still be subject to all relevant county and state health and safety codes, although part of the kuleana model allows for some level of grant support for lessees building their homes. 10. House lot snafu in HPP In perhaps the year’s strangest Big Island story, a local contractor for an Oahu-based developer mistakenly built a house on a Hawaiian Paradise Park lot owned by a Northern California woman. Keaau Development Partnership contracted PJ’s Construction to build about a dozen houses on lots the developer owns in the Puna subdivision. PJ’s, however, erroneously built a three-bedroom house on a lot owned by Annaleine “Anne” Reynolds, who bought the one-acre lot in a 2018 tax auction for $22,000. The home was supposed to be built on an adjacent lot owned by KDP, but no survey was done prior to construction. KDP sued both Reynolds and PJ’s, seeking to recoup more than $307,000 it paid to PJ’s and its subcontractors, plus another $300,000 in lost profits, interest, attorneys’ fees and damages. Reynolds declined KDP’s settlement offer of the adjacent lot in a land swap, and KDP rejected her counter offer of a beachfront lot in return for her property. Now-retired Third Circuit Chief Judge Robert Kim granted Reynolds’ request for PJ’s to pay another contractor to demolish the house, and Kona Circuit Judge Kimberly Tsuchiya has selected a proposal by a Hilo contractor to do so. Both KDP and PJ’s are appealing the demolition order in the Intermediate Court of Appeals while Reynolds’ attorney has filed a motion stating the ICA doesn’t have jurisdiction since the demolition order isn’t a final judgment on the lawsuit. Email John Burnett at jburnett at hawaiitribune-herald.com.

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.

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

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

State legislature hear proposed bills advocating for Hawaiʻi's keiki Kauai Now N/A January 28, 2025 Original Article Hawaiʻi state legislators and community advocates joined together to present the 2025 Keiki Caucus Bill Package and priorities dedicated to improving the lives of Hawaiʻi’s children and families. The Keiki Caucus, established in 1994, is a collaboration between Hawaiʻi state legislators, community leaders, and youth-centered organizations who come together to propose, draft, support, and implement policy changes that will improve the lives of Hawaiʻi’s young people. The Keiki Caucus is co-convened by Sen. Joy A. San Buenaventura representing Puna, Rep. Lisa Marten representing Waimānalo, Keolu Hills, Lanikai and parts of Kailua, and Rep. Ikaika Olds representing McCully-Mōʻiliʻili. Legislators identified five top priority issues impacting Hawaiʻi’s youth and families for the upcoming legislative session. They include: Tax credits for household and dependent care services; Funding for community schools; Paid family leave; E-cigarette regulation; Universal free school breakfast and lunches. “During the interim, we collaborated with community advocates to develop proposals that address top-of-mind issues such as the rising cost of childcare, which significantly impacts the cost of living for Hawaiʻi’s keiki and families,” said Keiki Caucus co-convenor and Representative Lisa Marten. “We also identified ways to support our youth in schools, ensuring they receive a quality education while feeling empowered and supported to succeed.” The 2025 Keiki Caucus Bill Package consists of the following measures: HB753 – Relating to the Household and Dependent Care Services Tax Credit Increases a taxpayer’s applicable percentage of employment-related expenses that is used to calculate the household and dependent care services tax credit. Extends the sunset date of the temporary increase in maximum employment-related expenses that are used to calculate the household and dependent care services tax credit, established by Act 163, SLH 2023, to 6/30/2030. Sunsets 6/30/2030. HB754 / SB821 – Relating to Community Schools Appropriates funds to the Department of Education for community schools and a program manager position. HB755 / SB852 – Relating to Paid Family Leave By 1/1/2028, requires the Department of Labor and Industrial Relations to establish a family and medical leave insurance program and begin collecting payroll contributions to finance payment of benefits. By 1/1/2029, requires the Department to start receiving claims and paying benefits under the program. Specifies eligibility requirements and employee protections under the program. HB756 / SB972 – Relating to Health (E-Liquids) Prohibits the sale of flavored nicotine products and the mislabeling of e-liquids as nicotine-free, Establishes penalties for violations, Authorizes the Department of Health to appoint, commission, or contract for services of inspectors, Establishes two full-time equivalent program specialist positions and one full-time equivalent hearing officer position. HB757 – Relating to Education Beginning with the 2025-2026 school year, requires the Department of Education to provide free breakfast and lunch to all students enrolled in department schools. Community advocates from Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids, Ceeds of Peace, Hawaiʻi Afterschool Alliance, Hawaiʻi Appleseed, and Hawaiʻi Children’s Action Network Speaks! rallied their support for the bills outlined in today’s press conference. The Keiki Caucus, established in 1994, is a collaboration between Hawaiʻi state legislators, community leaders, and youth-centered organizations who come together to propose, draft, support, and implement policy changes that will improve the lives of Hawaiʻi’s young people.

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)