Gov. Josh Green on Tuesday delivered the annual State of the State address, where he focused on several issues affecting the Islands, including affordability and affordable housing, Maui’s recovery from wildfires that devastated portions of the island in 2023, health care, public safety and more.
Here are six takeaways from the State of the State:
— In working to address Hawaii’s high cost of living, Green, who has served as governor since 2022, said his administration in its first year worked with the Legislature to double the earned income tax credit and food tax credit, as well as increase the existing child and dependent tax credit. And last year, he signed into law an income tax cut that, over the next seven years, Green says will save residents an estimated $5.6 billion and reduce taxes from between 10% to 71% for working families, depending on household income.
— Affordable housing measures that were passed over the past two years are “fueling a surge in workforce and low-income housing developments all across our Islands,” Green said. And over the next two years, the governor said he has requested more than $500 million for various housing initiatives. The administration also has requested $68 million for the redevelopment of Mayor Wright Homes, which Green said will add more than 2,000 housing units, among other efforts.
— To address homelessness, Green said he has requested in the executive biennium budget $50 million each year for the next two years for the development of kauhale — communal villages of tiny homes for the homeless that have shared spaces for cooking, eating, recreation, growing food and community activities. The initiative was started to help homeless individuals after they were discharged from hospital emergency rooms, he said. Today, there are 17 kauhale villages across the Islands and an “ambitious goal” of having a total of 30 villages built by the end of 2026. He also has requested $10.8 million to support family assessment centers, the Housing First Program, the Rapid Re-housing Program, homeless outreach and civil legal services.
— In an effort to address a statewide shortage of health care professionals, Green, who also is a physician, said Hawaii launched a $30 million state-funded initiative called the Healthcare Education Loan Repayment Program, or HELP, wherein some health care professionals are eligible for loan repayments of up to $50,000 per year in exchange for a two-year commitment of service in Hawaii. Green has asked the Legislature for another cumulative $30 million over the next two years to continue HELP. For the next two years, the governor said his administration also has requested $25 million for a planned outpatient center in Keaau on Hawaii Island and more than $40 million for improvements to Hawaii Health Systems Corp. facilities, among other asks.
— Green’s speech comes three weeks after a deadly New Years Eve fireworks explosion in Salt Lake killed four and injured dozens more. He noted that the Illegal Fireworks Task Force established in 2023 to “identify and disrupt supply chains” has seized more than 227,000 pounds of illegal fireworks but he will continue to work with the Legislature to “further curb illegal fireworks” in the state.
— Also in the budget for the next two years, Green said he is requesting more than $350 million to invest in Maui’s wildfire recovery efforts to fund schools and improve statewide wildfire prevention and more.
The full address can be streamed online.
Stephanie Salmons can be reached at stephanie@alohastatedaily.com.
