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Daily Smile

[{"type":"text","text":"The slowest stalking attack ever....."}]

Smile 26 3 22

<title>Daily Smile: Sunday, March 22, 2026</title>

The slowest stalking attack ever.....

Daily Smile: Sunday, March 22, 2026

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Keliʻi Akina

Viewpoints

Government & Politics

Most of the attention this year at the state Legislature has been focused on the status of our historic income tax cuts from 2024 — whether they are going to be modified or repealed, effectively resulting in a tax hike.

But there’s another tax-hike bill still alive that has been quietly making its way through the legislative process: 

This bill would increase the state conveyance tax on higher-value properties to funnel revenue into certain special funds. Supporters believe owners of multimillion-dollar properties can be targeted without affecting the economy or the housing market as a whole. Reality says otherwise.

Studies on the effect of real estate transfer taxes in general have 

 they are associated with reductions in investment, income, jobs and economic activity. 

Even when a conveyance tax is limited to higher-value properties, it is likely to have unintended consequences. For example, the so-called mansion tax that went into effect in Los Angeles in 2023 not only has had the 

 of reducing all housing sales, it has also impeded the sales of commercial, multifamily and industrial properties, threatening housing growth and the economic health of the region.

SB3028 seeks to target higher-value residential properties with a conveyance tax hike by switching from flat rates to marginal rates. Marginal rates alone are not concerning — but substantial rate increases are.

Currently, a property sold for $3.5 million to a buyer who is eligible for a county property tax home exemption would generate a conveyance tax bill of $17,500. If the most recent draft of SB3028 were to become law, the conveyance tax for that property would jump to $46,300.  

A tax hike of that magnitude is sure to reduce local property turnover, which would affect local businesses and overall housing growth. Reduced sales could also wind up decreasing tax revenue.

Historically, the conveyance tax was never intended to be a major source of revenue for the state. In fact, it started off as a simple administrative tax. It’s unfortunate that now some lawmakers see it as a piggy bank they can break open without consequences. 

It can be tempting to fund services at the expense of wealthy property owners, but taxes do not operate in a vacuum. At its core, this proposed hike on conveyance taxes is yet another example of a seemingly well-intentioned policy that is sure to do unintended economic harm.

No matter how a conveyance tax is designed to operate, it will have a ripple effect throughout the economy, and any increase is likely to make the state’s housing crisis worse.

[{"type":"text","text":"Hawaiʻi needs more housing, not less."}]

Reprinted with permission from the April 27, 2026, "President's Corner" of 

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<title>Community Voices: The unintended consequences of transfer taxes</title>

Studies on the effect of real estate transfer taxes in general have found they are associated with reductions in investment, income, jobs and economic activity. It's also likely to make the state’s housing crisis worse, per Grassroot Institute of Hawai‘i.

Community Voices: The unintended consequences of transfer taxes

Stephanie Salmons Headshot

Stephanie Salmons

A pilot program offering safe spaces for Hawai‘i's homeless youth is now permanent.

[{"type":"text","text":"Gov. Josh Green this week signed House Bill 613, now Act 297, into law."}]

 establishes a Safe Spaces for Youth program within the Office of Youth Services. The program provides safe spaces in each county for youth and young adults who are experiencing, or at the risk of, homelessness.

Lawmakers also appropriated $871,016 in the 2025-26 fiscal year and $1.84 million in the next for the permanent program.

"These safe spaces will provide 24/7 access to lodging, meals, showers, medical and behavioral health services, as well as educational and employment support," 

a July 7 announcement from the Governor's Office noted. "

Through the joint efforts of state and county departments, those in need of further support shall be connected to nonprofit institutions with the expertise to offer long-term support and shelter."

Reports for the program will be submitted to the state Legislature.

 that the Safe Spaces for Youth pilot project had launched on O‘ahu and Hawai‘i Island. As part of the pilot, Hawai‘i would launch the national Safe Place program, the state said at that time.

 is a national youth outreach and prevention program for people typically under the age of 18, "in need of immediate help and safety." It was created in 1983 by the YMCA teen shelter in Louisville, Kentucky.

During a bill-signing ceremony Monday, state Rep. Lisa Marten, chair of the House Committee on Human Services and Homelessness said that homeless youth are "vulnerable to predators on the street who seek to exploit them."

"They're at high risk for mental health problems, including substance abuse, and there's barriers to their path for education and employment if they are without a house," she continued. "This bill makes [the program] permanent and provides funding to maintain the pilot services on O‘ahu and the Big Island, and initiate an expansion to one day provide short-term and long-term safe and appropriate housing statewide."

Youth in need can walk into a Safe Place site or text for help with response available 24 hours a day, Marten noted.

"Once there, they're provided with family-strengthening services to enable family reunification or transitional living services for youth who cannot be safely reunited with their families," she said. "They receive behavioral health services, support to complete their eduction, job training — the help that all young people need and that these young people are no longer getting from their own families so that they can become as productive and self-sufficient and be thriving members of our communities."

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<title>New law expands resources for homeless youth</title>

Legislation signed this week by Gov. Josh Green establishes a Safe Spaces for Youth program within the Office of Youth Services for those experiencing, or at the risk of, homelessness.

New law expands resources for homeless youth

Christian Shimabuku Headshot

Christian Shimabuku

Sports

Home runs and history were the two themes for the Mililani softball team, which repeated as the HHSAA Division I softball champion with a 10-7 win over Maryknoll on Friday at Rainbow Wahine Softball Stadium. 

The Trojans won their fifth title in school history and had never repeated as state champions until Friday. 

"It's very emotional," head coach Rose Antonio said. "We made history. We never did a repeat, back-to-back champs. It feels so good. I'm so very proud of our team and my coaches."

The Trojans broke the game open with five runs on four hits in the third inning. A reverberating solo home run from Oklahoma commit Jerrell "Ori" Mailo helped the Trojans gain separation, while a grand slam from Kodie Ancheta broke the game open. 

"We're disciplined at the plate, and that's what you ask of them," Antonio said. "Look for their ball to hit, and that's what they did. They practiced that."

"It's just a proud feeling for everybody, and just being able to trust everybody and what they could do, and just taking in the moment that this is my last ride with all of them," added Mailo, a high school junior who is set to enroll early at Oklahoma next spring. 

Mililani, which finished the year 15-1 overall, had to defeat a trio of ILH teams in Kamehameha, Punahou and Maryknoll in consecutive days to win it all. 

"You gotta play the best to be the best," Antonio said. "ILH is a tough league. You gotta take what's given to you. Every game, they're all tough games, and it's hard. State tournament is a tough competition. You gotta play your very best. At times you get some blunders, but then, hey, you know what? They dug deep, they persevered and fought and they accomplished what they did today."

In the Division II championship game, Kapa‘a held on to defeat Pearl City 7-5. 

The Warriors fell behind 3-0 in the third inning but rallied to take home their second state title in a row and third in four years.

"Happy for this group of girls," Kapa‘a head coach Blair Yamashita said after the game. "We tried to make it a point that last year's team was last year's team. This team has its own identity, and nothing's going to be given to us. No one's gonna just roll over for us, and we're gonna have to battle each time we go out on the field, everyone's gonna give us their best shot, which Pearl City did tonight. We're happy that we came out on top."

Daily Smile: Sunday, March 22, 2026

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