Government & Politics
News
Honolulu looks to redevelop Iwilei property
The city is seeking a development partner to transform the Iwilei Center into a mixed-use, transit-oriented community.
Stephanie SalmonsMarch 07, 2025
How is Hawai‘i faring? A new survey asked and more than 900 residents responded.
In the latest survey of resident sentiment by Pacific Resource Partnership, growing numbers of people feel the state is on the wrong track, remains too expensive — and their fear of crime is on the rise.
Stephanie SalmonsMarch 06, 2025
Hawai‘i distillery sues over Jones Act
The legislation requires cargo transported between U.S. ports to be carried on vessels that are built in the U.S., and are owned and crewed by U.S. citizens. ASD spoke with the attorney representing the Hawai‘i-based business that says the Jones Act puts the distillery at a disadvantage.
Stephanie SalmonsMarch 05, 2025
Community Voices: A Stealthy Tax Hike
Employers could be hit with a 42% increase in what they pay in state unemployment insurance taxes under a bill being considered by the Legislature.
Tom YamachikaMarch 03, 2025
Community organizations advocate for Hawaiʻi’s working families at the Capitol
HCAN Speaks!, the lobbying arm of Hawaiʻi Children Action Network, spearheaded its first Working Families Day at the Hawaiʻi State Capitol on Friday, complete with a resource fair featuring more than 50 nonprofits, family activities and a rally around legislation. Here’s what government and nonprofit leaders said about their efforts.
Kelsey Kukaua MedeirosMarch 01, 2025
New shelter prioritizes brain and behavioral health
The Kumu Ola Hou Iwilei Transitional Shelter is a collaboration between the city, which owns the the Iwilei Center, where the shelter is located, and the state, which is providing funding to the Institute for Human Services to manage the facility.
Stephanie SalmonsMarch 01, 2025
Community Viewpoint: If we’re not careful, nearly everything will become ‘historic’
More than 2,500 non-residential and 100,000 residential structures in Hawai‘i were built between 1970 and 1980, and they are aging into the historic category, triggering lengthy reviews by the Hawaiʻi State Historic Preservation Division before owners can change or replace them.
Keliʻi AkinaFebruary 28, 2025
With HB1118 advancing, here’s a look at the state mandated vaccines for public school kids
As the measure that would stop new religious exemptions to vaccines at Hawaiʻi schools moves on to the Senate, readers may be wondering what vaccines are currently required and who decides how they get on the state's list. ASD spoke to DOE and DOH officials about the requirements. We also examined more than 2,000 pages of testimony submitted on HB118 on Feb. 21 and found that more than 1,600 people opposed eliminating the religious exemption, while 75 supported eliminating the exemption.
Kelsey Kukaua MedeirosFebruary 28, 2025
Legislation seeks to provide funding for Hawai‘i Technology Development Corp.
Legislators initially sought $6 million for the agency for grants to small businesses, temporarily tripling its budget. That amount is now in flux.
Stephanie SalmonsFebruary 28, 2025
HANO’s Melissa Miyashiro navigates federal funding concerns, prepares for local impacts to nonprofits
Meet the executive director of Hawaiʻi Alliance of Nonprofit Organizations, who is tracking changes happening at the federal and state levels, to help strengthen the local sector by providing information and resources.
Kelsey Kukaua MedeirosFebruary 28, 2025
3 strategies to address childhood homelessness in Hawaiʻi
Family Promise of Hawaiʻi held its first-ever Childhood Homelessness Symposium on Tuesday, which brought together nearly 200 local and national experts and stakeholders to help inspire solutions for childhood homelessness statewide. Topics included homelessness among Native Hawaiians and Pacific Islanders, early childhood education, affordable housing and more.
Kelsey Kukaua MedeirosFebruary 26, 2025
Why this mom is advocating for water safety statewide
On Feb. 28, which is the 21st anniversary of her daughter's death, Allison Schaefers Dubovsky will visit the detention pond where 5-year-old Charlotte “Sharkey” Schaefers drowned rescuing her friend. The bereaved mom shares how advocating for legislation and developing a water safety plan this year will help prevent drowning in Hawaiʻi.
Kelsey Kukaua MedeirosFebruary 24, 2025
Community Voices: Political problems not the same as true emergencies
Hawai‘i is operating under multiple emergency orders from the Governor's office, often extended over years, for pressing problems that can and should be handled by the ordinary democratic process.
Keliʻi AkinaFebruary 22, 2025
Community Viewpoint: This Hawai‘i tax break could be a tax hike
Any increase to the GET, such as the one proposed, falls hardest on people with the least income.
Tom YamachikaFebruary 22, 2025
Aloha Freedom Coalition rallies against vaccine bill HB1118
The grassroots organization hosted a rally at the Hawaiʻi State Capitol on Thursday opposing legislation that would bar new non-medical exemptions to vaccines at schools.
Kelsey Kukaua MedeirosFebruary 22, 2025
Capitol buzzes amid Hawai‘i Farm Bureau’s annual Ag Day
Organizations that support local food production convened Thursday at the Hawai‘i State Capitol to boost awareness of bills this legislative session. Tai-li Medeiros from Kauaʻi County Farm Bureau, who was passing out apples and other produce donated by Garden Isle farmers, said the event is great for networking.
Kelsey Kukaua MedeirosFebruary 20, 2025
Diamond Head State Monument to temporarily close in March, April
Contractors will work to stabilize loose rocks around the Kāhala Tunnel as part of a rockfall mitigation project underway.
Stephanie SalmonsFebruary 20, 2025
Gov. Josh Green walks on water at the Capitol
No, it wasn't real water, but rather a glass pool mock-up of what will replace the Hawaiʻi State Capitol’s existing moat by December 2026.
Kelsey Kukaua MedeirosFebruary 15, 2025
Hawai‘i education then and now: A 50-year view on soaring costs and declining enrollment
Using the Hawai‘i State Data Book archives, we find that the biggest changes from 1972 to 2022 — the most recent stats available — concern the costs of education. Those are up substantially, even though enrollment and teacher pay both dropped.
A. Kam NapierFebruary 14, 2025
Honolulu wraps buses with local art
Three buses have new exterior designs as part of a series of public art installations that connect places across Oʻahu with indigenous, Native Hawaiian stories.
Katie HellandFebruary 12, 2025
University of Hawai‘i President Wendy Hensel talks top priorities and more
Hensel stepped into the role Jan. 1, succeeding former UH President David Lassner, who retired at the end of 2024.
Stephanie SalmonsFebruary 11, 2025
City and County of Honolulu launches new strategic housing plan
Kevin Auger, executive director of the city's Office of Housing says the housing plan provides a "roadmap" that outlines actions the city will take to facilitate the production of housing on O‘ahu.
Stephanie SalmonsFebruary 07, 2025
Aloha Hālawa District Partners holds first community meeting
The developers for the New Aloha Stadium Entertainment District (NASED) still aim to finish the project by the summer of 2028.
Christian ShimabukuFebruary 05, 2025
Five takeaways: New UHERO report looks at the struggles of small businesses
The needs of and challenges facing small businesses in Honolulu are highlighted in a new report that was released Monday by the University of Hawai‘i Economic Research Organization.
Stephanie SalmonsFebruary 05, 2025