Government & Politics
News
Tommy Waters ineligible for reelection, court rules
Honolulu Council Chair to appeal court ruling that he has already served for two full consecutive terms.
Michael BrestovanskyJuly 28, 2026
Community Voices: Empty homes tax just empty promises
Grassroot Institute of Hawai‘i helped persuade the Honolulu Charter Commission to not advance a poorly conceived empty homes tax to the ballot. Instead, as GIH proposes, improvements to zoning and permitting could speed the supply of housing.
Keliʻi AkinaJuly 26, 2026
Luke indicted for bribery
Lt. Gov. Sylvia Luke and four others have been charged in Attorney General corruption investigation
Michael BrestovanskyJuly 25, 2026
Hawaiʻi population decline: How George Ariyoshi’s managed growth policies shaped today’s crisis
George Ariyoshi dressed for the office he held and trusted the most respected experts of his age — and the experts were wrong. ASD opinion columnist Sterling Higa on the population prophecy that failed twice.
Sterling HigaJuly 25, 2026
Senators demand answers after Iran casualties vanish from Pentagon website
Four soldiers, including one from ‘Ewa Beach, are no longer listed as casualties in Iran war on a Department of War website.
Michael BrestovanskyJuly 24, 2026
Artificial reef coming to Waikīkī
$9 million NOAA project to stimulate coral restoration.
Michael BrestovanskyJuly 24, 2026
State Supreme Court overturns Maui SMA permit exemptions
A 2024 rule allowing certain projects within the Special Management Area to go forward without a use permit has been overturned.
Michael BrestovanskyJuly 23, 2026
Hawaiʻi millionaire tax: Why the new 13% bracket won’t be the last
The millionaire tax passed with barely a murmur. ASD opinion columnist Sterling Higa on why the measures nobody argues about deserve the second look.
Sterling HigaJuly 23, 2026
Hamada: Thirty years of infamy for our business climate — when does that change?
Hawai‘i was just ranked worst in the nation for business. Again. Mainland and local observers have been pointing this out consistently since the 1990s, even, at times, as far back as the 1970s. Well, asks ASD opinion columnist Rick Hamada, who has been in charge all this time?
Rick HamadaJuly 23, 2026
Iwilei acquisition advances Honolulu's long-term housing strategy
The city purchased 519 Ka‘aahi St. for $2.7 million in a sale that closed June 30. City leaders say its one of the keys that will help them unlock thousands of housing units in the area.
Stephanie SalmonsJuly 22, 2026
'Get used' to new driver's licenses, says Blangiardi
New state ID cards brimming with anti-fraud features.
Michael BrestovanskyJuly 22, 2026
Pipikaula Corner: The company they keep
Hawai‘i Democrats invited a special Mainland guest to their annual convention in late May, as keynote speaker. If this is their role model, ASD Editor in Chief A. Kam Napier opines, Hawai‘i is in trouble.
A. Kam NapierJuly 22, 2026
Community Voices: Why care about the Dam Special Fund
Special funds have proliferated in Hawai‘i state government, to now more than 1,800. It's to the point that the Tax Foundation of Hawai‘i says it's impossible to know how much money state government actually has. The foundation sued over one of these funds for failing to follow state constitutional limits. Here's what happened to that case.
Tom YamachikaJuly 22, 2026
The return of Hawai‘i’s Marine Affairs Coordinator
ASD political historian Perry Arrasmith noticed that the state of Hawai‘i has just created a Marine Affairs Coordinator — and it's not the first time. What will the person who gets this position do, and how is different from the last time that Hawai‘i state government created, and eventually abandoned, the same role?
Perry ArrasmithJuly 22, 2026
Octogenarian, city, seek settlement in suit over $600,000 fine
A federal lawsuit between Sandra May and the City and County of Honolulu over an improper rental listing is likely to end out of court.
Michael BrestovanskyJuly 21, 2026
Lahaina's Front Street set to reopen Aug. 1
Repairs and rebuilding in the area have been ongoing since wildfires driven by high winds struck on Aug. 8, 2023, including a blaze that destroyed much of Lahaina Town.
Stephanie SalmonsJuly 21, 2026
NBC, ABC and the Trump speech: The century-old idea behind the networks’ decision
The anchors couldn’t wait for the speech to end. ASD opinion columnist Sterling Higa on why the press acts like a priesthood — and why no reform will fix it.
Sterling HigaJuly 21, 2026
Pipikaula Corner: Hawai‘i's election amnesia
A Civil Beat op-ed this weekend freaked out over Pres. Trump's election security speech and the SAVE Act. Memories have gotten pretty short in the Islands; however, because voting in person and showing ID to vote were uncontroversial good-government reforms that Hawai‘i Democrats themselves put in place in 1970. These reforms governed our elections reliably until Democrats changed the laws again in 2019.
A. Kam NapierJuly 21, 2026
Lawsuit against Hawai‘i's chief election officer could go to U.S. Supreme Court
Virginia-based Public Interest Legal Foundation sued Chief Election Officer Scott Nago over access to state voter registration data in 2023.
Michael BrestovanskyJuly 18, 2026
2026 legislative session ends with 266 new laws
Gov. Josh Green signed the last bills of the year on Wednesday, and made his final veto decisions.
Michael BrestovanskyJuly 17, 2026
Green signs laws restricting AI
Regulations are coming to deepfakes and chatbots under new laws.
Michael BrestovanskyJuly 16, 2026
Hawaiʻi Act 11: Why the corporate campaign spending ban can’t fix our politics
Hawaiʻi’s new ban on corporate election money assumes the voters are ready to govern themselves. ASD opinion columnist Sterling Higa on why self-government can’t be legislated.
Sterling HigaJuly 15, 2026
Hamada: Airport carjacker skating on kidnapping charge
Lawrence and Rose Ching are stunned that the man who carjacked them at Honolulu International Airport — driving off with their teen daughter in the back seat — isn't getting charged with kidnapping. ASD opinion columnist Rick Hamada agrees and takes a close look at the definition of the crime.
Rick HamadaJuly 15, 2026
Community Voices: Planting the seeds for progress
Two laws supported by Grassroot Institute of Hawai‘i have passed, allowing farmers to run home kitchen operations on their properties and build on-site housing for much-needed workers.
Keliʻi AkinaJuly 14, 2026