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Government & Politics

From the First Congressional District to the House and the Senate to the lieutenant governor's race, many of the most pivotal elections of this year will be decided within Democratic Party’s primaries. 

We’re a heavily Democratic state. I know that. You know that. We know that.

I’ve often wondered how that came to be the case. To answer that question, my default setting is history. History gets you answers if you know where to look. It’s not for nostalgia’s sake alone that history is useful. More often than not, history reveals the true location of present-day problems. 

In a local history class, you’ll be taught (maybe) that there was a Democratic ‘Revolution’ in November 1954. It was like the local version of the Republican Revolution of 1994. Rural Democrats organized by the ILWU from across the Neighbor Islands combined with urbanite Democrats in Honolulu to successfully seize control of both houses of the Territorial Legislature. 

The Democrats established a beachhead in the Legislature, one that they steadily reinforced until they effectively consolidated control over all branches of state government in the ’60s. Such consolidated power is where we are likely to remain in 2026.

So 1954 is the beginning of that history, but what made the Democratic Party so appealing in 1954?

To answer that question, I started to search for a document that’s not easily findable online. In fact, finding the document required me to scan newspaper archives in the hopes of finding a stray copy printed in an edition. 

Even seasoned politicos have never read the document. However, I’d argue it remains one of the most political documents in the last century of Hawai‘i’s history.

It’s a statement that rationalizes the Democratic Party of Hawai‘i’s right to power and their vision for the future, at least in 1954. The future, in 1954, was full of so much promise. There was so much to build in Hawai‘i. 

It is the 1954 Platform of the Democratic Party of Hawai‘i. I found a copy, which I’ve transcribed and left 

It’s a bombastic document that hails the Democratic Party as “the greatest political party in the world today.” I don’t know if I’d agree with such a statement, or whether even Democrats would agree with such a statement today. 

Beyond that one bombastic statement, however, I was surprised by the document’s tone. It is not about a person’s rights alone, but what a person is expected to be able to do with the rights they attain. People should be able to get an education, work a decent job, have a home, and start a business. In 1954, the Democratic Party wanted to make it easier for residents to do those things. The Democratic Party wanted to build a Hawai‘i where people would be able to live the lives they deserved to live. 

The platform of 1954 makes commitments on statehood, taxation, small business and home ownership, land ownership and economic development, education, labor, home rule, the rights and obligations of individuals, and health and welfare. Some of the commitments feel especially relevant to a young person concerned with the viability of Hawai‘i as a place with a future.

Many sections feel foreign, if only because their ideas seem to run contrary to the general state of affairs in our time. On small business and home ownership, for instance, it pledges to “provide financial assistance from the Territory to encourage” small business, independent, farming, ranching and home construction. It also pledges to “repeal existing laws which discriminate against” small-scale enterprises. 

Government needed to let small business boom. People deserved to be able to build homes. Fallow agricultural land needed to be brought into production by local people.

It’s a document built on a person’s access to opportunity – and their ability to build out a better place. Such sentiments are not partisan, and perhaps that’s where the Democratic Party Platform of 1954 is not a very partisan document.

1954 remains important, if not for any particularly romantic reason. The 1954 Democratic Party Platform is therefore refreshing because it is not a romantic document. It is idealistic, but as a political proclamation, it is also measured. 

You may not be a Democrat. However, any resident of Hawai‘i is the figurative (and even literal, for a few) descendant of the Hawai‘i imagined in the words of the 1954 Democratic Party Platform. Our politics, culture, economics, and society is framed by a party which came to power in 1954 on the principles of that platform.

The 1954 Platform is concise. Perhaps it also remains a vision for Hawai‘i’s future. The current 

 of the Democratic Party of Hawai‘i, in contrast, is nearly three times as long as the 1954 platform. 

The 1954 Platform was a sober and responsible document. Hawai‘i would benefit from such sober and responsible concision in 2026. 

Spark Matsunaga Patsy Mink Lyndon B Johnson John Burns Daniel Inouye 1966 A1901 36 A

<title>What Hawai‘i’s 1954 Democratic Party platform says about today</title>

Hawai‘i has been a virtual one-party state since statehood, but how did that happen? ASD political historian Perry Arrasmith explores how, with a look at the local Democratic Party's 1954 platform and a comparison with the party's current priorities.

What Hawai‘i’s 1954 Democratic Party platform says about today

Square Mike Brestovansky Headshot RGZ3736 Large

Michael Brestovansky

Hawai‘i will prohibit the sale of “99.9%” of all e-cigarette products in the state starting next year, per Gov. Josh Green, who signed a pair of bills into law Tuesday.

 establish heavy regulations, or outright prohibitions, on the sale of electronic smoking devices in the state, with Green promising Tuesday that more regulations will continue in the years to come.

 of the measures emphasized the negative health impacts to keiki caused by vaping.

“Vaping is bad, period,” Green said. “It leads to young people getting addicted to nicotine and it affects their physiology and development. And they get hooked on cigarettes later.”

SB 2175 will prohibit the sale or distribution of any disposable e-cigarette devices beginning Jan. 1, 2027. Any violation of the law will incur a $100 fine per day per product.

While Green discussed SB 2175 Tuesday largely from a health perspective, he added that disposable vapes have increasingly been identified as an environmental problem: not only are they common litter, but the lithium batteries within them can cause fires or release toxic metals into the environment.

HB 1573 is more extensive, requiring that the only e-cigarette and vape liquid products allowed to be sold in Hawai‘i be approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Rep. Scot Matayoshi, a co-introducer of the bill, said Tuesday that limits the number of products to only 45, most of which do not have the sweet flavorings that have made vapes attractive to young people.

However, Matayoshi acknowledged that the most recent vape products approved by the FDA include two fruit-flavored vape pods. Nonetheless, he said the vast majority of fruit- or candy-flavored vape products are not FDA-approved and will be much harder and more expensive for children to access.

In any case, Green said “market forces alone” will likely strongly discourage manufacturers from attempting to gain a foothold in Hawai‘i.

“It’s very difficult for anyone to be in the industry in a market where, let’s be honest, we don’t want them here in Hawai‘i,” Green said.

As written, HB 1573 requires that, beginning Oct. 1, all vape manufacturers attempting to distribute products in the state must submit proof of their compliance with state and federal laws, proof of an FDA marketing granted order and a $1,000 payment for each product line certified with the state.

Then, beginning Jan. 1, 2027, the state Department of the Attorney General, will publish an updated directory of all brand names, products and manufacturers certified in the state. Attempting to sell any product not included on that list will incur a $500 fine for each individual product for sale for a first violation, and increasing incrementally up to $2,000 per product for a fourth violation.

Should the manufacturer itself be found to be offering non-approved products for sale in the state, the manufacturer could be fined up to $10,000 for each product, and could be found guilty of a misdemeanor.

Kalaheo High School student Maya Butts said vaping continues to plague Hawai‘i schools, saying that her school’s bathrooms no longer feel like functioning restrooms, but instead are just “places to vape.”

“I’ve watched my smart, athletic friends completely lose their motivation,” Butts said. “They got hooked on these devices that taste like candy, move on to other substances, then lose their spark altogether.”

Although vapes and e-cigarettes have been used to help wean tobacco smokers off of normal cigarettes, Green said he is skeptical that such a use case outweighs their harm.

“The biggest problem has been getting an entire generation … innumerable middle schoolers and high schoolers hooked,” Green said. “Society has found ways to quit traditional cigarettes through medical means, through behavioral techniques; we should lean on those.”

Lola Irvin, administrator of the state Department of Health’s Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion Division, said adults who have concurrently used traditional cigarettes and e-cigarettes are less likely to successfully quit smoking, while young people who begin using e-cigarettes are more likely to transition to smoking traditional cigarettes.

Furthermore, Irvin said that e-cigarette use has been linked to increased risk of lung and oral cancers, and concluded “it is not a safe product to use for quitting.”

GreenVape

<title>'99.9%' of vapes to be banned under new laws</title>

A pair of new laws Gov. Josh Green signed Tuesday will strongly curtail what e-cigarette products are permitted to be sold in the state.

'99.9%' of vapes to be banned under new laws

Kam Napier Headshot

A. Kam Napier

Do lawmakers own computers? Do they ever go on the Internet and look things up? Things like, “The cost of owning and maintaining a convention center,” for example.

I ask because I’m looking at stories about the Hawai‘i legislature nickel-and-diming the Hawai‘i Convention Center's repair and modernization budget. The place suffered from chronic leaks pretty much since it was new in 1998. In January, the center closed to everything but local events for two years to finally fix the roof. As the costs for that project have grown to now $87 million, state lawmakers said no to funding an additional $55 million in related repairs and modernization.

As a result, the center is likely to reopen for business in 2028 and still leak. And this is really its first major renovation in 30 years.

, Jerry Gibson, president of the Hawai‘i Hotel Alliance, and Teri Orton, the Hawai‘i Convention Center general manager, have their say on the impacts of this legislative penny-pinching.

Its worth a read and it got me looking into what other cities spend on their convention centers.

Hawai‘i competes against the world for meetings and conventions, and what the competition is spending on their centers makes us look like we’re trying win an F1 race with a golf cart.

Take, for example, Orange County, Florida, centered on and around Orlando, with a population little bigger than Hawai‘i’s at 1.53 million.

 to expand the Orange County Convention Center, adding 1.15 million square feet of exhibit space. Our reps grumble and cancel $55 million, while one town in Florida says yes to spending half a 

Also in Florida, the Tampa Convention Center opened in 1990, just eight years before our convention center. Tampa itself has a population of 408,000 while the greater metropolitan area boasts 3.42 million, double Hawai‘i’s population. In 2023, the Tampa Convention Center 

 worth of work: new meeting rooms, upgraded ballrooms, upgraded restrooms and concession stands, improved lighting, painting and carpet throughout the facility and improvements to its riverside outdoor event space.

[{"type":"text","text":"How about California?"}]

Palm Springs is not big. Just 45,500 live in Palm Springs proper, while just over half a million live in in the larger Indio-Cathedral City-Palm Springs metropolitan area. Populationwise, it’s half of Hawai‘i. The region gets 14 million visitors a year, of whom 6.4 million stay overnight.

The Palm Springs Convention Center was built in 1984 and expanded just 20 years later in 2005. Today? It’s in the project approval phase of 

 to modernize the center between November 2026 and 2029.

“This $135 million project will ensure that the Convention Center continues to serve as the region’s premier gathering place for conferences, exhibitions, and community events,” say organizers at the project’s website.

Note the words “ensure” and “continues.” Palm Springs leaders aren’t sitting around wondering, “How come we have to keep paying for this thing?” They're saying, “of course we have to, or we’ll get left behind.”

Further north, we find San Francisco and its Moscone Center. That center had completed a capital improvement project 

 of $56 million (that’s $81 million in today’s dollars). The money was spent not only on the buildings but on a marketing campaign to enhance its reputation.

[{"type":"text","text":"Did San Francisco then say, “That’s it! We’re pau!”"}]

[{"type":"text","text":"No, and not just because they don’t say “pau” in San Francisco."}]

expanding and improving Moscone North and South.

“According to Tom David, executive vice president and chief sales officer for San Francisco Travel Association, the expansion was driven by the need to both keep and attract convention business,” wrote 

“The driving force from key convention groups was to modernize the building to keep it relevant,” David said.

[{"type":"text","text":"But that’s not all!"}]

“San Francisco has secured more than $40m in private-sector funding to revitalize its downtown core,” 

Conference & Meetings World last October.

“The initiative includes several measures to support business events. The city is redesigning its outdoor event permitting process. New entertainment zones will be created on Ellis Street, Maiden Lane, Jackson Square and Claude Lane. What’s more, the city reports that twenty new liquor licenses have been approved for the hospitality zone. This expands dining and nightlife options.”

That’s what San Francisco is doing for the neighborhood around its convention center. What are we doing?

Well, I’d just note that when you look out through the giant glass windows of the Hawai‘i Convention Center lobby, the most prominent nightlife option is … Club Rock-Za.

[{"type":"text","text":"A strip joint."}]

[{"type":"text","text":"What about the rest of world?"}]

Curious lawmakers might want to visit the home page of 

, the International Association of Convention Centres, which has 203 member convention centers members from 55 countries.

[{"type":"text","text":"As of May, it welcomed two new members."}]

 in Uganda, a $45-million public-private project that opened two years ago and is able to accommodate 19,000 attendees with “17 futuristic conference rooms.”

The other new member is the Sofia Event Center, in Bulgaria. Until 1989, Bulgaria was a member of the Soviet-led Warsaw pact, enemies on the opposite side of the Cold War from us. Now it has a convention center 

 where entire walls are floor-to-ceiling flat-screen TVs, like some kind of sci-fi holodeck.

[{"type":"text","text":"Can Hawai‘i compete … with recovering communists?"}]

[{"type":"text","text":"Not with this track record. "}]

Lawmakers grumbling about the escalating costs of fixing the convention center in 2026 should look in a mirror. The center asked for $64 million for all this work 

, and all it got from the Legislature was a measly $15 million. Of course, the project costs more now. The water leaks, and inflation, have had four more years to do their damage.

By all means, lawmakers, expect the center to spend the money wisely. But you have to realize, this is a state facility competing in a global market. What the convention center is, and what it could be — that’s on you, not on Orton or Gibson. Our competitors are making investments of 

while you won’t spend a tenth that to keep the place from leaking when it rains.

If comedian Sebastian Maniscalco hasn’t trademarked the punchline by now, I have to ask, “Aren’t you embarrassed?”

A. Kam Napier is editor in chief of Aloha State Daily. His opinions in Pipikaula Corner are his own and not reflective of the ASD team.

I Stock Hawaii Convention Center

<title>Pipikaula Corner: State blowing it on convention center</title>

Hawai‘i lawmakers seem to think they own the only convention center on Earth, because their approach to investing in the Hawai‘i Convention Center ignores any sense of the marketplace. Towns the size of Hawaii‘i, in terms of population and visitor counts, are investing hundreds of millions in their facilities just to keep up with what the convention market wants, while we cheap out on the cost of fixing leaks.

Pipikaula Corner: State blowing it on convention center

Stephanie Salmons Headshot

Stephanie Salmons

For some Hawai‘i residents, the storm system that moved through the Islands 

 brought not only heavy rains and high winds, but property damage, too.

"While it is still very early, insurers are beginning to receive claims across several lines of insurance, particularly homeowners and auto," the state Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs Insurance Division told Aloha State Daily in an email Tuesday.

The Insurance Division regulates the state's insurance industry. As the regulator, the division says it doesn't receive claims directly but is in communication with insurers and monitoring the situation closely.

"Early indications suggest damage ranging from flooding and water intrusion to wind-related impacts such as roof and property damage," the division noted. "We expect claim filings to increase as more residents assess damage and contact their insurers."

In an announcement over the weekend, DCCA told residents to "protect their property and file insurance claims as quickly and smoothly as possible."

The Insurance Division says the most important thing for policy holders is to c

ontact their insurance company or agent as soon as possible to begin the claims process "and to document all damage thoroughly."

"This includes taking photos or videos before making temporary repairs, keeping receipts and maintaining clear records of communications with their insurer," the division says. "If consumers encounter issues or have questions, they can contact the Insurance Division as we are here to help ensure claims are handled fairly and in accordance with the law."

Need some guidance? You can check out the division's 

instructional video on how to file an insurance claim

Among other tips noted in the March 14 announcement, the Insurance Division says that residents should review their insurance policies each year.

One of the most important steps homeowners, renters and condominium unit owners can take is to review their insurance policies to understand what is covered and what is not," the announcement states. "Residents should also keep copies of their property, flood and auto insurance policies in a waterproof container, or stored securely in the cloud so they can be easily accessed if a claim must be filed."

Additionally, the announcement notes, most standard homeowners, condominium unit-owners and renters insurance policies don't cover flood damage. Flood insurance is available separately through the 

The Insurance Division told ASD that flood insurance is generally not required for all homeowners, but is typically required by lenders for properties located within designated high-risk flood zones.

"However, flooding can occur outside of these areas, which is why we strongly encourage all homeowners and renters to consider flood coverage," the division says.

"In a typical home setting, a standard flood insurance policy generally helps cover physical damage caused by rising water, such as damage to the structure of the home (including foundation, walls, electrical and plumbing systems) and certain essential contents like appliances and personal belongings," the division continued. "However, coverage is subject to policy limits and exclusions such as items like landscaping, temporary housing costs, and some high-value personal property may be limited or not covered."

Meanwhile, the division says that for those who have flood damage but don't carry flood insurance, standard homeowners policies generally don't cover flood-related losses.

"In those situations, individuals may look to federal disaster assistance programs, if a disaster declaration is made, or explore any available local relief resources."

More information on flood insurance is available at 

Find more resources to help you better understand your insurance coverage online, including 

Looking for more tips, disaster recovery resources or assistance with insurance-related concerns? You can reach the state Insurance Division at 1-844-808-DCCA (3222) or visit 

Storm

<title>Residents urged to file insurance claims following severe storm</title>

Read ahead to find more information and resources about filing claims after last week's Kona Low storm system brought heavy rains, high winds and property damage to the Islands.

Residents urged to file insurance claims following severe storm

Christinapic2

Raised on Oʻahu, Christina O’Connor graduated from the University of Oregon and returned home to start her career in journalism. Over the last 15 years, she has covered a range of beats as a reporter — including community news, entertainment, tech and restaurants — and her work has appeared in various Hawai‘i newspapers and magazines. She can be reached at 

<title>Christina O'Connor</title>

Christina O'Connor

Crime & Courts

Charli Scott was a Maui woman who was murdered in 2014 at age 27 when she was five months pregnant. In the 12 years since her daughter’s death, Kimberlyn Scott has dedicated herself to helping families of missing persons.

Kimberlyn Scott 16x9 Large

Her daughter was murdered in 2014 — now she’s dedicated to helping other victims

For 16 years, the murder of Amber Jackson on Kauaʻi has gone unsolved, but in December 2025, the Kaua‘i Police Department issued an arrest warrant for Gregory Glaser, wanted for second degree murder in connection with the case. ASD crime writer Christina O'Connor spoke with Amber Jackson's family and friends to learn about Jackson's life and their tireless pursuit of justice for her.

Christina O'Connor

Latest from Christina O'Connor

Her daughter was murdered in 2014 — now she’s dedicated to helping other victims

Family, friends continue to seek justice for Amber Jackson 16 years after Kaua‘i murder

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