Hawaii State Government

"...And so the fair thing to do would be to have the attorney general expedite an investigation...."

...CLUE:  This is one of the 'justifications' for Green's $1.8B tax hike....

... Otaguro admits HDoT has not sought a legal opinion from the Attorney General’s office on whether Act 152 really requires the project ....  

... there are bills still alive this session that propose much-needed reforms .... 

... CLUE: Refusal to answer = ‘Yes’ ....

... Long-Range Land Transportation Plan -- Public Meetings Begin Tuesday March 10 ....

...If Sylvia Luke is telling the truth, it means the $35K bribe recipient is still out there, unidentified....

"... DOBOR simply does not know whether it recovered from vessel owners or their insurers the costs it expended ..."

... lawmakers debated bills surrounding sports betting, legal rights for coral reefs and feral chickens, but an ongoing bribery investigation cast a shadow over the capitol ....

... The Hawaii Democratic Party now has 30 days to give Gov. Josh Green a list of potential candidates to replace Holt in the House. Green will then have 60 days to select Holt’s replacement ....

...The 10-year contract totaling approximately $160 million will expand the current program from 17 sites to 187 dual-enforcement cameras across each of the state's major islands....

... Carpenters Union questioned donations Luke received from then-indicted Navatek head Milton Kao in connection with tax credits she supported in 2017 ....

...Grassroot’s priorities this session include defending the state’s income tax cuts passed in 2024, opposing all other tax hikes and fees, supporting occupational licensing reform and advocating housing policies that could boost homebuilding....

... When Gov Green leaves the state, Lt Gov Luke becomes acting Governor.  Maybe she might pardon herself ....

... Under Hawai‘i Revised Statutes § 28-8.5, Attorney General Ann Lopez has the discretion to appoint a special assistant ....

...All Senate and House committee hearings scheduled for February 9 will be postponed, and floor sessions in both chambers for Session Day #12 will not be convened....

... $30M here, $40M there ....

"She now has a helper who guides her around the Capitol and accompanies her to hearings"

... with unanimous support ....

"Around April 2019, Respondent acquired employment with AMR, while continuing to work in his state capacity at the EMS Branch"

... video and full text as prepared for delivery ....

... A mortality rate of 620 per thousand is something you might get with an atomic bomb ....

... it could be another year for big, positive changes ....

... The non-existent FAA mandate is HDoT’s rationale for a $22.26M contract to replace the brand new systems ....

... to include newly appointed Rep Hartsfield ....

... Keli'i Akina interviews Colin Moore ....

... CLUE: They already know who took the $35K.  Instead of just announcing the name, this is intended to keep it quiet at least until the session is over ....

... millions of dollars lying around ....

... rather than walk back the tax cuts, the Legislature could simply identify and reallocate about $350 million a year in current state funding ....

... opening floor sessions begin at 10am ....

... one big difference between House an Senate legislative priorities announced in advance of the Hawai’i State Legislature’s Opening Day on Wednesday, January 21, 2026 ....

... Itomura will succeed Leo Asuncion as chair and has resigned from the Campaign Spending Commission to comply with state law ....

... Normally Choy and Cullen wouldn't bribe a Republican because the Republican has only his own vote to sell.  It's not worth $35K.  But, in this case they were not operating 'normally.' ....

... Her previous roles include Child Protective Services investigator ....

... two clues ....

... 30 commentaries during 2025 that were first featured by local and national media ....

... Hawaiʻi SNAP now shares monthly referrals with WIC to help identify families who may qualify, but are not yet enrolled ....

... the public nature of the existence of this federal investigation is unique because of the disclosure of a previously sealed document ....

... the twenty-three currently serving House members who held office in 2022 publicly affirm that they are not the lawmaker referenced in the United States Attorney's pleading ....

... #1) Go on a diet ....

... The state budget department confirms that the increase would come from a ‘pause’ of the remaining historic 2024 income tax reductions ....

... while Chair Dawn Chang is out on medical leave. Effective immediately, Deputy Director Ryan Kanaka‘ole will serve as acting chair and director of DLNR ....

...The Safe Roads Challenge is a free gamified safe driving app available on iOS and Android that was created to reward users for driving responsibly....

... a list of laws taking effect on January 1, 2026 ....

... identify harmful old ideas that have done nothing to help and should be sent to the scrapyard ....

... keep pressure on state lawmakers to avoid increasing taxes ....

... Applications due by January 23, 2026 ....

... water resource management, ethics, agriculture and community development ....

... a proposed total general fund appropriation of $10.58 billion in general funds for FY27, an increase from $10.48 billion proposed for FY26 ....

...The Hawaiʻi Office of Consumer Protection was assisted in this action by L. Richard Fried, Jr. and Patrick McTernan of Cronin, Fried, Sekiya, Kekina & Fairbanks and Emmy Levens, Molly Bowen, and Diane Kee of Cohen Milstein Sellers & Toll PLLC....