Hawaii Senator Schatz Welches on Biden's Maduro Bounty

Gov. Green’s proposed budget calls for $1.8B election-year tax increase

Fixing Hawaiʻi’s Affordability Problem

PRP: Build Affordable Housing or See Hawaii Without Hawaiians

More Delays: Lawyer in Isabella Kalua’s abuse death case withdraws

SA: … Isaac Kalua, set to stand trial together with his wife in February for murder in the 2021 death of their 6-year-old adopted daughter, Isabella, born Ariel Sellers, is losing his lawyer, which will delay the Kaluas’ trial.

On Friday, Circuit Judge Paul Wong found good cause and granted Kalua’s court- appointed attorney, Donovan Odo, his motion for withdrawal of counsel and to appoint substitute counsel.

Odo said in his motion that he has accepted a position as an assistant federal public defender, and will be closing his private practice prior to Jan. 12….

The loss will delay the trial set for Feb. 2. A status conference is set for Jan. 23.

In June 2024, his wife, Lehua Kalua, complained about her original lawyer and asked the court to appoint a new one, which also slowed the progress of the case. Her new attorney asked the court for more time to review the case and filed in August 2024 a waiver for her right to a speedy trial….

Isabella Kalua was 6 years old in the summer of 2021. In September 2021, the Kaluas alleged she disappeared….

read … Lawyer in Isabella Kalua’s abuse death case withdraws | Honolulu Star-Advertiser

Hawaii's tip credit causes concern for restaurant industry

PBN: … Under certain conditions, employers may pay tipped employees below the applicable minimum wage by using what’s referred to as a tip credit. While the minimum wage rose by $2, the maximum tip credit remains at $1.25. This means that tipped employees must be paid a $14.75 minimum wage in addition to whatever they make in tips that hour, while the non-tipped employees are paid $16 an hour.

The tip credit most directly applies to restaurant servers, who often make three times the minimum wage with tips and, in some cases, can earn upwards of $100,000 as career servers at high-end restaurants, according to multiple Hawaii Restaurant Association members….

read … Hawaii's tip credit causes concern for restaurant industry - Pacific Business News

Obamacare cost increase

KITV: … According to the Kaiser Family Foundation, ACA marketplace premiums are expected to rise an average of 26% nationwide in 2026.

Scott Saiki, Hawai’i State Insurance Commissioner, said, “Last year, there were about 40,000 people in Hawaiʻi who were uninsured, based on the data we could obtain.”…

Now, about 25,000 Hawaiʻi residents who rely on the ACA are facing new uncertainty after enhanced premium tax credits expired at the end of the year….

For those still looking for coverage, the ACA Marketplace open enrollment for 2026 runs through Jan. 15, with coverage beginning Feb. 1….

read … Health care cost increase | News | kitv.com

Hawaiʻi lawmakers propose climate brainwashing program in public schools

HPR: … House Bill 99 was first introduced last year by a cohort of state representatives who believe "that climate change education is necessary to ensure that the next generation are climate leaders," according to language in the bill….

Colorado's program serves as the model for the measure proposed by state lawmakers….

House Bill 99 failed to get momentum last legislative session but was carried over into 2026.

read … Hawaiʻi lawmakers propose climate literacy program in public schools | Hawai'i Public Radio

$9M Unspent: Hawaii SNAP recipients left confused after emergency food funds expire

KITV: … “Unfortunately, because it was an emergency food assistance program, we did have to have a cut off date. We made every attempt and effort to notify recipients that the emergency food assistance program funding would be returned if it wasn’t used on December 31,” said Joseph Campos, deputy director of DHS.

Some recipients say the confusion centers on how the money was spent. A DHS notice in November stated that state emergency funds would be used first. Language on the DHS website now says that once federal SNAP funds were released, federal benefits were prioritized, meaning remaining state funds were reclaimed at year’s end. Some recipients said they were never directly notified of that change.

“I was notified through Facebook, not through DHS themselves. I didn’t get anything in the mail or anything official,” said Heather Bedley, a SNAP recipient. "I checked my EBT balance and it was completely at zero. Obviously, that stressed me out." …

According to DHS, the Dec. 31 deadline was tied to the 2025 calendar year and the emergency nature of the program. Federal SNAP benefits were not affected and will be deposited on their normal schedule, Jan. 3 or Jan. 5, depending on last name.

DHS said nearly 80% of the emergency food funds were used, about $32 million out of $41 million, helping households during the uncertainty. Approximately 185,000 people statewide receive SNAP benefits….

read … Hawaii SNAP recipients left confused after emergency food funds expire | News | kitv.com

‘Plugin House’ $23,000 for Hawaii?

HNN: … A modular home project in Waianae could provide an affordable housing solution for Hawaii families struggling with high costs.

The Plugin House is one of several modular homes being installed at a homeless village, but Honolulu City Council member Andria Tupola hopes these will be more widely used across the island.

“Say you already had a piece of land. Say you didn’t have a mortgage on it. Say your family gave it to you could put something like this down for $23,000. That’s actually how much these cost,” Tupola said….

HNN: Priced Out of Paradise: Surge in homes for Native Hawaiians helps families return

HNN: Priced Out of Paradise: Religious connections provide support network in Utah

read … Priced Out of Paradise: Finding an affordable housing option in Hawaii

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