February 7, 2026 News Read > Hawaii Free Press

Hawaii Daily News Read

Saturday, February 7, 2026

February 7, 2026 News Read
By Andrew Walden @ 10:01 AM :: 61 Views

Paid family leave program could drive up costs, harm employees

AG, House leader accused of talking of 'mystery lawmaker'

KHON: … “I think the cover-up is always worse than the actual conduct,” said Rep. Della Belatti, House Public Safety Chair. “I think we need to put this chapter behind us. Information needs to be disclosed in a manner so that the legislature can act under its own authority and as an independent branch of government.”

The bipartisan group wrote a letter to Gov. Josh Green this week, requesting him to order the Attorney General to provide a preliminary report to lawmakers on the investigation by April.

They say if that person is still in the building, they could be working on policies when they shouldn’t be, and because they were told House Speaker Nadine Nakamura alone would get updates on the investigation.

“If the Attorney General has any status updates, she should be disseminating that to the public and not to the House Speaker through back channels,” said Rep. Kanani Souza.

“The Attorney General, by her own rules and good governmental practice, is violating her own standards,” said Belatti….

read … AG, House leader accused of talking of 'mystery lawmaker'

Hawaii lawmakers question timeline for bribery investigation completion

HNN: … There is conflicting information being publicly released about the case’s completion.

Two representatives, Rep. Della Au Belatti and Rep. Kanani Souza, sent a letter to Gov. Josh Green asking him to clarify comments he made regarding the schedule when he appeared on Hawaii News Now’s Spotlight Now show in late January.

Green said he thought the case could realistically be completed by spring.

“I don’t see why — with the evidence that they’re getting from the federal government — they wouldn’t have a gigantic head start,” Green said. “I assume they’re going to have to do some interviews with anybody who is being accused of acting in a terrible way. But that interview or interviews should be quick.”

That would be during the legislative session and could be helpful for bills dealing with campaign finance reform.

However, the letter pointed out that Lopez does not appear to share the governor’s goal. The representatives wrote that the attorney general “has informed House Speaker (Nadine) Nakamura that she expects to have the investigation completed by August 2026,” long after the session is over.

PDF: Green Report BelattiSouza 26.02.02 LETTER

read … Hawaii lawmakers question timeline for bribery investigation completion

Why homebuyers in Kalaeloa want to pay more than required

HPR: … The Hawaiʻi Community Development Authority has a program that lets middle-income residents buy homes at below-market rates. It's called “reserved housing.” But some buyers are skipping that program — and paying more.

Gentry Homes set aside nearly a quarter of the 400 homes it's building in Kaʻulu as reserved housing. The project near the Kapolei Costco is the first major housing development in Kalaeloa.

The homes were priced below market rates as part of the reserved housing program. The state agency oversees development in Kakaʻako and in Kalaeloa, which is the former Barbers Point Naval Air Station.

But Gentry found that some buyers are choosing to pay more for the new homes. That's because the reserved housing program comes with certain restrictions; for example, a “regulated term” that says how long a buyer must live in the home before they can sell it….

read … Why homebuyers in Kalaeloa want to pay more than required | Hawai'i Public Radio

HB2451: Free public transit?

HPR: … Bus rides have been free on Hawaiʻi Island since 2022. Since then, ridership has more than doubled. Late last year, officials voted to extend the late pandemic era program that was set to expire.

On Oʻahu, many public transportation fares are set to increase starting in July, after the Honolulu City Council passed a proposal initiated by the city administration.

Back at the Legislature, HB 2451 still needs to pass in two other House committees to move forward ….

read … Free public transit? Committee debates how Hawaiʻi's finances would fare | Hawai'i Public Radio

Sen Rhoads Still Trying to ‘Abolish Corporate Personhood’ (sort of)

HPR: … Senate Judiciary Committee Chair Karl Rhoads said he wants to get corporate spending in elections under control. He’s introduced two bills that explore a new legal approach aimed at effectively barring corporations from donating to Hawaiʻi political campaigns at the local, state and federal levels.

If passed by Hawaiʻi lawmakers, the measure would make the state the first in the country to do so….

…what Rhoads’ (now deferred) bills (pretend to) aim to do. It goes to the section of Hawaiʻi law that grants corporations, nonprofits and other business entities the same powers as individuals – and redefines it.

(CLUE: This is all pretend. Nothing will reach the Gov’s desk. He is just pandering to the Dem base.)

In the provision that says the entities can make donations and payments, it adds a clause that says it does not grant the power to participate in elections….

SB2471: Text, Status

REALITY: Federal-Court-Ruling-Sen-Karl-Rhoads-participated-in-Honolulu-County-Council-Kickback-scheme

MORE REALITY: HCR29-Legislators-Vote-to-Abolish-ERS-End-Free-Speech-for-Star-Advertiser

read … Could Hawaiʻi pioneer this 'untested' approach to stop corporate campaign spending? | Hawai'i Public Radio

LEGISLATIVE AGENDA:

QUICK HITS: