May 16, 2026 News Read > Hawaii Free Press

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Saturday, May 16, 2026

May 16, 2026 News Read
By Andrew Walden @ 7:00 AM :: 112 Views

Hawaii Ranks 44th for Financial Transparency

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Maui fire survivors to see settlement money, but ‘not better off,’ economist says

MN: … Wildfire survivors in Maui County can expect to receive settlement money for the first time this year. However, economists say the payments won’t make most families whole, especially as higher electricity bills and gas prices intensify pressure on households still rebuilding their lives.

That assessment stems from a finding in today’s University of Hawaiʻi Economic Research Organization’s second-quarter forecast, which projects that Maui County residents will see an income spike tied to wildfire settlement payments.

The $4 billion global settlement for the Maui wildfires was finalized in April, after the Hawaiʻi Supreme Court blocked further insurer intervention with a ruling in February. UHERO projects that the first payments reaching Maui households will push the county’s real personal income up roughly 5.4% in 2026 — by far the largest gain of any county and one of the strongest single-year income jumps in recent state history.

UHERO estimates approximately $550 million in cash reaching households in 2026, with payments continuing through 2029 for a cumulative $2.8 billion — figures the organization calculated after accounting for roughly $1 billion in attorneys’ fees and approximately $200 million in insurance liens. In the model, the payouts raise total transfer income on Maui by more than a quarter of the 2025 level.

During a press briefing Thursday morning, UHERO Executive Director Carl Bonham cautioned against seeing the payouts as a windfall for fire survivors.

“They’re better off than if they didn’t get the settlement, but they’re not better off than before the wildfire — for sure,” he said. “The payouts are covering losses that already occurred, and they’re not covering all of those losses, especially as we deal with rising costs.”

Co-author Steven Bond-Smith added that the settlement money is essentially replacement income. “It’s really a bump in replacing the costs of the wildfire to those assets,” he said. “It’s not income per se, like regular income.”

read … Maui fire survivors to see settlement money, but ‘not better off,’ economist says : Maui Now

$100M per Year Gravy Train Ending: Solar Industry Threatens Lawsuit

SA: … The Hawaii Solar Energy Association called for the Legislature to reconvene on an emergency basis after lawmakers passed a bill industry officials say would retroactively impact 2026 solar tax breaks.

Senate Bill 3125 limits and phases out state income tax credits for consumers and businesses installing rooftop solar systems — a bill the association adamantly opposed.

The bill sets income limits of $175,000 for individual filers and $350,000 for joint filers to receive renewable energy technology tax credits, which would retroactively apply to this tax year. The bill also sets a $40 million cap on total tax credits given out by the state, though that won’t go into effect until 2027.

By 2031, according to SB 3125, the state would no longer reimburse consumers for installing renewable energy technology….

The renewable energy tax credits, which can be up to $5,000 per residential rooftop system, cost the state about $100 million annually in recent years, though the elimination of a 30% federal tax credit at the end of last year has reduced business this year by about 30%, according to the Hawaii Solar Energy Association….

The trade group believes the Legislature should call a special session to adopt language that would protect projects already built or contracted this year. The group also said it is evaluating all available options, “including legal avenues,” to address the issue….

read … Solar industry asks lawmakers to reconsider rooftop tax credits | Honolulu Star-Advertiser

SB3025: State to buy out Deadbeat Medical Bills

HNN: … A survey by the University of Hawaii and the state Office of Wellness and Resilience found $91 million is owed. The survey found 19% of families owe more than $500, and that many delay seeking care due to the cost….

They may soon get relief if the governor signs Senate Bill 3025 into law….

The bill would provide $500,000 to the national nonprofit Undue Medical Debt, which works with donors and government agencies to buy medical debt held by creditors or collection agencies.

Lee said medical debt can be bought “for pennies on the dollar,” allowing a smaller amount of funding to erase a larger total….

To qualify, an individual must either earn at or below 400% of the federal poverty level — a limit of about $140,000 for a Hawaii family — or have medical debt that exceeds 5% of their income….

read … Plan to erase $91M in medical debt for Hawaii families heads to governor | Hawaii News Now

Prosecutors: HPD Justified In Suicide By Cop Shooting

CB: … Two Honolulu police officers who shot and killed a man in a mental health crisis in 2025 will not face charges, Honolulu Prosecuting Attorney Steve Alm announced on Friday.

Sonny Siofele, 50, was armed and suicidal when he confronted police and was shot outside The Queen’s Medical Center that Oct. 2.

In the months before his death, Siofele, who also went by Perry Pauli, was receiving court-ordered mental health and substance abuse treatment. He was on federal post-conviction supervised release after serving an 11-year sentence for a federal drug conviction, according to prosecutors.

Just before the shooting, Siofele’s federal probation officer was trying to bring him into the hospital because he had told her his mind was “fucking with him,” he had been using drugs and alcohol and he was suicidal. When officers arrived on the scene and approached, Siofele put his hands in his front pocket and “settled into what appeared to be a shooting stance,” Alm said, before pulling out a gun and pointing it at the officers….

read … Prosecutors: HPD Justified In Suicide By Cop Shooting - Honolulu Civil Beat

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