Hawaii State Government

... the House Advisory Committee on Rules met in secret and made decisions ....

"The department is not required to ensure the accuracy of the information in the reports"

... downstream effects for nonprofits and the 'social safety net' ....

... seagliders are being investigated as a possible mode of interisland transportation ....

... Silvert names the key players, exposes what really happened during “recess,” and explains why this is more than one bad apple ....

...This approach has been adopted in Hawaii....

...increasing income taxes on higher earners could drive away “business owners, entrepreneurs, doctors, people that we really need in our state.”....

...Hawaii’s program is set to launch this year....

... Green now has until July 11 to determine whether he will sign ....

... no mention of Ryan Yamane .... 

...Truth in Accounting’s Financial Transparency Score 2026 evaluates how effectively each state government discloses its true financial condition through audited financial reports....

... outlining the Green administration’s long-term strategy to tackle significant issues facing the state ....

... establishing some of the nation’s first consumer protections and transparency requirements for conversational artificial intelligence services, particularly for minors and individuals seeking mental health or crisis support ....

... the bill is not for the faint of heart .... 

... The 2026 Hawai‘i Legislature is in its final days ....

The bill will now be up for final reading in both chambers before heading to the Governor's desk for his signature.

... SB3125:  “Conference committee meeting scheduled for 04-28-26 2:45PM; Conference Room 309.” ....

" ...effective immediately, following Lieutenant Governor Sylvia Luke’s decision to take a leave of absence.... "

...If Sylvia Luke took $10K, the $35K bribe recipient is still out there, unidentified....

“...I intend to continue doing the job I was elected to do...."

... DHS has received federal approval for a temporary waiver allowing Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) households to purchase hot foods using their benefits at authorized retailers statewide, from April 17 through May 16, 2026 ....

... tax hikes starting at $175K annual income ....

... taxpayers seem to be the only ones expected to make a sacrifice ....

“(T)here is no question that the legislature was ‘prompted to make a change' by the Hawaii Attorney General’s endorsement of HB2075 of 2022 ….” 

... The state doesn’t have a budget crisis. It has a spending crisis ....

... the declaration would unlock critical federal support from the Federal Emergency Management Agency ....

“FEMA remains fully prepared to provide support as needed.  While the shutdown impacts some routine operations, immediate response needs are not affected.”

... and 2nd-highest taxes per capita ....

...BIPC is awarding its Lava Tube dishonor to “Legislator X,” the elected official caught on tape accepting a paper bag containing $35,000....

... Any bill that hasn’t crossed over is dead for this session ....

... 2023: Same Commission on Water Resource Management denied firefighting water for Lahaina .... 

... going through the budget with a fine-toothed comb is long overdue, and it would likely net more than enough savings to preserve our tax cuts ....

... state and county testimonies submitted by the Grassroot Institute of Hawaii in the first half of March 2026 ....

... We reviewed 76 House and Senate bills introduced during the 2026 legislative session, proposing 52 special and revolving funds. None of the proposed funds satisfied the criteria set forth in Section 23-11, HRS, for special and revolving funds ....

... What will likely follow will be a bit of negotiating, most of which will occur behind closed doors ....

... four bills remain alive and have successfully cleared their committee hearings. These measures are now pending third reading ....

"...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 ....

"... 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 ....