It’s reassuring that the Legislature found money in the budget to put $300 million aside for the state’s emergency “rainy day” fund, and to make a $135 million appropriation for the state employees’ retirement fund. Read more
It’s been a quiet period for the historically high-energy debate over the future of Mauna Kea, especially the long-delayed bid to build the Thirty Meter Telescope (TMT) at the summit. Read more
Last week’s arguments before the U.S. Supreme Court about a homelessness dispute in Grants Pass, Ore., underscored the difficult policy issues nationwide of balancing the rights of the homeless and the need of municipalities to manage the problems. Read more
There’s a 617-home gap between the ask from Hawaii Gov. Josh Green and the commitment made so far by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) for assistance with Maui fire disaster relief, and no guarantee that it can be bridged. Read more
Less than a year ago, the City Council acted — or rather failed to act — to allow an outrageous 64% salary increase for itself, in a self-serving act that shocked the public. Read more
Geanna Bradley. Ariel Sellers, also known as Isabella Kalua. The names of these lost children, and so many others over the years, conjure feelings of sadness, righteous indignation and anger over the failings of the network put in place to protect them. Read more
It truly is shameful: The state Board of Land and Natural Resources (BLNR) has been judged to have “acted in bad faith” in alleging that stream protections for East Maui caused a shortage of water needed to fight the devastating Lahaina fire of Aug. 8. Read more
Of course, Gov. Josh Green should sign into law the latest raft of bills that are being described as “good government” legislation. Read more
For some in Hawaii, the legalization of recreational marijuana is viewed as an inevitability. Read more
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A report making a meticulous dissection of the timeline for the Lahaina fire disaster of Aug. 8 has been released by Hawaii’s attorney general, documenting the events of that tragic day and night. Read more
The idea behind Senate Bill 2922, to create a “securitization” process for public utilities to recover costs related to enacting wildfire plans and protections, is as emotionally fraught as it is procedurally complex. Read more
A bill to empower counties to regulate short-term rentals (STRs) as their home-island residents see fit, and to eliminate outdated state law that blocks such county efforts, is now close to the legislative finish line, having been assigned Senate and House committee conferees. Read more
Hawaii seems to have hit a low point for what traditionally it’s given high marks: aloha. Read more
Drought conditions are again impacting Hawaii, with less-than-normal rainfall affecting parts of every island in the state. Read more
The danger of water contamination with perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances — called PFAS for short and “forever chemicals” informally, because of their persistence in the environment — has been well known for years nationally. Read more
It’s a process that will take years, involving an intricate interplay of federal, state and county officials, threaded through with the ideas of residents who are reimagining what returning home to Lahaina could be like. Read more
A Honolulu City Council bill to establish a preference for Oahu residents among those who apply for city-supported housing is in play, awaiting a rescheduled second reading. Read more
House Bill 2328, introduced by state House Speaker Scott Saiki and championed by former Gov. Neil Abercrombie, contains elements of an ingenious idea — to purchase and “adapt” deteriorating properties on the borderline between Chinatown and Downtown, developing affordable housing. Read more
Oahu is embraced by 227 miles of coastline, studded with hundreds of famous surf breaks, swim spots and sightseeing destinations frequented by locals and tourists. Read more
Technology, one hopes, is now coming to the rescue of the city Department of Planning and Permitting, but it cannot succeed without the human component — one that’s trained up to the task. Read more
The state has chosen two finalists for its long-term, public-private partnership to build, operate and maintain the New Aloha Stadium Entertainment District (NASED). Read more
