Speed-limit enforcement bills face rough routes
Proposed legislation this year to ticket speeders on Hawaii highways using fixed cameras has been redirected and still faces a possible roadblock ahead. Read more
Andrew Gomes
Andrew Gomes is a business reporter at the Honolulu Star-Advertiser. Gomes is a longtime Hawaii journalist who for most of his career has concentrated on business subjects with a particular focus on real estate and land-use topics that include housing, development and agriculture.
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He is a fourth-generation kamaaina born on Oahu who earned a journalism degree from the University of Hawaii. Gomes has been a reporter for local newspapers since the mid-1990s. He regularly enjoys surfing, bodysurfing and skateboarding.
Latest Stories by Andrew Gomes
With cloudy state finances, Hawaii’s ‘rainy day’ fund held for future rainy day
The ongoing scramble for emergency wildfire recovery funding at the Legislature doesn’t appear dire enough to tap what is commonly known as Hawaii’s “rainy day fund” or EBRF. Read more
State House OKs $1B in Maui wildfire expenses
The Hawaii House of Representatives on Wednesday unanimously passed its draft of an updated state budget crafted to cover immense Maui wildfire recovery costs while maintaining fundamental services and important projects. Read more
Revenue forecast provides no relief for Hawaii lawmakers
A difficult task for Hawaii’s Legislature to pass an updated state budget by May was made no easier Monday, as a state general fund revenue forecast was essentially unchanged. Read more
Human Services Department leader to change
The director of the state Department of Human Services plans to resign, and is slated to be replaced by a former state lawmaker. Read more
Oahu housing market ‘warming up’ per industry report
Sales and prices of previously owned homes on Oahu rose for a second consecutive month in February, after roughly two years of weakness in at least one major element of the market. Read more
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Green quantifies emergency funding request related to Maui fire disaster
Gov. Josh Green has let the state Legislature know how big an emergency funding appropriation he believes is needed to pay Maui wildfire recovery costs through June 30. Read more
State House tees up bill to kill Aloha Stadium redevelopment
A repeatedly stymied state plan to redevelop Aloha Stadium is once again in danger of upheaval. Read more
Prefab buildings in Lahaina to house wildfire survivors
A state social services agency is working to produce what could be the first temporary housing community developed for Maui fire survivors, a 450-unit project where initial occupancy is expected in a few months. Read more
Hawaiian Electric adjusts customer energy programs
A recent ruling by the state Public Utilities Commission has led Hawaiian Electric to modify and push back the start of new rooftop solar and energy storage programs to April 1. Read more
Lahaina rebuilding board bill gains speed amid heavy public opposition
A proposal to create an elected community board to govern the rebuilding of Lahaina advanced Friday at the Legislature amid heavy public opposition and a little support. Read more
Grip on Hawaii wildfire recovery costs still elusive
State finances are bleeding heavily from Maui wildfire recovery expenses, but there is still no firm idea on how bad the hemorrhage will be through June 30 or how to compensate for it. Read more
Final site chosen for Maui wildfire ash, debris
Lahaina wildfire ash and debris will be headed to Kahului for final disposal. Read more
Agency disputes affordable housing loss projection
A risk assessment of potential Hawaii affordable- housing losses presented Tuesday at the Legislature is overblown, according to a state agency that helps finance such housing. Read more
Almost 12,000 affordable homes in Hawaii could be lost over next 20 years, study says
Hawaii is at risk of losing nearly 12,000 affordable homes over the next two decades, according to a study commissioned by a nonprofit promoting action to prevent such loss. Read more
State contribution to wildfire victim fund is questioned
A plan announced by Gov. Josh Green for the state, Maui County and several private entities to pay compensation for Maui wildfire deaths and serious injuries is facing blowback at the Legislature. Read more
State considers nearly $1 billion in wildfire recovery costs
A daunting yet still-blurry picture of how much the state might have to pay for Maui wildfire recovery expenses in the near term emerged Tuesday at the state Legislature. Read more
Costs of Maui fire recovery running higher for state than expected
Near-term state costs for Maui wildfire response and recovery work are exceeding recent expectations and have led to an emergency funding request at the Legislature. Read more
New promises on horizon for future Hawaiian homestead leases
The state Department of Hawaiian Home Lands is returning, in a big way, to a practice of issuing unconventional land leases to beneficiaries on its homestead waitlist. Read more
Proposal advances for special board control in rebuilding Lahaina
A bill to create an elected community board backed by a state agency to help rebuild Lahaina after the town was leveled by wildfire advanced Thursday at the state Legislature. Read more
Contention billows from Lahaina rebuilding board bill
Enthusiasm and concern clashed Wednesday at the Legislature over a proposal to establish an elected community board under a state agency to govern Lahaina’s rebuilding from fiery ruins. Read more
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