On United Nations’ “Peace Day,” Hawaiʻi County Council committee calls for Gaza ceasefire
The county resolution, titled, “Demonstrating the Aloha Spirit and Fostering Peace, Diplomacy, and Unity within the County of Hawaiʻi, the State of Hawaiʻi, and Beyond,” coincides with the United Nations’ International Day for Disarmament and Non-Proliferation Awareness.
Vote By Mail pilot bill heads to final floor vote
The bill falls short of what advocates hoped for, but they're celebrating a step forward nonetheless and asking the governor to sign it.
Hawaiʻi becomes first state to invest in elder care infrastructure
The newly launched Kupuna Caregivers Program will help working caregivers pay for vital support services for their elderly charges.
Public briefing on rail funding set for August 14
Leaders in both the State House and Senate have reaffirmed their commitment to resolve the outstanding rail financing issues.
Special session will be called to fund Rail
No specific dates have been set for the special session and no rail funding mechanism has been agreed upon yet.
UH grad students rally in support of unionization
Currently, graduate students at UH are the only state-employed workers that are not permitted to unionize or collectively bargain with their employer.
Blue Planet: Utilities’ community solar proposal disappointing
The nonprofit says that the proposed program fails to live up to lawmakers’ vision for dramatically expanding access to clean energy in Hawaiʻi.
Ige plans to veto grad student unionization bill
HB553 would allow graduate assistants at UH to collectively bargain and form a labor union, but Governor Ige has informed the legislature of his intent to veto the bill.
Advocates present strategic plan for Hawaiian Homelands
The plan for how to use beneficiary lands is the first ever community-created one to be presented to lawmakers and the governor.
Hawaiʻi lawmakers seek exemption from Jones Act
Proponents of exempting Hawaiʻi from the domestic build requirement say it would create a larger market and foster greater competition in ocean shipping for the noncontiguous trades.
Rep. Ing introduces “Kollin Elderts” bill
The measure is a result of an incident in which U.S. State Department special agent Christopher Deedy fatally shot Kollin Elderts in Waikiki while intoxicated.
Bill proposes state-wide ban on tobacco in public parks
The ban would include electronic smoking devices and betel nut products as well.
Hawaiʻi legislature wants Taiwan in the TPP
As of yesterday, both houses of the state legislature have passed resolutions urging President Obama to support Taiwan's entry into the Trans-Pacific Partnership.
Invasive insects are devastating Hawaiʻi Island’s cottage agriculture industry—help is on the way
Two highly pervasive invasives are destroying iconic Big Island crops; the state legislature is working on bills that would fund new efforts to combat the pests.