Hawaii State Government

...the state’s $126 million hurricane relief fund has nearly run dry after the state Legislature snatched the funds to balance the budget in 2011....

...we have an opportunity to continue the course that we’ve charted. We can’t go back....

Applications should be postmarked no later than Friday, Aug. 29, 2014....

“In 2013, we posted an ending balance of $844 million. We have now posted a positive ending balance of $664.8 million for 2014...."

...Can anything be in worse condition than unfunded government pensions? Unfortunately, yes – and it’s called OPEB....

...50,000 new units needed to be built between 2012 and 2016 to meet demands....

...we identified significant public and private infrastructure projects that are “on the books” over the next 20 years....

Abercrombie called it “a year of progress.” Read through the new laws and decide for yourselves....

...the CLEAR facility is located at UH West Oahu, and that campus testifies that it is okay with scrapping the CLEAR fund....

...Jonathan Scheuer to the Land Use Commission, as well as Rona Fukumoto and Edwin Taira to the Board of Directors of the Hawaii Housing Finance and Development Corporation....

...Vernon Char, Ulalia Woodside and Christopher Yuen....

Abercrombie today announced the reappointment of David O’Neal as well as the appointment of Melinda Wood to the State Ethics Commission....

...the administration “performing a $4 billion magic trick”....

...After reviewing 245 measures passed by the 2014 Hawaii State Legislature, Abercrombie today notified legislators of his decision to veto seven bills and to allow six bills to become law without his signature....

individuals looking to serve the public should apply for state board or commission openings that will occur as Senate Bill 2682 takes effect on July 8....

Hawaii seems compelled to pay someone — rather handsomely — to offer such ubiquitous and common-sense advice....

In another first, Gov. Neil Abercrombie today at Hilo Yacht Club enacted measures....

Abercrombie today signed House Bill 2590 (Act 166), a measure that will allow voter registration at absentee polling places beginning in 2016 and late voter registration, including on Election Day, beginning in 2018....

...This is just an example of the "same old, same old," where the Governor and his appointees get to wield power with a distinct lack of public scrutiny....

...he must either veto or sign by July 8, 2014, or allow them to become law without his signature....

“It took 4 years to add 2 lanes to the old 4-lane Kalanianaole Highway while at the same time paving 6 lanes...."

Gov. Neil Abercrombie today signed....

HTDC still relying on carbon paper and typewriters to draft communications with the state, which she says causes more work in the end for her staff....

Both are interim appointments subject to state Senate approval....

On June 13, 2014, the HAWSCT accepted cert in Oahu Publications, Inc., dba The Honolulu Advertiser v. Neil Abercrombie....

Gov. Neil Abercrombie today announced the appointment of George Okuda to the state House of Representatives seat for District 48....

Since Abercrombie’s tenure as governor, hundreds of millions of dollars that should have been used to repair deteriorating highways and bridges have set untapped....

...Abercrombie today announced the release of more than $46 million for various capital improvement projects....

Senator Slom addresses issues facing Hawaii and our State government....

...something remarkable happened in the last days of our legislative session....

Of the 54 bills harmful to business that were introduced this session that we tracked, 23 bills were stopped....

...Sen. Malama Solomon’s office has turned in the most for allowance reimbursements at more than $21,000....

Vaughn G. Sherwood sentenced to 57 months for stealing $200,000 in government benefits....

...the name of Okimoto's interim replacement, Ford Fuchigami, pops up on page 14 of the sex-harassment lawsuit ....

The Hawaii State Senate today adjourned the 2014 session passing more than 240 bills....

...Measures relate to state budget, minimum wage, TAT, Health Connector, seniors, invasive species, mandatory kindergarten, police misconduct, abuse of minors....

The budget, which provides $6.189 billion in general funds and $12.147 billion in all means of financing, was characterized by House Finance Chair Sylvia Luke as measured and prudent....

VIDEO: House Republicans speak out on Hawaii State Budget during final debate today....

...Design funds for plans to modernize the case management system for the Social Services Division. The current system is approximately 25-years-old....

...bills up for final reading in the Senate and House on Tuesday, April 29....

A quick glance at the table below, and you see how powerful the money committees are....

"It would be an opportunity for us to within the existing resources acquire the easement." --Ige

...the lack of meaningful competition between political parties can be stifling to new ideas, regardless of the underlying ideology....

...Abercrombie today announced the release of more than $335 million for various capital improvement projects....

Representative Aaron Ling Johanson, Minority leader and Representative Beth Fukumoto Chang, Minority Floor Leader address the House of Representatives Budget at Mid-session in 2014.

HB1866 HD2 SD2 is one of a number of bills that originated in the House, was amended by the Senate, and now goes to the Governor for his review....