Audit: Poor Design of Honolulu Rail System Contributes to Low Ridership
UHERO: Federal job cuts raise risk of Hawaii downturn
Hawaiʻi Cost Of Living Is Creating A Mental Health Crisis For Workers
Hawaii AG wants pharmacy benefit manager lawsuit in state courts
Safety cameras to begin sending warnings for speed March 1
Shelter for Mentally Ill Homeless at Center of Iwilei TOD Plan
State housing program expanded to support more City Employees
Hawaii Gun Ban Bills Advance Out of Senate Committee
Trump Cuts Stop US-Funded Transsexual Activism in Pacific, Asia
R: … work furthering LGBTQ+ rights and preventing HIV in the Pacific Islands has been disrupted by U.S. President Donald Trump's freeze of foreign aid and may not recover, advocates in the region have said.
Despite being the world's most aid-dependent region, the Asia-Pacific received just 5% of global LGBTQ+ funding between 2021 and 2022, while being home to 55% of the world's population, according to the latest Global Resources Report.
Funds from the U.S. Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor (DRL) and the Agency for International Development (USAID) support law reform, community spaces, data collection, and improving access to healthcare.
Trump's January decision to freeze most U.S. foreign aid until April 20 could significantly stunt rights progress in the region, which is socially conservative and predominantly Christian, advocates said.
"Our states (have) perpetual ancient perspectives because of culture and church," said Ratu Eroni Ledua Dina, who founded the Trans Affirmative Action Guild (TAAG)….
(Chinese Wisdom: ‘The rise of eunuchs marks the end of dynasties.’)
Europe: GCHQ dumps Stonewall as Trump takes control of ‘deep state’
read … US aid-freeze-derails LGBTQ-rights-work-in Pacific Islands
Rate Hike Coming: PUC Will Open a Consolidated HECO-MECO-HELCO Rate Case
IM: … The Commission issued an Order on February 27, 2025, that focused on the mechanism to move from the first five-year control period to the second five-year control period.
The Commission found that Hawaiian Electric’s Target Revenues should be re-based ahead of the second five-year control period and that a general rate case-type proceeding is the most efficient means for achieving this under these circumstances.
(TRANSLATION: Electric rates will be increased dramatically to pay for the Lahaina Settlement.)
The term "re-basing" refers to changing the basis and/or amount of Target Revenues that will initially take effect for the second five-year control period in addition or exception to the specific provisions of existing tariffs….
Re-basing also offers opportunities to: (1) re-assess prior rate case results based on global settlements that assumed a three-year cycle; and (2) establish new results that contemplate extended five-year periods and potentially new methods for re-basing Target Revenues in future five-year cycles….
read … PUC Will Open a Consolidated HECO-MECO-HELCO Rate Case
Bill 63 Approved by City Council -- ADUs to bolster housing supply
KHON: … “Bill 63 expands the sewer waivers, permitting fee waivers, the grading and stockpile. My cousins live with my grandma, and this is really a chance for local families to be able to add on additional space for family members,” said City Councilmember Tyler Dos Santos-Tam.
The bill has garnered support from entities like the Grassroot Institute of Hawaii and the Building Industry Association of Hawaii. Last year, the state passed a bill that allows for at least two additional dwelling units per residential lot.
“So we’ve seen, several hundred ADUs, some possibly over a thousand, being built over the past few years,” Dos Santos-Tam said. “We hope that that pace increases. But, again, it’s gonna take an all of the above approach really to start making a dent.” …
Bill 63 has been transmitted to Mayor Rick Blangiardi, who has until March 13 to return it.
read … City Council looks at ADUs to bolster housing supply
State claims it will quickly rebuild affordable housing projects in Lahaina
MN: … The Kaiaulu O Kuuohi Affordable Housing project is scheduled to be completed by September, 2025, according to the state Hawaii Housing Finance and Development Corp.
The 89-unit Kaiaulu O Kuuohi project was constructed in 2022, but was destroyed in the wildfire.
Another project scheduled for completion is the Kaiaulu O Kukuia Permanent Affordable housing project.
The 200-unit permanent affordable rental housing project sustained minor damage.
About half of the units have been completed and began occupancy in December of 2024.
State housing officials said remaining units will be completed by March….
read … State rebuilds affordable housing projects in Lahaina
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