Prince Kuhio's Fight to Americanize Hawaii
Maui judge rules Haleakala trail must be open to public access
The new live action Snow White movie should have been even MORE WOKE
Hawaii Post-COVID economic growth 2nd Worst in USA
SA: … certain facets contributing to broad economic output have yet to completely rebound, including visitor arrivals and the size of Hawaii’s labor force.
Meanwhile, some financial strings tied to pandemic years are still playing out, including state and city spending of federal aid, hazard pay for many public workers, and an effort by the restaurant industry to obtain a general excise tax exemption for federal coronavirus relief grants.
Other continuing effects from the pandemic a half-decade later include dramatically fewer visitors from Japan, and lifestyle changes such as more prevalent self-service ordering in restaurants, virtual meetings and people working from home.
One thing that didn’t really change was the structure or diversity of Hawaii’s economy despite renewed focus on a long-held goal to reduce the state’s dependence on tourism by significantly growing other industries such as technology, agriculture and aquaculture.
Carl Bonham, director of the University of Hawaii Economic Research Organization, said the local economy today is no more resilient than before the pandemic, and likely would feel more pain from any downturn in the U.S. economy given that Hawaii’s share of visitor spending from mainland tourists increased to 77% from 66% in 2019.
“We’ve got even more of our eggs in one basket,” he said….
Hawaii’s largely tourism-based economy on average has taken six years to recover from recessions before the pandemic, according to Tian, who said the amount of economic growth over the past five years has been pretty anemic compared with other states.
The U.S. economy as of September was 12.6% bigger than it was in 2019, according to the most recent available data cited by Tian. Growth for Hawaii’s economy during the same period, he said, was 1.5%, or second lowest among states. Only North Dakota was worse at 0.6%.
Hawaii’s weak growth is mainly due to impacts from the August 2023 Maui wildfire disaster, which Tian said inhibited what otherwise would have been a better rebound for tourism after setbacks from the pandemic.
“The wildfire is a major drag,” he said….
read … Hawaii’s economic growth has been stunted since recovering from pandemic
HB1369: Hawaii tax credits scrutinized by state lawmakers
SA: … Perhaps the most heavily contested piece of tax credit legislation this year has been House Bill 1369, introduced by Rep. Kyle Yamashita, chair of the House Finance Committee, in an effort to explore eliminating or phasing out many existing tax credits, deductions and exemptions.
HB 1369 aims to simplify the state tax system and enhance revenue sustainability by getting rid of close to 20 tax breaks.
Many companies and organizations oppose the bill, which received 351 pages of written testimony for a Feb. 24 hearing. The committee then advanced the measure to the 51-member House of Representatives, where a vote four days later was 40-7 to send the bill to the Senate for consideration.
Among things slated for elimination under the original version of the bill were credits for renewable energy technologies, including rooftop solar systems, and film productions.
The bill also proposed to repeal state general excise tax exemptions for industries and operations including petroleum refiners, independent sugar cane producers, business conducted in an enterprise zone and aircraft maintenance.
Yamashita (D, Pukalani-Makawao-Ulupalakua) said at the outset of the hearing that his aim is to look at the list of tax benefits, most of which were identified by the state auditor for possible repeal, and determine whether they are achieving their intended purposes. Yamashita said he added the film and renewable energy tax credit programs — the two biggest tax credits promoting economic activity — on top of the auditor’s list for review….
HB1369: Text, Credit
read … Hawaii tax credits scrutinized by state lawmakers
Poor timing for a state official raise
SA: … State officials are in for a healthy raise over the next six years after a state Commission on Salaries’ recommendation to boost pay for legislators, judges and department executives unanimously passed on March 13. These salary boosts arrive against a backdrop of economic strife for the people of Hawaii, punctuated by high grocery and gas prices, rising homelessness and unattainable housing costs. With pocketbook issues weighing heavy on many, and federal-level upheaval destabilizing state programs, now is no time to adjust salaries higher. State legislators must do the right thing and decline the hefty raises….
read … Editorial: Poor timing for a state official raise | Honolulu Star-Advertiser
Hawaiʻi vaccination rates fall short for herd immunity to measles
KN: … With the state’s measles vaccination rate at 90%, according to the Hawaiʻi Department of Health, it falls short of the 95% needed for herd immunity, raising concerns about the vulnerability of children and immunocompromised people if—or when—an outbreak makes its way to the islands.
Intensive care physician Dr. Philip Verhoef, who is also an associate clinical professor at the John A. Burns School of Medicine at the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa, recently discussed the ongoing measles outbreak and the critical role of vaccinations in protecting public health.
In an interview with a local news outlet, Verhoef expressed deep concern for the low measles immunization rate, especially on neighbor islands….
According to Verhoef, the measles virus can remain in a room for up to two hours after an infected person leaves, making it even easier to contract without direct contact.
“Measles is incredibly contagious—if 10 unimmunized people are exposed, nine will likely develop the disease,” Verhoef said. “Measles starts with high fever, cough, runny nose, and red and watery eyes, followed by a rash at the hairline on day 14. It can lead to complications like pneumonia, brain swelling, and increased infection risk.” …
The measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine is highly effective—93% effective with one dose and 97% with two. However, to limit the spread of measles, about 95% of the population needs to be immunized, Verhoef said.
“The vaccine is very safe. A mild fever is a common side effect, but this is simply the immune system reacting to the vaccine,” Verhoef said. “The risks of the vaccine are far outweighed by the benefits of preventing a potentially deadly disease.”…
read … Hawaiʻi vaccination rates fall short for herd immunity to measles
Honolulu Lawyer In Illicit Marshallese Adoptions Barred From Practicing
CB: … A Honolulu attorney who was part of a black market pipeline offering babies from the Marshall Islands for adoption has been barred from practicing law.
The Hawaiʻi Supreme Court put Laurie Loomis on inactive status last month “due to incapacity.”
Loomis had been facing discipline up to disbarment for allegedly violating 20 professional conduct standards. But that case is now on hold indefinitely because of Loomis’ disability, which was not specified in the ruling….
read … Honolulu Lawyer In Illicit Marshallese Adoptions Barred From Practicing
Committee and DOE might loosen student news publication rules
SA: … Student journalists like Joseph Mai would face fewer hurdles while publishing their work under two House resolutions that remain alive in the state Legislature.
The House Education Committee passed HR 105 and House Concurrent Resolution 109 on Thursday.
Neither carries the weight of law, but HR 105 was written to eliminate the implied requirement that student publications across Hawaii, including newspapers and yearbooks, must get parental consent before publishing stories and photos of classmates….
read … Committee and DOE might loosen student news publication rules | Honolulu Star-Advertiser
Homeless Boss Musical Chairs
CB: … Roy Miyahira and Jun Yang have just stepped almost simultaneously into a pivotal moment in the landscape of homelessness in Hawaiʻi. Each is the third person to hold their position in as many years. …
read … New City And State Homeless Directors Face Monumental Task
It’s Your Money: Youth Facility Can Spend Up To $80,000 On Fast Food
CB: … The Hawaiʻi Youth Correctional Facility in Olomana has again received approval to spend up to $80,000 this year on meals from Zippy’s, L&L Hawaiian Barbecue and Times and Foodland grocery stores because it doesn’t have enough cooks in its kitchen.
The 30-bed facility got the greenlight to buy emergency meals in January. This is the third year in a row that the state has turned to fast food to supply those meals for staff and minors detained in the facility….
read … It’s Your Money: Youth Facility Can Spend Up To $80,000 On Fast Food
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