Even More TANF Hoarding
Housing event showed value of collaboration
Harnessing AI for Government Transparency
SD19 Dems Send Three Names to Governor
Stadium Project: Half-Truths and Unsigned Contracts
CB: … Hawaiʻi’s state government is on the verge of its largest public works project ever, the new Aloha Stadium and its surrounding mixed-use area.
The stadium is only part of this multi-billion-dollar project. Appallingly, however, the public knows little about it….
According to the NASED Project Summary (2025), revenue from the mixed-use development will subsidize the construction, operation and maintenance of the stadium.
There have been news reports that contracts have been signed. But these contracts are incomplete. As of Oct. 11, the only contracts that have been signed are the Stadium Development and Operation Agreement and the Initial Ground Lease, which allow the dismantling of the old stadium to begin. The master development agreement and infrastructure agreement, which affect the entire project, have not been signed….
At every turn, the public has encountered omissions and half-truths, which only deepen distrust. What little information emerges raises more questions than answers. The Stadium Authority and AHDP have signed contracts to replace the existing stadium, but not for the remaining 73 acres of the 98-acre site.
Although NASED has been touted as an economic boon, critics warn it could be a giveaway of public resources. Prime state land may be leased to the developer at a fraction of its value, while the state bears much of the financial burden. Taxpayers are left wondering if public resources are being used for the common good or to subsidize private profits.
In a democracy, the public should not have to piece together fragments of information about how their land and tax dollars are being spent. The Legislature must act now and demand a public hearing to force the Stadium Authority to explain its decisions, clarify the finances and reveal the full scope of the project.
NASED is not just another state project. It is the largest public works initiative that state government has ever undertaken, and it will reshape Oʻahu’s urban core for generations….
read … Public Needs To Know More About State's Massive Stadium Project - Honolulu Civil Beat
Hawaii tax director accused of creating ‘hostile’ work environment
SA: … “I wouldn’t be surprised if I was retaliated against,” said Arashiro, the human resources specialist. “If he retaliates, it’s going to look even worse, given everything that’s happened already.”…
Oct 3, 2025: Not Anonymous: Employees Demand ‘Investigation’ of DoTax Director Suganuma
Oct 12, 2025: DoTax Employees Rebelling Against the Culture of Silence
read … Hawaii tax director accused of creating ‘hostile’ work environment | Honolulu Star-Advertiser
Killing Telescope: ‘Successful strategy that could be replicated’
SA: … Political activism of the broader community continues to fuel engagement. And for opponents of the Thirty Meter Telescope on Mauna Kea, the large-scale and energetic protests proved effective. The telescope project was canceled — revealing a powerful clout and successful strategy that could be replicated….
BEST COMMENT: “It's tragic that these people destroyed the Thirty Meter Telescope.
It is unconscionable that our Star-Advertiser believes this is acceptable to those of us who actually live here. It's not. Telling these people that their actions and "strategy could be replicated" to do more harm to our state is an offensive insult to all of us who want a better Hawaii. We will never forgive them for the harm they have done to the future of our children who will be forced to work and live elsewhere.” …
read … Editorial: Economic power, sovereignty align for Hawaiians | Honolulu Star-Advertiser
PGA golf tournament’s cancellation drying up Maui nonprofit funding
SA: … Jerry Gibson, president of the Hawaii Hotel Alliance, called the back-to-back Sentry Golf Tournament and Oahu’s Sony Open “no better marketing we have when it’s cold in Buffalo, N.Y. They’re watching it on TV and they want to jump on a plane and experience what they’ve seen. They show beautiful scenery and Hawaii at its finest. It’s a huge miss for us.” …
(CLUE: Telescope policy replicated in golf.)
read … PGA golf tournament’s cancellation drying up Maui nonprofit funding | Honolulu Star-Advertiser
Hawaii climate policy costing Oahu ratepayers at least $1 billion per decade
SA: … Is a policy against clean- burning and less-expensive natural gas (shipped to Hawaii as liquefied natural gas) morally the right thing to do? That policy is costing Oahu ratepayers at least $1 billion per decade. Hawaiian Electric’s current preferred plan for 100% renewable on Oahu calls for utility solar farms, which will likely require some 13,000 acres of land — land badly needed for housing. The plan also calls for 21% of Oahu’s power coming from unsightly floating windmills. Are these morally the right things to foist on our beleaguered residents?....
PN: Teens who Sued Hawai’i Demand Electric Planes by 2045 | Planetizen News
read … Column: Be practical about Hawaii climate policy | Honolulu Star-Advertiser
Geothermal: Hawaii’s most overlooked opportunity
SA: … Perhaps the most overlooked opportunity lies beneath our feet. Hawaii’s volcanic geology offers tremendous geothermal potential, capable of producing round-the-clock renewable power on a small land footprint. Yet exploration has been minimal because we lack basic mapping and data. The University of Hawaii has made a start, but funding has been sparse. With targeted investment in exploration and streamlined permitting, geothermal could provide the stable “firm” power that complements wind and solar, ensuring grid reliability….
read … Column: Laser focus on Hawaii energy security | Honolulu Star-Advertiser
Hawaii is the Most Expensive State to Drive an EV in (And It's Not Even Close)
SG: … one state in particular is outlandishly expensive when it comes to charging.
That state is Hawaii. Electricity here isn't just slightly more expensive than in other states, it's in a league of its own. Data collected by the U.S. Energy Information Administration in March 2025 shows electricity costing 41.11 cents per kilowatt-hour (kWh) in Hawaii, in comparison to a national average of 17.11. Interestingly, though, while the national average has increased by 2.58% since March 2024, the price in Hawaii dropped by a significant 9.15%. In March 2024, Hawaiians were paying 45.25 cents per kWh. By comparison, the next most expensive state — Connecticut — was paying 'just' 29.12 cents per kWh hour in 2024, and 32.55 in 2025….
The Federal Highway Administration reports that Hawaiians drive an average of 10,980 miles per year, so we'll use this for our annual estimate, which works out to roughly 30 miles per day. Next, we'll pick a car — the 2025 Tesla Model 3. This sports a 79.7 kWh battery capacity in Long Range RWD trim, and a range of 363 miles. So, using that logic, just over 30 charges will be required throughout the year, on the basis that you get 363 miles of range each time, whereas in the real world, you will likely top up the range each evening. With a battery capacity of 79.7 kWh and energy costs of 41.11 cents per kWh, that gives us a total cost per full charge of $32.76. Over 30 charges throughout the year, that's an annual charging cost of $982.80.
For 10,980 miles, there or thereabout, that's still cheaper than what you'd likely be paying for gas, even when behind the wheel of something decidedly eco-friendly. The Bureau of Transportation Statistics tells us that, as of May 2025, the average price of gas was $3.15 per gallon. For this estimate, we'll use the 2025 Toyota RAV4, which returns 30 MPG combined. Punch those figures into a calculator, and over the same 10,980 miles, we get a total cost of $1,152.90 — or $170.10 more than the Hawaiian Tesla estimate….
SG: The Surprising Costs Of Maintaining An Electric Vehicle
read … THIS IS THE MOST EXPENSIVE STATE TO DRIVE AN EV IN (AND IT'S NOT EVEN CLOSE)
Last Chance to Propose Honolulu Charter Amendments
CB: … The 2025-2026 Honolulu Charter Commission is well along into a two-year process that will likely result in more than a dozen questions for voters on the Nov. 3, 2026, ballot.
The commission has been hosting a series of public discussions this month all over Oʻahu to get people engaged in proposing changes to the Honolulu Charter. The roadshow ends with an island-wide video forum on Wednesday from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Details here, where you can also check out proposals that are already being submitted. Deadline is Nov. 7 for people to get their ideas in….
read … Honolulu Needs Your Help. So Quit Whining And Start Writing - Honolulu Civil Beat
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