Climate activists v. the U.S. energy industry: Cases to watch in 2026

Hawaii Cruise Ship Tax Survives, but Its Voyage Will Be Stormy

B: … Hawaii urged the suit to be dismissed due to the Tax Injunction Act, which prevents federal courts from entertaining suits against state taxes if a “plain, speedy, and efficient remedy may be had in the courts of such State.” Plaintiffs countered that the Hawaii court process to resolve tax appeals is neither speedy nor efficient, citing the Hawaii prohibition against declaratory judgments in tax matters.

But the US District Court for the District of Hawaii acknowledged a US Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit case finding that the Hawaii court system provided an adequate remedy. The district court accordingly dismissed the Cruise Lines International Association’s challenge to the tax.

The challenges from the local business plaintiffs fared no better, as the court concluded that although their harms weren’t speculative, the legal rights they asserted were really those of the cruise lines—so their claims had to rise or fall with the cruise lines’ claims. However, the federal government’s complaint dodged this grenade because the government isn’t a taxpayer and thus couldn’t avail itself of the state remedies….

Hawaii declared that it was “very pleased” with the court’s order allowing the tax to take effect on Jan. 1 as planned. But what is the state so happy about? Uncle Sam’s challenge to the tax hasn’t gone away, and the government may well pursue a permanent injunction.

Also, both the cruise lines and the government filed notices of appeal from the denials of preliminary injunction (and moved for an injunction pending appeal, which the court denied the same day). There are still court remedies available to the private plaintiffs or individual cruise line operators once the tax takes effect….

The case is Cruise Lines International Association Inc. v. Suganuma, D. Haw., 1:25-cv-00367, opinion 12/23/25….

read … Hawaii Cruise Ship Tax Survives, but Its Voyage Will Be Stormy

"Aloha Spirit" or the Second Amendment? Hawaii's Fantasy Hits the Supreme Court on January 20th

AL: … The state of Hawaii has finally filed its Respondent’s Brief in Wolford v. Lopez, which is scheduled for oral arguments before the Supreme Court on January 20, 2026.

At issue is Hawaii’s broad expansion of “sensitive places” to all private property, making it a de facto gun-free zone. The Hawaii law (and the state’s brief) does not differentiate between private property open to the public (stores, restaurants, etc.) and private homes. This means anyone carrying a firearm must first obtain the permission of the property owner or the owner’s representative before they can enter the premises.

Hawaii was one of the states that exploited what it considered to be loopholes in the Supreme Court’s ruling in New York State Rifle and Pistol Association v. Bruen.* Indeed, the state’s brief asserts Hawaii was doing the public a service by saving them the trouble of saying “no.”

The 44-page brief contends Hawaii’s law is consistent with the Second Amendment — if you look at it the right way or have a very unusual definition of “shall not be infringed.” …

This is going to be one of the most critical outcomes of Wolford. Bruen set a standard; Rahimi blurred it: Can the Supreme Court set a benchmark that will be a bit more difficult for anti-gun politicians and judges to pervert? …

As is SOP in these cases, the attorneys invoke Hawaiian culture, saying polls show most Hawaiians oppose public carry. This is consistent with the “Aloha Spirit” theme used by the Hawaii Supreme Court’s 2024 ruling in Wilson v. Hawaii.

In a flight of judicial fantasy worthy of Samuel Taylor Coleridge at his opium-addled best, Hawaii’s top court said the state’s constitution did not include an individual right to keep and bear arms and so Hawaii didn’t have to recognize the right in the federal constitution. …

read … "Aloha Spirit" or the Second Amendment? Hawaii's Fantasy Hits the Supreme Court in January

Skip Dillingham: Regents Approve rail station over HCC Campus

SA: … the board voted unanimously to approve the requested authorization for UH to enter into the First Amendment to the MOUA with the city and HART “for the construction and operation” of the rail project “on portions of university property.”

After the meeting, Young told the Star-Advertiser that the city, HART and UH have “identified the general footprint for the station and associated infrastructure within areas of the HCC campus where the project would be located.”

“The utilities and related infrastructure would generally be located along the Dillingham Boulevard frontage of the HCC campus,” he said.

Asked whether the city or HART will compensate UH for use of that property, Young said the agreements “do not include monetary compensation for use of the property.”….

read … Planned rail projects at HCC under negotiations | Honolulu Star-Advertiser

Keeping UH Competitive in the ‘NIL’ College Sports Landscape

CB: … My office is currently drafting an NIL framework aimed at striking a responsible balance — supporting competitiveness while protecting student-athletes and reflecting Hawaiʻi’s values as we head into the 2026 legislative session. Importantly, this would not mean that all 500-plus UH student-athletes receive NIL compensation; payments would be limited and tied to outside revenue generation….

read … Keeping UH Competitive In A Changing College Sports Landscape - Honolulu Civil Beat

Miske co-defendants appeal long sentences

ILind: … Two of Mike Miske’s co-defendants who received among the longest prison sentences have now appealed their extended terms to the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals in San Francisco. Both appeals had been delayed by the long government shutdown in October, and are only now proceeding.

Attorneys representing Norman Akau, sentenced to a 14-year term, and John Stancil, sentenced to the maximum 20 years for racketeering conspiracy, filed opening briefs last week. The filings spelling out what the attorneys say were reversible errors made during sentencing by Federal Judge Derrick Watson, who presided over the racketeering cases against Miske and his criminal associates.

Both appeals are seeking to vacate the original sentences on technical grounds, and are then asking for the cases to be assigned to a different district court judge for resentencing.

The government’s answering briefs in response to the appeals are due within 30-days.

A third co-defendant, Lance Bermudez, filed a notice of appeal of his 30-year sentence, the harshest of any of the Miske-associated defendants. However, his court-appointed attorney withdrew from the case after he refused to communicate with her….

read … Miske co-defendants appeal long sentences | i L i n d

Hawaiian Airlines Travelers Lose TSA PreCheck With No Options

BH: … On Friday, Hawaiian Airlines acknowledged on its website that it is “currently encountering an issue” where the TSA PreCheck indicator may not appear on boarding passes. The airline told travelers that if the indicator does not display, they will need to use the general security line. Hawaiian also said it is working with its vendor to resolve the issue….

read … Hawaiian Travelers Lose TSA PreCheck With No Options

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