February 14, 2026 News Read > Hawaii Free Press

Hawaii Daily News Read

Saturday, February 14, 2026

February 14, 2026 News Read
By Andrew Walden @ 12:46 PM :: 109 Views

Election 2026: 126 Candidates Pull Papers to Run

HD28: Holt Quits House to Take DLNR Job

VIDEO: Big Island State of the County Address

New Federal Lawsuit Challenges Hawaiʻi County Firearm Permit Delays

$35K Bribery: Luke Still planning Run for Re-election, obviously needs more pressure--Hawaii attorney general says subpoenas issued

SA: … The Hawaii Department of the Attorney General has issued “multiple subpoenas and completed several interviews” as part of its ongoing public corruption investigation, which arose from the federal bribery case that sent two former state lawmakers to prison…

The Honolulu Star-Advertiser asked Luke if she received one of the subpoenas issued by the attorney general. Luke did not immediately reply.

Lopez said a team of two deputy attorney generals, two investigators and two analysts are working “day and night” on the criminal investigation. She said she has not received any political pressure to complete the probe before the Aug. 8 primary elections.

“If a crime has been committed, I will prosecute it to the fullest extent of the law,” said Lopez….

(CLUE: Statute of Limitations.)

Luke said Monday she intends to run for re-election this year and is conducting an internal review of her campaign spending records….

(TRANSLATION: Since Luke doesn’t get the message, pressure is being ratcheted up. She has to go away quietly to avoid another massive round of federal corruption cases.)

CN: Lopez identified supervising deputy David Van Acker as the lead prosecutor, supported by a team of two deputy attorneys general, two investigators and two analysts.

CB: Hawaiʻi AG Not Giving Up $35K Paper Bag Case - Honolulu Civil Beat

KITV: Hawaii Attorney General defends bribery investigation of unknown lawmaker | News | kitv.com

read … Hawaii attorney general says subpoenas issued in criminal public corruption case | Honolulu Star-Advertiser

Who got money from Solidum?

SA: … Lt. Gov. Sylvia Luke refuses to say whether she has been subpoenaed or interviewed by state law enforcement …

… Cullen sat down with investigators from the state Attorney General’s office on Thursday, according to his attorney, Birney B. Bervar. Cullen was not subpoenaed and volunteered for the interview with state law enforcement, his attorney told the Star-Advertiser. Bervar declined comment on what was discussed….

U.S. Sen. Brian Schatz received $5,900 in contributions from Solidum….

U.S. Sen. Mazie Hirono received $2,500 from Solidum ….

Neither Schatz nor Hirono have been questioned by state or federal investigators as part of the ongoing corruption cases.

U.S. Rep. Jill Tokuda was not approached by investigators either. Tokuda’s colleague in the House, Rep. Ed Case, did not reply to a Star-Advertiser request for comment.

Green has not been questioned by state or federal law enforcement or the Campaign Spending Commission.

Senate President Ronald D. Kouchi told the Star-Advertiser in a statement that none of the current Democratic majority members have been questioned by state or federal investigators.

Senate Minority Leader Brenton Awa also told the newspaper that no member of his caucus has spoken to state or federal law enforcement.

State Sen. Karl Rhoads said he received $250 on Oct. 25, 2016, from Solidum and $100 from Gary Kurokawa, former Mayor Kirk Caldwell’s chief of staff who worked with Solidum on the COVID-19 testing contracts at the city….

State Sen. Stanley Chang said his campaign is in the process of donating the $1,500 of his Solidum’s contributions to the commission….

State Rep. Lisa Kitagawa said she received a $500 donation from Solidum in 2018 and will be giving the donation to the Campaign Spending Commission….

LINK: Solidum State Campaign Contributions Spreadsheet

read … Hawaii attorney general moves forward with corruption probe | Honolulu Star-Advertiser

SB3000: Oil industry slams Hawaii effort to hold it liable for insurance hikes

EE: … an effort in Hawaii that would create a new legal pathway to hold major fossil fuel companies liable for climate change.

The Hawaii Legislature is considering whether to authorize the state attorney general to sue fossil fuel companies for their alleged role in causing property insurance rates to rise in the state.

Hawaii could become the first state to seek damages from the industry for fossil fuel emissions by arguing they contributed to climate change that intensified natural disasters and caused property insurance rates to increase. California and New York legislatures are weighing similar measures.

The American Petroleum Institute in an email called the legislation in the three states the result of a “coordinated campaign” to penalize the industry.

The states’ goal: squeezing the oil majors for money that can be used to offset policyholder insurance costs….

SB3000: Text, Status

read … POLITICO Pro | Article | Oil industry slams Hawaii effort to hold it liable for insurance hikes

Hawaii eyes tax on REIT dividends (again)

PBN: … After over a decade of attempts to increase taxes on REITs, a bill in the Hawaii Legislature is reviving those efforts once again….

read … Hawaii eyes tax on REIT dividends to close budget gap - Pacific Business News

Hawaii Legislators ‘Affordable’ Housing Plan? Increase Taxes on Housing

PBN: … The proposed conveyance tax changes would direct tens of millions of dollars annually to affordable housing programs, though real estate groups argue these initiatives should be funded through the state's regular budget process instead.

read … Hawaii conveyance tax bill targets $2M+ properties - Pacific Business News

Hawaii House Panel Advances Digital Advertising Tax

L360: … Hawaii would impose its corporate income tax rate on the revenue that social media platforms generate from digital advertising under a bill passed by a House committee. ...

read … Hawaii House Panel Advances Digital Advertising Tax

Hawaii Panel Advances Tax On Sport Betting Licenses

L360: … Hawaii would impose its general excise tax on sports betting operator's licenses under a bill passed by a state House of Representatives committee…

read … Hawaii Panel Advances Tax On Sport Betting Licenses

Hawaiʻi County: Former department director beats rap

BIN: … The County of Hawai‘i and Douglass Adams, former Director of the Department of Research and Development, were vindicated of all allegations in a lawsuit regarding the county’s hiring processes following a multi-day jury trial in the Third Circuit Court….

The lawsuit, filed in 2023, centered on allegations of discrimination during the recruitment for a Film Commissioner position. The plaintiff, identified as David Freedman in court documents, asserted several claims, including….

Employment discrimination in hiring based on age, sex (male), and sexual orientation under HRS § 378-2(a)(1)….

HNN: Jury rules in favor of Hawaii County in hiring discrimination suit

HTH: County, former department head exonerated in trial - Hawaii Tribune-Herald

read … Hawaiʻi County, former department director fully exonerated in jury trial : Big Island Now

State Board of Education adopts new policy on student cellphone use; implementation begins next school year

HTH: … — Elementary school: Cellphone use is prohibited during school hours.

— Middle and intermediate school: Cellphone use is prohibited during school hours.

— High school: Cellphone use is prohibited during instructional time. Schools may exercise discretion regarding use outside of instructional time, including before and after school, and during designated breaks, recess, lunch and free periods.

The DOE will now develop implementation guidelines to take effect beginning with the 2026–27 school year.

At today’s board meeting, testifiers, including high school students, expressed support for limiting device use during instructional time….

read … State Board of Education adopts new policy on student cellphone use; implementation begins next school year - Hawaii Tribune-Herald

LEGISLATIVE AGENDA:

QUICK HITS: