February 23, 2026 News Read > Hawaii Free Press

Hawaii Daily News Read

Monday, February 23, 2026

February 23, 2026 News Read
By Andrew Walden @ 12:20 PM :: 223 Views

What if Sylvia Luke is Telling the Truth?

HMSA-HPH 'Merger': AI Robot to be ‘Single Source of Oppressive and Unconscionable Truth’

Plaintiffs Suing Kamehameha Schools Are Getting Death Threats – to make Case Go Away KSBE asks Court to Reveal their Identities

CB: … A white family suing Kamehameha Schools over its Native Hawaiian admissions policy wants to stay anonymous for the duration of the case over online death threats and fears that being named publicly could affect their careers.

The backlash to the lawsuit has been ferocious. The lead attorney in the case had his home address posted on social media and a package that appeared to contain feces mailed to his front door. Others have suggested that the founder of the nonprofit leading the lawsuit should be assassinated like Charlie Kirk, the right-wing political activist.

The mother and daughter in the suit, referred to only as B.P. and I.P., are asking the court to keep their identities hidden. The decision on anonymity will be an early hurdle for whether the case proceeds.

“The abuse stemming from this case to date is extreme even for seasoned civil-rights professionals who are used to backlash,” Jesse Franklin-Murdock, a lawyer for the plaintiffs, wrote in a court declaration. “For a young girl living in the community, it is intolerable.”

In recent court filings, Kamehameha ~~condemned~~ (smirked at) the violent rhetoric ~~but~~ (and therefore) says the family should reveal their identities if (so) they (won’t) want to proceed with the case.

“They have no right to be shielded from criticism for what they are doing,” KS (smirking) lawyers wrote in a court filing on Wednesday….

(The court will decide based entirely on whether it can get away with this.)

BACKGROUND: Kamehameha Admissions: Without Affirmative Action Defense, Who Needs Victimology?

read … The People Suing Kamehameha Schools Are Getting Death Threats - Honolulu Civil Beat

Teachers Stayed Home During COVID—now HSTA wants to tax rental cars to give them so-called Hazard Pay

SA: … The American Car Rental Association said the proposed higher tax, if enacted, would result in retail “triple taxation” of rental cars that are already subject to a surcharge of $7.50 a day plus GET on rental use, and GET when rental car companies sell vehicles typically after a year or two.

Avis Budget Group said in written testimony that such an additional tax will result in higher car rental costs for residents, local businesses and visitors.

Seward Akahi, general manager of Hertz in Hawaii, said in written testimony that the proposed change would violate Hawaii Tax Review Commission principals of equity since no similar change is proposed for lessors of construction equipment and agricultural machinery.

“We respectfully oppose this legislation and urge the Legislature to focus on pro-growth policies that support and enhance the state economy, rather than singling out one industry for a discriminatory tax,” Akahi said.

The nonprofit Tax Foundation of Hawaii also said the bill, if enacted, would create disparities in Hawaii’s general excise tax law, and could lead to litigation over the selective application of the provision that was created in 1971 on principal that the retail GET rate should apply to rental revenue but not also to the acquisition price of longlasting assets bought for the purposes of leasing….

read … New Hawaii rental car tax proposed | Honolulu Star-Advertiser

Gov. Green on state finances, investigation into alleged lawmaker payment

HPR: … On headlines about Lt. Gov. Sylvia Luke and the alleged 2022 lawmaker payment

GREEN: This is, of course, a, you know, deeply concerning situation. And you know, I will say this. Accountability is totally essential. No matter what. No one gets a free pass. I canceled my trip because I really felt that I needed to show the people of Hawaiʻi that we were going to have steady leadership during a time of concern or crisis. And I didn't want them to worry at all that there wouldn't be just kind of a regular cadence of government that was responsible. I would not ever suggest that I know the details of what's gone on. That's why this is a totally independent investigation by our attorney general. What I've wanted to convey is, when there are crises, I am here, whether it's COVID or the wildfire and our recovery there, or this question of public trust — I'm here and I, you know, I just decided that no matter what, though that, you know, that was a very important meeting, unfortunately, it's going on right now. My top priority is always our, you know, our state, and I can go back in a couple months, if I have to for a couple days. But, you know, I do not assign blame, guilt or anything of the sort, but we did need a moment of steady leadership, and there was a heck of a lot of conjecture in the media. And I don't, you know, I don't think it's my place to judge, but it is my place to show steadiness, and so that's why I stayed.

On calls for an independent probe into the alleged payment

GREEN: Those individuals really do not understand the law, unfortunately, and I don't want to be cruel here, but this is an independent investigation. The Legislature itself passed a law. They gave us instructions on how to have independent investigations. They set up a separate part of the Attorney General's Office to do exactly that. The Attorney General Anne Lopez has tasked that independent entity as passed by the Legislature to do it. That's a lot of political theater, as you can see, you know, people marching up to my office with a letter and good, respected members of the press in tow to try to, you know, press their own political agenda — is not okay. The people want independent investigation. That's what they'll get. That's what I insist on. I'm walled off in every way from it. I do not know the details of the investigation, but I think that it is independent, and I have to follow the law. If I were to suddenly come up with an additional investigator, they would have to also still go under the attorney general, it'd be no different, and unfortunately, it would also probably delay the work and the investigation by several months. The last I checked, everybody wants this to be resolved. They want the facts to be, you know, vetted, and then decisions be made. So I think it's very ironic that people are lobbing letters at me or editorials at me, saying we should now turn to another independent investigator. Because then you're not going to know until many more months. And let me be very clear — people have to decide, you know, who they're going to choose for their leadership roles across the state this coming August for the primary and November for the general. So I think there has to be some clarity long before that, for everyone's good….

read … Gov. Green on state finances, investigation into alleged lawmaker payment | Hawai'i Public Radio

As focus turns to Lahaina commercial rebuilds, owners face daunting challenges

HPR: … “As we go in the makai direction, then the Special Management Area and the shoreline rules kick in, and then also within the NHLD [National Historic Landmark District] and historic districts, there can be impacts on the requirements. So the pathway is going to depend on the location of the property.” ….

while a handful of commercial owners have made it through the process, many have not yet begun.

To date, nine non-residential buildings have been completed in Lahaina, 25 permits have been issued by the county, and 163 non-residential permits are in process, according to Maui County. The “non-residential” category can mean commercial, business or multi-family buildings….

Kimo Falconer, whose great-grandparents built Lahaina’s iconic Pioneer Inn, said his family does intend to rebuild, but it’s been slower going than he hoped.

“Now we are two and a half years after the fire. Nobody on Front Street has built anything,” he said. “And I get it, there's a lot of work that still needs to be [done], the roadways and things like that, but, you know, you got to get going.”

Peter Niess, owner of Maui Architectural Group, has been working with some commercial owners to rebuild. He said those above the highway are more straightforward and making good progress, with the county’s assistance. But on the makai side, he confirmed it’s more complicated.

“We're running into a lot more of the issues that we were afraid we would, with like new FEMA flood development maps, and they're telling us we have to raise the finished floor of our building, at the same time we're trying to meet accessibility and mobility requirements," he said….

read … As focus turns to Lahaina commercial rebuilds, owners face daunting challenges | Hawai'i Public Radio

Pessimism Widespread Among Local Businesses

HB: … The latest BOSS Survey reveals widespread pessimism about Hawai‘i's economy, with 51% of business leaders expecting conditions to worsen in 2026. Though tourism companies remain notably more optimistic than other sectors ….

read … Pessimism Widespread Among Local Businesses - Hawaii Business Magazine

‘Free’ Transit—Yes, it’s a tax increase

CB: … One crucial ingredient in making a free transit plan work in Hawaiʻi would be identifying a sustainable funding source. The now-dead bill for all-free transit, introduced by (wealthy trust-fund baby boy) Rep. Kim Coco Iwamoto, would have increased the tax on a 42-gallon barrel of imported oil from $1.05 to $3.35, which Iwamoto said would have raised gasoline prices by a few cents per gallon. …

read … Free Buses For Keiki? Supporters Hopeful After Statewide Bill Axed - Honolulu Civil Beat

HB1694: State Subsidy for Aviation Biofuel Scam

HPR: … “It's more expensive to produce [sustainable aviation fuel] than it is to produce conventional jet fuel. To really make it feasible for us to use SAF, it needs to be at a rate that is comparable to conventional jet fuel,” he said.

Several environmental groups oppose HB 1694, saying that Hawaiʻi has insufficient land and water to grow meaningful amounts of feedstock for sustainable aviation fuels.

(REALITY: Biofuel comes from chopping down the rainforest in Borneo and murdering orangutans.)

Aki acknowledged local production of sustainable aviation fuel would likely only be able to meet 10% of the airline industry’s demand.

House Bill 1695 also proposes incentives for sustainable aviation fuel. House Bill 1986 would establish a clean fuel standard that promotes the adoption of low-carbon fuels throughout the transportation sector.

All three measures have until March 3 to be scheduled for a hearing in the House Finance Committee….

HB1694: Text, Status

read … Measures could incentivize locally produced sustainable aviation fuel | Hawai'i Public Radio

Kaua‘i Residents Make the Usual Excuses to Oppose 148-unit affordable Housing Project

CB: … Kōloa residents were shocked to learn that a 148-unit housing project is being proposed for nearly 9.5 acres at Weliweli and Waikomo roads in what would be the largest multifamily development in town.

The project is targeted at locals who make too much to qualify for affordable housing subsidies but don’t make enough to purchase market-rate homes. In today’s market, the one-bedroom units would start at $520,000, the two-bedroom units at $650,000 and the three-bedroom units in the high $600,000s, said Developer Mike Serpa of SK Investors LLC.

But many residents say the project is ~~too large, will negatively alter Kōloa’s character and won’t be attainable for current residents. They’re also concerned about impacts to infrastructure and the environment~~ (insert excuses here) ….

“It will literally kill us, (Blablabla)…”

read … Kaua‘i Residents Worry 148-unit Housing Project Will 'Kill' Kōloa Town - Honolulu Civil Beat

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