March 11, 2026 News Read > Hawaii Free Press

Hawaii Daily News Read

Wednesday, March 11, 2026

March 11, 2026 News Read
By Andrew Walden @ 4:43 PM :: 198 Views

Second Man Charged with Murder of Fake 'Gang Counselor' over Drug Dealing Debts

Former Corrections Officer Gets 5 Years for Kiddie Porn

Hawaiʻi Income Tax Hikes: Legislators Stealing More of Your Paycheck to Help Other Criminals Get EBT Cards

CB: …. House Minority Floor Leader Diamond Garcia was more adamant, declaring: “This bill is a slap in the face to the people of Hawaiʻi. Families across Hawaiʻi were just beginning to feel a small glimpse of that relief this year, just starting to see a little more breathing room in their paychecks, and now we’re telling them ‘Never mind.’ “

Democrat bills still alive … establish a SNAP application process for inmates nearing release ….

House Bill 2306, which would scale back the 2024 tax cuts while extending and expanding some tax credits, passed in a 39-11 House vote. That bill now goes to the Senate for further consideration.

Senate Bill 3125— a similar measure that would also defer portions of the 2024 tax cuts — passed the Senate in a 23-2 vote. It now advances to the House for further consideration….

Housing Commitee Chair Luke Evslin, who is the lead sponsor of the bill, said House Bill 2049 would increase conveyance taxes on sales of homes worth more than $2.2 million, with “significant increases on the higher value properties.”

The measure would raise an extra $170 million for the state, but Evslin said the bill would actually reduce the conveyance tax or leave it unchanged for 75% of home sales in Hawaiʻi….

The bill prompted objections from House Minority Floor Leader Garcia, who said taxing the owner of a $2 million home “doesn’t mean you’re taxing the rich. There are families with generational homes which will be affected by this. Local families will be affected by this.”

Garcia argued that state should already be providing substantial, regular funding for DHHL from the state general fund instead of increasing taxes to do so. “It is our duty, it is our constitutional obligation to fund and operate the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands.”

“This is not the path forward, this is another burden on Hawaiʻi’s local families,” he said. The measure passed easily in a 42-8 vote….

HNN: Howard's Business Report: Hawaii State Tax Income

read … Hawaiʻi Income Tax Cuts: Lawmakers Chip Away At Promised Savings - Honolulu Civil Beat

COR Forecast: $200M found—could’ve been more

SA: … The Hawaii Council on Revenues voted unanimously Tuesday to stick with a 2.0% growth rate for the fiscal year beginning July 1, representing no change from its last two forecasts, made in January and September.

The decision means Hawaii’s Legislature will have to base much of its updated budget for next fiscal year on having $9.7 billion to work with from the general fund, up about $200 million, despite some recent positive economic signs that include strong visitor spending for much of last year and a surge in tourist arrivals in January.

“I know that’s not very satisfying to the (Legislature), but I think it’s a mistake for us to lower the forecast or raise the forecast much at this point based on a couple of weeks of oil price volatility,” council member Carl Bonham said during the meeting.

Bonham, who heads the University of Hawaii Economic Research Organization, said he was considering a higher forecast growth rate of 2.1%, 2.2% or 2.3% if potential negative impacts on Hawaii’s economy weren’t looming due to the war, which began Feb. 28 when the United States and Israel attacked Iran….

read … Iran war uncertainty freezes Hawaii general fund forecast | Honolulu Star-Advertiser

HB1875: Fly-in kids from Mainland for sex-change

ASD: … HB 1875 would expand legal protections for what the State of Hawai‘i defines as “gender-affirming health care.” Representative Elijah Pierick warned that the bill would let a 14-year-old get sex-change surgery without parental knowledge, then fly home to Tennessee. …

Hawai‘i already permits gender-affirming care for minors — puberty blockers, hormones, and surgery with parental consent. The new bill shields all of it from out-of-state legal action, subpoenas, and records disclosure. A parent in a custody dispute could bring a child to Hawai‘i for surgery over the other parent’s objection, and this bill would block the objecting parent’s home state from doing much about it. …

HB 1875 expands protections originally created for reproductive health care (like birth control and abortion) to cover gender-affirming care. It shields providers and patients from out-of-state legal action, restricts disclosure of patient records, and prohibits insurers from penalizing providers. The definition of gender-affirming care covers everything from puberty blockers to surgery.

Quinlan said there’s nothing in this bill about minors. That’s technically true yet still misleading. Hawai‘i already permits gender-affirming care for minors — puberty blockers, hormones, and surgery with parental consent. The new bill shields all of it from out-of-state legal action, subpoenas, and records disclosure. A parent in a custody dispute could bring a child to Hawai‘i for surgery over the other parent’s objection, and this bill would block the objecting parent’s home state from doing much about it. Pierick saw that….

read … "The Rep from Bethlehem"

HPD still has lots of vacancies

SA: … HPD salaries for fiscal 2027 are requested at $326.1 million, a roughly $19.45 million increase above the current year’s $306.65 million, the department’s budget shows.

“We’re not requesting any new positions,” Vanic said. But the interim chief noted that retention pay for the communications division — specifically, police dispatchers and emergency radio operators — amounts to $1.7 million. “That is to retain essential, experienced employees for overall public safety,” Vanic said.

HPD’s projected vacancies for the coming fiscal year also persist.

As of Feb. 2, Vanic said, 177 vacancies for civilian positions exist at HPD. “That reflects the deletion of 15 deactivated positions,” he added.

Vanic said his police force hopes to fill a total of 89 civilian positions, including 70 to be filled by June 30, 2027.

Vacancies of sworn officers were also presented. “As of Feb. 2, 2026, there were 448 vacant (sworn) positions,” Vanic said.

That number is a slight reduction from last year. In December, the Council-led HPD Staffing and Retention Task Force released its report that found that as of July 1 there were 465 vacancies for uniformed officers and 189 civilian openings — and 228 officers eligible for retirement….

read … HPD seeks $400M budget for vacancies, vehicles and other needs | Honolulu Star-Advertiser

Statewide ‘Aha Moku’ Advisory Committee hasn’t met in Four Years—still gets budget funding

CB: … The statewide committee, whose members are appointed by the governor, hasn’t met in at least four years. Even if it was meeting regularly, there’s no requirement that its meetings be open to the public or that meeting notices be posted. Annual reports detailing its activities have only been filed once in the last four years.

The state budgets $286,000 a year for Aha Moku, but its leaders say they often struggle to access the funds. And while by law it “may advise” on any issue it wants, there’s no requirement that state or county agencies contact the Aha Moku for consultation.

Kawaikapu Hewett, a cultural practitioner and volunteer with the Aha Moku, said the work often feels like jumping through hoops.

“So, we go through the process, and then, here’s the cookie again,” he said, dangling his fingers in the air. “Go ahead, jump. Jump for the cookie.” …

read … Will Hawaiʻi Take This Native Hawaiian Advisory Group Seriously? - Honolulu Civil Beat

Bill To Allow Subdivision of Existing Residential Lots dead for Session

CB: … Lawmakers got a lot of pushback over a proposal to allow six units on a lot originally zoned for a single-family home….

read … Denby Fawcett: Bill To Create Residential 'Monster Lots' Is Dead — For Now - Honolulu Civil Beat

Coconut Island Bridge: Permanent Fix Will Take 3 Years, Cost $20 Million

CB: … A $2 million temporary replacement for Big Island’s Mokuola bridge is expected to be completed in the next two years….

read … Coconut Island Bridge: Permanent Fix Will Take 3 Years, Cost $20 Million - Honolulu Civil Beat

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