March 28, 2026 News Read > Hawaii Free Press

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Saturday, March 28, 2026

March 28, 2026 News Read
By Andrew Walden @ 4:11 PM :: 319 Views

Bribery: HGEA Joins Unions Behind Luke--Charges 'Inconsequential'

$35K Bribe: AG Runs Down Clock with Another Useless Biweekly Update on 'Investigation'

HB1875: Juvenile Sex Change Passes Another Committee

Hawaiʻi Land Board Approves Acquiring Wahiawa Dam and Reservoir as Upgrade Cost Magically Triples

Election 2026: 236 Candidates Pull Papers to Run

State, County Open Temporary Housing for Flood Victims

DPP Will be Obstacle to Flood Victims Rebuilding

SA: … if the work they plan to do requires permits (not all repairs do). However, they can begin emergency repairs and emergency grading without permits, under certain conditions, which include applying for permits the first working day after the emergency repairs and/or grading begins, according to Honolulu’s Department of Planning and Permitting, which says that “these allowances apply only to specific types of work and must meet established eligibility criteria.”

Emergency building permit repair work “must not expand the size, height, or area of the structure; repairs must not make the structure less safe than it was prior to the damage; materials used must be similar to the original construction; and all work must comply with applicable city ordinances and building code safety requirements.”

Emergency grading work “due to the storm may occur in order to provide immediate clearing, site access, and/or drainage. The grading work should not create hazardous conditions, and should not alter the general drainage pattern or cause significant damage with respect to abutting properties.” …

read … Kokua Line: Will flood victims need permits to rebuild? | Honolulu Star-Advertiser

Storm recovery becomes another excuse for Tax Hikes

HPR: … The Federal Emergency Management Agency, along with state and local officials, is assessing the damage from the historic flooding during the back-to-back Kona low storms. The state budget will need to adjust to accommodate flood recovery efforts.

(TRANSLATION: Tax hikes.)

The first damage assessment to understand the full impacts of the storms is expected within the next several days. Gov. Josh Green estimated it will likely be over a billion dollars.

(TRANSLATION: Tax hikes.)

This comes as state lawmakers are more than halfway through the budgeting process.

“We're still waiting for an assessment of the approximate dollars needed to deal with the damage,” said Senate Ways and Means Committee Chair Donovan Dela Cruz. His committee is currently working on the state budget, which passed out of the House last week.

(TRANSLATION: Tax hikes.)

“We're looking at different options, you know, where we can take from either existing monies, or possibly borrow from the rainy day fund or the major disaster fund method, but we won't have a clear idea until we know how much we really need.”

(TRANSLATION: Tax hikes.)

One of the key factors is the amount of money the federal government will kick in to assist with recovery.

Green has formally requested a presidential major disaster declaration, meaning FEMA could share either 75% or 95% of the costs with the state….

(IDEA: Blame Trump.)

read … State budget may need to adjust for storm recovery as governor seeks FEMA funds | Hawai'i Public Radio

Kula Hospital closed indefinitely following storm damage

ASD: … The historic hospital — which celebrated its 115^th anniversary last year — was evacuated after the first Kona low storm brought major wind and water damage. But nearly two weeks later, there still hasn’t been a full accounting of the damage.

“We’re still very early into our response to the storm,” said Lynn Fulton, CEO of Maui Health, which operates Kula Hospital.

Fulton told Aloha State Daily that the first Kona low storm dumped about 48 inches of rain on Kula. Water inundated Kula Hospital’s fifth-floor balcony, where it pooled and flowed down the side of the building, trickling in through window frames on lower floors.

Fulton said she was only able to reach the hospital a few days after the storm subsided. By then, bubbling was evident throughout the walls of the hospital, and engineers from Kaiser Permanente confirmed that water had thoroughly intruded throughout the building’s walls.

The same was true for the neighboring Hale Makamae facility, an intermediate care ward for developmentally disabled patients.

Maui Health was able to relocate 112 patients, Fulton said. Some were moved to a new care site quickly set up in Kīhei, in a building leased from ‘Ohana Pacific Health, while others were sent to Maui Memorial Medical Center, which Fulton said was largely undamaged by the storms….

read … Kula Hospital closed indefinitely following storm damage

Carpenters Back Sugimura in bid for Maui County mayor

MN: … Sugimura’s campaign announced the endorsement from the state’s largest construction union Friday. Sugimua currently serves as vice-chair for the Maui County Council.

“Yuki Lei Sugimura has consistently demonstrated the political will and practical know-how to get results,” Ron Taketa, executive secretary-treasurer of the Hawaii Regional Council of Carpenters, said in a statement. “Through her work on the County Council, she has proven her commitment to tackling the tough issues. She is the partner our members need, and we’re proud to support a leader who is committed to putting local craftspeople to work to deliver housing so local families can afford to stay and thrive across Maui Nui,”

Sugimura, who chairs the council’s Budget, Finance and Economic Development Committee, welcomed the endorsement.

“The hardworking men and women of the HRCC help build and maintain the infrastructure our communities depend on every day,” Sugimura said. “This endorsement reflects our shared commitment to responsible construction that supports a strong economy, creates well-paying local jobs and improves quality of life for our residents. By streamlining permitting and investing in core infrastructure, we can put our skilled tradespeople to work building the affordable housing Maui Nui urgently needs.”…

read … Sugimura picks up endorsement in bid for Maui County mayor | News, Sports, Jobs - Maui News

Lucy:Football--Bill prohibiting corporate political donations nearing the finish line

ASD: … A measure intended to prevent corporations from influencing elections is still going strong in the state legislature.

Senate Bill 2471 sets limits on what it calls “artificial-person powers,” political powers afforded to corporations or similar entities.

Under current state laws, corporations have “the same powers as an individual to do all things necessary or convenient to carry out [their] affairs,” such as the power to file lawsuits, to own property, to make contracts and the like.

Most of those powers would not be impeded by SB 2471. However, the ability of a corporation to be involved in elections or any “ballot-issue activity” would be terminated by the bill. Specifically, this would include the ability for a corporation to pay, donate or otherwise spend money to support or oppose a political campaign, political party, constitutional amendment, charter amendment or any other issue on a ballot….

SB2471: Text, Status

REALITY: Federal-Court-Ruling-Sen-Karl-Rhoads-participated-in-Honolulu-County-Council-Kickback-scheme

MORE REALITY: HCR29-Legislators-Vote-to-Abolish-ERS-End-Free-Speech-for-Star-Advertiser

read … Bill prohibiting corporate political donations nearing the finish line

50 Years later, Kahoolawe is still a barren wasteland

HNN: … “Restoration of ʻaina is not done just in a generation time, one generation, it’s multiple generations,” said Jensen Kalama Chock PKO kua, moʻo lono, and KIRC commissioner….

(TRANSLATION: Keep funding us.)

RELATED: The Varmint Goats of Kahoolawe

read … ‘Sanctify, revitalize, perpetuate’: Protect Kahoolawe Ohana marks 50 years | Hawaii News Now

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