$35K Bribe: AG Skips Biweekly Update on 'Investigation'

Auditor: Maui Fraud Risk Out of Control During Emergencies

The unintended consequences of transfer taxes

HIDOE opens 47-unit housing project on Maui

Hawaii Family Forum Legislative Week in Review

What’s Dead – For Now

Lawmakers clash on tax increases: “Historic bait and switch and that is unacceptable”

KHON: … A major disagreement between House and Senate lawmakers is stalling efforts to finalize Hawaiʻi’s state budget, with both sides divided over the future of income tax cuts for residents.

At the center of the debate is a sweeping tax relief plan passed in 2024, which gradually lowers income taxes through 2031. While the cuts are designed to put more money back into residents’ pockets, they are expected to cost the state more than $1 billion in lost revenue over time….

The Senate’s proposal aims to preserve tax cuts for most working families — specifically households earning less than $350,000 and individuals earning under $175,000….

Some senators argue rolling back tax relief now would break a promise to residents.  Sen. Glenn Wakai said, “What the public despises even more is a broken promise… what we’re contemplating now is a historic bait and switch and that is unacceptable.” …

In a statement to the press, House Finance Chair Chris Todd expressed frustration with the current state of negotiations: “…blablabla….”

Others argue the state should reduce spending before considering tax increases.

The disagreement has now halted negotiations at the Capitol. Conference committee meetings — where differences are typically resolved — have stalled, and Friday’s scheduled meeting was canceled….

If no compromise is reached, current tax cuts would remain in place…

(CLUE: Best possible outcome is that the Conference Committee fails to come to any agreement and the tax hike dies.)

SB3125: Text, Status

SA: Greenies Cry that their precious Green Fee slush fund may be used to reduce tax hikes

Read … Lawmakers clash on tax relief, state budget jeopardized

Is sacrificial Sylvia Luke enough to placate corruption gods?

Shaprio: … Alexander Silvert was a lonely figure in the House gallery watching legislators torpedo a public petition he led asking the Legislature to investigate a bribery scandal involving a lawmaker and allegedly $35,000 in a paper bag.

Some accused Silvert, the former federal public defender who exposed the corruption of Louis and Katherine Kealoha, of beating a dead horse.

(CLUE:  Corruption is not a dead horse.  It is a paddock full of braying jackasses.)

But the case is far from over, and only a legislative inquiry may ever produce what Silvert and his 900 fellow petitioners seek: a full public accounting of what happened and what guidance it provides on reforming our pay-to-play politics.

The majority of Democratic legislators who voted to shelve the petition showed they want neither an examination of the handouts they take nor major changes to campaign rules that let them wallow in special-interest money.

They’re happy to see this disappear into the legal system after handling it more like a political problem than a corruption problem….

Kauai Mayor Derek Kawakami has already announced a run for LG, backed by the powerful Carpenters Union that opposed Luke’s election in 2022. If Kawakami wins, he’ll be the favorite to succeed Green, also a Carpenters’ endorsee.

The political forces have their interests tied in a neat bow, but the maneuvers do little to serve the public interest of preventing corruption. If no charges are filed against Luke or others, or if it ends in a plea deal, the public may never know what was on that federal recording….

Read … David Shapiro: Is sacrificial Sylvia Luke enough to placate corruption gods? | Honolulu Star-Advertiser

Carpenters Union Spending Big to back Kawakami in Lt Governor Race

CB: … As it became obvious Luke was politically vulnerable, Kauaʻi Mayor Derek Kawakami announced he would challenge Luke in the Democratic primary. PRP’s super PAC For A Better Tomorrow promptly mobilized to support Kawakami with money from the Hawaiʻi Carpenters Market Recovery Program Fund, and Kawakami is now the best-known candidate in the race.

Andrew Pereira, director of public affairs for Pacific Resource Partnership, said his organization backs Kawakami because of his track record as mayor of Kauaʻi….

Kawakami officially announced he was running for lieutenant governor on March 17, and within a week For A Better Tomorrow was airing television advertisements supporting him….

Assuming Kawakami wins the election this year — and polls suggest he is the top contender — he will be well positioned to run for governor in four more years. It seems quite likely that Green will be easily reelected this year and would complete his second and final term in 2030…

Precisely As Explained: Sylvia Luke took a $10K bribe—the $35K bribe-taker is still out there

Read … This Rich Hawaiʻi Super PAC Is Already Shaping A Key Statewide Election - Honolulu Civil Beat

Maui Disaster: Herman Andaya was Keith Regan’s 2016 Campaign Manager

Cataluna: … Last week, in rapid succession, Luke dropped her reelection campaign, revealed she had received a target letter from the Attorney General’s Office, and was asked by Green to take unpaid leave immediately.

To find a replacement lieutenant governor, Green then went down the procedural list of successors until he found someone, anyone — in this case, comptroller Keith Regan — willing to serve.

But even with a warm body in the co-pilot’s chair, it’s still risky for Green to venture too far out of state.

When government leaders travel away from home base, there’s a kind of Murphy’s Law or Cosmic Bachi that predicts the worst possible thing is going to happen. Ask Herman Andaya, the Maui Emergency Management Agency director who was out of town during the Lahaina fires. …

Not to disparage Keith Regan, the guy who took the job nobody wanted because he had nothing to lose, but who is he? We can look up his resumé and times he was in the news, watch video of him singing “Dahil Sa’Yo”, but he didn’t run for the office. Voters of the state did not vet him. He did run for Maui County Council 10 years ago, for the seat representing Wailuku, Waiheʻe and Waikāpu. He came in third in that primary behind Dain Kane and Alika Atay. …

FUN FACTOID:  Herman Andaya was Keith Regan’s 2016 Campaign Manager

Read … Lee Cataluna: Gov. Green Still Can't Leave The State - Honolulu Civil Beat

Will Flood-Damaged Kula Hospital be Demolished?

HJI: … Since the long-term care facility Hale Makua in Kahului started taking patients displaced from storm-damaged Kula Hospital a month ago, its capacity has reached nearly 95%.

Staff are working long hours and the facility has hired more than a dozen travel nurses to handle the influx of about 21 patients from Kula and the continuous flow of patients discharged from Maui Memorial Medical Center….

The water damage forced the critical access hospital to evacuate 112 patients, including many who lived there long term and required specialized care. 

The affected areas included the emergency department, a floor where 41 patients lived, and Hale Makamae, the only intermediate care facility on Maui for patients with developmental disabilities. Eight of the nine Hale Makamae residents had to be sent to O‘ahu.

Hawaiʻi Gov. Josh Green, who toured Kula Hospital last month after the storms, told the Hawai‘i Journalism Initiative last week that with the loss of emergency services, putting in a facility that could handle urgent cases is “the first goal.” The state is considering deploying one of its own mobile facilities or a temporary modular clinic like the one Kaiser built in Lahaina after the 2023 wildfires. 

“We need to essentially replace the capacity for those few ER/urgent care beds,” Green said April 17. “The long-term care facility is going to take a big decision whether or not we should repair it.” …

Read … As state, Maui Health decide future of damaged Kula Hospital, another long-term care facility nears capacity - Hawaii Journalism Initiative

OHA demands cut of the money from military-leased lands

MN: … “As these leases approach expiration, we face a once-in-a-generation decision point,” said Interim Administrator/CEO Sylva. “This moment requires a just outcome and a decisive break from a history of exclusion. Native Hawaiian leadership must be central to what comes next. OHAʻs co-trustee role is as a principal decision-maker, ensuring the interests of our lāhui are foundational. We will engage in good faith to secure fair and equitable terms and remain accountable to our beneficiaries while rejecting any effort to marginalize Native Hawaiian voices in the process.”

The delegation’s trip marked a significant step forward in positioning OHA as a central and constructive partner in shaping the future of military-leased lands in Hawaiʻi.

Chair Kahele confirmed that OHA will return to Washington, D.C. in the coming weeks to sustain momentum and deepen engagement with Congress and the Administration….

SA: Hawaii leaders push Pentagon for bigger role in military land leases | Honolulu Star-Advertiser

Read … OHA delegation concludes high-level Washington, D.C. engagement on military-leased lands : Maui Now

Star-Adv Editors: ‘Please Pass SB2471 and Abolish Our Right to Press Freedom’

SA: … Senate Bill 2471 declares that corporations are “artificial persons,” granted their power and privileges by the state and Hawaii’s Constitution, and therefore subject to state limitations on that power and privilege. So the bill seeks to restrict the power of corporations to spend money or contribute “anything of value” to influence elections or ballot measures…

REALITY: If 'corporate personhood' is abolished, then Star-Adv owner Oahu Publications, Inc no longer has First Amendment rights.  But on the bright side, since this Star-Adv editorial nullifies itself, it does not exist.

AS EXPLAINED: Legislators Vote to Abolish ERS, End Free Speech for Star-Advertiser

Read … Editorial: Limit corporate activism in Hawaii | Honolulu Star-Advertiser

Where Is Tulsi Gabbard?

A: … Her irrelevance during a war suggests that America doesn’t need a director of national intelligence ….

NBC: Iran caused more extensive damage to U.S. military bases than publicly known

Read … Where Is Tulsi Gabbard? - The Atlantic

Passing Bills Is One Thing. Implementing Them Is A Different Story

CB: … The Legislature does a poor job following up on what lawmakers want and whether it actually happens…. Different issues. Different timelines. Different lawmaking bodies. The same gap between what passed and what got built….

Other small states have built mechanisms for this. Maine has a legislative office dedicated to post-enactment review of state programs, created in 2003, that has produced more than three dozen independent evaluations shaping how tax credits and economic development programs actually operate.

Colorado’s statute lets any bill include an “accountability clause” that directs legislative staff to review whether it is working, no new agency, no new budget line, just a statutory hook. Hawaiʻi has the bones of this already. What’s missing is the trigger that turns passed laws into kept promises….

Read … Passing Bills Is One Thing. Implementing Them Is A Different Story - Honolulu Civil Beat

Honolulu mayor says getting giant pandas to Hawaii would be 'incredible'

CD: … Following his trip in Fuzhou, Blangiardi is scheduled to visit Chengdu, Sichuan province, the home of world-renowned giant panda conservation and research programs, from Sunday to Tuesday. The delegation will then travel to Beijing and stay until May 2, where the mayor is expected to meet with officials from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs….

Read … Honolulu mayor says getting giant pandas to Hawaii would be 'incredible' - Chinadaily.com.cn

Homeless Meth Addicts Camp out on Waikiki Beach

HNN: … Feet away from the line of blue umbrellas providing shade for beachgoers at Fort DeRussy Beach Park, there is often a row of tents sheltering homeless people.

Unlike other homeless clusters throughout Waikiki and the rest of Oahu that typically sit on the outskirts of public spaces, the encampment sits right on the beach for all to clearly see.

“I didn’t expect it, I thought it would be a nicer area, cleaner, then you get people like that that affect the area, make it look trashy,” visitor Aiden Moffett said.

Some trash and abandoned belongings appeared to have been left behind this week, but there were hardly any tents after Department of Land and Natural Resources personnel cleared them out between April 1 and 2.

“U.S. Army Garrison Hawaii is aware of the concerns regarding the encampment located on the beach near the Hale Koa Hotel and understands the impact this situation has on the community. We are working closely with our City and County of Honolulu, State of Hawaii and other local partners to help ensure the area remains safe, orderly, and accessible for all who use it.

Adding to the complexity of this issue, multiple agencies share responsibility for this area. The beach zone—from the beach walk concrete to the high‑water line—is under the jurisdiction of the State of Hawaii Department of Land and Natural Resources, which is responsible for enforcement and any required clearance actions in that space. The area extending from the beach walk concrete to Kalia Road falls under the jurisdiction of U.S. Army Garrison Hawaii….

REALLY OBVIOUS QUESTION:  Which activist group spotted this jurisdictional issue for meth heads to exploit?

Read … ‘Trashy’: Visitors complain over homeless encampment on Waikiki beach | Hawaii News Now

LEGISLATIVE AGENDA:

1. Big Q: What’s your reaction to the target letters sent to Sylvia Luke and two others? | Honolulu Star-Advertiser

2. The Sunshine Blog: Follow Along, Folks. Money Matters More Than Ever This Year - Honolulu Civil Beat

3. Every Black Republican Is Leaving the House, Erasing Diversity Gains - The New York Times

4. Ariyoshi’s quiet masterclass – Politics Hawaii

5. E-bike bill one step closer to becoming law

6. Bill Proposes Better Access to Information and More Hiring Opportunities for Hawaii’s Film Industry

7. Aquarium Fish Extraction Puts Reefs And Community Practices At Risk - Honolulu Civil Beat

8. Will Caron: Tools Of The Trade - Honolulu Civil Beat

9. HTA targets North Shore gridlock in updated management plans | Honolulu Star-Advertiser

10. Column: Fulfill duty to protect immigrant rights | Honolulu Star-Advertiser

QUICK HITS:

1. Jet Fuel Crisis Makes a Mess of Summer Travel?

2. Hawaii Island man faces multiple drug, firearm charges following search warrant

3. Coast Guard medevacs man from cruise ship in waters off Oahu | Hawaii News Now

4. Replanting Limu: A Civic Ritual To Save The Species — And Ourselves - Honolulu Civil Beat

5. County launches coastal management education tool

6. Hilo mountain bike park gets official designation  

7. Kaneohe vehicle collision marks Oahu’s 14th traffic fatality in 2026 | Hawaii News Now

8. Pop-up assistance center in Waianae helps flood-impacted residents