... staffers from the Grassroot Institute of Hawaii in attendance at Gov. Josh Green's recent bill-signing ceremonies for historic tax cuts and housing reform ....

... House Finance was persuaded to resurrect SB 1035.  It then went to Conference Committee, and it came up with a version that both houses then passed ....

... all families in the NCS program who are 'actively participating' in their recovery efforts will continue to receive support ....

... Despite the bill's timidity, passage of the bill was still a welcome move .... 

... four of the districts have no representation, which could raise questions about fairness over any recommendations the planning body might make ....

... The majority of respondents have homeowners insurance (82%) and hurricane insurance (59%). However, the vast majority are not aware of the gaps in coverage between these insurances and flood insurance ....

... Hawaii voters can expect to receive their Primary Election ballot in the mail by July 23, 2024 ....

... In a deep-blue bastion where seldom is heard a peep of pushback against tax hikes, Hawaii legislators surprised everybody last month by unanimously approving a bill that is being heralded as the biggest tax cut in state history ....

... Between January and April 2024, visitor arrivals by air to Maui County fell 24.0 percent and expenditures decreased 22.6 percent compared to the same four months in 2023 ....

... Unsheltered homelessness fell significantly in two of the three rural counties, with Hawaii down 27 percent and Maui 26 percent. Kauai realized an eight percent increase in unsheltered homelessness ....

... Solar contributed 38.1% of KIUC’s generation in 2023. Almost one-third of the solar production came from members’ rooftop systems. Other renewables contributing in 2023 were hydropower (12%) and biomass (7.8%) ....

... Most of the pain can be traced to home purchases, which cost an astounding 313% more than average ....

... Young families are leaving Hawaii.  Rich retirees are moving in.  The result is a sharp increase in per capita GDP ....

... Candidate filing ended today, Tuesday, June 4, 2024 -- candidates may withdraw tomorrow ....

... the Sixth Proclamation Relating to Affordable Housing—remains in full effect ....

... Innovation Potential: 50th ....

... Akina said HB2404 will incrementally provide Hawaii taxpayers with the biggest income tax cut in state history ....

... Hawaii tops the list with $17,966.04 of unexpected fees on average ....

... It was mostly a good year for Hawaii at the 2024 Legislature, and policy experts from Grassroot will explain how that came to be ....

... premiums are rising at astronomical rates ....

... passing the biggest income tax cut in state history ....

... UPDATE Monday, June 3, 2024:  Republican Sen Brenton Awa pulled and filed today.  Democrats Clayton Hee and Ben Shafer filed their nomination petitions.  .... 

... a new deputy director for the Department of Human Resources Development, and appointed several individuals to various open positions in state boards and commissions ....

... If the Governor intends to veto a bill, the Governor must inform the Legislature by June 25, 2024 ....

... With the retirement of Senator Maile S.L. Shimabukuro effective today, Senate President Ronald D. Kouchi announced changes to the composition of Senate Standing Committees ....

... An SIC service outage would also affect DHHL’s phone service...the department has established an interim call center for lessees ....

... The County Council actually improved on a tax cut proposed by Mayor Roth, but neither version gives a break to industrial or commercial properties ....

... a $3.49 million tax increase on hotels and resorts and a $4.15 million increase on vacation rentals ....

... Notification to the public at least 12 hours before the start of venting a tank ....

... There were 753,551 visitors to the Hawaiian Islands in April 2024, down 8.9 percent from the same month last year. Total visitor spending measured in nominal dollars was $1.51 billion, which was a 12.6 percent drop from April 2023 ....

... designed to streamline processes, enhance management practices, and increase accessibility to clean energy programs ....

... Hawaii emerges as the state with the highest average price for a medium cheese pizza, reaching $18.99 ....

... The cruise line elected to include Nāpali Coast sailings after being unable to make port calls at Lahaina due to last year’s wildfires ....

... Starting July 1, Hawaiian Electric may preemptively shut off power in areas that appear at high risk of wildfire during periods of forecast high winds and dry conditions ....

... Another Deadline Extension Will Allow Additional Applicants to Begin and Complete the Process ....

... Blangiardi also signed Resolution 24-50, FD1, allowing voters to decide on November’s ballot whether to establish an Ocean Safety Commission to oversee the new department ....

... with a culminating virtual statewide meeting on Tuesday, July 2 ....

... for stonewalling a review of its own actions in the death of a 6-year-old girl ....

... assuming that cannabis consumers are too dangerous to be trusted with firearms ....

... In Hawaiʻi, mothers earn 74% of what fathers earn, while women without children make 99% of the income of men without children ....

... bills designed to expand the affordable housing inventory and improve the governance of rental laws under the Residential Landlord-Tenant Code ....

... What makes some states better than others for renters? ....

... votes cast and bills introduced ....

... There are still around 27,800 fewer jobs in Hawaii than before the COVID-19 pandemic ....

... secret instructions from the Director of Taxation to his staff ....

... If approved by the Governor, SB2475 CD1 would go into effect on July 1, 2024 ....

... One of the most persistent myths in Hawaii politics is that you can target a single group with a tax hike and not affect anyone else ....

... huge wins in the areas of taxes, healthcare and housing reform ....

... Hawai‘i State Department of Health awards ground ambulance contracts to American Medical Response ....

... HB2404 will lower the state income tax burden for average families by almost 70% by 2031 and save taxpayers roughly $5 billion during that same period ....