Category Archives: Uncategorized

It feels like the first day of a new year – in a policy and politics sense. The Hawaiʻi legislative session is over and there’s no more “waiting to exhale”. The constant vigilance required to monitor 3,000 or more bills … Continue reading →

Well we lost. SB3202 passed. The vote was very close – The House of Representatives voted 29 in support and 22 in opposition. In the Senate there were 9 Noes and 16 in the affirmative. Vote translation: We needed only 4 … Continue reading →

I’m thinking we need to send SB3202 back to the drawing board. Can you help? Or if you disagree, I’d like to hear your rationale. Read the latest draft if you have the stomach for it. https://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2024/bills/SB3202_CD1_.htm Here is the … Continue reading →

So what happened at yesterday’s BLNR meeting where community based I Ola Wailuanui was competing with Utah based developer RP21 for use/control over two state parcels connected to the proposed Coco Palms resort development? The Utah developer won of course. … Continue reading →

Info on nature of item on the agenda and other short summary is here https://www.wailuanui.org/blog/blnr-hearing-on-april-26-2024 Aloha Chairperson Dawn Chang and Commissioners Kaiwi Yoon, Aimee Barnes, Karen Ono, Vernon Char, Doreen Canto, and Riley Smith, Speaking as an individual, father, and … Continue reading →

There was no shortage of new bombshells falling on the Hawai‘i public policy battlefield this past week. The New York Times reported for the whole world to see what many of us already know, “Pay-to-play is woven into the DNA … Continue reading →

I received this bombshell of an email from an Oahu attorney/friend a few days ago: “I’m not sure whether folks on Kaua’i realize that SB 3202 is deliberately crafted to take all authority to make decisions on subdivisions from the … Continue reading →

Please submit testimony blnr.testimony@hawaii.gov My testimony will be in opposition. Before any appraisal is authorized there must be a thorough evaluation of the current condition of each property AND the Army must remove all ordinance unexploded or otherwise AND rehabilitate … Continue reading →

According to just about every political pundit in Hawaiʻi, the Clean Elections bill, SB 2381 – SD2 is “dead”. We should all just wish duplicity at the Capitol and gamesmanship among legislative “leadership” was also dead. But neither is dead … Continue reading →

Because the vast majority of legislative seats in Hawaiʻi are held by Democrats, the Primary Election of August 10 is everything. Even for nonpartisan County Council races, finishing strong in the primary election is hugely important. At 7pm on August … Continue reading →