Threatened Veto Baffles Social-Media Bill Advocates
Nearly half of the states in the U.S. have adopted laws to prevent employers from accessing their employees’ private social-media accounts. But Gov. David Ige this week announced his intent to veto...
View ArticleOne-Stop Centers For Micronesians Fight Back Amid Criticism
Nearing its one-year anniversary, a program in Kalihi that helps Micronesians connect to health, social, education and employment services has now served more than 2,000 people. But it has also come in...
View ArticleIge Replaces State Utility Regulator As NextEra Decision Looms
Tom Gorak, the Hawaii Public Utilities Commission’s chief counsel, will replace Commissioner Mike Champley after his term expires Thursday. Gov. David Ige announced the interim appointment Wednesday,...
View ArticleState Pulls Plug On Mbloom, But Still Wants To Help Tech Startups
As of last week, mbloom, a Maui-based technology fund for early-stage startup companies that was partially funded by the state’s taxpayers, is no more. In early May, Devon Archer, one of the fund’s two...
View ArticleGabbard’s Office Website Hacked
Since June 23, Tulsi Gabbard of Hawaii and more than a dozen of her Democratic colleagues have not been able to use their official websites. As Politico reported, a contractor says hackers are to...
View ArticleHawaii’s Homeless Population Still On The Rise
Hawaii is seeing a stubborn rise in homelessness, despite the concerted efforts of state and county officials to address the issue. According to the “point in time” count released Wednesday, the...
View ArticleCandidate Q&A: Honolulu Mayor — Kirk Caldwell
Editor’s note: For Hawaii’s Aug. 13 primary election, Civil Beat asked candidates to answer some questions. The following came from Kirk Caldwell, one of 11 candidates for Honolulu mayor. The other...
View ArticleCandidate Q&A: Honolulu Mayor — Ron Hochuli
Editor’s note: For Hawaii’s Aug. 13 primary election, Civil Beat asked candidates to answer some questions. The following came from Ron Hochuli, one of 11 candidates for Honolulu mayor.The other...
View ArticleIge Signs Act Prohibiting Most Ivory Sales in Hawaii
After a battle at the Capitol spanning three years, Gov. David Ige has signed into law Act 125, which will prohibit the sale of many wildlife products. Hawaii legislators have been trying to pass law...
View ArticleNeal Milner: Honolulu Rail Is Laughable, But Not Funny
Honolulu’s rail project has become the subject of a lot of political humor. Unfortunately, it’s the top three mayoral candidates who are making the worst jokes. They just don’t realize that their...
View ArticlePower Of Incumbency On Display In Honolulu City Council Races
There may be suspense in a hotly contested mayor’s race, but don’t expect big changes in the Honolulu City Council after this year’s election. Five of the nine Council posts are up for grabs. No one is...
View ArticleOHA CEO Crabbe Reappointed
Kamanaʻopono Crabbe, the CEO of the Office of Hawaiian Affairs, received a new three-year contract Thursday. An ad hoc committee has been created to work out the details of the contract. Board Chair...
View ArticleWhy The GMO Food Labeling Debate Is Not Over
The U.S. Senate last week reached a compromise to require food manufacturers to label foods that contain genetically modified ingredients, a bill that would preempt state-level laws. The deal came only...
View ArticleCivil Geeks: New Rules Open Hawaii’s Skies To Commercial Drones
The Federal Aviation Administration announced new rules regarding the use of unmanned aircraft systems for commercial purposes last week. And it couldn’t have come soon enough. “Finally, you’re seeing...
View ArticleComing Tuesday: The History Of The Hawaiian Electric Co.
The last act of one of the most intense political dramas in recent history could be coming to an end next week. State regulators are signaling they are close to a decision on whether NextEra Energy,...
View ArticleThe Projector: Showing Off Hale Mauliola, A New Type Of Shelter
The post The Projector: Showing Off Hale Mauliola, A New Type Of Shelter appeared first on Civil Beat News.
View ArticleAs Hawaii Homelessness Grows, Shelters Say Bill May Cut 200 Beds
Despite rising homelessness in Hawaii, a bill that’s on track to become law may force emergency homeless shelters to cut more than 200 beds and turn away people who want to get off the streets. The...
View ArticleFrustrated Champley ‘Considering Options’ After Removal From PUC
Mike Champley needs a long weekend to think about things. He spent the last 18 months working on one of the biggest dockets in the state Public Utilities Commission’s history as one of three...
View ArticleCare Home Rules Subject of Lawsuit
Care home industry representatives say Noburo and Elaine Kawamoto are being prevented from living together by state regulations. Now the elderly married couple has filed a lawsuit against Gov. David...
View ArticleACLU Lawyer To Be State Ethics Chief
The Hawaii State Ethics Commission announced Friday that it has tapped the legal director of the American Civil Liberties Union of Hawaii to be its new executive director. Gluck, whose last day at the...
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