Hawaii Business Magazine Newsletters

Friday deadline looms for Hawai‘i lawmakers to raise minimum wage
Supporters rallied in events across the islands to urge lawmakers to agree on a final version by Friday. The sticking point has been how much the raises will be and how fast they will be implemented. The last minimum wage increase was four years ago to its current rate at $10.10 an hour, and supporters of the bill said that’s not enough to make ends meet. Hawaii News Now.

Hawai‘i lawmakers reach agreement on cash bail reform
A measure to let people accused of nonviolent misdemeanors go free without bail will be put to a final vote in the House and Senate next week. Putting an end to Hawai‘i’s cash bail system has long been on the wish list of many criminal justice advocates who say bail unfairly impacts low-income individuals who can’t afford it. Civil Beat.

Lawmakers adopt resolution apologizing for ban on Hawaiian language in schools
The state Legislature has adopted a resolution that apologizes to Native Hawaiians for a law that effectively banned the use of the Hawaiian language in schools. Originally, a law in the 80s enforced the use of English in all public and private schools, and those who spoke Hawaiian faced consequences. Hawaii News Now.

Mounting speculation about a Kahele run for governor triggers ‘grand chess game’
Freshman Congressman Kai Kahele isn’t talking about it, but there’s growing anticipation that he’ll run for governor ― and he hasn’t denied it. Hawaii News Now.

Hawai‘i transitioning from Covid-19 emergency, but pandemic continues
Gov. David Ige announced Wednesday that the state’s response to Covid-19 is transitioning from an emergency mode to public health management. Changes to expect include less emphasis on mass testing and infection control, and a greater focus on improving access to approved Covid-19 treatments and monitoring of future variants of the coronavirus. Star-Advertiser. Civil Beat. Tribune-Herald. Big Island Now. Maui Now. Hawaii News Now. KITV4.

Prosecutor declines to charge HPD corporal following domestic violence arrest in Kāne‘ohe
Cpl. Roland Masao Kam, 49, was arrested April 17 on suspicion of misdemeanor abuse of a family or household member, second- degree unlawful imprisonment and interference with reporting an emergency or crime, according to the Honolulu Police Department. Star-Advertiser.

HPD officers involved in Mākaha crash want public-paid attorneys
A contested case hearing will be held to determine if two HPD officers accused of causing a serious crash will get a city-funded legal defense. Civil Beat.

One less candidate in the running for the next Honolulu police chief
The Honolulu Police Commission announced that one of the eight candidates running for the next police chief has withdrawn his or her name. The next step will be three days of testing, which starts on May 9. The commission expects to pick the next chief by June. KITV4.

Inside the ‘frantic’ push to shorten rail and keep its federal funding
Project officials stress that they’re still fully committed to getting rail to Ala Moana, but it’s still not clear financially how that would happen. Rail leaders are presenting a “truncated project scope” to the Federal Transit Administration in order to secure rail’s remaining federal dollars. They’ll keep building toward Ala Moana using local tax revenues alone, without the help of the feds. But its unclear what the funding scheme for that would be. Civil Beat.

The Cades Foundation is one of the largest private funders of arts in Hawai‘i, and promotes education, the well-being of children, the arts, and health and human services. In celebration of its centennial and to honor its commitment to serving the community, the firm is doubling down on its pro bono and volunteer activities with the launch of their Hoʻokupu for 100 Initiative… read more.

Thirty Meter Telescope project names new executive director
Robert P. Kirshner succeeds Edward C. Stone as executive director of TIO, or TMT International Observatory LLC. He’s known for his scientific work in the field of supernova explosions and their application to the measurement of the history of the universe. Big Island Video News.

Maui hospital system still reliant on funds from government
Maui Memorial Medical Center and its health care affiliates in Kula and on Lana‘i continue to struggle financially six years after the state turned over the cash-strapped hospital system to Kaiser Permanente in a bid to save the state tens of millions of dollars annually. Star-Advertiser.

‘We cannot afford to be careless’: Lahaina residents want more water oversight
The state Commission on Water Resource Management is pushing to make the Lahaina aquifer sector, which supplies West Maui’s water, a “surface and ground water management area.” It’s the technical term that means, if future water supplies might be in jeopardy, state regulators can decide who can use water and how much they can take from wells and streams. Locals are asking state regulators to do more to protect the supply of water for future generations. Civil Beat.

New Wainiha center design addresses community concerns
Planners unveiled the Wainiha Community Resilience Center’s final design Wednesday, reviewing changes made since preliminaries were presented to the public two years ago. The center, for emergency and community services, was conceived in the aftermath of the 2018 North Shore floods. Garden Island.