Hawai‘i government transparency bills clear a key hurdle in the Legislature
Measures that would ban lawmakers from taking donations while in session and increase transparency in Hawai‘i’s campaign finance system were unanimously approved with bipartisan support Tuesday in the House. Civil Beat.

Hawai‘i Senators move to keep public records secret
Budget documents and other records that are now routinely made public by state and county agencies might instead be kept secret under a bill that won tentative approval from a Senate committee on Tuesday. Civil Beat.

How would state legislation on guns stack up to county-level laws?
There are several bills in the House and Senate that tackle concealed carry weapons and sensitive places. Only the County of Hawaiʻi has enacted a law that bans guns in areas including hospitals, schools and daycare centers among other places. Hawaii Public Radio.

Affordable housing proposal that would go after non-residents deemed unconstitutional
Republican Sen. Brenton Awa’s idea was to go after the Hawai‘i Real Property Tax Act. That means 7.25% of any profit made by nonresidents on Hawai‘i real estate must go to the state. Awa wanted 75% of the profit to go to the state instead. Hawaii News Now.

Original ‘Ōlelo Hawai‘i versions of law would be held binding with new measure
Senate Bill 16 would require that the Hawaiian or an ‘Ōlelo Hawaiʻi version of a law be held binding if the law in question was originally drafted in Hawaiian and then translated into English.  Hawaii Public Radio.

Bed bugs bill prevents landlords from renting infested units
According to the proposal, the landlord would have to pay for remediation if bugs are found within 60 days of a tenant moving in. KHON2.

No longer at odds: Tokuda hosts Green in DC for Biden speech
Green and Tokuda squared off in 2018 while vying to become Hawai‘i’s lieutenant governor. Civil Beat.

Should Hawai‘i tighten its work-from-home policies for state employees?
Some senators want to ensure the remote workers are properly supervised and are productive. Civil Beat.

Highway closures due to rockfall and erosion drive calls for more frequent road inspections
Almost 168 miles of the state’s roads are at risk of damage from major earth movement with remote communities bearing the brunt of the lengthy disruptions. Civil Beat.

Settlement reached for 4 injured in high-speed police chase
The city and lawyers for four passengers injured in a 2021 near-fatal police chase in Mākaha have reached a tentative multi-million dollar settlement. Hawaii News Now.

Navy needs more time for chemical spill report
The Navy told federal regulators that it would need another five weeks to provide that information. Star-Advertiser.

Mayor Blangiardi, hotels commit to buying more from local farmers
Honolulu Mayor Rick Blangiardi and representatives from more than 20 hotels in Hawai‘i committed to buying more locally grown food as well as collecting and providing data on the tourism industry’s purchasing habits. Star-Advertiser.

Uproar over possible charter school move premature, UH officials say
The possible redevelopment of a University of Hawai‘i land parcel that could potentially displace the nearly century-old University Laboratory School years from now has upset many of the charter school’s supporters, but UH officials believe the uproar has been premature. Star-Advertiser.

The sense of freedom and accomplishment my career in insurance has given me has been life changing. If you’re feeling burned out and tired, a career in insurance might be the right fit for you… read more.

Octopus farm accused of offering ‘petting zoo’ experience ordered to shut down
The state Division of Aquatic Resources served a cease-and-desist letter to Kanaloa Octopus Farm last month and said the company is not allowed to have day octopuses under one pound. Hawaii News Now.

Maui County testifiers passionate over freedom to choose birth practitioner
Fervent testifiers over many hours at Maui County Council sought the freedom to choose birth practitioners regardless of licensure status. Maui Now.

Kauai County to give away 7,500 at-home Covid-19 test kits in March
Kauai County announced today a free giveaway of about 7,500 Covid-19 home tests kits at various neighborhoods from March 7 to 9. Star-Advertiser.

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Russ Roberts

https://hawaiinewsdigest.net

https://hawaiidigestscience.com