Locally Owned, Locally Committed Since 1955 |
2.6.2023 |
TOP STORIES |
Lawmakers eye tax relief as residents grapple with rising costs of medical care, groceries Senate and House committees gave preliminary approval to major tax breaks Friday, including repealing the excise tax on groceries and on doctors who serve low-income and elderly patients in small clinics. But both measures have a long way to go before they become law. Hawaii News Now. Hawai‘i’s affordable housing law sparks battles at the Capitol Should developers be allowed to sidestep regulations on a project's size and type in the name of affordable housing? Some want to rein in the broad power developers have to dodge land use laws. Others want to give them more power. Civil Beat. Bill to repeal Hawai‘i Tourism Authority advances In total, three bills are seeking to repeal the embattled HTA this legislative session, which looks to be one of the more contentious since the agency's founding in 1998. Star-Advertiser. Hawai‘i Public Radio. New Hawai‘i DBEDT director is getting down to business Chris Sadayasu of the state Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism says he’s focused on righting an upended $2 billion-plus Aloha Stadium redevelopment project and securing a $1 billion federal prize to produce hydrogen for local use and export. Star-Advertiser. Partial public financing for elections could see boost, with substantial benefits for OHA Senate Bill 200 would increase public financing by 30% to 50%. OHA candidates currently receive $1,500 maximum per election period, compared to $5,000 to $100,000 for other public offices. Hawai‘i Public Radio. Bill proposes making Native Hawaiian language a required course A recently introduced bill would make Native Hawaiian classes mandatory in public schools for grades elementary through high school, similar to required English courses. Star-Advertiser. Bill proposes banning tobacco products for Generation Z Senate Bill 148 would ban cigarettes, cigars, chewing tobacco, e-cigarettes and vapes for anyone born on or after Jan. 1, 2003. Tribune-Herald. Empty shelves for kids’ medicines continue Many drugstores are still struggling to stock over-the-counter cold medicines, particularly for popular brands for children under 12. Star-Advertiser. |
HAWAII BUSINESS MAGAZINE This 12-Acre Campus for Abandoned Pets Is Getting a New Hospital The Hawaii Island Humane Society opened a community center. A full-service animal hospital is next. On average, the society cares for nearly 250 animals at any given time... read more. |
OʻAHU |
Council growing impatient waiting for Honolulu housing plan Honolulu Council Chair Tommy Waters says he’s frustrated by the two-year wait for Mayor Rick Blangiardi’s administration to share its promised housing plan, as well as its strategy for dealing with a growing homeless population. Star-Advertiser. Waitlist is opening for rent subsidy program Honolulu's waitlist for the Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher program is opening. The program provides rental assistance for eligible households with funding from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. Hawaii News Now. Battle over Kaka‘ako housing continues For nearly two decades, an ideological battle has centered on whether to allow housing on the makai side of Ala Moana Boulevard between Kewalo and Honolulu harbors. Both camps are now girding for their biggest face-off yet. Star-Advertiser. Farmers say they’re interested in Savio’s Waialua agriculture project More than 100 people turned out Sunday to hear about Orchard Plantation, a project by Peter Savio that will sell fee-simple land to local farmers. Star-Advertiser. |
HAWAII BUSINESS MAGAZINE
My Job as a Hospice Nurse Is Bringing Comfort to Patients
Navian Hawaii’s Kymberly James is part of an end-of-life team that includes doctors, social workers and spiritual counselors... read more. |
HAWAIʻI ISLAND |
Bill aims to ease licensing process for out-of-state educators As of June 2022, Hawai‘i County was short 196 classroom teachers, with 105 vacancies in the Honoka‘a-Kealakehe-Kohala-Konawaena complex. Tribune-Herald. Few Big Island schools have undergone vulnerability assessments Despite an increase in threats reported at the state’s public schools, just 14 of 41 campuses on the island have completed assessments since 2017. Tribune-Herald. “An incredible partnership”: Health centers open at three West Hawai‘i schools Hawai‘i Island Community Health Center launched clinics at Hōnaunau Elementary and Kealakehe Elementary and Intermediate schools. Each offers well-child exams and acute-care visits, behavioral health care and dental services. West Hawaii Today. The tragic life and death of a Hilo homeless woman Deborah Ann Cohn-Hoomalu, who died in a Banyan tree fire last month, was once an award-winning coffee farmer. But she struggled with mental illness. Civil Beat. |
HAWAII BUSINESS MAGAZINE Vote Now: 2023 People’s Choice for the Hawaii Entrepreneur Awards This award is based on your online votes for the local startup that best represents the goals and interests of Startup Paradise. This company serves as an example for others to follow based on their successes, popularity and support of other community members... vote now. |
MAUI COUNTY |
Prosecutors seek nearly a decade in prison for “brazen” Maui official who took bribes Stewart Stant, a former Maui environmental director who pleaded guilty to taking nearly $2 million in bribes, directed more than $19 million worth of sole-source contracts to H2O Process Systems between 2012 and 2018. Civil Beat. Maui County Council confirms Lutey as clerk Moana Lutey was confirmed in a 9-0 vote. She will serve as the county’s top election official and administrator for the council through 2025. Civil Beat. Maui News. Protestors meet with U.S. Space Force general in “good first step” to address fuel spill On Sunday, around 40 activists met with Brig. Gen. Anthony Mastalir about the 700-gallon spill at a Haleakalā military complex. The meeting came after Mayor Richard Bissen told the military to work with local groups in clean-up efforts. Hawaii News Now. Maui News. Maui firefighter dies after being swept into storm drain Twenty-four-year-old Tre Evans-Dumaran died Saturday after being swept to sea on Jan. 27 while responding to flooding in Kīhei. Star-Advertiser. Hawaii News Now. |
KAUAʻI |
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to assess too-short levees on Kaua‘i Mayor Derek Kawakami said he made headway with military brass last month – nearly one year after hundreds of West Side households were required to purchase flood insurance due to subpar levees constructed decades ago. Kaua‘i Now. Kaua‘i housing market is the state’s most expensive Last year's eye-popping real estate transactions made Kaua‘i the Islands' priciest housing market. Garden Island. Despite the slowdown in sales, the median price of a single-family home hit $1.6 million in December. Garden Island. |
JANUARY / FEBRUARY ISSUE |
Dive into some of our latest features! What Happens When Private Equity Is Your Landlord in Hawai‘i How the Construction Industry Aims to Tackle Hawai‘i’s Biggest Problems Your Next Hire Should Be a “Hidden Worker” Hawai‘i Foodbank Has a New Model for Feeding 120,000 People a Month |
Hawaii Business Magazine ▪ 1088 Bishop St. Ste. LL2
Honolulu, HI 96813 Subscribe Manage Preferences General Inquiries: (808) 537-9500 Advertising/Sponsorships: (808) 534-7124 |
|