PRESS RELEASES ยังไม่มีโพสต์ที่เผยแพร่แล้วในภาษานี้ หลังจากที่โพสต์เผยแพร่แล้ว คุณจะเห็นข้อมูลที่นี่ MORE PRESS RELEASES NEWS ARTICLES READ MORE Bill to construct more ohana units passes Senate committee Original Article Star Advertiser Mia Anzalone The state Senate’s Housing Committee deferred a bill Tuesday that would have paid Hawaii homeowners and homebuyers to restrict occupants to locally employed residents, instead approving a bill to promote the construction of more accessory dwelling units, commonly known as ohana units, for workforce housing. House Bill 740 would establish the Accessory Dwelling Unit Financing and Deed Restriction Program to provide funding to the counties to distribute grants to eligible homeowners or homebuyers to construct ADUs with the condition that occupants of the property, including those living in primary or secondary units, must be employed, or use to be employed, at least 30 hours per week at a local business. The amended version of HB 740 defines ADUs as a “second dwelling unit that includes its own kitchen, bedroom and bathroom facilities, and is attached or detached from the primary dwelling unit.” The Senate’s approval of the measure ended the momentum for HB 739, which would have established the Kama‘aina Homes Program allowing counties to pay homeowners or homebuyers a sum of money under the condition that the home be occupied by at least one owner-occupant or tenant who works, or used to work, at a local business for at least 30 hours a week. Sen. Stanley Chang (D, Hawaii Kai-Kahala-Diamond Head), who chairs the Senate Housing Committee, told the Honolulu Star-Advertiser on Tuesday that HB 740 will be the “vehicle” for advancing the goals of both bills to increase the inventory of affordable workplace housing. At Tuesday’s public hearing, Chang said he appreciates the efforts to encourage more ADUs in Hawaii and wants the state to focus on the construction of new units rather than converting existing ones. “We need to shift away from a model where the state gives away money and never gets it back,” Chang said at the hearing. “The state needs to act as an investor that realizes a gain, an appreciation on the investment of its funds, which are, after all, taxpayer funds.” While both bills worked to enable the creation of more housing for the local workforce, Chang told the Star-Advertiser that HB 740 is one potential solution to creating low-cost financing for ADU construction statewide. “If the state spends a lot of money and no new housing is built, then I don’t think we’re getting any closer to solving the housing shortage,” he said. Chang noted during the hearing that similar grant programs already exist, citing Maui County’s ‘Ohana Assistance Pilot Project, which launched in July and provides grants of up to $100,000 to homeowners to design and construct attached or detached ADUs with a 10-year deed restriction to provide workforce housing. HB 740 is supported by a number of organizations, including the Hawaii Appleseed Center for Law and Economic Justice. In written testimony the center’s director of housing policy, Arjuna Heim, said the bill addresses financial barriers to constructing ADUs, which typically cost about $250 to $350 per square foot to build. The deed restriction, which was also a feature of the deferred HB 739, is a key aspect of HB 740, according to Heim. “The deed restriction requirements ensuring occupancy by local workers, maintaining employment within the county, demonstrate a thoughtful approach to preserving housing for Hawai‘i’s working families,” Heim said in written testimony. “This helps prevent the conversion of these units to vacation rentals or investment properties and help establish a locals-only market.” Joshua Wisch, president and executive director of the nonprofit Holomua Collaborative, which focuses on making Hawaii more affordable for working families, was a staunch supporter of HB 739 and said he was disappointed the bill was deferred. “We’ll have to see what was retained in the Senate draft before we can determine any future support,” Wisch said in a statement to the Star-Advertiser. “We still believe (the Kama‘aina Homes Program) can help create a dedicated and permanent housing supply for local working families, and are already exploring ways to lift the program up at a county level, come back to the Legislature next session or find other avenues to pursue it,” he said. A 2023 report by the University of Hawaii Economic Research Organization found that 20% of Hawaii residents had enough income to afford a single-family home costing $875,000. Another recent study by Holomua Collaborative, which surveyed 1,500 local workers with middle- to upper-middle incomes, found that 70% of respondents said they will or might relocate to a less expensive state in the coming years, with housing costs a major issue. Twenty-seven percent said they would move out of Hawaii within the next five years. March 12, 2025 Senators Mentioned: Senator Stanley Chang Hawaii senators push bipartisan bill for new state holiday Original Article Star Advertiser Andrew Gomes The list of annual state holidays in Hawaii could grow by one under legislation that easily passed a milestone last week. State senators voted 25-0 to approve and send to the House of Representatives a bill that would make Nov. 28 La Ku‘oko‘a, or Hawaiian Independence Day, as Hawaii’s 14th official state holiday. The Legislature in 2023 passed a bill to designate Nov. 28 as La Ku‘oko‘a to celebrate a historical recognition of the kingdom of Hawaii’s independence dating to 1843. But that measure, which became Act 11, did not make the day a state holiday. Now state lawmakers, via Senate Bill 614 , are considering elevating La Ku‘oko‘a to an official holiday. “We celebrate Fourth of July, American Independence Day, as an official state holiday,” Sen. Kurt Fevella, a Republican who introduced the bill with two Democratic colleagues, Sens. Stanley Chang and Carol Fukunaga, said in the Senate chamber preceding Tuesday’s vote. “It’s a day when 13 American colonies separated from Great Britain,” said Fevella (R, Ewa Beach-Ocean Pointe-Iroquois Point). “But why haven’t we celebrated when Hawaii became a sovereign nation as a state holiday? … Colleagues, let’s stand together for the Independence Day of our Hawaii nei.” Testimony on SB 614 has been near-unanimously supportive, with written comments from about 35 people, the state Office of Hawaiian Affairs and the Association of Hawaiian Civic Clubs. Reese Flores, a Native Hawaiian student at the University of Hawaii, told two Senate committees during a Feb. 13 public hearing that La Ku‘oko‘a is an important part of Hawaiian history that deserves recognition. “We should be reminded that our ancestors fought and sought independence to keep our nation sovereign,” she said. On Nov. 28, 1843, Great Britain and France formally recognized, under a joint Anglo-Franco Proclamation, the kingdom of Hawaii as an independent nation — 50 years before the 1893 overthrow of the monarchy that preceded Hawaii’s 1898 annexation by the United States. The intent of SB 614 is stated to “recognize the compelling history of Hawaiian independence and memorialize the injustice of the overthrow of the Hawaiian Kingdom.” According to OHA, La Ku‘oko‘a, which literally means Independence Day, was celebrated as a national public holiday under the kingdom of Hawaii and then later by a provisional government, the republic of Hawaii and the territory of Hawaii. OHA said in written testimony that La Ku‘oko‘a merits joining Prince Jonah Kuhio Kalaniana‘ole Day, celebrated annually on March 26, and King Kamehameha I Day, observed annually on June 11, as Hawaiian cultural state holidays instituted by Hawaii lawmakers. Hawaii also observes Statehood Day as an official holiday annually on the third Friday in August to mark its 1959 admission as the country’s 50th state. Beighlee Vidinha, a Native Hawaiian student at UH, said during the Feb. 13 hearing that La Ku‘oko‘a is part of the identity of Hawaiians as sovereign people before identities as American citizens. “If we can honor Statehood Day and American Independence Day as state or federal holidays, we can honor La Ku‘oko‘a, an important indication of our independence and sovereignty as people,” she said. Kimmer Horsen testified at the same hearing to say in part that La Ku‘oko‘a as a state holiday would help educate children, newcomers and tourists about Hawaii’s history. “A bill for terminating Statehood Day would also be wise, as a suggestion,” she said. “This is a step in the right direction for true Hawaiian kingdom independence.” The only person to testify against the bill was Kenneth Conklin, a longtime opponent of the Hawaiian sovereignty movement. Conklin, in written testimony, characterized the bill as using a “182-year-old historical footnote” to give a small boost to “Hawaiian pride” at a large cost in money and undelivered government services. Luis Salaveria, director of the state Department of Budget and Finance, said in written testimony for a Feb. 28 Senate committee hearing on the bill that the loss of state labor and productivity for one day is valued at about $18.3 million from payroll expenses, including Social Security, Medicare and pension costs. Wilbert Holck, chief negotiator with the state Office of Collective Bargaining, said in written testimony that enacting a law to make La Ku‘oko‘a a state holiday would have no effect on public workers unless such a day off work were negotiated and agreed upon mutually. Nov. 28 is already a state holiday every five to six years when it aligns with Thanksgiving as the fourth Thursday in November. That happened in 2019 and 2024, and will happen again next in 2030. Current official state holidays >> New Year’s Day >> Martin Luther King Jr. Day >> Presidents Day >> Prince Jonah Kuhio Kalaniana‘ole Day >> Good Friday >> Memorial Day >> King Kamehameha I Day >> Independence Day >> Statehood Day >> Labor Day >> Veterans Day >> Thanksgiving Day >> Christmas Day March 10, 2025 Senators Mentioned: Senator Stanley Chang Senator Carol Fukunaga Education bill funding program that combines culture with academics, continues to advance Original Article Maui Now N/A Senate Bill 529 SD1 relating to education seeks to appropriate funds to expand the Hoʻākea Program, an educational initiative that integrates Hawaiian cultural practices with academic subjects to engage students and promote environmental stewardship. Senate Vice President Michelle N. Kidani (District 18 – Mililani Town, Waipi‘o Gentry, Crestview, Waikele, portion of Waipahu, Village Park, Royal Kunia) who chairs the Senate Committee on Education (EDU) announced the Senate’s passage of the bill as it continues on a path forward this legislative session. “Programs like Ho‘ākea create meaningful learning experiences for students that bridge culture, community, and education, fostering a deeper connection to their heritage and building a stronger sense of identity and responsibility,” said Kidani. “By incorporating traditional knowledge with modern curriculum, this initiative empowers our keiki to become the next generation of leaders.” “The impact of Ho‘ākea has truly been profound for our students, our families and our communities,” said Hawaiʻi State Department of Education (HIDOE) Superintendent Keith Hayashi. “Through hands-on learning stations, the mission of Hoʻākea is to inspire students to embrace the ‘Navigator Mindset’ and become the leaders, stewards, and critical thinkers that can navigate us into a better future.” According to Nainoa Thompson, Pwo Navigator and CEO of Polynesian Voyaging Society, “education is everything, it will determine our future of what we teach our children. I’ve seen the impact when there’s a bridge that’s created between the power of communities and families, and Ho‘ākea is that bridge to teachers who are the bridge to our schools.” Amy Hānaialiʻi Gilliom, Hui O Wa‘a Kaulua President, vocalist and songwriter, shared her strong support, writing,“using foundational values and perspectives of waʻa and ʻāina, students learn about, explore, and troubleshoot issues they experience daily – like coastal erosion, water and food security, emergency preparedness, and community resilience. Connecting place, culture, and history to core subjects like math, science, and social studies engage their natural curiosity and excitement to learn.” The bill now moves to the House for consideration. March 7, 2025 Senators Mentioned: Senator Michelle Kidani MORE ARTICLES

PRESS RELEASES ยังไม่มีโพสต์ที่เผยแพร่แล้วในภาษานี้ หลังจากที่โพสต์เผยแพร่แล้ว คุณจะเห็นข้อมูลที่นี่ MORE PRESS RELEASES NEWS ARTICLES READ MORE Bill to construct more ohana units passes Senate committee Original Article Star Advertiser Mia Anzalone The state Senate’s Housing Committee deferred a bill Tuesday that would have paid Hawaii homeowners and homebuyers to restrict occupants to locally employed residents, instead approving a bill to promote the construction of more accessory dwelling units, commonly known as ohana units, for workforce housing. House Bill 740 would establish the Accessory Dwelling Unit Financing and Deed Restriction Program to provide funding to the counties to distribute grants to eligible homeowners or homebuyers to construct ADUs with the condition that occupants of the property, including those living in primary or secondary units, must be employed, or use to be employed, at least 30 hours per week at a local business. The amended version of HB 740 defines ADUs as a “second dwelling unit that includes its own kitchen, bedroom and bathroom facilities, and is attached or detached from the primary dwelling unit.” The Senate’s approval of the measure ended the momentum for HB 739, which would have established the Kama‘aina Homes Program allowing counties to pay homeowners or homebuyers a sum of money under the condition that the home be occupied by at least one owner-occupant or tenant who works, or used to work, at a local business for at least 30 hours a week. Sen. Stanley Chang (D, Hawaii Kai-Kahala-Diamond Head), who chairs the Senate Housing Committee, told the Honolulu Star-Advertiser on Tuesday that HB 740 will be the “vehicle” for advancing the goals of both bills to increase the inventory of affordable workplace housing. At Tuesday’s public hearing, Chang said he appreciates the efforts to encourage more ADUs in Hawaii and wants the state to focus on the construction of new units rather than converting existing ones. “We need to shift away from a model where the state gives away money and never gets it back,” Chang said at the hearing. “The state needs to act as an investor that realizes a gain, an appreciation on the investment of its funds, which are, after all, taxpayer funds.” While both bills worked to enable the creation of more housing for the local workforce, Chang told the Star-Advertiser that HB 740 is one potential solution to creating low-cost financing for ADU construction statewide. “If the state spends a lot of money and no new housing is built, then I don’t think we’re getting any closer to solving the housing shortage,” he said. Chang noted during the hearing that similar grant programs already exist, citing Maui County’s ‘Ohana Assistance Pilot Project, which launched in July and provides grants of up to $100,000 to homeowners to design and construct attached or detached ADUs with a 10-year deed restriction to provide workforce housing. HB 740 is supported by a number of organizations, including the Hawaii Appleseed Center for Law and Economic Justice. In written testimony the center’s director of housing policy, Arjuna Heim, said the bill addresses financial barriers to constructing ADUs, which typically cost about $250 to $350 per square foot to build. The deed restriction, which was also a feature of the deferred HB 739, is a key aspect of HB 740, according to Heim. “The deed restriction requirements ensuring occupancy by local workers, maintaining employment within the county, demonstrate a thoughtful approach to preserving housing for Hawai‘i’s working families,” Heim said in written testimony. “This helps prevent the conversion of these units to vacation rentals or investment properties and help establish a locals-only market.” Joshua Wisch, president and executive director of the nonprofit Holomua Collaborative, which focuses on making Hawaii more affordable for working families, was a staunch supporter of HB 739 and said he was disappointed the bill was deferred. “We’ll have to see what was retained in the Senate draft before we can determine any future support,” Wisch said in a statement to the Star-Advertiser. “We still believe (the Kama‘aina Homes Program) can help create a dedicated and permanent housing supply for local working families, and are already exploring ways to lift the program up at a county level, come back to the Legislature next session or find other avenues to pursue it,” he said. A 2023 report by the University of Hawaii Economic Research Organization found that 20% of Hawaii residents had enough income to afford a single-family home costing $875,000. Another recent study by Holomua Collaborative, which surveyed 1,500 local workers with middle- to upper-middle incomes, found that 70% of respondents said they will or might relocate to a less expensive state in the coming years, with housing costs a major issue. Twenty-seven percent said they would move out of Hawaii within the next five years. March 12, 2025 Senators Mentioned: Senator Stanley Chang MORE ARTICLES

The official website of the Hawaiʻi Senate Majority Caucus. 2025 LEGISLATIVE SESSION WATCH HEARINGS UPCOMING HEARINGS FIND YOUR SENATOR OUR LEADERSHIP RONALD D. KOUCHI President of the Senate LORRAINE INOUYE Majority Whip MICHELLE N. KIDANI Vice President of the Senate HENRY J.C. AQUINO Assistant Majority Whip DRU MAMO KANUHA Majority Leader TROY N. HASHIMOTO Assistant Majority Whip GLENN WAKAI Majority Floor Leader JARRETT KEOHOKALOLE Assistant Majority Whip LYNN DECOITE Assistant Majority Floor Leader CHRIS LEE Assistant Majority Whip LES IHARA, JR. Majority Policy Leader HERBERT "TIM" RICHARDS, III Assistant Majority Whip STAY CONNECTED: Load More

PRINTABLE PDF VERSION

OUR CAUCUS Assistant Majority Whip Henry J.C. Aquino Senate District 19 Pearl City, Waipahu, Wet Loch Estates, Hono‘uli‘uli, Ho‘opili Stanley Chang Senate District 9 Hawai‘i Kai, Kuli‘ou‘ou, Niu, ‘Āina Haina, Wai‘alae-Kāhala, Diamond Head, Kaimukī, Kapahulu Lynn DeCoite Assistant Majority Floor Leader Senate District 7 Hāna, East and Upcountry Maui, Moloka‘i, Lāna‘i, Kaho‘olawe and Molokini Donovan M. Dela Cruz Senate District 17 Portion of Mililani, Mililani Mauka, portion of Waipi‘o Acres, Launani Valley, Wahiawā, Whitmore Village Brandon J.C. Elefante Senate District 16 ‘Aiea, ‘Aiea Heights, Hālawa, Pearlridge, Newtown, Royal Summit, Waimalu, Waiau, Momilani, Pacific Palisades, and Pearl City Carol Fukunaga Senate District 11 Mānoa, Makiki/Punchbowl, Tantalus and Papakōlea Mike Gabbard Senate District 21 Kapolei, Makakilo, Kalaeloa, portions of Fernandez Village, and ‘Ewa Troy N. Hashimoto Assistant Majority Whip Senate District 5 Wailuku, Kahului, Waihe‘e, Waikapu Mauka, Wai‘ehu Les Ihara, Jr. Majority Policy Leader Senate District 10 Pālolo, St. Louis Heights, Maunalani Heights, Ala Wai mauka, portions of Kaimukī, Kapahulu, Mō‘ili‘ili, McCully Lorraine R. Inouye Majority Whip Senate District 1 Hilo, Pauka‘a, Papaikou, Pepe‘ekeo Dru Mamo Kanuha Majority Leader Senate District 3 Kona, Ka‘ū, Volcano Jarrett Keohokalole Assistant Majority Whip Senate District 24 Kāne‘ohe, Kailua Michelle N. Kidani Vice President Senate District 18 Mililani Town, Waipi‘o Gentry, Crestview, Waikele, portion of Waipahu, Village Park, Royal Kunia Donna Mercado Kim Senate District 14 Kapālama, ‘Ālewa, Kalihi, Kalihi Valley, Ft. Shafter, Moanalua Gardens & Valley, Red Hill Ronald D. Kouchi President Senate District 8 Kaua'i, Ni'ihau Chris Lee Assistant Majority Whip Senate District 25 Kailua, Waimānalo, Hawai‘i Kai Angus L.K. McKelvey Senate District 6 West Maui, Mā‘alaea, Waikapū, South Maui Sharon Y. Moriwaki Senate District 12 Waikīkī, Ala Moana, Kaka‘ako, McCully Karl Rhoads Senate District 13 Dowsett Highlands, Pu‘unui, Nu‘uanu, Pacific Heights, Pauoa, Punchbowl, Pālama, Liliha, Iwilei, Chinatown, and Downtown Herbert M. "Tim" Richards III Assistant Majority Whip Senate District 4 North Hilo, Hāmākua, Kohala, Waimea, Waikoloa, North Kona Joy A. San Buenaventura Senate District 2 Puna Glenn Wakai Majority Floor Leader Senate District 15 Kalihi, Māpunapuna, Airport, Salt Lake, Āliamanu, Foster Village, Hickam, Pearl Harbor, and portions of ‘Aiea and Pearl City

About the Hawaiʻi Senate Majority Caucus ABOUT THE SENATE There are 25 members of the Hawaiʻi State Senate. Senators are elected to serve staggered four-year terms and are not subject to term limits. The presiding officer of the Senate is the Senate President. Other officers of the Senate include the Vice President, Majority Leader, Majority Caucus Leader, Majority Floor Leader/Whip, Majority Whip, and Assistant Majority Whip. The officers of the Senate are elected by a majority vote of the Senate members. The Hawaiʻi Senate Majority consists of 22 Democrats for the Thirty-Third Legislature, which will convene on January 15th, 2025.

PRESS RELEASES ยังไม่มีโพสต์ที่เผยแพร่แล้วในภาษานี้ หลังจากที่โพสต์เผยแพร่แล้ว คุณจะเห็นข้อมูลที่นี่ MORE PRESS RELEASES NEWS ARTICLES READ MORE Sen. DeCoite Honored by Friends of the Library of Hawaii Original Article The Molokai Dispatch The Molokai Dispatch Staff Last week, Hawaii Senator Lynn DeCoite was honored as the 2024 Legislator of the Year by the Friends of the Library of Hawaii (FLH) with their Mahalo Award. “Mahalo Sen. DeCoite for all that you do to support libraries and literacy, especially your work to promote the ‘Ohana Readers program,” shared FLH in a social media post. The Mahalo Award by FLH is presented to a Hawaii State Legislator who has shown considerable support for the Hawaii state public libraries in the previous year and throughout their career. “I am truly humbled and honored to be named the 2024 Legislator of the Year by FLH. It’s a privilege to continue supporting our public libraries, and I look forward to all the exciting possibilities ahead for our community,” shared DeCoite on social media. In honor of the award, copies of DeCoite’s favorite book, Curious George, will be donated to the Molokai Public Library and Hawaii State Library. February 27, 2025 Senators Mentioned: Senator Lynn DeCoite Housing, clean energy bills pass key Hawaii legislative committee Original Article Star Advertiser Dan Nakaso The critical state Senate Ways and Means Committee has moved out four bills on the eve of next week’s deadline to keep bills alive, including one that would provide more state funding to improve and upgrade low-income housing projects. Collectively, the four bills that passed the Senate’s finance committee would address some of Hawaii’s “most urgent needs during this legislative session,” Ways and Means Chair Donovan Dela Cruz (D, Mililani-Wahiawa-Whitmore Village) said in a statement. “Through these measures, we are investing in Hawai‘i’s future by building a more resilient, self-sustaining economy and a higher quality of life for our residents,” Dela Cruz said. Legislators in both the House and Senate are working to move out bills ahead of the March 6 deadline to send bills that originate in the House or Senate to the opposite chamber and keep them alive this session — or essentially kill them by the “crossover” deadline. The bills that passed out of WAM this week are: >> The latest version of SB 65, which would fund repair and maintenance needs for residents in low-income housing projects. The upgrades are just one part of the state’s overall strategy to provide affordable housing for virtually all income levels to help make Hawaii more affordable and stem the exodus of residents leaving for states with lower housing costs. Hawaii needs an estimated 50,000 additional affordable housing units. >> The latest version of SB 125, which would create tax incentives for local farmers and businesses that process local farm products, to help them compete with outside markets. >> The latest version of SB 448, which would help maintain agriculture lands involved in food production, especially in Central Oahu. It would allow the state Agribusiness Development Corp. to preserve the lands for food production. >> The latest version of SB 1269, which would provide funding to the state Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism to look at geothermal energy potential in the neighbor islands — particularly Hawaii island, home to the Puna Geothermal Venture, which generates power from geothermal gas from Kilauea Volcano. Exploring more geothermal energy opportunities would be part of Hawaii’s larger effort to find clean, reliable and cost-effective energy and reach its net-zero carbon emissions goal while providing more affordable power. DBEDT Director James Tokioka said in written support of SB 1260 that “Hawaii’s heavy reliance on imported fossil fuels has historically resulted in some of the highest electricity costs in the nation. “Increasing our geothermal capacity presents a strategic opportunity to enhance grid reliability, reduce dependency on volatile global oil markets, and provide cost-effective energy solutions that benefit both businesses and consumers.” Geothermal energy also has the potential to expand a tech industry that, Tokioka said, could spur “future economic growth, particularly in sectors such as advanced manufacturing and data centers. These industries depend on reliable and affordable electricity to remain competitive. Without a stable energy supply, Hawaii risks losing out on investment opportunities that could otherwise diversify our economy, create high paying jobs, and foster technological innovation.” But Keoni Shizuma opposes expanding geothermal technology. He and others submitted identically worded testimony in opposition that said: “Unlike wind, solar, or wave energy generation, geothermal requires permanent damage and desecration to the environment. The drilling into the ‘aina, once done, can’t be undone. “In Hawaiian culture, the surface of the ground is sometimes seen as a body form of our goddess Papahanaumoku. To drill into the ground would be to desecrate parts of her, while if wind, solar, or even wave energy generation was pursued, all the structures would be temporary and merely sit on the surface (or in the ocean). “I would request that out of respect for Hawaiian cultural values and beliefs, Hawaii not pursue geothermal energy generation. We live in the perfect environment for innovations in renewable energy technology. Let Hawaii become a leader in new techniques and technologies in this field, push forth the field at University of Hawaii, and learn from international leaders of energy technology.” Hawaii County Mayor Kimo Alameda said in his written testimony that the Big Island’s early geothermal efforts have “not yet translated into tangible economic outcomes. Now is the time to take the next step, to see if these resources can be developed to power our economy and benefit our communities.” The bill would ensure safeguards for construction of a future geothermal power plant, Alameda wrote. “This roadmap is designed with clear, measurable benchmarks so that legislators can easily assess whether or not the project is on track. If the benchmarks are met, it will demonstrate that this is a wise investment for the state, with the potential for significant returns in the form of reliable, renewable energy. If the benchmarks are not met, the legislature will have the clarity to redirect funds and efforts elsewhere. This approach ensures that we only continue to invest in geothermal if it proves to be a commercially viable and sustainable solution for Hawaii’s energy future.” The latest version of SB 65 has received no written opposition. Its House companion, House Bill 907, has not been scheduled for a hearing and appears unlikely to cross over to the Senate. In written testimony in support of SB 65, Hakim Ouansafi — executive director of the Hawaii Public Housing Authority — wrote, “The age of Hawaii’s public housing inventory presents significant challenges” to house people that include families that earn less than 30% of the area median income, people with disabilities and kupuna. “Many properties were constructed over 50 years ago and require extensive updates to remain safe and habitable, and the HPHA faces a capital needs backlog of approximately $720 million,” Ouansafi wrote. “Additional funding is urgently needed to address this backlog and to ensure public housing units remain safe, decent and sanitary and available to those who need them most. As the HPHA relies on federal funding for approximately 90% of its operations, and as this funding is tied to unit occupancy, the rehabilitation of vacant units is critical to maximizing federal support. The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) does not subsidize vacant units, and HPHA’s administrative fees to pay staff are also tied to occupancy, compounding the urgency of this work.” Catholic Charities Hawaii wrote in support of increased funding, in part because it will make affordable units available “to house homeless persons and many elders who face homelessness. The HPHA offers the most affordable housing available to the community. Tenants pay only 30% of their incomes for rent. This makes these units affordable even to homeless persons, seniors struggling with limited income, and very low-income families. However, many units cannot be occupied due to health and safety issues in the units. These units must be brought into shape ASAP to house our state’s residents with extremely limited incomes. “These units are ‘low hanging fruit’ that should be immediately repaired to add them to our inventory of safe and decent housing,” Catholic Charities wrote. “These units do not need to wait years for permits or construction. Legislative funding could make them available very fast compared with funding for new construction.” February 26, 2025 Senators Mentioned: Senator Donovan M. Dela Cruz Senate committee advances key bills on housing, agriculture, businesses and energy Original Article Maui Now The Senate Committee on Ways and Means, led by State Sen. Donovan Dela Cruz, passed several key bills this week aimed at tackling housing shortages, supporting local businesses, and advancing sustainability in Hawai‘i. “We’re continuing to take proactive steps in addressing some of Hawai‘i’s most urgent needs during this legislative session,” Dela Cruz said. “Through these measures, we are investing in Hawai‘i’s future by building a more resilient, self-sustaining economy and a higher quality of life for our residents.” The following bills were passed out of the WAM Committee this week: SB 65 SD2: Relating to housing – This bill addresses the repair and maintenance needs for Hawai‘i’s public housing units used by some of the state’s most vulnerable populations. As the Senate continues to prioritize the availability of housing, bringing existing housing inventory back online is critical to addressing the housing shortage. SB 125 SD1: Relating to State Enterprise Zones – Enterprise zones create tax incentives that can be used to provide local small businesses with incentives to develop and scale their operations. This bill helps local farmers and businesses that process local farm products stay competitive in both local and global markets. SB 448 SD1: Relating to Agriculture – Maintaining O‘ahu’s agricultural lands in production is vital for food resilience and security, especially in Central O‘ahu’s remaining agricultural heartland. This measure enables the Agribusiness Development Corporation to preserve these lands by ensuring they remain productive through a negotiated conservation easement. SB 1269 SD1: Geothermal resources – This bill allocates funds to the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism to explore geothermal energy in counties with less than 300,000 residents. The goal is to use this clean, reliable, and cost-effective energy source to help the state reach net-zero carbon emissions, while still providing affordable power for homes and businesses. February 25, 2025 Senators Mentioned: Senator Donovan M. Dela Cruz MORE ARTICLES