#State Senate

A House bill that would authorize victims of sex trafficking to file civil lawsuits against their perpetrators has passed unanimously in the Senate Judiciary Committee. Now, it advances to the full Senate floor for second reading. Voting in favor in committee on Tuesday were committee Chair Karl Rhoads and Sens. Stanley Chang and Joy San […]

The bill secures that no law or state action can interfere with the ability to obtain birth control, including methods like IUDs and emergency contraceptives. 

Companion House and Senate bills make way for the eventual return of Kalaupapa Settlement on Molokaʻi with the rest of Maui County, but after a transparent and extensive public outreach process.

A bill to help with rebuilding historic Lahaina town advanced Monday afternoon out of the Senate Water and Land Committee, chaired by Sen. Lorraine Inouye of Hilo, Hawaiʻi Island.

Dissatisfied by state Department of Land and Natural Resources’ management of small boating facilities, West and South Maui Sen. Angus McKelvey has drafted a bill to transfer maintenance and operations of Māla wharf in Lahaina and the Kīhei boat ramp to Maui County. Under the bill, the County could set permit fees to generate revenue for the facilities’ upkeep.

Maui’s affordable housing crisis is spurring some creative ways to increase the island’s housing inventory, including a bill to encourage mixed-use developments introduced by Sen. Angus McKelvey (West and South Maui, Mā‘alaea and Waikapū) and a half-dozen other senators.

The Green Party Hawai’i announced that it will be on the ballot for the 2024 election. Green Party of Hawaiʻi’s first candidate to benefit from ballot access is Jackie Keefe, of Maui, who is running for State Senate seat in District 6.

Maui senators secured several key assignments. Senator Lynn DeCoite was named Majority Assistant Floor Leader, and Chair of the Energy, Economic Development and Tourism committee; Senator Gil Keith-Agaran was named Majority Assistant Whip, and Vice-Chair of the powerful Ways and Means Committee; and Senator Angus McKelvey secured the chairmanship of the Government Operations Committee. 

The State is seeking nominations to the Commission on Water Resource Management.  A Nominating Committee will screen the applicants and send to the Governor the names of at least three individuals for a single open position. The Water Commission is composed of seven members that have jurisdiction and final authority on matters relating to implementation […]

Norman Sakamoto, 2010 candidate for Lt. Governor of Hawaii, Transcript:    Introduction: Aloha, My name is Norman Sakamoto.  I’m running for the very important office of Lt. Governor.  There are many issues facing our state, but certainly jobs and education are at the top.  A brief background:  I’m a building contractor, a civil engineer.  I went to University […]

Longtime Protect Kahoolawe Ohana organizer and spokesperson, Davianna Pomaikai McGregor was appointed to serve on the Kahoolawe Island Reserve Commission. Governor Linda Lingle made the appointment, which is still subject to state Senate confirmation.  McGregor, who is a professor at the University of Hawaii at Manoa, has participated as a consultant in numerous studies and […]

Governor Linda Lingle today nominated Associate Justice Mark E. Recktenwald to serve as Chief Justice of the Hawai‘i State Supreme Court.  If confirmed, Recktenwald, 54, would succeed Chief Justice Ronald Moon to become Hawai‘i’s fifth Chief Justice; serving an initial 10-year term as the head of the State’s highest court, while overseeing the Hawai‘i Judiciary. “I […]

Maui has a new District Court Judge.  Chief Justice Ronald T. Y. Moon appointed Blaine J. Kobayashi as judge of the District Court of the Second Circuit (islands of Maui, Lanai and Molokai).  Kobayashi fills the vacancy created by the expiration of the term of Judge Simone Polak. A partner with the Carlsmith Ball law […]

Governor Linda Lingle today issued an executive order to establish surfing reserves at two of Hawai‘i’s most well-known surfing areas.  The executive order “acknowledges the cultural, sports and historic significance of important surf sites in Hawai‘i,” and “raises public awareness about the importance of protecting, nourishing and developing Hawai‘i’s world famous surf sites.” The Governor’s […]

Governor Linda Lingle today nominated former U.S. Attorney Edward H. Kubo, Jr. to serve as a Circuit Court judge of the First Circuit (O‘ahu).  If confirmed by the State Senate, Kubo will fill the vacant seat created by the retirement of Judge Frances Wong. Lingle released a statement in support of her nomination saying, “Ed […]

Governor Linda Lingle today named Craig H. Nakamura to serve as the chief judge of the Hawai’i Intermediate Court of Appeals. Nakamura served as an associate judge on the Intermediate Court of Appeals since April 2004.  If confirmed by the State Senate, he would fill the seat left vacant by former Chief Judge Mark Recktenwald, […]