Hawaii budget shortfall now projected to be $2.3 billion
There was a lot of guesswork involved, but a panel of experts concluded Thursday that state tax collections will drop by 7% this fiscal year and another 12% next year. Read more
Kevin Dayton
Kevin Dayton previously served as the Capitol bureau chief at the Honolulu Star-Advertiser.
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Tourists could begin to return to Hawaii by late summer, economic report says
The latest economic projections from the University of Hawaii Economic Research Organization suggest it will take at least two years for the mainland economy to recover from the coronavirus pandemic. Read more
Hooser resigns his post as Democratic Party vice chairman to endorse Iwamoto
Former state Sen. Gary Hooser has resigned as vice chairman of the Hawaii Democratic Party so he can endorse Kim Coco Iwamoto in her challenge to House Speaker Scott Saiki. Read more
House Speaker Scott Saiki lays off 3 in House, cancels contracts
House Speaker Scott Saiki is laying off three permanent staff members in the state House of Representatives and canceling computer upgrades and some copier contracts to cut costs. Read more
State issues strict new child care facility requirements to cope with COVID-19 threat
State officials released strict new guidelines Tuesday for Hawaii child care facilities that are operating now or plan to reopen during the COVID-19 pandemic, and also announced $11.9 million grant funding to try to stabilize and support child care operators. Read more
Hawaii lawmakers try to move COVID-19 relief money out of Ige’s reach
Frustration builds between Gov. David Ige and the state Legislature Thursday as lawmakers voted to move more than $1.3 billion into the state’s “rainy day” budget reserve fund. Read more
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Hawaii lawmakers’ frustration with Gov. Ige heats up as they move $1.3B into ‘rainy day’ fund
Sens. Russell Ruderman and Laura Thielen criticized the decision to deposit such large sums in the rainy day fund when many Hawaii residents cannot afford food or rent. Read more
Honolulu police have rearrested dozens of inmates released due to coronavirus, lawmakers told
Honolulu police already have rearrested 47 people who were released from jail in recent weeks as part of the effort to reduce the inmate population to prevent the spread of COVID-19 in the state correctional system, lawmakers were told Wednesday. Read more
Despite urgent social needs, Hawaii legislators decide to bank state and federal funds
Lawmakers are poised to stash more than $1.6 billion in state and federal funding in the state’s “rainy day” budget reserve fund at a time when Hawaii residents are hurting from the highest unemployment rate in generations. Read more
Gov. David Ige faces the dilemma of eventually reopening to both tourists and new infections
Hawaii’s extraordinary success in curbing the local spread of COVID-19 has left Gov. David Ige with a dilemma unlike any in the nation. Read more
Hawaii lawmakers delaying their salary increases along with increases for governor, judges
A key Senate committee Thursday approved a bill to delay raises for the governor, state lawmakers and judges as part of the state response to the hard times brought on by the coronavirus pandemic. Read more
Hawaii to tap ‘Pandemic EBT’ program for an extra $25M in food aid
State officials plan to start a new program that will allow all families with children who receive free lunches at public schools to also get help from the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, better known as food stamps. Read more
Ige says there is no ‘immediate need’ for public worker pay cuts
There is no “immediate need” to consider pay cuts or furloughs for public workers to cope with the budget crisis triggered by the coronavirus, according to a video statement recorded by Gov. David Ige and distributed to public employees this week. Read more
New construction budget draft features $76 million for new Wahiawa civic center
State senators unveiled a multibillion-dollar state construction budget Wednesday that features a $76 million appropriation for a new civic center and judiciary complex for Wahiawa. Read more
Hawaii lawmakers return to Capitol to fix $1.5B budget shortfall to avoid furloughing state workers
Masked state lawmakers gathered at the Capitol on Monday, returning to work in floor sessions where they sat 6 feet away from one another in a striking display of caution that illustrates how much has changed with the rapid spread of COVID-19 across the state and the country. Read more
2 coronavirus clusters in Hawaii involved people who went to parties, Maj. Gen. Kenneth Hara says
“Two of the clusters were related to large parties that spread. One person, if you look like two or three levels down, infecting almost 60 people,” Hara said. Read more
Tax collections tank as Hawaii lawmakers plan budget fixes to avoid public worker furloughs
State tax collections collapsed even more quickly than expected last month as tourism and much of the rest of the economy shut down in response to the new coronavirus pandemic, according to tax data released Friday. Read more
Hawaii lawmakers to reconvene in a trimmed session to patch budget holes
Hawaii lawmakers will return to the state Capitol on Monday to reconvene to advance proposals to try to prevent furloughs and pay cuts for public workers. Read more
Hawaii lawmakers will return to Capitol on Monday to help patch huge state budget hole
Lawmakers are anxious to head off any effort by Gov. David Ige to impose furloughs. Read more
Some isle malls can reopen, but Oahu and Maui must wait
Hawaii will take a step toward an economic relaunch Thursday when some neighbor island retail outlets, shopping malls and some other businesses are allowed to reopen, but Gov. David Ige warned that health officials expect the number of COVID-19 cases will increase in the weeks ahead as authorities gradually relax the statewide stay-home order. Read more
Gov. David Ige delays reopening of shopping malls on Oahu and Maui
Gov. David Ige clarified tonight that Maui and Oahu will not be reopening their malls and retail outlets just yet. Read more
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