Hawaii Politics

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Background

Analysis and news on the current state of the Legislature, Administration and political shifts in Hawaii.

Primarily Voting For Change
  • Analysis

If change is your primary concern, show up to vote in the Democratic Primary on August 11, or take advantage of early voting and same day registration options: The Hawaii Independent's 2018 Primary Election Guides Read More »

Evan Tector
Kauai County Primary Election Guide
  • Explainer

Your one-stop guide for primary election races in the County of Kauai, with associated research and media links. Read More »

Oahu County Primary Election Guide
  • Explainer

Your one-stop guide for primary election races in the County of Oahu, with associated research and media links. Read More »

Maui County Primary Election Guide
  • Explainer

Your one-stop guide for primary election races in the County of Maui, with associated research and media links. Read More »

Hawaii County Primary Election Guide
  • Explainer

Your one-stop guide for primary election races in the County of Hawaiʻi, with associated research and media links. Read More »

Maui candidate urges supporters to refrain from retaliation after campaign signs vandalized
  • News Report
Will Caron
How Hawaii’s Berniecrats won the state convention
  • First-Hand Report

While the self-styled Progressive Wing of the Hawaiʻi Democratic Party was unable to fend off a coordinated establishment effort to elect a corporate lobbyist as party chair, they dominated the rest of the 2018 convention. Read More »

Will Caron
Founder, publisher of theHI announces council candidacy
  • Announcement

Ikaika Hussey enters the race for Honolulu City Council in the 6th District. Read More »

What just happened at the State House?
  • Discussion

Reps. Ito and Tokioka just lost their leadership positions on the House veterans committee, and it might have been because of a planned coup to overthrow House leadership. Read More »

Will Caron
Governor Ige’s 2018 State of the State Address
  • Verbatim

“Building a Hawaiʻi for Our Children” Read More »

Saving David Ige
  • Analysis

What bold, progressive move should the governor make to secure the progressive vote on August 11? Members of that community weigh in. Read More »

Will Caron
Ige responds to Rep. Hanabusa’s 2018 challenge, touts record of “hard work” over politics
  • Press Release

The governor claims to have eliminated favoritism and pay-to-play cronyism in state government. Read More »

Gabbard will face Congressional challenger in 2018
  • Announcement

Her challenger will be another woman leader with a military background and a strong environmental track record. Read More »

Neighbor island legislative public access workshops
  • Announcement
State house reorganizes amid Rail session
  • Announcement

The House of Representatives today adopted a resolution formalizing new committee assignments Read More »

Governor appoints Chris Todd to fill late Rep. Clift Tsuji’s seat
  • News Report

Todd was one of three nominees selected by Hawai‘i County Democratic Party Read More »

Anti-TPP protest planned for president’s IUCN appearance reflects party differences
  • Analysis

The protest, planned by Sanders delegates--many of whom are Democratic Party newcomers--will take place tomorrow outside the East-West Center Read More »

Will Caron
Kauai Council passes measure prohibiting members from asking testifiers questions of substance →
Right wing ruckus
  • Verbatim

HIRA leadership lashes out at state GOP chair (again) for failing to increase the number of elected Republicans in Hawaii. Read More »

What killed Hawaii’s sex trafficking bill?
  • Discussion

A step in the right direction toward combating sex trafficking in Hawaii has been torpedoed by some of the very people trying to end the exploitive practice; the evidence points to internal political squabbling as the reason. Read More »

Will Caron
Republican reps ask Souki to stand down on ethics commission complaint
  • News Report

State reps. Ward and McDermott say the speaker has overstepped his authority, praise commission's executive director, Les Kondo, for his firm enforcement of the state ethics code. Read More »

Will Caron
Senate committees finalized
  • Announcement

After the senate shakeup that happened at the tail end of the legislative session, the State Senate, now under Ron Kouchi and the Opihi faction, has announced its newly formed committees and their chairs. Read More »

The Carleton Ching withdrawal is a victory for Hawaii constituents
  • Discussion

Regardless of whether you think Carleton Ching would fix the DLNR or favor developer interests that jeopardize our resources, the results of this strange confirmation process show that our voices can, and do, matter. We must stay engaged. Read More »

Will Caron
Eight lessons from the Carleton Ching nomination
  • Discussion

Governor Ige instigated a political crisis by nominating a developer's lobbyist to watch over Hawaii's natural resources. Here are some of the lessons that this crisis taught Hawaii about our political culture. Read More »

Ikaika M Hussey
Return of the Shield Law?
  • News Report

A new shield law bill introduced by House majority leader Scott Saiki is working its way through the legislative process this session. Read More »

Will Caron
Opening Day provides sampling of Hawaii’s important issues
  • News Report

The activists and members of the public gathered in the rotunda for the opening day of the 2015 legislative session reflected a sampling of the issues and problems most important to those engaged in Hawaii's future. Read More »

Will Caron
Rep. Carroll resigns over health
  • Press Release

State Representative Mele Carroll delivered her letters of resignation to Governor Ige and Speaker Souki today. Ige has 60 days to name a replacement. Read More »

Tsuji assigned House Ag Chairmanship

His assignment is a major example of the State House moving in the opposite direction from the Senate. Read More »

Will Caron
State Senate will lean left, House will go right
  • Analysis

In analyzing the power shifts in leadership and committee assignments for the upper house of the Hawaii State Legislature, we predict a more liberal Senate in the 2015-16 Legislature. But the House will likely shift right. Read More »

Will Caron
Hawaiʻi Senate picks committee assignments

The Hawai‘i State Senate has chosen its leadership and committee assignments for the Twenty‐Eighth Legislature (2015‐2016). Read More »

“Not business as usual”
  • Verbatim
Ikaika M Hussey