Subsistence fishers, lineal descendants of Hāʻena and community members from across Kaua‘i and the rest of the state testified in support of the Hāʻena Community Based Subsistence Fishing Area rules. Read More »
While state laws and the Honolulu Police Department's policies regarding domestic violence cases need some improvement, experts say it is HPD's poor enforcement of these laws and policies that is the real factor in continuing cycles of domestic violence in Hawaiʻi. Read More »
The TMT project breaks ground next Tuesday, and protesters are concerned they won't be able to demonstrate because Hawaiʻi County Police has recommended that UH close off access to Mauna Kea during the ceremony. Read More »
After an investigation into alleged ethics violations, State Rep. and former City Councilmember Romy Cachola has been ordered to pay a $50,000 fine. Read More »
The consequences to the university's flagship campus, should the Board of Regents refuse a faculty demand for overhaul of board policies that promote interference and micromanagement, could be disastrous. Read More »
A retired U.S. Army lieutenant colonel and civilian contractor will spend more than seven years in federal prison after he was convicted on espionage charges. Read More »
The city's “compassionate disruption” strategy does more to hide the houseless problem from tourists than it does actually solve the underlying problems that lead to houselessness. Read More »
Senate Republicans unanimously voted against a proposed constitutional amendment today that would, among other things, repeal Citizens United. Read More »
At the request of the recently created Medical Marijuana Dispensary Task Force, the Hawaiʻi Legislative Reference Bureau has created an updated report on the feasibility of a medical marijuana dispensary program. Read More »
In the wake of Iselle, Hawai‘i County's agriculture industry was adversely impacted to the point that the USDA declared the island a major disaster zone today. Read More »
The disaster relief organization is calling on governments and international organizations at the Conference on Small Island Developing States to take concrete actions to reduce climate-change related disaster risks. Read More »
A report by the National Parks Service shows that commercial tour operators have been taking advantage of the Arizona Memorial's free passes policy to make a profit, while under the less-than-watchful eyes of the memorial's operators. Read More »
After the U.S. Human Rights Network presented information on continuing racial discrimination and human rights violations, the committee submitted a report with recommendations for the U.S. government. Read More »
Kauaʻi residents and community leaders respond to a federal court ruling in the lawsuit brought by chemical companies against Kauaʻi's Ordinance 960: “This battle is far from over.” Read More »
The ACLU and a group of Pahoa residents have filed lawsuit over alleged voting rights violations that came as a result of bad legislative practices in the wake of Hurricane Iselle. Read More »
Senior faculty researchers and Director Carbone continue to share highly different, opposing explanations of what is going on at the UH Cancer Center. Read More »
The Elderts family and its supporters will hold a rally tonight in the wake of the not-guilty verdict handed down in the murder trial of Christopher Deedy. Read More »
U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry made a speech at the East-West Center on Wednesday confirming that, in the 21st century, United States foreign policy would be increasingly directed at the Asia-Pacific region. Read More »
Our analysis of the candidates for OHA appearing in the primary election ballot, based on their responses to a questionnaire created by Ka Wai Ola. Read More »
The Independent sent follow up questions to Sen. Roz Baker and President Lassner in an attempt to shed light on the mysterious support Dr. Michele Carbone continues to receive. Read More »
The University System administration and President Lassner's decision to continue defending the unit director largely responsible for Chancellor Apple's removal jeopardizes both the future of the Cancer Center and the standing of the University as a whole. Read More »
Tom Apple sent a letter to President Lassner last night in which he refutes the vague and general criticisms in his performance evaluation with factual examples of his exemplary performance. Read More »
Chancellor Apple's removal after only two years on the job is a reflection of political in-fighting and dysfunction within the university, not on the performance of his duties. Read More »
Watchdog.org reports that one fourth of Hawaii's population now qualifies for Medicaid following implementation of the Affordable Care Act. Read More »
The League of Women Voters has criticized a Kim campaign tactic urging her supporters to take a picture of their ballot and post to social media. Read More »
Hawai‘i Island OHA Trustee Robert Lindsey tells The Independent why he pushed for OHA to withdraw from the Thirty Meter Telescope contested case. Read More »
An exchange of letters between a Hawaiian political leader and a U.S. senator in 1897 reflects the central questions of today's Hawaiian sovereignty movement. Read More »
The executive office continues to fill vacancies on state agency boards with new appointments to the Land Use Commission and the Hawaiʻi Housing Finance and Development Corporation Read More »
Government transparency advocacy groups make their pick for this year's most altered, unrecognizable and least transparent bill of the 2014 legislative session. Read More »
After Governor Abercrombie let the new financial disclosure law pass without his signature, the tally of state officials that have resigned from agency boards continues to rise.
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The FAA clarifies that the waiver it granted to the air-born banner advertisement company does not supersede either state or local laws, including the 1927 billboard ban.
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Progressive Democrats of Hawaii and Americans for Democratic Action, Hawaii will hold a speed dating forum with democratic candidates running in the first congressional district primary election. Read More »
The Star-Advertiser reports on “potential reductions” in military spending and presence being studied as a way to lend “flexibility” to decision makers. Read More »
DLNR's Esther Kia‘aina was confirmed by the United States Senate as Assistant Secretary for Insular Areas at the U.S. Department of the Interior today. Read More »
The proposed sublease rent rates UH plans on charging the TMT LLC totals to roughly three times what the state will charge, in total, developer Forest City to build the 690 Pohukaina apartment building complex. Read More »
Governor Abercrombie announced a plan today to address discrepancies between the budget and bond-authorization bills preventing each from being signed. Read More »
The Hawaii Republican Assembly's letter criticizing the Hawaii Republican Party leadership already caused Colleen Meyer to quit the assembly. As she prepares to take on the HIRA-friendly candidate for Clayton Hee's senate seat, Richard Fale, we wonder what else this internal bickering could lead to. Read More »
The BLNR voted today to approve public hearings regarding the adoption of a new rule that would create a subsistence fishing area on Kaua‘i. Read More »
Sampling by the DOH reveals Oahu's urban streams have the highest number of pesticides, but that most pesticide levels are still below EPA benchmarks. Read More »
The Honolulu Ethics Commission has found probable cause of ethics violations by a city employee involving accepting gifts and a misuse of sick leave. Read More »
A letter sent out by UH faculty members addressed to the Board of Regents outlines four primary concerns over Wiercinski's status as a finalist for UH President and invites members of the community to attach their names via online petition. Read More »
The Senate confirmed Brian Tamamoto to one of HCDA's two "small business" seats on April 24. The thing is, Tamamoto's company is a subsidiary of Kobayashi Group, a major developer ($3 billion worth so far) and anything but a small business. Read More »
Colleen Hanabusa's introduction of a bill that would expand the Pohakuloa training area ignores Native Hawaiian, environmental, civilian concerns in favor of an Imitate Inouye policy. Read More »
The BOE chairman's Senate re-appointment confirmation hearing could become a flash point for the first skirmish of the new year between the groups that fought over same-sex marriage in October. Read More »
In an attempt to get a GMO-labeling bill heard this session, Rep. Wooley turned to a legislative strategy that most would agree is, usually, a less-than-savory tactic. Read More »
With assaults from two highly pervasive pests destroying iconic big island crops, the Legislature is working on bills that would send funding to reinforce Hawaiʻi's farmers.
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Yesterday, the House and Senate Committees on Education (EDN, EDU) met to discuss education bills that have crossed over from each chamber. Read More »
In its official statement regarding the TMT lease proposal, OHA lists concerns over the rent-terms of the lease and about forgone revenues, but says nothing about opposing the project itself. Read More »
After an informational briefing highlighted the medicinal values and outlined the path and roadblocks to implementation of marijuana dispensaries, Rep. Della Au Belatti calls for "steady, measured and reasonable dialogue" on the subject. Read More »
Amid an ongoing lawsuit and student-led demonstrations, the UH Board of Regents met today and voted for a planned sublease that would allow the Thirty Meter Telescope project to proceed. Read More »
What you need to know about the state regulatory entity responsible for addressing ethical issues involving legislators, registered lobbyists, and state employees. Read More »
Thursday's “People Not Profits” rally brought together grassroots organizations lobbying on a variety of issues, all unified by the message that our government should serve the people, not corporations and developers.
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Investing in our keiki through effective early-ed programs will save the state money in the long run, if the governor's proposal finds support in the legislature. The question is the overall quality of the program. Read More »
While the governor's call to bring home more Hawaii convicts from the mainland is a positive step, it does little to fix the root problems with Hawaii's prison system. Read More »
A federal class-action lawsuit challenges the state’s alleged failure to cover the real costs of caring for Hawaii’s most disadvantaged children Read More »
With Rep. Brower agreeing to put down his sledge hammer and hang up his cape, we decided to take a look at his 2013 voting record on bills relating to housing and the houseless. Read More »
Political correspondent Will Caron interviewed Honolulu city councilmember Stanley Chang, who is a candidate for the US House of Representatives. The full interview is available in the app edition. Read More »
The ‘Ewa Development Plan is based on a more-than-thirty-year-old vision of a “second-city;” a new urban center in Kapolei and the ‘Ewa plains – long before “sustainability,” “urban sprawl” and “food security” were terms on people’s lips. Read More »
Patricia Ann Park, an Assistant Superintendent, will now head Educator Evaluation efforts, which was a sticking point in labor negotiations Read More »