Honolulu Civil Beat

As Hawaiʻi island prepares to enact a ban on single-use plastic serviceware, a coalition in Hilo is rolling out the nation’s first comprehensive city-wide reuse program with over $3 million in seed funding. The disposable cups, plates and bowls that make it possible to eat and drink on the run typically don’t receive much attention on their one-way trips to the landfill. But what happens when that landfill reaches capacity and you have to start trucking waste across the island?

The public’s confidence and trust depend on the commission’s actions and must be beyond reproach for it to be attained. Integrity, public trust, and public confidence are indispensable core values and concepts of government entities that I expanded upon during my recent interview by the Hawaiʻi State Elections Commission at a hearing held on June 10 to consider applicants for the position of a new commission chair from eight applicants.

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The Garden Isle has a higher wildfire risk than most counties in the country. Weeds beneath elevated homes and leaning surfboards, brooms and other items against the exterior walls are common sights on Kaua‘i, but they also make structures vulnerable to igniting from a wildfire ember.

A ballot full of candidates is running in the primary election to lead Maui Nui. There are 10 candidates on the ballot for the Aug. 8 primary election to select the final candidates for the Maui County Mayor. The two finalists will face voters in the Hawaiʻi General Election on Nov. 3. All are running on a nonpartisan platform. Incumbent Richard Bissen was first elected to the office in 2023 and soon faced the crisis of the Maui wildfires.

Candidates running for the Honolulu Council District 4 seat have vastly different resources to draw on. Honolulu Council Chair Tommy Waters is sitting on a $320,000 war chest and has so far spent $130,000 in his bid for reelection to Honolulu Council District 4, the latest state campaign finance reports show.

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“I will focus on two things: speeding up permit and project reviews so homes can actually get built, and investing in water, wastewater and roadway infrastructure that unlocks home building.” Civil Beat has asked candidates for the primary election on Aug. 8 to answer a survey about where they stand on various issues and what their priorities will be if elected. There are 10 candidates on the primary ballot and the top two finalists will go through to the General Election ballot in November.

“I will champion a $100,000 living wage for our emergency first responders, nurses and teachers.” Civil Beat has asked candidates for the primary election on Aug. 8 to answer a survey about where they stand on various issues and what their priorities will be if elected. There are 10 candidates on the primary ballot and the top two finalists will go through to the General Election ballot in November. The following comes from  Callahan Welsh, nonpartisan candidate for Maui County Mayor.

“Protecting our groundwater and nearshore waters is critical, but many families cannot afford a cesspool conversion.” Civil Beat has asked candidates for the primary election on Aug. 8 to answer a survey about where they stand on various issues and what their priorities will be if elected. There are 10 candidates on the primary ballot and the top two finalists will go through to the General Election ballot in November.