Honolulu, Hawaiʻi — State Representative Mark Hashem has been named the 2026 National Children's Alliance (NCA) Champion for Children State Advocacy Award recipient in recognition of his leadership and advocacy on behalf of Hawaiʻi's children and Children's Justice Centers. Representative Hashem was honored during the 2026 NCA Recognition Awards ceremony on June 29, 2026, at The Westin DC Downtown in Washington, D.C. The Champion for Children State Advocacy Award recognizes

Kāneʻohe, Hawaiʻi – Representatives Lisa Kitagawa and Scot Z. Matayoshi invite the community to support local keiki by participating in the Sixth Annual Castle Complex School Supply Drive. Residents can donate school supplies to help students prepare for the upcoming school year by dropping off donations on July 11 and 12 at Windward Mall. The drive is organized in partnership with the Castle Alumni/Community Association, Windward Mall, and other Kāne‘ohe community organiza

Honolulu, Hawaiʻi — State Representative Nicole E. Lowen (District 7 - Kailua-Kona, Honokōhau, Kalaoa, Pu‘uanahulu, Puakō, portion of Waikoloa) has been named the 2026 Legislative Ambassador of the Year by the Electric Vehicle Association (EVA), a national organization dedicated to accelerating the adoption of electric transportation across the United States. The award recognizes Representative Lowen for her efforts in championing EV-friendly legislation in Hawaiʻi with bot

Honolulu, Hawaiʻi — The Simplifying Permitting for Enhanced Economic Development (SPEED) Task Force convened a public meeting on Wednesday, May 27, 2026, to continue advancing efforts to identify barriers and improve Hawaiʻi’s permitting processes. Established by Act 133 (2025), the SPEED Task Force is a 34-member interagency working group dedicated to modernizing and streamlining the state's permitting system. Chaired by State Representative Greggor Ilagan (House District

Kaua‘i, Hawai‘i – The Kauaʻi Legislative Delegation is celebrating the successful inclusion of major investments for the island in the state’s Executive Budget, HB1800, for Fiscal Year 2027 following the 2026 Legislative Session. The delegation, consisting of Senate President Ronald D. Kouchi, Speaker Nadine K. Nakamura, House Majority Floor Leader Dee Morikawa, and Representative Luke A. Evslin worked collaboratively throughout the session to secure funding to support crit

Honolulu, Hawaiʻi — The Hawaiʻi State Legislature has passed House Bill 1642 CD1, marking a significant step forward in protecting local residents from financial fraud schemes that are becoming increasingly tied to cryptocurrency kiosks and digital asset scams. The measure establishes new regulations for digital financial asset transaction kiosks, commonly known as cryptocurrency ATMs. Importantly, the legislation prohibits consumers from using cash to purchase cryptocurren

Honolulu, Hawaiʻi – The House of Representatives today recognized Representative Della Au Belatti as she concluded her 20th and final legislative session. The veteran legislator announced she will not seek reelection and plans to retire on November 3, 2026, at the end of her current term. A dedicated public servant, Belatti has represented urban Honolulu since 2006, serving Makiki, Tantalus, and portions of McCully and Papakōlea. She currently serves House District 26 and p

Honolulu, Hawaiʻi – The Hawaiʻi House of Representatives Majority Caucus, consisting of 41 Democrats, celebrate the successful passage of several bills that advance the 2026 House Majority Caucus priorities. “At the start of the session, we identified key priorities: expanding affordable housing, supporting Native Hawaiian families, protecting essential social services, addressing workforce shortages, strengthening the state’s revenue base responsibly, and diversifying our

HONOLULU, HAWAIʻI – On Wednesday, the Hawaiʻi State Legislature passed Senate Bill 903 CD1, strengthening transparency in the management of the State’s public land trust while reaffirming its constitutional kuleana to Native Hawaiians through responsible stewardship and providing critical funding for Native Hawaiian programs. The measure strengthens the Public Land Trust Working Group by expanding its membership and requiring collaboration with independent third-party exper

HONOLULU, HAWAIʻI – The Hawaiʻi State Legislature today gave final approval to Senate Bill 3001, CD1, the Artificial Intelligence Disclosure and Safety Act, landmark legislation establishing some of the nation’s first consumer protections and transparency requirements for conversational artificial intelligence services, particularly for minors and individuals seeking mental health or crisis support. SB3001 CD1 requiresHONOLULU, HAWAIʻI – The Hawaiʻi State Legislature today

Honolulu, Hawaiʻi – The Hawaiʻi State Legislature has finalized passage of a broad package of health-related measures, with bills from the House Committee on Health and the Senate Committee on Health and Human Services approved on final reading in both chambers today. The legislation spans public health protections, expanded care for kūpuna, mental health access, cancer screening, and long-term care planning. "The measures reflect a statewide push to strengthen healthcare a

Honolulu, Hawaiʻi – On May 1, the Hawaiʻi House of Representatives celebrated Hawaiian food and culture by recognizing the first-ever “Laulau Day.” In 2025, the Legislature enacted Act 270, designating the first Friday of May as Laulau Day. The measure was introduced by Representative Darius K. Kila, seeking to raise awareness of laulau’s cultural significance while celebrating local farmers, chefs, and communities that keep the tradition of the Hawaiian food alive. “Laul

HONOLULU - The Hawaiʻi State Senate and House of Representatives today approved House Bill No. 1800 CD1, the state’s supplemental budget bill for fiscal biennium 2025-2027. The measure was finalized in a joint conference committee after both chambers initially passed different versions. The bill will now be up for final reading in both chambers before heading to the Governor's desk for his signature. The appropriations are as follows: General Fund Fiscal Year 2026: $10.42 b

Waikoloa, Hawaiʻi — Representative David A. Tarnas is pleased to announce that Governor Josh Green has released $21 million in Capital Improvement Project (CIP) funding for the construction of the long-anticipated Waikoloa Public Library on Hawaiʻi Island. This funding, advocated for by Representative Tarnas and previously appropriated by the Legislature, supports the final phases of planning, design, and construction for the project. "The Waikoloa Community has worked tirele

HONOLULU – Governor Josh Green today signed into law Act 4, Session Laws of Hawaiʻi 2026, (Senate Bill 2256), establishing April 27 of each year as “Brother Joseph Dutton Day.” The measure honors and recognizes the extraordinary life and humanitarian contributions of Brother Joseph Dutton, whose decades of service at Kalaupapa left a lasting impact on Hawaiʻi’s history. “Brother Joseph Dutton’s life is a powerful reminder of what it means to serve others with humility and com

Honolulu, Hawaiʻi – An annual tradition continued at the State Capitol this week, as members of the Hawaiʻi State Legislature presented donations to the YWCA Oʻahu “Dress for Success” program. The donations were collected through a clothing drive in which legislators, staff, and community members contributed new or gently used professional attire to support women entering or reentering the workforce. This year’s drive collected more than 100 bags of donations, including pro

Honolulu, Hawaiʻi – The Hawaiʻi State Legislature mourns the passing of former Governor George R. Ariyoshi and issued the following statements: “Governor Ariyoshi lived a life defined by service to the people of Hawaiʻi. His fiscal policies left our state on solid financial footing after 12-years as governor, and he worked tirelessly to shape a forward-looking vision for Hawaiʻi. We extend our thoughts and prayers to Jean and the Ariyoshi family, and offer our heartfelt gr

Honolulu, Hawaiʻi – On Friday, April 17, the Hawaiʻi State Capitol will come alive as a vibrant hub of art, music, dance, and film for the 17th Annual Art at the Capitol. This free, family-friendly event invites the public to explore artwork displayed throughout Capitol hallways, discover creative pieces featured in legislative offices, and connect with their legislators. Hosted by Representative Jeanne Kapela and Senator Chris Lee, this event is a collaboration between th

Honolulu, Hawaiʻi – The Hawaiʻi State Legislature will remain open on Friday, April 10, 2026, to meet legislative deadlines and perform essential functions. The Senate and House floor sessions in their respective chambers for Session Day #43 will convene as scheduled. April 10 marks the Second Decking Deadline. While the Legislature remains open, members of the public are encouraged to participate virtually by viewing floor sessions and committee hearings live at the followi

Honolulu, Hawaiʻi – The Hawaiʻi House of Representatives today recognized the Hawaiian Council, formerly known as Council for Native Hawaiian Advancement, for 25 years of advancing the cultural, economic, political, and overall well-being of Native Hawaiians. The recognition was delivered during a floor presentation in the House chamber. "This 25-year milestone reflects not only the organization's growth, but the trust it has built and the impact it continues to make," sai