BLAZE LOVELL/Honolulu Civil Beat

Honolulu Civil Beat
Could a pre-fab factory get more native Hawaiians into homes?
Lawmakers have proposed giving the department money to buy a 196,000-square-foot hangar in Kalaeloa, which would be converted into a manufacturing facility to produce modular housing units that are 10% to 15% less expensive than traditional construction. The hangar is currently owned by the Universi
 
Hawaii executive indicted for illegal campaign donations
Lee, CEO of JL Capital, the investment firm behind the development of the Sky Ala Moana high-rise, was arrested Monday and released after posting $250,000 bail. He is to be arraigned on Feb. 18.
 
Hawaii lawmakers seek tougher fireworks enforcement, but no statewide ban
Together, the measures represent the most significant steps to crack down on illegal fireworks that legislators have taken in more than two decades. Over those years, a series of reports outlined steps that lawmakers, law enforcement agencies and prosecutors could take to curtail fireworks in Hawaiʻ
 
Bill to close pay-to-play loophole in Hawaii moves to full House
The House Judiciary and Hawaiian Affairs Committee voted unanimously to send House Bill 371 for a full vote in the House. The legislation would prohibit campaign contributions from officers and immediate family members of contractors as well as recipients of government grants.
 
Office of Hawaiian Affairs Trustees in line to get big pay raises
The OHA Salary Commission is considering a proposal to boost trustee pay to just over $91,000, a 62% increase over their current $56,000 annual salaries. The chair would make about $100,000 a year, a 50% increase.
 
Selection of Kamehameha Schools trustees is under scrutiny
Under the current process, a court-appointed panel evaluates trustee candidates and selects three finalists. From there, a state judge chooses the new trustee. Names of the selection committee members are not routinely made public, and the process for recruiting trustees is opaque.
 
A Maui County appointee oversaw grants to nonprofits tied to her family members
Mahi’s husband Kalani Mahi was paid directly under a county grant for a watershed project.
 
Hawaii’s process for filling vacant legislative seats is getting closer scrutiny
The current law requires the governor to make an appointment 60 days after a seat becomes vacant.
 
Hawaii contractors are still big contributors to political campaigns due to loopholes in state law
Mayor Rick Blangiardi’s campaign topped the list of recipients with about $62,000 coming in from people tied to contractors, including one that recently won a flood control contract from the city. That figure is about 13% of the $475,000 his campaign raised between Jan. 1 and June 30.