Josh Green

Gabbard resigned from her position as director of national intelligence to focus on caring for her husband, who is battling bone cancer. Governor Green stated through his communications director that he respects Gabbard's decision to step down and wished her and her husband strength and comfort during this time. Gabbard had been appointed to lead the Office of the Director of National Intelligence by President Donald Trump in November 2024.

Governor Josh Green appointed Makai Freitas to the University of Hawaii Board of Regents, which oversees management and operations of the statewide university system. Freitas brings more than twenty years of experience as a labor leader with the International Longshore and Warehouse Union and currently serves as the West Hawaii representative on the Hawaiian Homes Commission. Green stated that Freitas's background in organizational leadership and workforce development would assist in building pathways from higher education to employment.

Governor Green signed a preliminary collaboration agreement with Japanese energy company JERA to research and collaborate on energy goals, including a proposed $1.5 billion liquefied natural gas power plant and offshore terminal on Oahu. The agreement represents the first step toward a federal permit application for the facility, which would have the capacity to provide nearly half of the island's electricity. Environmental groups and lawmakers have raised concerns that the preliminary agreement with a single company and fuel source may limit competitive alternatives and delay the state's progress toward its 2045 goal of 100% renewable electrical generation.

Governor Green joined representatives from the National Weather Service, the Hawaii Emergency Management Agency, and county emergency management leaders at the state Capitol to present the 2026 Hurricane Weather Outlook and discuss statewide preparedness efforts. Green proclaimed May as Hurricane Awareness and Preparedness Month. Officials emphasized that coordination among individuals, families, neighborhoods, and government agencies at multiple levels is necessary for effective hurricane preparation.

The Honolulu Police Commission selected David Lazar, a 33-year veteran of the San Francisco Police Department who rose to assistant chief, as the next chief of the Honolulu Police Department. Lazar will oversee more than 2,000 officers and civilian personnel with an annual budget exceeding $350 million. In interviews, Lazar stated his intentions to bring new technology and updated techniques to the department, improve transparency with the public and media, and implement policies to raise officer morale and retention while recruiting additional officers.

Green signed a proclamation designating June 2026 as Hurricane Awareness Month during a news conference at the state Capitol on May 22, 2026. The proclamation was issued in conjunction with the release of the Central Pacific hurricane season forecast, which predicted between five and 13 tropical cyclones for the 2026 season running from June through November. The forecast indicated an above-average hurricane season driven by expected El Niño conditions in the Pacific Ocean.

Green signed Senate Bill 3125, legislation that maintains state income tax cuts over the next five years while reducing taxes further for lower-income households and establishing a new top tax bracket for higher earners. The bill was signed as the Council on Revenues released an updated forecast showing improved revenue outlook for the current fiscal year, with general fund revenue now projected to be approximately $100 million higher than previously forecasted in March. The improved fiscal projections may influence Green's use of line-item veto authority on the state budget bill, which he received from the Legislature on May 6.

Green signed Senate Bill 2694 into law on May 21, 2026, which became Act 16 and grants interisland shipper Young Brothers automatic annual rate increases of up to 5% over three years through 2029. The legislation overrides a November 2025 decision by the state Public Utilities Commission that had rejected Young Brothers' request for automatic yearly rate adjustments and imposed strict oversight conditions on the shipper. Young Brothers had already implemented a 25.75% rate increase in January 2026 following the PUC's earlier decision to allow an interim increase.

The Honolulu Police Commission selected retired San Francisco Police Department Assistant Chief David Lazar as the 13th chief of the Honolulu Police Department on May 20, 2026. Lazar's selection followed a months-long process that included interviews conducted by four panels of 36 community stakeholders, including business leaders and law enforcement officials, as well as a 90-minute interview by police commissioners. Lazar will now undergo an FBI background check and enter into contract negotiations with the city.

Hawaii County Mayor Alameda requested assistance from Governor Green to address a spike in traffic fatalities on Hawaii island roads, citing 13 deaths in 2026 with eight occurring in a two-week period. In his letter to Green, Alameda asked the state to collaborate on messaging, enforcement, engineering, and education strategies, specifically requesting installation of solar-powered radar signs, drainage repairs on Daniel K. Inouye Highway, rumble strips, and reflective delineators at high-risk locations. The request followed two double-fatal crashes on the highway in recent weeks and a meeting Alameda convened with local law enforcement and county leaders to identify safety measures.

Governor Green directed Ryan Yamane, director of the Department of Human Services, to step down on May 20, 2026, after Yamane was questioned by the Hawaii Department of the Attorney General's Special Investigation and Prosecution Division regarding allegations of public corruption involving COVID-19 testing contracts. Yamane, who had served as director since March 2024 and previously as a state representative from 2004 to 2023, announced his retirement effective immediately without publicly disclosing the investigation. Deputy Director Joseph H. Campos II succeeded Yamane as acting director.

Ryan Yamane stepped down as director of the Department of Human Services on May 19, 2026, effective immediately. The resignation occurred days after Yamane received a subpoena to testify in a criminal bribery investigation being conducted by the attorney general's special investigation team, which was examining state COVID testing contracts. Yamane had previously served as chair of the House Health Committee during the COVID-19 pandemic, a position that placed him in charge of legislation and projects related to testing sites and vaccine rollout.

Governor Green signed HB 1510 HD2 SD1 into law as Act 012, which removes the intent requirement from Hawaii's existing ban on license plate covers. The revised law prohibits any license plate device, material, or film installed over or affixed to a license plate regardless of stated purpose, and increases penalties to a minimum fine of $1,000 per offense while expanding enforcement authority to parking enforcement officers and other authorized personnel. The law takes effect January 1, with the delayed implementation requested by the Hawaii Judiciary to allow time for system updates and staffing adjustments to handle increased traffic court cases.

House Bills 1804 and 1853 were approved by the Hawaii Legislature and sent to Governor Josh Green for signature to address elder care and dementia support in the state. HB 1804 requires the Executive Office on Aging to develop a framework for studying public and private financing options for long-term care services, appropriates $100,000 for the effort, and mandates submission of a report to the Legislature before the 2027 session with recommendations for future action. HB 1853 expands dementia care coordination statewide, though advocates stated both measures represent a limited initial step toward addressing Hawaii's long-term care funding challenges.

Governor Josh Green received a companion measure to House Bill 2306 after it cleared both chambers of the Hawaii Legislature, which would raise the maximum Child and Dependent Care Tax Credit to $5,000 per child while targeting lower- and middle-income households through a steeper income phaseout. A University of Hawaii Economic Research Organization report examined the proposal and concluded that expanding the childcare tax credit could partially offset its cost by enabling more parents to enter or remain in the workforce. The separate proposal SB 2683, which would have preserved broader eligibility at higher income levels, failed to pass during the legislative session.

House Bill 2021, awaiting Governor Green's signature, establishes statewide guidelines for electric bike ownership and operation, including classification of e-bikes into three distinct classes and a prohibition on motors exceeding 750 watts. The bill restricts operation of Class 2 and Class 3 e-bikes by children under 16 unless under direct adult supervision and bans reckless usage including wheelies and stunts on public streets. Green previously vetoed similar legislation in 2025 due to concerns about language that could have affected electric vehicles, but the current bill uses narrowed language specifically addressing e-bike safety.

Governor Green signed Senate Bill 2471 on Thursday, legislation designed to circumvent the U.S. Supreme Court's 2010 Citizens United decision by asserting that corporations and other artificial persons are state creations with only the rights the state grants them, including restrictions on political spending. The measure attempts to limit unlimited corporate spending in elections, though Hawaii's attorney general indicated the law would likely not withstand legal scrutiny. Hawaii became the first state to pass such legislation, despite the novel legal theory facing uncertain prospects in federal court review.

The 2026 Hawaii Legislature passed House Bill 1804, which directs the state Executive Office on Aging to convene stakeholders to develop recommendations for funding long-term care through public and private sources. The bill requires that resulting proposals be actuarially sound, affordable, and provide realistic worker compensation for long-term care positions in Hawaii. This legislative action represents an effort to address the state's long-term care funding challenges after previous proposals, including a bill passed in 2002 that was vetoed by Governor Linda Lingle, failed to be implemented.

House Bill 1961 passed the Hawaii Legislature and was sent to Governor Josh Green for signature or veto in May 2026. The bill makes it unlawful to intentionally, knowingly, or recklessly interfere with access to healthcare facilities or disrupt their operations through physical obstruction, repeated disruptive phone calls, or threats against patients, workers, owners, or property, with violations classified as petty misdemeanors. The measure has generated debate regarding First Amendment protections, with critics arguing that the bill's use of the term "reckless" could broadly criminalize peaceful protest and free speech, while supporters contend it protects people seeking medical care and that the bill was drafted with constitutional concerns in consultation with the state Department of the Attorney General.

Governor Green announced he was working on a solution to address concerns about retroactive application of changes to Hawaii's solar energy tax credit included in a comprehensive tax measure passed by the Legislature. The revised tax credit language raised concerns from lawmakers and renewable energy industry leaders that hundreds of solar projects already underway or financed earlier in the year could be affected, potentially impacting over $400 million in investments and nearly 2,000 jobs statewide. Green indicated that while he could veto the bill, the solar tax credit changes were tied to broader budget measures that may require legislative action to resolve.

Green's office worked with the U.S. Army to convene discussions regarding the renewal of military land leases on state property in Hawaii, including parcels at Pohakuloa Training Area on Hawaii island and Kahuku on Oahu, with leases set to expire between 2029 and 2031. Army Pacific Commander Gen. Ronald Clark stated that Green's office had "put the right people together" to engage in these lease renewal discussions while incorporating Native Hawaiian community input. The leases, originally obtained by the Army in 1964 for one dollar on former Hawaiian crown lands, are being evaluated as the military seeks to maintain training capabilities in the Pacific region.

Governor Green signed Senate Bill 2471 on Thursday, May 15, 2026, making it state law effective July 1, 2027. The legislation, which passed nearly unanimously in the state Legislature, prohibits corporations from contributing to super PACs and redefines corporate powers under Hawaii state law to exclude political spending on elections and ballot measures. Advocates characterized the measure as the first law of its kind in the nation to address corporate political spending outside the framework of the 2010 Citizens United v. FEC Supreme Court decision.

The Hawaii Legislature passed Senate Bill 2694, which would require the state Public Utilities Commission to apply automatic inflation-linked rate increases up to 5% annually for Young Brothers Ltd. in the fiscal years beginning July 1, 2027 and July 1, 2028, followed by a rigorous rate-change proceeding for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2028. The bill reverses a November 2025 PUC decision that rejected similar automatic escalations while approving a 26% rate increase for the interisland cargo operator. The measure awaits enactment by Governor Green.

Hawaii lawmakers sent a bill to Governor Josh Green in May 2026 that would redefine corporations in state law to prohibit their spending on elections while permitting lobbying activities. Green, a Democrat, had until June 30, 2026, to indicate whether he would veto the legislation, which was designed to limit the influence of corporate and dark money spending in politics following the 2010 Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission Supreme Court ruling. The bill represented a novel legal approach being pursued in multiple states to restrict corporate political spending without directly challenging the federal court decision.

Governor Green attended a groundbreaking ceremony for the Wahiawa Dam Improvement Project in May 2026, a comprehensive rehabilitation effort approved by state lawmakers with 58 million dollars in funding. The project will upgrade the dam to meet safety requirements, increase its water storage capacity to 850 million gallons, and improve the irrigation system serving farmers on Oahu's North Shore. The improvements were deemed necessary following severe flooding from a storm earlier in 2026 that brought the dam's water level dangerously close to breaching.

Senate Bill 2001, which establishes the Banyan Drive-Makaoku Community Development District and Redevelopment Agency within the Hawaii Community Development Authority, passed the state Legislature unanimously and was sent to Governor Green for signature in May 2026. The legislation appropriates $2.375 million to the Hawaii Community Development Authority for planning and design of the district and $270,000 to the Department of Land and Natural Resources for acquisition of the 62.5-acre Grand Naniloa Golf Course. The bill creates a development board including state and county officials, a cultural specialist, a lineal descendant of the Waiakea ahupuaa, and community representatives to oversee redevelopment of the Hilo area.

Green appointed a 10-member Green Fee Advisory Council comprised of experts in climate, environmental stewardship, sustainable tourism, and disaster resilience to oversee spending of $130 million in first-year proceeds from a hotel room tax increase enacted as the governor's signature "green fee" initiative to mitigate tourism's environmental impact. The Legislature subsequently moved to replace nearly half of the advisory council's recommended projects with alternative initiatives, including elimination of $10.6 million for reforestation and natural habitat improvement, $5 million for residential wind protection, and $7.6 million for community-based visitor education in favor of projects such as a food innovation network and a University of Hawaii pest-control facility. Green did not publicly intervene in the legislative reallocation of green fee funds.

The Hawaii Legislature approved Senate Bill 2471, which requires corporations and other interests incorporated outside Hawaii to comply with Hawaii campaign regulations in response to the U.S. Supreme Court's Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission ruling, with the law scheduled to take effect in July 2027. The Legislature also approved legislation adding new limits on county and state law enforcement cooperation with federal immigration enforcement efforts. These bills were sent to Governor Green for signature as part of approximately 250 measures approved during the 2026 legislative session.

Governor Green released $2 million in funding to support a statewide tourism recovery initiative coordinated between the Hawaii Tourism Authority, Hawaii Visitors and Convention Bureau, and the state following damage from Kona low storms that disrupted travel and reduced visitor spending. The initiative aims to rebuild visitor confidence and encourage travel to Hawaii during the summer season through coordinated efforts with the tourism industry, airlines, wholesalers, and travel providers. According to the Hawaii Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism, visitor spending declined 1.6 percent and visitor numbers decreased 1.7 percent in March 2026 compared to the previous year due to the storms.

Governor Green received a state executive supplemental budget that allocated $14 million in capital improvement project funds for the demolition of the former Country Club Condominium Hotel building at 121 Banyan Drive in Hilo, with the funding designated for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2026. The dilapidated six-story structure had been vacant since early 2025 after a development company withdrew from a temporary management arrangement with the state. An additional $1.2 million had been appropriated in the previous fiscal year for planning the demolition and site remediation.

Hawaii Senate Bill 2471, which addresses campaign finance and corporate political spending, was pending consideration by Governor Green. The bill would restrict corporations chartered by Hawaii from making donations to and spending money on political campaigns and election activities. Green's signature was required for the legislation to become law.

The Hawaii Solar Energy Association rallied against Senate Bill 3125 during the 2026 legislative session, calling on lawmakers to reject the measure and requesting that Governor Green veto it if passed. SB 3125 would implement a $40 million annual cap on state income tax credits for rooftop solar installations from 2027 through 2030, after which the credit program would terminate, while also imposing income restrictions that would retroactively apply to the beginning of 2026. The bill was designed to preserve state income tax cuts for 90 percent of Hawaii taxpayers while addressing expected federal funding losses for various state programs.

Hawaii lawmakers from the House Finance Committee and Senate Ways and Means Committee agreed to deposit $50 million into the state's Emergency and Budget Reserve Fund, a measure added to Senate Bill 2600 in May 2026. The appropriation would increase the fund's estimated balance to approximately $1.67 billion from around $1.62 billion if approved by the full Legislature. Governor Green's position on the measure remained uncertain, though he had vetoed similar rainy day fund appropriations in 2023 and 2024.

Hawaii lawmakers reached a compromise on Senate Bill 2580 to increase spending rebates for film productions in the state, raising the annual cap on rebates to $60 million from $50 million effective in 2026, with provisions allowing unused cap space to carry over to subsequent years with retroactive effect to 2024. The bill also increases the per-production rebate cap to $20 million from $17 million for productions with qualified spending exceeding $60 million, providing a maximum 33 percent rebate, and adds a 5 percentage point rebate increase for productions hiring at least 80 percent local workers. Governor Green supported the measure, which negotiators characterized as addressing competitive pressures from other states and countries offering film production incentives.

On Tuesday night, Hawaii state legislators reached a compromise on Senate Bill 3125 that preserved tax breaks scheduled through 2031 for 90 percent of taxpayers while creating a new tax bracket with a marginal rate of 13 percent for high-income earners. The agreement maintained income tax breaks including increased standard deductions in even-number years and adjusted tax brackets in odd-number years, estimated to save an average family of four at least $20,000 over five years. The compromise included phasing out four industry tax-credit programs for renewable energy, capital goods, ship repair, and technology infrastructure renovation, expected to retain approximately $520 million for the state budget.

Governor Green enacted the Green Affordability Plan in 2024, which the Department of Taxation projected would reduce taxes for a median-income family of four by 69% by 2031, representing the largest tax cut in state history. The plan was designed to address Hawaii's high tax burden, which ranks first in the nation overall. However, lawmakers and the governor subsequently sought to scale back portions of the tax cuts to offset federal funding reductions.

The Hawaii Legislature approved a draft compromise version of House Bill 1800, the state budget bill, on May 2, 2026, following negotiations between House and Senate leadership. The conference committee draft allocates $10.6 billion in state funding for government operations in the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2026, along with $4.5 billion for capital improvement projects, reconciling differences between the House proposal of $10.7 billion and the Senate proposal of $10.4 billion from Governor Josh Green's initial $10.8 billion proposal. The measure includes provisions to maintain an income tax relief package enacted in 2024 while employing cost-saving measures to fund state operations.

Senate Bill 2463, which would have lowered Hawaii's blood-alcohol content threshold for drunken driving from 0.08% to 0.05%, failed to advance in the Hawaii Legislature for the sixth consecutive year. Green, along with the Department of Transportation, the Department of Health, and various county prosecutors and public health organizations, submitted written testimony in support of the measure. The amended bill passed two floor votes in the House but did not receive a hearing in the Judiciary and Hawaiian Affairs Committee.

The Hawaii State Senate confirmed Associate Justice Vladimir Devens as chief justice of the Hawaii Supreme Court on a 20-to-5 vote on May 1, 2026, following a divided 3-to-2 committee recommendation. Devens acknowledged during his confirmation hearing that he had failed to disclose his role as one of three directors of Be Change Now, a political action committee affiliated with the Hawaii Carpenters Union, when he initially applied to the court as an associate justice three years prior. Devens stated the omission was inadvertent, expressed apology to the Judiciary Committee, and disclosed the relationship in his current application for chief justice, with his swearing-in scheduled for the following Tuesday.

The Hawaii state Senate confirmed Vladimir Devens as chief justice on April 30, 2026, by a vote of 15 yes, five no, and five yes with reservations. Devens, a former labor attorney and police officer, faced questioning during confirmation about his undisclosed role on the board of "Be Change Now," a political action committee affiliated with the Carpenters union that conducted campaigns against rail critics. As chief justice, Devens will lead the court, administer the judiciary, and establish ethical standards for lawyers in the state.

Governor Green released $21 million in state funding for the construction of a public library in Waikoloa Village on Hawaii island's northwest side. The money, previously appropriated by the Legislature, supports the final phases of planning, design, and construction for the library, which will be built on 2.6 acres of county land on Kamakoa Drive. The project followed over 15 years of advocacy by the Friends of the Library Waikoloa Region and an environmental assessment completed in May 2024 that found no significant adverse environmental impact.

Hawaii Governor Josh Green signed legislation establishing April 27 annually as "Brother Joseph Dutton Day" to commemorate the life and humanitarian work of Brother Joseph Dutton at Kalaupapa. The bill recognizes Dutton's 44 years of service beginning in 1886, including his work alongside Father Damien caring for patients with Hansen's disease and his continued management of the Baldwin Home for Boys after Father Damien's death in 1889. The designated day honors Dutton's contributions to bringing dignity and care to the Kalaupapa community during a significant period in Hawaiian history.

Green declared April as "Second Chance Month," acknowledging that individuals' past involvement in the criminal legal system should not define their future. In alignment with the governor's proclamation, Hawaii lawmakers created a Clean Slate Expungement Task Force to study best practices for removing certain older, low-level criminal records after individuals complete their sentences and remain crime-free for several years. The task force examined policies designed to remove barriers to employment, housing, and education for people who have served their sentences.

State Auditor Les Kondo issued a memo to the Hawaii Legislature and the Department of Human Services on April 20, 2026, identifying what he characterized as deficiencies in internal controls within the State Office of Homelessness and Housing Solutions' implementation of the kauhale tiny home initiative. Kondo's preliminary audit work, initiated following a bill signed by Governor Green in 2025 that formalized the kauhale program, raised concerns about the risk of improper use of public funds in the initiative's spending across Hawaii. Kondo stated that additional review and documentation analysis was ongoing but determined that interim communication was necessary due to the identified risk of waste and improper use of public funds.

Hawaii's Legislature adopted a resolution on Friday requesting the establishment of a 13-member advisory committee to recommend alternative models for rehabilitation and restorative justice in a planned replacement facility for Oahu Community Correctional Center. The committee, which will incorporate findings from a 2025 University of Hawaii study, is to include representatives from the Hawaii Correctional System Oversight Commission, Office of Hawaiian Affairs, and various community organizations, along with corrections officers and formerly incarcerated individuals. The state Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, led by Director Tommy Johnson, has stated that its existing plans already incorporate elements from the study and that further delays will increase construction costs estimated at four to six million dollars per month.

Office of Hawaiian Affairs leaders, including Board of Trustees Chair Kai Kahele and interim Administrator Summer Sylva, traveled to Washington, D.C. to meet with congressional lawmakers and Pentagon officials regarding military land leases in Hawaii set to expire between 2028 and 2031. The OHA delegation met with leadership of the Senate and House Armed Services committees and individual lawmakers from both parties to advocate for Native Hawaiian inclusion in decisions about the future of these military-leased ceded lands. OHA stated its focus on securing language in the next National Defense Authorization Act that would ensure Native Hawaiian voices are central to future decisions regarding the leases.

Gov. Green stated that Lt. Gov. Luke was emotionally and physically affected by a state Attorney General's investigation into whether she was an "influential state legislator" who allegedly accepted $35,000 in cash, prompting him to exclude her from critical state meetings including responses to severe storms in March. Green said he coordinated with Attorney General Anne Lopez to be notified of significant developments in the investigation, and after receiving notice on Wednesday that Luke had been sent a target letter, he met with her on Thursday morning to discuss her future with the administration. Green indicated that once the investigation reached the threshold of a target letter and possible indictment, Luke needed to step away from her position.

Governor Green requested a disaster declaration from the U.S. Small Business Administration in response to a fire that destroyed multiple buildings in downtown Hilo on November 30, 2025. The SBA issued the disaster declaration, making affected businesses and eligible organizations such as nonprofits, churches, and schools eligible for low-interest federal economic injury disaster loans of up to $2 million with interest rates as low as 3.625 percent for nonprofits and 4 percent for businesses. The declaration extended loan eligibility to businesses that sustained economic injury from the fire, including those experiencing supply chain disruptions or inability to meet payroll.

The Senate Judiciary Committee voted 3-2 on April 25, 2026, to advance the nomination of Associate Justice Vladimir Devens as Hawaii's next chief justice, sending the recommendation to the full Senate for consideration. Devens, who was appointed to the Hawaii Supreme Court in 2024 by Governor Josh Green, would assume a 10-year term leading the Hawaii Supreme Court and administering the state judiciary if confirmed by the full Senate. The committee hearing examined Devens' legal experience, labor law background, and prior political activity before the narrow vote advanced his nomination.

Governor Josh Green requested that Lieutenant Governor Sylvia Luke take a leave of absence after Attorney General Anne Lopez informed him that Luke had received a target letter indicating she was the subject of a bribery investigation. Green met with Luke on Thursday morning and described the decision as mutual, stating that Luke's departure would allow her to focus on the investigation and reduce workplace conflict. Green indicated he had requested that Lopez warn him if Luke faced serious charges, and noted that Lopez did not inform him of the target letter until Wednesday, after a media outlet indicated it would report on the matter.

Governor Josh Green appointed state Comptroller Keith Regan as acting lieutenant governor on Thursday after Lieutenant Governor Sylvia Luke took an indefinite unpaid leave of absence following receipt of a target letter from the state attorney general in a bribery investigation. Regan, who is fifth in the line of succession for state leadership, will continue serving as comptroller and director of the Department of Accounting and General Services while fulfilling the acting lieutenant governor role. If Luke does not return from leave, Regan will serve as acting lieutenant governor until the next scheduled inauguration on December 7, 2026.

Governor Green signed Act 4 into law, establishing April 27 as Brother Joseph Dutton Day to commemorate the birth of the missionary who worked alongside St. Damien to treat patients with Hansen's disease at Kalaupapa beginning in 1886. The legislation honors Dutton's 44 years of service to the Kalaupapa community until his death in 1931. The ceremonial signing took place on Thursday, April 23, 2026.

Hawaii Attorney General Anne E. Lopez issued target letters to Lieutenant Governor Sylvia Luke, lobbyist Tobi J. Solidum, and campaign volunteer Leo Asuncion Jr., notifying them that state investigators found evidence that may support bribery charges related to a January 2022 dinner. The investigation was initiated after the U.S. Department of Justice provided Lopez with evidence concerning an alleged incident in which an unnamed influential state legislator agreed to accept approximately $35,000 in campaign contributions. Following receipt of the target letter, Luke announced an indefinite leave of absence without pay and abandoned her reelection campaign.

Governor Green signed Senate Bill 2256 on April 25, 2026, establishing April 27 as Brother Joseph Dutton Day, creating an annual state observance to honor Dutton's decades of service to Hansen's disease patients at Kalaupapa on Molokai. The legislation, enacted as Act 4, formalizes recognition of Dutton's contributions while also commemorating the broader history of the Kalaupapa peninsula and the approximately 8,000 people who were exiled there after contracting Hansen's disease. Green stated that the observance ensures the legacy of both Dutton and the people of Kalaupapa will be remembered and shared with future generations.

Gov. Green appointed Keith Regan, comptroller of the state Department of Accounting and General Services, to serve as acting lieutenant governor effective immediately following Lt. Gov. Sylvia Luke's announcement of an indefinite unpaid leave of absence. Luke's departure came after she received notification from the state Attorney General's office that she was a target of a bribery investigation. Regan, who has over two decades of public sector leadership experience including prior service with the County of Maui and the Hawaii Tourism Authority, assumed the constitutional role as lieutenant governor during Luke's absence.

Luke received a target letter from Hawaii's Special Investigations and Prosecution Division indicating she is the target of a bribery investigation related to allegations that an unnamed state legislator accepted $35,000 in a paper bag at a dinner in 2022. Luke's attorney David Louie stated that the Attorney General's office had not provided details or evidence and expressed surprise that bribery charges were being considered. Governor Josh Green's office confirmed it was made aware of the target letters and indicated Green intended to meet with Luke to discuss the matter.

Governor Green planned to meet with Lieutenant Governor Luke after she received a target letter from the state Attorney General's office indicating she is the target of a bribery investigation involving allegations that an influential state legislator accepted $35,000 in a paper bag at a 2022 dinner. Green's communications director confirmed that the governor was made aware by the Attorney General that target letters were issued and that Green intended to meet with Luke to discuss the matter. Luke announced shortly after that she would not seek a second term in the August Democratic Party primary.

Green's administration reached a settlement agreement in Navahine v. Hawaii Department of Transportation in 2024, which recognized a constitutional right to a life-sustaining climate and led to subsequent executive orders elevating the state's emissions reduction goal from net-zero to net-negative carbon emissions. Following this legal development, the Hawaii Department of Transportation released a plan for decarbonizing the state's transportation system, with related legislation including Senate Bill 2999 advancing through the legislative process. Green characterized the state's lawsuit against fossil fuel companies for deceptive marketing practices as part of efforts to shift climate adaptation costs to those responsible for emissions.

Gov. Green discussed Hawaii's disaster preparedness improvements following the 2023 Lahaina wildfires at the Western Governors' Association Spring Policy Forum on Maui in April 2026. Green cited wildfire mitigation efforts including invasive grass removal and fire breaks implemented through partnerships between the state Department of Transportation and Department of Land and Natural Resources, as well as improvements to emergency coordination and resilient infrastructure. The state enacted the "Green Fee," a 0.75% increase to the transient accommodations tax designed to generate approximately $100 million annually for environmental stewardship, hazard mitigation, and climate resilience projects.

Governor Green nominated Molokai High School Principal Katina Soares to the Hawaii Teacher Standards Board, which the state Senate rejected on the chamber floor on Tuesday despite the Education Committee's unanimous 3-0 recommendation for her confirmation. State Senator Lynn DeCoite, who represents Molokai, led the floor debate by citing concerns about Soares' readiness, communication practices, and consistency between stated values and actual decisions, including a hiring decision that she said contradicted local workforce development principles. The rejection occurred following pointed discussion over Soares' leadership record, though Soares held a doctorate in educational leadership, possessed more than 25 years of experience in Hawaii's public school system, and had previously served on the teacher standards board.

Governor Josh Green proposed legislation in January 2026 to repeal scheduled Hawaii income tax cuts for 2027 through 2031 for all taxpayers in order to preserve state revenue needed to offset anticipated federal cutbacks. The Hawaii House and Senate pursued different approaches to the proposal, with the House Finance Committee amending legislation to preserve two of five remaining years of tax cuts while the Senate Ways and Means Committee amended its version to preserve standard deduction increases in 2028 and 2030 and tax bracket reductions for most taxpayers in other years. As the legislative session neared its end in April 2026, House and Senate leaders prepared to negotiate differences between the two versions in a conference committee.

Governor Green authorized $175 million in state funds to address storm damage and support cleanup operations across Oahu's North Shore, Maui, and Hawaii island following severe storms that caused an estimated $700 million in total damage. Green extended the emergency proclamation and disaster emergency relief period through June 7, 2026, and secured a federal disaster declaration from President Trump that enables the state to access federal reimbursement covering 75 to 90 percent of eligible recovery costs. The governor stated that the combined state and federal resources would support communities throughout the recovery period, with school repairs already underway and the National Guard remaining in place for cleanup needs.

Governor Green publicly criticized state Senator Brandon Elefante for failing to schedule a hearing on House Bill 2358, legislation that would have adjusted the retirement system for Department of Law Enforcement Director Mike Lambert. The bill's failure to advance in the Senate Labor and Technology Committee prompted Lambert to resign from his position as DLE director in late June or early July 2026 to return to the Honolulu Police Department to preserve his pension benefits. Green stated that Elefante "blew this one" and called on the senator to improve his performance on public safety matters.

Governor Green announced the appointment of Keith Amemiya and Marie Laderta to the University of Hawaii Board of Regents, subject to confirmation by the Hawaii State Senate. Amemiya, a University of Hawaii graduate, currently serves as senior vice president at Central Pacific Bank and previously held the position of executive administrator and secretary of the UH Board of Regents. Laderta brings nearly three decades of public service experience in Hawaii state government and the judiciary, currently serving on the Labor and Industrial Relations Appeals Board.

Governor Josh Green appointed Michael Covenant "Cov" Ratcliffe to the state House of Representatives to fill House District 28, a vacancy created when the previous representative Daniel Holt left the Legislature to accept a position with the Department of Land and Natural Resources. Ratcliffe was selected by Green from three candidates submitted by a district council of the Democratic Party of Hawai'i and brings experience as a labor attorney who has represented public sector unions and previously worked in the state Attorney General's office and for state court justices. Ratcliffe was scheduled to take his oath of office on the day the article was published, with his appointment covering the remainder of Holt's two-year term expiring in November 2026.

Green requested a federal disaster declaration for Hawaii residents and businesses affected by kona low storms that began March 10, 2026, which the IRS approved. The IRS granted a tax filing and payment extension until July 8, 2026, for federal income tax returns, business tax filings, quarterly payroll filings, and certain excise tax payments that were originally due on or after March 10. The relief applies automatically to taxpayers in the declared disaster area, with those outside the area able to request relief by contacting the IRS directly.

Hawaii lawmakers introduced House Bill 1769 in January 2026, which would require the state Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation to reduce the out-of-state prison population by 25 percent by July 1, 2029, and by an additional 50 percent by July 1, 2031. The bill, led by Representative Jeanne Kapela and 12 other House members, targets approximately 800 Hawaii inmates currently held at Saguaro Correctional Center in Arizona, a practice that began in 1995 under Governor Ben Cayetano. DCR Director Tommy Johnson stated that the agency cannot meet the reduction targets because it does not control the volume of convicted felons entering the state prison system, noting that the courts and Hawaii Paroling Authority determine population levels.

The Senate Ways and Means Committee amended House Bill 1800 to propose a state operating budget of $10.4 billion for fiscal year 2027, reducing spending by approximately $258 million from the House Finance Committee's earlier proposal and roughly $100 million below Governor Green's December proposal. The committee's draft included cost-saving measures totaling approximately $298 million through cuts to lapsed appropriations, elimination of long-unfilled positions, and centralization of administrative services. Committee Chair Donovan Dela Cruz stated the budget prioritized essentials while preserving state income tax relief scheduled for future years in response to anticipated federal policy impacts on Hawaii's economy and tax revenue.

Green authorized the Hawaii Department of Taxation to extend the state income tax filing deadline to July 20, 2026, for taxpayers and businesses affected by recent Kona low storms. Eligible filers may request relief using Form L-115, Tax Relief Request for State Declared Disasters, and the state will consider requests to waive penalties and interest for late filing or payment during the extension period. Taxpayers must still file returns and pay taxes by July 20, after which penalties and interest will begin to accrue.

President Trump approved a Major Disaster Declaration for Hawaii following two Kona-low storms that struck the islands in March 2026, as announced by Governor Josh Green. The declaration, which Green had requested in a letter to Trump dated March 23, makes initial federal support available for response and early recovery efforts. The approval establishes shared responsibility between state and federal government to support communities in recovery from damage estimated by Green to exceed $1 billion.

President Donald Trump approved a federal disaster declaration for Hawaii related to flooding damage caused by Kona low storms that occurred the previous month. The declaration made federal funding available to help cover estimated damage costs and losses totaling approximately $1 billion, including $300 million in losses to the tourism sector. Governor Green announced that the state had authorized $175 million for intermediate recovery and expected the legislature to appropriate hundreds of millions of additional dollars during the legislative session.

Governor Green joined education leaders and community partners on April 1, 2026, to unveil Hawaii's first Health Learning Lab at Waianae High School. The facility provides students with hands-on clinical skills training and supports certificate programs designed to lead directly to entry-level healthcare jobs. The project, known as "ʻAulama I Ke Ola," is part of a broader workforce effort to address Hawaii's shortage of nearly 4,700 healthcare workers and is the first in a planned statewide network of similar training facilities.

Governor Green nominated Associate Justice Vladimir Devens to serve as chief justice of Hawaii's Supreme Court in April 2026. Devens, who was confirmed as an associate justice in November 2023, would replace Mark Recktenwald, who retired upon reaching the state's mandatory retirement age of 70 for justices and judges. The nomination requires confirmation by the state Senate.

Governor Green participated in the opening of the state's first health learning lab at Waianae High School on Wednesday, a $3.2 million facility designed to provide students with hands-on clinical training in a simulated hospital setting. The lab is the first of 30 planned health learning labs across Hawaii's public high schools as part of the 'Aulama I Ke Ola initiative, funded through a public-private partnership including $1 million from the state Legislature, the Hawaii Department of Education, and contributions from the Healthcare Association of Hawaii and multiple private foundations. The facility includes medical equipment, a hospital bed, phlebotomy station, and clinic exam room across 3,195 square feet of classroom space designed to develop the state's health care workforce pipeline.

Governor Green submitted a request for a Presidential Disaster Declaration on March 23, 2026, following widespread devastation caused by a second Kona Low storm system in Hawaii. As of March 31, Green's office reported that the request remained pending approval from the federal government, with no decision yet issued. Approval of the declaration would unlock Federal Emergency Management Agency support for debris removal, infrastructure repairs, housing assistance, and other recovery services for affected residents and communities.

Hawaii's state land board voted to acquire irrigation lands from Dole Food Co., enabling the state to assume ownership of the Wahiawa Dam, a 120-year-old earthen structure north of Honolulu that prompted the evacuation of 5,500 residents during recent heavy flooding. The acquisition clears the path for the state to undertake at least $20 million in repairs and expand the dam's spillway to meet safety standards. Dole agreed to donate the dam, reservoir, and ditch system to the state in exchange for an agreement that the state would repair and maintain the structure to required safety specifications.

Governor Green requested that President Donald Trump declare the back-to-back Kona-low storms that occurred in March 2026 a major disaster, seeking federal funding to cover up to 90 percent of Hawaii's recovery costs. AccuWeather estimated the storms caused approximately $2 billion in damage and economic loss across the state, with the first storm causing over $400 million in damage and the second storm raising the total to exceed $1 billion. Green's office reported ongoing conversations with Department of Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin and stated the state was working closely with the Federal Emergency Management Agency on recovery efforts.

Governor Green announced the coordination of temporary housing for North Shore residents displaced by devastating flash flooding, with the state securing rooms through April 30 at the Inn at Schofield in Wahiawa. The state allocated funding from the Major Disaster Fund to cover hotel stays for residents whose homes were rendered uninhabitable by the recent storms, with additional temporary housing units being made available through the city and on neighbor islands. Eligible residents were directed to contact Aloha United Way at 211 or register for assistance online at ready.hawaii.gov to access the temporary housing and support services.

The state Department of Land and Natural Resources board is expected to authorize DLNR to assume ownership of Wahiawa Reservoir from Dole Food Co., following a March 20 storm that nearly caused dam failure and triggered evacuations of North Shore residents. The state Department of Agriculture and Biosecurity will be responsible for bringing the dam into compliance with current DLNR safety standards through improvements including replacement of the dam's spillway, with work bids issued on March 10. The acquisition and rehabilitation effort was directed by the Hawaii Legislature through a 2023 state law, with the state Agribusiness Development Corp. expected to authorize acquisition of the dam and connected irrigation water system as early as the following month.

Governor Green requested a Major Disaster Declaration from President Donald Trump following back-to-back Kona-low storms that affected Hawaii, seeking a 90 percent federal cost share for recovery efforts. The request came as the Federal Emergency Management Agency arrived on Maui to conduct formal damage assessments, with preliminary statewide estimates exceeding one billion dollars. Joint assessments with FEMA were ongoing across all counties to determine eligibility for federal disaster aid.

Governor Green authorized the Hawaii Department of Agriculture and Biosecurity to launch an emergency relief program providing one-time grants of $1,500 to farmers, ranchers, and businesses affected by recent Kona low storms, with a total of $500,000 allocated from departmental restricted funds. Applicants were required to hold a General Excise Tax license to qualify, and those submitting applications by the stated deadline were prioritized for funding with awards announced the following week. Green stated that the program aimed to support agricultural producers in their recovery and emphasized the role of Hawaii's farmers in the state's food security and reduction of dependence on offshore food imports.

Governor Green requested that President Trump issue a major disaster declaration for Hawaii following back-to-back Kona-low storm systems that struck the state in March 2026, causing flooding, landslides, and infrastructure damage across multiple islands. The request sought federal funding to cover up to 90 percent of recovery costs for damaged homes, businesses, roads, and public facilities. If approved, the declaration would authorize the Federal Emergency Management Agency to provide housing assistance, unemployment benefits, debris removal funding, and repairs to infrastructure damaged by the storms.

Governor Green launched the Emergency Farmer Relief Program to provide assistance to agricultural producers affected by recent Kona low storms, authorizing $500,000 in one-time grants of $1,500 to eligible farms, ranches, and agricultural businesses. Applications opened on March 24, 2026, with prioritized review for submissions received by March 27 and award announcements expected during the week of March 30. The Hawaii Board of Agriculture was also directed to consider activating an emergency agricultural loan program offering qualified producers loans of up to $100,000 at 3% interest.

Governor Green requested that the federal government assume 90 percent of the expected $1 billion-plus in recovery costs from a Kona-low storm system that struck Oahu in March 2026, following severe flooding in communities including Manoa, Palolo, and Nuuanu. Green stated that state, county, and federal teams were coordinating assessments to avoid duplication of efforts and that the Federal Emergency Management Agency was conducting damage evaluations directly with state officials. The governor identified significant infrastructure losses requiring replacement or major repairs, including Kula Hospital and damage to roads, airports, and homes across the state.

Governor Green formally requested a presidential major disaster declaration from the federal government in response to flooding across Oahu caused by back-to-back storms and a Kona low weather system. Green sought a federal cost share of up to 90% to support recovery efforts and stated that FEMA had been brought in to conduct damage assessments alongside state teams. The governor also indicated plans to seek additional immediate support from the state Legislature and announced that state reserve personnel had been deployed to assist with assessments across the counties.

The state Public Utilities Commission approved Hawaiian Electric Co.'s proposed biofuel power plant project at the Waiau Power Plant on Oahu on March 24, 2026, rejecting a request from the state's chief energy officer to defer the decision. The commission determined the project would address urgent reliability needs on Oahu's electric grid and capped Hawaiian Electric's cost recovery at $847 million plus a limited inflation adjustment, limiting the impact on residential customer bills to no more than $3.62 per month. As a condition of approval, the utility must operate the new fuel-flexible turbines on at least 51% renewable fuel by 2032, increasing to 75% by 2040 and 100% by 2045 to support the state's mandate for all-renewable electricity generation by 2045.

Mark Glick, head of the Hawaii State Energy Office and appointee of Governor Josh Green, submitted a March 9 letter to the state Public Utilities Commission requesting a delay in the commission's decision on Hawaiian Electric's plan to redevelop its Waiau Power Plant into a 253-megawatt biofuel system. Glick cited concerns about project costs and ratepayer impacts, and informed the commission of an alternative proposal by Japanese company JERA Co. Inc. to develop a 500-megawatt liquefied natural gas power plant on Oahu at lower cost and sooner than the Hawaiian Electric project. The Hawaii State Energy Office stated in the letter that the commission should await JERA's fully developed proposal expected by midyear before approving Hawaiian Electric's renewable energy project.

Governor Green introduced House Bill 2306 and Senate Bill 3125 to repeal the final five years of income tax relief scheduled under a 2024 law in order to preserve state revenue amid anticipated federal funding losses. Lawmakers subsequently amended both bills to repeal only a portion of the remaining tax relief while increasing taxes on higher-earning households, while preserving standard deduction increases scheduled for 2028 and 2030. The amended versions of Green's bills advanced past the halfway point of the 2026 legislative session, which ends May 8.

House Bill 1781 proposes funding a Numeracy Coaching Program that would place math-teaching mentors in Hawaii public school classrooms to work collaboratively with Department of Education teachers. The editorial calls on Governor Green to sign the legislation into law after previously omitting numeracy coaching from the administration's budget proposal. The program aims to address the fact that approximately 65 percent of Hawaii's public school students lack proficiency in eighth-grade-level mathematics.

Hawaii State Energy Officer Mark Glick acknowledged a spreadsheet error in the January 2025 Alternative Fuels, Repowering and Energy Transition study that was used to support liquefied natural gas as part of the state's clean energy strategy. Independent experts, including Mattias Fripp of Energy Innovation Policy and Technology LLC, identified that the spreadsheet excluded the cost of LNG fuel itself, potentially inflating projected benefits by up to $1.2 billion. Glick stated the state is assessing how the error affects cost estimates used to support LNG, while the state simultaneously announced a roughly $2 billion proposal from JERA Co. Inc. for an LNG-fueled power plant on Oahu.

Governor Green proposed legislation to repeal annual tax cuts scheduled for 2027 to 2031 in order to preserve $1.8 billion in state revenue and offset anticipated federal revenue losses, while expanding certain tax credits for lower-income households at an estimated cost of $600 million. The Hawaii House and Senate developed different versions of the proposal, with the House draft preserving tax reductions for approximately 96 to 97 percent of residents while limiting benefits for high-income earners, and the Senate plan through SB 3125 continuing tax breaks for those earning $175,000 or less annually. The Legislature advanced both versions through its halfway point in the legislative session for continued debate between chambers.

Governor Green issued an emergency proclamation on Thursday afternoon in response to a Kona low storm system threatening the Hawaiian islands with heavy rainfall and high winds. The proclamation, effective Friday morning, closed the Hawaii Legislature, Hawaii Judiciary and courthouses, University of Hawaii campuses, all public and charter schools, state parks, and other state offices. Green stated at a press conference that forecasts predicted rainfall as high as 15 inches over five days and winds potentially exceeding 50 miles per hour through Sunday.

In January 2026, Green announced an award of $189 million to implement the Rural Health Transformation Program (RHTP), which the governor stated would improve access to quality primary care, behavioral health services, emergency response, and modern technology. The RHTP funding is designated to help rural providers adopt value-based care models that align with the federal Achieving Healthcare Efficiency through Accountable Design (AHEAD) program. The article discusses Hawaii's shortage of geriatric specialists and primary care physicians in the context of these federal healthcare transformation initiatives.

Governor Green submitted a proposed state budget for fiscal year 2027 to the Legislature in December 2025, which was reflected in House Bill 1800 with a general fund appropriation of $10.7 billion for state operations. The House Finance Committee unanimously approved a revised version of HB 1800 in March 2026 that reduced Green's proposal by approximately $100 million through multiple adjustments, including reversing a $30 million cut to public school repair and maintenance and eliminating $100,000 in proposed gubernatorial transition costs. The committee's revised budget included state funding to offset anticipated federal reductions to programs such as SNAP and Medicaid, along with the governor's requested additions for University of Hawaii athlete compensation and environmental improvement projects funded through an expanded Transient Accommodations Tax.

Governor Green is negotiating a memorandum of understanding with Japan's Tokyu Group, a Tokyo-based railroad conglomerate with extensive experience in transit-oriented development, to assist with development along Honolulu's Skyline rail project. The agreement is intended to help attract riders to the struggling rail system, facilitate affordable housing development around stations, and enhance amenities at rail stops. Green has also requested that U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick direct a portion of Japan's $550 billion infrastructure investment pledge toward Hawaii's rail line infrastructure.

Governor Green's administration proposed House Bill 2306 in response to projected state budget shortfalls resulting from the multiyear tax cuts established in Act 46, which was approved by the Hawaii Legislature in 2024. Green's proposal would freeze all scheduled tax cuts between 2027 and 2031 for both lower-income and wealthy residents. The House Finance Committee voted unanimously for an amended version that would continue tax relief for lower and median-income earners while raising tax rates on Hawaii's three highest income brackets to preserve state revenue.

Governor Green proposed indefinitely deferring a multiyear package of income tax cuts approved by the legislature in 2024, citing the need to offset reductions in federal support for Medicaid and food assistance programs. House Finance Chair Todd announced an alternative proposal that would preserve increases to the standard deduction while suspending certain tax bracket adjustments and implementing higher marginal income tax rates on top earners. Todd's plan would also restructure the child and dependent care tax credit to concentrate benefits toward middle-income families rather than high-income households.

Governor Green introduced House Bill 2306 to repeal scheduled annual state income tax cuts from 2027 to 2031 in order to preserve $1.8 billion in state revenue and offset anticipated revenue losses from federal government actions. The House Finance Committee voted unanimously on March 5, 2026 to amend the bill, modifying it to preserve standard deduction increases in 2028 and 2030 while implementing a 1 percentage point tax rate increase on the highest income bracket in 2027. The amended version maintained tax relief provisions for lower and middle-income households while adjusting the revenue preservation mechanism proposed in Green's original legislation.

Green signed Act 212 into law in 2024, which established enhanced penalties for drivers with multiple convictions for operating a vehicle without a valid license. Michael Johnson became the first person convicted under the statute after pleading guilty to Class C felony charges related to seventeen prior unlicensed driving convictions within five years and received a sentence of four years probation and a five-year driving prohibition. The law was enacted following traffic fatalities in Hawaii, including the 2023 death of a sixteen-year-old struck by a hit-and-run driver who had an extensive record of unlicensed driving.

Governor Green introduced House Bill 2306 to freeze and partially repeal Hawaii's state income tax cuts scheduled for 2027 through 2031, seeking to preserve approximately $1.8 billion in state revenue to offset anticipated federal revenue losses. The bill would redirect about $600 million of the preserved revenue to extend and expand tax credits for earned income, food and excise taxes, and child and dependent care through 2032. The House Finance Committee held a public hearing on the legislation in March 2026, during which more than 170 individuals and organizations submitted testimony, with administration representatives characterizing the proposal as a measured approach to balance tax relief with funding for essential services.

Governor Green received three candidates from the Hawaii Democratic Party to fill the state House seat representing Sand Island-Iwilei-Chinatown, vacated by the resignation of Democratic state Rep. Daniel Holt in February 2026. The three candidates presented to Green were Nadia Alves, officer manager for state Rep. Ikaika Hussey; Ernest D. K. Caravalho, chair of the Downtown-Chinatown neighborhood board; and Michael Ratcliffe, a labor law attorney serving on the Kalihi-Palama Neighborhood Board. Green has 60 days to select one of the three candidates to fill the vacant House seat.

Governor Green requested that the Hawaii Legislature pass legislation to defer scheduled state income tax cuts beginning in the 2026 fiscal year, citing reduced federal funding for Medicaid and food assistance programs that the state would need to address. The tax cuts, which were enacted unanimously by the Legislature and signed into law by Green in 2024 as the largest tax reduction in state history, had been scheduled to phase in over multiple years totaling billions of dollars in savings for taxpayers. Green's deferral proposal required lawmakers to vote during an election year on rolling back tax reductions they had recently promised to voters.

Governor Green announced plans to sue private fossil fuel companies for deceptive marketing practices contributing to climate change harms. The federal government filed a lawsuit against Hawaii on April 30, one day before the state filed its own lawsuit against the fossil fuel companies. In its February 26 court filing, the federal government claimed exclusive control over greenhouse gas emissions regulation and enforcement, arguing that Hawaii's lawsuit constituted an impermissible attempt to regulate emissions under the guise of addressing deceptive marketing practices.

Governor Green vetoed House Bill 958 in 2025, which would have restricted high-speed electric bikes and inadvertently applied roadway bans to electric vehicles. Representative Darius Kila introduced House Bill 2021 in January 2026 as a revised version of the vetoed legislation, incorporating technical clarifications and language changes developed in consultation with the Department of Transportation and the Attorney General to address the previous concerns. HB 2021 establishes three classes of e-bikes by speed capability, prohibits riders under 16 from operating higher-speed models, restricts high-speed e-bikes from public roads and bike lanes, and requires manufacturers to affix labels disclosing operational speeds and legal riding locations.

Governor Green advocated for House Bill 2306 and Senate Bill 3125, which would halt the phase-in of state income tax cuts that the Legislature had unanimously passed in 2024, effectively resulting in a $1.8 billion tax increase. Green stated that the state needed the additional revenue to offset federal funding cuts. The bills represented a reversal of the previously enacted tax reduction schedule.

Governor Green proposed House Bill 2306 and Senate Bill 3125 to cancel the next five scheduled annual income tax cuts for Hawaii taxpayers. Both bills were referred to the House Finance and Senate Ways and Means committees respectively and had yet to receive public hearings as of late February 2026. Green also proposed House Bill 2280 and Senate Bill 3099 to withdraw unspecified amounts from Hawaii's approximately $1.8 billion Emergency and Budget Reserve Fund to provide flexibility for balancing the state budget or addressing funding emergencies.

Governor Green introduced Senate Bill 3148 and its House companion bill, House Bill 2328, which would have allowed private interests to restrict access to Hawaii's beaches. State Senator Chris Lee deferred SB 3148 in committee after receiving hundreds of pages of written testimony that were almost universally in opposition to the measure. The bills did not advance, and public lands including beaches in front of hotels and resorts remained open to the public.

Republican state Rep. Kanani Souza and Democrat state Rep. Della Au Belatti sent a letter to Governor Josh Green requesting that he direct Attorney General Anne Lopez to appoint an independent prosecutor to investigate a $35,000 exchange between an influential lawmaker and a lobbyist in 2022. The lawmakers cited concerns about the proximity of Lieutenant Governor Sylvia Luke to the case and stated that an independent investigation would ensure public trust in the results. Green's office stated it was reviewing the letter.

Hawaii's Health Education Loan Repayment Program, launched in September 2023, provides up to $100,000 in student loan repayment to health care workers who commit to working in the state. During the 2026 legislative session, lawmakers considered Senate Bill 2409 and House Bill 1574, which would extend the service commitment requirement from two years to three years for recipients receiving $50,001 or more annually. The program has received $30 million in funding for the 2025 and 2026 budget cycles and had processed applications from approximately 3,000 health care workers as of the article's publication.

Governor Green proposed using debt financing through general obligation bonds to fund an initial 18 "Green Fee" environmental improvement projects totaling $42.2 million in the current fiscal year, rather than relying solely on tax revenue generated from an expanded state transient accommodations tax. The proposal, which requires legislative approval as part of the budget process, would increase project costs through interest payments on the debt while preserving tax revenue for other state needs. State Department of Budget and Finance officials stated that bond financing would allow more time to spend the funding on assigned projects since bond proceeds do not lapse as quickly as cash appropriations from tax revenue.

Attorney General Anne Lopez announced that her office will continue investigating a case involving an influential state lawmaker who received $35,000 from a bribery suspect, rejecting calls from government accountability organizations to appoint an independent prosecutor. Lopez stated at a press conference that her office has no conflict of interest and that a Special Investigation and Prosecution Division created in 2022 is specifically equipped to handle corruption cases. The investigation was transferred to the state attorney general's office after the federal U.S. Attorney's office determined there was no chargeable federal bribery case.

Hawaii Attorney General Anne Lopez held a news conference on February 13, 2026, to provide an update on her office's investigation into a $35,000 bribery case involving an unidentified state legislator, stating that her office had issued multiple subpoenas and conducted several interviews. Lopez addressed concerns about potential conflicts of interest, particularly given that Lieutenant Governor Sylvia Luke had suggested she may be the legislator referenced in the federal investigation, asserting that her prosecutorial independence would prevent any bias and that the Special Investigations and Prosecutions Division would conduct the investigation objectively. Lopez declined to appoint a special prosecutor, stating that no legal process existed in Hawaii law for such an appointment and that the SIPD was created specifically to handle public corruption investigations.

Hawaii Attorney General Anne E. Lopez announced that her office has issued multiple subpoenas and completed several interviews as part of an ongoing public corruption investigation into an unidentified state lawmaker. The investigation centers on a 2022 dinner where federal authorities recorded an alleged exchange of $35,000 in a paper bag involving an FBI informant and lobbyist. Lieutenant Governor Sylvia Luke acknowledged she may be the legislator at the center of the probe but declined to confirm whether she had been subpoenaed or interviewed by state law enforcement.

Gov. Green canceled his scheduled trip to Washington, D.C., to attend the National Governors Association meeting in February 2026 after questions emerged regarding whether Lt. Gov. Sylvia Luke was the subject of a state Attorney General's Office investigation into allegations of accepting $35,000 in January 2022. Green stated in a Thursday announcement that he was canceling out-of-state travel "to ensure steady leadership for our state during this time," which would have made Luke acting governor during his absence. Luke denied the allegation and subsequently amended her Campaign Spending Commission reports to disclose two separate $5,000 donations from January 2022 that she had previously failed to report.

Gov. Green announced the cancellation of his planned trip to Washington, D.C. to attend the National Governors Association meeting in February 2026, citing recent events requiring his presence in the state. Green's decision meant that Lt. Gov. Sylvia Luke would not serve as acting governor during his absence, as an investigation was underway into Luke's acceptance of campaign donations from a donor accused of overbilling a medical testing company. In his statement, Green called for expedited release of all facts to the public and stated that accountability was essential to resolving the matter for the sake of public trust.

President Donald Trump rescinded the EPA's endangerment finding on February 13, 2026, a scientific determination from 2009 that declared carbon dioxide and greenhouse gas emissions endanger public health and welfare. The rescission effectively deregulated greenhouse gas emissions from power plants and vehicles. Hawaii State Energy Officer Mark Glick stated the decision contradicted Governor Green's administration efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and transition to renewable energy, though Glick noted state laws requiring emissions reductions would remain in effect.

Governor Green canceled his planned attendance at the National Governors Association Winter Meeting scheduled for February 19-21 in Washington, D.C. Green stated the cancellation was made "in light of recent events and to ensure steady leadership for our state during this time," referencing an ongoing state investigation into Lieutenant Governor Sylvia Luke regarding allegations of accepting improper payments. Green noted that accountability is essential and that he wants all facts from the investigation released to the public as expeditiously as possible.

Governor Josh Green announced the reopening of most state offices, agencies, public schools, the University of Hawaii system, the state Legislature, and most court functions following closures on Monday due to severe weather. Some facilities remained closed where storm damage occurred, including the state Supreme Court operating at partial capacity after a banyan tree fell on the building. Green's emergency proclamation issued Friday ahead of the storm was set to expire Wednesday pending damage assessments.

Hawaii Lt. Gov. Sylvia Luke acknowledged in February 2026 that she may be the legislator referenced in a months-long investigation by the state Department of the Attorney General regarding an "influential lawmaker" who allegedly accepted $35,000 in a paper bag in 2022, though she denied receiving such cash. Luke stated that she accepted $10,000 in checks from two individuals during a January 2022 dinner with FBI informant Ty J.K. Cullen and later returned those donations in March 2022, citing concern about their connections to individuals involved in federal bribery investigations. Luke also disclosed that she had previously returned $25,100 in donations from Milton J. Choy and his associates to the Hawaii Campaign Spending Commission in February 2022 after determining those contributions were connected to the corruption probe.

Governor Green issued an emergency proclamation on Friday in anticipation of severe weather conditions and announced the closure of state offices, Department of Education schools, University of Hawaii campuses, the state Legislature, and the Judiciary on Monday, with only essential government workers required to report. The proclamation, which remained in effect through Wednesday, was issued to mobilize additional resources and personnel in response to forecasts of intense rainfall, strong winds exceeding 60 mph, and hazardous road conditions. State employees affected by the closure were to receive administrative leave.

Green's administration filed a lawsuit in May 2025 against fossil fuel companies, alleging they engaged in decades of deceptive practices to mislead the public about carbon pollution and climate change. The lawsuit seeks damages for harms caused by the companies' efforts to conceal evidence and discredit scientific consensus on climate change. The action was challenged by a federal pre-emptive suit claiming the U.S. Clean Air Act reserves such claims to federal authorities, though a Michigan federal judge dismissed a parallel federal suit in January 2026.

Lamosao, appointed in December 2025 to represent Senate District 19, proposed legislation establishing designated safe spaces including schools, hospitals, and religious sites where Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents would be required to present judicial warrants before entry. She also introduced measures to codify visa protections for immigrant crime victims awaiting trial resolution and to require ICE agents to inform individuals of their rights in their native language during questioning. Legislative hearings for the proposed bills were underway as of the article's publication.

Rhoads, chair of the Hawaii Senate Judiciary Committee, presided over a hearing on SB 2203, legislation that would require Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents to be identifiable by removing face coverings during enforcement operations. During the February 4, 2026 hearing, Rhoads questioned testimony from the Honolulu Police Department and state Department of Law Enforcement regarding their concerns that backup officers supporting undercover operations could be identified under the bill's provisions, characterizing a proposed exemption as "a huge loophole." The committee deferred SB 2203 to a subsequent hearing while Rhoads indicated that Hawaii lawmakers perceive community demand for action in response to federal immigration enforcement operations.

Governor Green announced plans to file a lawsuit against fossil fuel companies including Chevron, Exxon Mobil, and Shell, alleging they engaged in deceptive marketing and a decades-long disinformation campaign regarding climate change while concealing knowledge of catastrophic environmental consequences. Hawaii filed the state lawsuit on May 1, 2026, claiming the companies delayed the transition to a lower-carbon energy economy while maximizing profits and caused climate-related harms to the state. The federal government filed a competing lawsuit against Hawaii on April 30, arguing the state action interfered with federal authority over interstate commerce and national energy policy, though Hawaii moved to dismiss the federal case and proceedings in the state lawsuit were subsequently paused pending resolution of the federal action.

Governor Green signed Act 96 into law in 2025, establishing the Green Fee, a first-of-its-kind statewide tax that increased Hawaii's transient accommodation tax by 0.075 percentage points to 11 percent on overnight lodgings and cruise ship stays, projected to generate approximately $100 million to $120 million annually. The Green Fee Advisory Council, a ten-member volunteer body, received over 600 funding requests totaling more than $2 billion but recommended approximately $100 million in annual spending across three mandated categories: environmental stewardship, climate and hazard resilience, and sustainable tourism. The council's recommendations included $1.5 million for tracking and publicizing Green Fee dispersal and $29 environmental stewardship projects ranging from $140,000 for native forest restoration to $10.6 million for reforestation and habitat recovery efforts across the state.

Governor Green announced a proposal to pause and ultimately repeal income tax cuts scheduled for 2027 through 2031 under a 2024 tax reduction law, introducing House Bill 2306 and Senate Bill 3125 to implement the changes. Under Green's plan, tax cut increases would halt after 2026, with savings frozen at that year's levels rather than continuing to grow annually as originally enacted. Green stated the proposal would preserve approximately $1.8 billion in state revenue for use on services including food security and child care, citing federal budget cuts that he said removed over $3 billion from Hawaii's economy.

Governor Green proposed a strategic pause on Hawaii's Act 46 tax cuts for the years 2027, 2028, and 2029 to address anticipated state revenue shortfalls resulting from federal budget reductions. The pause would restore approximately $1.8 billion in state revenue, with Green designating $600 million for food security, early education, child care, and assistance for lower-income residents. Green's proposal came in response to federal funding cuts affecting Hawaii, including a projected $36 million reduction in SNAP food aid and $16 million in imposed administrative costs over three years.

Governor Green's administration recommended in 2025 that Hawaiian Electric use liquefied natural gas as a temporary fuel source for electricity generation on Oahu, reversing a prior policy from 2015. In response, eight members of the state House introduced House Bill 1568 in January 2026, which would prohibit the development of LNG infrastructure for power plants and ban importation or storage of the fuel after June 30. The bill's proponents contended that building LNG infrastructure would conflict with Hawaii's goal of achieving 100% renewable energy statewide by 2045.

Governor Green stated at a Monday news conference that law enforcement officials should not wear masks during operations, characterizing such practices as creating unnecessary fear and lacking transparency. Green's remarks came in response to escalating Immigration and Customs Enforcement activities in Minneapolis that resulted in deaths of U.S. citizens, including at a protest. In Hawaii, Green attended a memorial vigil for the victims and indicated support for legislative reform, with at least nine bills under consideration in the state Legislature addressing law enforcement identification and facial covering policies.

Governor Green addressed a vigil held at the Hawaii State Capitol on Tuesday honoring Alex Pretti, one of two American citizens killed by federal immigration agents in Minneapolis, and acknowledged the anger and grief expressed at the event. State Rep. Nadine Nakamura called for an independent investigation into the killings and announced legislative efforts under the Campaign for Immigrant Justice to limit local cooperation with federal immigration enforcement. The proposed measures aim to increase transparency, expand access to legal representation in immigration cases, and strengthen due process protections for detainees in Hawaii.

Governor Green issued an emergency declaration following the Maui fires that reduced regulations and expedited approval of housing units, resulting in 7,000 affordable homes approved in the last 18 months with an additional 11,500 affordable units and 6,500 occupied units in development. Green outlined future housing goals including 20,000 homes on state land and 62,000 units across 250 projects, of which 46,000 would be affordable, along with strategies including an added conveyance tax for Hawaiian Homelands construction, short-term rental restrictions, and housing development for teachers and first responders. Housing finance experts confirmed the accuracy of Green's numbers while noting that execution and affordability mechanisms remain significant challenges to achieving the stated construction goals.

Green announced during his State of the State Address in January 2026 a proposal to suspend Hawaii's state income tax breaks for the 2027, 2028, and 2029 tax years while preserving all tax cuts for 2026. The proposal would generate approximately $1.8 billion in revenue, with $600 million designated for food security and child care programs. Green attributed the suspension to a $3 billion economic impact from federal government actions in 2025 that created an unforeseen state budget shortfall.

During his State of the State address on Monday, Governor Green proposed maintaining all tax reductions from Act 46 for the 2026 tax year while pausing the phased cuts scheduled for 2027 through 2029, a modification from his earlier suggestion to suspend tax breaks only for higher earners. Green indicated that the three-year pause would recoup approximately $1.8 billion in revenue, with $600 million designated for food security and child care programs. The governor also outlined plans to address housing and health care priorities while accounting for anticipated reductions in federal aid during the coming years.

In his State of the State address to the Hawaii legislature on January 27, 2026, Governor Green proposed maintaining certain budget priorities through fiscal years 2027 to 2029, including a pause on tax cuts that would allocate $1.8 billion to critical services such as food security and child care. Green announced authorization of $1.6 billion in federal emergency money for Maui County recovery efforts following the August 2023 Lahaina wildfire, along with a commitment to provide 1,200 additional temporary housing units and expanded support for wildfire victim renters. The governor also reported that his administration has increased Hawaiian Home Lands leases to 2,500 in 2025 and projected over 7,000 new leases for 2026, as part of broader efforts to address housing affordability across the state.

Governor Green signed Act 310 into law in July 2025, legislation that allocated $50 million in emergency funding to Hawaii nonprofits affected by federal budget cuts and the federal government shutdown. The act implemented an advance payment structure enabling nonprofits to receive 50 percent of grant funds upfront rather than through the state's traditional reimbursement model, which could delay payments up to 18 months. The procedural change allows organizations to retain staff and maintain service levels while awaiting full grant disbursement.

Governor Green called on the Hawaii State Legislature to pause tax breaks for all income levels beginning in the 2027 tax year during his State of the State address on January 26, 2026. The proposal would maintain existing tax cuts while suspending future scheduled reductions for the 2027, 2028, and 2029 tax years, which Green stated would redirect an estimated $1.8 billion toward critical services including food security and child care. Green indicated the pause would be necessary to prevent the state budget from operating at a deficit, citing the need for thoughtful legislative debate on the measure during the current session.

Governor Green stated he helped write the Hawaii Rural Health Transformation Plan, which was submitted to the federal government as part of President Trump's Rural Health Transformation Program announced in December 2025. Hawaii received an allocation of $188.892 million in the first year of the five-year, $50 billion program, with Green noting this boosted the state's ranking to sixth in the country per capita in federal rural health care funding. The state's award was determined through a formula combining an equal $100 million share for all states with additional funding based on rural population metrics and technical scoring of project proposals.

Governor Green requested and obtained approval from U.S. Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem to extend FEMA Temporary Housing Assistance for Maui wildfire survivors for one additional year, with the program now set to expire in February 2027 instead of February 2026. Nearly 950 households enrolled in the federal program will continue to receive emergency housing assistance during this extension period. The extended federal assistance aligns with the state's concurrent housing support program at Ka Lai Ola, which is scheduled to continue through August 2029.

Hawaii received final federal approval from the National Telecommunications and Information Administration to spend approximately $149 million from the federal Broadband Equity, Access and Deployment program to expand high-speed internet access statewide through the Connect Kakou initiative. The approved plan designates approximately 7,000 unserved or underserved locations for investment, with roughly 82 percent receiving fiber-optic service and 18 percent served through low-Earth-orbit satellite technology. The approval allows the state to transition from the planning phase to construction and deployment, with the University of Hawaii Broadband Office designated to oversee implementation and finalize contracts with Hawaiian Telcom and Amazon.

Governor Green held a news conference on January 21, 2026, where he criticized U.S. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. for spreading vaccine misinformation during an ongoing measles outbreak affecting multiple states. Green characterized the measles resurgence as preventable public health malpractice linked to the Trump administration's policies. The statement was made during a briefing hosted by Protect Our Care as confirmed measles cases exceeded 640 in South Carolina and spread to at least nine states nationwide.

Attorney General Anne Lopez announced on January 21, 2026, that the state Department of the Attorney General would open an investigation into allegations that an unnamed state legislator accepted $35,000 in a paper bag in 2022. The decision to investigate followed an agreement with federal authorities to share evidence after Lopez had previously stated she would defer action pending the completion of a federal public corruption probe. The Attorney General's Special Investigation and Prosecution Division was designated to lead the inquiry.

Governor Green signed legislation in 2022 that allowed more people to carry concealed firearms in Hawaii while establishing restrictions on where firearms could be carried, including a default prohibition on carrying guns on private property open to the public unless the owner explicitly permits it. The law was challenged by three Maui residents who filed suit in 2023 arguing the restrictions violated Second Amendment rights. The U.S. Supreme Court agreed to hear the case in 2026, focusing specifically on whether the default rule prohibiting firearms on private property without owner consent could be enforced.

Governor Green announced his commitment to continuing state tax breaks for individuals earning less than $200,000 annually, with those earning under $100,000 receiving enhanced tax benefits beginning in 2025. Green stated that individuals earning $200,000 and above would likely see their tax breaks reduced beginning in 2027 as the state faces potential federal funding cuts and economic uncertainty. The governor indicated the state may need to utilize its $1.6 billion rainy day fund to address potential gaps in federal support and rising healthcare costs under the Affordable Care Act and Medicaid.

Green traveled to Japan in fall 2025 and met with energy and technology leaders including JERA Co., Inc., NEC Corporation, and the Yomiuri Shimbun Group to explore energy solutions through global collaboration. Following these meetings, the state of Hawaii entered into a new agreement with JERA, Japan's largest power producer, which has committed to achieving zero carbon emissions by 2050. The agreement supports recommendations from the Hawaii State Energy Office's "Alternative Fuels, Repowering and Energy Transition" study, which calls for greater diversification and innovation in power production.

State Senator Lorraine Inouye introduced a bill in January 2026 to amend Act 96, Hawaii's 2025 law that imposed an 11% Transient Accommodations Tax on cruise ship fares. The proposed amendment would apply the tax only to cabin costs rather than the total base price of a cruise divided by the number of days a ship is in port, thereby reducing the tax burden on cruise passengers. The original law, which took effect January 1, 2026, was estimated to generate approximately $20 million annually for natural resources and disaster resilience, but implementation has been delayed due to ongoing federal litigation challenging the tax's constitutionality.

Governor Josh Green appointed Jon Itomura to the Hawaii Public Utilities Commission as chair on January 14, 2026, filling a vacancy that had existed since November 17, 2025. Itomura served as supervising attorney for the Division of Consumer Advocacy from 2003 to 2019, where he represented Hawaii ratepayers in cases involving electric, gas, water, and telecommunications utilities before the PUC. The appointment is for a six-year term and is subject to confirmation by the state Senate.

The Hawaii Department of Health announced plans to relocate 549 employees from its headquarters at Kinau Hale, a 65-year-old building in Honolulu, due to asbestos contamination in the ceiling that has rendered portions of the structure uninhabitable. The relocation, directed by Department of Health Director Kenneth Fink, will occur in two phases between June and October 2026, with employees moving to rental office space in two downtown Honolulu towers at an estimated cost of $3 million for the fiscal year beginning July 1 and a lease extending approximately 15 years. The departure follows more than two decades of unsuccessful attempts to renovate or replace Kinau Hale, which was constructed in 1961 and had been considered functionally obsolete since the early 2000s.

Gov. Green appointed Daisy Hartsfield to serve as state representative for House District 36, which includes Waipahu and Village Park, filling the vacancy left by Former Rep. Rachele Lamosao. Hartsfield, who has over two decades of experience in public service including work as a child protective services investigator, probation officer, and attorney, will serve the remainder of the term ending in November. She will be sworn in on January 21 on the opening day of the legislative session.

Governor Josh Green appointed attorney Daisy Hartsfield to the Hawaii House seat representing Waipahu, replacing former state Rep. Rachele Lamosao, who was herself appointed by Green in December to a state Senate seat. Hartsfield, a graduate of Waipahu High School and the University of Hawaii law school, has worked more than 20 years in public service roles including child protective services investigator, juvenile probation officer, deputy public defender, deputy attorney general, and deputy prosecuting attorney. Hartsfield was sworn in on January 21, 2026, the opening day of the legislative session, and will serve the remainder of Lamosao's term through the November general elections.

Governor Green stated his intention to suspend tax breaks for individuals earning more than $200,000 or $250,000 over the next three years as the state faces a $3 billion federal budget shortfall. State lawmakers including Representatives Adrian Tam and Kim Coco Iwamoto proposed alternative revenue measures, including closing a tax loophole on rental car companies and implementing a millionaire surtax on couples with earned income exceeding $1 million annually. Critics of Green's approach, including the Grassroot Institute of Hawaii, argued that suspending tax breaks would harm the job market and instead advocated for reducing spending through cutting vacant positions and eliminating special funds.

Governor Green signed Act 310 into law in July 2025, providing $50 million in emergency state funding to local nonprofit organizations with an advance payment structure of 50% upfront rather than reimbursement-based funding. The legislation addressed cash flow challenges nonprofits faced after federal funding reductions and a prolonged federal government shutdown that began in October 2024, allowing organizations to maintain payroll and services without waiting three to eighteen months for reimbursement. Green's action shifted Hawaii's nonprofit funding model from a traditional reimbursement system where organizations paid expenses before receiving state funds to a partial advance payment system.

Governor Josh Green proposed suspending tax breaks for individuals earning more than $200,000 or $250,000 for the years 2027, 2028, and 2029 to offset approximately $3 billion in expected federal funding losses. Green stated the suspension would generate $1.8 billion in revenue, with $600 million allocated toward food security programs and food tax credits. State Rep. Elijah Pierick criticized the proposal as inconsistent with prior commitments, while Democratic legislators indicated they would await additional economic analysis before endorsing any plan.

Green appointed Thielen to the Hawaiʻi State Ethics Commission at age 90, following a conversation at a Fourth of July parade where he sought assurance of her independence in enforcing ethics rules against lawmakers of all parties. Thielen has since drafted a bill to restrict top state officials' political activity, which is scheduled to be presented to the Legislature. The appointment represents Green's selection of Thielen to a four-year term on the commission.

Governor Green announced a minimum wage increase from $14 to $16 per hour effective January 1, 2026, crediting Hawaii's Legislature for the adjustment. The increase is part of a phased wage schedule mandated by 2022 legislation, with the minimum wage scheduled to reach $18 per hour in 2028. Green stated the wage increase was designed to support working families and foster economic stability.

A federal appellate court upheld an injunction blocking cruise ships from paying Hawaiʻi's new green fee while legal proceedings continue, reducing expected state revenue by approximately 10 percent. The green fee, established under Act 96, imposed a 0.75 percent increase to the transient accommodations tax on short-term lodging and required cruise ships to pay the full transient accommodations tax for the first time. The Cruise Lines International Association challenged the fee in federal court in August, arguing the requirement violates the U.S. Constitution.

Green signed legislation requiring new labeling requirements for macadamia nut products sold in Hawaii, effective January 1, 2026. Products containing macadamia nuts grown outside the state must now display a label stating "This package contains macadamia nuts that were not grown in Hawaii," though the exact geographical location and percentage are not required. Items in which macadamia nuts are not a predominant ingredient, such as candies, energy bars, cookies, and ice cream, are exempt from the requirements.

Green signed legislation in May 2025 that established a climate change tourist tax on cruise ship passengers visiting Hawaii ports, designed to generate approximately $100 million annually for addressing climate-related issues including coastal erosion and wildfires. The law imposed an 11% tax on cruise ship passenger fares prorated for days spent in Hawaii waters, with counties authorized to collect an additional 3% surcharge. A federal appeals court issued a ruling on December 31, 2025, blocking enforcement of the cruise ship provisions pending further appeal, though a district court had previously upheld the law's constitutionality.

Governor Green signed Act 96, also known as the Green Fee, which imposed an 11 percent tax on tourist accommodations including cruise ship operators and was designed to generate up to $100 million in revenue for environmental projects. A federal appeals court temporarily blocked the collection of taxes from cruise ship operators, ruling that the cruise industry was exempt from state tax laws, though the court allowed fees on hotels and vacation rentals to take effect on January 1, 2026. The case is pending review by the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals on its merits.

Hawaii enacted legislation signed by Governor Green that established the nation's first tourism tax specifically designated to address climate change impacts, with an additional 0.75% daily room rate tax expected to generate approximately $100 million annually for projects such as beach restoration and invasive grass removal. The legislation, referred to as the "Green Fee," directs revenue toward building climate resilience in Hawaii through coastal protection and wildfire prevention measures. State officials cited Hawaii's vulnerability as an island chain and the August 2023 Maui wildfire as justification for the immediate action.

Governor Green signed Act 96 on May 27, 2025, which increases the hotel and vacation rental tax from 9.25% to 10% effective January 1, 2026, and imposes an 11% tax on cruise ship cabin fares for the first time. The revenue from these increases is designated to fund environmental protection projects, climate change infrastructure resilience, and improvements to the visitor experience in Hawaii. The law, referred to as the "Green Fee," applies to all hotel guests, vacation rental visitors, and cruise ship passengers beginning in 2026.

Governor Green signed Senate Bill 1396 into law as Act 96 on May 27, 2025, increasing Hawaii's Transient Accommodations Tax by 0.75 percentage points to 11 percent, effective January 1, 2026. The increase applies to overnight guests staying in hotels, vacation rentals, and cruise ships, and is expected to generate an additional $100 million annually. The law requires the increased revenue to be distributed equally among three purposes: protecting and restoring natural resources, increasing resilience of structures and infrastructure to natural and climate-related disasters, and improving the visitor experience while mitigating tourism impacts on the natural environment.

Governor Green appointed Ryan Kanaka'ole as interim chair and director of the Hawaii Department of Land and Natural Resources, effective immediately, while incumbent Chair Dawn Chang took medical leave. Kanaka'ole, who previously served as deputy director of DLNR and deputy attorney general, has experience representing multiple state agencies and participated in audits across state departments. Green stated that DLNR operations would continue without interruption under Kanaka'ole's leadership while Chang recovers.

Governor Green submitted a supplemental budget proposal for fiscal year 2026-2027 to the Hawaii State Legislature on December 22, 2025, emphasizing investments in housing, climate, and healthcare while maintaining a conservative approach to additional spending. The budget proposal prioritizes continued funding for state social safety net programs including Medicaid and SNAP as federal support decreases, and directs state departments to work within existing budgets while prioritizing key programs and services. Green raised the prospect of reviewing state tax cuts enacted during periods of stronger federal partnership to address potential impacts on the state budget.

A federal judge dismissed most of the cruise industry's legal challenge to Hawaii Act 96, allowing the state to implement the law as scheduled on January 1, 2026. Act 96 extends the transient accommodations tax to cruise ships for the first time and raises the overall tax rate to 11%, with revenues designated for environmental stewardship and climate resilience. U.S. District Court Judge Jill A. Otake rejected claims that the law violated federal maritime protections, finding that the cruise industry had not demonstrated a likelihood of success at that early stage of litigation.

In May 2025, Green signed into law Act 200, the country's first lodging tax designed to address climate change impacts in Hawaii. The tax applies to tourist accommodations and is expected to generate approximately $100 million annually. Revenue from the lodging tax is designated for infrastructure projects intended to increase the state's resilience to climate-related challenges.

Governor Green signed legislation in May 2025 that established Hawaii's first climate change tax, which includes an 11% levy on cruise ship passenger fares beginning January 2026 to generate revenue for addressing eroding shorelines, wildfires, and other climate impacts. U.S. District Judge Jill A. Otake denied a request to block enforcement of the tax on December 24, 2025, allowing the measure to proceed as scheduled. The law is estimated to generate approximately $100 million annually and represents the nation's first tax specifically designed to help states cope with climate change effects.

Governor Green proposed a $10.8 billion state budget for fiscal year 2027 in response to federal funding reductions under President Trump's "One Big Beautiful Bill," which reduces federal contributions to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program and eliminates Affordable Care Act marketplace subsidies. The proposed budget allocates state funds to absorb costs previously covered by federal programs, particularly for Medicaid and SNAP, while maintaining focus on affordable housing, climate infrastructure, healthcare, and education. Green stated that the budget represents an increase from Hawaii's current $10.48 billion budget and reflects the administration's priority to use state resources to sustain social safety net programs in response to anticipated federal cuts.

Hawaii's congressional delegation, comprised of Senators Mazie Hirono and Brian Schatz and Representatives Ed Case and Jill Tokuda, issued a joint statement responding to a U.S. Department of Justice Office of Legal Counsel opinion that questioned the constitutionality of Native Hawaiian and other minority-serving institution programs. The delegation stated they would continue fighting to preserve these programs, citing the United States' trust relationship with the Native Hawaiian community. The opinion, released in December 2025, concluded that certain race-based grant programs administered by the Department of Education, including the Developing Hispanic-Serving Institutions program and the Alaskan Native and Native Hawaiian-Serving Institutions program, violate the Fifth Amendment's equal-protection component.

Governor Green is expected to select one of three candidates to fill the vacant Hawaii House District 36 seat, with the Democratic Party of Hawaii submitting the names of Daisy Hartsfield, Maurice T. Morita, and Inam Rahman for his appointment. The vacancy arose following the appointment of the previous representative, Rachele Lamosao, to fill a state Senate seat. The selection process drew scrutiny from party members over concerns that the nominating procedure gave certain candidates preferential treatment.

Governor Green predicted that thousands of Hawaii residents would abandon their health insurance coverage after Congress did not extend federal subsidies for Affordable Care Act policies. Green proposed a state tax credit program funded by local taxpayer dollars to provide relief to approximately 8,000 ACA customers, estimating the cost at $16.5 million annually. The proposal aimed to offset premium increases that resulted from the expiration of enhanced federal subsidies that had been in effect during the previous enrollment period.

Governor Green attended a groundbreaking ceremony on December 19, 2025, for the Kūhiō Park Low Rises and Homes development project in Kalihi, which will replace 60 aging rental units built in the 1950s and 60s with over 300 modern affordable housing units. The project, costing more than $214 million, is funded through multiple sources including state and city contributions, private activity bonds, and the affordable housing fund. Once completed in mid-2028, the units will be available to households earning 30 to 80 percent of area median income and those qualifying for project-based vouchers.

Governor Green announced plans to pause scheduled tax cuts over the next several years to address a projected $3 billion state budget shortfall. The pause would recoup approximately $1.8 billion in tax revenue while redirecting $600 million back to programs including food security and food tax credits. Green stated the measure would allow the state to maintain current employment levels and services without raising taxes on working families who have already received locked-in tax breaks.

The U.S. House of Representatives passed the National Defense Authorization Act on December 11, 2025, which included a provision preventing the Department of Defense from using eminent domain to seize state lands in Hawaii currently under Army lease. The measure was in response to statements from Army officials indicating potential use of eminent domain to acquire training lands at Pohakuloa, Makua Valley, Kahuku Training Area, and Kawailoa-Poamoho, with existing leases set to expire in 2029. The bill, which authorized $900 billion in military spending, now proceeds to the Senate for passage before going to President Trump for signature.

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, under Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., changed the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's advisory committee recommendation regarding hepatitis B vaccination for infants, moving from universal vaccination at birth to vaccination only when mothers test positive for hepatitis B or when status is unknown. Governor Green, a physician, publicly stated during a CNN interview that the CDC's action constituted a mistake driven by political considerations rather than scientific evidence and expressed concern that unclear guidance would increase parental hesitation regarding vaccinations. Hawaii subsequently aligned with the West Coast Health Alliance in maintaining the previous recommendation for routine hepatitis B vaccination within 24 hours of birth for all newborns.

Governor Josh Green appointed State Representative Rachele Lamosao to fill the Hawaii State Senate seat vacated by Senator Henry Aquino on November 30, 2025. Lamosao, a Democrat representing Waipahu who was first elected to the House in 2022, will serve in the Senate through 2026, when an election will be held for the seat. Upon Lamosao's resignation from the House, the Hawaii Democratic Party will submit a list of candidates within 30 days for the governor to appoint as her successor.

Gov. Green provided $250 in state food assistance funding for each of 161,132 island residents whose federal SNAP benefits were temporarily suspended by the Trump administration beginning November 1, 2025, during a 43-day federal government shutdown. The state also allocated $2 million to food banks and dedicated $100 million in federal TANF funds for a Hawaii Relief Program offering housing and utility assistance to families with children. Hawaii's cost for the emergency food assistance program was initially projected at $40.6 million but is now expected to total approximately $15 million after the state accesses federal TANF reserves.

Hawaii's attorney general filed a lawsuit against ByteDance Inc., TikTok's parent company, alleging that the social media platform was designed with addictive features that disproportionately harm children while the company misrepresented risks to the public. The complaint contends that TikTok employs coercive design tactics to maximize user engagement for data mining and advertising revenue generation, with particular vulnerability among users under 18. The state seeks to enjoin TikTok from deploying these practices, require safeguards for minors, and compel accurate disclosure of associated risks.

Governor Josh Green appointed state Representative Rachele Lamosao to serve as state senator for Senate District 19 in West Oahu, filling the vacancy created by Senator Henry Aquino's retirement. Lamosao, who has represented House District 36 since 2022, will represent a district encompassing Pearl City, Waipahu, West Loch, Honoʻuliʻuli, and Ho'opili. She is scheduled to be sworn in on January 21 and will serve through the next general election in November 2026.

Hawaii filed a 101-page complaint in Oahu Circuit Court against ByteDance Inc., the parent company of TikTok, alleging the company exploits over 150 million U.S. users, including children, through deceptive marketing and design features that foster psychological dependence. The state seeks over $40,000 in civil penalties and asks the court to require TikTok to cease harmful practices and implement meaningful safeguards for minors. Governor Green stated that the lawsuit represents a necessary step to protect youth from platforms that prioritize profit over health and to hold TikTok accountable for the harm caused by its design practices.

Governor Green announced that the Army extended its deadline for negotiating new military land leases in Hawaii, removing the pressure of an end-of-2025 deadline that had previously threatened the state's control of training properties including Pohakuloa Training Area. Green stated that any new lease agreement would require approval through the National Defense Authorization Act, with a revised timeline expected around December 2026. Green established an advisory council composed primarily of Native Hawaiian leaders to provide stakeholder input on the negotiations over the coming year.

Governor Green appointed Seth Colby, the state's chief economist since August 2025, to serve as director of the state Department of Budget and Finance effective December 8, 2025. Colby previously held the position of tax research and planning officer at the state Department of Taxation and has worked on economic research and fiscal management for multiple state agencies. The appointment was made as the administration prepared its proposed state budget for submission to the Legislature by late December 2025.

Governor Josh Green appointed Seth Colby, the state's chief economist, to serve as director of the state Department of Budget and Finance, effective December 8. Colby had worked with the state for eight years in various capacities, including providing economic analysis and reports on Hawaii's economy, tourism, energy, and demographics. The state announced it would conduct a search to fill the vacant position of state economist.

The state Department of Law Enforcement and partner agencies collected 724 pounds of fireworks during a buyback amnesty event held at the Honolulu Police Department's Training Academy in Waipahu on November 23, 2025, with 510 pounds classified as illegal fireworks. Participants who turned in fireworks received gift cards totaling $2,355 in compensation, and this marked the third and final fireworks buyback event of the year. Governor Green acknowledged the event in a statement noting that removing illegal fireworks from communities would enhance public safety during the holiday season.

Governor Green signed Act 96, which raises the transient accommodations tax rate by 0.75% beginning in 2026 and applies the tax to cruise ships docking in Hawaii for the first time. The state Department of Transportation finalized its Energy Security and Waste Reduction Plan mandating a 50% cut in transportation-related greenhouse gas emissions from 2005 levels by 2030, with cruise ships required to transition to cleaner-burning fuels and submit annual emissions reports to continue operating in Hawaiian waters. The green fee is expected to generate approximately $100 million annually, with revenues designated for environmental stewardship and climate resilience projects.

Hawaii lawmakers on a special legislative panel selected 95 nonprofits to receive $49.5 million in emergency grants on November 21, 2025, choosing recipients from 213 organizations that applied for $143 million in funding. The grants were designed to offset impacts of federal funding cuts, with priority given to nonprofits in healthcare, food distribution, human services, education, and the arts that demonstrated loss of federal funding or served populations negatively affected by such cuts. Recipients included Hawai'i Foodbank, which received $5.5 million of its $5.6 million request, and AccessSurf Hawai'i, which received $250,000 of its $299,900 application.

Office of Hawaiian Affairs board of trustees chair Kai Kahele sent a letter to the leaders of the Senate and House Armed Services Committees requesting an amendment to the Fiscal Year 2026 National Defense Authorization Act. Kahele expressed support for a section authorizing the military to seek new leases or land exchanges with the state for training purposes but called for the amendment to require military officials to consult with OHA and Native Hawaiian organizations during land negotiations. Kahele stated the amendment would align the legislation with federal trust responsibilities to Native Hawaiians and long-standing federal practice regarding the political relationship between the United States and Native Hawaiian groups.

Governor Green stated that Hawaii's economy is experiencing a recession resulting from the federal government shutdown, Trump administration tariffs, and reductions in federal funding, with the state losing approximately $3 billion in total impact. Green announced that the state will implement a flat budget for the next fiscal year with no departmental increases and will focus spending on security, food, and housing, while keeping all options open including potential modifications to tax breaks for higher income earners. The governor indicated the state will access its rainy day fund, which contains $1.58 billion, and stated it is likely the state will draw several hundred million dollars from reserves to maintain essential services.

In an October 24 letter to the Thirty Meter Telescope International Observatory, Governor Green committed to help establish a procedure to permit TMT construction on a previously used observatory site at Mauna Kea's summit. Green's letter directed the Maunakea Stewardship and Oversight Authority to develop a framework for astronomy-related development that may prioritize the reuse of decommissioned observatory footprints. The governor specified that the permitting process would involve careful planning, coordination, administrative and legal procedures, and preparation of a new environmental impact statement examining the effects of redeveloping the existing telescope site.

Governor Green ordered the state and U.S. flags to be flown at half-staff at all state offices, agencies, and Hawaii National Guard facilities in honor of Maui County Council member Tasha Kama and former Vice President Dick Cheney following their deaths in late October and early November 2025. The flags were to remain at half-staff until sunset on Thursday, with services for Kama held on Wednesday and for Cheney on Thursday, before returning to full-staff at sunrise on Friday. Kama, a retired church pastor, had advocated for Hawaiian homestead beneficiaries and social justice issues during her service on the Maui County Council, while Cheney served as Vice President of the United States.

Governor Green announced an advisory council comprised mostly of Native Hawaiians to address Army leases on Oahu and Hawaii island scheduled to expire in 2029. The council includes ten members from state government agencies, nonprofit organizations, and the private sector, including William Aila Jr., Ryan Kanaka'ole, Summer Sylva, and Kali Watson. Green has proposed a $10 billion deal to the federal government as an alternative to Army condemnation of state lands, contingent on the federal government accepting various state benefits including a federal detention center, housing expansion assistance, and infrastructure improvements.

Governor Green sent a letter dated October 24, 2025, to the Thirty Meter Telescope International Observatory outlining a permitting pathway for the telescope project on a previously developed site atop Maunakea. In the letter, Green pledged to work with the University of Hawaii and the Maunakea Stewardship and Oversight Authority to establish a clear and transparent permitting process, emphasizing clarity, accountability, and compliance with statutory obligations. The letter prompted a public meeting before the Maunakea Stewardship and Oversight Authority on November 13, 2025, where the authority heard nearly 300 written testimonies and dozens of oral testimonies regarding the proposal.

Governor Green created an advisory committee to provide guidance on negotiations regarding military land leases in Hawaii set to expire in 2029. The committee, composed primarily of Native Hawaiian representatives from government and the private sector including William Aila Jr., Kuhio Lewis, Ed Sniffen, and Summer Sylva, is tasked with advising Green on the cultural, natural, and economic impacts of lands currently leased by the U.S. Army on Oahu and Hawaii Island. Green directed the committee to consider environmental remediation, increased access for cultural organizations, and federal infrastructure investments in future lease negotiations with the Trump administration.

Governor Green did not reappoint Aimee Barnes, a Board of Land and Natural Resources member with natural resources management expertise, when her term ended in August 2025. Green instead appointed a replacement whose background is in housing and real estate development. Environmental law firm Earthjustice contends that state law requires the board to have at least one member with conservation or natural resources expertise, and has urged Green to appoint a qualified member to comply with this requirement.

Hawaii Governor Josh Green announced on Tuesday that Public Utilities Commission Chair Leodolff "Leo" Asuncion, Jr. would leave his post on Monday, November 17, 2025. Asuncion had served as chair of the PUC since 2022 and was originally appointed to the commission in 2019 by former Governor David Ige. Green's office opened applications for Asuncion's replacement, with the new commissioner to be appointed by Green and approved by the State Senate for a six-year term.

Governor Green issued an executive order on February 18 establishing Operation Hire Hawai'i, an initiative designed to fill approximately 5,000 vacant state civil service positions by expediting the hiring process to attract displaced federal workers. The program allows agencies to make conditional job offers within two weeks of receiving applications and has resulted in 147 new state employees as of August 29, with 13 indicating they came from the federal workforce. The state Department of Human Resources Development has conducted job fairs and posted daily opportunities on its website, with over 7,000 applications received through the program by November 2025.

Leah Laramee, coordinator of the Hawai'i Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation Commission, briefed state Senate committee chairs Karl Rhoads and Mike Gabbard on November 3, 2025, regarding approximately $651 million in Hawaii renewable energy projects threatened by federal policy changes and funding withdrawals under the Trump administration. Laramee identified canceled federal support for electric vehicles, rooftop solar systems, and carbon-smart food production as areas where state tax credits could provide assistance. The briefing noted that Hawaii lost $249 million in federal funding from the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Carbon Smart Commodities program, which had supported renewable energy and climate mitigation initiatives statewide.

Governor Josh Green's office released $15 million in capital improvement project funding to the University of Hawaii at Hilo for maintenance, design, and renovation projects on the campus. The funding was announced by state Senator Lorraine Inouye and had been requested by UH Hilo's Board of Regents and submitted to the governor's office for inclusion in the biennium budget request to the Legislature. The four projects selected for fiscal year 2026 funding include renovation of air-conditioning systems, improvements to the agricultural facility, design of student housing renovations and upgrades, and design of built-up roofing replacement, with construction expected to begin in 2027.

Maui County Mayor Richard Bissen announced his 2026 reelection campaign, citing his management of the August 8, 2023 wildfire that killed 102 people and destroyed approximately 5,500 homes as motivation to continue his work on recovery and rebuilding. Bissen has prioritized Bill 9, which would require the conversion of approximately 6,100 short-term vacation rental units in West and South Maui into long-term housing for local residents, with West Maui owners given three years and South Maui owners given five years to complete conversions. Bissen stated that Bill 9 represents a critical measure to address housing shortages and preserve the ability of local families to remain on Maui in the post-fire period.

Governor Green traveled to Washington to urge congressional compromise during a federal government shutdown centered on disputes over federal tax credits for health insurance under the Affordable Care Act and Medicaid reductions. Green stated that approximately 25,000 Hawaii residents rely on federal health care subsidies and that loss of these supports would burden the state's public hospitals and rural healthcare systems. Green emphasized that preserving federal health care supports affects residents across both red and blue states.

Green announced the Hawaii Emergency Food Assistance Program (HEFAP) benefit, which provides $250 to SNAP recipients, after federal food aid was cut off due to a government shutdown. The state Department of Human Services reported that it had not received reports of widespread issues with SNAP electronic benefit card transactions being declined following the disbursement of federal funds on Friday morning. DHS stated it was monitoring the situation closely and confirmed that the HEFAP benefit would be active on SNAP EBT cards on Monday.

Governor Green announced a compromise regarding the permitting process for the Thirty Meter Telescope on Mauna Kea, proposing to relocate the telescope from the originally planned summit location to a decommissioned telescope site on the mountain. Green pledged to work with the Mauna Kea Stewardship and Oversight Authority and the University of Hawaii to establish a clear and transparent procedure for obtaining the necessary permits for the alternative site. The compromise responded to the TMT International Observatory's willingness to consider relocation away from the original summit location, which had faced significant opposition.

Governor Green announced the Hawaii Emergency Food Assistance Program, which distributed $250 per person to SNAP recipients in response to federal funding disputes during a government shutdown. The state Department of Human Services released full November SNAP benefits to approximately 85,000 eligible Hawaii households on Friday, November 7, 2025, following a District Court of Rhode Island order requiring the disbursement. The HEFAP benefits became accessible on Monday and were not impacted by a subsequent Supreme Court stay that temporarily froze SNAP funding for other states.

Green activated the Hawaii National Guard on active duty status to support statewide food distribution programs in response to a federal government shutdown and suspension of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). Guard members were deployed to assist with transporting donations collected at public libraries, providing traffic control at distribution sites, transporting supplies, and supporting the Hawaii Foodbank at scheduled distributions at Leeward Community College and Aloha Stadium. The National Guard members were placed on state active duty status and received state compensation for their service.

Governor Green authorized the use of $100 million in temporary assistance for needy families to help individuals experiencing financial hardships with housing or utility payments during the federal government shutdown. The state Office of Hawaiian Affairs approved $6.1 million in relief to Native Hawaiians affected by the shutdown, providing $350 in direct payments to nearly 14,000 Native Hawaiian beneficiaries and up to $1,200 to verified furloughed Native Hawaiian federal employees. Green also announced $42.3 million in state aid for November, including $250 in emergency relief pay per eligible individual, with the first payment scheduled for delivery on or before November 14.

Governor Josh Green and Lieutenant Governor Sylvia Luke requested that Adjutant General Stephen F. Logan activate Hawaii Army National Guard members to state active duty status to support statewide relief efforts and large-scale community food distribution programs. The activation occurred in response to a federal government shutdown that began November 1, 2025, and disruptions to food aid benefits. Guard members were deployed to assist in every county, including providing on-site support at Hawaii Foodbank distribution events, traffic control, supply transportation, and food distribution to residents.

Governor Green announced that Hawaii residents receiving Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits would receive an additional $250 payment through the Hawaii Emergency Food Assistance Program on November 10, four days ahead of the originally scheduled November 14 delivery date. The emergency relief was created in response to disruptions to federal SNAP benefits caused by the federal government shutdown. SNAP recipients automatically receive the benefits on their EBT cards with no application required.

Governor Josh Green proposed a $10 billion compensation package to the federal government in an October 29 letter to Army Secretary Dan Driscoll, contingent on the Army's use of condemnation authority to extend military training operations on state-owned Hawaiian lands beyond the expiration of current leases in 2029. The proposal includes federal investments in housing development, healthcare reimbursements, infrastructure projects including the Honolulu rail system expansion, return of certain federal lands including portions of Makua Valley, and a $500 million endowment for land remediation and management. Green characterized the offer as an alternative to contested condemnation proceedings, framing a negotiated settlement as preferable to protracted legal disputes over the Army's continued access to training areas on Oahu and Hawaii island.

Governor Green proposed a $10 billion federal investment package as part of negotiations with the U.S. Army regarding training lands in Hawaii, as detailed in his October 29 letter to Army Secretary Dan Driscoll. The proposal includes transferring Mākua Valley and certain parcels at Pōhakuloa and Fort DeRussy to state ownership, along with federal funding for housing construction, infrastructure improvements, and healthcare reimbursement enhancements. Green called for establishing a Joint Negotiation Team within ten days to define settlement parameters for what he characterized as a negotiated resolution to land use disputes.

Governor Josh Green committed in an October 24 letter to the Thirty Meter Telescope International Observatory to work with state officials and the University of Hawaii to establish a permitting procedure for constructing the Thirty Meter Telescope on a previously developed observatory site on Mauna Kea. Green stated that he and his administration would coordinate with the Mauna Kea Stewardship and Oversight Authority to promptly create a clear and transparent process for obtaining necessary permits, including defining key steps, requirements, and timelines. This effort followed a September presentation to the authority's board in which a TMT project manager indicated the organization would consider redeveloping a decommissioned telescope site rather than the undisturbed site where construction was blocked by protesters in 2019.

Governor Green announced the Hawaii Relief Program to provide financial assistance with utility bills to Hawaiian Electric customers experiencing economic hardship. The program was launched in response to the expiration of federal assistance due to the federal government shutdown and allows eligible residents on Oahu and Hawaii Island to apply through Catholic Charities Hawaii, while Maui, Molokai, and Lanai customers apply through Maui Economic Opportunity, Inc. Hawaiian Electric also implemented complementary measures including interest-free monthly installment plans with waived late fees and a donation-based Ohana Energy Gift Card program to support customers in financial need.

Governor Green directed $100 million in federal Temporary Assistance to Needy Families funding toward rental and utility assistance for Hawaii families during a federal government shutdown. Green additionally allocated $250 in state funds to each of Hawaii's 161,400 SNAP beneficiaries by November 14 to address reduced federal food assistance benefits. The allocation came in response to a federal shutdown that began October 1, 2025, and resulted in over 9,000 applications for housing and utility assistance within the first days of the program's announcement.

Governor Green stated that federal subsidies for the Affordable Care Act are set to expire, which would result in premium increases for approximately 25,000 Hawaii residents, with costs rising 10-12 percent and some individuals facing increases from $300 to over $2,000 monthly. Green characterized the situation as destabilizing health insurance and predicted that Congress would reach a deal before Thanksgiving to extend the subsidies for one year. Green indicated that the federal government would need to address the subsidy expiration to prevent coverage disruptions across the country.

Governor Green announced that the state of Hawaii would allocate up to $5 million to support food banks during a federal government shutdown and amid uncertainty surrounding the SNAP benefits program. Green stated that the federal stalemate combined with tariffs could push the state toward recession and indicated the state may tap into its $1.6 billion rainy-day fund if necessary to maintain key programs. The governor's announcement coincided with Hawaii's public libraries launching a food donation drive across 50 locations on six islands through November 7.

Governor Green issued Executive Order 25-01 in January 2025 to accelerate Hawaii's transition away from carbon-based fuels, directing the Hawaii State Energy Office to develop recommendations for decarbonizing energy sources on Oahu while establishing a 100% renewable electricity production target for neighbor islands by 2035 and a 70% greenhouse gas emissions reduction target for Oahu's electricity sector by that same year. The executive order was issued amid changing circumstances including the termination of the federal Solar for All program by EPA Director Lee Zeldin in August 2024, which had awarded Hawaii $64.5 million in grants for expanding solar capacity to low-income communities. The Hawaii State Energy Office simultaneously released a study examining alternative fuels such as liquefied natural gas to provide reliable power generation when intermittent renewable sources are unavailable.

Governor Green signed an executive order allocating approximately $145 million in state relief programs in response to disruptions to federal food assistance during a federal government shutdown, including $42.2 million to provide all current SNAP recipients with $250 in additional support via EBT card and $100 million in Temporary Assistance for Needy Families funds for housing and utility assistance. The governor authorized use of state rainy day funds, which totaled approximately $1.6 billion, to cover these expenditures while federal programs remained disrupted. Green also increased state support to Hawaii food banks from $2 million to over $5 million to maintain food distribution operations across the islands.

Governor Green established a Simplifying Permitting for Enhanced Economic Development (SPEED) Task Force and authorized three state House-led committees to meet with state and county government representatives, developers, and environmental advocates to address permitting processes, cesspool conversions, and historic preservation regulations. These groups, operating as permitted interactive groups (PIGs), were tasked with shaping legislative recommendations to streamline economic development procedures. Draft recommendations from these efforts were scheduled to be presented in December with public hearings to follow before finalization.

Governor Green issued a gubernatorial proclamation declaring an emergency relief effort in response to a federal government shutdown that halted Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits payments to approximately 165,000 Hawaii residents. The proclamation directed the state to supplement food bank supplies and establish a call center to provide assistance and information to individuals affected by the loss of SNAP benefits. Green allocated $2 million in state funds to support these emergency services during the federal budget impasse.

Governor Green approved Act 310 in July 2025, which appropriated $50 million in state emergency grant funding to support Hawaii nonprofits affected by federal funding cuts. More than 200 nonprofits applied for the grants, competing for the available funds with documented losses in federal support. A legislative committee of four members evaluated applications and determined how the $50 million would be distributed among eligible organizations.

Governor Green announced that the state will provide $42.2 million in emergency funding to replace suspended federal SNAP benefits after the federal government shutdown halted the program. The state will distribute $250 per person, or $750 for a family of three, through Electronic Benefit Transfer cards by November 14, 2025, to Hawaii's approximately 161,400 SNAP recipients whose federal benefits expired. Green acknowledged the state allocation falls short of the typical monthly SNAP benefit of $346 per person and indicated he would continue seeking alternative funding sources, including potential donors, to address the funding gap if the shutdown continued into December.

Hawaii Gov. Josh Green announced a state relief plan on October 31, 2025, to assist residents affected by federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program cuts resulting from a government shutdown. Green authorized $250 in emergency relief payments per eligible individual, totaling $42.3 million to be distributed from the state's general fund by November 14, and allocated $100 million in Temporary Assistance for Needy Families funds for housing and utility assistance. The state also released $500,000 for the Farm to Families program to purchase locally produced food, as more than 160,000 Hawaii residents faced SNAP benefit reductions.

Governor Green signed an executive order on October 30, 2025, allocating approximately $145 million in emergency relief funding to address disruptions caused by the federal government shutdown and SNAP program pause. The executive order established the Hawaii Food Assistance Program to distribute $250 per person through EBT cards to current SNAP recipients by November 14, funded through $42.2 million from the state's general fund and the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families surplus. Additional state funds totaling $2.5 million were directed to food banks, the Farm to Families program, and the Hawaii Relief Program to assist households with housing, utilities, and food access during the federal shutdown.

Governor Green announced the Hawaiʻi Food Assistance Program on Thursday, a $42.2 million emergency initiative to provide $250 to each current SNAP recipient in the state, with funds automatically deposited onto existing SNAP debit cards by November 14. The program was created in response to the federal government shutdown and the Trump administration's decision not to use contingency funds to cover November SNAP costs, affecting approximately 162,000 Hawaiʻi residents who normally receive an average of $343 monthly. The assistance is financed by $28 million from the state's general fund and $13 million in excess Temporary Assistance for Needy Families funds, and Green stated the program would proceed regardless of whether the federal shutdown ends.

Governor Green's administration announced the Hawaiʻi Relief Fund, which provides up to four months of financial assistance for housing and utility payments to families experiencing hardship during the federal government shutdown. The fund, utilizing $100 million from the federally funded Temporary Assistance for Needy Families program, covers housing deposits and payments up to $6,000 each, and utility deposits up to $3,000 per utility with bills covered up to $2,000. Green's administration additionally directed the Department of Human Services to allocate $2 million to Hawaii Foodbank and worked with the Office of Hawaiian Affairs to establish a separate $6.1 million emergency fund for Native Hawaiians affected by the shutdown.

Governor Green announced the Hawai'i Relief Program, a $100 million state assistance initiative funded through federal TANF reserves, to provide rent and utility payment assistance to Hawaii households with dependent children facing financial instability. The program began accepting applications in October 2025 as federal SNAP benefits were scheduled to cease due to a federal government shutdown, affecting approximately 170,000 state residents. Green also allocated $2 million from the Department of Human Services budget to the Hawai'i Foodbank for distribution to partner food banks across the islands.

The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program work requirements established under H.R.1, the One Big, Beautiful Bill Act, took effect in Hawaii on Saturday, expanding eligibility conditions to adults ages 55 to 64, households with dependent children ages 14 and older, people experiencing homelessness, veterans, and youth ages 18 to 24 transitioning from foster care. Under the new requirements, affected individuals must complete 80 hours of work or training per month to remain eligible for SNAP benefits. Governor Green announced the Hawaii Relief Program, allocating $100 million in funds to assist families with children during the federal government shutdown by covering up to four months of rent or utilities.

Governor Green released a statement on Monday indicating that the state stands with thousands of Hawaii residents relying on Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits following the federal government shutdown's suspension of SNAP funding. The suspension affected over 160,000 SNAP recipients across the islands, or more than 80,000 households, with no additional SNAP funding added to Electronic Benefit Transfer cards beginning November 1, 2025, though participants could spend remaining October funds in November. On Wednesday, Green announced that the Department of Human Services would provide information about the suspension's impact on affected residents.

Green unveiled a $2 billion agreement with Tokyo-based JERA Co. in October 2025 to bring natural gas to Hawaiʻi as a transitional energy source intended to serve as a lower-cost, low-emission alternative to petroleum while the state works toward its renewable energy goals. The non-binding agreement was presented as part of the state's effort to meet its 2045 mandate to transition to 100% renewable electricity generation, which Hawaiʻi established in 2015. The agreement faced significant opposition from environmental organizations in the state.

Governor Green signed legislation in May 2025 that authorized the creation of permitted interactive groups (PIGs), private committees composed of state and county officials, developers, and environmental interests tasked with developing recommendations on permitting reform, cesspool conversion, and historic preservation regulations. Three House-led committees operating under this framework, including the Building Permit Permitted Interaction Group chaired by Representative Susan Keohokapu-Lee Loy and the Individual Wastewater Systems Permit PIG chaired by Representative Mike Lee, were required to deliver their recommendations by December 2025 ahead of the January 2026 legislative session. The committees were designed to facilitate private discussions among competing stakeholder groups to develop short-, medium-, and long-term solutions to streamline Hawaii's permitting processes for economic development.

Governor Green issued the 23rd emergency proclamation addressing overpopulation of axis deer in Maui County, building on the initial declaration made by his predecessor in March 2022. The proclamation authorized culling targets of no less than 30 percent of the deer population annually until populations reach estimated tolerable levels of approximately 16,000 animals on Maui. Green's administration conducted a state deer count that documented population reductions since 2021 and authorized measures including 11 new miles of fencing in July 2024, helicopter culling operations, and a bounty program for landowners to cull deer on their properties.

Governor Green announced the authorization of $100 million in Temporary Assistance for Needy Families funding to offset potential cuts to SNAP benefits scheduled for November 1 during the federal government shutdown. Eligible families earning up to 300 percent of the federal poverty level would receive assistance with rent and utility bills, with aid reaching applicants within one to two weeks of application. Green stated the state was losing approximately $120 million per week due to the shutdown and planned to travel to Washington, D.C. to negotiate with federal agencies regarding military land leases and secure additional federal funding.

The Coast Guard Reauthorization Act authorized $66.5 billion for Coast Guard operations over five years, along with $185 billion in total funding for procurement and construction. The legislation included provisions from U.S. Rep. Ed Case and U.S. Rep. Trent Kelly that directed the expansion of Coast Guard capabilities in the Pacific region, including study requirements for additional port visits, deployments, and the potential homeporting of fast response cutters in the Northern Mariana Islands. The bill also directed Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth to prepare reports on the Coast Guard's projected role over the next five, ten, and twenty years in support of U.S. military operations and regional engagement in the Pacific and Indian Oceans.

Governor Green held the third annual Cost of Living Summit in October 2025, bringing together more than 130 young professionals, business leaders, and policymakers to address affordability challenges in Hawaii. Green stated his administration is implementing several measures including expansion of affordable housing and rental assistance programs, economic growth initiatives intended to provide additional annual income to residents, and support for small business development. The summit featured a financial literacy workshop designed to encourage conversation about wealth building and help residents develop strategies for managing expenses in Hawaii's high-cost environment.

Governor Green joined the Governors Public Health Alliance, a coalition of 15 state governors announced in October 2025 to coordinate public health efforts across state lines. The alliance was established to facilitate data sharing, emergency response coordination, and the deployment of public health experts, with participating states already sharing best practices and coordinating executive actions such as directives to preserve access to COVID-19 vaccines. Green stated that the alliance would provide governors and public health teams tools to coordinate and deliver science-based guidance in response to what the alliance characterized as changes to federal public health policy.

Governor Green issued an executive order in 2025 raising the renewable electricity target for neighbor islands from 2045 to 2035, building on the state's existing RPS 2045 renewable electricity mandate signed into law a decade prior. The executive order also identified Oʻahu as the state's primary challenge, noting that the island consumes over 70 percent of the state's electricity while remaining dependent on oil for nearly 70 percent of its power generation despite existing wind, solar, and battery projects. Green's order highlighted the need for firm, baseload power generation technologies to meet the accelerated emissions reduction timeline alongside intermittent renewable sources.

Governor Green and Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism Director James Kunane Tokioka allocated $500,000 in Hawaii Tourism Authority funding for the film industry and directed the HTA advisory board to establish a Film Production Tourism Standing Committee. The committee, composed of select HTA advisory board members, was tasked with guiding initiatives that promote Hawaii through film and television production while supporting economic development and authentic representation of the state. This action followed the departure of major television productions from Hawaii, including the shutdowns of "Hawaii Five-0," "NCIS: Hawai'i," "Magnum P.I.," and "Rescue: HI-Surf."

State Senator Aquino announced his resignation from the Hawaii Legislature after 17 years of service to join Hawaii Public Policy Advocates, a lobbying firm, effective November 30. During the most recent legislative session, Aquino chaired the Senate Labor and Technology Committee, which approved more than a third of approximately two dozen bills backed by clients of the firm he is joining, with nine of those measures becoming law. Aquino will observe the state's "cooling off" law prohibiting him from lobbying during his first year with the firm.

Governor Green's vision for kauhale housing communities expanded to the neighbor islands with the opening of Kipuola Kauhale on Maui's beginning October 20, 2025, designed to house at least 64 homeless individuals. The facility features 100-square-foot prefabricated modular homes constructed from aluminum composite materials and equipped with individual air-conditioning units, along with communal kitchens and facilities. This represents the first of 24 planned kauhale communities dedicated to housing homeless populations across Hawaii's neighbor islands, following the earlier opening of the Ka La'i Ola kauhale in Lahaina.

Governor Josh Green stated that Hawaii had sufficient federal funding to maintain the SNAP food stamp program through October 31 and Women, Infants and Children clinics through November 30 during a federal government shutdown in October 2025. Green indicated that no state employee layoffs were anticipated and that Hawaii could absorb the shutdown's impact for weeks to months using its 1.58 billion dollar rainy day fund and by reallocating resources across state departments. The state's Deputy Finance Director Sabrina Nasir confirmed that the administration had a plan to protect essential services while noting that Social Security and Medicaid would continue operating.

Governor Green signed a nonbinding "statement of principles on land use and areas of mutual benefit to the people of Hawai'i" with Army Secretary Dan Driscoll on September 30, 2025, to establish a framework for ongoing negotiations regarding Army training lands in Hawaii. The statement outlined mutual commitments to explore options for returning some state land, addressing unexploded ordnance cleanup, improving environmental stewardship, and discussing federal support for housing, infrastructure, and energy projects in the islands. Green and Driscoll indicated they anticipate developing a Memorandum of Understanding by the end of 2025 to establish parameters for a land arrangement addressing issues important to Hawaii's communities.

Governor Green included two additional years of funding worth $30 million in the state budget to extend the Healthcare Education Loan Repayment Program, or HELP, which provides up to $50,000 in student loan payments annually to health care workers who commit to working in Hawaii for at least two years. The program's fourth and final round of payments to the original cohort of 780 health care workers was delayed pending execution of a contract by the state Attorney General's office to streamline applicant verification but is expected to be completed by year-end 2025. The expansion will allow a subsequent group of approximately 150 health care workers to begin receiving their first of four annual loan payments beginning in March 2026.

As Hawaii's attorney general, Green filed 28 lawsuits as part of a coalition of 23 state attorneys general against the federal administration beginning January 20, 2025, addressing matters including privacy rights, birthright citizenship, law enforcement independence, and federal funding. Green's litigation efforts resulted in a temporary restraining order and preliminary injunction that restored approximately $16 million in daily federal financial assistance to Hawaii after the U.S. Office of Management and Budget ceased disbursement activities on January 27, 2025. Additional court orders obtained by Green's office unblocked more than $500 million in Federal Emergency Management Agency funds owed to Hawaii, including $21 million for the state's Disaster Case Management Program assisting victims of the 2023 Maui wildfires.

Hawaii Supreme Court Associate Justice Sabrina McKenna was appointed to serve as acting chief justice of the Hawaii Judiciary effective October 1, 2025, following the retirement of Chief Justice Mark Recktenwald due to the state's mandatory retirement age of 70. McKenna, who has served on the Hawaii Supreme Court since 2011, is the longest-serving active jurist in the Judiciary and has previously held positions in district, circuit, and family courts. The Judicial Selection Commission will provide a list of nominees to permanently replace the chief justice, from which Governor Josh Green will make a selection subject to state Senate confirmation.

Green signed Act 96, legislation that increased Hawaii's Transient Accommodations Tax by 0.75 percentage point effective January 1, 2026, estimated to generate $100 million annually for climate and environmental purposes. The law established the Green Fee Advisory Council to make recommendations on how the increased revenue should be distributed equally among three categories: protecting and restoring natural resources, increasing infrastructure resilience to natural and climate-related disasters, and improving the visitor experience while mitigating tourism impacts. The council's recommendations, to be submitted to Green for consideration as potential bills for the Legislature, will determine how the funds are allocated beginning in the 2026 fiscal year.

Green placed the Hawaii Tourism Authority under the Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism, positioning himself and DBEDT Director James Kunane Tokioka in the chain of command over the organization's operations. Green championed a "green fee," an added hotel-room tax surcharge designed to fund environmental protection and mitigation efforts, with an estimated $100 million in annual revenue expected to support beach replenishment and other environmental projects. Green and Tokioka allocated $500,000 each in HTA's budget to establish two new advisory committees focused on sports and film tourism to diversify Hawaii's visitor economy.

Governor Josh Green issued an executive order on traffic safety that promotes increased enforcement and penalties through state sheriffs and funding to assist counties in reducing traffic fatalities on Oahu. The executive order includes provisions to expand powers to seize vehicles and jail chronic traffic offenders, and contemplates using the Department of Law Enforcement in partnership with police departments to conduct highway patrol operations. Green stated that state sheriffs could enhance police operations by responding to high-crash locations identified through data analysis while working in cooperation with county police departments.

Governor Green issued an executive order in September 2025 directing the state Department of Transportation to implement measures aimed at reducing traffic fatalities in Hawaii, which had reached at least 93 deaths statewide by that point in the year. The order directed DOT to consider tighter driver's license renewal requirements, mandatory safety classes for drivers cited for excessive speeding or driving under the influence, procedures for impounding vehicles involved in repeat traffic offenses, and establishment of a task force to examine the use of public video footage as evidence in traffic investigations. The executive order also tasked DOT with identifying high-risk traffic corridors for enhanced enforcement, securing additional funding for county police departments, and developing uniform regulations for e-bike operation standards and consumer awareness requirements.

Green issued an emergency proclamation on September 24, 2025, allowing Hawaii pharmacists to administer COVID-19 vaccines to individuals age 3 and older without a physician's prescription. The action followed the FDA's August 27 decision to limit Moderna vaccine approval to adults 65 and older and children as young as 6 months with underlying medical conditions, which created uncertainty about vaccine accessibility for other populations. The proclamation, effective through November 22, 2025, was designed to maintain vaccine access particularly in rural and neighbor island communities where pharmacies serve as primary vaccination points.

Governor Green issued an Emergency Proclamation on September 24, 2025, to protect public access to COVID-19 vaccines in Hawaii following recent federal restrictions on vaccine eligibility. The proclamation allows Hawaii pharmacists to administer COVID-19 vaccines to individuals age 3 and older without requiring a doctor's prescription, in accordance with West Coast Health Alliance recommendations that the Hawaii Department of Health affirmed as evidence-based. The action was taken in response to FDA approval limitations and new federal Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices requirements that the governor stated would create barriers to vaccine access, particularly in rural and neighbor island communities.

Governor Green announced details for Hawaii's inaugural state high school surfing championship tournament, scheduled for May 1 and 2 at Hookipa Beach on Maui, expanding the competition to include shortboarding, longboarding, and bodyboarding divisions. The Hawaii High School Athletic Association is coordinating with league officials to establish qualification standards, safety protocols, and tournament formats, with the competitive season beginning in mid-February. Green appointed Dave Kazama as state tournament coordinator to oversee the logistics of the sanctioned high school sport.

Green engaged in negotiations with the U.S. military regarding Hawaii state land leases set to expire in 2029, stating that engagement served the state's interest after Secretary of the Army Daniel Driscoll indicated the Trump administration sought a framework agreement by year's end. Green's stated willingness to participate in accelerated negotiations drew criticism from dozens of Native Hawaiian organizations and scholars who called for slowing the process and increasing community input. The discussions occurred concurrently with the Board of Water Supply's lawsuit against the U.S. Navy over the 2021 Red Hill fuel spill and disputes over the Navy's release of monitoring data related to the contamination.

Governor Green spearheaded the implementation of Hawaii's climate impact fee, a first-in-the-nation "green fee" on the state's 10 million annual tourists, effective January 2026. The fee raises the hotel and short-term vacation rental tax by 0.75% and imposes a levy on cruise ship visitors, with projections to generate $100 million annually for conservation efforts. The revenue is intended to address Hawaii's $560 million annual conservation funding gap and support initiatives such as invasive species management, native forest restoration, and stream restoration across the islands.

Governor Green issued an executive order directing the state Department of Transportation to develop rules governing the use of nonconforming e-bikes and high-speed electric vehicles on school campuses. The order also encouraged the state Department of Education to establish and enforce policies prohibiting students from bringing nonconforming e-bikes onto public school campuses. Green cited 93 fatalities involving e-bike and similar vehicle users as the basis for the action.

Governor Green stated that Hawaii could file a lawsuit if the Trump administration's proposed budget eliminates funding for the Native Hawaiian Education Program, which currently provides $15 million annually to the Partners in Development Foundation and supports early childhood education programs across the state. Green characterized the potential elimination as targeting Hawaiian programs and indicated the state could utilize appropriations and rainy day funds to mitigate deep cuts to federal education funding. The proposed budget would zero out the Family-Child Interaction Learning Funding program, which serves thousands of children and families through 38 locations statewide.

Governor Green signed an executive order on September 18, 2025, to address rising traffic fatalities in Hawaii, which had reached 93 deaths as of that date. The executive order introduces regulations for e-bikes, encourages safety education for high-risk drivers, proposes additional support to law enforcement agencies, and seeks a tiered system for driver's license renewals based on driving records. The order also directs the Department of Transportation to develop methods for using public records such as dashcam video as supplemental evidence in traffic safety investigations and enforcement.

The Hawaii Department of Health, as part of the West Coast Health Alliance with California, Washington, and Oregon, issued vaccine recommendations on September 18, 2025, for COVID-19, flu, and RSV ahead of federal guidance. The alliance recommended COVID-19 vaccination for all children ages 6 to 23 months and pregnant women, flu vaccines for virtually all people, and RSV vaccines for infants and older adults. Governor Green joined the governors of California, Washington, and Oregon in issuing a joint statement that the West Coast Health Alliance recommendations were informed by national medical organizations including the American Academy of Pediatrics and the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.

The Hawaii Supreme Court ruled on Governor Green's emergency housing proclamations issued beginning in July 2023, upholding ten of fifteen proclamations while finding that five exceeded the governor's emergency authority. The court determined that the first five proclamations were overly broad because they applied to all housing projects rather than specifically affordable housing, and that the Build Beyond Barriers Working Group established by Green possessed powers that "swept too broadly" by suspending 22 legal provisions without limitation to housing need. The ruling established that emergency proclamations must be both rationally related to public health, safety, and welfare and reasonably necessary to address the declared emergency.

Governor Green issued a statement denouncing political violence in America, including the assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk in Utah, the killings of a Democratic legislator and her husband in Minnesota, and two assassination attempts on President Trump. Green stated that Americans have come to accept violence as normal when it is not acceptable and called for national healing. Green also authored an op-ed published by U.S. News & World Report on Friday calling for increased gun control measures.

Governor Green issued 15 Emergency Proclamations beginning July 17, 2023, to expedite construction of more than 50,000 affordable housing units by waiving or modifying state and county regulatory procedures including Land Use Commission rules. The Hawaii Supreme Court upheld the validity of all 15 proclamations while determining that the first five exceeded the scope of the emergency management statute because the Build Beyond Barriers Working Group's certification process lacked specific limitations tailored to affordable housing development. Green dissolved the Build Beyond Barriers Working Group on February 23, 2024, after it had operated for seven months and approved its first housing project.

Gov. Green announced that he plans to sign an executive order within one week to regulate e-bike safety across Hawaii's islands in response to increased traffic fatalities involving electric vehicles and motorcycles. The executive order would establish clear rules for riders of electric bikes, motorcycles, and similar vehicles. Green stated that the measure aims to address a rise in traffic deaths, particularly on Oahu, and emphasized helmet use as a critical safety measure.

Governor Green appointed Denise Iseri-Matsubara, executive director of Catholic Charities Housing Development Corp. and former chief of the Hawaii Housing Finance and Development Corp., to the Board of Land and Natural Resources. Green also appointed Calvin Young, a partner at Goodsill Anderson Quinn & Stifel with decades of litigation experience, to the seven-member board. The appointments are significant due to the board's authority to approve or reject environmental impact statements for Army land leases scheduled to expire in 2029.

Green joined the West Coast Health Alliance, a public health partnership formed by the governors of California, Oregon, and Washington to coordinate public health guidelines and vaccine recommendations. The alliance was created in response to policy changes at the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention under the Trump administration. Green stated that Hawaii's participation would ensure public health decisions in the state are grounded in science and evidence-based guidance.

Governor Green unveiled Engage.Hawaii.gov, a state transparency website designed to promote government openness and civic engagement on major state issues. The website's initial focus is on U.S. Army land leases in Hawaii set to expire in 2029, providing residents access to background materials, lease discussion updates, and a public engagement form to share opinions and concerns. Green stated the site will expand over time to cover additional statewide initiatives including climate resilience efforts and policies on housing and healthcare.

Governor Green signed Act 259 into law in July, which became effective across Hawaii on September 1, 2025. The law creates liability for individuals who knowingly call emergency services to report another person based on their race, gender, religion, or other protected identity. Plaintiffs who prevail in civil actions under Act 259 are entitled to receive at least $1,000 in damages along with attorneys' fees and costs.

Hawaii Governor Josh Green appointed members to the Governor's Green Fee Advisory Council following the passage of Act 96 in May 2025, which established the nation's first statewide green fee designed to fund conservation and climate resilience projects. The Advisory Council will recommend how the generated funds should be invested across Hawaii, with the Legislature subsequently reviewing and refining those recommendations through the state budget process. Potential projects identified for the Council's consideration include coral reef restoration, wildfire preparedness, visitor education programs, and food and water security initiatives.

Governor Green established Operation Hire Hawaii via executive order in February 2025 to rapidly fill state job vacancies, particularly with displaced federal workers. As of August 20, 2025, the initiative had resulted in 142 job placements from 6,149 applications across various state agencies that collectively had approximately 5,000 vacant positions. The program filled less than 3 percent of available state job vacancies, with individual agencies adopting the recruitment process selectively for critical positions or those with high vacancy rates.

Hawaii Governor Josh Green signed legislation in May 2025 that established a tourism tax to generate revenue for addressing climate change impacts including eroding shorelines and wildfires, with the law estimated to produce nearly $100 million annually. The tax increases rates on hotel and vacation rental stays while imposing a new 11% tax on cruise ship passenger fares, with counties authorized to add an additional 3% surcharge. The Cruise Lines International Association filed a lawsuit in U.S. court in Honolulu challenging the constitutionality of the cruise-related tax provisions, with a hearing scheduled for October 31.

Governor Green commented on the opening of Naulu Apartments, a 25-story affordable housing development in Halawa that added 302 units reserved for households earning between 30 and 60 percent of the area median income. The $168 million project, completed after a two-year construction period, represents the largest low-income housing tax credit project built in Hawaii in the last 15 years, with rents ranging from $704 to $2,404 depending on unit size and income level. Green noted that the project resulted from collaboration between the private sector, state government, and city government, with government financing requirements ensuring rents remain affordable for at least 61 years.

Green participated in a lottery event conducted by the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands on August 29, 2025, in which 115 Native Hawaiian beneficiaries were selected to purchase homes in Phase II-C of the Ka'uluokaha'i homestead subdivision in Kapolei at prices ranging from $498,000 to $691,000. Green stated that his office would continue to work with DHHL to ensure the department has necessary resources to execute its mission of reducing the homestead waitlist, which contains approximately 30,000 pending applications. The selection represented progress from the Legislature's 2022 appropriation of $600 million under Act 279, the Waitlist Reduction Act, which allocated $143 million specifically for producing 500 homestead lots at Ka'uluokaha'i between 2026 and 2029.

Ed Sniffen, director of the state Department of Transportation, announced a draft plan to improve Hawaii's tsunami evacuation response following the July 29, 2025 tsunami warning. The plan includes manual traffic intersection management, improved public messaging about evacuation procedures, expanded options for reversing traffic on key roadways, and clarified instructions distinguishing between regular and extreme tsunami inundation zones. Sniffen stated the draft plan would be completed by November and aims to reduce evacuation traffic congestion while maintaining the safety of those who need to leave danger areas.

Governor Green advanced zoning reforms, secured federal funding, and launched the Ka Lei Momi initiative to redevelop aging public housing into 10,000 modern units as part of his housing policy priorities. Green also initiated the conversion of short-term rentals into long-term homes and funded the construction of kauhale villages such as Pulama Ola to house the homeless and medically vulnerable populations. These efforts represented Green's administration's comprehensive approach to addressing Hawaii's housing shortage through both public housing redevelopment and alternative housing models.

Governor Green vetoed House Bill 958 in July 2025, legislation that would have redefined electric bicycles under state law and prohibited high-speed electric devices from public roadways while exempting mopeds and motorcycles. Green stated in his veto rationale that the bill's prohibition on electric cars operating on public roadways would likely violate the Commerce Clause and Equal Protection Clause of the United States Constitution and conflict with the administration's commitment to reducing greenhouse gas emissions. A spokesperson for the governor indicated that Green was supportive of the bill's provisions addressing e-bikes and committed to working with the Legislature in the next session to pass revised legislation that would not inadvertently restrict electric vehicles.

Governor Green signed Senate Bill 1396 into law on May 27, 2025, as Act 96, which increased Hawaii's transient accommodations tax by 0.75 percentage points to 11 percent, effective January 1, 2026, generating an estimated $100 million annually for climate change response and wildfire prevention. Green subsequently appointed 10 members to the Green Fee Advisory Council, chaired by Jeff Mikulina of Climate Hawai'i, to provide guidance on allocating the revenue collected from the increased tax on hotel rooms, vacation rentals, and cruise ships. The law represents the first statewide green fee applied to transient accommodations in the nation and applies to both visitor and local resident bookings.

Gov. Green announced the creation of the Green Fee Advisory Council in August 2025 to provide guidance on allocation of funds collected through Hawaii's new lodging tax on tourists, which Green signed into law in May 2025. The council, chaired by Jeff Mikulina, will develop criteria for evaluating projects and recommend how the estimated $100 million in annual Green Fee revenue should be spent on environmental resilience, hazard mitigation, infrastructure resilience, and sustainable tourism programs. The Green Fee takes effect on January 1, 2026, and the council's recommendations will inform Green's Executive Supplemental Budget requests.

Green received a letter from the Secretary of the Army regarding renewal of the military's lease on training lands in Hawaii, including Pohakuloa Training Area on Hawaii Island, with the Army seeking a framework agreement by the end of 2025. Green stated that Hawaii would pursue any future lease agreement through collaboration rather than eminent domain and specified that such an agreement must include return of lands such as Makua Valley on Oahu and cleanup of contaminated training areas. The Governor announced that the state would launch a public website by the end of August to provide transparency on the lease discussions and make formal documents from the Army publicly available.

Army Secretary Dan Driscoll sent a letter to Governor Green on Thursday requesting that Hawaii accelerate negotiations over military land leases scheduled to expire in 2029, with Driscoll stating he hoped to finalize a framework by the end of the year. The letter modified Driscoll's previous suggestion of a 60-day negotiation timeline while emphasizing the strategic importance of the Hawaiian lands to Army operations in the Indo-Pacific region. The negotiations involve determining compensation for continued military use of the lands and potential land exchanges, with Driscoll indicating that congressional support could facilitate such arrangements.

Army Secretary Dan Driscoll sent an official letter to Governor Josh Green on Wednesday requesting amendment of military land lease negotiations in Hawaii to conclude by year's end, with the Army seeking a new framework for critical leases set to expire in 2029. The letter indicated the federal government's intent to potentially use eminent domain to secure the lands if negotiations did not reach agreement. Governor Green responded by stating he would pursue collaboration with federal leaders while seeking concessions including return of lands at Makua Valley, cleanup of contaminated training areas, water protections, new housing commitments, and acreage allocation to the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands.

The Hawaii Legislature approved a $4 million increase to the state Attorney General's litigation budget, effectively doubling it over two fiscal years, to support legal challenges against the Trump administration. Attorney General Lopez's department has joined 27 federal lawsuits challenging Trump administration policies affecting programs including Medicaid access, birthright citizenship definitions, and medical research funding. The additional funding brings the litigation budget to $5 million for fiscal year 2026 and $3 million for fiscal year 2027, representing a significant increase compared to the $940,000 allocated for the previous two fiscal years combined.

Governor Green appointed twelve individuals to the reorganized Hawaii Tourism Authority Advisory Board, including Maui residents Leah Belmonte and Lisa Paulson. Belmonte serves as director of human resources for Mahi Pono LLC and previously held human resources positions with Ritz-Carlton Kapalua and Diamond Resorts, while Paulson, who was reappointed, is the chief executive officer of Maui Food Bank. The appointments followed the resignation of the previous board and are subject to confirmation by the state Senate.

Secretary of the Army Dan Driscoll announced a 60-day timeline to renegotiate military land leases in Hawaii that expire in 2029, stating the matter requires urgent resolution due to strategic priorities in the Indo-Pacific region. Driscoll met twice with Governor Josh Green during a Pacific tour in late July to discuss the Army's lease renewal proposals, which include reducing its footprint on state lands by approximately 93 percent on Oahu while maintaining federal lands and seeking continued access to a state parcel on Hawaii island. The state Board of Land and Natural Resources had recently rejected the Army's environmental impact statements for both the Oahu and Pohakuloa proposals, citing data gaps and requesting inclusion of ongoing studies.

Governor Green signed Senate Bill 1571, now Act 132, on May 29, 2025, which downgraded the Hawaii Tourism Authority board to an advisory role and expanded oversight of the agency by the state Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism. Green requested courtesy resignations from the previous HTA board in June and announced on Wednesday a newly appointed 12-member HTA advisory board, with four members of the previous board among those reappointed. The HTA subsequently issued an invitation to Hawaii residents to participate in a series of free online community input sessions to guide development of the HTA Strategic Plan, the state's Tourism Functional Plan, and each island's Destination Management Action Plan.

President Donald Trump signed H.R.1, a budget bill approved by Congress on July 4, 2025, that includes $1 trillion in cuts to federal Medicaid and Children's Health Insurance Program spending and eliminates coverage for approximately 10.5 million people by 2034. The legislation introduces new work requirements beginning in 2027, mandating that adults work at least 80 hours per month or participate in community service to remain enrolled, with exemptions for the disabled, pregnant women, and parents of young children. Governor Green stated that the Medicaid cuts will particularly harm rural hospitals in Hawaii where a significant portion of the population relies on Medicare or Medicaid coverage.

Green attended a ceremony on August 8, 2025, at the Kalana O Maui County building in Wailuku to commemorate the second anniversary of the August 8, 2023, Maui wildfires. Green pledged continued support for survivors, specifically citing the temporary housing development at Ka La'i Ola in Lahaina as evidence of government assistance. Green stated that the state's commitment to Maui would continue until families received stability, support, and justice.

The Hawaii Department of Health began offering free courses to licensed healthcare providers on the clinical application of medical cannabis following Governor Green's signing of legislation that expanded physician and nurse authority to recommend the drug to patients. The courses, limited to 200 registrants, cover cannabis interactions with other medications, risks, benefits, and adverse reactions as part of the state's Medical Cannabis Control and Regulation office. The expansion occurred 25 years after Hawaii legalized medical marijuana, with the state currently registering approximately 30,000 patients at 24 regulated dispensary locations.

Governor Green signed Act 139, legislation passed by the Hawaii Legislature in May 2025 that eliminates meal costs for public school students who qualify for reduced-price lunches. The law expands free meal access to approximately 11,000 students who previously paid reduced prices, providing them with both breakfast and lunch at no charge each school day beginning in the 2025-2026 school year. The Department of Education will record meals for eligible students as "Reduced — No Charge" at point of service, though families are encouraged to apply through the state's online portal to confirm eligibility under federal guidelines.

Governor Green signed legislation in May that expanded free meal benefits in Hawaii's public school system. Beginning with the 2025-2026 school year, approximately 11,000 students who previously qualified for reduced-price meals now receive free breakfast and lunch daily through implementation by the Hawaii State Department of Education. The law also adjusted pricing for second meals for students and meals for adults, with breakfast set at $3.50 and lunch at $7.50.

Governor Green established a requirement for a full briefing on circumstances and necessity before considering activation of the Hawaii National Guard in response to federal requests for law enforcement duties, including potential immigration enforcement operations. The policy was announced in response to federal requests related to deportation enforcement efforts. Green stated that the Hawaii National Guard is most appropriately used for local state crises and that federal activation of the guard without gubernatorial consultation should almost never occur.

Governor Green held a news conference with First Lady Jaime Kanani Green and Department of Human Services Director Ryan Yamane to promote enrollment in the SUN Bucks program, a federally funded initiative providing preloaded debit cards worth $177 per school-age child to qualifying low-income Hawaii households for summer grocery purchases. The program, also known as Summer EBT, had approximately $14 million in benefits approved for roughly 80,000 children in Hawaii during summer 2025, with an August 3 deadline for applications. Green characterized SUN Bucks as reflective of Hawaii's values and noted that while most eligible families receive benefits automatically through existing program participation, state administrators believed thousands of additional qualifying families had not yet applied.

Secretary of the Army Daniel Driscoll visited Hawaii to discuss the future of the Pohakuloa Training Area lease with Governor Josh Green and state officials. The Army's lease on the approximately 23,000-acre facility, which expires in 2029, had been rejected by the state in May when officials declined the Army's final environmental impact statement. Driscoll stated the Army seeks to establish a firm agreement on the lease timeline and requested that state and local leaders provide a list of actions the Army could implement to address community concerns.

Green stated that he is examining expansion of Hawaii's film and television tax credits, which currently offer 22% incentives for productions filmed on Oahu and 27% for those on neighbor islands. Green indicated he is also exploring a cultural clause that would require culturally significant films representing Hawaii to be shot exclusively in the state rather than in locations such as New Zealand. Green made these remarks in reference to the Apple TV+ series "Chief of War," noting that expanding such incentives could create employment opportunities for Hawaiian workers in film production roles including key grips, writers, directors, and producers.

The Office of the Public Defender requested that Governor Josh Green issue an executive order that would largely prohibit state and local law enforcement agencies from collaborating with federal immigration authorities, with few exceptions. The proposed order mirrors legislation that failed during the 2025 legislative session and was drafted in response to increased federal immigration enforcement activities in Hawaii, including over 110 arrests in the first six months of 2025. The draft order asserts that state and local agencies have discretion in responding to requests from federal immigration authorities, though questions remain regarding the governor's legal authority to impose such restrictions on county police departments.

Lt. Gov. Sylvia Luke led a delegation of approximately 20 state officials, farmers, ranchers, and organization representatives to meet with USDA Secretary Brooke Rollins in Washington, D.C. in March 2025 to discuss removing restrictions on Hawaii agricultural exports to the mainland and Alaska that the state estimates cost the industry $760 million annually. Luke subsequently returned with a smaller delegation in May 2025 to continue discussions with USDA officials about modernizing the 1912 Plant Quarantine Act regulations that currently prohibit most types of freshly cut flowers, fruits, vegetables, and plants from Hawaii.

Governor Green stated in a July 1 interview that Hawaii would not require a special legislative session to address potential impacts from the amended domestic policy bill signed into federal law on July 4, 2025. Green cited several factors supporting this determination, including $100 million in state budget reductions he had already implemented, $200 million in available state contingency funding, and $550 million received from a legal settlement with the manufacturer of the drug Plavix. Green noted that anticipated federal cuts to Medicaid and nutrition assistance programs would not take effect until 2027, providing time for the state to prepare without requiring immediate legislative action.

State Senator Karl Rhoads, chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, announced a series of public briefings at the Hawaii Legislature beginning July 31 to examine the impact of Trump administration policies on the state. The first briefing will feature U.S. Representative Ed Case discussing the Rule of Law, with subsequent sessions intended to provide real-time updates from congressional leaders and other experts on how federal actions regarding immigration, taxes, tariffs, and federal funding affect Hawaii. Rhoads stated the goal is to inform the public and strategize responses to what he views as violations of constitutional separation of powers.

U.S. Senators Brian Schatz and Ted Cruz co-introduced the Illegal Red Snapper and Tuna Enforcement Act, a bipartisan federal bill directing the National Institute of Standards and Technology and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration to develop a standard methodology for identifying the geographic origin of imported red snapper and tuna species through chemical analysis. The bill would create a portable field kit allowing federal and state law enforcement to test prepared and raw seafood to identify illegally caught or mislabeled fish before it enters the U.S. market. The legislation targets bigeye tuna, yellowfin tuna, and bluefin tuna varieties caught primarily by Hawaii's longline fishing fleet.

Saiki was named state insurance commissioner following a gubernatorial appointment by Governor Josh Green. Saiki had served as acting chief deputy insurance commissioner since February and previously worked on insurance issues during his tenure in the state House, including matters related to insurer departures and condominium association premiums. The appointment came after Saiki lost his state House seat in the previous election cycle.

Governor Josh Green appointed former state House speaker Scott Saiki as insurance commissioner for the Hawaii Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs Insurance Division in July 2025. Saiki, who had served in the state House for more than 30 years and as acting chief deputy insurance commissioner since February 2024, is tasked with overseeing the insurance industry and establishing standards to ensure consumers receive quality and dependable insurance services. The appointment came as Hawaii's property insurance market faced volatility, with rate increases and a diminishing number of available insurers in recent years.

Saiki was appointed as Hawaii's insurance commissioner by DCCA Director Nadine Ando with approval from Governor Josh Green, following his service as special assistant and acting chief deputy insurance commissioner beginning in December 2024. Saiki, a former state House Speaker and attorney, assumes leadership of the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs' Insurance Division, replacing Jerry Bump who returned to his prior role as chief deputy insurance commissioner. The appointment comes after Saiki lost his House seat in the August 2024 Democratic Party primary election following 30 years in the Legislature.

In late May 2025, Governor Green signed Act 131, formerly House Bill 1378, which restricted the usage of the State Foundation on Culture and the Arts' Works of Art Special Fund to costs related only to acquisition, planning, design and construction of works of art. Previously, the fund had been used broadly to cover operations at the Capitol Modern, the Scholastic Art Awards, the Artists in the Schools program, and related costs such as transportation, display and conservation of artwork. The legislative change created an approximately $1 million funding shortage for the state arts agency, as it could no longer use the special fund for the majority of its operations and public programming.

Green activated Hawaii National Guard air crews to provide firefighting support to county and state officials as fires flared up in West Oahu and South Maui, including a deadly weekend blaze in Maili. The activation occurred while 30 Hawaii National Guard members from a Hilo-based helicopter unit remained deployed to California as part of Task Force Sentinel, a military operation providing air support to the U.S. Border Patrol. Hawaii's congressional delegation had expressed concern about the deployment's diversion of military resources from state needs during hurricane season and the state's emergency response capabilities.

Governor Green signed Act 310, Session Laws of Hawaii 2025 (Senate Bill 933), which appropriates $50 million in state grants to nonprofit organizations that have sustained reductions in federal funding during fiscal year 2025-2026. The law establishes a four-member legislative committee, composed of two senators and two representatives, to evaluate applications and determine grant awards. Unlike the standard legislative process, Act 310 exempts this evaluation committee from Hawaii's Sunshine Law, allowing its deliberations and decisions to occur outside of public meetings.

Green identified a $50 billion rural healthcare appropriation in the Republican tax and spending bill that would provide Hawaii with $100 million annually over five years, with the governor stating he would seek additional funds from the second half of the appropriation. Green said he had also found potential mitigation for food assistance cuts through improvements to administrative error rates. Despite locating these provisions, Green maintained his overall assessment that the bill would negatively impact Hawaii.

Gov. Green signed House Bill 420, now Act 308, which reforms the statutory process for contractors to resolve home construction defect claims in Hawaii. The legislation amends the Contractor Repair Act to prioritize mediation and cooperation between stakeholders while addressing what supporters described as litigation practices that had delayed construction and increased housing costs. Green signed 307 of 322 bills sent to him during the 2025 legislative session, which ran from January 15 to May 2.

Governor Green signed Senate Bill 933 into law on July 10, 2025, establishing a $50 million state fund to provide grants to Hawaii nonprofits that have experienced losses in federal funding. The legislation, designated as Act 310, creates a committee composed of four state lawmakers appointed by the House Speaker and Senate President to determine grant amounts and recipients, with Aloha United Way designated to process and distribute the funds. Eligible nonprofits must document federal funding losses or demonstrate that their primary service populations have been negatively affected by federal funding reductions.

Green signed legislation on July 9, 2025, that committed state funding to support nonprofit groups in Hawaii. The bill authorized a special $50 million state fund designated to assist nonprofits. The signing was attended by state legislators including Representative Daniel Holt and Senator Troy Hashimoto.

Governor Green signed Senate Bill 1252, which appropriates $1.5 million over two years to the University of Hawaii's John A. Burns School of Medicine to develop a dementia curriculum and specialized geriatric training for medical students. Green also signed House Bill 703, which extends the sunset date of the state's rent supplement program for older residents from 2026 to 2028. These bills address healthcare quality for individuals with Alzheimer's disease and dementia, as well as housing security for Hawaii's aging population.

Governor Green issued the 24th proclamation relating to wildfires in response to the Maili fire that occurred on the leeward coast of Oahu in early July 2025. The proclamation stated that the fire required additional government resources to protect public health and safety, property, and natural resources, and suspended laws that could impede or delay emergency functions. The proclamation was set to expire on September 4 unless terminated or superseded by a separate proclamation.

Green signed House Bill 1001, now Act 301, on July 8, 2025, appropriating $807.5 million for the Maui Wildfire Settlement Trust Fund to resolve claims related to the August 2023 Maui wildfires that killed 102 people. The legislation solidified Hawaii's share of a $4.037 billion global settlement that would resolve an estimated 17,000 claims and allow victims to receive compensation without protracted litigation. Families of victims who accept the settlement will receive $1.5 million each, with additional compensation for physical injuries determined on a case-by-case basis.

Green signed legislation on July 8, 2025, that reactivated the Hawaii Hurricane Relief Fund to expand property insurance coverage options in the state. The bill allows the Hawaii Property Insurance Association to provide additional coverage options, establishes a Condominium Loan Program to help buildings remain insurable, and mandates the Insurance Commissioner to conduct a study on market stabilization strategies. The Hawaii Hurricane Relief Fund now accepts applications from condominium and townhouse associations meeting specific eligibility criteria, including a requirement that buildings have a value exceeding ten million dollars and have been denied coverage by at least two licensed insurers.

Governor Green signed Senate Bill 1044, legislation establishing an insurance program for aging condominium buildings unable to obtain or afford coverage for hurricanes and other risks. The program utilizes two existing nonprofit insurance funds, the Hawaii Hurricane Relief Fund and the Hawaii Property Insurance Association, with initial funding of $171 million accumulated in the hurricane relief fund to purchase reinsurance coverage. The Acting Insurance Commissioner reported receiving 80 applications for quotations in the first week, with one policy issued to a 60-year-old building reducing hurricane coverage premiums from $270,000 to $143,000 annually.

Governor Green signed House Bill 613, now Act 297, into law on Monday, making permanent a pilot program that provides safe spaces and youth services for young people experiencing homelessness in Hawaii. The law ensures the existence of safe spaces and youth programs in each county, offering lodging, meals, showers, medical and behavioral health services, educational support, and employment assistance. The state appropriated $871,016 for fiscal year 2026 and $1.8 million for fiscal year 2027 to fund the expanded program.

Green signed Senate Bill 1044 into law as Act 296 on Monday, legislation designed to stabilize property insurance rates for Hawaii condominiums following the 2023 Maui wildfires. The act reactivates the Hawaii Hurricane Relief Fund to provide hurricane coverage to condo associations denied such insurance and establishes a pilot low-interest loan program to help aging condominiums pay for repairs that affect insurability. According to state officials, the measure requires no additional taxpayer funding and had already received applications from 80 condo associations within one week of implementation.

Governor Green signed Senate Bill 1252, which requires the University of Hawaii at Manoa's John A. Burns School of Medicine to establish a specialized training program in dementia care for healthcare providers. The bill appropriates $525,000 in both 2026 and 2027 to fund the program and enables the Department of Geriatric Medicine to develop and update curricula focused on Alzheimer's disease and dementia. Green also signed House Bill 703 on the same day, which extends the sunset date of the state's rent supplement program for kupuna from 2026 to 2028.

Governor Green reduced a preventative maintenance fund for the Hawaii Department of Education from $150 million to $60 million over the next two years through a line-item veto of the state budget signed into law in January 2025. The reduction followed lawmakers' decision to allocate roughly $490 million for school maintenance and construction over two years, which was $1.4 billion less than the department's original request. The cuts came amid legislative skepticism about the department's ability to manage construction funds, citing a $2 billion backlog of unspent funds reported in early 2024.

Caroline Anderson, interim president and CEO of the Hawai'i Tourism Authority, resolved a dispute with the agency's largest contractor, the Hawai'i Visitors and Convention Bureau, without requiring additional interest payments on millions of dollars in late invoices. Anderson also completed back payments to the Council for Native Hawaiian Advancement's Kilohana program, the authority's second-largest contractor, as part of a 90-day action plan implemented following her appointment in March 2025. These payment resolutions occurred following Governor Josh Green's May 29 signing of Senate Bill 1571, now Act 132, which restructured the HTA board to an advisory role and expanded state oversight of the agency.

Governor Green stated that the tax legislation signed by President Trump, which reduces Medicaid and food stamp spending, would negatively impact the Waianae Coast Comprehensive Health Center and Hawaii's rural healthcare infrastructure. The Waianae health center, which serves approximately 21,000 Medicaid patients annually, announced planning measures in response to the legislation's anticipated effects, including doubling the number of community enrollment kiosks to assist patients with required six-month Medicaid re-enrollment and establishing a workforce development foundation to support patients facing new work requirements. Hospital leadership advised patients to schedule medical appointments promptly before the legislation's provisions take effect.

Governor Green stated that House Republicans' "Big Beautiful Bill," approved by the House, would cut healthcare coverage through Med-QUEST for more than 40,000 people in Hawaii, eliminate food assistance programs affecting more than 20,000 families, and raise the national debt by $3.3 trillion. Green characterized the bill as providing tax breaks primarily to high-income earners and said the state would assess the fiscal impact and develop response plans in the coming weeks. The Republican Party chair countered that the bill included benefits such as eliminating taxes on tips and overtime and would strengthen the restaurant and foodservice industry.

Governor Josh Green signed two new laws targeting illegal aerial fireworks in Hawaii four days before the Fourth of July 2025. The Honolulu Police Department deployed a fleet of 10 surveillance drones for the first time to track fireworks violators in real time, coordinating with the state Department of Law Enforcement through the Illegal Fireworks Task Force. Law enforcement announced that officers would issue citations without prior warnings and aimed to increase enforcement citations from historical double-digit numbers into the hundreds during the holiday weekend.

Governor Green signed Senate Bill 935 into law on Thursday, a measure that reduces retirement benefits by nearly half for judges appointed on or after July 1, 2031. Green had initially supported the bill, then indicated in the previous month that he might veto the latest version before ultimately signing it. The bill was one of twelve measures Green signed that had appeared on his intent-to-veto list.

Green signed Senate Bill 1221, known as "Sharkey's Law," into law at the state Capitol on July 4, 2025. The water safety legislation requires counties to maintain retention and detention ponds, conduct surveys of existing ponds, and report findings to the Legislature. The bill was introduced by the Hawaii Water Safety Coalition and named after Charlotte "Sharkey" Schaefers, a five-year-old who drowned in a poorly maintained Navy housing detention pond in 2004.

Green signed Senate Bill 1571, legislation that restructured the Hawaii Tourism Authority by converting its board from a governing body into an advisory committee. Green subsequently requested the resignation of all board members, and all 12 members complied with the request by late June 2025. Green will appoint a new board to fill the positions, with appointments subject to state senate confirmation.

Governor Green signed House Bills 1483 and 550, along with House Bill 606 and Senate Bill 222, into law to address illegal fireworks distribution and use in Hawaii. HB 1483 established new penalties for fireworks violations ranging up to a Class A felony punishable by up to 20 years in prison and a $50,000 fine for injurious activity, while HB 550 authorized law enforcement to use drone imagery over public property to establish probable cause in fireworks cases. HB 606 appropriated $500,000 in both fiscal years 2025-26 and 2026-27 for Department of Law Enforcement sting operations, and SB 222 extended the Illegal Fireworks Task Force authorization for five additional years.

Governor Green signed the state budget bill for the 2025-2027 biennium and used his line-item veto power to strike $110 million in appropriations, representing less than 0.5% of the roughly $40 billion budget. Of the amount vetoed, $90 million was designated for public school maintenance funding that the Legislature had appropriated to the Department of Education, leaving the agency with $60 million in additional maintenance funding over two fiscal years instead of the originally appropriated $150 million. Green stated in his veto message that the reductions were necessary due to a lower state tax revenue projection from the Council on Revenues and the need to maintain budgetary flexibility for potential federal funding cutbacks.

Green signed onto a joint statement issued by the Democratic Governors Association on Sunday alongside all 22 other Democratic governors, calling President Trump's deployment of military forces to Los Angeles in response to immigration-related protests "an alarming abuse of power" that undermines service members' mission and erodes public trust in law enforcement. The statement, coordinated by California Gov. Gavin Newsom who also filed a lawsuit against the deployment, characterized the military intervention as incompatible with the role of local authorities in managing demonstrations. Green's signature on the statement represented his public alignment with the Democratic governors' collective position on the federal troop deployment.

Governor Green joined 21 other governors in issuing a joint statement condemning President Trump's deployment of California National Guard troops to Los Angeles during protests related to immigration enforcement operations. The statement characterized the federal activation of National Guard forces within state borders without gubernatorial consultation as "an alarming abuse of power" and noted that governors serve as Commanders in Chief of their state National Guard units. Green's statement was issued alongside similar condemnations from state attorneys general, including Hawaii Attorney General Anne Lopez, who joined 17 other state attorneys general in calling the deployment "unlawful, unconstitutional and undemocratic."

President Trump activated 2,000 additional National Guard members and 700 Marines in Los Angeles to respond to anti-ICE protests without the approval of California Governor Gavin Newsom. The deployment marked the first federalization of the National Guard over a state governor's objection since President Lyndon B. Johnson's deployment in Alabama in 1965. Hawaii Governor Green signed a joint statement with other Democratic governors opposing the deployment, characterizing it as an abuse of power and describing it as ineffective and dangerous.

Lt. Gov. Sylvia Luke signed House Bill 934, now Act 201, into law, which establishes Hawaii's Broadband Office within the state Department of Accounting and General Services to lead broadband infrastructure development statewide and ensure high-speed internet access reaches underserved communities. The legislation empowers the office to administer federal and state broadband grants, oversee internet infrastructure deployment, and coordinate with public and private sectors on connectivity goals. The law also funds six new digital navigator positions at public libraries statewide to help residents with device use, internet connectivity, and online services including telehealth, job applications, and government programs.

Governor Josh Green was presented with Senate Bill 1322, legislation that would permit police officers to detain individuals suspected of meeting involuntary commitment criteria without consulting a mental health professional, extend involuntary hold periods from 48 to 72 hours or longer, and reduce forced medication authorization from a three-doctor panel to a single physician. The bill also would require doctors to disclose sensitive mental health information to the Attorney General's Office to support petitions for forced medication. The article's author urged Green to veto the legislation, arguing it would diminish due process protections for individuals facing involuntary hospitalization and treatment.

Governor Green announced his intent to possibly veto 19 bills passed by the Hawaii Legislature, notifying lawmakers of his decision on June 7, 2025. Among the bills on Green's veto intent list is House Bill 958, which establishes three classes of electric bicycles, prohibits people under 16 from operating higher-speed classes, and restricts their use on sidewalks, though Green stated the bill fails to exempt electric cars from its definition of prohibited "high-speed electric devices." Green cited the need for further scrutiny due to an exceptionally high number of bills passed this legislative session, a downgraded state tax revenue forecast, and uncertainties regarding federal policy impacts on state finances.

Green signed Senate Bill 281 into law, which establishes a distinct criminal offense of torture and designates it as a Class A felony in Hawaii. The measure defines torture with specificity and was requested by the Honolulu prosecutor's office in response to high-profile cases involving alleged torture and deaths of children. Individuals convicted under the law face a maximum prison sentence of 20 years.

Civil rights advocates, including the American Civil Liberties Union and the Reimagining Public Safety Coalition, gathered outside Governor Green's office in June 2025 to petition against the state's planned $1 billion replacement jail for the Oahu Community Correctional Center. The coalition requested that Green veto $30 million in appropriations for jail planning and instead redirect funds toward alternatives including bail reform, supportive housing, and community-based mental health and addiction services. Governor Green stated that while his administration pursues restorative justice initiatives, a new facility is necessary to ensure inmate safety and public security, and that he would not alter course based on the petition.

Governor Green signed Senate Bill 1396 into law on Tuesday, which became Act 96, increasing the state's transient accommodations tax by 0.75% beginning in 2026 and applying the state tax to cruise fares for the first time. The law applies to both visitor and resident transactions with no exemption for Hawaii residents using accommodations within the state. The measure is expected to generate up to $100 million annually to fund climate change mitigation efforts in Hawaii.

Governor Green signed House Bill 133 into law on Friday, providing funding for the state Department of Education to establish high school surf teams across all five high school leagues. The legislation requires surfers participating in these teams to meet junior lifeguard training standards. The action coincided with the launch of the Junior Lifeguards Program, a free one-week training initiative for children ages 11 to 17 across Oahu beaches during summer months.

Governor Josh Green announced the appointment of Dori Booth as Hawaii's state fire marshal on Monday, marking the first person to hold the position in 46 years. The state legislature had abolished the Office of the State Fire Marshal in 1979 and reestablished it in 2024 following the August 2023 Maui wildfire that killed 102 people, with the legislature passing House Bill 1064 in April 2025 to appropriate $2.2 million annually for eight staff positions and operational expenses. Booth, an Army combat veteran with fire safety experience in Arizona, will oversee the newly reconstructed statewide fire protection infrastructure while coordinating responsibilities between state and county fire departments.

Governor Green declared June as Pride Month and on Monday raised eight Pride flags over the state Capitol, where they remained for the entire month. Green delivered a proclamation at 7:45 a.m. before a gathering of approximately 75 community members, activists, and representatives from 40 supporting organizations, including the Hawaii State LGBTQ+ Commission and the ACLU of Hawaii. The flag display marked the first time Pride flags flew over the state Capitol and the first Pride Month proclamation issued by the governor since the Abercrombie administration.

Governor Josh Green signed Senate Bill 1300 on Friday at a Washington Place ceremony, expanding the free school lunch program for public school students from low-income families in Hawaii. The measure extended free meals to students previously eligible only for reduced-price lunches, effective beginning in the fall. The legislation included a $3.3 million appropriation intended to benefit thousands of students.

Green signed Bill 1396 into law, which raised accommodations transient taxes on tourists and expanded the transient accommodations tax to include cruise ships. The legislation, referred to as a "green fee," directs revenue toward climate impact mitigation efforts. The law does not provide exemptions for Hawaii residents paying the tax during inter-island travel or local accommodations.

Chris Magnus, a former police chief, wrote a column urging Governor Josh Green to sign House Bill 277, which the Hawaii Legislature passed to restrict police pursuits to serious crimes and traffic infractions while prohibiting shooting at moving vehicles. Magnus, who spent 43 years in policing including 23 years as a police chief, argued that the bill would improve public safety by reducing high-speed chases that result in injuries and deaths. The column cited statistics showing that over 3,000 people in the U.S. have died during police pursuits in recent years and that more than one-third of Oahu pursuits result in collisions.

Governor Green signed into law a climate impact fee bill in June 2025 that increases the state hotel room tax from 10.25 percent to 11 percent, effective January 1, 2026. The measure is projected to raise approximately 100 million dollars annually for climate mitigation, natural resource management, visitor experience improvements, and protection against climate-related hazards including wildfires, hurricanes, floods, and sea level rise. The revenue generated by the fee is deposited into the general fund, with the governor required to include a list of climate projects in the proposed state budget equal to the expected fee revenue.

Governor Josh Green signed Senate Bill 1571 into law on Thursday, which restructured the Hawaii Tourism Authority by converting its board to an advisory role while creating a new CEO position that reports directly to the governor and requires Senate confirmation. The legislation resulted from lawmakers' frustration with the Hawaii Tourism Authority's performance in managing tourism's impact on the islands rather than solely marketing visitor growth. The new structure leaves operational details unclear, including how the CEO will navigate reporting to both the advisory board and the governor.

Governor Green signed Senate Bill 1300 into law on May 31, 2025, establishing free lunch provisions for Hawaii public school students from low-income families over the next two school years. Students eligible for reduced-price lunches will receive free meals beginning in the fall, with expansion in the subsequent year to include children from working families earning below 300 percent of the federal poverty level. The legislation also prohibits schools from denying meals to students unable to pay.

Governor Green signed five bills on Friday intended to strengthen educational access and student support in Hawaii. The bills include Senate Bill 1300, which expands free school meal eligibility beginning in the 2025-26 school year to students whose families earn below 300 percent of the federal poverty level; House Bill 862, which codifies authorization for using alternative vehicles to transport students and addresses school bus route suspensions; House Bill 133, which appropriates $685,870 annually to establish interscholastic surfing programs across the state's athletic leagues; House Bill 110, which modifies benchmark goals for the Department of Education to source locally grown agricultural products; and House Bill 1170, which requires the University of Hawaii to extend resident tuition rates to certain graduates.

Governor Green supported legislative efforts during the 2025 Hawaii legislative session to improve the financial condition of Hawaiian Electric Industries and its subsidiary Hawaiian Electric Co. following the August 2023 Maui wildfires. The legislature appropriated $807 million toward state wildfire victim compensation and passed measures to shore up the utility's finances, reducing its financial exposure from wildfire claims to approximately $2 billion. These actions, combined with a Hawaii Supreme Court decision preventing insurance companies from pursuing reimbursements from HECO, contributed to Moody's Ratings upgrading the company's credit rating from B1 to Ba3 in May 2025.

Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. announced on May 30, 2025, that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention would revise its COVID-19 vaccine guidance to no longer recommend vaccination for all children beginning at age 6 months or for pregnant women. The new guidance requires individuals under 65 seeking COVID-19 vaccination to provide proof of existing medical conditions elevating their risk, with insurers expected to deny coverage more frequently. Hawaii Governor Josh Green, a licensed physician, stated the announcement represented a significant error and predicted the removal of vaccination access would increase disease transmission.

Governor Green joined 15 other states in filing a federal lawsuit against the Trump administration's National Science Foundation, challenging $1.4 billion in cuts to research grants and programs. The lawsuit sought to block NSF directives that ended projects focused on increasing participation of women, minorities, and people with disabilities in STEM fields, as well as a new cap on indirect research costs at 15 percent of granted funds. Green stated in a news release that the cuts would devastate public health and eliminate opportunities for young people in Hawaii to pursue careers in science.

Green signed Senate Bill 1396 on Tuesday, legislation that increases Hawaii's transient accommodations tax by 0.75% on hotel stays and cruise-ship port calls. The tax increase is projected to generate between $90 million and $100 million annually for climate change-related projects, including wildfire threat reduction efforts. The revenue can be supplemented through bonds and matching donations to address estimated annual funding needs of $500 million to $600 million for state resilience projects.

Green signed legislation known as the "Green Fee," which increased the hotel tax in Hawaii to 11 percent. The tax increase is designated to fund climate resilience projects. The measure became law upon Green's signature.

Governor Green appointed Joe Gedeon to the Hawaii House of Representatives to fill the seat vacated by the death of Republican Representative Gene Ward, selecting Gedeon from a list of three nominees provided by the Hawaii Republican Party. Gedeon, a Hawaii Kai resident and co-founder of marketing companies, will serve until the seat comes up for reelection in November 2026. This marked the first time in over 60 years that a Republican-held legislative seat in Hawaii was filled through gubernatorial appointment.

Governor Green signed Senate Bill 1571, which restructures the governance of the Hawai'i Tourism Authority by downgrading its board to an advisory board, amending eligibility requirements for board members, removing the director of the state Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism from the board, and allowing the House speaker and Senate president each to appoint an advisory board member. The bill also requires board representation from a tourism-impacted entity and exempts HTA positions within DBEDT from state civil service law. Representative Adrian Tam indicated that despite SB 1571's passage, the changes may be insufficient and he is considering drafting additional legislation to implement recommendations from a governance study that would replace HTA with an independent nonprofit Destination Stewardship Organization.

Governor Green signed Senate Bill 1396 into law on Tuesday, which became Act 96. The law increases Hawaii's transient accommodations tax by 0.75% beginning in 2026 and extends the state transient accommodations tax to cruise fares for the first time, in addition to its existing application to hotels and nightly lodging. The measure is projected to generate up to $100 million annually to support climate change mitigation efforts in Hawaii.

Green signed legislation on May 27, 2026 that increases Hawaii's tax on hotel rooms and short-term vacation rentals by an additional 0.75 percent and imposes a new 11 percent tax on cruise ship bills, effective January 1 and July 2026 respectively. The measure is projected to generate approximately $100 million annually for climate resilience projects including beach replenishment, roof reinforcement programs, and invasive grass removal. The legislation represents the first state tax specifically designated to fund climate adaptation measures in response to environmental threats including wildfires and coastal erosion.

Governor Green signed Senate Bill 1396 into law as Act 96 on Tuesday, establishing a climate impact fee on Hawaii lodging that increases the overall hotel room tax to 14 percent effective January 1. The additional lodging tax, which charges guests an extra $3 per $400 in overnight costs, is projected to generate $90 million to $100 million in annual revenue dedicated to climate change mitigation and wildfire risk reduction. Green stated the measure represents the first of its kind in the nation and was prompted in part by the 2023 Lahaina wildfire that resulted in 102 deaths.

Hawaii Governor Josh Green responded to a decision by U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to remove COVID-19 vaccine recommendations for healthy children and pregnant women, stating that the federal government was "making a big mistake." Green said the policy change would increase disease spread and announced his intention to oppose the federal action, though he clarified he would not implement vaccine mandates in Hawaii. The decision was made without input from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's advisory committee and was joined by the heads of the Food and Drug Administration and National Institutes of Health.

Governor Josh Green signed legislation on May 27, 2025, establishing a "green fee" that increases Hawaiʻi's transient accommodations tax by 0.75 percentage points to 11%, making the state the first to enact such a charge on hotel stays and short-term visitor accommodations. The fee, set to take effect in 2026, is projected to generate approximately $100 million annually to fund environmental protection and climate resilience efforts, including beach restoration, invasive species removal, and disaster response similar to the 2023 Lahaina wildfire recovery. Visitors will pay approximately $3 additional per night on a $400 room stay, with revenue directed toward protecting Hawaiʻi's reefs, beaches, trails, and mountains from climate-related impacts including severe storms and droughts.

Governor Green signed legislation on May 27, 2025, establishing a 0.75% green fee on Hawaii's transient accommodations tax, making Hawaii the first state to implement a lodging tax dedicated to climate resilience projects. Beginning January 1, 2026, the fee will apply to hotel stays and short-term rentals, with cruise ship passengers added to the tax structure starting in 2026 on a prorated basis. The fee is projected to generate approximately $100 million annually for infrastructure projects including fire break fortification, erosion mitigation, invasive species control, and disaster resilience measures, with Green stating that a climate advisory team will work with lawmakers and state agencies to establish spending priorities.

Green testified before the U.S. Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations of the U.S. Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs at the invitation of Senator Richard Blumenthal to discuss COVID-19 vaccines and public health policy. During his testimony, Green stated that COVID-19 vaccines have saved millions of lives nationally and over 10,000 lives in Hawaii, and expressed concern that vaccinations need greater support from the federal government. Green also noted that while he credited the Trump administration's Operation Warp Speed program for accelerating vaccine development, he stated the current administration is cutting health staffing and research funding.

Governor Josh Green, a medical doctor, testified before a Senate committee in Washington in defense of COVID-19 vaccines. Green's testimony addressed vaccine efficacy and safety in response to questions from Republican senators regarding his medical credentials. The governor's appearance reflected his position that vaccine access should remain available to those who seek it during the ongoing pandemic.

Governor Green developed the Healthcare Education Loan Repayment Program (HELP), a $30 million state initiative launched in September 2023 in partnership with the University of Hawaii John A. Burns School of Medicine, the Healthcare Association of Hawaii, and the state Department of Health. The program provides up to $50,000 annually in student debt relief for licensed and certified health care professionals who commit to working in Hawaii, with additional funding from private donors and federal sources. As of May 2025, HELP had awarded funding to 771 health care professionals and disbursed $23.24 million in state funds, with 1,820 individuals remaining on the waitlist.

Green filed a lawsuit against the Trump administration concerning conditions attached to federal funding for Hawaii. The legal action challenged federal requirements that the governor contended were problematic. The lawsuit represented Green's decision to pursue litigation rather than negotiate directly with the federal government over the funding conditions.

Lt. Gov. Luke announced that the state plans to expand the Akamai Arrival program, which digitizes the Department of Agriculture's Plants and Animals Declaration Form, to additional flights throughout the year following a successful pilot phase. The pilot program, which ran from March 1 to May 31 and covered 30% of incoming flights across more than 100 routes, achieved a 74% compliance rate compared with under 60% for the previous paper-based system. Luke stated that the expansion is part of the state's effort to modernize government services, protect local agriculture, and improve the travel experience for visitors and returning residents.

A licensed contractor employed as construction manager for Hawaii's Kauhale Initiative wrote to Governor Josh Green on May 1, 2025, alleging violations of building codes, contract terms, and potential fraud in the state's homeless housing program. The allegations involved the state's main contractor, nonprofit HomeAid Hawaiʻi, and the project management firm CM&D. HomeAid Hawaiʻi denied the allegations and stated that an independent financial audit found no ethical violations, fraud, or legal breaches.

The Hawaii Legislature passed House Bill 1378, which establishes a performing arts grants program administered by the State Foundation for Culture and the Arts while reducing that agency's budget and leaving future funding uncommitted. The bill also restricts the use of "1% for Art" funds from public building projects and dismantles Hawaii's Works of Art Special Fund. Green's office testified against the legislation during the legislative process, and the bill was sent to Green for signature or veto.

Riki Fujitani, executive director of the state School Facilities Authority, oversaw the addition of preschool space for 849 children during the 2024-2025 school year as part of the 2023 Ready Keiki initiative led by Lieutenant Governor Sylvia Luke. The agency projects adding space for an additional 497 children in the following school year toward a goal of developing public preschool classrooms for all Hawaii 3- and 4-year-olds by 2032. The School Facilities Authority simultaneously encountered delays in developing affordable rental housing for teachers and constructing a new middle and elementary school on Maui.

The Hawaii state Legislature passed House Bill 226, which updates vehicle window tinting regulations for the first time since 1983 by allowing sedans to use the same light transmission levels as trucks, vans, and SUVs. The bill requires drivers and passengers in tinted vehicles to lower windows during traffic stops with certain exceptions and increases fines for violations of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards 205. The legislation awaits Governor Josh Green's signature to become law.

U.S. District Judge Mary McElroy issued a preliminary injunction blocking the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services from terminating approximately $11 billion in federal public health funding, including roughly $89 million allocated to Hawaiʻi for immunization programs, mental health services, health data infrastructure, and laboratory upgrades. The ruling came in response to a lawsuit filed April 1 by Attorney General Anne Lopez and attorneys general from 22 other states and the District of Columbia challenging the Trump administration's decision to cut pandemic-era funding. The judge determined that the federal agency lacked the authority to terminate the block grant programs and had not followed required procedures for such terminations.

Governor Green characterized the Hawaii Tourism Authority as a "hot mess" and announced plans to place advisers within the agency to oversee its operations. Green pledged to sign Senate Bill 1571 into law, legislation that strips the HTA of its policymaking authority and requires the board to recommend a chief executive who will report to the governor and be confirmed by the Senate. The restructuring shifts oversight of the tourism agency from internal leadership to gubernatorial and legislative control.

The Hawaii Legislature sent House Bill 1293 to Governor Josh Green for consideration, which would exempt the state Department of Education from electronic procurement system requirements for purchases of local edible produce and packaged food products valued under $250,000. The bill aims to facilitate increased purchasing of locally grown food for school meal programs by reducing procurement barriers for small Hawaii farms. The measure follows recent federal funding cuts to food banks and hubs, creating economic pressure on local agricultural operations.

Governor Green signed House Bill 392 in April 2025, legislation that bans the manufacture, sale, and possession of ghost guns, untraceable firearms without serial numbers, throughout Hawaii. The measure, now designated as Act 18, established additional state-level prohibitions beyond existing 2020 felony statutes that criminalized purchasing or importing firearm components for assembling unserialized weapons. Green's signature followed a news conference where Honolulu Police Chief Arthur Logan and state Department of Law Enforcement Director Mike Lambert expressed support for the bill and demonstrated the mechanics of ghost gun assembly.

Governor Green announced a commitment that all Maui wildfire survivors would receive assistance rebuilding their lives regardless of Federal Emergency Management Agency eligibility status. Ka La'i Ola, a modular housing community mauka of the Lahaina Civic Center, was constructed to house survivors ineligible for FEMA assistance due to factors including lack of lease documentation, outdated identification, or income levels insufficient for market-rate housing. As of May 2025, 635 people had occupied 240 of the planned 450 units, with residents receiving rent-free housing until September 2025, after which below-market rental rates would begin.

Governor Green commented on a settlement reached between the state of Hawaii and pharmaceutical companies Bristol Myers Squibb and Sanofi regarding a lawsuit over the blood thinner Plavix, characterizing the agreement as a landmark settlement and major victory for the state. The companies agreed to pay Hawaii $700 million to resolve litigation over allegations that the companies failed to update drug labels despite knowledge that approximately 30 percent of patients, particularly non-Caucasians, might experience diminished response to the medication. The settlement was reached before an appeal was decided on a prior court ruling that had ordered the companies to pay $916 million combined.

The Hawaii state Legislature designated September as Hawaiian History Month through Senate Bill 1051 and established the first Friday in May as Laulau Day through House Bill 957, sending both bills to Governor Josh Green for signature. The designations aim to promote public awareness of Hawaiian history, honor Queen Lili'uokalani, and recognize the contributions of the Native Hawaiian community and traditional Hawaiian culture. The legislative action occurred as the U.S. Department of Education issued directives excluding Native Hawaiian history from diversity, equity and inclusion categorizations in federal school policy.

Governor Green received House Bill 806, which would provide $500,000 to the Department of Law Enforcement in fiscal years 2025-2026 and 2026-2027 to conduct fireworks enforcement operations on Oahu and establish an explosives and firearms laboratory. The legislation would authorize the DLE to create an eight-person undercover unit, expand law enforcement training on neighbor islands, and use drone imagery as probable cause for citations and arrests related to illegal fireworks. The bill awaited Green's signature following legislative passage.

Governor Green urged the Hawaii state Legislature to increase the hotel room tax from 10.25% to 11%, effective January 2026, with the stated intention of directing the estimated $80 million to $100 million in annual revenue toward environmental protection and disaster resilience efforts. The Legislature approved the tax increase during its annual session. Green had campaigned on the tax increase as a primary policy initiative.

Governor Green registered the Heal America political action committee with the Federal Election Commission on January 28, 2025, while simultaneously conducting official state business in Washington, D.C. at taxpayer expense to oppose the nomination of Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to lead the Department of Health and Human Services. The PAC, which lists healthcare, homelessness, gun control, and support for science-focused candidates as its priorities, was established with political operatives including spokesperson Andy Winer and treasurer Lori LaFave, both of whom have long-standing ties to Green's political campaigns.

Governor Green announced a $700 million settlement between the state of Hawaii and pharmaceutical companies Bristol Myers Squibb and Sanofi regarding the blood thinner Plavix on May 9, 2025. The settlement resolved litigation spanning over a decade in which the state alleged the companies failed to disclose that Plavix was less effective in patients with certain liver-enzyme mutations more prevalent in Asian American, Pacific Islander, and Native Hawaiian populations. The funds are designated to support public health and underfunded health services across Hawaii, with payment scheduled by June 9, 2025.

Green entered into a $700 million settlement agreement with Bristol-Myers Squibb Company and Sanofi subsidiaries to resolve a lawsuit spanning over a decade concerning the blood-thinning drug Plavix. The settlement addressed allegations that the pharmaceutical companies sold the drug in Hawaii without adequate warnings that it was less effective for individuals of Asian and Pacific Islander descent who lack a specific enzyme needed to activate the medication. Green stated the settlement funds would be allocated to public health programs to enhance healthcare services for Hawaii residents.

Governor Green directed Attorney General Ann Lopez and the Department of Human Resources Development to investigate allegations of a hostile work environment involving Isaac Choy, the Hawaii Tourism Authority's acting chief administrative officer and vice president of finance. Choy was placed on leave pending the outcome of the investigation at the direction of the Attorney General and Department of Human Resources Development. The investigation was initiated following reports that Choy made racist remarks and exhibited discriminatory behavior toward women.

The state Board of Land and Natural Resources voted to reject the Army's Final Environmental Impact Statement for renewing its lease on the Pohakuloa Training Area, a 22,750-acre parcel on Hawaii island. The board cited data gaps regarding environmental impacts, protection of Native Hawaiian burial sites, and other deficiencies in the document as reasons for the rejection. The decision does not authorize or deny the Army's long-term lease request, which will require separate review and determination by the board if resubmitted after the current lease expires in 2029.

State Senator Kurt Fevella called on Governor Josh Green to seek the resignations of James Tokioka, director of the Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism, and Isaac Choy, Hawaii Tourism Authority acting chief administrative officer, citing allegations of a hostile work environment including racist and sexist comments directed at Native Hawaiians. Fevella alleged that Choy referred to the Council for Native Hawaiian Advancement as "dumb Hawaiians" and demeaned female HTA board members, and noted that several Native Hawaiian HTA employees including Daniel Nahooopii, Maka Casson-Fisher, Iwalani Kahoohano, Ilihia Gionson, and Kalani Kaanaana had recently resigned. Choy denied the allegations and stated that the Attorney General's office has acknowledged him and his staff as whistleblowers in an ongoing investigation.

Hawaii lawmakers passed legislation in May 2025 that increases the state's lodging tax by adding a 0.75% levy to existing taxes on hotel rooms, timeshares, and vacation rentals, while also imposing a new 11% tax on cruise ship bills. Gov. Josh Green indicated he will sign the bill, which is estimated to generate nearly $100 million annually for environmental protection projects including beach replenishment, hurricane-resistant roofing improvements, and invasive grass removal. The legislation represents the nation's first state lodging tax dedicated exclusively to environmental and climate change adaptation purposes.

Governor Green plans to sign legislation that increases Hawaii's hotel room tax and cruise ship cabin tax, effective January 1, to generate 90 million to 100 million dollars annually for climate adaptation and wildfire prevention efforts. The bill passed both chambers of the Legislature on the final day of the 2025 legislative session on Friday. Green has prioritized securing new climate funding sources since his first legislative session as governor three years ago.

Governor Green secured passage of a climate tax bill through the state Legislature that raised taxes by nearly 1% on tourism-related activities. The legislation is expected to generate approximately $100 million annually for environmental programs and disaster resilience infrastructure in Hawaii. Green coordinated with climate experts and testified repeatedly to lawmakers about the need for advance planning on natural disaster preparedness.

Governor Josh Green signed Senate Bill 1202, which allows Hawaii lawmakers to charge child care and elder care expenses to their campaign funds. The bill passed both chambers of the Legislature with overwhelming support during the 2025 legislative session. The measure represents an expansion of allowances permitting legislators to use campaign accounts for personal expenses, following previous authorizations for charitable donations and contributions to other candidates.

Hawaii's governor and attorney general filed a lawsuit against seven groups of affiliated fossil fuel companies, including BP, Chevron, Exxon Mobil, and Shell, as well as the American Petroleum Institute, alleging deceptive conduct and failure to warn of harmful environmental effects. The state action proceeded despite a concurrent lawsuit filed by the Trump administration's Department of Justice seeking to block Hawaii and three other states from taking legal action against the oil industry. State officials claimed the federal lawsuit represented an attack on Hawaii's sovereignty, while the DOJ argued that the state actions violated the Clean Air Act and conflicted with federal energy policy.

Hawaii filed a 196-page civil complaint in Oahu Circuit Court against Exxon Mobil, Chevron, ConocoPhillips, Shell, BP, Aloha Petroleum, Phillips 66, Woodside Energy Hawaii, BHP Hawaii, Equilon, and the American Petroleum Institute, alleging a "successful campaign of climate deception" that misled the public about the connection between fossil fuels and climate change. The lawsuit seeks damages for climate change impacts including sea level rise, fire risk, and extreme weather affecting Hawaii's communities and infrastructure. The filing came one day after the U.S. Department of Justice filed a separate federal complaint seeking to prevent Hawaii from pursuing the state-level lawsuit against fossil fuel companies.

Green issued an emergency proclamation for housing to address the state's affordable housing shortage, as represented by Hawaii Housing Finance and Development Corp. Executive Director Dean Minakami at the groundbreaking ceremony for Uahi Ridge in Lihue. The Uahi Ridge project, developed in partnership with Kauai County, Mark Development, 'Ikenakea Development, and other entities, broke ground on the first phase of an affordable rental housing development containing 95 units with rents affordable to households earning between 30 and 60 percent of the county's median income. The project received financing from the Hawaii Housing Finance and Development Corp., Hula Mae Multifamily Bonds, federal and state low-income housing tax credits, and the Rental Housing Trust Fund.

The Hawaii House and Senate gave final approval to approximately 250 bills on May 1, 2025, including House Bill 300, which appropriates $19.9 billion in spending on state government operations for the fiscal year beginning July 1, with $10.6 billion from the state general fund. The state budget bill is projected to leave the state general fund with a $756 million balance at the end of fiscal year 2026, though legislative leaders anticipate potential revisions through a special session in response to anticipated federal funding cutbacks and tariffs. Among the approved measures are bills to increase penalties for illegal fireworks importation and use, regulate wildfire damage liability, allocate $300 million for affordable housing and $50 million for nonprofits losing federal funding, and expand the state hotel room tax.

The Trump administration's Department of Justice filed lawsuits against Hawaii, Michigan, New York, and Vermont to block or prevent climate-related litigation against fossil fuel companies. The suits challenged state laws in New York and Vermont that require oil companies to contribute to climate damage funds, and sought to prevent Hawaii and Michigan from filing planned lawsuits against major oil producers. The Justice Department argued the state actions constituted unconstitutional overreach that would undermine federal regulation of greenhouse gas emissions and interfere with the administration's energy policies.

The U.S. Justice Department filed lawsuits against Hawaiʻi, Michigan, New York, and Vermont, challenging their climate-related legal actions and laws. The DOJ sued Hawaiʻi and Michigan over their planned litigation against fossil fuel companies for climate change damages, arguing the suits infringe on federal authority under the Clean Air Act. The department also sued New York and Vermont over their climate superfund laws that would require fossil fuel companies to pay into state funds based on historical greenhouse gas emissions.

Governor Josh Green announced he would sign legislation increasing Hawaii's hotel tax by an additional 0.75% on daily room rates, effective January 1, with the measure scheduled for House and Senate votes in the week of May 1, 2025. The bill is expected to generate approximately $100 million in annual revenue, which state officials designated for climate adaptation projects including beach replenishment, hurricane-resistant roof installation assistance, and invasive grass removal efforts. Green stated that Hawaii would be the first state to earmark lodging tax revenue specifically for environmental protection and climate change mitigation purposes.

The state Department of Education expanded its EXPRESS program beginning August 1, 2025 to provide free county bus passes to middle and intermediate school students in addition to existing high school eligibility, with applications opening July 14. The department also launched a carpool pilot program in two school complexes, Mililani in Central Oahu and Kekaulike in Upcountry Maui, beginning in August, which provides a digital platform funded by the department to help families coordinate carpooling and walking groups. These measures were implemented in response to transportation challenges including a severe shortage of school bus drivers that had led to the suspension of 108 bus routes affecting nearly 2,900 students in the 2024-25 school year.

Governor Green announced his intention to sign legislation that raises the tax on hotels and vacation rentals from 9.25% to 10% and imposes a new 11% tax on cruise ship cabin values while in Hawaii ports. The measure, which emerged from legislative conference negotiations, is estimated to generate between $85 million and $100 million annually, with revenues dedicated to climate mitigation and adaptation projects. Green stated the funds would support beach restoration, property buyouts for threatened shoreline areas, infrastructure hardening, and forest restoration efforts.

Senate Bill 1442 awaits action by Governor Green and would require the state's Adolescent Mental Health Division to establish family guidance centers across counties and provide preventative, early identification, screening, diagnostic, treatment and rehabilitative services for children and youth with severe emotional or behavioral challenges. The bill would provide the first update to adolescent mental health services in fifty years and would clarify that the division would only be required to provide services if federal or state funds are available. SB 1442 would also require the division to submit a statewide mental health services plan to the governor and legislature every five years and conduct at least one public hearing in each county to review the plan with the community.

Governor Green sought House Bill 1001 to fund Hawaii's $807.5 million obligation from a settlement agreement related to the August 8, 2023 Maui wildfires that killed 102 people and destroyed approximately 3,500 homes. The bill would deposit about half of the state's settlement obligation into a trust fund in the next fiscal year, with the remaining balance to be paid one year later, spreading payments over four years as specified in the settlement. Legislative leaders in the House and Senate agreed to the bill's terms on April 22, 2025, with final approval pending votes in both chambers before the legislative session ends on May 2.

The Honolulu City Council voted 8-0 on April 16, 2025, to confirm Dr. James Ireland's reappointment as director of the Honolulu Emergency Services Department for a second four-year term. Ireland's nomination had faced vocal opposition from former EMS workers who raised concerns about staffing levels and response times, though the nomination also received support from Mayor Rick Blangiardi and Governor Josh Green. Ireland outlined plans to expand the ambulance fleet to thirty vehicles under one year old within twelve months and reduce ambulance trip frequency in urban Honolulu.

Governor Green signed House Bill 392 in April 2025, which bans the possession, sale, and transfer of ghost guns—firearms constructed from kits or parts that lack serial numbers—within Hawaii. Green also signed House Bill 137, which expands mandatory prison sentences for violent felons found owning, possessing, or controlling firearms or ammunition, with sentences specified as indeterminate terms of imprisonment. Two additional bills awaiting Green's signature at the time of the article were House Bill 125, which establishes secure storage requirements for firearms and creates liability for owners whose unsecured weapons are accessed by minors, and House Bill 995, which extends the timeline for county police to report licensing data to the state Department of Attorney General.

Governor Green signed Senate Bill 112 into law on April 10, 2025, which became Act 17 and allows immediate family members of deceased persons to receive copies of law enforcement closing reports after specified time periods have elapsed. The law grants access to closing reports once all trials are completed, five years after a report was written, or seven years after the event, whichever comes first, with an exemption if police reopen a case within six months of the family's request. The measure excludes information regarding minors and confidential personal information such as witness details, and does not apply if investigations remain active.

State lawmakers considered House Bill 432, which would authorize the state rental housing revolving fund to finance apartment development for households earning between 60% and 140% of county median income, expanding beyond its current focus on households earning up to 60% of median income. The bill was proposed by the state agency administering the fund and intended to increase subsidized rental housing availability across a broader income range. The measure would allow monthly rents to reach $3,412 for studios and $5,060 for three-bedroom units at the highest income levels on Oahu, compared to current maximums of $1,462 and $2,169 respectively.

In January 2025, Green issued an executive order to accelerate Hawaii's transition to renewable energy sources, with a focus on geothermal development. Two bills under legislative consideration at the time, Senate Bill 1269 and House Bill 1020, proposed different approaches to identifying geothermal sites and funding exploration efforts across the islands. Senate Bill 1269 targeted utility-scale geothermal development on Hawaii island under the Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism, while House Bill 1020 proposed a statewide geothermal and carbon sequestration assessment with community outreach components.

Governor Josh Green appointed Hannah Kihalani Springer to the Commission on Water Resource Management's loea, or expert, seat in April 2025, a position that requires substantial experience in traditional Hawaiian water resource management techniques. The Senate Committee on Water and Land voted 5-0 to recommend Springer's confirmation, with 308 individuals and organizations submitting written testimony in support of her appointment. Springer's confirmation is subject to a full Senate vote, though favorable passage appears likely based on the committee's unanimous recommendation.

Governor Green signed House Bill 392, which bans ghost guns that lack serial numbers and can be purchased without background checks. Green also signed House Bill 137, which establishes mandatory prison sentences for individuals with felony convictions found in possession of firearms or ammunition. Green is currently considering two additional bills: House Bill 125, which would impose stricter firearm storage requirements and establish liability for third-party misuse of improperly stored weapons, and House Bill 995, which would extend the timeline for county police departments to report firearm ownership data to the state Attorney General.

The Hawaii State Energy Office, under Governor Josh Green's administration, requested $16.5 million in funding for each of the next two fiscal years from the Legislature to expand geothermal power exploration across Hawaii island, Maui, and Oahu as part of efforts to achieve the state's goal of 100% renewable electricity by 2045. The funding would support work begun in the previous year using $5 million from federal coronavirus recovery funds, including identification of test well sites and community outreach regarding geothermal development. Green's administration identified geothermal power as a significant potential source for reducing Hawaii's electricity costs and dependence on imported oil, while acknowledging that the financial risks of identifying commercially viable sites were too high for private industry to undertake alone.

Governor Josh Green's administration conducted a gun buyback program at Aloha Stadium on April 12, 2025, where Oahu residents turned in approximately 367 firearms in exchange for Foodland gift cards totaling $37,900, with funding appropriated by the 2024 Legislature. Participants could turn in an unlimited number of firearms with no identification required, receiving $200 gift cards for automatic weapons, semi-automatic rifles, and ghost guns, and $100 gift cards for handguns, rifles, shotguns, and related items. The Department of Law Enforcement, in partnership with the Department of the Attorney General, Honolulu Police Department, and Aloha Stadium Authority, also distributed gun locks to residents who did not turn in firearms.

The Hawaii state Legislature passed House Bill 969 and Senate Bill 438 on their third readings in April 2025, both measures designed to restrict landfill siting in the state. HB 969 would prohibit construction, modification, or expansion of waste disposal facilities above significant aquifers as determined by the Department of Health, while SB 438 would prohibit landfills in agricultural districts with highly productive soils and create additional buffer zones near residential and school properties. Both bills proceeded to the conference process to reconcile different versions, with Governor Josh Green retaining authority to sign, veto, or allow the measures to become law without his signature by July 9, 2025.

In 2023, Green signed Act 52 into law, which established regulations governing when and where licensed gun owners in Hawaii may carry firearms in public. The law prohibits firearm possession on private property without owner consent, at beaches, parks, restaurants and bars serving alcohol, and in their adjacent parking areas. Act 52 also requires licensees to possess and disclose a carry license, prohibits leaving unsecured firearms unattended in vehicles, and prohibits carrying while under the influence of alcohol or controlled substances.

Hawaii Gov. Green issued an emergency executive order suspending the religious exemption from the state's measles vaccination requirement for children attending childcare facilities, preschools, and public or private schools, effective immediately. The order was issued following confirmation of a travel-related measles case in Hawaii involving an unvaccinated child under age 5 and an unvaccinated adult traveling companion. Under the emergency measure, unvaccinated students with religious exemptions must remain out of school unless they receive the measles, mumps and rubella vaccine, though Green stated the rules allow children to obtain the MMR vaccine while retaining exemptions to other vaccines.

Governor Green attended the groundbreaking ceremony for Kuilei Place, a 43-story residential complex in Honolulu containing 1,005 condominium units on 3.15 acres in Moiliili. The project, developed by Kobayashi Group and BlackSand Capital and approved by the Hawaii Housing Finance and Development Corporation as a 201H state-level affordable housing project in 2022, includes 603 units designated as affordable for households earning between 80 and 140 percent of area median income, with prices ranging from $371,000 for one-bedroom units to $813,000 for three-bedroom units. The $619 million complex is scheduled for completion by late 2027 and represents one of the largest affordable housing projects currently under construction on Oahu.

Governor Green signed emergency rules that allow children with religious exemptions to receive the MMR vaccine while retaining their exemption to other vaccines and remaining in school, in response to Hawaii's first confirmed measles case in years. The action was announced alongside Department of Health Director Dr. Kenneth Fink and pediatrics officials following confirmation of measles in an unvaccinated child under age 5 who had recently returned from international travel. Green stated the measure was intended to increase vaccination rates, which statewide stood at 89.8 percent, below the 95 percent threshold needed for community immunity.

Governor Green introduced Senate Bill 1396 in January 2025, which proposed increasing the state hotel room tax from 10.25% to 12% to generate approximately $180 million annually for climate change mitigation and environmental stewardship. The administration subsequently scaled back the proposal to an 11.25% increase generating $90 million per year, with funds allocated 40% to environmental stewardship, 40% to climate and hazard mitigation, and 20% to sustainable tourism programs. Both the Hawaii House and Senate advanced bills to increase the hotel tax in floor voting on April 8, 2025, though the specific tax increase amount was left blank pending negotiation in conference committee.

Green attended a ceremony on Saturday at the University of Hawai'i Maui College celebrating the selection of 91 people for Hawaiian homestead house lots in Waikapu as part of phase II of the Pu'uhona Homestead project, the first Hawaiian Homes turnkey residential development on Maui in 17 years. The project represents implementation of a $600 million appropriation passed by the state legislature in 2022, with the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands planning to issue 7,500 leases statewide over the coming years to address a waiting list exceeding 29,000 people. Green stated at the event that the state would move forward with Hawaiian Homestead development across multiple planned projects on Maui, Molokai, and Lanai.

The Hawaii Carpenters Union launched a public campaign against Hawaiian Electric Co. regarding wildfire liability legislation, specifically opposing earlier versions of House Bill 982 and Senate Bill 897, which would have limited or capped the utility company's liability for future wildfire damages. The union argued that limiting Hawaiian Electric's costs would shift additional financial burden to customers through rate increases in a state where electricity rates had already risen significantly. The campaign created internal tension within Hawaii's labor movement, as the carpenters union's position differed from that of the IBEW, which maintains an exclusive labor contract with Hawaiian Electric.

Governor Green signed Act 279, the Waitlist Reduction Act, into law on July 11, 2022, which appropriated $600 million to the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands to reduce the Native Hawaiian homestead waitlist. The funding has been allocated toward backbone infrastructure, land acquisition, and lot development across multiple projects including Ka'uluokaha'i in Kapolei and Pu'uhona on Maui, though portions of the appropriation have been spent on preparatory work dependent on additional funding. The Department of Hawaiian Home Lands requested an additional $600 million appropriation through House Bill 606 in 2025, but the Senate reduced the proposed amount to $50 million after questioning the agency's documentation of outcomes from the initial $600 million allocation.

Governor Green made a personal appearance at a Honolulu City Council committee hearing in April 2025 to support the reappointment of Emergency Services Director Dr. James Ireland, whose nomination had previously faced criticism from former EMS workers regarding staffing and response times. Green testified that Ireland's leadership warranted continued funding and stated he had committed tens of millions of additional dollars to the programs under Ireland's direction. The committee unanimously passed a resolution confirming Ireland's nomination following the hearing, with the full City Council scheduled to review the matter for final approval.

The Hawaii Hurricane Relief Fund prepared to begin offering hurricane insurance policies to condominium associations starting in June 2025, with coverage expected to be less expensive than policies from surplus carriers currently used by many condo associations. The nonprofit Hawaii Property Insurance Association also planned to offer insurance to condo associations for additional perils pending legislative approval of a state loan to HHRF. Senate Bill 1044, which would provide up to $200 million in additional state funding to expand coverage, was under consideration by lawmakers, though some legislators expressed concerns that the initial coverage would prioritize well-maintained reinforced concrete high-rises.

Governor Green appointed Karen T. Nakasone as chief judge of Hawaii's Intermediate Court of Appeals in April 2025, replacing former Chief Judge Lisa M. Ginoza who was sworn in as an associate justice of the Hawaii Supreme Court in January 2024. Nakasone had served as an associate judge of the Intermediate Court of Appeals since November 2020 and previously held positions as a judge in the 1st Circuit Court and as a criminal trial and appellate lawyer for the state Office of the Public Defender. The appointment was subject to confirmation by the Hawaii State Senate.

The Hawaii Legislature advanced several government reform bills during the 2025 legislative session, including House Bill 371, which would prohibit state and county contractors and their immediate family members from making campaign contributions while their companies hold government contracts. The Senate Ways and Means Committee also passed House Bill 370, which would increase public campaign funding available to state and county candidates for the first time since 1995, and House Bill 69, which would require campaign contributions over $100 from a single donor to be returned or directed to Hawaii's election campaign fund. Additional reform measures under consideration include Senate Bill 289, which would create a uniform fine schedule for Ethics Code and Lobbyist Law violations, and House Bill 412, which would void state contracts for lobbying law violations and expand the definition of lobbying to include communications regarding procurement decisions.

Green joined Attorney General Anne Lopez and officials from 22 other states and the District of Columbia in filing a federal lawsuit in Rhode Island challenging the Trump administration's cancellation of $11 billion in federal health grants allocated during the COVID-19 pandemic. The grants, which Hawaii was set to receive over $89 million from, funded state health department contracts for infectious disease tracking, mental health services, substance abuse prevention, and laboratory infrastructure improvements. Green stated that the cuts threatened Hawaii's public health capacity at a time when disease threats including measles and bird flu were increasing.

Governor Josh Green withdrew two nominations to the Molokai Island Burial Council in March 2025, citing unforeseen circumstances that would have made Senate confirmation difficult. The council, which oversees the care and handling of ancestral remains discovered on Molokai, had been without members for approximately two and a half years and had accumulated 22 open burial cases. State senators and the withdrawn nominees stated they were not provided with specific reasons for the withdrawal.

Governor Green authorized a statewide advertising campaign to educate taxpayers about tax cuts enacted by the governor and state legislature, describing it as Hawaii's largest tax cut in history. The campaign, designed by Anthology Marketing Group, included television advertisements and an online calculator at TaxCutHawaii.org demonstrating potential tax savings across various income scenarios. Critics including state legislators and advocacy organizations characterized the advertising effort as promotional and noted that the tax cut disproportionately benefited higher-income households while the state faced potential cuts to programs such as Medicaid.

Governor Green issued multiple emergency proclamations over two years that authorized alternative vehicles such as small buses, motorcoaches, and vans to transport students to school and suspended certain state laws to relax bus operator qualifications. House Bill 862 codifies these emergency proclamations into statute, expanding vehicle options for school transportation while requiring compliance with safety standards and mandating that buses used under state contract be zero-emission vehicles beginning January 1, 2045. The legislation addresses ongoing school bus driver shortages that led to the suspension of 108 bus routes affecting 3,720 students in August 2024.

Governor Green and the Hawaii Legislature passed a new state tax plan in 2024 that reduced individual income tax liability across all income levels in the state. State officials characterized the measure as the largest tax cut in Hawaii's history. The plan included revisions to individual income tax brackets and increases to the standard deduction phased in over several years.

Governor Green appointed Hannah Kihalani Springer to fill a specialized seat on the Commission on Water Resource Management reserved for a person with expertise in traditional Hawaiian water resource management techniques. The appointment followed litigation initiated after Green twice previously declined to appoint Springer from a pool of candidates that fell below the state law requirement of three nominees. Springer's appointment was effective immediately, subject to confirmation by the state Senate for a full term through June 30, 2028.

Hannemann resigned as chairperson of the Hawai'i Tourism Authority Board on March 27, 2025, following allegations that two of his nonprofit organizations received complimentary food and rental space at the Hawai'i Convention Center. The allegations emerged during a special HTA board meeting discussing a financial audit by Accuity LLP that identified procedural deficiencies allowing free Convention Center use, though the audit did not conclude fraud occurred. Hannemann stated his resignation was intended to end distractions from the reputational questions raised regarding his organizations, the Hawai'i Lodging and Tourism Association and the Pacific Century Fellows.

The Hawaii Commission on Salaries unanimously passed a recommendation on March 13, 2025 to increase pay for state legislators, judges, and department executives through 2030, with Governor Green and Lieutenant Governor Luke receiving a 15% salary increase effective July 1, 2025. The recommendation includes staggered increases across state branches, with legislators scheduled to receive a 32% pay increase beginning January 1, 2027, followed by annual increments totaling a 60% increase by 2030. The salary adjustments require legislative approval to take effect.

Green contacted White House officials on March 11 to discuss federal funding for the University of Hawaii, which was under investigation by the U.S. Department of Education's Office for Civil Rights regarding allegations of antisemitic harassment and discrimination. Federal officials reaffirmed their commitment to civil rights protections while maintaining the university's federal funding. Green also raised concerns with federal officials about the removal of an Army web page dedicated to the 442nd Regimental Combat Team, a World War II unit composed primarily of Japanese American soldiers, which was subsequently restored.

Governor Josh Green issued a statement urging Hawaii residents to get vaccinated against measles as cases rise across the United States, noting that measles is highly contagious and cases have increased from 59 nationally in 2023 to 301 as of March 2025. Green stated that two doses of the MMR vaccine are 97% effective in preventing infection and emphasized that vaccination is the best protection, particularly for children, elderly residents, pregnant women, and immunocompromised individuals. The state Department of Health warned that Hawaii's MMR vaccination rate for kindergartners at 90% during the 2023-2024 school year falls below the 95% threshold needed for community protection and below the national average of 93%.

Governor Green issued a public statement urging Hawaii residents to maintain vaccination vigilance as measles cases rose nationally, noting that the state remained at risk for travel-related cases that could trigger an outbreak given suboptimal vaccination coverage. Green stated that two doses of the MMR vaccine are 97% effective in preventing infection and that measles was preventable through vaccination, emphasizing that the highly contagious disease poses particular risk to children, elderly residents, pregnant women, and immunocompromised populations. The statement came as Hawaii's MMR vaccination rate for kindergarteners stood at 90% during the 2023-2024 school year, below the 95% threshold required for community protection and below the national average of 93%.

The Hawaii Department of Taxation unveiled a website on March 17, 2025, featuring a tax calculator to help taxpayers estimate their income tax relief benefits under Act 46, legislation enacted in 2024 that implements phased tax reductions through 2031. The calculator allows taxpayers to project annual and cumulative tax savings based on income and filing status, with the law designed to reduce Hawaii's tax burden ranking from second-most burdensome nationally in 2024 to fourth-lowest by 2031. According to the tool, a single taxpayer earning Honolulu's median income of $97,500 can expect cumulative savings of $14,387 over eight years, while a family of four at the median household income of $139,000 would save an estimated $24,264.

Governor Green announced the first payout from the One Ohana Fund, a $175 million settlement fund established to compensate families of those killed in the August 2023 Lahaina wildfire, with the initial recipient receiving $1.5 million. The fund was created as an alternative to litigation and is administered by retired judge Ronald Ibarra as trustee, with contributions from Hawaiian Electric, the state, Kamehameha Schools, Maui County, and telecommunications companies. As of the announcement, 23 wrongful death claims had been approved for payment and nine serious injury claims were pending, with additional applicants able to pursue claims through both the One Ohana Fund and a separate $4 billion global settlement approved by the state Supreme Court.

Gov. Green announced the first disbursement from the $175 million One 'Ohana Fund, a compensation program established to provide direct financial relief to victims of the August 2023 Maui wildfires. The initial payment of $1.5 million was issued on March 11 to an eligible wrongful death claimant, with 23 total wrongful death claims approved for $1.5 million each under the program's requirements. The One 'Ohana Fund operates as part of a larger $4.037 billion global settlement to resolve tort claims arising from the wildfires.

The Hawaii Department of Education warned the Board of Education's Finance and Infrastructure Committee that repealing school impact fees, as proposed in House Bill 422 and House Bill 1088 currently moving through the Legislature, would eliminate a critical funding source for constructing schools in growing residential communities. HB 422 would repeal the School Impact Fee law entirely and transfer the $19.9 million collected to date to the Hawaii School Facilities Authority, while HB 1088 would exempt developments by the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands from paying the fees. Department of Education officials stated that eliminating these fees would severely limit the agency's ability to secure land and funding for schools needed to support new housing developments and accommodate increasing student populations.

Hawaii's Commission on Salaries unanimously approved a series of pay raises for state officials on Thursday, including a 27% increase for the governor through mid-2030, a 44% increase for state legislators over five years beginning after the 2026 elections, and a 32% increase for state judges through 2030. Governor Josh Green initially pushed back against the proposed raises before the commission's unanimous vote. Under state law, the Legislature may reject the commission's recommendations by simple majority vote in both chambers before the end of the legislative session, otherwise the raises take effect on July 1.

In August 2024, Green issued an emergency proclamation authorizing the use of motor coaches, small buses, and vans to transport students, marking the second consecutive year such authorization was issued in response to school bus route cancellations affecting thousands of students across Oahu, Maui, and Hawaii island. House Bill 862, which remains under consideration in the Legislature, would make this emergency authorization permanent by allowing alternative vehicles to supplement traditional school bus transportation while establishing new safety standards through the Department of Transportation. The bill addresses licensing requirements and vehicle regulations that would be administered by state authorities overseeing driver qualifications, equipment specifications, and safety inspections.

Governor Green spoke with White House officials on March 12, 2025, regarding a U.S. Department of Education investigation into the University of Hawaii under Title VI of the Civil Rights Act following allegations of antisemitism on campus. Green stated that administration officials, including the Deputy Chief of Staff and Director of Intergovernmental Affairs, assured him that the University of Hawaii was not subject to federal funding cuts related to the investigation. Green indicated that UH would provide a letter to federal officials to address the civil rights complaint filed by Jewish students on campus.

Governor Josh Green's appointee Hinano Rodrigues withdrew his nomination for the loea (cultural expert) seat on the Commission on Water Resource Management in March 2025. Rodrigues, a retired land department manager and taro grower, had been nominated by Green to fill the position reserved for someone with traditional agriculture expertise, despite opposition from water rights activists and state legislators who questioned his qualifications. The withdrawal followed scheduled confirmation hearings and came after State Senator Lorraine Inouye stated she could not support the appointment.

Governor Green stated he would work on establishing parameters for local law enforcement assistance with federal immigration operations following a recent Homeland Security Investigations operation in Kona that resulted in the removal of an undocumented child and parent. Green indicated his administration would distinguish between operations targeting individuals with serious criminal records, which he said law enforcement could assist with, and operations targeting children, which he expressed concern about. Green stated he intended to develop guidelines to govern local police involvement in future immigration enforcement actions.

The Commission on Salaries considered finalizing recommendations in March 2025 that would provide Governor Josh Green a series of pay raises totaling 27% through mid-2030. Green's Chief of Staff Brooke Wilson testified before the commission in January that Green believed a raise of 35% to 40% may be appropriate for the governor and lieutenant governor, citing the value of additional benefits such as housing, drivers, and food allowances. Green subsequently stated in a text message that he found initial proposals for larger salary increases inappropriate given residents' cost-of-living struggles and indicated he would increase charitable donations if his salary were increased.

A bill to increase the state hotel room tax to generate revenue for climate change mitigation and wildfire risk reduction remained under consideration midway through the 2025 Hawaii legislative session. The measure was among hundreds of bills introduced since the session began in January, with 309 passing out of the Senate and 376 from the House as of the midpoint. The legislation continued to advance despite ongoing opposition from Hawaii's tourism industry, which argued that increased taxes on hotel rooms would discourage visitor arrivals.

Green directed state departments to examine ways to mitigate the impact of federal funding cuts, with particular attention to protecting vulnerable residents receiving Medicaid and Medicare benefits. Green launched Operation Hire Hawaii, an expedited hiring process designed to place displaced federal workers and other eligible applicants into vacant state positions. These actions were announced in a statement from the Office of the Governor in response to federal layoffs and program reductions.

Governor Green unveiled the Akamai Arrival pilot program on February 24, 2025, which allows travelers on select domestic flights to Hawaii to complete digital declaration forms for plants and animals online prior to or during flight between March 1 and May 31, 2025. The program addresses state law requirements that all inbound travelers from the continental United States complete declaration forms, and aims to improve the current completion rate of approximately 60 percent. The digital form will be available in multiple languages including Spanish, Tagalog, Japanese, Korean, and Chinese, with plant quarantine branch inspectors reviewing submitted data.

Mayor Blangiardi announced the launch of the "Federal-to-Municipal Workforce Transition Initiative" on February 26, 2025, to address the City and County of Honolulu's 2,275 civil service vacancies by recruiting displaced federal employees and professionals affected by federal funding cuts. The initiative includes streamlined application processes, accelerated candidate review, and targeted outreach, with the mayor authorizing the Department of Human Resources to waive certain hiring requirements for a 12-month period while maintaining compliance with state law. The city aims to hire over 1,000 individuals within the fiscal year through scheduled career events at the Neal S. Blaisdell Center and Hawai'i Convention Center.

Governor Green opened the Kumu Ola Hou Iwilei Transitional Shelter, a 13-unit facility housing up to 24 residents on Oahu, through a city-state collaboration managed by The Institute for Human Services. The shelter employs neuroscience-based, behavioral health, and trauma-informed care approaches to serve homeless individuals with mental health conditions, memory challenges, or brain injuries. Green stated the facility aims to address root causes of chronic homelessness rather than symptoms alone, with plans to add three additional shelter units by summer 2025 to increase total capacity to approximately 100 beds.

Hawaii lawmakers considered Senate Bill 933, which would provide one-time grants to nonprofit organizations facing potential federal funding cuts. The Senate Ways and Means Committee voted 13-0 to advance the legislation on February 26, 2025, following a public hearing where nearly 80 nonprofits expressed support for the measure. The bill does not specify a funding amount and would require approval from the full Senate and House before being sent to Governor Josh Green for consideration.

Governor Green issued an executive order to expedite state hiring in response to federal layoffs. In response to Green's order, Honolulu Mayor Rick Blangiardi launched the Federal-to-Municipal Workforce Transition Initiative on Wednesday to recruit displaced federal employees and professionals from non-governmental organizations. The city authorized the Department of Human Resources to implement expedited recruitment measures, including streamlined application processes and waived hiring requirements for a 12-month period, with all city departments encouraged to actively recruit displaced workers.

Governor Josh Green announced the March 2025 launch of the Akamai Arrival pilot program to digitize Hawaii's Plants and Animals Declaration Form, authorized under Act 196 from the previous legislative session. The pilot program, overseen by the state Department of Agriculture, will be implemented on select domestic flights in collaboration with major airlines including Alaska Airlines, American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, Hawaiian Airlines, Southwest Airlines, and United Airlines. The initiative aims to improve completion rates of agricultural declarations and enhance the state's biosecurity protections against invasive species, with the pilot running through May 31, 2025.

Governor Green signed an executive order expediting the hiring of former federal workers into Hawaii state positions. The order directs state agencies to review candidates and make conditional job offers within 14 days of receiving applications. Green announced this initiative in response to reductions in federal employment announced by the Trump administration.

On February 18, 2025, Hawaii Governor Josh Green signed an executive order establishing Operation Hire Hawaii (OH-HI), which directs state agencies to streamline their hiring processes for qualified candidates. The order requires state agencies to review applications and issue conditional job offers within 14 days of receiving an application, and aims to fast-track candidates into positions across a range of state careers including engineering, IT, nursing, and accounting. The initiative was designed in part to create employment opportunities for individuals affected by federal workforce changes.

Governor Josh Green included $13 million in his 2025 budget for repairs to Lahaina Small Boat Harbor, which sustained $30 million in damage during the August 8, 2023 Maui wildfires. The state Department of Land and Natural Resources has indicated that an additional $10 million in funding would be needed beyond Green's budgeted amount to complete the harbor's full reopening, which is not expected until at least 2026 or 2027. The timing of the reopening remains dependent on legislative approval of funding and timely completion of permitting and construction activities.

The Hawaii State Energy Office, operating under the direction of Governor Josh Green, published a study recommending that Hawaiian Electric generate power on Oahu using liquefied natural gas as a transitional fuel source until carbon-free alternatives become commercially viable by 2045. The study concluded that imported LNG could serve as a cheaper and lower-emissions substitute for oil in power generation over the next two decades while the state works toward its renewable energy goal. Green had directed the agency to reconsider LNG in 2024 as a potential interim option to replace oil-based fossil fuels during the transition to 100 percent renewable power generation.

Governor Green announced plans to reduce state job vacancies in part by eliminating positions that have been vacant for more than four years as a way to free up revenue in the state budget for other needs. The state Department of Human Resources Development indicated the governor and DHRD were exploring ways to support federally employed residents with opportunities in local government to help fill approximately 5,000 vacant state civil service positions as of February 11, 2025. The City and County of Honolulu stated it intended to conduct outreach to federal employees separated from the federal workforce to fill over 2,000 civil service vacancies as of February 1, 2025.

Governor Green stated that he believes a compromise could be reached regarding insurer participation in the $4 billion Maui wildfire settlement, whereby insurers would receive a modest share of settlement proceeds in exchange for waiving their right to recover compensation from policyholders. Green indicated that insurers, which have paid approximately $2.3 billion in claims and expected to pay over $1 billion more, had previously been offered several hundred million dollars from the settlement but sought $1.6 billion. The governor said he remained open to negotiations that would prevent insurers from pursuing individual policyholders while still allowing them a reduced share of the settlement funds.

Governor Green proposed House Bill 1085 and Senate Bill 1404, which would increase Hawaii's cigarette tax from 16 cents to 21 cents per cigarette and expand the tax base to include e-cigarettes and other tobacco products. The bills were introduced as a response to declining revenues for cancer research funding, with revenues falling from over $116 million a decade ago to approximately $70 million in the most recent fiscal year. The proposed tax increase is intended to fund the University of Hawaii Cancer Center and support cancer research and prevention initiatives in the state.

The Hawaii Supreme Court ruled unanimously on February 10, 2025, in response to three certified questions of state law regarding a $4 billion settlement for victims of the August 2023 Maui wildfires. The court upheld Circuit Judge Peter Cahill's decision to prohibit insurance companies from pursuing separate litigation to recover reimbursement from settlement payers for claims paid to policyholders, determining that state law limits insurers' recovery rights to claims against the insured parties themselves. The ruling clears the way for the settlement affecting more than 17,000 victims to proceed toward judicial approval and potential distribution before the second anniversary of the disaster in August 2025.

Green and Yoshinori Kodama, consul general of Japan in Honolulu, signed an action plan on February 10, 2025, to increase Japanese visitor travel to Hawaii through an expanded VIP entry program that now includes school groups and promotion of mobile passport control and global entry programs. The signing took place during a New Year's reception for the Japan-America Society of Hawaii at Washington Place. The action plan emerged from the inaugural Hawaii-Japan Sister State and Sister City Summit held in July 2023, with another summit planned for Honolulu in 2026.

Hawaii Gov. Josh Green established an eviction moratorium following the August 8, 2023, wildfires in Maui to prevent hardships to residents recovering from the disaster. The moratorium remained in effect for approximately eighteen months and ended on February 4, 2025. Act 202, a new law governing eviction procedures, took effect on February 5, 2025, and requires landlords to notify Maui Mediation Services prior to initiating eviction proceedings.

Governor Green traveled to Washington in 2025 to brief lawmakers from both parties about Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s role in vaccine hesitancy that Green linked to a 2019 measles outbreak in Samoa that killed 83 people, mostly infants and children. Green appeared in an advertisement by the advocacy group 314 Action stating that Kennedy had spread misinformation that led to reduced vaccination rates and the fatal measles spread. Green's efforts were part of Democratic attempts to build opposition to Kennedy's nomination as health and human services secretary under President Trump.

Governor Green announced a $4 billion settlement agreement in August 2024 between seven defendants and thousands of claimants from the August 2023 Lahaina wildfires, the deadliest wildfire in the United States in over a century. The defendants in the settlement include Hawaiian Electric Company, the state of Hawaii, Maui County, and Kamehameha Schools. The settlement faced legal challenges in Hawaii's Supreme Court regarding whether insurance companies could pursue separate claims against the defendants to recoup the more than $2.3 billion they had already paid to policyholders.

Governor Josh Green issued a proclamation on December 7 exempting residential and multifamily structures in Lahaina from building permits if rebuilt in the same form following the 2023 wildfire, though the exemption applies only to properties mauka of Front Street and excludes shoreline parcels in special management areas. Property owners along the coast, including historic structures like the Pioneer Inn, remain subject to Maui County's coastal zone permit process for special management areas, which historically has processed approximately five permits annually. Seaside property owners reported that the county is requiring reductions in building footprints and setback distances based on sea level rise projections, extending the timeline and increasing costs for post-fire reconstruction.

The House Judiciary and Hawaiian Affairs Committee voted unanimously on February 6, 2025 to advance House Bill 371 to a full House vote, legislation that would prohibit campaign contributions from officers and immediate family members of government contractors and recipients of government grants. The bill would require state and county agencies to provide the Campaign Spending Commission with lists of contractors and their officers and immediate family members to enforce the new prohibitions. The measure also extends restrictions to donations to noncandidate committees such as super PACs, with any violations requiring refunds within 30 days or forfeiture of funds to the state.

Governor Green signed a wildfire-related emergency proclamation on Tuesday that included provisions to streamline Lahaina's reconstruction following the February 2025 fires. The proclamation supported Maui County's decision to temporarily suspend Special Management Area rules for approximately 636 properties mauka of Front Street or outside the erosion hazard line. The waiver exempts qualifying residential and commercial property owners from review processes that typically add six months to a year, while still requiring compliance with other regulations including building permits, coastal zone management requirements, and cultural resource reviews where applicable.

Governor Green introduced House Bills 1076 and 1077, which would create a Climate Mitigation and Resiliency Special Fund through dedicating annual interest from the state's rainy day fund and increasing the transient accommodations tax on hotel rooms. The bills passed out of the House Energy and Environmental Protection Committee on February 4, 2025, unanimously, though the committee chair expressed concerns about the bills' open-ended language and requested additional refinement from the governor's office before further legislative consideration. Green's administration indicated willingness to work with the legislature to clarify the fund's parameters and scope.

Green traveled to Capitol Hill to advocate against the confirmation of Robert F. Kennedy Jr. as secretary of health and human services, stating that Kennedy lacked sufficient understanding of the healthcare system for the role. Green also commented on the Senate Intelligence Committee's advancement of Tulsi Gabbard's nomination as national intelligence director, asserting that Gabbard was qualified to lead the Department of Veterans Affairs instead. Green stated that he supported the Trump administration's enforcement actions targeting undocumented immigrants with criminal records.

Green reiterated his opposition to Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s nomination as Secretary of Health and Human Services, stating that Kennedy performed poorly during his confirmation hearing before the Senate Finance Committee and demonstrated insufficient knowledge of Medicare and Medicaid programs. Green traveled to Washington, D.C., in late January and early February 2025 to meet with Senate members and advocate against Kennedy's nomination, becoming the only governor at that time to make a specific trip for that purpose. If confirmed by the full Senate following the Finance Committee vote, Kennedy would oversee Medicaid, Medicare, and the Affordable Care Act.

Governor Green stated he would not deploy Hawaii National Guard troops to the mainland to assist in federal immigration enforcement operations, particularly if such deployment would result in family separation. The Hawaii Legislature is considering House Bill 73, which would prohibit the state Department of Land and Natural Resources and state and county agencies from allowing state land to be used for immigration detention facilities or contracting with the federal government for such purposes. HB 73 unanimously passed out of the House Committee on Economic Development and Technology and has been referred to additional House committees, though no hearings have been scheduled.

House Bill 221 and Senate Bill 101, moving through the Hawaii Legislature, would require University of Hawaii medical students who pay in-state tuition to work in Hawaii for two years after graduation or repay the difference between in-state and nonresident tuition costs, amounting to approximately $36,372 per year. State Representative Darius Kila helped introduce HB 221 as part of efforts to address Hawaii's shortage of healthcare workers and physicians. Governor Josh Green has separately supported student debt relief programs, with his current budget proposal calling for $30 million to pay off student debt for healthcare workers who commit to practicing in Hawaii for two years.

Governor Green issued an executive order on Wednesday directing Hawaii's utilities and energy providers to accelerate renewable energy production statewide. The order requires Kauai, Hawaii, and Maui counties to achieve 100% renewable energy production by 2035, ten years ahead of existing law, while Oahu must achieve a 70% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions from electricity production within the next decade using 2005 as a baseline. The executive order was developed with the Hawaii State Energy Office and other stakeholders and aims to reduce energy costs, expand renewable resource development, and improve the reliability of Hawaii's electrical grids.

Governor Green released $6.3 million to the Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism on February 1, 2025, to fund a tourism recovery marketing campaign aimed at addressing tourism declines resulting from the August 2023 Maui wildfires and anticipated impacts from the Los Angeles wildfires. DBEDT Director James Kunane Tokioka requested that Green remove budgetary restrictions to enable the funding after Hawaii hotel industry groups identified the continued need for Maui tourism recovery efforts and support for the Los Angeles market. The funding is intended to be used by either the Hawaii Visitors and Convention Bureau or the Hawaii Tourism Authority to execute the marketing campaign, pending coordination with the State Procurement Office.

Hawaii Governor Josh Green announced a $4 billion settlement agreement in the Lahaina wildfire litigation, which was agreed to by the state, power utility Hawaiian Electric, large landowners, and other defendants approximately one year after the 2023 fire that killed over 100 people and caused an estimated $5.5 billion in damage. The settlement was reached before a trial scheduled to begin in January 2025 that would have determined how to divide the funds between individual plaintiffs who filed separate lawsuits and plaintiffs covered by class-action lawsuits. Green stated at the time of the settlement announcement that the agreement was designed to avoid extended litigation and further pain for victims and survivors.

Governor Green proposed overhauling Hawaii's fireworks enforcement laws following a deadly New Year's Eve explosion in Honolulu that killed five people and injured approximately twenty others. Green's proposal includes authorizing $300 citations for fireworks violations and enabling Class A felony charges with potential decades in prison for those whose fireworks actions result in severe injury or death. The state Department of Law Enforcement separately requested $5.2 million in appropriations to hire eight additional personnel and expand forensic laboratory capacity to address the smuggling and illegal use of fireworks.

Hawaii Governor Josh Green announced a $4 billion settlement agreement in 2023 following the Lahaina wildfire that killed over 100 people and caused an estimated $5.5 billion in damage, with the settlement agreed to by the state, Hawaiian Electric, and large landowners. The settlement was designed to compensate victims and survivors without requiring them to testify in court proceedings that would have determined how the funds were split between individual plaintiffs and class-action plaintiffs. A trial scheduled to begin in January 2025 was averted when lawyers reached a last-minute deal on how to distribute the settlement among the affected groups.

President Donald Trump issued executive orders to cut federal funding for multiple programs and nonprofit organizations, creating uncertainty across Hawaii's government agencies and services. Acting Governor Sylvia Luke stated that Hawaii relies on 2,600 different federal accounts across state departments including Health, Human Services, and the University of Hawaii, with approximately half of the state's $17 billion budget coming from federal and special funds. State officials began assessing which programs and services could be affected, with Luke noting the state lacks sufficient funds to replace lost federal support for critical services including healthcare, education, and infrastructure.

Governor Green signed an emergency proclamation in August 2024 to authorize the Hawaii Hurricane Relief Fund and another state insurance program to sell policies to Hawaii condominium associations in response to escalating homeowner insurance premiums. Members of the Senate Committee on Commerce and Consumer Protection and the House Committee on Consumer Protection and Commerce heard testimony in January 2025 that the programs faced substantial obstacles, including insufficient capital reserves and extended timelines before policies could be offered. Representatives of the Hawaii Property Insurance Association indicated that beginning condo coverage would require between $30 million to over $2 billion in additional capital and would not necessarily result in lower premiums than those available in the commercial market.

Representative Greggor Ilagan advanced four immigration-related bills scheduled for hearing on Wednesday in the Hawaii State Legislature, prioritizing them ahead of 122 other bills pending consideration. The bills include House Bill 438, which would appropriate funds for legal representation in immigration court proceedings, and House Bill 457, which would require state and local law enforcement agencies to notify people of their rights during interactions with immigration authorities. These legislative actions follow reported increases in federal immigration enforcement operations in Hawaii, with at least 20 undocumented immigrants arrested in the week following President Trump's return to office.

Governor Josh Green appointed V.R. Hinano Rodrigues to the Commission on Water Resource Management in October 2024 to fill a seat reserved for a traditional Native Hawaiian water management expert. Environmental law firm Earthjustice filed a lawsuit in state court in January 2025 on behalf of community group Hui Kanawai 'Oia'i'o challenging the appointment, contending that Green violated state law by requesting a new list of candidates from the nominating committee after two candidates from the original February list withdrew from consideration. The lawsuit alleged that Green circumvented state law requirements governing the nomination process and that the administration arranged for one of the original recommended candidates to withdraw.

Governor Green traveled to Washington, D.C. to advocate against the nomination of Robert F. Kennedy Jr. for secretary of health and human services, stating that Kennedy's lack of experience raised serious concerns about critical programs like Medicare and Medicaid. Green's office indicated he was traveling at the request of U.S. senators and national health organizations. Green characterized Kennedy's record as lacking support for vaccines and science-based health policy.

President-elect Donald Trump nominated Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to serve as Secretary of Health and Human Services, a position that would place Kennedy in control of the $1.7 trillion agency overseeing food and hospital inspections, health insurance for roughly half the country, and vaccine recommendations. Kennedy's nomination requires Senate confirmation, where he can afford to lose only three Republican votes if all Democrats oppose him. His confirmation hearings were scheduled to take place as organized efforts mounted to block his nomination, including television and digital advertisement campaigns and lobbying by former Vice President Mike Pence.

President Trump signed over 50 executive orders during his first week in office in January 2025, spanning issues including social justice, environmental policy, public health, and immigration. Trump issued an executive order attempting to end birthright citizenship, a constitutional right established by the 14th Amendment that grants citizenship to individuals born in the United States, though a federal judge temporarily blocked the order on Thursday, delaying its implementation to February 19. U.S. Rep. Jill Tokuda stated that the orders affect Hawaii despite the state's geographic isolation and noted particular concerns regarding pregnant women facing uncertain legal citizenship situations and a significant backlog in processing legal matters related to citizenship applications.

Governor Green announced Act 202, which begins February 5 and establishes a free, state-funded mediation program facilitated by Maui Mediation Services to allow landlords and tenants to resolve disputes before eviction proceedings are filed in court. The announcement accompanied the expiration of the state eviction moratorium on February 4, which had been in place following the August 8, 2023 Maui wildfires. Green characterized the mediation program as providing "a compassionate and structured way forward" as Maui residents transitioned out of emergency housing assistance programs.

Green requested the Hawaii Legislature include $100 million in the state budget over two fiscal years to fund the development and operation of communal housing known as kauhale. All 42 Democrats in the House of Representatives introduced a bill proposing the same amount for the kauhale initiative. Green stated the funding would support a dozen new kauhale with associated services and contribute to his stated goal of reducing Hawaii's homeless population by half by the end of 2026.

Governor Green signed a proclamation on Friday designating January as Human Trafficking Awareness Month in Hawaii. The proclamation was signed alongside county, state, and federal law enforcement departments and crime prevention agencies to raise public awareness of human trafficking in the state. Green noted that Native Hawaiian children are disproportionately affected by human trafficking and called for addressing systemic issues that enable trafficking to occur.

Green proposed House Bill 1014 and Senate Bill 1333 to extend the half-percent general excise tax surcharge on Kauaʻi, Maui, and Hawaiʻi counties until the end of 2047, beyond its currently scheduled expiration at the end of 2030. The surcharge currently generates nearly $200 million annually for the neighbor island counties to fund projects and operations. The proposed legislation would not extend the surcharge on Oʻahu, which is scheduled to expire in 2030 and funds the Honolulu rail project.

Governor Josh Green issued an emergency proclamation in 2023 that expedited regulatory processes necessary for the removal of the derelict Uncle Billy's Hilo Bay Hotel on state land. The state Legislature subsequently appropriated $8 million in reimbursable general obligation bonds to fund the demolition project. The building's removal was completed in early 2025, with remaining underground infrastructure scheduled for removal by the end of March 2025.

Governor Green responded to President Trump's announcement that he intended to reorganize or abolish the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), stating that such action would be "absurd." Green cited FEMA's role in coordinating disaster response and providing nearly half a billion dollars in direct aid to victims of the Lahaina wildfire, asserting that without the agency's expertise and resources, the recovery would not have been structured effectively. Green also criticized Trump's proposal to condition federal disaster aid on state policy changes, characterizing it as a "tactic of bullying."

Saiki was appointed as a special assistant with the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs in January 2025 to address Hawaii's property insurance coverage and affordability challenges. The appointment followed Saiki's defeat in the 2024 primary election after 30 years in the state House, where he served seven years as speaker and gained experience with insurance legislation. Saiki's role includes working on issues related to declining homeowner's insurance coverage and rising premiums, particularly for condominium owners across the state.

Governor Green announced in his State of the State speech on Tuesday that Hawaii will complete 13,000 new housing units in 2025 and 10,000 additional units in 2026 as part of a decade-long plan to build over 62,000 units statewide, with 46,000 designated as affordable housing through more than 257 projects involving state and county agencies and private developers. Working with the Legislature, Green stated that the state has implemented what he described as "the most significant housing regulatory and zoning reforms in over 40 years," including reduced regulatory requirements, infrastructure improvements, updated rental laws, and increased developer funding mechanisms. The administration's housing initiative responds to ongoing population decline, with Hawaii's resident population dropping consistently each year since 2020 due in part to housing affordability challenges, and addresses an estimated statewide shortage of 50,000 housing units.

Governor Green introduced House Bill 1005 and Senate Bill 1324 on Wednesday to establish enhanced criminal penalties for the sale of illegal fireworks that result in injury or death, classifying such sales as a class B felony punishable by up to 10 years in prison and a $10,000 fine. The bills also propose new legal language and citation authority to streamline enforcement of existing fireworks prohibitions. Green's legislation followed his State of the State address outlining plans for $300 citations for possession of illegal fireworks and felony charges in cases where fireworks incidents cause injuries or fatalities.

Governor Green issued an executive order that loosened regulations on home building to expedite construction of Ka Laʻi Ola village, a temporary housing development in West Maui for wildfire survivors ineligible for federal aid. The project comprises 450 small homes designed to house up to 1,500 fire survivors for up to five years, with a total cost of $185 million, or approximately $411,000 per home. Green stated the project was necessary to provide immediate shelter for displaced residents, noting it was more cost-effective than the previous expenditure of up to $1,000 per night for hotel accommodations.

Green included a billion-dollar surplus and proposed budget adjustments in preparation for potential federal cuts under the incoming Trump administration, including reducing contributions to his climate impact fund to preserve resources for expected reductions in women's reproductive health programs, homeless services, and Medicaid funding. Green also allocated $10 million in his proposed budget to join other states' legal challenges to federal policies, including lawsuits challenging the Trump administration's effort to end birthright citizenship. During his State of the State address, Green deliberately omitted discussion of these anticipated federal cuts, stating instead that he preferred to focus on his administration's accomplishments in housing, homelessness, and healthcare.

Governor Green stated during his State of the State address that the state and its partners had moved more than 99 percent of those displaced by the Maui wildfires into long-term housing and were building more than 1,200 additional temporary housing units while providing direct rental assistance to more than 5,600 displaced people. Green announced that $2 billion in federal funding would be made available for recovery efforts and requested more than $350 million in state funding over two years for schools and wildfire prevention initiatives. Fire survivors and community members indicated that despite the governor's statements, additional action and community involvement in rebuilding efforts would be necessary to fully address displacement and recovery needs.

Governor Green announced proposed changes to Hawaii's fireworks laws in January 2025, developed in conjunction with state Attorney General Anne Lopez and other officials, following a New Year's incident in which illegal fireworks detonated at a residential property, killing four people and injuring dozens. The proposed legislation would create a new infraction-level offense with accompanying fines and would remove forensic evidence and expert witness requirements that currently hinder prosecution under existing law. The proposal also includes provisions to elevate certain charges involving bodily harm or death to Class B or Class A felonies.

Green proposed a range of new penalties to crack down on violations of Hawaii's fireworks laws following a New Year's Eve illegal fireworks explosion in Honolulu that killed four people and injured approximately 20 others. The state Department of Law Enforcement requested $5.2 million in funding from the Legislature to hire eight additional employees and expand a forensic laboratory to address illegal fireworks smuggling. Six of the most severely injured victims were flown to Arizona for specialized burn treatment after Hawaii's sole burn unit reached capacity.

Green allocated $2.2 million in his biennium budget proposal to establish an Office of the State Fire Marshal, which the State Fire Council estimated would require $4.4 million or more and 42 personnel to oversee fire-safe standards, direct wildfire prevention, and coordinate between state agencies. The allocation came in response to the third report from the state Department of the Attorney General's investigation into the August 2023 Lahaina fires, which identified chronic underfunding and under-recognition of wildfire risk across Hawaii. The office remains without an appointed marshal, with the budget proposal now pending legislative consideration.

Green proposed adding $250 million to the state's Rental Housing Revolving Fund over two years to develop 2,000 apartment units across Hawaii. Green stated that reducing the cost of and creating more affordable housing, especially for working families, is a huge priority and indicated he would continue advocating for housing development plans in his State of the State speech. The proposal was made as part of broader legislative efforts to address Hawaii's housing affordability crisis.

Governor Josh Green nominated Honolulu Police Department Major Mike Lambert to serve as director of the state Department of Law Enforcement, replacing Jordan Lowe who is stepping down after two years in the position. Lambert, who has over 22 years of law enforcement experience and currently leads HPD's narcotics and vice division, was previously one of four finalists to become HPD chief in 2022. Green stated that Lowe's departure resulted from a mutual decision and indicated his intention for Lowe to remain with the administration in a different capacity.

Governor Green announced plans to address illegal fireworks through legislation aimed at improving enforcement, increasing penalties, and simplifying legal definitions during the 2025 legislative session following deaths that occurred during New Year's celebrations. Green's office coordinated with state Attorney General Anne Lopez to introduce bills on the issue, which became the legislature's stated priority after five people, including a 3-year-old child, died in fireworks-related incidents. Senate Bill 302, positioned for introduction, would prohibit the sale and use of consumer fireworks without a cultural use permit and restrict fireworks sales to within five days of permitted cultural events.

Green announced plans to potentially house California wildfire victims in vacant hotel rooms in Hawaii and defended the proposal against criticism, stating the state should prioritize assistance to people in crisis. State Department of Transportation director Ed Sniffen, under Green's administration, outlined the implementation of red-light and speed-detection cameras set to take effect in March, with expectations that the system would detect between 15,000 to 20,000 speeders across monitored intersections. Sniffen indicated that camera locations would be publicly disclosed and that enforcement would begin after an initial notification period.

Jordan Lowe resigned as director of the Hawaii Department of Law Enforcement, a position he held since the department's establishment as a standalone agency in 2024. Governor Josh Green nominated Honolulu Police Department Major Mike Lambert to replace Lowe, with Lambert's appointment subject to confirmation by the Hawaii State Senate and scheduled to begin February 1, 2025. Deputy Jared Redulla was designated as interim director pending Lambert's confirmation.

Governor Josh Green and Attorney General Anne Lopez unveiled proposed legislation on January 13, 2025, to revise Hawaii's fireworks laws following an explosion in Aliamanu on January 1st. The proposed bill introduces a $300 infraction fine for minor violations, simplifies legal definitions by establishing two possession categories at 25 pounds, and creates enhanced sentencing for repeat offenders and cases involving injury or death, with serious bodily injury or death potentially resulting in Class A felony charges carrying sentences up to 20 years to life. The legislation also authorizes law enforcement to issue fines to low-level vendors to address the illicit fireworks market.

Governor Green requested that Hawaii's visitor industry partner with the state to offer discounted accommodations and services to California residents affected by wildfires, first responders, and displaced film crews. The state's Business, Economic Development and Tourism Director James Kunane Tokioka coordinated with hotel industry stakeholders to develop three programs: Aloha for LA offering discounted long-term stays at rates between $129 and $279 per night, Aloha for LA Heroes providing shorter stays for first responders at $99 per night, and Aloha for LA Film Studios offering business incentives including fee waivers and expedited permits. Approximately 35 hotels across the state committed to participating in the programs, which were planned to launch by mid-January 2025.

Green announced plans to offer hotel accommodations to Los Angeles wildfire survivors and first responders following discussions with California Governor Gavin Newsom. The proposal would make available approximately 25,000 hotel rooms across Hawaii, with survivors able to rent rooms for up to 90 days while addressing housing shortages, with costs covered through insurance or FEMA rental assistance programs. Green also stated he is developing an "Aloha for LA" program to provide free flights and reduced hotel rates for California first responders and is coordinating with Hawaiian and Alaska airlines and four additional states to implement the relief efforts.

Governor Green traveled to Washington, D.C. in January 2025 to oppose the appointment of Robert F. Kennedy Jr. as secretary of Health and Human Services, citing Kennedy's statements against vaccines as dangerous misinformation. Green, a practicing physician, drew on his 2019 experience leading vaccination efforts during a measles outbreak in Samoa to argue that vaccines are safe and effective, and contended that Kennedy's claims that no vaccine is safe and effective are false. Green published an opinion piece in the New York Times detailing his position and the public health consequences of vaccine hesitancy.

Governor Josh Green directed DBEDT Director James Kunane Tokioka to block the Hawai'i Tourism Authority's hiring of a new president and CEO unless the salary remained below $188,800, which was lower than the $300,000 amount the HTA board had approved and included in House Bill 1800. Tokioka held up the executive search, which had attracted more than 400 applicants, citing Green's salary ceiling that aligned with the lieutenant governor's compensation. The Governor's Office stated the reduced salary reflected HTA's streamlined operations and the agency's reliance on contractors and board members rather than expanded staff.

State Representative Scot Matayoshi announced plans to introduce legislation during the 2025 Hawaii legislative session aimed at addressing illegal fireworks following deaths and injuries during New Year's Eve celebrations. Matayoshi's proposed bills would increase funding for fireworks sting operations using undercover officers posing as buyers or sellers, and would establish penalties targeting state and county employees involved in felony-level amounts of pyrotechnics. The legislation would apply to all public employees, including law enforcement officers and Matayoshi's own staff.

Governor Green announced that his office is examining ways to strengthen enforcement of existing state laws regarding illegal fireworks and considering possible amendments to increase penalties for violations, following multiple fireworks-related fires and injuries across Hawaii on New Year's Eve 2024. The governor's consideration of these measures was prompted by four deaths and over 20 injuries from a fireworks explosion on Oahu, along with dozens of fires statewide, including 22 fires on Maui. Green's office stated it would explore both enhanced enforcement mechanisms and legislative amendments to stiffen criminal penalties for knowingly violating fireworks laws.

Gov. Green created the Climate Advisory Team in May 2024 to develop recommendations for reducing natural disaster damage in Hawaii following the August 2023 Maui wildfire. The advisory group issued a 58-page report in January 2025 recommending approximately $1.875 billion in state spending over five years, with specific allocations including $500 million for a disaster recovery fund for displaced residents, $412.5 million for invasive plant removal to reduce wildfire fuel, and funding for home hardening against hurricanes, enhanced storm protections, and expanded fire prevention programs. Green stated that the report's recommendations should motivate the state Legislature to take action during the 2025 legislative session.

Governor Green signed Act 202 into law on July 5, 2025, establishing a mediation process to address eviction disputes in Maui County following the expiration of the eviction moratorium on February 4, 2026. Beginning February 5, 2026, landlords and tenants are required to have access to free, state-funded mediation through Maui Mediation Services before eviction cases may be filed in court, with mediation becoming mandatory only if a tenant requests and schedules it within 15 days of receiving notice of overdue rent. The law establishes procedures whereby a neutral mediator facilitates negotiations between the parties to reach voluntary written agreements on overdue rent issues, with eviction occurring only after a judge issues an official order.

Green authorized the use of a military jet to transfer six burn victims from the New Year's Eve fireworks explosion in Aliamanu to Arizona for specialized burn care treatment. The authorization was issued because local hospitals lacked sufficient burn unit capacity to treat the victims. The explosion occurred on January 1, 2025, at a residence on Keaka Drive and resulted in four deaths and more than two dozen injuries.

Following a New Year's explosion of illegal fireworks at an Aliamanu home that killed three people and injured more than two dozen others, Governor Green called for Hawaii lawmakers to enact penalties for illegal fireworks severe enough to curtail widespread use. Green stated during a New Year's Day news conference that previous proposed laws had encountered resistance partly due to cultural ties to firecracker use, but that the situation had become uncontrolled. Green's statement came as part of ongoing efforts to address illegal fireworks distribution and use, an issue on which Hawaii lawmakers have enacted at least four laws in the past six years with limited measurable effects.

Governor Green publicized Act 202, a law signed in July that establishes a mediation-based process for resolving rent disputes between landlords and tenants in Hawaii. The mediation program, facilitated by Maui Mediation Services and state-funded, becomes available February 5 when Maui's eviction moratorium ends, requiring landlords to provide written notice of overdue rent and offer tenants the opportunity to participate in mediation before pursuing eviction in court. Tenants with greater arrears are prioritized for earlier mediation sessions, with mediation available through phone, email, and in-person appointments.

The Hawaiʻi Department of Education released a report on Friday documenting community feedback on a permanent location for King Kamehameha III Elementary School following its destruction in the August 2023 Lahaina fire. The report presented survey results from 485 community members across multiple meetings and online submissions, with 51.1 percent indicating preference for a proposed location at Kuʻia on land owned by Kamehameha Schools, compared to 45.7 percent supporting the current temporary site at Pulelehua. Governor Josh Green, Maui County Mayor Richard Bissen, and the Hawaii Department of Education had announced discussions in October regarding establishing the permanent school location at the Kuʻia site in Lahaina.

Governor Green extended an emergency proclamation on December 27, 2024, to control the axis deer population in Maui County through February 25, 2025, suspending certain laws to facilitate mitigation efforts. The proclamation authorizes state agencies to continue fencing projects, including installation of eleven miles of fencing on Maui, and enables the Division of Forestry and Wildlife to conduct wildlife control permit programs in Hawaiian homelands. The extension was issued after hunting efforts failed to sufficiently reduce the deer population, which has caused significant damage to farm crops and pasture lands while also suspected of contributing to a bovine tuberculosis outbreak on Molokai.

Gov. Green announced plans to travel to Washington, D.C. in early January 2025 to meet with U.S. senators regarding Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s nomination as Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services. Green, a physician, stated he would provide what his office described as "critical insight" into the implications of Kennedy's nomination by President-elect Donald Trump. The governor's visit was scheduled for approximately four days, departing Hawaii on January 5 and returning on January 9, 2025.

Governor Green signed the 14th Proclamation relating to Homelessness on Friday, continuing executive action on the issue following the August 8, 2023 Lahaina wildfire. The proclamation builds on previous measures implemented by Green and Lieutenant Governor to prevent evictions in the post-disaster period. Hawaii experienced an 87% increase in homelessness between 2023 and 2024 according to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development's 2024 Annual Homelessness Assessment Report to Congress.

Following a deadly illegal fireworks explosion in Honolulu on January 1, 2025, that killed three people and injured dozens more, Governor Josh Green announced a proposed policy to classify possession of fireworks over 50 pounds as a class C felony carrying a prison sentence of up to five years and fines up to $10,000. Green stated the measure was intended to deter possession of quantities sufficient to cause accidents similar to the explosion that occurred when an illegal "cake" firework containing roughly 50 aerial rockets tipped over in a residential carport. The governor indicated willingness to pursue a complete fireworks ban if necessary to prevent similar incidents.

Governor Green signed an executive order on January 1, 2025, directing the Hawaii Department of Health to prioritize enforcement resources for significant violations of medical cannabis laws while protecting primary caregivers from criminal enforcement for cultivating cannabis for qualified patients. The order was issued in response to amendments to Hawaii's medical cannabis dispensary law that took effect at the start of 2025, which prohibited registered primary caregivers from cultivating cannabis for patients. Under the executive order, caregivers may continue their duties without fear of enforcement so long as they do not commit significant violations such as diversion of cannabis, use their caregiver status for improper purposes, or cultivate for multiple unauthorized patients.

Governor Green is expected to resume his push for a visitor green fee to fund climate change mitigation and environmental conservation in 2025. This proposal continues a debate spanning nearly a century in Hawai'i over how to tax tourists, with lawmakers and industry lobbyists repeatedly proposing various mechanisms including head taxes, daily fees, and accommodations taxes since the 1920s. The state previously enacted a Transient Accommodation Tax in 1986 after decades of contentious legislative efforts.

Honolulu voters approved a charter amendment in the November 2024 general election that took effect on January 1, 2025, capping future Honolulu City Council salary increases at 5% annually and requiring such increases to equal the average of the most recent annual salary raises for the city's collective bargaining units. The amendment also transferred authority for setting Council member salaries from the Council itself to the city Salary Commission, preventing Council members from voting on their own pay raises. This change followed the Council's 2023 approval of a 64% pay increase for six of its nine members, raising their salaries from $68,904 to $113,304 annually.