The Primary Election on August 13th is less than 70 days away. As HPR’s Wayne Yoshioka reports. many candidates will be attending old plantation-style events.
Wayne Yoshioka is an award-winning journalist who has worked in television, print and radio in Hawaiʻi. He also has been on both sides of politics as a state departmental appointee and political/government reporter. He covered Hurricane Iwa (1982) as a TV reporter; was the State Department of Defense/Civil Defense spokesperson for Hurricane Iniki (1992); and, commanded a public affairs detachment in Afghanistan (2006). He has a master's degree in Communication from the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa and is a decorated combat veteran (Legion of Merit, Bronze Star and 22 other commendation/service medals). He resides in Honolulu.
A lawsuit challenges Hawaiʻi's new tourist tax on cruise ship passengers, claiming it is unconstitutional. Gov. Josh Green signed the legislation in May. It boosts taxes to address climate change issues like eroding shorelines and wildfires. Starting next year, an 11% tax will be levied on cruise ship bills.
State and local emergency response officials are working on an after-action report following the tsunami warning in July. Traffic during the evacuation period was a key concern.