City and County of Honolulu

The Honolulu Police Department has about 630 total vacant job positions, and chronic vacancies have been an issue for the department for years.

With a relatively conservative budget in the works for the upcoming fiscal year, the Honolulu City Council and administration officials are brainstorming possible sources of revenue for Oʻahu.

Honolulu Mayor Rick Blangiardi is taking about $50 million from vacant city positions in a proposed $5.09 billion city budget that anticipates higher inflation and growing expenses, but little revenue growth.

Kūhiō Beach Park will see $1 million invested into improving its safety, cleanliness, and long-term stewardship. The money will go toward installing information kiosks, electric streetsweepers, public bathrooms, and turf.

Kim Hashiro, director of the city’s Department of Customer Services, spoke to The Conversation’s Catherine Cruz about the Division of Motor Vehicles’ new renewal hours.

The most notable proposed increases apply to annual passes — from the current $880 to $990 — and monthly passes, which increase from $80 to $90.

The administration wants to expand the Waimanalo Gulch Sanitary Landfill in West Oʻahu, which is scheduled to close in 2028 — ahead of reaching capacity.

Work to choose Honolulu’s new police chief is now underway and is expected to be done in June.

The measure proposes increasing the price of annual passes from the current $880 to $990, and monthly passes from $80 to $90. Bill 54 also calls for a $0.25 price hike for single rides paid with cash, which currently cost $3 for adults.

Director of the Honolulu Department of Environmental Services, Roger Babcock, spoke to The Conversation's Catherine Cruz about the 6% rate hike to Oʻahu residents' sewer bills.