State Legislature

House Bill 2446 authorizes the state Department of Labor and Industrial Relations to create a community program. That program aims to educate marginalized communities about stolen wages. It would also enhance outreach and referrals.

The state Department of Transportation said it supports “transit affordability” but preferred more targeted proposals, such as providing free public transportation to children.

Several bills introduced this legislative session target the industry, ranging from increasing penalties for traffickers and sex crimes, to developing mandatory training programs for workers in the transient accommodation sector.

The smallest county in the United States may not exist much longer. As HPR’s Catherine Cluett Pactol reports, Kalawao County is preparing for a big transition.

Senate Judiciary Committee Chair Karl Rhoads has introduced two bills that explore a new legal approach aimed at effectively barring corporations from donating to Hawaiʻi political campaigns at the local, state and federal levels.

Senate Bill 2161 notes the state’s “rich ranching history and cowboy culture preceding that of the American west” that led to uniquely styled ranching gear and the rise of the still-popular slack key guitar.

Honolulu's Department of Customer Services is ramping up efforts to renew expiring licenses for more than 110,000 motorists; Retired cartographer Tom Patterson discusses the artistry that goes into map-making

State Sen. Michelle Kidani of Mililani is defending her ability to serve as a lawmaker following a Honolulu Civil Beat story regarding her cognition.

The so-called “no secret police bill” is largely being considered in response to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers wearing masks and covering their badges while on patrol or detaining people.

HB1579 would establish outdoor light fixture requirements based on the Kelvin scale and the direction of the light. It also suggests that the fixtures operate on a timer or motion sensor basis.