The end of the session is looming and lawmakers have failed to deal with the ADC. They need to figure it out during the interim and return in January prepared to act.
Dole Fined $20,000 For Significant Safety Risks Posed By Wahiawa Dam - Honolulu Civil Beat
Dole Fined $20,000 For ‘Significant’ Safety Risks Posed By Wahiawa Dam
The fine was among the first enforcements against local dam owners since the Kaupakalua dam overflowed, prompting evacuations on Maui. Reading time: 5 minutes.
The state’s land board fined Dole Food Company Hawaii $20,000 on Friday for failing to safely maintain the Wahiawa dam, which protects Oahu’s North Shore from flooding by Lake Wilson.
The more than century-old dam presents a “significant risk to the public today” and Dole has known of that risk for at least 12 years, Carty Chang, the state land agency’s chief engineer, told the Board of Land and Natural Resources.
Legislative Leaders: Pay Raises For State Workers May Be Tough This Year - Honolulu Civil Beat
Legislative Leaders: Pay Raises For State Workers May Be Tough This Year
The state’s agriculture development agency also is still a target of legislative scrutiny as is the state auditor. Reading time: 4 minutes.
Top Hawaii lawmakers have signaled that thousands of state workers shouldn’t expect pay increases anytime soon given the state’s historic budget shortfall.
The governor has introduced measures to fund pay increases for all public workers except police. Contract negotiations for those workers are likely to start this year, House Speaker Scott Saiki said.
Hawaii s Food System Is Broken. Now Is The Time To Fix It - Honolulu Civil Beat
Hawaii’s Food System Is Broken. Now Is The Time To Fix It
The pandemic has exposed a critical need for Hawaii to resolve the many challenges keeping the islands with our fertile lands and ideal climate from growing much more of our own food. Artwork: Kalany Omengkar
In June of 2020, three months after rumors of a coronavirus-induced food shortage caused waves of panic buying across Hawaii, Kualoa Ranch opened up a small food market on the Windward coast of Oahu in a building that until recently had served as a buffet hall for tourists.
Proposed Budget Cuts Would Basically Gut Hawaii State Auditor s Office - Honolulu Civil Beat
Proposed Budget Cuts Would ‘Basically Gut’ Hawaii State Auditor’s Office
Days after he ordered an investigation into the office, the House Speaker wants to cut the watchdog agency’s budget in half far more than any other state agency. Reading time: 5 minutes.
House Speaker Scott Saiki is proposing deep cuts to the budget for the state Auditor’s office, a watchdog agency that is tasked with holding state agencies accountable for their performance and use of taxpayer dollars.
State Auditor Les Kondo said the cuts would halve the budget for his office from $3.2 million down to $1.52 million and would force him to take steps such as laying off analysts or converting full-time workers to part time. Personnel costs alone for the office are $2.2 million, he said.