Aloha, and welcome to Hawaiʻi Public Radio’s coverage of the 2023 legislative session. Here, we’ll share the latest bills from inside the Hawaiʻi State Capitol, interviews with state lawmakers, and updates from Gov. Josh Green's first year in office.
For the last 24 years, Sylvia Luke has taken part in the opening day of the state Legislature. But this year, it was a bit different as she sat in the lieutenant governor’s chair next to Gov. Josh Green.
As the state bifurcates the Department of Public Safety into two departments, some of the functions will remain the same, but some operations will transfer into the new Department of Law Enforcement.
When the state Legislature opens Wednesday, there will be 16 new members in the state House and two new lawmakers in the Senate. It's the largest class of first-term lawmakers in nearly 20 years. HPR’s Sabrina Bodon spoke with four of them.
In 2022, Hawaiʻi Public Radio brought you stories about the aftermath of the Navy Red Hill fuel spill, deep dives into political candidates, and the latest on exciting cultural festivals across the islands. With the new year offering more opportunities to learn from our community, HPR reporters take a look back at our favorite stories of the year.