Our loneliness epidemic reveals America’s failed urban planning
As we consider the multitude of ways to address our nation’s loneliness crisis, we must have serious conversations about how we can better shape our built environment to enable extended networks of care.
Caring for the community
Kaiser Permanente has a hand in helping Hawaiʻi in many different ways, from responding to the needs of Maui residents to helping nonprofits care for the land.
Do jaywalkers in Hawaiʻi even get tickets?
Yes, thousands of people in Hawaiʻi are ticketed each year, at rates higher than other states, according to a report by the Hawaiʻi Appleseed Center for Law & Economic Justice.
Hawaiʻi lawmakers spent big on public schools this year
But education advocates said the Legislature did little to address problems such as school bus driver shortages, fire safety and the need for more preschool teachers.
It’s being called Hawaiʻi’s biggest tax break, but some will get more help than others
Although pleased the inheritance tax reduction failed, Hawaiʻi Appleseed was unhappy that the reform bill delivers so much relief to people with the highest incomes.
Repeal jaywalking laws to boost safety
Let’s prioritize safety, equity and community well-being by investing in much-needed pedestrian infrastructure.
In last-minute plea to Legislature, Maui’s mayor requests $125M for wildfire recovery aid
The request is getting a cool response amid pressure to do more for low-income residents.
Maui Mayor Richard Bissen is on the hot seat now. And rightly so
Community and labor groups hope to hold legislators accountable to local working families.
Leeward Planning panel to consider three STVR bills
The Leeward Planning Commission on Thursday will take up three highly controversial bills initiated by the Hawaiʻi County Council related to short-term vacation rentals.
Want safer streets? Stop blaming pedestrians for traffic violence
A state Senate bill would prevent pedestrians from being stopped by cops or fined for jaywalking unless there is an immediate danger of a collision.
Bill advances allowing pedestrians to safely jaywalk
Legislators appear willing to make jaywalking legal across the islands—when safe—arguing in a Senate bill that pedestrians’ judgments are better at reducing injuries and deaths than traffic lights and traffic markings.
Legislative deadline looms over universal free school meals bill
A bill to provide universal free school meals in Hawaiʻi is once again in jeopardy at the state Legislature.
To cross or not to cross: Group argues against Hawaiʻi’s current jaywalking laws
A new report by the Hawaiʻi Appleseed Center for Law and Economic Justice argues that the state would be better off without jaywalking laws.
New report supports decriminalizing jaywalking in Hawaiʻi
The report recommends shifting away from enforcement, and instead building safe, accessible pedestrian infrastructure.
In 5 years, police handed out $4M in jaywalking fines
But only a fourth of those fines—less than $900,000—were paid.
Hawaiʻi sees first school meal reimbursement rate increase in 40 years
A long awaited boost to federal child nutrition program funds announced by the U.S. Department of Agriculture in February, is now flowing into the state.
Tenants facing eviction hope state will convert Kauaʻi’s Waipouli apartments to affordable housing
Affordable housing advocates are pressuring the State of Hawai‘i to purchase the apartment building and transform all 82 units into affordable housing.
In Hawaiʻi’s housing crunch, tenants are vulnerable to rent hikes and evictions
Advocates say the code lacks key policies needed in Hawaiʻi’s tight housing market, such as longer notice periods before someone can be evicted, caps on yearly rent increases and limits on the reasons landlords can evict tenants.
Mediating rent disputes
The mediation program’s principles are sound. Lawmakers now have many months to refine this bill and get right its final form and funding amounts; they cannot let a worthwhile program die because they can’t get their act together.
State funds for late rent, mediation to be revisited
Key state lawmakers are vowing to revisit a bill that died in the final days of the legislative session that would have required mediation between landlords and tenants before filing for eviction, while providing landlords millions in emergency rent relief.