What it takes to spend $600M on housing in three years
As we have written about before, last year’s Legislature approved $600 million to our Department of Hawaiian Home Lands (DHHL) to reduce the monstrous waiting list of Hawaiians waiting for homestead lands. The catch, however, is that DHHL needs to spend the money, or enter into a contract to spend it, by June 30, 2025. Otherwise, the money goes back to the general fund.
UHERO: Tourism might help state dodge recession
Even as an economic downturn looms on the horizon, a University of Hawaii Economic Research Organization report predicts that the state will dodge an economic recession, if only barely.
Business news at a glance
Penguin Random house CEO steps down
New administration’s tax priorities
In a recent interview with Hawaii News Now, Gov.-elect Josh Green outlined the top priorities he has for his first 100 days in office, presumably including the start of this year’s legislative session.
Shoppers, workers clash over post-pandemic expectations
NEW YORK — Before the pandemic, Cheryl Woodard used to take her daughter and her friends to eat at a local IHOP in Laurel, Maryland after their dance practice. But now they hardly go there anymore because it closes too early.
Biden cements Trump-era steel, aluminum tariffs in WTO snub
If there were any hope President Joe Biden would undo his predecessor’s divisive trade tariffs that caused upheaval in the global steel and aluminum markets, it all but evaporated Friday.
Nation and world news at a glance
Trump’s call for ‘termination’ of Constitution draws rebukes
As Musk is learning, content moderation is a messy job
Now that he’s back on Twitter, neo-Nazi Andrew Anglin wants somebody to explain the rules.
Want to fight corruption? Follow the money
In a recent op-ed in Civil Beat, Robert Harris, who recently became the executive director of the Hawaii State Ethics Commission, mused about his role in the grand scheme of things. His first reaction was to describe his job as just enforcing the State Ethics Code and the Lobbying Law, but then saw a broader role for his agency as helping to restore public trust in government.
US hiring and wages extend strong gains, keeping pressure on Fed
U.S. employers added more jobs than forecast and wages surged by the most in nearly a year, pointing to enduring inflation pressures that boost chances of higher interest rates from the Federal Reserve.
Felled city trees could grow a new lumber economy
SEATTLE — When a tree falls in the city, does it make a table? Or a guitar or a cabinet?
Tom Yamachika: No, boosting the affordable housing fund isn’t the answer
Many financial and political experts (or people who say they are) are trying to make sense of the defeat of Honolulu’s Charter Question No. 1 in the general election earlier this month.
‘It’s a disaster’: Drought dramatically shrinking California farmland, costing $1.7 billion
In the fall, rice fields in the Sacramento Valley usually shine golden brown as they await harvesting. This year, however, many fields were left covered with bare dirt.
Business news at a glance
EU, US edging toward trade spat when both want unity instead
Walmart shooting raises need for violence prevention at work
NEW YORK — The mass shooting Wednesday at a Walmart in Virginia was only the latest example of a workplace shooting perpetrated by an employee.
Inflation or not, price of pro sports teams keeps going up
Inflation isn’t going to hurt the bankrolls of sports team owners.
Macy’s, Kohl’s, Gap point to cloudy holiday retail picture
NEW YORK — Results from Macy’s, Kohl’s and Gap on Thursday further underscored the cloudy picture for U.S. retailers heading into the start of the holiday season.
Hilo mall lease in limbo
A requested 40-year lease extension for Prince Kuhio Plaza is on hold for now.
Tom Yamachika: Getting permitting out of home maintenance
This week we continue to focus on the City and County of Honolulu, where efforts are under way to deal with the highly backlogged state of affairs at our Department of Planning and Permitting. As we’ve previously reported, a 2020 City audit (Report No. 20-01) (Exhibit 4.3) found that a typical residential building permit application took 108 days to process, while one for a commercial project ($1 – $10 million) took 432 days. That is a very long time to be just waiting for a permit.
Tom Yamachika: The empty homes tax
One of the ideas that has been kicking around in the state and county legislatures for a couple of years now is the idea of an “empty homes tax.” The idea seems to be gaining steam now since our federal court has struck down Honolulu’s recent ordinance clamping down on transient vacation rentals.
