Sen. Mazie Hirono and 24 Senate colleagues urged Treasury to lift an IRS hiring freeze and rebuild the Taxpayer Advocate Service to speed refunds and cut wait times.

Gov. Josh Green has named DLNR Deputy Ryan Kanakaʻole acting chair while Dawn Chang recovers. The department says operations and scheduled land‑board hearings will continue.

DLNR opens applications Jan. 3 for 53 full-time conservation officers across Hawai‘i; candidates must meet swim and hike tests and clear background checks.

A federal judge upheld Hawaiʻi's right to tax cruise ship passengers, dismissing a challenge by the cruise industry. The tax aims to combat climate change and could set a precedent in the travel industry.

Gov. Josh Green appointed experienced individuals to key Hawaii state boards, including Moses Haia III for water resource management and Jason Moniz to agriculture and biosecurity roles.

A Civil Beat dataset shows about 45,000 delinquent state tax accounts, from $5 to more than $20 million, including some familiar public names. The list raises questions about collection, confidentiality and a 15‑year limit on old debts.

Hawaii's consumer protection office says PayPal will pay $6M to resolve claims it misled Venmo users about privacy, purchase protection and access to funds.

Governor Josh Green of Honolulu presents Hawai‘i's Supplemental Budget for FY 2027, prioritizing housing, healthcare, education, and climate resilience, with a total of $10.58 billion in general funds and $903 million in G.O. Bonds.

Hawaiʻi County’s police commission trimmed the chief search to 11 finalists and set in‑person, public interviews for Jan. 29–30 in Kailua‑Kona as it seeks new leadership for the island’s police department.

State regulators warn Hawaiʻi that AI‑powered scams — from deepfakes to fake trading bots — are surging this holiday season. DCCA points to nationwide data and lists 12 threats residents should watch for.

The HART CEO’s pay climbed to roughly $349,440 after citywide raises took effect, putting the rail chief among Honolulu’s top‑paid officials. The increase follows a new contract that took effect earlier this year.

A Justice Department memo and Education Department review put University of Hawaiʻi Native Hawaiian programs and roughly $12.3M in federal grants at risk.

Sen. Jarrett Keohokalole called the federal expansion that adds Tonga discriminatory and warned it could harm Pacific Islander families and prompt profiling.