The DOJ has filed a motion against Hawaii's Green Fee, an 11% surcharge on cruise passengers for environmental protection, arguing it infringes on federal authority.

Hawaii's OIP reported a 96% resolution rate for cases in FY 2025, including majority of informal inquiries resolved within 24 hours, and updated online resources and court opinion lists for transparency.

Hawaii's Governor Josh Green attends the WGA Winter Meeting in Arizona to discuss energy, agriculture, and broadband expansion, with Lieutenant Governor Luke serving as acting governor until his return.

The Budget Committee advanced a plan to raise AMI caps to 100% and sweeten a five‑year property‑tax dedication, aiming to coax owners into offering income‑based rentals.

The Justice Department asked to join CLIA’s suit, arguing Hawaii’s first‑in‑the‑nation green fee conflicts with federal maritime law and the Constitution.

The Hawaiian Homes Commission revoked Waimana’s operating license after repeated outages and regulatory trouble. DHHL says federal broadband grants will fund inspections and repairs.

Council Chair Tommy Waters introduced Bill 64 to make the city estimate likely lapsed funds before budgets are adopted. Supporters call it transparency; administrators warn early numbers could be unreliable.

Hawaiʻi mourns the deaths of Councilmember Tasha Kama and former Vice President Dick Cheney, with flags at half-staff until Nov 20, per Governor Josh Green's directive.

Rep. Daniel Holt is aiming for the open Senate seat in Honolulu as retirements and a lingering federal corruption probe reshape Hawaii’s 2026 map. The move adds early momentum to next year’s contests.

The state ethics commission has circulated draft bills to curb pay‑to‑play, ban fundraising by certain top appointees and extend nepotism rules to more branches.

Honolulu PD will pilot automatic transcription on bodycams for 30 days; advocates warn the move could be a first step toward deeper surveillance.

The Honolulu City Council approved a 27% pay raise for police officers by 2029, aiming to improve recruitment and retention in the Honolulu Police Department.

Kauai's Charter Review Commission invites public feedback on proposed charter amendments for the 2026 ballot. Meeting on Nov. 24, 2025, at the Pi‘ikoi Building for discussions on various governance changes.