ike-pono-hawaii

Hawaiʻi’s Housing Crisis Needs Action for Local Families, Not More Delay

Sat, 09 May 2026 00:11:17 GMT

Civil Beat’s latest look at the 2026 Hawaiʻi Housing Factbook confirms what local ʻohana already know: housing costs are forcing kamaʻāina into impossible choices. Families are leaving Hawaiʻi, crowding into homes that are too small, or falling closer to homelessness because the state has not built enough hale for people here.

There are small signs of improvement. Home prices have leveled off in places, and more households can technically afford a mortgage than last year. But when the median single-family home is still about $1.1 million on Oʻahu and Kauaʻi, nearly $2 million on Maui, and $465,000 on Hawaiʻi Island, “improvement” does not mean much for working local families.

The real issue is supply. Civil Beat reports that UHERO’s Factbook is clear: if demand keeps outrunning our willingness to build, unattainable housing will continue. The report also points to permitting delays, high fees, neighbor opposition, and short-term vacation rentals as barriers that keep locals from finding stable homes.

This is where elected officials must show kuleana. Hawaiʻi cannot only focus on traditional “affordable housing” categories. Many local workers earn too much to qualify for subsidized units but nowhere near enough to buy market-rate homes. These are teachers, nurses, public employees, small business workers, and young families trying to stay rooted in their ʻāina.

That middle group needs attainable housing now. Counties and state leaders should streamline approvals for projects targeted to locals, especially housing that fills the gap between subsidized units and luxury development.

Housing policy should not be controlled by delay, fear, or NIMBY pressure. Makemake ka poʻe Hawaiʻi i nā hale kūpono. Our people need homes that match real incomes, real families, and real life in Hawaiʻi.

If leaders want to act pono, they must stop studying the crisis and start clearing the path for locals to stay.

Source summarized: Civil Beat, “High Housing Costs Force Hawaiʻi Residents Into ‘Impossible Choices’,” Jeremy Hay, May 2026.

Anne Lopez: Stop Hiding the Truth and Release the $35,000 Bribery Findings Now

Wed, 22 Apr 2026 22:33:47 GMT

For months, Hawaiʻi Attorney General Anne Lopez has hidden behind the same tired script: the investigation is “ongoing,” the public must wait, and answers will come “at the appropriate time.” Meanwhile, the people of Hawaiʻi have been left in the dark about one of the most explosive public corruption scandals in recent memory: the alleged $35,000 “paper bag” payoff to an “influential state legislator.”

Now, Lt. Gov. Sylvia Luke has announced she will not seek reelection, citing the toll of the past three months. That changes everything. The election excuse is gone. The political calendar excuse is gone. The claim that disclosure might interfere with voters is gone. What remains is a simple question:

What is Anne Lopez hiding, and why is she still hiding it?

Gov. Josh Green publicly echoed what many Hawaiʻi residents have been saying privately for weeks: this investigation has dragged on too long. He said it was “not fair” to the public and demanded clarity. He was right then, and he is even more right now.

This case did not begin yesterday. Federal investigators reportedly had recordings. The Department of Justice transferred evidence to the state. Lopez’s office announced the probe in January. Since then, we’ve heard boasts about interviews and documents reviewed, but no real transparency, no timeline, and no accountability.

That is not justice. That is bureaucratic stonewalling.

The Attorney General’s duty is not to protect political insiders from embarrassment. It is not to run out the clock until the headlines fade. It is not to keep citizens guessing as confidence in government collapses.

Her duty is to the people of Hawaiʻi.

If charges are warranted, file them. If the evidence clears those involved, say so. If others are implicated, name them. But this endless limbo serves no one except the powerful.

And let’s be honest, every day this drags on deepens public suspicion that there are two systems in Hawaiʻi, one for ordinary citizens and another for connected insiders with titles, lawyers, and influence.

Ike Pono Hawaiʻi believes in clean government, honest institutions, and accountability without fear or favor. That means no special treatment for the politically connected and no secret investigations that linger indefinitely while trust in public institutions erodes.

Anne Lopez has had months. She has had evidence. She has had every opportunity to act.

The lieutenant governor has stepped aside from reelection. The political shield is gone.

So, here is our message to the Attorney General:

Enough delay. Enough excuses. Enough silence.

Release the findings. Tell the public what happened in the $35,000 bribery case. Let Hawaiʻi see whether justice is real or just another slogan used when convenient.

The people are watching. And they are done waiting.

The Haves Versus the Have Nots: Wealthy Kōloa NIMBY Group Considers Litigation Against Approved Gap Housing Project

Mon, 09 Mar 2026 18:41:46 GMT

In a move that has become all too commonplace in Hawaiʻi, wealthy residents are looking to use their resources to stop the Planning Commission-approved gap housing project in Kōloa.

On March 1 ^st , the President of the Friends of Maha’ulepu, Bridget Hammerquist, posted on the group’s website a summary from her perspective of the meeting, calling the Commissioner’s approval of the project “not legal.”

She then makes a plea for donations in this “dark hour” (see below).

We wonder if Ms. Hammerquist made this post while sitting in the comforts of her over $3 million valued home in Kōloa? Read more about this here .

The true controversy is not the housing project, but the reason why Hammerquist’s group will use their wealth to try to kill it.

One would think that the developer was proposing a residential tower on Maha’ulepu Beach. The truth is that it’s far from it.

The project calls for 148 multifamily units in an existing residential area near Kōloa Village, a retail center across the street. As reported in the February 23rd Civil Beat article , the units are primarily targeted at locals who make too much money to qualify for affordable housing subsidies but cannot afford market-rate homes.

The developer further agreed to the Planning Commissioner’s conditions of approval, which include that the units never be converted to vacation rentals and that at least 45% of them go to existing county residents.

A February 25th Civil Beat article states that the developer’s nearby project, Kauhale at the Village, has sold 70% of the 59 units to locals, mostly first-time homebuyers.

Is the project perfect? No. Does the County need to do more to address infrastructure issues? Yes, but there are transportation projects either pending or already underway to help.

In the end, this project creates a much-needed opportunity for locals to purchase a home for themselves or their children.

The Friends of Maha’ulepu and its backers need to consider who their potential lawsuit will hurt the most: the developer or locals.

Ms. Hammerquist and her wealthy friends need to be reminded that they have their multi-million-dollar homes on Kaua’i lands, while many locals lack opportunities for home ownership.

Unfortunately, we all know too well that haoles often believe their wealth gives them insight into knowing what’s best for Kānaka Maoli.

The struggle for the haves versus the have-nots continues…

DHHL Seeks Millions Again for Geothermal Exploration on Native Lands

Thu, 26 Feb 2026 22:01:52 GMT

Hawaiian Home Lands Chair Kali Watson continues to fail Native Hawaiians.

Watson has requested up to $15 million over the next three years to explore geothermal drilling sites on native lands.

The legislature recently advanced HB 1982 to fund the exploration.

The controversial chair promises that everything they do will not harm the environment or people.

People living on Hawaiian home lands cannot trust Kali Watson’s word regarding geothermal projects – they shouldn’t have to.

As the primary steward for native lands, Watson should oppose the exploitation of the land in any capacity.

Unfortunately, it comes down to money over people.

Watson, a longtime Hawaiian developer, understands the financial value of Hawaiian home lands.

A February 2025 Hawaii Herald-Tribune article heard testimony from concerned locals who live or have families near the disputed Puna Geothermal site.

This is why we say that developers – active or not – should not be Chairpersons of the DHHL!

As we say: Kali Watson is failing Kānaka Maoli .

We must oppose HB 1982!

NIMBY in Kauaʻi: Wealthy Kōloa Residents Fight to Stop Attainable Housing for Locals

Mon, 23 Feb 2026 21:57:21 GMT

In another classic case of Not-In-My-Back-Yard or NIMBY, today’s Civil Beat reports ( link to article ) that residents are opposing a 148-unit housing project in Kōloa targeted for locals who “…make too much to qualify for affordable housing subsidies but don’t make enough to purchase market-rate homes.”

The units, according to the developer, will range from the low $500K to the high $600K, depending on the unit size.

That’s way more affordable than the median single-family and condominium house prices for Kauaʻi. According to LocationsHawaii.com, the January 2026 median single-family home price is $987,500, and the median condominium price is $965,000.

The proposal should be welcomed with aloha, but instead is getting pushback from wealthy neighbors.

Opponents Live in Multi-Million Dollar Homes

The article lists Friends of Māhā‘ulepu and Save Kōloa as the groups leading the opposition to the project. A few quick Google searches find that these two groups have worked together in multiple lawsuits against projects in Kauaʻi for years.

Bridget Hammerquist, a retired attorney, is President of Friends of Māhā‘ulepu, a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit. In a search of her nonprofit’s documents, we found her address in Kōloa that, according to Zillow.com, gave an estimated value below:

John T. "Jay" and Eileen Kechloian are listed as the VP/Secretary and Treasurer for the nonprofit. He's a retired developer. Their most recent home is valued at the following by Realtor.com:

Ke ʻōlelo nei ʻo Hammerquist he kanaka Hawaiʻi maoli ʻo ia, akā ke kānalua nei nō mākou. The Kechloians are from Washington state.

Wealthy NIMBYs like these are more frustrating than the failed Department of Hawaiian Home Lands. They say all the right things publicly about the need for ‘affordable housing,’ but they’re the first to fight it when it’s proposed near them.

The project they are fighting here isn’t even ‘affordable’ housing, it’s ‘attainable’ housing for locals who need more options.

Makemake Ka Poʻe Hawaiʻi i Nā Hale Kūpono

According to a 2025 Hawai’i Perspectives Report, 71% or residents statewide agree the state should build more housing as quickly as possible. Below is a snapshot of the report from the January 18, 2026, Kauai Now article:

Friends of Māhā‘ulepu and Save Kōloa may do good things for the land and the people. And, of course, not everyone is a wealthy homeowner like Hammerquist and the Kechloians.

Nonetheless, they are wrong in their opposition here.

Let’s hope the Planning Commission votes for the locals and ignores the legal threats from these groups.

No Raise for Failure: DOE’s Hayashi Doesn’t Deserve a Pay Bump While Teachers Struggle to Survive

Fri, 07 Nov 2025 21:27:04 GMT

Superintendent Hayashi

In Hawaiʻi, we’re used to hearing the same old story: the ones at the top get rewarded while the folks doing the real work – our teachers, aides, and service providers – struggle to stay afloat.

The latest example?

The Board of Education approving a fat pay raise for Superintendent Keith Hayashi, bumping his salary from $249,600 to nearly $295,000, with a chance to hit over $400,000 by 2029.

That’s an 18% raise for a leader who still can’t explain where $100 million went under the “Cool Classroom Initiative.”

We were told that this raise would make his pay “competitive” with that of his mainland counterparts.

But let’s be real, local families, local teachers, and local keiki don’t care about keeping up with mainland prices.

They care about whether our classrooms are cooled, our teachers are supported, and our students are learning.

Under Hayashi’s leadership, none of that has been happening in a pono way.

Just months ago, testimony poured in from speech-language pathologists, teachers, and DOE staff opposing these executive raises.

They spoke from the heart about the reality in our schools: unbearable workloads, unfilled positions, and salaries that don’t even come close to a livable wage.

As one SLP wrote, “If there are funds available for raises for the Superintendent and his subordinates, then there must be money to compensate dedicated and committed employees in a fair and just manner.”

That’s the kind of kōkua our system needs, not more perks for the ones already making six figures.

Meanwhile, the DOE’s track record with public funds has been anything but clean.

The “Cool Classroom Initiative” aimed to make 1,000 classrooms comfortable for our keiki, but only 838 received A/C, and even those often broke or ran just a few hours a day.

Millions went to consultants and vendors while local schools sweated it out.

When asked for transparency, Hayashi’s DOE couldn’t even provide a full account of where the $100 million went.

That’s not leadership, that’s a lack of kuleana.

So why is the Board rewarding him? Why are we paying more for a superintendent who’s failed to show fiscal responsibility, accountability, or transparency?

The message this sends to teachers is loud and clear: leadership comes with luxury, while classroom work comes with struggle.

That’s not pono. That’s not how we take care of our people.

If the DOE genuinely values its workforce, that $45,000 raise should have been used to increase starting teacher salaries, hire more support staff, and address the shortages that leave classrooms without qualified educators.

Until every keiki has a cool, safe, well-staffed classroom, no one at the top should be getting a raise.

It’s time we hold our leaders accountable, not reward them for failure.

Hawaiʻi deserves better than this.

Our teachers deserve better.

And most of all, our keiki deserve leaders who live aloha, act with integrity, and remember their kuleana to serve, not to cash in.

Superintendent Hayashi at the Center of DOE’s $100 Million “Cool Classrooms” Fiasco: Where did all the Money Go?

Thu, 14 Aug 2025 21:23:44 GMT

Superintendent Hayashi

Hawaiʻi’s Department of Education promised to make our keiki’s classrooms cooler.

Instead, what we got was a hot mess, one that burned through over $100 million of taxpayer money and left far too many classrooms sweltering.

Nearly a decade ago, the “Cool Classrooms Initiative” was launched with big talk and bigger checks.

Then-Governor David Ige pledged to cool 1,000 classrooms by year’s end.

The Legislature handed over $100 million to make it happen.

But according to the State Auditor, the DOE can’t even explain where the money went. The department was “unable to provide a complete and accurate accounting” of the funds.

In the end, only 838 classrooms got air-conditioning, and plenty of them still feel like ovens.

Some principals told auditors that the AC systems barely worked at all.

Many units relied on “complex and unfamiliar” solar systems that only operated about five hours a day, leaving classrooms hot the rest of the time.

To make matters worse, the DOE decided to seal jalousie windows with plexiglass, blocking trade winds and trapping heat inside.

What was supposed to be a solution turned into a “$120 million disaster,” according to one DOE official quoted in the audit report.

But the real issue goes beyond poor planning. It’s about leadership, kuleana, and the lack of pono in how the department manages our public dollars.

Superintendent Keith Hayashi, the head of the DOE, was called out directly by state auditors for dismissing the seriousness of these findings.

His official response, they said, showed “a disregard for policies and procedures and a lack of transparency.”

Or put another way: the braddah neva take responsibility.

Under Hayashi’s watch, the DOE kept spending but failed to track results.

More than $25 million went to outside consultants and design firms, while too many local schools, especially on the neighbor islands, were left out completely.

West Oʻahu schools got the bulk of the funding; the Big Island saw just one project.

And the so-called “School Directed AC Program,” which let individual schools handle their own installations, was barely monitored.

One DOE official even admitted they only find out something went wrong “if something blows up.”

When our keiki can’t concentrate in 100-degree classrooms, and millions vanish with no clear record, that’s not just mismanagement – that’s corruption of kuleana.

It’s the same old story in Hawaiʻi: big promises, outside contracts, and local families left wondering where the money went.

Hayashi and the DOE owe Hawaiʻi’s people a full, public, line-by-line accounting of every dollar spent.

Until then, no talk about “net-zero energy” or “sustainability” can hide the truth: our schools stayed hot while our tax dollars vanished.

We deserve better leadership.

We deserve accountability.

Most of all, our keiki deserve cool classrooms and a government that runs pono.

How Hawaiʻi’s Salary Commission Failed the People

Wed, 05 Mar 2025 22:49:05 GMT

While kamaʻāina families struggle to pay rent, buy groceries, and keep a roof over their heads, the Hawaiʻi Commission on Salaries quietly approved large pay increases for lawmakers, judges, and top executives, some rising nearly 50 percent over the next five years.

They did so with little public outreach, little notice, and even less transparency.

It is governance done in secret, while working families carry the burden of Hawaiʻi’s rising cost of living.

Most residents have never even heard of the Commission’s meetings.

There were no genuine efforts to notify the public, no community listening sessions, and no outreach to those most impacted by Hawaiʻi’s affordability crisis.

The process technically met legal requirements, but it was structured in a way that prevented ordinary citizens from participating.

Even more concerning, the commissioners themselves, appointed by Governor Josh Green, come from the same political and legal circles that will directly benefit from the raises.

These are not neutral citizens. They are insiders, longtime power brokers, and trusted allies of the political establishment.

The raises they approved are enormous.

Legislative salaries will increase from approximately $74,000 to over $114,000 by 2030, despite the Legislature being a part‑time body.

Judges, directors, and the governor will also receive significant increases.

Meanwhile, thousands of families across the islands deal with unaffordable housing costs, food insecurity, and stagnant wages.

For them, the Commission’s decision feels like a betrayal – a reminder that those in power keep putting themselves first.

The most unacceptable part of the process is how easily lawmakers allowed these raises to take effect.

Under the Hawaiʻi Constitution, if the Legislature takes no action, the Commission’s recommendations automatically become law.

No debate, no explanation, no accountability.

By staying silent, they ensured the pay raises would take effect in the next Legislature without having to support them openly.

It is a loophole that protects elected officials from accountability, and it reveals just how disconnected the system has become from the people it is supposed to serve.