Hawaii State Legislature
Hawaii panel forecasts more tax revenue this fiscal year

By Audrey Mcavoy May. 25, 2021 11:07 PM EDT
HONOLULU (AP) — Hawaii's Council on Revenues on Tuesday sharply increased its tax revenue forecast for the state to reflect rebounding spending by residents...

Hawaii Senate President Ron Kouchi speaks at a podium at the state Capitol in Honolulu on Thursday, April 29, 2021, flanked from left to right by Sens. Kalani English, Jarrett Keohokalole, Michelle Kidani and Brian Taniguchi. Hawaii's lawmakers are wrapping up a legislative session marked by a generous influx of federal aid that helped the islands weather the shock of the coronavirus pandemic. (AP Photo/Audrey McAvoy)
Hawaii lawmakers finish session after huge federal aid boost

By Audrey Mcavoy Apr. 29, 2021 09:43 PM EDT

Hawaii lawmaker retires due to long-term effects of COVID-19

Apr. 27, 2021 11:52 PM EDT
HONOLULU (AP) — Veteran Hawaii State Sen. Kalani English said Tuesday he will retire on May 1 after being diagnosed with long-term effects of COVID-19. ...

Hawaii House kills bill curtailing governor emergency powers

By Audrey Mcavoy Apr. 27, 2021 11:06 PM EDT
HONOLULU (AP) — The Hawaii House on Tuesday killed a bill that would have curtailed the governor's emergency powers, a measure that was introduced after the...

Hawaii to allow some nurses to perform abortions

By Audrey Mcavoy Apr. 12, 2021 08:44 PM EDT
HONOLULU (AP) — Gov. David Ige on Monday signed legislation that would make Hawaii the latest state to allow some nurses to perform abortions. ...

Hawaii House passes budget bill avoiding deep program cuts

By Audrey Mcavoy Mar. 24, 2021 08:23 PM EDT
HONOLULU (AP) — The Hawaii House of Representatives passed a two-year budget for the state that avoids deep cuts to programs like sex assault treatment and...

Virus relief money plugs hole in proposed Hawaii budget

By Audrey Mcavoy Mar. 23, 2021 05:40 PM EDT
HONOLULU (AP) — Financial aid included in the most recent federal coronavirus relief package will allow Hawaii to cover unemployment insurance claims and avoid...

Hawaii Senate approves nation's highest income tax rate

By Audrey Mcavoy Mar. 09, 2021 07:11 PM EST
HONOLULU (AP) — The Hawaii Senate on Tuesday passed legislation that would increase the income tax paid by Hawaii's top wage earners to 16%, which would give...

FILE - This March 1, 2019 file photo shows the Hawaii State Capitol in Honolulu. The Hawaii Senate is considering a bill that would impose a 16% tax on individuals earning more than $200,000, which would be the highest income tax rate of any state in the nation. (AP Photo/Audrey McAvoy, File)
Hawaii lawmakers considering nation's highest income tax

By Audrey Mcavoy Mar. 08, 2021 07:27 PM EST

Hawaii lawmakers consider standardized pandemic travel rules

By Caleb Jones Feb. 25, 2021 07:46 PM EST
HONOLULU (AP) — Hawaii lawmakers are considering a bill that would standardize the state's pandemic travel restrictions across the islands, a departure from...

Law enforcement stand in front of the Hawaii State Capitol in Honolulu on Wednesday, Jan. 20, 2021. Lawmakers opened a new legislative session in the middle of a pandemic while wearing face masks and sitting next to clear plastic shields separating their seats. (AP Photo/Audrey McAvoy)
Hawaii lawmakers open new session amid coronavirus pandemic

By Audrey Mcavoy Jan. 20, 2021 08:06 PM EST

FILE - This Jan. 23, 2014 file photo shows Hawaii state Rep. Della Au Belatti speaking in HonoluluCut spending, raise taxes, or perhaps both. Hawaii lawmakers face tough choices as they convene a new legislative session this week amid a pandemic that has pummeled tourism, the state's biggest industry, and depleted tax revenue. Lawmakers expect to spend time addressing how to spend federal funds allocated to help Hawaii test for the coronavirus, distribute vaccines, and bolster hospitals. They'll also consider how to help Hawaii's economy recover from the public health crisis. (AP Photo/Audrey McAvoy, File)
Hawaii lawmakers face tough choices amid pandemic recession

By Audrey Mcavoy Jan. 18, 2021 09:03 AM EST

A man wearing a "Q" mask walks past city hall on Election Day, Tuesday, Nov. 3, 2020, in Honolulu. (AP Photo/Marco Garcia)
Hawaii Democrat Kahele wins to succeed Gabbard in US House

By Audrey Mcavoy Nov. 04, 2020 06:04 AM EST

Hawaii approves company's 46% cargo shipping rate increase

Aug. 19, 2020 11:01 AM EDT
HONOLULU (AP) — Customers of Hawaii's only regulated interisland cargo company will pay 46% more to ship goods under a new regulatory ruling. ...

Candidate fears arrest when she returns home to Hawaii

By Jennifer Sinco Kelleher Aug. 18, 2020 06:46 PM EDT
HONOLULU (AP) — A Republican candidate for Hawaii's House of Representatives said Tuesday that she can't return from California to campaign because she fears...

Hawaii governor seeking details on Trump's unemployment plan

By Audrey Mcavoy Aug. 14, 2020 07:21 PM EDT
HONOLULU (AP) — Hawaii Gov. David Ige said he is working to find out whether the federal government would fully pay for $300 in weekly supplemental...

FILE -- In this Jan. 15, 2020 file photo, is state Sen. Kai Kahele at the opening day of the Hawaii Sate Legislature in Honolulu. Kahele is the only major candidate in the race to succeed U.S. Rep. Tulsi Gabbard, virtually guaranteeing he will be sworn in as Hawaii's newest congressman in January. (AP Photo/Audrey McAvoy, File)
Only 1 major candidate running to succeed Tulsi Gabbard

By Audrey Mcavoy Aug. 02, 2020 03:04 PM EDT

Hawaii lawmakers close legislative session upended by virus

By Audrey Mcavoy Jul. 10, 2020 10:45 PM EDT
HONOLULU (AP) — Hawaii lawmakers on Friday wrapped up a legislative session upended by the coronavirus pandemic that forced weekslong breaks in proceedings,...

FILE - In this July 11, 2019, file photo, Assemblywoman Autumn Burke, D-Inglewood, calls on lawmakers to approve a wildfire measure she co-authored, with Assemblyman Chris Holden, D-Pasadena, and Assemblyman Chad Mayes, R-Yucca Valley, before the Assembly in Sacramento, Calif. A coronavirus outbreak in the California Legislature has indefinitely delayed the state Assembly's return to work from a scheduled summer recess. Assembly Speaker Anthony Rendon's office confirmed five people who work in the Assembly have tested positive for the coronavirus. They include Burke, who is believed to have contracted the virus while on the Assembly floor last month. (AP Photo/Rich Pedroncelli, File)
Coronavirus disrupts California Legislature for second time

By Adam Beam Jul. 07, 2020 08:46 PM EDT

FILE - In this April 5, 2015, file photo, Hawaii Senate President Ronald Kouchi, D-Kauai, speaks in Honolulu. Garden Isle Disposal LLC, a company that Hawaii Senate President Ronald Kouchi owns shares in and is employed by, received a small business coronavirus relief loan from the U.S. government, according to data released by the Small Business Administration. (AP Photo/Cathy Bussewitz, File)
Company connected to Senate president gets virus relief loan

By Audrey Mcavoy Jul. 07, 2020 05:27 PM EDT