Hawaii Reporter

In January 2016, Hawaii Reporter was reintroduced and transformed into a FREE online platform focused on entertainment. It features a diverse range of content, including opinion pieces, editorials, and in-depth articles covering business, technology, travel, the environment, entertainment, and more topics relevant to readers in Hawaii. What sets Hawaii Reporter apart from other media outlets is that it is entirely run by volunteer contributors. Unlike traditional publications, there is no editorial team; instead, individuals submit articles based on their interests and perspectives.

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The Unseen Stopper Committees

2 weeks ago | hawaiireporter.com | Tom Yamachika

Although we’re done with this year’s legislative session, there are still a few issues swirling that may shape our future legislature’s consideration of bills. One of these is the fate of an informal practice in both the House and the Senate.
Light at the End

3 weeks ago | hawaiireporter.com | Tom Yamachika

Earlier this year, about two months ago, we wrote about tax liens and a bill that was advancing in this year’s Legislature to confirm that there was a light at the end of the tunnel for tax debtors. Before 2009, Hawaii had no statute of limitations on the collection of taxes. If it was assessed, it could be collected at any time. It could be 10 years later, 20 years later, 50 years later. The debt did not go away.
2025 Legislative Special Funds

1 month ago | hawaiireporter.com | Tom Yamachika

We continue our wrap-up of the 2025 Legislature by examining a report issued by the Office of the Auditor that should have gotten more attention, if not from the general public, at least from the legislators. Current law (in HRS section 23-11) requires the Office of the Auditor to analyze each special fund proposed in legislation against the criteria in HRS section 37-52.3 that apply to special funds. This year, the Auditor’s findings are in Report No. 25-05.
2025 Legislative Also-Rans

1 month ago | hawaiireporter.com | Tom Yamachika

Last week, we covered the key bills that made it out of the legislature and to the governors office. This week, will be looking at a few bills that passed both houses of the legislature, but did not make it through conference. Those bills may come back to haunt us next year. House Bill 476 is at the top of this week’s list. The bill would have increased the maximum capital gains rate for income tax. Now, for individuals the maximum capital gains rate is 7.25% while the top individual rate is 11%.
2025 Legislative Wrap-Up

1 month ago | hawaiireporter.com | Tom Yamachika

Our legislature is done for the year. Bills that survived the last-minute scramble are now on their way to the Governor‘s desk, where he has until the latter part of next month to decide whether he will veto any bills. And yes, there were a few revenue raisers (meaning tax increases) and a bill that is kind of a tax cut. Senate Bill 1396, if signed into law, is going to raise our Transient Accommodations Tax by 3/4 of a percentage point.
The Major Raid that Wasn’t

1 month ago | hawaiireporter.com | Tom Yamachika

It’s around this time in our legislative session when surprises start happening. Some are good, some not so great. But you, the taxpaying public, are not alone when it comes to surprises. Sometimes it’s the government itself that is on the receiving end. House Bill 1153, Relating to Funding Adjustments for State Programs, is an example. It is an Administration bill introduced by the Department of Transportation to remedy a technical problem in prior appropriations bills.
Blame Your Mom for Your Crooked Penis

2 months ago | hawaiireporter.com | Sydney Ross Singer

The Impact of Early-Life Sleep Position on Penile Curvature and other Anatomical MalformationsIt may sound like a small matter, but the way parents treat their newborn son’s penis is a big deal. At least, it will be when the kid grows up and finds that his penis is bent. A bent penis may not seem like a terrible thing. But as any gardener will tell you, you don’t want your hose bent, since that can interfere with the flow. Well, the same thing goes for penises.
Small Victory | Hawaii Reporter

2 months ago | hawaiireporter.com | Tom Yamachika

At this time in our legislative session, in the chaos that is our system for making laws in this State, those interested in laws being made, like us in the Foundation for instance, are relegated to waiting on the side nervously while back-room decisions about legislative bills are being made. It is the time for conference committee meetings, when representatives of the House and the Senate work out differences between their respective versions of bills.
Category Killer | Hawaii Reporter

2 months ago | hawaiireporter.com | Tom Yamachika

We are now in the home stretch at the Legislature. This is the time when conference committees meet to iron out differences between versions of legislation passed by the House and by the Senate. Unfortunately, all of the negotiations and conversations take place behind closed doors. We don’t get to see the results until agreement is reached and a public meeting is called to vote on the conference draft. One of the bills still in play is what I call the Category Killer, House Bill 1369.
Supporting Government’s Central Services

2 months ago | hawaiireporter.com | Tom Yamachika

Sometimes we at the Foundation have to save our government from accidentally shooting itself in the foot. In our current legislative session, the Hawaii Department of Transportation (HIDOT) introduced Senate Bill 1473, Relating to Central Services Assessment. HIDOT’s work is largely paid for by special funds, namely the Highway Fund, the Airport Revenue Fund, and the Harbor Special Fund.