Hawaii Reporter

If you are a serious student of Hawaii constitutional law, here is a question for you.  Where in our state constitution does it say we have to have a balanced budget?  The answer appears later in this article. The part of our constitution directly governing our state’s budget is Article VII, section 8.  It says that “the governor shall submit...

BY FRANK SALVATO It is true that in the United States, everyone who qualifies under the requirements of the Constitution has the right to run for office. In fact, the beauty of the American experience is that our nation is governed by her people, not a ruling class, or so it is supposed to be. Currently, we are undergoing a rebellion...

About three months ago, I wrote about the $10,000 limitation on deductions for state and local tax that is part of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017.  In a nutshell, you can only deduct up to $10,000 in state and local tax.  If you paid more, you get no tax deduction for the excess; not now, and...

Over a decade ago, after returning from the war in Iraq, John Gollner began to lose his vision and hear a constant ringing in his ear. At first, no one in the medical profession could explain the origin of his symptoms.  He was the first Iraq veteran to have these symptoms. Then others started to report similar issues. He has had years...

This week we look at HB 2416, a bill that applies Hawaii Use Tax to intangible property. The Use Tax is a tax designed to protect our local businesses.  As a consumer, you often have a choice between buying a product from a local seller and one from somewhere out of state.  Our general excise tax applies to the local...

  LIVE: Fountains of lava erupting from a Kilauea fissure in Hawaii. First it was catastrophic lava. Then it was sulfur dioxide. Now Hawaii's Big Island residents have yet another danger to worry about.Lava flows are now hitting the ocean Super rare footage

In a recent hearing in the Honolulu City Council’s Budget Committee, council leaders say that they might have found a “magic bullet” – one that they say will get the City’s share of rail funding done painlessly. Here’s the issue.  The City needs to cover $44 million in administrative costs for rail for 2018 and 2019.  The City previously didn’t...

On Tuesday May 15, 2018 the City plans to evict Hawaiian Ocean’s Waikiki from  the Kuhio Beach concession stand that it operates. Every five years, the stand owners have to bid for a contract with the city of Honolulu. This time, Dive Oahu was awarded both concessions. After awarding Dive Oahu both concession stand contracts, the City is proceeding its...

One of the bills that has come out of the recently concluded legislative session is SB 2699, which proposes to make “resort fees” subject to our Transient Accommodations Tax (TAT). A “resort fee,” which also goes on your bill if you stay at a hotel, and not only in Hawaii but around the world, is to pay for other amenities...

GO LOCAL is a new show that broadcasts live on Facebook from Hawaii's #1 Entertainment page, 808 Viral. The hosts Kumua and Kalei Timoteo, and shows creator Daniela Tow, broadcast weekly to over 200,000 followers. The show consists of talking story, doing reviews, challenges and giveaways all centered around local made in Hawaii products which viewers can buy for a...