State v. Zuffante (HSC September 17, 2025). Charles Zuffante and his girlfriend were pulled over by the
police for driving around Kona with expired registration. The car was
registered to his girlfriend. The officers saw a glass pipe in
HSC holds a sentencing enhancement is not an element under a state statute even thought it is an element under the Sixth Amendment.
State v. Smith (HSC September 12, 2025). Brian Smith was indicted for murder and attempted murder arising
from a shooting in Kona. Both counts alleged that he was subject to a sentencing
enhancement under HRS § 706-660.1 alleging that
Four States Settle with Mortgage Company for Alleged Unlicensed Activity
On September 26, 2025, financial regulators in Hawaii, Idaho, Oregon, and Texas entered into a multistate Settlement Agreement and Consent Order with a mortgage company to resolve allegations of unlicensed activity, inadequate supervision, and examination noncompliance under each state’s mortgage
Our Census Bureau is understaffed and underfunded—the quality of its data is suffering
Last month, the Census Bureau released its annual data for 2024. This data includes indicators like income and poverty rates, all of which influence important decisions on government policy. Since our first research brief, Hawaiʻi Appleseed has relied on census
Kamehameha Schools can Prevail in Pending Lawsuit Challenging its Admission Policy with Preference to those with Native Hawaiian Ancestry
On September 4, 2025, the Civil Beat published an article “Kamehameha Schools’ Admission Policies May Face Legal Challenge.” They reported:
A conservative mainland group whose lawsuit against Harvard ended affirmative action in college admissions is now building support
Kūpuna at risk: How federal changes to SNAP impact older adults in Hawaiʻi
Hawaiʻi’s kūpuna already face some of the highest food costs in the nation, stretching fixed incomes across housing, medical bills and groceries. The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) helps more than 33,000 Hawaiʻi seniors afford nutritious foods—supporting overall health and
Dr. Keanu Sai on KITV Island Life Live New’s Hawaiian History Month September
Last month September was “Hawaiian History” month, and Dr. Keanu Sai was invited present four episodes of Hawaiian history on KITV television show Island Life Live News. These historical episodes are covered in Dr. Sai’s chapter “Hawai‘i’s Sovereignty and
A path to more affordable housing: Rethinking county rules
Over the past several decades, housing that is affordable to the average Hawaiʻi resident has become increasingly out of reach for many. This housing affordability crisis is a direct result of decades-old policy choices that remain fiercely defended today.
Alaskan and Hawaiian Barges Will No Longer Carry EVs Due to Concerns Regarding Fires
On August 12, 2025, Alaska Marine Lines, which operates barge services to Hawaii and Alaska, announced that it will no longer ship electric vehicles (EVs) or plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs) on its vessels. The prohibition on EVs and PHEVs
Transformative change meets budget realities—a central lawmaking tension plays out in two new reports
Every year in Hawaiʻi, two parallel storylines unfold at the state capitol. One is a story of ambitious policy goals. Community needs are identified, solutions are proposed and hard-fought legislative victories are won. The other is a story of fiscal