I’ve just seen a face: One of the first bills to pass the state Senate and move to the House this session comes in response to the brutal federal immigration crackdowns that have drawn national ire in Minneapolis, Los Angeles and other “blue” locales. Senate Bill 2203 would prohibit anonymous policing for all levels of government but with important exceptions.

One of the bill’s co-sponsors, Sen. Karl Rhoads, took to the Senate floor Tuesday to explain that those exceptions include when undercover work is involved, when protective gear for various hazards is used, and for cops riding motorcycles. It also allows masks in law enforcement situations as long as at least one officer shows his or her face.

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“Events on the continent have focused attention on law enforcement practices, and we’d like to avoid the abuses that have been seen on the contiguous 48, and this bill will help,” said Rhoads.

All 22 of Rhoads’ Democratic colleagues voted in favor of SB 2203, including its primary author, Stanley Chang. But the three Republicans — Brenton Awa, Samantha DeCorte and Kurt Fevella — opposed the measure. And some of the only testimony in opposition came from the Honolulu Police Department.

If the House moves as smoothly and expeditiously on SB 2303 as did the Senate, the anti-mask measure (one of nine that were introduced this session) could be one of the first bills to make it to Gov. Josh Green’s desk for his expected signature. Cue photo op in the Capitol’s fifth floor Ceremonial Room.

Police inquiry: The Honolulu Police Commission continues its search for a new police chief to replace Joe Logan, who retired somewhat abruptly last summer. The executive search firm, Public Sector Search & Consulting, wants people to fill out an online survey, which The Blog was sorry to see is not the most user-friendly form.

Still, the survey is just one of the first steps the consultant and commission are taking toward community involvement. It asks three basic questions seeking your views on what professional and leadership qualities the chief should have as well as what you think the priorities for the department should be.

After The Blog found a stronger pair of reading glasses it took about 5 minutes to answer. It’s well worth the time to help get this long-overdue show on the road.

The commission is still predicting at least June before a new Honolulu police chief is selected.

Bench warmers: Gov. Josh Green has a new list of potential judges to choose from, these for a spot on the Intermediate Court of Appeals. The last The Blog heard, the governor is also still mulling over who to pick for the chief justice post on the Hawaiʻi Supreme Court.

Green has less than 30 days left to fill the ICA opening from the names sent to him by the Judicial Selection Commission. The lucky winner will also need to be confirmed by the Senate.

News junkies will recognize at least a couple of the finalists. One is Dan Gluck, now a deputy corporation counsel for Honolulu. He is a Harvard Law School graduate and perhaps best known as the former director of the Hawaiʻi State Ethics Commission and former ACLU legal director.

He was also up for the Court of Appeals in 2021 but ran into a turbulent confirmation process when objections were raised over race and gender on the ICA. Gov. David Ige chose Gluck as his nominee over several women, including a Native Hawaiian woman who was also a judge (Gluck had no judge experience.) Gluck ended up gracefully backing out saying he recognized and appreciated the concerns, just as the Senate voted against his confirmation.

Another perennial judge wannabe on the ICA list this time is Lance Collins, a Maui attorney. He is also on the list for the current Supreme Court chief justice gig. And he was on the list for ICA in 2021 when the Gluck controversy erupted as well as in other years.

Others on the ICA nomination list are Nickolas Kacprowski, a partner in the Dentons law firm. He’s been on the finalist list before too, as recently as 2025.

The fourth finalist is Robert Nakatsuji, a deputy prosecuting attorney for Honolulu.

Help wanted, and ASAP: Three watchdog agencies critical to keeping politicians and lobbyists in line are desperately in need of new blood, all at a time when the nefarious role of money in politics is in the headlines practically every day:

• The Judicial Council is seeking applicants to fill a current vacancy on the five-member Campaign Spending Commission. It’s a voluntary gig, but reasonable expenses such as travel are covered. Applications are available here, and the deadline is March 13.
• The Judicial Council has also extended the deadline (also to March 13) to submit applications to fill two upcoming vacancies on the five-member Hawaiʻi State Ethics Commission. It’s also voluntary and with some expenses covered. The Ethics Commission takes on ethical issues involving legislators, registered lobbyists and state employees. Applications are available here.
• And the Honolulu Ethics Commission is seeking an executive director to serve as legal counsel and chief executive officer of the commission. The paid position (the annual salary range is $177,429 – $197,376) has been empty since Jan. 1, when Jan Yamane resigned. The deadline for applications is March 31, and the job begins June 1.

I, Robot: The Blog was amazed to find a new feature making the rounds of the State Capitol this session. It cleans floors, it costs $127,000 and it’s called the T380AMR Robotic Floor Scrubber.

“It operates autonomously, which lets us allocate our staff to higher priority, more complex tasks and assignments,” James Kurata, administrator of the Central Services Division at the Department of Accounting and General Services, told The Blog.

The robot T380AMR can clean narrow aisles and spaces, “all while working safely alongside employees and customer,” Kurata said. It’s powered by BrainOS, an advanced artificial intelligence and robotic technology platform from Tennant partner Brain Corporation. 

“This technology increases efficiency and productivity, giving us a more consistent, thorough, faster cleaning as compared to manual methods,” said Kurata. “It also lets us save your taxpayer dollars by reducing labor costs, minimizing water and chemical usage, and lowering workplace accidents.”