E komo mai: Much of Oʻahu government may have been shut down Friday under orders of the governor, but the Hawaiʻi Legislature did not have the day off. Because the legislative session is on a statutorily mandated timetable, think of it as 60 days on a treadmill, the leadership of the Senate and House decided folks in the building should show up for work, rain be damned.

Friday was a critical deadline day, and the House and Senate held floor sessions to approve a lengthy list of bills set for major votes Tuesday and Thursday. They include measures on things as varied as cesspools, filming, workers’ compensation, small boat harbors, electric vehicles, biosecurity, government reform, artificial intelligence and much more.

Despite their dedication to the calendar, not all scheduled business was concluded Friday. Hearings on more than two dozen gubernatorial appointments were postponed because of the inclement weather, including that of consumer advocate Jon Itomura to chair the Public Utilities Commission. He’s currently serving in an interim capacity.

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Fortunately, the annual Tourism Day was not a bust. Folks braved the elements to head to the fourth floor of the Capitol where they got the lowdown on the industry that employs 220,000 local folks and pays $3 billion in state taxes — a figure that amounts to 30% of all general fund revenue. (Those are facts The Blog picked up from the Hawaiʻi Hotel Alliance and the American Hotel and Lodging Association.)

This year’s Tourism Day was hosted by Sen. Lynn DeCoite and Rep. Adrian Tam, who chair the tourism committees in their respective chambers. Among the vendors on hand were Hyatt Regency Waikīkī Beach Resort & Spa, Kualoa Ranch, Onamea Chocolate, Historic Hawaiʻi, Cirque du Soleil ‘Auana and the School of Travel Industry Management at the UH Mānoa Shidler College of Business.

Still working on it: The Hawaiʻi Attorney General’s Office was also working Friday, as it issued its regular biweekly update regarding the ongoing criminal investigation into the “previously federally disclosed transfer of approximately $35,000 in funds,” as it put it in a press release. Here’s the latest, quoted in full:

The Department’s Special Investigation and Prosecution Division has advanced its investigation by reviewing thousands of pages of subpoenaed materials and conducting 18 interviews that have helped refine the timeline of events surrounding the transaction and is bringing investigators closer to resolving key questions.
 
“I understand that people want answers and we want the same,” said Attorney General Anne Lopez. “Following the rule of law is paramount to ensure that individual constitutional rights are protected. Releasing information for any purpose other than to further the investigation would violate my oath of office and my promise to the people of Hawaiʻi.”
 
Lopez added: “I appreciate the responsible reporting from the news media. More than anyone, journalists understand the importance of being absolutely certain of the facts before releasing information.”
 
The criminal investigation remains active. As such, the department cannot identify any individuals or discuss specific evidence. These standard investigative practices are necessary to maintain integrity of the investigation and uphold due process rights.
 
In line with its commitment to transparency, the department will continue providing biweekly public updates while safeguarding the integrity of the investigation. The next scheduled public update will be provided on Friday, April 24, 2026.

Filling the pukas: Gov. Josh Green has nominated Marie Laderta and Keith Amemiya to serve as trustees for the University of Hawaiʻi Board of Regents. He selected the two from a list of five, showing that the requirement to publicly disclose financial information is not a deterrent to public service.

Laderta has served in state government for 23 years and is currently a board member on the Labor and Industrial Relations Board. Amemiya, an insurance executive, is perhaps best known for his work as executive director of the Hawaiʻi High School Athletic Association.

Confirmation hearings before the Senate Education Committee are set for Friday. If confirmed by the full Senate, Laderta and Amemiya would serve until June 30, 2031.

A bill to expand the scope of persons who are subject to public financial disclosure requirement awaits consideration by state lawmakers next week.