Hawaii Gov. David Ige needs to immediately lift his blanket suspension of the state’s public records and open meetings laws.

Senate Bill 2038 would exempt boards from Hawaii’s Sunshine Law on meetings when emergencies like COVID-19 are in effect.

Our children have the highest prevalence of tooth decay in America. Citizens should demand that the Legislature mandate fluoride in the public water supply.

Lawmakers need to find the money to continue paying for the state’s prevention program, too.

Enough already. A bill to allow public disclosure of the names of misbehaving police officers should be passed this session.

A reconciliation process being offered by legislative leaders is a way forward. But lawmakers need to act decisively and soon.

It will require the Hawaii Legislature and especially the Ige administration to act decisively in the new year.

Hawaii needs to send a strong message that betrayal of the public trust will not be tolerated.

But there is much to be done to ensure the planning and permitting process remains satisfactory to all stakeholders.

The U.S. should move now to amend and extend funding through the Compacts of Free Association with three island nations.

Hawaii’s high rents also means paying hefty damage deposits before moving in. Public and private solutions are needed.

City officials must move quickly to modernize this essential service, particularly the reservation system, for thousands of residents in need.