A new analysis released on Monday delves deep into lobbying activities in Hawai‘i, shedding light on how certain organizations are influencing public policy during legislative sessions.
Titled “Bills, Backers and Blocs: A Data-Driven Look at Lobbying in Hawaiʻi,” this report was compiled by Trey Gordner and Colin Moore from the University of Hawaiʻi Economic Research Organization.
The analysis utilizes fresh data mandated by a new law requiring lobbying organizations to disclose specific positions on legislation they support or oppose.
During the 2025 session, an impressive 340 organizations voiced their positions on a staggering 7,188 instances across 1,747 bills.
Gordner and Moore assert that this new transparency law has generated one of the most detailed state-level lobbying datasets in the country.
The findings reveal that public sector unions have the highest “influence factor,” indicating their substantial involvement in legislative matters compared to other groups.
Notably, a small number of organizations are particularly active; the Hawaiʻi Farm Bureau Federation, the Plumbers and Fitters Local 625, and the Hawaiʻi Laborers’ Union Local 368 stand out for taking positions and making formal comments far more than their peers.
The report states that lobbying in Hawaiʻi seems to focus more on advancing proposals than on blocking them.
This observation raises questions, given the state’s practice where bills are often drafted by special interests and introduced “by request,” obscuring the identities of constituents behind these requests.
While the report brings notable insights, it does highlight limitations in its analysis.
These include “coverage gaps” that allow individuals lobbying on their own, as well as government agencies, to avoid registration as lobbyists.
Additionally, the requirement for only two reports per session—one mid-session and another at the end—complicates tracking changes in advocacy and bill positions over the five-month legislative period.
Despite these constraints, Gordner and Moore conclude that the new filings offer an unprecedented level of transparency in Hawaiʻi’s lobbying landscape.
The report provides valuable data that transforms anecdotal observations into clear evidence of lobbying activities.
In related news, the Hawaiʻi House of Representatives has published legislative allowance reports for 2025, showcasing expenditures typical for the legislative function, such as newsletter postage, cleaning supplies, and office necessities.
As of June 2, members are allotted $16,350 for their operations, and several notable expenditures emerge from the reports.
Representative Shirley Ann Templo spent $991 for travel and accommodation to attend the world premiere of the “Lilo & Stitch” live-action film in Los Angeles, courtesy of an invitation from the Hawai‘i Visitors and Convention Bureau.
Similarly, Representative Della Au Belatti incurred $2,170 in expenses for her recent meetings with the Military Affairs Council and the Department of Defense in Washington, D.C.
Among other unique spending items are $15 for fire ant kits for constituents by Representative Mike Lee, and a parking expense of $15 for Representative Julie Reyes Oda relating to her attendance at the Aloha Hawaii Prayer Breakfast.
Turning to the Senate, their allowance reports reflect a similar trend, but with a higher inclination toward travel.
Several senators utilized their allowances for airfare and accommodations, including Mike Gabbard, who spent $2,800 attending the USDA Policy Summit in Washington, and Tim Richards, who spent $2,550 for the same purpose as both serve leadership roles on the Senate Agriculture and Environment Committee.
Senator Lorraine Inouye’s expenses included $1,445 for the National Conference of State Legislatures New and Emerging Fiscal Risks meeting in Denver, and $1,236 for a Council for Native Hawaiian Advancement Convention in Las Vegas, alongside $1,917 for an NCSL Legislative Summit in Boston.
Senators Brenton Awa and Samantha DeCorte reported $2,373 and $1,481, respectively, for their trip to meet congressional leaders in D.C., additionally contributing to a floral wreath for Representative Gene Ward’s memorial service.
Interestingly, Senators Kurt Fevella and Angus McKelvey showed considerable restraint, spending only a few hundred dollars in total from their allowances.
Sharon Moriwaki also exhibited frugality in her spending habits.
In another realm of accountability, a recent study commissioned by Greenpeace asserts that the fallout from U.S. nuclear testing in the Marshall Islands was significantly underestimated.
This study, titled “The Legacy of U.S. Nuclear Testing in the Marshall Islands,” reveals that the U.S. conducted 67 tests between 1946 and 1958, impacting many inhabited islands despite their populations.
Dr. Arjun Makhijani led the report, which posits that all atolls received radioactive fallout, yet only three of the 24 atolls that were inhabited at the time of the fallout received cancer screening.
Makhijani underscores that official discussions of the consequences largely ignored critical reports from Marshallese women regarding miscarriages and birth anomalies following the nuclear tests.
The aim of this report is not only to highlight the long-term effects of nuclear testing but also to advocate for compensation from the U.S. government for the impacted communities.
Additionally, Honolulu Mayor Rick Blangiardi has taken steps toward establishing oversight for the newly formed Ocean Safety Commission.
This commission was created following voter approval last year, aimed at enhancing the autonomy of lifeguards by establishing a separate Ocean Safety Department.
The commission will operate similarly to the police and fire commissions, overseeing the new department and assisting in the hiring of its director.
Blangiardi has nominated five individuals for the commission, pending City Council approval.
The nominees include Racquel Achiu, Steven Jenness, Richard Kebo, Kanani Oury, and Billy Pratt, all of whom have significant backgrounds relating to oceans or safety.
This distinguishes them from the police commission, where prior appointees often lacked direct expertise in law enforcement.
With their backgrounds, there is a greater hope for effective governance within the Ocean Safety Commission, enhancing public safety and oversight in aquatic environments.
image source from：civilbeat
