Following the president’s endorsement, some are already supporting Vice President Kamala Harris to be the party’s nominee.
Major leaders in the Democratic Party of Hawaii on Sunday hailed President Joe Biden’s decision to exit the 2024 election, and two members of the state’s congressional delegation are already throwing their support behind Vice President Kamala Harris.
“Working alongside the president, Vice President Harris has played a critical role in the progress we’ve made, and has shown herself ready to lead our party moving forward,” Sen. Mazie Hirono said in a press release, adding, “I’m proud to call Vice President Harris a friend and colleague, and I look forward to doing everything in my power to get her elected to the White House, so we can continue building on the progress of the last four years.”
Rep. Jill Tokuda has also voiced support for Harris, who Biden endorsed on Sunday. But Harris’ nomination is not a done deal, and the president’s announcement has thrown the nation into uncertain times that are evolving by the hour.
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Sen. Brian Schatz and Rep. Ed Case made no mention of the vice president in their public comments following Biden’s announcement.
Joe Biden endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris on Sunday. (Wikipedia/White House/US Senate/2020)
“The path ahead is difficult and I will take some limited time to discuss with my constituents and colleagues the best way forward on a Democratic nominee,” said Case, who on Thursday became the first prominent Hawaii Democrat to call for Biden to step aside. “Today is about President Biden and his legacy of service to country first.”
While Sunday’s announcement was not a complete surprise, as recently as Friday it was reported that Gov. Josh Green would co-host a fundraiser for Biden led by TV personality David Letterman in Martha’s Vineyard.
“President Biden and his family have made this decision, which I said all along was his and theirs to make. I have no doubt that it was a difficult decision and in this, I thank him again for his selfless leadership,” Green said in a statement Sunday.
Green also thanked Biden for his aid following the deadly Maui wildfires last August.
The governor and Hawaii’s four congressional delegates are part of the local party’s nine superdelegates to the Democratic National Convention, along with 22 other delegates. It will be held in Chicago Aug. 19-22.
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All in for @KamalaHarris! She spoke at our @APIAVote Presidential Town Hall & she sounded exactly like that…a President! For our #AANHPI community, she is one of us & she will empower us! The time for unity is now & the threat of Trump & #Project2025 is real! https://t.co/7bmwvHHMNP
Biden leaving the race frees up the nearly 4,000 national delegates won by Biden during the primaries and caucuses to vote for a new candidate. How that will work is unclear. If a majority of the party does not rally behind Harris, there is the possibility of an open convention or even a mini-primary of sorts.
In addition to Harris, other possible nominees include Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, California Gov. Gavin Newsom, Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro, Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker, Maryland Gov. Wes Moore, Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear and U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg.
If Harris leads the ticket, those other officials as well as North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper and Arizona Sen. Mark Kelly could also be selected as her running mate, according to news reports.
What Comes Next
A candidate needs 1,976 delegates to secure the nomination out of the 3,937 available pledged delegates. In addition to the governor and the congressional delegation, Hawaii’s superdelegates also include the chair and vice chair of the Democratic Party of Hawaii and a national committeeman and committee woman.
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Locally, there were already doubts about Biden’s electoral viability. In March he won 66% of the votes in the Democratic Party of Hawaii’s party-run presidential primary, but 29% voted for “uncommitted.”
Bart Dame, the local party’s national committeeman and one of its nine superdelegates, said there are two likely scenarios for what comes next in terms of the nomination.
The first is what Dame calls “the orchestrated path,” the one preferred by power players in the party nationally. They want to go ahead with a virtual roll call that had already been planned to nominate Biden ahead of the convention but will now likely nominate Harris.
While a date has not yet been set, the virtual roll call has to be done before Aug. 7 to meet a deadline to qualify for the ballot in Ohio, a delegate-rich state that has lately voted with the GOP presidential nominees.
The roll call would preclude the possibility of an open convention or deliberative assembly where other candidates would be considered.
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“That would just be votes whipped over the telephone and by twisting arms and lined up without having people have much of a chance for discussion or deliberation,” Dame said.
The other path would be to hold a mini-primary that would allow Democrats, the public and the media to hear from the candidates and to ask them questions.
“And that would allow for there to be a fair, open, transparent and competitive primary race, but in short duration,” he explained. “It would include maybe televised town hall meetings with multiple candidates, responding to questions by journalists and allowing the public and delegates to take an interest in the different candidates and decide for themselves who they want to support.”
A limited number of candidates would then be put on the ballot at the convention, including candidates for vice president. While superdelegates are normally not allowed to vote in the first round of voting, which is only for pledged delegates, Dame said his understanding of the DNC rules is that — now that Biden has withdrawn — they are no longer legally pledged to the president.
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That means all delegates, including super delegates, would be eligible to vote on the first ballot. Dame said he expected Hawaii delegates pledged to Biden would likely follow his direction and support Harris, but he cautioned that the process is complicated, politically charged and in flux.
An Emboldened Trump
Biden’s historic decision follows an unprecedented series of events over the past month that have already upended the 2024 race. Trump, the former Republican president, united his party at the Republican National Convention, which ended Thursday in Milwaukee. His running mate is Sen. J.D. Vance of Ohio.
Just over a week ago, Trump survived an assassination attempt at a rally in Pennsylvania that has only emboldened his core supporters. A judge in Florida tossed the classified documents case against him and the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that presidents have broad immunity for official acts while in office, which served to strengthen his hand.
Biden’s out, Kamala is in. Don’t be fooled: policies won’t change. Just like Biden wasn’t the one calling the shots, Kamala Harris won’t be either. She is the new figurehead for the deep state and the maidservant of Hillary Clinton, queen of the cabal of warmongers. They will… pic.twitter.com/pdwLQwJzR8
Even though Trump, who is 78, is a twice-impeached president who lost to Biden in 2020 — and who is a convicted felon awaiting sentencing — he seems more popular and powerful than ever.
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Biden, by contrast, received mixed views in interviews and a press conference following the debate debacle and currently is at home in Delaware recovering from his second bout of Covid. Nationally, dozens of Democrats in Congress had already called for him to leave the race, fundraising plans were placed on hold and he continued to trail Trump in most polls.
For now, however, the focus is on praising Biden and his service.
“For over 50 years, Joe Biden has been a selfless patriot and dedicated public servant who’s given everything to the country he so dearly loves,” Schatz said in a press release. “As a senator, vice president and now president, he has spent most of his life working to make people’s lives better and the world safer. Today, yet again, he has put the country before himself, making the best choice for the American people in this uniquely consequential moment. For that, and for his lifetime of service, we should all be deeply grateful.”
This is a genuine act of patriotism. People almost never give up power voluntarily. This is historic, unusual, unselfish, and cements the President’s legacy as someone who loves this country more than he loves power.
The Hawaii Republican Party, not surprisingly, has a different view.
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“Under President Biden’s leadership, our nation has faced significant challenges and hardships, making it clear that a change in leadership is necessary for the betterment of all Americans,” the party said in a press release. “The Hawaii Republican Party believes that the country is in need of change, strength and a renewed sense of purpose. The Democratic Party has failed the people with their divisive tactics and ineffective policies, and it is time for a new direction for our nation.”
The statement added, “As we look toward the future, the Hawaii Republican Party stands united in its support for President Donald Trump to be reelected as our leader. We urge all voters to support Republican candidates down the ballot, as we believe they are the best choice to lead our state and our country to prosperity.”
The Democratic Party of Hawaii supports Biden’s endorsement of Harris as the next Democratic nominee, party chair Derek Turbin said in an emailed statement.
“President Biden’s decision to step down further displays his commitment and selflessness as a public servant to the country that he loves,” Turbin wrote. “We respect this decision and thank him for his decades of service to the people of America.”
Biden is expected to address the nation later this week.
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HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) – More than $10 billion in SNAP benefits paid nationwide in fiscal year 2025 were above recipients’ eligibility or went to people who didn’t qualify for the program, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
An annual analysis shows the national payment error rate was 10.62%, well above the congressional threshold of 6%.
The error rate measures how accurately states determine who is eligible for SNAP and how much they should get.
In Hawaii, the payment error rate is higher than the national average at 10.92%
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“These payment error rates are further proof that state accountability is severely lacking in SNAP,” Agriculture Secretary Brooke L. Rollins said in a press release. “USDA has taken historic action to help interested states curb SNAP waste, and I hope other states, regardless of political leadership, prioritize needy families and the American taxpayer over politics.”
States above the threshold must now pay back a percentage of their benefits and submit an action plan to the USDA explaining how the errors will be addressed.
Copyright 2026 Hawaii News Now. All rights reserved.
Members of the Hawaii County Environmental Management Commission on Wednesday pushed back against county officials’ proposed wastewater rate increases that would spike a typical single-family residential monthly sewer bill by 20% come November — and more than double it over the next five years.
Representatives of FG Solutions — a New York City-based financial and management consulting firm — presented to commissioners the findings of its “Wastewater Rate Study” published this month. The study is a multi-year revenue requirement analysis ensuring that sewer rates will be financially sustainable over the next half-decade to pay for ballooning utility infrastructure operation and maintenance costs that have left many county officials feeling nervous.
Hawaii County faces over $1 billion in major wastewater and cesspool-related infrastructure upgrades over the next five years. The majority of this spending is mandated by federal Environmental Protection Agency consent orders, including a $337 million replacement of the Hilo Wastewater Treatment Plant.
Ground was broken on the project last July, with final completion scheduled for 2030. The plant serves about 30,000 residents and suffers from severe equipment corrosion, experiencing frequent wastewater spills into nearby coastal waters.
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Only a small fraction of this overall repair work would be paid for with the proposed sewer rate increase, with the majority of monthly customer payments going toward the operation and maintenance of current wastewater systems, according to Department of Environmental Management officials.
DEM Director Dan Girvan attended the commission meeting virtually and offered an explanation as to why the rate hike — which would need the approval of the County Council — is necessary.
“Right now, the funds that we’re collecting annually are only a fraction of what our fixed operating cost is,” Girvan said. “All these raises that we’re proposing are not arbitrary. They are specifically designed to slowly bring the amount of money that we collect on an annual basis in line with what it costs us to operate the wastewater treatment system on an annual basis — that is their only goal.”
This boost in funding, he repeatedly explained, would not produce nearly enough revenue to cover capital improvement projects, or to give the county “excess money.” Rather, it would simply allow the department to operate and maintain its wastewater systems without having to rely on taxpayer funds.
“Right now, the only reason we can pay our bills is because we get money from the General Fund,” he said. “This rate change is an effort to make us collect enough money to pay our way and not (be) having to be funded from the county General Fund, which again is funded by taxpayers.”
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Girvan estimated that it would take until fiscal year 2030-2031 for the rate increases to fully offset system costs. By then, he said, revenue from user fees would total approximately $37 million annually, while operation, maintenance and minor repairs would cost roughly $35 million per year.
Multiple commissioners expressed concern Wednesday that these drastic increases would create financial hardships for island residents.
Currently, residential wastewater customers pay a flat monthly fee of $52 to maintain their sewer connections, which would grow to $63 per month starting this Nov. 1. Rates would then rise on the first day of successive new years starting in 2028 and continuing through 2031, by which time the base charge would be $125 per month.
According to county data, Hawaii Island has between 12,000 and 15,000 active residential public sewer connections, representing approximately 10,000 single-family homes and between 2,000 and 4,000 multi-family connections such as apartment buildings, duplexes, townhomes and condominium complexes.
The vast majority of island households — more than 70%, by some estimates — have no access to county-operated sewer mains and instead rely on cesspools and individual septic systems to contain wastewater, according to the Hawaii Department of Health.
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One commissioner questioning the hikes was Louisa Lee, who represents District 3 comprised of portions of South Hilo and Puna Districts.
“It’s (currently) like $108 every other month, right, which doesn’t sound or feel like a heavy lift, but I think that for many of the people that I work with, that’s a lot when you consider it against the cost of gas and the cost of every everything else that people are dealing with,” Lee said. “So, over the course of the next, you know, four or five years, you’re looking at more than doubling that from $108 every other month to $250 every (other) month. That’s a significant jump.”
The fact that Hawaii County has the lowest average income in the state, she said, also “needs to be considered in any sort of rate increase.”
Commissioner Justin Canelas agreed with his colleague, implying that the resulting cost burdens would be inequitable.
“There’s certain people in the modern economy that are doing really well right now, and there’s a lot of people that are struggling,” Canelas said. “When it comes to monthly utility rates and all of this, I think that I would really like to see how — you know, the hotels, the people that are benefiting, the short-term vacation rentals — how they could be shouldering some more of the burden than putting it on working-class families.”
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He said this could be accomplished by keeping monthly flat service fees lower and increasing sewer rates on “high users” and short-term vacation rentals (STVRs), or by forcing them to pay commercial rates.
“Find the TMK that that license is attached to, and … get the commercial nonresidential rate attached to that,” he suggested.
After being asked for clarification about vacation rental wastewater rates, Girvan confirmed that STVRs in residential neighborhoods pay the same rate for sewage service as owner-occupied homes.
“Since the bill goes to the owner of the property, and if it is in fact an occasional rental … then that would be paid by the owners of the property, and it would be paid at the normal residential rate,” he said. “I suspect that if you have too much renting going on, you’re in danger of being pushed into a commercial rate.”
Multiple commissioners bristled at this, alleging that this lack of distinction was unfair.
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“I do not believe vacation rentals should pay the same rate as residents,” Lee said. “That is wrong, and there should be an easy way to track that.”
Email Stefan Verbano at stefan.verbano@hawaiitribune-herald.com.
The dining room of the Red Lobster was dark and empty Tuesday after the restaurant on the ground floor of Ilikai Marina condos at 1765 Ala Moana Boulevard, closed on Sunday. The restaurant’s red lettering has been removed.
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The Red Lobster in Waikiki has closed its doors for good after more than 30 years in operation.
The restaurant, which was located on the ground floor of Ilikai Marina condos at 1765 Ala Moana Boulevard, officially closed on Sunday, according to a statement from corporate headquarters in Florida.
“As part of our normal course of business, Red Lobster continuously evaluates individual restaurant performance and lease terms and may, from time to time, choose to close select restaurants,” said Red Lobster in the statement. “This closure reflected specific decisions tied to the unique operating conditions at this restaurant.”
On Tuesday, the red letters spelling out the restaurant name had already been taken down from the building’s exterior, while employees appeared to be removing items from the restaurant.
A paper sign taped to the glass on the front door said, “We have officially closed. Thank you for the 32 years of memories. Your Red Lobster Family.”
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With the Waikiki closure, Red Lobster no longer has a presence in Hawaii.
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The casual seafood restaurant chain, which filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in May 2024 in Florida, has since closed more than 100 locations across the U.S.
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According to Reuters, the company has blamed its bankruptcy on high inflation, unsustainable rent costs, and poor management decisions, including an “endless shrimp” promotion that caused $11 million in losses.
In April, the company brought back its endless shrimp due to thousands of social media mentions, but for a limited time only. Red Lobster is also known for its “Cheddar Bay” biscuits, which are served for free to in-restaurant diners.
Red Lobster did not say how many employees were affected by the permanent restaurant closure in Waikiki.
There was no notice posted with the Hawaii Department of Labor and Industrial Relations, which is required for closing businesses with 50 or more employees in the state. The requirement does not cover part-time employees who work fewer than 20 hours per week.
“We remain committed to making thoughtful decisions that position Red Lobster for long-term success, stability and growth,” said the company in its statement. “Honolulu has been a meaningful part of our story, and we truly appreciate the guests and team members who have made this restaurant special over the years.”
