A proposal to publicly finance Hawaii election campaigns is riding a wave of public support through the state Legislature.
Senate Bill 2381 is a so-called “clean elections” bill that would establish a system for candidates in state and county public elections to be eligible for a certain amount of public financing, beginning in 2028.
According to the measure, candidates for various public offices would receive a certain amount of funding for their primary and general election campaigns. The amount received would be conditional upon which office they are running for: a gubernatorial candidate would receive $2.5 million between the primary and general elections, while a state Senate candidate would receive $100,000.
A Big Island mayoral candidate could expect $360,000 in funding, while a Hawaii County Council candidate would receive $20,000.
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In total, the pool of funds available for candidates would be at least $30 million.
Candidates could qualify for these funds by filing a declaration of intent with the state Campaign Spending Commission and only accept a limited amount of funding during their campaign.
Under those terms, a candidate would only be allowed to accept up to 5% of their total allotment — or $5,000, whichever amount is greater — as seed money, and only before filing their declaration of intent with the state.
In order to qualify for public funds, candidates also would need to raise a certain number of $5 qualifying contributions, which would feed back into the funding pool.
The amount of those required contributions are again scaled based on the candidate’s office, with a gubernatorial candidate required to provide 6,250 $5 contributions ($31,250 in total), while a Big Island mayoral candidate would be on the hook for 100 contributions ($500).
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Gary Kam, general counsel for the Campaign Spending Commission, said the scaling roughly mirrors a 2010 pilot program implemented on the Big Island. That initiative, called the Hawaii County Council Comprehensive Public Funding Pilot Project, granted qualifying candidates — in this case, only County Council candidates — funding based on the average of the campaign funds spent by the last two candidates who won that seat.
“I would say (the 2010 program) definitely attracted more candidates than our current partial public funding does,” Kam said.
Kam said he believes the scale used in SB 2381 is based on campaign spending reports from 2020 through 2022, noting that data from 2023 was not available when the commission consulted with lawmakers on the measure.
The bill already has passed through one Senate committee with a unanimous favorable vote, receiving hundreds of pages of testimony in support of the proposal in the process, with many expressing that electoral politics have become dominated by the wealthy and are disconnected from the will of the people.
“When donors who profit by displacing local people are no longer needed to win an election, we can expect to see a shift toward compassionate, equitable, and cost-effective housing policy,” wrote Brandee Menino, CEO of HOPE Services Hawaii.
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Menino’s letter also quoted Ambureen Rana, a state representative of Maine, which has had its own comprehensive public campaign financing program for years.
“I was publicly financed, and it’s the only way it was possible for me to run, as a working class person,” wrote Rana. “It goes a long way in removing barriers to allow young people to run for office, and people of color. As a 28 year old, first generation American, this made it possible for me.”
“We’re supportive of the intention of the bill,” Kam said. “But if you increase the amount of people receiving public funding, we’re going to need more manpower. Right now, the bill only has provisions to add two temporary employees.”
The Senate Ways and Means Committee will hold a hearing on the measure today at 10:05 a.m.
Email Michael Brestovansky at mbrestovansky@hawaiitribune-herald.com.
At UH Hilo, ʻōlelo Hawaiʻi is not simply a subject taught in classrooms, it is a living language that connects us to this place, to one another, and to the generations who came before us.
This column is by Pelehonuamea Harman, director of Native Hawaiian engagement at the University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo. In her columns, Pele shares Native Hawaiian protocols on the use of ōlelo Hawaiʻi (Hawaiian language), cultural traditions, traditional ways of Indigenous learning, and more. This column is on Mahina ʻOlelo Hawaiʻi (Hawaiian Language Month), celebrated every February to honor the Hawaiian language.Pelehonuamea Harman
Each year, the month of Pepeluali marks Mahina ʻŌlelo Hawaiʻi, a time dedicated to celebrating and uplifting the Hawaiian language. At the University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo, ʻōlelo Hawaiʻi is not simply a subject taught in classrooms, it is a living language that connects us to this place, to one another, and to the generations who came before us.
While Pepeluali gives us a focused moment of celebration, the Hawaiian language should not live only within a single month. ʻŌlelo Hawaiʻi thrives when it is used every day.
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One of the simplest and most meaningful ways to begin is by pronouncing the words we already encounter daily with accuracy and care. Hawaiian is an oral language carried through voice and relationship. When we take the time to say words correctly, we demonstrate respect for the language and for the poʻe (people) who have worked tirelessly to ensure its survival.
Across our own campus, we have opportunities to do this every day.
Let us honor the names of our places by using them fully:
An attendee at celebrations on May 6, 2023, takes a photo of the new Edith Kanakaʻole mural by artist Kamea Hadar. The mural is located at Edith Kanakaʻole Hall, named after beloved educator Aunty Edith, on the campus of UH Hilo. (Photo: UH System News)
Kanakaʻole Hall, not “K-Hall.” (Formally Edith Kanakaʻole Hall, named after our beloved kumu.)
Waiʻōlino, not “CoBE,” for our College of Business and Economics. (Formally Hānau ʻO Waiʻōlino; waiʻōlino literally means sparkling waters, alluding here to bringing forth waters of wellbeing and prosperity.)
These names are not merely labels for buildings. They carry ʻike (knowledge), history, and meaning. Speaking them in their entirety acknowledges the stories and values embedded within them.
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Using ʻōlelo Hawaiʻi does not require fluency. It simply requires willingness. Each of us already knows words we can begin using more intentionally.
Greet one another with aloha.
Express gratitude with mahalo whenever possible.
Small choices like these help normalize Hawaiian language in our daily interactions and strengthen UH Hilo’s identity as a place grounded in Hawaiʻi.
One of the most common questions I am asked is: How do you respond in ʻōlelo Hawaiʻi when someone says “mahalo” to you?
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Here are three simple and appropriate responses:
ʻAʻole pilikia — It’s no problem.
He mea iki — It is just a little thing.
Noʻu ka hauʻoli — The pleasure is mine.
There is no single correct answer. What matters most is participating in the exchange and allowing the language to live through conversation.
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Aerial view of the UH Hilo campus with Hilo Bay in the distance. UH Hilo’s commitment to Native Hawaiian success and place-based education calls on all of us to help create an environment where ʻōlelo Hawaiʻi is visible, audible, and welcomed. (Archive photo)
UH Hilo holds a unique and important role as Hawaiʻi Island’s university. Our commitment to Native Hawaiian success and place-based education calls on all of us to help create an environment where ʻōlelo Hawaiʻi is visible, audible, and welcomed.
You do not need to wait until you feel ready. You do not need to know many words. The language grows stronger each time it is spoken.
So during Mahina ʻŌlelo Hawaiʻi and throughout the entire year I encourage the UH Hilo ʻohana to:
Use the Hawaiian words you already know.
Pronounce names and places with intention and care.
Greet others with aloha.
Share mahalo often.
Because when we use ʻōlelo Hawaiʻi, we are doing more than speaking words, we are helping to perpetuate and uplift the native language of our home.
E ola ka ʻōlelo Hawaiʻi. Let the Hawaiian language live.
Hawaii Rainbow Warriors Tread Rosenthal, Trevell Jordan and Louis Sakanoko put up a triple block against BYU Cougars Trevor Herget during Wednesday’s NCAA men’s volleyball match at the Bankoh Arena at Stan Sheriff Center.
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Kainoa Wade came on strong to lead another balanced Hawaii attack with 16 kills and the third-ranked Rainbow Warriors responded to a rare set loss in a big way to defeat No. 6 Brigham Young 27-25, 23-25, 25-17, 25-18 tonight.
A Bankoh Arena at Stan Sheriff Center crowd of 4,800, who showed up for a match scheduled just three weeks ago as a late addition to the schedule, saw Hawaii (13-1) drop the second set despite hitting .538.
UH had full command of the rest of the match and finished the night hitting .460 as a team. Louis Sakanoko added 15 kills, six digs and three aces and Adrien Roure had 14 kills in 24 swings.
Middle Travell Jordan posted a season-high seven kills in 11 swings with four blocks and Ofeck Hazan, who came into the match to start the third set, had four kills and two blocks.
Trent Moser had 18 kills to lead the Cougars (13-3), whose previous two losses came in five sets against No. 4 UC Irvine.
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UH’s loss in the second set was just its sixth of the season and third in its 13 wins. Hawaii has won 10 matches in a row.
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The two teams will play again on Friday night at 7.
