Hawaii Government News

HONOLULU a ' Space pioneers envision launching high-end Hawaii tourists from the sand to the stars, taking island-hopping to new heights.

The Board of Education on Thursday approved $226.8 million in reductions to the state Department of Education's budget for the 2009-2010 fiscal year.

The state Department of Taxation reported yesterday that state revenues fell 9.4 percent, worse than the 9 percent projected by the state Council on Revenues in May.

Gov. Linda Lingle said Wednesday that the state budget shortfall has increased by about $86 million to roughly $768 million.

Taiwanese President Ma Ying-jeou has arrived in Hawaii, making his first public appearance in the US since he became the island's leader.

With its IOUs and plans to close state offices three days a month, California gets all the attention as lawmakers fight to write a budget set off balance by a $26.3 billion deficit.But the dozens of states that made spending cuts, tapped into reserves or relied on federal stimulus funds to patch together budgets that took effect this past week are ...

The University of Hawaii campus at Manoa is preparing for a 4 percent cut in its programs to deal with the state's budget shortfall.

Japan's Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko hope to reach out to Americans and Canadians of Japanese ancestry during a two-week tour that began Friday, but they won't be going to Pearl Harbor.

A state judge has blocked Hawaii Gov. Linda Lingle from forcing public employees to take three unpaid days off per month.

Online retailers, led by Amazon and Overstock, are resisting state legislators' efforts to raise revenue with online sales taxes.

Hawaii Gov. Linda Lingle announced that she plans to veto a gas tax increase and an Internet sales tax, which had prompted Amazon.com cut ties with island Web sites.

Thousands of state employees rallied at the state Capitol Tuesday afternoon to denounce Gov.

Hawaii is the latest state to try to capture tax revenue from online sales. Supporters of a bill that would tax out-of-state merchants on Hawaii sales say it will bring in $4 million annually.

Negotiations between Hawaii's four public worker unions and the state have stalled, days before mandatory unpaid days off are scheduled to begin.

The ripples from the state's financial crisis will soon be felt at popular fishing areas in Nu'uanu and Koke'e, Kaua'i, as the state Department of Land and Natural Resources prepares to eliminate key hatchery operations at the Anuenue Fisheries Research Center at Sand Island.

The blowhole was naturally formed by an underwater sea cave that releases pressure when hit with waves, and the results are truly spectacular, with 30 to 40 foots torrents of water a common sight.

State and union lawyers met behind closed doors this morning with a Circuit Court judge to discuss the status of legal challenges to Governor Linda Lingle's plans for furloughs or layoffs of thousands of state workers.

Gov. Linda Lingle on Thursday unveiled her plans to furlough state workers for three days a month.

President Barack Obama has reassured US citizens that the country will be ready in case of an attack on Hawaii by North Korea.

Comforted by the U.S. military's missile defense systems, Hawaii residents doubt a North Korean missile would light up the clear island sky like fireworks on the Fourth of July.