In an extraordinary statement issued April 1, 2025, House/Senate Leadership announced:
“Given the current instability surrounding future federal funding of our schools, parks, university, medical services, and other vital programs — we believe it’s inappropriate to accept the generous 35 percent to 48 percent pay raises proposed by the Salary Commission.
We’re thankful for the generous $74,160 salary already granted to each of us for the honor of serving as part-time legislators. We’re also grateful we can collect a state retirement pension after only 10 years of service, and for the $225 per day extra Neighbor Islanders receive during our four months of service.
The decision to reject these pay raises, also prohibits the Governor’s office and Judiciary branch from receiving pay increases, and we ask for their support and patience in getting through these difficult times.
It goes without saying that none of us — legislator, judge or executive — are doing this work for the money, but rather for the opportunity to do good in our community.
Our primary goal is to strengthen peoples faith and confidence in government, and to support and protect our Hawaii home.”
With this in mind, we’re also proposing the following:
• Legislative committees will begin meeting year-round, focusing on priority issues, holding hearings and refining proposed legislation — in expectation of presenting them to the full Legislature for final amendments and votes, as soon as the 2026 session is called to order.
• A special session will be convened in August, for the purpose of proactively dealing with federal funding cuts impacting vital state services, as well as the below items.
• Ensure funding to maintain all services and programs within the Hawaii public education system.
• Ensure food and energy self-sufficiency efforts are maximized.
• Aggressively target the goal of economic diversification and reduce Hawaii’s current dependence on tourism and military spending. This includes strengthening environmental protections pertaining to both industries, and a moratorium on new military leases.
• Declare Hawaii a place that supports the principles of diversity, equity and inclusion.
• Pass a resolution/bill ensuring every person, immigrant and citizen alike, is entitled to and receives “due process” under the law as provided by the U.S. Constitution.
• Via a new tax on civilian military contractors doing business in Hawaii, we must reverse the recently announced federal de-funding of the University of Hawaii Spark Matsunaga Peace Institute, and strengthen its role as a global leader of peace and reconciliation.
• Reduce government corruption and end “pay to play.”
• Pass into law a requirement that any government employee (including legislators and executives) aware of corrupt or fraudulent actions within their workplace, must report that activity immediately (with anonymity protection), or be guilty of a crime themselves of withholding such information.
• Pass a phased-in and properly funded “Clean Elections” program.
• Develop and pass legislation targeting “SuperPacs and dark money.” Make it difficult, expensive and ineffective for dark money SuperPacs to influence elections.
• Prohibit campaign funds from being transferred from one candidate’s campaign to another. Ban government contractors and related persons from making campaign contributions.
• “Roll back” the 2024 tax cuts on high income earners. Increase the conveyance tax on high-end properties, second homes and vacation rentals. Increase the Transient Accommodations Tax (exempting travelers from Canada, Greenland and Denmark), AND implement tourism “user fees.”
Wow! Unbelievable.
The conservative commentator Rush Limbaugh would say, “Well, it could be true.”
But it’s not. It’s a bad April Fools joke, that’s not funny at all.
It’s not a joke.
It’s a dream we should all work toward, fight for, and demand our legislators make a reality.
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Gary Hooser served eight years in the state Senate, where he was majority leader. He also served for eight years on the Kauai County Council. He presently writes on Hawaii policy and politics at www.garyhooser.blog.
