Good evening, Hawaii. Here are the main stories we've been following today:
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Today's Big Stories
1. Two Hawaii sites listed among potential federal selloffs
Government watchers swift enough to view a list of 443 federal properties that could be put up for sale posted Tuesday on the U.S. General Services Administration website might have seen a pair of Hawaii properties deemed “not core to government operations” and eligible for “disposal”: the Federal Building, U.S. Post Office and Courthouse in Hilo and the Fort Armstrong Parking Lot in Honolulu.
The Trump administration has discussed selling unused or non-essential properties as part of its overall campaign to reduce costs across the federal government. The list posted by GSA originally included the FBI headquarters at the J. Edgar Hoover Building, the Robert F. Kennedy Department of Justice Building, the Department of Housing and Urban Development and other notable properties.
Within hours, however, the list was shortened to 320 properties, with all Washington, D.C. properties among the entries removed.
By Wednesday, the list was withdrawn entirely. The page now reads, “Non-core property list (Coming soon)," with the accompanying message: “We are identifying buildings and facilities that are not core to government operations, or non-core properties, for disposal. Selling ensures that taxpayer dollars are no longer spent on vacant or underutilized federal spaces. Disposing of these assets helps eliminate costly maintenance and allows us to reinvest in high-quality work environments that support agency missions.”
However, the lists have been preserved via a searchable map created by the tech news magazine Wired and a GitHub Gist posting.
2. One more school bus route restored
The Hawaii Department of Education will restore one previously suspended school bus route on Monday. The bus routes service 11 student-riders at Keaʻau Middle School on Hawaii Island.
Before the start of the school year, HIDOE suspended 147 school bus routes in Central Oahu, East Hawaii Island and Central and Upcountry Maui because of an ongoing statewide shortage of school bus drivers and vehicles. The service interruption initially affected 3,720 students enrolled in school transportation.
The latest restored routes will be serviced by contractor Ground Transport Inc.
Parents and guardians of student riders were notified directly of restored routes and any necessary route modifications. The following school bus routes will resume service on Monday:
Kaʻu-Keʻeau-Pāhoa Complex Area: 1 route
Kea’au Middle - SR21A
Efforts to restore the remaining 15 suspended bus routes are ongoing.
3. Bill calls for referendum on protecting access to contraception
The state Senate passed a bill this week that proposes an amendment to the state Constitution that would shield a person’s right to access contraceptives and make decisions about their reproductive health.
Senate Bill 350 was transmitted to the state House of Representatives for further consideration. If ultimately adopted and signed by the governor, the bill would authorize a ballot measure allowing voters to vote yes or no on the question: “Shall the Constitution of the State of Hawaii be amended to provide that no law shall be enacted, nor any state action taken, that denies or interferes with a person’s right to obtain contraceptives or voluntarily engage in contraception?”
Hawaii Family Forum testified in opposition to the measure, arguing that its use of the term person (rather than adult or woman) was overly broad and ambiguous and that proposed amendment was unnecessary given that current state law already provides unrestricted access to contraception and pregnancy-related medical care.
The majority of organizational and individual testifiers expressed support for the measure, including the American Association of University Women of Hawaii; American Civil Liberties Union-Hawaii; the Hawaii State Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender Queer Plus Commission; the Stonewall Caucus of the Hawaii Democratic Party; Community Alliance on Prisons; Unite Here Local 5 and others.
4. Cultural performances, activities and friendship bring Honolulu Festival to life
Waikiki will be busy this weekend as festivities kick off Friday for the 29th Annual Honolulu Festival, March 7 through 9, under the theme, “Bridging Cultures, Together for a Peaceful Tomorrow.” Banners proclaiming “Pacific Harmony” along Kalakaua Avenue greet residents and visitors.
“The Honolulu Festival is a treasured celebration of cultural exchange that reflects a shared commitment to be responsible global citizens and work together to strengthen the values and quality of life for future generations,” said Honolulu Festival Foundation President Ted Kubo.
Throughout the weekend, the public can enjoy a full roster of cultural performances at three sites — Hawaii Convention Center, Ala Moana Center and Waikiki Beach Walk.
Events on Saturday and Sunday include a craft fair, Ennichi Corner and Food Corner; performances; Japanese Film Festival; Sake & Food Fest; Japan product bazaar; Honolulu Art Market; sushi making and tasting; bond dance; genki ball tossing event; and more. Fun begins 10 a.m. both days. Full schedule here.
The 29th Annual Honolulu Festival culminates with its two signature events on Sunday — the lively and colorful Grand Parade along Kalakaua Avenue in Waikiki starting at 4:30 p.m. and spectacular Nagaoka Fireworks Show over Waikiki Beach at 8:30 p.m.
5. Honolulu Civil Beat: Hawai‘i House wants to set aside $200 million as a hedge against hard times
House lawmakers want to bank $200 million in state funds as a cash cushion to help cope with any federal budget cuts or other fiscal problems that may crop up in the years ahead.
The House Finance Committee, in passing a budget Wednesday, made public some highlights from its proposed spending plan for the next two years, which would authorize slightly more than $20.48 billion next fiscal year and $20.22 billion the following year.
That is slightly less than the spending plan proposed by Gov. Josh Green in December, but House Finance Chair Kyle Yamashita cautioned those budget numbers may change as the House and Senate negotiate over the details.
Yamashita said the proposed $200 million set-aside “is just to send a clear message that the House believes that in light of the current situation — and we don’t know what the out years will be — it would be wise for the state to tuck away some money.”
The $200 million would be deposited in the state’s Emergency and Budget Reserve Fund, better known as the state’s “rainy day fund.” That fund now has about $1.56 billion.
Lawmakers have been eying the turmoil in the opening weeks of President Donald Trump’s administration, and are concerned that federal budget cuts may force state government to step in to fund essential services such as health care for the poor.
Your Notes for the Weekend
Saturday, March 8
- Kualoa/Hakipuʻu Waʻa Festival celebrates Hōkūleʻa’s 50th Anniversary
- International Women's Day, celebrating women's achievements across all aspects of life
- Annual International Women's Strike, coinciding with International Women's Day, inviting women around the world to 'go on strike against gender violence, against the men who commit violence and against the system that protects them'
- Selma Bridge Crossing Jubilee events continue in Selma, AL, with today's events including Foot Soldiers Breakfast, Jubilee Parade, Formerly Incarcerated People Movement 'Backwards March', Battle of the Bands, Jubilee Street Festival, Women's Roundtable, Ministers of Justice roundtable, Intergenerational Hip Hop Political Summit, Hall of Resistance, Women's Hall of Fame, and Legal Hall of Fame inductions, Mr. & Ms. Jubilee Pageant, and Freedom Flame Awards Gala. Events mark the 60th anniversary of the March 7, 1965, clashes between civil rights protesters and state troopers on the Edmund Pettus Bridge in Selma, that became known as 'Bloody Sunday', and the subsequent march from Selma to Montgomery led by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
Sunday, March 9
- Daylight Saving Time begins
- New Liberal Party of Canada leader announced following a leadership vote, after Justin Trudeau announced his resignation as party leader and prime minister on Jan. 6
Monday, March 10
- China imposes retaliatory tariffs on U.S. goods
- Ontario Government imposes 25% surcharge on electricity exported to U.S.
- Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman meets Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, ahead of talks later this week with U.S. officials on the war with Russia
- Senate convenes and proceed to executive session to resume consideration of the nomination of Lori Chavez-DeRemer, to be Secretary of Labor
- NASA media preview of simulated Mars habitat, designed to help prepare humanity for future missions to the Red Planet
In Case You Missed It
Hawaii coach Laura Beeman waved the net after a cutting ceremony following UH's win over Cal State Bakersfield to clinch a share of the Big West regular-season championship at the Stan Sheriff Center on Thursday night. (Spectrum News/Brian McInnis)
Hawaii women's basketball team clinches share of Big West regular-season championship
Thursday night was far from the end goal of the Hawaii women’s basketball team, which has turned regular-season championships into standard fare.
Coach Laura Beeman made sure some attention was paid to the latest one, anyway, as her Rainbow Wahine defeated Cal State Bakersfield 66-51 to clinch a share of the Big West title.
After UH (21-8, 15-4 Big West) secured the No. 1 seed in the Big West championships in Henderson, Nev., for the third time in the last four years, the Wahine held a net-cutting ceremony in front of many of the 1,122 (1,886 tickets issued) who remained at the Stan Sheriff Center. Acting athletic director Lois Manin presented Beeman with a championship trophy on the court, and Beeman held it aloft to the crowd.
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