Is the Legislature addressing the needs and concerns of the neighbor islands?

Most of the population of Hawaiʻi resides on Oʻahu so the neighbor islands — Maui, Molokaʻi, Lānaʻi, Kauaʻi, Niʻihau and Hawaiʻi island — are largely rural with serious concerns over being left out of the political conversation. Although the House speaker and Senate president both come from Kauaʻi, neighbor island residents worry they take a back seat on issues ranging from health care and transportation to environmental concerns like cesspool remediation. The deadly Maui wildfires in 2023 underscored the neighbor islands’ need for wildfire mitigation and funding for prevention.

In 2026, access to health care, housing and initiatives to help the economy remain top issues. Hawaiʻi County is asking the Legislature to extend the general excise tax surcharge until 2045 and repeal restrictions limiting its use on neighbor islands.

Quick Facts

Wild West: Puna on the Big Island, which is geographically as large as Oʻahu, is the fastest-growing area in the state.
Flight risks: Air transportation to Lānaʻi and Molokaʻi is limited, as only one small commercial airline services these islands.
Royal heritage: King Kamehameha II declared Lahaina, Maui, the capital of the kingdom in 1820. It was moved to Honolulu in 1845.
The Forbidden Island: The sparsely populated Niʻihau is part of Kauaʻi County. It is owned by the Robinson family, which restricts access.

Neighbor Island Bills

In Focus

Here are the bills considered in the current session that affected the neighbor islands directly. Bills highlighted at the top are those identified by Civil Beat as among the most significant this year. “In progress” status includes bills that may have been deferred but are technically still alive until the end of the two-year Legislature.

SB 847 In Progress

RELATING TO PSYCHOLOGISTS.

Dru Kanuha

Establishes a three-year pilot program in the County of Kauai to allow qualified psychologists under the supervision of a supervising psychiatrist limited authority to prescribe psychotropic medications to patients between the ages of eighteen and sixty-five years under the care of the psychologist. Requires the Board of Psychology to adopt rules. Requires the State Health Planning and Development Agency to report to the Legislature. Sunsets 6/30/2031. (HD1)

SB 2969 In Progress

RELATING TO THE MAUI WILDFIRE EXPOSURE STUDY AND MAUI HEALTH REGISTRY.

Angus McKelvey

Appropriates funds for the University of Hawaiʻi to expand and sustain services provided by the Maui Wildfire Exposure Study and Maui Health Registry. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

HB 1921 In Progress

RELATING TO CESSPOOLS.

Luke Evslin

Allows an existing cesspool that lawfully serves a single dwelling or dwelling unit in a priority level 3 area to continue serving that dwelling or dwelling unit and additional bedrooms constructed on the same parcel and within the existing dwelling or dwelling unit, subject to certain conditions. Authorizes the Department of Health to adopt rules and restrict additional bedrooms where evidence demonstrates that continued cesspool use impacts water quality or human health. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD2)

HB 2218 In Progress

RELATING TO THE DEPARTMENT OF LAND AND NATURAL RESOURCES.

Nadine Nakamura

Authorizes the Department of Land and Natural Resources to enter into community co-management agreements and establishes qualifications for eligible community co-managers. Authorizes the disposition of public lands by a community co-management agreement. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD2)

HB 2436

DOE; STATE FOUNDATION ON CULTURE AND THE ARTS; ARTS INTEGRATION; POSITIONS; APPROPRIATION

Committee: House Standing Committee on Culture & Arts

In Progress

DOE; STATE FOUNDATION ON CULTURE AND THE ARTS; ARTS INTEGRATION; POSITIONS; APPROPRIATIONCommittee: House Standing Committee on Culture & Arts

HB 1800

STATE BUDGET; EXECUTIVE SUPPLEMENTAL BUDGET

Committee: House Standing Committee on Finance

In Progress

STATE BUDGET; EXECUTIVE SUPPLEMENTAL BUDGETCommittee: House Standing Committee on Finance

SB 847

SHPDA; BOARD OF PSYCHOLOGY; PRESCRIPTIVE AUTHORITY; CLINICAL PSYCHOLOGISTS; PILOT PROGRAM; SUPERVISING PHYSICIAN OR PSYCHIATRIST; FEDERALLY QUALIFIED HEALTH CENTERS; COUNTY OF KAUAI; COUNTY OF HAWAII; RULES; REPORT