Big Island lawmakers talk about legislative priorities for upcoming 2025 session

From cleaning up iconic Banyan Drive in Hilo to remodeling the Kohala courthouse, Big Island lawmakers are looking forward to advocating for the needs of their constituents during this year’s legislative session.

Opening day of the 2025 Hawai‘i State Legislature kicks off on Wednesday. Several Big Island lawmakers holding positions of leadership, including Dru Mamo Kanuha, the Senate Majority Leader. Others chair a variety of committees.

“This session is a call to action,” said Kanuha, who represents Kona, Kaʻū and Volcano.

“Our unwavering focus is on delivering impactful policies that uplift our communities, fortify our economy, and protect Hawaiʻi’s rich agricultural innovations and unparalleled natural resources,” he said.

Here are some of the priorities of Big Island lawmakers who responded to Big Island Now:

Sen. Lorraine Inouye, who sits on the Senate Ways and Means Committee, said she will continue to champion upgrades to Wailoa Small Boat Harbor in Hilo. Last year, she secured more than $3 million for dredging. Other upgrades include updating mooring areas and addressing flooding issues in the parking area.

Inouye, who represents Hilo, Pauka‘a, Papaikou, Pepe‘ekeo, plans to also address a lapsing foundation for building C on the Waiakea Intermediate School campus in Hilo. She is already working with the Department of Education to to address this problem.

Inouye said she has many other items she plans to address, including cleaning up Banyan Drive that was once a worldwide known street with trees planted by famous people but has been neglected over the years.

Sen. Tim Richards is prioritizing agriculture and dealing with agriculture-related crimes, which include theft.

Richards, who represents North Hilo, Hāmākua, Kohala, Waimea, Waikōloa and North Kona, hopes to revamp laws by increasing penalties on agriculture-related crimes as well as setting up an agriculture enforcement committee.

He will also be pushing a “stand your ground” bill that helps farmers defend themselves against individuals who would steal and poach their goods or trespass on their lands. The measure is in response to the death of an O‘ahu farmer, Cranston Pia, who lost his life defending his cattle and his ranch.

With the deadly fireworks incident on O‘ahu on New Year’s Day, Rep. David Tarnas said illegal fireworks and enforcement are top of mind for him.

Tarnas, who represents Hāwī, Hala‘ula, Waimea, Makahalau, Waiki‘i, Waikoloa, Kawaihae, Mahukona, sits as chair for the Judiciary and Hawaiian Affairs Committees. He said he will be advocating for additional funding for the Illegal Fireworks Task Force and increasing penalties for people who are found with these pyrotechnics.

“I think the best way to approach fireworks is to go after supply,” Tarnas said.

Tarnas also wants to push for partial public financing in elections and increasing the amount of money groups can provide to those running for office.

“I am going to look at a bill that would restrict contributions from state and county contractors,” Tarnas said.

He said the legislature has done a lot of work on criminal justice reform and he is working on bills this year related to pre-trial detention, making sure suspects who are dangerous to the public are in jail.

“We’re also working on improving the way the state system is set up for record clearance such as expunging records,” Tarnas said.

Tarnas also will continue to champion legalizing adult-use cannabis. The lawmaker has been presenting bills for several years and this session he plans to address a myriad of concerns from law enforcement presented last year including impaired driving, ensuring minors are not using marijuana, a system to sustain a viable cannabis industry, and ensuring people are only buying what they expect to purchase.

Tarnas plans to request $4 million for planning and design for upgrades to the South Kohala courthouse, supporting funding for a gymnasium in South Kohala, and requesting support to make improvements to a parcel of land near the Pololu trailhead in North Kohala.

Rep. Sue Keohokapu-Lee Loy, one of the newest members to Hawai‘i Island’s delegation, expects it to be a “dynamic session” for all of them.

Keohokapu-Lee Loy, who formerly served on the Hawaiʻi County Council, said she will tackle work left by her predecessor, Richard Onishi, including the revitalization of Banyan Drive along with building a pipeline for programs for keiki in Science Technology Engineering and Math, also known as STEM, that will lead to tech jobs.

Keohokapu-Lee Loy sits on a few committees, including the House Committee of Health, and plans to have discussions about housing wastewater systems.

She said she is most nervous about the state’s finances.

“The state budget is billions,” she said, adding she wants to make sure lawmakers are funding the right positions that translate into actions.

House Rep. Kirstin Kahaloa sits as chair of the Agriculture and Food Systems Committee. She said some things she’s leaning in on this session are policy funding of biosecurity (protection of agriculture and natural environment from the impacts of invasive species) and to put in place the right infrastructure to mitigate and control the invasive pests that already have come to the state.

Kahaloa said the House also will look at food security.

“Forty percent of our households (on the Big Island) are food insecure,” Kahaloa said, adding if the state can grow more food it make food more affordable and accessible.

The other way to help with food insecurity, Kahaloa said, is for the state to purchase more local food for hospitals, jails and schools.

The office staff for Rep. Greggor Ilagan related his three main issues he plans to address are the alternate Puna makai route for the lower Puna District as traffic congestion continues to be an issue; the restoration of Pōhoiki Boat Ramp that was destroyed during the 2018 Kīlauea eruption; and home insurance for residents living in lava zones.