News briefs for May 1: Appliance replacement, festival winners and more

Reduced price, energy-efficient appliances available for residents impacted by kona lows

Hawaiʻi Energy, the state’s energy conservation program, is launching an Appliance Replacement Program to help residents impacted by the recent kona low storms replace damaged household appliances with new energy-efficient models.

The program, offered in partnership with PHAD Home Appliance, provides eligible households with access to Energy Star certified refrigerators, freezers, washers and dryers at a significantly reduced cost.

Eligible residents can purchase appliances for a co-pay of $250 per unit, with a larger refrigerator model available for $450. There is no minimum purchase requirement, though households are limited to one of each appliance type.

Applicants must be residential customers of Hawaiian Electric in Hawaiʻi Energy’s service areas, including Oʻahu, Maui County and Hawaiʻi Island, and demonstrate a need for appliance replacement because of storm-related impacts. More information is available at the Hawai‘i Energy website.

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Case opposes fiscal year 2026-27 agriculture/rural development funding measure

U.S. Rep. Ed Case, a Hawai‘i Democrat, voted against the majority of his colleagues in the U.S. House Appropriations Committee on the fiscal year 2026-27 Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration and Related Agencies funding measure.

The $204 billion bill — most of which is mandatory spending through national farm support and other programs — covers most of the federal government’s efforts for U.S. agriculture and rural development through the U.S. Department of Agriculture and related agencies for the the next fiscal year, which begins Oct. 1.

“I opposed this bill because it slashes funds for the [Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP] program, which has already seen more than 6,700 people in Hawai‘i lose critical food assistance following enactment of the president’s budget reconciliation bill, which I opposed last year,” said Case in a release. “The FY 2027 funding bill also decimates the Commodity Supplemental Food Program and fails to fund the McGovernDole international emergency food assistance program.”

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Big Island Chocolate Festival names 2026 winners

Three Hawai‘i college culinary teams were awarded scholarships sponsored by King’s Hawaiian during the 2026 Big Island Chocolate Festival. Peopleʻs Choice Awards, Best Cacao Bean and Best Bean to Bar winners also were announced.

A total of 22 college students participated in the annual college culinary competition during the 3-day 13th annual festival presented by Kona Cacao Association.

Taking first place with a $2,500 scholarship was Hawkins Ko and Chase Ignacio of Kapiʻolani Community College, followed by Rhiannah Ulit and Ralf Bartolome of Leeward Community College with a second place $1,500 award and Eden Chung and Daniel Tada of Kapiʻolani Community College with a third place $1,000 award.

People’s Choice Award winners were Fairmont Orchid for Best Savory, OUTRIGGER Kona Resort and Spa for Best Sweet and Mauna Lani, Auberge Resorts Collection for Best Decorated Booth. Best Cacao Bean was won by Martin Mazzanti of Ocean Grace Farms in Kalaʻoa-Kona. Best Bean to Bar winners were Four Seasons Resort chefs Bruce Trouyet and Maria de los Milagros Miceli, who won first place. Ken and Connie Melrose of Primavera Farm in Kealakekua earned second, while executive pastry chef Daniel Sampson of Fairmont Orchid won third.

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State film commissioner retires after 25 years

Hawai‘i State Film Commissioner Donne Dawson retired, effective Thursday, April 30, from the Hawai‘i Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism after 25 years of managing the Hawai‘i Film Office and the state’s film program.

State Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism Director James Kunane Tokioka said Dawson played a key role throughout her tenure in strengthening Hawai‘i’s reputation as a premier filming destination and supporting the growth of the local film workforce. She leaves behind a valuable foundation that will continue to benefit the industry.

The department’s Creative Industries Division leadership, Tax Credit Unit and Hawai‘i Film Office staff, effective Friday, May 1, will provide continuation of all services with no interruptions. Recruitment of a new Hawaiʻi Film Industry Development manager will begin shortly.

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Hawai‘i Attorney General warns public of person impersonating state official

Hawai‘i Department of the Attorney General alerts the public about a person falsely claiming to be the state’s chief technology officer at national conferences and on online platforms.

The department was notified that Iqbal Khowaja presented himself as “CTO of the state of Hawai‘i” at the Bitcoin 2026 conference in Las Vegas and made similar claims in prior conference appearances and on social media profiles.

Khowaja is not affiliated with the state and is not authorized to represent any state agency. Appropriate action is being taken to notify event organizers of the impersonator.

Anyone who thinks they were targeted by this impersonator is encouraged to report the incident to local law enforcement or Hawai‘i Department of the Attorney General at HawaiiAG@hawaii.gov.