Hawaii

Hawaii's Gov. Neil Abercrombie presented a supplemental budget for fiscal biennium 2013-15 Monday that will limit expenditures and use the $844 million budget surplus from fiscal 2012-13 to bolster reserves while using cash instead of bonds for some projects.

A working group established by the Hawaii legislature recommended the governor include a GO bond request for $40 million to conserve property at Turtle Bay on Oahu's North Shore.

Hawaii State Rep. Denny Coffman announced on Dec. 9 that he will resign later this month to care for his sick daughter.

The Hawaii Department of Transportation Airports Division will use a financing structure uncommon for airports to pay for $150 million in energy conservation projects.

Hawaii may face competition in the bond market Nov. 1, when it plans to price $821 million in general obligation bonds in a combined new money/refunding deal.

Honolulu officials notified a federal judge that they have met the additional environmental requirements for the city's $5.3 billion elevated rail project he outlined in a December 2012 order.

Late U.S. Senator Daniel Inouye was honored Wednesday by the American Public Transportation Association for his efforts championing Honolulu's elevated rail transit project.

Work resumed on Honolulu’s $5.3 billion elevated rail project Monday after the City Council grated the transit authroity two permits required to resume rail construction.

Hawaii’s Department of Budget and Finance will act as the conduit issuer for Hawaii Pacific Health on $160 million in special purpose revenue bonds expected to price Tuesday.

Sales of municipal bonds in the Far West region grew by almost 11% during the first half of 2013 compared to a year earlier as low rates continued to drive volume.

Standard & Poor's analysts lauded Hawaii for passing laws to prefund retirement liabilities, but also cautioned that the changes might be harder to maintain during lean economic years.

Honolulu has repaved 130 lane miles over the past six months putting the city and county on track to repave at least 300 lane miles of deteriorated roads by the end of this year, according to a release from Honolulu Mayor Kirk Caldwell.

State Sen. David Ige, chairman of the Senate Ways and Means Committee, announced today that he would challenge Gov. Neil Abercrombie in the Democratic primary for governor.

Hawaii Gov. Neil Abercrombie will sign three bills Wednesday afternoon that build up Hawaii's reserves, replacing the draw-down that occurred during the recession, and pre-fund OPEB liabilities.

Honolulu Mayor Kirk Caldwell returned unsigned several budget bills saying budget proposals from the City Council would result in a $26 million short fall.

Honolulu officials held a bike rally on Thursday to raise awareness about street changes planned to encourage people to use the $5.2 billion elevated rail under construction on Oahu.

The Rockefeller Foundation selected eight cities to participate in the RE.Invest Initiative, a national effort to support sustainable infrastructure that includes financial advice on P3 options.

Hawaii State legislators killed a bill that would have reduced the state's take of a surcharge designated to pay the costs of a $5.2 billion elevated rail now under construction in Honolulu, according to the Honolulu Star Advertiser.

A disagreement between two Hawaii legislators has left $175 million in revenue bond proceeds aimed at preserving agricultural land stranded, according to a report.

Kirk Caldwell, mayor of Honolulu City and County, turned down a raise recommended by the region's salary commission in effect agreeing to a 9% pay cut.