Your Hawaii ballot

Increasing the Timeframe for the Hawaii Senate to Consider and Act on Judicial Appointments

Shall the Constitution of the State of Hawaii be amended to allow the Senate more time to consider and act on the appointments of justices and judges, by increasing the timeframe from thirty days to sixty days for appointments made between April 1 and December 31 when the senate is not in regular session or is about to adjourn the regular session?

Directing the Hawaii State Legislature to Establish Procedures for Counties to Issue RISE Bonds, Exempt from County Debt Limits

Shall the Hawaii State Constitution be amended to direct the legislature to authorize the counties to issue resilient infrastructure for shelter and equity bonds to fund public improvements in designated districts, repaid solely by future growth in property tax revenues within those districts, not by increasing real property tax rates, where such bonds are excluded from the counties’ debt limit and are subject to accountability and oversight requirements as may be provided by law?

Food Security Fund

Should the Charter require annual funding for a Food Security Fund, without having to simultaneously increase real property tax rates to fund the appropriation, to support programs and grants that provide locally grown or produced food to Oahu residents, as well as non-local food only in an emergency?

Charter preamble

Should the Charter be amended to replace its preamble with language recognizing the relationship between the people of the City and County of Honolulu and the ina, honoring the wisdom of kpuna and the legacy of Prince Jonah Khi Kalanianaole, and affirming commitments to transparent, accountable government and stewardship of natural, civic, and cultural resources?

Office of iwi Resources and Cultural Stewardship

Should an Office of iwi Resources and Cultural Stewardship be established within the Office of the Mayor to oversee the management of iwi resources within the City, develop related programs, and create a Cultural Advisory Council of kpuna, cultural practitioners, and community representatives?

LGBTQIA+ Commission

Should a nine-member LGBTQIA+ Commission be established to advise the Mayor, City Council, and City agencies on matters affecting the LGBTQIA+ community and recommend policies, programs, and legislation promoting social, economic, and political equality?

Ranked-choice voting beginning 2032

Beginning in 2032, should the City use ranked-choice voting to elect the Mayor, City Council, and Prosecuting Attorney, allowing voters to rank candidates in the order they prefer (1st, 2nd, 3rd, etc.) in a single November election?

Honolulu Police Department policies

Should the Charter be amended to require the Honolulu Police Department to 1) adopt policies to ensure the constitutional rights of all persons regardless of immigration or citizenship status are protected, and 2) assist federal immigration enforcement activities only when required by statute or court order, and after the requesting agency's identity and authority have been confirmed?

Housing availability

Shall the Revised Charter of the City and County of Honolulu be amended to encourage increasing housing availability and preserving available housing as policies for the City and County of Honolulu?

Affordable Housing Fund as a revolving fund

Should the Charter be amended to clarify that the Affordable Housing Fund is a revolving fund, with repayments, interest, earnings, proceeds, and other receipts derived from the Fund to be redeposited into the Fund?

Second public hearing for City real property transactions

Should the Charter be amended to no longer require a second public hearing for any transaction related to City real property interests?

Functional plan for affordable housing

Should the City be required to prepare and carry out a functional plan for the development of affordable housing?

Grants by the Clean Water and Natural Lands Fund and Climate Resiliency Fund

Should the Charter be amended to allow the Clean Water and Natural Lands Fund and the Climate Resiliency Fund to award grants to federal income tax-exempt non-profit organizations that provide services that are consistent with each Fund's purpose?

Funding sources for City special funds

Should the Revised City Charter be amended to allow the Clean Water and Natural Lands Fund, Affordable Housing Fund, Climate Resiliency Fund, and other funds established under Section 9-204 to receive funding from federal, state, philanthropic, and other sources?

Clean Water and Natural Lands Fund uses

Should the Charter be amended to allow the Clean Water and Natural Lands Fund to be used for historic preservation, and to preserve and protect buildings, sites, structures, and objects that have been acquired by the fund; to rename the Fund the Land, Natural Resources, and Historic Preservation Fund, and the advisory commission for the Fund the Land, Natural Resources, and Historic Preservation advisory commission; and to allocate proposal review for Fund use between the advisory commission and the Oahu Historic Preservation Commission?

Annual appropriation for managed lands

Should the Charter be amended to increase the annual appropriation for costs related to operation, maintenance, and management of lands that were acquired using the Clean Water and Natural Lands Fund, from 5% of the moneys that were deposited into the Fund in the previous year, to 10%?

Office of Data and Innovation

Should an Office of Data and Innovation be established to use data to improve city services, promote government transparency and civic engagement, ensure that the city uses artificial intelligence responsibly, and protect residents' digital privacy?

Permanent resident aliens on City boards and commissions

Should permanent resident aliens who are residents of the City and County of Honolulu be permitted to serve on City boards and commissions?

Quorum and board action

Should quorum and board action be based on the majority of members eligible to vote, excluding vacancies and non-voting members?

First Deputy of the Department of Human Resources

Should the First Deputy of the Department of Human Resources be exempt from civil service provisions, like similar roles in other City departments?

City Clerk services to the Charter Commission

Should the City Clerk be required to provide technical and secretarial services to the Charter Commission?

Ineligibility for City office after impeachment

Should the Charter make a Councilmember, the Mayor, or the Prosecuting Attorney ineligible for election to any City office for two years if impeached, or if the official resigns after an impeachment petition has been filed, consistent with the provision for being recalled from office?