Governor Josh Green, M.D. announced some of the actions taken by the Administration during its first six months. The main areas where progress was cited were affordable housing, homelessness, the high cost of living, healthcare, education, and the environment.
Governor Green stated, “The people of Hawaiʻi have sent a clear message. They want action on some of the biggest challenges facing our state and we have heard them. In just six months since inauguration, we are already making progress on these very important issues.”
He outlined the following accomplishments in areas originally shared in his State of the State address and made possible with the collaborative efforts of the state legislature.
Housing
- $280 million for the Rental Housing Revolving Fund
- $150 million for the Hawaiʻi Community Development Authority for housing development infrastructure improvements
- $100 million for the Dwelling Unit Revolving Fund
- Mobilization of the $600 million for the Department of Hawaiian Homelands to build new housing for thousands of Native Hawaiian families
Homelessness
- $60 million for new kauhale villages and ‘Ohana Zones
- A medical respite kauhale across from the Capitol to help homeless who need extra care upon discharge from hospitals
- $15 million for programs like the State Rent Supplement, Housing First, Rapid Re-Housing Program, and Homeless Outreach Services
Affordability
- Initial phase of tax reform launched to lower the cost of living in Hawaiʻi
- Part one of the Green Affordability Plan (GAP), which will double the income tax credit and food tax credit and increase the existing child and dependent care tax credit
Healthcare
- $30 million over two years for creation of a universal loan repayment program for medical professionals who commit to working and serving in our islands to address the healthcare worker shortage and to attract and retain medical professionals.
- $74 million per year in state and federal funds to raise Medicaid rates and improve care for 450,000+ Hawaiʻi residents
- $128 million for much-needed improvements to hospitals on Hawaiʻi island, Maui, and Kauaʻi
- $14 million for Hawaiʻi’s nursing facilities and Family Assessment Centers to expand healthcare access for the most vulnerable citizens
Education
- Successfully worked with the HSTA to establish a new contract that would raise salaries for the state’s 13,500 teachers, increase starting pay to attract new teachers, and grant bonuses for Hawaiʻi’s most experienced educators to improve retention
Environment
- Delivered needed tax relief for those affected by the fuel spill at Red Hill
- Formed the Governor’s Commission on Water Safety to oversee the safe shutdown of Red Hill and enact measures to protect our water supply
- $100 million for the Hawaiʻi Green Infrastructure Authority to lower the energy burden for more than 4,000 households in Hawaiʻi
Justice, Equality, and Diversity
- Passed several new laws to reform ethics, lobbying, and campaign spending in our political system
- Appointed two additional women justices to expand diversity in our court system
- Protected reproductive healthcare rights and providers from criminal prosecution
- Expanded access to reproductive healthcare services
