by Dr. Arcelita Imasa
The 2024 Hawaiʻi Legislative Session has concluded. How did our Hawaii legislators do in supporting Hawaii workers like me?
–Reader
Dear Reader,
Thank you for your question! However, it is with a sad heart to share with you that many community groups including the Hawaii Workers Center were disappointed in seeing the bills that we all worked for and wanted to get passed by our legislators get tabled for another session.
Did our elected officials prioritize workers this year? The quick answer is NO. Let’s review.
Paid Sick Leave and Family/Medical Leave
Thousands of Hawaiʻi’s workers have no access to paid sick leave or paid family leave. Multiple bills introduced this session would have required employers to provide a minimum amount of paid sick leave/ paid family leave.
Did our legislators pass this? NO.
End the Subminimum Wage
Tipped workers in Hawaiʻi can legally have $1.25 removed from their hourly pay if tips make up for it. For a full-time tipped worker that is over $2,600 taken from their pay; why are we punishing workers for their good service? This bill would have banned the tip rip-off for tipped employees.
Did our legislators pass this? NO.
Rental Repairs
Some of our COFA Workers Association of Honolulu tenants recently took their landlord to court for inadequate living conditions, this bill would provide additional protections for tenants in this situation by amending the deadlines related to the repair of conditions that constitute health or safety violations and the payment of past due rent.
Did our legislators pass this? YES!
This is a win for ensuring safe and dignified housing in Hawaiʻi! Mahalo to all who answered our calls to action and submitted testimony.
Keiki Credit
Hawaiʻi families struggle with exorbitant and constantly rising costs of living. The Keiki Credit, a refundable tax credit, would have delivered much-needed relief to working families with children.
Did our legislators pass this? NO.
Housing: Short-term rentals
In the aftermath of the Maui fires, the existing housing crisis has gotten even worse. This bill would give counties the full authority to regulate short-term transient vacation rentals. With this bill, short-term rentals can now be converted to long-term housing for the working people of Maui.
Did our legislators pass this? YES!
Mahalo to Lāhainā Strong and Our Hawaiʻi for their community organizing to ensure this bill got passed.
Ceasefire in Gaza Resolution
Relentless violence against the Palestinian people has been escalating since October.
The resolution calls upon the Biden Administration and Hawaiʻi’s Congressional delegation to publicly demand an immediate and permanent ceasefire in Gaza, the release of all hostages, the facilitation of humanitarian aid into Gaza, and to continue negotiations for peace in the region.
Did our legislators pass this? YES!
Hawaiʻi officially became the first “state” to pass a ceasefire resolution! Mahalo to every single one of you who has stood on the right side of history and humanity in calling for a ceasefire and an end to the occupation in Palestine.
Rental Application Fees
Currently, there is no cap on rental application fees meaning that landlords can charge fees for each adult applicant in the household. Landlords on Maui have even been using this loophole as a way to profit amid the increased housing shortage following the fires.
This bill would have prohibited a landlord from charging application fees for a background check or credit reports if you can provide them on your own.
Did our legislators pass this? NO.
Despite these disappointments, we expect to come back next session even stronger as we continue to organize and push for paid family and medical leave, ending the tip penalty, and a tax system that is truly fair and equitable.
We want to thank the champions in the legislature who continue to believe that priorities for the least of us will ultimately benefit all of us.
We are still grateful that some positive change was enacted this legislative session, including the ceasefire resolution and bills to combat the housing crisis.
However, as you can see, many of our bills that would have provided crucial relief to Hawaiʻi’s workers were killed by our legislators.
We call upon them to do better for working people in the coming year—it’s their job.
But we must collectively stand up against the continued mistreatment of workers, from wage theft to exploitation, there is much we can do to advance working-class interests.
Sincerely,
Hawaii Workers Center
ARCELITA IMASA is a practicing family physician and the secretary of the Hawaii Workers Center’s Executive Committee of the Board. She grew up in the Philippines before migrating to Hawaii with her family more than a decade ago.
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