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Negotiators agreed on a plan Friday to increase the hotel tax, but the deal must still be approved by the full House and Senate.

The Legislature is insisting that Honolulu leaders lift their prohibition on using city tax revenues for the project.

In a rare public clash, Rep. Sylvia Luke grilled Sen. Lorraine Inouye over her draft bill to extend the GET surcharge an additional 10 years.

UPDATE: The former Hawaii governor is asking the president to withhold $800 million in federal money for the rail project.

But Honolulu would receive a smaller share of the surcharge while some money goes to the state highway fund. Will the House go for it?

Budget Committee looks for spending cuts as Mayor Caldwell broaches possibility of raising property taxes for rail construction.

It’s not anywhere as much as the city wanted, but the Finance Committee chair said it should be enough to finish construction.

And that’s bad because the rail process has reinforced distrust that will affect our willingness to participate in civic life.

City council members say the measure will help satisfy federal officials concerns over a spending cap.

The report, commissioned by the Ulupono Initiative, suggests a new kind of contracting for finishing the troubled project