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Proposed Constitutional Amendments

1. “Shall the state constitution be amended to repeal the legislature’s authority to reserve marriage to opposite-sex couples?” Read Civil Beat coverage: Hawaii Voters Asked To Ensure Protection Of Same-Sex Marriage.

2. “Shall the Constitution of the State of Hawaii be amended to make the appointment and confirmation process for district court judges the same as the appointment and confirmation process for supreme court justices and intermediate court of appeals and circuit court judges, which would require:

1. The Judicial Selection Commission to present the Chief Justice with a list of not less than four and not more than six nominees for a vacancy;
2. A district court appointee to be automatically considered appointed if the Senate fails to reject the appointment within thirty days of receiving the appointment notice;
3. The Chief Justice to make another appointment from the list of district court nominees within 10 days if the Senate rejects an appointment; and
4. The appointment and consent procedure to be followed until a valid
   appointment is made, or failing this, the Judicial Selection Commission to make the appointment from the list of nominees, without Senate consent?” Read Civil Beat coverage: Proposed Ballot Question Would Streamline Selection Of Judges And Justices

Proposed City and County of Honolulu Charter Amendments

1. Shall the Revised City Charter be amended to require that the City Council appropriate, without having to simultaneously increase real property tax rates to fund the appropriation, one-half of 1% of the City’s estimated real property tax revenues in each fiscal year’s budget and capital program, to be deposited into a Climate Resiliency Fund, the purpose of which is to support initiatives and projects aimed at mitigating the impacts of climate change, enhancing the resilience of the City’s infrastructure and communities, and promoting sustainable practices? Read Civil Beat Coverage: Honolulu Voters To Decide If Climate Change Fund Needed
2. Shall the Revised City Charter be amended to establish the Department of Emergency Management as an independent agency of the City Executive Branch by assigning the Department of Emergency Management a separate chapter in the City Charter similar to the chapters assigned to all other City departments to provide that all Department of Emergency Management positions, including its Director and Deputy Director, are subject to the civil service laws; and to specify a minimum level of qualifications for the civil service position of the Director of Emergency Management, with additional minimum qualifications to be determined in accordance with civil service laws? Read Civil Beat coverage: Should Honolulu’s Emergency Management Chief Need Minimum Qualifications?
3. Shall the Revised City Charter be amended to establish an Ocean Safety Commission to review and make recommendations on certain activities of the Department of Ocean Safety and to appoint and remove the Chief of Ocean Safety? Read Civil Beat coverage: Honolulu Voters To Decide Whether Lifeguards Need Oversight Commission
4. Shall the Revised City Charter provisions relating to the salaries for Councilmembers be amended to cap any annual increase at no more than 5%, require that any changes be tied to the average annual salary changes of city employees in the City’s collective bargaining units, and remove the Council’s authority to vote on its own raises? Read Civil Beat coverage: Voters To Decide Pay Raises For The Honolulu City Council.

Proposed Hawaii County Charter Amendments

1. Shall the Hawaii County Charter be amended to provide that any vacancy on the County Council that occurs or exists after a person was duly elected to fill that seat for the upcoming Council term shall be filled by that duly elected successor for the remainder of the unexpired term? Read Civil Beat coverage: Hawaii County Charter Proposal Would Fill Some Council Vacancies Quicker.
2. Shall the Hawaii County Charter be amended to require the Mayor to appoint department heads within 30 days of the start of each mayoral term and within 60 days for any vacancy in office that occurs during the mayoral term?��Read Civil Beat coverage: Big Island Voters Asked To Impose New Deadlines For Filling Top County Jobs.
3. Shall the Hawaii County Charter be amended to increase the term length for members of the Cost of Government Commission from 11 to 22 months and extend the deadline for the Commission to submit its report from 11 months after appointment to 20 months after appointment?��Read Civil Beat coverage: Big Island Commission On Efficiency Wants Voters To Help It Be More Efficient.

Proposed Maui County Charter Amendments

1. Shall the Charter be amended to require the Salary Commission to determine “salaries” instead of “compensation” for elected officials and appointed directors and deputy directors to maintain consistency with the Constitution of the State of Hawaii and remove fiscal barriers to create equity through benefits such as reimbursement of travel costs? Read Civil Beat coverage: Maui Charter Change Would Benefit County Leaders From Molokai And Lanai
2. Shall the Charter be amended, effective July 1, 2025, to authorize the Board of Ethics of the County of Maui to hire independent staff? Read Civil Beat coverage: Maui Voters To Decide If County Board Of Ethics Can Hire A Full-Time Staff
3. Shall the Charter be amended, effective July 1, 2025, to minimize the risk of vacancies on boards and commissions generally, and specifically with regard to dedicated seats for members residing in less populous areas, by allowing the appointment of members of boards and commissions for two consecutive full terms or 10 consecutive years, whichever is greater? Read Civil Beat coverage: Maui Voters To Decide Whether To Extend Terms For Board And Commission Members

Proposed Kauai County Charter Amendments

1. Shall the Police Commission’s 90-day window for reporting written investigation results start when the Commission receives the investigation report? Read Civil Beat coverage: Should Kauai’s Police Commission Get More Time For Investigations?
2. Shall the Cost Control Commission be authorized to recommend increased costs if they are expected to generate future cost savings or efficiencies? Read Civil Beat coverage: Should Kauai County Spend Money To Save Money?
3. Shall up to 5% of the County’s Open Space Fund be available for the maintenance of lands, property entitlements, or improvements that were paid for by the Fund? Read Civil Beat coverage: Kauai Voters Asked To Fund Groups Maintaining Natural Resources
4. Shall the Charter be amended to allow the use of insurance policies for certain or all employees to protect the County against financial loss? Read Civil Beat coverage: Options To Protect Kauaia From Fraud Will Go To Voters
5. Shall the Charter be amended to establish ex-officio positions for youth on Boards and Commissions to be filled by Kauai resident high school juniors or seniors? Read Civil Beat coverage: Voters To Decide If Youth Should Get Say In Kauai Government