Dan Nakaso

The impending release of a highly anticipated critical audit of the state’s kauhale homeless housing initiative has prompted a rebuke of HomeAid Hawai‘i over its billing practices and led the nonprofit to launch its own financial reviews resulting in its CEO repaying $17,982 for expenses considered his “personal responsibility.”

More than $13.7 million in state payments for Gov. Josh Green’s signature kauhale homeless initiative were “unauthorized, unsupported or questionable,” according to a just-released, highly critical, long-awaited state audit of Hawaii’s oversight of kauhale construction.

Nonprofit kauhale builder HomeAid Hawai‘i said the scathing state audit of the program released Wednesday did not take into account an overall review of kauhale benefits, including lower costs to build them that include donations of money, materials and manpower from isle builders and developers.

More than $13.7 million in state payments for Gov. Josh Green’s signature kauhale homeless initiative were “unauthorized, unsupported or questionable,” according to the highly critical, long-awaited state audit of Hawaii’s oversight of kauhale construction.

Key state senators plan to summon Hawaii’s homelessness coordinator, HomeAid Hawai‘i’s chief executive officer, and the state auditor to a November briefing as lawmakers consider potential changes to Gov. Josh Green’s signature kauhale initiative after an audit identified more than $13.7 million in payments that were deemed “unauthorized, unsupported or questionable.”

Hawaii could see a relatively ho-hum election on Nov. 3 with no presidential race at the top of the ballot, no major challengers for Gov. Josh Green or U.S. Rep. Ed Case, and a long-shot Republican bid against incumbent U.S. Rep. Jill Tokuda.

Hawaii’s two incumbent Democrat representatives are considered heavy favorites to return to Congress this November, with Republican state Sen. Brenton Awa representing the biggest challenge to U.S. Rep. Jill Tokuda’s reelection bid.

Oahu voters who turn out on election day may want to do some homework so they’re not overwhelmed in the voting booth by the 20 proposed charter amendments — doing read-ahead on some in particular, like ranked choice voting.

The number of Honolulu mail-in ballots is down inexplicably by 34% compared to the same point in the last midterm elections in 2022, with just over a week before the Nov. 3 general election.

The number of Honolulu mail-in ballots is down by 34% compared to the same point in the last midterm elections in 2022, with just over a week before the Nov. 3 general election.