Hawaiʻi Voting Guide 2026

I. Two Constitutional Amendments

Reminder: Remember that a blank votes count as NO votes!

A. What is a constitutional amendment?

• • Hawaii’s Constitution establishes the framework for state government and its powers.
    
  • A constitutional amendment changes that framework. The Legislature can propose amendments, but voters must approve them before they take effect.
    
  • This November, voters will consider two proposed changes: one involving the judiciary and another involving county infrastructure financing.
    

B. Question 1: Should the Senate have more time to review judicial appointments?

• • Currently, the Hawaiʻi Senate generally has 30 days to consider and act on appointments of justices and judges.
    
  • This amendment would extend that period to 60 days for certain appointments made between April 1 and December 31, when the Senate is not in regular session or is about to adjourn.
    
  • The proposal would not change who appoints judges or who confirms them.
    
  • What does a YES or NO mean?
    
    • • YES -> Extends the Senate’s review period from 30 to 60 days for the specified appointments.
        
      • NO -> Keeps the current 30-day review period for those appointments.
        

  • Why does this matter?
    
    • • A longer review period could give senators more scheduling flexibility and reduce the need for special sessions. However, it could also mean some judicial vacancies remain unfilled longer.
        
      • The central question -> how to balance thorough review with timely judicial appointments.
        

C. Question 2: Should counties have a new way to finance infrastructure?

• • The second amendment concerns Resilient Infrastructure for Shelter and Equity (RISE) bonds.
    
  • These bonds would allow counties, under state-authorized procedures, to borrow money for public improvements in designated districts.
    
  • The bonds would be repaid using future growth in property tax revenue generated within those districts, rather than through an increase in property tax rates.
    
  • How would RISE bonds work?
    
    1. 1. A county finances public improvements with bonds. ->
          
       2. Property values in the designated district may increase. ->
          
       3. Additional property tax revenue is used to repay the bonds.
          

  • The amendment would also exclude RISE bonds from county debt-limit calculations and allow accountability and oversight requirements to be established by law.
    
  • What does a YES or NO mean?
    
    • • YES -> Changes the Constitution to direct the Legislature to authorize RISE bonds and exclude them from county debt limits.
        
      • NO -> Rejects the proposed constitutional changes. The proposed RISE bond authorization and debt-limit exemption would not take effect.
        

  • Why does this matter?
    
    • • RISE bonds could provide another source of infrastructure funding without raising property tax rates. Questions include whether projected revenue will be sufficient, how financial risks will be managed, and which communities will benefit.
        
      • Voters are deciding whether to establish this financing authority, not approving a particular construction project.
        

D. Important: A blank counts as a no.

• • To pass, each amendment must receive more YES votes than NO votes. YES votes must also account for at least 50% of all ballots cast, including blanks and overvotes.
    

E. Read the full amendments at https://elections.hawaii.gov/voting/2026-proposed-amendments-to-the-hawaii-state-re-constitution/

II. 20 Honolulu County Charter Questions

Reminder: Remember that a blank votes count as NO votes!

A. What is the Honolulu City Charter?

• • The Honolulu City Charter establishes the framework for how the City and County of Honolulu operates.
    
  • It defines the responsibilities of the Mayor, City Council, city departments, and other government bodies.
    
  • A charter amendment changes this governing document.
    

B. Question 1: Should Honolulu establish a Food Security Fund?

• • This amendment would create a dedicated fund supporting programs and grants that improve access to locally grown or produced food.
    
  • It would increase the share of estimated property tax revenues allocated to six special funds from 2.5% to 3%, with each receiving an equal portion.
    
  • What does a YES or NO mean?
    
    • • YES -> Creates the Food Security Fund and requires annual funding without requiring a simultaneous property tax rate increase.
        
      • NO -> Maintains the existing five special funds without creating a dedicated Food Security Fund.
        

C. Question 2: Should Honolulu update the City Charter’s guiding values?

• • This amendment would replace the Charter’s preamble with language recognizing the relationship between people and ʻāina, honoring kūpuna and Prince Jonah Kūhiō Kalanianaʻole, and emphasizing government transparency and stewardship.
    
  • What does a YES or NO mean?
    
    • • YES -> Replaces the preamble with the proposed language.
        
      • NO -> Retains the existing preamble.
        

D. Question 3: Should Honolulu establish an Office of ʻŌiwi Resources and Cultural Stewardship?

• • This amendment would create an office within the Mayor’s administration responsible for coordinating Native Hawaiian cultural and natural resource stewardship.
    
  • It would also establish a Cultural Advisory Council composed of kūpuna, cultural practitioners, and community representatives.
    
  • What does a YES or NO mean?
    
    • • YES -> Establishes the office and advisory council.
        
      • NO -> Maintains the existing organizational structure without requiring these bodies.
        

E. Question 4: Should Honolulu establish an LGBTQIA+ Commission?

• • This amendment would create a nine-member commission to advise city government on issues affecting LGBTQIA+ residents.
    
  • The commission could recommend policies, programs, and legislation addressing social, economic, and political equality.
    
  • What does a YES or NO mean?
    
    • • YES -> Establishes a permanent LGBTQIA+ advisory commission under the Charter.
        
      • NO -> Maintains the current Charter without establishing this commission.
        

F. Question 5: Should Honolulu use ranked-choice voting to elect city officials?

• • Beginning in 2032, this amendment would replace the current two-stage election process for Mayor, City Council, and Prosecuting Attorney with ranked-choice voting in November.
    
  • Voters would rank candidates in order of preference. If no candidate receives a majority of first-choice votes, the lowest-ranked candidate would be eliminated and ballots redistributed according to remaining preferences.
    
  • What does a YES or NO mean?
    
    • • YES -> Establishes the proposed ranked-choice voting system beginning in 2032, subject to necessary state authorization.
        
      • NO -> Retains the existing city election system.
        

G. Question 6: Should Honolulu establish constitutional safeguards governing police assistance with federal immigration enforcement?

• • This amendment would require the Honolulu Police Department to adopt policies protecting constitutional rights regardless of immigration or citizenship status.
    
  • It would also restrict assistance with federal immigration enforcement to circumstances required by statute or court order, after verification of the requesting agency’s identity and authority.
    
  • What does a YES or NO mean?
    
    • • YES -> Adds these requirements to the Honolulu City Charter.
        
      • NO -> Leaves the Charter unchanged without adding these specific requirements.
        

H. Question 7: Should Honolulu formally recognize housing availability as a city policy priority?

• • This amendment would add language to the Charter recognizing the shortage of housing available for long-term occupancy.
    
  • It would also declare that encouraging the use of existing housing for city residents is a compelling governmental interest.
    
  • What does a YES or NO mean?
    
    • • YES -> Adds the proposed housing policy statements to the Charter.
        
      • NO -> Maintains the current Charter without these statements.
        

I. Question 8: Should Honolulu’s Affordable Housing Fund operate as a revolving fund?

• • Currently, the City uses this fund to support affordable rental housing.
    
  • This amendment would clarify that loan repayments, interest, and other proceeds return to the fund and remain available for future housing investments.
    
  • It would also expand the types of eligible affordable housing projects.
    
  • What does a YES or NO mean?
    
    • • YES -> Clarifies the fund’s revolving structure and expands eligible uses.
        
      • NO -> Retains the existing Charter provisions.
        

J. Question 9: Should Honolulu remove a separate public hearing requirement for city real property transactions?

• • Currently, the Department of Housing and Land Management must conduct public hearings for certain transactions involving city real property interests.
    
  • This amendment would remove the separate department-level hearing requirement.
    
  • The public could still testify when transactions are considered by the City Council.
    
  • What does a YES or NO mean?
    
    • • YES -> Removes the separate public hearing requirement.
        
      • NO -> Maintains the existing public hearing requirements.
        

K. Question 10: Should Honolulu be required to create a long-term affordable housing plan?

• • This amendment would require the City to develop a ten-year Housing Functional Plan, updated at least every five years.
    
  • The plan would guide housing priorities, government investments, and future policy decisions.
    
  • What does a YES or NO mean?
    
    • • YES -> Requires the City to develop and maintain the plan beginning in 2030.
        
      • NO -> Maintains the existing planning requirements without mandating a Housing Functional Plan.
        

L. Question 11: Should more city funds be allowed to award grants to nonprofits?

• • Currently, the Charter authorizes nonprofit grants through the Grants in Aid Fund.
    
  • This amendment would also allow the Clean Water and Natural Lands Fund and Climate Resiliency Fund to award grants to federally tax-exempt nonprofits whose services align with each fund’s purpose.
    
  • What does a YES or NO mean?
    
    • • YES -> Authorizes these two additional funds to provide eligible nonprofit grants.
        
      • NO -> Maintains existing restrictions on nonprofit grantmaking.
        

M. Question 12: Should Honolulu’s special funds be allowed to receive money from additional sources?

• • The Charter establishes several special funds supported by dedicated property tax revenue.
  • This amendment would expressly allow certain funds to receive additional funding from federal, state, philanthropic, and other authorized sources.
  • What does a YES or NO mean?
    • • YES -> Authorizes additional funding sources for the specified city funds.
      • NO -> Maintains existing Charter language without expressly granting this additional authority.

N. Question 13: Should conservation funds also support historic preservation?

• • Currently, the Clean Water and Natural Lands Fund primarily supports acquiring and protecting significant lands.
  • This amendment would expand its permitted uses to include preserving, restoring, and maintaining historic buildings, sites, and cultural resources.

• • The fund and its advisory commission would also be renamed to reflect these responsibilities.
  • What does a YES or NO mean?
    • • YES -> Expands the fund’s eligible preservation uses and updates its name and review procedures.
      • NO -> Maintains the existing fund’s name, purposes, and procedures.

O. Question 14: Should Honolulu increase how much conservation funding may be used for land maintenance?

• • Currently, the City may use an amount equal to up to 5% of the previous year’s deposits into the Clean Water and Natural Lands Fund for operation, maintenance, and management of acquired lands.
  • This amendment would increase that percentage to 10%.
  • What does a YES or NO mean?
    • • YES -> Raises the permitted amount from 5% to 10%.
      • NO -> Maintains the existing 5% limit.

P. Question 15: Should Honolulu establish an Office of Data and Innovation?

• • This amendment would establish an office responsible for coordinating citywide data standards and strategies, promoting transparency, protecting digital privacy, and supporting the responsible use of artificial intelligence.
  • What does a YES or NO mean?
    • • YES -> Establishes the Office of Data and Innovation under the City Charter.
      • NO -> Maintains the existing Charter without requiring this office.

Please consult official resources to verify the text, background, and voting implications for Honolulu County Charter Questions 12, 13, 14, and 15. Read the full charter questions at https://www.honolulucitycouncil.org/oahuvotes

Reminder: Remember that a blank votes count as NO votes!

Q. Question 16: Should lawful permanent residents be eligible to serve on city boards and commissions?

• • Currently, service on city boards and commissions generally requires voter registration, excluding residents who are not U.S. citizens.
    
  • This amendment would allow lawful permanent residents living in Honolulu to serve on most city boards and commissions if they meet all other qualifications.
    
  • What does a YES or NO mean?
    
    • • YES -> Expands eligibility to include qualifying lawful permanent residents.
        
      • NO -> Maintains existing eligibility requirements.
        

R. Question 17: Should vacant and nonvoting board positions be excluded from quorum calculations?

• • Currently, vacancies and nonvoting positions may count toward the membership used to determine whether a city board or commission can conduct business.
    
  • This amendment would base quorum calculations on members eligible to vote and generally allow decisions by a majority of members present and voting.
    
  • What does a YES or NO mean?
    
    • • YES -> Changes how quorum and voting thresholds are calculated for covered boards and commissions.
        
      • NO -> Maintains existing Charter requirements.
        

S. Question 18: Should Honolulu exempt the First Deputy of Human Resources from civil service requirements?

• • Currently, the First Deputy of the Department of Human Resources is a civil service position.
    
  • This amendment would make the position an appointed role exempt from civil service provisions, consistent with similar deputy positions in other city departments.
    
  • What does a YES or NO mean?
    
    • • YES -> Makes the position exempt from civil service requirements beginning in 2027.
        
      • NO -> Retains the position’s existing civil service status.
        

T. Question 19: Should the City Clerk be required to support the Charter Commission?

• • Honolulu establishes a Charter Commission every ten years to review city government and recommend potential Charter changes.
    
  • Currently, the Charter does not designate a permanent office responsible for providing administrative support.
    
  • What does a YES or NO mean?
    
    • • YES -> Requires the City Clerk to provide technical and secretarial services to the Charter Commission.
        
      • NO -> Maintains the existing Charter without assigning this responsibility.
        

U. Question 20: Should impeached city officials face a two-year restriction on holding another city office?

• • This amendment would establish a two-year restriction on eligibility for city office for the Mayor, Prosecuting Attorney, or City Councilmembers who are impeached or resign after an impeachment petition has been filed.
    
  • Similar restrictions already apply following recall.
    
  • What does a YES or NO mean?
    
    • • YES -> Establishes the proposed two-year restriction.
        
      • NO -> Maintains the existing Charter without this additional restriction.
        

V. Important: Blank votes are not counted as YES or NO votes on Honolulu Charter amendments.

1. 1. Remember to check both sides of your ballot and any additional pages.
      

W. Read the full charter questions at https://www.honolulucitycouncil.org/oahuvotes

III. Eight Maui County Charter Questions

Reminder: Remember that a blank votes count as NO votes!

A. What is a county charter?

• • A county charter establishes the structure, powers, and responsibilities of local government.
    
  • Each of Hawaiʻi’s four counties has its own charter.
    
  • County charter amendments are voted on by residents of the county they apply to.
    
  • This November, Maui County residents have eight proposed amendments on their ballots.
    

B. Question 1: Should Maui County standardize deadlines for planning commission reviews?

• • This amendment would establish clearer deadlines for planning commissions to review proposed land use ordinances and General Plan revisions.
    
  • It would also establish a deadline for scheduling public hearings.
    
  • What does a YES or NO mean?
    
    • • YES -> Changes the Charter’s planning review deadlines and allows the Council to proceed if a commission does not respond within the required period.
        
      • NO -> Maintains existing planning review procedures.
        

C. Question 2: Should Maui County standardize deadlines for processing voter petitions?

• • This amendment would standardize the County Clerk’s initial petition review period to 45 days and extend the supplemental petition review period to 30 days.
    
  • These procedures apply to initiatives, recalls, and Charter amendments.
    
  • What does a YES or NO mean?
    
    • • YES -> Establishes the proposed standardized petition deadlines.
        
      • NO -> Maintains existing petition processing requirements.
        

D. Question 3: Should Maui County exclude weekends and holidays when calculating certain deadlines?

• • This amendment would establish a consistent formula for calculating deadlines under the County Charter.
    
  • When a deadline falls on a weekend or holiday, it would be extended to 4:30 PM on the next business day.
    
  • What does a YES or NO mean?
    
    • • YES -> Establishes the proposed deadline-calculation rules.
        
      • NO -> Retains existing Charter provisions.
        

E. Question 4: Should Maui County change where people file injury and property damage claims?

• • Currently, claims against the County must first be filed with the County Clerk, even though they are processed through the County’s risk management system.
    
  • This amendment would direct claims to the Director of Finance or another process established by ordinance.
    
  • What does a YES or NO mean?
    
    • • YES -> Changes the filing procedure to remove the existing County Clerk filing step.
        
      • NO -> Maintains current Charter filing requirements.
        

F. Question 5: Should Maui County remove the English translation of the state motto from its Charter?

• • The Maui County Charter currently includes the state motto in Hawaiian and English.
    
  • This amendment would remove the English translation from the preamble, leaving: Ua mau ke ea o ka ʻāina i ka pono.
    
  • What does a YES or NO mean?
    
    • • YES -> Retains the Hawaiian-language motto without its English translation in the preamble.
        
      • NO -> Keeps both the Hawaiian-language motto and English translation.
        

G. Question 6: Should Maui County clarify its emergency borrowing and funding authority?

• • This amendment would allow the Mayor, with Council approval, to seek a line of credit for emergency funding.
    
  • It would also clarify that the 1% limit on emergency appropriations does not apply to money already allocated to an emergency fund.
    
  • What does a YES or NO mean?
    
    • • YES -> Establishes the proposed emergency financing and appropriation clarifications.
        
      • NO -> Maintains existing Charter language.
        

H. Question 7: Should Maui County eliminate its Independent Nomination Board?

• • Voters approved the Independent Nomination Board in 2022 to participate in recruiting, evaluating, and nominating candidates for certain county positions.
    
  • This amendment would repeal the board and return those nomination responsibilities to the Mayor and County Council.
    
  • What does a YES or NO mean?
    
    • • YES -> Eliminates the Independent Nomination Board and restores the previous appointment process.
        
      • NO -> Retains the Independent Nomination Board and its existing Charter role.
        

I. Question 8: Should Maui County allow consecutive terms for Board of Ethics members?

• • Currently, board members generally must wait two years before being reappointed to the same board.
    
  • This amendment would allow Board of Ethics members to serve one consecutive term with approval from the Mayor and County Council.
    
  • What does a YES or NO mean?
    
    • • YES -> Allows one successive term without the existing waiting period.
        
      • NO -> Maintains the current waiting period.
        

J. Important: Blank votes are not counted as YES or NO votes on Maui Charter amendments.

1. 1. Remember to check both sides of your ballot and any additional pages.
      

K. Read the full charter questions at https://mauicountyvotes.gov/charter-amendments

IV. One Hawaiʻi Island County Charter Question

Reminder: Remember that a blank votes count as NO votes!

A. What is a county charter?

• • A county charter establishes the structure, powers, and responsibilities of local government.
    
  • Each of Hawaiʻi’s four counties has its own charter.
    
  • County charter amendments are voted on by residents of the county they apply to.
    
  • Please verify the number of proposed charter amendments on the ballot for Hawaiʻi County and Kauaʻi County by checking official resources.
    
  • Please consult official county election resources to verify the text, specific background, voting options, and rules regarding blank votes for Hawaiʻi County Question 1.
    
  • Remember to check both sides of your ballot and any additional pages.
    
  • Read the full charter questions at https://www.hawaiicounty.gov/our-county/legislative/office-of-the-county-clerk/2024-ballot-proposal-charter-amendments
    

V. One Kauaʻi County Charter Question

Reminder: Remember that a blank votes count as NO votes!

A. What is a county charter?

• • A county charter establishes the structure, powers, and responsibilities of local government.
    
  • Each of Hawaiʻi’s four counties has its own charter.
    
  • County charter amendments are voted on by residents of the county they apply to.
    
  • Please verify the number of proposed charter amendments on the ballot for Hawaiʻi County and Kauaʻi County by checking official resources.
    
  • Please consult official county election resources to verify the text, details, voting options, and rules regarding blank votes for Kauaʻi County Question 1.
    
  • Remember to check both sides of your ballot and any additional pages.
    
  • Read the full charter questions at https://www.kauai.gov/Government/Boards-and-Commissions/Charter-Review-Commission
    

Reminder: Remember that a blank votes count as NO votes!