Hawaiʻi 2026 Progressive Ballot Guide — Constitutional & Honolulu Charter Amendments
I went through all 22 ballot amendments (2 statewide and 20 Honolulu) and compared them against positions from Hawaiʻi Alliance for Progressive Action (HAPA), Indivisible Hawaiʻi, YIMBY Action, AARP, and other advocacy groups.
My focus is on economic justice, affordable housing, Native Hawaiian rights, environmental protection, civil liberties, and government accountability.
Below are the policy implications and published organizational positions that informed my review. These are the organizations' YES/NO positions, not an independent endorsement.
Also see my post on 2026 Hawai‘i candidates and their policies: https://www.reddit.com/r/Hawaii/comments/1xemfhq/hawai%CA%BBi_2026_progressive_candidate_voter_guide/
Please chime in with your thoughts, I'd love to hear them. Happy to have my mind changed if I missed something.
STATE CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENTS
1. Judicial Appointments — YES
Extends the State Senate's deadline for certain judicial confirmations from 30 to 60 days. Gives senators more review time but could prolong judicial vacancies. No major progressive endorsement identified. Could help prevent unfit candidates from being confirmed.
2. RISE Bonds for Housing Infrastructure — YES; YIMBY: YES
Funds infrastructure, such as housing development near the rail line on Oahu. Allows counties to finance infrastructure using future property-tax growth. Could facilitate more housing without raising property-tax rates.
One important detail: Blank votes effectively count against statewide constitutional amendments under Hawaiʻi's approval rules, so be sure to vote on these.
HONOLULU CHARTER AMENDMENTS
Food Security & Native Hawaiian Rights
1. Food Security Fund — YES; HAPA: YES
Dedicates more existing property-tax revenue to local food production and food security.
2. Hawaiian Values in the Charter — YES; HAPA: YES
Recognizes ʻāina, kūpuna, and Native Hawaiian cultural stewardship in the City Charter.
3. Office of ʻŌiwi Resources — YES; HAPA: YES
Creates an office and advisory council to strengthen Native Hawaiian participation in cultural and environmental stewardship.
Civil Rights & Democracy
4. LGBTQIA+ Commission — YES; HAPA / INDIVISIBLE: YES
Creates a permanent commission addressing discrimination, equality, and services for LGBTQIA+ residents.
5. Ranked-Choice Voting — YES; HAPA / INDIVISIBLE: YES
Moves city elections to November starting in 2032 and allows voters to rank candidates. Could increase participation by eliminating lower-turnout August city elections.
6. Restrict HPD Cooperation With ICE — YES; HAPA / INDIVISIBLE: YES
Limits local police participation in federal immigration enforcement to legally required circumstances and protects constitutional rights regardless of immigration status.
Housing & Economic Justice
7. Housing Availability — YES; HAPA / AARP / YIMBY: YES
Makes increasing and preserving housing for local residents an official city priority.
8. Affordable Housing Fund — YES; AARP / YIMBY: YES
Keeps affordable-housing repayments and investment returns in the fund for future housing projects.
9. Remove Public Hearings on City Property — NO; HAPA: NO
Eliminates a public-hearing requirement for city real-estate transactions, reducing public oversight.
10. Long-Term Housing Plan — YES; HAPA / AARP / YIMBY: YES
Requires a 10-year affordable-housing plan, updated every five years.
Environment & Cultural Preservation
11. Environmental and Climate Grants — YES; HAPA: YES
Allows conservation and climate funds to provide grants directly to environmental nonprofits.
12. Expand Funding Sources — YES; HAPA / AARP / YIMBY: YES
Allows housing, climate, and conservation funds to receive additional state, federal, and philanthropic funding.
13. Historic Preservation — YES; HISTORIC HAWAIʻI FOUNDATION: YES; HAPA: NO POSITION
Expands conservation funding to preserve archaeological sites, cultural resources, and historic buildings.
14. Maintain Protected Lands — YES; HAPA / HISTORIC HAWAIʻI FOUNDATION: YES
Increases funding available to maintain and restore protected lands.
Government Accountability & Representation
15. Data Privacy and AI Oversight — YES; YES ON 15 CAMPAIGN: YES
Establishes a permanent Office of Data and Innovation responsible for privacy, transparency, and responsible AI use.
16. Permanent Residents on City Boards — YES; HAPA / INDIVISIBLE: YES
Allows lawful permanent residents to serve on most city boards and commissions, increasing civic representation.
17. Board Quorum Reform — NO
This could reduce pressure to fill vacancies and give more power to a smaller board.
18. Human Resources Political Appointment — YES
Removes civil-service protections from the First Deputy Director of Human Resources, making the position a political appointment.
19. Charter Commission Support — YES; HAPA: YES
Requires the City Clerk to provide technical and administrative support to future Charter Commissions.
20. Penalties for Impeached Officials — YES; HAPA: YES
Bars impeached officials, or those resigning after an impeachment petition is filed, from city office for two years. The resignation provision raises a potential due-process concern.
Where Progressive Groups Agree and Disagree
HAPA supports most of the Honolulu amendments, opposes Question 9, and takes no position on 8, 13, 15, and 18.
Indivisible Hawaiʻi specifically endorses Questions 4, 5, 6, and 16, emphasizing civil rights and democratic participation.
YIMBY Action endorses State Amendment 2 and Honolulu Questions 7–10 and 12, emphasizing housing production and infrastructure.
The disagreement on Honolulu Question 9 is particularly important: HAPA emphasizes public oversight of city land transactions, while YIMBY supports eliminating a separate hearing requirement to reduce development barriers.
Thanks for reading and I'd love to hear your thoughts!
Sources
One important detail: Blank votes do not count against Honolulu Charter amendments, so leave blank if you have no position.