Con Am And County Charters

Voters across Hawaiʻi will decide on two proposed amendments to the Hawaiʻi State Constitution, along with county charter amendments that could change how local government operates. Earlier this week we shared our guide for Honolulu City & County Charter Amendments. Below are the 2 State Constitutional Amendments and all other proposed county charter amendments

State Constitutional Amendments (All Islands)

Question 1: Judicial Appointments

Gives the State Senate 60 days instead of 30 days to review and act on certain judicial appointments made between April 1 and December 31, when the Senate is not in regular session or is about to adjourn.

Civil Beat: Reporting

Question 2: Infrastructure Financing (RISE Bonds)

Allows counties, under state law, to issue bonds to pay for public infrastructure and improvements in designated districts. The bonds would be repaid through future growth in property tax revenues within those districts, without raising property tax rates, and would be excluded from county debt limits.

Learn More from Hawaii Appleseed

Civil Beat: Reporting on Issue, Op Ed, and Reporting on Funding Behind Campaign

Star Advertiser: Op-Ed, Editorial

Important: Leaving either state constitutional amendment question blank counts the same as a "No" vote.

Kauaʻi County - 1 Charter Amendment

Question 1: Planning Appeals

Would remove references to the unused Zoning Board of Appeals from the County Charter, clarifying the existing process for appealing Planning Department decisions.

Learn more: Hawaiʻi Public Radio

Maui County - 8 Charter Amendments

Question 1: Clarifies deadlines for Planning Commission reviews of land use proposals.

Question 2: Standardizes deadlines for processing voter petitions, including initiatives and recalls.

Question 3: Establishes consistent rules for calculating deadlines, excluding weekends and holidays.

Question 4: Simplifies how residents file injury or property damage claims against the County.

Question 5: Removes the English translation of the Hawaiʻi state motto from the Charter preamble, retaining the original ʻŌlelo Hawaiʻi.

Question 6: Clarifies emergency funding procedures, including lines of credit and spending limits.

Question 7: Eliminates the Independent Nomination Board established in 2022, returning appointment authority to the Mayor and County Council.

Question 8: Allows members of the Board of Ethics to serve two consecutive terms with Council approval.

Learn more: Civil Beat

Hawaiʻi County - 1 Charter Amendment

Question 1: County Auditor

Would allow the County Auditor to hire a deputy auditor and exercise personnel authority similar to executive department heads. The proposal is intended to strengthen the Auditor's Office and support continuity of operations.

Learn more: Hawaiʻi Public Radio

We encourage you to take a few minutes to review the questions, understand what a Yes or No vote means, and complete your entire ballot.

For a complete statewide overview, visit Honolulu Civil Beat's 2026 Charter and Constitutional Amendment Guide.

Election Day is Tuesday, November 3, 2026.

Mahalo for being an engaged voter!

Aria Juliet Castillo

Reclaiming Democracy Program Director

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