The Fight Over Pay-to-Play Isn’t Over
The Fight for Pay-to-Play Isn’t Over
In 2024, The New York Times exposed what many people in Hawaiʻi already knew: contractors are using campaign donations to build influence.
Hawaiʻi tried to stop this in 2005. It was landmark legislation, loophole written in the bill let executives and their spouses keep giving. And those donations have been concentrated around legislative leadership and key committee chairs who control funding and approvals.
SB2530 was supposed to fix this. Now it’s been weakened. I wrote about what’s changed, and what’s at stake, on Civil Beat.
Judiciary, Finance, and House leadership have a choice: pass a bill that covers all branches and the full process, or leave the loophole in place and continue allowing pay-to-play politics to persist.
Because if they don’t fix this, the shadow cast by corruption scandals doesn’t go away. It lingers over every decision, every contract, and every lawmaker.
And that’s what makes it so frustrating…most lawmakers haven’t participated in this system and gain nothing from keeping it in place. But by allowing it to continue, they’re forced to carry the consequences anyway. One bad apple doesn’t just spoil itself, it erodes trust in the entire institution.
At the same time, two good government bills are being heard this Thursday in Finance.
The action alert is below, please take a moment to send testimony and make your voice heard.
Thanks for staying engaged. We have six weeks left in session, and every moment counts!
In Solidarity,
Aria Juliet Castillo
Testimony due Wednesday April 1, at 2:00 PM
Support SB1032 SD2 : End Foreign Influence on Campaigns
Support SB2239 SD1 HD1 : Automatic Voter Registration
Automatic Voter Registration
Hearing in FIN on Thursday, April 2, 2026, at 2:00 PM | Conference Room 308
Why SB2239 Matters
SB2239 shifts Hawaiʻi's voter registration system from opt-in to opt-out.This matters because a democracy only works when people can easily participate in it. Right now, too many eligible voters are left out simply because the system requires extra steps. Automatic voter registration removes those barriers, ensures more voices are heard, and helps our government better reflect the people it serves.
Short sample testimony
Aloha Aloha Chair Todd, Vice Chair Takenouchi, and members of the Committee,
I am writing in strong support of SB 2239 SD1 HD1.
Hawaiʻi’s low voter turnout is not about apathy, it’s about access. This bill removes one of the biggest barriers by making voter registration automatic when people interact with government services they already use.
It does not change who is eligible to vote. It simply makes participation easier for people who are already eligible.
{Insert additional comments here}
This is a practical, proven way to increase participation and strengthen our democracy.
Please pass SB 2239 SD1 HD1.
Mahalo,
Your Name, Town
End Foreign Influence on Campaigns
Hearing in FIN on Thursday, April 2, 2026, at 2:00 PM | Conference Room 308
Why SB1032 Matters
Elections should reflect the will of Hawaiʻi’s people, not be shaped by foreign financial interests. SB 1032 SD2 does this by prohibiting business entities with significant foreign ownership or control from making political contributions or expenditures in state elections. When money can flow through complex corporate structures, it creates a loophole that undermines trust in our democracy. This bill closes that gap and keeps political power where it belongs—with the people.
Sample Testimony
Personalized testimony is the most impactful way to influence lawmakers. Please use this as a guide to draft your own words.
Aloha Chair Todd, Vice Chair Takenouchi, and members of the Committee,
I strongly supports SB 1032, SD2.
Foreign influence does not always come directly—it often flows through domestic entities with foreign ownership. This bill closes that loophole by ensuring those entities cannot spend money in our elections.
It does not change who can participate as individuals. It simply protects our elections from outside financial influence.
This is about integrity, transparency, and public trust.
Please pass SB 1032, SD2.
Mahalo.
