If lawmakers want to ensure public money is used wisely, they ought to pay closer attention.

When lawmakers debated Hawaiʻi’s new “green fee” this year, they faced a choice: create a new special fund as a dedicated account for climate projects or route the money into the general fund, where the Legislature would have greater oversight and flexibility.

They chose the latter.

It was a small shift, but it raised a bigger question: With billions of dollars already parked in special and revolving funds across state government, do we really know how those funds are working or whether they’re still serving their original purpose?

Big Pieces Of Hawaiʻi’s Budget

Special and revolving funds are common tools in state budgeting.

Special funds are created by law and earmarked for specific purpose

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