What is RISE?
This November, Hawaiʻi voters decide whether counties can fund essential community infrastructure like roads, water and sewer systems, energy systems, and other public needs, without increasing property taxes and with independent audits and public reporting required by law.
Do your part
What RISE Would Do
Strengthen what we all depend on, without raising property taxes
RISE helps counties pay for needed infrastructure up front and repay that cost over time with the new public revenue created by growth in the area — without raising property tax rates. It is a practical, transparent way to help build what communities need.
~$680M in priority water needs.
Kauaʻi’s water system includes infrastructure more than a century old. The County has identified roughly $680 million in priority improvements over the next 20 years.
Source: Kauaʻi County
Why RISE Is Needed
Our infrastructure is aging faster than we’re fixing it
Hawaiʻi faces real infrastructure challenges at a time when families are already stretched. The high cost of living, the lack of housing people can afford, aging roads and utilities, and increasing vulnerability to storms and flooding all point to the same need: communities need better ways to invest in public infrastructure without endlessly shifting more costs onto taxpayers.
Water systems strong enough to fight a wildfire
Drainage that can handle a flood
Power that stays on in a storm
Accountability Built In
Every dollar tracked. Every year audited
Every RISE district, the local area a county sets up to use this tool, would be subject to independent annual audits and public reporting, required by law, before any RISE funds are used.
The ask
Vote yes. And don’t skip the question
This question works differently from the rest of your ballot. It passes only if there are 50% plus 1 “yes” votes among all ballots cast in the general election. A blank vote counts the same as a “no” vote. On past Hawaiʻi amendments, as many as 14% of voters skipped the question. Mark it yes, and ask your friends, family, and coworkers to do the same.
50%
plus one of all ballots cast is the bar a yes has to clear
14%
of voters skipped the question on past Hawaiʻi amendments
11/3
Election Day, November 3, 2026
Get involved
Want to help pass RISE? Four things make the difference
Take the pledge
Commit to voting yes and to marking the question. We’ll remind you when your ballot is in the mail.
Sign up for updates
Campaign news and a ballot reminder, by email or text.
Share it
Grab a graphic and a plain-language explanation from the toolkit, and send it to five people who vote.
Bring RISE to your organization
Add your organization’s name in support, or ask us to present to your board, union hall, neighborhood board, or community group.
RISE is supported by a coalition of organizations across housing, labor, business, and community groups.
Your ballot
A blank vote counts as no
It passes only with 50% plus one of all ballots cast. Skipping the question counts the same as voting no. In 2024, one in seven voters left a constitutional amendment blank.
In plain language
Can counties fund roads, water, sewer and energy systems without raising your taxes?
Yes
No
Leaving it blank counts the same as no.