Who is attempting to influence legislators? UHERO breaks down 2025 data

A new University of Hawaiʻi Economic Research Organization (UHERO) analysis of Hawaiʻi’s first full year of mandatory lobbying disclosures found that 7,188 positions were taken by 340 organizations on 1,747 bills during the 2025 legislative session, revealing which groups drove the state’s policy debates—and how.

What UHERO found:

• Support overwhelmed opposition. Of 5,050 unique positions, nearly two-thirds (63%) “supported,” 17% “opposed” and the remainder filed comments. Lobbying in Hawaiʻi appears geared more toward advancing proposals than blocking them.
• A small number of organizations are disproportionately active. The typical organization weighed in on just six bills, but the three most frequent participants—the Hawaii Farm Bureau Federation, Plumbers and Fitters Local 675, and Hawaiʻi Laborers’ Union Local 368—each took about 170 positions.
• Some organizations focus on advancing new policies, while others work primarily to block or amend them. The Ulupono Initiative and the Hawaiʻi Primary Care Association, each with 71 unique positions, lobbied in support over 95% of the time. Healthcare organizations, social service providers and progressive advocacy groups were similarly among the most active supporters of proposed legislation. Other organizations lobby in opposition the majority of the time, indicating a preference for the status quo. These include utilities, insurance companies and vice industries (tobacco and alcohol). The first two may be overrepresented in this session, given urgent debates over policy responses to the Lahaina wildfires.
• Some organizations also filed comments every or nearly every time, which could be a strategy to influence legislation without taking a hard yes/no stand. Examples of these more cautious organizations include private sector unions, major corporations and trade associations.
• Different sectors and interest groups show distinct patterns and levels of participation. UHERO categorized all organizations into one of 15 interest groups or economic sectors. Advocacy groups, health organizations, trade associations and private sector unions are the top 4 most active by position count, making up 39% of all organizations, but a disproportionate 55% of all positions. Sectors also display patterns of offense, defense and caution, supporting the organization-level interpretation above.

For the entire blog and insight into the Legislative/Administrative Action Report’s limitations, visit UHERO’s website.

In UHERO’s next blog, researchers will explore the data at the bill level, highlighting contested policy areas, organizational coalitions and correlations between lobbying activity and bill progress.