Independent Expenditure Committees (“Super PACs”)
These are noncandidate committees that have registered and certified with the Commission that they will only be making independent expenditures. “Independent expenditures” means an expenditure expressly advocating the election or defeat of a clearly identified candidate that is not made in concert or cooperation with or at the suggestion of the candidate, the candidate committee, a party, or their agents. See, HRS §11-302.
As a result of a federal lawsuit entitled Yamada, et al v. Weaver, et al., the Commission is enjoined from enforcing the $1,000 contribution limit as provided in HRS §11-358. Therefore, there is no limit on contributions to noncandidate committees making solely independent expenditures.
NOTE: Please be aware that if a noncandidate committee making solely independent expenditures makes or directs a contribution to a candidate or candidate committee, or coordinates an expenditure with a candidate or candidate committee, it will not be considered a noncandidate committee making solely independent expenditures. Thus, the contribution limit of $1,000 as specified in HRS §11-358 will be applied.
The following is a list of the 23 noncandidate committees making solely independent expenditures that are currently registered with the Commission including links to their organizational reports and filed disclosure reports:
- A Brighter Future for Hawaii – Organizational Report / Disclosure Reports (Reg. 7/24/18)
- AiKea UNITE HERE – Organizational Report / Disclosure Reports (Reg. 6/24/12)
- Aloha Aina Oiaio – Organizational Report / Disclosure Reports (Reg. 7/11/20)
- Be Change Now – Organizational Report / Disclosure Reports (Reg. 4/30/18)
- BIA-Hawaii Super PAC – Organizational Report / Disclosure Reports (Reg. 5/15/14)
- Friends of Council District 9 – Organizational Report / Disclosure Reports (Reg. 9/29/20)
- Hawaii Conservatives – Organizational Report / Disclosure Reports (Reg. 8/24/22)
- Hawaii Family Advocates – Organizational Report / Disclosure Reports (Reg. 9/30/20)
- Hawaii Realtors for Good Government – Organizational Report / Disclosure Reports (Reg. 5/4/16)
- HIRA Action – Organizational Report / Disclosure Reports (Reg. 9/25/13)
- HiVISION2020 – Organizational Report / Disclosure Reports (Reg. 6/22/20)
- Imua Hawai PAC – Organizational Report / Disclosure Reports (Reg. 8/2/18)
- Kaiaulu Builders – Organizational Report / Disclosure Reports (Reg. 9/25/18)
- Knights of Aloha – Organizational Report / Disclosure Reports (Reg. 11/17/20)
- Kuhio PAC – Organizational Report / Disclosure Reports (Reg. 11/23/21)
- Local Business 4 Change – Organizational Report / Disclosure Reports (Reg. 2/21/22)
- Maui’s Ohana Candidates – Organizational Report / Disclosure Reports (Reg. 7/15/22)
- National Association of Realtors Fund – Organizational Report / Disclosure Reports (Reg. 7/15/14)
- One Ohana Political Action Committee – Organizational Report / Disclosure Reports (Reg. 7/1/14)
- Our Hawaii PAC – Organizational Report / Disclosure Reports (Reg. 7/12/22)
- Planned Parenthood Alliance PAC, Serving WA, AK, ID, HI, IN, KY – Organizational Report / Disclosure Reports (Reg. 7/14/20)
- S.A.F.E. Sustainable Action Fund for the Environment – Organizational Report / Disclosure Reports (Reg. 7/25/16)
- Victory Calls 2022 – Organizational Report / Disclosure Reports (Reg. 4/14/22)