Looking to the mainland for guidance and re-establishing an office of the state fire marshal are the two top priorities.

Angus McKelvey says the state government needs to do more to prevent a massive sell-off of land.

A House working group found a long list of things Hawaii needs to do to protect itself from fire, but many of those recommendations will fall to the new state fire marshal to implement.

Members of the House and Senate also agreed to create a new position for a state fire marshal to promote fire safety.

The utility wanted to add a fee of up to 5% to customers’ bills to finance the program, but a key Senator balked. The governor has stepped in to try to save it.

Hundreds of Lahaina fire victims came out strongly against a bill that could allow HECO to impose a new fee on customers to help prevent wildfires.

Hawaiian Electric Co. executives want an extra fee of up to 5% added to electric bills to develop and implement a wildfire prevention plan.

Senators also gave preliminary approval to a $19 billion supplemental budget bill to pay for state government operations for the coming year.

Senators worry about the escalating costs for Maui hotels that the federal government is refusing to pay.

Hawaiian Electric Industries’ president and chief executive has said the company may look at “shareholder contributions” and new fees on customers to help cover claims.