Opinion and analysis by the Honolulu Star-Advertiser Editorial Board. Get informed with columns and commentary, and submit a letter to the editor.
The Haiku Stairs are slated for removal, with full-scale operations beginning in about a week — and so, predictably, trespassers intent on taking the challenging climb on the Windward side one last time have proliferated. Read more
The conflicts at the top of the Honolulu Authority for Rapid Transportation grow increasingly worrisome, especially since the rail project itself must stay on track. Read more
Contrary to popular belief, jaywalking laws do little to improve roadway safety. Read more
It truly is shameful: The state Board of Land and Natural Resources (BLNR) has been judged to have “acted in bad faith” in alleging that stream protections for East Maui caused a shortage of water needed to fight the devastating Lahaina fire of Aug. 8. Read more
The Star-Advertiser got it backwards recently in publishing two articles on Earth Day about regenerative tourism and our economy (“Regenerative tourism draws groups to isles,” “Waimea Valley plans renovation project,” Star-Advertiser, April 7). Read more
During my daily walks for exercise, I multitask and pick up litter as I go along. The Swedish have a word for it — plogging — picking up litter while jogging. Read more
Big ticket reforms like term limits and full public financing of elections may be beneficial but won’t necessarily curb big money’s influence in the Citizens United era. Read more
Mexico is populated largely by the native descendants of one of the most brutal colonizations in the history of the world. Read more
Marijuana, pot, cannabis. Call it what you want; it’s a mind-altering drug much as alcohol. Read more
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Of course, Gov. Josh Green should sign into law the latest raft of bills that are being described as “good government” legislation. Read more
Changes are coming to Waimea Valley, with support from a $4.3 million federal grant — though work isn’t expected to begin until next year. Read more
Robert F. Kennedy Jr., running under the We the People party, will appear on the Hawaii ballot, making this the third state so far to give RFK ballot access. Read more
The Hawaii Legislature is considering two bills related to short-term rentals: Senate Bill 2919 and House Bill 1838 would allow counties to effectively ban legal short-term property rentals. Read more
I strongly agree with Honolulu Prosecutor Steve Alm’s argument against legalizing marijuana (“‘De facto’ legal pot bill endangers public,” Star-Advertiser, Island Voices, April 21). Read more
House Bill 2653, which would entirely exempt Hawaii’s qualified family- owned businesses from state of Hawaii estate taxes, is perfectly written to completely eliminate estate taxes from the approximate 0.2% of our population that is considered ultra-rich. Read more
I have been totally unsuccessful in finding a recycling facility that will take bottle and jar glass not covered by Hawaii’s Glass Advance Disposal Fee Program (ADF) and Deposit Beverage Container Program (HI-5). Read more
Something seems to be terribly wrong with our foster care system. Several children have died in past few years while they were supposed to be taken care of. Read more
Shame on Columbia University and its cowardly president for ordering the arrest of 100 students who were peacefully demonstrating for the rights of Palestinians. Read more
Turo car rental vehicles being stored on residential streets are a bane on the city. Read more
For some in Hawaii, the legalization of recreational marijuana is viewed as an inevitability. Read more
Facts are facts. The majority of short-term rentals (STRs) in Hawaii are illegal, mostly owned by nonresidents, contribute to skyrocketing housing costs by turning our homes into illegal hotels for speculators, and most of us who live in Hawaii don’t want them here. Read more
