We are in a difficult pandemic crisis, which is compromising health and effective learning. We have no plan of when or how to respond to more than 4,000 new infections per day, or the many teachers and staffers who are out ill. We lack criteria to trigger a shift to hybrid or online learning. We are inflexibly stuck on one approach only: in-person learning. Read more
Hawaii has the highest barriers in the nation for companies that exchange cryptocurrency, and those restrictions could worsen if lawmakers don’t hurry and open the door for this potentially prosperous new realm of business. Read more
When I was 9 years old, my single mother and I took a leap of faith and moved from Malaysia to Hawaii. First-generation immigrants, we had no connections, just ambitions to create a new life with an abundance of opportunities Read more
This past December marked the 80th anniversary of the bombing of Pearl Harbor. And while many Americans took time to remember those lost nearly a century ago during the infamous attack, it is equally important to honor Hawaii’s men and women who continue to serve us today. Read more
Given that a clear majority of Republican voters believe that Joe Biden’s presidential victory last year was fraudulent, it is no surprise that Republican-controlled state legislatures are enacting laws that change how votes are cast and counted. Read more
I’m not an astronomer, nor do I work for an observatory but, by chance, I read the Mauna Kea Working Group (MKWG) draft report and was so dismayed by its unconstitutional tenets, I decided to respond. Read more
There is a push by the hotel lobby, some politicians and a few NIMBYs in wealthy neighborhoods such as Lanikai to increase the minimum stay requirement for rentals from one month to six months. Read more
The first week back to school from Christmas break went smoothly, considering surging cases in the community and the recent quarantine guideline changes. I have heard from some parents concerned about sending children to school, and some of my students also express fears of getting sick. However, most students and faculty that I have spoken with prefer in-person learning and believe we can do it safely. Read more
Public transit is an essential part of the economic and social well-being. Honolulu has one of the best in the nation, a testimony to the commitment the city has made over many years to provide mobility and access to all persons. The financial cost of providing transit is shared by city taxpayers, federal funds and fares paid by passengers. Read more
The recent commentary, “The $1 million home: a monument to destructive capitalism” (Island Voices, Star-Advertiser, Jan. 4), made some excellent points, but the conclusion in the headline is wide of the mark. Read more
As a former board member of the Honolulu Authority for Rapid Transportation, here are my New Year’s resolutions for HART in 2022: Read more
Having passed first reading, Honolulu Council Bill 41 (2021), and maybe the administration-proposed CD1, will be heard at the Jan. 13 Zoning Committee hearing. It provides for enhanced enforcement against illegal vacation rentals, land use changes, hotel and time share rules, and more. Read more
For hundreds of thousands of years, we humans have been looking beyond our own selves to make sacrifices to improve the lives of our children. Read more
We have all been victims of the greatest crime of 2021 — the crime by greedy, selfish and myopic real estate agents, sellers and buyers, who have boosted the median house price on Oahu, Maui and Kauai above $1 million. Read more
Farmers, ranchers and agricultural producers become good at recognizing the signs of stress in plants and animals — but may pay less attention to their own stress and need for self-care. Read more
The poisoning of military families’ drinking water at the Red Hill Shaft is the inevitable consequence of trying to maintain a decrepit bulk fuel storage facility. Read more
More than 350 high school students — in the Center for Tomorrow’s Leaders program from across the state — wrote a response to the prompt, “Tell a local lawmaker: What is the one thing that must change in order for you to picture yourself having a good future in Hawaii?” Read more
Among the many issues under consideration will be those dealing with the state’s criminal justice system, including ongoing efforts to replace the current Oahu Community Correctional Center (OCCC), the state’s largest jail. Read more
Despite President Joe Biden’s push for a higher minimum wage nationwide and having the most Democratic-heavy Legislature in the country, the minimum wage in Hawaii remains at a paltry $10.10, the lowest among “blue states.” Read more
As we get past another year of the COVID-19 pandemic, we have gone through a lot — not only as individuals, but as a community and a country. Read more
In this season of Christmas, my spiritual practice focuses on the primary teachings of Christianity and the way all faiths can transform our living. Read more
75