On Politics: At 50, Hawaii’s beautiful Capitol building needs better care

By Richard Borreca, Special to the Star-Advertiser on March 24, 2019
• Updated on March 22, 2019 at 9:18 pm

By Richard Borreca, Special to the Star-Advertiser Posted on March 24, 2019
• Updated on March 22, 2019 at 9:18 pm

Happy Birthday, Hawaii State Capitol: Here’s hoping we can take better care of you, so you can last another 50 years. Read More

Column: Abercrombie gives Beto O’Rourke’s presidential candidacy an enthusiastic thumbs up

By Richard Borreca, Special to the Star-Advertiser on March 17, 2019
• Updated on March 16, 2019 at 5:48 pm

By Richard Borreca, Special to the Star-Advertiser Posted on March 17, 2019
• Updated on March 16, 2019 at 5:48 pm

As the Beto O’Rourke for President campaign arrives in Hawaii, some of the first hands pushing the effort forward belong to former Democratic Gov. Neil Abercrombie. Read More

On Politics: Rail scrutiny goes from questions of urban planning to criminal culpability

By Richard Borreca, Special to the Star-Advertiser on March 3, 2019
• Updated on March 2, 2019 at 7:25 pm

By Richard Borreca, Special to the Star-Advertiser Posted on March 3, 2019
• Updated on March 2, 2019 at 7:25 pm

If there ever was a government entity in need of a shot of public confidence, it is HART — the Honolulu Authority for Rapid Transportation. Read More

On Politics: Harsh federal spotlight leaves Hawaii squirming in hot seat

By Richard Borreca, Special to the Star-Advertiser on February 24, 2019
• Updated on February 24, 2019 at 6:57 am

By Richard Borreca, Special to the Star-Advertiser Posted on February 24, 2019
• Updated on February 24, 2019 at 6:57 am

I can count a half-dozen times over the years when the federal government has told Hawaii officials to either do more to control a problem, pay attention to your citizens’ needs or simply clean up the place. And when the state or county refused, it cost hundreds of millions of Hawaii taxpayer dollars. Read More

On Politics: Contrary to buzz, legislators still have hefty concerns about recreational marijuana

By Richard Borreca, Special to the Star-Advertiser on February 17, 2019
• Updated on February 17, 2019 at 12:19 am

By Richard Borreca, Special to the Star-Advertiser Posted on February 17, 2019
• Updated on February 17, 2019 at 12:19 am

Hawaii, in 2000, became the first state to legislatively approve having and using marijuana for medical purposes. Read More

On Politics: Counties get taste of GET and want bigger portion of tax

By Richard Borreca, Special to the Star-Advertiser on February 10, 2019
• Updated on February 9, 2019 at 7:17 pm

By Richard Borreca, Special to the Star-Advertiser Posted on February 10, 2019
• Updated on February 9, 2019 at 7:17 pm

It will be up to the counties to figure out another way besides just asking for new, never-envisioned taxing powers — because this Legislature is not giving up its power. Read More

On Politics: Vote-by-mail statewide and mandatory recount law among election-reform priorities

By Richard Borreca, Special to the Star-Advertiser on February 3, 2019
• Updated on February 2, 2019 at 6:23 pm

By Richard Borreca, Special to the Star-Advertiser Posted on February 3, 2019
• Updated on February 2, 2019 at 6:23 pm

Hawaii is one of seven states lacking a state law allowing losing political candidates to petition for a recount. Read More

On Politics: Abercrombie’s preschool actions then are building blocks for Ige’s program today

By Richard Borreca, Special to the Star-Advertiser on January 27, 2019
• Updated on January 27, 2019 at 7:10 am

By Richard Borreca, Special to the Star-Advertiser Posted on January 27, 2019
• Updated on January 27, 2019 at 7:10 am

It has taken more than a half-dozen years and a new governor, but finally, Hawaii is moving to create a state-run preschool education system. Read More

On Politics: For presidential wannabe Tulsi Gabbard, early homophobia is just start of topics to question

By Richard Borreca, Special to the Star-Advertiser on January 20, 2019
• Updated on January 20, 2019 at 6:38 pm

By Richard Borreca, Special to the Star-Advertiser Posted on January 20, 2019
• Updated on January 20, 2019 at 6:38 pm

Instead of recounting her campaign theme of world peace, she is being forced to answer for her past campaigns against gays and praise for a list of right-wing dictators. Read More

On Politics: As with Ed Case, Democratic Party’s political trust of Tulsi Gabbard won’t come easy

By Richard Borreca, Special to the Star-Advertiser on January 13, 2019
• Updated on January 12, 2019 at 10:37 pm

By Richard Borreca, Special to the Star-Advertiser Posted on January 13, 2019
• Updated on January 12, 2019 at 10:37 pm

For Gabbard, much like Case, political trust is not assumed; it is still something measured daily. Read More

On Politics: Ige got Caldwell’s help in tough campaign; now state budget proposes $125M for Ala Wai

By Richard Borreca Special to the Star-Advertiser on December 23, 2018
• Updated on December 24, 2018 at 6:43 pm

By Richard Borreca Special to the Star-Advertiser Posted on December 23, 2018
• Updated on December 24, 2018 at 6:43 pm

Gov. David Ige and Honolulu Mayor Kirk Caldwell are growing closer in both political and government operations. It appears they are sharing the wealth in both arenas. Read More

On Politics: Troubling questions surround Kaneshiro, once Dems’ law-and-order man

By Richard Borreca, Special to the Star-Advertiser on December 16, 2018
• Updated on December 15, 2018 at 6:44 pm

By Richard Borreca, Special to the Star-Advertiser Posted on December 16, 2018
• Updated on December 15, 2018 at 6:44 pm

Going from being the darling of the old Hawaii Democratic machine to now someone under federal investigation, Keith Kaneshiro’s career as the Honolulu prosecutor appears ready to flame out. Read More

On Politics: Dreaming big for Hawaii mired by small goals, petty politics

By Richard Borreca, Special to the Star-Advertiser on December 9, 2018
• Updated on December 8, 2018 at 7:10 pm

By Richard Borreca, Special to the Star-Advertiser Posted on December 9, 2018
• Updated on December 8, 2018 at 7:10 pm

To be good, a governor’s inaugural address should not be about the person delivering it; rather, it should speak with confidence and hope and about those governed. Read More

On Politics: Climate-change research is call to action for government officials on all levels

Richard Borreca on December 2, 2018
• Updated on December 2, 2018 at 12:29 am

Richard Borreca Posted on December 2, 2018
• Updated on December 2, 2018 at 12:29 am

This is a dicey time for Hawaii; we just dodged a scary hurricane season. Be it luck or wind shear, Honolulu was just miles away from a major wipeout. Read More

On Politics: City thinks too richly as money woes mount

By Richard Borreca, Special to the Star-Advertiser on November 25, 2018
• Updated on November 23, 2018 at 8:49 pm

By Richard Borreca, Special to the Star-Advertiser Posted on November 25, 2018
• Updated on November 23, 2018 at 8:49 pm

It is not often that you can turn to F. Scott Fitzgerald for a lesson in City Hall politics, but there it was. Read More

On Politics: CNN win over Trump is present-day echo of Borreca v. Fasi

By Richard Borreca, Special to the Star-Advertiser on November 18, 2018
• Updated on November 17, 2018 at 7:42 pm

By Richard Borreca, Special to the Star-Advertiser Posted on November 18, 2018
• Updated on November 17, 2018 at 7:42 pm

“Borreca v. Fasi” was one of the first federal decisions regarding rights of reporters to attend public news conferences, and was cited in last week’s CNN ruling. Read More

On Politics: Putting aside election bad blood won’t be easy for Ige, legislative leaders

By Richard Borreca, Special to the Star-Advertiser on November 11, 2018
• Updated on November 9, 2018 at 9:03 pm

By Richard Borreca, Special to the Star-Advertiser Posted on November 11, 2018
• Updated on November 9, 2018 at 9:03 pm

Two things from Tuesday’s election: First, Hawaii just doesn’t vote, and second, there are no early indications of any significant changes in state government. So if you liked 2018, you are likely to love 2019. Read More

On Politics: After dull 2018 election, get ready for lively 2020 race, mainly for mayor

By Richard Borreca, Special to the Star-Advertiser on November 4, 2018
• Updated on November 2, 2018 at 8:00 pm

By Richard Borreca, Special to the Star-Advertiser Posted on November 4, 2018
• Updated on November 2, 2018 at 8:00 pm

The good news is that this boring election season is ending. The even better news is that the race for 2020 has already started. Read More

On Politics: Odd couples sit atop governor, lieutenant governor tickets

By Richard Borreca, Special to the Star-Advertiser on October 28, 2018
• Updated on October 26, 2018 at 7:49 pm

By Richard Borreca, Special to the Star-Advertiser Posted on October 28, 2018
• Updated on October 26, 2018 at 7:49 pm

There is absolutely no doubt where Green, a Big Island emergency room physician, stands with Ige: right next to him with a big grin. Read More

On Politics: Yee-haw! Horita, a staunch Democrat in Aloha State, lends a hand in Lone Star State

By Richard Borreca, Special to the Star-Advertiser on October 7, 2018
• Updated on October 7, 2018 at 1:21 am

By Richard Borreca, Special to the Star-Advertiser Posted on October 7, 2018
• Updated on October 7, 2018 at 1:21 am

Why does former state Rep. Karen Horita think Texas is just the perfect place for a Hawaii Democrat to campaign? Read More

On Politics: Private-public partnership on rail to take generations of Oahu taxpayers on wild ride

By Richard Borreca, Special to the Star-Advertiser on September 30, 2018
• Updated on September 28, 2018 at 7:56 pm

By Richard Borreca, Special to the Star-Advertiser Posted on September 30, 2018
• Updated on September 28, 2018 at 7:56 pm

Here’s some advice for your grandchildren: Start practicing saying “Who elected you?” because they will be hollering that 20 or 30 years down the road. Read More

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