Voters get an unfair rap. Because of stacked campaign finance laws that protect incumbents and incompetence by the local GOP, voters often find few realistic ballot options for change. Read more
The political and cultural wars over wearing face masks to fend off the coronavirus get more confounding by the day. Read more
Honolulu is fortunate to have a fine police department relatively free of abusive practices, led by an able chief who seems to have a good understanding of modern policing. Read more
With protests over police misconduct raging across the country, the last thing we need is worries about the quality of oversight of the Honolulu Police Department. Read more
In the Legislature’s recent 10-day emergency session, lawmakers devoted more energy to fighting Gov. David Ige than the virus. Read more
If political leaders don’t stop stoking divisions instead of building trust for reopening, we face a nightmare scenario of not enough reopening to rekindle the economy, but plenty enough to rekindle the virus. Read more
State legislators will need sober assessments and not wishful thinking when they reconvene this week to plug a huge hole in the state budget caused by the coronavirus pandemic. Read more
Painful to watch in the coronavirus pandemic is Gov. David Ige’s callous lack of urgency in getting unemployment checks to the more than 200,000 Hawaii workers left without income in the local economic shutdown. Read more
News releases from our congressional delegates during COVID-19 have been a lesson in how influence has diminished in Congress since then. Read more
Some leaders rise to the moment in a crisis, while others shrink into their smallest selves. Read more
After two weeks at home consuming news about the fear and turmoil gripping the world from a deadly pandemic with no clear end, I was fascinated by the tranquility I found when I finally ventured out. Read more
The coronavirus is forcing us to change our ways of doing things — often causing hardship, but in some instances bringing change that turns out for the better, such as the stripped-down debate format. Read more
I don’t know why humor is such a comfort in our most challenging times, but it always is. Read more
Democrats in the Legislature are going seriously astray on their promise to help working families stay in Hawaii by stimulating construction of more affordable housing. Read more
Donald Trump has sold his base supporters on climate change denial, but he’s pushing his political luck if he continues his flirtation with coronavirus denial. Read more
It’s rich to see Mayor Kirk Caldwell posing as the voice of truth on Oahu’s floundering $9.2 billion rail project. Read more
It’s reasonable for the state to seek adjustments to Hawaii’s public school teacher salaries to account for our high cost of living. Read more
Gov. David Ige’s leadership failure in the Mauna Kea telescope standoff becomes more confounding by the week. Read more
The Legislature has rightly focused its 2020 session on our economic refugees being forced to leave Hawaii because of high living costs, but it’s doubtful the fixes they’ve put on the table will stop the exodus anytime soon. Read more
I can be rough on our public officials sometimes, so I always like to start the new year by putting the pointed analysis aside and smoothing any feathers I may have ruffled in the previous year. Read more
Sometimes it takes a twisting road to reach the right destination. Read more
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