Voters should rebel against super PAC campaign clout

By David Shapiro, Special to the Star-Advertiser Posted on July 22, 2018 • Updated on August 27, 2018 at 10:12 am

For the first time since the infamous smear against Ben Cayetano’s 2012 mayoral campaign by Pacific Resource Partnership, a well-funded super PAC is investing heavily in a Hawaii election. Read More

Hanabusa coasts on leadership claims while vague on policy

By David Shapiro, Special to the Star-Advertiser on July 15, 2018
• Updated on August 27, 2018 at 10:12 am

By David Shapiro, Special to the Star-Advertiser Posted on July 15, 2018
• Updated on August 27, 2018 at 10:12 am

U.S. Rep. Colleen Hanabusa is campaigning for governor on her abilities as a leader, but she is failing the first obligation of political leadership: telling voters exactly where she intends to lead us. Read More

Hawaii News Now enables Tulsi Gabbard’s campaign hypocrisy

By David Shapiro, Special to the Star-Advertiser on July 8, 2018
• Updated on August 27, 2018 at 10:12 am

By David Shapiro, Special to the Star-Advertiser Posted on July 8, 2018
• Updated on August 27, 2018 at 10:12 am

Hawaii News Now deserves kudos for hosting debates that try to energize local elections, but made a couple of bad journalistic calls in the latest round by shutting out potentially the most interesting GOP candidate for governor and again letting U.S. Rep. Tulsi Gabbard run and hide to deny opponents a chance to be heard. Read More

Campaign violations dim Kaniela Ing’s once-bright future

By David Shapiro on June 24, 2018
• Updated on August 27, 2018 at 10:13 am

By David Shapiro Posted on June 24, 2018
• Updated on August 27, 2018 at 10:13 am

Let’s not view Kaniela Ing as a stain on his entire generation. Read More

Trump-Kim pact a step back from fear that gripped Hawaii

By David Shapiro on June 17, 2018
• Updated on August 27, 2018 at 10:13 am

By David Shapiro Posted on June 17, 2018
• Updated on August 27, 2018 at 10:13 am

Reaction to President Donald Trump’s summit with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un predictably divided along political lines. Read More

Top-2 system offers better choices than party primaries

By David Shapiro, Special to the Star-Advertiser on June 10, 2018
• Updated on August 27, 2018 at 10:13 am

By David Shapiro, Special to the Star-Advertiser Posted on June 10, 2018
• Updated on August 27, 2018 at 10:13 am

With each election cycle, it becomes more difficult to take Hawaii Republicans seriously as a major political party. Read More

Hawaii risks include slow-moving natural, man-made disasters

By David Shapiro, Special to the Star-Advertiser on June 3, 2018
• Updated on August 27, 2018 at 10:13 am

By David Shapiro, Special to the Star-Advertiser Posted on June 3, 2018
• Updated on August 27, 2018 at 10:13 am

The volcanic eruption in the Big Island’s lower Puna district is a rare natural disaster that occurs in slow motion. Read More

Lawmakers reap praise and profits as session ends

By David Shapiro Posted on May 27, 2018 • Updated on August 27, 2018 at 10:13 am

It’s the last Sunday in May and time to “flASHback” on the month’s news that amused and confused. Read More

Mixing politics and policing undermines progress

By David Shapiro, Special to the Star-Advertiser on May 20, 2018
• Updated on August 27, 2018 at 10:13 am

By David Shapiro, Special to the Star-Advertiser Posted on May 20, 2018
• Updated on August 27, 2018 at 10:13 am

As the Honolulu Police Department makes good progress digging out from the Louis Kealoha corruption scandal, the last thing it needs is an infusion of politics into policing. Read More

Harry Kim remains a caring, competent voice in crises

By David Shapiro, Special to the Star-Advertiser on May 13, 2018
• Updated on August 27, 2018 at 10:13 am

By David Shapiro, Special to the Star-Advertiser Posted on May 13, 2018
• Updated on August 27, 2018 at 10:13 am

Harry Kim can’t stop the lava, but for four decades he’s shown curmudgeonly genius for helping his people through the anguish. Read More

All 3 major Democratic candidates deserve scrutiny

By David Shapiro, Special to the Star-Advertiser on May 6, 2018
• Updated on August 27, 2018 at 10:13 am

By David Shapiro, Special to the Star-Advertiser Posted on May 6, 2018
• Updated on August 27, 2018 at 10:13 am

With Gov. David Ige picking up fewer endorsements, lacking a coherent campaign strategy and facing a Honolulu Star-Advertiser poll showing him 20 points behind U.S. Rep. Colleen Hanabusa, many feel it’s already over three months before the Aug. 11 Democratic primary. Read More

Amendment for education would raid county coffers

By David Shapiro, Special to the Star-Advertiser Posted on April 22, 2018 • Updated on August 27, 2018 at 10:13 am

Pending amendment for education would raid county finances. Read More

Action needed on mail-in balloting to increase voter turnout

By David Shapiro, Special to the Star-Advertiser Posted on April 15, 2018 • Updated on August 27, 2018 at 10:13 am

Mail-in balloting has been popular among Hawaii’s most active voters, but the Legislature has sidestepped the next logical step of switching everybody to mail-in voting to improve our dismal overall turnout. Read More

Operating costs of rail require stable, long-term funding

By David Shapiro, Special to the Star-Advertiser on April 8, 2018
• Updated on August 27, 2018 at 10:13 am

By David Shapiro, Special to the Star-Advertiser Posted on April 8, 2018
• Updated on August 27, 2018 at 10:13 am

The machinations at Honolulu Hale to fund a potential $44 million shortfall for rail administration in 2019 portend an even bigger predicament rumbling down the track. Read More

People power protects local use of Ala Moana Park

By David Shapiro, Special to the Star-Advertiser on March 25, 2018
• Updated on August 27, 2018 at 10:13 am

By David Shapiro, Special to the Star-Advertiser Posted on March 25, 2018
• Updated on August 27, 2018 at 10:13 am

Those who think civic engagement is pointless in these polarized times should look at the battle over Ala Moana Beach Park, which has played out as a testament to municipal democracy. Read More

At last, the end appears near for medical-aid-in-dying debate

By David Shapiro, Special to the Star-Advertiser Posted on March 18, 2018 • Updated on August 27, 2018 at 10:13 am

Hawaii advocates for “death with dignity” legislation to allow the hopelessly ill the choice to end their suffering on their own terms have felt for 20 years like Charlie Brown and his football — so close, but always snatched away. Read More

Angry voters can trump special interests at the ballot box

By David Shapiro, Special to the Star-Advertiser on March 11, 2018
• Updated on March 10, 2018 at 7:25 pm

By David Shapiro, Special to the Star-Advertiser Posted on March 11, 2018
• Updated on March 10, 2018 at 7:25 pm

Because we are still a democracy, as my granddaughter says, aroused citizens who vote are more powerful than the threats of any monied lobbyists. Read More

Caldwell lost his cool with surf league and let meet get away

By David Shapiro on February 18, 2018
• Updated on February 17, 2018 at 8:08 pm

By David Shapiro Posted on February 18, 2018
• Updated on February 17, 2018 at 8:08 pm

There was Mayor Kirk Caldwell at one of his dog-and-pony news conferences, portraying himself as the voice of reason in a dispute with the World Surf League over scheduling dates on the North Shore. Read More

Future uncertain for Hawaii’s lowest-paid workers

By David Shapiro, Special to the Star-Advertiser Posted on February 11, 2018

Without a state plan, we could face a future where even more locals leave Hawaii for economic survival and those who remain are increasingly divided between the rich living in luxury condos and the poor living on the sidewalks below. Read More

Denying ‘death with dignity’ only adds to patients’ suffering

By David Shapiro Posted on February 4, 2018 • Updated on February 3, 2018 at 10:29 pm

A “death with dignity” bill that would allow terminally ill patients to obtain lethal prescriptions to end their suffering hasbeen spit out by the Hawaii Legislature like a political poison pill for 16 years. Read More

Missile fiasco further proof of officials’ ineptitude

By David Shapiro on January 21, 2018

By David Shapiro Posted on January 21, 2018

We discussed what a shame it would be if we got blown to smithereens before we could celebrate our 50th wedding anniversary, which was only a week away. But strangely, I was mostly unconcerned as my mind analyzed scenarios. Read More

Volcanic Ash