Opinions, guest essays and editorials from the Honolulu Star-Advertiser. Featuring Kokua Line, Rearview Mirror, David Shapiro, Richard Borreca and others.
Question: Is it too early to get a flu shot? I know there’s been a lot of attention on summer COVID-19, but I’m more concerned about the flu because of a friend’s bad experience, and also because I am current on my COVID-19 boosters. Read more
Nearly every day, a reader will ask me a question about something historical. Sometimes I know the answer. Sometimes I don’t and I have to research it a bit, which I love doing. Read more
Question: Does the U.S. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services do big surveys? I don’t mean after a particular treatment; I’ve gotten those letters before. I mean with an interview? They are asking me to do a survey and I want to find out if it’s legitimate. I know that my health data was hacked last year so it’s hard to tell. Read more
Tracking your family’s finances is never-ending. The internet made things a lot easier with personal finance software. Read more
Question: Auwe to the driver of a plumbing business van who honked at me as I pulled into a parking lot for restaurants and businesses on South King Street. You were sitting parked alongside the street meter and not near the parking lot entrance with no blinkers showing any indication that you were going into the parking lot. Read more
Question: My wife and I recently downsized from our single-family home to a high-rise apartment. We filed a forwarding notice with the U.S. Postal Service and have been receiving our important mail, although in general we don’t get too much mail anymore. Will we receive our ballots this way as well? Read more
On Sunday morning, University of Hawaii football coach Timmy Chang brought coffee, doughnuts and an open mind to the program’s conference room. Read more
Honolulu’s Jeff Stabile remembers his 15-year-old self, all 6 feet, 6 inches of him, competing in the 3-meter springboard as a junior national diver, launching himself skyward into rarefied air and envisioning one day being an Olympian. Read more
As Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump moves forward with his campaign, the political polls show he looks strong. But Trump is still adding a new aspect. Read more
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Question: Regarding Hawaiian Electric’s time-of-use rate plan called Shift and Save: I thought we could opt out at any time, but now I am hearing it has to be before the August bill. Read more
Randall Roth lit a flame 27 years ago that still burns brightly. Read more
Two of Hawaii’s favorite sports simply don’t exist as such. They’re just activities that a lot of so-called sports experts don’t recognize as athletic competition. Read more
Synopsis: Some researchers are suggesting, based on a study of 27,000 participants, that the cognitive function of night owls is superior to that of early risers. Read more
I recently wrote about President Obama’s father, Barack Obama Sr., and his three years in Hawaii. Several readers told me they met members of the Obama ohana in Hawaii. Read more
Question: Regarding recent power outages in Downtown and Chinatown, I wasn’t happy that the police I saw weren’t wearing their white gloves when they were directing traffic on the busy intersections where traffic lights were not working due to the power outage. Read more
Sadly, I missed the Madden era. No, not that of the actual John Madden, the Hall of Fame football coach and broadcaster. I grew up watching plenty of games with him on the Raiders sideline. Read more
Question: Regarding the upcoming gun amnesty/ buyback on Aug. 24, are they also accepting unwanted ammunition, including ammunition that is made for the firearms being turned in? Read more
Several years ago, with identity theft on the rise and highly publicized hacks of major financial companies abounding, the concept of freezing one’s credit was popularized. Read more
The best preschool lesson is sharing. It leads to caring about others, eliminating envy and everyone having a chance at success. Read more
Question: In March there was news about a health care data breach that affected millions in the U.S. I’m sure I was affected because I couldn’t fill a prescription; the drugstore said it was because of the hack. However, I never got a notification letter, as I have in other cases. Will I ever be told what health information of mine was accessed? Read more
One of good, old Bobby Lee’s favorite sayings was always “professional boxing in Hawaii died a long time ago, they just forgot to bury it.” Read more
