Kokua Line: What lei can I bring on the plane?
Question: My family wants me to bring fresh lei for my nephew’s mainland wedding. Will HNL allow this through? I am seeing conflicting information even on florists’ websites. Read more
Opinions, guest essays and editorials from the Honolulu Star-Advertiser. Featuring Kokua Line, Rearview Mirror, David Shapiro, Richard Borreca and others.
Question: My family wants me to bring fresh lei for my nephew’s mainland wedding. Will HNL allow this through? I am seeing conflicting information even on florists’ websites. Read more
A 2021 comic disaster movie called “Don’t Look Up” told about a planet-killing comet racing toward Earth. Read more
Hawaii’s state Legislature ended the annual session by making history with a new tax and then making a scene by shuffling some of the jobs held by legislative leaders. Read more
Synopsis: I am inclined to believe that playing Sudoku will help me to improve my memory. Read more
High schools have proms in the spring, and some hold “mistletoe” dances in the winter as well. Proms have changed a lot since many readers of this column went to high school. Read more
Question: Last year I sold my mother’s home, and I paid commissions to the buyer’s agent and my agent. Isn’t there a new rule stipulating a seller is no longer responsible for paying the commission to a buyer’s agent? Read more
Question: I’ve been reading about how food banks are struggling across the country because of federal budget cuts (808ne.ws/4ka8hOp Opens in a new tab) and I wondered how the local food bank is doing. Are there specific things they need? Read more
Question: Can we still change our direct deposit for Social Security over the phone or not? I called the 1-800 number, but the recording was so quick I couldn’t understand. I am moving to North Carolina to live with my daughter and want to switch to a bank where I will be living. Read more
Mention ultrafast internet speeds to someone and their eyes will instantly light up. They might not fully understand all the intricacies of technology, but they intuitively know that when it comes to internet speed, the faster the better. It means they can accomplish more in less time. Read more
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Much has happened in the past five months in the world of University of Hawaii sports and college sports in general, but nothing to make acting athletic director Lois Manin change her stance. She still is not pursuing the job she has worked at since December on a permanent basis. Read more
Question: Regarding not being able to use a temporary driver’s license to get through the TSA airport security line, what if we have our old license, too, and can show both? Read more
Jeff Ulbrich’s son Jax, a 21-year-old college student, toyed with a person’s emotions and dreams by prank-calling Shedeur Sanders during the NFL Draft then posting a video on multiple social media platforms. Read more
It’s debatable how well the 2025 Legislature took care of constituents, but lawmakers diligently looked after themselves. Read more
Sometimes raising taxes becomes a politically good thing. Read more
Question: What happens to discarded electronics that people put in e-waste bins at city convenience centers? Read more
Bob Coolen is my favorite University of Hawaii head coach in nearly 45 years of writing about UH sports. Read more
Synopsis: Enforcement of Real ID regulations is scheduled to begin on Wednesday. Read more
Question: Due to a mix-up (my mistake), I did not make it to my appointment to renew my gold-star driver’s license. How difficult would it be to do this by mail? Read more
Pope Francis died last week. Several readers told me they had met him or other popes, or had visited Rome and the Vatican. Read more
When you think of intelligent animals, you might consider dolphins, elephants or chimpanzees. Read more
Question: There have been two metal plates that stretch across both lanes of the H-3 Windward-bound after exiting the Harano Tunnel. The two plates have been there for over six months, maybe longer! When does DOT expect to fix the problem and remove the metal plates? Read more