Opinion and analysis by the Honolulu Star-Advertiser Editorial Board. Get informed with columns and commentary, and submit a letter to the editor.
Take a deep breath, and celebrate that two areas in Hawaii — urban Honolulu and Kahului, Maui — rank among the cleanest cities in the nation in the American Lung Association’s 2025 “State of the Air” report. Read more
There’s a huge gulp factor in legislators deciding to deposit half of $807.5 million into a trust fund next fiscal year — that’s nearly $404 million — as the state’s first-half portion of a major settlement. Read more
Honolulu City and County spending has more than doubled over the past decade despite Oahu’s population declining during the same period, suggesting that now might be a good time for Honolulu lawmakers to start looking for ways to trim the county budget and give Oahu taxpayers a break. Read more
An appropriation of $30 million to move forward on additional planning and design work to replace the Oahu Community Correctional Center (OCCC) has properly been included in the draft budget agreed on by House and Senate leaders. Read more
Two important and related articles about Waikiki appeared in the Star- Advertiser on Monday: “Hawaii shoreline sinking” on the front page and “State is asked for millions to preserve Waikiki beach” on page A10. Read more
Now Maui is following Oahu with huge pay raises for the mayor and other officials, including fire and police chiefs who did a terrible job responding to the Lahaina fire two years ago. Read more
It is surprising that some in Hawaii oppose the Safeguard American Vote Eligibility Act (SAVE Act), which would require voters to present documentation proving citizenship when registering for a federal election. Read more
An April 17 article in the Star-Advertiser with the headline “Russia imprisons 4 journalists for their anti-corruption work” caught my eye. The article talks about “the Kremlin’s intensified crackdown on freedom of expression.” Read more
Why do people continue to be highly abrasive and caustic when dealing with President Donald Trump? Read more
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This year, the Hawaii Legislature is considering Senate Bill 1028, a bill seeking to repeal court-ordered fines and fees issued against youth and their families in the Hawaii Family Court system. Read more
Hawaii-based businesses are feeling the effects of President Donald Trump’s efforts, the Chamber of Commerce Hawaii reports — especially tariffs: 97% have been either “moderately” (27%) or “significantly” (70%) affected. Read more
The beauty of colleges is seen, quite literally, in a stroll through campuses: in the eclectic mix of students of varied colors and creeds, of varying intellectual and emotional abilities. Read more
While legal sports betting would be new to Hawaii, it’s already happening across the state — just through unregulated, illegal websites that lack consumer protections. Read more
Friday’s “Back in the day” segment features a photo from July 17, 1970, showing the newly created ground-coral beach at Fort DeRussy in Waikiki. Coral is a live creature. Read more
A fundamental element of free enterprise is pricing based on “what the market will bear.” Read more
The Hawaii Tourism Authority must go. First Mufi Hannemann is caught with his hand in the cookie jar for allegedly handing out freebies. Read more
David Shapiro’s column made some important points regarding the SAVE Act (“Ed Case finds a bumpy path as he charts a solo course,” Star-Advertiser, Volcanic Ash, April Opens in a new tab20) Opens in a new tab. Read more
Shamefully, the state House passed SCR 136, a wasteful measure that would squander taxpayer monies on studying nuclear power generation. Read more
Emergency Services Department Director James Ireland’s prospects for a second four-year term were shaken earlier this year when critics, including a number of former EMS workers, charged that chronic understaffing and favoritism were dragging down morale and causing excess turnover. Read more
If I were a state legislator and knew a bill had support from three-quarters of the state, I would do anything to ensure it got to the chamber floor. Read more
Nine young birds of an endangered species called Sihek, also known as Guam kingfishers, have laid eggs on their new Pacific island home at Palmyra Atoll, making them the first wild eggs for the species in nearly 40 years. Read more
