Opinion and analysis by the Honolulu Star-Advertiser Editorial Board. Get informed with columns and commentary, and submit a letter to the editor.
To much of the world, Hawaii is a paradise of rainbows, lush mountains and shimmering beaches. While making the documentary “Kipuka,” I was introduced to a story not captured by the typical tourist photos. Read more
Gov. Josh Green signed “first-in-the-nation” legislation on Tuesday, adding 0.75% to Hawaii’s transient accommodations tax on hotel stays and cruise-ship port calls to raise funding for climate change-related projects, including wildfire threat reduction. Read more
So much to tackle, but so little headway. That, in a nutshell, summarizes the difficult situation stymieing progress on public school facilities, due to conflicts between the bureaucratic state Department of Education (DOE) and the School Facilities Authority (SFA), an entity the state Legislature created in 2020 to try to cut through the slog. Read more
I participated in the spring East-West Center Board of Governors meeting. What’s astonishing was their glib manner when humility was required given the self-inflicted deterioration. Read more
I am happy to learn, from Thomas Brandt’s column, that there is a way to capture some relief for taxpayers faced with decades of paying for this overpriced and underperforming rail (“Property owners who benefit from rail should help pay for it,” Star-Advertiser, Island Voices, May Opens in a new tab8) Opens in a new tab. Read more
It’s not the Hawaiian way to raise a child with the abuse that led to the death of Isabella Kalua. Hawaiians are not raised that way. I wasn’t. Read more
Ethical and legal reasons aside, the Qatari aircraft is unlikely to ever be used as Air Force One. There are already two 747-8 aircraft being converted to the VC-25B configuration. Read more
Speculation is rife as to whether former President Joe Biden’s aides withheld information about his mental and physical problems. If so, it would not be the first time. Read more
The editorial cartoon published today in the Honolulu Star-Advertiser. Read more
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While America celebrates National Military Appreciation Month this May, remembering and honoring the sacrifices made by military men and women should also come with tangible gratitude. Read more
The Pacific Remote Islands Marine National Monument (PRIMNM) was established by President George W. Bush in 2009, protecting an area surrounding Wake, Baker, Howland and Jarvis islands, Johnston Atoll, Kingman Reef and Palmyra Atoll, to the south and west of Hawaii. Read more
Honolulu Hale and the Blaisdell Arena glowed green as the sun set Monday and will remain lit through sunrise Friday, as part of a nationwide movement promoting open talk about mental health, and to “let people know they are not alone,” as Mayor Rick Blangiardi stated. Read more
Yes, noncitizens who violate immigration or other U.S. laws lose the right to stay here; even bleeding hearts shouldn’t want a noncitizen convicted killer or drug dealer roaming our streets. Read more
I do not understand how we as a society continue to support the construction of new jails when we have warehoused people for too long without an increase in community safety. Read more
Columnist Cal Thomas’ narrative is both inaccurate and misses the issue on the Kilmar Abrego Garcia deportation case, which is “due process” (“Dems’ Abrego Garcia narrative obscures inconvenient truth,” Star-Advertiser, April 22). Read more
I can’t do any better than write my concurrence with the Quakers and the American Friends Service Committee. Read more
The Honolulu Star-Advertiser’s recent editorial, “Focus on urban homes expansion” (Our View, May 20), is correct in stating that we need to expand urban housing and ease regulatory burdens to address Hawaii’s decades-long housing crisis. Read more
One reason that household clutter builds up is the effort it takes to keep it out of the landfill. Read more
Planning for $100 million in repairs at the Hawaii Convention Center is well underway, with work expected to begin early next year. Read more
Oahu residents feel no closer to a rational solution for the waning capacity of the island’s Waimanalo Gulch municipal landfill on Oahu’s west side. Read more
With the increase in e-bike purchases, especially with our younger generation, I feel we can reduce the number of accidents if younger riders have a clear understanding of traffic laws. Read more
