Hawaii approaches the end of a year that most would feel hard-pressed to describe as a high-water mark for the state. Still, 2013 can be remembered as a pivot point on many issues that have been sources of contention for years, signaling that even greater changes are on the horizon.
Transitions have begun on a number of fronts:
» On national security and privacy, former Hawaii resident Edward Snowden’s whistleblowing and flight from U.S. officials sparked a compelling conversation nationally on U.S. government surveillance practices. Once a National Security Agency contract employee, Snowden took with him an untold number of classified documents detailing those data practices, drawing two divergent federal rulings on their constitutionality.
Whatever the U.S. Supreme Court ultimately decides on the matter, most Americans have affirmed that government should not use private data without controls to keep government intrusion in check.
» Hawaii’s own experience with health care reform has mirrored that of many states during the bungled rollout of the federal and local insurance exchanges. As the realities of the reorganized health insurance marketplace play out in the coming months, Hawaii lawmakers must implement changes to improve the public transparency and accountability of the Hawaii Health Connector, which is itself in dire need of reorganization.
» Honolulu’s elevated rail project, the state’s costliest public-works project ever at $5.26 billion, surmounted enough of its legal hurdles — one ruling remains — for work to proceed. Disputes over the rail cars the city hopes to run on the 20-mile track have underscored the need for more careful scrutiny by the Honolulu Authority for Rapid Transportation.
And making the most of transit-oriented development around the rail stops will entail careful decision-making to yield enough affordable housing and produce enough of an economic boost without sacrificing too much in urban density.
» Other development issues have moved to the front burner, with the build-out of Kakaako picking up steam and growth in Ewa and Central Oahu accelerating. Completing these projects without losing sight of the need for agriculture and preservation interests will become increasingly challenging.
» The state has finally made the right civil-liberties decision in the legalization of same-sex marriage. However, discussions must continue on how the evolving structure of the family should be reflected in education, social programs and other aspects of public life. Making these transitions require more than legal adjustments, and all sides need to have their concerns aired.
» The University of Hawaii is facing several key decision points over the growth of the system at new campuses, and over the need to whittle its backlog of maintenance projects. Key to how well those matters get settled is the careful selection of a new chief executive, following the resignation of UH President M.R.C. Greenwood.
» Decision-makers must maintain vigilance over Hawaii energy policy if the state’s commitment to renewable sources can be realized affordably for ratepayers.
In each of these pivots, completing the turn properly will require skill and prudence from Hawaii’s leaders. Careful choices must be made in public policy, maintaining balance among competing interests.
That is what’s called for in 2014.
