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Friday, July 26, 2024 84° Today's Paper


Let’s read more and smoke less

Oahu households spent 0.2 percent, or $102, on reading — just slightly less than on tobacco products and smoking supplies in 2013-2014, according to a breakdown of average annual spending by the state Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism.

Housing takes the largest chunk of Oahu households’ disposable income at 43.2 percent, or $26,980. Nearly a decade earlier the average household spent considerably less, 31.7 percent, on housing.

Behind housing is food at 14.7 percent, followed by transportation at 13.9 percent. The data show Oahu households spend far too much on housing, and at the other spectrum, they would bet better off buying more books than cigarettes.

Another EIS for rail transit?

It’s not clear what this ad hoc citizens group meant by its moniker, “Do Rail Right.”

About 20 residents have banded together to highlight the portions of the Honolulu Authority for Rapid Transportation project that cut through the Oahu floodplain.

The project needs a supplemental environmental impact statement, members have argued, unpersuaded by HART responses that the issue has been covered in the current EIS and that permits will be secured.

The group has allowed HART seven days to agree to address the flooding risk, not specifying what steps would follow. Spokespersons have said they’re not pushing to stop the project, but another EIS process would certainly threaten it.

Do Rail Right — or not at all?

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