Doomed to fail, despite his vote

Believe what I say, not what I do.

That could be one conclusion drawn after the state House approved a bill that would allow the Office of Hawaiian Affairs to develop residential towers on three of its Kakaako Makai parcels.

Before the vote, House Majority Leader Scott Saiki, who represents the district, took the time to meet with protesters of OHA’s plan, assuring them not to "feel too worried" since the bill was unlikely to survive a House-Senate conference committee.

Saiki then headed back inside and voted to approve the bill, joining the majority of his House colleagues to move it forward. 

Those protesters can only hope that Saiki & Co.’s action was somehow a strategic move toward what he predicted.

A state that’s friendly to elders

A vital citizen initiative in underway now, focused on ways to keep Hawaii livable for folks as they age. 

Our "silver wave" is well documented, as Hawaii is home to the largest percentage of people 85 and older in the country. By 2030, a quarter of all Hawaii residents are projected to be over age 65. 

About 100 business and community leaders are part of the Age-Friendly City Citizens 

Advisory Committee, looking into issues such as transportation, housing, employment, health services and social involvement. 

The idea is not only to live longer, but to live well.