State Rep. Patrick Branco is running for Congress as a candidate of fresh ideas, but his most prominent idea is an awful one: using disreputable tactics to solicit outside special interests to attack his opponent, former state Sen. Jill Tokuda. Read more
It’s the last Sunday in July and time to “flASHback” on the month’s news that amused and confused: Read more
Since the local Carpenters Union super PAC spent $3 million smearing former Gov. Ben Cayetano in his 2012 anti-rail mayoral race against Kirk Caldwell — for which it apologized after attaining its goal — politicians have tread lightly around the carpenters and rail lest they be next in the crosshairs. Read more
Just when we thought the lying and denying might end in the Red Hill fuel crisis that threatens Oahu’s major aquifer, we got a new shock: that despite Navy denials, there was video of November’s massive leak that fouled the drinking water of military families near Pearl Harbor. Read more
One reason I enjoy reading The New York Times is its writers appear to be under instruction to send even reasonably well-educated readers scrambling for the dictionary at least once in every article. Read more
The Democratic primary for governor has mostly been a dry affair involving the same slick TV ads played at numbing frequency. Read more
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It’s the last Sunday in June and time to “flASHback” on the month’s news that amused and confused: Read more
In these politically conflicted times, folks are constantly on the lookout for reasons to be suspicious of government. Read more
Now Mayor Rick Blangiardi says he can complete a functional system for $10 billion, but only if it ends two stops short of Ala Moana Center at Halekauwila and South streets and jettisons a Pearl Highlands parking garage key to opening the system to Central Oahu commuters. Read more
A month ago I wrote that it bordered on dereliction how the Honolulu Police Commission outsourced to a $145,000 mainland consultant most of the selection of a chief to replace Susan Ballard — and took a year in the process as the department swirled in disorder. Read more
It’s the last Sunday in May and time to “flASHback” on the month’s news that amused and confused: Read more
The news is full of stories about intense public frustration in the face of COVID-19, high inflation and unprecedented political divisions. Read more
U.S. Rep. Kai Kahele has a catchy message in his run for governor: “Hawaii’s not for sale.” The question is whether he’s a credible messenger. Read more
Kirk Caldwell said the political unpopularity that led to his exit from the governor’s race was the result of “tough decisions” he made as Honolulu mayor on thorny issues such as COVID-19, homelessness and rail transit. Read more
April’s foolery is done, and it’s time to “flASHback” on the month’s news that amused and confused: Read more
Hawaii’s freshman U.S. Rep. Kai Kahele is setting new speed records for breaking foundational campaign promises, and possibly blowing up his political career in the process. Read more
The Honolulu Police Commission has one primary responsibility by law: hiring and firing the police chief. Read more
It’s hard not to feel a good vibe from the Genki Ala Wai Project, which aims to cleanse our toxic canal that runs the length of Waikiki by seeding its muck with fermented mud balls that target the bad bacteria with healthy microbes. Read more
I stopped accepting invitations to lecture college classes after it became trendy to boycott, picket and demand apologies from speakers whose contrary views might “trigger” delicate young minds with ideas that threaten their “safe space.” Read more
There’s a popular fiddle tune at Texas dances called “Cotton- Eyed Joe” in which dancers periodically during the song shout, “BULLS—T!” Read more
There’s a restlessness in our state as we start to come out of the COVID-19 pandemic — or not. Read more
