Lee Cataluna: Mother’s strength passes to her children

• By Lee Cataluna
• May 12, 2019
• 6

As the crowd moved forward at the start of the race, Meira Va’a’s son Kanoa had his eyes on his sister. Meira was looking at the road ahead. Read more

Lee Cataluna: Other cities not as timid in stopping illegal rentals

• By Lee Cataluna
• May 10, 2019
• 27

In Miami Beach, the city sends compliance officers to pound on doors of illegal vacation rentals in residential neighborhoods and tell the tourists they have to get out. Read more

Lee Cataluna: Two teams celebrate first of many

• By Lee Cataluna
• May 8, 2019
• 6

On Monday night, the Kaimuki High School gym hosted a spirited volleyball game between two high school teams. Read more

Lee Cataluna: Kaewai school teachers go the distance to help students

• By Lee Cataluna
• May 5, 2019
• 14

This is a story about teachers and the things some will do for the kids in their care. Read more

Lee Cataluna: Lawmakers missing the point about illegal rentals

• By Lee Cataluna
• May 3, 2019
• 32

Are Hawaii residents mad because vacation rentals aren’t kicking in their share of state taxes? Read more

Lee Cataluna: Grand openings and sad endings excite, but what matters is in the middle

• By Lee Cataluna
• May 1, 2019
• 6

Grand openings are often quite grand for businesses in Hawaii. Customers rush to get the first look, the first taste and all those introductory specials. Read more

Lee Cataluna: Oh, yeah? Well, how’d you like an audit, punk?

• By Lee Cataluna
• April 14, 2019
• 18

Nolan Espinda was right. And he was wrong, too. Read more

Lee Cataluna: Endless campaign is finally near its end

• By Lee Cataluna
• April 12, 2019
• 13

Folks from East Honolulu are going to feel a letdown after tomorrow. It doesn’t matter who wins. After all the campaign mailers and Saturday morning knocks at the door and dinnertime robocalls, once the special election is over, things won’t be so special anymore. Read more

Lee Cataluna: Docs and future docs who walk the talk

• By Lee Cataluna
• April 10, 2019
• 5

‘Almost every week, someone comes up to me and says, ‘You changed my life!’” said Dr. Theresa Wee. Read more

Lee Cataluna: ‘Ninth Island’ is there, not here

• By Lee Cataluna
• April 7, 2019
• 68

The term doesn’t work for several important reasons, which happen to be related to the reasons people from Hawaii love Las Vegas so much. Read more

Lee Cataluna: Now we have green versus green

• By Lee Cataluna
• April 5, 2019
• 23

A bill that would have allowed large-scale solar energy projects to be put on prime agricultural lands died in the state Senate this week, but this doesn’t seem to be an issue that is going to go away. Read more

Lee Cataluna: April Fools’ prank just as big second time

• By Lee Cataluna
• April 3, 2019
• 3

Early Monday morning, people were already screaming on social media. Read more

Lee Cataluna: Rail problems big enough to impress the big guys

• By Lee Cataluna
• March 31, 2019
• 40

As the cranes and concrete pillars move closer to the airport, closer to the real ugly, expensive work of tearing through the heart of urban Honolulu, it’s pretty hard for the people in the middle to keep the faith. Read more

Lee Cataluna: Remnants of bygone era of true hospitality

• By Lee Cataluna
• March 29, 2019
• 5

From Kauai comes the news that plans to rebuild the venerable Coco Palms Resort have fallen through, making it the latest in a series of failed promises over the last 20 years to restore the unique hotel to its former glory or to reimagine a mix of that old-time grace with a more contemporary sensibility. Read more

Lee Cataluna: Not an order, just a bit of advice

• By Lee Cataluna
• March 27, 2019
• 7

No doubt you read about the Maui man who was advised by a judge to avoid Pepsi while on probation for car theft. Read more

Lee Cataluna: Local luminaries get caught reading

• By Lee Cataluna
• March 24, 2019
• 3

The video clips are the beginning of a collection in a multimedia campaign to encourage reading. Read more

Lee Cataluna: Taking a long time to park in exchange for quick exit

• By Lee Cataluna
• March 22, 2019
• 27

No, really. You just go right ahead and take all the time you need to back into that parking stall. No problem. Read more

Lee Cataluna: Common sorrows, uncommon bonds

• By Lee Cataluna
• March 20, 2019
• 6

Glendon and Josh are alike in surprising ways. When light hits their faces from a certain angle, the resemblance is clear. Sometimes their voices are very similar. Read more

Lee Cataluna: Biggest problem, fewest ideas

• By Lee Cataluna
• March 17, 2019
• 30

Everyone agrees on the problem. Nobody knows how to solve it. Impatience is growing that we’re stuck. Read more

Lee Cataluna: The writing’s on the wall (and it’s mostly really sweet)

• By Lee Cataluna
• March 15, 2019
• 6

Along a nondescript concrete breezeway between Foodland and Don Quijote in Pearl City is an ever-changing testament to the human heart. Read more

Lee Cataluna: Mechanic helps keep community running

• By Lee Cataluna
• March 13, 2019
• 10

In the last few weeks, three different people suggested I write about Jim Hirakawa. It seems they all wanted to make sure he knows he’s loved and needed so he doesn’t think about retiring. Read more