Synopsis: Do mosquitoes bite? Most people use the phrase “mosquito bite,” but the mosquito has no teeth. It has, instead, a proboscis that can both draw blood from its victim and deliver a type of venom via its saliva. Read more
Synopsis: The failure of Gov. David Ige to veto a bill that extends the leases of landholders will perpetuate the separation of Hawaiians from our lands and ultimately convince the public that the state actually has the right to do so. Read more
Synopsis: A recent decision in a Utah court, designed to grant American Samoans U.S. citizenship, was overturned by an appellate court in Denver. In what way will this affect the rights of American Samoans? Read more
Synopsis: The value of the imported tree known as the “mangrove” has come under recent scrutiny. The purpose of its introduction in 1902 was to prevent erosion of the shoreline. It is called “kukunaokalä” because its flower petals resemble the rays of the sun. Read more
Synopsis: In an effort to address climate change, the City Council of Honolulu has adopted an action plan to reduce carbon emissions on Oahu, and to achieve carbon neutrality by the year 2045. It is an ambitious plan. Are there enough people willing to get on board? Read more
Synopsis: In the middle of the month of April, Kalehuawehe (Kaimana Beach) greeted a Hawaiian monk seal that was with child at the time. Read more
Synopsis: The dismantling of a private gate blocking access to the beach at Portlock was ordered by the city, much to the dismay of the owner. Read more
Synopsis: Fishtail palms are nice-looking trees but their fruit is toxic. If they touch the skin, the urge to scratch can be all-consuming. I can verify this based on personal experience. Read more
Synopsis: An inconvenient truth that has come to light is that many Native Hawaiian women and girls have gone missing or have been killed. This has led to the establishment of a task force to research the problem and to explore avenues for mitigation. Read more
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Synopsis: A new law in Oklahoma will allow drivers who fear for their own safety to flee from a protest rally, and if they happen to run over a few protesters along the way, they are shielded from prosecution. Read more
Synopsis: People seem to be enamored with the idea of owning guns. There are many countries that have restrictive gun laws and have significantly less gun violence. America should choose life, not guns. Read more
Synopsis: Revitalizing Hawaiian means maintaining the connection to its traditional ways of speaking while creating new speakers out of a population of English speakers. We must seek traditional Hawaiian ways to accomodate our current linguistic needs. Read more
Synopsis: Not much has changed over the past 128 years. The political choice then was between annexation and being a protectorate. Many still think our only viable political options must involve American control. What about independence? Read more
Synopsis: The issue about changing the name of McKinley High School has been brought up again. However, if certain parts of America’s history were not hidden, perhaps the name change would have happened a long time ago. Read more
Synopsis: COVID-19 is a disease that first broke out in Wuhan, China, in the year 2019. It has infected millions ever since, including here in Hawaiæi, where we have experienced a number of other pandemics in our history. Read more
Synopsis: Chinese people have been blamed for the pandemic and have endured violent responses. When it comes to justice, though, only the guilty party is responsible, not the entire race. How is this so difficult to see? Read more
Synopsis: Was there anyone in our archipelago who was unaffected by the heavy rains this week? Everyone must have a story to tell. Here’s mine. Read more
Synopsis: In our efforts to prevent COVID-19, we have had to give up on normal living. The negative consequences of procrastination, for example, are no longer effective deterrents. So we procrastinate away. Read more
Synopsis: The words “I mean” that precede a person’s statement serve no real purpose in English, unless one produces statements that he or she does not really mean. Read more
Synopsis: U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz is now being called #FlyinTed after being caught in a lie about a trip to Mexico that he was forced to cut short due to heavy criticism about neglecting his constituency during a weather-related emergency. Read more
Synopsis: The pandemic has forced us into seeking new forms of amusement. It is no surprise that we are entertained by the mishaps of others. Viral challenges on the internet, with bad results, are a new source of laughter. Read more
