Does Hawaii need housing that’s affordable for people earning what the bulk of people in Hawaii earn? Yes, and it’s a matter of growing urgency that this housing is by and large unavailable, concerning to the state and Hawaii’s employers. Read more
It’s Earth Day, a time for reflection on how Hawaii is meeting its longstanding commitments to the environment, which is in increasingly fragile condition. Read more
Hawaii is slowly tightening the leash on firearm ownership. Multiple legislative bills moving through the state House and Senate this session take aim at low-hanging fruit, but are welcome nonetheless. Read more
A homeschool reporting requirement is welcome, but it would resolve just one flaw in an inadequate system. Read more
The Hawaii Tourism Authority (HTA) is at a crossroads, with its future in the hands of the state Legislature — a body that has progressively lost confidence in the agency’s execution of its mandate to manage tourism for the public’s benefit. Read more
In December 2021, public outrage over the Navy’s contamination of a major aquifer spewed as vehemently as the jet fuel that gushed out of the Red Hill bulk storage facility. Read more
Developing geothermal energy became a state priority in January, when Gov. Josh Green issued an executive order aimed at speeding up Hawaii’s transition to renewable sources. Read more
The city administration has resolved, as it should, to enforce Honolulu laws regulating short-term rentals in a major way that counts: by seeing that the scofflaws pay the fines. Read more
Exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic, Hawaii’s brain drain has accelerated from eroding the edges of island life to striking at its heart, pushing would-be health professionals, high-tech workers, business owners and other vital contributors to greener mainland pastures. Read more
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Valuing our state workers shouldn’t result in public spending that favors these employees at the expense of private-sector workers Read more
A clash between two power players — Hawaiian Electric Co. (HECO) and the Hawaii Regional Council of Carpenters — is heading to a showdown at the state Legislature. Read more
The religious exemption from Hawaii law requiring children who attend a childcare facility or preschool, public or private school to be immunized against measles has been suspended — effective immediately — by Hawaii Gov. Josh Green, as an emergency measure. Read more
In its journey through the state House and Senate, House Bill 431 has seen many changes, but it steadfastly continues funding for emergency housing and shelter programs serving Hawaii’s homeless, appropriates money for supportive housing serving people with special needs and tightens up operational rules. Read more
For the general public, including many who have little presence in the stock market, last week’s financial earthquake on Wall Street produced some queasiness, if not full-scale anxiety. Read more
A bill wending its way through the Legislature seeks to improve birth outcomes, both for mothers and newborns, by establishing tighter, more succinct and permanent midwifery regulations and standards. Read more
The Maui County Council must bring short-term rental conversion — Bill 9 — to a vote and start the clock ticking on the transition to residential before the end of this fiscal year. Read more
Honolulu Police Chief Arthur “Joe” Logan took the helm at the Honolulu Police Department (HPD) nearly three years ago, committing to retain a higher proportion of officers and fill excessive vacancies, make communities safer and earn the public’s trust. Read more
The Hawaii Tourism Authority in recent years has been on a rocky road, incurring the mounting ire of state legislators — but never quite as precariously as today. Read more
News that Honolulu could face paying out more than $11 billion to complete a flood-control project through watersheds feeding into the Ala Wai Canal is staggering. Read more
The U.S. Bill of Rights starts with the First Amendment, and there is a reason why it’s first. Safeguarding rights such as freedom of speech and of the press is crucial to the values that Americans hold dear. Read more
Great responsibility is foisted upon the state Department of Education (DOE), an entity imbued with powers and means to shape Hawaii’s children into contributing members of society. Read more
