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HOOSER: A ‘teachable moment’
While it’s likely too late to impact it’s passage, Senate Bill 3202 represents an important “teachable moment” for those interested in the legislative process (or lack thereof). Please grab a chair, a...
View ArticleHOOSER: Good night and good riddance
It feels like the first day of a new year, in a policy and politics sense. The Hawai‘i legislative session is over and there’s no more “waiting to exhale”. The constant vigilance required to monitor...
View ArticleHOOSER: HRS 343 rears its beautiful head
One of the most important laws on the books is Hawai‘i Revised Statutes (HRS) 343 also known as the Hawai‘i Environmental Protection Act (HEPA). Included in my now 70 years of life experience was a...
View ArticleHOOSER: Honest review of impacts needed in Barking Sands
The Pacific Missile Range Facility Barking Sands (PMRF) Environmental Impact Statement Preparation Notice (EISPN) is out, and at first read seems woefully inadequate. See for yourself,...
View ArticleHOOSER: Circumventing the charter
Governor Josh Green has signed Senate Bill 3202 into law. This new law effectively circumvents the Kaua‘i County Charter by transferring the power of subdivision approval in the urban district, from...
View ArticleGUEST: An important opportunity on Kaua‘i
As the Commanding Officer at Pacific Missile Range Facility, I want to highlight an important opportunity that is happening right now for everyone here on Kaua‘i. As many of you know, the Navy manages...
View ArticleHOOSER: What’s your na‘au got to do with it?
Someone said to me recently, “Why do you bother doing the work you’re doing? Nothing you or I do is going to make a difference.” My answer is, I don’t have a choice. I am blessed (or cursed depending...
View ArticleHOOSER: Unpacking the 2024 Kaua‘i primary
The upcoming primary election ballot for Kaua’i at first glance, looks a little boring. Not one member of our state legislative delegation has a primary challenger. U.S. Representative Jill Tokuda is...
View ArticleHOOSER: A valuable policy and politics exercise
In 30 days or less voters will begin receiving their primary election ballot in the mail. Visit https://olvr.hawaii.gov to register or update your registration. On Kaua‘i, all seven council members are...
View ArticleHOOSER: Results of policy and politics exercise
I wrote last week, “Contact each council candidate, ask them your questions, share your concerns, and compare their responses (or lack thereof) before making your final voting decision.” So I did. I...
View ArticleVOICES: ‘Guest house’ bill could boost Kaua‘i housing supply
Kaua‘i County lawmakers will soon have another chance to ease the island’s critical housing shortage when a bill comes before them that would allow existing Kaua‘i homeowners to build both accessory...
View ArticleHOOSER: Making your County Council short list
It seems every single day someone calls or emails me asking about various candidates running for election. I share with them my personal favorites, but also strongly encourage everyone to do just a...
View ArticleHOOSER: A prescription for political trauma
The world is in turmoil, I cannot fix it, so I’m going for a walk. In solitude and silence except for the wash of the waves and the chirping of the birds, I will walk along the beach for an hour or...
View ArticleHOOSER: Primary Election time, ballots arriving in mail
Ballots have arrived in the mail. It’s game on. The Primary Election concludes on Aug. 10. If you have not received your ballot by now you should check with the office of elections to make sure you are...
View ArticleHOOSER: Get off the couch and vote
In 2022, 60 percent of primary voters or 513,715 Hawai‘i residents did not bother to vote. They chose to not even open an envelope, check off a few boxes, put it back in the return envelope and walk it...
View ArticleHOOSER: Who are the worst voters on Kaua‘i?
Who actually shows up to vote? Who are the super voters, those people who never ever fail to show up and vote? The research is clear, super voters are old people. Old people vote. Old people with money...
View ArticleHOOSER: Winners, losers and contenders
Honestly, the Aug. 10 Kaua‘i primary election was pretty boring, unless of course you are council member Billy DeCosta, Ana Mo Des, Clint Yago or Jeffrey Linder, who all fell short of expectations....
View ArticleHooser: Legislative reform — a tipping point
Kim Coco Iwamoto’s win against 30-year incumbent, representative and Speaker of the House for the past six years, Scott Saiki, is a truly historic achievement. He was publicly endorsed and supported by...
View ArticleHooser: A challenge to Kauai incumbents?
On or about Oct. 11, General Election ballots will begin arriving in the mail boxes of each and every registered voter in the state. It will all be over with on Nov. 5, and by 7:30 p.m. or so we’ll...
View ArticleHooser: Pause, reflect, recharge, regroup and go again
I’m sitting at reflexion, heading toward recharge, knowing with certainty that quitting is never an option. My 92 year-old mother is heading down the home stretch, and not doing so well. Saturday...
View ArticleHOOSER: The back side of the baby boomer curve
The back side of the baby-boomer curve Getting old is something most of us don’t think much about until it actually happens. At 70, my health is good, I’m active and still wake up every day seeking...
View ArticleHooser: How does Speaker Nadine Nakamura sound?
According to the coconut wireless, Representative Nadine Nakamura, who represents District 15 on Kauai (Haena, Wainiha, Hanalei, Princeville, Kilauea, Anahola, Kealia, Kapaa, portions of Wailua and...
View ArticleTAX MAN: Raise your awareness with the Hawaii Budget Primer 2024
This week we wanted to bring special attention to a 32-page pamphlet recently published by the Hawaii Appleseed Center for Law and Economic Justice, simply called “Hawaii Budget Primer 2024-25.” The...
View ArticleHOOSER: The movement for legislative change
So what happens next? There’s the general election of Nov. 5, the 2025 legislative session, the movement for legislative reform, and yes it’s not too early to be thinking about the 2026 elections. At...
View ArticleHOOSER: Reorganizing the state House without the nuance
“I’m now curious: How does the Speaker get that position — is it a public vote or in-house vote by the other reps?” This was the question most asked following my recent Policy & Politics column How...
View ArticleHooser: A voter’s conundrum
Recently I received an email asking a simple and straightforward question that quickly became entangled in complicated thoughts and counter-thoughts. My friend asked: “I live in Representative District...
View ArticleHOOSER: One vote can make a difference
So who you going to vote for? Some will keep that answer private and others will wear it on their sleeve (or their car bumper or on the yard sign in front of their house). As a political columnist...
View ArticleHOOSER: Candidates on a string — super PACs at work
The biggest threat to democracy is not unregulated immigration, but rather the unregulated and unlimited flow of money into political campaigns on both sides of the aisle. Billionaire Elon Musk has...
View ArticleHOOSER: Political inspiration from jersey No. 6
He doesn’t know me at all and I only know him as jersey No. 6. He’s probably 9 years old, maybe 10. His actions on the soccer field this past Saturday should make us all very proud, and remind us of...
View ArticleHOOSER: It’s time to pivot local
No matter what happens in Washington, D.C., in the coming days, here in Hawaii we need to take a deep breath and turn our focus immediately toward local issues. We may not be able to personally and...
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