HOOSER: The planet is burning; time to stop fiddling
Plato (428-7 B.C.E) said it best, βIf you do not take an interest in the affairs of government, then you are doomed to live under the rule of fools.β
HOOSER: Pomp, circumstance and politics
Opening day of the 2025 HawaiΚ»i Legislature this past Wednesday was a festive affair, full of pomp and circumstance β as is to be expected.
HOOSER: What we need on opening day
Hope and inspiration is what we need. Hope and inspiration backed by tangible action that says loud and clear the days of βpay to playβ at the Hawaiβi State legislature, are over.
HOOSER: Getting past recalcitrant incumbents
βPublicly funded Clean Elections, Rules Reform to increase transparency and accountability, and tightening campaign spending laws are all worthy goals.β will be the refrain from almost every State legislator in the building.
HOOSER: 3 stepsβ pick one and take it
Stop talking and just do it please. Just jump in the deep-end and start swimming. Trust me, itβll be OK. Yes, learn from others whoβve gone before you β but take that critical first step now, today β¦ before you talk yourself out of it yet again.
HOOSER: The Christmas present we deserve
Iβve never thought much about Maine. I just know itβs a small state located somewhere on the Canadian border, and itβs cold.
HOOSER: Advice for the βfirst-timersβ
At least a dozen brand new people were elected this past November 5th to serve at all levels of Hawaii state and county government.
HOOSER: Rules of the House, up close and personal
βMeet the new House boss, same as the old House bossββ¦is not the headline we want to see 6 months from now when βpost sessionβ reviews are conducted.
HOOSER: Missive for the change-makers
Without a doubt, Iβm the luckiest, most fortunate guy on the entire planet.
HOOSER: Down the political rabbit hole
Kauaβiβ Mayor Derek Kawakami told Hawaiβi Public Radioβs Catherine Cruz last week, βI think ultimately Iβd like to make a run for either one of the seats on the fifth floor at the state Capitolβ¦β (either lieutenant governor or governor).
HOOSER: A New Kauaβi Council Dynamic
Congratulations to former Councilmember Arryl Kaneshiro and our brand new Councilmember Fern Anuenue Holland, both of whom recently won election to the Kauaβi County Council.
HOOSER: To those candidates who lost
Losing sucks, but please donβt blame the voters.
HOOSER: Itβs 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.
HOOSER: Political inspiration from jersey No. 6
He doesnβt know me at all and I only know him as jersey No. 6. Heβs 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 how civil society is supposed to act.
HOOSER: Candidates on a string β 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.
HOOSER: One vote can make a difference
So who you going to vote for?
Hooser: A voterβs conundrum
Recently I received an email asking a simple and straightforward question that quickly became entangled in complicated thoughts and counter-thoughts.
HOOSER: Reorganizing the state House without the nuance
βIβm now curious: How does the Speaker get that position β is it a public vote or in-house vote by the other reps?β
HOOSER: The movement for legislative change
So what happens next? Thereβs the general election of Nov. 5, the 2025 legislative session, the movement for legislative reform, and yes itβs not too early to be thinking about the 2026 elections.
HOOSER: The back side of the baby boomer curve
The back side of the baby-boomer curve