HOOSER: Advice for the ‘first-timers’
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
“Meet the new House boss, same as the old House boss”…is not the headline we want to see 6 months from now when “post session” reviews are conducted.
HOOSER: Missive for the change-makers
Without a doubt, I’m the luckiest, most fortunate guy on the entire planet.
HOOSER: Down the political rabbit hole
Kaua‘i’ Mayor Derek Kawakami told Hawai’i Public Radio’s Catherine Cruz last week, ”I think ultimately I’d like to make a run for either one of the seats on the fifth floor at the state Capitol…” (either lieutenant governor or governor).
HOOSER: A New Kaua‘i Council Dynamic
Congratulations to former Councilmember Arryl Kaneshiro and our brand new Councilmember Fern Anuenue Holland, both of whom recently won election to the Kaua‘i County Council.
HOOSER: To those candidates who lost
Losing sucks, but please don’t blame the voters.
HOOSER: 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.
HOOSER: 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 how civil society is supposed to act.
HOOSER: 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.
HOOSER: One vote can make a difference
So who you going to vote for?
Hooser: 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.
HOOSER: 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?”
HOOSER: 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.
HOOSER: The back side of the baby boomer curve
The back side of the baby-boomer curve
Hooser: Pause, reflect, recharge, regroup and go again
I’m sitting at reflexion, heading toward recharge, knowing with certainty that quitting is never an option.
HOOSER: 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.
HOOSER: 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?
HOOSER: 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 out to the mail box.
HOOSER: 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 registered at https://elections.hawaii.gov.
HOOSER: 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 two, and I’ll feel better.