The DPH — unity, trust, resistance and moving forward
I want to thank Keali’i Lopez and Tim Vandeveer for their commitment to the Democratic Party, and for being willing to “put themselves out there” for all of us.
November ballot box issue – paying for public education
The legislature and the public have been playing a game of “whack a mole” for a long, long time, effectively dodging the question and responsibility of properly funding Hawaii’s public education system.
2018 Kauai election update and hard choices ahead
With only three weeks left until the filing deadline, the latest Office of Elections Candidate Filing Report of Friday, May 11, makes for interesting reading and rife speculation.
Counting in public – expedience or sunshine?
One of the first lessons learned by newly elected legislators and councilmembers is the importance of “counting.”
Regulating the agrochemical industry — a five-year journey
The passage of SB3095CD1 marks an auspicious moment in the legislative history surrounding pesticide regulation in Hawaii.
Hard rains require hard choices
The great flood of 2018 has passed, but the weeks and months ahead will continue to require hard work and sacrifice.
When disaster strikes people come first
Those of us not directly hit by the traumatic flooding that slammed our island this past weekend cannot possibly imagine its devastating impact. It is no exaggeration to say that the lives of many have been changed forever.
Conference Committee & plausible deniability
The 2018 legislative session is coming to a close with the final day of the legislative session being Thursday May 3, or “sine die.”
3 men and a lady — the mayor’s race
Up until yesterday, most residents when asked would have said it was a “three man race” for the office of Kauai mayor, if asked today, most would agree that it has now become a three man and one woman contest.
Geneva, Kauai and compunction
What does the International Film Festival and Forum on Human Rights held recently in Geneva Switzerland have to do with Kauai?
The direct democracy option
Not sure if others were as surprised as I was to see the 5 to 2 vote in support of moving forward a measure that if passed by voters would allow councilmembers to serve an unlimited amount of terms.
An unvarnished exercise in policy and politics
Today’s council meeting should be an interesting one. On display for all who care to watch, will be an unvarnished exercise in real life policy and politics.
The realities of council service
People are often curious about the reality of serving as a member of the Kauai County Council. How much time does it take to do the work? How much does it pay? Do you really have to give up your private life in order to serve? Do you have to quit your existing employment to serve on the council? Is it really a “thankless job”?
On compromise, meeting in the middle and litmus tests
Much has been said about the need to compromise, about the need to “meet in the middle” and that there should not be “litmus test issues.”
A surreal agenda: Shut up and serve forever
What kind of Kauai County Council do you want in the future?
The system is rigged, so what are you going to do about it?
From a policy and politics perspective, the recent TGI story focused on the Kauai County Council’s passage of the Kauai General Plan is an especially interesting read.
2018 legislative session – a citizens’ primer
The chaotic nature of the law-making process at the state level is a given. Literally thousands of proposed laws (bills) are introduced, hundreds of hearings are held, thousands of pieces of testimony are submitted and, ultimately, several hundred bills are passed into law.
Ending term limits is a bad idea
Kauai County Councilmember Ross Kagawa’s proposal to eliminate term limits for councilmembers is a surprising and somewhat audacious move, especially since he would likely personally benefit if it were to pass.
Young people: The single most important investment in our future
Imagine if the County of Kauai began actively partnering more with those youth programs, engaging the youth in civic partnerships while supporting their programs with modest “matching grants.”
Hawaii – Geneva of the Pacific?
Providing leadership and support for a strong and conscientious movement toward global peace and the dismantling of all nuclear weaponry must be Hawaii’s response to the events of this past Saturday morning.