Stories by Gary Hooser

HOOSER: Don’t come after my chickens

Yes, I feed them. I dump leftover rice, papaya and pumpkin seeds, and all manner of leftover food, in my backyard, and then I enjoy watching these beautiful creatures enjoy their feast. In return, they give me their chicken poop, a truly closed loop and some of the best fertilizer in the world.

HOOSER: Why should you care?

Why should you care? Why should you take the time to send off some meaningless little email to some politician who’s not going to read it, and will do what they want regardless? Trust me, I feel this way more often than I’d like to admit.

HOOSER: Pulling back the curtains on Coco Palms

Who won and who lost on Jan. 24? On the surface, as is way too often the case — the developers won. But scratch just a tiny bit and you’ll see their victory was a hollow one. They stepped in it, actually. They stepped in it big time.

HOOSER: What do I want for Christmas?

Money, of course. Money for the houseless. Money for education. Money for I Ola Wailuanui. Money for community organizing. Money for hard core legislative advocacy work.

HOOSER: Reclaiming Coco Palms — a just cause

I’ve never donated $2,000 to anything, let alone $10,000. Like most of us, I don’t have a ton of money and after the bills that are due on the first of every month are paid, there’s no shortage of other family needs and wants.

HOOSER: The people versus Joe Manchin

Our 4 member all (D) Hawai’i Congressional delegation came very close yesterday to being forced to vote on a deal proposed by Senator Joe Manchin (D - but not really) of West Virginia.

HOOSER: Council to give $7 million for 10 words

The Kaua‘i County Council agenda set for Wednesday, Sept. 21, includes Resolution 2022-28, which proposes to transfer to the Grove Farm Company approximately $7 million in taxpayer-funded property improvements, newly constructed buildings, related infrastructure, and nearly six acres of land — that same land that Grove Farm had previously given to the county.

HOOSER: Wailuanuiahoʻano — say the name

Thirty years ago — on Sept. 11, 1992 — Hurricane ʻIniki made landfall as a Category 4 hurricane destroying many homes and businesses including the property then known as the Coco Palms Hotel Resort located on the sacred lands of Wailuanuiahoʻano.

HOOSER: Coco Palms Resort goes rent-seeking

It’s Groundhog Day, as the Coco Palms Resort development is yet again on the Kaua‘i Planning Commission agenda. It’s been 30 years and the parade of various owners and developers continue to tell us to trust them, everything is on track, and they will soon be restoring the property to its former glory.

Open letter to Kamala Harris; notes from the heart

Welcome to Kauai. My hope is your stay here will be one that rejuvenates and inspires you. I can only imagine the work load and daily stress that accompanies your life as Vice President. Thank you for your service and the sacrifice you make on our behalf.