Be there Friday — climate change is real

Please join me, and a whole lot of other people from across the planet — Friday, Sept. 20 (see details at bottom) - Help send a message to policymakers and government leaders everywhere and tell them:

New car lusting, questing and educating

“I am not a ‘thing’-oriented person,” I reminded myself as two of my friends came tootling up in red cars that shone sassy-sweet as candy apples. “I am not my car,” I reminded myself again as others came along in snappy, ocean-blue and polar-white, brand-new SUVs and hybrids equipped with all the newest bells and whistles, including back-up views.

My pal, the ‘warrior’ Glenn Mickens

I saw a recent County Council meeting on TV where they memorialized and honored my friend, nitpicker and county watchdog Glenn Mickens. (BTW, Glenn enjoyed being called a “nitpicker” and “watchdog”) I wish I had been there to testify and eulogize my pal and give my heartfelt sympathy to Glenn’s wife, Ruth.

Gabbard’s quest for peace inspired by Dr. King

What is the Democratic party going to do with Congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard, the most outspoken anti-war candidate in the primaries? Gabbard’s provocative campaign presents an irony for Democrats. She is more consistently anti-interventionist as a soldier than all the other candidates (except Sanders) who are civilians.

It’s time for some major paradigm shifts

In my heyday, I had the opportunity to be in teaching situations at the elementary, middle school, high school, collegiate, and adult-education levels in classroom arrangements on subject areas which included: a variety of English classes/specific grade-level- social studies classes/beginners and advanced creative dramatics/music in world cultures/speech fundamentals/debate/ choral singing/and newswriting and yearbook production classes — all depending on the needs and demands of where ever I was assigned to teach.

Islanded — Armchair voyaging from Kauai to the Solomons

“Islanded.” That’s a word I did not use until I settled on Kauai. It’s a simple word, actually the simple past tense and past participle of the verb form of the word “island.” If you live on a large continent, it’s not a word you have occasion to use.

Tourism industry expansion calls for balance

I have been traveling to Kauai since 2000 and have enjoyed the laid-back, peaceful surroundings of the whole island. I come to see the real Hawaii — not the big city of Honolulu, nor the high-cost retailers in Lahaina.

The Temple of Science

Worshipers at the Temple of Science claim it is anti-constitutional for native people to believe that Mauna Kea is desecrated by building an eighteen-story telescope atop that volcano.

The mother’s milk of politics

Jesse Unruh, Speaker of the California Assembly from 1961 to 1968, is credited with coining the phrase, “Money is the mother’s milk of politics.” … For better or worse, mostly worse I think — money is seen as the life force and energy behind politics and elections.

Confessing to a love of trees

This column, my focus shifts to breathe in the healing green of trees rather than concentrate on the contention of a minority of Hawaiian people who break laws and strew opala, rubbish, on the bosom of the beloved Mauna Kea.

Kalalau needs people

Mahalo to the dedicated trail crew who opened the Kalalau Trail after one year. It was surely a huge task in hot weather. Now we can hope that hikers can help kick rocks out of the trail. We can all do our part.

Looking to space, stars and beyond

As an unlimited tonnage ship captain (who uses astronomy on the job) and as a person who has sailed on the voyaging canoe Hokule‘a, I find the arguments against the Thirty Meter Telescope on the basis of damaging the sacred nature of the mountain as confusing, unfounded and perhaps anti-constitutional.