Long road to signing of pesticide bill

For over 11 years I have worked on this issue. I have (alongside many, many others) fought consistently against the corporate greed and injustices waged on communities and environment by multinational chemical corporations. Over the last six years my effort has been, in my own backyard, on the county and state level, where Hawaii remains an experimental research hot spot for these corporations.

So many helped with all of Fame honor

About a year and a half ago Mokihana Aquatics received a letter saying that I was nominated for the Hawaii Swimming Hall of Fame. It was the first year of eligibility for consideration for induction by having met the minimum criteria of coaching in Hawaii for more than 35 years.

Jones Act drives up everyone’s costs

In the Aloha State, we’re used to sky-high prices for groceries and fuel because of an old protectionist shipping law known as the Jones Act. But the Jones Act is not just a Hawaii problem — it’s a national problem.

Celebrating 15 years and over 200 lives

Each May, our country celebrates National Drug Court Month and the many benefits drug courts bring to our communities. This year, the Kauai Drug Court also celebrates its 15th anniversary.

Opportunity to improve North Shore is upon us

The Friday hearing at which the Hawaii Board of Land and Natural Resources gave the penultimate approval to the new Haena State Park Master Plan started more than a little ragged around the edges, though a certain amount of that was for political show.

Pristinely protected and preserved

Researching a “little Galapagos” for my nature-loving husband, my attention was caught by the Channel Islands, 17 miles off the coast of California. I was delving through a travel guide on the national parks when I saw (beyond a photo of cliffs rising from ocean frilled by white breakers) the intriguing statement, “Discovering the Channel Islands is like tumbling through a time warp into a California everyone assumed had long ago vanished.”

Decisive leadership or let’s golf?

We learned that currently the Kauai Bus costs the county just over $3 million to operate annually. To increase service would cost the county $950,000 if Kauai Bus was to provide the same service seven days a week.

To ease traffic, shuttle system is needed

I have written many letters of opinion on this subject and over the years. Its track record has shown us that our council continues to throw millions of dollars of subsidization at it thinking it will improve.

Time to find that summer job? Think again

School’s almost out, and the only thing hotter than the weather is parents’ desire to get their teens out of the house and into the summer workforce. This summer, that’ll be easier than usual. The teen unemployment rate has dipped below 13 percent —a level not seen since the Clinton years. But it’s not all good news. Despite the low youth unemployment rate, the number of teenagers who have exited the labor force is near an all-time high.

Whistling ‘for the birds’

Here we are one week into May, sunning up slightly with clouds girdling the high center of our island like a soft, white cape resting on purple shoulders. Summer hopefully is on the way. Sun = drying out, warming up.