Think About It Hawaii

Due to our publication deadline, this “Think About It” was written before Election Day, so this column was written with no knowledge of who won any races anywhere…

But if you think our political system and democracy today are confounding, rigged, or don’t look out for the needs of the very citizens that make up our nation, look local. Two weeks ago, the Hawai`i Board of Education was close to passing an operating budget for the next two years that would have reduced funding and positions for high school Learning Center Programs.

Learning Centers (LCs) at various public schools provide focused learning in very specific areas, like agriculture, natural resources, business, and STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics). Disclaimer alert- I am fortunate to have been a member of Kalaheo High’s Academy of Media & Design for many years. I’ve seen how this program works, excites and encourages students, and helps kids ideate career and life choices. LCs enable our future work force and develop budding leaders of tomorrow.

Dismantling this program or tossing the funding back to the schools would have been problematic, at best, and self-defeating, at worst. But due to quickly-coordinated, grass roots lobbying efforts, the DOE Board listened to students, advisors, administrators, parents, and teachers, and pulled the cutbacks from the upcoming budget. The Board backed off cutting state funds to the 29 existing LCs as students got a first-hand taste of how to conduct rational, inspiring, civil activism and discourse for a cause. How invigorating, respectful, and refreshing.

Not only did numerous 16-18 year-olds keep their beloved school programs on track, they got to be active participants in the democratic process, using logic and perseverance over a very short window of time. And kudos to the Board of Education for not only listening, but also changing its plans and budget.  

This “project” was a wonderful victory, spearheaded by kids and mentors, showing that opinions matter when backed with sound reasoning, passion, facts, and logic. Great things happen, sometimes, when people react righteously. Calls went out for testimony submissions, for handcrafted placards to be displayed at the Capitol in opposition of the proposed cuts, and for students and others to rally (and testify) at the BOE meeting. It worked; the system can work. If only the kids could explain this concept to overzealous adults nationwide who must’ve missed vital lessons about civics, ethics, and empathy.

Think about it…

Midway through autumn, and celebrating my 5^th anniversary with MidWeek; soooo… here are some nice things to acknowledge and/or celebrate:

Some folks believe that film tax credits shouldn’t be given out locally. Huh? Not only do the movies/videos/ads/TV shows provide nice (free) marketing for our islands, but the business model appears to deliver great results, too. We ought to be incentivizing more industries to set up shop(s) here, not fewer. You can’t complain about a lack of a diversified economy without providing some lures. 

There’s a reason Hartford became America’s insurance capital, and Delaware reigns as our incorporation capital. It isn’t the weather. Incentives, tax credits, and other financial inducements. With high prices, a tough labor market, annual net emigration, and a difficult housing situation, we need to be more creative, like the artful types in the film/TV industry. 

The Kahoolawe Island Reserve Commission found a green turtle (honu) nesting site there. We know of the decades-long struggle to resurrect the island into something inspiring after it had become a barren and bombed site, and as KIRC’s executive director said, this nest shows “…the island’s remarkable capacity for healing.” For years, all that was discovered on Kahoolawe was buried ordnance. With Kahoolawe’s invasive grass now cut back and the planting of native species, we’re witnessing one less turtle hurdle. Bravo!

Due to some quality research done and resourceful action taken thereafter, 14,000 Hawai’i households will be eligible for about $45-million (or $3,200 annually) through the SNAP program, formerly known as food stamps. Kudos to assistant professor Dylan Moore of the UH Economic Research Organization (UHERO) and Nate Hix of the Hawai`i Public Health Institute’s pushing and prodding, local households in need can apply for additional SNAP funds. The state’s Department of Human Services is working on its (hopefully) soon-to-be upgraded eligibility system to ensure that available federal funds can be used here.

Many households in Hawai`i face what’s known as the “benefits cliff” scenario, whereby monthly financial benefits they receive may drop to zero if they see even slight income increases which would push their earnings above the allowable threshold. There is no gradual stairway allowing workers to move up financially without losing fed funds, just this cliff whereby you can lose $500/month in benefits by earning $200/month more at work. Bad math; complicated system, but reality. Great work UHERO and you heroes who made this SNAP decision happen!

Think about it…

Hand-wringers are lamenting the “opportunity” that University of Hawai’i athletics may have had to join the once-vaunted Pac-12. “Once-vaunted”, as the new-look Pac-12 looks more like a Mountain West Lite. 83% of the Pac-12 went away this year, including well-known, successful, and historically popular schools. Only Oregon State and Washington State remain, unwanted by the power four conferences, yet rich with the defectors’ forfeited, accrued funds. College sports is about money, relevancy, money, positioning, and money. New alignments ignore regionality, educational equivalencies, common sense, and historical rivalries. 

Soooo… student-athletes will take a five-hour, cross-country flight (say from USC to Rutgers) for a 23-minute cross-country track meet. The transfer portal runs like a hectic transporter room from “Star Trek” as athletes leave on a whim; can that be sustained? Name/image/license (NIL) deals for players further separate the have- and have-not schools. Will a 19-year-old QB, receiving $1-million in NIL, experience resentment from his 18-year-old, little-known, un(der)paid offensive left tackle teammate? With prop bets now promoted in over 50% of states allowing college football betting, what could go wrong when 17-22 year-old athletes are propositioned/approached by big betting bozos? 

Will money-draining, so-called “minor” sports be eliminated? By 2030, will we be left with just college football, men’s and women’s basketball and a maybe few other sports to simply ensure gender equity mandates are sustained? The latest realignment forced by major conferences (er… money) is surely temporary; the pieces will shift yet again in coming years. Will TV/cable/streaming funds paid to conferences and schools be sustainable as weary subscribers grow numb and uncertain ad revenues wobble?

The Pac-12 lost its cache when it lost the large west coast TV markets it represented; that’s what TV/streaming money providers want- eyeballs. Recent Pac-12 additions from the Mountain West simply don’t have the clout or national cache of the Pac-12’s departed schools. Can newcomers rise and shine? Because right now, almost no one east of the Rockies is noticing. 

College football is the NFL’s minor league, with built-in (alumni) fans. It’s pay for play. Second- and third-stringers may leave or pass on top 20-ranked colleges for bigger bucks elsewhere; will that level the playing field when injuries occur and the cupboard’s bare? The genie’s out of the bottle; the NCAA (No Clue At All) is a weak vestige of its former self, stripped of power. And yes, UH must really fight mightily to simply survive.

Think about it…

Street cred, giving props, a shout out, showing respect. All-important signs of the “now” generation in our social bouillabaisse. We hear of fights and issues arising when young ‘uns don’t feel they’ve been given “respect”. While not a new phenomenon, it seems to be mentioned a lot nowadays by misguided miscreants after unnecessary incidents.

Traditionally, respect is something one earns. Leaders, teachers, bosses, peers, et al., might earn your respect based on repeated actions, intentions, and words. As we age, we don’t automatically garner respect or trust, just because we age. There are childish, uncaring elders. There are also wisdom-filled, younger folk who behave in ways that belie their years. They earn our respect.

Because we are all individuals. Let’s not group people or pre-judge for uninformed convenience’s sake. Stereotyping is mental laziness. Even local jokes. Not all (fill in the blanks) are (fill in the blank). The end. People should be assessed and befriended (or not) based on their actions, words, soul, empathy, morality, warmth, and integrity.

Recently, I noticed how I appeared to gain instant cred while attending a concert with concertgoers mostly half my age. While a dinosaur, I must be somewhat cool if I’m at a 2024 concert popular with Gen Z’ers or Millennials, right? I avoided the mosh pit at an amazing Green Day/Smashing Pumpkins/Rancid/Linda Lindas spectacle (in the Portland rain), and apparently scored points when Green Day appeared onstage amid a recording of the last half of Queen’s iconic anthem, “Bohemian Rhapsody”, and I boldly asserted to someone seated next to me that I actually saw the real Queen perform with Freddie Mercury…twice. So he gave the old man props! 

At some level, most wanna fit in, be accepted for who they are and perhaps gain a modicum of respect. It is important for elders to instill in up-and-comers that they should take great pride in who we are and what they do without worrying about trolls, bullies, wannabes, misanthropes, and anonymous anti-social media. As Paul McCartney once sang, “let it be… there will be an answer; let it be”. Be yourself; free yourself.

Let’s acknowledge the younger generations’ strivers when they act appropriately- consciously helping others, acting selfless. Self-esteem has taken a beating with teens post-COVID.  So fellow Boomers, let’s make time to selectively spread wisdom as youngsters spread their wings. Help them feel OK in their own skin. Pops giving props.

Think about it…  

Personal finance company, WalletHub, recently ranked Hawai`i as the “happiest state in America”. Again. Survey factors include work-life balance, emotional and physical well-being, community and environment, and work environment. Research and metrics from various U.S. agencies plus other assorted studies rounded out the ranking’s data pool. 

This accolade might be but a snapshot, as we all have our own definition of what determines happiness, and where/how we fit in. But the survey parallels an inherent belief system, which includes local concepts like ‘ohana and aloha, that allows many in Hawai`i to still feel happy amid tough life issues, from affordable housing scarcity to eking out a living while facing constant economic decisions that affect far too many, far too often.

Hawai`i ranks #1 in “emotional and well-being” and #31 in “work environment”. What clinched our overall #1 happiness ranking is coming in at #3 in “community and environment”. A further breakdown (no pun intended) shows Hawai`i has the lowest share of adult depression of any state, yet also has the lowest share of adults who say they get adequate sleep nightly. Those seemingly polar opposite notions might portend bigger problems in our emotional states, yet we somehow smile and still feel OK amid our grogginess. 

While these surveys often provide simple dinner table fodder, there is something to be said about how, in spite of high local costs, increased traffic and crumbling infrastructure, our melting pot of humanity still considers itself fortunate and happy.

Keola & Kapono Beamer, in the final line of their whimsical, 1975 classic, “Mr. Sun Cho Lee”, sang that “It’s amazing we can live in the same place”. Indeed. We persevere; we celebrate one another and with one another. We feel pride whenever someone local shines on the national/international stage. We’re OK being underdogs, isolated, fending (oft times) for ourselves. The bouillabaisse of cultures, our intricate mélange of styles, food, customs, habits, and even eccentricities is a big draw that apparently keeps most people here (relatively) happy.

Maryland, New Jersey, Utah, and Delaware round out WalletHub’s top five happiest states. Happiness is a state of mind. Unlike many outside factors that impact you, you can control your own happiness to a large degree through your mindset, goals, friends, and expectations. So maybe we can feel some small kine pride in being ranked #1. Maybe we’ve felt that way all along, but stayed humble, yeh?

Think about it… 

While local tourism numbers continue to lag, a hopeful sign for economic well-being in the coming years here is construction. Myriad government projects of note are in play, and there are plans to expedite (as we all know) more housing development throughout the islands. A big question is: where are all of the workers going to come from, at what cost, and where are they all going to reside (as we have that dang housing shortage)?

The rail project is approaching the congested Kalihi/downtown corridor. The most expensive building project in U.S. Navy history is the Pearl Harbor dry dock project ($3.4 billion), which may provide 2,500 new jobs. Yet more condos are on the rise in Kaka`ako, forthcoming housing projects provide hope, and (theoretically) the New Aloha Stadium Entertainment District (NASED) project breaks ground next summer. There’s an Ewa Beach Hyatt planned, plus North Shore development. Lots of work announced, but how will it all get done in a “timely” manner? Already there are issues related to finding local housing for guest building industry workers. Maybe the excess, available hotel rooms could be an answer… for now?

Add in the reality that working age people (in general) are emigrating annually from Hawai`i, and optimism about construction as an economic driver must wrestle with the numbers game that could put the brakes on various projects. Industry training to educate more workers locally is ramping up. But originally estimated project costs will have to consider premiums that will be paid to fly in (and house) qualified workers from the mainland.

Months ago, University of Hawai`i Economic Research Organization’s Executive Director Carl Bonham suggested that government construction locally might double to $3- or even $4-billion annually in coming years. But even then, some of the typical tax benefits associated with construction fly away when out-of-state workers go home with their earnings.

Putting this logistics/cost puzzle together will be a primary job for many confirmed projects in order to ensure that they’re completed within expected timeframes. The Pearl Harbor project plans to begin submarine maintenance testing in January, 2028. The UH football team has an August 26, 2028, game scheduled against the University of Kansas- at the new Aloha Stadium. More truly affordable housing has been needed for 40 years- an on-going quest statewide. Sharp minds + sharp pencils must construct a way to make this all work in the years ahead.

Think about it…

As you might have heard, last month’s turnout for Hawai`i’s primary election was the lowest turnout in the history of our state. The 32% turnout rate includes only registered voters, so if you take into account that we have eligible voters who don’t even bother to sign up, the tally is even more tepid.

Nowadays, you simply have to open your mail, fill out the ballot and mail it in. Easy-peasy. Or not. “Ainokea” paired with the lack of a robust slate in many races surely contributed to the record low turnout. One would expect that the presidential race itself will cause higher numbers of voters to take the time to vote in November… maybe.

Perhaps if we offered a grand prize or two in the form of a lottery (currently illegal), that would encourage more people to vote, which might encourage more (qualified, astute) people to run. Now I know we should never try to “buy” people’s votes, but isn’t that a big chunk of what our political system is really all about (PACs, political ads, cronyism, political favors, online fake news to sway our opinions, etc.)? 

Yes, I’m kidding, of course. But since we have an insatiable urge to gamble here (or in Lost Wages), maybe the concept of winning some bucks for doing your civic duty would incentivize thousands of residents who’ve currently/historically checked out of the system. Hawai`i loves some machines (slots) but apparently not others (political). 

A robust, democratic political system where people make choices based on what’s best for the state, their plights, and their families requires vigorous competition between parties, rather than within parties. We simply don’t have that locally in about 90% of bi-annual ballot options. 

In 1994, the primary turnout was more than double what was last month. Ironically, decisions about our future as a state have arguably never been more important, while a grand majority of potential voters choose to sit on the sidelines. Could this  be more an indictment on where we’ve devolved as a political arena than it does on people’s utter frustration and disinterest? 

Just as far too many are not using the power of the pen to make choices, far too many are making choices- by leaving. Eight years in a row we’ve lost population. Change may take time, but 2026 would be an ideal moment to begin stimulating interest through more ballot options.

Think about it…