Think About It Hawaii

We can talk to people in space and under the sea, up in the Himalayas and virtually anywhere in the world, yet we still can’t get dependable mobile phone service when nearing or inside the three tunnels that run through O`ahu’s windward mountain ranges.

What’s frustrating is those vital moments when you finally get that call back from your doctor, realtor, cable company/phone company representative, or kid’s teacher- after playing phone tag or pushing “1” or “2” to leave a message for days, and yup… you lose the call as you enter the forbidden tunnels.

I understand the whole dense, basalt rock that makes up the Ko`olau Range; I know signals get blocked. I know we have “terrain shadows” that cut off calls or block reception. But I also know that lots of places have mountains and install cell repeaters to help customers. If there is a minor, non-911 type accident, good luck getting immediate help up there, unless you know how to use the post-2022 cell models’ built-in emergency help or a kind passerby renders aid.

Waiting for someone to call it in feels so 20^th century. Maybe local radio stations and cell companies can work together, since you can’t get decent radio reception in/around the tunnels either. 

I remember when H-3 began major construction (late 1980s) and when it was finished (late 1997). Many lamented the highway traipsing through heretofore unseen areas. While the creation carefully worked around identified, sacred areas, it also allows tens of thousands to see the beautiful valley they never would’ve seen had H-3 not been built. And as leeward and central O`ahu have grown, H-3 provides a quicker passage while alleviating traffic and stress on the Likelike and Pali highways.

But if you wanted to call someone and wax poetic about the double rainbow you are witnessing (hands-free cell usage, of course), you gotta wait until you come off that aesthetic high and off that dead zone hill to let anybody know.

Costs are prohibitive, maintenance is tough (like the terrain) and most people are up and down (and thus out of range) for only a few minutes, but you’d think if we can handle signals under water, in outer space, on planes, and elsewhere, someone would come up with a plan to help us through the inconvenience of lost mountaintop calls. Alas, it remains a hill too steep to climb.

Think about it… 

Once again, Hawai`i is the happiest state; case closed. We don’t gloat or act smug; we won’t do the Dlow Shuffle, the Espresso, or any other current fad celebrations. As the Edwin Hawkins Singers sang in 1968, “Oh Happy Day”! WalletHub is a personal finance company for consumers that provides numerous lists annually based on its data, and the “Happiest State” list is always fascinating… 

We may lament traffic, grocery and housing costs, government lethargy/intransigence, and myriad other things locally, but WalletHub says Hawai`i citizens report “…the highest levels of life satisfaction in the nation and the second-lowest depression rate”. Wow… even if it doesn’t always feel that way. 84% of our neighbors say they are in good or better health (12^th among all states), and 72% of us report to being active and productive daily. Maybe we just handle it all better here than elsewhere?

An apparent anomaly in the survey is that Hawai`i residents experience the second-lowest share of financial anxiety in America. Huh? Yet, we like where we work, as we rank #5 in “Work Environment”. That seems kapakahi. We also rank dead last in “Adequate-Sleep Rate”. Yup, we’re #50. I guess we’re smiling, working zombies then? We have the second-lowest, long-term unemployment rate and the 5^th-lowest divorce rate in America. Blissful zombies.

What it all might mean, beyond numbers and rankings, is that we thrive with our core world view of aloha- in an accepting, local culture different from elsewhere with a shared sense that it’ll all be OK. Add to that the pervasive sense of `ohana- it’s not just a bunch of wishful platitudes and empty words. If this annual ranking (which consistently places Hawai`i near the top in many categories… but last in sleep) indicates anything, perhaps it just reaffirms that Hawai`i’s unique lifestyle and outlook is generally imbued in those who choose to reside here. 

Through osmosis, transplants hopefully get it, or perhaps they leave. Since we live longer here than in any other state, it’s helpful to be satisfied, because you’ll probably outlast many of those living elsewhere (hopefully… in decent health). My father fell in love with Hawai`i while here during World War II. He opted to bring our family here three decades later, based on his deep love, empathy, and respect for what people here are all about. Many others- locals and transplants- feel the same way.

Think about it…

Thoughts aplenty about random and disparate items as we fall headfirst into autumn…

• The best-selling book “Theo Of Golden” has many wonderful quotes and thoughts. While looking at someone’s portrait, protagonist Theo tells the subject of that picture that he sees “…a man. There is wisdom here, I believe. A young tender heart; a wise old soul. That’s a good combination. Wisdom and playfulness.” A winning combination- to be learned yet still learning, intertwined with a young heart full of merriment. To be interesting and interested… 

• I’m not sure there are many things more delightful in life than watching a three-year old gleefully blowing bubbles to the wide-eyed delight of her one-year old sister. I got to witness the pure, innocent joy of it all…

• Back to stark reality… if you haven’t figured it out yet, when traffic lights are out at any street corner, you’re required to come to a complete stop before carefully proceeding. We’ve had our fair share of power outages this year, and I cringe when cars heading town bound on the Pali Highway at 55MPH zip through the Waokanaka intersection as others creep in from side streets. It’s a stop sign situation for all; everyone shares the road. Please wake up…

• In her essay collection from 1926, Helen Keller said, “the highest result of education is tolerance”. She talked about respecting the rights and beliefs of others. Ignorance replaced by education (which requires an interest to listen/learn) just may lead to empathy. We’re all snowflakes (a term severely twisted by scared people) – no two humans are exactly alike.

• I randomly wrote into an A.I. app that “Much has been written about the quest for happiness when it is apparently fulfilment that makes our life’s journey more complete”… to see what it would say. Elders might recall that fictional A.I. program, HAL 9000 (“2001: A Space Odyssey”, 1968), malevolently wouldn’t open the pod bay doors for Dave, but this A.I. program respectfully replied: “Happiness is emotional weather: It is a temporary feeling driven by current circumstances. It comes and goes, and trying to force it to stay is like trying to stop the wind. Fulfillment is an anchor: It is a deep sense of purpose, meaning, and alignment. It comes from living according to your core values, contributing to something larger than yourself, and embracing growth—even when that growth is uncomfortable.” 

How nice.

Think about it…

JD Power recently released its annual rankings of customer satisfaction at North American airports, and this report card showed our Daniel K. Inouye International Airport near the bottom… again.

As the first and last things most travelers (kama`aina and visitors) see when coming and going, that’s a shame, but it’s nothing new. On the 1,000-point scale used to determine relative satisfaction, Tampa International topped the Large Airport category with 715 points. The average for the 24 airports in this category was 657 points. HNL ranked #23 of 24 ranked with 604 points.

Aside from convenience, aesthetics, ease of movement, friendliness, food options, décor, and whatever else you wanna throw in there when people answer the “satisfaction” queries used in this survey, one thing stood out- passengers who rank their airport experience higher/better spend 73% more on site than those who find the experience “just OK”.

Food, beverage and retail options (including local and national chains) is an important factor in people’s feelings about a place, as is signage- clarity, simplicity, consistency. Terminal 1 at HNL has so much room in the walkway between the gates and baggage claim, you could play street hockey in there without hitting anyone. 

Lobby renovations (including huge, premium airline lounges) should be completed by the end of 2027 in Terminal 1 and in Terminal 2 in 2028. Airport construction work will continue through 2032. Or longer. Nothing moves quickly or on time with most projects, and the incessant yellow tape, orange cones, faucets not working, and other eyesores at our major airport remind us of this on every trip- going and returning. For decades.

Capital improvement projects are the norm at airports throughout the world. I’ve witnessed Portland International’s upgrades over the past few years, and they are beautiful, inviting, and actually got done pretty quickly- five years total for construction.

By the way, why does it still take 45-minutes to disembark and get your bag off the baggage claim carousel? Is the same crew handling too many planes all arriving within a tight, mid-day window? 

Hopefully, the intricacies of our airport evolution will also allow for shorter walks from certain gates to baggage claim areas in the future, as the 15-20 minutes walks are undoubtedly tedious for weary visitors unaware of the Wiki Wiki buses.

So here’s to expeditious rampant and ramp improvements at HNL Airport for the weary, wary, and wide-eyed.

Think about it… 

The next time someone suggests that they don’t vote because it really doesn’t matter, refer back to the great Hawai`i primary election of August, 2026, where TWO Republican primary battles ended up tied. Not just close, not tiny margins determining a victor, but actual ties. Thus, any one person who did not to fill-in his/her mail-in ballot but might have voted in either of these races turned out (unintentionally) to be an absolute decision maker. 

Some people don’t vote because they dislike both major parties and/or many candidates. The August underwhelming local tally (just 33% of eligible voters did their duty) and these results remind us that if people do a wee bit of research online about candidate positions and histories, and simply send in a ballot via the pre-addressed and stamped envelope, they can be an integral part of democracy rather than consciously ignoring the system while still (perhaps) whining about it. Can voting get any simpler? Hundreds of thousands here register, and then don’t bother voting.  

As for some lackluster choices, especially in the cesspool- or reflecting pool- known as Washington, D.C., some people who might capably lead this country or state opt to pass on pursuing politics. Nowadays, you’re hounded by asocial media, rumors, innuendos, and anonymous yet direct personal threats from disgruntled people who don’t get what they want or don’t like what they see (or read). And then constant compromising required- oh wait, that doesn’t exist anymore; we simply draw lines (walls?) in the sand and stay on our side, no matter what. Nanny nanny boo-boo!

While non-candidates might never admit it as a rationale for not running, there’s undoubtedly quite a pay cut at stake for some private sector individuals who might otherwise be cajoled into entering the political fray. Remember when Chrysler’s Lee Iacocca was possibly going to be drafted to run for president? That came as the government had bailed out his floundering U.S. car company. But Iacocca, like General Colin Powell and other well-known authority figures, opted not to wade into shark-infested waters.

George Washington was a reluctant choice for president; twice. But he did it upon repeated requests from his fellow nation builders. They told him that he alone was the only one who could bring the original, fragile 13 states together. He put his sense of duty above his personal desires. You’re duty/responsibility? Just vote. Freedom needs you.

Think about it…

A few items to ponder and gaze at in dull wonderment…

Myriad, massive, upscale projects loom large in Kaka`ako, and the vital electric grid is overburdened. While multi-million dollar condos keep popping up, promised affordable housing units somehow get pushed aside, delayed, or hung up in reliable obfuscation. How could that happen; bad planning or canny planning?…

We sometimes see senseless property destruction- a sink smashed in a local beach park bathroom, a statue destroyed at a Buddhist temple, classrooms trashed. But vandalizing artwork and tiles at ‘Aikahi Elementary School last month? A useless act of what- frustration, a lax childhood upbringing; bad hair day?! Why would anyone destroy elementary school kids’ artwork, which included a section dedicated to Maile Gilbert, whose 1985 murder led to our vital, local Maile Amber Alert network? Sad, inexcusable, lame, wanton destruction. As of this writing, no leads, clues, or rationale. Let’s hope someone(s) comes forward to begin his/her road to personal redemption and rehabilitation…

While increased federal funding for local Medicare reimbursements of $17 million annually will provide help for beneficiaries, a quick calculation provides a bit of perspective. Medical costs (no matter who you blame) are going through the roof. With 300,000 local Medicare recipients here, if everyone got an equal share of this additional annual “windfall” reimbursement, it would come to $56.66 per person; chump change. Not everyone needs additional funding yearly, but this somewhat pyrrhic “victory” reminds us that a thorough overhaul of our healthcare system, insurance labyrinth, and Kafkaesque administration is badly needed as perplexed patients lose patience while struggling to pay. And, U.S. healthcare is rarely ranked in the top 10 of world health rankings… 

Schools reopened, and so did that can of worms regarding neglected repairs and major reconstruction projects statewide. We expect upward trends in test scores while far too many kids have to overcome heat exhaustion (still), and band aid fixes on systemic, dilapidated physical plants. The DOE does what it can, apparently, but projects get delayed, ignored, or lost in the layered bureaucratic bouillabaisse. Hard to train developing minds to comprehend responsibility when orange cones, unusable facilities, and yellow tape remind them daily that adults in charge aren’t necessarily fulfilling their obligations and promises. And the age old O`ahu vs. Neighbor Island favoritism-treatment accusation rears its ugly head as problems fester while repair requests vaporize slowly like stagnant rainwater in students’ soaked shoes…

Think about it…

A pair of labor economists found that 84% of people who work remotely spend their work time alone. And since three times as many people worked remotely in 2024 compared to (pre-COVID) 2019, that’s a lot of potentially lonesome souls. Not surprisingly, over half of remote workers felt less connected to colleagues. Some who didn’t feel estranged probably don’t care much about the job to begin with. “It’s a paycheck”, a means to an end. How sad. When you spend 50% of your waking hours involved with something or someone, shouldn’t it provide a sense of fulfillment and even joy?

While remote work provides many potential benefits, it also has enhanced people’s sense of isolation and distress. The labor economist authors went on to state that “The office is the No.1 place adults form friendships, outranking houses of worship, children’s schools, neighborhoods, and sports teams.” Quiet time and contemplation are great; just not forever. 

If you’re motivated by upward mobility at work, consider that if three people with similar jobs at a big company work remotely, and three others work at the office daily, who do you think has a better chance of promotion if/when the time comes? The people who the bosses see and interact with daily, or the Zoom-only participants?

Our brains are wired to communication better when in the presence of others (the social baseline theory), not while on regular Brady Bunch calls, where some users quietly multi-task (poorly) with emails, Kalshi, cell phones, or Door Dash.

We know that the mental health of the elderly is directly correlated to regular activities with in-person connections. Even a small circle of friends is better for us than any bots, avatars, social media “friends”, influencers, and/or A.I. interlopers. Interacting might be intimidating for the shy and natural introverts, but everyone needs a modicum of human connection.

While most workers indicate they’d often love to leave office/work politics, micromanaging, and drama behind, the half million work-from-home people who participated in labor economists’ Harrington/Emmanuel/Pallais study profiled in Science magazine led to the following conclusion: “…remote work explains a third of the deterioration in mental health between 2011 and 2024.” 

Phone company AT&T told us to “reach out and touch someone” in 1979; that concept rings truer today in a post-modern, post-truth, post-connection world that encourages disconnection, digital dopamine/endorphin lures, and self-absorption. Strive to stay involved, engaged, interested, connected, and optimistic.

Think about it… 

Hawai’i’s Department of Labor and Industrial Relations published an economic report last month suggesting an upcoming “…decade of slow, cautious expansion”. Wow. A decade of blah. That sounds ominous- especially if you’re seeking your way professionally, looking at local long-term opportunities for personal and earnings growth, and seeking a path toward retirement. 

With an annual projected job market growth rate locally of just 0.4% for the foreseeable (and unforeseeable) future, how will Gen X, Y, Z, and Alpha sustain or enhance a lifestyle that provides what they want, much less need? 

The DLIR report speculates that growth will be found in categories such as general management, nursing, repair work, maintenance, food and service industries, carpentry and bartending, as well as health care and social assistance areas. 

Vocational shifts and needs are occurring already (in part) due to increased digital and A.I. workplace components. Business and government leaders must seek out ways to encourage and/or develop growth industries here- beyond tourism and construction. Remote working, though it has downsides, appeals to many working families and those who simply desire more life balance, a concept that differs for everyone.

The 2026 state legislature added an extra 5% tax credit to Hawaiʻi’s Motion Picture, Digital Media and Film Production. That made headlines, but 5% is no alluring game-changer nor a major inducement as productions opt for greener pastures elsewhere to film shows/movies that might “look like” Hawai`i. Raising the total available annual cap on production credits for TV/movies from $50 to $60 million, while a 20% increase, remains too small a base for big-time productions; we should offer at least double that amount. 

The average price tag to make a Hollywood movie is $60-million, while episodic mini-series cost at least $6-million per episode. If we’re serious about luring more (non-polluting, well-paying, eco-friendly-ish, scenic promotion) productions and if we want newer, unexplored businesses to consider Hawai`i, we gotta have more to offer. 

Case in point- Delaware became America’s “corporation capital” 127 years ago by offering good deals, updating legal services, and providing better business incentives. Corporate franchise taxes and fees now make up about $2 billion (or 25%) of Delaware’s general fund. Yes, Delaware.

With DLIR’s report and Hawai’i`s annual out-migration pattern, we need to do more than wait and hope; we need pro-active concepts as has been suggested repeatedly for over 30 years. Tourism and construction need viable economic siblings… quickly.

Think about it…

I had the pleasure last month to go blueberry picking with my wife not once, but twice on a rural farm in Marion County, Oregon. The family-run farm head hands you a bucket and says, “good luck”. 

You pay $2 per pound (astounding) and you get time to converse with… well, no one, if you choose. It’s just you, the vines and your bucket, as the summer breeze keeps it cool(er); you watch as bees do their thing; meadowland bliss. A veritable garden of eatin’.

I don’t often spend leisure time in fields; this pastime was somewhat revelatory for me. Just nature and me, getting to know one another. The chore at hand (literally)? Blueberries (now that I’m a pro) should be picked based on how they look on the outside, unlike how we should choose friends. And no need to pull too hard- the ripe ones are easily accessible and agreeable.

Good-looking blueberries can be sour- just like people. But even sour blueberries can serve a purpose- they can be transformed into bountiful baked goods, sauces, or jams. Yes even the “off” ones have value. Proper care can release their sweetness. Like people.

I learned that it helps to go beyond the tried and true paths traversing the vines. Some people picked only near the main barn. By venturing out further, you can find what you’re looking for. A life lesson via fruit? Sometimes you have to go out of your way to find what you want/need. And sometimes, yes, you do come across low-hanging fruit.

Sometimes you’re focused on just one side of the vine, when simply crossing over to the other side bears fruit.  Don’t just look at things one way. Step back a bit; try a different perspective. 

When seeking your goals (like a full basket of succulent blueberries) you may have to search longer, further away from your normal comfort zone. Good things are not always in plain sight. No seek, no find.

We had a glorious time picking these amazing berries (which, as George Carlin profoundly noted, are purple… not blue). Filled with antioxidants, fiber, Vitamins C and K, and manganese, these low-calorie pearls of the vine rank up there with walnuts and broccoli as healthy, tasty treats when far too many enjoyable foods nowadays seem to have dubious ramifications (or recalls).  Pickin’ and pluckin’ made for a berry good day indeed.

Think about it…