Not Living Large – MidWeek March 4, 2026

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The Economic Research Organization at the University of Hawai`i (UHERO) often releases compelling information about economic conditions here, and last month’s submission was a real eye-opener.

Professor Steven Bond-Smith and Graduate Research Assistant Eric Schwartz contend (in a nutshell) that there is more than meets the eye regarding economic realities in Hawai`i. With minimal new job development and lagging pay standards locally (compared to other major cities and states), the authors suggest that perhaps we should stop comparing Hawai`i to San Francisco or San Diego and maybe start comparing Hawai`i to places that are bereft of work opportunities, which include states ranked at the bottom of the economic spectrum.

Tourism, our economic driver for over 50 years, may be maxing out in terms of visitor numbers and hotel capacity, amenities offered, and local tolerance. Much like with the sugar and pineapple industries, tourism jobs usually don’t support lifestyles that allow longtime workers to build the retirement nest egg necessary to comfortably remain here.

Ah yes, retirement… a looming crisis in Hawai`i with too few facilities, geriatric doctors, and forethought as to what happens as folks live longer yet don‘t see enough income growth here to be able to afford the basics when reaching their golden years. Living in two- and three-generation, adult households can take its toll in many ways.

We need action. Like expanding film production credits. Let’s explore unique opportunities- like Delaware. About 90% of public U.S. companies now incorporate there, aided by fewer restrictions and a business-friendly dispute resolution system. In 2026’s digital world, Hawai`i might provide incentives to help remote businesses (re)locate here (including housing). Maybe biotech, aquaculture, and digital goods industry creation, aided by grants and incentives? 

We rely on too many archaic systems and suffer from rote lethargy whenever change is necessary. Locals are moving to Nevada, Washington, Texas, Oregon, Arizona, or California. It will be more problematic to celebrate and retain local culture and the other life facets that make Hawai`i so unique and worthwhile if too many leave. UHERO’s report is the latest to remind us.

People need an economic looking glass that is not blurry, or in perpetual disrepair. Furthermore, our local social services sector strains to continue providing much-needed relief to thousands while under great duress amid federal cutbacks. We need think tank-generated seeds planted now to grow and change the disheartening comparisons proffered in the latest UHERO report.

Think about it…

Wealth of Knowledge – MiWeek February 25, 2026

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A good, local newspaper story ran on Saturday, January 10, but perhaps you missed it. Well, good news should be shared repeatedly. Beginning this fall, Hawai`i’s Department of Education will mandate that all students must finish an accredited financial literacy course in order to graduate high school. Hawai`i’s public school system thus joins 28 other states (finally and happily) that have put this vital requirement in place.

Amid the many mind-expanding opportunities that schools hopefully provide for kids, financial literacy as a must-have is wise. The Hawai`i Council on Economic Education (HCEE) spent decades trying to push this concept through, but it’s been tough with all of the mandates placed on educators to find room, time, training, and energy to put this type of learning into place; permanently.

88% of U.S. adults believe a personal finance course should be required of kids. And why not?  Stanford’s Graduate School of Business states that roughly two-thirds of the global population cannot pass basic financial literacy tests. 

Historically, public school economic education availability directly correlated to a given school’s teacher pool. If a teacher versed in economics was on staff and engaged, you might see an elective economics course offered. But when that person moved on or retired, the school’s economics efforts went bankrupt. But no longer…

The focus of this financial literacy learning will include “earning income, spending, saving, investing, managing credit and managing risk”, according to the Honolulu Star-Advertiser. Hopefully, 2027 graduates and future alums will resist taking out home loans they probably cannot afford without pain; perhaps they’ll avoid the dreaded, drastic- plastic syndrome, caused by running up credit card debt via sometimes usurious interest rates. Maybe some will be sensitized to avoid flashing their digital appendages (a/k/a cell phones) if they crave $9 mocha, double-latte, espresso frappes. The financial crisis of 2008/2009 was birthed by too many bad home loans taken out by naïve (adult) homebuyers.

Public schools will have flexibility instituting the financial requirements- through single courses, mixed into the lessons of already-existing classes, via personal tutorial engagement and other approaches the DOE will soon offer (along with teacher training).

In a world where ignorance seems to be bliss or at least encouraged at times, where information is cheap to find and often highly inaccurate, helping our students with practical financial knowledge should serve them well in life forevermore; it’s almost like money in the bank.

Think about it…

System Failure – MidWeek February 18, 2026

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Currently, one can watch online the local version of what might be considered a modified “grand inquisition”. It’s a regular occurrence at our local legislature where citizens representing entities make requests, and (often) get slowly demeaned or grilled like huli-huli chicken by scowling committee chairs and sometimes equally disrespectful committee members (if they show up).

Some presenters do come in unprepared, with poorly laid out explanations to justify their causes. Sometimes, they’ll fairly get admonished for not providing previously requested paperwork to help detail what they want/need. But Condescension? Rudeness? Government ostensibly exists to serve the people, not to serve them up on a pupu platter.

Local legislators peruse over 3,000 proffered pieces of legislation annually, and inevitably pass about 10% of them. But why must the process be so painful? Must dedicated people trying to make a difference in Hawai’i genuflect and play the role of sycophants? Many legislators run unopposed or barely opposed in election years here, allowing them a sense of freedom (arrogance?) to act condescendingly without much fear of the ultimate retribution- losing their next election. 

Maybe a full-time, unicameral (one legislative body- see Nebraska) with better pay and longer sessions would allow folks to take a deep breath and spend more time before and during sessions working through concerns in calmer times with calmer elected officials. Jamming it in over the scant 60 working days of our law-making session seems rushed and unnecessarily unnerving.

The part-time nature of local legislators’ jobs means that many require supplemental income via second jobs, which about half of the elected folks at 415 South Beretania do. This outside work helps pay the bills, yet must surely keep the state ethics folks busy as they weigh constant, potential conflicts of interest. At least it should…

At committee meetings and public sessions, I’ve seen angst and fear take center stage as questioning devolves into “Gotcha!” sessions. It’s this over-the-top, pejorative tone that needs to ratchet down a notch. British historian, Lord Acton wrote in 1887 that “…absolute power corrupts absolutely”. Or at least it taints…

I have empathy for elected officials tasked with focused on the valuable arguments vs. the superfluous ones, but civility, respect, and the understanding that, “hey, these are your peops!” must win out over bullying, denigrating, and patronizing. Leave that to the dunderheads flailing about in Washington, D.C. It’s the one thing they excel at.

Think about it…

Cow-abunga! – MidWeek February 11, 2026

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You might have seen it reported last month about Veronika, the Austrian cow. If you were fortunate, you even might have seen it showcased two nights in a row on a local news station! Veronika, the cow, actually uses a stick to scratch herself in nether areas she simply cannot reach. Ah, the never-ending digital news cycle rewards us again…

While it’s not as big a deal as when pigs inevitably fly, it is the first recorded example of “tool use in a pet cow”. I kid you not. Well, I was attacked by a huge bunch o’ bananas while driving in windy conditions… I’ve commented about witnessing a mango free-riding down a sloped street, all by itself… but nothing compares to a cow scratching itself using methods thought to be beyond its reach… literally.

A postdoctoral veterinary researcher in Austria stated, “There are around 1.5 billion heads of cattle in the world, and humans have lived with them for at least 10,000 years. It’s shocking that we’re only discovering this now”. Holy cow! Parker Ranch- heads up!

Perhaps cows have been itching themselves strategically for years, just not in public. Maybe cats are not simply wandering our neighborhoods, but also occasionally getting in a few games of Uno. Rumor has it that wild foul fowl congregate when the urge strikes them, and they initiate a rousing chorus of “Give Peace A Chance”. Yolk-o Oh-no!?

A tree actually fell in the woods… no one was around, but it did make a sound. Though we’ve been surrounded by trees for millennia, it’s apparently the first time someone’s acknowledged this. While in Alaska, I once trekked carefully on a path where a sign read: “Beware of bears”. I stayed very aware, but luckily only proved that bears actual do do it (or, um- doodoo it) in the woods.

Before we all kowtow to Veronika the cow, let’s acknowledge that there are undoubtedly more amazing animal stories unfolding in the animal kingdom that we’re simply not aware of. Probably. Did you know that a shoal of our state fish, the humuhumunukunuku’apua’a, went to school and named human beings as their state biped?  

There exists footage of orcas and wolves using tools (that’s true). So perhaps we’ve underestimated cows for eons. The steaks are high; let’s milk this story for all it’s worth. I hope- at least- that you’re mooo-ved by this newsworthy chatter.

Think about it… 

A Touchy Subject – MidWeek February 4, 2026

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I figured a provocative title might catch your attention… let’s talk about monogamy. Researchers in England used genetic studies and computer models to assess the relative (pardon the pun) monogamy ratings of humans and other animals. The report recently came out and showed that beavers had a 72% monogamy rating, while humans checked in at 66%.

I know, ‘tis a tough day when you find out that beavers are more faithful than we are. But fear not! We rank (slightly) ahead of meerkats on the commitment scale. Leading the animal kingdom in cheating are dolphins and chimpanzees, with a meager 4% monogamy rate. A CNN story said that: “Monogamy has long been considered a key factor in the social cooperation that has facilitated humans’ ability to dominate the planet, according to researchers.” Genetic data from 94 different human societies were used to compare to the animal findings. Obviously, monogamy alone cannot explain our (supposed) dominance…

So why bring up this arcane and seemingly arbitrary information? NapLab, an independent mattress and sleep product website, reports that Hawai`i has the most relationship “cheaters” of any state! Its survey indicates that Hawai`i is the nation’s cheating capital… by a wide margin!

81% of Hawai`i respondents (please note that this survey totaled just 1,600 nationwide responses) “…answered ‘Yes’ to having cheated on a significant other.” Next in line (at 63%) were Louisiana and Rhode Island. Nebraska cheated the least- at just 6%. NapLab’s national cheating average is 34%. “Infidelity” was not clearly defined in the study- sharing secrets vs. sharing beds means different things to different people.

Financial research website, Insider Monkey, ranked Wyoming, Colorado, and Alabama as our top three infidelity states. Hawai`i wasn’t in the top 15. Fashion design source, Kalon, says New York leads the nation in cheating (with Hawai`i at #5). Hmmm, apparently cheaters and liars abound!

The point?? There’s plenty of information out there; lots of purported “facts” about anything you wanna read, hear, and ultimately, believe. But facts are not mere opinions. Subjectivity, survey bias, personal prejudice, AI stories, and dubious profit margin masters increasingly manipulate humans like we’ve never witnessed before. What used to be mere rumors have now become, “Ooh, I read on the internet that…” 

Bottom line on just about anything: choose your information sources wisely, check credentials, be skeptical (especially with social media). Don’t cheat on yourself or others. Stay informed… accurately.

Think about it…

Bombs Away – MidWeek January 28, 2026

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Local law enforcement entities stepped it up this year to detect and deter illegal fireworks. More feet on the street, drones, and tougher laws all deterred scofflaws… to some degree. The state Department of Law Enforcement reportedly grabbed over 60 tons of illegal fireworks. That’s 120,000 pounds of stuff that didn’t make it into the air, kill or maim anybody. All good. 

But the mere fact that that so much contraband was ready to go here means the New Year’s Eve big bang problem is far from being resolved. Law enforcement drone videos are being scrutinized to see where more charges might be made or warnings be sent.

Unfortunately, watching fireworks for some gawkers is like watching football. They know the harm that can occur, someone’s possibly going to get hurt (a guarantee in football), yet they just can’t seem to turn their eyes away. But football is legal.

Entrepreneurs realize that enforcement and focus are way up simply, so they seek new ways to import their goods, or bads. Some suggest greater scrutiny at our docks around December. But frantic fire-workers are savvy to that tactic and simply bring in illegal explosives earlier in the year, quietly storing them.

Perhaps county-coordinated efforts to provide legal events at controlled venues for people to watch (like the various July 4th fireworks displays in town, on military bases, and off  Kailua Beach) would ween wary watchers or even violators from engaging in the voyeurism and crimes playing out down the street. While not complicit, those witnessing illegal, community festivities on New Year’s Eve play a role as enablers rather than just naïve, innocent bystanders. “Oooh, that one was cool!”

HPD received almost 1,500 calls (anonymity rules), made over 120 arrests, and anecdotal evidence and hospital reports suggest it was a “quieter” night in most areas on 12/31/25. Weather might have been a factor, too.

The devastating fireworks tragedy of six people killed by illegal explosives a year ago did not occur in a vacuum. For decades, the outcry has been for tougher laws and more patrolling. We got that. But it’s tough to (sometimes) catch people in the act of blowing things up. 

And there’s that vicarious thrill that precludes some people from anonymously reporting illegal aerials. There’s the “yeah, it sucks, it’s illegal… but it’s kinda cool” logic that helps this annual folly survive, some years more robustly than others.

Think about it…

Out Of This World – MidWeek January 21, 2026

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It can be fun to find local connections tied to extraordinary events. Take Voyager 1 for example… This space probe was launched in 1977 and is currently the farthest craft from Earth as it continues exploring whatever’s out there … nearly 16-billion miles away.

A local twist- when Voyager 1 went offline in 2024, the National Radio Astronomy Observatory’s (NRAO) Very Long Baseline Array (VLBA) radio telescope on Mauna Kea was instrumental (pardon the pun) in getting the old rust bucket back online. 

By late 2026, it’ll take a full 24 hours for a signal to get from here to Voyager 1, and vice versa. Well, that’s what happens when you leave home and travel 16 billion miles. For perspective, note that even (former planet) Pluto is never tumbling more than five billion miles away from Earth.

So Voyager 1 is still playing radio hits- from at least three times as far away as Pluto, which always seemed so far away that it was tough to comprehend its earthly relevance. Voyager 1- a man-made probe still rockin’ among celestial rocks a half century after its launch. Imagine the (lack of) technology back then! People working on the Voyager 1 project in 2026 have parents who weren’t even born when liftoff occurred in 1977.

Closer to home, NASA plans to launch Artemis II within weeks with four astronauts aboard; it’s set to circle the moon in the first lunar project staffed by humans since 1972 (Apollo 17). Ground control to Major Tom, indeed!

NASA’s Pacific Missile Range Facility (PMRF) on Kauai has provided simulation testing for the spacecraft’s recovery. I remember crowding around a (black and white) TV set gazing with other summer campers in July, 1969, when Apollo 11’s Neil Armstrong took “…one small step for man”. Artemis II astronauts will be testing their spacecraft as its lunar trajectory will purportedly allow the quartet to see moon vistas heretofore unseen. Luna lunacy!

Another local connection- UH-Mānoa scientists are involved with the Artemis project, developing key technology for upcoming lunar excursion modules (LEMs). And (of course) Hawai`i Island’s lava terrain has always been useful for astronaut training to simulate the barren moonscape.

Looking around Earth these days, things can seem kinda rocky. But with upcoming NASA plans, we can once again look up to witness humankind’s quest to discover what may lie well beyond this mortal coil.

Think about it…

Something Out There… – MidWeek January 14, 2026

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Something big is out there… I don’t know what it is, but it’ll get bigger unless we do something about it now. Sounds like the premise for a horror script (and five sequels) but it’s actually a plea, an overture to the 2026 Hawai`i legislature, convening next week amid heightened uncertainty related to a dearth of federal funding, tourism concerns, local economic malaise, besieged non-profits, and more.

That “something” could be a project, capital improvement, or repair work, with inevitable solutions proposed, studied, committee-d, and then invariably stalled or ignored. Like what? Oh… where to begin? H3? An O`ahu leeward side bypass road? Leaky pools and other problems plaguing our State Capitol (goodness, right below legislators’ feet!)? Repair work for an aging Aloha Stadium (2018) and a laissez faire attitude for a new structure? HNL airport upgrades and upkeep? The TMT? Building reform bills? Hawai`i Convention Center water leakage and aging infrastructure needs? UH-Mānoa building maintenance? Legislative ethics reform, including conflicts of interest?

Just a partial list to ponder. Local legislative non-action is like slow water torture as projects annually get kicked down the road, leading to bigger problems that invariably require increased funding. Being penny wise can lead to being pound foolish; witness the enormous amounts of money now being spent on above-referenced, long-deferred maintenance projects. Ah, bumbai…

Yes, it always comes down to money: what’s available, where are priorities, and what’s in the best interests of elected officials’ home voter base so they don’t look bad on social media (and can get re-elected). We pontificate support of tourism, but then stand by idly as the Convention Center leaks, thus ensuring self-sabotage. Officials assembled daily in their legislative home for years without addressing water dripping onto vital, historical records and electrical equipment two floors below- for 55 years- before finally acting out of sheer desperation, which will require inconvenient relocation.

Hope springs eternal. Maybe issues nudged to the “next session” will be acted upon (with real timelines) in 2026. “Oh, yeh” projects cost the state lots more when officials procrastinate, obfuscate, deliberate, and ignore. Sure, someone’s pet project will need to be pushed back or simply lose momentum (for now). That’s governance.

Keep track, fair voters, for 2026 is an election year for every state house rep and half of our state senators. Stay focused, committed, attentive, and involved. Just like we should ask our elected officials.

Think about it…

Perspective Matters – MidWeek January 7, 2026

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Welcome to 2026! Perspectives (beliefs, assumptions) matter, plain and simple. They affect everything from your health to your relationships. Hindsight is often 20/20. Everyone now knows what we “should’ve done” during COVID, as an example. Monday morning quarterbacks reign supreme, after the facts…

So let’s explore 1926- 100 years ago. Let’s take a look at issues in play back then as a quaint exercise in perspective. On March 7, 1926, the first transatlantic phone call took place. Imagine where we’d be nowadays without telephones, which are often not even used to talk. They’ve become body appendages, escape valves, information retrieval systems, promoting disrupters and mind-numbing, asocial provocateurs. Ah, but that’s just one perspective, of course. Perspectives (and opinions) are like belly buttons- everyone’s got one.

In 1926, Ford Motor Company became one of the first companies to introduce the 40-hour work week. Thanks a lot, Henry! But wait… Up to that point, 48-hour/six day work weeks were the norm. Maybe we should say thanks to the car manufacturer. And Ford Motor did not cut pay when it chopped hours and days. Nowadays, there’s talk about productivity with a 32-hour/four day work week, allowing for a better work/life balance.  The U.K., Iceland, Belgium, and Spain have all witnessed positive early aspects while embracing this “new” concept. Interesting perspective to ponder…

SAT tests were first given in high schools in 1926. 100-years later, we still quibble about the test’s value and whether we’re teaching kids the “right stuff”. (Civics and ethics lessons, life skills, and/or vital economic basics are usually not taught in our schools). 

The U.S. and Panama signed the Panama Canal Treaty in 1926. That seemed to work for quite a while. Thomas Edison (inventor of the phonograph) declared radio a commercial disaster and a “fad”. Oops… “Winnie-The-Pooh” was published. Ahh for the simplicity of children’s books, as 100-years later every word of everything written is parsed by extremists looking for a fight. “You’re braver than you believe, stronger than you seem, and smarter than you think.” Keep that Christopher Robin “Pooh” phrase in mind this year… and beyond.

Three men danced the Charleston for 22 hours straight in 1926; dance marathons were hot! We need to find more fun in 2026; take our minds off of the tedium caused by ubiquitous “now what?” media and the efforts of alienators with their divisive blabbering. Here’s to calmly keeping perspective in 2026.

Think about it… 

Circles of Time – MidWeek December 31, 2025

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Celebrate good times when you visit a dear friend, spend productive time with colleagues, or enjoy gatherings with relatives. Circles of time- as interactions occur, even for brief moments- proactively engaging with others to make worthwhile moments.

I lunched recently with a former co-worker at a favorite fast food joint featuring a mutually beloved sandwich special. We gleefully indulged, like kids. Food may be primarily aimed at the body, but it can surely nurture the soul and mind, too.  We laughed, reminisced, and got emotional as we waxed nostalgic about co-workers now gone along with happier work memories.

I recalled how this remarkable woman went to New York City in December, 2001, to help hundreds of people still suffering from the devastation of the 9-11 attack. As a certified Red Cross volunteer, she’d done work after nature had wreaked havoc in Saipan and New Orleans, but in December, 2001, she asked me (her boss) if she could go to New York, three months after the once unthinkable had become America’s reality. 

She spent two weeks there working 12-14 hour days comforting those in need- trying to direct them toward food, housing, hope, mental stability, and answers. She was 55 years old then- it was her first trip to the Big Apple. No Broadway, no Empire State Building, no fun. As I remembered those days, I recalled a numbness creeping in as we realized that our world would never be the same; whatever innocence still existed after other historic, turbulent times was gone. I thought back to my young children then, pondering what they would inherit as the world shook, yet invariably pushed forward. 

When my friend returned to work in January, 2002, shocked and stunned from her N.Y. experience, she remained resilient, for that is her demeanor. She told me that nowadays she walks daily around a shopping center which is home to a dialysis center. Occasionally, she’ll notice patients exiting and offers to help them get back to their cars after their long, draining sessions. Oh my; still giving.

Some give ‘til it hurts; others sublimate or ignore trauma and pain that occur and yet possess the fortitude to keep giving. We deeply enjoyed our unhealthy sandwiches and two hours recollecting. Here’s to human interaction and satisfying get-togethers. Circles of time. In 2026, meet up with greater frequency, because time waits for no one. Happy New Year!

Think about it…