A Laughing Matter – MidWeek April 15, 2026

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Years ago, I Iearned a new term from wise, local business leadership guru, Glenn Furuya. “Neoteny” means to maintain a childlike exuberance, adaptability, stay young at heart. Growing up can be overrated in many ways, so always retain that youthful joy. The adult drudgery of routines, chores, responsibility, trauma, emotional baggage, aging aches, and expectations will come. Stay engaged; find excitement.

Have you ever embraced how a baby’s smile lights up the room, or focused on six-year olds simply running in sheer joy on a playground? We can all hug humor; slot it into your daily routine. Give yourself (and others) a break. Laugh; guffaw; smile.  

How? Well…  it’s easier than ever, as finding comedy bits on-line is simple, yet mood-enhancing, endorphin-inducing, adrenaline-lowering, brain-cleansing, and oxygen-creating. George Carlin is worth reading/watching for five minutes daily. “The reason I talk to myself”, he said, “is because I’m the only one whose answers I accept.” “How is it possible to have a civil war?” “In America, anyone can become president. That’s the problem.”

If not Carlin, try Richard Pryor, Robin Williams, Abbott & Costello (enjoy their 90-year old “Who’s On First?” routine), Rap Reiplinger, Andy Bumatai, Augie T., Gallagher (pre-watermelon smashing), Chris Rock, Jo Koy, Margaret Cho, Buddy Hackett, Don Rickles, Dave Chapelle, Gabriel “Fluffy” Iglesias, Rodney Dangerfield, Jerry Seinfeld, Kevin Hart, Steven Wright, Wanda Sykes, Amy Schumer, Eddie Murphy- the comics list is endless, and you needn’t devote excessive time nor brainpower to laugh or sniggle, perhaps even creating a communal bond with friends or family. 

A 2004 article in Current Directions in Psychological Science stated that laughter is 30 times more frequent in social situations than solitary ones. By the way, April 14 is International Moment of Laughter Day.  

‘Aka’aka in Hawaiian means to laugh, giggle, or chuckle. It can be a tool for healing, stress relief, and bonding. It can alleviate tension and help to dissipate taut situations. People say “don’t be so serious”, but rarely is someone chastised for being too funny or too happy.  While you might say, “there’s nothing funny about…” in our “now what?” 2026 world, laughter represents a safe form of expression and disbelief relief. 

Laugh with others, not at them. I bought that George Carlin book while waiting at a car wash in California. Carlin wrote, “Everyone smiles in the same language”. Amen to that! Spontaneous joy; let’s lighten up.

Think about it…

Rainmakers – MidWeek April 8, 2026

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The recent multiple, prolonged deluges that our state endured last month proved to be catastrophic for many people. Over a billion dollars in damages. “Low-lying areas” are problematic during times of interminable rain or high surf, but this time we saw major problems as relentless downpours affected hills, high roads, dams, effluence areas, parking lots, erosion zones, parks, and other areas usually unaffected by “normal”
heavy rain.

Water always finds its way, and man-made barriers and infrastructure represent mere stumbling blocks that it powers through or around. The term “100-year storm” doesn’t mean a storm of huge magnitude happens only once a century. According to the Global Facility for Disaster Reduction and Recovery, there is a 39% chance that you’ll of experience a 100-year storm by the time you are 50 years old. GFDRR has a predictive model that charts the odds for such a storm over the course of your lifetime. And it’s not just once every hundred years…

Major pre-emptive, intervention measures are extremely costly and thus difficult for governments to justify as they’re held accountable by tax-paying voters/consumers. There are no simple answers. Local infrastructure needs to be regularly monitored and revisited to see if mitigation efforts make sense, and cents. 

Living in Hawai`i, we understand the inherent risk of a historic earthquake, tsunami, or hurricane affecting our lives. Luckily, what didn’t happen during the madness of March rains was actually a relief in terms of serious injuries or lives lost, but we’d be naive to assume (for example) that additional erosion hasn’t occurred in areas where (so far) nothing fell, rolled down, or burst last month.  

The powers that be (elected ones) and the brain trust they’ve installed (selected ones) must now ensure that as many safety protocols as possible are in place to prevent a natural disaster from being any worse than will be. Make mitigation magic. Snarky comment- those in charge are some of the same people who allowed our State Capitol building to leak repeatedly for 35+ years and did little to remedy that obvious flow flaw. Just saying…

Historical charts, risk assessments, and cause and effect analyses must be updated to reflect today’s weather realities. This might lead to real action addressing high stress areas- hillsides, rivers, dams, roads, rock formations, forests, wetlands, low-lying housing areas, et al.

Nature’s next nudge will occur- and it won’t wait 100 years. Forewarned is forearmed.

Think about it…

Food For Thought – MidWeek April 1, 2026

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A lot of people seem obsessed with trendy foodstuff. As Tower of Power once sang, “What is hip?” Well, nowadays, protein is all the rage, as it’s being added to everything from water to snack foods. Yes, just can’t get enough of H²O protein! 

It wasn’t long ago that we were into a low-carb fad or the low-fat craze. Remember the Cabbage Soup Diet, Scarsdale Diet, Beverly Hills Diet and whatever-the latest-craze-is shake diets? How about the Atkins Nutritional Approach, Zone Diet, Blood Type Diet, South Beach Diet, Raw Food Diet, Master Cleanse, and Sugar Busters Diet? More recently? The Keto Diet, Paleo Diet, Gluten-Free, Juice Cleanses, Whole30, Carnivore Diet, and intermittent fasting; tofu, salmon, leafy greens- but then came some warnings. 

Don’t feel bad or incapable if you’ve tried a diet yet seen little in the way of lasting results. In the 1920s, cigarette smoking was marketed as a weight loss program! And then we had “mother’s little helpers” (as the Rolling Stones sang in the mid-1960s) – amphetamines- for appetite suppression. 

Now we have GLP-1 inhibitor injections and/or pills which also seem to provide additional side benefits. It’s enough to make you go on an eating binge just trying to keep up with what works, what’s healthy, and what’s merely trendy. Much like clothes… except that food choices matter more than what slacks are chic this week. Hint: stick with jeans; I know, certain jeans work better with certain genes.

Eat kale, spinach, lean chicken, walnuts, beans, broccoli, olive oil, and blueberries. Everything else is apparently superfluous. Sure, some plain Greek yogurt and with turmeric, cinnamon, ginger, and/or garlic… and you’re set. I guess. I’m not here to judge. I’m here to snack; responsibly.

But what about our mental health food needs? A steaming malassada or pork hash can absolutely help the blues slip away. Arugula doesn’t do that. A double cheeseburger (occasionally) can provide sunshine on a rainy day. Kefir can’t compete, sorry. Please don’t get me wrong. Some diets and sensible eat-right concepts absolutely make a difference, if you can just hang on… for years… with exercise.

The Mediterranean Diet has gained gravitas in our weight-weary world, and perhaps a simplified, non-obsessive, practical diet will truly help. Heck, if fast food joints offered carrot and celery sticks instead of fries, I’d eat ‘em up; but they don’t. And the alluring food marketing battles continue.

Think about it… 

Throwing Stones – MidWeek March 25, 2026

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With Kuhio Day and a planned recess this Friday, our legislature takes a breather before getting deciphering concurrent resolutions, dissecting crossover bills, et al. It’s the all-hands-on-deck moment now as legislators churn out (hopefully) productive, passable legislation over the next 40 days. 

We read what bills are still alive and which ones have been committee-d or shelved. Interested parties might quietly reflect on where things stand… if only we had a reflecting pool around the state Capitol. Alas, the state’s Department of Accounting and General Services (DAGS) noted problems with the Capitol pools, including water quality and leakage… way back in 1969. 

Restoration/replacement work has been suggested, designed, planned, modified, protested, re-submitted, delayed, re-conceptualized, procured, lamented, postponed, and canceled. Estimates for repairs now total almost $50 million. Perhaps it should have been dealt with in 1969, 1979, or 2009. Perhaps fittingly (actually, nothing is fitting in this debacle), current plans include panels featuring “…abstract representations of oceans and volcanoes…” (Honolulu Star-Advertiser, Jan. 18, 2026). Abstract certainly seems appropriate after 47 years of slow, torturous water dripping and obfuscation. 

The saying goes: “People in glass houses shouldn’t throw stones”. I commented last month about the annual nasty, debilitating hearings that are presided over by the hypocritical folks whose own legislative house has been in drastic disrepair as basement paperwork and vital electronics got trashed due to inattention and inaction for 45+ years; with no accountability.

Fire alarms went off in the state Capitol just before the 2026 session began, causing elevators to shut down and people to be evacuated. And then the Marx Brothers contractors got replaced by Moe, Larry, and Curly… We also have the $150 million Hale Ho’ola State Hospital, which has had myriad problems since its 2021 opening, with repeated repairs the now-accepted norm… 

We have the Convention Center, where delays and lack of urgency will cost $100 million to repair, with lost business an obvious byproduct of incessant inertia and inefficiency… And the Department of Health building is being abandoned as 500+ employees move downtown so that deferred maintenance can finally take place… after 20 years.

If you wonder why some funding requests/projects get tossed aside amid rude hearings, condescending tones, and a generally dismissive atmosphere, calmly “reflect” back to these numerous state projects that have been stalled, mishandled, fumbled, or ignored while piling up repair dollar needs; dollars that could have proactively helped elsewhere.

Think about it…

Walk This Way – MidWeek March 18, 2026

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Prolific songwriter and noted social critic, Neil Young, sings in his jangly, sludgy “City Life (Country Home)”: “I’m thankful for my country home, it gives me peace of mind; 

Somewhere I can walk alone, and leave myself behind.”

That line caused me to think about how we all could use an escape from the vagaries, daily rituals, and worries of life… and even an escape from ourselves sometimes. Walking- what a concept- is simple yet therapeutic: spiritually, physically, emotionally, interpersonally, mentally, etc.

Whether in your neighborhood, around a park or mall, at the beach, up a trail, alone, with the dog or kids, a loved one, a friend, a posse… the possibilities- if you’re physically able- are endless. Walking helps your brain, lungs, muscles, heart, blood flow… that list is endless. Walk and listen to the birds, the wind, a podcast, music; simply enjoy the scenery, the moment. Leave yourself behind, as Neil suggests. 

But how does one find the time and discipline to employ/enjoy this simple stimulation that provides proven rewards? Make it a routine; set aside time by scheduling it into your phone, your brain, or your life. When reminded by experts about the need to get 150 minutes of exercise weekly, it seems overwhelming, daunting, and undoable, especially if you’re working two jobs, dealing with kids’ practices, driving allover, getting meals prepared or… well, fill in your own ritualistic roadblocks here.

We make regular medical appointments, (hopefully) brush our teeth twice daily, get to school and/or work on time. We plan. Try making this walking thing a habit, an expectation, a routine. Forget 150 minutes per week if you’re currently at 0. Start with a daily walk around the block or somewhere reasonable near your home, or at lunchtime while at work. Even ten minutes daily would give you a vital start on getting mobile. Movement after meals is good for circulation; stagnation- not so much. 

Again, we’re not just talking about physical benefits. Walking triggers the release of endorphins, serotonin and dopamine from the brain which can reduce anxiety, stress, and even depression, while providing a pathway to mental clarity and a natural energy boost. No pills, vapes, drags, or bottles/cans. I’m not proselytizing nor over-simplifying here, but rather pointing out that, amid mayhem and madness, there’s a way to find beneficial moments of natural peace and personal accomplishment in our accessible, alluring environs.

Think about it…

Critter Critique – MidWeek March 11, 2026

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I happened upon a wild boar while driving the up a windy road the other day in a rural, wooded area. As the pig shuffled off into the woods, I though how refreshing it would be if human, wild boors or even your standard bores would just do the same thing- shuffle off. But I digress…

We have numerous interesting, unique critters and creatures throughout our great state, and wild boars are just one that we sometimes take for granted. Behold the forlorn mongoose- brought here on a work visa from Jamaica (not India) 140 years ago to repel rampant rats infesting the local sugarcane fields. Alas, mongooses are diurnal creatures, while rats roam at night, so this nascent animal employment opportunity was an immediate and complete failure. 

We have mongooses throughout our state, the only U.S. state with this family Herpestidae member. (Please notice the word “pest” in the middle of this mammal’s name!) Yet so few stories pop up about mongoose/human interactions. They will steal musubi (plastic wrapper included) from a golf cart and dart across the road, but while we’re home to thousands of these low riders running around, you rarely hear tales about mongoose/man confrontations. Hmmm, though originally brought here to protect cane, we’re not hearing about mongooses raising Cain…

Back to boars… I was driving Kailua-bound up the Pali Highway at dusk years ago and witnessed vehicles in front of me strangely parting to the left or right. Now this was not a biblical event starring Moses, it was rather a bullheaded boar meandering up the highway. No doubt he was lost. How did I know it was a “he”? Simple; he wouldn’t ask for directions, preferring to find (or not find) his own way.

Monk seals were first named about 250-years ago because they have hooded neck rolls which look like monk cowls (I guess). Yet the local proliferation of this species is most assuredly un-monk-like. Kaiwi (RK96) gave birth to her 6th pup in 2024; Rocky (RH58) has allegedly given birth to at least 15 pups. We happily gaze at Kaimana Beach and other locales as these aquatic denizens of the deep grace us with their offspring. We simply provide a seal of approval.

I could go on about our happy-face spiders, hoary bats (don’t even start), nēnē, pueo, Hawaiian Honeycreepers, and others, but alas, I fear I’m becoming a wild bore.

Think about it…

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…