Think About It Hawaii

In an study conducted recently by the bipartisan (remember when that concept worked?) State of the Nation Project, the pulse of our country and each individual state in various categories was tallied and ranked. 

Hawai`i ranked at or near the top in freedom of the press, youth and adult depression (which is getting worse nationally), air quality, murder rate (low), and life expectancy. We rank around the bottom third of states in economic productivity and output, poverty, social isolation, poverty, voter participation, academic test scores, and volunteerism.

The Project includes a diverse cross-section of thought leaders plus appointees and advisers from five presidential administrations, and 1,000 Americans from across the country. While not shocking, a key finding in the general report was “…the growing disconnect between Americans’ economic success and the decline in happiness and other broader measures of well-being.” 

Compared to other high-income countries, the USA ranks near the top in economic measures, but ranks near the bottom “on measures related to mental health, citizenship, and democracy, inequality, and violence…”

The Rolling Stones’ opined 60 years ago that “you can’t always get what you want; but if you try sometimes, you get what you need”. The survey says that the gulf between our citizens’ wants and our needs continues to grow. Bemoaning that fact doesn’t affect systemic change. If you want results, you’ve got to get involved at some level beyond griping to your neighbor. 

As we see far too often locally, “they” are not getting the job done. After all, “they” would undoubtedly be adversely affected by shifts and changes. Far too many local political races will (again) go uncontested or be decided via primary election outcomes. As faith in government, formal religion, the media, the judiciary and other institutions crumbles, it’s easy (yet cynical) to be a recalcitrant sideline viewer or web troll and simply pontificate.

Now’s the time for those who care to help re-establish trust in civic engagement and ethics while promoting a positive difference. Step up and get involved- through volunteerism, civic groups, planning committees, bridge-building, or school and work organizations with real plans.

Or, simply sit back as we ponder the next study (local or national) that comes out to notify us that important things are atrophying, that life expectations and basic standards are fraying, that we desire a renewal of hope and progress through better interaction.

Think about it…

You don’t need to be a golf lover or even a true fan to understand just how bad it is that Hawai`i will be without PGA golf tournaments for the foreseeable future. While the legislature annually questions the value and return on visitor marketing expenditures, it’s hard to question the benefits received by the multiple hours of TV telecasts during the drab, dreary winter days experienced by much of the mainland.

And even for those tourism unfriendly readers, you must understand the impact that tourism has in this market, the numbers of people it employs, the tax dollars it provides, etc. If you think life would be simpler and therefore better without such a fuss about tourism, that ship has sailed.

The financial loss will be huge, and “out of sight, out of mind” concerns portend bigger losses in the years ahead. We don’t have that annual story to tell without multiple televised golf tourneys which showcase Hawai`i via great footage, ambient nature shots, shiny, happy people, sports drama, and human interest stories. And live golf is not just another cop show where many roll their eyes as police cars head toward Kailua and a lead actor says they’re off to the airport.

I love New York, Boston, Chicago, San Francisco, Seattle, Portland and metros, but rarely do I watch a televised event from those locales where I get the urge to visit soon or even register that thought in my brain- the events themselves don’t provide blatant or even subliminal messages that suggest “Hmmm… I’ve got to go there!”

Perhaps we’ll get another PGA Senior event; here’s hoping we don’t also lose the LPGA and the Mitsubishi Electric Championship at Hualālai. TV production containers shipped in to showcase winter golf’s numerous events here allow producers to amortize those massive costs over multiple weekends and events. That’s now gone.

We need more quality media events that draw attention to our state. Marketing 101 says that when people prepare to make a choice (where to eat, live, vacation or what to drive, or even brush their teeth with) you’d better be positioned on their mental ladder of choices as decisions are made, or your marketing job just got a whole lot tougher. 

Perhaps with the now-truncated PGA schedule, golf’s powers that be can work with the world’s best players (who love Hawai`i) and get us back in the swing.

Think about it…

Nostalgia is a happy reminder of that which was. Sometimes, we are reminded not so happily of skills we no longer possess. A friend of mine asked me to hand write a one-page, retirement tribute to her husband. He’s a long-time friend, and I’m honored to write this piece that will she’ll put into a keepsake book for him to reminisce on in retirement.

My concern is the handwriting part. Moving from writing regularly in script to using typewriters, key pads, and iPhones, some (many?) of us have lost that free form skill and/or the will to frequent longhand writing. My semi-legible, script letters now all blend together; I inadvertently skip letters in words. Heck, even greeting cards where I attempt to be thoughtful and/or clever are mistake-ridden!

And when one invariably messes up a word, there’s no ink eraser, back space, delete, White Out, or Correct Tape you can use without the result like an indelicate klutz screwed up the overpriced, store-bought card. Handwriting papers, cards, notes, memos, and such shows a genuine, caring, personal touch no doubt; yet it just feels so retro and inefficient as we’ve modernized. 

My mind wandered, remembering the old days working with my retiring cohort. I began drifting beyond mere thoughts of simple days when handwriting skills were de rigueur- when we had no keyboards, emails, phone texting, delete buttons, et al.; when typewriters and longhand were king. I then mentally leapt and found myself recalling cool places we used to go that are now mere memories, like some of my capabilities. These institutions may be gone, but hopefully I can patiently revive my dormant, dexterous deficiencies for a simple one-page tribute.

Remember Yum Yum Tree, King’s Bakery, Bubbies, Kuhio Grill (where the more one dollar bills you plunked down on your table, the more quality pupu you were served)? Ever chanced a Spencecliff restaurant, Columbia Inn, Byron’s, Pearl City Tavern, Flamingo Chuckwagon, the Willows, Hee Hing, Maple Garden, Chico’s Pizza, King Tsin, Kenny’s, or The Third Floor (stately wicker chairs in Waikiki and naan bread)? Merely the tip of Oahu’s long-gone culinary iceberg. Liberty House, Shirokiya, Jelly’s, Star Market, Arakawas, Hopaco, Tower Records, S.H. Kress, Woolworths? Like dear friends we cherish, these places had a room in our hearts, wallets, and/or minds. It’s nice to reminisce on people and places, and fondly write about them… on a computer, of course.

Think about it…