MidWeek Column

We hear it so often that its implications may not resonate: “Our keiki are our future”. Too often, those are merely words or political pontifications. But recently, three schools here were honored by the U.S. Department of Education- Mānoa Elementary, Ma`ema`e Elementary, and Wheeler Middle School. You might have missed this due to news ennui or numbing daily COVID numbers, but all three were designated as National Blue Ribbon Schools. Only 325 schools were awarded this honor nationwide. 

There are about 130,000 schools, grades K-12, across the U.S. and while all obviously don’t apply for this award, being anointed a Blue Ribbon winner means that something special is going on. Since 1982, the DOE annually honors schools nationwide “…based on their overall academic excellence or their progress in closing achievement gaps among student subgroups”, according to the U.S. Department of Education’s website.

Sure, every school has its challenges. There are great schools, teachers, and administrators in Hawai`i working tirelessly under less than ideal conditions far too often. Wheeler deals with its ever-changing military population, which also exaggerates staff turnover. Its award application stressed Wheeler’s attention to social and emotional aspects of growing up and learning beyond classroom mandates. With so many coming and going, creativity, flexibility, and patience are keys.

Ma’ema’e Elementary is using a strong, digital platform (especially during COVID) to enhance the school’s reputation of having solid neighborhood and parental involvement. Ma’ema’e and Mānoa Elementary test scores in math and English exceeded statewide averages by 18 to 27%. Mānoa has a strong PTA which passionately provides support and resources. And Mānoa Elementary fields a particularly strong robotics team which has repeatedly won awards at the state level, according to the Honolulu Star-Advertiser.

Pride, respect, innovation, empathy, teamwork, goal-setting, selflessness… These are traits our keiki should aspire to- everyone stroking the boat in the same direction, with egos left at the door. Kids who love playing with one another who learn to love learning. Committed parents getting involved. Young kids get along and treat everyone as equals; too often it’s adults that get in the way of this simple value.

The acknowledgment received by these noteworthy schools can hopefully serve as a role model for schools searching for guidance or a roadmap. Maybe these shining stars can alter mindsets and emphasize a “can do” attitude where others seem stuck in their ways or in their past.

Think about it…

How much fun would it be? For one day, let’s promise not to discuss the C-word. Let’s take that break tomorrow. Let’s avoid talking about things over which we have no control… no, not that C-word. Let’s avoid chatting about the latest, ever-changing updates and worries regarding COVID-19. After 18-months, we could all use, and certainly need, a day off from COVID conversation. A day where we chat only about things under our control, things we enjoy yapping about, doing, watching, reading, seeing, and/or being around. We can check back on COVID stats the next day, if need be. Vaccinated, masked, distancing, avoiding static crowd settings, and washing our hands frequently- that’s our job and we can control that. But debilitating daily COVID discussions replaying like a non-fiction “Groundhog Day” run amok? Let’s choose to pass on that from time to time. Even for one day. We can make this effort like the staring game- see who blinks first. 

While we’re not yet able to celebrate our past normalcy and get back to familiar, pre-2020 patterns and relationships, let’s allow ourselves the freedom to not get bogged down in today’s delta-inflated, local COVID numbers, or who’s vaccinated and who’s not, or whether we should travel, or where, or when boosters will be allowed and to whom. Let’s wax philosophical about “Ted Lasso” and the new Doobie Brothers CD. Let’s regale ourselves in the vapidity of Emmy red carpet couture and memes du jour. Let’s party in our safe bubbles like its 1999, ratchet up the volume dial on our Prince music and dance the night away, with nary a C-word mentioned in our homes, texts, at work, or in the stores.

I’m not naïve; I do realize that COVID is a formidable, unrelenting foe, the elephant in every room everywhere we go. But perhaps we can (occasionally) mute this over-sized, unwelcome fixture of 2020/21. No lamenting COVID and its on-going toll for one conversation, one meal with (safe) loved ones, one day of anything but… 

It won’t make the situation disappear, but after 18-months of daily reminders, news stories, overdone vaccination video (we’ve got it, we know what that scenario looks like) and weekly/weakly medical recalibrations, it’ll sure make this ever-present nightmare a bit more palatable as we await the new reality when COVID ceases to be a daily, annoying preoccupation, and morphs into a pesky side show.

Think about it…

It’s a bit early to start deciding the “feel-good” story of the year, but I know a contender when I see one. With the help of football, faith, family, friends, fortitude, and Florida, not to mention the incredible work of expert orthopedic doctors, trainers, and determined rehab specialists, Mckenzie Milton has risen. From the quarterback’s youth teams (which went 66-2!) through back-to-back state championship appearances at Mililani H.S., Milton proved himself to be a leader and a winner by age 18.

But he didn’t plan on becoming a nationwide inspiration. Fate, and deep faith, sometimes come together to provide lessons which seem unfair and devastating, yet ultimately turn lives around, occasionally in spectacular fashion. On November 23, 2018, University of Central Florida’s Milton took a helmet to his right knee in a football game. The injury was gruesome and serious- right knee dislocation plus ligament, artery, and nerve damage that led numerous medical experts to suggest that amputation might be necessary. Medical miracle men acted quickly and saved Milton’s leg. The thinking then was- after three leg surgeries- IF he walks again, he’ll be in great pain… for the rest of his life.

Milton persevered for three years of repetitive, excruciating rehab. He then transferred to Florida State. Why? His QB spot at UCF had been taken over by Dillon Gabriel and, as if this story could cause any more chicken skin, Gabriel had been Milton’s understudy at Mililani… and followed Milton to UCF! As he healed and realized that there was a new Trojan hero at UCF in Orlando, Milton calmly moved his football future to perennial powerhouse, Florida State.

In his first game back, 1,017 days after almost losing his leg on the gridiron, Mckenzie Milton rallied his new team from a 10-point, 4^th quarter deficit to a 38-38 tie against #7-ranked Notre Dame. Alas, the Seminoles fell in overtime, 41-38. His surreal heroics were inspirational on so many levels. Football fans, his family, doctors, trainers, coaches, teammates, local pals- all must’ve shed tears amid their fears. Akamai viewers wondered where the Disney camera crew was hiding. Could this really be happening?!

No matter what happens next, Mckenzie Milton has proven through his humble efforts that miracles do come true. He went from “can’t do” to “did do.” While his journey continues, it’s already a 2021 feel-good story that we all surely need nowadays.

Think about it…

The Food & Drug Administration fully approved the use of the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine for people ages 16 and older weeks ago, so maybe more of the “wait and see” crowd will now feel more reassured. Maybe not. But one thing that can’t be encouraging people who have some vaccine hesitancy is the incessant, daily media usage of footage showing people getting a syringe inserted into their upper arms. Every COVID newscast story seems to show this drama unfold… unnecessarily. 

Most people don’t like injections, period, so to keep showing people getting poked, relatively painless though it might be, is probably not the best method to gently encourage some fence sitters to show up at a nearby clinic or neighborhood mobile facility tomorrow. There must be oodles of relevant “b” roll footage that could be utilized without redundantly showing yet another upper arm being pricked with a needle.

18-months ago, we were all hunkered down, afraid of our own (and others’) shadows as the seriousness of this pandemic played out. And we somewhat rationalized 40 or so local coronavirus cases reported daily. Nowadays, you can’t find a parking space in some malls and people are everywhere, all while we’re witnessing 10-20 times as many cases of a far more potent and easily spread COVID variant. While the vaccine has rightfully helped eased many minds about the odds for experiencing hospitalization or worse, so-called “long COVID” (symptoms persisting for months and/or developing after  initial symptoms dissipate) is a frustrating reality for 10-30% of all COVID sufferers, regardless of whether or not they had notable symptoms during their engagement with the coronavirus. That’s why wearing masks still makes a lot of sense in most cases. Big deal, it’s a mask. Long COVID complications can affect the heart, lungs, brain, stomach, appendages- over 100 aftereffects of this ailment have been medically identified thus far. Is it so hard to be safe, smart, socially-savvy, sensitive, steadfast, and supportive?

A year ago we did everything we could (most people) to preclude facing this airborne invader. As time has passed, however, too many have gotten too complacent and decided that they’re immune, impervious, or indifferent to this virus. But anyone can pass it along. It’s the pits. As the staggering numbers here indicate, we’re running out of oxygen, ICU beds, and quarantine areas, but we are absolutely not outrunning this pandemic yet.

Think about it…

A stark warning was sent recently about an “aggressive” six-foot shark lurking just less than 100-feet from the Makaha Beach Park shoreline. I don’t know about you, but I much prefer it when shark sightings involve melancholy, reflective, or even whimsical sharks rather than “aggressive” ones. The darn thing is, we often can’t tell what kind of mood they’re in, now can we? I’ve yet to see a report of a lighthearted shark, but I cherish that day, though I certainly won’t be the one checking. 

Sharks occupy an honored place in Hawaiian culture. They are sometimes considered to be ‘aumākua, or ancestral spirits. It’s a sublime concept, based on reverence, respect, comfort, and the belief in a continuation of spirits after one’s ancestors are gone. Sharks deserve our respect, for they are the masters of the ocean, regardless of your spiritual or political beliefs. I found my ‘aumākua in the Pana`ewa Zoo on the Big Island 11-years ago in the form of that zoo’s beautiful, beloved, white tiger, Namaste, but that’s a story for another day.  

My favorite pseudo-shark was the “Saturday Night Live” land shark (coyly played by Chevy Chase) who used to go door to door looking for a meal. My least favorite shark was the carnivorous carouser in “Jaws” (a/k/a Bruce), who we all first met onscreen in the summer of ’75. Master movie-maker, Steven Spielberg, knew how to weave a scary tale (or tail), as that (mechanical) beast kept my friends and I wary while wading in the water the rest of that summer… and that water for us was Lake Michigan!

Back to our original storyline…while a shark sunning close to shore is surely a sign for swimmers to be cautious, the assertion that it was “aggressive” is both presumptive and stereotyping. If it was 200-feet offshore, would it still have been considered aggressive, or just assertive? If I come across a pueo, is it automatically wise? Does every elephant really never forget? Anthropomorphism is when human characteristics are given to animals, but why generalize? We already do it so poorly and often with humans, which leads to all kinds of social issues. Maybe we should give the animal kingdom a break, as they can’t (or won’t) respond. I kid, somewhat, but maybe there is some truth in this nugget. Or perhaps this nugget is mere animal poop, or shark bait.

Think about it…  

Not so slowly, but surely, a transportation transformation has occurred. The streets (and parking garages) of our state have been taken over by non-cars. In the automotive industry, the term “light trucks” refers to vans, SUVs, and pick-ups, and those vehicles  accounted for an astounding 76% market share in sales over the first six months of 2021 in Hawai`i. The annual light truck share of vehicle sales here is up almost 30% since 2012.

Just 24% of vehicles purchased in the U.S. in 2020 fell into the car category. The “compact car” parking space is now an endangered species, and could go the way of the phone booth and typewriter if this trend continues. And with parking spaces always at a premium in Hawai’i, have you noticed many stores, strip malls, condos, or shopping centers widening their vehicle spaces lately? I didn’t think so. Parking lot aerobics might not be high on your exercise priority list, but it’s becoming a must-do statewide. And that doesn’t include the displeasure caused by vehicular space hogs creeping over sacred parking lot white lines.

If you thought or hoped that an electronic/hybrid revolution in the automotive world was upon us, well, think again. After a decade of sensational predictions, the share of electric vehicles sold here in the first six months of 2021, stood at 6.4%, which is up from 4.4% sold over the first half of 2020. This revolution might end up being more of an evolution over a much longer period of time- here and elsewhere. Many people still don’t understand the economics of electronic vehicles, and thus defer at purchase time. Except in Norway, where 75% of the cars now sold are plug-ins! Alas, Norway is a wealthy country that provides electric vehicle tax and toll incentives. Electric car sales in the U.S. in 2020? A paltry 2.3% of units moved. 

For electric cars sales to charge up here and elsewhere, incentives, education, and many more charging stations are going to have to make it more convenient, affordable, and anxiety-free for the average car-buyer to seriously consider electric/hybrid options. A good sign locally is that the range these cars can manage on a single charge is rapidly growing, and average commuters shouldn’t feel charger-angst on normal island driving days. Of course, if everyone keeps buying (non-EV) trucks, the dream of fossil fuel reduction will be even further delayed.

Think about it…

So many things to talk about and so… little much time? We shan’t be socializing soon, but can always ponder the unexplainable, unknown, or just weird.

I recently mentioned the Hawai`i Symphony Orchestra played harmonic Led Zeppelin. Even with relative separation and all, events going forward will have to wait (for me) until after we get past upcoming COVID variations Epsilon, Zeta, Eta, Theta, Iota, et al. But don’t blame the Greeks. Science has decided to use their alphabet to name COVID variants. Think I’m a Debbie Downer? Well it may be Greek to me, but with 70% of the world unvaccinated, and since variant strains thus far have come from abroad, the odds suggest what’s possibly coming down the road simply isn’t pretty. Hmmm, maybe I’ll get to see Billie Eilish’s kids live in concert- in 2032…

The asteroid Bennu now might have a slightly greater chance of hitting Earth than was previously thought. What? You haven’t rushed out to buy toilet paper yet?! Good move, as prophetic rocket scientists are now suggesting that this catastrophe is a 1-in-1,750 possibility… over the next 180 years. Really? “Bennu”, named for a mythical Egyptian bird, must mean “who cares?” Is this really a value proposition space dollars usage? Gee, let bored astro-nut billionaires zap wayward space nougats as they flaunt their fortunes on 10-minute joy rides to nowhere…

Local rail officials warned that the first 10 miles of track are now fully electrified as testing begins. Good to know, especially since four wanderers recently scaled a HART fence near Aloha Stadium for some night time train track meandering. Perhaps they don’t trust the science on electricity and its ability to kill people who come in contact with the infamous “third rail”? We have eons of proof that too much electricity harms the human body, but wait! There’s this guy on the internet with a cool website who says he’s an expert on electricity and… oh, never mind.

Finally, two mainland visitors were busted here recently for using allegedly fake vaccine I.D. documents. No surprise, as sleazy internet sites purportedly boast the availability of such cards for as little as $15. So let’s have a fake trial for these counterfeit cardholders and make them work on a hospital clean-up detail for six months, alongside over-worked health care professionals who still have to bear the brunt of this protracted pandemic.

Think about it…   

It might not qualify as a miracle, but spending a safe evening out with friends can still be a rare luxury these days.  Rightfully wary about attending large, social events for the past 18-months, and even though now vaccinated, many are still having second thoughts about socializing as COVID cases here have risen dramatically this summer.

So it was a pleasure to dine outside with a few friends and then rock to the enthralling sounds of the Hawai`i Symphony Orchestra and Windborne’s “Music of Led Zeppelin” recently under the stars at the Waikiki Shell. With a rare, August breeze omni-present, plus contact tracing, mandated proof of vaccine, and social distancing in the seating area, it was a great night to watch symphonic rock frets born from Chicago and Delta blues without fretting too much about the virulent, Delta variant blues.

I’d somewhat forgotten how live music can lift one’s spirit, soul, and physical essence, as we soaked up one classic Led Zeppelin cut after another. Mesmerizing, mellifluous music for the masses, a beautiful venue, a gorgeous night, and a fulfilling dinner- all things we might have simply been called “Friday” two years ago, nowadays it’s an elusive wonder.

The orchestra provided ample depth to the Windborne players, which included a few spell-binding solos by electric performers. The authentically-covered Zep tunes were performed in the right register by Brody Dolyniuk, who’s sincere, soaring Robert Plant-istic vocals included memorable grunts at the appropriate moments in a dozen familiar tunes. It took me back to July 7, 1973, when I happily witnessed the real Led Zeppelin at Chicago Stadium; yup, 48-years ago…

And with few cell phones obnoxiously held up for inane, social media one-upmanship (“nanny nanny boo boo- look where I was that you weren’t”), the show flowed without interruption, save for an unnecessary 20-minute intermission. I mean come on, older people do need to get home by 9pm! 

But the point is, if just for one night, I was happily reminded how the old normal felt, and reawakened to what we will inevitably get back to, albeit later than we planned due to… well, never mind, we’re divided enough without another pundit’s shot in the arm. So keep on rockin’ in the free world (thanks Neil Young) and search for safe, soul-salvaging diversions until the coast- and everywhere else- is clear enough to let your guard down.

Think about it…

Okay, let’s have some fun this week and take some popular summer-themed, movie titles of years past and re-imagine what they might be about if re-made in 2021. Get it? Why do this, you ask? Oh, you really wanna talk more about delta variants, vaccine holdouts, wayward web misinformation, or selective personal freedom some more?!

“Independence Day” (from 1996)- ahhh, that wonderful day where we can again trust the safety of associating with other human beings, where we can hug sans masks, and where we can smile without worrying about what we might inhale due to the presence of others.

“E.T.” (1982, man, I feel old…)- the heart-warming story of a young boy re-connected to his grandparents, who he hasn’t seen in two years, thus thinking they must be aliens.

“Clueless” (1995)- what even the smartest people seem like at times in 2021 month to month as rules and regulations related to COVID-19 morph, are revamped, disappear, and return. You need to use the Feynman Technique (communicating complex topics in a simple way) to figure out how many friends you can have at a funeral, wedding, meeting, or dinner.

“Stand By Me” (1986)- what a classic…but the new version could be a dream, or perhaps a nightmare, as we simply can’t allow (most) people to “stand by me” in the pandemic twilight zone we still find ourselves in.

“Do The Right Thing” (1989)- boy, what a remake you could do with this Spike Lee classic, as sadly too little has changed and doing the right thing in far too many instances remains a separator of far too many far too often.

“The Goonies” (1985)- simple- this is what we call anyone who disagrees with us.

“I Know What You Did Last Summer” (1997)- Yeh… nothing.

“The Parent Trap” (1961, 1998)- What far too many kids found themselves in due to on-site college cancellations; also what far too many parents found themselves in due to, well… you get it.

“Dazed And Confused” (1993)- this time, you don’t even need illegal substances (or legal, as the case may be in some states) to realize how this title explains life in 2021.

“Forgetting Sarah Marshall” (1998)- filmed, in part, at Turtle Bay. Nowadays, it’d be pretty easy to forget Sarah and just about everyone else you don’t see or talk to!

OK, back to reality. Stay safe; and it’s hurricane season.

Think about it…

In a bizarre, post-truth world, we still find items that can amaze and/or amuse. Like these two recent local stories…

The Hawai`i Authority for Rapid Transportation (which is proving to be anything but rapid) announced that the latest projections for daily choo choo usage shows an expected  drop of 18%, from 122,000 to 101,000 daily boardings when the train runs its full route to Ala Moana Center. But we’re supposedly still nine years away (wanna bet?) from the full implementation of that plan, and ridership is apparently already down. Apply this logic every two years through 2031, and we could be down 18% five more times, and potentially see very few riders by the time this steel-wheeled enigma gets going!

While ridership numbers are constantly looked at and adjusted (after all, what else have they got to do right now), it is disconcerting to see usage projections drop while prognosticators, experts, and weekend warriors still postulate whether or not this train will even run past Middle Street. Stay tuned, because you know there’ll be another “are you kidding me?!” HART story just down the tracks.

On another local transportation front, a fire truck was stolen two weeks ago while idling outside of a late-night, emergency medical call. The leeward side call was apparently completed when the first responders went back outside to find their light-flashing vehicle gone. This theft might be tempt a new dictionary definition of “chutzpah”, as there is no subtlety tooling around in a purloined, bright yellow, 40-foot truck with a cool ladder.

The alleged absconder was soon found at a nearby 7-Eleven store in Makaha, undoubtedly sucking on a Big Gulp. How do I know? Well, the only plausible excuse one could have made when asked why he would do such a thing is, “Hey, I was thirsty”. Yes nothing is as satiating as a huge drink, no matter the obstacles.

In 2021’s twilight zone universe, where sides are taken and lines are not simply drawn, but often constructed with mental cement, many hope for a return to semi-harmony, sensible discourse, and rational compromise to once again run our democracy. A proven way to calm down and stop making everything a major, politically-charged issue is to chuckle, laugh occasionally, and take important things seriously while not taking ourselves too seriously. Well, maybe we can all agree on one thing- don’t steal fire engines.

Think about it…