News Blues – MidWeek January 15, 2020

While we may, from time to time, lament the apparent dysfunction of our local and national political systems, at least we have regular information sources that helps us to understand what’s going on.

But what if there weren’t numerous, vetted, reliable sources to tell us what’s going on? What if there were no intrepid reporters, editors, and overseers with principles, morals and ethics to provide basic facts regularly? Well, you’d have to rely on misinformation that runs rampant on the internet, sometimes selling itself as credible and reliable, even if it’s Russian hacks. You’d probably have to listen to even more vacuous, roundtable pundits argue and pat themselves on the backs on slanted cable channels, desperate to feed the insatiable 24-hour news beast. Your Millenial or Post-Millenial kids might tell you they “saw something” online, and thus it must be revered in near biblical, absolute terms. “That’ll never happen”, you say. Or “who cares?”

Ah, but beware what you accept, even begrudgingly, as so-called “media modernization”. When the Honolulu City Council meets, who’s keeping an eye on your tax dollars? If no one factually updates us on issues concerning OHA, Mauna Kea, homelessness, fallen trees, et al., how will you stay in touch, informed, and aware?

Estimates are that over 1,500 daily and weekly newspapers have folded since 2005. We see constant media cutbacks (i.e.- fewer reporters) and mergers. The paid subscriber model for online, “quality” news doesn’t currently support an infrastructure that ensures thorough, local coverage of our communities. 

Honolulu has a daily newspaper, plus MidWeek and four local TV entities covering daily news, and there’s local radio coverage on the four major island islands. But what happens if/when small town, unbiased voices go away? Who will keep an eye on things in Lihue, Hilo, or Kahului? We’ve already seen small towns no longer blessed with local news coverage- and (not surprisingly) taxes, shenanigans, and government bills go up. 

Surveys show that people have greater trust in their local news institutions than in national news entities. But trust alone doesn’t pay the bills to keep reporters reporting and to help guarantee that we have journalists in the future… I mean, besides little Jimmy writing his blog or tweeting from his mom’s dimly-lit basement every day. Ponder the future without quality reporting or daily news information, and it’s neither a pretty picture or story.

Think about it…

Carry Over Hangover – MidWeek January 8, 2020

Meet the new decade… same as the old decade. We’re not even 10-days into the new decade and yet the stench of some 2010-2019 issues is already wafting into the room, just as we were about to celebrate moving forward. So, as I re-write Pete Townshend’s fantastic final line from The Who’s 1971 masterpiece, “Won’t Get Fooled Again”, (“Meet the new boss… same as the old boss”), here are three early indications that we’ll still be dealing with the same old, same old.

A fallen tree closed a portion of the Pali Highway on New Year’s Eve. This was only after a rock slide completely shut down a portion of the Pali Highway tunnel on Christmas Day. So after nine months of repair work, we deal with the realities of nature… again! 

You can remove, repair, reinforce, re-surface all you want (or need), but redundant rain, erosion, and aging tree roots inevitably dictate what happens on and to our roads any place where steep slopes and time prove that you can only be so pro-active topographically with what you can see or test, this decade or any other.

And then there’s OHA. Turned into an anagram and repeated three times, it becomes HOA, HOA, HOA. Now that sounds seasonal but might be much funnier (as in “ho, ho, ho”) if we didn’t have yet a snafu (noted on December 30) with the mandated state audit and an OHA refusal to release requested meeting notes. It will be nice when OHA cleans things up internally for the people who so depend on it externally. The first line under the “About” section on OHA’s home page says: “The Office of Hawaiian Affairs is a public agency with a high degree of autonomy”. Well…. apparently not right now as we head into the roaring ‘20s with an audit on hold…

And finally, Hawai`i’s population dropped for the third straight year in 2019. We saw the biggest numerical drop here since 2015. 20% of U.S. states lost population in 2019, but we’ll focus on Hawai`i, as this disturbing trend will soon leave us with an inadequate number of people to fill other jobs beyond the already understaffed areas of teachers and doctors. 

OK, party time is over, now let’s get back to work to resolve/solve issues that we can and must fix.

Think about it…

20/20 in 2020 – MidWeek January 1, 2020

According to the American Optometric Association, “20/20 vision is a term used to express normal visual acuity (the clarity or sharpness of vision) measured at a distance of 20 feet. If you have 20/20 vision, you can see clearly at 20 feet what should normally be seen at that distance.”

So now that we’ve entered the new world of 2020, will you have the 20/20 vision to see things more clearly? Will Hawai`i step back and reflect on where it’s going? And if things don’t seem clear, will we take corrective measures, like contact lenses or eyeglasses for our minds, to make wiser, happier, fulfilling choices for the future?

We can all list resolutions to begin in earnest this week, but we know where many of those traditionally end up by January 25… discarded, ignored, forgotten, or just too dang difficult because we’re all “so busy”. Maybe it’s time to break things down into manageable chunks, a concept known as “kaizen”, a “change for the better”. This method was popularized in re-building, devastated Japan after World War II, but was actually brought there via WWII-era United States manufacturing/industrial business leaders who visited Japan right after the war ended.

Simply put, walk around the block today. You’ll accomplish you’re first goal of exercising more (and perhaps losing weight) without stuffing unreasonable and ultimately failing concepts into your brain- like “I’ve got to work out 150-minutes weekly”, or “I’ve got to lose twenty pounds quickly”. Walk “briskly” for 10-minutes; maybe you’ll also lose two pounds. A double win, a confidence boost. Endorphins arise!

Soon, try to walk around the block twice; ultimately, do it four days weekly. Simple cause and effect. Simple because you realize a sense of accomplishment right from the get-go. Chinese philosopher Lao Tzu said, “A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step”, and your journey to wherever (improving health, relationships, mindset, work plans, financial goals, or renewed sense of purpose in life) can start with one small step. Build confidence and stamina, and you build a bridge toward your goal(s).

So Happy New Year! Here’s to focusing your 20/20 vision in 2020 on a multitude of projects, or even just one vital item. We might not be watching, or aware, but you will be.

Think about it…

On This Christmas… – MidWeek December 25, 2019

And so it was set forth that this year was different…

… for on this Christmas, we resolved to truly be more active listeners, more empathetic, and more compassionate.

… and officials decided to resolve many items that annually fester, are discussed, researched, studied, probed, committee-d, and inevitably ignored- like the Haiku Stairway To Heaven, the Waikiki Natatorium War Memorial, truly “affordable” housing, the Falls of Clyde, the TMT, leeward-side contra flow lanes in the afternoons, incessant legislative micromanagement of UH, a bypass road for the leeward side, et al.

…and we decided to more often do what’s pono, to cherish the aina, to exchange “ha” sincerely and regularly, and not simply talk about the aloha spirit, but rather live it and breathe it consciously. We stopped taking Hawai`i for granted.

…and repeatedly elected officials decided that after a decade or so they would gracefully bow out after having given their time, input, and energy to truly help our islands move forward, rather than simply hang around past their “use by” date as they cautiously avoided tackling and resolving tough issues faced annually, much to the chagrin of the people who actually elected them to tackle and resolve tough issues.

…and all mankind locally decided to look up often from their electronic devices, to realize that the sun did come out today, that the air was clean, that birds still flew in our midst and leaves still shimmered in the (less frequent, it seems) trade winds. And we saw sights we’d never seen before, like a child having fun playing nearby, or a pedestrian crossing the intersection in front of us. When unplugged and detached from devices and social media, we focused on being truly and mindfully present with friends, family, loved ones and co-workers, and we survived… happily, in fact. Perhaps a trend can begin here- competent consciousness, awareness of our personal zone, surroundings, and beyond… an enlightenment.

…and we appreciated the people and things that we do have; we acknowledged thoughtfulness of people regularly, and mandated that we, too, would give more, and we realized that giving is not realized in gift cards given one day a year.

… and we smiled and laughed much more. Merry Christmas.

Think about it.

Nene Heyday – MidWeek December 18, 2019

Nice new news about the nene! Hawaii’s state bird is being moved from the endangered category to the threatened category, after a half-century effort to move the fowl away from the foul plans and realities of predators, loss of native habitat, and other concerning actions and entities that had the treasured bird’s population down to a paltry (not poultry) 30 birds left in our midst some 60 years ago.

That population has now risen to an estimated 2,800 nene as the efforts to save the endemic bird are proving to be successful. It is estimated that there were more than 250,000 nene traipsing along trails here 250 years ago when people said, “duck, duck… a goose!”

A concerted effort involving the private sector, volunteers, government agencies, and others over the years is paying off. We all know that approaching a nene is a no-no, so even the public relations effort has been generally working. 

Strange… humans often respect the rights of other species (including monk seals and honu here) while we are less civil, compassionate, and empathetic with one another. On various topics (impeachment, Constitutional intent, TMT, civil rights, immigration, guns) we have drawn such huge lines in the sand, those lines have become walls. Civil discourse has become civil disgust, trust wavers, and we are all the worse for wear.

We see articles explaining how to act at family gatherings to avoid seismic dust-ups over politics, religion, cell phone misuse, and whether LSU or Ohio State football should rightfully be ranked #1.

How bizarre that common sense and soulful, conscious activism bring (most of) us together over local seals, green sea turtles, and endangered geese, not to mention beloved pet dogs and cats, but we don’t we see enough level-headed debate and discussion when it comes to issues that impact the fragile human race.

Egos, fears, modern internationalism, re-election anxiety, veiled and real threats, repugnant social media, societal changes, mommy didn’t say she loved us enough as kids- who knows. At least we now have the nice nene rebound. Good things often occur when the heart and the head work together for a common cause. The nene revival has shown us what happens when we stop stepping in the poop. Think about it…

On The Road – MidWeek December 11, 2019

The proverb goes: “The road to hell is paved with good intentions”. Well, the roads to/from Kailua, Kaneohe, Salt Lake, Hawaii Kai, and downtown (King Street, Beretania) haven’t been paved with very good stuff for years, let alone good intentions. 

A recent Star-Advertiser editorial noted that the Pali Highway is being repaved with stone matrix asphalt (SMA), a longer-lasting solution than the Silly Putty previously used repeatedly. The editorial also mentioned that SMA was first “experimented with” on Moanalua Highway with great success- in 2004! 15-years and untold re-alignments later, and we’re just now designating this proven mix for high-traffic areas like the Pali?! Some have suggested that repaving is just a government/union plot to keep pavers re-paving, but that’s too cynical… I hope. 

A knowledgeable, forthright Department of Transportation administrator told me that SMA is great, but its strength makes it harder to remove than other asphalt mixtures, so it can’t reasonably be used on streets with aging, underground infrastructure (water, sewer, electricity). So I asked why this magic mix hasn’t been selectively used more often over the last 15 years, since it works. Ahhh… apparently, the state and the City of Honolulu didn’t traditionally collaborate with one another or the asphalt gurus to realize the best prices, equipment needs, and economy of scale solutions. 

While cheaper material is readily available, the results last for a shorter term. Perhaps egos, power trips, installation costs, budget concerns, and/or jurisdictional, territorial garbage got in the way, but SMA simply hasn’t been used on high volume roads here since 2004.

Some local government officials tout how many miles have been re-paved annually, rather than focus on more permanent fixes on problem roads. My neighborhood had zero road quality issues, yet was recently repaved. A “Think About It” reader told me that the same thing happened in her pristine Pearl City neighborhood; relatively needless work that pads the annual statistics.

But now that the city (Beretania, King, Kapi`olani, Salt Lake, etc.) and the state (Pali, Likelike, Farrington, Kalanianaole, Nimitz, etc.) are working closer together with asphalt companies on low-, medium-, and high-volume asphalt answers, repair costs should come down; we’ll see fewer potholes and less repair redundancy, leading to a better future for vehicles traveling on Oahu’s busiest thoroughfares. Think about it…

This story originally appeared in the December 11, 2019 Midweek.

School Daze – December 4, 2019 MidWeek

What if we started the school day later for high schoolers in Hawaii? Perhaps we’d see less traffic, fewer accidents, and more convenient pick up times as school day conclusion and (parental) work days would finish at a time closer together. Less time for latch key kids to “hang around.” Less trouble. And yes, we’d need big adjustments, too.

All of the above would be nice gains if the school day started an hour later. Plus, sharper students, more productivity, a better learning environment, and probably higher test scores. Anyone who has driven a child to school from afar can attest to the daily drudgery of getting a teen out of bed, fed (hopefully) and into the car. Drop off lines look line scenes out of “Zombieland,” as cars pull up, kids wake up, and then stumble into classrooms. Tardiness rules, teachers rue, and first period blues are rampant as many kids show up relatively dazed and confused. Talk about not being “woke!”

Oh, and this concept has been instituted in institutions… successfully. In 2016, Seattle schools moved public high school start times from 7:50am to 8:45am. According to NEA Today, kids were more engaged and alert, tardiness and absentee levels decreased, and final grades rose by about 5%. The opportunity for more shuteye helped to alleviate teenage chronic sleep deprivation (fatigue, depression, memory impairment).

As adolescents mature, internal circadian rhythms change. Melatonin (which helps us to sleep) in teens releases later at night than in adults. That’s why they’re wide-eyed at 9 or 10pm as you crash. It’s why Junior sags after getting just six hours of weeknight sleep. And the aforementioned Seattle project showed that the one-hour school day delay was productive, with needy teenagers getting more AM sleep time.

California just signed into place a law for 2022 that mandates that no public high schools (or charter schools) may start classes before 8:30am. More proof? The New York Times recently mentioned a Minnesota 2017 study which showed that after pushing start times later “…students who had more sleep reported better mental health outcomes and less use of substances like alcohol and cigarettes,” plus “…had improved attendance and enrollment rates, and they were less likely to drive while drowsy.” So maybe it’s time for Hawaii, home to horrible traffic and habitually sleepy kids (and parents) to say, “see you later” when it comes to start times at high schools.

Think about it…

This article was first published in the December 4, 2019 Midweek.

Giving Thanks… Whenever – November 27, 2019 MidWeek

“‘Tis the season…” Well, that what we’re told. Every year at this time, we begin a lovely six-week cycle of giving thanks, sharing good tidings, making cookies, and really pushing ourselves to be more aware; more courteous, gracious, empathetic, and focused on the people and little things that truly matter and make a difference in our lives.

But flawed as we might be as a species, must we require a calendar to mandate or nudge this uplifting part of our humanity? Since we have proved that we can sustain amped up feelings of joy, goodness, and caring from now into the new year, here’s a wild thought… let’s do it all of the time!

It would be nice to gift co-workers and support people with Starbucks’, Zippy’s, or McDonalds’ gift cards in March. It’s cool to bake cookies for “the team” in May. It’s kosher to handwrite small notes of thanks and appreciation in August. Heck, it’s even unexpected! Take nothing away from the deeply spiritual reasons that we celebrate late in the year, but embrace that this joie de vivre, this feeling of happiness and acuity need not be simply a seasonal affective order.

We are blessed here with an underlying concept- the “aloha spirit”. Mix that in with some good, old “Christmas spirit”, stir it up, and voila, you’ve got a wholesome recipe not just for the holidays, but for every day. No absolute construct of mankind (i.e., the calendar) should dictate to us when to rise above our daily existences to be more compassionate.

And here’s a bonus. Doing good helps to release internal chemicals like dopamine, oxytocin, and serotonin, and that’s really healthy- any time of year! Smiling, laughing, and giving of yourself, while not exactly the equivalent of eating kale or taking a brisk 30-minute walk daily, actually helps your physical, mental, and spiritual well-being! We don’t need annual 30% off holiday sales to remind us of that, do we?

So let’s see if we can stretch a bit, take this holiday habit and spread it out. Mark your calendar for April 3 to bake mochi for co-workers. Spend time in July with those grieving the loss of a loved one, just because. Let someone know you care and you’re there for them, and do it in September. “‘Tis the season” can become a more universal habit and mantra. It’s your call.

Think about it…

This story was originally published on November 27, 2019 in MidWeek.

Legis-later? – November 20, 2019 MidWeek

In announcing her upcoming retirement from the state legislature in late 2020,State Senator Laura Thielen suggested the need for term limits for local legislators, a subject which surfaces occasionally, gains no traction, and then disappears… much like perennially proposed options for the off-limits Haiku Stairway to Heaven and the embarrassing Waikiki Natatorium; but those are topics for another day. As for term limits, elected officials naturally don’t view this concept as a possible stimulant to preclude local, biannual voter apathy as the same people retain the same offices, occasionally running for higher office- but it’s still the same names, time after time. Experience, sign-wavers extraordinaire, name recognition, and the resulting vapid promises… 

As a legislator’s number one job is to stay employed, term limits to an elected official are like garlic or sunlight to a vampire- bad, very bad. But hey, we have term limits for Hawaii governors, lieutenant governors, mayors, et al. Why can’t we come up with a means to get more people interested in politics- you know, a government of the people, by the people, and for the people- just not the same people- as it was intended to be? “Career politician” was an oxymoron 240 years ago when the Founding Fathers set things up. Now, it’s begrudgingly accepted as a part of “the system”, as we blindly plow ahead with horrific approval ratings the rule for both local and national legislators. 15 states currently have legislator term limits. While the results are decidedly mixed, no other state has the virtual one-party system we have, so perhaps Hawaii should be viewed uniquely as to whether or not term limits would make a difference in getting more things done (as opposed to undone, but discussed ad nauseum). 

How about the idea of a full-time legislature (in place in 10 states) or even a unicameral system of government (one legislative body), which currently exists in Nebraska? Ideas that might be worth exploring. More accountability, focus, higher expectations, more than 100 rushed days of annual legislative madness, etc. Will any such measures ever be seriously explored or considered locally? If not, assume more of the same from habitually re-elected legislators who, with minimal competition and seemingly lifetime appointments, have no reason to rock, fix, question, or restructure the boat, as that might risk upsetting voters, lobbyists, special interest allies, and/or perpetual campaign funders.

Think about it…

Homeless Hurdles – November 13, 2019 MidWeek

When the term “homeless” is used, far too often it is used in a pejorative sense- with the false assumption that homelessness is somebody’s fault. But just as it is inappropriate to lump any group of people together by ethnicity, religion, job description, where they live or where went to school, it is wrong to assume that homelessness is a simple concept with simple solutions. These people are homeless, not hopeless.

There are myriad reasons why people are homeless. If you think it’s all about mental illness, think again. Studies here show that 25% of those in a state of homelessness have mental health issues. As 20% of the general population struggles with mental health issues, the homeless, as a group, really aren’t that different from the general populace when it comes to mental health.

But throw in our lack of truly affordable housing, physical disabilities and subsequent medical cost concerns, substance abuse, domestic violence, release from local hospitals or prisons with insufficient means to survive, personal traumas, family problems, people who come here underfinanced and then can’t make ends meet, cutbacks in social services, the lack of doctors who can or are allowed to prescribe psychopharmacologic medications… well, you can see that the homeless issues cut across multiple areas.

The numbers we see from time to time are often confusing. The last “point in time” research reported 4,453 homeless people on O`ahu. But that report is a snapshot, and it doesn’t take into account those who drift in and out of the system over time. A more complete 2017 Homeless Service Utilization Report (the latest year for which information has been released) stated that 10,712 people on O`ahu identified as homeless were served by the Homeless Management Information System (HMIS).

Bottom line- we need more street help, transitional housing, and allowances within the state system for more professional service suppliers to provide care. We need to provide hope as well as homes. We need to make sure the numbers accurately reflect (with a transient population that sometimes gets moved around in a weird “whack-a-mole” game) what’s going on. We need more efforts like the newly-planned Waianae mauka camp and the expanding, successful Kahauiki Village (off of Nimitz Highway). And we need to show empathy, mixed with reality, when we see tents, car homes, wanderers, and people in need.

Think about it…

This article was originally published on November 13, 2019 in MidWeek.