#johnfink

It might not count as a miracle in this season of miracles, but the fact that Wisdom has once again laid an egg amazing, to say the least. 

Wisdom, a Laysan albatross, returns annually to Midway Atoll to hopefully hook up with her mate and perhaps give birth yet again. We know that long-distance relationships can be tough, but this one seems to bear fruit, or at least eggs, regularly. 

The most amazing thing for us non-albatrosses witnessing this breeding saga is the fact that Wisdom is a spry, 74-years old! She was first identified and banded back in 1956 after laying an egg. Ironic that we use the term “laying an egg” to often signify something not so good, a failure, when laying an egg is actually a wonderful and vital thing- for species renewal and (when unfertilized) for human’s scrambling/frying pleasure.

We can also revisit the ancient, negative connotations around albatrosses, as we sometimes hear the term an “albatross around his neck” (from a Samuel Coleridge poem) to refer to a large burden or problem-causer. The Angry Albatross Association has been quite perturbed with this aged metaphor for decades, but apparently its efforts to mitigate the negative usage associated with the term simply won’t fly. 

Almost 20-years ago, I emceed an event locally dedicating the Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument. I knew it was a vital symbol of efforts to protect our planet;  I knew millions of birds flocked there annually. What I didn’t know was the miraculous story of the young-at-heart Wisdom. Her previous mate appears to be gone; she and her old beau last met up three years ago. Interested observers will be keeping an eye on this egg-citing moment to see if Wisdom and her new partner produce yet one more chick (estimates are that she’s given birth to 30 or more little ones).

It’s worthwhile to constantly seek wisdom throughout life, as incessant learning helps keep us engaged, aware, self-confident, fulfilled, interesting and interested. In an age where false information is pervasive, be wary of alleged facts and data sources; double-check before you become yet another a spreader of more falsehoods. An old proverb says, “Wisdom is patiently waiting for the clouds to part and the sun to shine”. As we witness Christmas and other year-end holidays of note, celebrate the Wisdom’s wisdom. Soaring ‘neath the sun, providing hope; the circle of life, indeed.

Think about it…

While surely rewarding at times, the college coaching profession has become tougher than ever before. A team’s performance (read: wins/losses) and therefore a coach’s tenure likely depends on 17-22 year olds getting the job done- in competition, in the classroom, in the brutal, digital, asocial world that far too many must confront, and in the world at large.

A good coach mentors, provides a home away from home, even acts as a surrogate parent; but now, throw in the variable of the wild, wild west known as NIL (name, image, likeness). College athletes now make their own personal deals with outside third parties for usage of their name, image, and/or likeness, and the school is simply informed that that such a deal exists; the laws on what else must be disclosed varies from state to state. 

And if a college athlete has a great season, new transfer rules (via the “portal”) allow said athlete to simply leave for theoretically greener pastures elsewhere… anywhere- no harm, no foul. Coaches moved around easily for decades, leaving behind kids who swore allegiance to a school partially or even primarily based on that coach/mentor; now it’s student-athletes who have the leverage in deciding where they want to be.

Already we see athletes play for/attend four different schools in four or five years.

Old rules allowed a student to transfer once during his/her collegiate eligibility, and possibly sit out one year before playing at a second Division I school. Transfer penalty? Not any longer.

Why am I writing about this in mid-December? Well, for many student-athletes, the new NIL and transfer portal rules are a Christmas gift with the potential to keep on giving. But for college coaches, this new world might make them seem Grinch-like. You build up great rapport, help a kid reach new heights as the team (often) succeeds, and then watch as players opt for the transfer portal, seeking greater NIL funds and more exposure for a fledgling pro career, perhaps, while you, the coach, much seek replacements… annually… forevermore. Team uniforms should display “Hi, my name is…” stickers for fans every year. 

Surely, the interim NIL and portal rules will be tweaked and updated to reflect the insanity of what’s happening… just like the recent re-alignment in major conferences is destined to see change, once again, in the years to come. Crazy times in big-time college athletics, for sure.

Think about it…

We’re now into that “most wonderful time of the year” (I’m partial to the Andy Williams’ version myself) and I’ve opted to simply reflect this week, which we often do as the Yule season unfolds and the year comes to a close. Here are a few of my favorite moments from music or eloquent written words that just might remind us to be more thoughtful, thankful, graceful, empathetic, reflective, and humble. Why not?

“…overcoming poverty is not a gesture of charity. It is an act of justice. It is the protection of a fundamental human right, the right to dignity and a decent life.” Bono, of U2 fame, from his autobiography, “Surrender”. Dignity and a decent life, what a clarifying concept. If you can, ‘tis the season for some true giving- of yourself, your time, and your ability to simply help others so that they can perhaps help themselves. It’s not directly about this season, but it sure feels right as we reflect.

“And so this is Christmas, and what have you done; another year over, a new one just begun.” John Lennon/Yoko Ono gave us their “Happy Xmas (War Is Over)” masterpiece 53 years ago; the song and its message still resonate. So give yourself a break, celebrate small things you’ve accomplished or contributed. And strive to make a difference- even via small steps (kaizen)- in 2025.

“I wish you a hopeful Christmas, I wish you a brave new year; All anguish, pain and sadness, Leave your heart and let your road be clear. They said there’d be snow at Christmas, They said there’ll be peace on earth; Hallelujah, Noel, be it heaven or hell,
The Christmas we get we deserve.” Greg Lake (of Emerson Lake & Palmer) teamed with Peter Sinfield for “I Believe In Father Christmas”, a beautiful tune with a Prokofiev backdrop released 50 years ago. Maybe its fate, or karma, and perhaps we do invariably get what we deserve. But of course, we can surely influence those results, can’t we?

“Green is in the mistletoe and red is in the holly, Silver in the stars above that shine on everybody; Gold is in the candlelight and crimson in the embers, White is in the winter night that everyone remembers.” The magnificent Enya (2008) from “White Is In The Winter Night”. Close your eyes, yet clearly see everything she mentions. A magical time, indeed.

Think about it…

Why is it (again) that we  simply can’t or won’t get things resolved permanently far too often locally? This time, I’m wondering about the Hawai`i State Capitol surrounding moat (er… former ponds), now defunct. After decades of persistent issues, the existing tiles were finally stripped, and the area leaked during recent, torrential rains. Actually, there was flooding- walls below, ceilings, floors, equipment, records, you name it, the water came rushing into the Beretania basement. Once again. Mildew madness. The plan is to replace the ponds with user-friendly, artistic, glass tiles that perusers can walk (skate?) on. What could possibly go wrong?

Flooding/leakage has occurred repeatedly since 1969 when the State Capitol was constructed. That’s 55 years of on again/off again drippage and solution posturing. Ho hum. That’s nothing compared to the length of time we’ve waited for resolution on the Koolau Stairway to Heaven and on the Waikiki Natatorium. I know, the Stairway has been partially removed (yet another lawsuit), and the Natatorium has some practical ideas for reparations… this decade. And we’ll not nosedive into nagging no-gos of recent ilk like TMT, Aloha Stadium, or the on-going Red Hill fiasco.

And then we have the saga of the Queen Theatre in Kaimuki, a building that many see as having historical value, yet has sat vacant and deteriorating for 40-years on a very visible and valuable corner in Kaimuki. We don’t measure things dilapidating in years here, we measure them in decades. The theatre went from a grand symbol of growth in Kaimuki to a pornographic movie house (giving a whole new meaning to the Queen Theatre moniker) to an empty shell; but the City of Honolulu seems likely to act “soon”.

And hey! We’re (finally) getting that leeward bypass road, which officials say will be functional by next spring! We often witness a lack of urgency regarding public or private, well-publicized projects; not handling things often leads to frustration, apathy, and (invariably) greater costs… like the $45-million that’s now being spent to fix leaks and electrical damage in the Capitol pool area. 

Recent rainwaters permeated the allegedly waterproof basins even after the Capitol pools were drained in 2020. With the assumed no more pool rule, some are questioning why we can’t save some form of water feature that won’t leak. Perhaps after 55 years, it’s time for change, though change we abhor. Even when things stay broke.

Think about it…

If you indulge in cheddar cheese added to your Thanksgiving mashed potatoes, green bean casserole, or perhaps the apple pie, here’s a story about giving thanks, with a side of cheese.

About a month ago, a scam was perpetrated on a top London cheese retailer, where an alleged French connection bought 300,000 pounds of cheddar for almost $400,000… but never paid. Three cheese-producing farms provided the wheels of cheddar; the wholesaler shipped the goods, but no further communication (nor payment) was received. That’s a lotta cheese. But good news, an arrest has finally been made- cheddar late than never, of course. The bad guys will now undoubtedly meet their feta.

I could regale you with a plethora of cheesy puns and such, but this theft got me to thinking: why do we say “cheese” when taking pictures? Sure, it’s to get our bright smiles and wide grins on camera, but couldn’t other terms have been used to shape our supple brains? How about “please”? That gets the grin going, and might help subtly teach people better manners whilst taking pictures. Or maybe the perfect picture word nowadays could be “jeez”, as in what the heck is going on?!

But reflecting back on this cheese caper in Europe, it’s apparently rare to see a cheese heist of such rotund proportions. I smiled often while perusing cheesy jokes and puns, so please parmesan me. Those stolen wheels of cheese in England/France were calm during the recent robbery… because they were simply too mature. There were some early leads on whodunit, but they turned out to be too gouda to be true. Now that’s a grate one! Needless to say, there are far too many sites to peruse to find cheese trivia and laughs. Just use your mouse.

About 10-years ago, Italian police skewered a thieving cheese ring stealing chunks of Parmigiano-Reggiano, according to London’s The Times. Yet hefty cheese thefts appear to be few and far between. Of course, the evidence is usually gone in short order. And the Italian thieves were told upon capture “…this is nacho cheese”.

So happy Thanksgiving! In the midst of everything else going on nowadays, a little levity (with bread and a spread) is always welcome. So say “cheese”, “please”, or “jeez”, for family pictures, avoid talking politics, and be thankful for what you’ve got. Hopefully, things can only get cheddar. I hope you concurd.

Think about it…

Due to our publication deadline, this “Think About It” was written before Election Day, so this column was written with no knowledge of who won any races anywhere…

But if you think our political system and democracy today are confounding, rigged, or don’t look out for the needs of the very citizens that make up our nation, look local. Two weeks ago, the Hawai`i Board of Education was close to passing an operating budget for the next two years that would have reduced funding and positions for high school Learning Center Programs.

Learning Centers (LCs) at various public schools provide focused learning in very specific areas, like agriculture, natural resources, business, and STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics). Disclaimer alert- I am fortunate to have been a member of Kalaheo High’s Academy of Media & Design for many years. I’ve seen how this program works, excites and encourages students, and helps kids ideate career and life choices. LCs enable our future work force and develop budding leaders of tomorrow.

Dismantling this program or tossing the funding back to the schools would have been problematic, at best, and self-defeating, at worst. But due to quickly-coordinated, grass roots lobbying efforts, the DOE Board listened to students, advisors, administrators, parents, and teachers, and pulled the cutbacks from the upcoming budget. The Board backed off cutting state funds to the 29 existing LCs as students got a first-hand taste of how to conduct rational, inspiring, civil activism and discourse for a cause. How invigorating, respectful, and refreshing.

Not only did numerous 16-18 year-olds keep their beloved school programs on track, they got to be active participants in the democratic process, using logic and perseverance over a very short window of time. And kudos to the Board of Education for not only listening, but also changing its plans and budget.  

This “project” was a wonderful victory, spearheaded by kids and mentors, showing that opinions matter when backed with sound reasoning, passion, facts, and logic. Great things happen, sometimes, when people react righteously. Calls went out for testimony submissions, for handcrafted placards to be displayed at the Capitol in opposition of the proposed cuts, and for students and others to rally (and testify) at the BOE meeting. It worked; the system can work. If only the kids could explain this concept to overzealous adults nationwide who must’ve missed vital lessons about civics, ethics, and empathy.

Think about it…

Midway through autumn, and celebrating my 5^th anniversary with MidWeek; soooo… here are some nice things to acknowledge and/or celebrate:

Some folks believe that film tax credits shouldn’t be given out locally. Huh? Not only do the movies/videos/ads/TV shows provide nice (free) marketing for our islands, but the business model appears to deliver great results, too. We ought to be incentivizing more industries to set up shop(s) here, not fewer. You can’t complain about a lack of a diversified economy without providing some lures. 

There’s a reason Hartford became America’s insurance capital, and Delaware reigns as our incorporation capital. It isn’t the weather. Incentives, tax credits, and other financial inducements. With high prices, a tough labor market, annual net emigration, and a difficult housing situation, we need to be more creative, like the artful types in the film/TV industry. 

The Kahoolawe Island Reserve Commission found a green turtle (honu) nesting site there. We know of the decades-long struggle to resurrect the island into something inspiring after it had become a barren and bombed site, and as KIRC’s executive director said, this nest shows “…the island’s remarkable capacity for healing.” For years, all that was discovered on Kahoolawe was buried ordnance. With Kahoolawe’s invasive grass now cut back and the planting of native species, we’re witnessing one less turtle hurdle. Bravo!

Due to some quality research done and resourceful action taken thereafter, 14,000 Hawai’i households will be eligible for about $45-million (or $3,200 annually) through the SNAP program, formerly known as food stamps. Kudos to assistant professor Dylan Moore of the UH Economic Research Organization (UHERO) and Nate Hix of the Hawai`i Public Health Institute’s pushing and prodding, local households in need can apply for additional SNAP funds. The state’s Department of Human Services is working on its (hopefully) soon-to-be upgraded eligibility system to ensure that available federal funds can be used here.

Many households in Hawai`i face what’s known as the “benefits cliff” scenario, whereby monthly financial benefits they receive may drop to zero if they see even slight income increases which would push their earnings above the allowable threshold. There is no gradual stairway allowing workers to move up financially without losing fed funds, just this cliff whereby you can lose $500/month in benefits by earning $200/month more at work. Bad math; complicated system, but reality. Great work UHERO and you heroes who made this SNAP decision happen!

Think about it…

Hand-wringers are lamenting the “opportunity” that University of Hawai’i athletics may have had to join the once-vaunted Pac-12. “Once-vaunted”, as the new-look Pac-12 looks more like a Mountain West Lite. 83% of the Pac-12 went away this year, including well-known, successful, and historically popular schools. Only Oregon State and Washington State remain, unwanted by the power four conferences, yet rich with the defectors’ forfeited, accrued funds. College sports is about money, relevancy, money, positioning, and money. New alignments ignore regionality, educational equivalencies, common sense, and historical rivalries. 

Soooo… student-athletes will take a five-hour, cross-country flight (say from USC to Rutgers) for a 23-minute cross-country track meet. The transfer portal runs like a hectic transporter room from “Star Trek” as athletes leave on a whim; can that be sustained? Name/image/license (NIL) deals for players further separate the have- and have-not schools. Will a 19-year-old QB, receiving $1-million in NIL, experience resentment from his 18-year-old, little-known, un(der)paid offensive left tackle teammate? With prop bets now promoted in over 50% of states allowing college football betting, what could go wrong when 17-22 year-old athletes are propositioned/approached by big betting bozos? 

Will money-draining, so-called “minor” sports be eliminated? By 2030, will we be left with just college football, men’s and women’s basketball and a maybe few other sports to simply ensure gender equity mandates are sustained? The latest realignment forced by major conferences (er… money) is surely temporary; the pieces will shift yet again in coming years. Will TV/cable/streaming funds paid to conferences and schools be sustainable as weary subscribers grow numb and uncertain ad revenues wobble?

The Pac-12 lost its cache when it lost the large west coast TV markets it represented; that’s what TV/streaming money providers want- eyeballs. Recent Pac-12 additions from the Mountain West simply don’t have the clout or national cache of the Pac-12’s departed schools. Can newcomers rise and shine? Because right now, almost no one east of the Rockies is noticing. 

College football is the NFL’s minor league, with built-in (alumni) fans. It’s pay for play. Second- and third-stringers may leave or pass on top 20-ranked colleges for bigger bucks elsewhere; will that level the playing field when injuries occur and the cupboard’s bare? The genie’s out of the bottle; the NCAA (No Clue At All) is a weak vestige of its former self, stripped of power. And yes, UH must really fight mightily to simply survive.

Think about it…

Street cred, giving props, a shout out, showing respect. All-important signs of the “now” generation in our social bouillabaisse. We hear of fights and issues arising when young ‘uns don’t feel they’ve been given “respect”. While not a new phenomenon, it seems to be mentioned a lot nowadays by misguided miscreants after unnecessary incidents.

Traditionally, respect is something one earns. Leaders, teachers, bosses, peers, et al., might earn your respect based on repeated actions, intentions, and words. As we age, we don’t automatically garner respect or trust, just because we age. There are childish, uncaring elders. There are also wisdom-filled, younger folk who behave in ways that belie their years. They earn our respect.

Because we are all individuals. Let’s not group people or pre-judge for uninformed convenience’s sake. Stereotyping is mental laziness. Even local jokes. Not all (fill in the blanks) are (fill in the blank). The end. People should be assessed and befriended (or not) based on their actions, words, soul, empathy, morality, warmth, and integrity.

Recently, I noticed how I appeared to gain instant cred while attending a concert with concertgoers mostly half my age. While a dinosaur, I must be somewhat cool if I’m at a 2024 concert popular with Gen Z’ers or Millennials, right? I avoided the mosh pit at an amazing Green Day/Smashing Pumpkins/Rancid/Linda Lindas spectacle (in the Portland rain), and apparently scored points when Green Day appeared onstage amid a recording of the last half of Queen’s iconic anthem, “Bohemian Rhapsody”, and I boldly asserted to someone seated next to me that I actually saw the real Queen perform with Freddie Mercury…twice. So he gave the old man props! 

At some level, most wanna fit in, be accepted for who they are and perhaps gain a modicum of respect. It is important for elders to instill in up-and-comers that they should take great pride in who we are and what they do without worrying about trolls, bullies, wannabes, misanthropes, and anonymous anti-social media. As Paul McCartney once sang, “let it be… there will be an answer; let it be”. Be yourself; free yourself.

Let’s acknowledge the younger generations’ strivers when they act appropriately- consciously helping others, acting selfless. Self-esteem has taken a beating with teens post-COVID.  So fellow Boomers, let’s make time to selectively spread wisdom as youngsters spread their wings. Help them feel OK in their own skin. Pops giving props.

Think about it…