#midweek

Shark Tales – MidWeek October 14, 2020

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There have been a number of shark sightings recently off of Waikiki’s Kaimana Beach. Reports indicated that sharks seen on October 3 were “not aggressive”.  Same thing on October 6. Huh? Was that meant to be reassuring, like go ahead… go tubing and thrashing because it’s OK, you won’t be perceived as chum.

The draw? There have been bait balls in the area, a term used to describe when small fish swim closely together to try and protect themselves from larger predators- like sharks. The low key reference to these beautiful, but often fearsome and fearless, creatures as “non-aggressive” relates to one’s individual perspective. To halalu baitfish (scad), this non-aggressive shark portrayal would be simply fake news. 

Humans often make their own choices in life. The mere concept of the word “shark” might give some pause before placing their torsos into the tranquil surf, adjacent to a visiting shark. Something about that dorsal fin in such close proximity could take the fun out of that planned, pleasure swim. When is a door not a door? When it’s ajar (get it- “a jar”). When is a shark not a shark? When it’s melancholy, I guess.  But if these cruising sharks became aggressive, descriptive adjectives would change to: unfriendly, hungry, lunch-seeking- or some other term of non-endearment.

And what clinically trained sharkologist rendered the definitive word for the media to anoint these reef sharks as non-aggressive? Perhaps these sharks were merely passive aggressive. Luckily, we haven’t found out over the past month of sightings, with warning signs properly posted and no unfortunate (human) incidents; no reef sharks have become “eek” sharks.

Multiple sharks feeding 25 yards offshore multiple times at the placid Sans Souci. Sans Souci is a name for the beach that goes back to 1884; it’s French for “without a care”. Well if these non-aggressive visitors keep returning, mellow as they seem, I’m just not sure that bathers will be swimming or frolicking without a care during “shark week(s)”.  

Nurse, leopard, angel, whale, thresher- there are numerous, non-aggressive shark types. In reality, fewer than 8% of the 300 shark species are a real danger to humans. Sharks worldwide kill an average of just four people (unprovoked) annually. And sharks locally can be considered an ancestor, or `aumakua. But I still think it’s best to observe these wily wonders of the water from a safe- and dry- distance.

Think about it…

The New Reality – MidWeek September 30, 2020

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Slowly peeling back necessary restrictions is not going to save many local businesses hammered by the reality of seven months (so far) of COVID-19, plus quarantine, consumer wariness and weariness, costly safety measures, restrictive seating measures, minimal desire soon for large crowds at events, and sensible store traffic limitations.

We will not see local consumers rushing back to stores, malls, or restaurants soon. We will not see 10.4 million tourists visiting in 2021 or 2022. Estimates suggest that it could take five years, if we really want and get to that 2019 visitor count number again. What we need is creative collaboration, perhaps even unimaginable tax incentives and other lures to bring new business to Hawai`i. Hotels and tourist destinations will surely offer incentives soon. But how about local government working with the private sector to hopefully entice new business in the foreseeable future? Venture capital money is looking for opportunities, interest rates are low; now is the time to be entrepreneurial.

Some questioned metropolitan areas as they did backflips to convince Amazon to build its new headquarters (HQ2) in their towns. 238 cities bid, offering free land, community control, and property tax deferrals. One site purportedly offered to give Amazon employee’s state income taxes right back to Amazon! Crazy? Perhaps, but we are moving beyond “rainy day” options here as we look ahead six or 12 months. Rainy days? Prognostications indicate ground saturation and flooding. 

We need more higher-paying jobs and truly affordable housing for residents than we’ve seen over the past decade. Lots of talk for years, but little action. Tourism has been our gravy train; it’s now off the tracks. Unlike New Jersey, which offered Amazon about $7 billion to bring HQ2 there, we’re not looking to add residents, we’re just trying to keep residents from leaving in the coming years. 

Our exceedingly high cost of living and lack of quality jobs won’t permit a future of business as usual, and a vaccine won’t resolve our ongoing problems. In January, 2020, Aloha United Way (my employer) revealed that we had almost 200,000 Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed (ALICE) families in Hawai`i, a number also identified in AUW’s 2018 data. That was local reality pre-COVID-19. So let’s procure an East/West medical partnership, international space exploration facility, military adjunct, cybersecurity hub, science/technology expansion, ecotourism, media production facility, and/or alternate energy facilities? Or should we just wait?

Think about it… 

If Only It Was A Dream – MidWeek September 23, 2020

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You wake up and hope that maybe it’s all been just a bad dream, that this COVID-19 thing is really just “Groundhog Day 2”. But then reality seeps in; you start your daily routine, whatever day or month it is. Perhaps some forces working against each other here might actually help some people with a little balance in the long run- anxiety vs. sleep. 

Hawai’i adults have the 3rd lowest percentage of frequent mental distress of any state, yet we get the least amount of sleep of any state in the country; and that was pre-coronavirus. Hawai’i ranked 50th out of 50 states in adults getting sufficient sleep (defined as at least seven hours nightly) in studies from 2016 and last year. 

One rationalization for Hawai`i’s lack of sleep is the large number of people working multiple jobs and/or longer hours to make ends meet, which decreases the probability of getting those requisite seven hours of sleep daily. Poverty also plays a role, but our state’s poverty rate (11%) actually ranks us as the 7th lowest state in terms of poverty.

But what happens now when people spend months at home; when daily routines completely change; when four people in a household Zoom all day; when jobs are interrupted or lost amid a weak economy? Are people nowadays sleeping better because they’re home more, or are unplanned stresses causing mental distress locally to creep above the 14.7% adult national average? More people with more time to ponder what’s next or what’s to be when this virus thing finally tapers off.

Sleeplessness, restless sleep, and lack of sleep affect attentiveness (driving, general cognition, etc.) and increase one’s chances for obesity, diabetes, high blood pressure, strokes, and heart disease. Quality sleep is a necessity, not a luxury, but many here find sleep to be just one more chore crammed into an already busy day.

Perhaps local medical leaders are analyzing 2020 statistics related to stress, despair, anxiety, sleeplessness, suicide ideation, and other coronavirus-related developments. More action to educate and suggest preventive treatments must take place in the trying months ahead. Losing sleep debilitates and affects work output, emotional resilience, and general attitude. Sleep, and lack thereof, must be an integral part of our larger discussion today about COVID-19 and Hawai`i’s collective mental health. Everyone’s tired of the novel coronavirus; but it’s even worse when everyone’s simply tired.

Think about it…

True Facts, Maybe – MidWeek September 16, 2020

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Those daily updates on the number of local COVID-19 cases are inaccurate. They represent official numbers- confirmed coronavirus cases. The Center of Disease Control (CDC), local medical prognosticators, and foreign studies indicate that the actual number of daily cases might be five to ten times greater than the daily confirmed and reported caseload. So if 220 cases here daily doesn’t cause you any concern, would you pay attention with 1,000 or 2,000 daily cases? Asymptomatic people (perhaps 80% of the cases) are less likely to get tested (since they feel OK) but can be so-called “super-spreaders”, so this invisible game of tag goes on. Estimates suggest that 20% of COVID-19 carriers are responsible for 80% of local virus transmissions. 

We will probably have the vaccines available by year end, but they might be just 50% effective. Flu vaccines annually are only about 50-60% effective. Yet even partially effective vaccines can mitigate virus impacts. Many people simply won’t get a vaccine… ever. Only 45% of Americans get the annual flu vaccine. And the people who do get a COVID-19 vaccine, do you think they’ll then assume they’ve acquired super-immunity status, and thus no longer adhere to rules about mask-wearing and social distancing? Not a smart idea. Plus, who knows how long any new vaccine’s effectiveness will last? Smallpox, polio, and measles vaccines provide long-lasting staying power. But only time will tell the efficacy of a single COVID-19 vaccination and if possible virus mutations down the road might necessitate annual vaccines.

We obviously need to do a better job here quarantining confirmed patients. Sending a pre-symptomatic or asymptomatic coronavirus patient home where others live is a possible ticking time bomb. Good luck segregating completely in Hawai`i with so many postage stamp-sized units, multiple generations in single houses, and neighbors living so close by that you not only hear them, but you can identify the song they’re singing in the shower.

The reality is- we’re tired. Many locally have done their best to isolate and do it all- working, parenting, providing, Zooming, creating- and they’re ready to come out and play. But don’t. COVID-19 is an insidious insider, takes no vacations, mandates no time off, and doesn’t sleep at night. Stay connected digitally, but don’t let your guard down. The “he’s a good guy”/“she’s probably safe” logic is problematic and underestimates how surreptitious this invisible droplet villain really is.

Think about it…

Here We Go Again – MidWeek August 19, 2020

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The numbers are numbing. Daily counts of “confirmed” coronavirus cases. Estimates indicate that reported numbers might actually represent just 10% of the new cases. The COVID-19 scourge treats each host individually, sparing some from major health problems while greatly impacting others. Long-term impacts? We now know that even healthy, younger people can suffer greatly. Yeh, you may live, but how do heart damage, blood clots, memory loss, hallucinations, and/or kidney failure fit in with your party plans?

“143 new cases today on Oahu” is a lead story that seemingly affects just one-tenth of one percent of our state’s population (1.4-million). But what if that reported number represents just one-tenth of the actual new cases which surfaced that day? Mask-less, asymptomatic or pre-symptomatic, non-socially distancing mavericks are out there, so maybe our coronavirus numbers are much larger, as most experts suggest. Or is that fear-mongering? Would 1,430 cases a day cause mask-less rebels to think twice?

Ah, but in these post-truth days where facts are often treated as opinions, what do the experts know, right? Well, here’s what we do know. People without masks or sans distancing concerns might think that their risk is manini or that they’re impervious to this ailment, but they’re not. 

Yes, you’ve suffered the indignity of being somewhat quarantined by “the man” for the better part of four months, but darn it, you deserve to roam freely because you said so, and you deserve your beach beer bong! Well, freedom has a price. And if we’re to win this “war on coronavirus” before better treatments come to fruition, than mask up, be a patriot and support the cause. Asymptomatic patients can carry high virus loads, thus spreading the virus to others unknowingly (or uncaringly?).

We want our economy back; we’ll have to earn it. Really sick people don’t spend money, they cost money. COVID-19 takes no holidays, cares not about social status, earnings, ethnicity, or SAT scores. It simply hops from host to host via a free ride. Wash up, physically distance, AND wear masks (not an either/or choice), and we might cause this invisible force to wither away within six weeks. Or continue to play Russian roulette with a ruthless enemy. PTSD and mental anguish with an on-again, off-again economy ensure longer-term impacts beyond the virus’ obvious effects. Being vigilant and responsible is really not a choice. It’s a necessity.

Think about it… 

The Absence of Presence – MidWeek August 12, 2020

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The rock band, Kansas, hit the nail on the head with 1977’s “Dust in the Wind” when it pointed out that, in the end, “…all we are is dust in the wind”. So, enjoy it while you can. With a revamped group lineup in 2020, Kansas strikes a nerve anew with its latest progressive rock anthem, “The Absence of Presence”. 

You’re here, but you’re not really here. You hear, but you really don’t listen; you see, but you’re inattentive. Our digital addictions have rendered us far too remote far too often. And while COVID-19 has really tested us our patience, we can choose and rejoice in phone-free meals, quiet reading moments, and family game-playing, as we embrace real connectivity.

Brain neurochemicals release when we are in the moment. We’re not multi-taskers, a myth proven false in numerous studies- your brain focuses on one thing at a time; period. Kansas sings, “The absence of presence fills the air / I know you’re here but you’re really not there”. Is that how it feels to interact when a friend or loved one is physically present, but not really there?

Minds wonder and wander; thus being truly present is a trait sometimes lacking in our frenetic worlds as we cram too much into too little time. “I don’t have time” is an overused lament; the only thing you really do have control over is your own time. Use it wisely. Phone on vibrate- that’s not the answer. Phone off- now you’re in play. This “Groundhog Day” coronavirus existence has reminded us that we really do crave some physical connection with one another, at some level. Sharing experiences is usually more fun (and memorable) than going it alone, day after day.

If you’re often wrapped up in videogames, emails, chat rooms, venomous web troll parades, prurient rumors-du-jour websites, or just checking what you missed in the last five minutes on Facebook (clue: nothing!), then you might be here… but, not really.

It’s beautiful outside (even if it’s raining); do you even notice? Do you discern the diverse calls of local birds? Do you laugh with a loved one and completely abandon outside thoughts. Absence of being with family and time not spent in friendship moments is surely sad. We’ll get through it. Absence of yourself is sad, but controllable. Come on back; bring all of you. Get presents as you give presence.

Think about it…

Missed – MidWeek August 5, 2020

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Well, that was close! Hurricane Douglas took a northwesterly tour above the island chain on July 26th, and we lucked out… again. Storms/hurricanes Kenneth (2005), Flossie (2007), Felicia (2009), Iselle (2014), Darby (2016), Madeline (2016), Lane (2018) all showed “big body” but then huffed and puffed their ways pretty much around us. Stiff wind shears and cooler waters in our midst are two factors that historically mitigate westward-heading storms that we normally see. But beware the next one, or the tempest that approaches from the south. Ignorance is not bliss.

While we all lament the high pressure this unforgiving coronavirus is causing, thank goodness for the high pressure system that encircles our islands and usually deflects or denigrates approaching hurricanes that emanate in the eastern Pacific Ocean.

Yet our ocean waters appear warmer than in recent years, and our high-pressure winds have shifted a bit; thus we appear more vulnerable to a direct strike this year, or next year, or… well, you get the picture. Dot (August, 1959), Iwa (November, 1982), and Iniki (September, 1992) proved that while we’re truly a tiny speck in a vast ocean, shift happens. It would be foolish to let our guard down and not prepare well as these summer/autumn natural events take shape. Because rest unassured, we will be hit again, at some level, some day.

Iwilei Costco was not a madhouse right before Douglas’ flight arrived (everyone already has toilet paper and water supplies from COVID-19 hoarding). Shelters had some issues- there are too few in number, and volunteers were possibly scared away amid social distancing concerns). Perhaps the overall lack of Douglas panic can be explained by the state we’re all in right now- fragile, fatigued, world weary, and by the sense that “really… with COVID- 19 cases on the rise and so many concerns about health, school, the economy, and our futures, we really have to deal with nature’s nautical tease!?” Shelter in place at home? That request was easy- we’ve been doing it for the last four months.

So yes, keep your guard (and your facemasks) up. As the old adage says: Man plans and God laughs. But plan we must. We have no direct control over nature, but we can maintain absolute control over ourselves and how we (re)act. We must exude hope and keep positive vibes coming, in general, because the sun always does rise tomorrow.

Think about it…

Future Note To Self – MidWeek July 29, 2020

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Dateline, August, 2023… It seems so long ago, so far away. Yet it was just a few years ago that Hawai`i and most of the planet Earth had to deal with that equal opportunity offender, COVID-19. At times it was so bad, so pervasive, and so divisive.  Thankfully, even most renegades finally put their masks on, the virus flare ups died down, and then we got treatments as we’ve arrived at the new normal. I do look back and marvel at some of the coronavirus realities that truly made a vital and viral impact…

…Time spent in close quarters with others, getting along for sanity sake, actually listening when others were talking, working, eating, entertaining and schooling as a family. With so little fresh TV programming of note and no live sports, we managed to entertain ourselves for months and months. We even put down our digital devices often enough to listen to one another; yes, vanquishing trolls does grow tiresome. Houses became homes with improved family unity.

…Chivalrous tales of health care first responders putting their lives on the line daily with insufficient protection, putting themselves in harm’s way, but I shuddered at stories of how these very same saviors had their work hours cut back as the virus settled down, but elective surgeries and regular appointments took a back seat to a fear of medical facilities.

…Hordes of volunteers gathering, packing, and handing out food week after week in the hot sun simply because it was the right thing to do. Empathy. Volunteers smiled through masks, as there were no barriers and no judgment; it was humanity simply heeding the call, acting appropriately to help out neighbors they didn’t even know.

…Neighbors shopping and stopping by the homes of the enfeebled and elderly, satisfying physical, spiritual, and emotional needs. Retailers paying employees even while closed to help provide funds for sustenance and rent for worker’s families as businesses barely hung on, or didn’t. I even remember that 2020 winter window where wearing masks helped lower seasonal flu numbers, which saved additional lives. An unplanned benefit!

2020 is a haunting memory. Yet there were some outstanding moments and lessons learned. Relationships salvaged, families bonded anew, employees realized that loyalty is a two-way street. The list of good things that came out of that darkness gives me renewed hope, as long as we don’t suffer severe memory lapses.

Think about it…

Voting Time – MidWeek July 22, 2020

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Ballots are already being mailed this week to registered voters throughout Hawaii, as most everyone will vote locally by mail from now on. Abraham Lincoln once said, “The ballot is stronger than the bullet.” Author/critic George Jean Nathan said, “Bad officials are elected by good citizens who don’t vote.” Witty rationales and quotes go on and on, but not having the time, a ride, a clue, or a great deal of interest are all excuses which should disappear when 2020 primary ballots show up in mailboxes this week.

Look up the candidates, stream archived debates, check the issues; educate yourself on where candidates are coming from or planning to take us. If you can vote but opt not to vote, please don’t complain. If you’re worried about voter fraud, the facts (yes, real facts) show that it’s not been a factor historically. Oregon, which has used mail-only voting since 2000, found that in November, 2016, just .002% of votes cast were fraudulent- mostly by people who voted in two states. That’s two-thousandths of one percent.

The Oregon secretary of state (a former Republican state representative) said that suspicious cases amounted to one out of every 38,000 ballots! The Heritage Foundation has studied voter fraud for years. Their findings? In Hawaii, two voter fraud cases in 34 years- none via mail-in. Colorado? 14 cases in 13 years with 16-million votes cast- eight via mail-in ballot. Oregon had 15 cases in 19 years (14 via mail-in). Utah? One dubious vote out of 971,185 votes, according to a 2008 study. The facts simply do not warrant a groundswell of paranoia or concern about voter fraud via mail-in voting.

Chicago political pundits used to joke about “vote early and vote often”, but that was there, that was then, this is now. And that wasn’t mail-in, either. That tongue-in-cheek phrase has been around for 160 years, and yes, voting shenanigans have occurred. But don’t blame the mail-in process. There were more than 137-million American total votes cast in 2016, and not one single state reported a widespread voter fraud investigation. Not one.

Hawaii has a weak track record of voting in the 21st century. Apathy, stasis, a one party system- whatever. Make a difference; be heard. Has there been a time of greater stress and more confusion in recent history than July, 2020? Help decide your future as you take action on local leadership.

Think about it… 

Purple Reign – MidWeek July 15, 2020

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We hear it far too often- the widening rift in this country. Even the seemingly simple concept of wearing a mask to protect the human species from the coronavirus scourge takes on a red vs. blue tone. Ridiculous. We are not a nation of pure red and blue. Yes, some states and people lean right and some lean left. But we’re actually a purple country.

Purple is cool. Prince serenaded us with “Purple Rain”. Lavender, violets, blueberries eggplants, and amethysts are all shades of purple. And thank goodness for Deep Purple, or we wouldn’t have the incredible “Smoke on the Water” (the live version from Japan, of course). The Purple Heart is awarded to soldiers displaying great valor.

For every rural or reddish area of this nation, there’s an offsetting city or college town that leans blue. One purple-impassioned author pegs purple-loving people as those who live in a dream world. Ah, if only… Purple has also been tied to royalty, wisdom, dignity, mystery, power, independence, creativity, and magic. So, purple is all over the place, much like the belief systems of many Americans, even red/blue leaners. 

Purple is not one of the colors on the visible spectrum; you have to search deeper to find it… how poetic. The Purpleologist website (yes, it’s real) suggests that the color purple can calm nerves and the mind, is uplifting, offers creativity, and encourages spirituality. Perhaps we could all use a little more purple in our lives.

We need to stop allowing separatists to exacerbate the very real problems which can drive a deeper wedge into our “united” nation. People disagree all the time, and then things get resolved. Hawai`i, of course, had an esteemed senator at one point named Daniel Inouye. He knew the value of reaching across the aisle; he rationalized that compromise was necessary to move things forward at times. He partnered often with Alaska’s Republican senator, Ted Stevens, to get things done. Yes, a progressive and a conservative actually worked together well in an era of “purple reign” in Washington, D.C. Imagine that.

Alas, those days and those leaders have been replaced by far too many who shirk their appointed duties while simply pandering to keep their jobs. Maybe we’ll see a purple resurgence in 2020. Red and blue together, a refreshing thought for the beleaguered masses. Working together for the common good; it’s not so purple-xing!

Think about it…