midweek hawaii

The Kalapawai Roundabout was finally completed last month after three years and a cost of $11 million. An interim roundabout was first constructed in 2018, and the now-in-place artistic roadwork/landscaping is functionally sound, with hopes that alert pedestrians and drivers do their jobs.

There were delays (imagine that), closures, detours, unclear signage, weather issues, Board of Water Supply findings, drainage reparations, utility line relocation… everything but the kitchen sink (rumor has it they found one of those, too). Almost $9 million of this project was federally funded (ahhh… the good old days when the feds cared) and traffic in this oft-congested area should flow better now.

The project design company stated that about 25,000 vehicles pass through the intersection on busy summer days… which sounds like an awful lot of cars in that area in a day. Kailua town can get quite crowded with locals, walkers, strollers, bikers, sightseers, et al., but 25,000 cars around Lanikai?? I reconfirmed that number with the City, so feel free to be as astounded as I was that on busy summer days, up to 25,000 cars travel that loop de loop.

On a rotary-related note, in its 1971 classic progressive rock song, “Roundabout”, Yes sang about the impending reunion one realizes after going through numerous driving roundabouts: “In and around the lake/ Mountains come out of the sky and they stand there/ 24 before my love and I’ll be there”. Surely the Kalapawai roundabout will get someone to his/her destination much quicker than the “24” hours Yes’ Jon Anderson wrote/sang about while traipsing around foggy, foreboding Scotland when the band toured there in its infancy.

Many think that song refers to “roundabout” as a metaphor for love, of getting back home, of doing what one must to get to one’s beloved. Perhaps. I just felt it was incredibly intricate with grand musicianship and cool, alto-tenor singing. 55-years later, Yes is still known for its poetic, hard-to-decipher lyrics, often about mythical, mystical concepts and/or spiritual things. Try ‘em.

And while this Yes tune surely doesn’t describe the Kalapawai roundabout, there is something musical, magical and metaphorical about having to sometimes travel in circles to get where you want to or need to go. While I still can’t believe it took three years (or seven) to build such a confined concept, we finally have a mini-monument to get to where we’re going in southeastern Kailua.

Think about it… 

A little lightness and levity to kick off this merry, mirthy, mindful month:

Some suggest that things are going to the birds in many ways as obfuscation rules the world far too often, but Scotland saw a real case of things going off the rails when a swan held up train traffic for hours (during rush hour, of course) as it stood on the tracks in Glasgow five weeks ago. The disruption caused train delays and slowdowns. The bird was invariably moved out of harm’s way as ScotRail opined that the freeloader seemed “…a little distressed, but recovering well”. Perhaps, but thousands of Scots were in a fowl mood as the bird took his swan song before departing…

We all know that love hurts, but this one caught my eye… a Venezuelan tennis player who received a four-year suspension for testing positive for methamphetamine pleaded innocent, suggesting that the tainted result came from a simple (or not so simple) kiss. The burden of proof was on the player to prove the presence of the drug was unintentional, and he could not do so. Kiss and tell indeed. A French Olympic fencer actually did justify her innocence in a similar circumstance last year when she proved she’d been contaminated by an unwary bussing partner, giving a whole mean meaning to the term “kiss off”. Decapitalization/modernist poet e. e. cummings once wrote, “Kisses are a better fate than wisdom”. Sometimes, perhaps not…

And finally, last month a Detroit, Michigan, police officer remotely testified in a traffic-related case via Zoom. Most of us understand protocol and work expectations of “business” Zoom calls. We adapted quickly during the prolonged COVID era. Well, this law enforcement officer didn’t forget the case nor the facts; he simply forgot his pants. Yes, his home camera showed him appropriately attired from the shirt up, but revealed boxers below. The judge asked if the officer had pants on, and the forthright policeman copped to it with a quick “No, sir.” Busted.

The judge immediately admonished the officer. Detroit’s police department later noted that “the involved officer’s actions are not representative of the professionalism of this department and will be appropriately addressed…” So his lack of dress was to be appropriately addressed. One wonders if the unnerved traffic offender declared emotional duress during the call and asked for redress from the court?!

Holiday cheers!

Think about it…

If you want a possible glimpse of the future, you might take a look at the past via Hollywood classics and pop music hits. Some movies/songs are prophetic, some pathetic, but numerous works appear to foreshadow- “2001: A Space Odyssey” (1968), “Blade Runner” (1982), “WarGames” (1983), “The Terminator” (1984), “ The Matrix”, “Minority Report” (2002) , “I, Robot” (2004)… a sampling of movies that prognosticated things to come.

We are now in the annual season of hope. Throughout history, people have felt unsure about things, scared, seeking reassurance, feeling unsettled. Perhaps a reverse pop culture Wayback Machine (see “Peabody’s Improbable History” in Rocky/Bullwinkle cartoons) can provide a small bridge- fiction or fact- that reminds us of artistic repositories suggesting “beware” way back when. 

Old music hits also provide clues that history repeats itself, and yet we’ve survived- “Eve of Destruction” (1965), “In The Year 2525” (1969), “Ball of Confusion” (1970), “Everybody Hurts” (1992), “Beds Are Burning” (1987), “It’s The End Of The World As We Know It (And I Feel Fine)” (1987), “Talkin’ About A Revolution” (1988), “Russians” (1985), “Imagine” (1971), “Fortunate Son” (1969), “Waimanalo Blues” (1975), and “Redemption Song” (1980)… tunes with timely messages back then and worth reflecting on now. We got by; we’ll get by. “Hope is the dream of a waking man”. (Aristotle)

It’s patronizing to suggest “…just relax, this too shall pass” when times seem tough.  Grasp that which you can. Take a breath. Act appreciative and be thankful for what you do have. Embrace hope. Always look ahead. Control what you can, including your mood. Hope can lead to resolve, commitment, action and positive results. It is far better than stultifying inertia.  Maybe this holiday season- this window of annual hope- can help you out of a funk, allow you a moment to reflect, and possibly inch you forward or upward… even if it’s just a start. 

Our islands are home to far too many people who are hungry, needy, struggling, or simply looking for a break; you may know, or be, one of these people. Pop culture provides perspective that while many social struggles/concerns of today are real, they are (unfortunately) not new. We’ve seen ‘em in different ways on different days. Promoting hope helps propel people and instill resiliency beyond idle, wishful thinking. Foster hope, aspire, and perhaps you’ll see a path down that winding road. And put on some music.

Think about it…

It’s that glorious time of year when we give thanks. It’s actually OK to give thanks anytime. “They” don’t get to tell you when to be appreciative, humble, or acknowledging. Gift cookies or plants in June, not just November/December. Today, I’d like to present premature, presumptuous thanks to those involved with items that’ll be (hopefully) resolved in 2026.

Kudos to the efforts being made by the state, golf guru Mark Rolfing, and others to save the PGA season-opening, Sentry-sponsored golf event at Kapalua. No other local site can quickly ramp up for 2027. Hopefully, water/course maintenance conundrums can be resolved, as the ripple effects of losing this event beyond 2026 would create large business, philanthropic, and golf ramifications that we simply cannot afford in Hawai`i. January’s annual Sony Open and the Hualalai PGA Senior event provide obvious golf synergy and great marketing. The survival of these two events might become precarious if Sentry opts not to tee it up on Maui in 2027. So thanks to those working to work it all out in the coming months.

Thanks to the 2026 state legislature for seeing the (klieg) lights and increasing necessary film industry tax credits. Last session, a measure was close to moving to center stage but got cut. As the 2026 session is on the horizon, DBEDT, the governor, legislators, et al., are revamping the details of concern to help ensure that this vital film tax credit increase gets through. Whether you liked the show or not, the fact that Dwayne Johnson’s high profile, “Chief of War” Hawaiian saga was mostly filmed elsewhere due to our lower tax credits is a mock of a sham of a farce. So kudos (prematurely) to those rallying behind this revised bill, which will help provide more jobs for locals and promote magical vistas that viewers just how special Hawai`i is.

Finally, a big mahalo to Hawai`i’s incredible non-profit network that helps those in need stay clothed, housed, fed, cared for, attended to, treated, and respected in these stark days of federal budgets cuts and useless D.C. legislators who rarely do their jobs. Whatever happened to by the people, for the people? Stretching charity staff hours and already strained budgets will be problematic, but these nurturing, caring, empathetic professionals rank among the best of us- day in and day out. Please help where/when you can this holiday season… and next June.

Think about it…

It’s stunning to look around this big world and see just how many independent countries have been led by elected women. India, Israel, Iceland, Japan, Finland, Mexico, Denmark, Germany, Italy, Thailand, England, North Macedonia, Latvia, New Zealand, Samoa, Barbados Republic of Congo, Namibia… the list goes on and on. 

Over 81 countries in the past 100 years. Guess which voting democracy is missing from this list? Us. The U.S. Scan this growing list of countries that have been led by women and one thing that they all have in common is… nothing! From countries considered egalitarian and/or liberal-leaning to those possibly categorized as homogenous, patriarchal, or even mysognyistic in many ways, the voters in these countries have decided that yes, women are absolutely capable of running their countries. But not here.

Hilary Clinton was the first American woman elected as a major party candidate, and she won the popular vote (2016), but that’s another story/issue. While too young to actually serve (at age 33), Victoria Woodhull is considered to be the first official, female presidential candidate… in 1872. And please don’t talk about required qualifications of candidates as one can quickly point out clowns, cretins, criminals, and charlatans who’ve run this democracy over the past 245+ years. All men, all the time. Three million more people voted for Donald Trump in 2024 than did so in 2020. Over six million fewer people voted for Kamala Harris in 2024 than voted for Joe Biden in 2020. Millions opted not to vote. Let the “why?” debates continue by overzealous analysts and pundits who revel in post-mortem election dissection. Hindsight is 20/20. 

Regardless of your personal sociological or political bent, one thing remains absolute. Women presidential aspirants are 0 for forever in the United States. It’s a bit perplexing based on so many major social, economic, and political changes and gains we’ve seen in America since 1920, when women first got the national right to vote. 

Strong, smart, major party-supported women have been elected and/or selected to myriad prestigious leadership positions throughout the years in the U.S., but the U.S.A. CEO glass ceiling has thus far proven shatterproof to those who’ve pressed up against it.

Recent elections in Mexico and Japan saw first-time women winners. We’re in a non-election year- but looking over international results over the decades was an eye-opener. Someday, one day, a deserving distaff leader will break through here.

Think about it…

Today, let’s go from the sublime to the ridiculous (for some of you). Let’s laser focus on something that many of us can control, as opposed to that vast wilderness of issues and items we simply cannot be in charge of. Ready? Try to schedule/eat lunch at 11:30am.

There are myriad reasons for this not-so-profound concept, so let me dazzle (or bore) you with but a handful of plausible reasons to change your middle meal habits (if possible). First of all, there’s normally less traffic at 11:30 locally as opposed to noon time and beyond. That’s good. Arriving at 11:30am normally ensures that the establishment you choose to eat in is less crowded and also quieter. That’s nice. Wait staff and the kitchen crew will be more relaxed since the onslaught of 12pm+ customers will not have arrived yet. You’ll probably therefore get better and quicker service, hotter entrees, and more smiles. All good.

And when you head back to work (perhaps at 12:30 or so) most noshers will have just recently arrived at their chosen lunch places, and thus the roads might again be a little saner. Also, since you’ll arrive back at work when most people are otherwise engaged (with food), it’ll should be quieter at work; perhaps you can get more done before the afternoon barrage begins. Just saying…

And this mid-day culinary change might cause you to reconsider what time you eat dinner. Again, it’s different for everyone, but if you can/choose to dine at 5:30p or 6p, you might just go to bed with a stomach that’s less full- which is a good thing. And since there might be some light/twilight left outside after an earlier dinner, you might opt to walk for 5-10 minutes before you plop down in your nightly, rote couch potato ritual. 

While some of this might seem silly I can assure you that, having carved this concept into reality during my busiest working years, it can have some real merit. Sure, life often interferes with our plans, but when you can control something and decide that a manageable choice has its rewards- why not go for it? There are many overwhelming issues, intrigue, and items that surround us, so when you can be in charge, even if it seems mundane or trivial, maybe give it a try.

Just some food for thought (literally) to chew on.

Think about it…

A simplistic refrain we hear far too often is: “the keiki are our future”. Duh… Who else could be?! Yet surveys and statistics would indicate that adults- at many levels- need to do a better job to help ensure that those keiki have opportunities to thrive- not simply survive- in school, to propel them as they invariably enter the local work force as adults.

A UH West O`ahu survey just offered significant insight into how UH college kids (throughout the entire UH system) have food, housing, and clothing insecurities that exceed national norms for college students. 60% of those queried here “…suffer from at least one type of severe food insecurity”. 20% stated they have “…no safe place to stay or sleep”. And 25% indicated clothing insecurity.

That equals layers of constant mental consternation. How can students possibly perform at peak levels when their very basic needs are not being met? There are obviously myriad reasons for these issues (not to mention students’ additional concerns about health, hygiene, safety and transportation), but more nuanced work needs to be done to help alleviate these very real world concerns.

Good news- 80% of UH students surveyed felt “…respected by peers” while 75% “…have a high sense of belonging”. UH’s campus communities seem relatively strong, and UH does offer student basic needs services. Some students won’t seek help or aren’t aware where to go for it. But advice and recommendations are available.

And we know about food insecurity concerns at our public, pre-college schools. While schools cannot make up for home issues beyond their control, efforts are underway to provide more nutrition- a school meal is often the best meal a kid gets daily. Apparently, renewed efforts are under way to retrofit and update local classrooms lack of quality air. Hard to believe breathable air still remains a major issue… after 40 years.

Recent Department of Education’s numbers indicate that chronic absenteeism hovers at 24% in public schools in 2024/25, triple the chronic absentee rate (8%) back in 2019/20. Hard to teach kids who continually skip school (again, the reasons vary).

We now have over 90 public, pre-K schools statewide, with at least 50 more set to open by mid-2026. That’s phenomenal! Incremental gains to help mitigate on-going issues would surely add to the belief that concrete efforts are constantly being made if “the keiki are our future”. They must be.

Think about it…

Do you have a “third place”? If not, you might find one. The term was first presented by sociologist Ray Oldenburg in his 1989 book, “The Great Good Place”. He stated that the “third place” is a social place outside of home (“first place”) and work (“second place”).

A golfing buddy (weekend golf is a “third place” for me) sent me a Smithsonian magazine article extolling the value of such social get-togethers. What’s great about a third place is that you get to find it, create it, join it, and/or choose it. Your call. Home is obviously preeminent, and work is hopefully something you (normally) look forward to, but a third place can be a wonderful, balancing, safe haven of fun, relaxation, learning and/or repetitive joy.

Swimming at the beach with a group, walking, golfing, coffee-ing at your favorite nook or pupu-ing at your hot spot at an appointed time weekly or monthly- you pick ‘em. 

A friend of mine once organized a local “Ben Franklin Society”, where people would simply meet up, sit around, and “fly a kite”… basically, discuss commonly-decided upon topics of interest for a couple of hours quarterly.  Perhaps your “third place” gathering could be more zen-like. Sitting on a hill looking out over the ocean or hovering down by the seashore- in silence. Simply breathing while watching and hearing the waves while enjoying the solitude with a like-minded group of devotees.

Libraries, chess groups, sewing classes, churches, parks, Mah Jongg, board game bunches, reading clubs, cooking groups, Twister consortiums… the lists and possibilities are endless. And this third place might be even easier to evolve locally, where people often tend to get along from the get-go. Just think back to some of the fun times you’ve experienced outside of the house or the office. Can you proactively recreate those moments regularly? Would you like to?

It’s about quality- not quantity- of time, purpose, connection, and intrinsic value. Everyone showing up to equally participate and be a part of a purposeful community. Of course, time is an issue for everyone. But purposeful thinking might help you to create that additional space and a haven where you can feel fulfillment and camaraderie.  

“Work” invariably ends someday; “home” morphs over the years as people (and pets) move on. Having a third place where you can go and find fulfillment? Chance ‘em.

Think about it… 

According to the latest report from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Hawai`i once again leads the nation in longevity (as of 2021). We live an average of 79.9-years here while the U.S. norm is 78.4 years (as of 2023). Women outlive men by 5.3 years…  subject matter for another day.

While some doubt almost anything coming out of the CDC these days (a serious mistake), the longevity statistics may indicate there’s something “special” about Hawai`i, which many of us believe. The next five highest life expectancy states are Massachusetts, Connecticut, New York, New Jersey, and Minnesota; nice weather is surely not the ultimate determinant.

Hawai`i slipped into the #2 spot of most expensive states to reside in (behind California). The irony here is that we live longer than anyone elsewhere… it’s just tougher here to make a go of it, and you don’t need to make it to 80-years old to realize that. Men live 1.3 years longer here vs. the national average, while women live two years longer (note: state stats are from 2021; national stats are from 2023). Maybe we’re smarter, healthier, stronger? Lucky you live Hawai`i, indeed. 

Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., said: “The quality, not the longevity, of one’s life is what is important.” However you want to look at the longevity numbers, the social fabric of Hawai`i surely plays a role in our quality and quantity of life. Concepts like aloha, ‘ohana, living pono, laulima, akahai, ha’aha’a… the list goes on.

These are not just words, but social mores that transcend day-to-day existence. It’s what makes life here seem so worthwhile for so many. One can wax poetic about local intangibles which lessen the onerous cost burdens that many deal with daily.

50% of people who moved from Hawai`i in 2023 went to either California, Texas, Washington, Arizona, or Florida, according to the State of Hawai`i Data Book. They all undoubtedly had good reasons to leave. But losing people with local roots makes it harder to sustain that which makes Hawai`i so unique and so special. The solutions to allow people to thrive here, not just survive, must be a top priority for those in charge. 

The Vulcan salute (from “Star Trek”) implores us to “live long and prosper”. Prosperity is subjective; richness is not solely related to one’s monetary wealth. Here’s to the quality and length of life in Hawai`i.

Think about it…