midweek

A quarter century… that’s about how long I’ve been doing this “Think About It” thing- 18+ years (twice a week) on KHNL/KFVE, and now six years in MidWeek. For this piece, I was a bit stunned when I went back through my “TAI” archives and looked for stories I did about the lack of breathable air in our public school classrooms.

It was almost 15-years ago. A very pregnant substitute teacher I met told me that she almost fainted in classroom that day due to the extreme heat. I opined, and a benevolent local retailer immediately provided 25 portable fans to her school. Parents regaled me with their schooldays tales of heatstroke suffering- 30+ years earlier.

As I perused the middle era of the 2,200 or so editorials I’ve written/aired, I realized just how many stories- though ancient- still (sadly) resonate today. So if you go on vacation or visit a black hole in space, no need to take your phone for news updates; nothing much changes…

I didn’t even go back to the beginning of the “TAI” era (2/2/2001); I just checked a few editorials from 10-15 years ago, and voila- same old, same old. I found my “Not Cool At All” editorial about the profound lack of school air quality from February 7, 2011. I begged for no more hot air from legislators touting “the keiki are our future” (not if they can’t breathe or think). This specific topic was committee-ized and studied for decades.

By May, 2016 (five years later), $100 million was (finally) approved by state legislators to cool up to 1,0000 classrooms through a “Cool Classrooms Initiative”. Yippee! Yet the Office of the Auditor’s Report No. 25-09 which came out last month (yes- August, 2025) revealed “…a stark picture of wasted money, poor planning and unmet promises”, according to the Honolulu Star-Advertiser.

Stunned folks probably heard about this while trespassing on the Stairway to Heaven trail, or avoiding rebar while swimming at the Waikiki Natatorium, or “Not-atorium”, as I labeled it in a July 28, 2014 piece, which followed lamenting in a May 26, 2014 piece;  another plea appeared on May 6, 2013, and another on… well, you get the dilapidated picture.

The overall AC/air reparations failure at local schools (perhaps AC stands for “All Clueless”?) hammers home why many taxpayers get flustered and (sadly) give the “ainokea” hands up gesture decade after decade.

Think about it…

The unemployment rate locally is 2.7%, the lowest it’s been in five years. Job markets tend to ebb and flow. Sometimes there’s a solid market for college graduates; other times, not so much. But one way to “game” the system appears to be gaining popularity in China, according to the British Broadcast Company (BBC).

Some Chinese college graduates are not getting paid to go to work, they’re actually paying to go to a pseudo-workplace! With youth unemployment at 14% in China these days, young adults pay daily fees to go into a mock office run by (ready for this) Pretend To Work Company. They sit around with other like-minded unemployed folks, work at computers, play video games, drink tea, and go to meetings. You may have experienced a co-worker who “pretends to work”; that’s now a real thing in China.

This poser workplace does offer an opportunity, perhaps under the heading of “misery loves company”, to search for real work, hone social skills, take pictures at a desk, try one’s luck as an influencer, and feel connected… to something.

Pretend To Work’s owner (himself formerly unemployed) promoted his new venture in April, and by May all his available workstations were full. There’s now a waiting list for people to not work. 40% of attendees are recently-graduated students, while others are freelancers, between jobs, lost in the downsizing digital world, ride-share or truck drivers, or even self-proclaimed online novelists.

Perhaps the socialization aspect offsets the pressures and stigma of not being gainfully employed. But it’s all shibai. The Pretend To Work owner claims he provides “dignity” yet acknowledges that his set up is “…complicit in a gentle deception”.  Indeed. Some “workers” say they are fine-tuning their A.I. skills. Of course! They’re already adept at fakery. 

Workplace relationships can be vital for connecting and providing a sense of belonging, but let’s hope this phony workplace trend doesn’t catch on. Socializing and teamwork are great, but sleight of hand and trickery are not good lessons to be learning or leaning on- even when feeling desperate. Commiserating is one thing, but fake work?

If an employer hired someone and then found out that his/her résumé or pictures of that person “working” at an assumed former job were fake, well… that probably wouldn’t end well. This pop-up job façade might be the one time where you can sincerely say, “DO give up your day job”.

Think about it…

The U.S.A. represents a mere 4.2% of the world population, but we’ve sure been garnering beacoup worldwide headlines as of late. One thing seems certain- the times they are a-changin’ (courtesy Bob Dylan, 1964). New York Times columnist David Brooks recently declared that “…civilization was ‘fun while it lasted’ ”, a witty, yet glum world view that some undoubtedly find far too accurate.

With that in mind, in a country where need gets far too often overruled by greed in so many areas (thanks, social media, for the boost) and where inanity and insanity are terms that often come to mind, check out a few news stories to help distract you- for a moment- from the obfuscation and looney tunes reality we find ourselves in these days…

You might’ve seen the August 1 story of the truck that spilled its innards out on a Pennsylvania highway. The contents? Hot dogs. There were minor injuries, but the written news accounts of the incident were great, with story lines including priceless quips like: “Pennsylvania commuters wurst nightmare”, and “Crews were stuck with a job they did not relish — rolling up the scattered tube steaks for disposal.” I found reports I read to be rather frank. Pardon the bun… 

How to slow down incessant poaching that’s decimated various endangered, horned species for decades? The Associated Press reported that a South African university has launched a campaign where it injects radioactive isotopes into rhinoceros horns! The radioactive substance is (apparently) harmless to the animals but can be detected by wary customs agents. Hmmm, how does one passively obtain a roamin’ rhino’s obeisance in the wild? Gotta be tough tranquilizing a tough-skinned, two-ton, wandering herbivore. But good for them- proudly poo-pooing persistent, petty poachers…

A black hole espied more than five billion light-years away in the Cosmic Horseshoe (sounds like a 1960s band) is apparently 10,000 times heavier than our own Milky Way’s black hole. Wow, man. Not sure what I just said there, but it seems astounding. While some consider local construction projects or even discussions on said projects here to be the universe’s largest black holes… you ain’t seen nothing yet. Our rinky-dink Milky Way black hole is 4.3 million times larger than our sun; this new one is the size of 36 billion suns! It may be the most massive black hole ever discovered, and I can’t wait to visit…

Think about it…

A comedian once joked that Los Angeles has so many people in the film industry that people there list x-rays and CAT scans as résumé film credits. Locally… not so much. 

Too many people here in the heretofore thriving film and television industry are being forced to change careers or leave town, as the state tax credit reimbursement program for locally-lensed productions is simply not competitive vs. other markets with greater (read: financially alluring) tax incentives.

Providing tax motivation to entice more production here was pushed in a Senate bill that died in committee. With historical facts and figures that show the value of nurturing a vibrant film/TV industry in Hawai`i, somehow the message was not accepted by elected officials. Luckily, the governor vetoed a bill that would have been even worse- he vetoed a bill that would have established a drop-dead date for any tax credits for our film industry (still in play through 2032).

Where should we start? FYI, tourism is a really vital component of our state’s economy. How much impact did hits like “Hawaii 5-0”, “Magnum P.I.”, “Jurassic Park”, “Lost”, “50 First Dates”, “The Descendants”, “Raiders of the Lost Ark”, “The Thorn Birds”, “Fantasy Island”, “Forgetting Sarah Marshall”, “Lilo & Stitch”, “The White Lotus” and countless other productions have in swaying potential Hawai`i visitors? The value of incentivizing Hawai`i-based productions goes far beyond providing tax write-offs for well-to-do Hollywood moguls, actors, and studios. The ripple effect (especially in the world of social media) of millions of viewers seeing local sites they might never have seen or thought of visiting is a boon to our biggest economic driver.

Locally-filmed productions are a no-brainer to enhance official tourism marketing and advertising efforts. “Wheel of Fortune” in Hawai`i? Winner. Televised coverage of the Pro Bowl, Hawai`i Bowl, and “Merrie Monarch Festival”? Well worth it. Gee, if only we had 20 other strong business options that supplied a steady tax base, provided well-paying jobs, encouraged our youth to stick around, and created buzz throughout the continent and beyond. Alas…we don’t. 

Let’s hope those pushing for the film/TV production industry are preparing what’s necessary in the 2026 legislature to convince decision-makers who discourage efforts like the Hawai`i historical epic, “Chief of War”, Jason Momoa’s new series on AppleTV+. That nine-hour series was economically dispossessed here and thus filmed most of its Hawai`i-centric production in New Zealand. Opportunity knocks. Please answer.

Think about it…

We may not be at a crossroads when it comes to tourism in Hawai`i, but there’s certainly gridlock amidst a traffic jam. With concerns about marketing messaging and usage, the creeping upward rate of the TAT (Transient Accommodations Tax), the future of HTA (the Hawai`i Tourism Authority), the “acceptable” number of tourists in our state and how those numbers relate to usage of and impacts on our water, resources, and waste, the visitor goals/future looks a bit hazy nowadays. Lately, the acceptance of the term “quasi-government” entity to describe HTA is a bit of an oxymoron- like jumbo shrimp, pretty ugly, icy hot, or original copy. 

Add in the effects of visitor activities on our infrastructures, environment, favorite heretofore “local” spots and well… those age-old questions and concerns are definitely in focus, especially coming out of the COVID era when many here enjoyed tranquility and ease of access at favorite hideaways, unimpeded by social media wannabes and avid explorers.

A local 2024 Omnitrak survey reported that just 56% of residents feel that tourism brings more benefits than problems, vs. 80% who felt that way in 2010. Visitor arrivals post-COVID have not returned to peak 2019 numbers, Japanese visitor counts may not return until 2028, and many Canadians aren’t thrilled with U.S. policies and may opt to stay away.

As we await greater clarity on the role of a highly-functioning Hawai`i Tourism Authority, many officials appear complacent to let Hawai`i marketing and advertising efforts lag while vital tourism numbers lag, which is quite short-sighted. Not being on potential customer’s radar is a good way to ensure that many simply forget about us. Don’t believe it? Ever heard of Amazon, Proctor & Gamble, Coca Cola, Nike, or General Motors? They all spend over $3 billion annually on advertising, and I’m pretty sure people know their messages, positioning, and products by now. Do you think Disneyland assumes everyone has gotten its message, so that Mr. Mouse can play the Dormouse going forward? No way. Are Florida and Mexico taking time off from encouraging visitors?

We need to be analytical, laser-focused, committed, consistent, and realistic when it comes to our top industry. Unless, of course, we’ve fine-tuned a developed Plan B for how to shore up our shores when tourism dollars and their massive economic ripple effects run shallow. Now is the time for leadership and action, not gamesmanship and wallowing.

Think about it…

The month of August is named after the Roman Emperor Augustus Caesar. So let’s go roamin’…

It was expected, but it was still a chicken skin moment when the Hawaii High School Athletic Association recently announced that surfing will become an official high school sport next spring, including a state championship. What a great way to encourage the sport’s growth and to watch our next generation of world-class surfers rise to the crest. 

The Maui Interscholastic League (MIL) took the initiative as it sanctioned surfing in high schools as an official sport in 2014. It would be great to see even more focus placed on surfing and also volleyball (both beach and indoors) as sports that Hawai`i can somewhat claim as its own while pointing to those sports rich histories here.

While it only seems like 147 years that we’ve been watching the pitfalls and perils of the historic Falls of Clyde iron-hulled sailing ship, that’s actually how long the sailing vessel has been around. But we’ve been hearing about restoration and rotting with this ship for decades, with threats of scuttling or sinking popping up every year or so like a wayward buoy. 

Well, the scrapping of the ship, formerly designated as a National Historic Landmark, began recently. After spending years tied down at Honolulu Harbor, the Falls will fall, as it’ll soon be put out to sea one last time. Damaged by Hurricane Iwa (1982), sold numerous times, put up for auction, the ship is a mini-series waiting for a script. But soon, it’ll be just a memory as maritime mourners will ruminate: alas, this ship has sailed… 

Like 15 other states, the #1 job in Hawai`i (according to online publisher Visual Capitalist) is fast food workers. 10 states each claim retail sales & cashiers, home health aides, or operations managers & specialists as their #1 employers. Health-conscious watchdogs might suggest that the more fast food workers we have- and since residents here live the longest of any state- the more home health aides we’ll need, but that’s a different discussion. 

It will be interesting (or frightening) to see what increasing AI usage and automation portends for service jobs in the coming years. The jobs apparently most protected from AI? Emergency medical technicians, healthcare social workers, lawyers, medical & health services managers, HR managers, and construction trade supervisors. Kids… pursue training or an education- vocational/trade, or general/academic.

Think about it…  

Different studies have suggested that more people are moving out of rather than into Hawai`i… and vice versa. Confused? Bizinsure.com, an online entity offering small business insurance, looked at states where Baby Boomers moved between 2013-2023. The Census folks provided the data. The numbers might surprise you, but wait…

Hawai`i ranked 7^th in terms of gaining retirees as a population percentage; Wyoming was #1; South Carolina, Idaho, Maine, New Mexico and Connecticut were next in line. The data indicate that more retirees are looking beyond golf courses and sunny skies, opting instead for hiking trails, geriatric expertise, and other amenities. Many elders say they’re not planning to leave a big chunk of change for the kids.

“The list ranks the top 10 states that have seen the fastest increase in retiree popularity over the past decade, specifically in terms of inbound interest or growth in retiree migration”, according to Bizinsure.com. People want “…fewer neighbors and more nature”, which might be why the list includes some spacious, frigid states.

But hold on… AARP also assesses retirement destinations- no surprise since AARP’s clients are doing most of the retiring… Massachusetts was the #1 top retirement destination, while Hawai`i ranked as the priciest state to retire in. GO BankingRates said it takes $2.2 million in savings to retire comfortably here today, at figure which will undoubtedly grow in coming years/decades.

Ah, but WalletHub proffers that the best states to retire in are Florida, Minnesota, Colorado, Wyoming, and South Dakota. Hawai`i placed 41^st. AARP ranked Kentucky as the 4^th best place to settle down, but WalletHub ranked it last. Hmm, strange what happens when “facts” appear fungible and data is interpretive.

We have more information available nowadays than at any time in the history of the world. Information access online is fast, convenient, and relatively easy. But “true” facts? Parsing data, analyzing research, separating fact from hyperbole, or worse- ignoring factual info you don’t like? A fool’s game. In its 2016 song “What It Means, the Drive-By Truckers sang “And we’re standing on the precipice of prejudice and fear / We trust science just as long as it tells us what we want to hear” How prescient! 

You can choose information sources just like you can choose friends. Trust is key. But opting for veracity and perhaps even some absolute truth requires vigilance and a certainty that far too few demand nowadays.

Think about it… 

There was a time when Andrews Amphitheatre on the UH-Mānoa campus was a dependable draw for concert buffs, especially in summertime. The ambience and ancient feel of the place made it Hawai`i’s mini-Roman Coliseum or Roman Amphitheatre in Pompeii (see: 1972 Pink Floyd’s concert).

The venue holds 3,500 people and has been a magnificent place to enjoy myriad musical acts over many decades. Some stones used to construct the 90-year-old site came from Fort Ruger. UH commencement ceremonies were first held there in 1935. The site name acknowledges Arthur L. Andrews, a UH dean/professor/playwright/

producer/3^rd baseman/campus newspaper head/ forensics and debate guru. A New York transplant/jack-of-all-trades first graced our shores in 1910, Andrews (a non-footballer himself) and allegedly introduced the Statue of Liberty football play locally! The name was changed to Andrews Outdoor Theatre about 70 years ago, but the “Andrews Amphitheatre” moniker has held solid.

A retractable roof was proposed 55 years ago, but the open garden design remains to this day. Andrews seems quite underutilized. Why? Vandalism, safety and accessibility concerns, hard seats, lack of toilets, staff shortages, a focus on other capital needs, minimal on-site electricity, minimal facility upgrades, tighter legal requirements, plus a dearth of local promoters (impresarios Moffatt, Rosene, Mundy, Leonard, Peyton- are sadly gone) relegate Andrews to being empty far too often. Martin Luther King Jr.’s civil rights speech there enthralled locals in early-1964. Just check out this amazing array of musical performers who’ve played at Andrews since 1970…

Little Feat, The Wailers, Tool, Sheryl Crow, Bob Dylan, Green Day, Spin Doctors, Pearl Jam, Robert Palmer, The Animals, The Motels, Boz Scaggs, Buddy Miles, America, Save Ferris, Common Kings, Beck, Blue Öyster Cult, No Doubt, Sunday Mānoa, Seawind, Honk, Keali`i Reichel, The Osorio ‘Ohana, The Tubes, Oingo Boingo, The Greg Kihn Band, Wishbone Ash, Dave Mason, Deodato, Surfaces, etc.

From 1970-1995, Peter Moon’s vaunted Kanikapila concerts took centerstage at Andrews as a vital component of the 1970s Hawaiian music renaissance. Journey played in a UH Rainbow ’74 event that also featured Ox, the Bill Evans Trio, Donny Hathaway, Ethel Azama, Jimmy Borges, and the Crusaders- a veritable bouillabaisse of tuneful talent. Daily ticket cost at that festival? Four bucks!  

Andrews Amphitheatre usage requests must be received three months in advance of a desired event. OK, we’re ready for a resounding revival of this rock (and roll) garden for everyone to enjoy.

Think about it…

We oft get caught in the yin-yang realities that make Honolulu a great place to live and the frustrations that come when too many things fester or simply don’t get done while we incessantly talk, plan, stall and accept apathy. Sometimes, it’s nice to get an outside perspective, like the one recently provided by the Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU), the research and analysis division of The Economist Group, sister company to The Economist newspaper. 

The 2025 edition of the “best cities to live in the world” ranks Honolulu as the 23^rd best city to live in worldwide, which makes us #1 in the U.S.A. Other U.S. cities on the list include Atlanta (29), Pittsburgh (30), Seattle (34), and Washington, D.C. (38). And yes, we can quibble with one another about tastes and preferences, but this list focuses on stability, healthcare, education, culture and environment, and infrastructure.

2025 marks the second consecutive year that Honolulu ranked as the list’s #1 U.S. city, who’s #1 – #10 are: Copenhagen, Vienna, Zurich, Melbourne, Geneva, Sydney, Osaka, Auckland, Adelaide, and Vancouver. A bunch of U.S. cities moved up the list in 2025, but the EIU claims that has as much to do with others falling as any great gains made by U.S. metropolises.

Infrastructure and stability negatively impacted New York (#69) and Los Angeles (#57), while Miami, Portland (OR.), Chicago, Indianapolis and Charlotte round out the top-ranked U.S. cities. Terrorism, crime, and civic unrest scares hurt numerous overseas cities over the past few years; the authors state that American cities’ “…weak gun-control laws… mean that crime undermines social cohesion”, but U.S. cities will probably see greater EIU evaluation with expected cutbacks in education and healthcare availability anticipated in coming years.

In a world of unrest, perhaps Honolulu retains its lofty position as a happy, relatively safe, culturally exciting place to spend some time- either as a resident or as a visitor. Perhaps we too often take for granted just what we do have here in our quest to make many things better for the future (whether next year or next decade).

Every big city’s got issues; some are more confounding and blatant than others (FYI- Damascus, Syria ranked last on the livability list). We should not take for granted what we’ve got, unless you prefer the perpetual grass-is-always-greener syndrome. Alas, many times that “grass” turns out to be artificial turf.

Think about it…