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Op-Eds

Update Hawaii licensing laws to attract more doctors

The following commentary was published originally in the Hawaii Filipino Chronicle on March 17, 2023. __________ Hawaii is a highly sought-out vacation destination. People all over the world spend their whole lives dreaming of visiting our paradise in the middle of the Pacific. However, the reality for those of us who

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Hawaii isle zoning review could lead to more housing

The following commentary was originally published March 5, 2023, by the Hawaii Tribune-Herald. ___________ Hawaii island’s housing supply might get a boost in the near future, thanks to an effort underway to update the county’s zoning code. A project team working with the Hawaii County Department of Planning has been

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Help Hawaii’s governor keep his promise to stop taxing food

Photo by Charley Myers The following commentary was originally published March 2, 2023, by Honolulu Civil Beat. ___________ Gov. Josh Green promised during the campaign to stop taxing food. It was a major part of his platform. But then he didn’t mention the plan at all during his first State

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High cost of living drives family, friends out of Hawaii

The following article was published originally Jan. 25, 2023, by the Hawaii Filipino Chronicle. _____________ Hawaii’s population declined again in 2022, and that’s not good. More than 15,000 people left Hawaii for the mainland last year, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. Counting births, deaths and immigration from other countries,

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Why are there so many mansions on Hawaii Island?

Ever wonder why so many mansions are being built on Hawaii Island? It’s because they don’t involve a lot of red tape or public opposition. The catch is they are being built on agricultural lands, where regulations allow one house per acre. This is why so many agricultural parcels are

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Yes, we have a crisis — of aloha and governance

Photo by Charley Myers This commentary was originally published in West Hawaii Today on Sunday, Sept. 26, 2021. _____________ In some ways, the public health threat posed by the coronavirus is not our only worry. Just as important is whether our government has crossed a line that we can’t come

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Isle residents need relief from Jones Act burden

The following commentary appeared in The Garden Island on Sunday, Aug. 15, 2021.
 ___________ Visitors to Hawai‘i probably experience sticker shock when shopping at our local grocery stores. But Hawai‘i residents are shocked by those prices every day, and for that they can partly blame the 101-year-old Jones Act. The

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Hawaii’s tax future now in Gov. David Ige’s hands

Honolulu Star-Advertiser photo This article was originally published May 23, 2021 in the Honolulu Star-Advertiser. _________________ By Keli’i Akina and Tom Yamachika The time is fast approaching when we will learn if Gov. David Ige meant it when he said that tax hikes are “the last thing” our state needs right

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Update Hawaii licensing laws to attract more doctors

The following commentary was published originally in the Hawaii Filipino Chronicle on March 17, 2023. __________ Hawaii is a highly sought-out vacation destination. People all over the world spend their whole lives dreaming of visiting our paradise in the middle of the Pacific. However, the reality for those of us who

Read More →

Hawaii isle zoning review could lead to more housing

The following commentary was originally published March 5, 2023, by the Hawaii Tribune-Herald. ___________ Hawaii island’s housing supply might get a boost in the near future, thanks to an effort underway to update the county’s zoning code. A project team working with the Hawaii County Department of Planning has been

Read More →

Help Hawaii’s governor keep his promise to stop taxing food

Photo by Charley Myers The following commentary was originally published March 2, 2023, by Honolulu Civil Beat. ___________ Gov. Josh Green promised during the campaign to stop taxing food. It was a major part of his platform. But then he didn’t mention the plan at all during his first State

Read More →

High cost of living drives family, friends out of Hawaii

The following article was published originally Jan. 25, 2023, by the Hawaii Filipino Chronicle. _____________ Hawaii’s population declined again in 2022, and that’s not good. More than 15,000 people left Hawaii for the mainland last year, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. Counting births, deaths and immigration from other countries,

Read More →

Why are there so many mansions on Hawaii Island?

Ever wonder why so many mansions are being built on Hawaii Island? It’s because they don’t involve a lot of red tape or public opposition. The catch is they are being built on agricultural lands, where regulations allow one house per acre. This is why so many agricultural parcels are

Read More →

Yes, we have a crisis — of aloha and governance

Photo by Charley Myers This commentary was originally published in West Hawaii Today on Sunday, Sept. 26, 2021. _____________ In some ways, the public health threat posed by the coronavirus is not our only worry. Just as important is whether our government has crossed a line that we can’t come

Read More →

Isle residents need relief from Jones Act burden

The following commentary appeared in The Garden Island on Sunday, Aug. 15, 2021.
 ___________ Visitors to Hawai‘i probably experience sticker shock when shopping at our local grocery stores. But Hawai‘i residents are shocked by those prices every day, and for that they can partly blame the 101-year-old Jones Act. The

Read More →

Hawaii’s tax future now in Gov. David Ige’s hands

Honolulu Star-Advertiser photo This article was originally published May 23, 2021 in the Honolulu Star-Advertiser. _________________ By Keli’i Akina and Tom Yamachika The time is fast approaching when we will learn if Gov. David Ige meant it when he said that tax hikes are “the last thing” our state needs right

Read More →