GaryHooser's Blog

Pardon me while I go on a bit of a rant, but I’m sick and tired of legislative leaders who refuse to lead, preferring instead to just keep their heads down and look the other way.

Meanwhile, the bribery, both legal and illegal continues.

Please join me today in making positive change happen by contacting your District Representative and State Senator (type in your address to find).

Contact information for all State Representatives is here and all State Senators is here.

Call or email them today, and ask them to support a special legislative session to close the “contractor loophole”.

In other words, we must do as other states have already done, and ban the practice of government contractors giving money to elected officials who authorize and fund their government contracts.

Today, the head of a contracting company AND their spouse, brother, sister, and mother can all legally give $2,000 – $4,000 each to the Representative and Senator who approves the funding for their contracts. AND if the contractor feels the need to sweeten the deal even more, members of their corporate board of directors and their spouses and children can also give.

It’s called the “contractor loophole” and it must be closed. The ability of government contractors to fund directly the campaigns of the lawmakers who fund their own government projects, is at the very core of the “pay to play” culture that permeates that big square building on Beretania Street. This is legal corruption, is as close to quid pro quo as it can be, and it must be stopped – NOW, TODAY, as in ASAP.

Please, make the call and send the email – TODAY.

Ask our Hawaiʻi government leaders to lead.

When they tell you “not now maybe later”, remind them they’ve been saying “later” for the past 4 years, and enough is enough.

When they tell you “it’s complicated”, “there’s no time”, “it’s not that easy” and “we can just wait until January and try again during the regular 2027 legislative session” – restrain your anger and and try not to swear.

Listen to them intently, take a deep breath, and then tell them again as politely as you can:

“This is important. I know that if you wanted to make this happen, it would happen. I’m asking you again, please lead on this, do the right thing and close the contractor loophole”

It is without question that if “House/Senate Leadership” wanted to end this practice and put a significant dent in the “pay to play” culture that now exists at the capitol – they could do it.

But they don’t, and they won’t.

They could close the “contractor loophole”, they could pass and fund a strong “publicly funded elections” program, AND they could stop the “two ticket to a fundraiser scam” (IYKYK).

But clearly they won’t do any of these things because the status quo works just fine for them.

“Leadership” in the Hawaiʻi House and Senate will not move on these issues until forced to do so by a majority of “their members”.

That’s the bottom line.

Until a critical mass of individual legislators (and candidates) make it clear that closing this loophole and re-instilling faith and confidence in government is a priority, nothing will happen and the corruption will continue.

So while my friends on Kauaʻi must definitely reach out and contact Senate President Ron Kouchi AND House Speaker Rep. Nadine Nakamura – EVERYONE from across the islands must contact via phone AND email their own district State Senator and House Representative TODAY (prior to August 20th) AND ask them politely and professionally to schedule and hold a special session NOW and at the very least – “close the contractor loophole”.

Please, let’s do this.

Whether your district legislator is Republican or Democrat, it doesn’t matter.

All we need is a majority to say in writing, yes they are willing to hold a special session, and yes they’re willing to pass into law a strong ban on government contractor campaign contributions.

Call and email, today please. Ask these two questions, and keep calling and emailing until you get an answer.

This is how democracy works.

We must each take action.

We’re all in this together and together if we each do our small part, we can win.

To friends and fellow advocates.

Apologies for not posting sooner my “post primary” thoughts.

Honestly, I’ve been stuck, going around in circles, thankful for the many candidates who gave it their best shot, hugely disappointed in the many who lost, angry and seeking to blame those who failed to show up to vote.

However, when all is said and done, I am also ecstatic over the high quality of the candidates, the strength of their values, and the promise and potential of their commitment.

Please join me today in saying MAHALO to every single candidate who ran for election to public office during the recent Primary election. Our democracy is stronger because these individuals were willing to put their names forward, endure the public scrutiny, and face the possibility of falling short on election day.

Yes, we celebrate and congratulate those who won on August 8th, but we must also recognize, honor, and appreciate those who fell short.

I remember losing my first race for the Kauaʻi County Council. It was in 1994, but it could have been yesterday. We were sitting around the driveway, talking story, sharing the grinds, friends and family who’d been helping me campaign night and day, for months.

The first printout was announced at around 9pm on KONG radio.

It was devastating. I remember going out that night and taking the Hooser bumper sticker off my car.

Yes, losing sucks.

But the next day I got up, put a new bumper sticker back on that car (front AND back bumper), went out to the highway, held my “mahalo” sign, and waved to the steady stream of smiles, shaka’s and honks.

Yes, that very first campaign was indeed a humbling experience that nearly broke my heart and almost my bank (I’d made a personal loan to my campaign of $10,000 from a credit card “cash advance” for that “last push” prior to election day).

Fortunately, I had friends and family, and a community who helped me through it all.

My phone never stopped ringing. Friends, new and old, from across the island, called to tell me mahalo and pledged to help should I decide to run again in the future.

I remember the countless hugs from random shoppers at Big Save and Safeway who stopped to tell me mahalo for being willing to run and serve.

Miraculously it seems, my campaign bank account began to creep into the black as contributions, from $20 to $100 started coming in…as more people realized the personal financial commitment I had made to the campaign.

In 1998, I ran again for the Council and won, then in 2000 I ran for reelection and won again.

In 2002 I ran for the State Senate against an incumbent Democrat and won again.

In total I’ve run in 10 different election campaigns, winning 6 and losing 4.

But without question losing that first one was the hardest.

My hope today is that each of us will ACTIVELY reach out to those candidates in our community who fell short, and MAHALO them, AND make a contribution to their campaign bank accounts as well.

Please. Let them know how much we need and appreciate them. Offer to help, and to join with them in their commitment to make our Hawaiʻi a better place, for all of us.

My message for those candidates who fell short on August 8, is first and foremost to go outside for a walk, take a swim in the ocean, or maybe hike up into the valley.

Shake off the loss if you haven’t already. Shake it off and ACTIVELY seek out new ways to continue contributing towards making our communities better, our government more responsive, and our democracy healthier and stronger.

When you’re ready and need our help, just call and we’ll be there.

Imua.

Gary Hooser
garyhooser.blog

P.S. Yes of course, I’ll be giving a further “shout out” in the future to those candidates that will need our help in the General. But today, we honor and appreciate those that fell short.

What’s it all mean for the residents of Kaua‘i County?

To summarize and speculate a bit, the next Mayor of Kaua‘i will be either Council Chair Mel Rapozo who received 7,580 votes in the Primary, or former Kaua‘i Mayor now Councilmember Bernard Carvalho who got 5,720 votes.

If Councilmember Felicia Cowden, who came in #3 with 3,176 votes, was not in the race, who would have gotten those votes?

Those are the “swing votes” that could very well determine the winner on November 3.

That’s the first question.

The second question is, will the Pacific Resource Partnership (PRP) SuperPac “For a Better Tomorrow” and others, keep dumping money on this race ($138,191 so far) in support of Carvalho?

AND will Rapozo keep getting support from his SuperPac supporters, HiVISION2020 and others ($120,929 and counting)? Source:Civil Beat

The August 8th vote totals for Kaua‘i Mayor:

7,580 40.6% RAPOZO, Mel
5,720 30.6% CARVALHO, Bernard, Jr.
3,176 17.0% COWDEN, Felicia E.
501 2.7% ANDAYA-LINDSEY, Laura
381 2.0% WIDENER, Michaela B.
234 1.3% DENIS, Megeso-William

Ok, what about the 7 member Kaua‘i County Council?

Of the original 26 candidates, the top 14 listed below will “move forward” and be on the November 3rd ballot.

Voters will then vote for “up to 7”, and the top 7 vote-getters become our new Councilmembers.

Doing the math on the Council race is a bit more complicated.

All 14 candidates will “move up” in the “vote counts” on November 3, but “positions in the lineup” will normally remain the same or vary only slightly.

To “move up” in position which is the only metric that matters, means the candidate must increase their vote count at a higher percentage rate than the others – in order to “gain” on the candidate ahead of them in the lineup.

History tells us the top 4 or 5 Councilmembers in the Primary will likely remain in the top 4 or 5 positions in the General.

Ditto for the bottom of the list. Historically #14 never ever moves up to the bottom winners slot of #7. Yes, #14 will get more votes in the General, but so will everyone else.

Cutting to the chase: All the “action” will be focused on the “middle slots”.

This means candidates now sitting in positions #8, #9, and #10 will be trying their best to boost themselves into the winning positions of #5, #6, or #7.

The hard reality: In order for #9 to “move up” to #7, candidates now sitting at #7 and #8 must “drop”. And of course dropping to #8 or below means losing.

Before the math puts you to sleep, let’s translate this further into reality (a speculative reality, but a reality nonetheless).

The top 4 or 5 are “safe”. Kaneshiro, Holland, Ozaki, Correa, and Bulosan are pretty solid in their vote counts and unlikely to slip lower in ranking. They cannot take their election for granted, but so long as they keep on keeping on, they should be fine and will remain in the “winners circle”.

The next 5 or 6 positions are where the movement and action will be.

There are really only two slots in play, #6 and #7.

This means to have a seat at the Council table, Smith, Coots, and Martin must turn it up to overtake Shigemoto, Applegate, and DeCosta.

To speculate further, because Pacific Resource Partnership (PRP) SuperPac “For a Better Tomorrow” has already invested heavily in supporting the election of Smith ($45,201) and Ozaki ($44,544), my guess is the SuperPac money will continue funding media support of both.

Those candidates setting now in the bottom half of the list definitely have a hill to climb. To win, they must be relentless in their commitment, and focus their energy campaigning the old fashion way – on the streets and in the neighborhoods.

Please, take a look, crunch the numbers yourself, then find a candidate you like and help them!

#1 KANESHIRO, Arryl J.  8,214
#2 HOLLAND, Fern Anuenue   8,193
#3 OZAKI, Todd R. 8,027
#4 CORREA, Michelle Kaleiohi  7,434
#5 BULOSAN, Addison 6,301
#6 SHIGEMOTO, Taylor H.  5,284
#7 APPLEGATE, Paul Noboru  5,279
#8 DECOSTA, Billy D  5,073
#9 SMITH, Dane  4,761
#10 COOTS, Mike  4,110 
#11 MARTIN, Umi  3,990
#12 RAPOZO, Cheree  3,447
#13 KAIMINAAUAO, Keola   2,872 
#14 MATTOS, John H. (Scooby)   2,394

I’ve been there.

I’ve served a total of 16 years in public office, 8 years on the Kauaʻi County Council and 8 years in the Hawai‘i State Senate.

For a short period, I served as State Director of the Office of Environmental Quality Control (OEQC), charged with administering HRS343 (EIS law).

I’ve helped start and run several nonprofit advocacy organizations, and remain immersed in the world of policy and politics.

My political education started with my first campaign for Council in 1994. It comes not from books and lectures, but from real life experience, from being there, up close and personal.

I’ve attended the meetings (both formal and informal), met the people (both official and behind the scenes decision makers), studied the laws and rules, and successfully navigated the sometimes treacherous waters.

When first elected to the Senate, I sat on Ways and Means (WAM), and then later served as the Senate Majority Leader.

I’ve been in the rooms and participated in the discussions.

I’ve witnessed bills being killed for no reason except for a Chair’s personal animosity towards the introducer.

I’ve learned the power of one persons voice, when they were willing to use it.

Though I’ve never witnessed, nor been aware of actual bribery, I’ve seen and lived the experience of paid industry lobbyists being everywhere, all the time, offering to help, and implying bad consequences if your actions are not accommodating to their needs.

Needless to say, over the years I’ve met and worked with a wide variety of council members, legislators, mayors, lieutenant governors, governors, and members of Congress.

At the end of the day for me, while I fully acknowledge the imperfections, I remain a true believer in our democracy.

This is the foundation of my commitment to help elect candidates who share that belief and the basic values of putting the needs of people and the planet, ahead of the almighty dollar.

I’m writing today to ask you yet again to join with me on this journey to rebuild and strengthen our democracy by supporting and voting for those good people listed below.

U.S. House of Representatives
CD1 Jarrett Keohokalole

CD2 Jill Tokuda

Lieutenant Governor
Della Au Belatti
Read: Why I believe Della Au Belatti is the best choice for L.G.

State Senate
SD #2 Aynessazian, Tanya Yamanaka
Puna

SD #13 Nakamura, Jordan Kapono
Dowsett Highlands, Puʻunui, Nuʻuanu, Pacific Heights, Pauoa, Punchbowl, Pālama, Liliha, Iwilei, Chinatown, Downtown

SD #14 MacPherson, Christy
Kapālama, ‘Ālewa, Kalihi, Kalihi Valley, Ft. Shafter, Moanalua Gardens & Valley, Red Hill

SD #17 Brown, Nani
Portion of Mililani, Mililani Mauka, Waipiʻo Acres, Launani Valley, Wahiawā, Whitmore Village Nani Brown can win if/when the people of District #17 show up.
According to Civil Beat, the incumbent Senator for this district is: “Silent On Bribery Charges Leveled At Former Staff Member”.

State House of Representatives
HD #2 Holt, Cristina (Tina)
Hilo

HD #3 Keawekane, Kuulei (Kiana)
Portion of Hilo, Keaukaha, Orchidlands Estate, Ainaloa, Hawaiian Acres, Fern Acres, Portions of Kurtistown & Keaʻau

HD #10 Kaho’ohanohano, Ki’i
Portion of Waiehu, Paukūkalo, Wailuku, Wailuku Heights, Waikapū, Hayashi Village

HD #12 Kuoha, Keoni
Makawao, Hāliʻimaile, Pukalani, Kula, Pūlehu, ʻUlupalakua, Kanaio, Kahikinui

HD #14 Kiakona, Pa’ele
Lāhainā, Kahakuloa, Waiheʻe, Maʻalaea, Olowalu, Lahainaluna, Kaʻanapali, Mahinahina, Kahana, Honokahua

HD #19 Pacarro, Kahi
Waiʻalae-Kāhala, ʻĀina Haina, Niu Valley, Kuliʻouʻou

HD #21 Morrow, Jake Takaya
Pālolo Valley, St. Louis Heights, Kaimukī, Maunalani Heights, Wilhelmina Rise

HD #26 Fujinaka, Janel S.
Makiki, Tantalus, Punchbowl, and Papakōlea

HD #28 Alves, Nadia
Sand Island, Iwilei, Chinatown
I know from first hand experience that Nadia Alves is awesome.

HD #30 Kealoha, Kekoa O Pololu
Kalihi, Kalihi Kai, Keʻehi Lagoon, Hickam Village

HD #39 Rosenlee, Corey
Royal Kunia, Village Park, Honolulu, Ho‘opili, and Portion of Waipahu

Kauaʻi Mayor
No recommendations

Kauaʻi County Council
Each voter may cast up to 7 votes.

Fern Ānuenue Holland

Trysten Fernandes Caberto

Mike Coots

Michelle Kaleiohi Correa

Umi Martin

James Trujillo

Maui Mayor
Bissen, Richard T. Jr.

Maui Council
Kamekona, Carol Lee
Kahului

Pahia, Bobby
Upcountry

Hawaiʻi County Council
Kagiwada, Jennifer (Jenn)
District #2

Hoffeld, Cyd L.
District #4

Matson, Shannon
District #5

Canelas, Justin R.
District #6

Powers, Manu
District #7

***************************************
Note: The above are my personal choices “If I lived in the district…” and do not represent the position of any organization.

NONE of these candidates are on the PRP SuperPac For A Better Tomorrow list and NONE have received funding support from them.

Read my latest blog post on this topic “Let’s cut to the chase. Big money is a corrupting influence on our democracy.”

My endorsement decisions were made after much thought, speaking directly with many candidates, reading the websites, the Civil Beat interviews, and talking to others.

For State legislative seats, I purposefully focused primarily on “new candidates” and refrained from endorsing incumbents and uncontested races.

I believe the above listed candidates share my core values of putting people and the planet above corporate profits, AND will serve in a manner that is proactive, working together with their colleagues, and our community, to resolve the many challenges facing our island home.

It’s up to you now.

You’ve either voted, or not – either way, today’s message is for you.

Complete your ballot, sign, and drop in the box at a Voter Service Center TODAY (locations statewide can be found here). Ballots must be received by the County Elections Division by close of voting, 7:00 p.m. August 8.

Do not mail.

If you do not have a ballot, and perhaps are not registered to vote, YOU CAN REGISTER AND VOTE AT THE SAME TIME – IN PERSON and that info is here.

No later than August 8th, please cast your vote in support of these exceptional candidates. AND SHARE this message far and wide.

Together, we can make positive change happen.

Gary Hooser

Big money is a corrupting influence on our democracy, on our elected leaders, and on the legislative and government decision making process at all levels – County, State, and Federal.

The actions of Pacific Resource Partnership (PRP) and related SuperPacs such as For a Better Tomorrow prevent grassroots candidates from winning, and raise the fundraising bar so high that it limits many potential candidates from even thinking about running for election to public office.

PRP’s history of intense and personal negative campaigning (Did you see how they treated former Governor Ben Cayetano?) – further inhibits new candidates unwilling to put their family and business through such a process. Read Civil Beat: An Inside Look at the Hawaii Super PAC That Helped Defeat Cayetano

Without a doubt, PRP controls the biggest and baddest of the SuperPacs in Hawaiʻi. They’ve already spent in excess of 5 million dollars to ensure the successful election of “their people” on August 8.

For an overview AND for a list of the candidates benefiting from the money, read Civil Beat: Big Money In Hawaiʻi Politics — The Carpenters Union Is Crushing Everyone


The candidates who benefit from PRP’s financial support will claim they do not “cooperate” with PRP and they don’t actually receive the money spent by the SuperPac.

Core supporters will claim their candidate is a “good guy”, doing nothing wrong, and PRP’s support is “part of the game” and does not mean the candidate has “sold out” to big development or big money.

My response: Corruption by any other name is still corruption. The money could be coming from the good lord herself, and it would still be a corrupting influence on our democracy.

Regardless of whether the candidate is a nice and good person. If they’re not willing to publicly state their support for true campaign finance reform and opposition to the big money political influence being wielded by PRP and related SuperPacs, they do not deserve our votes and support.

It’s way past time for ALL candidates benefiting from this corruption (legal or illegal) to declare out loud and in public, their position on this.

AND, let’s clear something else up.

PRP membership consists of Union Carpenters AND 250 companies that do contracting/development and who earn their profits to a great extent via government contracts to build bridges, stadiums, highways, schools, harbors, airports, and rail systems etc.

Those same contractors/developers, benefiting from the government contracts, then hire/pay members of the carpenters union, who then kick back some of that money for SuperPac “political action”.

So please – let’s all stop characterizing PRP as simply “the Carpenters Union”.

The people driving this money and attempting to control our elections, are business executives who own and operate some of the largest businesses in Hawai‘i, they are not men and women wearing tool belts, pounding nails, or carrying the lumber.

My mother turned 94 on July 30th and yes, that’s where Claudette and I have been for the past week – celebrating this beautiful woman, talking story nonstop, revisiting family memories, and eating way too much southern cooking.

Mrs. Loretta Eileen Barron or “Ms Eileen” as she is commonly referred to, is doing well and looks fabulous. Attaining the age of 94 does not come without the price all of us pay as the years pass, but overall Ms Eileen is active, alert, and as feisty as ever.

The week spent with mom, dad, brother, nieces and nephews was a good one.

Believe it or not, I was able to set aside the stress of the upcoming August 8th Primary Election, and just focus on family.

Yea, right. In my dreams maybe. 😉

Yes, I enjoyed tremendously the week spent with mom and family.

But 24/7, I also thought of my friends and colleagues working hard knocking on doors, canvassing neighborhoods, holding signs on the highway, and constantly on the phone reaching out to community members – working hard to connect with and earn the support of voters in their district. See a complete list of recommended candidates here.

Also on my mind was the culture of corruption (read my blog piece Corruption by any other name, is still corruption), the acceptance of “pay-to-play”, and the willingness of far too many now in public office to ignore and accept the status quo, as “just the way the game is played”. Read Civil Beat, “Dela Cruz Silent On Bribery Charges Leveled At Former Staff Member” and for a summary, Pay To Play: Political Corruption Investigations In Hawaiʻi Over The Years.

You and I, all of us on the ground, in communities on every island, must send a message loud and clear on August 8th that our democracy is not a game of monopoly, played and won by those with the most money.

Together, united in purpose, we must show up to elect those candidates willing to stand up and speak out against the millions being spent to literally buy our elections.

The rich and entitled get only one vote at the ballot box, just like you and I.

And there are far more of us, than them – but we must show up.

Only a few days remain until the polls are closed on August 8th and the winners are declared.

If you’ve voted already, mahalo to you, but it’s not enough and it’s not over.

Please, please, please, – call, text, email, and message family members, friends, and neighbors Remind, encourage, cajole, and emphasize to them the importance of voting.

Remind them it’s too late to use the mail, and they MUST drop their ballots off at a Voter Service Center (locations and hours are here).

Help new voters register to vote and then drive them down to vote in person if needed. Voter registration can be done “on line”, or in person through until the end of the day August 8! Here is a link to Voter Registration Info.

If the new voter expresses frustration perhaps over not knowing who to vote for, take a moment to discuss the choices with them, remind them that leaving a vote “blank” is perfectly ok, and if they only cast a single vote for Della Belatti for Lieutenant Governor – that single vote is important and can literally make the difference.

And yes, if you think it’s worthy, please forward to them my own list of “If I lived in the District, this is who I would vote for” (posted here on my blog).

Bottom line is remind every single person within your scope of influence (including the clerk behind the counter of the convenience store) of how important voting is – and if necessary, help them navigate the process.

We can and we must prove that grass roots democracy can win over big money.

Let’s do this.

Imua,

Gary Hooser
Son of an incredible mother.
People often give me credit for the work that I do, but this is the woman who deserves all the credit.

On Wednesday, July 29, at 8:30am, the Kauaʻi County Council is taking up Resolution No. 2026-24, urging Mayor Kawakami and the County Administration “to prioritize waste diversion, curbside recycling, and a Materials Recovery Facility as the Kekaha Landfill nears capacity.”

This is like Mom and haupia pie to many of us who place a high priority on environmental protection and earth friendly public policy advocacy.

No doubt, the room will be full of Kauaʻi residents exercising their civic duty and offering testimony in support.

Traveling around the continent, it seems like every neighborhood has some sort of system that collects recyclables at the curb.

Sometimes there are multiple containers for (cardboard, glass, metal, plastics etc) and sometimes all the recyclable items are in one container, to be separated elsewhere in a “MURF” (materials recovery facility).

How could anyone be against “curbside recycling”?

I’m guessing the main questions will be related to “cost and benefit”.

Would curbside recycling cause me to recycle more?

Probably not.

My family is pretty good about separating our trash and dropping off our recyclables regularly at the centers located around the island.

We’re probably at about 95% for paper, cardboard, plastics, glass, and metal cans. At home with food waste, we’re about the same, composting in the back yard about 95% of what we don’t eat (the other 5% goes to the chickens).

But regardless, I’d be willing to pay more if there’s a significant difference in the amount of total waste that’s diverted and recycled.

Such a program, properly structured, would hopefully motivate those lazy buggah’s not now doing their civic duty, and help those perhaps limited in mobility and unable to drive regularly to drop the stuff off.

The most obvious questions are how much will it cost, how much waste will be diverted, and do our political leaders possess the political will to actually implement such a program and place this additional cost on residents?

Submitting a “Mom and haupia pie” Resolution to the Mayor (10 days before the Primary), and asking him to figure this out and make it happen – is the easy part.

I applaud the effort to stimulate the conversation and “move the ball forward” in dealing with this important challenge facing our community.

My applause would turn to a standing ovation, if the Council truly embraced their responsibility and in addition to passing this non-binding Resolution, passed into law an actual binding ordinance or two that would have an immediate impact on waste reduction.

Our Kauaʻi Council could pass an ordinance now that emulates the City and County of Honolulu and Maui County – and completely bans the use and sale of polystyrene foam food ware, disposable plastic food ware, and disposable plastic service items.

The Kauaʻi Council could also pass a separate ordinance banning the sale of single use plastic water bottles. Such bans have been successfully implemented in numerous towns and cities elsewhere.

The impact of these two ordinances on immediate waste reduction would be huge AND implementation costs minimal.

It’s an election year, 3 of our Councilmembers are running to serve us as Mayor and ALL 3 are claiming to be the leaders we need to resolve the many challenges facing our community – including the landfill/solid waste issue.

Resolution No. 2026-24 is a good way to start the conversation and curbside recycling is a worthy goal, but our community deserves more than just passing this hot potato to Mayor Kawakami.

Let’s encourage our Council to elevate the discussion and action needed to eventually implement curb-side recycling, AND immediately pass an ordinance banning single use plastic water bottles, AND an ordinance banning polystyrene foam food ware, disposable plastic food ware, and disposable plastic service items.

With strong community support and involvement in the process, today’s County Council could pass these two ordinances before the General Election, AND the next Mayor (with the new Council’s support) could then finalize plans for curb-side recycling and follow through with its implementation.

Wow. Wouldn’t that be cool.

Let’s do it.

Gary Hooser
Former Kauaʻi County Councilmember

Please email your testimony to counciltestimony@kauai.gov ASAP and no later than one hour before the meeting.

Then show up this Wednesday, July 29 at 8:30 a.m. in the Council Chambers. Arrive by 8:30 a.m. and sign up to speak on agenda item “Resolution No. 2026-24 re Curbside Recycling.”

Each speaker gets 3 minutes. If you donʻt want to wait until the Resolution comes up on the agenda, you will be able to speak under “Communications,” which comes at the beginning of the agenda.

Even if you don’t want to speak at the meeting, please show up in support and email your testimony in ahead of time.

Screenshot

It’s crazy really.

A Hawaiʻi grand jury has brought criminal charges against 4 individuals connected to bribes offered in return for political favors. The Hawaiʻi Lieutenant Governor, a former State Representative, former head of the Hawaiʻi Public Utilities Commission (PUC), and a former staff member of the Senate Ways and Means Committee (WAM) (who is also currently the State Airports Administrator).

The charges stem from an investigation into a mysterious paper bag that supposedly contained $35,000 and was passed from the briber to an “influential legislator”, all while being tape recorded by federal agents.

Of course, there’s no telling where this will lead, when another shoe or two will drop, and upon which politician’s head it will fall.

While all are innocent until proven guilty, the whole thing stinks to high heaven.

At the same time I’m looking at an email from a local “political advocacy group” telling me that I should not be worried about the stench surrounding $2,469,561.56 spent between July 9 – July 17th by Pacific Resource Partnership (PRP) and related Superpac “For a Better Tomorrow” – for the purpose of influencing our local elections.

It’s just the way campaigns work the email said. It takes money to run a campaign and the SuperPac is just helping candidates they believe will do a good job. It’s all legal, copacetic, fine, ok, and completely satisfactory.

What?

These same folks have their knickers in a knot over cash in a paper bag, but prefer to just ignore the millions being spent by PRP with the unquestionable intent of influencing who wins and loses in the upcoming elections.

Whether someone is giving $35,000 in a paper bag directly to an elected official, or $2,469,561.56 indirectly to 20 elected officials and candidates, the money is being given for the same identical purpose – to influence the decisions of government in favor of the person or organization giving the money.

In both cases (the paper bag money and the SuperPac money), there are no “upper limits” to the money being transferred, and none of the money is reported publicly by the candidates as a campaign contribution.

Normal campaign contributions have a “maximum donation cap”, and the name, address, occupation of donor, and amount of the contribution, is reported publicly by the candidate via the campaign spending commission reporting guidelines.

There’s no question that the power and influence of big money is corrupting and has corrupted the outcome of our elections, the outcome of legislative processes, and the funding of government services and capital improvement projects.

Money buys access to government decision makers. Big money buys big access to big government decision makers.

Access is not illegal, but those with access have influence, AND this gives them (and the projects and government policies that benefit them) a HUGE advantage over everyone else.

My core values are based on putting people and the planet ahead of corporate profit.

Food and energy self-sufficiency are two of my most important issue priorities.

But the single most important political/electoral litmus test for me today is “getting big money out of politics and elections”.

Candidates receiving “indirect” financial support from any SuperPac – cannot simply claim to “have no control” over that contribution, while receiving tangible benefits from that money.

Candidates that truly believe, support, and are willing to fight against the big money, need to say so publicly and out loud for all the world to hear.

I will not and cannot vote for any candidate that accepts, directly or indirectly, financial campaign support from any entity, that exceeds the normal campaign contribution limits – and who fails to speak out to disavow such contributions.

Both the giving and the receiving of big money support cast a shadow over our democracy, and both the donor and the candidate share responsibility and culpability.

Please join with me today, and refuse to support any candidate that does not meet the test.

Enough already.

Gary Hooser

According to official records, the newly appointed (April 13) HD28 State House Representative, within his first 50 days in office, paid for with taxpayer funds, the printing and postage for 5 different “constituent mailers”.

These mailers were delivered in April, May, and June to the homes and P.O. Boxes of voters in District 28, and were paid for via his House legislative allowance (totaling approximately $13,000).

Apparently this is legal.

In the “grey area” perhaps, but legal nonetheless.

Those in House Leadership responsible for enforcing the “rules of the House” governing use of these funds, have also contributed $2,000 to this incumbent Representatives campaign (utilizing the “two tickets to a fundraiser” loophole).

The incumbent Representative for HD28 also has the support of the PRP SuperPac, “For a Better Tomorrow” resulting in additional campaign mailers being sent out to voters in the district, at no cost to the candidate.

In round numbers, this means the brand new incumbent starts out his campaign with at least $20,000 more than any other candidate – before he even starts his regular fundraising and mailings. None of this $20,000 is required to be reported on the regular campaign spending reports, and apparently it’s all legal.

To be clear the “Official Mailers” did not mention the campaign, nor solicit votes, or feature any overt campaign messages – but without question they bolstered the Representatives name recognition and thus provide significant campaign support, especially when mailed to voters 30 to 45 days before the actual ballots are received.

And 5 “official mailers” in such a short period, is excessive.

See all the “legislative allowance” reports for all Representatives here.

Candidate Nadia Alves has been endorsed by Our Hawaiʻi and pledged to reject corporate cash and stand with working families instead.

Nadia is awesome and it is no secret she has my enthusiastic support.

Nadia Alves is running for the State House of Representatives HD 28 Sand Island · Iwilei · Chinatown – I know 100% in my heart that when Nadia wins, all Hawaiʻi will win.

She is running a strong campaign against 4 other candidates including the newly appointed incumbent Rep. “Cov” Ratcliffe appointed to fill the vacant House seat on April 13 AND who starts his campaign with a $25,000 insider edge.

I’m writing today to ask you to join me in helping to level the playing field by supporting candidate Nadia Alves with an online donation TODAY of $25, $50, or $100.

800 people donating $25, or 400 giving $50, or 200 digging deep and sending her $100 – will do it. Online via ActBlue is preferred but checks are also welcome.

And yes, Claudette and I will be sending our $100 contribution – TODAY.

Mahalo to all who already stepped up and made a contribution – but gotta ask you again to help Nadia today (before July 28th), and help level the playing field so she also can send out another mailer or two before the polls close on August 8.

Let’s show the world how small dollars can join together to fight back against the big money and those candidates who choose to embrace it.

Check out her website – I have no doubt whatsoever that regardless of the island you call home, or wherever you live in the world – you will benefit from the election of Nadia Alves.

Gary Hooser
*Note: Nadia has not requested nor authorized, nor been made aware in advance that I am posting this public ask for support. I do it because I believe in her, AND know that when she wins, we all win.

In response to the many who are asking…I’ve decided to stay out of the OHA discussion.

I was originally going to consult with my Hawaiian friends and allies across the islands, people whose judgement I trust, and then make voting recommendations.

But on third thought…have decided not to interject my opinion, no matter how well informed I might think it to be.

It just doesn’t feel right.

And I learned a long time ago, to listen to my naʻau.

I’ll keep looking into it…and exploring my own personal choices…and may even leave some blank…but I’ll not be making any public recommendations.

Good luck!

Gary