Bring it on.
That’s how I’m feeling today.

As the door to 2024 begins to open, I see sparkles of opportunity beckoning in the distance.

The challenges facing our community while formidable, are not insurmountable.

We should set our goals high and then work hard and smart, to achieve them.

Today, December 29th, my goal is to raise via online contributions at least $5,000 for the Pono Hawaiʻi Initiative (PHI). If you want to help and have the capacity to give anything at all $5, $50, $500 or $5,000 – please do so today if you can – so we might meet our goals and begin the new year strong.

Fundraising is important, but speaking out publicly is more so.

As frustrating as it may be, we must speak out and engage issues impacting the entire planet, but our actions on a local level must remain front and center.

Thinking globally and acting locally will keep us sane, make a tangible here-and-now difference in the lives of our children and grandchildren – and set the example for other communities to follow.

How cool would that be? Think about it. Our little group of islands here in the middle of the Pacific, steps up and makes the choices necessary to create and preserve affordable housing for local residents, sets limits on tourism, aggressively supports food sustainability, and takes local action on issues of global importance.

Our local community and our County and State government could set the bar for others to follow. But coulda, woulda, shoulda, is only pie-in-the-sky wishful thinking unless each of us as individuals take responsibility for making it happen.

Our government leaders are not bad people. They want to “do the right thing” but often are not sure what that is, are essentially “risk adverse”, and in general do not want to make waves or risk rocking the apple cart.

We need to demand more from our elected leaders and from each other. Change will happen when every-day citizens embrace their civic responsibility, actively engage the process, and support those government leaders who do step up to lead.

The cynics will say there’s no money. But it’s really about political will.

There’s money enough to meet the basic budget needs AND to address key issues that have been languishing for years. And there’s no shortage of good ideas to increase tax revenue without impacting the average local resident.

“I’m leaving Hawaii because taxes are too high,” said no hotel or luxury second-homeowner ever. Yet far too many friends and family members are saying, “I’m leaving because there are no homes available for sale or rent that I can afford.”

I learned while serving for 16 years in both the Hawaiʻi State Senate and the Kauaʻi County Council, “When they tell you there’s no money, what they’re really saying is it’s not a priority.”

It’s not about the money, it’s about political will and priorities.

2024 is an election year and political will has a way of suddenly appearing when there’s sufficient public pressure AND when new candidates challenge do-nothing incumbents who are simply holding space.

Change happens when a critical mass of individual citizens raise the profile of key policy initiatives and then ensure that public support remains strong, coherent, and sustained – (loud, clear, and never-ending).

Elected officials love their jobs and want to keep them. This means voters must remain happy. When voters start beating the drum, making the calls, and sending in those emails – most who hold public office will listen and do their best to satisfy those voters.

Joining a group that aligns with your “subject matter interest” is key. The following are non-partisan organizations with strong mission statements and solid track records.

The Hawaiʻi Alliance for Progressive Action (HAPA) is of course my top choice 😉 The Sierra Club of Hawaiʻi is the “go to” org for issues pertaining to environmental protection For economic justice it’s Hawaiʻi Appleseed – There are numerous other’s and most have a “legislative affairs” component. Sign up to Hawaiʻi Policy & Politics https://policy-and-politics.mailchimpsites.com and I’ll do my best to keep you posted as well! NOTE: Many but not all of my email blasts are “cross posted” here on the blog – if you want it all please sign up on the MailChimp link above!

Let’s make 2024 the year of good trouble and good public policy!

Sincerely,
Gary Hooser