For some quick political speculation/entertainment/intrigue, read Down The Political Rabbit Hole (https://garyhooser.blog/2024/11/27/title-down-the-political-rabbit-hole/) on Kaua`i Mayor Derek Kawakami’s interest in serving as Governor or Lieutenant Governor.

My apologies for not being timely with my thanksgiving/mahalo message. Truthfully – with all that’s going on in the world…I struggled to wrap my arms around the topic.

Without a doubt, I’m the luckiest, most fortunate guy on the entire planet. My health is good. I walk almost daily along the coastline soaking in the incredible beauty. I’m surrounded by people I love and who love me. Each and every one of my days is filled with activities of my choosing, that reflect my values, needs, and wants.

But then I look around and see the many who are not so fortunate. I see that family living under the bridge, the man without teeth, who walks with a limp, whose days are consumed with finding the essential needs of basic survival.

I see the wars and the starvation, the obscenely rich getting even richer and the poor and marginalized becoming poorer and more marginalized. I see coastlines eroding, mountain streams disappearing, and plastic trash and petrochemicals – everywhere.

Yes, I’m thankful for my own good fortune, and committed more than ever to do what I can to help make our world a better place.

Today, I want to give a shout out to the change-makers, to those people in our community who feel a similar sense of urgency, and who share a similar commitment to help and support people and the planet.

To be clear, I’m talking about those of you actually taking action and doing what needs to be done to make positive change happen – not just talking about it.

Yes, change-making begins as a conversation, but to make a difference the talk must transition quickly into action, and the action must be sustained.

In the world of policy and politics this often starts with simply showing up to vote, placing a sign in your yard, and a bumper sticker on your car.

For aspiring change-makers, these first steps evolve into advocating publicly for and against various public policy initiatives, attending community meetings and public hearings, testifying on issues, sending emails and making calls to local lawmakers.

Yes, making a financial contribution to candidates and nonprofit organizations is important – but it does not replace the need to show up, send in the testimony, or make those calls.

Change-makers committed to increasing their impact and effectiveness will often align with non-profit organizations – such as the Sierra Club (https://sierraclubhawaii.org/) , Our Hawai’i (https://our-hawaii.org/) , Hawai’i Appleseed (https://hiappleseed.org/) , Kahea (https://kahea.org/) , Surfrider Foundation (https://hawaii.surfrider.org/) , the Hawai’i Children’s Action Network (https://www.hawaii-can.org/) (HCAN), Hawai’i Workers Center (https://www.hawaiiworkerscenter.org/) , Common Cause (https://www.commoncause.org/hawaii/) , HULIPAC (https://www.hulihi.com/) on the Big Island, the ACLU (https://www.acluhi.org/) , Sustainable Chamber of Commerce (https://www.chamberofsustainablecommerce.org/) , the Hawai’i Alliance of Progressive Action (https://www.hapahi.org/) (HAPA) – and many others.

The next step in the natural evolution of a truly committed change-maker is to move into a staff, volunteer, board, or other leadership positions within the many important advocacy organizations.

Some will seek and gain election to public office. Others will fill key roles supporting election campaigns for candidates. The HAPA Kuleana Academy (https://www.hapahi.org/kuleana-academy-program) can help both “learn the ropes” in the area of electoral politics – how to run a campaign and win elections.

Many of history’s greatest change-makers, through actions of disruption and civil-disobedience, work totally outside the structure of any formal organization.

Backing us up, sometimes bailing us out, and always there advocating in the courts on behalf of people and the planet – are our public interest change-maker attorneys.

To change-makers everywhere, I say thank you. Whether you’re brand new and have yet to attend your first public hearing, or a seasoned veteran of many a previous battle – Mahalo plenty for being there. Mahalo for showing up, for taking action, for pushing back against the injustice, and for helping make our world a better place.

From the bottom of my heart I thank you, and also absolutely must ask for your help – again. After-all, meaningful change comes about only through our collective action.

If every change-maker who’s read this far can send one simple short email today, it can make a huge difference. There’s strength in numbers and every email is important.

Existing House Rules (https://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/docs/HouseRules.pdf) allow individual Committee Chairs to kill bills behind closed doors, without a vote of the committee, and without any public notice or testimony.

The Hawai’i House of Representatives must be sent a strong message so they know without any doubt which way the wind is blowing on this issue.

One of the dirty little secrets that everyone who works in that big square building knows is that some Committee Chairs use this Rule/Power to kill bills for personal (read ego, help your friends and punish your enemies) and political (read electoral, avoid controversial but important issues) reasons.

To change-makers working on every issue on every island – Please, today if you can – contact House Speaker Nadine Nakamura repnakamura@capitol.hawaii.gov and ask her to support reforming the House Rules.

For context read
Advocacy groups seek to change how bills move through the House (https://www.hawaiipublicradio.org/local-news/2024-11-19/advocacy-groups-seek-to-change-how-bills-move-through-the-house) (Hawai’i Public Radio). Read also this Civil Beat piece, What A Lahaina Advocate Learned At The Legislature This Year (https://www.civilbeat.org/2024/10/what-a-lahaina-advocate-learned-at-the-legislature-this-year/) .

It’s hugely important that Speaker Nakamura and your own district Representative hear our unified message loud and clear – “The time to reform House Rules is now”. Please also cc your own district House Representative – their contact info can be found via this Find Your Legislator (https://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/fyl/) search function and/or reviewing this list of all House members (https://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/legislature/legislators.aspx?chamber=H) .

To those who perhaps are new to all of this, and have yet to send your first email, this is a good place to start (and keeping your message short is ok).

Mahalo to each and every one of you.

Sincerely,
Gary L. Hooser
Former State Senator, Majority Leader, Councilmember – Continuing along this life path as a son, husband, father, grandfather, brother, uncle, and friend – just trying my best to do good and be the best that I can be.