When we fill the room, we win.

When we show up at the ballot box and vote, we win.

In the 30 years I’ve been involved in government and politics, I’ve seen it happen over and over again.

When we fill the room — whether physically or virtually — 9 times out of 10, WE WIN.

Your emails, phone calls, and testimony MAKE A DIFFERENCE.

Your social media posts, and your likes and shares informing and encouraging friends to do the same, MAKE A DIFFERENCE.

Our world is teetering on the edge.

It’s more important than ever before that we show up.

We must show up first in our own homes, neighborhoods, and communities, and prepare for the worst.

The war and destruction in Iran will only end when it literally burns itself out.

Any long-term disruption of oil production will impact overseas shipping, air transportation, and electricity generation and ground transportation.

What happens when the barges stop coming or are delayed, and when the oil and food stop arriving weekly?

As an island community, and in our own homes, we must prepare for that.

We prepare for the worst, hope and dream for the best, and plan and work relentlessly towards the future we need and deserve.

Our all-important primary election is August 8, with a candidate filing deadline of June 2.

We must identify and support candidates at ALL levels who are proactive and willing to stand up to the Trump regime in D.C.,and to the corporatist DINO appeasers here at home.

We must, with utmost urgency, address the issue of food and energy self-sufficiency NOW, at BOTH the County and State levels.

It is more important than ever before that we elect leaders who feel that urgency, and who are willing to work and fight for permanent affordable housing, a true living wage, healthcare for all, food and energy independence, AND exposing government corruption and ending the “pay to play”.

And we MUST confront the ugliest of all the elephants in the room.

“Military wants Hawaiʻi to be a hub for Pacific arms manufacturing.” The Honolulu Star-Advertiser headline says it all.

Add to this the U.S. Army’s threats to take over the lands at Pōhakuloa by force via eminent domain, and its refusal to complete an acceptable environmental impact state (EIS) as required by Hawaiʻi law HRS343.

Stir in the poisoning of water at Red Hill, and the uncountable acres of conservation lands throughout the islands that have been abused, contaminated, and desecrated.

Now we learn that Hegseth’s Department of War has partnered with the State DBEDT and funding PR companies to manage public sentiment and pave the way in Hawaiʻi for his war machine.

We must, of course, support and honor our men and women in uniform, and we must maintain a strong defense.

However, our goal must be PEACEMAKING, not warmongering.

According to numerous studies, the United States spends nearly a trillion dollars per year, and has the highest rate of military spending of any country in the world. China comes in a distant second place with an estimated $314 billion U.S. dollars spent, with Russia in third place at around $150 billion.

ENOUGH ALREADY.

We need a U.S. Department of Peace, not a Hegseth Department of War.

Food and energy independence, ending corruption and the influence of big money in politics, and a military industrial complex that is shrinking, not growing, in our islands. THIS is what we must show up for next.

Please send a message today (see contact info) to: Governor Green, our congressional delegation and your state legislators and councilmembers and tell them all …

ENOUGH ALREADY –