Author Archives: garyhooser

About garyhooser

This blog represents my thoughts as an individual person. I presently serve now as a volunteer President of the Hawaii Alliance for Progressive Action (H.A.P.A.) www.hapahi.org In a past life I was an elected member of the Kauai County Council, a Hawaii State Senator and Majority Leader and the Director of Environmental Quality Control for the State of Hawaii - in an even earlier incarnation I was an entrepreneur and small business owner. Yes, I am one of the luckiest guys on the planet. “Come to the edge.” “We can’t. We’re afraid.” “Come to the edge.” “We can’t. We will fall!” “Come to the edge.” And they came. And he pushed them. And they flew. - Christopher Logue (b.1926)

The reforms that make all other reform possible – starting with automatic voter registration.

Posted on January 20, 2019

Reforming and improving the way we conduct campaigns and elections, will allow us to reinvigorate our democracy and thus pave the way to changing public policy for the better, at all levels.  These reforms include campaign finance reform, public financing … Continue reading →

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Mahalo to the good folks at TSA. We owe you, big time.

Posted on January 15, 2019

Wracking my brain as to what I can do to support the good people working for the Transportation Security Administration (TSA), during this ongoing government shutdown.  They are working very hard for all of us, literally keeping our economy afloat, … Continue reading →

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Living Wage Legislation – Radical Leftist Concept or Essential Centrist Thinking?

Posted on January 1, 2019

In response to my previous column “Hawaii’s minimum wage needs to start at $17 and strive to be a living wage” https://bit.ly/2AA8W8D a woman wrote to me saying “I have voted for you in the past but it seems you … Continue reading →

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Hawaii’s minimum wage needs to start at $17 per hour and strive to be a living wage.

Posted on December 24, 2018

Every person willing to work 40 hours per week, deserves to earn a wage that is sufficient to provide basic shelter, food and medical care.  This statement should not be debatable. A friend once told me, “There is no such … Continue reading →

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A Progressive’s Perspective – On 2019 Legislative Session

Posted on December 15, 2018

What do we want?  Justice. When do we want it?  Now This is the essence and mantra of progressive values. Here in Hawaii, we’ve been waiting far too long and there is no good reason why we should have to … Continue reading →

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Legislative Session Primer – 30 Days Out

Posted on December 11, 2018

The 2019 legislative session officially opens on January 16th, and concludes 60 “session days” later on May 2, “sine die” (traditional term used to adjourn the legislature – Latin for “proceedings that have been adjourned”). “Session days” are those days … Continue reading →

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2018 Election Summary of PHI Endorsed Candidates

Posted on December 10, 2018

During the 2018 elections, Pono Hawaii Initiative (PHI) a 501C4 nonprofit organization of which I am the Executive Director, endorsed and supported 32 candidates for public office at the state legislative and county council level on all islands. At the … Continue reading →

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