Author Archives: garyhooser

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About garyhooser

This blog represents my thoughts as an individual person and does not represent the official position of any organization I may be affiliated with. I presently serve as volunteer President of the Hawaii Alliance for Progressive Action (H.A.P.A.) www.hapahi.org I am the former Vice-Chair of the Democratic Party of Hawaii. In another 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. Please visit my website AND sign up for my newsletter (unlike any email newsletter you have ever gotten, of that I am sure) - http://www.garyhooser.com/#four “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)

Kauai’s west side deserves better.  We all deserve better.

Posted on July 17, 2019 by garyhooser

Every single day of the week, the Agribusiness Development Corporation (ADC) dumps millions of gallons of water polluted with pesticides and heavy metals into the ocean in areas where Kauai’s west side residents fish, surf and recreate with their families. … Continue reading →

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Huge news for Kauai’s west side waters – chemical companies take another hit.  

Posted on July 10, 2019 by garyhooser

FEDERAL JUDGE FINDS HAWAI‘I AGRIBUSINESS DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION (ADC) IS UNLAWFULLY CONTAMINATING KAUAʻI’S SHORES Click here to read the courts decision: Hawai‘i’s Agribusiness Development Corporation (ADC) has violated the federal Clean Water Act  Community groups Na Kia‘i Kai, Surfrider Foundation, and … Continue reading →

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Economic Justice – In defense of the invisible

Posted on July 9, 2019 by garyhooser

When bills are introduced to protect dolphins, whales, bees or birds – it is a given that the chamber will be full of testifiers. Likewise, if there is a measure before any legislative body that purports to regulate fishing, or … Continue reading →

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Hawaii GMO industry footprint shrinks by 50%, plus DOE bans herbicides in all Hawaii public schools –

Posted on July 1, 2019 by garyhooser

What if I told you that the application of restricted use pesticides in Hawaii by the largest chemical companies in the world – has been cut by half over the past 7 years? What if I told you that the Department … Continue reading →

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Marriage Equality – Pride Parades and Legacy Votes

Posted on June 26, 2019 by garyhooser

The Stonewall riots (also referred to as the Stonewall uprising or the Stonewall rebellion) were a series of spontaneous, violent demonstrations by members of the LGBTQ community against a police raid that began in the early morning hours of June … Continue reading →

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Elements of a campaign: Votes – Money -Team

Posted on June 18, 2019 by garyhooser

The 2020 primary election is on August 8, 2020. Next week Thursday the first presidential debates will be held. In June of 2020 the first “absentee ballots” will be mailed out.   For the first time in our history, every … Continue reading →

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Know your policy maker – eyeball to eyeball

Posted on June 12, 2019 by garyhooser

We agreed last week that the most important thing to every politician is to get elected and stay elected.  We also agreed that this is not necessarily a bad thing, and in fact is human nature. And, we agreed there … Continue reading →

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Tell me again, why I should care about politics?

Posted on June 4, 2019 by garyhooser

The short answer is driven by pure unadulterated self interest, which not-so-coincidently is also what drives most political decisions:  “If you don’t do politics, politics will do you.” Politics, policy and government action can add value to your life, and … Continue reading →

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5 paths for changemakers: choose one, choose them all.

Posted on May 29, 2019 by garyhooser

“El pueblo unido jamás será vencido” – a people united will never be defeated, says it all. While the singular act of individuals can move mountains, the combined actions of a group create movements which can change history. For those … Continue reading →

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On the occasion of your 2019 graduation

Posted on May 22, 2019 by garyhooser

One of my first thoughts is to apologize to graduates everywhere, but sorry really doesn’t cut it. Though my generation has screwed things up pretty badly, there are also many of us who have learned from our mistakes and are … Continue reading →

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