Category Archives: Uncategorized

The 2025 legislative session opens on Wednesday January 15th and we will know then whether or not the House is going to amend their rules to achieve greater transparency and accountability – or whether nothing will change and all the … Continue reading →

Affordable housing must remain a top priority in the 2025 Hawai’i legislative session. There’re many paths to get there. Unfortunately, the large landowners, real estate developers, contractors, and all the big money guys, will once again be focusing their demands … Continue reading →

“Publicly funded Clean Elections, Rules Reform to increase transparency and accountability, and tightening campaign spending laws are all worthy goals.” will be the refrain from almost every State legislator in the building. However when pressed, many will then say, “There’s … Continue reading →

In a previous blog post we discussed House Rules – Rules of the House – Up Close and Personal I also wrote earlier (copied below) about House Speaker Nakamura appointing a 4 member committee to review House Rules and possibly … Continue reading →

In a previous blog post we discussed the need to reform the House Rules and increase transparency and accountability – Up Close and Personal “Meet the new House boss, same as the old House boss”.  Here’s a quick and rough … Continue reading →

Stop talking and just do it please. Just jump in the deep-end and start swimming. Trust me, it’ll be ok. Yes, learn from others who’ve gone before you – but take that critical first step now, today…before you talk yourself … Continue reading →

Just finished reading The Scheme by U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (Rhode Island) Wow. Just wow. I’m a big boy and been working in the policy and political environment with my eyes wide open for the past 20 years, and this … Continue reading →

A political fact of life is that people who give money to candidates, have greater access to those candidates. When those candidates turn into legislators or council members – they’ll be obligated to those who helped them which at minimum … Continue reading →

At least a dozen brand new people were elected this past November 5th to serve at all levels of Hawai’i state and county government. Each is in the beginning weeks of a very deep dive into uncharted waters. The fear … Continue reading →

“Meet the new House boss, same as the old House boss”…is not the headline we want to see 6 months from now when “post session” reviews are conducted. The old style, behind closed doors, good ole boy, toxic culture of … Continue reading →