GaryHooser's Blog

Consider this quote from George Ariyoshi’s “Hawaiʻi’s Future.”

“For those who have the potential to exercise leadership, you know who you are. Don’t shirk. Don’t hold back. Don’t shrink from getting involved because it’s complicated. You live only once. Give the voter credit for intelligence. Becoming an effective advocate for the unseen and those yet to be born is doable. Like any skill, it can be cultivated.”

As Hawaiʻi’s longest-serving governor, Ariyoshi says this better than anyone. All I can add is an echo.
The time to “pull papers” and declare yourself a candidate is now.

Please, just do it.

Hawaii’s primary election is Aug. 8 — only six months away.

We need you.

For democracy to work, competitive elections are essential. Far too many elected leaders in government go unchallenged at the ballot box.

As a result, they become content, complacent, and sometimes arrogant — attached like ʻopihi to their status, their titles and their photo ops.

Going along to get along, protecting and preserving the status quo, fear-based no rock the boat decision-making is what we get when election challengers fail to show up.

Unfortunately, the negative stereotype of the crooked politician — and the inaccurate belief that candidates must be insiders in order to win — discourage good people from stepping up to serve.

Additionally, many seem to believe they must be willing to compromise their core values to be effective public servants.

After serving 16 years in public office, I can attest with confidence that these are, indeed, stereotypes and inaccurate beliefs.

When first elected to the Kauaʻi County Council in 1998, I was mostly, as Bob Dylan might say, a complete unknown. I was a struggling small business owner, active in the Rotary Club of Kapaʻa, and a member of the Chamber of Commerce. But I was a long, long, long way from being an insider, connected to political power brokers.

As for the corruption that seems to permeate the political landscape: At no time in my 16 years of service was I ever witness to, or aware of, any incidents of bribery or other direct political payoffs.

Clearly, corruption happens and is happening. It’s in the news now almost daily. Absolutely, there are bad apples — scumbags, actually — but I do not believe it is pervasive.

Yes, the halls of government are filled with friends helping friends. There’s plenty of “you scratch my back and I’ll scratch yours.” And yes, sometimes these arrangements reach levels that are de facto corrupt.

But direct quid pro quo situations — exchanges of money under the table (or $35,000 in paper bags), in return for killing a bill, or voting a certain way — are, I believe, the exception and not the rule.

Throughout my years in office I had strong support from both environmental and labor advocates. They could count on my votes and support, and I could count on their support as well. I voted based on my values and no one ever offered me money to change a vote, or take any specific action.

Fortunately, I learned early in my political career to just be me, and to listen to my na‘au — my gut instincts. Some people believe that politics is the art of the compromise. But I can’t remember ever casting a vote that compromised my own core values.

Without question, we need new energy, new ideas, and new political leadership at every level of our government. Recycling the “same old, same old” will not get us where we need to go.

There are good people in public service now, but we must add to their numbers, and challenge them to do more and be better.

That’s why we need you.

Yes, you.

If you’ve read this far, then you’ve undoubtedly thought about running for public office.

If you have deep roots in the community, a proven track record of community involvement, and if you cannot sleep at night because of all that is happening in this country and on this planet, we need you.

Serving as an elected official literally gives you a seat at the table of governance. With the stroke of a pen, and the support of a majority, you can help create the positive change this world needs so desperately.

If not you, then who?

Gary Hooser
First published in Civil Beat A Call To Public Service: If Not You, Then Who?

Whether you’re walking or driving in town, through a park or along the coast, the images of poverty, desperation and loneliness are everywhere.

For me, it’s impossible to unsee that family living under the bridge with all of their possessions contained within a single shopping cart; or that person in the park, huddling under the thinnest of blankets, with the rain beating down mercilessly.

I only wish our government leaders would open their eyes and see these things as well.

The Honolulu Star-Advertiser should be applauded for its recent editorial (“Maui has duty to serve its homeless,” Our View, Jan. 16). The obscene and shameful truth is that every county in this state is facing a similar crisis.

Yes, Gov. Josh Green painted a message of hope and optimism during Monday’s State of the State speech. But while the plans for tomorrow’s affordable housing and kauhale units perhaps should be lauded, today’s reality is dark, bleak and unacceptable.

Thousands are living in doorways, in the bushes, at the harbor and along the coast. Existing homeless service providers, while pressing hard every day to serve those most in need, are overwhelmed and underfunded.

And contrary to urban legend, our unhoused are not mostly haole transplants sent here from the mainland. Most of them aren’t drug addicts, criminals or lunatics, either.

The truth is that most of our unhoused are local people, born and raised in Hawaii — families, women with children, kupuna, veterans — who’ve fallen on hard times and unable to pay Hawaii’s insanely high rents.

It’s certainly true that some — perhaps the most visible – struggle with addiction and mental health problems. That’s the case with many families, both housed and unhoused.

But the vast majority just need a dry, safe, legal place to lay their heads at night. And for most, there are no such places available.

I recently spent over two hours on the phone, calling homeless shelters and service providers in every county on behalf of two fictitious homeless friends.

I got absolutely nowhere.

Nearly every call I made was answered by an automated message that instructed me to call another number; when I did that, I was asked to leave a message.

My message, to service providers in every county, was a simple plea: “I’m trying to help a homeless couple find a safe place to sleep tonight; do you have beds or a room available?”

The answer was the same from everyone: Tell your friends to come down, fill out some forms and get on the list, and if or when something opens up, we’ll try to help them.

It happened again when I tried to help the fellow sleeping in the park under the pouring rain.

If a water main ruptures, I can call the Board of Water Supply hotline and someone will come out immediately to fix it.

But when the soul of a human being is broken, shivering and shaking in a park or a doorway, there’s nobody to call with help.

We can do better. We must do better.

There are competent, skilled, professional service providers on every island, but all are underresourced and over capacity. To fulfill their missions and purpose, and to provide the medical/mental health services now desperately lacking, they urgently need funding that enables them to hire capable and adequate staff and pay them living wages. The service providers also need even more funding to maintain and increase the number of emergency shelter beds.

This is where county and state budget discussions must begin.

Yes, we must build more truly affordable housing for all local residents. But we must ask our governor, our mayors and all of our elected officials to open their eyes, their hearts and any budgets they control — and help first and foremost our friends and neighbors who have no legal, dry or safe place to live at all.

Gary Hooser, former state senator and Kauai County Councilman
As published on 01/28/26 in the Honolulu StarAdvertiser
Column: Recognize and address homeless plight

Too many issues. Too many challenges. Too many bad and sad things happening in our islands, on the continent, and across the world.

Federal agents are murdering innocent civilians on the streets of Minnesota.

The U.S. military is being used to steal the oil reserves of Venezuela under the false premise of drug interdiction.

The killing of children in Gaza continues, while the bombing of Ukraine and so many other places is now seen as routine, barely even making the daily news.

We must somehow figure a way out of the madness now gripping the U.S..

It is shameful.

Increasingly, America is seen, by our former friends around the globe, as a pariah — an arrogant bully seeking to colonize the world. The “ugly American” is once again the prevailing topic of conversation at cafes, taverns, shebeens, and gathering places on every continent.

Thousands of people in the islands are living on the streets, under bridges, in our parks, and along our coastlines. Tens of thousands more are just one paycheck away from joining them.

For too many of us, blaming the poor and disadvantaged for being poor and disadvantaged is easier than blaming the trillionaires, the oligarchs, and the corporatists.

Those who reap unconscionable profits from the systems they’ve built and control are literally getting away with murder, as they embrace — both actively and passively — the Trump/Miller agenda of authoritarian dominance.

In addition to the poor and disadvantaged, immigrants, foreigners, the LGBTQ+ community, and “woke” socialists and progressives in general, represent easy and attractive targets for the MAGA acolytes.

In their insatiable quests to consolidate power and inflame the base, these groups have been used by authoritarian regimes throughout history as scapegoats, distractions and punching bags.

For authoritarians, the cruelty is the point – displaying to all the power they hold with the underlying message of “Get into line and keep your mouth shut, or it will happen to you”.

What can we do about it? What can you and I actually DO to stem the tide of hate, anger, and violence that is growing across the land?

These are the questions I ask myself daily.

Below are some strategies that keep me sane and on track. Maybe they’ll help you, too.

* Give somebody a hand up, every single day. Whether it’s a youngster from a dysfunctional family down the street, a homeless man in a doorway, or a friend or family member going through hard times, do something to help them in a meaningful way.

* Reach out via phone, email, or another method to at least one elected leader, every single day. Send a short email to a local, state, or federal representative and share, in a sentence or two, your thoughts, expectations, disappointment, and hope. Trust me: Collective messaging from all of us can make a difference.

* Think globally and act locally. Advocate for public policy changes at the state and local level that set an example for communities everywhere. Push back locally against the proposed increased military presence in our islands. Insist the U.S. military comply with environmental protection law HRS343, BEFORE any new leases are negotiated.

*Seek out, encourage and support new community-based candidates. The primary election in Hawai’i is August 8th, just six months away. We need to find and support new candidate/leaders with roots in the community and a proven track record at the grassroots level — in education, youth programs, law, issue advocacy, health, and/or social services.

*Show up. On the streets, in the halls and meeting rooms of government, online and in person. Show up, push back, and set an example with your presence and actions, in big ways and in small ways. Help lead us all toward a better future.

That’s all I’ve got for today.

Please, let’s DO this. We’re all in this together.

And together, we can make good change happen in this world.

Gary Hooser

It’s my birthday and yes, I’m compelled to share the thoughts and emotions weighing heavy on my mind.

The first is of deep gratitude for the love and support of friends and family. I am who I am today because of you. Whether you are blood, extended ohana, or someone who stepped in for just an instant to help and then disappeared over the horizon – know that you’ve helped shaped my life and that you are greatly, greatly appreciated.

Mahalo to all who’ve been part of this journey.

I do what I do, and am who I am – because of you.

We are truly all in this together.

Our world, our immediate community, our friends and neighbors – need us now more than ever before.

We have an out-of-control President who believes moral integrity is for the weak, the wimp, and the whacked – and he’s determined to go down in history as king of the world.

Our local state legislature has embraced a culture of secrecy and entitlement, refusing to support the involvement of ordinary citizens in the civic process AND protecting a system that enables a $35,000 pay-to-play bribe/gift/contribution to a yet to be identified publicly “influential legislator”.

Several weeks ago I wrote a column, No Room At The Inn. The response from across the islands was instant and overwhelming. I received countless emails, phone calls, and social media comments from individuals who verified that my description of the process matched exactly their experience – that it was difficult, sometimes almost impossible to actually connect with service providers and when they did, there were NO BEDS AVAILABLE.

Our federal government is careening toward both domestic and international chaos/disaster. Our state government believes their job is doing the minimum, preserving secrecy, and protecting their own members. That man and his family living under the bridge? They’re on their own.

These are the three things pressing down upon me today.

And yes, for my birthday I’m asking for your help in pushing back on all three.

PLEASE –

SHOW UP with Indivisible, the ACLU, Common Cause and other organizations, on the street holding signs opposing the policies of the Trump administration.

TAKE ACTION via email and calls to legislators and in-person testimony asking them to expand the facilities and services available to the homeless, support citizen involvement in the government process, and end pay-to-play government corruption.

MAKE A GoFundMe CONTRIBUTION to help pay the legal expenses in the Acasio v House of Representatives law suit demanding the House follow the constitution and stop committee decision making in secret. Whether $20, $72, $200, or $2,000 your contribution by the end of the day tomorrow January 22 if possible is urgently needed.

And, AFTER you’ve completed the top 3 tasks, if you want to help improve/expand my technological capacity so I can reach more people more efficiently – I will gladly and with great appreciation – accept gifts of support via Venmo @Gary-Hooser-1

No one pays me to write. I’m not on anyone’s payroll. It’s just me Gary Hooser, sharing my thoughts with friends and networks.

This work and my writing, is a labor of love. Mahalo to all for sharing it with others.

And mahalo of course for the birthday well wishes!

Let’s take that next step and press harder.

History shows us clearly that when a people are united AND engage the process – it can change the world.

Let’s do this.

Gary Hooser

I have a huge favor to ask.

Please indulge me TODAY PLEASE during my birthday week – and chip in $20, or $72, or $100, $200 or whatever you can to help 8 citizen plaintiffs in Acasio V State House of Representatives. They are fighting in court for us while the State House is fighting for themselves.

Contributions today if possible and by January 22 are especially needed.
https://www.gofundme.com/f/protect-open-government-in-hawaii

My sincerest thanks to all who have so graciously wished me a happy birthday – it pains me to ask you for more…but then again I must…and I only have a birthday once per year!

Sincerely and with great appreciation for any help you are able to offer.
Gary Hooser

Yep, it’s my birthday. January 19, 1954 (do the math) is the day I was born…and I’m totally thrilled to be sharing the day with one of my all time heroes, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr..

Mahalo to all for your words of support and affirmation.

Many are offering their best wishes and also asking the basics, “How’s it going Gary? How’s the family? How’s your health? How’s politics?”

So…I’ll try to offer back the basics here:

Life is good, not without its ups and downs but I am truly blessed. I’m finding purpose and fulfillment through my writing, AND my political advocacy – with a goal to expand both.

Claudette and I have two grown children Dylan/Leeona and Kelli-Rose/Justin – who have given us 4 incredibly beautiful, smart, talented, and yes sometimes precocious grandchildren – 3 little girls – Isabella (8), Kaliyah (3), Harper (2), and the oldest and only boy Rixon (9).

My health is good and thanks for asking

I walk 6 or 7 miles almost every single day, and I love it.

A few years ago I had a health/lifestyle epiphany and switched to a mostly plant based diet, zero alcohol, and minimal dairy, sugar, salt, or highly processed foods.
I’ve since lost about 60lbs and feel fabulous.

I’m fully vaccinated (just had to insert some politics into this). While I’ll take a very occasional aspirin, Tylenol, or antihistamine – I’m not on any “life-time drugs”. Though my primary care physician (who is fabulous) has encouraged me to consider statins, I’ve chosen to fight the cholesterol battle via diet and exercise.

As to the “How’s politics?” question…

Crazy, bat shit crazy is one way to describe the situation at the federal level. Dangerous kine, keep your loved ones close, grow your own food, consider building your own bunker, buy toilet paper, and gas up the car kine crazy.

At the State and County level – bottom line is we need to do more, much more. Too many of our elected leaders seem to believe just holding on is good enough – and are fearful of the risks that come with the bold proactive decision making we so badly need.

Personally, I want to do more – but am pretty much at capacity…which is why I’ll close this by asking for your help.

Please:
SHOW UP with Indivisible, the ACLU, Common Cause and other organizations, on the street holding signs in support of Renee Good and opposing the policies of the Trump administration.
TAKE ACTION via email and calls to legislators and in-person testimony asking them to expand the facilities and services available to the homeless, support citizen involvement in the government process, and end pay-to-play government corruption.

MAKE A CONTRIBUTION to help pay the legal expenses in the Acasio v House of Representatives law suit demanding the House follow the constitution and stop committee decision making in secret.

Whether $20, $200, or $2,000 your contribution via GoFundMe by January 22 if possible is urgently needed.

And, AFTER you’ve completed the top 3 tasks, if you want to help improve/expand my technological capacity so I can reach more people more efficiently – I will gladly and with great appreciation – accept gifts of support via Venmo @Gary-Hooser-1

This work and my writing, is a labor of love. Mahalo to all for sharing it with others.

And mahalo for the birthday well wishes!

Gary

P.S. Regardless of your age – Please listen closely to the lyrics of Forever Young – by Bob Dylan (and yes Bruce Springsteen does a fabulous version of it also)

Will it be business as usual in the upcoming legislative session?

Or will the House and Senate decide, at last, to start complying with the Constitution of the State of Hawai‘i, and their OWN rules of conduct and procedure?

Per Article III of that Constitution: “Every meeting of a committee in either house or of a committee comprised of a member or members from both houses held for the purpose of making decision on matters referred to the committee shall be open to the public.”

Both House and Senate rules require committee decision-making to be conducted in public.

The House Rules actually begin: “It is the policy of the House of Representatives to: 1) Provide the general public with a meaningful opportunity to participate in the legislative process. Public participation is a basic tenet of our democratic process. Public participation is vital to maintaining a check on the legislative process and legislative decisions.”

But the House and Senate both routinely ignore the Constitution — and their own rules.

While Committee decisions may be announced at a public meeting (with no opportunity for meaningful public comment), the actual decision-making, deliberation, and discussions – happen secretly and behind closed doors.

With a public trial set to begin in early summer, it will be interesting to see how Acasio v. House of Representatives impacts the upcoming legislative committee hearing process.

Needless to say, many will be watching.

Some background: Early last year, House Speaker Nadine Nakamura formed the House Advisory Committee on Rules and Procedure. She named Vice Speaker Linda Ichiyama, Majority Leader Sean Quinlan, Minority Leader Lauren Matsumoto, and Chris Todd, now Finance Chair, as members.

This Committee met entirely in secret and held NO public meetings. They came to decisions, conclusions, and recommendations via a process that was never shared with the public. They did not generate committee reports or meeting minutes.

Eight citizen advocates, confronted with this audacious abuse, said ENOUGH IS ENOUGH. They filed a lawsuit in the First Circuit demanding that the House follow the Constitution and its own rules.

At the time, House rules clearly stated: “Every meeting of a special committee, interim committee, or the Advisory Committee on Rules and Procedure shall be noticed in the same manner as applicable to a standing committee.”

Note: AFTER citizens first objected to the secret committee meetings and the House’s failure to follow their own rules, the House then conveniently deleted this provision from their rules. (can’t make this stuff up)

Citizen advocates and plaintiffs include Laura Acasio, Ka‘apuniali‘ionālanikiʻekiʻe Kanaloa Aiwohi, Sergio J. Alcubilla III, Tanya Aynessazian, Douglas L. Cobeen, Karen K. Cobeen, Michaela ‘Ilikeamoana Ikeuchi, and Robert Hale Pahia.

For the past year, these citizens have been patiently and persistently navigating the legal system, with help from attorneys Lance Collins and Bianca Isaki.

It didn’t have to be this way.

The House could have acknowledged its mistake, and simply followed its own rules for public meetings and decision-making. It could also have instructed all Committee chairs and members to be diligent about ensuring that decision-making was conducted in public.

But they didn’t.

The facts are unequivocal.

1) The State Constitution, and the House’s own rules, state clearly that Committee decision-making must be conducted in public.

2) The House formed a Committee whose meetings were secret and whose decisions were made privately.

The trial for Acasio v. House of Representatives is tentatively scheduled to start early this summer – AFTER the close of the legislative session, but prior to the primary elections.

Will the House Speaker and four members of the Advisory Committee on Rules and Procedure deny that they met and made decisions in secret?

Or will they simply refuse to take the stand, under the guise of legislative immunity?

Is it possible that some members of the House, or others involved in the process, might choose to voluntarily testify?

Rather than fighting against us to preserve and perpetuate a legislative process based on secrecy and closed doors, those we elect should be embracing and honoring our right to meaningfully participate in the process.

Mahalo the plaintiffs for standing up – for ALL of us.

Imua.

Here is the email contact for the House Speaker and 4 Committee members. Please contact them today, and request that they support transparency, sunshine, and meaningful citizen involvement in the process and to STOP fighting to maintain secrecy and backroom decision-making.

House Vice Speaker Linda Ichiyama
Fort Shafter Flats, Salt Lake, Pearl Harbor
repichiyama@capitol.hawaii.gov

House Majority Leader Sean Quinlan
Waialua, Hale‘iwa, Kawailoa Beach, Waimea, Sunset Beach, Waiale‘e, Kawela Bay, Kahuku, Lā‘ie, Hau‘ula, Punalu‘u, Kahana
repquinlan@capitol.hawaii.gov

House Finance Chair Chris Todd
Portion of Hilo, Keaukaha, Orchidlands Estate, Ainaloa, Hawaiian Acres, Fern Acres, portions of Kurtistown and Kea‘au
reptodd@capitol.hawaii.gov

House Minority Leader Lauren Matsumoto
Portions of Mililani and Waipi‘o Acres, Mililani Mauka
repmatsumoto@capitol.hawaii.gov

House Speaker Nadine Nakamura
Hā‘ena, Wainiha, Hanalei, Princeville, Kīlauea, Anahola, Keālia, Kapa‘a, portion of Wailua, Kawaihau
repnakamura@capitol.hawaii.gov

Please. Send the email and support the citizen plaintiffs in their efforts on behalf of all of us.

Gary Hooser

The ends do not justify the means.

Claiming to defend itself from “narco-terrorism,” the U.S. has, in the past four months, blown to smithereens 35 small boats, murdering 115 Venezuelans in cold blood.

It’s obvious now that this was all for show. This was Trump’s depraved, corrupt administration, throwing out red meat for its MAGA base – and quietly preparing to invade Venezuela.

I do not know how our President and his enabling gang of thugs are able to sleep at night.

It’s not about drugs, of course.

It’s about oil — greed, money, and power.

The destruction of 35 small boats; the invasion of Venezuela; the kidnapping of Nicolás Maduro and his wife Cilia Adela Flores; the seizure of Venezuela’s government and – of course — the OIL… ALL of these actions were illegal, immoral, and unethical.

Yes, of course Maduro is a corrupt tyrant who deserved to be deposed, as is President Donald Trump – as are many other corrupt tyrants in countries across the globe.

But until last week, no other tyrant was sitting on so much oil.

Venezuela is ranked #1 with 303 billion barrels of oil reserves in the ground. Saudi Arabia is #2 with 267 billion barrels and Iran is #3 with 208 billion barrels. The United States, prior to our recent invasion of Venezuela, came in a distant #9 at 55 billion barrels.

There’s more oil in Venezuela than anywhere on the planet.

And the United States – Trump’s family and friends – are now in control of that oil. (Google Paul Singer and Citgo, for starters.)

So…what are we going to do about it?

We can scream into the wind and pound on our keyboards (which I’m doing at this very moment) but we can, and MUST, also take positive action that really, truly moves us forward toward a better world.

Yes, absolutely we must demand that Congress do its job and hold President Trump accountable.

Impeachment would be too kind a fate for him, but is likely the only legal, moral, and ethical path forward.

We absolutely must hold ourselves to higher standards and not sink to the level of those we oppose. (Remember when we descend into the gutter to fight with pigs, the pigs have fun and we get dirty.)

And we must resist provocative actions that simply add fuel to the fire.

Beyond pressing on Congress, what can we do to make a difference TODAY?

Openly, loudly, and publicly rejecting the values and actions of the Trump Administration at a local level is an obvious critical starting point.

Imagine if our Governor and the Mayors in every County joined together to condemn Trump’s action, reject foreign oil and fossil fuels, and pledge increased support for solar, wind, and other non-fossil fuel alternatives.

We MUST insist our local elected leaders speak out and take a stand — before Trump takes military action against Columbia, occupies Greenland, bombs Nigeria again, or joins with Israel’s Netanyahu to take over Iran.

Looking the other way, heads down and mouths shut, is just appeasement by another name.

A universal truth of policy and politics: When a majority of elected leaders want something to happen, it absolutely can and will become a reality.

Assuming for the moment they’re not cancelled by Trump, the all-important mid-term elections are rapidly approaching.

We need fighters, not appeasers.

This is the answer, my friends. We must, at this particular moment, pour all of our time and energy into identifying, supporting, and electing new leaders at all levels — State, County, and Federal – leaders who share our core values, our sense of urgency, and who are willing to speak out and fight to restore our democracy.

This is where our energy and actions must remain focused.

Overthrowing Trump, his authoritarian regime, and his enablers — the corporatists, the corrupt, AND the complacent — at the ballot box in 2026 is the answer.

Gary Hooser
Former Hawai’i State Senator/Majority Leader
Former Kaua`i County Council Member
Just a regular guy trying my best to make the world a better place

Don’t ask me when I first heard this quote or who said it first – because I don’t know and neither apparently, does Google.

But it’s stuck in my brain and I’m hoping it will stick in yours as well.

As we head into a new year, I encourage all to tell good stories.

Tell your children, your neighbors and friends – stories of joy and happiness, of courage and achievement, of discovery, of gratifying work, of ohana who love and help each other.

And yes, tell stories about politics and policy – about how together as a community, united in purpose AND committed to showing up and engaging in the process, we can make a difference.

In both small ways that impact directly our friends and neighbors AND in large ways that move the needle for everyone – as individuals and as a collective community, we can change the world.

I don’t make this statement lightly. I’ve seen it happen, up close and personal.

During my own nearly 30 year journey navigating the path of policy and politics I’ve seen previously homebound kūpuna smile and laugh in public without shame or hesitation – after free dental care was provided by a local government grant.

I spoke recently to a man working multiple jobs – who 6 months ago was living with his wife and 2 children in his car. Today, due in large part to the unified voices of affordable housing advocates in the community – they occupy a 2 bedroom permanently affordable apartment.

10 years ago the minimum wage in Hawaiʻi was $7.75 per hour, today it’s $16. This huge achievement happened because regular people united in purpose AND engaged in the political/policy process – showed up to demand it and refused to leave the room until it was passed.

Because of unrelenting community action, we now have pesticide-free buffer zones around schools, mandatory reporting of restricted use pesticides statewide, and a total ban on some of the worst.

The people of Maui County conceived, created, and passed Bill 9 which has the potential of converting thousands of Maui transient vacation rentals (TVR’s) into housing for local residents – AND sends a massive message of change and community empowerment across the entire archipelago.

The list of positive changes that only happened because of a community BOTH unified in purpose and ENGAGED IN THE PROCESS, is way too long for this story.

And yes, of course we need universal healthcare and permanently affordable housing for ALL local residents, a true living wage, stronger buffer zones, and the elimination of TVR’s outside of hotel/resort districts.

We need to stand up strong against the illegal, unconstitutional, and authoritarian policies of President Trump, stop the bombing at Pōhakuloa, eliminate our dependence on fossil fuels (NO liquid natural gas), be food self-sufficient, fully fund public education, reform our broken criminal justice system, expose and prosecute bribery and corruption in government, and so much more.

And YES, we can achieve all this and more when we’re truly unified in purpose and actively engaged in the process.

These are the stories we must tell.

Screaming into the wind, pounding out our anger on a keyboard – is not enough.

To win, we gotta show up, testify at the hearings, send those emails, make those phone calls AND get our friends to do the same.

We must engage in the process of policy-making, support and join organizations engaged in this work, and contact directly those public officials elected to represent us.

2026 is an election year, and there’s no better time than now to tell stories about finding, supporting, and electing the change-makers we so desperately need.

Yes, we must do it all and yes it’s a whole lot of work – but the stakes are high and losing is not an option.

Please join me today and every day during the coming year. Let’s together tell stories of a better world, stories of how we banded together, climbed the mountain – and helped make it happen.

Imua.

Gary Hooser
Just a regular guy trying his best to learn, and grow, and do good things along the way.

The actions and commitment of the people of Maui County, backed by a majority of Councilmembers and Mayor Richard Bissen, epitomize leadership and democracy in action.

It’s absolutely true that Kaua`i, Honolulu, and Hawai`i County are all doing some excellent work eliminating single-use plastic food containers, banning disposable boogie boards, speaking out against the policies of ICE and in support of due process, and more.

But without question, Maui County’s Bill 9 is the biggest, best, most impactful, and most challenging to get across the finish line – of any county policy initiative to pass into law during 2025.

Bill 9 represents systemic change that will have direct, tangible, and positive impacts on regular everyday people. It’s definitely NOT the sort of nibbling-around-the-edges “incremental change” that has become the norm for most risk-averse political bodies.

According to Mayor Bissen, “The passage of Bill 9 corrects a long-standing zoning exemption that allowed transient vacation rentals (TVRs) to operate in apartment-zoned districts — areas originally intended to provide long-term housing for local families. By phasing out…TVRs in these districts, the legislation is expected to return more than 6,000 units to long-term residential use, significantly expanding Maui County’s housing inventory without the need for new construction.”

The passage of Bill 9 follows nearly two years of extensive public engagement, policy review, amendments and deliberation.

The pressure and lobbying efforts against Bill 9 by big money, tourism-related businesses, and real estate interests was relentless.

But the people’s support never faltered.

Mayor Bissen together with a majority on the Council stood strong and pushed back against the naysayers, negotiating the rough spots as needed, united in purpose and commitment to their community.

The scale of this win goes far beyond the unfathomable potential of 6,000 housing units being returned to long-term residential use — without the turn of a single shovel of dirt.

Even if the final number is reduced to just 50% of that 6,000, it’s still an incredibly large amount of new housing units going back into the hands of local residents as renters or owners.

AND – Maui County’s communities are now more organized than ever, and further prepared and empowered to take on the next big issue – be it water management, food self-sufficiency, housing the unsheltered, economic diversification, shoreline preservation or all the above.

This my friends, is what democracy looks like.

To be absolutely clear, Bill 9 would not have happened if not for the initiative and leadership of the community group – Lāhainā Strong. From the “fishing for housing” occupation after the fire, to Bill 9 being signed into law on December 15, Lāhainā Strong kept the Bill 9 discussion alive and moving forward – educating, informing, and motivating residents to take ownership of their government, to show up, and to engage the process.

And show up they did. From the first Planning Commission meeting to the last Council meeting, the people showed up. They sat patiently through endless hours hours of testimony and deliberation, listening and learning, then sharing their own perspectives – informed by facts, clothed in real-life experience, and delivered from the heart.

Councilmembers Tamara Paltin and Keani Rawlins-Fernandez introduced bills in 2021 that also sought to regulate the TVR’s industry. Discussion and debate on those measures provided the essential foundational conversations that culminated in the passage of Bill 9, introduced by Mayor Bissen.

Councilmember Keani Rawlins-Fernandez summed it up well in her remarks before voting, “Bill 9 is about getting closer to a quality of life we promised our residents… Profits are replaceable. Generational communities are not. We need to prioritize the people that love our home.”

Voting YES on Bill 9 were Councilmembers Gabe Johnson, Tamara Paltin, Keani N. W. Rawlins-Fernandez, Shane M. Sinenci and Nohelani Uʻu-Hodgins. With Mayor Bissen, all five deserve strong public recognition for not giving in to outside monied interests.

Personally, I am inspired and deeply thankful.

The people of Maui County have done it once again. They’ve shown the rest of us what a people united in purpose AND engaged in the process can accomplish, and what democracy can, should, and MUST look like.

Gary Hooser
Former Hawai`i State Senator/Majority Leader
Former Kaua`i County Councilmember

Regardless of the island, town, or community you might call home, please join me in sending out best holiday wishes and deep appreciation to everyone on Maui who showed up and made Bill 9 a reality.

Lāhainā Strong

Mayor Richard Bissen
Mayors.Office@co.maui.hi.us

Councilmembers:
Gabe Johnson
Gabe.Johnson@mauicounty.us
Tamara Paltin
Tamara.Paltin@mauicounty.us
Keani N. W. Rawlins-Fernandez
Keani.Rawlins@mauicounty.us
Shane M. Sinenci
Shane.Sinenci@mauicounty.us
Nohelani Uʻu-Hodgins
Nohe.Uu-Hodgins@mauicounty.us

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