GaryHooser's Blog

I had the privilege of attending a court hearing on Oahu last week relating to the proposed Kaua’i Coco Palms Hotel development.

It was a surreal, informative, sad, but yet still hopeful morning.

On one side of the courtroom (literally and figuratively) was the Utah developer’s Hawaiʻi attorney sitting with the attorney for the State of Hawaiʻi representing the Department of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR).

They argued strongly in support of letting the developer use State-owned lands to support the resort development in spite of the lack of an Environmental Assessment (EA) or Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) as required by HRS 343 (the primary Hawaiʻi law requiring environmental review), AND in spite of the undisputed fact that the developer does not have an actual legal lease or permit to use the State lands in question.

On the other side sat two public interest attorneys representing community-based interests intent on preserving environmental, cultural, and historical elements connected to the property.

It was mind boggling really. 

About 10 community members most of whom had flown over from Kaua’i were in attendance. This was their kuleana. They had worked hard to get this day in court.

Not one person was there supporting the developer’s position against increased environmental review, except of course the State attorney representing the State agency responsible for protecting the environment. 

They argued back and forth.

When the public interest attorney stated the property in question was located in an area susceptible to sea level rise and thus in an “especially environmentally sensitive area” – which required by law at the minimum an environmental assessment, the other side actually said the sea level claim “was not supported by expert testimony”.

The parcel of land being discussed is located directly across the street from the beach in a tsunami zone. One doesn’t need an “expert” to determine whether these lands are susceptible to sea level rise.

I’ve personally seen the highway fronting the property covered in sand washed up by the waves after a large storm surge.

The developer and the DLNR attorney both also said the property had an inconsequential impact on the resort development and was used only for parking, thus its use involved minimal environmental impacts. According to them, this was all much ado about nothing.

In reality, the State-owned parcel in question abuts sensitive conservation lands that include a historical fishpond AND the parcel is actively being used as a staging area for the hotel demolition and construction. In addition 50 of the hotel’s required parking spaces are located on these public lands.

The facts are clear and unambiguous. This State-owned land is located in an especially environmentally sensitive area AND part of the resort development, thus an HRS 343 environmental impact review is required. 

But “no” said the attorney representing the State agency responsible for protecting the environment in lock-step with the Utah developer’s attorney – both doing their best to beat the community who seek only to protect the public interest. 

In spite of the apparent odds, I remain hopeful.

The judge in this case clearly had done her homework, clearly knew the law, and from her actions and comments that day – seemed balanced in her approach to the issues at hand.

In addition, the Board of Land and Natural Resources (BLNR) and its Chair have shown a willingness to listen to our community, and to enforce the law. At this very moment, they’re investigating this developer for grading, grubbing, and dumping on conservation lands without the required permits. They’re also investigating the cutting down of countless coconut trees on State-owned conservation lands, without permission.

My hope is the judge will rule in support of ordering the BLNR to require an HRS343 environmental review (EA or EIS). My further hope is the BLNR will recognize its first responsibility is protection of the resource, then the publics use, and commercial use shall be considered only if it does not conflict or interfere with public use and resource protection. (1998 DLNR policy)

Note to my friends reading this who have the capacity to help: While the public interest attorneys work for a very modest fee, Iolawailuanui does have ongoing legal expenses that must be paid and an online contribution of any amount would help tremendously.

Note to those who work with HRS343 – It is critically important to understand that just because an action is on the “exemption list” doesn’t mean it is automatically exempt. “All exemptions under subchapter 8 are inapplicable when the cumulative impact of planned successive actions in the same place, over time, is significant, or when an action that is normally insignificant in its impact on the environment may be significant in a particularly sensitive environment.” Section 11-200.1-15 – General types of actions eligible for exemption

Rules and regulations, mandates, outright bans, plus financial incentives and disincentives – These are the primary tools used by lawmakers and administrators to accomplish public policy goals needed to preserve and protect “the commons” – our health, natural environment, social justice, and balanced economic interests.

It amazes me when I hear politicians say, “There’s nothing I can do about that issue/problem (fill in the blank)”. Any who say this are either ignorant of their basic authority, politically risk-adverse, don’t really want to confront that issue, or just plain lazy.

Yes, a majority of any legislative body is needed to pass new laws but many tools are available. While the administration cannot pass laws or change the tax structure on its own, they do have the power of “decree” and can change/amend many rules without legislative approval.

If a certain activity is seen as harmful either directly to the public health such as the quality of our drinking water, or perhaps harmful indirectly to the social fabric of a community such as a shortage of affordable housing – policy-makers will or should use these tools to reduce or eliminate the harm.

The first line of attack is usually basic regulation. Reporting requirements for pesticide use is required so the public is informed as to the potential exposure and health risk. Vacation rentals can be regulated by allowing them only in “visitor destination areas” or perhaps only X number of permits may be issued.

Regulations govern the basic standards of building construction, water quality, safety inspections, reporting of pesticide use, food safety standards, and worker protection regulations. Like it or not, government rules and regulations touch just about every aspect of our lives.

If the harm caused by particular activity is extensive a “ban” or “mandate” is often implemented. Examples: A specific pesticide may be banned from use. The short-term rental of residentially zoned properties may be prohibited. Jet skis or other high-impact commercial activities may not be used in certain areas. The law says you must wear a seatbelt, that you cannot drink and drive, cannot block public easements to the beach.

Bans are often implemented on a “moving forward” basis and sometimes but not always those already engaged in the targeted activity are “grandfathered in” and allowed to continue for limited time periods – so as to minimize the negative financial impacts that might result from immediate enforcement.

Tax policy is an effective tool in situations where a ban or mandate is not possible and/or basic regulations are not sufficiently doing the job of limiting public harm.

Government levies various taxes on different things at different levels. Liquor and cigarettes are taxed differently than milk and eggs. Owner-occupied homes, investment properties, businesses, and agricultural lands are all taxed differently as well.

The State and County may not be able to ban “foreigners or nonresidents” from buying up our local housing inventory, thus driving up prices and driving out local residents – but they can as a disincentive raise taxes on those properties to a level that cause offshore investors to think twice before purchasing homes that would otherwise be occupied by local residents, AND would generate additional revenue to support the construction of new affordable housing.

Conversely, government can, should, and in many cases does, provide tax incentives that encourage homeowners to rent their properties at affordable rates.

Bans, mandates, regulation, tax incentives and disincentives are all important tools. Individually and collectively these tools can be used to stop or significantly reduce just about any harmful activity impacting our community. So don’t let politicians who prefer to play it safe, tell you otherwise. Remind them please that there are many ways to bake a cake…(we will leave cats and their skins out of the conversation please).

Tell them also, enough already, use your brain, do your homework, figure it out – just do it. Of course, say this nicely (nicer than I’m saying it here) and offer to help them figure it out and generate the community support needed to pass something worthy into law.

published in The Garden Island 11/08/23

Picture of me slaving away at my office –

As many of you know, I’ve taken to walking 5 miles a day. It’s a fabulous habit. It provides valuable exercise of course, but it also gives me two hours of peaceful solitude and outdoor “thinking time.”

Where am I going with this, you ask? How does this relate to policy and politics?

Hang in there please. I’m getting to it.

As I walk by the yards of neighbors, I often see trees loaded with avocado, mango, ulu, banana, papaya etc. Sometimes the fruit hangs over the public easement, and sometimes the fruit has fallen to the ground.

As a fun and frivolous exercise (I’ve obviously got too much time on my hands) I posted the below on FaceBook recently and the response has been both humorous and thought-provoking.

FB Post: Moral dilemma: If you’re walking through the neighborhood and see a beautiful ripe avocado freshly fallen from a neighbors tree but landing outside their fence, is it fair game to scoop it up and take home? #askingforafriend

A representative sampling of the comments:

Philosophers have debated this for centuries. See Plato’s “Avocado Treatise”… My take? Grab ’em, eat ’em.

Ripe and on the ground should be fine. If not, it will just go to waste. I will be surprised if anyone, even your neighbor will be angry if you pick up a freshly fallen fruit outside their property.

My dad told me an old Japanese saying: “Don’t adjust your hat under your neighbor’s tree.” I asked him what the hell that meant. He said don’t even engage in suspicious activity that in this case might look like you were putting fruit in your cap even if you were just adjusting it and not stealing fruit from your neighbor. So my dad would probably tell you not to take it because your neighbor might think you picked it from his tree and even if he didn’t say anything he would think you were a thief.

“Windfalls” on your side of the fence are yours.

Grab um before the chicken and bugs. Fair game!

You have a legal right to that avocado. But it’s still not yours. You didn’t grow it, you didn’t water that tree. The moral compass in you should be compelled to knock on that door and ask if it would be ok with the person who did nurture that tree.

My neighbor has a mango tree, I see it all the time, people coming up and just taking when maybe he didn’t get to it fast enough. Just because you can take it, it doesn’t mean you should.

Easy one. Pick it up, knock on the neighbor’s door and use the opportunity to do good, meet someone new and spread aloha.

Mine, mine and mine. Besides they didn’t see it fall, and it’s not in their yard.

Under Hawai‘i case law, the courts have erected an invisible shield going to the sky at the property line. It doesn’t matter where the roots and trunk are, anything over the property line, including fruit and branches belongs to the owner of that side of the property line. If it’s public property then it belongs to the public. I don’t see it as a moral issue, just a legal issue.

Scoop um!

Grab and go! Don’t look back. That avo just fell for you! There are now 100 comments, and counting.

While some may think it’s all very silly and we are way “over thinking” this, I personally find the discussion fascinating.

In the past, I’ve mostly walked past those avocados, a bit fearful I’m crossing some line of ethical/moral behavior. In the future I’ll look for an opportunity to connect with the neighbor, and perhaps talk story a bit.

Of course the moral of the story is that we should follow the law and trust our na‘au. Remember, “just because you can doesn’t mean you should.”

Gary Hooser
First published in The Garden Island newspaper October 25th, 2023

Yes, in my backyard! Putting affordable housing in my backyard is totally fine, and if government just gives me a little help — I’ll build it myself.

Like tens of thousands of homeowners across Hawai’i on every island, I’m allowed by law to build behind my existing home an additional dwelling unit (ADU), a guest house, ohana unit, or an additional rental unit (ARU) (different county’s call them different names).

I’d love to build a small rental unit for family (or for my wife and I when we get old) and/or to rent out for some extra retirement income.

Because Kauaʻi County offers property tax breaks for owners who rent at affordable rates, and because I want to do what’s right for family and community, I’d be happy to keep the rent of this new unit at truly affordable levels.

The law however requires me (and everyone else) to upgrade my cesspool to a septic system which could add up to $50,000 or more to the cost of construction.

If the state of Hawai’i would cover the first $50,000 of the costs via an affordable housing construction grant, thousands of existing homeowners across the island chain (including myself) would jump at the opportunity to build a little ohana unit out back.

Of course any such state grant must have strings attached to ensure that rents on the new unit remain affordable and short-term vacation rentals, and speculative sales, are prohibited.

Yes, if the state would help existing homeowners pay for that cesspool conversion/expansion or other startup construction costs, many would jump at the chance to build that little rental.

Better yet, the state could partner with the county and offer a “twofer.” For those affordable ohana units that break ground within one year and complete construction within 24 months (or whatever time frame is reasonable), both the county and the state could kick in $50,000 for a total $100,000 benefit.

Yes, strings must be attached to ensure long term affordability. But, a $100,000 incentive to help with construction costs would be a huge motivator for local residents to do what they’ve always wanted to do anyway, build that ohana unit in the back. And build it now.

Think about the benefits.

There’s no need for immediate massive infrastructure upgrades that take decades to complete because these new homes are disbursed across existing neighborhoods.

There are almost zero environmental or cultural impacts for the same reasons.

There’s no need to suspend any law whatsoever.

The financial benefits of this affordable housing construction subsidy would go into the pockets of local residents hiring local contractors, and not exported to off-island developers hiring off-island contractors.

Zero land need to be rezoned, there’s zero increased urban sprawl, and zero loss of valuable agricultural lands.

To put icing on the cake, the entire thing could be structured so it’s “risk free” for the county and state government.

The state could provide its $50,000 as a low interest loan that converts to a grant upon completion of the affordable unit (with appropriate affordability protections in place).

All or a portion of the county’s $50,000 contribution could be via a long-term property tax credit, on taxes that the County would not be getting anyway unless the new unit was built.

Tell me please, what’s there not to like about this?

Yes, it leaves all of the big developers and big landowners out, and provides tangible financial help to regular local residents. But that’s what makes the whole idea even more better.

Gary Hooser
originally published in The Garden Island newspaper, November 1, 2023

To be clear:
1) The State and County governments must move forward aggressively to invest in major sewage treatment – wastewater infrastructure in those areas not now served. Individual septic systems and cesspools are not an acceptable long-term solution.
2) The above proposal seeks to accelerate the construction of affordable housing in existing residential areas that already permit the construction of a second unit and does not seek to expand the areas where second units are currently permitted.
3) The above proposal is not intended to be the only solution, but one of many things that can and should be done to increase the availability of affordable housing.

Only candidates for public office need to read further. And if you are a candidate, I hope you read and align with this: https://garyhooser.blog/2022/12/07/the-fundamental-political-question/

I’ve written recently about how walking (and eating right) has changed my life. As a candidate for public office, it can change yours as well – if you have the discipline to do it. Most don’t.

Incumbents as a rule will ride on their name recognition and ability to raise the money needed for the multiple mailings that will show them walking, and in general out in the community. But they rarely do any actual walking door-to-door once they are first elected.

New candidates too often make up reasons why they never get to the serious sustained door-to-door canvassing needed to win. And when they do knock on doors they do it only in “friendly” districts who match their own demographics – avoiding those neighborhoods whose residents are not their so-called “natural constituents”.

The reality of winning an election at the State legislative and County Council level is clear. Candidates that walk – win. 

You can tell people you are “gonna walk”, you can think about walking, you can even walk once in a while, but unless you take it seriously and walk the entire district you will not win – not against an incumbent anyway.

Walking the district twice ensures success. Trust me on this one. An incumbent will not walk it even once. You walk it twice. You knock on peoples doors and speak to them twice – they will be impressed, they will notice the incumbent never bothered to come by even once, and they will vote for you.

But you gotta put away the excuses and you gotta walk. Your sweat equity is much more impactful than the money spent on radio ads and plastic banners. 

It goes without saying that the sooner you start the better. It’s never too early to start walking.

Divide the number of voting households by the number of days left before the primary, and that is the number of houses you need to knock on every day.  Average it out to compensate for a few days off here and there – but develop a plan and then follow it.

Your first pass through a neighborhood can be simple. Just you and one or two volunteers and a simple door hanger or campaign brochure – “I just stopped by to say hello, introduce myself, and see what issues are important to you and your family” type message. Invite them to contact you, include your email address and cell phone number. Don’t panic. People will be impressed that you are giving them your cell phone but very few people will actually call.

Carry a clip-board and take notes when you meet them at the door or on the street. Ask about what’s important to them and their neighbors. Listen closely, this is more about them than it is you. Most candidates talk too much.

Voters want to elect people who will listen to them. LISTEN, take notes and when you knock on their door a 2nd or 3rd time in the months ahead – refer to your notes so they know that you did listen. Voters want to feel seen and heard. You need to show them that they do really matter to you. 

Wear a lei and look like a candidate. Remember, people are always watching. Through their kitchen window, when they drive by in the car, they are watching and they are forming opinions of you, the candidate – based on the candidates looks and actions AND on how the campaign volunteers look and act. Campaign volunteers are an extension of you and should look and act accordingly. 

If you have volunteers that sport “purple mo-hawks” either literally or figuratively – leave them home and assign them to phone banking or stuffing envelopes.

For both public perception and security reasons, the candidate should not walk alone.

Never walk past anyone on the street without smiling and saying hello (voter or nonvoter). Pick up trash when you see it. 

The candidate (or volunteers) should never enter into someone’s home, even if invited.

It serves no purpose to argue with people at their doorstep. Most people will not have much to say anyway, and a handshake and a few words will suffice. If the person at the door has a different opinion or different values than the candidate – it’s best not to argue, engage, or debate – just “thank you” and keep walking, making a note not to return in the future.

Have the person walking with you keep track of the “voter list” and make notes as to people’s reactions. This entire process is also about “Voter ID” – so later when the ballots are mailed out, you will visit or call those homes who indicated they liked you and would vote for you – and remind them to vote.

Do not skip houses that aren’t on the voter list, you don’t want someone (perhaps watching you through the window) to say you didn’t care – at the minimum a volunteer should visit these homes while the candidate focuses on voters.

The person or persons walking with you should look like the demographic of the neighborhood or at the minimum a different demographic than the candidate. In our multi-ethnic community, it is essential that the campaign reflect that same multi-ethnicity.

The campaign should have a street map of the entire district and “color in the streets” as they are walked – until the entire district is colored in. Then switch to a new color and do the same thing a second time.

While walking the candidate will see potholes, broken street-lights, abandoned cars on public property, etc etc.  The candidate should make a note of these things and inform the appropriate agency – asking them to take action.

The candidate can/should keep a public social media journal with pictures of people, streets and neighborhoods they are walking – so the entire world knows they are walking the entire district – every single day.

During the second round of walking, the “volunteer crew” should be larger but remain diverse. This walking is more “visible” to the entire community as volunteers are putting up signs and banners along the way.

Volunteers can knock on the doors of both nonvoter and voter. When a volunteer makes contact with a voter at the door they should be asked “Would you like to meet the candidate?” And then if the answer is in the affirmative, the candidate who is nearby will be brought over to say hello.

If/when the person at the door is positive and expresses supportive interest in the candidate, they should be asked “So can we count on your vote on election day?” And then the response so noted – in the voter ID log. 

Every single person that comes to the door (whether outwardly supportive or not) should be asked prior to leaving – “Would you mind if we put up a sign? – (ESPECIALLY IF THERE ARE OTHER SIGNS ALREADY PRESENT).

When the person at the door says, “Yes sure, just leave it with me and I’ll put it up later” respond with “Thank you! But I have a crew that’s right here and can do it now…does this location work for you?” Note: The person at the door may have good intentions but if the sign is not put up right away, it will likely remain in the carport or garage forever and not ever be put up.

This second-round walking group will have two people dedicated to “putting up signs and banners”.  They know the signs must be on private property, and that signs and banners must be put up to last the duration of the campaign and not sag etc. They will note the address of each sign and banner so it can be removed efficiently in the future.

All volunteers must know to NEVER ever touch other candidates signs or materials.

Candidates that do the work of door-to-door canvassing will win.

It’s totally possible to canvas an entire State House and a State Senate district. Council districts are generally larger (except Kauai which is equivalent to a single large Senate district) – so more “targeted walking” of Council district will be needed.

Granted, many urban districts have high-rise apartments which make canvassing challenging or impossible. For these areas intense direct mail, frequent coffee hours, and other methods of reaching voters are necessary – However even in these districts there are sections that are “walkable” and they must be walked!

Essential tools:
Campaign “business cards”
Campaign “door hanger or mailer piece” to leave
Online voter list
Clip board with simple “survey” to take notes as to resident issues, priorities
Water bottles to hydrate and sunscreen

Second Round:
Banners
Yard signs
Mallet to pound in yard signs
Zip ties and bungee cords for banners
Food/Bento for the volunteer crew to eat at end of the day.

Innocent civilians: men, women, children, the very old, the very young, are being slaughtered – daily. Whether it’s death by bullet, bomb or bayonet – people are being targeted while running through the fields, sleeping in their beds at home, shopping in the market, and in hospitals, schools, and places of worship – their deaths are senseless, criminal, and unjustifiable – regardless of the flag that flies overhead.

It’s the generals and warlords who order the slaughter, the soldiers, fighters, and mercenaries who knowingly and intentionally do the slaughtering, and the Presidents, the Prime Ministers, and the law-makers who embolden, applaud and cheer them on who are to blame.​​

They, along with those who make and sell the tools of war are who should be held accountable. As the trials of Nuremberg made ultimately clear, “just following orders” does not absolve anyone of their personal responsibility when they knowingly and intentionally murder non-combatant innocent civilians.​​

However as history teaches us, the politicians, generals and profiteers will be protected and enriched – while the soldiers and the innocents will die and the seeds of hate and divisiveness only grow stronger.​​

Collectively we must somehow use our deep sadness and the incredible disappointment we are now feeling about our world – to dig ourselves out of this. We must somehow figure this out and stop the madness.​​

Yes, there are bad guys in the world and yes, we need a strong military to protect us from them. But we don’t need to be the largest arms dealer on the planet, and we don’t need to have the largest global military presence either. ​​

We need to be the leader in building and supporting hospitals, schools, housing, and peace – not in the manufacturing and selling of missiles, guns, bombs, and war.​​

What can we do? Now, today. ​​What can we do except twist in our chairs, pound on our key-boards, and bemoan the injustice of the world?​​

Hold a sign on the street-corner? March with our friends holding many signs calling out for justice?​​

It all seems so futile, like waving our little protest fist in the air – expecting that to stop the bombs, the missiles, the bullets, and the bayonets.​​

Inside, deep down, I know we can and we must do something.

The alternative is to sit back and watch good and innocent people die – and wait for that inevitable day when it will be our homes being destroyed and our children and grandchildren being slaughtered. And the same players will be pounding their chests, shouting about vengeance, and depositing their war profits. ​​

We cannot let that happen. We cannot just sit in silence. We must raise our voices loud and clear to say stop the madness AND we must show to all – the love, compassion and acceptance so sorely lacking in too many corners of our planet. ​​

Reducing the global footprint and massive U.S military budget is an obvious and tangible step we must also take. This is the message we need to send today to our Hawaiʻi congressional delegation. Stop the expansion here at home #stoppohakuloa AND begin serious reductions in the 750 military bases located in at least 80 different countries on every continent.​​

We have here at the University of Hawaiʻi, the Spark Matsunaga Institute for Peace and every few years people talk about its potential “if only it was properly funded”. At one time, there was talk of Hawaiʻi being the “Geneva of the Pacific”. There has also been talk about creating a U.S. Department of Peace.​​

I’m thinking we need to stop talking and start doing. Please join me in contacting our Congressional delegation and asking them to help lead in shifting our role from weapons dealer to peacemaker – starting here at home.

Gary Hooser
First published in The Garden Island Newspaper 10/18/2023

Note: I recognize the inadequacy of my words and the complexity of the topic and situation but am compelled to express the thoughts and feelings pressing the hardest upon me at the moment. *Original draft submitted prior to President Biden’s visit to Israel and prior to the most recent hospital bombing that has killed hundreds more innocent civilians.

Contact U.S. President Donald Trump
https://www.whitehouse.gov/contact/
THE WHITE HOUSE
1600 Pennsylvania Ave NW
Washington, DC 20500

Contact Information For Hawaiʻi Congressional Delegation
(email contact via their websites)

U.S. SENATOR MAZIE K. HIRONO (D)
https://hirono.senate.gov
Washington, DC 202-224-6361
Honolulu, HI 808-522-8970

U.S. SENATOR BRIAN E. SCHATZ (D)
https://schatz.senate.gov
Washington, DC 202-224-3934
Honolulu, HI 808-523-2061

FIRST CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT
UNITED STATES HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
ED CASE (D)
https://case.house.gov
Washington, DC 202-225-2726
Honolulu, HI 808-650-6688

SECOND CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT
UNITED STATES HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
JILL N. TOKUDA (D)
https://tokuda.house.gov/
Washington,DC 202-225-4906
Honolulu, HI 808-746-6220

Hawaii Governor Josh Green
Phone: (808) 586-0034

Contact the Governor

All Hawaii State Senators
sens@capitol.hawaii.gov

All Hawaii State Representatives
reps@capitol.hawaii.gov

Find YOUR district Hawaii State Senator and Rep
https://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/fyl/

All State Senators by District
https://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/legislature/legislators.aspx?chamber=S

All State Representatives by District
https://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/legislature/legislators.aspx?chamber=H

Hawaii County
Mayor Mitch Roth
(808) 961-8211
Mitch.D.Roth@hawaiicounty.gov

Hawaii County Council Members
https://www.hawaiicounty.gov/our-county/legislative/county-council/council-members-and-districts

City and County of Honolulu
Mayor Rick Blangiardi
(808) 768-4141
mayor@honolulu.gov

Honolulu City Council Members
https://www.honolulucitycouncil.org/

Maui County
Mayor Richard T. Bissen, Jr.
(808) 270-7855
mayors.office@co.maui.hi.us

Maui County Council

Councilmembers – Nā Lālā ʻAha

Kauai County
Mayor Derek Kawakami
(808) 241-4900
mayor@kauai.gov

Kauai County Council
https://www.kauai.gov/Government/Council/Councilmembers-2022-2024

Please don’t tell me it’s a waste of time, nobody listens anyway, or that you’re busy.

You can be part of the solution or part of the problem. I ask that you please, please, please — today be part of the solution.

On Jan. 17, the 2024 legislative session will begin. Legislators and lobbyists are drafting their priorities now in preparation. So it’s now time for you to start taking action.

Step 1 — Identify just who in the heck is your state senator and representative. As a voter in their district, your voice is especially important!

Go to https://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/fyl/ to get the name and contact info of your district’s Senator and Representative. Pin this information to your refrigerator and save it to your phone.

Step 2 — Email them a short note – professional and courteous always. Let them know you live in their district. Let them know you’re tired of “business as usual politics” and ask them to help lead and support important systemic changes that are long overdue.

Step 3 — Include a short list of reforms, changes, or new policy proposals important to you — for 2024.

Below are priorities that many advocacy organizations and individuals are rallying behind, and will be pushing hard in the coming months. Yes, these are “inside baseball” type of reforms, and if your eyes are starting to glaze over at this point – please just email your own issue priorities!

• First and foremost, take care of the people and community of West Maui and Lahaina. Do not use Maui as an excuse to avoid or delay dealing with other vital issues. Exercise the political will needed to access numerous untapped funding sources that can provide the resources needed. If you need more time, extend the session.

• Pass the core state budget a month before the session concludes and avoid the last minute chaos of previous years.

• End the practice of referring bills to the money committees when those initiatives have little or nothing to do with money. Take away the power of the “money chairs” to kill basic policies that have no impact on the state budget.

• 2024 is the second year of the biennium. There is no need to introduce, refer, schedule, hear, and pass through the entire process yet again those bills that are now in conference committee or otherwise still “alive.”

• Reconvene the conference committee and pass Senate Bill 1543 on publicly funded elections. This is the reform that makes all other reforms possible and will help get money out of politics. SB1543 has the potential to be a game-changer IF our legislature is serious about doing the peoples work.

To those who are new to the process please visit and explore this valuable nonpartisan educational resource The Legislative Reference Bureau – Engagement 101 https://lrb.hawaii.gov/par/engagement-101/.

As to the old-timers, political junkies, and other involved civic minded folk – Please send out your email to your district legislators as well, and then share this information widely with your friends and networks!

Like most of you, I am sick and tired of the circus of shenanigans, the corruption, the inefficiencies, and the do-the-minimum attitude that seems pervasive at the state legislature.

But let’s get real. This is the only government we have and it will only get better when we as individuals, engage and take ownership of it.

2024 is an election year. We, collectively, need to seek out and support good candidates (both incumbents and newcomers) and we need to press hard on changing the way our government works.

Gary Hooser
first published on 10/11/23 in The Garden Island Newspaper

Our one and only Kekaha landfill is approaching maximum capacity. Micro-plastics are being found in the guts of fish and other living things. The trash on the beach, at the side of the road, and floating in huge garbages patches in our oceans – has a direct and negative impact on the health of people and the planet.

Here are two things each of us can do that will have a tangible positive impact in our community. Please take the time and do both!

1) Tune in to the live-stream, attend in person the October 4th Kaua`i County Council meeting, or watch the recorded version after the fact.

Mike Ewall, Founder and Executive Director of Beyond Burning, and Founder of the Energy Justice Network, has been invited to provide a briefing to the Council regarding the negative effects of burning waste and the benefits of diverting waste from the landfill.

The Kaua`i County Council is considering a wide range of ways to deal with our municipal garbage including pyrolysis, gasification, and direct combustion. Mike Ewall is a national expert on energy and waste issues, with a focus on waste incineration, its hazards, and alternatives. He supports communities to transition from polluting energy and waste facilities to clean energy and zero waste systems.

It will be very interesting to see how the various Council members respond to the information Mr. Ewall provides.

If you miss the Council meeting tune in to KKCR on Thursday October 5th from 4-6pm and hear Mr. Ewall talk about “beyond burning” and call in with questions.

Or, if you would like to meet Mr. Ewall in person, hear him speak and answer questions, he’ll be at the Lihue Public Library October 7th, 3-6pm and on Zoom http://www.bit.ly/whynotburn

2) If you happen to live on the east-side, sign up for residential curbside compost pick-up from Compost Kaua`i or drop off your compost (island-wide), or contact them about managing the waste at a special event you’re planning. https://www.compostkauai.org

According to their website: “A 2016 waste characterization study done by the County of Kaua`i showed that approximately 25% of waste entering the landfill was compostable. This includes paper, food waste and other organics. Compostable materials are an extremely valuable resource and should have an opportunity to be returned back to the soil, not lie waste in a landfill tomb.”

How does it work?
* Sign up and pay a modest fee to become a member. Choose between pick-up or drop off service.
* Compost Kaua`i gives you a bucket for your chosen service. You fill up your bucket with approved compostable materials.
* Every week Compost Kaua`i picks up your bucket or you drop it off and you receive a clean one.
* Compost Kaua`i turns your compostable materials into nutrient rich compost which you can request, buy or donate to others.

Full disclosure: Claudette and I have been members of Compost Kaua`i for almost a year now and LOVE the service. Claudette especially loves the beautiful compost that gets delivered to our door quarterly which she uses in our home garden.

There you have it. Two easy and meaningful ways you can help make a difference. Please. Get involved. Take action. It’s important.

The stereotype that all politicians are crooks seems more true today than ever. We know this first-hand here in Hawai’i where several of our elected officials are now sitting in jail after being caught taking bribes and violating the public trust.

Others have escaped getting caught (so far) and remain in public office. They’ve been there for decades and most likely cannot remember their first free lunch with that first lobbyist that soon evolved to drinks after session and ultimately generous support when reelection time rolled around. A handshake and a wink away from that inevitable conversation, “I need some help passing/killing a bill. Sure not a problem, what was that Bill # again?”

It makes me want to throw up.

Of course all politicians are not crooks but this past week New Jersey Senator Robert Menendez (D) dramatically reinforced that stereotype – badly damaging the entire institution that is our democracy.

Senator Menendez has been the long time Chairman of the United States Senate Foreign Relations Committee, one of the most powerful committees in the U.S. Senate. He’s now under federal indictment accused of “influence peddling” and accepting bribes. Federal investigators discovered gold bars and nearly a half a million dollars in cash stuffed in various corners of his home.

Can’t make this stuff up. It’s disgusting really.

We here in Hawai’i must join with members of Congress and Democrats in New Jersey and across America in calling for his resignation.

The Democratic Party of Hawai’i, our Congressional delegation, and every elected official and individual citizen who cares about restoring faith and confidence in our elected officials must help lead the way with the same message.

Yes, he’s innocent until proven guilty, but a close read of the indictment and even a casual review of his past activities – is evidence enough that his continuing presence in the U.S. Senate is unacceptable.

Those who hold elective office must be held to a higher standard. Only the truly arrogant, who believe they are both entitled and untouchable would leave hundreds of thousands of dollars in cash just laying around the house.

According to the indictment, Senator Menendez accepted a long list of gifts/payments/bribes (exact definition to be clarified at trial) including cash, gold, payments toward a home mortgage, compensation for a low-or-no-show job, and even apparently a brand new Mercedes Benz. Were those items given to him intended to influence his actions and did he in fact “sell influence” are the legal questions. But what is legal, moral, and ethical do not always align – and our elected officials must be held to the very highest standard.

This guy and all the other snakes just like him must go.

The corruption, fortunately or unfortunately is not specific to one party. Former President Donald Trump (R) is now facing over 90 criminal counts in 4 different indictments at both a State and Federal level. Tipping the scales in favor of “all politicians regardless of Party are crooks.”

Without a doubt there are others in both Hawai’i and D.C. at this very moment shaking in their boots, trying desperately to cover their own tracks, while awaiting a similar federal knock on their door.

A pox on them all.

Please join me today in reaching out to Hawai’i United States Senators Brian Schatz and Mazie Hirono. Thank them for their dedicated service and ask them please to speak out publicly asking for the resignation of Senator Menendez.

New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy (D), U.S. Senator Cory Booker, and many other sitting members of Congress have already publicly stated he should resign. The Chair of the New Jersey’s Democratic party has also called for his resignation.

Hawai’i should join in solidarity with New Jersey, and help push the national conversation. Enough is enough. Elected officials at all levels must be held to the highest of ethical standards. Those unwilling to do so – must leave.

*note – Mahalo to Senator Hirono who tweeted yesterday (after this had already gone to press) –
“As Senators, we serve in positions of public trust. While Senator Menendez is innocent until proven guilty, the heart of the allegations erodes public trust. As such, I believe he should step down.”
*another update – Senator Schatz also tweeted: “Members of the Senate Ethics Committee (who therefore may avoid weighing in on Menendez allegations) Coons (chair), Lankford, Schatz, Risch, Shaheen, Fischer

Gary Hooser (http://www.garyhooser.com)
former Hawai’i State Senator
former Vice Chair Democratic Party of Hawai’i
presently retired and making “good trouble” in policy and politics
“Crooked politicians – a pox on them all” – published 09/27/23 The Garden Island newspaper