GaryHooser's Blog

If you’re on Oahu, please show up. Wear black and red and request that the BLNR REJECT THE FEIS!

To: Board of Land and Natural Resources
RE: Testimony for Agenda Item D-1, scheduled for May 9th 2025
From: Former Hawaiʻi OEQC Director, Gary Hooser

Aloha Land Board Members
I am writing to urge you to reject the Army’s FEIS relating to the proposed retention of leased lands at Pōhakuloa Training Area.

According to the EIS: “Because the Army’s Proposed Action involves retention of State-owned land, this EIS also must fulfill the Hawaiʻi EIS statute and implementing rule, codified in Hawaiʻi Revised Statutes (HRS) Chapter 343…”

As the former Director of the Hawaiʻi Office of Environmental Quality Control (2011 – 2012), my job was to manage the administration of HRS Chapter 343, and to educate State agencies on its key elements.

I am keenly aware of the requirements of HRS Chapter 343, Hawaiʻi’s EIS statute and am testifying without reservation whatsoever, that the Army’s FEIS and related documentation are totally inadequate.

The Department of Land and Natural Resources own staff report states,

“Throughout the EIS process, Staff had and continues to have concerns with the following;
1) That the contents of the draft/final EIS do not fully declare the environmental implications of the proposed action and does not discuss all reasonably foreseeable consequences, and
2) The data and analysis do not commensurate with the importance of the impacts.”

The FEIS analysis of “direct impacts” falls far short of a complete analysis and I encourage Land Board Members to closely review the comments provided by the Sierra Club of Hawaiʻi and other environmental stewards who have closely examined the EIS and submitted testimony.

The lack of a complete and proper analysis of the “direct impacts” is by itself sufficient reason to reject the FEIS.

Another huge concern is the almost non-existent review, documentation, and/or research on “indirect, secondary, and cumulative impacts” that are absolutely required for any HRS Chapter 343 compliant FEIS.

For example there is minimal discussion on the type of “ordinance” that will be deployed such as – explosive size and types, uranium tipped, chemical weapons, laser and or magnetic cannons now under development – and others.

What are the anticipated direct and long term impacts from the various weapons systems? How will the “residue” from the use of these weapons be “cleaned up”? Where will the “clean-up” materials (possibly toxic) be deposited? What materials will go into landfills located in Hawaiʻi County? What materials will be shipped outside of Hawaiʻi, and to where?

All weapons listed must be transported to and from the subject area. What are potential impacts of incidents that may occur at the harbor, airport, or along the highways during such transportation?

The entities listed as possible users and beneficiaries of the Pōhakuloa Training Area include foreign and “multinational” entities. What are the secondary impacts of training foreign or multinational armies on Hawaiʻi soil? Will the adversaries of these foreign countries consider Hawaiʻi now their adversary because of our support and assistance to their enemies?

These questions and more, must be asked and examined as legitimate “secondary and indirect” impacts.

The U.S. Army’s FEIS for Pōhakuloa is woefully inadequate and I strongly urge the State Board of Land and Natural Resources to reject it.

Gary Hooser
Former OEQC Director
Former Hawaiʻi State Senator
Kapaa, Hawaiʻi

First Circuit Court Judge Kawamura heard arguments on the plaintiffs motion to summarily decide the case and the House’s argument to summarily dismiss the case. She asked both sides questions and then asked the parties for further briefing on an issue not raised by the parties with a deadline of June 5.

As a member of the audience that day, I found the discussion fascinating, occasionally somewhat surreal.

The fundamental questions seemed fairly straightforward. Did a specific House Advisory Committee meet privately for the purpose of making a decision on a matter before them, and thus violate the Constitution?

And is this a regular practice of other House Committees?

The Plaintiffs’ position was a clear and resounding YES to both questions.

The House, on the other hand, never directly answered either one.

Remember, Article 3 Section 12, paragraph 3 of the Hawaii State Constitution states, “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.”

The House’s position, per its attorney: The Constitutional provision does not apply to the House Advisory Committee because it was formed for “organizational purposes” and committees formed for such purposes are not required to hold public meetings.

The Plaintiff attorneys opined that in addition to the Constitutional requirement, House Rules required public decision-making, and prior public notice of Committee meetings. In addition, there was no “organizational purposes” reference in the Rules at the time the Committee was originally formed.

The House attorney argued that it doesn’t matter what the House Rules say; the House can choose to follow its own Rules or not.

They also claimed that if the House was forced to conduct all of its meetings in public, it would be onerous, impractical, and impossible to do business.

Our Constitution requires public Committee meetings, “for the purpose of making decision on matters referred to the committee”. All 4 County Councils presently conduct their deliberations in public. Clearly the requirement is not unduly onerous.

The House also argued that information provided by the Legislative Reference Bureau (LRB), cannot be relied upon by the public or the courts, and should be disregarded.

What?

The (LRB) is an official and respected source of information on the legislative process. Its online description of how legislative Committee hearings are normally conducted – supports the Plaintiffs’ position.

Briefly, Committees regularly “recess” after receiving public testimony; discuss and deliberate with staff and committee members privately, with microphones and cameras turned off; then “call the meeting back to order.” With camera and mics back on, they then publicly announce the decision made in private during the recess.

The recess may last a few minutes or a few days. Recess discussions may involve all committee members in the room, or they may be “serial meetings” held with individual members, via telephone, email, text, or maybe even the infamous chat app Signal.

The charade is most obvious during Conference Committee hearings. The House/Senate Committee Chairs will enter the hearing room, sit on opposite sides of the conference table, and summarily announce they’ve “reached agreement” (or not).

Needless to say, it’s impossible to “reach agreement” (or not) without a meeting. These “decision-making meetings before the decision-making meeting”, are conducted in private, and thus violate the Constitution.

June 5th will be here soon enough.

Mahalo plenty to the Plaintiffs for taking on this important and necessary legal action – Laura Acasio, Sergio J. Alcubilla III, Ka’apuni Aiwohi, Tanya Aynessazian, Doug Cobeen, Karen Cobeen, Michaela Ikeuchi, and Robert H. Pahia.

And yes, financial help to fund ongoing legal expenses and inter-island travel for Plaintiffs is also needed, and greatly appreciated.

Gary Hooser

Screaming into the wind, doom-scrolling through social media, and showing up at a protest once in a while, is not enough.

If you truly want to make a difference, here are 14 essential rules and actions. These are the minimum starting point basics to being an effective policy advocate. Please, Please, Please – take the time to read and put into practice – these basic but critically important points.

Know who represents you at the Federal, State, and County levels. KNOW THEM BY NAME. Put their contact information in your phone and on your refrigerator. When you contact them, LET THEM KNOW YOU LIVE IN THEIR DISTRICT!

Reach out to them regularly via telephone AND email. Yes, your email and phone call matter. Every call and email adds to the volume; each one is important. ALWAYS REQUEST A RESPONSE, AND ALWAYS REMIND THEM YOU LIVE IN THE DISTRICT. Keep messages brief, and on point.

MEET THEM IN PERSON. At the State and County level, your elected officials should be willing to meet with you, especially when the legislature is not in session, between May 5 and January 1. Organize a small group of friends and neighbors, and request such a meeting.

SHOW UP AT PUBLIC HEARINGS. Even if you don’t testify at the microphone, it’s important to be there. The number of people in the room, by itself, sends a message.

SHOW UP AT PROTEST GATHERINGS happening regularly and everywhere – march, hold signs, speak out.

SHOW UP ONLINE. “Like and share” social media posts that reflect your values. This will impact algorithms and cause those posts to show up more frequently.

JOIN WITH OTHERS, virtually and physically.

SIGN UP FOR EMAIL ALERTS from the ACLU Hawaii, H.A.P.A., Indivisible Hawaii, Common Cause, Maui Tomorrow, HULI PAC, Our Hawaii, the Hawaii Sierra Club, 50501, and others.

SUBSCRIBE PLEASE to my “info/action email” Policy and Politics

LOCAL GOVERNMENT IS IMPORTANT. Focus first on local issues, and ask your local leaders to stand up and be counted on national challenges, too. As the old saying goes: “Think globally; act locally.”

HELP AND SUPPORT THOSE ELECTED OFFICIALS WHO DO THE RIGHT THING. Broadcast your support and their good work on social media. HELP THEM GET ELECTED AND STAY ELECTED.

If the elected official who represents you does not share your values, FIND AND SUPPORT SOMEONE TO RUN AGAINST THEM.

Give what you can to candidates you support. Shop at farmers’ markets and locally-owned small businesses. BOYCOTT those businesses who support the authoritarian federal administration now in control.

GET TO KNOW THE BASIC STATE AND COUNTY GOVERNMENT WEBSITE TOOLS, Sign up for hearing notices and submit testimony at www.capitol.hawaii.gov for the state legislature. For County info go to; Kauai County Council, Honolulu City Council, Maui County Council, Hawaii Island County Council

HELP YOUR FRIENDS AND NEIGHBORS. We’re all in this together; walk the talk, wear your values on your sleeve, and go out there and change the world.

Positive change happens when regular people pay attention, get involved, hold their elected leaders accountable, and take ownership of their own government.

Gary Hooser

“Just the facts ma’am.” That’s the only way to write about the ugly death of HB371.

Below are those facts, sourced from the public record at http://www.capitol.hawaii.gov

If passed into law, HB371 would have extended the ban on campaign contributions from government contractors to include company officers and family members. It was described by good government advocates as a critically important measure needed to fight corruption.

But HB371 was not passed into law. It was, instead, killed behind closed doors by Senate President Ron Kouchi, House Speaker Nadine Nakamura, Senate Ways and Means (WAM) Chair Donovan Dela Cruz, and House Finance Chair Kyle Yamashita.

These 4 Democrats are the most influential legislators in state government. They held no public meetings to discuss the reasons behind their decision-making. They made their decisions in private; they discussed these decisions with the Conference Committee in private; and the Conference Committee then announced those decisions to the public.

These are facts — not speculation, not opinion, and not hyperbole.

According to the Campaign Spending Commission, it’s common for government contractors to get around the existing campaign contribution ban by having those persons connected to the contractor make political contributions.

Civil Beat called House Bill 371, “arguably the biggest reform measure of the session.” The bill sailed through the House and Senate with unanimous votes of support – both in committee and on the floor.

99% of testimony was in support of HB371. Only one person testified in opposition, citing “freedom of speech” concerns.

Not one Senator or Representative ever voted in opposition.

The first indication there could be a “problem” occurred on 04/22, just prior to the naming of “conferees” to sit on the House Conference Committee. That’s when House Speaker Nakamura “re-referred” the now amended bill, HB371SD1 to House Finance.

This move ensured that House Finance would have a Conference Committee vote – even though the measure had no direct budget impact, and the Finance Committee would hold no hearings.

The Conference Committee is responsible for “working out the differences” between the Senate and House amended versions of the bill.

When the Joint Conference Committee met on 04/22, House Judiciary Chair David Tarnas announced that “leadership was now involved,” the measure would likely thus be “weakened,” and the Committee must await direction from “leadership” (House Speaker Nakamura). It’s important to note that the House Speaker is also an ex officio member of the Judiciary Committee, per House Rules.

At this same meeting, Senate Judiciary Chair Senator Karl Rhoads acknowledged he’d received similar information from Senate Leadership — Senate President Kouchi.

On Friday 04/25, the Conference Committee reconvened. The two chairs announced that “leadership” had proposed significant amendments that weakened the bill, and they’d been unable to receive a “release” from House Finance or Senate WAM. Therefore, the bill would be deferred and is now dead.

HB371 did not require any funding whatsoever, nor did the subsequent and final amended version HB371HD1SD1.

Yet both Representative Yamashita (Chair of House Finance) and Senator Dela Cruz (Chair of WAM) refused to “release” the bill. As of this writing, neither have yet made any on-the-record statements as to their reasoning.

Likewise, neither Senate President Kouchi nor House Speaker Nakamura have issued any public statements about the rationale for their last-minute opposition.

HB371HD1SD1 was killed in the dark and nobody’s talking.

The discussion, deliberation, and decision-making was done in secret, behind closed doors via private “serial communications,” and only announced publicly after it was a done deal.

Hawai’i Democrats can, and must do better. How can we push back effectively against the abuse of power and trampling of the democratic process now occurring in Washington D.C., when here at home on Beretania Street, the same thing is occurring?

Final Fact: Nothing will change unless you, me, and we – take action. Please call and email each AND your own district Rep and Senator. Let them know how you feel about this, and ask them to fix it. Even if they do not respond, it’s important they know how people feel about this.

Final Final Fact. If they do respond, they will say “It’s too late, we’ve missed the deadline.” The truth is every single Senator and Representative has said they support passing HB371 into law. They thus have the votes to extend the deadline or even the legislative session for a few days if needed.

The main 4 legislators responsible for killing HB371:
Senate President Ron Kouchi 808-586-6030 senkouchi@capitol.hawaii.gov
House Speaker Nadine Nakamura 808-586-6100 repnakamura@capitol.hawaii.gov
Senate Ways and Means (WAM) Chair Donovan Dela Cruz 808-586-6090 sendelacruz@capitol.hawaii.gov
House Finance Chair Kyle Yamashita 808-586-6200 repyamashita@capitol.hawaii.gov

The 2 committee Chairs who held the hearings, listened and responded to the public testimony, refined and amended the bill, and then had the rug pulled from beneath them by the above 4:
House Judiciary Chair David Tarnas 808-586-8510 reptarnas@capitol.hawaii.gov
Senate Judiciary Chair Karl Rhoads 808-586-6130 senrhoads@capitol.hawaii.gov

Your District Rep/Senator https://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/fyl/

Please…make the calls…send the emails.
Express your thoughts on this important issue.
Take action.

Sincerely,
Gary Hooser
garyhooser.com (https://www.garyhooser.com/)
Former Vice Chair Democratic Party of Hawai’i
8 years – Kaua`i County Council

8 years – Hawai’i State Senate – 4 as Majority Leader

Policy and Politics – Hawaii and beyond, in real time – Stay informed. Get involved. Make a difference.
New readers – Subscribe at https://policy-and-politics.mailchimpsites.com for regular email updates – I promise not to flood your inbox with meaningless pap. Truly…I promise. gh

Yay! We did it!

Was a bit stressful, but with the help of a whole lot of people, the first Policy + Politics video/podcast is now one for the history books.

Here it is on YouTube – please check it out, “like” and “share” also if you believe it’s worthy. https://www.youtube.com/@PolicyandPoliticsHI

In addition to YouTube, in the future we will be streaming the program also on other social media venues.

The feedback so far has been universally positive, and additional input from anyone and everyone is welcome and greatly appreciated.

A special thanks goes out to my co-host Aria Juliet Castillo. Without Aria’s support, encouragement, and technical expertise – this wouldn’t have happened.

Mahalo also to Mishka who was/is, the “behind the scenes guy” making things work seamlessly while Aria and I talk story with our special guests.

Carrie Ann Shirota, Policy Director at the ACLU of Hawaiʻi and Representative Amy Perruso, Majority Whip in the Hawaiʻi State House of Representatives – brought a wealth of knowledge and experience to the conversation. Mahalo to you both!

Please join us on May 5th at 5pm for the next Policy + Politics video/podcast that will focus on the craziness that is now occurring at the federal level, the expected near-term impacts on Hawaii, and a bit on the over-all national and international scene.

As a special guest, we’ve confirmed Salmah Rizvi, executive director of ACLU – Hawaii – who will fill us in on the latest developments. We also hope to have other guests who are actively engaged in the ongoing battles – both on the ground and in the halls of government.

Mahalo to all who helped “like” our page Policy + Politics on FaceBook and we continue to work toward streaming there as well as possibly @bluesky and other platforms.

Please – watch, “like” and share our first inaugural show on YouTube https://www.youtube.com/@PolicyandPoliticsHI

Mahalo,
Gary Hooser

Serious question: Is there a single member of the State House of Representatives who would say under oath, that every House Committee meeting held for the purpose of making decisions is open to the public?

Anyone who’s served or worked at the legislature knows committee decisions are made PRIOR to the actual public committee meeting, where the decision is “announced.”

Legislators don’t even try very hard to hide this. After public testimony, the Chair often adjourns the regular committee meeting, turns off the microphone and cameras, huddles with staff and maybe a committee member or two. A few minutes later, they turn the cameras back on, reconvene the meeting, and announce the decision they just made in private.

It’s also not uncommon for them to adjourn the public meeting, literally “go out the back into the hallway”, huddle for a few minutes, then return, reconvene the public meeting, and announce the decision they made in private.

At a recent session of the Joint House/Senate Budget Conference Committee, this was totally obvious. The entire public meeting consisted of the two Chairs simply announcing “line items” they had previously agreed to in private. At the meeting’s conclusion, one Chair announced, “We will convene later today to see what we can agree upon, and reconvene (the public meeting) Thursday at 5pm.”

So, it’s pretty darn clear — as in 100% certain, and absolutely a fact — that committee decisions are regularly and routinely (as in all the time) made in private, and merely announced in public.

Article 3 Section 12, paragraph 3 of the State Constitution says, “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.”

Is Hawai‘i’s House of Representatives violating Hawai‘i’s Constitution? First Circuit Court Judge Kawamura will address this question on May 1st at 10:30am at Kaahumanu Hale on Punchbowl Street in Honolulu.

I encourage all who are able, to attend and support in spirit the eight private citizen plaintiffs who’ve brought the suit forward.

My formal law school training is limited, but I did spend 16 years serving in the State Senate and on the County Council.

It’s incredulous to think the State House of Representatives would deny that House Committees make decisions in private. This fact seems incontrovertible.
 
Other than denial, their only defense is to argue “what the constitution says in plain language is not really what it means”. The assertion will be that the drafters of the Constitution, and the voters who approved it, didn’t really intend to require committees to make decisions in public.

Let’s try to think this through. Hang in there, please.

Apparently, in the collective mind of the House, the drafters and voters who ratified the Constitution must have meant it to say that only the “announcement” of the decision — not the actual “decision-making” itself — must be conducted in public.

The House attorneys will no doubt say, “It’s impossible for the business of the House to be conducted any other way. There’s not enough time. This is the way we’ve always done it!”

Of course, they’d ignore the fact that every County Council, operating under the Sunshine Law, conducts all its deliberating and decision-making at public meetings. 

Yes, complying with the Constitution will require some adjustments, but it’s by no means an unresolvable impediment to the lawmaking process.

If needed, Committees could work year-round, without amending the State Constitution — conducting final committee hearings and votes at the start of the actual 60-day legislative session.

Bottom line is the House will essentially say (using far more words than I have here), they don’t care what the Constitution says, it must be wrong, and therefore they shouldn’t have to follow it.

Sounds familiar yes?

Sincerely,
Gary Hooser
garyhooser.com (https://www.garyhooser.com/)
8 years – Kaua`i County Council

8 years – Hawai’i State Senate – 4 as Majority Leader
Former Vice Chair Democratic Party of Hawai’i
Policy and Politics – Hawaii and beyond, in real time – Stay informed. Get involved. Make a difference.
New readers – Subscribe at https://policy-and-politics.mailchimpsites.com for regular email updates – I promise not to flood your inbox with meaningless pap. Truly…I promise. gh

Please join Aria Juliet Castillo and me TOMORROW, Monday, April 21, 5:00 pm to 6:30 pm (HST) for our very first Policy + Politics video/podcast, streaming live on the FaceBook Page Policy + Politics

Our goal is to educate, advocate and commentate on important issues of the day — to think globally and to act locally.

We promise to bring you information from the inside that you will not find anywhere else. No question or topic is off the table.

Our world is dangerously out of balance.

With input from highly-qualified special guests, Aria and I hope to provide our community with information needed to better understand what is happening locally, nationally, and globally. 

Our ultimate goal is to identify the action steps we need to take, individually and collectively, to make a positive difference.

After all, there are really only two choices: we either sit back and watch our government and planet deteriorate before our eyes… or we do something to stop the madness and move forward in a united effort to make our world a better place.

Our special guests for our inaugural program on April 21st will be Carrie Ann Shirota from the ACLU and Representative Amy Perruso.

Carrie Ann Shirota is Policy Director at the ACLU of Hawaiʻi, where she works to defend people’s civil rights and civil liberties through lobbying, public education, and other forms of political advocacy.

Known for her sharp intellect and strong progressive values, Representative Amy Perruso is Majority Whip in the Hawaiʻi State House of Representatives.

We’ll begin with a robust discussion about the important issues currently awaiting final legislative approval here in Hawai‘i.

Learn about the process, and about how you can make a difference.

Come with questions and join the discussion on FaceBook Policy + Politics.
https://www.facebook.com/events/s/inaugural-podcast-of-policy-an/1378917709919052/

Kudos to Indivisible and the 50501 movement for organizing the “Hands Off” protest actions of April 5th.

It felt good to gather with friends and neighbors, hold signs, share stories, sign petitions, and stand in solidarity across our islands and the world.

Our message to Trump/Musk/Vance, and the others enabling the madness that’s engulfed our federal government, is fairly straightforward: follow the Constitution, respect the democratic process, and put people and the planet ahead of corporate profits.

But sadly, they view people and the planet as profit centers to exploit, and the Constitution and democratic process as an obstacle to circumvent.

So we must gather together, push back, and KEEP pushing back– until we win.

There’s really no other choice — our children and grandchildren, and their children, are counting on us.

Which is why I’m doing it again on April 19th. I encourage you to join me, my family, and millions more, to say, in numbers so large we cannot be ignored: ENOUGH ALREADY.

The 50501 folks, Indivisible, and other advocacy organizations are again organizing protests in all 50 states against the madness of one man’s rule and in support of the Constitution. Their goal is to get 3.5 percent of the U.S. population — more than 11 million people — to participate. They cite this figure as the threshold for “sustained resistance in order to make a difference.”

Let’s help get to that number. Let’s call our friends and neighbors and encourage them to join us. We’ll be gathering on this island along the highway by Kauai Community College. Other groups will gather across the other Hawaiian Islands and around the continent – at universities, county buildings, state capitols, and at the National Mall in D.C..

And let us call upon our governors, state and federal legislators, council-members, and mayors as well – and encourage them to join us, too.

Leadership in government is exactly what’s needed at this moment. We desperately need our elected leaders to stand with us.

We need to see and hear our leaders pledge their firm commitment to the Constitution, and to protecting the rights of due process for ALL people, citizens and non-citizens alike. We need to hear them embrace and celebrate the values of diversity, equity, and inclusion.

Yes, those elected to public office must serve ALL the people, including those who voted for President Trump. But they should NOT support bigotry, misogyny, ignorance, or the trampling of our Constitution.

Our leaders must join us in the streets and march alongside us, arm-in-arm. In one voice that cannot be disregarded, we must tell this administration ENOUGH ALREADY.

It’s not enough for our leaders to privately tell friends and constituents they “oppose Trump,” or to lament the collapse of federal programs on social media.

We need our elected officials – YOU, if you’re reading this and serving at the pleasure of the people – we need YOU out there with us as we exercise our freedom of speech, as we protest the dismantling of the Department of Education, the Veterans Administration, and so many other important agencies.

We need YOU there with us, in every city across the continent, opposing the tactics used by ICE to arrest, detain, and deport our friends and neighbors — merely for expressing their hopes and dreams of a better world.

We need, want, and expect YOU — our elected officials, our mayors, governors, legislators, and council-members — to join us on April 19th
before this administration unleashes the Insurrection Act.

Let’s stand together united behind a message that cannot be ignored.

Follow the Constitution, stop the madness – ENOUGH ALREADY.

Gary Hooser
garylhooser.com

Given the current instability surrounding future federal funding of public schools, parks, university, medical services, and other vital programs, it’s completely inappropriate for Hawaiʻi legislators to accept the generous 35% to 48% pay raises proposed by the Salary Commission.
 
Each rank-and-file state legislator presently receives a $74,160 salary for the honor of serving as a part-time public servant. Legislators work only five months per year on a full-time basis, and as much (or as little) as they choose during the OTHER seven months of the year.
 
Per the US Census’ American Community Survey (ACS), the median salary for FULL-TIME workers in Hawaiʻi is $60,680. Other data sources report similar figures.
 
So, half of Hawaiʻi FULL-TIME workers earn $60,580 or less, while PART-TIME legislators now earn $74,160, AND they’ll be getting raises of 35% to 48% — unless they take action now and vote to reject that raise. 
 
Legislators may also collect a state retirement pension after only 10 years of service, AND Neighbor Island legislators are paid an additional $225 per day during the 4 months of session; they’re not required to show actual expense receipts for this generous per diem allowance.

The decision to reject these pay raises would also prohibit the Governor’s office and Judiciary branch from receiving their pay increases recommended by the same Salary Commission.
 
It goes without saying that legislators, judges, and government executives should NOT be doing this work with expectations of big salaries. This work, after all, is public service. 
 
Our legislature is faced with a decision: Either do nothing –thereby accepting the Salary Commission’s recommended pay raises without a vote — or “put the issue on the table,” which will mean holding public hearings and a public vote.
 
All indications point to the path of least resistance. They’ll likely keep their heads down and not hold any hearings or take any votes.
 
If pressed today on this matter, most legislators will point to the short time remaining in the legislative session. “It’s too late!” they’ll claim. “We don’t have time for the hearings necessary to reject the pay raises.”
 
Here’s the truth: Legislative rules could be waived, hearings could be held, and the session could be extended if needed.
 
Obviously, legislative leadership wants to avoid a public vote on this.
 
Why? Because a public hearing would overflow with furious residents asking angry questions and demanding justification. “You people want a RAISE when the federal government is firing park rangers, cutting school budgets, and denying states emergency funds???”
 
To be clear, there’s never a good time for politicians to give themselves a pay raise, either directly or indirectly.
 
But it’s hard to imagine a worse time than NOW.  
 
President Trump and DOGE have been slashing and burning through almost every federal program on the books. Federal dollars that poured into Hawaiʻi public programs are being drastically reduced. We have an affordable housing crisis; we have families begging for help with school lunches and affordable early childhood programs; there are people sleeping under bridges… 
 
“And you folks want a RAISE???”
 
Of course, the legislature could step up to the plate. They could actually begin working full-time, 12 months per year, and forgo their lucrative outside jobs. They could do any number of things to demonstrate the extra work they’d do to earn those raises — but so far, they haven’t.
 
No, it’s definitely not a good time to be giving yourself a raise. 
 
Failing to hold a hearing, to have a public discussion, and to publicly vote on the issue does NOT give you cover to say, “But I didn’t actually give myself a raise”. 
 
Please don’t insult us. We know how these things work.

Gary Hooser
former State Senator
former Councilmember
retired and trying my best to shine a light, and make some good trouble along the way

“Gary, you broke my heart! That was cruel!”

This was just one of many messages I received after last week’s column (“Breaking news: Hawaii legislators reject pay raise, call for special session!”)

Other messages contained celebratory emojis and comments that made it clear the reader had not read my piece through to the end.

Clearly, some did not understand it was a spoof — a not-so-funny April Fools’ Day joke gone awry.

Some were angry at being fooled, and responded with messages reading “NOT FUNNY!”

While the great majority “got it,” many did not.

So, to make absolutely clear: The Hawaii House and Senate have, unfortunately, NOT rejected the generous 35% to 48% pay raises proposed by the Salary Commission.

They also have NOT agreed to begin meeting year-round, nor have they announced a Special Session to proactively deal with federal funding cuts impacting health care and public education.

Food and energy self-sufficiency have NOT been called out as top priorities. Legislative leadership does NOT seem particularly concerned about the mysterious $35,000 paid to a still-unknown “influential legislator” (per Civil Beat’s ongoing “Pay to Play” investigative reporting).

Unfortunately, there haven’t been any joint statements from the State House and Senate declaring Hawaii’s support for the principles of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion; nor have our lawmakers offered any official support ensuring each person’s right to “due process” under the law, as provided by the U.S. Constitution.

What I wrote last week was, essentially, a “field of dreams” — a short list of meaningful actions the legislature could take, if only it collectively had the political will to do so.

The lesson I learned from this “April Fools” joke gone awry, is a profound one.

It seems that most readers – even those who appear, on the surface, to be cynical about politics and politicians – desperately want and need to believe in the government leaders they’ve elected to serve in public office.

Consequently, many were hugely disappointed when I revealed, at the end of my column, that it was all a bad joke. The leaders they wanted and needed so badly to believe in, the leaders they trusted to take us through these turbulent times, had once again fallen short.

I sincerely apologize to those of you whose hopes were raised so very high, and then dashed upon the rocks.

Those 600 words that I wrote on April 1 were intended to educate and inform readers of the tremendous potential as yet unfulfilled by our state legislature.

The good news: THERE’S STILL TIME. The legislative session is scheduled to end on May 2 sine die, without a definite date or period to resume. This gives us three solid weeks to push for the best outcome possible.

So I implore all of you — cynics and hopeful optimists alike — to reach out and contact your district State Representatives and Senators. Share with them, even if just briefly, your expectations and hopes.

If you believe, as I do, that this is an incredibly bad time for them to accept a 35% to 48% pay raise, please let them know.

Likewise, please share with them your thoughts on political corruption and the “pay to play” culture that seems to permeate our government.

Most of all, please impress upon them the need to support our public schools, Medicaid and Medicare and Social Security and the VA, and the many other critically important programs being defunded by the Trump administration.

Remind them it is their job to lead, and that you are counting on them to do so.

Have you ever raised hell when you’ve been asked to accept the unacceptable?

Make the calls. Send the emails.

Locate the contact info for your district State Representative and Senator here on the Capitol Website.

Or, here is the contact for every State Representative and every State Senator.

Please also email:
Senate President Ronald Kouchi senkouchi@capitol.hawaii.gov
House Speaker Nadine Nakamura repnakamura@capitol.hawaii.gov

Mahalo for taking action!

Gary Hooser
garyhooser.com (https://www.garyhooser.com/)
@garyhooserblog.bsky.social
8 years – Kaua`i County Council

8 years – Hawai’i State Senate – 4 as Majority Leader
Former Vice Chair Democratic Party of Hawai’i
Policy & Politics – Hawai’i and beyond, in real time – Stay informed. Get involved. Make a difference.
New readers – Subscribe at https://policy-and-politics.mailchimpsites.com for regular email updates – I promise not to flood your inbox with meaningless pap. Truly…I promise. gh