GaryHooser's Blog

Walked almost 6 miles this morning. Though I join Claudette and friends in this daily ritual, my journey’s mostly done in the solitude of deep thought and contemplation.

I started walking regularly, with a daily goal of 10,000 steps about 2 years ago. Today I made 13,931 and feeling like a million dollars. A million dollars with the weight of the world on my shoulders perhaps, but a million dollars none-the-less (as opposed to Jeff Bezos estimated net worth of 237 billion dollars and who clearly doesn’t give a rip about the state of the world).

When I walk, I feel good both physically and mentally. It is without exaggeration – good for the soul. I encourage anyone and everyone who has the physical capacity to do so, to get outside and start walking.

My “walking thoughts” today strayed through my normal spectrum of personal and political, settling on the personal (which of course also includes the political).

I began singing to myself as I walked,

“Come senators, congressmen
Please heed the call
Don’t stand in the doorway
Don’t block up the hall”

Bob Dylan without a doubt, played a key role in shaping my world view.

The year was 1968, I was 14 years old, the war in Vietnam was raging, my older brother joined the Navy to avoid the draft, bombs were dropping, people were in the streets protesting – and Bob Dylan’s “The Times They Are A-Changin” rang in my head.

It’s funny. I worry frequently about forgetting passwords and peoples names, but today I remember every single word of those lyrics. Same with “Blowing In the Wind” “Mr. Tamborine Man” and perhaps the saddest song ever written, “The Ballad of Hollis Brown”.

I named my first-born son after Bob Dylan.

Sometimes, when describing what keeps me awake at night, I’ll describe to people “the man under the bridge” as a social justice metaphor.

In retrospect, I realize today my commitment to social justice was to a great extent shaped by the tragic image of Hollis Brown as described by Dylan.

Another tragic truth-telling is his American history of war entitled:
“With God On Our Side” written 60 years ago.

Oh, my name, it ain’t nothin’, my age, it means less
The country I come from is called the Midwest
I’s taught and brought up there, the laws to abide
And that the land that I live in has God on its side

Oh, the history books tell it, they tell it so well
The cavalries charged, the Indians fell
The cavalries charged, the Indians died
Oh, the country was young with God on its side

“I learned to hate the Russians all through my whole life
If another war comes, it’s them we must fight
To hate them and fear them, to run and to hide
And accept it all bravely with God on my side”

I’ll close today’s missive with one of my very favorite Dylan tunes. I encourage all to listen to and to share with family and friends.

“Forever Young” written in 1974.

May God bless and keep you always
May your wishes all come true
May you always do for others
And let others do for you
May you build a ladder to the stars
And climb on every rung
May you stay forever young
May you stay forever young

May you grow up to be righteous
May you grow up to be true
May you always know the truth
And see the light surrounding you
May you always be courageous
Stand upright and be strong
May you stay forever young
May you stay forever young

May your hands always be busy
May your feet always be swift
May you have a strong foundation
When the winds of changes shift
May your heart always be joyful
May your song always be sung
And may you stay forever young
May you stay forever young

The past few days (months) have been upside-down crazy. My own strategy for staying sane and not being totally stressed out is to keep showing up — virtually in writing and online, and in person when possible.

Today, I’m asking you to please join with me yet again.

It’s important. No, it’s CRUCIAL — which is why I’m up at 4:30am on a Wednesday morning putting this email together, urging you to submit testimony calling for the BLNR’s rejection of the U.S. Armyʻs Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS) for the Mākua Military Reservation, Kahuku Training Area, and Poamoho.

Regardless of where you live, please email testimony TODAY (tomorrow Thursday at the latest) to the Board of Land and Natural Resources at blnr.testimony@hawaii.gov

If you live on O‘ahu, please show up in person on Friday morning.

One of the various hats I’ve worn over my past 25 years of public service is Director of the State Office of Environmental Quality Control (OEQC) – responsible at the time for administering HRS Chapter 343, Hawaii’s environmental review law.

Rarely if ever, have I reviewed an FEIS document as poorly prepared as THIS one, submitted by the U.S. Army. It is woefully inadequate and should be rejected.

This FEIS is so replete with deficiencies that the staff of the Department of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR) itself have declared it insufficient – read the staff report and background information here.

The public trust doctrine requires the BLNR to exercise due diligence and prudence in managing our natural and cultural resources. The BLNR’s core responsibility is to protect the interests of the present and future generations of beneficiaries of that trust.

Again: E-mail testimony to blnr.testimony@hawaii.gov with “Agenda item D-1” in the subject line and ask the BLNR to hold the Army accountable to the law, and to REJECT this flawed FEIS.

Your testimony can be brief and to the point, but I encourage you to review the staff report which provides a solid summary of the FEIS deficiencies.

SHOW UP IN PERSON IF YOU CAN: Friday June 27th at the Kalanimoku Building, 1151 Punchbowl Street, room 132. The hearing begins at 9am.

Oral testimony can be provided virtually via zoom – request a link using the same e-mail blnr.testimony@hawaii.gov

For additional context…In Hawaii the U.S. military presence includes, but is not limited to:

Air Station Barbers Point
Barking Sands Missile Range
Camp H.M. Smith
Fort Shafter
Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam
Marine Corps Base Hawaii (Kaneohe Bay)
Pohakuloa Training Area
Schofield Barracks
Tripler Army Medical Center
USCG Sector Honolulu
Wheeler Army Airfield

In addition to the leakage from the Red Hill Underground Fuel Storage Facility that’s irreversibly damaged the drinking water supply for O‘ahu,, decades of bombing, live fire exercises, and military training exercises have damaged beyond repair the natural landscape and once pristine environments of thousands of acres on multiple islands.

The military’s constant reassurances that they will “clean up” and “restore” the lands they desecrate have been hollow promises.

It’s time we say NO to the renewing of land leases at Pohakuloa, Kahuku, Kawailoa-Poamoho, and Makua. We must also refuse expansion at Barking Sands and the bombing of Kaʻula Island.

Support for American troops, belief in the importance of national security, rejection of the endless expansion of the U.S. war machine, and protection of our natural environment, cultural resources, and endangered species: are values that can and DO, co-exist.

The U.S. is by far, already the largest exporter of weapons worldwide. We have more military bases in more countries than any other.

It’s time.

Let’s say it together…

ENOUGH ALREADY.

Gary Hooser

Getting rid of Trump, while a worthy goal – will not stop the wars, nor end the insanity of now.

The maniacal, grotesque actions by one individual, his unfettered abuse of power, and the tangible harm being inflicted across our world are festering symptoms of a much deeper sickness: namely, greed in the form of out-of-control capitalism.

Trump sits in the White House wielding his egotistical madness not because he’s a smart and thoughtful leader, but because the richest people and most powerful corporations on the planet put him there.​​

The billionaire class — led by the titans of Silicon Valley, supported by the military industrial complex, and anchored by big oil — are all making money hand over fist.

The already obscenely rich, will of course get even more obscenely richer, upon delivery of the big fat bill, and obscene tax cuts contained therein.

It’s the Golden Rule, redux: He who has the gold (and/or the algorithms) RULES.​​

Remember, these are the smartest, richest men on the planet with the handsomest chiseled jawlines that money can buy.​​

They don’t want no stinking democracy getting in the way of their profits.​​

In their minds, the masses are the dumb asses. ​​

Allowing regular working people to control the government is a ridiculous romantic fantasy supported only by Communists and those dirty Bernie Sanders Socialists.​​

So far, the billionaires have been willing to play the game and perpetuate the charade. To maintain control, though, they’re forced to spend hundreds of millions of dollars every election to purchase seats in Congress, at state legislatures, and in city and county governments everywhere.​​

Otherwise, what might happen if they let regular working people control the government which regulates their businesses?

No doubt there would be higher wages, safer workplaces, better schools, cleaner air and water, and healthcare and affordable housing for all.​​

The core purpose of government is to protect us from thieves and thugs, be it those operating in back alleys or those more comfortable in corporate boardrooms.​​

At the moment, both the courts and Congress appear impotent.​​

So, it’s up to US — regular people, both young and old, both abled and disabled, both retired and hard at work every day – we must ALL step up and show up to say NO to the robber barons and unrestrained capitalism, and YES to grass-roots, community-based democracy.​​

We can and we must show up on the streets and in the halls of government. We must march, carry signs, testify at hearings, make those calls, and send those emails – but ultimately we must take back our democracy by winning BIG at the ballot box.

Unless derailed, postponed, or highjacked via a declaration of martial law, the 2026 elections will be upon us shortly.

The only legal, moral, ethical, and peaceful way forward, is to grab this final opportunity, take ownership of our democracy, and elect candidates at every level who support our values.

We must “primary” in 2026 — every single incumbent, regardless of political party, who fails us — and elect in their place lawmakers who will fight for us and with us, who support bold systemic change, and who are willing to challenge the billionaires and corporatists.

We can’t continue waiting for the Party, or for some charismatic leader, or for existing incumbent politicians, to suddenly see the light and step up.

We must lead the charge ourselves, and convince the 36% who stayed home in 2024 to join us.

And yes, absolutely between now and then, we must also keep showing up on the streets, at public hearings, and via our email and social media.

AND I invite you to join me in boycotting Amazon. Amazon’s Steve Bezos supports the Trump agenda AND epitomize via the Venice wedding, the greed and the gall of the billionaire class (who are without class), who enable, support, and benefit from the Trump regime.

Another tech multibillionaire, FOT and influential patron of J.D. Vance, is Peter Thiel, who wrote an essay in 2009 clearly describing the mindset of the high-tech billionaire class saying, “I no longer believe that freedom and democracy are compatible.”

Spread the word please.

It’s time to take the gloves off.

Our children, the worlds children, and the planet itself – deserve at least this.​​

Let’s do it.

Gary Hooser
Former lots of things…
Former Kaua`i County Councilmember
Former Hawai‘i State Senator – Majority Leader
Former Director of Environmental Quality Control for State of Hawai’i
Former Waikiki Pedi-Cab Driver
Former Small Business Owner
Former Real Estate Developer/Broker
Now just a tūtū man looking for good trouble
http://www.garyhooser.com

Trust me on this. Or if you are a “trust but verify” kinda guy…Google it.

Google, “Best smash burger Kōloa Kaua`i” or “Best hamburger Kōloa Kaua`i” and watch what comes up.

For those that prefer a veggie option, try “Best avocado sandwich in Kōloa”.

Just one year after opening, and the Smash Cafe Kaua`i will be at or near the top.

Every. Single. Time.

Or search Yelp, Trip Advisor, Google Reviews – 5.0 every single review.

Today, I’m sending out a huge congratulations to the Smash Cafe Kaua`i on their one year anniversary!

Wow. What an accomplishment.

Located under the banyan tree on the “food truck corner” as you enter Old Kōloa Town – it’s been an exciting, challenging, educational, and hugely gratifying year for owners, Dylan and Leeona Hooser AND their incredible Smash Cafe Kaua`i team.

Yes, I am undeniably biased. This is my family! Watching them grow this business from concept to a vibrant and successful business – fills my heart with joy.

I remember when Dylan first purchased the food trailer in Texas and drove it alone to the docks in California. Because of a faulty wheel on the trailer he was stranded at the side of the road for a short period, had to locate a mechanic in the middle of nowhere, fix the darn thing, and get back on the road…and bringing that food trailer all the way to our little island.

I remember them figuring out the menu and settling on the incredible Smash Burger.

And yes, I remember insisting they have a vegetarian option for yours truly. That’s how they came to serve a top-of-the-line scrumptiously enjoyable veggie burger, AND a totally tasty “fully loaded veggie avocado-wich” (my favorite).

Ditto to the yummy fruit smoothies and kick-butt espresso drinks.

My role in the beginning was being the “fetch and carry guy”. I’d run to the store to grab ice, take the trash to the dumpster, wipe down the tables, and of course help Claudette (Granny) keep an my eye on the grandchildren.

Dylan and Leeona did the heavy lifting, the cooking, shopping, daily cleaning from top to bottom of the food trailer, the customer service, the bookkeeping…and all that goes along with running such a business.

From the start, their primary measure of success has been “totally satisfied customers”.

Yes, of course they need to make a profit and pay the bills, but their “happy place” at the end of the day is retelling stories of customers raving “that was the best hamburger I’ve ever had”.

True. While I love that awesome avocado sandwich, day after day people pile on the smash burger praise. Tourists and locals alike come back as regulars asking for the signature Kaua`i Smash Burger.

The most recent review I found is representative of many:

“This might be the best burger I’ve ever had. The sirloin and bacon blend patty was cooked to perfection—crispy on the outside and juicy on the inside. No notes, no substitutions. Trust the chef and get it the way he makes it. Our whole table was happy dancing as we ate!”

Side note: Several months ago we were thinking Yelp and other review sites were unfairly refusing to publish many of the Smash Cafe Kaua`i reviews. We realize now their algorithms must have been thinking there were just too many positive ones!

Today, Dylan and Leeona have gotten someone else doing the “fetching and carrying” and the Smash Cafe Kaua`i Ohana is growing with others helping with the cooking, the cleaning and other day-to-day duties.

But the joy of watching customers go wow after their first bite, and come back day after day for more – is embedded in the Smash Cafe Kaua`i culture.

Please join me in offering Dylan and Leeona and the entire Smash Cafe Ohana a huge congratulations for a job well done. It’s been a long, challenging, and sometimes stressful year…but the hard work and commitment has resulted in an enterprise our entire community can be proud of.

Come by for lunch!
Smash Cafe Kaua`i
At the “food truck corner” under the banyan tree as you first enter Old Kōloa Town –
Monday through Friday, 11am until 4pm with live “lunch time” music on Tuesdays and Thursdays!

Gary Hooser
Pop Pop
The fetch and carry guy…

Screenshot

I get the question every single day.

The question, of course, is “What can we do to make our government (island, state, world) a better place?”

I offer two suggestions, and I’ll expand on them here.

The first: Think globally, act locally.

The second: SHOW UP – at demonstrations, in the rooms, online, and at the ballot box.

Acting locally means starting at the County Council level.

Thinking globally and acting locally translates to County issues, including…

Agriculture: Ensuring food safety and production, regardless of tariffs, barge schedules, or national food laws/practices. This can be done via County land use requirements and tax incentives for food crops farmed with healthy, sustainable methods.

Law Enforcement: Protecting the Constitutional right of all County residents to due process, via agreements with federal authorities authorizing County support only when the federal actions follow County-specified legal guidelines.

Affordable Housing: Protecting a County resident’s right to sleep in a private car parked in a designated County-owned area when no other legal options for shelter exist in the County. Requiring by County ordinance that large employers who want land use zoning changes, and who use workers from outside the County, must provide additional housing for those workers, thus increasing existing housing inventories. The County could also amend property tax and land use policies to incentivize the development of affordable housing, paid for by absentee, foreign, corporate owners, the resort industry and others.

Environmental Protection: Via County land use and zoning ordinances, protecting sensitive areas like aquifers, shorelines, and coastal areas that may be at risk due to state or federal actions (or inactions).

These are just four areas in which County governments could significantly impact all of Hawai‘i, and even the planet. If all four Hawai’i Counties took similar action, the impact would be statewide… and as a model, even worldwide.

Fundamental political fact: Majority rules.

Passing any Hawai’i State law requires the approval of 13 State Senators, 26 Representatives, and the Governor.

A Council majority on Kaua`i is four.

FOUR Council-members have the power to change the laws within Kaua`i County. The Mayor is also needed to approve such change and/or a fifth member of the Council must be available to override a veto.

In other words, a total of 5 people must agree in order to change a law for Kaua`i County, versus 40 people for a State law.

For Maui, Hawai‘i County, and the City and County of Honolulu, the magic number is five, plus the Mayor… which means that for change to happen, six people must come to agreement.

Seems pretty obvious that getting 5 or 6 people onboard is much easier than trying to corral 40 to do the same thing.

So why aren’t we focusing more on making change happen via our County Councils?

True, the County area of responsibility and legal authority is narrower than that of State government, but the regulatory authority is still huge.

Creative County lawmakers can also develop “work-arounds.”

For example, the County may not have the power to tell farmers what they can and cannot grow — but they can leverage property tax authority by “use,” to incentivize healthy food crops grown for local consumption, and disincentivize unhealthy “factory farms.”

Similarly, the County may not have the power to legislate what restaurants can serve and sell — but they could provide a generous property tax incentive to those food establishments who commit in writing to serving and selling a minimum of X% locally grown agricultural products. The County already provides similar incentives to landowners who rent their residential properties at affordable rates.

Bottom line: We need to spend more time and energy focusing on our County Councils — acting locally, but thinking globally.

Gary Hooser
Former Kaua`i County Councilmember
Former Hawai‘i State Senator – Majority Leader
Presently retired and looking for good trouble-maker

With the active support of the United States, Israel has attacked Iran. Iran has naturally responded with retaliatory attacks.

The whole mess could go nuclear.

State legislators in Minnesota are being gunned down in their homes.

Across the continent, other elected government leaders are being wrestled to the ground, handcuffed, and arrested for having the audacity to speak out on behalf of the people who elected them.

Mass police/ICE actions are happening daily in Los Angeles. The U.S. Marine Corps is preparing to take action against U.S. citizens. People are being taken from their homes by ICE in the dark of night, grabbed at schools, outside courtrooms, and on the streets — across the country.

The U.S. Treasury is being pillaged. Public resources are being moved from healthcare, food for those in need, parks, education – indeed, from just about every public institution you can think of — to the accounts of those at the very top.

Anyone who’s paying any attention whatsoever — anybody who cares anything at all about our collective community — knows without a doubt that we need serious, positive, immediate change.

Whether you’re following right-wing news channels, left-wing podcasts, or corporate/centrist mass media, you’ll see and hear the same madness.

The information is delivered via different filters, but it’s madness nonetheless.

Unless they are stopped, President Trump, Vice-President Vance, Defense Secretary Hegseth, and their entire cabal will continue dragging us into an authoritarian abyss.

They live for opportunities to prove how strong and bad they are. They are control freaks who love it when people fear them.

At the slightest provocation, real or imagined, they’ll push down on that LAUNCH button. Then, there’s no turning back.

Where are the adults in the room? Where are those who’ll listen, build coalitions, and come up with solutions based on real facts and solid information?

Enough already with ketamine, testosterone, “big body” posturing and warrior ethos.

Rational, civil, values-based adult conversation is desperately needed in Washington, D.C., and around the world.

Our planet needs more of the “truth and reconciliation” ethos espoused by Nelson Mandela, former President of South Africa.

Mandela spent 27 years in prison, emerged to negotiate the end of apartheid, brought peace to his racially divided country, and led the fight for human rights around the world.

If we’re to move our planet towards an era of peace, justice, and true prosperity for all, we need to somehow rid ourselves of the bullying, bad-boy, tough-guy, warrior ethos flaunted daily by Hegseth, his boss in the White House, and their friends.

How do we get there? The task at hand seems insurmountable, but doing nothing — just giving them the keys — is not an option.

There are no easy answers or textbook solutions, but it starts with thinking globally, acting locally, showing up, and non-cooperation.

Showing up sends several messages, loud and clear: We’re not afraid. We’re not going to cooperate. We’re not willing to look away and pretend we don’t see the insanity on display EVERYWHERE, every single day.

We’re all in this together. We can, and we MUST, stop this madness.

But we gotta show up —
On the streets, holding signs in towns and cities everywhere.
At public meetings, government hearings, and community town halls.
In letters to the editor, on social media, in email to government leaders.

Trust me on this: Show up. You’ll feel better.

When a majority of us join together, show up, speak out, and refuse to cooperate, the madness will stop.

“¡El pueblo unido jamás será vencido!”

The people united will never be defeated.

*Note – the above is an edited version of original post which previously focused on encouraging people to show at the June 14th protest gatherings held – everywhere. At the request of the Hawaii Filipino Chronicle, I’ve updated, strengthened and rewritten the piece which is now posted above.

Gary Hooser
http://www.garyhooser.com
former Hawaii State Senator
retired and just trying to do the right thing

There’s lots of ways to serve, and lots of ways to help make the world a better place – but you gotta show up, you gotta “do politics” and you gotta take ownership of your own government.

Only 269,912 people in Hawai’i showed up to vote in the 2024 primary election (32% of registered voters).

Those choosing not to show up, clearly think it doesn’t matter, their vote doesn’t make a difference, and “doing politics” is ugly, dirty, complicated, and contentious.

I’m here today to say, “Yes, perhaps, maybe…but…”.

Avoiding the political conversation, staying home, hanging out with similarly disengaged friends at the beach, bar, or coffee shop – is not going to change the world and in fact contributes to its demise.

Eldridge Cleaver said “You either have to be part of the solution, or you’re going to be part of the problem.”

You don’t have to give up family, hobby’s, or health. But you do have to show up – at least virtually “online”, and sometimes in person at a community meeting or public hearing.

If you’re serious about making our world a better place, learning more, doing more, and increasing your effectiveness in the political process – here are some key steps to getting there.

Step #1 – Identify a nonprofit organization involved in issues relating to your “subject matter interest” (economic, environment, cultural, education, etc). Get on their email list and receive “action alerts”. Subscribe also please to my “info/action email” https://policy-and-politics.mailchimpsites.com/

Step #2 – Know who represents you at the Federal, State, and County levels. Know their names. Have their contact information in your phone and on your refrigerator.

It’s critically important that you communicate directly with the elected official that represents you, in your home district.

When the elected policy-maker knows the person behind the email or phone call to their office actually lives in the district they represent, they pay attention.

As a constituent living in the district, you must share your concerns and hopes regularly with your elected representatives via email and occasionally by telephone. Short and on-point messages are best. Always request “the courtesy of response”, and always let them know you’re a constituent who lives in their district.

A primary (pun intended) goal of every elected official is to be re-elected. Consequently they’ll normally seek to please constituents who live and vote in their district.

At the State Legislative and County Council level, the districts are small enough to actually meet your elected officials in person.

Do it. Meet with them. Call and request a meeting to share your thoughts and concerns, and to hear theirs.

Constituents living and voting in the district control the political future of every elected official in that district, and they’re keenly aware of this fact.

Step #3 – Support others who’re doing the heavy lifting.

Even if you don’t testify at the microphone, it’s important to be “in the room” and at the public meeting in person. The number of people in the room, by itself, sends a message.

“Like and share” social media posts and “action alerts” that reflect your values. This will impact algorithms helping those posts to show up more frequently.

Show up at protest gatherings happening regularly and everywhere – march, hold signs, speak out.

Other key elements of effective advocacy:

* Think globally; act locally. Focus first on local issues and actions where your voice and participation will have the most impact.

* Help and support elected officials who do the right thing.

* Oppose elected officials who act contrary to your values.

Show up. Speak out. Send that email. Make those calls. Attend the public hearing and write that letter to the editor.

Change happens when regular people pay attention, get involved, and take ownership of their own government.

If you want to learn more about how to get more involved, and how to be more effective, please join Co-host Aria Juliet Castillo and I tomorrow, Monday June 2 at 5pm on YouTube and streaming live on FaceBook our new Policy + Politics “video podcast” https://m.youtube.com/@PolicyandPoliticsHI – talking story and sharing ideas – on how the average person can influence the political process.

Gary Hooser
garyhooser.com

When we catch elected officials doing the right thing in difficult situations, let’s lock them into a PFL.

It’s important we catch the new ones before they decide “going along to get along” is the best path forward.

I’ll never forget the first time it happened to me.

It was back in 1998. I’d just been elected to the Kauai County Council.

One of the first issues I had to vote on was a proposed zoning change for lands at Kukuiula on Kauai’s south side. Alexander and Baldwin (A&B) were the land owners.

The request before the Council was to allow A&B to build a luxury golf course/resort-type development. Years earlier, when the lands were first rezoned from agricultural to residential, A&B had promised to “build housing for local Koloa residents for generations to come.”

Now, after sitting on their residential zoning for decades and building almost nothing, A&B had come before the Council claiming the original residential plan was not economically feasible. A resort component was essential, they declared.

On the day of that public hearing back in 1998, the room was standing-room only, packed with carpenters.

Over and over, they testified: “We need the jobs!”

“Trust us” said A&B, “We’ll build homes for local people, but we must first build the resort component, and the golf course, and the luxury shopping center, and the high-end homes.”

I knew in my heart this was a bad, bad, bad proposal and that our community would likely never see the promised housing. Certainly it wouldn’t be built any time soon.

On the night before the vote, as I lay in bed preparing to doze off, my life partner Claudette turned to me and asked, “So how are you going to vote tomorrow?”

“NO,” I responded, without hesitation. “I’m going to vote ‘No.’”

“You’re never going to get re-elected” was her immediate response.

“I don’t care” was my reply.

Of course, I cared. Actually, I cared a whole lot.

I was proud to serve my community on the Council. I’d worked hard to get elected. Many people had spent countless hours knocking on doors, holding signs along the highway, attending meetings and coffee hours. They’d donated money to my campaign.

They were counting on me.

The next day came, the vote was held, and mine was the only No vote.

My mind was swirling as I walked out of the Council Chambers and awaited my political world to end.

Incredibly, the first person I saw gave me a huge hug and told me thank you. Then another and another, and still ANOTHER came up, gave me a hug or a high-five and told me “Right-on Gary, I knew I voted for the right person.”

My phone messages and email over-flowed with people offering their aloha and gratitude.

I was caught in a positive feedback loop (PFL) unlike any I’d ever encountered.

I followed my na’au, did what my gut told me to do, and what my constituents expected of me. I could look myself in the mirror. It was an incredible feeling.

Let’s entangle others in that same, PFL, and keep them there. All it takes is an email, a text, or a phone call to acknowledge the good work of others. We all can benefit from the positive reinforcement.

And in case you’re wondering: I was reelected in 2000, then elected to the State Senate in 2002 – 2010.

And to this day, 27 years after that vote – there are still practically zero homes for local residents built on those lands (1,000 acres). Yes, there’s now a golf course with a private clubhouse, and a beautiful shopping center, and broad array of multi-million dollar homes (mostly second homes and vacation rentals). Far away from the “resort component” tucked away out of sight and “off site”, away from the beach, and without those beautiful views – there are a pitifully small handful of affordable units.

But at least I can look at myself in the mirror, and know I did the right thing.

Mahalo to all who came up to me that day and the many days since then to share your support and encouragement. Because of you, other decisions made after that were done with more confidence as I grew into my role on the Council and later in the Senate.

Sincerely,

Gary Hooser
Former member of Kauai County Council
Former State Senator and Majority Leader

The words of former State Representative Roy Takumi have been keeping me awake at night.

It was 2003 and I was a brand-new Senator, preparing to vote on my first state budget. That’s when Roy told me, “Never forget, Gary, the budget we’re voting on is a moral document.”

The budget recently approved by the U.S. House of Representatives saves money by taking food and healthcare from children, old people, and the very poor.

The proposed budget also decimates funding for public education, parks, environmental protection, international humanitarian aid, and countless other valuable services and programs.

These savings will then be transferred to the wealthy, the privileged, the powerful, and of course, the defense industry.

The budget of the United States of America, now before the U.S. Senate, represents a new era of amoral depravity.

It’s worse than gross and disgusting, and we cannot remain complacent and silent on the sidelines.

We are each responsible for this. After all, WE let it happen.

WE all should be ashamed of it, and WE must fight back and stop it from being implemented.

Our voices must be loud, our actions swift, and our resolve unshakable.

We must stand united and tell the Trump Administration — and our own local government leaders – NO, loudly and clearly.

“NO, we don’t want your tax cuts for the rich to be paid for on the backs of our less fortunate brothers and sisters, living in our own neighborhoods and around the world. And don’t try to appease us by offering us money — military money, blood money — that will fund even MORE guns, bombs, missiles, and bodies buried in trenches in foreign lands.”

I use the words “we” and “our,” above and below, very intentionally. We are each responsible for the actions of our government.

Our State Legislature must immediately prepare to increase taxes, dollar for dollar, on the very wealthy, to offset the federal tax cut benefits that will soon be flowing to those who need it the least.

These funds must be used to support and, if possible, expand Hawai’i’s Medicaid program and Supplemental Nutritional Aid Program (SNAP).

Ditto to the weakening of federal environmental protections. Our State AND County governments must pass new local laws to offset federal actions that will impact environmental protections, climate change, and even nuclear development safeguards.

And we cannot truly clean our hands and look our moʻopuna in the eyes until we confront the elephant in the room. The United States spends more money on “defense” than any other country on the planet, approximately $895 billion per year. For context, Russia spends $126 billion, and China’s at $267 billion.

The budget recently approved by the U.S. House proposes increasing military spending to $1 trillion in fiscal 2026. That increase will be funded by cuts to programs that now help our poor, sick, old, and hungry.

We are, by far, already the largest exporter of weapons worldwide, and we have more military bases in more countries than any other.

It’s time we say NO to the renewing of land leases at Pohakuloa, Kahuku, Kawailoa-Poamoho, and Makua. We must also refuse expansion at Barking Sands and the bombing of Kaʻula Island.

Support for American troops, belief in the importance of national security, and rejection of the endless expansion of the U.S. war machine: these are values that can, and MUST, co-exist.

At ALL levels, our elected officials must lead on this — or get out of the way.

If they fail to do so, we must challenge them, primary them, run against them ourselves, help others run against them, and — whether Democrat or Republican – we MUST defeat them at the polls in 2026.

Gary Hooser
former Hawai’i State Senator and Majority Leader

Both former Mayor (now County Councilmember) Bernard Carvalho AND County Council Chair Melvin Rapozo are hoping to be chosen by voters in 2026 to serve as Kaua`i’s next mayor.

Kaua`i voters deserve a choice, and I’m hoping other candidates will also enter the race.

There’s no shortage of potential candidates; Senate President Ron Kouchi, former Councilmember Mason Chock, Councilmember Arryl Kaneshiro, former Mayor JoAnn Yukimura, former Rep. Hermina Morita.

There are others of course, presently serving in the ranks of government, in nonprofits, and in the private sector, but these five are “top of mind” potential candidates.

Council terms for Carvalho and Rapozo expire on Dec. 1, 2026.

Does this mean both men will actively campaign, from (presumably) now through the general election on Tuesday, Nov. 3, 2026 – while also serving as councilmembers?

If either (or both) men resign from the council to run for mayor (which is not required), the council will appoint new members to fill their position(s). When we consider how this scenario could impact the council election, things get really complicated really quickly.

Councilmembers Felicia Cowden and KipuKai Kualiʻi are “terming out” and not running in 2026.

Consequently, four council positions will be up for election – without those four incumbents in the race.

Kaua`i County Council seats are elected “at large,” not “by district.” This means all seven existing council seats are up for election. However, with two members running for mayor, and two members “terming out,” only THREE incumbent councilmembers will be running for those seven seats in 2026 — thus the four “openings.”

The coconut wireless now says former Councilmembers Billy DeCosta and Ross Kagawa will both attempt to regain the council seats they lost in 2024.

As for Carvalho, Rapozo and the mayor’s race? Both gentlemen are nice guys who represent the status quo. Both would no doubt continue balancing the budget while making minimal changes to business as usual. Neither has a history of rocking the boat.

Both were ardent supporters of the chemical companies during the Bill 2491 period.

Both supported extending the “Iniki Ordinance” to benefit the developers/owners of the Coco Palms Hotel, allowing the developer to avoid compliance with current building codes and development standards.

Neither candidate has spoken out publicly in opposition to the actions of the Trump administration, nor in support of ensuring “due process” rights are upheld in Kauai County.

Nothing personal, guys, but IMHO, Kaua`i voters deserve a broader choice of experience and values.

We have good people, working full-time jobs, forced by high rents and nonexistent housing inventories to live in their cars.

We obviously need more affordable housing, more shelters for the unhoused, and some basic, safe, clean, legal place for those forced to live in their cars to park for the night.

We need safe, healthy and pesticide-free county parks. Other counties are doing this; why not Kauai?

A full-time Kauai auditor position/office is required by our County Charter. Yet neither the mayor nor the council has chosen to fund this essential component in the fight to eliminate government waste, fraud and abuse.

I’m hoping fervently that additional candidates for mayor and council will step forward in the coming months. Kauai voters deserve to hear from each one. What ideas, solutions and proposals will they put forward to resolve these — and other — pressing issues?

Simply maintaining the status quo is not leadership. We need more than that. Much more.

Footnote for context:
2024 Council General Election Results:
Carvalho at No. 1 with 15,435 votes, Rapozo at No. 2 with 14,403, Kaneshiro 13,049, Bulosan 12,385, Cowden 12,325, Kualii 12,276, Holland 12,041.

Kagawa at No. 8 with 11,933 and DeCosta at No. 9 with 9,977.

Top vote-getters in previous council elections now Rep. Luke Evslin 13,208 in 2022, and former Councilmember Mason Chock 18,599 in 2020 (and highest council vote count in Kaua`i history).

Gary Hooser
former Kaua`i State Senator and member of Kaua`i County Council