Backyard cottages one way to meet Maui housing needs
Out-of-touch Hawaii Dems have only themselves to blame for legislative losses
SA: … The Democratic Party of Hawaii did away with its frenetic but grassroots presidential preference poll, in favor of a scheme dependent on girthy private donations to fund a mail-in ballot election, eliminating all face-to-face contact. When that putsch failed as cost-prohibitive, the party in 2024 reversed and managed to only attract about 1,500 votes statewide in the old cafetorium meetings. It voted for a mixture of President Biden and “unaffiliated,” protesting Gaza’s destruction. Though the party’s turnout collapsed from 2008-2016 to 2024, the party’s elite continues to applaud itself.
Lo and behold, the Republicans have now gained seats in both houses of the state Legislature.
The national party shares the same delusional arrogance. Nationally, President-elect Trump gained votes in every major bellwether district and state of the country, while Vice President Kamala Harris was not nominated in an open primary, the democratic way, but only after the president’s implosion on TV occurred too late for a competitive primary….
Democrats have become a consortium of interest groups — and in Hawaii, many leeward and North Shore and especially Polynesian voters don’t feel the aloha.
If the media had any honesty, they would acknowledge that the state Legislature and the City Council (now paid 64% more) are now populated by the sons of millionaires who lecture honest working people about equality and diversity, while forfeiting none of their own privilege or aggrandizement.
Democrats have made of themselves a farce — a bunch of upper-middle class snobs, and country club baby boomers and ‘trustifundarians’.
They allege that Trump’s character and criminal convictions made him deserve to lose. Their tragedy is that they did not recognize their own unworthiness in feeling entitled to victory….
X: Matthew Yglesias on X: "Principles for Common Sense Democrats to reform governance in the blue zones and be competitive in the red zones — delivering a coalition that can win"/X
read … Out-of-touch Dems have only themselves to blame for loss
For Me, Voting In Person On Election Day Is About Culture, Not Politics
CB: … To demand the public adjust to mail-in voting while scaling back in-person Election Day voting centers is asinine.
Democracy is not simply a concept, democracy requires action. It is fundamental that our state invest in our democratic infrastructure.
I voted in person at 11:30 a.m. Tuesday at Honolulu Hale. It took me two hours to vote. I am fortunate that Honolulu Hale is within a 10-minute drive for me. As the day went on, I received many calls from frustrated voters who couldn’t figure out where to go to vote. My heart sank as I told these working-class people they would need to drive at least 40 minutes from where they live and be prepared to stand in a three-hour line after that.
The most populous island in the state only had two in-person locations. That fact alone is egregious. The neighboring islands, much more rural than Oahu, had even less of an option.
Democracy is not simply a concept, democracy requires action. It is fundamental that our state invest in our democratic infrastructure. Many seek to place the blame squarely on state Elections Chief Scott Nago. I find that extremely lazy and short-sighted. Nago can only work with what he is given.
The fact is it’s a failure of the governor and legislators for not allocating more money for elections. Be clear, the issue of long lines was absolutely brought up with legislators and advocates, a year prior no less, and blind eyes were turned….
As Explained: Long Lines Suppress Republican Votes on Election Day: City Clerk Plans to do it Again in 2024
read … For Me, Voting In Person On Election Day Is About Culture, Not Politics
Following the money
ILind: … The state Campaign Spending Commission has a slew of online data available for viewing and download, both raw data and useful summaries.
Here’s part of the chart showing campaign contributions by zip code during the 2024 election. You can view the full chart here….
read … Following the money | i L i n d
50 schools reading proficiency rates drop 20% or more since 2019
CB: … Since the start of the pandemic, Principal Mahina Anguay has seen behavior she rarely needed to worry about in her 12 years at Waimea High School.
Students are more easily distracted and less engaged in class than they were several years ago, Anguay said. She’s seen more incidents of vandalism and vaping on campus, and students who would usually pass high school with flying colors are struggling to get by.
“It’s affected all kids,” Anguay said, adding that the school has responded by placing a greater emphasis on hands-on learning and using smaller class sizes to connect with more students. Despite these efforts, only 12% of the high school’s students tested proficient in math last year, down from 23% in 2019. …
Although Hawaii did not experience as large a drop in student achievement during the pandemic as many mainland states, efforts to improve test scores over the last three years have seen little success, with statewide scores essentially flatlining.
Last year 52% of students in Hawaii were proficient in reading, compared to 54% in 2019. The state also reported a math proficiency rate of 40%, compared to 43% before the pandemic.
But the stagnant statewide results mask significant changes at individual schools — along with widening disparities for student groups that were already struggling academically.
Nearly 50 schools saw their reading proficiency rates drop by 20 percentage points or more since 2019. Only 30 schools saw their scores improve by the same amount.
In 2019, nearly 30 schools reported single-digit proficiency rates for Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander students in math. Last year, the number had risen to nearly 60 for both groups….
read … Data Shows A Dramatic Difference In Test Scores Between Hawaii Schools
Chamber of Commerce Hawaii re-releases 2030 Blueprint to boost economic competitiveness
SA: … Menor-McNamara said Hawaii’s business owners are painfully aware that the state’s post-pandemic job recovery is the slowest in the nation, while the costs of living and doing business remain the highest in the country and outmigration and “brain drain” continue to affect small business and job growth.
She said the Blueprint (released in February) is a way for business owners to pool their voices to support the three key issues critical to improving Hawaii’s economy:
>> Promoting economic diversification, investing in education and technology, and supporting the local community and culture.
>> Increasing workforce quantity and quality, improving the business climate and lowering the costs of living and doing business.
>> Increasing jobs and economic resilience, focusing on additional resources on in-demand industries and supporting a targeted public-policy agenda.
For the full list of Blueprint recommendations, visit 808ne.ws/4fctxRv. Menor-McNamara said periodic updates are planned....
FLASHBACK FEBRUARY: Chamber of Commerce: 2030 Blueprint Hawaii to Grow Jobs
HB: If you read one thing this summer, it’s this: Chamber’s 2030 Blueprint for Hawaii - Hawaii Business Magazine
HPR: New economic action plan lays out growth areas for Hawaiʻi | Hawai'i Public Radio
KITV: Hawaii Chamber of Commerce unveils 2030 blueprint to boost state economy
read … Chamber of Commerce Hawaii releases 2030 Blueprint to boost economic competitiveness
Hawaii activist is banned from South Korea: "a pawn for the North Korean regime or even an outright agent"
SA: … "her efforts advance the North Korean regime’s interests"
"a pawn for the North Korean regime or even an outright agent"
"Ji Seong-ho, a member of South Korea’s Parliament who was born in North Korea and escaped in 2006, called Ahn a “phony” peace activist and alleged she was driven by a desire to see the U.S. and South Korea lose influence to North Korea and China"…
RELATED: South Korea Refuses Visa to Honolulu-Based North Korean 'Collaborator'
read … Hawaii activist is banned from South Korea
12.5% Transit Fare Hike
SA:… Proposed increases in pass rates include a $10 and $5 increase in monthly pass rates for adults and youths, respectively, and a $110 increase for the adult annual pass….
DTS said the proposed fare structures will ensure the city’s transportation system is reliable, sustainable and able to meet the changing needs of Oahu’s transit riders into the future. DTS said operating and maintenance costs have risen across its multimodal system, including TheBus, Handi-Van and Skyline (pay for rail) ….
DTS: Honolulu Rate Commission seeks input on recommended policy changes | Department of Transportation Services
SA: City’s proposed fare changes for public transit are pending | Honolulu Star-Advertiser
KHON: Transit fares, routes could change for Rail's next segment
SA: HOLO card monthly pass for a full-fare adult would cost $10 more, increasing to $90 a month from $80 -- 12.5% fare hike
read … Public input sought on proposed Honolulu transit fare changes
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