Hawaii has too many men and women in prison. It’s not that they shouldn’t be there. They probably should be in prison for whatever crimes they committed.  The problem is that so many of Hawaii’s men and women go into prison in the first place. The cost is staggering, often estimated at over $30,000 per … Read More »

The Niu Valley home of Nainoa Thompson and his wife Kathy Muneno was destroyed recently by a fire, possibly caused by a malfunction in or near an electric tankless water heater. We’re saddened to hear of their loss and thankful that neither Nainoa nor Kathy was injured. My wife asked me if we should get … Read More »

On most weekdays I drop my wife off at work in downtown Honolulu. I tell people that I work at home but have a 90-minute commute. Both are true. I pick her up from work, too. Each afternoon there’s a local woman polishing a brass knob which opens an automatic door for people who need … Read More »

I had to laugh when I read Malia Zimmerman’s article about following the money trail at Office of Hawaiian Affairs. A few years ago Hawaii Reporter wanted to know where OHA’s money went. After all, it is public money. Does the public not have a right to know how the money is spent? Apparently not. … Read More »

Uh oh. Insurance rates are about to go up again. Why? Because that’s what they do. In the age of computer efficiency and worldwide interconnected networking, large bureaucracies have figured out how to parlay technological efficiency into more profits. Make no mistake. HMSA, Hawaii’s leading HMO, is a bureaucracy. Despite legislation and seemingly altruistic motives, … Read More »

To say that Aloha Airlines is struggling is to say that beer is an acquired taste. Both take a little time to get used to, but too much of either leaves you feeling worse off. In a competitive inter island airline market, Aloha can’t seem to do anything but spend money. They’re losing it faster … Read More »