As Hawaii transitions out of the holiday season and into the new year, Politics Hawaii with Stan Fichtman was once again featured on KHON 2 News, sharing insights (or mana’o) on the key issues to watch in 2025.
As 2024 comes to a close and 2025 begins, the co-creators of the Politics Hawaii with Stan Fichtman blog want to extend a heartfelt mahalo to you, our readers. Your engagement in analyzing the political, social, and business zeitgeist of Hawaii has been invaluable.
But one thing is for sure, after all is said and done, “Hawaiian Airlines” as we know it now, is going to look much different to those who grew up flying them.
Ultimately, Kai Kahele’s political future hinges on how well he performs as OHA Chair. Time and action, though, will tell if this is the start of his political comeback.
Beyond a single ad or one organization, there’s a broader, ongoing effort to hold the administration accountable—a watchdog that will continue to keep a close eye on the White House. The conflicts that divide this country, from civil rights to indigenous, religious, and federal land issues, won’t simply disappear just because the political landscape shifts.
The 2024 General Election may have seemed like a typical, low-key local affair, but it delivered a few surprises that weren’t exactly on anyone’s radar before November 5.
The key question emerging from the shutdown of SMS is whether Hawaiʻi’s government and private entities are helping or harming local firms through their procurement rules and procedures when hiring local firms for consulting and other work. Additionally, it raises the issue of whether the “buy local” philosophy is genuinely supported by these rules.
As Election Day approaches, a new mindset emerges across the country—one of readiness overreaction. From Coos Bay to Washington D.C., voters are shifting their focus from fear of the unknown to strategic preparation for the future. Whichever candidate wins, this blogger saw Americans embracing resilience, getting ready to adapt and thrive in the next chapter of our nation’s story.
Senator Hirono, therefore, is providing a strategic reminder that fierce advocacy can attract resources back home, even if it clashes with the local preference for subtlety. Which, despite our wish that it was not, is a more effective way to get things done in Washington DC.
The State Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism (DBEDT) and the Hawai‘i Housing Finance & Development Corporation (HHFDC) have recently confirmed that the state contracts previously held by SMS Research & Marketing Services, which recently shut down operations, have been transferred to other entities.