Hawaiʻi politics is no laughing matter. Or is it?
As the 2026 election cycle enters its final weeks of campaigning, the issue of “politics” and “elections” has taken on a serious tone. With State Constitutional amendments, Honolulu City Charter amendments, as well as the choosing of candidates for office on the ballot, campaigns for all are working hard to create a convincing closing argument that their idea, man or woman, is a better choice than the alternative. And for ...
Political revolution in Hawaiʻi? History says it’s not that simple
The ballots for Hawaiʻi's November 3 General Election are now making their way into mailboxes across the state, and with them comes the familiar talk from different political circles that this could finally be the year Hawaiʻi changes. Having watched Hawaiʻi politics over the years, and the events that have shaped its political landscape, this blogger asks: Is there really a political revolution brewing in Hawaiʻi, or is this just ...
The President and the press: who sets the terms?
This blogger has been meaning to write an article for a while: the dance between the press and the President of the United States. The White House Press Room, PC: National Archives and Records Administration, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons With Donald Trump returning to the White House, and his love-hate-kinda-love-be-totally-hostile relationship with the media that covers him, this blogger has had a theory that what we are watching isn't ...
Hawaiʻi candidates test an electoral tradition
As Hawai‘i moves from the Primary Election Cycle to the General Election in 2026, it appears an interesting political experiment is underway. And it’s taking place right under the noses of voters, but in plain sight if a watcher of politics in Hawai‘i is paying attention. While there is no universal “rule” requiring a candidate to do so, that convention has been reinforced by the expectations of voters, the media, ...
Ozawa vs. Waters III: The final round?
In over 30 years of watching Hawaiʻi electoral politics by this blogger, one thing has become increasingly apparent: sometimes the election doesn't end when the votes are counted. Few political rivalries demonstrate that better than Trevor Ozawa and Tommy Waters. For over 12 years, the two have fought three election battles that ended up before the Hawaiʻi Supreme Court. In political terms, it has become something of our own Ali-Frazier ...
