Much like Charles Schulz, who retired shortly before passing, Gene closed his chapter in public service with quiet dignity, and then graduated from life in the same way.
While the clarification ultimately came from a different source than Murkowski’s original inquiry, it validates the power of persistent, quiet advocacy. Even amidst the high-volume churn of the current administration, voices are still being heard—and sometimes, even heeded.
The real question, still looming, is what happens next year when the bills keep coming in, but there are no more vacant positions to shuffle around.
Profiles in Hawaii Leadership: How do our leaders handle the pressure? Governor Green, UH President Hensel, and Mayor Bissen have all faced major tests recently. Some navigated challenges with skill—others, not so much.
While the formal campaign has yet to begin, Green’s record is already setting the stage for 2026. His methodical approach has, so far, positioned him as the dominant figure in the race—but politics is anything but predictable.
While the renaming of the Gulf of Mexico may seem like a symbolic gesture, it reflects a broader pattern of asserting dominance through acts of rebranding. The reversion of Denali to Mount McKinley, however, strikes closer to home for Native Hawaiians, as it underscores the painful legacies of U.S. expansionism.
President McKinley’s legacy in Hawai‘i is inseparable from the annexation of the islands during the Spanish-American War, a land grab that also included the Philippines and Cuba. For many Native Hawaiians, McKinley is not a figure of greatness but a symbol of stolen sovereignty—a leader who absorbed their homeland into the United States without consent, perpetuating the broader narrative of American imperialism
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.
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.
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.