In the shadows of power: The letters that protected native rights

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.

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Saving by the seat: vacant jobs and our governments’ budgets

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.

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From the Capitol to the Island: Leadership Profiles in Hawaii’s Evolving Landscape

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.

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Imperial echoes: Renaming and its forgotten consequences

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

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From holidays to headlines: Politics Hawaii talks 2025 with KHON

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.

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A quiet election with some big shifts – tidbits from the results

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.

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Financial Strain in Hawaiʻi : The SMS Update and Key Lessons for Local Businesses on Navigating Procurement Challenges

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.

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