Reflections of Gene
It would seem that the last time I would see recently passed Representative Gene Ward was also the last time I would see other friends from the Republican Party, at Marian and Jim Grey’s house in Hawai‘i Kai in December 2022. We were watching the Hawaii Kai Holiday Boat Parade, an event held every year where boaters in the area would dress up their boats in Christmas livery and parade ...
In the shadows of power: The letters that protected native rights
While much attention is paid to the federal judiciary as a check on executive overreach, another, quieter form of resistance plays out in letters—formal appeals from legislators that can shift federal interpretation and policy. During his second term, President Trump has been on a tear with the issuing of Executive Orders. With no initial clarity, many of those focused on DEI were feared to also affect Native American, Alaska Native, ...
Built by Service, Undone by Policy
Lindquist (second from left) is a long-time volunteer in the community. PC: Mark Lindquist Facebook Page Long-time readers of Politics Hawai‘i might remember a few guest pieces from Mark Lindquist — a familiar voice with a global perspective. It’s been a while since we’ve heard from Mark. He’s been on the ground in Kyiv, Ukraine, lending kōkua as the war with Russia continues. But this past Wednesday, April 16th, he ...
Saving by the seat: vacant jobs and our governments’ budgets
As March turned into April, the focus of the City and County of Honolulu and the State of Hawai‘i shifted from circulating every idea to figuring out how to pay for it. And it seems that both of them are taking a look at empty desks and wondering if savings can be found from them. Donovan Dela Cruz. As Chair of Senate Ways and Means, he was the Senator who ...
From the Capitol to the Island: Leadership Profiles in Hawaii’s Evolving Landscape
Leadership doesn’t always show up overnight. Sometimes, it takes time, especially for those who get elected to office and start to grow into their roles over their early terms. It’s in those early years that they begin to evolve into the leaders they were chosen to be. Many legislators who currently serve at both the County and State are good examples of this. A list that would be too long ...
