The following editorial was originally published in the Honolulu Star-Advertiser on Sunday, September 5, 2021 as part of the "Raise Your Hand" column in the Insights section.
PRO: A PRACTICAL CHANGE TO HAWAII TOURISM
“Not only are hotels understaffed, but Hawai’i is at full visitor occupancy while there is a severe shortage of other resources elsewhere in the islands…This prioritization of tourists’ wants over local residents’ needs caused an uproar within Hawai’i’s communities.”
- Carolei Edra
CON: ADDRESSING FLAWS IN HTA’S NEW PLAN
“If we want to move from accidental to purposeful perpetuation of what makes Hawai’i special, we need a Cabinet position or shared vision between the HTA and the government, or else any well-intentioned actions fall short.”
- Jamie Hirano
For decades, the concept of patriarchy has defined our social and political discourse, framing the
world as one where men inherently hold the advantage and women are systemically disadvantaged. This narrative, which has played a powerful role in achieving gender equity, remains deeply entrenched in public consciousness.
Amid the relative quietness of Hawaii’s political landscape, the most consequential election of this year is one over 5,000 miles away: the New York City mayoral race. It’s a three-man race among Democrat Zohran Mamdani, Republican Curtis Sliwa and former New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo who is running as an independent.
Sept. 10 marked a devastating day for our nation. An unparalleled American leader was
tragically and unjustly murdered for speaking his beliefs. A father, husband, mentor, leader and
Christian — Charlie Kirk embodied all these roles and more. His death deeply impacted not only
his family and supporters, but countless others, who drew encouragement from him. Even in his
passing, Charlie’s life continues to serve as an inspiring example that we can all learn from.
When I first stepped into Puʻuhonua O Waiʻanae, a village of more than 250 houseless
individuals near the Waiʻanae Boat Harbor, I expected to see hardship. What I didn’t expect was
to find community, leadership, and above all, family.