Opinion
Community Voices: Legislature poised to fix a state wrong?
First, local government shut down restaurants during the Covid-19 pandemic. Then the federal government offered them relief money to partially make up for their losses. Then state government taxed that relief as revenue. A bill in the Hawai‘i state legislature would undo that last step.
Keliʻi AkinaMarch 21, 2025
Eerie Impressions in Iwilei
The land beneath the Iwilei Salvation Army building has a dark history.
Lopaka Kapanui and Tanya KapanuiMarch 19, 2025
Community Voices: Universal vax for Hawai‘i
A new bill would tax health plans so that the state can buy bulk vaccines for people not otherwise entitled to receive free vaccines. It also immunizes the state itself — against lawsuits.
Tom YamachikaMarch 17, 2025
Community Voices: Let’s close the book on school impact fees
It's not just big developers who have to pay these fees, which add to the cost of housing, even individuals adding an ADU have to come up with thousands of dollars.
Keliʻi AkinaMarch 14, 2025
Haunted Hānaiakamalama
This storied house in Nu‘uanu Valley was well known more than a century ago for its many frightening experiences, from the sound of footsteps to visions of a disembodied head.
Lopaka Kapanui and Tanya KapanuiMarch 12, 2025
Community Voices: Taxpayers need a break from old liens
Why the Tax Foundation of Hawai‘i drafted a bill to stop the state Department of Taxation from leaving liens on taxpayers on the books past their 15-year statute of limitations.
Tom YamachikaMarch 10, 2025
Community Voices: Kōloa Rum challenge could be what kills the Jones Act
Recently, there has been momentum in Congress to revisit the law, which for more than a hundred years has been limiting shipping competition between U.S. ports and had an outsized negative impact on the residents of Hawai‘i and other U.S. states and territories who rely heavily on waterborne transportation for their imports.
Keliʻi AkinaMarch 07, 2025
The eerie history of Chinatown's Hocking Hale
This week, ASD launches a weekly column by Robert and Tanya Kapanui, historians and co-owners of the popular ghost tour, Mysteries of Hawai‘i. Together, they'll take readers on a journey into the historic, spiritual and supernatural dimensions of Hawai‘i places.
Lopaka Kapanui and Tanya KapanuiMarch 05, 2025
Community Voices: A Stealthy Tax Hike
Employers could be hit with a 42% increase in what they pay in state unemployment insurance taxes under a bill being considered by the Legislature.
Tom YamachikaMarch 03, 2025
Community Voices: Political problems not the same as true emergencies
Hawai‘i is operating under multiple emergency orders from the Governor's office, often extended over years, for pressing problems that can and should be handled by the ordinary democratic process.
Keliʻi AkinaFebruary 22, 2025
Community Viewpoint: This Hawai‘i tax break could be a tax hike
Any increase to the GET, such as the one proposed, falls hardest on people with the least income.
Tom YamachikaFebruary 22, 2025
Community Viewpoint: New tax proposals piling up at Legislature
At least 60 potential tax hikes could be on the table.
Keliʻi AkinaFebruary 10, 2025