Letters to the Editor

Columnists

Viewpoints

Opinion

Yamachika Tom IMG 1913 Large

Tom Yamachika

AKINA portrait 2

Keliʻi Akina, Ph.D.

Government & Politics

You might not have realized this, but Hawaii residents are living in multiple, continual states of emergency — at least if the governor’s emergency proclamations are anything to go by.

I’m not talking about just the emergency orders related to the Maui wildfires or the flooding on Kauai. In recent years, the concept of an emergency necessitating executive intervention has expanded well beyond natural disasters.

[{"text":"Here are just a few of our ongoing emergencies:","type":"text"}]

 emergency proclamation regarding affordable housing, an emergency that dates back to July 17, 2023.

 proclamation on homelessness was signed in December for a state of emergency that is now two years old.

 proclamations have been signed related to this ongoing overpopulation emergency on Maui, which dates back to 2022.

 This abandoned property considered to be dangerous to public safety has been the subject of emergency proclamations since July 2023, and now is on its 

I want to be clear that I am not diminishing the importance of any of these issues. These are legitimate problems that require action. But the word “problem” is not a synonym for “emergency.” When Hawaii lawmakers created the state’s emergency-management statute, I doubt they intended for it to become a problem-management statute.

But that’s effectively what has happened. Our governors have become increasingly reliant on the exercise of emergency powers to advance policy goals, often to address difficult political problems that fall short of the true meaning of “emergency.”

Now, outside of the use of emergency orders, I can respect the rationale behind many of the governor's proclamations. Often, they cut through the frustrating tangle of bureaucracy and cumbersome regulations that obstruct progress. That’s definitely true of his housing and homeless proclamations, as well as those related to rebuilding on Maui. 

But allowing emergency orders to take the place of legislative action on critical issues upends Hawaii’s constitutional balance of powers. When governors act as super-legislators, able to suspend laws indefinitely, it diminishes the power of the Legislature. 

This issue is even more pronounced for emergencies that go on for years, well after the Legislature has had the opportunity to address the issue.

Fortunately, there are several bills under consideration at the 2025 legislative session that would remedy this situation. 

 would give the Legislature and county councils the ability to end an emergency by a two-thirds vote, while 

 proposes to more narrowly define what constitutes an emergency.

Some people might claim that passing such bills is pointless. Even if the Legislature were to agree on reform, wouldn't the governor simply veto it?

[{"text":"Maybe he would — or maybe he wouldn’t. ","type":"text"}]

last year — despite originally announcing that he was going to veto it — that prevents the governor or a mayor from suspending electronic media transmissions during a state of emergency.

Of course, if the governor were to veto emergency powers reform this year, the Legislature could always override that veto. And it would behoove them to do so, rather than wait until a governor uses emergency powers in a very unpopular way.

If that day ever comes, our state lawmakers might wish that these proposed reforms were already in place.

[{"text":"E hana kākou! (Let's work together!)","type":"text"}]

Keli‘i Akina, Ph.D. is president and CEO of 

. Reprinted with permission from Akina's Feb. 22, 2025 newsletter. 

Emergency i Stock

<title>Community Voices: Political problems not the same as true emergencies | Aloha State Daily</title>

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.

Community Voices: Political problems not the same as true emergencies

Christian Shimabuku Headshot

Christian Shimabuku

Sports

Punahou and Seabury Hall won HHSAA boys basketball titles at the Stan Sheriff Center on Friday night. 

In the Division I championship game, Punahou edged Saint Louis 43-40, denying the Crusaders their fourth consecutive state title. 

The Buffanblu led as much as 38-30 with 3:41 left in the game. After the Crusaders rallied to tie the contest at 39 with 1:10 remaining, forward Zion White scored on a layup on Punahou's next possession with 57 seconds left, giving the Buffanblu the lead for good. A desperation 3-point attempt by Shancin Revuelto at the buzzer was off the mark for Saint Louis.

White finished with nine points and 14 rebounds. Meanwhile, Dane Kellner added a game-high 13 points for Punahou. 

"We worked super hard all season," said White, who is also a standout football player for the Buffanblu. "We grind all offseason just for this moment right here."

For Saint Louis, Pupu Sepulona closed out his 

 with nine points, seven rebounds and a steal. 

"This being the last game of my high school basketball career, and the last moment I can have with the game that I love, I give credit to God for such a wonderful time in the game of basketball," Sepulona said, wiping away tears. "Just being able to play (at Saint Louis) four years and just enjoying every second of it."

In the Division II championship game, Seabury Hall prevailed 49-33 over Hawai‘i Preparatory Academy to win its first state basketball title in school history. 

The Spartans came agonizingly close in the 2024 Division II state championship game, losing 49-45 to Kohala in overtime. A trio of 

 free throws forced  overtime, where Kohala eventually took over. 

Friday's game between the Spartans and Kā Makani was never particularly close, as Seabury jumped out to a 9-0 lead to begin the game and led 14-3 after the first quarter. 

"Last year, we were so close," Seabury Hall head coach Scott Prather told Aloha State Daily after the game. "I was heartbroken for a long time, not for myself or my own selfish agenda, but for the boys that were so close and deserved it, so to come back this year and be hungry for a year straight knowing that we were this close last year, it's almost better this way. In a sense, it's such poetic justice."

The Spartans were led by senior swingman Bromo Dorn, who had 20 points, seven rebounds, three steals and two assists with no turnovers. 

"Coming in as a freshman, I realized we had no state championships," Dorn said. "I made a promise to myself, my coaches, my family, my school, I'm not leaving the school without winning one. Seabury is just such a tight-knit community with 350 people in the high school, really small school, but there's just a bunch of support."

Prather, who had a standout college career at Hawai‘i-Hilo, believes Dorn is bound to surpass him. 

"I think his potential, his ceiling is limitless," Prather said of Dorn. "I've told him before, I think he's the best player the MIL has ever produced. He's that good. And I played in the MIL, and he's better than me. I'll say it right out for everybody to know. I think he's better than me. Somebody's got to get this kid on the college roster. Some coach out there is going to be very, very happy to have him on the team."

Punahou basketball 022125

<title>Punahou and Seabury Hall win HHSAA boys basketball titles | Aloha State Daily</title>

Seabury Hall won its first state title, while Punahou won its state-leading 12th and its first since 2018.

Punahou and Seabury Hall win HHSAA boys basketball titles

Stephanie Salmons Headshot

Stephanie Salmons

Business & Tourism

Five months after its acquisition by Alaska Airlines was completed, Hawaiian Airlines CEO 

 on Thursday shared updates about the organization and plans for the future.

His remarks came during a business pau hana hosted by the Chamber of Commerce Hawai‘i at the airline's Honolulu headquarters.

Alaska Air Group, Inc. and Hawaiian Holdings, Inc. 

 that Alaska Airlines would acquire Hawaiian Airlines in a deal that was valued at approximately $1.9 billion, including $900 million of Hawaiian’s net debt, according to an announcement at that time.

 but the distinct Alaska Airlines and Hawaiian Airlines brands will be maintained. Sprague was 

 of Hawaiian Airlines in September following its combination with Alaska Air Group.

“We recognize full well the important role — really the critical role — that Hawaiian Airlines plays here in the Islands for everybody,” he told the gathered audience Thursday. “We sort of view ourselves as part of the infrastructure, part of this place, part of the fabric of this place, but for the business community, for the employer community, all of you, we know we play a very special role as well. For that reason, there’s a lot going on at Hawaiian Airlines right now, and we thought it would make sense to give you a little update.”

[{"text":"Here are some highlights of what Sprague had to say:","type":"text"}]

— There are similarities between the two airline brands.

“We’re not identical, but there’s a lot of similarities between Hawaiian Airlines and Alaska,” he said. “A lot of employee culture, corporate culture similarities. A lot of similarities tied to the special purpose that I believe both airlines have.”

Although it has grown in the past two decades, Sprague says that during its history, Alaska has served its namesake state, which also shares similarities with Hawai‘i, including a reliance on air service.

“Alaska has a sense of purpose and a commitment to communities that has been there for almost 93 years because of that service. [It’s] so similar to what Hawaiian Airlines has done for 95 years here in the air service-dependent communities of the Islands,” he said. “So there’s a lot of things that bring us together in sort of a common fashion.”

[{"text":"— Vision and goals","type":"text","marks":[{"type":"bold"}]}]

Sprague says one of the pillars of Alaska Air Group's long-range vision is a commitment to be “Hawai‘i’s trusted airline.”

“And that means not only maintaining strong Neighbor Island service, but it also means flying folks to wherever they need to get to,” he said. “For residents of Hawai‘i, we’re now, because of the combination, expanding our network across North America that will allow us to serve three [times] the number of destinations — over 100 destinations in North America — with a single airline.

“For folks here in Hawai‘i, that’s just a significant new expansion of what you can access with just one airline.”

More information about Alaska Air Group's three-year strategic plan can be 

[{"text":"— Benefits for residents and travelers","type":"text","marks":[{"type":"bold"}]}]

Sprague says that Huaka‘i by Hawaiian is a new program

 for residents of Hawai‘i “to give them special benefits when they’re flying Neighbor Island and, importantly, to help bring down the cost of flying between islands here in Hawai‘i."

According to an announcement in November, members of the program will get a free checked bag —  inclusive of surfboards, golf bags and other sports equipment — on interisland flights along with discounts of 10% or 20% for one Neighbor Island booking per quarter and other deals.

Sprague also says the airline will bring its HawaiianMiles program together with Alaska’s Mileage Plan.

“Already, we’re starting to link the benefits,” Sprague said, noting that the next “really big step” will happen later this year when the programs are combined into a single new loyalty program.

“We’re going to give it a fantastic new identity, so watch for that,” he told the audience. “It will be the best new loyalty program in the industry. It’ll be a miles-based program with tons of benefits.

“So again, an expanded network and a single, powerful loyalty program will allow us to do wonderful things for our guests here in Hawai‘i.”

— Maintaining and building upon interisland

Flying between the Islands is a critical part of the airline’s business, Sprague says.

“It always has been and it always will be, just the same as Alaska Airlines. Even as it’s gotten bigger and started to fly to different places, still flies to places like Nome ... or Kodiak up in the state of Alaska,” he said. “So, the Neighbor Island service is going to continue to be a critical part of what we do, and in fact, we’re enhancing that service.”

That includes adding late evening flights to the Neighbor Islands and back into Honolulu.

“It’s a positive thing and, again, it’s a way for us to express our commitment," Sprague said. "Those later night flights, they’re not big money makers, but they are important for the community. That’s why we’re doing them.”

Additionally, Sprague says spring flight schedules will be adjusted in the coming weeks so there will be “more flying between the West Coast and Hawai‘i, and a lot more flying on Hawaiian Airlines between the West Coast and Hawai‘i. Then we’ll start to shift some of the Alaska flying to elsewhere in North America.”

Joesprague hawaiian airlines CEO 022025

<title>Hawaiian Airlines CEO Joe Sprague offers updates | Aloha State Daily</title>

Here's what he had to say about expanded services and frequent flyer programs.

Hawaiian Airlines CEO Joe Sprague offers updates

This week I will be writing about a very interesting bill moving through our Legislature, 

 I call it “Candy Crush” because it’s being pushed very hard as a sweet deal, but it has the potential to really stomp our economy.

So, what does Candy Crush do? First, here are the sweet parts. It eliminates individual income tax for folks making less than $100,000 (single or joint).  It exempts unemployment benefits from income tax.  It eliminates general excise taxes on groceries and nonprescription drugs (prescription drugs are already exempt).

Then, here are the crushing parts. The GET retail rate will be raised by 50%, to 6%, phased in over four years. The standard deduction will be doubled from 2023 levels, but all future increases to the standard deduction that were enacted last year would be cancelled. Likewise, the individual income tax rate cuts enacted last year would be cancelled.

The construction trade unions, among other labor groups, are solidly behind this bill.  At the hearing on House Bill 959 recently held by the House Economic Development Committee, bruddah after bruddah, union leader after union leader, the Ironworkers, the Operating Engineers, the Plasterers and Cement Masons, the Theatrical Stage Employees, the Teachers, and others came out in strong support.  Although, I must say, some progressive organizations like the Appleseed Center for Law and Economic Justice were more equivocal and were very wary of the GET hike.

When it was my turn to speak, I tried to remind lawmakers that many folks have complained that our tax system overall is regressive, meaning that it hits harder when people have less income. I said that the primary driver of this regressivity was the GET, as studies have shown, so hoisting the GET is likely to make the problem worse, not better.

Even though the bill would remove GET from non-prescription drugs and from groceries, there are still going to be lots of things that will be made more expensive by the GET increase. For example:  Rent.  Costs of power, like electricity and gas, and connectivity of all kinds, including Internet and TV, except for public utility charges (those are subject to Public Service Company Tax from 5.885% to 8.2%, considering state and county shares).  Everyday expendables, like toilet tissue, toothpaste, towels. Furniture.  Maintenance.  Costs of housing (everything except the land).

In addition, retail rate GET is embedded in the costs of many, many other products and services.  Let’s consider, for example, the grocery store that’s supposed to be selling these exempt groceries.  If the store premises is rented, GET applies to the rent.  When it services its air conditioning or refrigeration equipment, GET applies to that.  When it buys software or cash registers to keep track of the sales, GET applies to those.  When it uses an accounting firm to help audit the books or prepare tax returns, GET applies to that.  The GET wholesale rate doesn’t apply to any of these costs.

Lawmakers, before you try to implement a massive tax hike like this, you really should think through the repercussions, because there will be lots of them.  And for our friends in the unions, we urge you to think about these as well.  And you don’t have to listen to me.  Look at the testimony of some of the progressive organizations who have been dealing with tax effects for a long time.  When they sound wary, you ought to be also.  As should we all.

Tax Increase i Stock 1931859227

<title>Community Viewpoint: This Hawai‘i tax break could be a tax hike | Aloha State Daily</title>

Any increase to the GET, such as the one proposed, falls hardest on people with the least income.

Community Viewpoint: This Hawai‘i tax break could be a tax hike

Kelsey Kukaua Medeiros Headshot

Kelsey Kukaua Medeiros

Aloha Spirit

Nonprofit, government and community speakers converged Thursday at the Hawaiʻi State Capitol rotunda to oppose Hawaiʻi House Bill 1118. If passed, the bill would remove new non-medical exemptions to immunization requirements in local public and private schools.

 is scheduled to be heard today at 3 p.m. by the House Committee of Judiciary and Hawaiian Affairs. Should it move forward, the next hearing will be March 11, organizers said.

Spearheading the rally was grassroots organization The Aloha Freedom Coalition, which focuses on uniting people with aloha, according to Gary Cordery, who launched the group with his wife Kim in 2020 in response to Covid-era mandates. Cordery, a Kailua resident, was a Republican candidate for governor in 2022.

Cordery told Aloha State Daily, “The people’s voices matter. The legislators are supposed to work for the people. We want individual freedom. We want body autonomy – we think people should be able to decide what goes into their body, their kid's body, to determine if they get to go to school.

"We’re not anti-vax, that’s a big misnomer. If people want to get vaxed, go for it, it’s OK, but we want people to be able to choose.”

He added, the impact of the bill passing could be parents pulling their children out of school to homeschool or even leaving the state, which would have “economic consequences.” 

“We hope the legislators will hear us all day long." Cordery said. "We want them to know we’re opposed to HB1118, and we want them to support good bills.”

, among others, submitted testimony in favor of the bill. “The department defers to the Department of Health on public health and safety matters and is committed to maintaining a safe, healthy and accessible learning environment,” DOE Superintendent Keith Hayashi wrote. “Immunization requirements help protect school communities, and if the DOH determines that revoking exemptions is necessary due to increased health risks, the department will comply to safeguard students and staff.”

ASD was on the scene for part of the event, which attracted a consistent flow of attendees that appeared to number in the hundreds over its three hours. We saw children waving signs against HB118, people listening in from the upper levels of the Capitol building, and those in the rotunda cheering, dancing and hugging.

Rep. Garner Shimizu of District 32 led a prayer, saying, “This is the battle we’re in, and we need to do this together, in a way that carries aloha, honor and respect for conversations."

Rep. Diamond Garcia, who represents District 42, also spoke at the rally. “The First Amendment guarantees all freedom of religion,” he said. “We don’t belong to the government. The government belongs to us – we the people of this country, we the people of Hawaiʻi.”

, “The Aloha Freedom Coalition advocates for the personal freedoms of all communities in Hawaiʻi, promotes transformation and transparency of government and supports the constitutional rights of the people to act, move and live in aloha.” The organization is not affiliated with any political party, its website states.

AFC Rally 2025

<title>Aloha Freedom Coalition rallies against vaccine bill HB1118 | Aloha State Daily</title>

The grassroots organization hosted a rally at the Hawaiʻi State Capitol on Thursday opposing legislation that would bar new non-medical exemptions to vaccines at schools.

Aloha Freedom Coalition rallies against vaccine bill HB1118

Katie Helland Headshot

Katie Helland

Entertainment

Arts & Culture

For the members of Red Session, a third wave ska band, which started in a garage in Hawaiʻi Kai in the early ʻ90s, a reunion is coming. Red Session will bring the band back together for one performance at 8 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 22, at 

“It is absolutely a one-night-only show,” said Jamie Winpenny, Red Sessionʻs songwriter and guitarist. 

The venue has space for about 300 fans. There are less than 50 tickets left, Winpenny told Aloha State Daily as of Wednesday.

Over the years, Red Session opened for ska bands such as The Specials, The Toasters, The Selecter, Fishbone, Mighty Might Bosstones and Hepcat, among others. 

Red Session just dropped some live recordings from the past in a new album: “Monday Night Live & More.” Previously, the band released a full-length album, “R. Roan’s Wee Thyme” in 1996.

For the upcoming reunion show, Mainland artist 

, who tours nationally and was part of the now defunct band King Apparatus, will also take stage.

Winpenny and drummer Shon Gregory were the original band members, and the pair began practicing music in the early ʻ90s in the garage of Winpenny’s parents.

“We had fun and started writing some music together and started playing with some other people,” Winpenny said. “Then, we started playing house parties, mostly in Kailua — strangely — because we were all from Hawaiʻi Kai.”

It was through those parties, that the duo met the band’s bass player, Christopher Maas, and vocalists, Selika Drake and Pat Harrison. To fill the horn section, they put up flyers at the University of Hawaiʻi’s music school, Winpenny said. Two people responded, and that is how the band added Chad Tamashiro on trombone and David Jackson on trumpet. 

In 1997, the band moved to the Bay Area in California to tour full time, Winpenny said. Eventually, Red Session dismantled when some of its members returned to Hawaiʻi.

Several continued to make music with other groups. Gregory joined another ska band, Go Jimmy Go, and toured with them all over the world before concentrating on his construction business. Winpenny became part of another band, playing guitar on a national tour before  returning to Hawaiʻi. Today, he plays with the Irish Pub rock band 

, which plays “a whole different genre of music” and did a one-week residency in Las Vegas, he said.  

For this show, two band members —  Maas and Tamashiro — are flying in from California to take the stage.

"The bass player flew out last week just for the weekend for rehearsals,” Winpenny told ASD on Feb. 19. “He's flying back in again today.”

Most of the band members have different day jobs. Winpenny is a journalist. Drake is a public school teacher. Gregory works in construction. But on Saturday, Feb. 22, all of them 

There was a reunion once before in 2002. For that show, held at the now closed Hawaiian Hut at the Ala Moana Hotel, the band took the stage in front of about 900 people for a soldout performance, Winpenny said.

Red Session performs almost entirely original music, he said. 

“We're all from Hawaiʻi, so we talk about positive stuff,” 

 said. “I think there's just a lot that people can relate to, and I think that we're going to have such a an amazing turnout because we were around at a time when there was a really fertile music scene in Hawaiʻi. There were big gigs every weekend with local bands. There were other big ska acts coming in and big metal acts. There was just a really big communal live music scene.”

Fans of punk rock, reggae, heavy metal and ska would attend the same shows, he added. 

“We want all of these people that were part of that community to just come and celebrate themselves,” he said. “Celebrate what we've all been through in our lives together, or separately. We all survived. We're all here. We all have our lives, and we all still have each other. It's just a way for us to bring our age cohort back together again to share those memories and vibes. And then also, to try to reach out to younger music fans who might not have been as familiar with our work over the years.”

Tickets for this reunion show are $13. The doors open at 8 p.m. The show is limited to attendees who are at least 21 years old. 

News

Government & Politics

Sports

Business & Tourism

Real Estate

Food & Dining

Entertainment

Arts & Culture

Aloha Spirit

Hawaii History

Opinion

News

Government & Politics

Sports

Business & Tourism

Real Estate

Food & Dining

Entertainment

Arts & Culture

Aloha Spirit

Hawaii History

Opinion

Keliʻi Akina, Ph.D.

Latest from Keliʻi Akina, Ph.D.

Community Voices: Political problems not the same as true emergencies

Community Viewpoint: New tax proposals piling up at Legislature

More from our columnists