By Jeff Schwartz| Comments: 2

Donors Choose is a web site where public school teachers can identify and post specific projects that they would like to help improve their students' educational experience, but for which there are no school funds available. Those interested in supporting a particular teacher, class, project, or school can go to this web site, make the choice of a project they'd like to support, and make a donation, large or small, to help support the project. » read more

By Brent Dillabaugh| Comments: 6

After writing his post on locals and non-locals, Andrew asked a few friends if we could share some reflections about what we've experienced as people who did not grow up in Hawaii. I was very hesitant to write anything, but he felt that it was critical to have more voices in this conversation, and I agreed. So I decided to think out loud about the responsibilities of the non-local. » read more

By Andrew Aoki & James Koshiba | Comments: 11

Rail is not as bad or as good as it's made out to be. If we go through with it, it will take the commitment of Oahu's people to make the investment worth it. » read more

By Andrew Aoki & James Koshiba | Comments: 5

We do not know if we will start construction on rail lines or HOT lanes in the near future, but the demolition phase has already begun on our precious island culture and our sense of community, aloha, and kuleana. The high stakes of this rail controversy include this key question: Will we irreparably damage the fabric of our community with yet another polarizing and demoralizing public debate? » read more

By Andrew Aoki| Comments: 7

I believe local culture saved Hawaii in the past by uniting people without forcing them to be uniform, but today we need a unifying force that's even more versatile. Hawaii needs a coalition of native, immigrant, local, and non-local people who want a sustainable and prosperous future and who are willing to fulfill a personal kuleana to make it so. A coalition of islanders willing to learn from each other. » read more

By James Koshiba| Comments: 0

The EPA reports that between 1990 and 2006, municipal solid waste generation grew 22% across the U.S., but an astounding 105% in Hawaii. This simple fact about our waste generation suggests a different approach than the one taking shape. It points to a need to redefine the goals of waste management from disposal to reduction. Even our focus on recycling, though admirable, can be misleading: Our recycling rate is on par with the national average, but because we generate so much more waste to begin with, we still end up sending more to our landfills per person than other states. Hawaii's State and County solid waste management plans all set goals for recycling. None have goals for waste reduction. » read more