Monday, September 2, 2024
More
    Home Blog Page 21

    Digital Nomad travel gear review – getting started

    Robert Kay
    -
    0
    Digital Nomad travel gear review – getting started

    Editor’s Note: This is the first of a series by Hawaii Reporter Travel Editor and creator of Fijiguide.com, Rob Kay. In this article we’ll look at a travel wallet, trousers, and shoes.

    Ever consider being a digital nomad? This is a trend that became increasingly popular during the COVID era. If you’re going to be stuck somewhere, it may as well be someplace with great beaches, good beer, and a culture you’ll want to explore. And yes, decent bandwidth so you can do your job, is also a must.

    Many countries, who understood this trend, realized that attracting hi-tech workers in a plague-induced downturn could be a boon to their economies. They responded by offering special visas that allow new economy workers to avoid tax hassles. The rationale was, so long as you’re working for people outside of the host country, you don’t have to pay taxes.

    If you’re mobile and fancy-free, what’s not to like about this arrangement?

    So I thought I’d try the digital nomad life for a few months in Europe while both researching a book.

    I don’t know if there’s an official digital nomad instruction manual, but I would think rule #1 would be “travel light”. Rule #2 would be, bring the right gear.

    What exactly was I going to need?

    Here are the lessons I learned…

    Card wallet plus from Nomad
    Nomad’s full grain leather Card Wallet Plus worked well for me in Europe because of the size. (photo Rob Kay)

    Organized and Safe

    The first thing I did was acquire the Card Wallet Plus ($80) a decidedly non-high tech item from a company called appropriately enough, Nomad. A Santa Barbara-based operation, Nomad manufactures an array of high-tech products ranging from smart phone cases to wallet tracking cards and yes, even leather wallets.  

    The Card Wallet Plus is minuscule but has 5 card slots and an external “quick access” slot.

    How does this fit into the digital nomad’s world?

    Start with the premise that when you travel, you don’t need a big fat American wallet. There are several good reasons for this.

    First off, Rome and Barcelona are not just centers of great cuisine. Both are also the pickpocket capitals of Europe. This slim little billfold will readily slip into your front pocket without screaming “steal me”.  

    comparison of Nomad Card Wallet Plus and big fat American wallet
    Leave those big fat American wallets back home (photo Rob Kay)

    The Card Wallet Plus is much thinner than my old-fashioned, “traditional” wallet, and could handle my Honolulu driver’s license and about four credit card sized items with plenty of room left over for folded cash and a few business cards. Nomad says it will fit up to twelve cards (which it will) but at that point it’s bit bulky for me. (I mean do you really need to carry around 12 cards?)

    No.

    All I wanted was room for a credit card or two, a couple of debit cards, a driver’s license, and room for Euros. It’s a good idea to carry a couple of credit cards with you because for inexplicable reasons one may not work. For example, Trenitalia, the Italian rail company, “liked” one of my credit cards but not the other. Or you may be in a situation where you need cash so a debit card will come in very handy.

    The Nomad wallet became my “EDC” for use in cafes, restaurants, etc. No real need to carry anything else which would be fodder for the bad guys (and girls).

    What about carrying a passport? 

    Aviator travel jeans will keep your valuables safe
    With Aviator Jeans you’ve got several secret pockets to discourage the pickpockets. I wore their new khaki jeans on this recent trip.

    I didn’t find I needed a bigger billfold to carry around my passport in an EDC context. If you need to carry a passport (which you do at times) that can be transported in a money belt or you can zip it up in your front pants pocket. Generally I’d leave the passport back in the hotel room.

    For me, a carry-all with passport(s), cash, cards, and everything else is just too big to stuff in your pants. It doesn’t mean that having a larger wallet might be a better solution for you but carrying something less detectable worked better for me.

    Secure Clothing

    Another way to protect your valuables on your person is to purchase a pair or two of “travel” jeans with hidden pockets protected by a zipper. I like products from Aviator, a company that has built its entire business model on travel clothing. Among other items, they offer a variety of jeans – classic faded, jet black, khaki, camo, steel grey, etc. I’m partial to their traditional denim jeans. 

    Aviator offers a quintessential five pocket and five belt loop classic jean design. You could easily mistake it for a Levi or Wrangler.

    Be a smart digital nomad and Keep your valuables out of harm's way with Aviator travel jeans
    Yet another zippered pocket to stash your goodies in an Aviator travel jean (photo Rob Kay)

    That’s just the surface resemblance. Aviator’s secret sauce is their three “secret” zipper pockets, hidden from view so that you can stash your passport, credit cards, cash, etc. Inside the right front pocket is a pouch where you can easily tuck your Nomad wallet, or your smart phone. (So long as your phone isn’t too big). Two of the hidden pockets are back pockets and third is in the left front. The back pockets could work for a passport or even cash because these items would be very hard to spot.

    The Aviator jeans come in slim and straight fits. If you’re not the sleek type, the regular fit will be fine but if you have an athletic frame, the slims will be more flattering. On the other hand, the regular cut, which is more forgiving is probably not going to reveal what’s in your pockets as readily as the slim version.

    I have Aviator jeans both in traditional denim and khaki, a newer version with a fabric that is clearly more durable and feels akin to my Levis than their stretchy denim.

    The upshot? If you’re going to be in a town full of pickpockets, you don’t want to make their job too easy.

    the Abisko Midsummer Trousers is must for the digital nomad
    The tailoring on the Abisko Midsummer Trousers has a very appealing European look. It also has secure pockets for your wallet and passport.

    I also like Fjallraven’s Abisko Midsummer Trousers ($140) which I also wore extensively on this last trip. Although they are “serious” hiking pants, these are stylish enough to wear anywhere. I wore them in restaurants and on a hiking trail high in the Pyrenees. They are comfortable, flattering and very practical.

    They don’t have the hidden “anti-pickpocket pocket” but they do have zippered and button-down pockets that come in very handy on the road (and on airplanes for that matter). All the pockets are on the front, so no one is going to grab anything out of the rear pocket.

    Let’s hear it for the Swedes.

    Finally, I’m also a fan of Western Rise. Every version of their trousers (someone correct me if I’m wrong) has a hidden zipper pocket behind the right rear pocket which makes them great travel candidates. I own both their Evolution and Diversion lines. The former has lighter fabric and thus probably better suited for travel purposes. They have recently introduced a new (Evolution 2.0) pant which has had good reviews I have yet to “experience” it. V.1 suited me just fine.

    Western Rise trousers also have a back right hidden pocket.

    The Right Shoes

    When you go to Europe, be prepared to walk–a lot.

    Shoes, of course are a very personal choice but #1 is comfort and fit. The last thing you need is blisters. On my recent trip I took along two pair of “walking” shoes from Lowa, a German manufacturer that I’ve used for years. (Full disclosure, I have dual American-German citizenship so I’m a bit biased about German products). I swapped out shoes every other day and walked all around towns such as Florence, Mantova, Figueres, Merano–you name it. Here’s what I took…

    Innox Pro GTX Lo

    The Innox Pro GTX Lo

    The Innox Pro GTX Lo (priced at $215) is a cross between a running shoe, a trail running shoe and a hiking boot. Thus, in theory, you get the best of all worlds with this product. It’s both stable and flexible on all types of terrain. It’s also light (360 grams or .78 lb).

    The shoes are constructed with a synthetic, mesh fabric upper that entails a “PU” or polyurethane frame for durability, shock-absorption and stability. PU absorbs shock, supports, and rebounds well and is more durable. LOWA claims a PU midsole also offers excellent support, lasts 2-5 times longer than a comparable EVA midsole and is less toxic to manufacture.

    I’ve had this pair for nine months now and wore it extensively in Europe. (Rob Kay photo)

    Another excellent quality is the sole, which seems to be “grippy” in a variety of terrain. Whether you’re in a mall parking lot in Aprilia lot or on the cobblestone streets of Puigcerda, in the Pyrenees, this shoe can handle it. After two months of use the shoe’s sole had little wear.

    Walker GTX

    This shoe is slightly more formal than the Pro GTX. You probably wouldn’t wear at a performance at La Scala but it rounded out my portfolio. It’s also very practical. They don’t call it the “Walker” for nothing.

    The manufacturer describes the Walker GTX as a lightweight, ‘sneaker-inspired walking shoe’ but I would say it’s a lot more robust than your everyday ‘sneaker’.  The sole provides ample traction so that you can go from sidewalk to trail without breaking stride. At under 2 lbs. It’s both light and extremely comfortable but until you break it in, you’ll feel the sole has more of a stiff, almost boot-like quality.

    Lowa’s Walker (like many of their shoes) uses nubuck leather. Nubuck is top-grain, extremely durable, cattle leather that’s been sanded or buffed on the grain side, or outside, to give a slight nap of short protein fibers. The result is a near velvet-like surface that is quite comfortable to wear.

    I’ve owned six pairs of Lowa shoes/boots and have only had a problem with one pair–a boot where the midsole separated from the plate. The manufacturer repaired it for me at no charge. They stand behind their products. Let’s hear it for the Germans…

    Stay tuned for more travel gear for the Digital Nomad

    A Respite in the Heart of Portugal

    Robert Kay
    -
    0
    A Respite in the Heart of Portugal


    Portugal is no stranger to the post covid, revenge travel boom.

    Lisbon and Porto, the two main cities located on the west coast of Portugal, are now once more streaming with tourists from all over the world. The Algarve on the south coast with its beaches, golf courses and countless nightclubs, is the typical haunt of these travelers.

    Voupormontes B&B (photo Kurt Stewart)

    While the two big cities may be attractive to mainstream visitors, that’s not what I was looking for when I decided to come to Portugal with some family friends. Revenge tourism is fine, but I did not want to be among the masses. I’d heard good things about the interior part of the country, in particular the Dão, a region that doesn’t commonly attract a lot of tourists.

    Why is this area still so untrammeled?

    For one, there’s no oceanfront here. And also, as I learned, it simply hasn’t been hyped. So, I thought this would be a perfect time to go off the beaten track and learn something new about a country I’ve come to love.

    I zeroed in on the Dão, because it’s the oldest established wine region in the country. My friends and I like wine and it seemed a natural choice.

    The salad is “sourced” from the garden. Yummy. (photo Rob Kay)

    Finding Voupormontes

    I discovered this place through Kurt Stewart, a Hawaii Reporter contributor who moved to this area a few years ago and purchased a home. He wrote about this experience in a series of articles.

    He coined the name Voupormontes, a reference to his wife Teresa’s ancestral home in the Tras-os-Montes region of the country. They have converted that home into a B&B and at his suggestion, I decided to check it out. Built in 1793, it’s typical of the stone-built structures found in and around wine producing region of Viseu. They value this history and have maintained the original style of the home. Wooden beams, hardwood flooring throughout and the fireplace in the kitchen are characteristic of the traditional features found in the house.

    One of five bedrooms in the 200 year old home (photo Rob Kay)

    The house itself has three floors with five bedrooms and can handle up to seven guests. This worked out well for our group of five adults.

    I found it comfortable and cozy with a country-style feel. It was authentic, not some phony “lap of luxury” villa. This was exactly what I wanted. The view is spectacular with the valley and mountains as a backdrop. There’s a covered deck area to eat alfresco and a north-facing veranda looking over the hamlets in the valley below.

    The “adega”, a room once used for wine making, has been converted into an ensuite living area complete with a jacuzzi, shower and a treatment bed. It was created specifically to offer therapies such as reiki, aroma therapy and massage which can be purchased separately.

    Wi-Fi is available throughout the house.

    Come and get ’em, eggs from the backyard chicken coop and kale from the garden (photo Rob Kay)

    Fresh Eggs and tomatoes
    One of the big attractions for me was the fresh veggies and eggs that came right out of the garden. I was able to go into the chicken coop and gather a few eggs for my morning omelet. The kitchen is fully outfitted with a gas range so you can do your own thing.

    Management also offers the services of a local chef who will cook your lunch, which is what our group opted for. Mayuko, who comes originally from Japan, offers vegetarian-centric dishes using ingredients from the garden. These included the aforementioned eggs, but also tomatoes, eggplant, green pepper, celery, beets and an assortment of herbs and fruits such as persimmons and oranges, depending on
    the season.

    If you need groceries, there are several excellent supermarkets a ten-minute drive away.

    Fully equipped kitchen with gas and wood burning stoves (photo Rob Kay)

    Local Activities
    There’s a multitude of things to do. These include bird watching, visits to local wineries and hiking trails. (There’s a local app for your phone, with GPS, that will direct you to hiking trails).

    Archeological sites are also close by. The town of São Pedro do Sul with its wonderfully preserved Roman baths, is short drive away. People come from all over Portugal to bathe in its healing waters. We went to visit a nearby “Dolmen”, a 6000-year-old Celtic burial ground that remined me of the famous Stonehenge with its enormous standing stones.

    Paleolithic Celtic burial site 20 minute drive from the property (photo Rob Kay)

    We also strolled through the nearby town of Vouzela, a sleepy medieval town known for its local pastry, “pastel de Vouzela” and “vitela de Lafões” a veal dish that Portuguese foodies come for from all over the country.

    One caveat. There is a long list of things to do and you’re going to need a rental car to get a around.

    Rooted in Portugal
    Kurt said that he gets guests from around the world but has noticed a trend from the American market. “When we set up shop about a year ago, we started getting inquiries from Portuguese Americans interested in tracing their “native” roots. We’ve had more enquiries since and welcome those looking to discover more about their family history”.

    Although they’re not experts in DNA testing or tracking your family tree, they can help you uncover some of the hidden treasures in the area.

    Wonderful hikes and natural wonders near the property (photo Rob Kay)

    “In our region,” said Stewart, “life is really traditional–totally different from what you’ll find in the large cities.”

    Stewart said he will assist visitors tracing their Portuguese ancestry by introducing them to life in the countryside. That includes sampling local cuisine and of course spending time in his centuries’ old home. “You can’t go back in time,” he told me, “but by eating traditional food and meeting local people you’ll come away with insights into how your ancestors may have lived.”


    Visit Voupormontes for more information.

    Study the Empty Homes Tax Again?

    Tom Yamachika
    -
    0
    Study the Empty Homes Tax Again?

    One concept that has popped up again, more often than the little animals in a Whack-a-Mole game, is the prospect of an “Empty Homes Tax.”

    Simply put, if someone owns property here but doesn’t live in it for, say, six months out of the year, then we charge that someone a hefty real property tax surcharge. Why?  Because that someone has removed a housing unit from circulation in a place where we really, really need housing units.  Just last year, for example, the Honolulu City Council was considering a bill (Bill 9 of 2022) that would have set the tax at 3% of the property value, per year.

    Last year, when we wrote about this development, we pointed out that there would be lots of devils in the details.  How does one hope to enforce such a tax without running roughshod over people’s privacy (which is constitutionally protected in this State)?  Do we simply require everyone to file a form, every year, saying that “1234 Aloha Drive is my home, and I have lived in it for more than six months this year,” assume that the folks who haven’t sent the form in have vacant property, and then throw them to the wolves in the City’s tax collection agency?  How would we deal with the resulting flood of people who (1) never heard about the new law, form, or tax, (2) figured out that there was a tax and a form, but for whatever reason filed the form too late, or (3) had good reasons for not living in the house, such as being hospitalized for a substantial part of the year?

    This year, the City & County of Honolulu is trying again.  They are on the path toward commissioning a study, projected to go out for bid in August, that seeks to determine “why so many homes are vacant, and how a vacant homes tax could benefit Honolulu’s many residents who lack suitable housing.  Benefits to be explored should include contributions to a housing fund, discouraging the ‘hoarding’ of empty properties and encouraging owners to rent these properties to Hawaii households.”  The Star-Advertiser appears to be on board with this idea, as it stated in an editorial on July 14th.  City officials say that the study will be paid for with federal pandemic relief money, so residents don’t have to worry about its cost.

    First, am I the only one wondering what in the world a vacant homes tax has to do with the COVID-19 pandemic so as to justify funding this study with pandemic relief funds?  Second, what about the study done by the UCLA Luskin School of Public Affairs that the City had done in 2021?  Is this new study going to cover the same ground, and if it does, why are we taxpayers getting hit for another one?  So that two independent consultants, when the City asks, “Can we, pretty please, impose this tax?”, reply with, “Yeah, we suppose so”?

    If we can’t get out of that second study, we should at least have it address new developments, such as a paper put out by the Grassroot Institute saying, in effect, “Vacant homes don’t cause obscene housing prices, but a screwed-up building permitting system sure does!”

    Folks on the Neighbor Islands:  Don’t laugh. You might be next!

    Council members statewide working on property tax relief

    Grassroot Institute
    -
    0

    By Keli‘i Akina

    When new property assessments threatened to send Hawaii’s property taxes sky-high, my colleagues and I at the Grassroot Institute of Hawaii were among the first to sound the alarm.

    We followed up by supporting proposals that would reduce the impact of the higher assessments, including higher homeowner exemptions, lower tax rates and taxpayer credits.

    And our council members have been listening.

    In every county — Kauai, Honolulu, Maui and Hawaii — we have seen interest in providing property tax relief — and not just for homeowners, but for other property owners as well.

    Multiple bills have already passed, and many council members have asked for more information about how to reform the property tax systems in their counties.

    Several have even publicly thanked the Institute for its work on the property tax issue.

    In April, Kauai Council Chair Mel Rapozo appeared on KKCR radio’s “Kaua‘i Soapbox” — hosted by Kauai Councilmember Felicia Cowen — to talk about property tax reform, and he began his remarks with a “thank you” to the Grassroot Institute.

    “I appreciate the Grassroot Institute,” he said. “They do amazing work and, you know, it’s helped us out quite a bit, so I’m just enjoying the dialogue.”

    In June, Honolulu Councilmember Andria Tupola cited (at the 6:6:42 mark) the Institute’s testimony while talking about the Council’s efforts to pass a one-time real property tax credit, which Mayor Rick Blangiardi had proposed should be $300.

    “I wanted to tell them, ‘Thank you,’” Tupola said, “because [Ted Kefalas, Institute director of strategic campaigns] has been pretty active. … We read your testimonies, we appreciate the breakdown of mathematics so that we can make better decisions.”

    At the same meeting, Honolulu Council Chair Tommy Waters added (at the 6:6:43 mark): “I too want to thank Ted Kefalas. … I do recall what he said during the process, that $380 would equal the amount that most people’s property tax went up. We tried to get up to $380. But keeping in mind all the additional funding for public safety, we compromised at $350.”

    Then, just last week, following oral testimony by Ted regarding Bill 37, which would increase the income eligibility for a property tax credit, Honolulu City Council Vice Chair Esther Kia’aina said she wanted to “mahalos”Ted and the Institute for “bird-dogging not just this bill but other bills throughout this process.”

    These and similar comments I’ve heard from county officials about the work we’ve been doing at the Grassroot Institute have warmed my heart.

    It’s easy to be cynical about politicians and tax reform, but in every county, local policymakers have been heeding the calls to reduce the property tax burden for their constituents. I am grateful and humbled that our work has played a part in this.

    It’s proof that by working together, we really can help make a difference toward lowering the cost of living, expanding opportunities and making Hawaii a place where we all can thrive and prosper.
    ____________

    Keli‘i Akina is president and CEO of the Grassroot Institute of Hawaii.

    Skyline’s $54 per passenger operating cost highest in U.S.

    Grassroot Institute
    -
    0
    Skyline’s $54 per passenger operating cost highest in U.S.

    The following is a news release that was issued by the Grassroot Institute of Hawaii on July 13, 2023.
    ___________

    “Taxpayers are already paying an enormous amount to build the project, but now are paying even more to run it nearly empty”

    HONOLULU, July 13, 2023 >> The actual cost to operate Skyline in fiscal 2024 is probably going to amount to about $54 per passenger — the highest cost among all light-rail systems in the United States — according to new research from the Grassroot Institute of Hawaii.

    Joe Kent, Grassroot Institute executive vice president, said, “This means for every $3 ticket that passengers buy, taxpayers will be paying an additional $51.”

    Kent said the estimate is based on figures supplied by the Honolulu Department of Transportation Services, which put the Skyline’s operational costs for fiscal 2024 at about $85 million.[1] The total includes electricity, administrative and maintenance costs, but does not include capital or financing expenses, according to the department.

    Kent noted that the Honolulu rail’s capital and financing costs have ballooned to at least $10 billion, making it the most expensive rail system per capita in the world.[2] When construction began in 2012, the estimate was $5.1 billion.[3]

    “Taxpayers are already paying an enormous amount to build the project, but now are paying even more to run it nearly empty,” Kent said. “Given the enormous cost to shuttle so few passengers around, I wonder why the Skyline is being run at all. This is $85 million that could be spent in other ways, rather than paying $54 for each train ride extending for only a few miles. City officials should ask whether this is a wise use of tax dollars.”

    Kent said the operational figures apply to just the 10.75 miles of track already completed, which extend from Kapolei to Aloha Stadium in Halawa.[4]

    The full rail line is supposed to stretch about 18.5 miles from Kapolei to Kakaako, with its full completion date now set for at least 2031.[5] Its original completion date was 2018.[6]

    Kent said that from July 5 to July 9 — the first five days of the Skyline’s official but only partial operations — the highest ridership day was only 4,312 paying passengers.[7]

    He said that if the Honolulu rail has 4,312 passengers per day for the remainder of fiscal 2024, the operational cost per passenger will total $54 per person.

    According to the American Public Transportation Association, Honolulu’s $54 per-ticket projected operating cost for the Skyline is far higher than the next highest light-rail systems in America — in Cleveland, San Jose and Seattle — all of which cost about $19 per passenger ticket.[8]

    Kent said the Skyline would have to carry 12,000 passengers a day to match the $19 per passenger costs of those three cities.

    Officials with the Honolulu Department of Transportation Services, which is in charge of operating the rail system, say they expect the Skyline’s ridership to increase to up to 10,000 riders per day after the summer, which supposedly will bring down the operational costs per passenger significantly.[9]

    Kent said achieving 10,000 riders per day would bring the operating cost down to $23.29 per passenger — still the highest in the nation.
    __________

    [1] Source: Travis Ota, Honolulu Department of Transportation information specialist, during a phone conversation on July 11, 2023, with Joe Kent, executive vice president of the Grassroot Institute of Hawaii. Ota said the operational costs for the rail in fiscal 2024 will total $85 million, including electricity, administration and maintenance.

    [2] “GRIH calculations of rails: Cost per capita, worldwide,”Grassroot Institute of Hawaii, July 2023.

    [3] “Concrete poured on Honolulu rail project,” Hawaii News Now, May 16, 2012. See also letter from Daniel A. Grabauskas to Leslie T. Rogers, “Request to Enter a Full Funding Grant Agreement,” Honolulu Authority for Rapid Transportation, June 29, 2012.

    [4] Chavonnie Ramos, “What It’s Like to Ride the ‘Skyline,’” Hawaii Business Magazine, June 19, 2023.

    [5] See Noelle Fujii-Oride, “How Rail Got to $12.45 Billion and 11 Years Late,” Hawaii Business Magazine, Nov. 9, 2021. On July 12, 2023, a person answering the “HART hotline” — who declined to give his name — said the rail would be built to its end point in Kakaako by 2031. He said the rail would reach Kalihi by “around 2026.”

    [6] Noelle Fujii-Oride, “A Look at the Rail’s Increasing Price Tag and Pushed Back Completion Dates,” Hawaii Business Magazine, Nov. 9, 2021.

    [7] Dan Nakaso, “Initial paid rail ridership more than doubles after revision,” Honolulu Star-Advertiser, July 11, 2023.

    [8] “2020 National Transit Database,” American Public Transportation Association, December 2021. See also, “Grassroot Institute of Hawaii Calculations using APTA statistics 2020 updated with Skyline,” Grassroot Institute of Hawaii, July 2023.

    [9] Dan Nakaso and Mia Anzalone, “Over 71,000 passengers ride Skyline in first 5, free days,” Honolulu Star-Advertiser, July 6.

    How Not to Cool the Schools

    Tom Yamachika
    -
    0
    How Not to Cool the Schools

    Imagine Hawaii’s keiki sitting in hot classrooms.  That has been an issue for our public schools for many years, with then-Governor Ige signing several bills, such as Act 47 of 2016 that appropriated $100 million toward heat abatement upgrades, and Act 260 of 2022 that appropriated another $10 million.

    At the time, people in the communities involved were ready and willing to donate air conditioners for the classrooms.  Some did, and to their dismay, found out that the existing circuits in the school simply didn’t have the capacity to handle the unit.  The Department of Education (DOE) found “circuits are blown for a couple of classrooms or even whole wings of campuses.  With that comes a potential fire hazard.”

    Following that revelation, facilities geniuses at our DOE came up with the idea of using solar powered air conditioners.  They managed to install them in 880 classrooms and spent $122 million in the process, according to reporting from Hawaii News Now.  This translated into a cost of more than $138,000 per classroom.  Regular air conditioners could be bought for $2,000 per classroom, according to former HSTA president and Campbell High School teacher Corey Rosenlee.

    Then came the real kicker:  The solar-powered air conditioners conked out midway through the school day.  They were designed to operate for less than five hours per day.  “We got schooled on that, right, because classrooms operate more than four and a half hours,” Randall Tanaka, assistant superintendent for the DOE’s Office of Facilities and Operations, is quoted as saying.

    At that point, the real geniuses in the world stepped up to resolve the issue.  They noted that many of the lights in the classrooms used incandescent lights and other inefficient (by today’s standards) fixtures.  They retrofitted many of the schools with LED lights and other energy-efficient lighting.  As an example, a common light bulb on the market today, an LED bulb designed to replace a 100-watt incandescent, only uses 15 watts of power.  After the lights were replaced, lo and behold, the energy consumption of the lights plummeted.

    The schools then found that they could disconnect their pricey solar air conditioners from the solar power circuits and simply plug them in to the regular power circuits without blowing them out because the lighting retrofit freed up capacity in the system.

    Problem solved!

    Except that $136,000 per classroom, perhaps $120 million in total, was basically wasted.

    Obviously, the DOE has a different take on the matter.  Now, they are touting a “new process designed to more quickly deploy air conditioning units in buildings that can accommodate the increased energy use.”  It’s simply up to the school to get an electrical assessment from the facilities folks, which will use up no additional money, and then the school will “have a range of options to move forward, including starting to budget for the project, partnering with community groups for equipment donations, engaging area lawmakers, or seeking funds through the Department’s legislative budget request.”

    But can we get a refund on that $120 million they overspent?  For a goof this big, a simple “Oops” isn’t nearly enough.

    The Budget Is Signed

    Tom Yamachika
    -
    0
    The Budget Is Signed

    On June 30, Gov. Green hosted a signing ceremony on the fifth floor of the Capitol where he dutifully put pen to paper and signed into law the state budget, House Bill 300, and the tax credit bill, House Bill 954.

    The budget, of course, was signed subject to line-item vetoing certain provisions, which we have discussed before.

    At the ceremony, the Governor made clear that tax relief, especially for ALICE (asset-limited, income-constrained, employed) families, is still on the table.  There will be a Phase 2, he said, apparently targeting the 2024 legislative session.

    Large sums in the budget were directed to housing.  For example, $280 million went to the Rental Housing Revolving Fund to develop more affordable housing, and $100 million went to the Dwelling Unit Revolving Fund to develop infrastructure and support for housing.  The Hawaii Housing Finance Development Corporation (HHFDC) administers these funds. 

    Healthcare was another big target.  The budget increased the provider reimbursement rate for Medicaid recipients, with $30 million in general funds paired with $42.8 million in federal funds to do this.  $50 million is slated for improvements at Hilo Medical Center, $2.3 million for the Kona community hospital, and almost $30 million for state-owned hospitals generally (under the Hawaii Health Systems Corporation).  Another $30 million went to a program that helps to pay off educational loans for those who care for patients in Hawaii, especially with our present shortage of healthcare providers.

    Another $100 million went toward climate, energy, and environment.  In this category, the largest line item was $50 million toward the Hawaii Green Infrastructure Authority’s Solar Energy Storage Loan Program to help ALICE families buy solar panels and energy storage systems.  (In case you don’t remember the Hawaii Green Infrastructure Authority, look on your utility bill.  There is a line item there for “Green Infrastructure Fee.”  That’s them.  They make loans to finance green energy projects, sometimes with no down payment required.)

    One of the larger single items in the budget was a transfer of $500 million to the state’s rainy-day fund.  As we mentioned before, the budget as passed by the Legislature allocated a billion dollars to the fund, but the revenue forecast by the state Council on Revenues dropped by a billion dollars, necessitating some changes to the budget in order to make it balance.

    House Bill 954, which we have discussed before, temporarily (for five years) enhances some of the tax credits that are claimed by lower-income families.  Obviously, it wasn’t the full economic package that the Governor was pushing for when he discussed the Green Affordability Plan in his State of the State address.  But that’s just Phase One.  Next year, the Governor plans to revisit adjusting state income tax brackets and personal exemptions and indexing them for inflation. 

    Now that the Governor has had some time to get (most of) his department heads and core team in place, he’ll have more time to get out in front of the public to push for Phase Two.  We can look forward to that for the next legislative session.

    Lessons from the Honolulu rail we would do well to remember

    Grassroot Institute
    -
    0
    Lessons from the Honolulu rail we would do well to remember

    Photo by Charley Myers

    By Keli’i Akina

    After years of delay, the Honolulu rail is finally open. Well, partly anyway.

    The Honolulu Star-Advertiser reports that more than 71,000 people took advantage of the five days of free rides that marked the opening of the first 11 miles of the rail, officially named Skyline.

    Despite a few complaints, the initial reaction has been fairly positive. Officials are optimistic about ridership numbers and are promising big things for the future.

    In other words, we are in the honeymoon period of the Skyline.

    This isn’t a bad thing. Regardless of your original opinion on the rail, we all hope that it is safe, well run and not overly burdensome in terms of cost or upkeep.

    Keli‘i Akina

    But at the same time, let’s not forget the lessons we’ve learned along the way.

    Foremost: Government projects usually cost a lot more than promised. That is especially true for megaprojects such as the Honolulu rail. 

    Sadly, the Honolulu rail’s cost estimates have consistently increased. From $2.6 billion in 2003, the final rail cost now is estimated at about $12.4 billion, making it the most expensive light-rail project per capita in the entire United States. Among projects over four miles long, it is the most expensive in the world.

    Another lesson: There is nothing so permanent as a temporary tax. 

    In the case of the Honolulu rail, the general excise tax surcharge that was implemented by the county in 2005 to help fund the rail was originally supposed to expire at the end of 2022.

    In 2017, it was extended to Dec. 31, 2030. And now, in the rosy glow of the rail system’s half-opening celebrations, rail officials are talking about extending it again.

    In addition, in December 2021, Honolulu lawmakers enacted a temporary 3% surcharge on the state’s 10.25% transient accommodations tax to help pay for the rail. For the first two years of the tax, only a third is to be used for the rail. After that, the amount will increase to a full half. If history is any lesson, look for that tax to be extended as well.

    And another lesson: Be skeptical of everything public officials tell you.

    For example, in 2003, we were told the rail would be completed by 2018. The estimated completion date now is early 2026 — or maybe it’s 2031, And that’s after the system was shortened from 20 to 18.6 miles. Instead of going from Kapolei to Ala Moana Center, now its end point will be in Kakaako.

    As for the ridership projections, they have always been rosy, but transit ridership has been falling off a cliff in recent years — even before the COVID-19 crisis intervened and made it worse.

    During the first five days of Skyline operations, ridership was free, so of course tens of thousands of people got on board to check it out. (I hear the views were wonderful). But on the first day of the rail’s regular service, when people actually had to pay to ride it, the number of passengers plummeted to 1,245.

    Rail officials claim that number will increase over time. Meanwhile, most of the burden of paying for rail will continue to fall on Honolulu taxpayers. According to calculations from the Grassroot Institute of Hawaii, the actual cost to operate the rail per passenger ride — accepting the city’s estimate of 84,005 riders a day — is about $12.79, yet the fare being asked per passenger is only $3. 

    So what other lessons have we learned from this experience? Here are at least two more:

    >> Transparency and accountability are paramount.

    If city rail officials are frustrated with the loss of public trust in the rail, they have only themselves to blame. Throughout its existence, the rail project has been notable for its resistance to transparency and accountability. The lawsuits and investigations that have dogged the rail have only reinforced the impression that important information has been hidden from the public. 

    In the future, public works projects should strive for transparency in their decision-making and accountability in their process. Regular audits should be built into the system, not postponed until public demand becomes overwhelming. It is likely that the rail would have enjoyed greater public support if the project manager, the Honolulu Authority for Rapid Transit, had been more transparent.

    >> The more popular and exciting the idea, the more you need to beware of boondoggles.

    Projects like the rail, the new Aloha Stadium or gargantuan public housing projects are exciting. They often include promising, forward-looking proposals that could mean great things for our state. But that’s when we need to be especially cautious and avoid getting swept away by an interesting idea.

    Raising issues of cost and infrastructure may not be popular, but it’s important. The way to avoid future boondoggles is to ask the right questions — and learn from the past.

    I hope the rail will be the last large government project we embark on without sufficient transparency, firm budgets and accurate timelines. But, ultimately, that’s up to us.
    _____________

    Keli‘i Akina is president and CEO of the Grassroot Institute of Hawaii.

    MĀNOA VALLEY THEATRE PRESENTS LLOYD SUH’S THE CHINESE LADY

    Daniela Stolfi-Tow
    -
    0
    MĀNOA VALLEY THEATRE PRESENTS LLOYD SUH’S THE CHINESE LADY

    Mānoa Valley Theatre is proud to present Lloyd Suh’s critically acclaimed The Chinese Lady July 13th – 30th. Inspired by the true story of the first Chinese woman to arrive on American soil, The Chinese Lady, follows Afong Moy, after she is brought from China to America and put on display for an eager public yearning to learn of the exotic East. Leavened with humor and insight, the play explores the way we consider both ourselves and others.

    “A poignant and illuminating production that shines a light on an overlooked chapter of history.” – The New York Times

    “Lloyd Suh’s ‘The Chinese Lady’ is a tour de force, blending historical accuracy with compelling storytelling. A must-see!” – BroadwayWorld

    Stage Direction – Reiko Ho. Assistant Director – Elizabeth Ung. Set Designer – Michelle A. Bisbee. Technical Director – Mira Fey. Prop Design – La Tanya Faamausili-Siliato. Lighting Design and Master Electrician – Janine Myers. Costume Design – Maile Speetjens. Hair and Makeup Design – Maile Speetjens and Reiko Ho. Sound Designer – Mattea Mazzella. Stage Manager – Aly Sutton. Cast: Jennifer Yee Stierli as Afong Moy, Diana Wan as Afong Moy, Alvin Chan as Atung.

    The production will run July 13th – July 30th. Show times for the first week of the engagement are Thur., Fri., and Sat. 7:30 p.m., and Sun. 3 p.m. and will add an additional Saturday matinee for the second and third weeks of the engagement. Tickets: Adult- $42. Seniors and Military- $37, Youth (25 years old and younger) $24. Call 808-988-6131 or purchase tickets online at manoavalleytheatre.com. The doors will open for seating one half hour prior to each performance. No outside food or drinks allowed. The play is performed in two acts with one intermission.

    Declaration of Independence set America on path to liberty

    Grassroot Institute
    -
    0
    Declaration of Independence set America on path to liberty

    By Keli’i Akina

    July Fourth is just around the corner, and once again I am reminded of how lucky we are to live in a country whose principles are so clearly stated in its founding document.

    I’m not talking about the U.S. Constitution, which also is a wonderful achievement, but rather the Declaration of Independence, which set our nation on its course to become the leading light for freedom throughout the world.

    Written by Thomas Jefferson, who later would become America’s third president, it boldly states:

    “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness. That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, –That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness.”

    Keli’i Akina

    It was a revolutionary document, declaring that the 13 colonies no longer wanted to be part of Great Britain. And the brave men who signed it — America’s Founding Fathers — knew they were putting their lives, fortunes and “sacred Honor” at risk for doing so.

    Dick Rowland, founder of the Grassroot Institute of Hawaii, loved the Declaration of Independence. He carried small copies of it and the U.S. Constitution to distribute to people he would meet. He constantly referred to it in conversation and speeches. It was his way of saying that America has been on the right path since its beginning, and he wanted to keep it that way.

    But Dick also recognized that America is not perfect, and never has been. Slavery, unequal treatment of women, blue laws, censorship, cronyism, corruption, the military draft, excessive taxation, illegal foreign wars — the list goes on.

    But thanks to the guiding principles of the Declaration of Independence, buttressed by the U.S. Constitution, the most egregious of those violations have been struck down, and the rest are always on their heels.

    That’s why Dick founded the Institute, to help eliminate these remaining violations of our nation’s principles and keep America on the path to freedom for all.

    His focus, of course, was how to apply those principles to Hawaii, to help lower its cost of living, expand opportunities and make the islands a place where we all can thrive and prosper.

    To that point, some of the grievances against Britain’s King George sound like they might have been about modern Hawaii. The one that stands out for me is: “He has erected a multitude of New Offices, and sent hither swarms of Officers to harrass our people, and eat out their substance.”

    However, another statement that stands out for me is when Jefferson says, “Prudence, indeed, will dictate that Governments long established should not be changed for light and transient causes.”

    And so it is today. Governments long established should not be changed for light and transient causes. But they do require our attention when, as Jefferson also said, “a long train of abuses and usurpations … evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism.

    In other words, to continue on our path to freedom, we need to always remember the guiding principles of the Declaration of Independence — that we all are “created equal” and endowed with “certain unalienable Rights,” among which are “Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.”

    And we should be grateful that we live in a country where such principles are there to guide us in the first place.

    Happy Fourth of July!
    _____________

    Keli‘i Akina is president and CEO of the Grassroot Institute of Hawaii.

    1...202122...2,035Page 21 of 2,035

    Recent

    Most Commented

    Popular

    Contact us