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    A Policy Statement About Fines

    Tom Yamachika
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    A Policy Statement About Fines

    This week we are taking up as a new and noteworthy development Bill 17 being considered by the Honolulu City Council.

    That bill would give the city’s Department of Planning and Permitting a clear pathway to enforcing fines that the Department imposed by allowing the Department to record liens against the property that the fines concern, and then to foreclose on the liens like a mortgage company would if a mortgage was in default.

    Except that the Department doesn’t really want to do that stuff.

    Department Director Uchida was recently quoted in the Star-Advertiser. “The problem is to go the next step to put a lien on the property and actually foreclose, you got to go to the court system,” he said. “[Corporation] Counsel is understaffed, we’re understaffed, so everything gets bogged down there.”

    The Department has the authority under current law to slap liens on property and foreclose them. Yet, some properties have unpaid fines totaling more than $150,000, or fines that have remained unpaid for more than five years.

    If the Department has been acting like a toothless tiger all this time although it certainly had the teeth, why do lawmakers think that this bill is going to cause any significant change?

    “The purpose of Bill 17 is to make a policy statement that you need to address noncompliance with the housing code, specifically public nuisances, and that at a  certain point the department must act,” said Tommy Waters, council chair and introducer of Bill 17.

    But it seems that the problem might not be something this bill can solve.

    If a CEO of a normal company told the Board of Directors that the staff were too busy to collect unpaid money that its customers owed, and that the unpaid receivables on occasion exceeded $150,000 per customer or were outstanding for five years or more, that CEO wouldn’t have that job for much longer.

    Even if the CEO was a really talented subject matter expert, there are just some basic competencies that just have to be there so that the business can survive.  The same is true even in government.  The basic competencies need to be there, although perhaps for different reasons.  Here, we want our agencies to deter bad behavior by enforcing fines and penalties.  If it were well known that penalties weren’t being enforced, there’s a good chance that bad actors would ignore the penalties, continue to act badly, and maybe encourage others to do the same.  Lawmakers sometimes overlook these basic facts.

    To solve the problem here, there needs to be a change in the underlying mentality. Enacting a bill as a “policy statement” can’t be expected to accomplish much.  Something else needs to be done.

    Perhaps the Council should consider requiring the Department to turn over its seriously unpaid fine cases to its property tax collectors.  Those folks record liens and do foreclosure suits all the time and don’t complain about doing them.  By the way, current law already allows the fines to be added to other debts the taxpayer might owe, including property taxes, so it would not be a serious crimp in the system to have the Department fork them over to the property tax folks.

    Save the policy statements for the campaign trail – if we want to go forward with this, we need thoughtful action.

    Property Forfeitures and What Our AG is Doing About Them

    Tom Yamachika
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    Property Forfeitures and What Our AG is Doing About Them

    First, a quick question:  What’s worse than having your property condemned, or taken for a payment representing “just compensation”?

    The answer:  Having your property taken for no payment.  Taxation, of course, is one way this happens.  But it also can happen if personal property, such as cars and currency, is connected to certain criminal offenses.  The property may be forfeited without a court hearing, without compensation, and at times, without even a criminal charge filed against the property owner.  The Attorney General oversees this kind of property.

    In the Report No. 18-09, the State Auditor examined the Attorney General’s oversight of forfeited property and had some startling findings. 

    First, there wasn’t any written document either telling internal staff how the program worked, or administrative rules to educate the public and other agencies (such as law enforcement agencies).  That led to frustration by law enforcement agencies such as county police departments who wanted to seize properties connected with illegal activity (and profit from them, as explained below), and by folks whose properties were taken who wanted to show that they weren’t connected with crime and could be returned. 

    The person in charge of the program at the AG’s office, furthermore, had responsibilities outside of the program, and as a result oversight of the program had been piecemeal and, well, second-rate at best.  Processing petitions for administrative forfeiture took an average of 561 days (about 1 year and 7 months).  Worse, the office couldn’t account for some of the cash or property it was supposed to have.

    Finally, the laws governing property forfeiture specified that the agency initiating the forfeiture and the prosecutor’s office associated with that agency each get a cut of 25% of the cash or sale proceeds from the forfeited property.  The Auditor also found that 20% of the balance was to be used to support drug abuse education, prevention, and rehabilitation programs.  The 20% allocation was news to the AG’s office at the time, as not a penny had been spent toward drug abuse mitigation programs.

    Recently, the Auditor’s Office issued Report No. 21-09 on whether its 2018 recommendations were being implemented.  Here’s what the Auditor found.

    The AG did indeed issue administrative rules covering the program, but they were an easy lift because the governing law allowed the AG to adopt the rules without a public hearing.  The AG did not, however, adopt any internal procedures to guide its own staff.  So, there is a chance that within the AG’s office there may be some arbitrariness as the staff responds to each case on its own facts.

    The rules seemed to help with the office’s backlog.  Average processing time for petitions for administrative forfeiture dropped from 561 days to 204 days.  The good news is that they knocked one year off the processing time.  The bad news is that they still need seven months.  That’s a long time for a person to be without a car, for example, if it’s found that it wasn’t lawfully seized.

    The Auditor also found that the AG’s staff got better at accounting for the money seized, but still didn’t keep an inventory of the hard goods.

    And, when it came to the requirement that 20% of money be used to support drug abuse education, prevention, and rehabilitation programs, the AG’s staff couldn’t find the requirement in the law.  So, they ignored the Auditor’s point.  The AG’s position here is defensible.  Even though the law passed by the Legislature said that the Legislature intended to create a 20% requirement, there was nothing in the law that in fact created it.  If the Department spent money on drug abuse mitigation, justifiable criticism could follow.  Legislators should take note and make sure that their intent stated in a bill matches the law that they intend to enact.

    We’re making progress, it seems; perhaps not as quickly or smoothly as folks would like, but the program is better now than when the Auditor first looked at it.

    Tactical Everyday Wear from VERTX

    Robert Kay
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    Tactical Everyday Wear from VERTX

    Covid-19 has upended just about everything.

    For those of us who have been fortunate enough to work out of our homes, meeting primarily via Zoom, there’s no longer the need to “dress up”.  Sure, you need to look presentable, but there’s no reason to be a clothes’ horse.

    Your days of spending money at Nordstrom are mercifully over.  

    In other words, the pandemic has transformed our relationship with clothing.

    Essentially, we’re buying fewer garments. According to a recent piece in Fast Company, fashion industry revenues dropped in the neighborhood of one third last year. Consumers were choosier but increased spending on “casual wear” and “active wear”.

    Plenty of room for your mobile device and other gear. (Yes, it does help to be in good shape).

    In the active apparel department crossover wear–clothing that can be used in any number of environments has become an important niche. Whether it’s a hike up Tantalus, a BBQ (whenever that becomes possible) or a visit to Costco you’ll want something that’s durable and practical.

    Looking halfway decent is always a nice thing to consider as well.

    Over the last few years I’ve been writing a great deal about Crossover wear and one of the brands I’ve come to like is VERTX. Owned by famed investor Warren Buffet’s Berkshire Hathaway, the 175 year old company was, and still is, known primarily as a manufacturer of tactical clothing. (During WWII they made a lot of government issue uniforms).

    The Grip has 14 pockets but they are not that readily apparent. Thank goodness. There are two cargo-like pockets just beneath the model’s hands that would work for documents.

    They still manufacture military and law enforcement garments used by real “operators”. Because the clothing is designed to allow law enforcement professionals to blend in, you can wear them casually, without looking like a soldier of fortune wannabe.

    You’re not going to find these pants for sale in a boutique but that’s not where I shop. The point is, you won’t feel self-conscious wearing their covert line of pants. They are stylish too. You won’t be mistaken for a security guard at Walmart. 

    Their products are priced upper to mid-range—from $60-85. What you get, for paying a little more, is something that will last. These garments that are over engineered like Swiss or German machinery.

    The Cutback SF is slightly slimmer and more stylish than the Grip, so if you have an athletic body, you can flaunt it. (You can also get a “normal” Cutback that is not tailored to a slim physique).

    They have recently come out with a couple of new products that are ideal for the Coivd era.

    VERTX describes that Grip pant ($69.99) as “The look of workwear, the feel of your favorite casual pant”. I agree, although I’d say it’s a cross between work and casual.

    Constructed in a lightweight, stretch broken twill it will highlight your better features while allowing you to hike or work in the garden with them. Or, perhaps carry out a covert operation. The fabric’s feel is nice and soft. Very comfortable.

    The Cutback is also available as a short. It has all the same features as the long pants.

    It has (count em) 14 pockets but thank the Lord it does not look like some overly pocketed cargo pant. As the website says, “Grip Pants blend into the crowd without censoring your style.”

    Here are the construction highlights:

    • Athletic fit provides low-profile silhouette
    • Full gusseted crotch and four-way stretch allows greater range of motion
    • Brass YKK® locking zipper
    • Contoured higher back rise
    • 8 belt loops are 0.875-inch wide and fit up to 1.75-inch belts
    • Front pockets are reinforced to reduce wear and tear
    • All heavy-wear seams are double-stitched
    • Bar tacks or YKK® rivets at critical stress points

    I can live with that.

    Got an AR-15 magazine to stash? No problem with the Grip or the Cutback. There’s another similar pocket on the other side where you can slip your EDC flashlight or, another magazine.

    The other style I like is the Cutback SF ($79.99), which VERTX describes as “Streamlined Urban Camouflage”.

    I can dig that.

    The Cutback actually comes in two versions, the SF (the slim cut) or the “original” Cutback. If you have a physique that can accommodate the slimmer Cutback SF, I would suggest you get that one. It’s going to look better on you. If not the original will serve you well.

    For reference sake, a comparison of beltloops. Cutback SF featured on top vs. a more conventional pant from Western Rise on the bottom. This is an example of the “over engineering”, which you’d expect for operators’ use.

    The Cutback SF is a bit slimmer than the Grip , and is definitely more stylish. It “only” has 7 pockets. I would suggest that there are plenty of places to stash your credit cards, money, cellphone, passport, etc.

    I could totally see these pants used for travel (once that becomes in vogue again) because of the pockets designed to accommodate passports, money, and whatever else you wish to hide.

    You can even take these to the range and no doubt be the best dressed on the firing line.

    I like the SF design because they really can be construed as casual even if they are built for LE men (or women). The slim tailoring will also blend in with the crowd.

    As the VERTX website says, “On the job or out for some R&R you can depend on the Cutback SF for low-profile preparedness, because when you’re on the streets, you never know what could be around the corner.” (Maybe a Tinder date?)

    The deep mesh pockets (featured on both styles) are a nice touch.

    Here are the features:

    • 7 pockets keep tools and essentials at the ready
    • Deep front pockets are made of soft highly-breathable mesh
    • Watch pocket in right front pocket
    • Right front pocket has pass-through slots for comms lead or a RATS tourniquet
    • Dual angled rear yoke pockets fit standard smart phones and rifle mags
    • Wallet traps in both rear pockets keep wallet or passport secure
    • 5 mini stash pockets let you pre-load key items from 1.75 to 2.25 inches long
    • Keyring and lanyard anchor point in both front pockets
    • Concealed DropLoop pass-through in each belt loop for flexible restraints or reinforced tether points for lanyards or gear
    • 320D Cordura® reinforcements on watch and rear yoke pocket openings and cuff kickplates

    The bottom line is that these pants are both sturdy and have a modicum of elegance. Both are equally comfortable but the Cutback fabric does not have quite the soft feel of the Grip. (It consists of Stretch 6.2 oz. 40% Cotton/ 27% Polyester T400/ 25% 37.5® Polyester twill).

    Both and utilize VaporCore a technology that VERTX claims will keep you cool, dry and smelling nice. (It controls odor).

    A testament to the durability of VERTX garments: Been wearing the above pants (which are now dedicated to garden duties) for 5 years.

    What’s not to like?

    One of the over-engineered components are the the mesh pockets (on both pants) which appear to be very durable. Ditto with the massive and numerous belt loops which you could probably hang out of a helicopter with. (Don’t try it though…).

    You’ll also have a full range of movement—you’ll be able to squat, run, kneel, etc. And they will last a long time.

    These are truly everyday wear that you can travel or, you can head out on the trail with. Easy to stash your cell phone in one side pocket and your EDC flashlight in the other.

    I have been using VERTX products for a number of years (see above photo) and can attest to their longevity. For everyday wear, you can’t beat ’em. If you can use them for a covert mission, that’s a bonus.

    Robert F. Kay is a columnist for the Honolulu Star Advertiser, a health nut, the author of two Lonely Planet guidebooks and Fijiguide.com. (He also likes crossover wear).

    The Real Reason for “Vaccine Hesitancy”

    Sydney Ross Singer
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    The Real Reason for “Vaccine Hesitancy”

    The term “vaccine hesitancy” is being used to characterize a large percentage of people who have not lined up to get vaccinated against COVID-19. 

    The term “vaccine hesitancy” implies a pause to reflect before getting vaccinated. It is a term that implies that people who aren’t vaccinated are simply thinking it over, or are procrastinating, but they will eventually come around and receive the jab. It’s a public relations term to help vaccine holdouts see themselves as only temporarily unvaccinated. The assumption is that everyone, deep down, really wants to get vaccinated against COVID-19, but some temporary concerns, all unfounded, are getting in the way. 

    However, many people are not hesitating to get vaccinated for COVID. They are resisting. 

    “Vaccine resistance” happens when you don’t want the vaccine, and you feel the government is trying to force it upon you, which we might call “vaccine coercion”. Many people are wary of the hard-selling  of these vaccines and “vaccine coercion”, and have an instinctive resistance to being pushed. The more you push, the more they resist. 

    Some people think of vaccines, especially heavily promoted ones with novel technology that is currently only under emergency approval, as riskier than the disease, and are resisting these vaccines to protect themselves from potential side effects. The fact that the science regarding these side effects is still developing and uncertain adds to this vaccine resistance. 

    Realize that people who do not trust vaccines are more likely to experience negative side effects than those who want the vaccine. This is due to a negative placebo, or nocebo, effect. When people expect a negative outcome, they are more likely to experience it. This raises ethical concerns about “vaccine coercion”. Forcing people to receive a vaccine which they fear and do not want will create more hardship and side effects for these people than for the general, vaccine-accepting public, and is therefore exposing this group to greater harm from side effects.  

    This raises issues of social justice, which requires the respect of diverse opinions and lifestyle choices, including the choice not to vaccinate. We typically respect that choice, as well as the choice of what kind of medical care one is willing to accept. Coercion to vaccinate by “vaccine shaming” those who resist is inequitable treatment of this group.

    Ironically, the greatest proponents of mandatory vaccinations and forced compliance are the politically progressives, who want to protect all minority and oppressed groups other than the unvaccinated. They see the unvaccinated as a threat to others and a remnant of malignant individualism. Meanwhile, some conservatives in US culture  see “vaccine coercion” as a malignant threat to individual liberty. Public health mandates are inherently anti-individual and anti-freedom, and will be resisted by those who see individual freedom as the highest social value.

    Confounding the entire vaccine issue is the profit motive. In an investment article about the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines, it is noted,“The worst-case scenario for Pfizer and Moderna was that their COVID-19 vaccines wouldn’t work. The second-worst scenario might be that their vaccines work too well.”  The reasoning is that, “If their vaccines provide protection against COVID-19 for years, the companies won’t sell nearly as many vaccine doses in future as they will in 2021 and 2022.” The article concludes, “Pfizer and Moderna want their vaccines to be highly effective, but they also hope that booster doses are needed at least annually. That’s the best-case scenario for both companies.” 

    Many people already realize that the drug industry profits from disease, and prefers pharmaceutical interventions to natural remedies or letting the body heal itself.  Billions of dollars annually are spent on “alternative medicine” treatments, as mistrust in Big Pharma grows. The Food and Drug Administration is highly influenced and lobbied by drug companies, with a “revolving door” policy, where officials move between government advisory boards and drug company advisory boards. It’s healthy to be skeptical about healthcare advise from anyone, but especially when money is to be made. Some drug companies have made a killing on COVID. And Congress still has an insider trading problem. 

    All these considerations help reveal why so many millions of people resist COVID-19 vaccination. Distrust in the vaccine reflects distrust in the medical and political system. It also means there may be a control group of unvaccinated individuals to compare with the vaccinated group over the years. Will there be adverse vaccine side effects revealed years down the road? Will the unvaccinated regret their decision to stay clear of the vaccine? 

    Time will only tell, as this public experiment in pandemic management unfolds. 

    Special Land and Development Fund, Revisited

    Tom Yamachika
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    Special Land and Development Fund, Revisited

    Some time ago, we devoted some of this space to discuss the State Auditor’s findings regarding the Department of Land and Natural Resources’ Special Land and Development Fund (SLDF).  That fund is the repository of all land rents the State receives for land that is either leased or used under a revocable permit (such as those used by airport or harbor-based businesses), and it also is funded by earmarks off two taxes:  HRS section 248-8 gives it 0.3% of the highway fuel tax up to $250,000, and HRS section 237D-6.5(b)(4) gives it $3 million of the transient accommodations tax, each year.  (This TAT earmark was not affected by House Bill 862, which became law by veto override.)

    In 2019, the State Auditor’s Report No. 19-12 had some unflattering things to say about management of the fund:

    In our audit, we found that the Land Division is not fulfilling its mission.  It has neither a strategic plan for the long-term management of its public lands, nor an asset management plan to identify and fulfill its obligations and goals related to the administration of these lands. . . .

    We also found that the Land Division lacks clear and consistent policies and procedures necessary to guide day-to-day operations. Without them, the Land Division does not adequately perform two of its four core lease management functions: (1) it has significant difficulties collecting delinquent rent; and (2) it does not perform field inspections to ensure compliance with lease terms, including lessees’ obligation to upkeep and maintain leased premises.

    DLNR’s management responded with a scathing rebuke of the Auditor’s findings, and we thought many of those comments were hollow excuses.

    The Legislature is now poised to do something about it.  The House formed a special investigative committee, chaired by House Majority Leader Rep. Belatti, which had its initial meeting on July 15th.  Under House Resolution 164, the committee is to investigate the Auditor’s findings and report by the beginning of the 2022 legislative session.

    In the meantime, we have heard from people, some that are or were in DLNR.  They describe some policies or practices that have us shaking our head.

    • The marketing strategy for offering leases of vacant lands consisted of posting a “For Lease” sign on the property and waiting for the phone to ring.
    • There was no way of figuring out whether leases were priced at fair market rent, or of dealing with cases where the rent was obviously below market.  For example, what happens when the rent for the property was $100,000 while subleases of the same property brought in $300,000?  Instead, leases were routinely extended on the same terms.
    • When leases were priced with a percentage rent component (where a shopping center or hotel was on the property, for example), there was no process or procedure in place for verifying whether the reported sales (on which the rent was based) were reported accurately.
    • One person, a civil servant, was given the authority to transfer any ceded lands revenues to the SLDF.  Those funds could then be used for the purposes authorized for that fund, which seems to ignore the requirement of section 5(f) of the Hawaii Admission Act that ceded land revenues be used to benefit Native Hawaiians.

    We wish the House Special Investigative Committee the best of luck in carrying out their work.  They are going to need it if they aim to take the policies and practices that are broken and try to fix them.

    Grief as deep as you Love

    Rob Kinslow
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    Grief as deep as you Love

    Grief is a complex human emotion. It can produce love, anger, confusion, depression, anxiety, regret—well you get what I am saying.

    Humans seem never prepared and not in the least taught how to cope and resolve grief. Like anger, another confusing human emotion, there are few common sense coping strategies or tactics to deal with the cascade of emotion.

    Grief is as ignored as peace-making—we devalue and sabotage peace-making in our lives.

    Grief, Anger, Jealousy act on humans like a water/mudslide. It seems we can only guess at the onset, where it will go, or how to cope with the sheer force of these emotions. Mostly, we lash out and hurt others in our expression of a fundamental human emotion.

    If I take the meta-view, to look at my life as an observer would, at the thousands of cascading emotional episodes, contemplating the trauma creating the triggers, in the light of the deaths of so many friends, it is clear, what we take for real is not permanent.

    From the perspective of our own death, and the wisdom of our meta-view, our existence is unreal, just as our solid material world is not real, at least in the light of timelessness and eternity.

    A wonderful poet, Hafiz once spake so, “To take for real that which is ephemeral, is like the ravings of a madman.”

    Rainbow bridge over Hawaii

    Yet as I watch those I’ve walked beside, friends, colleagues, citizens, frenemies, who have been around me, pass across the rainbow bridge, I see it as a promise and a warning to be in alignment with your highest purpose, or be in fear and regret.

    Choices are our greatest power

    The warning: Those who seek to “rule” their worlds are distracting you from creating your world through your choices, narrowing your sense-of-power to better manipulate you by their words and decisions.

    The promise: When what you think, say and do are in alignment, there you will find happiness. Happiness and a collaborative co-creative world that benefits the many not the few is a choice. Choose carefully, think focused, visualize the thought forms of what you prefer, and then act to choose it in the material world.

    Align>Ask>Accept>Act>Receive is the promise

    It’s not the journey that crowns you but the end.

    As day turns to night, like flowers, we are here, then gone, so are also our lives in the broad span of time. We are soon forgotten, even if we are famous.

    So, make the most of your one wild and crazy life.

    Robert Kinslow is a coach, consultant, change agent and sustainability expert. Connect with him here or LinkedIn

    Shoring Up Water Transportation

    Tom Yamachika
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    Shoring Up Water Transportation

    On July 9, 2021, President Biden issued the “Executive Order on Promoting Competition in the American Economy.”  There wasn’t much media coverage of it outside of the business press, because the order is lengthy and, rather than announcing new law, for the most part focuses on telling his agencies to enforce the laws that are already on the books relating to specific industries.

    One of the industries targeted by this order is maritime shipping.  In 2000, the largest 10 shipping companies controlled 12% of the market.  Since then, the shipping companies have gone on a merger and acquisition frenzy.  Today, the largest 10 shipping companies have an 82% market share. 

    The Executive Order focuses on one problem in the industry, “detention and demurrage” charges.  Shipping companies impose these charges when goods land at the port but for whatever reason the goods can’t be offloaded right away.  These fees can add up to hundreds of thousands of dollars, leading to complaints by shippers and truckers and, naturally, higher consumer prices for the goods that were transported.

    To combat this problem, the Executive Order directs the Federal Maritime Commission to “vigorously enforce the prohibition of unjust and unreasonable practices in the context of detention and demurrage pursuant to” existing shipping laws.  That’s all.  It might be helpful for us here in Hawaii, but we can’t help wondering if they are missing the forest for the trees here.

    Here in Hawaii, we are heavily dependent on water transportation to bring us all manner of consumer goods, building supplies, and everything else that we can’t manufacture.  Thus, we are all too familiar with what happens when goods or people need to be transported over the high seas but there isn’t a lot of competition among shipping firms.  There has been an ongoing debate about the need for section 27 of the Merchant Marine Act of 1920, also known as the Jones Act, as well as its older cousin the Passenger Vessel Services Act of 1886.  These are laws whose primary purpose is to restrict competition.  It’s a wonder that neither law is mentioned even once in the Executive Order.

    It’s also a wonder that the State of Hawaii, rather than trying to make it easier and cheaper to ship people and cargo, imposes General Excise Tax on shipping charges.  In an earlier article in this space, we pointed out that the federal government prohibited state taxation of transportation by air.  We, of course, were in denial and tried to tax air transportation anyway using a somewhat creative theory, leading to a major smackdown by the U.S. Supreme Court in 1983.  We have since accepted the fact that we can’t tax air transportation.  But we can and do tax other transportation.  Why do we do that?  Because we can, perhaps; because we can get some money by doing it, perhaps.  We question whether that is sound social policy given how heavily we depend on transportation.

    Are we serious about trying to make sure that the cost of living for all of us in the Aloha State isn’t outrageously expensive?  If so, then we should be vigorously encouraging our Congressional delegation to give us relief from the 80-year-old and 135-year-old cabotage laws, finding ways to restore competition among transportation companies, and getting our State tax laws out of the industry to help bring down our stratospheric cost of living.

    “Have Bag – Will Travel: Adventures in International Living, Self-Discovery, and a Life of Meaning”

    Jim Mielke
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    “Have Bag – Will Travel: Adventures in International Living, Self-Discovery, and a Life of Meaning”

    FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 
    SUMMER 2021 

    Contact: 
    James Cameron Mielke 
    jim_mielke@hotmail.com 

    NEW BOOK SHARES INSPIRATIONAL STORY OF OVERCOMING HEALTH OBSTACLES AND FINDING NEW LIFE THROUGH ADVENTURE, WORLD SERVICE, AND INTERNATIONAL LIVING. 

    “Have Bag – Will Travel” is a compelling memoir detailing international living, self-discovery, and adventure, and is available for immediate release on Amazon’s e-book marketplace. A coming-of-age story, young James spends his days ill at ease with American life and is at the mercy of an at-times grueling digestive disorder. At the age of 19, James received an ileostomy, and life after recovery felt as thrilling as being shot from a cannon.

    This exhilarating tale presents vivid descriptions of exotic far-off lands, unique and meaningful international work experiences, the growth of goals and aspirations, and a rare mix of people along the way. Packed with pithy narratives of overseas adventures, the thrills, humor, and heartaches, some romance, and stunningly beautiful natural scenes – these stories give some glimpses into an evolving insight of a young man moving through the seasons of his life.

    Many young people are eager for an overseas experience, and are searching for direction, but for various reasons, never get there. In a world of increasing global interdependence, the lasting benefits of international travel and cross-cultural service experiences are truly priceless.   

    James first learned about YMCA overseas volunteer opportunities when he was a college student working a summer job at Silver Bay YMCA on Lake George, New York. After graduating in 1982, he was soon off to Sri Lanka for a six-week internship with the Colombo YMCA, where he led outdoor recreation and life skills programs for disadvantaged youth. He ended up staying for six months. 

    After Sri Lanka, James was hooked on the thrill of international living. For the next eight years, he worked with voluntary organizations in developing countries throughout the Asia-Pacific region. In general, nothing was planned — there was no grand strategy, no burning ambition, no life-long dream or goal to achieve, only a keen desire to continue living this incredibly fulfilling lifestyle out in the world.

    That was about 40 years ago, and the lure of continued fun, adventure, personal growth, and meaningful work as a humanitarian aid worker has taken James to over 20 developing countries throughout the Asia-Pacific region. Except for six years of graduate studies in Hawaii, where he completed Master’s and Doctoral degrees in Public Health, he has been overseas ever since. 

    “Have Bag – Will Travel” is the first book in the “Adventures in International Living” series. Drawing on over 45 years of personal journal entries, the series chronicles some of his experiences living and working in developing countries throughout the Asia-Pacific region, as well as low-cost adventure travel to exotic destinations on every continent except Antarctica.  

    10% of proceeds from book purchases will be donated to charitable organizations in the developing world.   

    THIS BOOK IS IMPORTANT BECAUSE: 

    It will stoke the fires of adventure, especially among young people – It will inspire and encourage those seeking something beyond their national borders, beyond the mainstream tourist destinations, superficial material lifestyles and empty career paths. The discovery early in life of the deeper meaning and potential derived from international and cross-cultural perspectives might even save 30 years of meaningless work later.   

    It will resonate with anyone who has desired to travel and live overseas – the stories demonstrate how anyone can experience genuine fulfillment and self-discovery through different, freer ways of living, no matter what your budget.  

    It reveals that you grow when you give back – Giving back to the world in return for all that has been given, and expanding one’s horizons through travel, leads to immense personal growth.  

    It demonstrates perseverance with a positive mindset – After years of suffering with Inflammatory Bowel Disease, receiving an ileostomy was the best thing that happened to James. It gave him back his health, his freedom – and 45 years on, life keeps getting better all the time.  This story encourages readers to be accepting, flexible and to learn to roll with the flow. Bumped off the track? The next adventure is about to begin! Find the silver lining that transforms negatives into positives, and new doors open. 

    About the Author

    https://cms-internationsgmbh.netdna-ssl.com/cdn/image/article/public/pioneering-story-finalists_Jim.jpg

    James Cameron Mielke is originally from Buffalo, New York, and grew up as a pastor’s son. At age 19 he was fitted with an external pouch, following years of pain, depression and suffering with Crohn’s disease. The pain and misery were gone. Almost immediately after receiving the ‘bag,’ he felt strong and exhilarated and was catapulted into a whole new energized life. For the first time in years, he was free to enjoy all that life offers and that freedom continues now, 45 years later.  

    Over the years, James has spoken to college students, members of voluntary organizations and other interested groups about world service work and other options for international experiences – just as someone spoke to him 45 years ago, when he was a summer employee at the YMCA.   

    James has lived and worked in over 20 countries of the Asia-Pacific region. In that time, he completed his master’s and doctoral degrees in public health at the University of Hawaii. This was funded by a State of Hawaii academic award and a US Government grant administered by the East-West Center research institute in Honolulu, whose mission is to “promote better relations and understanding among the people and nations of the United States, Asia, and the Pacific through cooperative study, research, and dialogue.”  

    James Mielke is an experienced expat, and also enjoys adventure travel. He has been to more than 60 countries in Asia, Africa, Europe, North and South America and the Pacific. James currently works as an international health and development consultant for various humanitarian aid agencies. He is also an internationally certified classical yoga and meditation teacher and teaches both as a seasonal volunteer at YMCAs in the USA and abroad. Having  survived  these adventures,  James still travels, and lives in a peaceful seaside setting on Phuket island in southern Thailand. 

    “Have Bag ‒ Will Travel” Review 

    “Jim’s memoir clearly illustrates the power of the human spirit. The book is a rich mixture of travel, adventure, personal growth and cultural exchange. In a tumultuous era this is a guidebook to the soul. The author compels us not only to “know ourselves” in a spiritual way but to make friends and have some fun in the process. Jim is both a practical guy who rolls with life’s punches while remaining an inveterate optimist. It’s a must read for anyone with an interest in Southeast Asia and the Pacific.“

    Rob Kay, Lonely Planet author, creator of FijiGuide.com and recipient of Lowell Thomas Travel Journalism Award

    Land of the Free and the Home of the Brave?

    Tom Yamachika
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    Land of the Free and the Home of the Brave?

    Here in Hawaii, people like me often complain about lack of transparency, government overreach, and similar issues.  But think about it.  Does our government overreach?  Yes.  Why does it do that?  Because we let them.

    Part of our culture here is to do anything we can to get along.  Let things slide.  Let bygones be bygones.  And we get taken advantage of.

    Remember back in 2015 when the Foundation filed its “Stop the Skim” lawsuit against the State because the State was scooping 10% of the Honolulu Rail surcharge?  The City & County of Honolulu was being hurt but didn’t take action.  Other private businesses were being hurt but didn’t take action.  When we filed suit, we faced court hearings where the State’s attorneys were sneering, “Judge, obviously there’s nothing here.  This surcharge has been in place for a decade.  Why hasn’t the City challenged it?  Why hasn’t any other taxpayer challenged it?  Why didn’t the Foundation challenge it in the last ten years if it was so bad?”

    The Foundation pressed ahead anyway.  We lost the suit in 2019, but in 2017 lawmakers changed the amount of the surcharge skim from 10% to 1%.  Taxpayers emerge victorious!

    Now, we are in the age of the pandemic, with the Governor flexing his emergency powers to suspend all kinds of laws on the books.  One thing he did about a year ago, which we wrote about here, is that he completely stopped sharing the Transient Accommodations Tax with the counties even though the Hawaii Constitution and the law provided for the sharing.  With tourist arrivals through the floor, there wasn’t a lot of TAT to go around anyway, but a small trickle is still more than a big fat zero.  We suggested that this was government overreach.  The counties were being hurt, and what did the confiscation of TAT money have to do with our emergency?  I was waiting for one of the counties to sue, and then argue to our Judiciary that the Governor went too far.

    I’m still waiting.  It’s been a year.

    What happens if the Foundation sues?  Then the State will go to court saying, “Judge, this pipsqueak foundation is just screeching in the wilderness.  This is really a matter between the State and the counties, and if none of the counties are willing to man up then this matter doesn’t belong in court.”  At least when we challenged the rail skim, we were paying some GET so we could show a connection between us and the dispute.  This one does seem to be a dispute only between the State and the counties, and it’s tougher to justify the Foundation’s standing to sue.

    Will the counties sue?  Nah!  At the county government level, we all want to get along.  Let bygones be bygones.  Besides, if a particular county makes noise, won’t it be squashed flatter than a pancake the next time the Legislature meets?

    What happened to “Land of the Free and Home of the Brave”?  Battles are fought all the time to keep freedom alive.  And the battles of today don’t use muskets and sabers.  Some of them are in the courtroom.  Others are in the court of public opinion. 

    Although sometimes I groan when I hear of lawsuits or other antics of activist groups, I give them credit for getting off their duffs and doing something to remedy injustice. 

    Not all of us were meant to be the gladiators.  For those of us who aren’t, there are other ways to show bravery.  Complain about government oppression or overreach to a legislator.  Tell an organization that does gladiator work that you appreciate their battle.  Maybe send a few dollars their way so they can keep up the good fight. 

    But don’t just sit back and let yourself be stomped on.  Our Founding Fathers didn’t.  They endured ridicule and violent opposition.  They shed blood.  And they formed what we sing about as the Land of the Free and Home of the Brave.

    Post Covid Chic—Boat Shoes are Back

    Robert Kay
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    Post Covid Chic—Boat Shoes are Back

    According to recent stories in the New York Times and NPR all bets are off when it comes to fashion. In essence, the fashion police have given us license to wear whatever we please. As if we need the Times or NPR to tell us how to dress. Truth is, after a year or so of isolation, people are simply doing their own thing.

    The recent gyrations in the fashion industry have been historical.

    A recent Fast Company article reported that during the Covid era, industry revenues dropped about one third of 2019 numbers.

    There was an exception.

    Consumers actually increased spending on “casual” and “active” wear. And why not? People were not attending business meetings in the flesh. They were present at zoom meetings, so they didn’t have to impress the boss or client with their fabulous wardrobe.

    Ergo, what folks wanted from clothing was comfort and utility. You didn’t have to go overboard on high end stuff, so long as you looked decent enough on your monthly pilgrimage to Costco.

    Do you or don’t you wear socks with boat shoes? In Hawaii no one would even think twice about it…

    Now that we are making our way out of confinement, we can start paying more attention to re-creating our own style. In past columns I’ve focused on “Covid Wear” — particularly trousers and crossover gear that works for the outdoors or our self imposed, semi-solitary confinement.

    Given that we’re socializing it’s time look at footwear, specifically shoes germane to Hawaii.

    This is a place where people wear slippers (or slippahs in local parlance) and being seen with socks and shoes is not particularly cool for your personal brand.

    That’s when it dawned on me, boat shoes make a lot of sense. These are the only shoes I’m aware of where it’s definitely not cool to wear socks.

    Just ask the epitome of style, John Legend.

    This guy, lost in thought, has the right idea.

    In addition to being an Emmy-award winning performer and, a social activist, Legend has been a global brand ambassador for the legendary shoe manufacturer, Sperry, since last year. He’s popping everywhere on Sperry’s marketing campaigns and in their social media content. He’s also collaborating on a new fashion line of shoes (including boat shoes) which come out later this year. Yes, my eyes are peeled.

    There’s some irony here.

    Boat shoes are timeless fashion indeed, but their origins are in the WASPY, 1930s epicenter of yachting—the Cruising Club of America. (We’re not talking gay bars).

    There was a need for sturdy shoes with rubber soles that wouldn’t slip “topside”. This was purely pragmatic. No fun breaking your leg or whacking your head on the mast or a stanchion much less, going overboard. That’s why the original boat shoes were so popular.

    Boat shoes were designed for a reason by the founder, Paul Sperry. I can tell you from personal experience, slipping on a deck can be treacherous. Mr. Sperry’s boat shoes were the perfect solution.

    On a serious note, the “Sperry” soles (used on boots) were even part of the WWII effort to keep sailors safe on deck.

    It’s been way over half a century since members of the New York Yacht Club were the only ones that donned boat shoes. Like a lot of practical, durable items—think Ben Davis workpants, bib overalls, etc., boat shoes became a fashion statement among young people.

    Of course, they are still are standard wear for serious sailors and (perhaps) preppies (if they still exist.) Notwithstanding their establishment lineage, boat shoes are now unequivocally hip. (Ask John Legend if you have any doubt).

    For you anti-establishment types, the Preppy thing might be off-putting but I say be open minded. These shoes transcend space, time and class.

    Or as the Sperry folks say, “the brand is now fully rooted in the history of American style”. 

    Given our proclivity in Hawaii to shun socks, we don’t need to be reminded that it’s cool to wear boat shoes sockless. However, for folks on the mainland who might be insecure about these things, New York Times bestselling author (of Men and Style), David Coggins, proclaims: 

    “We can’t have our feet shackled with grotesque tube socks, corseted and constrained. Go forth with a liberated ankle!… a boat shoe communicates its wearer’s relaxed nature, a personality that does not conform to a rigorous office dress code. In a boat shoe every day feels like Saturday, work far from your mind. Ideally, you’ll be out of reception, unreachable by bosses, in-laws and creditors…”  

    Modeling my “Amaretto” Sperry Gold Cup shoes at sunset in Honolulu

    Suffice it to say, Mr. Coggins is preaching to the Hawaii Choir.

    According to a press release from Sperry, John Legend himself threw down the style gauntlet, stepping out in his cropped trousers and boat shoes, asserting his bare ankles. Said Legend of the age old socks-or-no-socks question, “It depends on the cut and fit of your pants, and how cool you are”.

    I think in Hawaii it’s safe to say, we’re pretty darn cool when it comes to fashion.

    Sperry Boat Shoes come in a variety of styles and price points ranging from about $95 for the entry level Men’s Boat Essentials to the Gold Cup series which can run up to $374 if you go for their Handcrafted in Main category. I opted for mid-priced Gold Cups (made outside the US) that sport the Anti-Shock and Vibration (ASV) technology soles with enhanced traction and removable molded EVA midsole provide shock absorption. They run $179.

    Anti-Shock and Vibration technology soles are the way to go on the Gold Cup series.

    They are perfect for my Hawaii lifestyle. They are really soft and comfy to wear. The leather used in the Gold Cup style is a better grade and hence, they feel better. I noted that the sockless break-in time was not long at all. They were flat out comfortable from the get go.

    What’s practical for me was how they’ll go with just about everything.

    You can wear them with jeans, technical pants, shorts–even with a blazer if you want to get formal. (They are probably not the best for hiking but you could still do it).

    I liked the thoughtful video from Parker York Smith (below) who has some good ideas of how these shoes can work for you. (Granted, this guy is from the Mainland and clearly is preppy material but he seems ok and has nice abs).

    I plan to wear them at an upcoming birthday BBQ and who knows, maybe at the next Chamber of Commerce meeting.

    If you have any personal experiences with boat shoes drop me a line!

    Robert F. Kay is a columnist for the Honolulu Star Advertiser, a health nut, the author of two Lonely Planet guidebooks and Fijiguide.com. (He appreciates a good pair of boat shoes).

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