A Condominium Can Last Hundreds of Years, But Not Its Components
A 40-year-old Honolulu condominium can show its age in many ways: brittle, leaking pipes; cracks in its concrete walls and decks; rusted rebar; and corroded railings and window frames.
In-Depth Reports
The Pandemic is Not Gender Neutral
Working women suffer disproportionately from the recession in their finances, careers and health Nikki Nakamura and her husband still sit at each end of the dining room table, just as they did before the COVID-19 pandemic. But so much else…
Reopening Hawai‘i Tourism Part II: Should We Change the Visitor Industry?
Many people inside and outside the tourism sector want a reinvention of Hawai‘i’s No. 1 industry so that it welcomes tourists while enhancing sustainability of nature and culture here.
Reopening Tourism: Residents, Visitors Must Trust They’ll Stay Virus-Free
That means new systems of testing, hygiene, safe practices and cleaning by airlines, airports, hotels, restaurants, stores and government, say tourism industry leaders. First of two parts.
The Future of Hawai‘i Health Care Is Now – Part II
COVID-19 is accelerating many changes in health care beyond telemedicine, including how doctors, nurses and other health care professionals are trained; new rules on vaccinations and testing; and how we handle future pandemics.
The Future of Hawai‘i Health Care Is Now – Part I
Among the many changes accelerated by COVID-19 is the widespread use of telemedicine, which increases access and, hopefully, will reduce costs. But increased use of telemedicine will also require changes in training, reimbursements, regulations and more. COVID-19 has changed the…
Hawaiʻi’s Future Liabilities are Expected to Cost $88 Billion
$88 Billion is the estimated liabilities for state and local governments over the next 30 years on infrastructure, pensions and climate change. We explore three broad options to pay these liabilities: increase government revenues, reduce government spending and grow the…
Sexual Harassment in the Workplace
"I'LL NEVER FORGET IT" Three people – two women and a man – describe being sexually harassed while on the job. They asked to remain anonymous to protect their privacy and to avoid retribution. ■ For a Honolulu woman who is…
Jones Act: Pro and Con
Advocates say it ensures reliable, on-time delivery of everything Hawai‘i needs, while providing a strong U.S. Merchant Marine in time of war or other crises. Opponents say the Jones Act raises prices for everyone in Hawai‘i and puts those who want to export overseas at a disadvantage.
Dying is Now A Choice
Hawaii's Medical Aid in Dying law takes effect Jan. 1, but some doctors are among the local professionals who are not ready to deal with the law. Mary, a 78-year-old Hawaii resident, doesn’t look like someone who would want to…
Neighbor Island Resilience: When Disaster Strikes
A crisis can come in many forms, from the loss of a company’s founder to a volcanic eruption. These Neighbor Island businesses were knocked down and got back up. Here’s what you can learn from their lessons. Guides with Arnott’s…
The Future of Recycling in Hawaii
A City & County of Honolulu leader wants to recycle less because she says it doesn’t make sense economically or environmentally. Environmentalists say “refusing” and “reusing” are much better than recycling. Here’s what you should know. Recycling is changing on…
The Cost of Climate Change in Hawaii
The world is literally changing and here are six issues we need to understand so we can begin calculating the costs and consequences of climate change and prepare for them. We won’t be able to save everything, so all of Hawaii…
Opioid Nightmares in Paradise
PART 1: The journey of an opioid addict begins with a pill or two that creates a glorious euphoria. Then begins a slow descent until you eventually hit a hellish bottom unique only to you. And then, maybe – if…
Immigrants Get The Job Done In Hawaii
Here’s who they are and what they contribute to the local economy. Immigrants have an outsized place in Hawaii’s history. In the 19th and early 20th centuries they came from Japan, China, Puerto Rico and the Portuguese Azores and sustained…
Hawaiʻi is Home for Many Musicians and Kumu Hula, but Japan Pays the Bills
For many Hawaiian musicians and singers, performing is both their passion and their livelihood. So, when there's not enough places to perform locally, or the pay is too low, they have to improvise. Some work day jobs and perform at…
The Future of Farming
Imagine a world in which robots, drones and artificial intelligence plant, monitor, harvest, and deliver your food. This may sound like science fiction, but it is, in fact, the emerging reality in farming. “We’re seeing robots that can plant, water…
Water Warning
Most people are smart enough to stay out of the ocean when signs warn about bacteria in the water. The problem is we don’t always get that warning, or get it quickly enough, because Hawaii has 303 miles of recreational…
Rapid Ohia Death - Threat to Hawaii's Water
The low-slung warehouse sits on the edge of a small industrial park just outside Waimea. Behind it are the humped, green foothills of Kohala, the oldest of the Big Island’s five volcanoes, and low, heavy clouds inch down the mountain…
How to Build a High End High Rise
So, you want to build a high rise. Maybe you’ve got a couple hundred million dollars burning a hole in your pocket and an acre or two of vacant land in Kakaako, and you’re wondering: How can I get in…
Hawaii: Who We Are
Our Sources Reliable data collection on a big scale takes time. The most recent statistics available for this report are primarily from 2014, sometimes earlier or from 2015. Our information came from many sources; here are abbreviations and acronyms we…
Hawaii Business Environmental Report: Mosquitoes
Mosquitoes have already caused a dengue fever outbreak in Hawaii. Zika and other mosquito-borne diseases may be close behind. Here’s what scientists are doing and what you should do. For most of Kepa Police’s life, mosquitoes were minor annoyances, simply…
Hawaii Business Environmental Report: Pesticides
Critics say use of the chemicals by seed companies endangers the health of Hawaii’s people, but the companies insist they are using pesticides safely and following federal regulations. A recent report suggests a way forward on the issue. Malia Chun…
Hawaii Business Environmental Report: Fuel Leaks
Two years ago, 27,000 gallons of jet fuel leaked from the military’s giant Red Hill underground storage tanks. The Navy more fully explains what went wrong then and answers the question: Will further or bigger leaks happen and contaminate a…