Mikulanec's Common Things

2010-04-03T13:30:00.000-07:00

We need more thoughtful chefs like Ms. Waters - check out 'The Art of Simple Food.'

http://www.latimes.com/features/food/la-me-alice-waters2-2010apr02,0,4708398.story

2010-04-02T15:09:00.000-07:00

Making good use of the new lanai - more to come . . .

2009-08-16T17:26:00.000-07:00

Interesting View of French Health Care . . .
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/08/16/nyregion/16farm.html?_r=1&ref=nyregion

2009-08-08T15:18:00.000-07:00

City Needs to Expand Community Garden Program

I attended the August meeting of the Foster Community Gardens this morning. There was a great turnout of members and there was a very lively discussion about attendance at meetings as it relates to having a garden plot at Foster Gardens. I give credit to Pam, the Garden Association President, for running a tight meeting and letting members express their views.

After signing up for one of the 57 garden plots, I learned that the waiting list is 27 people long; apparently there is very little turnover.

We need the Mayor and City Council to review the recent inventory of vacant parcels of land in Honolulu to determine if there are places to expand the community garden program;here are four reasons we need more of them in our city:

They promote community cohesiveness and understanding - allowing people from different parts of the neighborhood an opportunity to interact;

They promote a healthy lifestyle - allowing people space to work outdoors and produce fresh food;

Deters crime by creating a public space that community members have a stake in;

Keeps grocery bill low - growing a few of your own vegetables each month translates into savings, which is helpful in these tough economic times.

Urge Mayor Hannemann, City Council, and your Neighborhood Board to look into expanding and improving our community gardens in Honolulu.

2009-02-16T01:46:00.000-08:00

Civil Decision

The House's decision to pass HB444, Civil Unions, on Thursday of last week, was a significant procedural hurdle to what might be one of the more interesting pieces of legislation this Session. Only two members who signed onto the bill originally were not part of the majority who voted for the bill; Rep. Mark Takai was absent due to his service in the military, and Rep. Yamane (who didn't have quite as good of an excuse). :)

Majority Leader Blake Oshiro gave one of the most substantive speeches ever given on the floor of the House. Following his speech I noticed several members of the public, who had attended that day's Session in opposition to the civil unions bill, were clapping. It goes without saying that some who may have come to the chamber opposed to civil unions, left feeling differently.

Three things that stood out following the House's passage of HB444:

1.) Rep. Ward spoke for civil rights for gays and lesbians but against civil unions because they were 'one step away from granting same-sex marriage.' Come on, you're a smart guy, did you write that slightly contradictory rant yourself?

2.) Freshman Reps. Agaran and Lee get it - they're smart, fresh voices in the House.

3.) Leadership can sometimes means taking a position that isn't necessarily 'popular' in your community and using that position to shed light on an issue that most people haven't spent time critically thinking (and by extension - speaking) about. This was one of those issues folks.

2007-09-23T00:37:00.000-07:00

Freedom Isn't Free . . . Argghhhhh!

I keep seeing bumper stickers on the back of cars saying: Freedom Is Not Free.

I'm curious what those people with that bumper sticker are actually sacrificing? Better yet, what are most Americans sacrificing?

2007-03-10T17:01:00.000-08:00

Leadership Above and Beyond Shown On House Floor

Following an hours long House judiciary committee hearing on civil unions last week, Rep. Sylvia Luke broke from the legislative pack and showed true leadership this week by offering an amendment to the state's reciprocal beneficiary statute.

Some of Luke's colleagues were absent from the House floor when the vote was taken, which demonstrates the stigma still attached to equal rights issues in Hawaii (After all, almost a decade ago Hawaii was at the forefront of the same-sex marriage debate). They, however, are the ones who will have to answer to their constituents next election; the legislator who refrains from voting on an issue faces greater questioning from their constituency versus one who goes on the record.

In a time when we dismiss leaders for playing the fence, appeasing both sides of an issue, Rep. Sylvia Luke clearly shown as a leader. After all, it's not where one stands in times of peace and tranquility, but where one stands in times of conflict and pressure, which truly define a person.

Leaders lead by making well reasoned, thoughtful, difficult, visionary, decisions; that should be why we elect them. They should challenge us to think sometimes too - we don't always have to agree with them, but we should know where they stand. Thankfully we know where Rep. Sylvia Luke stands - and I couldn't be more pleased.

2006-07-25T00:49:00.000-07:00

For the Supreme Court lover in all of us . . .

www.scotusblog.com

2006-06-08T20:57:00.000-07:00

Akaka Bill Fails . . . But Not Entirely

Today the Senate voted against cloture on S.147, the Akaka Bill.

Some brief thoughts that make me heartened in light of it's failure.

Although I recognize that the passage of the S.147 is a recognition and acceptance of colonial power over Hawaii, which has never been 'right', there are a couple things that I see as good coming from the debate at hand and the reality that the bill will pass in the near future:

First, the idea that federal recognition of the injustice done to indigenous Hawaiians by the Unite States of America is pivotal, and if it's not something realized by all in Congress, and the public at large, at least the seed has been planted and will be thought about from here on out.

Listening to the debate on the Senate floor yesterday revealed the significant amount of ignorance and misinformation surrounding the take over of the Hawaiian kingdom so many decades ago. It should be a goal of our leaders at the state and national level to make sure that ignorance is corrected by the next time the Akaka bill comes to the floor of the Senate. The history of the take over of this kingdom must be explained if the bill is to be passed.

Second, accepting federal recognition, while not ideal on many levels, would mean a hearty influx of money for implementing a traditional method of adjudicating conflict, more Hawaiian immersion schools that would focus on culture and language, more control over Hawaiian lands, and the list could go on. The fight for sovereignty must go on, in the meantime take the money and jurisdictional latitude granted with federal recognition and invest it in native Hawaii.

Third, this was a bill that garnered 56 votes in the Senate. Fifty-six votes, both Democrats and Republicans (and one independent). That's a true test of political will on the part of Akaka and most of our Congressional delegation, as well as the merit of the bill itself. In this age where almost everything in the Capitol falls along party lines, it's novel to see a bill get support on both sides of the political spectrum. That says a lot.

From Sen. Henry Reid of Nevada:
"Sen. Dan Akaka is a man of extraordinary vision, compassion and conviction. Thanks to his efforts, leaders at the highest levels of our government now support his efforts to provide Native Hawaiians, equal standing with other indigenous peoples in the United States.

"Regretfully, the Akaka Bill can go no further in this Congress thanks to the 11th-hour intervention and fear mongering by the Bush Administration and his Department of Justice.

"However, Sen. Akaka's efforts on behalf of Hawaiians and all the people of Hawai'i will continue and I will continue to stand with him."

I'm not native Hawaiian but, I recognize the struggle for self determination and respect it greatly.

2006-04-18T00:55:00.000-07:00

Censuring the President of the United States is just and necessary.

I recently had a conversation with an acquaintance that bet me dinner that President Bush would not be censured, or impeached, within the next year. It was a funny and lighthearted bet at the time that now seems more and more pressing. Who jokes about impeaching a president who has lead an entire country into war that has claimed thousands of American and Iraqi lives? It's perplexing and even more importantly something that isn't partisan anymore.

A breaking article by veteran Watergate reporter Carl Bernstein provides a scathing but credible rationale for calling into question the ability and action of the current Bush administration.

Political memory is short (for better or worse) in this fast paced world. Much can happen between now and the mid-term elections of 2006. One thing is certain though - neither the Republicans nor the Democrats can defer acting to question the Bush administration's unbridled disregard for honesty with the American public.

2006-04-02T01:27:00.000-08:00

Our Highways and Roads Must Be a Priority

I have to state the obvious: Roads in Hawaii need attention . . .now! For several years I keep coming back to the need for our state to start thinking about roadways from a sustainability position, which is directly related to financial and safety issues.

Millions of tax dollars are spent every year fixing Hawaii's asphalt roads. For a few months these patched, repaved, or new roads are smooth. However, after several rains, baking sun, buses, gas guzzling suv, etc., these roads begin to look like washboards.

Case in point, the recent torrential downpours have created cavernous pits where little pot-holes once were. Drive down Ala Moana or any of the streets in the city of Honolulu and you literally have to dodge deep holes.

However, drive down any streets that are concrete and you'll note a significant difference. I remarked to my friend just the other day when we were driving on a street that had not been covered with blacktop but, which looked to be twenty or thirty year old concrete how good of shape it was in.

We hear a lot of talk about sustainable living in Hawaii these days. Our system of roads is not above this discussion. Investing in concrete roadways makes sense: Concrete roads are less expensive to maintain, meaning that the initial laying of concrete may be more expensive but in the long run we don't have to overlay it every five years.

It's also less environmentally damaging. Petroleum based asphalt contributes to our dependence on oil and the runoff from these roads is more polluted.

Let's also consider the climate we live in. Concrete is structurally more sound then asphalt in a hot, tropical environment. It also, and this is significant, reflects more of the sun's energy (translating into heat) then asphalt (which absorbs the heat) therefore cooling the ambient temperature by up to five degrees.

So why not invest in roadways that are more economically responsible, environmentally sound, and more efficient in general?

2006-01-21T23:35:00.000-08:00

A recent article in the Washington Post highlights the trend in democratic leaning states to go beyond the federal government's energy efficiency standards. While not an entirely partisan issue, the democratic party is steady in it's message that environmental degradation ultimately effects us all.

Hawaii certainly has a vested interest in protecting it's environmental integrity. It's the backbone of the indigenous culture and the current life-blood of the tourist industry.

Luckily there are a cadre of leaders in our state House and Senate that can be depended on to make Hawaii more sustainable. Those that really get environmental, conservation, sustainable issues become apparent when their records are examined. There is a difference between those that ride the coat tails on this issue and those that are at the helm leading the way.

As we find ourselves in a year defined by differences within the Democratic party, we must look to those leaders that are truly dedicated to a sustainable future in Hawaii.

A sustainable future does not mean sacrificing business development and jobs. In fact, for Hawaii, it could mean the exact opposite.

2006-01-14T11:13:00.000-08:00

The Advertiser reported the deal between the city and other groups to save Waimea Valley. What a great way to start off 2006!

2006-01-06T20:18:00.000-08:00

The Auditor's report on DOCARE should enliven the debate on the management of the Hawaii DLNR.

DLNR ineffective, audit says
http://www.honoluluadvertiser.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060106/NEWS03/601060360/1001

2005-12-11T21:17:00.000-08:00

The Honolulu Marathon is something everyone in Honolulu should see or experience! This is the second year I've run the event and once again I was struck by the magnitude of the race - the volunteers, the runners, the endurance, everything. It's a supreme physical challenge. However, this year was also memorable because of the sights - running the streets of Honolulu allows an up close view of the city/state that we call home. As the first notes of sun tipped the horizon over Diamond Head and the expanse of the island became bathed in the early morning light, I was struck at the frequently unnoticed beauty of Hawaii.

My results from the 2005 Honolulu Marathon : 10K: 01:09:17
Half Marathon: 02:27:16
30K: 03:29:15
Gun Time: 04:58:51
Finish Time: 04:54:45
Place Overall: 7331

2005-12-10T00:58:00.000-08:00

Who should run for the Governorship in 2006?

2005-12-10T00:42:00.000-08:00

The City and County struck a loud, resounding, powerful tone when they actually listened to the people of Oahu and stopped the settlement that would have made the development of Waimea Valley possible. This was a public and political win on many sides - state, federal, local, environmental, cultural, and financial.

Any leader with vision who looks toward Hawaii's future should see open spaces like Waimea as a necessity. These mauka to makai expanses are necessary for the Hawaiians that own this land, they are also necessary to sustain the tourist economy - people come to see the beauty that can only be found here.

Kudos for Councilman Rod Tam who showed needed initiative and dynamism as a community leader in leading the charge to table the settlement.

2005-12-06T00:58:00.000-08:00

Wes Clark is proving to be a solid voice in the Democratic corner. His editorial detailing the implications for troop withdrawal in Iraq, especially with regard to Iran, is worthy of a read.

Although my instinct says there should be significant drawing down of troops, there is a pragmatic side that says we have to make sure things are stable before we leave. How that 'stability' becomes a reality is a trick that the current administration has not solved. I think Clark is a realist that is at least making some sense; sense that is not prejudiced by the shit-storm in D.C.

2005-11-21T00:13:00.000-08:00

The SB had an understated editorial about the proposal to split up Waimea Valley that reiterates the premise of one of my favorite recent books - Priceless, by Ackerman and Heinzerling. We can't put a dollar value on everything and if the political community wants to sustain what's left of the public's confidence then we need to start thinking about places like Waimea Valley as natural resources that have to be preserved. Perhaps the recently passed Legacy Lands bill that was touted by the environmental and business communities alike could be tapped for the first time?

2005-11-21T00:06:00.000-08:00

Mr. Burris's comments on the Kakaako development proposal should be the start of more thoughtful discourse on the future of an important section of downtown Honolulu.

2005-11-11T17:44:00.000-08:00

Presidential hopefuls a la 2008 - already!

http://blogs.washingtonpost.com/thefix/

Go Bill Richardson!

2005-11-11T14:14:00.000-08:00

Rewriting history? On Veteran's Day it seems insulting that the President of the United States of America believes that 'Democrats' and 'liberals' are trying to rewrite history and undermind the efforts in Iraq. Questioning our government's actions and reactions to events is part of any citizen's democratic right and privelage.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/11/11/AR2005111100916.html?sub=AR

2005-11-11T13:30:00.000-08:00

Ira Rohter's critque of the Hawaii Democratic party puts pressure on the party leadership to get organized for next year's gubernatorial race.

Any party in power has to accept such constructive criticism - however, Rohter's pointing to GOP 'stars' like Reps Ching and Finnegan also points out the underlying weaknesses of Hawaii's Republican party. Although managing to hold their seats through the last couple of elections, neither has legislative might or political vision. In other words, Lingle holds her own without much help from Republicans in the House or Senate.

Rohter is correct in laying down the truth about a lack of movement to correct and improve Hawaii's education system too. Public education is a beast all its own. Fixing it is something that every state struggles with. Hawaii's commitment to alternatives, like certain charter schools, shows some success however. There's more being done to improve our public schools then meets the eye; of course more should and can be done.

One of the realms that Dems do succeed in however is the environment - and the new blood in the House is certainly showing their might when it comes to public policy to protect the natural resources of the state. In 2005 great success was seen in protecting open space through the Legacy Lands Act. We also saw the strengthening of the bottle bill, protecting marine environments through managed areas, enforcing historic preservation, etc.

Dems have not put forth a candidate to challenge Lingle for 2006 but, there's plenty of candidates who are progressive leaders that could challenge her and win. Hawaii has a broad Democratic base from which to pull a candidate. Already several able individuals have cast their names out - Harry Kim, Tony Gill, Colleen Hanabusa, etc.

2006 will challenge the Dems, however Lingle has had as rough a year as her buddy George W. Bush and her weaknesses should be taken into consideration. She cast herself as a mainland GOP rank and file during the last presidential election and she's shown weakness with regard to taking a position on the gas-cap law, appointing members to vacated House seats, and has done little to change anything in the realms of education and affordable housing. She's also strapped with the baggage of Lt. Gov. Aiona who has clearly shown he does not understand the separation between church and state, has not done much to lead on Hawaii's ICE epidemic, and who's biggest news of 2005 is his prohibition stance on alcohol at Aloha Stadium. Fizzle, fizzle, fizzle.

2005-10-30T14:53:00.000-08:00

Months ago I listened to an interview with Rev. William Sloane Coffin, a great champion of civil rights and a voice that has challenged the status quo on many occasions. The interview I listened to was regarding the march on Washington where Martin Luther King declared to the world, "I have a dream.", but, it was also about leadership, a greater civic calling that should be present, almost palpable, in today's political system. He said that our leaders, and ourselves, must know, and have a credo - they, we, must know what we believe and why we believe it. This blog is an effort to figure out what I believe and why by looking at the happenings in the world today. Aloha.