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Longing to travel

Wanderlust is old as humanity itself. From the first Polynesian voyagers who landed on these islands some 1,500 years ago, to frequent flyers claiming bags today at Kahului Airport, the love of travel is undeniable. Mankind started roaming before the first nomads emerged from Africa and will probably keep going even after it reaches the far edge of the universe. As a world-class destination, Maui has reaped considerable economic benefit from this longing. Some visitors save for a lifetime to come here once. Jet-setters pop in several times a year. Offering great natural beauty and ...

A start toward normal life

Getting a COVID-19 vaccine is like the dawn of a new day for a lot of people. In numbers relatively small but growing, they’re looking forward to a quick return to the time when they could snuggle with grandkids, go to the salon, party with the gang, get on the dance floor, host a family gathering, and hug, hug, hug. The vaccine feels like a golden ticket. In a way, it almost certainly is, but there are several things to take into account before immediately jumping back into your former life, no matter how much you long for it. Unfortunately, that COVID-19 shot doesn’t give ...

Manchin and bipartisanship

With the U.S. Senate politically split 50-50, conservative Democrat Sen. Joe Manchin has positioned himself as the go-to ringmaster, directing debate from the political center to bring bipartisan influence to the lawmaking on Capitol Hill. First up this session, the Biden administration’s proposed $1.9 trillion pandemic relief. Manchin’s challenge? Convincing 10 centrist Republican senators to sign on to nearly doubling the national minimum wage and handing out an extra $1,400 to all American households regardless of current income. Failing to clear that high hurdle, West ...

Trial’s opening set the tone

Opening arguments set the tone of a trial. Presenting its case first, the prosecution does its utmost to convince a jury the defendant is guilty. Next comes the defense, whose job is to sow seeds of doubt, to poke holes in the prosecution’s argument. Ideally, the two sides fight to a draw, leaving open-minded jurors anxious to see the evidence and hear the facts. Former President Donald Trump’s second impeachment trial began Tuesday with as lopsided of an opening as we have seen. The first salvo by House managers included a compelling 13-minute video of the Jan. 6 attack on the ...

Not fearing one another

Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez—AOC for short—is an outspoken Democrat from New York City. She is the most recognizable face among the young, left-leaning members of Congress. She also receives more death threats than any other member. Last week, she described hiding in a colleague’s bathroom in a congressional office building on Jan. 6 when she heard someone shouting “Where is she?” Given that an anti-government mob was rampaging through the nearby U.S. Capitol at the time, she should be believed when she said that she thought she would die that day. The voices turned ...

This is Black History Month

The past eight months, in many ways, have served as a new reckoning for our nation in dealing with race. The rise of the Black Lives Matter movement following the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis, and the anger and riots that followed, were a stark reminder to the nation that, more than 50 years after the Civil Rights movement, we still have a long way to go. That’s why all of us should use this month — Black History Month — as a time to not only learn more about our friends and neighbors but also to gain a better understanding of the issues that Black Americans face. Black ...