Opinion

TODAY'S EDITORIALS

Control of flu vaccine must be tightened

Many lessons are being learned as the swine influenza vaccination program plays out, and it's only just begun. The first is that when vaccines are in short supply — as are the H1N1 flu injectible and nasal-mist doses — it's best to keep delivery tightly focused on the most vulnerable. More »

PREVIOUS EDITORIALS

Maunalua Bay needs tighter restrictions (November 6, 2009)
Innovation to be key in nonprofit success (November 5, 2009)
An open Internet depends on net neutrality (November 4, 2009)
Leaders must set priorities in budget plan (November 3, 2009)
It's time for the final health reform push (November 2, 2009)

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Furloughs

What about keeping Friday furlough days, and shortened Wednesdays, while extending the length of the remaining school days a bit, to make up the lost classroom time for students? If their education is truly the main concern at this point, then it seems in a situation where everyone is going to have to "give" just a little bit more, this might be the least-painful solution. More »

MORE LETTERS

Furloughs (November 7, 2009)
Furloughs (November 6, 2009)
Public schools (November 5, 2009)

Submit a letter to the editor
Submit a commentary
Guidelines for letters and commentaries

BLOGS » The Editorial Blog

The Editorial Blog

Offering daily observations and opinions. More »

BLOGS » David Shapiro

Volcanic Ash

A totally independent view of people and events in Hawai'i. More »

EDITORIAL CARTOON

Click to enlarge +

TODAY'S COLUMNS AND COMMENTARIES

Mark Platte

Dispute continues over body of water

The body of water that separates Korea and Japan is known as the Sea of Japan (in Japan's opinion) or the East Sea (in South Korea's view) but how that area is... More »

M.r.c. Greenwood

Helping to move UH forward in tight times

UH808: What is the status of the contract negotiations? Do you feel the university has done enough in extending its "best" offer? More »

Charles E. Morrison

Heading east

This week President Obama begins his first trip to Asia as the U.S. head of state. More »

Jules Witcover

Reading too much into political tea leaves

The great political debate in the wake of last week's two gubernatorial elections and a special House election in upstate New York was whether or not they were a referendum on President Obama. The clear and definitive answer is: yes and no. More »

Garrison Keillor

Sometimes life isn't fair, but that's OK

It costs $722 to fly from St. Paul/Minneapolis to Bismarck, N.D., and you can fly from St. Paul/Minneapolis to Paris for $754. Life is unfair; we all know this. Big prizes go to mediocrities while you struggle on, unappreciated. The righteous suffer while the wicked prosper. Bernie Madoff danced around the Securities & Exchange Commission to the tune of billions and the Immigration & Naturalization people deport a good Vietnamese woman for a minor error. More »

Denny Roy

Taiwan Strait peace not permanent

After reaching a crisis level earlier in this decade as President Chen Shui-bian sought to distance Taiwan from China, relations across the Taiwan Strait have calmed noticeably since the election of Ma Ying-jeou as Taiwan's president in 2008. More »

BLOGS » Jeanne Mariani-Belding

The Hot Seat

From politicians to newsmakers: you ask the questions. More »

CIVIC CORNER

Property Taxes

The debate over Honolulu's property tax structure continues , as the City Council begins eyeing possible expansions of the "circuit breaker" tax breaks for owner-occupants. The council's Budget Committee is considering alternative proposals — Bills 09-75 and 09-09. The first would cap property taxes at 3 percent of household income for those earning $50,000 or less and at 4 percent for all those above that income level. The second would retain the $50,000 total income limit eligibility but also lower the cap to 3 percent — the current limit is 4 percent. It also would lower the cap further, to 2 percent, for seniors. Council members disagree on whether this additional tax relief is excessive, given that a separate tax category now has been created for owner-occupants. What do you think?

GET INVOLVED
Contact your public officials to make your views known:

Todd Apo: City Councilman Apo chairs the Honolulu City Council.

Reach him at: tapo@honolulu.gov or 768-5001.

Nestor Garcia: City Councilman Garcia chairs the council's Budget Committee, which has these bills under consideration.

Reach him at: ngarcia@honolulu.gov or 768-5009.

Mufi Hannemann: The mayor of Honolulu implements the tax policy and has the option to sign or veto tax proposals.

Reach him at: mayor@honolulu.gov or 768-4141.

More »

MORE OPINION FORUMS

Favorite topics of our readers

SPECIAL REPORTS

The residents of Kuhio Park Terrace and Kuhio Homes live in public housing projects crumbling from neglect. It's time to change that.

Beyond oil

A three-day series on the challenges and opportunities facing Hawai'i as we move away from fossil fuels. More »

THE ADVERTISER'S EDITORIAL STAFF

JEANNE MARIANI-BELDING

Editorial and Opinion Editor

STEPHEN J. DOWNES

Deputy Editorial and Opinion Editor

VICKI VIOTTI

Editorial Writer

STACY BERRY

Editorial Page Assistant

THE COMMUNITY EDITORIAL BOARD

Members of the public who offer their insights into the issues of the day.

THE TEEN EDITORIAL BOARD

Voices from selected high school students in Hawai'i.

Extras

OurTurn

Hawaii's high school students share their opinions and editorials from their high school newspapers.

Join the conversation »

THIS WEEK'S COLUMNS

We're stuck with McMackin's million (November 3, 2009)

David Shapiro

THIS WEEK'S COMMENTARIES

Hawaii erred in cutting education(October 25, 2009)

Arne Duncan

U.S. must not abandon half of Afghan people (November 5, 2009)

Ellen Goodman

Elections debunk realignment myth (November 5, 2009)

Charles Krauthammer

Include hospice care in health care reform (November 4, 2009)

Dr. Wen-yu Lee

U.S. can succeed in Afghanistan (November 4, 2009)

Victor Davis Hanson

Cheney dodges in CIA leak probe (November 3, 2009)

Jules Witcover

Life's little variety pack (November 3, 2009)

Garrison Keillor

Traffic forecast for North Shore unbelievable (November 2, 2009)

Gil Riviere

Obama must be principled yet flexible (November 2, 2009)

John Marks

Global-warming agenda ignores scientific facts (November 1, 2009)

Bob Mcdermott

2-for-1 Clinton special? No deal (November 1, 2009)