Commentary (Archives)

Are We Doing The Dobelle Dance Again?

Searching for the Next UH President Demands Transparency By David Duffy, Karla Hayashi and Sarita Rai Finding the right person to lead the University of Hawai‘i after UH President David Lassner retires at the end of 2024 is too important to be done in secrecy and silos. Let’s Keep it Transparent UH Board of Regent Chair Alapaki Nahale-a confirmed there are many who want to have their say in the selection process and are sharing their perspectives or preferences with members of [...]

2023-12-21T16:26:15-10:00December 21, 2023|Commentary, Frontpage, News Flash, Newsletter, UH Administration|

Thankful for the Value of Unions

Aloha UHPA Members:Hawaii’s high cost of living can make living in paradise a living hell and a financial struggle for many in Hawaii. It’s not easy to make ends meet when wages are not commensurate with the high costs for housing, food, fuel, and other essentials.But it’s fair to say that without unions and its engaged members, wages would be even lower, leading to the unfortunate reality of seeing more residents leaving our state in search of greener, less costly pastures. We [...]

2023-11-21T16:46:06-10:00November 21, 2023|Affiliation, Commentary, Frontpage, Newsletter|

Aloha Kekahi I Kekahi

There are no words that can describe the devastation, loss, and tragedy that occurred in Lahaina, Maui.  The incident has impacted so many families who have lost so much, not to mention the loss of life. As an island state, we are all connected and feel the loss either personally or emotionally. Kōkua  UHPA was informed that three of its Lahaina members have been significantly impacted by the incident and unfortunately lost their homes or were displaced.  As we pray for those [...]

2023-09-01T06:36:45-10:00August 31, 2023|Commentary, Frontpage, Newsletter|

Here We Go Again On Tenure Battles

“Those that fail to learn from history are doomed to repeat it.”-- Winston Churchill Permitted Interaction Group (PIG) or Wild Pig On Friday, September 10, 2021, the University of Hawai‘i Board of Regents posted their agenda and meeting materials for the September 16, 2021 meeting.  Included on the agenda was the report of the Tenure PIG.  Based on the February 18, 2021 BOR meeting, the Tenure PIGʻs purpose and scope was to review and investigate the issue of tenure in areas including [...]

Lessons from Hawaii’s history of organized labor

Don’t Let History Repeat Itself The struggle for justice in the workplace has been a consistent theme in our islands since the sugar plantation era began in the 1800s. Hawai‘i’s sugar plantation workers toiled for little pay and zero benefits. Sugar plantation owners used manipulative techniques to create a servile workforce, but their tactics eventually turned against them as workers ultimately overcame adversity by organizing together as a union. Although Hawai‘i today may no longer have a plantation economy and employers may [...]

2021-03-29T06:02:52-10:00March 29, 2021|Commentary, Frontpage, Monday Report|

Tenure: A Key to Creating a Virtuous Cycle

Editor's note: In previous articles about tenure (Historical Roots of Tenure, How Tenure Benefits Us All) , we emphasized the importance of tenure to protect academic freedom and to maintain high standards of quality for instruction and research at the University of Hawai‘i. In this third, in a series of articles, we take a look at the value of tenure for universities, students and the broader community. E=mc2 Today, we recognize this as the formula that helped change the world, an expression [...]

2021-03-18T16:26:39-10:00March 22, 2021|Commentary, Frontpage, Monday Report|

The Historical Roots of Tenure

Editor's Note: UHPA is currently working collaboratively with the UH administration to develop a senate resolution which will result in a report on the value of tenure to present to legislators before the start of the next legislative session in 2022. Sen. Donna Mercado Kim, chair of the Senate Higher Education Committee, requested this at a recent legislative committee hearing after deferring SB 1329, which proposed eliminating tenure for non-instructional faculty.  UHPA takes this assignment seriously. In today’s Monday Report, we present [...]

2021-02-28T19:45:24-10:00March 1, 2021|Commentary, Frontpage, Monday Report|

Will Self-Insurance Save EUTF millions?

The below letter was sent to the Editors of the Star Advertiser and publishes some financial facts in response to various voices claiming substantial EUTF liability savings if a "self-insurance" model is adopted. UHPA Executive Director Christian Fern serves as secretary-treasurer of the EUTF board of trustees. February 18, 2021 Honolulu Star-Advertiser To the editor: The SARS-CoV-2 virus has brought the world to its knees, sickening and killing millions.  Not in a generation has the importance of health and sustainability been so [...]

2021-02-26T11:28:15-10:00March 1, 2021|Commentary, ERS/EUTF, Frontpage, Monday Report, Opinion|

How We Navigate Our Future at UH

The Power of Collaboration: The Key to Navigating the University of Hawai‘i’s FutureBy Christian Fern, Karla Hayashi and David Duffy The pandemic, even with all of its devastating effects, has brought out the best in some organizations and its employees. Pivoting has become the watch word throughout the pandemic. We have seen a number of organizations successfully adapt to new constraints. Organizations that are flexible and innovative have welcomed change instead of wallowing in despair. Many of these entities have rapidly evolved [...]

2021-02-09T09:03:39-10:00February 8, 2021|Academic, Commentary, Frontpage, Monday Report, Opinion|

It Takes a Village to Provide Academic Excellence In and Outside the Classroom

Creating an environment of academic excellence in which students thrive and flourish, realize their fullest potential, and discover new opportunities for growth does not happen by accident. It takes a village of committed faculty to develop a supportive culture of learning, both in and outside of the classroom.Yet, we are aware non-instructional faculty are being attacked and may be regarded as administrative, professional and technical staff. This nothing new. We’ve been there before.That’s why your faculty collective bargaining agreement, negotiated by UHPA’s [...]

2021-02-07T14:24:47-10:00February 8, 2021|Academic, Commentary, Frontpage, Monday Report|
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