Dan Nakaso
Star-Advertiser
Contact Dan
Discover and connect with journalists and influencers around the world, save time on email research, monitor the news, and more.
| Recent: |
|
| Past: |
|
Past articles by Dan:
DLNR pursues owners for costs to remove yacht from Maui reef
The nominee to run the state Department of Land and Natural Resources plans to go after the owners of an illegally moored yacht that broke free, leaked fuel and damaged 20 species of coral near a Maui marine life conservation district. → Read More
Freshman lawmakers aim to rebuild Hawaii’s GOP
Freshman state Sen. Brenton Awa — who is embroiled in a stalemate with the Senate’s only other Republican over who will lead their two-member caucus — wants to reinvigorate and rebrand Hawaii’s Republican Party by helping disenfranchised, working-class families in his rural district on the Windward side of Oahu. → Read More
Green tweaks climate plan, still plans $100M
Gov. Josh Green has signed a “pledge” to commit $100 million in state general funds to address climate change through a new “Climate Impact Fund.” → Read More
Sen. Schatz steers $64M in surprise funds to Oahu rail project
Christmas came early for the city’s rail project when U.S. Sen. Brian Schatz announced Tuesday that he had secured $63.8 million in unexpected, surprise federal funding to help cover inflationary construction costs. → Read More
Hawaii tourism could soften with mainland pullback
Hawaii should see nearly 9.7 million visitors in 2023 but also some cooling in the state’s biggest economic driver. → Read More
Tokuda transitioning to life, work in D.C.
U.S. Rep.-elect Jill Tokuda flew to chilly Washington, D.C., on Saturday for a weeklong orientation even as the balance of power in the U.S. House of Representatives remained uncertain. → Read More
Hawaii voters pick Democrat Josh Green to be next governor
A new era in Hawaii politics and leadership begins in December when Josh Green is sworn in as the state’s ninth governor following his sweeping win Tuesday night over three-time Republican candidate James “Duke” Aiona. → Read More
Rail ‘hammerhead’ crack reports overdue, incomplete
Two highly anticipated reports on the extent of hairline cracks in the city rail system’s overhead “hammerhead” supports — and what should be done about them — were due Sept. 30 but still are not complete after a series of extensions. → Read More
Former U.S. Rep. Tulsi Gabbard officially no longer a Democrat
Former U.S. Rep. Tulsi Gabbard — who seemingly long ago was considered a rising, progressive political star — burned her final bridge with Democrats in Hawaii and around the country by announcing she was leaving the party and asking other Democrats to join her. → Read More
Observers give Hawaii election a zzz rating
General elections that lack a presidential race are typically quieter in Hawaii following sometimes bruising interparty primaries, but the lead-up to the Nov. 8 election has been especially low-key. → Read More
Huge gap in Green, Aiona Hawaii gubernatorial campaign war chests
Former Democratic gubernatorial candidate Vicky Cayetano spent more than $3.2 million in her failed party primary election, including $2.35 million that she loaned her campaign, according to the latest campaign disclosure statements. → Read More
New era of negative campaigning begins in Hawaii
The window for last-minute negative attack campaigns has opened wider with mail-in ballots arriving weeks before the Aug. 13 primary and Nov. 8 general elections, an update to the old political tactic of making allegations just before election day. → Read More
Trend continues of non-competitive legislative races
Ten state legislators are running unopposed and will automatically be reelected in November, while another 15 candidates face no internal party challengers and will automatically go on to the November general election. → Read More
Candidates, older voters talk story in Kalihi
A larger than expected crowd of more than 300 likely senior citizen voters turned out Wednesday to mingle with more than 40 political candidates running in the Aug. 13 party primary elections. → Read More
Duke Aiona announces gubernatorial run
James “Duke” Aiona — a former Circuit Court judge who served as lieutenant governor — today announced his latest run to become governor as a Republican. → Read More
Queen’s discharges first patient who otherwise would be sent to mainland for care
At the age of 80, Enriqueta Yacas spent 165 days at The Queen’s Medical Center until Monday, when she became the center’s first patient discharged to a new long-term skilled nursing facility where she is undergoing treatment for a trifecta of medical needs that otherwise would have forced her to the West Coast or to live out the rest of her life at Queen’s. → Read More
Law bans side jobs for next Hawaii governor
A new law that goes into effect just before the November general election prevents Hawaii’s next governor from holding a second job, forcing future employment decisions for Democratic candidates Lt. Gov. Josh Green, an emergency room physician, and Congressman Kai Kahele, who flies for Hawaiian Airlines and serves in the Hawaii Air National Guard. → Read More
Tommy Waters to stay on Honolulu City Council
Council Chair Tommy Waters will not seek the Congressional seat representing rural Oahu and the neighbor islands but will not rule out a future run, he announced today. → Read More
Hawaii Republicans plummet in House but appear steady on City Council
Republican representation in the state House of Representatives has dropped to the lowest level that veteran Republican Rep. Gene Ward has ever seen, while the City Council could maintain its conservative numbers along with a self-described “conservative-leaning” mayor. → Read More
Hawaiian Airlines investing in electric seaglider
Hawaiian Airlines has invested in an all-electric, no-emission, propeller-driven plane that would take off from sea, fly just the length of a wing over the surface of the ocean and land at neighbor island docks without touching land. → Read More