To say that these are trying times doesn’t begin to describe the complex and highly nuanced impacts created by the COVID-19 pandemic around the world. Combined now with our country once again dealing with its history of racism and the ugly and damaging outcomes, we are in desperate need of solutions.

Hawaii is grappling with its own unique challenges. While the number of confirmed COVID-19 cases and deaths has thankfully been among the lowest in the nation, our unemployment rate now surpasses that of nearly every other state in the U.S.

The tourism and hospitality industries have been most notably battered, but countless other sectors are significantly impacted as citizens, businesses and critical institutions attempt to weather the ongoing storm.

In a state where more than two-thirds of residents were already financially struggling, the domino-effect of COVID-related hardships for the majority of Hawaii’s citizens is extensive. With increased pressures placed on the agencies and systems people depend on — coupled with our islands’ own legacy of racial and cultural oppression and violence — we’re now facing a compounded crisis that will persist long after a full reopening.

The situation is shining a harsh light on our biggest vulnerabilities and forcing important conversations about our individual and shared priorities. But as I’ve heard said in many ways, we all have a choice in how we move forward – in what we take with us, what we create, and what we leave behind.

A Call For Conversation

We’re launching the new IDEAS section to solicit and record the bold ideas, creative solutions and informed perspectives from our state’s brightest minds. In many ways, this is why Civil Beat was created – to provide a civic square where we can all learn more about and better understand our home, discuss the challenges we’re facing, and explore ideas that have the potential to improve life for everyone in Hawaii.

The information and viewpoints shared here will push beyond opinion to showcase ideas from experts in many fields. We want to learn how our current challenges are viewed by the people who deeply understand and study them – in both the context of our present situation and Hawaii’s history – and create a living, evolving space to explore diverse visions for the future of our state.

We welcome your submissions on any topics that impact life in Hawaii – from economic recovery and policy reform, to innovations in education, ideas for increased self-sustainability, and approaches to advancing equality, justice and resilience across the islands. Bring us your best thinking and let’s start a conversation that inspires action, engagement and progress.

There’s no question that our lives in Hawaii will be different moving forward, but I believe this challenge also presents us with a unique opportunity to envision a different, better future.