Across the islands, health providers now suffer from unprecedented levels of burnout. The sacred practice of medicine is under fire in Hawaii’s smallest practices and in our largest hospitals. Although COVID-19 is finally abating, two years of the pandemic has left providers drained, with many choosing to opt out.
Is the burgeoning meta-
verse a crescendo in entertainment or the ultimate in profit-driven consumer captivity?
As 2022 approaches we face extraordinary uncertainty. There’s a prospect of a fifth surge as news of omicron, a multifaceted mutation, possibly the most contagious yet, has already stimulated fresh travel bans. The economy is also proving hard to navigate. News of the latest mutation quickly hit the capital markets last week. Pandemic rescue funds have triggered inflation, and supply chain disruptions make for an uneven recovery. Hawaii’s visitor industry is working to implement a more sustainable strategy, but repeated changes in rules for travelers are unsettling. Following COP26, efforts to curb planetary warming continue, yet weather and sea level rise remain a major concern here in the islands.
“You work that you may keep pace with the earth and the soul of the earth. For to be idle is to become a stranger unto the seasons and to step out of life’s procession.”
It’s common to assign much of the blame of America’s obesity problem on supersized servings of fast food. Likewise, the current in-your-face finger- pointing over eating disorders is directed at social media; namely, Instagram.
My mother, age 85, had a stroke this month. It is now difficult for her to find words and interpret images she sees. After 55 years running the family business, sadly, she had to ask my brother to step in.
Virtually everyone knows that physical activity is an essential component of a healthful lifestyle. But how much and what kinds of activity can make a difference? Do you need a gym membership? Run marathons? Lift weights? Although all of these approaches have benefits, there is one valuable exercise that all of us do every day — at least, if we can walk.
Kudos to Mayor Blangiardi.
Just when we thought we were safe if we were vaccinated, mutations began to indicate otherwise.
The delta COVID mutation is at least twice as contagious as the original strain. In a recent study in Israel, roughly half of the adults infected in a delta outbreak were fully vaccinated with the Pfizer vaccine.