Profiles of: • County Council races • Legislative contests
All in for mayor
Seven vie to lead Maui County A Supplement of THE MAUI NEWS – Sunday, July 29, 2018 – Page S1
2018 PRIMARY ELECTION CANDIDATES The following is a list of all candidates seeking public office, although candidates in uncontested primaries will advance to the Nov. 6 general election without appearing on Aug. 11 primary ballots. Federal and state offices are partisan. Maui County offices are nonpartisan, and the top two vote-getters advance to the general election.
U.S. Senator Democrat ■ Mazie K. Hirono* Nonpartisan ■ Charles “Charlie” Haverty ■ Matthew K. Maertens ■ Arturo Pacheco Reyes Republican ■ Consuelo Anderson ■ George L. Berish ■ Ron Curtis ■ Rocky Mamaka De La Fuente ■ Robert C. Helsham Sr. ■ Michael R. Hodgkiss ■ Eddie Pirkowski ■ Thomas E. White
U.S. House District 2 Democrat ■ Anthony Tony Austin ■ Sherry Alu Campagna ■ Tulsi Gabbard* Republican ■ Brian Evans
Governor Democrat ■ Ernest Caravalho ■ Colleen Wakako Hanabusa ■ David Y. Ige* ■ Wendell J. Ka’ehu’ae’a ■ Richard Y. Kim ■ Van “Tanaban” Tanabe Green Party ■ Jim Brewer Nonpartisan ■ Selina T. Blackwell ■ Link El ■ Terrence K. Teruya
Republican ■ John Carroll ■ Ray Lheureux ■ Andria Tupola
Lieutenant Governor Democrat ■ Bernard P. Carvalho Jr. ■ Will Espero ■ Josh Green ■ Kim Coco Iwamoto ■ Jill N. Tokuda Green Party ■ Renee Ing Nonpartisan ■ Ernest G. Magaoay ■ Paul F. Robotti Republican ■ Marissa Dipasupil Kerns ■ Steve Lipscomb ■ Jeremy Low
Senate District 6 (South and West Maui) Democrat ■ Terez Amato ■ Roz Baker* Green Party ■ Melissa “Mish” Shishido
Senate District 7 (East Maui, Upcountry, Molokai and Lanai) Democrat ■ J. Kalani English* ■ Gayla Haliniak ■ Michael Tengan
House District 8 (Wailuku, Waikapu, Waiehu, Puuohala, Kahakuloa and Waihee)
Democrat ■ Troy Hashimoto** ■ Justin Hughey ■ Dain P. Kane ■ Mary D. Wagner
House District 13 (East Maui, Molokai and Lanai) Democrat ■ Lynn P. DeCoite* ■ John-Bull English
House District 9
Green Party ■ Nick Nikhilananda
(Kahului, Puunene, Old Sand Hills and Maui Lani)
Office of Hawaiian Affairs
Democrat ■ Kauanoe Batangan ■ Justin H. Woodson* Nonpartisan ■ Andrew Kaye
House District 10 (West Maui, Maalaea and north Kihei) Democrat ■ Angus L. K. McKelvey* Green Party ■ Jen Kamaho’i Mather
Maui resident trustee ■ Ke’eaumoku Kapu ■ Carmen Hulu Lindsey Oahu resident trustee ■ Kalei Akaka ■ Jackie Kahookele Burke ■ Leona Mapuana Kalima ■ Esther Kia’aina ■ Samuel Wilder King II ■ Paul Mossman ■ Francine Kanani Murray
House District 12
At-large trustee ■ Lei Leina’ala Ahu Isa* ■ William J. Aila Jr. ■ Rowena Noelani Akana* ■ Alvin A. “Auhana” Akina ■ C. Kaui Jochanan Amsterdam ■ Faye “Pua” Hanohano ■ Brendon Kalei’aina Lee ■ Keali’i Makekau ■ Marc Kalai Pa’aluhi ■ Landen D.K.K. Paikai ■ Makana Paris ■ Kali Puuohau ■ Pohai Ryan ■ Lei Sharsh-Davis ■ John D. Waihee IV*
(Upcountry, Spreckelsville and parts of Kahului)
Maui Mayor
Democrat ■ Tiare M. Lawrence ■ Kyle T. Yamashita*
■ Elle Cochran ■ Don S. Guzman ■ Beau E. Hawkes
Republican ■ Chayne M. Marten
House District 11 (South Maui) Democrat ■ Don Couch ■ Lee Myrick ■ Tina M. L. Wildberger Nonpartisan ■ Daniel Kanahele
■ Alec John Hawley ■ Orion “Ori” Kopelman ■ Mike Victorino ■ Laurent R.B. “L” Zahnd
Maui County Council East Maui ■ Claire Kamalu Carroll ■ Shane Sinenci West Maui ■ Kanamu Balinbin ■ Rick Nava ■ Tamara Akiko Maile Paltin Wailuku – Waihee – Waikapu ■ Alika Atay* ■ Alice Lee Kahului ■ Alan M. Arakawa ■ Deb Kaiwi ■ Natalie ‘Tasha’ Kama South Maui ■ Zandra Amaral Crouse ■ Kelly Takaya King* Makawao – Haiku – Paia ■ Adam Borowiec ■ Trinette Furtado ■ Mike Molina Upcountry ■ Hannibal E. Starbuck ■ Yuki Lei Kashiwa Sugimura* Lanai ■ Riki Hokama* ■ Gabe Johnson Molokai ■ Cora Caparida-Schnackenberg ■ Stacy Helm Crivello* ■ Keani Rawlins-Fernandez * Incumbents ** Incumbents by appointment
This supplement helps residents make informed decisions a questionnaire seeking biographical information. Candidates when they choose island leaders for 2019-20 and beyond. who automatically advance to the Nov. 6 general election will With more mail-in and walk-in absentee voters, this publica- be featured in another Maui News voter guide. Continue reading The Maui News for more election coveroday’s Maui News primary election supplement features tion is available just short of two weeks before the Aug. 11 primary election day, providing early voters the information age. candidates for mayor, Maui County Council and state Copies of this guide can be requested at the front desk of House and Senate seats serving districts on Maui, Molokai they need before casting their ballots. and Lanai. Maui County races are nonpartisan, and state legFor this publication, candidates in contested primary races The Maui News offices at 100 Mahalani St. in Wailuku. islative races are partisan. were asked to share their views on key issues and to complete Copies cost 50 cents. A Supplement of THE MAUI NEWS – Sunday, July 29, 2018 – Page S2
Editor’s note:
About Election 2018
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A Supplement of THE MAUI NEWS – Sunday, July 29, 2018 – Page S3
2018 MAYORAL CANDIDATES
Candidates vie for Maui County’s top elected office or the first time since 1998, when former Mayor Linda Lingle completed two terms in office, there’s no incumbent seeking re-election as mayor in Maui County. Mayor Alan Arakawa is completing his second consecutive four-year term this year and is unable to seek reelection because of term limits. There are seven candidates vying to succeed him, three of whom are current or former Maui County Council members. Since Lingle took the
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Mayor’s Office in 1991, all of Maui’s mayors have come from the County Council — James “Kimo” Apana, Charmaine Tavares and Arakawa. Council Members Elle Cochran and Don Guzman are leaving their West Maui and Kahului council seats, respectively, to run for mayor; and former WailukuWaihee-Waikapu Council Member Mike Victorino is also campaigning for the seat after a two-year absence from elected office. (He completed five consecutive
two-year council terms in 2016 and left office because of term limits.) The other mayoral candidates are Beau E. Hawkes and Orion “Ori” Kopelman, both of whom were unsuccessful mayoral candidates in 2014; Alec John Hawley of Kihei; and Laurent R.B. “L” Zahnd, who provided the state Office of Elections a Makawao post office box as an address. He did not respond to a Maui News candidate questionnaire. Information follows on the other candidates’ responses to the questionnaire.
Elle Cochran Change and maintain
“As mayor, I will empower the departments under my administration to be more proactive in planning and problem-solving, and to make the priorities of our residents the priorities of their depart-
Age: 53 Birthplace: Maui Residence: Lahaina/Honolua Occupation: County Council member (since 2011); owner, Maui Surfboards Education: GED
Community service: Na Kia’i o Waine’e member (2013-present); board member Waiola Church (2009-2010 and 2015-present) Family: Married
ment. Housing solutions are a good example. “Instead of waiting for development companies to bring us plans of what they want to build, my housing department would seek out developers who can build what the people of Maui need. The department will take the lead by setting prices that are truly affordable to our Maui workforce, not just what HUD says is affordable. They
will work with developers to build simple, affordable rentals on some of our countyowned lands that will stay affordable in perpetuity. “My departments will all work more collaboratively, and not in their individual silos. If our Housing Department worked more closely with Planning and Public
See COCHRAN on the next page
AFFORDABLE HOUSING. A shortage of affordable housyou think Maui County policies should with respond to ad- ing has been a problem for decades. Why do you think this CHANGE AND MAINTAIN. After the current administra- dress residents’ needs for infrastructure, housing and eco- has been such a chronic problem? And, what specifically tion’s nearly eght years in office, what do you most want to nomic diversification? would you propose to do about it? chane? And what would you keep the same? WEST MAUI WATERSHED. The Arakawa administration AFTER SUGAR. With the loss of Hawaiian Commercial & has proposed and the County Council is considering the purSugar Co.’s plantation at the close of 2016, what do you think Candidates were also asked to select and answer the county’s role should be in advocating for the public as chase of West Maui watershed lands and a ditch system from one of four additional questions: Alexander & Baldwin strives to repurpose its 36,000 acres of Wailuku Water Co. What do you think of this proposal, and how would you address this matter as mayor? TOURISM’S CARRYING CAPACITY. Do you believe Maui former sugar lands?
All candidates were asked to answer the following: has reached its carrying capacity for tourism? If so, how do
Education: Creighton University, Bachelor of Arts and Science; Ohio Northern University, juris doctorate Community service: Christ the King lector; resigned from nonprofit organizations to avoid council budget appropriation conflicts Family: Married, three children
TRUSTED & EXPERIENCED LEADERSHIP
Change and maintain
“Change: As mayor, I will change how our affordable housing crisis is being THIS PRIMARY ELECTION, VOTE LEADERSHIP WITH handled. Under my leadership, my departments will be empowered to deploy the Age: 48 array of valuable tools Birthplace: Manila available and assembled Residence: Kahului over time by our councils Occupation: County Council and administrations. @votedainkane dainkane.com member (since 2013); “Development of units attorney Paid for by Friends of Dain Kane • PO Box 104 Wailuku, HI 96793 will be a priority. Planning A Supplement of THE MAUI NEWS – Sunday, July 29, 2018 – Page S4
Aloha
Don S. Guzman
and development expertise will be added capacity within our Housing and Huma Concerns Department. Proactive dialogue with developers will be ongoing to engage and assist, within the scope of our authority, in overcoming barriers enabling stalled and future projects in moving forward. See GUZMAN on the page 8
2018 MAYORAL CANDIDATES COCHRAN Continued from Page 4 Works, we could identify infrastructure projects that should be prioritized to allow for the construction of housing in appropriate areas, and fast track those projects. So much is possible if our individual departments function collaboratively and that will be a huge priority for me as mayor.”
Tourism’s carrying capacity
“Yes, Maui’s current infrastructure is at carrying capacity for tourism. Our
Maui Island Plan, which is the document that, by law, guides our policies and planning, says that we should ‘Promote a desirable island population by striving to not exceed an islandwide visitor population of roughly 33 percent of the resident population.’ We are currently over that, with more growth projected. It’s time that we get serious about putting resources into managing the impacts of our visitors. For example, the Maui Visitors Bureau receives about $4 million annually in the county budget, which has been used for marketing. In this period of success, we can
pull back a bit on marketing and focus on educating tourists about things like sunscreens and our reefs, water and trail safely, how to identify illegal short-term rental homes and their impact on our housing crisis. I will also make enforcement of short-term rental regulations a high priority. In one year, short-term rentals increased by 2,500 units. Almost all of them used to be homes for our workforce and are operating illegally. If we turn those back into homes for our residents, that will be a huge relief for our housing crisis.” ❑
carpenter Political Experience: Ran for mayor in 2014, finishing seventh in the primary with 380 votes Education: High school diploma, Boise State University
Change and maintain
Community service: Pick up trash, offer rides, feed the hungry, provide shelter to those in need, offer counseling, love and emotional support Family: Single, two children
“We have enormous room for improvement! Let us focus on the cause of the problems we face, rather than the effects that we see. The cause for nearly every issue we face as a community is a result of a broken system. The old and broken system is that of divide and conqueror, a kind of Age: 38 ‘what is in it for me’ mindset. We need to evolve our mindBirthplace: St. Anthony, Idaho set to that of ‘we,’ rather than ‘me.’ We need to unite as a Residence: Huelo people for the common good for all. This fundamental shift Occupation: Entrepreneur, inventor, artist, builder, See HAWKES on page 7
Beau E. Hawkes
A Supplement of THE MAUI NEWS – Sunday, July 29, 2018 – Page S5
2018 MAYORAL CANDIDATES Orion “Ori” Kopelman
Alec John Hawley
Age: 56 Birthplace: Boston, Mass. Residence: Kahului Occupation: Former project management consultant Political experience: Ran for mayor in 2014, finishing
Age: 58 Birthplace: Manhattan Beach, Calif. Residence: Kihei Occupation: Owner, Jungle
Tours Maui Education: Two years of community college Family: Single
detector tests every three months. I say three months because that’s how far back the hair test can validate. And if we’re going to be testing for drugs, then we might as well throw in a lie detector test also. We have the technology. Politicians keep talking about making things more transparent. Plus, the island taxpayers who support the very existence of these agencies will benefit from a better-structured government. We could finally start trusting each other, begin working together and move forward as an efficient democratic society.”
Maui is totally possible. For example, tomatoes have a crop yield of 10,000 pounds per acre. But since tomatoes take 75 days to grow, you would need 75 acres to harvest 10,000 pounds each day. If you took those figures and multiplied them by 10, then you’d have 750 acres producing 100,000 pounds per day. If you took those last figures and multiplied them by 10, you’d have 7,500 acres producing 1 million pounds of tomatoes each day! Remember, of course, that 7,500 acres is only about one-fifth of the cane fields. That proves that we have plenty of room for growing healthy, organic vegetables. Maui has a budget of almost $800 million. If we subsidized the project 100 percent, we could have farm stands everywhere and residents could eat fresh, healthy vegetables for free.” ❑
divorce the influence of money from politics. “What I would keep the Change and maintain same is Mayor Arakawa’s “I most want to change the hard work ethic and making manner in which elected offi- himself very available to the cials get into office. Without community.” disparaging Mayor Arakawa in any way, as in all politics it Tourism’s carrying is well known that donors buy influence by donating to politi- capacity “Yes. We want the resicians. Once they get elected, they owe their donors ‘favas.’ dents to enjoy a satisfactory Whether it is getting hired as a life, which many of us sought, construction company to pave having come from crowded a new road or digging new Mainland locations. We also wells, we all know who gets don’t want to become like the selected, though corruption is rich Monte Carlo, where all the workers have to commute very hard to prove. “I have vowed that I cannot in from neighboring France be bought or influenced by or Italy. We want to create donors, as I’m not raising any Mauitopia, a sustainable, idemoney. In the last election, al community of the future. without raising any money, I One in which we enjoy doing spent $13,546, and in this our soul’s purpose, without election I have committed to having to fight traffic. spending under $1,000 on my “The county government primary campaign. I want to can ensure we limit our
sixth in the primary with 709 votes Education: Bachelor of Science in computer engineering with distinction, Stanford University, 1983 Family: Married growth to ensure our roads, water supply and parks adequately meet the current population’s needs. “When I moved to Maui 25 years ago, we had a population of less than half the current 165,000 people. We had roads, not freeways. We certainly do not want to have the congestion of Oahu. “Many of us now enjoy the box stores which opened and replaced mom-and-pop stores, lowering prices to consumers. “While I advocate the county government setting and achieving deadlines and being accountable and transparent, we could have a publicly known limit on permits granted for building homes and shopping centers. “We want to keep Maui no ka oi and by creating Mauitopia make it a real paradise.” ❑
Experience Matters
Changeandmaintain
“I would cancel all plans for development that the county has approved — and let only island residents revote on all future development. The development has to be controlled by island voters because it eliminates political bribery and corruption. It’s simple. If a developer has to deal with thousands of island voters to build a project, then the only thing developers could use as leverage would be better homes and lower prices. Letting the island residents vote on all future development is one of the best things we could ever do. I would also start giving all the police, fire department, politicians and department heads mandatory drug (hair) tests and lie
After sugar
“We should definitely grow our own food and become self-sufficient. If you get on the United States Department of Agriculture website and did some research, then you can see that feeding
2018 election dates and deadlines
“South Maui (House District 11) needs a representative ELECTION DAY: received by the Clerk’s Office no later than the close of polls on Election Day. Voters who understands complex legislative processes and Primary: Aug. 11 with damaged or lost ballots or mistakes on General: Nov. 6 has the skill-set and experience necessary them can request a replacement from the Polls are open from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. Clerk’s Office to advance South Maui’s interests. VOTER REGISTRATION DEADLINE: I ask for your vote in the Primary EARLY WALK-IN VOTING: Primary: July 12 Primary: July 30 to Aug. 9 Election on August 11.” General: Oct. 9 General: Oct. 23 to Nov. 3
MAIL BALLOT REQUEST:
Paid for by Don Couch Campaign Committee PO Box 1212, Kihei, HI 96753
Primary: Aug. 4 General: Oct. 30 These are dates by which the County DonCouch.com Clerk’s Office must receive a request for a mail-in ballot. Completed ballots must be A Supplement of THE MAUI NEWS – Sunday, July 29, 2018 – Page S6
In Maui County, walk-in voting is held from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Saturday at the Velma McWayne Santos Community Center, 395 Waena Place, Wailuku or Mitchell Pauole Center Conference Room, 90 Ainoa St., Kaunakakai, Molokai.
2018 MAYORAL CANDIDATES people. That all political power is inherent to the peoContinued from Page 5 ple and the responsibility thereof rests within the peowill allow for tremendous positive growth and abun- ple.” dance for all. What we keep same: We will continue to Affordable housing “Formulating solutions uphold the fact that the government is for and by the while increasing efficiencies
HAWKES
is one of my gifts and passions. I have had the opportunity to experience the ‘Maui shuffle’ for many years. I know firsthand how our rental market works, as well as a thorough understanding of the Hawaii Landlord Tenant Handbook. As a contrac-
tor in the Wailuku Heights development in 2004, I came to know and understand what a developer was and how they worked. In simple terms, a developer is the company or group that buys land for as cheap as possible, makes improvements as to make the
land more appealing, and then sells the developed land for as much as possible. Much of the process is happening behind closed doors. A few get rich while most are left working three jobs to make ends meet. To fix this problem, we cut out the greedy developers
Trust her experience. Count on results. ELECT
Paid for by Friends of Rosalyn Baker P.O. Box 10394, Lahaina, Maui, HI 96761
A Supplement of THE MAUI NEWS – Sunday, July 29, 2018 – Page S7
and to bring transparency to the process. This will bring the cost of building new housing down from $300 per square foot ($300,000 for a 1,000-square-foot ohana) down to $150 per square foot ($150,000). It really is that easy.” ❑
WE SUPPORT ROZ!
2018 MAYORAL CANDIDATES management at Hawaii Community College and Hilo College Community service: Ka Hale A Ke Ola Homeless Shelter, vice president (20132015); Knights of Columbus, state deputy (2012-2014 and 2018) and supreme warden
Change and maintain
Mike Victorino Age: 65 Birthplace: Hilo Residence: Wailuku Occupation: Insurance, Mutual Underwriters Corp. Political experience: Maui County Council member, 2007-2016 Education: Studied business
“I want to change the difficulty faced by those applying for permits by putting together a One-Stop-Shop for permits, within the Maui County Business Resource Center. Instead of having to go to many offices to get your permit approved, representatives from the departments will be in one centralized location for the consumer. Additionally, I would change the timeframe the
(2016-2017); Maui Family Support Services, president and board of directors (20142017); General Insurance Agents of Maui, president (2012-present) Family: Married, two adult sons
county has allowed to lapse before developers construct the affordable housing that was part of their initial project agreement. I will work with the stakeholders to get those homes built for our local families. “As for projects to keep, I like the focus the current administration has put toward being ‘green.’ The new electric buses are a positive step toward our renewable energy goals. Additionally,
the Office of Economic Development has done marvelous work with the ‘Made in Maui County Festival,’ featuring Maui County vendors showcasing everything from jewelry to food to furniture. Last year, 140 businesses did over $570,000 in product sales, and many of the businesses developed new customers. I will definitely keep the ‘Made in Maui County Festival’ an annual event.”
GUZMAN
ote
aliceLEE for Maui County Council Wailuku, Waihe‘e, Waikapu Aloha, Although my name will be on the General Election ballot and not the Primary Election ballot, please voteR.B. in both the Primary and General Candidate Laurent “L” Zahnd did not respond to a canElections. Your vote means a lot to all of us and the future of Maui Nui. didate questionnaire. ~Alice
Laurent R.B. “L” Zahnd
LEE E LIC
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COUNTY COUNCIL
There’s no substitute for… Compassion
Tangible Results
Hard Work
Experience
Collaboration
A Unifying Vision
Continued from Page 4 “We will apply a mix of opportunities, resources and equity available for use right now, in order to bring forth all spectrums of affordable workforce housing options to our community. “Keep: The current administration has done a good job supporting the business community. As committee chair of Economic Development, I worked closely with the Office of Economic Development to craft supportive legislation created to foster, improve and diversify Maui County’s economy. I would further focus additional support for our small businesses, recognizing their important role to our
“Maui is ‘no ka oi,’ and will play a critical role in enwe need to keep it that way.” suring that farmers have secure, reliable water sources, After sugar as well as instituting policies “I was sorry to see the that protect ag production closing of HC&S, as it put operations for edible crops, approximately 600 individ- ranching and ag parks for the uals out of work. It also held community. Concurrently, memories for many in our we must grow the next gencommunity. Times change, eration of farmers. Farming however, and we need to fo- has changed over the years, cus on the future. The coun- and it is imperative to proty has a great opportunity to vide the right skills for those work with A&B as they interested in this vital work. work toward crafting a 21st UH-Maui College, in concentury model of sustain- junction with some of our ability that will benefit our local nonprofits, is at the greater community for the forefront in this arena, and next several generations. they need our support. Keeping Central Maui “Government must be a green, and active steward- role model. As mayor, I will ship of the land is in the best make agriculture, food prointerest of our community duction and sustainability a and economy. The county priority.” ❑ local economy, and collec- advocating for a much tively, employing a large shorter coastal alignment. amount of our workforce.” “My urgency lies with the early opportunity of working After sugar with a vacant land and sole“The most important owner landscape of Right-ofarea needing public-pur- Way. Early right-of-way pose advocacy with A&B planning is key. So often we is the Paia bypass align- plan from the tail-end of ment. things. We are at the ‘ground“Important matters conlevel,’ meaning prior to decerning development and preservation of A&B’s velopment being in place and agriculture lands have pro- inflated land values. “I can’t emphasize tective measures within the enough how important it is Maui Island Plan that identify urban- and rural- to keep sea-level rise, growth boundaries; and the climate change and re27,000-acre Important Ag siliency at the forefront of Lands dedication approved decision-making and planby the state Land Use ning processes such as this. The mauka alignment Commission. “While the 1995 Paia- is the smart and only way to Haiku Community Plan go, without question. Road had the foresight to adopt a alignments already exist mauka bypass alignment, that connect with countycurrent state, federal and owned roadways such as some county agencies are Holomua Road.” ❑
Laurent R.B. “L” Zahnd
Paid for by Friends of Alice Lee, P.O. Box 1606, Kahului, HI 96733 A Supplement of THE MAUI NEWS – Sunday, July 29, 2018 – Page S8
This candidate did not respond to The Maui News candidate questionnaire
2018 MAUI COUNTY COUNCIL CANDIDATES
All nine Maui County Council seats up for grabs Four of nine seats lack incumbents ll nine Maui County Makawao-Haiku-Paia seat. The West Maui race feaCouncil seats are being contested this election tures former mayoral candidate Tamara Paltin, Kanamu year. But, because races with Balinbin and Rick Nava. The only two candidates auto- Kahului contest will see matically advance to the Mayor Alan Arakawa atNov. 6 general election, only tempt to recapture his former four of the nine council seats council seat, and he will be will go before voters in the opposed by Deb Kaiwi and Natalie “Tasha” Kama. And Aug. 11 primary. The contests headed di- the Makawao-Haiku-Paia rectly for the general election race will have former Counare: Council Member Alika cil Member Mike Molina tryAtay facing former Council ing to return to his former Member Alice Lee for the seat and facing opposition Wailuku-Waihee-Waikapu from Trinette Furtado and residency seat; Council Adam Borowiec. In the other primary counMember Kelly King taking on challenger Zandra Amar- cil race, Council Member al Crouse for the South Maui Stacy Crivello will defend residency seat; Council her Molokai residency seat Member Yuki Lei Sugimura against challenges from and opponent Hannibal Star- Keani Rawlins-Fernandez buck for the Upcountry and Cora Caparida-Schnackcouncil seat; Council Mem- enberg. Council members are ber Riki Hokama versus Gabe Johnson for the Lanai elected at large, meaning that seat; and Claire Carroll and voters cast ballots in all nine Shane Sinenci for the East contests, regardless of Maui seat of retiring Council whether a voter lives in a candidate’s residency district. Member Bob Carroll. Information follows on the Of the four remaining seats, three are without in- primary candidates’ responses cumbents. Council Members to a Maui News questionElle Cochran and Don Guz- naire. (The candidates’ names man are leaving their respec- are listed as they will appear tive West Maui and Kahului on ballots Election Day.) Cancouncil seats to run for may- didates Nava and Caparidaor; and council Chairman Schnackenberg did not reMike White has decided not spond to The Maui News canto seek re-election to his didate questionnaire.
A
AFFORDABLE HOUSING. Maui’s affordable housing shortage has existed for decades. Why hasn’t more COUNTY BUDGET GROWTH. Maui County’s annual progress been made in expanding the island’s housing inbudget has roughly doubled in nearly 30 years while the ventory, and what would you propose to do about it? county’s population growth rate lags behind. Is this a correct statement? If so, is the disparity between government TIERED PROPERTY TAXES. During the last budget and population growth sustainable? session, tiered property tax rates were proposed. Is this a good idea? Why or why not?
Candidates were asked to answer the following:
Candidates were also asked to select and answer one of four additional questions:
UPCOUNTRY WATER METERS. What is your assessment of the problem of Upcountry residents awaiting COUNTY ENFORCEMENT. What do think of the county’s water meters? How would you address this problem enforcement of transient vacation rentals and bed-and- and/or increase available water supply, especially in times breakfast operations? What impact do you see on Maui’s of drought? rental housing cost and supply?
Races with only two candidates automatically advance to the Nov. 6 general election, therefore only four of the nine council seats will go before voters in the Aug. 11 primary. A Supplement of THE MAUI NEWS – Sunday, July 29, 2018 – Page S9
2018 MAUI COUNTY COUNCIL CANDIDATES Army Reserve 411 ComCounty budget growth WEST MAUI bat Engineer Battalion (1986“Yes to the first part and hell no to the second part. If gov- WEST MAUI
92) Education: Lahainaluna High School, 1986 graduate; U.S. Army Quartermaster School, Fort Lee, Va., 1986-87 (honor graduate) Community service: Sacred Hearts School Bazaar chairperson/Food Booth contributor 2013/16-18; event organizer Hui O Pohaku S-Turns Keiki Surf Contest 2013present; fundraiser contributor Lahainaluna JV/varsity Age: 50 football, Lahainaluna girls Birthplace: Wailuku softball, Lahainaluna HawaiResidence: Napili iana; Lahaina Chiefs Pop Occupation: Chef/Owner Nalu Warner, Napili Wrestling Grindz and Coconut Grove 2012-present; sponsor Maui Catering (1996-present) High HOSA/Family Fun Night, Political experience: Maui Maui High Voyaging, Young County Council candidate, Life Kumulani 2016 Family: Married, four Military experience: U.S. children
Kanamu Balinbin
Science degree in mathematics/education, Northern Arizona University Community service: Save Honolua Coalition president, 2009-present; West Maui Preservation Association president, 2018-present; Hawaii Government Employee Association Unit 3/14 steward, 2008-present; Ka Ipu Kukui Leadership fellow, 2008-present; Hawaii Lifeguard Association, 1997-present Family: Married, two children
ernment keep on going on this path, the gap between the ‘haves and have-nots’ will most definitely widen. Living on the west side, we already have been feeling the effects of this problem. With the current lack of affordable housing and rentals due to nonfull-time residents buying up real estate then renting it out at ridiculously high prices, or even worse turning it into vacation rental properties, government needs to reduce the inequality that persists in this day. “To achieve this goal, focused efforts in key policy areas including economic development, providing affordable/workforce housing and rentals, education and proper health care. Phrases like ‘that’s a state issue’ or ‘that’s a county issue’ need to be obsolete. This is a ‘we’ issue. Collaboration between county and state governments is needed to develop socioeconomic systems that are not dependent on continued material consumption growth. This will bring the implementation of policies that allow both people and the Age: 40 aina (land) to flourish.” Birthplace: Honolulu County budget growth Residence: Napili Affordable housing “I agree that Maui CounOccupation: Ocean safety “Maui’s lack of affordable housing is my main focus in ty’s annual budget growth lieutenant, DT Fleming Beach, this election. The inability of our government to come up has roughly doubled in nearwith solutions is the problem. Also responsible is the ‘money County of Maui ly 30 years, and population factor’ for developers. I have seen hotel after hotel, upscale Political experience: Mayoral candidate, 2014 See PALTIN See BALINBIN on page 14 Education: Bachelor of on next page
Tamara Akiko Maile Paltin
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A Supplement of THE MAUI NEWS – Sunday, July 29, 2018 – Page S10
KAHULUI
2018 MAUI COUNTY COUNCIL CANDIDATES Education: Master’s degree Education: Maui High sociation; Maui Coastal Land in social work School, University of Hawaii, Trust; Maui Filipino Chamber KAHULUI Maui Community College Community Service: Chairman of the board of Maui Hui Malama; vice president of the board of the Kahului Town As-
Community Service: Maui Lani Island and Bluff Homeowners Association director 2017-present; Hospice Maui,
of Commerce; board member and president of the Maui Okinawa Cultural Center Family: Married, two adult children
bereavement volunteer, 2016 to present; LDS Young Women Beehive adviser, 2016 to present; HGEA steward, present
County budget growth
County budget growth
Alan M. Arakawa Age: 66 Birthplace: Wailuku Residence: Kahului Occupation: Mayor of Maui County Political experience: Maui County Council, three terms
PALTIN Continued from Page 10 growth has taken nearly 40 years to double and is currently leveling off. Many outside factors, such as: the tourism industry, resident and nonresident landowners, climate change, etc., impact whether this disparity between government and
“The population of Maui County is only one of the factors of the budget size. The type of economy is the more relevant factor, and our economy is doing well with an unemployment rate of less than 2 percent. As the community grows more affluent, the more amenities and better quality of services it expects. It’s a great challenge to balance those wants and needs with what we can afford. However, our AA+ Bond ratings tell us that the experts feel that our expenditures and tax rates are sustainable. Maui has consistently received national awards for our budgets. Our Real Property Division just won another national award, again verifying our system works. It should also be noted that our homeowners property tax rate is one of the lowest in the nation.” See ARAKAWA on page 12 population growth is sustainable. That being said, as a council member my priority will be to ensure that we do create a sustainable budget, that core services are adequately funded and that we invest in our infrastructure and our local families’ quality of life. I think it is possible for Maui County’s annual budget growth to
level off as well. It is a matter of prioritizing what is really important and recognizing the value of keeping our local working-class residents, many of whom are being forced out of our county because of a lack of affordable housing and high cost of living. We need to know our value as a county and work together to make
Deb Kaiwi Age: 61 Birthplace: Honolulu Residence: Kahului Occupation: Behavioral health specialist with the state Department of Education
“Yes it is (a correct statement). It’s not sustainable, not if this rate continues. We need residents working and paying taxes to keep our economy afloat. The growth rate in 2016 was 61 percent and in 2017. Maui experienced a decline where the growth rate was 53 percent. The high cost of living and the challenge of attracting and retaining a skilled workforce due to the disparity between cost of living and salaries compared to the Mainland United States, the high costs of doing business, limited access to resources, the high shipping costs and the county permitting process are a few significant barriers to Maui’s economic growth. Maui residents are moving because they cannot afford to live in the most expensive state in our nation. We can do better in
adjustments that will keep bed-and-breakfast operaMaui no ka oi.” tions. Non-enforcement of illegal rentals and operaCounty enforcement tions hurt legitimate busi“I am in full support of nesses that have gone the county’s enforcement of through the legal processes, transient vacation rentals as well as our county and and bed-and-breakfast oper- communities. Illegal rentals ations. Currently there is a and operations do not pay process to go through in or- their fair share of taxes like der to legally operate tran- hotels and other legal operasient vacation rentals and tions, and they cut into what
Kanam u B alinbin M auiC ounty C ouncil I can m ake a difference.
M y num berone goalis to provide affordable housing and rentals. Plus ensure public safety, create diversified agriculture, realgovernm ent accountability.
I hum bly ask foryourvote.
Endorsed by: ILWU Local 142, Hawaii Carpenters Union Local 745, Hawaii State AFL-CIO Hawaii Lodging & Tourism Association IBEW Local 1186
Paid for by Friends of Ernest Z. Kanamu Balinbin 5045 Lower Honoapiilani Rd. #6 Lahaina HI 96761
Paid for by Tiare Lawrence for Maui P.O. Box 880616, Pukalani, HI 96788
A Supplement of THE MAUI NEWS – Sunday, July 29, 2018 – Page S11
See KAIWI on page 12 was once a long-term housing supply source for local residents. There is no guarantee that shutting down illegal rentals will lead to more housing supply, but there is a good probability that it will, especially if owners are dependent on the additional income they are making from illegal operations.” ❑
2018 MAUI COUNTY COUNCIL CANDIDATES KAHULUI
seat; state House of Representatives, District 8 Education: University of Hawaii Maui College graduate Family: Married, 11 children, 30 grandchildren, two greatgrandchildren
County budget growth
“It is a true statement. The disparity between government and population growth rate will not be sustainable if we continue on this path and allow government Age: 65 spending to get out of control. Birthplace: Honolulu “The role of government Residence: Kahului Occupation: Social justice or- is to meet the needs of its citizens through generation ganizer, Faith Action for of revenue such as real Community Equity Political experience: Ran for property tax, transient accommodations tax, public Office of Hawaiian Affairs; service tax, public transit Maui County Council, fare, fuel tax, franchise tax, Wailuku-Waihee-Waikapu weight tax and charges for
Natalie “Tasha” Kama
rentals to comply is a step in the right direction. Vacation rentals comprise 13 percent of the housing inventory on Maui with one out of seven of the housing units in Lahaina being vacation rentals. That is a large chunk of housing that is removed from the housing market. “The demand for housing is what drives up the cost of housing, which is the most expensive in Maui, where workers earn the lowest wage. Almost half of the people in Hawaii are renters and that has risen faster than their wages. “Our homeless rate is the highest in the nation, and we are told that they came from homes they could not County enforcement maintain their rent. Hope“The county’s remedy to fully more inventory will hire LODGINGRevs to en- increase the housing stock force illegal vacation for our local folks.” ❑ services for sewer and cesspool, landfill disposal, refuse collection and water service fee. These revenue sources are paid by its citizens, thus we the taxpayers. “The doubling of the budget and lag in population is an indication that, at some point, more of our people will leave the islands, an increase in others coming to Maui, and an increase in homelessness. When that happens, the fabric of who and what we are will cease to exist. And the Maui that we grew up with will be but a memory. It is imperative that this new administration not repeat the things that put us here in the first place.”
KAIWI Continued from Page 11 creating job opportunities with sustainable salaries to keep our community thriving.”
Affordable housing
“Prior to 2005, housing production on Maui was keeping up with the demand. Large projects such as Dream City in Kahului and Waiehu Heights in Wailuku delivered thousands of homes. In the last 10 years, government has imposed more regulations, which has translated to roadblocks and costly delays for prospective projects. There are significant outside forces competing with local residents for available housing. With more people moving to Maui over natural births and more nonresidents purchasing available real estate, Maui residents are left with limited housing options.
ARAKAWA Continued from Page 11
Affordable housing
“Until the ‘Show Me the Water Bill’ and the ‘Affordable Housing Bill’ were passed by the County Council in 2006, affordable housing and market-priced housing closely mirrored demand. “In the ‘Show Me the Water Bill,’ the developer was required to provide his/her own water source and transmission line and if it was turned over to the county, he/she would be credited with only 40 percent of the total available water. The ‘Affordable Housing Bill’ rePaid for by Friends of Mike Molina P.O. Box 1303 Makawao, HI 96768 quired any project of 10 or Email: mjm4council@gmail.com more units to provide 50 perWebpage: Facebook.com/mikemolinaforcouncil cent of the units as affordA Supplement of THE MAUI NEWS – Sunday, July 29, 2018 – Page S12
“Trusted, Proven and Effective Leadership”
“There are two constraints to building homes — natural vs. man-made (policy): Natural constraints include limited land available for housing, geography, terrain, water availability, etc. Man-made constraints include the approval process, density restrictions, open-space requirements, high fees and exactions, uncertain legal environment, local political pressure, difficult deed restrictions and unreasonable conditions. In short, a contractor stated it’s difficult to make a profit building affordable homes. “I will: examine manmade constraints that hinder the development of affordable homes, listen to a task force of affordable housing building experts, improve county and state policymaking and legislation, implement incentives, encourage public-private partnerships and allow for public- and private-sector housing sources.” ❑ able. These two bills combined made the cost so prohibitive that for the next eight years, only three homes were built. “The shortage in affordable housing created a huge lack of inventory. “In 2014, ‘The Affordable Housing Bill’ was amended to require 25 percent affordable units and hundreds more homes have been built since then. However, we still need to do more. Studies have shown that Maui will need nearly 14,000 housing units by 2025. “We need to create a better planning system and identify where and what type of housing we need. Then, we need to change the existing rules to allow fast-track construction.” ❑
2018 MAUI COUNTY COUNCIL CANDIDATES housing already receive higher profits Hawaii at Manoa, bachelor of MAKAWAO • HAIKU • PAIA Affordable “This issue is complex and or can afford to own unused fine arts, 2001
Adam Borowiec County budget growth
“Yes, very accurate, and it is not sustainable. The development of our county is moving too quickly, and, though an expanded government is necessary to manage our rapid development, we need to reconsider what is a tolerable threshold of growth and how does our development policies impact the county. It may be enticing to embrace newly offered sources of tax revenue and jobs but if it ultimately leads to additional strain on our infrastructure, limited resources and erosion of what makes us amazing, we need to be able to just say
ties into the other questions, so let me just throw out a couple of ideas for now. Let’s make sure that the current housing inventory is being managed better. Landlords who rent to full-time residents at affordable rates should be given tax exemptions and incentives for doing so. Nonresidential property owners whose investment sits empty most the year and property owners who rent exclusively to short- and longno sometimes. Our islands do term visitors must shoulder a not have unlimited potential, larger tax burden since they and we need to steward their development very carefully. If we get into a cycle of trying to develop our economy as a way to offset our budgetary needs, we will spiral down a hole that will one day turn us into another Oahu. Our county is thriving economically so let’s be a little more choosy with what development we allow going forward and the governmental needs that accompany it. Remember, there is a coastline and only Big Island is still growing, so let’s choose our limits with wisdom.” Age: 49 Birthplace: Leroy, N.Y. Residence: Haliimaile Occupation: The Ritz-Carlton, Kapalua, employee Education: Bachelor of Arts degree in elementary education, Bachelor of Science in U.S. history, Oswego State University Family: Married, with children
property. The monies raised could be used as housing vouchers for working-class folks. If the owners of these properties can’t afford the tax burden upon their investment property, then they should consider either residing here, renting to locals or selling and go get an investment property elsewhere. Why should someone who is not a resident enjoy all of the benefits and none of the burdens that we have? I’m sorry, but the residents are our first responsibility.” ❑
MAKAWAO • HAIKU • PAIA
Trinette Furtado
Age: 47 Birthplace: Wailuku Residence: Haiku Occupation: Independent web and graphics designer; legislative and policy analyst for Council Member Alika Atay Political experience: Sought the Makawao-HaikuPaia council seat in 2016 Education: University of
Community service: Sierra Club Maui executive board
member, 2016-17; ‘Aha Kauleo executive board member, 2014-16 Family: Single, one child
County budget growth
the years to come.”
“I don’t believe our county’s population growth lags behind our annual budget. We can see that our population is growing rapidly as rentals become scarce and our community looks to creative and alternative ways to address housing ourselves. “The budget continues to increase, in part, due to the growing use of third-party vendors to provide services the county should be providing through one or more of its departments. “The disparity between government and population growth is not sustainable as it is and changes must be made in thinking and practice to make it so. The way we’ve been doing things no longer works, and we need to look at the inclusion of all voices in the conversation about what we’d like to see for our community in
Affordable housing
“I believe a variety of factors (including permitting and approval) have contributed to the sluggish increase of affordable units in Maui County. One of those factors is the purchase and shipment of building materials from the continent, which are oft identified as major cost considerations in constructing affordable units. “To address that, I propose that the county identify and establish partnerships with large-scale/bulk building material suppliers for the county’s affordable housing projects and offer incentives of these materials to developers and contractors creating units in private projects that will be used specifically to construct affordable units.” ❑
Vote LEE MYRICK State Representative, District 11 Education • Experience University of Hawaii Manoa • BA Communications Management • Football Circle of Honor Walden University • Master’s – Higher Education 15 year Military Service • Soldier of the Year
MICHAEL TENGAN I am a father. I am a husband. I am a son of Maui committed to advocating for our communities, representing our people and protecting RXU ¶ăLQD QRZ DQG IRU generations to come.
Platform: • Affordable housing that’s affordable • Resolving our homeless issues “Where is the Money” • No more business as usual • Champion for the working class • Medicare
votemyrick.com | “Make a Difference” Paid for by Lee Myrick | 1215 S Kihei Rd., Kihei, HI 96753
Paid for by Friends of Michael Tengan • 4550 Kula Hwy., Box 599, Kula, HI 96790
A Supplement of THE MAUI NEWS – Sunday, July 29, 2018 – Page S13
2018 MAUI COUNTY COUNCIL CANDIDATES MAKAWAO HAIKU PAIA
Occupation: Executive assistant to the mayor Political experience: Maui County Council, 2001-2010 Military: U.S. Air Force, Hawaii Air Na-
tional Guard Education: Makawao School, Maui High School, UH-Hilo (degrees in sociology and education) Community service: Veterans of For-
County budget has increased in relation to population growth rate include higher cost of living, higher cost of doing business and more services needed for a larger population. Additional tax revenue generated by a larger population has helped keep the disparity between government and population growth manageable for the near future. “There will be a time, however, when the mayor and council will have to
eign Wars; Maui Evangelical Church board president; Maui Economic Opportunity board member Family: Married, three children
dream of homeownership. “With the availability of “Difficult to determine if lands formerly used for this is a correct statement sugar cane, I will work with due to no population the community to find apgrowth percentage given. propriate housing sites Nonetheless, the American Affordable housing while being sensitive to the Institute for Economic Re“During my previous environment and view corsearch and U.S. Bureau of tenure on the council, I in- ridors. I will be pursuing Labor Statistics determined troduced the Affordable another bill that I previous$100 worth of expenses in Housing Fund, which ly initiated called the 1988 is now more than helped defray affordable ‘Ohana’ Bill. If approved, $200 in 2018. Our populahousing costs, and the First families with lot sizes less BALINBIN tion has increased from Time Homebuyers Fund, than 7,500 square feet Continued from Page 10 93,000 in 1988 to Age: 58 which helped first-time would be allowed to build 166,000 in 2018. homes after upscale homes Residence: Makawao homebuyers achieve the ohana units.” ❑ “Reasons for why Maui being developed and hardly any affordable/workforce housing or rentals. “The Legislature approved House Bill 2748, which provides $570 million to generate more than MARRIED, KIHEI RESIDENT 23 YEARS 25,000 affordable units by 2030. This bill also provides financing and tax incentives. BA GEORGIA STATE With these factors on the table, affordable housing should be a reality for the SMALL BUSINESS OWNER working class. KIHEI ICE INC. 18 YEARS “If elected, one of my priorities will be that Maui COMMUNITY ADVOCATE County gets its fair share of CLEAN AIR & CLEAN WATER the $570 million. Also I will propose the Elmer Cravalho Bill. He used to come to our ADVOCATE FOR ‘FIGHT FOR $15’ family restaurant, The CoTINA’S EMPLOYEES ARE PAID A MINIMUM $15/HR conut Grove. When the Maui Surf Hotel in Kaanapali was bought by the Westin Corp., BOARD OF DIRECTORS, MAUI TOMORROW my father and uncle were concerned about housing, CLEAN AIR FOR KEIKI but Cravalho told them the Westin would build housing for its workers. He also said: CHAIRWOMAN WESTERN ICE ASSOCIATION ‘If people from the Mainland with plenty money and who STARTED KIHEI 4TH FRIDAY 2012 are gonna make plenty more money in the years to come, need to give CAMPAIGN MANAGER FOR KELLY KING something back to the comCOUNTY COUNCIL 2016 munity.’” ❑ A Supplement of THE MAUI NEWS – Sunday, July 29, 2018 – Page S14
County budget growth
Mike Molina
‘tighten their belts’ by reducing government spending to prevent further disparity between the budget and population growth.”
2018 MAUI COUNTY COUNCIL CANDIDATES MOLOKAI
Occupation: Maui County Council member, since 2013 Education: Molokai High School; College of Commerce, Honolulu; Maui Community College Community service: Found-
County budget growth
Stacy Helm Crivello Age: 72 Birthplace: Hoolehua, Molokai Residence: Kalamaula, Molokai
“Maui County’s population in 1990 was 91,360 and, as of July 1, 2017, Maui County had a resident population of 166,348, an increase of 82 percent. So, in terms of numbers, the population hasn’t exactly doubled in the last 30 years while our budget has, but the
ing member/past board member of Molokai Land Trust; Molokai East Watershed Project; Kalamaula Homesteaders Association Family: Single, four children, six grandchildren, one great-grandson
population growth rate hasn’t lagged significantly. “I think it is important to acknowledge that the population is close to doubling and some of the factors that have contributed to the growth of our county’s budget are the cost of mitigating our aging infrastructure, collective bargaining increases, greater demand
and need for social services, the focus on providing, maintaining and expanding a viable islandwide transportation system, and the ever-increasing unfunded liabilities of our employees and retirees. Many of these are driven by the increase in population. As far as sustaining our growth and our county budgets, it is important to note that our council has taken its fiduciary responsibility seriously. Through a strong fiscal discipline and policy, Maui County has developed and maintained a high bond rating, maximized our shortterm investment returns and continues to stay ahead of the game in paying our unfunded liabilities.”
Affordable housing
“We can all agree that an affordable housing shortage continues to exist. However, I beg to differ that progress hasn’t been made. As chair of the Housing, Human Services and Transportation Committee, I took on this challenge and through amending the Maui County Residential Workforce Housing Policy, we have seen movement in increasing the affordable housing inventory. The policy required a developer to provide a number of affordable units equivalent to 50 percent of the total number of marketrate units. However, this policy resulted in just three units being built. Some would ar-
gue this was due to unfavorable economic conditions. However, other counties were able to build affordable homes during this same period. After we streamlined the workforce housing policy and reduced the affordable requirement to 25 percent of the total market units, we have over 200 affordable units built with another 300plus in the pipeline waiting to be constructed. While we were able to tweak an existing policy and make it work for the benefit of our residents, we have to do more. For starters, we need to look at partnering with developers and perhaps providing land and infrastructure to reduce the cost of building affordable units.” ❑
should also explore a tiered prioritize investing in Af- are vacation rentals. That is tax rate system.” fordable Housing Land just unacceptable. On Maui Trusts, like Na Hale o Maui, and Lanai, a short-term Affordable housing to keep housing affordable in rental can have up to six bedrooms. These types of “I would support the com- perpetuity. “The county needs to en- six-bedroom luxury homes pletion an Affordable Housing Plan that the council allo- force current and future could not realistically be put cated $250,000 for in 2017. short-term rentals caps. Too into long-term rental invenThis plan will help to define many residents have already tory once built. This is one what is truly ‘affordable’ for been evicted to make way reason why I support the our community members, for illegal vacation rentals. proposed max $20,000 ascertain county-owned and A recently study conducted penalty for an unpermitted other appropriate properties by the Hawai’i Appleseed short-term rental to deter to build on, and identify part- Center for Law and Eco- these types of houses from ners that have a history of nomic Justice found that, in being constructed or conworking on this issue. I’d Lahaina, one in three houses verted.” ❑ salaries, we need to consider County budget growth inflation of the cost of living “While I agree that the to ensure we are properly Please Vote Paltin August 11, 2018 budget has doubled, if the taking care of our communipopulation accounts for both ty members. Age: 35 residents and visitors, then Birthplace: Molokai “A recent Maui News artipopulation growth has also cle suggested that county Residence: Kaunakakai Occupation: Lead advocate, doubled, and the disparity spending is not in line with Hawai’i Center for Food Safe- may not be as great as the what its taxpayers can afford. statement implies. With po- Most of the county revenues ty; executive assistant, Office lice, lifeguards, roads, waste- come from property tax, and of Council Member Elle water and so on, the county the county does provide Cochran; administrative diinextricably serves both resi- homeowner exemptions. If rector, Molokai Community dents and visitors. An ade- the county assessed hotel Service Council; graduate as- quate budget is required to properties at the 100 percent sistant, Office of Civil Rights support this entire popula- fair market value called for at the University of Hawaii at tion. Furthermore, since by the law, it would more Manoa; research assistant to most of government spend- fairly address the needs of Paid for by Friends of Tamara Paltin, P.O. Box 12234, Lahaina, HI 96761 professor Malia Akutagawa, ing consists of employee the population. I believe we A Supplement of THE MAUI NEWS – Sunday, July 29, 2018 – Page S15
MOLOKAI
Keani RawlinsFernandez
Ka Huli Ao Center for Excellence in Native Hawaiian Law Education: Juris doctorate degree, specializing in environmental and Native Hawaiian law; master’s degree in business administration; bachelor’s degree in public relations; Molokai High School Community service: Board director, Molokai Child Abuse
Prevention Pathways; board director, Office of Hawaiian Affairs’ Native Hawaiian Revolving Loan Fund; precinct president for 13-6, Democrat Party of Hawai’i; president, Ho’olehua Hawaiian Civic Club; member, Ho’olehua Homestead Agriculture Association Family: Married, two children
2018 STATE SENATE AND HOUSE CANDIDATES
Challengers line up to take on state lawmakers in Maui County
I
Candidates were asked to answer the following: DISTRICT NEEDS. What do you see as the greatest needs of your district? What would you do to address them?
Candidates were also asked to select and answer one of four additional questions:
All incumbents, except one, have primary opponents; South Maui House seat open ncumbent state legislators have their hands full this election year, fielding challengers in all races. Only Democratic West Maui Rep. Angus McKelvey has no primary challenger for re-election to his House 10th District seat, which serves residents of West Maui, Maalaea and north Kihei. However, in the Nov. 6 general election, he’ll face Republican Chayne Marten and Green Party candidate Jen Mather. Both of
those candidates have uncontested primaries as well. With South Maui Rep. Kaniela Ing leaving his seat to run for the U.S. 1st Congressional House seat, the House 11th District seat is open, drawing three Democrats — former Council Member Don Couch, Lee Myrick and Tina Wildberger — and a nonpartisan, Daniel Kanahele. (As a nonpartisan, Kanahele will need to get 10 percent of the vote in the primary or receive
VOTE KAMA 4 COUNCIL
Maui County is my special interest group Paid for by Kama 4 Council PO Box 503 Wailuku, HI 96793
votes equal to or greater than the nominated partisan candidate to advance to the general election.) Another state House race to watch will be for the House 8th District (Wailuku, Waikapu, Waiehu, Puuohala, Kahakuloa and Waihee), which former House Speaker Joe Souki held for decades until he resigned March 30 as part of a settlement of sexual harassment charges brought against him before the Hawaii Ethics Commission. In April, Gov. David Ige appointed Troy Hashimoto, an executive assistant to Maui County Council Chairman Mike White, to Souki’s unexpired term. And, Hashimoto served briefly in the House before the adjournment of this year’s legislative session. Hashimoto is one of four Democrats seeking the 8th House seat. The others are former Council Member Dain Kane, Justin Hughey and Mary Wagner. Since there are candidates from no other parties in the race, the primary will determine the new Central Maui House member. In the other Central Maui district, the House 9th District serving residents of Kahului, Puunene, Old Sand Hills and Maui Lani, incumbent Democrat Justin Woodson faces a primary challenge from Kauanoe Batangan. And, like Kanahele, nonpartisan candidate Andrew Kayes will need garner enough votes to advance to the general election. In the 12th House District, which includes Upcountry, Spreckelsville and parts of Kahului, incumbent Democ-
STATE INFRASTRUCTURE. Why does it take the state so long to build schools, roads and other infrastructure? Is this rat Kyle Yamashita will have an area ripe for privatization? a primary rematch with Tiare Lawrence. In 2016, YaHIGHWAY FUNDING. What funding mechanisms do you mashita held on to his seat think could or should be created to generate money for against Lawrence by a 352- highway expansion projects on Maui, such as completing vote margin, 50.6 to 44.2 per- the Lahaina bypass or building the Paia bypass? cent. With no other parties in CESSPOOLS. The state has identified Upcountry Maui the contest, it’s a winner-takehas having one of the worst problems with cesspools posall race. And, in the 13th House sibly contaminating the island’s drinking water supply. Yet, District, which includes East the cost of replacing cesspools is prohibitive and often an Maui, Molokai and Lanai, in- engineering challenge. What do you think should be done cumbent Rep. Lynn DeCoite to help residents facing this issue? will take on challenger JohnLOCAL PRODUCE FOR SCHOOLS. Do you think more Bull English in the primary. The winner will face Green should or could be done to serve locally grown produce in Party candidate Nick Nikhi- public schools? Is so, what? lananda. This year, there are two four-year Senate seats up for voters’ consideration. One is the Senate 6th District (South and West Maui) in Surfrider Foundation volunwhich incumbent Democrat teer; Maui Forest Bird RecovRoz Baker will have another ery Project volunteer; Leeprimary challenge from Terez ward Haleakala Watershed Amato. In 2014, Baker deRestoration Partnership volfeated Amato in the primary unteer by 486 votes, 52.6 to 43.1 Family: Four children percent. This year, the primary winner will advance to the general election and face District needs Green Party candidate Melis“Important issues include: sah Shishido. assisting seniors, a housing And, in the Senate 7th Disand pay crisis, supporting trict (East Maui, Upcountry, child care, defending Molokai and Lanai), incum- Age: 42 Medicare and workers unions, bent Democrat J. Kalani Eng- Residence: Kihei unaffordable health insurance, lish is in a three-way, winner- Occupation: Bookkeeper, overdevelopment, increasing take-all primary with Gayla farmer Haliniak and Michael Tengan. Political experience: State traffic, poop water/injection wells destroying reefs. TeachInformation follows on Senate candidate, 2014 ers are underpaid. All schools contested primary candidates’ Education: St. Anthony Junneed AC. Health care responses to a Maui News questionnaire. (The candi- ior-Senior High School, Class providers are underpaid. The dates’ names are listed as they of 1993; University of Hawaii hospital is understaffed at dangerous levels. will appear on ballots election Maui College “Our community was day.) Haliniak and Kanahele Community service: Sierra did not respond to The Maui Club volunteer (former board promised a high school when I was a child. My opponent’s News candidate question- member, treasurer); Maui naire. See AMATO on next page Farmers Union member;
SENATE DISTRICT 6
SOUTH AND WEST MAUI
Terez Amato (D)
A Supplement of THE MAUI NEWS – Sunday, July 29, 2018 – Page S16
2018 STATE SENATE AND HOUSE CANDIDATES
AMATO Continued from Page 16 corporate-funded flyer says she got $40 million for it — yet all I see is a pretty blue sign — apparently made of solid gold. Maui is not for sale. Our government must always serve our community and protect our environment, ensuring that all of Hawaii’s families share a healthful, prosperous future. That’s why unlike my
opponent I have vowed to never take money from corporations or lobbyists. “Instead, doctors and teachers trust and endorse me. “Our environment is our economy and our future. Your jobs depend on it. It’s time to unite with our neighbors to create new leadership. Our families’ future depends on the choices we make right now. “We must choose new lead-
ers who are working for the people, not corporations. On Aug. 11, the people of Hawaii want change.”
Louisiana, Lafayette) 1969 Community service: West Maui Task Force; Women Helping Women; current member and past president,
Rotary Club of Lahaina Sunrise (2007-2008); organist and ukulele choir member, Lahaina United Methodist Church Family: Single
Highway funding
“We can lower taxes for Maui residents while funding needed programs from nonresident investors by being smart about revenue generation. Here are three ways: “Nonresident investors ex-
tracting money from Hawaii’s economy must pay their fair share. Many nonresident investors pay no general excise tax and have unreasonably low property taxes. An example is the recent $1.1 billion Grand Wailea hotel sale: The property is assessed and taxed at a third of its actual value. This is wrong and corrupt. “This is why, unlike my opponent who takes their money,
I won’t accept any hotel, construction or any corporate donations. I am not for sale: I am working for the people not corporations. “The hundreds of millions at stake can help to fund our state and county public employee retirement, improve medical care and reduce housing costs. It’s time large corporations paid their fair share instead of overtaxing hardwork-
ing residents and paying protection donations to my opponent. “I support dedicating a fraction of hotel TAT taxes to public school improvement. I support legalization of recreational marijuana for adults and taxing only nonresidents for its purchase. There is at least $100 million a year at stake here. Hawaii is missing the boat.” ❑
SENATE DISTRICT 7
District needs
Roz Baker (D) Age: 71 Birthplace: El Campo, Texas Residence: Lahaina Occupation:State senator, since 2002 Political experience: Elected to state House of Representatives in 1988 (West Maui, Molokai, Lanai district); appointed to Senate in 1993; elected to Senate 1994-1998; coordinator, Maui County Office of Economic Development (appointed by Mayor James “Kimo” Apana) 1999-2002; elected to Senate (South and West Maui) in 2002 Education: Educated in Texas public schools; Bachelor of Arts degree in political science and speech, Southwest Texas State College (now known as Texas State University) 1968; graduate work in political science and graduate assistant at University of Southwestern Louisiana (now known as University of
“Two of the greatest needs in the 6th Senate District involve mitigating the effects of climate change on our roadway infrastructure and reversing man-made damages to our marine environment. Because of rising sea levels, sections of Honoapiilani Highway need to be relocated away from the shoreline in many places and the northern terminus of the Lahaina bypass must be constructed with future climate threats in mind. This past term, I worked hard to secure the necessary $40 million to fund the Lahaina bypass going north. I also fought for a new funding mechanism for roadway projects: a dedicated rental car surcharge applicable to anyone without a Hawaii driver’s license to generate funds for improvements in the county where funds originated. I will continue to press DOT to complete these improvements, as well as the conversion to ‘smart’ intersections making street crossings safer for pedestrians and vehicles alike. Regarding our marine environment, we need to step
up efforts to urge the public not to use sunscreens containing oxybenzone or octinate prior to the ban going into effect and to dispose of plastics and other waste properly. We can individually do our part to protect our reefs and sustain our environment.”
EAST MAUI, UPCOUNTRY, MOLOKAI, LANAI 1998-1999 J. Kalani English (D) ber, Education: 2003 certificate, Age: 51 Residence: Hana Occupation: State senator, since 2000 Political experience: Senate majority leader since 2014; Maui County Council mem-
Local produce for schools
“I believe providing pesticide-free, nutritious food for our keiki is becoming increasingly important. Sadly, too many of our children are coming to school hungry and need our help in providing healthy diets. The Department of Education should be encouraged to introduce more locally grown fruits and vegetables into school meals, especially through sustainable, studentmaintained living gardens and outdoor classrooms. While groups like ‘Grow Some Good’ have made great strides, more can be done to support both food education and agriculture on campus. The state and DOE should make this a priority and re-examine any laws or regulations that can be changed for the better.” ❑
A Supplement of THE MAUI NEWS – Sunday, July 29, 2018 – Page S17
program for Senior Executives in State & Local Government, John F. Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University, Cambridge, See ENGLISH on next page
ENGLISH
2018 STATE SENATE AND HOUSE CANDIDATES Molokai, Lanai and Ka- Highway after floods and land- on solutions that meet EPAhoolawe, transportation and slides. Now, as majority leader approved conversion methods. HOUSE DISTRICT 8
infrastructure are the greatest needs of the 7th District. For the people on Molokai, Lanai and Hana, it is often difficult to fly for routine needs such as medical care and education. Oftentimes, these residents experience delayed or even canceled flights. Additionally, the harbors and roads on Molokai and Lanai are the lifeline for the islands. I have spent 10 years as the chair of the Senate Committee on Transportation & International Affairs to address these issues in all the rural areas of Hawaii. “For Maui, the roads and bridges are of utmost concern. We have invested hundreds of millions of dollars to keep our state roads safe and maintained, with emergency District needs repairs to the Hana Highway, “Encompassing Hana, East and Upcountry Maui, Haleakala Highway and Kula
Continued from Page 17 Mass.; 1995 Master of Arts, Pacific Island studies, University of Hawaii at Manoa; 1991 fellow, Institute of Culture & Communications, East-West Center, Honolulu; 1989 Bachelor of Arts, Pacific Island studies, Hawaii Loa College, Kaneohe; 1988 certificate, Center for Public & Business Administration Education, National Chengchi University, Taiwan, China; 1984 diploma, the Kamehameha Schools, Kapalama Community service: President, Hui ‘Aina o Hana, 1999 to present; member, Hawaii Farmers Union United, Hana Chapter, 2013 to present Family: Single
Age: 39 Birthplace: Honolulu Residence: Kula Occupation: Founder/lead vitality and wellness adviser, Light Alchemy HI; founder/lead personal trainer/wellness consultant, PRIME
Michael Tengan (D) District needs
“Spanning four islands and encompassing over 500 square miles of land, District 7 (East and Upcountry Maui, Molokai, Lanai and Kahoolawe) is the largest geographical area in Maui County. Widespread and comprised of our rural towns, the needs of each community are as diverse as the people who live there. “In recent visits to these towns, I have come to learn that the common belief of our people is that our voices are not heard. Often our rural
of the Senate, I will continue to ensure that the roads, harbors and airports in our district receive the necessary funding to remain operational.”
Cesspools
“I have brought the Department of Health to meet with Upcountry residents and have worked with the DOH to change their approach to this issue from ‘one size fits all’ to ‘different solutions for different communities.’ We have passed bills to provide tax incentives for people to convert from cesspools to septic systems and have looked for technological solutions to this problem. Working with the DOH, we are trying to create regional engineering plans that could cut the cost for conversions considerably. “With this, we are working Fitness Education: St. Anthony School, Wailuku; Kamehameha Schools, Kapalama, 1997; Lewis & Clark College, Portland, Ore., 1997 to 2001 Community service: Cofounder/executive director,
schools — operating approximately 180 days per year — our state cafeterias will produce nearly 18 million meals this year. When looking at how to reinvigorate our local agricultural industry while potentially improving the health outcomes of our children, our public school system is our best opportunity. “We have seen the initial movement and proof of concept through ‘Aina Pono, the state’s current farm-to-school program. We can do more. Yet it requires a strong stance Local produce within the Legislature to for schools make it happen. If elected, I “With more than 185,000 will prioritize agriculture, students in our 256 public health and our keiki by work-
communities are left out of state-level processes, neither consulted nor invited to the decision-making table. As such, I believe that the greatest need for District 7 is the consistent presence, representation and advocacy of the elected official. If elected into office, I will maintain an open policy of communication, ensure my attendance at community meetings, to better represent and advocate for the true needs of our community.”
The main issue is that current conversion methods must be geared toward treatment and purification systems. If highgrade, treated effluent from advanced treatment systems that mimic rainwater is allowed to be discharged into the ground for drip irrigation or agriculture, then ultraviolet light treatment systems, micro-filtration systems and recycled glass filtration systems all become feasible. For families converting their old cesspools, the cost could be reduced as most of these systems can be placed in the existing cesspool. This will eliminate most onsite engineering requirements. “I have partnered with the DOH to examine new, innovative technologies from around the world to find solutions.” ❑ Sweet Annie, 2012 to 2017; program coordinator, the Gift of Giving Toy Drive for Weinberg Village, Waimanalo, 2011 to 2017; program coordinator, Ho’ola Cancer Exercise Wellness Program, 2009 to 2011 Family: Married, two children
ing within the Legislature to provide more funding for this agricultural initiative. Currently our state invests 0.4 percent of our statewide budget on agriculture, which is insufficient to provide real solutions. I will work with the departments of Education and Agriculture to revisit purchasing practices, coordinate an interagency task force and provide state-leased lands to localize farming operations for small-scale farmers. By shifting our focus to increasing locally grown produce in our public schools we encourage, not just the prosperity of our aina, but our children’s future as well.” ❑
WAILUKU, WAIKAPU, WAIEHU, PUUOHALA, KAHAKULOA AND WAIHEE Council Chairman Mike White, 2011 to 2018 Political experience: Hawaii State Board of Education, 2005; Maui County Democratic Party chairman, 2013 to 2017; Hawaii State Central Committee - Democratic Party of Hawaii, 2013 to 2018 Education: Bachelor’s and master’s degrees in business administration, University of Denver Age: 30 Community service: Ka Ipu Birthplace: Wailuku Kukui Fellows board of direcResidence: Wailuku tors, 2012 to present; Rotary Occupation: Appointed Club of Valley Isle Sunset, House representative; execu- secretary, 2012 tive assistant to Maui County Family: Single
Troy Hashimoto (D)
District needs
“Affordability, like many other communities, is the most pressing issue facing my district. This includes rising recurring costs such as utilities and, for many, their largest monthly expense, housing. If the cost of housing can be brought down, many affordability issues facing residents can be alleviated. Unfortunately, the biggest issue with housing is the limited supply, which is driving up prices. “An identification of large tracts of land where housing that is actually affordable can be built in a walkable community must be a top priority. One fix that must be contemplated is the power for the state or county to rezone strategic tracts of land for affordable housing and government providing subsidies for infrastructure costs. Public-private partnerships then could be utilized to complete the actual construction of high-density homes that will
A Supplement of THE MAUI NEWS – Sunday, July 29, 2018 – Page S18
stay affordable over a long period of time. “Suitable senior housing is also needed to provide an incentive to those who want to downsize to more desirable homes, freeing up additional housing. Although this is a start, the simple fact is housing is needed for the community or else we face many longtime residents being priced out of where we call home.”
Local produce for schools
“Raised on my family’s persimmon farm, I not only was instilled with the value of hard work from a young age, but also a deep understanding of the importance of locally grown fruits and vegetables. Nearly 85 to 90 percent of Hawaii’s food is imported. Studies indicate that replacing just 10 percent of the food Hawaii currently
See HASHIMOTO on next page
2018 STATE SENATE AND HOUSE CANDIDATES strate that it believes in cultivating local farmers by buying local. Typically, buying local is slightly more pricey, but the trade-off is that we support our local economy. Federal grants have allowed a few locally grown products to be served to students, but it must become a widespread
initiative. Locally sourced food is more flavorful and can educate students on how and where their food is grown. This effort will take major investment, but I believe it is a step that will create major returns for not only our students but also local farmers and our economy.” ❑
Political experience: Democratic Party of Hawaii State Central Committee, Education Committee chairman, 2014-present; certified the Democratic Party of Hawaii Education Caucus, 2014; ad hoc Democratic Party of Hawaii District 8 Committee chairman, 2013; Democratic Party of Hawaii District 8 chairman, 2010-14; Democratic Party of Hawaii State Central Age: 42 Committee, District 8, 2010Birthplace: Elgin, Ill. 14; Democratic Party of Hawaii Residence: Wailuku State Central Committee, DisOccupation: Third-grade spe- trict 10, 2009-10; Mazie Hicial education teacher, King rono’s Maui Liaison, 2008 ReKamehameha III Elementary election campaign; Democratic School, 2005-present Party of Hawaii, District 10
chairman, 2006-10 Education: Master of Science in education, Northern Illinois University, 2005; Bachelor of Arts, The Evergreen State College, 2000 Community service: Hawaii State Teachers Association community organizer for the constitutional amendment; Hawaii State Teachers Association, vice president, 2015-18; Na Hale O Maui, vice president, 2012-16; Democratic Party of Hawaii State Central Committee member, 2009present; King Kamehameha III Elementary School, Aloha Club, president 2012-16 Family: Married
HASHIMOTO Continued from Page 18 imports would amount to approximately $313 million, which would remain in the state. This is significant. I believe our public schools is where the state can take a leadership role and demon-
Dain P. Kane (D)
Justin Hughey (D)
District needs
“I believe local, hardworking residents in our district, let alone the entire state, are in dire need of truly affordable housing. Our family and friends shouldn’t be moving away because nonresidents are buying up all the property for profit, making purchase of a home almost impossible. Thanks to Wailuku’s own Na Hale O Maui, a community land trust nonprofit, I was the first person to purchase a truly affordable home through their amazing program. “I can make this happen because of my experience as board member and vice president of NHOM. I have discovered that we can take the successful seed of NHOM and have it germinate statewide. To get there, we need to find creative solu-
Age: 56 Birthplace: Lihue, Kauai
District needs
“We need to address the rapid growth of our senior citizen population in District 8 and throughout the state. Not only will there be a dramatic increase in our over 65 population, income levels for our over 75 population are declining, with a greater percentage of them forecasted to earn less than $50,000/year. This translates into a greater demand for independent senior-type housing, and greater need for lower cost social and health care services. Creating a new paradigm to effectively manage the growth of our aging boomers over the next fiveplus years is at a critical juncture. From a statewide perspective, this means focusing on building new models. We need more availability of funding for higher-density, smaller-size independent senior housing, which will contribute to easing the demand of newbuild housing for millennials by ‘recycling’ existing homes and decompressing multigen-
Residence: Wailuku Occupation: Substitute teacher, Iao Intermediate School, spring/fall semesters 2017, spring semester 2018; self-employed consultant, 2013-16 Political experience: Maui County Council member, Wailuku-Waihee-Waikapu residency seat, 1999-2006 Education: University of Hawaii at Manoa, Bachelor of Education in secondary education, social studies
Community service: Wailuku Country Estates Community Association president, 2012present; Hawaiian Swimming board member, 2015-17; Maui Age Group Swimming Association board member, 2015-17; Democratic Party of Hawaii State Central Committee board member, 201416; Democratic Party of Maui District 8, Precinct 4, council representative, 2014-2018 Family: Married, three children
erational housing stresses. With Medicaid, which is administered by the state, we need to create more home- and community-based services to allow for aging in place, providing for healthier, convenient, and more affordable health care. We also need new approaches to social services to make sure our seniors can age gracefully in communitybased environments and thrive.”
largest purchaser of food in Hawaii. Purchasing and serving more locally grown produce in our schools provide opportunities to support our farmers and ranchers, with opportunity for growth and diversification of our agriculture industry. It also provides support and growth potential for local businesses. More importantly, it provides greater access to nutritious, high-quality fresh food for our children. With deliberate efforts to implement true systems change, along with improving business and food efficiencies, we can realize this initiative that systematically increases: HIDOE’s purchasing of local food, student participation, consumption of healthy foods, and be cost neutral. Finally, with an expanded vision for supply chain development, farmer support, community outreach and procurement innovation, this initiative is worthy of the Legislature’s support to nurture the future of Hawaii’s keiki.” ❑
Local produce for schools
“Yes. The Farm to School They should always be Initiative took root when forowned and administered by mer Lt. Gov. Shan Tsutsui in people who are answerable 2015 gathered a think tank of exclusively to us, all of us. stakeholders to convert talk in“Everyone is fighting to action. Now, three years latover the same small pie of er, overwhelming positive darevenue. We don’t have the ta collected from participants money to fully invest in of the initiative shows that an building new things institutionalized farm-toovernight, so we have to do school program is feasible and it over multiple fiscal years. can work in Hawaii. Our DeWe need to raise new revpartment of Education is the enue that doesn’t hurt hardninth largest school district in working families in our the nation, making it the community like the Hawaii State infrastructure State Teachers Associa“Our founding fathers un- tion’s constitutional amendderstood the importance of ment, which would levy the commons as essential to property taxes on investproperties over any democracy. Everything ment Age: 64 we depend on for life, liber- $1,000,000. Nonresidents Birthplace: Chicago ty and the pursuit of happi- own 52 percent of all homes Residence: Wailuku ness should never be priva- on Maui. Speculators who Occupation: Information techtized, including police, fire, drive up the cost of our livnology manager, Maui County schools, streets, septic, safe ing should be the ones who Education: Dual degrees of food supply, safe from pred- spend a little more for our associate of arts and associators and health safety. keiki.” ❑ A Supplement of THE MAUI NEWS – Sunday, July 29, 2018 – Page S19 tions to solve this most pressing issue. I believe the state needs to do a better job supporting community land trusts. First, we need to change the federal definition of community land trusts into house concurrent resolutions, defining what is, or is not, a community land trust in Hawaii. This would allow us to establish a special funding stream like the Rental Housing Trust Fund.”
Mary D. Wagner (D)
ate of applied science in law enforcement from Joliet Junior College; Bachelor of Arts in criminal justice from the College of St. Francis; and Master of Business Administration in technology management
See WAGNER on the next page
2018 STATE SENATE AND HOUSE CANDIDATES ty Association, 2013-present; board president, Bargaining Continued from Page 19 Unit 13 (scientific and professional members), Hawaii from University of Phoenix Government Employees AsMaui Community service: Board sociation, 2017-present; member, Kehalani Communi- HGEA Unit 13 state negotia-
WAGNER
District needs
“Affordable housing is the most pressing issue facing District 8 residents. Hawaii now has the distinction of having the nation’s most unaffordable rent costs. The National Low Income Housing Coalition recently found a typical two-bedroom rental in Maui County has a market cost of $1,619 per month, and a tenant would need to earn more than $31 an hour just to stay sheltered. “Unfortunately, Hawaii’s minimum wage is only $10.10. The gap between our earnings and our housing expenses continues to widen for many of us, even with so many residents working two
tions team member, 2015present; HGEA state board of directors, 2013-17; volunteer, American Cancer Society Reach to Recovery Program, 2013-present Family: Three adult children
gram should be expanded to Maui. I will work with the Department of Agriculture, Department of Education and Lieutenant Governor’s Office to make this happen. Food producers are willing to increase productions if they have access to longterm contracts, which will allow our schools to stimulate and support local agriculture. So the expansion of this program can help our farmers and our children. I will also work with local citizens’ groups, such as Grow Some Good, to ensure our kids get Local produce healthier food, while also for schools protecting the environment “The ‘Aina Pono Hawai’i and supporting the econoState Farm to School Pro- my.” ❑ or more jobs. While our current officeholders have been discussing the issue of developing more homes for residents, no one has been able to bring all sides together to generate viable solutions. I will work with the newly elected Legislature to convene developers, government officials, environmentalists, farmers, housing advocates, bankers — anyone willing to come to the table in good faith — and finally prioritize affordable housing.”
Justin H. Woodson (D) Age: 41 Residence: Kahului Occupation: State House representative since January 2013; owner/operator of Aloha Distribution Advantage; former owner/operator of Woodson’s Eco Auto Wash Political experience: Past president, Young Democrats of Hawaii, 2006-08; state coordinator, College Democrats of Hawaii State, 2007-08; Hawaii young democrats rep, Democratic National
Committee, 50 State Strategy, 2006; special assistant to State Party Chair, Democratic Party of Hawaii, 2005-07; administrative assistant to House Rep. Mele Carroll, 2005; legislative analyst to Sen. Carol Fukunaga, 2007; committee clerk to Rep. Thomas Brower, 2008; precinct president, District 94, Maui Democratic Party, 2010-12 Education: University of Oklahoma, microbiology; Bachelor of Arts, University
District needs
“I believe the greatest challenges facing our community are the lack of truly affordable housing, increased homelessness, the lack of support of public schools and the necessity for more support services for our kupuna. “The Legislature passed a historic affordable housing package this year. As past
of California State, Fullerton Community service: Maui Economic Opportunity, board member, 2014 to present; Gospel of the Alpha and Omega International Inc., vice president, 2005 to present; Friends of Maui Waena, member, 2013 to present; Kahului Alii, Pop Warner Football, commissioner, 2012 to present; Kahului Elementary PTSA, volunteer, 2011 to present Family: Married, four children vice chair of the Housing Committee, I have many good working relationships with stakeholders that will be involved in implementing the bill. I’ll work with these key individuals to bring as many units back to Central Maui as possible. “I would also like to continue my working relationship with service providers in Central Maui that together have created a system to transition individuals out of homelessness. State-funded projects starting soon will increase the facility capacity for homeless in Central Maui, allowing more to receive assistance faster. “We need to better support our teachers and principals in our public schools. There are successful models that can be utilized and gradually phased in to accomplish this. These successful models that have the approval of many in the teaching profession can also lead to increased student preparedness. “The community wants more kupuna care. I am committed to fighting for additional funding to help our seniors.”
middle school in Central Maui “I believe we need to “The greatest needs in and replace the fire-damaged change not only the way stuCentral Maui are those that buildings at Kahului School; dents eat, but also their relamost impact the well-being of establish an income tax credit tionship with food and the enour families: Education, eld- for classroom supplies pur- vironment. The state of erly care, the economy and chased out-of-pocket by teach- Hawaii recently established a Farm to School program that the environment. Our district ers. Schools Maui; Stanford Uni- schools are overcrowded, and “Economy: Promote the di- laid the foundation for achievversity, Bachelor of Arts in our aging population is in versification of Maui’s econo- ing this goal by creating partpolitical science; Columbia need of support. Both our my; support diversified agri- nerships between the farming University, Master of Public economy and the environ- culture in the Central Valley; community and the departAdministration; University ment provide nourishment invest in infrastructure such as ments of Agriculture, Educaof Tokyo, Master of Public that our community needs, roads, air and sea ports and tion and Health. We can Policy and both require careful stew- water transportation systems; strengthen those partnerships Community service: Royal ardship to flourish and grow ensure continued subsidies for and build upon their work by Order of Kamehameha I, responsibly. Maui Health System; and pro- establishing more school garmember, 2015 to present; “Elderly care: Support mote the development of more dens and using them to enTri-Isle Resource Conserva- Hale Mahaolu and Hale affordable housing projects. gage students in hands-on tion and Development Makua in their Central Maui “Environment: Invest in learning, creating new proCouncil, board member, expansion plans; appropriate clean energy, local food pro- gramming related to health 2017 to present; Maui Filfunds to help cover the costs duction and consumption; and nutrition, increasing the Age: 28 ipino Chamber of Comof adult day care centers and natural resource management, demand for locally grown Birthplace: Honolulu merce, board member; Maui personal care services; and waste reduction; and building food through DOE procureResidence: Kahului ment, promoting healthy food Local produce Historical Society, board provide financial support for sustainable communities.” options in our cafeterias, and for schools Occupation: Political analyst; member; Maui Matsuri caregivers. “The Legislature passed a addressing the concerns of our “Education: Alleviate overlong-term substitute teacher, Japanese Festival, subcomfarmers to create healthier crowded classrooms by build- Local produce 9th grade English mittee chairman See WOODSON next page ing Kihei school, a new public for schools food systems.” ❑ Education: Kamehameha Family: Single A Supplement of THE MAUI NEWS – Sunday, July 29, 2018 – Page S20
HOUSE DISTRICT 9
KAHULUI, PUUNENE, OLD SAND HILLS AND MAUI LANI
Kauanoe Batangan (D)
District needs
2018 STATE SENATE AND HOUSE CANDIDATES Youth Basketball League, 2015 to present Family: Married, three children
WOODSON Continued from Page 20 robust Farm to School program bill for our K-12 public schools this year. These programs not only teach our kids the importance of agriculture in our state by partnering with local farmers, it also allows for the products grown at the schools to be offered at the school for lunch, or to be taken home to families. To me, this would be a natural mechanism to move toward the goal of offering significantly more locally grown food in our public schools across the state. I believe this is a terrific program. I will continue to cultivate the program now and into the future as chairman of the Committee on Education if I have the opportunity to serve again.” ❑
District needs
“My first priority would be to help bring back a culture that respects life. I worry our young people are getting the wrong message about the importance of themselves and others as Age: 44 they grow up. If our state Birthplace: Cincinnati lawmakers do not respect Residence: Kahului life, then why should our Occupation: Medical doctor; young people? My hope is medical director at Maui Dito help foster a culture agnostic Imaging, Kahului where young people in Education: Doctor of MediHawaii develop a core becine, Duke University, lief that all life is sacred, 2000; Bachelor of Science, and all life special. For mechanical engineer, Duke young people with those University, 1995 convictions, it would be Community service: Youth unthinkable to hurt himbasketball coach, Maui
Andrew Kayes (N)
HOUSE DISTRICT 11 SOUTH MAUI Community service: Board member, Boys & Girls Clubs of Maui 2004 to present; vice chairman/board member, Akaku Maui Community Media, 2010 to present Family: Married
District needs
ering the costs. Also, homelessness is a serious problem. I will work to redefine the state’s legal responsibilities for the mentally disabled and to provide the funding necessary to care for them in a safe and humane way. Also, South Maui needs traffic solutions. For decades, there has been a plan for a road, bikeway and greenway through central Kihei to run parallel to South Kihei Road and Piilani Highway. A stumbling block to getting this ‘traffic-easer’ built has been the lack of support from state and federal highway agencies. I will work tirelessly to get this long overdue and vital section of our road system finally built.”
self/herself or others. I am running to be a voice in the Hawaii State Legislature that stands up for life. If one person stops and considers the sanctity of life because of my campaign, I will consider myself a success. “I also want to help solve other problems in my district. For example, my district needs support to ensure equal opportunity for excellent education for all students. Maui High School is at 120 percent capacity. Continuing Kihei high school development is crucial to help alleviate this overcrowding. I will always support students having an equal opportunity for a great education. Continued support of affordable housing solutions is
Cesspools are a primitive technology that have no place in a modern, increasingly urban environment like ours. We must act to make sure that homes relying on cesspools be hooked up to the county’s wastewater system and that when sewer hookups are not possible, that the state provide incentives for the installation of other modern sanitary methodologies to replace cesspools. We must protect our drinking water and protect South Maui’s coastal waters and reefs from cesspool leeching. I will work to have the state partner with the county Department of Environmental Management to assist them in a possible solution, which is to install and maintain EPA-approved individual sewage package plants. These are pre-manufactured units that can treat sewage on individual properties for a small monthly sewer fee.” ❑
also important for my dis- have to reinvent the wheel, trict.” we could look to other countries such as France State infrastructure and Italy, which have rela“This is a big challenge I tively high level of highthink not only for Maui but ways run by private compafor our whole state. While I nies. It would be great to can’t speak directly to why learn how and why these it takes the state so long to countries have been able to build roads and infrastruc- implement this. I think adture, I do think there should ditional research may be be consideration for privati- useful to ascertain if Hawaii zation of needed public pro- state taxpayers could benejects. Private companies, as fit from privately run roads opposed to the state, have a funded by user fees or elechigher need to maintain ef- tronic tolls. I definitely ficiency and eliminate think it is an area that could wasteful spending. To me, use more study and perhaps it would seem that private we could find some creative companies would have to solutions with private indo this by necessity, be- dustry to help move needed cause without a reasonable infrastructure projects along margin, they have no mis- while benefitting the taxsion. So we in Hawaii don’t payer.” ❑
[ ] VOTE AUGUST 11
I am committed to making sure that District 13 gets the same access to services, resources and jobs that the rest of the State gets, All of you are my priority! ~ Lynn
“The lack of affordable housing is an economic crisis for many South Maui residents. Paying half or more of Age: 62 your monthly income just to Birthplace: Long Beach, cover rent can leave you one Calif. paycheck away from homeResidence: Kihei Occupation: Executive Assis- lessness. Clearly not enough affordable housing is being Aloha East Maui (Paia, Ha‘iku, Keanae, Nahiku, tant to the Mayor; former Hāna, Kipahulu, Kaupo), Moloka‘i, Lāna‘i, Maui County Council mem- built and in part that’s because of highly restrictive ber Kaho‘olawe and Molokini state land-use laws that force Cesspools Political experience: Maui housing projects through a County Council member, “This is not just an Upcomplex, costly approval country problem. There are 2011-16 Education: Boise State Uni- process. As a state legislator, also a large number of Paid for by the Friends of Lynn Decoite versity; Long Beach City Col- I will work to partner with cesspools in South Maui, esthe county for land and/or in- pecially in Maui Meadows. P.O. Box 1032, Kaunakakai, HI 96748 lege frastructure to assist in lowA Supplement of THE MAUI NEWS – Sunday, July 29, 2018 – Page S21
Don Couch (D)
votelynndecoite.com
2018 STATE SENATE AND HOUSE CANDIDATES Tina M.L. Wildberger (D) HOUSE DISTRICT 11 SOUTH MAUI Military service: 15 years Army veteran; Soldier of the year, 1987 Education: Walden University, Master of Science in higher education, 2016; University of Hawaii Maui College, associate of science degree in hospitality and tourism, 2011; University of Hawaii at Manoa, Bachelor of Arts degree in communication management, 1992; Leeward ComAge: 51 munity College, accounting, Residence: Hawaii 1991; Leeward Community Occupation: Special educa- College, associate of scition paraprofessional ence degree in supervision
Lee Myrick (D)
District needs
“The top needs in my district would be affordable housing and the forgotten homeless. In order to take care of the affordable housing, I would work with my contingents to produce better guidelines that identify what is affordable. In which the factors to consider are cost of living and income levels. My
and management, 1990; Leeward Community College, associate of arts degree in liberal arts, 1989 Community service: Coach and mentor Maui Youth Basketball league for over 20 years; coached NFL flag football; University of Hawaii beach cleanup; donated over 100 turkeys for Thanksgiving holiday; high school public speaker about life choices
goal for the homeless would be that we need to establish a task force that go out in the community to reach out to those forgotten families to help them get the assistance that is available for them.�
school and Kihei gym, it should not take over 10 years to build anything because of poor leadership, all the voters get are excuses. If elected, I would not make excuses to the people who elected me, and I will call out elective official State infrastructure who is in favor of delaying The time it takes to fin- such projects. As far as priish local projects like vatization, all options building the Kihei high should be left open.� �
D„ã„øÄ? ĂŽÄ?ÄŽ ŤÄ?Ĺ…ÄŽ Ä´Ĺ…ÄœÄœÄ?ÄŽÄ˝ĂŒ
District needs
“China stopped importing our trash. Maui must revive manufacturing of recycled plastic and glass. I would like to develop new industry to use our waste resources. Maui had a recycled plastic facility. Our cooperating governments need to incentivize manufacturing using our waste resources. “With chemical agricultural practices threatening health and well-being of South Maui residents, I would like to champion a reorganization of the departments of Health and Agriculture and create a true Hawaii EPA, something other states have. We deserve responsiveness and accountability of the Clean Air and Clean Water branches, which we don’t have now and haven’t had in the past. Because, our environment is our economy. “Maui needs 400 housing units yearly and has built none in 10 years. Recently,
Age: 53 Residence: Kihei Occupation: Owner, president of Kihei Ice Inc. Education: Georgia State University, Bachelor of Arts degree in French/international business, 1988
Community service: Organized Kihei’s 4th Friday Town Party, 2011-12; board of directors Maui Tomorrow Foundation, 2012-15; chair, Clean Air Committee Family: Married
only luxury development has occurred in Kihei. Let’s build workforce housing along with the requisite infrastructure. I want to collaborate with the county to secure property and funds to build housing. Let’s create a system that keeps homes affordable in perpetuity. Enforcement of illegal shortterm rentals won’t solve our housing crisis. We must build our way out of it. “2018 brings 600 incoming freshmen to Maui High, Kihei high school needs to be realized now.�
for property owners to tie in to sewer. The county could levy a $10,000 connect fee to all cesspool owners, which the owners could get back from the state giving the county $75 million to get started. Most of the smaller lots that do not have room for septic are located in the denser population centers of Makawao and Pukalani and could go online first. Meantime, wellhead protection must be required for private wells. We can use this challenge as an opportunity to improve and protect Maui for years to come rather than struggling under an unworkable and unfunded state mandate. “Gibraltar is building a state-of-the-art plant for $32 million to serve 30,000 residents and 30,000 more visitors and commuters. Let’s get out of the 19th century Plantation Era mentality to modernize and economize Maui Nui.� �
Cesspools
“It is time to bring municipal wastewater treatment Upcountry. The cost will be huge, but likely only half as much as installing 7,500 septic tanks. There are USDA loans and EPA grants for a treatment plant, and the state’s $10,000 tax credit per property could cover most the cost
HOUSE DISTRICT 12 UPCOUNTRY, SPRECKELSVILLE, PARTS OF KAHULUI
Age: 36 Birthplace: Maui (OOH 0D\RU FRP Residence: Pukalani Occupation: Hawaii Alliance %W E 'SYRGMPQIQFIV JSV ]IEVW - ZI GSRWMWXIRXP] FIIR ]SYV for Progressive Action, comZSMGI %W 1E]SV - PP HMPMKIRXP] [SVO JSV XVYP] EJJSVHEFPI LSYWMRK munity organizer, 2016 to present; Otaheite Hawaii, reERH WYTTSVX PSGEP WQEPP FYWMRIWWIW JEVQIVW tail boutique owner, 2012-16 - PP GSRXMRYI XS TVSXIGX SYV IRZMVSRQIRX FI Politcal experience: State XVERWTEVIRX ETTSMRX UYEPMJMIH HMVIGXSVW ERH House candidate, 2016 Education: Lahainaluna High VITVMSVMXM^I WTIRHMRK XS FIXXIV WIVZI School; Kapiolani CommuniSYV GSQQYRMXMIW SJ 0ERE M 1SPSOE M 1EYM ty College; Ka Ipu Kukui 3DLG E\ )ULHQGV RI (OOH &RFKUDQ +DODZDL 'U 6WH /DKDLQD +, 2010; Kuleana Academy A Supplement of THE MAUI NEWS – Sunday, July 29, 2018 – Page S22
Tiare M. Lawrence (D)
2016 Community service: Democratic Hawaiian Affairs Caucus Maui rep, 2018; Hamakua Alohalua board member, 201718; Ka malu O kahalawai board member, 2018 Family: Two children
District needs
“I see the greatest needs in my district is protecting our quality of life Upcountry. See LAWRENCE next page
2018 STATE SENATE AND HOUSE CANDIDATES
LAWRENCE Continued from Page 20 The cost of living, lack of affordable housing, food security, invasive species and access to quality jobs are among the greatest needs impacting our quality of life. We could address these needs by creating new revenue sources without having to raise the GET, reforming the 201H policy to keep homes in affordability longer than 10 years, enforcement of illegal vacation rentals, increasing the minimum wage to $15 per hour, proposing legislation to raise rental and food tax credits for low-income households, expanding farm-toschool initiatives, providing funding for farm incubators
and support new sustainable economic development in technology, renewable energy and Maui-based, value-added food products. As a community organizer the past two years, I was tasked with engaging and educating the community on bills at the Legislature. I would continue to use my organizing skills to empower and engage Maui residents to help pass positive legislation.”
Cesspools
“I take any threat to our public drinking water seriously. However, I am concerned that the actions of the Department of Health may be too hasty in dealing with a problem that they helped to create. DOH was allowing cesspools
to go in as recently as 2009, and now all of a sudden they want them removed? “According to the 2018 Department of Health report to the Legislature, cesspools Upcountry have contributed to elevated groundwater nitrate concentrations, but these levels are not an immediate health concern. The DOH is concerned because the existing situation, which they helped to create, may restrict future development Upcountry. Since the Department of Health has told us it’s not an emergency, I support further investigation into reasonable solutions that protect our drinking water without placing additional financial burdens on our Upcountry residents.” ❑
John-Bull English (D) Age: 38 Residence: Hana, Occupation: Small-business owner in agriculture Military service: U.S. Army veteran Family: Two children
sources, which is driving paths. Poor communication prices up and forcing local between elected officials and families to leave the islands.” a lack of understanding between the two create confuState infrastructure sion. Blame is pointed at “There are many reasons each other and when this but here are two: When happens, not only does building takes a long time, building take longer, but the people become frustrated project price goes up and and disruption is created wallets get fatter. “No. Privatization is not within the community. That the answer. To improve is a formula often used to make contracts appear justi- timeliness, we need people fied when awarded to the on each level of government very groups who fund cer- to do a better job working together. We need people who tain politicians. “Two: Very often county can encourage unity, and inand state jurisdictions cross fluence change.” ❑
District needs
“The greatest needs of our district begin with electing people who are rooted and live in harmony with the unique lifestyles of District 13. Our people value the al Foundation of Women for services and work with my need to preserve and protect Legislators; chairwoman, colleagues in the Legislature the existing cultural and traFarm Service Agency, 2007 to ensure our district contin- ditions while still providing to 2015; member, Board of ues to receive the much-need- opportunities to live in harAgriculture, 2012 to 2015 ed CIP and GIA funds.” mony with the environment. Family: Married; three chil“We cannot expect dren; one grandchild Highway funding change if we continue to “I have been working on elect people who are funded District needs this issue since I came to office by and represent the very en“The greatest need for my in 2015. I have worked with tities that are responsible for district and my main priority my colleagues to look at what creating a lot of our probremains the same: to ensure needs to be done on both the lems. outreach and inclusion of all state and federal levels along “Awareness is the key for islands and residents when it with funding options that can change, and it must come Age: 48 comes to state services, re- be put into place. Most recent- from within the governing Birthplace: Honolulu sources, programs and ly, I co-sponsored House Bill body. We need to create a Residence: Hoolehua, jobs. Representing the only 2601 (relating to transporta- better platform, one where Molokai Occupation: State represen- true canoe district is not easy. tion), which increases the we can bring awareness to We have East Maui, Molokai rental vehicle surcharge from the real problems we face. tative since 2015; owner of and Lanai along with Ka- $3 to $5 for non-Hawaii resi- And the sooner we underL&R Farm hoolawe and Molokini. Dis- dents (must have Hawaii ID) stand that, the faster we can Education: Molokai High trict 13 has so many unique and increased the tour vehicle start having political converSchool, class of 1988; Uniand beautiful communities, surcharge by $1 for each cate- sations about solving our versity of Hawaii Maui College, Molokai Education Cen- and we also have similar gory of tour vehicle. These in- problems. Every minute we ter, 1988-1990 needs and concerns that need creased revenues are to be waste being uninformed, we Xommunity service: Presi- to be addressed, along with used in the county in which the are delaying the political sovehicle was lution that should have been dent, Molokai Homestead natural resources that need to rental Farmers Alliance, 2006 to be protected. Yet, we all strug- operated/rented in for high- established years ago. 2015; member Commission gle for the services that people way road capacity projects. “We need to provide proState Representative - District 8 on the 13th Festival of Pacif- in urban districts don’t need to (The bill became law without tection from outside entities Real Change, It’s Time ic Arts, 2017 to present; the governor’s signature as worry about. I will continue to looking to exploit and profit Hawaii state director, Nation- work with department heads Act 215 on July 10).”❑ off of our land and its re- Paid for by Friends of Mary Wagner, 48 Poniu Circle,Wailuku A Supplement of THE MAUI NEWS – Sunday, July 29, 2018 – Page S23
HOUSE DISTRICT 13
EAST MAUI, MOLOKAI AND LANAI
VOTE
Lynn P. DeCoite (D)
August 11
Mary D Wagner
I care passionately about Hawai‘i and our people. And I am ready to take on the challenges we face for our future. I made my decision to run for Governor after thinking long and hard about Hawai‘i’s future. About how we as a community envision our home, not just in 2018, but in the years and decades ahead. And the progress we are actually making. To become the Hawai‘i we want to be, and to preserve the best of what we have, I believe that we must dramatically increase our efforts to do more. To expand affordable housing, reduce homelessness, improve education, hire more teachers, and repair our broken highways, airports and harbors. We need to make our Islands more affordable for our young people, so that they can stay here at home and raise their families. We must also manage your precious tax dollars more wisely, and not let state spending go unchecked and unaccounted for, as we have seen with rail.
I understand that some may call me critical, even tough, but we simply have to face the fact that the status quo is not nearly good enough. Not for today’s generations, and certainly not for tomorrow’s. We must work to do better, because Hawai‘i deserves better. This is why I’m coming home. This is why I’m running for governor. I’ve always tried to earn your trust through my hard work and results, at the Legislature and in Congress. That promise to you has not changed. I will give you everything I’ve got to protect and improve this very special place we all call home. I thank you all for this opportunity, and I humbly ask you for your vote.
A P R OV E N R E CO R D O F L E A D E R S H I P
Learn more at HanabusaForGovernor.com Paid for by Hanabusa For Governor, P.O. Box 2234, Honolulu, HI 96804
A Supplement of THE MAUI NEWS – Sunday, July 29, 2018 – Page S24