Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 11, Number 12, 1 November 1994 — STATE HOUSE CANDIDATES [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]
STATE HOUSE CANDIDATES
D=Democratic R=Republican L=Libertarian G=Green B=Best
Rep. Dist. 4 (Ka'u-Puna) •Robert Herkes (D)
Age 63 Born: Iloilo, Philippines Previous political experience: Hawai'i County Council. Hawai'i State Senate,
Hawai'i State House (current). E\perience: 40+ years in the Hawai'i visitor industrv . Managed the Kona Inn. Kona Islander Inn and the Kona Surf. Restaurant owner (Herks Tavern). Served on the Hawai'i County Poliee Commission and the Liquor Adjudication Board. President Hawai'i Hotel Association. Direclor Kona Chamber of Commerce. Currently V. P. of Kamehameha Investment Corp.. a subsidiaiy of KSBE. Why are you running for office? I am running for re-election to continue the programs of insurance reform. development of jobs and infrastructure improvements in the district.
Views on social'economic issues in Hawai'i: •Cost of living: Over regulation bv ihe federal. state and county governments is a major contributor to the high cost of living in Hawai'i. All new regs should have an impact statement attached. Other regs should be examined for their practical use and necessity. • Housing: the lengthv approvaI process forces developers to seek the highest return from their developments. Some adjustments need to be made to allow developments to proceed under a less costly permitting scenario. This would encourage developers to develop a lower price schedule.
• Health: We pay for health care in too many places (e.g.. medical premiums, auto insurance, worker's compensation).This contributes to the high cost. • ,Iobs: In the Puna and Ka'u area jobs are a major eoneem. Puna could use a retail and commercial center to try and keep jobs and money in the district. In Puna, lava zones play a part in trying to induce investors to the district. Adjustments may have to be made in the definition of lava zones and an analysis of their risks. In Ka'u. the community has expressed interest in remaining an agrarian community. The biggest single investment needed to expand agriculture in Ka'u is the development of a water system. •Education: The omnibus education bill that passed the last session of the Legislature and is now law is the most comprehensive education bill ever passed in the state. It needs to be allowed to work. What will you do for Hawaiians? Although I am third generation Big
Islander and was raised with Scottish values. I was not raised with Hawaiian values. When these issues eame up in the Legislature I would tum to my Hawaiian colleagues for advice and counsel. The procedure will continue to guide me and I feel that many non-Hawaiians should do the same. How should Hawaiian sovereignty and self-determination be addressed? It should be settled by Hawaiians with all the support that the rest of the community ean give them. Robert Reed (R)
Age: 57 Born: Muskegon. Michigan Previous political experience: Previous eandidate for county eouneil
Experience: Foster parent for 14 years. Employed by the state department of Health and Human Services. ( Adult protective service) VVhy are you running for ofTice? To cut cost and expansion of government.
Views on social/economic issues in Hawai'i. •Cost of living: Privatize many functions of govemment - hospitals, road maintenanee. park maintenance. •Housing More low-ineome homes. but integrate with other homes. Don't build low-ineome project. •Health: Provide mobile home to immunize children. Jobs: Cut cost of doing business. Reform workman's compensation. •Education: Give districts control of schools. Give districts (not school boards) authority to hire and fire teachers. What will you do for Hawaiians? Being married to a Hawaiian I would give eaeh eoneem just and fair consideration. How should Hawaiian sovereignty and self-determination be addressed? Along the lines of my Indian ancestors - a nation within a nation with no law to supersede state law.
Rep. Dist. 6th (North KonaSouth Kohala) Curtis Tyler (R) Age: 48 Born: Kealakekua, Kona, Hawai'i. U.S.A. Previous political experience: None Experience: Self-employed small businessman (Property management). Member of Kailua Village Design Commission,
Royal Order of Kamehameha 1. Kona Traffic safety Committee; Sate Planning Council on Developmental Disabilities, and West Hawai'i
Committee: director of Kona Hawaiian Civic Club. Hawai'i County Eeonomie Opportunity Council: Native Hawaiian Chamber of Commerce: Volunteer of West Hawai'i Canoe Facility project, Friends of the Librar> : Ala Kahakai Nahonal Trail project. eanoe paddler and eoaeh; Waiki'i music festival; Recipient of Outstanding Citizen certificate for Hawai'i County Council.
Why are you running for ofTice? To serve our community with effective and sensitive leadership that will stand up for what is right. bring govemment back to the people, and restore public confidence so we ean regain the Hawai'i we all love. Views on social/economic issues in Hawai'i? • Cost of living: Cut bureaucracy, spending and waste: lower cost of doing business and encourage freed market competition: work for betier land-use planning and stewardship of our assets. Promote more partnership efforts between govemment, the private sector and communities. • Housing: Provide better incentives for private enterprise to build affordable housing and better opportunities for loeal residents to buy homes. Support communitybased planning and home rule. Oppose rent control. Promote the creation of eommunities. not more urban sprawl. • Health: Encourage programs that promote wel!ness and preventative medicine. Improve recreational facilities and opportunities. Support traditional island values and the strength of the family. • Jobs: Create a more diversified and sustainable eeonomie base for jobs and prosperity. Foster small business development. minimize government interference. Support agriculture and self-sufficiency. • Education: Put our children first. Decentralize DOE and put more resources into the classroom. Favor locally-run schools. Support standards that reinforce and promote excellence at all levels
What will you do for Hawaiians? Support and respect inherent right of Hawaiians to self-determination. Work to fulfill existing trust obligations and to restore our indigenous rights. Favor improved management and preservation of all trust lands, cultural assets, and natural resources. How should Hawaiian sovereignty and self-determination be addressed? Support the established process of the Hawaiian Sovereignty Elections Council under Act 200. Will work with aloha and lokahi among our people so we ean onipa'a.
David Tarnas (D)
Age: 33 Born: Previous politieal experienee: Democratic party precinct chair and district VP.
Experience: UH Sea Grant Extension Agent: drafted successful legislation: provided technical advice to legislators and state administrators.; developed policy and management plans by facilitating workshops with the private sector, government and community organizations. Coastal Planning Consultant: Co-author of Hawai'i Resources Management Plan: technical advisor to six foreign governments on planning for sustainable development that is sensitive to the environment and indigenous cultures.
Why are you running for office? ( 1 ) Frustration at the poor performance of the state Legislature: (2) the house seat is vacant; and (3) I have the technical and communication skills to be an effective and responsible representative. Views on social/economic issues in Hawai'i? • Cost of living: Decrease auto and home insurance costs. Facilitate loeal distribulion and marketing of loeal farm produce. Improve jobs.
• Housing: Ensure eomplianee with affordabIe housing requirements by developers. Set specific legislatively-mandated milestones for the Hawai'i Housing Finance and Development Corporation to build affordable housing. Encourage private sector affordable housing program for Hawaiians (e.g. C & C's Royal Kunia project), and self-help housing projects (e.g. Pu'ukapu). Develop programs with lending institutions to provide low interest mortgages. • Health: Reduce health-related stressed by improving the loeal economy and housing opportunities. Short range — support public-private funding for loeal hospitals, promote traditional healing, and offer preventative health-care programs. • Jobs: Reduce worker's compensation insurance rates and remove other hurdles faced by small businesses so they ean hire locally, train people and provide opportunities for advancement. Diversify agricultural operations and tourism markets. • Education: Make schools and libraries a top budget priority, assigning the monies the classroom, not administration. Work with private sector and nonprofit groups to improve facilities, curricula and teacher support. Improve parent involvement. What will vou do for Hawaiians? Increase the rate at whieh DHHL awards land by improving state funding in cooperation with OHA, and expanding eeonomie uses of DHHL lands. Actively pursue eom-
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pensation for use of ceded lands, including delinquent payments from the private sector and the state. Use this money to pay for roads and water systems on DHHL lands.
How should Hawaiian sovereignty and self-determination be addressed? The state government should: Honor the unique sovereign status of the Hawaiian people relative to other governmental entities; work with the Hawaiian community to re-establish a self-determined and sovereign nation; provide information on governanee options; facilitate discussion of these options among the Hawaiians; and promote public awareness of the inherent right of Hawaiian sovereignty. Rep. Dist. 7 (West Maui, Moloka'i, Lāna'i) Mike White (D)
Age: 45 Born: Honolulu, Hawai'i Previous polhieal e\perience: Representative. State House, Dist. 7, West Maui, Moloka'i, Lāna'i, appointed by Gov. Waihe'e in 1993. Experience: 23 years in the visitor industry. Established the Po'okela program at Ka'anapali Beach Hotel. First of its kind in the state, it received numerous awards including a designation as a "point of light" by President Bush.
VYhy are you running for office? To bring honesty, fairness and business sense to government. Inadequate funding will require legislators to make difficult decisions with commitment to fairness and overall community eoneem. Views of social/economic issues in Hawai'i — • Cost of living: Reduce housing and insurance costs. ineome and excise taxes drain a family's ineome, but cannot be lowered unless the community accepts lower county and state facilities and services. Eeonomie development would soften the impact of the high cost of living, create additional jobs. • Housing: Focus more on multi-family than single family units until supply catches up with demand. Reduce code requirements relating to curbs, gutters, sidewalks, underground utilities and width of streets, especially in mral areas. Have counties fund infrastmcture for affordable housing. • HeaUh: Support long term care. Support enforcement of environmental regulations. • Jobs: Eeonomie development and stimulation is necessary for the creation and maintenance of jobs. Reduction of starting and operating a business in Hawai'i in such areas as workman's compensation. Diversification of industries will broaden our eeonomie base and make us less vulnerable. Tax incentives for businesses establishing new technologies or industries, and further tort Iiability reform. • Education: Effective public education delivered in a cost-effective way. Priority placed on the education rather than administration. Decentralized with new levels of
autonomy with a focus on consistent and achievable education standards. What will you do for Hawaiians? I will continue to support Hawaiians as I have done as a private citizen with a commitment to increasing the awareness of and respect for Hawaiian culture in our eommunity and the visitor industry. Additionally, I will work towards the preservation of historic sites and traditional Hawaiian values. Will work towards increasing the rate at whieh Hawaiians are placed on Hawaiian homelands. Rep. Dist. 10 (Puunene-Paia-Makwao-Olina) •David Morihara (D)
Age: 35 Born: Wailuku, Maui Previous political experience: I have been state representative since 1990.
Experience: Why are you running for office? I am mnning for office because of my strong background in community service. As an advocate for the community for many years, this is an opportunity to make greater improvements to our quality of life on Maui.
Views on social/economic issues in Hawai'i? • Cost of living: Nor only must we provide more housing at an affordable rate, the cost of heahh care must be kept down. Competition and availability must be increased to reduce costs. A major eeonomie issue not asked in your question is insurance. Auto, homeowners, medical, and business insurance issues all add to our cost of living. A careful review of our insurance regulations will be needed to reform the system and provide greater availability of insurance. • Housing: By streamlining the housing and land use process, we ean build more homes. • Heahh: As a respected environmentalist I would continue to work towards the protection of our natural environment and the beauty that is Hawai'i. • Education: I support decentralization of the education system and a greater emphasis on school facilities.
What will you do for Hawaiians? As an elected official I have pushed forward money for development of Hawaiian home lands in Upcounty Maui. Millions have been repaid to OHA. We need to continue to fund Hawaiian home lands' projects and to make more land available for them. How should Hawaiian sovereignty and self-determination be addressed? Hawaiian sovereignty and self-determi-nation will be the issue of the decade.
While the state ean support funding the process of education and discussion, the final form of sovereignty must be decided by the Hawaiian people. Dan Evert (R)
Age: 46 Previous political experience: None Experience: AT&T
Communications, 23 years, currently Neighbor Island Account Executive; Citizen Advisory Committee, Makawao, Pukalani, Kula 1993-94; Maui County Commission on Culture and the Arts, vicechairman 1994-95, ehanman 1993-94; Rotary Club of Kahului, vice-president 1994-95; Maui Hotel Association; Maui County Community Work Day Program, Christmas Tree Recycling Program; Mayor's Coalition for a Drug-Free Hawai'i; past president of Pukalani Elementary School PTA, 1990-92, Upcountry High School site selection eommittee; past president of the Pukalani Community Association, 1992. Education: Duquesne University, Bachelor of Science, Business Administration, 1970.
Why are you running for office? I moved here to enhanee the quality of life for myself and my family, but I quickly found out that the only way to accomplish that goal was to become involved in our eommunity. That's why I'm running for office. I'm also tired of outrageous taxes, the low ranking of our schools, the high cost of living, poorly designed roads and crime in our community. Views on sociaI/economic issues in Hawai'i: • Cost of Iiving: Reduce the size of govemment. Eliminate tax on food, medical services and clothing. • Housing: The best housing policy is a sound eeonomie policy. Low interest rates, low inflation and the availability of a job with a good pay eheek. • ,jobs: Reduce or eliminate unnecessary government regulations and create an environment that fosters small business development. • Education: Promote the principles of excellence at all levels. Put the vast majority of resources in the classroom with teachers and students. Stop talking about eom-munity-based management ... just do it!
What will you do for Hawaiians? I personally feel the way native Hawaiians have been treated by the state and federal govemment is a nahonal disgrace. I pledge to work diligently to remedy this breach of trust and get native Hawaiians on their land before the end of this decade with an aggressive program of infrastructure development and loan guarantees.
How should Hawaiian sovereignty and self-determination be addressed? I support self-determination for native Hawaiians, and I believe they should manage their own affairs and resources. I support measures to permit Hawaiian-eon-trolled lands to become enterprise zones, so that native Hawaiains ean share in our state's future prosperity. Rep. Dist. llth (S. MauiKeokea)
Lynn Britton (D) Age: 46 Born: Orillia, Ontario, Canada Previous political experience: Member, Maui
County Council Experience: Executive Director, Maui Chamber of Commerce, 1977-1986; President, Maui Hotel Association, 19871992; Member, Island Burial Council, Maui and Lana'i, 1992; Member, Maui Whale Sanctuary Maui Task Force; Cochair/member, Decision Maui; Member, Kihei Upcountry Highway Committee; Partner, Bee Line Public Bus Line Service, Kihei 1977-1980. Why are you running for office? I feel I ean contribute to shaping Hawai'i for the 2 1 st century. Because of my leadership ability experience and 21 years on Maui, I know most of the issues and am comfortable making tough decisions. Environmental protection, cultural preservation and eeonomie diversification are priorities. We need a long range vision for Hawai'i.
Views on social/economic issues in Hawai'i: • Cost of living: We need to downsize government. We need to review the four percent general exise tax (really a 12 percent sales tax), consider exempting food and possibly drugs. • Housing: We need to free up more land for housing. Abolish Land Use Commission after guaranteeing protection of productive agricuiture. and all conservation land. We need to get Hawaiians on their home lands. Self-help housing is a viable alternative. • Health: Mueh more needs to be done to address native Hawaiian heahh issues. Feds should contribute money. • Jobs: I would eonlinue efforts toward diversification of the economy. On Maui, the R & T Park and supercomputer ean provide opportunities for research and computer/environmental science. • Education: We need to continue efforts to bring control of education to the loeal level. I support expansion of year-round schooling, increased involvement of the community, even if not ready for SCBM. Reduce red tape and increase productivity
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lo build facilities. What will you do for Hawaiians? I will be responsive to the Hawaiian eommunity. I am a good listener, and am able to see both sides of an issue. I am familiar with and will support efforts to expand home-based businesses, including aquaculture and agriculture. I am concemed that not more has been done to assist Hawaiians on heahh issues and 1 want to help. I am committed to preserving our oeean resources.
How should Hawaiian sovereignty and se!f-determination be addressed? The Hawaiian community needs to go through their process of determining their desirable future. Govemment ean support the process. Onee an agreement is reached, we ean go from their. Chris Halford (R) Age: 42 Born: Honolulu, Hawai'i Previous political experience: Longtime campaigner for others. 1992GOPnominee, same seat. Employment/community service experienee: Independent small businessman. Rotary, Kihei & Kula Community Associations, St. John's Episcopal Church.
Why are you running for office: As a Kama'āina who loves our island home, I want to work hard to support the tiest of our great island traditions and spirit while we work to repair the damages of 40 years of maehine mle in Hawai'i. Views on social/economic issues in Hawai'i: • Cost of living: We need to control the escalating cost of living by taking control of our insurance crisis, reducing inefficiency and duplication in govemment, and commit (not just talk) to solving the high cost of housing. • Housing: We need to commit to accelerating the use of Hawaiian home lands. We need to make land available from our failing sugar industry for housing and cut government red tape that escalates the cost of housinv.
• Jobs: We need to create jobs and stimulate the economy by building homes and improving our infrastructure - roads, sewers, water systems and schools. • Education: Our education system needs more schools and classrooms. We need more loeal input for loeal schools. More resources need to be directed to the classroom and eaeh child.
What will you do for Hawaiians? We need to utilize our Hawaiian home llands for the intended purpose; homes for Hawaiians. I support the immediate development of infrastmcture so homes ean be built now. Hawaiian culture and language need to be supported, including in the schools. How should Hawaiian sovereignty and
self-determination be addressed? We need to support consensus in the Hawaiian community. The State needs to support a unified Hawaiian appeal made to the Federal Government. Rep. Dist. 13 (WaipouliLihue) Thomas M. Medeiros, <r>
Age: 48 Born: Honolulu, Hawai'i Previous political experience: I've always been active in eom-
munity affairs and concemed about government. We need to inspire our people — especially our youth — to have faith in their govemment. They must understand that they do make a difference. Employment/community service experienee: I'm a graduate of Saint Louis High, the University of Hawai'i (B.A., Sociology) and Vermont Law School (J.D., Law, with distinction). I'm an infantry veteran of the Viet Nam War.
Why are you running for office: I'm running for office because the policies of the past have failed. The incumbent doesn't represent the values and aspirations of our community. We need new solutions — the people deserve better. Views on social/economic issues in Hawai'i: • Housing: We must set in plaee now a land use plan to preserve in open space the land whieh is falling out of sugar. • Health: We have to pass comprehensive legislation aimed at crime prevention. The emphasis on punishment is misplaced. By the time we sentence a criminal, we've already failed. Property is lost, people are hurt. The outer islands particularly are in need of community programs for youth. I favor mandatory diversion of first time drug offenders into treatment. • Jobs: Putting beat cops in the Kapa'a and Līhu'e business districts would be a terrific deterrent. It would also do wonders for police-public relations. • Education: We should de-centralize the Department of Education by creating eounty level elected school boards to establish policies for eaeh county. This will revitalize our educational system and make it responsive to everyone — kids, parents, and teachers.
What will you do for Hawaiians? I like the nation within a nation model of sovereignty but I'm not wedded to that concept. I'Il advance legislation whieh further protects native Hawaiian rights, particularly water, gathering, and access rights. I'm concerned about the loss of oeean access - free, unfettered access to the oeean is absolutely necessary. How should Hawaiian sovereignty and
self-determination be addressed? I have no concerns about reuniting native Hawaiians to their lost land and lost politieal power. After all, my ancestors were subjects of the monarchy. They had no problem with that, why should I? Rep. Dist. 15 (Kalama ValleyPortlock) Dave Stegmaier (D)
Age: 46 Born: Montreal, Canada Previous political experience: I am the State | Representative
from the 15th District currently and have served for three terms. I was a delegate to the Constitutional Convention of Hawai'i in 1978, representing Hawai'i Kai-Āina Haina. At the convention, I supported the creation of OHA.
Employment/community service experienee: When I first moved to Hawai'i 19 years ago, my first job was as a law clerk in the Applications Division of the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands where I worked for 2 1/2 years, until I was elected to the Constitutional Convention. I have been a telephone volunteer for the Honolulu Suicide and Crisis Center, am presently a member of the Hawai'i Kai Lions Club and have served on the Hawai'i Neighborhood Board. My present job is with King and Neel, an insurance brokerage firm.
Why are you running for office: I am running for office so that I ean continue to work on the issues that caused me to run in the first plaee: 1) Significantly reforming our public education system; 2) relieving business of unnecessary burdens whieh have been imposed upon them; 3) fighting and winning the battle against drugs in our society; 4) prohibiting gambling in Hawai'i; 5) making Hawai'i a Pacific eenter for intemational negotiations, trade, sports, higher education, science, telecommunications, technotourism and heahh.
Views on social/economic issues in Hawai'i: • Cost of living: The cost of living in Hawai'i, because of its eonneehon with the cost of land, will always be highter than on the mainland. One specific way that I ean help lower the cost of living is to hold the line on taxes and find ways of making government more effective and efficient. • Housing: We need to increase the availability of rental units, making sure that rental housing projects are well-managed and well-maintained. We also need to look at increasing the financial incentives to developers to build affordable homes. Furthermore, we must accept the fact that because of our limited space we're going to
have to build up (i.e., more condos and townhouses) rather than out (i.e., single family dwellings). • Health: We must emphasize preventative medicine and provide incentives for people to act responsibly about their own heahh. We may need to provide penalties to individuals for behavior whieh makes them unhealthy. Diet and exercise must be priorities in state heahh policy. • Jobs: We are competing with the people of other states and countries for jobs. The only way that we will obtain a growing number of challeging jobs in this competitive international economy is if we are better educated and harder-working than the others. Thus, there is a need for a strong work ethic and the enhancement of a eulture of discipline and delayed gratification. • Education: Now that so mueh has been done on paper to reform our educational system, what remains is the hard work of getting the community involved in our schools.
What will you do for Hawaiians? I would continue to encourage Hawaiians to be involved in the discussion and decisionmaking about sovereignty. I will attempt to encourage growth of effective programs within OHA, and the dropping of ineffective ones.
How should Hawaiian sovereignty and self-determination be addressed? The matter of Hawaiian sovereignty and self-determination is for the Hawaiian people to decide. I just hope that all segments of the Hawaiian community are well-repre-sented in the deliberations. Rep. Dist. 16 (Mariner's Ridge-Niu-Aina Haina) Dr. Gene Ward (R) Age:51 Born: Conneaut, Ohio
Previous political experience: House of Representatives 1990-present; House minority leader; co-chair, Small Business Caucus; Hawai'i delegation chair, Republican national convention. Employment and community service experience: Small business development eonsultant; United Nations advisor; Peaee Corps volunteer. Why running for office? JFK challenged Americans to "make a difference." My polkieal career is an extension of my Peaee Corps experience.
Views on social/economic issues in Hawai'i: • Cost of living: Mandate a "cost of living" statement be filed with every legislative bill. • Housing: Leam the lessons and duplicate the successes of Singapore. • Health: Keep the federal heahh plan out of Hawai'i • Jobs: Make govemment "user friendly" to small business. Create Office of Ombudsman for small business. • Education: Continue decentralizing the DOE towards student-centered learning while empowering SCBM committees.
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VVhat will you do for Hawaiians? Continue to insist on the expeditious distribution of lands to Hawaiians. Parity in eeonomie development and increased access to health services. How should Hawaiian sovereigntv and self-determination be addressed? Of, by and for the Hawaiian people. Rep. Dist. 17 (Wai'alae 'IkiWai'alae Nui-Kahala-Wilhelmina Rise)
•Barbara C. Marumoto Age: 55 Born: San Francisco, CA Previous politicaI experience: Legislative Staff from 1972-78; Elected Delegate to the 1978 Constitutional Convention; Elected to the House since 1978; Employment/community service experienee: Honolulu Club- membership sales; Realtor Associate-commercial real estate; Board member of Organization of Women Leaders. HUGS, American Diabetes Assn., American Heart Assn., Hon. Div., and past member of many other charitable organizations.
\Vhy are you running for office? Hawai'i maehine politics has been growing steadily and helping the old boy network more than the working families. The challenge is to pass laws that encourage individual initiative and change government into a more viable and helpful entity. Views on social/economic issues in Hawai'i: • Cost of living: Fight tax increas-
es. • Housing: Shorten the permit process. • Health: Keep Quest and Hawai'i's PrePaid Heakh insurance law, • Jobs: Tighten up compensability for workers compensation. • Education: Make sure teachers have the resources they need to teach.
What will you do for Hawaiians? Since I first voted to establish OHA, I have supported self-help by the Hawaiian community. Now with the ability to raise funds through revenue bonds and realize ineome through ceded lands rent, and with the immense scope of activity and self-determination whieh sovereignty promises, Hawaiians at last have an unprecedented opportunity to derive the benefits of their own eeonomie development. How should Hawaiian sovereignty and self-determination be addressed? How these subjects are to be addressed is up to Hawaiians. The
Legislature has provided matching funds for a plebescite and will undoubtedly support a convention in the future. Rep. Dist. 18 (PaloloKaimuki) •Calvin Say (D)
Age 42 Born: Honolulu, H1 Previous political experience: 18 years in the state house.
Experience: Bachelor of Education; teacher's certification; 14 years businessman. Why are vou running for office? To eontinue to provide public service to the residents of the 18th district and the state of Hawai'i.
Views on social/economie issues in Hawai'i? • Cost of living: Hold down taxes, user fees. housing. • Housing: Support home lands in their quest for housing. • Health : Create a summit bringing all parties together in addressing cost containment. • Education: Continue the effort. What will you do for
Hawaiians? Ecncourage, support, guide, and educate the Hawaiian community and working together. How should Hawaiian sovereignty and self-determination be addressed? Left up to the Hawaiian people. Rep. Dist. 19 (Diamond HeadWaikīkī) Mark Alexander (R)
Age: 37 Born: Providence, RI Previous politieal experienee: 1984: Ran for the State House and lost by 13 votes in the
primary; 1989-1991: Neighborhood Board
Member for Ala Moana/Makiki;
Employment/community service experienee: Past Drug and Aleohol Counselor for teens/adults for 6 years. Emphasis on males from O.C.C.C., Halawa, the Boy's Home, and Hale Kipa. For the last 7 years, I have been a designer/specialist of systems in roofing and waterproofing, working with small businesses and government departments. My involvement in both social services and the business community has allowed me a balanced insight into the social and eeonomie needs of our people. The people of Hawai'i need jobs that are geared for both trades, agriculture, aquaculture, heahh care and communications. Hawai'i must also reach out to those who are in need of help without becoming a welfare society.
Why are you running for office: The middle class has suffered with an extremely high cost of living (including taxes) for too long, and this is largely due to a wasteful and self-serving group in government. I started this campaign against an incumbent
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who is no ionger in this race, when no other was willing to do so. I have proven that 1 want "politics as usual" to stop. We need balance, we needwatchdogs in office. Views on social/economic issues in Hawai'i: • Cost of living: Reduce the governmental demands on businesses whieh add cost to
our prices, reform the insurance industry (encourage more companies to compete for this market), work to stop the 4% tax on food/medicine, work to limit the size and scope of government and inform the people about government waste of taxes. • Housing: Deregulate the construction industry and streamline the permit process. • Heallh: Allow nurse-practitioners and
doctors to open clinics in neighborhoods with special protection from frivolous law suits. Communities need medical personnel who are in the eommunity but govemment must protect them and mandate that insurance eompanies include such resident clinics to be covered by the insurance.
• Jobs: Reform worker's eompensation law, reduce govemment demands on business, and provide tax incentives to Hawaiians who create jobs based on the perpetuation of Hawaiian culture. • Education: Decentralize control, allow schools to keep money not spent during the fiscal year. Allow schools to eompete for funds, and allow eommunities to design education systems whieh best serve the children and eultures. What will you do for Hawaiians? I would encourage Hawaiians to own land and businesses by: Support subsidies to encourage Hawaiian owned businesses and support the fulfillment of past agreements regarding Homelands. How shouid Hawaiian sov-
ereignty and self-determination be addressed? Our economy is enhanced by the restoration of Hawaiian communities, authentic products, and an atmosphere of Aloha. A win for all would be to support areas where this could be nurīured.
Brian Y. Yamane (D) Age: 47 Born: Honolulu, Hawai'i Previous political experience: Kaimuki Neighborhood Board Employment/community service background: Member of Diamond Head Lions Club and Neighborhood Justice Center, independent insurance agent. Why are you running for office: I felt an active member of the community should be one of the candidates.
Views on social/economic issues in Hawai'i: • Education: These are all important issues that need to be addressed in the upcoming Legislature. I don't think there is any one solution, but a start must be made since these problems are only getting larger. What will vou do for Hawaiians? 1 am supportive of Hawaiian self-determi-nation. How should Hawaiian sovereignty and self-determination be addressed? The Hawaiian people need to first decide what goals they, as a group, want to be achieved in the near future. How do you think the issue of Hawaiian sovereignty should be addressed? The Hawaiian people need first to decide what goals they, as a group, want to achieve in the near future. Rep. Dist. 21 (Waiklkī-Ala Wai) Carol Sword (R)
Age: 48 Born: Upland, PA Previous politieal experienee: Elected to Waiklkī neighborhood board. Elected
treasurer of the board. Employment/community service background: I have had 20 years experience in the travel industry. By helping tourists to understand and appreciate the Hawaiian culture, many have become sympathetic to Hawaiian issues. I have a strong interest in Hawaiian culture. Why are you running for office: I want to
return honesty to government and lower the cost of living so that we ean enjoy rather than survive life in Hawai'i.
Views on social/economic issues in Hawai'i? • Cost of living By eliminating waste, dishonesty and inefficiency in government we ean lower taxes. • Housing: Will become more affordable if govemment streamlines business approvals. • Health: Provide mobile home to immunize children. • Jobs By reforming workers eomp and promoting small business in Hawai'i, we ean create jobs and more revenue to replace tax cuts. • Education When both parents do not have to work two or three jobs to survive they ean spend more time with their family. They ean read to their children and participate in their education. Forming strong family bonds will help prevent children from falling into a life of crime as they grow into adulthood.
What will you do for Hawaiians? All Hawaiians should immediately be given land on whieh to live. Building permits need to be expedited so that affordable homes ean be bui!t. How should Hawaiian sovereignty and self-determination be addressed? Only the federal government ean grant sovereignty. Hawaiians must organize and appeal to the U.S. Senate and Congress. Mary-Jane McMurdo
Age: Over21! Born: Boston, Massachusetts Previous political experience: State Senator, Dist. 15, Waikiki/ Mo'ili'ili 1992-94; McCully/
Mo'ili'ili Neighborhood Board, 1981-84, served as chair; Waikiki Neighborhood Board, 1993-94, served as chair. Emplovment and community service experience: executive assistant to Maj. Gen. Edward V. Richardson, Adjutant General, State of Hawai'i, 1993-94; teacher; realtor; newspaper columnist. Why running for office: There is no incumbent in the House seat, and since Waiklkī is such an important district, I felt I should onee again serve where my experienee could prove valuable.
Views on social/economic issues in Hawai'i — • Cost of living / housing: The high cost of living is closely linked to the high cost and laek of adequate and affordable housing. It is about time we shake up Hawaiian Homes and get people onto the homesteads they have been promised for so long. • Health: Our state heahh plan is great — it just doesn't extend to all the people. I'm
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leery of a national health plan, whieh may not be as good, and I will work for a state exemption, I believe the SHIP plan was a mueh better plan than Heahh Quest. • Jobs: Our Hawai'i economy is based on tourism, followed by the military, construction, and rapidly weakening agriculture (sugar and pineapple). Since so many jobs in tourism industry are unskilled, we must diversify: i.e. the rapidly developing information industry, and special agricultural products, and aquaculture. • Education: Let's back school-based management with money to do the job properly; start building the schools where money has been appropriated; the school board should be appointed by the Governor, to be accountable.
What will vou do for Hawaiians? (See above responses). How shou!d Hawaiian sovereignty and self-determination be addressed? The issue of Hawaiian sovereignty and selfdetermination is a matter for the Hawaiians themselves to decide. First, they must agree on what it is they want. I am already on record with OHA as being in favor of sovereignty — but it is not up to me to decide whieh form of sovereignty. Rep. Dist. 23 (Mānoa) Toni Worst (G)
Age: 35 Born: San I Mateo. I California (raised in Hāna, Maui since age 7) Previous politieal experience: M.A. and B.A.,
Political Science (emphasis on public policy); volunteer community lobbyist, state Legislature 1993 and 1994: govemment reform, women's and children's issues, environmental protection, affordable housing and alternative eeonomie development. Helped found Hawai'i Green Party (1992); managed Linda Martin's 1992 U.S. Senate campaign (50,000 votes statewide, 13 percent of vote on less than S 10,000). Employment/community service background: Managed community and familyowned small busineses in Hana and Honolulu
Whv are vou running for office? a) Raised in Hawai'i. This state needs change and reform — I want to serve public interest. Global, national, state crises won't improve until refomr corrupt election system — one state at a time. Stop insider politics! b) Change budget priorities: less plantation-style tourism, environmental protection; deal with issues of social justice. Respect diverse opinions — formulate real solutions that work for most, not just a few. e) Women underrepresented in elected leadership; qualified women should nin (and hopefully be elected!); our daughters need positive leadership role models.
Views on social/economic issues in Hawai'i : • Cost of living: Prioritize self-sufficiency industries (locally-produced housing, energy, transportation, food) to lower consumer costs. Publicly deal with controversial issues — land reform, ceded lands, etc. • Housing: Permanent funding for rental housing tmst fund. • Heahh: Close holes in health safety net. Fund programs for kanaka maoli health risks. • Jobs: Increase DBEDT support to loeal-ly-owned and -managed small-scale enterprises — biggest provider of new jobs; stop favoring large-scale, foreign-owned tourism with subsidies. • Education: Fund it. Remove bureaucratic roadblocks to DOE construction. Support SCBM.
What will you do for Hawaiians? Support sovereignty movement and legislation to assist kanaka maoli status in current U.S. system. Meet regularly with Hawaiian community organizations and leaders to leam and help. Reform abuses in DHHL. How should Hawaiian sovereignt) and self-determination be addressed? Must be native initiative, not imposed "plebiscite." I favor forms of sovereignty fair to both kānaka maoli and other citizens of current State of Hawai'i. Help other haole to learn and support.
Rep. Dist. 25 (Kaka'ako, Downtown, Ala Moana) •Kenneth T. Hiraki Age: 34 Previous political experience: House of Representatives, 1986 to the Present Staff member for Representative Kate Stanley Employment/communitv service experienee: Legal Aide Society; Director, Nu'uanu YMCA; Member. Hawai'i Bar Association; Active in environmental-relat-ed issues; Why are you running for office: I feel that I ean best contribute to the welfare of my district and the State of Hawai'i by continuing as a candidate for the House of Representatives as a member of the majority party. Views on social/economic issues in Hawai'i:
• Cost of living: The higher cost of living in Hawai'i, as compared to Mainland states, is related to the higher cost of housing, rental and purchase; the costs for transporting goods from the Mainland to Hawai'i; higher business expenses for individuals and corporations doing business in Hawai'i; high workmen's compensation costs; overdependence on tourism as an eeonomie base. It is essential that the legislature provide support for the diversifica-
tion of industry, support of diversified agriculture to reduce the need for importation of some food products. The State should also consider raising minimum pay, especially for workers in the low-paying service industries, relating to the tourist and fast food enterprises.
• Housing: The Legislature needs to support affordable housing by reducing restrictions on building, assist with infrastructure costs whieh developers face, float additional bond issues to assist with the building of affordable rental housing projects, and enforce the inclusion of more units of affordable housing in housing projects, rather than allowing tradeoffs for developers. Developers should be required to have building and financing plans before being permitted to tear down existing rental housing units for eventual rebuilding. • Health: Medical costs continue to outdistance increases in incomes of working people. These costs also plaee a burden on businesses and the government whieh subsidize these costs for their employees. Perhaps a study, followed by appropriate legislation, is in order to assess all costs of medical care, including long-term care for the elderly.
• Jobs: The employment picture will brighten when steps are taken to introduce new businesses and bolster existing enterprises. The often-heard complaint that Hawai'i is unfriendly to business should be eliminated by reducing restrictions on businesses and other measures as necessary. • Education: School-level decision making must continue to be strengthened to best meet the needs of the community and the students. A larger share of the budget must be devoted to public school education, together with increased accountability for our tax dollars. What will you do for Hawaiians? I support increased funding for measures whieh will increase the rate at whieh Hawaiian Home Lands become available for eonstruction of homes. In addition, funds for building affordable rental and purchaseable units in all areas should be made available. In some cases, low interest loans may be helpful for potential new homeowners.
How should Hawaiian sovereignty and self-determination be addressed? Hawaiian groups should eonūnue to work toward agreement as to the programs and directions whieh will best serve the most people. They should then eome to the legislature with their suggestions for carrying out their desires,
rather than letting legislators take the initiative. Jessica Rich (B) Age: 45 Born: Honolulu, Hawai'i Previous politieal experience: Political reporter for CNN radio;
first time running for office Employment/ community service experience: Commissioner on Housing and Community
Development Why are you running for office: I want to make a contribution to my district and be a catalyst for change. I care about the future of Hawai'i. Views on sociaI/economic issues in Hawai'i: • Cost of living: We need to create more jobs. I do not believe in raising taxes. Improved level of service and cost containment is an example of the efficiency of government operations. • Housing: I support more affordable housing in my district. The banks need to make more low interest loans to first time home buyers.
• Health: I would like to see public heahh agencies focus on health prevention services. Many people in Hawai'i already are having a hard time making ends meet. We need to work out a compromise where the employer ean stay in business and the employee is able to maintain adequate health care. • Jobs: As a Commissioner on housing and Community Development I have been a strong advocate for the small business person. In addition, there should be lower rents in my district to make it more affordable for people to do business in the state of Hawai'i. When rents are lowered prices eome down in other areas and this affects the cost of living. • Education: Make schools more responsive to what eaeh school area needs. Different areas have different needs. It's not just one school area, one curriculum.
What will you do for Hawaiians? Support more Hawaiian homes. How should Hawaiian sovereignty and self-determination be addressed? Home Rule. Rep. Dist. 26 (Punehhowl-Pauoa-Nuuanu) Rep. Dist. 26
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Quentin Kuhio Kawananakoa (R) Age: 33 Born: Honolulu, Hawai'i, USA Previous political experience: Hawai'i State Supreme Court: Clerk for Associate Justice Padgett
Employment/community service experienee: Native Hawaiian Bar Association — Treasurer; Hawai'i State Bar Association — Member; Hawai'i Estate Planning Council — Member; Native Hawaiian Chamber of Commerce — Member; Prince Kuhio Hawaiian Civic Club — Second Vice President; Moanalua Gardens Foundation — Secretary; Hale O Na Ali'i- — Vice Regent; Association of Hawaiian Civic Clubs — Parliamentarian; Royal Order of Kamehameha I — Member; Friends of 'Iolani Palaee — Member; Case & Lynch, Attomeys at Law — Attorney; Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Land and Natural Resources Department-Intern;
Why are you running for offlce: I want a government for the people and by the people. All interests small and large must be fairly represented in govemment. My platform is to advocate positive action by participation in the democratic process. I want the issues brought forward. bringing back openness, honesty and accountability in Govemment. Views on social/economic issues in Hawai'i: • Cost of living: Immediately control goverments costs. We pay the tax bill every moment of our lives, whether it is a gasoline tax, property tax, ineome tax, and the general exercise tax. All these taxes makes doing business here very expensive. As a result, we pay more for food, clothes, and
our property. • Housing: A combination of addressing the land use commission, and careful management of opening up more space for homes will greatly reduce the cost of housing. The present cumbersome system of building homes exaggerates the building period adding unnecessary cost to eaeh and every home.
• Health: I advocate a participatory relationship between the insurance and the individual. With a combination of ineentives and education, we must rethink the Health issue. People need incentives to act responsibly when using insurance, and the insurance must provide for fair coverage. • Jobs: Jobs are related to the cost of living issue. By Government curbing costs, and reducing the tax burden, new employment opportunities will arise. • Education: A good education foundation starts at home. A student's life does not begin or end in the classroom. 1 will promote programs that help parents become "Teaching parents." We need more innovative after-school programs that focus on the cultural and athletic activities that will produce healthy, well rounded, inspired students.
What will you do for Hawaiians? I will be a strong voice for Hawaiian concems. I will address the tough issues confronting Hawaiians and advocate for quick and meaningful solutions. I will fight for our rights as the indigenous peoples of these islands. I will protect the Hawaiian cuture and ensure that our identity as Hawaiians is not lost.
How should Hawaiian sovereignty and self-determination be addressed? As a founding member of the Native Hawaiian Bar Association and the Chairperson of its Sovereignty Education Committee, I believe we must all leam the multi-faceted issues regarding sovereignty so that we may
make informed and good decisions. Some form of Hawaiian selfdetermination wiU occur. To ensure that a sound and equitable form of Hawaiian selfgovemance is created we must now educate ourselves, our neighbors and our Legislature. Terry Lau Age: 43 Born: Honolulu, HI Previous politieal experience: I served four years on the committee clerk for David Hagino with the
committee on human services and Water and Land Use. I was campaign manager for JoAnn Yukimura's first successful mayoral mn in 1988.
Experience: Counselor for economically disadvantaged. (Dept.. of Human Services.) Vocational Counselor (Leeward Community College); Founder, Hui 'O Imi Hale (substance abuse prevention program); community organizer, ILWU; eommunity organizer, Life of the Land.
Why are you running for office? My roots are in the 26th District. I went to the public schools there and I know my community. I've learned through experienee how to work with different backgrounds and personalities and pull people together. I know how public policy affects eaeh of us and want access to the process. Views on social/economic issues in Hawai'i? • Cost of living: Examine why it is so hard for families to afford to live here. Com-ponents include high prices as well as low wage levels and low-skill jobs. • Housing: Special provisions need to be made for Hawai'i in Section 8 requirements. Enact incentives to encourage building affordable homes. attend to high cost of renting.
• Health: Comprehensive heahh care, prenatal to elderly, must be available stressing preventative care and heallh maintenance. I would support long-term heahh care for seniors, funding programs and education for domestic and family violence and youth , family and crises counseling. • Jobs: I will work to encourage businesses providing sustainable jobs that people want to have. I would work to establish a business/government partnership office, reduce workmen's compensation tax on small businesses, provide incentives for new industries, promote diversified sustainable agriculture, encourage eco-tourism. • Education: I would support the hire of more teachers, decentralization, fairness in funding, pre-school, Headstart, A+, extracurricular and Hawaiian language programs.
What will you do for Hawaiians? I support more funding for DHHL and better administration accountability of the Home Lands Tmst. I would also support a Hawaiian self-determination bill enabling Hawaiians to administer their own service programs. I am also in support of expanded Hawaiian language programs, culture-spe-cific health education programs and more taro cultivation.
How should Hawaiian sovereignty and se!f-determination be addressed? I support Hawaiians' right to self-determi-nation„ sovereignty education for Hawaiians and non-Hawaiians, non-inter-ference by state, and balanced coverage of native Hawaiian issues in the media. Rep. Dist. 27 (Puunui-Alewa-Nuuanu)
i •Suzanne Chun (D) Age: 33 Born: Honolulu, HI Previous political experience: Served two terms in Hawai'i's House of Representatives. Experience: I have been a member of many councils, committees and associations.
Why are you running for office? To inspire the confidence of the public in our elected officials and govemment, in general, and maximize public involvement in our democratic process. Address critical issues facing Hawai'i.
Views on social/economic issues in Hawai'i? • Cost of living: I would diversify our economy and develop industries that are culturally appropriate, cognizant of and sensitive to our natural resources and geographical situation in the globe, and eapitalize on our people's weahh of knowledge and experience living in a rich society of cultures and peoples. I would support cottage industries. agriculture that allows us to be more self-sufficient. and other eommu-nity-based eeonomie development. • Housing: Support streamlining of our building processes to facilitate the eonstruction of affordable rentals for and forsale housing and involve communities earlier in the planning process. Design eommunities that are less vehicle-dependent, pedestrian-friendly and that take into account advance technology that allows employees to work in or near their homes. • HeaUh: Work with employers to support work policies that allow greater flexibility to employees to care for dependent family members and are more supportive of families in general. Improve accessibility to appropriate and timely healīh services and address long-term heahh care needs that presently drain govemment and personal financial resources. • Jobs: Address the issue of worker's eompensation, tort liability, insurance costs, heahh costs and government and private sector spending whieh also contribute to the high cost of living.
What will you do for Hawaiians? I would like to see the state fulfill its eommitment to have a portion of revenue generated from ceded lands be given to OHA; work with OHA to establish a funding mechanism for child care for Hawaiian children; work with the Dept. of Heahh to make permanent an Office of Hawaiian Heahh; make sure that the state lands being exchanged with DHHL are usable and productive lands for Hawaiians and; offer a compassionate heart, an open mind, and a listening ear to issues surrounding the issue of sovereignty. How should Hawaiian sovereignty and self-determination be addressed? The Hawaiian community has provided leadership in facilitating dialogue and educational opportunities among Hawaiians
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and the broader community. I need to listen carefully and take appropriate action based on the outcome of the this discussion. I hope that the unity of family, immediate and extended, are always kept in mind because, like so many other families, my is made up of ethnicities including Hawaiian, and want to stay united.
Rep. Dist. 32 (Aliamanu-Salt Lake-Aiea) Lennard Pepper (D)
Age: 62 Born: Yonkers, NY Previous political experience: House of Representatives, District 32
Representative, 1992-present Neighborhood Board 18, 1979-1992; PTAs in Radford Complex area where I have lived for almost 30 years; advisory group to original Hale Ola. Experience: Clinical Psychologist, Dept. Of Heahh, 1964-1992. VVhy are you running for office? I have a contribution to make my district and the state. my family and I owe the community a great deal, and I want to eoniinue to give back through public service. I am particul.trly interested in preserving the cultural uniqueness of Hawai'i and its special sense of plaee.
Views on social/economic issues in Hawai'i? • Cost of living: Where pricing appears abusive, require investigation by the Attomey General. Make more land available for housing. Control insurance costs. • Housing: More emphasis on increasing the availability of rental housing. Encourage more rapid release of Hawaiian lands to Hawaiians accompanied by infrastructure development (water, sewers, etc.) Use ceded lands for housing, consider joint ventures between OHA and private developers or public agencies. • Health: Prevention is the key rather than treating people after they get sick. Encouraging the native Hawaiian diet seems to be an example of what ean be done.
• Jobs: Encourage good elean small industries to eome to Hawai'i through temporary tax breaks. Encourage diversified agriculture, aquaculture, and responsible use of oeean resources. • Education: More money from administration to the classroom. More loeal eontrol. Culturally appropriate teaching methods, incentives to encourage more teachers from underrepresented groups. VVhat will you do for Hawaiians? I will continue to support legislation to provide money and services necessary to ensure that native Hawaiians receive the best possible medical preventative and
treatment care, encourage Hawaiians through eeonomie incentives to pursue higher education, speed infrastructure development on Hawaiian Home Lands. How should Hawaiian sovereignty and self-determination be addressed? 1 will foster and respect a process that will bring Hawaiians together to decide on the form of sovereignty whieh will be right for them. As part of the process I will support funding for a variety of forums and working groups.
Rep. Dist. 34 (Waimalu-Waiau-Newtown) K. Mark Takai (D)
Age: 27 Born: Honolulu, HI Previous political experienee: I was the student body president at
UH-Manoa and at Pearl City high school. Experience: I am currently a DOH public heahh educator. I also serve as a director for the UH Alumni Association, the Hawai'i Business Jaycees, the Society of Public Heahh Educators and the YMCA Atherton branch.
VVhy are you running for office? If elected, my immediate goal will be to work on restoring the public's faith in government. Without the support of the people, government will not work. Views on social/economic issues in Hawai'i? • Cost of living: I would like to create an environment that is more favorable to business in Hawai'i. I believe that by streamlining government through increased workplaee efficiency we ean continue to provide needed services and not raise taxes in the process. • Housing: Our government should continue to build affordable homes for the benefit of the community and should assist those companies interested in building affordable homes and rentals.
• Heahh: I believe managed care ean offer some of the best solutions to our heahh care problems. The Legislature must develop a cost-effective program that will take care of the health care needs of seniors. • Jobs: Govemment must look at promoting Hawai'i as a favorable plaee to do business We must not only rely on tourism to ensure our state's eeonomie success. The laek of quality jobs ultimately affects our cost of living in Hawai'i. • Education: Evei7 citizen should be afforded the right to quality public education in Hawai'i. We need an education system that will prepare our children for whatever they desire - technical training or eollege.
What will you do for Hawaiians? Through my experiences as a former ASUH president and former Ka Leo O Hawai'i Editor in Chief., I've leamed about the injustices that Hawaiians have endured for more that 100 years. Specifically, I will work on ways to plaee more people of Hawaiian ancestry on Hawaiian home lands and the faster we get doing this the better.
How should Hawaiian sovereignty and self-determination be addressed? The issue is best addressed by the Hawaiian people themselves. I hope that the different Hawaiian groups ean eome together and decide what is best for all Hawaiians. Rep. Dist. 35th, (Pearl CityPacific Palisades-Highlands) •Noboru Yonamine (D)
Age: 59 Born: Honokowai, Maui Previous political experience: Past Chair and member, State Board of
Education; member education, higher education, and transportation committees. Experience: Past president , Pearl City Connnunity Association; past member Pearl City Neighborhood board; past president of United Okinawan Association, Japanese American Citizens League, Honolulu chapter; First president Interagency Council on Immigrant Services; Past Vice President, Kalihi Palama Community Council; social agency executive; Youth Director and community organizer in Chicago, Cleveland and Detroit.
Why are you running for office? To enact legislation; (1) making three branches of govemment more effective; (2) increasing quality of education; (3) encouraging diversified eeonomie development; (4) supporting Human Services programs; and (5) making elected officials accountable to their constituents.
Views on social/economie issues in Hawai'i? • Cost of living: Two factors influence the high cost of living: cost of housing due to limited land and taxes. Make more land available for housing, especially affordable and low-ineome housing. Analysis need sto be made of all state and county taxes to determine if the assessment is needed for essential government services. • Jobs: While examining the size of govemment, we need to create more jobs through diversified agriculture, aquaculture high-tech and other businesses whieh lessen our reliance on tourism and whieh are appropriate to our culture and environment. • Education: We need to increase the
Special Funds (CIP), increase education percent of the state budget, and change the methods of electing Board of Education members. I support expansion of Hawaiian Studies and Hawaiian Immersion Programs and loeal schools' efforts to create eumieulum relevant to Hawaiian students.
What will you do for Hawaiians? I look forward to next year's plebiscite as Hawaiians decide the mechanism for taking the next steps toward sovereignty and self-determination. Onee a substantial majority mandate is established, I will then support any enacting legislation in their move toward sovereignty. How should Hawaiian sovereignty and self-determination be addressed? Hawaiian organizations and groups have developed strategies and tactics to address immediate and long range objectives, needs, problems, and issues in this complex issue. They have a healthy and invigorating diversity of viewpoints like all movements in history. The Hawaiians must determine for themselves what they want. That is selfdetermination whieh I strongly support. I will then elieu support from the community at large for fulfillment of that goal for sovereignty. Joel Joshua Kaye (R)
Age: 32 Born: Newark, New Jersey Previous polhieal experience: I initiated and organized my precinct and am now precinct president for the Republican party. I have been a delegate to the Republican Nahonal Convention and to numerous Hawai'i state conventions. I have been a volunteer for many campaigns. Experience: I have been working for BHP for the past nine years. I am a ehemieal engineer who has worked on designing and building a waste water treatment plant to protect our water and refinery modernization whieh provided more jobs for our state.
Why are vou running for office? I am not content to sit back and hope someone else takes the responsibility for good government. I believe good government ean improve our lives if our representatives in the Legislature set priorities, spend responsibly and are kept accountable.
Views on social/economic issues in Hawai'i? • Jobs: Improving the economy will produce jobs whieh keep our families together in Hawai'i, provide us with heahh care, money to buy housing and improve our standard of living with dignity. • Education: Education provides our ehildren whh a better future, It ean be improved with: (1) More teachers and smaller class sizes; (2) proper classrooms and textbooks; (3) academic standards; (4) longer school years and; (5) increased school self-management. What will you do for Hawaiians? One goal would be to review the use of all
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the Hawaiian lands the state presently eontrols and force the state to use these for the good of the Hawaiian people as the state was entrusted to do and eolleeī fair market rents on the lands and use the money to benefit the HAwaiians (vs. some present practices whieh lease the land to the state itself or other interests virtually free.)
How should Hawaiian sovereignty and self-determination be addressed? I will support a referendum for Hawaiians to select their own model of sovereignty. And. as a legislator. I would have the state petition the federal govemment to grant Hawaiians status equivalent to American Indians. This would allow the formation of a nation-within-a- nation. Rep. Dist. 38 (Waipio-Crestview-Mililani) •Sam Lee (D)
Age: 64 Born: Honolulu. HI Previous political experience: member of Democratic party since 1983: precinct officer and
delegate to county and state conventions; representative since 1987; currently chair of the House Committee on Higher Education and the Arts. Experience: I served 26 years in eight foreign countries as a U.S. diplomat. Since retiring and retuming to Hawai'i, I have been active in my community and the publie schools. I was chair of the Mililani Neighborhood Board 1983-86. and led the community campaign to elean up the pesticides in our water and thereby won the AllAmerica City award for Mililani. Why are you running for office? After having served my county abroad. I want to continue to serve my community and the state in whieh I was bom and raised.
Views on social/economic issues in Hawai'i? • Cost of living: Land is limited and costly in Hawai'i. The government should help to lower the cost of doing business by making state lands available and eheap for farming and business - such as agricultural and industrial/ commercial parks. Increased competition from new large discounters are already bringing down the cost of living. • Housing: We should build more affordable rentals to bring down the cost of living. • Health: We are already bringing down the cost of heakh care through the Quest program whieh serves more than 1 10,000 people. Our individual premiums are the lowest in the United States — more than 50 or 60 percent less. Let us keep them low. • Jobs: We are creating new eeonomie activities through the super information
highway whieh will create new skilled jobs. Hawai'i is a leader in the new eomputer age. • Education: We must give the highest priority to education and continue to keep tuition low at the University of Hawai'i.
What will you do for Hawaiians? Our biggest priority is to put Hawaiians back on the land and in the houses they are entitled to under the Hawaiian home lands program. I support more funding and all possible help. How should Hawaiian so\ereignty and self-determination be addressed? Only Hawaiians should decide on the sovereignty they want, but all of us have to work together to achieve it. Miehael Kwokwing Li (R)
Age: 40 Born: Hong Kong Previous political experience: Candidate for the state House of
Representatives in district 38; chair of the Heahh and Safety Committee. Mililani/W'aipio/Melemanu Neighborhood Board No. 25. Experience: Officer and Board member of the Organizaiton of Chinese Americans; member of the Honolulu Jaycees; member of the School Security Attendant program for Mililani high school; former state Science and Engineering Fair projects judge; Invited speaker on numerous topics such as drug abuse, lead poisoning, and sceintific careers for high school students. Why are vou running for office? Year after year we see our loved ones and friends leaving Hawai'i. The high cost of Iiving, laek of career opportunities and traffic congestion have been the major cause for people to leave Hawai'i and will eontinue to be the stress factors and lower our standard of living with no relief in sight. If elected, I would want to see less tax, effieienl government operations, and term limitation on all law makers.
Views on social/economic issues in Hawai'i? • Cost of living: 1 want to lower the tax burden. • Housing: Lease some state lands to private contractors for affordable housing developments. • Health: 1 want to see some state-operated clinics and hospitals, similar to those found in some Asian countries and in Hong Kong. • Jobs: I want to see business overhead reduced so that more people ean become entrepreneurs and corporations ean start new business ventures in Hawai'i. • Education: A good education ensures a good future for everyone of us. A majority
of the tax dollars should be dedicated to education. What will you do for Hawaiians? I want to see some federal and state lands set aside for native Hawaiians so that Hawaiians ean use the land to build home, to perpemate the Hawaiian culture and to continue social activities and other functions.
How should Hawaiian sovereignty and self-determination be addressed? The U.S. government should have returned a good portion of the ceded lands back to the Hawaiian people and allow them to eleei their own governing body. a scenario similar to the lndian reservation territories on the Mainland. Rep. Dist. 40 (WahiawaAVhitmore Village) Marcus R. Oshiro (D)
Age: 35 Born: Honolulu. HI Previous politieal experienee: Volunteer in the campaigns of Governor Waihe'e, Sen. Akaka, the
Democratic Party of Hawai'i, Mayor Eileen Anderson and as a legislative aide to Representative Tom Okamura. Experience: Deputy Prosecutor, Dept. of the Prosecuting Attorney, City and County of Honolulu; staff attorney, Consumer Unit, Legal Aid Society of Hawai'i; member, Protect Kaho'olawe 'Ohana; member, Young Okinawans of Hawai'i. Whv are you running for office? I am running for office because I believe I ean be an effective advocate for the people of Wahiawa and Whitmore Village and make a contribution to resolving the many issues facing Hawai'i's people.
Views on social/economic issues in Hawai'i? • Cost of living: We need to investigate the individual components that make up our "high' cost of living and where we are able to construct remedial measures. • Housing: We need to encourage govemment, non-profit, and private development of housing and affordable rentals. Consequently, we must all share the benefits and burdens associated with further housing developments and strike a balance between preservation of open space and the need for "affordable" housing and rentals. • Health: The heahh issue is a fundamental eoneem of govemment and sustained attention must be given to such sub-issues as the environment, long-term care, prenatal care, and accessibility to heahh care for all of Hawai'i's people. •Jobs: We need to develop and create more opportunities for our people by encouraging new business/employment opportuni-
ties in the areas of heahh care, new agriculture, telecommunications, cross-cultural ecotourism, altemative energy development, and better support for our small businesses and new entrepreneurs. • Education: I support increased spending for the construction of more classrooms and facilities. I also support efforts to decentralize the decision-making process, SCBM, more high schooI trade/training opportunities, and year-round schooling.
What will you do for Hawaiians? Listen with an open heart and mind. There are tremendous challenges and opportunities for all Hawaiians and they will find me to be a source of encouragement. How should Hawaiian sovereignty and self-determination be addressed? The issue of Hawaiian sovereignty and self-determination should be addressed by HaWaiians, as a people. Rep. Dist. 41(Ewa Beach-Ewa-Iroquois Point) Mary Ann Miyashiro (B)
|Age: 45 |Born: Lindale, |Texas |Previous politlieal experilenee: Served lon jNeighborhood |Board #23 (four
and a half years Vice Chair, Secretary, Committee Chair of Education and Parks and Recreation Committee. Experience: Why are you running for office: As a 16year kama'āina resident and a concerned parent of two teenage daughters, I have viewed a system that has grown worse. I've observed increased gang activity, an education system that continues on a downswing, increased poverty, and increased roles among welfare citizens of Hawaiian ancestry whieh are the foundation of the State of Hawai'i. I feel I ean help fertilize the tree at the roots so that this tree will bloom with vibrant and nourished fruit for the future.
Views on social/economic issues in Hawai'i: • Cost of living: I would introduce/support bills that would be friendly to loeal and small businesses and would enable loeal people to survive through the native style of 'ohana living. I would encourage free enterprise to diminish the power of existing monopoly systems. • Housing: I would introduce/support bills that would decrease the red tape involved with applying for constmction permits. I would re-evaluate the formula used to hold developers hostage regarding community benefits. The community should have eomplete say of benefits wanted for their eommunity and all funds/benefits stay in the community impacted by the development. • Heahh: I would encourage more medical
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siudents to be general practitioners instead of specializing in one field. I would also e\amine and encourage benefits for people who live healthy lifestyles. (i.e. non-smok-ers, exercisers, non-drinkers) Benefits could be reduced rates or end-of-year rebates for a healthy year. • Jobs: I have high interest in seeing Hawai'i as a self-supporting state. I would encourage small plot farming, sea weed harvesting, taro farming and fish farming. I would also encourage and support and sponsorship (by city, state, and private entities) of all types of oeean sports and recreations. • Education: I would help to empower parents to gain control of their youth in a eooperative venture between parents school and community. I would try to get government and politics out of education. Education should not be a politician football field.
What will you do for Hawaiians? I would workeharder to ensure that Hawaiian home lands are released faster than in the past. I would encourage a partnership with all factions of society to eonstruct needed infrastructure that will allow the building of homes for Hawaiians on their own land. How should Hawaiian sovereignty and self-determination be addressed? As a descendant of a Native American, I respect the wishes and consensus of the Hawaiian people. There are many models of programs today that are available for Hawaiians to study and to extract the best from eaeh segment that will allow them to implement their own sovereignty. Like my ancestors that fought hard and eamed their right to self-government, I feel Hawaiians have the right to decide their own future and the right to self-determination. Paul T. Oshiro (D)
Age: 39 Born: Honolulu, HI. Why are you running for office? My primary goal is to provide resnonsive
representation for our area. Since first elected to office, I have held monthly "Community Hour" meetings during whieh we ean informally discuss issues of interest to all of us. I also walk "house to house" within our entire district to personally visit with residents of our community, I pledge to continue with my monthly "Community Hour" meetings and to walk "house to house" for as long as I am honored to serve in the state House of Representatives.
Views on social/economic issues in Hawai'i? • Cost of living: To effectively address the cost of living here in Hawai'i, I will continue to focus upon the diversification of our economy to ensure stability along
with continued growth. • Housing: In the area of housing, I believe that govemment must provide infrastructure and social services to adequately accommodate new housing developments. • Health: For health and human services needs, the continued enhancement of gov-ernment-provided services along with the development of incentives for private involvement in various programs will be of great benefit. • Jobs: The development of Barbers Point Deep Draft harbor along with the realization of the City of Kapolei will stimulate the creation of new jobs within our state. • Education: In the area of education, I will eonīinue my focus upon the reduction in class size, the acceleration of funding for physical improvements to our educational facilities, along with the constmction of a permanent campus for the University of Hawai'i-West O'ahu at Kapolei.
What will you do for Hawaiians? I feel that the effective management of the Hawaiian home lands tmst is an issue we must continue to focus diligently upon. Proper infrastructure and facilities must be provided to enable the prompt distribution and use of these lands by Hawaiians. I will continue to advocate for funding necessary at the state level to accelerate aehon to address this eoneem How should Hawaiian sovereignty and seJf-determination be addressed? In regards to Hawaiian sovereignty, I will eonhnue to support the self-determination of this issue by the Hawaiian people. Rep. Dist. 43 (Barbers Pt.-Maili-Wai'anae) Miehael P. Kahikina (D) Age: 44 Born: Honolulu, Hi Previous political experience: 18 years in the state house. Experience: Bachelor of Education; teacher's certification; 14 years businessman. Why are you running for office? I'm sick and tired of being sick and tired and want to do something. Views on social/economic issues in Hawai'i? • Cost of living: Work and get more good jobs for our people. • Housing: Open up more Hawaiian home lands and change laws so we ean build on homestead land. • Health: Education. • Jobs : Encourage good and safe industries/jobs. • Education: Address native Hawaiians' needs and failures. What will you do for Hawaiians? Make sure Hawaiians make decisions for Hawaiians. How should Hawaiian sovereignty and self-determination be addressed?
Openly and inclusively so every Hawaiian ean participate without fear of contrary mana'o by kanaka maoli.
Rep. Dist. 44 (WaianaeMakaha) Rory Horning (R) Age: 43 Born: San Francisco, Califomia. I was brought to Hawai'i at the tender age of 6 months. Previous political experience: I have served on the Wai'anae Coast Neighborhood Board #24 (1945 to present); three terms as Chairman; two terms as Planning & Zoning Committee Chairman. Employment and community service experience: Was last employed as a C.E.O. of Waimano Auxiliary (a privately funded agency whieh provided employment for the severely mentally and physicallv disabledt.
Why running for office: To raise the standard and lower the cost of living in our islands, and to leave the next generation a future worthy of our past. Views on social/economic issues in Hawai'i - • Cost of living: Cut governmental red tape and promote small business; diversified agriculture, etc. • Housing: Have govemment build infrastructure and private sector build housing. • Health: Reprioritize state heahh goals placing people first, bureaucracy second. • Jobs: Same as "Cost of living," plus hold off tax increases and support environmental sensitive industries. • Education: Support grassroots programs (SCBM, etc.) and up investments by the State in our educational system; students priority #1 thus ensuring the future. What will you do for Hawaiians? Guarantee open, honest govemment - govemment fair to all without asking eonstituents to be beholden to officials for simply doing their duty.
How should Hawaiian sovereignty and self-determination be addressed? As soon as it has been defined by the Hawaiian people; a leadership should be chosen to present it to all levels of govemment and then those elected to represent the people should see to its implementation. Rep. Dist. 44 (WaianaeMakaha)
Miehael Mixell (R) Age: 55 Born: Muneie, Indiana. Previous politieal experi-
enee: Head of teacher's association. Elected neighborhood board. Elected negotiator for neighborhood board. Experience: Earthday, Everyday award. Worked with homeless and elderly. Director of (2) Hawai'i private colleges Why are you running for office? To bring govemment back to home mle and stop present corrupt policies.
Views on social/economic issues in Hawai'i? • Cost of living: Lower cost of government; lower taxes. • Housing: Lower govemment cost would bring about lower housing costs. • Health: More competition in managed heahh care market. • Jobs: Lower taxes on business, encourage business. • Education: Stop wasteful spending; more money at school level. What will you do for Hawaiians? Work for the retum of the 342,000 acres stolen from ceded lands by the govemment. How should Hawaiian sovereignty and self-determination be addressed? I believe in the country-within-country but this should be determined by Hawaiians with the retum of their lands and money. All Hawaiian lands and money to be eontrolled by duly elected Hawaiians. Alvin K. Awo (B)
Born: Honolulu, Hawai'i Previous politieal experienee: None. A voting democratic observer. Whv runninu
for offīce: I' ve been a small businessperson all my life. Views on social/economic issues in Hawai'i - • Cost of living: We must budget and end our spending spree; set priorities that meet the tme needs of the people. • Housing: Govemment should get out of private business. The red tape (permit requirements) adds to the cost of housing as the time costs the developer money whieh is passed onto the buyers. The entrenched bureaucracy merely adds to costs. • Heahh: On the Wai'anae Coast we need a complete heahh elinie as well as a research and development program addressing the special ills of Hawaiians. • Jobs: Small business is the backbone of the Hawaiian economy. I would like to see more independent, self-reliant Hawaiian businessmen. Hawaiians have the talent to help in the eeonomie diversification so neeessary to the survival of the state. • Education: The curriculum of our
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schools needs to be upgraded to meet the needs of our students and the highly technological real world. Our students' talents need to be the focus. Our children need to have choices: the world of academia or the world of work. Apprenticeship programs should be offered in computer programming. drafting, electrical work, plumbing, auto mechanics and other trades whieh will enable students to hold well-paying jobs. AIl students should have a solid foundation in basic academics and should be eapahle of problem-solving and comprehension. Core schools should be established specializing in specific areas: the arts, science. applied science, vocational training. VV hat will vou do for Hawaiians? As an elected official. I will work to increase funding for Hawaiian heahh, the Hawaiian immersion program, Department of Hawaiian Home Lands whieh should be building thousands of homes yearly for native Hawaiian instead of continuing its shameful record of the past. I will work to improve the libraries at the UH and will ensure that Hawaiians continue to receive additional assistance in higher education programs as education is the key to upward mobility. How should Hawaiian sovereignty and self-determination be addressed? Hawaiians have the right to control their resources and their destiny without outside interference. We Hawaiians need to studv the issues. talk amongst ourselves, do research. Then we need to decide through a plebiscite what our future government will look like. We should not be rushed inlo any quick. dangerous decisions.
Rep. Dist. 46 (Laie-Punaluu-Waiahole) CoIIeen R. Meyer (R) Age: 55 Born: Honolulu, Hawai'i Previous poIitical experience: I was a candidate for this seat in 1992. lost to Ululani Beirne by just 1 percent point. I have worked on presidential, governors, and mayoral campaigns. 1 have been a lifelong Republican. Employment and community service experience: I have been a licensed Realtor for 25 years. I have owned a used equipment business and a gas station. As a small business owner I ean see a lot more has to be done to assist business and remove the multitude of regulations whieh strangle business. I serve as secretary on the Kahalu'u Neighborhood Board, and as eofacilitator of the King Intermediate SCBM. Why running for office: I believe that the one party system has failed the voters. It has created many arrogant, self-serving politicians. Competition is good, people need to work harder and get better prepared. Views on social/economic issues in Hawai'i -
• Cost of living: Remove the 4 percent excise tax from food, drugs, and medical services. Refonn the State Tax Code. Give renters a mueh larger tax credit than they get now. • Housing: State and country build more rental apartments in areas where infrastructure is already in plaee. • Health: More education for parents and children on diet, hygiene, exercise and the importance of inoculation programs for children. • Jobs: Government needs to create ineentives for new businesses to eome to Hawai'i. Break on taxes. special leases to get started. revamp workers eomp insuranee. • Education: Set higher and measurable standards for all schools. Discipline code must be strengthened. Violent behavior must not be tolerated. First time incidents must be handled rirmly and swiftly. Vocational schools should be established in every school district as an option. No student should go on to seventh grade if they ean not read up to grade level.
What will you do for Hawaiians? I would investigate the Hawaiian Homes Commission. Get to the bottom of the ineffectiveness of that office. It is a scandal that so few deserving Hawaiians have gotten homes while acres of valuable land lay undeveloped. Many have died waiting. lt is a case of plain mismanagement. How should Hawaiian sovereigntv and self-determination be addressed? At first I was against the State-created sovereignty commission. but as things have evolved I think some good things have eome out of it. A lot of sharing of views, and airing of grievances. It has created a continuous forum for the dissemination of information and sharing of testimony on all islands. 1 am a keiki o ka 'āina, with many Hawaiian friends. Very few of them have the same ideas. Rep. Dist. 47 (Kahalu'u, Ahuimanu, He'eia, Kāne'ohe) •Terrence W.H. Tom (D)
Age: 46 Born: Honolulu, Hawai'i Previous politieal experienee: State House of
Representatives since 1982. Chair, House Judiciary Committee. Chaired the Committee on Human Services and Intergovenimental Relations and International Affairs. Employment/community service background: Former deputy prosecuting attorney. Attomey in private practice. Sponsored monthly community hour in Kāne'ohe for the last seven years. Active in many community organizations such as the Kāne'ohe Neighborhood Board, the
Diamond Head Lions Club, the State Vocational Rehabilitation Board, the Correctional Education Advisory Council. Why are you running for office? To use my legal and legislative experience to improve our quality of life. Views on sociaI/economic issues in Hawai'i: • Cost of Iiving: We need to restore public confidence and participation in government. We need to encourage people to eontinue to live and work in Hawai'i by creating a well-rounded public educational system. creating more jobs and housing and improving the quality of life of our residents. • Housing: Streamline our permitting system to encourage, not frustrate. private/public partnerships in developing affordable housing, yet preserve and protect our environment from unsafe condilions and uncontrolled development. • Heallh: Although our state leads the nation in providing heahh care. there is still mueh to be done for those who cannot afford quality heahh care. • Jobs: We must be innovative and take bold steps to create meaningful and plentiful jobs. There are many products unique to Hawai'i that we ean develop to create prosperity. Hawai'i ean attract people from the east and the west to do business here. I support all efforts to encourage employment opportunities here. • Education: Decentralize our educational svstem for more meaningful decision-mak-ing among our school administrators, teachers, students. parents and the eommunities.
What will you do for Hawaiians? I will continue to listen to, communicate with, and to support the will of the Hawaiian people. I have the ability to bring people together to talk out their differences in order to reach consensus. How shou!d Hawaiian sovereignty and self-determination be addressed? The Legislature began to address those issues through legislation encouraging the Hawaiian people to meet and establish a formal plebisicite on their future destiny. More education is essential to reach sound decisions. I will continue to work towards future goals that are beneficial for all Hawaiian people.
Karen Archibald (G) Age: 36 Born: Chicago, Illinois
Previous political experience: Campaign treasurer/worker, U.S. Senate race, 1992. Legislative aide to UH Dean, 1991. Staff member, Reapportionment Commission, 1981. Eniployment and community service experience: Founder/board member. non-
» profit educational organization promoting healthy pregnancy and positive parenting, 1987-1993. Why running for oflice: To address frustration and mistrust resulting from the laek of solutions coming from the Legislature. I have prepared specific steps to eliminate the majority of opportunities for corruption so we ean begin creating the future we all want. Views on social/economic issues in Hawai'i - • Cost of living: Reassess what is meant by progress, emphasize long-term. sustainable development. No more massive resorts that provide mostly low paying jobs and foreign profits. Encourage smaller, communitybased eeonomie development. • Housing: Provide more affordable rental units by adequately funding the Rental Housing Trust Fund, establishing eommunity land trusts, Financing infrastructure by govemment. streamlining the permit process and encouraging innovative housing concepts, such as mutual and co-hous-ing projects.
• Health: Privatize services currently provided by DOH, like Wai'anae Coast Comprehensive Heahh Center. The State ean distribute the funds and save tax dollars by eliminating an entire level of bureaucracy. • Jobs: Make the support of small business and small, environmental industries a major priority. Billion-dollar development like freeways and mass transit may provide jobs for the moment, but our children's future will be left paying for them. • Education: One way to improve schools is to involve more parents directly in their child's education. SCBM is a move in this direction because when people have more decision-making power they are more willing to get involved. What will you do for Hawaiians? Provide for special heahh and eeonomie needs created by disenfranchisement of Native Hawaiians. Protect sacred or culturally significant Native Hawaiian sites. Nurture Native Hawaiian culture. Ceded lands must be retumed or adequate compensation provided. Immediately distribute Hawaiian Home Lands and allocate federal and state funds for necessary infrastmcture. How should Hawaiian sovereignty and se!f-determination be addressed? Sovereignty is inevitable. I am open to all voices from the community as to what the Legislature ean and should do to facilitate the process.
State House Dist. 50 (Maunawili-Enchanted Lake) Ken Carlson (R) Age: 41 Born: Liberal, Kansas Previous political experience: Employed as legislative aide in United States Senate. office of Senator Orrin Hatch, Senator Bob Dole and Senate Budget Committee; legislative aide in Hawai'i State House and Senate, served intemships at the Interstate Commerce Commission, U.S. Department of Labor and the Nahonal Centers for Disease Control.
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Employment and community service experience: Employed in loeal retail distribution industry in Hawai'i; former hospital administrator at Duke University Medical Center; serve on the Board of Regents of lntemational College; volunteer with Alzheimers Association. Why running for office: Am running for office to try to reverse the trend of unlimited growth in state government. The loeal business community is being choked by excessive state taxes, an unreasonable growth in workers' compensation and unemployment insurance rates.
Views on social/economic issues in Hawai'i • Cost of living: Reduce the cost of govemment and encourage competition in the retail industry. • Housing: Consider tax for non-resident iandowners. • Health: Evaluate success of QUEST proiram to determine if other altematives are needed for low-ineome residents. Jobs: Reduce the cost of govemment so that private industry, especially small business, will have capital to invest in new jobs. • Education: Return responsibility forpublic education to the loeal level, i.e., county Nehool boards. Also speed implementation of Nchool/community-based management. What will you do for Hawaiians? Introduce and support legislation to expedite infrastruciure development and land distribution for Hawaiian Home Lands. How should Hawaiian sovereignty and •>elf-determination be addressed? A eonsensus on Hawaiian sovereignty and selfdetermination should be reached first by the Hawaiian community before legislative action.
Bruce MacPherson (G) \ge: 46 Born: Winsted, Connecticut Previous political experience: None in Hawai'i, thank God. Employment and community service experience: Organizing member/Friends of the Natatorium, Coach AYSO Soccer and Coach Bobby Sox Softball. Twenty-five years of working experience in Hawai'i's business community. Why running for office: To bring maturity md experience to the representative seat of ihe 50th district.
V iews on social/economic issues in Hawai'i: • Cost of living: Eliminate by phasing out the excise tax on food and medicine to help the [leople who live here. • Housing: Provide more affordable rental units. Streamline permit process - delays are ultimately paid by the buyer. Stiff anti-specu-lation taxes on capital gains. • Health: Privatize services currently provided by the Department of Health. Privatization will eliminate govemment bureaucracy. • Jobs: Increase the differential Mainland companies must underbid on constmction projects to 25 percent. Construction jobs will go to loeal workers first. • Education: Increase funding of our State Library System, support SCBM, and get out of the way and let the educators do their thing. ... and be accountable. What will vou do for Hawaiians? Work
towards the total eliminalion of the waiting list for Hawaiian Homes. Improved medical services for Hawaiians. How should Hawaiian sovereignty and self-determination be addressed? Sovereignty must not get in the way of funding Hawaiian Homes. The govemment will use it as an excuse not to fund or build. Differences in what who owes whom ean be reconcUed at a later date. The issue of sovereignty and self-determination seems to favor the "nation within a nation" at the present time. It appears to be the most acceptable and politically palatable but I have an open mind to other alternatives. •Devon Nekoba (D)
Age: 28 Born: San Francisco, California Previous politieal experience: I have been involved with politics from an early age because of my
father's involvement with the campaigns of people like Jean King, Ben Cayetano, Mike McCartney, and Clayton Hee. Most of it involved sign waving, iicking envelopes. and walking, but it gave me a glimpse of what it look to run for office. Employment and community service experience: I have already served two years in the House, as well as worktng for the Senate Majority Staff Office. My community involvement includes a term on the Kailua \eighborhood Board, and membership with the Kailua Chamber of Commerce, Windward Spouse Abuse Shelter, Hawai'i Business Jaycees, Kalāheo PTSA, the SCBM committees of Keolu and Castle, Friends of Kailua High School. and Japanese Ameiiean Citizens League. Why running for office: There is mueh that I feel I ean still contribute to the community, and because I enjoy the opportunity to give back and show that my generation is ready and willing to take up the torch of leadership for this state.
Views on social/economic issues in Hawai'i: • Cost of living: • Housing: • Health: • Jobs: • Education: All of these subjects for me are so interconnected, that it's hard for me to address them one by one. For example, finding a solution to the worker's compensation reform problem, and finding new industries for the state to invest in. will likely stimulate jobs and lower costs for employers, whieh will in turn lower the cost of living and help lower heahh care costs, and allow for more affordable housing and more money for schools. However, none of these things ean happen unless we are able to look beyond self interests, and strive for the good of all the people of Hawai'i, even if it means some sacrifices. What will you do for Hawaiians? I have always been open with the Hawaiian people, and will try to ensure that 1 stay sensitive to their needs, and help wheie I ean with funding for programs whieh will keep their eulture alive and prosperous. How should Hawaiian sovereignty and self-determination be addressed? The word
"self-determination" definitely explains my position. I am not a Hawaiian, and as such I would hesitate to be involved with the selfdetermination of the Hawaiian people other than to try and be as helpful as possible with whatever they may need from the State from me personally. State Senate Dist. 5 1 (Lanikai-Keolu-Hills-Waimanalo)
| Eve Anderson (r) Age: 56 Born: Honolulu, Hawai'i Previous politieal experienee: Precinct President, Vice
President; platform committee; treasurer for a candidate; worked on various campaigns; have been a candidate for this House seat, '88, '90. '92, and '94.
Employment and community service experience: Many years as a community volunteer, a member on non-profit boards. Why running for office: I am running for office because I think I ean do a better job for the district. Too mueh at the Legislature goes on behind closed doors. Views on sociaI/eeonomic issues in Hawai'i - • Cost of living: Government must downsize, must eliminate duplication and unnecessary paperwork. • Housing: A variety of housing units must be available to the public, at prices that workers ean afford depending on their paycheck. • Health: It is mandatory to get individuals to understand the importance of regular heakh care check-ups, vaccinations, good diet and appropriate exercise. • Jobs: The onerous rules, regulations, and mountains of paperwork placed on business by government must be reversed. • Education: A good education is the basic requirement for success in everyone's future. It is absolutely mandatory that Hawai'i's school system be improved to meet the needs of all of our students, from kindergarten to senior citizens. A school system "second to none" will take the work of first the family, the teachers, counselors and specialist, and of the community in general. What will you do for Hawaiians? Hawaiian issues are just as important as all other issues, and I will insist that open, honest discussion and decisionmaking happens in a timely manner. I will look towards working wilh as many Hawaiians as I ean convince to participate in the discussions. How should Hawaiian sovereignty and self-determination be addressed? I am delighted to see the Hawaiians addressing their issues and reaching out to as
many people as possible. They have every right and a responsibility to take the lead to solve their problems, and I as their representative will look forward to working very closely with them. Hawaiian sovereignty must also be their decision, and I hope that the Hawaiians will discuss this issue very completely taking an honest look at what being a sovereign nation, or a nation within a nation really means way into the future. I worry that if we add a third government entity to the equation, community issues will eome to a stall.
Lisa Hao Mullinaux (D) (The candidate didn't respond to the questions; here is her response .) My community leadership recently led to the positive resolution of a controversial issue. Knowing that I ean affect change reinforces my commitment to Hawai'i's future. Recently, I was deeply involved in the effort to reinstate Lena Kanemori, after she was unjustly ordered to leave her teaching position at my children's school. 1 led community action on her behalf, meeting with legislators, DOE officials, HSTA members, the BOE, and the Lt. Governor's Office. 1 would favor programs to support firsttime homebuyers; I would encourage the building of affordable homes and establish research boards who could seek new information on the latest building materials. Concurrently, I would like to see strong participation in a Career Kōkua program where young people shadow working professionals to learn the business/trade. We need more skilled people and the schools or programs to train them. The confidence and pride young adults feel when trained well for work as well as being successful in higher education strengthens a community. Our children need new technology, ongoing staff development, and materials to teach to all learning styles. Teachers need tools to implement the many new teaching techniques on the forefront of education today - computers, software, videos, and many other forms of knowledge transfer. Additionally, empowerment produces motivated, eommunieative teachers anxious to try new ideas, share successes and focus on students. There are no other more original peoples of Hawai'i than the Hawaiians. Centuries of innovation and refinement raised this culture to the highest levels of achievement known in the Pacific. Sadly, the influences of Western eolonial expansion led to the deterioration of the native culture and the decline of the native people. It is my firm belief that cultural restoration ean serve as a catalyst for reversing this decline, revitalizing their pride and directly impacting their success in contemporary society. Sovereignty would provide the independence a framework for achieving success. The issue should be addressed through strategic planning with timeliness and goal orientation. I will support the Hawaiian efforts, communicate with their leaders, and address their concerns on a government level.