Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 15, Number 10, 1 ʻOkakopa 1998 — ʻ98 candidates in focus [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

ʻ98 candidates in focus

i UT ;#"#f jr |WH ^ The views and opinions expressed in '98 candidates infocus are of the individual candidates and do not necessarily reflect those of the Office of Hawaiian Affairs. 1

Dante Keala Carpenter was born in Honolulu, Hawai'i. He attended Kamehameha Schools, graduated from Roosevelt High School, then the United States Merchant Marine Academy at Kings Point, N.Y., in 1957. He received a B.S. degree in marinemeehanieal engineering, a U. S. Coast Guard license as marine engineer, and commission in the U. S. Naval Reserve. Carpenter's service career extended from active duty with the Atlantic Fleet in 1957-58 to reserve duties aboard Navy destroyers and shipyard facilities operations primarily at Pearl Harbor and San Diego. He served as commanding officer of several Naval Reserve units in Hawaii as well as Hawai'i Island liaison for a

Seabee Construction Battalion Unit. In 1984, Carpenter retired as a naval line ofFicer with the rank of lieutenant commander. Carpenter joined C. Brewer & Company in 1960 and served for 25 years as processing, projects and staff engineer in Hilo and Ka'ū on Hawai'i Island, and senior design engineer for its overseas sugar operations. He was also director of public affairs before leaving Brewer in 1984 to serve as mayor of Hawai'i tyWhile concurrently working for C. Brewer, Carpenter served 14 years in elective office. From 1969 to 1976 Carpenter served two terms as a Hawai'i County Councilman, then from 1978 through 1984 two terms as a Hawai'i state senator. Carpenter then served as mayor and

chief executive offfcer of Hawai 'i County for four years from 1984 through 1988. From mid-January 1994 to October 1995, Carpenter was administrator of the Offf ce of Hawaiian Affairs, a quasi-state agency whose charge is to work toward the betterment of the conditions of Hawaiians and Native Hawaiians. Carpenter is very familiar with operations of both policy-making and administrative areas of county and state government. His experiences have also given him a well-rounded community perspective and understanding of the political sensitivities to infrastructure needs, including housing and social problems associated with rapidly growing populations in different areas of the state, with a prior emphasis on the Big Island. Carpenter is well traveled and has visited countries in South America, Europe, and the Far East. He has also visited New Zealand, Australia and Japan while promoting tourism for Hawai'i. Carpenter is active in the community and holds memberships in organizations such as Hā Hawai'i, Civilian Advisory Group (U. S. Army). He served as founding president of the Hawaiian Civic Club of Ka'ū and president of the Ka'ū Historical Society. He has been a Lion, a Kiwanian, a member of the American Public Works Assdciation, the Hawaiian Sugar Technologists, the Society of Professional Engineers - Hawai'i Branch, and the Hawai'i Island Chamber of Commerce. Today, Carpenter is president of the

WjēL fE®r eipll ' lSfr 11 % , M \ '<■*' S 8 ' ; * <4 1 Country Club Village, Phase 2 association of apartment owncrs in Salt Lake and ehaiiman of the board of Pacific Waste, ine., aBig Island refuse eolleetion company. He is a licensed real estate agent and is president of Carpenter & Carpenter, ine., a planning, engineering. promotions and legislative consulting finn. Dante Keala Carpenter has been a community advocate for many vears. i Chief concems include puhlie safety, cost of living, transportation, taxes, the economy in general and advocacy of Hawaiian issues as: • a restored nation of Hawai'i - Hawaiian electorate to elect delegates to propose a Native Hawaiian government, convene a convention, ratify convcntion recommendations and issue a puhlie report; • reinstating a full 20 percent portion of ceded trust lands revenue to OHA vice "eap" at $ 1 5 million; • resolving the state debt to OHA regarding ceded-land use presently under suit by OHA; • explore development of day care and long-temi care facilities for aged and infirm Hawaiians; • funding assistance for home eonstruction financing; • expand education foundation grant program; • expand cultural grant programs including language arts (Hawaiian language immersion programs); and • expand health and human services programs. ■ , ,

What Sam Cluney brings to the table is a weahh of experience as an independent business man. And Yes, I was onee part of the silent majority. Being elected trustee gives me an opportunity to get involved. OHA is a business, a business for the Hawaiian people and, if managed properly, an investment in the future for all Hawaiians. I've owned and operated the Taco Time franchise in Hawai'i. I'vebeena stockbroker and I am a licensed real estate broker. I've eome from the school of experience since I graduated from eollege in 1969. Growing up in Waimānalo, I've been around the block. I understand what it means to be accountable. I've been around experts, and I know how to ask the right questions and get results. I do not believe you voters are interested in a commercial answer. I want to be a trastee and I ean do what is expected of me. I will do a job that you and I ean be proud of. There has been enough rhetoric; it is time to produce results. It is the responsibility of eaeh trustee to be rational and to work to solve the concems, be a

model and voice for all individuals, groups and factions. We may have different agendas, but there is a core goal, that of restoring our Hawaiian race to its former eminenee. The Offfce of Hawaiian Affairs has a mission to develop progressive programs on education, jobs, culture and social enhancement. We need to refocus, then develop broad, long-range plans and accomplish our mission. It will require skills of a visionary. If our resources are managed correctly, it is possible to have our dreams eome true. There wil'l be no free rides; it's going to take hard work. All of us will have to do our part. You and I will be involved. This is one responsibility you cannot shirk. Help me and I will exert all of my energy to do the job. I am not a government man. I have had 40 years of hard work in the private sector. I'm a veteran. I am a family man with a wife, son, two lovely daughters and two grandchildren. Just like you, I have bills and a mortgage to pay. I have feelings and I have been hurt by the laek of action and direction of the present

1 , I ĒBĒ lilHM : Wi &f OHA administration. My philosophy is to find a need, facilitate, expedite and fiU that need. We as Hawaiians do not have to look very far to find a "need." We need more education, not only for our children but to help all of us aeiapl to the present. We need jobs in this sluggish economy. Our culture has never been highlighted as it is today, It's "prime time" for social enhaneemenl. OHA has the opportunity and the abilily to become the moving force in the Hawaiian community. We have funds, let's not "miss the boat." It does not take a ton of bureaucracy. Here is an idea that just might work. What if OHA were to own and operate a business, say a modest hotel. We could use our resources to buy the facilities; we could create jobs; we could train our people; and we could operate the hotel. Just think of the possibilities - the suppliers, the services, the support. We could go on and on. Your responsibility is to make sure I am elected. You cannot sit back. Ifyon want to be a critic, register to vote. Vote for Sam Cluney and hold me aeeounlable. ■ i

Dante Keala Carpenter At-Large

Samuel "Sam" Cluney At-Large