Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 39, Number 8, 1 August 2022 — Duke Aiona [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

Duke Aiona

1 1 With the median home price at record levels, many loeal families cannot simultaneously pay rent and save to buy a home. In order for families and individuals to stay in Hawai'i, they will need to escape the rising costs of housing. lherefore, a long-term solution is required. The Home Ownership Personal Equity (HOPE) program enables individuals and families to save money for a down payment on their own home, simply by paying rent. Over time, families will actually earn equity on their rent, providing for a down payment on a home anywhere they choose to live. Current affordable housing policies are only a band-aid approach in that it doesn't solve the problem residents face with rising rents and long-term planning. Providing lower ineome and

middle-class families with an opportunity to own their own home gives families and their future generations an opportunity to stay in Hawai'i. This program will not require an increase in taxes and is expected to help more than 5,200 families in its first year alone. 2 | While tourism will always be an industry Hawai'i relies on, the pandemic highlighted the need in diversifying our economy to provide more certainty for kama aina during times of eeonomie downturn. Unfortunately, Hawai'i's high taxes and fees, and the copious amount of regulations and bureaucracy have made it difficult for new industries to flourish in our islands. Getting government out of the way by reducing the amount of regulations, permits, bureaucracy, fees, and taxes sends a message to the businesses outside of Hawai'i that we are open for business. However, to do this requires the political will and a commitment in allocating the resources that are necessary to develop the infrastructure that would attract businesses and industries. Also, at the core of creating a sustainable and vibrant socio/economic model is the need to strengthen our families and improve our puhlie education system to ensure our keiki have every opportunity to succeed in a diversified economy. I am committed to prioritizing all of these areas to ensure the people of Hawai'i ean flourish. 3 1 Reinforcing olelo Hawai'i as a living, thriving language means allowing the Hawaiian language to heeome part of our daily lives, activities and business environments. That starts with our classrooms. One way to increase access to Hawaiian language immersion education is to increase the availability of charter schools. According to a study released by the National Allianee for Puhlie Charter Schools, Hawai'i's charter school laws rank 31 of 45 states. To help increase access to Hawaiian immersion education, I would implement policies that make it easier to create new high-quality charter schools. Furthermore, to support the integration of olelo Hawai'i in our everyday lives, my administration will build upon The Law of Aloha by establishing a Hawaiian Cultural Vibrancy Policy for state employees to develop, nurture, and practice Hawaiian cultural principles, language, and practices in their daily work. Policies to support our Hawaiian language haumāna are also critical as we continue to form better ways to evaluate cultural learning. Supporting the BOE Policy 2105 and working cooperatively with the Hawaiian language community, I will stand behind the development of authentic assessments in Hawaiian language that ean be administered to immersion students. ■ 1. 3. 2. ^ 4.