PLATFORM

The Economy

Foreign investment has slowed and the drain on our economy created by our dependence on foreign oil removes nearly $7 billion every year from our economy. This financial drain has a negative impact on businesses and jobs and hence, tax revenue and the social programs they support. The crisis on Wall Street will substantially add to the level of human misery as the endowments that support non-profits shrink. Immediately following my re-election, I will push the leadership in the Legislative and Executive Branches to declare a state of emergency and convene a special session of the state legislature to address what can be done immediately (30 days), what can be done in the near term (12-18 months), and what can be done over the succeeding six years. The steps involve conservation, import substitution, capital inflows, and export of knowledge and technology.

 

We need to eliminate taxes and fees on aviation and marine transportation fuels.  We need to eliminate landing fees for trans-Pacific flights. We need to credit promotional dollars spent by airlines to promote Hawaii against a portion of the taxes and fees due to the state of Hawaii. Because we are an isolated archipelago we need to have a different model of how we fund and manage our airports and harbors. We need to redirect our tourism promotion dollars from the declining traditional markets ( West Coast, Japan) and into the new growth markets ( China, Taiwan, Korea). We need to take the steps necessary to institute direct flights from Europe to Hawaii.

 

We need to cut the state budget by redefining what functions need to be done by state workers and what services can be contracted out.

 

Energy

The state’s Renewable Portfolio Standard only sets a goal of replacing 20% of our fossil fuel usage with Renewable Energy sources and energy efficiency by 2020. That will not have an impact on the Hawaii Residents paying the highest electricity prices in the nation or address the real dangers of climate change. I support the Governor’s partnership with the US Department of Energy and the Hawaii Clean Energy Initiative (HCEI). HCEI aims to reduce fossil fuel usage in Hawaii by 70% by the year 2030. However, we need action now – not more studies.

 

The technologies already exist and are commercially competitive to significantly reduce by 50% our dependence on foreign oil in 10 years. Hawaii has abundant natural resources that can provide clean, renewable energy. You can review my plan to solve Hawaii's energy crisis here.  

  

Ethics

The people of Hawaii deserve policy makers who are unfettered by special interests. I do not and have not accepted corporate, union, or special interest PAC contributions. Elected officials should be prohibited from accepting contributions from corporate or union PACs. No public official should be allowed to accept gifts over $25 with a zero tolerance policy.

 

Education

Not only should we utilize our natural resources more effectively, but we also need to improve our human resources. This means training a workforce prepared to work in the high-tech economy of today and tomorrow. We need to support STEM initiatives with smaller class sizes and teacher access to training and classroom supplies.

 

We need schools that are better maintained, that have small classes and where children learn in an air-conditioned environment. Schools need to be the center of community life for children and adults alike. Teachers need to be able to teach in an environment that is conducive to learning and honored for the essential contribution they make to their community. 

 

We need to alter the way in which our schools are viewed and managed. We need to make schools responsible to their community for the educational outcomes. The first step is having island specific elected school boards. Only when we force decision making, responsibility, and accountability down to the school level will our educational outcomes improve.

 

We need to challenge our youth to excel in the mind industries of the future. The Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) initiative was a great start but it needs to be expanded.  We can make Hawaii a center for learning, research and entrepreneurship, but success depends upon how much we can improve the quality of outcomes in our public schools.  

POSITIONS

Rail

As residents of Honolulu, we have to ask ourselves how we measure our quality of life. Very few people lead a linear life where they only go from point “A” to point “B” without deviation. A rail system in Honolulu will only allow people to go from one place to another. A rail system is only feasible with population growth, and that is something you probably don't want any more of in Honolulu. Yes, something must be done to alleviate traffic, but this can be a simple solution, like limiting commercial deliveries to certain hours, encouraging ride-share programs and bolstering our existing bus system. We should look at the easy stuff before we plunge head first into a multi-billion dollar, multi-decade project.

 

Con-Con

A Constitutional Convention is another solution to creating an ethical government. Hawaii's Constitution provides for a Con-Con every 10 years if the voters approve. On election day, voters will be asked if the state should convene a constitutional convention to discuss and amend the state constitution. Since the last convention was in 1978, this is an excellent opportunity for citizens of this state to address the issues that have changed in the last 30 years. A Con-Con takes policymaking out of the hands of career politicians and puts it more directly in the hands of voters. The time for these landmark changes truly is now.

 

Interisland Transportation

The new vehicular ferry has opened commerce for Hawaii's small businesses between Honolulu and Maui to a considerable degree. Increased competition in ocean freight, from the mainland, Asia and between islands, is essential to the economic growth of our state.

 

Term Limits and Recall

New ideas and fresh perspectives can only improve the policies that come out of the state legislature. If term limits work for the executive branch and the city council, the legislature should be no exception. At the very least, voters should have the power to recall their elected officials. The will of the people should be immediate.