Key Political Issues for Senate 12 (no particular priority)

Tourism

Tourism is Hawaii’s leading economic engine. Waikiki is one of the world's premier resort destinations serving as both a resort and residential area. As a travel industry veteran, I understand that sustainable tourism cannot be successfully implemented without the involvement of those affected by tourism.

It is clear that residents’ have a close affinity towards Waikiki and favorable attitudes towards tourism. Therefore, involving them in as many aspects of development as possible is an important step in creating sustainability.

Waikiki currently faces challenging visitor numbers and increased revitalization efforts, commonly typified by mature destinations. Recommendations for continued vitality in Waikiki suggest that revitalization efforts be directed toward residents’ desire for an improved pedestrian environment, creating added value for both visitor and kama‘aina alike. Residents’ close attachment to Waikiki infers the need for kama‘aina endorsement of revitalization efforts.

Housing (affordable)

The State of Hawaii’s need for affordable housing is well documented and is a serious problem in several regards. With the shortage of public funds, the high cost of construction, and the lack of available land, clearly, creative solutions must be found to meet this need.

Fewer than 3,000 new housing units have been developed in the past five years on Oahu, home to 72 percent of Hawaii's population. For anyone who has felt the bite of the affordable housing shortage, Senate District 12 and particularly Kaka‘ako, represent an opportunity to be part of the affordable housing solution. With an already adequate inventory of market priced units, adding more affordable housing to the existing mix will allow for an attractive and convenient residential community of varying incomes, ages and family groups.

Strong and cooperative legislative leadership is required. I believe the solutions are there. The Affordable Housing Task Force was convened and required to provide a comprehensive report responding to Senate Concurrent Resolution 135 that called for solutions to the affordable housing crisis in the state.

The report suggests that the development of affordable housing requires a dedicated agency, rather than making it a second priority for an agency already working on developing and running public housing.

Under the coordination of the state-sponsored Housing and Community Development Corp. of Hawaii, five smaller working groups convened and focused on:

• Streamlining state and county land use entitlement processes;
• Developing creative financing for infrastructure development;
• Improving the coordination of federal, state and county financing programs to facilitate affordable housing development;
• Identifying financing strategies to develop affordable housing, including funding for the Rental Housing Trust Fund; and
• Creating an institutional structure to focus on stimulating the development of affordable, work force housing.

Crime/Public Safety

The security of our communities is a fundamental “quality of life” issue. Although Honolulu ranks as one of the safest cities in America with low crime rates, we will continue efforts at reducing crime in the district. Tourists are particularly vulnerable. The number of visitor-related property crimes in Waikiki — car break-ins, burglaries and larceny/theft, although on the decline, is expected to reach roughly 1,150 by the end of the year, according to statistics reported by the Honolulu Police Department's Waikiki district.

The drop in visitor-related crime follows a decade-long national trend of declining crime statistics. The best theory is that a combination of factors — more police on the street, fewer Japanese tourists, better cooperation between the visitor industry and police, and even the plentiful job market — have made Waikiki safer.

The Downtown/Chinatown Kalihi-Palama area calls for a different approach to community policing. Operation "Weed and Seed" is a multi-agency strategy sponsored by the United States Department of Justice that "weeds out" violent crime, gang activity and drug trafficking in high crime neighborhoods, then "seeds" the target area with social programs, neighborhood restoration projects and economic development.  Honolulu has three Weed and Seed sites.

The first site was established in the Downtown/Chinatown-Kalihi-Palama area, once a hub of drug dealing, prostitution, public drunkenness, and thefts. Prosecutors aggressively tried all offenders, including those who committed crimes such as drinking in public, disorderly conduct, criminal littering, and other offenses that collectively undermined community safety, livability and economic vitality.  The results have been phenomenal and crime in the Downtown/Chinatown-Kalihi-Palama area has dropped fifty percent. I endorse continued programming and encourage more public safety partnership between the State and City and County of Honolulu. 

Harbors

Harbors throughout Hawaii play a significant role in island life. Honolulu Harbor is a major lifeline and a major part of Senate District 12. As Senator, I will pay close attention, and endeavor to develop, maintain and enhance Oahu's commercial harbor system, and ensure its efficient, safe, accessible and economical operations. The Commercial Harbors 2020 Master Plan can serve as a guide for a pro-active Senator able to rally legislative support.

Some objectives include:

- To plan the necessary port and harbor facilities to meet the future operational requirements of Oahu's commercial harbor users.  Facilities will be planned to preserve or enhance current harbor capacity and to insure a high level of safety, a reliable security system and preservation of the environment.

- To promote Hawaii's economy through a focus on facilities for cargo, tourism, and commercial fishing operations in a manner that best relates to and serves the commerce of the State.

- To optimize the maritime commercial utilization of port and adjacent resources in creating an efficient, productive, accessible, and 'user friendly' harbor environment.

Traffic

As Hawaii, and particularly the heavily populated City and County of Honolulu on the Island of Oahu, continues to experience a high rate of both population and visitor growth, the island's traffic problems continues to grow.

Traffic in Honolulu, and on Oahu in general, is a persistent problem. A single traffic incident has the potential to induce gridlock across the entire island.

Moving ahead as one of the alternatives, after more than a quarter century of study and debate, is a fixed guide-way rapid transit system for Honolulu that will put fully automated, medium capacity trains into an east-west urban corridor that joins major residential areas with the city's principal employment and activity centers.

The 17.3 mile route will serve a total of 24 stations. At its western end, the route will directly serve Pearl City, a major population center, and will reach such major employment and visitor destinations as Aloha Stadium, the U.S.S. Arizona Memorial, Hickam Air Force Base, the Pearl Harbor Naval Base, and Honolulu International Airport. In downtown Honolulu, the route serves principal commercial, government, and shopping destinations, dividing east of the downtown area to reach destinations in the Waikiki district and the University of Hawaii at Manoa.

A fully integrated, island-wide bus network will provide feeder express services to rapid transit stations, as well as local service between stations and in local communities.

Education

Education is the cornerstone of our Hawaii. Our children are the
state's greatest assets and their sound development is key to a sustainable future. I have made education a priority in the lives of my own children, products of Hawaii’s public and private schools. I believe a Senator needs to be engaged and interested in the well-being of our state’s keiki and in the education they receive, whether
public or private. I am committed to supporting the needs of education from Pre-K through the university level.

Environment

Protecting our environment is important to all of us who call Hawaii home.  As a Native Hawaiian, I believe in the inextricable link between the health of the 'aina and the health of the people who inhabit these islands.  Senate 12 is home to some of Hawaii's most important natural landscapes, from the beaches of Waikiki and the Kaka'ako waterfront to the harbors and reefs of the kai that front the district.  I am committed to protecting open spaces, supporting efforts to preserve and rehabilitate Hawaii's fragile ecosystems, and developing real solutions that balance progress with the need to preserve our unique landscapes.

Healthcare

Healthy people are happy people.  Every man, woman, and child has a right to readily available and affordable healthcare here in Hawaii. As Congress and the President debate solutions to the nation’s healthcare crisis, 40million Americans are without healthcare.   As a member of Hawaii's legislative body, I will make seeking out local solutions to our healthcare needs a priority.