
10/13/22 U.S. House District 2
Season 2022 Episode 38 | 56m 46sVideo has Closed Captions
The race for U.S. House District 2.
In November, voters across the state will elect someone new to represent Hawaiʻi’s second congressional district which includes rural Oʻahu (Waiʻanae Coast, North Shore, Windward side) and the Neighbor Islands.
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Insights on PBS Hawaiʻi is a local public television program presented by PBS Hawai'i

10/13/22 U.S. House District 2
Season 2022 Episode 38 | 56m 46sVideo has Closed Captions
In November, voters across the state will elect someone new to represent Hawaiʻi’s second congressional district which includes rural Oʻahu (Waiʻanae Coast, North Shore, Windward side) and the Neighbor Islands.
Problems playing video? | Closed Captioning Feedback
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Providing Support for PBS.org
Learn Moreabout PBS online sponsorshipFOR THE SECOND TIME IN TWO YEARS, A NEW FACE WILL BE REPRESENTING HAWAII IN THE U.S. HOUSE, AS KAI KAHELE VACATES HIS POSITION.
THE CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT 2 SEAT COVERS ALL NEIGHBOR ISLANDS AND RURAL OAHU.
THREE CANDIDATES WILL BE ON THE NOVEMBER GENERAL ELECTION BALLOT.
HEAR THEIR STANCE ON THE ISSUES AS THEY FIGHT FOR YOUR VOTE TO SEND THEM TO OUR NATION’S CAPITAL.
TONIGHT’S LIVE BROADCAST AND LIVE STREAM OF INSIGHTS ON PBS HAWAII START NOW.
¶¶ ¶¶ ALOHA AND WELCOME TO INSIGHTS ON PBS HAWAII, I'M YUNJI DE NIES.
AFTER SERVING ONE TERM IN CONGRESS, HAWAII REPRESENTATIVE KAI KAHELE CHOSE NOT TO RUN FOR RE‑ELECTION, AS HE MADE AN UNSUCCESSFUL BID FOR GOVERNOR.
NOW, TWO WOMEN AND ONE MAN ARE LOOKING TO FILL THE VACANCY IN WASHINGTON D.C.
THE U.S. HOUSE DISTRICT 2 SEAT REPRESENTS RURAL OAHU AND THE NEIGHBOR ISLANDS.
WE LOOK FORWARD TO YOUR PARTICIPATION IN TONIGHT'S SHOW.
YOU CAN EMAIL OR CALL IN YOUR QUESTIONS.
AND YOU’LL FIND A LIVE STREAM OF THIS PROGRAM AT PBSHAWAII.ORG AND THE PBS HAWAII FACEBOOK PAGE.
NOW, TO OUR GUESTS.
LIBERATARIAN MICHELLE TIPPENS RESIDES ON HAWAII ISLAND AFTER MOVING HERE NEARLY A DECADE AGO.
SHE HAS A MASTER’S DEGREE IN CRIMINAL JUSTICE AND SERVED AS A COUNTERINTELLIGENCE AGENT IN THE U.S. ARMY.
SHE IS ALSO THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE HAWAII VETERANS CANNABIS ALLIANCE.
DEMOCRAT JILL TOKUDA IS A GRADUATE OF CASTLE HIGH SCHOOL AND HAS A BACHELOR’S DEGREE IN INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS.
FOR 12 YEARS, SHE SERVED IN THE STATE SENATE REPRESENTING KANEOHE AND KAILUA.
THE MOM OF TWO IS ALSO A SMALL BUSINESS OWNER OF A CONSULTING PRACTICE.
AND REPUBLICAN JOE AKANA IS A KAMEHAMEHA SCHOOLS GRADUATE AND HOLDS TWO MASTER’S DEGREES IN BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION AND STRATEGIC INTELLIGENCE.
HE’S A RETIRED PROJECT MANAGER AND ANALYST WITH THE U.S. GOVERNMENT AND SERVED IN THE U.S. AIR FORCE AS AN INTELLIGENCE ANALYST.
THANK YOU FOR ALL BEING HERE TONIGHT.
SO GREAT TO SEE ALL THREE OF YOU.
I WANT TO START WITH YOU.
WE'LL GO AROUND THE TABLE.
WHAT LOCAL ISSUES ARE YOU HOPING TO FIX AND ADDRESS AT THE NATIONAL LEVEL?
>> I THINK THE BIGGEST ISSUE WE CAN LOOK AT AND CONFRONT IS THE COST OF LIVING IN THE STATE OF HAWAII.
OUR PEOPLE ARE SUFFERING.
JUST WATCHING SOME SOMEONE CITY ESTIMATED INFLATION AROUND 12%.
CONSERVATIVE.
PEOPLE IN THE STATE OF HAWAII ARE SUFFERING.
WE NEED TO COME UP WITH PROGRAMS THAT ARE GOING TO ADDRESS THESE ISSUES.
ONE OF THE THINGS WE HEAR TALKING ABOUT, HEARD MANY PEOPLE TALK AS WE GO AROUND THE STATE, THEY TALK ABOUT THE G.E.T.
ISSUE.
WHY THEY HAVE TO KEEP PAYING MORE AND MORE TAXES?
THE TAXES KEEP RISING.
COST OF LIVING KEEPS GOING UP.
WHAT ARE WE DOING ABOUT IT?
WHAT ARE OUR LEADERS DOING ABOUT IT?
THAT'S AN ISSUE THAT I DON'T THINK HAS BEEN REALLY ADDRESSED.
WE CONTINUE TO LOOK AT IT AND IT'S NOT GOING ANYWHERE.
KEEPING GOES HIGHER AND HIGHER.
COST OF LIVING GOING HIGHER AND HIGHER.
>> WHAT WE FIND LIBERTARIAN PARTY IS ALL ABOUT FISCAL, MORAL, MEDICAL, FREEDOMS.
SO WHAT WE LOOK AT IN THE PRIVATE SECTOR IS THEY ARE GEARED TOWARDS MAXIMIZING PRODUCTIVITY OF LABOR.
MAKING SURE THAT WE GET THE MOST BANG FOR OUR BUCK WHEN WE'RE DOING PRODUCTION OF GOODS AND SERVICE.
DOING PUBLIC SECTOR DOESN'T HAVE THAT SAME DRIVING NEED.
WHAT WE NEED TO DO TURN THIS BACK OVER PRIVATE SECTOR.
LET THEM MAXIMIZE PRODUCTIVITY OF LABOR AGAIN.
BRING OUR STANDARD OF LIVING BACK UP AND HELP THAT COST OF LIVING COME BACK DOWN.
MONEY WILL GO FARTHER WITH THAT INCREASED PRODUCTIVITY.
THAT'S WHAT I WOULD LIKE TO SEE PROGRAMS START TO PUSH THE PRIVATE SECTOR BACK UP AGAIN.
HELP THEM.
INCREASING THE MONEY BY INFLATION OR INCREASING THE MINIMUM WAGE IS GOING TO INCREASE THE COST OF RUNNING BUSINESS FOR OUR BUSINESS.
THEY HAVE TO PASS THAT EXPENSE ON.
SO THAT'S WHY COST OF LIVING IS GOING UP.
WHAT DO YOU THINK?
>> HOPEFULLY, YOU WERE ABLE TO FINISH YOUR THOUGHT ON THERE.
I DO APPRECIATE HIS COMMENTS ABOUT FACT THAT AS WE GO THROUGH THE THE STATE, WE HAVE TO ME, REAL HONOR FOR US TO GO INTO EVERY COMMUNITY ACROSS OUR ISLANDS SIT AND LISTEN AND HEAR WHAT PEOPLE HOPES ARE AND FRUSTRATIONS THEY FEEL.
AS I REALLY DONE THAT, ESPECIALLY WHEN WE FOCUS ON MOST RURAL COMMUNITIES HERE ON OAHU, AND THROUGHOUT NEIGHBOR ISLANDS COMES BACK DOWN ME TO ISSUE OF ACCESS.
ACCESS MOST BASIC THINGS THAT PEOPLE FEEL THEY NEED TO SEE A FUTURE FOR THEMSELVES HERE IN THE STATE.
ACCESS TO HEALTH CARE.
MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES.
ACCESS TO HOUSING.
PEOPLE CAN AFFORD.
WE'RE TALKING YOUNG FAMILIES, WORKERS JUST COMING TO THE WORKFORCE.
TO SENIORS NEED A LITTLE BIT MORE ASSISTANCE.
EDUCATION AND WORKFORCE OPPORTUNITIES TO GET THOSE JOBS THAT CAN REALLY HELP THEM TO JUST MAKE IT IN HAWAII.
REALITY IS WITHOUT EQUAL ACCESS, EQUAL ACCESS DOES NOT EXIST IN HAWAII.
DEPENDS WHAT ZIP CODE YOU LIVE IN AND WHAT ISLAND.
WITHOUT ACCESS TO MOST BASIC THINGS, HEALTH CARE, HOUSING, GREATEST EXPORT IS CHILDREN AND FAMILIES.
>> I SIT DOWN KITCHEN TABLE EVERY NIGHT AND LOOK ACROSS AT THEM, QUESTION AND WONDER WILL THEY BE ABLE TO STAY HERE IN HAWAII.
SEE FUTURE FOR THEMSELVES HERE.
I WOULD GUESS GOING AROUND THESE TABLES WE KNOW FAR TOO MANY PEOPLE PICKED UP AND LEFT IN THE LAST 12 MONTHS.
NOT BY CHOICE.
FELT THEY JUST COULDN'T MAKE IT.
THAT'S THE STRUGGLE THAT'S THE FIGHT AND URGENCY WE'VE GOT TAKE TO WASHINGTON.
>>Yunji: YOU AGREE AFFORDABILITY WHAT IT TAKES.
>> TALK ABOUT WHAT IT TAKES TO MAKE A LIFE, MAKE SURE WE CAN TAKE CARE OF OURSELVES.
HEALTH DESERTS MICHELLE EXPERIENCED IT.
>> EVEN ACCESSIBILITY TO WATER.
TALKING ABOUT MOST BASIC, AREA HAD LAVA FLOWS IN THE LAST FIVE YEARS.
UNFORTUNATELY, PUNA HAS TO SACRIFICE SOCIAL AND COMMUNITY SAFETY FOR GEOTHERMAL EXPLORATION BECOME MORE AND MORE LIKE FRACKING.
GETTING DANGEROUS FOR US.
A LOT OF OUR PLACES NO WATER COMING IN.
NO SEWAGE GOING OUT.
NO BASIC, BASIC.
FORGET EDUCATION AND DOCTOR.
WE WANT WATER.
VETERINARY CARE.
HERD ANIMALS, LIVESTOCK ANIMALS.
FOOD DESERT ON BIG ISLAND.
GIVING OUT MICROGRANTS TO HELP FIX THAT.
AND BASE VETERINARIANS DOCTORS CAN GET PROVISIONAL LICENSE FOR 30 DAYS.
MAYBE SOME OF US GEARING SOME OF OUR GRANT MONEY PRIVATE SECTORS HAVING THESE VISITORS DOCTORS WITHOUT BORDERS, VETERINARIANS MAKE THOSE IMPROVEMENTS.
FUNNEL GRANT MONEY INTO THAT GET SOME REAL CORRECTION TO THE PROBLEM.
JOE SEES IT TOO.
OUT TO THE BIG ISLAND.
>> WHAT'S INTERESTING IS ONE OF THE JOE TOUCHED ON, SENIOR CARE.
SENIOR FOLKS.
SERVED MULTIPLE FOOD DISTRIBUTION LINES.
A LOT OF SERVICES WITH LANAKILA MEALS ON WHEELS DELIVERING FOOD TO SENIORS.
I WAS SHOCKING, SAT IN THE LINE ONE DAY, ACTUALLY LOOK AT THIS 95% OF THE PEOPLE CAME THROUGH THE LINE WERE SENIORS AND KUPUNA.
I WAS LIKE, REALLY, COULD NOT BELIEVE THAT.
SEE SOMETHING LIKE JUST SAW TODAY, SOCIAL SECURITY ADMINISTRATION BUMP THAT UP.
$140 PER SENIOR.
YET, INFLATION RATE IS HIGHER THAN THE RATE THEY'RE GETTING.
ARE THEY REALLY GOING TO BE HELPING ANY MORE OR ARE THEY GOING TO JUST CONTINUE TO FALL FURTHER AND FURTHER BEHIND?
ACCORDING TO KAISER, 15 MILLION SENIORS TODAY 65%.
ECONOMICALLY.
>>Yunji: SO MANY SENIORS RELY ON SOCIAL SECURITY.
BUMP YOU MENTIONED TODAY, SIGNIFICANT.
WELCOME FOR THEM.
WHAT DO YOU THINK ON THE NATIONAL LEVEL CAN BE TO BE TO SHORE UP THAT PROGRAM?
>> FUNNY.
I HAD A STUDY DONE WHEN I WAS DOING MY MASTERS DEGREE DC IN 2014.
ONE THING WE ARE LOOKING AT PROGRAM CALLED SOVEREIGN WEALTH FUNDS.
ALLOWS STATE OR THE GOVERNMENT, COUNTRY, TO MAKE INVESTMENTS INTO OTHER AREAS.
FIRST LOOKED AT INQUIRING INTO THIS, CHINA HAD TWO OF THEM.
IN 2014.
EACH ONE OF THOSE WERE AT THAT TIME WERE VALUED AT OVER $2 TRILLION APIECE.
WHOLE PURPOSE WAS TO HELP SENIORS AS THEY GOT OLDER TO BE ABLE TO LIVE BETTER LIVE, FUND THOSE TYPES OF PROGRAMS.
IT WAS INSANE.
START TO LOOK AT THAT.
I THINK SOMEONE HARVARD BUSINESS SCHOOL HAS OWN SOVEREIGN LAW FUND.
NIGERIA HAS OWN SOVEREIGN LAW FUND.
WHY DON'T WE HAVE THAT OR BE ABLE TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THAT WHEN WE CAN DO EXACTLY THE SAME TYPE OF THINGS.
>>Yunji: WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT SOCIAL SECURITY AND THE MAJOR BOOST THAT THAT PROGRAM AND SENIORS ARE GETTING TODAY?
>> I THINK REAL BENEFIT TO THE BOOST WE SAW IN SOCIAL SECURITY SOMETHING THAT HASN'T TAKEN PLACE, FOR DECADES, IS IT WAS COUPLED WITH REDUCTION IN MEDICARE PART 3 PREMIUMS.
REALLY AGAIN TO TRY TO MAKE SURE THAT SENIORS CAN GET MAXIMUM BENEFIT FROM THIS INCREASE.
I WILL SAY THIS, ENTITLEMENT PROGRAMS CANNOT SUPPORT AGING COMMUNITY.
WANTS TO AGE IN PLACE.
HOUSING PEOPLE CAN AFFORD, AT THAT POINT IN TIME IN LIFE WHEN THEY NEED IT, HALE MAKUA ON MAUI, AFFORDABLE LIVING SET UP.
COMMUNITY.
SURROUND BY OTHER SENIORS RETIREES CLOSE ACCESS TO HEALTH CARE, SOCIAL SERVICES, TO FOOD MARKETS, DIFFERENT THINGS.
WE'VE GOT DO BETTER IN TERMS OF TAPPING INTO FEDERAL RESOURCES ALLOW US TO INCREASE NUMBER OF UNITS AVAILABLE FOR OUR SENIORS TO BE ABLE TO LIVE IN A PLACE THAT REALLY RESPECTS KIND OF COMMUNITY THAT THEY WANT TO ENGAGE IN.
GIVE THEM ACCESS TO THE SERVICES WE NEED AS WE AGE.
SO IMPORTANT.
I WANT TO GO BACK TO THE FARMING ISSUE.
ANIMAL HISTORY AND VETERINARY NEEDS WE'RE IN A PRIME OPPORTUNITY.
LESS THAN 12 MONTHS TO BE ABLE TO MAKE SURE HAWAII IS ON THE MAP WITH THAT.
FARM BILL REAUTHORIZATION COMES BACK UP 2023.
BEEN A LONG TIME SINCE WE'VE HAD SOMEONE ON THE AGRICULTURE COMMITTEE.
GOT TO MAKE SURE THEY KNOW THAT UNLIKE THE MIDWEST, GOT VERY UNIQUE FOOD DEVELOPMENT, FOOD PRODUCTION NEEDS, BOTH FROM GROWING CROPS TO SUSTAIN BE PROTEINS.
AS WELL.
SO WE'VE GOT TO MAKE SURE THAT WITHIN ANY REAUTHORIZATION OF ANY BILL, WE'RE RECOGNIZED FOR THOSE UNIQUE NEEDS AND WE GET THE SUPPORT AND RESOURCES AND SOME CASES, GET LATITUDE WE NEED TO BE TO BE ABLE TO FEED OURSELVES AND THRIVE AND INDUSTRY.
>>Yunji: DYNAMIC CONGRESS.
A LOT OF LAWMAKERS GO WASHINGTON WITH GREAT INTENTION.
REALITY OF THE POLITICAL DIVISIVENESS A LOT OF STUFF DOESN'T GET DONE.
PARTICULARLY IN YOUR CASE, MY UNDERSTANDING THAT YOU WOULD BE THE ONLY LIBERTARIAN.
>> ONE DROP OF RED INK IN THAT GLASS OF WATER.
GIVEN THAT, HOW WOULD YOU WORK WITH COLLEAGUES FROM OTHER SIDES OF THE PARTY AND WOULD YOU ALIGN YOURSELF MORE WITH DEMOCRATS OR REPUBLICANS.
>> COMPLICATED.
TELL US HOW YOU WOULD NAVIGATE THAT.
>> I MEAN, ONE.
PRIMARY THINGS THAT I SHOULD MENTION IS I SPEAK ARABIC.
AND SO WITH IT COMES BACK FOREIGN AFFAIRS, I'M GOING TO HAVE THE BACKGROUND OF NOT JUST CULTURE, BUT DIFFERENT EXPECTATIONS AND CUSTOMS THAT WE SEE IN MIDDLE EASTERN AFFAIRS AND SO THE MILITARY GAVE ME THAT KIND OF BACKGROUND SO I UNDERSTAND WHAT WE'RE DEALING WITH.
WHAT THAT TURNS INTO HAWAII'S LEGISLATOR NOW ASSET TO NOT JUST THAT COMMITTEE, BUT THE WHOLE LEGISLATURE.
SO NOW, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE DEMOCRATS AND REPUBLICANS ABLE TO LEAN ON HAWAII FOR HELP WITH WHAT ARE WE GOING DO ABOUT THIS OR WHERE IS THIS COMING FROM, OR WHAT DO YOU THINK THIS IS GOING TO TURN OUT LIKE, BECAUSE I CAN WATCH THE NEWS IN ARABIC AND KIND OF TAKE THE TEMPERATURE.
I'M SURE THAT WOULD TAKE ME A LITTLE BIT MORE PRACTICE THAN I'M USED TO.
WAS AT A POINT TO FLUENCY TO TRAVEL TO THE COUNTRY.
I HAVE DONE THAT, TRAVELED AND SPOKEN WITH NATIVES.
HAVING THAT ABILITY TO BRIDGE THAT GAP, HEY, I CAN HELP YOU WITH THIS, IS REALLY VALUABLE.
THEN WHAT I PERSONALLY FOUND, I WAS RAISED IN TEXAS.
WHICH VERY REPUBLICAN.
OBVIOUSLY IMMIGRATED TO HAWAII.
KIND OF LINES MORE UP WITH WHERE I'M AT SOCIALLY.
AND WHEN I GOT HERE, SOMEBODY SAID, YOU DON'T REALLY FEEL REPUBLICAN.
YOU FEEL LIBERTARIAN.
THEN I LOOKED INTO IT, AND FOUND THAT DEMOCRATS STARTED SMALL BUSINESS AND REPUBLICANS WHO SMOKE WEED ARE PRETTY MUCH ALL LIBERTARIANS.
SO HAVING THIS BALANCE OF BOTH PARTIES INTEREST AND IDEALS IS REALLY KIND OF WHERE I FIT IN.
I'M JUST LOOKING FOR THE LOWEST COMMON DENOMINATOR LEGISLATION WHICH BASICALLY MEANS I SEE THE INTENT OF OUR FOUNDERS AS BEING LET THE PEOPLE MAKE THEIR OWN DECISIONS AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE IN THEIR OWN LIVES, WHAT I'M LOOKING FOR IS LEGISLATION THAT IS GOING TO MINIMIZE PEOPLE'S RESTRICTIONS AND ALLOW PEOPLE TO HAVE THAT TRUST BACK FROM THEIR GOVERNMENT AGAIN, TO MAKE THEIR OWN DECISIONS AN OWN PERSONAL LIFE.
SO THAT IS REALLY WHERE I THINK I'LL FIND THE BALANCE.
>>Yunji: TODAY, WE SAW THE JANUARY 6 HEARINGS.
PARTISANSHIP NEVER HOTTER THAN AT THIS MOMENT.
I WOULD SAY.
HOW WOULD YOU NAVIGATE THE COMPLEXITIES OF WASHINGTON AND TRYING TO GET SOMETHING DONE FOR HAWAII GIVEN HOW DIVIDED GOVERNMENT IS RIGHT NOW.
>> MOST IMPORTANT THING THAT MISSING IN OUR A LOT OF THE THINGS DISCUSSIONS WE HAVE TODAY, HUMAN ELEMENT.
WE HAVE FORGOTTEN WE'RE ALL PART OF THE SAME RACE.
PART OF THE SAME PEOPLE.
OTHER THAN YOU GUYS BEING LADIES, WE'RE THE SAME.
WE HAVE BLOOD RUNNING THROUGH US.
BODIES.
PEOPLE ARE FORGETTING THIS.
THAT THAT WAS MY FRIEND YESTERDAY.
BUT BECAUSE YOU DON'T AGREE WITH THE WAY I THINK TODAY, I CAN'T TALK TO YOU ANY MORE.
YOU SEE THAT ON THE SOCIAL MEDIA TYPE OF APPARATUS.
I'M NOT FRIENDING YOU.
WELL, OKAY.
WHY?
I'M BLOCKING BASE DON'T LIKE YOU ANY MORE.
YOU LIKED ME YESTERDAY.
BUT YOU DON'T LIKE ME TODAY.
FINDING THAT COMMON GROUND IS WHAT WE'VE GOT TO REMEMBER.
TALKED TO PEOPLE THAT SAY, WHAT TO WE THINK ABOUT RACISM AS AN ISSUE?
SEEMS TO BE A MAJOR DIVIDER.
IT'S LIKE THIS.
I'M NOT A RACIST.
DEFINE FOR ME WHAT RACISM IS.
AFTER THEY SAID EVERYTHING THEY SAID, REALLY COMES BACK DOWN TO BEING ETHIC PREJUDICE AGAINST ONE PARTICULAR PERSON OR ANOTHER.
IT'S NOT ABOUT YOU BEING RACIST BECAUSE OF YOUR SKIN COLOR.
BECAUSE YOU DON'T LIKE SOMEONE BECAUSE THEY'RE PARTICULAR AREA OR GENDER.
REALLY WANT TO DEFINE IT THAT WAY, DEFINE IT AS ETHIC PREJUDICE.
NOT AS A RACISM.
THAT'S JUST ONE ASPECT.
WE'VE GOT TO AVOID THIS DIVISIVE LANGUAGE BETWEEN PEOPLE.
LET'S TALK.
LET'S SIT DOWN AND HAVE A DISCUSSION.
IN HAWAII, CALL IT HO'OPONO.
SIT DOWN AND TALK.
HAVE A CUP OF COFFEE.
SHARE SOME FOOD AND TALK.
HOW CAN WE OVERCOME ISSUES?
DO WE JUST CONTINUE TO KICK THE ISSUES DOWN THE ROAD OR DO WE FACE THE ISSUES AND START HAVING THOSE DISCUSSIONS?
IF WE DON'T, WHAT HAVE WE GOT LEFT?
>>Yunji: WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS ON THIS GIVEN PARTISAN DIVIDE WE SEE IN WASHINGTON AND HOW WE CAN TRY TO MAKE SURE THAT OUR LAWMAKERS ARE INDEED PRODUCTIVE?
>> I THINK AT THE END OF THE DAY, WE ALL HAVE TO JUST REMEMBER IT'S NOT ABOUT US.
IT'S NOT ABOUT OUR PARTIES.
IT'S ABOUT THE PEOPLE THAT WE SERVE.
IT'S ABOUT THIS COUNTRY.
WHAT WE'VE ALWAYS WANTED FOR IT.
FOREFATHERS WANTED FOR IT.
WE'RE GOING TO BE A PART OF THE ACTION AND CHANGE THAT GETS US THERE.
AGREE.
FORGOTTEN HUMAN ELEMENT.
LOOK AT THIS ROOM, NOT A NEW SITUATION FOR ME SERVING 12 YEARS IN THE SENATE OR RUNNING A BUSINESS.
TO SIT ALONGSIDE FOLKS WE WILL DISAGREE ON A NUMBER OF POLICY ISSUES.
THE REALITY IS WE NEED TO SIT TOGETHER, FACING EACH OTHER, AND WORK THINGS THROUGH.
THAT'S LEADERSHIP.
THAT'S WHAT WE NEED RIGHT NOW IN DC FOLKS GOING TO UNDERSTAND IT'S ABOUT SOMETHING SO MUCH BIGGER THAN OURSELVES AND IT IS ABOUT RESTORING THAT TRUST AND CONFIDENCE, PEOPLE HAVE IN GOVERNMENT.
RESULT OF JANUARY 6, SO MUCH WHAT WE'VE SEEN, HISTORIC LOW.
TRUST, FAITH, CONFIDENCE IN GOVERNMENT.
EVERY ONE OF OUR RESPONSIBILITIES TO NOT JUST FOCUS ON REBUILDING IT, WE'VE GOT TO EARN THAT BACK THROUGH ACTION.
WHAT WE'VE GOT DO.
>>Yunji: ONE OF THE AREAS POLICY THAT I SUSPECT YOU DISAGREE ON.
ABORTION.
CONGRESS LIKELY TAKE THIS UP.
DEPENDING WHO IS IN CHARGE MAY TRY TO SHORE UP SOME PROTECTION FOR WOMEN AND REPRODUCTIVE RIGHTS.
GOVERNOR IN HAWAII PASSED EXECUTIVE ORDER TO JUST THAT TO PROTECT DOCTORS AND MEDICAL INFORMATION FROM OUTSIDE OTHER STATES.
WHERE DO YOU STAND ON THAT AND WHAT DO YOU THINK SHOULD BE DONE AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL WHEN IT COMES BACK TO THE RIGHT TO CHOOSE?
>> I THINK I'VE BEEN VERY, VERY CLEAR MY STAUNCH FOR ABORTION, ROE VS. WADE, DECISIONS ABOUT BODY, ACCESS TO REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH CARE.
PERSONAL STRONG ISSUE.
I LOOK AT MY NIECES, I CRY AT THE FACT THEY WILL HAVE LESS RIGHTS THAN GRANDMOTHER DID.
THAN MY MOTHER DID.
THAT'S UNACCEPTABLE TO ME.
I LOOK AT OUR STATE.
ESPECIALLY LOOK AT OUR CD2.
TALK ABOUT ACCESS, WHAT ISLAND YOU LIVE ON, DON'T HAVE ACCESS TO REPRODUCTIVE RIGHTS, ABORTIONS.
PILLS.
EMERGENCY.
NO BARRIERS.
LOOK AT THE MAP OF OUR COUNTRY, CHECKERBOARD.
OF WHERE WOMEN HAVE RIGHTS AND WHERE THEY DO NOT.
IT'S OUR RESPONSIBILITY AS WOMEN, AS LEADERS, AS PEOPLE WHO BELIEVE IN HUMAN RIGHTS TO MAKE SURE THAT THAT MAP IS CLEAR.
ABOUT WOMAN'S RIGHT TO CHOOSE AND MAKE CHOICES ABOUT HER BODY AND IN HAWAII.
MAKE SURE THERE ARE NO BARRIERS DEPENDING ON REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH CARE AND ACCESS TO ABORTION.
>>Yunji: WHAT IS YOUR TAKE.
>> I LOVE THAT'S GIRLS GET TO WEIGH IN ON THIS.
IT COMES BACK BACK TO WHAT I SAID MOMENT BEFORE.
LEAST COMMON DENOMINATOR LEGISLATION.
I TRUST OUR VOTERS AND WOMEN THAT ARE IN THESE POSITIONS TO KNOW THE VARIABLES THAT THEY ARE DEALING WITH.
TO MAKE THE HARDEST DECISIONS.
THIS IS HARDER THAN MAKING CANCER TREATMENT DECISION.
HARDEST DECISION OF YOUR LIFE BECAUSE WOMAN RECOGNIZES IT'S NOT JUST HER LIFE THAT IS INVOLVED IN THAT DECISION.
SO TO TREAT IT LIKE IT'S NOT, TO TREAT IT LIKE IT'S BE BEING FLIPPANTLY BY THE WOMEN MAKING THESE DECISION IS TERRIBLE IN MY MIND.
I THINK THAT WHEN WE TAKE AWAY THE RIGHT TO HAVE AN ABORTION.
YOU'RE NOT TAKING AWAY PEOPLE HAVING AN ABORTION.
TAKING WE PEOPLE'S ABILITY TO RECEIVE SAFE AND EFFECTED MEDICAL TREATMENT.
SO I'M SURE ALL OF US SAW DIRTY DANCING BACK IN THE DAY.
GRANDMA'S FAVORITE MOVIE.
THAT GIRL ALMOST DIED BECAUSE SHE COULDN'T GET LEGAL ACCESS TO MEDICAL TREATMENT OPTION.
IT'S REALLY FOR ME, AS A LIBERTARIAN ABOUT RECOGNIZING THAT PEOPLE HAVE MORAL MEDICAL AND FINANCIAL SOVEREIGNTY TO MAKE THEIR OWN DECISION.
EVERYONE HERE IS ADULT.
I THINK WE CAN ALL TREAT EACH OTHER WITH THAT TRUST AND RESPECT THAT YOU CAN MAKE YOUR OWN DECISION.
>>Yunji: LINDSEY GRAHAM SUGGESTED THERE SHOULD BE FEDERAL 15 WEEK BAN ON ABORTIONS.
DO YOU AGREE WITH THAT POLICY?
WHAT IS YOUR STANCE ON THIS?
>> FEDERAL 15 WEEK BAN.
>>Yunji: YOU WOULDN'T BE ALLOWED TO HAVE AN ABORTION ANYWHERE IN THE UNITED STATES AFTER 15 WEEKS.
>> I'M GOING TO REITERATE WHAT BOTH OF THEM JUST SAID.
I BELIEVE IT'S A WOMAN'S CHOICE DO THIS.
I AM GOING TO, HOWEVER, PARAPHRASE THAT A LITTLE BIT.
WHEN THEY OVERTURN ROE VS. WADE.
PEOPLE NEED TO UNDERSTAND WHAT THAT LEGISLATION DID.
ALL IT DID WAS TAKE THE DECISION IT FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT RETURNED IT BACK TO THE STATE.
GAVE STATES TO DO POWER WHAT THEY WERE JUST DESCRIBING.
IT'S IN THE POWER TO COULD THAT.
GOVERNMENT JUST PASSED THAT BILL.
SAID THIS IS WE'RE GOING TO SIGN EXECUTIVE ORDER AUTHORIZING THAT.
REAL ISSUE ABOUT THIS WHOLE THING IS THE FUNDING ISSUE.
GOT TO REMEMBER.
IN MY LINE OF WORK, PREVIOUS LIFE, INTELLIGENCE OFFICER, FOLLOW THE MONEY.
IF YOU WANT TO LOOK AT WHAT HAPPENED, FOLLOW THE MONEY.
$270 MILLION THAT WERE AUTHORIZED I BELIEVE IN THE LAST BUDGET FOR AGENCIES SUCH AS PLANNED PARENTHOOD.
ABLE TO DO WHAT THEY'RE DOING.
I'M NOT SAYING IT'S NOT A WOMAN'S RIGHT DO THAT.
YOU WANT TO DO IT.
YOUR BODY, YOUR CHOICE.
FINE.
PERFECT.
DIFFERENCE IS I OR ANY OTHER TAXPAYOR DON'T HAVE TO PAY FOR THAT.
SHOULDN'T HAVE TO PAY FOR THOSE OBJECTS THOSE THINGS YOU'RE DOING.
GIVE YOU A LITTLE BIT IDEA ON THE STATS ON THIS.
IN 2018, FLORIDA PERFORMED OVER 70,000 ABORTIONS.
303 OF THOSE WERE DUE TO INCEST, RAPE OR ENDANGERMENT TO THE MOTHER OR CHILD.
THAT'S LIKE A .004% OF THE AMOUNT.
WHICH MEANS OTHER 69,000 WERE BECAUSE OF BIRTH CONTROL.
SECONDLY, ON THIS, IF WE TAKE IT DOWN TO THE STATE OF HAWAII, WHAT DOES THIS MEAN?
2020, WE HAD 1809 ABORTIONS PERFORMED IN THE STATE.
GIVE YOU A PICTURE.
THAT WAS THE ENTIRE HIGH SCHOOL IN 2022, OF WAIANAE.
FROM FRESHMEN TO THE SENIOR CLASS.
ENTIRE HIGH SCHOOL.
THAT'S WHAT THAT REPRESENTED.
ENTIRE HIGH SCHOOL FOR LEILEHUA HIGH SCHOOL.
ENTIRE HIGH SCHOOL FOR ROOSEVELT.
START TO GET AN IMAGE 1809 ABORTIONS, THAT'S THE PICTURE THAT YOU LOOK AT.
THAT'S WHAT YOU'RE GOING TO BE SEEING.
BIGGEST ISSUE AGAIN IS THAT I'M GOING TO SAY JUST FOLLOW THE MONEY.
THAT'S WHERE IT'S GOING TO COME DOWN TO.
IN CASE PEOPLE DON'T KNOW, AGENCIES SUCH AS PLANNED PARENTHOOD NOT ONLY DO THEY PERFORM THOSE, DO OTHER THINGS TOO THEY ALSO SELL BODY PART WAS FETUSES IN PLAY.
ALL OVER.
I'VE SEEN IT.
KIDS ARE BEING SOLD.
SEEN VIDEOS ON IT.
ENOUGH TO MAKE CRY.
>>Yunji: I HAVE TO JUMP IN AND DISPUTE THAT.
NOT HERE TO DEFEND THEMSELVES.
I DON'T GO DOWN THAT ROAD.
>> IF I COULD JUST KIND OF ADD TO THAT.
COMMENT ABOUT FOLLOW THE MONEY.
THE MONEY THAT PLANNED PARENTHOOD AND OTHER ORGANIZATIONS GET TO BE ABLE TO PROVIDE ACCESS TO BASIC HEALTH CARE, WOMEN'S HEALTH CARE, REPRODUCTIVE CARE THEY NEED, REALITY IS THAT SO MANY RIGHT NOW ARE RESTRICTED BY INCOME.
TALKING WOMEN OF COLOR.
TALKING WOMEN THAT ARE IN SOCIOECONOMICALLY DEPRESSED ECONOMIES.
PEOPLE IN HAWAII.
RELATIVES WE HAVE ACROSS THIS COUNTRY.
ACCESS IS LIMITED BY THOSE WHO HAVE THE ABILITY TO PAY AND THOSE SITUATIONS YOU TALKED ABOUT, RAPE, INCEST AND SO MANY OTHER SITUATIONS, DISPROPORTIONATELY WOMEN OF COLOR, MARGINALIZED, VULNERABLE WOMEN ARE IN THAT POPULATION.
TAKING AWAY THAT MONEY RESTRICTS THEIR ABILITY TO HAVE WHAT MICHELLE WAS TALKING ABOUT.
IN TERMS OF HAVING DEMORAL, TALKED ABOUT IT, MORAL MEDICAL AND FINANCIAL SOVEREIGNTY.
ABILITY TO CHOOSE.
I DISAGREE ON THE MONEY PART.
I SEE WHERE YOU'RE GOING.
TRAIL.
CUT PUBLIC FUNDING TO MAKE SURE BASIC ACCESS.
>> STATE ALREADY DOING THAT, STATE SAID SHE WOULD BE FUNDING THAT.
SUPPOSED TO DO.
>> CRITICAL.
TAKE A LOOK ACROSS THE COUNTRY.
FEDERAL DOLLARS TO MAKE SURE NOT JUST ABORTIONS SERVICE.
THIS IS VARIANT SCREENING.
CANCER SCREENING.
EMERGENCY CONCEPTION.
BIRTH CONTROL.
A LOT WOMEN, YOUNG GIRLS DON'T HAVE ACCESS TO THIS RIGHT NOW.
THINK WE SHOULD BE LOOKING AT INCREASING ACCESS.
ESPECIALLY IN RURAL COMMUNITIES THAT TEND TO BE POPULATED BY WOMEN OF COLOR.
MORE THAN NOT.
WE HAVE A LOT OF STRUGGLING COMMUNITIES THROUGHOUT CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT 2.
FOR ME, PLUS GAME IN HERE.
WE CANNOT DO ENOUGH TO SUPPORT THE WOMEN AND GIRLS IN OUR COMMUNITY RELY ON BASIC REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH SERVICE.
IT'S LIVESAVING IN MANY CASES.
ESPECIALLY WHEN YOU LOOK AT CANCER SCREENING, LOOK AT BREAST EXAMS ALL THE DIFFERENT THINGS THAT THESE ORGANIZATIONS LIKE PLANNED PARENTHOOD PROVIDE.
>>Yunji: MOVE TO SOME VIEWER QUESTIONS.
THAT IS ALSO WHAT MAKES THIS FORUM SO UNIQUE.
JACOB SAYS, ONE OF THE CANDIDATES THINK ABOUT CAMPAIGN FINANCE REFORM.
>> I AM 100% FOR CAMPAIGN FINANCE REFORM.
WE ARE ACTUALLY AS A PARTY, WORKING TOWARDS MAKING SOME CHANGES WITH CAMPAIGN FINANCE RIGHT NOW WITH THE ELECTION COMMISSION.
WHAT WE'RE LOOKING AT CURRENTLY IS THAT RIGHT NOW, WE HAVE THINGS LIKE STANDARDS FOR, IF YOU DONATE MORE THAN $100 TO POLITICAL CAMPAIGN, YOU HAVE TO GIVE A WHOLE BUNCH OF YOUR INFORMATION.
THAT IS STANDARD WAS SET BECAUSE WHEN PEOPLE GIVE A LOT OF MONEY, WE WANT TO KNOW THAT THEY'RE GIVING A LOT OF MONEY.
KIND OF WANT TO HAVE AN IDEA ABOUT THAT.
TRANSPARENCY.
BUT THOSE NUMBERS WERE SETBACK IN THE 80s.
AND SO $100, I MEAN THAT'S NOT EVEN ON OIL CHANGE ANY MORE.
SO DONATING OIL CHANGE TO SOMEBODY'S CAMPAIGN IS KIND OF WASTEFUL TO HAVE TO GET OFFENSIVELY THAT EXTRA INFORMATION, FLIPPANT AMOUNT OF MONEY IN TODAY'S ECONOMIC STATE.
IN ADDITION TO THAT, THEY DON'T HAVE ANY STATUTE OF LIMITATIONS FOR IF YOU'VE HAD AN ISSUE WITH FILING FORMS AND STUFF BEFORE.
AND SO WHILE I RECOGNIZE THAT FORMS AND TRANSPARENCY ARE VITAL, WHEN THERE'S SO MUCH GOING ON, THAT PEOPLE ARE NO LONGER WILLING TO RUN FOR AN OFFICE, AND REPRESENT THEIR COMMUNITY BECAUSE THEY DON'T WANT TO DEAL WITH HUNDREDS OF FILINGS, IT GETS PROHIBITIVE TO THE PROCESS.
>>Yunji: WHAT IS YOUR TAKE CAMPAIGN FINANCE REFORM?
>> ABSOLUTELY.
WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE AMOUNT OF DONATIONS THAT HAVE BEEN RECEIVED, BY MULTIPLE CANDIDATES.
SOME MILLIONS, BASICALLY RUN A GRASSROOTS CAMPAIGN.
MILLIONS AND MILLIONS DONATED?
NO.
IT WOULD BE NICE.
CAMPAIGN WOULD CHANGE DIFFERENTLY.
BY UPDATING OR CHANGING CAMPAIGN SPENDING COMMISSION, COULD ONLY HAVE A CERTAIN DOLLAR AMOUNT.
AWESOME.
EQUAL PLAYING FIELD.
EVERYBODY CAN DO THE SAME THING.
BECOMES DOWN TO SEEING WHO CAN SPEND THEIR MONEY THE WISEST.
WHO DOES THEIR BEST CHOICES.
HOW DO WE GO ABOUT DOING THIS?
THAT WOULD BE 100% BEHIND CAMPAIGN FINANCE REFORM.
>>Yunji: WHAT YOUR THOUGHTS.
>> I'VE BEEN ON RECEIVING END ON A THE DARK MONEY.
MILLIONS DARK MONEY COME INTO THE STATE, SuperPAC INDEPENDENT EXPENDITURES.
PRIMARY.
SuperPAC EXPENDITURES IN THE MILLIONS.
LITERALLY.
I COMPLETELY BELIEVE AND SUPPORT WHAT WE'VE HEARD HERE, WE NEED CAMPAIGN FINANCE REFORM.
WE'VE GOT TO PUT PEOPLE BACK AT THE CENTER OF THESE ELECTIONS.
WHEN YOU'VE GOT THIS AMOUNT OF MONEY COMING IN, SOME CASES UNLIMITED AMOUNTS OF DARK MONEY COMING IN ONE KNOWN INTENT AND PURPOSE, INTO OUR STATE, THAT TAKES THE POWER AWAY FROM PEOPLE.
WE DO HAVE TO MAKE SURE PEOPLE KNOW AT THE END OF THE DAY, IT'S ABOUT THEM.
WE'VE GOT TO END CITIZENS UNITED.
ONE OF THE REASONS WHEN I ENTER THIS CONGRESSIONAL RESA AGREED TO TAKE CORPORATE PACK MONEY.
LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR, PUBLIC FINANCING.
MAKE THAT ACROSS THE BOARD STATE LEVEL.
REALLY MAKE SURE IT IS EVEN PLAYING FIELD.
THAT PUTS PEOPLE BACK IN POWER.
FEDERAL LEVEL.
GOT TO GET RID OF THIS DARK MONEY.
UNLIMITED BILLIONS OF DOLLARS, LITERALLY, WE'RE SEEING POURING THROUGH THESE RACES.
EVERY SINGLE YEAR TRYING TO BUY OUR VOTE.
DO BETTER.
PEOPLE DESERVE BETTER.
>>Yunji: QUESTION DIRECTED SPECIFICALLY YOU.
KEEP THESE QUESTIONS COMING IN.
DOES MR. AKANA SUPPORT TRUMP'S CLAIM THAT THE ELECTION WAS STOLEN?
IS HE A TRUMP SUPPORTER?
I'M SURE YOU ENCOUNTER THIS.
SOME PEOPLE LOVE HIM AND OTHERS DO NOT.
WHAT IS YOUR ANSWER TO OUR CALLER TODAY?
>> PUT IT THIS WAY.
IS DONALD TRUMP RUNNING FOR ELECTION IN 2022?
I DON'T THINK SO.
I THINK WE ARE.
WHEN YOU ASK THOSE QUESTIONS, I'VE BEEN ASKED THIS MANY TIMES.
MY BIGGEST ISSUE WITH THIS, I'M NOT AN ELECTION DENIER.
SOMEBODY CAN SAY YOU'RE ‑‑ I'VE BEEN TOLD I WAS AN ELECTION DENIER.
I'M NOT.
THE ELECTION OCCURRED.
DO I AGREE THAT THERE WAS SOME ISSUES IN THERE THAT COULD HAVE BEEN FIXED, THAT COULD HAVE BEEN ADJUSTED, UPDATED, CHANGED, ABSOLUTELY.
INSIGHTS DID INTERVIEW WITH SCOTT NAGO NOVEMBER 6 OF 2020.
MR. HUFF DID THE INTERVIEW AT THAT TIME, AND HE ASKED THE QUESTION, HOW MANY BALLOTS DO YOU THINK, OF FILED, OVER 100,000 BALLOTS WERE EITHER SENT TO THE WRONG ADDRESS OR SENT TO DEAD PEOPLE.
>>Yunji: 100,000 IN HAWAII.
>> THAT WAS ON MR. NAGO SAID THAT.
>>Yunji: WE'LL HAVE TO GO BACK AND CHECK THAT TAPE.
FIND IT HARD TO BELIEVE.
>> HE SAID THAT.
INTERVIEWER SAID, THAT'S 1/8 OF THE REGISTERED VOTERS.
THAT'S OKAY.
I THOUGHT WHY WASN'T A FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT REQUEST SUBMITTED TO ACTUALLY GET THOSE RECORDS AN LOOK AT IT.
WHEN YOU SAY ONE IN EIGHT IS OKAY TO HAVE, WOW!
THAT'S A HUGE NUMBER.
WOULD THAT HAVE CHANGED AN ELECTION?
ABSOLUTELY.
>>Yunji: I FIND IT, LET'S FOCUS SPECIFICALLY.
I THINK WE HAVE TO GO BACK AND CHECK THAT.
THAT DOES NOT, THOSE NUMBERS DON'T SOUND RIGHT TO ME.
FOCUSING ON THE VIEWER'S QUESTION SPECIFICALLY.
DO YOU THINK THAT THERE WAS ENOUGH IRREGULARITY IN TRUMP'S ELECTION FOR THE CLAIM THAT IT WAS STOLEN.
>> I THINK THERE WERE A LOT OF IRREGULARITY IS NOT BEEN CLARIFIED.
NOT BEEN TRANSPARENT.
ELECTION WAS CERTIFIED, I STILL LOOK AT ALL OF THE DIFFERENT THINGS.
I HAVE SEEN SO MANY VIDEOS OF ELECTIONS FROM DIFFERENT OFFICES.
SEEN PEOPLE WHERE THEY SHOWED BEING BLOCKED OUT OF THE POLL BOOTHS.
VIDEOS OF THINGS HAPPENING THE STATE OF GEORGIA.
WATCHED NUMBERS GO BACKWARDS ON MY OWN EYES ON MY OWN TV SAID, WATCHING ELECTION WATCH THE NUMBERS GO BACKWARDS, THEN GO FORWARD.
HOW DOES THAT HAPPEN?
WHEN YOU'RE DOING THAT.
IS THERE A LOT OF ISSUES?
YEAH.
THERE ARE A LOT OF ISSUES.
A LOT OF THINGS THAT WE COULD OPEN UP, HAVE ELECTION INTEGRITY.
ABSOLUTELY.
THAT SHOULD BE PARAMOUNT ON EVERYONE'S MIND.
TO HAVE ELECTION INTEGRITY.
TO RESTORE THOSE ELECTIONS.
>>Yunji: LET'S MOVE ON.
SO MANY QUESTIONS SO MANY ISSUES FACING, THIS WILL HAVE TO DEAL WITH.
I WANT TO GET TO PRESIDENT RECENTLY PARDONED THOSE FOLKS CRIMINAL MARIJUANA POSSESSION FEDERAL LEVEL.
CALLING ON GOVERNORS DO THE SAME.
GOVERNOR IGE HAS NOT INDICATED WHETHER OR NOT HE WILL DO THAT.
WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS GIVEN YOUR ROLE WHEN WE MENTIONED AT THE TOP, VETERANS, SUPPORTING CANNABIS.
WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS?
SHOULD THE U.S. GOVERNMENT DECRIMINALIZE MARIJUANA.
>> ABSOLUTELY 100.
LIBERTARIAN PARTY HAS BEEN BEHIND DECRIMINALIZATION OF MARIJUANA.
50 YEARS.
RIGHT ALL ALONG.
TOLD YOU SO.
ME PERSONALLY, BEEN A CANNABIS ADVOCATE FOR OVER TEN YEARS.
GOT REALLY HURT IN THE MILITARY.
THAT HAS DONE A LOT FOR ME TO HELP WITH PTSD AND INJURIES AND PAIN.
SO WHEN I MOVED TO HAWAII, 2013, I KIND OF HIT GROUND RUNNING AS A CANNABIS ADVOCATE.
AND IT DOESN'T SURPRISE ME THAT GOVERNOR IGE HASN'T NECESSARILY DONE ANY KIND OF PARDON BECAUSE FROM WHAT I UNDERSTAND FROM GOING COMMITTEE HEARINGS AND GIVING TESTIMONY, FROM WHAT I UNDERSTAND FROM THE HAWAII POLICE DEPARTMENT, OR SORRY, HONOLULU POLICE DEPARTMENT, IS THAT NO ONE HAS BEEN ARRESTED AND HELD FOR MARIJUANA SINCE I THINK ROGER CHRISTI AND HE WAS ALREADY LET GO IN 2015 AND SENT BACK TO HIS HOME AND HIS WIFE DID SOME PROBATION AND GOT TO COME HOME TOO.
WE MIGHT NOT HAVE ANY MARIJUANA CRIMINALS BEING CHARGED AND HELD IN A FEDERAL LEVEL.
YOU SEE WHAT I'M SAYING?
GOVERNOR IGE MAY NOT HAVE ANYBODY TO PARDON.
WE'RE DEFINITELY BEHIND THE DECRIMINALIZATION OF CANNABIS.
>>Yunji: DO YOU AGREE WHAT THE PRESIDENT DID.
>> I DO AGREE.
IMPORTANT TO BE REALLY CLEAR TOO THAT PARTIES WERE FOR MISDEMEANOR OFFENSES AS WELL.
I THINK WHEN WE TAKE A LOOK AT THESE PARTICULAR TYPES OF OFFENSES, AGAIN, HAD SOME OF THESE DISCUSSIONS.
DISPROPORTIONATELY PERSONS OF COLOR.
LOW SOCIOECONOMIC COMMUNITIES.
MORE LIKELY IMPACTED.
I DO SUPPORT THE PRESIDENT'S ACTIONS AND QUITE FRANKLY, GIVEN STATE'S ABILITY TO MAKE THOSE CHOICE ON THEIR OWN.
>>Yunji: WHERE DO YOU STAND ON THIS.
>> I THINK MAKES A LOT OF SENSE.
I MEAN, I HAVE SEEN, HAVE I GOOD FRIEND OF MINE.
SUFFERING PTSD FROM THE WAR.
SERVED FOR TOURS IN IRAQ.
TWO IN AFGHANISTAN.
CAME BACK, LITERALLY A MESS WITHOUT HAVING A LEGALIZATION OF CANNABIS.
BECAME VERY DIFFERENT PERSON WITHOUT HAVING SOMETHING TO TAKE CARE OF THAT.
I THINK HAVING WHAT THE PRESIDENT DID A GREAT JOB.
THANK YOU FOR ACTUALLY THINKING ABOUT WHAT WOULD WORK FOR THE PEOPLE.
THANK YOU.
APPRECIATE THAT.
AT LEAST WE KNOW WHERE IT'S GOING.
MAKES SOME SENSE.
>>Yunji: BRING IN ANOTHER VIEWER QUESTION.
TALKED A LOT ABOUT DOMESTIC AFFAIRS.
INTERNATIONAL QUESTION.
WE'LL START WITH YOU ON THIS.
WHAT DO YOU THINK SHOULD BE DONE TO DETER NORTH KOREA NUCLEAR CAPABILITIES.
A LOT OF NEWS.
HOW DO WE ADDRESS THIS?
FIRST AND FOREMOST, ALL EYES WHAT THEY DO NEXT.
ALSO MORE IMPORTANTLY, HOW OTHER COUNTRIES REACT AS WELL.
RIGHT NOW, WITH THE FLYOVER, SHOWING THEIR CAPACITY.
WE KNOW THEY HAVE NUCLEAR ARMAMENTS THERE.
QUESTION IS DO THEY REPEAT 2017.
FEW DAYS CHINA PARTY CONGRESS COMING UP.
WHETHER PARTY CONGRESS, WHETHER IT'S MIDTERM ELECTIONS, IF NORTH KOREA DECIDES TO ACTUALLY TEST THEIR NUCLEAR WEAPONS HERE, MY EYES ARE GOING TO BE ON THE RESPONSE FROM CHINA.
AND RUSSIA.
AS WELL.
LAST TIME WE SAW IN 2017, SWIFT RESPONSES FROM BOTH OF THOSE COUNTRIES.
SAYING THIS IS ABSOLUTELY NOT ACCEPTABLE.
UNILATERAL SANCTIONS.
THAT HAS TO CONTINUE.
SEE THEM EASING BACK AND EASING UP ON IT, REALLY GREAT CONCERNS NOW ABOUT WHERE ALLIANCES BEING DRAWN.
THE FACT WE NEED TO RESPOND WITH SWIFT SANCTIONS.
WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY KNOW IT'S ABSOLUTELY UNACCEPTABLE TO BE DOING THIS KIND OF BEHAVIOR.
>>Yunji: WHAT DO YOU THINK SHOULD BE DONE TO DETER NORTH KOREA'S NUCLEAR CAPABILITIES?
>> INTERESTING.
BEING INTELLIGENCE ANALYST WORKING FOR U.S. PACIFIC COMMAND.
BROUGHT TO OUR ATTENTION MANY, MANY TIMES.
FORTUNATELY, HAD SHOP COULD PRODUCE A WHOLE BUNCH OF STUFF AND LOOK THROUGH THINGS.
WONDERFUL HAVING STAFF THAT WAY.
WITH THE NORTH KOREA, WE HAVE TO UNDERSTAND THEIR MENTALITY.
WHERE THEY'RE COMING FROM.
I THINK THE BIGGEST ISSUES THEY HAVE IS MANY CASES, ACTUALLY STARVING IN FOOD.
FOOD SHORTAGES, WE THINK WE HAVE IT BAD HERE.
THEY HAVE IT EVEN WORSE.
THEY HAVE OTHER SHORTAGES THAT WE DON'T IDEA WHAT THEY'RE TALKING ABOUT, LOOKING FOR, BUT THEY USE MISSILE LAUNCHES ARMS GAINS, NUCLEAR THREATS AS WAY OF GETTING FOREIGN COUNTRIES TO CAPITULATE TO WISH AND WANT.
WHAT WE NEED IS MORE FOOD.
WHAT WE NEED IS MORE X, Y OR Z.
AND THEY USE THOSE FORUMS, USE NUCLEAR ARMAMENTS IN ORDER TO GET WHAT THEY NEED.
HAVE TO CONTINUE TO ACT AS A DETERRENT TO THEM.
WE HAVE TO HAVE A STRONG DETERRENT.
WHAT WE'RE DOING AGAINST THEIR MOTIVES OR AGAINST THEIR ISSUES.
GO WE CAN WORK THROUGH THAT WITH A TRADE AGREEMENT.
>> WHY NOT.
HELPS THEM GET RID OF BIG ISSUE, FEED THEIR PEOPLE LIKE EVERYONE ELSE.
>> I GLAD.
SAY TRADE.
AS A BUDDHIST, I RECOGNIZE THAT I CAN'T CONTROL THE WORLD.
I CAN CONTROL ME.
WE HAVE TO DO THAT AS WELL.
WE HAVE TO CONTROL HOW THE UNITED STATES SPENDS UNITED STATES DOLLARS.
WE HAVE TO DECIDE WHO WE'RE GOING TO TRADE WITH AND DECIDE ...
SO STOPPING, STOP GIVING CHINA AND KOREA, STOP GIVING ALL OF THESE GUYS STUFF THEY NEED TO MAKE WHAT THEY'RE MAKING.
STOP TRADING URANIUM.
TRADE FOOD.
TRADE MEDICAL SUPPLIES.
AND MAKE SURE THAT THESE PEOPLE ARE, MAYBE THIS IS SOLUTION WHERE DOCTORS WITHOUT BORDERS CAN COME IN AGAIN AND WE CAN HAVE THIS BASIC NEEDS HELP THAT THE PEOPLE NEED IN THESE COMMUNITIES WITHOUT SENDING JUST MONEY TO CONTINUE TO FUEL THE MONSTER.
IT'S LIKE BREAKS MY HEART WHEN I HEAR ARMAMENTS AND MONEY GOING TO UKRAINE.
NOT GOING TO STOP A WAR.
SEEN HOW WEAPONS GET USED.
>> DON'T GET USED FOR PEACE.
THEY'RE DESTRUCTION.
WHAT I WOULD REALLY LIKE TO SEE AS FAR AS SOLVING THESE KINDS OF PROBLEMS IDENTIFYING ISSUES THROUGH TRADE SANCTION AND THROUGH TRADE AGREEMENTS SO THAT WE'RE NO LONGER PUTTING MONEY IN THE WRONG PLACES.
>>Yunji: TALK ABOUT THE MILITARY HERE AT HOME.
QUESTION ABOUT THAT.
SHOULD THE PRESENCE OF U.S. MILITARY IN HAWAII CHANGE?
>> YES.
>>Yunji: IN WHAT WAY?
>> I THINK THAT THE FORCES NEED TO BE REDUCED.
I THINK THAT WE DON'T NEED SO MANY PEOPLE HERE.
CONCEPT IT'S GOOD FOR THE ECONOMY.
BUT IT'S NOT.
BECAUSE WHEN VETERAN, NOT VETERANS WHEN THEY GET HERE, WHEN AN ACTIVE DUTY SERVICE MEMBER COMES TO HAWAII, THEY SEE RIDICULOUS COST OF LIVE WE GO GET FROM THE JONES ACT RESTRICTING OUR SHIPPING AND MAKING EVERY 30% MORE EXPENSIVE AND THEY SPEND THEIR DOLLARS ON THE BASE.
COMMISSARY GROCERY STORE.
DOLLARS IN THE EXCHANGE, GIANT MALL.
THOSE MILITARY DOLLARS DON'T REALLY COME TO THE COMMUNITY.
WAY THAT WE HAVE BEEN TOLD THAT THEY DO.
THEY SPEND THAT MONEY ON THOSE BASES.
AAFES ARMY AND AIR FORCE EXCHANGE SERVICE, THAT MONEY GOES RIGHT BACK TO THE MAINLAND.
GOES RIGHT BACK TO THE CONTINENT.
WANT TO SEE REDUCTION IN FORCES.
LIBERTARIAN, WE SHOULD HAVE STRONG DEFENSIVE FORCE.
BUT THAT OUR DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE SHOULD BE ABOUT DEFENSE.
NOT ABOUT OFFENSE.
THAT ALSO BRINGS A REDUCTION IN THE NUMBER OF FORCES AND WHEN WE LOOK AT THEY'RE BRINGING HERE, BRINGING POLLUTION, BRINGING CROWDING, TRAFFIC, DAMAGE TO OUR ROADS.
POLLUTION TO OUR WATERS.
THERE'S A LOT GOING ON THAT COMES BACK WITH HOSTING THE MILITARY.
AND THEN PLACES LIKE BIG ISLAND WHERE I LIVE, WE HAVE POHAKULOA, TOXIC MILITARY TRAINING FACILITIES.
RELEASE ALL KIND OF NASTY THINGS INTO THE ENVIRONMENT AND WE'RE GOING TO RENEW THEIR LEASE.
SO I WANT TO SEE A MORE RESPONSIBLE MILITARY HERE THAT IS DOING LESS DAMAGE.
>>Yunji: HEAR FROM YOU ON THIS.
DO YOU THINK THAT PRESENCE OF THER U.S. MILITARY HERE IN THE ISLANDS SHOULD CHANGE?
IN WHAT WAY IF SO.
>> FIRST AND FOREMOST, I WILL SAY THIS, THIS THE MILITARY PRESENCE IN HAWAII IS ABOUT MAKING SURE THIS IS A MUTUALLY BENEFICIAL RELATIONSHIP.
FOR HAWAII AND FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE.
THAT MEANS MAKING SURE AT THE END OF THE DAY, IT'S ABOUT HOW WE'RE ALL GOOD NEIGHBORS, INCLUDING THOSE ON OUR MILITARY FACILITIES AND BASES, AND TALK ABOUT LEASE NEGOTIATIONS, MANY OF WHICH ARE COMING UP RIGHT NOW IN THE SUBJECT OF A LOT OF INTENSE DISCUSSION, THAT IT IS IN FACT BENEFICIAL FOR THE COMMUNITY.
TAKES INTO ACCOUNT NOT JUST TAKES INTO ACCOUNT, REALLY RESPONDS TO THE CONCERNS AND NEEDS OF THE COMMUNITY AND THE CULTURE AND THE NATURAL ENVIRONMENT HERE AS WELL.
SO I BELIEVE THE MILITARY PRESENCE IN HERE CAN COEXIST.
WE HAVE NOT DONE IT WELL IN THE PAST.
IT HAS TO BE IMPROVED.
I WOULD SAY THOUGH THAT I KNOW THERE WAS A QUESTION ABOUT THE ECONOMIC IMPACT.
I DO THINK IS CREATES UNIQUE ECOSYSTEM OF JOBS, NONCIVILIAN JOBS THAT REALLY BENEFIT OUR COMMUNITY AND CAN REALLY HELP TO MAKE SURE OUR CHILDREN CAN HAVE JOBS GOOD PAYING JOBS THAT WILL BE ALLOWED TO KEEP THEM HERE.
DEFENSE CHANGING.
TAKING DIGITAL CYBER APPROACH.
HAWAII STILL IN STRATEGIC LOCATION TO BENEFIT FROM THIS.
I WANT TO SEE KNOWLEDGE BASED JOBS.
GOOD JOBS REALLY AVAILABLE HERE FOR OUR KEIKI TO BENEFIT FROM TO BE ABLE TO THEN LIVE AND THRIVE HERE AS WELL.
>>Yunji: WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS?
SHOULD THE MILITARY PRESENCE CHANGE IN HAWAII AND IF SO, HOW?
>> MILITARY PRESENCE IS ALWAYS CHANGING.
THROUGHOUT OUR HISTORY, SEEN ISSUES COMING UP.
RAMP UP TO GO OUT IN THE FIELD DIFFERENT AREAS.
WHEN YOU LOOK SERIOUSLY AT WHAT THE MILITARY DOES, ONE OF THE ISSUES NOT TALKED ABOUT, HAD THIS DISCUSSION MANY TIMES U.S. PACIFIC COMMAND, MILITARY GETS THIS THING CALLED HOUSING ALLOWANCE.
HOUSING ALLOWANCE FOR MANY MILITARY MEMBERS, OFTENTIMES SOMETIMES ANYWHERE BETWEEN 2700 TO AS HIGH AS $4,000 A MONTH, DOES THAT HAVE AN AFFECT ON OUR IMPACT ON OUR ECONOMY?
IT DOES BECAUSE THEY HAVE A DIFFERENT AVAILABILITY TO BUY HOUSES AT HIGHER PRICE THAN SAY NORMAL LOCAL PERSON MIGHT HAVE.
BECAUSE AS EXAMPLE, I FRIEND OF MINE.
04.
MAJOR.
HAD ALMOST $3,600 A MONTH IN HOUSING ALLOWANCE.
AT THAT WAS MORTGAGE, PLUS ELECTRICITY, PLUS PART OF HIS FOOD BILL THAT WAS BEING COVERED NOT TAXED.
GET THIS AND PUT IT INTO THE ECONOMY, GOOD I GUESS IF YOU WANT TO SAY HAVING EQUITY IN A HOUSE PAYING OFF YOUR HOUSE.
COMPARE IT TO LOCAL INDIVIDUAL, HERE IN THE STATE OF HAWAII, THAT PERSON HAS LET'S SAY THEY MAKE THE SAME BASE PAY, AFTER TAXES, THEY MAKE 3 OR $4,000 LESS THAN THE PERSON THAT WAS OVER THERE IN MILITARY.
THAT'S ONE OF THEM.
>> IF I COULD ADD ON THIS TOO.
HOUSING HAS BEEN A BIG STRESSOR IN OUR COMMUNITY.
I REPRESENTED KANEOHE AND KAILUA MARINE CORPS BASE FOR 12 YEARS IN THE STATE SENATE.
DEFINITELY WAS A TOUCHY POINT OVERALL INVENTOR.
>> WHERE VERY TO, TALK ABOUT MUTUAL BENEFICIAL RELATIONSHIP TALKING WITH OUR MILITARY PRESENCE ABOUT HOW THEY'RE GOING TO HELP US SOLVE THIS HOUSING CRISIS.
>> INVENTORY CRISIS.
IT CANNOT BE ABOUT ONE CANNIBALIZING THE OTHER FOR THE BENEFIT THE OTHER.
HAS TO BE HOW CAN WE LOOK AT UNIQUE SOLUTIONS TO PROVIDE MORE HOUSING OPPORTUNITIES FOR BOTH OUR MILITARY MEN AND WOMEN AND CIVILIANS SURROUNDING COMMUNITY.
ALASKA HAVE BENEFICIAL MUTUAL RELATIONSHIPS HOUSING OFFERING TO THE GREATER COMMUNITY AND PROVIDED CREATED BY THE COMMUNITY BY MILITARY FOR SURROUNDING COMMUNITY.
BE SMART ABOUT THAT.
ADDRESS PAIN POINTS EXISTS AND CAUSED THAT TENSION OFTENTIMES THAT WE'VE SENSED.
>> ONE OF THINGS TO RESOLVE THAT, ESSENTIALLY IS MAKING CITY ORDINANCE WHERE SOMEONE COMING IN, NOT RESIDENT OF THE STATE OF HAWAII, NOT ABLE TO BUY A PROPERTY FOR SAY, 2 OR 3 YEARS.
YOU HAVE TO BE A RESIDENT OF STATE IN ORDER TO BUY PROPERTY.
IF WE THINK ABOUT THAT FOR A MINUTE, IF YOU HAVE TO BE HERE, THAT MEANS YOU CAN'T FLY IN ANY TIME YOU WANT TO BUY A HOUSE AND FLY BACK OUT AGAIN.
PAY $20,000 OVER THE ASKING PRICE OR $100,000 BECAUSE YOU HAVE THE CASH AVAILABILITY.
THAT JUST DRIVES HOUSING UP HIGHER.
IT JUST PROVES THAT HAVE PEOPLE DOING THAT.
COMING IN SPENDING THIS MONEY.
BECAUSE THEY CAN.
>>Yunji: GOT ABOUT 15 MINUTES LEFT.
I WANT TO MAKE SURE I GET TO A LOT OF QUESTIONS INCLUDING PERSONAL STUFF I LIKE TO END ON.
ONE MORE ISSUE.
ISSUE OF GUNS.
EXPECT THAT CONGRESS IS TALKED ABOUT THIS FOR SOME TIME.
SEEN SOME HORRIFIC MASS SHOOTINGS PARTICULARLY IN SCHOOLS.
ALSO, IN WORKPLACES AND OTHER COMMUNITIES SPACES WHERE WE REALLY SHOULDN'T SEE FIREARMS AND JUST INCREDIBLE VIOLENCE.
DO YOU THINK THERE SHOULD BE NEW RESTRICTIONS ON GUNS?
>> I'M A PROPONENT FOR THE 2A.
DOES ONE THING.
SAYS, TO KEEP AND BEAR ARMS.
RIGHT TO KEEP AND BEAR ARMS SHALL NOT BE INFRINGED.
THAT'S A CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHT.
DOES THAT MEAN WE DON'T HAVE THAT BASIC CHECKS?
OF COURSE WE DO.
HAVE BACKGROUND CHECK TO GET A DRIVER'S LICENSE.
DOES THAT MEAN WE DON'T HAVE ONE?
OF COURSE WE DO.
INSTITUTE MORE BACKGROUND CHECKS AND MORE INTRUSION AND QUESTIONING, PERHAPS WE SHOULD CHANGE THAT.
>> INSTEAD OF LOOK AT HOW DO WE STOP GOOD PEOPLE FROM OWNING OR BEING ABLE TO DEFEND THEMSELVES, LOOK AT THE MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES OF SOME OF THE FOLKS WE'VE SEEN DURING MASS SHOOTINGS.
PUT MONEY TOWARDS THOSE OF TYPE PROGRAMS INSTEAD OF TAKE AWAY PEOPLE'S RIGHT TO BEAR ARMS.
>> HISTORICALLY FROM THE INCEPTION OF OUR COUNTRY, GUN OWNERSHIP IS WIDESPREAD THROUGHOUT OUR COUNTRY.
SCHOOL SHOOTING, MASS VIOLENCE ONLY 30 YEARS.
SAY GUN OWNERSHIP LEADS TO MASS SHOOTINGS.
>> DOESN'T CONNECT.
FIGURE OUT WHAT IS CAUSING THE POPULARIZATION OF VIOLENCE.
WHAT MAKES PEOPLE FAMOUS FOR BEING VIOLENT.
PEOPLE TRYING TO CHASE FAME AND NOTORIETY RATHER THAN BEING EVIL.
AND SO THEY JUST SEE THIS AS HOW CAN I GET FAMOUS QUICK.
MAYBE WE SHOULD STOP TALKING ABOUT THEM AND SHUN PEOPLE WHO BEHAVE THAT WAY.
>>Yunji: I SUSPECT YOU HAVE A DIFFERENT TAKE.
>> YOU KNOW, JUST WATCHING THE NEWS, BEFORE I SHOWED UP HERE TODAY, YOU HAD THE PARK LAND VERDICT.
YOU KNOW AS A MOTHER, PARENT, HUMAN BEING, YOU WATCH THAT AND YOUR HEART BREAKS.
YOUR HEART BREAKS AT THE SITUATION WE'RE SEEING ALL TOO FREQUENT.
TO THE POINT WHERE IT'S ALMOST MIND NUMBING SCHOOL SHOOTINGS WE'RE EXPERIENCING.
WHEN THE FOREFATHERS HAD THE SECOND AMENDMENT IN MIND, SHOT IN PLACE OF WORSHIP, GROCERY STORE, WHAT THEY HAD IN MIND CREATING THE SECOND AMENDMENT.
STRONG LAWS AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL TO MAKE SURE WE STOP THIS SENSELESS GUN VIOLENCE.
ONE OF THE STRONGEST GUN LAWS IN THE COUNTRY TO KEEP OUR PEOPLE SAFE.
I DON'T THINK IT'S ANY COINCIDENCE WE DON'T HAVE AS MANY SHOOTINGS YOU SEE IN THE MAINLAND.
THANK GOD FOR THAT.
WE CAN'T TAKE IT FOR GRANTED.
IT'S ABOUT STOPPING SENSELESS DEATHS, TRAGEDIES, MAKE SURE STRONG LAWS AT THE FEDERAL PEOPLE DON'T HAVE GUNS SHOULDN'T HAVE GUNS.
>> RESPONSIBLE PEOPLE HAVING GUNS, WE HAVE HUNTERS, MANY HUNTERS IN CD2 RIGHT NOW.
RESPONSIBLE PEOPLE USE THEM IN A SAFE WAY.
LAWS IN HAWAII ARE EXTREMELY STRICT ALLOW FOR THEM TO BEAR ARMS.
AND TO UTILIZE IT SAFELY, RESPONSIBLY, BUT REALITY IS ABSENT STRONG GUN LAWS AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL.
>> 300,000 GUN LAWS ON BOOKS RIGHT NOW.
WHY DO WE NEED MORE GUN LAWS?
>>Yunji: I THINK JOE AND I PROBABLY AGREE ON THIS.
MAKING IT HARDER IS NOT GOING TO MAKE IT MAKE VIOLENCE GO AWAY.
I MEAN, WE HAVE VIOLENCE BEFORE WE HAD GUNS.
SO ADDRESS THE VIOLENCE PART.
MAYBE MAKE GUN VIOLENCE HAVE A MORE INCREASED HATE INCREASED PENALTY.
SHOULD BE CERTAIN TYPE OF PENALTY FOR INCREASED WEAPONS.
>>Yunji: SHORT TIME WE HAD.
GET YOU KNOW BETTER F ELECT, LIVING WASHINGTON, D.C. GOOD CHUNK OF THE YEAR.
WHAT ARE TWO OR THREE THINGS YOU WOULD MOST MISS ABOUT HOME?
>> RICE.
NO.
GET THAT A LOT EASIER.
THINKING BACK TO THE DAYS WHEN I WENT TO COLLEGE.
I LIVED IN DC FOR FOUR YEARS.
AS WELL.
DIDN'T HAVE AMAZON AND SHIPPING A LOT OF OTHER THINGS WE'VE GOT NOW.
DEFINITELY THE FOOD IS SOMETHING THAT YOU MISS.
YOU CAN DEFINITELY CREATE IT.
I WILL SAY PERSONALLY FOR ME, GOING TO BE MY FAMILY.
THAT'S WHY I REALLY COMMITTED TO MAKE SURE THAT I COME HOME ON THE WEEKENDS.
BUT NOT ONLY TO SEE MY FAMILY, REMIND MYSELF WHERE MY HEART IS AND URGENCY WITH WHICH WE FIGHT.
ALSO TO MAKE SURE THAT I'M CONNECTED AND ALWAYS CONNECTED TO THE DISTRICT AND PEOPLE.
WE'VE GOT TO BE PRESENT.
BUSINESS IS NOT JUST IN DC.
BUSINESS IS IN HAWAII.
WHO WE'RE REALLY TRYING TO SERVE.
HAVE TO SAY MY FAMILY, BOYS HUSBAND, DOG.
DOG IS GOING TO MISS ME THE MOST.
I'LL BE HONEST.
FOOD.
QUITE FRANKLY, LIVE ON THE WINDWARD SIDE.
I REMEMBER WHEN I WAS IN COLLEGE, KO'OLAUS, YOU CAN'T BEAT THAT.
CAN'T BEAT THIS PLACE THAT WE LIVE IN.
THERE IS NO SUBSTITUTE FOR IT.
PEOPLE AND LAND.
>>Yunji: JOE, WHAT ABOUT YOU?
THREE THINGS YOU WOULD MOST MISS HAVE TO SPEND YOUR TIME IN WASHINGTON.
>> SAID IT BEST.
THE FOOD.
I'VE BEEN HAVING LIVED UP IN ANNANDALE AREA IN DC CALL IT KOREA TOWN.
SO FORTUNATE BECAUSE KALBI RIBS.
LET'S GO.
RIGHT DOWN THE STREET.
LET'S GO GET SOME.
THAT WAS FUN.
ONE NIGHT, I'M JONESING FOR SOME KALBI RIBS.
ENDED UP COOKING KALBI RIBS INSIDE OF MY FIREPLACE.
GOT IN TROUBLE FROM THE LANDLORD.
WASN'T HAPPY WITH THAT.
HAD GO CLEAN IT ALL OUT.
MADE ME GO CLEAN IT OUT.
THERE WAS ONE OF THOSE.
FOOD, FAMILY, BEACHES, I MEAN, THESE ARE THINGS THAT IN OUR HAWAIIAN KULEANA.
WHAT WE MISS.
THIS IS HOME.
I REMEMBER MANY TIMES, HAVING BEEN GOING OUT ON MISSIONS COMING BACK, LITERALLY WOULD CRY WHEN I WOULD COME, PLANE MAKES TURN AROUND EWA AND COMING INTO OAHU.
I'M HOME.
I'M HOME.
I THINK IS THE BIGGEST THING YOU MISS WHEN YOU'RE AWAY.
FORM NEW ALLIANCE AND NEW FRIENDSHIPS.
ALL OF THIS OTHER STUFF.
HOME IS HOME.
>>Yunji: MICHELLE, WHAT BUT?
WHAT WOULD YOU MISS MOST.
>> OKAY.
I'M GOING TO TRY DO IT FAST.
FOOD IS ABSOLUTELY, EVERYONE WHO KNOWS ME, YOU GUYS, IF YOU DON'T KNOW ALREADY, I'M A CANNABIS PATIENT.
HURT BAD IN THE MILITARY.
EVERYBODY KNOWS ME KNOWS THAT I'M BASICALLY SHAGGY.
GIANT DOG.
DIDN'T NAME HER SCOOBY.
BUT BIG OLD THING.
FOOD, FOOD.
WEATHER.
HAVING A LOT OF MEDICAL PROBLEMS WHEN YOU GET A LOT COLD WEATHER.
CAN BE DIFFICULT ON YOUR BACK.
SURFING.
I LOVE SURFING.
I LEARNED TO SURF ON OAHU.
WHICH WAS BAD FOR ME AND GREAT FOR JUST THE SPORT I GUESS.
BUT WHEN I TRAVELED TO SURF, WATER IS AWFUL EVERYWHERE ELSE.
HAWAII AND OAHU IN SPECIFIC NICEST WARMEST MOST COMFORTING WATER IN THE OCEAN EVER BEEN IN.
THE WATER FOR SURE.
>>Yunji: I THINK THAT GOES WELL INTO OUR LAST QUESTION.
WE HAVE JUST A FEW MINUTES.
IF YOU COULD KEEP YOUR RESPONSES TO AROUND 30 SECONDS.
THIS IS A VERY TOUGH JOB.
A LOT OF STRESS.
WHAT DO YOU DO FOR STRESS RELIEF?
WHAT IS YOUR ESCAPE?
>> CANNABIS PATIENT.
I'M A CANNABIS PATIENT.
I DON'T HAVE STRESS ANY MORE.
CANNABIS, SURFING, ACTUALLY GET A LOT OF REWARD FROM JUST HELPING OTHER PEOPLE.
I'M ONE OF THOSE VERY COMMON WOMEN THAT I GET ENDORPHIN RELEASE WORK THROUGH PROBLEMS.
SO FOR ME, JUST TRYING TO GET OUT IN NATURE, SURF HELPING MY FRIENDS.
>>Yunji: WHAT ABOUT YOU?
>> GOLFING, PADDLING, BASICALLY, OUTDOORS ACTIVITIES.
HIKING.
TO THE POINT WHERE I JUST REINJURED MY MENISCUS AGAIN.
I GOT TO GET THAT FIXED.
>> OTHER THAN THAT, YEAH.
ENJOYING OUTDOOR LIFE, SPENDING TIME WITH FAMILY.
FRIENDS.
THEN ALSO MAKING SURE I SPEND TIME WITH MY GOD.
GIVE HIM THAT BENEFIT.
WITHOUT HIM, I WOULDN'T BE SITTING HERE TODAY.
>>Yunji: WHAT DO YOU TO RELIEVE STRESS?
>> SOMETIMES THEY CAN BE STRESSFUL.
BUT HANG WITHOUT MY FAMILY.
TWO BOYS AND MY HUSBAND.
COOKING WITH MY SONS.
MAKING SURE THAT THEY'LL BE ABLE TO THAT ONE DAY ON THEIR OWN, WATCHING K DRAMAS WITH MY HUSBAND.
GOING GROCERY SHOPPING.
LITTLE THINGS THAT MATTER THE MOST.
BUT IT ALSO REMINDS YOU AS A SERVANT LEADER WHAT IS IMPORTANT.
IT'S ABOUT MAKING SURE THAT EVERY SINGLE PERSON IS COMMUNITY FEELS LIKE YOU'RE GOING TO BE AS A LEADER, TAKE CARE OF THEM AS FAMILY.
MOST IMPORTANT THING ICU MENTIONED YOUR BOYS.
UNIQUE PERSPECTIVE, YOU ARE A MOM OF KIDS STILL IN SCHOOL AGE.
HOW WILL YOU FIGURE THAT OUT.
>> FIGURE IT OUT TOGETHER.
FOR ME, BRING HOMEINJUREEN BRINGS HOME THEINJURE URGENCY.
SCREW IS IT UP, HARDER FOR FOR THEM.
BLESSED I CAN GO HOME, CALL THEM ON PHONE, VIDEO CONFERENCE, DO THE WORK RIGHT AND WELL FOR THEM NOT FOR US.
>>Yunji: MAHALO TO YOU FOR JOINING US TONIGHT, AND WE THANK OUR GUESTS THE CANDIDATES FOR U.S. DISTRICT 2: REPUBLICAN JOE AKANA AND LIBERTARIAN MICHELLE TIPPENS.
AND DEMOCRAT JILL TOKUDA.
NEXT WEEK ON INSIGHTS, IT COULD BE THE TIGHTEST RACE THIS ELECTION, AS FORMER JUDGE RICHARD BISSEN TAKES ON INCUMBENT MIKE VICTORINO FOR THE JOB OF MAUI COUNTY MAYOR.
PLEASE JOIN US THEN.
I’M YUNJI DE NIES FOR INSIGHTS ON PBS HAWAII, ALOHA!

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