HAWAI'I'S ELECTION SEASON IS ABOUT TO HEAT UP.

VOTERS WILL BE ELECTING A NEW GOVERNOR AND EVERY SEAT IN THE STATE HOUSE AND SENATE ARE UP FOR GRABS.

WE DON'T YET KNOW ALL THE CANDIDATES WHO ARE RUNNING, BUT WE DO KNOW MANY WILL BE REPRESENTING SEVERAL POLITICAL PARTIES.

WE'VE INVITED REPRESENTATIVES FROM ALL OF THEM TO TELL US WHAT THEY STAND FOR AND WHY YOU SHOULD CONSIDER THEIR CANDIDATES.

TONIGHT'S LIVE BROADCAST AND LIVESTREAM OF INSIGHTS ON PBS HAWAI'I START NOW.

>> ALOHA AND WELCOME TO INSIGHTS ON PBS HAWAII.

I'M YUNJI DE NIES.

2022 IS A BIG YEAR FOR LOCAL POLITICS AND VOTERS WILL BE TASKED WITH ELECTING OFFICIALS WHO WILL HAVE AN IMPACT ON THEIR DAY-TO-DAY LIVES.

THE PRIMARY ELECTION IS SET FOR AUGUST 13TH WITH THE GENERAL TO FOLLOW ON THE 8TH OF NOVEMBER.

MORE THAN 80 RACES THIS YEAR WILL FEATURE PARTISAN CANDIDATES.

THEY INCLUDE U.S. SENATE AND HOUSE SEATS, GOVERNOR AND LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR AND EVERY SEAT IN THE STATE LEGISLATURE.

TONIGHT WE'LL BE LEARNING MORE ABOUT HAWAI'I'S POLITICAL PARTIES IN ORDER TO GET YOU READY TO VOTE.

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 WHO WE WILL INTRODUCE IN ALPHABETICAL ORDER.

JOYCLYNN COSTA IS THE CHAIR OF THE ALOHA 'AINA PARTY.

SHE'S A GRADUATE OF KAMEHAMEHA SCHOOL AND CURRENTLY RESIDES ON MAUI.

AFTER A LONG CAREER IN SALES WHICH INCLUDED OWNING A TI LEAF FARM, SHE RETIRED IN JANUARY.

LYNN FINNEGAN IS THE CHAIR OF THE HAWAI'I REPUBLICAN PARTY.

SHE SERVED IN THE STATE LEGISLATURE FOR EIGHT YEARS AND WAS THE HOUSE MINORITY LEADER FOR FOUR OF THOSE YEARS.

SHE WAS ALSO A CANDIDATE FOR LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR IN 2010.

ZOOMING IN FROM WAILUKU, MAUI IS ED GAZMEN, CHAIR OF THE CONSTITUTION PARTY OF HAWAI'I.

HE'S A VIETNAM ERA VETERAN AND IS AN ADVOCATE FOR PTSD IN VETERANS AND THE HOMELESS.

HE'S ALSO AN ORDAINED MINISTER.

ALSO FROM MAUI, SYLVIA LITCHFIELD FROM THE GREEN PARTY OF HAWAI'I.

SHE'S VOLUNTEERED FOR THE PARTY SINCE 2016 AND IS CURRENTLY THE MEMBERSHIP CHAIR.

ZOOMING IN FROM UPPER PUNA TONIGHT IS SHANNON MATSON, VICE-CHAIR OF THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY OF HAWAI'I.

PRIOR TO THIS ROLE SHE WAS THE VICE-CHAIR FOR HAWAI'I ISLAND DEMOCRATS.

SHE'S A YOGA INSTRUCTOR AND A MOTHER OF TWO.

AND ERIC WEINERT HAS BEEN A MEMBER OF THE LIBERTARIAN PARTY SINCE 1978 AND IS THE TREASURER FOR THE HAWAI'I CHAPTER.

HE'S RECENTLY RETIRED AFTER A 40-YEAR CAREER IN AGRICULTURE ON HAWAI'I ISLAND AND IS THE PRESIDENT OF THE HAWAII PAPAYA INDUSTRY ASSOCIATION.

A LOT OF BIOGRAPHIES TO GET TO.

WE APPRECIATE YOU BEING HERE.

I WANT TO GIVE VIEWERS A SENSE OF THE PARTIES YOU EACH REPRESENT.

LET'S START IN THAT SAME ORDER.

GIVE US A SENSE OF THE PARTY THAT YOU'RE REPRESENTING.

JOYCLYNN, WE'LL START WITH YOU.

>> MAHALO FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY, PBS, TO BE ABLE TO INTRODUCE THE ALOHA AINA PARTY TO THOSE IN OUR GREAT STATE OF HAWAI'I.

THE ALOHA AINA PARTY IS, AS I CONSIDER IT, THE OLDEST PARTY HERE.

EVEN IF WE'VE ONLY NOW EMERGED, IT'S BEEN HERE SINCE 1898, WHEN THE HUI ALOHA AINA BROUGHT THE PEOPLE TOGETHER IN HAWAI'I.

CREATED A SENSE OF VOTING, WHICH WAS FOR THE STATION AT THE TIME.

THEY WERE UNANIMOUS IN THEIR EFFORTS AND PATRIOTIC LOVE FOR THIS LAND, SO THE ALOHA AINA PARTY IS OF THAT SAME THEME, WHICH IS TO BRING THE PEOPLE TOGETHER, TO HAVE A UNITED STAND, AND TO REALLY LOOK AT WHAT HAWAI'I MEANS.

>>Yunji: THANK YOU FOR THAT.

LYNN, TO YOU.

TALK ABOUT THE REPUBLICAN PARTY.

WE'RE FAMILIAR, ESPECIALLY AT THE NATIONAL LEVEL, BUT TELL US ABOUT THE HAWAI'I REPUBLICAN PARTY.

>> WELL, THIS YEAR, FOR THIS ELECTION CYCLE ESPECIALLY, WE ADOPTED A SLOGAN, STAND FOR HAWAI'I.

IT'S ABOUT PUTTING HAWAI'I FIRST, AND OUR PEOPLE, OUR MEMBERS IN THE HAWAI'I REPUBLICAN PARTY ARE ACTIVE IN ISSUES THAT PERTAIN TO LIFE, LIBERTY AND HAPPINESS.

FUNDAMENTAL PART OF OUR CONSTITUTION.

WHAT WE'RE SEEING IS PEOPLE WHO ARE ABOUT INDIVIDUAL RIGHTS, ABOUT FREEDOM, ABOUT FAMILY AND EVEN FAITH.

AND OUR CONSTITUTION.

I'D LIKE TO HEAR A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT ED, WHO IS PART OF THE CONSTITUTION PARTY.

AND THIS YEAR, WITH THE ASSAULTS ON PARENTAL RIGHTS, BUSINESSES WITHIN OUR COMMUNITY AND AT THE STATE CAPITOL, THE REPUBLICAN PARTY IS REALLY ABOUT GIVING THE OPPORTUNITY, FAIR OPPORTUNITIES WITH NOT DETERMINING EQUALITY OF OUTCOMES.

IT REALLY DEPENDS ON THE INDIVIDUAL TO BE MOTIVATED AND TO HELP THE COMMUNITY AND TO BE A PART OF THE GOVERNMENT PROCESS.

AND THIS PAST YEAR, WE'VE BEEN SEEING A LOT OF PEOPLE COMING OUT OF THE WOODWORK, WANTING TO PARTICIPATE IN THE HAWAI'I REPUBLICAN PARTY.

MORE ESPECIALLY BECAUSE OF CORRUPTION THAT HAS BEEN TAKING PLACE BECAUSE OF THE CIRCUMVENTING OF OUR POLITICAL PROCESS.

HAVING AN EMERGENCY ORDER THAT'S BEEN IN FOR TWO YEARS.

IT'S A LOT, OUR PARTY IS HEARING THE VOICES FROM ALL THE DIFFERENT SPECTRUMS OF PEOPLE OF HAWAI'I.

NOT JUST A CERTAIN ONE-PARTY SYSTEM.

>>Yunji: ED, YOUR PARTY IS ON THE CONSERVATIVE SIDE.

TELL US ABOUT THE CONSTITUTION PARTY, AND WHAT DOES MAKE IT DIFFERENT FROM THE REPUBLICAN PARTY?

>> ACTUALLY, THE CONSTITUTION PARTY STARTED UNDER THE NAME OF U.S. TAXPAYERS' PARTY IN 1992, '93.

HOWEVER, IN 1999, THE NAME WAS CHANGED TO THE CONSTITUTION PARTY TO REFLECT MORE ON THE BASIC VALUES OF THIS PARTY.

WE ARE THE FIFTH LARGEST POLITICAL PARTY IN THE UNITED STATES.

AND, OF COURSE, OUR GOAL IS TO RESTORE AMERICAN JURISPRUDENCE TO ITS CONSTITUTIONAL FOUNDATION.

AND OUR PLATFORM IS SHAPED BY THE CONSTITUTION, OF COURSE, BUT FOR THE PRINCIPLE.

IT'S SHAPED BY PRINCIPLES, SET FORTH BY THE DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE, BILL OF RIGHTS AND THE BIBLE.

SO WE DO HAVE -- WE CONSIDER IT THE THREE PILLARS OF THE PARTY, WHICH IS ONE, INTEGRITY.

WE BELIEVE THAT WE SHOULD BE NOT ONLY BE PEOPLE OF INTEGRITY BUT ACCOUNTABILITY AND HONESTY.

SECOND IS LIBERTY.

LIBERTY.

WE BELIEVE STRONGLY IN LIBERTY.

WE BELIEVE THAT GOVERNMENT TODAY, IT'S BLOATED.

IT'S INEFFICIENT.

EXCESSIVELY, INCREDIBLY NONFUNCTIONAL, IN MY OPINION.

AND THE THIRD PART WOULD BE THE PROSPERITY.

WE BELIEVE IN TRUE CAPITALISM.

WE BELIEVE IN SMALL BUSINESSES.

SMALL BUSINESSES ARE THE FOUNDATION OF OUR COUNTRY.

AND AS WE ENCOURAGE SMALL BUSINESSES TO FLOURISH.

THEY ALSO CREATE JOBS FOR THE COMMUNITY AND FOR THE NATION.

>>Yunji: SLYVIA, LET'S HEAR FROM YOU.

TELL US ABOUT THE GREEN PARTY.

>> THANK YOU, YUNJI.

ALOHA.

THE GREEN PARTY OF HAWAI'I DOES NOT TAKE CORPORATE OR BIG MONEY DONATIONS, SO WE STAY TRUE TO OUR VALUE AND BE A SPOKESPERSON FOR SOME IDEALS AND IDEAS THAT SOMETIMES THE MAJOR PARTIES WOULD RATHER OVERLOOK.

WE'RE A GRASSROOTS ORGANIZATION.

WE'RE LOCAL.

WE'RE ECONOMISTS AND ALL VOLUNTEERS.

WE BASE OUR PLATFORM OR ECOLOGICAL WISDOM, GRASSROOTS DEMOCRACY, SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC JUSTICE AND PEACE.

AND WE ALSO HAPPEN TO BE A DECENTRALIZED WORLDWIDE MOVEMENT.

WE'RE SEEKING TO PUT THE PEOPLE ON THE PLANET BEFORE SHORT-TERM PROFITS AND NOT JUST HAVE THE SHORT SIGHTED GOAL BUT SEE INTO THE FUTURE SO WE CAN PASS ALONG OUR RESOURCES TO FUTURE GENERATIONS.

>>Yunji: THANK YOU.

SHANNON, LET'S GO TO YOU.

WE TALKED ABOUT THE DOMINANT PARTY.

REFERRING TO THE DEMOCRATS.

HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE TO FOLKS APPROACHING POLITICS FOR THE FIRST TIME OR CASUAL VOTERS?

HOW WOULD YOU SUM UP THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY?

>> MAHALO FOR HAVING US HERE TODAY TO HAVE THIS IMPORTANT DISCUSSION.

ACTUALLY THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY FORMED IN 1900 POST-QUARANTINE.

WE'RE FAMILIAR WITH.

DIRECTLY IN SUPPORT OF QUEEN LILIUOKALANI.

ORGANIZATION WAS A DIRECT RESPONSE TO THE REFORM PARTY AND REPUBLICAN PARTY AT THE TIME, WHO WAS THE PARTY IN POWER AND REMAINED IN POWER FOR MANY YEARS.

IT WASN'T UNTIL THE DEMOCRATIC REVOLUTION IN 1954 WHEN THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY WAS ABLE TO RISE UP THROUGH ORGANIZATION, UNIONIZATION OF THE PLANTATION WORKERS, LABORERS.

AND THAT WAS THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY OF HAWAI'I WAS TRULY ABLE TO START TO STEP INTO POSITION OF POLITICAL POWER.

CURRENTLY WE HAVE 80,000.

WITH SUCH A LARGE MEMBERSHIP, WE HAVE DIVERSE VIEWS.

IT'S A PARTY OF INCLUSIVITY AND PLATFORM AND RESOLUTIONS REFLECT THAT.

PART OF THE SUCCESS IS THE WORK WE DO AT THE GRASSROOTS LEVEL, AND MEMBERS CAN CHOOSE TO GET INVOLVED AND PARTICIPATE IN WHAT THEY FEEL PASSIONATE ABOUT.

DEMOCRATS IN HAWAI'I ISLAND WERE ABLE TO HELP WITH MASS DISTRIBUTION.

STANDS FOR LIBERTY, SOCIAL, ECONOMIC JUSTICE, PROTECTION OF THE ENVIRONMENT AND RESPECT FOR THE DIGNITY AND WORTH OF EACH INDIVIDUAL.

>>Yunji: AND ERIC, LET'S GO TO YOU LAST.

WE HEARD FROM ED AND FROM LYNN ABOUT THE PRINCIPLES OF THEIR PARTY, WHICH TEND TO BE CONSERVATIVE.

TELL US A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE LIBERTARIAN PARTY AND HOW IT'S A DIFFERENT CONSERVATIVE PARTY FROM THE OTHER TWO.

>> THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SHARE TONIGHT.

WE BELIEVE THAT LIBERTARIAN PARTY IS MAINSTREAM.

WE SHARE THE VALUES OF THE MAJORITY OF AMERICAN PEOPLE IN THAT WE'RE FINANCIALLY RESPONSIBLE AND SOCIALLY INCLUSIVE.

WE SUPPORT THE CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND BILL OF RIGHTS.

WE STRONGLY SUPPORT FREE SPEECH, OPPOSE CENSORSHIP.

SUPPORT THE RIGHT TO BEAR ARMS AND BELIEF THAT INDIVIDUALS OWN THEIR OWN BODIES AND NOT THE GOVERNMENT.

ONLY REQUIREMENT FOR MEMBERSHIP IS TO RENOUNCE VIOLENCE, TO ACHIEVE THEIR POLITICAL AIMS.

WE BELIEVE THAT GOVERNMENT HAS A LIMITED ROLE TO GUARANTEE THE RIGHTS AND FREEDOMS OF INDIVIDUALS SO LONG AS THEY DO NOT HARM THEIR NEIGHBORS OR ENVIRONMENT.

THE ROLE OF GOVERNMENT IS TO ENFORCE CONTRACTS AND TO PROVIDE A COMPETITIVE FREE MARKETPLACE.

AND TO PROVIDE FOR THE COMMON DEFENSE OF OUR COUNTRY WITHIN OUR OWN BORDERS AND AVOID FOREIGN ENTANGLEMENTS.

IT CAN BE KIND OF SUMMED UP AS DON'T HURT PEOPLE AND DON'T TAKE THEIR STUFF.

I BELIEVE THE MAJORITY OF AMERICANS SHARE THOSE VALUES.

SO THANK YOU.

>>Yunji: THANK YOU FOR THAT.

I LIKE THAT SUMMARY.

LYNN, THIS IDEA THAT PEOPLE ARE COMING OUT OF THE WOODWORK TO SUPPORT YOUR PARTY.

DOES THAT TRANSLATE TO CANDIDATES?

HOW ARE YOU FIELDING CANDIDATES FOR -- THERE'S A LOT OF OPPORTUNITY WITH BASICALLY EVERY SEAT IN THE STATE LEGISLATURE UP FOR VOTE THAT COULD MEAN SOME TURNOVER AND OPPORTUNITIES, ESPECIALLY FOR PARTIES WHO MAY NOT HAVE BEEN REPRESENTED IN THE PAST.

HOW MANY RACES ARE YOU HOPING TO FIELD A CANDIDATE FOR?

>> OUR GOAL IS TO HAVE A CANDIDATE IN EVERY SEAT.

WE DO HAVE PROSPECTS IN ALMOST ALL SEATS NOW.

THIS IS PROBABLY THE EARLIEST THAT WE HAVE HAD SO MANY PROSPECTIVE CANDIDATES, AND WE HAVE COMMITTED CANDIDATES THAT ARE FILING NOW.

AND THE WAY THAT WE DO IT ACTUALLY BECAUSE OF EVERYTHING THAT IS HAPPENING IN OUR STATE RIGHT NOW AND PEOPLE REALIZING THAT THIS IS -- GOVERNMENT HAS GOTTEN TO THE POINT WHERE GOVERNMENT IS STEPPING IN AND TRYING TO CONTROL -- HAS TOO MUCH CONTROL ON OUR STATE AND ON OUR PEOPLE.

WE'RE SEEKING PEOPLE WANTING TO STAND UP AND FIGHT FOR THEIR INDIVIDUAL RIGHTS OR THEIR BUSINESSES AND THEIR BUSINESSES CLOSING DOWN OR WHATEVER THE SITUATION MAY BE.

WE FEEL THEM BY TALKING, BY LOOKING, ASKING AND IDENTIFYING AND WE'RE FINDING WAY MORE INTEREST THAN WE HAVE IN THE PAST.

WE HAVE -- LIKE I SAID, WE HAVE A GOAL OF FILLING EVERY SEAT.

I BELIEVE WE'RE GOING TO MAKE THAT GOAL COME JUNE 7.

>>Yunji: JOYCLYNN, SAME QUESTION.

YOUR PARTY FIRST QUALIFIED, YOU'RE THE OLDEST PARTY BUT HAD A REEMERGENCE.

2020 WAS THE FIRST TIME YOU WERE BACK ON THE BALLOT.

HOW MANY CANDIDATES ARE YOU HOPING TO PUT OUT THERE, AND HOW ARE YOU FINDING THEM?

>> WE'RE FIRST WANTING TO SEND OUT THAT MESSAGE THAT YOU HAVE A VOICE.

I THINK THERE'S SO MUCH DESPAIR OUT THERE, WATCHING PEOPLE GO TO TESTIFY.

WATCHING PEOPLE TELL THEM HOW THEY WANT THEIR HAWAI'I, AND IT SEEMED HOPEFUL.

THERE'S A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT PARTICIPATED IN THAT VENUE OF LEGISLATURE AND GOVERNMENT.

THE RESULT SEEMS TO BE TOTALLY OPPOSITE.

AND SO I THINK, ESPECIALLY WITH WHAT WE'VE LEARNED THROUGH THE PANDEMIC AND WATCHING HAWAI'I START TO LIVE AGAIN, AND I'M SPEAKING ABOUT THE LAND, ABOUT THE WATER, I'M SPEAKING ABOUT THE OCEAN AND AIR.

HOW WE HAD THIS DRAMATIC CHANGE.

WE CAN INSPIRE PEOPLE TO COME FORWARD, TO SPEAK TO THAT TYPE OF HAWAI'I WE'VE BEEN WANTING, AND FROM THERE WE CAN GROW.

INSTEAD OF HAVING SOMETHING IMPOSED UPON US THAT MAY NOT BE AS HEALTHY, NOR IS IT GOING TO BE BENEFICIAL FOR THE FUTURE.

WE ARE AN ISLAND.

WE NEED TO HAVE THAT MENTALITY, AND SO ONE OF THE THINGS THAT THE ALOHA AINA PARTY IS LOOKING, AND WE FEEL THERE IS GOING TO BE A LOT OF PEOPLE NOW HAVING THE COURAGE TO STAND UP AND CREATE A NEW HAWAI'I.

AND GOVERNANCE FOR HAWAI'I.

YOU'VE SEEN THE AMOUNT OF PEOPLE THAT COME OUT WHEN THERE'S AN ISSUE THEY FEEL REALLY PASSIONATE ABOUT.

WE'RE TALKING, THESE PEOPLE, THEY'VE GIVEN UP ON GOVERNMENT.

THEY DON'T WANT TO VOTE BUT WANT THEIR VOICES HEARD.

WE'RE OPENING UP THIS LANE FOR THEM, TO KNOW THEY HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO MAKE THE DIFFERENCE AND THE CHANGE THAT THEY'RE ASKING FOR.

I TRULY BELIEVE THAT THROUGH THE ALOHA AINA PARTY, WE CAN SPEAK TO EACH OTHER FACE TO FACE AND COME UP WITH THE SAME SOLUTIONS.

I'M SAD TO SAY, BUT I'M GRATEFUL THAT THE PANDEMIC HIT US IN A WAY THAT MADE US PAUSE.

WE'VE BEEN LOOKING AT WHAT CAN THE ALOHA AINA PARTY BRING?

WHAT WE WANT TO BRING IS UNITY.

ONLY WAY TO BRING UNITY IS FIND THE THREAD THAT BINDS US ALL.

DOESN'T MATTER WHAT PARTY IT IS.

WE LIVE IN THE STATE OF HAWAI'I.

THE MAIN THING IS LAND, WATER AND AIR.

ANY ONE OF THOSE THINGS THAT DISAPPEAR, NONE OF US WILL BE LIVING HERE.

WE NEED TO KNOW OUR LAND BASE IS LIMITED TO THE ISLAND, SO I AM VERY HAPPY.

THESE CANDIDATES WILL NOW FIND THEIR WAY TO HAVE THEIR VOICES HEARD, AND THEY'RE ALLOWED THROUGH THE ALOHA AINA PARTY TO SPEAK.

>>Yunji: SLYVIA, IF -- WHEN LYNN'S TALKING ABOUT PUTTING A CANDIDATE HOPEFULLY IN EVERY RACE, THAT SEEMS LIKE A PRETTY BIG HURDLE FOR ANY PARTY OTHER THAN THE DOMINANT DEMOCRATS.

DO YOU PICK AND CHOOSE OR TARGET CERTAIN RACES OR CERTAIN SEATS?

HOW DO YOU DECIDE WHERE TO PUT THE POLITICIANS THAT YOU HAVE GIVEN THE LIMITS YOU HAVE?

HOW MANY ARE YOU HOPING TO PUT ON THE BALLOT THIS SEASON?

>> THANKS.

WE HAVE CANDIDATES INTERESTED IN RUNNING FOR STATE HOUSE, GOVERNOR.

WE HAVE INTERESTED IN MAUI COUNTY COUNCIL AND HAWAI'I ISLAND RACES.

WE WOULD ENCOURAGE PEOPLE WITH GREEN VALUES TO CHECK OUT OUR WEBSITE, LOOK AT OUR PLATFORM.

AND I LOVE WHAT JOYCLYNN WAS TALKING ABOUT.

IT TAKES COURAGE TO STAND UP FOR THE PEOPLE AND AINA.

WE WANT TO GIVE HOPE.

SEEMS LIKE GOING TO OFFSHORE INTERESTS, AND WE ELECT PEOPLE WHO HAVE THE MOST MONEY.

AND THEN WE END UP IN THIS EXTRACTION ECONOMY WHERE IT'S ALL ABOUT OUR RESOURCES BEING USED UP BY MULTINATIONAL CORPORATIONS, AND THE PEOPLE THAT WE LET TO REPRESENT US ARE OVERPOWERED BY THAT TYPE OF MONEY.

I DO HAVE HOPE THAT PEOPLE WILL STAND UP AND ONE -- WANT TO BE A SPOKESPERSON FOR THE LAND AND AINA.

>>Yunji: ERIC, WHAT ARE YOU LOOKING AT?

HOW MANY CANDIDATES ARE YOU HOPING TO PUT ON THE BALLOT?

>> OUR PARTY'S HAD A NUMBER OF PEOPLE FILE FOR THE U.S. SENATE.

WE HAVE TWO CANDIDATES.

WE HAVE THE U.S. REPRESENTATIVE IN DISTRICT TWO, MICHELLE.

FOR THE GOVERNOR, WE HAVE T. C. WE HAVE SEVERAL STATE REPRESENTATIVES.

CANDACE IN DISTRICT FOUR AND MICHAEL IN DISTRICT FIVE.

WE HOPE TO HAVE A NUMBER OTHER PEOPLE.

I WANT TO MAKE AN IMPORTANT POINT IS, WE HAVE HAD A ONE-PARTY SYSTEM IN THE STATE.

HEARING TONIGHT SO MANY SHARED VALUES THAT I HAVE, BUT I THINK THE PARTY IN POWER HAS TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE RESULTS.

IT'S NICE TO WANT TO SHARE THESE VALUES, BUT IF WE KEEP PUTTING SAME PEOPLE BACK IN OFFICE AND EXPECTING DIFFERENT RESULTS, THAT'S UNREALISTIC.

THE DEFINITION OF INSANITY.

MORE INCUMBENTS HAVE TO GO IN ORDER FOR THERE TO BE REAL CHANGE.

>>Yunji: SHANNON, A GOOD SEGUE TO HAVE YOU RESPOND.

DEMOCRATS COULD HAVE TOO MANY PEOPLE WANTING TO RUN FOR THE SAME SEAT.

HOW ARE YOU FIELDING CANDIDATES AND I WANT TO GIVE YOU A CHANCE TO RESPOND TO ERIC.

>> THANK YOU.

AS I HEAR ALL OF YOU TALKING, I DO FEEL THE PASSION THAT ANYBODY WHO'S STEPPING INTO THIS ROLE OF BEING THE LEADER IN A POLITICAL PARTY IN HAWAI'I IS DOING SO, I BELIEVE, WITH GOOD INTENTIONS AND HOPING TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE AND MAKE A CHANGE.

AND THAT'S SORT OF THE ROLE WE SEE OURSELVES IN AS DEMOCRATS.

WE GET THE FLACK AND FEEDBACK WHEN THINGS AREN'T GOING WELL IN THIS POSITION OF POLITICAL DOMINANCE, AS WE KEEP REFERRING TO IT.

I SEE THAT MORE AS A PROBLEM WITH SOME OF THE REFORMS THAT WE NEED.

AND LYNN POINTED THAT OUT EARLIER IN REGARDS TO SOME CORRUPTION CHARGES AT THE STATE LEVEL.

THOSE ARE REFLECTIVE OF THOSE INDIVIDUALS AND NOT OVERALL OUR ELECTED LEADERSHIP.

NEITHER IS THAT A REFLECTION OF OUR MEMBERSHIP, WHO AGAIN, WE HAVE A DIVERSE AND COMPASSIONATE MEMBERSHIP, FOR THE MOST PART.

WE ARE WORKING TO TRY TO HOLD OUR LEADERSHIP ACCOUNTABLE.

AND THAT'S A REAL PROBLEM AS FAR AS SOMETHING THAT OUR MEMBERSHIP WORKS SO HARD ON THESE RESOLUTION AND PARTY PLATFORM.

I'VE BEEN THERE WORKING ON THINGS WE CARE SO MUCH ABOUT.

ALMOST ALL MEMBERS ON THE PANEL WOULD AGREE WITH ME ON.

THERE'S NO REQUIREMENT TO SUPPORT THE PLATFORM.

AND MAYBE MEMBERS ON THE PANEL CAN TALK ABOUT IF THEIR CANDIDATES WERE IN CHARGE, HOW THEY WOULD HOLD THEM ACCOUNTABLE.

ACCOUNTABILITY COMES FROM THE PUBLIC GETTING INVOLVED.

OTHERWISE, ELECTED OFFICIALS, WHO HAVE HELD OFFICE FOR A LONG TIME WITH NO TERM LIMITS HAVE LITTLE INCENTIVE TO UPHOLD THE IDEALS OF OUR PLATFORM AND RESOLUTION.

LIKE YOU SAID, YUNJI, THERE'S A LOT OF FOLKS COMPETING AGAINST EACH OTHER AS DEMOCRATS IN THE PRIMARY.

OUR DEMS COME TOGETHER AND HOPEFULLY THAT WILL BE A TIME FOR OUR MEMBERSHIP TO REMIND THOSE IN CHARGE THAT WE REALLY DO WANT THEM TO BE ACCOUNTABLE TO OUR PARTY PLATFORM AND RESOLUTIONS.

>>Yunji: A VIEWER COMMENT.

SAYS I DIDN'T REALIZE HOW MUCH THE CONSTITUTION PARTY HAS IN COMMON WITH LIBERTARIAN PARTY.

ED, TELL US A LITTLE BIT ABOUT HOW MANY CANDIDATES YOU'RE HOPING TO GIVE VOTERS A CHANCE TO VOTE FOR THIS SEASON.

>> THANK YOU FOR ASKING THAT QUESTION.

WE ARE, AT THIS POINT, WE ARE IN THE REGROUPING STAGE, BUT WE HAVE SPOKEN WITH QUITE A FEW PEOPLE THAT ARE INTERESTED IN RUNNING UNDER THE CONSTITUTION PARTY.

ONE OF THE INTERESTING THINGS THAT I HEAR ALL THE TIME IS, ED, I'M NOT SATISFIED WITH THE TWO MAJOR PARTIES, AND I'M SO GLAD YOU'VE COME ALONG BECAUSE AT LEAST YOU'RE GIVING US A CHOICE.

AND SO THEY ASK US, WHAT MAKES YOU SO DIFFERENT FROM THE REST OF THE PARTY, ESPECIALLY WITH THE TWO MAJOR ONES?

AND THE BASIC FOUNDATION FOR OUR PARTY IS THAT THE SOURCE OF THIS.

UNALIENABLE RIGHTS THAT WE ALL, WHICH IS LIFE, LIBERTY AND PURSUIT OF HAPPINESS COMES FROM CREATOR.

THIS CANNOT BE GIVEN.

CANNOT BE SOLD.

CANNOT BE FINAGLED, CANNOT BE CONTRACTED.

WHEN WE HAVE TWO BASIC VALUES, IT GIVES PEOPLE HOPE.

THIS IS WHAT I'M FINDING OUT.

YES, THEY WANT TO RUN FOR OFFICE.

FOR ONCE IN THEIR LIFE, THEY HAVE SOMETHING THAT THEY CAN AGREE WITH THE PRINCIPLES WITH THE CONVENTION THAT THEY HAVE.

WE HAVE FEEDBACK FROM A LOT OF PEOPLE.

WE ARE THE JOHNNY COME LATELY.

PEOPLE ARE STILL FINDING OUT ABOUT US.

SOME CANNOT PRONOUNCE OR SPELL THE NAME OF OUR PARTY.

HOW'S THAT?

>>Yunji: THAT'S WHY WE'RE HERE TONIGHT.

IF ALL OF YOU COULD KEEP YOUR ANSWERS BRIEF.

WE'RE ALMOST HALFWAY THROUGH THE SHOW.

LYNN, THIS IS A QUESTION FOR YOU.

ABOUT THE FORMER PRESIDENT.

THERE ARE TWO QUESTIONS.

ONE SAYS, HOW MUCH SUPPORT DOES THE HAWAI'I REPUBLICAN PARTY HAVE TOWARDS FORMER PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP?

DO YOU THINK DONALD TRUMP SHOULD BE RE-ELECTED FOR PRESIDENT AGAIN?

>> OUR SLOGAN IS, IT'S NOT A PRESIDENTIAL YEAR.

NOT GET SIDE TRACKED BY WHAT'S HAPPENING ACROSS THE NATION, EVEN THOUGH THAT'S VERY IMPORTANT TO US AS WELL.

WHAT I WILL SAY, THOSE WHO SUPPORT PRESIDENT TRUMP IS THEY'RE VERY PASSIONATE.

MANY NOT ONLY BELONG IN THE PARTY, BUT THEY'RE FUELING OUR EFFORTS.

NOW THAT ESPECIALLY PRESIDENT BIDEN IS IN OFFICE, AND MANY IN HAWAI'I ARE CONSERVATIVES, AND WE HAVE THREE PARTIES HERE THAT ARE IN SUPPORT OF CONSERVATIVE VALUES, AND WE BELIEVE THAT HAWAI'I IS A CONSERVATIVE STATE IN A LOT OF WAYS.

WE BELIEVE THAT WE NEED TO FOCUS IN ON HAWAI'I.

WE NEED TO FOCUS IN ON THE CONSERVATIVE VALUES OF THE PEOPLE.

EVEN TO THE POINT OF WHAT SHANNON IS SAYING ABOUT THE DEMOCRAT PARTIES.

CONSERVATIVES SHOULD BE VOTING ON THE CONSERVATIVE SIDE.

I WOULD LIKE TO HAVE THAT MESSAGE TO CONSERVATIVES IN THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY, LIBERTARIANS.

WE HAVE ALOHA AINA FOLKS INQUIRING ABOUT THE REPUBLICAN PARTY.

NOT TO SAY WE WANT TO PULL AWAY FROM ANY OF THE OTHER PARTIES THEIR MEMBERSHIP, BUT TO SAY THAT WHEN YOU HAVE SUCH A STRONG ONE-PARTY SYSTEM, A MONOPOLY THAT IS NOT IN THE GOOD INTEREST OF THE PEOPLE OF HAWAI'I, IT'S NOT THE INDIVIDUAL MEMBERS OF THE DEMOCRAT PARTY.

THE INABILITY TO HOLD THEMSELVES ACCOUNTABLE.

WHAT WE NEED TO COME TOGETHER TO SAY THAT A ONE-PARTY SYSTEM IS NOT OKAY.

>>Yunji: SHANNON, I WANT TO GIVE YOU A CHANCE TO BRIEFLY RESPOND TO THAT.

>> I WOULD SAY EVEN THE MOST CONSERVATIVE DEMOCRATS AMONGST US WOULD NOT FIND THEMSELVES JOINING A PARTY THAT IS SUPPORTIVE OF THE VITRIOL OF OUR PAST PRESIDENT.

I KNOW HE WAS VERY DIVISIVE, AND I WOULD LIKE TO FOCUS ON LOCAL POLITICS.

I AGREE WITH WHAT LYNN SAID.

2022.

MOST OF OUR DEMOCRATS ARE UNITED ACROSS THE BOARD AND BEING VERY GRATEFUL FOR PRESIDENT BIDEN'S LEADERSHIP.

WHILE WE MIGHT NOT AGREE WITH EVERYTHING, OVERALL, HE IS, I WOULD SAY, A REALLY WELCOME RELIEF FROM THE YEARS OF PRESIDENT TRUMP.

>>Yunji: JOYCLYNN, I WANT TO GIVE YOU AN OPPORTUNITY TO ANSWER THIS FROM PAULINE.

HOW WILL YOU ASSURE -- YOUR PARTY'S CANDIDATE WILL NOT EMPOWER ONLY HAWAIIANS OR ALL REPRESENTATIVES?

CAN IT REPRESENT THE REST OF THE COMMUNITY AS WELL?

>> THANK YOU FOR THAT QUESTION.

I ALSO BELONG TO THE UNITED CHURCH OF CHRIST, AND ONE OF THE THINGS WE'RE WORKING FOR IS LIVING TO THAT APOLOGY.

WHAT I HAD FOUND THROUGH CONVERSATION IN THAT ISSUE OF LIVING INTO THE APOLOGY OF 1893 IS IT STOPS WHEN IT BECOMES A HAWAIIAN THING.

AND WE SHOULD REALLY LOOK AT WHAT THE ISSUE IS.

IT'S A THING OF JUSTICE.

IT'S A THING OF DOING WHAT IS RIGHT.

THAT'S WHAT WE'RE CALLING FOR.

CALLING FOR PEOPLE WHO WANT TO STAND UP.

IF YOU LOOK AT THAT PETITION IN 1893, IT WASN'T JUST HAWAIIANS.

IT WAS EVERYONE WHO FELT WHAT WAS WRONG WAS WRONG, AND WHAT NEEDS TO BE RIGHT, CORRECTED.

AND SO THE ALOHA AINA PARTY AGAIN STANDS FOR UNITING PEOPLE UNDER THE ONE THREAD THAT BINDS US: RESOURCE, LAND, WATER AND AIR.

THE WAY YOU DO IT, FIRST, WE HAVE TO HUMBLE OURSELVES.

COME BACK TO REALIZE WHAT IS IMPORTANT HERE.

AND IT'S NOT EVEN A PARTY.

WE HAVE TO LOOK AT HAWAI'I.

ONCE WE DO THAT, WE CAN SPIRITUALLY CONNECT TO WHAT WE NEED TO DO.

AT THAT POINT, FIRST ONE WAS HAAHAA.

NEXT IS LAA LAA.

WE BECOME SPIRITUALLY CONNECTED.

WE HAVE THIS CONNECTION.

THEN WE GO INTO MAA MAA.

WE CAN NOW KNOW OUR PLACE AND TAKING CARE OF WHAT WE TRULY NEED TO DO.

ONCE WE CAN ACCOMPLISH THOSE FOUR THINGS, NOW WE CAN TURN TO PAA.

WE CAN GET DOWN TO BUSINESS.

WE CAN REALLY TAKE CARE OF OUR HAWAI'I.

WE CAN REALLY LOOK TOWARDS A BRIGHT FUTURE, AND TO SAY THAT, YOU KNOW, HAWAI'I IS NOT PROGRESSIVE BACK IN THE DAY.

YOU GOT TO REALIZE THE PALACE HAD LIGHTS WAY BEFORE THE CONTINENTAL.

WE HAD FLUSHING TOILETS.

WE HAD TELEPHONES.

WE WERE PROGRESSIVE.

OUR KING PROBABLY WOULD HAVE HAD A LAPTOP WAY BEFORE OTHER COUNTRIES WOULD HAVE HAD IT.

I BELIEVE IT'S A PEOPLE'S THING.

I CAN'T DO THIS BY MYSELF.

I'M NOT GOING TO SAY ONLY A HAWAIIAN CAN.

THAT WOULD BE LUDICROUS.

WE NEED TO LET THE VOICES HAWAI'I SPEAK FOR THE LAND, WATER AND AIR.

>>Yunji: SLYVIA, I WANT TO BRING IN THIS QUESTION.

A VIEWER IS ASKING, WHAT ARE THE SIGNIFICANT DIFFERENCES OF THE GREEN PARTY FROM THE TWO POLITICAL PARTIES?

WHAT WOULD YOU SAY?

>> MAIN DIFFERENCE IS WE'RE INDEPENDENT FROM LARGE, BIG MONEY DONATIONS.

ACTUALLY, TONIGHT I'M VERY INSPIRED BY OUR SIMILARITIES THAT ARE BEING PRESENTED HERE, AND SO MANY THINGS THAT EVERYONE IS TALKING ABOUT HERE, THE VALUES ARE VERY SIMILAR.

AND PART OF THE GREEN PHILOSOPHY IS WE ARE ALL CONNECTED.

WHAT CONNECTS US IN HAWAI'I IS POWERFUL.

WE HAVE THE MOST BEAUTIFUL PLACE AND MOST PRECIOUS RESOURCES.

I JUST FEEL LIKE LET'S GET TOGETHER AFTER THE SHOW.

LET'S ALL GET TOGETHER, GET TO KNOW EACH OTHER, FIND OUR COMMON GROUND, AND IT'S GREAT FOR ALL OF US TO HAVE VOICES.

AND THIRD PARTIES ARE IMPORTANT.

AT THE SAME TIME, BUILD COALITIONS.

WHERE CAN WE BE UNANIMOUS TO MOVE FORWARD AND DO SOMETHING POWERFUL.

ALL OF US FEEL PASSIONATE ABOUT THAT.

>>Yunji: I WANT TO SEE THE VIDEO OF THE FOLLOW-UP.

ERIC, CAN YOU TELL US A LITTLE BIT ABOUT WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE LANDSCAPE WE TALKED ABOUT SAYS, NO MORE MAJORITY OF DEMOCRATS.

WE NEED BALANCE IN POLITICS.

WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE WAY POLITICS UNFOLDS IN OUR STATE, WHY DO WE NEED MORE CHOICE?

>> THAT'S A REALLY GOOD QUESTION.

THE ANSWER IS THE PARTY IN POWER HAS TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY.

FOR THE RESULTS, NOT WHAT THEY PROMISE AND WANT TO HELP PEOPLE BUT RESULTS.

LET'S TAKE THE $88 BILLION OF UNFUNDED LIABILITY IN THE STATE.

$60,000 FOR A MAN, WOMEN AND CHILD.

FAMILY OF FOUR, A QUARTER MILLION DOLLARS THEY'VE INDEBTED EVERY CITIZEN IN HAWAI'I.

RAIL SYSTEM IS GOING TO COST $13 BILLION THAT IT MAY OR MAY NOT EVEN HAPPEN.

THESE ARE REAL CONSEQUENCES.

AND WE TALKING ABOUT HOMELESS PROBLEMS.

AS LONG AS THAT LEVEL OF REALLY EXTRACTING WEALTH FROM THE CITIZENS TO THOSE IN POWER, WE HAVE TO STOP THIS.

AND THE ONLY WAY TO DO IT, AND I LOVE THE IDEA.

AMAZED AT THE SIMILARITIES BETWEEN THE PARTIES AND THEIR VALUE SYSTEM.

I WOULD VERY MUCH LIKE TO GET TOGETHER.

IT'S GOING TO TAKE ALL OF US UNITED.

WHEN I HEAR THE REPRESENTATIVES SPEAK ABOUT THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY, I BELIEVE THE MAJORITY OF CITIZENS OF THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY ARE WITH US.

TROUBLE IS WHEN YOU HAVE THAT MUCH POWER, IT JUST BECOMES CORRUPT.

IT'S THE NATURE OF THINGS.

WE NEED TO HAVE A GREAT AWAKENING AND GET BACK TO THE CONSTITUTION AND INDIVIDUAL RIGHTS.

AND I THINK WE SHARE THAT VALUE.

I'M STOKED THAT YOU GOT US TOGETHER NIGHT.

WE MAY BE ABLE TO CREATE A MOVEMENT THAT REPRESENTS THE MOM AND POP AND ORDINARY CITIZEN OF HAWAI'I THAT IS SICK AND TIRED OF THESE POOR RESULTS AND BEING FLEECED.

>>Yunji: ED, WHAT ABOUT THAT IDEA OF JOINING FORCES?

THERE WAS THAT COMMENT.

I'VE LOST IT IN THE SHUFFLE.

A VIEWER WAS SURPRISED TO KNOW HOW MUCH YOU HAVE IN COMMON WITH ERIC'S.

WHAT ABOUT THERE BEING FEWER OF YOU AND FINDING MORE COMMON GROUND AND UNITING IN THAT WAY?

>> I AM ALSO AMAZED THAT WE HAVE BASICALLY THE SAME VALUE, AND I LIKE WHAT ERIC SAID.

I LOOK AT THE CONSTITUTION PARTY AS A MOM AND POP STORE.

THE BASIC CONCEPT.

THE CONSTITUTION.

AND REGARDLESS OF WHETHER WE ARE RUNNING FOR A NATIONAL OFFICE OR ON THE LOCAL LEVEL, THE CONSTITUTION IS THE MOST IMPORTANT LAW OF THE LAND.

WE CANNOT MESS WITH IT, AND WHAT'S BEEN HAPPENING IS WE HAVE MESSED WITH IT.

THAT'S WHY WE HAVE A CHAOTIC SOCIETY TODAY.

WE'VE GOTTEN AWARE FROM THE RATIONALE CONCEPT OUR FOUNDING FATHERS CREATED.

WORKED FOR THE LAST TWO HUNDRED YEARS, AND IT'S GOING TO WORK FOR THE NEXT TWO HUNDRED YEARS IF WE STICK TO DEFENDING THE CONSTITUTION, THE BILL OF RIGHTS AND UNDERSTANDING THAT THERE'S A CREATOR FOR ALL OF THIS.

AND HE GAVE IT TO US SO WE CAN ENJOY LIFE.

THE LIFE OF THE PURSUIT OF HAPPINESS.

>>Yunji: LYNN, THIS QUESTION FROM MAUI.

AND SAYS ON THIS DAY OF TRANSGENDER VISIBILITY ALONG WITH DON'T SAY GAY LEGISLATION IN THE U.S., WHAT ARE THE STANCES OF CONSERVATIVES ON THE PANEL WHEN IT COMES TO LGBTQ RIGHTS?

THIS IS SOMETHING THAT INTERESTS THIS VIEWER, AND I'D LIKE TO GET YOUR THOUGHTS.

>> ACTUALLY, THAT IS NOT ONLY A NATIONAL, IT'S A LOCAL ISSUE.

THERE WERE TWO BILLS MOVING THROUGH THE STATE HOUSE THAT HAD TO DO WITH MAKING -- BASICALLY, IT WAS A PARENTAL RIGHTS ISSUE.

WHEN YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT THE LGBTQ COMMUNITY.

I HAVE NO PROBLEM SAYING GAY.

I THINK THAT WAS MISCONSTRUED.

LABELED AS A DON'T SAY GAY BILL.

LOCALLY, YOU HAVE TWO BILLS THAT ARE, LIKE I SAID, AN ASSAULT ON PARENTAL RIGHTS.

WHEN YOU HAVE CHILDREN WHO ARE MAYBE THINKING -- NOT EVEN THINKING ABOUT SEXUAL INVOLVEMENT OR SEXUALITY ISSUES AT A VERY YOUNG AGE, AND YOU'RE HAVING THE SCHOOLS, THE GOVERNMENT REPLACING THE POSITION ON A VERY SENSITIVE ISSUE THAT PARENTS SHOULD BE THE PEOPLE WHO ACTUALLY ARE THE ONES WHO ARE COUNSELING YOUR CHILDREN.

YOU'RE TAKING AWAY THAT RIGHT FROM GOOD PARENTS WHO HAVE TO CLOTHES THEIR CHILDREN, FEED THEM, TAKE CARE OF THEIR EVERYDAY CONCERNS AND WITHIN A CHILD'S LIFE, AND TO SAY THAT YOU WANT TO TAKE AWAY THOSE RIGHTS OF PARENTS BY CIRCUMVENTING THE PARENTS' ABILITY TO TALK TO THEIR CHILDREN ABOUT THIS PARTICULAR ISSUE IS, TO ME, WHAT IS ANOTHER ISSUE THAT MAKES A LOT OF FOLKS UP IN ARMS ABOUT GOVERNMENT COMING IN AND SAYING, WE WANT TO TAKE OVER THE PARENTS' RESPONSIBILITY.

I THINK THAT'S WHY IT'S SO IMPORTANT FOR US TO, AT LEAST, IF THERE WAS SOMETHING THAT SAID WITH PARENTAL OPTING IN FOR COUNSELING OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT, THEN THERE WOULD BE AT LEAST THE ABILITY FOR PARENTS TO UNDERSTAND WHAT'S GOING ON WITH THEIR CHILDREN AND BE THE FIRST ONES TO BE ABLE TO BE INVOLVED IN THAT CHILD'S LIFE.

PEOPLE ARE GETTING FED UP ABOUT GOVERNMENT COMING IN AND SAYING WHAT THEY CAN AND CANNOT DO WITH THE WAY THEY RAISE THEIR CHILDREN.

>>Yunji: I THINK WE CAN DO A WHOLE SHOW ON THIS TOPIC.

THERE'S THIS DEBATE ABOUT PONO CHOICES AND HEAR SAME THINGS.

SHANNON, WHERE DO THE DEMOCRATS STAND?

>> THERE'S A LOT I'D LOVE TO RESPOND TO.

SOME OF WHAT ERIC SAID EARLIER.

BUT TO STICK WITH THIS TOPIC AT HAND FOR A MOMENT, OUR PARTY IS ONE OF INCLUSIVITY, AND WE'RE IN SUPPORT OF TRANS RIGHTS.

FOR ME PERSONALLY, I HAVE DEAR FRIENDS WHO THEIR CHILDREN ARE STRUGGLING WITH THEIR IDENTITY, AND THEY'RE GOING THROUGH SOME OF THIS.

IT'S A REAL ISSUE IN MY LIFE PERSONALLY AND SOMETHING THAT I WANT TO SEE THAT THOSE CHILDREN ARE SUPPORTED AND GETTING CARE THEY NEED.

ONLY THING MISUNDERSTANDING ABOUT THE BILLS, THE WAY I'M HEARING IT REPRESENTED, I DON'T THINK THERE'S ANY PUSH TO TAKE AWAY PARENTAL RIGHTS.

IT'S GETTING OFF SUBJECT, A LITTLE BIT BEING MISCONSTRUED.

OVERALL, IT'S ABOUT THE SAFETY OF THE CHILDREN FIRST AND MAKING SURE KIDS WHO NEED SUPPORT ARE GETTING THE SUPPORT THAT THEY DESERVE.

OVERALL, I WOULD SAY THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY IS 100% IN SUPPORT OF LGBTQ RIGHTS AND ABSOLUTELY STANDS WITH OUR TRANS FRIENDS AND FAMILY MEMBERS.

>>Yunji: IT'S HARD TO PICK ONE ISSUE BECAUSE THE STATE IS FACING SO MUCH.

TOURISM, VIRUS IS STILL WITH US.

I'D LOVE TO GO AROUND, A LIGHTNING ROUND, AND ASK YOU WHAT IS THE NUMBER ONE ISSUE FOR YOUR PARTY, AND WHY DO YOU THINK THAT YOU'RE BEST SUITED TO ADDRESS THAT?

SLYVIA, LET'S START WITH YOU.

>> THANK YOU.

HAWAI'I NEEDS A GREEN DEAL.

WE REBUILD THE ECONOMY AND REGENERATE THE LAND AT THE SAME TIME.

AND LIKE WHAT WAS EARLIER MENTIONED ABOUT SUPPORTING SMALL BUSINESSES, ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT SMALL BUSINESSES WE CAN SUPPORT IS SMALL FARMS SO WE CAN MOVE TOWARDS FOOD SOVEREIGNTY.

ABOUT 90% OF OUR FOOD IS IMPORTED.

GONE ARE THE DAYS OF BIG PLANTATIONS.

WE NEED TO HELP TRANSITION INTO A MORE SUSTAINABLE WAY OF DOING OUR AGRICULTURE AND PRODUCING OUR OWN FOOD AND FEEDING OUR OWN PEOPLE.

>>Yunji: JOYCLYNN, WHAT ABOUT YOU?

WHY IS YOUR PARTY BEST SUITED TO ADDRESS IT?

>> THERE'S THREE.

LAND, WATER AND AIR.

IT CONNECTS TOGETHER.

WE'VE GOT BIG CORPORATION GOBBLING WHAT THEY -- WHAT THEY CONSIDER TMKs.

IN HAWAI'I, WE SAY YOU LOOK TO YOUR PAST TO FIND YOUR FUTURE.

A LOT ARE NOW RESEARCHING AND WANTING TO GET INTO THE LAWS OF HAWAI'I.

AND HOW THEIR LANDS WERE ALL OF A SUDDEN NOT THEIR LANDS ANYMORE.

AND WITH THE LANDS COME THE RIGHTS WITH THE WATER.

WITH THE WATER COMES RIGHTS TO LIFE.

TO BE ABLE TO FEED YOURSELF, PRODUCE AND FEED YOUR NEIGHBORS AND THE ELDERLY AND THE YOUNG ONES WHO CANNOT.

FOR US, WE NEED TO LOOK AT -- GO BACK AND STUDY WHAT THE KANAWAI IS TELLING US.

IF IT IS IN LINE WITH WHAT HAWAI'I NEEDS.

AND THE KANAWAI IS LAW.

I THINK THE LAND, WATER AND AIR AND A LOT OF LAND TITLES THAT ARE IN QUESTION, I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT.

A LOT OF THE PEOPLE ARE LOOKING TOWARDS THAT.

NOT SAYING GO AND LOOK FOR LAND TO KICK PEOPLE OUT.

MAKE SURE EVERYTHING IS CORRECT.

>>Yunji: ERIC, MY GUESS WOULD BE FISCAL RESPONSIBILITY.

WHAT DO YOU THINK IS THE MOST IMPORTANT ISSUE?

>> THAT IS IMPORTANT, AS WELL AS TRANSPARENCY IN GOVERNMENT.

WE SHOULD KNOW WHO'S GOT THE CONTRACTS AND SHOULD BE OPEN BOOK AND TRANSPARENT.

BUT I WANT TO TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT FARMING AND SELF-SUSTAINABILITY.

THE GOVERNOR, I REMEMBER GOING TO ONE OF HIS MEETINGS AND TALKING ABOUT WE NEED TO MAKE THE ISLAND MORE SELF-SUFFICIENT SO WE CAN FEED OURSELVES.

I'VE BEEN IN AGRICULTURE FOR FOUR YEARS.

THE AMOUNT OF GOVERNMENT REGULATIONS IS DRIVING FARMERS OUT OF THE BUSINESS.

SO FEWER -- YOU LOOK AT THE POPULATION, AND IT'S ALL OLDER FOLKS.

NO YOUNGER PEOPLE CAN GET INTO IT.

WE'VE BEEN BURDENED BY THESE UNNECESSARY REGULATIONS, AND IT'S DRIVING SMALL BUSINESSES OUT.

SO I LOVE THE FACT THAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT CLEAN AIR, CLEAN WATER, AND THE LAND BECAUSE THAT IS WHAT IS GOING TO SUSTAIN HAWAI'I.

THOSE ARE REALLY IMPORTANT.

WE'VE GOT TO FOCUS ON THAT.

RIGHT NOW THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY IN CHARGE, ALLOCATES 1% OF THE BUDGET TOWARDS A CULTURE.

HOW CAN YOU HAVE SOMEONE SAY WE WANT TO BE SELF-SUSTAINING AND RELIANT ON OURSELVES ON FOOD WHERE YOU CAN GROW FOOD ALL YEAR AND ONLY ALLOCATE 1%.

LIST GOES ON.

I WAS TOLD BY A UNITED STATES SENATOR AND A LOCAL REPRESENTATIVE OF THE HOUSE, AND I WAS IN AN AG MEETING, YOU'VE GOT TO PAY TO PLAY.

THEY'RE TELLING ME IN A PUBLIC MEETING, YOU'VE GOT TO PAY TO PLAY.

WE NEED TO GET TOGETHER AND DEMAND OUR STATE BACK.

IT'S OUTRAGEOUS.

WE'RE GOING TO CRUMBLE UNLESS WE CHANGE WHO WE HAVE IN POWER.

>>Yunji: OKAY.

ED, WHAT WOULD YOU SAY IS THE NUMBER ONE ISSUE FOR YOUR PARTY?

>> I CAN ONLY SPEAK FOR MYSELF AS REPRESENTATIVE OF CONSTITUTION PARTY OF HAWAI'I.

NUMBER ONE ISSUE IS MORAL ISSUE OF RIGHT TO LIFE.

FOR THE LAST 30 OR SO ODD YEARS WE HAVE MURDERED OVER 50 MILLION BABIES.

I CAN'T BEGIN TO FATHOM THE INCREDIBLE TRAGEDY.

CONSTITUTION PARTY, WE ARE AGAINST ABORTION AND WE BELIEVE THAT.

AS FAR AS THE LOCAL LEVEL, THAT'S IT'S NUMBER ONE, MORAL ISSUE OF ABORTION.

>>Yunji: LYNN, WHAT ARE THE REPUBLICAN ISSUE?

WHY DO YOU THINK THE REPUBLICANS ARE THE BEST PARTIES TO TAKE IT ON?

>> THERE ARE SO MANY ISSUES, BUT I WILL SAY ACCOUNTABILITY IS THE BIG ISSUE NOW.

THAT'S A THEME OF TONIGHT, THAT A ONE-PARTY SYSTEM CANNOT GO UNCHALLENGED, AND IT HAS BEEN.

BACK IN THE '50s, YOU HAD THE DEMOCRATS, THE REFORM PARTY.

WE NEED TO STOP THE DEMOCRATS FROM BEING THE MONOPOLY.

THEY'RE RESPONSIBLE FOR ALL THE RESULTS ERIC WAS SAYING EARLIER THAT WE HAVE TODAY.

WE CAN DO BETTER.

WE NEED CHANGE.

WE NEED PEOPLE TO STAND UP, STAND FOR WHAT HAWAI'I AND WHAT I BELIEVE MANY OF OUR CONSERVATIVE VALUES, NO MATTER WHAT PARTY YOU'RE A PART OF.

THAT IS SOMETHING THAT ACCOUNTABILITY AND A TWO-PARTY SYSTEM.

I WOULD SAY MINIMUM OF TWO-PARTY SYSTEM HERE IN HAWAI'I.

THAT WE WILL BE ABLE TO MAKE CHANGES.

LET'S -- THE TIME IS NOW.

AND WE CAN'T LET ONE MORE ELECTION CYCLE GO BY WITH THIS ONE-PARTY SYSTEM UNACCOUNTABLE TO HAWAI'I'S PEOPLE.

>>Yunji: SHANNON, I HAVE TO LET YOU RESPOND.

THERE WERE POINTS BROUGHT UP THAT TARGET THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY.

WHAT DO YOU THINK IS THE NUMBER ONE ISSUE, AND WHY ARE THE DEMOCRATS BEST SUITED TO SOLVE IT?

>> GOING BACK TO ERIC, WHEN HE MENTIONED THAT THERE'S NO YOUNG FARMERS, HOW MUCH HIS SON -- HE'S A YOUNG FARMER AND INSPIRED MYSELF AND MY HUSBAND TO DO THE FARMING THAT WE DO.

I HEARD THE FIRST TWO PANELISTS MENTION OUR ENVIRONMENT.

THAT IS SOMETHING WE NEED TO FOCUS ON.

GOING TO OTHER TOPICS, ACCOUNTABILITY, I MENTIONED EARLIER THAT'S SOMETHING OUR PARTY IS STRUGGLING WITH.

WE HAVE A CONVENTION COMING UP AT THE END OF MAY.

IT WOULD BE GREAT TO GET ALL MEMBERS TO JOIN US AT THAT CONVENTION, AND THEY CAN FIND OUT MORE AT DPH CONVENTION.com.

BUT THE BIG ISSUE THAT IS DRIVING OUR PARTY RIGHT NOW THAT'S GETTING A LOT OF PEOPLE MOTIVATED, WE DON'T GET MUCH CREDIT, BUT A LOT OF CHANGES THAT WE'VE HAD.

AND LARGE CHANGE, LABOR REFORM, SOCIAL SUPPORT NETWORKS, ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTIONS WE HAVE IN HAWAI'I.

WE HAVE OUR HARD WORK AND PERSISTENCE OF OUR PARTY TO THANK FOR THAT.

ONE EXAMPLE OF AN ISSUE COMING UP IS THE LIVING WAGE.

WE BELIEVE $15 IS THE BARE MINIMUM.

MANY MEMBERS ARE PUSHING FOR AT LEAST $18 BY 2026.

AND EVEN THAT WOULD STILL BE A POVERTY WAGE BASED ON OUR RISING COST OF LIVING IN HAWAI'I.

THAT'S PROBABLY THE ISSUE THAT OVERALL MANY DEMOCRATS IS IMPORTANT TO THEM.

THEY WOULD LIKE TO SEE A CHANGE.

AGAIN, THOSE OTHER ISSUES ARE SO IMPORTANT TOO.

>> YUNJI: MAHALO TO YOU FOR JOINING US TONIGHT.

AND WE THANK OUR GUESTS -- ERIC WEINERT FROM THE LIBERTARIAN PARTY OF HAWAI'I SHANNON MATSON FROM THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY OF HAWAI'I, SYLVIA LITCHFIELD OF THE GREEN PARTY OF HAWAI'I, FROM THE CONSTITUTION PARTY OF HAWAI'I ED GAZMEN, LYNN FINNEGAN FROM THE HAWAI'I REPUBLICAN PARTY, AND JOYCLYNN COSTA FROM THE ALOHA 'AINA PARTY.

>>> NEXT WEEK ON INSIGHTS, IT WAS SIX YEARS AGO WHEN GOVERNOR IGE FIRST FLOATED THE IDEA OF BUILDING A NEW JAIL ON O'AHU TO REPLACE AN AGING AND OVERCROWDED OCCC.

BUT OVER THE YEARS THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF BACK AND FORTH WITH CONCERNS ABOUT PLANNING, DESIGN AND OF COURSE MONEY TO PAY FOR IT.

SO WHERE DOES THE PROJECT STAND?

PLEASE JOIN US NEXT WEEK.

I'M YUNJI DE NIES FOR INSIGHTS ON PBS HAWAI'I.

ALOHA!