>> THE RACE TO BECOME THE DEMOCRATIC NOMINEE FOR LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR IS A CROWDED ONE.

THE FIELD INCLUDES WELL KNOWN CANDIDATES FROM THE POLITICAL AND BUSINESS SECTORS AND IT'S UNCLEAR HOW THEY WILL SPLIT THE VOTE.

WE'VE INVITED THE TOP FOUR CANDIDATES TO OUR STUDIO AND YOU'LL HAVE A CHANCE TO ASK EACH OF THEM WHERE THEY STAND ON THE ISSUES AND WHY THEY'RE QUALIFIED FOR THE JOB.

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

>> Daryl: ALOHA AND WELCOME TO INSIGHTS ON PBS HAWAI'I...I'M DARYL HUFF.

IN HAWAI'I POLITICS IT'S VOTERS WHO MAKE THE DECISION ON WHO WILL BE RUNNING MATES IN THE RACE FOR GOVERNOR AND LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR.

SIX DEMOCRATS ARE FIGHTING TO MAKE THE GENERAL ELECTION BALLOT AS THE PARTY'S NOMINATION FOR LG.

THE LEADING CANDIDATES INCLUDE A FORMER STATE LAWMAKER, A FORMER CITY COUNCILMEMBER AND WELL-KNOWN LEADERS IN THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY WHO ARE LOOKING TO BREAK INTO POLITICS.

TONIGHT, WE'LL HEAR FROM EACH OF THEM AS TO WHY THEY WANT TO BE THE STATE'S SECOND IN COMMAND.

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.

FORMER HONOLULU CITY COUNCIL CHAIRMAN IKAIKA ANDERSON WAS FIRST ELECTED TO THE COUNCIL IN 2009.

HE SERVED FOR 11 YEARS BEFORE STEPPING DOWN IN 2020.

HE'S A GRADUATE OF KAMEHAMEHA SCHOOLS AND THE UNIVERSITY OF HAWAI'I AT MANOA WHERE HE EARNED DEGREES IN JOURNALISM AND POLITICAL SCIENCE.

SHERRY MENOR-MCNAMARA IS THE PRESIDENT AND CEO OF THE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE HAWAI'I.

IT'S A POSITION SHE'S HELD SINCE 2013.

SHE WAS RAISED IN HILO ON HAWAI'I ISLAND AND HAS DEGREES FROM WAI'EA HIGH SCHOOLÖUCLA, THE WILLIAM S. RICHARDSON SCHOOL OF LAW AND THE SHIDLER COLLEGE OF BUSINESS.

STATE REPRESENTATIVE SYLVIA LUKE WAS BORN IN SOUTH KOREA.

HER FAMILY IMMIGRATED TO HAWAI'I IN 1977 WHEN SHE WAS IN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL.

AFTER ROOSEVELT HIGH SCHOOL, SHE WENT TO UH MANOA AND THE SAN FRANCISCO SCHOOL OF LAW.

SHE HAS SERVED IN THE STATE HOUSE IN 1998 AND WAS MOST RECENTLY CHAIR OF THE FINANCE COMMITTEE.

AND KEITH AMEMIYA IS THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE CENTRAL PACIFIC BANK FOUNDATION.

FOR 12 YEARS HE WAS THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE HAWAI'I HIGH SCHOOL ATHLETIC ASSOCIATION.

HE'S A GRADUATE OF PUNAHOU SCHOOL, UH MANOA AND ALSO EARNED A LAW DEGREE AT THE WILLIAM S. RICHARDSON SCHOOL OF LAW.

ALSO ON THE BALLOT FOR THE DEMOCRATIC PRIMARY ARE DANIEL CUNNINGHAM AND SAM PULETASI.

LET ME START WITH YOU, SYLVIA LUKE.

I APOLOGIZE.

I SAID YOU WERE A FORMER STATE REPRESENTATIVE.

YOU'RE STILL IN THE STATE.

HOW DO YOU DEFINE YOUR VISION OF WHAT A LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR SHOULD BE?

I'LL ASK THIS QUESTION OF ALL THE CANDIDATES.

HOW DO YOU CONVINCE THE GOVERNOR TO DO IT?

>> THE REASON WHY I DECIDED TO RUN FOR LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR IS OVER THE YEARS, WHILE I WAS IN THE LEGISLATURE, I SAW A LOT OF DISCONNECT.

YOU PROBABLY SAW IT TOO.

AND MANY OF THE PEOPLE IN THE AUDIENCE AND MANY OF THE PEOPLE AROUND THE STATE RECOGNIZE A LOT OF TIMES, THE PRIORITIES OF THE LEGISLATURE DON'T REALLY ALIGN WITH THE GOVERNOR OR THE LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR.

AND BASED ON MY EXPERIENCE, IT REALLY NEEDS THAT COHESIVE WORKING RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE LEGISLATURE AND THE EXECUTIVE.

I WAS ABLE TO PASS A LOT OF LAWS, AND A LOT OF LAWS THAT BENEFIT THE STATE OF HAWAI'I AND THE PEOPLE OF THIS STATE.

CAN YOU IMAGINE, WHAT I HAVE FOUND IS A LOT OF TIMES WE PASS LAWS, BUT IT'S THE IMPLEMENTATION AND IT'S THE WAY WE EXECUTE SOME OF THOSE LAWS THAT SOMETIMES LAG.

SO I WANT TO TAKE THOSE EXPERIENCES, USE MY RELATIONSHIP WITH THE PEOPLE IN THE COMMUNITY AND THE LEGISLATURE AND EFFECTUATE SOME THINGS WE WERE ABLE TO PASS.

AND BE THAT BRIDGE BETWEEN THE GOVERNOR AND THE LEGISLATURE.

>> Daryl: I'LL CIRCLE BACK ON THE QUESTION ABOUT HOW YOU GET THE GOVERNOR TO LET YOU DO THAT.

LET ME GO TO KEITH AMEMIYA.

WHAT'S YOUR VISION FOR WHAT A LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR SHOULD BE DOING?

>> THERE'S SO MANY CHALLENGES FACING THE STATE TODAY, DARYL, THAT THE ROLE OF THE LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR IS MORE IMPORTANT THAN EVER.

I'M RUNNING FOR LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR BECAUSE WE NEED CHANGE.

I'M THE ONLY CANDIDATE IN THE RACE THAT'S NOT A CAREER POLITICIAN OR A LOBBYIST.

I'M THE ONLY CANDIDATE IN THE RACE WITH EXECUTIVE LEADERSHIP EXPERIENCE, LEADING LARGE STATEWIDE ORGANIZATIONS WITH LARGE NUMBER OF EMPLOYEES, WITH LARGE BUDGETS WHERE I WAS DIRECTLY RESPONSIBLE FOR THAT COMPANY'S BOTTOM LINE.

I'M THE ONLY CANDIDATE WITH CAREER LONG DEDICATION TO PUBLIC SERVICE WHERE I WORKED IN COMMUNITY THROUGHOUT MY CAREER.

WHEN I WAS RUNNING THE HAWAI'I ATHLETIC ASSOCIATION, I WAS IN CHARGE OF 98 HIGH SCHOOLS ACROSS THE STATE.

I VISITED ALL 98 HIGH SCHOOLS MANY TIMES OVER.

I GOT TO KNOW THOSE COMMUNITIES WHERE THOSE HIGH SCHOOLS WERE SITUATED VERY, VERY WELL.

THOSE RELATIONSHIPS, THOSE EXPERIENCE WILL SERVE ME WELL AS YOUR LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR.

FINALLY, I'M THE ONLY CANDIDATE WITH A REAL PLAN TO CLEAN UP CORRUPTION.

THAT STARTS WITH -- >> Daryl: WE'LL MOVE ON TO THAT.

YOU GOT A LITTLE BIT LONG FOR ME.

WE'VE GOT FOUR PEOPLE HERE.

SHERRY MENOR-McNAMARA, WHAT WOULD YOU WANT TO DO AS LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR?

>> WELL, FIRST, I WOULD LIKE TO PARTNER WITH THE GOVERNOR TO ENSURE THAT I CAN SUPPORT HE OR SHE THE BEST WAY POSSIBLE.

TWO, I WOULD LIKE TO FOCUS ON ECONOMIC RECOVERY PLAN BECAUSE THAT'S WHERE I BRING IN THE EXPERIENCE.

AS A STATEWIDE LEADER OF A BUSINESS ORGANIZATION THAT REPRESENTS OVER 2,000 BUSINESSES, REPRESENT OVER 200,000 EMPLOYEES AND 80% SMALL BUSINESSES.

I FEEL THAT I CAN BRING THAT PULSE TO THE TABLE, AND THE EXPERIENCE, AND I WANTED TO CORRECT MR. AMEMIYA.

I DID HEAR HE MENTIONED HE'S THE ONLY EXECUTIVE, BUT I AM THE PRESIDENT AND CEO OF THE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE AND STATEWIDE ORGANIZATION.

SO I AM AN EXECUTIVE, AS WELL.

>> Daryl: YOU'RE PERFECTLY FREE TO CORRECT EACH OTHER IN THIS PROGRAM.

IKAIKA ANDERSON, I'D LIKE TO HEAR SOMETHING SPECIFIC.

WHAT ELSE WOULD YOU LIKE TO DO?

>> THANKS FOR THE OPPORTUNITY.

YOU KNOW, I'M THE ONLY CANDIDATE RUNNING FOR LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR WHO'S SERVED AS AN ELECTED EXECUTIVE.

HUGE DIFFERENCE, BEING AN ELECTED EXECUTIVE AND AN EXECUTIVE IN PRIVATE BUSINESS OR OUTSIDE GOVERNMENT.

THERE'S A HUGE DIFFERENCE THERE.

IF ELECTED LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR, I WOULD LOVE TO WORK ON WORKFORCE HOUSING, MUCH LIKE I DID ON HONOLULU CITY COUNCIL.

PROVIDING SHELTERS FOR OUR HOMELESS POPULATION, AS I WAS ABLE TO DO WHILE CHAIR OF HONOLULU CITY COUNCIL AND PARTNERING WITH THE CURRENT LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR'S OFFICE.

AND I'D ALSO LIKE TO SEE THE LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR BE A SOLID LIAISON WITH OUR COMMUNITIES IN THE NEIGHBOR ISLANDS.

AS I MOVE ACROSS THE STATE, ONE OF THE MAIN CONCERNS I HEAR OUR NEIGHBOR ISLAND OHANA IS THE STATE EXECUTIVE BRANCH OF GOVERNMENT SEEMS SO OAHU CENTRIC.

WHAT ABOUT US ON THE NEIGHBOR ISLANDS?

AS A HONOLULU CITY COUNCILMEMBER, I REPRESENTED THE COUNCIL ON THE HAWAII STATE ASSOCIATION OF COUNTIES WHERE I BUILT UP A LOT OF FRIENDSHIPS.

THOSE ARE SOME OF THINGS I WOULD LIKE TO WORK ON AND BEING ABLE TO COMPLEMENT THE NEXT GOVERNOR.

>> Daryl: ON THAT NOTE TO SYLVIA LUKE.

YOU MENTIONED THAT YOU WOULD WANT TO WORK WITH THE GOVERNOR AND HELP DIRECT HIS PROGRAMS THROUGH LEGISLATURE.

WHAT IF YOU HAD A FUNDAMENTAL POLICY DIFFERENCE OR WHAT IF HE SAID NO, I DON'T TRUST YOU.

TRUST BETWEEN THE GOVERNOR AND LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR HAS OFTEN BEEN AN ISSUE IN OUR STATE.

HOW DO YOU OVERCOME THAT IF YOU HAVE LACK OF TRUST WITH THE PERSON YOU'RE ALMOST WORKING FOR.

>> AS YOU KNOW, DARYL, I WORK WITH BASICALLY 75 OTHER MEMBERS WHO ARE ELECTED BY THE PEOPLE, AND THEY'RE THERE WITH DIFFERENT AGENDAS, SOMETIMES DIFFERENT EGOS AND DIFFERENT PERSONALITIES.

I WAS ABLE TO WORK WITH 75 DIFFERENT PEOPLE TO COME TOGETHER TO SOLVE A LOT OF HAWAI'I'S ISSUES, AND I WENT THROUGH THREE DIFFERENT BUDGET CHAIRS ON THE SENATE SIDE.

ONE WAS DAVID IGE.

AND PART OF THE PROBLEM WITH THIS GOVERNOR IS COMMUNICATION.

BUT HE AND I COMMUNICATED VERY WELL.

SOMETIMES PUBLICLY AND PRIVATELY, HE AND I HAD DISAGREEMENTS, BUT IT WAS ME HE RELIED ON.

ESPECIALLY DURING THE PANDEMIC.

WHEN WE DEALT WITH UNEMPLOYMENTS CLAIMS THAT WENT FROM TWO THOUSAND TO TWO HUNDRED THOUSAND CLAIMS.

I WENT TO HIM AND I ASKED HIM, CAN I HELP YOU WORK ON THIS?

AND HE SAID OKAY.

I WAS ABLE TO SET UP THE SATELLITE OFFICE, WHICH HAD TWO HUNDRED PEOPLE WORKING.

>> Daryl: SHERRY, YOU'RE DIFFERENT FROM THE OTHER CANDIDATES IN YOUR BUSINESS EXPERIENCE.

SOME PEOPLE PERCEIVE YOU AS BEING A LITTLE BIT ON THE CONSERVATIVE SIDE.

I DON'T KNOW IF THAT'S FAIR TO SAY.

BUT YOU COULD END UP WITH A PROGRESSIVE GOVERNOR WHOSE POLICIES ARE DIFFERENT FROM WHAT THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY WANTS.

HOW WOULD YOU OVERCOME THAT KIND OF A DIFFERENCE?

>> THE CHAMBER RIGHT NOW HAS DIFFERENT INDUSTRIES, DIFFERENT BACKGROUNDS.

MY ROLE IS TO LISTEN TO MY CONSTITUENCY.

I RECOGNIZE THAT THE LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR ROLE IS A MUCH BROADER CONSTITUENCY.

MY ROLE IS TO LISTEN TO THE PEOPLE, GO OUT INTO THE COMMUNITIES ACROSS THE ISLANDS AND ENSURE THEIR VOICES ARE HEARD AND BRING THAT TO THE TABLE.

NOW WITH THE GOVERNOR AND LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR, YES, THERE MAY BE DISAGREEMENT, AND I BELIEVE I SHOULD SHARE MY PERSPECTIVE, BUT IN THE ENDING WHATEVER THE GOVERNOR DECIDES, IT'S MY OBLIGATION TO SUPPORT HIS OR HER PLATFORM OR PLAN.

THAT'S GOING TO BE CRITICAL TO GET THINGS DONE BECAUSE WE CANNOT HAVE TWO COMPETING POLICY AGENDAS.

AND I KNOW SOME HAVE PROPOSED THEIR AGENDAS, BUT IF YOU HAVE TWO COMPETING AGENDAS, THEN NOTHING WILL GET DONE.

I BELIEVE WE NEED A LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR THAT WILL RESPECT THE POSITION, WORK WITH THE GOVERNOR, AS WELL AS THE LEGISLATURE.

AND I HAVE 16 YEARS OF EXPERIENCE WORKING WITH THE LEGISLATURE IN ALL LEVELS OF GOVERNMENT.

>> Daryl: KEITH, I KNOW I CUT YOU OFF WHEN YOU WERE TRYING TO TALK ABOUT CORRUPTION AGENDA.

THAT STRUCK ME IN ADVOCATING FOR CLEAN GOVERNMENT AND SO ON.

WOULD YOU BE WILLING TO CALL OUT A GOVERNOR WHO YOU THOUGHT WAS ACTING IN CONFLICT OF INTEREST.

>> NO QUESTION.

CORRUPTION IS THE ROOT OF MISTRUST THAT PEOPLE HAVE IN GOVERNMENT.

THE LEGISLATURE IS A PRIME EXAMPLE WHERE THERE'S A LOT OF ISSUES ABOUT TRUST, ABOUT CORRUPTION AND ABOUT WHETHER OUR LEADERS ARE BEHOLDEN TO SPECIAL INTERESTS AND LOBBYISTS.

LET'S LOOK AT, AS AN EXAMPLE, SYLVIA LUKE.

SHE'S RECEIVED OVER $31,000 IN DONATION FROM DENNIS MITSUNAGA, WHO WAS CHARGED WITH CORRUPTION JUST LAST WEEK.

SHE'S RECEIVED $25,000 IN DONATIONS FROM MILTON CHOY, WHO'S ABOUT TO BE INDITED WITH CORRUPTION ANY DAY NOW.

MILTON CHOY HAS DONATED OVER $220,000 TO 55 OTHER LEGISLATORS.

56 LEGISLATORS TOTAL OUT OF 76 LEGISLATORS IN THE ENTIRE STATE LEGISLATURE.

AND LAST BUT NOT LEAST, SYLVIA LUKE'S RECEIVED $800,000 IN DONATIONS DURING THE LEGISLATIVE SESSION FROM LOBBYISTS AND SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS.

IF THAT'S NOT BEING BEHOLDEN TO SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS AND LOBBYISTS, AND NOT ACTING IN THE BEST INTERS OF THE COMMUNITY, I DON'T KNOW WHAT IS.

LET'S NEXT GO TO IKAIKA ANDERSON.

IKAIKA ANDERSON -- >> Daryl: ONE AT A TIME.

YOU HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO RESPOND TO WHAT HE JUST SAID.

>> YOU KNOW, WE HAVE AN OBLIGATION TO UPHOLD THE PUBLIC TRUST, AND ALL THOSE DONATIONS, THOSE ARE LEGAL DONATIONS.

AND WHETHER CONTRIBUTIONS WERE MADE TO MY CAMPAIGN, I FELT NO OBLIGATION TO DO ANY OF THOSE THINGS.

KEITH AMEMIYA RAN IN THE MAYOR'S RACE TWO YEARS AGO, AND HE RECEIVED TWO MILLION DOLLARS IN DONATIONS FROM VARIOUS PEOPLE AS WELL.

AND ONE OF THOSE PEOPLE WERE ACTUALLY INDICTED FOR ILLEGAL BUNDLING.

SO INSTEAD OF THROWING STONES AT OTHER INDIVIDUALS LIKE MYSELF AND IKAIKA, WHO HAVE BEEN IN OFFICE, MR. AMEMIYA RECEIVED HIS SHARE FROM DIFFERENT ORGANIZATIONS.

IT'S ABOUT IF WE WANT TO TALK ABOUT INFLUENCE OF MONEY, LET'S FACE IT.

EVERYBODY RECEIVED DONATIONS, BUT IT'S WHETHER, AS AN INDIVIDUAL, YOU ARE GOING TO BE INFLUENCED BY THAT.

AND I CAN TELL YOU FOR MYSELF, I'M NOT INFLUENCED BY THE VARIOUS DONORS AND CONTRIBUTIONS.

I WOULD HAVE TO CHALLENGE ANYONE WHO QUESTIONS THAT.

AND MR. AMEMIYA RECEIVED $2 MILLION FROM VARIOUS DEVELOPERS.

SO IN THE SAME SENSE, IS HE INSINUATING HE WOULD BE INFLUENCED BY SOME DEVELOPERS WHO DONATED TO HIM?

>> Daryl: WHAT I HAVE TO DO HERE, BE CAREFUL ABOUT THIS.

I DON'T WANT THIS TO GO BACK AND FORTH.

IKAIKA, YOU WERE TRYING TO SAY SOMETHING.

I WANT TO GIVE YOU A CHANCE TO SAY WHAT YOU WANTED TO SAY.

>> IN LOOKING AT GOVERNMENT CORRUPTION, FOR EXAMPLE, THE STATE LEGISLATURE HAD AMPLE OPPORTUNITY TO ADDRESS THIS WITH GOVERNMENT PENSIONS IN REGARDS TO CONVICTED FELONS.

BLATANT EXAMPLE, WHEN THE FORMER HOUSE FINANCE CHAIR -- VICE FINANCE CHAIR WAS CONVICTED, PLEADED GUILTY ESSENTIALLY, BUT THE LEGISLATURE SO-CALLED PUNISHMENT WAS ALLOW HIM TO KEEP HALF HIS PENSION.

I DON'T UNDERSTAND THAT.

THE BILL ORIGINATED IN THE HOUSE TAKING THE FULL PENSION.

THEN WENT OVER TO THE SENATE.

WAS REDUCED TO TAKING HALF THE PENSION, AND THE HOUSE AT THE END SAID, YEAH, WE'RE OKAY WITH THAT.

TO ME, EITHER YOU'RE GOING TO PUNISH THE INDIVIDUAL OR NOT.

YOU DON'T GET TO DO A HALF-BAKED LOAF OF BREAD.

>> Daryl: QUICKLY, KEITH.

30 SECONDS TO RESPOND TO WHAT SYLVIA SAID ABOUT THE MONEY YOU TOOK DURING MAYOR'S RACE.

IS THAT THE POT CALLING THE KETTLE BLACK?

>> NO, THERE'S A BIG DIFFERENCE.

I WASN'T IN OFFICE WHEN I TOOK THOSE DONATIONS, AND I DIDN'T HOLD FUNDRAISERS DURING LEGISLATIVE SESSION.

THERE'S A HUGE DIFFERENCE.

IT'S BASICALLY A SHAKEDOWN.

>> Daryl: SHERRY.

>> I WOULD LIKE TO SEE IF CANDIDATES THAT RECEIVED MONEY WILLING TO GIVE BACK THE MONEY.

THAT'S A WHOLE LOT OF MONEY.

>> Daryl: AS A CANDIDATE THAT MAY NOT BE AS WELL FINANCED OR HAVE ACCESS TO FUNDRAISERS THAT MR. AMEMIYA HAVE OR OTHER FOLKS, DO YOU FEEL THE MONEY SITUATION IN THIS LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR'S RACE CREATES A VERY UNFAIR PLAYING FIELD AS A CANDIDATE?

>> WHEN YOU HAVE THE CHAIR OF THE MONEY COMMITTEE, IT'S EASIER GET MONEY DONATED TO YOUR CAMPAIGN.

BUT FOR US, WE'RE FOCUSED ON A GRASSROOTS CAMPAIGN BECAUSE WE ARE A FIRST TIME CANDIDATE.

FOR ME, IT'S ABOUT THE PEOPLE AND ENSURING THEY'RE THE ONES I'M LISTENING TO.

IT'S MORE ABOUT JUST THE MONEY.

IT'S ABOUT THE PEOPLE.

>> AND SHERRY TALKED ABOUT GIVING MONEY BACK, DARYL.

ABSOLUTELY SHOULD GIVE MONEY BACK WHEN YOU, AS THE RECIPIENT OF THE CAMPAIGN DONATION, FEELS THAT THERE MAY BE SOME CONFLICT.

YEARS AGO, I RECEIVED SOME CAMPAIGN DOLLARS FROM SOMEONE RIGHT AFTER A COMMITTEE HAD ENDED, WHICH I WAS THE CHAIR OF THE COMMITTEE.

I SENT EVERY CENT BACK.

EVERY SINGLE CENT I SENT BACK.

AND I DIDN'T HAVE TO WAIT UNTIL THE NEWS MEDIA CAUGHT IT OR A CONSTITUENT CAUGHT IT.

I DIDN'T EVEN WAIT UNTIL IT WENT TO CAMPAIGN SPENDING.

MY TREASURER CALLED ME THAT EVENING AND TOLD ME THAT THESE MONIES HAD COME IN.

WE SENT IT BACK.

I WOULD LIKE TO BELIEVE THAT PEOPLE KNOW THE RIGHT THING TO DO.

THEY HAVE TO KNOW THE RIGHT THING TO DO.

>> Daryl: SYLVIA LUKE, AFTER THE SCANDAL INVOLVING REPRESENTATIVES CULLEN AND SENATOR ENGLISH, WHAT ACTUALLY HAPPENED IN THE LEGISLATURE TO DEAL WITH THIS?

BECAUSE IT IS CLEARLY A BIG CHALLENGE IN HAWAI'I POLITICS.

>> SO IMMEDIATELY AFTER, THE STATE HOUSE ORGANIZED A BUNCH OF ADVOCATES AND PULLED ADVOCATES TO LOOK AT DIFFERENT WAYS TO ADDRESS SOME OF THESE ISSUES.

LET ME GO BACK TO WHAT MR. ANDERSON SAID.

THE ISSUE ABOUT TAKING PENSION FROM CONVICTED FELONS ROSE OUT OF THE KEALOHA CASE.

THE KEALOHA SCANDAL WAS FROM THE CITY AND COUNTY OF HONOLULU, WHICH PLAGUED THE CITY AND COUNTY OF HONOLULU, AND IT HAS BEEN THE BIGGEST SCANDAL.

I NEVER HEARD ANY CITY COUNCILMEMBERS DURING THAT TIME DEMANDING FOR THE PENSION TO BE ELIMINATED, AND THAT'S WHAT LED THE STATE LEGISLATURE TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT.

IN THE LEGISLATURE, THAT'S HOW IT WORKS.

WE PUSHED THE BILL, WHICH WE FELT WAS THE RIGHT THING TO DO, WHICH IS NEED TO GET RID OF -- OR ELIMINATE FULL PENSION BENEFITS FROM CONVICTED FELONS.

BUT IF THE SENATE DOESN'T AGREE, DO WE SAY, OKAY, WE'RE NOT GOING TO DO IT?

OR WE'RE GOING TO AT LEAST TRY TO SETTLE FOR 50%.

BUT LET ME GO BACK TO KEITH -- >> Daryl: TO POINT OUT, THE PENSION SYSTEM IS CONTROLLED BY STATE GOVERNMENT.

>> THE CITY COUNCIL HAS NO CONTROL OVER THE PENSIONS.

IF I MAY REBUT, I'M NOT SURE IF YOU WATCHED THE NEWS, SYLVIA, OR NOT, BUT IN 2017 WHEN ALL OF THIS HAPPENED WITH CHIEF KEALOHA, HONOLULU CITY COUNCIL ABSOLUTELY DID SAY SOMETHING.

THE HONOLULU CITY COUNCIL TOLD THE HONOLULU POLICE COMMISSION AND TOLD THE CORPORATION COUNSEL THAT THE SETTLEMENT HAD TO BE APPROVED BY THE HONOLULU CITY COUNCIL.

HAD TO BE APPROVED BY THE HONOLULU CITY COUNCIL.

THE CORPORATION COUNSEL, DONNA LEONG, DISAGREED.

AND BECAUSE SHE DISAGREED, THAT'S LARGELY WHY SHE GOT INDICTED BY THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.

SO THE HONOLULU CITY COUNCIL ABSOLUTELY DID ATTEMPT TO GET INVOLVED.

WE TOLD THE POLICE COMMISSION THEY HAD TO COME TO THE CITY COUNCIL.

THEY DECIDED NOT TO.

>> BUT I'M GLAD THAT YOU RECOGNIZE THE FACT THAT THE HOUSE LED THE WAY IN ENSURING -- >> NO, YOU LED THE WAY IN ALLOWING, YOU ACQUIESCED TO THE SENATE ONLY TAKING HALF THE PENSION.

>> Daryl: OKAY.

LET ME -- >> I DO NOT RECOGNIZE THE HOUSE -- >> YOU JUST SAID -- >> Daryl: WE GOT AN HOUR.

KEITH?

I WOULD LIKE TO FOLLOW UP BY ASKING YOU WHAT SPECIFIC REFORMS WOULD YOU PROPOSE TO THE CAMPAIGN SPENDING SYSTEM?

AND I KNOW YOU'RE GOING TO SAY, YOU CAN'T TAKE MONEY WHILE YOU'RE IN OFFICE, BUT IF YOU BECAME LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR, ARE YOU SAYING YOU WOULDN'T TAKE CAMPAIGN CONTRIBUTIONS WHILE YOU WERE LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR?

>> NOT DURING THE LEGISLATIVE SESSION.

>> BUT YOU'RE NOT -- THAT'S NOT -- NO, WHILE YOU'RE LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR IS WHEN YOU HAVE THE POWER.

>> RIGHT.

BUT I MEAN -- >> Daryl: YOU WOULD BE LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR AND YOU TAKE THE MONEY?

>> SO YOU'RE ASKING IF I WOULD NOT TAKE ANY DONATIONS DURING THE ENTIRE TIME I WAS LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR?

>> Daryl: WELL, YOU TOLD HER SHE CAN'T TAKE MONEY -- >> DURING THE SESSION.

DURING THE SESSION WHEN BILLS ARE BEFORE THE LEGISLATURE, WHEN FUNDING REQUESTS ARE BEING MADE.

THAT'S WHAT I'M SAYING.

>> I'M GLAD YOU CLARIFIED BECAUSE THAT'S NOT WHAT YOU SAID IN THE BEGINNING.

>> OKAY.

>> THAT'S NOT WHAT YOU SAID.

YOU SAID YOU ARE NOT AN ELECTED OFFICIAL WHEN YOU RAN FOR MAYOR SO IT WAS OKAY FOR YOU TO TAKE MONEY.

>> Daryl: WE DON'T MIND A LITTLE BIT OF INTERRUPTION, BUT LET'S KEEP IT SIMPLE.

>> SO TO CLARIFY, FOUR THINGS WHICH THE LEGISLATIVE COMMITTEE FAILED TO DO.

TERM LIMITS, BAN FUNDRAISING DURING THE LEGISLATIVE SESSION, ALLOWING ANY FUNDRAISING.

NOT JUST FUNDRAISERS, FUNDRAISING.

REQUIRE LEGISLATORS TO FOLLOW THE SUNSHINE LAW LIKE THEY REQUIRE ALL OTHER STATE AGENCIES AND BODIES.

AND FOURTH, REQUIRE OR ELIMINATE FINANCIAL CONFLICTS OF INTEREST.

THAT IS THE CRUX OF THE PROBLEM.

THE LEGISLATURE REFUSES TO TAKE ANY STEPS TO RESTORE TRUST AND CREDIBILITY TO STATE GOVERNMENT.

NOW GOING BACK TO IKAIKA, I APPRECIATE HIS SAYING THAT COUNCILMEMBERS RETURN MONEY WHEN THEY HEARD OF IMPROPRIETIES TAKING PLACE, BUT IKAIKA, YOU RECEIVED ABOUT $15,000 IN DONATIONS FROM DENNIS MITSUNAGA, WHO JUST GOT INDICTED FOR CORRUPTION.

I DON'T KNOW IF YOU RETURNED THAT MONEY OR YOU'RE PLANNING TO RETURN THAT MONEY.

>> YOU BETTER CHECK YOUR RECORDS TO SEE IF I TOOK ANY MONEY FROM DENNIS MITSUNAGA DIRECTLY.

MY CAMPAIGN WILL GO AHEAD AND -- >> SEPTEMBER 6, 2011, $200.

NOVEMBER 2ND, 2011 $1,000.

MAY 31ST -- >> THIS MIGHT TAKE AWHILE.

>> IF THOSE MONIES WERE RECEIVED -- >> Daryl: OKAY.

I WANT TO POINT OUT THAT OUR VIEWERS ARE SPEAKING, AND NONE ARE ASKING ABOUT THIS.

I WOULD FEEL A WHOLE LOT BETTER IF PEOPLE WOULD STOP POINTING FINGERS AND ACTUALLY SPEAK FOR THEMSELVES.

STEVEN FROM FACEBOOK.

ALMOST ALL THESE QUESTIONS ARE ON ISSUES.

>> YOU GOT A STACK THERE.

>> Daryl: YEAH, I KNOW.

YOU GUYS ARE GETTING REALLY INTERESTING.

>> BUT CAN I JUST SAY ONE THING?

>> Daryl: BRIEFLY.

>> YEAH, I'LL SAY IT BRIEFLY.

ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE DID PASS THIS YEAR WAS TO BAN FUNDRAISERS DURING SESSION.

AND I ABIDED BY THE SPIRIT OF THAT LAW EVEN IF IT WASN'T SIGNED INTO LAW YET.

MR. AMEMIYA, CONTRARY TO HIS STATEMENT THAT HE BELIEVES THAT WE SHOULDN'T HAVE FUNDRAISERS DURING SESSION, EVEN COMMON CAUSE.

EVEN IF YOU'RE A CANDIDATE, THERE SHOULD BE NO ONE FUNDRAISING DURING SESSION.

BUT MR. AMEMIYA HELPED A FUNDRAISER DURING SESSION AND SOLICITED MONEY DURING SESSION.

>> STOP FUNDRAISERS DURING SESSION BECAUSE THEY'LL BE MAKING PHONE CALLS.

A BLANKET.

>> THAT'S A PROBLEM.

>> Daryl: WE JUST AGREED FOR A MOMENT.

[LAUGHTER] SO THERE WAS A VERY IMPORTANT RULING TODAY FROM THE SUPREME COURT.

A QUESTION FROM KIM IN KAIMUKI.

THAT OPENS THE DOOR FOR CONCEALED CARRIED WEAPONS IN STATE OF HAWAI'I.

IKAIKA ANDERSON, WHAT DO WE DO ABOUT THIS?

ARE YOU CONCERNED ABOUT IT?

AND WHAT'S YOUR RESPONSE TO THAT FEDERAL RULING?

>> I AM CONCERNED ABOUT CONCEAL CARRY.

ALWAYS HAVE BEEN CONCERNED ABOUT THAT.

IN A TIME WHEN WE HAVE GUN VIOLENCE INCREASING ACROSS AMERICA, I THINK WE NEED TO LOOK TO STATES LIKE HAWAI'I THAT HAS SOME OF THE MOST STRINGENT GUN LAWS IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AS A MODEL.

WE NEED TO LOOK AT STATES LIKE HAWAI'I AS A MODEL AND NOT MAKE GUN LAWS HERE MORE RELAXED.

THAT DOES CONCERN ME A GREAT DEAL.

>> Daryl: ANYBODY ELSE WANT TO PITCH IN ON THAT QUESTION?

>> I WOULDN'T BE ABLE TO SUPPORT GUN LAWS, NO.

>> TODAY'S SUPREME COURT RULING CLEARLY WILL HAVE DEVASTATING IMPACTS ON OUR CURRENT LAWS.

DEALING WITH ASSAULT WEAPONS, DEALING WITH CONCEAL AND CARRY.

THEY DID AN ANALYSIS VERY QUICKLY, AND OUR STATE IS ONE OF THE ONES THAT WILL BE IMPACTED BASED ON THE SUPREME COURT RULING.

IT IS REALLY UNFORTUNATE BECAUSE THE NATION WAS FINALLY MOVING TOWARDS A WAY TO RESTRICT GUNS, ESPECIALLY WITH THE CONGRESS AND U.S. SENATE PUSHING FOR THAT.

AND IT'S REALLY UNFORTUNATE THAT THE SUPREME COURT IS NOT ONLY LOOKING AT RELAXING GUN LAWS BUT ALSO HOW THEY STRUCK DOWN ABORTION LAWS.

I THINK AS A STATE LIKE HAWAI'I, PROGRESSIVE STATE LIKE HAWAI'I, WE SHOULD BE VERY CONCERNED.

>> IF I WERE LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR RIGHT NOW, I WOULD CONVENE DIFFERENT STAKEHOLDERS.

WORK WITH THE GOVERNOR AS WELL AS THE COMMUNITY TO SEE WHERE DO -- HOW DO WE ADDRESS THIS?

ESPECIALLY THE NEXT LEGISLATIVE SESSION.

DO WE NEED TO CHANGE RULES, SOME OF THE LAWS TO MAKE IT STRICTER SO WE DON'T REVERSE OUR COURSE?

BECAUSE WE DO HAVE ONE OF THE STRICTEST LAWS.

>> Daryl: AND YOU SUPPORT STRICT LAWS?

>> YES.

>> I SUPPORT STRICT LAWS AS WELL.

WE HAVE SOME OF THE STRICTEST GUN LAWS IN THE NATION.

AND I'M HAPPY THAT WE HAVE SOME OF THE LOWEST GUN RELATED INCIDENTS IN THE COUNTRY.

IT'S NO COINCIDENCE.

SO THE LEGISLATURE, THE GOVERNOR, LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR, WE ALL NEED TO ACT FORCEFULLY, AGGRESSIVELY TO MAINTAIN THE SAFE ENVIRONMENT THAT OUR STATE GENERALLY HAS BECAUSE OF THE STRICT GUN CONTROL LAWS.

>> AND INVEST MORE MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES.

>> Daryl: THIS IS A QUESTION FROM MILILANI.

FOR HAWAI'I TO BE SELF-SUSTAINABLE TO AGRICULTURE, WHAT ARE THEIR THOUGHTS AND HOW CAN WE HELP FARMERS?

SHERRY.

>> WE'VE BEEN TALKING FOR IT A WHILE.

IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT TO SUPPORT LOCAL FARMERS.

I DON'T THINK WE'VE DONE ENOUGH.

WE CAN DO MORE.

THAT'S SOMETHING AS LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR, I'D LIKE TO WORK WITH THE AG INDUSTRY AND WORK WITH THE LEGISLATURE.

COMING UP WITH MUCH MORE SUPPORTIVE POLICIES BECAUSE AS I TRAVEL ACROSS THE ISLANDS, THEY MENTIONED A LOT OF TIMES, THE LOCAL FARMERS ARE NOT SUPPORTED.

IT'S MORE THE BIG COMPANIES THAT ARE.

SO WE NEED TO MAKE A CONCERTED AND DELIBERATE EFFORT IN SUPPORTING OUR FARMERS.

SEEING WHAT KIND OF HELP THEY NEED AND IF THERE'S POLICIES THAT NEED TO BE ADJUSTS.

>> Daryl: ANYBODY WANT TO WEIGH IN?

>> CURRENTLY WHEN YOU HAVE A FARMLAND THAT IS LEASED FOR THE STATE, IT'S ONLY FOR 65 YEARS.

AND THAT'S REALLY HURTFUL TO FAMILY FARMS.

FAMILY FARMS DEVELOP THEIR FARMS, AND IF THEY WANT TO PASS DOWN THE FAMILY FARM TO YOUNGER GENERATION, AND IT'S HARD TO CONVINCE YOUNGER GENERATION TO GO INTO FARMING.

WE NEED TO LOOK AT GIVING FLEXIBILITY TO THAT 65-YEAR LEASE AND ALLOW FOR FLEXIBILITY TO REALLY SUPPORT THE AG INDUSTRY.

THE OTHER THING IS, WE'VE BEEN WORKING ON FARM TO SCHOOL.

FARM TO SCHOOL, IF ANYTHING DURING COVID AND PANDEMIC, WHAT IT HAS TAUGHT US IS WE HAVE TO WORK TOWARDS FOOD SECURITY, FOOD SUSTAINABLE, AND THAT IS SUPPORTING OUR AG INDUSTRY.

THROUGH DEVELOPMENT OF FOOD HUBS, WHICH IS GATHERING FARMER SO THEY CAN PULL RESOURCES AND PULL THE PRODUCTS AND SELL TO DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE OR SELL TO COSTCO, AND WE HAVE TO SUPPORT FARM HUBS EVEN MORE.

>> Daryl: IKAIKA ANDERSON, YOU'RE FROM A LARGELY RURAL -- A LOT OF FARMLANDS IN WAIMANALO AND SO ON.

WHAT DO YOU THINK NEEDS TO BE DONE TO MAKE FARMING OR FOOD SUPPORT SUSTAINABLE?

>> COMING FROM COUNTY GOVERNMENT, I'M FAMILIAR WITH CORE SERVICES THAT GOVERNMENT PROVIDES: POLICE, FIRE, AMBULANCE, LIFEGUARDS.

IT'S TIME THAT THE STATE TREATS AGRICULTURE AS A CORE SERVICE.

AND I WOULD LIKE TO SEE SUBSIDIES MADE VARIABLE TO FARMERS, OF LIVESTOCK AND PRODUCE.

PROVIDING SUBSIDIES FOR THE EQUIPMENT AND VEHICLES THAT ARE UTILIZED TO TRANSPORT THESE CROPS OUT TO HARVEST.

ALSO, AT TIMES THESE CROPS COME BACK TO HAWAI'I OR SHIPPED INTERISLAND VIA THE SHIPPING INDUSTRY.

I'D LIKE TO LOOK AT SUBSIDIES THAT MAY BE AVAILABLE AS LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR.

THAT'S SOMETHING I WOULD LIKE TO TALK WITH THE GOVERNOR ABOUT.

BUT I WOULD ALSO REQUIRE -- AND THIS WOULD BE PUT INTO LAW, THAT ANY OF THE SUBSIDIES THAT ARE PROVIDED TO THE FARMERS AS WELL AS SHIPPERS, WOULD HAVE TO GO BACK TO THE CONSUMER, THE TAXPAYER IN THE FORM OF LOWER PRICING.

>> I SUPPORT SUPPORTING AND PROVIDING MORE AID TO THE AGRICULTURAL INDUSTRY.

WE SAW DURING THE PANDEMIC HOW PERILOUSLY CLOSE WE CAME TO RUNNING OUT OF FOOD.

ALL OF US REMEMBER GOING TO THE GROCERY STORE AND STORE SHELVES WERE EMPTY.

THAT TAUGHT ME AND MANY OTHERS THAT WE NEED TO BETTER SUPPORT LOCAL INDUSTRIES, LOCAL SUPPLIES SO WE DON'T RUN INTO DANGER OF RUNNING OUT OF FOOD.

WE ALSO NEED TO DO THAT TO DIVERSIFY OUR ECONOMY.

WE KEEP TALKING ABOUT DIVERSIFYING OUR ECONOMY.

NOT BEING OVERLY DEPENDENT ON TOURISM.

AGRICULTURE IS A PERFECT INDUSTRY TO FOCUS ON AND UTILIZE AS A MEANS OF DIVERSIFICATION.

IT ALSO PROVIDES FRESH FOOD.

IT HELPS OUR LOCAL FARMERS AND IT HELPS US SAVE MONEY IN THE LONG RUN.

>> Daryl: SHERRY, YOU MENTIONED DIVERSIFYING AND GROWING THE ECONOMY IS A MAJOR PART OF YOUR PLATFORM.

HOW DO YOU SEE THIS FITTING IN AND DO YOU SEE OTHER OPPORTUNITIES TO DIVERSIFY THE ECONOMY?

>> FIRST, TOURISM WILL STILL BE OUR NUMBER ONE INDUSTRY.

IT'S THE LARGEST EMPLOYER.

WE'VE SEEN HOW COVID IMPACTED THE WORK FORCE.

WE STILL NEED TO SUPPORT TOURISM, BUT HOW DO WE MANAGE IT BETTER?

HOW CAN TOURISM SUPPORT OUR LOCAL INDUSTRIES?

SO HOW CAN TOURISM BETTER UTILIZE OUR AG PRODUCTS?

LOCAL MANUFACTURED PRODUCTS AS WELL AS OTHER INDUSTRIES.

SO CO-SUPPORTING EACH OTHER, AND I THINK THERE'S OPPORTUNITIES THERE.

TWO, WE NEED TO FOCUS ON EDUCATION WORK FORCE DEVELOPMENT INITIATIVES TO EXPAND JOB OPPORTUNITY OUT THERE.

BECAUSE THERE ARE OTHER INDUSTRIES OUT THERE.

HOW CAN WE ENSURE WE HAVE A TRAINED WORKFORCE?

WE NEED TO PUT THAT INTO THE EQUATION BECAUSE A LOT OF TIMES WE TALK ABOUT DIVERSIFICATION, YET WE HAVE THE INDUSTRIES HERE.

HEALTHCARE IS ANOTHER LARGE PROVIDER.

HOW CAN WE ENSURE WE PREPARE OUR WORKFORCE?

CURRENT HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS FOR THESE JOBS.

SKILLS CONTINUE TO CHANGE SO THAT'S GOING TO BE IMPORTANT.

>> Daryl: SORRY, TO CUT YOU OFF.

I FEEL BAD ABOUT IT, BUT WE NEED TO KEEP MOVING BECAUSE I'M GETTING ALL THESE QUESTIONS.

THE RED HILL WATER CRISIS, IT FITS INTO THE LARGER ISSUE OF HEALTHCARE, ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH, PUBLIC HEALTH.

KEITH, I'LL BOUNCE THESE OFF OF YOU.

CAN EACH OF THEM SAY WHAT THEY'VE DONE PERSONALLY ABOUT THE RED HILL WATER CONTAMINATION?

YOU HAVEN'T BEEN IN OFFICE ABOUT THAT, BUT HOW DID YOU FEEL ABOUT HOW THEY DEALT WITH THE RED HILL ISSUE?

IT WENT A LONG TIME BACK BEFORE IT BECAME A CRISIS.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

THIS IS YET ANOTHER EXAMPLE OF FAILURE OF LEADERSHIP IN GOVERNMENT, INCLUDING IN OUR LEGISLATURE AND OTHER ELECTED OFFICIALS.

RED HILL HAS BEEN AN ISSUE FOR A LONG TIME.

DECADES IN SOME PEOPLE'S MINDS AND YET NOTHING WAS DONE ABOUT IT.

WE WERE WARNED ABOUT THE DANGERING ABOUT RED HILL AND THOSE FUEL TANKS AND THE NEED TO FIND ANOTHER PLACE TO PLACE THESE FUEL FACILITIES.

OUR GOVERNMENT TOO OFTEN IS REACTIONARY.

WHETHER IT'S RED HILL, WHETHER IT'S BUILDING A NEW STADIUM, WHETHER IT'S PROVIDING FUNDING FOR GIRLS' LOCKER ROOMS IN OUR PUBLIC HIGH SCHOOLS.

WE ALWAYS WAIT UNTIL IT'S TOO LATE, AND THEN WE HAVE TO SPEND MORE MONEY AND ALL THE WHILE WE'RE FACED WITH A CRISIS.

THAT'S WHAT I'LL BRING TO THE TABLE.

NEW LEADERSHIP.

NOT THE SAME OLD, SAME OLD WHERE PEOPLE HAVE GOTTEN COMPLACENT AND BEHOLDEN TO SPECIAL INTEREST IN OFFICE.

>> Daryl: SYLVIA LUKE, WHAT DID THE LEGISLATURE DO?

IT DOES SEEM LIKE STATE GOVERNMENT GOT CAUGHT KIND OF FLATFOOTED ON RED HILL.

>> HEARING FROM MR. AMEMIYA, I FEEL IT'S THE SAME BROKEN RECORD HE KEEPS SAYING.

IT'S FAILURE OF THE LEGISLATURE AND STATE GOVERNMENT.

IN THIS SITUATION, IT WAS UNIQUE BECAUSE WE'VE BEEN WORKING WITH DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH, AND WE'VE BEEN TRACKING WHAT'S GOING ON AT RED HILL.

THE RESPONSE THAT THE NAVY HAS CONSISTENTLY GAVE US IS, EVEN WHEN WE DEMANDED DOUBLE TANKS, BECAUSE THERE WAS LEGISLATIONS SAYING THEY'RE GOING TO ASK FOR DOUBLE TANKS.

WE'RE GOING TO ASK FOR MOVING THE RED HILL FUEL TANKS.

THE RESPONSE HAS CONSISTENTLY BEEN THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT DOESN'T CARE.

THEY'RE GOING TO GET A PRESIDENTIAL EXECUTIVE ORDER, AND THAT'S BEEN THE RESPONSE EVERY TIME.

WE'VE HAD LAWS SAYING WE EVEN HAD TO PURSUE LAWSUITS AND DO LEGAL CHALLENGES TO BRING THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT TO THIS POINT WHERE THEY'RE FINALLY PAYING ATTENTION.

IT IS UNFORTUNATE THAT IT TOOK A CRISIS FOR THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT AND THE MILITARY TO TAKE ACTION.

AND ONCE THEY ACQUIESCED AND SAID THEY'RE NOT GOING TO USE THE EXECUTIVE ORDER AS AN EXCUSE AND DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT, THEN WE BANDED TOGETHER AND WORKED WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND BOARD OF WATER SUPPLY TO HOLD THEM ACCOUNTABLE.

IT'S OUR OBLIGATION TO CONTINUE HOLD THEM ACCOUNTABLE.

WE PASS LAWS TO MAKE SURE -- >> Daryl: STOP.

I'M GOING TO TRY AND KEEP A CLOCK GOING IN MY HEAD.

WE DON'T HAVE AN OFFICIAL CLOCK.

I WANT TO GIVE IKAIKA ANDERSON A CHANCE TO TALK.

WHAT DO YOU THINK WHERE WHAT HAPPENED IN RED HILL?

>> AS LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR GOING FORWARD, IF THIS ISSUE WERE TO COME UP, I WOULD BE STANDING WITH THE GOVERNOR ASKING THAT NO WAIVER FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH BE GIVEN HAD THE SITUATION COME UP DURING MY TENURE AS LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR.

REGARDLESS OF WHAT THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT WAS GOING TO DO, THE STATE CAN'T CONTROL THAT.

BUT THE STATE COULD SAY WE'RE SIMPLY NOT GOING TO GRANT YOUR WAIVER.

YES, THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT COULD TRUMP US.

YES, THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT COULD SUE US.

LET THEM ATTEMPT TO TRUMP US.

LET THEM ATTEMPT TO SUE US.

THAT'S FINE, BUT THAT DOESN'T PREVENT THE STATE FROM BEING ABLE TO STAND UP TO FOR OUR TAXPAYERS.

AND IF THAT MEANS STANDING UP TO A FEDERAL LAWSUIT OR EXECUTIVE ORDER FROM A FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, THEN SO BE IT.

>> Daryl: SHERRY MENOR-McNAMARA, DO YOU WANT TO SAY ANYTHING ABOUT THE RED HILL ISSUE?

>> IT'S MORE THAN UNFORTUNATE.

DEVASTATING THE IMPACT IT'S HAD ON OUR FAMILIES AND SITUATION.

I AGREE WITH WHAT EVERYONE SAID.

WE NEED TO MOVE FORWARD AND ENSURE WE HOLD THE NAVY ACCOUNTABLE AND MAKING SURE THAT WE ARE WORKING TOGETHER TO SOLVE THIS ISSUE BECAUSE IT'S A HUGE ISSUE, RIGHT.

THE WATER AND TALKING ABOUT AFFORDABLE HOUSING MIGHT BE IMPACTED.

WHAT CAN WE DO COLLECTIVELY TO SOLVE THIS PROBLEM EFFICIENTLY AND EFFECTIVELY.

>> Daryl: ANOTHER QUESTION.

I'LL START WITH YOU, IKAIKA ANDERSON.

HIGHEST COST OF LISTENING AND HOUSING.

WHAT IS YOUR PLAN OF ACTION.

BOB FROM KANEOHE IS ASKING THAT.

>> SIMPLY PUT, THE STATE GOVERNMENT HAS THE MOST GOVERNMENT LANDS OWNED BY ANY GOVERNMENT ENTITY HERE.

AS LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR, I WOULD TAKE A LOOK AT THE STATE LANDS THAT THE STATE HAS ACCESS TO THAT ARE MOST FEASIBLE FOR DEVELOPMENT.

ONE OF THE HIGHEST HURDLES TO WORKFORCE HOUSING IS COST OF LAND, LAND AQUISITION.

REMOVE THAT.

AS A FORMER COUNCILMEMBER, I HAVE SOLID CONNECTIONS WITH MANY OF OUR NONPROFITS, MANY FOLKS FROM THE FAITH-BASED COMMUNITY AND IN THE WORKFORCE COMMUNITY THAT WOULD PITCH IN AND HELP US BUILD THESE UNITS.

FIRST, WE NEED TO HAVE THE STATE PROVIDE THE PROPERTY.

SHELTERING OUR HOMELESS, THAT ALSO NEEDS TO BE DONE.

AND I'D LIKE TO LOOK AT THE PROJECT THAT I WORKED ON WITH THE LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR IN WAIMANALO THAT'S WORKED AND PROVIDE ADDITIONAL KAUHALE ACROSS THE STATE.

THOSE ARE TWO AREAS I COULD HELP WITH.

>> Daryl: SMALL HOUSING UNITS?

>> THOSE ARE THE VILLAGES OF TINY HOMES.

WE'RE ALREADY DOING KAUHALE.

THE LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR AND I ALREADY WORKED ON THAT IN WAIMANALO.

>> Daryl: KEITH AMEMIYA, AS BRIEFLY AS YOU CAN.

I APOLOGIZE FOR STARTING TO REIN PEOPLE IN.

WHAT ABOUT HOUSING?

WHAT DO YOU THINK IS THE KEY THING TO REDUCE THE COST OF HOUSING?

HOW IMPORTANT IS IT FOR THE GOVERNMENT TO ADDRESS THIS?

>> WELL, I'M SOUNDING LIKE A BROKEN RECORD, TOO, BUT WE NEED A CHANGE IN LEADERSHIP.

TWO OF THE CANDIDATES HERE HAD POWERFUL POSITIONS THE LAST TEN YEARS.

COUNCIL CHAIR AND HOUSE FINANCE CHAIR.

BUT IN TERMS OF ADDRESSING HOUSING, THEY SHOULD HAVE DONE THIS A LONG TIME AGO.

I'M THE ONLY CANDIDATE WHO HAS A COMPREHENSIVE HOUSING FOR ALL PLAN.

TAKE AN ALL-OUT APPROACH TO BUILD MORE HOUSING.

START BY FOCUSING ON DEVELOPMENT FOR LOCAL RESIDENTS AND NOT OUT-OF-STATE RESIDENTS.

LET'S FOCUS ON ELIMINATING ILLEGAL RENTALS.

LET'S USE FEDERAL STIMULUS MONEY TO BUILD MORE INFRASTRUCTURE SO WE CAN BUILD MORE HOUSES ON VACANT LAND.

>> Daryl: SHERRY MENOR-McNAMARA, FROM A BUSINESS PERSPECTIVE, WHAT PERSPECTIVE WOULD YOU BRING TO THE AFFORDABLE HOUSING CRISIS?

>> I AGREE WITH KEITH.

WE'VE HAD DECADES OF FAILED POLICIES.

NOTHING'S BEEN DONE.

THIS IS AN ISSUE THAT'S BEEN AROUND A LONG TIME.

UHERO CAME OUT WITH A REPORT AND SAID ONE OF THE MAIN DRIVERS OF WHY COSTS ARE INCREASING IS REGULATIONS.

SO WE NEED TO ATTACK THAT FIRST.

HOW CAN WE ENSURE WE CAN LESSEN THE RED TAPE, REGULATIONS BUT IN A RIGHT WAY?

AS LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR, I WOULD BRING STAKEHOLDERS TOGETHER.

WORK WITH THE CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY, COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENTS AND LEGISLATURES TO FIND OUT WHERE ARE THOSE BARRIERS AND GET TO THEM IMMEDIATELY.

WE ALSO NEED TO INVEST IN VOCATIONAL TRAINING.

>> Daryl: GOT THAT.

YOU SAID THAT EARLIER.

DOING THIS TO EVERYBODY AS EQUAL AS I CAN.

SYLVIA LUKE, AFFORDABLE HOUSING IS SO IMPORTANT.

CAN YOU BRIEFLY GIVE ME AN IDEA WHAT YOU THINK IS THE FIRST WAY OF ATTACKING THAT ISSUE?

>> THERE'S TWO ISSUES.

AFFORDABLE RENTALS BECAUSE WE NEED PEOPLE CANNOT AFFORD A HOUSE A PLACE TO RENT.

WE ALSO NEED AFFORDABLE HOUSING.

FOR AFFORDABLE RENTALS.

THE STATE HAS DONE SUBSTANTIAL AMOUNT OF INVESTMENT IN BUILDING AFFORDABLE RENTALS.

IN 2018 WE PROVIDED THE LARGEST AMOUNT TO PUT INTO THE RENTAL HOUSING REVOLVING FUND.

$200 MILLION.

THAT HAS CREATED 1300 UNITS.

1300 UNITS LIKE THE ONE ON COOKE STREET.

1300 UNITS LIKE THE ONE THAT IS WORKING WITH THE JUDICIARY TO OVERLAY JUVENILE SERVICES WITH AFFORDABLE RENTALS.

I THINK A LOT OF THINGS ARE HAPPENING.

IN ADDITION, WE PROVIDED TAX CREDITS TO BUILD AFFORDABLE RENTALS AND AFFORDABLE UNITS.

THE PURCHASE OF HOME, ONE OF THE THINGS WE HAVE INVESTED IS MAKING SURE WE TAKE CARE OF OUR NATIVE HAWAIIANS TO MAKE SURE THEY HAVE A PLACE TO LIVE.

I THINK IF YOU TAKE CARE OF THE NATIVE HAWAIIAN POPULATION, THAT'S MAKING SURE LOCAL FAMILIES GET HOUSING.

AND YOU'RE DEALING WITH AFFORDABLE HOUSING.

BUT YOU'RE RIGHT.

THERE STILL NEEDS TO BE DONE A LOT MORE, AND I WANT TO MAKE SURE SOME OF THE LAWS PUT INTO PLACE GET DONE.

AND THAT'S WHY I'M RUNNING FOR LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR.

>> Daryl: KEITH AMEMIYA ON THIS ONE.

THE COST OF HONOLULU RAIL HAS MORE THAN TRIPLED THE LAST TEN YEARS.

HOW DOES EACH CANDIDATE JUSTIFY THE COST?

LET ME ASK AS LEADER OF STATEWIDE GOVERNMENT, DO YOU THINK THE STATE SHOULD BE ASKED AND PITCH IN TO MAKE SURE RAIL IS A SUCCESS?

IT DOES HAVE CONNECTIONS TO THE ABILITY TO BUILD HOUSING AND SO ON.

WHAT'S YOUR THOUGHTS ABOUT THAT.

WHAT SHOULD BE DONE ABOUT THE HONOLULU RAIL PROJECT?

>> WELL, EVERYONE AGREES RAIL IS A MESS.

IT'S BEEN HANDLES DISASTROUSLY FROM THE BEGINNING.

AND SOME OF THE CANDIDATES FOR LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR WERE IN THE MIDDLE OF THIS DEBACLE.

BUT SOMEHOW, SOMEWAY WE NEED TO FIND A WAY TO FINISH IT EVENTUALLY.

THERE'S TOO MUCH AT STAKE.

TOO MUCH HAS BEEN SPENT TO STOP HALFWAY THROUGH.

YOU POINTED OUT SOMETHING VERY IMPORTANT OFTEN OVERLOOKED ABOUT THE RAIL SYSTEM.

IT'S A MEANS OF TRANSPORTATION TO TAKE PEOPLE FROM POINT A TO B.

FROM THE WEST SIDE INTO TOWN, BUT IT'S ALSO AN IMPORTANT ECONOMIC STIMULUS AND COUNCILMEMBER DRIVER.

TRANSIT-ORIENTED DEVELOPMENT IS VERY IMPORTANT TO BUILD AFFORDABLE HOUSING.

WE'VE SEEN RAIL STATIONS, WHETHER IT'S IN VANCOUVER OR TOKYO, JAPAN.

THEY'VE SUCCESSFULLY BUILT CITIES WITHIN CITIES.

THAT'S WHAT I HOPE TO SEE IN HAWAI'I.

CREATE VIBRANT CITIES WHERE YOU HAVE RETAIL, HOUSING, COMMERCIAL, SCHOOLS, PARKS.

WHERE PEOPLE DON'T NEED A CAR TO GET FROM POINT A TO B.

>> Daryl: IKAIKA ANDERSON, YOU WERE IN THE MIDDLE OF THIS FOR QUITE A LONG TIME.

WHAT'S THE SOLUTION, WHAT'S THE END GAME?

>> FIRST OFF, I BELIEVE THAT THE HONOLULU CITY COUNCIL SHOULD PLACE A CHARTER AMENDMENT QUESTION ON THE BALLOT ASKING HONOLULU VOTERS IF THE HONOLULU AUTHORITY FOR RAPID TRANSPORTATION SHOULD BE DISSOLVED.

RIGHT BEFORE I LEFT THE HONOLULU CITY COUNCIL, I INTRODUCED SUCH A RESOLUTION AS COUNCIL CHAIR.

UNFORTUNATELY, A MAJORITY OF MY COLLEAGUES DID NOT AGREE THAT THAT RESOLUTION SHOULD GO FORWARD AND IT DIED.

BUT AS COUNCIL CHAIR, I CHAMPIONED IT.

I STILL FEEL HART SHOULD BE DISSOLVED, AND THE VOTERS SHOULD HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO VOTE ON THAT.

TRANSIT-ORIENTED DEVELOPMENT IS A HUGE CENTERPIECE OF WHAT AFFORDABLE HOUSING CAN BE, PARTICULARLY RENTAL HOUSING.

I'D LIKE TO SEE DEPARTMENT OF HAWAIIAN HOME LANDS LOOK AT RENTAL OPPORTUNITIES.

AND TO PLACE AN EMPHASIS AT THE TRANSIT-ORIENTED DEVELOPMENT CORRIDORS TO LOOK AT PURCHASING PROPERTY AND BRING SOME REAL RENTAL OPPORTUNITIES TO NATIVE HAWAIIANS.

THAT SHOULD HAVE BEEN DONE YEARS AGO.

WHY DHHL CONTINUES TO FOCUS ONLY ON FEE SIMPLE FOR NATIVE HAWAIIANS, I DON'T UNDERSTAND.

LEGISLATURE SHOULD HAVE MADE IT POSSIBLE TO LOOK AT RENTALS YEARS AGO.

>> Daryl: SYLVIA LUKE, YOU WERE IN THE MIDDLE OF NEGOTIATIONS OVER THE LAST BAILOUT FOR RAIL.

GIVEN ALL THE BENEFITS FOLKS HERE ARE TALKING ABOUT, DO YOU THINK THE STATE SHOULD PLAY A ROLE IT GETS BUILT, EXPANDED AND SO ON?

>> YOU KNOW, RAIL IS THE BIGGEST PUBLIC WORKS PROJECT UNDER THE CITY AND COUNTY OF HONOLULU, AND I CONTINUE TO BELIEVE THAT IT IS THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE CITY AND COUNTY OF HONOLULU.

AT THE LAST TIME -- SECOND TIME THAT THE CITY AND COUNTY OF HONOLULU, INCLUDING MR. ANDERSON WHO CAME TO THE LEGISLATURE REQUESTED ANOTHER BAILOUT.

WE WERE IN A POSITION WHERE WE HAD TO MAKE TOUGH CHOICES, AND INITIALLY THEY WERE ASKING FOR PERMANENT G.E.T.

AND THEN AFTER LOOKING AT THE NUMBERS, WHICH THE CITY AND COUNTY OF HONOLULU AND ITS OFFICIALS FAILED TO DO, I DETERMINED THAT EVEN 30 YEARS WAS MORE THAN SUFFICIENT OR 20 YEARS WAS MORE THAN SUFFICIENT.

AT THE END, THEY ASKED FOR A TEN-YEAR EXTENSION.

EVEN THAT WAS MORE THAN SUFFICIENT TO WHAT WE AGREED, WHICH WAS A SIX-YEARS EXTENSION, I THINK I'M THE ONLY ONE IN THIS ROOM AND PROBABLY AMONG MANY OTHER ELECTED OFFICIALS WHO HELD RAIL ACCOUNTABLE.

AND THE COST OF RAIL ACCOUNTABLE, AND I DO NOT THINK THAT THE STATE TAXPAYERS SHOULD CONTINUE TO BE MET WITH THE BURDEN OF PAYING FOR RAIL AFTER 2030.

THE STATE OF HAWAI'I BAILED OUT THE CITY AND COUNTY OF HONOLULU'S PROJECT TWO TIMES.

AND I THINK IT'S NOT FAIR UNLESS THE CITY AND COUNTY OF HONOLULU PUTS THE ISSUE ON THE BALLOT ASKING ITS CITIZENS AGAIN, WHAT IS THE FATE OF RAIL?

AND GIVE THAT CHANCE AN OPPORTUNITY.

>> Daryl: SHERRY MENOR-McNAMARA, WHAT DO YOU THINK SHOULD BE DONE ABOUT RAIL?

DO YOU SEE IT EXPANDING OUT AS A WHOLE COMMUNITY EFFORT OR FEEL LIKE THE CITY SHOULD MANAGE TO PAY FOR IT AND BUILD WITH WHATEVER MONEY IS AVAILABLE?

>> FIRST, THINK ABOUT WHAT THE FUTURE GENERATIONS NEED.

WE KNOW THE LANDSCAPE WILL EVOLVE.

I LIVED IN DIFFERENT CITIES WHERE I SAW HOW RAIL WAS A POSITIVE THING BECAUSE IT'S A DIFFERENT MODE OF TRANSPORTATION.

AND HOW RAIL HAS BUILT DIFFERENT COMMUNITIES, WHETHER IT'S MORE HOUSING, RETAIL, BUSINESSES, AND CREATE A VIBRANT COMMUNITY.

SO FROM A BIG PICTURE STANDPOINT, YES, RAIL SHOULD PROCEED.

WITH THAT SAID, IN REGARDS TO STATE'S ROLE, FIRST WE NEED TO SEE WHAT THE COUNTIES AND FEDS WILL DO IN TERMS OF FUNDING AND GO FROM THERE.

I DON'T KNOW WHY THE LEGISLATURE HAS CONTINUED TO BAILOUT TWO OR THREE TIMES -- OR TWO TIMES, I THINK IT WAS.

I THINK THAT'S WHERE WE HAVE TO HOLD THE CITY ACCOUNTABLE FOR HOW TO FUND RAIL, AND WHERE THE INEFFICIENCIES ARE, WHAT WENT WRONG AND GO FROM THERE.

>> Daryl: WE'RE STILL IN THE PANDEMIC.

OUR CURRENT LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR WAS VERY ACTIVE IN RESPONDING TO THE PANDEMIC.

SO THIS QUESTION DOES RAISE THE CONDUCT OF THE PANDEMIC.

HAWAI'I IS RANKED NUMBER ONE IN COVID VACCINATIONS PER CAPITA BUT ALSO RANKED NUMBER ONE IN MOST CASES.

PUSHING VACCINES BUT HAVING NEGATIVE RESULTS.

USE THAT TO ASK, HOW DO YOU FEEL THAT THE PANDEMIC WAS HANDLED?

HOW DO YOU FEEL ALSO ABOUT THE ROLE OF THE CURRENT LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR?

DO -- WAS THAT A MODEL FOR YOU IN HOW YOU MIGHT HANDLE BEING LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR?

>> I COMMEND GOVERNOR DAVID IGE FOR KEEPING THE PEOPLE OF HAWAI'I SAFE DURING COVID.

YES, PEOPLE WERE FRUSTRATED.

YES, MANY DISAGREED WITH HIS MANDATES, BUT THE GOVERNOR KEPT US SAFE.

NO DENYING THAT.

I WILL COMMEND THE GOVERNOR IN HIS EFFORTS IN DOING THAT AND ITS SUCCESSES.

AS CHAIR OF HONOLULU CITY COUNCIL, I ALSO HAD TO DEAL WITH COVID.

I CLOSED COUNCIL IN MARCH OF 2020.

ONE OF THE FIRST, IF NOT THE FIRST BRANCHES OF THE HIGHER GOVERNMENT TO CLOSE.

I DID SO BASED ON INFORMATION I HAD IN FRONT OF ME.

WE TOOK OUR MEETINGS REMOTE.

WE DID OUR MEETINGS ONLINE.

THERE WERE CONCERNS THAT COUNCIL WOULD BE SUED FOR VIOLATING SUNSHINE LAW.

VIOLATING OUR COUNCIL RULES.

SUNSHINE LAWS AND COUNCIL RULES DID NOT ALLOW TO COUNCIL CONDUCT MEETINGS THE WAY I DID.

BUT AS GOVERNOR IGE DID, I KEPT PEOPLE AT HONOLULU HALE SAFE.

WE KEPT OUR CITIZENS SAFE.

WE KEPT OUR WORKFORCE SAFE.

I HAD TO MAKE TOUGH DECISION BASED ON THE INFORMATION THAT I HAD IN FRONT OF ME.

AS LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR I WOULD ASK THE SAME.

TAKE A LOOK AT THE INFORMATION THAT I HAVE AT THAT TIME AND THEN MAKE A DECISION.

>> Daryl: SHERRY MENOR-McNAMARA, BUSINESS WAS DEVASTATED BY THE KIND OF STUFF THAT FORMER COUNCILMEMBER ANDERSON IS TALKING ABOUT.

HOW DO YOU FEEL ABOUT HOW THE PANDEMIC WAS HANDLED?

DO YOU APPRECIATE THE WAY LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR GREEN STEPPED UP IN THAT AREA?

>> FIRST OF ALL, NO ONE HAD A PLAYBOOK FOR THIS, RIGHT.

YOU HAVE TO APPRECIATE THE TOUGH POSITION THAT THE GOVERNOR WAS IN.

SO WAS THE MAYORS.

ONE THING, I WORK WITH THE SMALL BUSINESSES THROUGHOUT THE PANDEMIC, AND IT WAS VERY DEVASTATING BUT ONE THING WAS CLEAR.

THERE WAS A LACK OF COMMUNICATION.

A LOT OF TIMES, WE'LL GET PHONE CALLS FROM BUSINESSES.

WHAT'S GOING ON?

ARE WE GOING TO ANOTHER SHUTDOWN?

I NEED TO PREPARE FOR THAT SHUTDOWN.

WHAT AM I GOING TO TELL MY EMPLOYEES?

I NEED TO TAKE CARE OF MY EMPLOYEES.

OR WHAT ABOUT THE FOOD AND EVERYTHING THAT'S REFRIGERATED.

OR WHEN ARE WE GOING TO OPEN?

WE DIDN'T HAVE ANSWERS BECAUSE THERE WAS NO CLEAR COMMUNICATION.

A LOT OF TIMES, WE WEREN'T CONSULTED.

WHAT THE SMALL BUSINESSES ARE DOING TO PROTECT AND IMPLEMENT HEALTH AND SAFETY PROTOCOLS.

BECAUSE A LOT WERE GOING ABOVE AND BEYOND.

TALKING ABOUT THE WEDDING INDUSTRY, RESTAURANTS, GYMS.

A LOT WERE LAST ONES TO REOPEN, AND IT WAS VERY CLEAR THERE WAS LACK OF COMMUNICATION.

AND MOVING FORWARD, IF I AM THE LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR, I WILL MAKE SURE THERE'S A CLEAR COMMUNICATION LINE BECAUSE WE NEED TO WORK TOGETHER AND COLLABORATE AND CONSULT WITH ONE ANOTHER.

AS FAR AS LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR, I BELIEVE HIM PROVIDING DAILY UPDATES HELPED KEEP THE PUBLIC INFORMED AS TO THE DIRECTION WE'RE GOING.

>> DARYL: I'M GOING TO GIVE KEITH AMEMIYA A CHANCE.

>> THE PANDEMIC WAS AN UNPRECEDENTED SITUATION FOR ALL OF US, INCLUDING GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS.

I BELIEVE EVERYONE DID THE BEST THEY COULD, BUT IN HINDSIGHT, COMMUNICATION COULD HAVE BEEN BETTER, WHETHER IT'S FROM THE GOVERNMENT TO THE PUBLIC, WHETHER IT'S FROM THE EXECUTIVE LEFT TO THE LEGISLATURE TO THE STATE DEPARTMENTS, BETWEEN COUNTY GOVERNMENTS ACROSS THE STATE.

THERE WERE MANY MIXED MESSAGES AND CONFUSING SITUATIONS WHERE EVEN I AND MANY PEOPLE DIDN'T KNOW WHAT WE COULD DO OR COULDN'T.

IN TERMS OF THE ROLE THAT LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR GREEN PLAYED DURING THE PANDEMIC, I BELIEVE HE SHOWED THAT THE LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR'S ROLE CAN BE MORE THAN A PAPER PUSHING ROLE.

IT CAN BE A MEANINGFUL ROLE.

AND THAT'S MY GOAL, IS TO BE AN ALLY AND PARTNER WITH WHOEVER THE GOVERNOR MAY BE TO SOLVE THE MANY PRESSING ISSUES FACING OUR STATE.

>> Daryl: SYLVIA LUKE, LET ME START WITH THAT SECOND PART OF THE QUESTION.

DO YOU THINK THAT LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR GREEN PLAYED A POSITIVE, CONSTRUCTIVE ROLE OR DO YOU THINK HE MIGHT HAVE BEEN PLAYING POLITICS AND A WAY TO SHINE?

>> IN THIS SITUATION, BOTH THE GOVERNOR AND LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR FILLED A ROLE.

SO THE GOVERNOR MADE DECISIONS ABOUT WHEN TO SHUT DOWN THE STATE.

GOVERNOR MADE A DECISION ABOUT MASK MANDATE, VACCINE REQUIREMENTS AND OTHER THINGS.

THE LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR FILLED THAT VOID WHERE THERE WAS SOMETIMES LACK OF COMMUNICATION FROM THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE TO EITHER BUSINESSES OR THE CONSTITUENTS.

SO THE LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR FILLED THAT ROLE.

WHETHER THAT SHOWED CONFLICT OR WHETHER THAT WAS IN CONCERT, I THINK ONLY THE GOVERNOR AND LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR WILL KNOW.

BUT THEN TOGETHER, BOTH THE GOVERNOR AND THE LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR FILLED THAT ROLE TO GIVE US THE TYPE OF GUIDANCE THAT WAS NEEDED DURING THE MOST STRESSFUL TIME OF THE YEAR.

OF THE LAST TWO YEARS BECAUSE YOU DID NOT HEAR -- SO THE GOVERNOR ACTUALLY SOMEHOW PIVOTED AND ADAPTED TO WHAT THE LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR WAS DOING, TOO.

AT SOME POINT IN TIME WHEN THE LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR BECAME THE SPOKESPERSON AND BECAME THE PERSON TO COMMUNICATE, YOU DIDN'T SEE THE GOVERNOR SAY, NO, THAT'S WRONG BECAUSE THAT WOULD HAVE SHOWED DESCENSION.

THEY WERE COMPLEMENTARY AT TIMES, EVEN IF IT SEEMED LIKE DISAGREEMENT, THEY BOTH FULFILLED THE ROLE THAT THE STATE AND PUBLIC NEEDED.

>> Daryl: I WANT TO MOVE ON.

WE'LL START WITH SHERRY MENOR-McNAMARA OF CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.

WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO DO ABOUT CHRONIC HOMELESS THAT DON'T WANT A HOME?

ONE OF THE MOST VEXING PROBLEMS.

LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR GREEN IS RUNNING ON.

WHAT DO YOU SEE AS A SOLUTION?

THAT'S A TOUGH ONE.

>> WE NEED TO INVEST MORE IN MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES.

A LOT OF THAT CATEGORY IS DRIVEN BECAUSE OF MENTAL CHALLENGES.

SO WE DEFINITELY NEED TO INVEST MORE IN THAT.

AND WE JUST NEED TO DEVELOP THAT RELATIONSHIP.

GO OUT INTO THE COMMUNITY, AND THAT'S HAPPENING NOW THROUGH CORE SERVICES.

TALK WITH THEM.

FIND OUT WHAT THEY NEED AND HOPEFULLY RESTORE THAT HOPE WITHIN THEMSELVES AND THEN HELP THEM TRANSITION INTO HOUSING.

SO THEY WON'T HAVE TO CONTINUE TO STAY ON THE STREETS, AND SO THAT'S SOME OF THE AREAS, I BELIEVE, THAT NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED.

>> Daryl: KEITH AMEMIYA, WHAT DO YOU THINK?

>> IT'S GETTING OUT OF CONTROL, AND WE NEED TO ADDRESS IT SOONER THAN LATER.

WE DO NEED TO INVEST IN MORE MENTAL HEALTH AND DRUG TREATMENT FACILITIES.

MANY OF THE HOMELESS ARE SUFFERING FROM ONE OR BOTH.

IT DOES NOBODY ANY GOOD TO LEAVE THEM ON THE STREETS.

I'M COMPASSIONATE ABOUT THEIR SITUATION.

I UNDERSTAND THEY HAVE RIGHT, BUT WE NEED TO COUNTERBALANCE THAT WITH THE RIGHTS OF EVERYDAY CITIZENS WHO ARE BEING IMPACTED BY THE HOMELESS ON THE STREETS.

IT'S GONE BEYOND THE SITUATION WHERE THEY MAY BE PERCEIVED AS AN EYESORE OR A NUISANCE.

IT'S BECOMING A DANGEROUS SITUATION.

I HEAR STORY AFTER STORY.

I WORK IN DOWNTOWN.

IT'S DANGEROUS TO WALK ON FORT STREET OR UNION MALL.

TOO MANY TIMES I HEAR STORIES OF INNOCENT LADIES AND MEN IN BROAD DAYLIGHT BEING RANDOMLY ATTACKED AND BRUTALLY INJURED BY HOMELESS.

WE NEED TO PROVIDE MORE TREATMENT SERVICES AND GET THEM OFF THE STREET.

IT'S NOT ONLY GOOD FOR THEM, IT'S GOOD FOR THE REST OF THE POPULATION.

>> IKAIKA ANDERSON, YOU DEALT WITH IT.

DO YOU THINK THERE NEEDS TO BE A LOT MORE INVESTMENT BY STATE GOVERNMENT IN THESE KIND OF TREATMENT PROGRAMS?

>>> STATE GOVERNMENT CAN PROVIDE THE LAND TO BUILD ADDITIONAL KAUHALE EXACTLY LIKE WHAT WAS DONE IN WAIMANALO.

WE'VE ALREADY SHOWN THIS CAN WORK.

DARYL, I'M NOT TELLING YOU WHAT I'D LIKE TO DO.

RATHER, I'M POINTING TO MY RECORD AS AN ELECTED OFFICIAL IN THE PAST WITH WHAT'S WORKED.

WHAT OUR LEADERSHIP TEAM AT HONOLULU HALE HAS PUT TOGETHER.

WHAT WORKED AND HOW WE CAN DUPLICATE THESE EFFORTS A LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR WITH MORE LANDS AVAILABLE.

IT'S ALSO PROVIDING WRAPAROUND SERVICES LIKE THE JOINT OUTREACH CENTERS OR JOCS.

THERE'S A JOC IN CHINATOWN THAT'S RUN BY HAWAII HOMELESS HEALTHCARE, DR. SCOTT MISCOVICH'S NONPROFIT.

I HELP ESTABLISH, WITH OUR TEAM, THE JOINT OUTREACH CENTER IN KANEOHE.

WE WORKED WITH THE STATE SENATOR IN THE KANEOHE COMMUNITY TO DO THAT.

AS LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR WITH ADDITIONAL LANDS AVAILABLE, WE CAN DUPLICATE THE EFFORTS OUR TEAM HAVE DONE AT HONOLULU HALE.

>> Daryl: I'VE ONLY A MINUTE TO GO.

I WANT TO ASK A QUESTION THAT'S A LITTLE MORE LIGHTHEARTED.

GIVEN THE FUTURE OF THIS JOB -- I'LL START WITH KEITH.

WHAT DO YOU DO WHEN YOU'RE BORED?

>> WHAT DO I DO WHEN I'M BORED AT HOME?

>> Daryl: AT WORK.

>> OH.

AS LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR, I THINK IT'S AN IMPORTANT JOB.

IT'S THE NUMBER TWO JOB IN THE STATE.

YOUR ROLE IS TO FILL THE POSITION OF GOVERNOR IF HE OR SHE CAN'T COMPLETE IT.

IT'S A LOT OF WHAT YOU MAKE OF IT AND A TIME TO BE -- >> Daryl: I'VE GOT TO DO 15 SECONDS EACH.

SYLVIA LUKE.

>> IN MY SPARE TIME, I HAVE MY DOG, AND HE JUST KEEPS ME SO BUSY.

>> Daryl: OKAY.

GOOD.

SHERRY MENOR-McNAMARA.

>> NEVER A BORING MOMENT.

>> YOU SHOULD NEVER BE BORED, >> CAN I -- >> Daryl: NO, OUT OF TIME.

>> THERE'S NO WAY I'LL BE BORED WITH WHAT WE CAN DO.

AGAIN KAUHALE, WORKFORCE HOUSING.

SO MUCH A LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR'S OFFICE CAN DO.

>> THANK YOU ALL VERY MUCH.

MAHALO TO YOU FOR JOINING US TONIGHT.

AND WE THANK OUR GUESTS THE DEMOCRATIC CANDIDATES FOR LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR.

STATE HOUSE REPRESENTATIVE SYLVIA LUKE, FORMER HONOLULU CITY COUNCIL CHAIR IKAIKA ANDERSON, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE CENTRAL PACIFIC BANK FOUNDATION KEITH AMEMIYA, AND PRESIDENT AND CEO OF THE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE OF HAWAII, SHERRY MENOR-MCNAMARA.

NEXT WEEK ON INSIGHTS, OUR POLITICAL COVERAGE CONTINUES WITH THE OPEN HONOLULU CITY COUNCIL DISTRICT 2 SEAT, WHICH REPRESENTS AN AREA SPANNING FROM MILILANI MAUKA TO KAHALU'U.

YOU'LL HEAR FROM THE 5 CANDIDATES WHO ARE VYING FOR THE JOB.

PLEASE JOIN US THEN.

I'M DARYL HUFF FOR INSIGHTS ON PBS HAWAI'I.

ALOHA!