THE RACE FOR STATE HOUSE DISTRICT 20 IS WIDE OPEN WITH FIVE DEMOCRATIC CANDIDATES LOOKING TO MAKE IT ON THE NOVEMBER 4TH BALLOT.

WE WILL TALK WITH THOSE FIVE CANDIDATES LOOKING TO REPRESENT THEIR COMMUNITIES OF EAST HONOLULU AND HEAR WHERE THEY STAND ON THE ISSUES NEXT FROM SAFETY TO AFFORDABLE HOUSING.

NEXT ON INSIGHTS.

WITH NO INCUMBENT RUNNING FOR STATE HOUSE DISTRICT 20, SEAT IS UP FOR GRABS.

FIVE CANDIDATES ARE FACING OFFICER IN A CROWDED DEMOCRATIC PRIMARY FOR THE POSITION COVERS HONOLULU COMMUNITIES OF KAHALA, KAIMUKI, AND KAPAHULU.

EACH CANDIDATE IS TRYING TO MAKE IT TO THE GENERAL ELECTION.

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

¶¶ ¶¶ ALOHA AND WELCOME TO INSIGHTS ON PBS HAWAII.

I’M LAUREN DAY.

WITH BERT KOBAYASHI RETIRING THIS YEAR AND THE END OF HIS TERM THE PRIMARY RACE FOR HOUSE DISTRICT 20 IS SET UP TO BE A COMPETITIVE ONE.

THE DEMOCRATIC SIDE OF THE BALLOT FEATURES FIVE CANDIDATES LOOKING TO BECOME FIRST TIME STATE LAWMAKERS.

THE DISTRICT INCLUDES KAHALA, KAIMUKI, KAPAHULU, WAIALAE, AND DIAMOND HEAD.

WHAT ARE THE MAIN ISSUES DISTRICT 20 IS FACING AND WHAT ARE THE CANDIDATES’ PLANS TO ADDRESS THEM?

ON TONIGHT’S SHOW WE WILL HEAR FROM EACH OF THE FIVE CANDIDATES AS THEY MAKE THEIR CASES TO REPRESENT DISTRICT 20 IN THE STATE HOUSE.

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 YOUTUBE PAGE.

NOW, TO OUR GUESTS GEORGE HOOKER IS A RESIDENT OF KAIMUKI.

HE CAME TO HAWAII TO ATTEND THE UNIVERSITY OF HAWAII AT MANOA WHERE HE PLAYED FOOTBALL.

HE HAS SERVED IN THE HAWAII NATIONAL GUARD.

HE IS CURRENTLY PURSUING A MASTERS DEGREE IN MENTAL HEALTH COUNSELING FROM CHAMINADE UNIVERSITY.

JOHN CHOI HAS LIVED IN KAPAHULU FOR THE PAST 22 YEARS.

HE IMMIGRATED TO HAWAII WITH HIS FAMILY FROM KOREA IN 1972 WHEN HE WAS FOUR YEARS OLD.

HE HAS OVER TWO DECADES EXPERIENCE AS A TRIAL LAWYER AND STARTED HIS LEGAL CAREER AS A DEPUTY ATTORNEY GENERAL.

HE AND HIS WIFE MICHELLE HAVE TWO DAUGHTERS.

KEVAN WONG WAS BORN AND RAISED IN THE COMMUNITIES OF DIAMOND HEAD AND KAIMUKI.

HE GRADUATED FROM THE WILLIAM S. RICHARDSON SCHOOL OF LAW AT UH MANOA.

HE HAS WORKED FOR REP. SCOTT NISHIMOTO IN THE STATE HOUSE AND SINCE 2019 HAS WORKED FOR THE CITY AND COUNTY OF HONOLULU AS THE CITY’S LIASON TO THE STATE.

JAMES LOGUE IS A COMBAT VETERAN IN THE US ARMY.

HE HOLDS A MASTER’S DEGREE IN PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION FROM HAWAII PACIFIC UNIVERSITY.

HE IS CURRENTLY A SPECIAL INVESTIGATOR FOR THE STATE OF HAWAII.

HE HAS PREVIOUSLY WORKED AS A SNAP BENEFITS CASE WORKER, LEGAL ASSISTANT, AND LEGISLATIVE AIDE IN THE STATE HOUSE.

TINA NAKADA GRANDINETTI IS A KAPAHULU RESIDENT AND AN ASSOCIATE ON THE HOUSING AND LAND JUSTICE TEAM AT POLICYLINK, A NATIONAL RESEARCH AND ACTION INSTITUTE DEDICATED TO ADVANCING ECONOMIC EQUITY.

SHE HAS A PH.D.

IN URBAN STUDIES.

SHE IS A FOUNDING MEMBER OF OAHU WATER PROTECTORS.

FIRST QUESTION FOR ALL FIVE OF YOU HEAR FROM EVERYONE.

THIS IS A HOT TOPIC I THINK FOR ALL OF US WHO LIVE IN HAWAII.

COST OF LIVING.

VERY HIGH.

I WANT TO START WITH YOU.

GO AROUND THE TABLE.

WHAT DO YOU THINK STATE LAWMAKERS CAN DO TO MAKE HAWAII MORE AFFORDABLE >> VERY GOOD QUESTION.

WHEN I LOOK AT AFFORDABILITY, I THINK IT AFFECTS THE YOUNGER GENERATION THE MOST ESPECIALLY IN OUR DISTRICT WE HAVE GOING DOOR TO DOOR, ALL OF THESE FAMILIES ARE WORRIED ABOUT HOW ARE MY KIDS MILLENIALS AFFORD A HOME.

AFFORD HAWAII?

IT TOUCHES MY HEART AND WHAT I LOOK AT IS WHAT WE DID THIS PAST YEAR WITH HOUSE BILL 2404.

AND WHAT THAT DID WAS BIGGEST TAX BREAK IN THE LAST 50 YEARS.

GENERATIONAL TAX BREAK, AND I THINK WE SHOULD TAKE THAT ONE STEP FORWARD TO FIGHT FOR OUREL NEXT GENERATION.

WE SHOULD COMPLETELY LOOK AT THE TAX CODE AND MAKESHIFTS IN THE TAX CODE BY COMPLETELY TAKING OUT INCOME TAX AND THEN 20% OF OUR HOUSING HERE IN HAWAII IS BY NONRESIDENTS AND IT'S ALSO BY VACATION HOMES.

SO WHAT WE DO IS WE RAISE THAT PROPERTY TAX FOR THOSE PEOPLE THAT AREN'T AS INVESTED IN HAWAII.

DON'T LOVE HAWAII.

ASIDE FOR THEM.

WE WANT THE PEOPLE THAT ARE INVESTED IN HAWAII TO REAP THE BENEFITS OF BEING HERE.

>>Lauren: GO AROUND THE PANEL.

YOUR THOUGHTS ON HOW DO WE MAKE IT MORE AFFORDABLE TO LIVE HERE?

>> I THINK GEORGE MENTIONED A BIG TAX CUT THAT'S A GOOD START.

ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I FIND VERY DIFFICULT IS COMPETING WITH OUTSIDE INTERESTS.

WE'VE CREATED A SYSTEM WHERE OUR RESIDENTS HAVE LOWER PAY AND LESS BENEFITS THAN A LOT OF OTHER PLACES.

I THINK BIG PART OF IT IS LETTING OUR RESIDENTS COMPETE WITH THE HIGHER PAYING JOBS AND THE LOWER COST OF LIVING FROM OUTSIDE INTERESTS THAT ARE COMING IN AND TAKE UP SPACES THAT SHOULD BE FOR OUR RESIDENT >> THAT SHOULD BE A BIGGER PART OF OUR FOCUS I THINK, AND LIKE I SAID, TAX CUT IS A GOOD START.

BUT THERE'S A LOT OF DIFFERENT THINGS THAT WE CAN LOOK AT TO FOCUS OUR ATTENTION ON BRINGING COST DOWN FOR NECESSITIES LIKE FOOD AND MEDICINE.

SO THOSE ARE THE BIG THINGS THAT I THINK WE SHOULD FOCUS ON.

>>Lauren: NOT ONLY HOUSING BUT INFLATION, FOOD, GROCERIES RESTAURANTS EVERYTHING MORE EXPENSIVE.

WHAT WOULD YOU LIKE ADD?

>> YEAH, I WOULD AGREE.

HOUSING IS I THINK THE BIGGEST COST THAT MOST FAMILIES FACE.

HUGE PERCENTAGE OF LOCAL FAMILIES HOUSING COST BURDENED.

I THINK WE CAN MAKE POLICY CHANGES TO CURB OUTSIDE INVESTMENT AND SPECULATION IN OUR HOUSING MARKET.

CREATED A HOUSING MARKET THAT IS ALMOST ENTIRELY DISCONNECTED FROM THE LOCAL ECONOMY.

WE CAN PRESERVE EXISTING AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND DO BETTER AT PROTECTING THE 48% OF LOCAL FAMILIES WHO RENT.

THE OTHER COST IS GROCERIES.

GETTING HARDER AND HARDER EVERY SINGLE MONTH.

I HEAR THAT ALL THE TIME.

TAKES SIGNIFICANT INVESTMENTS IN OUR LOCAL FOOD SYSTEM.

IF WE REALLY WANT TO START SEEING TRANSFORMATIVE CHANGES IN THE AMOUNT OF MONEY THAT WE PAY FOR FOOD, WE NEED TO STOP IMPORTS 80 TO 90% OF IT.

THAT MEANS INVESTING IN SUSTAINABLE REGENERATIVE LOCAL AGRICULTURAL SYSTEM.

AND THEN ISSUE OF TAX BREAKS, REALLY SUPPORT LOWERING TAX BURDENS FOR WORKING FAMILIES.

THE MOST RECENT INCOME TAX BREAKS THOUGH, I THINK REINFORCE REGRESSIVE TAX SYSTEM AND WHAT THAT MEANS IS TOP 1% OF EARNERS IN HAWAII SEE MORE BENEFITS FROM THAT BILL THAN BOTTOM 20%.

LIKE THE VAST MAJORITY OF THOSE BENEFITS ARE GOING TO BE FELT BY PEOPLE WHO ARE ALREADY DOING PRETTY WELL AND NOT STRUGGLING.

TOP 1% EARNERS AVERAGE $6,000 TAX BREAK.

BOTTOM ROUGHLY 35.

AS WE MAKE THOSE CHOICES TRY TO PUT MORE MONEY BACK IN THE HANDS OF WORKING PEOPLE, WE NEED TO BE CONSCIOUS OF HOW WE MAKE THOSE DECISIONS >>Lauren: WHAT WOULD YOU LIKE TO SAY ON THE TOPIC?

>> I BELIEVE THAT GOVERNMENT SHOULD AND CAN SPEND EMERGENCY MONIES TO GIVE FAMILIES NOW 500 TO A THOUSAND DOLLARS FOR THE MOST NEEDY FAMILIES.

CRISIS GOING ON, PEOPLE CAN'T AFFORD TO EAT RIGHT NOW.

60% OF HOUSEHOLDS ARE STRUGGLING WITH JUST MEETING REGULAR BILLS.

AND THAT IS THE FIRST LEGISLATION I WOULD LIKE TO INTRODUCE.

IS RELIEF MEASURE, EMERGENCY RELIEF MEASURE WE HAVE THE MONEY AND WE CAN MAKE LONGTERM BONDS AND WE CAN LOOK AT INCREASING VISITORS TAX, AND TO PAIR THAT WITH AFFORDABLE HOUSING BY BUILDING MORE HOUSES ON THE PROPERTIES THAT WE ALREADY HAVE.

LOOK AT THE GOVERNMENT HOUSING, IT'S 2 TO 3 STORIES.

WE HAVE NOW THE ABILITY TO MAKE 30 STORY, 40 STORY HOMES.

WE SHOULD REDEVELOP ALL OF THOSE GOVERNMENT OWNED HOUSING PROJECTS AND MAKE THEM BEAUTIFUL.

AND GIVE PEOPLE PRIDE IN THEM.

AND GIVE THEM THE ABILITY TO PASS IT ON TO THEIR CHILDREN NOT AS A FEE SIMPLE, BUT AS THE FIRST RIGHT OF REFUSAL BEFORE IT GOES TO SOMEONE ELSE.

I THINK THAT FIRST RIGHT OF REFUSAL CAN ALSO PLAY INTO GENERAL TRANSACTIONS IN REAL ESTATE WHERE HAWAII RESIDENTS GET FIRST DIBS ON EVERY SINGLE PIECE OF PROPERTY BEFORE SOMEONE WHO DOES NOT LIVE HERE CAN BID ON THAT.

>>Lauren: AS YOU'RE CAMPAIGNING, I'M SURE THIS IS SOMETHING THAT GETS BROUGHT UP A LOT.

>> IT IS.

COST OF LIVING IS BIG ISSUE FOR EVERYONE.

AND KEVAN WAS SAYING, WAGES AREN'T REALLY COMPARABLE TO WHAT THE MAINLAND IS BEING PAID.

I KNOW FROM WORKING AT THE SNAP OFFICES, THERE ARE PLENTY OF PEOPLE WORKING 2 AND 3 JOBS BUT THEY'RE WORKING LIKE 19 OR LESS HOURS AT EACH JOB.

THEY DON'T HAVE MEDICAL COVERAGE.

AND SOME OF THEM SADLY DON'T QUALIFY.

JUST OVER THE MONTHLY GROSS AMOUNT DON'T QUALIFY FOR BENEFITS >> I THINK SOMETHING, THAT NEEDS TO BE LOOKED AT HOW WE CAN HELP THOSE BUSINESSES GIVE THOSE PEOPLE MORE HOURS.

WHICH KIND OF FALLS INTO THE TAX CODE, GEORGE WAS SAYING.

I THINK WE NEED TO LOOK AT THE TAX CODE AND WE NEED TO LOOK AT HOW WE'RE TAXES BUSINESSES AND TRY TO SEE HOW WE CAN COME IT A COMPROMISE WHERE RAISING MINIMUM WAGE BUT NOT HELPING BASES.

SO THEY'RE TAKING ANOTHER COST AND NOW THEY HAVE CUT JOBS.

HAVE TO CUT POSITION.

IT'S GREAT, YOU'RE GETTING THINK YOU'RE GETTING PAID MORE, IN REALITY LONG RUN, GOING TO LOSE YOUR JOBS.

I THINK LEGISLATURE NEEDS TO WORK WITH BUSINESSES AND SEE WHAT KIND OF MODIFICATIONS TO THE TAXES WE CAN PUT IN PLACE FOR THE PEOPLE.

>> AFFORDABLE HOUSING, COST OF LIVING, SOMETHING THAT AFFECTS EVERYONE ACROSS THE STATE.

I WANT TO GET A LITTLE MORE SPECIFIC.

LET EACH OF YOU JUMP IN.

NO PARTICULAR ORDER.

BESIDES AFFORDABLE HOUSING, WHAT ARE SOME SPECIFIC   ISSUES FACING YOUR AREA AND YOUR COMMUNITY?

>> YOU THINK ONE OF THE BIGGEST THINGS THAT WE'VE BEEN HEARING ABOUT IS PUBLIC SAFETY.

I GREW UP IN THE AREA.

HAWAII ROUTINELY RIDE MY BIKE FROM MY HOUSE ON 12TH AVENUE TO MY GRANDPARENTS' ON 22.

THAT'S SOMETHING THAT I THINK A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE AFRAID TO LET THEIR KIDS DO NOW.

I WAS DOING THAT WHICH WAS 8, 9, TEN YEARS OLD AND JUST TODAY, I WAS TALKING TO SOMEBODY WHO SAID, THEY DIDN'T WANT THEIR KIDS OUT BY THEMSELVES.

THEY'RE SITTING HOME INSIDE PLAYING VIDEO GAMES OR DOING SOMETHING ELSE BECAUSE THEY DON'T FEEL SAFE LETTING THEM GO TO THE PARK BY THEMSELVES OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT.

I THINK THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE CAN REALLY FOCUS ON AND WHEN HOMELESS PEOPLE COMING IN OUT OF WAIKIKI AND JUST TAKING UP THE SPACE SO PEOPLE DON'T FEEL SAFE, IT'S SOMETHING THAT WE, BIG ISSUE IN OUR AREA.

>>Lauren: IDEAS HOW TO ADDRESS THAT?

>> FOR ME, HOMELESSNESS IS BIG ISSUE.

IT'S GOT A WHOLE BUNCH OF DIFFERENT PARTS TO T START WITH MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES AND REHABILITATIVE SERVICES, WE NEED TO MAKE THOSE MORE AVAILABLE.

AND GET ACCESS TO THOSE, MAKE IT EASIER.

THE OTHER THING IS THERE'S A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT ARE TRYING.

CAN'T MAKE IT.

ONE OF THINGS THAT I REALLY LIKE IS CITY'S CORE PROGRAM, CRISIS OUTREACH RESPONSE AND ENGAGEMENT PROGRAM.

THEY HAVE A BUNCH OF PROVIDERS THAT KIND OF GO AROUND MAKE SURE THAT PEOPLE CAN GET THE HELP THAT THEY NEED.

THE LAST PART OF IT UNFORTUNATELY IS THE PEOPLE THAT DON'T REALLY WANT TO PARTICIPATE IN SOCIETY, DON'T WANT TO FOLLOW THE RULES.

I THINK RIGHT NOW WE'VE CREATED THE SYSTEM WHERE OUR COURTS ARE UNDERFUNDED.

JAILS ARE UNDERFUNDED.

LEADS TO WHOLE BUNCH OF PEOPLE GETTING SLAP ON THE WRIST AND GETTING PUT BACK ON THE STREETS.

>>Lauren: IS THAT SOMETHING SAFETY, CRIME, THAT YOU ALL ARE HEARING FROM PEOPLE IN YOUR COMMUNITIES?

OR OTHER ISSUES THAT ARE PRESSING AS WELL?

>> PUBLIC SAFETY IS A BIG ONE.

FOR ME, I HAVE 11 MONTH OLD SON.

SO JUST THINKING ABOUT HIM NOT BEING ABLE TO GO PLAY OUTSIDE SAFELY BY HIMSELF OR WITH HIS FRIENDS IS BOTHERSOME.

IT'S AN ISSUE WITH THE COURTS.

AND A LOT OF THE DEPARTMENTS ARE UNDERSTAFFED.

EVEN IF WE LOOK AT HPD, UNDERSTAFFED.

BUT I THINK MOST IMPORTANTLY, WE NEED TO LOOK AT THE STATE LAWS AS A SPECIAL INVESTIGATOR I KNOW IT'S VERY HARD TO PURSUE PROSECUTION.

YOU CAN HAVE A MOUNTAIN OF EVIDENCE, IT HAS TO BE VERY SPECIFICALLY LAID OUT AND COLLECTED.

I THINK LAW LEAN A LITTLE BIT TOO IN FAVOR OF THE CRIMINALS.

SO I THINK WE NEED TO GO AND LOOK AT THOSE LAWS AND AMEND THEM TO PUT SOME MORE BALANCE BACK INTO THE SYSTEM EVEN IF YOU TALK TO THE PROSECUTOR'S OFFICE OR AG OFFICE, THEY'LL TELL YOU SAME THING.

A LOT OF THESE CASES DON'T GO TO PROSECUTION.

THEY'RE BACK ON THE STREETS BECAUSE THEIR HANDS ARE TIED.

THAT HAS TO CHANGE.

OR WE'RE NOT GOING TO CHANGE THE PUBLIC SAFETY ASPECT IN THE COMMUNITY AT ALL.

>> FOR ME, THE PUBLIC SAFETY ISSUE HAS COME UP A LOT.

CONCERN THAT PEOPLE DON'T FEEL SAFE IN THEIR HOMES AND NEIGHBORHOODS.

I WOULD TAKE A SLIGHTLY DIFFERENT APPROACH, MAYBE PRIORITIZE THINGS A LITTLE DIFFERENTLY.

IN THAT I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO KNOW THAT TO NOTE THAT VIOLENT CRIMES IN HAWAII REMAIN LIKE INCOMPARISON, VERY, VERY LOW.

PROPERTY CRIMES THAT WE'RE SEEING INCREASE OF.

PROPERTY CRIMES ALSO MAKE PEOPLE FEEL EXTREMELY UNSAFE IN THEIR HOMES.

NOT TRIVIALIZE THAT, PROPERTY CRIMES REFLECT POVERTY AND DESPERATION.

HOMELESSNESS REFLECTS POVERTY.

WE HAVE A THINK NOT MADE THE COLLECTIVE INVESTMENTS THAT WE NEED TO IN TERMS OF TAKE CARE OF PEOPLE.

FOR THE HOMELESSNESS IN OUR DISTRICTS, ENCAMPMENT AT DIAMOND HEAD, WHERE WE HAVE SOME HARDER TO HOUSE CHRONICALLY HOMELESS, BUT IN ORDER TO REALLY ADDRESS THAT ISSUE IN THE LONGTERM, IT TAKES MORE THAN POLICING.

IT TAKES SERIOUS INVESTMENTS IN COMPREHENSIVE AND ROUTINE SUSTAINED OUTREACH AND RELATIONSHIP BUILDING SO THAT YOU CAN CONNECT PEOPLE WITH IT'S SERVICES THAT THEY NEED.

>>Lauren: GET TO YOUR TOP PRIORITY ISSUES.

WHILE SHE'S ON TOPIC OF THAT, WE DID HAVE ONE OF OUR VIEWERS WRITE IN, MIKE PALOLO, WHO ASKED US OR ASKED ALL OF YOU TO ADDRESS THE HOMELESS LIVING ON DIAMOND HEAD CRATER.

ANYONE ELSE WANT TO ADD ON ANY IDEAS ON HOW TO ADDRESS THAT SITUATION?

>> SO ONE OF THE BIG THINGS IS SO THAT FALLS UNDER THE JURISDICTION OF DLNR.

I KNOW THROUGH THE MANY NEIGHBORHOOD BOARDS THAT I'VE GONE TO OVER THE LAST FEW MONTHS, IT'S BEEN A BIG TOPIC >> I NOTICED STARTED TO KIND OF CLEAR OUT THE BUSH AREA THAT IS THERE.

THEY'VE KIND OF BEEN HIDING BEHIND.

LAST COUPLE OF WEEKS.

SO I THINK THAT'S A GOOD START.

ANOTHER THING GOING BACK TO WHAT I WAS SAYING BEFORE, WE NEED SOME ENFORCEMENT ON THING.

AGAIN, A LOT OF TIMES, THEY GO UP THERE.

CLEARLY TRESPASSING >> A LOT OF TIMES SETTING FIRES TO COOK THEIR MEALS.

FIRE TRUCKS HAVE BEEN CALLED MULTIPLE TIMES ESPECIALLY IN THE LAST FEW MONTHS.

AND I THINK THAT IS SOMETHING THAT A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE VERY WORRIED ABOUT AFTER MAUI.

IT JUST MAKES PEOPLE FEEL REALLY UNSAFE TO SEE POSSIBILITY THAT ALL OF DIAMOND HEAD, KAPAHULU, MIGHT GO UP.

IT'S A LOT OF OLDER HOUSES SINGLE WALL THINGS THAT ARE DRIED OUT AND COULD BURN VERY QUICKLY.

SO I THINK WE START WITH WORKING WITH DLNR TO MAINTAIN THAT PROPERTY.

AND CLEAR IT OUT.

REGULAR BASIS.

>>Lauren: YOU LOOK LIKE YOU HAD A THOUGHT ON THAT >> TIES IN PERFECTLY WITH WHAT MY NUMBER ONE CONCERN I'VE BEEN HEARING HOMELESSNESS.

I PROMOTE PERMITTING SYSTEM WITH YOU HAVE TO GET A PERMIT LIKE CAMPING TO BE HOMELESS.

IT WOULD BE FREE.

AND IT WOULD BE PAIRED WITH FREE HEALTH CHECKUP AND THAT WOULD HELPS JUST A HUMAN THING TO DO.

BUT ALSO, IT ADDRESSES SOME OF THE FINANCIAL BURDENS THAT THE HOMELESS PLACE ON TAXPAYORS BECAUSE THAT IS THE BIGGEST COST IS WHEN THEY HAVE SERIOUS ILLNESS AND THEN THEY GO TO THE ER AND HAVE TO GO HAVE TREATMENT FOR VERY SERIOUS ILLNESS >> SO WE HAVE PERMIT SYSTEM THAT IS FREE.

EVERY 90 DAYS THEY HAVE TO GET THIS PERMIT.

PAIR IT WITH A HEALTH CHECKUP.

DATABASE WHERE FAMILY CAN FIND THEM EASILY.

WHETHER THE FAMILY IS HERE IN HAWAII OR BACK ON THE MAINLAND.

WE CAN HELP THEM REUNIFY.

>>Lauren: ANYTHING YOU WANTED TO ADD ON THAT TOPIC?

>> YEAH.

OUR POLICE ARE UNDERSTAFFED AND IT'S A HUGE CONCERN.

WE HAVE OVER 400 VACANCIES IN THE STATE.

AND WE HAVE CITY & COUNTY WORKING ON IT.

PUT TOGETHER A PROPOSAL TO $25,000 BONUS FOR NEW CADETS TO MAKE IT THROUGH.

AND WE'VE SEEN A 50% APPLICATION OF NEW CADETS AND I THINK THAT AS PROGRESS.

CITY & COUNTY AND STATE ARE WORKING TOGETHER TO TRY TO SOLVE SOME OF THESE ISSUES AND WE SEE CONCERN IN PLACE LIKE DIAMOND HEAD WHERE WE NEED MORE POLICE AND I WOULD EVEN PROPOSE ON TOP OF THAT, IS EVEN MAKING A SOCIAL WORK DIVISION HAS SOMEONE THAT GOING INTO THE COUNSELING FIELD.

WE NEED SOME OF THESE >> AREN'T POLICE ISSUES.

THEY'RE MORE HUMANITARIAN ISSUES.

AND THEY NEED TO WORK TOGETHER AS A TEAM TO HANDLE THIS.

BECAUSE IT MANY TIMES POLICE AREN'T TRAINED ON ISSUES LIKE THAT >> TOPIC OF THE ENCAMPMENT.

I THINK I JUST WANT TO SEE THAT I THINK PERMITTING SYSTEM IS REALLY PROBLEMATIC.

ETHICAL REASONS, BUT ALSO BECAUSE FOR MY DOCTORAL RESEARCH, SPENT A LOT OF TIME INTERVIEWING LEARNING FROM FOLKS AT ENCAMPMENT IN KAKAAKO AND THE ONE IN WAIANAE PUUHONUA O HONUA WAIANAE.

PEOPLE WHEN THEY GET SWEPT, THEY LOSE THEIR BELONGINGS.

THEY LOSE THEIR IDENTIFICATION.

SO JUST AS A MATTER OF LIKE EFFECTIVENESS, I DON'T UNDERSTAND HOW THAT WOULD WORK.

I REALLY WOULD ADVOCATE FOR SPENDING OUR RESOURCES ON WHAT WE KNOW DOES WORK.

AND THE THING ABOUT THE ENCAMPMENT AT DIAMOND HEAD IS VERY UNFORTUNATE SYMPTOM OF BIG PROBLEM.

BUT THE ONE POSITIVE ABOUT ENCAMPMENT IS THAT DESPITE CONDITIONS AND ISSUES OF BAD BEHAVIOR, THEIR TENDS TO SOME ELEMENT OF COMMUNITY.

AND SO WHILE WE DO HAVE TO WORK WITH DLNR TO MAINTAIN THAT SITE BECAUSE IT IS A PUBLIC HEALTH HAZARD AND FIRE HAZARD, WE CAN ALSO WORK WITH THE PEOPLE WHO LIVE THERE TO TRY TO SOLVE THAT PROBLEM ON A LONGTERM BASIS BECAUSE WE KNOW FROM DOOR KNOCKING NEIGHBORHOOD BOARDS AROUND THAT ENCAMPMENT, WHEN A SWEEP OCCURS PEOPLE MOVE INTO NEIGHBORHOODS HAVE NOWHERE ELSE TO GO.

NEED TO START OFFERING LONGTERM, LONGLASTING SOLUTION.

FOR THAT INCLUDES JUST THE FACT THAT OUR SOCIAL SERVICES ARE OUTREACH WORKERS ARE SEVERELY UNDERFUNDED OVER WORKED AND OPERATING UNDER LIKE HUGE CASELOADS.

SO I WOULD REALLY ADVOCATE FOR PRIORITIZING THAT AS KIND OF THE MAIN WAY THAT WE TACKLE THIS.

>>Lauren: ALL OF THESE TOPICS THAT HAVE BEEN DISCUSSED, YOU ALL ARE VERY PASSIONATE B I WANT TO GO AROUND THE TABLE BEFORE WE GET TO A VIEWER QUESTIONS COMING IN.

IF ELECTED, WHAT WOULD BE YOUR TOP PRIORITY ISSUE THAT YOU WANT TO ADDRESS?

LET'S OPPOSITE WAY.

GEORGE STARTED WITH YOU.

JAMES START WITH YOU.

GO AROUND THE TABLE.

>> MY TOP PRIORITY THAT I WOULD LIKE TO ADDRESS IS I WOULD I LIKE TO SEE GOING BACK TO THE HOMELESS ISSUE, LONGTERM CARE FACILITIES OR EXPANSIONS OF STATE HOSPITAL, AS WE ALL SAY, IF YOU SWEEP THEM THEY MOVE TO ANOTHER COMMUNITY OR DOWN THE STREET.

COME BACK.

I DON'T THINK SWEEPS ARE EFFECTIVE.

I THINK IT'S A SHORT TERM SOLUTION.

ONLY WAY THAT WE'RE GOING TO REDUCE THE HOMELESS POPULATION IS IF WE GET THEM INTO LONGTERM AND PERMANENT CARE HOMES.

WHERE THEY CAN LOVE A LIFE OF DIGNITY.

GET THEIR MEDICATIONS.

WHEN I WORKED AT THE SNAP OFFICE, I HAD CLIENTS COME IN TAKING THEIR MEDICATION, AND THEY WERE COMPLETELY DIFFERENT PERSON THAN WHEN THEY WERE OFF THEIR MEDICATION.

AND AGAIN, GOING BACK TO THE SWEEPS, THEY LOSE ALL PERSONAL BELONGINGS.

MEDICATION IN THEIR TENT, LOSE IT BECAUSE IT'S BEING PICKED UP.

GO AND PICK IT UP.

IN THE END, I DON'T THINK WE'RE GOING TO REDUCE THE HOMELESS POPULATION EVEN IF WE HIRE MORE SOCIAL WORKERS OR DO A PERMITTING SYSTEM BECAUSE WHERE ARE THEY GOING?

NONPROFITS CAN HELP ONLY SO MUCH.

THEY DON'T HAVE LONGTERM CARE CAPABILITIES.

QUEEN'S HOSPITAL, OTHER HOSPITALS, THEY'RE OVER ABOUT YOUR BURDENED EMERGENCY ROOM BY THE HOMELESS WHO ARE COMING IN FOR WHATEVER REASON.

I THINK IT JUST COMES DOWN TO WE NEED TO REALLY FOCUS ON LONGTERM CARE FACILITIES TO HELP REDUCE THAT HOMELESS POPULATION.

>>Lauren: JOHN, FOR YOU >> THANK YOU.

PROGRESS IS ONLY MADE WHEN WE TRY NEW THINGS.

AND I THINK THAT WE MUST PASS TWO CRITICAL BILLS THAT WERE ON THE LEGISLATURE LAST YEAR.

ONE WAS TO STOP THE PAY TO PLAY WHICH RIGHT NOW, COMPANIES THAT HAVE CONTRACT WAS THE STATE, CANNOT CONTRIBUTE TO POLITICIANS.

THAT'S COMMON SENSE.

BUT THEIR EMPLOYEES, FAMILIES AND FRIENDS CAN.

AND IN A SYSTEM LIKE THAT, LIKE A SOCCER GAME, PLAYERS CAN'T PAY THE REFS BUT FAMILY FRIENDS CAN.

THAT GAME ALREADY KNOW WHOSE GOING TO WIN IT.

PEOPLE HAVE BEEN LOSING THAT GAME FOR A VERY LONG TIME IN HAWAII.

I WOULD SAY HUMBLY, MY OBSERVATION DEMOCRATIC PARTY HAS LOST TOUCH WITH THE PEOPLE.

WE SHOULD RIGHT THAT SHIP.

STOP THE PAY TO PLAY.

NUMBER 2, CLEAN ELECTIONS NEED TO HAVE A SYSTEM WHERE GOVERNMENT FUNDED ELECTIONS IS AN OPTION AND MAY BECOME PERMANENT FOR ALL PARTIES BECAUSE PARTICIPANTS BECAUSE RIGHT NOW >> WE'RE TRAINING CANDIDATES TO RAISE AS MUCH AS THEY CAN SPEND AS MUCH AS THEY CAN AND WHEN THEY GET ELECTED, SUPPOSED TO BALANCE THE BUDGET.

WE SHOULD GIVE EVERYBODY THE SAME AMOUNT OF MONEY, BE CREATIVE WITH IT, BE RESOURCEFUL WITH IT AND WHEN YOU STEP INTO OFFICE, YOU'RE GOING TO BE TRAINED TO DO THAT >> >>Lauren: REMINDER FOR VIEWERS QUESTION WE'RE HEARING.

IF ELECTED WHAT WITH WOULD BE YOUR TOP PRIORITY ISSUE WANT TO ADDRESS.

CONTINUE ON >> FOR ME, I WOULD LOVE TO GET ON THE HOUSING COMMITTEE.

I CURRENTLY WORK IN HOUSING POLICY AT NATIONAL POLICY INSTITUTE.

AND I DEDICATED MY GRADUATE STUDIES TEN YEARS TO RESEARCHING AND LEARNING FROM WORKING PEOPLE ABOUT HAWAII'S HOUSING CRISIS.

AND FOR ME, OUR CURRENT POLICY DISCUSSION AROUND HOUSING IS VERY LIMITED TO HOW WE CAN BUILD OUR WAY OUT OF THIS CRISIS.

AND I THINK THAT LEAVES A BIG GAP AROUND OTHER KEY POLICY APPROACHES.

LIKE CURBING OUTSIDE SPECULATION AND INVESTMENT.

CARVING OUT POOL OF HOMES IN OUR HOUSING MARKET THAT ARE ACCESSIBLE ONLY FOR LOCAL PEOPLE.

AND THAT ARE PERMANENTLY AFFORDABLE.

AND THEN PROTECTING LOW INCOME HOMEOWNERS AND THE 48% OF HOUSEHOLDS WHO RENT.

THOSE ARE REALLY IMPORTANT ISSUES FOR ME.

AND THEN ON TOP OF THAT, I THINK SORT OF RELATED IS PROTECTING OUR ENVIRONMENT AND CREATING MORE RESILIENT LOCAL ECOSYSTEM AS WE ARE FACING CLIMATE CHANGE.

I THINK THAT IS RELATED TO THE LAND USE DECISIONS THAT WE'VE MADE IN THE APPROACHES WE'VE TAKEN TO DEVELOPMENT.

BUT ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I HEAR MOSTLY FROM YOUNGER PEOPLE COME TO THE DOOR, WHEN I AM CANVASSING IS WHEN I ASK THEM WHAT THEY CARE ABOUT THEY SAY I CARE ABOUT WATER.

I CARE ABOUT LIVABLE PLANET.

ONE HIGH SCHOOLER I THINK, WENT TO KALANIANAOLE HIGH SCHOOL.

LIVING IN KAIMUKI.

CAME TO THE DOOR AND SHE WAS LIKE, YEAH, SAYS IT'S UP TO OUR GENERATION TO SOLVE THAT I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY.

I TAKE THAT RESPONSIBILITY REALLY SERIOUSLY AND FEEL THAT AS STATE REPRESENTATIVES.

WE HAVE A REALLY IMPORTANT KULEANA TO PLAY.

>>Lauren: KEVAN?

>> SO KIND ON THE SAME PAGE AS WHAT JAMES WAS SAYING.

I THINK LONGTERM CARE IS REALLY IMPORTANT.

I WANT TO CHANGE THAT FOR ME, LONGTERM CARE ISSUE IS MORE WITH KUPUNA.

PERSONALLY, I LIVE AT HOME WITH MY GRANDPARENTS'.

THEY'RE IN THEIR 90s NOW REQUIRE A LOT OF CARE.

MY BROTHER AND MY UNCLE, MY COUSIN, WE LIVE THERE WITH THEM.

AND WE TAKE TURNS TAKING CARE OF THEM.

WE HAVE, REST OF MY FAMILY THAT ALSO IN THE DISTRICT COMES OVER IN THE MORNING, SOMETIMES.

WHEN HE HAVE TO GO TO WORK.

WHEN WE HAVE TO WORK LATE, EVERYBODY TAKES A TURN.

I KNOW WE'RE REALLY LUCKY BECAUSE WE HAVE THAT SYSTEM IN PLACE.

A LOT OF PEOPLE DON'T.

AS A WALKED AROUND, THERE WERE A NUMBER OF HOUSES WHERE CAREGIVER WAS ANSWERING THE DOOR FOR THE PERSON THAT WAS LIVING THERE.

I'M GLAD THAT THEY WERE ABLE TO HAVE SOMEBODY THERE.

A LOT OF PEOPLE DON'T.

THAT'S A PERSONAL PROJECT THAT I REALLY CARE ABOUT.

IT'S WORK THAT I'VE BEEN TRYING TO DO FOR A LONG TIME.

BEEN ON THE BOARD FOR THE HAWAII HEALTH SYSTEMS CORPORATION.

LAST JUST RESIGNED BECAUSE OF TRYING TO GET THIS NEW POSITION.

BUT I'VE BEEN THERE FOR ABOUT FIVE YEARS AND ONE OF THE BIG REASONS THAT I WANTED TO DO THAT IS BECAUSE THEY HELPED MANAGE LEAHI HOSPITAL.

RIGHT IN THE DISTRICTS.

AND I LOOK AT THAT BUILDING AND SEE HOW IT'S UNUSABLE ABOUT HALF OF IT.

SO TAKEN GOOD STEPS AT THE CITY TO REHABILITATE IT.

PARTNERED WITH SOME PEOPLE TO GET MORE USABLE BEDS, THAT'S BEEN MORE FOCUSED ON HOMELESS FOR NOW, BUT I REMEMBER A TIME WHEN I WAS AT KAIMUKI CHRISTIAN SCHOOL.

AND WE WOULD WALK OVER THERE AND WE WOULD READ STORIES AND WE WOULD PLAY GAMES WITH THE RESIDENTS.

I DON'T SEE THAT ANY MORE.

SO I WOULD LIKE TO SEE BIG PUSH FOR THAT KIND OF SERVICE.

ESPECIALLY IN OUR DISTRICT.

>>Lauren: REALLY INTERESTING HEARING SIMILAR TOPICS FOR A LOT OF YOU THAT ARE VERY IMPORTANT, BUT EVERYONE HAS A DIFFERENT TAKE ON HOW TO ADDRESS IT.

GEORGE WHAT WOULD BE YOUR TOP PRIORITIES?

>> YEAH, THAT'S A GOOD QUESTION.

I MENTIONED TAX CODE.

I WANT TO BUILD ON SOMETHING VERY SIMILAR TO THAT.

WHEN WE START LOOKING AT STATE JOBS IN THE STATE, I TALK TO SOME OF THE YOUNG PEOPLE EVEN SOME OF PEOPLE THAT I WORKED DOWN AT THE STATE CAPITOL WITH, AND THEY HAVE TROUBLE FINDING STATE JOBS.

WHAT I FOUND OUT WORKING FOR THE SENATE WAYS AND MEANS, FOURTH OF OUR STATE JOBS ARE VACANT.

AND WHAT THAT MEANS IS WE HAVE ALL OF THESE JOBS A LOT OF THEM ARE CLERICAL JOBS ENTRY LEVEL JOB AND PEOPLE CAN'T GET THROUGH THE DOOR.

THIRD OF OUR JOBS THAT ARE THIRD OF OUR JOBS COMES FROM THE DHRD, DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN RESOURCES AND THEY CAN'T EVEN, THIRD OF JOBS, THEY CAN'T FILL THEMSELVES.

WE HAVE THESE BARRIERS OF PEOPLE TO EVEN GET A JOB.

AND WHEN I WAS WORKING FOR THE SENATORS USED TO SAY LOOK AT THE VACANCIES.

RECALL STATE DEPARTMENTS WOULD COME IN, AGRICULTURE, DOTAX, STATE DEPARTMENTS AREN'T FILLING THESE POSITIONS BECAUSE THEY CAN'T GET THROUGH THE DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES.

AND I HAD OTHER YOUNG PEOPLE FRUSTRATED ABOUT THIS.

I THINK WHAT WE HAVE TO DO IS WE HAVE TO DO MORE 89 DAY HIRES.

GIVE PEOPLE A CHANCE.

LET THEM THROUGH.

WE HAVE TO SUPPORT OUR YOUNG LOCAL TALENT HERE IN HAWAII.

AND WHAT THEY DO WITH THE 89 DAY HIRES TRIAL PERIOD YOU DID A GOOD JOB, WE'RE GOING TO HIRE YOU FULL TIME FOR THE STATE.

AND IT WORKS HAND IN HAND.

JOBS, TAX, ALL OF THESE THINGS COME TOGETHER AND THEN IT MAKES IT AFFORDABLE FOR PEOPLE BO LIVE IN HAWAII.

>>Lauren: I WANT TO GET TO VIEWER QUESTIONS.

AS YOU CAN SEE, A LOT OF ORANGE PAPERS ON MY TABLE HERE.

I'M NOT SURE IF EVERYONE IS GOING TO HAVE A CHANCE TO CHIME IN ON EACH QUESTION.

I WILL READ THE QUESTION FROM OUR VIEWER AND THEN IF IT SPEAKS TO YOU, WANT TO TAKE IT FEEL FREE TO JUMP IN AND ANSWER IT >> FIRST ONE, ONE OF OUR VIEWERS WATCHING, PBS INSIGHTS EMAILED, ASKING NEW STATE LAW ALLOWS NEIGHBORHOOD BOARDS TO BUILT MORE DENSELY.

DISTRICT 20 PRETTY PACKED LIMITED STREET PARK.

WHAT IS YOUR TAKE ON THIS NEW LAW AND ADDRESS ANY COMPLAINTS THAT MIGHT ADDRESS FROM THE CHANGE >> MONSTER HOMES.

WALKING AROUND AND HEAR THE COMPLAINTS ABOUT MONSTER HOMES.

WHAT IS IT ABOUT THE MONSTER HOMES THAT BOTHERS YOU.

PARK.

WE HAVE A HOUSE, MIGHT BE 2 STORIES AND HAVE TEN ROOMS FOR RENT.

EACH OF THOSE ROOMS HAVE A CAR ATTACHED TO IT.

SINGLE FAMILY ZONING WITH AMENMENT FOR LIKE 2 TO 3 CARS NOW WE HAVE TEN CARS AND THAT JUST IS VERY IRRITATING FOR THE NEIGHBORHOOD AND YOU LOSE THAT FLAVOR.

I LIVE ON GEORGE STREET IN KAPAHULU.

THERE ARE NEIGHBORS BEEN THERE FOR GENERATIONS ACROSS THE STREET.

HAMANO, NEXT TO THEM, REZENTS BEEN THERE FOR GENERATIONS.

UHIHARA, COFFINS, COSTA, SO MUCH RICH LOVE AND FRIENDSHIP IN THE KAPAHULU, KAIMUKI, KAHALA, WHERE PEOPLE HAVE SPENT GENERATIONS AND MONSTER HOMES TAKES AWAY FROM THAT.

BECAUSE PEOPLE THAT USUALLY LIVE THE ROOMS ARE TRANSIENT OR STUDENTS AND WHICH IS OKAY.

EVERYBODY NEEDS HOUSING BUT SEEMS TO BE THE PARKING IS NUMBER ONE ISSUE.

>>Lauren: ANYONE ELSE?

KAIMUKI IS HARD TO GET PARKING.

JUST ANTECDOTE I AM SAYING >> LAST TIME ON I WAS ON THIS SHOW, SPEAKING TO THOSE THAT BILL THAT MOVED THROUGH THE LEGISLATURE.

TO ALLOW, AIM WAS TO DENSIFY OUR NEIGHBORHOODS BY ALLOWING UP TO MINIMUM OF TWO ADUs ON LOTS THAT HAD ALLOWABLE INFRASTRUCTURE.

I THINK WHILE I AM NOT OPPOSED TO THE IDEA OF GENTLY DENSIFYING OUR NEIGHBORHOODS PARTICULARLY NEAR THE URBAN CORE, I THINK THAT THAT BILL IN PARTICULAR WHAT WAS A BIT OF BLANKET LIKE SOLUTION TO A PROBLEM THAT IS PLACE BASED AND THAT SHOULD BE MADE NOT JUST AT THE COUNTY LEVEL, BUT REALLY AT THE NEIGHBORHOOD LEVEL.

SO ONE OF THE BEST THINGS ABOUT OUR DISTRICT LIKE JOHN SAID, RICH HISTORY.

FAMILIES LIVING THERE FOR GENERATIONS STILL RETAINS SOME OF THAT CHARACTER HOMES THAT ARE 100 YEARS OLD IN THE URBAN CORE.

AND THAT BILL, IN MY OPINION, GOES WITH THAT SAME THINKING AROUND HOUSING THAT WE CAN BUILD OUR WAY OUT OF THE CRISIS.

BEST WAY WE CAN ADDRESS RISING COST OF HOUSING, BUILD MORE.

WITHOUT ASKING WHAT WE'RE BUILDING OR WHO WE'RE BUILDING FOR.

AND FOR ME I THINK THAT I WOULD LIKE TO SEE INSTEAD OF MEASURES THAT OPEN THE DOOR TO DEVELOPERS, AND SORT OF OPEN THE FLOOD GATES TO DEVELOPMENT IN OUR NEIGHBORHOODS I WOULD RATHER SEE TARGETED POLICIES THAT EMPOWER WORKING FAMILIES WHO LIVE IN AND OWN THEIR HOMES TO KIND OF LEAD THAT DEVELOPMENT OF.

SO INSTEAD OF SAYING, INSTEAD MAKING IT EASIER FOR PEOPLE TO BUILD TWO TO THREE ADUs WE ALREADY HAVE 120,000 UNITS HAVE THE OPTION OF BUILDING ADU ONLY ACTUALLY SEEN 1500 BUILT SINCE 2015.

THE REASON IS THAT LOCAL FAMILIES CAN'T AFFORD TO DO IT.

SO I WOULD LIKE TO SEE ADU GRANT PROGRAM IF YOU LIVE IN YOUR HOME, YOU MIGHT BE ABLE TO ACCESS HHFDC FUNDS TO BUILD YOUR OHANA UNIT FOR YOUR FAMILY.

IF YOU PUT A DEED RESTRICTION ON IT.

GUARANTEEING PERMIT AFFORDABILITY OR SAYING IT WILL ONLY RENT OR SOLD TO LOCAL RESIDENTS.

THOSE KINDS OF THINGS, I'D THINK TAKE GROUND UP APPROACH.

AND RESPECT THE CHARACTER OF OUR NEIGHBORHOOD.

AND OUR SENSE OF COMMUNITY.

BECAUSE WE DO WANT TO SOLVE OUR HOUSING CRISIS BUT WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THE ADDITIONAL UNITS WE ADD TO THE MARKET ARE FOR OUR FAMILIES.

>>Lauren: SECOND TIME I WANT TO NEXT TOPIC.

I KNOW OKAY, REALLY IMPORTANT.

WE CAN COME BACK TO IT >> I THINK REALLY POORLY RUSHED BILL.

IT SETS REALLY DIFFERENT STANDARD FOR OAHU IN PARTICULAR.

IT'S A BILL THAT HAD TWO HEARING.

AND IF YOU LOOK AT THE VOTING RECORD, OVER 20 REPRESENTATIVES VOTED AGAINST IT.

I'M ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I WANT DO IS CREATE EXEMPTION FOR OAHU ON THAT BILL.

IT CAN BE BETTER THOUGHT AU.

>>Lauren: JAMES?

STAY ON THE TOPIC SOUNDS LIKE EVERYONE WANTS TO SAY SOMETHING >> WANT TO POINT OUT, I SERVER KAIMUKI NEIGHBORHOOD BOARD AND THIS ISSUE CAME TO US AND WE VOTED UNANIMOUSLY ON A RESOLUTION OPPOSING THE BILL.

SB3202.

DID SO FOR COUNCILMEMBER TOMMY WATERS OFFICE.

BECAUSE THEY WERE HOLDING A SPECIAL HEARING ABOUT IT BECAUSE THEY HAD THEIR CONCERNS BECAUSE AGAIN, TOUCHING ON THE IDEA OF CHARACTER OF THE COMMUNITY, WHEN YOU ALLOW THIS TYPE OF DEVELOPMENT TO GO ON, YOU'RE CHANGING CHARACTER OF THE COMMUNITY.

WITH YOU HAVE ALL OF THIS FAMILIES BEEN THERE FOR MULTIPLE GENERATIONS, THEY START SEEING THESE DRAMATIC CHANGES EVERYTHING FROM THE MONSTER HOMES TO THE HOMELESS MOVING INTO THE MORE CRIME, LIKE A SHOCK.

AND I JUST I THINK THAT IN THE LONG RUN, WE DO HAVE TO ADDRESS THE HOUSING ISSUE.

BUT I DO THINK THAT STATE HAS PLENTY LAND AND I BELIEVE IT WAS FORMER GOVERNOR NEIL ABERCROMBIE HAD PROPOSED DONATING STATE LAND AND COVERING LIKE INFRASTRUCTURE COSTS TO HELP BUILD THE INFRASTRUCTURE OUT SO DEVELOPERS CAN BUILD MORER AFFORDABLE HOUSING.

AND I THINK THAT WOULD BE A GOOD APPROACH.

>>Lauren: ANYONE ELSE?

>> YEAH.

I WOULD LOVE TO ADD IN.

I THINK THIS IS AN ISSUE THAT I REALLY CARE ABOUT.

I TOOK GRADUATE COURSES AT U.H.

FOR URBAN PLANNING AND THIS IS SOMETHING WE KIND OF TALKED ABOUT AND CARRIED OVER TO WHEN I WAS WORKING AT WAYS AND MEANS BECAUSE I READ THE TESTIMONY ON THIS BILL.

AND IT WAS EVERYONE WAS AGAINST IT.

CITY AND COUNTY WAS AGAINST IT.

NEIGHBORHOOD BOARD, JAMES MENTIONED >> AND IT'S JUST SOMETHING THAT WOULD DESTROY THE FAB LICK OF OUR COMMUNITY IN MANY WAYS.

FABRIC OF COMMUNITY >> NOT ONLY THAT WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE SEWER AND WATER ISN'T EVEN CAPABLE OF TAKING THAT KIND OF PRESSURE RIGHT NOW.

WE DON'T HAVE THE INFRASTRUCTURE HOLD UP ON IT.

SO MY PROPOSAL IS WE HAVE TO START COMPREHENSIVE PLANNING.

NEIGHBORHOOD BOARDS, CITY AND COUNTY, STATE, HAVE TO WORK TOGETHER TO COME TOGETHER FOR FIVE, TEN YEAR PLANS.

WE CAN'T KEEP BEING DEVELOPER DRIVEN.

AND YEAH, THAT'S JUST WHAT I THINK ABOUT IT.

>>Lauren: I'M GOING TO CHALLENGE YOU GUYS TO BE FAST WITH THESE ANSWERS GET SO YOU THROUGH SOME OF THE VIEWER QUESTIONS >> IF YOU CAN DON'T FEEL LIKE YOU HAVE TO JUMP FOR EVERY SINGLE ONE PEOPLE ARE WAITING FOR THEIR QUESTIONS TO BE ANSWERED.

THIS ONE TALKING ABOUT PUBLIC EDUCATION SYSTEM.

DO YOU HAVE ANY IDEAS HOW WE CAN IMPROVE HAWAII'S PUBLIC EDUCATION SYSTEM?

>> YEAH.

I THINK PUBLIC EDUCATION STARTS WITH OUR TEACHERS.

TEACHERS ARE THE FOUNDATION OF OUR EDUCATION SYSTEM.

14.5% RAISE TO TEACHERS IN 2023.

I THINK THAT'S A GOOD START.

WE CAN'T STOP THERE.

SO I PROPOSE WE HAVE THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION LAND IN OUR DISTRICT AND IT'S UNDER UTILIZED.

AND WHAT I THINK WE SHOULD DO IS WE SHOULD HELP OUR TEACHERS.

SUBSIDIZE THEIR HOUSING.

WE HAVE FACULTY HOUSING AT U.H.

I SAY WE TAKE THAT.

U.H.

'S MODEL AND WE PUT IT IN OUR DISTRICT.

NOT ONLY GOING TO HELP OUR DISTRICT.

HELP SURROUNDING DISTRICTS.

AND STUDIES HAVE SHOWN THAT WHEN YOU HELP YOUR TEACHERS OUT, THEY GET A GOOD PAY, THE STUDENTS PERFORM BETTER.

IT'S VERY EVIDENT.

AND WE WANT TO KEEP OUR LOCAL TEACHERS HERE, TEACHERS THAT CAN MAKE A CAREER, THAT CAN FEEL LIKE THIS IS A LONG TIME CAREER.

I'M SAFE.

I'M SECURE.

>>Lauren: ANYONE ELSE WANT TO ADD ON EDUCATION?

HOT TOPIC >> I THINK BIG PART OF IT IS WE'VE HAD A LOT OF DEFERRED MAINTENANCE ISSUES WHEN IT COMES TO SCHOOLS OVER THE LAST FEW YEARS.

WHETHER IT'S ADDING NEW THINGS, LIKE TRYING TO MAKE SURE THERE IS AIR CONDITIONING, IN OUR CLASSROOMS, OR EVEN JUST FIXING THINGS THAT HAVE LEAKS OR BROKEN THINGS, THAT'S ACROSS THE BOARD.

WHOLE BUNCH OF PLACES.

JAMES KNOWS THE LIKE THAT THE NEIGHBORHOOD BOARD IS AT.

HAS THIS TUBE RUNNING THROUGH THE BATHROOM FROM I DON'T KNOW WHAT, BUT OUT INTO A DRAIN.

IMPROVING THE CONDITIONS FOR OUR STUDENTS IS GOING TO BE REALLY IMPORTANT.

THEY CAN LEARN THINGS BETTER THERE.

BUT THE OTHER THING THAT I WANT TO DO IS CREATE NEW PROGRAMS THAT HELP OUR YOUNGER KIDS FIND THAT PATHWAY TO THE GOOD JOB THAT THEY SHOULD BE LOOKING FORWARD TO.

>>Lauren: LET YOU JUMP IN.

MOVE ON.

I WILL START WITH BOTH OF YOU >> VERY PROUD PUBLIC SCHOOL GRADUATE.

THIS QUESTION IS REALLY IMPORTANT TO ME.

I THINK THAT AT THE HEART OF OUR SCHOOLS ARE OUR STUDENTS AND OUR TEACHERS.

AND WE HAVE NOT TREATED OUR TEACHERS LIKE THE PROFESSIONALS THAT THEY ARE.

60,000 STUDENTS EVERY YEAR GO EDUCATED BY A TEACHER NOT HAWAII QUALIFIED TEACHERS.

A THOUSAND EMERGENCY HIRES AND LONGTERM SUBS.

WE HAVE TREATED OUR TEACHING PROFESSIONALS, EDUCATORS, AS BABYSITTERS.

WE HAVEN'T PAID THEM WHAT THEY DESERVE.

WE HAVEN'T SUPPORTED THE WORK WHAT THEY NEED TO DO THE WORK THAT IS SO IMPORTANT TO OUR COMMUNITY.

AND SO I WOULD REALLY LIKE TO SEE US FULLY FUND OUR PUBLIC EDUCATION SYSTEM INCREASE WAGES FOR TEACHERS, HOUSING SUPPORT IS REALLY IMPORTANT TOO.

BUT THE QUESTION OF RECRUITMENT AND RETENTION IS ABOUT MORE THAN JUST THAT.

WE MADE SOME PROGRESS ON SALARY COMPRESSION.

WE NEED TO PAY OUR TEACHERS MORE.

WE NEED TO LOWER THEIR CLASSROOM LOADS AND WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT STUDENTS HAVE CLOSE RELATIONSHIP WITH THEIR EDUCATORS.

THEY AREN'T SHOVED IN WITH 35 STUDENTS TO A CLASSROOM.

AND OUR PUBLIC SCHOOLS ARE, THEY'RE KEY TO OUR FUTURE >> IT IS ABOUT CONNECTING STUDENTS WITH JOBS BUT IT'S ALSO ABOUT CREATING LIFELONG LEARNERS WHO CARE ABOUT THEIR PLACE AND FEEL RESPONSIBLE TO TAKE CARE OF IT.

>>Lauren: JOHN AND JAMES, MOVE TO THIS HALF.

GOT A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS ON THE SAME TOPIC.

I'M GOING TO LET BOTH OF READ THEM OFF FIRST.

EACH OF THEM.

SO VIEWERS KNOW THAT THESE QUESTIONS ARE GETTING ASKED.

THEN YOU GUYS CAN ADDRESS.

CATHY FROM KAIMUKI SAYS, BULLYING IN THE HOUSE AND SENATE, HOW WILL THEY KEEP THEIR INTEGRITY AND NOT SUCCUMB TO THAT?

STEVE KAKAAKO, PRETTY OBVIOUS CERTAIN GROUP OF LONG TIME POLITICIANS INNOVATE LOT OF CONTROL WHAT HAPPENS AT THE LEGISLATURE.

IF YOU ARE ELECTED, HOW WILL YOU MAKE ANY IN ROADS CAPITAL AS FRESHMAN REPRESENTATIVE?

SAME TOPIC OF BEING FRESHMAN REPRESENTATIVE, ERIC IS ASKING, IF YOU GET ELECT, HOW WOULD YOU STAND UP TO THE END TRENCHED LEADERSHIP AT THE CAPITOL THAT CAN'T SEEM TO SOLVE PROBLEM THAT IS HOLD HAWAII BACK?

>> THAT'S ALL REALLY GOOD QUESTIONS.

AND COMPLEX, BUT I GUESS HAWAII JUST BRING IT DOWN AND SAY THAT, IF YOU WANT TO CHANGE THE WAY THINGS ARE, OPERATING CURRENTLY WITHIN THE LEGISLATURE, YOU HAVE TO CHANGE THE RULES.

YOU HAVE TO CHANGE THINGS LIKE THE SUNSHINE LAW.

YOU HAVE TO CHANGE THE UNILATERAL POWER THAT COMMITTEE CHAIR HAS >> AND KIND OF TOUCHING ON WHAT JOHN SAID EARLIER, YOU HAVE TO LOOK AT AGAIN, THE ELECTIONS AND CAMPAIGN FINANCING.

BECAUSE A LOT OF THESE ENTRENCHED POLITICIANS, KIND OF BEE HOLEN TO SPECIAL INTERESTS AND LOBBYISTS BECAUSE THOSE ARE THE ONES WHO DONATE TO THE CAMPAIGN.

SO CAN WIN RE ELECTION >> INTERNALLY RULES NEED TO BE CHANGED AND WE NEED STRONGER ETHICS AND OVER WATCH OF THE PROCESS ITSELF.

>>Lauren: JOHN FOR YOU I KNOW IT'S NOT EASY WHEN YOU'RE NEW JOB AND SO MANY THINGS THAT YOU WANT TO ADDRESS.

>> RIGHT.

IT WOULD BE EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO GO AGAINST LEADERSHIP BUT I'M PREPARED TO DO IT.

I BELIEVE THERE ARE GOOD LEGISLATORS THAT WILL UNDERSTAND THE MACRO POLICIES OF GETTING MONEY OUT OF THE POLITICS.

BIG MONEY.

AVERAGE CITIZEN FOR THIS SEAT, NOT THE AVERAGE BUT   VOTER, CAN CONTRIBUTE UP TO $2,000.

COMPANY CAN GIVE 100 EMPLOYEES MONEY $2,000 EACH, HOW CAN WE COMPETE >> AS A CITIZEN AGAINST THAT?

THERE WILL BE A TIME WHERE HAWAII ELECTS RIGHT MINDED POLITICIANS TO FILL THOSE SEATS AND INSTEAD OF HAVING JUST ONE ICE CUBE IN A WARM SODA, IT WILL BE POURING GLASS FULL OF ICE CUBES CHANGE THE CLIMATE FOR THE PEOPLE.

RIGHT NOW STACKED AGAINST THE PEOPLE.

I WILL NOT SUCCUMB TO PRESSURE.

MY ENTIRE CAREER HAS BEEN BUILT ON FIGHTING THE POWERS, LARGE CORPORATIONS, AND REPRESENTING PEOPLE.

I HAVE A TRACK RECORD OF SUCCESS IN THIS AREA.

>>Lauren: TAKE A PAUSE FROM THE SERIOUS QUESTIONS.

I THINK VIEWERS WANT TO GET TO KNOW EACH OF YOU ON A PERSONAL LEVEL.

WANT TO KNOW WHO YOU ARE AS A HUMAN, GOT A COUPLE OF FUN QUESTIONS.

WE WILL COME BACK BEFORE THE END OF THE SHOW TO THE PRESSING ISSUES.

BRAD IS ASKING, HEARD A LOT ABOUT THE ISSUES.

THANKS FOR ALL THAT YOU DO FOR PARTICIPATING.

WHAT DO EACH OF YOU DO TO RELAX?

>> WELL, TO RELAX, PLAY WITH MY SON.

OBVIOUSLY.

HIKING.

BUT I GUESS MY BIGGEST THING WOULD BE VIDEO GAMES.

I'M A GAMER.

PC GAMING SPECIFICALLY >>Lauren: CONNECTING WITH YOUNGER GENERATION >> YEAH.

GIRLS AND I AND MY WIFE WILL GO TO THE BEACH WHETHER IT'S TO SURF, SWIM, OR FISH.

THAT'S WHERE WE FIND OUR RELAXATION AT THE OCEAN.

>> SAME.

SURFER.

HAVEN'T BEEN ABLE TO GET IN THE WATER MUCH.

SURFING IS HOW I RELAX.

ALSO SAY CONNECTING WITH MY COMMUNITY.

COME FROM A BACKGROUND OF COMMUNITY ORGANIZING.

AND THE JOYS AN STRUGGLE LIKE WORKING WITH PEOPLE YOU CARE ABOUT, ON THE ISSUES YOU CARE ABOUT IS REALLY FULFILLING.

>>Lauren: CAMPAIGNING >> I JUST KIND OF LIKE TO RELAX.

I DO A LOT OF STUFF THROUGHOUT THE DAY.

AND ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I REALLY ENJOY IS SITTING DOWN AND WATCHING OLD KUNG FU AND WESTERN MOVIES WITH MY GRANDPA.

>>Lauren: I LOVE IT.

GEORGE >> I LOVE THE BEACH.

YEAH.

I BEFORE CAMPAIGNING USED TO EVERY DAY.

LOVE THE BEACH AND I VOLUNTEER OVER AT WRESTLING ACADEMY AND ALL OF MY KIDS ARE ON THE MAINLAND.

RIGHT NOW.

NATIONALS IN IDAHO WANT TO SHOUT THEM OUT.

GOOD LUCK.

AND I KNOW YOU GUYS WILL DO GREAT.

>>Lauren: ONE MORE FUN QUESTION.

IT GO RAPID FIRE.

LAST SERIOUS QUESTION.

FOR FUN, VIEWERS ONE VIEWER EMAILED IN, WHAT IS, WHERE IS YOUR FAVORITE PLACE TO EAT IN THE DISTRICT?

GEORGE START WITH YOU >> THERE'S SO MANY GOOD PLACES.

>> UNLESS SOMEONE ELSE HAS ONE TOP OF YOUR MIND.

JUMP IN.

>> YEAH.

>> I LIKE THE HOMEY PLACES.

TO GO TO COFFEE TALK QUITE A BIT.

JUST LIKE NICE PART IN THE MORNING.

GET A NICE TEA AND JUST CENTER MYSELF BEFORE THE DAY STARTS, GET GOING.

REALLY LIKE THAT PLACE.

>> I'VE BEEN GOING TO RAINBOW DRIVE IN FOREVER.

SLUSH FLOATS, LOCO MOCOS.

>> GONE THERE TWICE IN THE LAST 2 DAYS.

>>Lauren: CAN'T GO WRONG, YOU NEED ENERGY TO WALK.

>> KUBOTA GYOZO, NEWER.

ONLY PLACE ON ISLAND THAT HAS GYOZA ON PAR WITH MY MOM'S.

>>Lauren: CHECK THAT ONE OUT.

LIKE TO GET DIM SUM OR PHO AFTER CHURCH.

>>Lauren: FROM WHERE >> DIM SUM, PLACE ON THE CALLED KUMKI ON KAPIOLANI, CAN'T REMEMBER THE NAME.

PHO HUM LONG, FAVORITE OF MY FAMILY, FAVORITE PHO PLACE IN IT KAIMUKI >> I DON'T REALLY EAT OUT MUCH BECAUSE MY FIANCE IS A REALLY GOOD COOK.

SO I'M PRIVILEGED TO HAVE THAT AT HOME.

BUT IF I HAVE TO EAT OUT, HONESTLY, TACO BELL RIGHT THERE IN THE DISTRICT.

I LOVE TACO BELL.

>>Lauren: SUPPOSED PICK A LOCAL PLACE.

>> GOT TO BE HONEST, FAVORITE PLACE TO EAT.

>>Lauren: HONEST MAN.

I LOVE IT.

WE JUST HAVE A COUPLE MINUTES.

LET EVERYONE, 30, 45 SECONDS.

WHAT MAKES YOU DIFFERENT FROM THE OTHER CANDIDATES HERE TONIGHT?

A LOT OF YOU A LOT OF SIMILAR TOPICS THAT ARE VERY IMPORTANT TO EACH OF YOU.

OBVIOUSLY IMPORTANT TO YOU WILL AFTER US HERE IN HAWAII.

LET'S JUST GO AROUND.

QUICKLY HEAR FROM EACH OF YOU.

WHAT MAKES YOU DIFFERENT FROM THE OTHER CANDIDATES?

>> WHAT MAKES ME DIFFERENT I WOULD SAY MY BACKGROUND AND EXPERIENCE.

AND MY VISION FOR HAWAII.

IT'S MORE OF A LONGTERM VISION.

LOOK AT EACH ISSUE LIKE AN ONION, MULTIPLE THINGS GOING ON AROUND EACH ISSUE.

TAKE HOMELESSNESS, MENTAL ILLNESS, DRUG ADDICTION, CAN'T AFFORD RENT THINGS LIKE THAT >> SIT DOWN AND PICK ALL OF THOSE APART AND SEE WHAT WE CAN DO FOR EACH TANGENT TO MOVE FORWARD.

TO SOLUTION THAT CAN HELP EVERYONE.

SO YEAH I WOULD ARGUE MORE OF A LONGTERM VISION.

NOT LOOKINGER FOR RE ELECTION, SHORT TERM BAND AIDS WHAT WE KEEP GETTING, LONGTERM, 10, 20 YEAR SOLUTION.

>>Lauren: JOHN?

>> ONLY CANDIDATE THAT HAS BEEN LIVING CONSECUTIVELY, 22 YEARS SINCE 2002, IN OUR DISTRICT.

I'M THE ONLY CANDIDATE THAT 56.

IN MY FIFTIES.

I THINK EVERYONE ELSE IS IN THEIR 30'S.

I'M THE ONLY CANDIDATE THAT IS MARRIED.

BEEN MARRIED FOR 25 YEARS.

ONLY CANDIDATE TO RAISE TWO CHILDREN IN OUR DISTRICT.

MY DAUGHTER WENT TO WAIKIKI ELEMENTARY AND KAHALA ELEMENTARY AND YEAH.

>>Lauren: TINA FOR ME, DIVERSITY OF EXPERTISE.

LEGISLATIVE EXPERIENCE.

RAN OFFICE FOR AMY RUSO.

ACTIVE ROLE SHAPING POLICY PACKAGE, LEGISLATIVE PACKAGE PARTICULARLY AROUND EDUCATION, LOCAL AGRICULTURAL AND HOUSING.

I ALSO HAVE POLICY EXPERTISE >> I DEDICATED MY GRADUATE STUDIES UNDERSTANDING WHY OUR STATE HOUSING POLICIES ARE NOT SERVING WORKING PEOPLE THING SETS ME APART AS MY BACKGROUND AS A COMMUNITY ORGANIZER.

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE DEMONSTRATED WORKING WITH COMMUNITY.

FOUNDING MEMBER OF OAHU WATER PROTECT.

FOUGHT TO SHUT DOWN RED HILL.

HONOLULU, WE WORKED TO TRY TO PREVENT EVICTION OF 130 FAMILIES IN MOILIILI WHO WERE BEING DISPLACED BY HOUSING DEVELOPMENT CALLED KUILEI PLACE.

>> JAMES HIT IT RIGHT ON HEAD.

ALL OF OUR BACKGROUNDS SET US APART.

I WAS BORN IN THE DISTRICT.

I'VE SPENT THE LAST 12 YEARS WORKING WITH LEGISLATION.

I SPENT 7 YEARS IN REP NISHIMOTO'S OFFICE WHEN HE   WAS THE CHAIR FOR HIGHER EDUCATION >> VICE CHAIR FINANCE, CHAIR FOR JUDICIARY AND STARTED WITH GRANT IN AIDS.

I ALSO WENT TO LAW SCHOOL AND PASSED THE BAR AND SO AFTER I DID THAT, I MOVED OVER TO THE MAYOR'S OFFICE.

I'VE BEEN THERE FOR THE LAST FIVE YEARS >> I FOCUS ON EVERYTHING THAT HAS TO DO WITH THE STATE, OR ALL THE STATE LEGISLATION THAT DEALS WITH OPERATION OF THE CITY DEPARTMENTS.

EVERY SINGLE ONE.

AND SO WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE COMMUNITY AND YOU SEE A LOT OF ISSUES THAT ARE BEING COMPLAINED ABOUT, THEY'RE CITY THINGS.

SPEEDING, CRIME, HOMELESSNESS, STUFFER THAT THE CITY CAN ADDRESS.

STUFF THAT'S CITY CAN ADDRESS A LOT OF PEOPLE COMPLAIN ABOUT THE TREES, LEAVES FALLING, MOPED NOISE, ALL OF THAT STUFF GENERALLY FALLS UNDER CITY CONTROL.

FACILITIES AT PARKS, THINGS LIKE THAT.

AND I HAVE A BROAD DEPTH OF KNOWLEDGE FOR THAT KIND OF THING.

AND I AM THE ONE THAT HELPS ALL OF THE DEPARTMENTS LOOK AT THINGS AND DRAFTED BILLS THAT GETS INTRODUCED AS PART OF THE CITY AND COUNTY PACKAGE.

SO THAT'S KIND OF STUFF THAT I BRING TO THE TABLE.

I THINK I'M GOING TO, IF I CAN GET IN MY HOPE IS THAT HIT THE GROUND RUNNING AND SEE WHAT WE CAN DO IMMEDIATELY.

>>Lauren: GEORGE, FOR YOU?

LAST ONE.

WHAT SETS YOU APART FROM THE REST OF THE TABLE HERE?

>> DEDICATED TO SERVING COMMUNITY >> KNOCKED ON OVER 5,000 DOORS IN THE COMMUNITY.

AND JUST LIKE EVERYONE ELSE MENTIONED, DIVERSE BACKGROUND.

I HAVE ALL OF THESE SKILLS THAT I LEARNED, HARD WORKING TEAMWORK.

LEARNED THESE FROM LIFELONG ATHLETICS AND THEY TRANSLATE TO LIFE.

ALONG WITH MENTAL HEALTH COUNSELING AND WORKING HAWAII NATIONAL GUARD, THESE SKILLS WITH WORKING IN THE STATE LEDGE, THEY ALL COME TOGETHER TO MAKE WHO I AM NOW AND I THINK THAT THAT'S WHAT SETS ME APART IS MY DIVERSE EXPERIENCE AND MULTIDIFFERENT FIELDS >>Lauren: JUST BECAUSE WE STARTED WITH GEORGE, I'M GOING TO END WITH JAMES.

YOU HAPPEN TO BE SITTING CLOSE ON MY RIGHT.

WHY SHOULD PEOPLE GET OUT THERE AND VOTE?

OR VOTE FROM HOME SINCE A LOT OF MAIL IN BALLOTS?

>> I THINK PEOPLE NEED TO VOTE BECAUSE THEY NEED TO PARTICIPATE.

BECAUSE IF YOU LOOK AT THE CURRENT STATE OF THE STATE, PEOPLE AREN'T HAPPY.

AND WE HAVE A LOW VOTER TURNOUT.

WHICH MEANS THAT INCUMBENTS CONTINUOUSLY GET RE ELECTED BECAUSE THEIR BASE IS THE MAIN VOTING BLOCK.

I THINK PEOPLE NEED TO GET MOTIVATED TO VOTE.

THEY NEED TO LOOK AT WALLETS LOOK AT PAYCHECKS AND WHERE THEIR TAX MONEY IS GOING.

DRIVE OVER A THOUSAND POTHOLES ON THE WAY TO WORK.

THAT SHOULD BE MOTIVATION TO LOOK AT THE BALLOT, LOOK AT THE CANDIDATES, AND SEE WHERE THEY STAND ON TOPICS.

>>Lauren: THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH FOR JOINING US TONIGHT REALLY LOVE THE TWO FUN QUESTIONS.

THANK YOU VIEWERS BROKE UP SERIOUS BUT IMPORTANT TOPICS.

NICE TO HEAR ABOUT PERSONALITIES WHAT YOU DO FOR FUN >> APPRECIATE IT.

THANK YOU ALL FOR PARTICIPATING AND WATCHING TONIGHT.

WE WOULD LIKE TO THANK OUR GUESTS, THE DEMOCRATIC CANDIDATES FOR STATE HOUSE DISTRICT 20: GEORGE HOOKER, KEVAN WONG, TINA GRANDINETTI, JOHN CHOI, AND JAMES LOGUE THANK YOU AGAIN FOR JOINING US IN STUDIO.

INSIGHTS IS OFF NEXT WEEK FOR THE JULY 4TH HOLIDAY.

WE RETURN ON JULY 11TH WITH TWO RACES ON THE UPCOMING BALLOT.

FIRST WE WILL TALK TO THE REPUBLICAN CANDIDATES FOR HOUSE DISTRICT 45 AND THEN THE DEMOCRATIC HOPEFULS FOR STATE HOUSE DISTRICT 37.

PLEASE JOIN US THEN.

I’M LAUREN DAY FOR INSIGHTS ON PBS HAWAI`I.

ALOHA!

HAVE A GREAT NIGHT.

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