>> HONOLULU CITY COUNCIL DISTRICT 2 SEAT IS UP FOR GRABS, AS HEIDI TSUNEYOSHI ANNOUNCED SHE'S RUNNING FOR GOVERNOR.

CANDIDATES RAQUEL ACHIU, LUPE FUNAKI, MAKUA ROTHMAN, CHAD TSUNEYOSHI, AND MATT WEYER ARE LOOKING TO REPRESENT THE NEWLY REALIGNED DISTRICT WHICH INCLUDES PARTS OF WAIPAHU, MILILANI, AND WAHIAWA AND STRETCHES FROM MOKULEIA ON THE NORTH SHORE TO KAHALUU ON THE WINDWARD SIDE.

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

∂∂ >> Olena: ALOHA AND WELCOME TO INSIGHTS ON PBS HAWAI'I...I'M OLENA HEU.

HONOLULU CITY COUNCIL DISTRICT 2 COVERS DIVERSE COMMUNITIES AND NEIGHBORHOODS EACH WITH THEIR OWN UNIQUE ISSUES AND CHALLENGES.

THE DISTRICT INCLUDES WAIKELE AND KUNIA AS WELL AS MILILANI, WAHIAWA, WAIALUA, HALE'IWA, SUNSET BEACH, KAHUKU, LA'IE, WAIAHOLE AND KAHALU'U.THE NEIGHBORHOODS VARY FROM DENSLEY POPULATED SUBURBAN TRACKS TO AGRICULTURE LANDS AND FROM LUXURY BEACH FRONT RESORTS TO A TIGHT KNIT COLLEGE TOWN.

HEIDI TSUNEYOSHI IS RUNNING FOR GOVERNOR, WHICH MEANS THE HONOLULU CITY COUNCIL SEAT FOR DISTRICT 2 IS NOW OPEN.

THE FIVE CANDIDATES SET TO FACE OFF IN THE AUGUST PRIMARY ELECTION ARE JOINING US LIVE TONIGHT.

WE LOOK FORWARD TO YOUR PARTICIPATION IN TONIGHT'S SHOW.

YOU CAN EMAIL US OR CALL US WITH YOUR QUESTIONS.

WE ALSO ENCOURAGE YOU TO GET INVOLVED WITH THE CONVERSATION ON OUR FACEBOOK PAGE.

OUR GUESTS TONIGHT WILL BE JOINING US VIA ZOOM.

MATT WEYER GREW UP IN WAIKELE AND GRADUATED FROM MID-PACIFIC INSTITUTE AND THE UNIVERSITY OF HAWAI'I OF MANOA EARNING A LAW DEGREE IN ENVIRONMENTAL AND NATIVE HAWAIIAN LAW.

HE HAS SERVED AS A DOMESTIC VIOLENCE PROSECUTOR, POLICY ADVISOR AT THE HONOLULU CITY COUNCIL, AND IS ON THE WAIPAHU NEIGHBORHOOD BOARD.

RACQUEL ACHIU WAS BORN AND RAISED IN HALE'IWA AND IS THE VICE CHAIR OF THE NORTH SHORE NEIGHBORHOOD BOARD.

SHE SPENT 10 YEARS VOLUNTEERING AS THE NORTH SHORE AYSO COORDINATOR AND REGISTRAR, 4 YEARS AS THE WAIALUA HIGH SCHOOL CLASS OF 2017 CO-ADVISOR AND CURRENTLY THE CHAIR OF THE WAIALUA HIGH AND INTERMEDIATE SCHOOL COMMUNITY COUNCIL.

MAKUAKAI ROTHMAN WAS BORN AND RAISED ON THE NORTH SHORE.

A FATHER OF THREE THIS KAHUKU HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATE BECAME THE WSL BIG WAVE WORLD CHAMPION AT AGE 18.

HE IS A BOARD MEMBER OF THE HAWAI'I YOUTH SURFING DEVELOPMENT ORGANIZATION AND THE HAWAI'I TOURISM AUTHORITY SURFING ADVISORY COMMITTEE.

LUPE FUNAKI IS A BOARD MEMBER OF THE LA'IE COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION.

THIS MOTHER OF 10 GRADUATED FROM BYU HAWAI'I AND FROM LAW SCHOOL AT BYU PROVO.

SHE HAS WORKED AS AN ASSISTANT TO THE DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER OF TONGA AND AS DIRECTOR OF INTERNATIONAL STUDENT SERVICES AT BYUH.

SHE HAS ALSO SERVED AS A CAMPAIGN MANAGER.

CHAD TSUNEYOSHI IS A FORMER US ARMY COMBAT MEDIC, MARRIAGE AND FAMILY COUNSELOR, AND BUSINESS OWNER.

BORN AND RAISED IN HAWAI'I, THIS LONG-TIME WAHIAWA RESIDENT IS A FATHER OF TWO.

HE HAS SERVED AS A COMMUNITY ADVOCATE AND LIAISON FOR THE PAST THREE COUNCILMEMBERS TO REPRESENT THE DISTRICT.

THANK YOU, EVERYBODY, FOR JOINING US TONIGHT.

WE'RE GOING TO DIVE INTO SOME OF YOUR QUESTIONS.

WE WILL START WITH MAKUAKAI ROTHMAN THIS EVENING.

AND THEN WE WILL ROTATE AROUND WITH EVERYBODY ANSWERING THE SAME QUESTIONS.

WHAT IS YOUR STANCE ON THE RAIL PROJECT EVEN THOUGH IT'S NOT DIRECTLY IMPACTING YOUR DISTRICT IN PARTICULAR?

>> THANK YOU FOR THE QUESTION.

I THINK IT IMPACTS EVERY ONE OF OUR COMMUNITY INDIRECTLY, YOU KNOW.

RIGHT NOW WITH THE TRUNCATION OF THE RAIL UP FOR PROPOSAL, THE CITY AND THE STATE ARE WAITING TO HEAR BACK FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT TO SEE IF THEY WILL ACCEPT THE PROPOSAL TO RELEASE THE REMAINING $744 MILLION.

MY STANCE WOULD BE TO KEEP THE RAIL WHERE IT'S AT RIGHT NOW SHOULD WE GET IT ACCEPTED.

AND REALLY CAPITALIZE ON THAT CORRIDOR, THAT URBAN CORE AND DEVELOP THERE.

>> Olena: RAQUEL, HOW ABOUT YOU?

>> YES, THE RAIL, IT'S BEEN A TOUGH PROJECT, RIGHT?

BUT WE DEFINITELY NEED TO REGROUP A LITTLE BIT.

WE'VE BEEN HIT.

ALTHOUGH THE NORTH SHORE IS NOT AFFECTED DIRECTLY BY THAT PROJECT, PARTS OF OUR DISTRICTS ARE.

OUR CENTRAL AREA IS ABSOLUTELY GOING TO BE HURT BY THE ELIMINATION OF THE PARKING GARAGE THERE.

SO I THINK THAT PROJECT HAS ABSOLUTELY BEEN RIDDLED WITH PROJECT ISSUES.

TO MOVE FORWARD IT'S NOT GOING TO GO ANYWHERE.

WE HAVE TO FINISH WHERE WE CAN FINISH AND MOVE FORWARD AND REGROUP AS WE GO ALONG.

>> Olena: MATT?

>> YEAH, I THINK WHAT RESIDENTS EXPECT FROM RAIL IS TRANSPARENCY, FINANCIAL RESPONSIBILITY AND GET IT DONE ALREADY, I THINK.

THE CURRENT ADMINISTRATION AND THE NEW EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR HAVE BEEN PROACTIVE IN GETTING RAIL BACK ON TRACK.

ULTIMATELY, I SEE RAIL AS BEING PIVOTAL TO HELP SOLVE OUR AFFORDABLE HOUSING CRISIS BY ALLOWING VIBRANT MIXED USE COMMUNITIES TO DEVELOP ALONG THE RAIL LINE.

TO HELP PRESERVE OUR AGRICULTURAL LAND.

WHAT MAKES HAWAI'I SO UNIQUE IS WE DEVELOP MORE IN THE URBAN CORE.

AND ALSO, LIKE I SAID, CREATING A MORE SUSTAINABLE FUTURE.

SO FAMILIES CAN PLAN THEIR LIVES, STOP RAISING THEIR KIDS IN THE REAR VIEW MIRROR, AND HAVE THE QUALITY OF LIFE THAT OUR DISTRICT DESERVES.

>> Olena: LUPE.

ARE YOU MUTED?

[TECHNICAL DIFFICULTIES] >> Olena: CHAD, WE'LL GO OVER TO YOU WHILE WE WORK OUT THE AUDIO ISSUES.

>> I THINK I'M IN A UNIQUE POSITION.

MOST OF MY LIFE, I WORKED IN THE PRIVATE SECTOR AS A BUSINESSMAN.

I TOOK COMPANIES FROM PRACTICALLY BANKRUPT TO MAKING MULTIMILLION DOLLARS.

WE LIVE IN A DIFFERENT PHASE.

WE DON'T HAVE THE ABILITY TO JUST PICK MONEY.

HERE'S THE THING I'VE BEEN WATCHING FOR OVER 15 YEARS WITH THE RAIL PROJECT.

PEOPLE SAY THEY'RE EITHER FOR IT OR AGAINST IT.

NOBODY SOLVES THE PROBLEM.

WHAT WE NEED TO DO IS SOLVE THE PROBLEM.

NOW, I CAN GIVE YOU MY IDEA OF SOLVING THE PROBLEM AND WHY IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE HAVE PROBLEM-SOLVING.

WHETHER YOU'RE FOR OR AGAINST IT, IT'S COSTING 3 TO $4 BILLION.

AND WE NEED TO HAVE SOLUTIONS.

SO ONE OF MY SOLUTIONS RIGHT NOW IS CURRENTLY, THE PROBLEM IS WE HAVE ALL THESE MAINLAND CONSULTANTS COMING IN THAT'S BEEN RUNNING THE PROJECT.

NOT ONE PERSON HAD EVER BEEN FINED OR SUED FOR MISMANAGING THIS PROJECT.

SO HERE'S THE PROBLEM FROM A BUSINESS STANDPOINT.

WHEN WE HIRE THESE PEOPLE AND THERE'S NO CONSEQUENCES, YOU KNOW WHAT THE CONSEQUENCES IS FOR DOING A BAD JOB?

THEY ACTUALLY MAKE MORE MONEY.

THEY EXTEND THE PROJECT AND THEY MAKE MORE MONEY.

YOU WILL NEVER, EVER SUCCEED IN A BUSINESS THAT THE CONSEQUENCE IS YOU MAKE MORE MONEY.

IF I'M ELECTED FROM THAT FIRST YEAR, I CAN PROMISE THIS, I WILL GO INTO THAT, FIND THESE CONTRACTS AND WE'RE HOLD THESE PEOPLE ACCOUNTABLE.

IT'S LIKE THE GENERAL CONTRACTOR DOING A HOUSE.

YOU'RE HIRING THEM TO DO A JOB.

HIRE THEM SO YOU WANT THIS JOB IN SIX MONTHS, AND THEY EXTEND IT AND EXTEND IT AND THEY TELL YOU, WE'RE GOING TO PAY MORE?

THAT'S KIND OF HAPPENING.

THAT IS MY SOLUTION.

>> Olena: AND, LUPE, LET'S SEE IF YOUR AUDIO IS WORKING.

SHE LOOKS FROZEN AT THE MOMENT, AS WELL.

ALL RIGHT.

YEAH, WE'RE GOING TO TRY AND GET LUPE IN A FEW MOMENTS.

SO LET'S TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THIS DISTRICT.

IT'S QUITE DIVERSE AND SPREAD NEARLY ACROSS THE WHOLE ISLAND OR WHOLE NORTHERN PART OF THE ISLAND.

WHAT ARE SOME OF THE GREATEST CONCERNS FROM YOUR CONSTITUENTS THAT YOU'RE HEARING OR COMMUNITY MEMBERS YOU'RE HEARING?

LET'S START WITH RAQUEL.

>> OH, OKAY.

CONCERNS WITHIN OUR DISTRICT ARE, THE MOST COMMON, ALTHOUGH THERE ARE MANY, PROPERTY TAXES.

OUR KUPUNA, I BELIEVE, WE NEED TO GET A CAP ON THEIR PROPERTY TAXES.

WE HAVE A VAST AMOUNT OF KUPUNA THAT STILL REMAIN WITHIN OUR DISTRICT.

AND WE NEED TO ABSOLUTELY FIND A WAY FOR THEM TO GET THEIR PROPERTY TAXES CAPPED SO THAT THEY'RE NOT THAT STRESSED WITH THAT AT THAT STAGE IN THEIR LIVES.

THE OTHER TOP ONE, DPP, THE ISSUES WITH DEPARTMENT OF PLANNING AND PERMITTING ARE MANY.

WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO WORK VERY SUCCESSFULLY THUS FAR WITH THEM.

I THINK DIRECTOR UCHIDA HAS INHERITED A HUGE, MASSIVE JOB TO BE ABLE TO HAVE TO CLEAN UP AND FIX.

IT'S NOT GOING TO BE FIXED OVERNIGHT, BUT I BELIEVE THAT WITH THE RIGHT SUPPORT AND ASSISTANCE, WE CAN GET THAT DONE TOGETHER.

>> Olena: ALL RIGHT.

LUPE, CAN WE HEAR YOU NOW?

YES.

>> CAN YOU HEAR ME?

>> Olena: YES.

THANK YOU.

LET'S HAVE YOU TALK LITTLE BIT ABOUT YOUR STANCE ON RAIL, AND IF YOU COULD ADDRESS THE QUESTION ABOUT WHAT YOUR COMMUNITY MEMBERS ARE SAYING IN YOUR COMMUNITY AS FAR AS THE MAJOR CONCERNS.

>> OKAY.

SO FIRST ON RAIL, AS A COMMUTER, I TRAVEL TO PUNAHOU HIGH SCHOOL FOR MANY YEARS.

I CAN APPRECIATE WHAT THE RAIL IS TRYING TO ACHIEVE, BUT I DO THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO MAKE SURE THAT PEOPLE WILL USE IT, AND THAT WE ARE WORKING WITHIN COSTS THAT WILL NOT CAUSE A BURDEN ON THE PEOPLE.

SO FOR NOW, I AM -- I WOULD SUPPORT THE SHORT-TERM PLAN THAT WE HAVE RIGHT NOW IN PLACE AND NOT ALLOCATE ANY MORE FUNDS UNTIL WE'RE REASSURED THAT, ONE, IT WON'T CAUSE MORE OF A BURDEN TO CARRY ON AFTER THE RAIL IS DONE.

AS FOR PRESSING ISSUES IN OUR COMMUNITY, FIRST AND FOREMOST IS HOUSING.

IT'S NOT JUST THE PHYSICAL BUILDING OF A HOUSE, BUT IT'S THE SPIRITUAL AND EMOTIONAL CONFIDENCE OF OUR YOUNG PEOPLE, THAT THEY CAN ACTUALLY CHOOSE TO LIVE HERE IN OUR COMMUNITY SHOULD THEY CHOOSE TO.

SO THAT'S DEFINITELY AT THE TOP.

WE'VE ALSO HAD RECURRING FLOODING ISSUES.

I KNOW THAT THERE ARE ALSO CONCERNS WITH SHORT-TERM RENTAL.

AND FOR ME PERSONALLY, WITH SOME OF THE RECENT NATURAL DISASTERS, I'M ALSO VERY INTERESTED IN ASSURING WE HAVE A GOOD EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS PLAN.

>> Olena: THANK YOU.

AND MATT.

>> YEAH.

LIKE LUPE SAID, THE MAIN ISSUE THAT COMES UP WHEN I'VE BEEN WALKING DOOR TO DOOR IS THE COST OF HOUSING AND THE COST LIVING.

WHEN I COME ACROSS FOLKS THAT FEEL DEFEATED, LIKE IT'S NOT POSSIBLE TO REACH A POINT WHERE PEOPLE DON'T HAVE TO MOVE AWAY TO AFFORD A HOME AND BE ABLE TO LIVE IN HAWAI'I.

BECAUSE I'M RUNNING, AND I'M SURE A LOT OF US ARE RUNNING BECAUSE THERE ARE SOLUTIONS TO THESE PROBLEMS.

SO IN ADDITION TO COST OF LIVING AND HOUSING, AS I'M SURE WE'LL TALK ABOUT, INFRASTRUCTURE HAS BEEN A REAL BIG ISSUE IN THE COMMUNITY.

FROM HALEIWA TO KAHUKU TO KAHALUU, WHETHER IT'S THE ROAD OR SIDEWALKS, THE FLOODING THAT GOES ON.

I THINK THAT THE CITY CAN BE MORE PROACTIVE IN BRINGING IN FEDERAL FUNDS, GRANT MONEY THAT'S WE DON'T APPLY FOR TO HELP UPLIFT OUR COMMUNITY.

PUBLIC SAFETY IS A BIG ISSUE WITH OUR FIRST RESPONDERS AND THE COVERAGE GAP BETWEEN WAHIAWA AND KAHUKU WITH NO POLICE SUBSTATION.

PRESERVING OUR NATURAL RESOURCES WITH OUR WATER CRISIS.

I THINK EVERYONE SEES THAT AS AN ISSUE BECAUSE WITHOUT WATER, NOT ONLY CAN WE LIVE HERE, BUT WE CAN'T SOLVING OUR HOUSING CRISIS.

>> Olena: AND CHAD?

>> I ACTUALLY WALKED THE DISTANCE PROBABLY SIX TIMES.

SOME OF THE THINGS I'VE HEARD, ROADS ON THE COASTAL SIDES, WE GOT TO FIX THESE ROADS BECAUSE IN TEN YEARS FROM NOW, THE HIGHWAY IS GOING TO PRACTICALLY BE UNDER WATER.

SECOND IS CRIME.

THAT'S REALLY BIG NOW.

YOU WALK THROUGH THE STREETS, AND CRIME IS ON THE RISE.

PUBLIC SAFETY.

THAT'S THE CORE OF KEEPING OUR KUPUNA AND KIDS SAFE.

YOU HAVE TO HAVE PUBLIC SAFETY.

THAT'S ONE OF THE BIGGEST THING.

LAST THING IS ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT WITH THE RISE OF TOURISM, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE TO FIND A BALANCE.

IT'S IMPACTING OUR LAND, AND OUR DISTRICT, I'M BIASED, IT'S THE MOST BEAUTIFUL DISTRICT.

AND THE IMPACT IT'S CAUSING IS TREMENDOUS FOR QUALITY OF LIFE FOR OUR LOCAL PEOPLE.

THE TRAFFIC WE GOT TO GO THROUGH.

SO THESE ARE SOME OF THE THINGS I HEAR ON A DAILY BASIS.

>> Olena: MAKUA.

>> LIVING IN THE DISTRICT ALL OF MY LIFE, IT REALLY COMES DOWN TO THE TRANSPARENCY AND ACCOUNTABILITY ON THE CITY AND SPENDING AS WELL.

A LOT OF FUNDING THAT GOES TO RAIL CAN BE USED FOR PUBLIC SAFETY.

PUBLIC SAFETY IS HUGE.

OUR BEACHES, OUR BEACH PARKS, WE HAVE TWO JET SKIS BETWEEN KAENA POINT AND HEIA PIER.

VERY IMPORTANT ISSUE, SEPARATION OF EMS AND OCEAN SAFETY.

AND MAKING THOSE DEPARTMENTS AUTONOMOUS OF EACH OTHER.

I REALLY THINK WE'RE ALL FIRST RESPONDERS.

MAKING SURE THE STAFFING IN THE CITY IS RIGHT.

REALLY KEEPING CHECKS AND BALANCES ON H.R.

WHY DOES IT TAKE SO LONG FOR THE CITY AND COUNTY TO HIRE PEOPLE?

THE HIRING PROCESS IS OUT OF WHACK.

IT REALLY COMES DOWN TO SAFETY, I THINK.

PUBLIC SAFETY.

CRIME.

THE TRUST.

WE GOT TO GET PUBLIC TRUST BACK IN OUR LAW ENFORCEMENT.

THE COMMUNITY AND LAW ENFORCEMENT REALLY HAS TO WORK TOGETHER TO SOLVE CRIME.

AND I THINK THAT US, AS CITY COUNCILMEMBERS, WE'RE FIRST RESPONDERS FOR OUR COMMUNITY.

WE TAKE THOSE VOICES, WE WALK AROUND, WE HEAR THE CONCERNS OF EACH ONE OF OUR CONSTITUENTS, AND TAKE THOSE BACK TO THE COUNCIL.

WE PASS LEGISLATION ON THEM, WE KEEP CHECKS AND BALANCES, AND MAKE SURE THAT OUR COMMUNITIES ARE SAFE.

>> Olena: THANK YOU.

MOVING ON, THE NORTH SHORE REGION VERY POPULAR FOR TOURISTS AND BEACHES AND WHATNOT.

WHAT WOULD YOU SAY WE CAN DO TO MITIGATE TOURISM AS IMPACT ON THE COMMUNITY?

MATT.

>> DEFINITELY, I THINK THAT THE CITY CAN BE PROACTIVE AND HAVING THOSE CONVERSATIONS WITH THE COMMUNITY ABOUT WHERE WE CAN IMPLEMENT MAYBE MANAGEMENT PLANS OR BETTER PROTECTION OF OUR NATURAL RESOURCES BECAUSE WE REALLY SEE THE IMPACT OF TOURISTS IN OUR COMMUNITY IN THAT WAY.

WITH THE TRAFFIC, I THINK BY IMPROVING SOME OF THESE INFRASTRUCTURE ISSUES WE'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT, WITH THE FEDERAL FUNDS, WE CAN MAKE THE IMPACT A LITTLE LESS ON THE BROADER COMMUNITY.

I THINK THERE'S SOME 10 MILLION VISITORS EVERY YEAR, AND ENOUGH SPACE FOR SEVEN MILLION.

ONCE THOSE HOTELS ARE FULL, THOSE ADDITIONAL FOLKS ARE FILLING OUR RESIDENTIAL COMMUNITIES.

SO I THINK ENFORCING OUR VACATION RENTAL LAWS IS A WAY TO LOWER THE IMPACT, AS WELL.

BOTH BY REDUCING THE TRAFFIC, THE ISSUES WITH NOISE.

ALSO PUSHING MORE UNITS INTO THE HOUSING INVENTORY SO FOLKS CAN HAVE ACCESS TO MORE UNITS WHICH WOULD REDUCE COSTS BECAUSE THERE WILL BE MORE SUPPLY.

AND I THINK ALL OF THAT TOGETHER, STUFF THAT THE CITY CAN BE LOOKING AT.

SOME OF IT WE'RE DOING NOW.

I THINK WE NEED EXPAND THAT WORK TO MINIMIZE THE IMPACT OF TOURISM ON OUR COMMUNITY.

>> Olena: LUPE.

>> WE HAVE CASUAL CONVERSATIONS ABOUT THIS TOPIC ALL THE TIME, ESPECIALLY WHEN WE'RE SITTING IN TRAFFIC AND WE'RE TRYING TO GET TO SOME FOOTBALL GAME ON THE OTHER SIDE OR DOWN IN MILILANI.

AND SO I REALLY HAVEN'T HAD THE TIME TO SIT AND LISTEN TO THE COMMUNITY, BUT IT'S SOMETHING THAT IS A SOLUTION THAT BELONGS TO THE PEOPLE TO BE PART OF FINDING WHAT THE OPTIONS ARE.

I DO KNOW THAT THERE ARE BEEN CONVERSATIONS ABOUT PEOPLE WHO COME TO THIS SIDE, THEY SHOULD PAY SOME FEE.

SO WE HAVE SOME KIND OF FUND THAT'S USED TO MAINTAIN THE INFRASTRUCTURE THAT PROVIDES THE SAFETY FOR VISITORS WHO COME.

I DID THINK THAT WOULD BE AN ISSUE THAT I WOULD WANT TO HEAR A LOT OF CONVERSATION ABOUT.

MAKE SURE THAT RESIDENTS, WHERE HEAVY TRAFFIC IS AFFECTED, ARE PART OF THAT SOLUTION.

>> Olena: CHAD.

>> WELL, TWO THINGS THAT'S VERY IMPORTANT THAT JUST HAPPENED.

SO THE CITY WAS GIVEN A 3% ON THE TRANSIENT-ORIENTED TAX.

THAT WAS ALLOWED TO BE PUT INTO THE GENERAL FUND.

THAT COULD POSSIBLY BE USED FOR RAIL.

NOW NONE OF THESE THINGS WOULD WORK IF WE DON'T HAVE THE FUNDING.

AS YOUR COUNCILMEMBER, NORTH SHORE AND THAT AREA IS IMPACTED THE MOST.

I WILL FIGHT FOR EVERY DOLLAR ON THAT TRANSIENT-ORIENTED TAX MONEY THAT SHOULD BE RIGHTFULLY FOR THE PEOPLE.

IT SHOULDN'T BE GOING FOR RAIL.

IT SHOULD BE FOR THE PEOPLE.

SECONDLY, ONE OF THE FIRST THINGS THAT I WILL DO IS INITIATE A BILL.

IT'S CALLED A ROTATION.

I WILL PICK OUT TEN BEACHES.

EVERY BEACH, I WANT A THREE MONTH HOLD ON TOURISM.

IT'S NOT GOING TO IMPACT THE WHOLE ISLAND AND TOURISTS CAN STILL COME.

LET'S SAY LANIAKEA THREE MONTHS OFF.

KAILUA.

THAT WAY PEOPLE OF HAWAI'I CAN HAVE A BETTER QUALITY OF LIFE.

AND THE ENVIRONMENT CAN REBUILD ITSELF.

THAT'S ONE OF THE FIRST THINGS I'M GOING TO DO.

INITIATE A PILOT PROGRAM THAT OFFERS A THREE-MONTH HOLD FOR EVERY BEACH, ROTATING AROUND TO HELP THE COMMUNITY.

>> Olena: THANK YOU.

MAKUA.

>> THANK YOU, OLENA.

I REALLY THINK THAT THE NORTH SHORE, ESPECIALLY OUR BEACHES, ARE THE MOST OVERUSED RESOURCE AND -- THE MOST OVERUSED DISTRICT AND UNDER-RESOURCED.

I THINK THAT LIKE CHAD SAID, TRANSIT TAX HAS TO GO TOWARDS FIXING THAT, AND HAVING THE BUDGET TO BE ABLE TO DO SO.

A LOT OF THAT MONEY GETS TO BE PUT TOWARDS RAIL.

WE HAVE TO KEEP OUR COMMUNITY SAFE.

YOU KNOW, OVERTOURISM, OVERCROWDING OF OUR BEACHES REALLY LEAD TO A LOT OF STRESS ON OUR FIRST RESPONDERS.

ALL OF OUR HONOLULU POLICE DEPARTMENT IS UNDERSTAFFED.

ALL OUR OCEAN SAFETY.

MITIGATING THE TOURISTS THROUGH MAYBE DIFFERENT PROGRAMS THAT WE COULD IMPLEMENT TO CREATE REVENUE SO THAT WE DON'T HAVE TO TAX THE PEOPLE SO MUCH.

CREATE REVENUES THROUGH TOURISM AND IMPLEMENT THOSE.

USE THEM FOR RESOURCES.

USE THEM TO HELP STAFF OUR FIRST RESPONDERS.

LIKE CHAD SAID, OUR BEACHES REALLY DO NEED BREAKS.

WE NEED TO FIND WAYS TO MITIGATE THE TOURISTS' IMPACT ON OUR BEACHES AND COASTS BIG TIME.

>> Olena: RAQUEL.

>> THANK YOU.

FIRST OFF, WE HAVE TO CONSIDER WHO SHOULD COME FIRST.

THE COMMUNITY OR THE TOURISTS?

I THINK WE NEED TO ADDRESS THE CARRYING CAPACITY.

I BELIEVE IN THE MID 2000S WE WERE AT A PRETTY DECENT INTAKE OF MAYBE FOUR, FIVE MILLION, WHICH WAS COMFORTABLE.

NOT GREAT BUT COMFORTABLE.

WE WERE ABLE TO HAVE A DECENT WAY OF LIFE.

WE'RE ON OVERLOAD, AND IT'S GETTING WORSE.

WE HAVE TO FIGURE OUT A WAY TO CHARGE MAYBE A TAX ON THAT VISITOR.

CHARGE THAT FEE PER PERSON FOR THE INCOMING VISITOR AND UTILIZE THOSE FUNDS TO SUPPORT THE COMMUNITIES THAT IT IMPACTS THE MOST.

BUT CARRYING CAPACITY IS A MAJOR FACTOR IN ALL OF THAT.

>> Olena: CHAD, THIS NEXT THE QUESTION POSED TO YOU FIRST.

I HAVE TWO QUESTIONS FROM VIEWERS RELATED TO SIMILAR TOPIC.

SOME ARE ASKING ABOUT WHAT YOUR POSITIONS ARE ON LAIE BEING REZONED AS A RESORT.

ALSO TAKING DEVELOPMENT OF AGRICULTURAL LAND AND REZONING IT FOR COMMERCIAL USE.

WHAT'S YOUR STANCE?

>> PEOPLE COME TO HAWAI'I FOR -- THEY DON'T COME TO HAWAI'I TO RIDE ROLLERCOASTER RIDES.

THEY DON'T COME TO HAWAI'I FOR GAMBLING.

THEY COME TO HAWAI'I FOR THE BEAUTY OF HAWAI'I, SO FROM AN ECONOMIC STANDPOINT, IF YOU DESTROY OUR AINA, ESPECIALLY WHERE WE LIVE, WHY WOULD PEOPLE COME HERE?

THEY WOULD GO TO VIETNAM, THAILAND.

WE GOT TO PROTECT OUR NATURAL RESOURCES.

PROTECT OUR LAND.

WE BUILD RAIL FOR TRANSIT-ORIENTED DEVELOPMENT TO BUILD IN THE URBAN CORE.

EVERY DECISION I MAKE, I CAN TELL YOU THIS.

I WILL KEEP IN MIND THE NEXT GENERATION.

THE IMPACT IT'S GOING TO CAUSE TO THEM.

ON A CASE-TO-CASE BASIS, I'M VERY AGAINST DESTROYING OUR LAND.

SO THAT'S MY POSITION.

>> Olena: THANK YOU.

LUPE.

>> BEING FROM LAIE, THIS IS DEFINITELY A HOT TOPIC.

PERSONALLY, MY FATHER IS A FARMER, HAS ALWAYS HAS BEEN EVEN THOUGH HE WAS A EDUCATOR.

SO I KNOW THE VALUE OF NOT JUST HAVING FARMLAND THAT YOU LIVE OFF OF AND GROW.

WHAT THAT MEANS FOR HOW WE LIVE AND HOW WE FEEL ABOUT THE PEOPLE WE LIVE WITH.

THERE'S HIGH VALUE IN PRESERVING THAT, NOT JUST THE LANDS BUT THE LIFESTYLE THAT COMES WITH THE LAND.

AT THE SAME TIME, WE HAVE A UNIVERSITY OF HIGHER EDUCATION.

I RECOGNIZE THAT DEVELOPMENT AND TECHNOLOGY IS THE WAY TO STAY CONNECTED WITH THE WORLD.

WE CANNOT LIVE IN A BUBBLE AND BE ISOLATED FROM EVERYTHING ELSE THAT'S HAPPENING, AND SO THAT CONVERSATION BELONGS AGAIN TO PEOPLE WHO LIVE THERE AND WHO IT WILL IMPACT THE POST.

THERE'S STRENGTH TO BOTH.

I AGREE WITH WHAT CHAD IS SAYING.

WE NEED TO PRESERVE WHAT MAKES HAWAI'I UNIQUE, AND SO THAT'S ALWAYS GOING TO BE MY BASE, MY HOME BASE THAT I WANT TO STAY WITH AND DO ALL THAT WE CAN.

IF THERE'S A GOOD REASON THAT RAISES OUR AWARENESS AND NEED TO DEVELOP FOR THE BETTERMENT OF THE PEOPLE IN THAT COMMUNITY AND THEY SUPPORT IT, THEN I'D BE OPEN TO THAT.

>> Olena: MATT.

>> YEAH, I THINK CONVERSATION WE HAD ABOUT RAIL EARLIER REALLY SPEAKS TO THIS.

THE NEED TO DEVELOP IN THE URBAN CORE WHERE WE CAN USE DENSITY BUT STILL MINDFUL OF THE CHARACTER OF THE NEIGHBORHOODS, BUT USE THAT DENSITY TO CREATE MIXED-USE COMMUNITIES WHERE WE CAN HAVE HOUSING, CAN HAVE SMALL BUSINESSES AND PROTECT THAT PRESERVATION AND AGRICULTURAL LAND AND CRITICAL SPACES.

NOW, I DO THINK THAT EACH COMMUNITY HAS TO SIT DOWN AND CONTEMPLATE WHAT HOUSING AND OPPORTUNITIES FOR THOSE EXPERIENCING HOMELESS CAN LOOK LIKE IN THEIR PARTICULAR COMMUNITY.

AS WE KNOW, A LOT OF LONG-TIME RESIDENTS THAT ARE HOMELESS ARE JUST GOING TO RETURN TO WHERE THEY'RE FROM.

AND WHEN WE LOOK AT OUR YOUTH HAVING TO MOVE AWAY BECAUSE NOT BEING ABLE TO AFFORD TO LIVE HERE, I THINK WE HAVE TO START TO ASSESS WHAT TYPE OF PROJECTS CAN THE COMMUNITY COALESCE AROUND AND WHAT KIND OF PROJECTS CAN WE REALIZE THAT MEET THAT NEED BUT PROTECT THESE CRITICAL SPACES.

AND I THINK THAT'S PART OF WHAT THE CITY HAS TO BE PROACTIVE AND DOING.

THAT'S WHAT DEVELOPERS HAVE TO BE PROACTIVE IN DOING.

THEY HAVE TO BE GOING INTO THE COMMUNITY, LISTENING TO RESPONSES TO PROPOSE PROJECTS AND ADDRESSING THOSE CRITIQUES SO WE CAN CREATE A PROJECT THAT ACTUALLY WORK FOR EVERYONE.

WE'RE NOT GOING TO SOLVE, I THINK, ALL THESE MAJOR CRISES.

OUR HOUSING CRISIS, COST OF LIVING, CLIMATE CRISIS AND HOUSES FALLING INTO THE OCEAN UNLESS WE GET OUT OF THOSE SILOS AND HAVE CONVERSATIONS AT THE COMMUNITY LEVEL.

I DO THINK THIS NEW GENERATION OF LEADERS EMERGING RECOGNIZE THESE COMPLEXITIES AND ARE WILLING TO TAKE ON THAT TASK.

SO I'M EXCITED ABOUT THAT.

AS WE TAP INTO THAT GENERATIONAL KNOWLEDGE, FIND THOSE ANSWERS ABOUT WHAT'S APPROPRIATE FOR EACH COMMUNITY, WE CAN FIND SOLUTIONS TO ALL THESE PROBLEMS.

>> Olena: THANK YOU.

RAQUEL.

>> THANK YOU.

WHEN DO WE STOP SACRIFICING OUR LANDS FOR COMMERCIAL ACTIVITY, RESORTS?

WHERE NOT PROVIDING ENOUGH SECURITY FOR OUR OWN COMMUNITIES.

IT'S NOT TO SAY THAT SOME COMMERCIAL ACTIVITY WOULD BENEFIT OUR COMMUNITIES, BUT THAT'S WHERE OUR COMMUNITIES HAVE TO SPEAK UP.

AND LAIE, KAHUKU, HAUULA ARE VERY WELL KNOWN FOR THE STANCE THEY TAKE ON THEIR PROJECTS OUT THERE.

THERE'S A LOT OF RICH HISTORY THAT NEEDS TO BE PROTECTED, BUT COMMERCIAL ACTIVITIES WOULD HAVE TO COME AT THE APPROVAL OF THAT COMMUNITY.

OTHERWISE, WE ARE LOSING LANDS AT A RAPID SPEED, AND WE HAVE NOTHING TO SUSTAIN OURSELVES.

SO THE PROJECTS WOULD HAVE TO BE VERY SPECIFIC AND VERY MUCH COMMUNITY-INVOLVED.

>> Olena: AND MAKUA.

>> THANK YOU, OLENA.

YOU KNOW, THERE'S A LOT OF LEGISLATION BEING PASSED THAT SUPPORT PEOPLE'S IMAGE, POLITICIANS' IMAGE INSTEAD OF REALLY SUPPORTING THE PEOPLE.

I THINK GOING INTO THOSE COMMUNITIES, ASKING THOSE QUESTIONS.

I AM A MEMBER OF THESE COMMUNITIES.

I WAS RAISED IN LAIE, AS WELL, AND I, TOO, WANT ANSWERS.

I WANT TO KNOW WHAT WE CAN LIVE WITH.

WHAT BENEFITS OUR COMMUNITIES.

BECAUSE IT'S NOT JUST A QUESTION OF LIVEABLE WAGES SAFETY, COMMUNITY EDUCATION, BUDGET AND FINANCE AND SUSTAINABILITY.

WHAT CAN OUR COMMUNITY SUSTAIN?

BACK IN THE DAYS, THEY HAD A AHUPUAA SYSTEM.

EACH AHUPUAA WAS DIFFERENT.

WHAT WORKED IN THIS AHUPUAA DIDN'T NECESSARILY WORK IN THE OTHER AHUPUAA.

WE HAVE TO TAKE COMMUNITIES ON A CASE-BY-CASE BASIS.

WE HAVE TO SIT DOWN WITH LEADERSHIP AND THE COMMUNITY SEE WHAT THEY WANT, WHAT IS SUSTAINABLE AND WHAT WE CAN DO TOGETHER TO MORE EFFICIENTLY BENEFIT THE PEOPLE.

ULTIMATELY, IT'S THE QUESTION OF HOPE.

WHAT IS THE HOPE FOR THE FUTURE OF THESE COMMUNITIES?

WHAT IS THE HOPE FOR A BETTER HAWAI'I?

IS IT TO SACRIFICE OUR RURAL LANDS?

LIKE CHAD SAID, EVERYBODY COMES HERE FOR THE BEAUTY OF HAWAI'I.

WE CANNOT SACRIFICE WHAT MAKES US SO SPECIAL.

BECAUSE ONE DAY PEOPLE WILL GO AWAY.

OUR LOCAL COMMUNITIES ARE ALREADY GOING AWAY.

BECAUSE WHAT WE'VE BEEN DOING IS SACRIFICING OUR PEOPLE AND OUR LANDS FOR OUTSIDE INTERESTS.

AND THAT'S BEEN GOING ON FOR TOO LONG.

THE PEOPLE NEED TO SPEAK.

>> Olena: ALL RIGHT.

MOVING ON.

WE HAVE A QUESTION FROM FACEBOOK.

WRITES, MAY WE HAVE A BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF YOUR PLANS FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING IN KOOLAULOA PLEASE.

I'LL START WITH LUPE, AS YOU DID TALK ABOUT HOUSING AS ONE OF THE MAJOR CONCERN EARLIER.

>> WOW, WHERE TO START WITH THAT.

I THINK THAT'S SUCH A MONSTER ISSUE, AND I WAS VERY INVOLVED AS A COMMUNITY MEMBER AND THE LAIE COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION WHEN LAIE DID A WHOLE FLEDGE BLOWN-OUT PROGRAM PROPOSAL FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING IN THE AREA, WHICH EVENTUALLY, AFTER SEVERAL YEARS, DID NOT ACTUALLY MOVE FORWARD.

SO I THINK TO BE HONEST, I DON'T HAVE ALL THE ANSWERS TO THAT.

I WOULD BE VERY CAREFUL TO PROPOSE A PLAN WITHOUT ACTUALLY GOING BACK TO THE COMMUNITIES.

OUR LOCAL PEOPLE WHO NEED THIS AFFORDABLE HOUSING SUPPORT ALSO NEED WORK OPPORTUNITIES THAT WILL MATCH THE CAPACITY AND ABILITY TO AFFORD THESE HOMES.

THAT'S ONE OF THE BIGGEST CHALLENGES.

SO WHETHER THAT MEANS MORE STRINGENT EDUCATION, EMPLOYMENT PREPARATION, BEING MORE FOCUSED ON THE TYPE OF WORK THAT FITS OUR AREA THAT ALLOWS THEM TO BE LUCRATIVE AND SUCCESSFUL FINANCIALLY, WE CAN'T IGNORE THE REALITY THAT CULTURAL PLAYS INTO THE WAY OUR PEOPLE LIVE IN THE KOOLAULOA AREA, PARTICULARLY THOSE WHO ARE CHALLENGED BY LACK OF HOUSING.

AFFORDABLE HOUSING.

BUT EVEN TO SAY AFFORDABLE HOUSING BEING SO SUBJECTIVE.

I'M JUST GOING TO COMMENT, IT'S AN ISSUE.

THERE ARE CULTURAL FACTORS.

WITH MULTIPLE GENERATIONS IN ONE HOME IN THIS AREA, BUT I WOULD NOT WANT TO ANSWER THAT WITHOUT GETTING TO THE COMMUNITY.

AND BEING VERY ACTIVE AND RECRUITING THEIR PARTICIPATION FOR CONVERSATION.

>> Olena: AND, MATT, OVER TO YOU.

>> YEAH.

I THINK ONE OF THE BEST WAYS TO MEET THE NEEDS OF THE COMMUNITY, MAKE A DENT IN THE LACK OF INVENTORY WE HAVE IS AGAIN, BY ENFORCING OUR VACATION RENTAL LAWS THAT WE HAVE ON THE BOOKS AND MAYBE LOOK AT A VACANT HOME TAX TO PUSH THE 70,000 UNITS WE HAVE STATEWIDE THAT ARE JUST VACANT BACK INTO THE HOUSING MARKET.

SO AS SUPPLY GOES UP, THOSE COSTS WILL COME DOWN AND HOUSING WILL BECOME MORE AFFORDABLE.

I THINK MAKUA BROUGHT UP EARLIER, THE STAFFING ISSUES AT THE CITY, AND THAT'S A BIG ISSUE WITH DPP, BEING ABLE TO ENFORCE THE VACATION RENTAL LAW.

AND CITY ACROSS THE BOARD AND ALL DEPARTMENTS IS LOSING STAFF TO THE PRIVATE SECTOR.

WE CAN'T RESOLVE IT BY JUST THROWING MONEY INTO THE BUDGET ALL THE TIME WHEN YOU HAVE VACANT POSITIONS, RIGHT, BECAUSE THAT WON'T FILL THOSE POSITIONS.

HOW DO WE MAKE THE CITY JOBS MORE ATTRACTIVE SO FOLKS STOP LEAVING FOR THE PRIVATE SECTOR AND COME BACK TO THE CITY SO WE CAN SPEED UP, OF COURSE, THE PERMITTING PROCESS BUT ALSO ENFORCE A LOT OF PERMITTING AND PLANNING LAWS AFFECT OUR COMMUNITY.

THAT'S ONE PARTICULAR AREA.

WE CAN ALSO HAVE THE DISCUSSION, LIKE I MENTIONED EARLIER, WHAT IS APPROPRIATE FOR A PARTICULAR COMMUNITY IN TERMS OF PROVIDING CERTAIN AREAS.

MAYBE WITHIN THE SUSTAINABLE COMMUNITY PLAN.

>> Olena: THANK YOU.

MAKUA, OVER TO YOU.

>> WELL, I'VE BEEN HEARING A LOT ABOUT BEING PROACTIVE.

AT THE CITY, FOR SOME REASON, LEGISLATION SEEMS LIKE IT STARTS TAIL FIRST AND WE START CHASING OUR TAIL AFTER.

INSTEAD OF LOOKING DIRECTLY INTO AFFORDABLE HOUSING RIGHT AWAY.

LOOKING INTO LEGISLATION TO KEEP THOSE HOUSES AFFORDABLE.

HOW DO WE KEEP AFFORDABLE HOUSING AFFORDABLE INTO ETERNITY, INTO THE FUTURE.

IMPLEMENTING SOME KIND OF, YOU KNOW, RESTRICTIVE TITLE POLICY WHERE IT'S ONLY FOR RESIDENTS IN HAWAI'I.

AS A COUNCILMEMBER, NOT BEING AFRAID TO STEP UP TO SAYING YES, THESE PROPERTIES NEED TO GO TO RESIDENTS, SOME KIND OF QUALIFYING CREDENTIALS, AND WHO IS A RESIDENT?

HOW YOU QUALIFY FOR THESE HOUSING PROJECTS?

IT'S ALL TOO MUCH, WE IMPLEMENT LEGISLATION WITH NO ENFORCEMENT.

LAW WITHOUT ENFORCEMENT IS NOT LAW AT ALL.

I THINK LOOKING INTO WAYS TO KEEP THE HOUSING AFFORDABLE.

LOOKING INTO WAYS TO KEEP THE HOUSING LOCAL AND AT THE SAME TIME REALLY GOING BACK TO THE COMMUNITIES AND SEEING WHAT WORKS.

WHAT AREAS ARE AVAILABLE?

WHAT ARE WE SACRIFICING FOR THESE AFFORDABLE HOUSES, BUT I REALLY THINK IT COME DOWNING TO BEING NOSE FIRST.

THINKING AHEAD AND IMPLEMENTING SOLUTIONS SO THAT WE CAN HAVE CONTROL.

SO THESE HOUSES DO NOT GO INTO THE OPEN MARKET.

WE'RE AT INTERNATIONAL MARKET NOW.

PEOPLE WILL USE EVERY LOOPHOLE TO GET AFFORDABLE HOUSES AND SELL THEM ON THE OPEN MARKET.

WE CANNOT LET OUR PEOPLE BY SUBJECT TO ANYMORE OF THAT KIND OF -- MAN, IT FRUSTRATES ME.

BECAUSE THINKING ABOUT ALL OUR PEOPLE GO THROUGH FOR HOUSING RIGHT NOW.

>> Olena: THANK YOU.

RAQUEL.

>> THANK YOU.

WE JUST HAVE THIS TOPIC RECENTLY AT A NEIGHBORHOOD BOARD MEETING AS WELL.

SO AFFORDABLE HOUSING IN GENERAL, I MEAN ANYWHERE, BUT KO'OLAU ALSO BECAUSE THERE'S A VAST AMOUNT OF LAND JUST THROUGHOUT THE NORTH SHORE.

I THINK AFFORDABLE NEEDS TO BE DEFINED, NUMBER ONE.

IN A MARKET OF HOMES OF $1.5 MILLION, WHAT IS CONSIDERED AFFORDABLE?

I MEAN, DOES THAT MEAN $800,000 IS AN AFFORDABLE HOUSE?

THAT DOESN'T WORKING.

I WOULD REVERT TO THE COMMUNITY THAT A PROJECT IS BASED ON, AND I WANT TO HEAR WHAT THAT COMMUNITY WANTS.

WHAT WORKS FOR THEM?

WHAT IS BENEFICIAL TO THEM?

AND WHAT IS AFFORDABLE IN THAT AREA, WE'D HAVE TO DO A COMPARISON.

I DO AGREE WITH MAKUA IN TERMS OF ENFORCEMENT.

WE DO HAVE A LOT OF GREAT POLICY BUT NO ENFORCEMENT.

WE NEED TO PURSUE.

AND PUSH THAT ISSUE IN TERMS OF MAKING THIS PROJECT WORK.

WHATEVER PROJECT IT MAY BE.

>> Olena: CHAD.

>> FIRST OF ALL, I'M VERY DISAPPOINTED WITH AFFORDABLE HOUSING.

IT'S NOT AFFORDABLE FOR MY KIDS.

I'VE LOOKED ON REAL ESTATE, $700,000.

WHAT CHILD CAN AFFORD THAT?

IT'S VERY DISAPPOINTING THAT WE CALL THAT AFFORDABLE, FIRST OF ALL.

EVERY DAY I WAKE UP AND SEE MY DAUGHTERS, AND IT JUST HURTS ME TO KNOW THEY'RE NOT GOING TO BE ABLE TO LIVE HERE.

WHEN WE LOSE THAT, WE LOSE THE KIDS, THAT'S WHAT MAKES HAWAI'I SPECIAL, IS OUR KEIKI.

WE HAVE TO DO BETTER.

THE STATE HAS A MAJORITY OF LANDS OUT THERE.

WE NEED TO GET SOME OF THOSE LANDS AND TRULY BUILD AFFORDABLE HOUSING FOR OUR KIDS.

AND WHEN WE DO BUILD AFFORDABLE HOUSING LIKE KOOLAULOA, MAKE SURE THAT LOCAL PEOPLE IN THAT DISTRICT LIVE THERE, NOT PEOPLE FROM THE MAINLAND COMING TO LIVE IN AFFORDABLE HOUSING.

FOR THE PEOPLE THAT LIVE IN KAHUKU, PEOPLE THAT LIVE IN LAIE, THEY SHOULD HAVE THE FIRST RIGHTS TO THE HOUSES.

>> Olena: THANK YOU.

SWITCHING GEARS A LITTLE BIT.

WE'RE GOING TO TALK ABOUT FLOOD MITIGATION AND PLANNING AS IT PERTAINS TO YOUR DISTRICT.

WE'RE GOING TO START WITH RAQUEL.

>> THANK YOU.

FLOOD MITIGATION, YES.

A HUGE, HUGE CONCERN WITHIN THE NORTH SHORE COMMUNITY.

BASED ON THE FLOODING WE HAD LAST YEAR, CLEARLY THERE NEEDS TO BE A LOT OF WORK.

FIRST OF ALL, WITH STREAM MAINTENANCE, WORKING WITH ALL ENTITIES, ALL GOVERNING BODIES.

OUR BOARD, NEIGHBORHOOD BOARD, IS WORKING ON A PLAN RIGHT NOW WITH A VARIETY OF AGENCIES BECAUSE WE ARE NOW DEALING WITH FEDERAL, STATE AND COUNTY, AS WELL AS PRIVATE LANDOWNERS.

AND THE RESPONSIBILITY OF MAINTAINING THOSE STREAMS AND RIVERBEDS.

WE NEED TO IMPLEMENT A VERY AGGRESSIVE PLAN, WHICH WE ARE WORKING ON RIGHT NOW, TO BE ABLE TO IMPLEMENT A MORE EFFECTIVE PLAN OF ACTUAL MAINTENANCE.

CLEARING, MAKING THE WATERWAYS CLEARER, OBVIOUSLY, AND EASIER -- THIS LAST FLOOD TOOK OUT A LARGE PART OF HALEIWA.

WE DO NEED FEDERAL FUNDING, AND THAT'S THE ONLY WAY IT'S GOING TO HAPPEN.

WE HAVE HAD CONVERSATIONS WITH OUR REPRESENTATIVES AND CONGRESSMEN, AND I DO BELIEVE WE ARE ON A GOOD PATH TO INITIATE A PLAN.

>> Olena: LUPE.

>> YES.

I HAVE BEEN FLOODED MYSELF IN MY OWN HOME MORE THAN ONCE.

EVEN IN MY YOUTH.

SO TO BE AN ADULT AND STILL HAVING FLOODING ISSUE WITH MY OWN CHILDREN, IT MAKES ME WONDER IF WE ARE REALLY PAYING ATTENTION TO WHAT HAS HAPPENED BEFORE.

I ECHO WHAT RAQUEL HAS MENTIONED AND JUST THINK THAT THE DATA'S THERE.

THERE'S HISTORY.

THERE'S ENOUGH SUPPORT TO PUT IN THE REQUEST FOR ADDITIONAL FUNDING SO THAT WE CAN BE MORE PREVENTIVE MAKING SURE STREAMS AND WATERWAYS ARE CLEARED.

THE LAST COUPLE DAYS, WE HAD SOME GOOD RAIN.

I THOUGHT MY FLOODING DAYS WERE GONE AND DIDN'T EVEN REALIZE OUR HOUSE WAS FLOODING UNTIL A NEIGHBOR CAME AND SAID, HEY, I THINK YOU NEED HELP.

SO IN MY MIND, THIS IS CLEARLY AN ISSUE WE KNOW HAS HAPPENED BEFORE.

WE JUST NEED TO REALLY MAKE IT HAPPEN.

TAKE WHAT WE KNOW AND GET THE FUNDS THAT WILL HELP US BE MORE PREVENTATIVE.

>> Olena: MAKUA.

>> I'LL GIVE YOU A PERFECT EXAMPLE.

LAIE, NORTH SHORE.

30 YEARS, THEY'VE BEEN WAITING TO CLEAN OUT THAT STREAM.

WHEN I WAS A LITTLE KID, THEY WERE FIGHTING TO CLEAN THAT STREAM IN LAIE.

I THINK THEY HAVE UNTIL NEXT SUMMER TO GET THE FUNDS ENCUMBERED BY THE MAYOR TO PUT SKIN IN THE GAME TO HELP PARTNER, AT LEAST, TO PUT MONEY TO CLEAN OUT THAT STREAM.

FLOODING IS PUBLIC SAFETY.

PEOPLE CAN DIE.

OUR PEOPLE CAN DIE.

THIS IS NOT A PRESSING ISSUE FOR US AS COUNCILMEMBERS, TO GET OUT THERE AND FIND THESE FUNDS.

ASK THE RIGHT QUESTIONS.

HOLD THE RIGHT PEOPLE ACCOUNTABLE AND ALMOST MAKE THESE FUNDS AVAILABLE NO MATTER WHAT.

IF WE'RE GOING TO JEOPARDIZE THE SAFETY OF OUR PEOPLE FOR BUREAUCRACY AND RED TAPE, AND OH, WE HAVE TO WORK TOGETHER TO FIND THESE FUNDS.

OUR PEOPLE ARE NOT OBVIOUSLY THEY'RE NOT IMPORTANT TO THE CITY OR WHATEVER IT IS BECAUSE IF THEY WERE, WE'D GET IT DONE.

WE HAVE TO TACKLE ISSUES.

WE HAVE TO CATEGORIZE IT.

WE HAVE TO PUT THEM IN ORDER.

OKAY, THIS ONE NEEDS TO BE DONE.

30 YEARS THEY'VE BEEN WAITING.

LET'S GET THE FUNDS.

BOOM.

NEXT YEAR.

WAIALUA, I'VE LIVED THERE ALL MY LIVE.

HALEIWA.

I'VE NEVER SEEN FLOODING LIKE THAT.

WHY?

LOOKS LIKE NOBODY HAS FUNDS TO CLEAN UP THE STREAMS.

WHY IS THERE NO FUNDS TO KEEP OUR CITIZENS SAFE?

FIRST AND FOREMOST, WE HAVE TO GO BACK TO SAFETY.

THERE ARE FUNDS THERE.

THEY JUST NEED TO BE RELEASED.

GET THEM AND GET THE JOBS DONE TO KEEP OUR PEOPLE SAFE.

>> Olena: CHAD, OVER TO YOU.

>> SO THIS IS WHERE I WAS FORTUNATE TO HAVE EXPERIENCE.

SO FIRST THING I WOULD DO, WE ALWAYS ARE REACTIONARY.

LET'S TAKE, FOR EXAMPLE, RED HILL.

WE KNOW RED HILL WAS HAPPENING, BUT WE WAITED UNTIL IT WILL HAPPENED TO FINALLY DO SOMETHING.

WE ALREADY KNOW WHERE THE HIGH WATER MARKS ARE.

WE NEED TO START MAKING A MAP.

WORK WITH DPP AND MAP OUT THE AREA THAT WE HAVE TO MOVE INFRASTRUCTURE.

WE ALREADY KNOW THIS THING.

START WITH DPP WITH THE MAYOR.

MAP A PLAN AND THEN WE USE THAT PLAN AND START MOVING THINGS NOW BEFORE PEOPLE GET HURT.

YOU DON'T WAIT UNTIL THE FLOOD HAPPENS AND OH, BY THE WAY WE'RE GOING TO DO IT NOW.

NO, WE MAP IT OUT NOW, AND WE'LL GET THE FUNDING, AND THEN WE IMPLEMENT.

THAT'S SOLID SOLUTIONS.

IT'S LOOKING AHEAD.

>> Olena: MATT.

>> YEAH.

I MEAN, FOLKS ARE FRUSTRATED ACROSS NORTH SHORE TO KAHUKU, YOU KNOW, THE FLOODING HAS STALLED PROJECTS, COMMUNITY PROJECTS.

I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE LOOK AT WAYS WE CAN ACTUALLY BRING THESE FUNDS INTO THE CITY, RIGHT.

INVEST IN FLOOD MITIGATION IN KAHUKU.

THEY'RE WORKING ON NOW THE RESILIENCY HUB IN KOOLAULOA.

INCREASE EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS.

EMERGENCY SHELTERS.

INCREASING THE SIGNAGE FOR EMERGENCY ROUTES.

AND DOING THE FLOOD MITIGATION AND STREAM CLEANING THAT WE TALKED ABOUT.

THE CITY NEEDS THE DEDICATED FULL-TIME POSITIONS TO PURSUE ALL THESE FUNDS OPPORTUNITIES, WHETHER IT BE FROM FISH AND WILDLIFE, DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION, HUD, USDA.

AT THE KAHUKU COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION MEETING, THERE WAS A FISH AND WILDLIFE GRANT.

IT SLIPPED OUT THE DOOR BECAUSE NO ONE APPLIED FOR IT.

I THINK BY BRINGING THOSE MONIES IN AND LEVERAGING THOSE, WE CAN REALLY PROTECT THE COMMUNITY.

QUICKLY, BACK TO THE AFFORDABLE HOUSING CONVERSATION.

WHEN WE'RE TALKING AFFORDABLE HOUSING, IT REALLY IS INCOME-SPECIFIC.

SO I CAN SAY NO ONE, WHETHER YOU WORK AT FOODLAND, YOU'RE A TEACHER, YOU'RE FIREFIGHTER, SHOULD NOT SPEND MORE THAN ONE-THIRD OF THEIR PAYCHECK ON THEIR RENT, ON THEIR MORTGAGE.

WE CAN ACHIEVE THAT BY REFORMING OUR HOUSING POLICY.

>> Olena: THANK YOU.

TALKING ABOUT KUNIA NOW.

OBVIOUSLY SOME OF THE MOST AGRICULTURAL LAND ON OAHU.

MAKUA, WHAT WOULD YOU DO TO TRY TO FOSTER MORE GROWTH WITHIN THAT AREA?

PRODUCTION OF PRODUCE AND FRUIT AND WHATNOT THAT WE CAN EXPORT?

>> FIRST, I'M A COMMUNITY MEMBER AS WELL, AND ALL I HEAR IS, I'VE BEEN IN THE CITY FOR A LONG TIME ON THIS.

I HAVE ALL THIS EXPERIENCE IN THE CITY.

DIRECT ACCESS TO ALL THESE DEPARTMENTS AND ALL THIS STUFF.

AND ONLY NOW AM I HEARING ANYBODY TALK ABOUT THIS FLOOD MITIGATION.

I'VE BEEN IN THE STATE 14 YEARS.

I'VE BEEN IN THE STATE HOW LONG.

HOW COME ONLY NOW I HEAR PEOPLE TALKING ABOUT THIS FLOOD MITIGATION?

ONLY NOW WE GOING START DOING IT?

BECAUSE IT'S TIME TO TALK TO THE PEOPLE.

I'M JUST KIND OF CONFUSED HOW WE HAVE DIRECT ACCESS.

NEIGHBORHOOD BOARDS, DIRECT AIDES TO THE COUNCILMEMBERS BUT ONLY NOW WE'RE TALKING ABOUT IT.

AS A FRUSTRATED COMMUNITY MEMBER, MY KIDS, LUPE'S KIDS IN DANGERS OF THIS.

AND ONLY NOW WE'RE HEARING ABOUT PEOPLE WANTING TO DO SOMETHING.

I DON'T KNOW.

BUT GOING BACK TO KUNIA.

EXCUSE ME.

I WANT TO SAY I MET WITH KOHANA FARMS, AND THEY SAY IT'S VERY, VERY HARD TO CREATE A BUSINESS BECAUSE OF THE PLANNING PERMIT, THE PLANNING PROCESS.

IT'S SO HARD TO PUT UP ONE DRYING WAREHOUSE.

ONE STILL.

ONE COMMERCIAL PIECE OF EQUIPMENT FOR THEIR INDUSTRY.

KOHANA FARMS ARE GOING TO GO BACK TO GROWING SUGARCANE.

BACK THE ANCIENT DAYS.

ORIGINAL CANE.

THEY MAKE A PRODUCT FROM SEED TO PACKAGE THAT CAN BE AN EXPORT PRODUCT.

BUT THEY RUN INTO SO MANY ISSUES.

TWO YEARS FOR A BUILDING.

WHO HAS BUSINESSES THAT HAVE THAT MUCH RESOURCES THAT CAN WAIT THAT LONG FOR A BUSINESS TO COME TO FRUITION?

WE REALLY HAVE TO STREAMLINE THE PROCESSES AT DPP.

STREAMLINE THE PROCESSES THAT HELP THESE BUSINESSES BECOME SUCCESSFUL TO ACTUALLY ADDRESS THE AGRICULTURAL NEEDS.

RIGHT NOW, ALL WE'RE DOING IS KILLING THAT ENTREPRENEURIAL SPIRIT.

>> Olena: THERE ARE FIVE OF YOU AND WE'RE TRYING TO GIVE EACH PERSON EQUAL TIME.

I APOLOGIZE IF I'M CUTTING PEOPLE OFF.

LUPE, YOUR STANCE ON AGRICULTURE IN KUNIA.

>> I THINK MAKUA RAISES A REALLY GOOD POINT.

EVEN IF YOU KNOW WHAT YOU WANT TO GROW, I'LL TELL YOU WHAT MY DAD GREW.

MY OPINION IS WE GROW, ONE, NOT ONLY PRODUCE THAT WE CAN GROW WELL IN OUR CLIMATE US WITH OUR LAND AND SOIL, BUT GROW WHAT OUR PEOPLE WILL EAT.

I PERSONALLY LOVE PINEAPPLE.

I DON'T KNOW IF THAT'S A LOCAL PRODUCE THAT MANY OF OUR LOCAL FAMILIES WANT.

SO ON OUR FARM WE ALWAYS GREW TAPIOKA, YAM, BANANAS ARE USEFUL.

WHATEVER WE GROW HAS TO BE WHAT OUR OWN LOCAL PEOPLE WANT TO EAT, WHAT THEY WILL TAKE, WHAT'S GOOD FOR HEALTH SO WE WILL BE MOTIVATED TO GROW IN LARGE AMOUNTS AND EXPORT IT AND SHARE IT BECAUSE WE GROW IT WELL.

WE GROW IT THE BEST.

WHATEVER FRUITS, MANGOS, GUAVAS, ALL THOSE THINGS ARE ALWAYS GOOD AND DO WELL IN OUR CLIMATE.

EVEN IF YOU HAVE GOOD PRODUCTS, WHAT MAKUA IS RAISING IS -- >> Olena: CHAD.

>> ONE THING THAT CORONAVIRUS TAUGHT US IS THAT WE NEED TO BE SERIOUS ABOUT BEING SUSTAINABLE ON THIS ISLAND.

IF THE SHIPS STOP, WE'VE GOT ABOUT SEVEN DAYS OF FOOD.

SO WE HAVE TO TAKE THIS SERIOUS AND START SUSTAINING OUR ECONOMY.

ONE OF THE THINGS I QUESTIONED SENATOR DELA CRUZ, A GOOD START OF PEOPLE GROWING, SELLING, TRAINING THE COLLEGE STUDENTS.

THAT'S A GOOD SIGN.

WE SHOULD SUPPORT PROJECTS LIKE THAT TO START GETTING REALLY SERIOUS ABOUT SUSTAINING OUR OWN ECONOMY.

>> Olena: THANK YOU.

RAQUEL, OVER TO YOU.

>> THANK YOU.

AS A VERY ACTIVE AGRICULTURAL FARMER AND RANCHER, I CAN TELL YOU FIRST AND FOREMOST IS AG LANDS, WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THEY'RE BECOME USED AS AG.

A LOT OF THEM ARE NOT.

THEY'RE BEING SHIMMIED OFF INTO FAKE FARMS AND SUBDIVISIONS THAT AREN'T REAL.

THERE'S NO SUPPORT FOR THE FARMERS AND RANCHERS.

WE DON'T HAVE THE SUPPORT THAT PROTECTS OUR CROPS OR OUR LIVESTOCKS.

WE HAVE TRESPASSING ISSUES.

WE -- YOU NEED HARD WORK, HARD PEOPLE TO BE ABLE TO COME IN AND MAKE THAT DIFFERENCE AND PROVIDE THAT SUPPORT.

YES, STRUCTURALLY WE NEED WORK AT DPP.

WE ALL KNOW THAT.

THAT IS ABSOLUTELY AN ISSUE.

WE CAN ADDRESS THAT.

WE HAVE VERY SUCCESSFULLY DONE THAT WITH DIRECTOR UCHIDA, AND I'M VERY HAPPY WITH HIS RESPONSE.

BUT THE BOTTOM LINE IS, WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THESE LANDS ARE PROTECT FOR AG TO BEGIN WITH BECAUSE THEY'RE NOT.

>> Olena: MATT.

>> YEAH, I THINK ONE OF THE BIGGEST THINGS THAT THE CITY DOES OR CAN DO TO PROTECT FARMING IS ENSURING THAT WE'RE NOT OVERLY REZONING AGRICULTURAL LAND.

SOMETHING I WORKED ON AT COUNCIL WHEN I WAS WORKING WITH COUNCILMEMBER TOMMY WATERS.

I WAS WORKING WITH ADMINISTRATION TO GET A FOOD ADMINISTRATOR APPOINTED WITHIN CCSR.

SOMEONE TO WORK WITH LOCAL INDUSTRIES TO ENSURE THAT WE'RE SUPPORTING FARMERS AND RANCHERS TO CREATE A MORE SUSTAINABLE FUTURE.

I BELIEVE WE SHOULD BE PUTTING ARPA FUNDS TO SUPPORTING LOCAL FARMERS.

I SUPPORT THE $11 MILLION THAT THE ADMINISTRATION WAS PUTTING FORTH TO SUPPORT LOCAL FARMERS.

WHOEVER IS THE NEXT COUNCILMEMBER NEEDS TO KEEP THEIR EYES ON THAT.

WORK WITH THE INDUSTRY.

WORK WITH THE STAKEHOLDERS.

ENSURE THAT WE'RE SUPPORTING A MORE DIVERSIFIED ECONOMY.

I THINK BY INVESTING IN THE OAHU WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT BOARD, WE CAN CREATE RETOOLING AND RETRAINING PROGRAMS TO GET MORE FARMERS ON THE LAND.

THAT'S ONE OF OUR BIGGEST STRUGGLES.

IS FIND FOLKS WHO CAN GET ON TO THAT LAND, FARM AND CREATE THAT SUSTAINABLE FUTURE.

>> Olena: THANK YOU.

WE'RE GETTING TOWARDS THE ENDING OF THE SHOW.

I WANT TO ASK A QUESTION ABOUT CRIME.

THIS IS COMING FROM MILILANI ONLINE.

SHE SAYS, WHAT WILL YOU DO TO HELP STOP THE CRIME WAVE RAPIDLY INCREASING IN YOUR COMMUNITY?

WE CAN START WITH LUPE.

>> I'M AN ISLAND GIRL.

AND SO ONE OF THE WAYS IN LAIE THAT WE CONTROL CRIME.

EVERYBODY KNOWS EVERYBODY.

IT'S A GOOD THING, IT'S A BAD THING, BUT RELATIVE TO CRIME CONTROL, THERE'S VALUE.

WE LIVE ON AN ISLAND SO I FEEL WE CAN ARGUE THIS POINT.

OUR CULTURAL WAY OF TAKING CARE OF EACH OTHER.

BEING A VILLAGE THAT WORKS TOGETHER, PAYS ATTENTION.

SOMETIMES WE GET SO -- I FEEL SOMETIMES WE RUN OUR SYSTEM BY WHAT'S WRITTEN IN THE BOOKS, AND WE DON'T REALLY DEVELOP THE RELATIONSHIPS WITHIN OUR COMMUNITY.

THAT'S THE STRENGTH OF THE KOOLAULOA AREA.

THAT'S THE STRENGTH OF MY COMMUNITY.

WHEN YOU KNOW EACH OTHER, YOU'RE MORE LIKELY TO INFLUENCE YOUR NEIGHBORS.

TO ME, THAT'S THE LONG-TERM SOLUTION.

CHANGE HOW WE LIVE TOGETHER SO THAT WE CARE ENOUGH ABOUT EACH OTHER THAT WE CAN ASK EACH OTHER TO HELP WITH ISSUES THAT COME UP RATHER THAN ALWAYS RUNNING TO THE POLICE TO CHANGE, TO FIX OUR PROBLEMS.

IF WE CAN START BY MAKING COMMUNITY RELATIONSHIPS STRONGER, I THINK WE'LL DO A BETTER JOB HELPING TO RAISE OUR CHILDREN TOGETHER.

>> Olena: CHAD, OVER TO YOU.

>> I'M VERY PASSIONATE ABOUT THIS.

MOST PEOPLE THINK WE NEED TO FUND THE POLICE AND IT'S THEIR RESPONSIBILITY.

BUT THE POLICEMEN ARE NOT SUPERHEROS.

WE NEED A BROAD APPROACH.

SO FOR 15 YEARS, I'VE BEEN WITH NONPROFITS LIKE LIFE AFTER PRISON.

WHAT WE HAVE TO DO IS -- SO THE RECIDIVISM RATE NOW, FOR ONE HUNDRED PEOPLE COMING OUT, 60% WILL DO A CRIME.

60 PEOPLE OUT OF A HUNDRED WILL DO A CRIME.

THAT IS WHERE OUR PROBLEM LIES.

THAT IS WHERE WE NEED COMMUNITY HELP.

WE NEED TO TRAIN THEM, GIVE THEM JOBS.

WE NEED TO HELP THEM BE SUCCESSFUL INDIVIDUALS.

AND THAT'S WHAT WE DID.

FOR EXAMPLE, ONE OF THE COMPANIES I WAS RUNNING, WE HIRED 70% PEOPLE COMING OUT OF PRISON.

WE TRAINED THEM AND OUR RECIDIVISM RATE WAS LESS THAN 2%.

I'M VERY PASSIONATE ABOUT THIS IS WORKING WITH THE NONPROFITS WORKING WITH THE COMMUNITY AND WORKING WITH THE POLICE TOGETHER.

THAT IS THE ONLY WAY WE CAN STOP THIS WAVE OF CRIME.

YOU CAN'T JUST BRING THE POLICE AND EXPECT THEM TO DO EVERYTHING.

THEY'RE DOING A GREAT JOB.

I SAT ON MANY BOARDS WITH THESE GUYS.

PEOPLE DON'T KNOW HOW MUCH THEY PUT IN TO HELP THE COMMUNITY ON THEIR OWN TIME.

I WANT TO GIVE A SHOUT OUT TOLD POLICE DEPARTMENT AND THANK THEM FOR THEIR GREAT WORK.

>> Olena: MATT, OVER TO YOU.

>> I THINK ONE OF THE FIRST THINGS THE CITY CAN DO, AND I SAY THE CITY BECAUSE THERE ARE CERTAIN ASPECTS OF THE CRIMINAL SYSTEM THE STATE OVERSEES, BUT THE CITY CAN MAKE MORE INVESTMENTS IN MENTAL HEALTH AND SUBSTANCE ABUSE TREATMENT.

AS A PROSECUTOR, I'D SEE FOLKS COME IN, AND MAYBE YOU'RE LUCKY ENOUGH TO GET A JUDGE TO ORDER MENTAL HEALTH OR SUBSTANCE ABUSE TREATMENT OR EVEN MAYBE DUO DIAGNOSIS IF SOMEONE IS SUFFERING BOTH.

AND THERE'S A WAIT LIST.

AND THEN THEY END UP NOT GETTING THE TREATMENT THEY NEED AND END UP REOFFENDING, COMMITTING A MORE SERIOUS COME.

I THINK BY SUPPORTING THAT AND SUPPORTING MORE SUPPORT SERVICES, WE CAN LESSEN THE BURDEN ON OFFICERS WHO AREN'T SOCIAL WORKERS.

THEY'RE ALREADY STRETCHED THIN.

THERE'S SOME 300 VACANCIES IN THE DEPARTMENT.

BY EXPANDING THAT SUPPORT, YOU CAN ALLOW THE OFFICERS TO FOCUS ON THE JOBS THEY'RE THERE TO DO.

SUPPORT THEM IN DOING COMMUNITY POLICING SO BUILD THOSE RELATIONSHIPS WITH THE COMMUNITY.

REBUILD THAT TRUST.

REBUILD WHAT WILL DRAW MORE FOLKS INTO THE DEPARTMENT.

WE HAVE TO SUPPORT THE WAGES.

IT'S GOING TO KEEP THEM FROM BEING STOLEN AWAY TO CITIES THAT PAY MORE.

AND ADDRESS OUR COST OF LIVING AND HOUSING CRISIS SO THAT DOESN'T HAPPEN.

>> Olena: MAKUA.

>> FIRST THING I WOULD DO IS CREATE A TEAM AND GO INTO THESE COMMUNITIES.

I WOULD TAKE THE RESOURCES NEEDED AND NOT JUST ADVOCATE TO FUND THEM.

BUT TAKE THEM ON THE GROUND INTO THESE COMMUNITIES.

WE KNOW WHERE THE HOMELESS CAMPS ARE.

WE KNOW THAT WORKING TOGETHER, BEING ABLE TO BRING THE GAP BETWEEN THESE PEOPLE AND LAW ENFORCEMENT, GETTING OUT THERE AND TALKING TO THEM.

SITTING DOWN AND SAY HEY, GUESS WHAT?

ADDRESSING A LOT OF THE ISSUES AND REHABILITATING SOMEONE REALLY START BY ADDRESSING THE CORE ISSUES.

THERE ARE UNDERLYING ISSUES OF WHY A LOT OF THESE PEOPLE COMMIT CRIMES.

WE HAVE TO GET OUT THERE, BOOTS ON THE GROUND.

WE CAN'T BE AFRAID.

WE CAN'T JUST SAY THEY'RE CRIMINALS.

WE HAVE TO GO OUT THERE AND TREAT THEM LIKE ME AND YOU, BROTHER TO BROTHER.

WE HAVE TO GO OUT THERE SPEAK TO THEM LIKE THEY'RE OUR BROTHERS.

MAKE THEM FEEL COMFORTABLE SOMETIMES.

ALL IT TAKE IS A LITTLE BIT OF ALOHA SOMETIMES TO HELP SOMEONE CHANGE THEIR MIND.

BECAUSE IT'S REALLY UP TO THE INDIVIDUAL.

IT HAS TO BE UP TO THEM TO CHANGE THEIR WAY OF LIVING.

TO CHANGE THEIR MIND TO BECOME A BETTER PERSON.

WE HAVE TO GO IN THERE AND SIT WITH THEM AND REALLY BRING THESE RESOURCES TO THEM.

THE NORTH SHORE, WHERE ARE YOU GOING TO FIND THE RESOURCES AT?

IT'S ALL THE DOWNTOWN.

WE NEED TO BRING THOSE RESOURCES OUT THERE.

WE HAVE TO BE IN THOSE COMMUNITIES, HAND IN HAND WITH THESE PEOPLE TO HELP ADDRESS THESE UNDERLYING ISSUES AND THE UNDERLYING CAUSES OF CRIMES AND THESE HOMELESSNESS CAMPS.

SO I WILL BE OUT THERE.

I WILL BE WITH THESE PEOPLE REGARDLESS BECAUSE WHEN THERE'S AN ACTIVE SHOOTER AT SUNSET, I CALLED THE POLICE.

THEY GAVE ME THE OPPORTUNITY.

I WALKED IN THERE.

EVERYBODY'S STRAPPED UP.

BULLETPROOF VEST TO THE CORE.

I GOT TO THAT HOUSE, AND I GOT THAT ACTIVE SHOOTER THAT WAS GOING TO SHOOT SOMEBODY OR HIMSELF, AND I TALKED TO HIM WITH ALOHA AND LOVE AND GOT HIM OUT OF THAT SITUATION TOGETHER WITH THE POLICE.

I WILL WORK WITH THEM.

WE WILL TACKLE THE ISSUE.

>> Olena: RAQUEL, OVER TO YOU.

>> THANK YOU.

WE NEED MORE POLICE IN OUR DISTRICT.

POLICE SHOULD BE ASSIGNED NOT BY THE NUMBER OF 911 CALLS BUT SIZE OF OUR DISTRICT.

WE HAVE THE LARGEST DISTRICT ON THIS ISLAND.

WE HAVE POLICE.

THEY DO RESPOND.

WE HAVE A GOOD RELATIONSHIP BUT WE NEED MORE.

WE HAVE A VAST AMOUNT OF AREA TO COVER.

I AGREE WITH MATT WITH THE REHABILITATION ASPECT.

IT ALSO COMES TO EDUCATION.

WE HAVE TO TRAIN AND GET OUR COMMUNITY TO TRUST THE POLICE AGAIN AND BE ABLE TO HAVE THAT CONFIDENCE TO CALL THEM AND KNOW SOMETHING'S GOING TO BE DONE.

NOT, NO, I DON'T WANT TO CALL.

NOTHING'S GOING TO HAPPEN.

THAT'S A HUGE PART OF THE ATTITUDE THAT EXISTS OUT HERE.

NOBODY WANTS TO CALL BECAUSE THEY DON'T THINK ANYTHING'S GOING TO HAPPEN.

AND THAT'S WHERE WE HAVE TO MAKE THAT -- WE HAVE TO BUILD THAT GAP.

WE HAVE TO FILL THAT HOLE.

BE ABLE TO KNOW THAT WHEN PEOPLE CALL, THEY'RE GOING TO GET A RESPONSE AND ACTION WILL BE TAKEN.

>> Olena: I'M GOING TO SNEAK IN ONE LAST QUESTION AND JUST -- NO.

OKAY.

I WAS GOING TO ASK FOR A YES OR NO QUESTION BUT I GUESS NOT.

ALL RIGHT.

MAHALO TO YOU FOR JOINING US TONIGHT.

AND WE THANK OUR GUESTS, THE CANDIDATES FOR HONOLULU CITY COUNCIL DISTRICT 2 -- CHAD TSUNEYOSHI, LUPE FUNAKI, MAKUAKAI ROTHMAN, RAQUEL ACHIU, AND MATT WEYER, JOIN US NEXT WEEK AS WE CONTINUE OUR ELECTION 2022 COVERAGE ON A SPECIAL 90 MINUTE EDITION OF INSIGHTS ON PBS HAWAI'I.

WE WILL BE SPEAKING TO THE LEADING DEMOCRATIC CANDIDATES FOR GOVERNOR -- VICKY CAYETANO, JOSH GREEN, AND KAI KAHELE.

PLEASE JOIN US THEN.

I'M OLENA HEU FOR INSIGHTS ON PBS HAWAI'I.

ALOHA AND A HUI HOU.