YUNJI: TONIGHT WE WILL CHAT WITH CANDIDATES FROM TWO DIFFERENT LOCAL RACES.

FIRST WE WILL SPEAK WITH THOSE LOOKING TO REPRESENT HONOLULU CITY COUNCIL DISTRICT FIVE THAT SPANS FROM ST. LOUIS HEIGHTS TO KAKAAKO AND THEN WE WILL TALK TO THE DEMOCRATIC HOPEFULS FOR STATE HOUSE DISTRICT 14 WHICH INCLUDES MOST OF WEST MAUI.

THAT’S COMING UP NEXT ON INSIGHTS.

2024 ELECTION COVERAGE CONTINUES.

TALK TO HOPEFULS FROM TWO LOCAL RACE.

HEAR FROM OF THE CANDIDATES RUNNING FOR HONOLULU CITY COUNCIL DISTRICT 5.

INCLUDES NEIGHBORHOODS FROM PALOLO VALLEY AND ST. LOUIS TO MCCULLY AND PARTS OF KAKAAKO.

THEN WE'LL HEAR FROM CANDIDATES IN A DEMOCRATIC PRIMARY FOR STATE HOUSE DISTRICT 14.

WHICH COVERS MOST OF WEST MAUI.

JOIN THE DISCUSSION NEXT ON INSIGHTS.

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

I’M YUNJI DE NIES.

WE START OFF OUR SHOW TONIGHT WITH TWO OF THE CANDIDATES FOR HONOLULU CITY COUNCIL DISTRICT FIVE.

COUNCIL MEMBER CALVIN SAY IS RETIRING AT THE END OF HIS TERM SO THAT LEAVES HIS SEAT OPEN FOR A NEW PERSON TO REPRESENT THE DENSELY POPULATED DISTRICT THAT INCLUDES PALOLO VALLEY, ST. LOUIS HEIGHTS, MANOA, MOILIILI, MCCULLY, ALA MOANA, MAKIKI, AND PORTIONS OF KAKAAKO.

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.

WILLIAM MUNENO GREW UP IN PEARL CITY AND HAWAII KAI AND CURRENTLY RESIDES IN MANOA.

HE HAS WORKED IN RETAIL AT LONGS DRUGS, WAS A SALES MANAGER AT COCA COLA, AND HAS BEEN A SMALL BUSINESS OWNER FOR THE LAST 9 YEARS.

HE AND HIS WIFE CHERYL HAVE THREE CHILDREN AND ONE GRANDSON.

BRENDAN SCHULTZ GREW UP ON OAHU AND THROUGHOUT THE UNITED STATES AS THE CHILD OF A US NAVY CAPTAIN.

HE HAS SPENT MOST OF HIS PROFESSIONAL CAREER WORKING IN HUMANITARIAN AID.

HE HAS LED HUMAN RIGHTS EDUCATION PROGRAMS IN MACEDONIA, DONE RESEARCH IN THE KALAHARI DESERT, TAUGHT ENGLISH IN PALESTINE, AND LED FOOD DISTRIBUTION PROGRAMS IN LOS ANGELES.

THE THIRD CANDIDATE FOR HONOLULU CITY COUNCIL DISTRICT FIVE, SCOTT NISHIMOTO DECLINED OUR INVITATION TO PARTICIPATE IN TONIGHT’S SHOW.

THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE.

I ARE BOTH POLITICAL NEWCOMERS.

I WANT TO START WITH YOU.

WHAT COMPELLED TO JUMP IN THIS RACE?

EXCUSE ME.

WILLIAM.

>> OVER THE YEARS, I WOULD COMPLAIN ABOUT GOVERNMENT AND SUCH, AND MY ONLY PARTICIPATION UP TO THAT POINT HAD BEEN VOTING OBVIOUSLY.

AND I JUST DECIDED IF I'M GOING TO KEEP COMPLAINING ABOUT THINGS AND NOT BEING HAPPY WITH HOW THINGS ARE DONE, THAT I SHOULD AT LEAST MAKE AN ATTEMPT TO GET INTO THE SYSTEM AND SEE IF I CAN MAKE SOME SORT OF POSITIVE CHANGE.

>>Yunji: BRENDAN, NOW WE'LL GO TO YOU.

WHAT COMPELLED YOU TO THROW YOUR HAT IN THE RING BORN AND RAISED ISLAND OF OAHU.

HAWAII SPECIAL PLACE FOR ME.

I WORK IN INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT AND HUMANITARIAN AID.

BECAUSE OF THAT SPENT SIGNIFICANT PARTS OF MY LIFE OUTSIDE OF HAWAII WORKING WITH COMMUNITIES THAT FACE A LOT OF CHALLENGES.

EVERY TIME I RETURN TO HONOLULU, I NOTICED CHALLENGES THAT WE FACE HERE SEEM TO BE GETTING BIGGER AND BIGGER.

WHETHER THAT BE HOMELESS POPULATION, OR PEDESTRIAN FATALITIES.

I THOUGHT THERE'S NO BETTER TIME LIKE NOW TO TOSS MY HAT INTO THE RING AND HELP SOLVE CHALLENGES FACING OUR COMMUNITY?

WHAT DO YOU THINK BIGGEST FACING THIS DISTRICT.

>> HIGH COST OF LIVING.

EVERYONE ON THE ISLAND OF OAHU FEELS.

ESPECIALLY IN REGARDS TO AFFORDABLE HOUSING.

WE HAVE IMMENSE HOUSING SHORTAGE OAHU.

NOT A RESULT OF NATURAL DISASTER.

POOR HOUSING POLICIES POLITICIANS IMPLEMENTED IN OUR CITY FOR THE PAST FEW DECADES, SOLVE THAT CHALLENGE BY ADOPTING PROGRESSIVE POLICIES, EXPANDING MIXED USE NEIGHBORHOODS THROUGHOUT THE URBAN CORE.

ALLOWING DEVELOPERS GREATER TAX CREDITS, AFFORDABLE RENTALS AND AFFORDABLE PROPERTIES FOR WORKING FAMILIES TO OWN.

>>YUNJI: DO YOU AGREE AFFORDABLE HOUSING IS BIGGEST ISSUE?

>> DEFINITELY UP AT THE TOP.

I DID A LITTLE BIT OF LOOKING AROUND A LOT OF COUPLE STUDIES THAT HAVE BEEN DONE CITY COUNCIL AS WELL AS STATE WITH PLANS TO ADDRESS THIS.

PRETTY COMPREHENSIVE ACTUALLY.

AND THEY COVER SOME OF THE POINTS THAT BRENDAN HAS MENTIONED.

I THINK A LOT HAS TO DO WITH LOOKING THROUGH THOSE PLANS AGAIN.

MAKING SURE THAT PIECES THAT WORK WE CONTINUE TO USING.

PIECES THAT DON'T WORK, WE SHOVE THEM OFF TO THE SIDE AND FILL WITH SOMETHING ELSE.

BUT A LOT OF GOOD GROUNDWORK I THINK HAS BEEN DONE.

IT'S MORE ABOUT FOLLOW UP NOW AND FOLLOW THROUGH.

>> WHAT DO YOU THINK GIVEN THAT YOU DON'T HAVE A POLITICAL BACKGROUND, WHAT OF YOUR PARTICULAR LIFE AND WORK EXPERIENCE DO YOU BRING IT HAD TO THIS JOB.

>> GOOD QUESTION.

I THINK I GOOD ANALYTICAL SKILLS.

BEING ABLE TO DISSECT INFORMATION TO COME UP WITH POTENTIAL SOLUTIONS, ALSO AM ABLE TO SOURCE THE PROPERTY PEOPLE WITH THE KNOWLEDGE TO COME TOGETHER AND COME TO SOME SORT OF CONSENSUS ON POTENTIAL SOLUTIONS TO PROBLEMS.

>> WHAT DO YOU THINK OF YOUR LIFE EXPERIENCE, WHAT DO YOU BRING IN THIS JOB THAT'S UNIQUE, CURRENTLY HAVE THE PRIVILEGE OF LEADING UNITED BY LOVE.

INTERNATIONAL NONPROFIT OPERATING ACROSS FOUR COUNTRIES SOUTHEASTERN EUROPE.

REASON WHY I'VE BEEN ABLE TO ASSUME THAT LEADERSHIP POSITION NOT BECAUSE OF MY OWN PER TEASE.

COLLABORATOR BRING PEOPLE TOGETHER MULTIPLE CULTURES IN ORDER TO SOLVE CHALLENGE.

TAKE THAT SAME PHILOSOPHY BRING TO HONOLULU HALE TO SOLVE PROBLEMS.

>> PALOLO QUESTION.

IF ELECT TO THIS OFFICE EXPLAIN YOU HOW WOULD REMAIN INDEPENDENT VOICE FOR THE COMMUNITY NOT ALIGN YOURSELVES POWER STRUCTURE GET ELECTED AGAIN.

>> LOOK AT THE WAY THAT I HAVE CURRENTLY OPERATED MY CAMPAIGN, NOT PARTICIPATING IN THE PAY TO PLAY POLITICS THAT HAS CORRUPTED OUR CITY HALL.

PARTICULARLY SEE ME ON SHOWS WITH YOU TONIGHT.

SEE ME NEIGHBORHOOD BOARDS.

WON'T SEE ME HAVING $4,000 PERSON A FUNDRAISERS AT PRIVATE CLUBS LAKE REPRESENTATIVE NISHIMOTO.

DID NOT SHOW THIS EVENING.

I'M NOT GOING TO PARTICIPATE IN THAT NOW OR WHEN I AM IN OFFICE.

ONLY CANDIDATE IN THIS RACE WHO HAS PLEDGED TO CAP MY SALARY ON CITY COUNCIL.

AVERAGE FAMILY INCOME FOR OAHU.

>> AS YOU MAY KNOW, HONOLULU CITY COUNCIL VOTED THEMSELVES A 64% PAY RAISE PAST YEAR.

I DON'T KNOW IF YOU'VE EVER GOTTEN 63% RAISE.

I CERTAINLY HAVEN'T.

AND WHEN I CAME BACK, VOTE THE THEMSELVES THAT RACE.

MIGHT BE DOING HONOLULU JOB.

SAME PROBLEMS YEAR BEFORE ONLY GOTTEN WORSE.

>> NOT GOING ACCEPT THAT.

OUTRAGEOUSLY VOTED THEMSELVES INTO.

REMAIN CONNECTED TO SPAN IS NOT PARTICIPATE IN THOSE ACTIVE IT'S.

>> IS THE CITY HANDLE HOMELESS SITUATION CORRECTLY, IF SO HOW.

IF NOT, WHAT WOULD YOU DO DIFFERENTLY.

>> WOW, I'M SURE CITY IS DOING THEIR BEST UP TO THIS POINT GIVEN RESOURCES THAT HE HAVE AND WHATNOT.

ALSO HAVE REPORTS THAT POINT IN TIME STUDIES THAT COME OUT ANNUALLY THAT DISSECT CAUSES, HOW MANY, AND SO ON, HOW MANY ARE HOUSED, HOW MANY AREN'T HOUSED.

SO ON AND SO FORTH.

THERE ARE SOME SPOTS WITHIN THE REPORT AND I'M NOT PRIVY TO ALL THE DETAILS.

THEY MAY HAVE.

DOES NOT GO DEEP ENOUGH FROM WHAT I SAW TO COME UP WITH LOGICAL CREDIBLE SOLUTIONS TO SOME OF THE PROBLEMS WE'RE FACING TODAY.

WHAT WITH ARE YOUR THOUGHTS HOW TO ADDRESS HOMELESSNESS.

>> HOMELESSNESS IS A SYMPTOM OF MANY GREAT PROBLEMS THAT WE HAVE.

ON OUR ISLAND, NEED TO LOOK AT WHAT THOSE PROBLEMS ARE AND ONE OF THE FUNDAMENTAL PROBLEMS IS PROPERTY TAX STRUCTURE ON OAHU.

WHICH FAVORS OFF ISLAND INVESTORS AT THE EXPENSE OF LOCAL WORKING FAMILIES.

INCREASE PROPERTY TAXES ON INVESTORS, EMPTY HOME SURCHARGE.

REDUCE PROPERTY TAXES TO LOCAL WORKING FAMILY WHO OWN AND LIVE IN THEIR HOMES AND PROVIDE INVESTORS WHO WANT TO RENT BELOW PROPERTY RATE LOWER PROPERTY TAXES THEY CHOOSE TO DO SO.

INCREASE HOUSING INVENTORY LOCAL FAMILIES, ATTACK ONE OF THE ROOT CAUSES OF THE HOMELESS EPIDEMIC.

>>Yunji: WHAT IS YOUR ASSESSMENT OF CITY RAIL PROJECT?

PROBABLY TWO SHOWS.

WHAT YOUR THOUGHTS ON RAIL?

>> COULD TALK FOR HOURS ON END ABOUT RAIL.

RAIL PROJECT EARLY ON WAS MISMANAGED SIGNIFICANTLY.

SEEN A LOT OF IMPROVEMENTS RECENTLY ESPECIALLY UNDER THE NEW CEO OF THE RAIL PROJECT.

I SUPPORT GETTING RAIL COMPLETED TO ALA MOANA.

AS VOTERS VOTED FOR IT ORIGINALLY.

AND FROM THERE SEE WHAT ELSE NEEDS TO CHANGE.

SHOULD BE EXPAND TO DO WAIKIKI AND U.H.

TO REDUCE TRAFFIC CONGESTION ON OUR ROADS AND PROVIDE AFFORDABLE TRANSPORTATION FOR LOWER INCOME INDIVIDUALS.

>>Yunji: YOU WOULD BE OPEN TO PUTTING RAIL ALL THE WAY TO UNIVERSITY OF HAWAII MANOA CAMPUS.

>> I WOULD MAKE THAT DECISION BASED ON COST ESTIMATES AT THE TIME.

IF YOU LOOK AT MAP OF RAIL, ACROSS THE SOUTHERN SHORE OF OAHU, YOU'LL SEE THAT'S ABOUT 20 MILES FROM EAST KAPOLEI TO ALA MOANA.

WHICH WE WILL COMPLETE.

AND THEN EXTENDING IT TO WAIKIKI WOULD ADD ABOUT ANOTHER MILE.

EXTENDING TO U.H.

ABOUT ANOTHER MILE.

SO THERE'S A QUESTION IF WE'VE GONE 20 MILES SO FAR, SHOULD WE CONSIDER EXTENDING IT EXTRA MILE TO REACH URBAN CORE OF HONOLULU.

ONLY VOTE IN SUPPORT OF THAT IF WE CAN DO IT REASONABLE COST.

>> WHAT IS YOUR ASSESSMENT OF RAIL PROJECT.

>> WHERE WE'RE AT.

I KNOW WHEN WE STARTED OUT, PROJECTIONS WERE CLOSER TO $6 BILLION RANGE AND WE'RE ALREADY AT MORE THAN TWICE THAT.

IT'S LIKE WHERE DO YOU DECIDE TO STOP THE BLEEDING?

I THINK WE'RE AT A POINT WHERE NEED COMPLETE IT AT LEAST TO ALA MOANA.

THROUGH THERE.

PRETTY MUCH THE SAME THOUGHT PROCESS THEREAFTER.

LOOK AT IT AND SEE IF IT MAKES SENSE TO STRETCH IT ANOTHER MILE IN EITHER DIRECTION.

>> YOU'RE OPEN TO DOING THAT.

>> OPEN TO DOING IT PENDING.

>> OKAY.

MICHAEL ASKING, HOW CAN YOU HELP THE POLICE DEPARTMENT WITH ALL THE VACANCIES GOING THROUGH?

STATISTICS SHOW CRIME IS DOWN.

HIGH PROFILE CRIMES SCARE ME.

TO MICHAEL'S POINT, ABOUT $400 OFFICERS SHORT.

CHIEF SAID THIS IS A PRIORITY.

BETWEEN ALL RETIREMENTS AND DIFFICULTY HE'S HAD RETAINING OFFICERS, RECRUITING NEW ONE, HE DOESN'T SEEM TO BE GAINING ANY GROUND.

WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS ABOUT THE SHORTAGE WE'RE FACING.

>> WITH ALL OF THOSE VACANCIES THAT WE'RE FACING, A LOT OF MONEY THAT IS NOT BEING USED.

SO I WOULD SAY FIND THAT, USE THAT MONEY TO FUND SOLUTIONS TO THE PROBLEM.

IT'S NOT GOING TO HAPPEN OVERNIGHT.

THIS SAY PROBLEM PROBABLY GOING TO TAKE MINIMUM OF COUPLE OF YEARS TO GET CAUGHT UP TALKING 400 OFFICERS.

I'M NOT SURE HOW MANY GO THROUGH ACADEMY AT ONE TIME.

I BELIEVE IT'S IN THE REALM OF 40 AT A TIME.

BEING ABLE TO RAMP UP NUMBER OF CLASSES WE HAVE CAN HELP.

OUTSIDE RECRUITING FROM OTHER STATES CAN POSSIBLY HELP.

AND THEN ALSO, MAYBE INVESTING IN DIFFERENT WAYS OF POLICING THAT MAY NOT INVOLVE ACTUALLY INVOLVING BODY WHETHER CAMERAS OR THINGS LIKE THAT.

THE MONEY IS THERE.

SOME OF MONEY IS THERE.

WHEN YOU NOT PAYING 400 PEOPLE.

>> WITH ARE THOUGHTS ON THAT?

ADDING TO THAT, HOW WOULD YOU HELP IMPROVE PUBLIC SAFETY IN HONOLULU?

WHAT DO WE DO ABOUT ALL THE VACANCIES AND HOW DO WE IMPROVE PUBLIC SAFETY.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

VACANCY IS NOT ONLY STRETCHING POLICE DEPARTMENT.

ALSO TALKING ABOUT DEPARTMENTS LIKE DPP, DEPARTMENT OF PLANNING AND PERMITTING, AS WELL AS OCEAN SAFETY.

PRETTY MUCH ALL THE DEPARTMENTS FACILITY I GOVERNMENT HAVE VACANCIES AT THIS POINT IN TIME.

YOU CAN'T RUN A CITY WITH A HUGE VACANCY RATE.

JUST LIKE YOU CAN'T RUN A BUSINESS WITHOUT EMPLOYEES.

WE NEED TO LOOK AT HOW MUCH WE'RE PAYING MUNICIPAL EMPLOYEES AND MAKE SURE THEY'RE BEING PAID A LIVING WAGE.

EVERY PERSON PUBLIC SERVANT IN OUR CITY GOVERNMENT SHOULD BE GETTING LIVING WAGE.

WE NEED TO MAKE SURE ESPECIALLY ENTRY LEVEL EMPLOYEES, NEW POLICE RECRUITS, LIFEGUARDS GETTING ENTRY PAID WAGE.

TOP TALENT IN THAT POSITION.

IMPROVING PUBLIC SAFETY, WE IMMEDIATE TO GET PEOPLE OFF THE STREETS WHICH MEANS NOT ONLY ADDRESSING AFFORDABLE HOUSING CRISIS, BUT ALSO, EXPANDING NUMBER OF BEDS AND DIVERSITY OF BEDS IN OUR HOUSING SHELTERS TO MAKE SURE THAT EVERY PERSON WHO IS UNHOUSED ON OAHU HAS A BED AVAILABLE.

>> ON THAT PUBLIC SAFETY POINT, IS THERE SOMETHING THAT WE CAN DO IN THE INTERIM AS WE RECRUIT NEW OFFICERS?

DONALD ASKING.

HOW WOULD YOU HELP TO IMPROVE PUBLIC SAFETY IN OUR CITY?

>> PART OF THAT IS DOING WHAT BRENDAN SAID.

GETTING PEOPLE OFF THE STREETS MAKING STREETS SAFER FOR EVERYBODY.

HOW IS THAT DONE?

TALKED ABOUT THE HOMELESS A LITTLE BIT ALREADY.

A LOT THAT WANT TO BE OUT ON THE STREETS.

THEY DON'T WANT HELP.

DON'T WANT TO LIVE IN A STRUCTURED SOCIETY.

WE NEED TO FIND SOLUTIONS PRIMARILY FOR THOSE.

>> ONES THAT DON'T WANT TO BE OUT THERE, THEY'RE THE ONES THAT ARE EASY TO HELP OR EASIER TO HELP.

DON'T WANT TO LIVE IN THE STRUCTURED SOCIETY, WE HAVE TO FIND DIFFERENT SOLUTIONS FOR THEM.

>> I WANT TO SAY CRIME IS A SYMPTOM OF LARGER PROBLEMS, THAT WE HAVE.

ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL INEQUITIES THAT WE HAVE IN HAWAII.

ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL ONLY TACKLE CRIME IF WE ENSURE PEOPLE DECENT WORK, MEANINGFUL CIVIC PARTICIPATION, AND AFFORDABLE HOUSING.

I UNDERSTAND THAT'S VERY FRUSTRATING FOR RESIDENTS TO FEEL UNCOMFORTABLE TO WALK AROUND AT NIGHT IN OUR URBAN CORE.

FRUSTRATING FOR ME, A PERSON GOES ON RUNS AT NIGHT TO SEE THAT AND FEEL THAT AS I'M GOING FROM EXERCISING.

THAT BEING SAID, WE NEED TO ZOOM OUT A LITTLE BIT FROM THE SYMPTOM OF THE PROBLEM TO TRULY ATTACK THE UNDERLYING ISSUE.

>>ER I WANT TO ASK YOU ABOUT THE STATE LEGISLATURE PASSED A LAW ALLOWS ADDITIONAL UNITS TO BUILT ON PROPERTIES EXPANDING TO IDEA OF BEING TO EXPAND AFFORDABLE HOUSING OR AT LEAST HAVE MORE UNITS AVAILABLE.

YOUR DISTRICT THIS OR THIS DISTRICT IS DENSE ALREADY.

WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS ABOUT THE LEGISLATURE ALLOWING ADDITIONAL DENSITY THIS LAST SESSION.

>> I'M NOT PRIVY TO ALL THE RULES AND REGULATIONS ABOUT WHAT WAS PASSED.

I DO KNOW I BELIEVE IT'S UP TO 2 ADDITIONAL DWELLINGS YOU CAN BUILD ON YOUR PROPERTY.

I ALSO KNOW THAT BECAUSE WHEREAS DENSE AS WE ARE, IN EVERYBODY WERE DO THAT, YOU'RE GOING TO RUN INTO PROBLEMS WITH PARKING ON THE STREETS.

RUN INTO PROBLEMS WITH INFRASTRUCTURE NOT BEING ABLE TO HANDLE CAPACITY.

THINGS LIKE THAT.

SO I WOULD SAY THAT I NEED TO LOOK AT MORE DETAILS OF BEHIND IT BEFORE I CAN MAKE ANY SORT OF LOGICAL DECISION WHETHER I SUPPORT OR NOT.

I DO SUPPORT THINGS THAT WILL GET PEOPLE OFF THE STREETS AND WILL KEEP MORE OF OUR CHILDREN HOME.

AND THIS COULD BE ONE OF THE ANSWERS.

>> WHAT YOUR THOUGHTS WHAT THE LEGISLATURE DID ADDING ABILITY TO BUILD MORE DWELLINGS ON EXISTING UNITS.

>> SO URBAN CORE OF HONOLULU WHICH THIS DISTRICT REPRESENTS MUCH OF, IS ONLY GOING TO GET MORE AND MORE DENSE AS OUR CITY EXPANDS.

IT'S MORE OF A QUESTION INSTEAD OF TRYING TO PREVENT THAT, HOW DID WE HANDLE THAT BEST WAY POSSIBLE.

CITY ALREADY VERY DENSE WITHIN THE URBAN CORE.

LOOK AT NEIGHBORHOODS LIKE MCCULLY AND MOILIILI, KAKAAKO, ALA MOANA, URBAN CORE IS NOT VERY WALKABLE OR BIKABLE.

SO WE TALK ABOUT INCREASING DENSITY, ONE OF THE BIGGEST COMPLAINTS THAT I HEAR CAMPAIGN TRAIL IS TRAFFIC.

HOW ARE WE GOING TO MANAGE MORE PEOPLE IN THIS ALREADY TIGHT NEIGHBORHOOD.

HOW ARE WE GOING TO DEAL WITH PARK INSTAGRAM WAYS TO MANAGE THAT MAKING IT MORE WALKABLE.

SO PEOPLE HAVE CARS IS AN OPTION BUT NOT 'REQUIREMENT.

INCREASE NUMBER OF BIKE LANES.

PEOPLE CAN SAFELY BIKE.

THROUGHOUT OUR CITY.

GOING TO GET MORE CARS OFF THE STREET.

ALL OF THESE PROBLEMS WE HAVE SOLUTIONS.

FORWARD THINKING UNFORTUNATELY.

IF WE LOOK TO THE PAST, HONOLULU CITY COUNCIL BEEN VERY REACTIVE.

FORWARD THINKING, BEING PRUDENT, WE CAN ENSURE THAT PROBLEMS THAT COME WITH GREATER DENSITY AND ALL OF THE ISSUES THAT WE FACE ARE ACCOUNTED FOR APPROPRIATELY.

>> I KNOW YOU'RE A SMALL BUSINESS OWNER.

WHAT DO YOU THINK CITY COUNCIL COULD DO TO MAKE SMALL BUSINESS SUPPORT SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS ESPECIALLY AT A TIME WHEN HIRING SHORTAGES, HIGH LABOR COSTS, NOT ENOUGH WORKERS.

HIGH RENTS.

>> ALL OF THE THINGS THAT BUSINESS OWNERS FACE.

IS THERE SOMETHING THAT CITY COUNCIL COULD DO TO HELP BUSINESS OWNERS LIKE YOURSELF.

>> REGULATIONS, RULES AN REGULATION THAT INVOLVE FEES, TAXES, INSURANCE.

SO ON AND SO FORTH.

FINDING WAYS TO REDUCE THOSE EXPENSES WOULD BE VERY HELPFUL TO THE SMALL BUSINESS.

AS AN EXAMPLE, INSURANCE FOR ME HAS GONE UP ABOUT 80% LAST YEAR TO THIS YEAR.

THAT'S WITH ZERO INCIDENCES OVER 8 YEARS OF RUNNING MY BUSINESS.

I'VE HAD ZERO CLAIMS OVER 8 YEARS.

BUT MY INSURANCE HAS GONE UP.

AND THAT WAS A BEST DEAL I COULD GET.

AT THAT TIME.

THAT'S JUST AN EXAMPLE OF FINDING WAYS TO HELP US REDUCE OUR EXPENSE AND THEN WHEN MINIMUM WAGE INCREASE COMES ALONG, WE'RE NOT AS AGAINST IT AS WE WOULD THIS LAST TIME.

BECAUSE ALSO, ELECTRICAL RATES WENT UP AND I'M PROBABLY PAYING ABOUT 50%, 40 TO 50% MORE THAN I DID JUST A COUPLE YEARS AGO.

SO THESE ARE ALL THINGS THAT ARE BURDENING ALL SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS AND THEN MANDATED MINIMUM WAGE INCREASES.

IT'S TOUGH.

IT'S TOUGH.

WE GOT TO RAISE OUR PRICES TO SURVIVE.

>> HOW DO WE BETTER SUPPORT SMALL BUSINESS AND WHAT CAN THE CITY COUNCIL DO SPECIFICALLY TO HELP BUSINESSES.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

SMALL BUSINESS CREATION SWELLS HOMEOWNERSHIP SERVED MOST EFFICIENT PATHWAY TO PEOPLE ENTER MIDDLE CLASS IN THE HISTORY OF COUNTRY AND HAWAII.

SO I VERY MUCH SUPPORT STREAMLINING REGULATION PROCESSES COUNTY LEVEL SO LOCALS CAN PARTICIPATE.

IN THE LOCAL ECONOMY.

RATHER THAN JUST BEING EMPLOYEES FOR OFF ISLAND MEGA CORPORATIONS THAT HAPPENED TO TOURISTS MARKET.

SO LOCALS CAN ACTUALLY START THEIR OWN SMALL BUSINESSES.

TO TAP INTO THIS MARKET.

WE NEED TO ADDRESS STAFFING SHORTAGES ACROSS ALL DEPARTMENTS IN ORDER TO DO THAT AND WE NEED TO MAKE NOR STREAMLINED PROCESS.

IMPORTANT REGULATIONS WE DO HAVE COUNTY LEVEL.

REGARDING HEALTH AND SAFETY.

BUT IF WE ARE GOING TO HAVE THOSE REGULATIONS AT LEAST BUSINESS OWNERS AND PEOPLE WANT TO START SMALL BUSINESSES ENTREPRENEURS, WE CAN PROVIDE VERY CLEAR PATHWAY HOW THEY CAN ACCOMPLISH MEETING THOSE REQUIREMENTS.

>> CITY COUNCIL WORKS IN TANDEM MAYOR'S OFFICE.

THOUGHTS ON CURRENT ADMINISTRATION AND HOW YOU WOULD WORK WITH MAYOR BLANGIARDI AND HIS TEAM.

>> VERY MUCH LIKE MAYOR BLANGIARDI.

DONE A GREAT JOB SORT OF WRITE WRITING SHIP AND SOLVING VERY PRAGMATIC SOLVING PROBLEMS STATE FACE.

ROLE SURROUNDS THE MAYOR'S OFFICE HAS RESOURCES TO ACCOMPLISH WHAT HE WANTS TO DO.

THROUGH HIS ADMINISTRATION WORKING RESOURCE SIDE, WHAT MORE DO WE NEED TO BRING INTO THE CITY AND WHAT REFORMS CAN WE MAKE FROM SORT OF LEGISLATIVE STANDPOINT, CITY LEVEL.

AS FAR AS HOW TO CHANGE REGULATIONS AND CHANGE ORDINANCES TO ACCOMPLISH WITH WHAT AT THE NEED TO ACCOMPLISH.

>> YOUR THOUGHTS ON THE CURRENT ADMINISTRATION AND HOW WOULD YOU WORK WITH THE MAYOR.

>> I LIKE THE MAYOR.

I LIKE THE JOB HE'S DONE UP TO NOW.

IS EVERYTHING PERFECT?

BY NO MEANS.

TOUGH JOB TO MANAGE SUCH A LARGE ORGANIZATION.

AND TO BRENDAN'S POINT, WHERE WE COME IN TO HELP HIM FIND WAYS TO MAKE THINGS BETTER ACROSS THE BOARD.

YOU MENTIONED HECO RATES AND WAHIAWA SAYS, HOW WOULD YOU DEAL WITH THE ELECTRIC COMPANIES GOING IN AND OUT AND CUTTING OFF POWER LIKE THE RECENT DOWNTOWN OUTAGES?

>> HOW HAWAII DEAL WITH THEM?

HOW WOULD I, CALL THEM UP GIVE THEM A PIECE OF MY MIND.

IS THAT GOING TO SOLVE THE PROBLEM?

PROBABLY NOT.

I WOULD LIKE TO THINK THAT WHAT THEY'RE DOING IS NECESSARY EVIL.

SO THAT IN GENERAL, EVERYBODY CAN STAY OPEN AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE.

THAT LINE THAT BURNED DOWNTOWN I THINK THAT SOME SORT OF COMPENSATION OBVIOUSLY NEEDS TO BE PUT IN PLACE FOR THE BUSINESS OWNERS THAT IT AFFECTED.

OTHER THAN THAT, THAT'S ABOUT WHAT I WOULD DO.

>> WHAT IS YOUR ANSWER TO ROBERT WAHIAWA, WOULD YOU DEAL WITH THE ELECTRIC COMPANIES GOING OUT AND CUTTING OFF POWER.

>> TALKED NOT ONLY ABOUT PARTNERSHIPS WITH THE MAYOR OFFICE.

BUT THIS OFFICE, CITY COUNCIL, ALSO REQUIRES PARTNERSHIPS WITH THE STATE LEGISLATURE.

MUCH MORE AUTHORITY OVER HECO THAN WE WOULD AS COUNCILMEMBERS.

SO WORKING WITH OUR STATE LEGISLATURES TO MAKE SURE WE CRAFT SOLUTIONS FOR OUR LOCAL CHALLENGES THAT FITS THE LOCAL COMMUNITY.

YOU MENTIONED BEFORE LOCAL OR RECENT LAW PASSED BY THE STATE LEGISLATURE MANDATING ADUs PLACED ON PROPERTIES, WASS THAT NECESSARILY MOST APPROPRIATE URBAN CORE IN HONOLULU?

I WOULD SAY NO UNFORTUNATELY, IT DIDN'T SEEM AS IF THERE WAS ADEQUATE COMMUNICATION BETWEEN CITY COUNCIL AND BETWEEN STATE LEGISLATURE ON THE NEEDS OF LOCAL COMMUNITY.

AND AS FAR AS BUILDING AFFORDABLE HOUSING, THERE COULD HAVE BEEN MORE WELL CRAFTED SOLUTIONS AT THE STATE LEVEL TO FIT THE NEEDS OF OUR COMMUNITY HERE IN DISTRICT 5.

MAKE SURE I KEEP OPEN LINES OF COMMUNITY CAKES BETWEEN MYSELF AND EVERYONE IN THE STATE LEGISLATURE.

TO SOLVE CHALLENGES LOCAL LEVEL.

>> KALIHI, YOU TALKED ABOUT AFFORDABLE HOUSING.

NUMBER OF TIMES.

>> SAYS HOW CAN THE HOMELESS TRANSITION TO RENTING OR EVEN BUYING A HOME THIS CURRENT COST OF LIVING?

>> CRISIS THAT WE NOW HAVE FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING WAS NOT CREATED OVERNIGHT.

UNFORTUNATELY, IT WILL NOT BE SOLVED OVERNIGHT.

SOMETHING THAT IS GOING TO TAKE DID YEARS IF NOT DECADES TO RIGHT.

TO ENSURE THAT RIGHT NOW, IN HAWAII, 50% OF OUR KIDS COLLEGE DEGREES MOVE TO THE MAINLAND IN SEARCH OF OPPORTUNITIES.

TO RIGHT THE WRONGS, WHETHER IT BE INCREASING HOMELESS COUNTS, OR MAKING SURE KIDS CAN GROW UP HERE SEE A FUTURE IN HAWAII, NOT SOMETHING THAT ANYONE WOULD BE ABLE TO SOLVE OVERNIGHT PROGRESSIVE POLICIES WILL TAKE YEARS IF NOT DECADES TO SOLVE.

THROUGH VARIOUS REFORMS CAN START TO CORRECT THE ERRORS OF PAST.

SO BUILDING MORE HOUSING, IS UNFORTUNATELY NOT UNFORTUNATELY.

IT'S MOST SIMPLE SOLUTION TO ADDRESSING THIS CRISIS.

THERE'S NO WAY OUT OF THE CURRENT EPIDEMIC OF HOMELESSNESS AND AFFORDABLE HOUSING ASIDE FROM BUILDING MORE HOUSING.

WE CAN DO THAT APPROPRIATELY IN THE URBAN CORE OF HONOLULU IN NEIGHBORHOODS LIKE KAKAAKO, ALA MOANA, MOILIILI, MAKIKI AND MCCULLY.

>> HOW CAN HOMELESS TRANSITION TO RENTING OR BUYING A HOME?

>> DIFFICULT.

PLAN IN PLACE OF WAYS TO PORTION SOME SORT OF HOUSING.

TO GET ALL OF THEM OFF THE STREETS IN A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME IS UNREALISTIC.

WE HAVE A LOT OF THINGS THAT WE HAVE TO CHANGE AND ADDRESS IN ORDER TO MAKE THAT HAPPEN.

TAKE TIME, COUPLE PLANS IN PLACE THAT WE CAN USE AS A BASE TO START ADMINISTERING CHANGE TO EFFECT THAT.

>> ALMOST OUT OF TIME.

ONE QUICK QUESTION.

MOVE TO ALLOW SMALL TYPE OF FIREWORKS LIKE SPARKLERS.

>> COUNCILMEMBER SAY SAID HIS IDEA.

DO YOU THINK THIS IS A GOOD IDEA, GOING TO HAPPEN?

>>WE'VE SEEN IT.

I THINK IT WOULDN'T BE INAPPROPRIATE TO ALLOW SOME SORT OF FIREWORKS LEGALLY TO BE USED IN OUR CITY AND COUNTY.

TAX APPROPRIATELY.

PRODUCED APPROPRIATELY.

AND FUNDS FROM THE TAXES GO DIRECTLY PRIMARILY TO FIRE DEPARTMENT POLICE DEPARTMENT AND OTHER SERVICE.

>> WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS ON THIS?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

LAST YEAR, CELEBRATING NEW YEAR'S AT ONE OF MY FRIEND'S HOUSE.

LOOKING OUT AT EWA, FIREWORKS GALORE.

MOST I'VE EVER SEEN IN MY ENTIRE LIFE.

CLEARLY WHAT WE'RE DOING NOW ISN'T WORKING, REGULATIONS ARE CONCERNED.

WHAT I SUPPORT MORE WELL REGULATED USE OF FIREWORKS IN ORDER TO CLAMP DOWN MANY OF THE ISSUES THAT WE'VE HAD WITH FIREWORKS USE IN THE PAST?

YES BECAUSE OUTRIGHT PROHIBITION DOESN'T SEEM TO BE WORKING FOR ANYONE INVOLVED.

>> JUST ABOUT OUT OF TIME.

I WANT TO GIVE EACH YOU OPPORTUNITY TO FOR FINAL THOUGHT.

START WITH YOU.

>> MY THOUGHT IS THAT EVERYBODY GET OUT THERE AND VOTE.

IDEALLY, VOTE FOR SOMEBODY NEW AND DIFFERENT, I'M NOT JUST SAYING ABOUT ME AND BRENDAN.

NEW AN DIFFERENT TO SHAKES THING UP IN GOVERNMENT.

>> AND YOU, SIR, FINAL THOUGHT TONIGHT.

>> I'M NOT ONLY THE ONLY CANDIDATE IN THIS RACE PLEDGED NOT TO ACCEPT FULL CITY COUNCIL SALARY INCREASE.

>> I'M ALSO ONLY CANDIDATE WHO HAS ALL THE POLICIES THAT I SUPPORT LISTED ON MY WEBSITE.

TONIGHT IN THIS CONVERSATION, I PROPOSED QUITE A FEW CHANGES TO HOW WE WOULD RUN CITY GOVERNMENT.

I UNDERSTAND HOW THAT CAN MAKE SOME PEOPLE APPREHENSIVE.

I INVITE ALL THE VIEWERS TO PLEASE GO BRENDAN SCHULTZ.COM.

PHONE NUMBER AND HE EMAIL UP THERE.

GIVE ME CALL.

HAPPY TO DISCUSS THE CHANGES I WANT TO INCORPORATE IN HONOLULU.

>> THANK YOU BOTH FOR BEING HERE TONIGHT.

WE WOULD LIKE TO THANK OUR GUESTS, CANDIDATES FOR HONOLULU CITY COUNCIL DISTRICT 5: WILLIAM MUNENO AND BRENDAN SCHULTZ.

AS WE GET READY FOR OUR NEXT SEGMENT WITH THE DEMOCRATIC CANDIDATES FOR HOUSE DISTRICT 14 HERE IS A STORY FROM THE STUDENT JOURNALISTS AT LAHAINA INTERMEDIATE ABOUT WHAT THEIR SCHOOL IS DOING TO REDUCE WASTE ON CAMPUS.

>> I THINK REALLY GOOD, I THINK REALLY HELPS ENVIRONMENT A LOT.

PROBABLY LESS MONEY FOR THE SCHOOL.

>> 80s, SCHOOLS DID AWAY WITH WASHING TRAYS AND UTENSILS, SWITCHED ONE TIME USE PRODUCTS.

THROW IN THE TRASH.

END UP IN THE LANDFILL.

FIRST PUBLIC SCHOOL IN HAWAII PILOT ZERO WASTE PROGRAM IN THE CAFETERIA.

DISHWASHER MAKE THE SWITCH BACK TO REUSABLE PLASTIC TRAYS AND UTENSILS.

THINK ABOUT IT.

OVER 600 KIDS AT OUR SCHOOL.

THAT MEANS 600 FORKS AND 600 TRAYS SENT TO THE LANDFILL EVERY SINGLE DAY.

MULTIPLY FIVE DAYS OF WEEK.

3,250.

APPROXIMATELY 13,000 FORKS AND 13,000 TRAYS PER MONTH.

THIS IS ONLY FOR LUNCH.

FOOD, BREAKFAST AND SECOND MEALS, THAT NUMBER GETS HIGHER.

WE'RE JUST ONE SCHOOL OUT OF 295 SCHOOLS IN HAWAII.

THAT IS A LOT OF PLASTIC WASTE.

>> YES, I BELIEVE IT'S REALLY GOOD CHANGE THAT WE WENT FROM THE DISPOSABLES TO THE PLASTIC.

I THINK IT'S GREAT FOR THE ENVIRONMENT.

>> MORE WORK FOR US.

TAKES ALMOST TWO TO FOUR PEOPLE TO RUN THE DISHWASHER MACHINE.

BECAUSE OF THE DRYING AND CLEANING.

BECAUSE IT'S PILOT PROGRAM, WE WERE WILLING TO START IT AND SEE HOW IT GOES.

>> I ACTUALLY LIKE IT.

IT DOES TAKE WORK.

BUT I THINK IT'S GOOD WAY OF MOVING FORWARD.

LAHAINA INTERMEDIATE FIRST ONE IN STATE LIMITING OUR LANDFILLS.

SO I THINK IT'S GOOD PROGRAM.

>> THIS NEW PROGRAM TAKE SOME GETTING USED TO.

PRIOR TO THIS THE SWITCH MANY OTHER SCHOOLS IS HAD A SHORTAGE OF SUBSTITUTES.

LED TO HAVING MULTIPLE CLASSES IN THE CAF DURING THE SCHOOL DAY.

WITH NEW LUNCH SYSTEM, CAFETERIA TO ENSURE THAT TRAYS AND UTENSILS GET RETURNED AND WASHED IN TIME FOR SECOND LUNCH PERIOD.

TEACHING SIMULTANEOUS.

NEW LUNCH TRAYS, EAT INSIDE.

OUTSIDE, CLASSES IN THERE.

EVERYBODY EATING LUNCH, IT'S JUST REALLY LOUD AND PEOPLE EATING ARE TALKING SO THE KIDS THAT ARE SUPPOSED TO BE LEARNING, IT'S NOT A GOOD LEARNING ENVIRONMENT FOR THEM.

>> ALL CHANGE FOR THE STUDENTS, MANY FEEL THAT THE BENEFITS OUTWEIGH THE INCONVENIENCES.

>> LET THE CLASS WITH TRAYS ALWAYS REUSE THEM AND WASH THEM.

I BELIEVE VERY NICE BECAUSE THE TRAYS BEFORE WERE VERY FLIMSY AND BROKE EASIER.

FORKS AND PLASTIC FORKS ALSO BROKE.

I LIKE THE NEW METAL FORKS BETTER.

I BELIEVE IT'S REALLY BETTER FOR THE ENVIRONMENT AND ALSO SCHOOL, SO I BELIEVE IT'S ALL AROUND WAY BETTER THAN THE OTHER TRAYS FROM LAHAINA INTERMEDIATE SCHOOL FOR HIKI NO, PBS HAWAII.

>> WELCOME BACK TO INSIGHTS ON PBS HAWAII.

FOCUS ON WEST MAUI DEMOCRATIC CANDIDATES.

STATE HOUSE DISTICT 14 INCLUDES MAUI KAHAKULOA, WAIHEE, LAHAINA, HONOKAHUA.

LET’S MEET OUR GUESTS: REPRESENTATIVE ELLE COCHRAN CURRENTLY REPRESENTS DISTRICT 14.

SHE PREVIOUSLY SERVED ON THE MAUI COUNTY COUNCIL FROM 2011 TO 2018.

BORN IN WAILUKU, SHE HAS LIVED IN LAHAINA HER ENTIRE LIFE.

SHE IS THE FOUNDER OF THE SAVE HONOLUA COALITION AND WAS A MEMBER OF THE NATIONAL OCEAN COUNCIL.

KANAMU BALINBIN IS THE OWNER AND CHEF AT NALU GRINDZ.

HE WAS BORN AND RAISED IN WEST MAUI.

HE GRADUATED FROM LAHAINALUNA HIGH SCHOOL AND SERVED IN THE US ARMY RESERVE FROM 1986 TO 1992.

THANK YOU BOTH FOR BEING HERE.

REPRESENTATIVE I WANT TO START WITH YOU.

DO YOU FEEL THE LEGISLATURE DID ENOUGH IN THE LAST SESSIONS SUPPORT YOUR COMMUNITY GIVEN VAST CHALLENGES IT IS FACING?

>> I'M OPEN, I'M GOING TO SAY THAT.

THERE IS GOVERNOR WILL VETO SOME THINGS AND I GUESS THE PROMISE THAT TO LAHAINA AND OUR COMMUNITY AFTER THE FIRES IS THE MONEYS ARE COMING AND FLEXIBILITY OF THE USE WILL STILL BENEFIT US.

SO WE HAVEN'T LOST PER SE.

IN THE DOLLAR AMOUNTS THAT HE VETOED OUT IN SB3068.

SO THAT'S YET TO BE SEEN.

SO YES, I'M PRAYING AND HOPING THAT THE PROMISES DO GET FULFILLED THAT'S FUNDS COME BACK TO US.

>> HOW DO YOU FEEL HOW THE LEGISLATURE DID THIS SESSION WHEN IT COMES TO OUR COMMUNITY.

>> >> WITH THE STATE OF LAHAINA AND TRAGIC WILDFIRE, I WOULD SENSE DIFFICULT TIME WITH THIS SESSION AND TRY TO GET THE PROPER FUNDS TO THE RIGHT PEOPLE.

I BELIEVE ELLE DID THE BEST SHE CAN, STILL BELIEVE THAT WITH WE'VE BEEN HEARING NEED MORE SUPPORT FROM OTHER MAUI STATE AND SENATE REPRESENTATIVES TO HELP US IN THAT FIGHT.

SO PROPS TO ELLE WHAT SHE DID FOR THE LAST SESSION.

>> GIVEN HOW POSITIVE YOU ARE GIVING HER PROPS AND WHATNOT, WHAT COMPELLED YOU TO JUMP IN THAT RACE.

>> I'VE ALWAYS BEEN PROBLEM SOLVER.

BEEN ABLE TO GATHER PEOPLE TOGETHER, CREATE ADVICE TO SOLVE PROBLEMS OUTSIDE OF THE BOX.

SHOWN THAT AS A COMMUNITY, SINCE THE FIRES THAT A LOT OF SMART PEOPLE IN OUR COMMUNITY.

A LOT OF CAREING INDIVIDUALS.

ALWAYS BEEN LIKE THAT.

CLOSE KNIT TOWN.

I KNOW ELLE SINCE SMALL KID.

KNOW HER FAMILY.

SHOWED IN THIS TRAGEDY, ALL COME TOGETHER.

IN A SENSE TO LOOK FOR THAT COMMON GOAL, RIGHT NOW, MANY SO OF THE NEEDS ARE SIMPLE AS HAVING A HOT MEAL WITH OTHER PEOPLE IN THE PROCESS OF BUILDING GETTING THROUGH THAT PERMITTING PROCESS TROUBLING A LOT OF PEOPLE RIGHT NOW.

>> WHAT MAKES YOU WANT TO STAY ON.

>> I HAVE A LOT MORE WORK TO DO.

I FEEL LIKE WITH MY EXPERIENCE FROM THE COUNTY COUNCIL, RELATIONSHIPS I BUILT, WITHIN THE COUNTY AND CURRENTLY, WITHIN THE STATE, THERE'S A LOT MORE TO DO AND I FEEL LIKE I LEARNED A WHOLE LOT.

>> GATHERED WAY MORE EXPERIENCE AND HAVE GREAT STRATEGIES THIS COMING SESSION TO ACCOMPLISH MORE THAN I HAVE.

AND JUST CARRYING THROUGH THINGS SO I HAVE A DIFFERENT APPROACH THAT I'M GOING TO ATTEMPT THIS SESSION WHICH I FEEL WILL MAKE A BIG DIFFERENCE.

>> INTERESTED BECAUSE YOU HAVE WORKED COUNCIL LEVEL AT THE COUNTY LEVEL.

WHEN WE THINK ABOUT REBUILDING LAHAINA.

WE NEED INFRASTRUCTURE.

HOW DO YOU NAVIGATE WHO IS RESPONSIBILITY FIRST AND FOREMOST THAT S COUNTY OR THE STATE, HOW DO YOU MAKE SURE THOSE TWO ENTITIES ARE WORKING TOGETHER SUCCESSFULLY AND WHAT ARE YOUR MAJOR CONCERNS ABOUT GETTING THAT INFRASTRUCTURE IN PLACE?

>> SO THANK YOU FOR THAT.

AND INFRASTRUCTURE IS NEAR AND DEAR.

CHAIRED INFRASTRUCTURE COMMITTEE FOR 8 YEARS AS A COUNTY COUNCILMEMBER.

SO I VERY HAVE INTIMATE KNOWLEDGE ABOUT IT AND HAVE BEEN IN TOUCH AGAIN WITH THOSE RELATIONSHIPS WITH THE COUNTY AND ASKING WHERE, WHAT THE STATUS OF THINGS ARE.

THINGS ARE MOVING ALONG.

VERY HAPPY ABOUT THAT.

AND THE FUNDING OBVIOUSLY WILL COME FROM BOTH SIDE.

STATE LEVEL, COUNTY LEVEL, AND THAT COLLABORATION HAS TO HAPPEN.

ALSO, PRIVATE.

PRIVATE DONORS AND PRIVATE PEOPLE WANT TO ASSIST WHETHER IT'S EXTENSION OF LAHAINA BYPASS.

CRITICAL.

R1 WATER SYSTEM, WASTED RESOURCE.

SAID IT BEFORE I EVEN GOT ON THE COUNCIL.

>> WE NEED TO UTILIZE THAT.

HAD DISCUSSIONS WITH TWO PRIVATE WATER PURVEYORS AND TO OFFSET IN STREAM FLOWS AND WELLS, WE NEED TO UTILIZE THIS WASTED RESOURCE.

THEY'RE OPEN TO GIVING EASEMENTS, HELPING WITH INFRASTRUCTURE.

SO AGAIN, COLLABORATION BETWEEN PUBLIC AND PRIVATE PARTNERSHIPS.

>> WHAT ARE YOUR CONCERNS ABOUT INFRASTRUCTURE AND HOW THE COMMUNITY MOVES FORWARD BECAUSE BEFORE, WE DO ANYTHING, BEFORE ANYTHING CAN HAPPEN THERE, THOSE ARE THE YOU NEED THOSE FIRST.

>> >> INFRASTRUCTURE ALWAYS BEEN BIG TOPIC DURING ALWAYS DOING CAMPAIGN TIME.

KIND OF GOES BACK, EVERYTHING DEPENDS ON INFRASTRUCTURE.

WITH THE PRIVATE AND PUBLIC STATE, STATE PROJECTS, WE FOUND THAT WORKING TOGETHER WITH EACH OTHER, SINCE THE FIRE, BEEN ABLE TO WORK WITH ANGUS CERTAIN ISSUES.

STATE SENATOR.

BEEN ABLE TO GROUP OF PEOPLE AT OUR DONATION HUBS WHERE WE HELP PEOPLE EVERY DAY.

SO WE HEAR THE PROBLEMS THEY FACE EVERY DAY.

RELY THAT STATE AND COUNTY OFFICIALS, SOME PRIVATE FUNDING.

ALSO HAVE PROJECT IN THE WORKS THAT HAS EVERYTHING EXCEPT STILL WAITING FOR WORD FROM THE COUNTY AND STATE INFRASTRUCTURE AVAILABLE.

SO WE HAVE SOMEONE BOUGHT A PRIVATE PIECE OF LAND, WANTS TO HELP THE PEOPLE OF LAHAINA, ENGINEER, ARCHITECTS ALL READY TO SET.

STILL WAITING FOR WORD FROM THE COUNTY AND THE STATE ON WHAT NEEDS TO BE DONE FOR INFRASTRUCTURE.

>> QUESTION, LOVE FOR BOTH OF YOU TO ANSWER.

SHOULD LAHAINA BE REBUILT AS IT WAS, IS THAT EVEN POSSIBLE WITH NEW SHORELINE RULES OR SHOULD BE NEW VISION FOR THE FUTURE?

CONVERSATION WE COULD DO MANY, MANY SHOWS ON THIS.

BUT GIVEN HOW CLOSE THE WATER WAS RIGHT UP TO THE BUSINESSES, AND SOME OF THE HOUSES THERE, SHOULD THAT CONTINUE THAT WAY, THERE HAVE BEEN TALKS ABOUT SWAPPING SOME OF THAT LAND AND MOVING SETBACK.

WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS?

>> GENERAL CONSENSUS FROM FOR MOST PEOPLE IN LAHAINA WANT TO BUILD BACK EXACTLY AS IT WAS.

AS OF MEETINGS WE HAVE GONE TO SO FAR, SOME OF THAT IS NOT FEASIBLE BECAUSE OF THE WATER LEVEL RISE AND EROSION.

LOOKS LIKE THINGS GOING TO BE HAVE TO MOVE BACK.

WE'RE IN THE EARLY PROCESS OF PLANNING AND GETTING EVERYBODY INPUT.

THAT'S THE ONE THING I LIKE.

HAVING COMMUNITY'S INPUT.

THAT'S WHAT WE'VE SHOWN AS A COMMUNITY.

WE STAND TOGETHER AS A COMMUNITY.

IT'S SAD ON ONE POINT THAT ALL THE BUILDINGS ARE GONE.

BUT IT'S LITTLE EXCITING FOR SOME OF US OF THE YOUNGER OLDER GENERATION TO SEE MODERN TECHNOLOGIES BUILDING SAME DESIGN.

THAT'S KIND OF THE WORKS THAT PEOPLE WANT TO SEE.

HAVE THE SAME TYPE OF OLD SCHOOL FRONT STREET AURA AND MYSTIQUE, WITH MODERN MATERIALS.

SO LOOKING FORWARD TO THAT PROCESS.

WHEN COMES UP.

>> WHAT DO YOU SAY.

SHOULD LAHAINA BE REBUILT AS IT WAS?

>> I WOULD THINK INCH BY INCH EXACTLY THE SAME, I THINK WHAT HE WAS ALLUDING TO IN THE SENSE REBUILD, I WANT TO BE ROLE MODEL FOR THE REST OF THIS WORLD HOW TO REBUILD SMARTLY.

HOW TO INCORPORATE RENEWABLE ENERGIES.

BE SELF SUFFICIENT AND REDUNDANCY FOR UTILITIES, WATER.

>> BACK UP SO THINGS, WHEN HAZARD OCCUR, WE HAVE THAT BACKUP TO KEEP OUR COMMUNICATIONS UP AND GOING.

>> WATER LINES STILL FLOWING FOR FIRE PROTECTION.

WHAT HAVE YOU.

RIGHT NOW, THE COUNTY, WE NEED TO GET THE ANSWER FROM THE COUNTY ABOUT SETBACKS.

COUNTY GET ON BOARD AND TELLS US WHAT THE SMA RULES ARE.

THAT IS HOLDING EVERYTHING BACK RIGHT NOW.

PERMITING PROCESS.

I KNOW THEY HIRED THIRD PARTY COMPANY FOR DOING BEST THEY CAN.

BY AT THE END OF THE DAY, THE BROADER MIND, TWO BIGGEST GLARING QUESTIONS ARE STILL STANDING YEAR LATER COMING UP AUGUST 8, FOR SETBACKS AND SMA RULES BECAUSE ALL OF LAHAINA IS THE ZONE AND WE HAVE HISTORIC DISTRICTS, SO THERE IS BUILDINGS, FACADE OF THE CULTURAL PARTS I WOULD LOVE TO SEE.

I WOULD LOVE TO SEE MOM AND POPS BACK.

FAMILY HAD COCONUT GROVE.

MY MOM HAD MOKI'S INN.

FAMILY BAKERIES.

WHAT I WANT TO SEE COME BACK.

AND KNOWING THAT OWNERS OF THE LANDS DIRECTLY ON THE WATER, THEY'RE SITTING, WONDERING TOO, WHAT IS GOING TO HAPPEN WITH PROPERTIES CAN THEY REBUILD?

DO THEY WANT TO REBUILD?

COUNTY OR SOMEONE GOING TO PURCHASE THEIR LANDS?

SETBACKS HAVE TO THINK ABOUT THAT.

LAHAINA RIGHT IN THAT SETBACK.

ASKING ME, DO WE REBUILD?

CAN WE?

THAT TEMPLE IS BEAUTIFUL.

I WOULD LOVE TO HAVE BACK ON THE OCEAN LIKE IT WAS.

BUT AGAIN, WE NEED ANSWERS FROM THE COUNTY NOW.

WE NEEDED IT.

>> RICHARD ASKS, IS IT THE LEGISLATURE TRANSPARENT ENOUGH.

DO RESIDENTS REALLY KNOW WHAT LAWMAKERS ARE DOING?

HOW WOULD YOU IMPROVE THE SYSTEM.

>> NO.

SO EVERYONE I WORKED WITH THE STATE LEDGE KNOWS THAT I DON'T REALLY CARE FOR THE PROCESS BECAUSE THERE'S NO SUNSHINE LAW.

I WORK UNDER SUNSHINE FOR 8 YEARS COUNTY COUNCILMEMBER.

SO EVERY DECISION THAT YOU MAKE IS OUT IN THE OPEN.

IT'S ON VIDEO.

OF COURSE IS TRANSPARENT AND EVERYONE CAN SEE WHO MADE WHAT, NO WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION SAID WHAT.

BUT STATE LEVEL IT'S NOT SO.

AND THAT BOTHERS ME.

I'VE SAID THAT FROM DAY ONE WHEN I STEPPED FOOT IN THE CAPITAL.

AND SO IT NEEDS TO BE MORE OPEN AND TRANSPARENT.

AND I REALLY FEEL LIKE IT LEAVES THE VOICE OF THE PEOPLE OUT.

DECISION HAS BEEN MADE.

YOU CAN TESTIFY, SEND IN TESTIMONY, SHOW UP FOR TESTIMONY, IF YOU EVEN REALIZE THERE'S A MEETING COMING UP, BECAUSE THEY HAVE 48 HOUR NOTICE, VERSUS SUNSHINE GIVES YOU SIX DAYS.

AT LEAST PEOPLE CAN PREPARE AND LEARN ABOUT THE ISSUES AND PREPARE TESTIMONY GET INVOLVED.

SO PROCESS AT THE STATE IS WAY TOO FAST.

WE ONLY WORK 60 WORKS DAYS.

VET THROUGH THOUSAND HUNDREDS OF BILLS.

TO ME, PROCESS IN ITSELF LEAVES OUT THE VOICE OF THE PEOPLE AND IT'S TIMING FOR PEOPLE TO ACTUALLY PARTICIPATE AND BE INVOLVED.

>> WHAT DO YOU SAY TO RICHARD?

DO YOU AGREE WITH COUNCILMEMBER, OR REPRESENTATIVE, IS THE LEGISLATURE PERHAPS NOT TRANSPARENT ENOUGH OR DO YOU THINK IT IS?

>> TRANSPARENT ENOUGH.

>> I'VE HEARD BOTH SIDES OF THE STORY, RIGHT NOW, LAHAINA DISTRICT NEEDS TRANSPARENCY.

WE NEED TO KNOW WHERE THE MONEY IS GOING.

WHO HELPING US.

WHO IS NOT WHO IS LISTENING TO THE VOICE OF OUR DISTRICT?

IF I'M ELECTED SURELY WOULD LET MY CONSTITUENTS KNOW WHAT IS GOING ON EVERY MOMENT AT EVERY TIME WITH BILLS THAT ARE CONCERNING OUR DISTRICT AFFECT OUR DISTRICT.

IN LAHAINA, WE FEEL THAT A LOT OF FEEL WE'RE ALL THESE YEARS, MADE SO MUCH MONEY FOR THE STATE BUT YET WE'RE LACKING SO MUCH NECESSITIES ON OUR SIDE OF OUR ISLAND.

LOCAL PEOPLE, A LOT OF US HAVE TO SHOP COSTCO STORES, ON OUR SIDE SO EXPENSIVE.

NEED MORE HELP.

WE SHOULD GET FUNDING FOR OUR SCHOOLS, ROADS, INFRASTRUCTURE.

>> FROM PAULA.

SAYS, LAHAINA ECONOMY KA'ANAPALI SEEMS DEPENDENT ON TOURISM.

WE HAVE A CHANCE TO CHANGE THAT DEPENDENCE TO PROVIDE SOMETHING OTHER THAN SERVICE INDUSTRY FUTURE FOR THE NEXT GENERATION.

WHERE DO EACH OF YOU STAND ON THIS IDEA?

>> CATCH 22.

A LOT OF US WORK IN THE TOURISM INDUSTRY.

I WAS RAISE IN THE TOURISM INDUSTRY.

PARENTS WORKED IN THE TOURISM INDUSTRY.

A LOT OF MY FRIENDS WORK IN THE TOURISM INDUSTRY.

I THINK TOURISM INDUSTRY CAN GO TO DIFFERENT SIDE.

ECOTOURISM.

MORE REBUILD LAHAINA.

LIKE TO SEE MORE CULTURAL PRACTICE.

GET LOCAL ULA BACK.

PONDS WATER FREE FLOWING INTO OUR RIVERS.

MAKE LAHAINA MORE OF CULTURAL PLAYGROUND INSTEAD TOURIST TRAP.

TOURISTS ENTITY GET THE MOM AND POPS BACK.

LOCAL PEOPLE BACK.

CRUISING STREETS AND WALKING STREETS AND GOING TO THE OUTLETS.

THAT IS WHEN WE WERE GROWING UP.

I THINK THAT IS ONE OF THE ASPECT THAT IS PEOPLE ARE LOOKING INTO.

>> WHAT DO YOU SAY TO PAULA ABOUT LAHAINA ECONOMY AND KA'ANAPALI AS WELL TOO DEPENDENT ON TOURISM?

DO WE HAVE A CHANCE TO CHANGE THAT.

>> I ALWAYS THOUGHT WE HAD THAT MOMENT DURING COVID.

SHUT EVERYTHING DOWN.

STOPPED FLOW OF TOURISM.

THEY'VE WE JUST OPENED FLOOD GATES LET IT ALL BACK IN AGAIN.

AT THAT TIME I THOUGHT THAT WAS OUR OPPORTUNITY TO START DIVERSIFY THE ECONOMY.

ALL SAY IT.

ALL OF US RUN FOR OFFICE.

EVERY TIME.

THEN WHAT HAPPENS AT THE END OF THE DAY?

GO BACK TO OUR TOURISM INDUSTRY.

WHICH SERVES PURPOSE.

>> DON'T GET ME WRONG.

I WORKED IT FOR 33 YEARS MYSELF.

SO PAYS THE BILLS AND ALL OF THAT.

BUT UNFORTUNATELY, THAT IS ALL IT THERE IS PLANTATION, EVERYBODY GOT WORK INTO THE HOTEL INDUSTRY.

RIGHT NOW, TALK ABOUT AGRICULTURE, TALK ABOUT RENEWABLE ENERGY, HEMP AND BIODIESEL AND FOOD SECURITY, AND ALL OF THAT, AND ARKANSAS I WOULD LOVE TO HAVE THE 33 FREE FLOWING STREAMS WEST MAUI ONCE UPON A TIME HAD.

THAT REALITY WITH CLIMATE CHANGE AND JUST USE OF HOW WATER SYSTEM IS NOW, THAT IS REALLY TALL ORDER TO MAKE HAPPEN.

BUT WITH THAT, WE COULD, I ALWAYS HAVE THIS DREAM THERE WAS A POI FACTORY IN LAHAINA FRONT STREET UP ON THE MOUNTAIN SIDE, MAUKA.

HAVE THE FREE FLOWING STREAMS AND LOIs VISITORS CAN HARVEST.

GO DOWN, LOCALS ALIKE, YOUTH, KUPUNA, WHOEVER, AND THEN GET LEPO.

GO PICK YOUR DOWN TO THE POI FACTORY DOWN IN LAHAINA.

SHUTTLE DOWN THERE.

DON'T DRIVE IN.

YOU GET SHUTTLED.

AND LEARN ABOUT KALO.

SO INTEGRAL TO OUR HISTORY OF HAWAIIAN AND JUST THE CAPITAL OF THE HAWAIIAN KINGDOM IS LAHAINA.

SO TO ME, THAT IS MY VISION AND DREAM I HAD.

ACTUALLY DRIVING TO THE TARO FIELDS ONE YEAR.

KIND OF IDEA.

YOU HAVE THINGS UP THERE.

REMINDS ME FISHERMAN'S WAR OF SAN FRANCISCO.

LAVENDER FIELD.

BUY IT AT THE WATERFRONT.

EAT THE FOODS AND GROWN IN THE HILLSIDES.

TO ME, THAT'S WHAT I WANT TO SEE.

>> I WANT TO ASK YOU THIS QUESTION FROM ANGELA.

DIFFERENT NOAH SAYS, COUNCILMEMBERS HAVE TERM LIMITS.

>> MAYORS HAVE TERM LIMITS.

GOVERNORS HAVE TERM LIMITS.

SHOULD STATE LAWMAKERS HAVE TERM LIMITS?

>> YES.

>> YEAH.

FOR TERM LIMITS, JUST THINK GET IN THERE, AND MAKE USE OF EVERY SECOND YOU'RE THERE.

SHOULDN'T BE A GIVEN.

YOU'RE GOING TO COME BACK.

I NEVER TAKE IT FOR GRANTED.

VOTERS PUT ME IN THIS POSITION GIVE ME THIS JOB.

GRATEFUL AND THANKFUL.

I DON'T TAKE IT FOR GRANTED I'LL COME BACK.

MAKE USE OF EVERY SECOND THAT I'M THERE AND WORK AS HARD AS I CAN FROM THE TIME THAT I'M THERE.

SO BOTHERS MY MIND A LOT OF PEOPLE TALK ABOUT THEY'RE COMING BACK ALREADY.

HOW DO YOU KNOW THAT?

AND HOW I KNOW WHAT I SEE AND TWO YEARS, THAT I'VE SEEN, IF YOU FOLLOW THE MONEY, IF YOU FOLLOW HOW MUCH FUNDS GO INTO CERTAIN DISTRICTS, WHEN THOSE PEOPLE GO BACK TO THEIR DISTRICTS AND GOT PERFECT STREETS AND SCHOOLS THAT ARE TOTALLY BUFFED OUT AND STUFF.

RESPECTED DISTRICTS' CONSTITUENTS WILL NEVER VOTE THAT PERSON OUT.

YOU KNOW, I'LL JUST SAY CERTAIN PART OF OUR ISLAND GOT $41 MILLION FOR SCHOOLS.

THAT SAME YEAR LAHAINA GOT $87,000.

THAT IS NOT EQUITABLE.

BUT THAT DISTRICT WILL NEVER VOTE THAT PERSON OUT.

BECAUSE HEY, THEY'RE BRINGING HOME THE BACON.

HOW FAIR IS THAT TO US, LAHAINA, WE HAVE BEEN THE BREAD WINNERS FOR NOT JUST COUNTY BUT YES FOR THE STATE.

LIKE THIRD REVENUE GENERATOR FOR THE ENTIRE STATE.

NOW SO THE FASTER WE GET LAHAINA BACK.

MORE THAT, WE CAN GET MONEY BACK INTO OUR ECONOMY.

BUT YEAH, I AM FOR TERM LIMITS.

>> YOUR THOUGHTS?

SHOULD LAWMAKERS BE SUBJECT TO TERM LIMITS.

>> I THINK ALL SHOULD HAVE TERM LIMITS.

SPEAKING TO THAT IS HOW BREAK CORRUPTION.

LONGER YOU'RE IN THERE, MORE PEOPLE, MORE PEOPLE YOU KNOW.

START SCRATCHING EVERYBODY'S BACK AND SHOWN AS OUR STATE AND COUNTY GOVERNMENT HAVE BEEN KNOWN TO DO A LOT OF BAD THINGS.

A LOT OF THEM ON OLD TIMERS.

WE NEED TO A LOT OF FRESH VOICES OUT THERE.

RIGHT NOW, URGING YOUNG COMMUNITY PEOPLE JUST GRADUATED, GOING TO COLLEGE RIGHT NOW, TO PLEASE GET INVOLVED.

GET INVOLVED IN THE ISSUES.

WE NEED TO HAVE MORE OF OUR YOUNG LOCAL PEOPLE VOTING IN GENERAL.

EVERYBODY NEEDS TO VOTE.

THAT'S THE ONE THING THAT IS LACKING, WE ARE LACKING AS COUNTY AS A STATE, SO I URGE PEOPLE TO PLEASE GO REGISTER TO VOTE.

>> OSCAR SAYS, TALK OF MAKING HAWAII MORE SELF SUFFICIENT IN TERMED FOODS WE EAT.

NOTHING SEEMS TO CHANGE.

WHERE DO WE START AND WHEN?

>> I THINK WE'RE DOING PRETTY GOOD ON MAUI.

MAHIPONO.

A LOT OF FARMERS INDUSTRIES WITH OUR DONATION HUB, THAT WE RUN IN KAHANA.

GET MASSIVE AMOUNT OF VEGETABLES, A LOT OF FARMERS.

>> EGGPLANT, FILIPINO VEGETABLES.

THINK PEOPLE SHOULD COME AND TAKE A LOOK WHAT WE'RE DOING ON MAUI.

A LOT OF PRIVATE FARMERS, A LOT OF PRIVATE FARMERS JUST GIVING FROM THEIR HEART TO PEOPLE IN NEED.

THAT'S HOW WE ARE ON MAUI.

>> WHAT DO YOU SAY AT THAT OSCAR IDEA WE NEED TO BE MORE FOOD INDEPENDENT, SELF SUFFICIENT.

>> ANOTHER THING, FOOD SECURITY, SUSTAINABILITY.

EVERY TIME WE RUN FOR OFFICE, EVERYONE TALKS ABOUT THAT.

THERE HAS TO BE POLITICAL WILL OBVIOUSLY AND WATER, LAND, TWO INGREDIENTS YOU HAVE TO HAVE, AND SO OBVIOUSLY WATER IS A CHALLENGE.

AND AND MAHI PONO GOT 22,000 ACRES AGRICULTURE LANDS.

>> BEEN DOING A LOT OF LEMONS AND LIMES, BRANCHING OUT MANY OTHER VEGETABLES.

ONE THING THAT ANYBODY I THINK WHO ENDEAVORS TO THINK ABOUT HAVING LOOK INTO FOOD SUSTAINABILITY AND FOOD SECURITY, IS TO ASK US THE COMMUNITY, THE PEOPLE, THAT WE'RE GOING TO SERVE WHAT WE WANT TO EAT.

SO WHEN 22,000 ACRES, THERE WAS NEVER AN OUTREACH TO ASK THE COMMUNITY.

IS THAT DO WE WANT?

WE WANT TO EAT EGGPLANT.

BITTER MELON.

POTATOES EVERYBODY DON'T WANT LEMON AND LIMES.

>> CAN'T LIVE ON IT.

HOW DO WE OFFSET THINGS SHIPPED ON.

HUGE BUILDING BUILT ON THIS ISLAND THAT BRINGS IN ALL THE PRODUCE THAT YOU BUY AT COSTCO.

BECAUSE THEY CAN BRING IT IN IN BULK, COST IS CHEAPER.

RIGHT?

OUR GROCERIES ARE HIGH PRICED.

BECAUSE THE COST IS HIGH PRICED.

LAND VALUE AND THE RETAIL SPACE AND WHAT HAVE YOU.

RENT.

SO THROUGH THE ROOF RIGHT NOW.

BUT AGAIN, IT'S ABOUT ALL OF US, AND GROWING OUR FARMERS, THAT'S BEEN A PROGRAM AND IT WORKS.

BUT WE JUST NEED, YEAH, I THINK POLITICAL AT THE END OF THE DAY WITH FUNDING.

>> ONLY GOT A FEW MINUTES LEFT.

WANT TO GET TO FINAL THOUGHT EACH OF YOU BRIEFLY.

DID THE LEGISLATURE HIT A HOME RUN PASSING LAWS THAT ALLOWS COUNTIES TO REGULATE AND EVEN ELIMINATE SHORT TERM RENTALS.

OR DID THEY PASS THE BUCK ON THE SENSITIVE ISSUE?

>> THAT BILL, COUNTY COULD ALREADY HAVE DONE THAT.

I WAS THERE WHEN WE CREATED SHORT TERM RENTALS.

I ALWAYS AND EVERYONE KNOWS THIS, GO BACK IN TIME, I ALWAYS HAD AN ISSUE WITH THEM.

I COULD SWALLOW B&B'S, BED & BREAKFASTS, OWNER IS THERE ON PROPERTY.

SO WHEN THERE'S ISSUES, OWNER CAN TAKE CARE OF IT RIGHT THEN AND THERE.

WHEN I STARTED HAVING ISSUES WITH IT, IT WAS WHEN LLCs AND CORPORATIONS WERE BUYING UP STREETS, HOUSES.

FIVE HOUSES IN A ROW AND TURNING THEM INTO VACATION RENTALS.

WE PUT CAPS ON DIFFERENT DISTRICTS.

THAT CAP WENT FAR EXCEEDED YEARS AGO, ZONING ENFORCEMENT NEVER HAPPENED.

SO COUNTY HAS ALWAYS HAD THAT OPPORTUNITY TO REIN IT IN.

CONTROL IT, AND TO ENFORCE IT.

THAT NEVER HAPPENED.

SO THIS BILL TO ME WAS SORT OF FORMALITY TO SAY, HEY, YEAH, LOOK AT WHAT WE'RE DOING.

>> GOING TO ADDRESS IT.

ALREADY SHOULD HAVE BEEN, COULD HAVE BEEN, AND NEEDS TO BE.

>> WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS?

DID THE LEGISLATURE HIT A HOME RUN OR DID THEY THE PASS THE BUCK ON SHORT TERM RENTAL RESTRICTIONS?

>> FOR ME, I JUST GO BY WHAT OUR COMMUNITY NEEDS AND WHAT OUR COMMUNITY NEEDS RIGHT NOW IS SHORT TERM RENTALS TO BE TURNED INTO HOUSING FOR OUR FIRE VICTIMS.

I'M ALL FOR THE BILL.

THAT'S WHAT OUR PEOPLE NEED RIGHT NOW.

STILL IN HOTELS OR OTHER HOUSING CONDITIONS THAT DON'T KNOW WHERE THEY'RE GOING NEXT.

STAND STILL.

THAT'S MY THOUGHTS ON THAT.

>> WE ARE JUST ABOUT OUT OF TIME.

I WANT TO GIVE EACH OF YOU OPPORTUNITY FOR A CLOSING THOUGHT.

START WITH YOU.

>> FIRST, I LIKE TO THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE HERE.

LIKE TO THANK, ELLE, NICE TO SEE YOU AGAIN.

FOR ME, I WANT TO LET THE PEOPLE KNOW THAT THERE'S GROUP OF HARD WORKING INDIVIDUALS KAHANA DONATION HUB THERE TO HELP PEOPLE MONDAY THROUGH FRIDAY.

MANU, SHELVES, ALL THE PEOPLE ARE THERE.

HELP YOU.

RESOURCES.

WE CAN GET SERVICES THAT YOU NEED.

RELATIONSHIPS, GET YOU RESOURCES THAT YOU NEED.

FOOD, MEDICAL HOUSING INFORMATION.

DON'T BE AFRAID TO COME SEE US.

>> YOUR FINAL THOUGHT TONIGHT?

>> BROUGHT IN AN ACE TEAM TOGETHER.

NUMBER ONE GOAL GOAL IS KEEP LAHAINA PEOPLE IN LAHAINA, BACK IN PROPERTY AND HOMES.

PERMANENT HOME IS NOT TEMPORARY.

GOT A CONSORTIUM OF PEOPLE, PLAN IS ARCHITECTS, HAWAIIAN CEMENT AND COMPANIES LIKE DIKEN FOR AC.

AND JUST ALL OF THESE, BECAUSE I FEEL LIKE THE EITHER BIG MANUFACTURES BUY IN BULK.

WE CAN BRING DOWN THE COST.

SO GOAL OF OUR TEAM IS TO BUILD EXPEDITIOUSLY AND ECONOMICALLY.

SO HOUSING, HOUSING FIRST FOR SURE AND I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO GETTING OUR INFRASTRUCTURE UP AND GOING, LIKE YOU SAID, BECAUSE IT TAKES INFRASTRUCTURE TO GET HOUSING.

>> AND OBVIOUSLY PERMITTING.

SO BUT LAHAINA BYPASS.

NUMBER ONE.

PUT A PLUG OUT THERE TO GET THE LAHAINA BYPASS NORTH ONTO THE STATE TRANSPORTATION IMPROVEMENT PLAN.

PLEASE COMMUNITY TURN OUT AND SUPPORT IT.

WE NEED IT BADLY AS YOU ALL KNOW.

EVACUATION ROUTES AND HEALTH AND SAFETY AND WELL BEING OF ALL OF FOR US IN THE COMMUNITY.

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.

MAHALO FOR JOINING US TONIGHT AND WE THANK OUR GUESTS, THE DEMOCRATIC CANDIDATES FOR HOUSE DISTRICT 14, REPRESENTATIVE ELLE COCHRAN AND KANAMU BALINBIN.

NEXT WEEK ON INSIGHTS, WE WILL TALK WITH THE HOPEFULS IN THE DEMOCRATIC PRIMARY FOR STATE HOUSE DISTRICT 23 WHICH INCLUDES MANOA, PUNAHOU, UNIVERSITY AND MOILIILI.

PLEASE JOIN US THEN.

I’M YUNJI DE NIES FOR INSIGHTS ON PBS HAWAII.

ALOHA.

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