
7/7/22 Governor: Democratic Primary
Season 2022 Episode 24 | 1h 26m 46sVideo has Closed Captions
Find out where each candidate stands on the issues and why they want to lead the state.
Three leading candidates are vying for the democratic nomination for governor. Find out where each candidate stands on the issues and why they want to lead the state.
Problems playing video? | Closed Captioning Feedback
Problems playing video? | Closed Captioning Feedback
Insights on PBS Hawaiʻi is a local public television program presented by PBS Hawai'i

7/7/22 Governor: Democratic Primary
Season 2022 Episode 24 | 1h 26m 46sVideo has Closed Captions
Three leading candidates are vying for the democratic nomination for governor. Find out where each candidate stands on the issues and why they want to lead the state.
Problems playing video? | Closed Captioning Feedback
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Learn Moreabout PBS online sponsorship>> THREE LEADING CANDIDATES ARE VYING FOR THE DEMOCRATIC NOMINATION FOR GOVERNOR.
VICKY CAYETANO, JOSH GREEN AND KAI KAHELE WILL APPEAR TOGETHER IN THE PBS HAWAI'I STUDIO, AS THEY FIGHT FOR YOUR VOTE.
FIND OUT WHERE EACH CANDIDATE STANDS ON THE ISSUES AND WHY THEY WANT TO LEAD THE STATE.
YOU CAN SUBMIT YOUR QUESTIONS ON-LINE OR BY PHONE DURING AN EXTENDED 90-MINUTE EDITION OF INSIGHTS ON PBS HAWAI'I.
TONIGHT'S LIVE BROADCAST AND LIVESTREAM START NOW.
>> Yunji: ALOHA AND WELCOME TO INSIGHTS ON PBS HAWAI'I...I'M YUNJI DE NIES.
FOR THE FIRST TIME IN EIGHT YEARS, HAWAI'I WILL HAVE A NEW GOVERNOR AFTER DAVID IGE COMPLETES HIS TWO ELECTED TERMS.
THIS YEAR'S FIELD OF DEMOCRATIC CANDIDATES FEATURE SOME VERY FAMILIAR FACES.
IT INCLUDES OUR LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR, U.S.
CONGRESSMAN AND A FORMER FIRST LADY OF HAWAI'I.
BUT BEFORE HE OR SHE CAN THINK ABOUT MOVING INTO THE TOP FLOOR OF THE STATE CAPITOL, THEY NEED TO WIN IN THE PRIMARY ELECTION FIRST.
WE LOOK FORWARD TO YOUR PARTICIPATION IN TONIGHT'S SHOW.
YOU CAN EMAIL OR CALL IN YOUR QUESTIONS.
AND YOU'LL FIND A LIVE STREAM OF THIS PROGRAM AT PBSHAWAII.ORG AND THE PBS HAWAII FACEBOOK PAGE.
NOW, TO OUR GUESTS.
BEFORE WE START, THE SEATING ARRANGEMENTS AND THE ORDER OF INTRODUCTIONS WERE DETERMINED AHEAD OF TIME BE RANDOM DRAWING.
VICKY CAYETANO IS AN ENTREPRENEUR AND BUSINESS EXECUTIVE WHO CO-FOUNDED UNITED LAUNDRY SERVICES MORE THAN THREE DECADES AGO.
IT'S CURRENTLY THE LARGEST COMMERCIAL LAUNDRY COMPANY IN THE STATE WITH BRANCHES ON THREE ISLANDS.
SHE'S A FORMER HAWAI'I FIRST LADY, MARRIED TO THEN GOVERNOR BEN CAYETANO.
SHE'S THE SIXTH OF NINE CHILDREN AND HER FAMILY IMMIGRATED TO THE U.S. FROM THE PHILIPPINES WHEN SHE WAS THREE YEARS OLD.
DR. JOSH GREEN WAS ELECTED LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR IN 2018.
PRIOR TO THAT HE SERVED IN THE STATE HOUSE FOR FOUR YEARS AND THE STATE SENATE FOR TEN.
HE'S AN EMERGENCY ROOM PHYSICIAN WHO STILL PRACTICES ON HAWAI'I ISLAND.
BORN IN NEW YORK AND RAISED IN PENNSYLVANIA, HE WAS STATIONED IN HAWAI'I AS PART OF THE NATIONAL HEALTH SERVICE CORPS BACK IN THE YEAR 2000.
DURING THE PANDEMIC HE WAS NAMED AS THE STATE'S COVID-19 LIAISON.
AND CONGRESSMAN KAI KAHELE WAS ELECTED TO THE U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES DISTRICT 2 SEAT IN 2020.
PRIOR TO THAT HE SERVED IN THE STATE SENATE.
HE'S A COMMERCIAL AIRLINE PILOT FOR HAWAIIAN AIRLINES AND IS A LIEUTENANT COLONEL AND COMBAT VETERAN IN THE HAWAI'I AIR NATIONAL GUARD.
BORN AND RAISED ON HAWAI'I ISLAND, HE WENT TO HILO HIGH SCHOOL AND THE UNIVERSITY OF HAWAI'I AT MANOA WHERE HE PLAYED FOR THE UH RAINBOW WARRIORS MEN'S VOLLEYBALL TEAM.
ALSO ON THE BALLOT FOR THE DEMOCRATIC PRIMARY ARE DAVID BOURGOIN, RICHARD KIM, CLYDE LEWMAN AND VAN TANABE.
THANK YOU ALL FOR BEING HERE TONIGHT.
WE HAVE A LOT OF QUESTIONS TO GET TO SO I WANT TO GET STRAIGHT TO IT.
CONGRESSMAN, I WANT TO START WITH YOU.
IN THE LAST 24 HOURS, YOU'VE BEEN DOMINATING THE NEWS CYCLE.
YOUR CAMPAIGN HAS PERHAPS NOT FOR THE BEST REASONS.
YOU PREMISED YOUR CAMPAIGN ON RAISING PUBLIC MONEY, SMALL DONATIONS, RATHER, AND LEVERAGING THAT WITH PUBLIC DONATIONS FROM PUBLIC CAMPAIGNING FINANCING FROM THE STATE BUT SOMEHOW THAT FELL THROUGH.
WHAT HAPPENED, AND WHAT DO YOU SAY TO YOUR SUPPORTERS ABOUT WHAT WENT WRONG?
>> TO THE SUPPORTERS AND THOUSANDS ACROSS HAWAI'I THAT HAVE MADE A SMALL DOLLAR DONATION TO OUR CAMPAIGN OVER THE LAST 45 DAYS, MAHALO NUI LOA.
OUR GRASSROOTS MESSAGE HAS NOT CHANGED.
I'M MORE DETERMINED THAN EVER TO WIN THE AUGUST 13 PRIMARY.
PUBLIC FINANCING IS TOUGH.
IT'S NOT EASY IN THIS STATE, AND MISSING AN IMPORTANT FILING AND PAPERWORK THAT NEEDED TO BE DONE WAS MY FAULT.
AND IT'S A LEARNING EXPERIENCE THAT I'LL LEARN FROM, AND I'LL TAKE TO THE OFFICE OF GOVERNOR TO MAKE PUBLIC FINANCING EASIER IN THE STATE FOR ALL CANDIDATES TO PARTICIPATE.
OUR CORE MESSAGE DOES NOT CHANGE, AND THAT IS TO GET MONEY OUT OF POLITICS.
PEOPLE ARE TIRED OF THE STATUS QUO, AND I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO WINNING THE HEARTS AND MINDS OF THE PEOPLE OF HAWAI'I OVER THE NEXT FEW WEEKS.
AND SO ALTHOUGH IT'S A SETBACK FOR OUR CAMPAIGN, THE OUTPOURING OF SUPPORT IN THE LAST 24 HOURS HAS BEEN ABSOLUTELY INCREDIBLE.
WE HAVE RAISED MORE SMALL DOLLAR DONATIONS IN THE LAST 24 HOURS THAN IN THE MONTH.
AND SO IT'S VALIDATION THAT PEOPLE ARE HUNGRY FOR CHANGE.
THEY'RE HUNGRY FOR NEW LEADERSHIP.
THEY'RE SICK AND TIRED OF THE STATUS QUO.
THEY'RE SICK AND TIRED OF MONEY IN POLITICS.
THE UNPRECEDENTED AMOUNT OF CORRUPTION AND INDITEMENTS IN HAWAI'I POLITICS TODAY HAS TO CHANGE.
I BELIEVE MY CANDIDACY IS THE CATALYST.
>> YUNJI: LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR, I HAVE A CAMPAIGN FINANCE QUESTION FOR YOU BUT PERHAPS ON THE OPPOSITE SIDE.
YOU'VE RECEIVED THE MOST CAMPAIGN CONTRIBUTIONS.
YOU'VE ALSO RECEIVED TOP UNION ENDORSEMENTS.
HOW WILL YOU MAKE SURE THAT YOU'RE NOT BEHOLDEN TO YOUR DONORS AND TO THESE ORGANIZATIONS?
>> IT'S A GREAT QUESTION.
THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME, YUNJI.
I'VE HAD OVER 4,000 UNIQUE DONORS.
THAT IS SOMETHING THAT TOUCHES MY HEART.
FROM ALL ACROSS THE STATE, IT'S EXTRAORDINARY TO GET DONATIONS FROM SOCIAL WORKERS AND FIREFIGHTERS AND TEACHERS.
AND THE TEACHERS UNION SUPPORT.
THOSE ARE REAL PEOPLE HERE IN THE STATE.
I FEEL VALIDATED THAT I'VE WORKED HARD FOR PEOPLE AND THAT THEY BELIEVE IN ME.
I'VE LED BY EXAMPLE FOR MANY YEARS.
I WAS ASKED TO BE THE HEAD OF THE COVID RESPONSE AND SO, OF COURSE, LOTS OF PEOPLE WHO SAW MY WORK AND ULTIMATELY BELIEVE I DID A GOOD JOB SUPPORTED ME.
I'VE NEVER BEEN BEHOLDEN TO ANYONE.
SOMETIMES PEOPLE HAVE LOOKED AT ME AS AN OUTSIDER, BUT IT'S BEEN GRATIFYING TO SERVE AS LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR IN HOPEFULLY AN HONORABLE WAY, AND I WOULD DO THAT AS GOVERNOR IF I'M CHOSEN.
I'VE BEEN AT THIS QUITE SOME TIME NOW RUNNING FOR GOVERNOR.
ASKING FOR PEOPLE'S SUPPORT, ASKING FOR THEIR TRUST, ASKING FOR THEIR FAITH, AND I THINK THAT THAT'S WHAT I EARNED OVER THE COURSE OF THE COVID EXPERIENCE.
I ACTUALLY ENDED UP IN EVERYONE'S LIVES AND IN THEIR HOMES OVER THE LAST TWO YEARS.
I THINK WE SPENT A LOT OF TIME TOGETHER, YOU AND I, AND PEOPLE IN ALL OF THE NETWORKS, THEY SAW ME.
I WAS IN PEOPLE'S LIVING ROOMS.
I WAS THERE TRYING TO SHARE HOW WE GOT THROUGH THIS CRISIS AND OVERALL, I BELIEVE THAT'S WHY I RECEIVED QUITE A LOT OF SUPPORT.
BUT I ALWAYS AM AWARE OF WHAT CONCERNS ARE, AND I RECOGNIZE WHAT THE CONGRESSMAN HAS CONCERNS ABOUT, TOO.
WE ALL DO.
>> YUNJI: OKAY.
MRS. CAYETANO, YOU'VE NEVER HELD ELECTED OFFICE IN HAWAI'I.
WHY START WITH THE TOP JOB?
>> WELL, AT THIS STAGE IN MY LIFE AND WHAT I CAN BRING TO THE TABLE, I'VE FEEL IT'S THE MOST -- I'VE BEEN AN EXECUTIVE, A LEADER FOR OVER 34 YEARS OF MY LIFE.
LOOKING AT THE CRITICAL SITUATION OF OUR STATE, I'M RUNNING HERE TO REALLY MAKE A DIFFERENCE.
I FEEL I'M GOING TO BRING MY RESULTS-DRIVEN PROVEN LEADERSHIP SKILLS, CREATING JOBS TO THIS POSITION.
I BELIEVE THAT THE STATE OF HAWAI'I IS AT SUCH A CRITICAL JUNCTURE THAT THE TRADITIONAL WAYS OF LEADING IT AND THE IDEAS THAT WE'VE LEANED ON FROM THE PAST ARE NOT GOING TO RESOLVE THE PROBLEMS THAT WE KEEP TALKING ABOUT.
YOU KNOW, MY FELLOW OPPONENTS HERE, ONE HAS BEEN IN OFFICE FOR 18 YEARS, THE LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR, AND THE CONGRESSMAN HAS BEEN IN FOR TEN YEARS.
AND SO WE KEEP TALKING ABOUT THE SAME ISSUES WITH EVERY ELECTION CYCLE, BUT WHERE ARE THE RESULTS?
THAT'S WHY I'M RUNNING.
>> YUNJI: OKAY.
>> CAN I MAKE A QUICK CORRECTION?
>> YUNJI: PLEASE.
>> WITH ALL DUE RESPECT, I HAVE NOT BEEN IN ELECTED OFFICE FOR TEN YEARS.
I WAS APPOINTED AFTER MY DAD DIED IN 2016.
I'VE BEEN IN OFFICE FOR LESS THAN SEVEN YEARS.
>> IF I MAY ALSO ADD, I ACTUALLY FEEL IT'S AN HONOR TO SERVE FOR FOUR YEARS IN THE HOUSE AND TEN YEARS AS SENATE AND FOUR YEARS AS LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR.
IT'S THAT EXPERIENCE THAT I THINK WILL RECOMMEND ME TO UNDERSTAND THE ISSUES BETTER THAN MOST AND THAT WILL HELP ME.
>> YUNJI: LET'S STAY WITH YOU AND GET TO THOSE ISSUES.
WHAT DO YOU THINK IS THE NUMBER ONE PRIORITY AND THE BIGGEST ISSUES FACING OUR STATE?
WHAT WILL YOU DO SPECIFICALLY AS GOVERNOR TO ADDRESS IT?
>> I THINK IT'S AFFORDABLE HOUSING, YUNJI.
THERE ARE SO MANY HUGE ISSUES THAT WE HAVE IN HAWAI'I.
BUT WE DON'T HAVE ENOUGH NURSES BECAUSE THEY CAN'T AFFORD HOUSING IN OUR STATE.
WE DON'T HAVE ENOUGH TEACHERS.
WE'RE ALWAYS 1200 TEACHERS SHORT BECAUSE WE DON'T PAY THEM ENOUGH TO AFFORD HOUSING.
SO AFFORDABLE HOUSING CONSTANTLY RESONATES AS THE THINGS WE HAVE TO DO.
WE CAN'T GET AFFORDABLE HOUSING IN PLACE, OUR NEXT GENERATION GOES AWAY.
I'VE GOT A 15-YEAR-OLD DAUGHTER, SOON WILL BE OFF TO COLLEGE.
I WANT HER TO COME BACK TO BE ABLE TO AFFORD A HOME.
SO WHAT WILL WE DO?
THERE'S A LOT OF THINGS THAT HAVE TO BE DONE ON AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
FIRST AND FOREMOST, WE HAVE TO BUILD A LOT OF HOUSING.
WE'RE AT LEAST 50,000 UNITS SHORT IN OUR STATE.
WE HAVE TO MOVE PAST SOME OF THE BARRIERS.
IT'S BEEN A DISASTER WITH THE DPP, THE PERMITTING PROCESS.
IT'S BEEN DIFFICULT AT THE STATE LEVEL TO GET LANDS READY FOR BUILDING.
SO BUILDING IS FIRST.
SECOND OF ALL, WE HAVE TO USE DEPARTMENT OF HAWAIIAN HOME LANDS TO OUR ADVANTAGE.
WE HAVE RIGHT NOW 27,000 INDIVIDUALS ON THE LIST FOR HOME LANDS ASSIGNMENT FOR DEPARTMENT OF HOME LANDS.
THOSE 27,000 PEOPLE SHOULD BE GIVEN HOMES AND AN OPPORTUNITY.
THERE'S 2,002 ACRES.
THEY CAN BE USED, AND WE CAN BE POSITIVELY DISCRIMINATING TO GIVE THAT LAND TO PEOPLE.
$600 MILLION CAME FROM THE LEGISLATURE TO JUMP-START THAT.
WE HAVE TO BE DYNAMIC THERE.
FINALLY, AND ILLEGAL AIRBNBS OWNED ON THE MAINLAND, BY MAINLANDERS, THAT'S A PROBLEM BECAUSE THERE'S OVER 40,000 ILLEGAL UNITS.
THEY'RE TAKING HOUSING OUT OF CIRCULATION FOR OUR PEOPLE.
WE SHOULD HAVE THOSE AS RENTALS.
SO THERE HAS TO BE DYNAMIC ACTION ON THESE FRONTS.
IF WE SOLVE THE HOUSING CRISIS, WE CAN MOVE TO THE HOMELESS CRISES MORE EASILY, BUT THIS IS THE BIGGEST ISSUE, I THINK, FOR US.
>> YUNJI: MRS. CAYETANO, WHAT DO YOU THINK IS THE BIGGEST ISSUE FACING THE STATE, AND WHAT WOULD YOU DO TO ADDRESS IT?
>> WELL, I BELIEVE IT'S SEVERAL THINGS.
ONE IS AFFORDABLE WITHOUT A DOUBT.
THE OTHER THING IS THAT WE NEED TO LOOK AT OUR ECONOMY.
AFTER COVID, GRANTED, THE CASE COUNTS HAVE BEEN REASONABLY MANAGED, BUT WHAT WE'RE NOT TALKING ENOUGH, HOW DEVASTATED OUR SMALL BUSINESS COMMUNITY IN PARTICULAR, HOW MUCH WE SUFFERED IN OUR ECONOMY.
AND THAT COMBINED WITH WHAT OUR CHILDREN EXPERIENCED.
YOU KNOW, THE YEARS THAT THEY'VE LOST.
THERE'S NO QUESTION THOSE TWO THINGS IMPACTED US.
SO WITH AFFORDABLE HOUSING, I APPRECIATE WHAT LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR IS SAYING.
HOWEVER, I WOULD SAY THIS, I THINK YOU HAVE TO TACKLE WHAT THE PROBLEMS ARE REALLY IN DETAIL.
SUCH AS THE CHOKEHOLD THAT THE GOVERNMENT HAS ON PERMITTING, PLANNING.
THAT WHOLE PROCESS TAKES WAY TOO MUCH TIME TO GET AFFORDABLE HOUSING OR ANY KIND OF HOUSING DONE.
THAT'S ONE OF THE BIGGEST CHALLENGES.
I APPRECIATE ABOUT THE ILLEGAL RENTALS, BUT HOW DO WE MANDATE, HOW DO WE GET RID OF THESE OWNERS IN ORDER TO MOVE PEOPLE IN?
I THINK YOU GOT TO TALK ABOUT THE GOVERNMENT STRUCTURE.
IT IS OFTEN THE PERMITTING, REGULATION PROCESS IS OFTEN AT THE HEART OF THE PROBLEM.
AND THE SAME WAY OF DOING THINGS HAVE BEEN WHAT WE'VE BEEN DEALING WITH FOR MANY YEARS.
AND THAT, I THINK, IS SOMETHING WE NEED A NEW MINDSET.
WE NEED COMMON-SENSE PRACTICAL SOLUTIONS TO ADDRESS THESE PROBLEMS.
>> YUNJI: CONGRESSMAN, WHAT DO YOU THINK IS THE BIGGEST ISSUE?
>> I ALSO BELIEVE AFFORDABLE HOUSING IS ONE OF THE BIGGEST ISSUES FACING HAWAI'I TODAY AND HAWAI'I'S RESIDENTS.
$1.2, $1.5 MILLION FOR A SINGLE-FAMILY HOME IS UNSUSTAINABLE.
IT'S GOING TO BE UNSUSTAINABLE FOR YOUR KIDS, FOR MY KIDS, THE LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR'S KIDS.
THEY'RE NOT GOING TO BE ABLE TO PURCHASE A HOME HERE.
AND MANY ARE LEAVING HAWAI'I.
WE HAVE THE LARGEST OUT MIGRATION OF LOCAL FAMILIES LEAVING HAWAI'I BECAUSE THEY'VE LOST HOPE.
I BELIEVE WE NEED ON THE ISLAND OF OAHU WE NEED TWO HOUSING PLANS.
ONE STARTS IN HALAWA AND GOES TO WAIKIKI.
I'VE TAKEN THE POSITION THAT I DO NOT SUPPORT BUILDING A STADIUM IN HALAWA.
I WOULD RATHER BUILD TEN THOUSAND HOMES AND COMMERCIAL MIXED-USE WORKFORCE HOUSING ON THE HALAWA PARCEL.
I WANT TO BUILD A STADIUM IN WEST OAHU.
I WANT TO COMPLETE THE RAIL LINE AT UNIVERSITY OF HAWAI'I MANOA.
I BELIEVE WE NEED TO DEVELOP DENSE, VERTICAL HOUSING FROM HALAWA TO WAIKIKI ON EVERY STATE AND COUNTY PARCEL, WORKING TOGETHER WITH THE ALII TRUST AND KAMEHAMEHA SCHOOLS.
GOVERNMENT PUTS IN THE NECESSARY SEWER AND WATER AND ELECTRICAL INFRASTRUCTURE TO DEVELOP VERTICAL HOUSING WHERE WE CAN CREATE LIVE, WORK PLAY ALONG THE RAIL LINE.
WE DON'T NEED TO HAVE A CAR IF YOU LIVE IN A DENSE, VERTICAL HOUSING MODEL BETWEEN HALAWA AND WAIKIKI.
AND WE NEED TO HAVE A SECONDARY HOUSING MODEL IN WHAT I WOULD CONSIDER THE RURAL OR SECOND CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT.
LIKE LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR MENTIONED, WHETHER IT'S LAND USE, LAND USE COMMISSION, PLANNING, PERMITTING THOSE ARE THINGS WIND BEEN CHALLENGED WITH FOR DECADES.
WE HAVEN'T ADDRESSED IT AS A LEGISLATIVE BODY, AND WE HAVEN'T HAD THE POLITICAL COURAGE TO ADDRESS THOSE DIFFICULT ISSUES.
WORKING TOGETHER WITH OUR DEVELOPERS THAT KNOW HOW TO DEVELOP HOUSING.
WE NEED MORE LIVE TECH FUNDS.
WE HAVE HISTORIC AMOUNT OF MONEY IN RENTAL RELIEF FUNDS.
WE HAVE OHANA ZONES AND THAT CAN HELP CREATE LOW HOUSING FOR 60% AMI OR BELOW.
LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR'S SPOT-ON.
DEPARTMENT OF HAWAIIAN HOME LANDS PLAYS A CRITICAL ROLE IN THE ECONOMIC PROSPERITY AND HOUSING OPPORTUNITIES FOR NATIVE HAWAIIANS.
IF WE CAN ADDRESS THAT 28,000 LIST OF NATIVE HAWAIIANS THAT HAVE BEEN ON THAT LIST, WE CAN GET THEM OUT OF THE RESIDENTIAL MARKETPLACE AND FREE UP MORE AFFORDABLE HOUSING FOR MORE PEOPLE.
DHHL PLAYS A CRITICAL ROLE IN THAT.
>> YUNJI: I'M INTERESTED TO HEAR FROM BOTH OF YOU.
IF YOU AGREE ON THE STADIUM.
WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS?
THIS COMES ON THE SAME DAY THE GOVERNOR JUST SIGNED A BILL TO FUND THAT PROJECT.
DO YOU THINK THAT SHOULD WE SHOULD HAVE A STADIUM OR SHOULD THAT GO TO HOUSING?
>> IT SHOULD ACTUALLY BE NOT AN EITHER OR.
WE SHOULD BUILD A STADIUM BECAUSE EVERY STATE SHOULD HAVE A STADIUM.
THE CONGRESSMAN SAID WE SHOULD HAVE A STADIUM.
SO WE AGREE IN THAT REGARD.
WHERE IT SHOULD BE IS UP FOR DEBATE.
HAVING A STADIUM WHERE THE PLAN'S ALREADY GONE IN MAKES SENSE AS LONG AS THERE'S HOUSE AROUND THAT.
BUT THE RAIL HAS TO BE UTILIZED OVER TIME.
I WANT TO SEE A DYNAMIC STADIUM.
I WANT TO SEE OPPORTUNITIES FOR OUR YOUNG GENERATION.
I WANT TO SEE PEOPLE HAVE RUGBY TOURNAMENTS HERE AND SOCCER TOURNAMENTS AND MAYBE OCCASIONAL FOOTBALL GAME AND THE CONCERTS THAT COME AND YOUTH SOCCER.
ALL THESE THINGS HAVE TO COME BACK.
IT'S A PART OF CULTURE.
DURING COVID, WE LOST A LOT OF THINGS.
WE LOST THAT TIME TOGETHER.
WE LOST OPPORTUNITIES TO HAVE THESE BIG EVENTS AND HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL.
THOSE THINGS WENT AWAY, AND WE SAW HOW IMPACTFUL IT WAS TO NOT HAVE THEM.
HAVING A STADIUM, YES.
WE SHOULD HAVE HOUSING AS WELL.
WE SHOULD HAVE HOUSING ALL OVER.
NOT JUST IN THE URBAN CORE.
IT HAS TO BE IN THE NEIGHBOR ISLANDS.
WE HAVE TO REALLY CHANGE HOW WE VIEW HAWAI'I.
A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE WORKING FROM HOME.
THEY DON'T WANT TO LIVE NECESSARILY IN THE CITY, BUT WE HAVE SO MUCH AT STAKE, IF WE DON'T BUILD HOUSING QUICKLY, WE'RE GOING TO LOSE A GENERATION FROM HAWAI'I.
>> YUNJI: LET'S GET TO THAT STADIUM QUESTION.
DO YOU THINK THAT IT SHOULD BE BUILT IN HALAWA?
>> I BELIEVE SO.
I THINK PART OF THE PROBLEM IS WE DON'T PRIORITIZE.
IF AFFORDABLE HOUSING IS A PRIORITY, THAT'S WHAT IT SHOULD BE.
I WOULD BE SENSITIVE ABOUT MAKING SURE THAT WE DON'T HAVE ANOTHER RAIL PROJECT THAT ENDS UP INTO THE BILLIONS FROM THE ORIGINAL ESTIMATE.
THIS IS WHERE GOVERNMENT FAILS.
WE'RE NOT PRACTICAL.
WE DON'T HAVE THE HUMILITY TO ACKNOWLEDGE WHAT WE DON'T KNOW, AND WE THINK WE CAN DO EVERYTHING.
IT'S IMPORTANT TO LOOK AT THIS CLOSELY.
I, WITHOUT A DOUBT, BELIEVE AFFORDABLE HOUSING SHOULD BE A FIRST PRIORITY AND THE STADIUM PROPERTY WOULD BE BETTER SUITED FOR THAT.
>> YUNJI, IF AFFORDABLE HOUSING IS THE NUMBER ONE ISSUE, LET'S BUILD HOUSING.
WHY ARE WE GOING TO SOAK A HALF BILLION DOLLARS INTO A STADIUM WHEN WE HAVEN'T FINISHED RAIL?
BUILD HOUSING AND PUT PEOPLE IN HOMES.
>> YUNJI: I WANT TO GET TO COVID.
EACH OF YOU HAVE SAID THAT YOU OPPOSE MANDATORY MASKING IN SCHOOLS.
HOWEVER, DOE SUPERINTENDENT KEITH HAYASHI SAID THAT IF MASKS ARE TAKEN OUT OF SCHOOL, IF THERE IS COVID EXPOSURE IN THE CLASSROOM, THE CLASSROOM WOULD THEN HAVE TO BE SHUT DOWN FOR FIVE DAYS.
ARE YOU WILLING TO TAKE THAT RISK?
ARE YOU ACCEPTING THAT SCENARIO IF IT MEANS HAVING THE MASK?
WE'LL START WITH YOU.
>> I THINK THAT WITH THE PFIZER VACCINE NOW FOR CHILDREN, THAT WILL BE A LEVEL OF PROTECTION WE DIDN'T HAVE BEFORE.
IN THIS SITUATION, THERE'S NEVER GOING TO BE THE PERFECT SOLUTION.
WHAT DO YOU TRADE OFF?
DAILY MASK WEARING?
I'VE SEEN THAT IN MY GRANDCHILDREN, HOW DISRUPTIVE THAT IS FOR THEM OR DO WE TAKE A CHANCE?
WE NEED TO BE ABLE TO PIVOT IF THE SITUATION BECOMES MORE CRITICAL.
HOWEVER, I BELIEVE THAT WE NEED TO MOVE FORWARD WITH THAT RISK AND SEE HOW WE CAN BALANCE HAVING OUR CHILDREN IN SCHOOLS WITHOUT WEARING MASKS.
>> YUNJI: LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR, ARE YOU WILLING TO ACCEPT THAT?
HAVING KIDS PULLED OUT OF SCHOOL, ESPECIALLY WHEN WE SEE NEW VARIANTS ON THE HORIZON?
>> I WOULDN'T SAY WE'RE WILLING TO ACCEPT THE RISK.
I THINK WE'LL FOLLOW THE SCIENCE.
I DON'T THINK WE CAN AFFORD TO HAVE CHILDREN MASKED FOR ANOTHER SCHOOL YEAR.
THAT'S WHY I'VE TAKEN THAT POSITION.
I ALSO SPOKE DIRECTLY WITH THE SUPERINTENDENT AND EXPRESSED THAT EVEN IN THE LAST PART THIS SCHOOL YEAR.
I THOUGHT IT WAS TIME WE MOVE ON.
CHILDREN HAVE LOST A LOT OF DEVELOPMENTAL MILESTONES.
IT'S CRITICAL THAT THEY GET BACK ON TRACK.
IT'S VERY DIFFICULT FOR THEM.
MOREOVER, WHAT WE DID WHEN I WAS THE COVID LIASON, WE MADE SURE THE TEACHER AND ALL THE PEOPLE THAT WORKED ALL ADULTS AT THE SCHOOLS ACROSS THE CAMPUSES, THAT THEY GOT VACCINATED, THEY WERE PROTECTED SO THEY DID NOT GET SEVERE DISEASE IF THEY CAUGHT COVID.
THAT'S WHY WE ENDED UP HAVING THE LOWEST MORTALITY RATE IN THE COUNTRY.
CHILDREN HAVE HAD SOME EXPOSURE BUT HAVE NOT GOTTEN SEVERELY SICK.
IN MY CONVERSATIONS DAILY, WEEKLY, MONTHLY WITH THE HEADS AT KAPIOLANI, THEY'VE BEEN ABLE TO EXPRESS WHAT THE RISK IS.
SO THEY'RE COMFORTABLE ENOUGH TO HAVE OUR CHILDREN GO BACK TO SCHOOL.
THEY AND THE PEDIATRIC ASSOCIATION ACROSS OUR STATE FEEL IT'S SAFE AND THAT'S GOOD ENOUGH FOR ME.
WE DO HAVE TO MOVE ON AS A SOCIETY.
WHAT YOU'LL SEE WITH CORONAVIRUS IS USUALLY A FIVE-YEAR TREND.
FIRST AND SECOND YEAR IS QUITE SEVERE.
WE HAD THE WORST EXPERIENCE WITH THE DELTA VARIANT.
BUT IN SUBSEQUENT VARIANTS AND NOW WITH THE OMICRON, IT'S MUCH LESS SEVERE.
FAR FEWER PEOPLE ARE IN THE HOSPITALS AND FAR FEWER KIDS GETTING SEVERELY ILL. ONE OF MY KIDS HAD COVID AND HE WAS FINE.
WE WERE SCARED, LIKE PARENTS ARE SCARED.
HE CAUGHT IT AT SCHOOL, BUT WE GOT THROUGH IT, AND WE NEEDED HIM TO BE EDUCATED SO THAT'S OUR EXPERIENCE.
>> YUNJI: WHAT DO YOU THINK?
IS IT WORSE HAVING TO HAVE KIDS HAVING TO QUARANTINE AT HOME IF THERE'S AN EXPOSURE BECAUSE THEY WEREN'T WEARING A MASK IN THE CLASSROOM?
>> I ALSO AGREE.
OUR KIDS HAVE SUFFERED OVER THE LAST TWO YEARS.
MY SIX-YEAR-OLD STARTED KINDERGARTEN, DISTANCE LEARNING AND EVENTUALITY CAME BACK TO SCHOOL.
SHE GOES TO A PUBLIC CHARTER SCHOOL ON HAWAI'I ISLAND.
IT HAS BEEN EXTREMELY CHALLENGING FOR OUR KIDS.
WE HAVE TO MITIGATE RISK.
WE HAVE TO TAKE PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY.
IT'S ALSO THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE PARENTS TO ENSURE IF KIDS ARE SICK, DON'T GO TO SCHOOL.
AT NAWAHI, EVERYDAY WE HAVE TO DO A SCREENING ON OUR PHONES.
WE GO TO SCHOOL, WE SHOW THAT SCREENING APP TO THE TEACHERS THAT GREET THEM EVERY DAY.
WE CAN MITIGATE THE RISK.
WE HAVE TO MOVE ON.
WORKING TOGETHER WITH THE SUPERINTENDENT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE AND THE D.O.E.
HAS THE APPROPRIATE POLICY FOR OUR 180,000 STUDENTS THAT MAKE UP OUR PUBLIC EDUCATION SYSTEM IS REALLY IMPORTANT.
WORKING WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND TRUSTING THE SCIENCE IS CRITICAL.
THAT'S A UNIQUE ROLE THAT THE GOVERNOR PLAYING.
WORKING TOGETHER WITH THE SUPERINTENDENT.
>> YUNJI: I WANT TO GET TO THE VIEWER QUESTIONS.
THEY'RE PILING IN SO THANK YOU FOR SENDING THEM.
KEEP CALLING THEM IN AND FACEBOOK AND ALL OTHER CHANNELS.
THERE ARE FOUR QUESTIONS HERE AND MANY MORE ON TMT.
CONGRESSMAN, WE'LL START WITH YOU.
CALLER FROM HILO.
WHERE DO YOU STAND ON TMT?
BUILD OR NOT?
AS GOVERNOR, DO YOU LET TMT PROCEED?
BASICALLY WANTING TO KNOW WHAT IS YOUR OPINION ON THE TMT PROJECT ON MAUNA KEA?
>> SO I DO NOT SUPPORT THE 30-METER TELESCOPE AS IT IS CURRENTLY PROPOSED AND I NEVER HAVE.
I SUPPORT ASTRONOMY AS IT EXISTS TODAY AND I SUPPORT ASTRONOMY HOPEFULLY FOR THE LONG-TERM FUTURE IN HAWAI'I.
IT'S A CRITICAL PART OF OUR ECONOMY.
IT'S A CRITICAL PART, I BELIEVE, OF OUR CULTURE AND NATIVE HAWAIIAN CULTURE AND NAVIGATION.
IT'S A MULTIPRONGED AND MULTIFACETED ISSUE WE HAVE TO DEAL WITH.
I SUPPORT CHANGE IN MANAGEMENT ON MAUNA KEA AND THE BILL THAT THE LEGISLATURE WORKED ON, WHICH IS GOING TO BECOME LAW.
WE HAVE TO GO IN A NEW DIRECTION ON MAUNA KEA.
BUT MAUNA KEA AND THE THIRTY METER TELESCOPE IS AN UNDERLYING CATALYST FOR A LARGER ISSUE THAT EXISTS IN THE STATE.
ONE THAT WE NEED TO ADDRESS.
OTHERWISE, OTHER PROJECTS LIKE TMT, WHICH I BELIEVE WAS SET UP FOR FAILURE YEARS AGO, ARE GOING TO STRUGGLE IN THIS STATE AND IT'S GOING TO CONTINUE TO DIVIDE OUR FAMILIES.
IT'S GOING TO CONTINUE TO DIVIDE OUR COMMUNITIES AND WE HAVE TO ADDRESS THIS ISSUE BEFORE WE CAN MOVE ON.
IT'S THE SAME ISSUE AT MAKUA VALLEY AND RED HILL.
THIRTY METER TELESCOPE IS A CATALYST, AND WE HAVE TO ADDRESS IT.
>> YUNJI: MRS. CAYETANO, DO YOU AGREE?
>> SO I DON'T AGREE WITH CONGRESSMAN.
AND WHEN YOU SAY THAT MAUNA KEA IS A CATALYST, I THINK RED HILL, WHICH HAS BEEN A PROBLEM FOR DECADES AND OUR FAILURE TO ADDRESS THAT ALONG WITH DHHL.
THE PROMISES MADE TO HOMESTEADERS AND STILL NOT BEING FULFILLED.
THOSE ARE ALL THE THINGS THAT HAVE THEY HAVE ADDED TO THE ISSUES.
THERE'S NO QUESTION THAT WE NEED TO ADDRESS THE PROBLEMS AND ISSUES THAT THE NATIVE HAWAIIANS HAVE BEEN BRINGING UP AND WE HAVE NOT LISTENED TO.
I BELIEVE IF WE SUPPORT ASTRONOMY, WE NEED TO SUPPORT THE THIRTY METER TELESCOPE.
WHILE HOUSE BILL 2024 DOESN'T LOOKS LIKE GOVERNOR IGE WILL VETO.
I WOULD SAY IT NEEDS A DEEPER LEGAL REVIEW BECAUSE WHEN YOU LOOK AT WHERE IT STATES FOR THE 11 MEMBER PANEL THAT'S GOING TO OVERSEE THE MANAGEMENT, OVERSEEING IT OVER DEPARTMENT OF LAND AND NATURAL RESOURCE, ONE HAS TO TAKE A DEEPER LOOK AT THAT TO SEE IF THAT WILL WITHSTAND A LEGAL CHALLENGE ON THE CONSTITUTIONALITY OF IT.
>> YUNJI: WHAT DO YOU SAY TO THOSE FOLKS WHO HAVE CALLED IN ABOUT MAUNA KEA?
WHERE DO YOU STAND ON THAT ISSUE?
>> I THINK WE SHOULD COMPLETE BIG PROJECTS LIKE TMT BUT WE HAVE TO DO THEM RIGHT.
I WOULD ECHO SOME OF THE STATEMENTS THAT THE CONGRESSMAN MADE.
IF YOU DON'T DO THINGS RIGHT, IF YOU DON'T SHOW PROPER LEADERSHIP AND RESPECT, YOU DON'T LISTEN WITH RESPECT, THESE PROJECTS WITH DOOMED FROM THE BEGINNING.
WE COULD HAVE HAD A GREAT SUCCESS WITH TMT LIKE WE DID WITH THE HOKULEA.
THE INCREDIBLE EXPERIENCE WITH VOYAGING, THE LEADERSHIP THE HAWAIIAN PEOPLE OFFERED, THAT WAS AMAZING.
I ALSO SUPPORT ASTRONOMY AND I'M A SCIENCE PERSON BUT WE HAVE TO DO IS RIGHT.
WE ABSOLUTELY CAN BRIDGE THE GAP BETWEEN CULTURES, BUT WE HAVE TO GET THERE THROUGH TRUST, WE HAVE TO GET THERE THROUGH RESPECT.
THE FACT THAT WE HAVEN'T BUILT HOMES IN AND AROUND MAUNA KEA WHERE WE COULD HAVE, WHERE DEPARTMENT OF HAWAIIAN HOME LANDS COULD HAVE HAD SUCCESSES AND PEOPLE COULD FEEL LIKE THEY WERE TREATED WITH RESPECT, AS EQUALS, I DON'T BELIEVE YOU WOULD HAVE SEEN PROTEST.
I DON'T BELIEVE YOU WOULD HAVE SEEN OPPOSITION BECAUSE WHAT IS BEING EXPRESSED IS A DEEP SENSE OF MISTREATMENT.
SO I DO WANT TO BUILD PROJECTS LIKE THE TMT BECAUSE THAT MOVES HAWAI'I FORWARD.
I DO THINK THAT SUPPORTS OUR NEXT GENERATION.
YOU WILL NOT GET THERE IF YOU DON'T HAVE STRONG LEADERSHIP AND THAT'S WHAT I BELIEVE SHOULD BE DONE.
>> YUNJI: IT SOUNDS LIKE YES WITH RESERVATIONS.
>> YES WITH RESERVATIONS HAS BECOME QUITE AN ANNOYING THING AT THE LEGISLATURE.
YES, MOVE FORWARD ON BIG PROJECTS.
WE SHOULD HAVE FINISHED THE RAIL, BUT WE SHOULD HAVE FINISHED IT IN A GOOD FASHION AND ON A BUDGET.
WE SHOULD HAVE GOTTEN TO A PLACE WHERE THE HAWAIIAN COMMUNITY WANTED TO BUILD THE TMT BECAUSE THERE WERE ALREADY TELESCOPES THERE.
WE DIDN'T BRING THE OTHER TELESCOPES DOWN ADEQUATELY.
WE DIDN'T DO THE HARD WORK THAT DLNR HAD TO DO TO GET THAT DONE.
WE DIDN'T GET HOUSING DONE.
WE DIDN'T SHOW RESPECT THROUGH THE LEASES THAT WAS DONE.
WHEN YOU DON'T SHOW RESPECT, YOU WILL NOT GET PAST THESE IMPASSES.
AND THAT IS WHAT I WILL BRING.
AS THE PHYSICIAN TO THE BIG ISLAND, I WILL BRING RESPECT THE WAY I DID TO PEOPLE.
I HOPE THAT THAT WILL BREAK THESE IMPASSES.
>> YUNJI: GO AHEAD.
>> YOU HAVE GREAT TELESCOPES ON MAUNA KEA TODAY.
THE MOST POWERFUL GROUND BASED TELESCOPES EXISTS ON THE MAUNA NOW.
THESE TELESCOPES THERE WANTS CERTAINTY THAT THEY'RE GOING TO HAVE THERE SO THAT THEY CAN INVEST IN THESE TELESCOPES AND MAKE THEM IN THEIR CURRENT FOOTPRINT EVEN STRONGER AND ALLOW THEM TO LOOK DEEPER INTO THE UNIVERSE.
THIRTY METER TELESCOPE IS DIVIDING OUR STATE, IS DIVIDING OUR COMMUNITIES.
LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR IS CORRECT.
IT IS ABOUT RESPECT.
IT'S ALSO HOW ASTRONOMY IS CONSTRUCTED HERE IN HAWAI'I.
WHEN I WAS IN THE STATE SENATE, I CALLED FOR MOVING THE INSTITUTE OF ASTRONOMY TO HILO.
I CALLED FOR MORE ASTRONOMICAL VIEWING TIME FOR U.H.
HILO'S ASTRONOMY STUDENTS.
I CALLED FOR MORE COMMUNITY BENEFITS PACKAGE SO WE HAD FUNDING THAT COULD SUPPORT HAWAI'I ISLAND COMMUNITIES.
HELP OUT THE BOYS AND GIRLS CLUB OF THE BIG ISLAND.
WE NEED TO MOVE IN A DIFFERENT DIRECTION.
HOW WE MANAGE AND PROTECT SPECIAL PLACES.
AND MAUNA KEA IS ONE OF MANY ISSUES WE HAVE TO DEAL WITH IN THIS STATE, AND THAT'S HOW I FEEL ABOUT ASTRONOMY.
>> YUNJI: MRS. CAYETANO, I WANT TO TALK ABOUT SOMETHING YOU BROUGHT UP AS MOST IMPORTANT ISSUE.
YOU SAID COST OF LIVING, IT'S THE ECONOMY.
IN PREPARATION FOR THE SHOW, I LOOKED IT UP, AND THE AVERAGE COST OF PRIVATE PRESCHOOL IN HAWAI'I IS MORE THAN IN-STATE TUITION AT THE UNIVERSITY OF HAWAI'I, IF YOU CAN BELIEVE THAT.
I BELIEVE IT.
I GOT TWO YOUNG KIDS, AND I KNOW THE BILLS ARE HIGH.
SO THAT COST OF EARLY EDUCATION FOR CHILDREN HITS FAMILIES THAT CAN LEAST AFFORD IT.
IT DOES HAVE A RIPPLE AFFECT AND A FAMILY'S ABILITY TO WORK.
AND SO MANY OF THE OTHER THINGS THAT WE'RE GOING TO TALK ABOUT TONIGHT.
>> ABSOLUTELY.
I WOULD LIKE TO GET BACK TO CONGRESSMAN'S LAST STATEMENT, BUT I THINK UNIVERSAL PRESCHOOL IS VERY MUCH SUPPORTED IN HAWAI'I.
AND I'M GLAD TO SEE THAT THE GOVERNOR HAS ALLOCATED -- GOVERNOR IGE'S ALLOCATED FUNDING TO BEGIN THAT.
SO I ABSOLUTELY THINK THAT THAT'S HEADING IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION.
ESPECIALLY IF WE PUT PRESCHOOL, START IN AREAS, IN ZIP CODES WHERE THEY NEED IT MOST.
THE OTHER THING I WOULD TRY TO ENCOURAGE IS TO LOOK AT THE PRIVATE SECTOR AND SEE IF WE CAN INCENTIVIZE EMPLOYERS SO THAT THEY CAN OFFER PRESCHOOL OR EARLY AFFORDABLE CHILDHOOD CARE TO THEIR EMPLOYEES.
THESE ARE THINGS THAT WE NEED TO LOOK AT TO SUPPORT THE PEOPLE WHO NEED IT MOST.
BECAUSE CHILD CARE IS VERY EXPENSIVE.
>> LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR, WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS IN EARLY EDUCATION PIECE THAT'S REALLY MISSING IN HAWAI'I?
>> I SUPPORT IT COMPLETELY.
I WAS PLEASED THAT TWO HUNDRED MILLION DOLLARS WAS ALLOCATED THIS YEAR TO EARLY EDUCATION.
FOR EVERY DOLLAR THAT WE SPEND ON EARLY EDUCATION, IT YIELDS $7 OF REWARD FOR ADOLESCENTS AND OUR ADULTS AND OUR ECONOMY GOING FORWARD.
THIS IS A PERSONAL THING FOR ME.
EARLY EDUCATION SAVED MY LIFE.
I WAS BORN AND DIDN'T MEET MY DEVELOPMENTAL MILESTONES.
FOR TWO YEARS I DIDN'T SPEAK.
MY FAMILY GOT ME MEDICAL CONSULTATION AND THEY FOUND OUT I WAS DEAF.
SO I WAS VERY, VERY LUCKY TO GET GREAT HEALTHCARE.
I BEGAN TO SPEAK BUT VERY SLOWLY, AND MY MOM AND DAD PUT ME INTO EARLIER EDUCATION AT THE AGE OF TWO AND A HALF.
THAT ENABLED ME TO CATCH UP.
OTHERWISE, I MAY HAVE LOST ALL THE OPPORTUNITIES IN MY LIFE.
I THINK THOSE OPPORTUNITIES ARE CRITICAL.
THEY'RE ECONOMICALLY CRITICAL TO FAMILIES, ESPECIALLY A LOT OF SINGLE DADS AND MOMS, THEY HAVE TO HAVE HELP.
ALSO, IF WE CAN GET EARLY EDUCATION IN PLACE, OUR CHILDREN WILL BE MUCH BETTER AND MORE LITERATE AT AGES 5, 6 AND 7.
OUR SCHOOLS WILL NOT SUFFER DELAYS IN THE CLASSROOM WHEN WE'RE SHORT ON TEACHERS.
WE GET AHEAD FASTER.
I'M STRONGLY CONSIDERING HANDING A LOT OF THIS RESPONSIBILITY OFF TO WHOMEVER WINS LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR.
IT'S SO IMPORTANT THAT THE LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR HAS A KEY ROLE.
THIS IS SO CENTRAL TO WHAT WE'RE GOING TO DO.
I'D LIKE TO WORK HAND AND HAND WITH THAT PERSON.
>> YUNJI: CONGRESSMAN KAHELE, YOU'RE NOT GOING TO FIND ANYONE WHO OPPOSES EARLY EDUCATION.
THIS IS SOMETHING WE'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT AS A STATE FOR QUITE SOME TIME.
IS HAS NOT HAPPENED YET.
WHAT COULD YOUR OFFICE DO DIFFERENTLY TO MAKE IT HAPPEN?
>> FROM A FOUNDATIONAL PERSPECTIVE, NOTHING IS A STRONGER INDICATOR OF BEING PREPARED FOR ONE'S FUTURE THAN EDUCATION.
REGARDLESS OF WHAT YOUR LIFE'S SUCCESS WILL BE, EDUCATION IS FOUNDATIONAL FOR THAT SUCCESS.
THE SOONER WE CAN START OUR KIDS IN THEIR EDUCATIONAL JOURNEY, THEIR DEVELOPMENT, THE BETTER.
I TOTALLY SUPPORT UNIVERSAL PRESCHOOL ACROSS OUR STATE.
I WOULD HOPE THAT AT THE END OF MY ADMINISTRATION, WE WILL HAVE AS MANY PRESCHOOL BUILT THROUGHOUT THE STATE OF HAWAI'I.
WORKING TOGETHER WITH THE SCHOOL FACILITIES AUTHORITY IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT THAT THOSE FUNDS GO TO PRESCHOOL.
I'M ALSO A BIG SUPPORTER OF EARLY CHILDHOOD CARE.
OUR DAUGHTER STARTED IN AN INFANT PROGRAM GOING TO PRESCHOOL FROM ABOUT 15 MONTHS OLD TO THREE YEARS AND THEN THEY WENT INTO PRESCHOOL.
WE HAVE TO PAY FOR THAT.
COST A LOT OF MONEY.
AT ONE TIME, WE WERE PAYING $1,600 A MONTH.
THAT'S A MORTGAGE.
THAT'S RENT FOR SOMEONE.
AND SO I THINK IF EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION, OUR CORE VALUES WE HAVE AS A STATE THAT NEED TO BE REFLECTED IN OUR POLICIES.
WE NEED TO FUND IT.
I WOULD HOPE THAT WE CAN HAVE THESE EARLY CHILD CARE OPPORTUNITIES IN OUR PUBLIC SCHOOLS SO THAT A TEACHER THAT HAS A CHILD THAT NEEDS TO GO BACK TO WORK AFTER SIX WEEKS, EIGHT WEEKS, WHATEVER THEIR SITUATION IS, CAN HAVE THEIR CHILD ON THE CAMPUS.
THEY CAN GO AND FEED THEM ON LUNCH BREAK.
THEY CAN PLAY WITH THEM AND SEE THEM AND PRESCHOOLS ARE BUILT ON OUR CAMPUSES.
I THINK THAT'S REALLY IMPORTANT THAT MOTHER-INFANT RELATIONSHIP.
THAT SO MANY ARE MOTHERS ARE SEPARATED AT AN EARLY AGE BECAUSE THEY HAVE TO GO TO WORK.
THAT'S SOMETHING WE HAVE TO ADDRESS AS A STATE.
>> DON'T YOU THINK IT WOULD BE AN IDEAL OPPORTUNITY NOW TO ALSO LOOK AT THE PRIVATE SECTOR, WORKING WITH THEM TO SEE IF THEY CAN PARTICIPATE WITH SOME OF THE COSTS?
IT'S VERY HARD TO FIND EMPLOYEES RIGHT NOW WITH THE EMPLOYMENT SITUATION.
AND EMPLOYERS ARE ALWAYS LOOKING AT WHAT KIND OF BENEFIT THEY CAN GIVE THAT'S MEANINGFUL TO EMPLOYEES.
I WOULD LOOK AT PROGRAMS LIKE THAT AS WELL TO INCENTIVIZE THEM.
A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE RETURNING TO WORK.
MANY PEOPLE ARE STILL WORKING REMOTELY.
THERE ARE OFFICE SPACES AVAILABLE.
COULDN'T WE PARTNER WITH NONPROFITS, WITH PRIVATE SECTOR TO LOOK AT DOING THIS SO THAT WE CAN TAKE CARE OF CHILD CARE NEEDS FOR OUR CHILDREN.
>> YUNJI: I WANT TO BRING IN A QUESTION FROM JOSH ON FACEBOOK TO THE LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR.
JOSH ON FACEBOOK ASKS, WE CAN'T HAVE UNREGULATED TOURISM IN HAWAI'I.
WHAT WILL THE GOVERNOR DO WITH TOURISM THAT WILL IMPROVES THE LIVES OF RESIDENTS AND KEEPS THE LAND SUSTAINABLE?
WE KNOW IT'S OUR NUMBER ONE INDUSTRY.
IT'S THE ECONOMIC ENGINE FOR NOW FOR OUR STATE.
YOU GO TO WAIKIKI OR ANYWHERE AROUND TOWN, YOU SEE TOURISTS ARE BACK.
FOR A LOT, THAT'S A MIXED BAGS.
YES, GOOD JOBS.
DON'T NECESSARILY LIKE ALL THAT COMES WITH IT.
WHAT DO YOU SAY TO JOSH?
>> I WOULD SAY TO JOSH, WE HAVE TO HAVE TOURISM BUT IT HAS TO BE DONE BETTER.
COUPLE THINGS.
AS TO REGULATION, WE HAVE TO BETTER REGULATE THE AIRBNBS.
ESPECIALLY THE ONES THAT FLOATED ILLEGALLY.
THEY UNDERCUT WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO BE ABOUT HERE, WHICH IS KEEP TOURISM IN THE RIGHT SPOTS AND NOT OVERWHELM PLACES WE HOLD MOST DEAR.
THE BEACHES, PARKS AND SO ON.
I'VE ACTUALLY BEGUN TO DEVELOP A PLAN, CALLING A CLIMATE IMPACT FEE.
IT COULD BE A LITTLE CONTROVERSIAL.
THE REASON WE WOULD HAVE IT, THIS WOULD BE A FEE FOR PEOPLE COMING TO HAWAI'I OVER AGE 12, $50.
THE REASON IT WOULD BENEFIT US AS FAR AS TOURISM GOES, IS WE'VE HAD TOO MANY TOURISTS AT A LOWER PRICE POINT RECENTLY.
SO WE'RE GETTING MORE REVENUE, BUT WE'RE GETTING MORE AND MORE PEOPLE.
THIS IS EVEN BEFORE THE JAPANESE TOURISTS RETURN, AND THEY'RE VERY IMPORTANT TO OUR ECONOMY.
YOU APPLY THAT FEE AND USE IT ON OUR OPEN SPACES.
USE IT TO HELP AFFORD HOUSING.
USE IT TO PRESERVE CLIMATE DAMAGE THAT WE'VE BEEN DEALING WITH.
WE'RE GOING TO HAVE ROADS THAT HAVE TO BE REPAIRED.
WE'RE GOING TO HAVE BEACHES THAT ARE ERODING.
WE DON'T DO SOMETHING LIKE THAT, ALL THIS COST AND BURDEN IS GOING TO FALL ON OUR PEOPLE.
THE OTHER BENEFIT OF THAT IS BY INCREASING THE COST OF TRAVEL TO HAWAII, YOU WILL REDUCE LOWEST END TRAVEL COMING ON THE VERY BARGAIN BASEMENT PLANE TICKETS, THE BARGAIN BASEMENT HOTEL ROOMS, WHICH WILL ARE BODIES THAT OVERWHELM, BUT THEY DON'T ADD MUCH TO OUR ECONOMY.
SO THIS IS A WAY TO SO TWO PROBLEMS.
DECREASE WHAT HAS BECOME AN OVERWHELMING EXPERIENCE WITH TOURISM FOR A LOT OF PEOPLE, WHILE INCREASING REVENUE FOR PROJECTS WE NEED.
WE'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT GREAT SOME IDEAS.
WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO PAY FOR THEM.
I DON'T WANT IT TO BE PAID FOR NECESSARILY BY OUR TAXPAYERS.
>> YUNJI: CONGRESSMAN, WHAT DO YOU THINK?
>> OUR ISLANDS ARE AT CAPACITY.
TOURISM WILL ALWAYS BE PART OF OUR ISLANDS AND STATE'S ECONOMY.
WE SAW PRE-PANDEMIC 10 MILLION VISITORS IS UNSUSTAINABLE FOR THE STATE.
I THINK IT'S A FANTASTIC IDEA THAT COUNCIL FOR NATIVE HAWAIIAN ADVANCEMENT COULD POTENTIALLY BE NEXT MARKETING VEHICLE WHERE NATIVE HAWAIIAN ARE MARKETING TOURISM TO THE WORLD AROUND A SUSTAINABLE, REGENERATIVE TOURISM MODEL BASED ON HAWAIIAN VALUES.
BASED ON THE ALOHA SPIRIT.
PEOPLE HAVE BEEN COMING TO HAWAI'I FOR DECADES.
AND THEY COME HERE BECAUSE THEY DON'T JUST WANT TO EXPERIENCE OUR BEAUTIFUL SCENERY AND OUR BEAUTIFUL ISLANDS AND BEACHES.
BUT THEY WANT TO EXPERIENCE THE ALOHA SPIRIT.
THEY WANT TO EXPERIENCE OUR CULTURE, OUR VALUES.
VERY SIMILAR TO THE PLACE BASED TYPE EDUCATION THAT MY DAUGHTERS ARE EXPERIENCING GOING TO A NATIVE HAWAIIAN CHARTER IMMERSION SCHOOL.
THEY WANT TO GET INTO OUR KALO PATCHES.
THEY WANT TO GET INTO LOI'S.
THEY WANT TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO DO LA'AU LAPA'AU AND LOMI LOMI.
THESE ARE THINGS WE NEED TO INCORPORATE IN DESTINATION MANAGEMENT PLANS.
IF YOU LOOK AT THE ISLAND OF OAHU, WHAT ARE THE MAJOR TOURIST DESTINATIONS?
WAIKIKI, KUALOA RANCH, POLYNESIAN CULTURAL CENTER.
THAT'S ALL WE HAVE.
WHEN YOU HAVE SO MANY TOURISTS COMING TO OUR ISLANDS, THEY SPILL OUT INTO OUR COMMUNITIES, INTO THE BEACHES IS AND PARKS AND TO THE PLACES WHERE OUR LOCAL FAMILIES ARE.
WE NEED TO DO A BETTER JOB OF CREATING A TOURISM MODEL WHERE WE HAVE DESTINATION PLANS THAT CAN REBUILD, REDEFINE AND RESET TOURISM HERE IN HAWAI'I.
I DON'T KNOW IF YOU NOTICED, IN WAIKIKI, DOESN'T LOOK LIKE THE WAIKIKI I REMEMBER.
IT'S NOT.
THERE'S STREET PERFORMERS ON EVERY SINGLE BLOCK.
THERE'S BIG BIRD WALKING DOWN WAIKIKI.
IT LOOKS LIKE SANTA MONICA PIER ON A SUNDAY.
THAT'S NOT WHAT WE WANT TO MARKET, BUT WE CREATED THAT.
THAT HAS TO CHANGE.
WE HAVE HOMELESS ALL OVER WAIKIKI.
DIFFERENT PLACES IT SMELLS OF URINE AND MAKES ME SO SAD THAT THAT'S WHAT WAIKIKI LOOKS LIKE.
I WAS OVER IN LAHAINA TWO WEEKS AGO ON A SATURDAY FOR THE LAHAINA PARADE.
THERE WERE HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE AT THE LAHAINA BOAT PIER UNDER THE BANYAN TREE.
I WENT TO THE BATHROOM AND SHOCKED TO FIND ONE URINAL WAS BROKEN.
NEVER HAVE TOILET PAPER.
ON A SATURDAY WHERE THERE WERE HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE.
I WANT TO RUN FOR GOVERNOR OF HAWAI'I TO FIX THE BATHROOM IN LAHAINA.
>> YUNJI: LET'S GET TO MRS. CAYETANO.
YOUR THOUGHTS.
DO YOU AGREE WITH CHARGING A FEE UPON ENTRY TO THE STATE?
>> YES, I THINK THAT MAKES A LOT OF SENSE.
WE ALSO NEED TO LOOK AT BETTER EDUCATING VISITORS THAT COME HERE.
THE IMPACT OF SEVEN, EIGHT, OR NINE MILLION VISITORS COMING.
WE NEED TO DO A BETTER JOB OF THAT.
AS AN EXAMPLE, PLASTICS IN THE OCEAN AND WORK WITH THE HOTELS TO SEE HOW THEY CAN BE BETTER PARTNERS.
SOME OF THE SMALL AMENITY BOTTLES THAT GO BACK INTO THE OCEAN.
SO WE NEED TO WORK TOGETHER AND DO A BETTER JOB OF THAT.
YES, HTA DOES HAVE DESTINATION MANAGEMENT PLANS AND WHICHEVER AGENCY ENDS UP EXECUTING THEM, I THINK THAT THOSE PLANS NEED TO BE FUNDED AND SUPPORTED AND NOT BE POLITICIZED.
SO MUCH OF OUR LACK OF PROGRESS IS BECAUSE THINGS BECOME TOO POLITICAL.
THAT'S REALLY IMPORTANT.
THE OTHER THING I WOULD SAY IS THAT WE REALLY MISSED THE BOAT ON UNDERSTANDING HOW UNIQUE HAWAI'I IS.
THE HISTORY OF HAWAI'I.
NOBODY TALKS ABOUT GOING TO IOLANI PALACE, WASHINGTON PLACE.
IF YOU UNDERSTAND THE HISTORY OF THIS PLACE, OF QUEEN LILIUOKALANI AND HER LIFE AND WHAT SHE DID, YOU HAVE A VERY DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVE OF THE STATE.
AS WE SEEK TO CHANGE BEHAVIOR AND TO GET VISITORS TO UNDERSTAND AND RESPECT THE CULTURE, WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THEY UNDERSTAND THE HISTORY OF THIS STATE.
>> YUNJI, I SHOULD ADD A LITTLE.
I APPRECIATE THE COMMENTS THAT HAVE BEEN MADE.
THIS IS ALSO AN OPPORTUNITY FOR ECONOMIC DIVERSIFICATION.
TOURISM IS GOING TO CONTINUE, BUT WE COULD LOOK AT TOURISM AS AN OPPORTUNITY.
IN FAIRNESS, THE FORMER FIRST LADY MENTIONED THIS.
I BELIEVE THIS ALSO.
WE COULD BRING BILLIONS OF ADDITIONAL REVENUE INTO THE STATE OF HAWAI'I.
HEALTHCARE, WHILE VERY EXPENSIVE, IS ALSO A COMMODITY THAT HAWAI'I CAN OFFER.
WE CAN BRING EXTRA PROVIDERS TO OUR STATE, WHICH WE CAN USE FOR OUR PEOPLE AND ALSO BECAUSE WE DO TOURISM SO WELL, CARVE OUT ADDITIONAL SPACE AND RESOURCES FOR HEALTH TOURISM.
WE CAN BE THE HEALTH DESTINATION.
THE ISLAND THAT CONGRESSMAN AND I COME FROM, THAT IS A HEALTHY, HEALING PLACE.
I THINK A LOT OF PEOPLE WOULD WELCOME THIS ADDED OPPORTUNITY INTO OUR CULTURE TO SEE THE HEALING NATURE OF BIG ISLAND AND OTHER PLACES.
THIS IS A VERY GOOD OPPORTUNITY TO INCREASE TRAVEL AND INCREASE WELLNESS.
>> YUNJI: THERE ARE A NUMBER OF QUESTIONS ABOUT LEGALIZING MARIJUANA.
SO I WANT TO GET TO THAT.
I'LL LET YOUR RESPOND VERY QUICKLY.
>> I JUST WANT TO PIGGYBACK WHAT THE LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR SAID.
I ALSO THINK IT IS IMPORTANT TO LOOK AT IMPOSING VISITOR FEES OR USER FEES.
OTHER LOCATIONS LIKE HAWAI'I HAVE AN EXIT TAX OR A DEPARTURE TAX AND UTILIZE THOSE RESOURCES TO OFFSET THE ENVIRONMENTAL DAMAGES THAT HAPPEN TO OUR COMMUNITIES.
I THINK SOMETHING ELSE WE CAN DO IS CARBON OFFSETS.
WORK TOGETHER WITH AIRLINE INDUSTRY, BRING TOURISTS INTO OUR COMMUNITIES, DO FOREST REPLANTING.
THERE'S SO MUCH THAT WE CAN DO.
IN ORDER TO DO ALL THE GREAT THINGS AND ALL THE IDEAS WE HAVE, WE NEED AIRLINE INDUSTRY, FROM OUR RESTAURANTS AND HOTELS, FROM LEGISLATURE, COMMUNITY AND GOVERNMENT.
IT'S GOING TO TAKE LEADERSHIP TO BRING ALL OF THAT TOGETHER.
>> YUNJI: THESE ARE THE SAME QUESTIONS.
RAYMOND ON FACEBOOK.
LEGALIZING RECREATIONAL USE OF MARIJUANA IN THE STATE OF HAWAI'I.
CONGRESSMAN.
>> I SUPPORT THAT.
>> YUNJI: WHY?
>> I THINK IT'S BEING DONE IN MANY OTHER STATES ACROSS OUR NATION.
I SUPPORT IT AS A MEMBER OF U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.
AND I BELIEVE IT IS FINE TO LEGALIZE RECREATIONAL MARIJUANA.
UTILIZE THE RESOURCES FOR PUBLIC EDUCATION, FOR TOURISM.
ALL THE THINGS WE NEED TO GENERATE REVENUE IN THIS STATE.
I THINK THAT IS A VIABLE WAY TO DO THAT AND IT'S A MATTER OF TIME BEFORE WE DO THAT.
AND THE LEGISLATURE PASSED A LAW TO MAKES IT HAPPEN.
>> YUNJI: WHAT DO YOU SAY TO RAYMOND?
>> YES, THAT WILL HAPPEN IN THE STATE OF HAWAI'I.
COUPLE THINGS.
MEDICAL MARIJUANA HAVE BEEN HELPFUL TO PEOPLE.
CHILDREN WHO SUFFER SEIZURES.
PEOPLE WITH CHRONIC PAIN.
IT'S BEEN VERY HELPFUL BUT DIFFICULT TO ACCESS.
SO RECREATIONAL MARIJUANA WILL BE OFTEN USED IN THAT SPACE.
97% OF THE PEOPLE THAT GOT MEDICAL MARIJUANA CITED CHRONIC PAIN OR ANXIETY AS THEIR REASON.
SO IN SOCIETY, PEOPLE HAVE BEEN THROUGH A LOT AND IT WILL BE A NATURAL WAY TO HELP.
NOW BEYOND THAT, COUPLE THINGS.
OVER AGE 21.
21 AND UP, YOU SHOULD BE SAFE.
PEOPLE ARE STILL DEVELOPING.
THEIR NEUROLOGIC SYSTEM IS STILL DEVELOPING.
AS THEY GO UP INTO THEIR LEVEL 20s.
BE A LITTLE BIT CAREFUL.
I DON'T THINK MARIJUANA IS NEARLY AS IMPACTFUL AS OPIOIDS.
SOME STATES TAX MARIJUANA, RECREATIONAL MARIJUANA UPWARDS OF 30%.
THAT'S PROBABLY EXTREME.
WE'RE TALKING ABOUT TOURISTS WHO WILL PROBABLY BE BUYING RECREATIONAL MARIJUANA.
IT COULD BRING $30 MILLION TO OUR STATE.
I WOULD USE IT TO REBUILD OUR PUBLIC HEALTH SYSTEM AND MENTAL HEALTH SYSTEM.
WE'VE BEEN NEGLECTING THE HEALTHCARE OF OUR DEAR FAMILIES.
THEY'VE STRUGGLED SO MUCH.
PAY FOR SOCIAL WORKERS.
GET THEM HEALTHCARE.
THERE'S ALMOST NO HEALTHCARE FOR 500,000 OF OUR CITIZENS NOW.
ESPECIALLY OR RURAL AREAS.
THIS WOULD BE A WAY TO PAY FOR IT.
THERE'S A PRETTY NATURAL NEXUS BETWEEN MARIJUANA AND USING IT FOR GOOD HEALTH.
>> YUNJI: MRS. CAYETANO?
>> WE KNOW THE FEDERAL LAW STATES THAT'S NOT LEGAL.
MEDICINAL MARIJUANA, WE SUPPORT HERE.
IT'S NOT THAT DIFFICULT TO GET THAT EVEN FOR DEPRESSION OR OTHER REASONS.
I STILL ASK THE QUESTION OF THE IMPACT ON THE MIND, THE BRAIN ON THIS.
SO GIVEN WHAT I KNOW, I'M NEVER CLOSED MINDED TO ANYTHING, BUT I GIVEN WHAT I KNOW, I WOULD NOT SUPPORT RECREATIONAL MARIJUANA.
I THINK THAT YES, THE INDUSTRY IS CERTAINLY BRINGS A LOT OF MONEY AND THAT'S WHERE IT'S A BIG ATTRACTION, BUT WE HAVE TO LOOK AT IT VERY CAREFULLY.
ESPECIALLY WHEN YOU DO LEGALIZE RECREATIONAL MARIJUANA.
THERE'S BASICALLY NO LIMIT TO WHAT THEY CAN SMOKE.
AND THAT I QUESTION.
FOR EMPLOYERS, WHAT WOULD THEY DO?
DRIVERS WOULD BE ABLE TO SMOKE IT THEN?
ALL THOSE QUESTIONS COME UP.
THERE'S A LOT OF MONEY IN THIS SO IT'S ATTRACTIVE, BUT WE HAVE TO LOOK CAREFULLY.
>> YUNJI: I WANT TO GET TO THE SUBJECT OF GUNS AND THE RECENT SUPREME COURT DECISION.
FROM VIRGINIA, LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR, WHERE DO YOU STAND ON GUN LAWS?
WE'RE A STRICT STATE, BUT ACTIVE SHOOTERS ARE BECOMING A HUGE PROBLEM NATIONWIDE.
VIRGINIA SAYS, WHERE DO CANDIDATES STAND ON KEEPING PROTECTIVE GUN LAWS.
AND SUPREME COURT'S NEW RULING OF OPEN CARRY GUNS?
>> I'M VERY DISAPPOINTED IN THE SUPREME COURT.
THIS IS PERSONAL FOR ME.
IN MY MEDICAL TRAINING AND THE WORK THAT I'VE DONE, I'VE SEEN MANY VICTIMS OF GUN VIOLENCE.
I'VE SEEN MURDERS THAT HAVE OCCURRED.
I'VE CARED FOR PATIENTS WHO HAVE BEEN SHOT.
I'VE CARED FOR CHILDREN WHO HAVE BEEN ACCIDENTALLY SHOT BY GUNS THAT WEREN'T ADEQUATELY SAFEGUARDED.
I'VE SEEN A LOT OF SELF-HARM.
AND I ALSO LOST A COUSIN TO SUICIDE BECAUSE SHE WAS ABLE TO GET A GUN EVEN THOUGH SHE WAS SUFFERING FROM SEVERE DEPRESSION.
WHAT I THINK WE HAVE TO DO IS BIG THE GAP ONCE AND FOR ALL.
DEMAND THAT WE GET MENTAL HEALTH FOR EVERYONE.
INSIST THAT WE HAVE STRONGER GUN LAWS.
POSSIBLY NEW IDEAS ON GUN LAWS.
GUN INSURANCE.
MAKING PEOPLE PROCESS THE POSSIBILITY THAT THEY'RE NOT QUALIFIED TO HAVE A GUN BECAUSE THEY HAVE NOT BEEN ADEQUATELY SAFE IN THEIR LIFE.
THERE'S A LOT OF RESPONSIBILITY THAT HAS TO HAPPEN HERE.
I WILL TELL YOU THAT MORE GUNS MEANS MORE HARM.
MORE GUNS MEANS MORE SELF-HARM.
THERE'S A LOT OF DEPRESSION OUT THERE WE'RE NOT MANAGING IN OUR STATE AND ACROSS OUR COUNTRY.
SO WE HAVE TO DO A MUCH BETTER JOB.
I WILL TELL YOU THIS, IF I'M CHOSEN BY THE PEOPLE TO BE THE NEXT GOVERNOR, I'LL BE THE ONLY PHYSICIAN GOVERNOR IN THE COUNTRY.
I INTEND TO MAKE THIS A PUBLIC HEALTH ISSUE NATIONALLY AND LEAD ON IT FROM HAWAI'I.
>> YUNJI: WHAT DO YOU SAY TO VIRGINIA ABOUT THE ISSUE OF GUN AND GUN SAFETY?
>> I WOULD ECHO THAT.
WE NEED TO IMPLEMENT THINGS LIKE INSURANCE, REQUIRING THAT.
I'M NOT SURE HOW FAR WE CAN GO WITH BACKGROUND CHECKS, BUT WE DO NEED TO ADDRESS MENTAL ILLNESS.
THAT IS NOT BEING ADDRESSED ENOUGH IN OUR STATE.
WHAT THE SUPREME COURT HAS DONE IS REALLY A TRAVESTY.
EACH STATE, AND HAWAI'I NEEDS TO LEAD BY MAKING -- COUNTERING SO WE CAN KEEP OUR PEOPLE SAFER TO DO THAT.
>> YUNJI: CONGRESSMAN, IT SEEMS LIKE EVERY DAY WE HEAR ABOUT A NEW ACTIVE SHOOTER.
>> WE WERE TALKING ABOUT THE FORMER PRIME MINISTER OF JAPAN, SHINZO ABE.
POTENTIALLY WAS SHOT A FEW HOURS AGO.
IT'S ABSOLUTELY HORRIFIC.
AND SUPREME COURT'S RULING IS DEEPLY DISTURBING.
JUST TWO WEEKS AGO, I WAS IN THE UNITED STATES CONGRESS, AND WE PASSED A BIPARTISAN GUN BILL THAT HADN'T BEEN PASSED IN ALMOST DECADES.
WHETHER IT'S SANDY HOOK, UVALDE, LAS VEGAS, CHICAGO, GUN VIOLENCE ARE AT RECORD LEVELS IN THIS COUNTRY.
WE HAVE HAD -- AND HAWAI'I HAS HAD FORTUNATELY SOME OF THE LEAST GUN VIOLENCE.
WE HAVE VERY STRINGENT, VERY TOUGH LAWS.
NO DOUBT BECAUSE OF OUR ROBUST GUN LAWS, BUT I'M VERY CONCERNED WITH THE SUPREME COURT'S RULING AND WHAT THAT MEANS FOR HAWAI'I.
I ALSO BELIEVE WE NEED TO MAINTAIN REASONABLE GUN LAWS AND ALSO THERE'S HUNTERS ON HAWAI'I ISLAND THAT HUNT AND RECREATIONAL GUN OWNERS.
THEIR RIGHT TO OWN GUNS.
THEY'RE RESPONSIBLE GUN OWNERS BUT THERE'S A LOT THAT NEEDS TO BE DONE IN THE STATE.
SUPPORTING MENTAL ILLNESS AND A LOT OF OTHER THINGS THAT WE CAN ADDRESS AS A STATE.
AS FAR AS SUPREME COURT'S RULING IT'S DEVASTATING.
>> YUNJI: MRS. CAYETANO, HILDA ASKS WHAT ARE YOUR PLANS TO ADDRESS HOMELESSNESS?
WE'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT HOMELESSNESS FOR AS LONG AS I CAN REMEMBER.
THERE ARE A LOT OF TALK.
YOU WALK DOWN THE STREET AND IT'S NOT CENTERED IN ONE PART OF TOWN ANYMORE.
BASICALLY, IT'S EVERYWHERE YOU DRIVE, YOU SPOT FOLKS IN NEED OF HELP.
HOW DO YOU GIVE THESE FOLKS HELP AND WHAT CAN THE STATE DO THAT THE CITY PERHAPS HAS NOT DONE?
>> IN FAIRNESS, IT'S NOT ONLY CITY, IT'S THE STATE AND GOVERNMENT.
WE KEEP TALKING ABOUT IT EVERY ELECTION CYCLE.
I DON'T THINK ANYONE CAN DISPUTE THAT IT'S WORSE THAN EVER.
AND SO ONCE AGAIN, I BELIEVE THAT WE NEED TO TACKLE THIS.
WE NEED A LEADER WHO CAN DELIVER WITH ACTION AND NOT JUST BE TALKING ABOUT ISSUES AND MAKING PROMISES AND NOT BEING ABLE TO DELIVER.
HOMELESSNESS IS A COMPLEX PROBLEM.
IT'S MADE UP OF DIFFERENT COMPONENTS.
ONE IS MENTAL ILLNESS, SUBSTANCE ABUSE.
MENTAL ILLNESS IS SOMETHING I DON'T BELIEVE WE HAVE THE PROPER PROTOCOLS IN PLACE NOW.
WE TAKE THEM TO EMERGENCY ROOM, THEY GET A MEAL, AND THEY'RE BACK OUT ON THE STREETS AGAIN.
AND THE CYCLE CONTINUES.
AS GOVERNOR, I WOULD CALL FOR A DESIGNATED MENTAL HOSPITAL HERE AND ON THE NEIGHBOR ISLAND A FACILITY TO PROVIDE A CONTINUUM OF SERVICES.
BECAUSE MENTAL ILLNESS IS MANAGED.
YOU SHOULDN'T THINK YOU'RE CURED.
YOU ALWAYS NEED SUPPORT, WHETHER IT'S MEDICATION, EMOTIONAL SUPPORT.
EMOTIONAL WELLNESS SUPPORT.
YOU NEED THAT KIND OF SUPPORT, AND A CONTINUUM OF SERVICE IS THE BEST SAFETY NET TO HELP THEM NOT ONLY ADDRESS THE PROBLEM BUT HELP THEM BE ABLE TO GET BACK INTO THE COMMUNITY.
SO MENTAL ABUSE AND SUBSTANCE ABUSE NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED.
AND THERE'S ONE SEGMENT THAT'S REALLY SAD, AND THOSE ARE THOSE WHO ARE HOMELESS BECAUSE THEY CAN'T AFFORD THE RENT THAT'S JUST GONE UP OR THEY CAN'T FIND A HOUSE THAT THEY CAN AFFORD.
SO AFFORDABLE HOUSING IS VERY KEY TO ADDRESSING THAT COMPONENT AS WELL.
>> YUNJI: CONGRESSMAN, YOUR THOUGHTS ON HOW TO ADDRESS THE HOMELESS ISSUE?
SOMETHING THAT HAS NOT BEEN DONE BEFORE.
>> YUNJI, WE CAN'T TURN A BLIND EYE ON PEOPLE SLEEPING ON THE STREETS, PEOPLE THAT ARE HOMELESS.
MY WIFE AND I WENT TO THE KAPAHULU BRIDGE JUST LAST WEEKEND, AND THERE'S PEOPLE SLEEPING ALL OVER THE PLACE.
YOU DRIVE ALONG THE LEEWARD COAST, THERE'S NATIVE HAWAIIANS FROM KAENA POINT TO ALL THE WAY DOWN TO KAHI POWER PLANT.
IT'S ABSOLUTELY UNACCEPTABLE.
THERE ARE THINGS WE'RE DOING.
GOVERNOR SIGNED A LAW INCREASING MORE FUNDING FOR OHANA ZONES.
THAT'S A STEP IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION.
IF YOU TALK TO PEOPLE IN CATHOLIC CHARITIES AND OTHER NONPROFITS ACROSS THE STATE THAT ARE DOING A FANTASTIC JOB, GIVING THEIR HEART AND SOUL TO ADDRESSING THIS ISSUE.
IT'S HOUSE FIRST.
IT GOES BACK TO BUILDING HOUSING AND THE ALOHA STADIUM PARCEL.
KAHUIKI VILLAGE IS A GREAT EXAMPLE.
WE WERE ALL TO DO THAT QUICKLY BECAUSE PLANNING AND PERMITTING AND SOME OF THE ISSUES THAT WE WERE ABLE TO FAST TRACK TO DEVELOP THAT.
WE NEED TO CONTINUE TO DO MORE OF THAT ACROSS THE ISLAND OF OAHU AND THE STATE.
WE HAVE VETERANS THAT ARE HOMELESS.
THAT'S UNACCEPTABLE.
I REALLY BELIEVE IT COMES DOWN TO OUR VALUES.
IF WE VALUE AS A STATE TO GET RID OF HOMELESSNESS AND TO HELP THOSE THAT ARE HOMELESS, THEN IT NEEDS TO BE REFLECT IN OUR POLICIES.
THAT REQUIRES LEADERSHIP AND COLLABORATION AND COOPERATION AT THE LEGISLATURE.
WE NEED THE FUNDING TO DO IT, WE NEED THE POLICIES TO DO IT.
THAT'S WHAT THIS NEXT ADMINISTRATION IS GOING TO HAVE TO ADDRESS.
WE'RE SEEING RECORD AMOUNT OF HOMELESSNESS LIKE WE'VE NEVER SEEN BEFORE, WHETHER IT'S IN CHINATOWN, WAIKIKI OR IN THE WAIANAE COAST.
>> YUNJI: WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS?
>> I'M PASSIONATE ABOUT THIS.
I'VE PROVIDED STREET MEDICINE TO THE HOMELESS, AND I'VE TALKED TO THEM ABOUT THEIR STORIES.
HOW THEY'VE BECOME HOMELESS.
MOST OF THEM ARE SUFFERING EITHER ADDICTION OR MENTAL ILLNESS.
ALMOST EVERY WOMAN HAS BEEN SEXUALLY ASSAULTED ON THE STREET.
ALMOST EVERY MAN HAS HAD PHYSICAL VIOLENCE AGAINST HIM.
PTSD IS RAMPANT AND SELF-MEDICATION MAKES THE PROBLEM WORSE.
METHAMPHETAMINE IS A CRISIS THAT PUTS A LOT OF PEOPLE INTO HOMELESSNESS.
MY TEAM HAS WORKED CONSTANTLY ON THIS MATTER.
THE NUMBERS HAVE BEEN DECLINING BUT IT'S WAY TOO LARGE.
WE'VE BUILT VILLAGES.
WE DID ONE IN WAIMANALO, WE DID ONE IN KALAELOA.
IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE U.S. VETS.
WE'RE SEEING FAMILIES RESTORED.
I WANT TO TELL YOU THE STORY ABOUT JOCELYN.
JOCELYN IS THIS AMAZING YOUNG HAWAIIAN WOMAN WHO SAID SHE WAS GOING TO TAKE HER OWN LIFE BECAUSE SHE WAS HOMELESS AT SHERWOODS.
SHE HAS FOUR YOUNGER SIBLINGS.
WE BUILT KAUHALE WITH AUNTY BLANCHE IN WAIMANALO.
THESE TINY HOUSES WITH PRIVATE SECTOR SUPPORT AND WE USED A PIECE OF STATE LAND.
WE PROVIDED SOME SOCIAL SERVICES.
NOW JOCELYN IS WORKING THROUGH HER DEGREE.
HER OLDEST BUT YOUNGER BROTHER JUST HAD HIS FIRST PROM.
THE NEXT CHILD IN THE FAMILY PLAYS THE DUNGEONS AND DRAGONS.
HE'S RESTORED HIS LIFE WITH HIS FRIENDS.
THEN THE DAUGHTER, THE YOUNGEST ONE WHO LOVES UNICORNS, SHE NOW HAS A ROOF OVER HER HEAD.
AND FINALLY, THE OTHER BROTHER, JOCELYN'S BROTHER, HE USED TO HAVE SEIZURES CONSTANTLY.
WE GOT HIM TO SEE A NEUROLOGIST.
NOW HE HAS A PLACE TO PUT HIS MEDICATION.
THE FAMILY IS IN TACT.
I'VE SEEN OTHER FAMILIES REUNITED BECAUSE THEY HAVE A TINY HOME.
PRICE POINT SO LOW.
ABOUT $6,000 TO $10,000 PER TINY HOME.
AS OPPOSED TO WHAT HAPPENS TO THE SUFFERING TO PEOPLE, AND IN SOCIETY, AVERAGE COST IS $80,000 PER PERSON PER YEAR IF THEY'RE CHRONICALLY HOMELESS.
EACH VISIT TO THE HOSPITAL WHERE I'M OFTEN AM WORKING IN THE E.R., AN AVERAGE OF $4,650 PER VISIT.
PEOPLE COME AND GO, COME AND GO AND DON'T GET BETTER.
BUILD TEN KAU HALE.
WE BUILT THE H4 CENTER TO GET PEOPLE OFF THE STREETS.
DO THIS IN ALL PARTS OF OUR STATE AND ALSO RE-PURPOSE A LOT OF PROPERTIES THAT ARE NOT BEING USED.
WE'VE CHANGED AS A SOCIETY.
THIS OPENS MORE OPPORTUNITIES.
THERE'S NO REASON WE CAN'T REDUCE HOMELESS.
PROBABLY BY TWO-THIRDS IN 3 YEARS IF WE PUT OUR HEART IN THIS AND BUILD THE TINY HOMES AND DO THE HOUSING NECESSARY IN OUR STATE.
>> YUNJI: I WANT TO GET TO ANOTHER ISSUE.
GAMBLING.
THREE QUESTIONS ON GAMBLING.
FROM ANN, ROLAND AND ROBERT.
THANK YOU FOR SENDING IN YOUR QUESTIONS.
CONGRESSMAN, HOW DO YOU FEEL ABOUT LEGALIZING GAMBLING OR INSTITUTING SOME KIND OF A LOTTERY TO RAISE MONEY FOR OUR STATE?
ANOTHER VIEWER SAID I LOVE THEY IDEA.
WHERE ARE THEY GOING TO GET MONEY?
WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT GAMBLING?
>> I DON'T SUPPORT GAMBLING IN THE STATE OF HAWAI'I RIGHT NOW.
I DON'T BELIEVE IT MATCHES OUR VALUES OF ALOHA AND THE HOSPITALITY THAT WE HAVE AS A STATE.
I DON'T SUPPORT LEGALIZING GAMBLING IN HAWAI'I.
THERE ARE OTHER THINGS TO MAKE GOVERNMENT MORE EFFICIENT, MORE TRANSPARENT TO MAXIMIZE THE RESOURCES THAT WE HAVE.
GAMBLING WOULD BE AN ABSOLUTE LAST RESORT.
GOVERNOR CAN'T DO THAT WITHOUT WORKING WITH THE LEGISLATURE.
I DON'T THINK VENTURE TO SAY THAT THAT'S IT'S GOING TO PASS THE LEGISLATURE ANY TIME SUPPORT.
I DON'T SUPPORT IT ON DHHL PROPERTY AND I DON'T SUPPORT IT THROUGHOUT OUR STATE.
>> YUNJI: LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR.
>> I DON'T THINK WE SHOULD PLAY CRAPS WITH OUR CHILDREN'S FUTURE.
AND THAT'S REALLY WHAT'S HAPPENS.
THREE'S A LOT OF GAMBLING ADDICTION OUT THERE.ONE MEMBER OF MY FAMILY BECAME A GAMBLING ADDICT, AND IT HAD A TERRIBLE EFFECT FOR YEARS ON OTHER PEOPLE WHO LOVED HIM.
IT'S SO CHALLENGING WHEN YOU SEE THAT FORM OF ADDICTION CREEP INTO SOCIETY.
I DON'T SUPPORT LEGALIZED GAMBLING.
AS FAR AS LOTTERY, THERE IS SOME ENJOYMENT FROM A LOTTERY.
BE AWARE IT'S NOT GOING TO CREATE VERY MANY JOBS.
WE MIGHT GET PEOPLE WHO TRAVELING HERE TO SPEND MONEY ON TICKETS.
I DON'T WANT TO BE A SPOIL SPORT AND SAY WE CAN'T HAVE ANY FUN.
BUT THAT'S PROBABLY THE MOST WE SHOULD CONSIDER.
IF WE EVER LOOK AT GAMBLING, IT'S GOING TO BE A CHALLENGES TO CONTROL IT.
I KNOW PEOPLE LOVE VEGAS.
VEGAS HAS ITS OWN ISSUES.
WE SHOULD LET WHAT GOES ON IN VEGAS STAY IN VEGAS.
>> YUNJI: MRS. CAYETANO.
>> I AGREE WITH ALL OF THAT.
I OPPOSE GAMBLING.
I THINK THE LOTTERY, GIVEN THE LIMITED NUMBER, THE POPULATION, IT WOULD BE NOTHING LIKE THE STATES THAT HAS THE SUPER LOTTERIES.
THE YIELD WOULD BE LITTLE FOR THE RISK WE STILL ARE TAKING.
I WOULD OPPOSE GAMBLING.
>> YUNJI: I'M HEARING A LOT OF SYNERGY.
SOME DIFFERENCES OF OPINIONS BUT BY AND LARGE, YOU SEEM TO AGREE.
LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR, WHAT DO YOU THINK DIFFERENTIATES YOU FROM OTHER OPPONENTS?
OUTSIDE OF THE POLICY ISSUES, WHAT DO YOU THINK MAKES YOU THE BEST CANDIDATE?
>> THESE OTHER TWO INDIVIDUALS ARE VERY GOOD CANDIDATES AND VERY GOOD PEOPLE.
I HAVE A DIFFERENT SET OF EXPERIENCES.
I CAME TO HAWAI'I TO BE A PHYSICIAN WITH THE NATIONAL HEALTH SERVICE CORPS.
I WORKED IN A RURAL COMMUNITY IN KAU.
TOOK CARE OF 8,000 PEOPLE, MOSTLY FILIPINO AND HAWAIIAN PEOPLE IN THAT COMMUNITY.
I HAD LIFE EXPERIENCES WITH THEM THAT CHANGES ME FOREVER, AND I GOT TO SEE THEIR STRUGGLES.
I GOT TO BE INTEGRATED INTO THEIR OHANA.
I SAW WHAT CHALLENGED THEM THE MOST.
I'VE TRANSLATED THOSE EXPERIENCES, FIRST IN THE COMMUNITY HEALTH CENTER AND THEN IN THE EMERGENCY DEPARTMENTS, INTO POLICY AND PRIORITIES.
I SAW PEOPLE SUFFERING WITHOUT TREATMENT, WITHOUT ACCESS TO MENTAL HEALTHCARE.
SO I PASSED LEGISLATION.
PUT MONEY INTO THOSE SERVICES AND CREATE A TRAUMA SYSTEM AND BUILD CANCER CENTER.
I SAW KIDS NOT GETTING CARE WHEN THEY WERE ON THE AUTISM SPECTRUM.
I SAW THAT AS A MEMBER OF THEIR EXTENDED OHANA, AS THEIR DOCTOR, AND WE MADE THAT A REALITY TO GET THEM CARE.
AND DURING COVID, I WAS THE ONE THAT HAD TO OWN MUCH OF THE RESPONSE.
I'M VERY GRATEFUL FOR OUR HEALTHCARE HEROS.
THEY WERE AMAZING.
I'M GRATEFUL TO HAVE WORKED WITH DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND GENERAL HARA.
THAT EXPERIENCE WAS AN EXPERIENCE OF A LIFETIME FOR A PERSON THAT IS GOING TO BE FIRST LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR AND ASK PEOPLE TO TRUST HIM OR HER AS GOVERNOR.
I'VE DEALT WITH THE CRISIS FOR TWO YEARS, AND DURING THE TWO YEARS, WE'VE HAD THE BEST RESULT IN THE COUNTRY.
THE LOWEST MORTALITY RATE AND LOWEST INFECTION RATE.
VERY DIFFICULT, DIFFICULT DECISIONS.
THESE WERE LIFE-ALTERING LEADERSHIP EXPERIENCES WHICH, I BELIEVE, THAT SET ME APART FROM ANYONE RUNNING, DEMOCRAT OR REPUBLICAN.
>> YUNJI: MRS. CAYETANO, WHAT DO YOU THINK DIFFERENTIATES YOU FROM YOUR TWO OPPONENTS?
>> I'M VERY HONORED TO BE IN THEIR PRESENCE.
THEY HAVE DIFFERENT SKILL SETS.
I WOULD SAY IF YOU HAD A BROKEN ARM, I WOULD NOT BE SAYING YOU SHOULD COME SEE ME.
YOU SHOULD SEE A DOCTOR.
IF YOU WANT TO FLY TO VEGAS, GO TO CONGRESSMAN WHO'S A PILOT.
RUNNING THE STATE GOVERNMENT IS LIKE RUNNING A VERY LARGE CORPORATION.
THE THINGS THAT'S MISSING THAT WE KEEP HEARING ABOUT THE PROBLEMS, NEVER ABLE TO CREATE THE ACTION WE NEED TO ADDRESS THEM.
THAT'S WHAT I BRING TO THE TABLE.
34 YEARS OF PROVEN LEADERSHIP.
COLLABORATION.
THE LEGISLATURE IS AN EQUAL PARTNER, AND WE NEED TO WORK TOGETHER TO MAKE THINGS HAPPEN.
LOOKING AT THE PROBLEMS THAT WE HAVE NOW, THEY'RE NOT GOING TO BE RESOLVED WITH THE TRADITIONAL WAY OF THINKING.
YOU NEED A NEW MINDSET.
TRANSPARENCY, ACCOUNTABILITY AND SENSE OF URGENCY.
THAT'S IN MY DNA.
THAT'S WHAT MAKES ME, IN MY MIND, READY TO LEAD THE STATE.
>> YUNJI: CONGRESSMAN?
>> I'M A LOCAL BOY.
BORN AND RAISED IN HAWAI'I.
RAISED IN HILO.
PRODUCT OF PUBLIC EDUCATION SYSTEM.
GRADUATE OF HILO HIGH SCHOOL.
PRODUCT OF UNIVERSITY OF HAWAI'I.
U.H.
HILO AND U.H.
MANOA, WHERE I PLAYED VOLLEYBALL.
I WAS RAISED IN HILO BUT REALLY RAISED IN HAWAI'I'S LAST NATIVE HAWAIIAN FISHING VILLAGE BY MY DAD AND KUPUNA, WHO IMPARTED THE VALUES OF ALOHA AND LOKAHI AND MALAMA AND PONO.
I TOOK THOSE LIFE EXPERIENCES AT THE UNIVERSITY OF HAWAI'I TO THE HAWAI'I NATIONAL GUARD.
21 YEARS IN THE HAWAI'I NATIONAL GUARD AS A LIEUTENANT COLONEL, AND I STILL CONTINUE TO SERVE.
I WENT TO THE HAWAI'I STATE SENATE.
NOT BECAUSE I WANTED TO RUN FOR OFFICE BUT BECAUSE MY DAD DIED, AND TWO DAYS BEFORE HE PASSED AWAY, HE ASKED IF I WOULD REPLACE HIM.
I'M FOREVER GRATEFUL TO GOVERNOR IGE FOR GIVING ME THE OPPORTUNITY TO FULFILL MY DAD'S LAST DYING WISH.
WENT TO THE STATE SENATE FOR FOUR YEARS.
CHAIRED THE HIGHER EDUCATION COMMITTEE.
I CHAIRED THE WATER LAND COMMITTEE.
ONE OF THE MOST DIVISIVE, TOUGH COMMITTEES.
I TOOK THAT TO THE UNITED STATES CONGRESS.
THE ONLY CANDIDATE WHO HAS WALKED THE HALLS OF WASHINGTON, D.C. AND HAS ANY FEDERAL EXPERIENCE.
THAT'S WHAT I'M BRINGING BACK TO HAWAI'I.
MY EXPERIENCE IN WASHINGTON.
SOME OF MY STAFF IN WASHINGTON.
I HAVE SEEN FIRSTHAND THE DISCONNECT BETWEEN THE STATE OF HAWAI'I AND WASHINGTON,D.C.
I WANT TO BRING BACK SO MUCH NECESSARY FEDERAL FUNDS AND GRANTS FOR HAWAI'I THAT I REALLY BELIEVE WILL MAKE A TREMENDOUS DIFFERENCE FOR THE STATE.
>> YUNJI: I WANT TO GET TO MORE PERSONAL STUFF BECAUSE I LOVE IT, BUT I WOULD BE REMISS IF I DON'T BRING UP WATER AND RED HILL.
THIS IS AN A ISSUE THAT THE NEXT GOVERNOR WILL HAVE TO MANAGE.
ERNIE LAU SAID WE MAY HAVE TO PRIORITIZE DEVELOPMENTS WHEN IT GETS TO WHO GETS WATER AND WHO DOESN'T.
WE TALKED A LOT ABOUT AFFORDABLE HOUSING TONIGHT.
YOU CAN'T BUILD NEW HOMES WITHOUT INFRASTRUCTURE, AND INFRASTRUCTURE IS WATER.
CONGRESSMAN, DO YOU THINK CERTAIN DEVELOPMENTS SHOULD BE PRIORITIZED OVER OTHERS?
IF WE HAVE TO START TO MAKE THAT CALCULATION, WHO GETS WATER?
>> THAT'S A DIFFICULT DECISION YOU HAVE TO MAKE.
WATER, YOU CAN'T LIVE WITHOUT WATER.
WATER IS OUR MOST PRECIOUS RESOURCE.
RED HILL WAS A CATASTROPHIC EVENT FOR OAHU.
IT WAS YEARS IN THE MAKING.
AS A MEMBER OF THE HOUSE ARMED SERVICES COMMITTEE, WORKING WITH OTHER MEMBERS OF THE DELEGATION, WE LED THE EFFORTS ON THE POSITION THAT THE UNITED STATES NAVY TOOK.
DEFUEL, DECOMMISSION AND SHUT DOWNING RED HILL.
THEY CAN'T DO IT FAST ENOUGH.
THE BOARD OF WATER SUPPLY HAD TO TAKE OFFLINE THE HALAWA SHAFT AND OTHER NEARBY MAJOR WATER RESOURCES THAT THE BOARD OF WATER SUPPLY WOULD FEED NEW DEVELOPMENTS IS A TRAVESTY.
JUST LAST WEEK THIS HOUSE ARMED SERVICES COMMITTEE, I WAS ABLE TO GET $200 MILLION IN THE HOUSE VERSION TO DO EXACTLY WHAT THE BOARD IS ASKING FOR.
DRILL NEW WELLS AND BE ABLE TO PULL MORE YIELD FOR NOT JUST THE BOARD OF WATER SUPPLY SYSTEM, BUT FOR THE NAVY'S WATER SYSTEM SO IT CAN PROVIDE CLEAN, FRESH, SAFE, HEALTHY DRINKING WATER TO OAHU RESIDENTS AND THE MILITARY SERVICE MEMBERS.
>> YUNJI: MRS. CAYETANO, HOW DO WE PRIORITIZE DEVELOPMENT IF WATER IS LIMITED AND COULD BE FOR SOME TIME GIVEN THE CONSTRAINTS THAT RED HILL HAS PUT UPON US AND THE DROUGHT STATEWIDE?
>> I WANT TO SAY KUDOS TO CONGRESSMAN.
THAT IS WHY WE NEED A STRONG CONGRESSIONAL DELEGATION, TO HELP WITH THIS ISSUE.
WE'VE KNOWN ABOUT FOR WAY TOO LONG.
WATER IS PRECIOUS NOT JUST HERE, ON ALL THE ISLANDS.
FROM THE STATE PERSPECTIVE, WE NEED TO MAKE SURE WE'RE MAINTAINING THE RESERVOIRS AND DAMS APPROPRIATELY.
WITH THE CUTBACKS, SOME POSITIONS WERE ELIMINATED.
WE NEED TO MAKE SURE WE'RE RESTORING THOSE POSITIONS SO WE THAT CAN PROPERLY MAINTAIN OUR RESERVOIRS AND DAMS.
WITH RED HILL, IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE WORK WITH THE CONGRESSIONAL DELEGATION AND THE NAVY.
I WOULD SAY TO THE NAVY, THIS IS IMPORTANT, NOT JUST BECAUSE IT'S THE RIGHT THING TO DO BUT THERE ARE SO MANY ISSUES INVOLVING THE MILITARY HERE IN OUR STATE.
SO IT BEHOOVES BOTH SIDES, THE STATE OF HAWAII AND THE MILITARY, TO WORK TOGETHER.
SO MUCH IS AT STAKE.
THEY NEED TO ADDRESS THIS WITH A HIGHER LEVEL OF URGENCY AS ERNIE LAU HAS INDICATED.
TWO YEARS IS JUST NOT ACCEPTABLE IN MY MIND.
>> YUNJI: LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR, HOW DO WE PRIORITIZE WHO GETS WATER AND WHO DOESN'T?
>> WE HAVE TO PRIORITIZE HEALTH FIRST.
HEALTH HAS TO BE FIRST.
THE DAY THAT THIS CATASTROPHIC INCIDENT BECAME EVIDENT, I WAS ACTING GOVERNOR.
THE GOVERNOR WAS TRAVELING.
I WENT STRAIGHT TO RED HILL.
I SAW THE FAMILIES.
I SAW ABOUT SEVEN FAMILIES.
ALL WERE ALREADY SEEING THE TERROR OF THIS SITUATION.
THEY'VE HAD SOME INKLING THERE HAVE BEEN AN EARLIER LEAK.
THERE HAD BEEN PROBLEMS WITH SOME OF THE CHILDREN'S HEALTH.
HEALTH HAS TO BE FIRST.
SO IN THAT CONVERSATION, FIRST WITH THE FAMILIES, AND THAT WAS OUR IMMEDIATE CONCERN.
THEN I HAD TO SPEAK WITH THE ADMIRALS AND GENERALS AND DEMAND THAT THEY SHUT DOWN RED HILL.
AND THAT WAS A VERY LONG, VERY INTENSE CONVERSATION.
THERE WAS NO WAY RED HILL WOULD BE GOING FORWARD, BUT THEY PUSHED BACK A LITTLE BIT, WHICH WAS UNACCEPTABLE TO ME AND TO THE CONGRESSIONAL DELEGATION AND THE SIERRA CLUB AND TO EVERYONE.
WITHIN 90 DAYS AFTER MAKING THE DEMANDS, THEY DID AT THE PENTAGON DECIDE THAT RED HILL WOULD HAVE TO BE EMPTIED.
NONE OF US HAVE SATISFIED WITH THE TWO-YEAR PROBLEM.
THEY RECENTLY GAVE ME A COPY AND PROBABLY ALL OF US A COPY OF THE 888 PAGE REPORT.
I'VE READ THAT.
IT'S FRAUGHT WITH CONCERN BECAUSE IT'S GOING TO BE SLOW.
EVEN THE SHORTER REPORT IS DENSE AND DIFFICULT TO DECIPHER WHERE THE CHALLENGES ARE GOING TO BE.
IT'S GOING TO COST BILLIONS OF DOLLARS.
I TOLD THEM, DON'T JUST THINK YOU HAVE TO MOVE THIS FUEL ABOVE THIS GROUND.
IF YOU WANT TO BE A PART OF OUR OHANA IN THE STATE OF HAWAII, YOU HAVE TO HELP US BUILD HOUSING AND INVEST MONEY AND BRING NEW WATER ONLINE.
DO ALL THESE THINGS.
INVEST IN DESALINIZATION TECHNOLOGY.
YOU'RE GOING TO WORK WITH SO MANY PEOPLE.
WE HAVE NOT ONLY A HEALTH CONCERN FOR THOUSANDS OF OUR PEOPLE BUT WE ALSO ARE BLEEDING IN OUR HOUSING CONCERNS.
A HUMAN CRISIS.
WE WILL HAVE TO RELY ON THE MILITARY.
THIS IS ALSO GOING TO IMPACT SOME OF THE OTHER DECISIONS WE MAKE WITH THE MILITARY.
POHAKULOA, IN MANY WAYS, THE 800 POUND GORILLA IN THE ROOM.
WE HAVE TO HAVE THE RIGHT RELATIONSHIP THE MILITARY.
THEY HAVE TO HEAL THIS WOUND.
WITH WATER BEING LIFE, THEY HAVE TO PURIFY OUR WATER AND HELP BUILD THE HOUSE.
>> YUNJI: ON POHAKULOA, DO YOU THINK THAT LEASE SHOULD THAT BE RENEWED?
>> ONLY IF THE MILITARY LIVES UP TO ITS PROMISES TO THE STATE OF HAWAII, AND I DO THINK IT SHOULD BE RENEWED BECAUSE IT'S CENTRAL TO OUR COUNTRY.
IT'S CENTRAL TO WHEN WE PREPARE OUR MEN AND WOMEN, AND MUCH RESPECT TO CONGRESSMAN FOR HIS SERVICE IN THE MILITARY.
I WOULD BE REMISS IF I DIDN'T SAY THAT.
THEY DO NEED THIS REGION.
I LIVED ON BIG ISLAND, AND IT'S CENTRAL TO EVERYTHING GOING ON.
BUT THAT LEASE CANNOT BE RENEWED UNLESS WE HAVE THE RIGHT RELATIONSHIP WITH THE NAVY AND ARMY.
>> YUNJI: CONGRESSMAN, SHOULD THAT LEASE BE RENEWED?
>> HOW THE MILITARY HANDLES RED HILL IS PUTTING ALL THE LEASES IN JEOPARDY.
THERE ARE 19 LEASES ALL EXPIRE BY AUGUST OF 2029, LEAVES APPROXIMATELY 45,000 ACRES FROM THE STATE THROUGH DEPARTMENT OF LAND AND NATURAL RESOURCES.
THREE MOST CRITICAL LEASES, THE COMMANDER SAID THEY ABSOLUTELY NEED MOVING FORWARD IS PACIFIC MISSILE RANGE ON KAUAI, KAENA POINT FOR THE U.S. SPACE FORCE AND POHAKULOA.
I HAVE CALLED FOR RETURNING LANDS BACK TO THE STATE.
FIRST MEMBER OF CONGRESS TO EVER CALL FOR THE RETURN OF MAKUA VALLEY.
I'M ALSO CALLING FOR THE RETURN OF DILLINGHAM AIRFIELD THAT THE LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR AND I VISITED ABOUT A YEAR AND A HALF AGO.
THE MILITARY SHOULD NOT BE HOLDING OTHER LANDS AS PAWNS FOR POHAKULOA.
SHOULD WE EXTEND A NEW LEASE TO POHAKULOA?
I'M NOT SURE.
IT'S ABSOLUTELY CRITICAL FOR MILITARY READINESS.
HOWEVER THERE'S SO MUCH WE NEED TO DO DIFFERENTLY.
I DON'T KNOW IF THEY NEED A FOOTPRINT.
SOIL NEEDS TO BE CLEANED UP.
HOW THEY TRAIN WILL NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED.
IT'S THE MAUNA KEA ISSUE, A TMT, IT'S RED HILL.
ALL OF THESE ISSUES THAT AFFECT THE NATIVE HAWAIIAN COMMUNITY.
I REALLY BELIEVE HAVING A GOVERNOR WHO IS A NATIVE HAWAIIAN, WHO IS A MILITARY COMBAT VETERAN, WHO UNDERSTANDS HOW THE MILITARY THINKS.
WE HAVE NOT HAD A MILITARY VETERAN OF GOVERNOR OF HAWAII SINCE GOVERNOR ARIYOSHI OVER 40 YEARS AGO.
I BRING A UNIQUE EXPERIENCE, LENS, SKILL SET TO THE OFFICE OF THE GOVERNOR.
I THINK IT'S CRITICAL FOR HAWAI'I.
>> YUNJI: DO YOU THINK THAT POHAKULOA IS THE ISSUE?
>> IT'S VERY IMPORTANT NOT ONLY TO THE STATE AND COUNTRY BUT GLOBALLY AS WELL.
AS YOU CONSIDER WHERE HAWAI'I IS AND WHAT'S GOING ON BETWEEN NORTH KOREA AND CHINA.
BUT WITH THAT SAID, I THINK WE HAVE TO TAKE THIS INTO CONSIDERATION WITH THE WHOLE LANDSCAPE OF OUR RELATIONSHIP WITH THE MILITARY.
AS IT RELATES TO RED HILL AND ALL THE OTHER THE BASES.
SO RENEW, YES, BUT NOT UNDER THE SAME CONDITIONS.
ALSO TAKE INTO ACCOUNT AND LISTEN TO HOW THE COMMUNITY FEELS ABOUT THESE LEASES.
THAT'S WHAT I WOULD STRIVE TO DO.
>> WE PROBABLY AGREE THAT DOLLAR YEAR LEASES IS OVER.
>> IT'S RIDICULOUS.
>> THAT'S NOT FULLY CORRECT.
EVEN AS A JUNIOR LEGISLATOR, I TOOK THE MILITARY TO TASK ON POHAKULOA.
THEY WERE DROPPING 2,000 DUMMY BOMBS INTO FIELD.
WE WERE SEEING HIGH RISK OF CANCER IN THAT AREA.
IT WAS HORRIFYING.
THEY CHANGED AFTER I REALLY STOOD UP TO THEM.
WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO HAVE A GOVERNOR WHO STANDS UP TO THE MILITARY.
ALSO WORK WITH THE MILITARY.
NO ONE WANTS TO SEE THE DISASTERS LIKE AT RED HILL.
>> YUNJI: LET'S GET TO PERSONAL QUESTIONS THAT I REFERENCED EARLIER.
THESE CAN BE QUICK ANSWERS.
I WANT TO GET TO A FEW OF THEM IF WE CAN.
MRS. CAYETANO, BESIDES YOUR FAMILY, WHAT'S ONE THING YOU CAN'T LIVE WITHOUT?
>> MUSIC.
AND MY FAITH.
THOSE ARE THE TWO THINGS THAT KEEP ME GOING.
>> YUNJI: LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR?
>> WHAT CAN'T I LIVE WITHOUT?
TIME WITH MY CHILDREN.
>> YUNJI: BESIDES FAMILY.
>> SOMETHING FUN.
SOME PEOPLE SAY I CAN'T LIVE WITHOUT THE PITTSBURGH STEELERS.
I HAVE THAT IN MY BLOOD.
BUT I DON'T KNOW.
ALL I'VE GOT IS WORK AND FAMILY.
>> YUNJI: PERHAPS IT'S WORK.
CONGRESSMAN?
>> THE GYM.
OUR HEALTH, OUR FITNESS IS SO IMPORTANT.
I HAVEN'T BEEN TO THE GYM IN, I DON'T KNOW, A COUPLE MONTHS.
WE'RE JUST WORKING 18 HOURS A DAY, AND IT AFFECTS OUR MENTAL HEALTH.
GOING FOR A RUN, WORKING OUT A SUPER IMPORTANT TO ME.
THAT'S SOMETHING THAT I REALLY, REALLY DON'T WANT TO LIVE WITHOUT.
>> YUNJI: WHEN YOU'RE NOT WORKING OUT AND COUNTING CALORIES, WHAT'S THE FOOD THAT YOU MOST LIKE TO INDULGE IN?
>> FOOD?
I LOVE POI.
I LOVE -- WE HAVE A GARDEN IN HILO, A SMALL GARDEN.
AND WE GROW OUR OWN KALO, WHETHER IT'S POKE OR POI, I JUST ENJOY OUR LOCAL FOODS AND CANOE CROPS.
>> YUNJI: MRS. CAYETANO.
WHEN CALORIES DON'T COUNT, WHAT DO YOU LOVE TO INDULGE IN?
>> YOU KNOW I'M A VEGETARIAN SO ANYTHING FROM THE GARDEN I ENJOY.
>> YUNJI: AND LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR?
>> I LOVE SHAVE ICE AND I LOVE PIZZA.
[LAUGHTER] I'M GOING TO TAKE TWO AND, CONGRESSMAN, YOU MAY NOT BE WORKING OUT BUT YOU LOOK GOOD.
>> WAS IT SHAVE ICE OR ICE SHAVE?
>> YUNJI: THAT'S RIGHT.
MRS. CAYETANO, WHAT DO YOU THINK IS YOUR BIGGEST FLAW?
>> PROBABLY PATIENCE.
I KEEP TELLING MYSELF, I NEED TO BE MORE PATIENT.
>> YUNJI: CONGRESSMAN?
>> I'M TOO SERIOUSLY SOMETIMES.
I NEED TO SMILE MORE.
>> YUNJI: I DON'T GET THAT FROM YOU.
>> YEAH.
SOMETIMES I JUST NEED TO ENJOY LIFE AND, YOU KNOW, JUGGLING ALL THE DIFFERENT HATS THAT I JUGGLE IS TOUGH.
IT IS CHALLENGING.
AND BEING A GOOD HUSBAND AND A GOOD FATHER AND HOLDING IT ALL TOGETHER IS PRETTY DIFFICULT.
DO THE BEST YOU CAN.
>> YUNJI: WHAT'S YOUR BIGGEST FLAW?
>> I CAN'T STOP WORKING.
IT'S BECOME AN ISSUE, I GUESS.
I'VE KEPT THESE TWO LIVES GOING.
PUBLIC SERVICE AND BEING PHYSICIAN.
AND PEOPLE CONSTANTLY TELL ME, YOU LOOK TOO SLEEPY.
YOU'RE RUNNING YOURSELF RAGGED.
BE THERE FOR YOUR FAMILY LONG TERM.
YOU'RE ALL CORRECT.
I GET IT.
I'M GOING TO TRY TO FIND A BETTER BALANCE GOING FORWARD IF I'M GOVERNOR.
>> CONGRESSMAN, WHAT LEADER PAST OR PRESENT DO YOU ADMIRE MOST?
>> MY DAD.
I WOULDN'T BE HERE IF NOT FOR MY DAD, GILL KAHELE.
HE RAISED ME TO BE THE PERSON I AM TODAY.
INSTILLED VALUES IN MY THAT I CARRY WHEREVER I GO.
I'M SO FORTUNATE TO HAVE HAD HIM IN MY LIFE.
I WISH HE DIDN'T PASS AWAY AT 73 YEARS OF AGE.
I'D GIVE ANYTHING TO HAVE HIM IN THE STATE SENATE NOW, CONTINUING TO DO WHAT HE LOVED TO DO.
THAT'S NOT WHERE LIFE INTENDED ME TO GO, BUT IT WOULD BE MY DAD.
>> YUNJI: MRS. CAYETANO, WHAT LEADER PAST OR PRESENT DO YOU ADMIRE THE MOST?
>> PATSY MINK.
THAT TIME FOR A WOMAN TO BE SO STRONG AND WITH WHAT SHE DID WITH TITLE IX, SHE CHANGED THE LIVES OF GIRLS AND WOMEN AND PEOPLE FOREVER.
>> YUNJI: AND LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR.
>> SENATOR AKAKA.
SENATOR AKAKA WAS A GREAT HAWAIIAN LEADER.
HE WAS A GREAT HUMANITARIAN.
HE HAD THE GREATEST HEART I EVER GOT TO KNOW IN POLITICS.
HE SPENT A LOT OF TIME WITH ME IN HIS LATER YEARS.
THE BUILDING THAT I'VE BEEN LIVING IN, IN HONOLULU, ESPECIALLY WHEN SERVING IN THE LEGISLATURE IS WHERE AS HE RETIRED IN HIS LATER YEARS WOULD WORK OUT.
HE WAS WORKING OUT SLOW ON THE TREADMILL.
ONE MILE AN HOUR.
HE WOULD LECTURE ME AND TELL ME ABOUT THE EXPERIENCES WITH WORLD LEADERS AND HIS EXPERIENCES WITH HAWAI'I.
HE WAS A MAGICAL, MAGICAL PERSON.
ONE OF THE GENTLEST LEADERS.
WE DON'T HAVE MUCH OF THAT ANY LONGER.
SO I BELIEVE HE WAS ONE OF THE GREAT LEADERS THAT WE SHOULD MODEL OUR LIVES AFTER IF WE'RE IN OFFICES.
>> YUNJI: MRS. CAYETANO, IF YOU COULDN'T VOTE FOR YOURSELF, WHICH OF YOUR TWO OPPONENTS WOULD YOU CHOSE?
>> I WOULD VOTE FOR MYSELF.
>> YUNJI: IF YOU HAD TO CHOOSE BETWEEN CONGRESSMAN OR LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR?
>> I WOULDN'T BE IN THIS RACE IF I THOUGHT EITHER WOULD BE A BETTER GOVERNOR.
I'M DOING THIS AT THIS STAGE OF MY LIFE BECAUSE I CARE VERY DEEPLY ABOUT THE PEOPLE AND THE STATE.
WITH ALL RESPECT TO BOTH OF THEM, I HAVE THE SKILL SET NEEDED TO LEAD THE STATE IN A NEW DIRECTION.
>> YUNJI: LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR?
>> I WOULD VOTE FOR KAI.
IF I COULDN'T VOTE FOR MYSELF.
NOTHING DISRESPECTFUL TO MRS. CAYETANO, BUT KAI AND I SHARE ROOTS.
WE HAVE A NEIGHBOR ISLAND PERSPECTIVE.
I GREATLY RESPECTED HIS FATHER.
KAI HAS A DIFFERENT ENERGY.
WE'VE BEEN FRIENDS OVER THE YEARS.
WE'RE PUNCHING EACH OTHER IN THE FACE A LITTLE BIT NOW, AND THAT HURTS ME BECAUSE WE HAVE A RELATIONSHIP THAT I'M SURE WILL BE RESTORED OVER TIME.
IT GOES WAY BACK.
WE WERE ALLIES IN THE SENATE.
A LOT OF THINGS I VALUE, I RESPECT.
HE WAS FIGHTING FOR ISSUES IN THE SENATE WHICH I BELIEVE.
AT THE TIME SENATOR WAS WORKING ON A PROMISE TO GET EVERYONE EDUCATION FOR COMMUNITY COLLEGE.
SOMETHING I'M FIGHTING FOR NOW.
I DON'T WANT TO VOTE FOR HIM.
I WANT TO VOTE FOR MYSELF, BUT THERE ARE SIMILARITIES THERE.
BUT WE BRING THAT INTENSITY THAT HAWAI'I'S GOING TO NEED.
IF PEOPLE CHOOSE MRS. CAYETANO, A GOOD HUMAN BEING.
YOU CAN'T GO WRONG.
I HOPE PEOPLE WOULD SUPPORT US OVER THE REPUBLICAN NOMINEES.
>> YUNJI: CONGRESSMAN?
>> PUT US ON THE SPOT.
>> YUNJI: I KNOW.
THAT WAS QUITE THE OLIVE BRANCH.
WITH ALL DUE RESPECT TO FORMER FIRST LADY, I SERVED WITH LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR.
IF I HAD TO NOT VOTE FOR MYSELF, LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR.
THERE ARE MISTAKES THAT HE WOULD ADMIT HE MADE, BUT BRINGING HIS EXPERIENCE AS A MEDICAL DOCTOR, AND I HOPE LEARN FROM MISTAKES THAT WE DID AS A STATE WOULD BEST POSITION THE STATE FOR FUTURE PANDEMIC.
YOU KNOW, GOD FORBID THAT WOULD EVER HAPPEN.
BUT I DID SEE HIM IN SENATE.
WE DID SERVE TOGETHER.
DISAGREE ON THINGS FROM TIME TO TIME, BUT IF I HAD TO VOTE, I WOULD VOTE FOR LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR.
>> YUNJI: WE'RE ABOUT FOUR MINUTES OUT.
LAST QUESTION OF THE EVENING.
ABOUT A MINUTE EACH TO ANSWER.
LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR, WHAT'S A CHALLENGE IN YOUR PERSONAL LIFE YOU'VE OVERCOME?
YOU CAN TAKE ABOUT A MINUTE EACH.
HOW HAS THAT PREPARED YOU FOR THIS JOB?
>> I DID ALLUDE TO IT EARLIER IN OUR CONVERSATION.
I WAS BORN WITH A DEFICIT.
I COULDN'T HEAR.
AND THROUGHOUT THE EARLY CHILDHOOD YEARS I WAS GETTING EDUCATED, IT WAS VERY DIFFICULT.
I WAS A SLOW READER.
I DIDN'T GET TO PARTICIPATE IN REGULAR SCHOOL CLASSES.
IT TOOK A LONG TIME TO CATCH UP.
THAT WAS VERY DIFFICULT.
IT SET A TRAJECTORY.
IT MADE ME FEEL AS THOUGH I WASN'T AN EQUAL WITH OTHERS.
IT MADE ME WORK HARDER THAN MOST PEOPLE.
ONCE IS DID FIND MY STRIDE AND I WAS SUCCEEDING IN SCHOOL, THAT DRIVE HAD BEEN INSTILLED IN ME.
THAT'S WHY THE TWO CAREERS.
THE CARE AND LEADERSHIP I'VE TRIED TO PROVIDE IS RIGHT ON THE GROUND ALSO WITH PEOPLE STRUGGLING AND SUFFERING.
A LOT OF PEOPLE, WHEN THEY DON'T KNOW ME, WONDER WHY I WAS SO PASSIONATE.
I KNOW WHAT THE CONSEQUENCE WOULD HAVE BEEN HAD I NOT GOTTEN THAT OPPORTUNITY, AND I'M FOREVER GRATEFUL.
>> YUNJI: CONGRESSMAN, WHAT'S A PERSONAL CHALLENGE YOU'VE OVERCOME?
HOW HAS THAT PREPARED YOU FOR THIS JOB?
>> I'VE ALWAYS WANTED TO BE A PILOT.
I GREW UP WANTING TO BE AN ASTRONAUT LIKE ELLISON ONIZUKA.
WHEN I WAS A LITTLE KID, I LOOKED UP HOW DO YOU BECOME AN ASTRONAUT.
MOST ASTRONAUTS WERE MILITARY FIGHTER PILOTS.
IN 1999 I WAS GIVEN AN OPPORTUNITY OF A LIFETIME.
SELECTED BY THE NATIONAL GUARD TO BE AN F-15 PILOT.
THAT WAS MY DREAM.
TO COME HOME TO HAWAII, FLY F-15 FOR THE HAWAII NATIONAL GUARD.
ABOUT TWO YEARS INTO MY TRAINING INTO MY TRAINING, I WAS IN THE LAST PART OF THE COURSE FLYING F-15S IN THE EARLY STAGES OF THE PROGRAM.
IN OREGON, AND I HAD A DIFFICULT TIME.
AND AFTER A FEW FLIGHTS, I WASN'T ABLE TO GET IT.
MY MIND, MY HANDS WASN'T CLICKING AND I WASHED OUT OF THE PROGRAM.
THAT WAS DEVASTATING FOR ME.
I WAS MONTHS AWAY TO COMING BACK TO HAWAI'I TO FLY F-15S IN THE HAWAII AIR NATIONAL GUARD.
GAVE IT ALL I COULD BUT I HAD TO PIVOT AND GO TO ANOTHER FLYING CAREER THAT WOULD LEAD TO THE C-130 AND C-117.
THAT WAS A DIFFICULT TIME IN MY LIFE.
I HAD TO OVERCOME FAILURE AND ADVERSITY.
I DID EVERYTHING I COULD BUT COULDN'T ACHIEVE MY GOAL.
IT WAS VERY CHALLENGING TO ME.
>> YUNJI: MRS. CAYETANO.
>> I THINK IT WOULD HAVE TO BE WHEN I WAS A SINGLE PARENT AND TRYING TO RAISE MY TWO KIDS.
I WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN ABLE TO DO IT WITHOUT HELP FROM MY PARENTS.
YOU'RE TRYING TO KEEP YOUR PRIORITIES WITH YOUR CHILDREN BUT YOU A JOB AND EMPLOYEES.
STARTING A BUSINESS IS VERY CHALLENGING.
I THINK MANAGING THAT AND NOT FEELING GUILTY ABOUT IT BECAUSE WHAT PRIORITIES DO YOU PUT FIRST?
YOU SAY YOUR CHILDREN BUT YOU HAVE A SITUATION AT WORK THAT YOU NEED TO RESPOND TO.
YOU HAVE YOUR RESPONSIBILITIES TO YOUR EMPLOYEES.
THOSE WAS THE MOST CHALLENGING YEARS, BUT WHAT I TOOK FROM THAT YOU DO SOMEHOW FIND A WAY TO MAYBE THINGS WORK.
WHETHER YOU'RE MULTITASKING, AND MAKING YOUR CHILDREN UNDERSTAND THAT THEY'RE ALWAYS YOUR NUMBER ONE PRIORITIES, BUT THAT SOMETIMES THERE ARE THINGS THAT GET IN THE WAY.
IT HELPS THEM GROW UP TO KNOW THE WORLD DOESN'T REVOLVE AROUND THEM.
THEY'RE PART OF THE JOURNEY.
THAT WOULD BE MY TOUGHEST TIME.
>> YUNJI: THANK YOU ALL FOUR SHARE THOSE AUTHORITIES.
MAHALO TO YOU FOR JOINING US TONIGHT.
AND WE THANK OUR GUESTS -- THE DEMOCRATIC CANDIDATES FOR GOVERNOR.
U.S.
CONGRESSMAN KAI KAHELE... AND BUSINESSWOMAN VICKY CAYETANO AND LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR JOSH GREEN.
NEXT WEEK ON INSIGHTS, IT'S BEEN MORE THAN A DECADE SINCE A REPUBLICAN SAT IN THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE.
TEN CANDIDATES ARE RUNNING IN THE G-O-P PRIMARY AND WE'LL HEAR FROM SEVERAL OF THEM ON WHERE THEY STAND ON THE ISSUES FACING THE STATE.
PLEASE JOIN US THEN.
I'M YUNJI DE NIES FOR INSIGHTS ON PBS HAWAI'I, ALOHA!

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