FOUR COUNTIES.

FOUR MAYORS.

ONE PLACE, AT THE INSIGHTS TABLE.

KIMO ALAMEDA, RICHARD BISSEN, RICK BLANGIARDI AND DEREK KAWAKAMI ARE TOGETHER TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTIONS.

EACH FACES UNIQUE CHALLENGES IN THEIR RESPECTIVE COUNTIES, BUT MANY ISSUES AFFECTING ISLAND RESIDENTS ARE UNIVERSAL, LIKE OUR HIGH COST OF LIVING, LACK OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND AGING INFRASTRUCTURE.

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

♪ ♪ ALOHA AND WELCOME TO INSIGHTS ON PBS HAWAI'I.

I'M YUNJI DE NIES.

THE DUTIES OF HAWAI'I'S FOUR MAYORS ARE COMPLEX.

THEY ARE THE CEO'S OF THEIR COUNTIES, PROVIDING GUIDANCE TO THE VARIOUS EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENTS, SERVING AS A LIAISON WITH THE COUNCILS AND OVERSEEING MAJOR PUBLIC SERVICES.

THEY ALSO RESPOND TO THE CONCERNS OF CITIZENS AND ARE THE LEADERS WE TURN TO IN TIMES OF EMERGENCIES.

TONIGHT, WE HAVE THE MAYORS OF ALL FOUR COUNTIES SEATED AT THE TABLE TO SHARE THEIR COMMON ISSUES AS WELL AS THEIR UNIQUE PRIORITIES.

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.

DEREK KAWAKAMI IS IN HIS SECOND TERM AS MAYOR OF KAUA'I COUNTY WHICH INCLUDES THE ISLANDS OF KAUA'I AND NI'IHAU.

HE ALSO SERVED IN THE STATE LEGISLATURE AND THE KAUA'I COUNTY COUNCIL.

HE IS A THIRD GENERATION KAUA'I RESIDENT AND STARTED HIS PROFESSIONAL CAREER AS A PAPERBOY AND FAST FOOD EMPLOYEE.

RICK BLANGIARDI IS IN HIS SECOND TERM AS MAYOR OF THE CITY AND COUNTY OF HONOLULU.

PRIOR TO THIS, HE SPENT MORE THAN 40 YEARS AS A MEDIA EXECUTIVE STARTING HIS BROADCAST CAREER AT KGMB IN 1977.

HE'S IN THE UH SPORTS CIRCLE OF HONOR FOR HIS TIME AS A FOOTBALL PLAYER, COACH AND COLOR ANALYST ON RADIO AND TV.

RICHARD BISSEN IS IN HIS FIRST TERM AS MAYOR OF MAUI COUNTY, WHICH INCLUDES MAUI, MOLOKA'I, LANA'I AND KAHO'OLAWE.

HE RAN FOR OFFICE AFTER RETIRING AS CHIEF JUDGE OF THE 2ND CIRCUIT COURT ON MAUI.

GROWING UP, HE SPENT TIME IN PI'IHANA WHERE HIS GRANDFATHER HAD A PIG FARM AND HE HAS 55 FIRST COUSINS.

AND KIMO ALAMEDA IS IN HIS FIRST TERM AS HAWAI'I COUNTY MAYOR AFTER BEING ELECTED LAST YEAR.

HE WAS BORN IN HILO AND GREW UP ON A RANCH IN THE HILLS OF WAIAKEA UKA.

HE'S LED THE HAWAI'I COUNTY FENTANYL TASK FORCE AND THE COUNTY'S OFFICE OF AGING.

HE IS A LICENSED PSYCHOLOGIST AND IS THE FATHER OF SEVEN.

THANK YOU FOR BEING HEREBY TONIGHT.

LOVE BITS OF COLOR.

FUN WAY TO REINTRODUCE AUDIENCE TO FOLKS EVERYBODY KNOWS EACH OF YOU WELL.

WANT TO START OUT BROAD QUESTION.

TO EACH OF YOU.

WHAT YOU THINK IS THE BIGGEST ISSUE FACING YOUR COUNTY.

MAYOR KAWAKAMI, START WITH YOU.

>> COST OF LIVING.

I THINK JUST OVERALL COST OF LIVING HAS ALWAYS BEEN A CHALLENGE ESPECIALLY WHEN YOU'RE A GEOGRAPHICALLY ISOLATED AND DEPENDENT ON GETTING GOODS FROM THOUSANDS MY LIVES AWAY.

>>Yunji: MAYOR BISSEN, WHAT DO YOU THINK IS THE BIGGEST ISSUE FACING MAUI RIGHT NOW?

>> OF COURSE RECOVERY.

AND FOR US, MENTAL HEALTH AND WELL-BEING OF OUR COMMUNITY AS THEY FACE EACH DAY BOTH GRIEF AND GRATITUDE GO THROUGH BOTH OF THOSE PHASES AN STAGES WHICH LEADS TO HOUSING.

I KNOW ALL FOUR OF US CAN AGREE IS A CHALLENGE.

HOUSING HELPS PEOPLE'S MENTAL HEALTH AND WELL-BEING.

SEE FUTURE HOPE AND SO I WOULD SAY MENTAL HEALTH.

>>Yunji: MA MAYOR BLANGIARDI, COST OF LIVING.

MANUFACTURESES SO MANY THINGS WE DO.

MANIFESTS US TO SO MANY THINGS HOUSING CRISIS IN HONOLULU FOR DECADES.

I FEEL REALLY PROUD OF OUR TEAM RIGHT NOW.

ALL THINGS WE'VE DONE TO CREATE A CAPABILITY WITHIN THE CITY.

WE'RE DOING THINGS CITY JUST HASN'T DONE BEFORE.

CANDIDLY HAVE HIGH EXPECTATIONS WHAT WE'LL GET DONE.

REMAINDER OF OUR TERM.

CAN'T BUILD HOUSING FAST ENOUGH.

WORD OUTMIGRATION.

BEFORE I GOT INTO OFFICE, BECOME PART OF MY DAILY VERNACULAR.

WHAT WE'RE FIGHTING.

DON'T WANT PEOPLE TO LEAVE.

PEOPLE DON'T WANT TO LEAVE.

BE ABLE TO HELP THEM STAY HERE.

HOUSING IS SO CENTRAL TO THAT.

>>Yunji: MAYOR, WHAT BUT.

>> TRUE STORY.

I ECHO SAME SENTIMENTS.

QUALITY OF LIFE.

WHICH ENCOMPASSES HOUSE AND AFFORDABILITY.

AND SUCH.

I THINK FOR US KIND OF LIKE CLOSING GAP BETWEEN THE HAVE AND HAVE NOTS.

IF WE DO THAT, I THINK WE'LL SHALL MUCH BETTER POSITION.

>>Yunji: MENTIONED OFF THE TOP ONE OF YOUR RESPONSIBILITIES PEOPLE TURNING TO YOU IN TIMES OF EMERGENCY.

JUST WENT THROUGH THE TSUNAMI WARNING.

WE HAD MANY HOURS LUCKILY IN THAT CASE TO PREPARE FOR SOMETHING THAT DID NOT MATERIALIZE IN THE WAY THAT WE THOUGHT IT MIGHT.

IF WE HAVE A BIG EARTHQUAKE ON KAUAI ISLAND, THIS ISLAND HAS ABOUT 28 MINUTES.

MAMAUI COUNTY EVEN LESS.

WHAT IT THAT EXPERIENCE TEACH YOU ABOUT EMERGENCY RESPONSE AND READINESS.

>> COMMUNICATION AND COORDINATION IS THE MOST IMPORTANT PIECE OF THAT.

DIDN'T FEEL LIKE WE A HAD A LOT OF TEAM TIME TO PREPARE THOUGHT FIRST WAVES WOULD HIT KAUAI VERSUS WHEN WE WERE NOTIFIED.

WORKING TOGETHER WITH OUR FIRST RESPONDERS, WAS A LESSON WE HAD LEARNED ON MAUI.

RECENTLY LAST 2 YEARS.

I THINK THAT CAME INTO PLAY AND PROUD OF OUR FIRST RESPONDERS FOR THAT COORDINATION AND GETTING WORD OUT.

EVERY POSSIBLE WAY WE COULD DO TO OUR COMMUNITY.

OBVIOUSLY ALL BASIC STUFF HAPPENED.

OPEN EVACUATION, TRYING TO CLEAR ROADS.

ALL HAD TRAFFIC JAMS IN RESPECTIVE ISLANDS.

LEARNED FEW THINGS ABOUT HOW WE CAN IMPROVE THAT.

I WOULD COMMENT ON BOTH OF THESE THINGS.

COMMUNICATION AND COORDINATION.

>>Yunji: A LOT OF TRAFFIC OVER HERE.

LEARN HOW TO VERTICAL EVACUATION.

>> TELLING PEOPLE TO GO INWARD AND UPWARD, WAS GOOD CALL.

BUT TRAFFIC OUT THERE WAS INCREDIBLE.

I GO BACK TO COMMUNICATION COORDINATION.

LEARNED FROM THAT, I MEAN, THERE WAS SOME FACTORS THAT WERE CREATING ADDITIONAL TRAFFIC THAT WE THINK WE CAN DEAL WITH RESPECT TO EVEN HOTELS IN WAIKIKI.

INSTEAD OF TELLING PEOPLE TO GET INTO HIGH FLOORS GET UP IN THE MOUNTAIN.

MORE CARS ON THE ROAD.

NOT SAYING FAULT ANYBODY.

REALITY OF WHAT I SAW.

EVEN THOUGH WE HAD SEEN AMPLE TIME, SIRENS GOING OFF AFTERNOON, AND THERE, PROUD OF OUR FIRST RESPONDER TEAMS.

EVERYBODY WAS BUTTONED DOWN.

THAT WAS ONE OF THOSE THINGS THAT HAPPENED.

NO DENYING.

WE HAVE TO GO TO WORK ON AWAY CAN BETTER DO ON THAT.

TOWARDS LATTER PART, WE CHANGED ONE-WAY STREETS.

COULDN'T COMMUNICATE THAT FAST ENOUGH TO GET EVERYBODY HEADED THAT WAY.

BUT THAT'S A REAL SITUATION.

SO FOR NOTHING ELSE, EXTREMELY GRATEFUL NOTHING SERIOUS HAPPENED.

BECAUSE THERE WERE SOME HOURS THERE, GIVING SIGNIFICANCE OF THAT EARTHQUAKE, 8.8 VERY REAL.

AND CONVERSATIONS THAT WE WERE HAVING WITH THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE AND CIVIL DEFENSE.

FACT THAT WE ESCAPED THAT, LEARNED SOME LESSONS, HAVE TO DEFINITELY DO SOMETHING ABOUT THAT.

AS I THINK EVEN APPROACHED WILDFIRE ISSUES AS WELL.

ALL OF THESE SERVICE GREAT LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES WHAT WE CAN DO AND WHAT WE CAN'T DO.

CERTAINLY WHAT WE NEED TO DO BETTER.

>>Yunji: THAT THAT 28 MINUTE SCENARIO, DO YOU THINK THAT HONOLULU READY FOR THAT?

>> NOT GOING TO DO IT IN 28 MINUTES.

EVERYTHING ELSE THAT YOU'VE DONE BEFOREHAND, I MEAN, SOME ANTICIPATION.

PARTICULAR CASE, NOT UNLIKE MARCH 11, 2011, INCREDIBLE TSUNAMI IN JAPAN, WE HAD THAT WAS THE MOST TELEVISE IT'S TSUNAMI OF ALL TIME.

BECAUSE IT WAS DAYTIME, JAPAN HAD CAMERAS EVERYWHERE.

AND WE WERE WATCHING IT AND DISBELIEF AND SUPPOSED TO HIT HERE 3:07 A.M.

SO THEY TOLD US YOU WILL KNOW MIDWAY WHAT YOU CAN EXPECT.

AND YOU'LL KNOW WHAT IT HITS KAUAI.

WHEN IT GETS TO KAUAI, 2 TO 3 MINUTES.

NO TIME TO ADJUST.

ELEVATION OF SOMEWHERE BETWEEN 6 TO 8 FEET.

550 MILES PER HOUR.

TOTALLY LEVELED THAT PLACE.

WE'RE SITTING HERE, HOW DO YOU BRACE THAT ARE FOR THAT IS SIRENS GOING OFF.

EVACUATING BUILDINGS, MOMENTS LIKE THAT, YOU JUST HOPING FOR THE BEST.

TRY TO GET AS MANY PEOPLE TO SAFE PLACES YOU POSSIBLY CAN AND THEN JUST REALLY HONEST TO GED, GOD PRAY.

THAT'S PRETTY VIOLENT.

ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I THINK WE ALL KNOW, LIVING IN THE MIDDLE OF AN OCEAN, NATURE DECIDES TO HAVE ITS WAY.

IT HAS UNDER THE CIRCUMSTANCES WAY.

SIMPLE ANSWER HAS ITS WAY.

TRY TO PUT AS MANY PEOPLE IN SAFE PLACES WITH MUCH WARNING.

>>Yunji: COUNTY FACED TRAFFIC ISSUE WITH CRUISE SHIPS IN HILO AND FOLKS SAFFFEEL BEINGLIKE THEY GOT LEF.

WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS WHAT YOU LEARNED FROM THAT AND WHETHER YOUR COUNTY IS READY.

>> COUNTY, DISASTER READY.

GOT SO MANY DISASTERS A AND HAD HISTORY OF PROTOCOLS IN PLACE.

BUT OF COURSE, CAN ALWAYS DO BETTER.

SO TRAFFIC WAS AN ISSUE.

AS BEST REAL LIFE PRACTICE EVER.

LAST TIME WAS 2011.

SO AND FOR OUR ISLAND, CAME UP INTO OUR HOTEL LOBBIES.

JUST WANTS TO REMIND RESIDENTS IT'S THE REAL DEAL.

WHEN SIRENS GO OFF, DOESN'T MEAN YOU JUST RUN OUT OF YOUR HOUSE.

IT MEANS YOU TWO LOOK TURN ON THE RADIO, TURN THE TV, CHECK YOUR EMAILS, FACEBOOK, FIND OUT WHAT IT TO DO NEXT.

GOOD PRACTICE LEARNED SOME THINGS.

MOSTLY AROUND TRAFFIC.

I THOUGHT WE DID AN EXCELLENT JOB.

GOT EVERYBODY OUT.

WHEN WE NEEDED TO.

>>Yunji: ALL WATCHING HANALEI BAY TO SEE WHAT WAS GOING TO HAPPEN FOR YOUR COUNTY BECAUSE YOU WERE FIRST IN LINE.

WHAT KIND OF WEAKNESSES OR AREAS OF IMPROVEMENT DO YOU THINK IDENTIFIED FOR YOUR COUNTY THROUGH THAT EXPERIENCE?

>> IT DID EXPOSE A LOT OF VULNERABILITIES.

BUT I THINK BIG TAKEAWAY IS IS THAT DISASTER PREPAREDNESS GOES BEYOND GOVERNMENTS, SPAN OF CONTROL.

MEANING WE NEED TO DO BETTER JOB GETTING OUR CONSTITUENTS, VISITORS, RESIDENTS.

VISITOR INDUSTRY, MORE PREPARED.

SO THAT INSTINCTIVELY CAN RESPOND.

MY MOM WOULD ALWAYS SCOLD ME IF I LET MY GAS GAUGE GO BELOW QUARTER TANK.

WOULD SAY YOU BETTER FILL IT UP.

DON'T RUN IT TO EMPTY.

AND IN THE CASEY MEAN, ON KAUAI, A LARGE AMOUNT OF TRAFFIC WAS PEOPLE JUST TRYING TO GET GAS.

WHICH MAKES NO SENATE BILLS AT T BY A BIG TSUNAMI.

MOST OF OUR INFRASTRUCTURE PLACE VULNERABLE AREAS.

I THINK WE HAVE TO DO A BETTER JOB PUSHING PREPAREDNESS IN THE HOUSEHOLD SETTING.

>>Yunji: EACH OF YOU MENTIONED COST OF LIVING.

AND HOUSING.

TIED TO THAT IS HOMELESSNESS.

I KNOW THAT IS SOMETHING THAT ALL THE COUNTIES ARE FACING IN DIFFERENT WAYS.

MAYOR BLANGIARDI, HOW DO YOU THINK THINGS ARE GOING WHEN IT COMES TO HOMELESSNESS IN THIS COUNTY A AND WHAT CAN WE DO BETTER.

>> WE'RE MAKING PROGRESS.

LITTLE WINS OVER THE LAST SEVERAL YEARS.

INVESTED $140 MILLION IN CREATE 800 BEDS ALL DESIGNED TO BE TRANSITIONAL.

PUT PEOPLE IN PERMANENT SUPPORTIVE HOUSING OF A SAME WAY ESTABLISH CORE.

OUR OWN MOBILE CRISIS UNIT.

REDUCE DEPENDENCE ON CALLS TO 911, TO EMS, HPD, ET CETERA.

ALTHOUGH STILL USING HPD EXTENSIVELY ALONG THE SHERIFF OFFICE.

PICKING PEOPLE UP IN THE STREET PLACES TO TAKE THEM TO.

COLLABORATION WITH THE STATE, DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH RESIDES MONEY IS NOT PARTNERSHIP WITH GOVERNOR GREEN, PROVIDING WRAPAROUND SERVICES.

CHALLENGE, REAL CHALLENGE WE HAD THAT CAPABILITY.

WHY I SAY WINDS RIGHT NOW SO FAR HAVE BEEN LITTLE.

A LOT OF THAT CHRONIC HOMELESS POPULATION, 2500 PLUS PEOPLE.

REALLY REFUSE HELP.

IT'S NOT WHITE GLOVE BUSINESS.

SO WE'RE NOW INTO TELL YOU CORES CORE COURTS ARE HELPING U.

RECENT SUPREME COURSE, VOLUNTARY INVOLUME UNTOUR I MOST OF THESE PEOPLE REFUSE HELP.

MAKE IT DIFFICULT.

GO SOMEWHERE ELSE AND BEEN DOING SOME THINGS LA ITALY LATELY WITHTHAT.

MOVED A PEOPLE IN.

PROVIDEING A LOT OF HELP.

DEALING WITH INFLUX OF VISITOR, PEOPLE COMING IN HERE FROM OUT OF STATE.

REPREPORT STATE OF CITY.

500 AND A THOUSAND PEOPLE A YEAR COMING INTO HERE FROM OUTSIDE.

SO WHILE WE'RE TRYING TO DEAL WITH LOCAL FAMILY AS BEST WE CAN, ESPECIALLY THOSE SITUATIONS, A LOT OF OTHER PEOPLE, WE'RE SEEING PEOPLE JUST REALLY TOUGH TORE DEAL WITH.

TOUGH TORE DEAL WITH.

TALK WILL PUBLIC SAFELY.

UNNERVING TO TALK ABOUT THAT.

LOOKETH OTHER WAY DRUG ADDICTS UNDERSTANDING FOLKS DANGER OF THAT AN SETTLING TO PEOPLE.

MOVING TO PLACE NOW WE HAD CAPABILITY TO PICK UP PEOPLE AND PUT THEM PLACES.

VOLUNTARY OR OTHERWISE.

IF THEY'RE NOT CAPABLE MAKING DECISION.

EMPOWERMENT DANGER TO THEMSELVES OR OTHERS.

TAKE THEM AND GET SOME SOME KIND OF TREATMENT AND HOPE WE CAN STABILIZE THEM.

HOW THE THERE MENTAL ILLNESS IS A LOT OF BIPOLAR DEPRESSION, SCHIZOPHRENIA AND THOSE CAN BE TREATABLE.

AND SO WE'RE GOING TO TRY TO BE AS AGGRESSIVE AS HUMANE AS POSSIBLE.

EMPHASIZE THAT.

AGGRESSIVITY IS WITH THE ELEMENT OF TRYING TO HELP THESE PEOPLE.

AND WHO REALLY CAN'T HELP THEMSELVES.

THAT SAID, ON THE CRIMINAL SIDE, BAD CHARACTERS OUT THERE, CAST A LOT OF DAMAGE.

ZERO TOLERANCE FOR THAT.

GOING AT IT VERY DIFFERENT WILL HE HAVE OF INTENSITY AND FOCUS LEVEL OF INTENSE A AND FOCUS A QUALITY OF LIFE ISSUES ADD UP POINT IN TIME COUNT, EVEN DOUBLE THAT, POINT IN TIME COUNT HAS BEEN HISTORICALLY AROUND 4500.

DOUBLED IT.

9,000 PEOPLE, STILL 1% OF OUR POPULATION ON OAHU.

YET EVERYBODY FACE.

BECAUSE MOST PEOPLE DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO WITH THAT PERSON.

OUT IN THE CORNER, WHAT THEY'RE DOING.

I DON'T WANT TO GET TOO DWRAF GRAPHIC OUT OF THEIR MOANALUA MS HAVE TO STEP IN.

LOOK US TO DO THAT WE HAVE THAT CAPABILITY.

THOUSAND PEOPLE A YEAR OFF STREETS DIFFERENT PLACES WITH THE BEDS WE HAVE.

PROBABLY 40 TO 50% RECIDIVISM.

BATTLING UPHILL.

END HOMELESS WHERE.

LOOKING FOR FUNCTIONAL CONTROL.

GET ON TOP OF DID NOT HAVE IT ON TOP OF US WHAT OUR GAME PLAN IS.

>>Yunji: FUNCTIONAL CONTROL.

INTERESTING WAY TO PUT IT.

MAYOR YAMAMOTO YOU'RE A DOCTOR.

TALKED TOM.

MAYOR ALAMEDA.

WHAT YOUR THOUGHTS ABOUT THE VARIOUS SAID,.

>> HIT NAIL ON HEAD VERY CHALLENGING COMPLEX AS WE ALL KNOW.

OUR ISLAND FOR EVERY HOME WE FIND, FOR SOMEBODY EXPERIENCINING HOMELESSNESS TWO MORE GO INTO HOMELESSNESS.

VEEREVOLVING DOOR.

TALK OFF AIR.

AGREE THERE'S A LOT OF NEW FACES.

HAWAII GOOD PLACE TO BE HOMELESS.

THEY HAVE GOOD WEATHER.

GET BENEFITS AS SOON AS YOU LAND.

VERY COMPASSIONATE.

THAT MIGHT BE PART OF THE PROBLEM.

SO WE REALLY GOT TO LOOK AT POLICY CHANGES MAYBE.

ON OUR ISLAND, LOOKING AT SOME CREATIVE SOLUTIONS LIKE SAFE SLEEPING.

JUST EXTENDED DOUBLED OUR SAFE SLEEPING TUNES IN HILO.

LOOK AT OPPORTUNITIES IN HILO.

KONA SIDE AND SEE IF WE CAN ALSO LOOK AT THAT OPTION.

>>Yunji: SAFE SLEEPING PLACER YOU CAN PARK A VEHICLE AND STAY OVERNIGHT.

>> A LOT OF THEM DON'T VEHICLES.

BIG CANOPY WITH COTS AND PROVIDER ON SAL SALVATION ARMYMT OF GO IN BATHE BATHROOM SNACK.

YOU CANNOT JUST POP UP A TENT ANYWHERE.

PARTNER WITH OUR LOCAL, POLICE DEPARTMENTS AND NONPROFITS AND REMIND HOMELESS DON'T P POP UP YOUR TENT.

CAN SAFE SLEEP THERE.

CREATE THIS OPPORTUNITIES, PUBLIC SEE THAT GOVERNMENT WORKING FOR THEM.

LIKE BECAUSE BUSINESSES AGAIN, TOURISM BIGGEST ECONOMIC DRIVER WE WANT TO PARTNER WITH THEM AND MAKE SURE THAT HOMELESS PEOPLE WITH DIGNITY, HAVE SOME PLACE TO SLEEP.

INSTEAD OF BY THE BUSINESS.

>>Yunji: HOW DO YOU IS SEE THAT ISSUE.

MENTAL HEALTH EXOAFNLT AFFORDABILITY COMPONENT.

AND THEN COMPONENT.

INFLUX OF FOLKS COMING HERE.

VERY DIFFICULT ISSUE.

HOW ARE YOU DEALING WITH IT IN YOUR COUNTY.

>> PROBABLY THE ONE ISSUE THAT I FEEL BIGGEST CHALLENGE TO SEE ANY LEVEL OF SUCCESS.

NO MATTER HOW HARD WE TRY.

FOR KAUAI, BECAUSE WE'RE LIMITED ON RESOURCES, REALLY HAD TO IDENTIFY SORT OF TARGET MARKET THAT WE'RE GOING FOCUS ENERGY ON.

TARGET MARKET HAPPENS TO LOCAL FAMILIES JUST FALLEN HARD TIMES THAT WANT TO RECEIVE HELP.

THAT WE CAN ACTUALLY HELP.

GAINFULLY EMPLOYED.

AND SO WE CREATED UNDER GOVERNOR IGE AND GOVERNOR GREEN, KEULALA PERMANENT SOSORESUPERHSUPPORTIVE HOUSE.

DUANE CREST OWE.

SUCK SESUCCESS.

PAY RENT.

FIRST NEXTDOOR TO EMERGENCY SHELTER RIGHT ACROSS THE STREET WHAT USED TO BE COUNTY PARKING LOT, WE BUILT HOPE VIEW.

EVERY IS RESIDENT CAN WAKE UP, WALK OUT FRONT DOOR AND SEE WHAT THE NEXT STEP IS.

MOTIVATING FACTOR.

NOW, EVERYTHING THAT HAS BEEN SAID IS ABSOLUTELY TRUE.

WITH LARGE SEGMENT OF OUR HOMELESS POPULATION, UNDERLYING MENTAL HEALTH ISSUE.

SUBSTANCESUBSTANCE A A ABUSE I.

PROBABLY TRAUMA FOLDED INTO THAT.

VERY COMPLEX BACK IN THE DAYS BEFORE MY TY TIME M HEALTH ISS.

HOUSE PEOPLE WITH SCHIZOPHRENIA, GIVE THEM TREATMENT.

GONE BY THE W WAYSIDE END UP INCARCERATED DON'T PLOGGING IN N JAIL EITHER/OR OUT ON BEACH PARKS.

TOUGH JOB OF CL CLEANING UP.

DRDISRUPTING.

EACH ONE TRY TO MAKE IT A POINT TO GET OUT THERE FACE-TO-FACE WITH HOMELESS POPULATION AND LET THEM KNOW THAT HEY, WE'RE SORRY TO INCONVENIENCE YOU WE HAVE CLEAN THIS AREA UP I THINK DOING THAT, STILL REMAINS IT ERNIITALLOWINGS ME TO HAVE COMPASSION AND EMPATHY END OF THE DAY.

ONE ISSUE WHERE I FEEL LIKE IT'S TOUGH CHALLENGE TO SEE THE NEEDLE MOVE IN A POSITIVE DIRECTION.

>>Yunji: MAYOR YOU CONVENIENTLY HAD PRETTY HIGH PROFILE SWEEPS HAPPEN IN MAUI SOME RESISTANCE FOLKS BEING MOVED.

SERVICES PROVIDE.

WHAT IS THE OUTCOME OF THAT AND DO YOU THINK THAT IS EFFECTIVE WAY TO TARGET THIS ISSUE?

>> I HAVE TO SAY FIRST OF ALL WE DON'T REFER TO THEM AS SWEEPS.

THAT'S OTHER LANGUAGE THAT OTHER PEOPLE USE TO TRY TO CHARACTERIZE THESE.

I WANT TO POINT OUT THAT AS MAYORS, WE'RE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE HEALTH AND SAFETY OF OUR COMMUNITY.

THAT'S THE NUMBER ONE RESPONSIBILITY OF ALL MAYORS, ANY MAYOR.

AND SO THESE ARE VERY COMPLEX AND LAYERED MULTIPLE ISSUES THAT ARE OCCURRING A ALL AT THE SAME TIME.

FOR ME AS FORMER MENTAL HEALTH HEALTH CORD JUDGE OMG MAUI, LHEALTH COURT JUDGE ON MAUI.

COME THROUGH THE SYSTEMS.

SOME OPTIONS WE HAVE OTHERS AVAILABLE NOT AVAILABLE NEIGHBOR ISLANDS AS MIGHT BE OTHER LOCATION, I WANT TO REITERATE NOT A CRIME TO BE HOMELESS.

DON'T TREAT IT AS A CRIME.

WHAT WE DO ARE INTERESTED IN IS WHAT THE ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT HAPPENING FOR THE REST OF OUR COMMUNITY.

IN THESE AREAS.

VERY REAL.

ALSO POINT OUT THAT MENTIONED BY EACH OF MAYORS, DIFFERENT LEVELS OF PEOPLE WOULD FIND THEMSELVES WITHOUT A HOMES.

SOME PEOPLE MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES.

SOME PEOPLE HAVE DRUG.

>>.

SOME PEOPLE CHOOSE NOT TO FOLLOW RULES EXIST OTHER OPTIONS.

CHALLENGE FOR ALL OF US IS WHAT OPTIONS DO YOU OFFER SOMEBODY WHO YOU'RE ASKING TO MOVE FROM WHERE THEY'RE CURRENTLY AT.

COULD BE PRIVATE PROPERTY.

GOVERNMENT PROPERTY.

WHERE ARE YOU GOING TO PUT THEM?

THAT'S ALWAYS THE CHALLENGE.

FINDING A PLACE.

IF YOU OFFER A PLACE AND THEY TURN IT DOWN, YOU JUST MOVED PROBLEM TO ANOTHER AREA.

WE REALIZE THAT.

SO FOR US, HAVE A SAFE PARKING.

PROGRAM THAT WE RECENTLY STARTED.

IT'S GOING TO BE COMING EFFECT.

GRANTED THE CONTRACT.

BUT IT IS A PARKING SITUATION WHERE PEOPLE CAN HAVE THEIR CARS ASLEEP IN THEM.

LOOK AT MANAGING ENCAMPMENT ISSUE AS WELL.

SIMILAR MAYBE TO SAFE SLEEPING THAT YOU FOLKS HAVE.

BIG ISLAND.

WHERE PEOPLE CAN BE SAFE AND HAVE A PLACE TO CLEAN THEY HTHEMSELVES.

STRESS WHEN SOMEBODY SAYS HOMELESS, DO WE ALL PICTURE SAME PERSON IN OUR MIND?

OR DO WE EACH HAVE A DIFFERENT VIEW OF WHO THAT IS?

BECAUSE AGAIN, THIS IS MULTIPLE ISSUES GOING ON.

THERE IS NO ONE HOMELESS CATEGORY.

PEOPLE CAN FIND THEMSELVES SHORT OF LOSS OF JOB.

LOSS OF SPOUSE, LOSS OF WHATEVER FUNDING THEY WERE RECEIVING.

AND THEN HAVE PEOPLE SEVERELY MENTALLY ILL.

SO MANY CATEGORIES THERE'S NO ONE PLACE THAT YOU CAN PUT FOLKS.

YOU HAVE TO COME UP.

NEIGHBOR ISLANDS, CHALLENGE EVEN GREATER TO FIND PLACES THAT YOU CAN PUT PEOPLE THAT THEY WILL BE COMFORTABLE IN.

I AGREE.

WE HAVE TO HUMAN ISSUE.

SOCIAL ISSUE.

WE TREAT IT AS SUCH.

BUT IT'S VERY COMPLICATED ISSUE AS WELL.

>>Yunji: BIG ISSUES LIKE THAT, CURIOUS, TERMS OF HOW MUCH YOU COLLABORATE WITH EACH OTHER, HOW MUCH YOU EXCHANGE IDEAS, HOW MUCH YOU LEAN ON EACH OTHER.

IS THERE A BROTHERHOOD AMONG THE MAYORS, MAYOR BLANGIARDI WHAT IS YOUR VIEW, RELY ON THESE KE THESE GUYS.

MONTHLY CALL.

APPRECIATE THEIR WISDOM AND INSIGHTS.

DIFFERENT EACH ISLAND.

WE UNDERSTOOD FACT THAT TAKE THEM IS BIG PROBLEM.

NOWHERE TO TAKE THEM.

WHAT I SAID EARLIER.

WE INVESTED $140 MILLION IN SOME REAL ESTATE AND VARIOUS PROPERTIES.

SO WE HAVE PLACES TO TAKE THEM NOW.

BIG PART OF IT.

SO THAT GROUP.

WE HAVE A WEEKLY MEETING NOW.

GOING ON FOR OVER A YEAR.

STATE PEOPLE IN THE ROOM AS WELL AS ALL OF US CITY, ALL OF STAKEHOLDERS.

AND PROVEN TO HELP BE VERY EFFECTIVE.

WE ENFORCEMENT STANDPOINT, BOTH OFFICER AND HPD.

WE DO NEED SOME CASES ENFORCEMENT.

ANYBODY WHO IS JUST DOWN ON THEIR LUCK, WE BOUGHT WAIKIKI VISTA.

FOR FAMILIES BECAUSE YOU CAN'T PUT FAMILIES IN CERTAIN OTHER HOMELESS SETTINGS.

SO NOW HAVE THE PLACE FULL.

WE HAD THAT.

BOUGHT THAT SPECIFICALLY FAMILY PROMISE IN WAHIAWA ANOTHER ONE.

TOMORROW MORNING IN HAU'ULA ANOTHER FAMILY OPENED UP LAST MONTH BLESSING TOMORROW.

FAMILY PLACE.

DIFFERENT THINGS WE'RE DOING.

MY APPROACH, OUR APPROACH SOMEBODY IS DOWN ON THEIR LUCK, BUDDY CAN YOU SPARE A DIME WE CAN HELP THAT PERSONME I'M TALKING ABOUT GETTING COMPLICATED.

COMBINATION, METH CIVILITY.

MENTAL HEALTH.

DRUG ADDICTS DON'T WANT ANY RULES.

BPEOPLE WORK IN THEHOMELESS COMP SHEETS.

5,000 ARREST 3 YEARS.

WEREN'T 5,000 PEOPLE.

FEW HUNDRED ARRESTED OVER AND OVER AGAIN IN AND OUT.

THAT IS ALSO PARTS OF THE CHALLENGE.

BECAUSE YOU CAN'T, EVERYBODY SHOULD GO JAIL HOW DO YOU DEAL WITH BAD CHARACTERS WHO THREATEN PEOPLE?

SCARE PEOPLE.

AND OTHER APPROACH WE'VE TAKEN IS, USED TO SAY ALL THE TIME FOR YEARS, HAWAII NEWS NOW, EDITORIAL IS NOT A CRIME TO BE POOR.

NOT A CRIME TO BE HOMELESS.

BUT SAME TOKEN IS A CRIME TO ILLEGALLY TRESPASS.

RULES OF LATE HAVE A LO ALLOWED US DO THAT.

CHANGED SIGNS DON'T GO IN THE PARK YOU CAN'T GO IN THERE.

DEALING WITH ILLEGAL TRESPASS.

MOSTLY AS CONVENIENCE FOR PEOPLE WHO WANT TO FEEL SAFE AND BE ABLE TO ENJOY CERTAIN AMENITIES.

ALSO GONE TO WORK ON CERTAIN ENCAMPMENTS TOO.

HAS T TO BE TARGETED.

FOCUS.

GOOD WRAPAROUND SERVICE PEOPLE PEOPLE M MEDICALLY.

DOING MEDICAL TREATMENT, NOT JUST MENTAL ILLNESS AND DRUG ADDICTS.

FINDING THROUGH DOCTORS MANY OF THESE PEOPLE REALLY SICK TOO.

A LOT CANCERS OR BEGAN FAILURE.

TERMINAL SITUATION.

OUT THERE DOCTORS CAN SEE THAT.

MAYBE NOT ANOTHER YEAR OR TWO YEAR.

ORGAN FAILURE.

SUFFERING ON OUR STREET RRS.

IF YOU HAD A DOG, IN THE DOG WAS TAKE IT TO T VET SMALL CHILD, ASK THE DOG OR KID IF THEY WANT TO GO.

SAME THING.

CAN'T MAKE DECISION FOR THEMSELVES.

HESITANCY BEFORE WAS GETTING US NOWHERE.

WHY I SAID ROOMS ARE SMALL.

>> THIS IS YOU MENTIONED HOW MONTHLY MEETING.

MONTHLY MEETING.

WE DO ZOOM.

TALK ABOUT THE ISSUES.

I LEARN FROM ALL LEARN FROM EI EACH OTHER APPROACH.

THIS IS WHAT WE DO.

HOW WE GOT IT.

I'M THE NEW KID ON THE BLOCK.

I'M LEARNING FROM MAYOR KAWAKAMI, LEARN FROM MAYOR BISSEN, MAYOR BLANGIARDI, HE HAS A LOT AT STAKE.

ISLAND IS THE MOST PEOPLE.

AND SO WE DO LEARN FROM EACH OTHER.

SNY LOVE THAT.

WANT TO GET SOME VIEWER S. TWO QUESTIONS HERE ABOUT TOURISM.

VIEWER QUESTIONS, WE KNOW THAT BEFORE COVID, WE FEELING IN HAWAII WAS THAT WE HAD TOO MANY TOURISTS.

WE'VE SEEN REPORTS FROM UHERO SUFFERING ECONOMICALLY DON'T HAVE ENOUGH.

QUESTION HERE, WHY DOESN'T EACH ISLAND HAVE A COMPREHENSIVE CARRYING CAPACITY STUDY, HOW MANY RESIDENTS PLUS TOURISTS AND TOURISTS RENTAL CARS CAN EACH ISLAND HOLD.

ANOTHER PERSON, WHAT IS BEING DONE TO FAIL S FACILITATE TOURIK TO MAUI?

BECAUSE OF THE FIRE, YOUR ISLAND SUFFERED THE MOST COMES TO TOURISM.

RECOVERY THERE.

WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS CARRYING CAPACITY ON OUR ISLAND >> WE DO HAVE A STUDY.

MAUI ISLAND PLAN APPROVED STATE THAT WE SHOULD HAVE 33%, SO ONE TOURIST FOR EVERY THREE RESIDENTS.

EXCEEDED THAT NUMBER OVER THE YEARS.

JUST PRE-COVID I THINK WE GOT UP TO 43%.

SOME CASES 45%.

THAT EXCEEDS WHAT WE BELIEVE IS THE CARRYING LOAD FOR OUR ISLAND BASED ON OUR RESOURCES AND IMPACTS ON OUR COMMUNITY.

SO WE ALREADY HAVE THAT.

I'LL SAY FIRST FOR THAT QUESTION.

OF COURSE, TOURISM DEEPLY IMPACT WHAT'S HAPPENED WEST MAUI.

NOT IN SOUTH MAUI AND OTHER PLACES.

IN OTHER WORDS, THOSE PLACES ALWAYS REMAINED OPEN.

THERE HAS BEEN IMPACT.

PEOPLE THINK NOT REALIZING I GUESS GEOGRAPHY OF OUR ISLAND, AFFECTED EVERYWHERE.

I WOULD SAY THERE ARE EMOTIONAL IMPACTS EVERYWHERE FOR SURE.

AS FAR AS AVAILABILITY FOR PEOPLE TO COME ON, WE PROMOTED MAUI, ALL PROMOTED HAWAII IN DIFFERENT WAYS DIFFERENT TIMES.

SO WE DO HAVE THE ABILITY TO HOST.

I WOULD JUST SAY THAT I THINK TERM REGENERATIVE TOURISM TOSSED AROUND VALUE OVER VOLUME.

IN OTHER WORDS, ATTRACTING TOURISTS, A CT TRACKING VISITORS WHO WANT TO COME AND CONTRIBUTE.

BE PART OF THE COMMUNITY.

AS WELL.

ATTRACTING VISITORS NOT NECESSARILY EXTRACT FROM THE COMMUNITY I.

FOR US, WE IT'S BEEN NEW APPROACH ABOUT WANTING TEACH OUR VISITORS THE CULTURE, HISTORY OR THE CUSTOM THAT WE FOLLOW.

I THINK THAT IS REALLY WHERE THINGS ARE COMING AT NOW FOR MAUI.

TO HAVE MORE EMPHASIS ON WHO IS COMING TO VISIT US AND NOT NECESSARILY GO SIMPLY BY NUMBERS A SAYING, MORE THE BETTER.

I THINK SOME PEOPLE FEEL THAT WAY.

AND THAT'S FINE.

BUT I THINK FOR US, WE ARE EXCLUSIVE COMMODITY.

EXCLUSIVE LOCATION.

HOW MANY PEOPLE WANT TO GO TO DISNEY LAND BUSIEST DAY, NOT SO MANY PEOPLE?

EVERYBODY UNDERSTANDS LESS CROWDS MEANS MORE EXPERIENCE FOR YOU IS BETTER.

THAT IS WHAT WE WANT ON MAUI.

WANT PEOPLE TO COME.

ENJOY THAT EXPERIENCE, I DON'T KNOW THAT THAT IS MEASURED BY VOLUME.

>>Yunji: MAYOR KAWAKAMI, WE ARE YOUR THOUGHTS O TOURISM AND HOW MUCH IS TOO MUCH AND WHERE WE ARE RIGHT NOW >> SUE KONO HOE KAUAI VISITORS BUREAU.

KANOHO.

REPRESENTS THE INDUSTRY AND I WANT TO SAY OVER 15 YEARS AGO, THEY DID A STUDY AND BASICALLY, SHE WAS SCREAMING FROM THE MOUNTAINTOP, THAT KAUAI IS OVER CAPACITY.

AND RUN THE RISK OF HAVING TENSIONS START TO BUILD.

BETWEEN THE COMMUNITY AND THE INDUSTRY THAT PUTS FOOD ON OUR TABLE.

AND THAT IS A GOD HONEST TRUTH.

THE VISITOR INDUSTRY AS MUCH HITS AS THEY TAKE FOR THE TRAFFIC AND EVERYTHING ELSE COMES ALONG WITH IT, FROM OUR SCHOOLS, TO OUR HOUSING, TO OUR INFRASTRUCTURE, WE ARE SO DEPENDENT ON THE VISITOR INDUSTRY.

AND WE FIND THAT IT IS SORT OF LIKE DOUBLE-EDGED KNIFE THAT CAN CUT BOTH WAYS.

WE'VE DONE THINGS IN THE MEANTIME.

WE HAVE EFFECTIVE VACATION RENTAL POLICY THAT BASICALLY HAS PUT A STOP TO THE PROLIFERATION OF ILLEGAL VACATION RENTALS OUTSIDE OF RESORT AREAS.

THIS PAST BUDGET, WE RAISED THE VACATION RENTAL TAX RATE TO BE EVEN WITH HOTEL AND RESORT.

AND WE TOLD INDUSTRY THAT EVERY DIME OF THIS TAX INCREASE GOING TO AFFORDABLE HOUSING.

WHEN PEOPLE YELL AT YOU, AND SAY THAT ALL YOU DO IS TAKE HOUSING OFF THE MARKET FOR LOCAL PEOPLE, YOU CAN TELL THEM, NO WE'RE CONTRIBUTING OUR FAIR SHARE.

WE TRY TO FIND A WAY TO KNOW OUR WORTH.

GET WHAT WE THINK WE DESERVE FROM THE INDUSTRY.

AND PUT IT BACK INTO LOCAL PEOPLE'S HANDS.

>>Yunji: HOW DO YOU FEEL TOURISM IS ON YOUR ISLAND >> SAME HERE.

OUR APPROACH KIND OF LIKE WHEN WE MAKE OUR ISLAND, INCREASE QUALITY OF LIFE FOR LOCALS, BEACHES PARKS, FIELDS GYMS, FOCUS ON THAT, MAKE HAWAII AWESOME FOR THE LO EKI LOCKE WAS LOCALS TOURISTS WILLBENEFIT FRO.

APPRECIATE FOCUS IS ON THEM AND BEN FACTORY, END UP BEING THE TOURISTS.

I THINK WE CAN ALL DO IT TOGETHER.

BUT WE CANNOT LOSE SIGHT BECAUSE TOURISM IS THE BIGGEST ECONOMIC DRIVER.

CANNOT LOSE SIGHT OF LOCAL EXPERIENCE.

AS WELL.

SO THAT IS WHAT WE'RE FOCUSES UG ON.

WORKING SO FAR.

>>Yunji: TENSION.

BETWEEN HOW MUCH IS TOO MUCH AND OF COURSE HOW RELIANT WE ARE ON THESE FUNDS.

WHAT IS YOUR STANCE >> ALREADY SEEN TOO MUCH WAS.

2019 BEFORE COVID, WE HAD 10.6 MILLION VISITORS.

3 MILLION OF THEM STAY THE ILLEGAL SHORT-TERM RENTALELS.

MEET TALK TO HOTELS CAPACITY BASED O AND ROOMS AVAILABLE IS PROBABLY AROUND 8 MILLION.

SWEET SPOT.

I AGREE WITH MAYOR BISSEN.

WHOLE IDEA, NOT A WHOLESALE MARKET.

HAWAII, ALL OF O OUR ISLANDS RETAIL EXPERIENCE.

QUALITY.

PEOPLE LIVE THERE, WORK THERE AND COME TO VISIT THERE.

EVERYBODY GETS TO THE MONEY.

EASY BIG.

$18 BILLION IN REVENUE.

$2 BILLION IN TAXES.

THAT WAS A LOT OF MONEY.

2020, IF COVID HADN'T HAPPENED, PROJECTED TO EXCEED 11 MILLION.

SO TO BREAK IT DOWN, DRIVE SOME PEOPLE CRAZY WITH THESE NUMBERS.

ISLAND OF OAHU, TRYING TO MIMIC WHAT KAUAI HAS DONE.

STARTING TO MAKE PROGRESS.

BEHIND THE 8 BALL ON THAT BUSINESS AND NOT GOOD BUSINESS, RUN OUT OF CONTROL.

OUTSIDE OF RESORT ZONES.

SO WE SITUATION WHERE DATA TELLS ME IS SOME 25,000 ILLEGAL SHORT-TERM VACATION RENTALS.

LONG TERM EVERYWHERE.

NEIGHBOR BECAME PARTY HOUSE.

BREAK THAT DOWN, INTERESTING THING ABOUT THAT IS 50% OF THEM ARE OWNED BY PEOPLE OFF ISLAND.

WHICH IN AND OF ITSELF OWE OWE FOFFENSE.

SLOT MY MACHINES.

20% OWN 25 OR MORE.

ILLEGAL SHORT-TERM VACATION RENTALS.

ANY GIVEN NIGHT.

OAHU, 11 TO 12,000 ROOM NIGHTS AVAILABLE.

AHE KAEQUATING 28, 400 ROOM HOT.

KAHALA HOTEL IS 400 ROOM HOE HOTEL.

HOW MANY SEATS CAN AIRLINE PHILCOFILL COMING IN HERE.

STRICTEN ENRICHMENT ENFORCEMENT STRICT ENFORCEMENT QUALITY CONTROL.

REGENERATIVE TOURISM.

ALL GOOD THINGS SHOULDN'T BE WHOLESALING OURSELVES BECAUSE IT'S JUST NOT GOOD.

NOT SMART.

IT'S ABOUT TIME WE GET IT CLEANED UP.

APPLAUD DEREK WHAT THEY'VE.

NET ON KAUAI.

SAME SOFTWARE AND OTHER THINGS LEARNED ALONG THE WAY.

THIS IS SOMETHING WE'RE DETERMINED TO MAKE A BIG DIFFERENCE IN.

ANY TIME YOU DEALING WITH PEOPLE AND FIGHT IS OVER MONEY AND POWER, IT'S NOT NICE FIGHT.

>>Yunji: I WANT TO ASK YOU EACH OF YOU ABOUT PUBLIC SAFETY.

STICK WITH YOU.

I KNOW THAT WHAT YOU CAN AND CAN'T COMMENT ON IN TERMS OF SITUATION WITH FORMER CHIEF LOGAN.

CURRENTLY THREE OF COUNTIES ARE LOOKING FOR NEW PERMANENT POLICE CHIEFS.

JUST BROADLY, ABOUT THE WAY THAT THIS MECHANISM WORKS, TO HAVE POLICE COMMISSION AND THEN THE PUBLIC SAFETY IS THE PURVIEW OF MAYOR.

BUT POLICE COMMISSION IS THE PERSON, ENTITY THAT HIRES AND FIRES THE CHIEF.

IT DOES CREATE INTERESTING DYNAMIC.

DO YOU ALL THINK THAT THIS IS A GOOD WAY FOR POLICE CHIEFS TO BE HIRE AND FIRED?

>> WHAT'S MISSING IN YOUR STATEMENT IS OPERATIONS OF POLICE DEPARTMENT RESIDE IN THE MAYOR'S OFFICE.

SO WE'RE FAIRLY RESPONSIBLE FOR ALL T THE OPERATIONS ASPECTS.

COMMISSION HIRES AND FIRES AN INVESTIGATE COMPLAINTS TO THAT GO BEFORE THEM.

DAY-TO-DAY OPERATIONS POLICE DEPARTMENT WHEN SOMETHING HITS FAN, PHONES ARE RING LATE AT NIGHT, SHOOTING AND WHATEVER ELSE IS CAUSING DISTURBANCE PUBLIC, THREAT TO THE PUBLIC THAT'S ALL RESPONSIBILITY OF MAYOR'S OFF.

CHIEF OF POLICE REPORTS TO DIRECTLY TO MANAGING DIRECTOR WHO REPORTS TO ME.

GOTTEN LOST IN THE EQUATION, COMMISSION DOES NOT RUN THE POLICE DEPARTMENT.

NARE'S OFFICE RUNS THE POLICE DEPARTMENT.

MAYOR'S OFFICE >>Yunji: SHOULD WE TAKEAWAY THAT ABILITY?

>> THEY HAVE NO VOICE WHO BECOMES LEADER THAT HAVE DEPARTMENT.

PUT YOU IN A SITUATION ALL THE RESPONSIBILITY AND FOR REAL AUTHORITY AS IT'S BEEN POSITIONED.

THAT'S NOT THE CASE.

SO ALL OF THI IN THIS HAPPENED TALK ABOUT IT.

WAS THAT VERY THING.

>> NOT ONLY DEPARTMENT WITH COMMISSION.

WE HAVE WATER COMMISSION.

SAME THING.

WATER DIRECTOR REPORTS TO ME.

BUT BASICALLY COMMISSION HIRES AND FIRES THEM.

OUR FIRE CHIEF IS UNDER COMMISSION.

SO MAYBE COMMISSIONS WORK AND WITH SOME DEPARTMENTS BUT TIES OUR HANDS.

BECAUSE WHEN THERE'S A COMPLAINT, WATER COMPLAINT, I GOGOT TO GO TALK TO NINE MEMBERS TO RATHER THAN JUST STRAIGHT TO THE DIRECTOR >>Yunji: DO YOU THINK COMMISSIONS SHOULD BE REMOVED?

>> REASON I THINK REASON FOR OUR ISLAND MAYBE STARTED IS BECAUSE OF CORRUPTION.

I THINK MAYOR PICKED HIS BEST FRIEND AND WENT THAT WAY.

SAME THING WITH.

MAYBE FOR FIRE, POLICE, MAYBE EVERY ISLAND IS DIFFERENT.

CAN HAVE A COMMISSION.

FOR ME AS A LEADER, VERY HARD TO IMPLEMENT WHAT WE WANT TO WHEN YOU GOT TO GO INVOLVE ANOTHER 12, NINE, 8 PEOPLE.

>>C >>Yunji: YOU HAVE MORE TO SAY >> I HAVE A LOT MORE TO SAY.

IN A IN FAVOR OF COMMISSION.

PUT TOGETHER A GREAT FIRST TIME OVER OCEAN SAFETY SEPARATED OCEAN SAFETY WITH EMS.

JOY INJOYFUL INTERVIEW THE PEOPE AND SEE THE PASSION.

WHAT TRUE ARE FIRE DEPARTMENT.

BUT POLICE DEPARTMENT IS NOT SEMIAUTONOMOUS.

IT'S NOT.

SO WITH THE MISTAKE IS, SO ALL I ASK IS I WANT TO COMMISSION THAT IS GREAT.

I THINK THEY SERVE INCREDIBLE PURPOSE.

DON'T HOLD US DIRECTLY RESPONSIBLE.

WHEN PUBLIC SAFETY IS NUMBER ONE, ON THE LINE.

STUFF IS HAPPENING.

GIVESES THAT I AUTHORITY TO DEAH IT.

THAT'S WRONG.

THIS IS ABOUT ENSURING PUBLIC SAFETY AND MAKING SURE THAT WE WANTED TO HAVE HAPPEN WAS HAPPENING.

IT WASN'T.

>>Yunji: MAYOR WHAT THOUGHTS ABOUT THAT WHOLE STRUCTURE >> I'M GOING TO ANSWER SIMPLE FUR LIF I LIKE THE PERSON THOUGH CHOSE, YOU THINK THE COMMISSION IS GOOVMENTED DON'T LIKE THE PERSON.

COMMISSION ONE OF THE PLACES YOU'RE GOING TO LOOK TO.

COMMISSION IS GOOD.

OUR ISLAND SEVERAL POSITION ON COMMISSIONS.

FIRE, LIQUOR, EAST MAUI WATER AUTHORITY JUST STARTED, AS WELL AS NOT OUR WATER.

WATER IS SELECTED BY OUR MAYOR.

ME.

AND BUT WE DO HAVE CIVIL SERVICE, COMMISSION, SELECTIONS OUR DEPARTMENT OF PERSONNEL SERVICES.

SO ANY THINK OUR ROLE IN THAT IS THAT WE HELP SELECT THE COMMISSION.

IN SOME CASES.

WHAT HAPPENS IS THE COMMISSION SERVES STAGGERED TERMS.

SO SOMETIMES WHEN YOU COME IN, AS MAYOR, NOT SOMETIMES, EVERY TIME YOU COME IN, YOU'RE WORKING WITH COMMISSIONERS THAT SOMEBODY ELSE SELECTED.

SO AS MAYOR, YOU WANT TO HAVE A TEAM THAT YOU SELECTED BECAUSE YOU FEEL THERE'S LOYALTY, THERE'S PROFESSIONAL, ALL THE THING YOU LOOK FOR IN SOMEBODY TO BE ON YOUR TEAM.

SOMEBODY ELSE IS SELECTING YOUR TEAM.

IN THOSE INSTANCES.

I'M JUST POINTING OUT CHALLENGES.

PEOPLE CAN DECIDE IF IT'S A GOOD SYSTEM OR NOT.

WE DON'T GET TO CHANGE THE COMMISSION AND PUT ALL OF OUR COMMISSIONERS ON THERE TO SELECT WHO THEY'RE GOING TO PICK.

THAT IS THE PROBLEM.

TAKES A FEW CYCLES B BECAUSE PEOPLE GET TO SERVE 3 OR 5 YEAR TERMS.

BY THE TIME SOMEBODY ENDS UP LEAVING REPLACE THE PERSON.

NOT GOING TO THE MAJORITY OF THE COMMISSION DURING YOUR TERM UNTIL END OF YOUR TERM.

NEXT GUY GOING TO GET YOUR SELECTIONS PEOPLE YOU THOUGHT WERE GOOD FOR THAT.

SYSTEM AGAIN DOES ALLOW FOR THE MAYOR TO HAVE SAY IN THE COMMISSION, WHEN THERE'S AN OPENING.

BUT THE PEOPLE SELECTING YOUR TEAM ARE NOT PEOPLE YOU PUT THERE.

>>Yunji: DO YOU THINK THAT IS FUNCTIONS WELL RIGHT NOW?

>> YEAH.

I DO.

AT THE END OF THE DAY.

I MEAN, I THINK WE ALL FACE SIMILAR FRUSTRATIONS AT TIMES.

BUT I THINK REASON WHY I THINK IS WORKS IS BECAUSE THE ONLY TIME I THINK ABOUT NOT HAVING COMMISSIONS AND WHEN THINGS DON'T WORK OUT AND WHEN I PUT IT IN PERSPECTIVE, TIMES THAT THINGS GO BAD, MAY GET MOST ATTENTION.

I THINK THAT IS JUST NATURAL.

AS HUMANS.

SO MANY GOOD THINGS GOING ON THAT I THINK SOMETIMES GET LOST IN THE FRAY.

THINK OVERALL, FOR THE GREATER GOOD, COMMISSION APPOINTED DEPARTMENT HEADS, AND THAT TYPE OF SYSTEM, WORKS.

THERE'S CERTAINLY PUT IN PLACE AS SORT OF BUFFER FOR OUR COMMUNITY.

NEVER WANT TO HAVE SOME COME IN AND START POLITICIZING POLICE FORCE AND WATER.

THINK ABOUT IT FROM TIME TO TIME.

OVERALL, THANKFUL WE HAVE VOLUNTEERS WILLING TO SIT THROUGH HOURS AND HOURS OF MEETING GETS SCRUTINIZES BY THE PUBLIC FOR FREE.

AND SO I THINK IT DOES WORK.

AND I THINK IT JUST DEPENDS ON OUR ABILITY TO GET COMMISSION APPOINTED DEPARTMENT HEADS TO SUBSCRIBE TO OUR VISION.

OUR DIRECTION.

AT THE END OF THE DAY, YOU KNOW, THERE'S A BUDGET GOT TO GET APPROVED.

>>Yunji: ONE OF THE THINGS THAT ALL COUNTIES FROM FACING POLICE OFFICER SHORTAGE.

NOT UNIQUE TO HAWAII NATIONWIDE ISSUE.

WHAT DO YOU HOPING TO SEE IN THE NEXT CHIEF WHEN IT COMES O RECRUITMENT AND RETENTION, CHIEF LOGAN CAME IN A WAY LOT OF AMBITION TO GET MORE OFFICERS.

INCREASE BONUSES.

INCREASE RECRUITING CLASSES STILL WE HAVE THAT ISSUE.

REAL CHALLENGE.

I RECITE AG AGGRESSIVE WILL >> PUT IN PLACE SIGNING BONUS.

PART OF THE REASON HAD A SHORTAGE OTHER SIDE OF IT.

RETENTION.

WHY SENIOR OFFICERS WERE LEAVING.

WHAT THAT CREATES TO CREATE NUMBERS GROWN.

SO RETENTION I THINK IS FUNCTION OF LEADERSHIP.

SO WHAT I THINK WITH RESPECT TO WHO THE CHIEF IS, HAS A LOT TO DO WITH ABILITY TO COMMAND RESPECT.

TO BE KIND OF PERSON INSPIRES.

PEOPLE WANT TO FOLLOW.

AND LESS APT TO WANT TO RETIRE.

SO THAT'S THE OTHER PART OF IT.

ON THE BACK END.

BONUS DON'T WORK.

PEOPLE RETIRE AND PREMATURITY, THEY'RE ALREADY FOREGOING BENEFITS.

SO WE'RE TRYING TO SHORE THAT UP ON THE OTHER END.

>>Yunji: THERE'S A QUESTION HERE.

FROM SOMEONE IN PEARL CITY.

SAYS DID MAYOR B MAYOR BLANGIARK TO MAYOR YAMAMOTO ABOUT MOSS MOSCOWITS BEFORE IT WENT OUT TO THE PLUBLG.

PUBLIC IS THATSOMETHING YOU KNET >> I WAS A BIT SURPRISED.

BEFORE I GOT OUT TO THE NEWS, MAYOR BLANGIARDI DID LET ME KNOW WHAT WAS HAPPENING.

CHIEF AS WELL.

LIKE I TOLD CHIEF BEN, NEVER STOP SOMEONE FROM GOING FOR THE DREAMS.

HOW IT ALL PLAYED OUT UNFORTUNATE.

I LEARNED A LOT FROM JUST WATCHING IT ALL.

>> BOTH LEARN AD A LOT I NIGHT WHAT THE CHARTER WAS.

CHIEF MORIKAWA SHOULD HAVE BEEN SUCCESSOR OF ACHIEVE CHIEF LOGAN AFTER RETIRED.

EL CHIEF BAN ACT OUT ON LEAVE COMSCHEDULED TO COME BACK JULY 8 I THOUGHT WE DIDN'T HAVE THE SUCCESS PER THE CHARTER I HAD KNOWN CHIEF MOSCOWITS INTEREST.

APPLIED FOR CHIEF JOB BEFORE.

CAME IN SECOND.

HE AND I HAD TALKED BEFORE.

I WISHED IF I HAD KNOWN CHIEF WAS GOING TO COME BACK, NEVER SPOKE TO ACHIEVE MOSCOWITS.

HAD CONVERSATIONS.

CHIEF.

EVERYTHING TO DO O OVARY WOULD OVER -- OVERAGAIN.

KNOWING CHIEF OF POLICE A RESIGN, US DEPARTMENT FACINGING TOLD CHIEF MOSCOWITS NO GUARANTEE COME OVER INTERIM, GIVE UP WHAT YOU HAVE.

WILLING TO DO THAT, GOOD OF THE DEPARTME HELL OF A COP, GOOD DECISION.

FOR THE GOOD OF THE DEPARTMENT.

CALLED ALAMEDA.

I TALKED TO BEN FIRST.

ALWAYS TRYING TO DO PROVIDE LEADERSHIP FOR THE DEPARTMENT.

SUDDEN CHANGE SITUATION.

GUY WALKS IN AND SAYS, I'M DONE.

SO BUT HE GOT HARMED BY THAT.

I FEEL RESPONSIBLE.

CHIEVAN OBJECTING GREAT START.

HAD NO IDEA COME BACK AND BE READY TO WANTING TO DO THAT WHAT HAPPENED.

EN HONEST AND INNOCENT AS IT COULD BE.

MY CONCERN FOR THE LEADERSHIP DEPARTMENT.

SAY IT AGAIN.

CHIEF OF POLICE IS VERY BIG LEADERSHIP JOB.

IN ALL OF OUR COUNTIES.

HERE IN HONOLULU, BIG ONE.

>>Yunji: PUBLIC SAFETY IS SO IMPORTANT.

HOW RECRUITMENT EFFORTS GOING IN YOUR COUNTY AND DO YOU HAVE ENOUGH OFFICERS TO DO WHAT NEEDS TO BE DONE?

>> I THINK LIKE EVERY PLACE, IN OUR STATE, AND ACROSS THE COUNTRY, VERY DIFFICULT FOR US TO RECRUIT.

I KNOW AV WE'VE ALWAYS TRIED RETENTION.

RECRIMESTOPPERS BONUS OFFERING.

-- RECRUITMENT BONUS.

OFFERING.

STAGGER BONUS LONG YOU STAY, MAKE IT THROUGH RECRUITMENT TRAINING, INTERVALS THIS YEARS EARN, MORE SALARY.

BUT I THINK WHAT THE MAYOR BLANGIARDI TALKING ABOUT IS RETENTION.

THAT'S ALWAYS THE CHALLENGE.

FOLKS WHO NO LONGER WANT TO STAY IN THE DEPARTMENT.

FOR WHATEVER THE REASON IS.

AND YOU KNOW, BIGGEST RECRUITERS OF POLICE OFFICERS ARE OTHER POLICE OFFICERS.

SO WHEN THE FEATHER SAYS, SIENJOY MY CAREER.

THINK ABOUT IT.

DAD SAYS I DON'T WANT TO DO THIS IN ANY MORE.

LOSE ONE OF OUR BIGGEST RECRUITERS IMPORTANT IF WE CAN MAINTAIN AND RETAIN, OUR FOLKS THAT ARE ALREADY ON THE JOB, THEY'RE THE BEST RECRUITERS FOR THE JOB.

THEY'RE THE ONES TELLING PEOPLE ALL THE BEN TH BENEFITS.

LOTS OF DANGER IN THE JOB.

ALSO TELLING THEM OPPORTUNITIES AND BENEFITS.

WE FACE THE SAME CHALLENGE OF VACANCIES LIKE EVERYONE ELSE.

>>Yunji: MAYOR KAWAKAMI?

>> I THINK LEVEL OF EXCITEMENT AND ENERGY UNDER THE CURRENT LEADERSHIP TEAM AT KAUAI POLICE DEPARTMENT.

I KNOW THAT SEARCH FOR NEW CHIEF IS ONGOING.

AND MAYOR BISSEN HIT THE NAIL ON THE HEAD.

BEST RECRUITER IS FOR THE POLICE DEPARTMENT IS POLICE OFFICERS.

AND I'M VERY POSITIVE.

KAUAI POLICE ACTIVITYING LEAGUE IS UP AND RUNNING P CONSTRUCTING ANOTHER RUTH CENTER.

ANOTHER ONE UNDER-YOUTH CENTER.

ANOTHER ONE GOING UP YOUTH FACILCENTER AT OUR BUILDING AS WELL.

I FEEL LIKE THINGS ARE MAKING POSITIVE TURN.

I CAN SEE IT AND FEEL IT.

AND I'M VERY EXCITED TO BE A PART OF IT.

I KNOW COMMUNITY EXPECTATIONS PLAYS A ROLE IN MORALE AS WELL.

AMOUNT OF COMMUNITY EXPECTATIONS HAS GROWN EXPONENTIALLY SINCE I WAS GROWING UP AND I THINK WE HAVE TO BE MINDFUL AS WELL.

AS A COMMUNITY ON WHAT WE ARE SENDING OUR POLICE OFFICERS TO DO AND WHERE WE CAN RESOURCE OTHER EMPLOYEES & ASSOCIATES TO MAYBE ASSIST OUR POLICE OFFICERS SO THAT THEY CAN DO THE JOB THAT THEY SIGNED UP FOR.

MANY OF THEM ARE BEING SENT OUT TO DEAL WITH HOMELESS SITUATIONS.

AND WE TRY TO COLLABORATE AS MUCH WITH OUR PARK RANGERS.

EVEN OUR PUBLIC WORKS TEAM IS INTERACTING WITH HOMELESS COMMUNITY IT'S REALLY WANT TO HONOR JOIV JOB OF POLICE OFFICES PROTECTER OF OUR COMMUNITY.

NOBLE PROFESSION.

STARTS POLICE DEPARTMENT.

GOOD ENERGY AND GOOD MORALE OFFICERS GOING HOME AND SEEM SATISFY AND FULFILLED JOB HAS A MEANING, THEY'RE CON CONTRIBUTING THAT TYPE OF ENERGY RESONATES THROUGH THE YOUNGER GENERATIONS SAY WANT TO DO THAT ONE DAY >>Yunji: LESS THAN TEN MINUTES LEFT.

TALK ABOUT SOME OF THE JOYS OF THIS JOB.

THERE IS A VIDEO THAT I SAW WHILE BACK OF MAYOR BILLY KENOI OUT IN KONA AND HEADING OUT TO SURF.

I'M THE MAYOR!

SO STOKED ON GETTING TO SURF AND BE AMONG THE PEOPLE THAT HE WAS REPRESENTING.

IN HILO.

I'M INTERESTED TO HEAR FROM EACH YOU ABOUT WHAT IS THE JOY OF THIS JOB?

START WITH YOU.

>> I THINK JOY IS LIVING IT IN THE FACT THAT TURNED 79 NEXT MONTH.

HAVING BEEN IN HAWAII FOR 60 YEARS OF MY 78.

HAVING THIS CHALLENGE, THIS RESPONSIBILITY.

AND PRIVILEGE OF LIFETIME.

AT IN STAGE.

ALL ROLLED INTO ONE.

GREAT JOY FOR ME.

>> I AGREE.

JOY IS SEEING THAT THINGS CAN GET DONE.

I'VE BEEN A DIRECTOR, CEO IN DIFFERENT ORGANIZATIONS AND ENTITIES AND BEING MAYOR, I MEAN, THAT'S A LOT OF INFLUENCE.

A LOT HELP.

BIG TEAM OTHER MAYORS GIVE ADVICE.

SO IT'S SUPER EXCITING.

THIS IS DREAM JOB.

LOVING IT.

>>Yunji: MAYOR BISSEN OUT OF ALL MAYORS HERE YOU FACE I WOULD ARGUE TOUGHEST CHALLENGE RIGHT OUT THE GATE.

SIX MONTHS IN.

LAHAINA.

AND ALL THAT CAME WITH THAT.

WHAT ARE SOME OF THE JOYS THAT YOU'VE HAD.

YOU FACED TREMENDOUS CHALLENGES >> FIRST OF ALL CAN'T BELIEVE I GET TO DO THIS JOB.

WHEN YOU TALK BY DIDN'T KNOW YOU WERE GOING TO MENTION MY UPBRINGING PI HANA GRANDPA PIG BIG FARM.

KID USED TO WALK TO SCHOOL ON WELL STREET TO ST. ANTHONY SECOND, THIRD, FOURTH GRADE.

WALKING DOWN TO GO TO SCHOOL.

AND WALKING PAST THIS BIG BUILDING, NINE STORY BUILDING, AND NOW I GET TO BE IN THAT BUILDING.

I MEAN, WHEN YOU'RE A KID FROM TOWN IN MANY OF US MOST OF US HERE ARE COME FROM THE TOWN DON'T EVER THINK SOME DAY YOU'RE GOING TO BE THE MAYOR OF THIS PLACE.

SO I JUST CAN'T BELIEVE THAT FIRST OF ALL.

PEOPLE HAVE A TRUST IN ME TO BE ABLE TO DO THAT.

YOU KNOW, I WOULD.

GED IN CAREERS 15 YEARS PROSECUTOR 17 YEARS AS A JUDGE.

THAT I CONSIDERED PROTECTOR OF OUR COMMUNITY.

THIS JOB IS THE BIGGEST JOB OF PROTECTING YOUR COMMUNITY.

JOB OF MAYOR.

I CONVINCED WORKED IN THOSE OTHER FIELDS.

AS YOU MENTIONED WHAT HAPPENED TO US, TRYING TO KEEP ON OR TUNISTS TAKING ADVANTAGE OF OUR VULNERABLE.

ADVANTAGE OF OUR KUPUNA.

TAKING ADVANTAGE OF OUR PEOPLE HARMED.

OPPORTUNITYISTS I FEEL LIKE IT'S MY JOB TO STEP IN THERE AND SAY YOU'RE NOT GOING TO DO THAT HERE.

ARE ALL OF US PROBABLY FEEL THAT WEIGHT, MAYOR BLANGIARDI TALKING ABOUT, RESPONSIBILITY, ALSO THE JOY OF BEING ABLE TO BE THE ONE TO STAND IN THERE AND MAKE THE CALL, NOT EVERYONE GOING TO AGREE WITH THEM, MAKE THE CALL, EXPLAIN YOUR CALL, AND FOR ME THAT'S THE JOY.

JOY I GET.

>>Yunji: MAYOR KAWAKAMI, IN MY YEARS OF INTERVIEWING YOU AWMTION SEEM PRETTY STOKED HAVE THAT JAB.

ALWAYS SEEM PRETTY STOKED HAVE THAT JOB >> STILL DREAMING WAITING TO WAKE UP.

BECAUSE LIKE, MAYOR BISSEN SAID I DON'T THINK EVER IMAGINED MOST FAMILY AND FRIENDS WARD AVENUE OVERPASS IMAGINED I HAVE TO OPPORTUNITY.

GRATEFUL EVERY SINGLE DAY.

AS THE TIME STARTS TO WIND DOWN, THAT GRATITUDE THAT YOU JUST HAVE FROM DAY ONE IT MOUNTS AND AT THE END OF THE DAY, EQUATES TO JOY.

AND MAY SOUND WEIRD OF BUT SOME OF THE MOST JOYOUS OCCASIONS HAVE COME FROM SOME OF OUR DARKEST OF TIMES.

AND IN HINDSIGHT, LOOK BACK ON IT AND IT'S ALL BLESSING.

AND I THINK GOING THROUGH THE ROUGH TIMES, MAKES THE GOOD TIMES MORE MEANINGFUL.

AND MORE OBVIOUS.

SOMETIMES IN THE HUSTLE AND BUSTLE OF LIFE, ALL OF THESE GOOD THINGS HAPPEN AND SOMETIMES WE OVERLOOK THEM.

AND AT THE END OF THE DAY, WE FIND OURSELVES ASKING, WELL, NOTHING GOOD HAPPENED TO ME.

BUT I THINK I THINK IF YOU GET YOUR MIND IN A MINDSET OF JUST STOPPING THE SMELL LAUREN LAURES PEOPLE WOULD SAY.

APPRECIATE LITTLE THINGS.

TRULY JOYFUL.

BIGGEST WORRY IS HOW DO YOU FILL THAT BUCKET AFTER ALL OF THIS?

I'M 47 YEARS OLD.

I GOT A WIFE AND DAUGHTER HAVE BLACK BELTS IN SHOPPING.

SO THAT MEANS I'M STILL GOING TO BE WORKING.

YOU ALWAYS IN THE BACK OF YOUR HEAD THINK, GOSH WHAT CAN BE BETTER AFTER THIS?

I'M PRETTY SURE THAT NO MATTER WHAT IT IS, I'LL FIND JOY IN IT TOO.

THIS JOB WHICH DOESN'T FEEL LIKE A JOB, I FEEL IS MADE ME A BETTER PERSON.

TAUGHT ME PATIENCE.

EMPATHY.

ALLOWED ME TO SEE THE WORLD THROUGH OTHER PEOPLE'S PERSPECTIVES.

I'VE GOT TON SEE PEOPLE DEVELOP AND, I'VE SEEN TRULY HEROIC MOMENTS FROM OUR AVERAGE JOE THAT TO THIS DAY, CONTINUE TO AMAZE ME AND SO NONETHELESS, I'M EXCITED A LITTLE AFRAID, BUT AT THE END OF THE DAY.

I FEEL TRULY GRATEFUL AND BLESSED PEOPLE OF KAUAI AND NI'IHAU GAVE ME THIS OPPORTUNITY.

NEVER, EVER FORGET THAT THEY GAVE ME A CHANCE.

INDEBTED TO THEM >> ARE WE GIVING OUT AGES NOW?

>> SAY MY OWN.

ADD ONE LAST THING.

>>Yunji: PLEASE >> LEARNED THIS CONCEPT EARLY ON, REALLY COMES FROM ABOUT THE JOY OF STRUGGLE.

JUST SAY IT THIS WAY.

IT'S THE JOY OF THE STRUGGLE.

IT AIN'T EASY.

JUST EMBRACE THAT.

TERRIFIC.

I THINK ALL OF THESE THREE MEN, HOPEFULLY, SAYING THAT I THINK IT'S GREAT THAT FOUR OF US ARE CLOSE TOGETHER.

BUT WE ALL FEEL SO GOOD ABOUT HAVING JOBS.

I KNOW I'VE LISTED MAYORS US ELSEWHERE DON'T EXACTLY FEEL ENTHUSIASTIC.

ALL PART OF WHO WE ARE AND WHERE WE LIVE.

>> NOT LIKE WE GOT TO DO THE JOB.

WE GET TO DO THE JOCK.

DO THE JOB.SIT AT THE SEAT MAKEE CALLS AND HOPE TO SEE IT WORK OUT BETTER FOR COMMUNITY.

GOAL IS ALL THE SAME.

INTENTION IS THE SAME.

TRITO MAKE IT BETTER.

ESSENCE IS LOVE.

I THINK LOVE WE LOVE OUR RESIDENTS.

LAS VEGAS OUR ISLAND AND WE LOVE OUR PEOPLE.

LOVE OUR ISLAND.

WANT TO LEAVE THAT LEGACY.

>> TO THIS WORK, YOU DON'T HAVE TO LOVE THIS JOB.

YOU HAVE TO LOVE YOUR PEOPLE.

THAT IS WHAT MAKES YOU GET UP EVERY TIME YOU GET KNOCKED DOWN.

>>Yunji: THAT'S A GOOD WAY FOR US TO LEAVE IT.

SUCH A POSITIVE NOTE.

I LOVE TALKING TO ALL OF YOU.

THANK YOU SO MUCH TONIGHT.

MAHALO TO YOU FOR JOINING US TONIGHT — AND WE THANK OUR GUESTS - KAUA'I COUNTY MAYOR DEREK KAWAKAMI AND MAUI COUNTY MAYOR RICHARD BISSEN.

HONOLULU MAYOR RICK BLANGIARDI AND HAWAI'I COUNTY MAYOR KIMO ALAMEDA.

NEXT WEEK ON INSIGHTS, THE WAIKIKI WAR MEMORIAL NATATORIUM WAS BUILT IN 1927 TO HONOR HAWAI'I CITIZENS WHO SERVED IN WORLD WAR ONE.

IT'S BEEN CLOSED TO THE PUBLIC FOR DECADES, AND AFTER YEARS OF DISCUSSIONS ABOUT WHAT TO DO WITH IT, THE CITY IS WORKING TO REVITALIZE THE STRUCTURE.

WE'LL FIND OUT THE PLANS AND WHO WILL PAY FOR THEM.

PLEASE JOIN US THEN.

I'M YUNJI DE NIES FOR INSIGHTS ON PBS HAWAI'I.

UNTIL NEXT TIME, ALOHA.

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