>> EWA TO KAPOLEI -- ITíS ONE OF THE FASTEST GROWING AREAS IN THE# STATE.

TWO CANDIDATES VYING TO# REPRESENT THE DISTRICT IN THE STATE HOUSE MAKE THEIR PITCH TO# VOTERS.

ONE IS THE INCUMBENT AND THE# OTHER THE CHALLENGER.

THE RACE TO HAWAI'I COUNTY MAYOR# IS DOWN TO TWO.

MITCH ROTH AND KIMO ALAMEDA.# THEIR VISION FOR THE FUTURE OF HAWAII ISLAND.# TONIGHTíS LIVE BROADCAST AND LIVE STREAM OF INSIGHTS ON PBS# HAWAII START NOW.

>> Yunji:## ALOHA AND WELCOME TO INSIGHTS ON PBS HAWAII...IíM# YUNJI DE NIES.

THE GENERAL ELECTION IS INCHING# NEARER, AND TONIGHT WEíRE SITTING DOWN WITH CANDIDATES FOR# TWO RACES.

LATER ON, WE WILL BE SPEAKING WITH THE CANDIDATES FOR# HAWAII COUNTY MAYOR, BUT FIRST WE HAVE THE CANDIDATES FOR STATE# HOUSE DISTRICT 42, WHICH COVERS PORTIONS OF VARONA VILLAGE,# ëEWA, AND KAPOLEI, FERNANDEZ VILLAGE.# WE LOOK FORWARD TO YOUR PARTICIPATION IN TONIGHT'S## SHOW.

YOU CAN CALL OR EMAIL IN YOUR LIVE STREAM OF THIS PROGRAM AT PBSHAWAII.ORG AND THE PBS HAWAII# YOUTUBE PAGE.

TO OUR GUESTS.# REPRESENTATIVE DIAMOND GARCIA HAS REPRESENTED THE DISTRICT# SINCE 2022.

HE WAS BORN AND RAISED IN WEST OAHU AND IS AN# GRADUATE OF HAWAIIAN MISSION ACADEMY.

PRIOR TO BEING ELECTED,# HE SERVED AS CHIEF OF STATE TO REPRESENTATIVE GENE WARD AND# CHAIRED THE HAWAII REPUBLICAN PARTY.# ANTHONY MAKANA PARIS WAS RAISED IN WEST OAHU.

HE IS A SMALL# BUSINESS OWNER AND GRADUATE OF KAMEHAMEHA SCHOOLS, WITH A LAW# DEGREE FROM U.H.

MANOAíS WILLIAM S. RICHARDSON SCHOOL OF LAW.

HE# CURRENTLY SERVES AS CHAIR OF THE MAKAKILO-KAPOLEI-HONOKAI HALE# NEIGHBORHOOD BOARD.

WELCOME BOTH OF YOU.# THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE.

>> MAHALO.# >> MAHALO.

>> LET'S START WITH THE PERSONAL# GET TO THE POLICIES.

REPRESENTATIVE, WHY DO YOU WANT# TO RUN FOR OFFICE?

>> IT'S CRUCIALLY IMPORTANT TO# CONTINUE HAVING A LOYAL OPPOSITION HERE IN HAWAII.# WE'RE A ONE-PARTY STATE.

AND I ALWAYS TELL FOLKS NO# MATTER WHAT PARTY IS IN CONTROL, IT'S NEVER GOOD TO HAVE A# ONE-PARTY DOMINANCE IN A STATE LEGISLATURE.# IT'S CRUCIALLY IMPORTANT TO HAVE DEBATE AND DIALOGUE OPPOSITION.# THAT'S WHAT MY CAUCUS OFFERS.

WE OFFER A LOYAL OPPOSITION, A# DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVE, AND ONE THAT REPRESENTS THE VOICES OF# OUR RESIDENTS IN KAPOLEI AND EWA.

QUESTION TO YOU.

WHY DID YOU WANT TO STEP IN AND RAISE YOUR# HAND FOR THIS SEAT?

>> ALOHA.# I'M ANTHONY MAKANA PARIS.

SO WHY AM I RUNNING?# IT'S BECAUSE I WAS ASKED TO RUN.

MY KUPUNA, MY FAMILY, MY# FRIENDS, ALL OF THE ORGANIZATIONS I WORK WITH IN THE# KAPOLEI-MAKAKILO-HONOKAI HALE NEIGHBORHOOD AREA, THEY ASKED ME# TO STEP UT AND USE THE SKILLS AND TALENT I HAVE TO REPRESENT# OUR COMMUNITY.

>> Yunji: WHY DO YOU THINK# YOU, IN PARTICULAR, IS THE BEST PERSON FOR THIS JOB?# >> I AM A WONDERFUL CANDIDATE BECAUSE OF THE FACT THAT I'M# SEASONED.

I'M GOING ON 44 YEARS.# I ACTUALLY SAW THE BIRTH OF THE INTERNET, AND NOW WE'RE DEALING# WITH AI ISSUES, WHERE WE'RE TALKING ABOUT DEEP FAKES.# I CAN REACH TO THE KUPUNA AND ELDERS AND TRANSLATE FROM THEM,# SITTING AT THEIR FEET SINCE I WAS A KID ON WEST OAHU, AND# BEING ABLE TO TRANSLATE TO THE NEXT GENERATION TO THE OPIO# ABOUT WHY THE VALLEYS OF HAWAI'I MAKES SENSE, AND THEN HELP THEM# ALONG AND MAKE SURE THEY UNDERSTAND EACH OTHER AS WE# FORGE A GOOD PATH TOGETHER.

>> Yunji: REPRESENTATIVE, YOU# TALKED ABOUT WHAT YOU REPRESENT AS A PARTY, BUT WHAT ABOUT YOU# AS A PERSON?

WHAT ARE THE SKILLS THE YOU# BRING TO THE TABLE TO REPRESENT THIS DISTRICT?# >> I WAS BORN AND RAISED ON THE WEST SIDE OF OAHU, WAIPAHU,# WAIANAE COAST SO VERY FAMILIAR WITH THE CHALLENGES FACING MANY I WAS BORN AND RAISED IN LOW-INCOME HOUSING PROGRAM.# I UNDERSTAND THE STRUGGLES THAT SO MANY LOCAL FAMILIES GO# THROUGH.

WHAT WE NEED IS SOMEBODY WHO# ACTUALLY UNDERSTANDS WHAT THEY'RE GOING THROUGH, TO FIGHT# FOR THEM IN THE LEGISLATURE.

WE NEED PEOPLE WHO'S NOT AFRAID# TO SPEAK UP, TO GO AGAINST THE GRAIN, TO HOLD LEADERSHIP# ACCOUNTABLE, AND THAT'S WHAT I OFFER.# SINCE BEING ELECTED TWO YEARS AGO, WE'VE LED A CHARGE IN THE# HOUSE TO STAND UP AGAINST LEADERSHIP, TO OFFER DIFFERENT# OPINIONS, TO OFFER DIFFERENT SOLUTIONS TO HAWAI'I'S PROBLEMS.# WE'LL CONTINUE DOING THAT.

>> Yunji: WE REFERENCED AT THE# TOP OF THE SHOW THAT THIS IS ONE OF THE FASTEST GROWING DISTRICT# IN THE STATE.

WHAT IS THE UNIQUE CHALLENGE YOU# FACE?

WHAT IS THE NUMBER ONE ISSUE?# >> I THINK IT'S INFRASTRUCTURE.

IT'S MAKING SURE THAT ADEQUATE# INFRASTRUCTURE IS INSTALLED IN OUR DISTRICT, ESPECIALLY IN THE# EAST KAPOLEI AREA.

THAT'S BEING BUILT NOW.# HAWAIIAN HOMELANDS IS BEING BUILT.

AFFORDABLE HOUSING# PROJECTS IS BEING BUILT WITH HHFDC.# SO MAKING SURE THAT THEY'RE BUILDING HOMES FOR LOCAL# FAMILIES, AND THEY'RE NOT GOING TO BE OCCUPIED BY MAINLAND# BUYERS, BY OUT-OF-STATE BUYERS.

BUT THAT THEY'RE TRULY DEDICATED# FOR LOCAL FAMILIES.

>> Yunji: AND HOW DO YOU DO# THAT?

THERE WERE EFFORTS TO TRY LIMIT# WHO CAN PURCHASE REAL ESTATE.

# THE ATTORNEY GENERAL, SAYING THAT'S NOT NECESSARILY LEGAL.# TO SAY PERTINENT PEOPLE OF A CERTAIN STATE OR COUNTRY CAN'T# PURCHASE LAND HERE.

HOW DO YOU ENSURE THAT THOSE# HOMES OR PROPERTIES GO TO LOCAL FAMILIES?# >> SO THIS PAST SESSION, MYSELF AND SENATOR AWA HAD INTRODUCED# LEGISLATION TO DO THAT.

LIMIT THE OUTSIDE INFLUENCES# FROM COMING IN AND PURCHASING PROPERTY.# I VEHEMENTLY DISAGREE WITH THE A.G. ON THIS.# SHE SAYS IT'S NOT CONSTITUTIONAL.# 41 OTHER STATES ACROSS OUR COUNTRY HAVE PASSED SIMILAR# LEGISLATION PROHIBITING OUTSIDE FORCES FROM OWNING AND OCCUPYING# THEIR LAND.

SO IT'S POSSIBLE.# IT JUST TAKES THE WILL OF THE LEGISLATURE TO GET IT DONE.# >> Yunji: REPRESENTATIVE MENTIONED INFRASTRUCTURE.

WHAT# DO YOU THINK IS THE MOST CHALLENGING ISSUE FACING YOUR# DISTRICT?

>> I THINK INFRASTRUCTURE IS THE# KEY.

WHAT IT COMES DOWN TO IS QUALITY# OF LIFE.

BECAUSE INFRASTRUCTURE IN AND OF# ITSELF DOESN'T HELP ANYBODY, ESPECIALLY IF IT'S IN THE WRONG# PLACES.

IT'S MAKING SURE OUR PLACES OF# RESIDENCE ARE PLACES WHERE YOU CAN LIVE, WORK AND PLAY.# WHERE KUPUNA WITH ABLE IN THE COMMUNITY AND STAY THERE BECAUSE# THEY HAVE TIES IN THE COMMUNITY.

AND BE WITH KEIKI.

CREATING# SPACES SO THEY CAN STAY IN THESE NEW CONDOMINIUM COMPLEXES AND# CONTINUE TO HOLD THE VALUES# FOR NOW, I MIGHT DISAGREE A LITTLE WITH MY COLLEAGUE HERE WHO SAYS# THAT 41 OTHER STATES ALREADY LIMIT.# THE ONE SURE WAY THAT IS CONSTITUTIONAL TO MAKE SURE THAT# WE CAN HAVE HOUSING FOR HAWAII RESIDENTS AND LOCALS IS THE# DEPARTMENT OF HAWAIIAN HOME LANDS.# IT IS THE ONE LEGAL WAY WE CAN PREFERENCE LOCAL FAMILIES OVER# ANY OTHER BECAUSE OF THE COMPACT ARRANGEMENT SIGNED BY PRINCE# JONAH KUHIO KALANIANAOLE IN 1921 IN THE U.S. CONGRESS AND# ENSHRINED IN OUR CONSTITUTION.

SO THE CORNERSTONE OF AFFORDABLE# HOUSING FOR HAWAII IS MAKING SURE 28,000 WAIT LIST GOES AWAY.# THAT'S 28 MORE THOUSAND PEOPLE BEING ON HOME LANDS, FREES UP# THE INVENTORY ACROSS THE STATE.

>> Yunji: I WANT TO ASK A# FOLLOW-UP QUESTION FROM KEN VIA E-MAIL, AND IT IS TO THIS DHHL# QUESTION.

DO YOU APPROVE OF SPENDING# HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS OF DOLLARS OF GOVERNMENT MONEY FOR PROGRAMS# THAT GIVE BENEFITS TO ONLY PEOPLE OF ONE PARTICULAR RACE?# EXPLAIN WHY, ESPECIALLY WHEN THERE ARE PEOPLE IN OTHER RACES# WHO ARE PERHAPS MORE NEEDY.

>> FIRST OFF, THAT'S A HUGE# MISCONCEPTION.

THE DEPARTMENT OF HAWAIIAN HOME# LANDS AND THE LAND ACTUALLY BELONGS TO THE BENEFICIARIES,# WHICH ARE NATIVE HAWAIIANS.

IT IS THEIRS.

IT IS OURS.

TO SAY# THE GOVERNMENT IS GIVING US ANYTHING, IT IS NOT.# THE GOVERNMENT HAS BEEN A POOR TRUSTEE FOR MANY A YEARS.# LAST TWO SESSIONS AGO, THEY PROVIDED $600 MILLION.# FINALLY, FINALLY, THEY'RE GIVING # THAT BELONGS TO THEM BECAUSE THE LANDS IN THE HAWAIIAN HOME LANDS# TRUST IS PART OF THE PUBLIC LAND TRUSTS THAT BELONG TO NATIVE# HAWAIIANS.

IT GOES BACK TO THE HAWAIIAN KINGDOM DAYS.# RECOGNIZED UNDER AMERICAN LAW THAT NATIVE HAWAIIAN NEVER# RELINQUISHED THEIR RIGHTS.

AS A PEOPLE, WE'RE ONE OF THE# WEALTHIEST PEOPLE IN THE WORLD.

THE PROBLEM IS WE HAVE A FEDERAL# TRUSTEE, A STATE TRUSTEE AND OFFICE OF HAWAIIAN AFFAIRS ALL# ARGUING WITH EACH OTHER ABOUT HOW THEY SHOULD BE HELPING US.# BENEFICIARY IS NATIVE HAWAIIANS.

IT IS NOT A RACE-BASED PROGRAM.# >> Yunji: WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS ON DHHL?

AND ALSO TO# KEN'S QUESTION.

>> FIRST AND FOREMOST, THANK# YOU, KEN, FOR THE QUESTION BUT THE FOUNDATION IS A NARRATIVE.# HAWAIIAN HOME LANDS IS A FEDERAL ACT THAT WAS PASSED IN CONGRESS# IN 1920.

SIGNED INTO LAW IN 1921 BY THEN# REPUBLICAN CONGRESSMAN, PRINCE KUHIO, WHO FOUGHT FOR THE LAHUI.# UNDER 70 YEARS OF ONE-PARTY RULE HERE IN HAWAI'I, THE STATE HAS# COMPLETELY FAILED IN FULFILLING THEIR DUTIES TO FULFILL THIS# HAWAIIAN HOMES COMMISSION ACT.

THERE'S A WAIST LIST OF 29,000# HAWAIIANS WHO'S WAITING AND DYING ON A WAIT LIST.# THERE'S LESS THAN 10,000 LEASES THAT HAD BEEN AWARDED IN OVER A# HUNDRED YEARS.

THAT'S A MASSIVE FAILURE.

TWO# SESSIONS AGO, THAT WAS A STEP FORWARD IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION,# BUT $600 MILLION IS NOT EVEN CLOSE TO WHAT WE NEED TO FULFILL# THE HAWAIIAN HOMES COMMISSION ACT.# ONE SOLUTION I'M CURRENTLY # SESSION IS THIS, TURNING LOTS OF THE MILITARY HOUSING NOW THAT'S# BEING OCCUPIED AND/OR NOT BEING OCCUPIED, RENOVATING THEM AND# CONVERTING THEM BACK TO HAWAIIAN HOME LANDS.# THERE'S ALREADY INFRASTRUCTURE IN PLACE, AND THAT CAN SAVE OUR# STATE A LOT OF MONEY IN BUILDING NEW INFRASTRUCTURE.# >> Yunji: WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS ON THAT KIND OF# PROPOSAL?

DO YOU THINK THAT IS VIABLE# OPTION TO RECLAIM SOME OF THAT PROPERTY FROM THE MILITARY?# >> SO UNDER THE WORK OF THEN U.S.

SENATOR DANIEL AKAKA AND# INOUYE, WE GOT THE FIRST RIGHT OF REFUSAL FOR ANY FEDERAL LANDS# COMING BACK TO HAWAI'I TO GO TO DEPARTMENT OF HAWAIIAN HOME# LANDS.

SO IT IS VIABLE IN ORDER TO USE# THE INFRASTRUCTURE THAT EXISTS IN THESE LANDS TO BULK UP THE# INFRASTRUCTURE AROUND AND PUT HOUSING FOR HAWAIIAN HOME LANDS.# PARTICULARLY SINCE THE 65-YEAR ONE-DOLLAR LEASES ON HAWAIIAN# LAND.

FROM POHAKULOA TO MAKUA TO# KAHUKU THAT THE UNITED STATES MILITARY IS USING FOR A DOLLAR,# NOT FAIR MARKET RATES, IS COMING UP IN 2029.# AND OTHER LEASES AND PERMIT EASEMENTS COMING UP FROM 2028 TO# 2031.

SO THERE'S A HUGE OPPORTUNITY TO# WORK WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE AND STATE TO MAKE SURE# THE NATIVE HAWAIIANS GET WHAT IS RIGHTFULLY DUE TO THEM.# I CALL IT BACK RENT.

>> Yunji: RODNEY FROM PEARL# CITY SAYS, WHAT ARE YOUR PLANS FOR THE UNFORGOTTEN JEWEL IN# KAPOLEI, THE VARONA VILLAGE.

# IS IN A STATE WHERE THE CITY HAS FAILED TO FULFILL ITS KULEANA.# THERE'S OVER 40 KUPUNA THAT I KNOW IN THEIR 80s AND 90s# STILL WAITING THEIR ALLOTMENT IN VARONA VILLAGE.# THE ISSUE IS THE LACK OF THE NEW DEVELOPER BEING ABLE TO ACCESS# THE SEWAGE AND WATER LINE FROM THE CITY.# THAT IS THE MAIN INFRASTRUCTURE THAT'S NECESSARY FOR THEM TO# MOVE FORWARD IN THEIR PLANS.

MY HOPE IS TO SEE THAT# OPPORTUNITY FOR VARONA VILLAGE TO WORK WITH THE STATE, HHFCD,# DEPARTMENT OF HOME LANDS.

RIGHT NEXT TO VARONA VILLAGE IS# OTHER ACREAGE RIGHT ON KAPOLEI PARKWAY NEXT TO KA MAKANA ALII# WHERE WE CAN BUILD OUT MAYBE 200, 240 MORE AFFORDABLE HOMES,# WORKING WITH TWO DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS, BEING ABLE TO PUT IN# THE APPROPRIATE INFRASTRUCTURE TO BUILD HOUSES AND RENOVATE FOR# THE KUPUNA THAT HAVE BEEN WAITING FOR DECADES.# >> Yunji: WHAT DO YOU SAY TO RODNEY?# WHAT ARE YOUR PLANS FOR THE UNFORGOTTEN JEWEL IN KAPOLEI?# THE VARONA VILLAGE.

>> THEY TRULY HAVE BEEN# FORGOTTEN.

I WAS TAKING TO FORMER MAYORS IN# RECENT WEEKS ABOUT VARONA.

THEY'VE BEEN WORKING ON THIS# LONG TIME.

FINALLY, RECENTLY A CERTAIN# DEVELOPER NAMED PETER SAVIO ACQUIRED THE AREA.# THEY'RE WORKING WITH HABITAT FOR HUMANITY IN BUILDING NEW HOMES# FOR THE RESIDENTS.

I HAVE A GOOD WORKING# RELATIONSHIP WITH MR. SAVIO AS WELL AS MAYOR RICK BLANGIARDI.# I LOOK FORWARD TO MAKING SURE # DECADES AND DECADES WILL COME INTO FRUITION WITHIN THE NEXT# FEW YEARS.

>> Yunji: ABOUT HOMELESSNESS.# WE HAVE SEEN THIS ACROSS THE STATE, AND WE'RE SEEING AN# INCREASING AMOUNT IN YOUR DISTRICT.# WHAT CAN THE LEGISLATURE -- WE KNOW THAT THE COUNTY'S INVESTING# MILLIONS OF DOLLARS.

THE STATE IS INVESTING IN# MILLIONS.

YOU LOOK AT THE POINT IN TIME# COUNT, AND WE HAVE NOT SEEN CHANGE IN DIRECTION PEOPLE WOULD# LIKE TO SEE.

WHAT MORE CAN BE DONE FROM THE# STATE LEVEL TO ADDRESS THIS ISSUE?# >> FIRST AND FOREMOST, WE HAVE TO ADDRESS THE LOW-HANGING# FRUIT.

IT'S HOMELESS INDIVIDUALS WHO# DON'T WANT TO BE HOMELESS.

THEY'RE THERE DUE TO ECONOMIC# CIRCUMSTANCES, WHETHER IT'S THEIR LOST THEIR JOB.# THEY DON'T HAVE THE INCOME.

THEY COULDN'T PAY THE RENT.# WE HAVE TO GO AFTER THE LOW-HANGING FRUITS AND ADDRESS# THEM AND HELP THEM FIRST.

THE PROBLEM WITH HOMELESSNESS,# AND THERE'S A BIG UPTICK IN THIS TYPE OF HOMELESSNESS IN KAPOLEI,# IS THE DRUG ADDICT HOMELESS.

MENTALLY ILL HOMELESS.

THEY'RE# CURRENTLY AFFECTING BUSINESSES IN THE AREAS, SCHOOLS IN THE# AREA.

I HAD SOME RESIDENTS COMPLAIN# THAT SOME OF THE HOMELESS INDIVIDUALS WERE NAKED NEAR A# PRESCHOOL CENTER IN THE AREA.

THIS IS NOT GOOD FOR OUR# COMMUNITY, AND FOR FAR TOO LONG, POLITICIANS AND LEADERS HAVE# ENABLED THE SITUATION.

A BIG# THERE'S SO MANY HOMELESS THAT'S NOT EVEN FROM HAWAI'I.# WE HAVE TO SEND THEM BACK HOME TO WHERE THEY CAME FROM.# WE CANNOT TAKE THE BURDEN AND PAY FOR MEDICAL, FOOD STAMPS,# FOR WELFARE FOR THEM TO BE SPENT ON DRUGS AT THE EXPENSE OF OUR# TAXPAYERS.

THAT HAS TO STOP.

>> Yunji: WHAT DO YOU THINK# THE STATE COULD DO MORE TO ADDRESS THIS ISSUE?# >> SO ONE OF THE ISSUES IS WHAT REPRESENTATIVE SAID ABOUT# SENDING THEM BACK HOME.

SO I DO SUPPORT FAMILY# REUNIFICATION PROGRAM WHERE WE CAN USE GOVERNMENT RESOURCES TO# ENSURE THERE'S SOMEONE IN THEIR HOME STATE, WHEREVER THEY CAME# FROM THAT'S WILLING TO TAKE THEM.# HAVING BEEN HOUSELESS FOR A TIME, FOR ABOUT TWO YEARS OF MY# LIFE, AND UNDERSTANDING WHAT GOES ON, MY HEART GOES OUT.# I WAS JUST HANGING OUT WITH ARTHUR IN OUR NEIGHBORHOOD PARK# THE OTHER DAY, WATCH SECURITY MEMBERS WENT UP AND TALKED STORY# WITH THEM.

AND HE WAS AVERSE TO ACTUALLY# GETTING ANY TYPE OF CARE.

WHEN I WAS ABLE TO TALK STORY# WITH ARTHUR MORE, GOT TO FIND OUT WHAT HAPPENED WITH HIS# SITUATION.

HE GOT KICKED OUT OF HIS FAMILY# HOUSE BECAUSE HE WAS LGBTQIA+.

A LOCAL GUY DISOWNED BY HIS# FAMILY, NOW ON THE STREETS.

THE QUESTION IS, WHAT DO WE DO?# HOW DO WE SHOW COMPASSION AND ENGAGE?# I DON'T THINK THAT DISRUPTION OF THEM IS PONO.# I DO THINK THAT WE SHOULD ACTUALLY HAVE A HOUSING FIRST# POLICY BECAUSE I UNDERSTAND WHEN # YOU CAN PROVIDE WRAPAROUND SERVICES ELSEWHERE.# BUT IF YOU DON'T HAVE A HOME TO GO TO, ALL THOSE OTHER THINGS# ARE BAND-AIDS WHEN THEY'RE HEMORRHAGING OUT.# SO IT'S NOT HELPFUL.

IF WE DON'T GET THEM A STABLE# PLACE TO BE.

SO WE CAN WORK ON KAUHALES LIKE THE GOVERNOR HAS# DONE AND WE CAN ENSURE THAT IN OUR NEW DEVELOPMENTS IN OUR# DISTRICT, WE PUT IN PLACES WHERE WE CAN HAVE TRANSITIONAL HOMES.# AND WELCOME THEM BECAUSE WE BUILD THEM INTO OUR PLANS.# RESIDENTS WILL HAVE TIMES WHEN IT GETS OUT OF CONTROL.# COST OF LIVING IS OUT OF CONTROL.# MULTIPLE FAMILIES ARE LIVING UNDER THE SAME ROOF.# THE FACT THAT WE HAVE PEOPLE IN OUR MIDST AROUND US THAT NEED# HELP, WE SHOULD DO A GOOD NEIGHBORLY THING AND HELP THEM# OUT AND GIVE THEM A HANDOUT.

>> I WANT TO COMMENT TWO YEARS# AGO, THE GOVERNOR CAMPAIGNED HOMELESSNESS WAS HIS MAIN ISSUE.# IT'S NOW TWO YEARS LATER, AND HOMELESSNESS HAS GOTTEN# SIGNIFICANTLY WORSE.

THE METHODS AND STRATEGIES# THAT'S CURRENTLY BEING USED AND IMPLEMENTED SIMPLY ISN'T# WORKING.

THE VAST MAJORITY WHO ARE NOT# FROM HAWAI'I NEED TO BE SENT ONLY IMMEDIATELY, AND WHEN IT# COMES TO NATIVE HAWAIIANS WHO ARE HOMELESS, THIS IS AN AREA# THAT HAWAIIAN HOME LANDS CAN PARTNER WITH OTHER STATE# AGENCIES TO ADDRESS HAWAIIANS ON THE WAIT LIST WHO ARE ON THE# STREETS AND PUTTING THEM INTO SHELTER IMMEDIATELY.# >> Yunji: HE BROUGHT UP KAUHALE.

STRATEGY, THAT IS THE CORNERSTONE OF GOVERNOR GREEN'S# POLICY.

>> IT'S A TEMPORARY FIX.# IT'S NOT THE SOLUTION.

IT'S A BAND-AID SOLUTION.# WE HAVE TO ADDRESS THE ROOT CAUSE, AND THE PRIMARY ROOT OF# THIS CAUSE OF HOMELESSNESS IS HAWAI'I'S OUTRAGEOUS COST OF# LIVING.

HIGH TAXATION.

WE HAVE THE SECOND HIGHEST TAX# RATES IN THE COUNTRY.

OVERREGULATION OF LOCAL# BUSINESSES.

THIS IS RANKED 50 IN THE WHOLE COUNTRY, HAWAII IS, TO# START A BUSINESS.

WE HAVE TO CHANGE OUR REGULATORY# ISSUES AND DRASTICALLY CHANGE OUR TAX STRUCTURE TO BRING# IMMEDIATE RELIEF TO LOCAL FAMILIES WHO ARE SUFFERING.# SUFFERING FOR DECADES.

>> Yunji: WE JUST HAD THE# LARGEST TAX CUT IN HISTORY.

DO YOU THINK THAT DOES NOT GO FAR# ENOUGH?

>> THAT HAPPENS OVER YEARS.# FOUR TO FIVE YEARS, THEN WE'LL BE THE FOURTH LOWEST INCOME TAX# STATE.

LET'S TALK ABOUT G.E.T.

TAX.# THE GOVERNOR ALSO CAMPAIGNED OF ABOLISHING THE G.E.

TAX ON# GROCERIES, FOOD, MEDICATION HE GOT INTO OFFICE, NOTHING# HAPPENED.

OUR CAUCUS HAS PROPOSED THIS LEGISLATION# FOR 30 YEARS, SINCE 1993, TO ABOLISH G.E.T.

OR EXEMPT FOOD,# MEDICAL SERVICE AND HYGIENE PRODUCTS.

THIS WOULD GIVE# IMMEDIATE RELIEVE TO LOCAL FAMILIES.# >> Yunji: WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT THE TAX CUTS PASSED, AND# IT DO YOU THINK MORE IS NEEDED?

THIS WAS A HISTORIC MOMENT FOR OUR LEGISLATURE AND OUR STATE.

>> TAX CUT IS A APPROPRIATE# STATE.

HOWEVER, PROBLEM WITH THE TAX# CUT IS IT DISPROPORTIONATELY BENEFITED THE WEALTHY BECAUSE IT# WAS A PERCENTAGE TAX CUT.

SO THE LOCAL FAMILIES ARE# GETTING HUNDREDS OF DOLLARS.

WHILE THE WEALTHY ARE GETTING# BACK HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS.# I BELIEVE COMPREHENSIVE TAX REFORM IS NEEDED.# I'VE CHAMPIONED THAT.

I'VE TALKED TO BUSINESSES.# I THINK THAT OUR VISITORS AND THE WEALTHY AND MAJOR# MULTINATIONAL CORPORATIONS SHOULD BE PAYING THEIR FAIR# SHARE.

NOW, PEOPLE ONLY WANT TO TALK# ABOUT ONE TAX.

THEY DON'T WANT TO LOOK AT# EVERYTHING AT THE SAME TIME.

HOW MUCH ARE YOU PAYING AT THE# GROCERY STORE?

HOW MUCH IS YOUR REGISTRATION?# WHAT'S YOUR GAS MILEAGE?

THE FEES AND STRUCTURES ARE ALL# OVER THE PLACE.

WHEN YOU COMPREHENSIVELY LOOK AT IT, WHO# ENDS UP BENEFITS IS THE PEOPLE THAT KNOWS THE TAX.# THE WEALTHY AND EDUCATED.

SO THE MOM AND POPS, OUR# NEIGHBORS, THEY'RE THE ONES THAT ARE SUFFERING THE MOST.# THEY'RE PAYING FOR DECADES INTO THE ROADWAYS THAT WE HAVE AND# SEWERS THAT WE HAVE.

THE INVESTOR COMES IN AND GET# APPRECIATION ON THE PROPERTY, AND THEY BENEFIT OFF OF IT.# SINCE THEY'RE NOT LIVING HERE, THEY'RE NOT PAYING FOR GAS OR# ROAD TAX.

THEY'RE NOT PAYING FOR WATER# BILL AND ELECTRIC BILL.

>> Yunji: SHOULD THERE## BE HIGHER TAXES ON, LET'S SAY, OF THAT NATURE?

>> 100%.# I THINK WE SHOULD HAVE A EMPTY HOME SURCHARGE AT THE STATE# LEVEL.

SO THESE PEOPLE SITTING ON THE# PROPERTY BECAUSE IT'S PART OF THEIR INVESTMENT PORTFOLIO# SHOULD NOT BE BENEFITING OFF THE LOCAL PEOPLE PUTTING IN THE# MONEY FOR THE INFRASTRUCTURE THAT ALLOWS THEM THAT RISE IN# VALUE.

>> Yunji: AS A REPUBLICAN, I# WOULD IMAGINE YOU DON'T AGREE.

>> I'M VERY MUCH OPEN TO AN# EMPTY HOMES TAX IF IT'S TARGETED TO THOSE WHO DON'T LIVE HERE.# NOW, THERE ARE LOCAL FAMILIES WHO WORK SO HARD TO HAVE ANOTHER# PROPERTY, TO HAVE A SECOND HOME.

AND SOME RELY ON THAT INCOME TO# SURVIVAL IN THIS CRAZY, EXPENSIVE STATE.# FOR THOSE RESIDENT, THEY SHOULD NOT BE TAXED.

BUT IF THEY'RE# LIVING OUT OF STATE, 100%.

>> Yunji: WE ONLY HAVE A FEW# MINUTES.

I WANT TO MAKE SURE WE GET TO A FEW MORE QUESTIONS.# JAMES IN EWA ASKS, DO ANY CANDIDATES HAVE A PLAN TO HELP# DECREASE DRUG ADDICTION AND DRUG SMUGGLING IN HAWAI'I?

THIS IS A# STATEWIDE ISSUE.

>> DEFINITELY.# WE'RE SEEING AN UPTICK IN MENTAL ILLNESS.# NOT JUST FROM DRUGS BUT DEATHS, OVERDOSES FROM FENTANYL COMING# INTO OUR COMMUNITY, OUR STATE.

MY OFFICE HAS BEEN AT THE# FOREFRONT OF ADDRESSING THE FENTANYL CRISIS SINCE DAY ONE.# WE'VE HELD MULTIPLE TOWN HALL MEETINGS TO EDUCATE OUR PUBLIC# ON THE RISE OF FENTANYL.

HAVE ALL PUBLIC SCHOOLS AND OTHER AREAS HAVE A LOCK ZONE OR NARCAN FOR KIDS.# RECENTLY, THERE WERE RAINBOW CANDY PILLS IN PUBLIC SCHOOLS IN# HAWAI'I.

WE HAVE TO ADDRESS THE DRUG# SMUGGLING, AND FENTANYL IS BEING CUT IN ALL KINDS OF DRUGS.# METH, COCAINE, HEROINE.

IT'S NOT JUST PILLS.

IT'S IN ALL SORTS OF# OTHER DRUGS SO WE HAVE TO CRACK DOWN AND WORK WITH OUR FEDERAL# PARTNERS.

A BIG PART OF THIS IS THAT OPEN# BORDER.

IT'S POURING INTO OUR COUNTRY.# IT NEEDS TO BE SEALED SO WE CAN SAVE AMERICAN LIVES AND LIVES# HERE IN HAWAI'I.

>> Yunji: WHAT DO YOU SAY TO# JAMES IN EWA ON DRUGS ISSUES FACING OUR STATE?# >> REPRESENTATIVE, ONE OF THE THINGS IN HAWAI'I THAT I GREW UP# WITH IS THE FACT THAT ADULT USE MARIJUANA WAS NORMAL WHEN I GREW# UP.

IT WAS IN OUR COMMUNITY.# AND WHEN WE HAD GREEN HARVEST FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT AND# THEY DID THE DRUG ON WARS, THAT VOID CAME IN, AND WHAT TOOK THAT# PLACE WAS CRYSTAL METHAMPHETAMINE.# SO CRYSTAL METH CAME INTO OUR COMMUNITIES BECAUSE OF THE FACT# THAT WE, AS A SOCIETY, FAILED TO REGULATE THE USAGE OF ADULT# RECREATIONAL MARIJUANA.

WE CREATED THIS PROBLEM, THE# DRUG ON WAR.

>> Yunji: WE DO EXPECT THAT# MARIJUANA LEGISLATION COMES UP ALMOST EVERY SESSION.# ,AND I EXPECT IT WILL COME UP THIS SESSION.

DO YOU SUPPORT# LEGALIZING RECREATIONAL# MARIJUANA?

>> I SUPPORT RESPONSIBLE ADULT# USE RECREATIONAL MARIJUANA.

# WANT TO MAKE SURE WE TIE IT TO THINGS LIKE FOOD PRODUCTION.

OR# TO ADDRESS SOCIAL JUSTICE ISSUES WITH NATIVE HAWAIIANS WHO# DISPROPORTIONATELY ARE IN OUR JAILS BECAUSE OF CANNABIS# POSSESSION BECAUSE THEY STILL USE IT.# THEY STILL USE IT RIGHT NOW BUT THEY GO BEFORE THE COURTS AND# THEY'RE THE ONES IN JAIL WHILE THEIR OTHER RACE COUNTERPARTS# ARE NOT.

>> Yunji: WHAT ARE YOUR# THOUGHTS?

>> FIRST AND FOREMOST, NO ONE IS# BEING LOCKED UP FOR MARIJUANA VIOLATIONS NOW.# IT HAS BEEN DECRIMINALIZED A FEW YEARS BACK, AND EVEN PRIOR TO# THAT, NO JUDGE IS SENTENCING THEM HARSHLY LIKE THEY WOULD# BACK IN THE DAY.

SO THAT'S NOT HAPPENING NOW.# AS A REPRESENTATIVE, WE MUST REPRESENT THE VOICES OF OUR# COMMUNITY.

>> AND THERE'S HAWAIIANS# INCARCERATED BECAUSE OF USE OF CANNABIS.# WE'RE NOT GOING TO FORGET ABOUT THE FACT THAT THEY'RE IN JAIL# BECAUSE WE'RE NOT GOING TO LOOK AT THIS.# >> BACK TO MY POINT.

STOP INTERRUPTING, MAKANA.# THE FACT IS THE VAST MAJORITY OF MY DISTRICT WHEN SURVEYED, OVER# 70% OF OUR DISTRICT OPPOSES RECREATIONAL USE OF MARIJUANA.# >> FROM THE PEOPLE YOU TALK TO.

>> Yunji: WE'RE OUT OF LET'S# MAKE THIS POINT QUICKLY.

>> FIRST OF ALL, BE RESPECTFUL.# THE VAST MAJORITY OF OUR DISTRICT OPPOSES RECREATIONAL# MARIJUANA.

>> THE VAST MAJORITY I TALK TO# WANT TO MAKE SURE WE CAN # WE NEED TO BE ABLE TO EXPLORE GAMBLING BECAUSE OF THE FACT# THAT WE HAVE KUPUNA THAT FLYING TO VEGAS AND RENO TO SPEND THEIR# HARD EARNED DOLLARS SOMEWHERE ELSE.# THEY COULD BE DOING IT ON HAWAIIAN HOME LANDS TO MAKE SURE# THAT LIST GETS SMALLER.

>> FIRST AND FOREMOST ECONOMIC# DRIVER, GIVE ME A BREAK.

$30 MILLION IS NOT AN ECONOMIC# DRIVER.

$30 MILLION IN REVENUE AT THE# EXPENSE OF WHAT?

HURTING OUR FAMILIES?# NO.

>> Yunji: WE SEE A CLEAR# DIFFERENCE IN OPINION.

>> ALL OF THE NEGATIVE EFFECTS# THAT THE DRUG OF WARS THAT PEOPLE THINK ARE HAPPENING IS# ALREADY HAPPENING.

HUMAN TRAFFICKING IS HAPPENING# IN OUR COMMUNITY.

DRUG HOUSES ARE IN OUR# COMMUNITY.

CHICKEN FIGHTING IS IN OUR# COMMUNITY.

>> Yunji: I THINK WE'RE GOING# TO HAVE TO LEAVE IT THERE.

THANK YOU, GENTLEMEN, FOR BEING HERE.# HALF AN HOUR IS NOT ENOUGH.

WE WANT TO THANK OUR GUESTS.# FOR STATE HOUSE DISTRICT 42, A FIERY CONVERSATION TONIGHT.# REPRESENTATIVE DIAMOND GARCIA AND ANTHONY MAKANA PARIS.# AS WE GET READY FOR OUR NEXT SEGMENT WITH THE CANDIDATES FOR# HAWAII COUNTY MAYOR, HERE IS A STORY FROM STUDENTS AT HILO HIGH# SCHOOL PRODUCED IN PARTNERSHIP WITH OUR HIKI NO PROGRAM.# NATHAN RAGASA: HIDDEN IN HILOíS BACKYARD IS THE# WAILUKU RIVER.

THIS RIVER HOLDS MANY STORIES AND TALES THAT# BECOME PART OF HAWAIIAN CULTURE, # BOILING POTS.

KYLIA SILVA:# HERE WE ARE AT BOILING POTS OR WHERE THE BATTLE OF THE WAILUKU# RIVER TOOK PLACE.

THIS STORY CONTAINS HINA, MAUI,# PELE AND THE GIANT MOO, OR LIZARD, KUNA.

SO BASICALLY, HINA# WAS LIVING IN THE CAVE BEHIND RAINBOW FALLS, AND THE MOO KUNA# CAME IN AND TRIED TO TAKE HER OVER.

SO HINA ASKED HER SON,# MAUI, TO ASK OR TO GET RID OF THE MOO.

SO ONE WAY THAT MAUI# GOT RID OF HIM WAS TO ASK PELE, ìPELE, LET'S THROW SOME LAVA IN# THE WATER AND LET'S GET HIM OUT.î SO THAT'S KIND OF HOW THE# STORY OF THE BOILING POTS TOOK PLACE.# NATHAN RAGASA: THE STORY OF BOILING POTS# CARRIES A SPECIAL MEANING FOR OUR COMMUNITY AND TO HILO HIGH# SCHOOL.

MS. KRISTIN AIONA, A HILO HIGH SCHOOL TEACHER TELLS# US THE SIGNIFICANCE AND THE LESSON THAT WE CAN LEARN FROM# THE MOOLELO OF BOILING POTS.

KRISTIN AIONA:# BOILING POTS AND WAILUKU RIVER AND MOOKUNA IS JUST ONE OF THE# STORIES THAT'S REPRESENTED ON OUR MURAL.

WE WEAVE TOGETHER# LOTS OF DIFFERENT PEOPLES AND CHARACTERS AND LESSONS.# IT WAS JUST, IT JUST HAPPENED TO BE ONE OF THE LESSONS, OR ONE OF# THE MOOLELO, THAT WE USED IN OUR MURAL.

IF YOU SEE THE LIZARD# EYE, IT TO ME, IT'S A REFLECTION OF HOW WE CAN LEARN FROM IT,# FROM THE IDEAS OF FORGIVENESS, LOYALTY, SO MUCH MORE# FRIENDSHIP, BUT ALSO COMMUNICATION, LOOKING AT IT BY# NOT SEEING WHO IS THE BAD PERSON.

IS THERE A BAD PERSON?# IF WE COULD SEE IT FROM ALL # FROM IT, AND I THINK THAT'S A VERY IMPORTANT LESSON FOR ALL OF# US.

WE ARE ALWAYS LEARNING FROM THE LESSON OF WAILUKU RIVER AND# BOILING POTS AND MOO KUNA AND HINA AND MAUI.

THEY ARE ALL# TEACHING US ALL THE TIME.

WE HAVE TO JUST CONNECT BACK TO# IT AND REALIZE THE STORY IS THERE FOR US.# KYLIA SILVA: BOILING POTS BASICALLY STARTS A# VERY BIG HIDDEN GEM, BECAUSE THE WATER PROVIDES SO MUCH LIFE, SO# MUCH CULTURE AND STORIES THAT IT STARTS.

AND THE BOILING POTS# BATTLE OF WAILUKU RIVER, IT STARTED SO MANY LEGENDS,# MOOLELOS OF THE HAWAIIAN CULTURE, AND IT KIND OF JUST# WENT ALL THROUGH HILO.

SO THAT'S A BIG HIDDEN GEM OF# THIS PART.

NATHAN RAGASA:# BOILING POTS MAY BE KNOWN AS A..

CULTURAL SIGNIFICANCE WILL REMAIN AN IMPORTANT PART OF OUR# IDENTITY FOR YEARS TO COME.

THIS IS NATHAN RAGASA FROM HILO# HIGH SCHOOL FOR HIKI NO.

>> Yunji: WELCOME BACK TO# INSIGHTS ON PBS HAWAII... NOW WE WILL TURN OUR FOCUS TO# THE RACE FOR HAWAII COUNTY MAYOR.# LETíS MEET OUR GUESTS: BORN AND RAISED ON HAWAII# ISLAND, DR. KIMO ALAMEDA EARNED HIS DOCTORATE FROM THE# UNIVERSITY OF NEBRASKA-LINCOLN.

THE FATHER OF SEVEN PREVIOUSLY# LED THE HAWAII COUNTY FENTANYL TASK FORCE AND WAS ALSO THE# EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR FOR THE HAWAII COUNTY OFFICE OF AGING.# MITCH ROTH WAS ELECTED MAYOR OF HAWAII COUNTY IN 2020.# PRIOR TO THIS, HE SERVED# EIGHT PROSECUTOR.

MAYOR ROTH IS A GRADUATE OF U.H.

MANOA AND HAS A# LAW DEGREE FROM WHITTIER LAW SCHOOL.

HE LIVES IN HILO WITH# HIS WIFE AND IS A FATHER OF THREE.# THANK YOU BOTH FOR BEING HERE TONIGHT.# MAYOR ROTH, I WANT TO START WITH YOU.# IT'S A BIG COUNTY, AND THERE'S A LOT OF ISSUES FACING IT, BUT IF# YOU HAD TO DISTILL IT TO ONE, WHAT DO YOU THINK IS THE BIGGEST# CHALLENGE?

>> WE'VE BEEN FOCUSING ON# SUSTAINABLE.

ALLOW OUR KIDS TO RAISE THEIR# KIDS IN HAWAI'I AND SO ON.

THE BIGGEST ISSUE THERE IS# HOUSING.

HOUSING HITS EVERYTHING ELSE.# WE'VE BEEN FOCUSING ON HOUSING FOR THE LAST FOUR YEARS.# >> Yunji: DR. ALAMEDA, WHAT DO YOU SAY?

WHAT DO YOU THINK IS# THE BIGGEST ISSUE?

>> I AGREE WITH MITCH.# I THINK IT'S QUALITY OF LIFE.

EVERYTHING COMES DOWN TO QUALITY# OF LIFE.

IF IT YOU'RE HAVING DIFFICULTY# MAKING ENDS MEET, YOU GET IN STUCK IN TRAFFIC.

THERE'S A# SEWAGE SPILL AND YOU CAN'T SWIM.

IT'S GOING TO DO AFFECT YOUR# QUALITY OF LIFE.

AND EVERY COMMUNITY IS# DIFFERENT.

EVERY COMMUNITY HAS A DIFFERENT# CHALLENGE.

AT THE END, I'M RUNNING TO# IMPROVE OUR RESIDENTS' QUALITY OF LIFE.# >> Yunji: WHAT MAKES YOU BEST SUITED TO TAKE ON THAT# CHALLENGE?

>> I THINK ALL OF MY LIFE# EXPERIENCES HAVE LED UP TO THIS POINT.

YEARS.

DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH, DEPARTMENT# OF EDUCATION, SCHOOL TEACHER.

AND I WORKED FOR THE COUNTY# UNDER MAYOR KENOI AND HARRY KIM.

AND I WENT IN THE PRIVATE# SECTOR.

I WORKED WITH THE FEDERALLY QUALIFIED HEALTH# CENTER.

I'VE BEEN IN THREE BRANCHES OF# GOVERNMENT.

AND I THINK THAT'S THE KIND OF# LEADERSHIP WE NEED.

IT'S ABOUT RELATIONSHIPS, AND I# HAVE THE SKILL SET TO BRIDGE THE GAP, IF YOU WILL.# >> Yunji: MAYOR ROTH, WHAT ARE YOUR PERSONAL EXPERIENCE AND# PROFESSIONAL LIFE DO YOU BRING TO THIS JOB?# >> FOR MOST OF MY CAREER I'VE BEEN A PROSECUTING ATTORNEY.# I STARTED THINGS LIKE COMMUNITY ORIENTED PROSECUTION, WHICH IS# BUILDING PARTNERSHIPS TO SOLVE PROBLEMS.# WE'VE DONE SOME AMAZING THINGS IN THAT ROLE, WHETHER IT WAS# WEED AND SEED.

WE HAVE ONE OF THE MOST# SUCCESSFUL IN THE COUNTRY.

WE HAD FIRST RESTORATIVE JUSTICE# PROGRAM THAT MADE A DIFFERENCE.

I HAVE THE EXPERIENCE OF TRYING# CASES AND BEING ABLE TO TAKE ON THINGS THAT PEOPLE DIDN'T THINK# COULD BE DONE.

FOR EXAMPLE, THE PETER BOY KEMA# CASE.

WE'VE TAKEN THAT SAME LEVEL OF PROBLEM-SOLVING# TO WORK ON COUNTY ISSUES.

WHETHER IT BE PERMITTING.# WE WENT FROM THE WORST IN THE COUNTRY TO BEST IN THE STATE.# BETTER THAN OTHER PLACES IN THE COUNTRY AS WELL, ACCORDING TO# UHERO.

WE'VE TAKEN THE NUMBERS OF HOUSING THAT WERE IN OUR AFFORDABLE HOUSING PIPELINE, AND WENT FROM ABOUT 1,400 TO 8,100.# WE DOUBLED THE AMOUNT OF ROADS WE'VE DONE.# WE CAME IN, THERE WAS A LOT OF PROBLEMS.# A LOT OF ISSUES, AND WE'VE BEEN SOLVING THOSE ISSUES, AND WE# CONTINUE TO SOLVE THOSE ISSUES.

>> Yunji: WHEN YOU LOOK AT A# LOT OF THINGS THAT YOU LAID OUT, ONE OF THE THINGS YOU NEED IS# PERSONAL.

I HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK# WITH THE POLICE CHIEF NOT LONG AGO.

HE'S DONE A LOT WITH# RECRUITING OFFICERS BUT HE'S STILL FALLING SHORT OF WHAT# HE NEEDS.

HOW DO YOU RECRUIT IN THE POLICE# DEPARTMENT, DEPARTMENT OF PLANNING AND ALL THE AREAS THAT# YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT?

>> THIS IS NOT A PROBLEM THAT'S# JUST STUCK WITH JUST HAWAI'I COUNTY.

ALL OVER THE STATE,# PEOPLE ARE FIGHTING FOR JOBS.

ALL OF OUR HOTELS, ON THE KONA# COAST, PUT THEM TO WORK TOMORROW.# I SAW SOMETHING IN HAWAI'I BUSINESS MAGAZINE WHERE# RETAILERS, 61% SAID BRINGING PEOPLE ON.# WE'RE SEEING CHANGES IN THE COUNTRY AND CHANGES IN HAWAI'I# COUNTY.

WE HAVE BEEN BRINGING ON PEOPLE.# I THINK WE WENT FROM ABOUT TWO HUNDRED TO A HUNDRED PEOPLE.# PEOPLE HAVE BEEN COMING ON.

SOMETHING THAT HAPPENED AFTER# COVID.

NOT HAWAI'I COUNTY ALONE.# EVERY PLACE FACES THIS PROBLEM.

>> Yunji: HOW DO WE RECRUIT# AND RETAIN IN THE PUBLIC SECTOR?

>> THAT'S ONE AREA WE NEED# IMPROVEMENT.

LET'S TAKE WASTEWATER.

CHIEF.

WE DON'T HAVE A WASTEWATER# DEPUTY.

WE DON'T HAVE A SOLID WASTE# CHIEF.

THIS IS WHY THE COUNTY UNIONS --# FIRE, POLICE, UPW AND HGEA HAS ENDORSED OUR CAMPAIGN.

THEY'RE# HURTING.

THERE'S A LOT OF VACANCIES THAT THIS# ADMINISTRATION STRUGGLED TO FILL.# YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE COUNTY WORKERS WORKING TWO OR THREE# POSITIONS.

SO THE BURNOUT.

I'VE TALKED TO A FEW COUNTY# WORKERS.

KIMO, WE FEEL BROKEN.

WE FEEL LIKE THE MORALE IS DOWN.# SO IT'S GOING TO BE HARD TO RECRUIT BECAUSE THE ISLAND IS A# BIG ISLAND BUT IT'S SMALL.

COUNTY USED TO BE THE EMPLOYER# OF CHOICE.

WHEN I WAS GROWING UP, MY DAD# SAID, YOU GOT A JOB WITH THE COUNTY, THAT'S SECURITY.# IT'S NOT NOW.

AND OUR ADMINISTRATION, I'D LIKE# TO CHANGE THAT.

>> Yunji: AND HOW WOULD YOU DO# THAT?

>> FIRST, YOU GOT TO LOVE OUR# EMPLOYEES.

THERE'S A LOT OF THEM, THEY'RE# THANK -- THANKLESS KIND OF JOB.

PARKS AND FIELD AND GYM AND# JANITORS.

YOU GOT TO LOVE ON THEM.# APPRECIATE THEM.

AND THIS ADMINISTRATION HAS MADE# IT DIFFICULT FOR THEM TO FEEL THE LOVE, ESPECIALLY AROUND# HAZARD PAY.

>> I WANT TO GIVE YOU AN# OPPORTUNITY TO RESPOND.

>> COUPLE THINGS HERE.# I'VE PERSONALLY WRITTEN HUNDREDS OF HANDWRITTEN CARDS THANKING# PEOPLE.

WE STARTED PROGRAMS -- BECAUSE WE HAVE HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE FROM THE PUBLIC, AS WELL AS INNER# DEPARTMENT RECOGNIZING PEOPLE WHO MADE A DIFFERENCE IN OUR# COMMUNITY.

I SEE PEOPLE ALL THE TIME FROM# THE COUNTY AND THEY'RE ALWAYS THANKING ME.# WE HAVE GREAT RELATIONSHIPS OF THE ISSUE IS THE HAZARD PAY.# THAT IS SOMETHING THAT IS HUGE.

WE'RE TALKING ABOUT $70 MILLION# OF TAXPAYER DOLLARS TO PAY FOR ALL THE HAZARD PAY.# WE HAVE BEEN WORKING WITH THE UNIONS.# WE'VE ACTUALLY MADE SOME VERY GOOD OFFERS, NOT HAVING ANY# COUNTEROFFERS, SO THE EMPLOYEES DON'T KNOW THAT.# AND THAT'S KIND OF UNFORTUNATE.

SOME PEOPLE, YES, THEY HAVE# WORRIES ABOUT WHERE'S OUR HAZARD PAY?# MOST PEOPLE, MOST PRIVATE AGENCIES -- I DON'T KNOW TOO# MANY PRIVATE AGENCIES THAT RECEIVE HAZARD PAY FOR COVID.# THE QUESTION THAT I HAVE IS, $70 MILLION.# WHERE DOES THAT MONEY COME FROM?

>> WELL, IT CAME FROM THE# FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.

THE QUESTION IS, WHERE IS IT?# I WORKED IN THE PRIVATE SECTOR.

AS CEO OF A HEALTH CENTER.

WE# GOT HAZARD PAY.

MITCHELL SAID OUR COUNTY WAS THE# SAFEST IN THE STATE.

YOU KNOW WHO MADE IT SAFEST IN# THE STATE?

OUR COUNTY EMPLOYEE.# THEY RISKED THEIR LIFE.

AND IT'S CONTRACTUAL TOO.# THAT'S THE KIND OF RELATIONSHIP RIGHT NOW THAT IS BECOMING AN# ISSUE FOR THE COUNTY.

>> Yunji: WHAT ABOUT HIS QUESTION OF WHERE THE MONEY COMES FROM?# $70 MILLION IS QUITE A BIT OF MONEY.# >> RIGHT.

WE UNDERSTAND IT CAME FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.# WHERE IS IT?

I WAS TOLD IT WAS THERE.# WAS IT MISSPENT?

>> SO I HOPE SOMEBODY DOES A# FACT CHECK ON THIS BECAUSE THERE WAS NOTHING SAYING HAZARD# PAY, WE'RE GIVING YOU $70 MILLION.# WE HAD DIFFERENT OPTIONS OF WAYS TO SPEND IT.# A LOT OF MONEY WAS ALLOCATED PRIOR TO OUR ADMINISTRATION# COMING IN.

IS IT POSSIBLE THAT COULD HAVE# HAPPENED?

YEAH.

THE QUESTION OF HAZARD PAY DIDN'T COME UP UNTIL# WAY LATER DOWN THE LINE AND NOT AT THE BEGINNING.# THERE ISN'T THIS FEDERAL MONEYS SITTING THERE FOR HAZARD PAY.# THAT'S JUST MISINFORMATION THAT'S GOING OUT THERE TO THE# COMMUNITIES.

>> Yunji: LET'S GET TO# QUESTIONS.

TOM IN HILO, AND I'D LOVE FOR# YOU TO TAKE THIS, DR. ALAMEDA.

WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO DO ABOUT# THE HIGH CRIME RATE IN HILO?

>> RIGHT.# YOU TALKED ABOUT EARLIER ABOUT THE VACANCIES.# OUR POLICE DEPARTMENT HAS A LOT.

YOU NEED TO FILL THOSE# VACANCIES.

WORK WITH OUR COMMUNITY.# COMMUNITY MEMBERS NEED TO ALSO WORK WITH THE COUNTY TO HELP# PROVIDE SURVEILLANCE.

HILO, THERE'S A PROBLEM.# THERE'S A HOMELESS SITUATION.

SPEAKING OF MISLEADING, I THINK# IT'S MISLEADING TO SAY THERE'S A DECREASE IN HOMELESSNESS.

THERE MIGHT BE A POINT IN TIME COUNT THAT SUGGESTS THAT, BUT IT# DOESN'T FEEL THAT.

IT'S ALSO MISLEADING TO SAY OUR# PERMITS IS 28 DAYS.

TO SAY WE WENT FROM LAST IN THE# NATION TO FIRST IN THE STATE?

BASICALLY ALL THE COUNTIES WERE# LAST IN THE NATION.

WE WENT LAST IN THE NATION TO# FOURTH LAST IN THE NATION.

BEING THE BEST OF THE WORST IS NOT# SOMETHING TO BRAG ABOUT.

WE ARE HURTING.# ALL THIS TRANSLATES TO AGAIN TO QUALITY OF LIFE.# WHEN TOM IS A LITTLE BIT WORRIED ABOUT CRIME IN HILO, HE SHOULD# BE.

>> Yunji: WHAT DO YOU SAY TO# TOM IN HILO?

>> WHEN YOU TAKE A LOOK AT# HAWAI'I, AND I WAS PROSECUTING ATTORNEY AND DEPUTY PROSECUTING# ATTORNEY.

YOU LOOK AT CRIME, AND VIOLENT# CRIME, WE'RE ONE OF THE LOWEST IN THE NATION.

WE HAVE# HAD ISSUES WITH PROPERTY CRIME BUT WE'VE HAD ISSUES WITH# PROPERTY CRIME FOR MANY YEARS.

WHEN I WAS PROSECUTOR, WE WERE# HOLDING ABOUT 400 PEOPLE AT HAWAII CORRECTIONAL FACILITY.# AFTER COVID, WE HAD TO DECREASE THE NUMBER.# NOW THEY CAN ONLY HOLD ABOUT TWO HUNDRED PEOPLE AND SOMETHING# PEOPLE.

WE WORKED ON WAYS TO BRING DOWN# CRIME.

I WANT TO TALK ABOUT SOME THINGS# THAT KIMO SAID.

LAST YEAR, AT THE END OF THE# YEAR, WE WERE DOWN TO ABOUT 28 DAYS AVERAGE FROM THE TIME YOU# PUT YOUR PERMIT IN UNTIL IT CAME OUT.

WE HAD SOME ISSUES WITH# SOFTWARE.

WE HOPE TO BE BACK THERE## AGAIN.

YOU LOOK AT OUR PERMITTING MORE PERMITS THAN ANY OTHER COUNTY IN STATE.# UHERO JUST DID A STUDY ON THAT.

WHEN WE CAME IN, THE AMOUNTS# PERMITS BEING ISSUED WERE 619, 615 IN THE TWO YEARS PRIOR.# AND THESE WERE FOR HOUSING PERMITS.# ABOUT -- I FORGET THE NUMBER.

BOTH WERE IN THE 800s.# 2023, WE WENT OVER A THOUSAND PERMITS FOR HOUSING.# WE ARE DOING BETTER THAN OTHER PLACES, AND WE'RE STILL GETTING# THEM OUT QUICKER.

ARE WE PERFECT?# NO.

WE'RE STILL WORKING.# >> I HAVEN'T HEARD ANYBODY WHO GOT THEIR PERMITS IN 28 DAYS.# >> Yunji: WHEN IT COMES TO HOMELESSNESS, STATEWIDE IS NOT# DOING WELL.

HAWAI'I COUNTY IS SOMEWHAT OF AN# OUTLIER, BUT WE HAVE SEEN IMPROVEMENTS THERE.# WHAT HE'S TALKING ABOUT IS HOW PEOPLE FEEL.# >> SURE.

>> EVEN IF NUMBERS ARE GETTING# BETTER, THERE IS A FEELING THAT THIS IS A LARGE PROBLEM IN OUR# COMMUNITY.

>> SURE.# WHEN WE CAME IN, WE STARTED LOOKING AT WAYS TO MAKE A# DIFFERENCE.

WE BROUGHT PEOPLE TOGETHER.# WE CAME WITH A 13-POINT PLAN.

WE'RE STARTED FUNDING THAT PLAN# AND STARTED TO SEE CHANGES.

YES, WE HAD OVER A THOUSAND# HOMELESS PEOPLE.

WE GOT A 28% DECLINE, ACCORDING# TO THE LAST POINT IN TIME.

THE LARGEST IN THE STATE.# AND AMONG THE LARGEST IN THE NATION.

COMING FROM OTHER PLACES.

WE STILL HAVE PEOPLE WHO HAVE# SEVERE MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES, AND THOSE ARE THE PEOPLE OFTENTIMES# THAT DON'T WANT TO TAKE SERVICES.# I THINK ABOUT TWO WEEKS AGO, WE OPENED UP WITH THE SALVATION# ARMY FOR PLACE FOR PEOPLE TO STAY.# WE'VE BEEN TAKING PEOPLE AND PUTTING THEM IN THERE.# WE'RE NOT UNLIKE ANY OTHER PLACE IN THE COUNTRY AS FAR AS# HOMELESSNESS.

BUT WE HAVE BEEN MAKING A BIG# DENT AND WILL CONTINUE.

>> Yunji: THIS QUESTION FROM# JIM.

WHAT IS YOUR POSITION ON THE# POHAKULOA MILITARY BASE?

THIS IS THE STATE AND NOT# NECESSARILY THE COUNTY, BUT THE COUNTY DOES HAVE A VOICE.# WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS?

>> SURE.# WE HAD THE DISCUSSION PRIOR TO OUR DEBATE HERE.# FIRST OF ALL, ONE DOLLAR A YEAR, THAT'S A BIG ISSUE.# SO WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO RENEGOTIATE THAT.# I ALSO WANT TO SEE AN AUDIT.

AND TO SEE WHAT KIND OF INCOME# DO THEY GENERATE FOR OUR COUNTY.

BECAUSE ANY RELATIONSHIP LIKE# THAT WITH THE MILITARY OR EVEN WITH THE TELESCOPES ON MAUNA KEA# ACROSS THE STREET, WE NEED TO SEE THE BENEFIT THAT'S COMING# BACK TO OUR PEOPLE.

>> YEAH.# I AGREE WE NEED TO RENEGOTIATE.

THE STATE NEEDS TO DO THE.

WE# ALSO NEEDS TO UNDERSTAND THAT THERE'S A LOT OF THINGS# HAPPENING IN THIS WORLD, AND PROBABLY ONE OF THE BIGGEST# THREATS HAPPENING RIGHT NOW IS IN THE PACIFIC.

AT ONE OF OUR CONFERENCE TALKING ABOUT THINGS BREAKING OUT.# HAVING THE MILITARY HERE IS VERY IMPORTANT.# IT'S NOT LIKE HAWAI'I WILL NEVER BEEN ATTACKED.# WE HAVE BEEN ATTACKED BEFORE.

SO WE HAVE TO MAKE SURE WE HAVE# PLACES WHERE PEOPLE CAN TRAIN AND BE READY.# >> Yunji: THERE'S A QUESTION I WOULD LOVE FOR YOU BOTH TO# ADDRESS.

MR. MAYOR, THIS COMES FROM TED.# HAWAII COUNTY HAS TENS OF THOUSANDS OF CESSPOOLS.

THE# PLANS TO FIX OUR WATER IS A MESS.# WHAT WOULD YOU DO TO IMPROVE THE WEIGHT SITUATION ON BIG ISLAND?# THIS IS STATEWIDE.

A PROBLEM THAT IS AN# ENVIRONMENTAL DISASTER.

BUT AT THE SAME TIME, IT'S SO# EXPENSIVE TO FIX.

WHAT DO YOU SAY TO TED AND# OTHERS WHO ARE CONCERNED?

>> WE'VE BEEN WORKING ON THIS.# WE'VE PUT TOGETHER A BID FOR WASTEWATER.# SUPPOSED TO BE OPEN A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO.# THAT'S ACTUALLY FINISHED.

OPEN UP IN THE NEXT COUPLE DAYS,# MAYBE EVEN TOMORROW.

AS FAR AS THE CESSPOOLS, IT'S A# HUGE PROBLEM.

WE'VE HAD CONSULTANTS LOOK AT# THIS JUST FOR THE DISTRICT OF PUNA.# BETWEEN FOUR AND $12 BILLION TO SOLVE THAT PROBLEM IF WE WERE# SET UP A WASTEWATER SYSTEM.

WE'VE BEEN GOING TO THE SHOWING.# WE'VE BEEN SHOWING THE DIFFERENT OPTIONS WE SEE.# COMING UP WITH A PUBLIC-PRIVATE PARTNERSHIP.

INTO ANOTHER LINE AND STOP POLLUTING OUR OCEANS.

SOMETHING# WE'RE DILIGENTLY WORKING ON.

>> LET ME CHIME IN HERE.# IT'S A BIG ISSUE.

I MEAN I TALKED TO FOLKS, THAT'S# ONE OF THE BIGGEST ISSUES.

THAT WAS THE INCUMBENT'S PRIORITY.# AND IT'S AT THE THIRD YEAR, AND ONLY NOW BIDS ARE COMING IN.# I SAID IN THE PRIOR DEBATE.

IT'S $170 MILLION.

IT'S GOING TO# BE $250 MILLION.

BID CAME BACK $350 MILLION.# NOW, I KNOW MITCH TALKED ABOUT KEEPS HIM UP AT NIGHT.# ONE EARTHQUAKE AWAY FROM A MAJOR ENVIRONMENTAL DISASTER.# IT'S NOT LIKE WE'RE WAITING FOR AN EMERGENCY.

WE'RE IN THE# EMERGENCY.

AND WHAT BOTHERS ME IS LIKE OUR# ADMINISTRATION, WE WOULD HAVE A PLAN.# YOU KNOW IT'S GOING TO DO RUPTURE SOON SOMEPLACE.# I WOULD BRING MY TEAM, CIVIL DEFENSE, ARMY CORPS OF# ENGINEERING, NATIONAL GUARD.

CORP COUNSEL.

WHERE IS THE# LIKELY BREAK?

IF IT'S GOING TO BE THERE, LET'S BUILD A DITCH OR# SOMETHING.

LET'S NOT WAIT FOR IT TO HALF.# THAT'S 3.5 MILLION GALLONS OF SEWAGE A DAY.# WHAT IS 3.5 MILLION GALLONS?

OUR OLYMPIC POOL HAS 500,000 GALLONS# OF WATER.

THAT'S SEVEN SWIMMING POOLS OF# SEWAGE A DAY THAT WOULD CONTINUALLY FLOW DOWN AND PUT# OUR RESIDENTS AT RISK.

YET THERE'S NO PLAN TO ADDRESS# IT.

AND THIS CAN HAPPEN TOMORROW.# THAT'S VERY CONCERNING.

>> WE DO HAVE PLANS.# THE PLANS THAT WE'VE MADE FOR # SIZE OF THIS DEFENDING AND ABOUT THIS HIGH.# THEY DON'T HAPPEN OVERNIGHT.

WE HAD TO, YOU KNOW, BRING# PEOPLE IN.

BUT THEY HAPPEN A LOT QUICKER.# THEY WERE BUILT A LOT QUICKER THAN IT USUALLY TAKES.# TO SAY THAT WAS OUR NUMBER ONE THING WHEN WE TOOK OFFICES.# THAT WASN'T.

IT WAS SOMETHING WE LEARNED WHEN WE CAME INTO# OFFICE.

HOUSING'S BEEN NUMBER ONE.# WE SAW IT, AND WE'VE BEEN THERE.

I'VE TAKEN SENATORS DOWN THERE,# REPRESENTATIVES DOWN THERE.

ARMY CORPS OF ENGINEER.

WE# BROUGHT EVERYBODY DOWN THERE.

>> WE NEED A PLAN NOW, AND WE# DON'T HAVE A PLAN.

I KNOW PEOPLE CLOSE TO THE# SOURCE.

THEY TELLING ME, IT'S GOING TO BE SUPER BAD.# THE BIGGEST ENVIRONMENTAL DISASTER THAT OUR ISLAND'S# FACED.

>> Yunji: THAT'S WHAT YOU'VE# SAID.

YOU HAVE SAID THIS IS ONE THING.# >> RIGHT.

WE SHOULD PREPARE FOR IT.# >> AND WE ARE.

>> WHERE'S THE DITCH?# WHERE'S THE BREAM?

WHERE'S IT'S CONTAINMENT?# WHERE'S THE RESERVOIR?

COMMUNICATE THAT TO THE PUBLIC.# I GOT FAMILY THAT LIVE THERE.

>> Yunji: WHAT DO YOU SAY TO# THAT?

>> WE HAVE BEEN WORKING ON THIS.# I'M NOT AN ENGINEER.

BUT I DON'T KNOW -- I KNOW THAT# WE HAVE A PLAN.

>> Yunji: OKAY.# ONE OF THE THINGS, THE LAST TIME YOU WERE BOTH ON THAT YOU SAID# THAT THE MAYOR'S JOB -- THERE # HAVE STARTED THAT YOU WANT TO FINISH.# WHAT IS YOUR BEST PITCH TO THE VOTERS AS TO WHY YOU NEED TO# STAY HERE TO FINISH WHAT YOU STARTED?# WHAT HAVE YOU STARTED THAT YOU WANT TO SEE THROUGH?# >> WE'VE BEEN WORKING ON HOUSING.# 1,243 IN THE PIPELINE.

WE'RE UP TO 8100.

WE'RE ABOUT TO# SEE TWO BIG FACILITIES.

ONE ABOVE COSTCO.# ONE ACROSS UNIVERSITY OF HAWAI'I.# ANOTHER HUNDRED HOUSING UNITS THERE.# WE HAVE A WHOLE BUNCH COMING ON.

WE STARTED WORKING ON THE# PERMITTING SYSTEM.

DESPITE WHAT MR. ALAMEDA SAYS,# WE HAVE BEEN MAKE A LOT OF GREAT PROGRESS THERE, AND BY THE END# OF THE YEAR, WE SHOULD HAVE A LOT MORE.# WE TOOK OVER A LOT OF THINGS IN REALLY POOR CONDITION.# WE HAD TO TAKE DOWN A GYM.

WE'RE ABOUT TO BUILD THAT GYM# UP.

WE HAVE TAKEN OUR PARKS AND REC# MAINTENANCE BUDGET FROM $450,000 TO NOW $6 MILLION.# WE WERE ABLE TO BUILD THINGS LIKE PICKLEBALL COURTS.# WE'RE WORKING ON ENERGY.

THERE'S A WHOLE BUNCH OF THINGS# THAT WE'VE NOW BUILT THE FOUNDATION, AND THINGS ARE IN# PROGRESS MOVING FORWARD.

>> CAN I CHIME IN REAL QUICK?# 8100 HOMES IS MISLEADING.

FIRST OF ALL, NOBODY KNOWS HOW# DOES A HOME GET INTO THE PIPELINE?# NOBODY KNOWS IF THAT PIPELINE WILL BE FINISHED IN FOUR YEARS.# I WOULDN'T PUT OUT 8100 HOMES# IF FOUR YEARS.

THEY WERE PART OF THE PLAN TWO,# THREE ADMINISTRATIONS AGO.

TO SAY WE HAVE 8100 HOMES IN THE# PEOPLE LINE, SUPER MISLEADING.

I WENT ONLINE AND LOOKED.# I PICKED A PROJECT.

LIAPUA, 4 HOMES.# THEY HAVE NO WATER.

IT'S GOING TO DO TAKE SIX TO TEN# YEARS TO FINISH.

WHEN YOU THINK 8100 HOME,# THEY'RE THINKING, RIGHT ON.

IT'S GOING TO HAPPEN.# IT'S NOT GOING TO HAPPEN.

IT'S MORE OF A PIPE DREAM.# >> Yunji: WHAT IS THE TIME LINE?# >> PROJECTS TAKE A WHILE.

I CAN'T SAY EXACTLY HOW MANY.# WE'VE PUT THEM ONLINE SO PEOPLE CAN LOOK AND SEE.# HOW LONG IT TAKES SOMETIMES TO GET THINGS THROUGH, AND PUTS IT# ON THE COUNTY.

THERE ARE STATE ISSUES DEALING# WITH LAND USE COMMISSION.

A LOT THESE PROJECTS ARE WAITING FOR# APPROVALS.

AND SOMETIMES IT'S WATER.# BUT THEY'RE MOVING.

>> RIGHT.

I WOULD COMMUNICATE# THAT, MITCH, TO THE PUBLIC SO PEOPLE ARE AWARE THAT 8100 HOMES# IN THE PIPELINE.

IT'S NOT GOING TO HAPPEN IN FOUR YEARS, MAY NOT# HAPPEN IN EIGHT YEARS.

YOU NEED TO BE MORE TRANSPARENT.# THE START DATE FOR THE PERMIT IS NOT WHEN YOU BRING IT IN.

WHEN# YOU BRING IT IN, IT GOES INTO A POOL.# RIGHT NOW WE HAVE THREE THOUSAND PERMITS IN A POOL.# WHEN IT GOES INTO INTAKE, THAT'S WHEN IT STARTS THE DATE.

THAT'S# MISLEADING TO THE PUBLIC.

>> THAT IS MISLEADING.# WE DON'T HAVE THREE THOUSAND IN POOL IN INTAKE.# I HOPE SOMEONE DOES A FACT CHECK.# LESS THAN A THOUSAND.

AND WE DO COUNT FROM THE DAY IT# COMES IN.

WE'VE HAD DIFFERENT METRICS.# BACK IN DECEMBER, IT WAS ABOUT SEVEN DAYS IN INTAKE OF LAST# YEAR.

WE'RE GETTING BACK TO THAT.# WE'VE HAD ISSUES.

I HOPE THAT SOMEBODY DOES A FACT# CHECK.

>> IT'S NOT MATCHING THE# REALITY.

>> Yunji: UNDER FIVE MINUTES.# ONE OF THE CHANGES THE POLICE DEPARTMENT MADE IS HANDLE ANIMAL# CONTROL.

TWO QUESTIONS.# MARGIE IN KONA, WHAT ABOUT ANIMAL CONTROL?# NONPROFITS ARE DOING SPAY AND NEUTER WITH LITTLE COOPERATION.# SUZANNE SAYS, THE SITUATION IN THIS COUNTY IS HORRIFIC.# DOGS AND CATS ARE RUNNING LOOSE AND STARVING.# ANIMAL CONTROLLING IS A JOKE.

EMERGENCY SERVICES DON'T EXIST.# WHAT DO YOU SAY?

>> PRIOR TO US TAKING OFFICE,# HUMANE SOCIETY HAD THE CONTRACT FOR ANIMAL CONTROL.# THEY DID NOT WANT THE CONTRACT.

THE PREVIOUS ADMINISTERING PUT# ANOTHER AGENCY IN THERE.

WE CAME IN AND IT WAS REALLY# BAD.

WE TOOK THEM OUT AND PUT THE# POLICE IN THERE.

WE TRIED TO GET ANOTHER AGENCY# TO TAKE IT.

WASN'T WORKING.

WE TOOK IT INTO# COUNTY.

WE HAD TO BUILD EVERYTHING# AGAIN.

WHEN HUMANE SOCIETY LEFT, THE# TOOK THE SHELTER.

WE HAD TO BUY ANOTHER SHELTER.

EVERY DAY.

WE'VE BEEN HIRING PEOPLE.# LAST WEEK OR SO, WE'VE HAD ABOUT THREE OR FOUR MORE PEOPLE COME# IN.

SO WE'RE## MORE THAN HALFWAY STAFFED.# AS WE GET BETTER STAFFED, WE'LL HAVE MORE SERVICES.# WE'RE ALSO LOOKING AT A PLACE FOR WAIMEA AND KAU AS FAR AS# SHELTERS.

>> IT'S A BIG PROBLEM.# I GET CALLS ALL THE TIME.

I'M NOT EVEN IN OFFICE.# I TALKED TO HUNTERS.

I TALK TO PEOPLE WHO OWN CATS,# DOGS, PIGS, GOATS.

THAT'S WHY 64% OF PEOPLE ON OUR# ISLAND LAST ELECTION VOTED FOR CHANGE.# RIGHT NOW, I'M THE ONLY CHANGE OPTION AVAILABLE.# WHAT I HOPE THE VIEWERS ARE SEEING, KNOW THIS.# YOU MIGHT BE CONCERNED.

IS THE ALAMEDA ADMINISTRATION# THE RIGHT CHANGE?

LET ME CHANGE, CHANGE CAN BE# UNPREDICTABLE AND SCARY.

SOMETIMES AT LEAST WITH THE# CURRENTLY ADMINISTRATION US YOU KNOW WHAT YOU'RE GOING TO GET.# BUT SO LET ME JUST SHARE THAT OUR CHANGE IS GOING TO BE# HEALTHY CHANGE, ENERGETIC AND CHANGE THAT WE NEED TO TURN THE# PENDULUM.

WE ARE NOT BETTER OFF NOW THAN# FOUR YEARS AGO.

>> I'M GOING TO SAY WE'RE MUCH# BETTER OFF.

ALL OF OUR DEPARTMENTS ARE IN# BETTER PLACE.

YOU CAN TAKE FIGURES ANY WAY YOU# WANT.

YOU CAN SAY 64%.

WAS NOT THE# CHANGE THEY WANT.

EVERY DEPARTMENT WE'RE DOING WHEN YOU'RE LOOKING AT CHANGE, IT CAN BE POSITIVE OR NEGATIVE.# WHAT I HAVEN'T HEARD FROM ANYTHING ON KIMO'S SIDE, WHAT# SPECIFICALLY THEY'RE GOING TO DO.# IF PEOPLE DON'T KNOW WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN -- AND IT'S EASY# TO CRITICIZE.

SPENDING ALL THE MONIES THAT YOU# DON'T HAVE, MAKING THINGS -- YOU HAVE TO HAVE SPECIFIC PLANS.# >> I WANT TO DON'T EVERYBODY TO MY WEBSITE.# LIVE, WORK AND PLAY, AND IT'S DETAILED AND I WELCOME EVERYBODY# TO CALL ME TO CONTACT ME AND I'LL SHARE MY PLANS.# >> Yunji: ABOUT A MINUTE LEFT.

YOU MADE THAT ARGUMENT FOR# CHANGE.

WHAT WOULD YOU SAY TO FOLKS ON# FENCE?

>> GIVE US A CHANCE.# SELF-REFLECT.

LOOK OUTSIDE.

DO YOU FEEL THINGS# ARE BETTER?

I WAS BORN AND RAISED HERE.# I GOT FAMILY.

I GO BACK GENERATIONS.# IT IS NOT BETTER THAN IT WAS.

WE CAN BE THAT CHANGE.# I WANT TO SAY GIVE US A CHANCE.

>> Yunji: MR. MAYOR?# >> WE'RE HAVING LOTS OF THINGS HAPPENING.# A LOT OF PROGRESS AS FAR AS INFRASTRUCTURE AND THINGS LIKE# THAT.

WHEN YOU CHANGE, YOU STOP THAT# PROGRESS.

WE NEED TO CONTINUE TO DO WHAT# WE'RE DOING.

TO MAKE SURE OUR KIDS CAN RAISE# THEIR KIDS, AND THEIR KIDS CAN RAISE THEIR KIDS ON HAWAI'I# ISLAND.

WE'RE MAKING THOSE AS FAR AS TO PEOPLE CAN SEE IT EVERY DAY.

ON THE ROADS AND INFRASTRUCTURE.# ALL DIFFERENT PLACES.

>> Yunji: THANK YOU BOTH FOR# BEING HERE.

MAHALO FOR JOINING US TONIGHT# AND WE THANK OUR GUESTS, THE CANDIDATES FOR HAWAII COUNTY# MAYOR.

DR. KIMO ALAMEDA AND MITCH ROTH.# NEXT WEEK ON INSIGHTS WE WILL TALK WITH CANDIDATES FOR TWO# STATE HOUSE DISTRICTS.

DISTRICT 20 ñ WHICH COVERS PART# OF KAPAHULU THROUGH KAHALA AND DISTRICT 29 ñ WHICH COVERS# KALIHI VALLEY AND KAMEHAMEHA HEIGHTS.# PLEASE JOIN US THEN.

IíM YUNJI DE NIES FOR INSIGHTS# ON PBS HAWAII.

ALOHA.