Mayoral Candidates

[HiloPuna]

I say why not use the '50's / '60's Puna model in West Hawaii. Redistrict and rezone so much land that you flood the current and foreseeable market, thus allowing working class families with average incomes to make their own decisions as to what to buy and when/how to build. The key is to immediately tax the land high enough that it compels the landowner to sell into the market. The other is to allow for modular housing and small lots. Another factor in its success at breaking the price barriers to affordability could be Ohana/CPR so collective utilization could occur.

It's a common answer in the economics of land use, and the Puna subdivisions, for all there faults, are a great representation of its effectiveness.

[kalakoa]

allow for modular housing and small lots

Ironically, "modular housing" is allowed on Ag-zoned land (State amended HRS to allow "pre-engineered structures") but small lots would have to be R-zoned in an Urban district (rule change for minimum Ag lot size, after the massive Puna subdivisions created 7500-sf "farm lots").

In any case, anything would be cheaper than the $500/sf "homeless container village" proejct -- or it would be, if the homeless weren't subsidized with Federal grant money.

[dakine]

Thank you HiloPuna for your thoughts.

It seems obvious that my own experiences were far more limited than yours. Admittedly my "measured growth" statement was based upon a comparison of the previous administrations unbridled love of development, my conservation oriented philosophy, and how Chris Yuen brought some level of moderation to the process, and certainly not on government as a whole. I may have been blinded by my appreciation of Chris' earlier stand for Makalawena and the fairly limited experiences I had with the Planning Department over the homes I built during his tenure, for which there were plenty of reasons to interface with them. But still, all in all, mine is a limited perspective. Thanks again for sharing your perspective. It certain is an eye opener.

[HiloPuna]

dakine

I've had a few, unfortunately all too few, but a few nonetheless similar experiences here on Punaweb. The point, at least for me, of forums such as these are salon like conversations with diverse, informed points of view. Not shout outs, shout downs, put downs, or pull one over on less informed or trusting listeners.
I appreciate your words and point of view.
Mahalo,
HP

[james weatherford]

Forum in Hilo, July 14.
Hapai, Hoffmann, Kim, Lau in the hot seats...

http://hawaiitribune-herald.com/news/com...ly-14-hilo

[james weatherford]

The four leading candidates for Mayor are Harry Kim, Pete Hoffmann, Wally Lau, and Marlene Hapai. Each of these candidates, in their own way, have the necessary work experience and community credentials to be Mayor. I have had occasion to get to know three of these four individuals on a one-to-one basis. The exception being Mr. Lau.

Getting to know Harry on a one-to-one basis took place when I very publicly and repeatedly challenged the viability of a proposed 'waste-to-energy' incinerator that Harry was pushing the Council to approve. Harry explicitly defined this proposal as his number one priority. My in-depth and extensive research showed the proposal to be flawed from the outset. Furthermore, it became obvious that Mayor Kim and some members of the Council had been grossly misled by County-paid consultants. The proposal was an expensive, dirty, deception. The process took more than 2 years to be resolved, over which time on multiple occasions I met with Harry in his office.
In 2008 the Council voted 5 to 4 to not approve the incinerator proposal.
After the heat of debate had passed, I reflected on what had taken place. It truly did not seem to me that Harry had been bribed. Rather, it occurred to me that he had simply been hood-winked by the consultants. In either case, it left me with less than total confidence in Harry's judgement on such issues. Still, I voted for him in the 2012 General Election, because the Kenoi Administration, in my view, was not serving the public interest. I have voted for Harry twice in the General Election; and, could vote for him again in the 2016 General Election, depending on who is the alternative. Still, I sincerely feel that we need to do better and can.

I first met and got to know Pete while I was on the Council staff, working for Bob Jacobson, and Pete, like Bob, was a Council member.
Pete is a very dedicated public servant, and, I believe, possesses exceptional personal integrity. Notwithstanding that he was one of the 4 Council members who voted to support the above-mentioned-incinerator proposal. Again, on reflection afterwards, I considered what brought Pete to decide to support a proposal that was, based on evidence, clearly and deeply flawed. The only possibility I could determine was that decision derived from Pete's background in the military, including, by his own indication, budget work with the Pentagon, an institution known to see good solutions as inevitably being large, complex, and expensive.
Pete absolutely has the intellectual and ethical qualities necessary to be Mayor. I could vote for him in the 2016 General Election, depending on who is the alternative. Again, I do not believe Pete is the best we can do in 2016.

Of these four, Wally is the only candidate who I have not had the opportunity to know one-to-one. Nevertheless, knowing that he has been a senior appointee in the Kenoi Administration, and knowing that he is supported by Hilo politicians whom I do know one-to-one and do not trust, under no circumstances could I vote for Wally.

I got to know Marlene one-to-one in 2001, upon my return (after 25 yrs absence) to Hawaii for a job at the University of Hawaii, College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources (CTAHR) where I worked directly for the Associate Dean for Research (one of 3 Associate Deans in CTAHR). Marlene was the Associate Dean for Education. In the CTAHR Dean's Office, Marlene was the individual whom everyone respected. No drama. No razzle-dazzle. An unpretentious, smart, and successful team leader. I believe Marlene offers the voters of Hawaii County a real opportunity to elect someone who is capable and trustworthy, and who brings a new and useful perspective to the office of Mayor. Marlene will get my vote and support in the Primary Election and beyond.

[BillyB]

Thank you for your reflections on these people. Their waste to energy support is a non starter for me ( Harry & Pete). I agree Marlene would be a breath of fresh air, indeed she is as you describe.

I am afraid a lot of people vote for the lesser evil of the assumed two leading candidates.

[shockwave rider]

I went down the long list of Mayoral candidates, and for various reasons could not support anyone until I got to Marlene Hapai, I know her personally and professionally and know that she is a person of integrity and intelligence, and I think she could do well in a non partisan position like Mayor. I just can't bring myself to vote for any of the top 3, there is some major of deal breaker with each of them for me. I would like to see Shannon McCandless serve on the county council someday, but apparently she didn't see her district supporting her for that position this year, but I do think she has a lot of potential.

[HiloPuna]

BillyB

I hope you don't get hung up on James W's use of guilt by association rejection of Wally Lau. The reason is that this is, like it or not, a two horse race in the primary. So you are either going to have a vote that is part of the electorates decision (whether we are going to extend the electoral season to the General for the Mayors race) or not. And that two horse race is Wally and Harry.

Anyone who has an argument with this is perhaps in need of a reality check....the best analogy currently would be those Bernie supporters heckling HRC on the convention floor. At some point they have to look at the real politik and participate in the most meaningful way.

I like Marlene, known Archie and her for more than 20 years. Lot's of respect.
I think Pete Hoffman is the most cogent and articulate of the candidates, and that's important to me.
But at the end of the day, given their resources and the difficulty in getting their message to the electorate, they are not going to catch up with Harry's name recognition advantage or Wally's ability to promote his campaign into a competitive position. After all, the customary first test of a candidate is their ability to build and manage a campaign.

That's just the facts.....


Due to an inordinately long spell in the publics view Harry got to skip that step, and in my opinion we suffered due to his obvious lack of administrative skills. His was a hands off, passive/aggressive leadership style that was fine so long as we were in boom times. The legacy of that was a HUGE increase in public employees.
But thats no obvious reason to elect a 77 year old man with serious health conditions whose already been there with little to show for it and offers nothing for the future except "trust me". I haven't seen anything more substantive than that from him in this campaign other than general support for TMT, geothermal, and solid waste solutions. And I know him well enough to know that he changes his mind, or doesn't speak his mind plainly, often.

[opihikao]

quote:

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Originally posted by shockwave rider

I went down the long list of Mayoral candidates, and for various reasons could not support anyone until I got to Marlene Hapai, I know her personally and professionally and know that she is a person of integrity and intelligence, and I think she could do well in a non partisan position like Mayor. I just can't bring myself to vote for any of the top 3, there is some major of deal breaker with each of them for me. I would like to see Shannon McCandless serve on the county council someday, but apparently she didn't see her district supporting her for that position this year, but I do think she has a lot of potential.

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Agreed, Shockwave Rider, as to Marlene Hapai (don't know McCandless, although that is an old name here in Hawai'i). Well stated. Thank you.

JMO.

ETA: P.S. HiloPuna is right, too. The race will probably be between Harry Kim and Wally Lau, unfortunately.