House District 4 - Issues & Candidates

[AlohaSteven]

Recently a candidate for House District 4 asked permission to put up a campaign sign on some land we have, prompting me to want to learn more about the issues and candidates in that contest. The candidate who asked about putting up a sign has been quite friendly, seems knowledgeable and sincerely concerned about local issues, always takes a moment to say hello and chat whenever encountered by chance somewhere -but we’ve never met any other candidate except the one. I’d like to have a better sense than I do of how the candidates stand on the issues.

What do folks in Puna see as being the issues in House District 4’s race? Are there any particular differences in position separating out and distinguishing the candidates in the House District 4 contest?

[Guest]

From the House Majority Blog on Faye Hanohano:

"She is the only member of the state legislature whose first language is Hawaiian. She was raised in a Hawaiian family that stayed very close to the native culture. She raises her own dry land taro, makes her own poi, and is bothered by the watery consistency of poi that is sold commercially."

I'm biased so I won't push any personal opinions. [][]

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Lower your expectations and be ready for anything.

[Jon]

A good man that can get things done.

http://fredblas.com

Texan Moving to Puna.

[james weatherford]

State House District 4?

State Highway 130 is a disaster. The State Dept of Highways plans to do 'improvements' to allow more cars to go faster, while the community has repeatedly expressed a big NO to that. We need economic development and services in Puna so as to cut the driving.

The state education system is grossly under serving Puna.

Pahoa State Agricultural Park has more vacant lots than all the rest of the Parks state wide.

And, there is the precious Puna Coast -- Kapoho, Pohoiki, Kahena, Kalapana. Heavily used and abused. Pono is needed.

James Weatherford, Ph.D.
15-1888 Hialoa
Hawaiian Paradise Park

[Guest]

Let's not forget about 23 year old Anthony Marzi []

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Lower your expectations and be ready for anything.

[Guest]

quote:

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Originally posted by Jon

A good man that can get things done......
Texan Moving to Puna.

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Texan moving to Puna...

Curious how you know he is the man for you?[]

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Lower your expectations and be ready for anything.

[Jon]

We have a house there and have been over about 5 times, I have been reading up on things while we wait in Texas and talking to people when I am in Puna.

I have met him and seen what he and his team are doing (note: not trying to do, but actually doing) for the community.

So far we have heard nothing from any of the other politicians in the area.



Texan Moving to Puna.

[Kahunascott]

quote:

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Originally posted by Damon

From the House Majority Blog on Faye Hanohano:

"She is the only member of the state legislature whose first language is Hawaiian. She was raised in a Hawaiian family that stayed very close to the native culture. She raises her own dry land taro, makes her own poi, and is bothered by the watery consistency of poi that is sold commercially."

I'm biased so I won't push any personal opinions. [][]

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Lower your expectations and be ready for anything.

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You would vote for someone just because they are Hawaiian??????? Why don’t you try and name her 5 major accomplishments over her 1st year. She spoke at the Hawaiian Island Contractors Association dinner last month and she sounded like a fool. She babbled about working as a team and that team spirit is the way to get things accomplished. That’s because she can’t get anything done on her own. She is a waste of time and our tax payers money! If I wasn’t a director of the board for HICA I would have stood up and asked her that question but I didn’t want to embarrass her in front of my other members, but hindsight tells me I should have.

Damon once again you indicate how out of touch you are on topics you reply to. Your question, Why Fred Blass”?

The Governor personally asked him to run for the position.

Fred was a top manager for Sears Automotive in San Diego for 13 years.

Went into his own tire business (Goodyear) he owned 7 stores and sold them to retire to the Big Island.

Took back Kahakai Park from the drug dealers and prostitutes that did business there. He cuts the grass and has local landscaper’s help for free to maintain the park.

He has built all the bus shelters on Kahakai for the kids waiting to go to school. He used his money or got donations from residents or local businesses. He is now working with HPP to do the same.

He is the president of the Hawaiian Beaches Action Committee that does things around our neighborhood.

He works on the Pahoa Beautification Project that keeps Pahoa clean and neat.

I don’t know if speaks the Hawaiian language or makes his own Poi but those things don’t carry much weight when you line the two up.

I could go on and on but I think you can see how inept Faye is when you compare the two candidates. I would love to see them debate.

"Many dreams come true and some have silver linings, I look for my dreams and a pocket full of gold" Led Zeppelin

[Guest]

quote:

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Originally posted by Kahunascott
You would vote for someone just because they are Hawaiian??????? .....

Damon once again you indicate how out of touch you are on topics you reply to.

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Geez Kahuna... When and Where did I say that?

I would vote for a Relative [8D]

Hanonhano's my Aunt

And so Is Naeole... Will I vote for either of them... I don't know yet.

I would much rather vote for someone who has lived here all there life then some Retired Sears Manager from San Diego who hasn't even lived here as long as I have.

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Lower your expectations and be ready for anything.

[JerryCarr]

I agree with Scott that accomplishments should count for more in whom we elect than family connections, ethnicity, or how long someone has lived here. There are people who have lived here all their lives who know nothing about the nuts and bolts issues that have a critical impact on our quality of life. There are others who are relatively recent arrivals who have taken the trouble to not only learn what those issues are, but go out and do something about them without waiting for the good old boy (and girl) politicians to talk story for years and then reinforce the status quo.

Ms. Hanohano has the support of the government employee unions, in one of which she holds an office. Between that and her family connections, she won the Democratic primary in the last election. In Puna, that usually means a cakewalk to the legislature. Once she obtained the nomination, she dropped out of sight, attending only a few candidate forums and not giving a clear indication of what she would do if elected. Once in office, she made her "poi initiative" the centerpiece of her first term. I am not aware of any other legislation she has passed, or even introduced.

Puna political blogger Hunter Bishop made some negative comments about Ms. Hanohano's lack of a platform and refusal to attend forums during the last campain, but could not bring himself to endorse her opponent because Hunter is also a union official. (It seems that Hunter's personal history of union activism outtrumphs his sharp political instincts and grasp of Puna's needs and history of neglect. Other than this particular instance, I have tremendous respect for Hunter's take on local politics.)

So I would challenge Ms. Hanohano and her supporters to do what Scott suggested and name five things, or even three, that she has accomplished that will move Puna in a forward direction.

Cheers,
Jerry