Issues

Economy: Maui's economy is facing tough times. It is imperative that we revitalize our local economy and get our unemployed, our union members, and all of our citizens into secure jobs again. As your elected official I will work hard to find creative solutions to our current economic downturn that will sustain us long into the future.

Job Creation: As your elected official, I will work to revitalize our economy from the foundation up. I will work with Union leaders to assure that our unemployed are being sufficiently taken care of, and find creative solutions to get our men and women back into secure jobs. We can come together as a community and work with businesses to find solutions that work for the entire community.

Agriculture: I envision Upcountry being the "bread-basket" of Maui. I will work to bring resources into this district that will encourage sustainable agricultural growth. As a result, we can create long lasting jobs, our open space will be preserved, we will reduce our dependence on high priced fuel to transport our food, we empower our communities, and our families will be healthier and happier by eating locally-grown food.

Water: Having grown up in Upcountry I know how scarce our water can be and how vital it is to the agricultural community. As your legislator I will assure that the rights of our Upcountry residents, paniolo, and mahi'ai (farmers) are respected and that they are given access to abundant fresh water. I will also work to educate our communities on the importance of conserving water. Simple, every day actions can have a great impact on helping protect our wonderful resource of fresh water; Wai.

Renewable Energy: The cost of oil is steadily increasing. Maui has a great deal of opportunity to create renewable energy that is currently under utilized. I have worked, and I will continue to work with my fellow legislators to bring the use of renewable energy to its full potential. By doing so we create affordable, renewable sources of energy, we create green collar and construction jobs, and provide advanced educational opportunities for our keiki.

Affordable Housing: As a State Legislator, our local families should be the top priority for all of our decision making. Our residents need safe, secure, and affordable housing. There are numerous ways to encourage the development of affordable homes, that remain affordable. These options range from the creation of policy, facilitating communication between Housing Land Trusts and local contractors, and incentivizing the production of affordable homes.

Ahupua'a: This is something that is very close to my heart. Our host culture here in Hawai'i had an outstanding way of managing our natural resources. Through their utmost dependence on preserving the land that nourished them, an innate respect for the 'aina, constant observation, and valuable generational knowledge, the Native Hawaiian people had an extensive species catalog, climatic understanding, geological awareness, and whole-systems comprehension. Once elected, by listening to our kupuna, our mahi'ai, our Native Hawaiian organizers and scholars I will work to advance the incorporation of Malama Ahupua'a – Resource Management into current development models.

Cultural Preservation: The history of Maui and Hawaii as a whole is rich and fascinating. At this moment Hawai'i is a spectacular blending of cultures from all over the world. I see a Maui where our children embrace all aspects of our culture. By providing ample cultural education in our schools and by recognizing the significance of traditional knowledge, such as the Ahupua'a system, we will be able to maintain the true spirit of Aloha.

Education:   Given Hawaii's high cost of living and the significance of the jobs that our teachers do, I will support funding to ensure better pay for our teachers. This will also provide incentive for our young adults to continue their education, stay on Maui and become teachers. Also, our teachers must be provided with the resources they need, adequate infrastructure, and proper classroom sizes.

Health Care: Maui is growing and so are our medical needs. We must work hard to find equitable solutions that best suit our health care demands. It is also important to encourage an emphasis on preventive medicine in order to reduce future costs on more expensive medical practices and to keep us healthier and happier for a longer period of time.

Elections: Once elected, I will join the strong movement to support public financing for political campaigns. By providing for publicly funded elections the government makes it possible for real community members, regardless of their political connection or income, to run for political office. This will ensure that the political process is kept honest, and those elected are held accountable for their decisions. Through this process the will of the people is carried out.

An example of how much  we need campaign reform please see the difference between Summer Starr's contributions (from mostly family and upcountry individuals) and her opponents contributions ( which include lobbyists)