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DIFFERENT CHALLANGES, KAILUA AND WAIMANALO WHERE INCUMBENT
REPRESENTATIVE CHRIS LEE IS FACING A CHALLENGE FROM
>>DARYL: COMING UP NEXT ON
INSIGHTS ON PBS HAWAII, ELECTION 2014, HOUSE
DISTRICTS 51 AND 4.
ALOHA AND WELCOME TO INSIGHTS ON PBS
HAWAII. I'M DARYL HUFF WITH HAWAII NEWS NOW. YOUR HOST
FOR TONIGHT'S SHOW. TONIGHT, WE SHINE THE
SPOTLIGHT ONTO COMMUNITIES OF KAILUA, LANIKAI AND WAIMANALO
ON THE ISLAND OF OAHU. HEAR FROM INCUMBENT
REPRESENTATIVE CHRIS LEE AND DEMOCRAT AND REPUBLICAN
CHALLENGER RETIRED INSURANCE EXECUTIVE WAYNE HIKIDA.
BOTH CANDIDATES RAN UNOPPOSED TO THE PRIOR ELECTION. THEN
PIVOT OUR ATTENTION TO TWO CANDIDATES FROM PUNA WHO
OUSTED INCUMBENT REPRESENTATIVE FAYE HANOHANO
IN THE DEMOCRATIC PRIMARY AND REPUBLICAN GARY THOMAS
RETIRED U.S. AIR FORCE COLONEL. WE INVITE YOU TO
JOIN OUR CONVERSATION BY E-MAILING OR TWEETING YOUR
QUESTIONS AND COMMENTSMENT SEATING AROUNDMENT AND ORDER
OF THE QUESTIONS WAS DETERMINED BY RANDOM DRAW.
TO FIRST TWO CANDIDATE. REPRESENTATIVE CHRIS LEE
DEMOCRAT WAS FIRST ELECTED TO THE STATE HOUSE IN 2008.
CHAIRMAN OF THE STATE HOUSE ENERGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL
PROTECTION COMMITTEE. LAST YEAR, HE WAS ALSO ONE OF THE
MORE PROMINENT CHAMPIONS FOR THE SPECIAL LEGISLATIVE
SESSION THAT LEGALIZED SAME-SEX MARRIAGE IN HAWAI'I.
WAYNE HIKIDA REPUBLICAN IS A RETIRED INSURANCE EXECUTIVE
NOW AFFILIATED WITH SPECIALTY INSURANCE FIRM IC
INTERNATIONAL. MR. HIKIDA IS ACTIVE IN THE CHURCH OF
LATTER DAY SAINTS AND SERVE OFFED AS MORMON BISHOP.
DECIDED TO RUN BECAUSE OF SUPPORT FOR TRADITIONAL
MARRIAGE. FIRST QUESTION IS ABOUT TRADITIONAL MARRIAGE.
AS A LEADER OF THE SPECIAL SESSION, YOU'VE TAKEN A LOT OF
FLAK, IN FACT, THAT'S ONE OF THE REASONS WHY HIKIDA IS
RUNNING AGAINST YOU. A LOT OF PEOPLE WERE CRITICAL
BECAUSE THE SPECIAL SESSION SEEMED TO SORT OF PUSH THAT
ISSUE THROUGH. LOOKING BACK, DO YOU HAVE ANY REGRETS
ABOUT HOW YOU HANDLED THAT? >> NO, I DON'T. I MEAN, THAT
WAS AN ISSUE THAT IS ONE OF THOSE BIG ISSUE. THAT ONE
HAS BEEN 20 YEARS IN THE MAKING NOW. SO FINALLY GET
AG CHANCE TO BE A PART OF RESOLVING THAT. I THINK IT
WAS SOMETHING THAT I'LL NEVER FORGET.
>> PRETTY CLEAR THAT SUPREME COURT RULING THAT SUMMER
THAT MARRIAGE SHOULD BE AVAILABLE TO EVERYBODY AND
NOT JUST SOME PEOPLE. REALLY SIGNALED THAT SOMETHING HAD
TO BE DONE IN AND THE GOVERNOR CALLED THE LEGISLATURE INTO
SPECIAL SESSION. IT WAS AMAZING BECAUSE THERE WAS
MORE PUBLIC TESTIMONY, THERE WAS MORE ATTENTION DEVOTED TO
THIS ISSUE THAN ANY OTHER SINCE I'VE BEEN ELECTED, 57
HOURS OF TESTIMONY, USUALLY YOU GET ONE, MAYBE TWO ON AN
ISSUE. WE REALLY I THINK WE VETTED THAT ONE MORE THAN
ANYTHING ELSE. WHAT WAS REALLY IMPRESSIVE WAS HEARING
FROM THE COMMUNITY. WE HEARD FROM THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE.
NEIGHBORHOOD BOARDS, TO ASK THEM. SPENT 'THOUSAND
DOLLARS OF MY OWN MONEY WITH A CAR PAYMENT TO FIGURE OUT
WHERE PEOPLE FELL ONTO ISSUE. OUR DISTRICT WE HEARD FROM
ROUGHLY 63% FROM IN SUPPORT. MORE THAN THAT, THIS IS AN
ISSUE OF PROVIDING EQUAL RIGHTS AND THE 1100 FEDERAL
BENEFITS TO ALL COUPLES THAT WEREN'T PROVIDED BEFORE THAT.
>>DARYL: LET ME TRY THIS QUESTION TO MR. HIKIDA. DO
YOU AGREE THAT MAJORITY OF THE DISTRICT WERE SUPPORTIVE OF
MARRIAGE EQUALITY? >> I DON'T THINK SO. I GUESS
THAT'S PART OF THE REASON WHY I RAN. AS FAR AS EQUAL
BENEFITS, I DON'T THINK ANYBODY OPPOSES EQUAL
BENEFITS FOR PEOPLE. I THINK IT'S ONLY RIGHT. BUT THE
PROCESS OF MARRIAGE, SANCTITY OF MARRIAGE IS SOMETHING THAT
IS SOMETHING THAT IN MY MIND, IS MORE OF A MORAL ISSUE. I
DON'T KNOW THAT THE GOVERNMENT SHOULD BE INVOLVED
IN THAT. AS I WENT AROUND THE DISTRICT, GOING HOUSE TO
HOUSE, IT'S STILL A CONCERN. BUT EVEN MORE OF A CONCERN WAS
THE WAY IN WHICH THE LEGISLATURE ESSENTIALLY RAN
THIS THROUGH. >>DARYL: I HEAR THAT
REPEATEDLY FROM FOLKS. I EVEN HEAR IT FROM SOME PEOPLE
WHO SUPPORTED MARRIAGE EQUITY. WHAT ABOUT IT WAS
RAMMING THROUGH IN? YOU HEARD REPRESENTATIVE LEE SAY
THIS IS ACTUALLY A WHAT FOR THE WHOLE LEGISLATURE TO
FOCUS ON THE ISSUE. IS RAMMING IT THROUGH REALLY THE
REASON PEOPLE OPPOSED IT OR IS IT JUST GOING TO BE OPPOSED
REGARDLESS OF WHETHER IT WAS RAN THROUGH OR DONE IN THE
REGULAR COURSE. >> I THINK IF PEOPLE HAD THE
ABILITY TO VOTE ON IT AND WAS PASSED, THEN YOU WOULD HAVE NO
PROBLEM. BUT THE PEOPLE I KNOW AND WENT AND TESTIFIED
WERE HEAVILY OPPOSED TO IT. AND JUST MY PERSONAL
OBSERVATION, SHORTLY AFTER THIS WAS PASSED, LICENSES
WERE ISSUED AND KNOWING THE STATE AND HOW THEY WORKED, IT
MUST HAVE BEEN SOMETHING THAT WAS ALREADY IN THE PROCESS.
SO I THINK THERE WAS GENERAL FEELING, THIS WAS DONE, IT WAS
A DONE DEAL. >>DARYL: LET ME ASK YOU THIS.
WAS THIS A CONSPIRACY, THEATRICAL ENDEAVOR THAT HAD
A PRECOON PRECONCEIVED END. >> ABSOLUTELY NOT. WE DIDN'T
KNOW WHAT WAS GOING TO HAPPEN UNTIL THE VERY END. I HAD NO
IDEA. NO ONE WAS COUNTING THE VOTES.
>>DARYL: I'M SORRY, COME ON. NOBODY WAS COUNTING VOTES?
>> EVERYBODY COUNTS VOTES BUT NOBODY KNEW WHERE THEY WERE
GOING TO FALL. CLEAR A BUNCH OF FOLKS WHO ARE ON THE BENCH
'TIL THE VERY LAST DAY. TALKING ABOUT PUT THIS TO A
VOTE, RATHER THAN IT IS DECIDED THROUGH OUR POLITICAL
PROCESS, MY PARENTS WERE FROM HERE, MY DAD LOCAL BOY,
MARRIED A HAOLE WOMAN. AND JUST A FEW DECADES AGO, THAT
WAS ILLEGAL AND IT WASN'T UNTIL THE SUPREME COURT HAD TO
STEP IN AND SAY, THIS IS WRONG ACCORDING TO THE
CONSTITUTION, EVERYBODY DESERVES TO BE ABLE TO MARRY
BECAUSE THIS IS IT A FUNDAMENTAL RIGHT.
GOVERNMENT SHUNTING IN THE PLACE TELLING PEOPLE WHO YOU
SHOULD OR SHOULD NOT LOVE. THAT'S SOMETHING THAT JUST
LIKE CIVIL RIGHTS, LEGAL INVASION OF CIVIL RIGHTS
SHALL GIVING THE WOMAN THE RIGHT TO VOTE, THESE PEOPLE
WERE NOT PUT BEFORE THE PEOPLE TO VOTE ON BECAUSE THEY'RE
FUNDAMENTALLY PROTECTED BY OUR CONSTITUTION. MORE THAN
THAT, AT THE TIME, 1968 WHEN THAT HAPPENED, INTERRACIAL
MARRIAGE WAS FINALLY LEGALIZED, ONLY 20%, 20% OF
THE AMERICAN PUBLIC SUPPORTED THAT AND THAT'S SOMETHING
THAT BLOWS MY MIND. BECAUSE IF WE HAD ACTUALLY PUT THAT UP
TO A VOTE, AND WEIGHED IT, IT COULD HAVE BEEN DECADES. MY
PARENTS COULD NOT HAVE BEEN MARRIED. THAT'S SOMETHING
THAT'S REALLY SCARY. WHICH IS WHY THE CONSTITUTION IS SO
IMPORTANT TO FOLLOW THAT AND ALLOW EQUAL RIGHTS AND
FREEDOM TO EVERYBODY. MR. HIKIDA WHERE IS THIS
GOING NOW? IF YOU GET ELECTED, WILL YOU FEEL LIKE
BECAUSE SO MUCH OF THIS CAMPAIGN FOLK YOU HAD ON THIS
ISSUE, THAT YOU HAD A MANDATE TO WALK INTO THE LEGISLATURE
AND OVERTURNED? >> IT IS THE LAW OF THE LAND.
I RESPECT THAT. YOU ASKED ME IF I AGREE WITH IT AND THE
ANSWER IS NO. I DON'T AGREE WITH IT. I THINK AGAIN,
MARRIAGE IS BETWEEN A MANNED AND WOMAN. DO DO I RESPECT
THE VIEW OF OTHERS? YES. PEOPLE HAVE A RIGHT TO CHOOSE
WHAT THEY WANT. BUT LIKE MY CHILDREN, WE DON'T ALWAYS
AGREE WITH WHAT I BELIEVE IN, BUT I LOVE THEM NEVERTHELESS.
THAT'S HOW I PERCEIVE THIS. I STILL AM AGAINST THAT
BECAUSE I THINK IT'S UNDERMINES TRADITIONAL
VALUES. >>DARYL: LET ME ASK. THIS IS
SOMETHING I'VE HEARD FROM A NUMBER OF FOLKS WHO WERE VERY
ACTIVE ON THIS ISSUE AND RAN. I'VE HEARD IT BEFORE, IT'S THE
DONE DEAL. IT'S THE LAW. LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR AIONA,
THAT'S HIS MANTRA WHEN YOU BRING UP THIS ISSUE. IN
FACT, WHY WOULD YOU RUN IF YOU'RE NOT GOING TO THEN TURN
AROUND AND NOT DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT.
>> GOOD QUESTION. LES PEOPLE PAINT ME AS ONE ISSUE
CANDIDATE, AS I CAN LOAD AT THIS, OVERALL, A NUMBER OF
THINGS THAT ARE HAPPENING IN OUR STATE. I THINK THERE'S
SOME THINGS WE'RE DOING GOOD, I THINK WE CAN DO BETTER.
THAT'S WHY I'M RUNNING. THIS IS ONE OF SEVERAL ISSUES THAT
I THINK ARE IMPORTANT TO OUR STATE.
>> I THINK WE DO AGREE ON THAT, THE ISSUE PERHAPS IS SOMEWHAT
DONE IN PUBLIC SECTOR. IN TERMSES OF THAT DEBATE. IF
YOU LOOK AT MY GENERATION, FOR EXAMPLE, AND OTHERS, EVEN
YOUNGER, YOU HAVE OVERWHELMING SUPPORT, 70, 80,
90% IN SOME CASES, SO EAVE YEAR PASSES, THAT SUPPORT
CONTINUES TO GROW AND HOPEFULLY, 20 YEARS FROM NOW,
THINK I, WE'LL ABLE TO STEP BACK AND LOOK BACK AND SAY WHY
ARE WE DEBATED THAT? >>DARYL: DO YOU THINK IT WILL
GET LIKE THAT? >> MY PERSONAL OPINION IS
INFLUENCE IS MONEY FROM OUTSIDE OF HAWAI'I CAME TO
CHANGE WHO WE ARE. I THINK IF HE ARE ALLOW THAT TO HAPPEN,
WE LOSE WHAT IS UNIQUE ABOUT HAWAI'I. WE ARE I THINK
HAWAI'I IS PROBABLY ONE OF THE NICEST PEOPLE IN THE WORLD.
BIG DIFFERENCE IF YOU WALK AROUND CHICAGO OR NEW YORK,
WE'RE A VERY UNIQUE PEOPLE. IF WE BEGIN TO CHANGE OUR
VALUES AN THOUGHTS THAT WE HAVE, I THINK WE CHANGE
OURSELVES. I DON'T KNOW THAT THAT'S GOOD.
>> I KNOW WE'VE GOT TO MOVE ON. >> THAT'S FINE.
>> IT'S AN IMPORTANT ONE. WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT HAVING AN
INFLUENCE HERE LOCALLY, VERSUS SOMETHING COME IN AND
TELL YOU HOW IT'S GOING TO BE, THAT'S THE EXACT REASON WHY
THE LEGISLATURE AGREED TO GO IN AFTER THE GOVERNOR CALLED
THIS INTO SESSION BECAUSE THERE WERE FEDERAL CASES
PENDING IN FEDERAL COURT THAT SEEMED TO BE DECIDED JUST LIKE
DOZENS AND DOZEN OF OTHER STATES IN OTHER STATES THAT
UNILATERAL LEGALIZED MARRIAGE EQUALITY. HAD THAT
HAPPEN, WE WOULD NOT HAVE HAD A SAY LOCALLY. EVERY CHURCH,
MORMON, CATHOLIC WHO HAVE HAD TO PROVIDE FOR SAME-SEX
MARRIAGE MARRIAGES, CEREMONIES. DOING THIS
LOCALLY, HEARING FROM THE PUBLIC AND PASSING A BILL THAT
EXAMPLE PROVIDES EXPLICIT EXEMPTIONS, IF A CHURCH
DOESN'T HAVE TO BE INVOLVED, THEY DON'T HAVE TO BE. ALSO
PROVIDES RELIGIOUS FREEDOM. RELIGIOUS FREEDOM FOR THOSE
CHURCHES, MY GROWTH GROWING UP, EPOSCOPAL AND METHODIST,
PEOPLE MARRIED MEMBERS OF THEIR OWN SEX. THE LAW
PROHIBITED THEM FROM DOING THAT.
>>DARYL: MR. HIKIDA, LET'S TRY TO MAKE THIS THE LAST
QUESTION. YOU DID BRING UP THE SORT OF, I WON'T CALL THEM
PERIPHERAL, BUT THE ADDITIONAL ISSUES THAT ARE
RAISED, ONCE YOU HAVE MARRIAGE IS TAKING PLACE,
THEN IT BEGINS TO RIPPLE OUT INTO THE MARRIAGE INDUSTRY,
INTO VARIOUS PLACES WHERE THERE MIGHT BE SOME
DISCUSSION, LEGISLATURE ABOUT HOW TO HANDLE CERTAIN
THINGS. DO YOU THAT AT LEAST WILL BE A PLACE WHERE PEOPLE
WHO ARE CONSERVATIVE ON THIS ISSUE WILL HAVE TO SAY AND
CHANGE THINGS LIKE PUBLIC ACCOMMODATIONS, DO
BUSINESSES THAT SERVE THIS INDUSTRY HAVE TO DO, SAME-SEX
MARRIAGES FOR EXAMPLE? DO YOU THINK THAT'S SOMETHING
THAT MAY STILL BE DEBATED FURTHER?
>> I WOULD THINK SO. IF I'M NOT MISTAKEN, THERE WAS A
RELIGIOUS RESTORATION ACT THAT THE LEGISLATURE LOOKED
AT AND I INCLINED TO PASS. THAT WOULD HAVE GIVEN
CHURCHES PROTECTION FROM DOING THINGS THAT ARE
CONTRARY. THIS IS SOMETHING THAT I THINK IS STILL UP IN THE
AIR AND HOPEFULLY, BEING THE COMMUNITY WE ARE, WE'LL GET
THROUGH THIS. BUT AGAIN, JUST IN MY MIND, JUST SOME
SATISFACTION HOW THIS WAS DONE.
>>DARYL: LET ME ASK YOU FOR A YES OR NO QUESTION. PUT THIS
TO BED. DO YOU FEEL AND I KNOW THERE HAVE BEEN SOME
DISCUSSIONS AMONG THE FOLKS WHO ARE OPPONENTS OF SAME-SEX
MARRIAGE, THAT THERE WILL ABSOLUTELY NOT BE AN EFFORT TO
REPEAL THIS LAW IN THE NEXT LEGISLATURE.
>> IF YOU ASK ME, I DON'T KNOW. I REALLY DON'T.
>>DARYL: LET ME MOVE ON. I WANT TO GO QUICKLY TO VIEWER
QUESTIONS. WE'RE GETTING SOME ALREADY. WE APPRECIATE
THAT. >> AT LEAST MORE INTERESTING.
>>DARYL: IT'S FUN. A APPRECIATE IT. THIS IS AN
INTERESTING ISSUE. YOU HAVE A LOT OF SHORELINE PROPERTY.
THIS CALLER IS SHAWN CAMPBELL FROM WAIKIKI. WHAT PLANS FOR
MITIGATING AND ADAPTING TO CLIMATE CHANGE DO THE
CANDIDATES PLAN FOR HAWAI'I? FOLKS HAVE A LOT OF SHORELINE
PROPERLY. FOLKS ARE PUTTING UP SEA WALLS TO PROTECT THEIR
PROPERTY. WHERE DO YOU STAND ON CLIMATE CHANGE. LET ME
ASK YOU REPRESENTATIVE LEE. BECAUSE THIS IS YOUR
COMMITTEE. HOW URGENT IS AN ISSUE AT THE LEGISLATURE?
WHAT KIND OF THINGS ARE WE GOING TO SEE? WHAT DO YOU
THINK SHOULD HAPPEN THAT WILL AFFECT YOUR DISTRICT WHEN IT
COMES TO CLIMATE CHANGE? >> THIS ISN BIG ISSUE. LOOK
AT WAIMANALO, KAILUA BEACH IS ERODING AT A FASTER RATE THAN
EVER BEFORE. THAT PAOA BEACH IS CENTER OF THE ECONOMY IN
OUR LOCAL COMMUNITY. IT WOULD BE TRAGIC IF WE WERE TO
LOSE IT. ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE HAVE BEEN LOOKING AT
IS WHAT CAN WE DO. WE KNOW ALREADY THAT CLIMATE CHANGE
IS HAPPENING. IT'S BEEN 8 INCHES OF MEASURED RISE IN
SEA LEVEL HERE IN HAWAI'I OVER THE LAST HUNDRED YEARS.
WATER IS 30% MORE ACIDIC. ALL KINDS OF FACTORS THAT WEAR
PLAYING WITH. SO ONE OF THE THINGS WE DID A BILLY WROTE
THIS PAST YEAR WAS THE HAWAI'I CLIMATE ADAPTATION
INITIATIVE. WHEN YOU BELIEVE IN CLIMATE CHANGE OR
NOT, THAT WHOLE NATIONAL DEBATE DOESN'T MATTER. WE
KNOW WHAT'S HAPPENING AND THE QUESTION IS HO AU DO WE ADAPT.
WHETHER IT'S MAN MADE OR NOT. WHAT IT REALLY DOES IS THREE
THINGS. ESTABLISHES CENTRAL COORDINATION. SO MONEY IS
COMING IN FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT. COUNTIES AN
STATE, ALL THE PLANNING CAN BE DONE IN ONE PLACE. WE'RE
GOING TO ASSESS THE BEST SCIENCE WE POSSIBLY HAVE TO
LOOK OUT 2050. TO FIGURE OUT WHERE WE'RE GOING TO BE AT
THAT POINT. WHAT'S THE WORST POSSIBLE SCENARIO. THEN
FIGURE OUT HOW WE'RE GOING TO PLAN IT TO MEET IT AND WHAT
WE'RE GOING TO DO. THIS PROCESS IS GETTING UNDERWAY.
THE BILL WAS SIGNED INTO LAW JUST EARLIER THIS YEAR. SO
ABOUT A YEAR FROM NOW, WE SHOULD HAVE PLANS THAT OUR
COMMUNITY BY COMMUNITY ALLOWING A COMMUNITY LIKE
KAILUA, FOR EXAMPLE, OR A COMMUNITY LIKE WAIMANALO OR
WAIKIKI. >>DARYL: LET ME GIVE
MR. HIKIDA A CHANCE. DO YOU FEEL THIS KIND OF URGENCY
ABOUT THE CLIMATE CHANGE ISSUE?
>> AS FAR AS CLIMATE CHANGES, WHAT WE CAN DO ABOUT IT I DON'T
KNOW WHAT HAWAI'I IS A MAJOR CONTRIBUTOR TO CLIMATE
CHANGE. WHATEVER WE DO IS MINISCULE COMPARED TO WHAT'S
HAPPENING IN THE OTHER PARTS OF THE WORD. I AGREE WITH
REPRESENTATIVE LEE. WE PROBABLY NEED TO LOOK AT THE
IMPACT ON HAWAI'I AND ARE THERE WAYS THAT WE CAN
MITIGATE ANY POTENTIAL DAMAGE TO HAWAI'I.
>>DARYL: ALSO, INSURANCE EXECUTIVE. YOU KNOW ALL
ABOUT PROPERTY RISK AND I IMAGINE THAT YOU'RE TAKING IT
SERIOUSLY. YOU'RE NOT A DENIER BY ANY STRETCH OF THE
IMPACTS OF THE CHANGING ENVIRONMENT.
>> WE KNOW ENVIRONMENT IS CHANGING. WHETHER IT'S
CHANGING TO THE EXTEND AND SPEED TO WHICH YOU SEE, I
DON'T KNOW. I'M NOT A SCIENTIST. THERE IS CHANGE.
THIS YEAR, WE HAD A LOT OF STORM AND ACTION GOING ON.
IT IS KIND OF SPOOKY IN SOME WAYS.
>> ANOTHER, COUPLE OF CALLERS HAVE CALLED IN TODAY ABOUT
HECO, ABOUT ENERGY. LET ME PUT THE QUESTION TO YOU. DO
YOU FEEL LIKE MORE NEEDS TO BE DONE TO ACCOMMODATE THE
GROWTH OF SOLAR? DO YOU THINK THAT HAWAIIAN ELECTRIC
COMPANY PARTICULARLY ON OAHU BUT ACROSS THE STATE, HAS BEEN
ACCOMMODATING OR DO YOU THINK THEY'VE BEEN A BARRIER?
>> WELL, YOU KNOW, I THINK THEY'RE TRYING THEIR BEST, IT
BUT IT APPEARS TO ME THAT MANY PEOPLE OVERESTIMATED THE
AMOUNT OF SOLAR COMING TO HAWAI'I. OR BEING PLACED IN
HAWAI'I. I THINK PERSONALLY, THAT WE NEED TO
LOOK AT ALTERNATIVE METHODS IT SHALL IT SHALL
ALL ALTERNATIVE METHODS OF ENERGY BECAUSE THE SUN
DOESN'T SHINE AT KNIT AT NIGHT. I RECALL THE 40 DAYS
OF RAIN THAT WE HAD. WE NEED TO MOVE AHEAD WITH SOLAR BUT
LOOK AT ALL ALTERNATIVE SOURCES OF ENERGY. PUC IS
TALKING ABOUT L AND G. SOMETHING WE SHOULD PUSH
THROUGH. >>DARYL: THAT'S RIGHT IN YOUR
SWEET SPOT, THAT ISSUE. I THINK THERE'S SOME PEOPLE WHO
HAVE ACCUSED YOU OF BEING TOO FRIENDLY WITH HECO. DO YOU
WANT TO RESPOND? >> I THINK I'M GETTING COAL
FROM HECO THIS YEAR. WE HAVE THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE IN OUR
DISTRICT AND HUNDREDS I HEAR FROM A REGULAR BASIS I WANT TO
INSTALL BECAUSE MY ENERGY BILL IS THREE TIMES THE
NATIONAL AVERAGE, 3, 4, $500 A MONTH. SOLAR IS ONE OF THE
OPTIONS. BRAKES HAVE BEEN PUT ON IT BY THE UTILITY TO
STUDY IT AND COME UP WITH SOLUTIONS. ONE OF THE BILLS
WE PASSED LAST YEAR TO PUSH THEM TO INSTALL MORE. THE
BIGGEST QUESTION, HOPEFULLY THAT'S GOING TO HAVE A BIG
EFFECT IN OUR AREA. THE BIGGEST QUESTION IS GOING TO
BE WHAT IS THE UTILITY DO IN THE FUTURE BECAUSE THEY ARE ON
A BUSINESS MODEL THAT'S NOW 100 YEARS OLD. SO THE MARKET
I THINK IS GOING TO BE THE ONE TO SOLVE IT. ALREADY WE CAN
SEE PEOPLE DEMANDING SOLAR AND BATTERY STORAGE SO EVEN IF
YOU DO HAVE 20 DAYS OF RAIN, OR WHATEVER, OR THE SUN GOES
DOWN EACH DAY, YOU HAVE THE ABILITY TO POWER YOUR OWN
HOME. THAT TECHNOLOGY IS COMMERCIALLY VIABLE AND
UTILITY IS GOING TO HAVE TO ADAPT THEIR BUSINESS MODEL
BECAUSE THEY'RE GOING TO START LEAVING THE GRID. WE
CAN'T LET UTILITY HOLD PEOPLE BACK.
>>DARYL: DO YOU FEEL LIKE THE STRUCTURE OF OUR UTILITY
SYSTEM CAN EVEN MOVE QUICKLY ENOUGH TO ACCOMMODATE THE
RAPID CHANGES IN THE MARKETPLACE AND TECHNOLOGY?
>> HONESTLY, I DON'T KNOW BECAUSE IT'S A HUGE
ORGANIZATION. YOU'VE GOT MULTIPLE POINTS OF VIEW AND
EVERYWHERE ELSE. GOVERNMENT STEPS IN AND SAYS, IN THE
BENEFIT OF PUBLIC INTEREST, YOU HAVE TO ADAPT AND EITHER
TURN INTO ACCOMPANY THAT JUST TRANSMITS ENERGY AND LETS
EVERYBODY ELSE GENERATE FAIRLY, OR YOU HAVE TO FIND
SOME OTHER WAY TO CHANGE YOUR BUSINESS MODEL AND ALLOW MORE
PEOPLE TO SAVE MONEY BECAUSE IN 10 YEARS TIME, IT'S VERY
EVIDENT THAT IT'S GOING TO COST JUST AS MUCH TO GET OFF
THE GRID AND POWER YOUR OWN HOME AS IT WILL TO STAY ON.
WHO WANTS TO STAY ON WHEN YOU HAVE THAT OPTION?
>>DARYL: ARE YOU HEARING A FROM A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO ARE
COMPLAINING THEY CAN'T GET SOLAR?
>> ONE OF THOSE PUT ON THE SOLAR, HAPPY WITH IT. ONLY
THING I FEEL BAD ABOUT IS ACTUALLY PEOPLE WHO DON'T
HAVE SOLAR. SUBSIDIZING PEOPLE LIKE MYSELF. SO IT
WOULD BE NICE IF THEY WERE ABLE TO GET WHAT THEY WANTED.
I THINK IS IT IS A PROCESS. IT'S GOING TO TAKE A WHILE.
WE TALKED BEFORE, ANY SHIP AS LARGE TAKES A WHILE TO TURN.
I THINK WE'RE GOING IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION. I THINK
ADDITIONAL OVERSIGHT FROM THE PUC ANDED LEGISLATURE IS VERY
CRITICAL LEADING TO WHERE WE WANT TO BE ULTIMATELY.
>>DARYL: ANOTHER BIG QUESTION. LET ME START WITH
YOU, THIS QUESTION. ACTUALLY COMES FROM KNOWN
REPUBLICAN. RAISING THE G.E.T. AND IMPOSING INTERNET
TAX WHY DON'T THOSE -- HOW DO YOU FEEL ABOUT YOUR
OPPONENT'S RECORD ON TAXATION?
>> THE FAIR QUESTION. COST OF LIVING IS I THINK THE
HIGHEST IN THE NATION. THINGS LIKE THIS DON'T HELP
US. HELP US ECONOMICALLY, INDIVIDUALS AND SO THAT'S ONE
OF THE THINGS I THINK WE NEED TO ADDRESS. WE'RE THE
HIGHEST TAXED PEOPLE IN THE NATION AND I DON'T KNOW THAT
WE NEED TO CONTINUE TO OVERBURDEN OR PEOPLE WITH
ADDITIONAL TAXES. >>DARYL: IF I COULD STEP UP.
I WANT TO CORRECT SOMETHING. I VOTED AGAINST THE PENSION
TAX. I VOTED AGAINST HIGHER INCOME TAXES, HIGHER VEHICLE
REGISTRATION FEES. I'VE GOT A STRONG RECORD OF THAT GOING
BACK YEARS AND ALWAYS KEPT OUR DISTRICT UP TO DATE ABOUT
THAT. THE ISSUE OF TAXATION IS ONE WHERE WE WANT EFFICIENT
GO. WE WANT TO STREAMLINE GOVERNMENT THAT DOESN'T COST
TOO MUCH. ISN'T WASTEFUL. BUT YET, PROVIDES FOR QUALITY
EMPLOYEES THAT ARE PAID FAIRLY. I THINK WE DO THAT
WITHOUT RAISING SOME OF THOSE THINGS AND I THINK THAT'S, IF
IT'S A KNOWN REPUBLICAN, PERHAPS MAYBE SIDE JOB. BUT
DEFINITELY NOT TRUE. >>DARYL: HOW DO YOU,
MR. HIKIDA, WITHOUT RAISING TACKS, DO YOU MEET THE NEEDS
OF THE STATE? HOW DO YOU WHAT TRADEOFFS DO YOU HAVE TO MAKE,
IF YOU WANTED TO, WHAT PRIORITY WOULD YOU HAVE TO BY
COST MONEY AND WHAT DO YOU HAVE TO CUT TO COVER THAT.
>> I THERE'S A LOT OF THAT IN THE STATE. STATE A NUMBER OF
YEARS IN THE PRIVATE SECTOR, TIMES WERE TIGHT. NEVER SEEN
THE LEGISLATURE DO MUCH OF THAT. BUT THE THING THAT
REALLY CONCERNS ME WITH THE DEATH OF OUR ICONIC SENATOR,
SENATOR INOUYE, I SEE FEDERAL FUNDS DWINDLING AS THE YEARS
GO BY. AND UNLESS WE START STIMULATING OUR LOCAL
ECONOMY, I THINK WE'LL LIVE IN A WORLD OF HURT. THINK WE
NEED TO SUPPORT SMALL BUSINESSES IN PARTICULAR
BECAUSE THESE ARE THE PEOPLE THAT GENERATE JOBS. SO MY
THING IS THAT WE NEED TO SUPPORT SMALL BUSINESSES TO
GROW AND TO FLOORISH. >>DARYL: ON THAT POINT, IT'S
JOBS, IN THE ECONOMY, IS THE STATE OF HAWAI'I LEGISLATURE
EVER BEEN SUCCESSFUL AT GENERATING JOBS THROUGH ITS
POLICIES? >> DON'T THINK IT'S PRIMARY
JOB OF THE LEGISLATURE TO BE DICTATING WHICH JOBS ARE
CREATED. BUT INCENTIVIZING INDUSTRIES TO GROW. WE CAN'T
BE THE PEOPLE WHO DECIDE THIS INDUSTRY AND THIS JOB IS GOING
TO BE THE ONE TO MAKE IT. WE TRY TO PROVIDE A LEVEL PLAYING
FIELD FOR EVERYBODY AND INCENTIVES FOR GENERAL
DIRECTION, BUT MOST RECENT EXAMPLE IS THE SOLAR
INDUSTRY. WE PROVIDED, THERE'S A FEDERAL TAX CREDIT.
PROVIDED LOCAL TAX CREDIT. WE WANT TO EMPOWER HOMEOWNER
TO BE ABLE TO GET OFF OF THEIR HIGH ENERGY BILLS AND REDUCE
THEIR COST TO SAVE MONEY. THAT'S A WIN FOR EVERYONE.
WE'VE SEEN THE SOLAR INDUSTRY SINCE 2009 ROUGHLY DOUBLE IN
SIZE. EVERY YEAR. 100% GROWTH. IT'S INCREDIBLE.
HUNDREDS OF JOBS THAT HAVE BEEN CREATED BECAUSE OF THAT.
HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE WHO ARE NOW GETTING FED. IT'S FANTASTIC
THAT WE WERE ABLE TO ACCOMPLISH THAT. BUT I THINK
WE'RE ONLY PLAYING ONE SMALL PART. BIGGER ISSUE DOWN THE
ROAD IS GOING TO BE HOW DO WE RETAIN ECONOMY THAT'S DIVERSE
IN THE FACE OF CHANGING TOURISM. IN THE FACE OF A
CHANGING ENERGY SECTOR. WE HAVE $12 BILLION A YEAR THAT
WE GET TOURISM. WE GET $20 BILLION PLUS DOLLARS FROM
THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT AND PASSING FROM LATE SENATOR
INOUYE. THAT'S LIKELY TO CHANGE. WE'VE GOT TO PREPARE
FOR THAT. >>DARYL: IS THERE AN AREA, YOU
MENTIONED SMALL BUSINESS, THERE ANY OTHER AREAS THAT YOU
THINK NEED TO BE INCENTIVIZED?
>> LEGISLATURE HAD PASSED BILL 26, TO INVEST IN
TECHNOLOGY. WE NEED TO STIMULATE THE ECONOMY. I
THINK PARTICULARLY, IT NEEDS TO BE IN THE AREA OF SMALL
BUSINESS. AGAIN, SMALL BUSINESS GROWS, I THINK TAX
BASIN CREASES. >> THAT WHAT DO YOU TO HELP
SMALL BUSINESS GROW? >> WELL, THE THING THAT I
HEAR, TALKING WITH FRIENDS AND I'M IN THE BUSINESS,
LEGISLATOR CHANGE THE RULES. IT'S DIFFICULT TO ADJUST TO
SOMETHING WHEN YOU'RE CONSTANTLY CHANGE THE RULES
OF THE GAME. SO THE BEST THING THE LEGISLATURE COULD
DO IS LEAVE SMALL BUSINESS ALONE. MINIMIZE THE AMOUNT
OF REGULATIONS THAT HAVE AND MINIMIZE THE AMOUNT OF TAXES.
I KNOW INCREASE MINIMUM WAGE. IF THEY WANTED TO GIVE
EVERYBODY A RAISE, CUT TAX TAXES.
>>DARYL: YOU'VE GOT A FARMING COMMUNITY THERE IN WAIMANALO
WHERE YOU HAVE SIDE BY SIDE PEOPLE DOING ORGANIC FARMS
AND DOING RESEARCH IN GMO'S AND IN THE SAME COMMUNITY.
HOW IS THAT PLAYING OUT IN THE DISTRICT? HOW DO YOU FEEL
ABOUT REGULATION OF GMO'S? >> WELL, AS I LOOK AT THE ISSUE
OF GMO'S, I THINK THAT PARTICULAR SHOULD BE
REGULATED BY THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT. I DON'T KNOW IF
IT'S THE STATE OR CITY & COUNTY HAS THE WITH WITH ALL
OR RESOURCES TO PROPERLY REGULATE GMO'S,.
>>DARYL: ARE YOU WORRIED ABOUT THEM AT ALL? ARE YOU
AFRAID OF GMO'S OR DO YOU THINK THEY POSE A RISK?
>> TALKING TO THE FARMERS IN WAIMANALO, THEY TELL ME THAT
THIS IS SOMETHING THEY NEED TO CONTINUE TO EFFECTIVELY BE IN
BUSINESS. AND SO I THINK IF ELECTED, HAVE TO PROTECT THE
FARMERS. >>DARYL: REPRESENTATIVE, ONE
OF THE THINGS THAT WE HEAR MOST OF ALL IS FROM CONSUMERS.
THEY WANT TRANSPARENCY. THEY WANT TO KNOW WHAT THEY'RE
BUYING. I THINK THE STATE HAS A PLACE PROVIDING FOR
LABELING AND THE HOUSE EVEN PASSED A BILL SAYING IF IT'S
A GMO PRODUCT, IT CAN BE LABELED.
>> THAT'S NO DIFFERENCE THAN PUTTING MADE IN HAWAI'I SEAL
ON IT. IT'S SOMETHING CONSUMERS WANT. WITH
OVERWHELMING SUPPORT. THE REAL ISSUE YET TO BE DECIDED,
ISSUE OF HERBICIDE IMPACT, YOU HAVE A LOT THAT ARE NEAR
HOSPITALS AND SCHOOLS. SOME HOSPITALS ON THE NEIGHBOR
ISLANDS HAVE BEEN EVACUATED BECAUSE PESTICIDES HAVE
DRIFTED OVER AND COULD HIT THE KIDS. HOW DO WE REGULATE AND
PROVIDE TRANSPARENCIES BECAUSE IT'S HAPPENING IN OUR
OWN BACKYARD? WE'VE HAD A GOOD DISCUSSION AND TIME WENT
QUICKLY. I WISH YOU THE BEST OF LUCK.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. >>DARYL: COMING UP, WE'LL
HAVE A DISCUSSION ABOUT THE STATE HOUSE DISTRICT 4
CONTEST WITH TALK ABOUT HIKI NO WITH 90 PARTICIPATING
SCHOOLS, HIKI NO, NATION'S FIRST STATEWIDE STUDENT NEWS
NETWORK IS GIVING STUDENTS THE SKILLS THEY NEED TO
SUCCEED IN OUR DIGITAL WORLD. >>
>> COMMUNITY, GIVING THEIR HEART AND SOUL TO WHAT THEY'RE
DOING IS WHAT IS GOING TO GUARANTEE OUR FUTURE. KEEP
TELLING THOSE STORIES AND BE PROUD OF WHERE YOU'RE FROM.
>> EVERY THURSDAY NIGHT, HIKI NO PRESENTS STORIES TOLD BY
HAWAI'I'S STUDENTS ABOUT THE COMMUNITIES IN WHICH THEY
LIVE. NOW, IN RECENT MONTH IT'S, ONE COMMUNITY PUNA ON
THE ISLAND OF HAWAI'I HAS BEEN BATTERED BY TROPICAL STORM
ISELLE WHICH INTERRUPTED THE ELECTION. DOWN TO SOUTHERN
MOST POINT OF UNITED STATES TONIGHT WE BRING YOU THE TWO
CANDIDATES VYING FOR HOUSE DISTRICT.
OF JOY SAN BUENAVENTURA BEAT OUT FAYE HANOHANO.
VOLUNTEER MEDIATOR FOR THE KUIKAHI MEDIATION CENTER AS
WELL AS A VOLUNTEER ATTORNEY AND ARBITRATOR. THOMPSON IS
A REPUBLICAN. GARY THOMAS REPUBLICAN IS
RETIRED AIR FORCE COLONEL WHO SERVED THREE COMBAT TOURS IN
AFGHANISTAN AND THE MIDDLE EAST. CURRENTLY THE DEPUTY
DIRECTOR OF HAWAI'I YOUTH CHALLENGE ON THE BIG ISLAND
AND VICE PRESIDENT OF THE YESHUA OUTREACH CENTER IN
KEAAU. MR. THOMAS ANSWER THE FIRST QUESTION.
CAMPAIGNING IN PUNA IS REALLY HARD FOR ME TO IMAGINE. THE
STORM, THE INTERRUPTION, THE INVASION BY SENATE CANDIDATES
FOR A WHILE, AND NOW, THE LAVA FLOW. WHAT'S IT LIKE
CAMPAIGNING IN THAT ENVIRONMENT?
>> WE ARE JUST TALKING ABOUT IT A MINUTE AGO. WHICH ASKED
A QUESTION, HOW MANY CAMPAIGN SEASONS HAVE A HURRICANE AND
A LAVA FLOW HIT THEM AT THE SAME TIME. AND I DON'T THINK
VERY MANY. >>DARYL: PROBABLY ZERO.
>> PROBABLY ZERO. AS JOE WILL PROBABLY TELL YOU, IT HAS
BEEN DIFFICULT BECAUSE FIRST, WHEN ISELLE HIT US, OF COURSE
WE WERE CAUGHT RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE OF IT AS WELL. NO
POWER, NO PHONE, AND HELPING WORKING WITH OUR NEIGHBORS
FOR DAYS. I ACTUALLY HAD SUSPENDED MY ALL CAMPAIGN
OPERATIONS FOR THREE WEEKS WHILE WE WORKED WITH THE
COMMUNITY. THAT'S WHAT WAS APPROPRIATED, WHAT WAS
NEEDED. WE JUST STARTED GETTING THINGS BACK UP AGAIN
AND THEN THE LAVA FLOW IS COMING DOWN. AND NOW WE'RE
WORKING DISASTER RELIEF KINDS OF OPERATIONS AND ACTIVITIES.
WORKING WITH THAT.ER AT THE SAME TIME, MAKING DECISIONS
ABOUT HOW TO RUN THE CAMPAIGN BECAUSE WE DO WANT TO BE AWARE
AND RESPECTFUL OF THE KINDS OF THINGS THAT PEOPLE ARE GOING
THROUGH AND MYSELF AND MY TEAM ARE OUT THERE TALKING TO FOLKS
EVERY DAY, AND VERY MUCH AWARE OF SOME OF THE HARDSHIPS AND
WE STILL HAVE PEOPLE RECOVERING FROM ISELLE.
>>DARYL: LET ME ASK MISS BUENAVENTURA. DID YOU GET
YOUR LEI ADJUSTED THERE? HOW DO YOU THINK VOTERS THAT ARE
SO STRESSED ABOUT OTHER LIFE CHALLENGES, HOW DO THEY FEEL
TALKING ABOUT POLITICS WHEN YOU APPROACH THEM.
>> WHAT I DO IS JUST ASK THEM. HOW IS THIS AFFECTING YOU?
WHAT IS IT THAT I CAN DO FOR YOU? THEY WILL TELL YOU.
BECAUSE LIKE GARY SAYS, IT IS VERY DIFFICULT TO ASK THEM TO
VOTE FOR YOU WHEN THEY'RE TOO BUSY TRYING TO FIGURE OUT
WHERE THEIR KIDS ARE GOING TO GO TO SCHOOL, WHERE THEIR NEXT
HOUSE IS GOING TO BE, WHETHER OR NOT THEY'RE GOING TO BE
ABLE TO GO TO WORK THE NEXT DAY. THESE ARE BASIC
STRESSORS, THESE ARE BASIC NEEDS THAT THEY DON'T THINK
THEY'LL BE ABLE TO MEET NEXT WEEK. I MEAN, THE BIGGEST
THING IS HOW I'M GOING TO BE PAYING MY MORTGAGE AS WELL AS
PAYING RENT, IF I DECIDE TO MOVE TO HILO. WE ALREADY
LIVE IN A DISTRICT WHERE THE PER CAPITA INCOME IS FAR BELOW
THAT OF THE REST OF THE STATE. YOU'RE ASKING THESE PEOPLE TO
DO THIS, NOT ONLY DO THEY HAVE THE LAVA FLOW GOING, BUT WHAT
THEY DON'T REALIZE AND I COULD SEE THIS BECAUSE BEING
AVIATOR, AS WELL AS AN ATTORNEY, WE HAVE THIS HUGE
INSURANCE PROBLEM. INSURANCE COMPANIES ARE
REFUSING TO RENEW EVEN THOUGH THEY HAVE BEEN PAYING
FAITHFULLY THEIR INSURANCE PAYMENTS. AS A MEDIATOR,
WHAT I'VE SEEN THEM DO IS WHAT PEOPLE DON'T REALIZE IS GOING
TO BE THE THIRD POSSIBLE DISASTER THAT'S GOING TO BE
COMING TO PUNA, ARE FORECLOSURES BECAUSE EVERY
MORTGAGE IS REQUIRES THAT THEIR COLLATERAL BE INSURED.
I HAVE SEEN IT AS A MEDIATOR FOR FORECLOSURES THAT
MORTGAGE COMPANIES DO FORECLOSE WHEN THERE'S NO
INSURANCE. THEY'RE WORRIED ABOUT THE SCHOOLS, ABOUT THE
SCHOOLS WHERE THEY'RE GOING TO LIVE. FRANKLY, THEY'RE
JUST BOXES, EMPTY BOXES. IT'S LIKE GOLD THERE.
>>DARYL: LET ME ASK MR. THOMAS. HOW DO YOU, DOES
IT JUST CHANGE EVERYTHING WHEN PEOPLE ARE IN THIS
CONDITION? I MEAN, FIRST OF ALL, LET ME ASK JUST TO BE
FAIR. IS IT AS DIRE AS SHE'S DESCRIBING?
>> WELL, LET ME ANSWER THAT THIS WAY. THE LAVA FLOW
WHERE IT'S AT RIGHT NOW, MORE OR LESS STALLED FOR THE TIME
BEING. IT'S UP ABOVE PAHOA OR A COUPLE MILES UP ABOVE
PAHOA. HAS BEEN THAT WAY FOR THE LAST WEEK OR SO.
HOWEVER, THAT BEING THE CASE, THAT LAVA FLOW HAS ALREADY
BEEN A GAME CHANGER IN THAT COMMUNITY. WITHOUT EVEN
HAVING TOUCHED A SINGLE HOUSE. WE HAVE BUSINESSES
THAT ARE CLOSING DOWN. REAL ESTATE MARKET IS JUST
DROPPED. THERE IS NOTHING MOVING. I HAVE A FRIEND OF
MINE THAT'S A REALTOR AND HE SAID, HE HAS NO BUSINESS. WE
HAVE THE INSURANCE AND THE MORTGAGES, THE BANKS, WE HAVE
JUST HAD TWO PRIVATE SCHOOLS CLOSE DOWN BECAUSE A THIRD OF
THEIR STUDENTS HAD MOVED OUT OF THE AREA.
>>DARYL: LET ME ASK IT THIS WAY. AS A PERSON WHO MIGHT
WALKING INTO THE LEGISLATURE, IS THIS GIVING YOU SORT OF A
LAUNDRY LIST OF THINGS, WHEN YOU GO IN THE DOOR, YOU'RE
GOING TO SAY THERE'S THINGS THAT NEED TO BE FIXED IN OUR
LAWS THAT PROTECT PEOPLE AGAINST THIS CONDITION.
>> ABSOLUTELY. EVEN JUST PUNA DISTRICT HAS ISSUES JUST
LIKE ANY OTHER DISTRICT DOES, AND HOWEVER, WITH THE LAVA
FLOW, WITH ISELLE, WE HAVE TO LAU VIEW THOSE ISSUES THROUGH
THE PRISM OF IMPACTING THE LAVA ON THE COMMUNITY. FOR
INSTANCE, WE'VE ALL BEEN TALKING ABOUT THE ROAD
SYSTEM, INFRASTRUCTURE SUPPORTING THAT. ACCESS FOR
EMERGENCY VEHICLES. THIS ONLY SHINES A SPOTLIGHT, HUGE
SPOTLIGHT ON THAT DEFICIT. THAT'S SOMETHING WE NEED TO
ADDRESS IN THE LEGISLATURE. >>DARYL: LET ME ASK MISS
BUENAVENTURA. THERE WAS DISCUSSION MANY, MANY YEARS
AGO WITH PRIOR LAVA INCIDENTS WHERE IT TOOK OUT THE ROYAL
GARDENS SUBDIVISION AND SO ON WHERE THEY TALKED NOT
NECESSARILY JUST ABOUT LAVA BUT ABOUT THIS KIND OF
DEVELOPMENT WHERE HUGE TRACTS ARE SUBDIVIDE WITHOUT ANY
REAL ABILITY BY GOVERNMENT TO PROVIDE THE INFRASTRUCTURE.
IS THAT SOMETHING YOU THINK THAT PEOPLE MIGHT TAKE A
SECOND LOOK AT IN THE FUTURE ABOUT HOW THESE AREAS GET
DEVELOPED? >> I THINK THEY'RE LOOKING AT
IT NOW. THE HISTORY, OUR STATE REPRESENTATIVE BEFORE
FAYE HANOHANO ADMITTED BACK WHEN SHE WAS A MAYOR AND
COUNTY COUNCILMEMBER, COUNTY'S MAIN TAX BASE WAS
REAL PROPERTY TAXES. THEY APPROVED THE SUBSTANDARD
SUBDIVISIONS IN PUNA, ALMOST ALL IN PUNA, THAT DID NOT HAVE
INFRASTRUCTURE JUST SO THAT THEY WILL MONEY IN THEIR
COFFERS. NOW WE'RE PAYING THE PRICE FOR IT.
WE DON'T HAVE THE ROADS AND HIGHWAY 130 IS ONLY TWO LANE
ROAD THAT SERVICES OVER 25,000 PEOPLE.
GEOGRAPHICALLY, ALMOST THE SIZE OF OAHU. IT'S
RIDICULOUS. AS YOU CAN TELL, MAYOR KENOI AND SAW FIT TO PUT
IN ALTERNATE ROAD. WE'RE REQUESTING THAT THOSE
ALTERNATE ROADS SHOULD BECOME PERMANENT BECAUSE TWO LANES
FOR THE SIZE OF LOWER PUNA IS RIDICULOUS.
>>DARYL: SAME QUESTION TO YOU. DO YOU THINK THAT THIS
IS GOING TO CAUSE A WHOLE REDISCUSSION OF LAND USE ONTO
BIG ISLAND? >> IT HAS TO BE ADDRESSED
ALONG WITH A WHOLE WIDE RANGE OF THINGS THAT NEED TO BE
ADDRESSED. ABOUT JUST THE ENTIRE INFRASTRUCTURE FOR
PYUN A. NOT ONLY THE ROAD SYSTEM, BECAUSE OF THE ALSO
BECAUSE OF THE POPULATION GROWTH OVER THE LAST FOUR OR
FIVE YEARS IN PUNA WHICH BY SOME ESTIMATES, IS
APPROACHING OR EVEN MORE PEOPLE DOWN THERE THAN THERE
IS IN HILO. THERE'S A LOT OF PEOPLE DOWN IN PUNA DISTRICT.
BUT IT'S LIKE ANY OTHER AREA WHERE IT GROWS QUICKLY. THE
INFRASTRUCTURE HAS NOT GROWN WITH IT. EXASPERATING THE
PROBLEM IS THE WAY THAT THE SUBDIVISIONS WERE SET UP
WITHOUT POWER AND WATER SERVICE WAY THE ROADS WERE SET
UP PRIVATE ROADS WITHOUT LONG RANGE PLANNING. THAT NEEDS
TO BE ADDRESSED AND TAKEN CARE OF.
>>DARYL: THIS IS TURNING INTO A VERY INTERESTING DISCUSSION
BECAUSE IT'S NOT A TYPICAL POLITICAL DISCUSSION THAT WE
HAVE. IF SEEMS LIKE THE TWO OF YOU ARE SPEAKING ALMOST AS
VOICES FOR YOUR COMMUNITY HERE WITH THIS OPPORTUNITY TO
BE ON STATEWIDE TELEVISION. LET ME ASK THIS QUESTION.
THIS LAVA FLOW HAS A POTENTIAL TO LITERALLY CUT PUNA INTO TWO
SEPARATE PLACES. IS THAT, WHAT IS GOING TO HAPPEN? I
MEAN, IS THAT AN INSANE THOUGHT OR LITERALLY, ARE WE
TALKING ABOUT ISLAND OF HAWAI'I, YOUR GUYS DISTRICT
CHANGING FOREVER? >> YES.ER IT'S SURPRISING.
DIVERSITY IN PUNA, WE'VE GOT THE FARMERS, WE'VE GOT THE
COMMUTERS, WE'VE GOT THE REGULAR PEOPLE AS WELL AS THE
SUBSISTENCE, SUSTAINABLE PEOPLE OVER IN KAPOHO,
KALAPANA. SURPRISINGLY, THE PEOPLE WHO HAVE PRACTICED
SUSTAINABILITY, PEOPLE WHO LIVE OFF THE LAND ARE REALLY
QUITE EXCITED ABOUT THE IDEA OF BEING CUT OFF. ONE OF THEM
HAS A PLANE AND HE IS LOOKING FORWARD TO USING THE ROAD AS
A RUNWAY. >>DARYL: THERE'S GOING TO BE
A LOT OF CARS ON THAT ROAD. I THINK THAT IDEA HAS BEEN
DASHED ESPECIALLY SINCE THEY'RE ACTUALLY GOING
THROUGH WITH IT. BUT YES, IT IS GOING TO CHANGE IT.
SUSTAINABILITY IS GOING TO BE HUGE. BUT THE BIG THING ALSO
IS WHETHER OR NOT CAN USE SOME KIND OF FERRY OR SOME KIND OF
SHIPPING WAY TO SHIP THINGS THAT CANNOT BE GROWN, SUCH AS
FUEL, SUCH AS PROPANE, TO THE OTHER SIDE OF THE ISLAND.
>> I'M WORKING WITH UNITED WAY AND RED CROSS EXECUTIVE
FOUNDATION IN TERMS OF HOW WE'RE GOING TO RESPOND TO THIS
WITH THE NONPROFIT COMMITTEE AND WORKING WITH CIVIL
DEFENSE. AND ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE'RE LOOKING AT
MORE LONGER RANGE IS JUST THE ENTIRE CLIMATE BECAUSE IF
THAT LAVA DOES GO DOWN, CUT OFF 130, DOWN TO THE OCEAN,
GOING TO CUT OFF RAILROAD AND THEN GOVERNMENT ROAD, WE HAVE
CRATERS, THAT'S GOING TO STAY OPEN. EVEN WITH THAT, THAT'S
GOING TO CHANGE THE WHOLE COMPLEXION OF THAT COMMUNITY.
>>DARYL: THAT'S WHAT I WAS GETTING AT. YOU'VE GOT A
BASICALLY VERY ISOLATED COMMUNITY ONTO THE SOUTH END
OF THE ISLAND. >> WE'RE TALKING ABOUT
ADDRESSING IS NOT ONLY GETTING THE BASIC NECESSITIES
IN THERE, THERE'S A VARIETY OF WAYS WE'RE LOOKING AT
PREPLACING FOOD AN WATER IN THERE, OF COURSE THINKING
ABOUT BOAT, PLANE, HELICOPTER, VARIETY OF THINGS
THAT ARE BEING PLANNED RIGHT NOW, SOME OF THE FANCY THINGS
APPLYING WITH THAT, IN ADDITION TO THAT, GOING IN AND
HOW DO WE, WHAT'S THIS COMMUNITY GOING TO LOOK LIKE
AND HOW ARE THEY GOING TO SURVIVE. BECAUSE IT'S A GAME
CHANGER. FACE OF THE THIS COMMUNITY IS GOING TO CHANGE.
>>DARYL: MISS JOY SAN BUENAVENTURA, WHEN YOU GO AND
YOU SPEAK TO PEOPLE AND THEY GIVE YOU THEIR STORIES, YOU
TALK ABOUT THE FORECLOSURE ISSUES, INSURANCE ISSUES, ARE
YOU ALREADY THE TWO OF YOU, NOW COMING IN BASICALLY SORT
OF REPRESENTING YOUR DISTRICT ALREADY IN DEALING WITH THE
COUNTIES AND FEDERAL GOVERNMENT TO SAY, HEY, THIS
IS GOING ON? >> YES. I'M A LUCKY I'M A
MEMBER OF THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY. AS SUCH, I'VE
CAMPAIGNED WITH A NUMBER OF SITTING STATE
REPRESENTATIVES AS WELL AS STATE SENATORS. I'VE
ALREADY TALKED TO THEM, THIS HAS GOT TO BE LIKE NUMBER ONE
PRIORITY. I THOUGHT I KNOW THAT THE STATE SENATE HAS A
SPECIAL SESSION. I WAS WONDERING WHETHER OR NOT
THERE WAS A POSSIBILITY. COULD THAT COULD BE EXPANDED
SO THE INSURANCE ISSUE COULD BE ONE OF THEM. I FOUND THAT
IS NOT A POSSIBILITY AT THIS TIME. NOT THIS LATE. YES,
THAT'S ONE OF THE THINGS THAT NEED TO BE ADDRESSED BECAUSE
IT'S RIDICULOUS. YOU'RE PAYING MONTHLY FOR YEARS.
YOU SHOULD BE ABLE TO COUNT ON INSURANCE TO FINALLY COVER
YOU. NOT ONLY THAT, I MEAN, STOPPING THE INSURANCE,
YOU'RE PREVENTED BECAUSE YOU'RE STUCK.
>>DARYL: WHAT DO YOU SEE AS THE HOPEFUL PIECE OF ALL OF
THIS? DO YOU THINK THAT LONG TERM, I MEAN, BEYOND THESE
CRISIS, ARE YOU ABLE TO THINK BEYOND CRISIS AT THIS POINT
ABOUT WHAT'S THE FUTURE OF THIS AREA?
>> WELL, YOU HAVE TO. COMING FROM A MILITARY BACKGROUND,
YOU DEAL WITH TACTICAL AND STRATEGIC AND YOU HAVE TO BE
ABLE TO PLAN BOTH WAYS. SO I MENTIONED A LITTLE BIT ABOUT
A MINUTE AGO ABOUT SOME OF THE MORE STRATEGIC LONGER RANGE
KIND OF PLANNING IF THE ROADS ARE CUT OFF. WE'RE LOOKING
AT FIVE YEARS, 10 YEARS DOWN THE ROAD WHAT THEY'RE GOING TO
LOOK LIKE. AS FAR AS POSITIVE, WE'LL HAVE TO SEE
WHAT THE LAVA DOES AND IT MAY NOT EVEN CUT THE ROADS AT ALL.
THAT'S A POSSIBILITY AS WELL. I THINK PUNA IS GOING TO
SURVIVE. I MEAN, THEY'RE RESILIENT, SURVIVORS AND THE
FOLKS DOWN THERE, I'M DOWN THERE TALKING TO THEM A A LOT
OF FOLKS ARE SAYING WE'RE GOING TO LAST THIS THING OUT.
BUSINESS PEOPLE ARE SAYING WE'RE GOING TO STAY HERE.
>>DARYL: LET ME ASK YOU KIND OF TOUGH QUESTION FOR A
REPUBLICAN. ASSUMING THAT MUCH OF THE REPUBLICAN
IDEOLOGY. YOU KNOW T. SEEMS LIKE THERE'S A LOT OF CRIES
FOR GOVERNMENT TO RESCUE THIS SITUATION. ONE CALLER I
WOULD LIKE THE QUESTION IS, WOULD IT BE APPROPRIATE FOR
THE COUNTY STATE TO SPEND MONEY BUYING OUT DEVELOPMENT
RIGHTS FOR THE UNDEVELOPED LOTS? SOMETHING LIKE THAT.
DO YOU THINK THAT THERE'S GOING TO HAVE TO BE A HUGE
GOVERNMENT INVESTMENT OR SOME KIND OF HUGE GOVERNMENT
ANSWER TO THE PROBLEMS THAT HAVE BEEN REVEALED WHICH THE
LAVA FLOW? >> YOU KNOW, I MADE A CAREER
OUT OF PULLING SPARE PARTIES TOGETHER TO SOLVE SOLUTIONS.
I STARTED A COUPLE OF NONPROFITS IN THE PUNA AREA
AND THERE ARE A LOT OF, THERE'S A LOT OF HELP IN THE
COMMUNITY. A LOT OF ASSETS. A LOT OF RESOURCES. A LOT OF
PEOPLE THAT WANT TO HELP. A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT HAVE THE
MEANS TO HELP AND I WOULD LOOK TO THAT AS WELL AS WHAT MIGHT
BE DONE LEGISLATIVELY. I WOULD ALSO GO, THERE'S A HUGE
NETWORK HERE. BUSINESSES, NONPROFITS, CHURCHES,
PRIVATE INDIVIDUALS, THERE'S A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT WANT TO
HELP. WE'RE GETTING A LOT OF PHONE CALLS RIGHT NOW. OF
FOLKS ON THE OTHER ISLANDS AN FOLKS ON THE MAINLAND WANTING
TO KNOW ASKING WHAT DO YOU NEED. I WOULD LOOK AT ALL OF
THE POSSIBILITIES, NOT JUST STICK TO ONE, TO PUT TOGETHER
A PLAN FOR HOW WE'RE GOING TO ADDRESS IT.
>>DARYL: DO YOU HAVE ANYTHING TO ADD TO THAT?
>> YOU KNOW, I THINK BUYING UNDEVELOPED LAND IS SOMETHING
THAT I DON'T THINK WE HAVE ACTUALLY LOOKED INTO. I
THINK THAT THE STATES BUDGET PROBABLY DOES NOT ALLOW FOR
THAT ESPECIALLY ALL OF THE MONIES. I DON'T KNOW WHETHER
OR NOT IT'S EVEN NECESSARY BECAUSE LARGE TRACKS OF PUNA
IS EITHER DHHL OR DLNR. >> HAWAIIAN HOMELANDS OR
STATE LANDS. DO YOU THINK THIS CRISIS HAS REVEALED TO
YOU WEAKNESSES THAT GOVERNMENT HAS TO ADDRESS?
YOU MENTIONED THE INSURANCE. DO CAN YOU BE SPECIFIC ABOUT
WHAT YOU LAW YOU WOULD PROPOSE TO MAKE IT SO THAT KIND OF
INSURANCE ACTIVITY WOULD NOT HAPPEN?
>> WELL, I'M GOING TO TRY TO LOOK TO SEE BECAUSE WE'RE NOT
THE ONLY COMMUNITY THAT HAS HAD A DISASTER WITH INSURANCE
COMPANIES PULLED OUT. I MEAN,.
>> USUALLY THEY PULL OUT AFTERWARD.
>> WELL, YES, LOOK AT WHAT HAPPENED TO HIG. THEY PULLED
OUT AFTER INIKI. THAT'S HOW WE CAME UP WITH THE INSURANCE
FUND AS A REINSURANCE. SO THE QUESTION IS WHETHER OR NOT
WE CAN REPLICATE IT FOR THE LAVA FLOW. I'M THINKING
ABOUT POSSIBILITY OF EXPANDING A SIMILAR TYPE OF NO
FAULT LAW WHICH REQUIRES INSURANCE COMPANIES WHO
PRACTICE HERE IN THE STATE OF HAWAI'I TO COVER AT LEAST A
MINIMUM AMOUNT OF FIRE DAMAGE, LIKE $150,000 AND
BEYOND THAT, YOU HAVE TO PAY. I'M JUST FLOATING IN IDEA, BUT
IT'S ONE OF THOSE THINGS THAT IF INSURANCE COMPANIES ARE
GOING TO BE IN THE BUSINESS, THE STATE OF HAWAI'I, THEY
SHOULD AT LEAST INSURE PEOPLE WHO HAVE HAD TO WHERE THE
GOVERNMENT HAS ALLOWED PEOPLE TO PURCHASE AND BUILD
PROPERTIERS. >>DARYL: HAVE YOU SEEN,
MR. THOMAS, BAD BEHAVIOR BY BUSINESS PEOPLE IN THIS TIME?
>> PUNA? >>DARYL: YES.
>> NO. >>DARYL: WE'RE TALKING ABOUT
THE INSURANCE INDUSTRY. WE'RE TALKING ABOUT REAL
ESTATE. VARIOUS WE HEARD THAT RUMORS, HAVEN'T
CONFIRMED THIS, WE HEARD FROM PEOPLE WHO TOLD US THAT ALL OF
A SUDDEN RENTS ARE GOING UP REALLY HIGH. THERE MIGHT BE
SOME GOUGING THERE. ARE YOU CONCERNED ABOUT THAT?
>> I WOULD BE CONCERNED ABOUT IT. MY PERSONAL EXPERIENCE,
AND I AM NOT IN THE SUBDIVISIONS TALKING TO
FOLKS, I HAVE HEARD, DOWN TO ONE PLACE THE OTHER DAY, THERE
ARE SOME PEOPLE WHO ARE GETTING LETTERS ABOUT
INSURANCE POLICIES NOT TO GOING TO BE RENEWED, THAT HAS
TO BE ADDRESSED. LETTER OF THE LAW NEEDS TO BE FOLLOWED.
CANCELED THEM. ALSO SECONDLY, THAT I THINK WE NEED
TO APPROACH PROVIDERS IN TERMS OF BEING A -- IT'S IN
YOUR BEST INTEREST HERE, TO CONTINUE THE INSURANCE FOR
SOMEONE THAT HAS A PENDING DISASTER. AND TURN SOME GOOD
NEIGHBOR POLICY. WE NEED TO APPROACH THAT. AS FAR AS
PRICE GOUGING, I'VE NOT HEARD THAT. I DO KNOW THAT MARKET
IS GETTING FLOODED BECAUSE THERE'S A LOT OF FOLKS MOVING
OUT PAST WHERE THE LAVA FLOW IS EXPECTED TO FLOW. I HAVE
NOT HEARD THAT THERE'S PRICE GOUGING BUT I HAVE HEARD ABOUT
THE INSURANCE. THINK I THAT NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED.
UNACCEPTABLE. >>DARYL: TUMULTUOUS
SITUATION, UNLIKE ANYTHING INHAS EVER EXPERIENCED IN
HAWAI'I. ANOTHER ISSUES. >> GETTING CALLS THAT PEOPLE
WOULD LIKE US TO TALK ABOUT SOME OTHER THINGS. WE HAVE
AN ISSUE HERE ABOUT MEDICAL MARIJUANA. I KNOW, I'VE BEEN
TO PUNA AND VISITED SOME OF THE FOLKS DOWN THERE. I
THINK YOU HAVE THE HIGHEST CONCENTRATION OF MEDICAL
MARIJUANA PERMITS IN THE STATE DOWN THERE. MISS
BUENAVENTURA, WHERE DO YOU STAND ON MEDICAL MARIJUANA?
WHERE DO YOU THINK THIS ISSUE IS GOING AND HOW DOES IT
AFFECT YOUR DISTRICT. >> MEDICAL MARIJUANA BIG IN
OUR DISTRIG. WE HAVE THE LAND TO THROW THE PLANTS. I
CAN SEE WHY WE NEED THE PERMITS. WE NEED
DISPENSARIES. PEOPLE NEED THE OIL. THE PLANTS ARE NOT
ENOUGH TO HAVE THE OIL. MEDICAL MARIJUANA HAS BEEN
SHOWN TO HAVE MEDICINAL QUALITIES. THE QUESTION IS
THE LAW. THE QUESTION IS THE NATION.
>> I HAVEN'T HEARD OF ANY. IN FACT, BECAUSE WE DO HAVE THE
MEDICAL MARIJUANA PERMITS, PEOPLE ARE LEGAL NOW. PEOPLE
ARE NOT BEING HARASSED BY THE POLICE FOR SMALL POSSESSION
OF MARIJUANA. WHEREAS BEFORE, THEY WERE. SO NO, I
DON'T SEE IT HAS HAVING ANY NEGATIVE EFFECT ON THE
DISTRICT. >>DARYL: YOUR FEELINGS ABOUT
THIS ISSUE? >> CORRECT. OBVIOUSLY T. IS
THE LAW. AND I THINK THOUGH THAT THEY'VE GOT A LOT OF WORK
TO DO, TO UNDERSTAND, ILLEGAL TO MOVE MEDICAL MARIJUANA
FROM ISLAND TO ISLAND IN TERMS OF SETSING UP MEDICAL
DISPENSARY. SO THERE ARE SOME ISSUES THERE THAT NEED TO
BE WORKED ON. NOW, I WOULD JUST DEFAULT TO A BIG PART OF
MY FOCUS, MY CAMPAIGN, ARE FAMILIES AND KIDS. I'VE DONE
A LOT OF WORK WITH KIDS. I WOULD DEFAULT TO THE KIDS.
IS THIS NEGATIVELY IMPACTING THE KIDS? I'M BEING TOLD
ANECDOTALLY, I'M NOT SURE HOW ACCURATE IT IS, ESSENTIALLY,
ABOUT EVERY THIRD, 15-YEAR-OLD IN HIGH SCHOOL
HAS MEDICAL MARIJUANA CARD IN THEIR WALLET. HAVING GONE TO
HIGH SCHOOL HERE, IN HAWAI'I, THAT MAY OR MAY NOT BE TRUE.
I DON'T KNOW. >>DARYL: WHAT YOU'RE SAYING
IS YOUR IMPRESSION IS THERE'S A LOT OF YOUNG PEOPLE WHO
PROBABLY SHOULDN'T BE HAVING THEIR OWN MEDICAL MARIJUANA
CARD. >> I SUSPECT THE CARDS ARE
FAKE. FAKE CARDS AS WELL. SO I WOULD WANT TO LOOK
CLOSELY AT THAT AT THE IMPACT ON OUR YOUTH AND OUR KIDS,
MAYBE IF WE LOOK AT STUDIES IN OTHER AREAS WHERE THERE'S
BEEN, BEEN IN PLACE FOR A LONGER PERIOD OF TIME.
>>DARYL: THAT KIND OF PROBLEM?
>> I'M A LAWYER. I HAVEN'T SEEN THAT PROBLEM AT ALL.
>>DARYL: YOU DON'T SEE ANY RIPPLE OF THE ISSUE OUT INTO
THE YOUNGER PEOPLE WHO SHOULDN'T BE USING?
>> ANY LAW WILL HAVE ABUSERS. FOR THE SAME REASON, OF COURSE
THERE'S GOING TO BE RIPPLE EFFECTS FOR KIDS SMOKING,
KIDS DRINKING, BUT IT'S THE SAME KIND OF CONTROLS AGAINST
THE KIDS SHOULD NOT HAVE FOR THESE TYPES OF THINGS. I
MEAN, LIKE FORALCOHOL, TOBACCO AS WELL.
>>DARYL: JUST TO MAKE SURE THAT I HEAR YOU CORRECTLY,
YOU'RE NOT SAYING THAT YOU WOULD GET RID OF MEDICAL
MARIJUANA. YOU'RE JUST EXPRESSING A CONCERN FROM
POINT OF VIEW OF THE KIDS? >> THAT'S CORRECT. I WANT TO
MAKE SURE WE COVER ALL THE BASES? LET ME CHANGE THE
SUBJECT. ENERGY IS A HUGE ISSUE ON THE
BIG ISLAND. YOU HAVE POTENTIALLY COULD BE ONE OF
THE BIGGEST RESOURCES IN THE STATE IN GEOTHERMAL THAT
DOESN'T SEEM TO HAVE GROWN SIGNIFICANTLY. WHAT DO YOU
THINK NEEDS TO CHANGE TO BRING DOWN THE COST OF ENERGY ON THE
BIG ISLAND OR MAKE OTHER SOURCES OF ENERGY AVAILABLE?
>> AS FAR AS GEOTHERMAL -- NEEDS TO BE A
BETTER STEWARD. THEY NEED TO BE QUIT VIOLATING THE
PERMITS. YOU KNOW, IT CAN BE DONE RIGHT. IT ISN'T BEING
DONE RIGHT. AND I'M HOPING THEY WOULD BE BETTER
STEWARDS. LIKE I SAID, THERE IS A HUGE GROWTH OVER IN
KAPOHO, KALAPANA, OF SUSTAINABLE PEOPLE. THEY
ARE DOING SOLAR. THEY'RE OFF THE GRID. THEY HAVE FIGURED
OUT HOW TO USE BATTERIES VERY WELL. YES, IT'S NOT PERFECT
BUT PEOPLE ARE DOING WELL WITH IT. AS FAR AS IF WE CAN, GIVE
SOME CREDIT FOR THE PEOPLE IN PUNA, IF WE'RE GOING TO HAVE
GEOTHERMAL IN PUNA, WE SHOULD AT LEAST BRING DOWN THE COST
OF ELECTRICITY THAT WE ARE GENERATING OVER THERE.
THAT'S NOT HAPPENING. I MEAN, IF WE'RE GOING TO HAVE
THE ILL EFFECTS OF HAVING GEOTHERMAL, WE SHOULD HAVE
SOME CREDIT TOO. >>DARYL: HOW DO YOU FEEL ABOUT
THAT ISSUE? >> GEOTHERMAL, I THINK
FURTHER WE CAN DISTANCE OURSELVES FROM PETROLEUM,
PRODUCT ENERGY SYSTEM, THE BETTER. THAT'S A STEP AWAY
FROM THAT. I THINK THAT IS POSITIVE. HOWEVER, THE
HEALTH AND WELFARE OF OUR COMMUNITIES, FOREMOST AND
WE'VE GOT TO MAKE SURE THAT'S ADDRESSED. THEY DID HEALTH
STUDY IN 2013 INDICATED THERE ARE HEALTH CONCERNS. I KNOW
COMMISSION $750,000 STUDY HERE SHORTLY TO FOLLOW UP ON
THAT. WE'VE GOT TO MAKE SURE THAT HAPPENS. AT THE SAME
TIME, IT IS GENERATING A QUITE A BIT OF ELECTRICITY AND IF WE
TAKE CARE OF THIS, WE'VE GOT TO VALUABLE ASSET I THINK.
WE'VE GOT TO TAKE CARE OF THE HEALTH CONCERNS. WHICH HAVE
WIND AND SOLAR POWER, WE'VE GOT TO RENEWABLE ENERGY,
WHICH I KNOW THE STATE HAS A GOAL OF HITTING THAT 35% OF
RENEWABLE ENERGY FOR 2030. I WOULD LIKE TO SEE THAT MOVE
UP. I THINK THERE NEEDS TO BE MORE R AND D FOCUS. I COME
FROM I.T. BACKGROUND. FIVE YEARS FROM NOW, A LOT OF
TECHNOLOGY WE'RE GOING TO BE SEEING HAS YET TO BEEN
INVENTED. THAT'S HOW FAST IT MOVES. A LOT OF THINGS ARE
GOING TO BE INVENTED. >>DARYL: WE HAVE 30 SECONDS
EACH. GMO'S? WHAT DO YOU THINK IS THE ROLE OF THIS?
>> I THINK WE SHOULD GO INTO P, LABELING. PEOPLE HAVE
HAVE A RIGHT TO CHOICE AND PEOPLE GROWERS HAVE A RIGHT TO
GROW. >>DARYL: I AGREE WITH LABELS.
GMO IS A VERY GENERIC TERM. COVERS A WIDE RANGE OF THING,
BASIC HYBRIDIZATION AND WE NEED TO TAKE A LOOK AT.
IN ONE FELL SWOOP, REGULATE EVERYTHING OR BREAK IT UP AND
SEGREGATE IT. >> DO YOU AGREE WITH THAT?
>> NO, I DON'T AGREE THAT GMO'S INCLUDE HYBRIDIZATION.
I THINK GMO CAN BE DEFINED TO BE GENETICALLY MODIFIED
ORGANIZATIONS AND NOT HYBRIDIZATIONS.
>>DARYL: THANK YOU SO MUCH. FUN CONVERSATION. I WISH YOU
AND THE FOLKS OF PUNA ALL THE LUCK IN THE WORLD. BLESS
THEM FOR WHAT THEY'RE GOING THROUGH. THANK YOU SO MUCH.
A LARGE FUEL OF CANDIDATES FOR THE OPEN SEAT IN THE FIRST
CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT IS DOWN TO TWO. MARK TAKAI AND
CHARLES DJOU. REPUBLICAN. NEXT WEEK,
REPRESENTATIVE TAKAI AND MR. DJOU WILL JOIN ME FOR A
DISCUSSION ON WHY EACH OF THEM BELIEVES THEY OFFER THE BEST
REPRESENTATION IN WASHINGTON, D.C. FOR HAWAI'I.
THAT'S NEXT WEEK ON INSIGHTS. I'M DARYL HUFF. A HUI HO.