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>>MALIA: TONIGHT ON INSIGHTS, ALL FOUR OF
HAWAI'I'S MAYORS ARE HERE TO TALK ABOUT WHERE THEY
STAND ON THE STATE POSSIBLY TAKING CONTROL OF THE GMO
ISSUE. AS WELL AS THEIR COUNTIES
POSITIONS ON DEVELOPMENT, ALTERNATIVE ENERGY,
AGRICULTURE TOURISM AND THEIR FIGHT TO GET A BIGGER
CUT OF TAXES FROM THE STATE.
>>MALIA: COMING UP NEXT ON INSIGHTS ON PBS HAWAI'I, A
CONVERSATION WITH OUR FOUR MAYORS, WHAT IS THE STATE
OF HAWAI'I'S COUNTIES?
>>MALIA: ALOHA AND WELCOME TO INSIGHTS ON PBS HAWAI'I.
I'M MALIA MATTOCH. TONIGHT, WE HAVE THE MAYORS
FROM ALL FOUR HAWAI'I COUNTIES SEATED AT THE
TABLE TO SHARE THEIR COMMON ISSUES AS WELL AS THEIR
UNIQUE PRIORITIES, WHAT IS THE STATE OF HAWAI'I'S
COUNTIES? WE INVITE YOU TO JOIN OUR CONVERSATION BY
CALLING, E-MAILING OR TWEETING YOUR QUESTIONS AND
COMMENTS. NOW, TO OUR MAYORS.
ALAN ARAKAWA WAS MAUI COUNTY'S MAYOR FROM 2002 TO
2006 AND WAS REELECTED TO THE OFFICE IN 2011.
ALSO SERVED ON THE MAUI COUNTY COUNCIL AND AS CHIEF
STEWARD FOR UNITED PUBLIC WORKERS AS WELL AS A UNION
REPRESENTATIVE FOR THE HAWAI'I GOVERNMENT
EMPLOYEES ASSOCIATION. KIRK CALDWELL HAS BEEN
HONOLULU'S MAYOR SINCE 2013, MAYOR CALDWELL ALSO
WAS WAS ELECTED TO FOUR TERMS IN THE STATE HOUSE OF
REPRESENTATIVES. SERVING AS HOUSE MAJORITY
LEADER BEFORE BEING APPOINTED THE CITY'S
MANAGING DIRECTOR. IN 2010 UNDER THEN MAYOR
HANNEMANNS. BERNARD CARVALHO HAS BEEN
MAYOR OF KAUAI SINCE 2008. MAYOR CARVALHO BEGAN
WORKING FOR KAUAI COUNTY IN 1985 AS A RECREATION LEADEN
AND ADVANCED TO DIRECTOR AS THE OFFICE OF COMMUNITY
ASSISTANCE AND THE DEPARTMENT OF PARKS AND
RECREATION. BILLY KENOI HAS BEEN
HAWAI'I COUNTY'S MAYOR SINCE 2008.
PRIOR TO THAT, MAYOR KENOI PRACTICED PUBLIC INTEREST
LAW. HE IS CURRENTLY CHAIRMAN OF
THE HAWAI'I COUNCIL OF MAYORS AND IS THE ONLY
HAWAI'I MAYOR ON THE UNITES STATES CONFERENCE OF
MAYOR'S ADVISORY BOARD. WELCOME ALL.
THANK YOU ALL FOR JOINING US.
GOOD TO SEE ALL OF YOU. LET'S TALK WITH WHAT'S BEEN
THE NEWS THE LAST FEW DAYS IN TERM HE IS OF THE
LEGISLATURE. A LOT OF TALK ABOUT GMOS
AND BILL TO HAVE THE STATE SORT OF TAKE SOME OF THE
CONTROL FROM THE COUNTIES ON THAT ISSUE INTO STATE
HANDS. MAYOR KENOI, IF I COULD
START WITH YOU, WOULD THAT BE FRUSTRATING? WOULD IT
BE A RELIEF TO HAVE SOME OF THE CONTENTIOUS ISSUE OFF
THE COUNTY'S PLATE AND IN THE STATE'S HANDS OR AFTER
SO. CHANGES THAT YOU HAVE MAID ON THE BIG ISLAND,
WOULD IT BE A STEP BACKWARDS?
>> IN MOST ISSUES FACED IN HAWAI'I, IT REQUIRES A LOT
OF COOPERATION AND COLLABORATION BETWEEN THE
STATE AND COUNTIES. WE ALL WORK REALLY WELL
TOGETHER. WE HAVE AS YOU SAID A
SIMILAR CHALLENGE AS WELL AS UNIQUE INDIVIDUAL
CHALLENGES. FOR EXAMPLE, ON THE ISLAND
OF HAWAI'I, WE DON'T HAVE LARGE AGRIBUSINESS
CORPORATIONS OR SEED COMPANIES.
IT'S A DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVE WITH REGARDS TO
GENETICALLY MODIFIED OR GMO ISSUES.
BUT WHAT'S IMPORTANT SOMETIMES THE GMO ISSUES
TAKING IS WAY AND TAKING AWAY SOME OF THE EMPHASIS
THAT WE HAVE TO FOCUS ON AND SUPPORTING AGRICULTURE.
OUR FARMERS NEED ACCESS TO AFFORDABLE WATER, NEED
ACCESS TO AFFORDABLE LAND. NEED TO BE TRAINING THE
NEXT GENERATION OF FARMS. ON HAWAI'I ISLAND, AVERAGE
AGE OF A FARMER IS 59 YEARS OLD SO. THERE'S A MYRIAD
OF ISSUES FACING OUR FARMERS.
WE HAVE TO SUPPORT THEM. SO WE LOOK FORWARD TO THE
LEGISLATURE WITH WHICH HAS TO TACKLE 4,000 BILLS BEING
INTRODUCED IN JANUARY AND WE AT THE COUNTY LEVEL LOOK
FORWARD TO WORKING WITH THE STATE AS WE ADDRESS VERY
COMPLEX ISSUE FACING OUR COMMUNITIES.
>>MALIA: IN TERM HE IS OF SPECIFICALLY WHAT YOU'VE
DONE ONTO BIG ISLAND IN TERMS OF LIMITING NEW GMO,
WOULD YOU BE DISAPPOINTED IF THE STATE STEPPED IN AND
BASICALLY RENDERED THAT SORT OF A STATE ISSUE
VERSUS A COUNTY ISSUE. >> NO NOT DISAPPOINTED BUT
LOOK FORWARD TO HAVING A MEANINGFUL DIALOGUE ON THAT
ISSUE AND GOING FORWARD TOGETHER TO ADDRESS AND
SUPPORT AGRICULTURE. I WOULDN'T BE DISAPPOINTED.
>>MALIA: YOU THINK IT WOULD BE A STATE ISSUE.
>> STATE HAS JURISDICTION WHEREAS THE DEPARTMENT OF
AGRICULTURE PLANT PESTICIDE, PLANT QUARANTINE
IS CERTAINLY A STATE ISSUE. WE'RE ALL COLLECTIVELY
WORKING TOWARDS ADDRESSING THOSE ISSUES.
>>MALIA: MAYOR IT'S BEEN CONTENTIOUS ON KAUAI.
YOU'VE HAD TO GO THROUGH A LOT OF CONTENTION ON THE
ISSUE. WOULD IT BE SOMEWHAT OF A
RELIEF IF THERE IS A THREATENED LAWSUIT IF THIS
ISSUE MOVED TOWARD THE STATE?
>> WELL, ALL OF IS IS I RELIEF.
MAYOR KENOI MENTIONED THAT. IT'S ALL ABOUT PARTNERSHIP
AND WORKING TOGETHER. THERE'S SO MANY DIFFERENT
TRACTS HAPPENING REGARDING THIS ISSUE.
IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE RECOGNIZE ALL OF THE
DIFFERENT ENTITIES THAT HAVE THE RESPONSIBILITY
MUCH IT'S A SHARED RESPONSIBILITY.
I GREW UP IN THE CANE FIELDS AND THE PINEAPPLE
FIELD DAYS. SO AGRICULTURE AT THAT TIME
GROWING UP, I UNDERSTAND IT IS WE ARE, THAT'S WHO WE
ARE AS HAWAI'I. SO NOW, WE'VE FAST
FORWARDED TO THIS PARTICULAR DISCUSSION.
WE ON KAUAI HAVE FOUR SEED COMPANIES.
EMPLOYEES, LARGE NUMBER OF EMPLOYEES.
SO THERE'S A MENU OF AREAS THAT I NEED TO, WE NEED TO
LOOK AT AND DISCUSS FROM, EMOTIONAL SIDE, CULTURAL
SIDE, BUSINESS SIDE, EMPLOYMENT SIDE, OF COURSE,
SO IN OUR PARTICULAR CASE, AT ONE POINT, SORT OF
DIVIDES COMMUNITY BECAUSE THIS IS A VERY CONTENTIOUS
TYPE OF SITUATION. HOWEVER, WE'RE ABLE TO
REALLY WORK IT TOGETHER, I THINK, AND WE'RE AT THE
POINT NOW WHERE WE'RE TRYING TO ADDRESS IT AND
WORK WITH OUR COUNTY COUNCIL.
BIGGER PICTURE IS TO SEE WHAT IS THE BALANCE.
AGRICULTURE COMES IN SO MANY DIFFERENT WAYS.
WE HAVE ORGANIC, WE HAVE COFFEE.
WE HAVE SEED CORN COMPANIES.
WE HAVE PAPAYA. WE HAVE TROPICAL FLOWERS.
I'M TRYING TO FIND A BALANCE BETWEEN EMBRACING
AGRICULTURE IN GENERAL. THIS PARTICULAR DISCUSSION
AS YOU KNOW HAS BROUGHT FORTH SOME VERY, VERY
DIVIDED TYPE OF DISCUSSIONS.
I'M WILLING AND ABLE TO WORK ON THAT.
>>MALIA: BECAUSE OF SOME OF THE MOVES THAT KAUAI HAS
MADE, A LAWSUIT, YOU'RE CURRENTLY LOOKING AT PRO
BONO LEGAL REPRESENTATION TO HELP.
>> CURRENTLY, FOR THE LAST ROUND AT THE TABLE RIGHT
NOW, LOOKING AT THE LEGAL SIDE OF IT, THERE IS A LOT
OF LEGAL ISSUES THAT I WAS CONCERNED WITH.
A LOT OF ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES.
SOME ISSUES, RESPONSIBILITY.
BUT OVERALL, WE'RE WORKING RIGHT NOW ON PRO BONO TYPE
SOLICITATION FOR SERVICES. AND WE'LL SEE.
IF NOT, THEN WE HAVE ANOTHER LISTING OF
POTENTIAL ATTORNEYS THAT WILL COME IN.
I REALLY WANTED TO KEEP THIS ISSUE OUT OF THE
COURTS AND HOPEFULLY, WORK CLOSELY WITH THE STATE AND
THE DEPARTMENT OF AG AND DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND MY
FELLOW MAYORS AND ALL OF US WORKING COLLECTIVELY
BECAUSE IT'S SUCH A BIG ISSUE.
SO NOW, THAT WE'RE IN THIS PARTICULAR CASE WITHIN THE
COURT SYSTEM, WE HAVE A LAWSUIT ON THE TABLE, WE
CHOOSE TO ADDRESS IT, BUT AT THE SAME TIME, WE'RE
MOVING FORWARD AS A GOOD NEIGHBOR PROGRAM ON KAUAI
NOW WHERE THE SEED CORN COMPANIES ARE REALLY
WORKING WITHIN THE COMMUNITY, WORKING CLOSELY
WITH THE STATE. WE'RE REALLY TRYING TO FIND
THAT BALANCE THAT IS IMPORTANT.
>>MALIA: I WOULD IMAGINE THAT THE STATE TAKING SOME
SORT OF CONTROL ON IT'S ISSUE MIGHT ACTUALLY HELP
IN TERMS OF THE LAWSUIT FOR YOUR PARTICULAR COUNTY, OR
AM I WRONG? >> NO.
LIKE I SAID, WE'RE IN TOTAL CONVERSATION AS WE SPEAK
WITH THE STATE, DEPARTMENT OF AG, DEPARTMENT OF
HEALTH, LIKE I SAID. WE ON KAUAI COUNTY ARE
WILLING TO TAKE OUR PIECE AND WORK IT AND WORK WITH
OUR PEOPLE BUT WE NEED HELP TOO.
IT'S JUST A GOOD CROSS SECTION, TRYING TO
UNDERSTAND HOW WE CAN SUPPORT EACH OTHER AND THE
BIGGER PICTURE FOR THE PEOPLE THAT WE SERVE.
>>MALIA: NOW, MAUI TOOK A SOMEWHAT DIFFERENT TRACK ON
THIS IN TERMS OF COMING TO AN UNDERSTANDING.
CAN YOU TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THAT AND HOW THIS
BILL MIGHT IMPACT THAT? >> ONE OF THE THINGS THAT
MOST PEOPLE PEOPLE IN THE PUBLIC DON'T KNOW ARE
DETAILS, ALMOST ANY FORM OF GOVERNMENT.
A LOT OF THE DISCUSSIONS ARE ON TECHNICAL
APPLICATIONS AND WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO DO IS WE'RE
ACTUALLY CREATE AN MOU, MEMORANDUM OF
UNDERSTANDING, WITH MONSANTO SO THEY WOULD
REPORT AND WE COULD PUBLISH TO THE PUBLIC WHAT KIND OF
PESTICIDES THEY'RE USING. WE ALSO ARE CREATING A
WEBSITE AND WE'RE WORKING JOINTLY WITH THE OTHER
MAYORS AND THE STATE DEPARTMENTS TO TRY AND
CONNECT A LOT OF THOSE WEBSITES WITH INFORMATION
FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF AG, FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF
HEALTH, FROM THE EPA, ALL OF THE TECHNICAL AREAS
WHERE PEOPLE CAN FIND OUT WHAT DOES IT TAKE TO GET A
PESTICIDE LICENSE? WHAT ARE THE RESTRICTIONS ON
APPLICATIONS? SOMEONE WHO WANTS TO APPLY PESTICIDE,
WHAT DO THEY HAVE TO GO THROUGH, WHAT KIND OF FINES
ARE THERE? IF WE CAN GET MORE INFORMATION TO THE
PUBLIC, THEN WE WILL HAVE AN EDUCATED DISCUSSION.
WITHOUT PEOPLE BEING ABLE TO HAVE ACCESS TO REAL GOOD
INFORMATION, YOU GET A LOT OF RUMORS.
A LOT OF HALF TRUTHS. YOU GET A LOT OF
ASSUMPTIONS THAT DON'T REALLY ADDRESS THE REAL
ISSUE. BUT IT'S LIKE A BOOGIE
MANKIND OF A CONDITION CONCEPT.
WE'RE AFRAID OF THEM BECAUSE WE DON'T KNOW WHAT
IT IS. AND WE'RE TRYING TO CLARIFY
THIS ISSUE BY PUTTING FACTS BEFORE THE COMMUNITY.
COUNCIL CURRENTLY IS LISTING TO A BILL VERY
SIMILAR TO THE GMO BILL THAT WAS PASSED ON KAUAI.
AND WE'RE VERY MUCH TRYING TO SEPARATE GMO AND
PESTICIDES. BECAUSE THEY'RE TWO VERY,
VERY DISTINCT DIFFERENT TOPICS.
PESTICIDES, THERE IS NO ONE IN THE INDUSTRY THAT DOES
NOT BELIEVE PESTICIDES MISUSED CAN BE VERY
DANGEROUS. THAT'S WHY WE HAVE SO MANY
STRINGENT REGULATIONS ON HOW THEY CAN BE APPLIED.
WHAT THEAPPLICATOR MUST DO TO MAKE IT SAFE.
AND PESTICIDES COMING IN HAVE TO GO THROUGH A VERY
STRINGENT SCREENING PROCESS AS WELL.
SO WE ACKNOWLEDGE THE FACT AND I THINK EVERYONE IN THE
INDUSTRY ACKNOWLEDGES THE FACT THAT'S WHY WE CALL
POISONS. RIGHT? WE HAVE TO HANDLE
THEM CAREFULLY. BUT PUBLIC NEEDS TO
UNDERSTAND WHAT THE PRECAUTIONS ARE TO MAKE IT
SAFE FOR THE APPLICATION AND TO MAKE IT USABLE
TOWARD A BENEFICIAL PURPOSE.
GMO IS A VERY DIFFERENT ISSUE.
GENETICALLY MODIFIED ORGANISMS, IF YOU TAKE THE
TOPIC AS DEFINED, THERE ARE VERY, VERY FEW ITEMS THAT
HAVE NOT BEEN MODIFIED OVER CENTURIES AND GENERATIONS.
WHEN THE INDIANS HAD CORN AND THE CORN THAT WE
PRODUCE TODAY, THE VERY DIFFERENT PRODUCTS.
THEY'VE BEEN CROSSED. THEY'VE BEEN BRED SO THAT
THE AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTS CAN WITHSTAND DIFFERENT
KIND OF TEMPERATURES, DIFFERENT KIND OF CLIMATE
CONDITIONS, DIFFERENT KINDS OF INSECTS.
THIS IS TRUE WITH THE LETTUCE, TOMATOES, ONIONS.
IF YOU LOOK AT THE DIFFERENT VARIETIES, MANY
OF THEM HAVE BEEN CROSSED. WHEN YOU LOOK AT CITRUS,
THE ROOT STOCKS MAY BE FROM HAWAIIAN LEMON.
AND THE DIFFERENT KINDS OF LEMONS MAY BE GRAFTED ON
TOE THE TREE. THERE'S ALL MODIFICATIONS
THAT ARE NOT THE NATURAL, ORIGINAL PRODUCT.
SO WHEN WE'RE TALKING ABOUT HOW THE SCIENCE IS
EVOLVING, HELPING OUT THE COMMUNITIES TO BE ABLE TO
HAVE GOOD PRODUCTS, WE HAVE TO LOOK AT WHAT IS REALLY
HAPPENED THAT'S ON THE POSITIVE AS WELL AS THE
FEARS AND THE NEGATIVE. >>MALIA: OF COURSE, FOR
THOSE IN OPPOSITION TO GMOS, THEY CITE THAT 26
COUNTRIES HAVE BANNED THEM OUT OF CONCERN.
THERE IS A LEGITIMATE ARGUMENT TO BE MADE IN
TERMS OF LOOKING AT WHETHER THEY POSE A DANGER.
MAYOR CALDWELL, IF THE CITY COUNCIL VOTED TO LIMIT OR
BAN GMOS, WHAT WOULD YOUR POSITION BE.
>> I WOULD SAY IT'S A STATE PREEMPTION ISSUE.
I THINK IT SHOULD BE HANDLED AT THE STATE LEVEL.
STATE REGULATES PESTICIDES. I KNOW THAT WHEN I SERVED
IN THE HOUSE. >> I PUT IN A BILL THAT
REQUIRED MORE DISCLOSURE HOW TO USE PESTICIDES IN
ALL COUNTIES. BETTER SOLVED IN THAT
LEVEL. >>MALIA: ANYONE ELSE WHO
THINKS THE STATE SHOULD BE. >> SHOULD PLAY A ROLE.
>>MALIA: DO YOU SAY LIKE A ROLE OR IT SHOULD BE A
SIMPLY ISSUE? >> THE QUESTION AS TO THE
LEVEL OF PREEMPTION OR EXACTLY --
>> THERE'S A LEGAL ISSUE THERE.
>> RIGHT. FOR US, I THINK WE PLAY A
ROLE. WE HAVE TO WORK IT TOGETHER
AND SEE HOW IT AFFECTS EACH OF OUR COUNTIES.
>> OF COURSE MAKING SURE THE STATE IS IT HELD
ACCOUNTABLE FOR THEIR PART OF THIS WHOLE THING.
>> FROM OUR PERSPECTIVE, THE STATE HAS THE PEOPLE
AND EXPERTISE THAT ARE SPECIALIZING IN THESE
FIELDS AND THEY HAVE BEEN CHARGED AS THEIR JOBS TO BE
ABLE TO ENFORCE, TO BE ABLE TO MONITOR PESTICIDES.
>>MALIA: RIGHT. >> THE COUNTY HAS
ABSOLUTELY NO ONE IN ITS EMPLOYMENT THAT IS AN
EXPERT IN THIS AREA. THE ENFORCEMENT OF THE
PESTICIDE RULES, WE WOULD NOT HAVE THE MANPOWER OR
THE CAPABILITY THROUGH EXPERTISE TO BE ABLE TO
MONITOR AND TO BE ABLE TO PUT IN THE PENALTIES THAT
WOULD BE UNDER THE STATE JURISDICTION.
>>MALIA: SO IT SOUNDS THAT ALL FOUR OF YOU WELCOME THE
BILL CURRENTLY BEING DISCUSSED IN TERMS OF --
OKAY. SO THIS IS A WELCOME THING
IN TERMS OF THE MAYORS. >> I WANT TO SAY ONE THING
ON THIS WHOLE ISSUE. I FIND SOMETIMES SAD AND A
LITTLE BIT TRAGIC. AS A GROUP OF PEOPLE LIVING
ON A SMALL BUNCH OF ISLANDS, WE WATCH THIS
ISSUE POLE RISE OUR COMMUNITIES.
WATCHED IT ON MAYOR BERNARD'S ISLANDS.
PITTED NEIGHBOR AGAINST NEIGHBOR.
FRIEND AGAINST FRIEND. SOMETIMES FAMILY MEMBER
AGAINST FAMILY MEMBER. IT'S HARD TO LIVE IN A
SMALL PLACE BEING LIKE THAT.
I WISH THERE WAS A WAY TO HAVE THIS ISSUE DISCUSSED
IN A MORE CALM WAY, MORE METHOD I CAN WAY WITH MORE
OF THE SCIENCE. >>MALIA: WITH THE FACTS.
>> >> WITH THE FACTS.
>> SCIENCE PART IS DOWN. WE DO GOOD STUDY.
>>MALIA: ON BOTH SIDES. >> IT'S A LOT OF BRIDGES
GET BURNED. HARD TO REBUILD THEM.
>>MALIA: ONE CONTENTIOUS ISSUE TO ANOTHER.
SOMEWHAT RESOLVED ISSUE. QUESTION FROM BRIAN IN
WAIPAHU POUR MAYOR CALLED WHELM.
PLEASE DO NOT LET THE HALF PERCENT OF EXCISE TAX
EXPIRE UNTIL RAIL GOES INTO WAIKIKI AND U.H.
WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS ON THAT.
>> THAT BRINGS UP ONE OF THE ISSUES THAT WE'RE
TALKING ABOUT HERE AND THAT'S THE AUTHORITY FOR
ALL THE COUNTIES TO HAVE THE ABILITY TO RAISE THE G.
E.T. BY 1% AT THE COUNTY LEVEL.
IT DOESN'T MEAN IT'S GOING TO HAPPEN.
IT'S NOT AN EASY THING TO DO.
WE HAVE THAT AUTHORITY FROM THE STATE.
THE STATE GIVES US THAT TAXING AUTHORITY.
OAHU GOT THAT AUTHORITY IN 2005.
AND 2007, IT KICKED IN AND THEY'VE BEEN CHECKING THIS
HALF PERCENT. I'VE JOINED WITH THE OTHER
COUNTIES. WE'RE ALL TOGETHER ON THIS
ASKING TO HAVE THE OTHER COUNTIES GET THE SAME
AUTHORITY OAHU GOT, UP TO 1%.
I'M NOT ASKING FOR ANOTHER HALF PERCENT.
WE ARE TOTALLY HAPPY WITH THE HALF A PERCENT.
I AM NOT, AS MAYOR, IN MY TIME AS MAYOR, EVER GOING
TO GO TO THE COUNCIL AND SAY, I WANT ANOTHER HALF.
BUT TO GET TO THIS GENTLEMEN'S QUESTION, IT'S
A GOOD ONE, I ALSO JOIN WITH THE COUNTIES BECAUSE
WE DISCUSSED IF WE'RE GOING TO TAKE THE POLITICAL HITS
OF GOING BEFORE COUNTY COUNCILS AT SOME POINT, IF
WE WANTED TO, TO RAISE THIS, WE WANTED IT IN
PERPETUITY, NOT THE SUNSETS SO YOU HAVE TO COME BACK
AND TAKE THE HIT A SECOND OR THIRD TIME.
THIS GOES FOR OUR COUNCILMEMBERS TOO.
WHO TAKE A LOT OF FLAK. IT'S NOT A POPULAR THING TO
PROPOSE RAISING A TAX. THERE HAS TO BE A NEXUS AND
A JUSTIFIABLE REASON. BUT IF THE OTHER COUNTIES
ARE GOING TO GET IN PERPETUITY, I THINK OAHU
SHOULD HAVE THAT SAME EQUALITY.
WE'VE AGREED AND SO I WOULD ASK THAT, YES, IT GO IN
PERPETUITY FOR US AND WHAT WOULD WE DO WITH IT? SHORT
TERM, ONCE THE RAIL SYSTEM IS BUILT IN 2019, USE IT TO
HELP SUBSIDIZE PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM AND
ANY PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM IS PUBLIC BECAUSE
IT'S INEXPENSIVE TO RIDE. IF YOU CHARGE THE RAIL
RATE, PEOPLE WOULDN'T RIDE IT BECAUSE THEY COULDN'T
AFFORD TO RIDE IT. BUS SYSTEM, SUBSIDIZED OVER
120 MILLION A YEAR PAID FOR ALL OF US THROUGH OUR REAL
PROPERTY TAXES. RAIL, IF WE COULD USE THE
G.E.T. SHORT TERM, WOULD HELP SUBSIDIZE THIS SYSTEM
ONCE BUILT. BUT THE OTHER THING IS DOWN
THE ROAD, AS THIS GENTLEMAN TALKED, WHETHER IT GOES UP
TO MANOA, I'M NOT SO SURE ABOUT WAIKIKI BECAUSE I
THINK WE'RE GOING TO HAVE A GOOD CIRCULATOR BUS SYSTEM
COMING UP ALA MOANA. U.H., MANOA, WEST TOWARDS
KAPOLEI, TO WHERE THE SHOPPING CENTER IS GOING TO
BE, MAYBE UP TO MILILANI, THESE ARE SEGMENTS THAT WE
COULD START TO PLAN AND THEREFORE, I AM VERY
EXCITED ABOUT THAT POTENTIAL.
>>MALIA: YOU WOULD LIKE TO SEE RYAN'S DREAM COME TRUE.
I WOULD LIKE TO SEE THAT DREAM COME TRUE.
IT'S A DREAM THAT CAN COME TRUE AND I BELIEVE IT WILL
HAPPEN. >>MALIA: ANOTHER QUESTION
ON RAIL. IN TERMS OF ITS
EFFECTIVENESS, SOME PEOPLE SEEM TO FEEL THAT WITH ALL
OF THE NEW HOUSING DEVELOPMENTS GOING INTO
WEST OAHU, THAT ARE PLANNED AND ON THE BOOKS AND ONES
WE MIGHT NOT EVEN KNOW OF YET, THE BENEFIT OF RAIL
WILL BE SORT OF WIPED OUT BY ALL OF THIS FURTHER
DEVELOPMENT. WILL END UP WITH RAIL AND
TRAFFIC. YOUR THOUGHTS ON THAT?
>> I THINK RAIL IS ABSOLUTELY NECESSARY
BECAUSE OF THESE DEVELOPMENTS.
THIS SYSTEM IS GOING THROUGH DENSE URBAN PART OF
OUR ISLAND BY 2030, 60% OF THE PEOPLE ON THIS ISLAND
ARE GOING TO LIVE IN THE EWA PLAIN WHERE THESE
DEVELOPMENTS ARE OCCURRING. THEY'RE NOT JUST OCCURRING
HAPHAZARDLY. UNDER A GENERAL PLAN, THAT
THE STATE ADOPTED AND THAT THE COUNTIES ARE
FUNCTIONING UNDER, FOR ALL OF US, THAT GROWTH IS TO
OCCUR THERE. AT ONE POINT, THEY TALK
ABOUT IT MAYBE KANEOHE. KANEOHE FOLKS GOT ALL
UPSET. THOUGHT MAYBE KAILUA.
FOLKS GOT UPSET. OUR DEVELOPMENT WHERE WE'RE
GOING TO BUILD HOUSE FOR YOUR CHILDREN AND MY
CHILDREN, MAYBE BILLY'S CHILDREN IF THEY DECIDE TO
COME HERE AND LIVE ON THIS ISLAND, IS GOING TO BE IN
THE EWA PLAIN AND WE NEED RAIL TO MOVE THEM BECAUSE
WE CAN'T AFFORD TO BUILD ANOTHER FREEWAY.
THEY'RE MASSIVE FOUR LANES IN EACH DIRECTION.
THEY TAKE A LOT OF AINA. THIS RAIL SYSTEM IS 26 FEET
WIDE. 30 FEET IN THE AIR.
YOU CAN ADD ADDITIONAL CAPACITY WITHOUT BUILDING
ANOTHER LANE. >>MALIA: YOU CAN ABSORB ALL
OF WHAT'S GOING ON. >> IT CAN.
>>MALIA: FEW OF THE OTHER QUESTIONS.
WHAT ARE THE MAYOR'S FEELINGS ABOUT RECENT
LEGISLATION TO RESTRICT ACCESS TO PUBLIC WATER
SURROUNDING PRIVATE ISLANDS SUCH AS NIIHAU.
>> THAT'S ANOTHER ONE THAT NIIHAU IS A VERY SPECIAL
PLACE, PERIOD. AND A LOT OF OUR KUPUNA ARE
HAWAIIAN OHANA STILL LIVE THERE.
SO ANY TIME YOU TALK RESTRICTION AND TRYING TO
PRESERVE, IT'S OKAY. BUT THERE'S SO MANY OTHER
FACTORS INVOLVED. SO HAVING GOTTEN INTO MANY
DISCUSSIONS WITH THE ROBERTSON FAMILY AND SOME
OHANA THERE AND ADDRESSING THIS ISSUE, I BELIEVE THAT
THERE NEEDS TO BE SOME KIND OF RESTRICTION AROUND
NIIHAU TO PRESERVE ITS UNIQUE CHARACTER AND CHARM
AND FISHING AND ALL THE RURAL CHARACTER.
AT THE SAME TIME, THERE'S ANOTHER PART OF OUR
COMMUNITY, FISHING COMMUNITY THAT FISH OFF
THERE AS PART OF THEIR LIVELIHOOD.
LOCAL FAMILIES, LOCAL FISHERMEN.
SO AGAIN, HERE WE GO AGAIN. HOW DO YOU FIND BALANCE
PRESERVING WONDERFUL NIIHAU AND STILL ALLOWING AND
HAVING THAT OPPORTUNITY. IT'S ALL ABOUT TALKING AND
AGAIN. AT THE STATE LEVEL BECAUSE
YOU HAVE FROM THE SHORELINE OUT TO 3-MILEIS STATE
JURISDICTION. THEN YOU HAVE FEDERAL
JURISDICTION AND THEN OF COURSE THE RECREATIONAL USE
AND COMMERCIAL USE FOR OUR FISHERMEN.
SO RIGHT NOW, WE'RE WORKING THROUGH THAT.
I'VE BEEN IN NUMEROUS CONVERSATIONS WITH OUR
FISHERMEN AND I BELIEVE THAT OUR STATE SENATOR AND
REPRESENTATIVE ON THIS SIDE OF THE HOUSE, ARE ALSO
LOOKING AT THAT. LIKE I SAID, THERE NEEDS TO
BE SOME KIND OF RESTRICTION.
IT'S JUST WHAT IS THE FINAL AND HOW IT'S GOING TO FIND
THE BALANCE TO MAKE IT WORK FOR ALL.
>>MALIA: I LIKE THIS QUESTION FOR JACK IN
KANEOHE. I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW IF
THERE'S ANY CHANCE OF GETTING THE SUPERFERRY
BACK. I WOULD GUESS THAT THE
ANSWER TO THAT IS NO, BUT ANY THOUGHS ON THAT.
>> I WOULD NEVER SAY NO TO ANY FUTURE SITUATION.
THE FACT THAT WE HAD A SUPERFERRY HERE MEANS IT'S
POSSIBLE TO DO. THE FACT THAT MANY OTHER
COMMUNITIES HAVE A FERRY SYSTEM MEANS IT'S VERY
DESIRABLE WORLDWIDE, PROVEN TO BE BENEFICIAL.
THE REAL QUESTION IS FINDING THE APPROPRIATE
COMPANY OR BODIES OR TIMING EVEN WITH THE STATE TO BE
ABLE TO PUT IT AND IMPLEMENT IT IN A PROPER
WAY. >> WE NEED TO INTEGRATED
TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM. WE HAVE PLANES.
WE HAVE THE TUG AND BARGE. WE DON'T HAVE SOMETHING FOR
ALL OF OUR LOCAL FOLKS WHO GO BETWEEN THE ISLANDS.
>> NEIGHBOR ISLAND GUYS THEY SEE HOW EXPENSIVE IT
IS TO GO. ECHO THAT.
>> MAYOR CARVALHO, TALK ABOUT SEPARATED BY OCEAN
BUT CONNECTED BY FAMILY AND FRIENDS.
SUPERFERRY WAS AN H-3 FOR US.
TAKE AN EXAMPLE. IF WE HAD A BASEBALL TEAM,
NOW WE HAVE STATE TOURNAMENTS THAT WE SEE
HAVE DECLINED IN PARTICIPATION BECAUSE
INSTEAD OF PUTTING OUR KIDS ON A 15 PASSENGER BUS AND
SENDING THEM TO AN ISLAND TO ENGAGE IN A POSITIVE
RECREATIONAL ACTIVITY, THAT BUILDS RELATIONSHIPS,
INSTEAD, WE HAVE VERY HIGH COST, INTERISLAND AIR FARE.
LIMITED FLIGHTS AND CHALLENGES.
>>MALIA: GETTING HIGHER AND HIGHER.
>> CERTAINLY WE WOULD WELCOME, WE COULD HAVE
ADDRESSED THE ISSUES OF INVASIVE SPECIES AND SOME
CHALLENGES THAT WERE RAISED, WHALE STRIKES.
THE POSSIBILITY AND POTENTIAL EXISTS, BUT IT'S
BEEN CHALLENGING. I THINK IT CAN HAPPEN.
BUT DO THE EIS FIRST. >> I THINK THAT INTO THAT
WAS THE LESSON OF THAT EXPERIENCE.
>> WE NEED ANOTHER MEANS OF TRANSPORTATION BETWEEN OUR
ISLANDS FOR OUR LOCAL FAMILIES, FOR VISITORS SO
THEY CAN REALLY UTILIZE THAT.
>> WE HAVE TO HAVE SOMETHING THAT WILL
SUPPRESS THE EVER INCREASING COSTS OF GOING
BETWEEN ISLANDS. THAT'S REALLY BIGGEST
CHALLENGE I THINK. WE ALSO NEED THE ABILITY TO
HAVE MORE FREIGHT GOING BETWEEN THE ISLANDS.
SO A LOT OF THE TRANSPORTATION ISSUES NEED
TO BE ADDRESSED BECAUSE AS A STATE, WE HAVE A
SUBSTANDARD TRANSPORTATION INTERISLAND SYSTEM.
AND WHETHER IT BE THE SUPERFERRY OR WHETHER IT BE
SOME OTHER MECHANISM, I THINK THAT OCEAN TRAVEL IS
GOING TO BE ONE OF THE KEY COMPONENTS.
BUT COMPETITION WITH AIRLINES, MORE FREIGHT
PLANES GOING BETWEEN THE ISLANDS, MORE
TRANSPORTATION COMPANIES. >>MALIA: IS THERE ANY
ACTUAL TALK ABOUT BRINGING BACK SOME KIND OF FERRY
THAT YOU'RE HEARING? I WOULD HAVE THOUGHT AFTER
ONE OF OUR FIASCO THAT WAS, THAT THAT HAS NOT BEEN
TALKED ABOUT. >> SCARES AWAY INVESTORS.
WHEN PEOPLE WATCHED WHAT HAPPENED, THEY'RE GOING,
WHOA, I DON'T WANT TO BE PART OF THIS AGAIN.
YOU NEVER KNOW. HUGE POLITICAL ISSUE, LEGAL
ISSUE. BUT I THINK AS TIME PASSES,
AS YOU HEARD, THIS GENTLEMAN IS ASKING, IT'S
GOING TO COME BACK AND YOU NEED -- ABSOLUTELY RIGHT.
YOU NEED THE RIGHT ECONOMIC MODEL.
THAT MEANS MONEY. >> REALISTICALLY, MAUI
COUNTY HAS A FERRY SYSTEM BETWEEN LAHAINA AND
MOLOKAI. WE HAVE A FERRY SYSTEM
BETWEEN LAHAINA AND LANAI AND THAT'S GOING TO BE
EXPANDED TO MALAE AS WELL. SO FERRY SYSTEM DOES EXIST.
WE KNOW THAT IT WORKS. ECONOMICALLY VIABLE.
WE'RE GOING THROUGH THE WHALE SANCTUARY AND
DIFFERENT AREAS. WE'RE DOING IT WITH SAFETY
IN MIND AND THEY'RE ABLE TO AVOID THE WHALES BECAUSE OF
THE EQUIPMENT THAT THEY HAVE ON THE FERRIES.
IS IT DOABLE? ABSOLUTELY. IS IT SOMETHING THAT WE
DESIRE? ABSOLUTELY. >> THIS IS SOMETHING THAT I
BELIEVE ALL OF US AS MAYORS AND COLLECTIVELY NEED TO
EMBRACE. CERTAIN THINGS WE'VE GOT TO
DO FOR THE ENTIRE STATE, ALL OF OUR ISLANDS, THIS
COULD BE AN OPPORTUNITY TO REALLY, I MEAN, STANDING
STRONG TOGETHER, AND ADDRESSING ALL OF THE
ISSUES AND ALL OF THE EMOTIONAL SIDE OF THIS
PARTICULAR ISSUE TOGETHER. SO WHEREVER ANYBODY GOES,
WE'RE ALL SAYING THE SAME THING.
BECAUSE WHY? IT'S AN OPPORTUNITY FOR OUR STATE.
>>MALIA: ALL RIGHT. ON THAT NOTE, IN TERMS OF
BRINGING BUSINESSES TO HAWAI'I, THIS IS A
QUESTION. WHAT EFFORTS ARE MAYORS
WORKING ON TO BRING BUSINESS TO HAWAI'I WHETHER
TO CONDUCT MEETINGS HERE OR TO START BUSINESS? MAYOR
ARAKAWA ANY THOUGHTS ON THAT?
>> ONE OF THE THINGS THAT HAPPENED OUT OF THE APEC
CONFERENCE FEW YEARS AGO WAS WE STARTED SISTER CITY
RELATIONSHIPS WITH KOREA, MAUI COUNTY DID.
AND I BELIEVE EVERY COUNTY WAS CHARGED WITH TRYING TO
DO SISTER CITY RELATIONSHIPS WITH ANOTHER
COUNTRY. MAUI COUNTY HAS EXTENSIVE
SISTER CITY RELATIONSHIPS WITH A NUMBER OF DIFFERENT
COUNTRIES IN THE ASIA PACIFIC AREA.
WE HAVE MAKING TRIPS THERE AND BUILDING OUR
RELATIONSHIPS. SO MUCH SO THAT WE'RE
HAVING HOME AND HOME VISITS WHERE THE MAYORS FROM
GUYONG AND KOREA HAVE BEEN THERE THREE OR FOUR TIMES.
WE'RE GOING TO THE FLOWER FESTIVAL, ONE OF THE
BIGGEST EVENTS IN THE COUNTRY.
AND WE'RE ACTUALLY GOING TO BE PROMOTING OUR COMMUNITY
THERE BY HAVING EXHIBIT AND THIS YEAR, WE'RE HAVING A
HULA DANCERS AT ENCIONG AIRPORT.
WE'VE BEEN PROMOTING IN CHINA, PROMOTING IN JAPAN,
BUT WE'RE PUTTING ON A FULL COURT PRESS TO TRY AND
EXPAND THE ASIAN PACIFIC IS AREA BECAUSE THEY'RE A VERY
PROSPEROUS AREA. THEY LIKE TO TRAVEL.
THEY HAVE EXPENDABLE INCOME.
AND AS PARTS OF THE UNITED STATES AND EUROPE,
ECONOMIES GO DOWN, WE'RE ABLE TO BALANCE IT OFF AND
THAT'S WHAT I THINK THE GOALS STATEWIDE NOW HAS
SHIFTED TO THE ASIAN PACIFIC AREAS.
>> I THINK TO FOLLOW UP ON THAT, WE ARE TRYING TO
INCENTIVIZE INVEST IN OUR COMMUNITIESES AND REACHING
OUT TO OUR ASIA-PACIFIC NEIGHBORS.
WE ARE PARTNERING WITH OUR SISTER CITIES TO MARKET OUR
ASSETS HERE AT HOME WITH TRYING TO SUPPORT OUR
AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTS, KA'U COFFEE, KONA COFFEE,
SUPPORT OUR CUT FLOWER INDUSTRY, 100%
GRASS-FED BEEF. ALSO TRYING TO EXPAND OUR
ECONOMY, IT'S OUR ASTRONOMY AND 30-METER TELESCOPE,
RENEWABLE ENERGY AND CREATING SCIENCE AND
TECHNOLOGY SECTOR SO OUR KIDS DON'T HAVE TO GO THE
EAST COAST OR WEST COAST. NOWADAYS, YOU DON'T HAVE TO
BE ON WALL STREET OR BISHOP STREET.
YOU CAN BE ON KINAOLE STREET IN HILO AND STILL
PARTICIPATE IN 21ST CENTURY BASED TECHNOLOGY.
WE KNOW AS HAWAI'I MAYORS WE CANNOT KEEP LOOKING TO
WASHINGTON, D.C. AND 5,000-MILES AWAY FOR
SUPPORT AND DOLLARS. WE HAVE TO LOOK AT MAYOR
ARAKAWA SAYS, ALL OF US HAVE RELATIONSHIPS IN
TAIWAN, CHINA, JAPAN, PHILIPPINES TO USE THOSE
RELATIONSHIPS TO CREATE JOBS AND A THRIVING VIBRANT
ECONOMY HERE AT HOME. >> I WANT TO ADD TO THAT
AND SAY THAT WE NEED TO PROMOTE ALL OF OUR
INDIVIDUAL ISLANDS IN THE STATE AS BUSINESS FRIENDLY.
BUSINESS WITH ALOHA. AND SO WE JUST RECENTLY
JUST YESTERDAY HAD OUR BLESSING OF OUR HOAKALEI
SAFEWAY COMPLEX RIGHT IN OUR DOWNTOWN.
WE DO COMPLETE STREETS, CONNECTED, WALKABLE BIKABLE
TRANSPORTATION IN LIHUE. WE HAVE WALGREEN'S COMING
IN. JACK-IN-THE-BOX COMING IN.
PET COCOMING IN. ALL MOVING AND THAT'S
HAPPENING AS OF YESTERDAY. THE ACTUAL STIRRING UP THE
LEPO, THE DIRT. EXCITED ABOUT THAT AND
LOOKING FOR MORE OPPORTUNITIES.
I'M SURE THAT INDIVIDUAL COUNTIES.
HERE ON KAUAI, I MEAN, WE'RE MOVING IN THAT
DIRECTION. VERY HAPPY WITH THAT.
>>MALIA: LET ME ASK YOU ABOUT THIS.
TIMES ARE BETTER THAN THEY WERE IN 2009.
THINGS ARE LOOKING UP. THERE'S A WONDERFUL DAYS
FOR THE TOURISM INDUSTRY. YOU WOULD ALL LIKE TO SEE
SOME OF THOSE TOURISM DOLLARS COMING BACK TO THE
COUNTIES BECAUSE OF THE RESOURCES YOU PUT OUT.
SOMETHING THE MAYORS HAVE BEEN TRYING TO GET
ACCOMPLISHED FOR A WHILE NOW.
DO YOU THINK YOU HAVE MORE LUCK GETTING THIS
ACCOMPLISHED THIS YEAR THAN PREVIOUS YEARS? ANYTHING
DIFFERENT ABOUT THIS YEAR. BETTER THIS YEAR THAN LAST
YEAR. TRY ID LAST YEAR AND STRUCK
OUT. WE'RE ALL JOINING TOGETHER AGAIN.
COUNCIL MAYORS ALONG WITH THE COUNTY COUNCILS ARE ON
BOARD ON IT. YOU KNOW, WE GET A LITTLE
OVER $90 MILLION COUNTIES, FROM THE T.A.T.
THE STATE GETS THE REST. IT GOES TO T.A.T., GOES TO
HAWAI'I TOURISM AUTHORITY. AND OTHERS.
BUT HERE'S THE BOTTOM LINE. WE PROVIDE THE BASIC CORE
SERVICES FOR TOURISTS AND FOR TOURISM TO THRIVE.
WE MAKE IT, THEY COME HERE FOR BASIC I THINK 3
REASONS. ONE, REALLY SAFE.
WE'RE A SAFE DESTINATION. WHEN THEY COME HERE, IT
DOESN'T LOOK LIKE THE REST OF AMERICA.
BUT THEY'RE STILL IN AMERICA.
IT'S A DIVERSE PLACE JUST LIKE DIVERSITY SITTING
AROUND THIS AT THAT TABLE AN THEN YOU HAVE THE
NATURAL BEAUTY. WE DO THE POLICE.
WE DO THE FIRE. WE DO THE LIFEGUARDS.
WE CLEAN THE BEACHES. >> WE TAKE CARE OF ALL THE
PARKS THAT PEOPLE GO TO MAKE SURE THE ROADS ARE
REPAVED, SEWAGE GETS TAKE HE HAVE, BATHROOMS ARE
CLEAN, SIDEWALKS ARE CLEANED AND PLANTINGS ARE
DONE RIGHT. AND SO OAHU JUST IN WAIKIKI
IN 2012 SPENT $74 MILLION IN WAIKIKI.
WE GOT ABOUT $40 MILLION. OUR SHARE OF THE T.A.T.
THAT MEANS YOU, MALIA AND YOUR NEIGHBORS ALL AROUND
THIS ISLAND ARE SUBSIDIZING THE VISITOR EXPERIENCE IN
WAIKIKI. WHY SHOULD WE DO THAT?
MAYBE WE COULD HAVE THE TOURISTS PAY A LITTLE BIT
MORE AND WE WANT A LARGER SHARE BY ADJUSTING THE CAP
THAT'S SET ABOUT 92, 93 MILLION.
>> FOR KAUAI COUNTY, WITH THE CAP, 13 MILLION,
WITHOUT THE CAP. 23 MILLION.
JUST AS AN EXAMPLE. SO WE'RE TRYING TO WORK
WITH THAT AND FIND WHAT OPPORTUNITIES WE HAVE AS
MAYORS. TO GIVE YOU AN EXAMPLE OF
HOW ALL OF THAT WOULD PROBABLY, NOT PROBABLY,
WILL GO BACK INTO OUR TOURISM AND OUR VISITORS
AND RESIDENTS. >>MALIA: FOR VIEWERS WHO
ARE JOINING US NOW, TONIGHT, WE ARE HAVING A
CONVERSATION WITH OUR FOUR MAYORS.
WHAT IS THE STATE OF HAWAI'I'S COUNTIES.
WE INVITE YOU TO JOIN OUR CONVERSATION BY CALLING,
E-MAILING OR TWEETING YOUR QUESTIONS AND COMMENTS.
CALL 973-1000 ON OAHU. AND 800-283-4847 FROM THE
NEIGHBOR ISLANDS. WE ARE GETTING A LOT OF
QUESTIONS. THE WHICH I WANT TO GET TO.
LET ME ASK A REQUEST QUICK FOLLOW-UP QUESTIONS ON THE
ECONOMICS WE'RE TALKING ABOUT.
FOR OUR NEIGHBOR ISLAND MAYORS, DO YOU HAVE ANY
CONCERN IN TERMS OF OVERDEVELOPMENT? I MEAN,
OAHU HAS A PLACE IN ALL OF OUR LIVES BECAUSE OF BEING
A BUSINESS CENTER. BUT WE'VE ALL HAD THAT
SHOCK OF COMING FROM A NEIGHBOR ISLAND, GETTING ON
OAHU AND ON THE FREEWAYS. MAYBE SOME OTHER CONCERNS
MIGHT FOLLOW IN THAT. ANY THOUGHTS ON KEEPING THE
BALANCE BEFORE OVERDEVELOPMENT AND
WANTEDDING TO ENCOURAGE BUSINESS.
>> I CAN TELL YOU FROM THE MAUI PERSPECTIVE, IT IS A
VERY LARGE CONCERN. WHICH IS WHY WE GO THROUGH
COMMUNITY PLANS, GENERAL PLANS, AND WE TRY TO DIRECT
GROWTH. WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT
FOR INSTANCE, ON MAUI, THE MAJOR HOTEL AREAS WE'RE
RELEGATED TO 2 AREAS. KIHEI, WAILEA KAANAPALI
AREA. SO WE CONCENTRATED VERY
DELIBERATELY OUR TOURIST INDUSTRY.
AND WE DON'T WANT IT TO SPREAD THROUGHOUT THE
ENTIRE COUNTY AND. >>MALIA: KEEP IT
RESTRICTED. >> UPSET THE REST OF
NEIGHBORHOODS. >> WE WANT TO MAINTAIN THE
RURAL AND THAT COUNTRY TYPE CHARACTER AND CHARM OF OUR
COMMUNITIES. BUT AT THE SAME TIME, OPEN
UP FOR OPPORTUNITIES. THAT'S WHY AGRICULTURE IS
SO IMPORTANT. IF WE CAN THRIVE WITH
AGRICULTURE AND KEEP OUR OPEN SPACES GREEN AND MEAN
AND LEAN AND AT THE SAME TIME KEEP BUSINESS MOVING,
THAT'S WHERE IT IS. WE NEED TO COLLECTIVELY
LOOK AT OPPORTUNITIES IN AG OVERALL WHICH WILL KEEP OUR
ISLANDS MOVING AND KEEPING THE SAME OPPORTUNITY TO BE
OPEN. >>MALIA: MAYOR KENOI, I
HEAR FROM A PERSON TODAY TELLING ME THEY'RE MOVING
TO THE BIG ISLAND. YOU'VE GOT BIG TIME GROWTH
GOING ON IN THE ISLAND. HOW DO YOU CONTROL IT.
>> AGAIN, BY WHAT ALL THE COUNTIES ARE DOING.
VERY STRICT MANAGED GROWTH. WE KNOW WE HAVE TO SUPPORT
OUR FARMERS. OUR FARMERS FARM AND
RANCHERS RANCH, WE KEEP OUR LANDS IN OPEN SPACE AND
PRODUCTIVE AND BEAUTIFUL. BUT WE UNDERSTAND THAT
PEOPLE WILL COME IN. WE WANT OUR CHILDREN TO
COME HOME AFTER GETTING THEIR EDUCATION.
WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE PROVIDE FOR THE FUTURE
WELL-BEING OF OUR FAMILIES. BUT AT THE SAME TIME, WE
RECOGNIZE THAT THE WESTERN MIGRATION OF OUR GREAT
COUNTRY, RIGHT, ACROSS THE MISSISSIPPI, GO TO THE
ROCKIES, COME TO HONOLULU, GO TO MAUI, WHEN YOU COME
TO HAWAI'I ISLAND, THERE'S NOWHERE ELSE TO GO.
>>MALIA: LISTEN TO YOU. >> WE'VE GOT TO DO WHAT'S
RIGHT. LET OUR KIDS GROW UP.
ECONOMIC GROWTH. YES, EMPLOYMENT
OPPORTUNITY. YES, HIGHER EDUCATION
ACCESS. AFFORDABLE QUALITY HIGHER
EDUCATION. AT THE SAME TIME, WE WANT
TO TREASURE THE VALUES THAT'S WHAT MAKES HAWAI'I
SPECIAL. >> 4,428 SQUARE MILES.
AS BIG AS THE STATE OF CONNECTICUT.
YOU KNOW KAUAI IS THE OLDEST ISLAND?
>>MALIA: HERE WE GO. OKAY.
HERE'S A QUESTION FROM MAUI.
WHAT IS MAYOR CALDWELL TO EXPAND SOLAR AND WIND
ENERGY PROJECTS ON OAHU SO THAT UNDER SEA CABLE AND
HUGE NEIGHBOR ISLAND INDUSTRIAL SCALE ENERGY
PROJECTINGS WILL NOT HAVE TO BE BUILT.
>> IF ANYONE READS THE PAPER OR WATCHES THE NEWS
EVERY NIGHT, WE HAVE HUGE NUMBER OF PROJECTS THAT ARE
GOING FORWARD IN TERMS OF PHOTOVOLTAIC.
LARGE PROJECTS ON 20 ACRES OF LAND.
EACH AREA, MILITARY IS DOING IT.
THE PRIVATE SECTOR IS DOING IT.
OF COURSE, WE HAVE WIND FARMS ON THE NORTH SHORE.
SOMETIMES CONTROVERSIAL. BUILDING THEM IN OTHER
AREAS. OAHU IS DOING THEIR SHARE.
TO REMIND EVERYONE, THESE FOLKS KNOW IT, IT 70% OF
THE PEOPLE OF THIS STATE LIVE ON THIS ISLAND.
973,000 OUT OF 1.3 MILLION. WE ARE AN ENERGY CONSUMER
UNFORTUNATELY. WE SUCK ENERGY FROM THE
MAINLAND AND FROM EVERYWHERE ELSE.
WE'RE TRYING TO DO OUR PART.
BUT WILL WE EVER BE ENERGY SELF SUFFICIENT ON THIS
ISLAND? I DON'T THINK SO. HOW DO WE SHARE?
>>MALIA: ARE YOU CONCERNED ABOUT SOME OF THE CHANGES
MADE IN TERMS OF SOLAR AVAILABILITY AND CHOICE.
>> I THINK THERE IS CONCERN THERE.
I THINK PART IT HAVE IS THE SUCCESS OF PARTICULARLY
SOLAR HAS CREATED OTHER PROBLEMS BOTH FOR HECO ON
OUR ISLAND, ALL OF THESE ISLANDS.
THEY'RE TRYING TO ADJUST AND DEAL WITH.
BUT WE'RE GOING TO WORK THROUGH IT.
WE HAVE MORE ALTERNATIVE ENERGY SOURCES IN THE
WORLD. GEOTHERMAL, TO OTEC, TO
WIND. WE HAVE THE ABILITY TO
PRODUCE OVER 100% OF THE ENERGY THAT WE USE.
>>MALIA: MAUI RESIDENTS COMMENT.
AGAINST BUILDING A CABLE SYSTEM CONNECTING MAUI TO
OAHU, DOES MAUI DOESN'T BENEFIT AT ALL.
LET'S TALK ABOUT THIS. >> CAN I ADD ONE THING TO
THAT? A LOT OF TAX REVENUE IS GENERATED FOR THIS STATE
ON THIS ISLAND. THE OTHER KINDS CANNOT
SURVIVE WITHOUT REVENUE THAT WE SEND OVER TO BUILD
THEIR HIGHWAYS, TO BUILD THEIR AIRPORTS, TO BUILD
THEIR HARBORS AND PIERS AND WE SHOULD.
THAT'S OUR RESPONSIBILITY. >> EASY WITH THAT.
>> ALL RIGHT. >> ALL GET ALONG.
>> SHARING PACKAGE FOR YOU. >> REALISTICALLY, EVERYONE
IN THE STATE, AS IN THE STATE GOALS HAS BEEN TO GO
TO ALTERNATIVE ENERGY. FOR THE MOST PART, PEOPLE
UNDERSTAND THAT ALL OF THE ALTERNATIVE ENERGIES HAVE
TO BE PRODUCED STATEWIDE, NOT JUST IN ONE LOCATION.
SO IT'S GOING TO BE A SHARED SPENT STATEWIDE.
>> ARE YOU ALL IN SUPPORT OF UNDERSEA CABLES? ANYONE
AGAINST IT. >> I'M NOT AT THIS TIME FOR
THE SIMPLE REASON. WE PAID 42 CENTS A
KILOWATT. WE DON'T SEE HOW WE
GENERATE GEOTHERMAL, SOLAR, OCEAN ENERGY CONVERSION.
WE'RE WILLING TO BEAR THE BURDEN IF THERE'S A
BENEFIT. BECAUSE UNTIL WE REDUCE OUR
COST ON HAWAI'I ISLAND, BECAUSE IT'S SUFFOCATING
SMALL BUSINESS GROWTH, HURTING OUR LOCAL FAMILIES
WITH THAT KIND OF, AND IT DOESN'T INCENTIVIZE
INVESTMENT. SO MY POSITION WOULD BE
UNTIL WE HAVE AFFORDABLE ELECTRICITY AND ENERGY ON
OUR ISLAND, I WOULD NOT BE IN FAVOR OF AN UNDERSEA
CABLE. >>MALIA: EVERYONE ELSE?
>> ON KAUAI, I MEAN, WE HAVE OPPORTUNITY FOR THE
PHOTOVOLTAIC. WE IS INTEREST TO SEE AND
WHAT RESOURCES WE HAVE FIRST AND SEE HOW WE CAN
EXTRACT IT. METHANE OPPORTUNITY.
LAND FILL TO EXTRACT FOR THE BUSSES FOR NOW.
>> WE'RE VERY MUCH PUSHING FOR ALTERNATIVE ENERGIES.
NOW, QUITE FRANKLY, WE HAVE SOME STUMBLING BLOCKS IN
THAT THE RATES THAT THE ELECTRICITY, ELECTRIC
COMPANIES CHARGE US HAVE NOT GONE DOWN SO THAT'S
PUBLIC COULD SEE THE REDUCTION AS THE
ALTERNATIVE ENERGY HAS BEEN PRODUCED.
IT'S VERY FRUSTRATING AND WE BELIEVE ONE JUSTIFIED.
THERE SHOULD HAVE BEEN A VERY NOTICEABLE DROP, BUT
THE COMPANIES HAVE CURTAILED A LOT OF THE WIND
POWER SO THAT THE COMPANIES THAT ARE GENERATING WIND
POWER CAN'T PRODUCE IT ALL THE TIME.
THEY CURTAILED SOME OF THE PHOTOVOLTAIC AND ALL OF THE
COMPANIES THAT WANT TO PUT IN PHOTOVOLTAIC ARE FINDING
THE CHALLENGES IN PUTTING IT IN BECAUSE OF
LIMITATIONS. NOW, IF WE WERE ALLOWED TO
PRODUCE AND GENERATE ALL OF THE ALTERNATIVE ENERGIES AS
WE CAN, I AM VERY COMFORTABLE THAT WE'LL MORE
THAN PRODUCE ENOUGH FOR MAUI COUNTY AND TO BE ABLE
TO EXPORT POWER. BUT WE HAVE TO BE ABLE TO
GET THE ELECTRIC COMPANIES OUT OF THE ROAD BLOCK
MENTALITY AND TRY TO DELAY THE PRODUCTION OF
ALTERNATIVE ENERGIES AND WE ALSO HAVE TO GET THE STATE
PUC IN LINE WITH IF THE ELECTRIC COMPANIES ARE NOT
PRODUCING THE ENERGY, THEY SHOULDN'T BE REALIZING THE
PROFIT OFF OF THAT PRODUCTION.
RATHER, ALTERNATIVE ENERGIES COMPANIES THAT ARE
PROPRODUCING SHOULD BE ABLE TO REALIZE SOME PROFIT AND
THE REDUCTION IN COSTS SHOULD GO TO THE RESIDENTS.
WE'RE SEEING A DUPLICATION. >> WE'VE PROVEN THAT
RENEWABLE ENERGY EXISTS. THAT WE HAVE ASSETS ON
BOARD BUT IT'S NOT ABOUT MORE RENEWABLE ENERGY.
IT'S ABOUT CHEAPER RENEWABLE ENERGY.
>> THAT'S RIGHT. PUC HAS A LOT TO DO WITH
THAT. ELECTRIC COMPANIES HAVE NOT
REDUCED THEIR RATES. >>MALIA: THAT'S
FRUSTRATING. >> ABOUT THE CABLE, LOOK AT
IT THIS WAY. AGAIN, ONE GROUP OF
ISLANDS. WE DON'T HAVE
INTERCONNECTIVITY IN TERMS OF ELECTRICAL CABLE.
WHEN KAUAI GOT BLASTED BY INIKI, OAHU CAME OVER, ALL
OF THE OTHER ISLANDS CAME OVER.
HELPED WITH THEIR ELECTRICAL NEEDS.
WHAT IF WE ARE INTERCONNECTED BY A GRID.
NEIGHBOR ISLANDS OUR OUR ISLAND GOT HIT.
YOU COULD SEND ELECTRICITY FROM ANOTHER ISLAND TO HELP
OUR SISTER COUNTIES RECOVER.
IS WHAT YOU SEE ON THE MAINLAND BETWEEN CITIES
WHEN NEW YORK GOES DOWN, OTHER PLACES PROVIDE
ELECTRICITY THROUGH CONNECTIVITY.
WE DON'T HAVE IT. I THINK WE SHOULD LOOK AT
IT FROM THAT POINT OF VIEW. I LOOK AT IT AS A CIVIL
DEFENSIVE AND LOOKING AT THAT SO IT'S NOT JUST ONE
ISLAND LIKE OAHU SUCKING OUT.
WE COULD BE HELPING TOO. YOU'RE RIGHT.
THERE HAS TO BE A BENEFIT THAT THE NEIGHBOR ISLANDS
GET FOR ENERGY THAT MAY BE SHIPPED TO OAHU.
>> RIGHT. >>MALIA: LET'S GO TO THIS
QUESTION FROM TWITTER. MAYOR ARAKAWA, PLEASE
COMMENT ON SHARK ATTACK ISSUE.
IT HAS BEEN SORT OF A REMARKABLE YEAR FOR MAU ANY
TERMS OF SHARK ATTACKS. I NOTICED THAT AUSTRALIA
BEGAN A SELECTIVE CULLING OF SHARKS THIS WEEK BECAUSE
OF THEIR PROBLEM WITH SHARK ATTACKS.
I KNOW YOU'VE STATED WOULD YOU NOT BE FOR SUCH A
METHOD. WOULD THERE BE ANY POINT IN
WHICH IF THESE ATTACKS REALLY PICKED UP, WOULD
CONSIDER SUPPORTING SOMETHING LIKE THAT.
>> LET ME SUGGEST IF WE LOOK AT THE STATISTICS, IF
YOU LOOK AT THE SHARKS IN AND OF THEMSELVES, IF THEY
REALLY WANTED TO EAT PEOPLE, THEY WOULD EAT
PEOPLE. THEY WOULDN'T BE NIBBLING
AND LETTING GO. SO THE SHARKS ARE NOT OUT
THERE HUNTING HUMAN BEINGS. THEY LIVE IN THE WATER.
WE GO IN IN TIMES. >>MALIA: NONETHELESS, SEEMS
AS IF IT HAS BEEN PARTICULARLY BAD.
>> BUT A LOT OF THAT IS ALSO THE FAULT OF THE FACT
THAT WE ARE OVERFISHING. I BELIEVE THERE ARE MANY
MORE TURTLES NOW BECAUSE WE HAVE BEEN PROTECTING TURTLE
SPECIES. SO SHARKS ARE LOOKING AT
PEOPLE AS POSSIBLE TURTLES. BECAUSE YOU'RE ON A LITTLE
SURF BOARDS AND DANGLING YOUR FEET AND ARMS OUT IN
THE WATER. YOU'RE LOOKING MUCH LIKE A
BIG TURTLE. >>MALIA: WOULD YOU SUPPORT
THE MEASURE IN TERMS OF TRYING TO PROTECT, OR
CURTAIL SOME OF THE OVERFISHING?
>> ABSOLUTELY IN FAVOR OF PROTECTING THE OVERFISHING.
TALK TO MAYOR BERNARD LITTLE BIT AGO ABOUT
NIIHAU. DO YOU KNOW BY ISOLATING
KAHOOLAWE, WE PRETTY MUCH GUARANTEE THAT WE WILL HAVE
A PROTECTED AREA WHERE FISH CAN REGENERATE.
AND IF WE HAD TAKEN KAHOOLAWE OUT OF THE
PICTURE AND ALLOWED PEOPLE TO FISH THERE, WE PROBABLY
WOULDN'T HAVE THE REGENERATION OF THE FISH
POPULATION THAT WE CURRENTLY DO HAVE.
>>MALIA: WOULD YOU SUPPORT ANY FURTHER CONTROLS OR
FURTHER AREAS. >> I ABSOLUTELY BELIEVE
THAT WE ARE OVERFISHING. WE NEED TO HAVE FIRM
CONTROL OVER WHAT WE'RE DOING.
OTHERWISE, WE'RE GOING TO FISH OUR SEAS EMPTY.
WE HAVE ALSO HAD THE MISFORTUNE OF ALLOWING
INVASIVE FISH TO GET INTO OUR SYSTEM THAT ARE
CREATING HAVOC WITH THE NATURAL POPULATION OF FISH.
OUR OPAKA, ONA GO. A, FISH ARE DISAPPEARING
BECAUSE THEY'RE EATING THE BABIES.
WE FEED TO BE CAREFUL WHAT WE'RE INTRODUCING AS WELL.
>> THE GOOD NEWS IS THE STATE HAS STEPPED UP.
WILLIAM AILA I THINK IS VERY SENSITIVE TO THIS
ISSUE, HAD A DEPARTMENT OF LAND AND NATURAL RESOURCES,
HAS FUNDED A STUDY IS TO LOOK AT WHY THIS IS OCCUR
UNILATERAL AGREEMENT. THINGS LIKE DEPLETION OF
FISH RESOURCES? MORE TURTLES, MORE MONK SEAL
MAYBE COMING IN. I THINK BEFORE YOU CAN JUMP
TO WHAT IS THE RIGHT SOLUTION, YOU HAVE TO FIND
OUT WHAT ARE THE FACTORS CONTRIBUTING.
THAT STUDY IS BEING DONE. ONCE IT COMES IN, WE'D LOOK
TO THE STATE WORKING AT THE COUNTIES TO SAY, WHAT ARE
THE APPROPRIATE MEASURES. >> ONE OF THE THINGS THAT
IS VERY OBVIOUS IS OVER THE YEARS, JUST IN MY LIFETIME,
WE'VE GONE FROM PRISTINE CLEAN WATERS TO POLLUTING A
LOT OF OUR OCEAN. WE'VE ALLOWED A LOT OF THE
RUNOFF FROM THE OCEAN, A LOT OF THE GARBAGE THAT WE
COLLECT ON LAND TO WASH INTO THE OCEAN.
AND THE TURPIDITY IN THE WATER HAS INCREASED
TREMENDOUSLY. SO IT'S NO WONDER THAT THE
SHARKS AN OTHER FISH THAT ARE SWIMMING AROUND ARE
TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHAT IS HAPPENING RIGHT NOW
BECAUSE TURPIDITY IS A LOT HIGHER.
>>MALIA: FOR NOW, NO SHARK HUNTING ALTHOUGH HAWAI'I
HAS DONE IT IT IN THE PAST. >> WE'VE DONE IT IN THE
PAST. I WANT TO RESPECT THE
HAWAIIAN CULTURE. 'AUMAKUA.
>> SOMEBODY WHO SURFERS EVERY MORNING, IT'S A
TOPIC. GOOD INFORMATION, YOU
CANNOT MAKE THE GOOD DECISION WITHOUT ACCURATE
FACTUAL DATA. >> I'VE BEEN A WATER PERSON
ALMOST ALL MY LIFE. I GO SKIN DIVING, I'VE DONE
EXTENSIVE DIVING. I'VE SEEN HUNDREDS OF
SHARKS IN THE WATER. WE'VE NEVER BEEN BOTHERED.
IT'S MORE EDUCATION TOO. MURKY.
>>MALIA: ABSOLUTELY. KNOWING WHEN NOT TO GO.
I WANT TO GET TO ONE OTHER ANIMAL.
THEN ALL THE REST OF THE QUESTIONS.
THESE SMALL FIRE ANTS, BIG ISSUE FOR ALL THE ISLANDS.
CAN YOU GUYS UPDATE US BRIEFLY WHAT'S BEING DONE
TO TRY TO STOP THIS? >> WE'VE WORKING WITH OUR
STATE LEGISLATURE. I WANT TO THANK SENATOR
KAHELE WHO IS PURSUING FUNDING IN A PARTNERSHIP
BETWEEN THE STATE, AGAIN DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE,
DEPARTMENT OF LAND AND NATURAL RESOURCES, WHO
OVERSEES INVASIVE SPECIES COUNCILS ON EACH ISLAND.
COUNTY OF HAWAI'I, WE'RE TAKING STEPS BECAUSE WE'RE
STARTING TO SEE THE LITTLE FIRE ANTS START TOE GET TO
SOME OF OUR COUNTY RECREATION AREAS AND SOME
OF OUR BEACH PARKS. GOOD NEWS IS AROUND THE
FIRE ANT, AT LEAST WE KNOW WHAT CONTROLS.
WE HAVE THE TOOLS. BUT WE NEED SIGNIFICANT
RESOURCES BECAUSE IT'S STARTING TO SPREAD RATHER
RAPIDLY. I WAS LISTENING TO THE
NURSERY GUYS NOW AND THEY'RE VERY CONCERNED
ABOUT ANY OF OUR PRODUCTS HAVING, GETTING QUARANTINED
OR HAVING IT IMPACT OUR AGRICULTURE INDUSTRY.
SO WE ALL HAVE TO WORK COLLECTIVELY BOTH AT THE
COUNTY AND STATE LEVEL. >>MALIA: THESE ARE ANTS
THAT BOTH PAINFUL TO HUMANS AND POTENTIALLY FATAL FOR
SOME PETS. >> TINY ANTS, BUT THEY HAVE
A VERY, VERY BIG WHICH WALLOP.
SOMEONE GETTING BITTEN BY A FIRE ANT, EVEN THOUGH IT'S
REAL TINY, CAN HAVE WELTS FOR 3 OR 4 DAYS.
PETS HAVE BEEN BITTEN AND GONE BLIND.
LITTLE CHILDREN, STUCK IN A NEST CAN BE VERY PAINFUL.
>>MALIA: HOW ARE THE MAYORS DEALING WITH HOMELESSNESS?
ARE THEY WORKING TOGETHER OR IS IT SEPARATE COUNTIES
FROM NANAKULI? >> ON KAUAI, I MEAN, WE'RE
WORKING COLLECTIVELY WITH OUR CHURCHES.
WHICH TRYING TO LOOK AT WAYS TO OFFER PLACES WHERE
HOMELESS CAN GO. OBVIOUSLY, THERE'S PEOPLE
WHO ARE HOMELESS. CHOOSE TO BE HOMELESS.
TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHICH WORKS BEST AND DIRECT THEM
TO THE RIGHT SERVICES. IT'S A BIG BIG ISSUE.
ALL OF US ARE EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS AND WORKING
CLOSELY WITH THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
OPPORTUNITIESES. ORGANIZATION TO HELP
SUPPORT THAT. AND MONITOR AND TRYING TO
FIGURE OUT WHAT IS THE RIGHT FIT.
CHURCHES HAVE PLACES WHERE THEY CAN PARK THE CAR AND
SPREAD THE NIGHT. BEING CREATIVE IN HOW WE
MANAGE THAT. >>MALIA: OAHU HAS THE BULK
OF THAT PROBLEM. BY THE WAY, WHAT ARE YOU
DOING ON THE HOMELESS ISSUE.
SOME IDEAS. >> WE'LL GET BACK TO YOU.
>> IT'S A HUGE PROBLEM. I HAVE TO SAY IT'S PROBABLY
ONE OF THE MOST DIFFICULT ISSUES THAT I FACE AS
MAYOR. I WISH I HAD MORE TOOLS AND
I WISH WE HAD MORE MONEY. JUST TODAY, I WAS TALKING
TO SPEAKER JOE SOUKI SAYING YOU HAVE $800 MILLION
SURPLUS. WE'D LOVE TO HAVE MORE
WORKING WITH THE STATE. MAJORITY OF THE PEOPLE LIVE
ON THIS ISLAND. CAPITOL CITY AND WE HAVE A
GROWING CHANGING HOMELESS PROBLEM.
MORE VISIBLE. IT IS IMPACTING OUR VISITOR
INDUSTRY. OUR GROWTH ENGINE AND WE
NEED TO DO MORE. WE ARE CITY & COUNTY OF
HONOLULU DOING A LOT. BUT WE NEED TO PARTNER UP
MORE WITH THE PRIVATE SECTOR BECAUSE AT THE END
OF THE DAY, THIS PROBLEM WAS NOT
CREATED BY GOVERNMENT. IT GOES BACK TO FAMILY.
IT GOES BACK TO EDUCATION. IT GOES BACK TO TREATMENT.
AND WE NEED TO ALL COME TOGETHER.
SO I'M GOING TO BE REACHING OUT.
WE'RE GOING TO BE HAVING A SUMMIT TALKING TO PEOPLE
SAY WHAT ELSE CAN WE DO? WHAT WORKS AND DOESN'T
WORK? I'M POSITIVE ON THIS.
IT IS ABOUT HOUSING FIRST, TAKING PEOPLE WITH THEIR
ADDICTIONS, DRUG, ALCOHOL, WITH THEIR MENTAL ILLNESS,
HOUSING THEM, AND WRAPPING SERVICES AROUND THEM TO GET
THEM BETTER. WE'VE BEEN TOLD REPEATEDLY
THAT THAT'S WHAT WORKS IN CITIES LIKE PORTLAND AND
NEW YORK CITY. IT COSTS MONEY.
AND WE NEED TO FIND THE PLACES.
>>MALIA: I WANT TO GET TO AS MANY QUESTIONS AS I CAN.
LET'S GO THROUGH THESE. ANSWER ME IN BRIEF.
HERE'S A QUESTION FROM WAIKAPU MALL BUSINESS
OWNER, WHAT ARE THE MAYORS' OPINIONS ON RAY RAISING
MINIMUM WAGE AND IMPACT ON SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS.
BRIEF RESPONSE TO THAT, MAYOR ARAKAWA.
>> I BELIEVE THAT MOST PRIVATE COMPANIES ALREADY
ARE ABOVE THE MINIMUM WAGE. THEY CANNOT TRACK EMPLOYEES
AT THE LOWER WAGE. WHETHER THE STATE GETS
INVOLVED IN IT OR NOT,. >>MALIA: YOU DON'T THINK
THERE'S A NEED NECESSARILY TO RAISE IT.
>> UNEMPLOYMENT RATE STATEWIDE IS DOWN.
OUR COUNTY IS AT 4-POINT OF%.
I BELIEVE-4.6% AND I BELIEVE IT WILL GET LESS.
WE'RE GOING TO HAVE COMPETITION FOR EMPLOYEES.
>>MALIA: MAYOR CARVALHO, FOR OR AGAINST.
I AM FOR RAISING IT. >> I SUPPORT RAISING
MINIMUM WAGE. >>MALIA: FROM RUSSELL IN
KALIHI. I AM WONDERING IF ANY OF
THE MAYORS FAVOR LEGALIZING MARIJUANA.
IF NOT, WHY? ANY THOUGHTS? MAYOR CALDWELL.
>> I HAVE ENOUGH CONTROVERSIAL.
I URGE SPEAKER JOE IN HIS SPEECH.
HE ASKED ME, WHAT'S YOUR OPINION? I SAID I'M OPEN
TO IT. I HAVE OTHER THINGS I'M
WORRIED ABOUT RIGHT HERE. OBVIOUSLY, IT IS A STATE
ISSUE. WITH WE'VE SEEN BOTH
SEATTLE, COLORADO, DEAL WITH THIS ISSUE.
BUT I'M GOING TO LEAVE IT TO THE STATE.
>>MALIA: ARE YOU WATCHING THOSE STATES TO SEE? IS
ANYONE PAYING CLOSE ATTENTION TO THIS?
MARIJUANA IS A FAMOUS PROJECT OF HAWAI'I.
>> PRODUCT OF HAWAI'I. >> WE HAVE MEDICINAL MAYOR
JUAN A I THINK 50% OF THE STATE, 12,000 IN THE STATE
NOW, MEDICINAL MAYOR JUAN A WE SEE BILLS BEFORE THE
STATE LEGISLATURE WHETHER OR NOT THEY'RE GOING TO
ALLOW CONTROLLED CULTIVATION, WHETHER
THEY'RE GOING TO ALLOW DISPENSARIES AND CLINICS.
>>MALIA: WOULD YOU BE FOR ANY OF THOSE?
>> I THINK WE HAVE TO HAVE A CONVERSATION ON THAT.
PEOPLE WHO HAVE MEDICINAL MARIJUANA, IF THEY LEGALLY
HAVE THE RIGHT TO USE IT FOR MEDICINAL PURPOSES,
THEN THEY SHOULD CERTAINLY HAVE LEGAL ACCESS TO IT.
>> I DID TALK TO OUR CHIEF OF POLICE.
CHIEF KEALOHA ABOUT THIS ISSUE.
THEY'RE WATCHING THOSE STATES AND THE THINGS HE
SAYS, ONE THING THAT ARE NOTICING IS THERE'S AN
INCREASE IN CRIME BECAUSE PART OF IT IS THEY SELL THE
MARIJUANA. THEY HAVE CASH.
BUT IT'S HARD TO DEPOSIT IN BANKS.
THERE'S ISSUES THERE BECAUSE THE FEDERAL
PROBLEMS. SO BECAUSE THERE'S LARGE
AMOUNTS OF CASH AND THESE DISPENSARIES.
MORE ROBBERIES. THOSE KIND OF THINGS.
CRIME KICKS IN. SO YOU HAVE ANOTHER
ELEMENT. SO I THINK THAT'S SOMETHING
WE HAVE TO LOOK AT IF. >>MALIA: THE IMPACT.
>> THE IMPACTED AND HOW DO YOU ADDRESS IT.
>>MALIA: EITHER OF YOU FOR ANY SORT OF LEGALIZATION OF
MARIJUANA. >> I THINK THE STATE HAS
ESSENTIALLY, WITH THE MEDICINAL MARIJUANA RULES,
HAS FAIRLY PRETTY MUCH LEGALIZED IT.
VERY, VERY LIMITED CONTROL ON HOW SOMEONE CAN GET THE
MUNICIPAL LICENSE. THEY'VE OPENED UP THIS
GATE. AND THE STATE NEEDS TO TAKE
VERY STRONG POSITION EITHER THEY'RE GOING TO DO IT, NOT
GOING TO DO IT, IF THEY'RE GOING TO DO IT, ALLOW IT
AND SEE WHAT CAN HAPPEN. IF THEY'RE NOT GOING TO DO
IT, BAN IT ALL TOGETHER. HALFWAY MEASURE IS THE
WORST THING THAT CAN HAPPEN.
>>MALIA: AGAIN, BRIEF ANSWERS ON THAT FROM ALL OF
YOU. DO ANY OF THE MAYORS FAVOR
ANY MORE GUN CONTROL LEGISLATION? IF SO, WHAT.
IF NOT, DO THEY SUPPORT REPEALING ANY OF THE
EXISTING LEGISLATION. >> WE HAVE SOME OF THE
STRONGEST GUN CONTROL LAWS IN THE NATION.
I THINK ALL OF US AFTER SEEING SOME OF THE
TRAGEDIES AT THE NATIONAL LEVEL, ALL OF THE MAYORS
HAVE BANDED TOGETHER AND BELIEVE THAT STRONGER LAWS
KEEP OUR COMMUNITIES SAFE WE HAVE VERY STRICT, STRONG
GUN LEGISLATION AND WHAT WE HAVE WORKS.
>>MALIA: WOULD YOU ADD ANYTHING MORE TO IT.
>> NO. >> WE ALSO HAVE MAYOR
BLOOMBERG'S LETTER. MAYORS SIGNED IT.
VERY STRICT GONE CONTROL MEASURES IN IT ON A
NATIONAL LEVEL. EVERY ONE OF THOSE THINGS
IN HIS LETTER ARE IN PLACE IN HAWAI'I.
>>MALIA: DO ANY OF YOU SEE THE NEED FOR ANY INCREASES
IN GUN CONTROL HERE. >> WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE
COUNTIES, YOU NEED TO BE VERY ASTUTE AS TO THE
DIFFERENCES WITHIN THE POPULATION BASIS.
WHEN YOU HAVE A LARGE CITY, NEED FOR GUNS ARE LESS THAN
WHEN YOU HAVE RURAL COMMUNITIES WHERE OUR
RESIDENTS DO A LOT OF HUNTING.
BECAUSE OUR COUNTIES A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT DO HUNTING.
WE DON'T NEED TO HAVE MORE STRINGENT CONTROLS BUT
RATHER, WE NEED TO HAVE MORE CLASS ON HOW TO HUNT
PROPERLY. VERY, DIFFERENT.
>> I TOO WITH THE HUNTING PART IT HAVE, MAKE SURE
THAT THAT OPPORTUNITY IS THERE AS WELL.
>> WE ALL WANT TO PROTECT. ACCESS TO LANDS AND
HUNTING. >>MALIA: ALL RIGHT.
FOR MAYOR KENOI, WILL YOU SUPPORT TREE FARMS ON BIG
ISLAND FOR USE FOR BIOMASS TO ENERGY?
>> TREE FARMS FOR BIOMASS? WE CURRENTLY HAVE OVER
18,000 ACRES IN EUCALYPTUS ALONG THE HAMAKUA COAST.
I KNOW HUNUA, BIOMASS ENERGY FACILITY JUST GOT
APPROVAL FROM THE PUC. POWER PURCHASE AGREEMENT.
SO THAT'S ALREADY IN PLACE. WE'RE ALREADY GOING TO
PURSUE BIOMASS AS A WAY TO EXPAND OUR PORTFOLIO.
>>MALIA: WE NEED MAYORS TO GET EXEMPTED FROM SHIPPING
STRIKES. WE'RE TOO VULNERABLE.
>> WE ALREADY HAD ONE. >>MALIA: ALL RIGHT.
OKAY. FROM TIM IN HONOLULU.
TOTALLY AGAINST RAISING G.E.T. TAX.
I'M NOT SURE IF HE MEANT FOR NEIGHBOR ISLANDS.
>> WAY TO MAKE SURE SOMETHING CLEAR WITH THE
LEGISLATION. MAYORS AREN'T ASKING TO
RAISE THE G. E.T. JUST ASKING THE FLEXIBILITY
TO HAVE ANOTHER TOOL IN OUR TOOLBOX.
>>MALIA: YOU DON'T WANT TO HAVE TO GO BACK TO THE
LEGISLATURE. >> CORRECT.
COUNTIES FOR THE COUNTY COUNCIL.
>>MALIA: PEGGY IN LAHAINA. WHAT CREATIVE WAYS THAT THE
MAYORS ADDRESS THE HOMELESS PROBLEM.
AFFORDABLE HOUSING IS NOT WORKING.
BESIDES MOVING THEM OFF PARKS AND SIDEWALKS.
>> BIGGEST CHALLENGE IS STATE POLICY ON HOW TO A
DEAL WITH AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
WHEN WE WERE TRYING TO CREATE HOMELESS SHELTER, WE
WERE DIRECTED NOT TO CREATE THEM BECAUSE THAT WAS NOT
THE DIRECTION THAT THE STATE GROUP WANTED.
SO PROJECTS THAT WE'RE GOING TO DO HOMELESS
SHELTERS WERE CANCELED. NOW WE'RE COMING IN, WE
DON'T HAVE ENOUGH SHELTERS FOR THE HOMELESS.
SO WE HAVE TO START COORDINATING WITH THE STATE
AGENCIES. >>MALIA: TAKE ON MORE.
>> ON OUR END, WHAT WE'RE DOING, HOUSING FIRST.
WE'RE FOLLOWING, LOOKING AT HIS MODEL AND TRYING TO DO
IT. BUT IT'S A SPECTRUM OF
HOUSING. IT'S NOT JUST EMERGENCY
HOUSING. WE NEED TRANSITIONAL HOUSING.
AFFORDABLE RENTALS. BEFORE WHICH EVEN START
TALKING ABOUT AFFORDABLE HOMEOWNERSHIP.
THERE'S A MYRIAD OF ISSUES THAT WE HAVE TO ADDRESS.
SUBSTANCE ABUSE, DUAL DIAGNOSIS INCLUDING MENTAL
HEALTH. IT'S NOT JUST A ROOF IN
TERMS OF HOUSING BUT WRAP AROUND SERVICES.
AND I THINK WE ALL HAVE TO BRING EVERYBODY IN THE
COMMUNITY INTO THE CONVERSATION, THE FAITH
COMMUNITY, LIKE ON KAUAI, NONPROFITS, GOVERNMENT AND
PRIVATE BUSINESS. EVERYBODY ON BOARD.
>>MALIA: CAN WE GO AROUND, I WOULD LIKE EACH OF YOU
HAVE TO TELL ME ONE OR TWO THINGS MAX THAT YOU
ABSOLUTELY WANT TO COMPLETE BEFORE YOU HAVE ENDED YOUR
TIME AS MAYORS. MAYOR KENOI.
>> CERTAINLY, WE WANT TO ADDRESS OUR SOLID WASTE
CHALLENGE THAT CON FRONTS OUR COMMUNITY AND HAS BEEN
AT THE FOREFRONT. WANT TO DO.
COMPLETE OUR INFRASTRUCTURE AND CREATE HEALTHY SAFE
RECREATIONAL AREAS ISLANDWIDE, HILO TO KONA,
WAIMEA TO PUNA PARK, STRENGTHENS OUR FAMILY AND
PROTECTINGS OUR CHILDREN. >> IT'S ALL ABOUT
INFRASTRUCTURE FOR ME. ROAD PREPAVING.
REPAVED ALMOST 400 LANE MILES IN THE FIRST YEAR.
EXCEEDED IT ABOUT A ANOTHER.
ANOTHER 300 AT THE END OF IT TERM, ALMOST THERE IN
TERMS OF REPAVING EVERY BAD ROAD ON IN ISLAND.
INFRASTRUCTURE, WE'RE DOING SEWER SYSTEM, RESTORING
MORE BUS ROUTES. ALL ABOUT MAKING A BETTER
LIFE FOR US. >> FOR US, RESOURCE
RECOVERY PARK, LAND FILL. WE WANT TO GO GREEN AND
MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE AN AGGRESSIVE DIVERSION
PROGRAM GOING AND THEN THERE'S THE LAND FILL.
WE'RE ADDRESSING THAT TRANSPORTATION IS A BIG
PART OF OUR ISLAND. GETTING OUR BUSSES, BUS
STOPS AND THE ABOUT BUS SHELTERS MOVING AND HOUSING
FOR SENIORSERS HOUSING FOR VETERANS FOR AFFORDABLE
PEOPLE. >> WE'RE VERY MUCH LIKE
MAYOR CALDWELL. STARTED AT THE BEGINNING OF
OUR TERM START SYSTEMIZING A LOT OF THE MAJOR
INFRASTRUCTURE PROBLEMS. WE KNOW THAT WE HAVE
980-MILES OF COUNTY ROAD. WE'RE TRYING TO GET FROM
OVER 50 YEAR MAINTENANCE PROGRAM DOWN TO 25 YEAR.
FIXING OUR WATER SYSTEM. PARKS, SEWER SYSTEMS.
UPGRADING OUR FIRE STATIONS.
POLICE STATIONS. THERE'S ALL THE INFORMATION
THING WE'RE TRYING TO SYSTEMIZE IT.
ALSO BANKING A LOT OF PROPERTY.
SO THAT FOR THE NEXT 50 TO 100 YEARS, WHOLE HAVE
PROPERTY PUT ASIDE TO BE ABLE TO IMPROVE OUR PARKS,
TO BE ABLE TO CHANGE OUR BASEYARDS, MOVE THEM
AROUND. ALL OF THESE KIND OF
INFRASTRUCTURE. >>MALIA: KEEP MAUI MAUI.
THANK YOU SO MUCH. I WISH WE HAD HAD 2 HOURS
TONIGHT. WE COULD HAVE KEPT TALKING.
>> WE'LL COME BACK. >>MALIA: ALL RIGHT.
HERE WE GO. NEXT TIME INSIGHTS, AS AN
ISOLATED ISLAND STATE, REDUCING DEPENDENCE ON
IMPORTED FOSSIL FUELS. >> THANK YOU GUYS.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH! THANK YOU SO MUCH!
ALL RIGHT. NEXT TIME ON INSIGHTS, IN
AN ISLAND STATE, REDUCING DEPENDENCE ON IMPORTED
FOSSIL FUELS IS CRITICAL TO HAWAI'I'S FUTURE.
HOW DO THE ISLANDS FARE WHEN IT COMES TO DEVELOPING
SOLAR? WIND, GEOTHERMAL A AND OTHER ALTERNATIVE
ENERGY SOLUTIONS AND TAKE ADVANTAGE OF OUR UNIQUE
TROPICAL CLIMATE TO POWER AND COOL OUR BUILDINGS.
NEXT WEEK ON INSIGHTS, WHERE DOES HAWAI'I STAND ON
RENEWABLE ENERGY. I'M MALIA MATTOCH.
A HUI HO