Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 9, Number 11, 1 November 1992 — Senate Candidate Profiles [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

Senate Candidate Profiles

State Senate Sen. Dist. 2 (S. Hilo - Puna) Stewart K. Boyd ( R) Qualifications: Born and raised in Hawai'i of 1/2 Hawaiian — 1/2 Scot

parentage. Residing at 17-2333 Ipu 'aiwaha St„ Kea'au ag lot on the island of H a w a i ' i . Graduated from 'Iolani School in i

1946; graduated from College of the Pacific in 1953 with a B.A. in economics and Sociology. Employed by Hawaiian Telephone Co. 1957-87 in administrative and managerial positions. Member Veterans of Foreign Wars; member and officer in the Royal Order of Kamehameha I and various other eommunity organizations. Goals in office: Improve the state highway system in the County of Hawai'i ... specifically, the Saddle Road and the Puainako extension. These accomplishments would make the job opportunities in West Hawai'i more available to the population base in East Hawai'i.

Promote and implement the proposition that land, within the state of Hawai'i, ean only be purchased by U.S. citizens. We are an island state and unique as eompared to the contiguous 48 states and Alaska. As such, our land is precious and our economy is fragile. We must avoid being caught-up in foreign eeonomie "roller coaster rides" whieh could hurt our people severely. Most pressing problem facing Hawaiians today: The Hawaiian people, as a whole, have been disfranchised from our land ... the land of our ali'i. Because of this disfranchisement, too many of our Hawaiian people are left without a feeling of "roots" in their own homeland and this inevitably leads to a feeling of insecurity and its attendant negativisms. We need to change the laws that pertain to the Hawaiian people and Hawaiian land over and above what exists now in the Department of Hawaiian Homes. We must restore to the Hawaiian people a feeling of purposefulness in Hawai'i, their homeland. I will work toward this goal. On the federal trust responsibility to Native Hawaiians: Work closely and in harmony with our U.S. senators and repcontinued on page 1 7

Senate Candidate Profiles Boyd, from page 16 resentatives to encourage the U.S. Congress and the Administration to recognize that the present federal law, relative to the Hawaiian people and our land, is inadequate and in need of positive change. •Richard M. Matsuura (D) No statement was received from candidate. Sen. Dist. 3 (Ka'u - Kona) Jonathan Hodkinson (R) Qualifications: an excellent education in England eomprising of specialties in English language, English literature, geography, history, physics and mathematics. A successful career as a merchant marine officer from 1968 to 1979, traveling around the world numerous times, enabling me to see first-hand international trade and international problems. A successful career in California as a real estate broker and stockbroker enabling me to retire to Kona at a relatively young age. an attitude of independence and efficiency that should only benefit the residents of Hawai'i when I am a public servant. And fmally, a personal freedom due to success that enables me to be free to make correct decisions, not decisions influenced by monetary gifts or perceived influence. Goals in office: To shift the emphasis of pubhc spending away from expensive concrete projects like the airports, freeways, courthouses, politicians' offices and move those hundreds of millions of taxpayer dollars to neighborhood projects, educational projects, heahh care for all ages, etc., employing loeal people in loeal projects. Most pressing probkm facing Hawaiians today: The biggest problem Hawaiians face today (politically) is their inability to stand united on the basis of history. Small vocal groups are often not seriously considered when issues like independence are raised. My view is that a more broad-based approach is required, uniting all interests and restoring the correct plaee of the Native Hawaiian in the modem world and the modern Hawai'i, both politically and economically. On the federal trust responsibility to Native Hawaiians: I would use the research and precedence of other island nations, especially Pacific Island nations, in requiring that these obhgations are adhered to and funded, or in the altemative, independence granted. There are many examples in recent history to satisfy both, Naum, Oeean Is., Tuvalu, Marshalls, Marianas, etc. •Andrew Levin (D) Candidate's statement was not received in time for publieahon. Sen. Dist. 5 (Waiiuku - Kahului - Upcountry Maui) Paul Elkins (R) Qualiflcations: I have a business background of over 30 years in Hawai'i. I have more than six years of college education. Most of all, I have good eommon sense. I care about Hawai'i and its people. Forty years is a long time to watch and listen to promises made to the Hawaiian people. Being determined and wanting to help should be the best qualifications I ean offer you, the Hawaiian people. Goals in offfce: I will try to get our government to work for the people. We need better access roads and an adequate supply of water to homestead lands, so that Hawaiians may exercise their rights to occupy their lands. This is a major eoneem on Maui. continued on page 18

Senate Candidate Profiles

Elkins, from page 17 Most pressing problem facing Hawaiians today: I believe that over the past century, the Hawaiian people have lost their unique identity. We must make every effort to encourage the renewal of the Hawaiian heritage, returning to the Hawaiian people what is rightfully theirs. On the federai trust responsibility to Native Hawaiians: The Congress must accept the responsibility of past wrongs, and be held publicly accountable to ensure that justice is done. As a state senator, I will encourage the unilication of Native Hawaiians. As a unified body, stronger public and congressional recognition ean be brought to bear on the issues, forcing swift action. I condone all peaceful means to accomplish this goal, to include the right to peaceful demonstration. The Hawai'i State Legislature must recognize its responsibility in assisting Native Hawaiians in achieving the reparations they so justly deserve. As a state senator, I will work towards this end. Joe S. Tanaka (D) No statement was received from the eandidate. Sen. Dist. 8 (Kalama - 'Aina Haina) No statements were received from the candidates: •Donna Ikeda (D) Jeremy Low (R) Sen. DisL 9 (Waialae - Diamond Head) Gary Anderson (G) Qualifications: Thirty years Hawai'i honorary member of Kaumuali'i Hawai'i Civic Club Kaua'i, six years on the Neighborhood Board, U.H. graduate class of '68. Goals in office: Bring back the aloha spirit. Most pressing problem facing Hawaiians today: Dying Hawaiians. Give them Kaho'olawe and leave them alone. On the federal trust responibility to Native Hawaiians: Don't know yet. Matt Matsunaga (D) Qualifications: My main qualification for elected office is a commitment to

serve my community. I want to restore faith and instill hope in our people that government works, by keeping my promises and

making responsibility and honesty politieal attributes, and preserving and improving on the best that Hawai'i offers. Goals in office: To that end, I want Hawaiians to feel at home in their own homeland and empowered to make decisions about their plaee in our society. I will be open to the concerns of the Hawaiian community. State governmenL the private trusts benefiting Hawaiians and the private sector must work together to meet promises made to our native people by providing the infrastructure for homestead lands, assuring opportunities equally to Hawaiians and supporting the

choices made by their leaders, spokespersons and representatives. Government must continue to recognize and act on its trust obligations to this state's native people. On the federal trust responsibility to Native Hawaiians: All of us must together build on Sen. Akaka's resolution acknowledging the U.S. role in the illegal overthrow of the Kingdom of Hawai'i. This will require educating, lobbying and, as necessary, bringing legal action. The U.S. must recognize the right of Hawaiians to self-determination and must provide, when necessary, the means to achieve their goals. The Administration mush shift from the Reagan-Bush position whieh refuses to recognize trust obligations and obstructs the use of federal funding for Hawaiian programs. Instead, the U.S. must support Hawaiian needs and aspirations and either return homestead lands illegally appropriated for federal uses, or provide for altemate lands and/or other adequate compensation. Since the federal courts have foreclosed land claims by strictly enforcing time limitations to bring suit, Congress should now be asked to pass legislation allowing the right to sue for breach of federal trust obligations by amending the Federal Quiet Title Act to remove the time barrier. Jane B. Tatibouet (R) Qualifications: My qualifications include proven leadership capability, a legislative

I track record, political independence and a vast scope of community and life experience. I believe that public service should not be a career, so I

have pledged to serve only two terms in the Senate. At presenL I am the only legislator from the tourism industry — our largest and most fragile eeonomie contributor. I served on the House Education, Health and Housing committees, and was this year named Legislator of the Year by Small Business Hawai'i. Goals in ofTice: We have a crisis in our education system and our Native Hawaiian children are among those most severely impacted. To solve this, government, the unions and the teachers will have to take a step back so our students ean move forward. I believe our education problems reflect poor management rather than insufficient funds. While I would want to ensure adequate funding, I would also want to cut waste and excessive top-heaviness from our system. Schools should be funded at the loeal level and be responsive to the eommunities and parents they serve. Principals should be held accountable for the success or failure of their own schools. Most pressing problem facing Hawaiians today: While a number of pressing problems facing Hawaiians must be solved wilhin the Hawaiian eommunity, there are legislative remedies for two critical issues: housing and health. No excuses must be accepted for the failure of the state to put Hawaiians on their land. The state must also get out of the way for modular and other innovative housing systems to be utilized for afford-

able housing. Second, the Health Department must be made to follow legislative directives to more closely study Hawaiian heahh patterns. Then the Legislature must commit itself to fiinding whatever is necessary to bring Hawaiian health up to the standard enjoyed by the rest of our state. On the federal trust responsibiiity to Native Hawaiians: As a Republican, I will eonhnue to press the federal government to carry out its trust responsibility under the Hawaiian Homes Commission Act. I'm certain its author Jonah Kalaniana'ole, Prince Kuhio, another Republican, would be appalled at our state's failure to carry out its end of the bargain and put the Hawaiian people on their rightful lands. Sen. Dist. 12 (Tantalus - Makiki) Ernest Chun (R) Qualifications: I am a taxpayer, have two master's degrees and have resided in the Makiki area for 12 years. I am mar-

ried with two children and three step children; one of whom is a F u 1 b r i g h t scholar, and another is a e o m p u t e r expert working on a mas- . * _ » ■

ier s uegree 111 eleeuieal engineering at UH-Manoa. I am interested in the issues of education, taxes and the betterment of the Hawaiian people. Goals in office: I would like to prevent the state from using McKinley High School's grounds for a proposed development (Hale Kewalo Rental Housing) because I believe that that property of 5.3 acres will eventually be needed for classrooms for the overflow from Ka'ahumanu Elementary, Washington Intermediate, and McKinley High School. These future students will be coming from the Kaka'ako area and the two blocks bounded by King, Kalakaua, Beretania, and Ke'eaumoku streets with Young Street between them (called the Pawa'a Super block). I would like to see a lesser development at the Pawa'a Super block than proposed by the state Administration. I oppose the closing of Young Street, and would like to see only two towers (one on eaeh block) using only state- and city-owned land. Most pressing problem facing Hawaiians today: The most pressing problem facing Hawaiians today is the need for housing. I would like to pass legislation allowing Bishop Estate to lend money to qualified Hawaiians at low interest ( about 3 percent per year) so that they ean build or improve their land for residential purposes. I would pass legislalion to speed the process of giving 14,000 applicants on the waiting list leases for homesteads. On the federal trust responsibility to Native Hawaiians: I would use whatever influence I have to get the president of the U.S.A. to return Kaho'olawe to the Hawaiian people after removing all unexploded ordinances. I would elect U.S. congresspersons who have the plight of the Hawaiian people on

their hearts and pressure them to do their duty. As a state senator, I would pass a resolution or petition that would state Congress' and the Administration's responsibility in view of the injustice meted to the Hawaiian people when America took over the Hawaiian Kingdom. Carol Fukunaga (D) No statement was received from candidate. Sen. Dist. 14 (Palama - Alewa Hts) •Milton Holt (D) No statement was received from candidate. Earie Seaman (R) Qualifications: Business owner, having started four small businesses and have worked in social service for four years. GoaIs in office: Would set term limits for elected officials, put initiative in the hands of the people and stop corruption. Most pressing probiem facing Hawaiians today: The most pressing problem is housing. I would make available low-term financing. Do away with restrictions. Let Hawai'i build how they want. On the federal trust responsibility to Native Hawaiians: I would forget about federal and make the state pay up. Though I cannot ensure, I would demand it be paid immediately and it should be spent on housing. Sen. DisL 16 (Moanalua - Salt Lake) No statements were received from candidates: Willard Beard (R) Rey Graulty (D) Sen. Dist. 20 (Waipahu - 'Ewa Beach) Willie Espero (R) Qualifications: Willie Espero has worked for Mayor Frank Fasi and the City and

County of Honolulu for six years. He is currently the director of O ' a h u ' s Neighborhood Board system. He has experienee working directly with

Nuaie uiiieiai.N, city officials and elected legislators and eouneil members. He works daily with Oahu's 30 neighborhood boards, and he is very familiar with the issues in our community and statewide. His six years in loeal govemment is an important qualification for state senator. Goals in office: If elected, Wilhe will be an advocate for the working people of Hawai'i. He will not be beholden to the political establishment or any maehine. He relishes the role of the loyal opposition to keep government honesL accountable, and working for the people. His top priorities in office will be education reform, housing solutions, lower taxes, and government reform. Most pressing problem facing Hawaiians today: Willie Espero believes the most pressing problems for Hawaiians are healih and the inability to be placed continued on page 23

Senate Candidate Profiles

Espero, from page 1 7 on Hawaiian Homes Land. Willie will support funding that emphasizes prevention and educates Hawaiians regarding health-related problems. He is dedicated to eliminating the govemment bureaucracy and slowness regarding Hawaiian Homes. He is committed to putting Hawaiians on their land. Brian Kanno (D) No statement was received from candidate. Edwina Wong (G) Qualifications: Personally, I feel that justice is the act of giving or maintaining equality or fairness among people. I believe that to aet justly is to act honestly and with integrity. Thus, I believe that all people deserve justice, including Hawaiians. My name is Edwina Wong, a Realtor licensed in the state of Hawai'i. I have two adorable children, Miehelle and Kaleo. I am married to Mike Wong, a very understanding person who works for United Airlines. Goals in office: I honestly believe that my mere presence as a state senator in the Legislature will be for prudence, justice and job-creation oriented. Most pressing problem facing Hawaiians today: The answer is to create more jobs to generate revenue, taking into consideration our environment. On the federal trust responsibility to Native Hawaiians: At this writing the U.S. Senate adopted an apology to the Hawaiians and Ihe U.S. House will soon after do the same. This is only the beginning. The end will be soon. I would work to make this transition in a peaceful manner to co-exist with our lifestyle and present government. It's a jungle out there. So vote Edwina Wong, Green Party, for state senator 20th Senatorial District. Sen. Dist. 24 (Kaneohe, Maunawili, Enchanted Lake) •Stanley Koki (R) No statement was received from candidate. Elaine Murphy (D) Qualifications: A Kane'ohe resident of 25 years, I have watched the community grow and change. I attended the University of Hawai'i, West Oahu, and

completed two B.A. degrees speciahzing in economics and international business and have a graduate certificate in public administration. My gov-

ernment administrative experience is a point of strength in my candidacy. I am the director of the Mayor's Office of Culture and the Arts in Honolulu. I have spent nine years administering a multimillion dollar budget working with the Hawai'i State Legislature and City Council. I currently serve as an elected member of the Kane'ohe Neighborhood Board, holding an at-large position. I am

qualified, responsive and effective in working with members of the community. I want the opportunity to serve the people of Hawai'i as state senator for the 24th District. Goals in office: Hawai'i is faced with changes. The windward area particularly is stressed with urban development and infrastructure demands. Traffic is a major problem. Our education system is not successful. I want to improve our public education system. The children of Hawai'i deserve a better future. Secondly, I wih work to obtain funding to improve the traffic problems of the windward community. Kahekili and Kamehameha Highways, and Kane'ohe Bay Drive are in a state of grid-lock. Improvements must be made for access to the eommunity, eeonomie vitality and personal wellbeing. Most pressing problem facing Hawaiians today: Hawai'i is the healthiest state in the union with the highest longevity rate. It is a tragedy that Native Hawaiians do not enjoy and benefit form good health. Compared with the naūon, Native Hawaiians and part-Hawaiians have 44 percent more heart disease, 39 percent more cancer; and 22 percent more diabetes. Compared with the state, Native Hawaiians and part-Hawaiians have higher death rates for diabetes, infant death, liver disease and accidental death. As a state senator, I will fight for additional funding for Native Hawaiian health research and disease prevention and help develop a comprehensive heakh education program that begins to address the worsening Native Hawaiian healih problems. On the federal trust responsibility to Native Hawaiians: I will work cooperatively with all Native Hawaiian organizations to ensure that the strongest possible federal legislation package ean be assembled and with one strong Democratic voice take our need and message to Washington, D.C. Only through consensus and cooperation and one clear message will we be able to get Congress and the Clinton/Gore Administration to hear us and respond to us. Sen. Dist 25 (Waimanalo - Kailua) Larry Bartley (L) Qualifications: Two-term service on Kailua Neighborhood Board. Creator and

Chair of Rights & Governance Committee and author of the successful Recognition of H a w a i i a n Sovereignty whieh passed the board in

Goals in office: Federal recognition of Hawaiian Sovereignty and return of as mueh state and federal ceded lands as possible to the Hawaiian People. The Libertarian party platform has called for sovereignty for all of its 20 years. Most pressing problem facing Hawaiians today: Hawaiians* own belief that either Democrat or Republican politicians will ever seek justice, compensation, and the return of stolen Hawaiian

land. The county of Honolulu administration, state administration and their wealthy special interest groups are against Hawaiian self-determination because they enjoy the nearly free use of Hawaiian land trust. On the federal trust responsibility to Native Hawaiians: I would work with Hawaiian groups to plan and implement strategies to sway congresspersons from other states into understanding the history of abuse of Native Hawaiians by the state and federal governments and show them that carrying out their trust responsibilities will work to the benefit of not only Native Hawaiians, but to the benefit of all the people of Hawai'i. As a state senator, I will be voting on incremental funding of the past debts and will work to wring every possible cent out of the state treasury to fulfill the state's obligation, and I feel that OHA should not spend the money but should distribute it directly to Native Hawaiians quickly and as equitably as possible. •Mary George (R) Qualifications: Experience provides my major qualification. My record of fulltime service to the public includes elee-

tive office (to the City Council and State Senate), appointment to boards and commissions, and eommunity volunteer work. On the naūonal level,

I am a member of the Inter-governmental Policy Advisory Committee on Trade, allowing me input to the U.S. Trade Representative on loeal eeonomie eoncerns such as texūle imports and sugar price supports. I have also been a presidential appoinlee to the Federal Air Quality Board and the White House Conference on a Drug-Free America. Naūonal service has given me access to leaders in both political parties. My professional career includes employment with RKO-PaŪie and the Reader's Digest. Goals in office: We must find ways of dealing with three paramount issues: the present unavailability of housing, both market and low-cost; Ūie high taxes Ūiat support government services that are often mediocre or inadequate; the need to broaden and strengthen our economy wiūiout jeopardizing our fragile environment and Ūie activity in all major sectors of our economy — agriculture, military and tourism — the key to solving many of our problems lies in developing stable and environmentally acceptable alternaūves. Most pressing problem facing Hawaiians today: Hawaiians will best pursue the movement toward poliūeal empowerment through defining their idenūty and their goals, and Ūius achieving resolution of the sovereignty issue. The diversity of opinions on Hawaiian issues must be heard, and strengūi gathered from many sources. The Legislature should be supporūve of collecūve decisions reached by the Hawaiian eommunity, and ean also work to improve access to basic services such as health care and housing.

On the federal trust responsibility to Native Hawaiians: I would keep up Ūie pressure. More importanūy, I would urge the state to set a better example for ūie federal government by holding up ITS end of the bargain. David W. Kahanu (D) Qualifications: For eight years I have served diligenūy and effectively on the

Honolulu City Council repres e n t i n g Wind ward O'ahu, where I have resided for over 30 years. A respected H a w a i i a n businessman, I

have served on many business and service boards including being a charter member of the Hawaiian Businessmen's Associaūon and serving as past president of Hui Na Koa O Kamehameha. I have been active in the loeal community for Ūie past two decades, from coaching PAL and Pop Warner football to serving as an executive board member of Goodwill • Indusūies. Goals in office: Helping make Hawai'i a more stable plaee for our children to live. Today, there is a dire need for stronger leadership among our elected public officials and a need to get a firm commitment from them to save Hawai'i for our ehildren. Most pressing problem facing Hawaiians today: In a word, I woulū say direcūon. The fate of Hawaiians has all too often been determined by nonHawaiians. The laek of leadership leads to the laek of direction. Hawaiians are being pulled apart by various groups wiūiin the Hawaiian community seeking to influence and impose their views and beliefs on them. We must be able to focus on attainable goals and more in concerted direction to achieving them. I would solve the laek of direction of Ūie Hawaiians by seeking to provide some of that direcūon Utrough my efforts in the state senate. Granted, in today's world, nothing is easy and nothing will be given to the Hawaiians without the Hawaiians coming together and working together in order to accomplish eommon goals. The need for the Hawaiian community to stand together as one group is needed now more ūian ever. As our economy and our jobs in Hawai'i are being threatened daily, Hawaiians ean no longer stand on the sidelines and be observers. On the federal trust responsibility to Native Hawaiians: In a word, litigate. The Hawaiians have listened to enough rhetoric on the subject. Many of our elected officials must be reminded that the Hawaiian way may be to talk and seek soluūons. However, there always comes a ūme for aeūon — for doing! The filing of any lawsuit seeking to address said nonrecognition ean only be a positive step forward.

October 1992.