WEST HAWAII TODAY | Sunday, July 29, 2018 11X
Dru Kanuha - State Senate 3rd District
What’s the most pressing
issue facing Hawaii as it
looks to rebound from the
Kilauea eruption and how
would you lead recovery?
Although Puna is far away
from us geographically,
the people of Puna are
never far from our hearts
and minds – we are one
Hawai‘i Island. As our
community comes together
in support of our friends,
family and neighbors, the
displacement of thousands
of Puna residents brings to
the forefront our alreadyurgent
need for affordable
housing islandwide. The
solution lies in publicprivate
partnerships to
get more housing units for
rental or purchase onto
the market at lower price
points.
Besides tourism, what
economic driver should
Hawaii focus on to
diversify and strengthen
the economy?
Hawai‘i has seen once
with sugar and again with
tourism – it is perilous to
put all our economic efforts
into just one industry that
depends on conditions
beyond our control. Our
future is in a diversity
of industries with light
environmental footprints,
or even better, industries
that can help Hawai‘i
Island lead the world to
a sustainable future. As
councilman I supported
our county’s partnership
with the state and private
investors to open the GVS
Transmedia Accelerator,
our investment in the
creative industries: film,
television and multimedia
made in Hawai‘i for the
world. I’ve funded biennial
gatherings of the brightest
minds in deep sea water
science from NELHA and
our sister city Kumejima,
Japan. And I’ve funded
programs for the keiki of
my district in robotics,
science, technology,
engineering and math.
Why should people
vote for you over the
competition?
Leadership isn’t about what
you say you will do – it’s
about what you can deliver
for your community. By
working together with my
colleagues and the two
administrations that have
been in office during my
six years on the council,
we were able to complete
projects our community
has been waiting for. Ali‘i
Kai Park was promised
when that subdivision
was developed 40 years
ago. I grew up around the
corner from “where the
park is supposed to be.”
We got it done. Seeing the
need for housing, we built
Hale Ki-kaha micro-units to
help get people get back
on their feet and back into
the community. Extending
La‘aloa Avenue mauka to
the highway was a project
that spanned many years –
we got it done.
What’s the number one
issue facing the state and
West Hawai‘i right now?
Keeping our community
healthy is the primary
kuleana of government,
and my commitment to
my constituents. We must
increase access to health
care by working with
community health centers,
clinics, and our paramedics
to increase their reach into
the most rural corners.
Building a new hospital is a
priority, but supporting and
expanding the reach of the
doctors and professionals
we already have is equally
important.
We must also keep people
healthier to reduce the
burden on our health care
system. The community
worked to bring the Blue
Zones Project to West
Hawai‘i to encourage
healthy lifestyles, and the
county invested in parks,
playgrounds, bike lanes and
walking paths. I supported
senior programs with
funding and equipment.
And for the health of our
youth, I lead the council
to pass legislation to raise
the legal age for tobacco
products to 21 – making us
one of the first counties in
the nation to do so.
Finally, we must protect
our environment. I grew
up around the ocean and
I’ve seen the changes in
my lifetime. There are
basic things like funding
sewers, upgrading our
wastewater treatment
plant, banning polystyrene,
and participating in beach
cleanups. But there are
also bigger actions we need
to take to set the course
toward a sustainable
future. Since I took office,
our county has engaged in
statewide and international
efforts like Hawai‘i Green
Growth, the International
Union for the Conservation
of Nature, the Global Island
Partnership, and was an
original signatory to the
Aloha+ Challenge – setting
ambitious environmental
benchmarks that served
as inspiration for the
United Nations’ sustainable
development goals in the
Paris accord. All of this
affirms our commitment to
a healthy environment and
embraces Hawai‘i Island’s
role as a leader toward a
more sustainable world.
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