WEST HAWAII TODAY | Sunday, July 29, 2018 15X
Besides tourism, what
economic driver should
Hawaii focus on to
diversify and strengthen
the economy?
Ideas are the most costeffective
product for
Hawaii to export. Hawaii
could be a central research
hub in finance, climate
change adaptation,
renewable energy
production and storage,
green infrastructure and
sustainable agriculture. A
focus on research and green
technologies can diversify
Hawaii’s economy.
What’s your plan of action
if elected to fight for a
higher share of the TAT, or
hotel tax?
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I fully support returning a
larger portion of the TAT
to the neighbor island
counties. The counties bear
the bulk of direct expenses
related to tourism.
Requiring greater fiscal
accountability by the state
would make it possible to
restore the neighbor island
TAT while keeping state
programs productive.
Why should people
vote for you over the
competition?
I respect my opponent’s
many years of service to
our community, but it is
time for some fresh ideas at
the State Legislature. The
status quo is not working
for our residents. Half of
Hawaii’s families struggle
to meet basic needs. Every
day, 10,000 of our kids are
in classrooms without a
qualified teacher. Hawaii’s
infrastructure has been
rated the worst in the
country and we ranked last
in what we get in return for
our tax dollars. I will put
my scientific background
to work for Hawaii, to
address these issues
with an approach that is
logic-based, innovative,
compassionate, and
community focused.
What neighbor island
issues will you champion
for on Oahu and how
will you go about getting
results?
I will champion fully
funding public education,
securing access to
healthcare and fixing our
roads and bridges. I will
support the constitutional
amendment to increase
school funding, I will
advocate for a teaching
hospital on Hawaii Island,
so we can train our own
doctors, who are invested
in our community. I will
work with the DOT and
the county to ensure that
our critical infrastructure
projects are prioritized, and
we make the most of federal
matching funds. I will find
cost-effective, data-driven
solutions to the issues
neighbor islands share.
Heather Kimball - State Senate 4th District