WEST HAWAII TODAY | Sunday, July 29, 2018 19X
Colleen Hanabusa - Governor
What’s the most pressing
issue facing Hawaii as it
looks to rebound from the
Kilauea eruption and how
would you lead recovery?
The continued health,
security and safety of the
community is the primary
concern. We are very
fortunate to have amazing
partners in the federal
agencies that are working
with Hawaii County, the
Hawaii National Guard
and other community and
volunteer organizations.
In Puna, I spoke with
individuals who lost
everything and they were
looking for answers, clarity
and certainty in the face
of unimaginable loss. As
governor, I will work closely
with Mayor Kim, the County
Council, the Legislature, state
and federal agencies and nongovernmental
organizations
to fashion and offer a full
continuum of resources and
services, including federal
and state funds available to
the people, businesses and
industries impacted so they
can make informed decisions
about their lives and futures.
As a Congresswoman,
I’m familiar with the
challenges facing the Hawaii
Volcanoes National Park
(HVNP) and the Hawaii
Volcanoes Observatory
(HVO) and am offering an
appropriations amendment
to fund the relocation of
their administrative office
operations outside the park
pending stability of the
eruption. The HVNP is our
number one visitor attraction
and its temporary closure
greatly impacts the local and
regional economy, including
many small businesses.
We need to get it open for
business as quickly and
safely as possible.
Besides tourism, what
economic driver should
Hawaii focus on to diversify
and strengthen the
economy?
I would look to what
makes Hawaii unique to
attract investments and a
sustainable industry that
will diversify and strengthen
Hawaii’s economy. There is
no better place on the earth
than Hawaii when it comes
to one geographic spot that
is home to the vast range of
the earth’s ecosystems. This
uniqueness makes Hawaii
perfect for scientific pursuits,
whether corrosion resistance
technologies, pharmaceutical
plant research, innovative
agricultural technologies,
animal science, volcanology,
astronomy, renewable
energy and/or marine-based
sciences and technologies.
Do you support rebuilding
in high risk areas like lava
zone 1?
I do not think it is reasonable
or feasible for government
to support building or
rebuilding in high risk
areas like lava zone 1. The
environment is simply too
volatile, unpredictable and
potentially destructive for
government to facilitate
planned communities
with public infrastructure.
However, I do not support
government precluding
those who own lands in high
risk areas like lava zone 1
from making use of their
properties and investments.
Why should people vote for
you over the competition?
There is a profound sense
that Hawaii is adrift and
rudderless, with no sense
of urgency or focus at the
top. As a result, we see
our future generations
leaving the islands for
other opportunities on the
mainland. I will commit to
reversing that trend.
My broad experience in
private practice, the State
Senate and in U.S. Congress
gives me the life and work
experiences and connections
needed to fully understand
Hawaii’s potential in the
world. I have a vision for a
better future that is absent in
the current administration,
and the will power and
commitment to work handin
hand with the people of
Hawaii to get the job done.
What is your plan to fund
the rail and what would you
tell neighbor islands who
feel shorted for funding it?
What distinguishes me from
David Ige is my belief that
the governor has a duty to
monitor the rail project and
make sure HART and the
City and County of Honolulu
operate within the fiscal
constraints of their budget
and do not come back to
taxpayers for additional
construction funds.
I firmly believe that Honolulu
must manage to a budget
and they cannot expect the
taxpayers to write blank
checks for a project that
is still in construction.
While my opponent, David
Ige, has stated publicly
that extending the GET
indefinitely is “an option,”
I believe any discussion
regarding GET in perpetuity
is premature, I will insist
that Honolulu makes tough
decisions necessary to
complete this project before
talking about more taxes.
Would you support giving
neighbor islands a higher
share of the TAT, or hotel
tax? Why or why not?
Yes. The neighbor islands
generate a sizable share
of TAT revenue and they
deserve their fair share.
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