The County Council is tasked with turning the will of the people into legislation for the good of the community.
Downtown and Bayfront
With our quaint shops and restaurants, famous Farmer’s Market, rich arts and culture scene and distinctive Bayfront setting, Hilo is a special town. As your councilmember I have been tackling issues affecting our downtown such as homelessness and parking. I work with our county agencies, community organizations, business owners and residents on these and other important issues so we can ensure that Hilo is a great place to live, work and play!
Housing and Homelessness
Hawaiʻi County needs more affordable and attainable housing options-from starter homes for first-time buyers to low income housing for working families to low-income, supportive housing for those who need support getting off the street. With the median price for a home in Hilo at half a million dollars, most folks cannot afford to buy and many cannot afford to rent. The “housing first” model has proven successful and we need to support local efforts to provide attainable housing for all.
Economy and Jobs
People talk about the need to create new industries on our island but Hawaiʻi County needs to find ways to make existing jobs, better jobs. We have a huge need to fill critical positions in our community; we need doctors, nurses, teachers, engineers, buiding inspectors, contractors, maintenance workers, bus drivers, etc.
Anyone working a full-time job should be able to afford life’s necessities: a roof over their head, reliable transportation, healthy food to eat, medical care and a safe and nurturing place for their children to learn and thrive. We can make this a reality by advocating for living wages, good benefits and providing necessary social services like good public transportation and support for child care.
Civic Engagement
Whether it’s supporting youth participation in government, finding ways to connect with constituents or providing important information about county events and policy, I have made increasing civic engagement a top priority over the past 2 years.
I continue to publish a free weekly e-newsletter sharing important policy and issue updates as well as highlighting community events. I also regularly hold public meetings as open talk stories or policy-based forums so people can hear directly from me and ask questions on issues that are important to them. In addition, I make sure our District 2 Office is staffed and open daily to assist constituents with their concerns and available to those who email, call or drop by.
Roads and Infrastructure
Much of the island’s infrastructure including its roads, bridges, wastewater and energy systems, are in need of serious investment and innovation. Over the past 2 years we have invested significantly in repaving our roads in Hilo, upgrading our wastewater treatment facilities and supporting new recreational opportunities like the Hilo Skate Complex.
As your Council Member, I continue to be persistent and tenacious in funding and implementing infrastructure projects in Hilo and Hawaiʻi Island.
Caring for Our Environment
In addition to supporting upgrading our wastewater infrastructure and enacting other policy solutions to support our island’s environment, I am working on 2 specific projects for Hilo:
We were awarded $2m from the Federal government and are currently seeking a $2m match to create a community-based Hilo Bay Watershed Plan and clean up Hilo Bay.
We were awarded a $1.6m Federal grant to develop a reusable foodware program for restaurants in Hilo which will save our overtaxed landfill and create jobs in Hilo.