Hirono and Gabbard: No Immediate Plans to Go to Puna
But their federal offices are in close contact with Big Island officials helping the storm-ravaged rural region.
Brian Schatz and Colleen Hanabusa may feel it’s necessary to be on the聽ground in Puna聽this week, but the other two members聽of Hawaii’s congressional delegation have no immediate plans to visit the disaster area.
鈥淚n preparation of hurricanes Iselle and Julio, Senator Hirono and her office remained in regular communication with the state and counties that led the planning effort as the storms tracked towards Hawaii,” a spokesman for U.S. Sen. Mazie Hirono’s Honolulu office told Civil Beat on Tuesday morning. “In the aftermath, Senator Hirono continues to work with the state and mayors Kenoi and Arakawa as we move into recovery for hardest hit areas.”
Billy Kenoi is mayor of Hawaii County and Alan Arakawa is mayor of Maui County.
Hirono’s spokesman added, “While there are no immediate plans for Senator Hirono to travel to Hawaii Island, she remains in close coordination with the state and Hawaii County in the recovery efforts, particularly as it relates to federal assistance.”
Puna residents work to clean up after Tropical Storm Iselle.
Courtesy: Josiah Hunt
A spokeswoman for U.S. Rep. Tulsi Gabbard had a similar comment for Civil Beat late Monday.
“So far the congresswoman has spoken with Mayor Billy Kenoi and officials聽at FEMA聽and Civil聽Defense and the National Guard聽and other military personnel,” she said. “She has offered to help in any way that she can, but at this time we do not have her on the schedule to visit Puna.”
FEMA is the Federal Emergency Management Agency.
Gabbard’s聽spokeswoman added, “If聽it ends up being helpful in some way, she鈥檒l definitely聽go to Puna.聽Right now we are working with our constituents’ representative on the Big Island聽who is assisting people there. …聽For now we are working with leaders of the different agencies聽to see what we can do that is helpful.”
Sen. Schatz and Rep. Hanabusa are on the Big Island working to ensure that聽residents have food, water and power. They say that takes聽priority over the too-close-to-call聽U.S.聽Senate race.
But the two are also separated by just 1,635 votes in the Democratic primary, and both candidates said as recently as Sunday that they’ll be campaigning in Puna.
Tropical storm Iselle left behind significant problems in the Puna area of the Big Island, August 2014.
Courtesy: Josiah Hunt
The State Elections Office has scheduled an election Friday for residents聽who were not able to vote in the two District 4 precincts that聽were closed for last Saturday’s primary due to damage from Tropical Storm Iselle. There are 8,255 registered voters in the area, although it is not clear how many may have voted early by absentee ballot or walk-in voting before the storm hit last Thursday.
Hirono is not up for re-election this year and Gabbard easily won her Democratic primary Saturday and faces the same Republican in the general election that she demolished聽two years ago. Gabbard’s 2nd Congressional District includes the Big Island.
Meanwhile, another candidate for the U.S. Senate is also in Puna. Republican Cam Cavasso flew to the Big Island on Monday night.
鈥淚 am concerned because these residents have been without power for 4-5 days now,” Cavasso said in a press release late Monday. “I am also concerned that our people and families of the island of Hawaii may not have sufficient supplies. I want to view the status of the situation myself and help in any way I can. I am going to start by taking some water and other fluids into the area during my visit for the people clearing debris in Puna and other affected areas.鈥
Cavasso added, “I know the people of Puna are frustrated by the slow progress in returning power to their homes. I call on the Hawaii governor to redouble all efforts to get this moving faster. In the meantime I encourage calm and patience.”
Traveling with Cavasso聽is the GOP state Senate candidate for the Puna District, Gary Thomas.
