������Ƶ

Editor’s note:��For Hawaii’s Nov. 5 General Election, Civil Beat asked candidates to answer some questions about where they stand on various issues and what their priorities will be if elected.

The following came from Kimo Alameda, candidate for Hawaii County mayor. His opponent is Mitch Roth.

Go to Civil Beat’s Election Guide for general information, and check out other candidates on the General Election Ballot.

1. What is the biggest issue facing Hawaii County, and what would you do about it?

All issues and societal shortcomings lead to a decrease in one’s quality of life. This is why I believe my top priority is “you.”  I’ve met with key community members in Hilo, Oceanview, Pahala, Panaewa, Kailapa, Kohala, Leilani, Hawaiian Shores, Volcano, Milolii, Kailua Kona, Kealakekua and other districts and they all have unique needs.

Yes, there are themes that cluster together in every community, like housing affordability, water, homelessness, employment, recreational opportunities, alternative energy, etc., but the prioritization of these issues differ from community to community. I have prioritized all of these concerns on my website under the pillars of live, work and play, but at the end of the day, my priority is you.

2. Overtourism can degrade the environment, threaten biodiversity, contribute to wear and tear on infrastructure, generate traffic and disrupt neighborhoods. What do you think about the amount of tourism on the Big Island and how it’s managed?

This is true. That’s why we need tourism that is regenerative not extractive. I am glad to see the regenerative tourism movement within the Hawaii Tourism Authority (HTA) as evidenced by several programs like the “Pono Pledge.”

I would also like to explore decentralizing the Hawaii Tourism Authority to ensure that Hawaii island is getting its share of attention and funding. We know the kinds of experiences we want to give our tourists and sometimes it’s different than those offered by other islands.

Also, a major problem we face is with tourists vacationing in residential areas through legal or illegal short-term rentals. This is why our administration will enforce penalties on illegal short-term vacation rentals.

I believe if we work closely with HTA and we message correctly, we can attract the right kind of tourists that will help preserve and protect our way of life. 

3. What needs to happen to relieve traffic congestion in and around Kailua-Kona and along the Puna-Keaau-Hilo corridor?

When it comes to transportation, we should be developing districts where people live closer to their work.

Yet, what do we do now to alleviate the traffic in Kona and Keaau-Puna? In Kona, it appears that any highway improvements need to start at the Henry Street/Queen Kaahumanu Highway extension intersection. I would consider the idea of widening Queen Kaahumanu/Kuakini Highway to four lanes and engage discussions with the state to improve and widen the Kuakini corridor from the vicinity of Lako street to Kamehameha III Highway.

With regard to Puna, the immediate fix could be to stagger the school schedule since it appears the traffic is most busy during school days. A more long-term fix would be the widening of Highway 130 and/or an alternate route through Beach Road, or through non-dedicated Hawaiian Home Parcels, or over the top through the Waiakea district to alleviate traffic in upper Puna. We also have to consider an acceleration lane at the Shower Drive/Highway 130 intersection.

4. The cost of living on Hawaii island is rising rapidly. How are working and middle-class people expected to buy a house or pay the rent as well as take care of other expenses? And how can the county government help?

With thousands of our residents leaving each year, we need to rethink the county’s role in addressing our housing crisis. Our local government should be working to facilitate — not discourage — the construction of new housing. Furthermore, our approach to housing needs to be centered on creating a housing supply that is within reach of local people, where they can make a home for themselves and their families.

Unfortunately, our permitting process is a significant hurdle to this goal because it is not designed to best serve the interests or needs of our community. As mayor I would work with the department heads and/or the County Council to streamline the perrmitting process through third-party review of certain building permits and exempting small-scale home renovations from permit requirements; allow local families to add an ohana on their property in certain areas for their children or kupuna; and explore the use of alternative construction models to increase housing supply. 

5. Do you support the construction of the Thirty Meter Telescope on Mauna Kea?

My answer is “No, unless … ” or “Yes, if … ,” because it depends on whether or not the new version of TMT can answer key questions that I had when I was a “protector” of the mauna with my family back in 2019. Questions like:

Can we decommission telescopes that do not provide the best science?

Can we utilize more local labor?

Can we ensure no damage to the aquifer?

Will we protect endangered species?

These are some of the questions that I would bring to the table because it’s all about the process that answers the ultimate question of whether or not this project (and others like Waipio Valley and Punaluu) is “responsible” or “irresponsible.”

I am the only candidate with the skills that can help make things better for the mauna, while also helping to increase the quality of life of all residents. Ultimately, the decisions of the mauna will be made by the new state Stewardship Authority, and as mayor, I would be honored to occupy a seat at that table utilizing my 30 years of experience in bringing people of diverse perspectives to consensus.

6. Homelessness remains a problem statewide, including on Hawaii island. What would you do to come to grips with this persistent problem?

With regard to homelessness, there are two types. The “visibly” homeless, and those sleeping in their cars, abandoned buildings and in the forest.

The community’s biggest concern is the visibly homeless and here are some strategies to address this group.

I would work with the Hawaii County Police Department to enhance the use of police substations and community policing in hotspots to increase the visibility of police presence and public safety. We would also reduce barriers for nonprofit and faith organizations to increase our supply of temporary housing; and we would expand outreach and support services, especially for those coming out of jail or experiencing domestic violence and mental health problems.

Lastly, we cannot reduce the visibly homeless without securing a place to relocate them to. The county had four years and yet still no formalized relocation area. Our administration will work to find relocation spots in key areas of the island. 

7. Half of Hawaii’s cesspools are on the Big Island, some 49,300. Seepage from cesspools can make people sick, harm coral reefs and lead to a variety of ecological damage. By law, cesspools must be upgraded to septic systems by 2050. What can be done to help people who may not be able to afford the conversion?

I’m not a big fan of unfunded federal mandates. I would engage our federal delegation. They need to help us address this issue.

I know we have to the year 2050 for full conversion and this gives us time to explore other options besides septic that are more affordable. There is also some evidence that septic in higher elevation areas does not provide any more protection than cesspool because of our earth’s natural filtration system.

Perhaps the Mayor’s Office could work with the County Council and state Legislature to pursue other options, or at the very least pursue grants that would allow for funding to homeowners for this conversion. The bottom line is that we cannot expect homeowners to front the cost in addition to other costs related to home ownership. 

8. What is the first thing Hawaii County should do to get in front of climate change rather than just reacting to it?

First, this question assumes that we are behind the eight ball. Not true. We are one of the most environmentally friendly counties in the United States. And most of our toxic emissions come from our volcano.

Nonetheless, the one thing we should do immediately is prepare for sea level rise. Sea level rise will cost the government, hotel industry, and property owners billions of dollars in repairs, renovations and upgrades. Some property owners will actually lose their property because of it.

We need to address it like we would any natural disaster threat. An assessment of the entire island, a plan on mitigating the impacts of these threats to shoreline areas and then advocating for funding from the federal government to help with implementing our plans. 

9. Should the Hu Honua biomass energy plant be allowed to start operating? Why or why not?

No, unless its technology can ensure no toxic emissions, be carbon neutral and also show evidence that electricity costs for consumers will not increase. 

10. How would you make the county administration more transparent and accessible to the public?

I am the only candidate with leadership experience in three levels of government and I understand county government given my role as the executive for the Hawaii County Office of Aging and my work with the county on training employees on customer service and leadership.

We know that having trusting relationships with key agencies and communities is how things get done and trust can only come from open government. Being the mayor is more than just being a figurehead. We need a leader who can communicate everything that’s happening in the county with the public and especially the media.

I have a long track record of communicating with the public and the media from my role in addressing Covid and the fentanyl epidemic. I also believe greater transparency can occur through open budgets, public disclosures, online portals and/or live streaming of meetings.