Investigative stories and local news updates Coverage of the Hawaiʻi State legislature in 2025 Award winning in-depth reports and featured on-going series Get the week’s news delivered straight to your inbox affordable housing units aren’t a lot cheaper than market-rate units So the developer plans to raise the price of market-rate units At a meeting of a state body charged with economic development and affordable housing a developer told officials about a problem Gentry Homes is building a 390-unit development a mix of single-family homes and townhouses at least 20% of the development’s square footage must be reserved for affordable units They’re priced lower and available only to buyers whose incomes are below a certain threshold Andrew Kamikawa of Gentry Homes told a Hawaiʻi Community Development Authority board is that affordable units at Kaʻulu by Gentry are selling about half as quickly as market-rate units and that’s slowing down the whole project Kamikawa said buyers are choosing market-rate units rather than the affordable ones which require that they live there and don’t sell for five years Raise the price of market-rate units in upcoming phases of the development is that this “makes the reserved units more desirable” in comparison The company’s plan shows the peculiar math of affordable housing in Hawaiʻi, where even housing designated as affordable is out of reach for many people yet developers say they lose money building them The Hawaiʻi Community Development Authority, which has jurisdiction over the development in Kalaeloa, requires Gentry to reserve its affordable housing for people making no more than 140% of Honolulu’s median income which is about $118,000 for an individual and about $168,000 for a family of four Those buyers can’t have more than 135% of their annual income in assets and can’t have owned a residential property in the past three years with the exact amount set by Gentry and approved by HCDA Those units require a downpayment of just $1,500 far less than the 10% or 20% often required by mortgage lenders But a buyer who puts little money down has higher monthly payments, made even higher by a rise in mortgage rates in the past few years a buyer must be in a sweet spot financially: Their income must be low enough to qualify for an affordable unit but be high enough for a bank to approve a loan the payment itself is not comfortable,” said Kelly Tasaki a manager at the mortgage lending firm CMG Financial say the restrictions on affordable units make them less appealing than market-rate ones because some people aren’t ready to commit to staying there for years The affordable units at Kaʻulu by Gentry aren’t heavily discounted Three-bedroom affordable homes in the next phase of construction will be listed for $15,000 less than their $700,000 appraised value according to a price list Gentry provided to the housing authority Two-bedroom units will sell for $10,000 less: $610,000 compared to appraised values of $620,000 The price per square foot is actually higher for affordable units than it is for larger market-rate units with the same number of bedrooms according to real estate listings reviewed by Civil Beat 1,080-square foot home designated as affordable costs $634 per square foot versus $627 per square foot for a three-bedroom Two-bedroom units in the next construction phase will cost $695 per square foot an affordable housing real estate agent and the executive director of Housing Hawaiʻi’s Future “The affordable unit in no circumstance should be higher in price per square foot because it comes with additional restrictions,” he said market-rate units are more economical to build HCDA was formed in 1976 to rejuvenate Kakaʻako an industrial district in a prime location in Honolulu Now Kakaʻako is a hip neighborhood with a Whole Foods a climbing gym and pubs hosting trivia nights HCDA has since picked up other locations around Oʻahu The site of a naval air base from 1942 until 1999 Kalaeloa has gradually been transferred to the state and city as part of the military’s Base Realignment And Closure program HCDA is now tasked with turning the area into a thriving community.  The agency attracts developers by agreeing to build infrastructure like roads that developers would normally have to build into the cost of of a large project developers agree to the affordable housing requirement Kamikawa came before the HCDA board this month to get its approval for what Gentry plans to charge for affordable units in the next phase of the development In a document summarizing the plan the authority’s director of planning & development wrote that the homes will be priced well below the maximum allowed by the state the state’s rules say that a unit can be priced as high as $710,000 for a buyer at the income limit set by the state a three-bedroom could be priced as high as $742,000 Tam noted that the appraised value of the homes in the next phase of the development have fallen The latest appraisals are $620,000 for a two-bedroom and $700,000 for a three-bedroom down from $645,000 and $715,000 for the prior phase “the proposed prices for the Increment 3 reserved housing units will be unchanged,” Tam wrote Board members Mary Alice Evans and Tim Streitz and HCDA Executive Director Craig Nakamoto questioned the logic of raising the market-rate units to make affordable units more attractive “Is there a reason why you couldn’t offer the reserved housing at a lower price range?” Evans asked in the meeting Kamikawa replied that Gentry is already losing money on its affordable units 11 of the 25 affordable units in the first two phases have been sold or are under contract according to the document Tam prepared for the board The slow pace is holding up construction for the rest of the project The development was supposed to be complete by 2026 but that’s been pushed back a year or two “We don’t have the financial means to keep building if we have standing inventory,” he told Civil Beat in an interview Gentry tends to raise its market-rate prices by a few thousand dollars for each phase of construction he acknowledged there’s a limit to how high the prices can get before people can’t afford them Part of the problem at Kaʻulu is that it’s not centrally located like Kakaʻako Kalaeloa is about an hour’s drive from downtown during rush hour “People are just willing to pay a lot more to live in Kakaʻako than they are willing to pay to live in Kalaeloa right now,” HCDA board member Trey Gordner said The state’s affordable housing benchmark That means the price of affordable units is similar “The program works out kind of weird in cases like this,” Gordner said “It works out a lot more cleanly in somewhere like Kakaʻako.” Kaʻulu isn’t the only development where affordable units have sat empty. In fall 2023, more than a year after sales began, highrises Sky Ala Moana and The Park on Keʻeaumoku had sold only about 13% of their affordable units Developers said that was because of a city restriction designed to prevent buyers from paying too much of their income towards housing That rule said housing costs — mortgage payment property insurance and taxes — could not exceed 33% of their income developers said that rule meant few interested buyers were eligible for the units The city revised that rule in the beginning of 2025; now there’s no debt-to-income limit But sales of affordable units are still slow Sky Ala Moana has sold about 30% of its affordable units according to JL Capital’s vice president of sales and development Mark Berkowitz He believes that’s due to high interest rates and the city’s requirement that owners occupy the property for up to 30 years director of sales for the Park on Keʻeaumoku didn’t respond Tuesday to a request for comment Unfortunately, being named a finalist for a Pulitzer prize doesn’t make us immune to financial pressures. The fact is, our revenue hasn’t kept pace with our need to grow, and we need your help Civil Beat is a nonprofit, reader-supported newsroom based in Hawaiʻi. We’re looking to build a more resilient, diverse and deeply impactful media landscape, and we hope you’ll help by supporting our essential journalism Civil Beat has been named the best overall news site in Hawaii for the 14th year in a row by the Society of Professional Journalists Hawaii Chapter Get the best experience and stay connected to your community with our Spectrum News app. Learn More Service changes to select TheBus routes in the Ewa Kapolei and Makakilo areas began Sunday “to better connect the Ewa region to major destinations including Skyline rail stations,” announced the city’s Department of Transportation Services on Friday “These realignment of existing routes and implementation of new routes will bring new direct connections and access to the most popular places in our Ewa and Kapolei communities,” said DTS Deputy Director Jon Nouchi in release “The growth of our westside demands we improve mobility in and we are pleased to strengthen the connections between community resources with an eye towards the future Skyline extension to the Daniel K Inouye International Airport and Kalihi later this year,” Nouchi said DTS says it will continue to monitor and evaluate TheBus system to address changes in service demand Visit TheBus website for the current schedule and route information TheBus customer service is available by calling 808-848-5555 and press 5 The following routes are affected by the service change: Route 41 will be restructured to provide service to the following areas: Villages of Kapolei – will be served by Routes 94 and 415 Kanehili Homestead – will be served by Route 95 Kapolei High School – will be served by Routes C Kapolei Middle School – will be served by Routes C Geiger Road – will no longer have bus service Route 44 will be restructured to provide service to the following areas: Route 44 will discontinue service to the following areas Kaileolea Drive (between Keoneula Boulevard – Kapolei Parkway) Route 47 will replace the following discontinued segments of Route 44: Route 415 will be restructured into a one-way Route 461 will be reconstructed to provide direct service between Makakilo and UH West Oahu Station Kealanani Avenue – will be served by Route 415 Kamaaha Avenue – will be served by Routes 46 and 415 Kualakai Parkway – will be served by Route C Department of Environmental Services The City and County of Honolulu’s Department of Environmental Services (ENV) is dedicated to keeping O‘ahu clean and sustainable—today and for future generations From the moment you turn on a faucet or set out your refuse cart safely managing what our community no longer needs ENV collects and treats approximately 96 million gallons of wastewater ensuring it’s handled responsibly before returning clean water to the environment Our crews also collect household trash and green waste from neighborhoods island-wide operating six days a week to help keep our communities beautiful and sanitary But ENV’s mission goes beyond just providing essential services We believe protecting O‘ahu’s environment is a shared responsibility we foster a sense of stewardship and joint action to care for our island home—so our keiki can enjoy a vibrant and thriving environment for years to come If you have questions or need assistance navigating our website, please reach out to the ENV Public Information Officer at env@honolulu.gov Copyright © 2025 Department of Environmental Services Civil Beat will host a forum Friday for the four House candidates vying to represent Districts 41 and 42 David Alcos and Diamond Garcia will join their Democratic rivals John Clark and Anthony Paris Friday at consecutive pop-up newsrooms in Ewa Beach They’ll answer questions and discuss issues that are important to the Ewa Beach-Kapolei area as well as the state Alcos and Clark, who are competing for the District 41 seat that covers Ewa Villages They will be followed by Garcia and Paris, who are seeking to represent District 42 That’s scheduled to start at 6:30 p.m Civil Beat reporter Blaze Lovell will moderate the discussions but audience members also will have the opportunity to ask questions and mingle More details here on all our remaining pop-ups David Alcos has admitted that he failed to disclose numerous creditors and millions of dollars of debt owed to the Internal Revenue Service and others on legally required financial disclosure statements during his 2020 and 2022 campaigns The acknowledgement came during an investigation by the Hawaii State Ethics Commission for alleged violations of the State Ethics Code contained in Hawaii Revised Statutes Chapter 84 the commission fined Alcos $12,500 and referred him to the speaker of the state House of Representatives for possible disciplinary action “Respondent Alcos’s omissions — including the amount and breadth of liabilities owed — were significant and could have made a material difference in two elections,” the commission stated in a resolution-of-charge document released on Wednesday “The failure to disclose significant liabilities in his financial disclosure statements undermines public transparency and trust as the public has a right to know about potential conflicts of interest that could impact a legislator’s ability to act impartially in the public’s best interest The Commission is troubled by the number and amount of omissions recognizing that the public had a right to question and understand the reasons for a significant number of creditors.” the Republican representative for House District 41 (Ewa Villages is running for re-election against Democrat John Clark III in the General Election on Nov The Hawaii State Constitution requires that “all elected officers all candidates for elective office and such appointed officers and employees as provided by law [shall] make public financial disclosures.” these disclosures must include reporting of all incomes of $1,000 or more received; the amount and identity of every ownership or beneficial interest held in any business having a value of $5,000 or more or equal to 10% of the ownership of the business; every officership trusteeship or other fiduciary relationship held in a business; the name of each creditor to whom the value of $3,000 or more was owed; and other information Alcos was required to file financial disclosures in those years he is further required to file disclosures every year he is in office 2022 and 2023 listed Central Pacific Bank as his only creditor and omitted numerous debts related to his construction business D.A Builders is party to various lawsuits connected to disputes arising from the business’ work on the International Market Place in 2015 and 2016 Among the debts Alcos failed to report on his 2020 2022 and 2023 disclosures were a 2017 IRS tax lien of $58,851; a 2019 state Department of Taxation lien of $29,732; and stipulated judgement of 41,067 owed to Pacific Gypsum Supply from 2019 Alcos’ disclosure statements in 2022 and 2023 also omitted Cades Schutte LLP Builders in several lawsuits dating back to 2016 As part of a promissory note and load agreement by D.A the law firm claimed as collateral any proceeds obtained by D.A Alcos also did not report debts from creditors that allege he is personally liable for debts incurred by D.A lenders obtained a business line of credit for $400,000 WBL is attempting to foreclose on property owned by Alcos in a pending lawsuit the IRS also issued separate liens against Alcos for unpaid taxes assessed against D.A Builders in the amounts of $1.97 million and $60,322 the state DOT recorded a lien against Alcos for $1.76 million for D.A Builders’ unpaid withholding taxes and general excise taxes There were three other creditors that Alcos did not disclose in his filings but which Alcos voluntarily disclosed during the investigation: a stipulated judgment for $8,093 owed to Allied Building Productions Corporation; a default judgment of $45,318 owed to Bank of Hawaii; and another default judgment for $18,455 owed to A&B Properties Hawaii Alcos also voluntarily disclosed that he did not report his state salary as income on his 2023 disclosure form and did not disclose his ownership of D.A Alcos admitted to the commission that while he disputes some of the debts he should have disclosed all of them to comply with the financial disclosure law In addition to the administrative penalty and referral to the speaker of the House the resolution of charges also requires Alcos to amend his 2020 2022 and 2023 financial disclosure statements Michael Tsai covers local and state politics for Spectrum News Hawaii. He can be reached at michael.tsai@charter.com “Smart tax cuts are necessary to empower our local families while ensuring that essential government services remain fully funded.” 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 Diamond Garcia, Republican candidate for state House District 42, which covers portions of Varona Village and Ewa, and Kapolei and Fernandez Village. His opponent is Democrat Anthony Makana Paris Go to Civil Beat’s Election Guide for general information, and check out other candidates on the General Election Ballot What is the biggest issue facing your district is one of the fastest-growing districts in the state of Hawaii With new developments and community projects underway as I talk to residents across District 42 — from the plantation homes of Ewa to the Hawaiian Homesteads and within the villages of Kapolei and Ewa Gentry — a recurring concern is Hawaii’s outrageous cost of living Hawaii’s high cost of living can be attributed to regulations that stifle our local businesses and a government that takes too much hard-earned money from overburdened taxpayers This financial strain is driving too many families to leave Hawaii as they can no longer afford to stay in our beautiful state due to our failing economy I’ve introduced bills aimed at empowering Hawaiian Homestead waitlistees and beneficiaries One of my initiatives focuses on enabling beneficiaries to leverage their lease (once awarded) to qualify for a mortgage loan By modernizing the Hawaiian Homes lease to function like standard long-term leases allowing most beneficiaries to qualify for mortgage loans without having to return to the waitlist and endure further delays How do you feel about the massive income tax cut just approved by the Legislature and the governor Do you have any concerns that it will force reductions in state services in the years to come I was honored to support and advocate for the passage of House Bill 2404 I do not foresee potential cuts to government services as a result of this tax reduction While there is a common argument that tax cuts might lead to revenue shortfalls it is important to consider that our state has consistently maintained a significant budget surplus for several consecutive years — amounting to billions of dollars Smart tax cuts are necessary to empower our local families while ensuring that essential government services remain fully funded We must also address inefficiencies within our state departments I am dedicated to collaborating with my colleagues to identify underperforming areas and reallocate or reduce funding accordingly This approach will help us further alleviate the tax burden on Hawaii’s residents Hawaii continues to struggle with pay-to-play politics and corruption in government What meaningful reforms do you think would change state government for the better I’m committed to supporting legislation that enhances transparency and accountability among elected officials politicians lose sight of their duty to serve their communities political action committees and special interests instead I believe one of the most impactful reforms would be the implementation of term limits as recommended by the Commission to Improve Standards of Conduct (Foley Commission) Our House Republican Caucus has introduced House Bill 1703 which would establish term limits (12 years) for legislators in both the House and Senate Term limits would help mitigate entrenched political interests and ensure a continuous influx of fresh perspectives and innovative ideas I will persist in advocating for term limits in upcoming legislative sessions as this measure is essential for restoring public trust in our government and ensuring elected officials remain accountable to the people they serve Candidates often say they will support reform proposals in the Legislature And yet major reform proposals don’t pass Will you back good-government proposals even if it means going against leadership can you point to an example of a reform that you supported I have consistently demonstrated a commitment to advocating for reforms that benefit our community and our state as a whole even when it meant challenging House leadership which called for significant reforms and good-government proposals This initiative aimed to address crucial issues and promote transparency in our legislative processes Another critical area that requires reform is our education system Hawaii’s public schools are not meeting the standards they should be One effective approach to enhancing our public education system would be the implementation of “local elected” school boards This would empower families in each community to have a direct say and oversight over the education their children receive Hawaii operates with a single unelected school board governing over 260-plus schools statewide which proposed establishing multiple elected school boards — one for each county This reform would’ve decentralized decision-making and allowed communities to tailor educational policies to their specific needs I’ll continue to support and champion such reform proposals in the Legislature Do you support comprehensive public financing of elections for candidates who choose to participate I don’t support comprehensive public financing of elections I believe that using taxpayer dollars to fund campaigns undermines the principle of individual responsibility and accountability in elections Each candidate should be responsible for securing their own campaign funding through private donations from supporters who believe in their vision and policies Public financing could also lead to taxpayer dollars funding campaigns that do not align with the values and beliefs of the taxpayers themselves It is essential that candidates earn the support of voters through their own merit and persuasion public financing systems can be complex and costly to administer potentially diverting resources away from more critical government priorities I support a competitive electoral process where candidates compete based on their ideas rather than on the basis of publicly funded resources I think it’s better to keep campaign funding transparent and let voters decide based on what candidates stand for and how well they connect with the community I believe in a fair election process where candidates compete on their own merits and ideas Hawaii is the only Western state without a statewide citizens initiative process I absolutely support implementing a statewide citizens initiative process in Hawaii It’s a common-sense tool that should be available to the people in a constitutional republic and democratic society like ours Providing citizens with the ability to propose and vote on initiatives empowers them to directly shape our laws and policies ensuring their voices are heard in the legislative process a bill that proposed a constitutional amendment (ConAm) to establish this very process This amendment would grant the people of Hawaii the right to initiate ballot initiatives referendums to approve or repeal laws directly through the ballot and the power to recall state officials and judges when necessary I believe deeply in enhancing citizen participation and accountability in government we strengthen our republic and democracy while ensuring that our government remains responsive to the needs and desires of the people it serves I’ll continue to advocate for empowering our citizens through such reforms to promote transparency What will you do to ensure accountability at the Legislature Do you support ideas such as requiring the Sunshine Law to apply to the Legislature or banning campaign contributions during session Regarding the Sunshine Law applying to the Legislature I approach it cautiously due to concerns I’ve heard from colleagues at the City Council where strict application of the Sunshine Law can sometimes hinder their ability to effectively collaborate on issues Balancing transparency with the need for productive legislative deliberations is crucial I would like to hear more from residents in my community to gauge their views on this issue before making a final decision we must address practical barriers that hinder public participation such as improving parking accommodations for those who wish to come to the Capitol to testify Ensuring accessible and convenient parking will encourage greater civic engagement and make it easier for residents to participate in the legislative process I do support banning them while legislators are in session This helps to prevent potential conflicts of interest and ensures that legislative decisions are made based on the merits of the issues not influenced by financial contributions during critical decision-making periods I’m committed to exploring these ideas further and working toward enhancing transparency accountability and public trust in our legislative process How would you make the Legislature more transparent and accessible to the public Opening conference committees to the public Stricter disclosure requirements on lobbying and lobbyists How could the Legislature change its own internal rules to be more open I strongly support opening conference committees to the public This allows citizens to weigh in before final decisions are made on bills Members on conference committees should also be allowed to express their support or opposition openly before a vote is taken and I believe this should change to promote fairness and openness We should also improve access to legislative documents Clearer and more accessible information empowers the public to participate meaningfully in our legislative system I so support disclosure requirements to promote transparency about who is influencing legislative decisions I oppose measures that would deter public participation such as requiring citizens to register as lobbyists for frequent testimony there are a lot of internal changes that could take place by changing the House and Senate rules This is why a healthy two-party system is important to effective and accountable governance Many people have talked about diversifying the local economy for many years now and yet Hawaii is still heavily reliant on tourism should be done differently about tourism and the economy There’s no denying that Hawaii’s economy is heavily dependent on tourism and the Covid-19 shutdowns from 2020 to 2022 underscored the vulnerability of this reliance While diversification has been a longstanding topic among politicians I believe one promising avenue for economic diversification particularly beneficial to West Oahu families With the recent establishment of the Academy for Creative Media at the University of Hawaii West Oahu we have a prime opportunity to partner with UH and facilitate the construction of film studios through public-private partnerships This initiative would create a robust job pipeline for graduates of the Creative Media program we need to bolster our state’s competitiveness by increasing film tax credits States like Georgia have successfully attracted film productions and generated local jobs through smart incentives Hawaii can similarly thrive if we reduce bureaucratic obstacles and excessive taxation that hinder the growth of these industries I am committed to advancing legislative measures that support economic diversification and job creation in Hawaii enhancing incentives and streamlining regulations we can establish economic diversification that allows all families of Hawaii to thrive An estimated 60% of Hawaii residents are struggling to get by a problem that reaches far beyond low-income and into the middle class What ideas do you have to help the middle class and working families who are finding it hard to continue to live here The reason why over 60% of Hawaii residents are struggling to get by is because government continues to grow in size which is why I and my colleagues have introduced proposals like HB 623 aiming to remove the General Excise Tax on food I have supported legislation to abolish the income tax stimulating their economies and ultimately generating more revenue We need similar bold steps in Hawaii to empower our local families initiatives such as HB 634 propose non-taxable pre-savings down payment accounts enabling families to save effectively for home ownership Addressing Hawaii’s exorbitant housing costs is paramount I’ve proposed creating a separate local housing market exclusively for local families where properties are purchased at area median income (AMI) prices This market would ensure that affordability is preserved indefinitely requiring properties to be sold at the AMI they were purchased thus safeguarding affordability for future generations This initiative applies specifically to developments utilizing affordable housing tax credits I also strongly support a temporary ban on foreigners purchasing property in Hawaii election workers prepare for the big night A state lawmaker is refusing to share a taxpayer-funded lab report while endorsing a Marine-backed plan community leaders oppose.  Alex Gaos was eager to see the test results.  The Ewa Beach Neighborhood Board member and marine biologist had caught fish and collected dust samples to send to a lab all part of an effort to answer a key question: Is there lead contamination around the Marine Corps’ Puuloa Range Training Facility?  is home to a pistol and rifle practice center that the Marines say is essential for training thousands of troops But unlike most shooting ranges throughout the country it sits in the middle of a residential area Over the years, as neighborhoods grew around it and the Marines increased their target practice, residents have complained about early morning announcements via loudspeaker, heartstopping gunfire and dust kicked up with each shot Increasingly there are worries about lead from military bullets Residents fear potentially contaminated dust could be drifting toward their homes and tainted soil may be slipping into the ocean as the boundary between the facility and the beach erodes.  Rose Martinez’s office sought to investigate Her chief of staff Tracy Arakaki ordered lead testing of Gaos’s samples “The tests came back positive,” Arakaki wrote Arakaki has rejected requests from community members and Civil Beat to share copies of the lab report.  The testing, which cost $1,160, was paid for with taxpayer dollars from Martinez’s legislative allowance. And the Hawaii public records law specifically states environmental test results require disclosure.    Martinez’s office on Monday denied a Civil Beat public records request for the report calling the document and related communications “confidential” and protected by a state constitutional privilege.  Arakaki called the results “inconclusive” and twice hung up in response to a reporter’s questions.  “We’re not going to share it,” Arakaki said “It is just based on one random test … The information gathering is incomplete.” a freshman Democrat who was elected after Republican Bob McDermott vacated his seat did not respond to repeated requests for comment.  Meanwhile, Martinez has endorsed a sampling and analysis plan proposed by the Marine Corps in which the Marines will test their own property. The plan, according to a copy on the DOH website limits testing to the outer part of the berms touching the beach.  It includes no sampling from areas of Puuloa abutting the Ewa Beach and Iroquois Point neighborhoods to the east and west where the closest home is about 230 feet away It does not call for any testing on the range itself within surrounding communities or in the ocean The Hawaii Department of Health questioned some parts of the plan The whole testing effort is estimated to take a week “Everyone is framing this as: The Marines will test and whatever happens another Ewa Beach Neighborhood Board member “They are literally testing a tiny fraction of the facility.”  The Marines will start sampling in the first quarter of this year according to Marine Corps spokesperson Maj to listen to community concerns and work toward tenable solutions that ensure the viability and compatibility of the range to continue operations while being good neighbors and stewards of the environment,” he said.  Martinez is working to secure a grant to fund further testing by University of Hawaii scientists who will take samples from the surrounding community and nearby marine life.  community members are left with unanswered questions and they don’t think they’re going to get the information they seek under the current plan.  “It’s not what the community wants,” Gaos said “The community wants them to test for lead in the areas surrounding the range Puuloa has been a topic of increasing public criticism in recent years.  There have been community complaints that the area sounds like a “war zone,” startling neighbors including veterans with post-traumatic stress disorder “It sounds like someone is lighting firecrackers right by my head,” Chinn said.  Loudspeaker announcements as early as 5:30 a.m. jolt residents out of bed, community members say. A Marine Corps plan to install a seawall to protect the facility in 2019 raised alarm among neighbors who feared significant beach loss Some residents also worry about the potential for bullets to fly past Puuloa’s boundaries into residential areas or into the sky as planes come and go from the Honolulu airport located less than three miles away There are no confirmed reports of bullets escaping the facility but residents don’t want to take their chances.  this is incompatible with the community,” Gaos said “PRTF would not be allowed to be built today where it is.”  In 2022, sampling by the Surfrider Foundation identified high levels of lead in soil samples taken on the beach side of the facility Chinn believes that study is what led to the Marines’ current lead investigation.  the Ewa Beach Neighborhood Board passed a resolution calling for the military to move its berms from the shoreline to prevent them from further eroding into the ocean Soon after, the Hawaii House and Senate passed resolutions calling for the Marines to move their activities out of the Puuloa facility entirely But the measures were non-binding and the Marines have no plans to leave They have pledged to move their smaller ranges mauka but will be leaving the two bigger sniper ranges in place. Fox said those ranges are built to industry standards and are designed to prevent “contaminant migration off-range.” it’s an inconvenience to move,” Chinn said We’re afraid to have kids on the beach now.” Chinn says it’s a matter of equity. The majority of Ewa Beach residents are people of color “I’m often asked: Would this be allowed in Lanikai Would this be allowed in Manoa?” he said.  Fox said Congress requires the Marines to conduct marksmanship training and Puuloa is currently the only viable location.  “PRTF cannot be closed until a similar range in size and capability is identified established and fully operational,” Fox said “Closing the range prematurely would directly impact training requirements and ultimately the mission of Marine Corps Base Hawaii.” Instead of reducing its activities, the Marines are considering doing even more training at Puuloa. In an environmental assessment released in December the military branch said it may increase its “training tempo” by 20% with 35 additional days of training.  Hawaii’s congressional delegation has not echoed the calls from the community and Legislature to shut down operations at Puuloa Mazie Hirono said the Marine Corps must adjust in the face of community pushback She said she has encouraged leadership to mitigate its impact on the area including installing noise abatement barriers and starting live-fire training later in the day “While Puuloa range plays a critical role in Marine Corps training I’ve made it clear to the DOD that they must minimize the effects of their training exercises on the surrounding communities,” she said.  said he has increased his focus on Puuloa in the last six months and has been in talks with the Marine Corps and community members will be to agree on “basic facts” and then identify whether range operations could be modified or alternative facilities created we are still confirming the basic facts and starting into the alternatives consideration,” he said in a statement Lead contamination from shooting ranges can accumulate in the soil and remain there for hundreds of years, research has shown.  It can spread throughout the environment in several ways, including through stormwater runoff and migration through soil, according to a U.S. Environmental Protection Agency manual on shooting range management Humans and wildlife can also be exposed to “airborne particulates,” researchers wrote in a 2017 article in the journal Environmental Health “Dust from lead-contaminated soil can be resuspended into the atmosphere and transported from a firing range whether outdoor or indoor,” the authors wrote.  Lead exposure is dangerous, particularly to children, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Even in small amounts exposure has been shown to cause brain and nervous system damage slow development and problems with learning lead exposure can negatively impact heart and kidney function The Marine Corps said it does remove bullet fragments from its berms but leaves behind contaminated soil That allows lead to build up over time.  “There is a toxic waste site sitting right next to a community and a beach park,” Chinn said “Why isn’t DOH playing a more substantial role in this?” said DOH will oversee the Marines’ testing of their property but has not done any independent testing of its own and doesn’t plan to.  “Our job would be to conduct the oversight of that and ensure they’re doing it properly.”  Lindstrom’s division of the Hazard Evaluation and Emergency Response office would only take over if the Marines refused to do their own testing Emergency responders in a separate division could also do their own investigation if there was clear evidence of a release that affected areas beyond the facility But that hasn’t been established.    “We don’t have any evidence that the contamination is leaving the site that anecdotally there might be contamination off-site,” he said “Nobody has brought anything to us.”  Establishing lead contamination is present and directly connecting it to a specific source is a tall order when there could be many potential sources The Marines’ testing approach will start close to the facility If there is evidence that the contamination is migrating beyond their borders he said DOH can call for additional testing.  “We don’t generally start far away and then move back toward the source,” he said “We start at the source and we try to step out and see where that takes us.” Lindstrom recognizes that some community members are not satisfied with the plan.  And then based on whatever results they come up with from this investigation then we’re going to let that direct us to what the next steps are We’re just going to follow the data.”  DOH uses the same self-testing model with the Navy and the Red Hill water system The Red Hill well was contaminated in 2021 by leaks in the Navy’s fuel storage system after years of forewarning by environmental advocates.  we waited until people got poisoned to decide that it was a bad idea to put fuel tanks above an aquifer Did we have to wait until people got poisoned “Do we have to wait until people and children get lead poisoning to come to the conclusion that putting a shooting range in the middle of a densely populated neighborhood is a bad idea?” it’s hard to say to what extent lead from Puuloa may have migrated off the federal government’s property leaving the community to fear the worst.  “The federal government has stated that there is no known level of lead that is safe for children,” Gaos said There is a range a couple hundred feet from houses.”  The Marine Corps said it has no “authority or jurisdiction” to test for lead in off-base areas but Chinn says that’s just an excuse.  “Anyone right now could walk in the park and take a sample,” he said Civil Beat’s community health coverage is supported by the Swayne Family Fund of Hawaii Community Foundation, the Cooke Foundation, Atherton Family Foundation and Papa Ola Lokahi Correction: An earlier version of this story mistakenly referred to artillery fire at Puuloa the range hosts training for shooting short-distance pistols and long-distance rifles overpacked schools — Ewa’s days as a sleepy sugarcane town are far behind it Two years after Democrat Matt LoPresti eked out a victory against his Republican challenger David Alcos one of a cluster of competitive districts around Ewa where a fast-increasing population has been straining existing infrastructure they don’t put in enough schools,” said LoPresti And move in they do – from 2010 to 2020, the area’s population increased by about 25% a rate far more aggressive than Honolulu County’s 6.6% increase over the same time period All this new development is underscoring the District 41 election not only when it comes to policy – which Alcos and LoPresti generally agree upon – but also when it comes to the different sides of Ewa Beach that each candidate represents Sugarcane’s been in Hawaii since its first human inhabitants brought it over more than a thousand years ago Throughout the 1800s, sugarcane grew as an economic enterprise in the islands When the American Civil War disrupted production in Louisiana demand for Hawaii’s supply quickly increased spurring the development of plantations in Ewa Plain and elsewhere But by the early 1980s, the once-thriving Ewa Plantation Co. had been bought out and its lease had expired, paving the way for the City and County of Honolulu to purchase Ewa Villages and plan for a population shift to the west side of Oahu “I grew up on a plantation sugarcane camp,” said Alcos who attended James Campbell High School long before it became Hawaii’s most populous school Alcos entered construction after graduating and eventually started his own firm which allowed him to purchase a large house on the beach close to Ewa’s main artery This grants him a status that he believes extends to neither LoPresti nor the politicians who came before him They (weren’t) implanted here and raised and grown up here and understand the culture of living and life here and really deeply rooted and involved in the community,” said Alcos Alcos is running because he feels they haven’t put in the effort that he would He stressed some of his community involvement bona fides: as a member of the Lions Club as a football coach at James Campbell High School LoPresti has his own bona fides: as former member of the neighborhood board and as a volunteer with the Limu Community project Born in Pittsburgh and raised around Cleveland he pursued philosophy in college and enrolled at the University of Hawaii Manoa to earn advanced degrees eventually becoming a professor at Hawaii Pacific University He’s adamant that this background doesn’t detract from his candidacy but it’s the same community,” said LoPresti His wife’s family has been here for generations and his kids have grown up here “this false idea that there’s two Ewas Though the two sides are separated geographically It’s a community that’s constantly growing Lower-than-average home prices have been luring young families out to this bedroom community where residents’ commutes to job centers like Waikiki can take an hour each direction during rush hour traffic Both candidates have ideas for how to combat this — and they’re pretty much the same Because so much of the traffic comes from residents commuting east to Honolulu one part of the solution could be promoting more jobs on the west side and Alcos said he’d like some of that closer to Ewa too though “we like country to be country,” he said Alcos also hopes that rail finishes construction sooner rather than later LoPresti referenced a bill he sponsored in 2018 to implement tax credits for up to 20 businesses each year in the Kapolei area though that stalled and hasn’t been picked up since He also mentioned unused government land in the area that could be an additional location for west Oahu state workers Promoting work from home is another idea that each pitched “I think we need to find ways to incentivize businesses to allow workers to work from home a couple days a week.” Even younger residents have felt the crowds James Campbell High School hosts more than 3,000 students and its facilities — or lack thereof — have received criticism in recent years Classrooms had been hot, prompting LoPresti to campaign on bringing air conditioning to schools back in 2014. A few years later, a statewide program to do just that — with James Campbell on the “high priority” list — experienced delays, but ultimately, progress was made and each candidate is hopeful it’ll diffuse the crowded roads Each also takes some credit for these advancements LoPresti has said that large projects like these are the result of his and other legislators’ work Alcos said — but these projects were going to happen without his help anyway I advocated for education here,” said Alcos Financially, LoPresti’s campaign has about $9,100 on hand while Alcos’s has about $2,300 on hand though Alcos outspent LoPresti by a few thousand dollars according to the most recent reports Each candidate brings legal baggage, with LoPresti being arrested on suspicion of driving while intoxicated this past summer, though that case was dismissed in early September He referred to the court’s decision and declined to comment further Alcos’s construction business was sued for failing to pay its workers for a job though he said that another contractor had agreed to pitch in for that before abandoning the project LoPresti’s status as a Democrat might be enough to buoy him to victory But Ewa is more balanced — after a few years of serving in the Legislature LoPresti ran for state Senate in 2018 and lost to Kurt Fevella who’s now the chamber’s sole Republican He regained his old House district seat in 2020 but it was a close race: the 642 voters who cast blank ballots would’ve flipped the seat if they’d instead voted for Alcos Each candidate said they could’ve campaigned harder in that race and I wanted to be very respectful to everybody,” said LoPresti He kept a slim campaign team of himself and his daughter though his other daughter and his wife did some sign-waving too Alcos employed a sizable campaign two years ago “I think I’m working three to four times harder than I did last time,” he said Mistakes were made then that won’t be made now – most notably his community involvement lulled him into a false sense of security that voters knew him and would vote for him and some people moving in and out,” he said State lawmakers may ask the DOT to study the idea as a way to alleviate traffic A bill that would require the Hawaii Department of Transportation to study the feasibility of a new route to connect Ewa to downtown Honolulu has cleared its first committee The idea would be to have a private-public partner design build and operate an underwater tunnel for vehicle traffic to “provide a more direct connection” between the regions It could include expansion of roadways as necessary “to maximize use of the tunnel.” According to House Bill 1950 the Legislature finds that “the upcoming decades will bring tens of thousands of new homes” to the Leeward Coast and nearby areas of West Oahu “Traffic experts predict that vehicular congestion will double or triple as a result of the growth in population.” It continues: “Completion of Honolulu’s rail transit project will not be enough to provide the additional transportation capacity for west Oahu residents.” a Democrat who represents Ewa and Ewa Beach The legislation does not indicate exactly where an underwater tunnel would be built Navy “will not oppose the construction of an underwater tunnel because naval vessels commonly traverse underwater tunnels on the east coast of the United States and throughout the world.” This is not the first time a tunnel connecting the West Side to downtown has been proposed but the idea never seems to gain much traction which would appropriate an unspecified amount of funds to the DOT for the study awaits a hearing in the House Finance Committee “One job should be enough to make ends meet in this beautiful paradise of Hawaii that we are lucky to call home.” Republican candidate for state Senate District 19 Iroquois Point and a portion of Ewa Villages The other candidate is Democrat Rida Arakawa Cabanilla Go to Civil Beat’s Elections Guide for general information, and check out other candidates on the General Election Ballot Hawaii has been deeply affected by the coronavirus pandemic Perhaps the biggest impact is to the economy and the tourism industry which has been Hawaii’s biggest economic driver Do you think state leaders have handled the response to the virus effectively including the approach to testing and health care as well as the stay-at-home orders that have caused serious economic harm As one of the six state senators appointed to the Senate’s Special Committee on COVID-19 (out of the total 25 senators) – based on the hearings that our Committee has had since March – I think that the state government’s response could have used improved screening techniques of arriving passengers The state budget is facing record shortfalls Balancing the budget will require sacrifice on the part of state government workers: To balance the budget there will be no new hiring for the next three fiscal years; positions vacated due to retirement must be left unfilled state government workers – other than public school teachers and low-ranking clerks – will have to take unpaid “furlough days” – during each two-week period they will have to take off one day without pay I would protect public school teachers and low-ranking clerks – who are already grossly underpaid — by allowing them to be the only state workers exempted from pay cuts and “furloughs.” What do you think should be done to diversify the economy What would you do as an elected official to make that happen Our best hope is table-to-farm diversified agriculture to supply both residents and visitors we must double our food production over the next few years I will introduce a bill for a “crash program” to reduce our dependence on imported foods This “crash program” will include low-interest loans for local farmers It will also limit agricultural lands exclusively to only agriculture — defined as the growing of edible crops and raising of cattle and other grazing animals Are you satisfied with the current plans to pay for the state’s unfunded liabilities how would you propose to meet pension and health obligations for public workers Would you support reductions in benefits including in pension contributions for public employees in light of virus-related budget shortfalls Rather than speaking of “reducing benefits,” we should focus on not increasing the state government work force and gradually downsizing downsizing it The state’s virus response effort has exposed deep rifts within the top levels of government so what would you do to ensure public confidence in Hawaii’s government officials and top executives there has been an honest difference of opinion as to the everyday mechanics of fighting COVID-19 we senators on the special committee noticed that there were some gaps in the state forms being filled in by incoming passengers Recent deaths of citizens at the hands of police are igniting protests and calls for reform across the country primarily aimed at preventing discrimination against people of color How important do you see this as an issue for Hawaii What should be done to improve policing and police accountability throughout the state Do you support police reform efforts such as mandatory disclosure of misconduct records by police agencies and adequate funding for law enforcement oversight boards that have been established in recent years there has been less discrimination against people of color here in Hawaii than on the U.S everyone should be treated equally and with respect Because everyone is innocent until proven guilty I do not support mandatory disclosure of misconduct records until after the misconduct has been fully adjudicated As for adequate funding for oversight boards I think that should be left up to a vote of the people at the county level We in Hawaii are 2,500 miles away from the Western states and we have our own unique culture and ways of doing things Before our Hawaii voters approve a statewide citizens initiative process we should set up a citizens’ study commission to review the pros and cons of our current representative form of government – in which we elect officials who act on our behalf to make laws – versus a direct initiative approach in which citizens can vote directly Hawaii’s public records law mandates that public records be made available whenever possible David Ige suspended the open government laws under an emergency order during the pandemic What would you do to ensure the public has access to open meetings and public records in a timely fashion What we are discovering in what I call this “brave new world” of dealing with this unprecedented pandemic is that we have to learn to be innovative and inventive in the face of new challenges with video-conferencing and Zoom as well as Internet access the public can have access to open meetings and to public records What should Hawaii be doing to prepare for the effects of climate change including sea level rise and threats to the reefs The rise in sea level and the endangering of reefs are definitely serious problems They are being addressed well by various conservation groups and by the City Office of Sustainability which has already alerted city planners to plan ahead in approving building designs by accounting for the anticipated rises in sea levels along the seashores What do you see as the most pressing issue facing your district we have twin issues that are the most pressing: you can ask any of the hundreds of commuters stuck in traffic on Fort Weaver Road and Kolowaka Drive during rush hours in the morning I am a strong supporter of making sure that the rail line from East Kapolei to Aloha Stadium and then to Middle Street is completed in a fiscally responsible way our public school facilities in the Ewa District are in dire need of upgrades I was finally able to get a desperately needed track and field for my alma mater Ilima Intermediate is in desperate need of a new cafetorium The coronavirus pandemic has exposed numerous flaws in Hawaii’s structure and systems from outdated technology to economic disparity If you could take this moment to reinvent Hawaii to build on what we’ve learned and create a better state Please share One Big Idea you have for Hawaii One job should be enough to make ends meet in this beautiful paradise of Hawaii that we are lucky to call home I will be doing all I can at the Legislature to make sure that this One Big Idea becomes a reality by providing sufficient educational and job-training opportunities for our youths and by providing affordable housing for all of us By Andrew Gomes Editors' PicksTransportationVideo The view of the Ho‘ae‘ae (West Loch) station from the platform Already a Honolulu Star-Advertiser subscriber? Log in now to continue reading EDITOR’S NOTE: The Honolulu Star-Advertiser is featuring each of the nine Skyline rail stations and surrounding communities stretching 11 miles from East Kapolei to Aloha Stadium The series started Sunday and continues through Thursday Passengers will begin riding Skyline on Friday Greater Ewa Beach residents have one of Oahu’s most hellish commutes to and from town but there is a light at the end of the figurative congested traffic tunnel near the mauka end of Fort Weaver Road less than a half-mile from Fort Weaver Road on Farrington Highway lies the city’s Ho‘ae‘ae rail station This station between Ho‘opili and Waipahu is expected to serve most Ewa Beach residents largely through TheBus and drop-and-ride connections according to the Honolulu Authority for Rapid Transportation a roughly 6-mile-long artery providing a main east-west thoroughfare for residents in communities that include West Loch Estates a ride from Ho‘ae‘ae station will take 30 minutes to get Downtown or 31 minutes to the last station in Kakaako if those stations are built and open as planned in 2031 Initial interim service will run only between East Kapolei and Aloha Stadium severely limiting the usefulness of the system for Ewa Beach area residents contemplated riding rail about three years ago when the initial segment had been expected to start running But he said at the time that he didn’t envision using the system because he was used to an hour-long morning commute to Sand Island that typically began at 5:45 a.m Royal Kunia resident Rogge Cuarisma said in mid-June that he would probably use the initial Skyline segment occasionally to visit Pearlridge Center but it wouldn’t be useful for him to get to work in town HART has not projected station use for the initial service segment The agency projected in 2021 that the Ho‘ae‘ae station will see about 4,690 daily boardings when the full 19-mile rail line is operating The Ho‘ae‘ae station features a 21-stall park-and-ride lot and a four-bay bus depot next to one of the station’s entrances City officials expect TheBus service to the station will largely draw commuters from the greater Ewa Beach community and other places including Royal Kunia and Village Park A second entrance on the mauka side of Farrington Highway is more situated for pedestrians and connects to a Don Quijote store parking lot the Ho‘ae‘ae station borders strip-center retail complexes on the mauka side and a more than 50-acre industrial neighborhood on the makai side stretching to Pearl Harbor City planners envision both areas being converted in the coming decades to medium- and high-density residential communities mixed with businesses and a new pedestrian-oriented “main street” running to the edge of the harbor from the station a rail industry veteran who was HART project director for several years previously said rail promotes the transition of industrial areas to other uses “I’ve seen it all up and down the East Coast,” he said during a Ho‘ae‘ae station visit a few years ago One small change in 2021 perhaps heralding bigger things to come was a multimillion-dollar renovation of what had been a nondescript and poorly maintained strip mall near the station and immediately Ewa of Don Quijote rebranded the roughly 20-tenant complex as The Shops at West Loch Station and attracted several new tenants under the notion they would be at “ground zero” in an area being gentrified with transit-oriented development Rainbow Drive-In and Manny’s Bake Shop ceased operating since the center’s rebranding and the large majority of tenants are still awaiting the promoted benefits of rail after Skyline service delays “I’m expecting more customer base,” said Roger Rivera on a recent day at the counter of snack shop Rajah Dat which he opened in late 2021 at The Shops at West Loch Station because of its proximity to the rail station The retail center’s owner also owns the land under the Don Quijote store which is slated to close in 2024 perhaps to make way for more redevelopment A Robinson trust representative could not be reached for comment about future plans for the site • Skyline: Honolulu rail rolls out after years of delays, cost overruns • Skyline: Honolulu’s new rail line begins in East Kapolei • Skyline: Interactive timeline of Honolulu’s rail system • Skyline: How to ride Honolulu’s rail system for the first time • Skyline: 2nd station is sandwiched by UH campus, Ho‘opili growth • Skyline: Rail station surrounded by farming is years away from major use • Skyline: West Loch station offers alternative to Ewa Beach traffic • Skyline: Waipahu station stands out amid automobile businesses • PHOTOS: Take a look back at Honolulu’s rail construction • PHOTOS: Honolulu Skyline’s first 9 rail stations ready to roll • Click here to view previous rail coverage !function(){"use strict";window.addEventListener("message",(function(a){if(void 0!==a.data["datawrapper-height"]){var e=document.querySelectorAll("iframe");for(var t in a.data["datawrapper-height"])for(var r=0;r Ho‘ae‘ae (To make soft or fine) Ho‘ae‘ae is an ahupuaa situated between Honouliuli and Waikele.This ahupuaa had a moderate-size area of terraces watered by springs inland of West Loch and Pearl Harbor Editors' Picks The single-family homes in the Ewa By Gentry communities of Terrazza Las Brisas and Tiburon are spaced close together and are on privately owned roads Homeowners’ individual water use is not measured and the collective water bill is paid through monthly maintenance fees If your refrigerator conks out just after the warranty expires Your choice is to spend money on repairs or spend money on a new one Neither the appliance store nor the manufacturer is likely to be responsible Homeowners in Ewa Beach are caught in a similar too-bad-for-you situation In their case someone should take responsibility Somewhere beneath the roads in their area pipes are leaking water at an eye-popping 500,000 gallons per day More than 100 million gallons could have been wasted in a year single-family houses were sold between 2000 and 2004 in complexes that bear the names Terrazza Upkeep of roads and underground utilities is normally a function of the city but in this case a homeowners association that governs all four complexes handles this task Homeowners cover their water bills through maintenance fees paid to the association This means they are all holding the bag for fixing the underground leak The homes were built and the pipes put in by Gentry Homes Ltd. which says the 10-year warranty on its work has long expired The company says it used materials approved by the Honolulu Board of Water Supply and stands behind its construction quality but did offer to connect the homeowners with professionals who could help It needn’t bear the full repair burden but as a company with a stake in continued homebuilding in Hawaii it does have an interest in figuring out what went wrong or it would be happening all over the island And it can’t be the fault of the end user — to go back to the refrigerator analogy it’s not like failure could have been averted by brushing dirt off the cooling coils more often their association could have caught the problem sooner by more closely monitoring water use With your expertise and knowledge of how this housing area was built “The lack of public school facilities and awful traffic conditions” in Ewa Beach are “reasons I ran for office in the first place,” says the first-term incumbent Civil Beat asked candidates to answer some questions The following came from Matthew S. LoPresti, a Democratic candidate for the state House, District 41, which includes Ewa Villages, Ewa Beach, Ewa Gentry, Ocean Pointe and West Loch. There is one other candidate, Republican Bryan Jeremiah Go to Civil Beat’s Elections Guide for general information, and check out other candidates on the General Election Ballot Occupation: Professor of Philosophy and Humanities Chair of the Asian and Pacific Studies Program Community organizations/prior offices held: State representative Sierra Club Oahu Group; Ewa Neighborhood Board; member Place of residence: Hoakalei/Ocean Pointe in Ewa Beach Campaign website: www.Matt4Ewa.com This year has seen an outsized influence from people who want big changes in how government is run What would you do to change how the Legislature is run After my first term in office I have a better understanding of how the four short months that the Legislature is in session are used to get as much done as we can in both chambers by agreeing to a strict calendar and timetable that allows for the passage of necessary legislation believe that more can be done as far as transparency citizen inclusion and ethics are concerned this biennium the Legislature considered House Bill 81 It would close a loophole inadvertently created by a previous Legislature that allowed lawmakers to use their official capacity for personal gain This session I supported legislation that would establish a task force to examine the implementation of remote testimony which would allow the public to submit testimony remotely via the internet during legislative proceedings I also support public financing of candidacies as a method to remove powerful special interest monies from influencing the outcome of elections Having utilized this partial public financing twice myself I would support further steps taken to encourage the public financing of campaigns I look forward to continuing to work on and explore solutions to these issues should I be fortunate enough to be re-elected Hawaii is the only Western state without a statewide citizen’s initiative process The notion that sweeping societal changes might follow a simple vote of 50 percent plus one makes it far too easy for well-funded radical outside influences to come into a state dump millions of dollars in a campaign to achieve what it wants for its special interests and do whatever is necessary to win a referendum vote bully politics like that is not in the long-term best interest of our country or our state (just look at the fiasco and lies perpetrated on the people of Britain to manipulate the Brexit vote.) reflective deliberation and a transparent process in which all people have the opportunity to weigh in along the way our founding fathers developed just such a system called a representative democracy Direct democracy is better suited to much smaller systems of governance Statewide citizens initiatives are typically supported by politicians too afraid to take an actual stand on controversial topics – thus allowing for important but painful changes to occur in government and society without themselves having to face any responsibility when election time comes around Hawaii has long been dominated by the Democratic Party establishment The Democratic Party itself is undergoing significant change thanks to the influx of citizens who are tired of the status quo while the other party is neither attracting quality candidates to run This is a serious problem because I believe a well-functioning democracy needs many voices at the table representing a diversity of perspectives we have a great diversity of views in our state Democratic Party because independents and Republican’s are identifying with Democratic candidates or even switching parties – while still maintaining their own conservative or independent views Among the many reasons behind this phenomena is chiefly this: people do not vote for a political party I was honored to have many Republicans support me in my first election and I believe it is because they know that I’m more interested in serving the people of my district than any party or political agenda though I stick to my principles even when that means respectfully disagreeing with my own party’s leadership The Democratic Party welcomes a great diversity of views – a formula for success in any pluralistic society What specific steps would you take to strengthen Hawaii’s lax lobbying I have authored and co-sponsored legislation that would strengthen ethical standards As a professor who teaches subjects like ethics and philosophy as my professional job I look to bring my understanding of these issues to my role as a legislator The lobbying process is important because it allows members of the public and private entities to provide lawmakers with information about how people may be impacted by various measures under consideration These are things we as decision-makers need to know; however increased transparency is essential to promote and preserve trust in government and the frequency of reporting for lobbyists so that the people can see for themselves who supports which lawmakers as well as how those lawmakers vote with regard to issues that affect those who have donated to them Would you support eliminating Hawaii’s high fees for access to public records when the request is in the public interest I have personally met with the Office of Information practices to encourage the facilitation of free and unfettered public access to public records and I have also sponsored legislation to this effect would have among other things required state agency officials to assist persons making requests for records and allow fees to be waived for access to public records It would also have encouraged electronic public notification of public meetings I intend to continue pursuing this legislation should I be fortunate enough to serve another term Voters complain their elected officials don’t listen to them What would you do to improve communication My constituents regularly reach out to me and my number one priority is to listen and assist with their concerns My friends and neighbors in the district can and do call speak with me at our monthly community meetings or talk story with me at the coffee shop supermarket or just walking around the neighborhood If anyone can think of any other way I can be even more accessible to constituents Just being accessible is only part of the job though listening means actually understanding and paying attention to your constituents’ needs The job of a lawmaker is more than simply writing and voting on legislation – it means facilitating solutions between various parties who often disagree our actions should come from the proper intention of service leadership which means putting others needs and concerns above your own In my first term in office we passed bills that made it easier for citizens to access the legislative process and have a voice by implementing a system for remote testimony for neighbor islanders as well The Ewa Beach area has had and will continue to have the fastest-growing population in the state despite our city and state government actually encouraging this growth it hasn’t maintained the growth of public infrastructure to keep pace This short-sightedness is one of the reasons I ran for office in the first place; two of the most glaring examples of this have been the lack of public school facilities and awful traffic conditions In this questionnaire I’ll speak to the first issue I made this my priority because for too long That’s why I worked so hard this year to get the Legislature to add $12 million to the budget of James Campbell High School to begin the planning and construction of a new 30-room air conditioned classroom building This covers the design and infrastructure groundwork for the building and is the second highest capital improvement project appropriation from general funds to any existing school in the state (out of 283!) That is a huge change toward making Ewa schools a priority for the state DOE (continued in No There is a desire to grow the economy through new development yet also a need to protect our limited environmental resources How would you balance these competing interests We cannot reasonably stop people from having families or even moving to Hawaii according to our constitution so population will continue to rise rapidly That means we need to ensure that there are sufficient dwelling units for people to live in – the main question then is where will these dwelling units be located We must protect and preserve Hawaii’s natural beauty and enough agricultural land to grow food for local consumption and to support our diversified jobs in agricultural – which are essential to our island economy That means building more densely in the urban core to create livable walkable urban areas along a mass transit route No one likes living next to a construction site but we cannot let short term self-interest trump long term urban planning There are parts of this island where wealthy people need to face the reality that they can no longer force development to occur someplace else other than where they live – as the only rational area for growth is to build up around them not build out over our last remaining green areas in the state What should the Legislature do to improve police accountability which establishes a temporary advisory law enforcement employment standards and training board with the responsibility of developing statewide employment standards and training recommendations for law enforcement officers that does not have such statewide standards Legislation along these lines did not pass this session and I believe that it warrants further examination and discussion The police departments and unions need to be involved in this discussion and it is clear that a system should address the concerns of all parties I also introduced HB 1738 which would regulate the use of body cameras by law enforcement officers and body camera video footage Police body cameras are an effective new tool for law enforcement and prosecution of criminal activity The privacy of individuals captured in these videos as well as the privacy of the law enforcement officers must be protected at times as well which would in part protect these privacies and create a portion of state law that directly addresses this use of the new technology What would you do to ensure we’re taking care of our kupuna When I began my first term of public service in the Legislature I knew that the most important things that I had to take with me were my good word and my good name I also knew that these should never be given lightly in support of a cause That is why I waited and carefully considered what bills and to which causes I would lend my name and my support After dutiful consideration of the issues facing our state and the good people of Ewa and Ewa Beach I decided that the very first bill I would ever sign (even before signing any of my own bills!) was going to be HB 490 (in 2015) which would provide training to the friends and family who serve as primary care givers for our kupuna Our most vulnerable and most venerable class of citizens I co-signed nine more bills that underscore my continued commitment to caring for our kupuna These Kupuna Caucus bills aim to expand elderly services and create new programs across the state What would you do to improve Hawaii’s public education system As educators (my wife teaches in public school) and as parents improving Hawaii’s schools is very important to our family This session I worked closely with the Hawaii State Teachers Association on its Schools Our Keiki Deserve legislative agenda and I’ve been endorsed by it several times I also keep in close contact with the DOE leaders regarding issues concerning Ewa schools as well as issues of statewide concern 7: all of the above along with Ewa schools’ allotment of the $100 million for heat abatement as well as significant appropriations for repair and maintenance means that our Ewa public schools are finally getting the attention that they deserve — and then some we still need to do more because we also need a new high school we needed this 10 years ago but at long last the DOE has agreed to make this a priority but nothing more can be done until the DOE chooses a location I look forward to advocating for the necessary funds at the Legislature to make it a reality “I would build an economy where our people only need one working job to make enough for a living.” The following came from David Alcos, Republican candidate for state House District 41, which includes Ewa, Ewa Beach, Ewa Gentry, Ewa Villages, Hoakalei and Ocean Pointe. The other candidate is Democrat Matt LoPresti Besides keeping close tabs on COVID-19 statistics no one has addressed how we will bring visitors in a virus-free environment Review the budget and figure out what we need instead of what we want Use agriculture to supply both residents and visitors This is something we need to know more about But I understand that we need more money in Hawaii to survive so there should not be any income being taken away We need to find a way to bring back the economy while keeping our residents safe We needed stronger guidelines for visitors We need to make sure of sufficient personal protective equipment and that our COVID-19 case numbers are going down in our state and communities there is not as much discrimination against people of color in Hawaii as in other states But I do believe that our focus should be on what is happening here and what we can do improve situation I also believe that to move forward we need to ensure the safety of our people and officers It is a possibility that this will bring the government closer to the people we need to go over the pros and cons of our current form of government where elect officials who act on our behalf make laws instead of a direct initiative approach where citizens can vote directly on new laws I disagree with his action to open government laws We need more transparency during this pandemic I would create a small communications group to review as well as update the public through video-conferencing and access to detailed information on the internet We definitely should address this proactively and team up with agricultural practitioners various organizations and groups to better understand our local ecosystem our traffic and overcrowding of our schools are a major issue We were a small community and it is growing now more than ever Our roads and schools can’t keep up with the amount of housing development that is going on they should have built the infrastructures first we must build bigger roads or alternate routes and more classrooms I believe projects and development have to show mass importance to the community The people should not have to be pressured into seeing benefits the honest truth is that Hawaii is one of the most expensive states to live in I would build an economy where our people only need one working job to make enough for a living We live in a place that should be paradise for the people that live here not breaking our backs and losing sleep more than we should to survive and feed our families A possibility to contribute to that happening would be by providing efficient education and job-training opportunities for our young generations “Education is over 60 percent of our budget and the most important thing we deal with on a regular basis.” the Republican candidate for the state House of Representatives District 40 Go to Civil Beat’s Elections Guide for general information, and check out other candidates on the General Election Ballot Should the Legislature be more transparent and accountable given how tough it can be for individual lawmakers to go against leadership to bring about needed reform in areas like sexual harassment policies fundraising during session and televising and archiving all hearings Republicans do not have that fear of going against leadership Our job is to foster openness and root out medically inaccurate trash like Pono Choices or highlight the foolishness of funding unneeded pork barrel projects like the $170 million Kihei High School when the kids at Campbell have no seats I have done my part to hold the majority accountable Hawaii has the most lopsided Legislature in the country with no Republicans in the Senate and only five in the House How would you ensure there is an open exchange of ideas transparency and accountability for decisions What do you see as the consequences of one-party control As a member of the minority we do our best to make the majority better Would you support more frequent campaign finance reporting during election years What other steps would you take to improve lobbying and financial disclosures Hawaii’s public records law requires that records be made available whenever possible Yet state agencies often resist release through delays and imposing excessive fees What would you do to ensure the public has access to government records The agencies stonewall and drag their feet promote economic activity to increase tax revenue Do you support changing the state sonstitution to allow taxing investment properties to fund the public schools I supported “letting the people decide” as I did during same sex marriage the underlying measure is severely flawed as all low-income rental properties fall into this category therefore we’ll be possibly taxing low-income folks Illegal vacation rentals have proliferated throughout Hawaii The state is not collecting tax revenue on many of these properties and residents worry about overcrowded neighborhoods and other problems Do you see this as a problem given Hawaii’s booming visitor industry and what would you propose to do about it The City Council needs to step up to the plate and clean up this mess The reality is that we have thousands of these units even though a new bed and breakfast permit has not been granted since 1990 They would rather look the other way than deal with it Do you support or oppose holding a state constitutional convention let the people become more involved in the process and look to use hydrogen produced from gray water and solar School construction and repair and maintenance I led the fight for Campbell High School and shall continue to speak out for the children in our area Education is over 60 percent of our budget and the most important thing we deal with on a regular basis dream and succeed when everything requires a license a special permit or permission from Honolulu’s political class,” says the Republican challenger The following came from Bryan Jeremiah, a Republican candidate for the state House, District 41, which includes Ewa Villages, Ewa Beach, Ewa Gentry, Ocean Pointe and West Loch. There is one other candidate, Democrat Matthew LoPresti Occupation: Large­-scale construction project manager Community organizations/prior offices held: Ewa Beach Neighborhood Board; Ewa Beach Lions Club; Carpenters Union Campaign website: www.voteforbryanjeremiah.org This year has seen an outsized influence from people who want big changes in how government is run and Hawaii State Constitution both establish the authority and purpose of the legislative branch but what many people are not aware of is the fact that our bicameral Legislature is governed by internal rules many of which can be waived at any time by a majority vote This is worsened by the fact that Hawaii has an “outsized” supermajority of Democrats and a micro-­minority of Republicans in both chambers Take for example the House standing committee on Legislative Management ­ two of which are the chair and vice chair of that committee,­ and a single Republican This committee is free to be the thermostat that regulates legislative policy and practices up and down however it chooses is outvoted by Democrats every single time she disagrees with their rule changes The real “outsized influence” is the fact that there are too many Democrats and not enough Republicans in office to get a balanced perspective on how the Legislature is run I believe in order for government to truly be a voice of the people This is a question that the ruling Democrats should be held accountable to answer They have held the supermajority for years but are solely responsible for denying the people the power to vote for change The Constitution guarantees us the right to “petition the Government for a redress of grievances,” and so long as we are without a means to hold our legislators in check in­ between elections through initiative we will remain powerless and stuck in a perpetual plantation run by Democratic lunas This must change if we are to have a government of the people something America’s founders were extremely concerned about The problem is Hawaii voter participation is dismally low Many people feel helpless about government because they feel the game is rigged and that their vote doesn’t count Less than four of of every 10 Hawaii residents actually show up to vote on average during a presidential election This chronic voter fatigue ultimately suppresses reform and keeps us a one party system because who comes out to vote in droves are special interest groups like unions and people with strong party affiliation The only way this can change is we have to engage the public and help them to realize that this government belongs to the people of Hawaii I do not believe or support proposals for compulsory voting because voting (or not voting) should always be a personal choice but I do believe that we have to help the public trust government and trust the process by being more transparent The first step is to stop re-­electing unethical legislative barons to the committees that keep bending the rules for big corporations and entrenched special interest groups but we have a system where the Democrats cover for themselves and excuse themselves whenever a conflict arises we have to elect better representatives and senators Would you support eliminating Hawaii’s high fees for access to public records when the request is in the public interest I don’t believe those fees should be totally eliminated but scaled back to a reasonable tiered pricing I also support putting public records online to the maximum extent possible subject to Privacy Act laws What would you do to improve communication My office will be an open door and my phone will be answered high-tech schools with air conditioning as a standard feature in them It is unacceptable that we have allowed our keiki to suffer for so long from heat and allergic disruptions in the classroom while our own legislators and government bureaucrats work in comfy not only will I press for funding to build new schools in Ewa but I will also introduce legislation that will require by law that all new public schools built in the State of Hawaii must have air conditioning yet also a need to protect our limited environmental resources We need to have a business­-friendly Legislature the first thing that a startup company or a business wishing to set up shop encounters is the multitude of rules and regulations that discourage as opposed to encourage their entrepreneurial spirit a special permit or permission from Honolulu’s political class to do we will be free to succeed and prosper again The Legislature should not be in the business of micromanaging the police on how to do their jobs or trying to hold them accountable This is the responsibility of the city and counties If there is evidence the cities and counties are not performing their core function of public safety then and only then should the state step in Any action by the Legislature should be at the recommendation of the state’s attorney general after an investigation and within the Legislature’s constitutional authority What would you do to ensure we’re taking care of our kupuna One of the best things we can do to help our kupuna is reduce their daily cost of living I would champion legislation that removed food and medical costs from the GET Create an education task force comprised of teachers parents and students that will review policies practices and problems and will cut through the red tape to get things fixed without delay Rather than throwing more taxpayer money at problems and hoping they’ll go away we’ll throw away the problems together and run the most cost-­effective schools in the nation I support an “opt-­in” requirement for ​sensitive lesson content for all students engaged teachers and principals must run our educational system breadfruit and cacao can be attractive crops for Hawaii Food security should be a priority for the state The following came from Will Espero, candidate for Honolulu City Council District 9 representing Waikele, Village Park, Royal Kunia, Mililani Town, West Loch, Iroquois Point, and portions of Ewa Villages and Ewa Beach. The other candidate is Augie Tulba Oahu’s economy has been hard hit with the outbreak of the coronavirus and measures to prevent its spread mainly because of the collapse of the tourism industry Should we continue to rely largely on the visitor industry for economic vitality What concrete steps would you take to bring tourism back What else would you do to diversify the island’s economy Tourism will be a major source of our revenues for a long time Military spending and construction are significant industries as well Construction by government and the private sector will help us now as we need our residents employed We can do more to diversify our economy in farming or agriculture Continued support of the film industry will help promote tourism and Hawaii A new film studio in West Oahu would be a major asset for our state the city may have to cut expenses and seek new revenue sources And what is an area where you see potential new revenue I would first need to look at the total budget and review the revenue projections and proposed expenses Then I would meet and speak with the city administration to see its proposals new equipment purchases and new unimplemented programs would be considered for cuts or reductions New revenues can come via a visitor fee and higher property taxes for out-of-state owners of investment properties valued at over $1 million What would you have done differently to handle the coronavirus crisis on Oahu Our coronavirus death rate is low compared to other states Unfortunately our unemployment rate is high The state should consider extending unemployment benefits where practical government officials and developers have often been split over efforts to build new projects like renewable energy facilities recreational complexes or even affordable housing What would you do to make sure important projects are successful while respecting community input and concerns Community outreach and input are crucial for new projects Focus groups and surveys are very useful for generating community responses Communication and dialogue are key to consensus and solving differences Compromise can be useful if all involved actively participate and genuinely want to find a solution How should the city pay for the operation and maintenance of rail once it’s built Do project plans or financing plans need to be changed as the economy struggles in the wake of the pandemic The daily or monthly charge paid by tourists and locals will help pay for the operation and maintenance of the rail Vending machines in the rail stations can generate income Advertising in rail cars and on the rail platform can also raise funds Expect rail to be subsidized by taxpayers like TheBus What would you do differently from what the current leadership is doing Do you support the enforcement of laws targeted at unsheltered homeless people such as the sit-lie ban I don’t like the idea of criminalizing homelessness Our justice system should not target houseless individuals Let’s build and create as many temporary shelters as possible I support ohana or safe zones in parks with tents containers and repurposed buses for sleeping I believe dormitory-style housing for adults could be a solution What should be done to improve policing and police accountability in Honolulu Should oversight of the police department be strengthened or reformed We can strengthen police oversight via the mayor Areas of reform should include full transparency in police misconduct and bad behavior national and local data base for fired law enforcement personnel or officers forced to resign statewide standards for law enforcement (currently being developed) reviewing responsibilities that could be done by other agencies Honolulu has some of the worst traffic congestion in the nation What else should the city do to alleviate congestion and a four-day work week to help traffic congestion A PM zipper lane to West Oahu would be beneficial I disagree with suspending our Sunshine Law and will advocate for the lifting of any edicts or orders contrary to openness in government What more should Honolulu be doing to prepare for the effects of climate change We are already weaning ourselves from using fossil fuels and encouraging alternative energy where possible We should not allow new construction close to the coastline and we should develop a plan to relocate infrastructure that is susceptible to rising sea levels the most pressing issue will be reopening the economy and getting residents fully working again I will work with the business sector and government on a plan to open the Hawaii economy as soon as possible Testing incoming visitors and checking on them daily is part of the plan When you write a Golf Advisor course review now through December 31 your review will be entered into Golf Advisor’s Rate to Escape: Maui Sweepstakes for a chance to win a five-star trip to Maui One Grand Prize winner and guest will travel in an AVIS rental car for six nights/ seven days of accommodations with the latest gear from OGIO to play on the finest fairways in Maui We’re also giving away 12 Golf Advisor Swag bags to lucky reviewers Hawaii – If you like healthy grass –- thick green turf -- you'll love Ewa Beach Golf Club It was the first golf course in Hawaii to be grassed with Seashore paspalum an environmentally friendly turfgrass suited for tropical climates and the greenskeeper at Ewa Beach is really good at growing it It's just one of the reasons that this course at the end of Ft and there are plenty of other reasons to like it as well this 6,700-yard Robin Nelson design has a great variety of holes But those visiting the island shouldn't overlook this hidden gem If you've rented a car and are staying near Waikiki Beach it's worth the 40-minute drive out to the Ewa Plain Ewa Beach Golf Club was cut out of a kiawe forest including a couple of Weeping Willows around the third hole The golf course is often billed for its links characteristics but you have to pay close attention to notice them And there is one double green: the second and 16th share the same putting surface The course also plays longer than its yardage That's because tee shots don't roll off the plush paspalum fairways The back tees play more like 7,000 or 7,100 yards the second set more like 6,800 yards and so on Players who decide to tackle it from the pro tees will face several forced carries over water and a few long holes but move up and the course is extremely manageable And while there are long holes like the 17th short par 4s that will entice you to try to drive the green as the short par 4s have plenty of cavernous bunkers to create difficult second shots that could set up bogey or worse it could take longer than 40 minutes because of school zones and traffic lights but it's basically two turns (one off the freeway) to get there "There are a lot of locals who don't know where we are," said Ricky Maramoto you'll find lots of friendly locals who play the course often and aren't afraid to give you a guided tour if you hook up with them in a foursome and the clubhouse facilities are more than adequate The halfway house has a nice selection of snacks and sandwiches The spam is usually marinated in teriyaki sauce and the warm combination of salty seaweed wrap sticky rice and sweetened Spam makes for a nice golf course snack.) Conditions at Ewa Beach Golf Club are as good as you'll find The only possible negative was the slow greens but it's difficult to increase green speeds on paspalum The golf course also has terrific practice facilities with a grass range and large short-game area Lessons are available from the professional staff “My big idea is that we reinvent a segment of our economy by investing in a Hawaii Food & Conservation Corps.” The following came from Mokihana Maldonado, Democratic candidate for state House District 41, which includes Ewa, Ewa Beach, Ewa Gentry, Ewa Villages, Hoakalei and Ocean Pointe. The other Democratic candidates are Matt LoPresti and Amanda Rathbun Go to Civil Beat’s Elections Guide for general information, and check out other candidates on the Primary Election Ballot Our state leaders made the tough and unpopular calls to protect our people It’s easy to Monday morning quarterback these decisions but our state has done better than other places to keep people healthy and we cannot rebuild our economy until we have a handle on the health impacts and threats going forward – including the capacity to do widespread Let me start with the things that should never be cut: the services that keep our children families and most vulnerable populations safe and healthy We must never compromise our responsibility to care for the most vulnerable among us It is also worth protecting investments in revenue-generating activities as well as spending that will pay environmental dividends there are many opportunities in state government to do more with less Budget priority should be given to those departments that demonstrate prudent and effective use of funds not those who lose funds in the bureaucracy along the way from the Legislature to the people It is worth looking at state functions that are duplicated by county government and figure out ways to deliver those services more economically We must also fully explore every avenue of federal funding available There is no one magic solution that can diversify our economy but one thing is for sure – we cannot go back to business as usual We must look at prioritizing the needs of kamaaina and keeping more of our money in Hawaii by growing industries that will displace imports The promises made to generations of public workers must be kept should be an ever-present reminder of the true cost of growing the size of the state workforce Any proposal to add positions to the state workforce should be accompanied by an analysis of the true cost of those positions into the future Government must be accountable to the people and the people can only hold government accountable through measures to increase transparency I’ll advocate for a more open government The national conversation on improving the relationship between police and the communities they serve is an important one It is worth pointing out that Native Hawaiians are disproportionately overrepresented in the criminal justice system and the first step in the criminal justice system is an interaction with police It is difficult to assess the magnitude of the problem in Hawaii due to the difficulties in accessing information related to police misconduct Transparency is key to building trust and accountability I do support the mandatory disclosure of misconduct records by police agencies and adequate funding for oversight A statewide citizens initiative process is worth exploring especially if it would increase civic engagement I would advocate for more support for our existing initiatives: more outreach to build upon the excellent work of the Legislature’s Public Access Room to help citizens understand and access their important role in making policy and more remote access for participation by citizens in rural and neighbor island communities Transparency is an essential government function the technology exists to enable government to function openly even during a pandemic Ensuring a robust availability of affordable or reasonably priced housing focused toward kamaaina thoughtful development to offer employment opportunities By Peter Boylan and Jack Truesdale Crime in HawaiiEditors' Picks State sheriff’s deputies helped negotiate the surrender of Ewa Beach murder suspect Patrick Tuputala through a confidential source shortly after 7 p.m Deputies worked to arrange Tuputala’s surrender at a location near the airport Tuputala was taken to the sheriff’s Keawe Street office before police took him into custody and arrested him on suspicion of second­-degree murder had been wanted in connection with the fatal shooting Thursday morning of a 57-year-old resident manager in the parking lot of a housing complex in Ewa Beach Hono­lulu police officers and paramedics were sent to the Palm Villas townhouses on Puamaole Street in Ewa Beach to attend to a male gunshot victim The man was treated at the scene before being transported in critical condition to a hospital where he died The man worked as a resident manager overseeing rentals at the property where he was killed Witnesses told police that the victim was arguing with another man when he was shot Tupu­tala allegedly fled in a silver 2013 Kia Rio “This does not appear to be a random act,” said HPD Lt Deena Thoemmes of the department’s homicide detail “We do not know the circumstances yet.” This is “one of the first murders that we’ve come to” in this area Henry Moses Singletary Jr., an Army infantry veteran whose ground-floor home fronts the crime scene, identified the victim as “Phil.” A “Phillip Huth” is listed online as one of two rental managers at the Ewa by Gentry property, and identified as such in a 2014 Honolulu Star- Advertiser report Singletary said that after hearing gunshots he came out of his house and saw the victim lying on his back behind his golf cart so I just went into CPR mode,” Singletary told the Honolulu Star-­ Advertiser Blood then pooled around the victim’s breastbone Singletary’s neighbor Gabriel Ramirez was walking his dog when he heard three gunshots Ramirez recognized the sound “from training,” he said Ramirez then put his dog back in his house grabbed his military medical kit and came to Singletary’s side to take over performing cardiopulmonary resuscitation “He wasn’t really breathing,” Ramirez said adding that he saw one wound in the victim’s chest and an exit wound in his back “Phil was the nicest guy ever,” Ramirez said a sheriff’s deputy who lives on the floor above Singletary said a shooting in the development seemed unprecedented The longtime Republican lawmaker will soon announce his future intentions Rep. Bob McDermott a Marine officer who served in the Gulf War will not seek reelection to his District 40 seat (Ewa But his 30-year-old daughter-in-law has filed to run for the seat “I want to run as a way to give back to my community because I lived and grew up in Ewa,” said Kayla Ramos McDermott “I have a special place in may heart for the district so to have an opportunity to serve the community as a whole is a great blessing for me McDermott is in his seventh and final term in the House and is one of only a handful of GOP members in the Legislature He said he would announce his future plans later this month All 76 seats at the Hawaii Legislature are up this year due to reapportionment Kurt Fevella remains minority leader in the Senate Hawaii’s House Republican Caucus on Saturday elected Rep Lauren Cheape Matsumoto (District 38: portions of Mililani and Waipio Acres Mililani Mauka) its new House minority leader Alcos and Pierick are new to the House minority caucus which now numbers six out of the 51-member House controlled by Democrats “I am inspired by this new group of Republican Representatives with all of the strengths that they bring to the table,” Matsumoto said in a press release “Together we will be a strong voice and advocate for the people of Hawaii.” portion of Ewa Villages) remains minority leader and minority floor leader Kunia Village) doubles the GOP caucus to two in the 25-member City Council candidate Tommy Waters and state Senate candidate Matt LoPresti both lost their races by razor-thin margins City Council candidate Tommy Waters and a group of 30 East Honolulu voters separately filed complaints with the Hawaii Supreme Court Monday contesting the District 4 council race that ended with incumbent Councilman Trevor Ozawa beating Waters by just 22 votes Both complaints request hand recounts of the nearly 40,000 ballots cast in the district and argue some ballots are invalid Matt Lopresti also filed a complaint with the court asking for a hand recount of all the ballots cast in state Senate District 19 involved political party or any group of 30 voters from a district to file a complaint requesting a recount The complaint must show cause that warrants a recount who could not be reached for comment Monday argues in his complaint that Hawaii Chief Election Officer Scott Nago and Honolulu City Clerk Glen Takahashi mishandled ballots that arrived late on election night 6 showed Waters ahead of Ozawa by a 72 of votes for the District 4 council seat but additional ballots counted early the following day put Ozawa narrowly ahead He also argued 22 votes are within the margin of error for the machines that count ballots Ozawa said in a text message that he has full confidence in the state Office of Elections Hawaii law does not mandate recounts for close races The Legislature repealed a recount law in 1973 after lawmakers determined only courts can decide on contested elections Office of Elections spokeswoman Nedielyn Bueno wrote in an email Waters sought a recount in 2014 when he lost to Ozawa by 41 votes for the same seat, but the court unanimously rejected his request The group that filed a separate complaint against the District 4 results is led by Hawaii Kai community advocate Natalie Iwasa who ran against Waters and Ozawa in the primary and supported Waters in the general election Iwasa also questioned how the state Office of Elections handled the final ballots that came in after midnight the night of the election She started the Facebook group Every Vote Matters Hawaii and an online petition calling on the elections office to recount by hand all of the ballots cast for District 4 More than 200 people had signed the petition as of Monday afternoon “I think there’s room for explanation here that needs to get out,” said Clifton Hasegawa LoPresti’s complaint alleges that poll workers at the Ilima Intermediate School polling place tampered with ballots LoPresti writes in the complaint that he was told about the alleged tampering by the precinct captain at the polling place and other elections officials was one of the poll workers who participated in manipulating ballots Golojuch couldn’t be reached for comment Monday afternoon LoPresti also argues that if the reasons he outlines in the complaint aren’t enough to compel an investigation and recount then the entire elections law should be deemed unconstitutional by the Hawaii Supreme Court Natanya Friedheim was a reporter for Civil Beat You can follow her on Twitter at @natanya_hnl and Instagram at @natanyafriedheim Blaze Lovell is a reporter for Civil Beat. Born and raised on Oahu, Lovell is a graduate of the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. You can reach him at blovell@civilbeat.org. “We have to make funding of our public schools a top priority including revenues through the diversification of our economy.” The following came from Lynn Robinson-Onderko a Democratic candidate for the state House of Representatives in District 41 Go to Civil Beat’s Elections Guide for general information, and check out other candidates on the Primary Election Ballot I support full transparency and accountability in the Legislature Televising and archiving all hearings should be standard especially when our state is an island archipelago making it difficult for many of our residents to access the state Capitol We need a zero tolerance sexual harassment policy I will always advocate for mandatory sexual harassment prevention training We also need safe reporting practices that are facilitated through the Human Resources Department and never through legislative leadership Lobbyists should continue to be registered and regulated I would support an end to fundraising during session I support a statewide citizen’s initiative process as I believe it affords power to the people when government fails to take action on critical issues I would add that we need to keep the citizenry well informed so that ballot measures are constitutionally sound and can become law The people of Hawaii deserve lawmakers that can have an open exchange of ideas and embrace diverse perspectives the biggest consequence of one-party control is the perception that only Democrats can get elected Candidates use the “D” next to their name to get elected and then consistently vote against the Democratic Party platform This is unfair to voters who use party platforms as a guide to make the best choice to represent them I would support more frequent campaign finance reporting (between January and July) in election years I will always support measures that would make disclosures informative and easily accessible to the public it’s time to digitize records and invest in systems that allow for easier accessibility Records should be archived and available on-line fees should only be assessed to recoup the costs of producing printed paper records While I understand there is a good measure in place to bring the Hawaii Employer-Union Health Benefits Trust Fund to solvency to include diversifying Hawaii’s economy to bring in revenues that can feed the fund and protect workers’ benefits in the future Do you support changing the state constitution to allow taxing investment properties to fund the public schools Hawaii’s public schools are severely underfunded Teachers are leaving the state in search of better pay at alarming rates A surcharge on out-of-state investment properties is a reasonable measure for funding This revenue stream will allow us to recruit and retain quality teachers improve infrastructure and support technology we need to continue to find innovative revenue sources Our tourists benefit from Hawaii state governmental services including the use of our roads They should help pay for those services through taxes on vacation rentals I believe it would be best for taxes to be paid directly to the state and not be funneled through parent management groups for bulk payment I will advocate for strong oversight and enforcement in order to collect from legal The recent measure requiring all short term renters to include tax registration numbers in their rental agreements is a step in the right direction but I would advocate for comprehensive reporting by owners to better assess tax obligations Of course we have to continue to address the crisis created by not cracking down on non-permitted rentals I would advocate for getting systems in place that will stop illegal vacation rentals from taking over neighborhoods and decreasing inventories in our local housing market I understand the fundamental importance of periodically reassessing and amending our state constitution I also understand citizens’ grave concerns about big money and extremist organizations influencing the process adding that is it important that we weigh the risks it is up to voters to decide and I will absolutely support that outcome we need to refrain from further development on our coastlines we need to make preventive reinforcement and building structures that can sustain natural disasters and shelter populations a top priority As a Public Administration major who studied Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management and is trained as a Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) member I understand the importance of preparedness We have to continue to find effective programs to educate the public about the real threat associated with rising sea levels and increased ocean temperatures isolated islands are particularly vulnerable and we cannot rely on outside agencies to sustain us in the aftermath of a devastating storm We need to continue on a path toward sustainable energy independence We need to protect our fresh water and have ample local food sources and storage Lawmakers need to fund public agencies and sustainable energy sources to ensure our state is ready it is important that lawmakers understand that natural disasters cripple tourism and could devastate Hawaii’s economy This is yet another reason why we need to focus on diversifying our economy The pressing issue facing my district is the underfunding and overcrowding in our public schools We have failing infrastructure and programs are suffering Student-teacher ratios are at an all time high Teachers are leaving the state to find better pay at an alarming rate We have to make funding of our public schools a top priority including revenues through the diversification of our economy I know there is no better investment we can make in our future than a quality education for our young people Former legislators try to regain their seats in Waianae and Ewa while a candidate who narrowly lost in 2016 runs again in Manoa A couple of familiar faces are hoping to regain their former state House seats this year In House District 44, former Rep. Jo Jordan, who held the seat for six years, is challenging Rep. Cedric Gates, who defeated her by just 240 votes in the 2016 primary Rida Cabanilla is back to challenge two of her former constituents in a race for the House District 41 seat Cabanilla will face fellow Democrat Lynn Robinson-Onderko in the primary and the winner will go against Republican Chris Fidelibus but another familiar face is running to represent Manoa in the House will face four primary opponents to replace the retiring Choy Gates ran as a Green Party candidate for the District 44 seat in 2014 and shouldn’t have been allowed to run as a Democrat for another three years But party officials later said they didn’t catch the error in time and allowed his 2016 candidacy to stand says his accomplishments will secure him another victory but Jordan says she’s got the experience and track record to do the job “Just because I didn’t win my election in 2016 doesn’t mean I went home,” she said who was born on the mainland but has spent almost her entire life in Waianae She said she read all her emails and answered the phone personally as a lawmaker She expressed concerns about infrastructure issues and overdevelopment of Waianae Jordan said she wanted to see more fiscal transparency and accountability in the state budget as a lawmaker She introduced bills related to procurement and has a professional background in accounting and taxes adding the state shouldn’t rely so much on tourism and the military “How do we survive in an island state economy so far away from another piece of land?” she said about $25,000 less than Gates has in the current election cycle who has more than $20,000 in her account from when she was a lawmaker said she will likely spend about $16,000 in the coming weeks “You run the same race over and over and … you don’t have to change your signs and stuff,” she said said the cost of living and traffic infrastructure are his top issues Gates said he helped secure funding to improve accessibility to Waianae including $5 million to plan and conduct an environmental review to create a secondary access road that could eventually connect Waianae to Makakilo or Kunia He said he hoped to build on Waianae traffic mitigation programs and support similar initiatives in the future could be a way to lower the cost of utilities while using available space “Being able to accomplish so much in my first term will send a clear message to the community that I am an effective legislator,” he said Gates has been fined by the Campaign Spending Commission four times this year for filing late reports and failing to report some contributions Many of his recent donors were lobbyists and political action committees His donors over the past year include retired Speaker Emeritus Joe Souki House Speaker Scott Saiki and Jennifer Sabas a well-connected lobbyist who served as the late U.S Dan Inouye’s longtime chief of staff Cabanilla represented House District 41 for a decade and was majority floor leader when fellow Democrat Matt LoPresti ousted her by 860 votes in 2014 Now LoPresti is leaving the post to seek a Senate seat Cabanilla came under media scrutiny for submitting a $200,000 grant request for the Ewa Historical Society Cabanilla sat on the society’s board of directors and her son was vice president of the organization She also was cited for Campaign Spending Commission violations Cabanilla now says that she submitted the grant because she received so many calls about the condition of the Old Ewa Cemetery She noted that the state Ethics Commission later determined that she and her son would not have personally received any money through the grant “I might have gone down because of it,” she said Cabanilla, a native of the Philippines and a district resident since 1987, said she’s most concerned with homelessness. She supports tent cities with laundry machines and bathrooms, and said she still believes in a “return-to-home” program like the one she helped pass in 2013 The state never moved forward with the program which would have flown homeless people back to their families She said another of her priorities is to help young people get post-high school education to ensure they can make a living wage adding she was ready to leave but was dismayed when she saw false information written about her online “I think there’s a politician inside of me and there’s a desire to want to serve.” Cabanilla will face fellow Democrat Lynn Robinson-Onderko in the primary is originally from Michigan but has resided in Ewa for 15 years She’s been a community advocate and worked in former Sen and increasing funding for schools is her top priority She pointed to problems with high teacher turnover and delays in campus maintenance It’s also important to diversify the economy adding she saw opportunity for Hawaii to grow tech we’ll be back sign-waving tomorrow,” Robinson-Onderko said Robinson-Onderko has received donations from Belatti Cabanilla hasn’t reported any donations of more than $100 Gifts smaller than that don’t have to be reported The primary winner will face Republican Chris Fidelibus in the general election He’s lived in Ewa for 11 years and is a business owner said he would like to see better facilities for public schools and create a friendlier business environment with fewer regulations and taxes it’s about what supports our district the best,” Fidelibus said Isaac Choy is not seeking another term in District 23 All five candidates for the seat are Democrats who say they want to support the University of Hawaii’s flagship campus Many district residents are UH faculty members Dale Kobayashi is the only candidate who’s run for this seat before. The son of Honolulu City Councilwoman Ann Kobayashi lost in 2016 to Choy by just 70 votes was raised in Manoa and lived on the mainland for more than 20 years after college He said he wants to ensure that UH Manoa is held accountable but also receives financial support Kobayashi questioned whether people need investment properties and wants to look toward the existing housing stock to find affordable housing Kobayashi noted his involvement in community efforts such as protecting Paradise Park “There’s just a lot of changes here in the valley,” he said It’s been so quiet and safe here and now you have monster homes coming up Dylan Armstrong a Portland native and seven-year resident in District 23 is an urban and environmental planner who once served on the neighborhood board He said his platform is based on conversations with local residents He expressed interest in preparing infrastructure for climate change and ensuring fiscal efficiency by eliminating projects that aren’t benefiting anyone Locals want to preserve the community and character of the valley “Manoa is arguably one of the most well-connected cohesive neighborhoods in all of Hawaii,” Armstrong said “Even people who live here for decades say ‘I’ve only lived here 40 years or I’ve only lived here for 25 years.’” Choy donated $250 to Armstrong’s campaign Elton Fukumoto has lived in Manoa since 1961 after spending 15 years of his career on the mainland He has worked as a legislative staffer and university educator He wants to see the university get more money to fix its facilities and retain top-notch staff That could improve the economy and create conditions for startups to thrive “I’m 65 years old and my parents are in their 90s and I’m having to confront all these issues,” he said Andrew Garrett was born in Tokyo and moved to Mililani as a child wants to see a better kupuna care plan in anticipation of the silver tsunami that isn’t a “hodge podge system” of nursing homes He said he wanted to offer UH Manoa more autonomy and support and felt Choy’s frequent criticism of the university harmed its reputation and didn’t foster a productive relationship “I think it’s just time to reset the relationship there between the representative at Manoa and the university’s faculty,” Garrett said the maximum amount for a state House candidate Benton Rodden is a Seattle native who’s lived in the area for four years He also wants to see more resources invested in public education He said homelessness seems to be the top complaint he’s heard from voters Partnerships with nonprofits and private groups could help the state execute projects to create safe zones and provide mental health resources to homeless people who has taught political science at UH Manoa but somewhat apathetic” students for motivating him to run “I think that we need to start demonstrating that voting is a way to solve problems,” he said Thoughts on this or any other story? Write a Letter to the Editor. Send to news@civilbeat.org and put Letter in the subject line. 200 words max. You need to use your name and city and include a contact phone for verification purposes. And you can still comment on stories on our Facebook page Courtney Teague is a reporting fellow for Civil Beat where she covers a wide range of community news Tom Berg answers questions about his candidacy for Hawaii House of Representatives District 41 The following came from Tom Berg, a Libertarian candidate for state representative for District 41. Other candidates include Republicans Steve Wiggins and Bryan Jeremiah and Democrats Rida Cabanilla and Matthew LoPresti. Go to Civil Beat’s Elections Guide for general information, and check out other candidates on the Primary Election Ballot. Profession: Retired after 13 years in government Community organizations: 10 years as the Ewa regional director on the Oahu Resource Conservation and Development Council; past vice-president Ewa by Gentry Community Association; member Kalaeloa Development Plan; full-time volunteer seeking justice producing Olelo TV series for “Ewa Today” and youtube channel BERGDRAFT Why are you running for the Hawaii Legislature Advance the will of the people – label GMO products; end the war on drugs; break up the monopoly on electricity and shipping; and actually protect important farmland instead of promoting backroom land swap deals put it on the ballot is my motto — let the people decide Put offshore gaming on the ballot — let the people decide what is the tipping point to generating the necessary amount of revenue to qualm the many shortfalls Local officials and advocates have worked to address homelessness for years What proposals do you have for this complicated issue Where do you stand on labeling genetically engineered food and pesticide regulation I am for labeling— that is what the people want I have held numerous town hall meetings on this subject when I was a councilman and the outcome/consensus is clear Hawaii’s cost of living is the highest in the country by many indicators What can really be done to make things like housing Repeal — or waiver for Hawaii from the Jones Act will save us plenty I support a repeal of the Jones Act for Hawaii Would you support using liquified natural gas as part of the state’s energy sources And how can we improve the electrical distribution system so more renewable energy can be utilized to bring costs down I also favor breaking up the monopoly on electricity and introduced legislation while on the City Council explaining how to get that done The real solution for our energy needs is harvesting the ocean current —  using wave technology to produce electricity We should stop using precious acreage for solar farms when instead it should be on every rooftop Yet many citizens are unable to afford the costs that state and local government agencies impose Would you support eliminating search and redaction charges and making records free to the public except for basic copying costs Are you satisfied with the way Hawaii’s public school system is run Air condition the schools and make good on all the repair and maintenance projects gone unabated for decades We have to start treating our learning environments with better care this should yield an increase in the amount of passion and desire for students to excel more Ever see your elected officials go to work in an environment without air conditioning There is a desire to grow the economy through new development yet also a need to protect our limited environmental resources Grow industrial hemp — that can save the world By Andrew Gomes Kapolei has been one of the most concentrated areas of suburban housing development on Oahu and home construction continues to chug along in the region stretching from Ewa Beach to Ko Olina Several developers are churning out phases in master-planned communities that date back decades in the effort to create a "Second City" on Oahu from what used to be thousands of acres of sugar cane new homes in Kapolei are priced for entry-level and move-up buyers though luxury and resort homes also are in the mix One of the region’s oldest communities expects to produce 130 to 150 new homes this year at two phases said the company has built about 7,300 homes in the community that began in 1988 production was ramped up somewhat in response to the growing economy and buyer demand "The market’s improved," he said Another major Kapolei project with old roots is Ocean Pointe project developer Haseko Hawaii has completed about 3,300 homes including 750 at the resort side of the community called Hoakalei launched in 2008 About 1,500 homes at Hoakalei have yet to be built Haseko declined to project sales this year but has sold close to 130 homes annually on average since 2008 the newest phase of Hoakalei called Kipuka began sales at prices ranging from the low $600,000s to the mid-$800,000s A more recent addition to Kapolei is Mehana a project planned for 1,150 homes below the city of Kapolei Horton began producing homes at Mehana in 2008 and this year expects to produce and sell about 100 homes starting in the $300,000s executive vice president of Horton’s local Schuler Division "The past couple years have been consistent and that’s been welcome," he said Another Horton project in the region is Kahiwelo in Makakilo where the developer began work in 2008 on the subdivision of 472 single-family homes Bruhl said 60 to 70 new homes should be available for sale at base prices ranging from the high $500,000s to mid-$600,000s In the state’s Villages of Kapolei affordable-housing community Castle & Cooke Homes Hawai‘i plans to finish delivering the last 104 homes for sale this year at the 645-unit project that included for-sale homes and rentals Nohona III and Makali‘i II neighborhoods range from $227,000 to $462,000 around 550 new homes are expected to be produced this year in Kapolei will continue to stretch out over many more years as some communities are completed and developers try to start new ones that are approved in permitting phases or in conceptual formation The biggest of these potential future projects is Ho‘opili with 11,750 homes on the Ewa Plain where Horton still needs city zoning approvals after receiving permission from the state Land Use Commission last year to urbanize the 1,554-acre site One permitted project that has no definite timetable is Makaiwa Hills with 4,280 homes next to Makakilo Plans recently floated also include 4,000 homes proposed by Hunt Cos at Kalaeloa on part of the former Navy base in the city of Kapolei proposed by Franco Mola of Coastal Rim Properties One other long-envisioned project called Kapolei West was originally envisioned as a second phase to Ko Olina Resort & Marina with 2,500 homes has applied to subdivide the property and is looking for a developer to carry out a development plan All the potential residential development could produce close to 20,000 more homes in Kapolei by 2025 according to an assessment by Decision Analysts Hawaii Inc that projects the number of homes in Kapolei will rise from 31,730 in 2010 to 36,290 in 2015 and 51,500 in 2025 Here’s what Matthew LoPresti has to say about his candidacy for Hawaii House of Representatives District 41 one of two Democratic candidates for state representative for District 41 Republicans Steve Wiggins and Bryan Jeremiah and Libertarian Tom Berg are also running  Go to Civil Beat’s Elections Guide for general information, and check out other candidates on the Primary Election Ballot. Profession: Associate professor of philosophy and humanities and chair of the Asian and Pacific Studies program at Hawaii Pacific University Sierra Club Oahu Group; Navy League of the United States; Ewa Neighborhood Board; president of my HOA in Ka Makana at Hoakalei Ewa Beach deserves leadership with integrity It has been a long time since we had a state House legislator who put the people’s needs before her own I am running to help restore the people’s trust in our system of democracy and to represent working families struggling to make it every day here in Hawaii The habitual underfunding of these liabilities has handed the new generation of taxpayers an extra burden that previous generations failed to fund as this would break promises made over a lifetime of work Budget priorities need to be regularly met prior to or instead of funding special projects By electing leaders with greater fiscal restraint we can begin to dig ourselves out of the hole I fully support the Housing First initiative as it provides the realistic compassionate response that provides chronically homeless with the ability to get back on their feet while further identifying and treating those who may be homeless for reasons other than joblessness My opponent’s proposal to fly homeless to the mainland has been soundly rejected by the human services experts Even though this idea was rejected the media coverage that homeless people could get a free trip back to the mainland (and if it doesn’t work out for them there then Hawaii taxpayers are required to fly them back to Hawaii!) has only encouraged more homeless to move to Hawaii further stressing our limited shelters and services and would expose our state to lawsuits by any and all other states we send the homeless to which would cost hundreds of thousands more of taxpayer dollars in court I support the overwhelming demand by American consumers to have a right to know what is in our food It is simply inconceivable that anyone could have a legitimate reason to intentionally keep people uninformed about what they put into their bodies or into the bodies of their children This is not just about concerns (founded or unfounded) about the safety of consuming GMO products; it is about being able to support a range of sustainable farming practices that use fewer harmful chemicals on our products When companies intentionally design food that can withstand extremely harmful pesticides and herbicides and knowledge that this means introducing greater and greater amounts of these chemicals into our environment and into our bodies — often in concentrations far above what we may see even with typical industrialized farming methods With GMO labeling consumer choice will grow beyond organic or not organic to organic Those who malign people with legitimate concerns about something as simple as wanting to know what goes into our bodies have some sort of agenda that runs counter to the public’s well-being or the health of our environment Anyone who tells you different is selling you something – and it is probably covered in chemicals made by the company they represent If you work a full time job then you deserve to be able to pay for at least rent If that is not possible for individuals or even families here in Hawaii then we have neither a sustainable labor market nor a sustainable society and requiring developers to offer true affordable housing units for local families along transit routes are prime targets for bringing the cost of living down With energy we need to make more sensible use of the renewable resources we have These can greatly reduce long-term energy costs as well Hawaii needs to approach this issue by asking your question in a different way “Why are wages in Hawaii at or near the lowest in the nation when it comes to the real cost of living?” The answer is not as simple as the cost of housing food and transportation – the answer has just as much to do with the continued long-term suppression of wages for local families relative to cost of living They are the lowest-paid in the nation by several thousands of dollars relative to cost of living Do they deserve such substandard pay in such an expensive place to live and raise a family or even in a Department of Education that consistently has trouble recruiting and retaining qualified teachers If professional workers like them were paid even just enough to not be the worst paid in the country it would sharply raise family incomes so that local workers would have enough resources to make ends meet and all of that cost of living increase would go right back into the local economy It already is part of the state’s energy source The plan to dramatically increase its use is misguided at best and a reckless waste of taxpayer and ratepayer money at worst HECO basically has enough money to either upgrade its energy distribution system to accommodate more renewable production (like wind or it has enough to invest in bringing in larger and larger amounts of a fossil fuel that by many expert indicators is actually dirtier than coal when you factor in fracking methane off-gassing and emissions and gives little hope for actually being cheaper than what they are currently using – but they can make more of a profit Hawaii is a tiny market and we will never be able to command the low prices commanded by other world markets for which our tiny island state would have to compete and pay a premium to have the natural gas shipped here instead of there Government and bureaucracy without transparency (or ease of transparency) is a recipe for government waste and as a husband to a public school teacher and other challenges faced in our public schools Article X of the Hawaii State Constitution mandates a public education system but says nothing of quality Students deserve the best education available to them and yet Hawaii is the worst in the nation in per capita spending of state and local expenditures for public education and to top it off we also pay our teachers the least in the entire country in relation to cost of living Honoring the teaching profession in a way that attracts and keeps the best teachers is key inadequate funding and poor oversight of the funds that are spent almost certainly ensures its failure more administrative support to implement teacher evaluations and most importantly they need the freedom to provide honest feedback to their higher ups without fear of retribution We end up in the mess (nationally and locally) that we have in public education because lawmakers with little to no experience in education set education policy We need professional educators to set educational policy and better yet we need lawmakers who are educators to back them up This is a primary reason for why I am running for public office and why I am endorsed and supported by teachers They are not competing interests if we change the pattern of development towards urban renewal and urban infill rather than paving over our natural and agricultural resources and environmentalists can all agree on this for the sake of not only our current generation but for the sake of leaving a sustainable society in Hawaii future generations as well It is the need for leadership with this vision that explains why I have a wide array of endorsements and support from environmentalists and labor business leaders and unions while my opponent in the Democratic primary has virtually none What other important issue would you like to discuss here Lawmakers need to be bound by stronger ethics laws to prevent corruption and restore faith in government See details of my platform at Matt4Ewa.com including: Education (A/C in ‘Ewa Beach schools and a second high school for ‘Ewa) and Environmental Protection (help bring the limu back to ‘Ewa) ‘Ewa desperately needs a change in leadership; it needs someone with integrity This is why I’ve received such a wide array of endorsements for my candidacy for the State House and it is also why I’ve received support from every part of the political spectrum in this Democratic primary As important as endorsements are to raising awareness about the viability of a candidate’s ideas and expressing confidence in one’s leadership ability Please vote for Matt LoPresti in the Democratic primary Keiki in the Ewa Beach community can look forward to a new playground at Ewa Beach Community Park on North Road — all thanks to the Ewa Beach Community Based Development Organization (EBCB- DO) a new nonprofit that focuses on improving the quality of life for its residents A dedication ceremony and blessing was held Sept 22 to recognize those who made it all possible EBCBDO applied for and received a $90,000 grant from the city to build a new playground as the old equipment was designated unsafe by the city and was removed in September 2011 “We saw that there was a need,” explained EBCBDO president Christiane Bolosan-Yee “So we looked for funding to replace the old playground.” is the highlight of the new playground — a 14- foot-high climbing structure built by Kompan a company that specializes in playground equipment the Explorer Dome meets all guidelines and standards of the Consumer Product Safety Commission parents can rest assured that the new equipment is safe “The playground is very unique,” Bolosan-Yee explained project completion required community volunteers unions and companies to work together to better the Ewa Beach community The nonprofit took the role of gathering money and volunteers to help remove old asphalt and concrete and build the large surfacing area that underlies the playground “We felt really grateful for everyone’s willingness to be a part of our project.” Organizations that took part in the project include Ameron Ewa Beach Crush Youth Football League and com- munity volunteer Larry Toro; Gentry Homes South Pacific Steel and West Oahu Aggregate besides orchestrating and implementing plans for the new play- ground the organization has been offering micro-enterprise (small business training) for entrepreneurs in the community The nonprofit is looking for new board members Those interested can email info@ewabeachcbdo.org or visit ewabeachcbdo.org for more information And thanks to EBCBDO and those in the community The District 41 state representative was taken to the hospital by ambulance early Friday Matt LoPresti was taken to the emergency room at the Kaiser Moanalua Medical Center early Friday LoPresti said he was taken to the hospital in an ambulance around 4:45 a.m and expects to return to work at the Capitol on Monday BusinessEditors' Picks CINDY ELLEN RUSSELL / CRUSSELL@STARADVERTISER.COM This home in the Laulani neighborhood of Ewa by Gentry illustrates the existing seller’s market in Honolulu went into escrow six days later and closed Nov claims that Honolulu homes have been selling at a “discount” this year A new academic study contends that Honolulu is the best place among major U.S metropolitan housing markets to buy a home at a “discount.” Researchers at Florida Atlantic University published a report recently pronouncing the City and County of Honolulu as the most underpriced metro housing market out of 100 major cities in September even as the median sale price for single-family houses on Oahu stayed at a record $1.05 million reflecting a 19% surge from a year earlier The report said 96 of the 100 markets were overpriced with homes selling at premiums “Honolulu remains the best place to find a deal with homes selling for an average discount of 2.6%,” the report said a Florida Atlantic economist who co-authored the study said he was surprised by the ranking of Honolulu’s housing market which local real estate experts describe as being tilted strongly in favor of sellers who are often receiving multiple bids above asking prices from buyers “I was really shocked where you turned out in this,” he said The university’s study aims to break new ground in housing market valuations but may not be presenting a good assessment of home values in Honolulu given the study’s methodology This is because home values in the report are based on a calculation that combines estimated values for two very different types of housing — single-family homes and condominiums Local economist Paul Brewbaker of TZ Economics noted that condo and single-­family home markets on Oahu have been behaving quite differently this year with amped-up sale prices for single-family homes and a more modest increase for condos “The ‘bargains’ about which their calculation refers could be suppressing this important distinction between market segments,” Brewbaker said Nearly two-thirds of all homes sold on Oahu this year have been condos which include townhomes and high-rise units according to the Honolulu Board of Realtors Zillow’s value index for Honolulu covers all of Oahu The Florida Atlantic study said an “expected” average value for the market in September was $863,450 based on a historical trend of Zillow’s index What’s more is that the researchers contend that Hono­lulu home prices have been discounted since mid-2011 with the peak undervaluation being 12.4% in September 2020 Zillow’s value index is an average that excludes homes priced at the lower and higher ends of the market Only home prices between a 35th and 65th percentile are used to calculate the index figure the Honolulu Board of Realtors reports a median price for all previously owned homes sold on Oahu each month This measure is a point at which half the homes sold at a higher price and half at a lower price Johnson said the point of the study was to provide the public with more information about real estate markets He acknowledged that results are limited to what Zillow uses to produce its estimates Florida Atlantic plans to publish a monthly report and produced its first one in August was the next best place after Honolulu to find homes selling at a discount in September a $292,029 average estimated price was 1.2% below an expected $295,624 price based on historical trends The only other two “undervalued” markets were New York City and Baltimore was the most overpriced market out of the 100 metro areas in the study with an average estimated price of $502,580 in September that represented an 81.3% premium over an expected $277,234 Nofoa not guilty of murdering former girlfriend Royal Kaukani in 2009 in Ewa Nofoa had been charged with first-degree murder because Kaukani was scheduled to be a witness against him in a kidnapping and terroristic threatening case Witnesses said a man shot Kaukani as she sat in a car outside her home in the Ewa by Gentry neighborhood on March 17 Police arrested Nofoa that evening in Waimanalo The jury found Nofoa not guilty of the murder charge as well as two firearms charges Contact us: news@app.com.pk Copyright © Associated Press of Pakistan