PLATFORM
"Our ʻaina and our oceans have been healing with the reduced number of people and cars on our beaches and roads; a vision I never fathomed I would see. This is my utmost passionate issue...Preserving, protecting and caring for our Cultural, Historical and Natural Resources!"
LIST OF ISSUES
Long-Term Environmental and Economic Sustainability via Agriculture
COVID-19 has awoken us to the stark truth that tourism is not a viable Economic Engine for Maui. With the abundance of fallow land around our island, I believe we could make agriculture a workable solution to bringing Maui Nui into environmental and economic sustainability. Selecting a crop, that when harvested, could be manufactured into products we currently import (e.g. textiles, building materials, office and household supplies, biofuels, plastic alternatives, etc.), which would lessen our dependence on outside factors, and replenish the nutrients into previously fallow lands. The amount of jobs this venture would create, as well as the potential to offset our CO2 Emissions and contribute to the overall input into our aquifers, is exponential, along with food to nourish our families.
Homelessness & Affordable Housing
COVID19 has had an enormous impact on our Islands. So many small businesses have permanently closed their doors. As you drive around Kahului, you see many empty storefronts, buildings, and office spaces. My recommendation would be to repurpose or rezone these sites as housing zones to provide possible rent-to-own units, affordable housing units, or perhaps another homeless shelter.
Cultural, Historical, and Natural Resource Protection
Our Resources are slowly diminishing. Our sand dunes are disappearing because of overdevelopment. Our Iwi Kupuna are being disinterred and desecrated because of greed and profit. Our coral reefs are being crushed and destroyed because of excessive beach activities. These are but a few examples of why we need to protect and preserve what little of our Resources we have left. Living on an island presents many challenges, thereby deeming all Resources a precious commodity. A commodity not to be squandered because “what you see...is all you got”!
Post-COVID Economic Revitalization
With many being affected by layoffs, providing financial assistance through microloans or grants to local small businesses would help jump-start our economy. For those seeking another profession due to layoffs, the Council could provide assistance in cross-training through an educational loan. I would seek Federal and State assistance for educational needs for teachers and students. Volunteer drives and donations could be had to ask for school supplies.