Wai'anae incumbents merit another term
The beauty of the Wai'anae area — from the ocean to its peaks — is among the most memorable in the state.
But lately that beauty is too often belied by the litany of some of Hawai'i's most pressing issues: homelessness, poverty, educational disparities, violent crime, youth unrest.
For officials to effectively address these problems, it would best be done at the grass-roots level. That means each vote cast for the state representatives of the Wai'anae Coast will be crucial in the Nov. 7 general election.
The people of this area deserve strong advocacy in the Legislature. That's why The Advertiser endorses Michael Kahikina, D-44 (Nanakuli, Honokai Hale, Lualualei), and Maile S.L. Shimabukuro, D-45 (Wai'anae, Makaha, Makua) for re-election.
It's common for people to see the headlines and blame some of the social ills on unresponsive government. But working to get the entire Legislature to see the importance of the Wai'anae Coast rather than viewing it as a dumping ground has been an uphill battle.
Kahikina knows this challenge. "All the dumps are in my community, and all the pollution is in my community," he said.
Kahikina began in the Legislature in 1994 when the state was saddled with a deficit of more than $600 million, and budget slashing was the rule. But through the years, the former electrician and teacher learned how to make the system work. He has been an advocate for Native Hawaiian self-determination. Last session, as the number of homeless in the state was growing more visible on Wai'anae beaches, Kahikina as chair of the Committee on Housing, Homeless and Affordable Housing was taking action. He helped spearhead a bipartisan package with the governor that brought $50 million in housing solutions, including more than $8 million in projects to help his district.
Kahikina recognizes the job is not done. What's needed is a broader program to encourage the building of affordable rentals in perpetuity, not just in Wai'anae, but throughout the state.
Kahikina is good at turning problems of his area into positives for the entire state. Instead of expanding the dump in Wai'anae, he wants to explore alternative energy ideas that turn rubbish into energy. This kind of thinking from a lawmaker is good for Wai'anae and good for the state.
Shimabukuro, first elected in 2002, is still establishing her role in the House. But the Wai'anae native stays rooted in the community and in her compassion for the under-privileged. For 12 years, she has worked as a Legal Aid lawyer. "My job shows me every day how critical it is to maintain a safety net for the most vulnerable in our society," she wrote to The Advertiser editorial board, "and I believe that should be the primary goal of a leader in government."
Wai'anae needs the kind of representation that will constantly remind us all that Wai'anae's problems are the state's problems.
Kahikina and Shimabukuro are voices for Wai'anae who should be returned to the Legislature.
Correction: Maile S.L. Shimabukuro was elected to the state House in November 2002. An incorrect year was given in a previous version of this editorial.
