Grounded in Values.
Driven by Vision.
Understanding the challenges facing our community is essential to creating meaningful and lasting change. These are the 5 priorities that will guide Jr’s service in representing District 5.
A Vision for D5: Five Priorities for Stronger Communities
1. Roads & Transportation
District 5 Residents often deal with:
Heavy congestion along Highway 11 and Highway 130
Long commute times ("Puna parade")
Limited alternate access routes during emergencies
Poor conditions on private subdivision roads
Transportation challenges for rural communities
Campaign Positioning:
Families should not spend hours of their day sitting in traffic. We will work with the state legislators, HDOT, and other elements involved to push for an alternate route from Upper Puna to Saddle Road. We will work to improve surface roads in Puna along Highway 130 to alleviate traffic congestion. We will also look into adding acceleration and deceleration lanes along the Panaewa stretch to make our commute safer when vehicles merge onto or exit Highway 11.
2. Cost of Living
Rising housing costs
Limited affordable inventory
Young families leaving Hawaiʻi
Campaign Positioning:
In May, Resolution 574-26 implemented a 20-cent reduction per $1000 of net taxable value for Affordable Rental Housing & Primary Residences, changing the rate from $5.95 to $5.75 per $1000. This was meant to incentivize those with housing to rent to the community at a reduced cost with the county’s Affordable Rental Program. This is a great step forward, but we feel we need a more aggressive approach to address the cost of living.
For example, we would like to see how we could reduce property taxes for our kūpuna, as many of them live on a fixed income with pensions and social security, etc., and in the midst of inflation, we have to look at how we can take the strain off our kūpuna. With federal taxes, state taxes such as the TAT and GET, and with the county’s total budget at $966,891,661 and the general fund at $730 million, with 80% coming from real property tax, sometimes revenue acquisition isn’t always the best answer. There are other examples that we would like to explore to address the cost of living here in Hawaiʻi, and yes, we will always be open to hearing suggestions and input from our community.
When looking at limited inventory of affordable housing the issue of STVRs comes to mind. Our concern that many constituents have voiced is that their families need an STVR as a source of income. The county needs to explore ways to prohibit non residents from owning and operating an STVR. That money is not cyclical and does not stay here in Hawaiʻi. We need our community with this money in their pockets that will stay here in Hawaiʻi. The regulation and enforcement of “unhosted” vs “hosted”, proper zoning, requirements for declaring a house as an STVR can be had however we feel the priority should be with enforcement on non residents owning and operating an STVR.
3. Supporting Local Businesses & Agriculture
Support for local farmers
Food security and food independence
Growing local economic opportunities
Campaign Positioning:
With 92% of our food being imported, supporting local farmers, local businesses, and food hubs would help strengthen our economy and our ability to provide for our own communities. We need to incentivize and empower our local businesses to know that there is an entrepreneurial spirit here in Hawaiʻi that can build generational wealth to pass on to future generations.
4. Families, Youth & Community Well-Being
Youth programs
Mentorship opportunities
Family resources
Safe communities
Campaign Positioning:
Strong communities begin with strong ohana and opportunities for our youth. We will work to improve park conditions and access to recreational facilities. We also need to find ways to support and equip HPD for coverage and response times, respectively.
5. Homeless
Topics include, but are not limited to:
Rise in homelessness
Lack of mental health services
Drug addiction
Campaign Positioning:
Everyone deserves a safer Hawaiʻi. With a rise in homelessness, we need to provide help to those who need a hand up, not a handout. Some homeless people are simply houseless because of the rise in the cost of living. In these unfortunate events, we want to connect them to the right agencies and fund these agencies and non-profits properly, with oversight in tracking how our tax dollars are being spent. Then there are others who are dealing with addictions and mental health issues. We want to help address access to mental health services at the county level, and what are the ways we can help meet these demands.
Now, regarding these agencies, the county’s Homelessness and Housing Fund is due to expire in 2027. In total, $6 million was awarded to the 12 projects across 8 agencies this fiscal year. We need our community programs that address long-term housing, support programs & outreach projects & we mahalo them for their service to our community, and we would support extending the fund. However, the differentiation between administrative vs program funding must be clarified & we must be compliant with county codes. Otherwise, the community will continue to question the use of their tax dollars.
We would like to explore the idea of repurposing older buildings as temporary shelters or food distribution sites for the homeless as well, and work with community agencies to help transition the homeless into more permanent housing situations.
Another item that has been brought to our attention is the alleged influx of the homeless from other states. We want to pursue legal avenues on how we can help relocate them back to their home state, respectively. Our resources should be for the residents of Hawaiʻi.
Your Voice Matters
These priorities represent important issues facing District 5. We believe that the best solutions come from listening to the people we serve. Our communities are more than neighborhoods—we are ʻohana, and every voice strengthens the future we build together.
We invite families, business owners, and community members throughout District 5 to share the issues and concerns that matter most to you.
Contact us
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