• Daryl Kaneshiro • Christobel Kealoha Editor’s note: The following seven questions were posed to the 23 candidates for Kauai County Council. Beginning today, two candidates a day will have their answers reprinted in their entirety until all candidates’ answers
• Daryl Kaneshiro
• Christobel Kealoha
Editor’s note: The following seven questions were posed to the 23 candidates for Kauai County Council. Beginning today, two candidates a day will have their answers reprinted in their entirety until all candidates’ answers have appeared.
1) Define what future development on Kaua‘i means to you. Please use specifics.
2) What is your vision of the island in 10 years?
3) What specific credentials do you have for being a county council member? Why are you the best for our county? Again, let’s get specific. What positions of power have you held in the past? What connections do you have that will benefit the county?
4) How will you work with the other six members of the County Council if elected? Would like some specific tactics and strategies you would use to act on the county’s behalf within the larger group.
5) What is your history? Born and raised here? Mainlander? Family? Residence? Career? Education?
6) What does open government mean to you?
7) What is the single, most important issue to you?
Daryl Kaneshiro
1) Future developments with resort accommodations will continue to grow, but not as rapidly as we have seen. The moratorium placed on resort zoning and infrastructure improvements to keep up with or accommodate projected growth are skyrocketing in cost and will contribute to the burden that these developments must address.
2) Careful planning and focus on diversified agriculture, the visitor industry, revitalization of our towns and small businesses, and upgrading of existing infrastructure. New technology to increase diversion levels at the landfills and help manage our island’s solid waste.
3) • Served as Executive Assistant to former Mayor Tony Kunimura as the Film Industry Coordinator and as the Director of Economic Development.
• Served four terms on the Kauai County Council.
• Served as a board member of National Association of Counties (NACO) and as the vice president of NACO’s Agriculture and Rural Affairs steering committee.
• Former board member of Kauai Cattleman’s Association and the Kauai County Farm Bureau.
• Former board member of Kauai Economic Opportunity.
4) My previous experience as a county administrator and understanding the county government operations allows me to bridge the gap and assist in the coordination and promotion of effective government dialog.
5) Born: Waimea, Kaua‘i.
Third-generation farmer on Kaua‘i.
Family: Parents — Satoshi (Sugar) and Dorothy Kaneshiro, sons Arryl and Kye Kaneshiro, Michelle and Leah Emura.
Currently: Kauai County Council member
Owner: Koloa Town Activity Center
Owner: Oma‘o Farms
Account Executive: Kauai Petroleum Company
Member: Kauai Chamber of Commerce
6) Open government is a good thing. As a council person our first responsibility is to the Charter. In order to fulfill our duties of the oath, you need to think of the best interest of the people. It is a choice you make for the people of the county of Kauai. Unfortunately in some cases it requires confidentiality of the proceedings to protect the best interest of the people of Kaua‘i.
7) Preservation of ag lands.
Christobel Kealoha
1) Future development on Kaua‘i would follow the General Plan, including modifications where properly promulgated. A balance of the needs of our residents, with adequate visitor accommodations that do not exceed our infrastructure limitations. Truly affordable housing and agricultural expansion to feed our own population. Development of adequate waste management facilities (recycling as well as disposal), and a strong emphasis on alternative power sources: wind, solar, water.
2) In 10 years Kaua‘i will be producing more of its own food, rely considerably less on outside energy sources, have more affordable “villages”; allowing residents to carry on a lifestyle like the past with emphasis on outdoor living, and less on artificial amenities (e.g. air conditioning), more home and community gardens with sharing amongst the community; exemplary recycling programs with solid waste reduced by at least 50 percent, communities solidifying and addressing their social problems such as drugs, lack of teen programs in a way that best uses individual and government resources; familiarity with our neighbors is more prevalent; the “aloha spirit”; is a reality and inspiration to others looking in.
3) Credentials: Educated at St. Theresa School, Waimea High School, UH BA in music education, and a law degree from the WS Richardson School of Law, 1979. I have the benefit of a Kaua‘i upbringing, with the appreciation of the beauty and richness this community has to offer, and a strong commitment towards perpetuating such richness. I am at a stage in life where my experience and education allows me to present knowledge and wisdom into the dynamics of the council, attributes which come only from years of “doing.”;
4) I would extend the style I’ve used all of my professional years in dealing with colleagues: integrity, forthrightness, direct, compassionate, open and firm, flexible where appropriate, firm when needed. I believe in giving others the benefit of the doubt while focusing on the practical realities. I would use logic and persuasion, and always employ analytical scrutiny when addressing a problem/solution. I consider my legal background a resource and my sense of aloha and community the balance. I would interact with the council and mayor as though there were my own brothers and sisters, with the commitment to have an ongoing relationship, despite disagreements and feeling at odds with each other. I would also inform county staff of my queries ahead of time so that the county council sessions can be efficient.
5) Personal history: I was born and raised on Kaua‘i in the town of Kekaha. Early education also there, with education at UH for undergraduate and my law degree. Twenty-two of my 30 years public service has been with the State Attorney General’s office, the chief law enforcement agency in the state. I have served as an assigned deputy or as advisory counsel in matters such as: child abuse and neglect; educational neglect; mental health commitments; affirmative action; welfare appeals; commission on the status of women; civil service commission; labor contract disputes, arbitration; personnel issues; government interests, to name a few. I have served on boards such as Hawaii State Bar Association, HSTA, Hawaii Legal Foundation, Hale ‘Opio advisory council.
6) “Open government”; is an adherence in spirit and practice to the Sunshine Law as provided by Hawaii Revised Statutes. Beyond the letter of the law, if is a belief and commitment to letting the community know exactly what is going on so that confidence and trust of the government can be restored. Based on human nature, vigilance is always necessary. Hopefully, less distrust and paranoia can be encouraged.
7) The term “aloha spirit”; has been abused and misused by many seeking to exploit the nature of aloha as a commodity or lure. The true “Spirit of Aloha”; embodies a reverence for Ke Akua, others, and our surroundings — treating the land as a trust and “gift”; to be cherished and preserved. If truly followed, the aloha spirit would demand responsible conservation of the land — which necessarily means good waste management, devoted recycling, and a waste-not policy. Land is used and not exploited — to gain what we need, share what extra we have, and care for the less fortunate. Separating the citizenry, such as gated communities is unheard of and promotion of interaction is the norm. “Aloha”; is the difference between Hawai‘i and other tropical vacation destinations. It is that which makes others want to come and experience. It is self-generating and leads others to follow. It is exemplary. It trumps greed and selfishness. It promotes responsibility and hope for the future.