Position Running For

Lieutenant Governor

What area(s) of the Island do you call home?

Ewa Beach

What is your vision for a thriving agricultural sector on Kauai and how can the State support that vision?

Kauai’s agricultural sector can thrive with a regenerative, diversified system prioritizing food security, economic resilience, and land restoration. Strategic support from County and State, including financial assistance, agricultural parks, and infrastructure modernization, can drive farm expansion and innovation.

The County and State can play key roles in achieving this vision through strategic support measures. County initiatives, including targeted financial assistance from the Kauai County Office of Economic Development, can drive farm expansion and innovation. Agricultural parks can provide shared infrastructure and land access, offering affordable plots and facilities. Local market support can be bolstered by vibrant farmers’ markets and a unique label-of-origin program. State-level support, including preserving plantation lands, modernizing ‘auwai networks and reservoir infrastructure, and leveraging institutional purchasing power, can also contribute to Kauai’s agricultural prosperity.

If elected, how would you engage with the business community prior to your decision-making?

As Lieutenant Governor, I believe in harnessing the power of collaboration and data-driven insights to drive business-friendly decision-making, fostering a brighter future for our communities. To ensure we’re always putting business first, we’ll establish a Business Advisory Council, host regional roundtables, conduct thorough regulatory impact assessments, leverage digital portals for open dialogue, and hold transparent stakeholder meetings, all while prioritizing the needs of local entrepreneurs and workers.

How would you help ensure that working middle class residents can afford to buy or rent a home on Kauaʻi?

To create affordable housing for Kaua’i’s working middle class, we’ll leverage direct county intervention, public-private partnerships, and zoning reform. Key strategies include scaling resident-first developments, enforcing stringent workforce housing policies, and expanding homebuyer assistance programs to ensure long-term affordability and equity.

How would you effectively manage budget and operations compared to the past?

By leveraging agile real-time forecasting, organizations can optimize budget and operations management, thereby driving strategic growth and informed decision-making. A dual-view approach that integrates operational foresight with month-end variance analysis allows teams to refine strategies, capitalize on opportunities, and navigate challenges with precision, ultimately yielding a more responsive financial future.

What specific ideas do you have about economic diversification and how would you develop these areas?

Regions can strengthen their economic foundations and enhance resilience by cultivating diverse industries like clean energy, advanced manufacturing, and digital nomadism. Key strategies include investing in clean energy, value-added agriculture, digital infrastructure, and advanced manufacturing, with focused development programs and infrastructure enhancements.

What are your priorities for infrastructure investment? How would you ensure that planned infrastructure projects (roads, wastewater, facilities, bridges, etc.) on Kauai move forward in a timely manner?

Kaua’i is poised for transformative development through strategic infrastructure initiatives, focusing on road modernization, bridge reinforcement, and upgraded wastewater systems, driven by investments and climate resilience measures.

What is your vision for effective management of the visitor industry so that economic goals are met while ensuring community and environmental concerns are addressed?

By adopting a balanced approach to visitor management, we can unlock economic prosperity, nurture environmental stewardship, and enhance resident well-being, rooted in regenerative tourism that creates a lasting positive legacy. This forward-thinking strategy is built on five core pillars: 1. Value-Driven Marketing & High-Value Travelers Target Mindful Visitors: Attract travelers who value local culture and the environment, educating them on responsible travel practices before arrival to inspire a deeper connection. 2. Destination Stewardship & Impact Mitigation Capacities & Limits: Implement timed-entry systems and visitor-use planning to safeguard fragile ecosystems and empower local residents in shaping their destinations. 3. Fostering Community & Cultural Prosperity Direct Economic Benefits: Create opportunities for local entrepreneurs, farmers, and artists, ensuring visitor dollars directly benefit the community and preserve Native Hawaiian culture. 4. Environmental Action & Conservation Green Fees: offer volunteer tourism options like Mālama Hawaiʻi to empower visitors to contribute. 5. Cross-Sector Collaboration & Data Tracking Adaptive Management

What is your solution to best manage solid waste on Kauaʻi? Please include your views on recycling, landfill site, source reduction, and other strategies.

To optimize Kaua`i’s solid waste management, adopting a circular zero-waste approach is essential, emphasizing significant source reduction and comprehensive island-wide composting initiatives, alongside strategic investments in Materials Recovery Facilities and enhanced curbside recycling programs, while exploring innovative solutions for the future of the Kekaha Landfill and maximizing existing infrastructure through targeted vertical expansions.

As an elected official, what steps would you take to mitigate the impacts of climate change on Kauaʻi?

As a champion for Kaua’i’s climate action, I would support the Kaua’i Climate Adaptation and Action Plan, focusing on infrastructure resilience, emission reduction, and community health through key initiatives: enforcing Wildland-Urban Interface safety standards, expanding electric vehicle charging networks, promoting renewable energy, and advocating for equitable climate solutions.

What else would you like to share with the business community?

By leveraging three pivotal drivers – broadening your customer reach, streamlining revenue channels, and enhancing operational effectiveness – you can unlock extraordinary growth and profitability, driven by a deep insight into your business’s fundamental strengths. Through strategic legislative actions, executive directives, and regulatory reforms, embracing deregulation enables industries and individuals to flourish by eliminating redundant regulatory hurdles, bureaucratic impediments, and administrative obstacles, thereby facilitating transformative advancements.