Thriving Community
Our district should be one of the most accessible and thriving: safe residential streets, maintained infrastructure for single-family homes mixed with apartments, small businesses, eateries and cafes, showcasing art and celebrations. Community-based movements have brought a resurance of life to our neighborhood, it's now time to have support from government, not to take over but elevate and support what's already begun.
Local Market + Small Businesses
Local produce, livestock, and goods are competing with imported wholesale goods for market share. Despite Hawai‘i being an ideal pilot zone for innovation due to its diversity and location between East and West economies, new businesses struggle to survive their first few years of operation, largely due to operational costs. Our local businesses and farms should be uplifted and encouraged, resourced to thrive rather than fend for themselves against national, scaled businesses and brands.
Education
Most public school classrooms do not have air conditioning, despite ceiling and tower fans; the rooms are hot. Teachers are buying snacks for students whose families struggle to provide full lunches for their keiki, who are just above the income limits for free meals. If we truly believe keiki are our future, we need to reflect that with investments in their education, including support for teachers, the arts, facilities, and learning environment.