Priorities

Homelessness

The primary reason for both homelessness and brain drain is that Hawaii isn’t building enough homes. When many people compete for few places to live, we are forced into a cruel game of musical chairs where home prices, rents, and property assessments all rise until the least wealthy residents are priced out–forced either to the mainland or the street. I will work with county officials to address the housing crisis at the source, making room on our island for our keiki and our homeless neighbors. I will also petition our leaders to prioritize Haubush and other Ewa hotspots for rehabilitation programs.

Traffic

While I advocate for more homes and more neighbors, as a trained urban planner and land use expert, I know that continuing to pave over Ewa’s prime agricultural land is not the best solution to Hawaii’s housing crisis. I will advocate for dense, mixed-use development concentrated in town and along the rail line to provide the affordable housing our island needs while minimizing traffic and environmental impact.

Jobs

Ewa needs more good jobs. Instead of forcing ourselves and our neighbors to idle on the H-1 for hours every day, we should be creating well-paying opportunities right here in our own community. As a former small business owner and researcher in economic development, I look forward to helping local businesses grow and expand, and coordinating with the Kapolei and Waipahu neighborhood boards to foster sustainable, equitable prosperity in the greater Ewa area.