Legislative Priorities
Cost of Living
Make food and medical services exempt from the General Excise tax in order to help families afford their everyday necessities.
Repeal the income tax for minimum wage earners and lower rates for the middle class.
Invest additional dollars in high-density residential infrastructure in our urban core.
Since I have held office, addressing the high cost of living in Hawaii has been a top priority. With costs just increasing, legislation on the economy and the cost of living are more important than ever. During my time in the legislature, I have introduced several bills to address the high cost of living.
First, one of my main priorities is to eliminate the General Excise Tax (GET) on food, medicine, and feminine hygiene products. Hawaii is one of only a handful of states that taxes food and medicine. Removing the GET from these necessities would immediately lower daily living costs for individuals and families in a wide range of income levels. This measure would go a long way in helping local families and benefit the community as a whole.
In addition to reducing the GET burden, removing the income tax for minimum wage earners and reducing rates for the middle class would go a long way to helping working families in Hawaii. Our state income tax rates are some of the highest in the nation, and working residents must pay nearly 7% marginal rates even if they’re working a minimum wage job. Removing the income tax for minimum wage earners and reducing it for the middle class rewards the hard working men and women in our communities and would give families additional funds to save, invest, or spend in the local economy.
These examples are initiatives that can provide instant relief for our families, especially those affected by the economic fallout from the COVID-19 crisis. In addition to these measures there are other long-term and structural issues we need to continue to address.
Jobs and the Economy
Support our local businesses
Focus on diversifying our economy through agriculture, technology, and the film industry.
Update the State’s financial database system to provide greater transparency and accountability so taxpayer dollars are spent wisely.
STEM school to career pipeline to help create the local talent to fill high paying positions.
Since Hawaii is an economy largely based on tourism, we need to work on diversification of our economy. The first three sectors that the state should invest in to diversify are the film industry, technology, and agriculture and agricultural tourism. In order to diversify we need to recognize what is realistic to implement in both the short and long term.
Film is an already existing, though underutilized industry we can leverage to help stimulate our economy as a short term solution while we are able to create long term sustainable solutions. The film industry can play a key role in the revitalization of our economy through creating jobs for our residents and adding much-needed dollars to help our state recover. Film is a large part of the current economy, and would be a strong, immediate economic driver.
Throughout my time in the legislature I have been in communication with the Hawaii State Film Office on how to make changes to push the film initiative forward in order to help diversify our economy. According to the Department of Business, Economic Development & Tourism, film had generated as much as $825M in overall economic activity up until the pandemic hit. As a former member of the Economic Development committee in the legislature I have advocated to remove the current cap on the Hawaii Film Tax Credit. This would give us a competitive advantage over many of the other top film locations around the globe and further push the film industry in our state forward.
As a legislature, we need to start laying the groundwork for the long term diversification of the tech and agricultural sector. We need to be laying the framework for the long-term goal of diversification. Once our economy is on the road to recovery I believe we should begin to diversify by focusing on our unique location in the center of the Pacific Ocean between Asia and the continental U.S. We should use this advantage to develop a strong tech industry here in Hawaii. For several years in the legislature I have championed several STEM bills that would strengthen the pipeline for technological jobs in our state. As an island state we have limited land space and tech will provide high paying jobs with a small footprint.
Housing
Increase financing options to support down payments on home purchases.
Establish a local housing market to increase the ability of Hawaii residents to purchase homes.
Continue to develop housing for working class people along Transit Oriented Development Zones.
The high cost of housing in Hawaii is one of the largest contributors to our cost of living and needs long-term, dedicated solutions to ensure our future generations can afford to stay in Hawaii. In order to address the housing crisis, I propose a three-part solution. First, we need to increase financing options to allow prospective home buyers multiple ways to produce a down payment on home purchases. Second, we must establish a local housing market aimed at increasing the ability of Hawaii residents to purchase homes. Third, we should continue to develop affordable housing along the Transit Oriented Development zones for working-class residents.
Coming up with a down payment is often the biggest barrier to buying a home. I have introduced legislation which implemented an IRS Pre-Tax savings plan to assist first time home buyers with saving for down payment and closing costs. This system would allow potential homebuyers to set aside a certain amount of their paycheck towards a down payment for a home, and this amount would not be taxed as income. The result is more take-home pay from each paycheck that can be allocated towards saving for a down payment. Often it takes years for prospective homebuyers to save the amount needed for a down payment, and creating options to assist homebuyers in procuring the amount needed for a down payment can often mean the difference between years of saving and finally buying a home.
Finally, it is critical to increase the supply of available, affordable housing units. I support efforts to invest in infrastructure to allow denser construction in the urban core, and the state and county partnership to increase Transit Oriented Development along the Honolulu Rail Line. This will both increase the amount of available housing for working families, as well as provide them with access to multiple means of transportation. The State should also look into innovative and alternative programs for housing. Two creative examples are investing in ideas such as 3D printed homes and in recent years UH Manoa has built a display home out of invasive albizia. State and private cooperation in this field will be vital in making housing accessible for local families.
Crime and Rehabilitation
Focus state resources toward crime prevention by creating rehabilitation and reentry services that will decrease the percentage of reoffending criminals.
Strengthen families and protect children from generational trauma Hawai‘i’s prison systems might cause by creating restorative justice opportunities for incarcerated parents.
Increase collaboration with the public, private and non-profit sectors to develop wrap around services for those in need of mental health support.
Expand the Housing First Program and provide support for non-profit service organizations that serve homeless individuals in Central Oahu.
Our community has experienced a concerning increase of crime in a short amount of time. When surveying the district it was the number one concern among community members. One of the first steps we need to do is to focus our state resources towards prevention and rehabilitation in order to deter criminal activity and strengthen reentry systems. This will solve the revolving door of crime, incarceration and then reoffending individuals which has led to overpopulation in Hawai‘i’s prison systems.
I am also happy to share that my bill HB2213 Relating to Mail Theft passed through the legislature and has been signed into law by the Governor as ACT 112. Package theft has been an increasing issue in our state. ACT 112 establishes the criminal offense of mail theft to provide a solution for the increased theft of packages left outside of residences and businesses from third-party carriers like UPS and FedEx. It is legislation like this that is necessary to deter future crime.
What I would like to highlight is the work I have done as one of the Co-conveners of the Women’s Legislative Caucus and helping to draft and introduce bills by the Women’s Prison Project. At the heart of the Women’s Prison Project is the devotion to strengthening families and protecting children from generational trauma Hawaii’s prison systems might cause. Studies have shown that the vast majority of incarcerated women in Hawaii are mothers, many of whom have substance abuse problems. If our goal is restorative justice, we must prioritize the rehabilitation of these mothers and reconciliation to their families. In order to do this, my office drafted six house bills with six identical Senate companion bills, which were introduced through several WLC members. I personally introduced HB1778 and HB1779, which would address the education and reentry systems for incarcerated women, however these were deferred in committee process in favor of their Senate companion bills and ultimately died. The Women’s Legislative Caucus did pass two of the twelve bills. SB2641 Appropriates money for residential programs that allow minor children to remain with their mothers, to reduce the risk of trauma and multigenerational incarceration, including community based furlough programs, residential drug treatment programs, therapeutic community programs, and mental health programs. SB3294 appropriates money to fund reentry planning circles for at least 50 incarcerated women. I am incredibly proud of these bills and believe it is a great step toward restorative justice and the long-term and sustainable health for incarcerated women and their families in Hawaii.
Further, there is the ever present concern with issues surrounding homelessness and houseless individuals in Hawai‘i. Another essential component of rehabilitation is within the homeless population. One of the first things we need to do is increase collaboration with the public, private and non-profit sectors to develop wrap-around services for those in need of mental health support. Most of these services are located in urban Honolulu and need to be expanded towards central Oahu. Additionally, I support the Housing First model to support those experiencing homelessness. Housing First is a interpersonal relief approach that prioritizes helping individuals choose permanent housing to support their basic needs first and then attending to other issues second such as mental health and substance abuse.
Education
Educate the whole child by funding physical education, arts, vocational tech, and in corporate extra-curricular programs into the school day.
Continue to support partnerships between K-12 schools and community partners to allow for real-world experiences and support.
Give principals additional power and resources to attend to minor repair and maintenance projects.
Provide greater access and affordability for early childhood education and care.
Incentivize onsite childcare facilities at businesses in our state through tax credits.
Create a grant program for teachers who receive a degree in early childhood education at the University of Hawaii system and commit to stay in Hawaii and teach at an Executive Office of Early Learning preschool.
As a mother of two young children I understand the importance and am a strong advocate for early childhood education. An area that needs to be addressed is the access and the cost of childcare and early childhood education. For many families childcare is one of their biggest expenses after their rent or mortgage, and for some the top expense. According to PATCH in 2019 the average cost of childcare per child in Hawaii is around $14,000 a year per child. This is an area that desperately needs to be addressed in order to help our local families with the high cost of living.
I have introduced legislation to create dependent care flexible spending accounts for private workers. Currently, only state employees have the benefit of using pre-tax dollars for dependent care expenses and I believe that the privilege of doing so should be extended to all taxpayers in Hawaii. I also would support increasing the existing flex spending amounts for state and city workers.
Employers should receive a tax credit for providing on-site childcare. I have introduced legislation many times, most recently in this year’s legislative session to provide businesses tax credits for on-site childcare. Businesses should be incentivized for making childcare more convenient for working families and this legislation would help incentivize more businesses to create on-site childcare options. dependent care tax credit to help alleviate the high costs of childcare, preschool, and other expenses.
Increasing access to high quality preschool and childcare is a top priority. As the mother, I know firsthand how expensive childcare is and how necessary it is in order for my husband and I to support our family and dedicate adequate time to our careers. I’ve introduced or signed onto dozens of pieces of legislation relating to preschool and childcare and have been a consistent supporter of organizations dedicated to this cause.
In order to move Hawai‘i forward, education needs to be one of our top priorities. I am dedicated to finding common ground among parents, teachers, principals, small & large local businesses, industries and educational institutions to rebuild our schools. Every school in our state is uniquely different with their own distinct needs. I believe that a greater percentage of the money allocated for education needs to be given directly to the schools so they can determine how to best teach their students. As a product of the Hawai‘i public school system I was privileged to attend school at a time when we had music and arts programs and a full time physical education teacher. Unfortunately, most schools in Hawai‘i today don’t offer these programs because of a lack of funding, and I believe our children are suffering because of it. In the legislature I have introduced several bills over the years to encourage opportunities for a well-rounded education.
I’ve introduced legislation regarding physical education, computer science, vocational classes, and extra curricular support for programs like Future Farmers of America. I have advocated for having funding brought down to the school level to give principals and teachers more flexibility in how funds are allocated. In the 2019-2020 session I introduced a bill that would create discretionary sub accounts for schools to fund minor repair and maintenance projects that don't require an EIS or building permit. This is beneficial because those who work at the schools are the most familiar with the needs of their schools and it would help restore faith in government if families could see necessary repairs being done quickly to our schools. If we cut wasteful spending from the top and bring the money down to the level of the individual schools, we can take the first step toward a brighter future for our keiki.
In addition to my work at the legislature, I have been involved personally with the teachers and students in my district. I frequently visit classrooms to talk and answer questions about civics, governmental processes and to read to students. I conduct legislative tours for classes as well as host special tours during fall break so teachers, parents and their children can learn about the legislative process. I have also created a resource for students to learn how to have their voices heard. I designed the Hawai‘i State Government Activity Book to provide a fun way to learn about our government. Over the past few years, I have distributed both a PDF version and hardcopy of the activity book to all of the elementary schools in my district to supplement the students' learning. Finally, I know how important hands-on experience is for our students so for the past eight years I have had a high school internship program in my office for students who are interested in getting involved in our government. As one of the co-conveners of the national Women’s Legislative Caucus I have pushed for a formal internship program within the capitol and have been working with a committee to launch this initiative.
Agriculture & the Environment
Invest in water, electrical and transportation infrastructure to increase productivity and connect farmers to markets.
Ensure agricultural lands are protected for agricultural use to produce food for our local communities.
Increase access for farmers to processing and distribution facilities.
Expand training for local farmers.
Protect agricultural lands and water resources and preserve open space.
Implement policies to reduce and or eliminate invasive species.
Hawai‘i was at one time a completely self-sustaining chain of islands in the middle of the Pacific Ocean. We now produce only about 10% of our own food. The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted an overdependence on food imports, now is the time to renvision and rebuild agricultural infrastructure so that we can become more self-sustaining. Born into a fourth generation farming family in Wahiawa who established Petersons’ Upland Farm in 1910, I uniquely understand the difficulties facing agriculture in Hawai‘i today. We need to educate and inspire our younger generations to embrace the farming lifestyle. Central Oahu has some of the best prime agricultural lands left on Oahu, however, there are so few farmers because much of the land is lacking water and electric infrastructure needed to successfully grow crops. Building out water, electricity, and transportation infrastructure will greatly help increase Hawaii‘s agricultural output and make it more attractive for farmers who can’t afford such investments on their own.
Additionally, Hawai‘i has a unique opportunity to be successful in agricultural tourism. We are the only place in the United States that can grow cacao. We have the potential to be the Napa Valley of chocolate. We need to encourage our local farmers to begin to invest in value added products to help them raise their bottom line. The State must also take a firmer stance on protecting farmers from theft of products, machinery, and personal items.
As your state legislator I fight to keep our agricultural lands zoned for their intended use, provide tax incentives for local farmers, continue to educate the public on the importance of buying local, and encourage educational programs in our schools such as Future Farmers of America.
Environmental stewardship and economic prosperity go hand-in-hand. Throughout my time in the legislature I’ve favored legislation to protect our environment. Our islands are unique, we have a duty to leave them to our children better off than when we found them. One of the ways I have found that we can continue stewarding our environment is by creating an environmental impact statement website to give residents an easy and intuitive way to search for major projects around our islands. This resolution that I introduced passed in the 2022 legislative session. Once this website is implemented, this will increase transparency and include the public in the decision making process.
We can and should work with economists and the environmental community to maintain and preserve the natural environment that makes Hawai’i such a special place to live. We must lead the way for clean energy solutions in Hawai’i in order to reap the economic benefits of environmental progress and achieve our mission of protecting Hawai‘i’s fragile environment.
