The County Council is tasked with turning the will of the people into legislation for the good of the community.
Hawaii County Council, D2 starts at 29:20
Star Advertisers’s Candidate Q&A
Being a good council member is about understanding the needs of your district and being able to craft solutions and get support from your colleagues to meet those needs. As the only candidate for District 2 who has worked at the county council, I have spent the past 20 months collaborating on legislation, working with county departments and meeting constituents needs. I’ve come to know the council members and if elected, I will be ready to get to work on day one on behalf of Hilo and Hawai’i County.
Civil Beat’s Candidate Q&A: Hawaii County Council District 2 — Jennifer Kagiwada
“We can better manage our tourism in Hawaii County and keep our resident experience a positive one by restricting and regulating short-term vacation rentals.”
Thursday Jun 09, 2022
Hawai’i Election Special 2022 | Jenn Kagiwada | Big Island Council District 2
Downtown and Bayfront
With our quaint shops and restaurants, famous Farmer’s Market, rich arts and culture scene and distinctive Bayfront setting, Hilo is a special town. There are many opportunities to make the downtown area even more inviting and enjoyable for all. I would start by supporting the county’s 2018 multimodal plan, creating more walking, biking and public transportation options as well as additional outdoor seating and better, safer parking.
Housing and Homelessness
Hawaiʻi County needs more affordable housing options-from starter homes for first time buyers to low income housing for working families to low-income, supportive housing for those who need support getting off the street. With the median price for a home in Hilo at half a million dollars, most folks cannot afford to buy and many cannot afford to rent. The “housing first” model has proven successful and we need to support local efforts to provide housing for all.
Economy and Jobs
People talk about the need to create new industries on our island but Hawaiʻi County needs to find ways to make existing jobs, better jobs. We have a huge need to fill critical positions in our community; we need doctors, nurses, teachers, engineers, buiding inspectors, contractors, maintenance workers, bus drivers, etc. Anyone working a full-time job should be able to afford life’s necessities: a roof over their head, reliable transportation, healthy food to eat, medical care and a safe and nurturing place for their children to learn and thrive. We can make this a reality by advocating for living wages, good benefits and providing necessary social services like good public transportation and support for child care.
Child Care
Research showing the importance of children’s brain development in the first 5 years of life is indisputable. Whether it’s finding ways to support parents spending more time with their babies, developing a support system for child care providers or expanding pre-k, our county can and should invest in making sure our children thrive. New Federal funds to support child care infrastructure at the state and local levels will be available over the next 3-5 years. Hawaiʻi County needs to lay the groundwork to access this money and be ready to utilize it in lasting and meaningful ways.
Roads and Infrastructure
Much of the island’s infrastructure including its roads, bridges, wastewater and energy systems, are in need of serious investment and innovation. There are federal infrastructure dollars available for states and local governments but our county needs to be proactive to capture the funds and execute our plans. There are also new approaches for dealing with wastewater and energy needs such as resource recovery initiatives and energy cooperatives. As your Council Member, I will be persistent and tenacious to find the means and the way to implement infrastructure projects in Hilo and Hawaiʻi Island.
COVID19 Pandemic
Obviously this has been a trying time for all. I am very proud at the way our Hilo community has pulled together to help each other. We’re all in this together. Please keep yourself, your ʻohana and our community safe and healthy!