Hawaii’s 2024 election season is well underway, with few surprises. There are no competitive races at the federal level, and well-known incumbents like Honolulu Mayor Rick Blangiardi and Prosecutor Steve Alm, both running in nonpartisan races, face minimal opposition.
Blangiardi’s handling of the city’s rail project and his strong communication skills contribute to his solid position. Similarly, Alm’s name recognition and uncontroversial tenure, along with his stance against recreational marijuana legalization and efforts to combat crime in Waikiki, fortify his position.
“Normally, these races on Oahu are seriously fought, but in this case, there has yet to be any serious competitors,” said Colin Moore, a public policy expert at the University of Hawaii in Manoa.
Review Notes:
“Blangiardi’s handling of the city’s rail project and his strong communication skills contribute to his solid position. ” This is the most curious statement. Anyone who lives in Oahu will easily see that every time an article is written about the troubled Rail boondoggle, there are significant negative reactions towards it. Yet, this writer is putting a positive spin to it.
2. “Normally, these races on Oahu are seriously fought, but in this case, there has yet to be any serious competitors,” said Colin Moore, a public policy expert at the University of Hawaii in Manoa.“ Is this a propaganda tactic to discourage the public from participating? Is the writer even curious who Colin Moore is?
A quick check would reveal that the only way this political talking head knows how to promote Democracy is to look at how much money a candidate has.
Moore, a fixture political consultant to the few corporate media here in Oahu, has no understanding nor interest in grassroots civic participation. Moore has no interest in promoting robust dialogue of ideas or solutions in the Public Square. This is despite all the bellyaching of how money is buying elections. All he’s fixated on is the amounts of campaign donations of candidates. He has no interest in even encouraging grassroots through promoting a basic fair democratic process called forums or debate. For the first time in the Oahu’s Mayoral Race, there is NO corporate media hosted forum or debate.
Moore is also a consultant to Hawaii News Now. Hawaii News Now ( KGMB) happens to be related professionally to the incumbent Mayor Rick Blangiardi who was a former Manager. On top of that, Mayor Blangiardi’s Director of Communications is a former News Manager for Hawaii News Now. Blangiardi’s recently hired Chief of Staff is a former TV executive from New York.
No corporate media is also questioning the election over-all statistics but instead describe the election as a “blowout” and “landslide” election. No corporate media was concerned that it did not host any forum. No corporate media was concerned that Mayor Blangiardi was in hiding and ran away from mayoral forums.
In a world of Tic Tok and Instagram 30 seconds soundbites, here are some more reading for those of you who are interested in more information for this Elections.
Im sharing a few excerpts from various printed sources. Choon James for Mayor.
COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS/PRIOR OFFICES HELD
Oahu General Plan Working Group; Hawaii2050 Working Group; Koolauloa Sustainable Communities Advisory Planning Committee; Hospital board member; Defend Oahu Coalition–Keep the Country Country; Laniloa Point Community Association, president; Laie Community Association Board; BYU-Hawaii Alumni Association, president; BYU-Provo Alumni Board; Save Oahu Farmlands Alliance; Redhill Water Alliance; Hawaii’s Thousand Friends; Sierra Club; Amnesty International Freedom, writer; Olelo Community Media; CountryTalkStory.com; Friends of South Pass City; International Relief Society Women’s Organization; Young Women Group; Children’s Primary Organization, president; Aloha Council BSA, merit badge counselor; pro bono real estate advisor; immigrants volunteer tutor.
1. What’s the biggest issue facing the City and County of Honolulu and what will you do about it?
Oahu has an oligarchy that holds the power, money, opportunities and decision-making. Too many decisions are made against local residents’ best interests.
Residents are frustrated with the disconnect at City Hall. Property taxes escalated exponentially. Rail costs are out of control. Residents work two to three jobs. Seniors work to survive. Businesses and communities do not feel safe. I’m from Singapore and I know what a safe, clean, beautiful, efficient and thriving city is.
City Hall cannot be managed by social media narratives that the oligarchy wants us to hear.
3. In Hawaii, the term affordable housing has lost its meaning. What would you do to help people buy homes or move into rental units?
Change begins with questioning. How many billions of dollars has Oahu received from the federal, state, county and private funding for the past 10 years?
Is Oahu obligated to provide “housing” for every resident who comes here?
What is the definition of a “Hawaii resident”?
How “affordable” is “affordable”?
Short-term “bandage job” or long-term planning for housing?
Why is the “affordable” Kokua Hale building struggling to get renters in Chinatown?
The “Singapore Housing Model” is often quoted by politicians in Hawaii. Singapore has a Central Provident Fund for Education, Health and Housing. All employees pay into this fund. The Singapore government invests this fund and pays positive annual dividends.
Note that Singapore does not have lobbyists or developers or unions as their middleman in its housing agenda.
There is no one magic bullet to “affordable” housing. This is a worldwide problem. Oahu competes with international and out-of-state rich investors due to the U.S. Constitution.
I’ve been in residential real estate for over 30 years. There are preparations needed for qualifications into homeownership or rentals.
“Putting residents first” also means local building. Financial and real estate industries have first opportunities, not out of state, to help Oahu’s housing needs.
5. What should be the future of the Honolulu rail project? How do you to resolve this seemingly endless drain on public money and continuing delays? Should the line continue to Ala Moana as originally planned and how will you keep operating costs under control?
I’m from Singapore and appreciate its efficient rapid transit and related multi-modal transportation.
Rail needs a major re-assessment. As mayor, I will gather all stakeholders back to the roundtable. Independent contracts, legal, cost-analysis, engineering, budget experts and others will be invited. The public will have its say.
There are no sacred cows. No hiding behind or blaming FTA. I have zero donations from lobbyists or PACs. I can be 100% independent.
No managing Skyline through public relations handlers and insulting the public intelligence.
Natalie Iwasa, CPA and certified fraud examiner, and I have been at this for decades. We know what’s going on.
One tragic part of this boondoggle is Oahu can develop “transit-oriented developments” (TOD) without this fiscal black hole.
The city can create “special districts” for developments. Our local construction and building industries can benefit more without this financial albatross and without losing contracts to foreign players.
Oahu cares about climate crisis issues. But the inconvenient information — portions of the route from Middle Street to Ala Moana Center are in the Honolulu sea level rise inundation zone — is ignored. Why?
Oahu needs transformative leadership for our residents first. Our children must not suffer for our mistakes. Let’s work together.
What should be done to improve policing and police accountability in Honolulu? Should oversight of the police department be strengthened or reformed?
We love our HPD and other emergency personnel. We cannot pay them and their families enough for their public service. These warriors put their life on the line for public tranquility and peace for our communities. They deserve gratitude and respect.
We want our HPD and other emergency personnel to return home in peace each time they step out of their door.
We must provide them with all the resources and training needed. There can be bad apples in every organization. We must deal fairly and legally with alleged wrongdoing with the Police Commission and SHOPO. We all want to protect and safeguard the public trust in these institutions. No corruption can be tolerated.
Oversight and reform is a constant. We must always assess and improve.
This includes working with the prosecution side. The revolving door between crime, arrest and release is frustrating the public and HPD to no end.
Additionally, we must always focus on root causes of crime and other unrest for preventative measures. Residents, businesses and visitors deserve a safe environment. We must all work together to ensure a safe, prosperous and thriving Oahu. We can.
It’s becoming increasingly difficult to fill vacancies on the police department, the parks department and in many other city agencies. The city is struggling to provide basic services. What would you do to solve this problem and attract qualified people to fill essential services?
I’ve been advocating for public interest at Honolulu Hale for over 20 years.
This “vacancies” angst has been a constant concern all this time. On the other hand, residents say they don’t get a response or they can’t seem to get an interview.
It’s our 10,000 workers who keep the city in operation. The mayor provides the direction and culture. The mayor could be on vacation and not be missed.
I will always be respectful of all our city employees. I will always support them in their efforts to make Oahu a safe and efficient place. My door will always be open to their ideas and concerns.
The pay and benefits package is a big consideration. The culture and working conditions are also important.
Over $712 million is earmarked for the Honolulu rail this Fiscal 2025. Imagine when we can contain the rail costs and take care of our employees better.
It has been nearly six months since Mayor Rick Blangiardi signed Bill 41 that was adopted by the Honolulu City Council on April 13, 2022.
The Blangiardi Administration is supposed to lay out the new Rules and Regulations from Bill 41, now known as Ordinance 22-7, on October 23, 2022.
This October 13, 2022 Preliminary Injunction, triggered by Hawaii Short-Term Legal Rentals Alliance (HSTLA) lawsuit in April 2022, forces the city to reconsider its core premises.
At the core of the lawsuit is the 30-day being lengthened to 89-day by the city to control illegal vacation rentals. Note, on the other hand, it’s a known fact that many vacation rental operators were using the 30-day “facade”. Operators were renting to different parties within the 30-day frame. An average vacation rental stay is around 8 days.
There are lots of questions and conversations to be had on this. The first three sentences of US District Judge’s Preliminary Injunction below say it all.
” Residential property owners on O‘ahu have long been able to lawfully rent their properties to tenants for a minimum of 30 days. That much is undisputed.“
But what about operators who rent to multiple parties during that 30-day duration.You can read the entire Order here.
Despite this Preliminary Injunction, there are still other rules in this new Ordinance 22-7 that the city can enforce. Residents can report violations here.
Relating to ” Request for Amendments to Chapter 21, Revised Ordinances of Honolulu (ROH), 1990 Land Use Ordinance (LUO), Relating to Use Regulations”
This Monster Bill 10 at 239 pages has been been in the working since the days of Mayor Kirk Caldwell. DPP Katia.Balassianosaid that she also responded to questions at the Honolulu City Council Hearing on September 7, 2022.
But it hasn’t been our case.
We heard about the proposed changes to the City’s LUO being alluded to at the March 17, 2021 Planning Commission Hearing, I personally emailed DPP Katia.Balassiano on March 18, 2021 and did not received any response.
March 18, 2021
Choon James <choonjameshawaii@gmail.com>
Mar 18, 2021, 3:11 PM
to Katia.Balassiano,
Aloha Katia, I was at the Planning Commission Hearing yesterday. I heard your presentation premises about the industrial turbines distance setbacks, of which many of us don’t agree with. On a side note, you also mentioned that you were currently reviewing Oahu’s zoning designations as requested by the City Council. Could you kindly share with us that Resolution or Bill or communications to point us to the primary source. It would be very helpful to us as we’re just unpaid concerned citizens of Oahu. Mahalo! Choon James
293 8888
April 22, 2021 – I emailed again but no response from Katia.Balassiano again.
Choon James <choonjameshawaii@gmail.com>
Apr 22, 2021, 2:12 PM
to Katia.Balassiano
Aloha Katia, I’m trying to trace your presentation dialogue.Did you recall saying this? Any more info will behelpful. “On a side note, you also mentioned that you were currently reviewing Oahu’s zoning designationsas requested by the City Council. Could you kindly share with us that Resolution or Bill or communications to point us to the primary source.” Mahalo, Choon James
January 21, 2022
Two concurrent DEPT. COM 74 about Request for Amendments to Chapter 21 was sent to Tommy Waters, Honolulu City Council Chair. from the Blangiardi Administration and the Planning Commission.
It stated that the Planning Commission had their public hearings on November 24, 2021 and January 18, 2022 on the subject matter. It also stated that the public hearing hearing was closed on January 18, 2022.
Our bad. The first meeting was so close to Thanksgiving. And the second meeting was right after Christmas and New Year’s Day. I don’t usually keep track of the Planning Commission Hearings. I wonder who does.
One may wonder why this Monster Bill 10 did not begin at the Honolulu City Council first where there would be more public notice.
If the Mayor’s Request starts at the Planning Commission, the approval vote from the Honolulu City Council is 5 majority votes. However, if the request begins at the Honolulu City Council, the approval majority is 6 votes.
Mayor Kirk Caldwell use this same procedure for the Vacation Rental Bills.
Further reading into the beginnings of this Monster Bill 10 shows the intent and its organized procedure inside Honolulu Hale and at DPP.
I can’t see concerned citizens being easily able to track this Omnibus Monster Bill on their own outside of Honolulu Hale and the Planning Commission without some friendly assistance. Every City Council Hearing is also usually packed with many items.
Is there a way to be more public friendly and more helpful in informing the public?
Controversial DPP Director submitted his resignation from the position as of September 6, 2022.
When Rick Blangiardi became the Mayor of Honolulu, it was no surprise to the public that many of established interest organizations in town continue to have a big presence at City Hall.
Dean Uchida was appointed his Director of Planning and Permitting. Support came from Oahu’s building, construction and development groups.
Several controversies stood out that raised significant public mistrust towards the Blangiardi Administration, Director Uchida, and DPP itself.
1.The Department of Planning and Permitting’s chronic history of corruption
DPP has elicited many names from the general public – The Department of Permitting and Permitting Department, The Department of Pay to Play, The Department of Pilau Permitting and so on.
Recently, several DPP employees were indicted for bribery. Six individuals were charged with Bribery Schemes for Official Acts at the Department of Planning and Permitting of the City and County of Honolulu:
2.HB 1434 Relating Seeking Non-Judicial Foreclosure based on DPP Fines
The Mayor’s 2022 Legislative Package of asking the State Legislature for NON-JUDICIAL FORECLOSURE based on DPP’s fines raised alarm.
Scroll to 8:11 to hear DPP Director Dean Uchida testifying on Mayor Blangiardi’s legislative package to ask for “NON-JUDICIAL” Foreclosures powers through DPP Fines.
This agenda to ask for “Non-Judicial Foreclosure” powers based on DPP Fines was one of the most aggressive attacks on private property rights in Hawaii. The goal ought to be helping owners correct violations, not seize private properties without Due Process.
Fortunately, the Hawaii State Legislature deferred the measure. This “Non-Judicial Foreclosure” agenda should not see the light of day again. It’s over-reaching. It opens up to too much subjectivity and corruption as well as possibilities of abuse of powers. This attempt would turn the Aloha State into a Police State. Instead of helping property owners to address violations, the county wants to use the big stick of government to suppress private property rights without Due Process.
Every Property Owner automatically becomes a sitting duck. Based on DPP’s record and history, it opens up more room for mischief or even political retaliation. DPP had been known for such.
3.City Council Bill 41to address illegal vacation rentals
Illegal Short-term rentals have been a controversy for decades. The number has accelerated from about 800 legal properties with non-conforming use certificates to about 10,000.00 and more operations throughout Oahu.
In the process of this legislative process, DPP Director Uchida had been accused of having conflict of interests:
“Uchida’s wife, Joy Uchida, is an executive with Aqua-Aston Hospitality, which owns over a dozen condo-hotel properties in Waikiki and stood to benefit from the legislation’s passage. Asked about ethics concerns regarding his wife last year, Uchida said he didn’t view the situation as a conflict of interest.
The Honolulu Ethics Commission received at least one complaint about the matter late last year. It investigated and shared its findings with the complainant in a letter on March 30, according to a copy obtained by Civil Beat in which the complainant’s name is redacted.”
Unhappy owners and operators also filed a lawsuit against the City and County of Honolulu.
The Federal lawsuit against the City and County of Honolulu, Department of Planning and Permitting, and Director Dean Uchida alleges the following:
This huge bill that is made up of many parts and areas with about 200 pages -Addressing the regulation of uses throughout Chapter 21, Revised Ordinances of Honolulu 1990 (“Land Use Ordinance” . (Deadline: 10/29/22).
While the DPP Department may be working to amend this Land Use Ordinance (LUO) along with other insiders, the general public at large is not familiar with the many proposed changes involved. Bill 10 is confusing and demands detailed reading and digesting. The changes range from Agricultural land use to Commercial use ordinances to setbacks for industrial turbines to neighborhood B1 and B2 Zoning applications to designations of vacation rental areas in Kapolei to getting rid of “preservation” zones and so on.
Bill 10 was heard at the City Council Public Hearing on September 7, 2022. A public member is only allowed 3 minutes to testify about this omnibus bill. The Uchida Resignation Press Release from the Office of the Mayor’s was announced by the media around noon, before the Bill 10 decision-making hearing.
It’s fervently hoped that the Mayor will make sure that the culture of Aloha not be usurped by turning it into a Police State with hasty wielding the big stick of government through big fines and imposing non-judicial seizure of private properties.
Aloha does not mean the lack of efficiency and effectiveness in city management. Aloha means that Honolulu Hale will consistently serve the people of Honolulu in a helpful, fair and equitable ways across the board.
