Commit to helping those most in need

As Hawaii enters the New Year, our focus should remain on preserving and developing the values and character that have allowed us to enjoy supportive, enriching lives, and maintaining the promise of Hawaii for the future.

We can lay the foundation for coming generations without surrendering the supportive atmosphere and respectful culture that have made Hawaii unique in the world.

My time serving in state and federal office has reminded me, time and again, that a key foundation stone for Hawaii has been our focus on people, a caring and mutual respect that encourages us to continually examine our decisions in light of the effects they will have on our families and communities. Even as we face the growing challenges of the future, that commitment to help rather than harm must stand as a core value.

A fundamental part of Hawaii’s culture of caring has been our commitment to seniors, families, students, and those in need. In Congress, we have seen too many instances of robbing Peter to pay Paul, taking from vital and productive programs — including Medicare, Social Security and unemployment benefits — in partisan efforts to slash government spending to unreasonably low levels. That has a direct negative impact on people in our community. I will continue my personal commitment to standing up to those harmful and unnecessary cuts, and instead speak and act for those whose lives depend on maintaining responsible budget priorities.

Caring for Hawaii must also mean respecting and protecting our host culture. I will not deviate from my commitment to continuing the work of Sen. Dan Akaka on Native Hawaiian rights and self-determination.

Although Hawaii’s economy continues to recover from years of downturn, we must make a priority of both encouraging that growth and pursuing opportunities that will provide greater economic stability in the future. While tourism and defense spending will account for a significant portion of our local economy for some time and continue to receive our support, developments in the Asia-Pacific region will provide us with additional avenues for economic development.

The U.S. refocus on Asia and the Pacific involves much more than military and defense concerns; it also includes economic, diplomatic, humanitarian and environmental efforts. Standing on our nation’s doorstep to the region, Hawaii can position itself as a hub for those activities, combining geographic access with facilities and trained personnel. That will, in turn, encourage improvements to infrastructure, support local research and provide high-quality jobs for coming generations of Hawaii graduates.

Planning that will allow us to benefit from those opportunities must start now, and should be a priority at both the state and federal levels.

Finally, we must continue to make a priority of protecting and preserving our natural environment, including maintaining our state’s commitment to renewable energy and, at the federal level, supporting green energy research and development. Hawaii’s natural beauty is a vital part of our quality of life. Economically, it is undeniably a central aspect of our desirability as a visitor destination. But more fundamentally, our respect for our islands represents a deep tie to the place that has supported us and is firmly rooted in our host culture.

We can never forget that we hold Hawaii as stewards for future generations, as others held it before us. We must keep our focus on handing them a sustainable Hawaii, capable of providing the benefits we have enjoyed in our own lives.

Our priorities today should reflect a respect for the foundations of our community as well as a vision for strong, safe and supportive Hawaii in the future. We should make that commitment together.

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U.S. Rep. Colleen Hanabusa represents Hawaii’s 1st Congressional District (urban Oahu).