Rivals tout cultural and community ties

The two candidates seeking Wai­pahu’s state House District 38 seat have long ties to the community, a record of activism and legislative experience.

State Rep. Henry Aquino, who has been in the Legislature since 2008, ran unopposed in 2012 for the then newly reapportioned District 38.

The chairman of the House Public Safety Committee, Aquino is facing attorney and former state lawmaker Alex Sonson in the winner-take-all Aug. 9 Demo­cratic primary with no Republicans running.

Sonson touts his immigrant status — he was born in the Philippines — as an advantage over Aquino in the heavily Fili­pino district.

Sonson said immigrant Filipinos would relate to him more than Aquino.

"Language is one (reason). Cultural is one," Sonson said. "Although we’re both Fili­pinos, we’re not the same."

There’s a "huge difference in backgrounds," Sonson said.

"I’m an immigrant. He is not. And a lot of people here are immigrants," Sonson added. "Between Fili­pinos in the state of Hawaii, there is what we call local Fili­pinos and immigrant Fili­pinos. There’s a huge amount of immigrant Fili­pinos coming (into Hawaii) all the time."

Aquino, however, noted that he’s lived in Wai­pahu for most of his 37 years.

"I’m not surprised that he (Sonson) made that kind of comment, but I think growing up in Wai­pahu basically all of my life, I’m the son of immigrant parents who came from the Philippines," Aquino said. "So with my upbringing, I’m in a unique position where I understand the struggles of immigrants that come to Hawaii, come to the United States, as well as local families that grew up here."

Aquino said he’s been active with the Wai­pahu Community Association since 2007, and since 2010 has been its executive director. He’s also on the board of the Wai­pahu Community Foundation.

Aquino said "keeping our community safe" is a priority. "Crime has always been the top of mind for our community."

Aquino said the Legislature has increased penalties for break-ins in homes where seniors live.

He said his goal is to see how the Legislature can "creatively" work toward making the community safer.

"There’s only so much law enforcement can do," Aquino said. "We need to be vigilant in our own sense by supporting law enforcement but also supporting our neighbors as well … keeping an eye out for one another. That community sense is what I hope to do in the near future."

Sonson, 54, said he was born in Ilocos Sur, moved to Hawaii at age 11 and has lived in Wai­pahu since 1970. He served in the Marine Corps and became a lawyer in 1993, he said.

He has a law practice and is president of the Wai­pahu Community Adult Day Health Center and Youth Day Care Center.

He also served in the state House from 2002 to 2008. He lost state Senate primary challenges to Sen. Clarence Nishi­hara in 2008 and 2012.

"I’ve always been an activist for Wai­pahu and, generally, for a lot of Fili­pino issues. I see that we are very disadvantaged," Sonson said.

Sonson said a key issue for him is the viability of care homes in Wai­pahu for seniors and the disabled.

"We have the largest group of home care that takes care of these people," he said.

"There is a huge movement. I know it’s not a popular thing, it’s not a sexy thing, but really, being practical about it, it’s given, at least the Fili­pino homes here, a way to learn how to conduct a business, be entrepreneurs and, at the same time, helping the state," he said.

Sonson said he would be an advocate for the care home operators.

Aquino said he is committed to an early childhood education component "within and throughout our public school system."

Sonson said he is not in favor of mandatory taxpayer-funded pre-kindergarten.

"I’d rather spend the money on after high school, if anything," Sonson said. "Hey, let’s provide for college education. If we can give our children a college education instead, I’d prefer that."