The four candidates vying to represent growing Kailua-Kona listed jobs, education, the high cost of electricity and homelessness as some issues in the community.
Finishing her first term, Rep. Nicole Lowen (D, Holualoa, Kailua-Kona, Honokohau) says she’s provided strong representation for Kona by securing $200 million in funding and passing legislation to help Kona farmers fight the coffee berry borer beetle.
"I’ve been working really hard over the past two years, and we’ve accomplished a lot," Lowen said. "I have kind of a proven track record that I can get results for our community."
She is running for a second term against fellow Democrat Kalei Akaka, a granddaughter of retired U.S. Sen. Daniel Akaka.
Also running in the 6th District race are two Republicans: Kelly Valenzuela, daughter of late state lawmaker Wilfred "Buddy" Soares, and Roy Ebert, a former small business owner.
The Democratic and Republican winners in Aug. 9’s primary will face off Nov. 4.
Lowen, 41, said the $200 million she secured is for projects in West Hawaii, such as fighting the coffee berry borer beetle, widening Queen Kaahumanu Highway, and building a new Kona courthouse and Hawaii Community College at Palamanui.
She says she’s been an effective legislator because of her relationships at the Capitol and her position on the House Finance Committee.
"We always have to fight a little harder on the neighbor islands to get our fair share," she said. "Relationships are so important, experience is important, building seniority is important, and I have all those things behind me."
Lowen, who has a master’s degree in urban and regional planning from the University of Hawaii, says if re-elected she will continue working on her bill to create community-based renewable energy systems. That bill would allow renters, apartment tenants and others who can’t install solar panels on their property to save on their electricity bills by investing in renewable energy systems off-site.
Akaka said community members are encouraging her to run because they want a stronger voice at the Capitol.
"I feel that I can do a better job because I have the experience," she said.
Akaka, 31, said she’s worked in the state House and Senate, worked in public relations, and obtained a bachelor’s degree in communications and marketing from Chaminade University.
"A lot of voters have lost trust in elected officials," she said. "I feel that I can rebuild that trust and strengthen those relationships. I’m somebody who’s accessible."
Born and raised in Kona, Akaka emphasized her deep connection to the community, having graduated from Konawaena High School in 2000.
"I’m a strong believer in relationships and collaboration," she said.
She said if elected she would hold town meetings where constituents can voice their concerns and create internships with state funds. She also wants to improve traffic by widening Queen Kaahumanu Highway and create jobs by upgrading aging state facilities.
Other priorities are providing educational opportunities by supporting the HCC Palamanui campus and increasing tourism by improving Kona Airport.
"People want to know that you’re listening to them and that you care about them," she said. "A lot of us here don’t have jobs … or a lot of my classmates have to move away because they don’t have jobs."
On the Republican ticket, Valenzuela, 54, said she was prompted to run by last year’s legislative special session, which she said many residents felt was a waste of money because the work done should have been wrapped up in the regular session. She aims to repair what she sees as a disconnect between legislators and the community.
"There’s an uneasiness right now about government," she said. "They feel that their voices are not being heard."
She plans to address the growing homeless population in Kona and reduce the state’s reliance on outside food sources. She said she wants to reduce the state’s importation of 80 percent of its food by building up local farming through low-interest agricultural loans.
She also wants to make solar power more available to residents.
Valenzuela, who has run a small business and worked for years as a domestic violence victims advocate, said she would be a successful legislator because she has relationships at the Capitol, having grown up in Honolulu and attended Punahou School. She also understands the dynamics of state government, having worked on campaigns for former Lt. Gov. Duke Aiona, former Gov. Linda Lingle and her father, who served two decades as a state legislator, first as a representative, then as a senator until 1986.
Fellow Republican candidate Ebert said state legislators are not responsive to the needs of the people in his community.
Ebert, who started in the mobile home retail business at age 13, wants to create more choices for families in Hawaii.
"There needs to be competition," he said, citing the electric company’s monopoly as one area he would focus on. He said the Legislature and state Public Utilities Commission haven’t done anything to rein in electricity costs, four to five times higher than the rest of the country.
He said if elected he would also work on making it easier to do business in Hawaii.
Ebert, 60, who moved to Hawaii from Texas seven years ago, said he has been solving problems for decades as a businessman and could do the same in the Legislature.
"I’d like to see it where the kids that are born here can stay here, make a life here," he said. "We need to plan for our kids."
