Name on ballot:

Theresa Kapaku

Running for:

State House – District 13

Political party:

Aloha ‘Aina Party

Campaign website:

www.theresakapaku.com

Current occupation:

Farmer

Age:

38

Previous job history:

Small business owner, Consultant

Previous elected office, if any:

No answer submitted

Please describe your qualifications to represent the people of Hawaii.

Diverse background including farming, business leadership, natural resource management

What will be your top priority if elected?

Aloha ‘Aina

As Hawaii faces the COVID-19 pandemic, what more can be done to protect residents’ health?

Immediately restrict incoming visitors to ports. A task force to immediately develop and implement short and long term emergency plans for all major crisis including this COVID-19 pandemic is critical. We must move from RE-active to PRO-active governance. Another key to improving mental and physical health is to provide a plan for social distancing options and solutions for freedom and movement outdoors without subjecting each other to unnecessary risk and exposure. Lastly, since our health depends heavily on the food we eat, we must protect it by growing and making available organic, chemical free produce for everyone.

What more can be done to help residents who have been economically affected by the COVID-19 pandemic?

The people want guidance and solutions for transitioning to a new sustainable economy. There’s a saying -“Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day; teach a man to fish and you feed him for a lifetime.”

Let’s line this pathway with community based infrastructure for:

-Education and training in land and human health based services and businesses
-Farming, sustenance gathering, production, and exchange. Legalize growing food and medicine anywhere on these islands

We can also create affirmative action to patronize local businesses first including locally grown, organic food producers. We can place taxes and other fees on Big Box Corporations and out of state owned businesses for their negative impact to our small business community.

Looking forward, every resident needs to be protected from the financially devastating affects of this pandemic economy. They should not be penalized for not working or finding work, adhering to stay at home mandates, and business closures. They need to be protected from eviction, home and vehicle repossession, and credit score impacts that results from COVID and any other devastating crisis.

Should public worker furloughs, pay cuts or downsizing be used to help the state deal with lower tax revenues and higher expenses during the pandemic? Why or why not?

Teachers, Firefighters, Human and Health services should be protected with no cuts or downsizing. We do need to audit the efficacy of all our agencies and stop any leaks and mismanaged expenditures.

Hawaii’s tourism-dependent economy has suffered greatly due to the pandemic. If elected, what would you propose to support and diversify the state’s economy?

There are so many wonderful and pono options for a sustainable economy. The State can look toward the land and it’s people and immediately produce long term plans to support industries that are resilient and PONO. Bravo for the State’s legalization of industrial hemp. Let’s legalize organic medicine and food growth Statewide.

Examples of industries we can push forward are food; community production on underused land, micro farming in urban/ suburban areas, energy; efficiency technologies and renewables, waste and recycling; plastic, metal, electronic, and Ecology.

If we are to go back to some form of a tourism economy, it has to be focused on aloha ‘aina – eco friendly and culture sensitive.

Do you support reforms to policing in Hawaii? If yes, please explain what reforms you support.

Yes, transparency in all agencies is essential to trust in governance. Reforms that disclose police complaints and misconduct, elevated priority to address officers with multiple complaints, and advanced civil rights training.

Do you support or oppose the construction of the Thirty Meter Telescope on the Big Island and why?

Strongly Oppose. The people have spoken loud and clear that they do NOT want another telescope on the Mauna. It is a sacred place in the realm of Wao Akua with unique and pristine resources. There exists 13 telescopes already and limits must be set.

Is there anything more that you would like voters to know about you?

Let’s move toward a greener, cleaner, stable Hawai’i together. With all the wealth of our islands, there is absolutely no reason why any Hawaiian resident should be struggling to get by. I’m asking you to do something great this year and HULI politics as normal. I am a mother, farmer, small businesswoman, and advocate for community empowerment. Join the Aloha ‘Aina movement at theresakapaku.com or on Facebook at Theresa Kapaku 2020.