I BELIEVE that increasing the graduation rates by teaching to mastery at lower levels, especially in the formidable years (K-3) is vital for the future of next generations.  Do not pass students by chronological age but by achievements in learning.  The enabled society that has been running the school systems, for so long, feel that not passing students can hurt or damage the student’s psychologically but in reality (in most cases, there are exceptions to the rules and these need to be approached on a case by case basis) the student is damaged more by being passed on and going to the next grade without the skills for the next grade level.  Therefore, we are setting these student up for failure.  Thus, we keep getting students at the high school levels that do not want to come to school, don’t value education (they become behavioral issues) and sabotage theirs and others education.

I BELIEVE we should reduce the class sizes. Also, teach the lower levels more than just curriculum: (a) Appropriate classroom behaviors, (b) enforce discipline (remove phones from the classroom setting) and teach respect for elders and authority and focus on learning basic skills, (c) besides the basic academic skills needed to be successful at the next grade level.

I BELIEVE we should increase teacher pay to be commensurate to the cost of living.  This is the first area that I have taught where teachers need 2-3 jobs to survive.

I BELIEVE in making a 2 year college affordable so that students will be more apt to move on to college or a trade school.  In the turn of the 20th century an 8th grade diploma was worth a lot, in the 1960’s it became a high school diploma, but today you need some type of trade school or college to compete in today’s world of work. But yet, the cost is prohibited for a lot of families and our students are not prepared or willing to continue to the next levels.

Affordable housing has been achieved in other states. I believe that by using their models we can do the same here in Hawaii.  Being able to get into a house without money down and/or a government backed lower loan is achievable but one of the requirements would be “not being able to sell or refinance the house for 5 years”.

Homeless: develop an apartment housing location (with studios, 1 bedrooms, and 2 bedrooms) that can be built with homeless labor in exchange for some initial stays. The homeless will need to work (for minimum wages) to pay for some expenses and teach some skills for them to be able to work into the job market.  Have a day care center at the location so the parents can work and teach the children so we can possibly stop this spiral of welfare and homelessness.  

Homelessness and the affordable housing crisis affects government revenues and the economy as a whole.

I BELIEVE the hardest time of business is during the first 5 year period we need to reduce or eliminate start up costs for businesses so that those businesses will move to our community.  We have too many vacant buildings.  By introducing new businesses and industry to Kihei, it will more than offset the loss of revenues with the increase of GET revenue from those new businesses and industry.  More people employed generates more cash and money supply within the community, more people buying homes or renting, and more tourist revenues.

I BELIEVE bringing high paying high tech jobs to our already built, but vacant, tech industrial park generates more community income through: GET, money supply, more housing and property taxes, more employees for other industries that the new business uses, and increase in business travel to our area that positively affects the tourist industry (conventions, company parties, etc.).

I BELIEVE that by increasing the types of business industries, it will in turn increase opportunities for other business to thrive off those industries.

I BELIEVE that by repealing the Jones Act that affects we can potentially decrease the costs for goods and services coming to our island paradise by 30%.

I BELIEVE the healthcare industry here has antiquated facilities and technologies. Because of this, a substantial amount of people go to the mainland for their surgeries or treatments. This needs to be fixed.

I BELIEVE we need to retain qualified personnel across the industry and have adequate pay so they can afford housing to stay here.  We currently have a system that uses a lot of traveling nurses and doctors but yet they can give them housing allowances. Why? Why not attract long-term qualified professionals?

I BELIEVE that domestic violence is a serious problem in our community. The County of Maui has therefore instituted a Domestic Violence Task Force to coordinate efforts.  We need to teach that domestic violence is unacceptable and make sure that the penalties are severe enough to detour the continuance of domestic violence.  We need to develop counseling and treatment center/programs within our current healthcare system to curb the generational effects of Domestic Violence.  Temporary restraining orders (TRO) are a piece of paper that does not keep the aggressor from continuing the abuse.  Recently a disgruntled ex-husband violated the TRO and killed his ex-wife in Kahului.

I BELIEVE that mental Health is another issue that needs counseling and treatment (especially due to the amount of homeless) and these issues need to be addressed in a similar way in addressing Domestic Violence.

I BELIEVE that groundwater contamination due to the inability to successfully remove wastewater can eventually enter the ocean and be another issue for the marine life.

I BELIEVE that water pollution at our ground water system needs to be reduced.

I BELIEVE that invasive plant species and invasive fish that were introduced into our fragile environment needs to be stopped.

I BELIEVE in the Coastal Zone Management of plants/marine animals/shorelines. Our number one industry is tourism and keeping our coastal zones pristine is of major importance

Dr. Keli’i Akina sat down with Leonard Gilroy of the Reason Foundation to discuss health care privatization and how it could bring down costs.

I BELIEVE that over regulation on land use have also greatly impacted the economy, as to usage and the long processes to change or build affordable housing/businesses.

I BELIEVE the main reason over regulation affects “building” is due to a very cumbersome permitting process. This prevents people from building housing quickly and at a low costs.  It may cost $400,000 to build a homeless shelter provided the land was free and clear.

Poor business climate is due, in large part, to the difficulty to move forward with multibillion dollar projects, such as the Thirty-Meter Telescope (TMT) and the Super-ferry.