Jason Schwartz alone to review the Presidential escapades and the affairs of the island in these young Trump times… 4-7-2025
Transcript with & Summary
- Introduction and Background of Host and Program
- [00:10 → 06:19] Jason Schwartz, host of the Neutral Zone on KAKU 88.5 FM Maui and Akaku Maui Community Media, introduces the show and provides background on his long-term commitment to Maui’s community, politics, and sustainability efforts. He shares his personal history including his political involvement as a Green Party candidate, his creation of Dream Maui in the late 1980s, and the development of the Maui Arts and Music Association nonprofit, all aimed at fostering sustainability and creative community solutions on Maui.
- Challenges and Observations in Maui’s Political and Economic Landscape
- [06:20 → 12:17] Schwartz reflects on political roadblocks he faced, including local political suppression and lack of institutional support. He highlights his experience in real estate and solar energy, emphasizing the need to integrate economic, environmental, and community development. He stresses the importance of local funding models and leveraging real estate commissions to support community programs without burdening taxpayers or government budgets.
- Current Economic and Social Issues
- [12:18 → 16:42] The host discusses the volatile national and global economy, including stock market fluctuations caused by U.S. tariffs and trade wars, the rising price of gold as a sign of economic uncertainty, and the impact on local Maui residents, especially post-disaster recovery efforts in Lahaina. He underscores the ongoing housing crisis, homelessness, and rental inflation, exacerbated by FEMA’s actions during disaster relief.
- Community Leaders and Environmental Advocates on Maui
- [16:43 → 20:35] Schwartz acknowledges Maui’s dedicated local activists and environmental leaders such as Lucenne DeNaie, Albert Perez, and Paul Delauriers, who work tirelessly to uphold truth, facts, and sustainable practices. He also reiterates the potential for Maui to lead by example in environmental technologies like biochar and hydrogen water, positioning itself as a model community for sustainability and wellness.
- Vision for Maui’s Future Economy and Culture
- [20:36 → 28:25] Schwartz presents a vision where Maui’s economy is supported by real estate commissions funneled into the Maui Arts and Music Association and Dream Makers Foundation, creating a self-sustaining ecosystem that supports local arts, culture, environmental projects, and affordable housing. He advocates for balance between luxury real estate developments and affordable housing, emphasizing that the rising tide of the wealthy should lift all residents.
- [28:26 → 39:40] He criticizes local government for failing to enforce agreements on infrastructure developments (example: road widening in Kihei and Maui Meadows), which hinders affordable housing construction and contributes to traffic congestion. Schwartz calls for accountability of elected officials who allow special interests to take precedence over community needs.
- Call for Unity, Truth, and Positive Action
- [39:41 → 43:38] The host stresses the need for communal goodwill over divisiveness, urging people to come together beyond racial or economic lines. He warns about misinformation and AI-generated falsehoods but expresses faith that truth and positive action will prevail. He highlights the importance of free speech, inclusive dialogue, and collaborative problem-solving.
- [43:39 → 49:46] Schwartz announces plans for future shows under the banner “MAMA Presents” to promote art, music, culture, and environmental education. He invites new leaders and sponsors to join efforts to build a stronger, more sustainable Maui, linking local culture and economic development with global influence.
- Closing Remarks and Inspirational Messages
- [49:47 → 56:07] The program closes with a musical segment promoting peace, love, and community solidarity, followed by Schwartz’s reflections on current national economic turmoil, the importance of spiritual and community values, and his commitment to continuing the conversation and movement toward a better future for Maui and beyond.
Key Conclusions
- Sustainability and Self-Sufficiency Are Achievable for Maui
- Maui has abundant resources and community talent to create a self-sustaining economy rooted in local culture, environmental stewardship, and innovative technologies. Implementing these ideas could reverse decades of missed opportunities and political stagnation.
- Local Funding Models Can Fuel Community Development
- Redirecting portions of real estate commissions into nonprofit organizations focused on arts, music, housing, and environmental solutions provides a practical, non-tax-based funding stream to support Maui’s future without overburdening the government or residents.
- Political Will and Accountability Are Crucial for Progress
- Without active enforcement of infrastructure commitments and prioritizing affordable housing, Maui’s growth will continue to be hampered. Citizens must hold elected officials accountable for decisions that favor wealthy special interests over the general population.
- Unity and Truth Must Guide Maui Through Complex Challenges
- In an era of misinformation and divisiveness, Maui’s strength lies in its community’s commitment to truth, facts, and collaborative, positive action. Overcoming social challenges requires transcending race, class, and political divisions.
- The Time for Action Is Now
- The current social, economic, and environmental crises make this an opportune moment to implement long-delayed solutions. Community engagement, leadership development, and innovative economic strategies must be rapidly advanced.
- Art, Music, and Culture Are Central to Maui’s Identity and Economic Future
- Promoting the island’s unique cultural assets alongside environmental and economic initiatives will attract sustainable tourism and investment, fostering a vibrant, resilient community.
- The Host’s Role Is Facilitative, Not Authoritative
- Jason Schwartz positions himself as a convener and advocate rather than a political leader, encouraging others to take initiative and lead while providing information, dialogue platforms, and vision.
Important Details
- Host and Program Platforms
- Jason Schwartz hosts “The Neutral Zone” on KAKU 88.5 FM, Maui Stream app, Akaku Maui Community TV channel 55, and YouTube. The program archives include hundreds of interviews and shows dating back decades.
- Website: mauineutralzone.com and dreammaui.com.
- Historical Context
- Dream Maui was conceptualized in the late 1980s to promote Maui self-sustainability through integrated community resources.
- Schwartz ran as a Green Party candidate and worked with local politicians such as Linda Lingle and Goro Hokama.
- Early efforts were hampered by political suppression, especially after the Maui Visitors Bureau leadership changed.
- Economic Observations
- Recent U.S. trade tariffs have caused significant stock market volatility, with trillions lost in market valuation and gold prices soaring to around $3,000 per ounce.
- The economic uncertainty affects Maui’s real estate market and the local population’s cost of living.
- Disaster Recovery and Homelessness
- Post-Lahaina fire recovery has been complicated by FEMA policies that inadvertently inflated rental prices and displaced many residents.
- Many locals are doubling or tripling up due to housing shortages.
- Environmental Innovations Discussed
- Use of biochar from green waste to enhance soil and grow healthy food (demonstrated with 3,000% growth rate in pilot projects).
- Hydrogen-based water and plasma technologies for health and energy benefits.
- Water-from-air technologies and renewable energy concepts have been topics on the program.
- Community Leaders Mentioned
- Lucenne DeNaie (Sierra Club activist and former TV host), Albert Perez (Maui Tomorrow), Paul Deloreier (Maui Pono Network), Bruce Douglas (community advocate).
- Local Government and Development Issues
- Criticism of Maui council’s handling of the 670 housing project and failure to enforce infrastructure commitments like highway widening in Kihei.
- Emphasis on the need for affordable and moderate-income housing alongside luxury developments to maintain balanced growth.
- Upcoming Guests and Topics
- Kailani Jackson, a disabled yet highly motivated community member, organizer of the Maui Women’s Retreat.
- A water expert scheduled to discuss west Maui water issues.
- Community Engagement and Support
- The show invites input from listeners via a phone line: 808-733-435 (partial number given).
- Call for new leaders with experience in sponsorship and community organizing to connect with Dream Maui.
- Personal Financial Commitment
- Schwartz donates up to 60% of his income to support nonprofit community initiatives, showing personal investment in these efforts.
- Cultural and Musical Elements
- The show integrates music and culture, featuring artists like Louise Lambert to promote peace and community healing.
- The “MAMA Presents” program will highlight arts, music, culture, and environmental education.
- Vision for Tourism and Economic Integration
- Developing wellness centers, sustainable tourism, and linking local education with global industries to create meaningful jobs on Maui.
- Encouraging film industry growth and expanding tax incentives to diversify the economy.
- Call to Action for Wealthy Residents and Visitors
- Encouragement for affluent individuals to contribute financially to local development through voluntary giving tied to real estate transactions and sponsorships.
- Final Reflections on National and Global Issues
- Concerns about AI, misinformation, authoritarianism, and economic policies under the Trump administration affecting Maui and the broader world.
- Emphasis on hope, peace, and the power of community-driven solutions to overcome adversity.
Summary
Jason Schwartz’s “Neutral Zone” program serves as a platform to discuss Maui’s political, social, economic, and environmental challenges with a focus on community empowerment and sustainability. Drawing on decades of local experience and a personal commitment to philanthropy, Schwartz advocates for innovative funding models, political accountability, and unity across social divides. The program blends cultural expression with practical solutions and calls for new leadership and greater community participation to build a resilient, self-sustaining Maui that can serve as a global model.
Transcript
00:10
Well, good morning everyone. It’s Monday at 11 here in Maui, Hawaii. Welcome to the show. It’s the neutral zone. Hi everyone. Welcome to the show. So we are in the third month of I guess the third January to February, February to March, March to April, less than three months. In the last three months since the president of the United States, Donald J. Trump took office. We have had a ride of our lifetime. I would say these times are unprecedented to me in the predictability and unpredictability of what people have
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been talking about for so long and that is what’s going to happen when someone tries to address by the way I’m Jason Schwartz your host we’re on Kaku 88.5 FM the voice of Maui you can find us on Akaku Maui Community Media TV channel 55. You can also find us on the web on uh an app called Maui Stream. That’s the three stations of Akaku, Maui Community Media, and has radio up there. You can find us at Maui Neutralzone.com. You can find us. We’re being uh sponsored. I don’t think we
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call it sponsored. One of our supporters is mauy coastpropy.com. So, we like to mention them. Thank you for all their support and help. Um, you can also find us on YouTube. If you put Jason Schwarz on YouTube or neutral zone, you’re going to find we have lots and lots of shows up there. These are all different roots. Dream Maui is um our moniker since 19 goodness gracious since 1988 89 90 when I was coming up with a concept of how to integrate resources on Maui to create self- sustainability. And I just gotten here
02:24
and I was just sort of learning about Maui. Anyway, that’s a piece of information that many of you who are listening may know. I I’ve been in and out of politics. Just because you stand up and you run for an office, people deem you as political. I guess that’s so I was a Green Party candidate in West Maui. And I was just very much wanting to support this new party that was talking sensible basic life principles. And um I created my own coalition of sanity a doctrine and I then gave it to
03:01
Linda Lingal and Goro Hokama Ricky Hokama’s dad you know that’s a family tree down in many people know 30 years of Goro on council and then Ricky Hokama had his stint on council both very distinguished in their work over the years uh Goro said I’m going to take some of these these ideas and use them. Linda didn’t say that. She’s very close-lipped. And on as we went, I it’s painful every time I tell it, so I won’t tell it today in too much detail. But let’s just say that ideas
03:40
that we can implement now that may be just in time, maybe God’s perfect time that could have been instituted three decades ago, a little more than three decades ago to start a process to use resources differently. That’s why I say go up to Dream Maui. That’s where it all started for me. And then I formed this nonprofit called Maui Arts and Music Association. And through the years, I thought it was really a great thing as I was interviewing all kinds of people. This show was not yet on. And we
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started here on radio and then it got simalcast on TV years later. But we started June of 2018 at the reemergence of this radio component of this public access world here with Akaku Akaku Maui Community TV. I think it was 92 when it’s all was beginning. I was around there. I remember being in the first class and Don Couch who also got the counsel he was there and um Bob Bangader, not Bob Bangader. Oh my god, see that 30 years my mind. Anyway, I suddenly got involved with Fred Rugie, may he rest in peace, beautiful man. uh
05:06
doing Maui Symphony and couple of things and qualified for a series and over the years have interviewed people and then had nice interviews over the years with political candidates and it became a regular habit of mine every election season. Haku did its own thing and the public did its own version of elector. I wanted to see who these people were. when I was running it, you know, it was really funny trying to run and get other candidates that are in my race to even sit down and talk publicly and media was
05:41
a different world then. Then the internet came and Dream Maui became center of my internet world and dream at Maui.net and the early times of internet and the whole deal. But what I didn’t have was local awareness of me really. And um like I say, politically I got shut down because the uh Maui Visitors Bureau uh head guy named Roger Dubin was going to be the head of my organization. And then when he got that job, we thought, “Wow, this is great. It’ll be able to move two things forward at the same time
06:19
and integrate together for the betterment of our whole county and the world and we show how we could self- sustain solutions etc. But then at the first board meeting he was told uh not to support Schwarz. I guess the year before I ran as a green candidate and suddenly being political didn’t matter, my ideas didn’t matter. Nothing. it all was sideline. Then I took up my local experience, my experience in Los Angeles was with mortgages uh mostly with second mortgages and saw the high interest
06:57
rates and I lived in LA and then got involved in the solar business. So when I came here, I had great ideas for what we could do here in the island and got some great per personal support. You know, I met Pund Yokuchi because I booked a New Year’s Eve, New Year’s Day for the whole cultural center. You want to see who that was? That’s a side story some of you have heard. Maybe not. But you know, my idea was how to use resources and direct them in different ways to create an economic, education,
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environmental, entertainment, community model and support and raise money to supplement solutions that could create self- sustainability through things that we were just discovering back then. And I already had some inkling on some. Now it’s 30 years later. You know that one of I told you so. You’ve heard that all in history. I told you so. Look what’s happening. But all the things that we were talking about when when um Junior Monise who was the head of the council involved with the airlines and unions and many people
08:05
perceived that he might have been an enemy of mine, but he wasn’t at all. In fact, I always had great relations with all the people because we were gentlemen and gentle women talking directly about issues and seeing what we agreed on and you know it was a very nice environment for me but somehow I got unscary as a media guy because I did interviews in a gentle way. So I had for 16 election cycles I’ve been doing interviews on my old steam. Sometimes I got a little hundred bucks or something from a
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candidate, but this was my own steam doing this all these years. And then I ran for election and I came in seventh. So it’s like, whoa, all the fathers and mothers, I got their votes, but now the kids, nobody knows me. But I know that my role isn’t really at all in politics. It isn’t really with running this idea that I had of the Maui Arts and Music Association and Dream Makers Foundation. That was supposed to be Roger Dubin. He had all the support of the whole Chamber of Commerce and a lot happened back
09:11
then. Could have been greater. Could have gotten results that we would all be seeing now. But it is never too late. We can see that um Mayor Bisson is a thoughtful guy. You know, no matter what you think of what he’s done as a judge, he comes in with an attitude to listen to all the pieces before he makes decisions and tries to be thoughtful in his choices. He’s never really heard what I’ve been talking about or given me any of the resources. All their people keep sending me to someone who sort of
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shoes me away. Well, is that because I become impotent interviewing candidates and talking about subjects but not taking out my hammer? I don’t know. I don’t work with a hammer. I much more think love is the way. Help as many people as you can when you can. And if you can’t, find someone who can because we’re in a world where especially now here we are roll forward. We’re in 2025 and in the last I want to say five days, I’m not counting, declarative tariffs by the United
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States are going to come and then they’re going to come and the stock market goes down 1,600 points, 2,200 points, 2500, whatever it be. another aftermarket futures going down all up and down on the words of the president leads to the left or the right. Economists on Wall Street, economists all over the world. Some say, “Oh, well, this is going to cause negotiation. All these countries are going to come back.” Oh, yeah. There’s only one camera today. It’s you guys. All the countries are going to come back
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and now negotiate it all. In the meantime, all the markets are crazy. $5.4 4 trillion dollar has left the valuations on the stock market. Gold is almost, if it’s not right now, excuse me, at 3,000. $3,000. Remember $28 an ounce? 35. Remember 100. Remember a thousand? I I have a client in real estate. Oh, yeah. I’m also a realtor. But my focus was on local people. Now I recognize how the whole thing works together. I can sell to wealthy people. If I give my money to programs for local people, we can fund
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the programs we need here. Well, yeah, that’s right. I give the maximum I can give by law. 60% of my income to the nonprofit to fund things for our island like you’ll see me talking about now. That way, we’re setting up an economy. We’re starting. Imagine if everyone, you know, a lot of realtors, those big expensive houses with their big taxes support all of us. So, we still need that to be going on if we’re supposed to be able to fund our own world without having exorbitant prices. And what would
12:17
happen if people change their attitude and change their action? There’s plenty of money to go around. We could we could solve all our problems. I’m convinced. and I can show you the technologies to do so. But it isn’t for me to just be a guy here speaking. I want you to look into it and dig into it. Mr. Mayor and your whole group, economic development people, chamber, the uh Maui visitors bureau. When I went to see the visitors bureau after a introduction through Councilman Molina, they hadn’t read the
12:53
stuff that was up there. They they don’t know what I’m about. You know, if I was somebody that they thought was important or meaningful and if Shep Gordon was with me, by the way, Shep, looking for your involvement and leadership in any and every way you can or maybe you know the right people, maybe you are the right people, but maybe you know the right people. Maybe if I’m looking to talk to Mick Fleetwood or Stephen Tyler or the many many stars locally or from around the world, this program has what
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we call has legs on it. It’s the kind of thing that future legacy for artists and musicians and people to be a and more to be able to put their energies into something to increase the understanding of creating of biochar for the earth and taking our green waste and turning it into power and super bio stimulants to be able to grow healthy foods. Robert Kennedy, you have our opportunity here in your new role to educate people. Well, I don’t expect you’re going to stand in the way of vaccines or things
14:00
that responsible for a country that doesn’t understand it. But education is a really big component. What about HHO, hydrogen? Do people know about the fourth phase of water and what plasma is all about? Being able to use electrolysis on water and create solutions for power and wellness. almost all known illnesses can be encouragingly I got to say long time in the future it’s preventive health when things are happening and they’re in high gear like the co allowed people in China under test conditions thousands of
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people to be better because of using HH plasma water and gas anyway what about water from air understand how to do that what about well anyway there are things that come up and they’ve been on our shows over these years I’m happy to say and now that we’ve done Maui neutral zone and the neutral zone here on Maui we’ve brought great guests I remember when Kelly King was the head of this she was on council head of this economic development committee that gave us money not us gave them money for an
15:21
exploratory program to show how this stuff that was created out of a process that came out of our waste and how it could be used here. In fact, 3,000% greater growth rate in the two-month test. Crazy numbers that are very real. Very real. Anyway, I think that my was my opening rant. I am just sort of letting myself know as I’m talking. There’s a lot of things in the world that I have a lot of trouble swallowing now. Whether they’re national, some are local. We have watchd dogs all over our county here. We more
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than many places I know have people that are incredibly dedicated. I know a few of them over the years. Like if I say the name Lucen D around here, Lucenne is like a superstar. She’s involved at the Sierra Club for all these years, but she had a show here, Crossroads, bringing up all kinds of important issues here. Wonderful woman. I think she should run for mayor, although she she might not want to do that. But I’ve learned from her and other people that I’ve met through all these years. And on Maui, we
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have a very incredible group. Albert Perez, Maui Tomorrow. Yeah. Paul Deloreier, Maui Pono Network, Bruce Douglas, people that stand up for what they feel is truth and support it with truth. Support it with facts. Maybe that’s different than the world outside, but here on Maui, that works for me. Truth and facts. Wow. Fact, we have all these resources. We can do it all. I know we can do it all. And um I look forward to future conversations after we begin this program in some uh with some public public
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visibility for this Maui Arts and Music. Mama Presents TV show is coming back. This show will continue. I may have a couple of those guest hosts come in for different groups of segments. Um, we’re going to be having shows on the west side that’ll become live shows here on Akaku and up on the web at all these spaces I’ve been talking about. And uh we’re going to have like this weekend I went out I oh it was last night see it’s all down at Mulligans and um many of you know that every Sunday
18:02
there’s a dance band there. Great dance band. There were people there from uh Pennsylvania and one gal, an older woman in her 70s said to my friend, I love my friend Ariel, happy birthday tomorrow Ariel and my brother David and Glenn and all the rest of you April 8th birthdays. Happy birthday and all the rest of you everyone’s. But at that situation, we have this great music and great music playing. People from the mainland realize that older people here are still awake and still alive. Makes
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the people from Pennsylvania feel enlivened. You know, our Maui family gives people hope for the future. you know, cuz we have all the things we need help all of them. We are just so blessed and we many of us know that. And I think we can solve all our problems. And I’m looking forward to showing you how and bring in others who’ll take the lead and let me go sing a little more and have fun and do some acting and play. I’ve been enjoying myself on Maui and I think I’m looking for new
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leaders, new blood. Couple of people I’ve seen get hired around. That’s good. But if you know anyone who has a lot of get up and go and knows how to put large sponsorship groups together and already has that experience, tell them to go to dreammau.com or call Jason. Happy to talk with them. Um, this position is open and you can kind of create your own terms within reason because remember we’re doing this to set in motion this economy. Why would I think to give up 60% of my adjusted gross income? Because
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I know that here on Maui when we take care of some of these problems, a rising tide will raise all ships. If I have clients and I put them to other realtors, I can rise those other realtors at the same time. I can help the clients at the same time. Me being 40 years in mortgage and real estate doesn’t go on deaf ears. I don’t need to be involved in every single deal, but I know a lot about these subjects from all sides of the real estate and mortgage industry. So, there’s lots of things that haven’t been
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discussed that can come up. And I’m so happy we have such passionate leaders. You know, I I still believe that we have enough resources to serve everyone that all these postured positions are only because people are feeling a lack. I think that we could create an abundance even in this present environment through implementing some things here. and I’m looking forward to talking to him on some shows, talking with people that want to be involved, whether you’re in government or not. I don’t have all the
21:09
answers, but I sure know the road. I’ve seen it in action, and I’m watching it happen now on a global scale. We see that the response to Trump’s extreme economic moves is going to create yet a new environment. Let’s call that us in this world. We’re that new environment. We’re the ones to do things in a new and different way. And that’s the way the world is going to get to be a better place. You know, now that so many of you are feeling the direct effects of AI, whether you go online and buy some
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product because you saw the uh health, what’s his name? Robert Kennedy guy. You see him and you see him talking and you hear him talking and it’s all fake and they’re talking about the right vitamins and the right things to do and that things to do and then you see down and they’re not real. How do we know when it’s real and how when it’s not real? Oh yeah, wait. How do we know when things are true and they’re not true? Oh, we took away that one. No more doing heavy research. Everything is game. It’s
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freedom. Freedom to lie through your teeth. Is that right? You know, I I don’t know who’s watching, but I’ll tell you one thing. Truth will prevail. And in history, people that were dictators and authoritarian and those that supported that ilk go down in flames. But we’re talking about the whole world here. And a a little wisdom might say, “Slow up, Junior. Slow up, Junior. Trump, you’re a junior. You weren’t the one that started this whole thing. It was your father. Is
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Was it the way that you grew up? There’s so many people talking about how you grew up and how you weren’t shown love, whether it’s David Pacman or Dr. This or Dr. That. as a psychiatrist that reads your body language. I just have to listen to what you’re saying. That makes me question the adviserss. If that’s the wisdom you’re getting from your advisement team, I think the answer is flush. We in America have to think about people that aren’t from America. We don’t have to draw lines and borders.
23:48
Where’s that thing about we are one, you know, about good will for everyone. I don’t have to knock you down. You do it by the way you’re acting and you’re making people angry with you. Over here, Scott Bush now talking about uh Trump and how he was going to make things better. I was trying to get Scott on today, but he’s under the weather. His voice is hurting. I am looking forward to it because I don’t know how anyone can justify the way these actions have been taken and what it’s doing to
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people and here locally lots and lots of people you who know about the uh situation in Lahina and the monies coming after money’s occurring coming after and there’s going to be a continuation of money to support many of the services that you’ve been enjoying at yes you were hurt but there are many that are hurt that weren’t in those services and boy are they hurting people are lining these streets homeless and there are people doubling and tripling up and paying exorbitant rents cuz FEMA
25:05
came in and paid exorbitant amounts to people to empty their units and put in the people that got hurt thousands of people and so this whole local place has been they call it capakay upside down you know but we can solve all that because good will good will between all of us not creating divisiveness we’re not Hawaiians against blacks against Asians against whites against pinks against you know it’s like what the heck everyone this is America and I’m not ready to give up the concept
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that we have freedom here. And freedom doesn’t mean afraid of you because you’re going to limit their freedoms because you spoke out against them. That’s not freedom. I think, you know, some of these journalists and some of these people that are documenting specifically and have found so many times you stray from the truth, if not outright lie and diminish all the concepts that we hold near and dear to our hearts here. That have led the world to feel them near and dear to their hearts. that have made regimes that are
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dictatorial coil because the people being involved in the outcome is where you know when when we are all aligned people aligned in positive action. Yeah, that’s a name that we use for organization also but the concept is not an ownership of that name. It’s to involve people in positive actions together with our help and encouragement. We’re no superstars, but we hope to have this platform called MAMA. Mama and Papa and the Dream Makers Foundation of Maui. Promote art and music and culture and educate people
27:13
about environmental solutions. Implement them here. Have them come visit. Have them become well here in our wellness spas. have our local people thorough uh flourish by building enough housing and creating employment in industries that are growth industries. We now have a 4-year university here. We have ways to do great things without being here and tie in with industries all over the world. But we have to do that by generating it here locally and not burdening our government. In fact, like I’ve tried to be leading right now, lead
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with our own giving. And I like me in that model in the industry that brings in the most revenue that I know around here, real estate, unless it’s a a tourist industry activity. But real estate has commissions that are earned. By the way, it isn’t an easy task to sell real estate anywhere. But here in Maui, it’s especially interesting and challenging when so many of the local people don’t have the money to be able to buy places that are now they’re outpriced. Well, we still need those big
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dollars. So, that’s an engine that can work by itself. But then designated areas for local growth like they do in many places in the world that we see our mayor making that kind of move with his vacation rental thoughts. But we have to create other solutions so we don’t force these owners that are suddenly on a precipice just like Trump is doing. You don’t force people over a precipice for economic good. You can give them an exit plan that can work in the middle of a greater plan to do what you’re talking
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about and creating better local economy through that. Um, anyway, I see I still have time. You guys are lucky I have music available. I’m gonna come back talking, but I want to first say I am so thankful to be here in Free Speech Radio this last weekend when I was at Hands Off up there on a Saturday um in front of Whole Foods. Thousands of people, thousands and thousands, all sizes, shapes out there protesting these things going on. That wasn’t even tariff talk. That was about what’s going on with pulling money
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from all these agencies and losing jobs and losing support for people with the services provided by these agencies. the special needs kids being handled by Department of Education that’s now gone. How you going to handle that without the things that we need? It’s just it was done like a hatchet job. That’s what the word hatchet job means. You know, Elon Musk is getting too big for his britches. We’re not living in 20 100. There are people here. The the people are here. Not all the robots are yet in
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place. You haven’t reduced population enough to think that someone’s going to allow that to happen without some fight. All these jobs that are getting replaced. What are people doing when they don’t have a job? We have to create different solutions. There are many available and there are many things to be able to use tech for greater advantage. But we got to pull out greed. Got to pull it out. We have to learn. You know, some people say just because you care for someone else, you’re a
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socialist. You’re a human being. You’re a caring, loving human being. And you don’t have to be in a declared religion or declare this way or that way or this way to bring up your spiritual presence in yourself. But whatever way is your chosen way, a little soul searching would be good. By the way, just so you know who my guest was supposed to be here today, my first thought last week was a lady I know who’s a beautiful, incredible lady. She happens to be black. Has nothing to do with She
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happens to have a physical disability challenged. Anyway, what I like to think of is she is an incredibly abled, a different ability, driven, incredible woman named Kylani Jackson. I knew her when she was showing that she was just coming here and I was over at Unity Church and I saw her then I thought, what a incredible lady. She spoke with such beautiful wisdom and she needed and wanted to go and get to school and make promises to her husband husband who had passed away and and she was incredible lady. Well, I just saw
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outside in the lobby here on March 20th for 5 days and four nights, Kylani Jackson, one of the two organizers and obviously a lot of organization for this come away with me Maui women’s retreat, an escape at Lamaria, La Maria Retreat Center. So, one can only say great people are here and she’ll be here one of these weeks soon. We have a lady coming next week who’s an expert about the water situation on the west side. We get involved in anything that you want to get involved in. And some of them are
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good, some of them are questioning things that are happening. And we invite here into the neutral zone all sides. We even have a running phone number you can call us in if the engineer says, “Hey, that’s a call for you.” 808733435. It rarely has been uh called when I’m here. We generally have guests and stuff, but a lot is going to be coming and you’re going to see it here. And I’m going to find a way through what I’m doing to give to Akaku public access media and find a way to put more money
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into this television station and encourage uh co- fundraisers. I think we’ll see. Anyway, I’ve watched Akaku grow over the years. This bunch of people is more dedicated than I’ve ever experienced. I haven’t really worked in big offices. I was generally in sales and when I was executive, it was of a little company. But I do know that the organization around here really gets the job done. If they had more money, they might have more time to breathe because they’re a very hardworking, very
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hardworking staff here. Anyway, you can find us at 88.5 FM, the voice of Maui, K Aku, on Maui Stream, an app on the phone, and you’ll find us there. Maui neutralzone.com up on the net on YouTube. I think we’re Dream Maui, Dream Maui One, two, and three. We have a lot of shows over a lot of years. I I saw a show up there the other day. I just did an interview a few weeks ago of Alan Vatal. I saw an interview with him we did in 1995 a couple of weeks after the Maui Meadows fire when um Lely Townsend who
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is the lady that was on the portrait at the cultural center this year. That portrait won some award for painting. Lily Townsen moved in with Ariel and I moved out when the Maui me fire happened. There was a lawn 30 years ago. He didn’t have more hair. He’s still got more hair now. But you know, you see that all these people. We’ve been here a long time and it’s difficult to pass the torch when we need leaders to rise up and integrate with more sensitive things that we need here. It’s
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a lot of job for a mayor and a council, especially when self-interests arise so much. How about the YA 670 thing? How about we make a deal? Let’s make believe you’re in real estate. Let’s say you’re going to give this group the thing and they’re going to do so many units in low income. They’re going to widen the highway. Go put this in, do that, this thing. And they holding it and waiting for permits and trying to do this and going to do that. And now they say, well, things are too expensive. We can’t
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put in the highway and deliver that many units under the budget. Most people would say, “Oh, like they used to say, that means I have to sell that property.” On Maui Meadows on the other side, that’s exactly what happened. They asked that developer to build a road and build a this road and build that road. $2 billion. What happened? He sold it. Why isn’t that being employed now? Who is holding the feet to the fire of the council people? Is that possible? I don’t know anything like that. But I
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do know we need to focus our time and attention on building more lowincome and moderate income housing, whatever they be defined at. We can employ and build the wealthy houses and get their taxes and get ourselves in balance here by doing both, but not while a 670 at the expense of no completion of the road. Absolutely not. And anyone that votes for that on council and lets them do that, I think we should make a concerted effort, whoever we are, to make sure that they’re not there the next term.
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Because if people can’t why do we give special interest to only the super rich when the poor are struggling? Not on my watch. So, I hope that you’ll all hear that one clear. It’s not like I’m free of issues here locally to talk about. I can talk about a lot of local issues, but I know they’re trying here. I’ve watched and see a lot of people trying. They really don’t know how to get out of a situation that they’re kneede in garbage because the people that were in
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these offices before didn’t put their balance priorities in order. I don’t think anyone would disagree with that. How about that runoff in Kihei? I happen to be here and remember when the tidal swap happened and so the land instead of having the water run down to the ocean, it runs down to the ocean and moves this way and down to the ocean. What’s that about? I’m afraid we didn’t have any good stewards back then. So, we can say anything we want now, but we are way down the road. way down the road as you
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see when Kihei gets totally washed away because of decisions from long ago. If we don’t widen that highway and we put more homes in there and we’re going to little old Wa waiting for the state to put a highway down. But the it’s nuts. Nobody that looks at it sensibly. Nobody would say don’t cause that highway to be widened. Nobody unless someone has a vested interest. I’m sorry. That’s my opinion. You heard it here. Um anyway, I’m not looking to create enemies, but natural enemies will
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develop when truth, my truth, comes out. What possible thing could they give that’s worth it to all of us to further this congestion because of more upper end building at the mouth of Wa? Absolutely not. We’ve been waiting for them for a long time for a reason because we haven’t addressed other things that need to be addressed. Whatever they reason they didn’t get a chance to start, one that is not going to be moved is the road widening. Oh well now you need these extra expensive
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things. You can’t build the cheap ones. Let’s work on that. I personally know I remember when they were building the two big hotels and they had to build housing in Kihei for them down near Kani Hakcoy that development that’s there and then the people from the hotel didn’t really want to move in it. They were all working locally had their own houses and whatever. So they started renting it for other purposes. We didn’t have enough. We didn’t require things to be built over time when they keep doing things.
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It’s time to require again. Yeah. Jason Schwarz, if you want to throw bullets, Jason Schwarz, Maui. That’s how I feel. The neutral zone. And we never said it was neutral. In fact, we said it’s anything but neutral. It’s anything but neutral because neutral seems to mean that we’re not engaged. We are engaged, but we want everyone to be in this circle and talk and hash it out until we can find where our commonality is and what we disagree on and why. And if we that old story about let’s boil it back down, what does
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it come to? Well, in some hearts it comes to what we’re doing to the earth, to our future, to our children. And the other one is greed. Greed. Greed. Greed. Did I say it? Greed. That people think, you know, when you’re a realtor for all these years or even little years and the prices go up, can you live on Maui? Well, maybe you can’t. But when you get big real estate commissions, you can live. Could you give money to different social causes? Well, yeah, especially if others are doing it and suddenly you’re
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not the most attractive real estate game in town. You might be. You could get run through that concept and be giving through when we’re working with different real estate companies and agents. They know that they’re giving their commissions and a bunch of it, whatever that transaction will be to our environment and to our county and to growing this better place as an example for the world. Does it make sense? Does make sense. Got a lot of people who support it. If I was Trump, I’d be probably
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doing something about it and not even asking. We don’t have a Supreme Court that would stop me and probably no one would want to because we’re not asking them for anything. We’re not asking for the government or the people to pay for it. We’re going to find the people that find benefit and that want to give to build this economy. We are such a giant tourist market because of what we were and what we are. Even though they said stop coming and the world didn’t exactly understand
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that but I hope they’ll stop coming and I hope they’ll go home with more than just a sunburn. Imagine all the wellness centers and the different concepts for health care that could happen right here. Imagine all the people that live here that could be embracing technologies not only to be using here in these service kinds of industries but high techch. And we have a college that’s developing things. I was forced because I was going on student loan to get out of the program midstream. But
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where do those jobs go? Do they integrate with any kind of work here? Are we encouraging film to come here? Are we going to raise the film tax credit budget? We may not have to if we are able to do the things we’re talking about here through this concept. So, we’ll see. We’re going to see. And that is what’s going to be the greatest part of this. We’re going to see without putting our hand into your pocket. When you have the money and you come out and join in what we’re doing, you’re going
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to be enjoying the fact that you’re going to help more and more people as you’re doing it and really not suffering anything personally. Maybe your your 100 foot yacht is only 80 ft. Maybe now’s not the time to buy a new Rolls or maybe not a new Lexus. Or maybe you have a sports car and a Lexus and a sailboat. You can live as you choose. But realize this world is not going to make it unless you give more. Unless you recognize your responsibility that in your success that our world needs
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leaders like you who have gained modicum of success. whether it’s in the arts and you want to come support this and watch as we play your song or you come up and sing a song and create a headline. But we’re going to do this, people. We’re going to do this and we’re going to do it here on Maui and the world is going to see it because in these challenging times we’re going to be putting into to effect concepts that have the possibility to rise up from these ashes, from all this confusion and create this
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self- sustainability model for the world to see. And they can help if they want. And imagine all the people that want things from Maui, their art, their music. They want to drink in their culture. And but they don’t have the way to come here. Not five, six, 700 dollars a night for hotels. And see what I mean? We can bring all the people and give them things all over the world and build things here from people caring to support this vision. And the people that buy here and support this vision or want
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to buy in, let’s say they want to buy in Honolulu. Well, we know brokers and agents in all kinds of places in the world and are able to put together transactions to build this fund. Yeah. My goal for the first year once we really kick off and have a small team here, that’s what’s coming. Uh is uh to have a hundred transactions in the first year. Um, and again, I hope that’s just a minimum. We’re starting from scratch, so that’s a pretty lofty goal. But we all who see this concept and
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share it hope to also participate. Whether you’re going to buy a house or sell a house, that’s what we’re going to do. We’re going to change things. We’re going to be able to help public access television get new equipment and be able to hire additional staff. Why? Because we’re going to fund it out of the real estate commission. Because what good is is living well when those around you aren’t living well? A rising tide should raise all ships. As Lahina is getting back to being something that people will
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be coming to needs time to rebuild, but we can build the county of Maui and rebuild as we go the west of Maui and Lahina and we can all raise our standard of living. You know, I’m 74 years old. I’m not ready to wait another decade or two to have people get these concept. The time to implement is now. People don’t do demonstrations like we saw on Saturday, hands off and millions and millions of people across the country getting out. Unless it’s time. Before we were ahead of our time.
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Maybe now is the right time. the perfect time. God’s time. That’s what I hope. I’m gonna play a song here that you probably have heard before because I’ve played it and I love it. It’s uh from a beautiful woman named Louise Lambert. Peace in our hearts. and worlds [Music] die. Seems like now we see it all right here on our TV. Seems like the more we bridge the distance, the harder it becomes for us to see. Well, if all the world’s a stage for actors in a play with an ancient
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script of fear and doubt and greed to write another page to find a better way. Reverence for life is what we need. For peace in our world, for peace in our country. For peace on our street. Peace in our hearts. It all starts with peace in our hearts. [Music] our future to keep the hooded horsemen from the door. We’re talkingace [Music] building. But in the land of the free and the home of the brave, why do so many people need a gun? If it were just you and me, the world couldn’t be saved. Cuz deep inside
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we know what we’re done. For peace in our world, for peace in our country, for peace on our street, peace in our house. It all starts with peace in our [Music] heart. [Music] Seems like there’s something we forgot [Music] to see right through the eyes of a child. We find again the truth we’ve always known. For peace in our world. For peace in our country, for peace on our street. Peace in our house. Peace in our [Music] heart in our [Music] country in our house. Little stars for peace in our heartace.
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[Music] [Music] Peace in our hearts. I know we have peace in our hearts. I’m praying that the world doesn’t completely isolate us through the moves of our current administration. The headlines are just crazy. S&P closes lower. NASDAQ rises 100 in dizzying day for stocks. Here’s one. Black Rocks think that’s our CEO. CEOs are already seeing a recession. Trump says White House not looking at a tariff pause. US president threatens 50% additional tariffs on China. Economic trade war causing
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nothing but hardship for the American people across the board. Carveouts and all kinds of talk of all kinds of stuff. Depends where you look. Here’s a roller coaster. roller coaster bare market. Oh my goodness gracious. Well, we only have a few minutes to go. Yeah, we have three or four minutes to go. So, I’m going to play one more song just because I want to and then I’m going to close her up for the day. Thank you all for joining us here. I have had a pleasure being on the neutral zone all these years and I hope
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to be continuing and you’re going to see Mama Presents that’s art and music and culture and if you go look up there at dreammaui.com or all those other spots you’re going to see an archive when archives weren’t kept here at Akaku. I lost a bunch of stuff years ago because I didn’t have enough way to keep the medium. But you’re going to see hundreds and hundreds and hundreds of shows up there and show you history and promises from all kinds of people. And you’ll also see a lot of incredibly beautiful
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people and ideas that we want to see. Now, we means me and those that have been listening because it’s one of them things. Let’s see what we got here. Here’s a couple of minutes. Maui styling. No matter where you go, no matter what you do, take that Maui style with you. Cuz if you styling, you just [Music] lo There is sunshine in your heart. It’s been with you from the start. Lift your head. Look to the heavens. Then you will feel brand new again. Don’t stop me now. My style. Don’t let me down. My style.
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Don’t let me down. My style. Don’t let me down. my east I live. Don’t let me down. Reach out your hand and help each other. Your mother, your father, your sister and brother. There is love in this family. Pick yourself up and get on your feet. Don’t stop me now. Maui sty don’t let me down. Maui sty don’t let me down. Maui sty don’t let me down. Maui sty don’t let me down. [Music] Hawaiian styling [Music] [Music] sty. Well, that’s it for the day, folks. We are over the way. Neutral zone
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checking out. We will see you next week. It is a pleasure always. Blessings to everyone. It really is a pleasure. [Music]
