Paul DesLauriers- MAUI PONO NETWORK. – 2020

Paul DesLauriers– MAUI PONO NETWORK with Jason Schwartz. MPN has interviewed 32 Primary Maui Candidates for your review along with their “Grades” on Key Issues- to assist Maui Voters in Candidate info and offer Progressive review.   Show # 93– 6-22–2020

Summary & Transcript

[00:00 → 10:00] Introduction & Context

• Host Jason Schwartz welcomes Paul DesLauriers, Executive Director of Maui Pono Network, a progressive community organization focused on Maui County governance and elections.
• Paul was previously a guest two years ago during the 2018 election cycle, where Maui Pono Network interviewed candidates and endorsed a slate of progressive candidates for the County Council.
• The 2018 efforts resulted in significant changes in council representation, empowering candidates aligned with environmental sustainability and community priorities rather than big-money interests.
• Paul emphasizes the current moment as a critical post-pandemic reset, describing it as a “blank page” for Maui’s future. The question: Who will paint the new picture for Maui’s community and environment?
• Maui Pono Network has again conducted extensive interviews (32 in total this cycle) with candidates for both County Council and State Representative seats, aiming to inform voters about candidates’ values and track records.
• Interviews were conducted via Zoom due to the pandemic, increasing transparency and community accessibility.
• The Network’s website, mauipononetwork.org, hosts the interviews, values statements, and candidate endorsements.
• [10:00 → 20:00]
• Approach & Philosophy to Candidate Evaluation
• Maui Pono Network uses a values-based, fact-driven approachfocusing on candidates’ voting records, civic engagement, and alignment with progressive community priorities.
• The group distinguishes between empowering:
  • Candidates loyal to community needs and environmental stewardship
  • Versus those beholden to big-money and special interests, including offshore investors and large corporations like A&B (Alexander & Baldwin).
• Voting records are used as an objective measure to determine where candidates’ loyalties lie, rather than personal judgments.
• Examples of key issues analyzed include:
  • Votes on department heads and corporate council appointments, where a faction aligned with Mayor Victorino consistently supported status quo appointees, while progressives pushed for new leadership.
  • The Wailuku Civic Center funding debate, where progressives opposed funding the center to prioritize affordable housing and community needs.
  • Opposition to policies favoring A&B’s interests, especially regarding water rights and environmental controls.
• The Network emphasizes systemic change in Maui County governance, citing the dysfunction of political appointments and the need for professional management of the $880 million County infrastructure.
• The overarching goal is to create informed voters by providing clear distinctions based on real issues and voting behavior.
• [20:00 → 32:00]
  • • Election Cycle & Candidate Slate Overview
• The Network prepared a list of 47 targeted questions addressing key issues for both County Council and State Representative candidates.
• Candidates’ personal histories and civic records are also reviewed as part of due diligence (e.g., criminal records, community involvement).
• The current election cycle includes progressive challengers running against incumbents perceived as aligned with special interests or the political establishment.
• The Network supports candidates who are:
  • Experienced and proven in leadership roles (incumbents who have voted progressively)
  • New challengers with strong community engagement and alignment with progressive values
• The State Representative races are party-driven; Democrats generally win after primaries, but this cycle features the Aloha Aina Party, a new party promoting progressive candidates, running in the general election.
• Key State Rep candidates supported by Maui Pono Network include:

District	Candidate Supported	Opponent(s)	Key Notes
8	Cara Puna	Troy Hashimoto (incumbent)	Troy votes consistently for A&B interests, especially regarding water rights
11	Tina Wildburger	Not specified	Progressive challenger; opposes party machine control
12	Russell “Simon”	Kyle (incumbent)	Opposes increasing homelessness fines; supports shelter and housing solutions
13	Walter Ritte	New district	Longtime activist with strong progressive credentials

The Network highlights that incumbents Troy Hashimoto and Kyle were appointed by the governor rather than elected, and are seen as part of the political establishment.

• Progressive candidates are framed as grassroots leaders fighting party machine control and special interests.
• [32:00 → 55:00]
  • • Maui County Council Candidates & Races
• Maui County Council races are at-large; all voters select from the entire slate of candidates regardless of geographic district.
• Four incumbents from the 2018 progressive slate have proven themselves and continue to be supported:
  • Kelly King: Visionary and strong voice for the ‘āina (land) and community.
  • Keani Rollins-Fernandez: Responsible steward of the County’s finances and infrastructure; embodies Hawaiian values.
  • Tasha Kama (noted as controversial): Initially supported but later removed from endorsement due to voting records not aligning with progressive values.
  • Shane Sinenci: New but rapidly growing leader, known for decisive and community-oriented leadership.
• New challengers supported include:
  • Gabe Johnson running for Lāna‘i seat (open race due to term-limited incumbent). Gabe is an organic farmer and advocate for sustainability.
  • Carol Lee Kamekona running against Tasha Kama in Kahului, bringing a strong military background and wide civic engagement, especially on Hawaiian and environmental issues. This endorsement replaced Tasha due to concerns about integrity and voting alignment.
  • Aja Eyre, a Harvard magna cum laude graduate with strong communication and organizing skills, running against middle-of-the-road incumbent Mike Molina. Aja is described as a “firecracker” and passionate progressive.
• Incumbents Alice Lee and Yuki Lei Sugimura currently have no challengers but the Network expresses hope they will collaborate with progressives on the council.
• The Network stresses the importance of integrity in leadership—keeping commitments made during campaigns and voting accordingly once in office. The decision to drop support for Tasha Kama was based on a perceived 180-degree flip in voting behavior after election.
• Maui Pono Network provides a “report card” that clearly marks progressive voting alignment versus big-money interests, enabling voters to make informed decisions.
• [55:00 → 01:00:00]
  • • Community Engagement & Future Plans
• Maui Pono Network encourages community members to get involved via their website:
  • Volunteer opportunities with various committees available.
  • Donations to support campaign materials such as banners, postcards (20,000 for primary and general elections), and community outreach.
  • Development of a progressive network directory to link progressive organizations island-wide, providing resources such as food distribution points, farming initiatives, and community programs.
• The Network’s volunteer-based model means no salaries are paid; all funds are directed toward community engagement and education.
• Plans include mailings, radio outreach, and possibly community events (virtual or in-person) to further voter education and progressive networking.
• [01:00:00 → 01:00:49]
  • • Broader Vision: Reclaiming Democracy
• Paul DesLauriers authored a book titled “Reclaim Democracy: Seven Steps” detailing grassroots strategies to restore democracy at the county level, with Maui as a model for systemic change.
• The book explores Hawaiian history, including overthrow and suppression, and analyzes why some democratic reforms succeed or fail.
• Ralph Nader praised the book as a uniquely practical guide to civic engagement and electing good public officials.
• Maui’s post-pandemic moment is seen as a global opportunityto counteract authoritarian trends and reclaim community governance based on transparency, accountability, and progressive values.
• The hope is that Maui Pono Network’s work will inspire not only Hawai‘i but communities worldwide.
• [01:00:49 → 01:01:15]
  • • Closing Remarks
• Paul thanks the host and audience for their engagement and encourages listeners to explore the Maui Pono Network website for full interviews, candidate information, and ways to participate.
• The host expresses appreciation for the Network’s comprehensive work in simplifying complex election issues and fostering informed voting.
• Both emphasize the uncertain but hopeful future for Maui, emphasizing community involvement as key to positive outcomes going forward.

1. 1. 1. Key Insights & Conclusions

• Maui Pono Network plays a critical role in educating Maui voters by providing transparent, detailed interviews and voting record analysis focused on progressive values aligned with environmental sustainability and community welfare.
• The Network’s values-driven approach objectively distinguishes candidates supporting big-money interests from those loyal to local community needs.
• The 2020 election cycle features a strong progressive slate for both Maui County Council and State Representatives, challenging incumbents tied to the political establishment and special interests.
• The Network emphasizes the importance of integrity, accountability, and consistent voting behavior as core leadership qualities.
• Community engagement is central to the Network’s mission, with active calls for volunteers, donors, and participation in building a progressive coalition island-wide.
• The broader vision includes systemic democratic reform at the county level, with Maui as a potential model for other regions globally.
  • • Quantitative Data Table: Candidate Support Summary

Position	Candidate(s) Supported	Opponents / Notes	Key Issues & Notes
State Rep District 8	Cara Puna	Troy Hashimoto (incumbent)	Opposes A&B water control, progressive water rights stance
State Rep District 11	Tina Wildburger	Not specified	Progressive challenger, opposes party machine control
State Rep District 12	Russell “Simon”	Kyle (incumbent)	Opposes increasing fines on homelessness, supports shelter initiatives
State Rep District 13	Walter Ritte	New district	Longtime activist, strong progressive record
County Council (Incumbents)	Kelly King, Keani Rollins-Fernandez, Shane Sinenci	Tasha Kama (removed from endorsement)	Progressive incumbents with strong leadership; Tasha Kama dropped due to voting record inconsistencies
County Council (Challengers)	Gabe Johnson (Lāna‘i), Carol Lee Kamekona (Kahului), Aja Eyre (against Mike Molina)	Various challengers	Emphasis on sustainability, Hawaiian values, community engagement
County Council (Unchallenged)	Alice Lee, Yuki Lei Sugimura	No challengers	Hope for collaborative work with progressives

1. 1. 1. Summary

This interview with Paul DesLauriers of Maui Pono Network provides an in-depth look at the organization’s efforts to promote transparent, progressive governance in Maui County. Through extensive interviews and analysis of voting records, Maui Pono Network distinguishes candidates who prioritize community and environmental interests from those aligned with special interests and political machines. The organization supports a slate of candidates for County Council and State Representative who embody integrity, progressive values, and a commitment to systemic change. The Network also actively invites community participation and offers resources for voters to make informed decisions in a pivotal post-pandemic election cycle. Paul DesLauriers’s broader civic engagement work, including his book Reclaim Democracy: Seven Steps, underscores the potential for Maui’s grassroots approach to serve as a model for democratic renewal globally.

Transcript

00:00

[Music] – hello everyone welcome to the Maui neutral zone I am your host Jason Schwartz we are on kak u 88.5 FM on radio and Akaku Maui community television we’re also on the internet and you can find all our shows there but you know I often say we have a special guest well today we really have a special guest this is Paul DesLauriers Paul is the what do we call you the head the executive director of Maui pono network and we had him on two years ago when we had yet another election cycle um Paul why don’t

01:01

we first of all welcome to our show how are you well first of all thank you Jason for having me and for really staging this community opportunity of providing information and in really educating the public on a lot of different issues and needs from a wide range of perspectives so I appreciate your approach nation and and what you’re doing and I’m happy to be here again it’s been a long time since I’ve been here last on your show we were in the throes of the 2018 election at that time

01:35

and you know it really learned an awful lot it showed us a lot of how as a community we can really empower the right people who can then craft the future of the island in a way that serves really the environment and the community itself so instead of big-money interests so so you know it’s been we’ve been we’ve been continuing to develop and grow like I said in a lot of different ways and I think right now it’s such a crucial time when we’re in this post pandemic realm especially right after the reset button

02:16

has been pushed it’s like we have a blank page right now and and what do we want to paint on the back black page well so let’s set this say two years ago Maui pono Network interview all the candidates or most of the candidates and put up a slate that they felt would turn the council into a group that we would have favored two issues that you focused on and you were pretty successful I mean the results of that election work that a lot of people got elected that were seemed like a new day on council things were changing and

03:00

we’ve seen more changes in the last two years than we’ve seen in a while and there’s been a lot of awareness and pushing toward things that we wouldn’t had before and now you’ve gone and done it again he gave me a chance to sit in on a little couple of those interviews but you’ve interviewed this whole host of candidates yet again and so I imagine that at you what’s your website address again let’s get the audience to know it that or it’s Maui pono network.org

03:36

so okay and at that location you have values and things that you share that are important to the island and then you share about the candidates I guess you have all the interviews that you’ve done and a whole host of them this time you’re saving me from having to do interviews this time well I think that it’s it’s a way to inform the public I think in a really matter-of-fact way by having these hour-long interviews and our process was that first of all we had a group of some of the top progressives

04:14

here on Maui County get together and then we looked at and what are the most important questions that we could ask these candidates both for state representative and for the County Council so we came up with a list of 47 questions and then each different interview had their own take and other things so it really made it very interesting in terms of the questions that were asked and relevancy of those questions and again we have all those tape and I think in part because of this pandemic realm that we’re in right now

04:48

or post pandemic we were we had an opportunity than to do zoom videos of all different interviews that we had two years ago we were sequestered in rooms in Wailuku and in Paia and the having group of 10 or something but this way when we did our due diligence it was really a way to bring that due diligence into the it and bring the whole community into it in such a wonderful way it just created this level of transparency where now that we’ve done these 32 interviews of the state representatives and also of the county

05:24

council people can go there themselves and see why we selected these candidates as ohana candidates who we deem as the top progressives here in Maui County and and there’s a clear reason why and if you just listen to the interviews it becomes fairly obvious and I think that the level of enthusiasm that the people who are involved with this whole process share when we talk about and look at these candidates that we’re looking at representing us now again I think that in this post pandemic realm we’re

06:01

talking about a clean slate in many ways we’re not looking at tourism in the same way or we’re looking at all also these economic drivers throughout our County in a very different way where we’re looking at more balanced and more sustainability so so again I think that the type of people we choose the people who we empower is crucial as they then paint on this because we’re saying you’re the artist we’re empowering you to paint this picture and to take the budget and make sure the budget is

06:37

utilized in the right way just like the 63 million dollars we got you know because of this incident you know the reality is right now Maui County is considered has the most unemployment in the United States and we are considered hardest-hit of all the counties also because of our level of dependence on tourism and how you know it’s compiled for people to get on planes I mean you know we’re talking right now two weeks of being sequestered so so it’s going to be a huge impact and again who do we empower who are the

07:17

people right you want yep so so we went through that I was just gonna say yeah so that’s what you did you basically showed you looked with community progressives and you identified important issues and then you interviewed a bunch of candidates and then you and I’m not sure who but this group came to some kind of an idea of who you thought would be the best candidate when I’ve been doing interviews just like you’re talking about cuz I also think sitting with someone for an hour and and going

07:58

through it with them but you have specific people involved in your question development which I like and you now are doing something like that I don’t do at the neutral zone I stay neutral so if someone says I like skunks and I don’t like skunks I don’t crucify them but you guys put them on a report card kind of a basis so you’ve got a real idea of on the issues that are important to you how these guys are gonna fare so why don’t we just start right in because there’s a lots of

08:33

candidates maybe you want to talk about them as we go where do you want to start well I think that looking at the report cards I think for the County Council is good one for example because I think it’s showing a clear distinction of where the progressives are and where the big-money interests are and you can see like this whole range then of voting that occurred and let me just give you the list then of some of these majors question because you used use the term big-money interests you don’t have any problem with money but

09:10

you’re just saying that money that is doing things that you don’t feel comfortable this is not what you really mean what I mean is that basically who do we empower in other words you know do we empower people who are dedicated to the people in the INA and serving the needs and having that be the priority or do we have empowered people who have are beholden to these larger interests especially offshore interest mahi pono when we start talking about a and B there’s a distinction a clear

09:53

distinction as you lie see how the voting goes at how it doesn’t go so for a hundred and twenty five years we had really the County Council controlled by big money interests now we tried to break that although we had one of our candidates who renounced her progressive values and and now as we do the report card we can see that she’s all the way over to the side of you keel a in terms of voting the same way so again all right so so I’m just trying to get a clearer picture so that Y don’t want our

10:29

listeners they’re gonna go up they have the great opportunity to go and see all these interviews and review your values which is great so the only reason I’m asking is that sometimes people hear the word big money interest and they think up these guys are throwing out some of the good people but you’re talking about these are our issues and this is what we thought we were progressing toward and as the time has gone on some of the candidates didn’t vote the way that you felt they

11:01

should and now you have so that’s what you’re talking yeah and it’s not me when I say that they didn’t vote the way they should I think that when we look objectively then at our whole aina and our community and look at the impact these decisions have I think it creates a clear distinction as to where people interest and loyalties lie and I think what part of our mission is to inform the public of these distinctions so that we can make informed decisions when it comes to voting so here are the key issues I get

11:41

tickled sometimes for some of the words I don’t know let you go is that when you say their loyalties lie and I’m if I was a candidate and I was certainly sitting in the office and I made a vote and you didn’t agree with me you know I am always sensitive to because if someone judges me because I voted some way I may still not be loyal to them but you’re just basically saying that the proof is in the way they voted that’s really what I’m trying that’s where you’re yeah I

12:12

I’m not in any way you know putting a slant on it this is about being objective and clear and when you look at the issue so for example when we look at initially what happened let’s just take the County Council we could talk we could do state representatives also and look at yeah well let’s start with the council but the council is a good one and if we looked in at the voting that occurred we start off right away with the vote on department heads and a corporate council and that means yeah I

12:43

mean and prosecuting attorney was some of the key ones that were voted and then Mike Victorino wanted to keep all of those the same way and there was a whole entire block that voted exactly the way mayor Victorino wanted them to vote and to keep all those people in there there was another faction then that we can call progressives who wanted those people to be removed from their position and have someone who more represents then the larger interest instead of the special interest that they they were seeing from

13:24

their own perspective that they were in turn would say okay all right I just really want to make it here okay so no no no I’m just gonna go down the list of so these are so so the funding the Wailuku Civic Center there’s another clear distinction where you have a whole group of people like you keel a Tasha comma Alice Lee all of them voting a particular way and then you had then the other members who we considered more progressive all voting a very different way to instead use that money for

14:02

affordable housing and other issues that we felt were more proper more important at the time the injection will a very clear thing there’s a good example then of of again the distinction between what a and B wants and what other organizations want or what other larger entities want versus what’s good for the ina and our community so we had again a very clear distinction where Tasha comma uqa Alice Lee or they’re all voting on one end Mike was in the middle and then we have our other progressives so it’s

14:41

another issue again where we start to see clear distinctions between where the candidates lie another one is a charter amendment for managing director victorino wanted a certain thing to happen that means nothing basically and not and not have this being an issue on the voting block but in 2020 we have an opportunity as community – I think address one of the key dysfunctional patterns within our sis this is about systemic change within our County governance because it’s very it’s it’s nuts when you start to think of the

15:22

appointment of then this you know the the overall arching person who manages our infrastructure at eight hundred and eighty million dollar corporation as of last year to have that being managed by someone who is a buddy of of the mayor or some some type I mean we’re we’re crazy they we need someone who is professional who can oversee and manage and also manage all the other managers who are overseeing all these departments so it’s a crucial piece but again yes I see the fiction then I’m also hearing

16:08

I’m also hearing that we haven’t laid out the specific issues I guess that’s what you’re doing to you the injection well issue and whether they voted this way that way or like Wailuku Civic Center so you’re picking issues that that you felt were important for example twenty years ago maybe a little less than twenty I was in Wailuku at what they called the Charette which was there probably eighty or hundred people at a meeting with ideas and thrown around and at that time what to do with that

16:43

parking lot and what’s going on now was discussed and the issues that right now our progressive group talked about wasn’t even on the table at the time it wasn’t discussed so I’m seeing things from long ago that have now moved forward like jonathon star for example that the way I look good thing so this is based on you I want to say progressed people in our community that are conscious of the overall thing people that that a lot of us respect and I imagine you name them in your in your site because I’m you

17:23

know I sometimes people hear the word Maui pono Network and they think it’s a polarized group and I wanted the public to understand if they look at the issues they can get a feeling for what the issues are and how the candidates are because it’s important that all all the people look at these things because like you said these are important issues that you really feel you need to get down to where people are involved in this and that they kind of make decision on what they see is going on and then they vote

17:56

because um I just know that you know some people they might get polarized because it feels like name not name calling but I’m just trying to get an idea because I think it was just very like we say it was what was it Kiani at the eleventh hour on the last boat or Shane Simmons II know how the votes went they were very close so here we have that same kind of thing again so here’s an opportunity for people that see what the issues are and that’s what I like about what you do you identify

18:30

issues and then you clearly say okay if you feel that way on these issues this is what we see so that to me is really very special it kind of a hamburger helper for the voters you know because a lot of people seeming to have trouble wading through the the issues that are going on so thank you for doing it it’s tremendous amount of work you just aged us by referring to hamburger helper but I look at it that way but you know I think the idea is that we do the due diligence and put that all out there

19:12

with all the facts so that people can make clear decisions you know I guess and that’s the idea are we are not polarizing that’s not our objective whatsoever right that’s that’s why I’m bringing it up yep so so thank you for that Jason because you’re I think an important point that that again we are here to look at the facts the voting records and let the voting records determine or if it’s not the voting records well what’s their civic record so in other words what we have when we

19:45

look at then the candidates who are incumbent we will have their voting records and those who are in there for the first time will have their civic engagement and how they’re participating so that you can see yourself like wow here’s someone who’s incredible like this one person you know that is in Makawao we’re looking at supporting who’s incredible you know and and and she’s she’s brilliant I mean she’s magna laude from Harvard and she’s has this these great

20:15

communication skills I mean we need people like that to really help us you know as a community anyway – anyway thank you for letting me go through that I just wanted to set the stage because I want people to really dig into your site you know a report card is good but I really want them to dig in you know yeah I think that the thing that we did was we have a whole tab on issues so if you go there you can see the way it is and also what other progressive communities are doing to really change what’s happening so in

20:55

other words there’s a lot of solutions for affordable housing and then we go through some of that we look at the statistics of the way it is right now and it’s very dim and dismal now especially if you look at what’s going to be happening maybe starting in August because a lot of subsidies are going to be done and then there’s this big like question mark as to what happens and how we evolve as community so you know we’re going to be moving into the unknown and again I think it’s important that we

21:28

make informed decisions as to who is going to help co-create this unknown into something that really can be magnificent I think Maui can be a world leader in so many different ways you know with them on this planet and and again though it depends on who we allow to support it us and need the way and that’s why our goal is to just make it objective here are the facts here are the key issues then and out of those key issues we create questions like I said we had 47 questions this last time and

22:06

then we basically then asked candidates all these different questions and also about their personal history you know if they had duis or other things like that if there was any you know family abuse we really did are you know we try to do our due diligence as best we possibly could and then put the information out there so again we’re here to be objective and out of that it became for us after going through you know for me I’ve been involved with this just the interviews and talking to candidates and other things

22:39

at least you know the last months you know you know probably 90 hours less you’re not doing this each election cycle so I’m thankful you’re making it easier for me this time it’s good well the idea is to make it easy for the community so that’s our goal and then it becomes obvious why then we’re supporting the county council members that we’re doing and also the House of Representatives the members that we’re doing also so so do you wanna bring your list so you want to go through each race

23:15

how do you want to do it you know what why don’t you know let’s start with in terms of the races and stuff and what we’re looking at at this point in time let’s start with the Maui state representatives because I just want to put a kind of a framework around this election the way the state representatives work is that they are party driven so that usually then the person who is the Democratic winner after the primary is the one that automatically almost gets in because there’s really no other types of

23:54

sustainable candidates however it’s a little bit different this time we have Aloha aina who has also other people who will be involved then with I don’t party and people don’t know this is actually a party now called Aloha aina it is slated candidates that’s right and so that’s what I was referring to and so they will be they will be there in the general election when it comes from the state representative races so there’s four of them that at this point in time are involved so but as it stands right now

24:27

the the person who becomes the Democratic leader has a very very very high probability than becoming the representative for that district so so I think it’s important again when so the first one here is a pune a he is our state representative that we’re supporting for district 8 this your gate is where your district is Wailuku and ye are you okay yep so so we’re supporting car Pune and the reason why if you look at Troy Hashimoto’s record it becomes quite obvious especially around the edges of water

25:24

water is a lifeblood of our aina and for that to be governed controlled directed by a foreign interest in Canada with my pono it’s interesting how the names are so very familiar and similar that they in turn again have a lot of control with a and B and so there are specific issues that we need to have around water and if you look at the voting record of Troy he is consistently voting for a and bees interest and and and and not supporting them getting water meters and other progressives your progressives want a

26:10

different kind of an outcome that’s correct we especially when turns to water and we’re so so we have in district 11 there’s tina wild burger that’s key a and while a right and part of Malaya yeah McKenna what okay I’m sorry no that’s not in Lahaina yeah so North Kihei and maja district 11 is tina wild burger which is key a mckenna Wailea and i thought a little bit of malaya that’s all I’m saying okay okay and who else did Tina wild or do you prefer over who’s running against Tina

26:53

someone else let’s see was it oh I get confused I don’t have the full list of all our interviews and you guys chose Tina wild burger in district 11 funny car Pune yep yep and and then we have as we go down our list here we have in district 12 we have Russell Simon or Simon Russell confused son that’s our assistant 12 again we’re running against Kyle again she voted the same way as Troy date around water rights and other issues you know they they were voting to find homelessness people to increase the fines of

27:40

homelessness people instead of doing other issues in terms of shelter and stuff like that so again I when I looked at the voting records and we’ve got really into how they’ve shown up you know it’s not really I was not representative let’s say of progressive values but signing but but but Simon is I must say and then and then for district 13 we have walter ritty now district 13 is this route 13 is a new one right that’s a haiku para haiku Hana Molokai and lanai right that’s a good

28:20

new district that’s a really big one it is and it’s so you choosing walter ritty is he own Aloha I know as a Democrat does it no that’s democratic right and that’s why this primary is so important especially for these three individuals that were looking at so the three new ones Tina blessing confident in her you know electability but again it’s walter ritty and kyle pune allahi and also Simon Russell so again they as as progressives state representatives who are just incredible

29:03

I mean just to get to know them and and the way they’re supporting and engage in our community and what they’re doing I mean it’s inspiring and to have them represent us versus just for example Kyle and Troy were not elected by the people they were appointed by the governor so so they’re part of the good ol boy network system now let me explain what I mean by that that means that in in the state politics you have then your party bosses who have then a lot of say in to the votes as to first of all who

29:47

what will even go up for a vote but then they want their people who were in their party to vote a particular way so they will go to them and say I want you to vote this way and vote this way and vote this way and if they don’t then there’s they’re seen as announcer you know they’re seen as someone that the party is not supporting anga Tina’s a good example of that she is she is does not do what the party bosses demand she does what is right for the people and ina which is I think you know that’s what we

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need and and but but Troy and Kyle represent a system that they’re they were brought into they were brought into the Democratic the machinery and they are they weren’t elected they were appointed and that’s a really big point yeah so I think that that having been if for those two districts especially to have Cara Pune and Simon represent us ah that would be huge and that would make such a big difference for our County to have then a majority of progressives in there supporting then too

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in state legislation so so Tina’s not alone you know and and same with walter ritty i mean talk about a progressive activist i mean my god you know and maybe and not everyone knows that the younger generation doesn’t know Walter and doesn’t know his his you know hit what history of activity yeah and what he’s done and call Lobby and other places people just you know don’t know but I think that again as we put out information and educate if they see his interview for example and his stance on

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water or water rights I mean okay well that’s what’s good about you know I agree I I think that what you’re doing is not only making choices but you’ve got the interviews there with questions that are important for the values that you’re putting out and letting people embrace okay so that’s the state races any other state races before we go to i’m gonna take i would say that we’re we’re still questioning one one race right now we’re going back and forth and

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we’ll know by the end of the week so one other state race yes what a mistake okay but when people go to Maui pono network.org they can see everything will be up there complete probably by the time this show is on your all your choices will be there and all the values I think it’s a terrific opportunity you make it like I say or you’re helping voters wade through a lot of issues and they get to evaluate the issues and see the candidates who are asked the questions about those issues so that’s

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terrific it’s great so that just a little point on that there’ll be a tab that will have then the interviews and then we’ll have then all 32 interviews that we did force you know the County Council and state rep and then we’ll have another tab for the Oaxaca edits that we selected right let’s take a quick break for a station identification we will be right back at Maui neutral zone with Paul DeDesLauriers and I’m Jason Schwartz we’ll see in a second okay we are back now it was a nice break

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I’m here with the DesLauriers and of Matt Valley pono Network hi Paul what’s up good okay yeah say well no I just I like the break anyway let’s we were just about to start then talking about the Maui County Council and let’s talk about maui county council race and candidates yeah so I think that first of all there are four candidates that we were involved with last election of 2018 that I think really really have shown their progressive values and they’re especially as they put the

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rubber to the road and get involved in the county council chamber and then making all these very important decisions and sometimes it’s very arduous and there’s long long hours of budgets and looking at a lot of different things and options and things but they have been consistently truth so these four candidates I think really you know I think most importantly are in our respect they they have my respect great respect and the thing that I’ve seen with all of them as they keep on growing

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and developing as our representatives as leaders in our community I’m just I’m just so proud of them anyway so I’ll start with those for those incumbent and then I’ll go then talk about the other candidates that were supporting and let’s make sure that our viewers realize in Maui County we vote at large which means when you hear they’re from this area that area you vote for all nine council candidates so remember that as you’re going through it not just the one that’s in your area okay at that ball

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that’s an excellent point Jason and you know which is very a distinction between the different types of districts that you’ll be voting for state representative but this again as consciousness countywide so we all get to participate and vote for each one of these so that’s why I think us getting to know everyone of these County Council members and the people who were supporting I think is very important so we’ll start off with with Kelly King I think you know to me you know in terms

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of you know a visionary and someone who really consistently stands for the aina and the people was a strong voice who will go after things that are unjust I know she’s amazing and I’m just I’m just proud very proud to support her I I am happy to say I also know unlike Kelly she’s very progressive than and a great lady okay and then then kyani Rollins Fernandez I think that you know you know keeps on blossoming more and more you know in this role and to see her take on a real tough task of

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overseeing the financial aspect of this 880 million dollar corporation and to see her do it so well and orchestrate things in a harmonious way I think it’s a real testimony to her and again I’m just very proud to support her and see how you know if she keeps on developing and growing in many ways so that’s okay so Kelly Kia honey right and and then we have then tomorrow paltin I think tomorrow again has shown you know just inconsistent it’s been a real shift for her from being out there

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lifeguarding but again she’s doing a different type of lifeguarding in many ways so by especially now in this time right now that we’re facing and I think she does represent Hawaiian values in many important ways so again very proud to support her and and and and that’s changed son ANSI oh my god here here’s a guy who you know our Ohana had not been an office and to see him take that leadership role and have so many important decisive decisions and to look at supporting key issues in bringing things up that are so

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important at this point in time so again I think that that Shane is someone that has been extraordinary someone that I’m just very happy to see as he has grown and developed in this position it’s marvelous so so much that there’s been another person who I think has been also growing and developing and grooming for this role and that’s Gabe Johnson Gabe has been no Hana candidate before and so we work with him he’s going through a lot of training and worked on issues he’s involved in working with Kyani he’s

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working on a lot of issues around farming and sustainability right now he’s a farm organic farmer himself so I think he’s a he’s running for lanai where Ricky okama I guess has gone is full five terms and so he’s sitting out so that’s an open race there’s no incumbent there well that’s true there’s no incumbent and right now we have Alberta to Jet Li and mono also who’s running so we have three people running for that seat and so they will so Gabe will be involved in

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the primary because we do have three people running so I think that for the primary it’s important that we support Gabe I I think he’ll be an incredible representative of of really to support our aina and the people in a in a wonderful way he really has shown his consistency his dedication and his values over the years so I’m again someone that we’re very happy to support and you can probably tell I’m all these people are very very nice people but we’re not talking about me you’re really

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look at their values I’m I’m appreciating your approach because you know sometimes I like to think I vote for people that I can actually talk to you know some people I don’t like but I feel they have they’re open to listening so these are all so far you’re talking about really terrific people I’m really enjoying this who else he got on your list well there there was a late comer uh a big surprise early to late comers a very big surprise for us and we made a change really a you know kind of at the

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last minute because again our goal and objective is to elect a person who would be the best representation of progressive values for our community and has shown that consistently through their involvement and engagement in the community so it’s not someone who’s just talking story but someone who has shown a level of consistent action again for us this is not projection or you know this is about facts about how they people have been working within the community and really making contributions in significant ways and I

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look at Carol Lee kamekona who will be running for the Kahului seat against Tasha comma we decided to support Carroll and I I think again as you listen to her interviews as you I have a list of all her civic engagement and if you can see how she’s very much involved in a wide range of very very important issues especially for the Hawaiians but also for the aina that support the environment that support Hawaiian culture she’s been an incredible advocate and and she she has a great background she

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she was you know in the Navy she was an officer in the Navy so she has you know I think a lot of abilities and capacities that would suit our county council very very well I think this would be a race that to me it in this race the last time you guys supported Tasha , and so she’s a great example of someone that didn’t vote the way the your issues when it came down to it you felt that importance to put somebody else there because of the votes that’s what the report was gonna do if I could

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be straight if I could be straightforward about this you know to our viewers because I think this is you know an important piece to me when I look at leadership I look at what are the top things that’s most important to me and if you look at surveys and look at different studies done you know they all say the same thing integrity so that when people make a commitment and say I am going to do this I am going to support this I’m gonna go and then when the as soon as they’re in power they flip it 180 degrees wait a

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minute is this the type of person I want to win power in a position that is going to shape our community yikes so I you know so so so we were we were not told the truth and and and we were and now her aquele are voting exactly the same and and and and Tasha is working it she’s getting training she’s got he says so you can have a good public appearance and do that but I’m just saying that that when it comes to integrity which to me is crucial so your group came to decide that you preferred

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Carroll okay I’m just trying to get a feeling because that’s why that’s the reason I’m sort of sitting here comfortably kind of softening it but that’s why I want to keep encouraging people to go to your website because Tasha is a wonderful person but then the vote you came to see that she wasn’t doing what you wanted that it’s not it’s not what we wanted it’s what as as as community needs and what she was committed to it’s not what we and not her doing what I want has nothing to do

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with it this is about being well it has to do with the issues that you’re identifying that’s why I’m saying okay that’s right and I don’t need you personally right yeah and this is about and this is about the vote her voting process and how she and he shows up so this is facts we’re not this is not for Joe Carroll what’s Carroll’s listening reincarnate Kona Kai ka m ke o and kamekona so comma versus kamekona okay all right who is the next race so again a late comer but boy when we saw aja Eyre and

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you know we started to connect with her and had many interviews with her after the initial one that you were part of Jason yeah we ended up you know saying whoa this this woman is a firecracker I mean we need these types of intelligent energetic people who have great communication skills and great organizing skills so I mean she she has a she graduated magna laude from Harvard she has been involved in heard of her yep and and so she she’s has us just you know neat background but most importantly the way she shows up is

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someone that was said okay you know what we have a we have respect for Mike Molina and we do everyone everyone likes Mike and and so in that and that’s true he is the middle of the road I think he’s a politician and and but a very well-liked politician he listens well but again and he’s been interesting on a couple of votes you’re talking about he’s been voting a lot the way that you’re probably favored well you really like this guy important to me this is great because people that like

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Mike can still take a look and say hey and I let this young gal and that’s what you’re all about I’m really appreciated so Aja ire she’s running against Mike Molina but that’s that so so it’s Aja and kamekona and it’s Carol kamekona that’s that’s the seven that we’re supporting so we have unfortunately we have you know one running against Alice Lee or you delay and we throw for three months well again I mean here’s me I can talk to Alice Lee or Yuki lay and but I guess you brother

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bring it down to them to the values based on issues and if you were just one guy as one thing but I know that you have pulled into the progressive was a community of people that I really respect and so when you’re asking questions and coming upon this a lot of thought is coming into these choices so you think that Yuki and Alice Lee might not be favorable to the issues that you’re talking about and so but there’s no one running against them well well correct Challenger for Alice god yes yes there’s

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no challenger for Alice or inky lay and but again you know as we move forward you know one thing that we did at the end of the 2018 election I think you were there Jason when we had that Unity Day in Kihei yeah and sat at the VFW ah it was great to see all the candidates together and the mayor came guy new mayor Victorino came down with an idea that we’re gonna work together a new and progressive ways I thought it was very impressive so I was being there and being in the audience and I mean there

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were people who were crying and just they were just filled their hearts were so filled and said I’ve been waiting for this type of collaboration and community and and you know this is what our community so desperately needs especially if it’s supporting them the aina and the people but to see then the divisive nough static n I still haven’t let go of that vision of that unity and that collaboration so you know my hope is that so my hope is that Alice Lee in you delay you know we’ll work with and

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collaborate with and be a team with and all of the other progresses I hope that we get and hopefully they’ll be as there could be as many as seven but we’re looking at hopefully at a minimum of six so but so for that though we need support in a lot of different ways and if I could mention just Jason just a lil ease about how people can plug in if you go to the Maui pono network.org there is a volunteer tab and on that we have different committees and if you’re interested in any of those committees

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just type in the one that you’re interested in and send it to us with your information and again we’re going to start having these zoom meetings and other types of personal meetings at different times it’ll be fun it’ll be engaging and the most important thing is that you will be supporting them systemic change here in Maui County especially if you look at the future that we’re looking at co-creating it’s very very important so right now if you’re gonna do anything I

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know that that people are going to be worried about their finances and what’s going to be happening and oh my god there’s so much unknown but if you want to really be empowered so that it’s just not out of our control we could elect the white people to support us in the future so go to Maui pono network.org to volunteer and we’ll need donations we have a lot of different things that we’re doing that we’ll need some financial support for we’re putting up over 200 banners around the island do

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post card handouts again we’re gonna have at least 20,000 for the primary and 20,000 for the job not like we did we had 90,000 we hit by here and we handed out 88,000 cards in 2018 by hand this this year obviously is going to be very different but we’re gonna have them card distribution centers at all the different stores that will be open that are that are or that want to support this we’re also having we’re putting together a progressive network you’re calling it than the pono network org and

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that’ll be all the progressive organizations on the island and we’re looking at putting that into one central directory and I think it’s going to be very important not only for us to network the progressive candidates but also for our community to be in touch with all the different types of initiatives and organizations that are there to support our community so that especially as we run into this unknown time it’ll be a good reference point so you can see about all the different

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things about food distributions free food where they are where where people can plug into working on on farming or initiatives where they can people come in and star garden for you you know there’s a lot of different here in our community but we need to be informed and this is a good central way to for that information that’s great you know it’s good yeah and and well we’ll also be doing then mailings radio and who knows we may even have a community event maybe in October and if not we

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will do something virtual like Bruce did before on Earth Day you know there’s there’s a good example of someone thank you Bruce Douglas for doing it was that was incredible in fact he people commented I saw it myself that you know he he was more fresh at the end of 14 hours of that then then when he started off so anyway there are some terrific people and he brought together for everyone just to see and show he’s terrific so we’re using that as a base and then from there we’re developing

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them this progressive network so again we have a lot of things that we’re developing so please come on in participate get involved I think that anything to do any funds that you could provide us will be put to great use again being a standard pack were allowed then to do an umbrella approach for all these candidates and support twelve of them at the same time so that we’re able then to really look at for very little money able to do a tremendous amount so if you could small kind of donation

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anything you can go to our website and go to our donation page it would be a great great help appreciate it and also volunteers because we are volunteer based no one gets paid a salary or money here at Maui pono Network all the monies go directly to those things that we were talking about that’s very powerful that’s a really a great testament to the amazing amount of work that you’re doing and like I said maybe it sounds funny to you but for all these election cycles I’ve been interviewing people like you’ve been

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doing it for all these elections and now you’re doing it all at once and you got them all up and that means I can breathe you know I decided because I couldn’t do candidates on my show last time to go on values and if you look at my guests a lot of my guests were people that you’ve pulled from to look at candidates so you did a terrific thing you got a lot of really smart people progressive people who liked you and I agree we have to do some things to put maui on the map as an example to the world of what can do with

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an integrated action plan that serves everyone and I really thank you not only for for the work that you’re doing now and you did last election but just the tremendous amount of work that it takes to keep this kind of steam going in public I I see that hand with that for it well I just wanted to say also that so what I did after the election in 2018 I wrote a book about the process that we did and then this past year I’ve been in working with ACLU and other organizations to look at this basic

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County approach to regaining our democracy so I wrote this book and it’s here it is it’s called reclaim democracy seven steps and I had it reviewed one of the reviewers was Ralph Nader who I greatly respect in terms of someone who understands the systems and the processes and he said I’d never read a book like that up again let’s show people seven steps to reclaim democracy what a trial say he liked it huh yeah he said I have never read a book like this on civic engagement if there exist a better book to like this

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path to electing good public officials let me know Ralph Nader oh that’s a nice thing so it so you can go to reclaim democracy dot us if you’re interested in purchasing the book I think you’ll find it especially for for people who live here in Hawaii very interesting because it goes into the history of Hawaii its overthrow the suppression all the different mechanisms over the years that were trying to gain back and those that were successful and those that weren’t and why and why they

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were successful and why they weren’t successful and then what does that mean in terms of the bigger picture of systems that we’re operating in and how as community as a grassroot approach can we regain our democracy and our governance and again it starts at a county level so I think that what we’re doing here in Maui can be a model for really not only United States but really the planet because this is something that’s happening right now globally especially in this post pandemic realm

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there is there is a level of succession that’s happening and this was a way to counteract it and to really get our liberties back in again as Ralph Nader said I you know and I’ve had long talks with a mouse on his radio show I you know I think that you know he’s saying that this is it this is this is the way to do it so let’s so I hope that you know some of you may have who are interested we’ll go to the website again it’s reclaim democracy dot us and we’ll put it up there it’ll be up and

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available so people see it on on the screen that’ll be easier to grab okay well you’ve been a great yes I hope that you’ll come back later in the season let’s see as we’re going who knows what’s happening we can’t get into the television station until they say no where before late July and maybe afterwards it’s very hard to know what in this post you say post pandemic God knows we are so fortunate to be here in Maui but now the doors are open so the world may step on our shores we’ve been

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really blessed here has really been very well we have three cases three active cases so I hope we can maintain that but who knows what’s going to happen now yeah Paul the DesLauriers thank you for being here on our show Maui pono network.org very important what you’re doing thank you for joining us any last thing you want to say to people before we jump off the air no Jason a pleasure again and thank you for doing what you’re doing I think it’s so important that there are all these different avenues and mechanisms so that

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people could really be informed about what’s happening in our community from a wide range of perspectives so again thank you and again hopefully we can hear from some of your viewers and go to Maui pono and that worked out oh yeah thank you guys for joining us we will see you again Aloha you