Up Close 2016 – Jason Schwartz with DEIDRE TEAGARDEN
Summary & Timestamped Transcript Below…
Deidre Teagarden – Candidate for South Maui District 11 State House of Representatives
– [00:01 → 02:12] Introduction and Background
Host Jason Schwartz introduces Deidre Teagarden, a candidate for South Maui District 11 in the State House of Representatives.
Deidre shares her early life: born in Pennsylvania, moved to Japan at age 10 due to her mother’s research on bomb survivors after the Three Mile Island nuclear accident.
She attended Japanese public schools, learned the language and culture, and emphasizes respecting local cultures and collaborating rather than imposing change.
Spent significant time living in Japan, Hawaii, and mainland China, gaining diverse cultural and professional experiences.
– [02:12 → 06:40] Professional Experience and Government Roles
Deidre was a liaison for Governor Abercrombie during a meeting with Chinese Vice President Xi Jinping, where she briefly interpreted due to missing official interpreters, demonstrating adaptability under pressure.
Served as Protocol Officer for Hawaii, handling international dignitaries and official state events, including funerals of prominent figures.
Worked closely with congressional delegates, county councils, and mayors, focusing on collaboration and consensus building.
Highlights the importance of building relationships and working constructively even when disagreements exist.
– [06:40 → 09:48] Decision to Run and Qualifications
Deidre cites her diverse experience across nonprofit, private sector, and government as qualifications.
She helped revive Big Brothers Big Sisters Hawaii, turning it from near bankruptcy to a top-grossing small agency nationally.
Worked in County Office of Economic Development, managing millions in grants annually for small businesses and nonprofits.
Emphasizes the importance of understanding government processes (“speaking government”) to effectively get things done.
Expresses readiness to bring a long-standing agenda of community improvement into timely implementation.
– [09:48 → 15:35] Approach to Leadership and Community Unity
Deidre stresses the importance of unity over divisiveness in the community.
Core shared community values include:
Health and safety
Infrastructure
Education
Jobs and affordable housing
Care for kūpuna (elders)
Environmental preservation
She advocates for inclusive leadership that listens to all voices and builds consensus.
Rejects the idea of personal attacks or permanent divisions over policy disagreements, emphasizing collaborative respect.
– [15:35 → 20:04] Campaign Rumors and Personal Integrity
Addresses rumors about campaign contributions from Monsanto, clarifying:
She has not received money directly from Monsanto.
Some former colleagues who now work for firms representing Monsanto and others contributed as private individuals.
Reinforces her independent thinking and commitment to community interests.
Highlights her philosophy of keeping an open-door policy to all constituents regardless of agreement or disagreement.
Values compassion, aloha, kindness, and respect as central to her approach.
– [20:04 → 27:49] Community Engagement and Problem-Solving Style
Advocates for active community involvement and expert consultation before making legislative decisions.
Illustrates how she connected community groups with resources, e.g., coordinating with Goodfellow Brothers on infrastructure issues at a school.
Emphasizes that being a legislator is about helping people navigate complex government systems, not just passing laws.
Supports collaboration between nonprofits, government, and private sectors.
Critiques divisive campaign tactics and calls for campaigns rooted in aloha and respect.
Discusses the importance of building positive momentum instead of fueling anger and division.
– [27:49 → 32:40] Position on Marijuana and Public Safety
Supports medical marijuana legalization but is cautious about recreational marijuana legislation.
Concerns include:
Potential negative impacts on youth and public safety.
The social challenges seen in other states like Colorado (e.g., increased homelessness).
Emphasizes her focus on schools, kūpuna care, veterans, and community safety over marijuana policy expansion at this time.
Open to listening and learning more as new research emerges.
– [32:40 → 41:56] Commitment to Getting Things Done and Bringing People Together
Declares a strong commitment to making tangible progress for the community.
Recognizes the importance of working with all stakeholders—including opponents—to achieve shared goals.
Draws on her experience of working with diverse groups to find common ground and pragmatic solutions.
Stresses the value of respectful dialogue and face-saving approaches, inspired by Japanese cultural principles.
Rejects divisive “us vs. them” politics and seeks to unify Maui’s community for collective benefit.
– [41:56 → 50:56] Vision and Platform – The Five E’s Framework
Deidre articulates her platform built on five equally important “E”s:
Education – Supporting school infrastructure, including Keaʻau High School and other district schools.
Deidre Teagarden presents herself as a seasoned, culturally aware, and pragmatic leader with extensive experience in nonprofit management, government operations, and community collaboration. Her campaign focuses on unity, responsiveness, and pragmatic solutions for key community challenges like homelessness, education, economic development, and environmental preservation. She positions herself as a candidate who will bring people together across divides, respect diverse viewpoints, and deliver tangible results for South Maui’s residents.
Her Five E’s platform encapsulates her holistic approach to community well-being, and her public commitment to open communication and constituent service distinguishes her as a dedicated public servant. Despite facing some campaign controversies, Deidre emphasizes her independence and integrityand appeals to voters to support a collaborative vision for Maui’s future.
This summary captures the critical content and tone of the interview, grounded strictly in the provided transcript.
Transcript
00:01
[Music] [Music] I Aloha every everyone I’m Jason Schwartz you see a lot of me but I have very special guest but today is a very special guest this is Deidre you know her as Deidre te garden now Deidre I know as the wife of a friend of M but way back go way back but uh Deidre is running for South Maui District 11 yes State House of Representatives and uh you’re a wonderful girl thank you for being on our show thank you for having me it’s always a it’s always a pleasure to uh spend a little time with you
01:39
talking whether it’s uh politics or all the amazing things you’ve been involved with over the past several years couple years it’s a couple just a couple 25 of them well that’s we’ll maybe talk about but most important is you’re now in a race you’ve had a life that has just continued to unfold with opportunity that you’ve embraced and you’ve got well what have you been doing over the last while I mean if I wanted to read your resume as a candidate well you know I’ve uh I’ve um
02:12
had a a lot of great opportunities as as you said you know I was born in Pennsylvania but we left there when I was about 10 years old and uh moved to Japan with my mother and my brother we were living near 3 Mile Island uh when that nuclear accident happened and um my mother decided to move us uh she was doing research on a bomb survivors so that’s how we ended up in Japan and I spent a lot of my life uh growing up in Japan went to Japanese public schools uh After Japan we um were in Hawaii for a
02:46
while that’s where I went to McKinley so you knew the culture and you had experience and knew the language and I didn’t know the language when I got there but uh we did by the the end of our three years there and you know I have to say it was uh thanks to our teachers and our principles who really took a lot of time with both my brother and I teaching us the language and the culture and I think the the biggest the biggest message that I came away from Japan with was the importance of respecting culture and the importance of
03:17
not going into someone else’s community and telling them what to do you know rather going in and learning and respecting and then working collaboratively together to make changes if if those changes are indeed important to be made so I’m uh very very thankful for all my time in Japan actually went back after I graduated from college Years Later and my mother and I had a business over there and uh spent another handful of years in Japan and in between was in Hawaii and then we spent some
03:49
time in mainland China which was very the thing that I remember was wow was when you were suddenly liaison I didn’t know what you’re doing liaison for governor abber cromby cuz he was so fluent in Japanese and knew the culture besides other background you have well you know what that was uh it’s it certainly helped me over the years especially here in Hawaii where we have such a large um Asian population and I started out as Governor abu’s representative up there in wuku and it was when uh governor was going to Los
04:22
Angeles for a um meeting with then vice president xiin ping and all the governors from the US in China and because I’d had my China experience I was asked to go with him and uh it was this it was this great story we uh went into a meeting the vice president XI Jin ping was there and many many dignitaries and for some reason their interpreter didn’t show up and Governor Abu cromi being governor abomi and always giving his staff lots of um opportuni said oh that doesn’t matter Deidre can interpret
04:59
so I I speak I speak some Chinese but I’m certainly not at the level of being a simultaneous interpreter and I suddenly got so nervous all I could think to say was which meant my mother was a professor at the University of course which made really no sense in the context of the meeting but Governor abui thought it was wonderful and uh the Chinese were very very uh polite and said well we’re very happy that your mother was a professor and then uh I think my nerves went down a little bit we we were able to talk about chocolate
05:33
covered macadamia nuts and the meaning of Aloha and then The Interpreter finally showed up so that was good yes but um because of that I was asked to come over and be the protocol officer for the state which was uh uh a most lovely job you know we handled everything everything International so any International dignitary that came to Hawaii you know that was my job to interact with them uh everybody from anang sui the Nobel Peace Prize laurate uh President maing Joe of Taiwan um his majesty King totia from aloa so it was
06:10
amazing uh an experience we also you know handled everything sad like the ly in state ceremony for our beloved uh United States Senator Daniel in no way but I learned a lot and I I worked closely with our Congressional Delegation our our legislature our County Council and our mayor back here on Maui and you know it’s all about collaboration and bringing people together and even if you don’t necessarily all agree if you agree on the base you know if you can agree on that Foundation then you can get people
06:40
to start buying in so you decided to run for this seat because you thought you could do what well you know I um I have a lot of experience whether it’s the nonprofit sector with Big Brothers Big Sisters turning them around after that near bankruptcy that they had experienced back in the early 2000 thousand to you know being the top grossing small agency in the United States we worked with a great team of people a lot of community members came out and helped us um so it’s fiscal responsibility understanding how to
07:12
collaborate and work with people understanding the importance of nonprofits and what they go through uh working in the private sector having a business myself my husband of course has a business and then government uh whether it was at the County Office of Economic Development where we awarded 10 Mill million dollar worth of Grants each year to small businesses and local nonprofits everything from getting grossome good started remember that little $2,000 Grant and now look at them you know they have 12 schools um across
07:43
Maui that have the gardens you know we did the bring your own bag campaign the got Choice think local during the recession when a lot of the businesses were falling on tough times we did what we could to do marketing and so you see the natural I’m putting words in your mouth marriage between private sector and government sector and you feel you have the capacity to to put that out in a way that this seat would help you better give the community what they want definitely you know that’s sort of funny
08:20
cuz we there’s a guy that’s in that seat that’s done a pretty good job over the last couple of years been had a lot of energy and put out some really good things the guy that’s running against you and yet I have had that agenda for 25 years so I don’t know I’m going have made him couple years old so these aren’t new ideas nor does the public not embrace them before we were ahead of our time now we’re just in time and it seemed like a frenzy so you know I know that it’s probably in your fabric too
08:51
you you probably have the similar values it’s about getting things done it’s about making things happen it’s it’s one thing to say that you support something it’s it’s one thing to say that you don’t support something it’s another thing to actually make it happen and you know through my through my work previously and and understanding the process of government you know I joke about speaking Japanese and some Chinese but I also speak government and it’s important to speak government because in
09:18
order to get things done you have to understand the process so I come with not only the experience of understanding understanding the process but really making things happen I have a track record of getting things done and that’s what I want to bring back to this community interesting to me is that you my guy make it happen make it happen right now I think I mentioned to you they don’t know it but you know I’ve been doing Maui Arts and Music Association all these things for 25 years yeah people don’t know exactly
09:48
what that means remember I ran for mayor 20 22 years ago when I have the head of counsil then tell me that I was right you know it’s like we could have gone this way or that way we still have the right time you seem like the person that’s what I thought no matter what happens with election you’re someone that can help move a sensible agenda forward and make an election sort of like a benchmark of progress getting done rather than a fight between two sides unless there’s a reason why shred
10:27
our community you know yeah I think we we we don’t want that divisiveness our community here is so special and we’ve seen a handful of things over the past few years that have really divided us and you know I think if again if you look at that Foundation of what we want we want Health we want safety uh we want good infrastructure we want our kids to be able to go to school we want jobs we want to keep a roof over our heads we want to make sure that our Cuna are taken care of and that they have
10:57
opportunities if they’re not ready to retire we need to you know look at keeping our our students here you know we’re losing so many students to the mainland because we don’t have enough job opportunities um the environment we we have to make sure that we are taking care of of this beautiful beautiful AA um that we have so if we can all agree on the basics if we can all agree on that Foundation that this is what we want then we can all start to come together and figure out how to do that
11:30
um so that’s where I feel that my strengths lie regardless of whether I understand a situation 100% or not I’m always the first one to pick up the phone and call and ask for uh the experts in the field to come and you know talk to me about it a perfect example was you know Hawaii Farmers Union when they started um gearing up I was still at the county I loved hearing their ideas and you know now to see where where they started and and now where they are is just amazing it’s helping people through the process and
12:05
taking the time to learn yourself I think too often our legislators make all these decisions um without necessarily reaching out to the community and it’s the community that has the answers and as a legislator you have this this base and this um this I don’t want to say power but you you you have the platform on which to to make things happen but you have to make sure that you’re doing the right things for the entire community so bring that community in as you make those decisions because it’s just on my I see
12:42
this list here I want to make sure I men the ends the ‘s uh one was Monsanto what was the other n I’ll think of it as I go okay but um you know I you’re um well start with the Monsanto question cuz that question was people are like she gets her money from all kinds of people and they they all have these affiliations and do you see someone here who knows and has a mind and thinks by herself and is independent I do I know you were wild you I mean how come people give you money why did that happen and I don’t
13:23
even know about that whole thing well um we’ll we’ll tackle the uh the the the rumor that’s out out there that I took money from Monsanto I’ve not taken money from Monsanto um when I worked at the governor’s office I worked with many I many colleagues and many friends and when the governor left office so did they and a few of them now work at a a firm that represents FedEx uh Monsanto Queen’s health system and they as private individuals um had given me campaign contributions because I’ve
13:58
known them for many years okay so to me that’s enough answer right that’s fine I don’t need and then um I think of you as an independent I mean to me if it was a race and it was contested and I knew someone I would say uh who can I talk to can I talk to someone that smacks me in the face first and then talks to me or would I rather speak to someone who talks to me and then if we disagree I still now I like her now what am I going to do now I have to do make a decision that is community-minded I I
14:32
would think that you have an ability to open a door and keep it open and make it wider like in my Maui Arts and Music Association this is called an inclusive model this is not throw the bad guys in the ocean no and and uh you know it is about it is about working together and it is about standing up and no of course you don’t always agree you you’re you’re not going to always agree oh that was my other end yeah marijuana that’s oh marijuana okay you were not always going to agree but that’s what it means to be
15:05
a leader is to say is to listen to all sides of the story uh make your decision say okay we don’t agree on this one but let’s move on to the next one just because you disagree doesn’t mean that you can never talk to that person again and I I see that philosophy somehow starting to to fester in our community if you disagree on one issue well then you can you know you can never be friends again you can never speak again and I I think that that’s uh I think that’s wrong and even in this politics
15:35
thing with you and conella having people that we all know for years and years somehow sparring yes that’s unfortunate but I mean I don’t see I don’t see you as someone who’s going to make all the bad decisions because someone that used to work for Monsanto gave you money well they didn’t even work for Monsanto but I’m just saying by example yes so I know you as a real thoughtful knowledgeable caring person you know who told me also about you independently Fred rugie oh I love oh I
16:09
love Fred rugie I’ve known Fred for years and the Vets well obviously he has a lot of sensitivity to people that can get things done and have caring and show wisdom in their choices so and bring him up specifically because and I’ve had and again I have nothing against conella I really I like him and I he’s done some great things you know what and there are there are many things that we agree upon my opponent and I yeah my whole thing is getting it done and and making sure we we have more tangible results but um
16:45
getting back to now you got me do you first what I was going to say getting back to the votes you know you you you don’t you take this job I think being a representative is is just the I used to think that being the protocol officer was the best job in the world it was it was very lovely and wonderful but I think being a representative you are there as a voice and as ears for your entire Community you were there you have a platform to help people to help you through the process regardless of
17:14
whether it’s um a state issue or a county issue you know being able to pick up the phone when a constituent comes to your office who obviously has a county issue but your state you pick up the phone and you call your county councilman you call the mayor’s office and you say you know I have Jason here he’s looking for a a grant can I have him come in and you know speak to the office of Economic Development it’s about putting people together like when I asked you about homelessness and
17:41
situations and issues that you know you try to help put things together yeah we live in a world now that has so many pieces we have to I think learn to co-operate and you have that quality I like that how you said that though Co cooperate not just and see like in our organization where they think oh we’re a nonprofit we’re a nonprofit that means everyone comes in brings their nonprofit and we co-operate we now created an association they people laugh at these English words they mean a lot that’s why when I talk
18:18
about Papa people aligned in positive action and Maui Arts and Music Association I thought about that when I put it an association using art and music with a purpose and you when I listen to you I hear someone who thinks inclusively and not again not that conel doesn’t but you’ve been put in this light of somehow like the evil stepsister or something by people people that know you and people that are supporters of you know that’s not the case but I think the public needs to understand that um you’re a
18:55
smart girl and you’re quite capable you know I know you a long time and I and I know that um I feel good about you representing in whether it’s in government or in a seat or otherwise thank you I feel real good about well you know what that that means a lot to me because um whether it’s been my time at the county or as Governor’s representative or even as the protocol officer I’ve always tried to maintain that open door policy regardless of whether I agree regardless of whether I
19:30
understand the issue everyone has a seat at the table and I take the time I take the time I try to take the time to learn and you know I who knows how the election is going to work out but um in the end whether or not people vote for me whether or not they they vote at all I want everyone to know that they will always be welcomed in my office they will always be treated with respect and that’s that’s how it should be and and that’s what that’s what Aloha is all about and and that’s what love and
20:04
kindness and compassion is all about so you know we see a lot of things happening you know like you said in the campaign people sparring and so forth I think unfortunately that that sometimes comes with the territory but it’s not how I like to operate and um yeah I just everyone has a everyone has a seat at the table I think one of the greatest jobs about being in government is that you learn about so many organizations you wouldn’t necessarily know about you know you meet people that you wouldn’t
20:35
necessarily meet and you know all of these past eight years whether it was County or state I’ve made wonderful friends wonderful acquaintances and I love putting them together so what if now an issue comes up yes man I’m getting into real life stuff right this person likes that and this person now that was Used to Be Loved Before now this issue has created a real friction what do you do as a representative how do you you make your choices they both helped you yeah and not only that anyway what what do you do
21:14
in those circumstances well it depends on the situation if there’s a way to bring people together to see if there’s a common ground that’s wonderful um if there isn’t you know how can you how can you help the different groups and if there is something for instance instance that is blatantly against the law that is you know doesn’t fall within the the code of what is allowed in a in you know a certain district for instance I would I couldn’t support that you know we our laws are in place for a reason
21:47
regardless of whether someone who supported me was on that you would rally to make a change on that law if you didn’t agree I would I would if if I thought that the law was wrong I would rally to make a change but if I thought the law was right then I would make sure that the law was followed so um and so and your values do you feel your values are somehow being put at question I mean I you have to listen to this you have to listen to your innards you cannot have this job unless you listen here you have
22:18
to be able to go home at the end of the night and look yourself in the mirror and say I did what was right I did what was best for the community and you know you know in here if if some I happen to know that’s a real strong part of your life cuz when you get home you have a partner who supports you I do we were talking and I know that the Hawaiian culture you know I mean it all ties together you know I I kind yaa is local but I also feel local and you’re not someone you’ve been here now a lot
22:52
of years about 19 19 years and then a year for high school so so we’re talking about a local girl wow I mean that’s how I think of you I’ve been here since 1988 oh that’s a long time so no that’s just a few more years it’s come old but uh wise I think distinguished is well you know over these years I’ve been um it’s been hard to sit in this seat and interview people and know that they’re not keeping the promises they made even to themselves and the people and we need to
23:29
do something so independent of this election you and I are going to have a lot of conversation yes we will and we’re going to you know unusual alliances happen from people agreeing on issues that are important to our community if in two years you elect a mayor and this mayor is someone who goes along with what the community feels if the community has done this and this and this and we’ve gotten together in unusual ways I guess we’re going to be electing someone that wants the thing we
23:59
want that’s why things are so crazy in our country now but here locally we got a 3,000 mile Mo and we have a chance to keep Paradise Paradise that’s important to you isn’t it’s very important it’s I just want to bring it up because somehow your the portrayal in this evil thing really bothers me I bothers me across the board but it bothers me specifically with you because I know that’s not the case no I I I I move to Maui because of its beauty I want to ensure that we we keep it
24:37
beautiful I also want to make sure that we have affordable housing and affordable rentals I want to make sure that we have get our schools built both the keii high school and then the charter school that’s going up into the tech Park we need the infrastructure that that goes along with all of that U I also want to build our human capital you know we have all those empty buildings up at the tech Park the tech Park is is wonderful it’s it’s doing some good things you know it was Senator
25:05
no Way’s baby and when we lost him we lost that big Champion I I want to pick up that ball and and move forward with it I want to and I will be working with uh Maui College to make sure that we have you know they have a great it program at uh Maui College you know what it means yes the technology so but but we need to also look at more vot Tech type classes there are businesses here on island that need you know people who are able to do the technology type jobs that are they would hire them right away
25:41
so we need to work with the college to make sure we have those programs for those students to go into and we need to work with the state on creating an atmosphere of entrepreneurism making it easier to to do business here making sure that we have really great Broadband up at the tech Park making sure that the the rents are affordable and that we have the people that’s quite a challenge are you willing to change the rules so we can get this done we have build the city yeah I was going to say we have to
26:08
build the human capital because we have the empty offices up there let’s build our human capital that’s what thinking about crisis you know here I don’t know why there’s not enough housing if you know there’s 10,000 units we need wouldn’t you do something that’s going to create some solution in the meantime you know I’m not ready to bring out my whole thing but I’ve been talking about this integrated action plan for 25 years and I’ve watched politicians come and go
26:37
and Promises come and go and um you know I’m I ask a lot of not only my Representatives if that’s what your role is I want to see everyone do something I mean I feel the anger that a trump kind of campaign would feel but I feel rooted in the Bernie Sanders IDE idea building and getting everyone involved in a in a way that’s building up not knocking down and creating hate that’s right it’s that you’re exactly right instead of knocking down and saying everything that you know
27:12
we can’t do we need to take all that passion and all that energy and say okay now let’s take it and build something that we can all agree upon let’s work on our human capital let’s work on you know some of the the projects that that have for instance bringing everybody together to work for a positive that’s huge now she just mentioned the things I have for instance I just want to be sure if you never look up my stuff you got to look it up but I give 100% of what I make back into the foundation now that 100% means
27:49
my community does everything I need and that’s why I’m all in you know you hear people you know playing a game it’s us and them this isn’t in Us and Them it’s nice to keep for the future but I hope those are future building blocks that happen because we do with what we have and who and what we are now and you know I appreciate the enthusiasm that a canella brings but I also appreciate a lot of the experience different experience than his sure but I mean I know you can bring bills and
28:24
things and work with people that may not be in office to still bring these things forward Just Because You’re Not Elected doesn’t mean you don’t have the same capacity to to keep but you know if it’s some water is dripping on you like marijuana talk about the Other M now I saw this forum and you said well there’s still more research needed well I believe the research has been in but you’re open to listening to things I’m opening to listening um I very happy that the medical marijana passed and I
28:53
know that the dispensaries will be opening I hope by the by the end of this year did you know that the canono system of marijuana matches the canabo system of the human being that in fact I’m not even going to talk about its cures for cancer and all kinds of 150 million different things 150 but there’s so much more I’ve lived a longer time and I actually have people that I know that really done the homework gone to Washington stood up really made so I just wanted to make sure that if talking about that cuz some
29:28
people are voting based on that because some people smoke or don’t smoke well you know I’m I’m always open to listening and what I said at the the last Forum was that you know I I worked at Big Brothers Big Sisters and we had a very strict you know no drug no smoking no alcohol we didn’t even have soda machines on the property um so for me my my focus is not going to be on passing um marijuana legislation um I I think that there are a lot of issues that that come with that and I I I think it might
30:04
be would be sending the wrong message at this point issues I’m just curious oh you even if you look at Colorado we have there’s increased homeless and I think it sends a message to our children um that that uh we might not we might not want so I’m focused on our schools I’m focused on our Cuna care I’m focused on our veterans so it’s yours a matter of focus and you don’t you really don’t agree with that yet that is correct basically say and you can see the TR I mean it’s not like we don’t see a trend
30:33
you can like it or not there’s quite a thing that’s happening here there is but I also it takes self I can tell that management I mean alcohol is a great example some people drink too much they do some people smoke too much they do some people everything too much everything too much we eat too getting into a a place where people are going to want freedom and at some point we’re all going to stop these Shack yeah and I hope that we still have the United States of America by that time
31:02
cuz we’re in but I would like to think that you’re going to be a strong voice for getting things done locally would you say that’s true 100% I mean I I feel badly in some ways because I I don’t want to knock kanel I like kanel he’s a nice kid and he’s done a lot but I just happen to also understand and know who you are and I feel just like here I don’t agree with you about the marijuana thing right we found something we don’t agree no but that’s okay but I mean I say it’s
31:33
okay because we all do what we have to do and I’ll always listen and I’ll always have an open door and we I really am interested in like you said I’m interested in this and I’m interested in this and I’m interested in this if we can agree and get some of these other things going on there will be jobs right there will be Solutions and our whole climate will change and then marijuana if that be then I mean some people looked I was in the mortgage business I had people that thought I was going to
32:03
help get legalized marijuana and then they couldn’t pay their mortgage I’ve had real crazy things happen where people have made it clear to me that um that’s how they paid their mortgages you know that so um I mean this these insues are complicated talk about special interests you know everyone has it whatever interest you one has you have that is a special interest to you so yes you know we all have special interests and what we need to make sure that we’re doing is making decisions that will
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benefit the the greater the Greater Community and that’s what you do is and we check our heart I mean I think that’s the thing I get from you I figure that if I send you in every representative that we have is standing there in our place that’s right you’re standing in in my place when that vote happens I want to be comfortable that you’re going to give a wise reflected decision I promise you I will see now to me that’s important and I appreciate that Kel’s enthusiasm I
33:16
hope he runs again and I hope that between that someone smart will grab him to be a director of some agency that’s what I would hope because I see him as a very nice and valuable guy but I don’t think his energy there would be I think that I used to think when Chris howford was our representative of South Mountain I remember that he’s a very nice guy and he used to say in our interviews well I can’t get terribly much done there’s only six of us Republicans against the Democrats and we
33:47
never get to bring things up we’re in a different age now we are and I think if you go out with that energy conel has he won’t have the same kind of reception that you can have that I hope to be able to see you use whatever happens in this election I see you as a winner and I truly um feel comfortable with you I do these shows with a lot of people and um you know after a while you get to know people but um I’ve come into this election been hard for me because Jeanie Vance is a wonderful gal and I
34:24
know her and she has you know um really strongly given me reasons and she knows them for a while and she’s very much into the freedom I’m very much into freedom but uh I know you and and I feel comfortable with it so and the beauty with any election is that you know this is America this is Free Speech it’s one thing when we lived in in mainland China um I I understood firsthand the importance of having free speech which we there wasn’t um a lot of back in 1983 in mainland CH and um that’s the beauty
35:01
of America that’s the beauty of running for office you know I say I’m not running against him I’m running for the position and I’m putting myself out there my experiences out there and I’m saying here you have a choice uh this is what I bring to the table and it’s it’s nothing against anybody else and I have wonderful supporters and and he has equally passionate and wonderful supporters and the thing is is that both things can be true you know you can you can even like both people uh it doesn’t
35:32
mean if you if you like me you don’t like him or vice versa it’s it’s both things can be true and people have a decision to make on August 13th of course I hope they consider me I would uh welcome everyone to go to my website at vot teen.com and consider my candidacy on August 13th because I I bring something to the table as well and um it’s all about working together and being together and and whoever wins this election it’s about pulling the entire Community together and making sure that
36:06
we’re doing informed good decisions that benefit everybody and and taking that job seriously because when somebody takes the time to either sit at their kitchen counter in their pajamas and and mark their absentee ballot or stand in line on Saturday and mark their ballot they’re they are putting their trust and their faith in that person you bet and that means so much and as a representative whatever your position you have to honor that commitment that those people have given to you and and
36:43
that means taking that job seriously and doing every single thing that you can to make sure that you are listening to your community you are there for your community regardless of of of anything else you there as the representative we are standing in your place at the state legislature and by golly we better take that job seriously streams real seriously and yet I also take the fact that we would have a dry Central Valley and I take that outside of the way the community feels the community doesn’t
37:16
know solutions to bigger problems so when you’re sitting in that seat you’re going to have all kinds of things coming across your desk and you can have limited information what if someone like me tells you for 25 years I’ve known there’s more fresh water in Maui than in Honolulu and then it’s not being tapped and that we could have the whole Central Valley and we could farm and we could feed and we could we could do lots of things we need to do that we need to but it takes bigger co-operation it does
37:48
than people that fight instead of co-operate I really believe that we can solve these problems and you know I person personally would think that someone like yourself in this role would also consider that as we go along you’re working with the local people to to also and I I have a mixed feeling about suuki because if he leaves he’s a hard guy to replace to keep his eye on the Maui ball that’s right so I’d like to think that that’s another thing I think of you as someone who understand how to
38:25
professionally and eloquently represent Maui and keep bringing home bacon we have to I’m good at bringing home money but I mean it’s very important you know I mean I don’t know whether it’s you or conell in the high school all this stuff that goes on but I’m looking down the road and I’m really thinking that in a couple of years someone who’s our mayor who will pick up and follow along or maybe be involved with what we are all going to do to solve the problem before wait another two years waiting
39:00
for someone to study something okay so but I need someone that’s going to be there and I would hope I would like Joe Joe to go on vacation and not have to decide to die in office I really like Jo sukii as a person speaker Suki is is wonderful he’s been there for the community for so so many years and you know the the I was over there um with the governor obviously and I saw on a daily basis um the work that was done over there and uh he’s a he’s a fine fine man and uh we’re very lucky to have
39:36
him where he is but I see that we need to pass the Baton in that way here senior to the seat you know and then someone then needs to be able to deal with Maui and interface with the government that really needs help somehow these guys there’s a sheep on a rock on a poster I had his a kid telling you this story shouldn’t but I will and there’s a sheep he looks kind of perplexed standing on a rock and the capsule down below said I’m so far behind I think I’m first we have that going on here I’m
40:13
sorry to say that I feel that we’ve had the opportunity to go two ways and we’re not going that way there’s too much fear in the people that are making decisions and aren’t being radical enough to involve the people if we get everyone going on and interested and active like a Bernie Sanders and all that anger that we feel with a trump can be harnessed into something and solve these problems the Hawaiians can be satisfied people can have housing we can everything and I um anyway I’m just
40:49
bringing up my own opinion no I I think fear is a is a is a a terrible um emotion I understand that that people have it but again as legislators that’s that platform that you have where you can bring opposite sides together and say you know we know we realize we you don’t all agree but how can we how can we make this better you know the the bottom line is that we need you know food for our community the bottom line is we need safety for our community whatever that bottom line is and then
41:22
you know very kind of Japanese style let everybody save face and work together on the the project so that it’s everybody’s Collective ideas and as a legislator you have the ability to call all those different all those different groups together whether it’s the the unions or the activists you the community members you pull everybody together to work on a solution for the common grade good you feel that I I know that I do I do I and I’ve I’ve done it so I look forward to doing it at a at a higher
41:56
level um as not an Us and Them candidate no no you’re not at all I’m not I’m not I never have been and and that’s why I’m doing this because it’s it’s about the the entire Community regardless of what your position is am I leaving anything out that you’d like to talk about because I know I’ve gone all over the map and I hope I haven’t been too disrespectful or much never well I I um I cry for this community cuz I’ve instead of running I chose to report in
42:27
and every two years and uh never had anyone pick up the ball to keep on just sitting one with one with people why are you running who are you we’re not going to ask you three questions and you’re on a forum and all public opinion 60 60 seconds or 30 seconds to respond right and that’s why I’m saying I want to give you a chance this’s something that you want to be sure you tell people I want to give you that chance well thank you you know I think it goes back to the fact that I’ve I’ve always wanted to do
42:56
this I love our community I love serving people my grandmother and my parents always taught me it’s your responsibility to make the community better than how you found it it’s about reaching out to all of all of your neighborhoods and um whether it’s been my nonprofit work my work at the government at the county or the state um this is what I’ve done and this is what I want to bring back I want to help I want to serve I want to take the job seriously I want to be your ears I want to be your voice and I want to hear
43:37
your concerns and then figure out a way to make those concerns uh into a positive and make make them a reality for the greater good of the community because I I I have so much faith in this community we have such a passionate energized active group of people from from this spectrum to that spectrum and you know a lot of of life is lived right in the right in the middle and everybody deserves to be heard and I feel I am that candidate to bring all of the people together and you mentioned one of our elders yeah in the Hawaiian
44:15
community and uh I’ll let him come out and do his thing but I really um I I really feel a sense of you differently and portrayed I just don’t like the ugliness that this campaign has brought out because I think you’re terrific and you have really good intentions thank you and I like like I said I like Cony ell he’s a very nice kid and he’s great ideas and great energy but I’m happy to say I’m comfortable here maybe I’m not supposed to endorse people I think this may be
44:49
the one of the few times that I’ve gotten onor someone well I I thank you for that um and I I want to you know reach out to all the supporters on both sides and say you know let’s keep this let’s keep this Aloha you know we don’t need the personal attacks on either side and vote for who you think that’s right vote for who you think is going to be the best person to represent you and uh for those who are considering me I would be very honored to have your vote on August 13th and again I ask you to go
45:25
check out my website at boat teag garden.com and uh I’m very happy to have all of our our Union endorsements too you know the hardworking people in our community from the ILWU to the University of Hawaii professional assembly to the United public workers and chopo and everybody go and ask them for endorsement or they come to you uh you get a question usually they call you or you get a questionnaire in the mail and and you go for the interview and um that’s that’s that’s how it’s done and you it’s been
45:54
so long I don’t remember but no one used to endorse me and now have the people that were elected come tell me I was right I don’t exactly know what to do with that maybe it’s time we do it all of you out there who aren’t elected but are a voice and have the capacity to get together uh we’re going to be doing some talking here soon and I I give anyone credit who runs for office so to all the candidates out there you know keep up the good work we’re just a few weeks away and I hope everyone’s enjoying the
46:22
process as much as as much as we are we we love it we love walking the district we love sign mind waving we love making phone calls we love getting you know random phone calls from people with uh either issues or you know good words it’s just it’s very it’s a very interesting process and I I wouldn’t change it for the world and every Wednesday night down at our headquarters at isca Makai above Flowers by Kora we have a um a talk story with pizza and we try to bring in a guest speaker each
46:52
week but it’s just a a chance to get to know one another better so I welcome everybody down to our camp we’re going to get this to akaku within a day and we’re also going to put it up on the web you can send it to all your people and have them send it to 510 that’s right have them send it and Facebook we’re in a new world there’s more walking can be done here and thank you I know I’m a little unorthodox I love it well but it’s important I I don’t want to be nasty to conola absolutely not no
47:20
nastiness to any I did come in with a I was going to ask you the hard questions because there also people candidates included who made me fear this interview going out to the public when I don’t I think that we have a public that’s why you know we have a very smart public we have a very smart public a very engaged public and uh it would be an honor to represent this public from this side to this side and everything in between so I uh I thank you for the interview and I I’ve known you for many years I have a
47:55
lot of respect for you and for what you’ve done and and uh I really appreciate this opportunity I’ll be calling on you I feel like the Goda I will be calling you all right well you do that these ideas you guys this is our 25th year and we’re going to be doing if nothing else information but I think it’s time to put it all together CU there are people like this who are in you know that’s what I think of you because you can go to a place where I couldn’t go you have the ability to put
48:23
ideas out in a different way someone who’s angry I mean the group that did the the Shaka movement trying to sit with a good fellow brothers or Monsanto Cree there’s an animosity that’s in the air just goes with that territory there might be a way to go in and all be on the same page if we break that wouldn’t that be beautiful that’s what I’m hoping to see in a candidate like you the diplomacy that it takes to be a protocol officer with different countries and someone who has the
48:57
capacity to respect cultures yet also has the experience the wisdom and the openness to know we’re all together on this you know it’s very I’m speaking a lot because I almost feel like I’m talking for you but I’m talking too much talking too much how can that be well you know I I have been a bit frustrated sitting with candidates that that I’ve seen over numbers of ctions and they’re not really they’re not really adding the energy that’s needed to make the big
49:37
changes and we need that we we really need that and and like I said you need someone who’s you know able to work with everybody and and get things done and uh you know um I like I said I anyone who has been in office anyone who is currently in office anyone who is running for office you know everybody is there because they love the community and including my opponent I know he he loves this community and I’m just saying that I have these skills I want to bring these skills back and I I want to bring
50:09
back some uh results for the community and I would be honored to have people vote for me on August 13th thank you thank you thank you for being with us thank you it’s always a pleasure thank you thank you guysa there are some things that we didn’t really leave out just so much time why don’t you just take it from here all right well I wanted to uh you had asked about my platform and I think we got uh so wrapped up in the conversation it was so enjoyable but no um yeah to let you know my platform is
50:56
my five e and I had uh come up with that a while back it’s what are the five E those education our environment the economy our elders and equality and I I have it in a circle a lot of people say well which one is the most important e and they’re they’re they’re equally important you know we can’t talk about having a good education system without people being able to you know have good jobs and put a roof over their head um we can’t have logo around but isn’t that really the same idea inclusiveness
51:32
inclusiv all the pieces I have ease too you do have e you have all of them environment economics and education employment and our elders see it’s not like ideas are AR not brand new but what’s good is you think about them in an integrated way that’s right you know so for for education of course we have the KE high school that we need to focus on but in the meantime we have four other schools in this District that ALS o need a lot of you have one more e experience you have a lot of experience
52:02
yes I I really do like again as I said whether it’s nonprofit private sector government um bringing people together I have that experience and I want to focus the 5es on that you know homeless is a big issue and and it also ties in with education because we have students that are going home on the weekends with the backpack buddies which is a great program that um the Maui Food Bank has a lot of community input from the rotary clubs the churches but it’s a backpack full of food and it’s given to students
52:35
because they are either house challenged or homeless you know that we need to change that as we walk the district we see people living in other people’s garages even though they’re working they’re working homeless they’re hidden homeless we have 7% homeless here in Mali County Which is higher than aafu at 0.5% Governor eay has just um uh released $12 million and $75 million two different pockets of money to address homeless and I want to make sure that as the representative I’m bringing
53:07
this money back home for you know a lot of it some of it a good portion of it for Maui County we need to address um housing uh emergency housing for homeless we need to work with the services that are already there like Hal aola feed my sheep H cow cow Habitat for Humanity we need to continue funding these organizations that are already taking on the issue and we need to address Public Safety um so that’s that’s a big one and we need to make sure that our our kids are being able to go to school and and not have to take
53:41
backpack buddies home on the weekend you know for our elders we have 134 people are turning 60 every month in Maui County which is wonderful so we really need to change our philosophy on on what we need to be doing for our Cuna some uh people are not ready to retire we have people who are 85 working on or helping with our campaign they you know they need they need job opportunities they also need affordable housing and for those people who are ready to retire um and maybe are low income we need to make
54:17
sure we’re providing those services that the the county does that Meo does that Hal Maha Olu does but as legislators we need to make sure they have the funding to keep these programs up um our environment we need to be working on our coral reefs we need to make sure that if we any development that we do that it’s smart growth that we have the infrastructure that we’re not letting all the you know silt run into run into the the oceans and and kill our reefs and we need to be very very pragmatic
54:50
with what development we do do so that you know we’re not Paving over this the beautiful this beautiful land and economy it goes back to working with the uh Maui College with the tech Park making sure that people have good paying jobs how do you have time to sleep or how I mean you it’s it’s amazing what a little cover up uh what a little cover up and some some blush can do but it and it’s equality you know regardless of how much money you have in your bank account regardless regardless of your
55:21
orientation your political ideology your age your ethnicity everyone needs to feel free and safe to be able to express their opinions and have that voice um at the at the state legislature so those were my five EES and I just thought that every single one was intertwined which is why there’s not one that’s more important than the other and I have the experience I have a proven track record of of making things happen and I understand the process and that’s what I want to bring back to you know to to
55:57
this community so that we can continue to thrive we continue to be can continue to be NOCO o um because that’s what we’re all about and I hope that you’re open to also being what you already are sort of a junction to put people together maybe even if it isn’t just something that’s legislative that’s right because you have the capacity to know different people you open up many doors to many more opportunities may solve some of these problems that we see that are happens in the bickering in the
56:28
political times that’s right it’s it’s about being able to pick up the telephone knowing who to call knowing that if for instance you have a program that you want to get off the ground you know who would you talk to it’s about calling and and and putting people together you know an example was I was um talking with the principal of lilani um intermediate of handful of months back and they were talking about a irrigation pipe that had had some trouble with on school grounds so I called the good fellow brothers
57:02
because they were doing the you know the right across the street they were doing the bike the the road work and asked you know could you CA and go over there and check it out and see what you can do it turns out that the the problem was a little bit bigger than just a simple fix but that’s what I’m talking about is picking up the phone knowing who to call and putting people in touch with one another whether or not it works out it’s a different story but it’s put putting people together and um helping people
57:30
through the process if they are interested in crafting legislation or putting a bill forward sitting with them and saying you know what this probably you know won’t go through you should really focus on this language over here and helping being a legislator being a representative is about helping regardless of whether it falls directly under your responsibilities or not which is why I I want to have a representative you know here on island while I’m over on aaku you know I’ll come back on the weekends
58:03
of course but not everybody can fill out those those internet forms we have a lot of Cuna who don’t even have computers not everybody can fly over to Oahu to meet with their legislator and not everyone can wait until a Saturday or Sunday to talk about their issue so I want to have somebody here that they can talk to face to face um you know and calling people back I have a 48 Hour Return call policy I think that’s very important because there’s nothing worse than leaving a message on somebody’s
58:32
sounds like you got that from working for a governor I think so you know you call you call back right away otherwise people people’s issue is the most important issue to them at that moment they want immediate response so even if it’s just to say I’m working on it you have to call back and uh just let people know that you’re there I think that’s very important something I learned over the years and something I look forward to implement pres ing as I become representative so that was worth turning
59:01
back on right see I think so yeah I hope they think so thank you again for joining USA [Music] [Music] oh nah
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