Issues & Solutions
Plan of Action
Roadmap to a Resilient Future in Hilo
Hilo is at a turning point. I’ve lived in Hilo my whole life. I’ve watched our talent leave on one-way tickets because "planning" takes too long and "good enough" has become the standard.
We are losing families, losing talent, and losing billions of dollars every year to imports and outside systems that don’t build local wealth. For 40 years, our leaders have been trying to fix this leaky bucket by pouring more water in — more tourism, more federal grants, more outside developers.
But they never plugged the holes. Meanwhile, Downtown Hilo struggles with blight, our infrastructure development moves much too slowly, and too many of our young people feel like they have to leave to succeed.
I am running to change that — not with more studies, but with execution. I understand the statutes and tools we can use to plug the holes by strengthening and sustaining Hilo’s economy. My background in safety, federal service, compliance and labor advocacy taught me something simple: If you can measure it, you can fix it. If you enforce it, it gets done.
My Goal: Deliver Visible, Measurable Progress
Restore public safety and downtown area
Increase local food production
Relief for high cost-of-living
High-wage job pipelines in marine tech, aerospace, & innovation
My platform is built on three pillars of action using existing laws, funding pathways, and our County’s 2022-2027 Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy (CEDS).
Three Pillars of Action
01. Revitalizing Hilo’s Economy & Creating Career Pathways
Without intentional diversification and workforce pathways, we will continue to lose talent, shrink our economic base, and limit opportunity for local families.
Hilo’s economy has remained largely stagnant, with limited new industry growth and few clear career pipelines for our young people. Too many graduates leave the island because they don’t see viable long-term opportunities here. At the same time, our economy relies heavily on nonprofits and government spending. We need to build a strong private-sector foundation that creates sustainable, high-wage jobs.
-
In a two-year term, I will focus on strengthening small business growth, accelerating workforce pipelines, and activating existing economic plans. At the same time, we must position Hilo for future growth in food systems, aerospace development, and marine-based innovation—industries already identified in our County CEDS but not fully implemented.
02. Safe, Functional, and Thriving Downtown Hilo
When downtown struggles, the entire community feels it — from property values to local pride.
Downtown Hilo is facing visible decline, aging buildings, repeated fires, unsafe conditions, high rents from neglected properties, and inconsistent enforcement that discourages responsible investment. Small businesses struggle to start or expand while dealing with high overhead and uncertainty. The unmanaged impacts of homelessness and public safety concerns make it harder for families, visitors, and entrepreneurs to feel confident spending time and money in our historic core.
-
Downtown must be safe, predictable, and business-friendly. I will work to enforce safety standards consistently, addressing blight responsibly, supporting small businesses, and ensuring public spaces are managed with compassion and accountability. Revitalization requires both order and opportunity, and both can exist at the same time.
03. Government That Clears a Path
Lack of transparency and measurable performance erodes trust and slows economic momentum.
The County has strategic roadmaps like the CEDS, yet many initiatives move slowly or remain underutilized. Entrepreneurs often face confusing permit processes, long delays, and no clear point of contact to help move projects forward. When businesses cannot track their applications or receive timely guidance, government becomes a liability instead of a partner.
-
In the first two years, my priorities will be operational reform, clearer permitting pathways, defined points of contact, transparent tracking systems, and performance accountability. Government should be actively clearing obstacles so that small businesses can move quickly and confidently. With foundational reforms in place, we can responsibly expand into long-term economic growth strategies that strengthen Hilo’s economic resilience for decades.
Opportunities
Expanding Hilo’s Economy
For too long, our island has relied on a narrow economic base while billions of dollars flow out each year for goods and resources we could be producing here. To build real stability and opportunity, we must grow new industries that create skilled jobs, support local families, and keep more of our money circulating in our own community.
By investing in innovation, strengthening local production, and connecting our island more effectively to regional and global markets, we can create a resilient economy that allows the next generation not just to stay in Hilo — but to thrive.
-
The reality: Hawaiʻi sends roughly $3 billion per year out of state for food. I will work hard to bolster local food production and supply chains in Hilo.
As Councilmember, I will push for:
Increased local food processing capacity
Direct farm-to-institution supply chains
-
The County’s Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy (CEDS) identifies the ocean economy and aquaculture as priority growth sectors.
As a County Council member, I will work to:
Evaluate basing the Marine Affairs Coordinator in East Hawaiʻi
Align County marine permitting and research coordination
Convene UH Hilo, industry, and County agencies to build workforce pipelines
Ensure East Hawaiʻi fully participates in high-wage marine tech and aquaculture growth
Our district has:
Deep water access
Strong local research capacity
Proximity to global marine science markets
Within 2 years, I will push for:
Launching at least one marine tech pilot initiative in East Hawaiʻi
A defined workforce pathway between local education and marine industry employers
-
The County’s CEDS identifies Aerospace & Innovation as priority growth sectors for Hawaiʻi Island. With unique geographic advantages and established research leadership through programs like Pacific International Space Center for Exploration Systems (PISCES) at University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo, our island is well-positioned to lead.
But innovation must be intentional, coordinated, and community-centered. It should strengthen local resilience, create high-wage career pathways, and serve our communities — not bypass them. It’s time to move from concept to construction.
As a County Council member, I will work to:
Support responsible, coordinated progress toward aerospace infrastructure readiness at Hilo International Airport, including the Hangar project.
Convene and align key partners including: Hawaiʻi Department of Transportation Airports Division, County planning and permitting departments, research leadership (including PISCES), industry and workforce training partners.
Work to adopt aerospace and drone technologies that benefit our island by supporting farmers and food security, and disaster response and monitoring.
Within 2 years, I will push for:
Permits cleared
Infrastructure groundwork started
High-wage STEM careers pipeline secured
-
I will support coordination of the Hilo–Kona Transit Pilot Program.
Within 2 years, I will push for:
Lower costs for commuters
Better access to island-wide jobs
Support Our Campaign
Contribute to our campaign to help build a better future for Hilo. We greatly appreciate your support.