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| Trini and Francis Marques at their Ali`i Hawaiian Hula Hands Coffee farm. Their Ka`u Coffee placed in the top ten of Roasters Guild 2012 Coffees of the Year. |
COUNTY COUNCIL District 6 candidates are Marie Burns, Maile David, Brenda Ford, Lee McIntosh and Bradley Westervelt.
MARIE BURNS said she “would like to represent the people.” She said she would bring truth and compassion to the position. “I represent the heart of this land, and I wear the shoes of a lot of people on this island,” she said. She also characterized herself as a “social butterfly” who knows how to “bring people together in unity.”
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| Maile David |
MAILE DAVID said she likes to solve problems and stressed her heritage and connection with “the country and the culture.” She pointed to her legal experience gained here during many years as a paralegal. “My interest and my roots run deep. I never left; I’m not going anywhere,” she said.
BRENDA FORD said she wants to put people to work repairing infrastructure. She also wants to continue to push for a South Point Police Station. She listed her persistence and transparency – “no backdoor deals” – as qualities that would benefit the county. “I’m always prepared; I do my homework,” she said. “It’s important to have facts to make informed decisions.”
LEE MCINTOSH wants to stabilize property taxes, provide more funding to the Office of Aging, expand water infrastructure and “help people with problems they face.” He said he works well with people of different beliefs and is good at “identifying and solving problems. I care about the community,” he said.
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| Ocean View Community Association president Gil Robinson introduces the candidates. Photos by Marge Elwell |
BRADLEY WESTERVELT wants more standard services for the district. He hopes to accelerate the timeline for Ocean View transfer station and increase public transit in the district. He sees a “need to ease regulations on businesses and small farms” and wants to change county ordinances to “allow subdivisions to flourish.” Westervelt pointed to logic as a value he would bring to the Council.
PROSECUTING ATTORNEY Candidates are Lincoln Ashida, Paul Dolan and Mitch Roth.
FOR LINCOLN ASHIDA, the Three P’s – Passion, Professionalism and Pono – define his work. He said he loves his work as a trial lawyer for more than 25 years. He said being responsible for deputy attorneys requires professionalism, and “you have to do what’s right.”
FOR PAUL DOLAN, being prosecuting attorney “is not about winning or losing; it’s about justice.” He wants to “stop the manini prosecutions,” referring to people arrested for possession of small amounts of marijuana in their homes.
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| Mitch Roth |
MITCH ROTH pointed to integrity and his passion for justice as qualities he would bring to the position. “Be honest and tell the truth even when it may not make you look good,” he said.
More on the candidate forum will follow in the next week.
More on the candidate forum will follow in the next week.
TRINIDAD MARQUES is in Portland, Oregon at the Specialty Coffee Association of America convention. She and Francis produce Ali`i Hawaiian Hula Hands Ka`u 100 Percent Pure Coffee, which placed in the top ten coffees in the Roasters Guild 2012 Coffees of the Year. They sell their coffee internationally and in local farmers markets and retail outlets. Their farm will be featured on the Wall of Fame at Ka`u Coffee Mill.
SAFETY IMPROVEMENTS at Pahala Swimming Pool are scheduled to begin next Saturday, April 28. The pool will be closed for approximately ten days while the Department of Parks and Recreation replaces drain covers with newer, safer versions that meet mandated federal standards to address potential entrapment issues. Call 928-8177 for updates.
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| Ho`okupa Photo by Jay Robinson |
PLANTS OF HULA, or Na Mea Kanu O Ke Hula, are the topic of a Friends of Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park program tomorrow from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Participants learn about kino lau, manifestations of Hawaiian deities in plant form, the significance of plants used for the hula altar and adornments, and cultural protocols used when picking plants and walking among native species in their natural environment. The day ends with a hands-on lesson in native plant propagation and plant seedlings to take home. The fee is $60 for Friends members and $85 for non-members. Students in grades K-12 and college, with valid student ID, are half-price. Non-members are welcome to join the Friends to get the member discount. Contact 985-7373 or www.fhvnp.org.
FRIENDS OF THE KA`U LIBRARIES hold a book sale next week at Pahala Public & School Library. The hours on Monday, Thursday and Friday are 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
HAWAI`I WILDLIFE FUND sponsors a cleanup of an anchialine pond in Ka`u this Tuesday. Volunteers can sign up with Megan Lamson at 769-7629 or meg.hwf@gmail.com.
KA`U HIGH GRADUATE Carlotta Leina`ala Kailiawa and her group Lava Moon, along with Keoki Kahumoku, offer a free house concert next Saturday, April 28 at Pahala Plantation House. The potluck event begins at 6 p.m.
VISIT OUR SPONSORS AT PAHALAPLANTATIONCOTTAGES.COM AND KAUCOFFEEMILL.COM.