Hana Hou?
Kaua'i voters consider a familiar face
John Wythe White
Honolulu Weekly, October 1, 2008
Born and raised on Kaua`i, JoAnn Yukimura has now served for twenty years in Kaua`i government–fourteen on the County Council (1976–1980, 1984–1988 and 2002–2008); and six as mayor (1988–1994). She was the first woman of Japanese-American ancestry in the country to be elected mayor. Now she’s running for that office again, in a special election necessitated by the death of mayor Bryan Baptiste in June.
The issues Yukimura has advocated, and the programs and policies she has implemented from the outset of her career in public service, are focused on controlled growth, economic diversification, energy sustainability, preservation of open spaces, affordable housing, bike paths and people’s markets.
County Parks Director Bernard Carvalho Jr. was the leading vote-getter in the primary election, with Yukimura finishing a strong second. They face each other in a runoff on November 4. The Weekly caught up with Yukimura on the campaign trail.
How has Kaua’i changed since the last time you were mayor?
There is a shifting economic, social and political base. The population has become much more diverse, and in a sense more segregated. Instead of the plantation worker families, kama`aina haole families and a small merchant class where everyone knows most everyone else, we have more extremes of rich and poor, and it is now virtually impossible to know everyone. We have more extremes of education–with a highly educated population moving in and a high percentage of local kids not graduating from high school. We have more conservative, affluent and politically participating people who have been leading the charge for Proposition 13-like caps on real property taxes. With the rapid growth over the last six years or so, our population has become younger and somewhat newer as young adults and families have been moving back, moving into Kaua’i or growing up. Youth brings a vibrancy of energy and hope. We also have a lot of teen pregnancies. We also have a lot of strong young families and foster families where children are being raised with great love and guidance. There has been a rise in Christian churches and a growing faith community. The larger numbers and faster pace of in-migrants makes it more and more possible for people to live in and move about in their own circles and allows for less assimilation with the predominant local culture. There is, however, a strong sense of community in many places on Kaua’i , which is as beautiful as it can get.
How have you changed?
Well, I’ve gotten older, which is quite a phenomenon to experience–both enabling and grounding in some ways–and, of course, challenging in other ways. Every time I think I’m wiser, I find out I have something else to learn. I’m paying more attention to relationships, I’m more appreciative of the day-to-day things in life, more aware of the sweetness, sadness and shortness of life. I’m less judgmental, more aware of the complexity of issues, and less and less able to make absolute statements, which is a plus and a minus as a politician. I’m more in awe of the diversity, depth, gifts, possibilities and frailties of life. I hope I’m less reactive, more collaborative, more appreciative and more effective.
We hear about wealthy outsiders buying large land parcels on Kaua’i , building walled-off mansions, even attempting to block beach access. Is this problem addressable?
Absolutely. Our goal wouldn’t be to stop people from building mansions if they want to, but we will designate where they can do this and on what conditions based on the public interest that we have to protect. So, in issuing permits we can set standards for public access, shoreline setback and other requirements. We can prohibit them on our prime agricultural lands. We can require energy efficiency. And we can tax them based on size and value in terms of property taxes, which is the only taxing power that counties have.
If elected, how will you address the economic downturn?
Our attack will be threefold: put measures in place to protect our families against rising costs, assist our visitor and construction industries in making a transition to a re-invented tourism, and grow a new post-peak oil economy. I am proud that my administration put in place over fifteen years ago several measures to protect families against rising prices: the Kaua’i Bus, Sunshine (farmers) markets, and 1,500 affordable homes (families pay no more than 30 percent of their household income). We need to expand our public transportation which allows people to get around for $15 a month (the cost of a monthly pass). We need to develop growing and buying locally. We need to recycle more with thrift shops and materials exchange facilities. Where there are needs, there are potential jobs and businesses–for example, in renewable energy facilities, recycling and reuse facilities, community facilities and affordable housing. Re-inventing tourism is something I would like to do with the visitor industry and I am confident that we can be creative and successful. To develop a post-peak oil economy, I would convene community and resource experts to do collective problem solving, envisioning and strategy building. I imagine it would focus on import substitution, Kaua’i products and the greening of our island.
Where do you stand on the Superferry issue?
I am in favor of the superferry as long as the potential negative impacts are effectively addressed. These include invasive species, drugs, cultural theft, sea mammal collisions and overloading of our parks and camping sites on Kaua’i beyond infrastructure capacity. I believe the majority wants the superferry, and I understand the importance of water transport in this time of rising oil prices, but I also know that this majority does not want the coqui frog or fire ants or people coming to take maile or limu. I’m sorry that the Superferry was rushed into being built and that public policy makers did not question its energy sustainability. At a recent energy conference we saw models of water transport vessels with sails and photovoltaic cells that could be much more useful to us in the future.
What is the status of agriculture on Kaua’i ?
Seed corn agribusiness has been expanding, diversified crops have been declining at a time when food sustainability is becoming more and more important. Once again we are behind the eight-ball because of failure to plan and anticipate. We need ag land protection, land and water that are economically feasible to farm on, more markets, access to markets, food processing facilities, farmer recruitment and training, farm worker housing, and access to capital. The county needs to work with the agricultural community, policy makers and economic development specialists to develop these elements as a way to diversify our economy and provide for more food sustainability.
What is the status of energy sustainability on Kaua’i ?
We are dangerously dependent on fossil fuels, to the tune of 90 percent. We need a concerted community effort to put renewable energy and energy efficiency in place as fast as possible. A recent energy sustainability conference demonstrated that there are many experts who are willing to help Kaua’i , but we are lacking a plan that will coalesce the data so everyone can see and understand it, that will identify specific goals, priorities and strategies, and that will help to develop the political will and understanding necessary to move ahead.
If elected, what will be your three top priorities as mayor?
Energy, Economy, Solid Waste, and Planning.