Maile Shimabukuro

Party: Democratic

Age: 39

Job: Attorney, legal services office in Waianae.

Born in Honolulu, HI. In Hawaii from birth

Lives: Wai'anae

Contact: 349-3075, maileshimabukuro@yahoo.com

Web site: electmaile.blogspot.com

Job history past 10 years:
Law Clerk, State District Court (2000-2001); Legal Assistant, Alan Burdick, Esq. (1998-1999); Research Asst., Prof. Eric Yamamoto (1998); Paralegal, Waianae legal services office (1992-1997).

Ever run for public office? When? Outcome?
Yes, ran successfully for State House Dist. 45 in 2002, 2004, and 2006.

Other civic experience or community service:
Waianae Lion's Club; MA'O Organic Farm fundraising comm.; HI Childrens Trust Fund Advisory Board; Governor's Affordable Housing Regulatory Barriers Task Force; Dem. Party Chair of Health/Human Service.

Anything else you'd like voters to know about you?
Distinguished Supporter Award, UH Ctr for Hawaiian Studies; Best Up & Coming Legislator, Honolulu Weekly; Asian Pacific American Womens Leadership Inst. Discovery Fellow.

1) Why are you running for office?
We must have people in office who understand the plight of our most vulnerable. My work at a legal services office has been the genesis of 4 successful bills: 1) allowing those seeking welfare to claim both physical & mental disability; 2) allowing the disabled to claim good cause from medical treatment requirements; 3) increasing Medicaid reimbursement; 4) fair & impartial appeals hearings.

2) With state revenue growth slowing, what are your top three priorities for government spending?
1) Medical services; 2) Education; 3) Social services.

3) What steps should the state take to reduce dependence on imported fossil fuel?
Pass the clothesline bill the Governor vetoed this past session. Pass legislation similar to the mandatory solar water heating bill, which requires solar electricity in new homes and buildings. Pass legislation that provides incentives for buying hybrid/renewable fuel-using cars, funded by higher fees for gas-guzzling counterparts.

4) What's the No. 1 thing needed to improve Hawai'i public schools?
Cooler classrooms and offices. We must provide the air conditioning, fans, and power upgrades needed to cool off the schools. We should use renewable energy to do this wherever possible. I am still conducting a fan drive for the schools in my district, and tax deductible donations can be made directly to the schools. Contact me if you want to help.

5) How should the state respond to financial difficulties at public and private hospitals?
Increase Medicaid reimbursement rates for in-patient and other medical services. Increase transparency regarding reimbursement rates provided by private insurance companies, and incentivize increasing those rates. Increase funding for uninsured services, capital improvements, and other hospital needs.

6) What is the No. 1 quality-of-life issue facing Hawai'i, and what would you do about it?
We need more places to get out and enjoy nature. I am working with Women of Waianae, Nani O Waianae, Teach for America, and Kahoomiki on a pathway for the Waianae Coast. We were awarded a $5000 grant from AlohaCare for the project. We will be picking up trash and planting at the path along Sewers beach on 9/27 from 7-10am. It is part of the National "Day of Action," and all are invited.

7) What's the No. 1 piece of legislation you'd work to pass in 2009?
The Self-Help Housing Fund bill which died last year. My dream is to halt the loss of agriculture land that is so rampant nowadays, as well as address the housing crisis, by creating self-help housing farming co-op's. Non-profits could apply for the state's legacy lands funds to purchase agriculture parcels, and put families on the land via self-help housing. The families could farm together.