Posted on: Thursday, July 18, 2002

ISLAND VOICES
Cayetano veto hurt Leeward residents

By Rep. Emily Auwae and Rep. Mark Moses

Economic times in Hawai'i are hard. Many of our constituents are unemployed. Joblessness leads to higher crime, drug abuse and domestic violence. This is why the Ko Olina tax credit bill was so important.

In Gov. Ben Cayetano's July 3 commentary, "Here's why the Ko Olina bill was vetoed," he gave many technical reasons for his action. The hardworking residents of our communities want results, not excuses.

The Ko Olina project is especially important to the Leeward area. For years our community has served as the state's trash bin, with the now overflowing Waimanalo Gulch Landfill, the oil refinery, the wastewater plant and the unsightly power plant along our ocean shore. Don't we deserve something good for a change?

During the 2002 legislative session, the governor's own Cabinet member, Dr. Seiji Naya, director of the Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism, testified in favor of this bill. He said, "The construction phase of the project ... will generate more than 10,000 jobs and more than 2,000 jobs to operate the facilities once construction is completed."

Yes, the governor gives many excuses for his veto but he does not explain to us why just two years ago he pushed a bill in the Legislature that would require the state to build an aquarium in Kaka'ako.

Why would he not support an aquarium project on the Leeward Coast that would be paid for by private funds? Is he still upset that the Legislature rejected his Kaka'ako proposal? Does he believe that the people from Leeward O'ahu are incapable of running a world-class aquarium?

Gov. Cayetano says he would never have vetoed the bill if he knew developers would not invest in the Ko Olina development. However, according to your May 14 issue, the governor did meet with developers, who said they would only invest the $700 million in new projects if the tax break for the aquarium went through.

People need jobs now. Many of our constituents are hard-working, honest citizens who are willing to work, but the governor is preventing them from doing so. We are saddened that the governor has chosen to play politics with us.

Republican Emily Auwae represents the 44th House District (Makaha, Wai'anae) and Republican Mark Moses represents the 42nd House District (Kunia, Makakilo, 'Ewa, Waipahu, Kapolei).