Five vying for Manoa vacancy

For the second time in eight years, the Manoa seat in the state House has been vacated by a popular incumbent seeking higher office, making way for new office-seekers.

Rep. Ed Case, who is running for governor, replaced current Sen. Brian Taniguchi in the state House of Representatives seat in 1994. Taniguchi had replaced current City Council member Ann Kobayashi, who ran for mayor unsuccessfully that same year.

Kirk Caldwell (D) • Address: O'ahu Avenue • Family: Married, one son • Occupation: Partner in law firm Ashford & Wriston. • One big idea: Create a state department of tourism. "I don't want more bureaucracy, but we could pull all the different functions that are now spread out in the counties and statewide into one department of tourism. I would get rid of the tourism authority and have (the new department) report directly to the governor. It would focus and coordinate all of our tourism efforts through one area, and you wouldn't have these competing interests." Tom Heinrich (D) • Address: 2426 Armstrong St. • Family: Single • Occupation: Lawyer, community volunteer. • One big idea: Community-based decision-making. Any elected official that is very involved on a community level will be better able to represent residents' wishes and be a more effective advocate. "If all politics is local, then the best representation must be based on direct involvement in the district and working with all of its residents." Jason Iwai (D) • Address: 3028 Kalehua St. • Family: Single • Occupation: Retired jockey • One big idea: Honesty in government. "It is accountability and integrity, to me, that is the most outstanding thing about government. I have never been arrested or anything like that, never been pulled over for drunk driving or anything; even on the Mainland I have never had any run-in with the police. I have that honor and integrity." Phil Fuji Lee (D) • Address: 2623 Halelena Place • Family: Married, one son • Occupation: Attorney working for Rep. Terry Nui Yoshinaga • One big idea: Creating government-community partnerships. "We can spend tons of money beefing up the Police Department, but really, citizens can do a lot to deter crime with neighborhood watches and looking out for each other. It is not feasible to look to government for all the solutions. Citizens have to get involved to help out." Nadine Nishioka (R) • Address: 3023 One St. • Family: Single • Occupation: Communication consultant • One big idea: Improve education. "As a state, we need to make our teachers motivated, listen to them and expedite money to the classrooms in a timely manner."

The winner will face the only Republican candidate, Nadine Nishioka, in the general election in November.

Nearly 24,000 people live in the district, which includes Manoa Valley and the University of Hawai'i and wraps around Punahou School. The area on the makai side of H-1 Freeway known as Bingham Tract and the section of Manoa Valley below Round Top Drive, including Ferdinand Avenue and Sonoma Street, were added to District 24 during redistricting this year.

Manoa is a bedroom community in a valley accessible by just two roads. The area is home to many third- and fourth-generation residents who live mostly in single-family homes, many with historic value.

Residents tend to be knowledgeable about their district and actively involved in preserving the beauty and character of the neighborhood through the 3,900-member Malama O Manoa. The residents came together to oppose Hawaiian Electric Co.'s plan to build giant power lines over Wa'ahila Ridge, a proposal that was rejected by the state Board of Land and Natural Resources this summer.

According to the 2000 census, 36.5 percent of the residents of the district are Japanese (8,638), followed by 20.7 percent Caucasian (4,908). Chinese total 10 percent (2,377) and only 2.7 percent (642) of residents are Native Hawaiian.

District 24 residents who are 65 and older make up the largest single age group, at 24 percent (4,789), followed at 21 percent by the 20i29 age bracket.

Manoa Shopping Center/ Manoa Marketplace and Manoa District Park are the de facto centers of activity in the valley.

Barbara Lowe, president of Malama O Manoa, said valley residents are concerned about traffic, growth and the business climate. They are also keeping close watch on UH President Evan Dobelle's plans for Manoa, such as purchasing the old Paradise Park property in upper Manoa Valley for a Pacific Islands environmental research center, and how his vision for a "college town" will affect homeowners.

"The valley being a very attractive magnet to many people," Lowe said, "the question is, how do we maintain and protect the special qualities of our neighborhood without compromising ourselves?"

The candidates know they are vying to represent an active community that will keep close watch on their performance.

Heinrich, who has been a member of the Manoa Neighborhood Board for eight years and its chairman for six, is a lawyer in private practice. He ran for the Manoa House seat in 1994, and finished second to Case.

Heinrich has lived in the valley since childhood, and is a founding member of Malama O Manoa. He is well known for his community work and for attending numerous board, vision team and public meetings.

His top issues include public health, safety, infrastructure and environmental stewardship.

With more than a dozen schools in the district and about 28,000 students entering the area daily at UH alone, Heinrich is excited about Dobelle's plan to create a "learning corridor" in Manoa.

"Dobelle has said the UH must be a much better neighbor," Heinrich said. "We know UH is the biggest show in town, but are there ways from an economic point of view for community opportunities? Certainly. What we need to do is to flesh that out. So that university towncenter idea, from where I sit, is the biggest single stew pot for throwing ideas together for the future."

Heinrich said that with the unity of community groups following the Wa'ahila decision, and UH plans to improve the valley, "there is a level of discussion and enthusiasm and vitality in Manoa that hasn't been seen in 20 years."

Caldwell is also an attorney who was born and raised in Hawai'i. He is a former Manoa Neighborhood Board member and worked for Sen. Dan Inouye for three years.

Caldwell has knocked on the doors of almost every home in the valley. He has been sign-waving but not distributing yard signs, because he does not want to "disturb the beauty of the valley," an important issue for him.

Other key issues include education, the economy, health and crime.

"Half of our tax revenue in our state goes to education right now, and almost everyone agrees that the system needs to be improved," Caldwell said. "We should increase autonomy and accountability. I support a centralized school system from a funding point of view — all the schools would get their fair share — and then give more autonomy to principals and teachers."

Healthcare for the elderly is also a priority for Caldwell, who advocates reducing prescription drug costs and providing affordable care. "More and more seniors are getting to the age they need help," he said. "Some have families to help, others don't."

Lee, also an attorney, works for Rep. Terry Nui Yoshinaga. He is a fourth-generation Manoa resident making his third attempt at public office, having run for the Manoa House seat in 1994 and to represent Liliha in 1996.

Education, crime and a balanced state budget top Lee's list of issues.

"I don't believe in a bloated bureaucracy," he said. "I believe we need to try to live within our means. We need to restructure government to make the civil service produce more with less by making it more efficient — to run government like you would a business."

Lee said creating new high-paying jobs in the technology industry would help the economy, but students must first have the right educational preparation.

"In order to support the economy, you have to have a well-educated and highly skilled work force," Lee said. "So education at both the primary and secondary levels, as well as the university, must be upgraded so it can support a diversified economy."

Iwai is a former jockey born and raised in the valley, and a current Manoa Neighborhood Board member.

He campaigned unsuccessfully for the same House seat in 2000, and for City Council in the special election earlier this year. Iwai was the first on the streets waving signs this year.

His main issues include the economy, education, the environment and crime.

"The elderly are very fearful about the drug problem because a lot of them live alone," Iwai said.

He believes an improved economy will help preserve the valley's unique lifestyle.

"It is hard for people on set incomes to preserve their lifestyle with everything going up," Iwai said, "especially these seniors that have a home and property taxes keep rising. How do they keep up?"

Nishioka, the only Republican in the race, is a communication consultant who has lived in Japan while working for Tokai University. She is a fourth-generation Manoa resident and a volunteer volleyball, basketball and softball coach.

Nishioka said her polls show Manoa residents are concerned about the statewide problems of education and the economy.

"In order for the economy to improve, we need to improve our education," she said. "Our best children are leaving Hawai'i for better jobs."

The Republican has been doing some sign-waving, but is holding back for the general election.

"I would like to find out who my Democratic opponent will be," Nishioka said. "Right now it is a broad spectrum. I'd like to know who I will be up against, and then can go full force with my team about where we stand on the issues."

Reach James Gonser at jgonser@honoluluadvertiser.com or 535-2431.

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