3 pitch diverse plans for state's No. 2 post
By Treena Shapiro
Advertiser Staff Writer
All three candidates for lieutenant governor in the Republican primary — a judge, a businessman and a former journalist — have experience in government, but they are also stressing their accomplishments in business and the community.
James "Duke" Aiona Address: (Headquarters) 1960 Kapi'olani Blvd., Ste. 203 Occupation: Self-employed legal consultant, private mediation and arbitration Family: Married, four children One Big Idea: "We need to help small businesses now. To accomplish this, government needs to be business-friendly, it needs to focus on helping business and streamline permit processes, regulation and taxes that would encourage profitability of these small businesses."
Dalton Tanonaka Address: (Headquarters) 1356 Kapi'olani Blvd., Honolulu Occupation: Full-time candidate, former print and broadcast journalist Family: Married, one daughter One Big Idea: "Let's bid to relocate the headquarters of APEC (Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation) from Singapore to Honolulu. With Pacific Rim members on both sides of us, there are geographic, cultural and security advantages. The boost to our economy and business image would be tremendous."
Cam Cavasso Address: 41-1005 Laumilo St., Waimanalo Occupation: Financial planner Family: Married, five children One Big Idea: "My first priority is to serve the governor and help this governor be the most successful governor in the history of Hawai'i. My second priority is to encourage character and integrity throughout our community."
James "Duke" Aiona, a retired Circuit Court judge, said he has worked with many legislators as an attorney. From the bench, he said he has dealt with many state agencies, particularly those that deal with substance abuse, domestic violence and mental health issues. He said his experience as a judge has prepared him for a leadership role at the Capitol.
"I have leadership qualities," he said. "I can be independent, I can be compassionate and I can be very objective."
Aiona, 47, said he was frustrated by his inability to make substantive change as a Family Court judge and said if he becomes lieutenant governor he would like to have an active role in revamping the state Department of Public Safety.
"The first thing I would do is take an inventory on who we have in prison," he said.
From there, the state can develop vocational training, rehabilitation and life-skills programs suited to each prisoner, he said.
"We need to get more proactive," he said. "We want to get up front. We want a comprehensive program in our schools from the fourth grade to the 12th grade."
And then there's traffic. Aiona, who lives in Kapolei, has also lived in Waipi'o Gentry and Kahalu'u and can recall three-hour long commutes into work. "I have a passion for traffic," he said. "It's another issue I have personal knowledge about. I wish all these politicians would be driving in traffic every morning so they understand what we're talking about."
Cam Cavasso says his mission is to restore honor, respect, character and discipline to government and, by extension, to the community. He has made his religious faith and his belief in the need for prayer and spirituality in civic affairs a major theme of his campaign.
While his first duty will be to do whatever he can to help the governor be successful, Cavasso said he would also like to implement a project encouraging integrity and character in the community.
Modeled after the Character First program in Baton Rouge, La., Cavasso wants government, schools, the business community and the news media to join together monthly to raise awareness about a desirable character trait, such as alertness, benevolence and cautiousness. He said he would like to promote 49 character traits in all, qualities that used to be a strong part of our culture, he said.
Similar projects have been implemented in 130 cities on the Mainland, leading to reductions in crime, increasing accountability for police departments, and improving schools and businesses, he said.
Elected three times to represent the Kailua-Waimanalo area in the state House, Cavasso said his legislative experience sets him apart from the other two candidates, as does being a business owner and a veteran.
"I am looking forward to bringing my perspective into the administration and community," he said. "It's important to have that second counsel there."
Dalton Tanonaka, a former business and financial news anchor for CNN International, said contacts he made while working out of Hong Kong and Tokyo will enable him to open doors for Hawai'i. "I can help make the calls, make the meetings and get us to the table," he said. "Basically, I will give us access to the part of the world that we need access to."
Tanonaka, 48, has served as the University of Hawai'i's special adviser for international relations and also as Honolulu's executive director of economic development.
He said he will strive to bring more business to Hawai'i, beginning with more direct flights to China, Korea and Hong Kong. "Their tourism is up and those markets are the growth markets and we can't even get into the front doors," he said.
To encourage business from those regions, Tanonaka said he would lead a bid to move the secretariate of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation organization to Hawai'i from Singapore. "Even if we're not successful ... we'll make news and people will see we're really on the map," he said. "The attention that we get will send a signal that Hawai'i is more than a beach destination. We want to get into the game."
Tanonaka said he plans to draw on his skills as a communicator to make the administration more open and accessible. The Kohala native also said he plans to be "the Neighbor Island lieutenant governor" and will hold monthly forums on every island.
Reach Treena Shapiro at tshapiro@honoluluadvertiser.com or 525-8070.
