Crime, elderly care key issues in 27th

By Lynda Arakawa
Advertiser Capitol Bureau

Residents in the Nu'uanu-Liliha-Pu'unui district are concerned about crimes and drugs, and want to make sure their schools are working well.

Corinne Ching Age: 42 Occupation: Full-time legislator, former elementary school teacher Family: Married, 7-month-old daughter One big idea: "Install solar panels in schools, at least starting with high schools. ... That would cut costs and it would also show the state taking an initiative and putting their policy where their mouth is. And it would encourage residential and other businesses to use solar."

Sesnita Moepono Age: 53 Occupation: Lawyer Family: Married, 12-year-old daughter One big idea: "Our quality of life is being threatened by the rise in crime and drugs in our neighborhoods. We must support and be proactive in our communities to ensure safe neighborhoods for our keiki and kupuna."

Stefanie Sakamoto Age: 28 Occupation: Freelance writer Family: Married One big idea: "What I would like to really see happen in the near future is easing the startup process for small businesses (including tax breaks). It's really unfortunate that a lot of small businesses have had to close. ... It's happening everywhere."

The district is made up of largely older communities with a voter base that doesn't appear to favor one political party overwhelmingly over the other. Ching beat her Democratic opponent by more than 1,000 votes in 2002. At the same time, however, Democratic gubernatorial candidate Mazie Hirono won the district over Republican Linda Lingle by nearly 600 votes.

Crime is a common concern among district residents, said Dale White of the Liliha/Pu'unui

/Kamehameha Heights Neighborhood Board.

"There's been a lot of thefts and break-ins of cars," he said.

All three candidates have various plans to address crime and other issues.

Moepono said she wants to help the elderly and disabled with a long-term-care program that creates a purchasing pool that residents could join to obtain long-term-care insurance.

Moepono said she also wants to create a state office to serve as a clearinghouse for referral services, training and other assistance for elderly people and their families. She also said the state can increase adult residential care homes and nursing facilities by offering incentives such as more training opportunities and tax deferrals.

Any reforms in public education, Moepono said, need to include input from teachers.

"It's the teacher that's going to have to implement whatever reform will come about," she said. "So I think we need to get them to be ... part of this whole process so they'll share ownership of the plan."

Moepono said the state should reduce class sizes, hire educational assistants for kindergarten and first-grade classes, and buy more new textbooks. She said she also wants higher salaries and other incentives to attract and retain teachers.

In the area of crime, Moepono said she wants to help tackle drug houses by changing landlord-tenant laws, which she said end up protecting people who reside on property illegally. She also wants to establish tougher penalties for those who use or deal drugs within 1,000 feet of an elderly person's home. Moepono also said she would advocate for public parks to be lighted at night.

Sakamoto said one of her biggest priorities is to get more money directly into classrooms. She notes that her brother, a teacher, has often paid for classroom supplies himself.

She said there first needs to be an audit of the Department of Education "to find out exactly where all of the money is going." That will give policymakers more information to make changes to the school system, she said.

Sakamoto also noted her district includes Ma'ema'e School, which is considered a top-notch school, and that she wants to make sure all schools have the same types of opportunities.

"All of the schools should be beautiful," she said. "The kids should always have a safe place to play."

Sakamoto also would propose giving tax breaks to small businesses to ease start-up costs.

"I think small business is really important here, and it's getting more and more difficult nowadays, especially with big-box chain stores," she said.

Regarding crime issues, Sakamoto said she wants to expand drug prevention and education for children, including those in elementary school, and that she supports tougher laws against those who speed.

Ching said one of her goals is to revitalize the district by "giving it a heart and a town, and the heart would be Liliha." That involves working with the city, the community and the private sector to beautify parks and businesses in the district and create more activities for residents, she said.

"No. 1 in the community is establishing a sense of community pride and cohesiveness," she said. When that happens, she said, the community ultimately has better schools and reduced crime.

Ching said she believes in a three-pronged approach to the state's drug problem that includes prevention, treatment and law enforcement. She said that if re-elected she would push again for substance abuse prevention programs for public school students and advocate giving law enforcement "the tools they need to fight crime," including easing wiretapping laws.

Ching said she also wants to support small businesses by streamlining fees and cutting red tape. She also said she will support Gov. Linda Lingle's initiatives to help businesses.

"I support small business because it's ... a chance for our local residents to have better paying jobs," she said.

Reach Lynda Arakawa at larakawa@honoluluadvertiser.com or at 525-8070.

Voters older, ethnically mixed Nearly 26 percent of the residents in the district are of Japanese descent, according to 2000 Census figures. Chinese make up 18 percent, followed by Filipino with 15 percent and people with two or more races making up another 15 percent. People 65 and older make up 33 percent of the adult residents. Ages 50 to 64 make up 20 percent, those 40 to 49 make up 17 percent and 30 to 39 make up 15 percent. Those between 20 and 29 make up 13 percent, followed by 18- and 19-year-olds at 2 percent.