Transportation problems exist on every island. Sitting stalled in traffic is no more fun in Wailuku than it is in Honolulu, Kona or Lihu'e. However, the causes, the effects and solutions in each instance are different.

There is no single, right answer. Our quest for effective solutions will require imagination, creativity and hard work by the state administration, the counties and those of us in the Legislature. Private-sector involvement will be needed as well.

Housing has become an equally vexing problem. The high demand and short supply of housing on all islands have driven prices out of reach for many families. While home ownership is something we all want, we must have a solid supply of rental housing for those at lower-income levels and those who are currently homeless.

Following on from our work of last session, this House remains committed to improving public education. Act 51 was a significant achievement, and the DOE under Superintendent (Pat) Hamamoto is taking the change mandate seriously. However, we all recognize that the job has only just begun.

Similarly, the ice legislation we passed last session broke substantial new ground. Still, we have more work to do. The ice problem — and the criminal and social problems that stem from it — continue to plague our communities. We must strengthen our substance-abuse laws appropriately and ensure we are doing our best with the prevention, education and rehabilitation programs we have in place.

We need to take a serious look at the job situation in Hawai'i as well. We may have the nation's lowest unemployment rate, but our workers are certainly not among the best paid in the nation. With our cost of living, we need a greater number of better-paying jobs.

We need contingency plans to help us cope with the types of employment problems that could stem from disruptions in the world economy or corporate shake-ups here at home.

That's why I'm particularly interested in seeing that we support the initiative to homeport an aircraft carrier group at Pearl Harbor.

Here are some questions we ought to ask ourselves as we work through this session:

• What do we desire in terms of population and economic growth?

• What price are we willing to pay for an infrastructure to support that growth?

• What quality of life do we want five, 10, 15 years into the future?

• How can we best protect the 'aina, the sea that surrounds us and the ecology of these Islands?

• How can we best prepare ourselves for the changes that inevitably will come from beyond our shores?

• And, finally, what is the Hawai'i we want to pass on to our children and their children?

If you want a specific example of what I mean, look at our shorelines. We took action years ago to protect the public's right of access to our beaches and to ensure the state's sovereignty over the shores to the high-water mark, but today we are seeing more and more of our shoreline taken up by private development.