Each week Editorial and Opinion Editor Jeanne Mariani-Belding hosts The Hot Seat, our opinion-page blog that brings in elected leaders and people in the news and lets you ask the questions during a live online chat.

Both mayoral candidates will be appearing on the Hot Seat. First up, and on The Hot Seat last week was City Councilwoman Ann Kobayashi.

Here is an excerpt from that Hot Seat session. To see the full conversation, go to The Hot Seat blog at www.honoluluadvertiser.com/opinion and click on "The Hot Seat." (Names of questioners are screen names given during our online chat.)

Chris Ogata Nakamatsu: Your ads in The Honolulu Advertiser say that you take credit for saving Waimea Valley. William McCorriston, the attorney for the owner of the property, says that Mayor (Mufi) Hannemann is responsible for providing the leadership that saved Waimea Valley. Please explain why your statements are so different from McCorriston's statements?

Ann Kobayashi: It is irresponsible to claim that I would take credit for Waimea Valley. In fact, the City Council voted against Mufi's plan to develop Waimea Valley.

Forward 808: How will you make Honolulu more sustainable?

Kobayashi: The key to sustainability is:

a) Preserving our agricultural industry,

b) Never developing on conservation land, and

c) Implementing sensible energy conservation practices.

Do you work for Phileas: I keep hearing that you are very close to the Phileas bus company from the Netherlands and are supporting their efforts to replace Honolulu's rail transit plan with one based on their buses. You have also continuously pushed for a "rubber tire" system. I did a Google search and saw that you invited this Phileas company to give a presentation to the City Council not too long ago. It seems very strange and even unethical for a sitting councilperson to advocate on behalf of a specific vendor. How can you possibly explain this relationship?

Kobayashi: All transit companies were invited to make presentations to the Honolulu City Council. My position from the beginning was to listen to all options. We want to listen to any company that can provide solutions that fit our pocketbook and our city.

Kchen: What is your plan to solve the affordable housing crisis?

Kobayashi: I will implement the affordable housing package I co-introduced with Councilman Donovan Dela Cruz. The city must take a new approach to creating incentives for developers to build more affordable housing; that is why I support density bonuses, reduced parking requirements and waiving of building permit fees for affordable housing.

Karen from Nu'uanu: The rail funds from the GET tax increase cannot be used for other projects. How do you intend to fund your alternatives? What is the new transit plan you and Panos Prevedouros have developed?

Kobayashi: I'm disappointed to see how Mufi has again been irresponsible and continues to mislead the public to believe that our GET tax increase can only fund a rail system when that is clearly not the case. My plan will involve a fixed-guideway mass transit system that qualifies for FTA funds and the GET tax surcharge.

We are working through a very exciting transportation plan that will be announced next week that will reduce significantly more congestion for far less cost than Mufi's heavy rail system. And unlike his train, our plan will substantially reduce travel times in town as well as from West O'ahu for all commuters including those that take the bus as well as the folks that must drive.

The plan can be set in motion immediately in 2009 and does not have to wait until 2011, which is the earliest that the FTA will release monies for Honolulu's fixed guideway project.

What about the landfill: Councilwoman, why did you vote in 2004 to keep the Waimanalo Gulch landfill where it is now and expand it, if you were going to turn around and criticize Mufi for it after he was elected? That makes absolutely no sense and seems very hypocritical.

What's your solution? Please be specific. No pie in the sky.

Kobayashi: The vote in 2004 was only a two-year plan. My criticism is because of Mufi's broken promise to the community.

We will honor the promise made to the Leeward community. It is irresponsible and short-term thinking for this administration to have ignored the city's law and not develop a 25-year Municipal Solid Waste Plan as required. The Waste Plan must include a sensible approach that incorporates renewable energy, new and innovative technology and a component on shipping of solid waste.

Practically zero-landfill technological solutions exist and are in use in other nations. They need to be evaluated and installed. Old tires, discarded glass and demolition concrete and stones can be re-used in construction projects.

Mark: How will Honolulu pay for the proposed rail project, since the collections from the 0.5 percent GET increase are currently below expectations? Second question: What is the current status of the rail EIS (environmental impact statement), and will taxpayers get to see it before Nov. 4?

Kobayashi: We can't pay for the heavy rail project. That has been my concern since day one. We haven't even applied for FTA funds.

I, like you, have been waiting for the draft EIS which was due in December 2006. I'm sure you agree with me that it is irresponsible to not deliver the draft EIS to the public far in advance of the Nov. 4 election and allow plenty of time for review and discussion.

Kenneth from Wai'anae: In the current economy, is it wise to turn away nearly a billion dollars of federal funds?

Kobayashi: First, what billion dollars are you referring to? Mufi has not even applied for the FTA funds and the FTA's Web site does NOT list Honolulu on its New Starts program as far as I know.

However, should those monies become available, our transportation plan will not disqualify federal funds. This is another irresponsible talking point that has been promoted by Mufi's campaign. The FTA clearly states that rail is not the only type of fixed guideway mass transit system that qualifies for federal funds. Our congestion relief plan is sensible, appropriate for our island city, and will fit within those parameters.

We need to build a transit system that will bring these federal funds to O'ahu. If we build steel on steel, ALL these funds may go to foreign countries to buy steel rails, rail yard equipment and trains.

Kana From China: Councilwoman, the city has so many problems with our sewer system. How will you fix the city's aging sewer system?

Kobayashi: I will work with my senior infrastructure adviser Panos Prevedouros on a long-term wastewater infrastructure repair and maintenance program for our aging sewer system.

PSSJM: What made you decide to enter the mayor's race, and why did you file so late?

Kobayashi: I gave up my un-contested City Council seat to run for mayor because I saw change was needed. I want to improve the quality of life for the residents of O'ahu. I truly believe that the current administration has been irresponsible with taxpayers' dollars, capital improvement projects and lacks sensible long-term planning for the future of our city. The only way I could have a real impact on this was to run for mayor, and I commit to serve my full term of four years.

Plasma arc pimp: Is it true that you delayed the third boiler expansion of the HPower plant because some "plasma arc" company wanted you to help them build a different kind of plant, but failed to follow through with a bid to do so?

Kobayashi: No. Plasma arc is not affordable and it would be irresponsible of me to support it. Using old, outdated technology will not solve our trash problems, especially since new, affordable technology is available. It was irresponsible for the city to pay HECO $50,000 for an RFP for new technology and then it (got) canceled by Mufi, which leaves us stuck with the same old technology.

Jack: What do you mean when you say that, "We need a leader who is fiscally responsible"?

Kobayashi: I will be a leader who is responsible and protect the interests of the taxpayer. I will cut wasteful government spending before increasing property taxes. I will implement Bill 12 (2006), which states that the city would collect only the amount of revenue necessary to operate the city, instead of collecting revenue and then deciding how to spend the surplus. I will follow the council chair's lead and establish a separate fund for vacant funded positions. I will also ensure that we have a good handle on the transfer of funds. Finally, I will implement measures to save on energy costs within the city.

Reach Jeanne Mariani-Belding at jmbelding@honoluluadvertiser.com.