Dennis Onishi

Party: Nonpartisan

Age: 47

Job: Program Director II with the County of Hawaii's Elderly Recreation Services, Elderly Activities Division, Parks and Recreation Department.

Born in Hawaii. In Hawaii from birth

Lives: Hilo

Contact: 808 981-0201, fresh19@msn.com

Job history past 10 years:
Started working in December of 1987 for the P & R Department. In 1991 transferred to the Police Dept. and worked for the HI-PAL program. In 2006, I transferred to Elderly program with P & R dept.

Ever run for public office? When? Outcome?
No.

Other civic experience or community service:
I coached basketball from 1979 at the Boys Club of Hilo. Joined the the Lehua Jaycess in 1983. Coaching Pi'opi'o Bears Athletic Association from 1993 and President from 2002 to present.

Anything else you'd like voters to know about you?
I enjoy traveling, playing golf, basketball, football, softball, gateball and volleyball. I also like to just stay home and watch television (western and army movies). I also like to eat out.

1) Why are you running for office?
I am committed to building a better community for our families. To do this, my proirities will be in establishing qualilty recreational and health care programs for all residents of the island. Provide more manpower and resources to our public safety. Revitalizing the economy and protecting our environment. Also, I want to provide the leadership you can trust.

2) With the Hilo landfill soon to close, how should East Hawai'i dispose of its solid waste?
We must implement a mandatory recycle and reuse program together with waste reduction facility that is affordable, clean and efficient.

3) How would you improve public transportation?
We will need to expand our routes in the rural areas but also we will need to build more bus shelters for the convenience to our riders. We could also look at implementing "direct" routes. We can also help improve Hawaii County's Coordinated Services and Hawaii County Economic Opportunity Council transportation divisions.

4) With the rapid pace of development, how should the county change the way it regulates growth?
It should change its attitude toward such regulation. Lawmakers usally react to problems. We now face a downturn in the development cycle, so development will slow down on its own in the near term. Government must reflect and take a proactive approach before next development boom in order to make a sound regulatory decisions which will promote sustainable and responsible development.

5) How can the county encourage the creation of jobs?
We need to strengthen our economy inorder to create jobs. To do this, different levels of government must work together to provide necessary incentives to create responsible and sustainable growth. The creation of agricultural parks, expansion of the University of Hawaii and Hawaii Community College, increasing public works projects such as roads, highways and facilities.

6) Should the county pay to deliver more services to Puna? Which services?
Water, public safety and recreational facilities, to me is one of the most important services Puna needs. We should work with the different levels of government and private sectors to help finance these projects. We could also look at what was done at the Oka's camp in Pepeekeo to help install the water lines for this district.

7) What is the No. 1 quality-of-life issue facing Hawai'i County, and what would you do about it?
Because of our weakening economy, government alone cannot fix this problem. I will work in partnership with officials from all levels of government and private businesses to establish and carry out incentives to rebuild our economy. I will support property tax relief, speed up building permits; providing small businesses with contracting preferences and increasing funding for tourist promotion.

8) What's the No. 1 initiative you would pursue in 2009?
I would pursue legislative for all county and recreational centers providing some sort of recycling programs and installing energy saving equipment and devices. I would also pursue legislative for the Hawaii County be the leaders in diversified and sustainable in energy use. Because we have the best resources on this island, we should take advantage of this opportunity.