Tom's previously published articles:

"ALA MOANA Park is for Residents,"
Honolulu Star Bulletin

"Residents Make WAIKIKI Special,"
Honolulu Advertiser

"Cultural Events & HAWAII's Economy,"
Honolulu Star Bulletin

"KAKAAKO's Future Development,"
Honolulu Advertiser

Efficient, Honest, Open, Government

I believe in accountable, efficient government with appropriate private-public partnerships with proper funding for public health, safety and defense organizations, (Police, Fire, Army reserves.)

- I will oppose increases in our GET tax collections.

- I will fight for increases in our income tax deductions, expanding our tax brackets and returning more state surplus money back to taxpayers.

- I will work for a stronger economy, our living standards are determined by a strong business climate.

SPECIAL FUNDS: I fully support keeping special funds, like the Hawaii Hurricane Relief Fund and State Highways Fund in tact and do not support diverting their interest. Funds like these should not be used to balance the budget.

Community Minded

My relationship with our land and its people is meaningful and I will fight for your rights and beliefs to live a more healthy, safe, open and prosperous life in our home.

Environment & Preservation

PARKS AND BEACHES: When we can preserve view planes and open space, we must act. Our home deserves more parks, green space and beachfront public land. West Waikiki is the most densely populated community in the state. We have the highest percentage of seniors of any area on Oahu.

I stand for simple, open and conservative development that creates a Hawaiian sense of place and uses elements of architecture’s open, International Style of design. We must preserve our historic buildings, neighborhoods and landmarks.

Team Work & Consensus Building

TEAM WORK : I am open minded and analytical. In my 25 years of work in Honolulu, I have found by working together we develop the best ideas and create a better sense of ownership and pride in our community.

PROACTIVE: I believe in anticipating our future needs and working to create a more manageable, livable future. My background at the City Council and State Legislature has helped me to take an inventory of our city's infrastructure to see its strengths and challenges.

Loyalty to Neighbors

My Grandparents lived in our district for 30 years, In part, I cared for them and worked to help others like them. My Mom was a resident of 1350 Ala Moana, in our district, before she passed away in May 2006. I am a 25 year resident of 469 Ena Road in Waikiki, eight year Neighborhood Board member, past president of the Waikiki Residents Association and Citizens Watch member.

My Uncle's family is a second generation Kakaako auto body shop owner. His shop was on Kamakee Street for decades, due to the state, it had to move to its current Queen Street location near Coral Street. As a child I often visited and played in Kakaako. My experience with small business and my relatives has given me a proper understanding of the challenges, (at times injustices), that Hawaii family businesses face.

Affordable Health Insurance

I support better health coverage for all. I am in support of allowing residents and independent contract workers to join in “purchasing pools” for purposes of obtaining health insurance to decrease the number of the uninsured and keep costs down. I also support efficient state funded health insurance for the needy.

CHARITY AND NON-PROFIT WORK : As a former development director, grant writer, program manager and volunteer coordinator for several non-profits, I am proud of our community’s willingness to help others. An active arts and charitable industry is a creative and caring one.

Responsible Development & Land Use

I believe that our State and city government needs to be more responsible in how it develops, (and allows others to develop) and maintains its land and infrastructure.

I support providing more affordable housing land when it is practical. We need to give the counties a certain level of home rule to encourage development that serves populations in our median household income bracket to provide more families with housing opportunities.

I prefer that government avoid the use Eminent Domain in its’ land acquisitions, but understand that at times the practice is necessary. I support incorporating principles such as just compensation, true public purpose and accountability in the use of Eminent Domain.

AGRICULTURE: We need to preserve a sensible relationship between housing and agricultural land by working closely with the city Administration for a comprehensive strategy to have a fair balance and meet our future needs.

NEIGHBORHOOD BOARDS: The Honolulu Charter Commission, presented the revised Charter in 1972; today Honolulu 's Neighborhood Board system is made of 35 boards. The concept is for full citizen participation in government to better serve the community. I would like to thank my fellow board members in Waikiki , Ala Moana, Kakaako and Downtown for their service. Though these positions are advisory it is an important role for elected members to forward their concerns to appointed and elected officials.

Lower Taxes, Accountability, Help the Economy

We need to reduce our tax burden. I'm for a simple, tax system, especially for residents who can't afford it. In 2005 the state failed to collect $341M in unpaid taxes while today's 2006 General Fund collections up 5 percent. We must do more to reduce taxes.

While receiving over half of the state's 7 million visitors in 2004, with 40 percent of Oahu's visitors being international travelers, Waikiki accounted for 8 percent of our state's GDP, about $3.6 billion. According to the latest 2006 figures of the Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism, 10 percent of all civilian jobs statewide and 12 percent of all state and county tax revenues can be attributed to Waikiki tourism.

Though our Waikiki neighbors represent less than 3 percent of the state's population, they live in the state's greatest economic resource, with nearly 85,000 daily visitors and 30,000 workers. Over 160,000 jobs are directly and indirectly affected by visitor expenditures. A Waikiki Business Improvement District 2002 survey shows that 4,650 commercial parcels in Waikiki, valued at nearly $5.7 billion, contributed $55 million in property taxes.

Fighting Crime and Supporting Public Safety

I support fully funding our public safety officials with the resources they need to ensure our safety. In 2006, for the third consecutive year overall crime in Honolulu has gone down, latest figures show a 3.6% reduction in 2005. Unlike other U. S. metropolitan areas, officials here credit family and community for helping to keep figures low. We need to end violent crime. Property crime is the most likely crime experienced by our residents and greater efforts must be made to discourage it.

Affordable Housing

To better stabilize market conditions provide more tax incentives, reduce tax and building costs, and require developers to provide affordable, market rate and rented units in residential projects. Encourage renovation funding incentives for vacant public and private housing sites.

Transportation Needs

I believe today’s city transit system needs improvement. I didn't support the GET tax increase. I'm open to light rail, provided government first reduces congestion by removing uninsured motorists, considers staggered work, school and university hours. I support the interisland superferry.

Workers and Employment

In 2005, our Legislature increased the minimum wage to $6.75/ hour. In January, 2007, it will go to $7.25/ hour. Congress recently killed a federal minimum wage increase and has not passed a minimum wage increase in 10 years (currently $5.15/ hour). In that time Congress voted themselves nine raises totaling nearly $35,000 a year—more than three times the $10,712 entire yearly earnings of a full-time minimum wage worker.

State tax dollars, when available and practical, should be used to create jobs and stabilize our state tax base.

Mahalo for Your Visit

I have always believed in a citizens participation in government. We need to be active in providing for a safe community for residents and visitors. We need to inspire each other. Let us join to be a better steward of our economy and environment, its our home. Hawaii ’s best resource is the people of Waikiki , Ala Moana and Kakaako.

Thank you for choosing to live in our district, where Hawaii works, plays and lives.

1. TOM's History, background

2. TOM's Community Service

3. TOM's Career

4. SEE TOM's Issues, philosophy, character


More to come...