Guest Post: Gary Hooser on Elections 2024

“We are literally only a handful of votes from a major House cleaning.”

Gary Hooser

Kim Coco Iwamoto, Candidate for House District 25

The Hawaiʻi House of Representatives could operate with integrity and truly be “The Peoples House” we all deserve — if only a majority of its members and Speaker of the House Scott Saiki wanted that to happen. But they don’t and he doesn’t. Long time Honolulu Star Advertiser political columnist David Shapiro summed it up in his column: “How to clean corruption? One politician at a time,” writing: “Saiki vs Iwamoto is the best chance to significantly upset Hawaiʻi’s political status quo in 2024.” Speaker Saiki has been in that big square building on Beretania Street for 30 years. Like so many others, I’m sure he started out with stars in his eyes and the fire of idealism in his belly. Unfortunately with time, the stars and idealism have too often been replaced by cynicism and entitlement. Too many have now quickly learned to go with the flow, introduce bills that will go nowhere just to posture in public as a champion while blaming the lack of progress on others. Rewarding friends and punishing enemies, killing bills for personal and political reasons, and soliciting and accepting money from special interests while voting on their bills – are all viewed by legislative leadership and their enablers as normal and expected. But it doesn’t have to be this way.While there are many candidates running for election to the House who can help clean up the place, electing Kim Coco Iwamoto to replace House Speaker Scott Saiki is a threefer. When Iwamoto wins, the residents of District 25 will gain a Representative who pays attention to their needs, all of Hawaiʻi will gain an unmatched fighter against corruption, and House leadership will be shaken to its core. District 25 encompasses Ala Moana, Kaka‘ako, and Downtown Honolulu. Kim Coco Iwamoto knows the district inside and out. Her campaign platform is diverse. In in addition to her “District specific priorities” — such as affordable housing, condominium insurance reforms, and local roadway improvements – her priorities include ending pay-to-play-politics, passing serious campaign-finance reform, and amending House rules to bring sunshine and democracy to the process.She ran for this same seat in 2022 and fell short by just 160 votes. A former member of the State Board of Education, entrepreneur, attorney, philanthropist, dedicated community advocate, and mother, Kim Coco Iwamoto has been campaigning tirelessly in the district for months.She’s hosted countless “pop up” coffee hours. She and her team are walking door-to-door, and holding signs along the roadways. No question and no request for help ever goes unanswered.Whether it’s the media or district residents asking tough questions, Kim Coco Iwamoto answers with transparency and compassion. Conversely, the incumbent House Speaker Scott Saiki has chosen to duck the media, dodge opportunities for residents to ask him direct questions, and focuses instead on endless mailers. He told PBS Hawaiʻi he was unavailable to participate in a live candidate forum with Kim Coco Iwamoto that had been scheduled for July 11, 2024. He also said no to participation in Civil Beat’s candidate forum, and failed to show up at the Kokua Council forum. Rather than appear in person with the other candidates at the Neighborhood Board event, he attended via Zoom.Though he is running under the banner of the Democratic Party, Saiki has refused to complete a form required by the Party stating whether or not he supports the Party Platform. The need for change is crystal clear. The path forward to achieve that change also is clear, obvious, and unequivocal. Now it’s up to the voters of District 25 – Ala Moana, Kaka‘ako, and Downtown Honolulu. **Note: There is not presently a majority in the House willing to buck the Speaker and make the needed reforms happen. However if the 15 candidates across the islands on this list win on August 10th AND Kim Coco Iwamoto wins – you can be sure positive and significant change will happen prior to the 2025 session. Here is more of his advice on candidates to support: Fern Anuenue Holland is my #1 choice for the Kaua`i County Council.  Read – strategy of “plunking” unique to Kaua`i Council races. Maui County Council- I’ve known and worked with Kelly King for many years and I’m so, so, so, happy she is once again entering into the political leadership arena.  A special shout-out to my friends who live in Kailua “why I think Representative Natalia Hussey-Burdick is a totally awesome legislator”. On the Big Island, the good folks at HuliPac have posted their well-researched candidate endorsements. The Office of Hawaiian Affairs (OHA) elections is a black box of sorts and I often don’t feelcomfortable with making recommendations. But today, I feel totally confident in Kai Kahele ! If you missed my earlier short blog piece – Looking for Change-Makers You’ll be happy to know I’ve found them – When these 4 candidates win all Hawaii wins If you have not yet registered to vote or want to confirm or change your information go here: https://olvr.hawaii.gov/ Full Disclosure: My missives and rants are my own personal thoughts and do not represent any organization or group…it’s just me Gary Hooser, a blogger, political columnist, and individual person, sharing my thoughts with friends and those interested in policy and politics. The minimal costs of sending email and posting on my blog are paid for by me personally.

Gary Hooser is a former State Senator, Majority Leader and Kauaʻi County Council Member. This blogpost is republished here with his permission.