Lanaians still searching for specifics after forum

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LANAI CITY - Beside the Filipino food vendors and artisans selling their normal Saturday fares and wares in Dole Park, a menagerie of Maui County Council and

state candidates addressed a crowd not used to getting this kind of attention.

Residents of the tiny island almost wholly owned by Castle & Cooke said they hadn't seen an old-fashioned political rally since the pineapple plantation days more than two decades ago. Nineteen candidates for office, including four of five for the Lanai residency seat on the Maui County Council, laid out their philosophies and ideas to a crowd of about 150 people, many of whom were candidate supporters.

It was a sparse showing on an island of roughly 2,800 residents.

But several said they very much appreciated the attention of the candidates seeking their votes - even if many of the candidates were short on specifics on how to improve Lanai's economy, its high prices (gas is $5.57 a gallon) and shortage of new jobs and affordable housing, they said.

"It's good just to see everybody in person," said resident Helen Tabura. "If you're going to vote for someone, you want to see them in the face. It's like when I read a book, I always wonder what it would be like to meet the author."

Everyone wants to know what the county can provide for Lanai, said resident Rod Sumagit.

Resident Ernest Magaoay said it was exciting to get to choose someone new for Lanai. All County Council seats are at-large, but Council Chairman Riki Hokama must give up his Lanai residency position after hitting the county limit of five consecutive terms.

However, Hokama told the crowd that he intends to run again in two years and plans to endorse one of the Lanai candidates soon. Hokama also threw his support behind all the current incumbents on the County Council seeking re-election.

Hokama blamed the thin crowd on Lanai's tourism-based economy, where unlike its agricultural past, people now work around the clock and on weekends.

The nonpartisan rally was organized by Lanai community activist and council candidate Alberta de Jetley. Castle & Cooke, the company that manages the island for owner David Murdoch, sponsored the event.

Earlier in the day, Castle & Cooke representatives gave the candidates and incumbents a tour of the island that included its new solar farm. The 10-acre array of about 8,000 panels is scheduled to come on line this month and provide up to 30 percent of the island's electricity needs, said Christopher Lovvorn, a Castle & Cooke executive.

The politicos were also treated to another presentation on Castle & Cooke's wind power aspirations at the posh Lodge at Koele. The company hopes to someday produce 100 percent of the island's electricity needs through alternative energy, Lovvorn said. Lanai's utility rates are high because it currently gets its electricity from six diesel Maui Electrical Co. generators. MECO and the U.S. Department of Energy are partners in the island's alternative energy plans.

In the lodge's library, Lovvorn said that Murdoch loves Lanai and employs most of its residents in its two luxury hotels and world-class golf courses, but he loses up to $20 million a year on the island. Anything they can do to help offset Murdoch's losses would help stabilize the island's economy and help preserve its quiet rural lifestyle, Lovvorn said.

The company recently laid off a number of its employees due to fewer visitors, residents said.

Council candidate Wayne Nishiki said he would have Maui's Visitors Bureau target Korean and Chinese markets to attract more tourists. He also suggested that Lanai residents create community gardens and have the county ask for donated land to build affordable housing.

While running for the South Maui residency, Nishiki is a familiar name and face on Lanai after serving two decades on the council.

Lanai residency candidate John Ornellas said he would like to see Lanai High School expanded and the county beef up educational and retraining opportunities for island residents. Ornellas also addressed concern among residents over whether they will lose hunting grounds when the wind turbines are installed.

"Murdoch might own the land, but we still have a say," he said.

During the tour, Kay Okamoto, president of the Lanai Community Association, told the media and candidates that the community would like to see more opportunities for entrepreneurs, perhaps through county zoning. Lanai should also have county officials travel to the island a few days a week to provide a wider range of county services, such as building permits.

There's always the need for more affordable housing, Okamoto said. About half of Lanai's 106 plantation-era homes are owned by residents. The company owns the other half.

De Jetley said she organized the event to end many misconceptions about Lanai.

"We need to support our major employer," said de Jetley, who is an independent banana farmer.

Resident Josephine Reinicke said she enjoyed the rally, but like others there, she had wanted to hear more specifics from the candidates about Lanai. And she wasn't impressed with the incumbents.

"It's all the same people saying all the same old things," Reinicke said.

Resident Dave Green also said he appreciated their efforts but also wanted more specifics.

"But how much can they really say in three minutes," Green said of the timed speeches.

Other County Council candidates speaking at the rally were Mike Victorino, Lucienne de Naie, Bill Medeiros, Alan Fukuyama, Jo Anne Johnson, Chayne Marten, Netra Halperin, Joe Pontanilla, Don Couch, Kai Nishiki, Norman Vares, Michael Howden, Winnie Basques and Matt Mano.

Sol Kaho'ohalahala, one of the five candidates seeking the Lanai residency seat on the council, was at the event but did not speak. Council Member Gladys Baisa's son, Sherman Baisa, spoke in her place, saying she was ill.

State Rep. Angus McKelvey, whose 10th House District of West Maui looks across the channel to Lanai but doesn't include Lanai, had to cancel.

State Sen. J. Kalani English, whose 7th Senate District does include Lanai, and his challenger, Independent Party member John Blumer-Buell, also addressed the crowd. The English-Blumer-Buell contest will be in the general election Nov. 4.

State Rep. Mele Carroll, whose 13th District includes Lanai, was the keynote speaker. She is unopposed for re-election.

Chris Hamilton can be reached at chamilton@mauinews.com.