KULA - County Council candidate Sol Kaho'ohalahala said Lanai should look for economic alternatives to tourism, but candidate John Ornellas said the statement showed his opponent was out of touch.
"He hasn't been on Lanai for a while, so he doesn't have a good grasp of what's going on," Ornellas said.
The candidates for Lanai's residency seat on the Maui County Council went head-to-head at a Kula Community Association political forum Tuesday night.
Kaho'ohalahala focused on his positions, while Ornellas depicted his opponent as a member of the old guard who wasn't a real Lanai resident. (Complaints have been filed with the Maui County Clerk's Office challenging Kaho'ohalahala's residency.)
And, the tough economy was a top concern.
Kaho'ohalahala said Lanai should take time during the tourism slowdown to look for a more "sustainable" industry. He called tourism a "devil's bargain" that has traded short-term gains for long-term consequences - including erosion and muddy runoff caused by hotel development on Lanai.
"Now perhaps is a good time to start looking for new directions," he said.
But Ornellas said the island didn't have time to wait for a new industry to save the day.
"Lanai is struggling, and the biggest problem is jobs," he said.
He called for the county to jump-start construction by shortening the approval process, and to "open the purse strings" on public projects.
Both candidates said the county shouldn't raise taxes to make up for shrinking revenues.
"Right now, no taxes," Ornellas said.
He said the county should eliminate the fuel tax, noting that Lanai has the highest gas prices in the state.
Ornellas said the county shouldn't look at across-the-board spending cuts, but should prioritize "essential services" like fire and police protection, while cutting other programs.
"Then you work your way down," he said.
"We're going to all have to learn to do more with less," Kaho'ohalahala said.
With millions of dollars going to grants to nonprofits, he said the county should look at the performance of the agencies.
The county should look for "innovative," new funding sources, he added.
"Obviously this is not going to be the time to raise taxes," Kaho'ohalahala said.
Ornellas said voters shouldn't give Kaho'ohalahala a second chance.
"He was part of the problem," he said. "He was part of the council that brought tax increases to the budget."
Both candidates questioned plans for a 10,000-acre wind farm on Lanai that would sell power to Oahu. Landowner Castle & Cooke Resorts has said revenue from the project could sustain other operations, but some residents have raised concerns the project could block their access to hunting and fishing areas.
Kaho'ohalahala called the renewable energy project a "good direction" for the island, but said it should benefit residents directly, such as by reducing their electricity costs.
Lanai residents pay the highest rates in the state at about 55 cents per kilowatt hour, compared to the statewide average of about 30 cents per kilowatt hour.
"The people on Lanai need some kind of relief," he said.
Ornellas said most people on Lanai support the idea, but that Castle & Cooke needs to show how the project will benefit residents directly.
"What are we going to get out of it?" he asked.
Video of the Kula forum, which also featured debates with other candidates for council and the state Legislature, will be broadcast on Akaku: Maui Community Television.
* Ilima Loomis can be reached at iloomis@mauinews.com.
