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Five contend for council seat covering Makawao-Haiku-Paia

By SARAH RUPPENTHAL 14 min read

EDITOR'S NOTE: The Maui News is continuing a series of stories profiling contested state legislative and county races in the lead-up to the Aug. 13 primary election. Today's feature focuses on candidates seeking the Makawao-Haiku-Paia residency seat on the Maui County Council. A voter guide offering details on all mayoral, County Council and state House and Senate contests that will appear on the primary ballot will be featured in the July 23-24 Weekender edition.

When Maui County voters head to the primary polls to cast their ballots for the Makawao-Haiku-Paia residency seat on the Maui County Council, they'll have five candidates to choose from.

Each of the five first-time candidates hope to fill the seat being vacated by Council Member Mike Molina and add a fresh face to the legislative body. The two candidates who receive the most votes in the countywide, nonpartisan primary election on Aug. 13 will advance to the general election on Nov. 8.

ARAM ARMSTRONG

Two years ago, Aram Armstrong took a deep dive into local politics while campaigning for Simon Russell, a candidate for the House District 12 seat. Russell lost his primary bid, but Armstrong says the experience gave him greater insight into the dynamics of local government, as well as the issues facing Maui County. That's when the idea of his own candidacy began to take shape.

"It's been on my mind for a while," he said. "I love complex challenges. And I love Maui."

Armstrong has lived on Maui since he was a toddler. After graduating from Maui High School, he braved the frigid winters of the Midwest to attend the Minneapolis College of Art and Design, where he earned a degree in interactive media. He went on to earn a master's degree in interaction design from the Interaction Design Institute of Ivrea in Milan, Italy. Today, Armstrong is the farm manager at the Malamalama Sustainability Center, a nonprofit training center for youth in Haiku. He is also gearing up to launch a new school, called the Maui Mind Academy, and is working on a visual map of the state's food system for the "Transforming Hawaii's Food System Together" initiative.

Armstrong said there are many issues he would tackle as a council member. Among them: Addressing Maui County's housing shortage, improving community spaces and encouraging more public participation in local government.

Over the years, Armstrong has visited, lived and worked in several countries. While abroad, he says he took note of different national models, many of which could be adopted in Maui County. This includes Singapore's citizen-centric government services, Taiwan's ultra-efficient recycling program and Denmark's cycling infrastructure and water quality testing program. To remedy its housing shortage, Armstrong said the county should look at Tokyo's affordable housing strategy, known as the "Tokyo Model," and consider the concept of by-right development. He also proposes using locally sourced building materials, including bamboo and hempcrete, to lower construction costs.

Inspired by China's community-oriented "park life," Armstrong said he would like to see more classes, programs and services offered at parks and community centers countywide. For example, he said, if staffing and programming were provided, the Mayor Hannibal Tavares Community Center complex in Pukalani would be an ideal location for an intergenerational center to bring local youth and seniors together.

Other plans and ideas include making county roads safer for pedestrians and cyclists, creating trails to connect Upcountry Maui to South Maui, and working with state and federal counterparts to develop infrastructure that would encourage island visitors to use public transit and bicycles, which would reduce carbon emissions and relieve traffic congestion.

If elected, Armstrong said he would draw on his technological and design expertise. There are more efficient ways for elected officials to learn about, and listen to, the issues that matter to people, he said, "and then make decisions in an open, transparent way that is more democratic than was possible previously because of technology."

NARA BOONE

When Nara Boone's phone rang a few months ago, she never expected to answer and hear the question: "Will you consider running for Maui County Council?"

Boone says that's when the thought came to her. "I remember thinking: 'I could help the community on a larger scale,'" she recalled. "So I said yes."

The St. Anthony School alumna is known by many for her voice -- as a singer, voice teacher and an advocate for her community.

"This is my home ... and if there's anything I can do to make my home better for everyone, I'll do it," she said. Boone says what ultimately led her to run for office was her love for Maui County and a passion for helping others, a trait she attributes to her late mother, Tina "The Midwife" Garzero.

Boone said helping families is the central focus of her campaign. She says she has witnessed far too many local families struggling to survive in Maui County and cannot stand idly by.

"I can keep screaming into the wind or I can try to do something about it," she said.

There's a long list of issues she would address as a council member, but Boone says creating more affordable housing opportunities, improving residents' quality of life and making Maui County more walkable and bikeable are among her top priorities.

On the issue of affordable housing, she said, "We have to get this under control ... too many people are moving away because they don't have a place to live." If elected, Boone said she will look at repurposing vacant buildings, as well as smart development that would incorporate open spaces and Complete Streets concepts. She would also explore the possibility of restricting short-term rentals within a certain distance of schools to give more local families the opportunity to live in closer proximity to campuses.

Boone's mission to make Maui County more pedestrian-friendly stems from a personal tragedy: Her father, John "Chico" Boone, was fatally struck by a vehicle while cycling in 1996. Boone said she would use a Complete Streets approach to make Maui County roadways safer for pedestrians, cyclists and motorists alike. She said she would also create as many greenways as possible, citing their social, environmental and health benefits. Other plans include establishing child care centers in county workplaces, closing the gender pay gap for county workers and providing county-sponsored training programs and subsidized housing for teachers, nurses and other essential workers. Boone said she would also work to create more facilities to care for kupuna, as well as a standalone birth center and breast milk bank.

"How we emerge into the world matters," she said. "We are only as healthy as our women and children."

If she is elected in November, Boone said she would bring a collaborative spirit to the council.

"I'm one of nine kids," she said. "I know how to work with many different personalities."

Boone said she knows all too well the power of using one's voice and pledges to always listen to residents' concerns and ideas as a council member.

"I'll make sure people's voices are heard," she said.

DAVE DELEON

He may be a first-time candidate, but Dave DeLeon is no stranger to the inner workings of Maui County government.

If elected, he said, "I won't be your average freshman."

DeLeon began covering local politics in 1980 as a reporter for The Maui Sun, and later, as a reporter for The Maui News and the editor of The Maui Weekly. From 1991 to 1998, he served as an executive assistant to then-Mayor Linda Lingle. In that role, he worked on several park land expansion projects, initiated Maui's bikeway system and established the county's board and commission appointment process, among other things.

DeLeon went on to serve as former Mayor Alan Arakawa's chief of staff from 2002 to 2006 and says one of his proudest accomplishments from that time was helping the Hana community gain control of East Maui's Mu'olea Point. In 2007, DeLeon became the government affairs director for the Realtors Association of Maui, a position he held until his retirement in 2016. He also served as a Maui County Charter commissioner in 2011-12 and 2021-22.

DeLeon says he decided to put retirement on hold and run for office after becoming concerned about the direction of the county.

"I felt I had a responsibility to run," he said.

There are many issues DeLeon said he would address as a council member. Of them, two are most pressing: the county's housing shortage and the resiliency of its water resources.

If he is elected in November, DeLeon says he will be laser-focused on creating truly affordable housing for Maui County residents. To bring down development costs and make housing projects more affordable, the county will have to invest in offsite infrastructure, such as roads, water and sewer infrastructure, he said. Additionally, DeLeon would look at adopting a mechanism, such as a community land trust, to ensure the affordable units go to Maui County residents -- ideally, first-time homebuyers -- and remain affordable.

DeLeon is also deeply concerned about the impact of climate change on the county's water resources. More frequent droughts are placing an unprecedented strain on local water supply, especially in areas that rely on surface water systems, he said. For example, DeLeon pointed out, potable water had to be trucked into the typically rain-soaked community of Nahiku earlier this year.

"If Nahiku went dry, then you know something is up," he said.

DeLeon says Maui County's long-term water needs must be a top priority for the council. As the county mulls the creation of an East Maui Water Authority, he said the East Maui Irrigation water delivery system must be maintained. He says its loss would be disastrous, particularly for Upcountry Maui, which depends on EMI system-supplied surface water, even more so during droughts.

As a council member, DeLeon says he will always listen to constituents' concerns.

"It's the job of an elected official to listen to everyone," he said. "The door has to be open."

DeLeon said he would bring a steady hand to the council, noting that his many years of public service have prepared him for the rigors of the job. "I'm ready to hit the ground running," he said.

DANIEL SMITH

As a community producer for Akaku Maui Community Media, Daniel Smith has filmed hundreds of hours of community meetings and events. Since he stepped into the volunteer role four years ago, he's covered nearly every issue imaginable: water rights, affordable housing, food security and more.

In that time, he's gained a deeper understanding of the core issues and myriad challenges facing Maui County and has proactively worked to ensure others understand them, too.

"A lot of important topics are often not covered," he said. "I'm helping to get the voices and messages out... It's a very powerful thing to be a part of."

Smith was born and raised in Las Vegas and moved to Maui in 2015 after living on Hawaii island for several years. Prior to that, he served in the U.S. Army National Guard's Signal Battalion as an information technology specialist. In 2018, Smith honed his skills as a videographer and became a community producer for Akaku as part of a quest to keep his fellow residents informed and engaged. That same year, he became a volunteer for the then-newly formed Maui Pono Network and continues to serve the grassroots organization as an outreach networking consultant.

In 2019, Smith spent six months camped out at Mauna Kea, where he covered the Thirty Meter Telescope protests as a field reporter. He went on to serve as a legal observer and video journalist for two Hawaiian sovereignty advocates, Kalani Asam and Gene Tamashiro, in 2020 and 2021, respectively. Most recently, Smith helped coordinate the Mandate-Free Maui March and Rally and provided logistical support and videography for the Pono Coalition for Informed Consent.

"All of my actions are for truth and righteousness," he said.

Of the many issues Smith would prioritize as a council member, he says there are three that top the list. "Local food sustainability, building a diversified economy and addressing crimes against humanity," he said. For the latter issue, if he is elected, Smith said he would support the creation of a special prosecuting attorney to investigate actions taken by local government during the COVID-19 pandemic.

On the issues of food sustainability and economic diversification, he would build on the work of Council Member Shane Sinenci, who has done so much to support local farmers, Smith said. If he joins Sinenci on the council, Smith said he would work to further support Maui County's small farmers, as well as diversified farming systems and industrial agriculture, which would bolster food security and bring economic benefits to the community. Additionally, Smith said he would look at ways to grow the county's technology industry, noting that Maui has the potential to become a hub for technology and communications. It's possible for the county to shed its reliance on tourism, he said. "The solutions are there."

Several years ago, Smith says he began contemplating a fundamental question: "How do we create a world that's safe and suitable for family?" If he is elected in November, he said it's a question that will guide every decision he makes for the community.

NOHE U'U-HODGINS

If you ask Nohe U'u-Hodgins why she's running for office, she'll give you four reasons: her kids, who are 14, 11, 9 and 4. "I'm running so my children and everyone else's children can continue to live here ... and thrive here," she said.

U'u-Hodgins's Maui roots run deep: Her family has lived here for eight generations. She is a graduate of King Kekaulike High School and attended the University of Hawaii at Manoa and UH-Maui College. Today, U'u-Hodgins works as a permit facilitator for FNW Land LLC, a Wailuku-based real estate consulting, development and project management firm.

So far, she said, "My greatest community service is raising good kids ... but I want to do more."

"More" includes working to ensure Maui County residents have a place to call home. U'u-Hodgins says it's past time to take action on affordable housing and calls for a more proactive approach.

"We need to make a plan and stick with it," she said, noting that residents are leaving the state in record numbers due in large part to the housing shortage.

As a permit facilitator, U'u-Hodgins knows firsthand what it takes to get an affordable housing project off the ground. If elected in November, she would pursue public-private partnerships, specifically for 201H fast-track housing projects, which are composed of at least 50 percent affordable units and come under the review of the council. For these projects, U'u-Hodgins says the county should supply the offsite infrastructure to help reduce development costs and make the homes more affordable. She also proposes a series of county-sponsored financial literacy courses to help residents learn how to qualify for workforce housing projects as they come available.

On the issue of homelessness, U'u-Hodgins said the county needs better resources for all types of homelessness -- chronic, episodic, transitional and hidden -- and should have a facility where unsheltered residents can access services, including shelter, personal care, mental health care and substance abuse counseling. Additionally, she said, "We need to address our hidden homeless by creating more affordable rentals."

U'u-Hodgins said she also would work to ensure there is more community engagement in the political process. Maui County residents, she said, "are the steady heartbeat of the community ... and we need more people to participate." As part of her campaign, U'u-Hodgins is hosting a series of in-person "coffee talks" to learn what residents have to say about issues of importance to them. If elected, she said she will continue to meet with constituents outside of her office and will be a visible presence in the community.

U'u-Hodgins said residents can expect her to be a solutions-driven council member who will always stand up for what's right. She said she will work to overcome divisiveness in the community, which is a main theme of her campaign.

"We may have different opinions ... but we all love Maui County," she said. "We can respectfully disagree and still work together. There's always a middle ground -- and a way to move forward together."

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